bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Serum β-secretase 1 (sBACE1) activity in subjective cognitive decline: an exploratory study
Authors: Cervellati Carlo , Trentini Alessandro , Rosta Valentina , Passaro Angelina , Brombo Gloria , Renzini Carlo , Multhaup Gerhard , Zuliani Giovanni
Published: January 2025

β-Secretase-1 (BACE1) plays a key role in the regulation of cerebral amyloid-β homeostasis, being involved in amyloidogenic and, as recently found, amyloidolytic pathways. Growing evidence indicates that increased serum BACE1 (sBACE1) activity might represent an early biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease. Here, we tested the hypothesis that an increase in sBACE1 activity may already occur in individuals with subjective cognitive decline (SCD). We found that sBACE1 activity was significantly higher in individuals with SCD (n 118) compared to cognitively normal subjects (controls, n 137) (p < 0.001). Moreover, compared with SCD, sBACE1 activity was even higher in patients affected by amnestic (n 179) or non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (n 99) (p < 0.001 and p 0.02, respectively). In all cases, the respective increase in sBACE1 activity was significant after adjustment for possible confounders including age, sex, and comorbidities. We also found a significant sexual dimorphism, with women affected by either type of MCI, but not by SCD, having higher levels of serum BACE1 activity compared to men. These results provide evidence supporting the potential use of sBACE1 activity as tool for blood-based screening of cognitively healthy individuals at clinical risk of MCI and dementia.
Synephrine Inhibits Oxidative Stress and H2O2-Induced Premature Senescence
Authors: Abe Hiroshi , Indo Hiroko P. , Ito Hiromu , Majima Hideyuki J. , Tanaka Tatsuro
Published: January 2025

Synephrine, a protoalkaloid found in Citrus aurantium (CA) peels, exerts lipolytic, anti-inflammatory, and vasoconstrictive effects; however, its antioxidant activity remains unclear. In this study, electron spin resonance spectroscopy revealed that synephrine scavenged both hydroxyl and superoxide anion radicals. Several external stimuli, such as H2O2, X-rays, and ultraviolet (UV) radiation, cause stress-induced premature senescence (SIPS). As oxidative stress induces SIPS, we hypothesized that synephrine, an antioxidant, would suppress H2O2-induced premature senescence in WI-38 cells. Synephrine significantly decreased the reactive oxygen species levels induced by H2O2, thereby reducing lipid peroxidation, and oxidative DNA damage and preventing SIPS. Additionally, synephrine inhibited mitochondrial dysfunction in H2O2-treated WI-38 cells. The expression levels of p53, p21, and p16-INK4A, which are involved in the induction of cell cycle arrest in SIPS, were significantly lower in synephrine-treated cells than in untreated cells. Our results indicate that synephrine inhibits H2O2-induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, suppressing premature senescence by inhibiting activation of the p53–p21 and p16-INK4A–pRB pathways.
Reimagining Socially just Environments through Children’s Perspectives: An Innovative Approach for Civic Participation
Authors: Edenborough Michel , Gale Fran
Published: January 2025

Traditionally adults make decisions for children particularly about how they live and play. Children, particularly those hard-to-reach are usually not heard. In this paper we draw on an innovative approach to facilitate children in expressing their viewpoints about what a socially just environment looks like from their perspective. Seventy-five children living in a disadvantaged area of greater Western Sydney, 7–12 years from ten local schools, used digital mapping to share power and responsibility with local government authority decision-makers to co-design a safe, healthy environment from children’s perspectives. Explaining the community spaces they selected, in terms of their significance for children’s respect, autonomy, identifications, safety, social and cultural meanings, children uploaded images of their creative work, pinpointing the location onto a digital map, to portray what is essential for them in their community and to advocate for social justice. We conclude digital mapping is one means of amplifying the voices of hard-to-reach children to engage directly in place-based change grounded in children’s understandings of otherwise invisible socio-spatial processes underpinning and reproducing social differences.
Symptomatic early coronary graft failure in bypass surgery patients: incidence, predictors and clinical impact
Authors: van Oort Martijn J. H. , Al Amri Ibtihal , de Weger Arend , Regeer Madelien V. , Jukema J. Wouter , Mertens Bart J. A. , Montero-Cabezas Jose M.
Published: January 2025

Objectives

Coronary graft failure (CGF) may occur early after coronary bypass graft surgery (CABG). The study aimed to identify clinical and perioperative risk factors and to evaluate the long-term clinical impact of symptomatic early CGF.

Methods

Patients who underwent clinically indicated coronary angiography (CAG) prior to post-CABG discharge between 2012 and 2022 were included. Symptomatic early CGF was defined as a dysfunctional coronary graft, evaluated on clinically indicated CAG, caused by stenosis of the proximal or distal anastomosis or bypass conduit, bypass occlusion, thrombosis, reduced flow (TIMI < 1) and kinking/tenting. Patients were divided into symptomatic early CGF and non-early CGF groups. Kaplan-Meier and multivariate analysis estimated cumulative survival free of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE: death, myocardial infarction and revascularisation) up to 5 years’ follow-up and identified predictors of symptomatic early CGF.

Results

A total of 92 patients (79% male, 66.1 ± 10 years old) were included, of whom 55 (59.8%) had symptomatic early CGF. Baseline characteristics, surgical parameters and post-surgical parameters potentially indicative of ischaemia were comparable between groups. Patients with symptomatic early CGF had a significantly lower MACE rate over a median follow-up period of 33 months (p = 0.023). Venous graft integration (p = 0.005), Y‑graft configuration (p = 0.002) and prolonged inotropic support (p = 0.032) were associated with symptomatic early CGF.

Conclusions

Symptomatic early CGF was observed in the majority of post-CABG patients undergoing clinically indicated CAG prior to discharge. Patients with symptomatic early CGF exhibited higher MACE rates over a median follow-up period of 33 months. Venous graft integration, Y‑graft configuration and prolonged use of inotropic agents were associated with symptomatic early CGF. However, these clinical findings should be interpreted with caution.
Caenorhabditis Elegans as a Model for Environmental Epigenetics
Authors: Filipowicz Adam , Allard Patrick
Published: January 2025

Purpose of Review

The burgeoning field of environmental epigenetics has revealed the malleability of the epigenome and uncovered numerous instances of its sensitivity to environmental influences; however, pinpointing specific mechanisms that tie together environmental triggers, epigenetic pathways, and organismal responses has proven difficult. This article describes how Caenorhabditis elegans can fill this gap, serving as a useful model for the discovery of molecular epigenetic mechanisms that are conserved in humans.

Recent Findings

Recent results show that environmental stressors such as methylmercury, arsenite, starvation, heat, bacterial infection, and mitochondrial inhibitors can all have profound effects on the epigenome, with some insults showing epigenetic and organismal effects for multiple generations. In some cases, the pathways connecting the stressor to epigenetic pathways and organismal responses have been elucidated. For example, a small RNA from the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa induces transgenerational learned avoidance by activating the RNA interference PIWI-interacting RNA pathways across generations to downregulate, via Cer1 retrotransposon particles and histone methylation, maco-1, a gene that functions in sensory neurons to regulate chemotaxis. Mitochondrial inhibitors seem to have a profound effect on both the DNA methylation mark 6mA and histone methylation, and may act within mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to regulate mitochondrial stress response genes. Transgenerational transcriptional responses to alcohol have also been worked out at the single-nucleus resolution in C. elegans, demonstrating its utility when combined with modern sequencing technologies.

These recent studies highlight how C. elegans can serve as a bridge between biochemical in vitro experiments and the more associative findings of epidemiological studies in humans to unveil possible mechanisms of environmental influence on the epigenome. The nematode is particularly well-suited to transgenerational experiments thanks to its rapid generation time and ability to self-fertilize. These studies have revealed connections between the various epigenetic mechanisms, and so studies in C. elegans that take advantage of recent advancements in sequencing technologies, including single-cell techniques, to gain unprecedented resolution of the whole epigenome across development and generations will be critical.
Revisiting Dipole-Induced Fluorinated-Anion Decomposition Reaction for Promoting a LiF-Rich Interphase in Lithium-Metal Batteries
Authors: Wang Liu , Guo Jiahui , Qi Qi , Li Xiaotong , Ge Yuanmeng , Li Haoyi , Chao Yunfeng , Du Jiang , Cui Xinwei
Published: January 2025

Building anion-derived solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) with enriched LiF is considered the most promising strategy to address inferior safety features and poor cyclability of lithium-metal batteries (LMBs). Herein, we discover that, instead of direct electron transfer from surface polar groups to bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (TFSI−) for inducing a LiF-rich SEI, the dipole-induced fluorinated-anion decomposition reaction begins with the adsorption of Li ions and is highly dependent on their mobility on the polar surface. To demonstrate this, a single-layer graphdiyne on MXene (sGDY@MXene) heterostructure has been successfully fabricated and integrated into polypropylene separators. It is found that the adsorbed Li ions connect electron-donating sGDY@MXene to TFSI−, facilitating interfacial charge transfer for TFSI− decomposition. However, this does not capture the entire picture. The sGDY@MXene also renders the adsorbed Li ions with high mobility, enabling them to reach optimal reaction sites and expedite their coordination processes with O on O=S=O and F on the broken –CF3
−, facilitating bond cleavage. In contrast, immobilized Li ions on the more lithiophilic pristine MXene retard these cleavage processes. Consequently, the decomposition reaction is accelerated on sGDY@MXene. This work highlights the dedicate balance between lithiophilicity and Li-ion mobility in effectively promoting a LiF-rich SEI for the long-term stability of LMBs.
Algebraic Wasserstein distances and stable homological invariants of data
Authors: Agerberg Jens , Guidolin Andrea , Ren Isaac , Scolamiero Martina
Published: January 2025

Distances have a ubiquitous role in persistent homology, from the direct comparison of homological representations of data to the definition and optimization of invariants. In this article we introduce a family of parametrized pseudometrics between persistence modules based on the algebraic Wasserstein distance defined by Skraba and Turner, and phrase them in the formalism of noise systems. This is achieved by comparing p-norms of cokernels (resp. kernels) of monomorphisms (resp. epimorphisms) between persistence modules and corresponding bar-to-bar morphisms, a novel notion that allows us to bridge between algebraic and combinatorial aspects of persistence modules. We use algebraic Wasserstein distances to define invariants, called Wasserstein stable ranks, which are 1-Lipschitz stable with respect to such pseudometrics. We prove a low-rank approximation result for persistence modules which allows us to efficiently compute Wasserstein stable ranks, and we propose an efficient algorithm to compute the interleaving distance between them. Importantly, Wasserstein stable ranks depend on interpretable parameters which can be learnt in a machine learning context. Experimental results illustrate the use of Wasserstein stable ranks on real and artificial data and highlight how such pseudometrics could be useful in data analysis tasks.
An exceptionally rare case of a giant parathyroid adenoma with carcinoma-like presentation
Authors: Kazakou Paraskevi , Vrachnis Dionysios , Paschou Stavroula A. , Nastos Konstantinos , Sarlani Helen , Kantreva Kanella , Stefanaki Katerina , Psaltopoulou Theodora , Kyriakopoulos George , Korkolopoulou Penelope , Saltiki Katerina
Published: January 2025

Giant parathyroid adenoma (GPA) is an extremely rare cause of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) and may sometimes mimic parathyroid carcinoma (PC). Parathyroid carcinoma is also a very rare entity. Both preoperative and postoperative diagnosis of the two conditions remains a challenge. The purpose of this article is to present the diagnostic and therapeutic approach used for a 76-year-old female patient with a GPA measuring 5.4 × 2.3 cm, mimicking PC. The patient was referred to our clinic for the management of severe hypercalcemia revealed during the neurological evaluation of psychiatric and cognitive symptoms, confusion, weakness, and bone pain. PHPT was confirmed based on the patient’s biochemical profile, which showed extremely high levels of serum calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH). Wholebody computed tomography revealed a large nodule below the inferior pole of the right lobe of the thyroid gland and no further pathology in other organs. En bloc resection of the tumor with removal of the ipsilateral hemithyroid and other involved tissues was performed. Histopathological evaluation was diagnostic for a GPA. Post-surgery hungry bone syndrome (HBS) developed and was treated. However, the patient succumbed 3 weeks later due to septic shock. GPA is an exceptionally rare endocrine tumor that should be suspected along with PC in patients with significantly elevated levels of PTH and calcium, and/or palpable neck mass. In our case, diagnosis was based principally on histopathological examination together with clinical presentation, biochemical profile, and imaging studies. Resection of the tumor remains the treatment of choice.
Optimizing biochar for carbon sequestration: a synergistic approach using machine learning and natural language processing
Authors: Li Jiayi , Chen Yixuan , Wang Chaojie , Chen Hanbo , Gao Yurong , Meng Jun , Han Zhongyuan , Van Zwieten Lukas , He Yi , Li Caibin , Cornelissen Gerard , Wang Hailong
Published: January 2025

Biochar is a promising technology for carbon storage and greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction, but optimizing it is challenging due to the complexity of natural systems. Machine learning (ML) and natural language processing (NLP) offer solutions through enhanced data analysis and pattern recognition, ushering in a new era of biochar research.

Graphical Abstract
Would monetary incentives to COVID-19 vaccination reduce motivation?
Authors: Yamamura Eiji , Tsutsui Yoshiro , Ohtake Fumio
Published: January 2025

Some people did not receive the COVID-19 vaccine, even though it was offered at no cost. Monetary incentives may encourage people to vaccinate, although existing studies have provided different findings regarding this effect. Therefore, in this study, we investigated how monetary incentives could vary based on individual characteristics. Using panel data from online surveys, we found that (1) subsidies reduced vaccine intention but increased it after controlling for heterogeneity, (2) the stronger the social image against vaccination, the lower the monetary incentive, and (3) unvaccinated people would persist in their intent to get vaccinated only if a large subsidy is provided.
Minimization of CO2 Emissions in Openpit Mines by Using Stochastic Simulations
Authors: Biniaris D. , Xiroudakis G. , Saratsis G. , Exadaktylos G. , Varouchakis EA
Published: January 2025

Modifications in European environmental legislation requiring the minimization of the environmental footprint of mining operations have resulted in increased environmental costs and fewer investments in new surface mines. Due to the significant dependence of the global economy on mining, which provides raw materials and energy for most industries, it is essential to develop the necessary technologies for reducing pollutant emissions and exploitation costs. In open pit or underground mining operations, the highest cost comes from loading and hauling the extracted ore. Hence, the optimal combination of loading and hauling equipment has a significant impact on the production rate of the mine/quarry. The primary aim of this research is to improve the production of a surface mining operation by modifying the operational parameters (different dumping positions of materials) of the loading-hauling equipment in such a manner as to reduce fuel consumption and emitted pollutants. This aim is achieved by optimizing the hauling cycle by examining different scenarios utilizing stochastic simulation based on queue theory. The queue theory is a stochastic method commonly used to simulate the shovel-truck haulage system of a mine operation. This method has been implicated to estimate pollutants emitted in the atmosphere and propose alternative scenarios for reducing emissions normalized with the hauled material. The method is validated against actual data from a large open pit. The implementation of queue theory and estimating fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are derived from the
$$M/M/1$$
and
$$M/M/2$$
queue models. These two scenarios were examined for two different transportation routes and dumping positions. Based on these scenarios, it was found that the case
$$M/M/1$$
with one electrical shovel having the nearest dumping position gives the minimum GHG emissions. Regarding the environmental impact, in all examined cases, the optimum truck fleet was the one with five trucks. From the productivity point of view, for the
$$M/M/1$$
and
$$M/M/2$$
scenarios, the number of trucks was six and eight, respectively. The greatest production was achieved in
$$M/M/2$$
scenarios, with the one having the maximum distance to the dumping position being the one closest to actual data from the mine site. Another scenario, considering the implementation of the Trolley Assist haulage (TA) system resulted in a local minimum decrease by 54% for the
$$M/M/2$$
TA Route 1 (longest) and for the
$$M/M/2$$
TA Route 2 (shortest) by 62% of kg CO

2
per tons of hauled material for the selected truck fleet size.
Commuting flow prediction using OpenStreetMap data
Authors: Atwal Kuldip Singh , Anderson Taylor , Pfoser Dieter , Züfle Andreas
Published: January 2025

Accurately predicting commuting flows is crucial for sustainable urban planning and preventing disease spread due to human mobility. While recent advancements have produced effective models for predicting these recurrent flows, the existing methods rely on datasets exclusive to a few study areas, limiting the transferability to other locations. This research broadens the utility of state-of-the-art commuting flow prediction models with globally available OpenStreetMap data while achieving prediction accuracy comparable to location-specific and proprietary data. We show that the types of buildings, residential and non-residential, are a strong indicator for predicting commuting flows. Consistent with theoretical and analytical models, our experiments indicate that building types, distance, and population are the determining characteristics for mobility related to commuting. Our experiments show that predicted flows closely match ground truth flows. Our work enables accurate flow prediction using building types to support applications such as urban planning and epidemiology.
Exploring the role of project-based learning in higher education to promote indigenous knowledge through sculpture students’ engagement with Ghanaian Adinkra symbols
Authors: Boakye-Yiadom Fredrick , Donkor Evans Kwadwo , Mensah Ronald Osei
Published: January 2025

This study explores the integration of Project-Based Learning (PBL) within the higher education context, focusing on sculpture learners’ projects based on Ghanaian Adinkra symbols and their engagement with Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS). The primary aim of this research is to examine how PBL enhances sculpture learners' understanding and appreciation of Adinkra symbols while also assessing the broader impact of PBL on their interaction with indigenous knowledge systems. Sculpture learners participating in this study were tasked with developing projects that incorporated Adinkra symbols, thereby connecting their creative practice with the rich cultural narratives embodied in these symbols. Through this process, learners were not only encouraged to produce art but also to interpret, analyse, and engage with the cultural meanings and historical significance of the Adinkra symbols. A qualitative research methodology was employed, using semi-structured interviews, participant observations, and project evaluations to gather data. Findings from the study suggest that PBL significantly enhances learners' appreciation for and understanding of indigenous knowledge systems by providing them with the tools to interpret cultural artefacts within their historical and social contexts. To collaborate with indigenous communities, art educational institutions should build partnerships with local indigenous communities, cultural experts, and artisans to co-create projects and learning experiences for learners.
Secondary education teacher’s views on mixed reality in inclusive environments
Authors: Marín Verónica , Sampedro Begoña E. , Morales-Diaz Marina
Published: January 2025

When talking about digital resources in secondary education classrooms in the 21st Century, we must mention tools such as Mixed Reality (MR). However, we must not only have in mind the perspective and training of teachers on their use, but we must consider that the ecologies of the classroom are becoming increasingly diverse, thus demanding an inclusive view of the entire teaching–learning process. The present article presents the opinions of a group of Spanish the Secondary Education teachers (N = 247), on Mixed Reality and inclusive education. Their opinion was collected through the use of a questionnaire composed of 15 items distributed into two dimensions, with 12 of them using a Likert-type response scale of 5 options. Among other aspects, the results showed that the female teachers were more prone on using MR in inclusive environments. As a conclusion, it was observed that even though the use of MR can promote inclusive education, whether or not they were more promising for their use in the learning of students with diverse disabilities, difficulties, or gifted, was dependent on the discipline of the professor (experiences and beliefs), as well as gender (views).
Clinical presentation and surgical management of intra-abdominal abscesses: a retrospective study
Authors: Afrasyabi Raheleh , Shahrahmani Fatemeh , Darzi Ali Asghar , Shirafkan Hoda , Asghari Yasser
Published: January 2025

Background

Intra-abdominal abscesses pose a significant challenge due to their complex nature, potential complications, and diagnostic difficulties. This retrospective study aims to assess the etiological factors, clinical presentations, diagnostic methods, and treatment outcomes associated with intra-abdominal abscesses.

Methods

This cross-sectional, retrospective study reviewed medical records of 47 patients diagnosed with intra-abdominal abscesses at Babol University of Medical Sciences, Iran, between 2011 and 2020. Data collected included demographic details, clinical and laboratory findings, imaging results, treatment methods, and patient outcomes.

Results

The study included 47 patients, with a mean age of 47 years, comprising 20 females and 27 males. The most common symptoms were abdominal pain (85.1%), fever (61.7%), and anorexia (59.57%). Contrast-enhanced CT scan was the predominant diagnostic tool used (55.31%), followed by ultrasound (34.04%). Most abscesses were intraperitoneal (70.21%) and of gastrointestinal origin (61.7%), with appendicitis being the leading cause. Open surgery was the most common treatment method (65.95%), with a higher complication rate observed in surgical cases. There was a significant association between previous surgical history and the development of gastrointestinal abscesses (P = 0.004). No significant differences were found between abscess origin and demographic factors, treatment methods, or complications (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Intra-abdominal abscesses are commonly associated with non-specific symptoms and are most frequently intraperitoneal, originating from gastrointestinal pathology. CT scan remains the gold standard for diagnosis, and open surgery is often required for treatment. The findings underscore the importance of timely diagnosis and individualized treatment strategies, to minimize complications and improve outcomes.
Race, Culture, and the Horizons of Agency: Kant’s Racism, Systematically Understood
Authors: MCNULTY MICHAEL BENNETT
Published: January 2025

Readers should be aware that content about Kant’s racism may be difficult and distressing to read. In various texts, Kant makes statements alleging that Indigenous Americans have ‘no culture’ and Black people possess only the ‘culture of slaves’. These are straightforwardly repugnant commitments. In order to address the role of Kant’s account of ‘culture’ in his racism and provide additional support to Charles Mills’ ‘Untermensch (subhuman) interpretation’ of Kant’s views on race, this article situates Kant’s comments on ‘racialized cultures’ within his teleological account of human history. In his system, ‘culture’ refers to the possession of developed capacities to achieve the ends that one sets for oneself. He sees achievement of culture as part of the development of human beings into members of a socialized, moral kingdom. Given his understanding of culture, I argue that Kant’s remarks on the cultural limitations of persons of color commit him to the further claims that Indigenous Americans and Black people are incapable of setting their own ends and that these deficiencies are hereditary and permanent. For Kant, this has the consequence that these individuals do not possess genuine moral worth in his system, thus supporting Mills’ Untermensch interpretation of Kant’s views on race.
From principles to practice: The case for coordinated international LLMs supervision
Authors: Borgogno Oscar , Perrazzelli Alessandra
Published: January 2025

This paper examines the rise of monitoring schemes to coordinate supervisors and market authorities in addressing the cross-industry challenges posed by large language models’ deployment. As artificial intelligence (AI) intersects with the core mandate of market authorities dealing with financial stability, data protection, intellectual property, competition and telecommunications, effective oversight requires collaboration and information sharing. Using examples such as the Canadian Digital Regulator’s Forum, the UK’s Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum and the European Union’s AI Act implementation process, the paper illustrates how national and international institutional coordination can help operationalizing the high level principles on AI governance which are currently discussed in international fora. Ultimately, this approach aims to ensure responsible AI development while addressing risks and maximizing its societal benefits.
Perceived inequality and variability in the expression of parochial altruism
Authors: Ross Cody T. , Pisor Anne C.
Published: January 2025

It is commonly argued that humans have generalised predispositions for within-group favouritism and between-group animus (i.e. that humans are parochially altruistic), leading to higher levels of internal conflict in societies with greater diversity. Other research, however, has questioned both the ubiquity of parochial altruism and the role of diversity per se in causing social discord. Here, we use ethnographic, social network and experimental economic game data to explore this topic in two multi-ethnic Colombian communities. We examine the extent to which Afrocolombian and Emberá residents express parochial altruism, finding appreciable variability between communities, and across individuals within communities. When present, parochial altruism appears to be driven by divergent perceptions of group-based economic need, not group identity per se. Our results suggest that diversity may be less likely to cause social discord than past work has suggested, as long as group-based inequalities in wealth, well-being and representation – that can destabilise positive inter-group relationships – are minimised.
A Conversation on “Ecology, Extinction, and Posthumanism” with Claire Colebrook
Authors: Datta Asijit
Published: January 2025

This dialogue between Prof Claire Colebrook (Pennsylvania State University) and Asijit Datta is based on an online discussion, “Ecology, Extinction, and Posthumanism” which took place on the 1st of August, 2020 during the raging days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The transcript echoes Colebrook’s sentiments that the ethical demands of the climate hazard or the imminent extinction cannot be addressed to a particular subject or ‘we’. The predominant tension is concealed in the idea of the human and its values. As humans, we refuse to ask whether there is a future where life continues with endless possibilities for us. For Colebrook, the inability to adopt such a stance emerges from the historical condition that we as language-beings have always been the ones to define life, the ones that are essentially racing towards extinction. Following the extinction experiments of Husserl and Bergson, Colebrook contends that only the death of the ethical and political subject can provide us with alternate modes of survival in this world. This conversation engages with issues like the COVID-19 pandemic, American politics, and post-apocalyptic cinema to arrive at an imagination that requires the annihilation of the human as we know it.
Prioritizing emergency department antibiotic stewardship interventions for skin and soft tissue infections using judgment analysis
Authors: Griffin Meggie , Claeys Kimberly C. , Schwei Rebecca J. , Brown Roger L. , Pulia Michael S.
Published: January 2025

Objective:

Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) account for over 2.8 million annual emergency department (ED) visits and often result in suboptimal antibiotic therapy. The objective of this study was to evaluate a set of interventions in minimizing inappropriate prescription of antibiotics for presumed SSTIs in the ED.

Design:

Case vignette survey.

Participants:

A national sample of emergency medicine (EM) physicians.

Methods:

Each vignette described a clinical scenario of a presumed SSTI (cellulitis or abscess) and included a unique combination of zero to five interventions (outpatient follow-up, inappropriate antibiotic request flag, thermal imaging for cellulitis or rapid wound MRSA PCR for abscess, patient education/shared decision-making, and clinical decision support). Out of 64 possible vignettes, we asked participants to respond to eight vignettes. Following each vignette, we asked participants if they would prescribe an antibiotic in their everyday practice (yes/no). We built adjusted hierarchical logistic regression models to estimate the probability of prescribing an antibiotic for each intervention and vignette.

Results:

Surveys were completed by 113 EM physicians. The thermal imaging, rapid wound MRSA PCR, and patient education/shared decision-making interventions showed the largest decrease (15–20%) in antibiotic prescribing probability. Vignettes with a combination of both a diagnostic intervention (thermal imaging or rapid wound MRSA PCR) and a patient education/shared decision-making intervention had the lowest prescribing probabilities.

Conclusion:

We recommend future research focuses on the development and integration of novel diagnostic tools to identify true infection and incorporate shared decision-making to improve diagnosis and management of SSTIs.
Mitigating climate change with financial investments: exploring sustainable investment strategies in a novel experimental investment paradigm
Authors: Karlsson-Larsson Hulda , Erlandsson Arvid , Sandberg Joakim , Västfjäll Daniel
Published: January 2025

Sustainable financial investments play a role in mitigating climate change. With this research, we explored how decision-makers use three investment strategies illustrating different primary motives: (1) money maximization (economic self-interest), (2) exclusion (not personally harming the environment), and (3) inclusion (helping the environment most efficiently). The relative use of these strategies was tested within a novel investment paradigm, aiming to artificially create a trade-off between financial payoffs (money maximization), environmental purity (exclusion), and environmental impact (inclusion). We recruited 1422 participants online and let them make ten consecutive investment choices, with incentivized outcomes, both monetary (i.e., potential bonus payment) and environmental (i.e., number of trees planted). We tested the change in investment choices using a between-subject design with four conditions, a control, and one default condition for each investment strategy. The three strategies were chosen about equally often in the control condition, but we find that this investment pattern could be altered by a default intervention. Preliminary evidence suggests that participants primarily using the exclusion and inclusion strategies differ in their moral reasoning. Utilitarianism better predicted the inclusion strategy, whereas high self-importance of moral identity better predicted the exclusion strategy.
Small-scale interface dynamic modelling based on the geometric method of moments for a two-scale two-phase flow model with a disperse small scale
Authors: Loison Arthur , Pichard Teddy , Kokh Samuel , Massot Marc
Published: January 2025

In this contribution, we develop a versatile formalism to derive unified two-phase models describing both the separated and disperse regimes as introduced by Loison et al. (Intl J. Multiphase Flow, vol. 177, 2024, 104857). It relies on the stationary action principle and interface geometric variables. This contribution provides a novel method to derive small-scale models for the dynamics of the interface geometry. They are introduced here on a simplified case where all the scales and phases have the same velocity and that does not take into account large-scale capillary forces. The derivation tools yield a proper mathematical framework through hyperbolicity and signed entropy evolution. The formalism encompasses a hierarchy of small-scale reduced-order models based on a statistical description at a mesoscopic kinetic level and is naturally able to include the description of a disperse phase with polydispersity in size. This hierarchy includes both a cloud of spherical droplets and non-spherical droplets experiencing a dynamical behaviour through incompressible oscillations. The associated small-scale variables are moments of a number density function resulting from the geometric method of moments (GeoMOM). This method selects moments as small-scale geometric variables compatible with the structure and dynamics of the interface; they are defined independently of the flow topology and, therefore, this model allows the coupling of the two-scale flow with an inter-scale transfer. It is shown, in particular, that the resulting dynamics provides partial closures for the interface area density equation obtained from the averaging approach.
Large-eddy simulations of conical hypersonic turbulent boundary layers over cooled walls via volumetric rescaling method
Authors: Toki Takahiko , Sousa Victor C.B. , Chen Yongkai , Camillo Giannino Ponchio , Wagner Alexander , Scalo Carlo
Published: January 2025

Large-eddy simulations (LES) of a hypersonic boundary layer on a

$7^\circ$

-half-angle cone are performed to investigate the effects of highly cooled walls (wall-to-recovery temperature ratio of

$T_w / T_r \sim 0.1$

) on fully developed turbulence and to validate a newly developed rescaling method based on volumetric flow extraction. Two Reynolds numbers are considered,

$Re_m = 4.1 \times 10^6\ \text {m}^{-1}$

and

$6.4 \times 10^6\ \text {m}^{-1}$

, at free-stream Mach numbers of

$M_\infty = 7.4$

. A comparison with a reference laminar-to-turbulent simulation, capturing the full history of the transitional flow dynamics, reveals that the volumetric rescaling method can generate a synthetic turbulent inflow that preserves the structure of the fluctuations. Equilibrium conditions are recovered after approximately 40 inlet boundary layer thicknesses. Numerical trials show that a longer streamwise extent of the rescaling box increases numerical stability. Analyses of turbulent statistics and flow visualizations reveal strong pressure oscillations, up to

$50\,\%$

of local mean pressure near the wall, and two-dimensional longitudinal wave structures resembling second-mode waves, with wavelengths up to 50 % of the boundary layer thickness, and convective Mach numbers of

$M_c \simeq 4.5$

. It is shown that their quasi-periodic recurrence in the flow is not an artefact of the rescaling method. Strong and localized temperature fluctuations and spikes in the wall-heat flux are associated with such waves. Very high values of temperature variance near the wall result in oscillations of the wall-heat flux exceeding its average. Instances of near-wall temperature falling below the imposed wall temperature of

$T_w=300$

K result in pockets of instantaneous heat flux oriented against the statistical mean direction.
BUSINESS INVESTMENT, PRODUCTIVITY AND BREXIT
Authors: Kaya Ahmet , Liadze Iana , Low Hailey , Juanino Patricia Sanchez , Millard Stephen
Published: January 2025

The United Kingdom has experienced significantly lower growth rates of business investment and labour productivity following its decision to leave the European Union, although this lacklustre performance was affected by the economic shocks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine in addition to Brexit. This article aims to quantify the impact of Brexit on business investment and labour productivity in the United Kingdom using the National Institute of Economic and Social Research’s Global Macroeconometric Model. We model Brexit as a decline in trade with the European Union and associated reduction in terms of trade, a decrease in productivity and a permanent increase in uncertainty. Our estimates suggest that these shocks have led to an approximately 12–13% decline in UK business investment in 2023, which gradually declines to 7–8% by 2035 as businesses adjust to the terms of trade and productivity shocks. This corresponds to a real gross domestic product (GDP) loss of 2–3% (about £850 per capita) in 2023 and 5–6% (about £2,300 per capita) by 2035. Additionally, we find that Brexit has reduced labour productivity by around 2–2.5% as of 2023, with a projected reduction of 5–6% by 2035.
TWO NON-VANISHING RESULTS CONCERNING THE ANTI-CANONICAL BUNDLE
Authors: MÜLLER NIKLAS
Published: January 2025

Let

$(X, \Delta )$

be a klt threefold pair with nef anti-log canonical divisor

$-(K_X+\Delta )$

. We show that

$\kappa (X, -(K_X+\Delta ))\geq 0$

. To do so, we prove a more general equivariant non-vanishing result for anti-log canonical bundles, which is valid in any dimension.
ON THE CONVERGENCE OF ZETA FUNCTIONS OF PREHOMOGENEOUS VECTOR SPACES
Authors: FINIS TOBIAS , LAPID EREZ
Published: January 2025

We prove a general convergence result for zeta functions of prehomogeneous vector spaces extending results of H. Saito, F. Sato and Yukie. Our analysis points to certain subspaces which yield boundary terms. We study it further in the setup arising from nilpotent orbits. In certain cases we determine the residue at the rightmost pole of the zeta function.
Dust pathways of the Songnen Plain, Northeast China in the last glacial period and their implications for ecological security
Authors: Jiao Yan , Xie Yuanyun , Chi Yunping , Sun Lei , Wu Peng , Wei Zhenyu , Liu Haijin , Wang Yehui , Liu Ruonan
Published: January 2025

Loess, a geologic record of dust, is an optimal archive for exploring paleoclimate and the paleo-dust path from source to sink. The dust path for the Songnen Plain, NE China, during the last glacial period has not been established. To address this, 63 surface sediment samples from the Northeast China Sandy Lands, i.e., Onqin Daga Sandy Land (OD), Horqin Sandy Land (HQ), Hulun Buir Sandy Land (HL), and Songnen Sandy Land (SN), and six samples from the last glacial loess in the Harbin area were collected for elemental geochemical analysis of the <10 μm fraction to quantitatively reconstruct the dust pathway using a frequentist model. The results show that these sandy lands have a distinct geochemical composition due to a control from markedly different provenances. The quantitative results indicate that the dust contribution of the southwestern SN to the Harbin loess is as high as 50.4–77.2%, followed by the OD and HQ (3.3–34.8%), the northwestern SN (0–36.8%), and the HL (0–8%). Notably, the dust contribution to the Harbin loess began to change considerably after ~46–41 ka BP, with a significant increase from 1.1% to 41.2% from the northwestern direction. Some ecological safety strategies are proposed to address dust pollution in the Harbin area.
Investigating the impact of COVID-19 on the atmospheric 14C trend and fossil carbon load at urban and background sites in Hungary
Authors: Baráth Balázs Áron , Varga Tamás , Major István , Haszpra László , Vargas Danny , Barcza Zoltán , Molnár Mihály
Published: January 2025

The study analyses in situ CO2 mole fraction, 14CO2, and fossil based excess CO2 mole fraction (Cfoss) data at Hegyhátsál (HUN) rural monitoring station (Central Europe) supplemented by passive monitoring of 14C content of tree-rings. Through the observed period (2014–2020) we focused on revealing trends in atmospheric CO2 and 14C levels, particularly during the year of the first COVID lockdown, in comparison to the preceding five years. In addition, monthly integrated samples of atmospheric CO2 and tree-rings from the six years were subjected to 14C analysis. The passive tree-ring measurements focuses on two major urban areas (Budapest and Debrecen) in Hungary, along with the rural monitoring site. Results show a steady increase in CO2 levels at HUN between 2014 and 2020. The calculated fossil based excess CO2 concentrations for the initial year of COVID are in good agreement with the previous five-year averages both at 115 m and 10 m elevations. These results also show seasonal variations of CO2 mole fractions, peaking in winter and decreasing in summer. Tree-ring results from Debrecen show a good alignment with the results of the atmospheric monitoring station, and it does not show a significant fossil contribution in the urban background area during the vegetation periods. Tree-ring results from Budapest show a stronger fossil contribution compared to the Debrecen ones. Our atmospheric CO2 results do not show a large decrease in fossil CO2 atmospheric contribution during the first lockdown. We found that the use of this passive CO2 monitoring technique can provide a valuable tool for investigating such differences.
UPPER BOUNDS ON POLYNOMIAL ROOT SEPARATION
Authors: KNAPP GREG , YIP CHI HOI
Published: January 2025

We consider the relationship between the Mahler measure

$M(f)$

of a polynomial f and its separation

$\operatorname {sep}(f)$

. Mahler [‘An inequality for the discriminant of a polynomial’, Michigan Math. J.11 (1964), 257–262] proved that if

$f(x) \in \mathbb {Z}[x]$

is separable of degree n, then

$\operatorname {sep}(f) \gg _n M(f)^{-(n-1)}$

. This spurred further investigations into the implicit constant involved in that relationship and led to questions about the optimal exponent on

$M(f)$

. However, there has been relatively little study concerning upper bounds on

$\operatorname {sep}(f)$

in terms of

$M(f)$

. We prove that if

$f(x) \in \mathbb {C}[x]$

has degree n, then

$\operatorname {sep}(f) \ll n^{-1/2}M(f)^{1/(n-1)}$

. Moreover, this bound is sharp up to the implied constant factor. We further investigate the constant factor under various additional assumptions on

$f(x)$

; for example, if it has only real roots.
ON PERFECT POWERS AS SUMS OR DIFFERENCES OF TWO k-GENERALISED PELL NUMBERS
Authors: PATEL BIJAN KUMAR , TRIPATHY BIBHU PRASAD
Published: January 2025

For an integer

$k \geq 2$

, let

$P_{n}^{(k)}$

be the k-generalised Pell sequence, which starts with

$0, \ldots ,0,1$

(k terms), and each term thereafter is given by the recurrence

$P_{n}^{(k)} = 2 P_{n-1}^{(k)} +P_{n-2}^{(k)} +\cdots +P_{n-k}^{(k)}$

. We search for perfect powers, which are sums or differences of two k-generalised Pell numbers.
The abelianization of the elementary group of rank two
Authors: Mirzaii Behrooz , Pérez Elvis Torres
Published: January 2025

For an arbitrary ring A, we study the abelianization of the elementary group

$\mathit{{\rm E}}_2(A)$

. In particular, we show that for a commutative ring A there exists an exact sequence

\begin{equation*}
{\rm K}_2(2,A)/{\rm C}(2,A) \rightarrow A/M \rightarrow \mathit{{\rm E}}_2(A)^{\rm ab} \rightarrow 1,
\end{equation*}

where

${\rm C}(2,A)$

is the central subgroup of the Steinberg group

$\mathit{{\rm St}}(2,A)$

generated by the Steinberg symbols and M is the additive subgroup of A generated by

$x(a^2-1)$

and

$3(b+1)(c+1)$

, with

$x\in A, a,b,c \in {A^\times}$

.
Rules of Origin, Value Chains and African Development under the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement
Authors: Ajibo Collins Chikodili , Kaime Thoko
Published: January 2025

Rules of origin under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement constitute a vital trade instrument that forestalls freeriding by ensuring that only originating products and services benefit from preferential treatment within the free trade area. Functional rules of origin in design and implementation foster the sourcing of value content by producers, manufacturers and enterprises within Africa in accordance with the governing treaty. The sourcing of value content by producers, manufacturers and enterprises within Africa promotes economic activities, measured industrialization and socio-economic development. While the AfCFTA Agreement recognizes the capacities of both rules of origin and regional value chains, each standing alone or acting in a complementary manner to promote African development, a successful outcome will be determined by a critical adjustment that improves capacity and capability. Arguably, state parties to the AfCFTA Agreement should implement strategies for upscaling preference utilization and value chain growth, infrastructural investment and interventions that stimulate value chain trade.