bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synergistic effects of El Niño–Southern Oscillation and the Indian Ocean Dipole on Middle Eastern subseasonal precipitation variability and predictability
Authors: Hochman Assaf , Gildor Hezi
Published: December 2024

This study investigates the influence of tropical sea‐surface temperature (SST) on subseasonal precipitation variability and predictability in the Middle East. With this aim, we focus on the synergistic effects of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) during October. We confirmed that these phenomena exhibit a seasonal correlation, with its highest value in October (). Analysis revealed a significant correlation between tropical SST and total precipitation with a minimum two‐month lag (). Notably, the combined effect of a positive ENSO and IOD produces significantly more precipitation than a negative ENSO and IOD, mainly over the Fertile Crescent. This is attributed to increased water‐vapor flux directed towards the Middle East, which is more pronounced during positive ENSO and IOD. Moreover, the study highlights the broader implications of tropical SST on the frequency of rain‐bearing weather types in the eastern Mediterranean, that is, the Red Sea Trough and the Mediterranean low‐pressure systems often termed ‘Cyprus Lows’. Specifically, positive ENSO events coupled with a positive IOD diminish the occurrence of the Red Sea Trough while concurrently increasing the frequency of Cyprus Lows. The increase in Cyprus Low occurrence relates to the relative location and intensity of the subtropical jet, thus influencing the Mediterranean storm track. Despite this apparent effect, the synergistic interaction of a positive ENSO and IOD poses challenges for subseasonal precipitation prediction, both practically and intrinsically. The October 1997 anomalously positive ENSO and IOD case study provided additional support and understanding to the statistical analysis. This research underscores the relationship between tropical SST and precipitation patterns in the Middle East, shedding light on the challenges and complexities of subseasonal to seasonal weather and climate prediction in this vulnerable region.
Tuning the Triplet Formation Efficiency by Heavy‐Atom Substitution in 3‐Hydroxythiochromone
Authors: Bera Anshuman , Nair Lekshmi R. , Siraj Amjatha , Vennapusa Sivaranjana Reddy
Published: December 2024

We theoretically studied the triplet formation efficiency in positional isomers of bromine‐substituted 3‐Hydroxythiochromones. Dynamics simulations with relevant spin‐orbit coupling parameters show ultrafast triplet formation with S1 as the donor singlet and upper triplet excited states as receiver states. The near‐degeneracy of S2 with S1 promotes nonadiabatic population transfer from S1 to S2 in isomers with bromine substitution at the 5th position of the parent molecule. This population transfer unfurls an additional intersystem crossing pathway involving S2 and T4, enabling this isomer to show a higher triplet efficiency. The excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer process, promoted by low barrier energy, is operative and can affect the isomers' triplet formation efficiency. Moreover, the timescales of proton transfer and triplet formation can overlap, necessitating thorough experimental investigations to uncover the competitiveness of these simultaneous events.
Robust Consensus Control for Multiple Euler–Lagrange Systems With External Disturbances Based on Event‐Triggered Communication
Authors: Shi Zhengqing , Li Bo , Zhou Chuan , Guo Jian
Published: December 2024

In this article, a novel robust consensus control protocol is proposed for multiple uncertain Euler–Lagrange systems with unknown external disturbances. First, the local adaptive control laws are derived under event‐triggered communication framework, and the robust consensus control problem is transformed into an equivalent optimal control problem with disturbance rejection. Event‐triggered mechanisms and distributed state estimators are designed by utilizing only triggered exchanging states, by which continuous monitoring neighbors' states is avoided and communication burdens are effectively reduced. Second, the Hamilton–Jacobi–Isaac equations are formulated based on zero‐sum differential game theory, and adaptive dynamic programming methods are employed to approximate the Nash‐equivalent solutions, by which the local robust optimal control laws are derived to eliminate the disturbance effects and improve the robustness of the proposed strategy. It is strictly proved that all signals in the closed‐loop systems are uniformly ultimately bounded and the cost functions are minimized. Finally, two practical examples are presented to validate the proposed strategy.
Spatial Analysis of Large Wood Storage in Coastal Plain Rivers of the Southeast US
Authors: Praskievicz Sarah , Martin Derek , Platt Joshua , Stephens Stephanie
Published: December 2024

Large wood (LW) is widely recognized as a significant driver of geomorphic and ecological processes in river systems, but research on LW has been focused largely on low‐order streams in high‐gradient catchments. By comparison, there have been relatively few studies examining the channel‐scale distribution of LW in higher‐order, low‐gradient river systems, such as those in the Coastal Plain of the Southeast US. Here, a field survey of LW in three Coastal Plain rivers in Alabama and North Carolina was conducted. Total wood loads were calculated, LW characteristics were examined, and Ripley's K analysis was used to investigate the channel‐scale spatial distribution of LW in the study rivers for all pieces and for subsets based on stability and decay class. Results indicate that the range of LW loads in the study rivers (9.6–20.8 m3 per 100‐m channel length) is generally in line with loads reported for other temperate forested sites. Over half of the surveyed LW pieces were oriented perpendicular to the channel, and substantial proportions (36%–44%) were pinned, favoring the formation of jams. Ripley's K analysis showed that, on two of the three study rivers, LW was significantly clustered at short distance intervals, with higher degrees of clustering for pinned pieces, indicating the concentration of these pieces in jams. Older LW pieces (as indicated by decay class) were generally more clustered than new ones, potentially indicating the role of transport in moving pieces with longer residence time to favorable deposition locations during mobilizing flows.
Four alternative currencies and their worlds
Authors: Mandirola Santiago
Published: December 2024

The following piece is a work of fiction. The trigger for this text was to explore a “what if” question. “What if X happened?” “What scenarios would emerge as a consequence of X?” This premise guided the scenarios presented in this text: what if the movement of every US dollar was made completely traceable? What other currencies, monies, and types of political, social, and economic organization would emerge because of this measure? As a result, four scenarios are presented. The first one responds to the former question, and the other three refer to states and monies that would emerge, grow, or strengthen, as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the first scenario. This way of organizing the text combines finance, economics, fiction, and speculative design. In terms of genre, the piece was originally organized as a brochure destined for potential investors who might be interested in profiting from these alternative currencies ‐ which I have adapted to fit the journal format.
Exploring Nitro‐functionalized Bis‐Schiff Bases: Synthesis, Structural Characterization, Antimicrobial, DFT, In‐silico ADME/T and Molecular Docking Studies
Authors: Munjapara Abhishek , Parekh Jenish , Ibrahim Munir , Bhatt Tirth , Patel Raj N. , Socha Bhavesh N. , Jebaliya Hetal , Bishoyi Ashokkumar , Pal Subrata , Patra Subrata
Published: December 2024

Three novel Schiff base positional isomers, L1 (bis(2‐((2‐nitrobenzylidene)amino)ethyl)amine), L2 (bis(2‐((3‐nitrobenzylidene)amino)ethyl)amine), and L3 (bis(2‐((4‐nitrobenzylidene)amino)ethyl)amine), were synthesized and their structural characterizations were confirmed using FT‐IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and LC‐MS. All three Schiff bases were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against a range of bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Klebsiella pneumoniae) and fungi (Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans), with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determined for all bacterial strains. A functional group position‐dependent effect was observed in antibacterial activity, with L1 and L3 exhibiting superior efficiency compared to L2 across all bacterial strains. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were performed to optimize the geometries of Schiff bases and evaluate their electronic properties. The DFT results were in good agreement with the experimental findings, suggesting that L1 and L3 possess more favorable electronic characteristics for antibacterial activity. Molecular docking studies revealed effective binding modes between the Schiff bases and bacterial receptor active sites. In silico ADMET studies were conducted to assess the drug‐likeness properties of the synthesized molecules, showing that all compounds conform to drug‐like characteristics. The study highlights that not only the presence of ─NO2 group but also its specific position within the Schiff base significantly influences antibacterial efficacy.
Synthesis and Design of New 1,3,4‐Oxadiazole Benzimidazole Hybrids as Potential Antibacterial Agents Against MRSA by Targeting FabI
Authors: Akhter Gowsia , Hamid Hinna , Dhawan Bharti , Kumar Das Ayan , Tantray Mushtaq A. , Alam Mohammad Sarwar , Sharma Kalicharan
Published: December 2024

The current investigation describes the synthesis of the 1,3,4‐oxadiazole benzimidazole hybrids 5 (a–m) as antibacterial agents against methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by targeting the enoyl‐acyl carrier protein binding site of enoyl‐acyl carrier protein reductase (FabI). Compounds having better (2–6 µg/mL) minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) than ampicillin (100 µg/mL) in initial screening using the broth dilution method against S. aureus (ATCC‐29213) were further gauged for their antimicrobial potential against MRSA (ATCC 4330) using sultamicillin as a standard. 5‐(2‐(4‐Chlorophenyl)‐1H‐benzo[d]imidazol‐6‐yl)‐N‐phenyl‐1,3,4‐oxadiazol‐2‐amine (5a) was found to be most potent against MRSA with a MIC of 6 µg/mL in comparison to sultamicillin (25 µg/mL). Furthermore, the time‐kill assay exhibited that compound 5a was bactericidal and demonstrated a high safety profile, as hemolysis caused in human red blood cells was insignificant (1.6%) at the concentration of 6 µg/mL (MIC × 3). To establish the molecular target of action, in silico molecular docking studies were performed against SaFabI to reconnoiter the intervention of the molecules in the FAS‐II pathway. Compound 5a exhibited high binding affinity (−11.19) to the target; furthermore, the molecular dynamic simulation studies affirmed the stability of compound 5a, within the active site of the target. All compounds exhibited drug‐appropriate physicochemical characteristics and pharmacokinetic profiles as established by computational ADMET analysis. The study revealed that the synthesized library of small‐molecule oxadiazole benzimidazole hybrids holds promise for developing new antibacterial agents against MRSA infections.
Bias Tunable SnS2/ReSe2 Tunneling Photodetector with High Responsivity and Fast Response Speed
Authors: Li Wei , Yang Ruijing , Han Xiao , Cheng Lin , Yin Tianle , Gao Kexin , Gan Xuetao , Wang Yucheng , Wang Shaoxi
Published: December 2024

2D photodetectors operating in photovoltaic mode exhibit a trade‐off between response speed and photoresponsivity. This work presents a phototransistor based on SnS2/ReSe2 heterojunction. Under negative bias, the energy band spike at the heterojunction interface impedes the carrier drifting so that the dark current is as low as 10−13 A. The tunneling under positive bias significantly reduces the transmission time of photogenerated carriers, which enhances the responsivity and specific detectivity to 32.77 A W−1 and 5.77 × 1011 Jones, respectively. Under reverse bias, the enhanced built‐in electric field strengthens the rapid separation of photogenerated carriers, which elevates a response speed to 10.5/24.1 µs and a 3 dB bandwidth to 54.8 kHz. The device also exhibits a broad spectral detection capability, extending from the near‐ultraviolet to the near‐infrared. Furthermore, this work also executed high‐quality ASCII communication and high‐resolution broadband single‐pixel imaging, which demonstrates great promise for incorporation into future broadband optoelectronic systems.
Label‐Free SERS Analysis of Biological and Physical Information Heterogeneity of Nanoscale Extracellular Vesicle by Matching Specific Sizes of Enhanced Particles
Authors: Zhang Ruiyuan , Guo Yu , Huang Chen , Fang Jixiang
Published: December 2024

The heterogeneity of extracellular vesicles (EVs) surface information represents different functions, which is neglected in previous studies. In this study, a label‐free SERS analysis approach is demonstrated to study fundamental EV biological and physical information heterogeneity by matching specific sizes of nano‐enhanced particles. This strategy reveals informative, comprehensive, and high‐quality SERS spectra of the overall exosome surface, and effectively circumvents the key information loss caused by the spatial resistance of NPs binding to the 293 exosomes' concave structure. The classification of normal and cancerous cell‐derived exosomes by PCA method, the accuracy is improved from 91.2% to 95.1% by optimizing sizes of nano‐enhanced particles. In addition, stem cell‐derived EVs of diverse sizes and morphologies similarly show acuity of spectrum variation to NPs size, which is conductive to qualitative studies. This new strategy will offer a widened in‐depth understanding of the surface information, size, and morphology of EVs, which can be applied to the study of biological functions.
Suppression of High Spin State of Mn for the Improvement of Mn‐Based Materials in Rechargeable Batteries
Authors: Nguyen Johan , Lee Youngil , Yang Yang
Published: December 2024

Manganese‐based materials are essential for developing safe, cost‐effective, and environmentally sustainable rechargeable batteries, which are critical for advancing clean energy technologies. However, the high spin state of the Mn cation triggers a pronounced Jahn–Teller effect and phase transformations during cycling, leading to structural instability and reduced electrochemical performance of the Mn‐based cathodes. This review provides a fundamental understanding of the Jahn–Teller effect, highlights recent strategies to mitigate the high spin state of Mn, and offers insights into future research directions aimed at overcoming the Jahn–Teller effect to enhance the performance of next‐generation Mn‐based cathodes for rechargeable batteries.
Test and Theoretical Investigations on Flexural Behavior of High‐Performance H‐Shaped Steel Beam with Local Corrosion in Pure Bending Zone
Authors: Tang Huang , Peng Jianxin , Peng Hui , Yang Yiming , Gao Qiong , Xiao Linfa , Li Hai , Zheng Liangfei , Chen Zexiang , Yang Zonggui
Published: December 2024

This article undertakes the tested and theoretical investigations on the flexural behaviors of high‐performance steel (HPS) beams subjected to local corrosion in pure bending zone. Four H‐type HPS beams are designed, then the flexural bearing capacity test is carried out. Mechanical behaviors, including load‐deflection response, strain development, and failure modes are investigated in detail. A simple theoretical model of flexural strength is proposed. The tested and theoretical results show that: with the increase of corrosion rate, the random distribution of the residual section of HPS beam tends to be stable, the corrosion position also plays an important role in the random distribution of the residual area. The corrosion position has a greater influence on the residual flexural strength of corroded HPS beam than the corrosion degree. The theoretical flexural strength model can slight accurately predict the flexural strength of corroded H‐type HPS beam, the error is less than 5%. The corrosion of compressive flange has the most serious effect on the flexural strength degradation of HPS beams, followed by the corrosion of tensile flange and web corrosion. The influence of corrosion in the web height direction on the flexural strength of corroded HPS beam is extremely limited.
Structural behavior of deteriorated Gerber half‐joints in highway overpasses by nonlinear finite element analysis combined with a simplified uniform‐corrosion model
Authors: De Domenico Dario , Spinella Nino , Messina Davide , Mazzeo Matteo , Recupero Antonino
Published: December 2024

Gerber half‐joints, broadly used in the last century as elements of concrete bridges, are prone to corrosion‐induced deterioration, which may lead to brittle shear collapse. It is of paramount importance to develop advanced numerical models for simulating the collapse behavior of Gerber half‐joints, taking material deterioration into account. This paper investigates the ultimate capacity of deteriorated Gerber half‐joints belonging to a set of 50‐year‐old road overpasses in Messina, Italy. The peculiarities of these prestressed concrete bridges are: (1) oversized hangers and diagonal reinforcement bars in the dapped end; (2) inadequate concrete compressed area in the section above the pier subject to negative bending moment. Calibrated upon an extensive in situ test campaign, a parametric 2D and 3D nonlinear finite element analysis (NLFEA) of a portion of the bridge deck is performed to quantify model uncertainties related to: (i) modeling approach, involving different dimensions of the finite element (FE) model (2D and 3D), software, solvers, and implemented nonlinear concrete material model; (ii) shrinkage and creep formulation in the NLFEAs; (iii) effect of the transverse diaphragm in the section above the pier. Carbonation depths identified from experimental tests in conjunction with gravimetric analysis on extracted steel samples are used for calibrating a simplified uniform‐corrosion model, which is incorporated in the NLFEA to investigate the influence of corrosion on the load‐bearing capacity and failure mechanism of the investigated Gerber half‐joints. It is found that the load‐bearing capacity is negligibly reduced (<2%) by the corrosion penetration at the current date (53 years from the construction) and moderately decreases (around 10%) at 100 years of service life. NLFEA outcomes are finally compared to simplified formulations based on strut‐and‐tie models and cross‐sectional analyses to estimate discrepancies resulting from different levels of approximation, as suggested by modern design codes.
Synergistic Anxiolytic Effects of Linalool and Sesamol Co‐Treatment on Swiss Albino Mice: A Potential GABAergic Intervention
Authors: Islam Muhammad Torequl , Bhuia Md. Shimul , Mostakim Md. Shadin , Chowdhury Raihan , Hasan Rubel , Sheikh Salehin , Ansari Siddique Akber , Ansari Irfan Aamer , Eity Tanzila Akter , Islam Md. Tohidul
Published: December 2024

Sesamol (SES) and linalool (LIN) are aromatic compounds that have neuroprotective effects. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the anxiolytic activity of LIN and SES co‐treatment on Swiss albino mice and analyze its possible mechanism through in silico study. In this sense, the mice were given the gamma‐aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABAA) agonist diazepam (DZP; 3 mg/kg, p.o.) as a positive control. A vehicle (10 mL/kg) was served as control. The tested chemicals, single‐dose LIN (50 mg/kg) and SES (50 mg/kg), as well as a combination (LIN + SES) and (DZP + LIN + SES), were administered orally in order to conduct several behavioral tests, including open‐field, swings box, hole‐crossing, and dark‐resident time tests. Further, molecular docking studies of LIN, SES, and DZP were carried out through different software. The results showed that LIN and SES individually have significant anxiolytic‐like activity in mice. Further, when LIN was combined with SES and with (SES + DZP), it exhibited a relatively lower locomotor activity in mice compared to individual treatment groups, indicating a synergistic action. In addition, the molecular docking analysis revealed that LIN and SES have a moderate binding affinity (−5.0 and −5.1 kcal/mol) toward the GABAA receptor α3 subunit. In conclusion, our findings suggest that LIN and SES exerted synergistic anxiolytic activity on Swiss albino mice, possibly through the GABAergic interaction pathways.
Mallard response to experimental human disturbance on sanctuary areas is mediated by hunting
Authors: Blake‐Bradshaw Abigail G. , Masto Nicholas M. , Highway Cory J. , Keever Allison C. , Feddersen Jamie C. , Hagy Heath M. , Cohen Bradley S.
Published: December 2024

Wildlife managers often provide spatial sanctuaries for wildlife to escape both lethal (e.g. hunting) and non‐lethal (e.g. non‐consumptive recreation) human disturbance. However, as societal interest in outdoor recreation continues to climb, many areas face added pressure to allow recreation, yet studies increasingly demonstrate negative effects of outdoor recreation on wildlife. As such, an understanding of how wildlife respond to human activities is essential to develop sustainable outdoor recreation guidelines to preserve multiple benefits for humans, while simultaneously protecting wildlife populations and fitness. We examined GPS‐marked mallard responses to three experimental disturbances meant to mimic recreation that could theoretically occur on waterfowl sanctuaries during 1 November–28 February 2019–2022. We evaluated effects on movement, space use, and site fidelity and expected that repeated disturbance would result in habituation. We further evaluated predictions of the risk–disturbance hypothesis, whereby we predicted greater behavioral responses during the hunting period and to more intense stimuli. We conducted 140 covered vehicle (e.g. truck), 40 pedestrian, and 43 uncovered vehicle (e.g. ATV) disturbances across 10 sanctuaries, exposing 195 mallards to ≥ 1 disturbance (median = 2, range = 1–12). Diurnal sanctuary use exceeded 83% of proportional use regardless of period; however, mallards only decreased sanctuary use when disturbed before the hunting period with an uncovered vehicle. Besides immediate increases in hourly movements on mornings mallards received pedestrian and uncovered vehicle disturbances, disturbed mallards displayed minimal changes in hourly movements. At the diel scale, pedestrians elicited the greatest responses; space use doubled for disturbed birds during pre‐hunt and early‐hunt periods. In contrast, vehicle disturbances decreased movement but only outside the hunting period. Repeated disturbance caused gradual declines in space use: mallards used 12% less space with each additional disturbance during hunting. Constrained behavioral responses and unchanged sanctuary fidelity after disturbance during hunting season suggests the limited availability of alternative safe areas constrained mallard responses to disturbances.
The Unusual Role of Ribonuclease L in Innate Immunity
Authors: Karasik Agnes , Guydosh Nicholas R.
Published: December 2024

Ribonuclease L is an endonuclease that is activated as part of the dsRNA‐driven innate immune response. Active RNase L cleaves pathogenic RNAs as a way to eliminate infections. However, there are additional and unexpected ways that RNase L causes changes in the host that promote an immune response and contribute to its role in host defense. Central to these unconventional mechanisms is the observation that RNase L also degrades the mRNA of the host. In turn, mRNA fragments that RNase L generates can be translated. This causes activation of a ribosome collision sensor that leads to downstream signaling and cell death. Additionally, the liberation of RNA binding proteins after RNA decay appears to affect gene expression. In this review, we discuss these and other recent advances that focus on novel and unusual ways RNase L contributes to innate immunity.
Optimal convergence analysis of second‐order time‐discrete stabilized scheme for the thermally coupled incompressible MHD system
Authors: Wang Zhaowei , Wang Danxia , Wang Zixuan , Zhang Jun , Jia Hongen
Published: December 2024

In this paper, we construct an optimal convergence analysis of second‐order stabilized scheme for the thermally coupled incompressible magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) system. First, we construct first‐ and second‐order time‐discrete schemes in which the time derivative term is treated by the first‐order backward Euler method and the second‐order backward difference formulation, respectively. And the nonlinear terms are treated by semi‐implicit method. Importantly, we use the Gauge–Uzawa method to decouple velocity and pressure. The proposed schemes have the following two distinct features: they do not need to give an initial value of the pressure, and they do not require artificial boundary conditions on the pressure. Second, the unconditional energy stability of the two schemes is proved. Then, through rigorous error analysis, we provide optimal convergence orders for all unknowns. Finally, some numerical experiments demonstrate the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed schemes.
Transnational Influences: Finnish Feminism Between East and West
Authors: Yoken Hannah Kaarina , Turunen Arja
Published: December 2024

This chapter covers the transnational influences that shaped feminism in Finland during the 1960s and 1970s. It argues that Finnish feminism was influenced by transnational currents, but also emerged as a response to pressing national issues. Moreover, this chapter posits that transnational feminist influences reached Finland from multiple countries, primarily the Nordic region and especially Sweden. The chapter is based on archival evidence, oral histories, memoires, and media reportage. It analyses micro-historical narratives, which elucidate the tangible border-crossing aspirations and actions of individuals, and groups of actors, and utilises an entangled rather than comparative approach.
Feminist Circulations: Towards a Translocal and Transnational History of the Women’s Health Movement in 1970’s Italy
Authors: Tafuro Azzurra
Published: December 2024

For the very first time, this chapter offers a translocal and transnational history of a crucial but hitherto neglected part of Italian feminisms: the national branch of the Women’s Health Movement, which consisted of a multitude of small collectives and was the protagonist of an extraordinary struggle for reproductive rights and sexual health. Based on printed, oral, audiovisual and archival sources from Italy, France and the United States, the chapter highlights how those collectives—despite different positions and various disagreements—were not isolated groups but expressions of a translocal and transnational movement. Including the Italian case in the Women’s Health Movement history and putting it in dialogue with other national cases reveals that these feminisms were not so much a structure composed of an Anglophone centre and a non-Anglophone periphery but a complex polycentric structure in which practices, ideals, solidarity and knowledge circulated and changed, constantly adapting to the various national and local contexts.
Cognitive Household Finance
Authors: Caplin Andrew
Published: December 2024

This chapter introduces cognitive household finance organized around the life-cycle model of wealth accumulation. It covers exponential and hyperbolic discounting, temptation and self control problems. It distinguishes the present-bias of many younger individuals from the future-bias of many older ones. It discusses financial literacy, financial education, financial advisers, and the power of financial planning. It discusses the impact of cognitive decline on wealth and financial abuse of the elderly. It stresses how difficult it is to provide for future long-term care needs and to guard assets against cognitive decline. It indicates the potential value of shared equity housing finance for those who wish to receive care in the home.
Fostering Citizen-Led Projects Through Multi-level Engagement in Wildemanbuurt, Amsterdam
Authors: Krabbendam Diana , Wolf Emiel , Deekens Bernie , Bak Rosalie , Krikke Hans
Published: December 2024

This chapter outlines the activities in the Wildeman neighborhood in Amsterdam, undertaken within the context of the New European Bauhaus project Desire by two organizations, Samenwonen-Samenleven and The Beach. It starts by describing the local context, including new policies and developments that are taking place. The main challenges are identified. Firstly, there is a lack of trust and feeling of community. Inhabitants are not being involved and do not feel ownership in the developments happening in their neighborhood. Additionally, existing community activities and services are fragmented. Several activities that attempt to deal with these challenges are then discussed. These activities include integration of and reflection on the methodologies of the two participating organizations, engagement and organization of informal networks, and the creation of Design- and Do-groups (Ontwerpen Doe groepen). These groups composed of residents, focused on designing and implementing interventions to improve the area. Each group took on a specific topic: community gardens, youth education & media, healthy relationism, circular waste processing, local coffee & tea distribution, and circular street fashion. Lastly, the results and learnings from this process are presented.
The Green Transition: Transforming Soviet Housing Neighborhoods in Zjepju, Riga
Authors: Rubenis Rūdis , Zinkēvičs Emīls , Siņicka Liene
Published: December 2024

The Ziepju 11 site in Riga, Latvia, is undergoing significant renovation as part of the Desire project, focusing on sustainable and inclusive urban development. Originally a Soviet-era dormitory, the building has been vacant since 2018. The Riga Energy Agency is spearheading the renovation, aiming to transform the site into social housing and community spaces, with a strong emphasis on circular economy principles. Key challenges include addressing the building’s poor energy efficiency, integrating the local community, and overcoming the post-Soviet mentality of passive citizenship. The experimentation tests innovative procurement formats and engages various stakeholders through workshops, focusing on creating a vibrant, inclusive community. These efforts also align with Riga’s broader sustainable energy and circular economy policies. The goal of the experiment is to develop scalable models for community engagement in public spaces and improve the city’s social housing system. Initial successes include engagement with social housing residents, children, and people with mental disabilities, offering insights into how physical and social spaces can be redesigned to promote sustainability, belonging, and active citizenship.
Transforming Through Education: Developing Inclusive Residential Areas in Gadehavegård, Høje Taastrup
Authors: Engelbrecht Lisbeth , Mogensen Mette , Hardlei Elsba
Published: December 2024

Gadehavegård is a social housing development area, owned by Danske Funktionærers Boligselskab (DFB) and located in Høje Taastrup, east of Copenhagen. This chapter explores how the Gadehavegård demonstrator is answering two main issues in the area: the need for renovation of the residential area and empowering current residents in the decision-making process for such a transformation. The activities of the Desire demonstrator highlighted several key learnings. A major focus is on redefining tendering processes by incorporating participatory design principles, based on local needs, particularly those of young people. This approach challenges traditional roles and ensures designs reflect community input. Architects are encouraged to apply these principles before the tendering process begins, supplementing cost-focused assessments with spatial quality assurance. The project also emphasizes the importance of prominent circularity and accessible green spaces to enhance well-being, integrating nature into the participatory process. Involving youth in co-design fosters empowerment and rethinks power dynamics in social housing transformations.
Biodiversity Hub: An Emerging and Co-created Strategy for Cascina Falchera in Turin
Authors: Villari Beatrice , Moscato Domenica , Fornaro Laura , Tortorella Francesco
Published: December 2024

The chapter delineates the process and outcomes of the two-year Desire—Designing an Irresistible Society project. Commencing by addressing the main challenges identified in the initial stages of the journey, characterized as “Reconciling with Nature”, the chapter elucidates the activities undertaken at Cascina Falchera in Turin (Italy) and the resultant achievements. Indeed, field actions were initiated, grounded in the concepts of Citizen Science and Nature-Based Solutions, aiming to catalyze a transformation the traditional didactic farm model, rooted in 1990s experiments, into a conceptual framework of an experimental urban hub, offering activities and services centered around the enhancement of urban biodiversity. In line with the DESIRE principles—articulated as “Biodiversity: We embrace a planetary perspective,” “Belonging: We nurture a sense of belonging,” and “Aesthetics: We expand the concept of aesthetics”–, workshops and co-design activities with local communities, as well as artistic endeavors were conducted. The overall process is portrayed as action-research which, through cycles of planning, execution, and evaluation, supported and fostered a continuous learning process within the Cascina Falchera community, while facilitating reciprocal knowledge exchange with external stakeholders.
Note on Constrained Long Choice with Multiple Beginning Elements
Authors: Ishizuka Takashi
Published: December 2024

Recently, Pasarkar et al. (2023) have introduced the new $${{\,\mathrm{\texttt{TFNP}}\,}}$$

TFNP

subclass called $${{\,\mathrm{\texttt{PLC}}\,}}$$

PLC

that contains the class $${{\,\mathrm{\texttt{PPP}}\,}}$$

PPP

; they also have proven that several search problems related to extremal combinatorial principles (e.g., Ramsey’s theorem and the sunflower lemma) belong to $${{\,\mathrm{\texttt{PLC}}\,}}$$

PLC

. This paper discusses the complexity of the three generalizations of Constrained Long Choice, a $${{\,\mathrm{\texttt{PLC}}\,}}$$

PLC

-complete problem. We first discuss the parallel variant: Given a Long Choice instance and $$\varvec{m}$$

m

beginning elements, find $$\varvec{m}$$

m

Constrained Long Choice solutions. We show that this variant is $${{\,\mathrm{\texttt{FP}}\,}}_{\Vert }^{{{\,\mathrm{\texttt{PLC}}\,}}}$$

FP

‖

PLC

-complete. Next, we discuss the iterative variant: Given a Constrained Long Choice instance, a process function that specifies the next beginning element depending on the current solution, and an iteration parameter $$\varvec{T}$$

T

, find $$\varvec{T}$$

T

Long Choice solutions satisfying the suitable conditions. We prove that this variant is $${{\,\mathrm{\texttt{FP}}\,}}^{{{\,\mathrm{\texttt{PLC}}\,}}}$$

FP

PLC

-complete. Finally, we consider the inductive variant, which is an iterative variant with the inductive principle. We prove that the inductive variant is not only $${{\,\mathrm{\texttt{PLC}}\,}}$$

PLC

-hard but also $${{\,\mathrm{\texttt{PLS}}\,}}$$

PLS

-hard, where the class $${{\,\mathrm{\texttt{PLS}}\,}}$$

PLS

is the set of all search problems that are solvable by a local search method. Furthermore, we show that our iterative and inductive variants are closed under the Turing reduction.
Predictors of anxiety in endometriosis patients
Authors: Kupec Tomas , Wagels Lisa , Caspers Rebecca , Meyer-Wilmes Philipp , Najjari Laila , Stickeler Elmar , Wittenborn Julia
Published: December 2024

Purpose

To evaluate the main factors influencing anxiety in endometriosis patients presenting to an endometriosis centre in Germany.

Methods

One hundred and eighty-two patients were asked to complete the German version of the STAI (state anxiety and trait anxiety) questionnaire prior to examination for diagnosis and treatment of pelvic pain or suspected endometriosis. Typical endometriosis symptoms, main complaints, operations, type of endometriosis and planned treatment were analyzed as influencing factors of anxiety in endometriosis patients. We performed linear multiple regression analyses using the forward stepwise method to test which characteristics associated with endometriosis symptoms were associated with trait anxiety and state anxiety.

Results

Analysis of the STAI results showed that higher levels of trait anxiety were found in patients with ovarian endometriosis: t (177) = 3.06, p = 0.003 and in patients with symptoms of dyspareunia: t (177) = 2.36, p < 0.020). On the other hand, patients with recurrent endometriosis showed lower levels of trait anxiety: t (177) = − 2.39, p = 0.018. Significantly higher levels of state anxiety were found in patients with persistent endometriosis: t (177) = − 2.45, p = 0.015 and in women with endometriosis who were indicated for surgical therapy: t (177) = 3.89, p < 0.001.

Conclusions

We were able to show that higher levels of ongoing anxiety in endometriosis patients are associated with dyspareunia and ovarian endometriosis, which may have a negative impact on partnership and desire to have children. On the other hand, patients with persistent endometriosis or a type of disease that requires surgery have higher levels of immediate situational anxiety.
Human brain aging is associated with dysregulation of cell type epigenetic identity
Authors: Jeong Hyeonsoo , Mendizabal Isabel , Yi Soojin V.
Published: December 2024

Significant links between aging and DNA methylation are emerging from recent studies. On the one hand, DNA methylation undergoes changes with age, a process termed as epigenetic drift. On the other hand, DNA methylation serves as a readily accessible and accurate biomarker for aging. A key missing piece of information, however, is the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes and how they are related, if any. Addressing the limitations of previous research due to the limited number of investigated CpGs and the heterogeneous nature of tissue samples, here, we have examined DNA methylation of over 20 million CpGs across a broad age span in neurons and non-neuronal cells, primarily oligodendrocytes. We show that aging is a primary predictor of DNA methylation variation, surpassing the influence of factors such as sex and schizophrenia diagnosis, among others. On the genome-wide scale, epigenetic drift manifests as significant yet subtle trends that are influenced by the methylation level of individual CpGs. We reveal that CpGs that are highly differentiated between cell types are especially prone to age-associated DNA methylation alterations, leading to the divergence of epigenetic cell type identities as individuals age. On the other hand, CpGs that are included in commonly used epigenetic clocks tend to be those sites that are not highly cell type differentiated. Therefore, dysregulation of epigenetic cell type identities and current DNA epigenetic clocks represent distinct features of age-associated DNA methylation alterations.
Payoff designs in post-decision wagering: a systematic review
Authors: Weise Lorenz
Published: December 2024

Humans often have an intuitive sense of whether they made the right decision or not – our sense of confidence. In studies on metacognitive faculties, confidence is most often assessed explicitly, by asking participants how confident they are in their response being correct. While we can explicitly report our confidence, implicit methods of assessing it, such as post-decision wagering (PDW), can potentially hold many advantages over explicit reports, for example by offering a financial incentive to estimate and report confidence accurately. In PDW, a participant can place a wager on having responded correctly, with high wagers indicative of confidence. A central aspect of PDW procedures is the payoff scheme – the system of wins and losses following wagers after correct and incorrect decisions. A variety of different payoff schemes are used throughout the literature, with consequences for participants’ interpretation of the task, wagering responses and strategies, and the researchers’ ultimate interpretation of behavioral data. The present systematic review aims to give a quantitative overview of the different types of payoff systems in use in PDW, the discussions surrounding them as well as their advantages and disadvantages.
Effect of excluding fractured or abnormal vertebrae on the trabecular bone score measurement
Authors: Lin Yen-Huai , Teng Michael Mu Huo
Published: December 2024

Summary

Brief rationale: The use of L1–L4 vertebrae, without exclusions, has been recommended for trabecular bone score (TBS) measurements.

Main result: Excluding abnormal and fractured vertebrae affected the TBS.

Significance of the paper: Fracture or degenerative abnormality may not affect TBS. The preferred action may involve including all levels without exclusions.

Purpose

The use of L1–L4 vertebrae, without exclusions, has been recommended for trabecular bone score (TBS) measurements. We aimed to investigate the effect of excluding fractured or abnormal vertebrae from TBS.

Methods

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry images of 2767 participants, including 1080 without excluded vertebrae, 556 with fractured vertebrae, and 1131 with abnormal vertebrae showing a 1.0 T-score difference compared to the adjacent vertebrae, were retrospectively reviewed. Differences between TBS measurements with and without fractured or abnormal vertebrae were evaluated.

Results

Among 1080 participants without excluded vertebrae, TBS was 1.234 at L1, 1.296 at L2, 1.308 at L3, and 1.301 at L4. A significantly higher mean TBS was seen after excluding L1, whereas a significantly lower mean TBS was seen after excluding L2–L4. In the 556 participants with fractured vertebrae, excluding the involved level from the TBS calculation led to a significant difference in the total sample, women, ≥ 70 years old, and overweight subgroups. A significantly higher mean TBS was seen after excluding the fractured L1, whereas a significantly lower mean TBS was seen after excluding fractures at L2–L4. Among the 1131 participants with abnormal vertebrae, excluding the involved level from the TBS led to a significant difference in age, sex, and body mass index subgroups. Excluding abnormal L1 and L4 vertebrae led to a significantly higher and lower mean TBS, respectively.

Conclusion

Excluding fractured or abnormal vertebrae led to differences in TBS across various subgroups. Regarding the effect of vertebral level exclusion, the observed differences may be attributed to the systematic intervertebral variation, which is unrelated to any effect from fractures or degenerative abnormalities.
The heat kernel on curvilinear polygonal domains in surfaces
Authors: Nursultanov Medet , Rowlett Julie , Sher David
Published: December 2024

R\'esum\'e

We construct the heat kernel on curvilinear polygonal domains in arbitrary surfaces for Dirichlet, Neumann, and Robin boundary conditions as well as mixed problems, including those of Zaremba type. We compute the short time asymptotic expansion of the heat trace and apply this expansion to demonstrate a collection of results showing that corners are spectral invariants.
Predictive value of geriatric nutritional risk indexes for hospital readmission and mortality in older patients
Authors: Chen Yajun , Wei Jin , Zhang Ming , Xu Dongping , Lang Yuheng , Qi Yumei
Published: December 2024

The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) plays a crucial role in assessing nutritional status and predicting clinical outcomes in older patients. This study explores the GNRI as a prognostic tool for clinical outcomes in older inpatients. Spanning from August 2013 to December 2020, the research involved 573 older patients at Tianjin Third Central Hospital, China. The study assessed the association of GNRI with 6-month hospital readmission and 3-year all-cause mortality rates. Our findings reveal that higher GNRI scores significantly correlate with reduced hospital readmissions and mortality, underscoring the utility of GNRI in predicting clinical outcomes and guiding interventions in geriatric care. The study highlights the potential of integrating GNRI assessments into routine clinical evaluations to enhance patient care and optimize resource utilization in healthcare settings.
Sarcopenia diagnosed by computed tomography predicts postoperative complications in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer
Authors: Su Shuyue , Shao Rongrong , Sun Mengxiao , Bai Jingying , Jiang Haote , Zhang Yuyang
Published: December 2024

Background & aims

Surgery combined with chemotherapy remains the mainstay of treatment for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. It is important to evaluate the occurrence of postoperative complications before operation and to prevent them. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of sarcopenia diagnosed by CT scans in predicting postoperative complications in patients with ovarian cancer.

Methods

Patients with PDS or IDS in the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University from August 2017 to August 2022 were included. Sarcopenia was identified using CT scans at the T12 level. According to the Clavien-Dindo classification, postoperative complications are considered to have occurred in grades 2 and above. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors contributing to postoperative complications. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

A total of 139 patients were included. Sarcopenia was observed in 24(17.27%) patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. Compared to the non-sarcopenia group, the sarcopenia group had a higher incidence of postoperative complications (62.50% VS 42.61%, p = 0.032). Multivariate logistic analysis confirmed sarcopenia (OR = 3.241, p = 0.026), age over 65 years (OR = 3.296, p = 0.005), and intraoperative bleeding (OR = 1.002, p < 0.001) as independent predictors of postoperative complications in ovarian cancer.

Discussion & conclusions

Sarcopenia diagnosed based on CT body composition analysis may serve as a potential predictor for postoperative complications. Further research is warranted to explore preventive strategies and interventions to improve outcomes in this population.
Design, construction, and supervision issues: Altos del Lago building, a case study
Authors: Blandon-Valencia John , Farbiarz Farbiarz Yosef , Lara-Valencia Luis
Published: December 2024

The collapse or evacuation of residential buildings due to not withstanding gravitational loads has caused not only loss of human lives but also economic damages. They are also a significant detriment to the engineering profession’s reputation. Therefore, it is essential for the engineering community to analyze the causes of these failures and document each case to learn from mistakes and prevent them from happening again. In recent years, construction has increased considerably in developing countries such as Colombia. Reinforced concrete construction is often preferred due to faster material supply and availability of labor compared to steel structures. With this increase in construction, work control has not been adequate, and problems have been founded in some buildings in cities such as Medellin, Cartagena, Rionegro, among others. This paper summarizes the aspects that were taken into account for the study of pathology and vulnerability of a 19-story reinforced concrete building in the municipality of Rionegro, Antioquia, which, due to the findings, had to be subsequently demolished. The analyzes carried out along with field and laboratory studies are presented. Some of the aspects found were incorrect analysis and design criteria, poor quality of materials, and poor aspects of supervision. This paper also aims to make a reflection about some bad practices and common errors that are developed in structural engineering consulting firms, as well as in the construction practice.