bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Tornadoes and Damaging Winds on County-Level Income Growth in the United States
Authors: Huesler Joel
Published: December 2024

This study investigated the economic impact of tornadoes and damaging winds on county-level income growth in the United States from 1969 to 2023. Using a fixed effect regression methodology, the analysis showed that an average damaging storm and an average tornado reduced income growth in the affected counties by 0.16–0.23% and 0.21–0.23%, respectively, translating into a one-time growth loss of approximately USD 5.6 million and USD 6.3 million. The findings also indicate that tornadoes have a 20% greater economic impact than damaging winds. This study underscored the unique challenges posed by tornadoes and damaging winds, which are characterized by their unpredictable nature and concentrated but extreme damage.
Adsorption of lead (II) in a single and multi-metal system by hydrochar from pulp and paper sludge
Authors: Nhambe P. , Patel B. , Leswifi T. Y. , Abdulsalam J. , Gardee N.
Published: December 2024

Lead (II) is one of the most toxic heavy metals found in South African wastewater due to various mining activities. Hence, effective and cheaper methods are needed to treat this wastewater before it is released to the environment. The effectiveness of hydrochar, synthesised from pulp and paper sludge, as an adsorbent for lead (II) removal from synthetic wastewater was determined. The effect of adsorbent dosage, solution pH, lead (II) initial concentration and time on the adsorption of lead by the hydrochar was investigated. The hydrochar was synthesised at 180, 220 and 250 °C. The most favourable hydrothermal carbonisation (HTC) temperature to synthesise pulp and paper sludge hydrochar for lead (II) adsorption was 180 °C based on the temperatures investigated. The hydrochar synthesised at 180 °C were modified with sodium hydroxide to improve its metal uptake. FTIR results showed that the NaOH modification increased the concentration of oxygen containing functional groups. Furthermore, the BET surface area of the hydrochar increased after modification. The hydrochar had a cellulose crystalline structure. The sodium hydroxide modification increased the maximum adsorption capacity from 24.72 to 37.32 mg.g−1. Moreover, the modified hydrochar synthesised at 180 °C (HC-180-NaOH) was effective in the adsorption of lead (II) in the presence of copper (II), cadmium (II) and zinc (II) where the affinity of the heavy metals towards the hydrochar was lead (II) > copper (II) > cadmium (II) ≈ zinc (II). Hence, the hydrochar, synthesised from waste material, is a potential adsorbent for the adsorption of lead (II) in industrial wastewater.

Graphical abstract
Computing Prominent Skyline on Massive Data
Authors: Wan Xiaolong , Han Xixian , Wang Jinbao
Published: December 2024

In many practical applications, skyline query is an important operation to return the pareto optimal tuples, which provides a candidate set for the optimum. On massive data, skyline often reports too many results, the users will be overwhelmed and be difficult to find the desired information easily. This paper devises P-skyline to reduce the size of the returned results. Given the approximation factor, P-skyline only generates the prominent skyline results by the definition of p-dominance. To the best of our knowledge, this paper is the first work to study P-skyline problem. This paper first proposes a baseline algorithm, which requires one full table scan to compute the results. It is found that baseline algorithm incurs a relatively high execution cost on massive data. Then, PSTP algorithm is proposed, which consists of two stages: candidate acquisition and refinement. On the presorted table, PSTP utilizes selective retrieval and selective checking to process P-skyline with much lower I/O cost and computation cost. The extensive experimental results, conducted on synthetic and real-life data sets, show that PSTP can compute P-skyline on massive data efficiently.
Die Konstruktion von Adressat:innenbildern in der präventiven Praxis
Authors: Mücke Marvin , Kiefer Michael
Published: December 2024

Neben einer intensiven wissenschaftlichen und sicherheitspolitischen Beschäftigung mit dem Phänomen des Islamismus hat sich seit Beginn der frühen 2010er-Jahre ebenfalls eine umfangreiche und vielfältige Landschaft der Radikalisierungsprävention entwickelt. Sowohl auf bundes- landes- als auch kommunaler Ebene sind beachtliche Anstrengungen unternommen worden, um eine effektive Radikalisierungsprävention zu etablieren. Während anfänglich aufgrund der Vielzahl unterschiedlicher Projekte noch von einem Wildwuchs in der Präventionsarbeit gesprochen wurde, hat sich mittlerweile die Präventionsarbeit zu einem bedeutsamen zivilgesellschaftlichen Handlungsfeld entwickelt (Ceylan und Kiefer 2018 und 2022). Im Sinne einer Begleitung dieser Entwicklung diskutiert der folgende Beitrag die Frage, wie Präventionsakteure Adressat:innenbilder in der präventiven Praxis im Bereich des religiös begründeten Extremismus konstruieren. Der Begriff der Konstruktion verweist dabei auf die erkenntnistheoretische Annahme, wonach Wahrnehmung und Erkenntnis vor allem als konstruktive und weniger als abbildende Tätigkeiten verstanden werden. Zur Beantwortung der Fragestellung wurden 18 teilstandardisierte Expert:inneninterviews mit Präventionsakteuren der sekundären und tertiären Präventionsebenen durchgeführt und inhaltsanalytisch ausgewertet. Da die in den Interviews dargestellten Beschreibungen von Adressat:innen und ihren Radikalisierungsprozessen dezidiert als kreative Konstruktionsleistungen der befragten Präventionsakteure verstanden werden, können die in diesem Beitrag vorgestellten Ergebnisse als Ausgangspunkte einer Reflexion der präventiven Praxis dienen.
Yuhuangmiao: the socio-cultural dynamics of a community between the steppes and the Chinese plains
Authors: Huan Limin , Brosseder Ursula
Published: December 2024

The Yuhuangmiao culture emerged around the 7th to the 4th centuries BCE in northeastern China near Beijing. The burial ritual with stone layers, numerous animal deposits, and the material culture indicate a strong steppe connection. It is often used to support the narratives in the Chinese historical texts that people living in the area had a distinctive lifestyle from those in the southern, agricultural-based communities and that the two groups often had a hostile relationship. Based on the cemetery of Yuhuangmiao, we focus in our case study on the socio-cultural dynamics over time in communities of a small region between the steppes and the Chinese Central Plains and in confrontation with very different neighbors to the south and the northwest. We use a seriation and correspondence-based approach to propose a new chronology for three sites. The duration of the sites is divided into three phases, with a total span of around 200 years between 600 and 400 BCE. Our results show that the changes in the burial ritual and material culture reflect a community’s internal development and external communication with other regions. Based on our chronology, the elite members of the Yuhuangmiao community used objects with steppe designs and horses to express their identities and social power. This practice was most prominent in the first phase and waned over time. We suggest reconsidering previous interpretations of these practices as a decline of the Yuhuangmiao people and view it instead as an expression of intra-community changes, possibly as an indicator of a successful integration of a community with foreign immigrants in an area located between two very different systems: of the steppes and the Central Plains.
Visualizing and Quantifying Uncertainty in Cut-off Grade Selection
Authors: Roos Chris
Published: December 2024

Modern mine planning techniques are advancing at an incredible rate, and mining companies are progressively more interested in quantifying the uncertainty in their business plans. However, for many decision makers and other stakeholders, the leap from tried-and-true deterministic techniques to stochastic methods will be challenging to understand and accept due to the complexity of the work involved. At the 2019 SME Annual Conference, the author introduced a multifaceted model to embrace uncertainty in mine planning (Roos 2019), and at APCOM 2023, the author brought forth some modern data visualization techniques that can be leveraged to achieve this goal (Roos 2023). The purpose of this model is to fill the gap in embracing uncertainty by recommending improvements in visualization and communication techniques to ensure that all mining operations can take steps toward embracing uncertainty quantification. This paper presents a case study leveraging this model to adapt the cut-off grade selection process for an underground gold mine to one that utilizes grade uncertainty and provides the appropriate decision makers with the information they need to embrace the uncertainty in their business plan. The methods presented in this paper do not produce a finite solution to the cut-off grade selection process, but instead provide additional information that can be used in understanding the impact of geological uncertainty on the results of a deterministic study. In this study, the visualization techniques presented here have been useful in identifying areas of the deposit with a higher risk of achieving the estimated grade and also areas where there may be an opportunity to develop future stopes with additional geological information.
Two disrupters to arguments from analogy for robot rights: uniqueness and completeness
Authors: Sweeney Paula
Published: December 2024

When arguing for rights for robots, many theorists draw analogies between robots, on the one hand, and humans and other animals, on the other. They use these analogies to support the extension of rights beyond humans and other animals to robots. In this paper I argue that, even if we are initially inclined to see existing analogies between robots and humans and other animals as reasons for granting robots moral consideration, there are two rarely noted significant features that threaten to disrupt these analogies: uniqueness and completeness. I argue that those potential disrupters have a negative impact on many arguments from analogy regarding robot rights.
Niedermolekulares Heparin zur Antikoagulation während ECMO
Authors: Gratz Johannes , Scharner Vincenz , Schaden Eva , Wiegele Marion
Published: December 2024

Eine ECMO-Therapie wird als kardiale und/oder pulmonale Organunterstützung zur Überbrückung einer akuten Krankheitsphase bei kritisch kranken Patient:innen angewandt. Sie erfordert im Regelfall eine systemische Antikoagulation. Während unfraktioniertes Heparin (UFH) nach wie vor das am meisten genutzte Antikoagulans während einer ECMO-Therapie (extrakorporale Membranoxygenierung) ist, hat sich in manchen Zentren subkutan verabreichtes niedermolekulares Heparin (NMH) als primäres Antikoagulans während der ECMO-Therapie etabliert. Datenvergleiche der Medizinischen Universität Wien geben Hinweise auf mögliche Vorteile von NMH gegenüber UFH bei der Vermeidung
thromboembolischer Ereignisse sowie Blutungen.
Eulerian Parameter Inference: a probabilistic change of variables for model-based inference with high-variability data sets
Authors: Wagner Vincent , Castellaz Benjamin , Kaiser Lars , Höpfl Sebastian , Radde Nicole
Published: December 2024

Advances in measurement technology have led to the generation of increasingly large data sets across various scientific fields. Data that capture the variability of the underlying system or process, such as single-cell or imaging data, are particularly interesting. However, calibrating computational models to explain this type of data remains challenging.

We interpret the model calibration as a Stochastic Inverse Problem (SIP), where the measurements are interpreted as probabilistic samples. Our new SIP solution approach, Eulerian Parameter Inference (EPI), only requires data with large empirical variance and a deterministic simulation model that maps model parameters to simulation results. EPI solves the SIP through a change of variables. This computationally efficient approach allows for direct and point-wise evaluation of parameter densities without ever inverting the simulation model. The resulting parameter distribution captures data variability completely, enabling full data reconstruction. Further, estimating multivariate model parameters can be reduced to a series of one-dimensional problems under the assumption of stochastically independent parameters. This property is vital for complex simulation models and involved problems.

With EPI, we explain 1) annual average temperature data of 3168 weather stations around the world with an arithmetic model, 2) German district-specific COVID-19 infection data through a differential equation model, and 3) artificial data generated via a partial differential equation model with independent parameters. With a robust mathematical foundation and an easily accessible package, we provide a versatile solution framework for integrating data with a high variance into simulation models that promotes application to various research questions.
Multi-source tri-environmental conceptual framework for fire impact analysis
Authors: Li Zongrong , Li Qiluo , Li Haiyang , Wang Siqin , Qi Yi
Published: December 2024

The summer of 2023 highlighted the growing threat of wildfires in isolated areas, with Maui Island in Hawaii experiencing one of its largest wildfires. Our study employs a multi-source approach, integrating high-resolution optical data, thermal infrared data, and demographic information to assess the environmental, built, and social impacts of this event. Our innovative tri-environmental framework reveals significant vegetation degradation, land cover change, and disproportionate effects on various demographic groups. The fire caused extensive damage, with residential properties incurring 77.6% of the total losses, equating to approximately $563.2 million. Social impacts were profound, particularly among females, children, and the elderly, with employment and commuting disruptions affecting both low- and high-income groups. The study highlights the effectiveness of combining dasymetric mapping with real-time satellite data to refine population distribution estimates in affected areas. Our findings are applicable beyond wildfires, offering valuable insights into disaster response and mitigation strategies across various natural hazards like floods and earthquakes.
Can low-carbon pilot policies reduce air pollution levels?
Authors: Ho Ken , Chen Chunhui , Gu Qiying , Gao Yibo
Published: December 2024

This paper explores the impact of China’s low-carbon pilot policy on air pollution levels. Employing a difference-in-difference approach based on propensity score matching, we find that the policy significantly reduced air pollution in the pilot cities. However, we also uncover a negative spillover effect, with neighboring cities experiencing increased pollution levels. After controlling for this spillover, the policy’s impact on air pollution decreases. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the policy’s effectiveness varies across time and location, with more pronounced effects in coastal and southern regions and on non-statutory holidays. These findings highlight the complexity of environmental policy impacts and underscore the need for comprehensive, regionally tailored approaches to air pollution control.
The Trinity
Authors: Williams Scott M.
Published: December 2024

The doctrine of the Trinity, proclaimed by Christians through the Nicene-Constantinople creed, is foundational to traditional Christian belief and worship of God. But is this doctrine logically coherent? How can there be three divine persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), each is God, and yet there is only one God? This is a fundamental question for philosophers, but theologians have additional questions. This Element addresses philosophical and theological issues concerning the Trinity: Hermeneutical and Logical problems, Personal Pronouns, Monarchy, Equality, the Greek vs. Latin filioque debate, Real Relations, Unity of Action, Self-Knowledge in the Trinity, and Simplicity. Based on my recent rediscovery of the sixth ecumenical council's (Constantinople III) clarifications of Trinitarian doctrine, this Element introduces Conciliar Trinitarianism and shows how it responds to the issues, including a resolution to the fundamental logical question. It also compares Conciliar Trinitarianism with Miaphysite, neo-Sabellian, Social, and other models of the Trinity.
Public Service Explained
Authors: Nasi Greta , Osborne Stephen , Cucciniello Maria , Cui Tie
Published: December 2024

This Cambridge Element aims to advance theory by investigating the nature of participation in public service delivery. It situates itself under the theory of Public Service Logic to advocate for a strategic orientation to participation as an element of value creation in public services. It introduces the concept of participation and discusses the motives, incentives, and tools to engage citizens in public service delivery processes. Then, it frames citizens' participation under the approach public service ecosystem to capture the dynamic relationships among citizens, other actors, processes, and structures that may contribute to determining value in public service delivery. It presents the dynamics of value creation and destruction in public service. The Element concludes with implications for research and practice. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Cleavage Formation in the 21st Century
Authors: Bornschier Simon , Haffert Lukas , Häusermann Silja , Steenbergen Marco , Zollinger Delia
Published: December 2024

Western Europe is experiencing growing levels of political polarization between parties of the New Left and the Far Right. The authors argue that this antagonism reflects the emergence of a social cleavage between universalism and particularism. To understand cleavage formation in the midst of party system fragmentation and the proliferation of new competitors, they emphasize the crucial role of group identities. Anchored in social structure, group identities help us understand why specific party appeals resonate with certain groups, thereby mediating the link between socio-structural change and broader party blocks defined by their distinctive ideologies along the new cleavage. Based on original survey data from France, Germany, Switzerland, and the UK, this Element presents evidence for the formation of a universalism–particularism cleavage across European party systems that diverge strongly on institutional and political characteristics. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Visual-vestibular Integration in Challenging Environments
Authors: Harris Laurence R. , Jenkin Michael
Published: December 2024

This Element reviews the current state of what is known about the visual and vestibular contributions to our perception of self-motion and orientation with an emphasis on the central role that gravity plays in these perceptions. The Element then reviews the effects of impoverished challenging environments that do not provide full information that would normally contribute to these perceptions (such as driving a car or piloting an aircraft) and inconsistent challenging environments where expected information is absent, such as the microgravity experienced on the International Space Station.
Assessment of the Relationship Between Amino Acid Status and Parkinson’s Disease: A Comprehensive Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Akdas Sevginur , Yuksel Demir , Yazihan Nuray
Published: December 2024

Background:

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by the inability of dopamine production from amino acids. Therefore, changes in amino acid profile in PD patients are very critical for understanding disease development. Determination of amino acid levels in PD patients with a cumulative approach may enlighten the disease pathophysiology.

Methods:

A systematic search was performed until February 2023, resulting in 733 articles in PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases to evaluate the serum amino acid profile of PD patients. Relevant articles in English with mean/standard deviation values of serum amino acid levels of patients and their healthy controls were included in the meta-analysis.

Results:

Our results suggest that valine, proline, ornithine and homocysteine levels were increased, while aspartate, citrulline, lysine and serine levels were significantly decreased in PD patients compared to healthy controls. Homocysteine showed positive correlations with glutamate and ornithine levels. We also analyzed the disease stage parameters: Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale III (UPDRS III) score, Hoehn–Yahr Stage Score, disease duration and levodopa equivalent daily dose (LEDD) of patients. It was observed that LEDD has a negative correlation with arginine levels in patients. UPDRS III score is negatively correlated with phenylalanine levels, and it also tends to show a negative correlation with tyrosine levels. Disease duration tends to be negatively correlated with citrulline levels in PD patients.

Conclusion:

This cumulative analysis shows evidence of the relation between the mechanisms underlying amino acid metabolism in PD, which may have a great impact on disease development and new therapeutic strategies.
AI innovation in healthcare and state platforms under a rights-based perspective: the case of Brazillian RNDS
Authors: Falcão Matheus Zuliane , Rachid Raquel , Fornazin Marcelo
Published: December 2024

This article examines the National Health Data Network (RNDS), the platform launched by the Ministry of Health in Brazil as the primary tool for its Digital Health Strategy 2020–2028, including innovation aspects. The analysis is made through two distinct frameworks: Right to health and personal data protection in Brazil. The first approach is rooted in the legal framework shaped by Brazil’s trajectory on health since 1988, marked by the formal acknowledgment of the Right to health and the establishment of the Unified Health System, Brazil’s universal access health system, encompassing public healthcare and public health actions. The second approach stems from the repercussions of the General Data Protection Law, enacted in 2018 and the inclusion of Right to personal data protection in Brazilian’s Constitution. This legislation, akin to the EU’s General Data Protection Regulations, addressed the gap in personal data protection in Brazil and established principles and rules for data processing. The article begins by explanting the two approaches, and then it provides a brief history of health informatics policies in Brazil, leading to the current Digital Health Strategy and the RNDS. Subsequently, it delves into an analysis of the RNDS through the lenses of the two aforementioned approaches. In the final discussion sections, the article attempts to extract lessons from the analyses, particularly in light of ongoing discussions such as the secondary use of data for innovation in the context of different interpretations about innovation policies.
The Changing World of Spirit in Hegel’s Philosophy of Right
Authors: Nuzzo Angelica
Published: December 2024

Hegel’s ‘science of right’ is a philosophical account of spirit’s ‘world’. Accordingly, in this essay, I propose to take it as the model of what I call a ‘political cosmology’. In Hegel’s dialectic-speculative philosophy, cosmology becomes a practical, worldly science. It becomes the account of the ways in which spirit immanently constructs, produces and comes to know its own world and itself as the actuality of the world.
Gender and the Biopolitics of Public Order: Notes from Spain
Authors: Pérez Navarro Pablo
Published: December 2024

This paper critically addresses the logics of exceptionality inherent to emerging regulations of the gender field, with a focus on Spain’s recent self-determination-based regulation of gender. To achieve this, it offers a biopolitical analysis of the concept of “public order” and its influence on gender governance, drawing parallels to Agamben’s concept of the state of exception and exploring the connections between contemporary regulations and the gendered public order of nineteenth-century France. Finally, it analyzes the exclusions and restrictions that the Spanish trans law reserves for migrants, non-binary people, and minors, contributing to the ongoing discourse on the limitations to gender autonomy in contemporary Western societies.
The Italian political class: two multilevel datasets on the profiles and opinions of elected politicians
Authors: Isernia Pierangelo , Martini Sergio , Olmastroni Francesco , Verzichelli Luca
Published: December 2024

The datasets on the Italian political class provides two sets of information: (a) census data on a broad spectrum of individual-level variables on elected politicians, offering an updated mapping of the characteristics of more than 20,000 Italian representatives at all governmental levels; (b) survey data on politicians' attitudes towards elections, participation, public opinion, several national and international policy issues, and their views of political representation. Between September 2020 and January 2021, 2134 elected politicians at the local (n = 1917), regional (n = 128), national (n = 75) and European (n = 14) levels were interviewed, making this one of the largest surveys of the Italian political elites ever conducted and a valuable resource for researchers interested in the study of democratic representation.
When neighbors become aggressors: the local tensions behind the expulsion of Jews from Eastern Thrace in 1934
Authors: Basaranlar Burak
Published: December 2024

This article examines the local context that led to the expulsion of Jews from Eastern Thrace in 1934. Going beyond the conventional state-centric narratives, it unearths the local socio-economic tensions that triggered the locals to target their Jewish neighbors. It highlights three major factors that fueled already-existing nationalist sentiments in the region: some Jewish merchants’ involvement in usury, Turkish–Muslim agricultural producers’ growing indebtedness due to the devastating impact of the Great Depression, and the government’s failure to support producers with appropriate credit policies. Faced with the danger of indebtedness and dispossession, the locals in this context deemed the small Jewish community as “the easy target,” scapegoating it for their ongoing problems amid Turkey’s nationalist political climate in the 1930s.
THE LAW GOVERNING UNITED KINGDOM GOVERNMENT TORT LIABILITY IN THE ‘WAR ON TERROR’
Authors: Grušić Uglješa
Published: December 2024

This article discusses the United Kingdom Supreme Court judgment in Zubaydah v Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, which addressed the law governing the tort liability of the United Kingdom Government for its alleged complicity in the claimant's arbitrary detention and torture overseas by the Central Intelligence Agency. In holding that English law applied, the Court departed from previous case law by giving decisive weight to public law factors in its choice-of-law reasoning. This decision arguably heralds a greater role for English law in relation to tort claims brought by overseas victims of allegedly wrongful exercises of British executive authority as a mechanism for achieving executive accountability, controlling abuse of power, ensuring the rule of law and providing victims access to remedy.
Suicidality and use of psychotropic medications in patients with schizophrenia: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Strømme Maria Fagerbakke , Thue Augustsson Mina , Bartz-Johannessen Christoffer , Stautland Andrea , Mykletun Arnstein , Kroken Rune Andreas , Mehlum Lars , Kjelby Eirik , Johnsen Erik
Published: December 2024

Background

The lifetime prevalence of suicide is around 5% in patients with schizophrenia. Non-adherence to antipsychotic medication is an important risk factor, but prospective studies investigating joint effects of antipsychotic drugs, antidepressants, and benzodiazepines on suicidality are scarce. We aimed to investigate how use and non-use of psychotropic medications are associated with suicidality in schizophrenia.

Methods

An open cohort study followed all patients consecutively admitted to a psychiatric acute unit during a 10-year period with a diagnosis of schizophrenia (n = 696). Cox multiple regression analyses were conducted with use of antipsychotics, antidepressants, and benzodiazepines as time-dependent variables. Adjustments were made for age, gender, depressive mood, agitated behavior, and use of alcohol and illicit substances.

Results

A total of 32 (4.6%) suicide events were registered during follow-up. Of these, 9 (28%) were completed suicides and 23 (72%) were attempted suicides. A total of 59 (8.5%) patients were readmitted with suicidal plans during the follow-up. Compared to non-use, use of antipsychotics was associated with 70% lower risk of attempted or completed suicide (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] = 0.30, p < 0.01, CI 0.14–0.65) and 69% reduced risk of readmission with suicidal plans (AHR = 0.31, p < 0.01, CI 0.18–0.55). Use of prescribed benzodiazepines was associated with 126% increased risk of readmission with suicidal plans (AHR = 2.26, p = 0.01, CI 1.24–4.13).

Conclusions

Adherence to antipsychotic medication is strongly associated with reduced suicidal risk in schizophrenia. The use of prescribed benzodiazepines was identified as a significant risk factor for being readmitted with suicidal plans.
Stokesy ct. Foakesy b. Woakesy
Authors: Robinson Jonnie
Published: December 2024

Using a data set of nicknames of elite athletes compiled from the mainstream British sporting press and media, this article explores grammatical patterns in the way we create hypocoristic nicknames like Hughesie, Robbo and Macca. It outlines the purpose of nicknames and their particular role in sport, and provides an analysis of the predictable morphological and phonological rules that apply to a type of nickname categorised here as ‘transparent’. It offers some initial observations on the social distribution of particular nickname variants and on the potential for creativity and playfulness inherent in transparent nicknaming processes.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of a nonphysician-led, community-based blood pressure intervention in rural China based on CRHCP research
Authors: Li Qiaoqiao , Xu Teng , Hu Tianyang , Lou Yake
Published: December 2024

Background

The China Rural Hypertension Control Project (CRHCP) is a nonphysician-led community-based hypertension intervention program that has demonstrated clear benefits in improving blood pressure (BP) control and reducing the incidence of cardiovascular disease events among hypertensive patients in rural areas of China. However, it is currently unclear whether the benefits of the CRHCP outweigh its costs, and whether promoting this project in China is justifiable from a perspective of healthcare system.

Methods

We employed a Markov model to forecast the anticipated 20-year costs and effectiveness of the CRHCP trial. Cost data for this study was gathered from public records or published papers, whereas clinical data was extracted from the CRHCP trial. Our primary outcome measure was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, expressed in Chinese Yuan (CNY) per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY), representing the additional cost per additional QALY gained.

Results

Over a span of 20 years, the cost for a rural hypertensive individual in China who received intensive BP intervention by a nonphysician community healthcare provider would amount to 25,129 CNY, yielding an effectiveness of 8.19 QALY. In contrast, if usual care was provided, the cost would be 26,709 CNY with an effectiveness of 7.94 QALY. The CRHCP program demonstrated lower costs and greater effectiveness for rural hypertensive individuals in China.

Conclusion

Our study indicates that the implementation of the CRHCP program among rural hypertensive individuals in China resulted in increased effectiveness and reduced costs. From the perspective of Chinese healthcare system, the CRHCP program proves to be cost-saving within the current healthcare landscape.
New or repurposed: a novel classification system for the horizon scanning of innovative medicines
Authors: Fairbairn Ross , Akinbolade Sola , Coughlan Diarmuid , Ogunbayo Dapo , Meader Nick , Craig Dawn
Published: December 2024

Objectives

It is vital that horizon scanning organizations can capture and disseminate intelligence on new and repurposed medicines in clinical development. To our knowledge, there are no standardized classification systems to capture this intelligence. This study aims to create a novel classification system to allow new and repurposed medicines horizon scanning intelligence to be disseminated to healthcare organizations.

Methods

A multidisciplinary working group undertook literature searching and an iterative, three-stage piloting process to build consensus on a classification system. Supplementary data collection was carried out to facilitate the implementation and validation of the system on the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) Innovation Observatory (IO)‘s horizon scanning database, the Medicines Innovation Database (MInD).

Results

Our piloting process highlighted important issues such as the patency and regulatory approval status of individual medicines and how combination therapies interact with these characteristics. We created a classification system with six values (New Technology, Repurposed Technology (Off-patent/Generic), Repurposed Technology (On-patent/Branded), Repurposed Technology (Never commercialised), New + Repurposed Technology (Combinations-only), Repurposed Technology (Combinations-only)) that account for these characteristics to provide novel horizon scanning insights. We validated our system through application to over 20,000 technology records on the MInD.

Conclusions

Our system provides the opportunity to deliver concise yet informative intelligence to healthcare organizations and those studying the clinical development landscape of medicines. Inbuilt flexibility and the use of publicly available data sources ensure that it can be utilized by all, regardless of location or resource availability.
Seeking Asylum in The Cassette Shop
Authors: Majid Asif
Published: December 2024

Asylum seekers are routinely characterized as in limbo or escaping disaster, characterizations that dangerously dismiss their agency and personhood while rendering them helpless victims of circumstance. However, my devised theatre work with asylum seekers in Washington, DC, has opened up asylee futurism, a political aesthetic characterized by magic, hope, and imagining the future amid the trauma of statelessness and catastrophic loss of homeland.
Genet in Gaza
Authors: Jakovljević Branislav
Published: December 2024

Jean Genet’s 1966 epic play The Screens offers a unique insight into Hamas’s attack on 7 October 2023 and the subsequent devastation of Gaza by the Israel Defense Forces. Seen from this perspective, this is not a local war, but an event that has global significance.
On Performativity
Authors: King Kenneth
Published: December 2024

Film, TV, and social media greatly expanded the possibilities and parameters of theatre and performance. Happenings, multimedia works, and performance art, as well as virtuosic vocal acrobats and shape-shifting innovators like Lily Tomlin, John Leguizamo, Anna Deavere Smith, Tracey Ullman, Barry Humphries, and Charles Pierce have created mercurial, multicharacter spectacles. The cultural fıssion of this performance synergy also encompasses maverick poets, painters, journalists, political activists, critics, and even a nonagenarian fashion model.
Long‐Term Capturability of Atmospheric Water on a Global Scale
Authors: Li Fang‐Fang , Lu Hou‐Liang , Wang Guang‐Qian , Qiu Jun
Published: December 2024

Global warming has changed both the amount of global precipitation and the atmospheric capacity to retain water. In this paper, a novel definition of the long‐term Capturability of Atmospheric Water (CAW) based on horizontal atmospheric water transport is proposed, describing the ability of a certain area to intercept and convert the atmospheric water transported by horizontal moisture flux into local precipitation. The significant decrease of the CAW in Amazon and Congo rainforests and Inside Greenland indicates that these areas were having less precipitation with the same water vapor in the past 42 years, while in Asia (especially China), CAW is showing a large‐scale increasing trend, verifying the regional humidifying. Considering the change of both the CAW and the background atmospheric water simultaneously, their mismatch degree is also investigated. The positive mismatch in Qinghai Tibet Plateau, Greenland, and the Andes, suggests higher susceptibility to climate change, and in the areas of negative mismatch (Amazon, Maritime Continent, southeastern China, the Eastern United States, India, and Japan), a more stable precipitation response to climate change is expected. The proposed concept of CAW provides a novel perspective to analyze the precipitation response to climate change on a global scale.
A Quiet‐Day Ionospheric Electrodynamics Empirical Model in the Low and Middle Latitudes
Authors: Wang Yuhan , Ren Zhipeng , Liu Yunbo
Published: December 2024

In this paper, we develop a climatology model of the ionospheric electric field and potential at low and middle latitudes on quiet time, utilizing plasma drift observed from the ROCSAT‐1 satellite. The meridional/vertical and zonal E × B drifts are transformed to the electric fields using modified Apex coordinates under the real geomagnetic field model. The electric field data are adjusted to different solar levels through bilinear fitting, and organized into seasonal, longitudinal, latitudinal bins. The fully normalized associated Legendre functions are chosen as the fitting basis modes. Our model can effectively describe the latitudinal dependence of the electrodynamics parameters cover equatorward of 35° magnetic latitude. The fitted drifts hold the fundamental characteristics of the results observed prior to fitting. The model potential can well shows the typical morphological characteristics that are in great agreement with prior research findings. Furthermore, the potential variations exhibit distinct seasonal, solar flux, and UT dependence under moderate and high solar flux conditions. Within the framework of this model, the potential, electric field, and drift can be mutually converted while maintaining self‐consistency.
Identifying Three‐Dimensional Radiative Patterns Associated With Early Tropical Cyclone Intensification
Authors: Iat‐Hin Tam Frederick , Beucler Tom , Ruppert James H.
Published: December 2024

Cloud radiative feedback impacts early tropical cyclone (TC) intensification, but limitations in existing diagnostic frameworks make them unsuitable for studying asymmetric or transient radiative heating. We propose a linear Variational Encoder‐Decoder (VED) framework to learn the hidden relationship between radiative anomalies and the surface intensification of realistic simulated TCs. The uncertainty of the VED model identifies periods when radiation has more importance for intensification. A close examination of the radiative pattern extracted by the VED model from a 20‐member ensemble simulation on Typhoon Haiyan shows that longwave forcing from inner core deep convection and shallow clouds downshear contribute to intensification, with deep convection in the downshear‐left quadrant having the most impact overall on the intensification of that TC. Our work demonstrates that machine learning can aid the discovery of thermodynamic‐kinematic relationships without relying on axisymmetric or deterministic assumptions, paving the way for the objective discovery of processes leading to TC intensification in realistic conditions.
Esophageal ILC2s mediate abnormal epithelial remodeling in eosinophilic esophagitis via Areg-EGFR signaling
Authors: Lim MinYeong , Kim Taesoo , Kim Hyesung , Jang Bo Gun , Myung Jae Kyung , Kim Hye Young
Published: December 2024

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic allergic disorder characterized by eosinophilia and epithelial thickening, resulting in dysphagia. While emerging evidence implicates increased frequencies of group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) and increased interleukin (IL)-33 expression in EoE pathogenesis, the precise mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of ILC2s in EoE pathogenesis. We observed an abundance of KLRG1+ ILC2s in the esophagi of healthy mice, with their numbers significantly increasing in murine EoE models and humans. Using a murine EoE model, we demonstrated the recapitulation of EoE-associated features, including basal-cell hyperproliferation, epithelial thickening, and eosinophilia. Notably, these characteristics are absent in ILC-deficient mice, whereas mice lacking IL-5 or eosinophils display epithelial defects, highlighting the pivotal role of ILC2s in EoE pathogenesis. Further investigations revealed increased amphiregulin (Areg) production by esophageal ILC2s in mice. The administration of Areg induced epithelial defects similar to those observed in EoE. Mechanistic studies using human esophageal cell lines revealed Areg-induced phosphorylation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Significatntly, treatment with anti-Areg agents and EGFR inhibitors effectively attenuated EoE development, highlighting the therapeutic potential of targeting the Areg-EGFR axis.
Enhanced resolution of optical genome mapping utilizing telomere-to-telomere reference in genetic disorders
Authors: Banu Sofia , MK Kanakavalli , George Joel Kiran , Siby Elizabeth , Bhagat Rakeshpal , MS Sreelekshmi , Patil Siddaramappa J. , Phadke Shubha R. , Sowpati Divya Tej , Tallapaka Karthik Bharadwaj
Published: December 2024

Reference genomes serve as a baseline criterion for comparison of personal genomes to deduce clinical variants. The widely used reference genome, GRCh38, contains stretches of gaps and unresolved bases particularly in complex regions which could obscure variant discovery. In contrast, the gapless telomere-to-telomere CHM13 (T2T-CHM13) reference genome can be used to assess difficult regions of the genome. Optical genome mapping (OGM), an imaging technique for structural variation identification has improved resolution compared to traditional cytogenetic methods. Our study showcases the utility of the T2T-CHM13 reference genome for enhanced structural variant (SV) detection in complex regions. We illustrate this through two clinical cases, where improved alignment with T2T-CHM13 led to significantly higher confidence scores for critical SVs. We demonstrate improved clinical diagnostic outcomes with the updated T2T-CHM13 reference and advocate its adoption.
The assessment and aetiology of drug-induced ischaemic priapism
Authors: Moodley Divyen , Badenhorst Anja , Choonara Yahya , Adam Ahmed
Published: December 2024

Ischaemic priapism is a urological emergency characterised by a prolonged, painful erection unrelated to sexual stimulation. While several aetiological factors contribute to this condition, the pharmacological causes have gained significant attention in recent years. This narrative review aims to comprehensively assess ischaemic priapism, specifically focusing on its pharmacological aetiology. We propose an approach and assessment strategy to the numerous factors associated with pharmacologically induced ischaemic priapism. By enhancing our understanding of the pharmacological causes of this condition, healthcare professionals can improve patient management and reduce the long-term complications associated with ischaemic priapism.
Thermally induced neuronal plasticity in the hypothalamus mediates heat tolerance
Authors: Ambroziak Wojciech , Nencini Sara , Pohle Jörg , Zuza Kristina , Pino Gabriela , Lundh Sofia , Araujo-Sousa Carolina , Goetz Larissa I. L. , Schrenk-Siemens Katrin , Manoj Gokul , Herrera Mildred A. , Acuna Claudio , Siemens Jan
Published: December 2024

Heat acclimation is an adaptive process that improves physiological performance and supports survival in the face of increasing environmental temperatures, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Here we identified a discrete group of neurons in the mouse hypothalamic preoptic area (POA) that rheostatically increase their activity over the course of heat acclimation, a property required for mice to become heat tolerant. In non-acclimated mice, peripheral thermoafferent pathways via the parabrachial nucleus activate POA neurons and mediate acute heat-defense mechanisms. However, long-term heat exposure promotes the POA neurons to gain intrinsically warm-sensitive activity, independent of thermoafferent parabrachial input. This newly gained cell-autonomous warm sensitivity is required to recruit peripheral heat tolerance mechanisms in acclimated animals. This pacemaker-like, warm-sensitive activity is driven by a combination of increased sodium leak current and enhanced utilization of the NaV1.3 ion channel. We propose that this salient neuronal plasticity mechanism adaptively drives acclimation to promote heat tolerance.
An interpretable RNA foundation model for exploring functional RNA motifs in plants
Authors: Yu Haopeng , Yang Heng , Sun Wenqing , Yan Zongyun , Yang Xiaofei , Zhang Huakun , Ding Yiliang , Li Ke
Published: December 2024

The complex ‘language’ of plant RNA encodes a vast array of biological regulatory elements that orchestrate crucial aspects of plant growth, development and adaptation to environmental stresses. Recent advancements in foundation models (FMs) have demonstrated their unprecedented potential to decipher complex ‘language’ in biology. In this study, we introduced PlantRNA-FM, a high-performance and interpretable RNA FM specifically designed for plants. PlantRNA-FM was pretrained on an extensive dataset, integrating RNA sequences and RNA structure information from 1,124 distinct plant species. PlantRNA-FM exhibits superior performance in plant-specific downstream tasks. PlantRNA-FM achieves an F1 score of 0.974 for genic region annotation, whereas the current best-performing model achieves 0.639. Our PlantRNA-FM is empowered by our interpretable framework that facilitates the identification of biologically functional RNA sequence and structure motifs, including both RNA secondary and tertiary structure motifs across transcriptomes. Through experimental validations, we revealed translation-associated RNA motifs in plants. Our PlantRNA-FM also highlighted the importance of the position information of these functional RNA motifs in genic regions. Taken together, our PlantRNA-FM facilitates the exploration of functional RNA motifs across the complexity of transcriptomes, empowering plant scientists with capabilities for programming RNA codes in plants.
Characterisation of the phytochemical and bioactivity profiles of raw tea, stale-aroma, and betelnut-aroma type of Liupao tea through GC/LC-MS-based metabolomics
Authors: Wang Xuancheng , She Zhiyong , Zhou Hailin , An Tingting , Teng Jianwen , Xia Ning , Zhu Pingchuan , Liu Wenhui , Dong Huanxiao , Tang Limin , You Shulan , Wei Lu , Li Kongying , Wang Lingli , Huang Li , Zhang Qisong
Published: December 2024

GC/LC-MS-based metabolomics revealed the comprehensive phytochemical composition in LPT, especially lipids. Microbial fermentation significantly improved the flavour quality of LPT and affected the bioactivities in vitro.
An electrochemical sensor based on electrodeposited methylene blue on a carbon nanotube decorated hydrogel for the detection of ascorbic acid
Authors: Tang Linghui , Huang Yufeng , Qian Zhihuan , Zhao Jifan , Hasebe Yasushi , Dong Yan , Wang Yue
Published: December 2024

An ascorbic acid electrochemical sensor is fabricated by combining a hydrogel and electrodeposited MB membrane. The sensor exhibits good linear range, fast response time and shows satisfactory results in the detection of AA in vitamin C tablets.