bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Do reserve requirements restrict bank behavior?
Authors: Gunji Hiroshi , Miura Kazuki
Published: December 2024

This study aims to examine whether a reserve requirement system constrains bank behavior. In Japan, a system is applied to certain regional banks where required reserve ratios are imposed based on the amount of their deposits. Using a natural experiment, we perform a bunching estimation to examine whether this reserve requirement system decreases bank deposits. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to examine the effects of reserve requirement systems through bunching estimation. Our results demonstrate that the reserve deposit system depresses bank deposits, resulting in a decline in total deposits. However, this phenomenon is not observed during periods of unconventional monetary policies. This study highlights an important consideration when discussing changes in the reserve requirement system.
Digital Twin/MARS‐CycleGAN: Enhancing Sim‐to‐Real Crop/Row Detection for MARS Phenotyping Robot Using Synthetic Images
Authors: Liu David , Li Zhengkun , Wu Zihao , Li Changying
Published: December 2024

Robotic crop phenotyping has emerged as a key technology for assessing crops' phenotypic traits at scale, which is essential for developing new crop varieties with the aim of increasing productivity and adapting to the changing climate. However, developing and deploying crop phenotyping robots faces many challenges, such as complex and variable crop shapes that complicate robotic object detection, dynamic and unstructured environments that confound robotic control, and real‐time computing and managing big data that challenge robotic hardware/software. This work specifically addresses the first challenge by proposing a novel Digital Twin(DT)/MARS‐CycleGAN model for image augmentation to improve our Modular Agricultural Robotic System (MARS)'s crop object detection from complex and variable backgrounds. The core idea is that in addition to the cycle consistency losses in the CycleGAN model, we designed and enforced a new DT/MARS loss in the deep learning model to penalize the inconsistency between real crop images captured by MARS and synthesized images generated by DT/MARS‐CycleGAN. Therefore, the synthesized crop images closely mimic real images in terms of realism, and they are employed to fine‐tune object detectors such as YOLOv8. Extensive experiments demonstrate that the new DT/MARS‐CycleGAN framework significantly boosts crop/row detection performance for MARS, contributing to the field of robotic crop phenotyping. We release our code and data to the research community (https://github.com/UGA-BSAIL/DT-MARS-CycleGAN).
Trust in Sustainability: Unraveling the CSR‐Performance Nexus Through Organizational Trust and Past Performance in the Banking Sector
Authors: Kim Byung‐Jik , Kim Min‐Jik , Kim Tae‐Hyun
Published: December 2024

This research examines the effects of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on the performance of a prominent commercial bank in South Korea, with a specific focus on how organizational trust mediates this relationship and how previous performance moderates it. Anchored in the Warmth and Competence theory and the micro‐foundations perspective on CSR, we develop a moderated mediation model to delineate the intricate interactions among these variables. Employing a time‐lagged research design and gathering multi‐level, multi‐source data from 5223 employees across 520 bank branches, our findings reveal that CSR positively and indirectly influences financial performance by bolstering organizational trust. Additionally, our results pinpoint past financial performance as a crucial moderator in the CSR‐trust dynamic, indicating that the trust‐enhancing impact of CSR intensifies in organizations with a history of high performance. By elucidating the mediating role of trust and the conditional effect of past financial performance, this study advances a deeper understanding of the circumstances and mechanisms through which CSR affects organizational outcomes. These insights are vital for understanding CSR's role in promoting sustainable development within organizations. By fostering trust and enhancing performance, CSR initiatives can support organizations in establishing enduring, mutually advantageous relationships with stakeholders, thereby fostering the creation of sustainable value for both businesses and the broader community. This study underscores the importance of a multi‐level, context‐aware approach to CSR that recognizes both the micro‐level foundations and the macro‐level contingencies of socially responsible activities as drivers of sustainable organizational development.
Hydrothermal Approach for the Preparation of Blue‐Emitting Carbon Quantum Dots: An Insight into the Influence of the Reaction Parameters
Authors: Vercelli Barbara , De Micheli Eleonora , Donnini Riccardo , Losurdo Maria , Lange Heiko , La Ferla Barbara , Pavan Alice , Saibene Melissa , Capitani Giancarlo , Ghezzi Francesco , Montenegro Martos José María , Ruiz Delgado M. Carmen , Ponce Ortiz Rocío
Published: December 2024

The surface of carbon quantum dots (CDs) is rich in functionalities, which could be selectively post‐derivatized to obtain smart materials for various advanced applications. In this context, the development of a robust synthesis processes for CD formation is a considerable challenge to guarantee the reproducibility of the properties and functionalities on their surface for successful post‐derivatization. Thus, understanding the formation mechanism of CDs at the molecular level and its correlations with the reaction parameters is of paramount importance. Herein, we describe how two selected purification strategies and the reaction parameters influence the properties of CDs obtained through the hydrothermal method. We adopted a simplified approach employing small molecules that can be extracted from biomass/biowaste to develop a sustainable and scalable synthetic strategy for industrial applications. First, we studied the influence of the reaction parameters on the CD morphological, structural, and chemical properties. Then, we show how the reaction parameters, the temperature in particular, influence the formation of graphitic nitrogen oxide centers in CD honeycomb structure and their role in determining CDs color and stability. Finally, we concluded that low reaction temperatures cause an incomplete CD nucleation process while higher ones lead to more stable CDs, with reproducible properties and surface functionalities.
Development and characterization of waterproofing flexible mortar incorporating partially cured geopolymers synthesized from fly ash and blast furnace slag
Authors: Ipekci Terzioglu Meltem , Cinar Sahin Filiz
Published: December 2024

Geopolymers offer a green alternative to cement for use in construction chemicals. This study aimed to synthesize partially cured geopolymeric structures for use in waterproofing mortars, targeting applications such as water tanks, pools, and areas exposed to seawater and rain, where preventing crack formation and water leakage is crucial. The quantity of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) in a two‐component waterproofing flexible mortar was reduced by incorporating geopolymer cured in open air under ambient conditions. Based on characterization tests, three geopolymers were selected for inclusion in the mortar formula. Fresh mortar pre‐tests and performance tests on cured mortar were conducted. The results indicated that the mortar formula containing geopolymer at 75 wt.% of OPC, with a solid/liquid weight ratio of 1.5 and a blast furnace slag/fly ash weight ratio of 75:25, where the blast furnace slag had a more amorphous structure, exhibited optimal characteristics in crack bridging, bond strength, capillary water absorption, and waterproofing capacity. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of geopolymers in reducing OPC consumption and enhancing their user‐friendliness in waterproofing mortar applications. It offers practical insights into optimizing geopolymer formulations for superior performance and environmental benefits.
Understanding the Impacts of Arctic Climate Change Through the Lens of Political Ecology
Authors: Malik Ishfaq Hussain , Ford James D.
Published: December 2024

Climate change is a critical global issue with far‐reaching implications for the environment, society, and economy. Political ecology examines the relationship between political systems, social inequalities, and ecological concerns in relation to climate change. It focuses on how power dynamics, resource allocation, and political decisions influence vulnerability, adaptation, and mitigation efforts, highlighting the intersectionality between politics, ecology, and climate change impacts. Climate change in the Arctic is having profound geopolitical, environmental, and socioeconomic impacts on Indigenous Peoples. However, few, if any, studies have examined these interactions from a political ecology standpoint. Herein, we review and analyze the complex relationships and power dynamics that shape and are shaped by climate change in the Arctic through a political ecology lens, developing an understanding of how political, economic, and social factors interact to drive climate change impacts and responses. We introduce the term Arctic Political Ecology to understand these dynamics. The paper examines the significance of Indigenous knowledge, environmental governance, and Indigenous Peoples' sovereignty in control over productive resources, promoting sustainable practices, and addressing the challenges posed by climate change. We highlight the need for a comprehensive approach that considers the political ecology of climate change in the Arctic to understand the interplay of capitalism, colonialism, and resource exploitation.
Climate‐Friendly Vacations and Tourism
Authors: Ballantyne Anne Gammelgaard , Petersen Lars Kjerulf , Fals Katinka Bundgård , Lysgaard Jonas Andreasen
Published: December 2024

This article explores the socio‐cultural barriers and drivers shaping transitions toward climate‐friendly vacation practices. It highlights the influence of culturally embedded ideas and imaginaries surrounding holidays, intertwined with structural, cultural, and social constraints. These barriers and drivers are continually constructed and reinforced through various practices and discourses, shaping societal perceptions and behaviors. In addition, inherent dilemmas related to economic and social aspects of sustainability in the tourism sector also influence travel practices and discourses. An important argument concerns the malleability of barriers to climate‐friendly vacation practices. Although tourism desires and imaginaries tend to be associated with resource‐intensive practices, they are not inherently incompatible with climate‐friendly alternatives. Recognizing the socially constructed nature of these barriers and drivers opens avenues for societal change through collective action and policy initiatives. Understanding behavioral aspects of the green transition requires insights into the structural factors that shape behavior. Shared imaginaries and values regarding vacations and tourism constitute vital structural factors, and studies focusing on such structural meanings can enrich our understanding of societal transitions. This article calls for acknowledging socio‐cultural dynamics where vacation desires, memory creation, and individual dilemmas are shaped by shared imaginaries and structural conditions, paving the way for meaningful change in the tourism industry and beyond.
Association of obesity and thyroidectomy‐specific perioperative outcomes
Authors: Memeh Kelvin , Abou Azar Sara , Afolaranmi Oluwasegun , Vaghaiwalla Tanaz M.
Published: December 2024

Background

There is limited large‐scale data on the effect of obesity on thyroidectomy‐specific outcomes. To fill this gap in the literature, this study evaluates the association between obesity and thyroidectomy‐specific outcomes using a large real‐world surgical outcomes dataset.

Materials and Methods

The 2016–2019 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program Targeted Thyroidectomy dataset (ACS NSQIP) was queried. Using an inverse probability weighted (IPW) model, the impact of BMI on the primary (postoperative voice hoarseness, neck hematoma, and hypocalcemia.) and secondary outcomes (operative time and postoperative length of stay) were estimated. BMI was evaluated as per the WHO obesity categories. Sensitivity analysis was performed.

Results

24,370 patients were evaluated with an average BMI of 30.6, a mean age of 51.8 years, 77.5% were female, and 7.9 % were Hispanic. In univariate analysis, patients with BMI >30 had a higher risk of postoperative voice hoarseness (6.7 vs. 5.8% and p = 0.005) and neck hematoma (2.1 vs. 1.7% and p = 0.014) and a lower risk in hypocalcemia rates (3.6% vs. 4.6 % and p < 0.001). In the fully adjusted multivariable IPW models, BMI >30 was associated with a higher rate of postoperative voice hoarseness (RR 1.12 and p = 0.031) and neck hematoma (RR 1.25 and p = 0.024) but a lower rate of hypocalcemia (RR 0.81 and p = 0.001). Also, patients with BMI >30 had longer OR time (adjusted difference: 6.33 min and p < 0.001) and length of stay (adjusted difference: 1.36 h and p = 0.002).

Conclusion

In this national cohort of patients undergoing thyroidectomy, obesity was associated with a decreased rate of hypocalcemia but an increased rate of postoperative voice hoarseness and neck hematoma.
Constructing tree amplitudes of scalar EFT from double soft theorem
Authors: Zhou Kang
Published: December 2024

Abstract

The well known Adler zero can fully determine tree amplitudes of non-linear sigma model (NLSM), but fails to fix tree pion amplitudes with higher-derivative interactions. In this paper we propose a novel method based on exploiting the double soft theorem for scalars, which can be applied to a wider range. To test the applicability, we use this method to construct tree NLSM amplitudes and tree amplitudes those pions in NLSM couple to bi-adjoint scalars. We also construct the simplest pion amplitudes which receive leading higher-derivative correction, with arbitrary number of external legs. All resulted amplitudes are formulated as universal expansions to appropriate basis.
Illuminating the care/repair nexus in the ‘pandemic era’, and the potential for care beyond repair in Danish poultry production
Authors: Rutt Rebecca Leigh , Møller Alberte Skriver
Published: December 2024

Examining the Danish poultry industry in a time of rising outbreaks of infectious disease (the so-called ‘pandemic era’) including avian influenza, this study documents the often-unseen harms resulting from current dominant forms of response. Inspired by multispecies studies and ethnography, we pay attention to entangled human and more-than-human worlds. Specifically, we document the multifarious ways in which responses to worsening avian influenza alter the everyday lives of birds in production, their farmers, and public veterinarians. We also show how such changes are distributed in ways that further slant the playing field against smaller scale and organic poultry production, under the hegemony of globalized capitalist agriculture. Throughout, we shed light on the analytical purchase of two key concepts in feminist scholarship and science and technology studies respectively: care and repair. While understood as integral to human and more-than-human wellbeing, care’s tendency to summon pleasant associations is challenged by the reality of embodied care practices in complex and compromised socio-ecological contexts. Repair has been wielded conceptually to interrogate activities that stabilize systems at risk, while largely ignoring or even exacerbating the drivers of instability. Mobilized together, we can better understand how hegemonic logics delimit possibilities for care, but also the limits and limitations of dominant response repertoires. Finally, we illuminate farming practices of care beyond repair, which may help chart alternatives for Danish agriculture within, and perhaps beyond, the pandemic era.
Advances in preparation of acellular human dermis for tissue banking and transplantation
Authors: Stern Irit , Barrera Valentina , Randles Michael , Rooney Paul
Published: December 2024

Non-healing wounds cost the National Health Service over £5.6 billion annually in wound management. Skin allografts are used to treat non-healing wounds, ulcers and burns, offering the best protection against infection. In order to allow host cells to repopulate and to avoid immunogenicity, cell components are removed through decellularisation. Decellularisation of human dermis has so far been performed in NHS Blood and Transplant using a combination of two enzymes (RNase T1 and the recombinant human DNase Pulmozyme)®. This study aims at validating a new method to remove DNA from donated dermis via the use of a single enzyme, Benzonase, known for its effectiveness of DNA digestion. Skin samples were decellularised by removing the epidermis, lysing of dermal cells, removal of cellular fragments by a detergent wash and removal of nucleic acids by a nuclease incubation with either Benzonase or Pulmozyme + RNase T1. DNA quantification with PicoGreen, as well as histology on wax-embedded biopsies, stained with DAPI and haemotoxylin and eosin, were performed. In vitro toxicity test on human osteosarcoma immortalised cells and skin fibroblasts, and biomechanical (tensile) testing, were also performed. The effectiveness of DNA digestion with the new methodology was comparable to previous procedure. Mean DNA removal percentage following decellularisation with Pulmozyme + RNase was 99.9% (3.83 ng/mg). Mean DNA removal percentage with Benzonase was 99.8% (9.97 ng/mg). Histology staining showed complete decellularisation following either method. Benzonase was proven to be non-toxic to both cell lines used, and a one-way Anova test showed no significant difference in neither stress nor strain between acellular dermal matrix decellularised with either Benzonase or Pulmozyme + RNase T1. Benzonase was able to effectively decellularise dermis after prior removal of epidermis. It performed just as well as the combination of Pulmozyme + RNase T1, but represents significant advantages in terms of cost effectiveness, procurement and storage; Benzonase has been successfully used in the decellularisation of other tissues, thus would be better for Tissue Banking use. Switching to this combined DNase/RNase can have far-reaching consequences in the production of acellular human dermal matrix by NHSBT and in the treatment of patients requiring it.
Optimized PVA-(ZnO)x-(PANI)1−x nanocomposites: characterization and humidity sensing application
Authors: Elkatlawy Saeid M. , Elzwawy Amir , Sakr Abdelhamid A. , Morsy Mohamed
Published: December 2024

This work presents an effort to study the potential of ternary PVA/ZnO/PANI nanocomposite for humidity sensing applications. Easily-peeled-off films of the ternary system were formed by the solution casting method and characterized. FTIR manifested the uniformity of the synthesized films and the existence of both polyaniline and ZnO functional groups in the relevant PVA host matrix. Characteristic absorption bands of PVA were overlapped with some characteristic bands of polyaniline. XRD patterns show the typical semicrystalline peak for the pristine PVA. The XRD analysis did not demonstrate any crystalline peaks for ZnO due to the capping-off effect of the PVA macromolecule. Energy dispersive X-ray mapping analysis and SEM micrographs manifested a homogeneous distribution of ZnO and PANI particles and a smooth yet dense film appearance. A study of electronic transitions and band gap displayed that the value of the band gap varies based on component concentration with the lowest value for the film of equal concentration of both ZnO and polyaniline. The humidity sensing behavior of the films was explored at different frequencies. The most variation in impedance was reached at 500 Hz, while the impedance variation at 50 Hz is the best from the performance point of view, where the relation between the impedance and relative humidity is linear. Samples F3 [PVA (ZnO)0.7(PANI)0.3], and F4 ﻿[PVA (ZnO)0.5(PANI)0.5] revealed the highest sensitivity among other tested samples. The measured hysteresis for the F3 and F4 samples were 1.38E + 05 MΩ/RH and 1.55E + 05 MΩ/RH, respectively. Impedance and complex impedance spectroscopy measurements confirmed that the film F3 revealed the highest sensitivity among the other tested samples. The proposed structure of the sensor can be employed for real-life applications since it can be easily coupled with electronic read devices and its overall functionality.
Temporal changes in corticosteroid dose during ibrutinib treatment in patients with cGVHD and pulmonary involvement
Authors: Toyosaki Masako , Machida Shinichiro , Tomizawa Daisuke , Okada Masaya , Sawa Masashi , Ueda Yasunori , Omi Ai , Koroki Yosuke , Teshima Takanori
Published: December 2024

The GVH3001 study assessed the efficacy and safety of ibrutinib in Japanese patients with steroid-dependent or -refractory chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). However, the effects of ibrutinib on lung function and reduction in corticosteroid dose, which is a measurable factor associated with improved quality of life, could not be adequately assessed in patients who initially presented with lung involvement. This post hoc analysis aimed to evaluate temporal changes in daily corticosteroid dose, as well as effectiveness outcomes based on lung function and symptom burden (percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s [%FEV1] and Lee cGVHD Symptom Scale lung subscale score, respectively) in the subgroup of patients with cGVHD who had lung involvement at baseline. Seven of the 19 patients in the GVH3001 study had lung involvement at baseline. The daily corticosteroid dose for cGVHD decreased in five of these patients, and %FEV1 remained relatively stable in two patients but increased to > 80% in one patient. Lee cGVHD Symptom Scale scores were relatively stable throughout the study in patients with lung involvement. Ibrutinib may allow corticosteroid dose reduction without worsening lung function or increasing symptom burden in previously treated patients with cGVHD and associated lung involvement.
Preparing the certification of software as a medical device: a european regulatory analysis and case study on the Clynx®Platform
Authors: Lopes Irina E. , Pinto Joana F. , da Silva Hugo P. , Chambel Gonçalo , Clemente Carolina , Silva Diogo C. F. , Montes António M. , Simões Daniela
Published: December 2024

Purpose:

The primary objective of this study is the preparation of the certification of the Clynx® Platform, a physiotherapy software, as a Class IIa medical device software in accordance with the regulatory framework outlined in Medical Device Regulation 2017/745 (MDR).

Methods:

The methodology involves a comprehensive analysis of European Union medical device regulations and guidelines, with a specific focus on the certification process essential for obtaining a Conformité Européenne (CE) marking for Class IIa medical device software. This section explores the intricate aspects of the certification process, emphasizing the compilation of Technical Documentation, the nuances of Clinical Evaluation, and the establishment of a Quality Management System. The approach aligns closely with the stipulations of MDR 2017/745.

Results:

The study includes an industry case study featuring the Clynx® Platform, developed by Clynx® Health. Insights derived from the MDR are applied to categorize an in-development version of the software as a Class IIa medical device. The preparation of certification of this product involves the meticulous creation of Intended Use, Classification, General and Safety Performance Requirements, and Clinical Evaluation files, the presentation of an experimental protocol to validate the software’s technical performance for inclusion in the Clinical Evaluation, and a description of an Internal Audit performed on the Quality Management System.

Conclusion:

The certification of Class IIa medical device software necessitates the compilation of thorough Technical Documentation, including an extensive Clinical Evaluation, and the implementation of a robust Quality Management System. The certification process is conducted in collaboration with Notified Bodies, ensuring adherence to the stringent requirements set forth by the regulatory framework.
Old and new on the Peetre K-functional and its relations to real interpolation theory, quasi-monotone functions and wavelets
Authors: Dalmo Rune , Persson Lars-Erik , Samko Natasha
Published: December 2024

The Peetre K-functional is a key object in the development of the real method of interpolation. In this paper we point out a less known relation to wavelet theory and its applications to approximation theory and engineering applications. As a new basis for further development of these studies we present some known properties in the form appropriate for further applications and then derive new information and prove some new results concerning the K-functional and its close relation to (almost) quasi-monotone functions, various indices and interpolation theory. In particular, we extend and unify some known function parameter generalizations of the standard real interpolation spaces

$$(A_0, A_1)_{\theta ,q}$$

(

A
0

,

A
1

)

θ
,
q

.
Revealing Rubric Relations: Investigating the Interdependence of a Research-Informed and a Machine Learning-Based Rubric in Assessing Student Reasoning in Chemistry
Authors: Martin Paul P. , Kranz David , Graulich Nicole
Published: December 2024

Valid rubrics facilitate assessing the level of complexity in students’ open-ended responses. To design a valid rubric, it is essential to thoroughly define the types of responses that represent evidence of varying complexity levels. Formulating such evidence statements can be approached deductively by adopting predefined criteria from the research literature or inductively by detecting topics, for example, based on data-driven machine learning (ML) techniques. Investigating the interdependence of such research-informed and ML-based rubrics is key to validating ML-based approaches and enhancing their applicability in formative assessments. This study quantitatively compares a research-informed and an ML-based rubric designed to capture the complexity of students’ reasoning on the relative rate of contrasted reactions in undergraduate organic chemistry. Specifically, we leveraged an ML-based clustering technique to inductively develop a holistic fifteen-category rubric to evaluate students’ open-ended reasoning. Subsequently, we performed a quantitative analysis to examine whether the ML-based rubric and its research-informed counterpart are significantly associated. Our findings indicate that research-informed and ML-based rubrics assess students’ reasoning comparably. Thus, both rubric types are valid for categorizing students’ reasoning, underscoring the applicability of integrating ML techniques into rubric development. Nevertheless, aligning ML-based rubrics with the respective assessment objectives remains crucial. A well-aligned, evidence-based rubric may ultimately ease the analysis of student reasoning.
Targeting Fatty Acid Synthase to Halt Tumor Progression and Enhance Radiosensitivity in Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Chen Ching-I , Chan Hui-Wen , Shen Ching-Yi , Chuang Hui-Yen
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Breast cancer, the most prevalent cancer among women, is closely linked to abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism, leading to radioresistance by upregulating survival-signaling pathways. Overexpression of fatty acid synthase (FASN), a key enzyme in lipogenesis, results in excessive lipid synthesis in breast cancer. This study evaluated whether FASN inhibition enhanced the radiosensitivity of breast cancer cells and inhibited their progression, potentially uncovering mechanisms for new therapeutic strategies.

Methods

MCF-7 breast cancer cells were treated with the FASN inhibitors orlistat and TVB-3166, and cytotoxicity was assessed using the MTT assay. Protein expression changes, migratory ability, and responses to radiotherapy were analyzed by the Western blotting, Transwell, and MTT assays, respectively. To confirm FASN dependence, MCF-7 cells were infected with shFASN lentivirus to verify the specificity of the observed effects to FASN inhibition.

Results

Both orlistat and TVB-3166 treatments induced significant cell death. Reduced FASN, HKII, pERK, and pAKT expression levels, along with an increased BAX/p-BCL2 ratio, indicate that FASN inhibition disrupted cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis by altering tumor metabolism. Furthermore, decreased MMP9 expression correlated with reduced cell migration after FASN inhibition. Importantly, FASN inhibition significantly and dose-dependently enhanced the radiosensitivity of MCF-7 cells. These findings were validated using shFASN lentivirus, confirming that the observed effects were FASN-dependent.

Conclusion

FASN inhibition limited survival and migration and enhanced radiosensitivity in MCF-7 cells. These findings indicate the potential efficacy of FASN inhibitors as standalone therapies or as adjuncts to radiotherapy for breast cancer.
Chiroptical response of an array of isotropic plasmonic particles having a chiral arrangement under coherent interaction
Authors: Oshikiri Tomoya , Matsuo Yasutaka , Niinomi Hiromasa , Nakagawa Masaru
Published: December 2024

The chirality and chiroptical response of materials have attracted significant attention for their potential to introduce the new science of light-matter interactions. We demonstrate that collective mode formation under modal coupling between localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) with a chiral arrangement and Fabry–Pérot (FP) nanocavity modes can induce chiroptical responses. We fabricated a cluster of isotropic gold nanodisks with a chiral arrangement (gold nano-windmills, Au-NWs) on the FP nanocavities of TiO2 and Au film. The differential absorption of the Au-NWs coupled with the FP nanocavities under left- and right-handed circularly polarized light irradiations in the far field was significantly enhanced compared with the differential absorption without the FP nanocavities. Far- and near-field analyses by numerical simulation revealed that the Au-NWs coupled with the FP nanocavities formed a collective mode in the near field, and the collective mode represented the chiroptical response in the far field. The light field with the large helicity, can be used in chiral light-matter interactions. The concept of collective mode formation using isotropic metal nanodisks coupled with FP nanocavities provides a platform for controlling complex light fields.

Graphical abstract
TB or not TB: emerging mycobacteriaceae detected in a human patient, tree shrews, and soil
Authors: Siew Zhen Yun , Khoo Chia Ting , Ong Ghee Khang , Muhamad Nor Siti Norazlin Binti , Leong Pooi Pooi , Wong Siew Tung , Tan Boon Shing , Leong Chee-Onn , Low Dyoi-E , Voon Kenny
Published: December 2024

This study investigated the extrapulmonary pathogenesis of a novel Mycobacteroides abscessus subsp. massiliense strain in a young adult, manifesting as a chronic cutaneous infection. Epidemiological investigation proposed pathogen transmission via contaminated Java apple fruit, likely facilitated by tree shrews. The strain, identified through next-generation sequencing, demonstrated resistance to 76.7% of tested antibiotics, and potential heteroresistance among the M. abscessus subsp. massiliense subpopulations were suggested. Mycobacteroides abscessus complex (MAC) is a group of non-tuberculous mycobacteria, typically associated with soil and water, and poses significant clinical challenges due to its resistance to conventional treatments and its similarity to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The findings underscore the necessity for further genetic studies to confirm heteroresistant subpopulations and address the complexities of MAC infections.
Slime Mould and Philosophy
Authors: Sims Matthew
Published: December 2024

Physarum polycephalum, also known more colloquially as 'the blob', 'acellular slime mould', or just 'slime mould', is a unicellular multinucleate protist that has continued to attract the interest of biologists over the past century because of its complex life cycle, unique physiology, morphology, and behaviour. More recently, attention has shifted to Physarum as a model organism for investigating putative cognitive capacities such as decision making, learning, and memory in organisms without nervous systems. The aim of this Element is to illustrate how Physarum can be used as a valuable tool for approaching various topics in the philosophy of biology. Physarum and its behaviour not only pose a challenge to some of the received views of biological processes but also, I shall argue, provide an opportunity to clarify and appropriately sharpen the concepts underlying such received views.
Automating the quantification of coastal change using historical aerial photography: A case study along the coastline of county Cork, Ireland
Authors: Chalençon Emma , Cawkwell Fiona , O’Shea Michael , Murphy Jimmy
Published: December 2024

Coastlines worldwide are coming under increasing pressure due to climate change and human activity. Data on shoreline change are essential for coastal managers and when no long-term monitoring programs are implemented and shoreline change is typically on the order of less than 1 m/yr., as observed in Ireland, aerial photography is the most valuable source of information. A well-established literature exists for automated vegetation extraction from digital images based on the near infrared reflectance, but there is less research available on spectrally limited colour photography. This study develops a methodology for automating vegetation line extraction from a series of historical aerial photography of the Cork coastline in the South-West of Ireland. The approach relies on the Normalised Green–Blue Difference Index (NGBDI), which is versatile enough to discriminate disparate coastal vegetation environments, at different resolutions and in various lighting and seasonal conditions. An iterative optimal threshold process and the use of LiDAR ancillary datasets resulted in an automated vegetation line measurement with uncertainties estimated to be between 0.6 and 1.2 m. Change rates derived from the vegetation lines extracted present uncertainties in the range of ±0.27 m/yr. This robust and repeatable method provides a valuable alternative to time-consuming and subjective manual digitisation.
Evaluation of Clinical and Laboratory Findings and Outcomes in Patients Suffering from Earthquake-Related Crush Injury: Who Needs Renal Replacement Therapy?
Authors: Bayyigit Akif , Gunay F. Hande , Yerli Mustafa , Ervatan Zekeriya , Karmis E. Belen , Kadioglu Kocak M. Gulay
Published: December 2024

Objectives

Many people who are rescued alive from rubble after earthquakes suffer from crush injuries and associated acute kidney injury (AKI). McMahon score is used to determine the risk of AKI and mortality due to rhabdomyolysis in hospitalized patients. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical findings, biochemical characteristics, and outcomes of crush injury patients admitted to our tertiary hospital and the use of the McMahon score in determining the need for renal replacement therapy (RRT) in this patient group.

Methods

Sociodemographic, clinical, and biochemical parameters of 28 patients who had creatine kinase levels of 1000 U/L and above were recorded. Patients with crush injuries requiring and not requiring RRT were compared according to the McMahon Score.

Results

A total of 42% of patients developed AKI and 67% of them required renal replacement therapy. In crush injury patients requiring RRT, serum urea, creatinine, LDH, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, phosphorus, and procalcitonin levels were significantly higher and albumin levels were significantly lower at admission compared to patients not requiring RRT. All patients who required RRT had a McMahon Score ≥6.

Conclusions

A high McMahon score at hospital admission is associated with an increased need for RRT.
The radical innovation design comparator to evaluate the effectiveness of design solutions according to usage contexts
Authors: Yannou Bernard , Lecomte Robin , Cluzel François
Published: December 2024

The radical innovation design (RID) comparator is an unprecedented method for design comparison. It overcomes the limitations of traditional methods with a nuanced, structured approach that emphasizes detailed analysis over simple grading. At its core, the RID comparator employs a novel ontology based on the RID building blocks, enabling a precise alignment of activities and solutions. This alignment is deepened through the innovative “quantities of pain” metric, a tool that allows for a refined evaluation and comparison of solutions, facilitating the calculation of effectiveness indicators in a data-driven manner. The true impact of the method is demonstrated through an industrial use case on solutions for cleaning solar panels. The RID comparator demonstrates its practical efficacy in addressing complex, multifactorial design challenges, by constructing a cognitive model of the cleaning activity not only encapsulating the myriad aspects of the design problem but also generating a wealth of discussion and consensus-building among stakeholders. The resultant cognitive model serves as a pivotal tool in redefining the process of generating innovation briefs, deeply rooted in the actual needs and constraints of real-world scenarios. In essence, the RID comparator method significantly enhances the efficiency and quality of innovation processes, particularly in complex industrial contexts.
Designing recovery-oriented care: a qualitative study to inform service design at Kyrie Therapeutic Farm in Ireland
Authors: Koretsidou Christina , O’Toole Catriona , Galavan Eoin , McKeon John , McGilloway Sinead
Published: December 2024

Objectives:

Recovery-oriented approaches are gaining increased attention in the mental health sector, including from the World Health Organization and the United Nations, for their potential to support people in recovering and building meaningful lives through strengths-based, person-centered principles. Kyrie Therapeutic Farm (KTF) is a new initiative in Ireland that seeks to develop recovery-oriented model of adult mental health care. The aim of this study was to explore the barriers and facilitators of recovery-oriented models of practice in a small number of therapeutic farm settings across the world in order to inform service design at KTF whilst also addressing a gap in research on this topic.

Methods:

Three semi-structured focus-group interviews were conducted online via MS Teams with ten staff members in different roles and years of experience from three existing therapeutic community farms. reflexive thematic analysis was employed for data analysis.

Results:

Four themes emerged that illustrate how therapeutic farm communities operate in general and specifically in relation to recovery: 1. common humanity, 2. freedom and responsibility, 3. interdependence and community living, and 4. learning organisations.

Conclusion:

This study demonstrates the viability of recovery-oriented practices in community therapeutic farms, including KTF, thereby contributing to the broader trend toward more person-centered mental health services. The values inherent in the recovery-oriented approach – such as community, empowerment, and close, equitable, non-hierarchical relationships – act as facilitators. However, embedding these values in practice can generate tensions for staff which warrant attention. Implications for the integration into service design of KTF and further research are offered.
Greek physician Asclepiades of Bithynia (124–40 BC) and his contribution to thinking about mental illness and its treatment
Authors: Brady Frank A. , Kelly Brendan D.
Published: December 2024

Objectives:

To outline the life and work of Greek physician Asclepiades of Bithynia (124–40 BC), especially his contributions to thinking about mental illness.

Methods:

Review and discussion of relevant fragments of Asclepiades’ work that survive and review of secondary literature, supplemented by relevant systematic literature searches (e.g. PubMed).

Results:

Asclepiades challenged the long-standing Hippocratic doctrine of the four humours and developed an approach to physical and mental illness that was humane, reasoned, and a forerunner of later developments in psychiatry. Asclepiades argued that the human body, like everything in the universe, comprised tiny, imperceptible particles, which he called önkoi, seamless masses in perpetual motion. In consequence, Yapijakis describes Asclepiades as ‘the father of molecular medicine’. Asclepiades held that good health was maintained by free, balanced motion of önkoi through theoretical pores, while disease resulted from blockage or impaction of önkoi passing through pores in various body parts (e.g. brain). Based on this idea, Asclepiades recommended releasing people with apparent mental illness from confinement and using judicious combinations of diet, exercise, massage, bathing, and music to treat ‘phrenitis’ (delirium) and melancholia. He suggested that the physician act ‘safely, swiftly and pleasantly’ (‘cito, tutu, jucunde’) for both physical and mental illness.

Conclusions:

Asclepiades belongs to the historical tradition of progressive medical approaches to mental illness, not least because he applied his principles for the treatment of physical illness to mental illness. His ideas about psychiatry set the scene for further evolution of attitudes to mental illness and its treatment over subsequent centuries.
The Second Coming of Rodina: The Role of a Nonparliamentary Party in Putin’s Managed Nationalism
Authors: Horvath Robert , Lever Charlotte
Published: December 2024

This article examines the unexpected revival of Rodina (Motherland), a nationalist party that had been suppressed in 2006 for its embrace of “orangist,” anti-Putin politics. Five years later, Rodina was relaunched in response to the crisis of the Medvedev–Putin “tandemocracy.” This article shows that Rodina played a central role in the Kremlin’s “managed nationalism,” which sought to direct the energies of Russian nationalists into loyalist channels. In particular, it illuminates three ways that Rodina facilitated collaboration between nationalists and the regime. First, it helped to integrate nationalists into the All-Russia Popular Front, the umbrella structure that was created as a vehicle for Putin’s return to the presidency. Second, it served as a counterrevolutionary force by drawing nationalists from the “white ribbon” protest movement into two Kremlin-supported initiatives: the “conservative turn” and a media campaign against non-Slavic immigration. And third, it acted as a proxy for the Russian state during the annexation of Crimea and the conflict in southeast Ukraine, recruiting nationalists to serve as separatists and cultivating the support of European radical nationalists. In these three ways, Rodina contributed both to Russia’s autocratization and to the growing influence of nationalist ideas in public discourse.
Moderate Physical Perspectivalism
Authors: Adlam Emily
Published: December 2024

Recent developments in foundations of physics have given rise to a class of views suggesting that physically meaningful descriptions must always be relativized to a physical perspective. In this article I distinguish between strong physical perspectivalism, which maintains that all facts must be relativized to a perspective, and moderate physical perspectivalism, which maintains that all empirically meaningful descriptions must be relativized to a perspective. I argue that scientific evidence and philosophical considerations support moderate physical perspectivalism over strong physical perspectivalism. In particular, motivations connected to epistemic humility and the social nature of science are more compatible with the moderate approach.
Europeans’ attitudes toward the EU following Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Authors: Unan Asli , Klüver Heike
Published: December 2024

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has had profound effects on the stability and security of Europe. This study examines the attitudes of Europeans toward the European Union (EU) in the aftermath of the invasion of Ukraine. Using Special Eurobarometer data collected between February and April 2022 with a representative sample of the EU (N = 26,502), it leverages the quasi-experimental setting with the coincidence between the timing of the invasion and the fieldwork period of the Eurobarometer. Our findings indicate a general increase in support for the EU in the aftermath of the invasion by 4 percentage-points (11 percent of a SD). While the amplitude of the effect remains similar, we see larger treatment effects as more days passed after the invasion. We also observe significant variation at the individual level in treatment effects, particularly by ideology, with left-leaning individuals being more critical of the EU following the invasion. In general, our research demonstrates the significant impact of regional conflicts on public attitudes toward supranational organizations such as the EU and highlights the role of the EU as a provider of security and stability in the face of such conflicts.
Effects of alpha-lipoic acid on productive performance, immunity, antioxidation and serum metabolism in Holstein cows
Authors: Zhang Hongrui , Jiang Zhiguo , Fu Tong , Wang Linfeng , Li Gaiying , Lian Hongxia , Zhang Liyang , Gao Tengyun
Published: December 2024

The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant effect of alpha-lipoic acid (α-LA) in dairy cows and its metabolic mechanism. Thirty Holstein cows weighing 550 ± 25 kg, 200 ± 15 days of lactation and calving 2–3 times were randomly divided into three groups, ten cows in each group. Different doses of α-LA were added based on body weight: 0 (CTL), 30 (LA-L) and 60 (LA-H) mg/kg per head per day; 7 days adaptation period, 30 days formal period. Milk production was recorded daily during the test period. Milk and blood samples were collected on the last day. ELISA kits and automatic biochemical analyser were used to detect the indicators in blood; serum metabolites were detected and analysed by non-target metabolomics. The results of the study showed that the addition of α-LA significantly increased milk yield; blood concentrations for HDL, triglyceride, cortisol and triiodothyronine were significantly elevated; and levels of glutathione reductase and nitric oxide synthase were significantly reduced in LA-L group as compared to CTL group. The concentrations of IL-1β, IL-2, TNF-α, IgG and IgA were significantly higher after supplementation with α-LA. Metabolomics analysis revealed 13 and 15 differential metabolites each in positive or negative modes. Methylmalonic acid levels were significantly higher following α-LA supplementation compared to CTL group, as were D-lactose, D-maltose and oleanolic acid levels in LA-L group. In summary, α-LA can enhance milk production, improve antioxidant capacity and immunity, and is more beneficial for animal production and economic benefits at 30 mg/kg.
Representations in design computing through 3-D deep generative models
Authors: Çakmak Başak , Öngün Cihan
Published: December 2024

This paper aims to explore alternative representations of the physical architecture using its real-world sensory data through artificial neural networks (ANNs). In the project developed for this research, a detailed 3-D point cloud model is produced by scanning a physical structure with LiDAR. Then, point cloud data and mesh models are divided into parts according to architectural references and part-whole relationships with various techniques to create datasets. A deep learning model is trained using these datasets, and new 3-D models produced by deep generative models are examined. These new 3-D models, which are embodied in different representations, such as point clouds, mesh models, and bounding boxes, are used as a design vocabulary, and combinatorial formations are generated from them.