bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hierarchical Au@Pt nanoparticle/amino benzoic acid polymer-based hybrid material for labeled and label-free detection of interleukin-6: a comparative assessment
Authors: Soto Dayana , Serafín Verónica , Pedrero María , Pingarrón José M. , Campuzano Susana , Orozco Jahir
Published: October 2024

Interleukin-6 (IL6) is a cytokine mainly involved in inflammatory processes associated with various diseases, from rheumatoid arthritis and pathogen-caused infections to cancer, where malignant cells exhibit high proliferation and overexpression of cytokines, including IL6. Furthermore, IL6 plays a fundamental role in detecting and differentiating tumor cells, including colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Therefore, given its range of biological activities and pathological role, IL6 determination has been claimed for the diagnosis/prognosis of immune-mediated diseases. Herein, a comparative study is presented of labeled and label-free electrochemical immunosensors involving a hierarchical Au@Pt nanoparticle/polymer hybrid material for detecting IL6. The electrochemical immunosensors were independently coupled to the surface of screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) previously modified with polymeric layers. While in the label-free immunosensor, an anti-IL6 antibody (IL6-Ab) was covalently bound to the modified SPCE surface, in the sandwich-like amperometric immunosensor, an anti-biotinylated-IL6 antibody (B-IL6-Ab) was attached to the electrode through biotin-avidin affinity interactions. The label-free format employed a straightforward detection of IL6 by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The resulting electrochemical immunosensors exhibited a linear dynamic range from 50 to 750 pg/mL IL6, with detection limits (LOD) of 14.4 and 6.0 pg/mL for label-free and sandwich-like immunosensors, respectively. This outstanding performance makes them versatile platforms for clinical analysis of a panel of biomarkers for early diagnosis/prognosis of inflammatory processes associated with oncological diseases, among other pathologies.
Comparative study on the Impact of Transcranial Magnetic stimulation and Bio-feedback on overactive bladder in multiple sclerosis patients: a Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Raheem Osama M. Abdel , Abdel-Hady Doaa A.
Published: October 2024

Background

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a common clinical presentation in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and biofeedback on overactive bladder in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Methods

This research included 45 individuals with multiple sclerosis of both sexes. We randomly divided them into three equal groups (A, B, and C). Patients in group A got biofeedback training and pelvic floor exercise (PFME); patients in group B had transcranial magnetic treatment and PFME; and patients in group C had PFME. Urodynamic measurements were utilized to determine bladder parameters (detrusor pressure at maximum flow rate, bladder volume at initial desire to empty, maximum cystometric capacity, detrusor pressure, and maximum flow rate) for all groups before and after a six-week training interval (the end of therapy).

Results

There was a statistically significant improvement in all urodynamic measurement parameters within the groups (Groups A, B and C). Except for the maximal cystometric capacity and detrusor pressure were non-significant improvement in B before and after therapy. However, there was no significant difference between the three groups following therapy.

Conclusion

Transcranial magnetic stimulation and biofeedback improved bladder function in patients with multiple sclerosis. These approaches have a high level of safety and effectiveness, but EMG biofeedback has superiority.
Advanced ultrasound diagnosis of extrahepatic bile duct lesions
Authors: Okaniwa Shinji
Published: October 2024

Ultrasound (US) has high specificity and sensitivity, and it should be performed first for patients with suspicion of biliary tract cancer. However, the complicated anatomy in addition to the gas images makes it difficult to delineate the entire extrahepatic bile duct (EHBD). The keys to depiction of EHBD are the "J" shape manipulation in the left lateral decubitus position and the use of magnified images with high-frequency transducers. Furthermore, indirect findings such as gallbladder (GB) distension, BD dilatation, and debris echo in the GB and BD are also important for detecting occult lesions, particularly in the ampullary region of Vater. For the differential diagnosis of BD wall thickening, the spreading pattern in the long and short axial directions should be assessed first. Then, the characteristics of the innermost hyperechoic layer (IHL) and outermost hyperechoic layer (OHL) should be evaluated. Asymmetrical wall thickening, absence of IHL, and presence of irregularity or discontinuity in OHL are characteristic patterns of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Because CCA is the most common BD polypoid lesion, it is important to diagnose tumor extension and depth invasion in addition to differential diagnosis. Nodular-type CCA is usually hypoechoic and more likely to invade vertically. In contrast, papillary-type CCA is often hyperechoic and extends laterally. Contrast‑enhanced US may be useful for evaluating these findings. However, if the possibility of CCA cannot be ruled out or a definitive diagnosis is needed, a transpapillary biopsy or endoscopic US-guided tissue acquisition should be considered.
A Particle Method for the Multispecies Landau Equation
Authors: Carrillo José A. , Hu Jingwei , Van Fleet Samuel Q.
Published: October 2024

The multispecies Landau collision operator describes the two-particle, small scattering angle or grazing collisions in a plasma made up of different species of particles such as electrons and ions. Recently, a structure preserving deterministic particle method (Carrillo et al. in J. Comput. Phys. 7:100066, 2020) has been developed for the single species spatially homogeneous Landau equation. This method relies on a regularization of the Landau collision operator so that an approximate solution, which is a linear combination of Dirac delta distributions, is well-defined. Based on a weak form of the regularized Landau equation, the time dependent locations of the Dirac delta functions satisfy a system of ordinary differential equations. In this work, we extend this particle method to the multispecies case, and examine its conservation of mass, momentum, and energy, and decay of entropy properties. We show that the equilibrium distribution of the regularized multispecies Landau equation is a Maxwellian distribution, and state a critical condition on the regularization parameters that guarantees a species independent equilibrium temperature. A convergence study comparing an exact multispecies Bobylev-Krook-Wu (BKW) solution to the particle solution shows approximately 2nd order accuracy. Important physical properties such as conservation, decay of entropy, and equilibrium distribution of the particle method are demonstrated with several numerical examples.
A Profit Cap is not yet a General Moral Duty for Companies: A Corporate Social Contract Perspective
Authors: Kaptein Muel
Published: October 2024

In both the literature and practice, it has been advocated that companies should have a profit cap. Utilizing corporate social contract theory, this article posits that under at least three conditions, companies do not have a general moral duty to cap their profits. These conditions entail that a company adheres to the contracting principles of its stakeholder relationships, that the constitutive stakeholders of the company have not otherwise stipulated in the corporate social contract, and that the macrosocial contract does not prescribe otherwise to the company. The first two conditions are company-specific and hence do not constitute a generic moral imperative, and there is currently insufficient evidence for the third, generic condition.
Learning to rank anomalies: scalar performance criteria and maximization of rank statistics
Authors: Limnios Myrto , Noiry Nathan , Clémençon Stephan
Published: October 2024

The ability to collect and store ever more massive data, unlabeled in many cases, has been accompanied by the need to process them efficiently in order to extract relevant information and possibly design solutions based on the latter. In various situations, the vast majority of the observations exhibit the same behavior, while a small proportion deviates from it. Detecting these outlier observations (or equivalently defined as anomalies) is now one of the major challenges for machine learning applications (e.g. fraud detection or predictive maintenance). We propose here a novel methodology for outlier/anomaly detection, by learning a scoring function defined on the feature space allowing for ranking the observations by degree of abnormality. The scoring function is built through maximization of an empirical performance criterion taking the form of a (two-sample) linear rank statistic. We show that bipartite ranking algorithms can thus be used to learn nearly optimal scoring function with provable theoretical guarantees. We illustrate our methodology with numerical experiments based on open access online code.
Development of Mathematical Function Control-Based 3D Printed Tablets and Effect on Drug Release
Authors: Wang Honghe , Karnik Indrajeet , Uttreja Prateek , Zhang Peilun , Vemula Sateesh Kumar , Repka Michael A.
Published: October 2024

Purpose

The application of 3D printing technology in drug delivery is often limited by the challenges of achieving precise control over drug release profiles. The goal of this study was to apply surface equations to construct 3D printed tablet models, adjust the functional parameters to obtain multiple tablet models and to correlate the model parameters with the in vitro drug release behavior.

Methods

This study reports the development of 3D-printed tablets using surface geometries controlled by mathematical functions to modulate drug release. Utilizing fused deposition modeling (FDM) coupled with hot-melt extrusion (HME) technology, personalized drug delivery systems were produced using thermoplastic polymers. Different tablet shapes (T1-T5) were produced by varying the depth of the parabolic surface (b = 4, 2, 0, -2, -4 mm) to assess the impact of surface curvature on drug dissolution.

Results

The T5 formulation, with the greatest surface curvature, demonstrated the fastest drug release, achieving complete release within 4 h. In contrast, T1 and T2 tablets exhibited a slower release over approximately 6 h. The correlation between surface area and drug release rate was confirmed, supporting the predictions of the Noyes-Whitney equation. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analyses verified the uniform dispersion of acetaminophen and the consistency of the internal structures, respectively.

Conclusions

The precise control of tablet surface geometry effectively tailored drug release profiles, enhancing patient compliance and treatment efficacy. This novel approach offers significant advancements in personalized medicine by providing a highly reproducible and adaptable platform for optimizing drug delivery.

Graphical Abstract
Senescence-related genes as prognostic indicators in breast cancer survival
Authors: Ungvari Zoltan , Ungvari Anna , Fekete Monika , Kiss Csaba , Győrffy Balázs
Published: October 2024

Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide, particularly affecting those in their later years. As the incidence of breast cancer increases with age, understanding the biological mechanisms that link aging and cancer becomes crucial. Cellular senescence, a hallmark of aging, plays a dual role in cancer by inhibiting tumorigenesis while also contributing to tumor progression through the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). This study aims to investigate the prognostic significance of senescence-related genes in breast cancer. We utilized the SenMayo gene list, a comprehensive set of senescence-related genes, to analyze gene expression data from a large cohort of breast cancer samples. The data was sourced from the Kaplan–Meier plotter, an integrated database that compiles gene expression information from multiple independent cohorts. Cox proportional hazards regression and false discovery rate (FDR) corrections were employed to evaluate the correlation between gene expression and survival outcomes, aiming to establish a prognostic signature. Our findings demonstrate that higher expression levels of senescence-related genes are significantly associated with improved survival, while lower expression levels correlate with shorter survival outcomes. These results suggest that senescence-related pathways play a protective role in breast cancer, potentially serving as valuable prognostic indicators. The identification of a prognostic signature based on senescence-related genes underscores the importance of cellular senescence in breast cancer progression and survival. Our study highlights the potential of senescence-related biomarkers in enhancing patient stratification and informing treatment strategies, contributing to the growing body of literature on the intersection of aging and cancer.
Common Elements of Trauma-Informed Schools and Attention to Racial Equity: A Scoping Review
Authors: Onipede Z. Ayotola , Park Alayna Lee , Lau Anna S.
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Notwithstanding the multiple descriptions and principles associated with trauma-informed schools (TIS), the field lacks a well-defined operational definition of TIS. This scoping review aimed to characterize TIS intervention components and implementation strategies described in published studies of TIS. This review also examined the extent to which published examples of TIS had an explicit focus on promoting racial equity. Method: Eligible studies described school- or district-wide trauma-informed approaches in Preschool-12 education, and included elements across at least two domains of TIS design: Organizational & Policy Reforms; Workforce Professional Development/Training; and Educational & Clinical Practices. A trained coding team reviewed eligible studies and applied 32 codes characterizing TIS intervention components and implementation strategies. Results: 30 eligible studies were identified. The most common implementation strategies included availability of trauma-informed training & consultation, implementation progress monitoring, and developing community partnerships. The most common intervention components included multi-tiered interventions and specific knowledge areas for trauma-informed training content. Least common, were intervention components related to promoting racial equity (e.g., de-implementation of exclusionary discipline, de-implementation of carceral practices, and culturally inclusive curriculum). Conclusion: Findings suggest TIS components related to implementation strategies are most frequently employed, and that explicit attention to racial equity was infrequent in published descriptions of TIS design and implementation.
“Meet the IUPAB councilor”—Thomas Gutsmann
Authors: Gutsmann Thomas
Published: October 2024

As one of the twelve newly elected councillors, it is my pleasure to provide a brief biographical sketch for the readers of Biophys. Rev. and the members of the Biophysical Societies. I have been actively involved in the German Biophysical Society (DGfB) since 2008, initially as the speaker for the “Membrane Biophysics” section and, since 2015, as the secretary. Within the IUPAB council I follow Prof. Hans-Joachim Galla, former Secretary and President of the German Biophysical Society, who served as a councillor for two terms from 2018 to 2024. Thus, a direct continuation of the German contribution to the IUPAB is guaranteed. My journey in biophysics began during my studies of physics at the University of Kiel, where I specialized in physiology and biophysics. After earning my doctorate in the lab of Ulrich Seydel at the Research Center Borstel, I spent two years at the University of California, Santa Barbara, working in Paul Hansma’s lab on the development and application of atomic force microscopy. During my time at UCSB, I also collaborated with Jacob Israelachvili’s lab on membrane properties. Since 2008, I have been leading the Biophysics Research Group at the Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center. In 2010, I was appointed as a professor at the University of Lübeck. Additionally, since 2023, I have been serving as an associate member at the Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB) in Hamburg.
Root-Driven Soil Reduction in Wadden Sea Salt Marshes
Authors: Mittmann-Goetsch Julian , Wilson Monica , Jensen Kai , Mueller Peter
Published: October 2024

The soil redox potential in wetlands such as peatlands or salt marshes exerts a strong control over microbial decomposition processes and consequently soil carbon cycling. Wetland plants can influence redox by supplying both terminal electron acceptors (i.e. oxygen) and electron donors (i.e. organic matter) to the soil system. However, quantitative insight into the importance of plant effects on wetland soil redox and associated plant traits are scarce. In a combined mesocosm and field study we investigated the impact of plants on soil reduction using IRIS (Indicator of Reduction in Soils) sticks. Vegetated plots were compared to non-vegetated plots along an elevational gradient in a salt marsh of the Wadden Sea and along an artificially created gradient in a tidal tank mesocosm experiment. Our findings from the mesocosm experiment demonstrated that vegetation both enhanced and suppressed soil reduction relative to non-vegetated control pots. The direction of the plant effect (i.e., net oxidizing or net reducing) was inversely correlated with background redox conditions. Insights from high-resolution oxygen profiling via planar optode imaging corroborated these findings. In the field study, vegetation consistently reduced the comparatively well-aerated Wadden Sea salt marsh soil. Reduction correlated positively with soil organic matter content and belowground biomass, indicating that greater availability of plant-derived electron donors, in the form of organic matter, increased soil reduction. Challenging the dominant paradigm that wetland plants primarily act as soil oxidizers, our study reveals their potential to exert a net reducing effect. The documented impact of these plant-induced changes in soil redox conditions suggests a previously overlooked role in shaping the stability of soil organic carbon stocks in wetland ecosystems with variable water tables.
Integrated Genetic Algorithm and Deep Learning Approach for Effective Cyber-Attack Detection and Classification in Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) Environments
Authors: Alkhafaji Nadia , Viana Thiago , Al-Sherbaz Ali
Published: October 2024

Cyber-attack detection within Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) environments presents unique challenges due to the complex, resource-constrained, and real-time nature of these networks. Traditional detection techniques often struggle to adapt to the dynamic environment of IIoT. For instance, many existing methods rely on signature-based detection, which fails to identify evolving threats. Other approaches, such as anomaly-based detection, can generate a high rate of False Positives, leading to inefficiencies in threat management. To address these challenges, we propose a novel detection and classification model specifically tailored for IIoT environments. The proposed model integrates Genetic Algorithms (GA) and Deep Learning (DL) to enhance cyber-attack detection within IIoT environments. The GA component optimises feature selection from raw network data, ensuring the extraction of meaningful and relevant features. Leveraging these selected features, the DL component constructs a robust model capable of accurately detecting and classifying various cyber-attack patterns across IIoT devices. Through experimentation on real-world IIoT network traffic (UNSW-NB 15 dataset), the proposed approach demonstrates its efficacy in improving attack detection accuracy and adaptability. The integration of GA and DL offers a synergistic solution that addresses the complexities of IIoT cybersecurity, contributing to a more secure and resilient IIoT ecosystem. The integrated GA–DL classification model developed in this work achieved 98% precision, 96% accuracy, 94% recall, and 12% losses with only less than 50% of the features of the UNSW-NB 15 dataset. The reduction in features required for the identification and classification of cyber-attacks reduces the processing time by 50%.
The development of media quality in the Digital Age
Authors: Barhoumi Sahra
Published: October 2024

The Digital Age has revolutionized the media landscape, reshaping how consumers access and interact with content. Consumers now have access to a wide range of media content, from physical copies to digital downloads and streaming. This has led to content creators detaching from traditional publishing and self-publishing their content on platforms like Wattpad, SoundCloud, and YouTube. The Digital Age has also added more remedies to signal quality to consumers, such as online reviews and personalized recommendations. This paper aims to analyze the impact of the Digital Age on the quality of media content in three different media fields (books, music, and films and series) by conducting an online survey among 245 German-speaking internet users in May 2022. Findings reveal a significant increase in access to content creators and content availability for consumers in the Digital Age. Moreover, the Digital Age introduces mechanisms that assist consumers in evaluating content quality, mitigating the adverse selection problem. The study concludes that media content quality in the Digital Age surpasses that of the Pre-Digital Age. For an enhanced consumer experience in the field of books, media providers should reconsider their algorithms, prioritizing content over purchasing patterns. Caution is advised in reinforcing intellectual property rights, emphasizing the need for judicious application to preserve content creation incentives.
Key biochar properties linked to denitrification products in a calcareous soil
Authors: Cayuela María L. , Spott Oliver , Pascual María B. , Sánchez-García María , Sánchez-Monedero Miguel A.
Published: October 2024

Meta-analyses show an overall decrease in soil N2O emissions after biochar (BC) amendment. Nonetheless, N2O mitigation with BC cannot be extrapolated to every BC-soil combination, inasmuch as an increase in soil N2O release has been occasionally reported. We hypothesized that BC characteristics are key, and performed two microcosm experiments to advance in the understanding of the properties associated. We first investigated how 22 well-characterized BCs affect N2O emissions in a calcareous soil under denitrification conditions. Whereas most BCs decreased N2O emissions, some substantially increased N2O emissions. In a second experiment, we selected and further characterized eight of the 22 previous BCs. We applied the 15N-gas-flux method to study how these BCs affect denitrification products (N2O and N2) in the same soil. Results indicate that the interaction between BC and the denitrification process depends on the temperature of pyrolysis. Whereas BCs produced at 400 °C tended to increase total denitrification (N2O+N2) by an average of 28%, BCs produced at 600 °C significantly reduced total denitrification by 53%. Nevertheless, this decline in overall denitrification did not result in a decrease of N2O emissions, as there was a strong shift in the N2O/(N2+N2O) ratio favoring N2O. A redundancy analysis revealed a direct correlation between carboxylic groups on BCs surface and N2O emissions. This research enhances our understanding of the interaction of BC with denitrification, particularly concerning the relevance of the temperature of pyrolysis, and opens up new paths for investigation, crucial for optimizing the application of BCs in different soil environments.

Graphical Abstract
Work ability data management in multisectoral services for people with disabilities: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Nissinen Sari , Sormunen Erja , Nevala Nina
Published: October 2024

Successful collaboration between professionals working in multisectoral services for people with disabilities requires access to data on the client’s work ability. This study examines work ability data needs, availability, and acquisition in social and health care services and employment services and explores possible differences between these service sectors. A cross-sectional survey was carried out using a self-developed questionnaire based on Choo’s information management process model, the Work Ability House model and previous research on work ability data. The questionnaire was targeted at physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, psychologists, and experts who support the work ability of people with disabilities and who work in primary health care, specialised health care, social services or employment services. The findings indicate that data on clients’ self-perceived health status is more frequently available than data on self-perceived work ability. This variability in data availability exists across professional sectors, highlighting the need for enhanced data management practices related to work ability assessment and support among professionals in social and health care services and employment services. The study underscores the importance of increasing professionals’ willingness to discuss work ability issues with working-age clients, particularly in primary health care and social services. These findings are pertinent in terms of enhancing multisectoral collaboration among professionals who need to comprehensively assess and support the work ability and employment of people with disabilities. Also, the study provides a diverse list of individual pieces of data related to work ability.
Seeking friends and influencers: business and labor groups lobbying in the Chilean congress
Authors: Alemán Eduardo , Dockendorff Andrés
Published: October 2024

This study analyzes direct lobbying in the Chilean Congress, contributing to the debate over which legislators are targeted by interest groups. Utilizing a comprehensive dataset constructed from legally mandated records of lobbying meetings, we test theoretical implications predominantly derived from the US context within a different presidential democracy. The focus is on the legislative targets of business and labor groups. The results reveal a marked preference for lobbying allies, aligning with recent theories of information transmission and legislative subsidies. This pattern holds true for both business and labor groups and highlights the significance of ideological alignment for legislative lobbying in Chile. Additionally, the study finds that legislators with influential positions, such as those on key committees or centrally located in the bill collaboration network, are more frequently targeted. This research provides key insights into the dynamics of legislative lobbying in a non-US context, underscoring the generalizability of established theoretical frameworks.
Examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital-associated Clostridioides difficile infection
Authors: Ray Michael J. , Furuno Jon P. , Strnad Luke C. , Lofgren Eric T. , McGregor Jessina C.
Published: October 2024

Objective:

To evaluate the impact of changes in the size and characteristics of the hospitalized patient population during the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of hospital-associated Clostridioides difficile infection (HA-CDI).

Design:

Interrupted time-series analysis.

Setting:

A 576-bed academic medical center in Portland, Oregon.

Methods:

We established March 23, 2020 as our pandemic onset and included 24 pre-pandemic and 24 pandemic-era 30-day intervals. We built an autoregressive segmented regression model to evaluate immediate and gradual changes in HA-CDI rate during the pandemic while controlling for changes in known CDI risk factors.

Results:

We observed 4.5 HA-CDI cases per 10,000 patient-days in the two years prior to the pandemic and 4.7 cases per 10,000 patient-days in the first two years of the pandemic. According to our adjusted segmented regression model, there were neither significant changes in HA-CDI rate at the onset of the pandemic (level-change coefficient = 0.70, P-value = 0.57) nor overtime during the pandemic (slope-change coefficient = 0.003, P-value = 0.97). We observed significant increases in frequency and intensity of antibiotic use, time at risk, comorbidities, and patient age before and after the pandemic onset. Frequency of C. difficile testing did not significantly change during the pandemic (P= 0.72).

Conclusions:

Despite large increases in several CDI risk factors, we did not observe the expected corresponding changes in HA-CDI rate during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. We hypothesize that infection prevention measures responding to COVID-19 played a role in CDI prevention.
Dating the beginning of the Pottery Neolithic in South Iran: Radiocarbon dates from Tol-e Sangi, the Fars
Authors: Khanipour Morteza , Nishiaki Yoshihiro
Published: October 2024

The Fertile Crescent of Southwest Asia is considered one of the main centers of the first Neolithization worldwide. However, the dating and processes of its spread to neighboring regions have yet to be studied. This study reports new chronological data from the Fars highlands, southeast of the Fertile Crescent. Although the Pottery Neolithic in Fars has long been believed to have started in the late 7th millennium BC, recent excavations at Tepe Rahmatabad have suggested a date half a millennium earlier, raising controversy. Our data from Tol-e Sangi, a stratified site with Pre-Pottery (PPN) and Pottery Neolithic (PN) cultural deposits, support the advent of the Pottery Neolithic at the beginning of the 7th millennium BC. This suggests that despite the late arrival of the food production economy in the Fars highlands, which is dated from the mid-8th millennium BC, subsequent cultural development followed a path similar to that of the eastern wing of the Fertile Crescent.
Berkeley's Doctrine of Bodies as Powers
Authors: Daniel Stephen H.
Published: October 2024

Discussions of George Berkeley often dismiss his Notebooks remarks that (1) bodies are powers that cause perceivers to have thoughts, and (2) bodies exist even when they are not perceived. I have previously noted these claims but have not explained how bodies are infinitely linked as thoughts (vs. ideas), and Melissa Frankel treats bodies as archetypes perceived individually by God but does not explain how they are individuated. I argue that because bodies identify objects only for finite minds, they are derivative powers by which individuated objects are related to one another infinitely.
Global Social History: Rethinking Class and Social Transformation in the Modern World
Authors: Dejung Christof , Motadel David
Published: October 2024

The rise of global history has fundamentally reshaped historical scholarship over recent years. Questions about class structures, however, have rarely been specifically addressed by global historians. Scholars of social history, meanwhile, have traditionally studied social stratification within national frameworks. The introduction to this special issue addresses these shortcomings, exploring global social history as a new field of historical inquiry. Interweaving global and social history, it demonstrates that we cannot understand the emergence and transformation of social groups across the modern world – groups such as the aristocracy, the economic bourgeoisie, the educated middle classes, the peasantry, or nomadic groups – without considering how they were influenced by global entanglements. Moreover, it points out that we have to examine globalization as a social process that was shaped by particular social groups. The special issue will connect the study of global connectivity with that of the emergence and evolution of social structures.
Global Monarchy: Royal Encounters in the Age of Empire
Authors: Motadel David
Published: October 2024

Monarchy is one of the oldest truly global social structures. On the eve of the imperial age, most of the world was governed by monarchs. But as the European empires expanded, this order was radically transformed. During the long nineteenth century, most non-European monarchies were conquered by imperial powers. Often, European imperial powers abolished them, imprisoning, killing, or exiling local rulers; in other cases, the imperial powers incorporated the conquered monarchies into new imperial orders of indirect rule. Yet, there were some monarchies that survived Europe’s imperial expansion. In fact, every country that retained its independence in the era of high imperialism was ruled by a monarch: Ethiopia, China, Japan, the Ottoman empire, Persia (Iran), and Siam (Thailand). To some extent, these monarchs lived in the same social worlds as their European counterparts, forming a global, status-based community. This article offers some observations on the relationship between the world’s monarchs in the age of empire by focusing on encounters between European monarchs and those of the few non-European countries that retained their independence.
The Legacy of Dr. Mohammad Mosaddeq
Authors: Amini Fariba
Published: October 2024

“Yes, my sin—my greater sin and even my greatest sin is that I nationalized Iran's oil industry and discarded the system of political and economic exploitation by the world's greatest empire. This at the cost to myself, my family; and at the risk of losing my life, my honor, and my property.” — Mohammad Mosaddeq at his tribunal, December 1953

In 2005, on a trip to Iran, I decided to go to Ahmadabad and take a video of the place. I had many reasons for doing so. One was for my own gratification; another was to honor my father. My father, Nosratollah Amini, was Prime Minister Mohammed Mosaddeq's personal attorney, and the only one besides the immediate family who had permission to visit him during his years of house arrest from 1956 until his death in 1967. Even Jawaharlal Nehru of India, who during a visit to Iran had asked to see him, was dissuaded from doing so. He was told that Mosaddeq was sick, which was not true.
Radio Tehran and the 19 August 1953 Coup: A New Perspective
Authors: Randjbar-Daemi Siavush
Published: October 2024

“By the time we had Radio Teheran we were in.”

As in other coups d’état of the pre-Internet era, the national radio was an important element in the developments of August 1953 in Iran. According to Donald Wilber, “Radio Tehran was a most important target, for its capture not only sealed the success at the capital, but was effective in bringing the provincial cities quickly into line with the new government.” The capture of the radio headquarters in Tehran and the address made by General Fazlullah Zahedi from its microphones marked a turning point in the second, successful overthrow initiative. Yet the broadcasting of Radio Tehran on that and preceding days has received little attention in scholarly accounts of the coup. This is primarily due to the paucity of source material available. Studies published in Iran on the history of radio do not appear to have benefited from access to radio archives. Mervyn Roberts has made use of only one of two accessible repositories of Iranian radio content of the time, namely the American Foreign Broadcast Information Services (FBIS), to provide an insightful account of the period surrounding the August coup. Ali Rahnema provides an account of military maneuvers to capture the radio installations on 19 August and supplies a partially accurate list of the speakers who took turns proclaiming the downfall of Mosaddeq. He does not provide insight into the content of the radio transmissions nor their precise timing. Donald Wilber's famous internal CIA history of the coup broadly mentions salient moments in the 19 August broadcasts but presents inaccurate times for at least some of these. Another CIA internal study authored by Scott Koch makes extensive use of the agency's own monitoring of Radio Tehran but is available only in heavily redacted form.
Presence of Echinococcus eggs in the environment and food: a review of current data and future prospects
Authors: Barosi Roxanne , Umhang Gérald
Published: October 2024

Cystic and alveolar echinococcosis are considered the second and third most significant foodborne parasitic diseases worldwide. The microscopic eggs excreted in the feces of the definitive host are the only source of contamination for intermediate and dead-end hosts, including humans. However, estimating the respective contribution of the environment, fomites, animals or food in the transmission of Echinococcus eggs is still challenging. Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis seem to have a similar survival capacity regarding temperature under laboratory conditions. In addition, field experiments have reported that the eggs can survive several weeks to years outdoors, with confirmation of the relative susceptibility of Echinococcus eggs to desiccation. Bad weather (such as rain and wind), invertebrates and birds help scatter Echinococcus eggs in the environment and may thus impact human exposure. Contamination of food and the environment by taeniid eggs has been the subject of renewed interest in the past decade. Various matrices from endemic regions have been found to be contaminated by Echinococcus eggs. These include water, soil, vegetables and berries, with heterogeneous rates highlighting the need to acquire more robust data so as to obtain an accurate assessment of the risk of human infection. In this context, it is essential to use efficient methods of detection and to develop methods for evaluating the viability of eggs in the environment and food.
Impact of Collegiate Football Games on Emergency Response Intervals: A Case Study of College Station, Texas (USA)
Authors: Blackburn Christine Crudo , Rico Mayra
Published: October 2024

Objectives:

Little is known about how mass gatherings affect emergency response intervals. Previous research suggests that college football games increase ambulance transport intervals, but their impact on emergency response intervals is unexplored. This study examines how collegiate home football games in College Station, Texas (USA) affect emergency vehicle response intervals.

Methods:

The study determined the impact of collegiate football games on emergency response intervals using incident data provided by the College Station Fire Department (CSFD). Home games during the 2021-2023 Texas A&M University (TAMU) football seasons were the period of interest. Responses for a 72-hour period (Friday-Sunday) on home game weekends (HGWs) and non-home game weekends (NHGWs) were included (n = 5,095).

Results:

Response intervals on football HGWs were an average of 30 seconds faster than on NHGWs. Emergency vehicles were 16.5% less likely to respond from fire station locations on HGWs compared to NHGWs. There was also a 12.1% increase in the number of calls to campus locations and a 9.7% increase in calls to the local entertainment district on HGWs compared to NHGWs.

Conclusions:

Home collegiate football games do not delay response intervals for emergency response vehicles. Further research is needed to determine if these findings can be reproduced in other communities.
Prevalence and determinants of double and triple burden of malnutrition among mother–child pairs in Malawi: a mapping and multilevel modelling study
Authors: Khaki Jessie Jane , Macharia Peter M , Beňová Lenka , Giorgi Emanuele , Semaan Aline
Published: October 2024

Objective:

To establish the prevalence of double burden of malnutrition (DBM) and triple burden of malnutrition (TBM) among mother–child pairs in Malawi and explore their geographical distribution and associated multilevel factors.

Design:

Cross-sectional study using secondary data from the 2015–2016 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey using a mixed effects binomial model to identify multilevel factors associated with DBM and TBM. Georeferenced covariates were used to map the predicted prevalence of DBM and TBM.

Setting:

All twenty-eight districts in Malawi.

Participants:

Mother–child pairs with mothers aged 15–49 years and children aged below 60 months (n 4618 pairs) for DBM and between 6 and 59 months (n 4209 pairs) for TBM.

Results:

Approximately 5·5 % (95% confidence interval (CI): 4·7 %, 6·4 %) of mother–child pairs had DBM, and 3·1 % (95 % CI: 2·5 %, 4·0 %) had TBM. The subnational-level prevalence of DBM and TBM was highest in cities. The adjusted odds of DBM were threefold higher (adjusted Odds Ratio, AOR: 2·8, 95 % CI: 1·1, 7·3) with a higher proportion of wealthy households in a community. The adjusted odds of TBM were 60 % lower (AOR: 0·4; 95 % CI: 0·2, 0·8) among pairs where the women had some education compared with women with no education.

Conclusions:

Although the prevalence of DBM and TBM is currently low in Malawi, it is more prevalent in pairs with women with no education and in relatively wealthier communities. Targeted interventions should address both maternal overnutrition and child undernutrition in cities and these demographics.
EFFECT OF NONUNIFORM POROSITY IN CURVED BREAKWATER ON WATER WAVES
Authors: MONDAL DIBAKAR , SAMANTA ANUSHREE , DAS GOUR , BANERJEA SUDESHNA
Published: October 2024

Assuming linear theory, the phenomenon of scattering of waves by a circular arc shaped barrier with nonuniform porosity is studied. The water region is considered to be of infinite or finite depth. Based on a judicious application of Green’s integral theorem, the corresponding boundary value problem is reduced to a hypersingular integral equation of second kind. The boundary element method and the collocation method are adopted to solve the hypersingular integral equation, and we ensure a good matching of the solutions obtained by the two methods. The reflection coefficient and energy dissipation are evaluated by using the solution of the integral equation which is then studied graphically. Different choices of distributions of pores on the barrier are considered, and we observe that the nonuniform porosity of the barrier has significant effect on the reflected wave and the energy dissipation.
Design of dual-band filtering patch antenna based on SIR multimode resonator
Authors: Jiang Tiezhen , Xie Xiaona , Wang Jianhua , Mi Chenyang
Published: October 2024

With the development of the communication field, more and more communication devices need multiple single-frequency antennas to work simultaneously. However, using multiple single-frequency antennas results in larger sizes. The miniaturized and dual-band communication system has become a new development trend. This paper designs a dual-band filtering patch antenna based on a multimode resonator, which is cascaded. The filter resonator part adopts step impedance resonance for branch shunt design, which can flexibly control the center frequency of two frequency bands. The filtering antenna utilizes a dual-layer substrate structure and achieves an integrated design through coupling probe feeding. This reduces the horizontal dimensions and improves miniaturization. Multiple radiation nulls are introduced outside the two-passband, and roll-off characteristics are evident. In addition, this design realizes high selectivity in the operating band. The antenna has large gains of 1.71 dBi and 6.25 dBi. It has good filtering and radiation characteristics.
A Method for Interpreting the Role of Parameterized Turbulence on Global Metrics in the Community Earth System Model
Authors: Nardi Kyle M. , Zarzycki Colin M. , Larson Vincent E.
Published: October 2024

The parameterization of subgrid‐scale processes such as boundary layer (PBL) turbulence introduces uncertainty in Earth System Model (ESM) results. This uncertainty can contribute to or exacerbate existing biases in representing key physical processes. This study analyzes the influence of tunable parameters in an experimental version of the Cloud Layers Unified by Binormals (CLUBBX) scheme. CLUBB is the operational PBL parameterization in the Community Atmosphere Model version 6 (CAM6), the atmospheric component of the Community ESM version 2 (CESM2). We perform the Morris one‐at‐a‐time (MOAT) parameter sensitivity analysis using short‐term (3‐day), initialized hindcasts of CAM6‐CLUBBX with 24 unique initial conditions. Several input parameters modulating vertical momentum flux appear most influential for various regionally‐averaged quantities, namely surface stress and shortwave cloud forcing (SWCF). These parameter sensitivities have a spatial dependence, with parameters governing momentum flux most influential in regions of high vertical wind shear (e.g., the mid‐latitude storm tracks). We next evaluate several experimental 20‐year simulations of CAM6‐CLUBBX with targeted parameter perturbations. We find that parameter perturbations produce similar physical mechanisms in both short‐term and long‐term simulations, but these physical responses can be muted due to nonlinear feedbacks manifesting over time scales longer than 3 days, thus causing differences in how output metrics respond in the long‐term simulations. Analysis of turbulent fluxes in CLUBBX indicates that the influential parameters affect vertical fluxes of heat, moisture, and momentum, providing physical pathways for the sensitivities identified in this study.
Psilocybin reduces heroin seeking behavior and modulates inflammatory gene expression in the nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex of male rats
Authors: Floris Gabriele , Dabrowski Konrad R. , Zanda Mary Tresa , Daws Stephanie E.
Published: October 2024

Preclinical and human studies indicate psilocybin may reduce perseverant maladaptive behaviors, including nicotine and alcohol seeking. Such studies in the opioid field are lacking, though opioids are involved in >50% of overdose deaths. Psilocybin is an agonist at the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR), a well-documented target for modulation of drug seeking, and evidence suggests 5-HT2AR agonists may dampen motivation for opioids. We sought to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of psilocybin in mediating cessation of opioid use and maintenance of long-lasting abstinence from opioid seeking behavior in a rat model of heroin self-administration (SA). Psilocybin or 5-HT2AR antagonists ketanserin and volinanserin were administered systemically to rats prior to SA of 0.075 mg/kg/infusion of heroin, or relapse following forced abstinence. Psilocybin did not alter heroin taking, but a single exposure to 3.0 mg/kg psilocybin 4–24 h prior to a relapse test blunted cue-induced heroin seeking. Conversely, 5-HT2AR antagonists exacerbated heroin relapse. To begin to elucidate mechanisms of psilocybin, drug-naïve rats received psilocybin and/or ketanserin, and tissue was collected from the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a region critical for drug seeking and responsive to psilocybin, 24 h later for RNA-sequencing. 3.0 mg/kg psilocybin regulated ~2-fold more genes in the PFC than 1.0 mg/kg, including genes involved in the cytoskeleton and cytokine signaling. Ketanserin blocked >90% of psilocybin-regulated genes, including the IL-17a cytokine receptor, Il17ra. Psychedelic compounds have reported anti-inflammatory properties, and therefore we performed a gene expression array to measure chemokine/cytokine molecules in the PFC of animals that displayed psilocybin-mediated inhibition of heroin seeking. Psilocybin regulated 4 genes, including Il17a, and a subset of genes correlated with relapse behavior. Selective inhibition of PFC IL-17a was sufficient to reduce heroin relapse. We conclude that psilocybin reduces heroin relapse and highlight IL-17a signaling as a potential downstream pathway of psilocybin that also reduces heroin seeking.