bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Magma recharge in persistently active basaltic–andesite systems and its geohazards implications: the case of Villarrica volcano, Chile
Authors: Cortés J. A. , Gertisser R. , Calder E. S.
Published: May 2024

We report whole-rock chemistry, mineral chemistry, and volatile content from Villarrica volcano’s major recent paroxysms and background activity. Composition of the volcanic products are basalt to basaltic andesite with whole-rock SiO2 content between 50 and 56 wt%, and a mineralogy dominated by olivine (Fo71-80), clinopyroxene (Mg# ~ 50) and plagioclase (An60–80). Volatile contents in melt inclusions are up to 1.5 wt% H2O, 500 ppm CO2, 1230 ppm sulfur and 580 ppm chlorine. Regardless of the type of activity, there are no substantial variations in whole-rock composition or the volatile content when the activity switches from background activity to a major paroxysm, strongly suggesting that this shift does not just depend on the arrival of new magma in the shallow magmatic system. Geothermobarometry constrains crystallization of the major mineral phases at various depths between 3 and 12.7 km, suggesting that degassing of a volatile-rich recharge magma occurs deeper than 12 km, producing efficient mixing throughout the whole system, and sustaining the lava lake activity in Villarrica’s summit crater. The occurrence of a permanent lava lake also suggests that the magma recharge must be close to continuous and therefore sudden changes between background and paroxysmal volcanic activity are likely controlled by relatively small changes in the rate of recharge and/or the volatile release rate in the magmatic system. This has important implications for the understanding of eruption triggers and the forecasting of volcanic eruptions.

Graphical abstract
Coralline Algal Population Explosion in an Overgrazed Seagrass Meadow: Conditional Outcomes of Intraspecific and Interspecific Interactions
Authors: Martínez López Isis Gabriela , Leemans Luuk , van Katwijk Marieke M. , Ávila-Mosqueda S. Valery , van Tussenbroek Brigitta I.
Published: May 2024

Interactions such as mutualism and facilitation are common in ecosystems established by foundation species; however, their outcomes vary and show conditionality. In a Mexican Caribbean Bay, a seagrass-coralline algae (rhodoliths) mutualism protects the seagrass Thalassia testudinum from green turtle overgrazing. We postulate that the state of the seagrass meadow in this bay depends on the strengths of the interactions among seagrasses, green turtles, and coralline algae. Spatio-temporal changes through satellite imagery showed rhodolith bed developed rapidly from 2009 (undetected) to 2016 (bed of 6934 m2). Typically, such rapid expansion of the rhodoliths does not occur in seagrass meadows. An in situ growth experiment of coralline algae showed that a combination of reduction in light and wave movement (usual in dense seagrass meadows) significantly reduced their growth rates. In the rhodolith beds, the growth rates of the coralline algae Neogoniolithon sp. and Amphiroa sp. were high at 9.5 mm and 15.5 mm per growth tip y−1, respectively. In a second experiment, we found lower mortality in coralline algae within a rhodolith bed compared to algae placed outside the bed, likely explained by the reduced resuspension that we found in a third experiment, and this positive feedback may explain the high population increase in the rhodoliths, once established when the turtles grazed down the seagrass canopy. Therefore, the grazing-protection mutualism between seagrasses and coralline algae is thus conditional and came into existence under a co-occurrence of intensive grazing pressure and rapid population growth of coralline algae facilitated by positive feedback from increased growth and reduced sediment resuspension by the dense rhodolith bed.
Safety of Janus kinase inhibitors compared to biological DMARDs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and renal impairment: the ANSWER cohort study
Authors: Nakayama Yoichi , Onishi Akira , Yamamoto Wataru , Yoshikawa Ayaka , Shiba Hideyuki , Yoshida Naofumi , Son Yonsu , Shirasugi Iku , Maeda Toshihisa , Katsushima Masao , Hashimoto Motomu , Etani Yuki , Itami Tetsu , Nozaki Yuji , Onizawa Hideo , Fujii Takayuki , Murakami Kosaku , Murata Koichi , Tanaka Masao , Matsuda Shuichi , Morinobu Akio
Published: May 2024

Data on the safety of Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis) in patients with renal impairment are lacking. This study aimed to investigate the safety of JAKis compared to biological (b) DMARDs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and renal impairment. We used a multi-centre observational registry of patients with RA in Japan (the ANSWER cohort). We assessed the drug retention rates of b/targeted synthetic DMARDs with different modes of action (tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFis), immunoglobulins fused with cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen (CTLA-4-Ig), interleukin-6 receptor inhibitors (IL-6Ris), and JAKis) in patients with RA stratified by pre-treatment estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) levels. The time to discontinuation of bDMARDs or JAKis was analysed using a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model This study included 3775 patients, who were classified into three groups (the normal group (eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2): 2893 patients; CKDa group (eGFR 45–60 mL/min/1.73 m2): 551; and CKDb group (eGFR < 45 mL/min/1.73 m2): 331). In the CKDb group, the 12-month drug retention rate due to adverse events (AE) was the lowest in patients treated with JAKi (TNFi: 93.1%; IL-6Ri: 94.1%; CTLA-4-Ig: 92.3%; JAKi: 75.1%). In the normal and CKDa groups, drug retention rates due to AE were similar among patients treated with bDMARDs and JAKi. In contrast, drug retention rates due to inefficacy were similar between bDMARDs and JAKis in all groups. In the Cox-proportional model, in the CKDb group, TNFi, IL-6Ri, and CTLA-4-Ig showed lower incidence of drug discontinuation due to AE than JAKis (TNFi: hazard ratio = 0.23 (95% confidence interval 0.09–0.61), IL-6Ri: 0.34 (0.14–0.81), CTLA-4-Ig: 0.36 (0.15–0.89)). JAKis showed the lowest drug retention due to AE in patients with moderate-to-severe and severe renal impairment (eGFR < 45 mL/min/1.73 m2). Physicians should pay more attention to renal function when using JAKis than when using bDMARDs.
Data augmentation and transfer learning for cross-lingual Named Entity Recognition in the biomedical domain
Authors: Lancheros Brayan Stiven , Corpas Pastor Gloria , Mitkov Ruslan
Published: May 2024

Given the increase in production of data for the biomedical field and the unstoppable growth of the internet, the need for Information Extraction (IE) techniques has skyrocketed. Named Entity Recognition (NER) is one of such IE tasks useful for professionals in different areas. There are several settings where biomedical NER is needed, for instance, extraction and analysis of biomedical literature, relation extraction, organisation of biomedical documents, and knowledge-base completion. However, the computational treatment of entities in the biomedical domain has faced a number of challenges including its high cost of annotation, ambiguity, and lack of biomedical NER datasets in languages other than English. These difficulties have hampered data development, affecting both the domain itself and its multilingual coverage. The purpose of this study is to overcome the scarcity of biomedical data for NER in Spanish, for which only two datasets exist, by developing a robust bilingual NER model. Inspired by back-translation, this paper leverages the progress in Neural Machine Translation (NMT) to create a synthetic version of the Colorado Richly Annotated Full-Text (CRAFT) dataset in Spanish. Additionally, a new CRAFT dataset is constructed by replacing 20% of the entities in the original dataset generating a new augmented dataset. We evaluate two training methods: concatenation of datasets and continuous training to assess the transfer learning capabilities of transformers using the newly obtained datasets. The best performing NER system in the development set achieved an F-1 score of 86.39%. The novel methodology proposed in this paper presents the first bilingual NER system and it has the potential to improve applications across under-resourced languages.
Attentional bias to uncertainty-based information: a conceptual replication of Fergus et al. (2013)
Authors: Morriss Jayne , Lee Charlotte E. , Wood Antony , Zhang Jin , Seabrooke Tina
Published: May 2024

Attentional biases to negative information are often observed in emotional disorders such as anxiety and depression. Recently, Fergus et al. (Cognitive Therapy and Research 37:735-741, 2013) demonstrated that participants scoring high in Intolerance of Uncertainty (IU), a transdiagnostic risk factor for emotional disorders, were faster at identifying targets with uncertainty-based information (e.g., word stimuli such as ‘maybe’), relative to neutral information (e.g. word stimuli related to household items). Moreover, this effect was specific to IU over other anxious traits such as worry. This report aimed to conceptually replicate the results of Fergus et al. (Cognitive Therapy and Research 37:735-741, 2013). The current experiment was conducted with a student sample (n = 126). As in the original study, a visual search task with uncertainty-based and neutral information (e.g., word stimuli) was used. Reaction times were collected. IU and trait anxiety was measured via self-report. We partially replicated the results of Fergus et al. (Cognitive Therapy and Research 37:735-741, 2013). We found that higher IU was significantly associated with faster identification of uncertainty-based information, relative to neutral information. However, we also observed a similar pattern of results for trait anxiety. Additionally, we observed no specificity of IU or trait anxiety in predicting faster identification of uncertainty-based information, relative to neutral information. Despite the lack of specificity of IU or trait anxiety in predicting attentional bias to uncertainty-based information, these findings highlight that negative emotionality may be generally associated with attentional biases to uncertainty-based information in the absence of direct threat.
On some pre-orders and partial orders of linear operators on infinite dimensional vector spaces
Authors: Alonso Diego Alba
Published: May 2024

This article is devoted to the generalization of the Drazin pre-order and the G-Drazin partial order to Core-Nilpotent endomorphisms over arbitrary k-vector spaces, namely, infinite dimensional ones. The main properties of this orders are described, such as their respective characterizations and the relations between these orders and other existing ones, generalizing the existing theory for finite matrices. In order to do so, G-Drazin inverses are also studied in this framework. Also, it includes a generalization of the space pre-order to linear operators over arbitrary k-vector spaces.
A short proof of the Hanlon-Hicks-Lazarev Theorem
Authors: Brown Michael K. , Erman Daniel
Published: May 2024

We give a short new proof of a recent result of Hanlon-Hicks-Lazarev about toric varieties. As in their work, this leads to a proof of a conjecture of Berkesch-Erman-Smith on virtual resolutions and to a resolution of the diagonal in the simplicial case.
Women's Love in Antigone by Sophocles and The Tale of Kiều by Nguyễn Du
Authors: Minh Nguyễn Thị
Published: May 2024

Comparative studies have identified “Antigone's sisters” across the globe, excepting for Southeast Asia. Yet in Vietnam, there exists Kiều, the protagonist in Nguyễn Du's The Tale of Kiều, whose cultural significance is comparable to Antigone. What insights can be gained about feminist political power by comparing Antigone to Kiều? Proposing a shift in focus on Kiều and Antigone's love from the questions of who and why to how, the paper argues that their love shares three fundamental commonalities related to their living conditions, actions, and choices. First, they are women who live a life full of love in worlds where love is forbidden. Secondly, they are women who practice love during dark times. And third, they choose to love in unconventional ways, and in doing so, they engender possibilities, particularly in terms of contemplating the interplay between life, death, and freedom. This analysis demonstrates a multiplicity of women's love and the experiences that possess a transcultural dimension, one that signals a type of harmony in the resistance of war through love. Therefore, Antigone and Kiều represent a different direction of a feminist world-building project—that of constructing a world through love.
Pulsing in the Ahu‘ail‘au pond–spillway system during the 2018 Klauea eruption: a dynamical systems perspective
Authors: Hyman David M.R. , Denlinger Roger P. , Dietterich Hannah R. , Patrick Matthew R.
Published: May 2024

During the 2018 K

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lauea lower East Rift Zone eruption, lava from 24 fissures inundated more than 8000 acres of land, destroying more than 700 structures over three months. Eruptive activity eventually focused at a single vent characterized by a continuously fed lava pond that was drained by a narrow spillway into a much wider, slower channelized flow. The spillway exhibited intervals of ‘pulsing’ behaviour in which the lava depth and velocity were observed to oscillate on time scales of several minutes. At the time, this was attributed to variations in vesiculation originating at depth. Here, we construct a toy fluid dynamical model of the pond–spillway system, and present an alternative hypothesis in which pulsing is generated at the surface, within this system. We posit that the appearance of pulsing is due to a supercritical Hopf bifurcation driven by an increase in the Reynolds number. Asymptotics for the limit cycle near the bifurcation point are derived with averaging methods and compare favourably with the cycle periodicity. Because oscillations in the pond were not observable directly due to the elevation of the cone rim and an obscuring volcanic plume, we model the observations using a spatially averaged Saint-Venant model of the spillway forced by the pond oscillator. The predicted spillway cycle periodicity and waveforms compare favourably with observations made during the eruption. The unusually well-documented nature of this eruption enables estimation of the viscosity of the erupting lava.
Analysis of two interactive burning droplets with different temperatures
Authors: Li Shangpeng , Zhang Huangwei
Published: May 2024

This paper presents a comprehensive theoretical analysis of the interaction between two quasi-steady burning droplets with differing temperatures, sizes and distances, building upon the mass-flux-potential model and flame-sheet assumption. In contrast to existing research, this study introduces a fresh perspective on droplet interactions by considering the different temperatures of the droplets. Utilizing the bispherical coordinate approach, theoretical solutions for the Stefan flow, scalar fields, droplet evaporation/burning rates, interaction coefficients and flame positions have been derived successfully. A comparison with extensive numerical simulations indicates a good agreement between the analytical and numerical results under a variety of conditions. It is revealed that proximity between the droplets causes non-uniform evaporation rates on their surfaces, and in some cases, leads to condensation on the cooler droplet. Notably, when the temperatures of the two droplets differ, this results in an uneven temperature distribution across the flame surface, and increasing the temperature of one droplet substantially elevates the temperature of the nearby flame. This study also establishes a criterion for the transition between different combustion modes, specifically between group and separated combustion. The findings of this study are crucial in deepening our understanding of evaporation and combustion processes, as well as the dynamics of flame spreading, local ignition, and extinction in systems involving multiple droplets.
Mathematical modelling of impurity deposition during evaporation of dirty liquid in a porous material
Authors: Luckins Ellen K. , Breward Christopher J.W. , Griffiths Ian M. , Please Colin P.
Published: May 2024

When a contaminated liquid evaporates from within a porous material, the impurities or dirt accumulate and deposit within the pore space. This occurs during the cleaning of filters and fouling of textiles, and is related to the ‘coffee-ring’ problem. To investigate how and where dirt is deposited in the pore space, we present a model for the motion of an evaporation front through a porous material, and the related accumulation, transport, and deposition of dirt, assuming that the liquid remains stationary. For physically relevant parameters, vapour transport out of the porous material is quasi-steady and we derive a single ordinary differential equation describing the motion of the evaporation front in time. Model solutions exhibit spatially non-uniform profiles of the deposited dirt-layer thickness through the porous material. The dirt accumulation and evaporation problems are coupled: deposited dirt hinders vapour transport through the porous material, slowing the evaporation. We identify two scenarios in which the porous material becomes clogged with dirt. Accumulation of suspended dirt at the evaporating interface along with slow dirt diffusion results in the deposited dirt layers clogging the pores at the evaporating interface, halting the drying and trapping liquid in the porous material. Alternatively, slow dirt deposition results in the suspended dirt being pushed far into the porous material by the evaporation, eventually leaving only dirt (with no liquid) in the pore space. We investigate the dynamics of both clogging scenarios, characterising the parameter regimes for which each occurs. Both clogging scenarios must be avoided in practice since they may be detrimental to future filter efficacy or textile breathability.
Problems of Dating Spread on Radiocarbon Calibration Curve Plateaus: The 1620–1540 BC Example and the Dating of the Therasia Olive Shrub Samples and Thera Volcanic Eruption
Authors: Manning Sturt W
Published: May 2024

Determining calendar ages for radiocarbon dates, or ordered sequences of radiocarbon dates, that intersect with a plateau on the radiocarbon calibration curve can be problematic since, without additional prior constraints, the calendar age ranges determined will tend to spread across the plateau, yielding wide and less than useful calendar age probability densities and age ranges. Where possible, modeling analysis should seek to identify informative priors that act to restrict the otherwise poorly controlled spread of probability across plateaus. Such additional information may be available, among other sources, from the stratigraphy, the context, or the samples themselves. The recent dating of ordered sequences of radiocarbon dates on sections of branches of the same olive (Olea europaea) shrub from Therasia (southern Aegean) associated with the Minoan eruption of the Thera (Santorini) volcano (Pearson et al. 2023), which intersect with the plateau in the radiocarbon calibration curve ca. 1620–1540 BC, offers an example of the problem. A re-analysis adding some plausible informative priors offers a substantially better defined likely dating range and different conclusions. Instead of finding an inconclusive probability range “encompassing the late 17th and entire 16th century BC” followed by arguments for “indications of increased probabilities for a mid-16th century BC date for the eruption,” a re-analysis incorporating appropriate informative priors identifies the likely date range as falling between the late 17th to early 16th centuries BC.
Navigating the British Atlantic in the Eighteenth Century: What the Logbooks Tell Us
Authors: Reid Phillip
Published: May 2024

Crossing the North Atlantic was one of the world's most important oceanic voyages by the eighteenth century. By then, ships built and owned in the British North American colonies and, late in the period, the United States were crossing this dangerous and often-fickle ocean in large numbers. The surviving logbooks of such vessels can serve as unique source material for understanding the Atlantic experience for scholars prepared to interpret and exploit them. Recording the Atlantic passages of the small schooner Sultana, the snow George, and the brig Reward in the Global Sea Routes (GSR) database creates a record for future researchers with a broad array of interests, but only after the obstacles to interpretation are overcome, to the extent possible. I will discuss what those obstacles are, laying out the information to be found in these logs, how it is entered and why, and what it has to tell us about the Atlantic and those who used it at the time. I will make the case that what is contained in these sources justifies the acquisition of the technical and historical expertise necessary to use them.

Note: the snow rig was popular among mid-size ocean-going Atlantic merchant ships by the mid-eighteenth century. It is similar to the two-masted brig, as opposed to the three-masted ship, but it has a small “try-mast” just behind the main mast (the after mast), on which the mizzen sail was hoisted.
Replication research in the domain of perceived L2 fluency: Approximate and close replications of Kormos and Dénes (2004) and Rossiter (2009)
Authors: Magne Viktoria
Published: May 2024

The primary objective of this paper is to contribute to the advancement of second language (L2) fluency research by outlining a specific proposal for future replication studies. The overarching goal is to assess the generalisability of the original findings of the two influential studies in the area of perceived fluency: Kormos and Dénes (2004) and Rossiter (2009). This objective will be achieved by first introducing the concept of L2 fluency that often conflates two categories: (1) overall language proficiency; (2) temporal features of speech production. The paper then highlights limitations in the current fluency research paradigm emphasising the variability in the methods employed for speech analysis and rating data collection. This diversity makes it somewhat challenging to compare results across various studies. In response to these challenges, the second part of the paper proposes several close and approximate replications of the two studies.
Multi-objective trajectory planning for industrial robots using a hybrid optimization approach
Authors: Chettibi Taha
Published: May 2024

In this paper, a hybrid approach organized in four phases is proposed to solve the multi-objective trajectory planning problem for industrial robots. In the first phase, a transcription of the original problem into a standard multi-objective parametric optimization problem is achieved by adopting an adequate parametrization scheme for the continuous robot configuration variables. Then, in the second phase, a global search is performed using a population-based search metaheuristic in order to build a first approximation of the Pareto front (PF). In the third phase, a local search is applied in the neighborhood of each solution of the PF approximation using a deterministic algorithm in order to generate new solutions. Finally, in the fourth phase, results of the global and local searches are gathered and postprocessed using a multi-objective direct search method to enhance the quality of compromise solutions and to converge toward the true optimal PF. By combining different optimization techniques, we intend not only to improve the overall search mechanism of the optimization strategy but also the resulting hybrid algorithm should keep the robustness of the population-based algorithm while enjoying the theoretical properties of convergence of the deterministic component. Also, the proposed approach is modular and flexible, and it can be implemented in different ways according to the applied techniques in the different phases. In this paper, we illustrate the efficiency of the hybrid framework by considering different techniques available in various numerical optimization libraries which are combined judiciously and tested on various case studies.
A systematic review on the appropriate discounting rates for the economic evaluation of gene therapies: whether a specific approach is justified to tackle the challenges?
Authors: Qiu Tingting , Aballéa Samuel , Pochopień Michal , Toumi Mondher , Dussart Claude , Yan Dan
Published: May 2024

Objectives

Discounting the cost and effect for health intervention is a controversial topic over the last two decades. In particular, the cost-effectiveness of gene therapies is especially sensitive to the discount rate because of the substantial delay between the upfront cost incurred and long-lasing clinical benefits received. This study aims to investigate the influence of employing alternative discount rates on the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of gene therapies.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted to include health economic evaluations of gene therapies that were published until April 2023.

Results

Sensitivity or scenario analysis indicated that discount rate represented one of the most influential factors for the ICERs of gene therapies. Discount rate for cost and benefit was positively correlated with the cost-effectiveness of gene therapies, that is, a lower discount rate significantly improves the ICERs. The alternative discount rate employed in some cases could be powerful to alter the conclusion on whether gene therapies are cost-effective and acceptable for reimbursement.

Conclusions

Although discount rate will have substantial influence on the ICERs of gene therapies, there lacks solid evidence to justify a different discounting rule for gene therapies. However, it is proposed that the discount rate in the reference case should be updated to reflect the real-time preference, which in turn will affect the ICERs and reimbursement of gene therapies more profoundly than conventional therapies.
Hybrid machine learning approach for accurate and expeditious 3D scanning to enhance rapid prototyping reliability in orthotics using RSM-RSMOGA-MOGANN
Authors: Kumar Ashwani , Chhabra Deepak
Published: May 2024

This study aims to develop a multidisciplinary artificial hybrid machine learning (AHML) approach to reduce the scanning time (ST) of the human wrist and improve the accuracy of 3D scanning for anthropometric data collection. A systematic AHML approach was deployed to scan the human wrist distal end optimally using a portable SENSE 2.0 3D scanner. A central composite design (CCD) matrix was developed for three input variables; light intensity (LI = 12–20 W/m2), capture angle (CA = 10°–50°), and scanning distance (SD = 10–20 inches) for executing the experimental runs. For accuracy evaluation, the wrist perimeter on the distal end was checked using CREO Parametric software for wrist perimeter error (WPE). Various AHML tools were developed using: response surface methodology (RSM), multi-objective genetic algorithm RSM, and multi-objective genetic algorithm neural networking (MOGANN). The optimal process parameters recommended by the hybrid tools were experimentally validated for their prediction accuracy. The MOGANN approach combined with the Bayesian regularization algorithm (trainabr) provided the best mutual combination of optimal ST = 20.072 sec and WPE = 0.375 cm corresponding to LI = 12.001 W/m2, CA = 29.428°, and SD = 18.214 inch, with a significant percentage reduction of 55.83% in WPE. Executing 3D scanning of the human wrist over the optimized process parameters predicted by AHML tools will ensure the availability of precise scans for the rapid prototyping of customized orthotic devices in a reliable manner.
Conceptualising language MOOC diversity: The creation of a defined taxonomy through the analysis of course indicators
Authors: Díez-Arcón Paz , Agonács Nikoletta
Published: May 2024

Language MOOC research has experienced a notable evolution from practice to conceptuality since its emergence as a subdiscipline of computer-assisted language learning. The versatility of the MOOC format for language learning has led to experimental designs that combine linguistic acquisition with other educational activities. This has been considered to be conducive to new ways of understanding how language learning occurs in LMOOCs, although there is no solid classification of LMOOCs subtypes to date based on course design. This study aimed to contribute to the conceptualisation of the field by creating a taxonomy for existing LMOOCs. Grounded theory strategies were adopted, so evidence was systematically collected to develop conceptual categories based on a thorough analysis process of the syllabus and short description of 432 courses. As a result, six LMOOC modalities emerged from the analysis: general language learning LMOOCs, LMOOCs for academic purposes, LMOOCs for professional purposes, LMOOCs focused on a specific language skill development, cultural-oriented LMOOCs, and meta-language learning LMOOCs. This study means a significant contribution to the LMOOC research field inasmuch as it is one of the first empirical-based attempts to broaden the definition of LMOOC.
The rise and fall of armies
Authors: Adams Jonathan J.
Published: May 2024

Over a thousand years, military employment rises, peaks, and then falls. I argue that rising military shares were driven by structural change out of agriculture, and the recent declines are driven by substitution from soldiers toward military goods. I document evidence for this substitution effect and introduce a model of growth and warfare that reproduces the time series patterns of military expenditure and employment. The model also correctly predicts the cross-sectional patterns, and that military employment and expenditure shares are decreasing in income during wars. Finally, I show that faster economic growth can reduce military expenditure in the long run.
Economic resilience and the dynamics of capital stock
Authors: Escribá-Pérez Francisco-Javier , Murgui-García María-José , Ruiz-Tamarit Jose-Ramon
Published: May 2024

The role of capital in measuring resilience is investigated. Focusing on the current short-run and potential long-run growth paths of the economic system, we propose new indexes to separately measure adaptability and resistance to shocks, which are the essence of a system’s resilience. Capital dynamics during the transition and along the balanced growth path are used here instead of employment to represent the evolution of the size and composition of the economy. Our indexes measure adaptability and resistance by comparing the two capital growth rates. They are built by mimicking the average and variance of the difference in growth rates. In this new setting, investment and depreciation flows play an important role in explaining what the partial index of adaptability reveals. The available data on the USA and Spanish capital allow us to empirically compute the indexes and draw conclusions about their ability to resist shocks and absorb their effects. We conclude that the US economy is more adaptable and has a greater capacity to absorb impacts than the Spanish economy, but it is less resistant to disturbances.
Will the SQE's Legal Research Assessment Produce Solicitors Who Can Carry Out Legal Research Effectively?
Authors: Bennett Greg
Published: May 2024

With the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) having been introduced in 2021 the training of solicitors has changed. But what impact will its legal research assessment have on their ability to do this sort of work? Here Greg Bennett, who works at BPP in London – where in addition to being a law librarian he is also studying the LPC – gives an overview of the situation and outlines his own concerns.
Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023: a Potted History
Authors: O'Connor Anne , Morris Joanna
Published: May 2024

In this article Anne O'Connor and Joanna Morris of Thomson Reuters set the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (REUL Act 2023) within its broader historical context, summarise provisions likely to be of interest to the legal information community, and explain how and why the REUL Act 2023 has given rise to legal uncertainty.
Resources for Corporate Lawyers
Authors: Breslin Jas
Published: May 2024

In this article Jas Breslin, Head of Research and Information Services at Charles Russell Speechlys, gives a brief overview of the type of work performed by a corporate lawyer, and some of the key resources used to support their work.
KnowAll Matrix: Designed by a UK Legal Librarian to Future-Proof Your Legal Library
Authors: Bailey Penny
Published: May 2024

In an era where efficient information management is crucial, KnowAll Matrix stands out as a transformative tool for legal informational professionals. It was developed by an experienced UK legal library consultant, Penny Bailey, and here Bailey Solutions explains how this innovative platform goes beyond standard library management systems to offer a future-proof solution, revolutionising access to legal knowledge. Utilised by large law firms, barristers' chambers, government libraries, European agencies, a European parliament, and other organisations, KnowAll Matrix supports information staff to proficiently manage all traditional library functions, including cataloguing, subject indexing, classification, circulation, loans, acquisitions, and serials management. Furthermore, it offers essential features for modern electronic resources management. Its user-friendly interface ensures seamless discovery of both print and digital resources in a single search, prioritising user convenience. Over two decades, as the legal and technological landscapes have evolved, so too has the product, with innovative features like multi-hierarchical taxonomies, practice group resources, single sign-on, and contract renewals. This article delves into these new features and their utilisation by clients to make the library and information centre a primary resource for legal professionals seeking information.
Is Body Appreciation a Moderator of Women’s Satisfaction and Distress with the Body Changes that Occur after Breast Cancer Surgery? A One-Year Longitudinal Study
Authors: Marco-Salvador José-Helidoro , Castejón Raven Jessica , Grau Sevilla María Dolores , Ripoll Orts Francisco
Published: May 2024

Women with breast cancer show dissatisfaction with their appearance, a perception of loss of femininity and bodily integrity, and dissatisfaction with the outcome of the surgery. Body Appreciation (BA) is defined as positive attitudes toward one’s body, beyond satisfaction and dissatisfaction with one’s appearance. Although studies about the protective role of BA have increased, to the best of our knowledge, there are no published studies on the association between BA, body dissatisfaction, and distress in participants with breast cancer. The aims of this study are: (a) To analyze whether BA is a moderator of satisfaction with the body from before breast surgery to the one-year follow-up; and (b) to analyze whether BA is a moderator of distress from before breast surgery to the one-year follow-up. The sample consisted of 115 women diagnosed with breast cancer. Several hierarchical regression analyses were conducted. The results indicated that BA moderated the association between the appearance evaluation before the surgery and the appearance evaluation 12 months after the surgery. Although BA was a significative predictor of distress, it was not a moderator of distress from the moment before breast surgery to the one-year follow-up. This study highlights the importance of evaluating the construct of BA in participants with breast cancer using longitudinal designs and developing psychological interventions that focus on increasing BA.
Extracting Latent Variables From Forecast Ensembles and Advancements in Similarity Metric Utilizing Optimal Transport
Authors: Nishizawa S.
Published: May 2024

This study presents a novel methodology for extracting latent variables from high‐dimensional sparse data, particularly emphasizing spatial distributions such as precipitation distribution. This approach utilizes multidimensional scaling with a distance matrix derived from a new similarity metric, the Unbalanced Optimal Transport Score (UOTS). UOTS effectively captures discrepancies in spatial distributions while preserving physical units. This is similar to mean absolute error, however it considers location errors, providing a more robust measure crucial for understanding differences between observations, forecasts, and ensembles. Probability distribution estimation of these latent variables enhances the analytical utility, quantifying ensemble characteristics. The adaptability of the method to spatiotemporal data and its ability to handle errors suggest its potential as a promising tool for diverse research applications.
VOLTA: an enVironment-aware cOntrastive ceLl represenTation leArning for histopathology
Authors: Nakhli Ramin , Rich Katherine , Zhang Allen , Darbandsari Amirali , Shenasa Elahe , Hadjifaradji Amir , Thiessen Sidney , Milne Katy , Jones Steven J. M. , McAlpine Jessica N. , Nelson Brad H. , Gilks C. Blake , Farahani Hossein , Bashashati Ali
Published: May 2024

In clinical oncology, many diagnostic tasks rely on the identification of cells in histopathology images. While supervised machine learning techniques necessitate the need for labels, providing manual cell annotations is time-consuming. In this paper, we propose a self-supervised framework (enVironment-aware cOntrastive cell represenTation learning: VOLTA) for cell representation learning in histopathology images using a technique that accounts for the cell’s mutual relationship with its environment. We subject our model to extensive experiments on data collected from multiple institutions comprising over 800,000 cells and six cancer types. To showcase the potential of our proposed framework, we apply VOLTA to ovarian and endometrial cancers and demonstrate that our cell representations can be utilized to identify the known histotypes of ovarian cancer and provide insights that link histopathology and molecular subtypes of endometrial cancer. Unlike supervised models, we provide a framework that can empower discoveries without any annotation data, even in situations where sample sizes are limited.
Aptameric hirudins as selective and reversible EXosite-ACTive site (EXACT) inhibitors
Authors: Yu Haixiang , Kumar Shekhar , Frederiksen James W. , Kolyadko Vladimir N. , Pitoc George , Layzer Juliana , Yan Amy , Rempel Rachel , Francis Samuel , Krishnaswamy Sriram , Sullenger Bruce A.
Published: May 2024

Potent and selective inhibition of the structurally homologous proteases of coagulation poses challenges for drug development. Hematophagous organisms frequently accomplish this by fashioning peptide inhibitors combining exosite and active site binding motifs. Inspired by this biological strategy, we create several EXACT inhibitors targeting thrombin and factor Xa de novo by linking EXosite-binding aptamers with small molecule ACTive site inhibitors. The aptamer component within the EXACT inhibitor (1) synergizes with and enhances the potency of small-molecule active site inhibitors by many hundred-fold (2) can redirect an active site inhibitor’s selectivity towards a different protease, and (3) enable efficient reversal of inhibition by an antidote that disrupts bivalent binding. One EXACT inhibitor, HD22-7A-DAB, demonstrates extraordinary anticoagulation activity, exhibiting great potential as a potent, rapid onset anticoagulant to support cardiovascular surgeries. Using this generalizable molecular engineering strategy, selective, potent, and rapidly reversible EXACT inhibitors can be created against many enzymes through simple oligonucleotide conjugation for numerous research and therapeutic applications.
Polar Bloch points in strained ferroelectric films
Authors: Wang Yu-Jia , Feng Yan-Peng , Tang Yun-Long , Zhu Yin-Lian , Cao Yi , Zou Min-Jie , Geng Wan-Rong , Ma Xiu-Liang
Published: May 2024

Topological domain structures have drawn great attention as they have potential applications in future electronic devices. As an important concept linking the quantum and classical magnetism, a magnetic Bloch point, predicted in 1960s but not observed directly so far, is a singular point around which magnetization vectors orient to nearly all directions. Here we show polar Bloch points in tensile-strained ultrathin ferroelectric PbTiO3 films, which are alternatively visualized by phase-field simulations and aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopic imaging. The phase-field simulations indicate local steady-state negative capacitance around the Bloch points. The observation of polar Bloch points and their emergent properties consequently implies novel applications in future integrated circuits and low power electronic devices.
Mechanically induced correlated errors on superconducting qubits with relaxation times exceeding 0.4 ms
Authors: Kono Shingo , Pan Jiahe , Chegnizadeh Mahdi , Wang Xuxin , Youssefi Amir , Scigliuzzo Marco , Kippenberg Tobias J.
Published: May 2024

Superconducting qubits are among the most advanced candidates for achieving fault-tolerant quantum computing. Despite recent significant advancements in the qubit lifetimes, the origin of the loss mechanism for state-of-the-art qubits is still subject to investigation. Furthermore, the successful implementation of quantum error correction requires negligible correlated errors between qubits. Here, we realize long-lived superconducting transmon qubits that exhibit fluctuating lifetimes, averaging 0.2 ms and exceeding 0.4 ms – corresponding to quality factors above 5 million and 10 million, respectively. We then investigate their dominant error mechanism. By introducing novel time-resolved error measurements that are synchronized with the operation of the pulse tube cooler in a dilution refrigerator, we find that mechanical vibrations from the pulse tube induce nonequilibrium dynamics in highly coherent qubits, leading to their correlated bit-flip errors. Our findings not only deepen our understanding of the qubit error mechanisms but also provide valuable insights into potential error-mitigation strategies for achieving fault tolerance by decoupling superconducting qubits from their mechanical environments.
Temperature alters the predator-prey size relationships and size-selectivity of Southern Ocean fish
Authors: Eskuche-Keith Patrick , Hill Simeon L. , López-López Lucía , Rosenbaum Benjamin , Saunders Ryan A. , Tarling Geraint A. , O’Gorman Eoin J.
Published: May 2024

A primary response of many marine ectotherms to warming is a reduction in body size, to lower the metabolic costs associated with higher temperatures. The impact of such changes on ecosystem dynamics and stability will depend on the resulting changes to community size-structure, but few studies have investigated how temperature affects the relative size of predators and their prey in natural systems. We utilise >3700 prey size measurements from ten Southern Ocean lanternfish species sampled across >10° of latitude to investigate how temperature influences predator-prey size relationships and size-selective feeding. As temperature increased, we show that predators became closer in size to their prey, which was primarily associated with a decline in predator size and an increase in the relative abundance of intermediate-sized prey. The potential implications of these changes include reduced top-down control of prey populations and a reduction in the diversity of predator-prey interactions. Both of these factors could reduce the stability of community dynamics and ecosystem resistance to perturbations under ocean warming.
Herpes simplex encephalitis due to a mutation in an E3 ubiquitin ligase
Authors: Bibert Stéphanie , Quinodoz Mathieu , Perriot Sylvain , Krebs Fanny S. , Jan Maxime , Malta Rita C. , Collinet Emilie , Canales Mathieu , Mathias Amandine , Faignart Nicole , Roulet-Perez Eliane , Meylan Pascal , Brouillet René , Opota Onya , Lozano-Calderon Leyder , Fellmann Florence , Guex Nicolas , Zoete Vincent , Asner Sandra , Rivolta Carlo , Du Pasquier Renaud , Bochud Pierre-Yves
Published: May 2024

Encephalitis is a rare and potentially fatal manifestation of herpes simplex type 1 infection. Following genome-wide genetic analyses, we identified a previously uncharacterized and very rare heterozygous variant in the E3 ubiquitin ligase WWP2, in a 14-month-old girl with herpes simplex encephalitis. The p.R841H variant (NM_007014.4:c.2522G > A) impaired TLR3 mediated signaling in inducible pluripotent stem cells-derived neural precursor cells and neurons; cells bearing this mutation were also more susceptible to HSV-1 infection compared to control cells. The p.R841H variant increased TRIF ubiquitination in vitro. Antiviral immunity was rescued following the correction of p.R841H by CRISPR-Cas9 technology. Moreover, the introduction of p.R841H in wild type cells reduced such immunity, suggesting that this mutation is linked to the observed phenotypes.
Fragment ion intensity prediction improves the identification rate of non-tryptic peptides in timsTOF
Authors: Adams Charlotte , Gabriel Wassim , Laukens Kris , Picciani Mario , Wilhelm Mathias , Bittremieux Wout , Boonen Kurt
Published: May 2024

Immunopeptidomics is crucial for immunotherapy and vaccine development. Because the generation of immunopeptides from their parent proteins does not adhere to clear-cut rules, rather than being able to use known digestion patterns, every possible protein subsequence within human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class-specific length restrictions needs to be considered during sequence database searching. This leads to an inflation of the search space and results in lower spectrum annotation rates. Peptide-spectrum match (PSM) rescoring is a powerful enhancement of standard searching that boosts the spectrum annotation performance. We analyze 302,105 unique synthesized non-tryptic peptides from the ProteomeTools project on a timsTOF-Pro to generate a ground-truth dataset containing 93,227 MS/MS spectra of 74,847 unique peptides, that is used to fine-tune the deep learning-based fragment ion intensity prediction model Prosit. We demonstrate up to 3-fold improvement in the identification of immunopeptides, as well as increased detection of immunopeptides from low input samples.
Halide Perovskite Inducing Anomalous Nonvolatile Polarization in Poly(vinylidene fluoride)-based Flexible Nanocomposites
Authors: Wang Yao , Huang Chen , Cheng Ziwei , Liu Zhenghao , Zhang Yuan , Zheng Yantao , Chen Shulin , Wang Jie , Gao Peng , Shen Yang , Duan Chungang , Deng Yuan , Nan Ce-Wen , Li Jiangyu
Published: May 2024

Ferroelectric materials have important applications in transduction, data storage, and nonlinear optics. Inorganic ferroelectrics such as lead zirconate titanate possess large polarization, though they are rigid and brittle. Ferroelectric polymers are light weight and flexible, yet their polarization is low, bottlenecked at 10 μC cm−2. Here we show poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanocomposite with only 0.94% of self-nucleated CH3NH3PbBr3 nanocrystals exhibits anomalously large polarization (~19.6 μC cm−2) while retaining superior stretchability and photoluminance, resulting in unprecedented electromechanical figures of merit among ferroelectrics. Comprehensive analysis suggests the enhancement is accomplished via delicate defect engineering, with field-induced Frenkel pairs in halide perovskite stabilized by the poled ferroelectric polymer through interfacial coupling. The strategy is general, working in poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) as well, and the nanocomposite is stable. The study thus presents a solution for overcoming the electromechanical dilemma of ferroelectrics while enabling additional optic-activity, ideal for multifunctional flexible electronics applications.