bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring midwives’ training needs and preferences for providing sexual health education for pregnant women: a mixed-methods study
Authors: Xie Xiaolan , Li Jie , Wang Xiaojiao , Liang Surui , Zhong Xiuming , Cai Wenzhi
Published: September 2024

Background Numerous studies highlight a common inadequacy among midwives in addressing sexuality and sexual health issues in pregnant women. These findings underscore the crucial need for sexual health education for midwives. Nevertheless, the specific training needs and preferences regarding sexual health education for pregnant women among midwives remain largely unexplored in existing literature. The aim of this study was to explore midwives’ training needs and preferences for providing sexual health education for pregnant women. Methods The research employed a mixed-methods, institution-based cross-sectional study design conducted from July to August 2021. Convenience sampling was applied for quantitative research, while purposive sampling was utilised for the qualitative component. Midwives from 19 hospitals in Guangdong Province were invited to participate in a questionnaire survey addressing training needs and preferences for sexual health education for pregnant women among midwives. Qualitative data analysis was performed using thematic analysis. Results A total of 462 midwives participated in the quantitative study, while 12 skilled midwives were involved in the qualitative component. A significant majority (82.5%) of midwives expressed a strong desire to engage in sexual health education. Online education emerged as the preferred mode of training among participants. Key areas of interest included reproductive health, sexual psychology, sex sociology, and education methods, underscoring a consistent demand for comprehensive sexual health education within the midwifery community. Conclusions Our study emphasises the pressing need for enhanced sexual health education for midwives and explores their preferences for future training.
Microbial community interactions on a chip
Authors: Juang Duane S. , Wightman Wren E. , Lozano Gabriel L. , Juang Terry D. , Barkal Layla J. , Yu Jiaquan , Garavito Manuel F. , Hurley Amanda , Venturelli Ophelia S. , Handelsman Jo , Beebe David J.
Published: September 2024

Multispecies microbial communities drive most ecosystems on Earth. Chemical and biological interactions within these communities can affect the survival of individual members and the entire community. However, the prohibitively high number of possible interactions within a microbial community has made the characterization of factors that influence community development challenging. Here, we report a Microbial Community Interaction (µCI) device to advance the systematic study of chemical and biological interactions within a microbial community. The µCI creates a combinatorial landscape made up of an array of triangular wells interconnected with circular wells, which each contains either a different chemical or microbial strain, generating chemical gradients and revealing biological interactions.
Bacillus cereus
UW85 containing green fluorescent protein provided the “target” readout in the triangular wells, and antibiotics or microorganisms in adjacent circular wells are designated the “variables.” The µCI device revealed that gentamicin and vancomycin are antagonistic to each other in inhibiting the target
B. cereus
UW85, displaying weaker inhibitory activity when used in combination than alone. We identified three-member communities constructed with isolates from the plant rhizosphere that increased or decreased the growth of
B. cereus
. The µCI device enables both strain-level and community-level insight. The scalable geometric design of the µCI device enables experiments with high combinatorial efficiency, thereby providing a simple, scalable platform for systematic interrogation of three-factor interactions that influence microorganisms in solitary or community life.
Agonist antibody to MuSK protects mice from MuSK myasthenia gravis
Authors: Oury Julien , Gamallo-Lana Begona , Santana Leah , Steyaert Christophe , Vergoossen Dana L. E. , Mar Adam C. , Vankerckhoven Bernhardt , Silence Karen , Vanhauwaert Roeland , Huijbers Maartje G. , Burden Steven J.
Published: September 2024

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a chronic and severe disease of the skeletal neuromuscular junction (NMJ) in which the effects of neurotransmitters are attenuated, leading to muscle weakness. In the most common forms of autoimmune MG, antibodies attack components of the postsynaptic membrane, including the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) or muscle-specific kinase (MuSK). MuSK, a master regulator of NMJ development, associates with the low-density lipoprotein-related receptor 4 (Lrp4) to form the signaling receptor for neuronal Agrin, a nerve-derived synaptic organizer. Pathogenic antibodies to MuSK interfere with binding between MuSK and Lrp4, inhibiting the differentiation and maintenance of the NMJ. MuSK MG can be debilitating and refractory to treatments that are effective for AChR MG. We show here that recombinant antibodies, derived from MuSK MG patients, cause severe neuromuscular disease in mice. The disease can be prevented by a MuSK agonist antibody, presented either prophylactically or after disease onset. These findings suggest a therapeutic alternative to generalized immunosuppression for treating MuSK MG by selectively and directly targeting the disease mechanism.
Figurativeness of the Japanese flag
Authors: Dyrmo Tomasz
Published: September 2024

The analysis offered in this article applies the multilevel approach to conceptual metaphor to relief posters, created and distributed widely after the massive Japan 2011 earthquake. The aim of the analysis is to show in what way the multilevel approach to metaphor can be used to illustrate how the figurative meaning of relief posters emerges from the interactions between different levels of schematicity: from basic image schemas and domains, through contextually embedded semantic frames, finishing with metaphorical scenarios at the highest level of specificity and complexity. The present analysis also shows the potential applicability of image schemas as the guiding analytical element, serving as the departure point for the unfolding metaphorical and metonymical interpretation of a multimodal message. Accordingly, it has been shown how the image schemas of part-whole, full-empty, process and force aid the analysis of metaphoricity and how the central metonymic element of the national flag co-constructs the figurative reading of the posters.
Frame exploitation at its worst
Authors: Abdel-Raheem Ahmed
Published: September 2024

Although essential to science and health communication, metaphors can backfire. At this point, any attempt on the
part of the speaker to clarify his/her intentions would ultimately prove futile because the mental situation models of speakers
and their recipients may not be the same. A debate over the meaning of a metaphor, the variations in its interpretation, or
constant negotiation between the interactants poses a substantial challenge to intention-based theories of implicature. A corpus
analysis of the “kofta” analogy used by a senior Egyptian army doctor during a February 2014 televised news conference to announce
cures for AIDS and hepatitis C and the ensuing impasse over its appropriateness shows that a metaphor designed to publicly
communicate science, to confront and shatter the stereotypical image of scientists as dull and stilted people, to persuade
citizens to accept the claims as fact, or to hide the speaker’s own scientific ignorance may be sarcastically repeated, extended,
and elaborated (“overexploited”) by the target audience (“overdone metaphors”). The doctor or his use of the metaphor of “I give
[the virus] back as a kebab skewer for the patient to feed on” has been condemned as “too lower class”. Various forms of metaphor
denial and resistance are examined. The article, analyzing thousands of YouTube comments on the news conference video, provides
valuable insights for interpreting tropes and has important implications both for science and health communicators and
socio-cognitive pragmaticists.
Black hole—neutron star binary mergers: the impact of stellar compactness
Authors: Tsao Bing-Jyun , Khamesra Bhavesh , Gracia-Linares Miguel , Laguna Pablo
Published: September 2024

Recent gravitational wave (GW) observations include possible detections of black hole—neutron star binary mergers. As with binary black hole mergers, numerical simulations help characterize the sources. For binary systems with neutron star components, the simulations help to predict the imprint of tidal deformations and disruptions on the GW signals. In a previous study, we investigated how the mass of the black hole has an impact on the disruption of the neutron star and, as a consequence, on the shape of the GWs emitted. We extend these results to study the effects of varying the compactness of the neutron star. We consider neutron star compactness in the 0.113–0.2 range for binaries with mass ratios of 3 and 5. As the compactness and the mass ratio increase, the binary system behaves during the late inspiral and merger more like a black hole binary. For the cases with the least compact neutron star, the GWs emitted, in terms of mismatches, are the most distinguishable from those by a binary black hole. The disruption of the star significantly suppresses the kicks on the final black hole. The disruption also affects, although not dramatically, the spin of the final black hole. Lastly, for neutron stars with low compactness, the quasi-normal ringing of the black hole after the merger does not show a clean quasi-normal ringing because of the late accretion of debris from the neutron star.
Anomalous higher order Ward identities in tensorial group field theories without closure constraint
Authors: Wahabou Kpera Bio , Lahoche Vincent , Ousmane Samary Dine , Fawaaz Zime Yerima Seke
Published: September 2024

The Ward–Takahashi identities are considered as the generalization of the Noether currents available to quantum field theory and include quantum fluctuation effects. Usually, they take the form of relations between correlation functions, which ultimately correspond to the relation between coupling constants of the theory. For this reason, they play a central role in the construction of renormalized theory, providing strong relations between counter-terms. Since last years, they have been intensively considered in the construction of approximate solutions for nonperturbative renormalization group of tensorial group field theories. The construction of these identities is based on the formal invariance of the partition function under a unitary transformation, and Ward’s identities result from a first-order expansion around the identity. Due to the group structure of the transformation under consideration, it is expected that a first-order expansion is indeed sufficient. We show in this article that this does not seem to be the case for a complex tensor theory model, with a kinetic term involving a Laplacian.
Optical and electrical studies on the TS defect in 4H-SiC
Authors: Lehmeyer Johannes A F , Fuchs Alexander D , Li Zhengming , Bornträger Titus , Candolfi Fabio , Schober Maximilian , Fischer Marcus , Hartmann Martin , Neu Elke , Bockstedte Michel , Krieger Michael , Weber Heiko B
Published: September 2024

When annealing a 4H silicon carbide (SiC) crystal, a sequence of optically active defect centers occurs among which the TS center is a prominent example. Here, we present low-temperature photoluminescence analyses on the single defect level. They reveal that the three occurring spectral signatures TS1, TS2 and TS3 originate from one single defect. Their polarization dependences expose three different crystallographic orientations in the basal plane, which relate to the projections of the nearest neighbor directions. Accordingly, we find a three-fold level-splitting in ensemble studies, when applying mechanical strain. This dependency is quantitatively calibrated. A complementary electrical measurement, deep level transient spectroscopy, reveals a charge transition level of the TS defect at 0.6 eV above the valence band. For a future identification, this accurate characterization of its optical and electronic properties along with their response to mechanical strain is a milestone.
Impact of nuclear level density and γ-ray strength function in (n,γ) and Maxwellian-averaged cross-section of 69Zn nucleus
Authors: Senapati Enakshi , Mondal Satabdi , Bhattacharya Srijit , Pandit Deepak , Phuc Le Tan , Ngoc Anh Nguyen , Vu Dong Tran , Dinh Dang Nguyen , Quang Hung Nguyen , Dey Balaram
Published: September 2024

The present paper highlights the impact of nuclear level density (NLD) and γ-ray strength function (γ-SF) on (n,γ) and Maxwellian-averaged cross-section of 69Zn nucleus. At first, the existing NLD and γ-SF models (in TALYS statistical model code) have been utilized to understand the role of NLD and γ-SF in neutron capture reaction cross-section. It is seen that most of the combinations of existing NLDs and γ-SFs (phenomenological and/or microscopic) cannot explain the experimental data. Therefore, the microscopic exact pairing plus independent particle model (EP+IPM) and exact pairing plus phonon damping model (EP+PDM) have been carried out to calculate the NLD and γ-SF of 69Zn nucleus, respectively, by employing the exact treatment of thermal pairing. It is seen that microscopic EP+IPM NLD and EP+PDM γ-SF explain the experimental data better than all other combinations available in TALYS-1.95, indicating the impact of the exact treatment of thermal pairing correlation. In addition, the inclusion of an upbend (UB) structure in γ-SF further improves the comparison with the experimental data in the low energy region (∼0.01–0.15 MeV), indicating the possibility of having an UB structure in γ-SF of 69Zn. The 68Zn(n,γ)69Zn reaction cross-section obtained by utilizing the EP+IPM NLD and EP+PDM γ-SF including UB structure is then used to predict the Maxwellian-averaged cross-sections, and the obtained results show reasonable agreement with all the available experimental data taken from the Karlsruhe Astrophysical Database of Nucleosynthesis in Stars. The present results reflect the impact of microscopic NLD and γ-SF on the precise description and/or prediction of the astrophysical reaction cross-section.
Permanent dynamic and static water holdup measuring device for ground wellhead
Authors: Kong Deming , Chen Xiaoyu , Wu Peiliang , Hao Hu , Chen Jiliang , Kong Lingfu
Published: September 2024

To adapt to the reality that a large number of wells are dispersed in the oilfield and the measured output fluid inside the wells contains less gas, a permanent dynamic and static water holdup measuring device for ground wellhead (PDSWHMD_GW) is designed, and a phase holdup system based on PDSWHMD_GW is developed for different oil-water flow. Specifically, the measurement mechanism of the measuring device was modeled and the results of its oil-water two-phase flow water holdup measurement were theoretically analyzed; The results of the electric field distribution of dynamic and static conductance-capacitance core detection components (DSCCCDC) were analyzed; On this basis, the performance indexes for the optimization of structural parameters are proposed and ring-shaped multistage conductance sensor (RMCS) parameter, cylindrical capacitance sensor (CCS) parameters, and RMCS-CCS distance are optimally designed. In addition, a permanently dynamic and static water holdup measuring device was developed, and experimental research was carried out on the built measuring platform. It was verified that the measuring devices showed good linearity between measurement results and actual values. The experimental results are analyzed for oil-water flow conditions such as the oil-water flow rate range of 5–70 m3 d−1 and water holdup range of 50%–95% (Very fine dispersed oil-in-water flow (VFD&O/W),D&O/W, and dispersed oil-in-water slug flow), The vast majority of phase holdup have a measurement error of less than 5%. Both practice and simulation prove that measuring device has good performance.
ASLAM-FD: a multi-sensor adaptive collaborative fusion SLAM framework based on degradation detection and deep reinforcement learning
Authors: Su Weixing , Huang Tao , Liu Fang , Wang Haoyu
Published: September 2024

Aiming at the difficulty in ensuring accuracy and performance of existing simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) technology based on multi-sensor fusion in complex dynamic environments, a multi-sensor adaptive fusion SLAM framework based on degradation detection and deep reinforcement learning (ASLAM-FD) is proposed. This framework can achieve adaptive collaborative precise adjustment of fusion weights (FWs) based on the real-time self-degradation states of each sensor and relative degradation states quantified, and can adapt to different tightly coupled SLAM algorithms based on FWs. In addition, within this framework, the continuous quantification models for the degradation states of internal/external sensors with certain versatility (we refer to them as external degeneracy compute model and internal degeneracy compute model) are proposed. These quantification models can achieve continuous quantification of degradation states of various common internal/external sensors. Based on the above sensor degradation state quantification models, this paper further proposes using a deep reinforcement learning network based on long short term memory to achieve adaptive collaborative adjustment of FWs based on sensor degradation states. In the experimental section, we adapted the proposed ASLAM-FD to different multi-sensor fusion SLAM algorithms on multiple datasets, and compared it with multiple advanced fusion SLAM algorithms. We found that adapting ASLAM-FD can effectively improve the accuracy and performance of fusion SLAM in complex dynamic environments.
Design of eddy current and capacitance dual-mode sensor for thickness detection of thermal barrier coatings
Authors: Fan Wenru , Wang Laixiang
Published: September 2024

Thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) can markedly enhance the service temperature of high-temperature alloys, thereby enhancing the engine thrust-to-weight ratio. However, TBCs must be capable of withstanding a multitude of harsh environments, including high temperatures, high pressures, and high-speed particle impacts, which can potentially lead to damage and failure. Consequently, nondestructive testing of TBCs is of particular importance for the assessment of structural health. As eddy current detection is applicable to conductive materials and capacitive detection is applicable to non-conductive materials, this paper proposes a novel, eddy current/capacitance detection, dual-mode sensor, which combines the advantages of the two detection modes. This study examines the structural configuration and excitation characteristics of the eddy current and capacitance dual-mode sensor. Furthermore, the interaction between the capacitive electrode and the eddy current coil is examined, and the viability of the dual-mode sensor is demonstrated through experimentation. The experimental results demonstrate that the dual-mode sensor exhibits a sensitivity of 2.67 mΩ mm−1 for bond coating thickness detection in eddy current mode with an excitation frequency of 5 MHz, and a maximum sensitivity of 80.31 pF mm−1 for top coating thickness detection in capacitive mode.
Transforming acoustic control: the first tunable broadband origami-based Helmholtz resonator
Authors: Benouhiba Amine , Rougeot Patrick , Andreff Nicolas , Ouisse Morvan , Rabenorosoa Kanty
Published: September 2024

Helmholtz resonators have long been essential for acoustic control, enhancing or nullifying sound at specific frequencies. Traditionally, these resonators are effective for fixed-frequency applications, but lose efficacy if the excitation frequency changes. This paper presents the first tunable broadband origami-based Helmholtz resonator, featuring a compliant origami design with auxetic properties for optimal volume variation. Multiphysics simulations determined the adaptive cavity geometry, and experimental tests validated the models, showing high tunability (up to 25% around a central frequency of 461 Hz with a 95% absorption rate) and broad bandwidth (up to 13% around the central frequency with a 95% absorption rate) with minimal geometry variation (8 mm in diameter). This work marks a significant advancement over traditional Helmholtz resonators.
Modulating the structural and electrical properties of SrFeO3–δ
by a-site alkali metal ion doping
Authors: Ilangovan Shivapriya , K Vipin , K Suresh Babu
Published: September 2024

The electrical properties of perovskite structured SrFeO3–δ
can be modulated by A site doping. The present work focuses on the influence of concentration and ionic radii of alkali metal cation on the structural and electrical properties of Sr1–xAxFeO3–δ
(A = Ca, Ba and x = 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75). The x-ray diffraction studies confirm the phase change from cubic to orthorhombic with Ca content while orthorhombic to cubic structural translation was observed with Ba concentration. A lattice contraction and expansion were observed for doping depending on the ionic radii of dopant cation. The x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results indicate the presence of Fe in mixed valence state of +2, +3, +4 state and adsorbed oxygen content was found to be higher upon Ba doping than that of Ca. A maximum conductivity of 1.82 × 10−3 S cm−1 (x = 0.25) and 5.31 × 10−3 S cm−1 (x = 0.5) was observed at 800 °C for Ca and Ba doped samples, respectively, one order higher than the base SrFeO3–δ
.Thus, our results emphasise the importance of dopant addition on tailoring the electrode properties for SOFC application.
Building consensus on clinical outcome assessments for BCI devices. A summary of the 10th BCI society meeting 2023 workshop
Authors: Sawyer A , Chetty N , McMullen D P , Dean H , Eisler J , Fried-Oken M , Hochberg L R , Gibbons C , Waite K E , Oxley T , Fry A , Weber D , Putrino D
Published: September 2024

Objective: The 10th International brain computer interface (BCI) Society Meeting, ‘Balancing Innovation and Translation’, was held from the 6th to 9th of June 2023 in Brussels, Belgium. This report provides a summary of the workshop ‘Building Consensus on Clinical Outcome Assessments (COAs) for BCI Devices’. This workshop was intended to give participants an overview of the current state of BCI, future opportunities, and how different countries and regions provide regulatory oversight to support the BCI community to develop safe and effective devices for patients. Approach: Five presentations and a panel discussion including representatives from regulators, industry, and clinical research stakeholders focused on how various stakeholders and the BCI community might best work together to ensure studies provide data that is useful for evaluating safety and effectiveness, including reaching consensus on COAs that represent clinically meaningful benefits and support regulatory and payor requirements. This report focuses on the regulatory and reimbursement requirements for medical devices and how to best measure safety and effectiveness and summarizes the presentations from five experts and the discussion between the panel and the audience. Main results: Consensus was reached on the following items specifically related to BCI: (i) the importance of and need for a new generation of COAs, (ii) the challenges facing the development of appropriate clinical outcome assessments, and (iii) that improvements in COAs should demonstrate obvious and clinically meaningful benefit(s). There was discussion on: (i) clinical trial design for BCIs and (ii) considerations for payor reimbursement and other funding. Significance: Whilst the importance of building community consensus on COAs was apparent, further collaboration will be required to reach consensus on which specific current and/or novel COAs could be used for the BCI field to evolve from research to market.
Characteristics of disruptions observed in the initial operation phase of JT-60SA
Authors: Yokoyama T. , Inoue S. , Kojima S. , Wakatsuki T. , Urano H. , Sano R. , Ohtani Y. , Sumida S. , Nakano T. , Takechi M. , Szepesi T. , Yoshida M. ,   the JT-60SA Integrated Project Team
Published: September 2024

Disruption database in the JT-60SA first plasma operation period has been constructed. The disruptions have been divided into three categories based on their characteristics, and the characteristics of each category have been discussed. The most commonly observed disruptions were vertical displacement events (VDEs). As expected by simulations using the MHD equilibrium control simulator (MECS), a highly elongated plasma was likely to disrupt by VDE when the gap between the plasma surface and the wall is large. Despite the quite high edge safety factor

q

95

of above 10 in the initial operation, some discharge disrupted because of control failure caused by the n = 1 tearing mode. One possible cause of the n = 1 tearing mode is the edge cooling in high density. The last category is the radiative disruptions, which is characterized by slow current decay with multiple spikes in soft x-ray signals. These spikes are thought to be related to the MHD activity that occurred when the cooling front crossed the rational surface. The radiative disruptions are attributed to a sudden change in edge power balance.
A perturbative multi-mode model with finite parallel electric field for fast-ion-driven Alfvén eigenmodes
Authors: Slaby C. , Könies A. , Kleiber R.
Published: September 2024

Alfvén eigenmodes are of great interest in any fusion device as they can be excited by fast ions in the plasma. If the modes grow to large amplitudes, they can cause transport and redistribution of the fast ions, thus limiting fusion performance. To save computational resources, the resonant kinetic interaction between the fast-particle species and the modes is often modeled by MHD-kinetic hybrid codes. Here, we present such a hybrid model which is applicable to three-dimensional magnetic fields, accounts for a finite parallel electric field and multiple MHD modes present at the same time. The model extends the one previously implemented in the CKA-EUTERPE code allowing for a better estimate of the damping due to the parallel electric field and nonlinear mode-mode interaction. The capabilities of our model are illustrated by applying the code to model nonlinear frequency chirping and fast-ion profile flattening.
Survival probability and position distribution of a run and tumble particle in

U
(
x
)
=
α

|

x
|

potential with an absorbing boundary
Authors: Kumar Nath Sujit , Sabhapandit Sanjib
Published: September 2024

We study the late-time exponential decay of the survival probability

S
±

(
t
,
a

|

x
0

)
∼

e

−
θ
(
a
)
t

, of a one-dimensional run-and-tumble particle starting from

x
0

<
a

with an initial orientation

σ
(
0
)
=
±
1

, under a confining potential

U
(
x
)
=
α

|

x
|

with an absorbing boundary at

x
=
a
>
0

. We find that the decay rate

θ
(
a
)

of the survival probability has a strong dependence on the location a of the absorbing boundary, which undergoes a freezing transition at a critical value

a
=

a
c

=
(

v
0

−
α
)

v
0
2

−

α
2

/

(
2
α
γ
)

, where

v
0

>
α

is the self-propulsion speed and γ is the tumbling rate of the particle. For

a
>

a
c

, the value of

θ
(
a
)

increases monotonically from zero, as a decreases from infinity, until it attains the maximum value

θ
(

a
c

)

at

a
=

a
c

. For

0
<
a
<

a
c

, the value of

θ
(
a
)

freezes to the value

θ
(
a
)
=
θ
(

a
c

)

. We also obtain the propagator with the absorbing boundary condition at x = a. Our analytical results are supported by numerical simulations.
Numerical accuracy of the derivative-expansion-based functional renormalization group
Authors: Chlebicki Andrzej
Published: September 2024

We investigate the precision of the numerical implementation of the functional renormalization group based on extracting the eigenvalues from the linearized renormalization group transformation. For this purpose, we implement the local potential approximation andO(∂2)orders of the derivative expansion for the three-dimensionalO(N) models withN ∈ {1,2,3}. We identify several categories of numerical error and devise simple tests to track their magnitude as functions of numerical parameters. Our numerical schemes converge properly and are characterized by errors of several orders of magnitude smaller than the error bars of the derivative expansion for these models. We highlight situations in which our methods cease to converge, most often due to rounding errors. In particular, we observe an impaired convergence of the discretization scheme when theρ~grid is cut off at the valueρ~Maxsmaller than 3.5 times the local potential minimum. The program performing the numerical calculations for this study is shared as an open-source library accessible for review and reuse.
Impacts of water, energy, and food nexus challenges on household vulnerability: the case of Harare City, Zimbabwe
Authors: Gandidzanwa C P , Togo M
Published: September 2024

Water, energy, and food (WEF) are interwoven, and their scarcity in the face of climate change intensifies household vulnerability (HV), particularly in developing countries. The interlinkage is complex; it makes it difficult to make decisions and requires coordinated and integrated approaches. Policymakers face problems when attempting to identify and implement appropriate policy actions at the nexus of these challenges. This study interrogates the contribution of WEF challenges to HV in Harare to create good policies that can enhance synergies. Data was collected from 314 urban households through questionnaires. In addition, 11 in-depth interviews and one focus group discussion were conducted with the Harare Residents’ Association. The stakeholders interviewed included six city council officials, one representative from UNICEF, two from the World Food Program, and two from the Zimbabwe electricity supply authority. Survey data was analysed using both SPSS Statistics and SPSS AMOS software. While SPSS Statistics was used for descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and inferential tests, SPSS Amos was used for construct validation and structural equation modelling (SEM) path analysis. Interviews were recorded, collated, transcribed, and coded through the summative thematic analysis using QSR NVivo v14. SEM was used to test the proposed relationships between WEF challenges and HV. The findings revealed a positive relationship between the WEF constructs and HV among Harare residents. Socioeconomic factors were also found to have a statistically significant effect on the relationship between Climatic Change and HV. Most climate impacts were found to be water-related, meaning, interventions to address water challenges can boost energy and food production. This will enable policymakers to allocate resources for positive results.
Multilevel actor networks in China’s growing fossil-fuel based role in the global electricity sector
Authors: Thomas Sauer Jürgen Michael , Kirchherr Julian , Plummer-Braeckman Judith , Anadón Laura Díaz
Published: September 2024

Chinese investments into fossil fuel-based electricity generation capacity under its belt and road initiative will create lock-in for decades. Despite China’s recent rise as major public finance provider for the electricity sector of the developing world and the related environmental impacts, there is limited knowledge of the extent and characteristics of non-Chinese participation in Chinese-funded projects. We apply complexity theory approaches and network modeling on a new dataset that links funding activities of developmental institutions (Chinese developmental institutions (CDIs), Western-backed multilateral development banks (MDBs)) and the involvement of companies in different roles (i.e., as direct investors, contractors, equipment suppliers, and other service providers) to power plants around the world at the unit-level (1999–2020). Previous literature suggests that CDI funded projects show preference to Chinese commercial partners, but we find more than 70% include non-Chinese participants. This also applies for fossil-fuel based technologies where we observe increasing shares of international actors that together account for nearly every third commercial linkage. However, involvement levels and interaction patterns not only differ by technologies (fossils, hydro, non-hydro renewable, nuclear) but also by the time period and types of commercial partners and we observe overall convergence between the CDI- and MDB-supported power plant networks over time. The decreasing involvement of Chinese companies in CDI-funded projects, across technologies, in favor of increasing Western involvement, has important implications for development and climate policy on which we elaborate. However, the failure of both MDB and CDI funding to promote domestic company involvement in the recipient countries may be the largest failing of both sets of agencies in the pursuit of development outcomes.
Operationalizing the social capital of collaborative environmental governance with network metrics
Authors: Nesbitt H K , Hamilton M , Ulibarri N , Williamson M A
Published: September 2024

Social capital is frequently invoked as a reason for engaging in collaborative environmental governance. Yet we have a limited understanding of how collaborative environmental governance mobilizes different types of social capital and how the advantages and costs of social capital accrue for different groups of people. Explicit measures of social capital, such as through social network methods, will help build an understanding of how social capital facilitates collective processes and for whom. We reviewed highly cited articles in Web of Science and Scopus using ‘social capital’ as the search term to identify foundational and emergent social capital concepts. In the context of collaborative environmental governance, we operationalized these social capital concepts with network measures drawn from our expertise and highlighted existing empirical relationships between such network measures and collaborative outcomes. We identified two different perspectives on social capital—one based on social relations that could be readily operationalized with social network measures and the other based on actor characteristics that can further contextualize network data. Relational social capital concepts included social relations among actors; the collective social setting in which relations are embedded; and the advantages and costs that social capital confers to individuals and the collective. Social capital concepts based on actor characteristics included socio-cognitions (e.g. trust, norms, identification with a group, shared meanings) and community engagement (e.g. group membership, civic participation, volunteerism). Empirical evidence using social network approaches to measure social capital reveals patterns in relationship building that influence collaborative and other sustainability outcomes. Social network approaches described here may help define and quantify the social capital mobilized by collaborative governance. Additional research is necessary to track the social capital of collaboratives over time, link it to outcomes, and better understand the social justice implications of collaborative governance.
Synthesis of magnesium hydroxide flame retardant based on microcrystalline magnesite and its application in epoxy resin
Authors: Wang Anxiu , Li Si , Li Xiang , Yin Ziyang , Shi Wuyang , Liu Yuan , Ma Chengliang
Published: September 2024

A nanoscale hexagonal flake magnesium hydroxide (MH) flame retardant was prepared by a hydrothermal method using Tibetan microcrystalline magnesite as the raw material. The synthesized samples were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FSEM), thermogravimetric analysis-differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC), and laser particle size analysis. When subjected to hydrothermal treatment at 180 °C for a duration of 8 h in a solution containing 6 mol l−1 NaOH, and with the incorporation of 4 wt% of the surfactant polyethylene glycol 2000 (PEG2000), hexagonal flake MH, possessing an average particle size of 378.3 nm, was successfully synthesized. The study conducted an examination of the thermal, mechanical, and flame-retardant properties of both EP and EP/MH composites. The results revealed that the incorporation of 9 wt% MH led to a notable reduction in the peak heat release rate, total smoke production, and mass loss rate of the EP/MH composites by 36%, 14.5%, and 33.3% respectively, as compared to the pure EP. Remarkably, the tensile and flexural strength of the composite exhibited minimal impact.
Design and validation of a-SiC/SiN hybrid photonic platform for integrated quantum photonics
Authors: Sharma Naresh , Li Zizheng , Lopez-Rodriguez Bruno , Vrugt Joey , van der Waal Stijn , Li Luozhen , van der Kolk Roald , Poole Philip J , Dalacu Dan , Esmaeil Zadeh Iman
Published: September 2024

Recent efforts in quantum photonics emphasize on-chip generation, manipulation, and detection of single photons for quantum computing and quantum communication. In quantum photonic chips, single photons are often generated using parametric down-conversion and quantum dots. Quantum dots are particularly attractive due to their on-demand generation of high-purity single photons. Different photonic platforms are used to manipulate the states of the photons. Nevertheless, no single platform satisfies all the requirements of quantum photonics, as each platform has its merits and shortcomings. For example, the thin-film silicon nitride (SiN) platform provides ultra-low loss on the order of 0.1 dB m−1, but is incompatible with dense integration , requiring large bending radii. On the other hand, silicon on insulator offers a high refractive index contrast for dense integration but has a high absorption coefficient at the emission wavelengths (800–970 nm) of state-of-the-art QDs. Amorphous silicon carbide (a-SiC) has emerged as an alternative with a high refractive index (higher than SiN), an extended transparency window compared to Silicon, and a thermo-optic coefficient three times higher than that of SiN, which is crucial for tuning photonic devices on a chip. With the vision of realizing a quantum photonic integrated circuit, we explore the hybrid integration of SiN/a-SiC photonic platform with quantum dots and superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors. We validate our hybrid platform using a brief literature study, proof-of-principle experiments, and complementary simulations. As a proof-of-principle, we show a quantum dot embedded in nanowires (for deterministic micro-transfer and better integration) that emits single photons at 885 nm with a purity of 0.011 and a lifetime of 0.98 ns. Furthermore, we design and simulate an adiabatic coupler between two photonic platforms, a-SiC and SiN, by aiming to use the benefits of both platforms, i.e. dense integration and low losses, respectively. Our design couples the light from SiN waveguide to a-SiC waveguide with 96% efficiency at 885 nm wavelength. Our hybrid platform can be used to demonstrate on-chip quantum experiments such as Hong–Ou–Mandel, where we can design a large optical delay line in SiN and an interference circuit in a-SiC.
Inferential Seemings
Authors: Chudnoff Elijah
Published: September 2024

There is a felt difference between following an argument to its conclusion and keeping up with an argument in your judgments while failing to see how its conclusion follows from its premises. In the first case there’s what I’m calling an inferential seeming, in the second case there isn’t. Inferential seemings exhibit a cluster of functional and normative characteristics whose integration in one mental state is puzzling. Several recent accounts of inferring suggest inferential seemings play a significant role in the process, but none provides a fully satisfactory understanding of inferential seemings themselves. The chapter critically examines theoretical options on offer in the existing literature, then develops an alternative view. It discusses implications for recent debates about general principles governing inference, such as Fumerton’s Principle of Inferential Justification and Boghossian’s Taking Condition.
The Simulation Hypothesis: Metaphysics, Epistemology, Value
Authors: Chalmers David J
Published: September 2024

I’d like to thank Grace Helton, Terry Horgan, and Christopher Peacocke for their rich commentaries on my book Reality+. As it happens, all three focus on the simulation hypothesis: the hypothesis that we are living in a lifelong computer simulation. Where the simulation hypothesis is concerned, I have three main theses in the book: (i) Metaphysics: If we’re in a simulation, the objects around us are real; (ii) Epistemology: We can’t know we’re not in a simulation; and (iii) Value: We can live a good life in a simulation. The three commentators address all three of these theses. Horgan argues against the metaphysical thesis. Peacocke argues against both the metaphysical and the epistemological thesis. Helton uses epistemological considerations to argue against a version of the value thesis.
RhD-positive red blood cell allocation practice to RhD-negative patients before and during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Tanhehco Yvette C , Fung Mark , Hermelin Daniela , Becker Jennifer , Lu Wen
Published: September 2024

Objectives

The red blood cell (RBC) D antigen is highly immunogenic, and anti-D alloimmunization can cause hemolytic transfusion reactions and hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn. This study examined how RhD-negative patients who required packed RBCs (pRBCs) were handled during the COVID-19 pandemic and whether policies and practices on RhD-positive pRBC allocation to RhD-negative patients changed.

Methods

The Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB) Clinical Hemotherapy Subsection distributed a 17-question survey to physician AABB members to elucidate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the policies and practices governing the provision of RhD-positive pRBCs to RhD-negative patients.

Results

There were 215 respondents who started the survey, but only 104 answered all the questions. Most institutional policies (130/155 [83.87%]) and personal practices (100/126 [79.37%]) on pRBC selection did not change during the COVID-19 pandemic. The practice of switching back to RhD-negative pRBCs after administration of RhD-positive pRBCs is variable. More than half of respondents (56/104 [53.85%]) reported offering Rh immunoglobulin to any Rh-negative patients who received RhD-positive pRBCs.

Conclusions

Despite RhD-negative pRBC supply challenges, most institutional policies and personal practices on when to provide RhD-positive pRBCs to RhD-negative patients did not change during the pandemic.
Utility of CCR7 to differentiate classic Hodgkin lymphoma and other B-cell lymphomas by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry
Authors: Chen Xueyan , Soma Lori , Murphy Claire , Tretiakova Maria , Naresh Kikkeri N , Fromm Jonathan R
Published: September 2024

Objectives

Classic Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL) is characterized by infrequent neoplastic Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells in an inflammatory background. The diagnostic utility of CC-chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) in CHL was explored using flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Methods

Neoplastic specimens and non-neoplastic lymph nodes were immunophenotyped and CCR7 expression was measured semiquantitatively by flow cytometry (clone 3D12) and IHC (clone 150503).

Results

Our results showed that CCR7 was expressed on HRS cells in the vast majority of CHL cases (45/48 by flow cytometry, 57/59 by IHC) but rarely expressed in neoplastic cells in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (1/25 by flow cytometry, 2/40 by IHC) and nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (0/4 by flow cytometry, 1/13 by IHC). Primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMLBCL) revealed weak CCR7 expression by flow cytometry in most cases (8/10) but only occasionally by IHC (2/12). Both cases (2/2) of T-cell/histiocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma (THRLBCL) also showed CCR7 expression detected by flow cytometry compared with IHC (0/7). The HRS cells demonstrated a greater percentage of positive cells and greater antigen intensity than the other B-cell lymphomas by IHC. The expression identified by flow cytometry in PMLBCL and THRLBCL but not by IHC suggests that there may be differences in the detection capabilities of the 2 techniques or the 2 CCR7 clones used.

Conclusions

The expression of CCR7 in HRS cells suggests its potential utility in differentiating CHL from other B-cell lymphomas. Incorporating CCR7 into flow cytometry and IHC panels may further enhance the diagnostic sensitivity of CHL.
Biomedical knowledge graph-optimized prompt generation for large language models
Authors: Soman Karthik , Rose Peter W , Morris John H , Akbas Rabia E , Smith Brett , Peetoom Braian , Villouta-Reyes Catalina , Cerono Gabriel , Shi Yongmei , Rizk-Jackson Angela , Israni Sharat , Nelson Charlotte A , Huang Sui , Baranzini Sergio E
Published: September 2024

Motivation

Large language models (LLMs) are being adopted at an unprecedented rate, yet still face challenges in knowledge-intensive domains such as biomedicine. Solutions such as pretraining and domain-specific fine-tuning add substantial computational overhead, requiring further domain-expertise. Here, we introduce a token-optimized and robust Knowledge Graph-based Retrieval Augmented Generation (KG-RAG) framework by leveraging a massive biomedical KG (SPOKE) with LLMs such as Llama-2-13b, GPT-3.5-Turbo, and GPT-4, to generate meaningful biomedical text rooted in established knowledge.

Results

Compared to the existing RAG technique for Knowledge Graphs, the proposed method utilizes minimal graph schema for context extraction and uses embedding methods for context pruning. This optimization in context extraction results in more than 50% reduction in token consumption without compromising the accuracy, making a cost-effective and robust RAG implementation on proprietary LLMs. KG-RAG consistently enhanced the performance of LLMs across diverse biomedical prompts by generating responses rooted in established knowledge, accompanied by accurate provenance and statistical evidence (if available) to substantiate the claims. Further benchmarking on human curated datasets, such as biomedical true/false and multiple-choice questions (MCQ), showed a remarkable 71% boost in the performance of the Llama-2 model on the challenging MCQ dataset, demonstrating the framework’s capacity to empower open-source models with fewer parameters for domain-specific questions. Furthermore, KG-RAG enhanced the performance of proprietary GPT models, such as GPT-3.5 and GPT-4. In summary, the proposed framework combines explicit and implicit knowledge of KG and LLM in a token optimized fashion, thus enhancing the adaptability of general-purpose LLMs to tackle domain-specific questions in a cost-effective fashion.

Availability and implementation

SPOKE KG can be accessed at https://spoke.rbvi.ucsf.edu/neighborhood.html. It can also be accessed using REST-API (https://spoke.rbvi.ucsf.edu/swagger/). KG-RAG code is made available at https://github.com/BaranziniLab/KG_RAG. Biomedical benchmark datasets used in this study are made available to the research community in the same GitHub repository.