bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Forward stability and model path selection
Authors: Kissel Nicholas , Mentch Lucas
Published: February 2024

Most scientific publications follow the familiar recipe of (i) obtain data, (ii) fit a model, and (iii) comment on the scientific relevance of the effects of particular covariates in that model. This approach, however, ignores the fact that there may exist a multitude of similarly-accurate models in which the implied effects of individual covariates may be vastly different. This problem of finding an entire collection of plausible models has also received relatively little attention in the statistics community, with nearly all of the proposed methodologies being narrowly tailored to a particular model class and/or requiring an exhaustive search over all possible models, making them largely infeasible in the current big data era. This work develops the idea of forward stability and proposes a novel, computationally-efficient approach to finding collections of accurate models we refer to as model path selection (MPS). MPS builds up a plausible model collection via a forward selection approach and is entirely agnostic to the model class and loss function employed. The resulting model collection can be displayed in a simple and intuitive graphical fashion, easily allowing practitioners to visualize whether some covariates can be swapped for others with minimal loss.
Ammoniacal nitrogen recovery from swine slurry using a gas-permeable membrane: pH control strategies and feed-to-trapping volume ratio
Authors: Serra-Toro Andreu , Abboud Yasmina Ben Hammou , Cardete-Garcia Maria Alicia , Astals Sergi , Valentino Francesco , Mas Francesc , Dosta Joan
Published: February 2024

Gas-permeable membrane (GPM) technology is gaining interest to recover nitrogen from residual effluents due to its effectiveness, simple operation and capacity of producing a nutrient rich product with fertilising value. In this study, a GPM contactor was used at 25 °C to recover total ammoniacal nitrogen (TAN) from swine slurry as a concentrated (NH4)2SO4 solution. Firstly, a synthetic solution was tested on a wide pH range (6–12). Results showed that the ammonia mass transfer constants (Km) increased from 7.9·10−9 to 1.2·10−6 m/s as the pH increased. The reagent consumption to control the pH per mole nitrogen recovered had a minimum at pH 9, which showed a Km value of 3.0·10−7 m/s. Secondly, various pH control strategies were tested using swine slurry, including (i) no pH control, (ii) pH control at 8.5, 9.0 and 10.0, and (iii) an initial spike of the NaOH equivalent to the required to control the pH at 9. The test without pH control reached a TAN recovery of around 60%, which could be an interesting strategy when high nitrogen recoveries or short operating times are not required. The pH control at 9 stood out as the most favourable operating condition due to its high Km and lower reagent consumption. Thirdly, several feed-to-trapping volume ratios ranging from 1:1 to 15:1 were tested using swine slurry at pH 9. These assays revealed that a GPM process with a high feed-to-trapping volume ratio fastens the recovery of 99% of TAN as a high purity (NH4)2SO4 solution containing 40 g N/L.
Contrasting trophic transfer patterns of cadmium and mercury in the Arctic marine food web of east Hudson Bay, Canada
Authors: Rohonczy Jillian , Chételat John , Robinson Stacey A. , Arragutainaq Lucassie , Heath Joel P. , McClelland Christine , Mickpegak Raymond , Forbes Mark R.
Published: February 2024

We investigated trophic transfer of cadmium (Cd) through an Arctic marine food web in Hudson Bay and compared it with mercury (Hg), a metal known to strongly biomagnify. We evaluated blue mussel, sea urchin, common eider, sculpin, Arctic cod, and ringed seal for the influence of dietary and biological variables on variation in Cd and Hg concentrations. Age and size influenced metal concentrations among individuals within a vertebrate species. Consumer carbon and sulfur isotope values were correlated with their Cd and Hg concentrations, indicating habitat-specific feeding influenced metal bioaccumulation. Trophic transfer patterns for Cd depended on the vertebrate tissue, with food web biodilution observed for the muscle but not the liver. Liver Cd concentrations were higher in ringed seal and some common eider relative to prey. In contrast, we observed mercury biomagnification for both tissues. Tissue- and species-specific physiology can explain discrepancies of Cd trophic transfer in this Arctic marine food web.
Effectiveness of the Elos 2.0 Program, a Classroom Good Behavior Game Version in Brazil
Authors: Caetano Sheila C. , Mariano Marília , da Silva Anderson Ribeiro , Mendes-Sousa Marília Moreira , Ferreira Natália Alexandre , Cogo-Moreira Hugo , Mari Jair J. , Sanchez Zila M.
Published: February 2024

The Good Behavior Game (GBG) is a universal classroom behavior management method to reduce disruptive problems. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Elos 2.0 Program, a GBG version from Brazil, on the TOCA-C subscales: concentration problems, disruptive behavior, and prosocial behavior. We evaluated 2030 children aged 6–10 years. The Elos 2.0 program had a positive effect on concentration improvement by 0.254 standard deviations (Cohen’s d = 0.254, 95%CI = 0.038–0.469), and on prosocial behavior by 0.436 standard deviations (Cohen’s d = 0.436, 95%CI = 0.139–0.734). The odds of no disruptive behavior in Elos 2.0 were 4.88 times (95%CIOR = 1.89–12.60), compared to the control group. Our findings indicate that the Elos 2.0 program is associated with modest/robust improvements in children’s prosocial and concentration skills and a decrease in disruptive behavior. This study is a preliminary support for the implementation of the Elos 2.0 Program in Brazilian public schools. REBEC/Brazil: U1111-1228–2342.
Treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension in patients with connective tissue diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Erdogan Mustafa , Esatoglu Sinem Nihal , Kilickiran Avci Burcak , Hatemi Gulen
Published: February 2024

The evidence for the treatment of connective tissue disease-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (CTD-PAH) mostly depends on subgroup or post hoc analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Thus, we performed a meta-analysis of RCTs that reported outcomes for CTD-PAH. PubMed and EMBASE were searched for CTD-PAH treatment. The selected outcomes were functional class (FC) change, survival rates, 6-min walk distance (6-MWD), clinical worsening (CW), N-terminal prohormone BNP (NT-proBNP), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP), right atrial pressure (RAP), and cardiac index (CI). The meta-analysis was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020153560). Twelve RCTs conducted with 1837 patients were included. The diagnoses were systemic sclerosis in 59%, SLE in 20%, and other CTDs in 21%. The pharmacological interventions were epoprostenol, treprostinil, sildenafil, tadalafil, bosentan, macitentan, ambrisentan, riociguat, and selexipag. There was a significant difference between interventions and placebo in FC, 6MWD, CW, PVR, RAP, and CI that favored intervention. Our analysis showed a 39% reduction in the CW risk with PAH treatment. The short-term survival rates and mean serum NT-proBNP changes were similar between the study and control groups. Treatment for CTD-PAH had favorable effects on clinical and hemodynamic outcomes but not on survival and NT-proBNP levels. Different from the previous meta-analyses that focused on 6-MWD, time to clinical worsening, and CW as outcomes, this meta-analysis additionally reports the pooled analysis of change in FC, hemodynamic measurements (RAP, PVR, CI), and NT-proBNP, some of which have prognostic value for PAH.
Overpotential on Oxygen-Evolving Platinum and Ni-Fe-Cu Anode for Low-Temperature Molten Fluoride Electrolytes
Authors: Singh Kamaljeet , Haarberg Geir Martin , Mallah Abdul Rahman , Gunnarsson Gudmundur , Jamieson Thomas Luke , Gallino Isabella , Saevarsdottir Gudrun
Published: February 2024

To eliminate climate gas emissions from aluminum electrolysis, modifying a cryolite-based electrolyte partly replacing Na with K reduces liquidus, allowing a process temperature of 800°C. This enables the use of various metallic alloys for oxygen-evolving inert anode technology. This alternative process requires a higher energy efficiency to compensate for an increased reaction voltage, which highlights the importance of evaluating the kinetics and overpotential on oxygen-evolving anodes. This study evaluates anodic overpotentials using steady-state polarization on platinum and three Ni-Fe-Cu-based alloy compositions in a KF-NaF-AlF3-Al2O3(sat.) electrolyte at 800°C. The polarization curve on the platinum anode reveals two linear Tafel regions, while Ni-Fe-Cu anodes exhibit a single Tafel region. Notably, Ni-Fe-Cu anodes treated with high-temperature air oxidation to develop a pre-formed oxide layer exhibit better electrocatalytic activity than untreated anodes of corresponding composition. The kinetic equations, based on a theoretical model for the proposed mechanism of the oxygen evolution reaction, are derived and utilized to simulate overpotential and current, taking into account surface coverage. This model accurately predicts the two experimentally observed Tafel regions on the platinum anode, indicating a two-step charge transfer-controlled mechanism. We illustrate that multiple Tafel slopes can be attributed to the potential-dependent surface coverage of an adsorbate and can be correlated with the particular rate-determining step.
Would God Really Send Me to Hell for Stealing a Wispa Bar?
Authors: Effingham Nikk
Published: February 2024

This paper discusses the problem of Hell, defending the Aquinas-Anselm-Edwards response that any immoral act deserves eternal punishment because it offends against God. I argue that the response is more defensible than one might at first think, but nevertheless faces a serious objection. If we differentiate two different problems of Hell—the logical problem and the evidential problem—we see that, in light of this objection, the Aquinas-Anselm-Edwards response only solves the logical problem of Hell.
Mass cytometry revealed the circulating immune cell landscape across different Suzuki stages of Moyamoya disease
Authors: Liu Chenglong , Ge Peicong , Zhang Bojian , Chan Liujia , Pang Yuheng , Tao Chuming , Li Junsheng , He Qiheng , Liu Wei , Mou Siqi , Zheng Zhiyao , Zhao Zhikang , Sun Wei , Zhang Qian , Wang Rong , Zhang Yan , Wang Wenjing , Zhang Dong , Zhao Jizong
Published: February 2024

Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a cerebrovascular disorder marked by progressive arterial narrowing, categorized into six stages known as Suzuki stages based on angiographic features. Growing evidence indicates a pivotal role of systemic immune and inflammatory responses in the initiation and advancement of MMD. This study employs high-dimensional mass cytometry to reveal the immunophenotypic characteristics of peripheral blood immune cells (PBMCs) at various Suzuki stages, offering insights into the progression of MMD. PBMC samples from eight patients with early-stage MMD (Suzuki stages II and III) and eight patients with later-stage MMD (Suzuki stages IV, V, and VI) were analyzed using high-dimensional mass cytometry to evaluate the frequency and phenotype of immune cell subtypes. We identified 15 cell clusters and found that the immunological features of early-stage MMD and later-stage MMD are composed of cluster variations. In this study, we confirmed that, compared to later-stage MMD, the early-stage MMD group exhibits an increase in non-classical monocytes. As the Suzuki stage level increases, the proportions of plasmacytoid DCs and monocyte-derived DCs decrease. Furthermore, T cells, monocytes, DCs, and PMN-MDSCs in the early-stage MMD group show activation of the canonical NF-κB signaling pathway. We summarized and compared the similarities and differences between early-stage MMD patients and later-stage MMD patients. There is a potential role of circulating immune dysfunction and inflammatory responses in the onset and development of MMD.
Molecular Mutations in Histiocytosis: A Comprehensive Survey of Genetic Alterations
Authors: Pai Padmini , Nirmal Arnav , Mathias Lian , Jain Siya , Shetty Manasa Gangadhar , Sundara Babitha Kampa
Published: February 2024

Histiocytosis represents a group of uncommon disorders characterized by the abnormal accumulation of specialized immune cells, such as macrophages, dendritic cells, or monocyte-derived cells, in various tissues and organs. Over 100 distinct subtypes have been documented, each displaying a broad spectrum of clinical presentations and histological characteristics. Till today, histiocytosis has been addressed through a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, with varying responses from individual patients. Due to its atypical symptoms, it has been prone to misdiagnosis. Advances in our understanding of the cellular and molecular aspects of these conditions are paving the way for improved diagnostic methods and targeted therapies. Researchers have extensively investigated various mutations in patient samples. However, no paper has yet provided a comprehensive summary of the collective analysis of mutations and pathways. Hence, this paper consolidates research efforts that specifically concentrate on gene mutations identified in patient samples of different subtypes of histiocytosis. These insights are essential for developing targeted therapies and improving diagnosis. Further, it provides potential insights to enhance the development of more effective therapeutic approaches for rare diseases.

Graphical Abstract

Parts of the figure were drawn by using pictures from Servier Medical Art. Servier Medical Art by Servier is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).
Functional cure is associated with younger age in children undergoing antiviral treatment for active chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Zhang Min , Li Jing , Xu Zhiqiang , Fan Peiyao , Dong Yi , Wang Fuchuan , Gao Yinjie , Yan Jianguo , Cao Lili , Ji Dong , Feng Danni , Zhong Yanwei , Zhang Yang , Hong Weiguo , Zhang Chao , Wang Fu-Sheng
Published: February 2024

Background and Aims

Functional cure is difficult to achieve using current antiviral therapies; moreover, limited data are available regarding treatment outcomes in children. This retrospective study aimed to assess the frequency of functional cure among children undergoing antiviral treatment for active chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Methods

A total of 372 children aged 1–16 years, with active CHB were enrolled and underwent either nucleos(t)ide analog monotherapy or combination therapy with interferon-α (IFN-α) for 24–36 months. All children attended follow-up visits every 3 months. Functional cure was defined as evidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA loss, circulating hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) loss/seroconversion, and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss.

Results

After 36 months of antiviral treatment and/or follow-up visits, children with CHB aged 1– < 7 years exhibited higher rates of HBV DNA clearance, HBeAg seroconversion, and HBsAg loss than CHB children ≥ 7–16 years of age (93.75% versus [vs.] 86.21% [p < 0.0001]; 79.30% vs. 51.72% [p < 0.0001]; and 50.78% vs. 12.93% [p < 0.0001], respectively). Longitudinal investigation revealed more rapid dynamic reduction in HBV DNA, HBeAg, and HBsAg levels in children aged 1–7 years than in those aged ≥ 7–16 years with CHB. According to further age-stratified analysis, HBsAg loss rates were successively decreased in children with CHB who were 1– < 3, 3– < 7, 7– < 12, and 12–16 years of age (62.61% vs. 41.13% vs. 25.45% vs. 1.64%, respectively; p < 0.0001) at 36 months. In addition, baseline HBsAg level < 1,500 IU/mL was found to favor disease cure among these pediatric patients. No serious adverse events were observed throughout the study period.

Conclusion

Results of the present study demonstrated that children aged 1– < 7 years, with active CHB can achieve a high functional cure rate by undergoing antiviral therapy compared to those aged ≥ 7 years, who undergo antiviral therapy. These data support the use of antiviral treatment at an early age in children with CHB. However, future prospectively randomized controlled trials are necessary to validate the findings of this study.

Graphical Abstract

The younger age, the higher functional cure rate in children with chronic hepatitis B undergoing on-time antiviral treatment.
White light emission in 0D halide perovskite [(CH3)3S]2SnCl6·H2O crystals through variation of doping ns2 ions
Authors: Lin Yitong , Zhong Yu , Lin Yangpeng , Lin Jiawei , Pang Lei , Zhang Zhilong , Zhao Yi , Huang Xiao-Ying , Du Ke-Zhao
Published: February 2024

With the rapid development of white LEDs, the research of new and efficient white light emitting materials has attracted increasing attention. Zero dimensional (0D) organic–inorganic hybrid metal halide perovskites with superior luminescent property are promising candidates for LED application, due to their abundant and tailorable structure. Herein, [(CH3)3S]2SnCl6·H2O is synthesized as a host for dopant ions Bi3+ and Sb3+. The Sb3+ doped, or Bi3+/Sb3+ co-doped, [(CH3)3S]2SnCl6·H2O has a tunable optical emission spectrum by means of varying dopant ratio and excitation wavelength. As a result, we can achieve single-phase materials suitable for emission ranging from cold white light to warm white light. The intrinsic mechanism is examined in this work, to clarify the dopant effect on the optical properties. The high stability of title crystalline material, against water, oxygen and heat, makes it promising for further application.

Graphical Abstract
Effects of Varying Equivalence Ratios on the Combustion Efficiency Characteristic of a Dual-Fuel Compression Ignition Engine by Changing Intake Pressures and Exhaust Gas Recirculation Rates
Authors: Lee Jeongwoo , Chu Sanghyun , Kang Jaegu , Min Kyoungdoug
Published: February 2024

In general, a leaner mixture condition improves combustion efficiency in compression ignition (CI) combustion using diesel. However, in the case of leaner air–fuel mixture conditions, it disturbs flame propagation in spark ignition combustion using gasoline, i.e., low reactivity fuel, causing a decrease in combustion efficiency. Since dual-fuel combustion in a CI engine typically involves the use of high- and low-reactivity fuels together, the differing reactivity conditions in the cylinder become as important as the local equivalence ratio in the cylinder. Thus, there is a need to verify the effect of a leaner mixture condition on combustion efficiency in dual-fuel CI combustion. For this reason, this study experimentally evaluates the effects of varying equivalence ratios on the combustion efficiency of gasoline/diesel dual-fueled CI combustion in a 0.4-L single-cylinder engine under low-speed (1500 rpm) and low-load (total LHV 570 J/str) conditions. To vary the equivalence ratios, intake pressures and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) rates were, respectively, changed under the part-load condition. The results emphasize that as the equivalence ratio becomes leaner by increasing the intake pressure, combustion efficiency worsens due to the low reactivity properties and certain flame propagation modes of gasoline combustion. On the contrary, increasing the EGR rate did not significantly influence combustion efficiency, but it effectively helped reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. Based on these results, it is concluded that optimizing dual-fuel CI combustion to suppress NOx emissions is better achieved using EGR, rather than creating a leaner mixture condition.
An innovative heterogeneous transfer learning framework to enhance the scalability of deep reinforcement learning controllers in buildings with integrated energy systems
Authors: Coraci Davide , Brandi Silvio , Hong Tianzhen , Capozzoli Alfonso
Published: February 2024

Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL)-based control shows enhanced performance in the management of integrated energy systems when compared with Rule-Based Controllers (RBCs), but it still lacks scalability and generalisation due to the necessity of using tailored models for the training process. Transfer Learning (TL) is a potential solution to address this limitation. However, existing TL applications in building control have been mostly tested among buildings with similar features, not addressing the need to scale up advanced control in real-world scenarios with diverse energy systems. This paper assesses the performance of an online heterogeneous TL strategy, comparing it with RBC and offline and online DRL controllers in a simulation setup using EnergyPlus and Python. The study tests the transfer in both transductive and inductive settings of a DRL policy designed to manage a chiller coupled with a Thermal Energy Storage (TES). The control policy is pre-trained on a source building and transferred to various target buildings characterised by an integrated energy system including photovoltaic and battery energy storage systems, different building envelope features, occupancy schedule and boundary conditions (e.g., weather and price signal). The TL approach incorporates model slicing, imitation learning and fine-tuning to handle diverse state spaces and reward functions between source and target buildings. Results show that the proposed methodology leads to a reduction of 10% in electricity cost and between 10% and 40% in the mean value of the daily average temperature violation rate compared to RBC and online DRL controllers. Moreover, online TL maximises self-sufficiency and self-consumption by 9% and 11% with respect to RBC. Conversely, online TL achieves worse performance compared to offline DRL in either transductive or inductive settings. However, offline Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) agents should be trained at least for 15 episodes to reach the same level of performance as the online TL. Therefore, the proposed online TL methodology is effective, completely model-free and it can be directly implemented in real buildings with satisfying performance.
Manipulation by design
Authors: Trzaskowski Jan
Published: February 2024

Human behaviour is affected by architecture, including how online user interfaces are designed. The purpose of this article is to provide insights into the regulation of behaviour modification by the design of choice architecture in light of the European Union data protection law (GDPR) and marketing law (UCPD). It has become popular to use the term ‘dark pattern’ (also ‘deceptive practices’) to describe such practices in online environments. The term provides a framework for identifying and discussing ‘problematic’ design practices, but the definitions and descriptions are not sufficient in themselves to draw the fine line between legitimate (lawful) persuasion and unlawful manipulation, which requires an inquiry into agency, self-determination, regulation and legal interpretation. The main contribution of this article is to place manipulative design, including ‘dark patterns’, within the framework of persuasion (marketing), technology (persuasive technology) and law (privacy and marketing).
Tropical seamounts as stepping-stones for coral reef fishes: range extensions and new regional distributions from mesophotic ecosystems in the Coral Sea, Australia
Authors: Galbraith G. F. , Cresswell B. J. , McClure E. C. , Hoey A. S.
Published: February 2024

Seamounts and remote oceanic islands serve as valuable natural laboratories in which to study patterns and processes in marine biodiversity. A central hypothesis arising from studies of these systems is the ecological function of seamounts as stepping-stones for dispersal and population connectivity. Evidence of this mechanism exists for a range of taxa, including coral reef fishes, but is still lacking from many tropical seamounts in remote regions. In this study, we used remotely operated vehicles and baited remote underwater video systems to survey fish and benthic communities between 1 and 100 m on seamounts in the Coral Sea Marine Park (CSMP), Australia. We found evidence to support the stepping-stone model of ecological connectivity from new observations of 16 coral reef fishes which have previously not been recorded by quantitative surveys in the region. The widespread distribution of many of these species throughout the full latitudinal extent of the CSMP suggests that there is greater connectivity between mesophotic habitats in the Coral Sea and surrounding biogeographic regions than previously known. We also found a wide variety of mesophotic habitats and recorded significant depth range extensions for 78 fishes in these habitats. This further highlights the potential role of increased habitat area and heterogeneity in a stepping-stone effect throughout the region. Four of the fish occurrence records represent significant range extensions into the Coral Sea from adjacent biogeographic regions, and 13 fishes recorded by this study in the CSMP are not known from the neighbouring Great Barrier Reef, despite its close proximity. Although the Coral Sea remains relatively understudied, these findings suggest that larger-scale models of marine biogeography are relevant to communities in the region, particularly at mesophotic depths. Given the extent and the spatial arrangement of seamounts in the Coral Sea, our findings emphasise that the region is an important link between the centre of marine biodiversity in the Coral Triangle and the Southwest Pacific. Greater mesophotic sampling effort and genetic studies are necessary to understand the nature of connectivity and to establish the role of regional seamount chains, like the Coral Sea reefs, in broader marine biogeographic processes.
Agricultural technology as a driver of sustainable intensification: insights from the diffusion and focus of patents
Authors: Li Yafei , Herzog Felix , Levers Christian , Mohr Franziska , Verburg Peter H. , Bürgi Matthias , Dossche Rebekka , Williams Tim G.
Published: February 2024

Sustainable intensification (SI) responds to the concurrent challenges of increasing food production while reducing the environmental impacts of agriculture. As an early disclosure of innovation, patents are a useful indicator of technology market potential. However, we lack understanding of the extent to which current agricultural technology patents relate to the goals of SI and which kinds of technologies can potentially address SI. Here, we analyzed the diffusion and focus of more than one million patents issued during the period 1970–2022. We explored the degree to which the patents relate to SI through the co-occurrence of efficiency and environmental friendliness targets. Our results reveal that while the rate of patent issuance has dramatically increased over the past five decades, the rate at which patents diffused to different countries had decreased over time. The USA was the biggest net exporter of patents and had produced by far the most high-impact patents (in the top 1% most-cited patents). Since 1970, only 4% of agricultural patents and 6% of high-impact patents were related to SI targets (i.e., promoting both agricultural efficiency and environmental friendliness), but the attention to SI has increased over time. The most highly cited SI-related patents had become more diverse over time, shifting from digital, machine, and energy technologies in 1980s to the current era of agroecology, information, and computer networking. Our results provide an early indication of promising technologies that may play a greater role for SI in the future, subject to the challenges of market transfer and farm adoption and complemented by non-technological innovations in farm management and institutional support.
A Physics-Based Seismic Risk Assessment of the Qujiang Fault: From Dynamic Rupture to Disaster Estimation
Authors: Li Yilong , Wang Zijia , Zhang Zhenguo , Gu Yuhao , Yu Houyun
Published: February 2024

This study achieved the construction of earthquake disaster scenarios based on physics-based methods—from fault dynamic rupture to seismic wave propagation—and then population and economic loss estimations. The physics-based dynamic rupture and strong ground motion simulations can fully consider the three-dimensional complexity of physical parameters such as fault geometry, stress field, rock properties, and terrain. Quantitative analysis of multiple seismic disaster scenarios along the Qujiang Fault in western Yunnan Province in southwestern China based on different nucleation locations was achieved. The results indicate that the northwestern segment of the Qujiang Fault is expected to experience significantly higher levels of damage compared to the southeastern segment. Additionally, there are significant variations in human losses, even though the economic losses are similar across different scenarios. Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Yuxi City, Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, and Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture were identified as at medium to high seismic risks, with Yuxi and Honghe being particularly vulnerable. Implementing targeted earthquake prevention measures in Yuxi and Honghe will significantly mitigate the potential risks posed by the Qujiang Fault. Notably, although the fault is within Yuxi, Honghe is likely to suffer the most severe damage. These findings emphasize the importance of considering rupture directivity and its influence on ground motion distribution when assessing seismic risk.
Systemic osteoarthritis: the difficulty of categorically naming a continuous condition
Authors: Herrero-Beaumont Gabriel , Castro-Dominguez Francisco , Migliore Alberto , Naredo Esperanza , Largo Raquel , Reginster Jean-Yves
Published: February 2024

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease with systemic implications that go beyond joint problems. Its pathogenic mechanisms involve a variety of systemic conditions that contribute to joint damage. These include metabolic dysfunction, chronic low-grade inflammation, neuroplastic pain, and the influence of the central nervous system in the development of neuropathic pain. Besides, OA can negatively affect other aspects of health, such as quality of life, reduced physical activity, social isolation, depression, and anxiety. OA can be considered a complex system in which pathological interactions involve not only obesity and metabolic dysfunction, but also fragility syndrome, sarcopenia, neurological complications, and systemic energy redistribution. Complex systems are composed of multiple interacting and dynamic parts and exhibit emergent properties that cannot be fully explained by examining their individual components. Chronic low-grade inflammation is characteristic of OA, occurring both in the affected joint, and systemically, mainly due to adipose tissue inflammation in obese patients. Obesity is a key factor in the progression of OA, so primary treatment should focus on its control, while maintaining muscle health. The chronic inflammation could lead to changes in energy distribution among the affected joint tissues. Therefore, OA should be approached as a systemic disease, considering individual patient factors, such as genetics, inflammatory response, and lifestyle. Medical care should be more holistic and personalized. Consideration of a name change, such as "systemic OA", could help to move away from the perception of a disease focused only on the joints.
Recent Advances in Mechanistic Understanding of Metal-Free Carbon Thermocatalysis and Electrocatalysis with Model Molecules
Authors: Guo Wei , Yu Linhui , Tang Ling , Wan Yan , Lin Yangming
Published: February 2024

Metal-free carbon, as the most representative heterogeneous metal-free catalysts, have received considerable interests in electro- and thermo-catalytic reactions due to their impressive performance and sustainability. Over the past decade, well-designed carbon catalysts with tunable structures and heteroatom groups coupled with various characterization techniques have proposed numerous reaction mechanisms. However, active sites, key intermediate species, precise structure–activity relationships and dynamic evolution processes of carbon catalysts are still rife with controversies due to the monotony and limitation of used experimental methods. In this Review, we summarize the extensive efforts on model catalysts since the 2000s, particularly in the past decade, to overcome the influences of material and structure limitations in metal-free carbon catalysis. Using both nanomolecule model and bulk model, the real contribution of each alien species, defect and edge configuration to a series of fundamentally important reactions, such as thermocatalytic reactions, electrocatalytic reactions, were systematically studied. Combined with in situ techniques, isotope labeling and size control, the detailed reaction mechanisms, the precise 2D structure–activity relationships and the rate-determining steps were revealed at a molecular level. Furthermore, the outlook of model carbon catalysis has also been proposed in this work.
Pre-sizing online tool for photovoltaic water pumping system: development, testing, validation, and evaluation
Authors: Mahmoud I. M. , Ashraf A. , Hatem A. , Abdellatif Sameh O. , Ghali Hani A.
Published: February 2024

Renewable energy has become increasingly popular worldwide, and solar energy is one of the most sustainable and widely used forms of renewable energy. However, the lack of precision in system sizing often leads to oversizing and significant financial waste. To address this issue, this paper presents the development, testing, validation, and evaluation of an online educational/industrial standard-based tool for optimizing photovoltaic water pumping systems (PVWPSs). The proposed tool considers statistics on solar irradiance, average temperature, and necessary solar panel specifications to aid in calculating the peak power required to meet demand. Using MATLAB software, the tool enables the sizing of a PVWPS for either centrifugal or submersible pumps, including complete PV sizing for on-grid or off-grid systems. The tool also demonstrates the impact of ignoring temperature, sun irradiation, and pipeline losses on the sizing technique. Results indicate that significant temperature changes can negatively impact sizing, requiring further adjustments. Finally, a questionnaire was administered to various user segments to evaluate the tool's efficiency, yielding satisfactory results. This paper presents a valuable tool for optimizing PVWPSs, enabling more precise and efficient system sizing, and reducing financial waste.
Deep learning model performance for identifying pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome on chest radiographs
Authors: Kohne Joseph G. , Farzaneh Negar , Barbaro Ryan P. , Mahani Maryam Ghadimi , Ansari Sardar , Sjoding Michael W.
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS) is underrecognized in the pediatric intensive care unit and the interpretation of chest radiographs is a key step in identification. We sought to test the performance of a machine learning model to detect PARDS in a cohort of children with respiratory failure.

Materials and methods

A convolutional neural network (CNN) model previously developed to detect ARDS on adult chest radiographs was applied to a cohort of children age 7 days to 18 years, admitted to the PICU, and mechanically ventilated through a tracheostomy, endotracheal tube or full-face non-invasive positive pressure mask between May 2016 and January 2017. Two pediatric critical care physicians and a pediatric radiologist reviewed chest radiographs to evaluate if the chest radiographs were consistent with ARDS (bilateral airspace disease) and PARDS (any airspace disease) and the CNN model was tested against clinicians.

Results

A total of 328 chest radiographs were evaluated from 66 patients. Clinicians identified 84% (276/328) of the radiographs as potentially consistent with PARDS. Inter-rater reliability between individual clinicians and between the model and clinicians was similar (Cohen’s kappa 0.48 [95% CI 0.37–0.59] and 0.45 [95% CI 0.33–0.57], respectively). The model was better at identifying PARDS (AUC 0.882, F1 0.897) than ARDS (AUC 0.842, F1 0.742) and had equivalent or better performance to individual clinicians.

Conclusions

An ARDS detection model trained on adults performed well in detecting PARDS in children. Computer-assisted identification of PARDS on chest radiographs could improve the diagnosis of PARDS for enrollment in clinical trials and application of PARDS guidelines through improved diagnosis.
Multi-tier scheduling algorithm of dispatching systems for urban water logging
Authors: Cai Hao , Zhao Weiwei , Njock Pierre Guy Atangana
Published: February 2024

Due to global warming, considerable amounts of storm rain have occurred, causing urban water logging and flooding. The efficient scheduling of drainage systems among pumping stations is crucial to mitigating flash flooding in urban areas. This study introduces a Multi-Level Dynamic Priority and Importance Scheduling (MDPIS) algorithm as a proactive solution for addressing urban flooding through the optimization of drainage system discharge capacities. The algorithm's robustness is guaranteed through the integration of a multi-tier drainage system and dependency relationships. Additionally, the incorporation of an importance parameter is considered for facilitating the practical exploration of flooding risk evaluation. The proposed model was applied to simulate a drainage system in Haining City, and the results indicate that its accuracy, flexibility and reliability outperform that of existing algorithms such as fixed-priority scheduling. Moreover, the proposed approach enabled a considerable reduction in overflow loss and improved the efficiency of the sewage system. This method can improve the responses of cities to the rising problem of urban water logging.
Supernatural Speakers in Old English Verse
Authors: Coker Matthew D.
Published: February 2024

The first extended study of supernatural discourse in Old English poetry, Supernatural Speakers in Old English Verse fills a conspicuous gap in the scholarship of early medieval literature. Drawing insights from various disciplines, including critical discourse analysis, social psychology, and oral poetry studies, Supernatural Speakers demonstrates how and why three poets - the poets of Genesis A, Christ C, and Guthlac A - marshalled their distinction as experts of the Old English poetic medium to perform the power of supernatural speech by means of masterful poetics. By offering new analytical paths through these early medieval poems, Supernatural Speakers elucidates the importance of poetics as a critical window on the social and religious functions of verbal art in early medieval England.
The Medieval Persian Gulf
Authors: Ulrich Brian
Published: February 2024

The Persian Gulf today is home to multiple cosmopolitan urban hubs of globalization. This did not start with the discovery of oil. This book tells of the Gulf from the rise of Islam until the coming of the Portuguese, when port cities such as Siraf, Sohar, and Hormuz were entrepots for trading pearls, horses, spices, and other products across much of Asia and eastern Africa. Indeed, products traded there became a key part of the material culture of medieval Islamic civilization, and the Gulf region itself was a crucial membrane between the Middle East and the world of the broader Indian Ocean. The book also highlights the long-term presence of communities of South Asian and African ancestry, as well as patterns of religious change among Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians, and Muslims that belie the image of a region long polarized between Arabs and Persians and Sunnis and Shi'ites.
Sound in Indian Film and Audiovisual Media
Authors: Chattopadhyay Budhaditya
Published: February 2024

This book is the first ever systematic attempt to study film sound in the Indian subcontinent by artistic research. The book aims to fill the scholarly void on the issues of sound and listening in the Global Souths' cultures. It develops a comprehensive understanding of the unique sound world of Indian film and audiovisual media through the examination of historical developments of sound from early optical recordings to contemporary digital audio technologies. The book is enriched with a practice-based methodology informed by the author's own practice and based on extensive conversations with leading sound practitioners in the Indian subcontinent. The book locates an emerging social and spatial awareness in Indian film and media production aided by a creative practice of sound, occurring alongside the traditionally transcendental, oral, and pluriversal approach to listening. By tracing this confluence of tradition and modernity, the book makes valuable contributions to the fields of film history, sound, and media studies.
Blackburn Buccaneer
Authors: Braas Nico
Published: February 2024

The Blackburn Buccaneer was the first jet aircraft specially designed for flying very low under the radar at high subsonic speeds. It was developed in the fifties and entered service at the Royal Navy in 1962. Later it also flew as an attack bomber at the R.A.F. and it even played a role in the Gulf War in 1991 before being retired in 1994 after an operational career that spanned three decades.
Crime and Sanctions: Beyond Sanctions as a Foreign Policy Tool
Authors: Moiseienko Anton
Published: February 2024

Targeted sanctions, namely asset freezes and travel bans, are no longer the province of foreign policy alone. They are increasingly often used by governments in response to crime, such as corruption, human rights abuse, cybercrime, drug trafficking, and transnational organized crime writ large. Such sanctions are imposed based on permissive evidential standards, such as that of “credible evidence” or “reasonable grounds to suspect.” Their advent has added a new layer to a multi-tier system of state responses to crime. First, there is the traditional approach of criminal prosecution and conviction based on the criminal standard of proof. Second, one rung below is non-conviction based asset forfeiture, a notionally civil confiscation of supposed proceeds of crime that eschews the need for compliance with a suite of criminal trial safeguards. At the third level of this hierarchy are crime-based targeted sanctions, which vest the state with the greatest latitude in dealing with suspected criminals. Based on a wide-ranging analysis of international practice, this article contends that not only are crime-based sanctions de facto a criminal justice tool, but also that a coherent set of principles is required to determine their relationship with other responses to criminal behavior.
Competing Visions and Constitutional Limits of Schengen Reform: Securitization, Gradual Supranationalization and the Undoing of Schengen as an Identity-Creating Project
Authors: Bornemann Jonas
Published: February 2024

Schengen integration has been home to different visions from the outset. In this vein, it owes much of its success to the fact that it has been both practical and symbolic in nature. However, this equilibrium of different visions has been upset following a series of crises. By prioritizing security considerations over alternative visions of Schengen, some Member States have reintroduced internal border controls on a quasi-permanent basis. Current reform proposals seek to address this situation but may be unable to revive the co-existence of the different visions underpinning the earlier phases of Schengen integration. Rather, as this investigation suggests, the reform that is currently being discussed would reaffirm the nature of Schengen integration as a pan-European security project. While this goes hand-in-hand with elements of supranational governance and coordination, it may impair the role of Schengen as an identity-creating project. This investigation analyzes the elements of the reforms discussed, presents them in the light of different visions of Schengen, and draws attention to possible constitutional limits of its reform.
Susceptibility of healthcare personnel with severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) hybrid immunity to XBB lineage reinfection
Authors: Whiting Karissa A. , Guest Rebecca , Seshan Venkatraman E. , Kamboj Mini
Published: February 2024

Among 8,678 vaccinated healthcare personnel (HCP) with previous coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), by August 28, 2023, 909 (10%) had an infection of severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) omicron XBB variant. Reinfection risk was comparable irrespective of previous infection type except for the omicron BQ.1 variant. Bivalent vaccination had a protective effect. COVID-19 vaccines remain vital to protect HCP, including those with hybrid immunity.
High touch surface bioburden associated with the use of disinfectants with and without continuously active disinfection in ambulatory care settings
Authors: Torres Heidi M. , Marino Jamie , Simon Matthew S. , Singh Harjot K. , Westblade Lars F. , Calfee David P.
Published: February 2024

A quaternary ammonium and alcohol-based disinfectant with reported continuous activity demonstrated reduced microbial buildup on surfaces over time compared to routine disinfectants without continuous activity in in vitro and hospital studies. We compared these disinfectants in ambulatory settings and found no difference in bioburden on high-touch surfaces over time.
THE TOWER OF BABYLON STELE FOUND IN BABYLON
Authors: Pedersén Olof
Published: February 2024

In the early 1990s the two fragments of black stone making up the Tower of Babylon stele with pictures of the ziggurat in Babylon and the king Nebuchadnezzar II were found in the large open trench from the German excavations of Amran in 1900. The findspot was about 20 m north of the Esagil temple in Babylon, but the level where it was discovered is not Neo-Babylonian but later, possibly Parthian. The archaeological and historical background of the stele is discussed, and the image of the Ziggurat on the stele is considered. After 28 years in the Schøyen Collection Oslo, the stele is now in the Iraq Museum in Baghdad.
Geological insights from the newly discovered granite of Sif Island between Thwaites and Pine Island glaciers
Authors: Marschalek James W. , Thomson Stuart N. , Hillenbrand Claus-Dieter , Vermeesch Pieter , Siddoway Christine , Carter Andrew , Nichols Keir , Rood Dylan H. , Venturelli Ryan A. , Hammond Samantha J. , Wellner Julia , van de Flierdt Tina
Published: February 2024

Large-scale geological structures have controlled the long-term development of the bed and thus the flow of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS). However, complete ice cover has obscured the age and exact positions of faults and geological boundaries beneath Thwaites Glacier and Pine Island Glacier, two major WAIS outlets in the Amundsen Sea sector. Here, we characterize the only rock outcrop between these two glaciers, which was exposed by the retreat of slow-flowing coastal ice in the early 2010s to form the new Sif Island. The island comprises granite, zircon U-Pb dated to ~177–174 Ma and characterized by initial ɛNd, 87Sr/86Sr and ɛHf isotope compositions of -2.3, 0.7061 and -1.3, respectively. These characteristics resemble Thurston Island/Antarctic Peninsula crustal block rocks, strongly suggesting that the Sif Island granite belongs to this province and placing the crustal block's boundary with the Marie Byrd Land province under Thwaites Glacier or its eastern shear margin. Low-temperature thermochronological data reveal that the granite underwent rapid cooling following emplacement, rapidly cooled again at ~100–90 Ma and then remained close to the Earth's surface until present. These data help date vertical displacement across the major tectonic structure beneath Pine Island Glacier to the Late Cretaceous.