bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating inherent cement setting mechanisms to improve the constructability performance of extrusion-based 3D concrete printing
Authors: Günzel F. S. , Moelich G. M. , Kanyenze S. S. , Kruger P. J. , Combrinck R.
Published: November 2024

This research aims to utilize the inherent setting mechanisms of cement to 3D print a more conventional concrete mix without the addition of commercial accelerator admixtures, towards improved surface finish, pumpability or buildability. Three potential rapid setting mechanisms are investigated in this research, namely: flash setting, false setting and belitic calcium sulfoaluminate (BCSA) replacement of cement. The three rapid setting mechanisms are characterised by determining hardened state compressive strength, setting time and green-state compressive strength. Potential mixtures are then 3D printed and their performance quantified through buildability tests and observation of surface finish quality. Additionally, the economic feasibility is investigated. It is shown that false setting does not significantly influence the mechanical properties, while the early age strength gain is not as rapid as for flash setting or BCSA cement. Flash setting improves the early age strength but reduces the long-term compressive strength. Partially replacing OPC with BCSA cement improves the early age strength and does not impact the mechanical properties significantly. Higher cement replacements increased the intensity of the rapid setting mechanisms, shortening setting and increasing early age strength. Flash setting showed the largest positive impact on the buildability of 3D printed concrete. The buildability could be increased by 321% with flash setting, while BCSA cement resulted in a buildability increase of 214% and for false setting only a 35% increase. Flash setting and BCSA replacement are shown to be the more economical rapid setting mechanisms.
What are the potentials for local governments when participating in research on knowledge co-creation through nature-based solutions?
Authors: Sang Åsa Ode , Vogel Nina , Mercado Geovana
Published: November 2024

Nature-based solutions (NbS) have been put forward as an approach to meet many of the challenges facing cities globally, such as increased temperatures, flooding and loss of biodiversity. Co-creation is a central part of the NbS approach, with the use of urban living laboratories (ULLs) as a mechanism for supporting co-creation processes. In this perspective essay, we will reflect on the potential for knowledge co-creation of NbS within an ULL context, based on the experiences from the EU H2020-funded projects REGREEN and CONEXUS. Furthermore, we will discuss how NbS and ULLs have the potential to contribute to transformative change. This is done through elaborating on processes of knowledge co-creation, communication and learning, as well as discussing the impacts which REGREEN and similar projects could have, focusing on the role of local governmental agencies.
Overview of the Evolution and Trends of the QuEChERS Sample Preparation Procedure
Authors: Veiga-del-Baño José M. , Andreo-Martínez Pedro , Pérez-Lucas Gabriel , Navarro Simón
Published: November 2024

The quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method is a sample preparation technique originally used in analytical chemistry for the extraction and purification of pesticide residues in food. In recent years, the approach has evolved beyond its original scope to include environmentally relevant analytes other than pesticides and matrices other than food. The main objective of this paper is to provide a chronological overview of bibliometrics and to present the development of QuEChERS applications from publishing the method in 2003 to present using the tools BibExcel, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix. A bibliometric analysis was carried out using the Science Citation Index Expanded database (WoS©) to analyze the scientific literature published in the field over the last 20 years and to identify limitations and future research directions. Yearly production of scientific publications increased steadily, and Price's index (50.3%) showed that QuEChERS method research is still relevant after 20 years. China and the USA were the most productive and collaborative countries in the field, and all the documents (4789) were published in 56 different subject categories of WoS©, which implies that QuEChERS method research is multidisciplinary in nature. This is the first bibliometric review of the QuEChERS method, where trend topics in the keywords show the evolution of the QuEChERS method into other fields complementary to pesticide analysis as a risk in food safety.

Graphical abstract
Eco-anxiety and a Desire for Hope: A Composite Article on the Impacts of Climate Change in Environmental Education
Authors: Jukes Scott , Fox Robyn , Hills David , White Peta J. , Ferguson Joseph Paul , Kamath Amrita , Logan Marianne , Riley Kathryn , Rousell David , Wooltorton Sandra , Whitehouse Hilary
Published: November 2024

Responding to increasing concerns regarding human-induced climate change and shared commitment as environmental educators to support climate action, we crafted this article as a composite piece — an emerging method of inquiry. We are eleven contributors: the Editorial Executive of the Australian Journal of Environmental Education and two colleagues who each respond to prompts concerning our experience of climate change and our practices of climate change education. The responses provide insights regarding how we strive to enact meaningful climate action, education, advocacy and agency. This article presents the reader with various ways environmental educators work through eco-anxiety and engage in active hope when supporting climate change education/agency/action. The following insights emerged, illustrating 1. the significance of embracing diverse perspectives and knowledge systems; 2. Emotions as catalysts for action and activism; 3. the value of fostering collaborative spaces/relationships/communities that empower people; 4. the importance of integrating ethical responses and critical climate literacy in climate change education/research; 5. learning from places and multi-species entanglements; 6. acknowledging tensions. We offer these six insights not as a solution but as a potentially generative heuristic for navigating the complexity and uncertainty of climate change education in contemporary times.
Development and validation of an antimicrobial stewardship clinical decision-support tool to improve the management of urinary tract infections versus asymptomatic bacteriuria in hospitalized patients
Authors: Gilboa Mayan , Boatwright Renata , Salazar Veronica , Simon Julio C. , North Brianna , Vu Christine , Vega Ana , Jennings Deronde Kailynn , Rosa Rossana , Abbo Lilian M
Published: November 2024

Objective:

To assess the effectiveness of a 3-question decision-support tool to guide the diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in acute care hospitalized patients as an antibiotic and diagnostic stewardship initiative.

Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting:

Four acute care hospitals within the same health system in Miami, FL.

Patients:

124, admitted from the emergency department and hospitalized adult patients, treated with antibiotics for the indication of a UTI between March and April 2023.

Intervention:

We developed a 3-step clinical decision-support tool (CDST) to evaluate the appropriateness of urine cultures and antibiotic treatment. The tool’s recommendations when deciding to prescribe antibiotics were compared with the actual need for treatment throughout the hospitalization, up to the time of patient discharge.

Results:

Overall, 31% of antibiotics prescribed for UTIs were inappropriate and met the criteria for asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) based on the CDST. Prospective implementation of the decision-support tool could potentially reduce antibiotic use by 33.6%, corresponding to 265 days of unnecessary therapy. The sensitivity and specificity of the tool were calculated to be 98.6% and 100%, respectively, indicating high accuracy in identifying the need for antibiotic treatment. Urinalysis alone was insufficient to differentiate between symptomatic UTIs and ASB, with leukocyturia present in 95.3% of UTI cases and 94.6% of ASB cases (P = 0.87).

Conclusions:

Implementing a 3-question CDST may reduce unnecessary laboratory work-up and treatment for ASB improving the diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardship of UTIs.
Negotiating extirpation: On the political implications of declaring dugongs extinct in Okinawan waters
Authors: Palz Marius
Published: November 2024

In 2021, scientists published a preprint stating that the dugong population of Okinawa had declined below the minimum viable population and should be considered extinct. The publication led to an outcry amongst Japanese/Okinawan environmentalists and to criticism by international dugong specialists. Two issues were raised: 1) Declaring dugongs extinct, although feeding trails were found in several locations, misrepresented the reality in Okinawan waters, and could have negative impacts on conservation measures; 2) Three authors were sitting on the Environmental Monitoring Committee for a controversial military base construction project in an area where dugongs were frequently spotted before construction commenced. The presence/absence of dugongs at the site had become a political issue, as the animal’s protected status and its depiction in folklore gave it symbolic meaning in the anti-base movement. The declaration of dugong extinction reminded protesters of a former Environmental Impact Assessment conducted by Japan’s Ministry of Defence, declaring the site to be no relevant dugong habitat. The paper explores the implications of the preprint for the political situation in Okinawa and questions the certainty of dugong extirpation in the region. It argues that speculations about extinction cannot be divorced from the political contexts to which they are invariably tied.
On statistical zonostrophic instability and the effect of magnetic fields
Authors: Wang Chen , Mason Joanne , Gilbert Andrew D.
Published: November 2024

Zonal flows are mean flows in the east–west direction, which are ubiquitous on planets, and can be formed through ‘zonostrophic instability’: within turbulence or random waves, a weak large-scale zonal flow can grow exponentially to become prominent. In this paper, we study the statistical behaviour of the zonostrophic instability and the effect of magnetic fields. We use a stochastic white noise forcing to drive random waves, and study the growth of a mean flow in this random system. The dispersion relation for the growth rate of the expectation of the mean flow is derived, and properties of the instability are discussed. In the limits of weak and strong magnetic diffusivity, the dispersion relation reduces to manageable expressions, which provide clear insights into the effect of the magnetic field and scaling laws for the threshold of instability. The magnetic field mainly plays a stabilising role and thus impedes the formation of the zonal flow, but under certain conditions it can also have destabilising effects. Numerical simulation of the stochastic flow is performed to confirm the theory. Results indicate that the magnetic field can significantly increase the randomness of the zonal flow. It is found that the zonal flow of an individual realisation may behave very differently from the expectation. For weak magnetic diffusivity and moderate magnetic field strengths, this leads to considerable variation of the outcome, that is whether zonostrophic instability takes place or not in individual realisations.
A multidimensional approach to knowledge coproduction in glaciology
Authors: Brugnach Marcela , Sato-Bajracharya Saria , Kranz Lisa , Bilbao-Barrenetxea Nerea , Faria Sergio Henrique
Published: November 2024

This work presents a reflection on the meaning and significance of knowledge coproduction in the field of glaciology. We start by invoking the paradigm of Structure–Form–Environment Interplay (SFEI) to formulate a generalised definition of glaciology, which highlights the relevance of knowledge coproduction. The adoption of a relational view of glaciological knowledge leads us to identify five core dimensions of knowledge coproduction: purpose, ethics, ambiguity, inclusion/exclusion, and relationships. Based on those dimensions, we delve into the decisive methodological aspects of the coproduction process, namely the definition of its purpose, the identification of participants, the organisation of the process, the recognition of ambiguity in Ways of Knowing (WoKs), and the consideration of ethical implications. In addition to the already known three stages of knowledge coproduction process (codesign, codevelopment, and codelivery), we propose the inclusion of an additional preparation stage, which entails the acknowledgment of the identity and involvement of all human and nonhuman participants, their positionality, and means to ensure their cultural and ontological safety. We reason that knowledge coproduction does not replace the scientific method, but rather complements it, eliciting the possibility to unveil deeper insights that might be difficult to attain through unilateral means.
Maternal infliction of harm via prenatal alcohol exposure – a public wrong?
Authors: Ryan Samantha , Jonas Monique
Published: November 2024

In recent years concern about Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) has intensified, prompting calls for societal action. Pregnant women's consumption of alcohol is increasingly surveilled, public health campaigns now promote abstinence, and in some jurisdictions, prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) resulting in FASD has received criminal sanction. This paper anticipates potential calls to criminalise PAE resulting in FASD by envisioning what such a case might look like. Applying Duff et al's framework for determining whether an act should be criminalised, we draw upon public health and jurisprudential discourses to trace the outline of an argument for framing maternal alcohol consumption causing injury to the child born alive as a public wrong and a crime.1 We show how an ‘in principle’ case may be constructed, but argue that countervailing principles, including women's rights, and practical considerations, tell decisively against criminalisation.
The relationship between dietary greenhouse gas emissions and demographic characteristics in high-income countries
Authors: Kliejunas Eli , Cleghorn Cristina , Drew Jonathan Michael , Mhurchu Cliona Ni , Bradbury Kathryn E.
Published: November 2024

The food we eat has a critical impact on human and planetary health. Food systems are responsible for approximately a third of total global greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE). This review summarises studies that have measured dietary GHGE and assessed their associations with various demographic variables. Most studies report dietary emissions at the individual level, but some studies use households as the unit of analysis. Studies investigating individuals estimate dietary intakes using 24-hour dietary recalls, FFQ, diet history interviews, food diaries or other dietary records. Studies investigating households rely on food purchasing data and expenditure surveys. The majority of studies estimate dietary GHGE using process-based life cycle assessments. It is difficult to directly compare emissions estimates between studies at either the individual or household-level due to methodological differences. In general, there are mixed findings with regard to the relationships between various demographic variables and dietary emissions, although older adults generally had higher dietary GHGE than younger adults, and men typically had higher dietary GHGE than women, even when standardising for total energy intake. This review may be useful in informing and targeting policies and interventions to reduce GHGE of dietary intake.
Automatic travel of a mine hole robot adaptive to changes in hole diameters
Authors: Ge Liang , Zhang Le , Li Hao , Fang Ziyang , Li Lei , Xiao Xiaoting
Published: November 2024

In response to the complex and challenging task of long-distance inspection of small-diameter and variable-diameter mine holes, this paper presents a design for an adaptive small-sized mine hole robot. First, focusing on the environment of small-diameter mine holes, the paper analyzes the robot’s functions and overall structural framework. A two-wheeled wall-pressing robot with good mobility, arranged in a straight line, is designed. Furthermore, an adaptive variable-diameter method is devised, which involves constructing an adaptive variable-diameter model and proposing a control method based on position and force estimators, enabling the robot to perceive external forces. Lastly, to verify the feasibility of the structural design and adaptive variable-diameter method, performance tests and analyses are conducted on the robot’s mobility and adaptive variable-diameter capabilities. Experimental results demonstrate that the robot can move within small-diameter mine holes at any inclination angle, with a maximum horizontal crawling speed of 3.96 m/min. By employing the adaptive variable-diameter method, the robot can smoothly navigate convex platform obstacles and slope obstacles in mine holes with diameters ranging from 70 mm to 100 mm, achieving the function of adaptive variable-diameter within 2 s. Thus, it can meet the requirements of moving inside mine holes under complex conditions such as steep slopes and small and variable diameters.
Analysing policy gaps in protecting avian species from electrocution and power-line collision in Kenya
Authors: Ngila Peggy Mutheu , Chiawo David , Ellwood Elizabeth R. , Owuor Margaret Awuor
Published: November 2024

As countries transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, impacts on wildlife, particularly avian species, have become a concern. In Kenya, the effects of human-made infrastructure such as power lines and wind turbines on birds have been overlooked. To prevent further loss of biodiversity, it is necessary for infrastructure development policies to consider these impacts on birds. We aim to identify gaps in current policies by analysing the intersection of wildlife conservation and power-line infrastructure development in Kenya. Through content analysis, we evaluate the effectiveness of existing wildlife protection and energy-related policies and identify strengths and weaknesses to highlight areas for improvement. Our analysis reveals that current policies neglect threats posed by power lines and other infrastructure to birds. This oversight points to challenges such as a lack of awareness among policymakers and stakeholders and a lack of legal obligation for energy institutions to implement mitigation measures; conservationists may also face conflicts with those responsible for electricity distribution. Addressing these policy gaps is essential for effective wildlife conservation and sustainable development. This paper underscores the need to integrate wildlife conservation considerations into energy infrastructure planning to mitigate adverse impacts on avian species.
The category of iterative sets in homotopy type theory and univalent foundations
Authors: Gratzer Daniel , Gylterud Håkon Robbestad , Mörtberg Anders , Stenholm Elisabeth
Published: November 2024

When working in homotopy type theory and univalent foundations, the traditional role of the category of sets,
$\mathcal{Set}$
, is replaced by the category
$\mathcal{hSet}$
of homotopy sets (h-sets); types with h-propositional identity types. Many of the properties of
$\mathcal{Set}$
hold for
$\mathcal{hSet}$
((co)completeness, exactness, local cartesian closure, etc.). Notably, however, the univalence axiom implies that
$\mathsf{Ob}\,\mathcal{hSet}$
is not itself an h-set, but an h-groupoid. This is expected in univalent foundations, but it is sometimes useful to also have a stricter universe of sets, for example, when constructing internal models of type theory. In this work, we equip the type of iterative sets
$\mathsf{V}^0$
, due to Gylterud ((2018). The Journal of Symbolic Logic83 (3) 1132–1146) as a refinement of the pioneering work of Aczel ((1978). Logic Colloquium’77, Studies in Logic and the Foundations of Mathematics, vol. 96, Elsevier, 55–66.) on universes of sets in type theory, with the structure of a Tarski universe and show that it satisfies many of the good properties of h-sets. In particular, we organize
$\mathsf{V}^0$
into a (non-univalent strict) category and prove that it is locally cartesian closed. This enables us to organize it into a category with families with the structure necessary to model extensional type theory internally in HoTT/UF. We do this in a rather minimal univalent type theory with W-types, in particular we do not rely on any HITs, or other complex extensions of type theory. Furthermore, the construction of
$\mathsf{V}^0$
and the model is fully constructive and predicative, while still being very convenient to work with as the decoding from
$\mathsf{V}^0$
into h-sets commutes definitionally for all type constructors. Almost all of the paper has been formalized in
$\texttt{Agda}$
using the
$\texttt{agda}$
-
$\texttt{unimath}$
library of univalent mathematics.
Teaching Ethics Consultation Using a Tabletop Exercise
Authors: Mabel Hilary , McCammon Susan , Eves Margot M.
Published: November 2024

Drawing on pedagogical tools utilized in clinical scenario simulation and emergency preparedness training, the authors describe an innovative method for teaching clinical ethics consultation skills, which they call a “tabletop” exercise. Implemented at the end of a clinical ethics intensive course, the tabletop enables learners to implement the knowledge and practice the skills they gained during the course. The authors highlight the pedagogical tools on which the tabletop exercise draws, describe the tabletop exercise itself, offer how to best operationalize such an exercise, reflect on the method’s strengths and weaknesses, and provide insights for others who may want to implement their own tabletop for ethics consultation education.
Noisy group testing via spatial coupling
Authors: Coja-Oghlan Amin , Hahn-Klimroth Max , Hintze Lukas , Kaaser Dominik , Krieg Lena , Rolvien Maurice , Scheftelowitsch Olga
Published: November 2024

We study the problem of identifying a small number
$k\sim n^\theta$
,
$0\lt \theta \lt 1$
, of infected individuals within a large population of size
$n$
by testing groups of individuals simultaneously. All tests are conducted concurrently. The goal is to minimise the total number of tests required. In this paper, we make the (realistic) assumption that tests are noisy, that is, that a group that contains an infected individual may return a negative test result or one that does not contain an infected individual may return a positive test result with a certain probability. The noise need not be symmetric. We develop an algorithm called SPARC that correctly identifies the set of infected individuals up to
$o(k)$
errors with high probability with the asymptotically minimum number of tests. Additionally, we develop an algorithm called SPEX that exactly identifies the set of infected individuals w.h.p. with a number of tests that match the information-theoretic lower bound for the constant column design, a powerful and well-studied test design.
Motor proficiency in school-aged children with CHD
Authors: Vogel Casey , Hinkle Clayton , Cassedy Amy , Alden Carrie , Colla Elizabeth , Cowan Kaitlyn , Follmer Rachel , Johnson Sarah , Lacci Christina , Natarus Michael , Patrick Cheryl , O’Connor Amy , Parikh Pooja , Ruiz Crystal , Wolfe Brian , deRegnier Raye-Ann , Marino Bradley S. , Allen Kiona
Published: November 2024

Objectives:

To evaluate the motor proficiency, identify risk factors for abnormal motor scores, and examine the relationship between motor proficiency and health-related quality of life in school-aged patients with CHD.

Study design:

Patients ≥ 4 years old referred to the cardiac neurodevelopmental program between June 2017 and April 2020 were included. Motor skills were evaluated by therapist-administered Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency Second-Edition Short Form and parent-reported Adaptive Behavior Assessment System and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Inventory System Physical Functioning questionnaires. Neuropsychological status and health-related quality of life were assessed using a battery of validated questionnaires. Demographic, clinical, and educational variables were collected from electronic medical records. General linear modelling was used for multivariable analysis.

Results:

The median motor proficiency score was the 10th percentile, and the cohort (n = 272; mean age: 9.1 years) scored well below normative values on all administered neuropsychological questionnaires. In the final multivariable model, worse motor proficiency score was associated with family income, presence of a genetic syndrome, developmental delay recognised in infancy, abnormal neuroimaging, history of heart transplant, and executive dysfunction, and presence of an individualised education plan (p < 0.03 for all predictors). Worse motor proficiency correlated with reduced health-related quality of life. Parent-reported adaptive behaviour (p < 0.001) and physical functioning (p < 0.001) had a strong association with motor proficiency scores.

Conclusion:

This study highlights the need for continued motor screening for school-aged patients with CHD. Clinical factors, neuropsychological screening results, and health-related quality of life were associated with worse motor proficiency.
Transcranial direct current stimulation for obsessive compulsive disorder: A systematic review and CONSORT evaluation
Authors: Green Peta E. , Loftus Andrea M. , Anderson Rebecca A.
Published: November 2024

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a noninvasive brain stimulation technique, has shown some promise as a novel treatment approach for a range of mental health disorders, including OCD. This study provides a systematic review of the literature involving randomized controlled trials of tDCS for OCD and evaluates the quality of reporting using the CONSORT (Consolidating Standards of Reporting Trials) statement. This study also examined the outcomes of tDCS as a therapeutic tool for OCD.

Methods:

This systematic review was prospectively registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023426005) and the data collected in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The quality of reporting of included studies was evaluated in accordance with the CONSORT statement.

Results:

Eleven randomized controlled trials were identified. Evaluation of the reviewed studies revealed low levels of overall compliance with the CONSORT statement highlighting the need for improved reporting. Key areas included insufficient information about - the intervention (for replicability), participant flow, recruitment, and treatment effect sizes. Study discussions did not fully consider limitations and generalizability, and the discussion/interpretation of the findings were often incongruent with the results and therefore misleading. Only two studies reported a significant difference between sham and active tDCS for OCD outcomes, with small effect sizes noted.

Conclusions:

The variability in protocols, lack of consistency in procedures, combined with limited significant findings, makes it difficult to draw any meaningful conclusions about the effectiveness of tDCS for OCD. Future studies need to be appropriately powered, empirically driven, randomized sham-controlled clinical trials.
Judicial Elections, Acceptance, and Legitimacy with Judges as Representatives
Authors: Woodson Benjamin
Published: November 2024

This article proposes that elections with substantial amounts of campaign activity change the substance of a state supreme court’s legitimacy from one derived from the court’s legalistic nature to one derived through representation. Using a national survey, it shows that because of this change the perceived legitimacy of courts with robust elections does not induce acceptance of their decisions. Only nonrepresentative courts with the legalistic form of legitimacy can convert their institutional legitimacy into decisional acceptance. This means that even highly legitimate courts with robust elections are ineffective at inducing acceptance. This hinders the ability of those courts to build public support for their decisions, which is essential for the effective functioning of the judiciary. Additional analyses show this effect is not caused by the politicization associated with campaigning but rather through the representation provided by elections.
Influence of Parameterization Changes on Arctic Low Cloud Properties and Cloud Radiative Effects in Two Versions of the HadGEM3 Atmospheric Model: GA7.1 and GA6
Authors: Taylor Patrick C. , Boeke Robyn C. , Bodas‐Salcedo Alejandro
Published: November 2024

Arctic clouds play a key role in Arctic climate variability and change; however, contemporary climate models struggle to simulate cloud properties accurately. Model‐simulated cloud properties are determined by the physical parameterizations and their interactions within the model configuration. Quantifying effects of individual parameterization changes on model‐simulated clouds informs efforts to improve models and provides insights on climate system behavior. This study quantities the influence of parameterization scheme changes on Arctic low cloud properties within the Hadley Center Global Environmental Model 3 atmospheric model using a suite of experiments where individual parameterization packages are changed between the two configurations. The results indicate, surprisingly, that single parameterization changes explain most of the cloud property changes, whereas multiple parameterizations, including non‐cloud schemes, contribute to cloud radiative effect differences. Non‐cloud parameterizations are those not used to compute time step cloud properties. We employ a three‐term decomposition to quantify contributions from (a) regime independent, (b) regime dependent, and (c) the regime frequency of occurrence changes. Decomposition results indicate that cloud property changes vary by meteorological regime, each term contributes differently to each cloud property change, and non‐cloud parameterization changes make substantial contributions to the LW and SW cloud radiative effects by affecting clear‐sky fluxes. The analysis provides insights on the role of non‐cloud parameterizations for setting cloud radiative effects, a pathway for cloud‐atmosphere circulation interactions, raises questions on the importance of infrequently occurring regimes to climate simulations, and on useful observational approaches for improving models.
Statistical Methods for Interpreting Spatial and Temporal Heterogeneity of Martian Tropical Water Ice Informed by Properties of Crater Ejecta Types
Authors: Riggs Jamie D. , Kirchoff Michelle R.
Published: November 2024

The martian tropical water ice spatial and temporal distribution was characterized using impact crater ejecta type, location, size, and age in one of two epochs, Ga and Ga, using statistical models designed for spatial and temporal correlation structures. The indicator thought to identify the presence of ice is craters with layered ejecta, while the indicator thought to identify no ice is craters with radial ejecta. These indicators imply the location (longitude and latitude) and, potentially, depth (crater diameter as a proxy) of ice, and when the ice was present. The spatial and temporal distribution of layered ejecta versus radial ejecta may inform on the geography and evolution of ice. A statistical spatial point analysis was conducted on a 54‐sample data set (craters with diameters 2.77–10.00 km) for an equatorial region ( to S, and E to W. The analysis shows the spatial and temporal distribution of tropical ice in the study region is most likely random.
A Marine Barite Perspective of the Late Miocene Biogenic Bloom in the Equatorial Indian Ocean and Equatorial Western Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Wu Xinying , Hu Yue , Nan Jingbo , Yao Weiqi
Published: November 2024

The marine biological pump is crucial for removing excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to the ocean interior and seafloor sediments. The Late Miocene Biogenic Bloom (LMBB), marked by notable increases in biogenic components in marine sediments, provides insights into the response of the biological pump to climate change. However, understanding the timing, distribution, and cause of the LMBB remains limited. We use marine barite, a refractory mineral precipitating from the water column associated with carbon export, and other proxies to reconstruct productivity in the equatorial Indian Ocean and equatorial western Atlantic between 12 and 5 Ma. Multi‐proxy records reveal the onset of the LMBB in the equatorial Indian Ocean at ∼9 Ma, primarily driven by more vigorous upwelling during global cooling. We suggest that the steepened meridional temperature gradient and the Antarctic ice sheet expansion have strengthened ocean overturning, facilitating nutrient supply and biogenic bloom in upwelling regions.
Observations of Strong Range Spread F and Nighttime Ionospheric Enhancement in the Mid‐Latitude Region Under Geomagnetically Quiet Conditions
Authors: Jiang Chunhua , Tian Rong , Liu Tongxin , Yang Guobin , Shen Hua , Huang Wengeng , Zhao Zhengyu
Published: November 2024

Spread F is one of most widely observed nighttime ionospheric irregularities by ionosondes in the equatorial, low‐ and mid‐latitude regions. One type of spread F, known as strong range spread F (backscatter echoes beyond the critical frequency of the F2 layer, foF2), has been observed in the equatorial and low‐latitude regions but not at middle latitudes. This study reported for the first‐time observations of strong range spread F at Zhangye Station (ZHY, Geographical latitude 39.4°N, longitude 100.0°E, Dip Lat 29.6°N) on 29 November 2019 (under quiescent conditions). Observations show that strong range spread F occurred at first during midnight (∼16:30 UT), accompanied with mid‐latitude nighttime ionospheric enhancements in foF2 and total electron content (TEC). Then, it becomes more pronounced when ionospheric collapse occurred. The measurements from satellite revealed that there are large opposite temperature and density gradients (temperature decreased sharply from ∼3100 to ∼2500 K, however, electron density increased sharply from ∼0.3 e5 to ∼1.2 e5 cm−3 around Zhangye Station) during this event. Results suggest that mid‐latitude strong range spread F might be attributed to temperature gradient instabilities.
An Improved Bio‐Physical Parameterization for Ocean Radiant Heating in Conditions of Near‐Surface Stratification
Authors: Witte Carson R. , Subramaniam Ajit , Zappa Christopher J.
Published: November 2024

Solar heating of the upper ocean is a primary energy input to the ocean‐atmosphere system, and the vertical heating profile is modified by the concentration of phytoplankton in the water, with consequences for sea surface temperature and upper ocean dynamics. Despite the development of increasingly complex modeling approaches for radiative transfer in the atmosphere and upper ocean, the simple parameterizations of radiant heating used in most ocean models can be significantly improved in cases of near‐surface stratification. There remains a need for a parameterization that is accurate in the upper meters and contains an explicitly spectral dependence on the concentration of biogenic material, while maintaining the computational simplicity of the parameterizations currently in use. Here, we assemble observationally‐validated physical modeling tools for the key controls on ocean radiant heating, and simplify them into a parameterization that fulfills this need. We then use observations from 64 spectroradiometer depth casts across 6 cruises in diverse water bodies, 13 surface hyperspectral radiometer deployments, and broadband albedo from 2 UAV flights to probe the accuracy and uncertainty associated with the new parameterization. A novel case study using the parameterization demonstrates the impact of chlorophyll concentration on the structure of diurnal warm layers. The parameterization presented in this work will allow for better modeling of global patterns of sea surface temperature, diurnal warming, and freshwater lenses, without a prohibitive increase in complexity.
Modeling and Design of Improved‐Gain Wideband Magneto‐Electric Dipole Antenna for Micro‐BTS Applications
Authors: Amiri Zhale , Kaboutari Keivan , Ghobadi Changiz , Nourinia Javad , Shokri Majid , Maslovski Stanislav
Published: November 2024

A wideband Magneto‐Electric Dipole (MED) antenna with high gain is proposed for the 700/800/850/900 MHz frequency bands for cellular network applications. The antenna comprises a half‐wavelength bow‐tie‐shaped dipole, an elongated magnetic loop and a ground reflector with four Elevated Ground Planes (EGPs) at reflector's corners. The EGPs enhance the antenna gain and Front‐to‐Back Ratio (FBR), which is a promising technique in the MED antenna design. The antenna is excited by a ‐shaped coupling element. An analytical model of the proposed antenna is developed by employing Schelkunoff's model for dipole antennas and the transmission line theory complemented by radiation resistance corrections. The antenna design is validated with full‐wave numerical simulations. The antenna is fabricated using cut and bent metallic plates and tested in an anechoic chamber. The analytical, numerical and experimental results are in a good agreement. The experimental results confirm that the proposed MED antenna with dimensions of achieves a bandwidth of 61.53% (623.1–1176.8 MHz) for and a stable gain of 9.8 1.9 dBi. By employing the EGPs, the realized peak gain and FBR are enhanced by 0.52 dBi and 1.1 dB, respectively.
Use of mucolytics and inhaled antibiotics in the NICU
Authors: Gipsman Alexander I. , Bhandari Anita , Bhandari Vineet
Published: November 2024

Clearance of airway secretions and treatment of respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are two common problems caregivers face in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Mucolytics degrade crosslinks in mucus gel, reducing mucus viscosity and facilitating their removal by cough or endotracheal suctioning. While such medications have been studied in older children and adults, their use is not as well described in the NICU. For RTIs, systemic antibiotics are usually prescribed, although their use is often associated with adverse effects. Inhaled antibiotics may provide increased drug concentrations to the infected airways while minimizing systemic toxicity. The use of inhaled antibiotics in the NICU has been described in small case series. As underlying physiologic differences will lend to inaccuracies when extrapolating data obtained from older children, there is an urgent need to determine the safety, efficacy, and optimal dosing of inhaled mucolytics and antibiotics in infants of varying gestational and post-natal ages.
Sound innovations for biofabrication and tissue engineering
Authors: Wu Mengxi , Ma Zhiteng , Tian Zhenhua , Rich Joseph T. , He Xin , Xia Jianping , He Ye , Yang Kaichun , Yang Shujie , Leong Kam W. , Lee Luke P. , Huang Tony Jun
Published: November 2024

Advanced biofabrication techniques can create tissue-like constructs that can be applied for reconstructive surgery or as in vitro three-dimensional (3D) models for disease modeling and drug screening. While various biofabrication techniques have recently been widely reviewed in the literature, acoustics-based technologies still need to be explored. The rapidly increasing number of publications in the past two decades exploring the application of acoustic technologies highlights the tremendous potential of these technologies. In this review, we contend that acoustics-based methods can address many limitations inherent in other biofabrication techniques due to their unique advantages: noncontact manipulation, biocompatibility, deep tissue penetrability, versatility, precision in-scaffold control, high-throughput capabilities, and the ability to assemble multilayered structures. We discuss the mechanisms by which acoustics directly dictate cell assembly across various biostructures and examine how the advent of novel acoustic technologies, along with their integration with traditional methods, offers innovative solutions for enhancing the functionality of organoids. Acoustic technologies are poised to address fundamental challenges in biofabrication and tissue engineering and show promise for advancing the field in the coming years.
High-dose chemotherapy with autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with isolated vitreoretinal lymphoma: a LOC network study
Authors: Mainguy Adam , Soussain Carole , Touitou Valérie , Bennedjai Amin , Kodjikian Laurent , Ghesquières Hervé , Damaj Gandhi , Gressin Rémy , Ducloyer Jean-Baptiste , Chinot Olivier , Vautier Anaïs , Moluçon-Chabrot Cécile , Ahle Guido , Taillandier Luc , Marolleau Jean Pierre , Chauchet Adrien , Jardin Fabrice , Cassoux Nathalie , Malaise Denis , Toutée Adélaïde , Touhami Sara , Le Garff-Tavernier Magali , Hoang-Xuan Khê , Choquet Sylvain , Houillier Caroline
Published: November 2024

Despite its indolent evolution, vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL) has a poor prognosis due to a major risk of relapse in the central nervous system (CNS) and may necessitate aggressive therapy. However, the use of high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation (HCT-ASCT) is poorly documented. We retrospectively analysed from the French LOC network database the adult immunocompetent patients treated with HCT-ASCT for isolated VRL. Thirty-eight patients underwent consolidation with HCT-ASCT for isolated VRL between 2008 and 2019 after induction chemotherapy. Twenty patients had primary VRL, and 18 had an isolated VRL relapse of a primary CNS lymphoma. Three patients underwent HCT-ASCT in first-line treatment, 24 in second-line treatment, and 11 in subsequent lines. At HCT-ASCT, the median age was 61 years, and the median KPS was 90. Thirty-two patients (84%) received high-dose thiotepa-based HCT. One patient (3%) died from HCT-ASCT toxicity. Nineteen (50%) patients relapsed after HCT-ASCT, including 17 cases occurring in the brain. The median progression-free survival, brain-free survival and overall survival from HCT-ASCT were 96, 113 and 92 months, respectively. HCT-ASCT represents an effective therapeutic strategy for select VRL patients, with a tolerable safety profile. However, the risk of subsequent brain relapse remains significant.
Impacts of climate litigation on firm value
Authors: Sato Misato , Gostlow Glen , Higham Catherine , Setzer Joana , Venmans Frank
Published: November 2024

Communities and individuals are turning to courts to hold governments and high-emitting firms to account for the adverse consequences of climate change. Such litigation is part of a broader trend in which stakeholders are increasingly scrutinizing firms for their sustainability practices. For firms, rising climate litigation risk may exacerbate wider sustainability risks. Here we construct a comprehensive database of filings and decisions relating to 108 climate lawsuits against US- and European-listed firms between 2005 and 2021. We show that firms experience, on average, a 0.41% fall in stock returns following a climate-related filing or an unfavourable court decision. Cases filed against Carbon Majors, primarily the world’s largest fossil fuel producers, saw the largest stock market responses, with returns reducing by 0.57% and 1.50% following filings and unfavourable decisions, respectively. Markets respond more to ‘novel’ climate litigation involving new legal arguments or jurisdictions. Our findings suggest that climate litigation provides a way for stakeholders to challenge actual and perceived weaknesses in the sustainability practices of firms. We conclude that financial markets consider such litigation to be a relevant financial risk.
Vibrational noise disrupts Nezara viridula communication, irrespective of spectral overlap
Authors: Janža Rok , Stritih-Peljhan Nataša , Škorjanc Aleš , Polajnar Jernej , Virant-Doberlet Meta
Published: November 2024

Insects rely on substrate vibrations in numerous intra- and interspecific interactions. Yet, our knowledge of noise impact in this modality lags behind that in audition, limiting our understanding of how anthropogenic noise affects insect communities. Auditory research has linked impaired signal perception in noise (i.e., masking) to spectral overlap. We investigated the impact of noise with different spectral compositions on the vibrational communication of the stink bug Nezara viridula, examining courtship behaviour and signal representation by sensory neurons. We found negative effects of vibrational noise regardless of spectral overlap, challenging common expectations. Noise impaired the ability of males to recognize the female signal and localise its source: overlapping noise decreased sensitivity of receptor neurons to the signal and disrupted signal frequency encoding by phase-locking units, while non-overlapping noise only affected frequency encoding. Modelling neuronal spike triggering in sensory neurons linked disrupted frequency encoding to interference-induced alterations of the signal waveform. These alterations also affected time delays between signal arrivals to different legs, crucial for localisation. Our study thus unveils a new masking mechanism, potentially unique to insect vibrosensory systems. The findings highlight the higher vulnerability of vibration-mediated behaviour to noise, with implications for insect interactions in natural and anthropogenically altered environments.
Laterality, sexual dimorphism, and human vagal projectome heterogeneity shape neuromodulation to vagus nerve stimulation
Authors: Biscola Natalia P. , Bartmeyer Petra M. , Beshay Youssef , Stern Esther , Mihaylov Plamen V. , Powley Terry L. , Ward Matthew P. , Havton Leif A.
Published: November 2024

Neuromodulation by vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) provides therapeutic benefits in multiple medical conditions, including epilepsy and clinical depression, but underlying mechanisms of action are not well understood. Cervical vagus nerve biopsies were procured from transplant organ donors for high resolution light microscopy (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to map the human fascicular and sub-fascicular organization. Cervical vagal segments show laterality with right sided dominance in fascicle numbers and cross-sectional areas as well as sexual dimorphism with female dominance in fascicle numbers. The novel and unprecedented detection of numerous small fascicles by high resolution LM and TEM expand the known fascicle size range and morphological diversity of the human vagus nerve. Ground truth TEM quantification of all myelinated and unmyelinated axons within individual nerve fascicles show marked sub-fascicular heterogeneity of nerve fiber numbers, size, and myelination. A heuristic action potential interpreter (HAPI) tool predicts VNS-evoked compound nerve action potentials (CNAPs) generated by myelinated and unmyelinated nerve fibers and validates functional dissimilarity between fascicles. Our findings of laterality, sexual dimorphism, and an expanded range of fascicle size heterogeneity provide mechanistic insights into the varied therapeutic responses and off-target effects to VNS and may guide new refinement strategies for neuromodulation.