bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microbial induced calcite precipitation for improving low-cohesive soil: mechanisms, methods and macroscopic properties
Authors: Liu Zhengwei , Beng Jianping , Wu Yun , Nie Keqin , Dang Yun , Yao Yongsheng , Li Jue , Fang Mingjing
Published: December 2024

Microbial-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) has emerged as a promising eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative for improving the strength and stability of low-cohesion soils. This review provides an in-depth analysis of the microscopic mechanisms, implementation methods, and macroscopic properties of MICP in soil enhancement. The biogeochemical processes underlying MICP, including urea hydrolysis, denitrification, sulfate reduction, photosynthesis, and iron reduction, are discussed in detail. Various MICP implementation methods, such as two-phase treatment, one-phase treatment, and ex-situ mixing, are reviewed, highlighting their respective advantages and limitations in reinforcing low-cohesion soils. The review also addresses the performance of MICP-treated soils, including improvements in strength, stiffness, permeability, and durability. Furthermore, the key challenges and future prospects for microbial soil reinforcement technologies are summarized. Future research should focus on optimizing nutrient supply, enhancing bacterial retention and activity, controlling the crystallization process, conducting pilot projects, and reducing treatment costs. These efforts are crucial for advancing the practical application of MICP in sustainable infrastructure construction. This review aims to advance the understanding of MICP and its potential for sustainable soil improvement, offering valuable insights for geotechnical engineers.
The Welfare Workforce
Authors: Perera Isabel M.
Published: January 2025

The Welfare Workforce is a thought-provoking exploration of mental health care in the United States and beyond. Although all the affluent democracies pursued deinstitutionalization, some failed to provide adequate services, while others overcame challenges of stigma and limited resources and successfully expanded care. Isabel M. Perera examines the role of the “welfare workforce” in providing social services to those who cannot demand them. Drawing on extensive research in four countries – the United States, France, Norway, and Sweden – Perera sheds light on post-industrial politics and the critical part played by those who work for the welfare state. A must-read for anyone interested in mental health care, social services, and the politics of welfare, The Welfare Workforce challenges conventional wisdom and offers new insights into the complex factors that contribute to the success or failure of mental health care systems. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Reimagining the American Union
Authors: Legomsky Stephen H.
Published: January 2025

Reimagining the American Union challenges readers to imagine an America without state government. No longer a union of arbitrarily constructed states, the country would become a union of its people. The first book ever to argue for abolishing state government in the US, it exposes state government as the root cause of the gravest threats to American democracy. Some of those threats are baked into the Constitution; others are the product of state legislatures abusing their already-constitutionally-outsized powers through gerrymanders, voter suppression schemes, and other less-publicized manipulations that all too often purposefully target African-American and other minority voters. Reimagining the American Union goes on to demonstrate how having three levels of legislative bodies (national, state, and local) – and three levels of taxation, bureaucracy, and regulation – wastes taxpayer money and pointlessly burdens the citizenry. Two levels of government – national and local – would do just fine. After debunking the offsetting benefits typically claimed for state government, the book concludes with a portrait of what a new, unitary American republic might look like.
Total Ionizing Dose Measured With the Radiation Dosimeter Onboard the FY‐3E Satellite
Authors: Zhang B. Q. , Shen G. H. , Huang C. , Sun Y. , Chang Y. , Lü J. T. , Zhang P. F. , Wang C. Q. , Chang Z. , Zhang X. G.
Published: December 2024

FengYun‐3E (FY‐3E) was the first operational meteorological satellite in China in early morning orbit. The radiation dosimeter, which is part of the satellite's Space Environment Monitor (SEM), contains three probes to measure the total ionizing dose in the three directions of the satellite. Improvements in the dosimeter have been made to increase detection sensitivity. The RADFET, a radiation dose sensor, was calibrated using 60Co radionuclide source to correlate its threshold voltage shift with the total ionizing dose. The improved dosimeter has a sensitivity of 0.06 rad (Si) to 0.45 rad (Si) in the measurement range. The flight data showed that the total ionizing dose within the FY‐3E satellite is anisotropic. The radiation dose rate in the +X and +Y directions increased by a few factors after the geomagnetic storms.
Advancing Enhanced Weathering Modeling in Soils: Critical Comparison With Experimental Data
Authors: Bertagni Matteo B. , Calabrese Salvatore , Cipolla Giuseppe , Noto Leonardo V. , Porporato Amilcare
Published: December 2024

Enhanced weathering (EW) is a promising strategy to remove atmospheric by amending agricultural and forestry soils with ground silicate rocks. However, current model‐based EW assessments face large uncertainties stemming from the intricate interplay among soil processes, compounded by the absence of a detailed comparison with available observational data. Here, we address this critical gap by first advancing a dynamic, ecohydrological, and biogeochemical Soil Model for Enhanced Weathering (SMEW). We then conduct a hierarchical model‐experiment comparison with four experimental data sets of increasing complexity, from simple closed incubation systems to open mesocosm experiments. The comparison demonstrates SMEW's ability to capture the dynamics of primary variables, including soil moisture, alkalinity, and inorganic carbon. The comparison also reveals that weathering rates are consistently lower than traditionally assumed by up to two orders of magnitude. We finally discuss the implications for carbon removal scenarios and avenues for further theoretical and experimental explorations.
Inactivation of the SLC25A1 gene during embryogenesis induces a unique senescence program controlled by p53
Authors: Kasprzyk-Pawelec Anna , Tan Mingjun , Rahhal Raneen , McIntosh Alec , Fernandez Harvey R. , Mosaoa Rami M. , Jiang Lei , Pearson Gray W. , Glasgow Eric , Vockley Jerry , Albanese Christopher , Avantaggiati Maria Laura
Published: December 2024

Germline inactivating mutations of the SLC25A1 gene contribute to various human disorders, including Velocardiofacial (VCFS), DiGeorge (DGS) syndromes and combined D/L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria (D/L-2HGA), a severe systemic disease characterized by the accumulation of 2-hydroxyglutaric acid (2HG). The mechanisms by which SLC25A1 loss leads to these syndromes remain largely unclear. Here, we describe a mouse model of SLC25A1 deficiency that mimics human VCFS/DGS and D/L-2HGA. Surprisingly, inactivation of both Slc25a1 alleles results in alterations in the development of multiple organs, and in a severe proliferation defect by activating two senescence programs, oncogene-induced senescence (OIS) and mitochondrial dysfunction-induced senescence (MiDAS), which converge upon the induction of the p53 tumor suppressor. Mechanistically, cells and tissues with dysfunctional SLC25A1 protein undergo metabolic and transcriptional rewiring leading to the accumulation of 2HG via a non-canonical pathway and to the depletion of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, NAD+, which trigger senescence. Replenishing the pool of NAD+ or promoting the clearance of 2HG rescues the proliferation defect of cells with dysfunctional SLC25A1 in a cooperative fashion. Further, removal of p53 activity via RNA interference restores proliferation, indicating that p53 acts as a critical barrier to the expansion of cells lacking functional SLC25A1. These findings reveal unexpected pathogenic roles of senescence and of p53 in D/L-2HGA and identify potential therapeutic strategies to correct salient molecular alterations driving this disease.
In situ hydrogen production in all-level-humidity air: integrating atmospheric water harvesting with photocatalysis
Authors: Yan Xueli , Tian Li , Xue Fei , Huang Jie , Zhao Rui , Guan Xiangjiu , Shi Jinwen , Chen Wenshuai , Liu Maochang
Published: January 2025

A bilayer nanocellulose composite gel is engineered to facilitate in situ solar hydrogen production from ambient moisture in the air.
Fabrication of nanoporous anodized aluminum oxide based photonic crystals with multi-band responses in the vis-NIR region
Authors: Li Mengqi , Feng Chao , Zhu Liye , Zhao Yan
Published: December 2024

This work demonstrates the AAO-based photonic crystals (PC) with multi-band response in the visible-near-infrared (vis-NIR) region, which exhibits structural color and optical Tamm states (OTS) properties.
Spiro thiochromene–oxindoles as novel anti-inflammatory agents: design, sustainable synthesis, in vitro and in silico evaluations
Authors: Manju  , Raigar Ashok Kumar , Saini Kamlesh , Jyoti Nirmal , Kapavarapu Ravi Kumar , Guleria Anjali
Published: January 2025

Design, sustainable acid-, base-, and metal-free synthesis, in vitro, and in silico evaluation of spiro thiochromene–oxindoles as anti-inflammatory agents through taurine-catalyzed C–C and C–S bond formation in water.
Influence of Ni and Be elements on Al‐Mg‐Si alloys in different states
Authors: Li Guoxing , Dang Peng , Zhang Yongjia
Published: December 2024

To improve the comprehensive performance of Al‐Mg‐Si alloy conductors in overhead power lines, enhance the energy‐saving and emission‐reduction efficiency of transmission links, and reduce line loss indicators, this paper investigates the effects of trace Ni and Be elements on the electrical conductivity and mechanical properties of Al‐Mg‐Si alloys in the as‐cast, extruded and ageing states, and explores their effects on the microstructure of aluminium alloys in different states through OM, SEM and TEM. The results show that the addition of Ni and Be improves the comprehensive performance of the extruded state of aluminium alloys and greatly increases the tensile strength of the ageing state of aluminium alloys but has some effects on the electrical conductivity. The Ni element is able to refine the grain size of the as‐cast aluminium alloys and extruded aluminium alloys and promotes the precipitation of precipitated phases in the ageing state of aluminium alloys. The Be element has no obvious effect on the grain refinement of cast and extruded aluminium alloys, but it also promotes the precipitation of precipitated phases in ageing aluminium alloys and slows down the growth of the precipitated phases.
Structural and optoelectronic characterization of anisotropic two-dimensional materials and applications in polarization-sensitive photodetectors
Authors: Lin Zhitao , Yang Xianguang , He Junda , Dong Ning , Li Baojun
Published: January 2025

The omnipresence of polarized light on the surface of the earth, a result of atmospheric scattering, underscores the significance of detecting this light and extracting valuable information regarding the phase and polarization angle. In recent years, there has been a surge in research on polarization-sensitive photodetectors that utilize anisotropic two-dimensional (2D) materials. The essence of these 2D polarization-sensitive photodetectors is rooted in the anisotropic characteristics that arise from the asymmetric crystal lattice of the 2D materials in question. This anisotropy is manifested in both optical and electrical behaviors due to the asymmetrical nature of the crystal structure. This article systematically categorizes anisotropic 2D materials and offers an insightful overview of their crystal structures. It also introduces various optical and electrical characterization techniques designed to elucidate the anisotropic properties of these materials. The focus of the article then shifts to detailing the current state of research in the realm of anisotropic 2D material-based polarization-sensitive photodetectors. It provides a comprehensive description of the working principles behind polarization-sensitive photodetectors with different structural designs, shedding light on the underlying mechanisms that enable their polarization sensitivity. In conclusion, the article summarizes the findings of this review, highlighting the advancements and challenges in the field. Additionally, this review proposes several forward-looking recommendations to guide the future trajectory of research and development in the domain of 2D material-based polarization-sensitive photodetectors.
Self-steepening of dust-magnetosonic waves in multicomponent magnetoplasmas
Authors: Ali S. , Alharbi M.
Published: January 2025

Nonlinear properties of dust-magnetosonic (DMS) waves are studied in a multispecies thermal dusty plasma, containing electrons, ions, and negatively charged dust particles. In this context, electrons and ions are assumed as inertialess, whereas dust particles are considered mobile or fluid. Solving together the coupled set of fluid-Maxwell equations and making use of the diagonalization matrix technique, the inviscid Burgers's equations are derived and analyzed both analytically and numerically. A solitary solution is used as an initial condition at τ=0, resulting in the formation of localized symmetric pulses, which can develop into small-scale nonstationary (asymmetric) shocklets with temporal progression (τ>0). This leads to the nonlinear self-steepening of waves, propagating in the form of dust-fluid speed and magnetic field profiles in a dusty magnetoplasma. It is found that self-compression of the dust-fluid speed and magnetic field profiles occurs in the direction of propagation and is significantly influenced by the plasma parameters, including the plasma beta, the ion-to-electron temperature ratio, and ion-to-dust density ratio. Additionally, the effective phase and shock speeds are analytically analyzed. The present findings may prove useful for understanding the nonlinear characteristics of DMS waves in a plasma, where dust particulates play a significant role in the self-compression of waves due to the nonlinearity effect.
Experimental investigation on flow-induced vibration of the flexible cylinder with attached flexible splitter plate
Authors: Mousavisani Seyedmohammad , Samandari Hamed , Seyed-Aghazadeh Banafsheh
Published: January 2025

This experimental study investigates a flexible circular cylinder's flow-induced vibrations (FIV) with an attached flexible splitter plate. The system's dynamic response was analyzed for three splitter plate widths: 1D, 2D, and 3D, where D is the cylinder's diameter, and compared to a bare cylinder. At low reduced velocities, where the bare cylinder exhibited oscillations in its first two bending modes, the presence of the splitter plate resulted in up to a 70% reduction in oscillation amplitudes. At higher reduced velocities, the oscillation amplitude for a 1D splitter plate remained below that of the bare cylinder. In contrast, the amplitudes increased monotonically for 2D and 3D splitter plates, reaching up to three and four times the amplitudes of the bare cylinder, respectively. Multi-frequency oscillations were observed for wider splitter plates. Flow field analysis, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative methods, along with proper orthogonal decomposition of the flow field, identified two distinct FIV response types: the flexible cylinder experienced galloping type response for splitter plate widths of 1D and 2D, and vortex-induced vibration for the 3D splitter plate and the bare cylinder.
Aerodynamics of two rough circular cylinders placed side by side subject to postcritical flow
Authors: Pasam Anil , Tudball Smith Daniel , Burton David , Thompson Mark C.
Published: January 2025

This investigation reports on the flow behavior of, and the resulting forces on, two roughened cylinders in the postcritical regime. Specifically, two cylinders of the same surface roughness of ks/D=1.9×10−3, placed apart at a cross-stream pitch (separation) of 1.18≤L/D≤6, are studied at a postcritical Reynolds number of 3×105 using unsteady pressure measurements. The two cylinders behave nearly independently at L/D=6 and the forces on them are the same within experimental uncertainty until the pitch ratio is reduced to L/D=2.25. The gap flow between the two cylinders becomes biased at L/D≤2, with the bias well correlated across the span for 1.33≤L/D≤2. In addition to the conventional narrow-wake (NW) and wide-wake (WW) modes observed at subcritical Reynolds numbers, a less-biased intermittent gap flow is observed for L/D={1.18,1.2}. Intermittency is observed for some spanwise cross sections, thus reducing the spanwise coherence of the flow. Across pitch ratios investigated, the average of drag coefficients for the two cylinders was always larger than for a single cylinder. For L/D={1.33,1.5,1.75}, the cylinder with the larger drag experiences a larger lift. Both of these observations are contrary to previous findings in subcritical flows. On the cylinder halves facing the gap, the boundary layer on the cylinder in the NW mode separates further downstream than for the WW mode. This NW separation angle decreases with increasing pitch ratio while it remains similar for the WW mode across pitch ratios.
Evaluating the influence of double curvature (BOLT-2) versus conventional geometries on hypersonic aerothermodynamic effects
Authors: Hossein Amirhossein , Rabiee Alireza , Ghadak Farhad
Published: January 2025

In hypersonic flow, high heat transfer due to turbulence is a critical consideration in designing aerodynamic profiles. The BOLT-2 body, with its double curvature, has recently been developed to mitigate these effects. This research used simulations with the finite volume method and Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations, along with a gamma transition model, to compare the aerothermodynamic properties of BOLT-2 with conventional elliptical and rectangular sections at Mach 5.5 and a wall temperature of 400 K. Using a third-order Monotone Upstream-centered Schemes for Conservation Laws hybrid convection scheme and advection upstream splitting method with flux vector splitting methods, along with the real gas model for high-temperature effects, stability and accuracy in hypersonic flow are enhanced. Results indicate that BOLT-2 improves lift over drag ratio by 20% at optimal angles of attack and effectively controls boundary layer transition. These findings demonstrate that the double curvature profile significantly reduces heat flux compared to traditional geometries in different angles of attack, while preserving its aerodynamic characteristics.
Computational fluid dynamic assessment of trimaran resistance: Optimizing performance with hydrofoils across semiplaning and planing regimes
Authors: Ghadimi Aliakbar , Ghassemi Hassan , Ghadimi Parviz
Published: January 2025

Reducing fuel consumption is a key focus in marine vessel innovation, driven by the need to lower environmental impact and operational costs. This goal can be achieved through methods that enhance hydrodynamic efficiency, such as integrating hydrofoils into hull design. This study employs computational fluid dynamics to examine the effect of adding symmetric National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) 0012 or (NACA0012) and asymmetric (NACA6612) hydrofoils to the bow and stern of a trimaran in calm water. These hydrofoils were selected due to their well-documented hydrodynamic performance and their design characteristics. Trimaran's geometry was carefully defined and hydrofoils mounted at the bow and stern via struts were illustrated. Simulations were run with STAR-CCM+ software, and the results were checked and confirmed using experimental data from a catamaran and a trimaran. Simulations covered Froude numbers from 0.5 to 1.5, corresponding to semiplaning (Fr = 0.5 to 1) where vessels are partially submerged and planing regimes (Fr = 1.0 to 1.5) where vessels rise out of water. Results showed that in semiplaning regime, NACA6612 hydrofoil outperformed NACA0012, reducing frictional drag and total resistance by minimizing wetted surface area. In planing regime, NACA6612 further excelled, significantly lowering trim, frictional drag, and total resistance. At Froude number of 1.4, it cut resistance by 38.91%, and at 1.5, trim was reduced by 76.72%. Overall, asymmetric hydrofoil is proved to be an optimal choice for resistance reduction while could potentially lead to significant improvements in efficiency and performance for both commercial and maritime applications.
Impact of surface roughness on the start-up properties of water-lubricated bearings in energy recovery turbochargers
Authors: Ning Yanqiang , Zhang Desheng , Zhang Erfeng , Li Yan
Published: January 2025

This paper studies the impact of surface roughness on the start-up properties of water-lubricated bearings (WLB) in energy recovery turbochargers. By combining the Weierstrass–Mandelbrot function, water-film thickness equation, Greenwood–Tripp contact model, and averaged Reynolds equation, a systematic mathematical model was established to study the WLB. This model is utilized to calculate the equilibrium position of WLB with static circumstances and examines the impact of varying surface roughness and roughness patterns on shaft motion and performance characteristics during start-up. The investigation indicated that the asperity contact supports all loads with the bearing-rotor system before starting. Whereas the asperity contact pressure diminishes quickly with increasing rotation velocity, the hydrodynamic pressure rises rapidly. When the contact pressure drops to zero, the shaft entirely detached from the bearing. Moreover, the reduced surface roughness and the transverse roughness pattern can enhance the hydrodynamic force during start-up, resulting in decreased lift-off and speed.
Factors contributing directly to platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) mortality and implications for conserving populations in the wild
Authors: Serena Melody , Williams Geoff A. , Thomas Jessica L.
Published: January 2025

Based on details of more than 400 platypus deaths with an identifiable cause recorded since 1989, five main factors contributed directly to platypus mortalities: drowning in fish nets or enclosed crustacean traps (such as opera house traps), being killed by predators (especially canids), becoming accidentally hooked by recreational anglers who then cut the line, becoming entangled in discarded fishing line or other types of litter and being hit by motor vehicles (especially, though not exclusively, in Tasmania). Additional mortality factors included drought, severe flooding, being drawn into irrigation pumps and entrapment in manmade materials or infrastructure. Disease was implicated as being the likely causal agent in two platypus deaths, including a female that died late in lactation. Platypus mortalities were recorded throughout the year on the southeastern Australian mainland but peaked in early autumn, when many recently weaned juveniles are likely to be present. Given the very high number of platypus mortalities attributed to the use of fish nets or enclosed crustacean traps, their use should be banned in all waters where platypus population are known to occur.
Folate metabolism and application of folic acid in ruminant production
Authors: Wang Bo , Sun Mengjiao
Published: January 2025

Folic acid, also known as vitamin B9, is a water-soluble vitamin from the B group that plays a pivotal role (as the carrier of one-carbon units) in the regulation of early development and nutrient metabolism in animals. Traditional animal nutrition posits that rumen microorganisms can synthesize folate, thereby meeting the growth, development, and production needs of ruminants. However, the quantity of synthesized folate is subject to variations in dietary composition, genetic enhancements, increased production performance, and changes in feeding systems. These factors may result in the folate synthesized by rumen microorganisms not reaching the optimal production potential of the animals. Despite a significant proportion of dietary folic acid/folate being degraded in the rumen, studies have shown that supplementing folic acid (or combined with vitamin B12, methionine, etc.) in the diet can enhance rumen fermentation, increase the folate level in ruminant tissues (such as the liver and blood), regulate nutrient metabolism, and improve milk yield and quality to a certain extent. Further research is required to assess the impact of dietary folic acid levels on rumen microbial metabolism, folate distribution among different tissues and organs, and the demand for folate at various developmental stages, as well as the interaction between folic acid and other nutrients which are involved in one-carbon metabolism process. This will help to optimize the nutritional supply for ruminants and fully exploit their production performance potential.
Atomistic insights on

P

implantation by using molecular ion beams for scalable spin-qubit arrays
Authors: Bouvier Tomás Fernández , Jantunen Ville , Vihuri Saana , Cazalilla Alvaro López , Djurabekova Flyura
Published: December 2024

Quantum information technologies hold immense promise, with quantum computers poised to revolutionize problem-solving capabilities. Among the leading contenders are solid-state spin-qubits, particularly those utilizing the spin of phosphorous donors (31
P). While significant progress has been made in enhancing quantum coherence and qubit control, challenges persist, notably in achieving precise and scalable

P

placement in Si substrate. This paper investigates by means of molecular dynamics the use of molecular

PF

2

ions for implantation, aiming to reduce placement uncertainty while maintaining detection efficiency. We examine energy transfer, molecule integrity, implantation profiles, electronic signal components, and stable damage. Among other things we find that the assumption that the molecule only breaks apart immediately due to the presence of an a-SiO2 layer on the surface of the crystal and that the intensity of the electronic signal from ion-solid interactions does not correlate necessarily with the penetration depth of P.
A STUDY OF FEEDBACK LOOP MECHANISMS REGULATING CALCIUM, IP3 AND DOPAMINE IN NEURONS
Authors: PAWAR ANAND , PARDASANI KAMAL RAJ
Published: January 2025

The present work primarily aims to explore the neuronal calcium (Ca2+), IP3, and dopamine (DA) signaling systems through a feedback loop model. To date, there has been no exploration of this feedback model in fractional-order dynamical systems. This feedback loop model incorporates several crucial mechanisms like the buffering process, IP3-receptor, ryanodine receptor, plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase (PMCA) and sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA) pump, leak, sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX), voltage-gated Ca2+ channel (VGCC), Orai channels, DA-dependent IP3 synthesis, and others. By incorporating these mechanisms, the model aims to provide a more comprehensive and realistic understanding of the system under investigation. The present model incorporates fractional-order dynamics along both spatial and temporal dimensions to examine the impacts of superdiffusion and memory showing Brownian motion (BM) of Ca2+, IP3, and DA signaling molecules. The bidirectional feedback between calcium and IP3 signaling systems, unidirectional feedback between calcium and dopamine signaling systems, and unidirectional feedback between IP3 and dopamine signaling systems have been incorporated into the present model. These feedback loops establish interactions among calcium, IP3, and dopamine signaling systems within neuronal cells. The numerical findings were obtained by using the Crank-Nicholson (CN) method with the Grunwald technique for fractional space derivatives and the L1 method for fractional time derivatives in conjunction with the Gauss-Seidel Iterations (GSI). This research specifically investigates the implications of cell memory as well as superdiffusion on Ca2+, IP3, and DA dynamics in neuronal cells, which are interactive nonlinear systems. The superdiffusion process results in a reduction in Ca2+, IP3, and DA concentrations, while cellular memory leads to an increase in ion and molecule concentrations in neuronal cells during the initial time. The disruption of any given process can lead to imbalances in calcium, IP3, and DA systems, hence contributing to neurotoxicity and cellular demise.
The interpolation problem: When can you pass a curve of a given type through 𝑛 random points in space?
Authors: Larson Eric , Vakil Ravi , Vogt Isabel
Published: January 2025

The interpolation problem is a natural and fundamental question whose roots trace back to ancient Greece. The story is long and rich, with many chapters, and a complete solution has been obtained only recently [Forum Math. Pi 11 (2023), Paper No. e25]. Exploring it leads us on a tour through a number of general themes in geometry. This concrete problem motivates fundamental concepts such as moduli spaces and their properties, deformation theory, normal bundles, and more. Questions about smooth objects lead us to consider singular (nonsmooth) objects; and, in fact, these smooth objects are studied by instead focusing on somehow simpler “nonsmooth” objects and then deforming them.
Ontological absurdity
Authors: Ashe Laura
Published: January 2025

This chapter conducts an extended close comparison of the Knight’s Tale with Chaucer’s source, Boccaccio’s Teseida. It argues that in his adaptation of this classical and pagan-set romance, Chaucer has created a significantly darker picture of a world in which human characters lack free will, and are subject to arbitrary and malevolent forces. His characters are shown to be painfully aware of their subjection to fate and the gods, and the events of the narrative uphold this fatalism. However, Chaucer has simultaneously, contradictorily, given them an incipiently Boethian and Christian expectation of a benevolent and providential divinity—an expectation which the tale serially denies. Chaucer’s Boethian additions are analysed in comparison with the relevant passages of Boece, showing the emptying out of the latter’s consolatory force; it is further argued that ‘love’ and pitee in the tale fail to function as they should. The Knight’s Tale is a bleak depiction of an unjust world, in which human beings struggle to create meaning; and because Chaucer has allowed Christian ontology to enter this picture, it represents a profound challenge to theodicy.
Introduction
Authors: Keo Bernard Z
Published: January 2025

The making of an independent Malaya in the wake of World War II has conventionally been characterized within the national imagination as a straightforward and relatively uncomplicated path from British colony to sovereign nation. Delving into this history and examining it from the perspective of groups other than the elites who ultimately won power reveals a more fluid and complex process that involved a wider and more diverse range of actors than has been previously acknowledged. One particularly important but underexamined community within these developments were the Peranakan Chinese of Penang, who fought to create a more cosmopolitan and equitable conception of the nation in lieu of the ethnocentric model that would come to pass. To provide the necessary context for the rest of the monograph, this chapter explores the intersecting scholarship on the development of a distinctly Malay(si)an sense of nation and self, the intertwined processes of decolonization and nationalism, and studies of the Peranakan as well as setting out the sources and methodologies utilized to reveal the overlooked histories of the country’s path to merdeka.
Adjusting for Selection Bias Due to Missing Eligibility Criteria in Emulated Target Trials
Authors: Benz Luke , Mukherjee Rajarshi , Wang Rui , Arterburn David , Fischer Heidi , Lee Catherine , Shortreed Susan M , Haneuse Sebastien
Published: January 2025

Target trial emulation (TTE) is a popular framework for observational studies based on electronic health records (EHR). A key component of this framework is determining the patient population eligible for inclusion in both a target trial of interest and its observational emulation. Missingness in variables that define eligibility criteria, however, presents a major challenge towards determining the eligible population when emulating a target trial with an observational study. In practice, patients with incomplete data are almost always excluded from analysis despite the possibility of selection bias, which can arise when subjects with observed eligibility data are fundamentally different than excluded subjects. Despite this, to the best of our knowledge, very little work has been done to mitigate this concern. In this paper, we propose a novel conceptual framework to address selection bias in TTE studies, tailored towards time-to-event endpoints, and describe estimation and inferential procedures via inverse probability weighting (IPW). Under an EHR-based simulation infrastructure, developed to reflect the complexity of EHR data, we characterize common settings under which missing eligibility data poses the threat of selection bias and investigate the ability of the proposed methods to address it. Finally, using EHR databases from Kaiser Permanente, we demonstrate the use of our method to evaluate the effect of bariatric surgery on microvascular outcomes among a cohort of severely obese patients with Type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Geomagnetic dipole stability and zonal flows controlled by mantle heat flux heterogeneities
Authors: Frasson T , Schaeffer N , Nataf H-C , Labrosse S
Published: December 2024

Palaeomagnetic evidence shows that the behaviour of the geodynamo has changed during geological times. These changes are visible through variations in the strength and stability of the magnetic dipole. Variations in the heat flux at the core–mantle boundary (CMB) due to mantle convection have been suggested as one possible mechanism capable of driving such a change of behaviour. This work aims at acquiring a more complete understanding of how lateral heterogeneities of the CMB heat flux affect the geodynamo while other relevant parameters are pushed towards realistic values. For this purpose, we ran geodynamo simulations with degree 1 and 2 spherical harmonic patterns of heat flux at the CMB. Several geodynamo models are used, ranging from standard numerical dynamos to more extreme parameters, including strong field cases and turbulent cases. We show that heat flux heterogeneities with amplitudes compatible with our knowledge of mantle convection history can favour multipolar dynamos. The multipolar transition is associated with a disruption of westward flows either through eastward thermal winds or through a loss of equatorial symmetry. Strong field dynamo models are found to have larger westward flows and are less sensitive to heat flux heterogeneities. Furthermore, we find that the dipolar fraction of the magnetic field correlates with $M_{Za}^{*}=\dfrac{\Lambda _{Za}}{Rm_{Za}^2}$ where $\Lambda _{Za}$ is the zonal antisymmetric Elsasser number and $Rm_{Za}$ is the zonal antisymmetric magnetic Reynolds number. Importantly, $M_{Za}^{*}$ estimated for the Earth’s core is consistent with a reversing dipolar magnetic field. Within the range of $M_{Za}^{*}$ susceptible to reversals, breaking the equatorial symmetry or forcing eastward zonal flows through an equatorial cooling of the core consistently triggers reversals or a transition towards multipolar dynamos in our simulations. Our results support that time variations of heat-flux heterogeneities driven by mantle convection through Earth’s history are capable of inducing the significant variations in the reversal frequency observed in the palaeomagnetic record.
Cytoplasmic expression of trans-active response DNA-binding protein-43 in aged mice display hippocampal sclerosis-like degeneration and neuronal loss with reduced lifespan
Authors: Anderson Ashley J , Dopler Matthew B , Arezoumandan Sanaz , Osei-Kankam Damian , Davis Stephani A , Ajroud Kaouther , Lilek Jaclyn , Bambakadis Eva , Shapiro Rachel , Flanagan Margaret E , Cairns Nigel J , Gitcho Michael A
Published: December 2024

Trans-active response DNA-binding protein-43 (TDP-43) is the major pathological protein in motor neuron disease and TDP-43 pathology has been described in the brains of up to 50% of patients with Alzheimer disease (AD). Hippocampal sclerosis of aging (HS-A), an age-related neuropathology characterized by severe neuronal loss and gliosis in CA1 and/or subiculum, is found in ∼80% of cases that are positive for phosphorylated TDP-43. HS-A is seen as a co-pathology in cases with AD, limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy neuropathologic changes (LATE-NC), and frontotemporal degeneration. To understand the pathogenetic relationships between HS-A and LATE-NC, mice that selectively express human TDP-43 and TDP-43 with a defective nuclear localization signal (ΔNLS) in the hippocampus, alone or in an APP/PSEN1 background, were evaluated using histology, HALO software’s object recognition algorithms, and protein expression assays. Twenty-four-month-old mice expressing cytosolic TDP-43 displayed marked neuronal loss and atrophy in the hippocampus, decreased β-amyloid plaque deposition and modulation of microglia and intermediate filament activation. TDP-43ΔNLS-expressing mice survived to only ∼24 months of age whether or not they had an APP/PSEN1 background. This HS-A-like model may provide insights into the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration seen in HS-A and in other TDP-43 proteinopathies.
Cryptococcus neoformans/gattii and Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum infections on tissue sections: Diagnostic pitfalls and relevance of an integrated histomolecular diagnosis
Authors: Trecourt Alexis , Rabodonirina Meja , Donzel Marie , Chapey-Picq Emmanuelle , Bentaher Abderrazzak , Dupont Damien , Miossec Charline , Persat Florence , Wallon Martine , Lemoine Jean-Philippe , Tirard-Collet Pauline , Baltrès Aline , Alanio Alexandre , Devouassoux-Shisheboran Mojgan , Menotti Jean
Published: December 2024

Cryptococcus neoformans/gattii and Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum may present atypical histopathological features inducing diagnostic errors. We aimed to estimate the frequency of these atypical features in formalin-fixed tissue (FT) samples and to assess the relevance of an integrated histomolecular diagnosis using specific H. capsulatum PCR and panfungal PCR followed by Sanger sequencing and/or targeted massive parallel sequencing (MPS). A total of 27 FT from 23 patients with a histopathological diagnosis of cryptococcosis (n = 16 FT from 13 patients) or histoplasmosis (n = 11 FT from 10 patients) were retrospectively included. All FT were consultation cases. Mycological identifications on equivalent fresh tissue were available for 11/23 (47.8%) patients. The expert pathologist review modified the diagnosis suggested by the initial pathologist in 7/27 (25.9%) FT. Fungal morphology and tissue inflammation were compared between both mycoses. The most discriminant atypical criterion was the presence of dented-looking yeasts, observed in 68.75% (11/16) of C. neoformans/gattii and none (0/11) of H. capsulatum var. capsulatum (P = .002). For the 12/23 (52.2%) patients without mycological identification on fresh tissue, an integrated histomolecular diagnosis on FT using specific PCR or panfungal PCR followed by Sanger sequencing and/or MPS led to fungal identification in 9/12 (75%) cases; for cryptococcosis, the targeted MPS sensitivity was higher than that of Sanger sequencing (P = .041). Thus, because atypical histopathological features may be tricky, integrated histomolecular diagnosis is essential for optimal patient care.
A candidate of high-z central tidal disruption event in quasar SDSS J000118.70+003314.0
Authors: Gu Ying , Zhang Xue-Guang , Chen Xing-Qian , Yang Xing , Liang En-Wei
Published: December 2024

We report a high-redshift ($z=1.404$) tidal disruption event (TDE) candidate in SDSS J000118.70+003314.0 (SDSS J0001), which is a quasar with apparent broad Mg ii emission line. The long-term variability in its nine-year photometric $ugriz$-band light curves, obtained from the SDSS Stripe82 and the PHOTOOBJALL data bases, can be described by the conventional TDE model. Our results suggest that the TDE is a main-sequence star with mass of $1.905_{-0.009}^{+0.023}\,{\rm M_\odot }$ tidally disrupted by a black hole (BH) with mass $6.5_{-2.6}^{+3.5}\times 10^7\,{\rm M_\odot }$. The BH mass is about 7.5 times smaller than the virial BH mass derived from the broad Mg ii emission line, which can be explained by non-virial dynamic properties of broad emission lines from TDEs debris. Furthermore, we examine the probability that the event results from intrinsic variability of quasars, which is about $0.009{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$, through applications of the DRW/CAR process. Alternative explanations for the event are also discussed, such as the scenarios of dust obscurations, microlensing and accretion. Our results provide clues to support that TDEs could be detectable in broad line quasars as well as in quiescent galaxies, and to indicate the variability of some active galactic nuclei may be partly attributed to central TDEs.
Beyond the Sella: expanded endoscopic endonasal approaches for pituitary tumors
Authors: de Andrade Erion Junior , Alli Saira , Sindwani Raj , Kshettry Varun R , Recinos Pablo F
Published: January 2025

Expanded endoscopic endonasal approaches (EEAs) have significantly advanced the surgical management of invasive pituitary tumors (PTs)that extend beyond the sella turcica. They are particularly important in functioning tumorsto achieve biochemical remission. In this article, we review the classification and application of expanded EEAs in addressing tumors invading the anterior skull base, suprasellar cisterns, clivus, and cavernous sinus. The anatomical basis, techniques and indications for the endoscopic endonasal transtuberculum-transplanum, transclival, and transcavernous approaches as well the resection of the medial wall of the cavernous sinus are discussed. The outcomes of these approaches are reviewed and our surgical strategy for these tumors presented. Despite advances in technology and our understanding of the parasellar anatomy, we emphasize the importance of a multidisciplinary team and graded experiential learning for surgeons to minimize the complication rates associated with these technically advanced approaches.
Severe restenosis after stentless treatment with coronary intravascular lithotripsy for calcified nodule lesions: a serial observation with IVUS
Authors: Konishi Rina , Higaki Akinori , Miyoshi Toru , Nishimura Kazuhisa , Ikeda Shuntaro , Yamaguchi Osamu
Published: December 2024

An 82-year-old woman with a history of myocardial infarction presented with worsening effort angina. Coronary angiography (CAG) revealed 75% stenosis in the proximal left anterior descending artery (LAD), with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) identifying a severe calcified nodule near a previously implanted drug-eluting stent. The lesion was treated with intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) and a drug-coated balloon (DCB), avoiding left main crossover stenting. Despite initial success, the patient experienced restenosis three months later, managed conservatively based on favorable DFR/FFR values. However, worsening symptoms led to repeat CAG, revealing 99% restenosis with calcified nodule. A second IVL was performed, followed by crossover stenting from the left main to the LAD, achieving successful stent expansion. This case underscores the potential for severe restenosis following IVL and DCB angioplasty, highlighting the limitations of IVL in reducing calcified plaque volume and the importance of close follow-up.
Tumour in the dark: a challenging case of osteomalacia
Authors: Ambrogetti Robert , Taha Omer , Saeed Mohamed , Patel Prashanth , Rahman Faizanur
Published: December 2024

Tumour-induced osteomalacia (TIO), also known as oncogenic osteomalacia, is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome mediated by the overproduction of phosphaturic hormone fibroblast growth factor 23. TIO is most commonly caused by mesenchymal tumours (PMTs), which are typically small, slow-growing and often undetectable on physical examination and conventional imaging techniques. Patients with TIO typically undergo a protracted period of diagnostic workup and medical treatment due to presentation with nonspecific symptoms and difficulty in localising the culprit tumour. During this period, ongoing surveillance is imperative as medical treatment can limit symptom progression, and tumour identification can provide definitive treatment. We report a case of TIO secondary to a PMT, which, despite biochemical diagnosis, medical treatment and serial imaging, took approximately ten years for tumour localisation.
Visual attention and representational content
Authors: Soland Kim
Published: December 2024

Attention makes a phenomenal difference to visual experience, but the nature of this difference is controversial. There are three possibilities. The first is that the phenomenology of visual attention has deflationary content, which is to say that attention makes a phenomenal difference only by modulating the appearance of an attended object's visible features. Secondly, it has novel content—attention contributes unique representational content to visual experience. Thirdly, it has no content—the phenomenal contribution of attention to visual experience is not representational at all. I argue that problems for deflationary content and no content accounts motivate a novel content account of visual attentional phenomenology. I develop a novel content account which avoids challenges that have hitherto been presumed devastating for such views. The resulting theory vindicates representationalism about visual experience and is poised to do the same for experiences in other perceptual modalities.
Formulae for Enhanced Cross Sections Induced by Unusual Resonant Poles
Authors: Okada Maito , Yamaguchi Yukito , Ito Makoto
Published: December 2024

We extend the traditional effective range theory, which can explain the low-energy scattering phenomena by a real potential in neutron plus target systems, to describe the scattering by a complex potential. The extension is achieved based on an analytic Jost function, and we construct analytic formulae to describe enhanced cross sections in neutron scattering originating from unusual resonant states, such as an antiresonant state and an unstable bound state, appearing around zero momentum. The formulae are checked by comparing them with numerical calculations, and we find that the analytic formulae are quite valid in reproducing the cross sections for shape elastic scattering and compound nucleus formation in low-energy neutron scattering.