bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Who Buys the “Big Lie”? White Racial Grievance and Confidence in the Fairness of American Elections
Authors: Filindra Alexandra , Kaplan Noah J. , Manning Andrea
Published: December 2023

Election skepticism has become a persistent feature of American politics since the Obama era. Such beliefs are most prevalent among White Americans and especially Republicans, and they are resistant to change. Conspiracy theory studies have shown that such beliefs are linked to feelings of ingroup victimization, at times associated with election loss. We draw on theories of White ingroup processes to argue that White grievance—the belief that Whites are victims of discrimination—is a key correlate of election skepticism among White Americans. White grievance was employed in the Obama era, but it was weaponized by Trump in the 2020 election. Our results based on four national datasets (2012–2020 ANES, 2021 YouGov) show that controlling for negative outgroup attitudes and other factors, White grievance is a significant predictor of election skepticism in all four studies. In 2020, the effect is stronger among White Republicans and independents. We also show that White identity/consciousness has the opposite effect, generally boosting trust in elections. Furthermore, a lagged dependent variable model using the 2016–2020 ANES panel shows that White grievance remains significant even after an LDV is included in the model.
The Polarizing Effect of Partisan Echo Chambers
Authors: HOBOLT SARA B. , LAWALL KATHARINA , TILLEY JAMES
Published: December 2023

We are witnessing increasing partisan polarization across the world. It is often argued that partisan “echo chambers” are one of the drivers of both policy and affective polarization. In this article, we develop and test the argument that the political homogeneity of people’s social environment shapes polarization. Using an innovative, large-scale pre-registered “lab-in-the-field” experiment in the United Kingdom, we examine how polarization is influenced by partisan group homogeneity. We recruit nationally representative partisans and assign them to discuss a salient policy issue, either with like-minded partisans (an echo chamber) or in a mixed-partisan group. This allows us to examine how group composition affects polarization. In line with our expectations, we find that partisan echo chambers increase both policy and affective polarization compared to mixed discussion groups. This has important implications for our understanding of the drivers of polarization and for how out-group animosity might be ameliorated in the mass public.
Molecular species delimitation of marine trematodes over wide geographical ranges:Schikhobalotremaspp. (Digenea: Haplosplanchnidae) in needlefishes (Belonidae) from the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Pérez-Ponce de León Gerardo , Solórzano-García Brenda , Huston Daniel C. , Mendoza-Garfias Berenit , Cabañas-Granillo Jhonatan , Cutmore Scott C. , Cribb Thomas H.
Published: December 2023

Geographical distribution plays a major role in our understanding of marine biodiversity. Some marine fish trematodes have been shown to have highly restricted geographical distributions, while some are known to occur over very wide ranges; however, very few of these wide distributions have been demonstrated genetically. Here, we analyse species of the genusSchikhobalotrema(Haplosplanchnidae) parasitizing beloniforms from the tropical west Pacific, the eastern Pacific and the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). We test the boundaries of these trematodes by integrating molecular and morphological data, host association, habitat of the hosts and geographical distribution, following a recently proposed and standardized delineation method for the recognition of marine trematode species. Based on the new collections,Schikhobalotrema huffmaniis here synonymized with the type-species of the genus,Schikhobalotrema acutum;Sch. acutumis now considered to be widely distributed, from the GoM to the western Pacific. Additionally, we describe a new species,Schikhobalotrema minutumn. sp., fromStrongylura notataandStrongylura marina(Belonidae) from La Carbonera coastal lagoon, northern Yucatán, GoM. We briefly discuss the role of host association and historical biogeography of the hosts as drivers of species diversification ofSchikhobalotremainfecting beloniforms.
The Superfluid Curation of Darkness
Authors: Conn Sarah
Published: December 2023

Contemporary interdisciplinary collaboration practices offer visions of new modes of assembly. This article traces a curatorial model of interdisciplinary collaboration, exploring how artists activate curation as a methodology of creation. I refer specifically to the creative practice of the award-winning Queer trans/mogrifying multidisciplinary artist and futurist Sage Ni'Ja Whitson, and their series The Unarrival Experiments. I reflect on Whitson's curatorial practice as a sacred methodology rooted in Yorùbá cosmologies, theatrical jazz aesthetic, and concepts of dark matter, superfluidity, and unarrival. I trace how Whitson's use of curatorial frameworks supports ease in the impossible, builds layers of multiplicity and simultaneity, resists institutional hegemony and power structures, and crafts systems of queer kinship and care for communities, ancestors, and futures. I outline the criteria of coexistence through which they imbue curatorial practices into their collaborations, generating what I describe as a “third space.” For Whitson, this fertile space of sustained difference is a portal to an alternate institution of darkness, interdependent sovereignty, and superfluidity. I conclude by unfolding the possibilities of Whitson's third space as a forward-facing methodology of how to move through the impossible together and envision new collective futures.
Internal Migration Policies in China: Patterns and Determinants of the Household Registration Reform Policy Design in 2014
Authors: Wang Julia Shu-Huah , Zhu Yiwen , Peng Chenhong , You Jing
Published: December 2023

This study exploits rich data sources to investigate city-level patterns of internal migration policies in response to the reform of Chinese household registration and the economic, political and sociocultural determinants that drive policy approaches. First, we collected and systematically coded policy documents from 231 cities. Cluster analyses showed that the majority of cities (63%) adopted less lenient selection policies while offering integrative social welfare policies. Rights to internal migration remain selectively granted in China, yet rights to welfare have become more equitable than they were in the past because of the reform. Second, multinomial regression analyses showed that economic development and growth are related to selection policies that are more lenient towards high-skilled migrants, whereas top-down controls of superior governments, local politicians’ characteristics (e.g. tenure concerns and hometown favouritism) and migrants’ sociocultural environments (e.g. pre-existing labour disputes) account for both selection and integration policies.
Theoretical approaches to grammatical tone
Authors: Lionnet Florian , McPherson Laura , Rolle Nicholas
Published: December 2023

Tone is distinct from other phonological phenomena both qualitatively and quantitatively (Hyman 2011), and has been instrumental in shaping phonological theory in many ways. However, the contributions to current linguistic theory of “grammatical tone’ (GT) – a type of non-concatenative morphology where a morpheme is expressed at least in part by tone and/or tone changes – have been less apparent. In this paper, we take stock of the types of GT patterns attested in the literature and the different theoretical treatments of GT that have been proposed to date. We show that GT is still to a large extent underexplored, and highlight the immense potential of the study of GT for improving our understanding of phonology and its outer limits. This paper serves as an introduction to the high-quality research articles collected in this special issue, which directly address how GT critically informs phonological theory and its current developments.
Bulgarian Historiography after 1989
Authors: Detchev Stefan
Published: December 2023

Speaking on a popular TV show in 1990, soon after the collapse of the previous regime, long-time dissident and doyen of Bulgarian historical science, former Dean of the Faculty of History at the University of Sofia, Nikolay Genchev, insisted on putting the ‘Bulgarian national interest’ ‘above all’. Genchev said with regret that ‘the Bulgarian national problem has recently appeared mainly as a Turkish problem’. Irritated, he added that it is talked about ‘only for the Turks . . . [in spite of the fact that there were only] a million [Turkish] people living in this country’. He followed up with apocalyptic predictions that Yugoslavia wanted Pirin (or Bulgarian) Macedonia, Romania longed for Dobrodja (which is split between Bulgaria and Romania), the Turks claimed secession, and therefore only the ‘hard chest of the Balkan’ remained.
Please Don’t Touch the Artwork
Authors: Felton-Dansky Miriam
Published: December 2023

Choreographer and performance-maker Faye Driscoll’s performance installation Come On In (2020) offered spectators an aesthetic experience that included very little physical contact—yet investigated deeply the nature of physical touch. The sensation, artistic implications, and sociopolitical valences of touch provoke a rich and complex set of questions for considering artistic, physical, and gendered forms of control across performance and visual art, including abstract sculpture, a history into which Driscoll’s installation intervenes.
Against Fatalism
Authors: Meyer Guilherme E.
Published: December 2023

From the birth of Theatre of the Oppressed (TO) in the 1970s during the rise of fascism in Latin America until his death in 2009, Augusto Boal affirmed his utopian conviction that “another world is possible.” Born at a time that was hardly conducive to utopianism, TO offers us techniques through which to exercise utopianism in our fatalistic times, repairing our conviction that a more livable and just world is possible even as the Right tries to convince us of the opposite.
Saudi Arabia’s Jawqat al-Masrah. (Theatre Choir Club)
Authors: Schechner Richard
Published: December 2023

At the 2022 Sharm El-Sheikh International Theatre Festival for Youth, Saudi women performed in a public square without hijab. Al-Enezī’s al-Sujanāʾ al-ahrār (Free Prisoners) is not only about art and liberty, it enacts it.
London Surprise Major
Authors: Aslanyan Anna
Published: December 2023

Bell ringing in Britain has featured in sociohistorical studies, but it has never been analyzed in detail as a variety of mass spectacle. The practice takes especially interesting forms in London, a city where the ringing of church bells has been part of everyday life for centuries. Grounded in physics, economics, and human geography, ringing is a unique kind of immersive site-specific performance, whose significance is best understood through pivoting to topography and history.
Participatory tree selection and fruit morphological characterization ofPhoebe cooperiana(U.N Kanjilal ex A. Das) in the Eastern Himalayas of India
Authors: Pabin Jasmine , Lyngdoh Nicolee , Dobhal Shivani , Upadhyaya Kalidas , Devi Mongjam Bishwapati
Published: December 2023

Selection of desirable phenotypes and characterization of variability in economically important traits are essential for domestication of indigenous fruit trees (IFTs). Currently, participatory tree selection is a widely accepted approach in IFT domestication wherein farmers' knowledge and preferences are included in tree selection processes. In Arunachal Pradesh, India, fruits ofPhoebe cooperianaare extensively consumed by people and traded across the state. In this study, we employed a selection index to screen trees for superior fruit traits from a base population of 45 farmer-identified trees ofP. cooperianain Arunachal Pradesh. Based on fruit diameter length ratio, pulp fruit ratio and yield, 19 trees were selected for superior fruit traits. The per cent improvement for 10 fruit and seed traits ranged from 0.16 to 14.56% compared to the base population. Significant variation for all fruit and seed parameters was observed among the 19 trees with coefficient of variation values ranging between 1.92% for fruit diameter and 8.26% for seed weight. There was significant positive association between economic traits including fruit weight with pulp weight, fruit diameter length ratio with fruit weight and pulp thickness with pulp weight. Principal component analysis revealed that variability was largely contributed by fruit weight (0.49), pulp weight (0.46), seed weight (0.45) and fruit diameter (0.42). Cluster analysis grouped phenotypes into seven groups with no clear clustering of individuals from the same area. The study highlights the significance of participatory tree selection approach and the benefits of individual tree selection in capturing wider variation and locating extreme phenotypes in IFT domestication.
Combating Hateful Attitudes and Online Browsing Behavior: The Case of Antisemitism
Authors: Bailard Catie Snow , Graham Matthew H. , Gross Kimberly , Porter Ethan , Tromble Rebekah
Published: December 2023

This study adds to the analogic perspective-taking literature by examining whether an online perspective-taking intervention affects both antisemitic attitudes and behaviors – in particular, engagement with antisemitic websites. Subjects who were randomly assigned to the treatment viewed a 90-s video of a college student describing an experience with antisemitism and reflected on its similarity to their own experiences. In a survey, treated subjects reported greater feelings of sympathy (+29 p.p.), more positive feelings toward Jews, a greater sense that Jews are discriminated against, and more support for policy solutions (+2–4 p.p.). However, these effects did not persist after 14 days. Examining our subjects’ web browsing data, we find a 5% reduction in time spent viewing antisemitic content during the posttreatment period and some limited, suggestive evidence of effects on the number of site visits. These findings provide the first evidence that perspective-taking interventions may affect online browsing behavior.
Here’s How Artemis Astronauts Will Navigate on the Moon
Authors: Sidik Saima
Published: December 2023

The next wave of lunar explorers is headed to terrain that promises to be both stunning and challenging. Here’s how they’ll cope with some of the difficulties they’ll encounter.
Sea Surface Salinity Strongly Weakens ENSO Spring Predictability Barrier
Authors: Pang Yiqun , Jin Yishuai , Zhao Yingying , Chen Xianyao , Li Xueqi , Liu Ting , Hu Junya
Published: December 2023

Previous studies suggested that tropical sea surface salinity (SSS) can influence tropical Pacific sea surface temperature (SST) through mixing and entrainment and thus it may be a signal for El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) prediction. This paper explores the influence of SSS on ENSO spring predictability barrier (SPB) using an empirical dynamic model ‐ Linear Inverse Model (LIM). By coupling and decoupling SSS in the LIM, we find that tropical Pacific SSS plays a significant role in weakening both Central‐Pacific and Eastern‐Pacific ENSO SPB. The evolution of optimal initial structure also shows the importance of SSS dynamics in ENSO. We found an SSS mode that plays the dominant role in SSS impacting ENSO prediction. By the analysis of lead‐lag correlation, we find that this mode can induce easterlies during the spring, which finally leads to a La Niña‐like SST pattern in the winter through zonal advective and thermocline feedbacks.
Statistical Properties of Lower Hybrid Waves Within Foreshock Transient Boundaries
Authors: Guo Zhenyuan , Dai Lei , Wang Chi , Ren Yong
Published: December 2023

Lower hybrid waves (LHWs) are plasma waves commonly observed within the foreshock transient environment. Using Magnetospheric Multiscale in situ measurements, we present a statistical analysis of LHWs regarding their spatial distribution, wave properties, occurrence rate, and potential impact on plasmas at the density boundaries of foreshock transients. LHWs are mostly localized at the low‐density side of the boundaries, with a typical wave electric field below 2 mV/m. The occurrence rate of LHWs decreases as the density gradient length scale (Ln) normalized to the ion gyroradius (ρi) increases and the plasma beta (β) increases. This dependence of the wave occurrence is consistent with the linear growth rate of LHWs. The occurrence rate of LHWs exhibits a preference for conditions characterized by Ln/ρi < 3 and β < 3. In the case of a strong gradient (Ln/ρi ≲ 0.5), the occurrence rate exceeds 0.2. These findings provide valuable statistical evidence shedding light on the average behavior of LHWs within foreshock transients.
Patient’s disability and caregiver burden among Chinese family caregivers of individual living with schizophrenia: mediation effects of potentially harmful behavior, affiliate stigma, and social support
Authors: Qiu Dan , Li Yilu , Wu Qiuyan , An Yanni , Tang Zixuan , Xiao Shuiyuan
Published: December 2023

Evidence on the associations between patient’s disability and caregiver burden among Chinese family caregivers of individual living with schizophrenia is lacking. This study aimed at explore the underlying mechanisms between patient’s disability and caregiver burden among Chinese family caregivers of individual living with schizophrenia. A cross-sectional study was carried out in four Chinese cities (Wuhan, Changsha, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen), between April, 2021 and March, 2022. A total of 493 patients and their family caregivers were invited to report related data. The Zarit burden interview, WHODAS 2.0, the Potentially harmful behavior scale, the Affiliate Stigma Scale, and the Multidimensional Scale of perceived social support were used to collect data. Linear regression analysis and bootstrapping analysis were conducted. The adjusted regression results showed that patients’ disability (B = 0.616; 95% CI: 0.479–0.753), potentially harmful behavior on caregivers (B = 0.474; 95% CI: 0.232–0.716), and caregiver’s low social support (B = −0.079; 95% CI: −0.158– −0.002), high level of affiliate stigma (B = 13.045; 95% CI: 10.227–15.864) were associated with higher level of caregiver burden (p < 0.05). In the mediation model, the direct path from patient’s disability to caregiver burden (B = 0.428, β = 0.371, p < 0.001) was significant and positive. Patient’s disability was indirectly associated with caregiver burden through patient’s potentially harmful behavior, caregiver’s affiliate stigma, and social support, the standardized regression coefficients ranged from 0.026-0.049 (p < 0.05). Patient’s potentially harmful behavior, caregiver’s affiliate stigma, and social support mediated the relationship between patients’ disability and caregiver burden. Future intervention studies designed to target these three factors may be beneficial for family caregivers of persons living with schizophrenia.
Effect of knowledgebase transition of a clinical decision support system on medication order and alert patterns in an emergency department
Authors: Jung Weon , Yu Jaeyong , Park Hyunjung , Chae Minjung Kathy , Lee Sang Seob , Choi Jong Soo , Kang Mira , Chang Dong Kyung , Cha Won Chul
Published: December 2023

A knowledgebase (KB) transition of a clinical decision support (CDS) system occurred at the study site. The transition was made from one commercial database to another, provided by a different vendor. The change was applied to all medications in the institute. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of KB transition on medication-related orders and alert patterns in an emergency department (ED). Data of patients, medication-related orders and alerts, and physicians in the ED from January 2018 to December 2020 were analyzed in this study. A set of definitions was set to define orders, alerts, and alert overrides. Changes in order and alert patterns before and after the conversion, which took place in May 2019, were assessed. Overall, 101,450 patients visited the ED, and 1325 physicians made 829,474 prescription orders to patients during visit and at discharge. Alert rates (alert count divided by order count) for periods A and B were 12.6% and 14.1%, and override rates (alert override count divided by alert count) were 60.8% and 67.4%, respectively. Of the 296 drugs that were used more than 100 times during each period, 64.5% of the drugs had an increase in alert rate after the transition. Changes in alert rates were tested using chi-squared test and Fisher’s exact test. We found that the CDS system knowledgebase transition was associated with a significant change in alert patterns at the medication level in the ED. Careful consideration is advised when such a transition is performed.
Transcriptomic analysis reveals candidate genes associated with salinity stress tolerance during the early vegetative stage in fababean genotype, Hassawi-2
Authors: Afzal Muhammad , Alghamdi Salem S. , Khan Muhammad Altaf , Al-Faifi Sulieman A. , Rahman Muhammad Habib ur
Published: December 2023

Abiotic stresses are a significant constraint to plant production globally. Identifying stress-related genes can aid in the development of stress-tolerant elite genotypes and facilitate trait and crop manipulation. The primary aim of this study was to conduct whole transcriptome analyses of the salt-tolerant faba bean genotype, Hassawi-2, under different durations of salt stress (6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h) at the early vegetative stage, to better understand the molecular basis of salt tolerance. After de novo assembly, a total of 140,308 unigenes were obtained. The up-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were 2380, 2863, 3057, 3484, and 4820 at 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h of salt stress, respectively. Meanwhile, 1974, 3436, 2371, 3502, and 5958 genes were downregulated at 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h of salt stress, respectively. These DEGs encoded various regulatory and functional proteins, including kinases, plant hormone proteins, transcriptional factors (TFs) basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH), Myeloblastosis (MYB), and (WRKY), heat shock proteins (HSPs), late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins, dehydrin, antioxidant enzymes, and aquaporin proteins. This suggests that the faba bean genome possesses an abundance of salinity resistance genes, which trigger different adaptive mechanisms under salt stress. Some selected DEGs validated the RNA sequencing results, thus confirming similar gene expression levels. This study represents the first transcriptome analysis of faba bean leaves subjected to salinity stress offering valuable insights into the mechanisms governing salt tolerance in faba bean during the vegetative stage. This comprehensive investigation enhances our understanding of precise gene regulatory mechanisms and holds promise for the development of novel salt-tolerant faba bean salt-tolerant cultivars.
Lactate dehydrogenase and hemolysis index to predict vaso-occlusive crisis in sickle cell disease
Authors: Feugray Guillaume , Dumesnil Cécile , Grall Maximilien , Benhamou Ygal , Girot Helene , Fettig Julie , Brunel Valery , Billoir Paul
Published: December 2023

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited hemoglobinopathy disorder associated with chronic hemolysis. A major complication is vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC), associating frequent hospitalization, morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate whether hemolysis biomarkers were able to predict VOC risk in adult patients with SCD requiring hospitalization within 1 year. This single-center prospective study included adult patients with SCD at steady state or during VOC. A total of 182 patients with SCD were included, 151 at steady state and 31 during VOC. Among the 151 patients at steady state 41 experienced VOC within 1 year (median: 3.0 months [2.0–6.5]). We observed an increase of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (p = 0.01) and hemolysis index (HI) (p = 0.0043) during VOC compared to steady state. Regarding patients with VOC requiring hospitalization, LDH (p = 0.0073) and HI (p = 0.04) were increased. In unadjusted logistic regression, LDH > median (> 260 U/L) (RR = 3.6 [1.29–10.88], p = 0.0098) and HI > median (> 8 UA/L) (RR = 3.13 [1.91–5.33]; p < 0.001) were associated with VOC. The association of LDH > 260 U/L and HI > 12 UA/L presented a sensitivity of 90%, and a specificity of 72.9% to predict VOC. The association of LDH and HI cut-off was able to predict VOC risk in SCD.
Simulation of thermal hazards risk in octogen based on non-isothermal DSC data
Authors: Wang Zhi , Jin Shaohua , Li Lijie , Chao Hui , Qian Shichuan , Zhao Xinping , Sheng Xin , Lu Zhiyan , Gu Guanghui , Chen Shusen , Chen Kun
Published: December 2023

To evaluate the possible thermal risks associated with the storage of octogen (HMX), non-isothermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) experiments were conducted in order to ascertain the kinetic model and parameters governing its thermal decomposition. DSC measurements indicate that HMX underwent a crystal transformation prior to thermal decomposition. A kinetic model for the autocatalytic thermal decomposition process was developed through the analysis of its primary exothermic peaks. Subsequently, numerical simulations were performed using the aforementioned kinetic model to assess the potential thermal explosion hazard of HMX under two distinct storage conditions. The comparison was made between the models of HMX autocatalytic decomposition temperature and thermal explosion critical temperature under two distinct storage conditions. The prediction of the influence of ambient temperature on the critical temperature of thermal explosion is conducted simultaneously. Finally, the thermal hazard parameters of HMX under different package quality are given.
On the adsorption characteristics and mechanism of methylene blue by ball mill modified biochar
Authors: Wang Jinxia , Tan Yunfeng , Yang Hongjun , Zhan Lingling , Sun Guowen , Luo Le
Published: December 2023

In this study, modified biochar (BRB) was prepared from rice straw by ball milling technique and used for the adsorption of methylene blue (MB) in wastewater. The BRB was characterized by SEM, FTIR and XPS, and the adsorption model and Box–Behnken design were used to optimize the five influencing factors. The results showed that the ball milling technique could increase the content of functional groups (–OH, C=C and C–O, etc.) and aromatic structures on the surface of biochar, thus facilitating the removal of MB. The isotherm model was consistent with the Langmuir adsorption model (R2 = 0.947) and the maximum adsorption capacity was 50.27 mg/g. The adsorption kinetics was consistent with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R2 = 1) and the adsorption rate was mainly controlled by chemisorption. The thermodynamic model confirmed that the adsorption process was a spontaneous heat absorption reaction. The maximum adsorption efficiency was 99.78% under the optimal conditions (40℃, pH 8, reaction time = 90 min, dosing amount = 0.1 mg), and the adsorption efficiency could be improved by increasing the pH and BRB dosing amount. The surface functional groups and crystal structure properties of BRB were the main determinants of adsorption, and it was clarified that physical adsorption, electrostatic attraction and π-π interaction were the main mechanisms for the adsorption of MB by BRB. The main mechanisms were clarified. Therefore, BRB is an economic, efficient and green adsorption material with good potential for the removal of dye pollutants in the aqueous environment.
Potentially toxic metals in irrigation water, soil, and vegetables and their health risks using Monte Carlo models
Authors: Orosun Muyiwa Michael , Nwabachili Samuel , Alshehri Reem F. , Omeje Maxwell , Alshdoukhi Ibtehaj F. , Okoro Hussein K. , Ogunkunle Clement O. , Louis Hitler , Abdulhamid Fakoya A. , Osahon Stephen Erhonmonsele , Mohammed Adamu Usman , Ehinlafa Emmanuel Olusegun , Yunus Sodiq Omotayo , Ife-Adediran Oluwatobi
Published: December 2023

Food safety has become a serious global concern because of the accumulation of potentially toxic metals (PTMs) in crops cultivated on contaminated agricultural soils. Amongst these toxic elements, arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb) receive worldwide attention because of their ability to cause deleterious health effects. Thus, an assessment of these toxic metals in the soils, irrigation waters, and the most widely consumed vegetables in Nigeria; Spinach (Amaranthushybridus), and Cabbage (Brassica oleracea) was evaluated using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The mean concentration (measured in mg kg−1) of the PTMs in the soils was in the sequence Cr (81.77) > Pb(19.91) > As(13.23) > Cd(3.25), exceeding the WHO recommended values in all cases. This contamination was corroborated by the pollution evaluation indices. The concentrations (measured in mg l−1) of the PTMs in the irrigation water followed a similar pattern i.e. Cr(1.87) > Pb(1.65) > As(0.85) > Cd(0.20). All the PTMs being studied, were found in the vegetables with Cr (5.37 and 5.88) having the highest concentration, followed by Pb (3.57 and 4.33), and As (1.09 and 1.67), while Cd (0.48 and 1.04) had the lowest concentration (all measured in mg kg−1) for cabbage and spinach, respectively. The concentration of the toxic metals was higher in spinach than in cabbage, which may be due to the redistribution of the greater proportion of the metals above the ground tissue, caused by the bioavailability of metals in the aqueous phase. Expectedly, the hazard index (HI),and carcinogenic risk values of spinach were higher than that of cabbage. This implies that spinach poses potentially higher health risks. Similarly, the Monte Carlo simulation results reveal that the 5th percentile, 95th percentile, and 50th percentile of the cumulative probability of cancer risks due to the consumption of these vegetables exceeds the acceptable range of 1.00E−6 and 1.00E−4. Thus, the probable risk of a cancerous effect is high, and necessary remedial actions are recommended.
A mathematical model of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Methanobrevibacter smithii, and Eubacterium rectale interactions in the human gut
Authors: Adrian Melissa A. , Ayati Bruce P. , Mangalam Ashutosh K.
Published: December 2023

The human gut microbiota is a complex ecosystem that affects a range of human physiology. In order to explore the dynamics of the human gut microbiota, we used a system of ordinary differential equations to model mathematically the biomass of three microorganism populations: Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, Eubacterium rectale, and Methanobrevibacter smithii. Additionally, we modeled the concentrations of relevant nutrients necessary to sustain these populations over time. Our model highlights the interactions and the competition among these three species. These three microorganisms were specifically chosen due to the system’s end product, butyrate, which is a short chain fatty acid that aids in developing and maintaining the intestinal barrier in the human gut. The basis of our mathematical model assumes the gut is structured such that bacteria and nutrients exit the gut at a rate proportional to its volume, the rate of volumetric flow, and the biomass or concentration of the particular population or nutrient. We performed global sensitivity analyses using Sobol’ sensitivities to estimate the relative importance of model parameters on simulation results.
Real-world retention rates of biologics in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Takami Kenji , Tsuji Shigeyoshi
Published: December 2023

Although biologics have their own characteristics, there are no clear criteria for selecting them to treat the patients with rheumatoid arthritis. To assist in selecting biologics, we investigated the retention rates of biologics at our institution. We examined retention rates, and reasons for dropout for biologics in 393 cases and 605 prescriptions (of which 378 prescriptions were as naive) at our hospital since October 2003. Throughout the entire course of the study, etanercept (ETN) was the most frequently used biologic, followed by adalimumab (ADA) and tocilizumab (TCZ). When narrowed down to the later period from 2010, ETN was still the most used, followed by TCZ and abatacept (ABT). When the retention rates were compared in biologic naive patients, the retention rates were TCZ, ABT, ETN, certolizumab pegol (CZP), golimumab (GLM), infliximab (IFX), and ADA, in that order. The retention rates were better with the first use of each biologic. The main reasons for dropout were primary ineffectiveness, secondary ineffectiveness, and infection. ETN was the most used biologic in our hospital, with an increasing trend toward the use of non-TNF inhibitors. Retention rates were higher in non-TNF inhibitors.
Exploring relationships among multi-disciplinary assessments for knee joint health in service members with traumatic unilateral lower limb loss: a two-year longitudinal investigation
Authors: Wasser Joseph G. , Hendershot Brad D. , Acasio Julian C. , Dodd Lauren D. , Krupenevich Rebecca L. , Pruziner Alison L. , Miller Ross H. , Goldman Stephen M. , Valerio Michael S. , Senchak Lien T. , Murphey Mark D. , Heltzel David A. , Fazio Michael G. , Dearth Christopher L. , Hager Nelson A.
Published: December 2023

Motivated by the complex and multifactorial etiologies of osteoarthritis, here we use a comprehensive approach evaluating knee joint health after unilateral lower limb loss. Thirty-eight male Service members with traumatic, unilateral lower limb loss (mean age = 38 yr) participated in a prospective, two-year longitudinal study comprehensively evaluating contralateral knee joint health (i.e., clinical imaging, gait biomechanics, physiological biomarkers, and patient-reported outcomes); seventeen subsequently returned for a two-year follow-up visit. For this subset with baseline and follow-up data, outcomes were compared between timepoints, and associations evaluated between values at baseline with two-year changes in tri-compartmental joint space. Upon follow-up, knee joint health worsened, particularly among seven Service members who presented at baseline with no joint degeneration (KL = 0) but returned with evidence of degeneration (KL ≥ 1). Joint space narrowing was associated with greater patellar tilt (r[12] = 0.71,p = 0.01), external knee adduction moment (r[13] = 0.64,p = 0.02), knee adduction moment impulse (r[13] = 0.61,p = 0.03), and CTX-1 concentration (r[11] = 0.83,p = 0.001), as well as lesser KOOSSportand VR-36General Health(r[16] = − 0.69,p = 0.01 and r[16] = − 0.69,p = 0.01, respectively). This longitudinal, multi-disciplinary investigation highlights the importance of a comprehensive approach to evaluate the fast-progressing onset of knee osteoarthritis, particularly among relatively young Service members with lower limb loss.
Isolated Ni-atom catalyst supported on Ti3C2Tx with an asymmetrical C–Ni–N structure for the hydrogen evolution reaction
Authors: Yang Haosen , Wu Pengfei , Pei Jiajing , Peng Bo , Liu Qingqing
Published: December 2023

Single-atom catalysts (SACs), distinguished by their exceptional atomic efficiency and modifiable coordination structures, find wide-ranging applicability, notably in the context of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).
Fabrication of hierarchically porous ZIF-8 using a competitive ligand via a one-step method in supercritical CO2 and its application for CO2 adsorption
Authors: Li Zhen , He Bo , Tang Shaokun
Published: December 2023

Hierarchically porous ZIF-8 using a competitive ligand via a one-step method in supercritical CO2 possesses excellent CO2 adsorption performance.
Green–Kubo expressions for transport coefficients from dissipative particle dynamics simulations revisited
Authors: Malaspina D. C. , Lísal M. , Larentzos J. P. , Brennan J. K. , Mackie A. D. , Avalos J. Bonet
Published: December 2023

This article addresses the debate about the correct application of Green–Kubo expressions for transport coefficients from dissipative particle dynamics simulations.
Lignin beyond the status quo: recent and emerging composite applications
Authors: Fazeli Mahyar , Mukherjee Sritama , Baniasadi Hossein , Abidnejad Roozbeh , Mujtaba Muhammad , Lipponen Juha , Seppälä Jukka , Rojas Orlando J.
Published: December 2023

Potential applications of lignin.
Maximization of hydrogen peroxide utilization in a proton exchange membrane H2O2 electrolyzer for efficient power-to-hydrogen conversion
Authors: Yang Jie , Ding Ruimin , Liu Chang , Chen Lifang , Wang Qi , Liu Shanshan , Xu Qinchao , Yin Xi
Published: December 2023

A proton exchange membrane H2O2 electrolyzer for maximization of hydrogen peroxide utilization.
Three-component coupling reaction of white phosphorus, alcohols and diaryl disulfides: a chlorine-free avenue for accessing phosphorothioates
Authors: Cao Yinwei , Bai Mengpei , Huang Junwei , Chen Fushan , Liu Yan , Tang Guo , Zhao Yufen
Published: December 2023

Synthesis of valuable compounds directly from small and simple molecules is an area of great interest in chemical research.
Research of the influence of anions in complexes [CuPhen(Hpz)2X2] (X = CF3COO−, Otf−, Cl−) on the structure and bioactivity
Authors: Uvarova Marina A. , Lutsenko Irina A. , Shmelev Maxim A. , Nefedov Sergey E. , Bekker Olga B. , Lashkin Arseniy I. , Shender Victoria O. , Eremenko Igor L.
Published: December 2023

The antiproliferative and antibacterial effects of copper(ii) complexes with the same ligand environment have been studied depending on the anion.
Correction: From traditional to greener alternatives: potential of plant resources as a biotransformation tool in organic synthesis
Authors: Kumar Vinay , Saha Rituparna , Chatterjee Satyaki , Mishra Vivek
Published: December 2023

Correction for ‘From traditional to greener alternatives: potential of plant resources as a biotransformation tool in organic synthesis’ by Vinay Kumar et al., React. Chem. Eng., 2023, 8, 2677–2688, https://doi.org/10.1039/D3RE00346A.
Exploring how cation entropy influences electric double layer formation and electrochemical reactivity
Authors: Liu Beichen , Guo Wenxiao , Anderson Seth R. , Johnstone Samuel G. , Wu Siqi , Herrington Megan C. , Gebbie Matthew A.
Published: December 2023

The entropy of ions governs the structure and composition of electric double layers with major implications for electrocatalytic activity.
High speed impact on granular media: breakdown of conventional inertial drag models
Authors: Mandal Manish Kumar , Roy Saikat
Published: December 2023

We systematically investigate the impact process on the granular material in the high speed limit and show the breakdown of the conventional drag models. Our results also suggest that spatial dimensionality influences the early-stage peak force.
A matrix game‐based coordinated optimisation method of distribution networks with multiple flexible resources
Authors: An Yingdong , Liu Yixin , Guo Li , Li Xinchen , Li Xiangjun , Jia Xuecui , Wang Tengxin , Zhang Min
Published: December 2023

The ‘Electric energy substitution’ project in rural areas of northern China aims to replace coal‐fired heating with electric heating. However, this could potentially lead to congestion problems on the local distribution networks (DNs) due to an increase in heating loads. Instead of expanding the lines, flexible resources such as microgrids (MGs) and heat pumps (HPs) could provide auxiliary services in a more cost‐effective manner. A bi‐level optimisation model that coordinates DNs, MGs, and HP clusters is proposed to address this issue. In the lower level, MGs and HP clusters provide auxiliary services through competitive bidding to maximise their own income over multiple periods, considering a series of technical operational constraints and comfort constraints. In the upper level, DNs clear the market based on the bidding information to minimise its operational costs while guaranteeing network constraints. The bi‐level optimisation model is formulated as a multi‐agent matrix game problem, and the Win or Learn Fast‐Policy Hill‐climbing algorithm is used to achieve fast market equilibrium in a decentralised manner. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method can improve the revenue of MGs by up to 2.6 times compared to the single period matrix game method, and reduce the convergence time by up to 81.3% compared to the multi‐agent Q‐learning method.
Improvement of continuous emotion recognition of temporal convolutional networks with incomplete labels
Authors: Wang Zheyu , Zheng Jieying , Liu Feng
Published: December 2023

Video‐based emotion recognition has been a long‐standing research topic for computer scientists and psychiatrists. In contrast to traditional discrete emotional models, emotion recognition based on continuous emotional models can better describe the progression of emotions. Quantitative analysis of emotions will have crucial impacts on promoting the development of intelligent products. The current solutions to continuous emotion recognition still have many issues. The original continuous emotion dataset contains incomplete data annotations, and the existing methods often ignore temporal information between frames. The following measures are taken in response to the above problems. Initially, aiming at the problem of incomplete video labels, the correlation between discrete and continuous video emotion labels is used to complete the dataset labels. This correlation is used to propose a mathematical model to fill the missing labels of the original dataset without adding data. Moreover, this paper proposes a continuous emotion recognition network based on an optimized temporal convolutional network, which adds a feature extraction submodule and a residual module to retain shallow features while improving the feature extraction ability. Finally, validation experiments on the Aff‐wild2 dataset achieved accuracies of 0.5159 and 0.65611 on the valence and arousal dimensions, respectively, by adopting the above measures.
A Simplified Protocol for Large-Scale Preparation of 4CzIPN and 3DPA2FBN
Authors: Zhang Yongda , Lei Zhen , Xu Yibo , Kosnik Stephanie C. , Jiang Qi
Published: December 2023

Just in the past few years, the application of 4CzIPN as a photocatalyst in photochemistry has been dramatically increased with its unique properties. In the literature, a variety of protocols for the synthesis of 4CzIPN have been reported. However, a practical process for the preparation of 4CzIPN with consistent quality on large scale is not available, but highly desirable to enable the robust application of this photocatalysis in industry. Herein, we detailed a practical and simple column-free chemical process amenable for the large-scale production of 4CzIPN with high quality in 91% yield. Current process was demonstrated on large scale. The similar process protocol was applicable and demonstrated for the synthesis of 3DPA2FBN on large scale.
Practical Fischer Indolization Using Bench-Stable Arylhydrazine Sulfonate as the Surrogate of Arylhydrazine
Authors: Zhu Yanping , Dong Kaiwu , Li Wenjuan , Shen Chaoren
Published: December 2023

Fischer indolization using bench-stable sodium arylhydrazine sulfonate as a surrogate of arylhydrazine was developed. The preparation of arylhydrazine sulfonate was also modified by replacing sodium sulfite reductant with Pd-catalyzed hydrogen transfer. The straightforward synthesis of tetrahydrocarbazoles from the corresponding anilines was successfully conducted in a one-pot manner. A practical application of this method was demonstrated in the formal synthesis of pharmaceutical molecules Rizatriptan and Zolmitriptan.
Methods for the Synthesis of 1-Indanones Containing a β-Quaternary Carbon Center
Authors: Zhou Wang , Song Shuaishuai
Published: December 2023

This article traces the development of synthetic routes toward 1-indanones containing a β-quaternary carbon center. The recent advancement in the regio- and chemoselective formal (4+1) carbocyclization of chalcones with internal alkynes via rhodium(III) catalysis for the synthesis of 1-indanones is highlighted.
Local Marchenko–Pastur law at the hard edge of the sample covariance ensemble
Authors: Kafetzopoulos Anastasis , Maltsev Anna
Published: December 2023

Consider an N by N matrix X of complex entries with iid real and imaginary parts. We show that the local density of eigenvalues of X*X converges to the Marchenko–Pastur law on the optimal scale with probability 1. We also obtain rigidity of the eigenvalues in the bulk and near both hard and soft edges. Here we avoid logarithmic and polynomial corrections by working directly with high powers of expectation of the Stieltjes transforms. We work under the assumption that the entries have a finite fourth moment and are truncated at N1/4, or alternatively with exploding moments. In this work we simplify and adapt the methods from prior papers of Götze–Tikhomirov [Probab. Relat. Fields 165(1–2), 163–233 (2016)] and Cacciapuoti–Maltsev–Schlein [Probab. Theory Relat. Fields 163(1–2), 1–59 (2015)] to covariance matrices.
Non-equilibrium steady states as saddle points and EDP-convergence for slow-fast gradient systems
Authors: Mielke Alexander
Published: December 2023

The theory of slow-fast gradient systems leads in a natural way to non-equilibrium steady states, because on the slow time scale the fast subsystem stays in steady states that are controlled by the interaction with the slow system. Using the theory of convergence of gradient systems depending on a small parameter ɛ (here the ratio between the slow and the fast time scale) in the sense of the energy-dissipation principle shows that there is a natural characterization of these non-equilibrium steady states as saddle points of a so-called B-function where the slow variables are fixed. We give applications to slow-fast reaction-diffusion systems based on the so-called cosh-type gradient structure for reactions. It is shown that two binary reactions give rise to a ternary reaction with a state-dependent reaction coefficient. Moreover, we show that a reaction-diffusion equation with a thin membrane-like layer convergences to a transmission condition, where the formerly quadratic dissipation potential for diffusion convergences to a cosh-type dissipation potential for the transmission in the membrane limit.
An enhanced visualization image acquisition method for samples with poor conductivity under a conventional scanning electron microscope
Authors: Pang Shuiquan , Xia Hao , Zhang Xianmin , Wang Zhizhe , Luo Jun , Li Hai
Published: December 2023

The low-vacuum and low-accelerating-voltage modes are the most simple and practical ways to directly analyze poorly conductive samples in conventional scanning electron microscopy (SEM). However, structural feature information may disappear or be obscured in these imaging modes, making it challenging to identify and analyze some local microstructures of poorly conductive samples. To overcome this challenge, an enhanced visualization image acquisition method for samples with poor conductivity is proposed based on the image registration and multi-sensor fusion technology. Experiments demonstrate that the proposed method can effectively obtain enhanced visualization images containing clearer terrain information than the SEM source images, thereby providing new references for measuring and analyzing microstructures.