bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What do we know about dietary perceptions and beliefs of patients with rheumatoid arthritis? A scoping review
Authors: Termine Mario , Davidson Zoe , Choi Tammie , Leech Michelle
Published: August 2024

Rheumatoid arthritis is a debilitating inflammatory condition which has a high disease burden. While there is emerging evidence that certain foods and diets could have anti-inflammatory properties and there are published ‘anti-inflammatory’ diets, there is very little understanding of patient beliefs and perceptions about the impact of diet on symptom management or attitudes to particular dietary interventions. This scoping review aims to summarize the existing literature around the beliefs that patients with rheumatoid arthritis hold regarding the impact of diet on disease activity and joint pain. It also examines the current state of evidence regarding the impact of specific dietary interventions on patient reported and objective parameters of RA disease activity. A search was conducted across seven databases for studies which included reporting on dietary beliefs related to disease management or investigations on the effect of particular diets on disease activity or joint pain. Articles were excluded if they examined extracted compounds or individual dietary supplements. Included studies were synthesized narratively. We retrieved 25,585 papers from which 68 were included in this review: 7 assessed dietary beliefs, 61 explored dietary interventions. The available literature on patient beliefs has been largely limited to quantitative studies with limited qualitative exploration. The Mediterranean, fasting and vegan diets appear to have the most benefit with regards to rheumatoid arthritis outcomes for patients. Research which examines RA patient’s beliefs and attitudes about the impact of diet on their RA symptoms and disease is currently lacking.
The mouse metabolic phenotyping center (MMPC) live consortium: an NIH resource for in vivo characterization of mouse models of diabetes and obesity
Authors: Laughlin Maren , McIndoe Richard , Adams Sean H. , Araiza Renee , Ayala Julio E. , Kennedy Lucy , Lanoue Louise , Lantier Louise , Macy James , Malabanan Eann , McGuinness Owen P. , Perry Rachel , Port Daniel , Qi Nathan , Elias Carol F. , Shulman Gerald I. , Wasserman David H. , Lloyd K. C. Kent
Published: August 2024

The Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Center (MMPC)Live Program was established in 2023 by the National Institute for Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to advance biomedical research by providing the scientific community with standardized, high quality phenotyping services for mouse models of diabetes and obesity. Emerging as the next iteration of the MMPC Program which served the biomedical research community for 20 years (2001–2021), MMPCLive is designed as an outwardly-facing consortium of service cores that collaborate to provide reduced-cost consultation and metabolic, physiologic, and behavioral phenotyping tests on live mice for U.S. biomedical researchers. Four MMPCLive Centers located at universities around the country perform complex and often unique procedures in vivo on a fee for service basis, typically on mice shipped from the client or directly from a repository or vendor. Current areas of expertise include energy balance and body composition, insulin action and secretion, whole body carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, cardiovascular and renal function, food intake and behavior, microbiome and xenometabolism, and metabolic pathway kinetics. Additionally, an opportunity arose to reduce barriers to access and expand the diversity of the biomedical research workforce by establishing the VIBRANT Program. Directed at researchers historically underrepresented in the biomedical sciences, VIBRANT-eligible investigators have access to testing services, travel and career development awards, expert advice and experimental design consultation, and short internships to learn test technologies. Data derived from experiments run by the Centers belongs to the researchers submitting mice for testing which can be made publicly available and accessible from the MMPCLive database following publication. In addition to services, MMPCLive staff provide expertise and advice to researchers, develop and refine test protocols, engage in outreach activities, publish scientific and technical papers, and conduct educational workshops and training sessions to aid researchers in unraveling the heterogeneity of diabetes and obesity.
Application of electronic nose technology in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal diseases: a review
Authors: Ma Tan-tan , Chang Zhiyong , Zhang Nan , Xu Hong
Published: August 2024

Electronic noses (eNoses) are electronic bionic olfactory systems that use sensor arrays to produce response patterns to different odors, thereby enabling the identification of various scents. Gastrointestinal diseases have a high incidence rate and occur in 9 out of 10 people in China. Gastrointestinal diseases are characterized by a long course of symptoms and are associated with treatment difficulties and recurrence. This review offers a comprehensive overview of volatile organic compounds, with a specific emphasis on those detected via the eNose system. Furthermore, this review describes the application of bionic eNose technology in the diagnosis and screening of gastrointestinal diseases based on recent local and international research progress and advancements. Moreover, the prospects of bionic eNose technology in the field of gastrointestinal disease diagnostics are discussed.
pHoenix score: development and validation of a novel approach to decrease the number of inconclusive GERD diagnoses
Authors: Latorre-Rodríguez Andrés R. , Mittal Sumeet K. , Simmonds Hailey , Kim Peter , Bremner Ross M.
Published: August 2024

Background

The Johnson–DeMeester composite score (DMS) is the historical gold standard for diagnosing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The Lyon Consensus outlines criteria for diagnosing GERD by pH monitoring, defining normal acid exposure time (AET) as < 4% and pathological as > 6%, presenting diagnostic uncertainty from 4 to 6%. We aimed to (i) calculate the proportion of borderline studies defined by total AET alone that are reclassified as normal or pathological by the DMS, (ii) determine the importance of supine AET for reclassification, and (iii) propose a new classification system using a composite score that considers positional changes.

Methods

This single-center, retrospective, observational study analyzed data from patients with an overall total AET from 2 to 6% on 48-h pH monitoring (Bravo pH capsule). Preselected predictors (supine and upright AET) were included in a model to create a composite score (i.e., pHoenix score) using the regression coefficients. The model was internally validated, and discriminative ability was tested against the DMS and compared to the total AET.

Results

We identified 114 patients (80 [70.2%] women; median age, 55 years). Using the total AET, 26 (22.8%) were classified as normal and 88 (77.2%) as borderline; however, using the DMS, 45 (39.5%) were classified as normal and 69 (60.5%) as pathological. The new pHoenix score demonstrated strong discriminative ability (AUC: 0.957 [95% CI 0.917, 0.998]) with high sensitivity and specificity (lower threshold, 94.4% and 79.2%; upper threshold, 87 and 95.8%). Compared to the total AET alone, the pHoenix score significantly decreased the proportion of inconclusive cases (77.2% vs. 13.2%, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Total AET has low sensitivity to identify pathological reflux as it disregards supine versus upright reflux. The pHoenix score improves the distinction between normal and pathological cases and reduces ambiguity, offering an alternative approach to diagnosing GERD that addresses the limitations of using total AET alone or the DMS.

Graphical abstract
Speeding up static analysis with the split operator
Authors: Arceri Vincenzo , Dolcetti Greta , Zaffanella Enea
Published: August 2024

In the context of abstract interpretation-based static analysis, we propose a new abstract operator modeling the split of control flow paths: the goal of the operator is to enable a more efficient analysis when using abstract domains that are computationally expensive, having no negative effect on precision, and occasionally resulting in a more precise analysis. We focus on the case of conditional branches guarded by numeric linear constraints, including implicit numerical branches. We provide an experimental evaluation of real-world test cases, showing that by using the split operator we can achieve significant efficiency improvements with respect to the classical approach for a static analysis based on the domain of convex polyhedra. We also briefly discuss the applicability of this new operator to different, possibly non-numeric abstract domains.
Amino acid metabolism in glioma: in vivo MR-spectroscopic detection of alanine as a potential biomarker of poor survival in glioma patients
Authors: Alcicek Seyma , Pilatus Ulrich , Manzhurtsev Andrei , Weber Katharina J. , Ronellenfitsch Michael W. , Steinbach Joachim P. , Hattingen Elke , Wenger Katharina J.
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Reprogramming of amino acid metabolism is relevant for initiating and fueling tumor formation and growth. Therefore, there has been growing interest in anticancer therapies targeting amino acid metabolism. While developing personalized therapeutic approaches to glioma, in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is a valuable tool for non-invasive monitoring of tumor metabolism. Here, we evaluated MRS-detected brain amino acids and myo-inositol as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in glioma.

Method

We measured alanine, glycine, glutamate, glutamine, and myo-inositol in 38 patients with MRI-suspected glioma using short and long echo-time single-voxel PRESS MRS sequences. The detectability of alanine, glycine, and myo-inositol and the (glutamate + glutamine)/total creatine ratio were evaluated against the patients’ IDH mutation status, CNS WHO grade, and overall survival.

Results

While the detection of alanine and non-detection of myo-inositol significantly correlated with IDH wildtype (p = 0.0008, p = 0.007, respectively) and WHO grade 4 (p = 0.01, p = 0.04, respectively), glycine detection was not significantly associated with either. The ratio of (glutamate + glutamine)/total creatine was significantly higher in WHO grade 4 than in 2 and 3. We found that the overall survival was significantly shorter in glioma patients with alanine detection (p = 0.00002).

Conclusion

Focusing on amino acids in MRS can improve its diagnostic and prognostic value in glioma. Alanine, which is visible at long TE even in the presence of lipids, could be a relevant indicator for overall survival.
Participatie, het verschil tussen een methode en een kritisch paradigma
Authors: Dedding Christine , Aussems Karijn
Published: August 2024

Samenvatting

Beleidsmakers en fondsen verwachten in toenemende mate dat burgers actief betrokken worden bij onderzoek, beleidsontwikkeling en interventieontwikkeling. Deze groeiende populariteit vereist dat we scherp blijven op de conceptualisering van participatie: bedoelen en beogen we (nog) hetzelfde met participatie? Aan de hand van literatuur en vele jaren praktijkervaring laten we zien dat de betekenis van participatie in de loop der jaren verschoven is van een kritisch paradigma, waarin empowerment en het kritisch bevragen van de macht centraal staan, naar een zoektocht naar methoden om kwetsbare mensen een stem te geven binnen bestaande structuren. In dit artikel beargumenteren we waarom het belangrijk is om te herverbinden met het oorspronkelijke kritische paradigma.
Impact assessment of Zeolite, Ca-bentonite and Biochar amendments on Cd bioavailability and fractions in polluted calcareous soils
Authors: Rahimi Meisam , Bertalan-Balázs Boglárka , Adelinia Ali , Ebrahimi Eisa , Ojani Mohammadreza
Published: August 2024

The refining of polluted soils by heavy elements is one of the most important environmental policies in industrialized and developing countries. Using adsorbents is a suitable procedure for the immobilization of heavy metals in polluted soils. This study aimed to assess the immobilization of Cadmium (Cd) in polluted calcareous soil affected by the application of organic and inorganic amendments including Biochar (from grape pruning residues) and natural Zeolite and their interaction under wheat cultivation. The treatments used in this study were two amendments of Zeolite and Biochar (from grape pruning wastes) at three levels (0, 1, and 4%) and three levels of Cd contamination (0, 75, and 150 mg/kg soil). A 16-week incubation period was considered for the homogenization of the amendments in soil and wheat was grown according to the standards procedure. At the end of incubation, different fractions of Cd including residual, exchangeable, bonded to organic matter, bonded to carbonate and bonded to iron and manganese. Also available Cd by DTPA and EDTA methods and 1000-grain weight of wheat were measured. The results showed that the highest amount of Cd bound to organic matter was obtained in 4% Biochar treatment to 15 mg/kg. The highest and lowest amounts of Cd extracted with DTPA were obtained in the control one (92 mg/kg) and the level of 4% Biochar (67 mg/kg), respectively. The results showed that increasing the amount of Biochar and Zeolite amendments increased the weight of 1000 grains of wheat in all treatments. According to the results of the study, the use of Biochar and Zeolite reduced the amount of Cd extracted by DTPA ( 82.436 mg/kg) and EDTA (115.605 mg/kg). Finally, the results showed that the use of Biochar and Zeolite has reduced active Cd and its mobility in the soil due to increasing organic and carbonate fractions. Combining biochar and zeolite in soil remediation efforts can enhance their effectiveness in reducing the concentration and mobility of active Cd. The biochar provides a stable carbon matrix for long-term immobilization of Cd, while the zeolite offers additional adsorption capacity and ion-exchange capabilities. This synergistic effect can lead to improved soil quality and reduced environmental risks associated with Cd contamination.
Nonlinearities in the Intellectual Property-Manufacturing Growth Nexus in the Post-TRIPS Era: Evidence from a Dynamic Panel Analysis
Authors: Ramos Vincent Jerald R. , Daway-Ducanes Sarah Lynne S.
Published: August 2024

Discussions around the importance of intellectual property (IP) intensified at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic as countries raced to secure IP-protected goods (e.g., vaccines and medical equipment) necessary to respond quickly and adequately to the threat of the virus’ spread. Building on the growing strand of the literature that reexamines IP’s effect on an array of social and economic outcomes, this paper examines the relationship between quantitative (patents and trademarks) and qualitative (IP protection) measures of IP, on the one hand, and manufacturing growth, on the other hand, accounting for the presence of nonlinearities. Using a two-step system generalized method of moments (SGMM) approach on a panel dataset of 81 countries spanning the post-1995 TRIPS Agreement period, our estimates show that these alternative measures of IP have differential and nonlinear effects on manufacturing growth. In particular, patents have a positive significant marginal effect on manufacturing growth past a minimum scale, whereas trademarks do not have a significant effect. In contrast, stronger IPR protection has a positive effect only up to a critical level of IPR protection, implying that “too much” IPR protection can stifle growth-inducing competing innovation. The paper concludes with a brief discussion on the mechanisms through which IP may contribute to manufacturing growth, and on some policies, which may help realize this potential. Broadly, this paper speaks to academic and policy discussions surrounding optimal IP enforcement and the benefits and consequences of IP.
Correction to: Imaging Procedure and Clinical Studies of [18F]FP‑CIT PET
Authors: Sung Changhwan , Oh Seung Jun , Kim Jae Seung
Published: August 2024

A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13139-024-00881-2.
Is Alignment Unsafe?
Authors: Kirk-Giannini Cameron Domenico
Published: August 2024

Yum (2024) argues that the widespread adoption of language agent architectures would likely increase the risk posed by AI by simplifying the process of aligning artificial systems with human values and thereby making it easier for malicious actors to use them to cause a variety of harms. Yum takes this to be an example of a broader phenomenon: progress on the alignment problem is likely to be net safety-negative because it makes artificial systems easier for malicious actors to control. I offer some reasons for skepticism about this surprising and pessimistic conclusion.
Determining Which Hydrostatic Pressure Regimes Promote Osteogenesis in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Henstock James R. , Price Joshua C. F. A. , El Haj Alicia J.
Published: August 2024

Background:

Compressive loading of bone causes hydrostatic pressure changes which have been proposed as an osteogenic differentiation stimulus for mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). We hypothesised that hMSCs are adapted to differentiate only in response to cyclic hydrostatic pressures above critical thresholds of magnitude and frequency which correspond to physiological levels of anabolic bone loading.

Methods:

Using a pneumatic-hydrostatic bioreactor, we applied hydrostatic pressure regimes to human hMSCs in 3D collagen hydrogel cultures for 1 h/day over 28 days to determine which levels of pressure and frequency stimulated osteogenesis in vitro.

Results:

Stimulation of the 3D cultures with 0–280 kPa cyclic hydrostatic pressure at 1 Hz resulted in up to 75% mineralisation in the hydrogel (without exogenous growth factors), whilst static culture or variations of the regime with either constant high pressure (280 kPa, 0 Hz), low-frequency (0.05 Hz, 280 kPa) or low-magnitude (70 kPa, 1 Hz) stimulation had no osteogenic effects (< 2% mineralisation). Nuclear translocation of YAP was observed following cyclic hydrostatic pressure in mature MLO-A5 osteoblasts but not in hMSCs, suggesting that cyclic hydrostatic pressure activates different mechanotransduction pathways in undifferentiated stem cells and committed osteoblasts.

Conclusions:

Hydrostatic pressure is a potent stimulus for differentiating MSC into highly active osteoblasts and may therefore be a versatile tool for translational cell engineering. We have demonstrated that there are minimum levels of force and frequency needed to trigger osteogenesis, i.e. a pressure ‘switch’, which corresponds to the physiological forces experienced by cells in their native mesenchymal niche. The mechanotransduction mechanisms underpinning these effects are the subject of further study.
Luteolin, chemical feature and potential use for oral disease
Authors: Fukuda Takao , Kawakami Kentaro , Toyoda Masaaki , Hayashi Chikako , Sanui Terukazu , Uchiumi Takeshi
Published: August 2024

Purpose of Review

Luteolin, a natural polyphenolic flavone, is a bioactive compound with high thermal stability. Owing to its prominent antioxidant activity, luteolin has been reported to exert therapeutic effects on inflammation-associated diseases. This review discusses the therapeutic potential of luteolin for treating dental diseases.

Recent Findings

Luteolin has multifaceted pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anticancer, and cardioprotective effects. Furthermore, the antibacterial effects of luteolin are accompanied by an anti-biofilm effect. More recently, luteolin has been identified as an inhibitor of protein kinase R (PKR), which plays an essential role in inflammasome activation. In this regard, we demonstrated the potential of luteolin as a pulp sedation compound for pulpitis that acts by suppressing PKR-mediated inflammation in dental pulp cells.

Although conventional dental treatments for dental caries or periodontitis largely depend on cause-related therapy, disruption of biofilms and regulation of inflammation are prerequisites for a favorable prognosis. Together with its superior anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects, the biocompatible features of luteolin make it a promising candidate for treating dental diseases with fewer side effects.
A Department-Wide Transition to a New Mode of Computer-Aided Assessment Using STACK
Authors: Davies Ben , Crisan Cosette , Geraniou Eirini , Smart Teresa
Published: August 2024

We focus on the integration of STACK—a Computer-Aided Assessment (CAA) technology—in the mathematics department of a high-ranking University in the United Kingdom. We study a department-wide project where instructors were expected to implement STACK into continuous assessment tasks for (nearly) all core modules across the first two years of undergraduate study. We present this work as a departmental case study, drawing on semi-structured interviews with six novice STACK assessment designers (and module leaders), supplemented by students’ responses to an open-response feedback questionnaire, and the reflections of a co-project lead (also first author). Our thematic analysis identified four themes related to the design of STACK-based assessments by novice to STACK tutors: the process of ‘STACKification’, technical challenges, users’ perspectives on the role of CAA, and finally, variations in assessment designers’ approaches to the role of feedback. In presenting our results, we are guided by Sangwin’s (2013) design principles for mathematics assessment. We consider various technical aspects of implementing STACK-based assessments as a first-time user, and the knowledge required to do so effectively and coherently. We conclude with a series of reflections on the role of CAA in undergraduate mathematics, and the ways in which such technology can be productively integrated with established practice.
Reuse and remanufacturing of insulated glass units
Authors: Teich Martien , Scherer Christian , Schuster Miriam , Brandenstein Max , Elstner Michael
Published: August 2024

Many office and residential buildings in Europe need to be renovated in the near future to meet current energy efficiency requirements. This often comes down to updating the insulation performance of the building envelope including the windows. Most “old” windows consist of a frame and a double insulated glass unit (IGU) or even monolithic glass panes – typically without any low-e coating. These non-coated double glazings have a Ug-value of 2.7 W/m2K (single glazing even 5.2 W/m2K). Modern coated triple glazed IGUs provide Ug-values of up to 0.5 W/m2K.

This paper deals with the question of how old insulating glass units can be re manufactured to match the state of the art in terms of the energy efficiency. For this purpose, dismounted IGUs from the 1980s are used. After analyzing the remaining functionality, the double IGUs are disassembled. The single glass pane is cleaned, and the old edge sealing is removed. The old glass pane is combined with a new coated low-e glass and a spacer system to form a new upgraded IGU with warm edge technology. This study demonstrates that remanufactured IGUs can achieve the performance of IGUs made from new glass.
Characterization of mycotoxins produced by two Fusarium species responsible for postharvest rot of banana fruit
Authors: Conti Taguali Sebastiano , Riolo Mario , Dopazo Victor , Meca Giuseppe , Cacciola Santa Olga
Published: August 2024

In an open-air market in southern Italy, we noticed ‘Lady finger’ banana fruit imported from Costa Rica showing a severe rot, whose symptoms consisted of necrotic peel lesions with variable shape and size. Fusarium sacchari and F. proliferatum were consistently isolated from symptomatic fruit. In pathogenicity tests on ‘Lady finger’ banana fruit, F. proliferatum was more virulent than F. sacchari. Quantitative Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometric analysis of secondary metabolites produced by isolates of these two Fusarium species on three different matrices (banana peel, barley and maize kernels) identified 11 mycotoxins. Seven of them (Fusaproliferin, Fumonisins A1, Fumonisins A2 and Fumonisins B1, Hydrolysed Fumonisin B1, Fusarin C and Moniliformin) were detected in matrices contaminated by F. proliferatum isolates. Fumonisin A1 was the prevalent mycotoxin in both maize kernels and banana peel, while Fumonisin A2 prevailed in barley kernels. Similarly, seven mycotoxins (the cyclic hexadepsipeptides Enniatins B2, B3 and B4, Fumonisins A1 and B2, Hydrolysed Fumonisin B1 and Fusarin C) were detected in matrices contaminated by F. sacchari isolates, but they were only in part the same as those produced by F. proliferatum isolates. Fusarin C prevailed in all three matrices colonized by F. sacchari. Fumonisin A1 was detected exclusively in maize kernels while Enniatins B3 and B4, Fumonisin B2 and Hydrolysed Fumonisin B1 were detected exclusively in barley kernels. Overall, F. proliferatum produced a higher amount of mycotoxins than F. sacchari. Moreover, in banana peel both species produced a lower number and amount of mycotoxins than in the other two matrices.
The Quantum Cyclic Rotation Gate
Authors: Pavone Arianna , Viola Caterina
Published: August 2024

A circular shift operator (or cyclic rotation gate) $${{\,\mathrm{\texttt {ROT}}\,}}_k$$

ROT

k

applies a rightward (or leftward) shift to an input register of n qubits o by as many positions as encoded by an additional input $$k \in \mathbb N$$

k
∈
N

. Specifically, the qubit at position x is moved to position $$(x+k) \mod n$$

(
x
+
k
)

mod

n

. While it is known that there exists a quantum rotation operator that can be implemented in $${{\,\mathrm{\mathcal {O}}\,}}(\log (n))$$

O

(
log
(
n
)
)

-time, through the repeated parallel application of the elementary $${{\,\mathrm{\texttt {Swap}}\,}}$$

Swap

operators, there is no systematic procedure that concretely constructs the quantum operator $${{\,\mathrm{\texttt {ROT}}\,}}$$

ROT

for variable size n of the quantum register and a variable parameter k. We fill the gap, providing a systematic implementation of the cyclic rotation operator (denoted $${{\,\mathrm{\texttt {ROT}}\,}}$$

ROT

) in a quantum circuit model of computation whose depth is $${{\,\mathrm{\mathcal {O}}\,}}(\log (n))$$

O

(
log
(
n
)
)

. We show how the circular shift operator can be utilized in quantum approaches to text processing, focusing on the problem of getting all possible cyclic rotations of a string in $${{\,\mathrm{\mathcal {O}}\,}}(\log ^2(n))$$

O

(

log
2

(
n
)

)

depth.
Can the ‘21st Century Maritime Silk Road’ initiative improve the opening-up of China’s coastal provinces?
Authors: Wang Yuping , Gao Yuan , Wang Yu , Guo Ziang
Published: August 2024

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) serves as China’s blueprint and major strategy for opening-up in the new era. This study theoretically examines three mechanisms of the ‘21st Century Maritime Silk Road’ (CMSR) to promote the opening up of provinces and cities along the line, including the allocation, integration, and circulation mechanisms. Using 2009–2021 data from prefecture-level cities, this study designed a quasi-natural experiment based on the CMSR by combining propensity score matching (PSM) and differences-in-differences (DID) methods. The study findings show CMSR significantly promoted China’s opening-up. Various robustness tests demonstrate that our findings are robust. Mechanism analysis shows that CMSR improved China’s opening-up by promoting the flow of production factors, integrating domestic and international product markets, and accelerating circulation. Heterogeneity analysis shows that CMSR strongly influences large, coastal, and nonprovincial cities. These findings provide a new perspective for evaluating the policy effects of the 21st CMSR.
The Right Numeraire or the Just Weights? How to Make BCA Rational and Fair
Authors: Fleurbaey Marc , Hammitt James K.
Published: August 2024

Unweighted benefit–cost analysis (BCA) based on aggregate willingness to pay might be, at long last, falling into disrepute, as it is widely recognized that it exhibits a bias toward the wealthy, and as alternatives are appearing more and more practicable. However, the choice of alternatives is often framed in terms of choosing an alternative metric to willingness to pay in money, such as willingness to pay in healthy life years, or a measure of subjective well-being. It is argued in this paper that (i) a simple summation of individuals’ willingness to pay in any numeraire (e.g., money, healthy life years) is bound to generate non-transitivity issues in a similar way as money-based BCA, and (ii) a metric such as subjective well-being involves distributional value judgments that are too specific to reflect the relevant spectrum in the public debate. The “orthodox” weighted BCA method, which links BCA to an underlying social welfare function, offers more flexibility and guarantees transitive choices. Fortunately, in some relevant cases, these various methods may provide similar results, and the main options currently proposed all give greater weight to the worse off in the population than does unweighted BCA.
An Experiment Measuring Water Consumption in Roman Hydrophobic Mortar (opus signinum)
Authors: Martínez Jiménez Javier , Padilla Fernández Juan Jesús , Sánchez López Elena H.
Published: August 2024

Opus signinum is a lime mortar mix that includes crushed pottery as an aggregate. Because it is water-resistant, it was used to line hydraulic structures like pools and aqueducts. While there have been numerous recreations of Roman ‘concretes’ in the past, hydrophobic linings have received little attention, and all preliminary studies in these recreations have paid more attention to the dry components and the lime than to the hydric needs of the mortar. The experiment presented here was to gain a better understanding, with the help of traditional builders, of the process of mixing and applying hydrophobic linings and calculate the water consumption of individual samples. The data obtained contribute to assessing the water consumption needs on Roman construction sites, what associated logistics these volumes required, and what the technicalities of applying this specific type of lining were.
Hydrodynamics and particle array optical characterizations of a high-performance Langmuir–Blodgett process
Authors: Lebaigue O. , Delléa O. , Delhaye J.M.
Published: August 2024

This paper describes the scientific features of an innovative technique to mass-produce monolayers of hexagonal close-packed structures (HCP) of particles (280–1100 nm). Our technique differs from a continuous roll-to-roll Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) process. It consists of a thin liquid film flowing down an inclined plane channel, the ramp, and entraining deposited particles floating on its surface to form a compact monolayer. Vertical sidewalls limit the entire flow. The main benefits of this technique in comparison with a standard LB process are a gentler push on the floating particles during the assembly and the prospect of better flexibility and scalability in the design of industrial applications. Our disruptive approach presents new control parameters and surprising but challenging hydraulic phenomena due to the flowing liquid. This paper investigates the hydrodynamics of this new LB-type design theoretically and experimentally. We propose an original theoretical prediction of the thickness of the liquid film flowing down the ramp without or with particles on its surface, including within the hydraulic jump region separating the liquid film whose surface is free of particles and the liquid film whose surface is particle-loaded. The experimental determinations of the film thickness obtained by a confocal chromatic technique and moiré topography agree well with our model. In addition, Bragg diffraction topography and false colour topography allow the HCP structure of the compact monolayer of particles to be quantified.
Persistent transcendental Bézout theorems
Authors: Buhovsky Lev , Polterovich Iosif , Polterovich Leonid , Shelukhin Egor , Stojisavljević Vukašin
Published: August 2024

An example of Cornalba and Shiffman from 1972 disproves in dimension two or higher a classical prediction that the count of zeros of holomorphic self-mappings of the complex linear space should be controlled by the maximum modulus function. We prove that such a bound holds for a modified coarse count inspired by the theory of persistence modules originating in topological data analysis.
Father’s involvement associated with rural children’s depression and anxiety: A large-scale analysis based on data from seven provinces in China
Authors: Jiang Jian , Tang Xuwei , Lin Zhifeng , Lin Yulan , Hu Zhijian
Published: August 2024

To investigate the relationship between father involvement in parenting and mental health problems among children and adolescents in rural China. The Rural Children’s Mental Health dataset includes mental health information from 2,489 children and adolescents aged 5–16 in seven provinces in China. The relationship between father involvement in children and adolescents depression risk and anxiety was analyzed by Spearman’s correlation analysis, logistic regression analysis, and restricted cubic spline. Father involvement was significantly and negatively associated with depression scores (r = −0.38, P < 0.001) and anxiety scores (r = −0.18, P < 0.001) in rural Chinese children and adolescents. Both multivariate models indicate that the highest level of father involvement has a protective effect on the risk of depression among children and adolescents (OR = 0.268 and 0.303, 95% CI: 0.149~0.483 and 0.144~0.636), while the association with anxiety risk is only significant in the multivariate model 1 (OR = 0.570, 95% CI: 0.363~0.896). Father involvement is a protective factor for the risk of depression among children and adolescents in rural China. The level of father involvement should be increased, and active participation should be encouraged to reduce the risk of depression in their children and to further promote the mental health of children and adolescents in China.
The effect of emotional prosody and referent characteristics on novel noun learning
Authors: Jungers Melissa K. , Hupp Julie M. , Rardon Jarrett A. , McDonald Samantha A. , Song Yujin
Published: August 2024

Prosody includes the pitch, timing and loudness in speech, which can convey meaning and emotion. This study examines whether prosodic categories affect novel noun learning and whether the referent characteristic influence learning. Previous research showed that emotional prosody interfered with adults’ noun learning (West et al., 2017), but it had no effect on children (West et al., 2022). However, these researchers varied their method across ages, including animacy and complexity of the referent, and it is unclear if the results extend beyond the three emotional prosodies tested. Participants in the current set of studies heard novel words presented in five prosodic categories (within-subject) in order to learn the label for either animate or inanimate objects (between-subject). Study 1 compared inanimate objects and aliens, with better noun learning performance for inanimate objects. Study 2 compared inanimate objects with the same objects with faces added, but there was no difference in noun learning by object type. Both studies showed differences in noun learning by the prosodic category, with warning less accurate than naming. These results demonstrate how extralinguistic factors like prosody, attention and referent complexity influence noun learning.
Maximizing weighted sums of binomial coefficients using generalized continued fractions
Authors: Glasby S.P. , Paseman G.R.
Published: August 2024

Let

$m,\,r\in {\mathbb {Z}}$

and

$\omega \in {\mathbb {R}}$

satisfy

$0\leqslant r\leqslant m$

and

$\omega \geqslant 1$

. Our main result is a generalized continued fraction for an expression involving the partial binomial sum

$s_m(r) = \sum _{i=0}^r\binom{m}{i}$

. We apply this to create new upper and lower bounds for

$s_m(r)$

and thus for

$g_{\omega,m}(r)=\omega ^{-r}s_m(r)$

. We also bound an integer

$r_0 \in \{0,\,1,\,\ldots,\,m\}$

such that

$g_{\omega,m}(0)<\cdots < g_{\omega,m}(r_0-1)\leqslant g_{\omega,m}(r_0)$

and

$g_{\omega,m}(r_0)>\cdots >g_{\omega,m}(m)$

. For real

$\omega \geqslant \sqrt 3$

we prove that

$r_0\in \{\lfloor \frac {m+2}{\omega +1}\rfloor,\,\lfloor \frac {m+2}{\omega +1}\rfloor +1\}$

, and also

$r_0 =\lfloor \frac {m+2}{\omega +1}\rfloor$

for

$\omega \in \{3,\,4,\,\ldots \}$

or

$\omega =2$

and

$3\nmid m$

.
Note on almost isometric ideals and local retracts in Banach and metric spaces
Authors: Candido Leandro , Cúth Marek , Smetana Ondřej
Published: August 2024

We exhibit a new approach to the proofs of the existence of a large family of almost isometric ideals in nonseparable Banach spaces and existence of a large family of almost isometric local retracts in metric spaces. Our approach also implies the existence of a large family of nontrivial projections on every dual of a nonseparable Banach space. We prove three possible formulations of our results are equivalent. Some applications are mentioned which witness the usefulness of our novel approach.
An automated faecal egg count system for detection of Ascaridia galli ova in chickens
Authors: Cain J.L. , Wilson D. , Slusarewicz P.
Published: August 2024

Chicken production has increased over the past decade, resulting in a concomitant rise in the demand for more humane options for poultry products including cage-free, free-range, and organic meat and eggs. These husbandry changes, however, have come hand-in-hand with increased prevalence of Ascaridia galli infection, which can cause clinical disease in chickens as well as the occasional appearance of worms in eggs. Additionally, development of anthelmintic resistance in closely related helminths of turkeys highlights the need for closely monitored anthelmintic treatment programs. Manual faecal egg counts (FECs) can be time-consuming and require specialist training. As such, this study sought to validate an automated FEC system for use in detection and quantification of A. galli eggs in chicken faeces. Automated counts using the Parasight System (PS) were compared to traditional manual McMaster counting for both precision and correlation between methods. Overall, ten repeated counts were performed on twenty individual samples for a total of 200 counts performed for each method. A strong, statistically significant correlation was found between methods (R2 = 0.7879, P < 0.0001), and PS counted more eggs and performed with statistically significant higher precision (P = 0.0391) than manual McMaster counting. This study suggests that PS is a good alternative method for performing A. galli FECs and provides a new tool for use in helminth treatment and control programs in chicken operations.
Lateral skull-base osteoradionecrosis: a 15-year series of 20 consecutive cases and a suggested management protocol
Authors: Richards Emma , Muzaffar Jameel , Kumar Raghu , Monksfield Peter , Irving Richard
Published: August 2024

Background

Temporal bone osteoradionecrosis is a rare but significant complication of radiation for head and neck malignancies. Various management techniques have been described, but no clear protocol exists.

Methods

A retrospective case review of patients with temporal bone osteoradionecrosis managed over 15 years was carried out to highlight multidisciplinary team (MDT) management. The review findings were compared with the published literature and a protocol was derived for the management of future cases.

Results

A total of 20 patients were included. The sites of osteoradionecrosis included the external auditory canal, the middle ear and the lateral skull base, presenting with features including recalcitrant pain, infection, neuropathies and intracranial sepsis. Treatments included hyperbaric oxygen, antibiotics, debridement and, in advanced cases, lateral temporal bone resection with vascularised tissue transfer. Post-operative and long-term outcomes were discussed.

Conclusion

Early temporal bone osteoradionecrosis may be managed conservatively. Refractory osteoradionecrosis can be life-threatening because of intracranial complications and sepsis. Such cases need an MDT approach with radical skull-base surgery for removal of necrotic foci and reconstruction using vascularised tissue transfer.
The Most Iniquitous Lobby: The Committee for Constitutional Government and the Shaping of American Politics, 1937–1955
Authors: McPhee-Browne Alex
Published: August 2024

This article examines the Committee for Constitutional Government, a conservative organization that spearheaded a novel form of mass-based mobilization and direct-mail propaganda to counter New Deal reforms from 1937 to the late 1950s. I argue that the members of the committee offered a supple and variegated response to New Deal liberalism, one with deep roots in the American past. Organizationally, the committee differed from other conservative groups of the period in the vastly greater reach of its propaganda, the small-donor financial base of its operations, and its extensive cultivation of a grassroots movement committed to right-wing reform. The committee was a critical political actor from 1937 to 1955, systematically shaping legislation and countering the trend toward social democracy in America. The ultimate result of its campaigns was to retard the growth of the administrative state and help formulate a cogent conservative critique of reformist liberalism.
A New Deal for Wine
Authors: Olmsted Kathryn , Rauchway Eric
Published: August 2024

Currently, scholars hold that the government’s principal contribution to the California wine industry’s recovery from Prohibition in the 1930s was to get out of the way, freeing entrepreneurs to conduct business properly; according to this interpretation, the United States only taxed the product and impeded progress. But this article argues that in the areas of regulation, promotion, and protection of the wine industry, the federal government provided a framework for California winemakers to succeed and that, moreover, it often did so at their request and in cooperation with them. Though New Deal laws and regulations did not benefit all stakeholders equally, they did work to bring economic recovery to an industry that suffered from both Prohibition and the Depression.
Neoliberal Reason, Contemporary Music, and Proximal Critique
Authors: WILSON SAMUEL J.
Published: August 2024

Theodor W. Adorno suggested that music is mediated by socially derived forms of reason, a provocation here considered with respect to neoliberalism. Drawing on a Foucauldian understanding of neoliberalism, which in Wendy Brown's summary takes neoliberalism as ‘a specific and normative mode of reason’, I consider what this means for immanent features of music and processes of its composition. This critical attention to music's formal, aesthetic register enables me to go beyond the more well-established (although nonetheless valuable) frameworks for discussing music and neoliberalism, which focus on music's relation to labour conditions and creative industries. A range of music and sonic art is discussed, work by Chino Amobi, Brian Eno, Bryn Harrison, Sarah Hennies, Johannes Kreidler, Wolfgang Rihm, Marina Rosenfeld, and John Zorn. I ultimately argue that some core features of Adorno's conception of critical art and music need reformulating for the neoliberal age.
Environmental enforcement, property rights, and violence: evidence from the Brazilian Amazon
Authors: Oliveira Gustavo Magalhães de , Miranda Bruno Varella
Published: August 2024

Conflicts over resources with poorly defined property rights have fuelled both deforestation and violence in the Brazilian Amazon. However, what happens when the State enhances its ability to monitor and enforce existing environmental laws? We study the case of the list of Municípios Prioritários, a policy that allocates additional resources to verify compliance with environmental laws in municipalities with high deforestation rates. Employing a difference-in-differences approach, our findings suggest that an improvement in the ability of the State to monitor and enforce environmental laws can reduce conflicts over the appropriation of value from resources with poorly defined property rights. Consistent with existing studies, we also find that the policy led to a reduction in deforestation rates in the Brazilian Amazon. Finally, we discuss the limitations of the current approach to curb violence in a region where the activity of mafias has considerably grown since the turn of the twenty-first century.
Adapting to Change in the Educational Landscape
Authors: Oleson Timothy
Published: August 2024

Individual faculty and students, departments and programs, and the enterprise of STEM education as a whole face challenges to success. Our September issue points the way toward solutions.
The Calm and Variable Inner Life of the Atlantic Intertropical Convergence Zone: The Relationship Between the Doldrums and Surface Convergence
Authors: Windmiller J. M.
Published: August 2024

The doldrums are regions of low wind speeds and variable wind directions in the deep tropics that have been known for centuries. Although the doldrums are often associated with the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), the exact relationship remains unclear. This study re‐examines the relationship between low‐level convergence and the Atlantic doldrums. By analyzing the frequency distribution of low wind speed events in reanalysis and buoy data, we show that the doldrums are largely confined between the edges of the ITCZ marked by enhanced surface convergence. While the region between the edges is a region of high time‐mean precipitation, low wind speed events occur in the absence of precipitation. Based on these results, we hypothesize that low wind speed events occur in regions of low level divergence rather than convergence.
Large Scale Simulation of 3D Fault Rupture Subjected to Far‐Field Loading With PDS‐FEM: Application to the 2018 Palu Earthquake
Authors: Quaranta Lionel , Maddegedara Lalith , Kato Aitaro , Hori Muneo , Ichimura Tsuyoshi , Fujita Kohei , Nicolin Elia
Published: August 2024

Simulating dynamic rupture of fault systems can be computationally demanding, as it requires reproducing complex fault geometry and accurately capturing waves propagating away from the rupture front. It is in particular challenging to predict an initial stress state consistent with fault geometries, heterogeneous distribution of surrounding materials, and far‐field tectonic loading. While standard techniques such as contact analysis and Lagrangian multipliers can be used to model the fault, it can lead to significant computational overhead in FEM. We extended Particle Discretization Scheme‐FEM, which provides numerically efficient crack treatment, without requiring contact analysis, to simulate dynamic fault rupture as a frictional crack propagating along a pre‐existing shear crack surface. Initial stress, which is consistent with initial frictional forces, material distribution and fault geometry, is derived using Coulomb friction and far‐field boundary conditions. The study first demonstrates the ability of the numerical method to reproduce a 2D ideal supershear scenario, and the underlying Burridge‐Andrew rupture mechanism. The methodology is then applied to the large scale simulation of the 2018 Palu earthquake on the Palu‐Koro fault. The simulation successfully reproduces the early and sustained supershear rupture which was observed for the Palu earthquake. Also, it indicates that the presence of an off‐fault damage zone can contribute to the low rupture velocity measured during the earthquake. Unlike sub‐Rayleigh earthquakes, the shockwave propagation was observed to lead to significant amplitudes of the ground motion even far from the fault.