Indirect Evidence Research Articles

A practical guide to selecting and using new ulcerative colitis therapies.

Several new biologics (mirizikizumab) and small molecules (upadacitinib, ozanimod, etrasimod) are approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis. To date, there are no head-to-head trials to guide positioning and use of these newer agents. From phase III clinical trials, in the biologic experienced patient, induction with ozanimod, etrasimod, and mirizikizumab had lower clinical remission rates, whereas upadacitinib's clinical remission rates remained similar. Indirect evidence using network meta-analysis suggests upadacitinib may be more efficacious than other advanced therapies for the treatment of ulcerative colitis in both the bio-naive and experienced patient. Upadacitinib was found to have the highest risk for adverse events. These newer agents add novel mechanisms of action to the expanding therapeutic armamentarium of advanced therapies to treat ulcerative colitis. Based on expert opinion and available data to date, we propose a practical guide on positioning of these new agents for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. In mild-to-moderate disease, one should consider using ozanimod or etrasimod as first-line agents. In moderate-to-severe disease, we favor using mirizikizumab as first-line agent. In patients who have failed an anti-tumor necrosis factor agent, upadacitinib or mirizikizumab should be considered using patient factors and safety to guide one's decision between these two agents.

New development: Re-investigating the influence of China on the British civil service examination system

IMPACT In the UK, civil servant selection was arranged through patronage until the publication of the 1854 Northcote–Trevelyan Report, which led to the establishment of a competitive examination system for selecting civil servants. The UK may have referenced China's competitive examination system during this process. Missionaries, merchants and diplomats learned about the Chinese government’s system and disseminated it to Europe. This practice was described in books, making European countries, including the UK, aware of such a system. Although the availability of related information in books provides circumstantial evidence to support the Chinese influence on the British examination system, more direct evidence has previously been lacking. Therefore, the authors searched the records of debates in the UK Parliament between 1853 and 1860 and found relevant evidence regarding the Chinese influence on the British examination system. Although much has been written about British colonial rule, less is known about the exchanges of civil service systems and the critical role played by colonial administrations. This article offers valuable insights into a long history of policy transfer among countries, often appropriating better practices, to improve public and civil services.

Use of flexible transnasal esophagogastroscopy in patients with unclear globus sensation

Globus pharyngeus is acommon symptom with considerable suffering. Globus sensation can be caused by reflux. In many places, endoscopy of the esophagus is recommended for clarification, especially when there is aquestion about the presence of ahiatal hernia as the cause of reflux. Transnasal esophagogastroscopy (TNE) represents an alternative to conventional gastroesophagoscopy. It enables aquick low-complication examination of the upper aerodigestive tract in the sitting, non-sedated patient. The aim of this work was to assess the feasibility of outpatient TNE in patients with globus sensation. Furthermore, the results of dual-probe pH monitoring were compared with the results of TNE in order to assess the value of TNE in the clarification of globus sensation and reflux. In 30patients with globus symptoms, 24-hour dual-probe pH monitoring and TNE were performed. In pH monitoring, reflux number, fraction time, reflux surface area index, and DeMeester score were evaluated as indicators of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) and gastroesophageal reflux (GERD). Abnormalities of the esophageal mucosa and the gastroesophageal junction were recorded in TNE. The results were compared. The TNE could be performed without any complications. Mean examination time was 5.34 ± 0.12 min. Reflux was measured in 80% of the patients (24/30) with pH monitoring. In almost half of these patients (46%), abnormalities were detected in TNE as indirect evidence of reflux. In addition to an axial hiatal hernia, these included mucosal changes such as erosive esophagitis and Barrett's metaplasia. Patients with ahiatal hernia also suffered significantly more often from LPR than patients without ahernia (9:1). TNE is aquick and safe examination method for diagnosing patients with an unclear globus sensation. Detection of ahiatal hernia can be seen as an indication of reflux disease. Lack of evidence of ahernia does not rule out reflux. Thus, TNE is auseful addition to pH monitoring in patients with globus sensation, because reflux-related changes in the mucosa can be recognized early and adequately treated.

Lithium loss, resistance growth, electrode expansion, gas evolution, and Li plating: Analyzing performance and failure of commercial large-format NMC-Gr lithium-ion pouch cells

Analysis of the performance evolution and failure mechanisms of commercial Li-ion batteries is crucial for improving testing methods, accurately modeling battery performance, and ensuring safe battery operation. Here, we present the results of a 2-year aging study conducted on commercial large-format LiNiMnCoO2-graphite pouch cells. Loss of lithium inventory (LLI) and loss of positive electrode active material (LAMPE) are shown to dominate capacity fade, as quantified by differential voltage-capacity analysis; only a small amount of LAMPE was measured in extracted electrode material, indicating that LAMPE in full cells was due to electrode dry-out. Resistance evolution, observed by direct current pulses and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analyzed using the distribution of relaxation times, shows complex trends. Particle cracking and electrode expansion is theorized to cause most changes to resistance. Post-mortem measurements reveal a 10% increase in electrode stack thickness and substantial gas generation, with lithium plating observed in extreme cycling conditions, causing large resistance increases. Circumstantial evidence for self-discharge via redox shuttle, which decomposes the electrolyte, is shown. Overall, electrolyte stability was determined to be the limiting factor for cell lifetime. The impacts of many degradation mechanisms on diagnostic signals substantially overlap, making it challenging to monitor cell health and safety.

The effect of spacing grid in the precision solution of the inverse vertical electric sounding problem

Electrical methods for monitoring the stress-strain state of the Earth's crust involve measuring apparent resistivity, but changes in resistivity are of physical interest. During daily (for 12 years) measurements of the apparent resistivity of the Earth's crust using a stationary 32-electrode vertical electrical sounding installation in a highly seismic region of Tajikistan and precision equipment, a vertical electrical sounding profile of a special type was obtained for which the sounding date changes from picket to picket. To invert field data, a special version of the IPI program was developed taking into account the features of the measuring setup. Initially, the direct and inverse problems of vertical electrical sounding were solved on a standard logarithmic spacing grid which significantly increased the speed of calculations. The actual data were interpolated to this grid. However, testing the algorithm on synthetic data showed that in this case the maximum achievable accuracy is limited by a special type of equivalence – the effect of resistance buildup. The precision version of the IPI program implements several algorithmic techniques aimed at reducing the error in solving the inverse problem. When describing the effects that depend on the choice of one or another spacing grid, the results of solving the inverse problem for synthetic profiles in two versions of the IPI program were compared and the beneficial effect of switching to the actual spacing grid was determined. When comparing the results of inversion of the experimental vertical electrical sounding profile obtained as a result of long-term observations, the amplitude of errors arising when using a logarithmic spacing grid was assessed using indirect evidence.

Holme I (Seahenge) and Holme II: ritual responses to climate change in Early Bronze Age Britain

Holme I and II were contemporary, adjacent Early Bronze Age (EBA) oak-timber enclosures exposed intertidally at Holme-next-the-sea, Norfolk, England, in 1998. Holme I enclosed a central upturned tree-stump, its function and intent unknown. Holme II is thought a mortuary structure. Both are proposed here best explained as independent ritual responses to reverse a period of severe climate deterioration recorded before 2049 BC when their timbers were felled. Holme I is thought erected on the summer-solstice, when the cuckoo traditionally stopped singing, departing to the ‘Otherworld’. It replicated the cuckoo’s supposed overwintering quarters: a tree-hole or the ‘bowers of the Otherworld’ represented by the tree-stump, remembered in folklore as ‘penning-the-cuckoo’ where a cuckoo is confined to keep singing and maintain summer. The cuckoo symbolised male-fertility being associated with several Indo-European goddesses of fertility that deified Venus - one previously identified in EBA Britain. Some mortal consorts of these goddesses appear to have been ritually sacrificed at Samhain. Holme II may be an enclosure for the body of one such ‘sacral king’. These hypotheses are considered, using abductive reasoning, as ‘inferences to the best explanations’ from the available evidence. They are supported with environmental data, astronomic and biological evidence, regional folklore, toponymy, and an ethnographic analogy with indigenous Late Iron Age practices that indirect evidence indicates were undertaken in EBA Britain. Cultural and religious continuity is supported by textual sources, the material record and ancient DNA (aDNA) studies.

The Role of the RPD3 Complex of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Yeast in the Activation of UV-Induced Expression of RNR Complex Genes

Reparative chromatin assembly is an important step in maintaining the stability of the genome. Proper chromatin assembly is provided by histone chaperones. Violation of the function of these proteins can lead to the development of various forms of cancer and to a number of hereditary diseases in humans. One of the key processes in the reparative assembly of chromatin is acetylation and deacetylation of histones, complexes NuB4 and RPD3. Results presented in this work demonstrate that inactivation of Rpd3 and Sin3 subunits of the RPD3 complex blocks super activation of RNR3 gene. The phenotypes of rpd3Δ and sin3Δ mutants differ due to different activation of Rad53 kinase in these mutants, which may be due to deacetylation of Rad53 by Rpd3 deacetylase. Our findings revealed that the contribution of deacetylation of Rad53 kinase makes a significant contribution to the regulation hyperactivation RNR complex after UV irradiation. In addition, this work provides indirect evidence that the Him1 protein may participate as a histone chaperone in chromatin repair assembly.

ЕЛЕКТРОФІЗИЧНІ ПРОЦЕСИ У КОМПОЗИТНИХ НАПІВПРОВІДНИХ ЕКРАНАХ ТА ЇХНІЙ ВПЛИВ НА ДІЕЛЕКТРИЧНІ ПАРАМЕТРИ СИЛОВИХ ВИСОКОВОЛЬТНИХ КАБЕЛІВ

The methodology for modelling the percolation process in semiconductor shields of power high-voltage cables is proposed. The semiconductor screen is represented by a two-dimensional lattice model with a polymer matrix filled with conductive carbon black particles. Model matrix's of the composite, depending on the probability of filling and the concentration of the conductive filler, agree with micrographs of the distribution of soot in the polyethylene matrix of the semiconducting screen of the power cable. Taking into account the stochastic of the percolation process, the concentration range of the conductive filler, which determines the flow threshold in the presented model, was determined. Disturbances are observed on the experimental time dependence of the absorption current of the power cable, which is indirect evidence of the accumulation of surface charges at the interface between the semiconductor screen and high-voltage polymer insulation. The time dependences of the electric capacity and the tangent of the dielectric loss angle at a frequency of 120 Hz confirm the stochastic nature of the process of accumulation of surface charges. This process causes a time-delayed interphase polarization in power high-voltage cables. References 36, figure 5.

An Overview of the Effects of Tenapanor on Visceral Hypersensitivity in the Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Constipation.

Patients with irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) experience persistent abdominal pain, a common symptom leading to greater healthcare utilization and reports of treatment non-response. Clinically significant improvements in abdominal pain were observed in clinical trials of tenapanor, a first-in-class inhibitor of sodium/hydrogen exchanger isoform 3 (NHE3), for the treatment of IBS-C in adults. This narrative review reports the current knowledge about visceral hypersensitivity as a mechanism for abdominal pain in patients with IBS-C and explores the published evidence for hypothesized mechanisms by which tenapanor may reduce visceral hypersensitivity leading to the observed clinical response of decreased abdominal pain. Abdominal pain is experienced through activation and signaling of nociceptive dorsal root ganglia that innervate the gut. These sensory afferent neurons may become hypersensitized through signaling of transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1), resulting in reduced action potential thresholds. TRPV1 signaling is also a key component of the proinflammatory cascade involving mast cell responses to macromolecule exposure following permeation through the intestinal epithelium. Indirect evidence of this pathway is supported by observations of higher pain in association with increased intestinal permeability in patients with IBS. Tenapanor reduces intestinal sodium absorption, leading to increased water retention in the intestinal lumen, thereby improving gastrointestinal motility. In animal models of visceral hypersensitivity, tenapanor normalized visceromotor responses and normalized TRPV1-mediated nociceptive signaling. By improving gastrointestinal motility, decreasing intestinal permeability and inflammation, and normalizing nociception through decreased TRPV1 signaling, tenapanor may reduce visceral hypersensitivity, leading to less abdominal pain in patients with IBS-C. Therapies that have demonstrated effects on visceral hypersensitivity may be the future direction for meaningful abdominal pain relief for patients with IBS-C.

Does the Relationship between Age and Brain Structure Differ in Youth with Conduct Disorder?

Conduct disorder (CD) is characterised by persistent antisocial and aggressive behaviour and typically emerges in childhood or adolescence. Although several authors have proposed that CD is a neurodevelopmental disorder, very little evidence is available about brain development in this condition. Structural brain alterations have been observed in CD, and some indirect evidence for delayed brain maturation has been reported. However, no detailed analysis of age-related changes in brain structure in youth with CD has been conducted. Using cross-sectional MRI data, this study aimed to explore differences in brain maturation in youth with CD versus healthy controls to provide further understanding of the neurodevelopmental processes underlying CD. 291 CD cases (153 males) and 379 healthy controls (160 males) aged 9–18 years (Mage = 14.4) were selected from the European multisite FemNAT-CD study. Structural MRI scans were analysed using surface-based morphometry followed by application of the ENIGMA quality control protocols. An atlas-based approach was used to investigate group differences and test for group-by-age and group-by-age-by-sex interactions in cortical thickness, surface area and subcortical volumes. Relative to healthy controls, the CD group showed lower surface area across frontal, temporal and parietal regions as well as lower total surface area. No significant group-by-age or group-by-age-by-sex interactions were observed on any brain structure measure. These findings suggest that CD is associated with lower surface area across multiple cortical regions, but do not support the idea that CD is associated with delayed brain maturation, at least within the age bracket considered here.

Gandhak Potash Blast: An Actual Sitting Over the Powder Keg—A Case Report

An explosive is a container that is filled with material that will explode when it is thrown or dropped, or when a device inside it makes it explode. Many materials can be used in making up of a bomb individually or when mixed with some other chemical. The type of explosive that gets misused most commonly are those used in manufacturing and other commercial applications due to their easy accessibility to public. Improper handling and inattentive behavior toward the explosives can lead to disastrous circumstances. Here we report such a case in which a 30-year-old male took rocks of potassium sulphate (called Gandhak Potash in the local vernacular language) and struck them with a metallic pestle, which triggered an explosion. The distal phalanges of both hands were found traumatically amputated. Stippling effect due to unburnt powdered explosive substance were present over the head, face, chest, and anteromedial aspect of legs. He died within few hours after the blast. Different type of mechanical injuries and injuries to the internal organs can be sustained over the body due to effects of explosion as we’ve seen in our case, that is, abrasion, contusion, lacerations, fractures, burn injury and such pattern of injury, and specific injuries sustained due to pressure effect like blast lung along with circumstantial evidence helps in deciding the manner of death.

Integrated stable S isotope, microbial and hydrochemical analysis of hydrogen sulphide origin in groundwater from the Legnica-Głogów Copper District, Poland

Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) was first reported in 2010 in an underground mining area of the Legnica-Głogów Copper District (LGCD). However, during the deposit exploration and exploitation stage in 1970, H2S was not detected. Previous studies have not indicated the origin of H2S in LGCD mine waters. Indirect evidence has suggested that, most likely, H2S migrated with the groundwater from the Main Dolomite aquifer to the mine galleries through cracks in the separating anhydrite and halite layers resulting from long-term mining operations. Interdisciplinary studies have been conducted to confirm this hypothesis. Investigations of the δ34S in H2S of 12 groundwater samples taken from leakages from cracks in galleries and drilled boreholes showed high isotopic similarity to H2S in natural gas and S-organic compounds of oil from petroleum reservoirs in the Main Dolomite unit, where this gas was generated in high volumes mainly as a result of thermochemical sulphate reduction (TSR). Microbial investigations of mine water indicated the presence of Desulfitobacterales, Desulfobacterales, Desulfotomaculales, Desulfovibrionales, and Desulfuromonadia as possible indicators of contact between the analysed water and rocks inhabited by sulphur-reducing bacteria and Halothiobacillales, as an indicator of contact between water and salt. Hydrochemical analysis revealed that water flowing out of mine galleries and boreholes has a higher salinity than groundwater that is naturally associated with the horizon where mines operate; this phenomenon is associated with H2S occurrence. This investigation confirmed the hypothesis that the H2S in the LGCD mines originates mainly from the Main Dolomite aquifer. Furthermore, this study confirms that a multifaceted approach is necessary to answer complex geochemical questions in mining.

X-ray standing wave characterization of the strong metal-support interaction in Co/TiOx model catalysts.

The strong metal-support interaction (SMSI) is a phenomenon observed in supported metal catalyst systems in which reducible metal oxide supports can form overlayers over the surface of active metal nanoparticles (NPs) under a hydrogen (H2) environment at elevated temperatures. SMSI has been shown to affect catalyst performance in many reactions by changing the type and number of active sites on the catalyst surface. Laboratory methods for the analysis of SMSI at the nanoparticle-ensemble level are lacking and mostly based on indirect evidence, such as gas chemisorption. Here, we demonstrate the possibility to detect and characterize SMSIs in Co/TiOx model catalysts using the laboratory X-ray standing wave (XSW) technique for a large ensemble of NPs at the bulk scale. We designed a thermally stable MoNx/SiNx periodic multilayer to retain XSW generation after reduction with H2 gas at 600°C. The model catalyst system was synthesized here by deposition of a thin TiOx layer on top of the periodic multilayer, followed by Co NP deposition via spare ablation. A partial encapsulation of Co NPs by TiOx was identified by analyzing the change in Ti atomic distribution. This novel methodological approach can be extended to observe surface restructuring of model catalysts in situ at high temperature (up to 1000°C) and pressure (≤3 mbar), and can also be relevant for fundamental studies in the thermal stability of membranes, as well as metallurgy.

Mental health services in Gauteng, South Africa: A proxy evaluation using pharmaceutical data.

South African legislation advocates for equitable access to mental healthcare services integrated into general healthcare settings. Mental, neurological, and substance use (MNS) disorders are often comorbid. Pharmacoepidemiology provides indirect evidence of service provision for conditions amenable to medicine treatment. The study aims to evaluate medicine procurement for MNS disorders at different service levels in the health system. The Public health sector, Gauteng province formed the setting for the study. A secondary analysis of the Gauteng pharmaceutical database was conducted using Anatomic Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) and defined daily dose (DDD) methodology. Anatomic Therapeutic Chemical classes of medicines for MNS disorders were included. Defined daily doses and costs were calculated per 1000 population served by each facility and service level. Statistical comparisons were made using chi-square testing. General healthcare settings accounted for 90% (R118 638 248) and specialised hospitals for 10% (R13 685 032) of expenditure on medicines for MNS disorders, procuring 94% (n = 49 442 474) and 6% (n = 3 311 528) of DDDs, respectively. Although district clinics procured 60% of DDDs, they procured the least per 1000 population served, whereas district hospitals procured the most. For almost all ATC classes, procurement differed significantly between municipalities at every service level and between specialised hospitals. In Gauteng province, most medicines for MNS disorders are procured by general healthcare services, but access to care may not be equitable. While population coverage at district clinics appears low, district hospitals may experience the greatest care burden. Research regarding quality of care at each service level is recommended. This study provides insight into service provision for MNS disorders.

Determining the manner of death in victims in drug-induced psychosis: a case of an atypical head stab wound.

This case report presents a rare case of an atypical head stab wound suffered by a drug addict and inflicted with a screwdriver during drug-induced psychosis. It describes the diagnostic and treatment procedures in the hospital and the findings of the subsequent autopsy. It also analyzes the review of the interpretation of the CT scans made upon admission and the subsequent treatment by an independent medical review panel, which revealed signs of medical mismanagement. Therefore, it also discusses the legal consequences that the case may have involved for the attending physicians in addition to the consequences for the suspected perpetrator. The report raises many issues encountered in the case in terms of the clinical treatment and forensic determination of the manner of death in cases of injuries caused by sharp instruments and highlights the importance of comprehensive evaluation of the circumstantial evidence together with the clinical or autopsy findings, since such evidence may sometimes be overlooked in clinical practice.

Shipwrecked on the Rock, or Not Quite: Gypsophytes and Edaphic Islands.

Species-area relationships (SAR) constitute a key aspect of ecological theory and are integral to other scientific disciplines, such as biogeography, which have played a crucial role in advancing biology. The theory of insular biogeography provides a clear example. This theory initially expanded from true islands to other types of systems characterized by their insularity. One such approach was linked to geoedaphic islands, as seen in gypsum outcrops. While these continental areas have been considered insular systems, only limited and mostly indirect evidence thereof has been provided. This study utilized SAR to advance the understanding of gypsum outcrops as insular continental territories. It is hereby hypothesized that gypsum outcrops are edaphic islands, although their insular nature depends on the different functional or ecological plant types, and this nature will be reflected in the potential Arrhenius model z values. The results obtained support both hypotheses and provide insight into the ecological factors that help interpret the insularity of these areas. This interpretation goes beyond their mere extent and the distance among outcrops, emphasizing the importance of environmental filters. Said filters vary in permeability depending on the degree of gypsophily, or preference for gypsum, exhibited by different species.

On convection vive in mixing-controlled combustion with thermal barrier coatings

Thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) could improve the efficiency of internal combustion engines by reducing heat losses. TBC modeling has demonstrated efficiency gains at all loads in compression ignition, including in gasoline compression ignition (GCI). However, after GCI testing of 13 coated pistons of various materials, thicknesses, and surface preparations in this work, a clear trend was observed: TBCs result in an efficiency gain at 6 bar IMEPn (low load) and an efficiency penalty at 15 bar IMEPn (high load). This can be explained by “convective vive”, which was originally presented by Woschni for engines with TBCs. Convection vive refers to a reduction in the quench distance of a reacting flame when the quenching surface temperature is elevated, resulting in an increased heat transfer coefficient and heat transfer rate despite the lower temperature difference between the gas and the wall. Although this work is unable to provide direct experimental evidence for convection vive, several experiments were performed to rule out alternate theories including differences in heat release rate, radiation heat transfer, combustion chamber deposits, and surface catalytic effects. Experiments also showed that at 6 bar IMEPn, injection pressure did not impact the performance of the TBC compared to the metal baseline, but at 15 bar IMEPn, the efficiency penalty increased with rail pressure. These results provide indirect evidence of convection vive: as the surface temperature of the TBC increases with load past a threshold, the quench distance decreases to the point where exothermic reactions can occur in the boundary layer, which raises the convective heat transfer coefficient. This implies that in mixing controlled combustion systems, the TBC should not be present on combustion chamber surfaces that experience high fuel-wall interaction during combustion.

Why Down-managing Backlog Forensic DNA Case Entries Matters

Forensic laboratories face a backlog of case files, affecting service delivery, causing delays. Forensic laboratories face a backlog of case ϐiles, affecting service delivery and causing delays. The backlog points to underfunding, poor planning, and inadequate support, hindering deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) analysis. Resolving casework backlogs may initially seem like a straightforward and attainable measure to improve the arrest of offenders and promote justice. Longer turnaround times impede investigative leads, emphasising the need for efficient strategies and a comprehensive approach to address and prevent backlogs in forensic laboratories. No study has been published on the forensic DNA backlogs in South Africa. The article explicitly addresses one aspect of a Doctor of Philosophy study and aims to ascertain the impact of backlogs of forensic DNA case entries. The study article’s research questions included the following: “What cases are considered as backlog?”; “What is the current backlog in forensic DNA case entries in South Africa?” and “What are the main reasons for the backlog of cases involving forensic DNA?” The prompt processing of DNA evidence is vital not only for safeguarding individuals falsely accused of crimes based on circumstantial evidence but also for adding prosecutors and providing justice for crime victims.

Heuvelmans the Heretic and Hidden Animals

Cryptozoology seeks to study ‘hidden animals’ by separating ‘metaphors and similes’ from possible underlying insight. Variously described as a science, pseudoscience, or fringe field, cryptozoology may be viewed under the lenses of both heterodox science and orthodox science. Cryptozoology is heterodox in its unconventional methods and strategy; its ‘fuzzy’ data in the form of circumstantial and testimonial evidence; and its mostly amateur investigators. Cryptozoology also borrows from orthodox science, and in recent years may have influenced orthodox science: traditional ecological knowledge, pioneered in cryptozoology, is beginning to enter ‘mainstream’ scientific research, and these data have facilitated recent zoological (re)discoveries. Some contemporary cryptozoological studies have also applied more orthodox and rigorous statistical methodology. Controversial photographic taxonomy has been applied in both crypto- and conventional zoology, and cryptozoology has been investigated by qualified scientists at reputable institutions and in reputable academic journals. Cryptozoological methods, when applied more scrupulously, may have some unrealised scientific potential.

Unveiling the impact of housing debt on entrepreneurship: Evidence from China

AbstractDespite extensive research on the impact of various factors on entrepreneurship, the role of housing debt remains underexplored, particularly in emerging economies. Using data from the China Household Finance Survey (CHFS), this study identifies a significant negative effect of housing debt on entrepreneurship after controlling for a comprehensive set of individual and household characteristics, as well as regional and year fixed effects. To delve deeper into the underlying mechanisms, we present direct evidence that housing debt amplifies risk aversion while imposing capital and credit constraints. Furthermore, we offer indirect evidence suggesting that housing debt exerts a stronger negative impact on employer entrepreneurship than on self‐employment entrepreneurship, and a more pronounced negative effect on active entrepreneurship compared to passive entrepreneurship. Overall, this study addresses gaps in research on the impact of housing debt on entrepreneurship and provides insights into the underlying mechanisms by revealing how housing debt amplifies risk aversion, imposes capital and credit constraints, and disproportionately affects employer entrepreneurship over self‐employment entrepreneurship, as well as active entrepreneurship over passive entrepreneurship.