Rapid Rise Research Articles

Social inclusion gone wrong: the divisive implementation of the Temporary Protection Directive in Ireland

There were 96,338 Personal Public Service Numbers (PPSNs) given to people from Ukraine who arrived in Ireland under the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) before October 2023. From the end of 2022 into 2023, there was also a rapid rise of far-right anti-refugee rhetoric in Ireland. We analysed how TPD policy, the Irish political discourse around it and its implementation through national institutions and local communities affected TPD beneficiaries and other groups in Ireland. This study used a combination of qualitative analysis of a governmental debate on the housing needs of TPD beneficiaries and ethnographic observations gathered while the authors worked to support the needs of TPD beneficiaries. We provide an explanation of how the TPD implementation in Ireland resulted in the social exclusion of its beneficiaries despite aiming for streamlined integration. In addition, the shortcomings in the TPD implementation had negative effects on different groups within Irish society. We use the 3N model—Narratives, Networks, and Needs to explain how the data and trends that we documented at different levels of analysis—national, intergroup and intragroup, and individual—were interconnected. This paper is focused on the first of the three studies in the ongoing research project and primarily addresses the Narratives (i.e., policy and its implementation, political discourse) while connecting them with some observed social inclusion/exclusion outcomes on the Networks and Needs dimensions. We explain how political Narratives influenced TPD implementation and the different actors involved in this process: public service providers, the general public, and TPD beneficiaries in Ireland. The uncoordinated implementation of accommodation provision led to serious disruptions of TPD beneficiaries' Networks. This hindered individuals' access to services which resulted in individual Needs remaining unmet. We also documented how racialised elements underlying the EU TPD contributed to exclusionary mechanisms within the TPD implementation in Ireland and how that created a double standard in service provision.

Immune reconstitution and evolution of B-cell–stimulating cytokines after R-CHOP therapy for HIV-associated DLBCL

AbstractHIV infection is associated with an increased risk of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). In this prospective study, we analyzed the evolution of B-cell activating cytokines (interleukin-6 [IL-6], IL-10, and B-cell activating factor [BAFF]) and main functional subsets of circulating B and T cells in 51 patients with HIV-associated DLBCL treated with R-CHOP. R-CHOP therapy was associated with a decrease of IL-10, whereas IL-6 levels fluctuated, and BAFF levels increased during the first 3 months and decreased thereafter. We observed a rapid rise in CD19+ B cells composed mostly of naïve B cells whereas marginal zone–like B cells and memory B cells recovered gradually. With a median follow-up of 41 months, progression-free survival and overall survival at 5 years were 61.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 47.6-80.4) and 67.4% (95% CI, 53.4-85.0), respectively. Progression (17.5%) and sepsis (12.5%) were the main causes of death. Baseline risk factors for death and progression were poor revised International Prognostic Index (P = .049), natural killer cell lymphopenia (P = .001), lower proportion of naïve B cells (P = .017), and higher IL-6 serum levels (P = .001). Our data suggest that patients treated with R-CHOP for HIV-associated DLBCL have a disturbed peripheral B-cell compartment and that the low pool size of circulating naïve B cells negatively affects their clinical outcome. In an era of development of B-cell–depleting therapies including B-cell–targeting chimeric antigen receptor T cells, assessment of perturbations within nontumoral B-cell counterparts are warranted for risk profiling in HIV-associated DLBCL. This trial was registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov as #NCT01164436.

Rare earth elements as indicators of post-Marinoan (∼635 Ma) paleoceanographic changes from the Amazon Craton

The extensive deglaciation linked to the Snowball Earth climate that elapsed in the terminal Neoproterozoic caused dramatic changes in ocean chemistry, exceptionally recorded in globally distributed cap carbonate successions. One of the most spectacular examples is the Puga cap carbonate (∼635 Ma), which is exposed in the Amazon Craton and associated with extensive sea level changes related to glacial-isostatic adjustment and local ice gravity, resulting in continuously mixed waters. This study meticulously evaluates complex post-Marinoan dynamics using a comprehensive multiproxy approach. The rare earth element + yttrium (REE+Y) patterns in the Puga cap carbonate do not accurately reflect the global ocean water composition; instead, they primarily fractionate in response to local expression of the post-Snowball Earth event, including alkalinity levels and freshwater mixing in the aftermath of the Marinoan glaciation. The flattened REE+Y pattern, accompanied by a positive Eu anomaly, may suggest the influence of continental weathering. Specifically, low Y/Ho ratios in the cap dolostone are consistent with seawater dilution due to meltwater influx (Y/Ho ∼ 29–32). Conversely, superchondritic Y/Ho ratios up to 71 in the basal cap dolostones suggest upwelling of hypersaline seawater in coastal areas. The shallow-water recurrence influenced by ice gravity resulted in continuous coastal uplift, forming isolated shelves and the deformation in diamicton, resulting in irregular substrate relief morphologies. This post-glaciation scenario was succeeded by significant landward shoreline migration concomitant with rapid recovery of primary productivity, with large microbial communities flourishing, inducing dolomite precipitation under restricted paleoenvironmental conditions on dolomitic platforms. The rapid rise in sea level led to the dilution of evaporative fluids, ultimately halting dolomicrite precipitation. Following the pos-tglacial transgression, the stratified waters gradually became more mixed, resulting in the termination of dolomitic platform deposition and coinciding with an increase in detrital components, as indicated by the increase of insoluble elements (e.g., REE, Zr, and Th), followed by abrupt replacement by CaCO3-oversaturated seas during the post-glacial transgression. These observations elucidate the interplay between post-glaciation and paleoceanographic dynamics during the Cryogenian-Ediacaran boundary.

CeO2:ZnO hybrid nanorods for self-powered UV-photodetectors

In this study we present and discuss p-n heterostructures for photodetection. The hybrid structures consist of CeO2:ZnO-Cu2O, featuring different concentrations of CeO2, fabricated by using hydrothermal co-growth for CeO2 and ZnO, and sputtering deposition for Cu2O. As the concentration of CeO2 in the ZnO pristine nanorods was increased, the structural, optical and functional features of the materials showed relevant changes, in terms of crystalline domains and optical bandgap. After Cu2O deposition, the ternary materials were tested as UV photodectors, showing very good performance in terms of fast response and decay times. Specifically, we found that the CeO2:ZnO-Cu2O devices maintain a stable current under light irradiation, whose value was dependent on the CeO2 amount incorporated in the ZnO 1D nanostructures. Among all tested configurations, the 5.5 % hybrid CeO2:ZnO-Cu2O exhibits the highest current efficiency, accompanied by rapid rise and decay times. Our investigation suggests that the CeO2:ZnO-Cu2O configuration holds great potential for optoelectronic applications, particularly in the development of UV photodetectors.

Characterization of Residual Dispersion in High Water Cut Reservoir

Abstract Minghua Formation in Gangdong Oilfield belongs to high permeability reservoir. The dispersion degree of residual oil is a very important production target. The dominant reserves in reservoirs are extracted by the abundance parameters of residual dominant reserves. The residual oil dispersion degree is characterized by the index of unit area, distribution density and shape index, and the weight of each index is determined by the entropy weight method. Finally, the residual oil fraction is formed. The results show that for a stable reservoir, the residual oil dispersion in different development stages include the following stages: rising, rapid rising, fluctuating downward and secondary rising. The characterization index is used to evaluate the Nm3-4-1 formation of Gangdong oilfield. The residual oil dispersion of the formation increases steadily with the development. At present, the residual oil dispersion begins to decrease. The new characterization method of residual oil dispersion effectively reflects the stage effect of reservoirs and provides a basis for improving oil recovery.

Experimental study on the formation and evolution of unconfined counter-helicity spheromaks merging using magnetized coaxial plasma gun

The formation and evolution of unconfined counter-helicity spheromaks merging have been experimentally investigated by using a magnetized coaxial plasma gun. By comparing the time-dependent photodiode signals and plasma radiation images of counter-helicity spheromaks merging and plasma jets merging, it is found that the field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasma formed by counter-helicity spheromaks merging has a distinct contour and a long maintenance time. For plasma jets merging, the resulting plasma has no discernible contours and a shorter lifetime. In addition, it is inferred from these data that stagnation heating and magnetic reconnection events occur during the counter-helicity spheromaks merging, causing a rapid rise in plasma pressure at the merging midplane and sharp kinks in the field lines near the merger region. By changing different operating parameters and observing the impact on the merger characteristics, it is suggested that the qualitative dynamics of the FRC plasma depends on the balance between the plasma pressure and the magnetic pressure. The high discharge voltage breaks the equilibrium in the merged body, while the large gas-puffed mass just weakens the compression effect of the merged body. These results give us an intuitive understanding of the counter-helicity spheromak merger process and its dependence on discharge parameters, and also provide a distinct perspective for the optimal design of FRC.

Canard explosions in turbulent thermo-fluid systems.

A sudden transition to a state of high-amplitude periodic oscillations is catastrophic in a thermo-fluid system. Conventionally, upon varying the control parameter, a sudden transition is observed as an abrupt jump in the amplitude of the fluctuations in these systems. In contrast, we present an experimental discovery of a canard explosion in a turbulent reactive flow system where we observe a continuous bifurcation with a rapid rise in the amplitude of the fluctuations within a narrow range of control parameters. The observed transition is facilitated via a state of bursting, consisting of the epochs of large amplitude periodic oscillations amidst the epochs of low-amplitude periodic oscillations. The amplitude of the bursts is higher than the amplitude of the bursts of an intermittency state in a conventional gradual transition, as reported in turbulent reactive flow systems. During the bursting state, we observe that temperature fluctuations of the exhaust gas vary at a slower time scale in correlation with the amplitude envelope of the bursts. We also present a phenomenological model for thermoacoustic systems to describe the observed canard explosion. Using the model, we explain that the large amplitude bursts occur due to the slow-fast dynamics at the bifurcation regime of the canard explosion.

Research on the Evaluation of Competitiveness of Steel Industry Enterprises

The steel industry, as a fundamental industry in the organic development framework of China's economy, has been facing the long-standing problems of production exceeding consumption, high asset liability ratio, severe product homogenization competition, and high pollution and carbon emissions in the production process in recent times. At the same time, due to the impact of the sluggish demand caused by the COVID-19, the rapid rise in the cost of raw materials such as iron ore, and the gradual disappearance of a series of policy dividends such as supply side reform, the financial situation of steel enterprises is becoming more and more pessimistic. How to cope with the increasing financial risks and gain competitive advantages through strengthening financial competitiveness in the fierce market competition has become a major issue that China's steel enterprises urgently need to solve. This article selects steel industry enterprises as the research object for analysis. By reviewing relevant literature on enterprise competitiveness, the relevant concepts of enterprise competitiveness are extracted, and the research results and evaluation system are organized. Based on factor analysis, 16 targeted indicators are selected based on scale, efficiency, growth, operational capacity, debt paying capacity, and research and development capacity. An analysis model is constructed and analysis conclusions are drawn. In the analysis results, problems are identified regarding the poor competitiveness of steel industry enterprises. The following research results were obtained: 1) The overall competitiveness score of enterprises in the industry is not high, all less than 1. Among them, operational capability has the greatest impact on the competitiveness of steel industry enterprises, followed by scale, debt paying ability, efficiency, research and development ability, and growth. 2) The worst scoring indicators among the six enterprise competitiveness indicators are the scale indicator and the growth indicator. There is a significant gap in industry scale, with 12 companies scoring positive in the scale factor, accounting for 34.29% of the industry; The scale factor score of 23 enterprises is negative, with an industry proportion of 65.71%. In addition, there are growth indicators, with 12 companies in the industry having positive growth factor scores and 23 companies having negative growth factor scores, indicating a significant head effect on overall growth capacity.

Morphological variation in first-formed shells of the Ordovician Paucicrura–Diceromyonia brachiopod lineage of North America

Abstract First-formed shells of several species of Dalmanellidae (Brachiopoda) from the Ordovician (Katian) of North America were measured and compared: Cincinnetina multisecta, Diceromyonia tersa, Diceromyonia storeya, Paucicrura corpulenta, Paucicrura rogata, and Paucicrura sillimani. Sizes and structures of the first-formed shells suggest that members of this family had planktotrophic subadults, with some species showing indications of only an unshelled larval stage and others showing both a larval stage and a shelled juvenile stage. This differs from modern rhynchonelliformean brachiopods, which all possess only a lecithotrophic larval stage. The range of sizes of first-formed shells of most studied species are similar, but P. sillimani of Baffin Island, Canada (middle Katian), has a significantly larger first-formed shell that formed during an extended juvenile stage. This may have enabled the species to colonize newly exploitable habitats during an interval of rapid sea level rise in Laurentia during the Katian. This plasticity of developmental modes in the Dalmanellidae shows not only that using distantly related modern brachiopods as an analog for extinct Paleozoic lineages may be misleading, but also that development can vary within a single lineage and that timing of developmental stages should not be considered a reliable character for use in phylogenetic studies of brachiopods.

A Survey of Quantitative Techniques in Electricity Consumption—A Global Perspective

This study uses the Scopus and Web of Science databases to review quantitative methods to forecast electricity consumption from 2015 to 2024. Using the PRISMA approach, 175 relevant publications were identified from an initial set of 821 documents and subsequently subjected to bibliometric analysis. This analysis examined publication trends, citation metrics, and collaboration patterns across various countries and institutions. Over the period analyzed, the number of articles has steadily increased, with a more rapid rise observed after 2020. Although China dominates this research field, strong bibliographic coupling worldwide indicates significant international collaboration. The study suggests that no single method consistently outperforms others across all contexts and that forecasting methods should be adapted to regional contexts, considering specific economic, social, and environmental factors. Furthermore, we emphasize that review papers should compare methods and results regarding both time horizon and temporal resolution, as these aspects are crucial for the accuracy and applicability of the forecasts.

Phage therapy: A novel approach against multidrug-resistant pathogens.

The rapid rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms has created a critical need for alternative treatment options. Phage therapy is gaining attention as an effective way to fight bacterial infections by using lytic bacteriophages to specifically target and kill harmful bacteria. This review discusses several phage therapeutic options and emphasizes new developments in phage biology. Phage treatment has proven to be successful against MDR bacteria, as evidenced by multiple human clinical trials that indicate favorable results in treating a range of diseases caused by these pathogens. Despite these promising results, challenges such as phage resistance, regulatory hurdles, and the need for standardized treatment protocols remain. To effectively combat MDR bacterial infections, future research must focus on enhancing phage effectiveness, guaranteeing safety for human usage and incorporating phage therapy into clinical practice.

Perinatal Transmission of Dengue in a Neonate: A Case Report

Vertical transmission of dengue is rare. However, the rapid rise of dengue infection is a risk in pregnancy which can lead to preterm delivery, low birth weight, stillbirth, miscarriage, neonatal morbidity and mortality. Here, we present a case of perinatal transmission of dengue in a term neonate who presented with fever on second day of life and desaturation without respiratory distress. Laboratory findings showed thrombocytopenia, dengue Ag NS1/IgM positive and treatment was started. There was positive maternal history of dengue 10 days prior to delivery. Hence, early investigations with prompt interventions was done leading to uneventful recovery.

To Explore the Cultivation of Independent Learning Ability of Students Majoring in New Media from the Perspective of Lide Shuren

With the continuous development of network technology and the rapid rise of the new media industry, higher requirements are put forward for the independent learning ability of the new media major students. In this paper, under the guidance of khalid ents education concept, through the network environment analyzes the current situation of the new media professional students autonomous learning ability, put forward the corresponding training strategies and methods, and the construction of the evaluation mechanism of autonomous learning ability is discussed, in order to provide new media professional students autonomous learning ability training theoretical reference and practical guidance.

POSTOPERATIVE HYPOTHERMIA CONTROL: EFFECT OF ELECTRIC AND WOOLLEN BLANKET

Postoperative hypothermia is very common in elderly patients. It causes severe surgical complications resulting in depletion of reserves in total knee arthroplasty(TKA) patients. Normothermia should, therefore, be maintained in those patients. Purpose was to determine the effect of using both electric and woolen blankets on the management of postoperative hypothermia in TKA patients. This experimental study was conducted in a public hospital in Turkey. The study sample consisted of 46 patients equally divided into two groups. Experimental participants used both electric and wool blankets while control participants received routine care. Body temperature, feeling cold, and shivering were repeatedly measured before and after surgery. Control participants had significantly higher body temperatures in their rooms after surgery and in the first 15 minutes than experimental participants. Experimental participants showed a more rapid rise in body temperature than control participants. Using both wool and electric blankets increased body temperature.

Beyond “Pressure”: Peer Influences on e-Cigarette Use in Young Australian Narratives of Vaping

Background In the early 2020s, Australian media and public health organizations described the rapid rise in youth e-cigarette uptake, portraying this as a “peer pressure” problem wherein vulnerable young people were being led or bullied into vaping by the “cool” kids. Yet, the peer pressure framing of vaping fails to account for young people's rituals of nicotine consumption and ways social drug economies are organized. Methods In 2023, we conducted qualitative interviews and ethnographic research with 24 young people ages 17 to 25, both vapers and nonvapers, in New South Wales, Australia. We investigated their embodied experiences of vaping, observations of peers’ vaping practices, and beliefs about vaping policy. We analyzed their accounts for themes and here report our findings, illustrated with participants’ quotes and an ethnographic portrait of a Sydney high school vape seller. Results The notion that young people are “pressured” into vaping lacked emic meaning for our participants. Their accounts reveal three ways that vaping is social beyond “pressure.” First, social vape market offers entrepreneurial teens money-earning opportunities, mediated by social networks and markers of peer esteem, prestige, and trust. Second, vapes are exchanged as both gifts and commodities in sharing economies, offering social opportunities and scripts for recreational interactions. Third, e-cigarettes as material objects provide esthetic and gustatory pleasures that are both individually enjoyed and socially performed in rituals of taste and display. Discussion These three perspectives on the sociality of vaping help nuance our understanding of how and why young people vape, and also suggest why public health outreach efforts may not be effective when they reduce youth vaping uptake to peer pressure. As youth vape use is on the rise in Australia, these perspectives matter for understanding this important social phenomenon and may help policy development move beyond simplifications of youth cultural motivations.

Beyond Antibiotics: What the Future Holds.

The prevalence of multidrug resistance (MDR) and stagnant drug-development pipelines have led to the rapid rise of hard-to-treat antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. These infectious diseases are no longer just nosocomial but are also becoming community-acquired. The spread of MDR has reached a crisis level that needs immediate attention. The landmark O'Neill report projects that by 2050, mortality rates associated with MDR bacterial infections will surpass mortality rates associated with individuals afflicted with cancer. Since conventional antimicrobials are no longer very reliable, it is of great importance to investigate different strategies to combat these life-threatening infectious diseases. Here, we provide an overview of recent advances in viable alternative treatment strategies mainly targeting a pathogen's virulence capability rather than viability. Topics include small molecule and immune inhibition of virulence factors, quorum sensing (QS) quenching, inhibition of biofilm development, bacteriophage-mediated therapy, and manipulation of an individual's macroflora to combat MDR bacterial infections.

Tunnels of power: The cultural politics of the Beijing subway

Abstract This article investigates the cultural politics of the Beijing subway. Drawing on diverse sources, we trace the evolution of the subway over the last half-century to reveal that it transcends its fluctuating, time-specific practicalities to serve as a potent conduit through which the Chinese state consistently shapes subjecthood. The article begins with the subway’s Cold War inception as a military enterprise, spotlighting its deliberate concealment to safeguard the echelons of power and obscure both international and domestic tensions. The second section delves into the subway’s rebirth in the wake of China’s opening-up reform and rapid economic rise, as it transforms into a mobile gallery of political aesthetics that extols China’s cultural heritage and triumphs, cultivating national pride under siege from unleashed market and social forces. The final section dissects the subway’s orchestration of undesirable passengers, sculpting a socioeconomic hierarchy in the city’s commuting system. As a multifaceted prism, the Beijing subway encapsulates a range of covert and overt, pragmatic and aesthetic, and inclusive and exclusive elements in the cultural politics of Chinese infrastructure at large; and it illustrates the sustained centrality of state power in shaping individual subjectivities and defining the cultural and representational significance of Chinese infrastructure, albeit amid growing contestation.

Numerical Simulation Study on Flue Gas-Assisted Steam Huff and Puff in Heavy Oil Reservoirs.

In response to challenges such as the rapid rise of water content, the rapid decline of periodic production, and the serious intrusion of edge and bottom water in heavy oil reservoirs after multicycle profile control, the flue gas-assisted steam huff and puff technology is proposed. By focusing on Block Cao128 in the L Oilfield as a research subject, the feasibility of applying the flue gas-assisted steam huff and puff technology in heavy oil reservoirs has been verified through the establishment of a three-dimensional geological model. Additionally, the injection and production parameters in steam huff and puff have been optimized. The research results indicate that when the cyclic steam injection volume is 1000 t, the maximum net oil increment can be achieved, reaching 6308 × 104 t. Furthermore, when the cyclic flue gas injection volume is 9 × 104 Nm3, the efficacy of the flue gas-assisted steam huff and puff is enhanced. The optimal injection method is to inject flue gas in the early stage of steam huff and puff, and the oil-gas ratio is increased to 1.77. The introduction of flue gas can enhance production significantly and exert a significant impact on early-stage production. The earlier the injection time of flue gas, the better the development effect. Flue gas-assisted steam huff and puff technology improves energy utilization efficiency and reduces pollutant emission. It has a significant positive impact on environmental protection and sustainable development.

From Speech to Feed: How Parliamentary Debates Shape Party Agendas on Social Media‌

AbstractSocial media has become an increasingly important tool for parties to set issues on the political agenda. However, its rapid rise raises questions about the role of traditional venues such as parliaments. This study hypothesizes that parties strategically choose to initiate issues in parliamentary debates instead of on social media to establish dominance through real‐time discussions. Consequently, only after these issues are introduced and debated in parliament do parties use digital platforms like social media to reinforce them on the political agenda. Analyzing over 430,000 parliamentary speeches and 240,000 Facebook posts by parties in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, and the UK, from 2010 to 2022, the study reveals that issues discussed in parliamentary debates—primarily those raised by opposition parties—typically do not initially emerge on social media but only attract online attention after being introduced in parliament. These findings offer new insights into the strategic decisions of parties in agenda‐setting.

RNA Interference Unleashed: Current Perspective of Small Interfering RNA (siRNA) Therapeutics in the Treatment of Neuropathic Pain.

Neuropathic pain (NP) is one of the debilitating pain phenotypes that leads to the progressive degeneration of the central as well as peripheral nervous system. NP is often associated with hyperalgesia, allodynia, paresthesia, tingling, and burning sensations leading to disability, motor dysfunction, and compromised psychological state of the patients. Most of the conventional pharmacological agents are unable to improve the devastating conditions of pain because of their limited efficacy, undesirable side effects, and multifaceted pathophysiology of the diseased condition. A rapid rise in new cases of NP warrants further research for identifying the potential novel therapeutic modalities for treating NP. Recently, small interfering RNA (siRNA) approach has shown therapeutic potential in many disease conditions including NP. Delivery of siRNAs led to potential and selective downregulation of target mRNA and abolished the pain-related behaviors/pathophysiological pain response. The crucial role of siRNA in the treatment of NP by considering all of the pathways associated with NP that could be managed by siRNA therapeutics has been discussed. However, their therapeutic use is limited by several hurdles such as instability in systemic circulation due to their negative charge and membrane impermeability, off-target effects, immunogenicity, and inability to reach the intended site of action. This review also emphasizes several strategies and techniques to overcome these hurdles for translating these therapeutic siRNAs from bench to bedside by opening a new avenue for obtaining a potential therapeutic approach for treating NP.