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The Neuroeconomics of Social Influence and Contagion
No full textPeople often adjust their behaviours and preferences to align with others, a phenomenon termed social influence or social contagion. Social influence can have a profound effect on our economic preferences, with important implications for financial decision-making and making rational choices. Here, we review recent findings in neuroeconomics, elucidating the psychological, computational and neural mechanisms that underpin social influence during value-based decision-making. We examine how others’ decisions can shift our own economic preferences, regarding risk-taking, temporal discounting, effort discounting and moral preferences. Additionally, we discuss the lifespan similarities and differences in susceptibility to social influence. Finally, we cover studies revealing the neural basis of susceptibility to social influence and highlight key common brain areas across studies that could underpin these effects. We end by considering the implications of strong evidence of susceptibility to social influence on economic preferences, the challenges and opportunities of this influence and how future studies could harness it to create positive changes across the lifespan
Reframing Living Rural Heritage:Local Ontologies of Nature–Culture Symbiosis and the Challenge of Sustainable Management in Greece
Get PDFThis paper examines how entrenched dichotomies between natural/cultural and tangible/intangible heritage shape conservation policy in contexts where material, ecological, and socio-cultural dimensions are deeply interdependent. Despite calls for more integrated frameworks, limited empirical research examines how such categorical divisions operate within living rural heritage environments or how they align with community perspectives and inform conservation policies. This paper addresses this gap by analysing the persistence of rigid heritage taxonomies in officially designated traditional villages in central rural Greece exploring how heritage officials and residents perceive and value their heritage. Drawing on qualitative fieldwork across six villages—including interviews, focus groups, and consultations with heritage professionals—it demonstrates that these categorical divisions fail to reflect local understandings of heritage as a living socio-ecological system. For residents, ecological conditions, built forms, agricultural practices, and social relations are interdependent and tied to livelihoods, land stewardship, and communal identity. Findings show that the Authorized Heritage Discourse (AHD) reinforces artificial separations that are misaligned with grassroots perceptions and hinder integrated planning. This mismatch has direct implications for sustainability: governance models that fragment nature, culture, and community obscure socio-ecological processes and limit the development of meaningful sustainability strategies. By foregrounding experiential and affective dimensions of heritage, the paper advances debates on community-centred and context-responsive heritage management. It reframes rural heritage as a co-produced, evolving system of material, social, and ecological relations, positioning rural landscapes as critical arenas for addressing sustainability challenges and offering new empirical insights into an underexplored dimension of heritage research. The study further advocates for governance approaches that embed local ontologies and lived knowledge into policy and practice, fostering more inclusive, resilient, and socio-ecologically grounded heritage frameworks capable of supporting long-term sustainable development
Cardiovascular risk assessment in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies:a multicentre international study by the Myositis Audit and Research Collaborative Group
Get PDFIntroduction and Aims Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading contributor of morbidity and mortality in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM). The British Society for Rheumatology (BSR) 2022 guidelines recommend that IIM patients should undergo a regular cardiovascular risk assessment; however, many tools underestimate scores in IIM due to their sole focus on traditional risk factors. Cardiovascular Risk Score (QRISK) incorporates risk factors that are more relevant in IIM, such as corticosteroid use. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines recommend offering statin therapy for the primary prevention of CVD in patients with an estimated 10-year CVD risk of ≥10%. This study aimed to undertake an audit of cardiovascular risk assessment in a multinational cohort of patients with IIM, based on BSR and NICE recommendations. Methods A multi-centre, international retrospective chart review was conducted in IIM cohorts from centres in India, Hong Kong, Brazil, Italy, Australia, and the United Kingdom, of patients who attended clinics between 2020 and 2023. Data were collected from medical records to evaluate CVD risk using both WHO cardiovascular risk charts and QRISK3 score. Based on their risk of cardiovascular events in the next 10 years, patients were defined as high-risk (>20 %), moderate-risk (10–20 %), or low-risk (<10 %). Adherence to the BSR and NICE guidelines was evaluated.Results A total of 336 patients were included. All centres, except one, did not routinely assess CVD risk. More than a third of patients were deemed moderate-high risk for CVD as per QRISK3, although only 34 % in this group were prescribed a statin as per NICE guidelines. Disease subtype immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy was strongly associated with moderate-high risk scores (OR = 4.64; 95 %CI = 1.88–11.45, p < 0.001), as was active steroid use [OR = 1.76 (95 % CI = 1.06–2.92), p = 0.03] and dyslipidaemia [OR = 1.22 (95 % CI = 1.03–1.45), p = 0.02]. There was a moderate level of agreement between WHO and QRISK3 scores.Conclusion Over a third of patients with IIM are at moderate-high-risk of cardiovascular events in 10 years. Steroid use and dyslipidaemia were modifiable risk factors that were statistically significant predictors of risk. Despite this, there is a lack of adherence to current guidelines advising regular CVD risk assessment and use of statins for primary prevention in this moderate-high risk group.<div/
Association between COVID-19 vaccine immunogenicity and protection against infection and severe disease in clinically vulnerable patient populations:a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies
Get PDFBackground The use of measured immune responses in informing risk of breakthrough COVID-19 infection and infection outcomes after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in clinically vulnerable patients has not been applied clinically. Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the association between measured vaccine immunogenicity and vaccine effectiveness in clinically vulnerable populations. Data sources PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library. Study eligibility criteria Studies published between March 2020 and January 2025, which reported data on COVID-19 vaccine immunogenicity (antibody and T-cell) and subsequent infection outcomes. Participants Patients defined as clinically vulnerable by QCOVID criteria, who had received at least the primary course of COVID-19 vaccination. Assessment of risk of bias The Newcastle–Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale was used to assess the risk of bias. Methods of data synthesis A random effects meta-analysis model was used to pool relative risks of COVID-19 breakthrough infection (BTI), hospitalization, and death. Unadjusted data were used for the primary analysis due to the lack of adjusted data available in individual studies. Results We identified 3305 articles, of which 45 observational studies were included in the review. Negative antibody response following COVID-19 vaccination was associated with higher risks of BTI (Relative Risk (RR), 1.82 (1.45–2.29), p < 0.01, I2 = 84.03%), COVID-19-related hospitalization (RR, 5.88 (4.08–8.47), p < 0.01, I2 = 25.59%) and death (RR, 3.66 (1.87–7.15), p < 0.01), I2 = 0%). Lack of T-cell response was associated with a higher risk of BTI (RR, 2.08 (1.08–4.04), p 0.03, I2 = 65.99). Using the Newcastle–Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale, 5 (11%) studies were of good quality, 2 (7%) of fair quality, and 37 (82%) of poor quality. Conclusions Within the methodological limitations, this study has shown that lack of antispike antibody responses was associated with BTI and severe infection outcomes in clinically vulnerable populations. Further research is required to investigate the current utility of testing to inform the ongoing management of clinically vulnerable persons, such as vaccine booster schedules
How to Prevent Civil War Recurrence:Learning from Failure
No full textCivil wars remain the most frequent form of political violence worldwide. Despite sustained efforts to end them through negotiations, peace agreements often break down and widespread conflict-related violence resumes. This book explores whether and how civil war recurrence can be prevented. It examines the full course of peace processes that experienced conflict recurrence―often multiple times―before ultimately achieving the end of large-scale conflict-related violence. We use our innovative Multi-Stage Mixed Methods Framework, which sequences machine learning, inferential statistical analysis, practitioner engagement and congruence analysis, to identify the factors that may help break the cycle of recurring civil war in fourteen protracted peace processes, test them on a global dataset of political agreements concluded between 1989 and 2016, and examine their impact on the protracted peace processes in Bangsamoro, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Through a complexity-informed theoretical lens, we demonstrate that the context-sensitive crafting of peace agreements, the committed international leadership of peace processes, and the adaptive implementation of the components of peace settlements in cooperation with grassroots actors can mitigate the risk of civil war recurrence. In particular, we find robust evidence that UN leadership of peace processes and the incorporation of provisions to include women in post-conflict society substantially increase the probability of a stable end to conflict-related violence. Plural justice provisions can help prevent civil war recurrence where the local population confers legitimacy to customary or religious structures
Unlocking decarbonisation in hard-to-abate sectors:A quantile-based comparative techno-economic analysis of e-fuel pathways
Get PDFPower-to-X (P2X) including electrolytic hydrogen and e-fuels is a promising solution to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors, such as long-distance transportation and chemical feedstocks, while it remains unclear whether these pathways are techno-economically feasible in current markets. This work conducts a comparative techno-economic analysis of four P2X pathways (hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, and methane), based on generic techno-economic quantile models, including three quantiles (Q1-25 %: Optimistic, Q2-50 %: Average, and Q3-75 %: Pessimistic) of parameters such as conversion efficiency, unit capital cost, and lifetime, as well as co-optimisation framework that optimises installed capacities and hourly flexible operation strategies, aiming to achieve the lowest levelised cost of x -fuel (LCOX). The profitability of each pathway is analysed using a profitability index (PI), defined as the ratio of market prices in trading locations to the sum of LCOX and transportation costs. A case study in Ordos, China shows that, in 2024, the mass-based and energy-based LCOXs of hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, and methane across all scenarios are 2.2–7.1, 0.5–1.8, 0.65–2.1, and 1.8–5.5 EUR/kg (67–212, 103–344, 117–375, and 130–399 EUR/MWh), respectively, with the LCOXs decreasing by 44 %–67 % from Q3-Pessimistic to Q1-Optimistic. In Q1-Optimistic and Q2-Average scenarios, the hydrogen pathway is profitable in all considered locations owing to emerging hydrogen markets in China, with PIs of 1.44–1.73 and 1.05–1.25, respectively. However, none of the ammonia, methanol, or methane pathway is profitable, as their current fossil-based market prices are significantly lower than the LCOXs derived from electrolytic hydrogen feedstock.</p
Electrochemical performance evolution of carbon-cement supercapacitors under the synergistic regulation of conductive networks and pore structures
Get PDFAgainst the backdrop of continuous advancements in sustainable energy technologies, efficient energy storage has emerged as a critical research focus. A significant development trend is the integration of energy-storage functionality into structural materials, enabling the creation of multifunctional building components that simultaneously provide moderate load-bearing capacity and energy storage capability. In this study, carbon-cement supercapacitors were fabricated by tailoring the carbon black (CB) content and water-to-cement ratio (W/C) to regulate their three-dimensional microstructures. The corresponding effects of conductive network formation and pore structure evolution on electrochemical performance were systematically evaluated. The results indicate that increasing the CB content promotes the formation of a continuous and highly interconnected conductive network within the cement matrix, thereby enhancing electronic transport efficiency. Meanwhile, increasing the W/C elevates the material's porosity and facilitates ion migration and diffusion within the electrolyte. However, in systems with low CB content, an excessively high W/C disrupts the continuity of the conductive network, resulting in a reduction in capacitance. Under the optimized composition (W/C = 1.4, CB = 16%), the composite achieves excellent electrochemical performance, including a bulk conductivity of 37.34 mS/cm, an areal capacitance of 162.06 mF/cm2 at 1 mA/cm2, and energy and power densities of 17.53 μWh/cm2 and 0.44 mW/cm2, respectively. These findings highlight the synergistic roles of conductive network formation and pore-structure development in governing charge-storage behaviors, providing a solid mechanistic basis for the rational design and optimization of next-generation cement-based structural materials with integrated electrochemical energy-storage functionality.</p
A Cold and Superpuffy Planet on a Prograde Orbit
Get PDFWe report the discovery of TOI-4507 b, a transiting sub-Saturn with a density <0.2 g cm−3 on a 105 days prograde orbit around a 700 Myr old F star. The transits were detected using data from TESS as well as the Antarctic telescope ASTEP. A joint analysis of the light curves and radial velocities from HARPS, FEROS, and CORALIE confirmed the planetary nature of the signal, by limiting the mass to be below 20 M⊕ at 95% confidence. The radial velocities also exhibit the Rossiter–McLaughlin effect and imply that the planet orbits the star in a prograde orbit with a sky-projected obliquity λ = −15+50−44° (∣λ∣ < 80° at 3σ). With these characteristics, TOI-4507 is one of the longest-period systems for which the stellar obliquity has been measured, and the planet is among the longest-period and youngest “superpuff” planets yet discovered
Coping during the COVID-19 pandemic:insights from a qualitative study of organizational resilience in an English substance use support service
Get PDFIntroduction: The COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges to health and care services, including substance use support, necessitating adaptations to maintain operational continuity. A lack of research exists into the factors that helped substance use services cope and maintain provision. This study aimed to elucidate the organizational resilience factors that assisted a substance use support service in sustaining operations and adapting during the COVID-19 pandemic. Theory: The study draws on recent conceptual and theoretical developments in the study of organizational resilience, examining findings primarily through the lens of bounce-back and bounce-forward resilience, and Duchek’s three-stage framework. Method: Participants were 36 staff members working for (n = 28) or in partnership with (n = 8) an organization delivering substance use support services across an area of northern England. A multi-method qualitative approach, including digital timelines (n = 19), in-depth interviews (n = 18), and five focus groups (n = 17), was employed. Timeline text was treated as qualitative text-based data. Interviews and focus groups were recorded and transcribed prior to coding. Data underwent Framework Analysis. Results: Seven themes were identified: 1) pre-existing relationships and effective multiagency working; 2) prioritization of service delivery; 3) development and implementation of guidance and protocols; 4) autonomy, devolution, and deference to expertise; 5) effective communication, regular meetings, and coordinated decision-making; 6) allowing flexibility and creativity; and 7) development of new and innovative approaches to facilitate the pandemic response. Discussion: This study identifies resilience factors that substance use and other support organizations should focus on in preparation for potential future crises, to minimise adverse impacts on vulnerable populations
Mapping symptom dimensions in early psychosis through neurotransmitter-informed co-localization of structural and functional brain alterations
Get PDFTraditional diagnostic tools like the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale for Schizophrenia (PANSS) and the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS) assess broad symptom domains but often miss the nuanced patterns seen in early psychosis. This limited dimensional resolution poses a challenge for developing targeted interventions and advancing precision psychiatry. In this study, we applied a dimensional approach to patients with recent-onset psychosis (ROP) to investigate the neurochemical basis of symptom dimensions. Using machine learning, we examined how the co-localization of structural and functional brain alterations with neurotransmitter maps from healthy individuals distinguishes patients with dominant symptom profiles from healthy controls, aiming to improve diagnostic precision and understanding of underlying disease mechanisms.The sample comprised 454 ROP patients from the Munich (N = 139) and PRONIA (N = 315) cohorts (mean age = 27.1 ± 7.5 years; 168 females), as well as 522 healthy controls (HC) from PRONIA (mean age = 25.6 ± 6.0 years; 306 females). To identify symptom dimensions, Orthogonal Projective Non-Negative Matrix Factorization (OPNMF) was applied to all PANSS and SANS items, generating three-, four-, and five-factor solutions.A linear support vector machine was used to classify ROP patients with high loadings on each symptom factor versus HC, employing a nested cross-validation framework (inner CV: 10×10; outer CV: 10×10). Classification relied on cortical and subcortical correlations of grey matter volume (GMV), from T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, and fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) in the slow-3, slow-4, and slow-5 bands, from resting-state functional MRI, with the distribution of 25 normative neurotransmitter maps using JuSpace [1] methodology. Imaging data were corrected for age, sex, and site: GMV was adjusted via dynamic standardization to construct a normative reference sample and fALFF via partial correlations and offset correction.The factor solution with the highest explained variance (89.3%) included four symptom dimensions: avolition-asociality, expressive deficits, cognitive disorganization, and positive symptoms. Correlations with the fALFF slow-3 frequency band yielded the best performance for avolition-asociality (balanced accuracy [BAC]: 58.1%, AUC: 0.55, sensitivity: 63.8%, specificity: 52.3%) and cognitive disorganization (BAC: 73.7%, AUC: 0.76, sensitivity: 71.4%, specificity: 75.9%). For expressive deficits and positive symptoms, the fALFF slow-4 band provided the highest accuracy (expressive deficits: BAC: 65.0%, AUC: 0.70, sensitivity: 63.0%, specificity: 67.1%; positive symptoms: BAC: 63.3%, AUC: 0.66, sensitivity: 67.8%, specificity: 58.9%).These findings suggest that symptom dimensions in recent-onset psychosis are differentially associated with specific functional patterns co-localizing with normative neurotransmitter distributions. The integration of dimensional symptom modelling with neurochemical-informed neuroimaging offers a promising path toward more biologically grounded classification approaches.[Table presented]<br/
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