ESG score and volatility in the European stock market

We aim to investigate the relationship between ESG score and assets characteristics, focusing on volatility.We classify stocks based on both high/lowESG scores and high/low ESG momentum and we evaluate ESG effects by measuring the distance between the two group distributions. The analysis of stocks in the STOXX600 Index from 2017 to 2022 suggests that companies with higher ESG outperform companies with lower ESG, which are consistently characterized by higher volatility. Our findings also highlight and compare the effects related to the COVID pandemic and the war in Ukraine

Symbiodiniaceae activity enhances larval energy reserves in the mediterranean Gorgonian Eunicella singularis

Corals and gorgonians often form symbiotic relationships with Symbiodiniaceae. Despite extensive research in adult colonies, the role of Symbiodiniaceae during the larval stage is still poorly understood, even though energy acquisition and storage at this early stage are critical for population recovery following disturbances. This study aimed to elucidate the contribution of Symbiodiniaceae to the larval energy dynamics of the Mediterranean gorgonian species Eunicella singularis (Esper 1791). Larvae were exposed to light and dark conditions to manipulate Symbiodiniaceae activity, and various biochemical parameters, including lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, chlorophyll-a content, and Symbiodiniaceae density, were measured at the beginning and end of the Pelagic Larvae Duration (PLD). Additionally, respiration rates and assimilation rates of isotopically labeled bicarbonate and ammonium were measured to quantify metabolic activity. We found a significant increase in carbohydrate content under light conditions, and a reduction in lipid consumption, result- ing in enhanced lipid reserves in larvae by the end of the PLD, which suggests active photosynthesis by the symbionts. Symbiodiniaceae thus contributed to larval energy reserves through both carbohydrate and possibly lipid production. These findings highlight the importance of Symbiodiniaceae in supporting energy dynamics during larval early development stages, enhancing their potential for dispersion, settlement and survival

Hollow fiber flow field-flow fractionation enables high-quality Extracellular Vesicle isolation from minimal plasma samples in polycythemia vera liquid biopsy

Introduction: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are crucial mediators of intercellular communication, transporting various macromolecules between cells. They are increasingly recognized for their roles in cancer progression, immune modulation, and therapeutic resistance. However, standard EV isolation methods often struggle to preserve EV heterogeneity and functional integrity. Methods: In this study, we used hollow-fiber flow field-flow fractionation (HF5) to isolate and characterize plasma-derived EVs from just 60 μL of plasma. HF5 is a cutting-edge, disposable microfluidic technique designed for advanced EV fractionation. EVs were from patients with polycythemia vera (PV), a rare hematological malignancy. We evaluated EVs isolated using HF5 against those obtained by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), assessing their physico-chemical characteristics, surface marker expression and functionality in terms of up taking and inflammatory potential. Results: EVs isolated through HF5 closely resembled SEC-derived EVs in size, morphology, and classical EV markers, including platelet-specific proteins. HF5 consistently yielded purer EV preparations with reduced aggregation and greater reproducibility. Notably, HF5 achieved this using 8.3 times less plasma than SEC. HF5 EVs, along with inflammatory potential, showed superior cell up take to the SEC counterparts. Chemical analysis showed that HF5-EVs contained a higher protein concentration, while SEC-EVs had more aggregated material. Conclusion: HF5 integrates EV isolation and characterization, enhancing efficiency, and preserving sample integrity and functionality. Its minimal sample requirement and reproducibility make it particularly suitable for clinical and translational research. Our study demonstrated HF5 as a powerful better alternative to conventional EV isolation methods, with strong potential for standardized applications in biomarker discovery and cancer research

Deep-seated cave inception and shallow sulfuric acid maze cave genesis in Southern Irecê Basin, São Francisco Craton (Brazil)

Ioiô Cave is a 4.7 km long maze cave in the southern tip of the Irecê Basin (Bahìa, Brazil), and although still actively forming today, it hosts signs of a long speleogenetic history. Deep rising hydrothermal fluids weathered the carbonates, creating dark ghost-rocks and quartz and dolomite veins, mainly in the anticlinal hinges and below the siliciclastic seals. This silicification, although not directly dated, is probably associated with the end of the Brasiliano-age tectono-thermal activity (Lower Cambrian) based on isotopic and trace element data and regional tectonic correlations. Since the Plio-Quaternary, the progressive exhumation of the carbonate reservoir increasingly favored the introduction of meteoric oxygen-rich water from the surface, causing sulfide oxidation at shallow aquifer depth. The CO2 produced by Sulfuric Acid Speleogenesis (SAS) rose along fractures and degassed at shallow depth, producing carbonic speleogenesis close to the water table. This carbonic speleogenesis, probably still active, produced a maze network, by horizontal diffusion of aggressive fluids from the feeders. Surface breaching increased air flow activating degassing and supersaturation of the basins, with deposition of subaqueous calcite shelves, carved with bubble trails resulting from CO2 degassing related to still-ongoing pyrite oxidation (localized SAS)

A transformer-based approach for source code classification for heterogeneous device mapping

The optimization of code allocation for heterogeneous architectures, such as Central Processing Units (CPUs) and Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), remains challenging due to the limitations of traditional compiler heuristics and existing machine learning approaches. This paper presents a systematic evaluation of Large Language Models (LLMs) for classifying source code execution targets in heterogeneous device mapping. We fine-tune and compare six models: Distilled Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (DistilBERT), Code Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (CodeBERT), Code Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers with RoBERTa (Robustly Optimized BERT Pretraining Approach) architecture (CodeBERTa), CodeT5, jTrans, and Deep Learning Low Level Virtual Machine (DeepLLVM), trained on Open Computing Language (OpenCL) kernels. Results show that general-purpose LLMs achieve up to 92.8% accuracy, matching or surpassing code-specific models, and outperform the previous state of the art (DeepLLVM) by up to 5%. Our findings indicate that LLMs pre-trained on general text are not necessarily inferior to code-specialized models, with tokenizer design and pre-training objectives impacting performance more than domain specialization. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of Transformer-based LLMs as a state-of-the-art approach for source code classification in heterogeneous computing contexts

Factors influencing the implementation of the woman-centred care model for pregnant women in a hospital setting: an integrative review

Background: The term “Woman-Centred Care” focuses on the individual needs, aspirations and expectations of the woman herself rather than the needs of the healthcare system or professionals. The principles on which this model of care is based, are the control, choice, and continuity of care for women. Objective: The objective of this review would like to explore and summarise the evidence currently available on the factors which influence the implementation of the care model for pregnant women in a hospital setting. Methods: An integrative review was conducted using the method of Whittemore and Knafl and the PICOT search strategy. The Medline, PubMed and CINAHL databases were examined to identify primary studies that, between 2013 and July 2024, investigated factors influencing the implementation of women-centred care models in hospital settings. The inclusion/exclusion process and reporting followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The qualitỳ of the studies was assessed according to the criteria of the Mixed Method appraisal tool. Findings: 411 studies were eligible and 16 of those included. A total of 16 records were included. Four themes and four sub-themes influencing the implementation of Woman-Centred Care were identified: the perspective of the midwives; the care model; communication and collaboration (relationships with colleagues; relationship with women and empowerment) and, resources and support (organisation and stakeholders; management). Discussion: The implementation of the “Woman-Centred Care" model is strongly influenced by organizational policies and midwives' awareness of their role as guarantors of "natural" childbirth. Conclusion: The lack of a shared understanding of what Woman-Centred Care actually means can contribute to the confusion and definition with which it is proposed

On mean field games in infinite dimension

We study a Mean Field Games (MFG) system in a real, separable infinite dimensional Hilbert space. The system consists of a second order parabolic type equation, called Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman (HJB) equation in the paper, coupled with a nonlinear Fokker-Planck (FP) equation. Both equations contain a Kolmogorov operator. Solutions to the HJB equation are interpreted in the mild solution sense and solutions to the FP equation are interpreted in an appropriate weak sense. We prove well-posedness of the considered MFG system under certain conditions. The existence of a solution to the MFG system is proved using Tikhonov's fixed point theorem in a proper space. Uniqueness of solutions is obtained under typical separability and Lasry-Lions type monotonicity conditions

Vom Allgemeinen zur Persönlichkeit: Schellings Kritik an Kants Postulatenlehre im Übergang zur positiven Philosophie

This paper examines Schelling’s critique of Kant’s postulated path to God as a demand of practical reason and his search for an alternative conception of this path. It analyzes how Schelling’s engagement with Kant leads to a redefinition of personality and freedom that goes beyond Kant’s practical philosophy. Schelling argues that Kant’s doctrine of postulates renders reason insufficient to conceive the path to God as entrusted to the individual, practical I. For Schelling, it is not universal reason but the I itself as personality that calls for a transcendent person beyond the world. The study outlines Schelling’s reflections in the 24th lecture of the Presentation of the Purely Rational Philosophy, his critique of Kant’s Critique of Practical Reason, and his conception of personhood and freedom. It aims to show how the late Schelling opens a new perspective on autonomy, individuality, and the practical dimension of the self

Counting rather than weighing: metrological analysis and machine learning reveal the monetary potential of pre-contact Ecuadorian axe-monies

This article investigates the potential monetary function of axe-monies from pre-contact Ecuador (500–1532 CE), a widely diffused and morphologically consistent copper-alloy artifact. Drawing on a dataset of 3,588 specimens, we employ a multidisciplinary approach combining metrological analysis, computer vision, and machine learning techniques to evaluate the presence of weight-based or dimensional standardization and morphological regularities. Our findings challenge the hypothesis that these objects were regulated by weight, as no metrological clusters emerge from the data. Instead, we identify two distinct dimensional classes and a high degree of typological consistency, suggesting intentional standardization based on form rather than mass, with triangular axes being the smallest and lightest, and those with a broad cutting edge and quadrangular heel the largest and heaviest.These results support the interpretation of Ecuadorian axe-monies as fiduciary currency, counted rather than weighed, and contribute to broader discussions on the emergence of money, measurement systems, and economic behaviour in pre-modern societies