bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Post-training Framework for Improving the Performance of Deep Learning Models via Model Transformation
Authors: Jiang Jiajun , Yang Junjie , Zhang Yingyi , Wang Zan , You Hanmo , Chen Junjie
Published: October 2023

Deep learning (DL) techniques have attracted much attention in recent years and have been applied to many application scenarios. To improve the performance of DL models regarding different properties, many approaches have been proposed in the past decades, such as improving the robustness and fairness of DL models to meet the requirements for practical use. Among existing approaches, post-training is an effective method that has been widely adopted in practice due to its high efficiency and good performance. Nevertheless, its performance is still limited due to the incompleteness of training data. Additionally, existing approaches are always specifically designed for certain tasks, such as improving model robustness, which cannot be used for other purposes.

In this article, we aim to fill this gap and propose an effective and general post-training framework, which can be adapted to improve the model performance from different aspects. Specifically, it incorporates a novel model transformation technique that transforms a classification model into an isomorphic regression model for fine-tuning, which can effectively overcome the problem of incomplete training data by forcing the model to strengthen the memory of crucial input features and thus improve the model performance eventually. To evaluate the performance of our framework, we have adapted it to two emerging tasks for improving DL models, i.e., robustness and fairness improvement, and conducted extensive studies by comparing it with state-of-the-art approaches. The experimental results demonstrate that our framework is indeed general, as it is effective in both tasks. Specifically, in the task of robustness improvement, our approach
Dare
has achieved the best results on 61.1% cases (vs. 11.1% cases achieved by baselines). In the task of fairness improvement, our approach
FMT
can effectively improve the fairness without sacrificing the accuracy of the models.
Toward Explainable Artificial Intelligence for Precision Pathology
Authors: Klauschen Frederick , Dippel Jonas , Keyl Philipp , Jurmeister Philipp , Bockmayr Michael , Mock Andreas , Buchstab Oliver , Alber Maximilian , Ruff Lukas , Montavon Grégoire , Müller Klaus-Robert
Published: October 2023

The rapid development of precision medicine in recent years has started to challenge diagnostic pathology with respect to its ability to analyze histological images and increasingly large molecular profiling data in a quantitative, integrative, and standardized way. Artificial intelligence (AI) and, more precisely, deep learning technologies have recently demonstrated the potential to facilitate complex data analysis tasks, including clinical, histological, and molecular data for disease classification; tissue biomarker quantification; and clinical outcome prediction. This review provides a general introduction to AI and describes recent developments with a focus on applications in diagnostic pathology and beyond. We explain limitations including the black-box character of conventional AI and describe solutions to make machine learning decisions more transparent with so-called explainable AI. The purpose of the review is to foster a mutual understanding of both the biomedical and the AI side. To that end, in addition to providing an overview of the relevant foundations in pathology and machine learning, we present worked-through examples for a better practical understanding of what AI can achieve and how it should be done.
Phosphoinositide Regulation of TRP Channels: A Functional Overview in the Structural Era
Authors: Rohacs Tibor
Published: October 2023

Transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels have diverse activation mechanisms including physical stimuli, such as high or low temperatures, and a variety of intracellular signaling molecules. Regulation by phosphoinositides and their derivatives is their only known common regulatory feature. For most TRP channels, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate [PI(4,5)P2] serves as a cofactor required for activity. Such dependence on PI(4,5)P2 has been demonstrated for members of the TRPM subfamily and for the epithelial TRPV5 and TRPV6 channels. Intracellular TRPML channels show specific activation by PI(3,5)P2. Structural studies uncovered the PI(4,5)P2 and PI(3,5)P2 binding sites for these channels and shed light on the mechanism of channel opening. PI(4,5)P2 regulation of TRPV1–4 as well as some TRPC channels is more complex, involving both positive and negative effects. This review discusses the functional roles of phosphoinositides in TRP channel regulation and molecular insights gained from recent cryo-electron microscopy structures.
Informing Public Health Policies with Models for Disease Burden, Impact Evaluation, and Economic Evaluation
Authors: Jit Mark , Cook Alex R.
Published: October 2023

Conducting real-world public health experiments is often costly, time-consuming, and ethically challenging, so mathematical models have a long-standing history of being used to inform policy. Applications include estimating disease burden, performing economic evaluation of interventions, and responding to health emergencies such as pandemics. Models played a pivotal role during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing early detection of SARS-CoV-2’s pandemic potential and informing subsequent public health measures. While models offer valuable policy insights, they often carry limitations, especially when they depend on assumptions and incomplete data. Striking a balance between accuracy and timely decision-making in rapidly evolving situations such as disease outbreaks is challenging. Modelers need to explore the extent to which their models deviate from representing the real world. The uncertainties inherent in models must be effectively communicated to policy makers and the public. As the field becomes increasingly influential, it needs to develop reporting standards that enable rigorous external scrutiny.
Tailoring Local Chemical Coordination in Vanadium Pentoxide to Enable High Efficiency Zinc Ion Storage
Authors: Yuan Yinghao , Ma Jidong , Su Yongxin , Cui Jian , Zhang Houan , Liu Chaofeng , Cao Guozhong
Published: October 2023

Vanadium oxides-based materials are one of promising cathode materials for aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) owing to their various chemical coordination and oxidation states rendering high theoretical specific capacity. However, the poor electronic conductivity and structural instability limit their practical application in AZIBs. In this study, these drawbacks of vanadium pentoxide are mitigated by introducing Al ions into the interlayer space (V2O5-Al). Compared with pristine V2O5, the V2O5-Al possesses an increased proportion of oxygen vacancy and improved diffusivity because of the tailored local chemical coordination and the strong chemical bonding from Al-O bonds. First-principles calculations suggest that pre-inserted Al ions embedded into the V2O5 layers enhances structural stability and improves the electrical conductivity of V2O5. While used as cathode for AZIBs, V2O5-Al electrode delivers a high capacity of 260 mAh g−1 at 4 A·g−1 and the 108% initial capacity maintained over 4400 cycles as well as an energy density of 260 Wh·kg−1 at 405 W·kg−1 based on the cathode. These superior electrochemical suggest the as-prepared Al-doped V2O5 hold great potential as the promising low-cost cathode materials in the ZIBs.
Electrochemical Properties and Performance of Supersaturated Vanadium (IV) and V(V) Electrolytes
Authors: Li Yuanchao , Abbey Joshua , Van Nguyen Trung
Published: October 2023

Earlier research has shown that supersaturated vanadium sulfate electrolytes can remain stable for an extended time ranging from hours to days making them suitable for electrochemical energy storage applications. This study investigates the electrochemical characteristics of supersaturated vanadium IV and V sulfate solutions and the solvation structures of molecules in these solutions. The electrochemical characterizations, e.g., OCV, constant current/voltage/overpotential oxidation, and reduction, reveal that supersaturated V(IV) and V(V) solutions contain electrochemically active ions, inactive-but-convertible molecules, and inactive-and-unconvertible molecules. The chemical conversion rate from inactive-but-convertible molecules to active ions is high enough to maintain a constant active ions concentration during the electrochemical reactions. Possible structures and the relationship of these structures to their electrochemical activity at supersaturated levels were discussed. The inactive-but-convertible molecules are suggested to be the agglomerates of the individual dissociated vanadium ion pairs, while the inactive-and-unconvertible molecules consist of undissociated vanadium salt molecules with the sulfate anions bonded directly to the vanadium cations. This work also found that preparation methods (with or without preheating the electrolyte during synthesis) and the oversaturation level can affect the composition of the molecules in the electrolyte.
Two oscillatory components detected by forced splitting of the sleep-wake cycle in humans
Authors: Hashimoto Satoko , Endo Takuro , Honma Sato , Yamanaka Yujiro , Honma Ken-Ichi
Published: October 2023

The present study demonstrated that human sleep was separated into two essentially identical components, which persisted under constant conditions, suggesting circadian oscillator underlying split-sleep episodes. The study also indicated differential light sensitivities in the rising and falling phases of circadian melatonin rhythm, indicating the involvement of two different oscillators. These results consisted of the evening and morning dual-oscillator hypothesis for the circadian pacemaker and the hierarchical model for the pacemaker and sleep-wake cycle.
Expression of cholesterol synthesis and steroidogenic markers in females of the Chinese brown frog (Rana dybowskii) during prespawning and prehibernation
Authors: Chen Yuan , Liu Yuning , Wang Yankun , Zhang Yue , Xie Wenqian , Zhang Haolin , Weng Qiang , Xu Meiyu
Published: October 2023

The oviduct of the Chinese brown frog ( Rana dybowskii) expands in prehibernation rather than in prespawning, which is one of the physiological phenomena that occur in the preparation for hibernation. Steroid hormones are known to regulate oviductal development. Cholesterol synthesis and steroidogenesis may play an important role in the expansion of the oviduct before hibernation. In this study, we investigated the expression patterns of the markers that are involved in the de novo steroid synthesis pathway in the oviduct of R. dybowskii during prespawning and prehibernation. According to histological analysis, the oviduct of R. dybowskii contains epithelial cells, glandular cells, and tubule lumens. During prehibernation, oviductal pipe diameter and weight were significantly larger than during prespawning. 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase (HMGCR), low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cytochrome P450 cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc), and steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) were detected in epithelial cells in prehibernation and glandular cells during prespawning. HMGCR, LDLR, StAR, and P450scc protein expression levels were higher in prehibernation than during prespawning, but the SF-1 protein expression level did not significantly differ. HMGCR, LDLR, StAR, P450scc ( CYP11A1), and SF-1 ( NR5A1) mRNA expression levels were significantly higher in prehibernation compared with prespawning. The transcriptome results showed that the steroid synthesis pathway was highly expressed during prehibernation. Existing results indicate that the oviduct is able to synthesize steroid hormones using cholesterol, and that steroid hormones may affect the oviductal functions of R. dybowskii.
Acoustic Target Strength of Jellyfish, Nemopilema nomurai, Measured at Multi-Frequency and Multi-Orientation
Authors: Yang Hang , Cheng Jing , Tang Taolin , Chen Jun , Li Guodong
Published: October 2023

The jellyfish Nemopilema nomurai occupies an important position in the Northwest Pacific ecosystem, and monitoring its biomass is necessary to ensure the protection of fishery resources and the safety of offshore industrial production. The acoustic method has been proposed for jellyfish flux estimation and bloom warning, in which the target strength (TS) of the jellyfish is a crucial parameter. However, varied swimming orientations of jellyfish aggregation result in different backscatter strengths. The acoustic echo characteristics in horizontal swimming orientations and multi-frequency broadband signals are yet to be revealed. This study aims to obtain the TS of jellyfish in various orientations and to comprehensively investigate the jellyfish acoustic echo features at various frequency broadband sounds. In an anechoic tank, we used wide-band echosounder and 70 kHz, 120 kHz, and 200 kHz split-beam transducers to measure the TS of jellyfish swimming omnidirectionally. The results show a difference of approximately 4 dB in the jellyfish’s normalized TS at 70 kHz (frequency range: 45 kHz to 95 kHz) and 200 kHz (frequency range: 160 kHz to 260 kHz) center frequency. The normalized TS of jellyfish varies by around 8 dB between horizontal and vertical swimming orientations. For jellyfish swimming horizontally, the TS and bell diameter have the following least squares fits:

T

S

D
70
k
H
z

=
20
 
log
 
D
−
89.36

r

2

=
0.83

;

T

S

D
200
k
H
z

=
20
 
log
 
D
−
93.85

r

2

=
0.83

. The swimming orientation has significant effects on TS estimation and model construction.
The Effects of Purslane Consumption on Obesity Indices: A GRADE-Assessed Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Vajdi Mahdi , Hassanizadeh Shirin , Shojaei-Zarghani Sara , Bagherniya Mohammad , Askari Gholamreza
Published: October 2023

Obesity and overweight are among the most significant global health challenges that affect both developed and developing countries, leading to various chronic diseases. Previous studies have reported inconsistent results regarding the effects of purslane supplementation on obesity indices. Therefore, the aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis on the effects of supplementation with purslane on obesity indices among adults. Comprehensive systematic searches were performed throughout Web of Science, EMBASE, PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases up to May 30, 2023. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the impact of purslane supplementation on obesity indices were included into the analysis. The I2 and Cochran’s Q tests were used to assess heterogeneity between studies. The effect sizes were reported as the weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using a random effects model. The initial search yielded 789 studies, of which seven RCTs were included in analysis. Following purslane supplementation, body weight (BW) (WMD: −0.94 kg, 95% CI: −1.57–−0.31, and

P

 = 0.002) and body mass index (BMI) (WMD: −0.53 kg/m2, 95% CI: −0.88–−0.18, and

P

: 0.001) decreased significantly. However, this meta-analysis could not show any beneficial effect of purslane supplementation on waist circumference (WC) (WMD: −0.28 cm, 95% CI: −1.47–0.91, and

P

 = 0.23). In addition, there was no linear association between the duration of treatment and sample size with BW, BMI, and WC. In conclusion, this meta-analysis showed a significant effect of purslane supplementation on BMI and BW but not on WC in adults, suggesting that it has the potential to be used therapeutically. Moreover, the combined results of previous RCTs indicate that purslane is a safe and effective intervention for reducing obesity indices in subjects with metabolic syndrome or obesity. As such, the consumption of purslane may have indirectly contributed to the amelioration of clinical symptoms in diseases with metabolic disorders, owing to its impact on some obesity indices. However, given the limitations and the low number of included studies in the present meta-analysis, more large-scale RCTs are needed to shed light on this issue.
Effects of Biochar and Compost Application on Soil Properties and on the Growth and Yield of Hot Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)
Authors: Kebede Temesgen , Berhe Dargie Tsegay , Zergaw Yohannes
Published: October 2023

Improper depositions of organic waste threaten the environment. On the other hand, intensive soil cultivation, inappropriate utilization of inorganic fertilizers, and inadequate soil management practices in the study area resulted in soil fertility reduction and poor crop growth. The addition of organic fertilizers from organic waste (biochar and compost) to soil can be considered an environmental-friendly and climate-smart practice able to improve soil properties and the yield of crops. Thus, this study aimed at evaluating the potential of organic amendment with coffee pulp compost (CPC), coffee pulp biochar (CPB), and their combination (CPC_CPB) on selected soil properties and hot pepper yield. The field experiment was conducted in the 2020 and 2021 growing seasons by adopting a randomized complete block design with a factorial experiment using CPC, CPB, and CPC_CPB treatments in different application rates. Results indicated that, in both years, the maximum dose (4 t/ha) of biochar significantly improved the yield of hot pepper and some soil chemical properties such as pH, OC, TN, P, K, Ca2+, Mg2+ contents, and CEC. When 2021 is compared with the 2020 growing season in terms of hot pepper yield, the treatments 4 CPB, 10 CPC, and 7 CPC_CPB increased the yield by 4.61, 1.62, and 1.55%, respectively. Thus, an application rate of CPB at the rate of 4 t/ha is considered suitable to improve hot pepper yield and soil properties. Therefore, the highest dose of CPB, followed by CPC_CPB and CPC can be considered as suitable to improve both soil fertility and hot pepper yield.
Determination of Nursing Students’ Resilience Levels, Care Behaviors, and Violence Management Competencies: A Descriptive, Cross‐Sectional, and Relational Study
Authors: Karabey Tuba , Çevik Betül Esra , Süha Burcu Kübra
Published: October 2023

Purpose. Violence is a factor that is frequently encountered in health systems and causes problems of various sizes. Nursing students who take an active role in health environments and are also inexperienced are also exposed to this workplace violence. Mental health nurses and nursing students practicing in this field aim to improve the quality of patient care while managing violence and aggression. It is thought that the inability of nursing students practicing in the field of mental health to successfully manage violence and demonstrate resilience may affect their clinical performance and reduce the quality of patient care. This study was conducted to determine the psychological resilience levels, caring behaviors, and violence management competencies of nursing students and to reveal the relationship between the variables. Design and Methods. The type of study is descriptive and cross‐sectional. The sample of the study consisted of 452 nursing students who agreed to participate in the study. The data of the study were collected using the personal information form, Adult Resilience Scale, Caring Behaviors Scale‐24, and Violence Management Competency Scale for nursing students in practice areas. This study was reported following the STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) recommendations. Findings. A statistically significant positive correlation was found among the psychological resilience levels, caring behaviors, and violence management proficiency of the students participating in the study (p = 0.001). Practice Implications. It is very important to determine the psychological resilience, care behaviors, and violence management competency levels of nursing students, who are the professionals of the future, to present nursing care from a holistic framework and to increase the quality of the care provided. In this context, it is recommended to determine the psychological resilience, care behaviors, and violence management competency levels of nursing students in their education and training processes.
Mobile Phone Use and Risks of Overall and 25 Site-Specific Cancers: A Prospective Study from the UK Biobank Study
Authors: Zhang Yanjun , Zhang Yuanyuan , Ye Ziliang , Yang Sisi , Liu Mengyi , Wu Qimeng , Zhou Chun , He Panpan , Gan Xiaoqin , Qin Xianhui
Published: October 2023

Background:

The association between mobile phone use and incident cancers remains uncertain. We aimed to investigate the relationships of mobile phone use with incident overall and 25 site-specific cancers in men and women.

Methods:

A total of 431,861 participants ages 38 to 73 years without prior cancers were included from the UK Biobank. Of these, 46.7% were male. Participants who used a mobile phone at least once per week to make or receive calls were defined as mobile phone users. The study outcomes were incident overall and 25 site-specific cancers.

Results:

During a median follow-up of 10.7 years, 35,401 (17.5%) men and 30,865 (13.4%) women developed overall cancer. Mobile phone use was significantly associated with higher risks of incident overall cancer [HR, 1.09; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06–1.12], nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC; HR, 1.08; 95% CI: 1.03–1.14), urinary tract cancer (HR, 1.18; 95% CI:1.05–1.32), and prostate cancer (HR, 1.19; 95% CI: 1.13–1.25) in men, and incident overall cancer (HR, 1.03; 95% CI: 1.00–1.06), NMSC (HR, 1.07; 95% CI: 1.01–1.13), and vulva cancer (HR, 1.74; 95% CI: 1.00–3.02) in women, but not with other cancers. Among mobile phone users, there was a dose–response relationship of length of mobile phone use with incident NMSC in men and women, and prostate cancer in men (all Ptrend < 0.05).

Conclusions:

There was a dose–response relationship of length of mobile phone use with incident NMSC in men and women, and prostate cancer in men.

Impact:

Our findings underscore the importance of limiting mobile phone use or keeping a distance from mobile phone for primary prevention of NMSC and prostate cancer.
Genomic Tumor Correlates of Clinical Outcomes Following Organ-Sparing Chemoradiation Therapy for Bladder Cancer
Authors: Kamran Sophia C. , Zhou Yuzhen , Otani Keisuke , Drumm Michael , Otani Yukako , Wu Shulin , Wu Chin-Lee , Feldman Adam S. , Wszolek Matthew , Lee Richard J. , Saylor Philip J. , Lennerz Jochen , Van Allen Eliezer , Willers Henning , Hong Theodore S. , Liu Yang , Davicioni Elai , Gibb Ewan A. , Shipley William U. , Mouw Kent W. , Efstathiou Jason A. , Miyamoto David T.
Published: October 2023

Purpose:

There is an urgent need for biomarkers of radiation response in organ-sparing therapies. Bladder preservation with trimodality therapy (TMT), consisting of transurethral tumor resection followed by chemoradiation, is an alternative to radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), but molecular determinants of response are poorly understood.

Experimental Design:

We characterized genomic and transcriptomic features correlated with long-term response in a single institution cohort of patients with MIBC homogeneously treated with TMT. Pretreatment tumors from 76 patients with MIBC underwent whole-exome sequencing; 67 underwent matched transcriptomic profiling. Molecular features were correlated with clinical outcomes including modified bladder-intact event-free survival (mBI-EFS), a composite endpoint that reflects long-term cancer control with bladder preservation.

Results:

With a median follow-up of 74.6 months in alive patients, 37 patients had favorable long-term response to TMT while 39 had unfavorable long-term response. Tumor mutational burden was not associated with outcomes after TMT. DNA damage response gene alterations were associated with improved locoregional control and mBI-EFS. Of these alterations, somatic ERCC2 mutations stood out as significantly associated with favorable long-term outcomes; patients with ERCC2 mutations had significantly improved mBI-EFS [HR, 0.15; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.06–0.37; P = 0.030] and improved BI-EFS, an endpoint that includes all-cause mortality (HR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.15–0.68; P = 0.044). ERCC2 mutant bladder cancer cell lines were significantly more sensitive to concurrent cisplatin and radiation treatment in vitro than isogenic ERCC2 wild-type cells.

Conclusions:

Our data identify ERCC2 mutation as a candidate biomarker associated with sensitivity and long-term response to chemoradiation in MIBC. These findings warrant validation in independent cohorts.
Cancer Relevance of Circulating Antibodies Against LINE-1 Antigens in Humans
Authors: Vylegzhanina Alexandra V. , Bespalov Ivan A. , Novototskaya-Vlasova Ksenia A. , Hall Brandon M. , Gleiberman Anatoli S. , Yu Han , Leontieva Olga V. , Leonova Katerina I. , Kurnasov Oleg V. , Osterman Andrei L. , Dy Grace K. , Komissarov Alexey A. , Vasilieva Elena , Gehlhausen Jeff , Iwasaki Akiko , Ambrosone Christine B. , Tsuji Takemasa , Matsuzaki Junko , Odunsi Kunle , Andrianova Ekaterina L. , Gudkov Andrei V.
Published: October 2023

Long interspersed nuclear element-1 (LINE-1 or L1), the most abundant family of autonomous retrotransposons occupying over 17% of human DNA, is epigenetically silenced in normal tissues by the mechanisms involving p53 but is frequently derepressed in cancer, suggesting that L1-encoded proteins may act as tumor-associated antigens recognized by the immune system. In this study, we established an immunoassay to detect circulating autoantibodies against L1 proteins in human blood. Using this assay in >2,800 individuals with or without cancer, we observed significantly higher IgG titers against L1-encoded ORF1p and ORF2p in patients with lung, pancreatic, ovarian, esophageal, and liver cancers than in healthy individuals. Remarkably, elevated levels of anti–ORF1p-reactive IgG were observed in patients with cancer with disease stages 1 and 2, indicating that the immune response to L1 antigens can occur in the early phases of carcinogenesis. We concluded that the antibody response against L1 antigens could contribute to the diagnosis and determination of immunoreactivity of tumors among cancer types that frequently escape early detection.

Significance:

The discovery of autoantibodies against antigens encoded by L1 retrotransposons in patients with five poorly curable cancer types has potential implications for the detection of an ongoing carcinogenic process and tumor immunoreactivity.
Stages of Gynaecological Cancers at the Time of First Presentation at a Large Cancer Hospital in Pakistan: An Observational Study
Authors: Khaskheli Meharunnissa , Baloch Shahla , Khaskheli Shamsunnissa , Durrani Ramsha Zafar , Jhatial Naseema , Shah Syed Ghulam Sarwar
Published: October 2023

Objectives: The aim was to study the types of gynaecological cancers and their stages at the time when patients first presented at the cancer registry of a major cancer hospital. Methods: This observational study was carried out in a large cancer hospital in Pakistan. We analysed secondary data on new cases of gynaecological cancer without age restriction of the patient. Fully anonymised data were obtained retrospectively from the cancer registry for 3 years from 01 January 2018 to 31 December 2020. Data were analysed for frequencies and descriptive statistics using SPSS. Results: A total of 285 new cases of gynaecological cancer were registered in the cancer registry during the study period. The patients had a median age of 52 years (mean 51.3, SD 15.7), and all had no education. Ovarian cancer was the most common gynaecologic cancer (57.9%, n = 165), followed by cervical cancer (25.9%, n = 74), uterine (endometrial) cancer (10.9%, n = 31), vaginal cancer (3.9%, n = 10), and choriocarcinoma (1.4%, n = 4). About 32% of the patients had stage 1 cancer (n = 89), 37.5% had stage 2 cancer (n = 105), 25.7% had stage 3 cancer (n = 72), and 5% had stage 4 cancer (n = 14). Conclusion: Ovarian, cervical, uterine, and vaginal cancers are the most prevalent gynaecological cancers. In Pakistan, women with gynaecological cancers, especially those who are uneducated and live in rural areas, attend tertiary care cancer hospitals with advanced cancers that can have a poor prognosis.
Decadal Variability in Spring Sea Ice Concentration Linked to Summer Temperature and NDVI on the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta
Authors: Hendricks Amy S. , Bhatt Uma S. , Frost Gerald V. , Walker Donald A. , Bieniek Peter A. , Raynolds Martha K. , Lader Rick T. , Epstein Howard E. , Pinzon Jorge E. , Tucker Compton J. , Comiso Josefino C.
Published: October 2023

Rapidly warming temperatures in the Arctic are driving increasing tundra vegetation productivity, evidenced in both the satellite derived normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) imagery and field studies. These trends, however, are not uniformly positive across the circumpolar Arctic. One notable region of negative linear NDVI trends that have persisted over the last 15 years is southwest Alaska’s Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta (YKD). Negative NDVI trends in the YKD region appear inconsistent with our understanding since tundra vegetation is temperature-limited and air temperatures have increased on the YKD. Analysis over a 40-yr record from 1982 to 2021 reveals distinct decadal variability in the NDVI time series, which continues to produce negative linear trends. Similar decadal variability is also evident in summer warmth and 100-km coastal zone spring sea ice concentrations. This suggests that decadal climate variations can dominate the trends of NDVI through their influence on the drivers of tundra vegetation, namely, coastal sea ice concentrations and summer warmth. The relationships among sea ice, summer warmth, and NDVI have changed over the 40-yr record. Seasonality analysis since 1982 shows declining sea ice concentration in spring is followed by trends of increasing temperatures, but weakly declining NDVI during the growing season. An additional key finding is that since early 2010s, the relationships between sea ice concentration and summer warmth, and sea ice concentration and NDVI have strengthened, while the relationship between NDVI and summer warmth has weakened, indicating that temperature may no longer be the primary limiting factor for Arctic tundra vegetation on the YKD.

Significance Statement

This paper addresses a curiosity of regional Arctic climate change, which is that despite increasing temperatures, spatially and temporally declining trends of vegetation productivity on the Yukon–Kuskokwim Delta appear in satellite data. This study bridges our understanding of Arctic climate relationships at varying scales and informs questions about how these relationships may change in the future.
Systematic Modeling Errors Undermine the Application of Land Data Assimilation Systems for Hydrological and Weather Forecasting
Authors: Crow Wade T. , Kim Hyunglok , Kumar Sujay
Published: October 2023

Due to recent advances in the development of land data assimilation systems (LDAS) and the availability of high-quality, satellite-based surface soil moisture (SSM) retrieval products, we now have unambiguous evidence that the assimilation of SSM retrievals, or their proxy, can improve the precision (i.e., correlation versus truth) of surface state estimates provided by a land surface model (LSM). However, this clarity does not yet extend to the estimation of LSM surface water fluxes that are key to hydrologic and numerical weather forecasting applications. Here, we hypothesize that a key obstacle to extrapolating realized improvements in water state precision into comparable improvements in water flux accuracy (i.e., mean absolute error) is the presence of water state–water flux coupling strength biases existing in LSMs. To test this hypothesis, we conduct a series of synthetic fraternal twin data assimilation experiments where realistic levels of state–flux coupling strength bias—involving both evapotranspiration and runoff—are systematically introduced into an assimilation LSM. Results show that the accuracy of the resulting water flux analysis is sharply reduced by the presence of such bias, even in cases where the precision of soil moisture state estimates (e.g., SSM) is improved. The rescaling of SSM observations prior to their assimilation (i.e., the most common approach for addressing systematic differences between LSMs and assimilated observations) is not always a robust strategy for addressing these errors and can, in certain circumstances, degrade water flux accuracy. Overall, results underscore the critical need to assess, and correct for, LSM water state–water flux coupling strength biases during the operation of an LDAS.

Significance Statement

Land data assimilation is the process by which land surface model estimates of water states (e.g., soil moisture) and water fluxes (e.g., runoff and evapotranspiration) are improved via the incorporation of observations. Over the past decade, substantial improvements have been made in the precision of land surface model states via the assimilation of satellite-based soil moisture information. However, to date, these improvements have not yet been extended into water flux estimates like runoff and evapotranspiration. This is a critical shortcoming since advances in important weather and hydrologic forecasting applications are dependent on the improved estimation of such fluxes. We demonstrate that this shortcoming is linked to the inability of existing land surface models to accurately describe the impact of variations in water states on water fluxes and propose strategies for overcoming this issue in future land data assimilation systems.
Asian American Surgery: A Short History of Immigration, Naturalization, and Refugee Laws and Policies that Brought Asians to America
Authors: Nakayama Don K.
Published: October 2023

Chinese immigration in America in the mid-nineteenth century incited violence and governmental sanctions to restrict Asian immigration and reject citizenship rights. In 1870, Chinese strikebreakers in Massachusetts ignited nationwide demonstrations against Chinese immigration, which ended altogether with the Chinese Exclusion Act (1882). Japanese schoolchildren in San Francisco public schools sparked rioting in 1907, leading Japan to unilaterally limit emigration to the United States (Gentlemen’s Agreement, 1908). Congress responded to anti-Punjabi riots (Bellingham, WA, 1907) by refusing naturalization rights to Asians (Barred Zone Act, 1917), policies supported by the Supreme Court ( Ozawa, 1922; Thind, 1923). All immigration from Asia was soon prohibited (Johnson-Reed Act, 1924). Anti-Asian measures peaked in 1942 with imprisonment of Japanese in concentration camps, including those with birthright citizenship. Anti-Asian policies unwound in the last half of the 20th century, culminating in sweeping changes in US immunization policy. Naturalization rights were granted to wartime allies against Japan (China, 1943; the Philippines and India, 1946) and the Japanese themselves (1952). Asian women marrying American servicemen were allowed entry into the country (1945, 1950). Prohibitions against Asian immigration were lifted in 1965 (Hart-Celler Act), with preference for those trained in science, technology, and medicine. The refugee crisis that followed the fall of Saigon (1975) drove humanitarian policies that brought evacuees from Southeast Asia and others from throughout the world seeking freedom from persecution (Refugee Act, 1980). Hundreds of thousands from China, South Asia, the Philippines, and Southeast Asia thus settled in the United States, changing American society and medicine.
Firm Size and Productivity in the Informal Sector: Evidence from India
Authors: Posti Lokesh , Maiti Abhradeep
Published: October 2023

The study analyses the debate around the ambiguous relationship between firm size and performance. We explore how productivity varies across firm sizes in the informal sector, where firm size is sensitive to formal regulations. Additionally, the study also looks into the informal firms’ quantity and quality of employment by observing wage and performance dispersion across firm sizes, thus indicating capital accumulation and exploitation. Considering the data limitations, a pseudo-panel data design was adopted by combining the three, only available, independent cross-sectional surveys by the National Sample Survey Office, spanning from 1999–2000 to 2015–2016. Potential issues such as time-invariant unobserved firm-level heterogeneity were accounted for by using panel random effects regression. Using total firm employment and total factor productivity as the primary measures of firm size and performance, we find a positive relationship between the two across all major industries. Our results stand robust against alternative firm size and performance measures. However, this positive association between size and performance indicated capital accumulation (increasing productivity with increasing size) at the expense of labour exploitation (stagnant wages across firm sizes). The obtained findings convey important policy implications for adopting a carrot-and-stick approach for the gradual formalisation of the economy.

JEL Codes: D22, L25, O25
Habermas Meets China: The Legacy of the Late Qing/Early Republican “Public Sphere” on the Modern Chinese Social Imaginary
Authors: Hu William Zhengdong
Published: October 2023

The debate over the existence of a “public sphere” in China’s Late Qing/Early Republican era began nearly three decades ago, but it has yet to generate a special socio-cultural review on the “Confucian social imaginary” of the Chinese people. The article builds on existing “economic-political approach” and “idea-communication approach” to argue decisive factors hindering the development of a Habermasian “public sphere.” These includes (1) people’s traditional-collectivist lifestyle, (2) lack of understanding of “universal equality,” (3) conservative self-positioning during social transition, (4) regionalist attitude toward outsiders, (5) lack of access to Enlightenment ideas, (6) disregard for parliamentary systems, and (7) ignorance of the rule of law.
Impact of worst pattern of invasion on prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Binmadi Nada O. , Mohamed Yassmin A.
Published: October 2023

Objective

The relationship between the worst pattern of invasion (WPOI) and the prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains controversial. This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to determine the impact of the WPOI on the prognosis of OSCC.

Methods

Studies from six databases were assessed for quality using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale, and data were analyzed using Stata software.

Results

Eighteen studies involving 3954 patients showed that patients with a WPOI of 4 to 5 had significantly worse overall survival, disease-specific survival, and disease-free survival than patients with a WPOI of 1 to 3. Significant associations of the WPOI with locoregional recurrence and mortality were found.

Conclusion

A higher WPOI was significantly associated with a worse prognosis of OSCC across various outcomes. Incorporating the WPOI into standard histopathological assessments may guide personalized treatments and improve outcomes.
Needlestick and sharps injuries among healthcare workers in an oncology setting: a retrospective 7-year cross-sectional study
Authors: Mubarak Sawsan , Al Ghawrie Hadeel , Ammar Khawlah , Abuwardeh Razan
Published: October 2023

Objective

To assess the prevalence of needlestick and sharps injuries (NSSIs) and associated factors among healthcare workers (HCWs) at King Hussein Cancer Centre (KHCC), Amman, Jordan.

Methods

This retrospective cross-sectional study undertook a chart review of all HCWs that reported an NSSI between January 2015 and December 2021. Data collected included sociodemographic factors including age, sex, qualifications, and predictors of NSSIs such as working hours, work shift, and specific job roles within the oncology setting, work experience in KHCC, overall work experience and occupational category.

Results

A total of 355 NSSIs were included in this study with a peak prevalence in 2019 (81 of 355; 22.8%). Nurses (220 of 355; 62.0%), housekeeping staff (59of 355; 16.6%) and physicians (45 of 355; 12.7%) were the most affected occupations. NSSIs were most common in the surgical floor (65 of 355; 18.3%) and operating rooms (56 of 355; 15.8%). Blood collection (94 of 355; 26.5%) and waste collection (65 of 355; 18.3%) were the two primary procedures resulting in NSSIs. The risk of injury was significantly associated with the locations of NSSIs, procedure that caused NSSIs, shift and overall experience.

Conclusion

NSSIs remain common among HCWs, which highlights the need for targeted education.
Soil stabilization by integrating dust particles with calcium lignosulphanate
Authors: Chiranjeevi Velagapalli , Singh Kamal , Kishan D
Published: October 2023

This paper analyzes the stabilizing effect of stone dust, granite dust, marble dust, and calcium lignosulphonate on construction materials and natural soils during road construction. The ultimate aim was to enhance the soil’s engineering properties such that the pavement constructed could correctly withstand the load applied. To achieve this, every stabilizer was amalgamated with the soil at various percentages between 5 and 50%. Measurements were made of Atterberg limit tests, moisture content, and specific gravity. The research demonstrated that a diminution in optimal moisture content was seen, with an elevation in maximum dry density and California bearing ratio (CBR). Enhancements in the unconfined compressive strength were also identified. The outcomes determined that the untreated soil’s CBR was 2.27% and in the case of soil with 45% additives, the CBR attained was 5.05%. When the soil was mixed with 50% additives, performance of 30.21%, 17.42%, and 12.82% was exhibited for (a) liquid limit, (b) plastic limit, and (c) plasticity index. Moreover, via the addition of presented stabilizers, the soil’s mechanical properties were elevated appreciably.
Thermomechanical analysis of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer representative volume elements with voids
Authors: Petrolo Marco , Pagani Alfonso , Trombini Mattia , Masia Rebecca , Carrera Erasmo
Published: October 2023

This work presents results of numerical simulations to investigate the effect of different void percentages on composite materials’ Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) and local stress fields. A random distribution of voids is considered within the Representative Volume Element (RVE) matrix, and different types of microstructures are considered, including square-packed and randomly distributed fibers. The use of a higher-order beam model within the framework of Carrera Unified Formulation (CUF) leads to a Component-Wise (CW) approach, resulting in an accurate, 3D description of the cross-section although using a 1D formulation. Numerical results for different fiber volume fractions and void concentration percentages demonstrate the agreement of the computed effective coefficients of thermal expansion of the present micromechanical thermoelastic model with references from the literature. The local stress fields are affected by voids, with higher effects over the matrix. Furthermore, higher void fractions lead to higher variability of stress peaks.
Investigating compassion fatigue and predictive factors in paediatric surgery nurses
Authors: Kankaya Eda Ayten , Özer Özlü Nazife Gamze , Vural Fatma
Published: October 2023

Background

Nurses provide care to meet the complex needs of patients in the increasing workload in the health system and are at risk of compassion fatigue. The concept of compassion fatigue has begun drawing attention in the last decade, as it negatively affects nurses' physical and mental health, job performance and satisfaction, and therefore patient care quality.

Objectives

This study was to examine compassion fatigue and predictive factors in paediatric surgery nurses.

Participants and research context

The study was cross-sectional, predictive and quantitative. It was conducted with the 135 paediatric surgery nurses. The data were sent to the email addresses of the members via Google Survey. Research data were collected with the Nurse Information Form, Compassion Fatigue Scale, Life Satisfaction Scale and Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale.

Ethical considerations

After obtaining the approval of the University’s ethics committee, the study was carried out after obtaining participants’ informed written and verbal consent.

Results

There was a difference between the level of compassion fatigue according to the paediatric surgery unit that worked the longest and the thought of changing their profession. Burn unit nurses and nurses who were considering changing professions have higher compassion fatigue scores. When the predictors of compassion fatigue were examined, the thought of changing the nursing profession and life satisfaction were significant predictors of compassion fatigue. The thought of changing the nursing profession and life satisfaction explained 22% of compassion fatigue. The same variables and the longest working period of the paediatric surgery unit were the estimators of the level of occupational burnout; explaining 29% of occupational burnout.

Conclusions

Compassion fatigue, life satisfaction and perceived social support of paediatric surgery nurses are moderate. Compassion fatigue is affected by working time, the thought of changing the profession, life satisfaction and perceived social support.
The Relationship Between Masculinity and Help-Seeking Among Australian Men Living in Non-urban Areas
Authors: Piatkowski Timothy , Sabrus Domanik , Keane Carol
Published: October 2023

This study explores how traditional masculine norms affect mental health help-seeking attitudes in men residing in regional, rural, and remote Australia. Participants ( N = 271) were men living outside of major cities of Australia. Analyses of survey data found increasing endorsement of masculine norms was predictive of more negative attitudes toward help-seeking. Perceived barriers to help seeking partially mediated relationships between masculine norms and help seeking. Full mediation was present for gender role conflict through perceived barriers and help seeking. These findings suggest efforts to improve mental health of men from non-urban communities may consider the way health messages could be targeted to optimise help seeking. Increasing engagement with stakeholders, such as clinicians, community groups, government agencies, and mental health organisations is warranted when engaging men living in non-urban areas.
‘They won’t wear condoms, so why would we expect them to wear masks?’: Social media, ‘circuit queens’ and the ‘gay civil war’ during COVID-19
Authors: Upton Mike
Published: October 2023

This article examines the Instagram account @GaysoverCOVID which publicly exposed gay men who appeared to disregard COVID-related restrictions during the pandemic. While outwardly concerned to hold these men accountable, the article analyses posts and comments published on the platform to show how criticism focused on the appearance and perceived ‘promiscuity’ of the men exposed. The article draws on the work of Douglas Crimp (1989) to analyse this ‘moralism’ as a symptom of ‘melancholia’, a form of repressed mourning. It shows how the COVID pandemic has brought contested understandings of ‘safer sex’ to the surface, underpinning a set of anxieties concerning the loss of a ‘responsible’ gay subjecthood based on condom use. These anxieties were projected onto the figure of the ‘circuit queen’ in ways that reproduced long-standing discourses of ‘slut-shaming’. To leave this moralism behind, the author argues for greater attention to the affective dimensions of the transition from condom to PrEP-based HIV prevention.