bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MvMRL: a multi-view molecular representation learning method for molecular property prediction
Authors: Zhang Ru , Lin Yanmei , Wu Yijia , Deng Lei , Zhang Hao , Liao Mingzhi , Peng Yuzhong
Published: June 2024

Effective molecular representation learning is very important for Artificial Intelligence-driven Drug Design because it affects the accuracy and efficiency of molecular property prediction and other molecular modeling relevant tasks. However, previous molecular representation learning studies often suffer from limitations, such as over-reliance on a single molecular representation, failure to fully capture both local and global information in molecular structure, and ineffective integration of multiscale features from different molecular representations. These limitations restrict the complete and accurate representation of molecular structure and properties, ultimately impacting the accuracy of predicting molecular properties. To this end, we propose a novel multi-view molecular representation learning method called MvMRL, which can incorporate feature information from multiple molecular representations and capture both local and global information from different views well, thus improving molecular property prediction. Specifically, MvMRL consists of four parts: a multiscale CNN-SE Simplified Molecular Input Line Entry System (SMILES) learning component and a multiscale Graph Neural Network encoder to extract local feature information and global feature information from the SMILES view and the molecular graph view, respectively; a Multi-Layer Perceptron network to capture complex non-linear relationship features from the molecular fingerprint view; and a dual cross-attention component to fuse feature information on the multi-views deeply for predicting molecular properties. We evaluate the performance of MvMRL on 11 benchmark datasets, and experimental results show that MvMRL outperforms state-of-the-art methods, indicating its rationality and effectiveness in molecular property prediction. The source code of MvMRL was released in https://github.com/jedison-github/MvMRL.
HLAIImaster: a deep learning method with adaptive domain knowledge predicts HLA II neoepitope immunogenic responses
Authors: Yang Qiang , Xu Long , Dong Weihe , Li Xiaokun , Wang Kuanquan , Dong Suyu , Zhang Xianyu , Yang Tiansong , Jiang Feng , Zhang Bin , Luo Gongning , Gao Xin , Wang Guohua
Published: June 2024

While significant strides have been made in predicting neoepitopes that trigger autologous CD4+ T cell responses, accurately identifying the antigen presentation by human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II molecules remains a challenge. This identification is critical for developing vaccines and cancer immunotherapies. Current prediction methods are limited, primarily due to a lack of high-quality training epitope datasets and algorithmic constraints. To predict the exogenous HLA class II-restricted peptides across most of the human population, we utilized the mass spectrometry data to profile >223 000 eluted ligands over HLA-DR, -DQ, and -DP alleles. Here, by integrating these data with peptide processing and gene expression, we introduce HLAIImaster, an attention-based deep learning framework with adaptive domain knowledge for predicting neoepitope immunogenicity. Leveraging diverse biological characteristics and our enhanced deep learning framework, HLAIImaster is significantly improved against existing tools in terms of positive predictive value across various neoantigen studies. Robust domain knowledge learning accurately identifies neoepitope immunogenicity, bridging the gap between neoantigen biology and the clinical setting and paving the way for future neoantigen-based therapies to provide greater clinical benefit. In summary, we present a comprehensive exploitation of the immunogenic neoepitope repertoire of cancers, facilitating the effective development of “just-in-time” personalized vaccines.
Phylogenetic inference of inter-population transmission rates for infectious diseases
Authors: Gay Skylar A , Ellison Gregory , Xu Jianing , Yang Jialin , Wei Yiliang , Wu Shaoyuan , Yu Lili , Whalen Christopher C , Arnold Jonathan , Liu Liang
Published: June 2024

Estimating transmission rates is a challenging yet essential aspect of comprehending and controlling the spread of infectious diseases. Various methods exist for estimating transmission rates, each with distinct assumptions, data needs, and constraints. This study introduces a novel phylogenetic approach called transRate, which integrates genetic information with traditional epidemiological approaches to estimate inter-population transmission rates. The phylogenetic method is statistically consistent as the sample size (i.e. the number of pathogen genomes) approaches infinity under the multi-population susceptible-infected-recovered model. Simulation analyses indicate that transRate can accurately estimate the transmission rate with a sample size of 200 ~ 400 pathogen genomes. Using transRate, we analyzed 40,028 high-quality sequences of SARS-CoV-2 in human hosts during the early pandemic. Our analysis uncovered significant transmission between populations even before widespread travel restrictions were implemented. The development of transRate provides valuable insights for scientists and public health officials to enhance their understanding of the pandemic’s progression and aiding in preparedness for future viral outbreaks. As public databases for genomic sequences continue to expand, transRate is increasingly vital for tracking and mitigating the spread of infectious diseases.
Differential recall bias in estimating treatment effects in observational studies
Authors: Bong Suhwan , Lee Kwonsang , Dominici Francesca
Published: June 2024

Observational studies are frequently used to estimate the effect of an exposure or treatment on an outcome. To obtain an unbiased estimate of the treatment effect, it is crucial to measure the exposure accurately. A common type of exposure misclassification is recall bias, which occurs in retrospective cohort studies when study subjects may inaccurately recall their past exposure. Particularly challenging is differential recall bias in the context of self-reported binary exposures, where the bias may be directional rather than random and its extent varies according to the outcomes experienced. This paper makes several contributions: (1) it establishes bounds for the average treatment effect even when a validation study is not available; (2) it proposes multiple estimation methods across various strategies predicated on different assumptions; and (3) it suggests a sensitivity analysis technique to assess the robustness of the causal conclusion, incorporating insights from prior research. The effectiveness of these methods is demonstrated through simulation studies that explore various model misspecification scenarios. These approaches are then applied to investigate the effect of childhood physical abuse on mental health in adulthood.
Noncortical coding of biological motion in newborn chicks’ brain
Authors: Lorenzi Elena , Nadalin Giulia , Morandi-Raikova Anastasia , Mayer Uwe , Vallortigara Giorgio
Published: June 2024

Biological motion, the typical movement of vertebrates, is perceptually salient for many animal species. Newly hatched domestic chicks and human newborns show a spontaneous preference for simple biological motion stimuli (point-light displays) at birth prior to any visual learning. Despite evidence of such preference at birth, neural studies performed so far have focused on a specialized neural network involving primarily cortical areas. Here, we presented newly hatched visually naïve domestic chicks to either biological or rigid motion stimuli and measured for the first time their brain activation. Immediate Early Gene (c-Fos) expression revealed selective activation in the preoptic area of the hypothalamus and the nucleus taeniae of the amygdala. These results suggest that subpallial/subcortical regions play a crucial role in biological motion perception at hatching, paving the way for future studies on adult animals, including humans.
Remdesivir for Treatment of COVID-19 Requiring Oxygen Support: A Cross-Study Comparison From 2 Large, Open-Label Studies
Authors: Fusco Dahlene , Malenica Ivana , Günthard Huldrych F , Gupta Samir K , Kurbegov Dax , Balani Bindu , Olender Susan , Aberg Judith A , Telep Laura E , Tian Yuan , Blair Christiana , Wu George , Haubrich Richard H , Wang Chen-Yu , Chokkalingam Anand P , Osinusi Anu O , Wendtner Clemens-Martin , Gottlieb Robert L
Published: June 2024

Background

Remdesivir, an RNA-polymerase prodrug inhibitor approved for treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), shortens recovery time and improves clinical outcomes. This prespecified analysis compared remdesivir plus standard of care (SOC) with SOC alone in adults hospitalized with COVID-19 requiring oxygen support in the early stage of the pandemic.

Methods

Data for 10-day remdesivir treatment plus SOC from the extension phase of an open-label study (NCT04292899) were compared with real-world, retrospective data on SOC alone (EUPAS34303). Both studies included patients aged ≥18 years hospitalized with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 up to 30 May 2020, with oxygen saturation ≤94% on room air or supplemental oxygen (all forms), and with pulmonary infiltrates. Propensity score weighting was used to balance patient demographics and clinical characteristics across treatment groups. The primary endpoint was time to all-cause mortality or end of study (day 28). Time to discharge, with a 10-day landmark to account for duration of remdesivir treatment, was a secondary endpoint.

Results

A total of 1974 patients treated with remdesivir plus SOC, and 1426 with SOC alone, were included after weighting. Remdesivir significantly reduced mortality versus SOC (hazard ratio [HR], 0.46; 95% confidence interval, .39–.54). This association was observed at each oxygen support level, with the lowest HR for patients on low-flow oxygen. Remdesivir significantly increased the likelihood of discharge at day 28 versus SOC in the 10-day landmark analysis (HR, 1.64; 95% confidence interval: 1.43–1.87).

Conclusions

Remdesivir plus early-2020 SOC was associated with a 54% lower mortality risk and shorter hospital stays compared with SOC alone in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 requiring oxygen support.

Clinical Trials Registration.  ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04292899 and EUPAS34303.
Risks of SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 Infection and COVID-19–Associated Emergency Department Visits/Hospitalizations Following Updated Boosters and Prior Infection: A Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Chong Cheryl , Wee Liang En , Jin Xuan , Zhang Mengyang , Malek Muhammad Ismail Abdul , Ong Benjamin , Lye David , Chiew Calvin J , Tan Kelvin Bryan
Published: June 2024

Background

Data on protection afforded by updated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines (bivalent/XBB 1.5 monovalent) against the emergent JN.1 variant remain limited.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective population-based cohort study among all boosted Singaporeans aged ≥18 years during a COVID-19 wave predominantly driven by JN.1, from 26 November 2023 to 13 January 2024. Multivariable Cox regression was used to assess risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and COVID-19–associated emergency department (ED) visits/hospitalizations, stratified by vaccination status/prior infection; with individuals last boosted ≥1 year used as the reference category. Vaccination and infection status were classified using national registries.

Results

A total of 3 086 562 boosted adult Singaporeans were included in the study population, accounting for 146 863 476 person-days of observation. During the JN.1 outbreak, 28 160 SARS-CoV-2 infections were recorded, with 2926 hospitalizations and 3747 ED visits. Compared with individuals last boosted ≥1 year earlier with ancestral monovalent vaccines, receipt of an updated XBB.1.5 booster 8–120 days earlier was associated with lower risk of JN.1 infection (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.59 [95% confidence interval (CI), .52–.66]), COVID-19–associated ED visits (0.50 [.34–.73]), and hospitalizations (0.58 [.37–.91]), while receipt of a bivalent booster 121–365 days earlier was associated with lower risk of JN.1 infection (0.92 [.88–.95]) and ED visits (0.80 [.70–.90]). Lower risk of COVID-19 hospitalization during the JN.1 outbreak (aHR, 0.57 [95% CI, .33–.97]) was still observed following receipt of an updated XBB.1.5 booster 8–120 days earlier, even when analysis was restricted to previously infected individuals.

Conclusions

Recent receipt of updated boosters conferred protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection and ED visits/hospitalizations during a JN.1 variant wave, in both previously infected and uninfected individuals. Annual booster doses confer protection during COVID-19 endemicity.
Situational privacy: theorizing privacy as communication and media practice
Authors: Möller Johanna E
Published: June 2024

Under dataveillance as the “new normal,” datafied societies render privacy seemingly impossible. Communication and media privacy scholars foster relational and contextual perspectives to explore how agents and infrastructures could nevertheless maintain a certain degree of self-determined control over the flow of data. Situational privacy accesses this debate from an alternative practice-based perspective. Putting emphasis on the ongoing transformation of privacy, this contribution leverages recent empirical and theoretical thoughts of practice-based privacy research as well as conceptual work on the notion of the situation in social theory. Shifting the focus onto privacy breakdown, mundane criticism, and pragmatic measures of “good enough privacy,” it anchors privacy in everyday routines and situations. Situational privacy offers a communication and media perspective on privacy as a critical concept in transformation.
Favouritism, Patronage and the ‘Family System’ in England, c.1700–1850
Authors: Begiato Joanne
Published: June 2024

This article examines the interrelationships between familial, social, political and professional ideas about favouritism in England. It shows that there was a cross-fertilisation of discourses over the century-and-a-half between c.1700 and 1850, when favouritism was increasingly problematised in the domestic, social and professional spheres. Although several issues were identified as emanating from its practice, it was the very role of the family itself that increasingly made favouritism so deeply objectionable to those who articulated a vision of social and professional mobility and advancement based on merit rather than interpersonal relationships and family structures. Indeed, the link between the body politic and family was reformulated from the age of reform onwards as concerns about favouritism were directed inward to the privatised family and then to the pathologised individual. Overall, therefore, this article demonstrates that the institution of the family was both conceptually and practically fundamental to the meta-structure of social, professional and political life, long beyond the early modern period.
Robot Imports and Firm-Level Outcomes
Authors: Bonfiglioli Alessandra , Crinò Rosario , Fadinger Harald , Gancia Gino
Published: June 2024

We use French data over the 1994–2013 period to study how imports of industrial robots affect firm-level outcomes. Guided by a simple model, we develop a novel empirical strategy to identify the causal effects of robot adoption. Our results suggest that, while demand shocks generate a positive correlation between robot imports and employment at the firm level, exogenous exposure to automation leads to job losses. We also find that robot exposure increases labour productivity and some evidence that it may raise the relative demand for high-skill professions.
Do Motivated Classmates Matter for Educational Success?
Authors: Bietenbeck Jan
Published: June 2024

I provide evidence of social spillovers of personality by showing that being in class with motivated peers affects educational success. I first document that academic motivation, a key aspect of personality in the context of education, predicts own achievement, classroom behaviour, the high school grade point average and college-test taking among elementary school students. Exploiting random assignment of students to classes, I then show that exposure to motivated classmates causally affects achievement, an effect that operates over and above spillovers of classmates’ past achievement and socio-demographic composition. However, peer motivation in elementary school does not affect own motivation and long-term educational success.
Assessment of prognostic factors in pediatric adrenocortical tumors: the modified pediatric S-GRAS score in an international multicenter cohort—a work from the ENSAT-PACT working group
Authors: Riedmeier Maria , Agarwal Shipra , Antonini Sonir , Costa Tatiana E I Jaick B , Diclehan Orhan , Fassnacht Martin , Figueiredo Bonald C , Guran Tulay , Härtel Christoph , Haubitz Imme , Idkowiak Jan , Kuhlen Michaela , Noronha Lúcia , Parise Ivy Zortéa S , Redlich Antje , Puglisi Soraya , Saniye Ekinci , Schlegel Paul-Gerhardt , Yalcin Bilgehan , Wiegering Verena
Published: June 2024

Objective

Pediatric adrenocortical carcinoma (pACC) is rare, and prognostic stratification remains challenging. We aimed to confirm the prognostic value of the previously published pediatric scoring system (pS-GRAS) in an international multicenter cohort.

Design

Analysis of pS-GRAS items of pACC from 6 countries in collaboration of ENSAT-PACT, GPOH-MET, and IC-PACT.

Methods

We received patient data of the pS-GRAS items including survival information from 9 centers. PS-GRAS score was calculated as a sum of tumor stage (1 = 0; 2-3 = 1; 4 = 2 points), grade (Ki67 index: 0%-9% = 0; 10%-19% = 1; ≥20% = 2 points), resection status (R0 = 0; RX/R1/R2 = 1 point), age (<4 years = 0; ≥4 years = 1 point), and hormone production (androgen production = 0; glucocorticoid-/mixed-/no-hormone production = 1 point) generating 8 scores and 4 groups (1: 0-2, 2: 3-4, 3: 5, 4: 6-7). Primary endpoint was overall survival (OS).

Results

We included 268 patients with median age of 4 years. The analysis of the pS-GRAS score showed a significantly favorable prognosis in patients with a lower scoring compared to higher scoring groups (5-year OS: Group 1 98%; group 2 87% [hazard ratio {HR} of death 3.6, 95% CI of HR 1.6-8.2]; group 3 43% [HR of death 2.8, 95% CI 1.9-4.4]; group 4: OS 18% [HR of death 2.1, 95% CI 1.7-2.7]). In the multivariable analysis, age (HR of death 3.5, 95% CI 1.8-7.0), resection status (HR of death 5.5, 95% CI 2.7-11.1), tumor stage (HR of death 1.9, 95% CI of HR 1.2-3.0), and Ki67 index (HR of death 1.7, 95% CI 1.2-2.4) remained strong independent outcome predictors. Especially infants < 4 years showed more often low-risk constellations with a better OS for all tumor stages.

Conclusion

In an international multicenter study, we confirmed that the pS-GRAS score is strongly associated with overall survival among patients with pACC. Age, resection status, stage, and Ki67 index are important parameters for risk stratification.
Management of cardiac sarcoidosis
Authors: Sharma Rakesh , Kouranos Vasileios , Cooper Leslie T , Metra Marco , Ristic Arsen , Heidecker Bettina , Baksi John , Wicks Eleanor , Merino Jose L , Klingel Karin , Imazio Massimo , de Chillou Christian , Tschöpe Carsten , Kuchynka Petr , Petersen Steffen E , McDonagh Theresa , Lüscher Thomas , Filippatos Gerasimos
Published: June 2024

Cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is a form of inflammatory cardiomyopathy associated with significant clinical complications such as high-degree atrioventricular block, ventricular tachycardia, and heart failure as well as sudden cardiac death. It is therefore important to provide an expert consensus statement summarizing the role of different available diagnostic tools and emphasizing the importance of a multidisciplinary approach. By integrating clinical information and the results of diagnostic tests, an accurate, validated, and timely diagnosis can be made, while alternative diagnoses can be reasonably excluded. This clinical expert consensus statement reviews the evidence on the management of different CS manifestations and provides advice to practicing clinicians in the field on the role of immunosuppression and the treatment of cardiac complications based on limited published data and the experience of international CS experts. The monitoring and risk stratification of patients with CS is also covered, while controversies and future research needs are explored.
The legal boundaries of coexistence: reframing liberty of conscience as a tool of toleration in the French Wars of Religion
Authors: Jones Elisa J
Published: June 2024

In histories of the Wars of Religion and narratives of rights and the rise of the state, ‘freedom of conscience’ is often treated as self-evident. However, this article demonstrates its contested meaning through French Protestant and Catholic reactions to liberty of conscience as granted by the monarchy in 1563, when its particular use as the legal framework for the toleration of Calvinists can be identified. As a malleable tool of toleration, this politicized liberty of conscience protected conscience in households, but separated it from the exercise of religion, a formula for pacification repeated in the 1598 Edict of Nantes. Not only did this usage conflict with theological interpretations of conscience, but it disrupted notions of French citizenship and reinforced royal power by framing heresy as sedition. Far from freeing individual consciences, this article concludes that royal liberty of conscience constrained the actions of Catholics and Protestants while enforcing their coexistence.
A Novel Approach to Comparative RNA-Seq Does Not Support a Conserved Set of Orthologs Underlying Animal Regeneration
Authors: Sierra Noémie C , Olsman Noah , Yi Lynn , Pachter Lior , Goentoro Lea , Gold David A
Published: June 2024

Molecular studies of animal regeneration typically focus on conserved genes and signaling pathways that underlie morphogenesis. To date, a holistic analysis of gene expression across animals has not been attempted, as it presents a suite of problems related to differences in experimental design and gene homology. By combining orthology analyses with a novel statistical method for testing gene enrichment across large data sets, we are able to test whether tissue regeneration across animals shares transcriptional regulation. We applied this method to a meta-analysis of six publicly available RNA-Seq data sets from diverse examples of animal regeneration. We recovered 160 conserved orthologous gene clusters, which are enriched in structural genes as opposed to those regulating morphogenesis. A breakdown of gene presence/absence provides limited support for the conservation of pathways typically implicated in regeneration, such as Wnt signaling and cell pluripotency pathways. Such pathways are only conserved if we permit large amounts of paralog switching through evolution. Overall, our analysis does not support the hypothesis that a shared set of ancestral genes underlie regeneration mechanisms in animals. After applying the same method to heat shock studies and getting similar results, we raise broader questions about the ability of comparative RNA-Seq to reveal conserved gene pathways across deep evolutionary relationships.
Limited Parallelism in Genetic Adaptation to Brackish Water Bodies in European Sprat and Atlantic Herring
Authors: Pettersson Mats E , Quintela María , Besnier François , Deng Qiaoling , Berg Florian , Kvamme Cecilie , Bekkevold Dorte , Mosbech Mai-Britt , Bunikis Ignas , Lille-Langøy Roger , Leonori Iole , Wallberg Andreas , Glover Kevin A , Andersson Leif
Published: June 2024

The European sprat is a small plankton-feeding clupeid present in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, in the Mediterranean Sea, and in the brackish Baltic Sea and Black Sea. This species is the target of a major fishery and, therefore, an accurate characterization of its genetic population structure is crucial to delineate proper stock assessments that aid ensuring the fishery's sustainability. Here, we present (i) a draft genome assembly, (ii) pooled whole genome sequencing of 19 population samples covering most of the species’ distribution range, and (iii) the design and test of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-chip resource and use this to validate the population structure inferred from pooled sequencing. These approaches revealed, using the populations sampled here, three major groups of European sprat: Oceanic, Coastal, and Brackish with limited differentiation within groups even over wide geographical stretches. Genetic structure is largely driven by six large putative inversions that differentiate Oceanic and Brackish sprats, while Coastal populations display intermediate frequencies of haplotypes at each locus. Interestingly, populations from the Baltic and the Black Seas share similar frequencies of haplotypes at these putative inversions despite their distant geographic location. The closely related clupeids European sprat and Atlantic herring both show genetic adaptation to the brackish Baltic Sea, providing an opportunity to explore the extent of genetic parallelism. This analysis revealed limited parallelism because out of 125 independent loci detected in the Atlantic herring, three showed sharp signals of selection that overlapped between the two species and contained single genes such as PRLRA, which encodes the receptor for prolactin, a freshwater-adapting hormone in euryhaline species, and THRB, a receptor for thyroid hormones, important both for metabolic regulation and the development of red cone photoreceptors.
Using Runs of Homozygosity and Machine Learning to Disentangle Sources of Inbreeding and Infer Self-Fertilization Rates
Authors: Zeitler Leo , Gilbert Kimberly J
Published: June 2024

Runs of homozygosity (ROHs) are indicative of elevated homozygosity and inbreeding due to mating of closely related individuals. Self-fertilization can be a major source of inbreeding which elevates genome-wide homozygosity and thus should also create long ROHs. While ROHs are frequently used to understand inbreeding in the context of conservation and selective breeding, as well as for consanguinity of populations and their demographic history, it remains unclear how ROH characteristics are altered by selfing and if this confounds expected signatures of inbreeding due to demographic change. Using simulations, we study the impact of the mode of reproduction and demographic history on ROHs. We apply random forests to identify unique characteristics of ROHs, indicative of different sources of inbreeding. We pinpoint distinct features of ROHs that can be used to better characterize the type of inbreeding the population was subjected to and to predict outcrossing rates and complex demographic histories. Using additional simulations and four empirical datasets, two from highly selfing species and two from mixed-maters, we predict the selfing rate and validate our estimations. We find that self-fertilization rates are successfully identified even with complex demography. Population genetic summary statistics improve algorithm accuracy particularly in the presence of additional inbreeding, e.g. from population bottlenecks. Our findings highlight the importance of ROHs in disentangling confounding factors related to various sources of inbreeding and demonstrate situations where such sources cannot be differentiated. Additionally, our random forest models provide a novel tool to the community for inferring selfing rates using genomic data.
Joint inversion of ERT and ambient noise surface wave data with DPC-guided fuzzy c-means clustering for near-surface imaging
Authors: Shi Zhanjie , Wang Chao
Published: June 2024

We present a novel strategy for performing joint inversion with guided fuzzy c-means (GFCM) clustering coupling and apply it to electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and ambient noise surface wave (ANSW) data. To accurately extract a priori clustering information, we use density peak clustering (DPC) rather than fuzzy c-means (FCM). The number and centres of resistivity and shear-wave velocity a priori clusters are extracted by DPC and then used to guide the joint inversion with the GFCM clustering coupling of ERT and ANSW data. Synthetic and field data are used to evaluate the flow and algorithm of DPC-GFCM clustering joint inversion. The results of synthetic examples show that the models recovered by the DPC-GFCM clustering joint inversion are nearly the same as the true models and are more accurate than those inverted using individual inversion and FCM-GFCM clustering joint inversion. In the field case, the depths of the stratigraphic interfaces shown in the resistivity and shear-wave velocity models inverted by DPC-GFCM clustering joint inversion are nearly consistent with those from the drilling data. In contrast, the strata recovered by the individual inversion and FCM-GFCM clustering joint inversion significantly differ from the drilling results. Both the synthetic and field examples verify the effectiveness of the DPC-GFCM clustering coupling method used for the joint inversion of ERT and ANSW data acquired from the near surface with strong heterogeneity. This novel approach can also be applied to other types of geophysical data.
Quality vs. Quantity: The Consequences of Elevated CO2 on Wood Biomaterial Properties
Authors: Anderson Philip S L
Published: June 2024

Synopsis

Since the late 1800s, anthropogenic activities such as fossil fuel consumption and deforestation have driven up the concentration of atmospheric CO2 around the globe by >45%. Such heightened concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are a leading contributor to global climate change, with estimates of a 2–5° increase in global air temperature by the end of the century. While such climatic changes are mostly considered detrimental, a great deal of experimental work has shown that increased atmospheric CO2 will actually increase growth in various plants, which may lead to increased biomass for potential harvesting or CO2 sequestration. However, it is not clear whether this increase in growth or biomass will be beneficial to the plants, as such increases may lead to weaker plant materials. In this review, I examine our current understanding of how elevated atmospheric CO2 caused by anthropogenic effects may influence plant material properties, focusing on potential effects on wood. For the first part of the review, I explore how aspects of wood anatomy and structure influence resistance to bending and breakage. This information is then used to review how changes in CO2 levels may later these aspects of wood anatomy and structure in ways that have mechanical consequences. The major pattern that emerges is that the consequences of elevated CO2 on wood properties are highly dependent on species and environment, with different tree species showing contradictory responses to atmospheric changes. In the end, I describe a couple avenues for future research into better understanding the influence of atmospheric CO2 levels on plant biomaterial mechanics.
Combining Morphological Characteristics and DNA Barcoding Techniques Confirm Sea Urchins of the Genus Echinometra (Echinodermata: Echinoidea) in Marine Habitat Located at Extreme Regions of the Caribbean Sea
Authors: Belford Stanton G
Published: June 2024

Synopsis

Echinometra spp. are pantropical echinoids found in benthic marine habitat throughout the Caribbean, Atlantic, and Indo-West Pacific oceanic regions. Currently, morphology and molecular data are sparse for echinoids observed along the northeastern coast of Toco, Trinidad, where they are relatively common. Additionally, accurate species identity for Echinometra spp. remains dynamic at both northernmost and southernmost parts of the Caribbean Sea. Although distribution of sea urchins in the genus Echinometra have extensively been studied throughout the Atlantic and Indo-West Pacific, information on its range of distribution at the edge of the Caribbean Sea is lacking. In this study, the mitochondrial Cytochrome c Oxidase subunit I (mt COI) gene was amplified using polymerase chain reaction, then sequenced. Based on successfully obtained gene sequences for 581 base pairs, the echinoid species Echinometra lucunter and Echinometra viridis were identified for black and red color morphotypes from Trinidad (n = 23) and Key Largo, Florida (n = 6), respectively. Furthermore, these specimens were genetically identical to species identified in other studies for Puerto Rico, Panamá, Honduras, and Belize. Although morphological variations, such as spine and test color occur throughout Echinometra spp., molecular identification using the barcoding technique confirmed E. lucunter color morphs for the first time in Trinidad. Since the status of E. lucunter populations, specifically at the most northern and southern regions of the Caribbean Sea is dynamic, further studies using gene markers are essential in determining species distribution, in light of current trends in climate change.
Sarcopenic obesity predicts short- and long-term outcomes after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery for gastric cancer
Authors: Duan Chunning , Wu Mingru , Wen Xia , Zhuang Lvping , Sun Jianwei
Published: June 2024

Background

Sarcopenic obesity (SO) affects outcomes in various malignancies. However, its clinical significance in patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC) remains unclear. This study investigated the impact of pre- and post-NAC SO on postoperative morbidity and survival.

Methods

Data from 207 patients with LAGC, who underwent NAC followed by radical gastrectomy between January 2010 and October 2019, were reviewed. Skeletal muscle mass and visceral fat area were measured pre- and post-NAC using computed tomography to define sarcopenia and obesity, the coexistence of which was defined as SO.

Results

Among the patients, 52 (25.1%) and 38 (18.4%) developed SO before and after NAC, respectively. Both pre- (34.6%) and post- (47.4%) NAC SO were associated with the highest postoperative morbidity rates; however, only post-NAC SO was an independent risk factor for postoperative morbidity [hazard ratio (HR) = 9.550, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.818–32.369; P < .001]. Pre-NAC SO was independently associated with poorer 3-year overall [46.2% vs. 61.3%; HR = 1.258 (95% CI = 1.023–1.547); P = .049] and recurrence-free [39.3% vs. 55.4%; HR 1.285 (95% CI 1.045–1.579); P = .017] survival.

Conclusions

Pre-NAC SO was an independent prognostic factor in patients with LAGC undergoing NAC; post-NAC SO independently predicted postoperative morbidity.
Introduction
Authors: Ana Filipa Vrdoljak
Published: June 2024

This introductory chapter covers the international efforts for the legal protection and safeguarding of cultural heritage through the UNESCO cultural conventions. The international legal framework covering cultural objects is contained in the 1970 UNESCO Convention, then adopted by UNESCO’s General Conference in 1970 and the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention. The chapter then outlines the context and complexity of multilateral efforts to regulate the transfer and return of cultural objects. Since all treaties embody compromises, the operation of these treaties may be informing customary international law related to the transfer and return of cultural objects. Moreover, the treaties changed the landscape of multilateral efforts to promote international cooperation for the protection of movable cultural heritage.
Article 4 of the 1970 UNESCO Convention: Cultural Property Forming Part of the Cultural Heritage of Each State
Authors: Ana Vrdoljak
Published: June 2024

This chapter discusses Article 4 of the 1970 UNESCO Convention. Cultural Property Forming Part of the Cultural Heritage of Each State. The relevance of Article 4 relies on State Parties applying the provisions aiming to protect their cultural property and to regard an export as illicit if the cultural property exported from another State Party falls under the scope of the convention. Even though cultural property is easy to define with movable objects, the term cultural heritage is not so easy due to the wording of the 1970 Convention. The chapter looks into the five categories of origin and their overlapping relationship. It elaborates on the drafting history, international norms, and recent developments concerning Article 4.
Article 5(c) of the 1970 UNESCO Convention: Scientific and Technical Institutions
Authors: Toshiyuki Kono
Published: June 2024

This chapter elaborates on the provision in Article 5(c) of the 1970 UNESCO Convention. It explains that Article 5(c) should be read under the dynamic context of expert institutions' increasing significance. The provision's drafting history is carefully traced to clarify the meaning and functions of the expert institutions that various drafters had in mind and to facilitate the understanding of the language of the relevant provision of the Operational Guidelines (OGs) to the 1970 Convention. The chapter discusses a comparative analysis of heritage treaties in correlation with expert institutions. It highlights the importance of clear distinctions between legal obligations, status, and social responsibilities to achieve better outcomes.
Article 9 of the 1970 UNESCO Convention: International Cooperation and Bilateral Agreements
Authors: Patty Gerstenblith , Wang Yunxia
Published: June 2024

This chapter covers Article 9 of the 1970 UNESCO Convention, which primarily revolves around international cooperation and bilateral agreements. Article 9 provides a mechanism whereby States Parties may call on each other for assistance when their ‘cultural patrimony is in jeopardy from pillage of archaeological or ethnological materials. Moreover, States Parties agree to participate in carrying out necessary concrete measures like controlling exports and imports. The chapter looks into the criticisms of Article 9 while indicating how Article 3 focuses on all cultural properties while Article 9 refers to archaeological and ethnological materials. It details the several measures internatinal communities took to boost cooperation to protect cultural heritage.
Article 16 of the 1970 UNESCO Convention: Periodic Reporting
Authors: Kristin Hausler
Published: June 2024

This chapter examines Article 16 of the 1970 UNESCO Convention, which revolves around the notion of periodic reporting. The periodic reporting process became the main oversight mechanism for the 1970 Convention, so States Parties needed to comply with their treaty obligations and significant to the Convention’s effective implementation. Even though the provision makes reporting an obligation for States Parties, the structure and the way the reports should be reviewed and analysed are not prescribed. The chapter cites that the reporting duty under Article 16 has largely not been complied with by States Parties. It explains how the 2019 reporting cycle provided a clear picture of the state of implementation as per Article 16.
Article 17 of the 1970 UNESCO Convention: The Roles of UNESCO
Authors: Andrzej Jakubowski , Alessandro Chechi
Published: June 2024

This chapter highlights the roles of UNESCO as per Article 17 of the 1970 UNESCO Convention. The provision specifies that the States Parties to this treaty may call on the technical assistance of UNESCO as regards several matters, such as information, consultation, and coordination. Moreover, Article 17 must be interpreted under the framework of the entire governance and oversight system of the 1970 Convention that evolved. The chapter clarifies that the Secretariat holds the central role of technical assistance even though several bodies are already engaged to varying extents. It also considers the criticism of UNESCO's role vis-à-vis other international cultural heritage comparable provisions.
Articles 18–21, 23–26 of the 1970 UNESCO Convention: Final Clauses
Authors: Malgosia Fitzmaurice , Agnes Rydberg
Published: June 2024

This chapter explores the final clauses indicated within the 1970 UNESCO Convention as per Articles 18 to 26 except for Article 22. It then examines subsequent intergovernmental and state practice, as well as relevant developments at international and regional levels. The 1970 UNESCO convention was expected to be the most effective means of achieving the desired results of prohibiting and preventing illicit trade of cultural property. The provisions generally follow the common theme of final clauses as generally contained in multilateral treaties. The chapter then considers the drawbacks in treaty machinery, which include the uncertainty of the continuity and/or discontinuity of the Convention’s obligations in cases of state succession.
The Preamble to the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention
Authors: Alessandro Chechi
Published: June 2024

This chapter tackles the preamble of the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention. From the perspective of international law, the preamble is one of the components of the context of a treaty and must be taken into account for the interpretation in good faith of such a treaty. The preamble primarily highlights the factual, political, and legal challenges relating to the specific subject matter that gave rise to the treaty. The three main axes of its development revolve around emphasizing the importance of cultural objects, balancing different interests and approaches of source and market nations, and explaining how the new treaty addresses the issue of cultural heritage protection.
Article 5 of the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention: Claims for Illegally Exported Cultural Objects
Authors: Alessandro Chechi , Keun-Gwan Lee
Published: June 2024

This chapter explores Article 5 of the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention that focuses on claims for illegally exported cultural objects. It notes how Article 5 indicates the States Parties' duty to ensure the physical return of cultural objects removed from the territory of the requesting state. Moreover, Article 5 establishes an exception to the principle of the non-applicability of foreign public law. The drafters of the UNIDROIT Convention established the provision to heighten the cooperation between states which is essential to thwart the illicit trade in cultural objects.
Article 7(1) of the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention: Exclusionary Clause
Authors: Matthias Weller
Published: June 2024

This chapter discusses the exclusions clauses indicated within Article 7(1) of the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention. This provision prescribes certain exclusions of the application of Articles 5 and 6 and withdraws the obligation of the court or other competent authority of the requested Contracting State to order the return of the cultural object in question. Furthermore, the chapter explains that the Contracting States must take their treaty obligation seriously regarding informing the status of their national export legislations and changes to make the provision operable and relevant.
Article 7(2) of the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention: Indigenous Restitution Claims
Authors: Kristopher Wilson
Published: June 2024

This chapter explains that Article 7(2) of the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention is primarily concerned with indigenous restitution claims. It details the development of approaches to identifying indigenous peoples and defining indigenous cultural objects, and notes how indigenous communities suffer from the UNIDROIT Convention’s lack of retroactivity.
Article 9 of the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention: Applicable Law
Authors: Kurt Siehr
Published: June 2024

This chapter elaborates on Article 9 of the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention. According to the Article 9(1), every international instrument must indicate its relationship to provisions dealing with the same matters as the instrument itself. Moreover, if the UNIDROIT Convention applies in the forum State, the Convention or the national statute must be applied as the minimum rule for return or restitution claims. Article 9(2) aims to respond to the fear of some delegations that Article 9(1) requires the Contracting States to recognize foreign decisions on restitution or return without considering any fair and reasonable compensation of a possessor in good faith.
Article 10 of the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention: Transitional Clause
Authors: Craig Forrest
Published: June 2024

This chapter details the notion of transitional clauses contained in Article 10 of the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention. It highlights the debated issue concerning retroactivity, and highlights that some States saw the negotiations on this provision as an opportunity to revisit the adoption of rules that would address the loss of cultural objects in the past.
Article 13 of the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention: Existing and Subsequent Treaty Obligations
Authors: Riccardo Pavoni
Published: June 2024

This chapter covers the paragraphs of Article 13 of the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention, which was regarded as one of the most problematic provisions. It explains that the provisions address the relationship of the treaty with competing and complementary international law obligations. Unlike the UNIDROIT Convention, the UNESCO Convention does not contain a comprehensive savings clause governing the Convention’s relationship with any competing treaties or other international law obligations. Thus, norm conflicts involving the UNESCO Convention must be examined under the general principles of international law. The chapter explains how the disconnection clause and its philosophy are unfortunately diametrically opposite to the notion of interconnected legal systems.
Articles 11, 12, 15, 17–21 of the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention: Final Clauses
Authors: Sebastián Green Martínez
Published: June 2024

This chapter details the final clauses of the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention. It explains how final clauses in a multilateral agreement commonly regulate certain relevant matters, such as proceedings of amendment and review of the treaty. Most of the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention's final clauses were drafted and presented by the UNIDROIT Secretariat in advance of the Diplomatic Conference. The provisions on final clauses mainly revolve around the key concepts of ratification, accession, entry into force, declarations, reservations, denunciation of the treaty, and identification of the depository. The chapter cites that Clauses proposed by state delegations are more innovative and oriented towards the specific needs for the appropriate functioning of the Convention.
The 1970 UNESCO and 1995 UNIDROIT Conventions and the 1954 Hague Convention and Its Protocols
Authors: Kevin Chamberlain , Laura Pineschi
Published: June 2024

This chapter explores the 1970 UNESCO Convention, the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention and the 1954 Hague Convention and Its Protocols. The main focus of the 1954 Hague Convention and its Protocols is, of course, to protect cultural property from the effects of armed conflict. Moreover, most provisions have no direct relevance to the relationship between the Convention and its Protocols to the UNESCO and UNIDROIT Conventions. The chapter then considers the relationship between United Nations Security Council resolution (UNSCR) and treaty regimes. It tackles the extent to which the 1970 UNESCO Convention, the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention and UNSCRs reflect customary international law.
The 1970 UNESCO and 1995 UNIDROIT Conventions and the 1972 World Heritage Convention
Authors: Amy Strecker
Published: June 2024

This chapter focuses on the correlation between the 1970 UNESCO and 1995 UNIDROIT Conventions and the 1972 World Heritage Convention. In 1972, The World Heritage Convention was adopted by UNESCO under the rationale of the deterioration or disappearance of any item of cultural or natural heritage constituting a harmful impoverishment of heritage. Moreover, the interrelation of the Conventions allowed the identification of movable and immovable cultural property as separate entities. The chapter looks into how the COVID-19 pandemic worsened illicit trade due to security and funding shortfalls at many World Heritage sites. It highlights the importance of having a greater level of involvement at the site level from the communities who live at or use these sites to address the illicit traffic of trade.