bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A REVIEW ON THE ROLE OF BURNISHING TECHNIQUES ON COMBATING SOLID PARTICLE EROSION OF THERMAL SPRAY COATINGS
Authors: SINGH PARVINKAL , KUMAR PARDEEP
Published: December 2024

The main objective of the paper is to review the role of different burnishing techniques used in the post-coating processing of thermally sprayed coatings. The burnishing techniques discussed here are aimed at reducing the porosity and the coating surface defects for their application to combat solid particle erosion (SPE) in industrial applications such as pulverized coal burner nozzles (PCBNs). The PCBNs in thermal power plants are exposed to a high erosion rate compared to boiler tubes, due to very high velocity and the mass flux of the pulverized coal. A high surface roughness, cracks and porosity in thermally sprayed surfaces reduce their SPE resistance. The severe plastic deformation (SPD) process, known as roller burnishing, is reported to cause significant surface modifications of thermally sprayed coatings. The surface irregularities are suppressed by the burnishing tool during SPD, which consequently fills the nearby pores and valleys due to plastic deformation. This paper reviews the performance of burnishing performed by a grinding wheel-shaped tool and compares their surface characteristics or the SPE behavior with the burnishing performed by roller burnishing and the grinding process. Moreover, the impact of cryogenic burnishing on the performance of the coatings is also studied and discussed in detail.
Correspondence Between Alignment Wavelength and Vehicle Response Wavelength of High-Speed Rails
Authors: Liu Xingyu , Shi Jin , Dai Jian , Wang Yingjie , Lu Chaoru
Published: December 2024

The acceleration of the vehicle body is closely related to the wavelength components of the track, making the design of track alignments crucial for enhancing the comfort of high-speed rail travel. However, research on the effects of long-wavelength deformations on alignment design and their impact on vehicle dynamics remains limited, and existing methodologies fail to effectively calculate the wavelengths of traditional alignments, which consist of linear segments and vertical curves. This study introduces a novel approach for computing long-wavelength track alignments and vehicle response wavelengths using signal decomposition and the Hilbert transform. A comprehensive program is developed to analyze the relationship between alignment and vehicle response wavelengths through correlation coefficients and coherence functions. The results show that traditional alignments have predominant wavelengths exceeding 1 000[Formula: see text]m, which exhibit negligible correlation with vehicle response due to the dominant influence of alignment curvature. In contrast, Fourier series-designed alignments demonstrate a significant correlation with vehicle response, particularly under high-speed conditions. Quantitatively, vehicle response wavelengths are found to range from 1[Formula: see text]000[Formula: see text]m to 5[Formula: see text]000[Formula: see text]m, with Fourier series alignments effectively reducing dynamic impacts. These findings highlight the potential of the proposed approach in optimizing track design for challenging railway sections, providing valuable guidance for improving high-speed railway operations.
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION SUCCESS FACTORS: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW AND BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS
Authors: HEUERMANN MARIE , GAISER-BERTRAM SYLVIA , SCHALLMO DANIEL
Published: December 2024

Digital transformation has emerged as a critical strategy in today’s dynamic business environment. However, the high failure rate of digital transformation initiatives underscores the need for a deeper understanding of the factors that drive success. This study conducts a comprehensive examination of digital transformation success factors through a systematic literature review. Through a bibliometric analysis of 34 peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2017 and 2023, the study evaluates research areas, temporal trends, geographical distributions, journals, significant keywords, and principal authors based on co-authorship. It unveils the current digital transformation research landscape, synthesises 119 enabling factors into 13 core dimensions for successful digital transformation, and presents a new and holistic digital transformation model. This model offers valuable guidance for practitioners in the field and organisations navigating transformation challenges.
On the second moment of Fourier coefficients of symmetric power L-function
Authors: Feng Jinzhi
Published: December 2024

Let [Formula: see text] be the normalized primitive holomorphic Hecke eigenforms of even integral weight [Formula: see text] for the full modular group SL[Formula: see text]. In this paper, we investigate the second moment of Fourier coefficients of symmetric power [Formula: see text]-function [Formula: see text] for [Formula: see text] and improve on previous error estimates. We also consider the second moment of [Formula: see text].
Influence of Chromium on Structural, Morphological, Dielectric and Magnetic Properties of M-Type Calcium–Barium Hexagonal Ferrites for Technological Applications
Authors: Zahid Muhammad , Khan Hasan M.
Published: December 2024

In this work, M-type hexagonal ferrite nanoparticles having the composition [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] were fabricated by the sol–gel auto-combustion technique. The influence of chromium doping on structural, dielectric and magnetic characteristics was examined. XRD powder analysis revealed the geometry of single-phase hexaferrite with P63/mmc space group. The magnetoplumbite hexagonal structure was revealed by the X-ray diffraction analysis. Crystallite size, [Formula: see text] & [Formula: see text] lattice parameters, bulk density, X-ray density, cell volume and porosity were assessed. Crystallite size ranged from 39.54[Formula: see text]nm to 42.91[Formula: see text]nm. The X-ray density and bulk density were enhanced while porosity was decreased with the substitution of [Formula: see text]cation. The morphology of the fabricated materials was inspected by the SEM analysis, which displays uniformly scattered particles with hexagonal platelet shape. The value of the dielectric constant is high in the low-frequency regime, and it decreases with increasing frequency. The dielectric constant decreased appreciably with the increase of [Formula: see text]. Such observed dielectric and magnetic features are useful for different technological applications like microwave absorbers, voltage-controlled, dielectric resonators and recording media.
Polarization optical detection and localization of subcutaneous lesions
Authors: Zhang Xinxian , Fan Jiahao , Song Jiawei , Zeng Nan , He Honghui , Tuchin Valery V. , Ma Hui
Published: December 2024

It is of great significance in clinical diagnosis and treatment evaluation to accurately identify the lesion tissue and further extract its characteristics and depth location. In this study, we construct tissue phantoms for three lesion types: fibrosis (FT), organelle proliferation (OPT), and pigmentation (PT). These phantoms allow for the quantitative regulation of mimicked disease depth. The experimental results show that the parameter Kc, combined with MMT parameters, can effectively distinguish the presence of lesions and their abnormal types. Further, the study extracts depth-sensitive polarization feature parameters (DSPFPs) for specific lesion types. Through experiments of tissue phantoms with various depth settings, the established machine learning regression models based on DSPFPs demonstrate their depth retrieval capabilities.
Grammar Mutation for Testing Input Parsers
Authors: Bendrissou Bachir , Cadar Cristian , Donaldson Alastair F.
Published: December 2024

Grammar-based fuzzing is an effective method for testing programs that consume structured inputs, particularly input parsers. However, if the available grammar does not accurately represent the input format, or if the system under test (SUT) does not conform strictly to the grammar, there may be an impedance mismatch between inputs generated via grammars and inputs accepted by the SUT. Even if the SUT
has
been designed to strictly conform to the grammar, the SUT parser may exhibit vulnerabilities that would only be triggered by slightly invalid inputs. Grammar-based generation, by construction, will not yield such edge case inputs. To overcome these limitations, we present two mutational-based approaches:
Gmutator
and G+M. Both approaches are built upon
Grammarinator
, a grammar-based generator.
Gmutator
applies mutations to the grammar input of
Grammarinator
, while G+M directly applies byte-level mutations to
Grammarinator
-generated inputs. To evaluate the effectiveness of these techniques (
Grammarinator
,
Gmutator
, G+M) in testing programs that parse various input formats, we conducted an experimental evaluation over four different input formats and twelve SUTs (three per input format). Our findings suggest that both
Gmutator
and G+M excel in generating edge case inputs, facilitating the detection of disparities between input specifications and parser implementations.
LLM for Mobile: An Initial Roadmap
Authors: Chen Daihang , Liu Yonghui , Zhou Mingyi , Zhao Yanjie , Wang Haoyu , Wang Shuai , Chen Xiao , Bissyandé Tegawendé F. , Klein Jacques , Li Li
Published: December 2024

When mobile meets LLMs, mobile app users deserve to have more intelligent usage experiences. For this to happen, we argue that there is a strong need to apply LLMs for the mobile ecosystem. We therefore provide a research roadmap for guiding our fellow researchers to achieve that as a whole. In this roadmap, we sum up six directions that we believe are urgently required for research to enable native intelligence in mobile devices. In each direction, we further summarize the current research progress and the gaps that still need to be filled by our fellow researchers.
The Iteration Number of the Weisfeiler-Leman Algorithm
Authors: Grohe Martin , Lichter Moritz , Neuen Daniel
Published: December 2024

We prove new upper and lower bounds on the number of iterations the

\(k\)

-dimensional Weisfeiler-Leman algorithm (

\(k\)

-WL) requires until stabilization. For

\(k\geq 3\)

, we show that

\(k\)

-WL stabilizes after at most

\(O(kn^{k-1}\log n)\)

iterations (where

\(n\)

denotes the number of vertices of the input structures), obtaining the first improvement over the trivial upper bound of

\(n^{k}-1\)

and extending a previous upper bound of

\(O(n\log n)\)

for

\(k=2\)

.

We complement our upper bounds by constructing

\(k\)

-ary relational structures on which

\(k\)

-WL requires at least

\(n^{\Omega(k)}\)

iterations to stabilize. This improves over a previous lower bound of

\(n^{\Omega(k/\log k)}\)

.

We also investigate tradeoffs between the dimension and the iteration number of WL, and show that

\(d\)

-WL, where

\(d=\lceil\frac{3(k + 1)}{2}\rceil\)

, can simulate the

\(k\)

-WL algorithm using only

\(O(k^{2}\cdot n^{\lfloor k/2\rfloor+1}\log n)\)

many iterations, but still requires at least

\(n^{\Omega(k)}\)

iterations for any

\(d\)

(that is sufficiently smaller than

\(n\)

).

The number of iterations required by

\(k\)

-WL to distinguish two structures corresponds to the quantifier rank of a sentence distinguishing them in the

\((k + 1)\)

-variable fragment

\(\mathsf{C}_{k + 1}\)

of first-order logic with counting quantifiers. Hence, our results also imply new upper and lower bounds on the quantifier rank required in the logic

\(\mathsf{C}_{k + 1}\)

, as well as tradeoffs between variable number and quantifier rank.
User Behavior Simulation with Large Language Model-based Agents
Authors: Wang Lei , Zhang Jingsen , Yang Hao , Chen Zhi-Yuan , Tang Jiakai , Zhang Zeyu , Chen Xu , Lin Yankai , Sun Hao , Song Ruihua , Zhao Xin , Xu Jun , Dou Zhicheng , Wang Jun , Wen Ji-Rong
Published: December 2024

Simulating high quality user behavior data has always been a fundamental yet challenging problem in human-centered applications such as recommendation systems, social networks, among many others. The major difficulty of user behavior simulation originates from the intricate mechanism of human cognitive and decision processes. Recently, substantial evidence has suggested that by learning huge amounts of web knowledge, large language models (LLMs) can achieve human-like intelligence and generalization capabilities. Inspired by such capabilities, in this article, we take an initial step to study the potential of using LLMs for user behavior simulation in the recommendation domain. To make LLMs act like humans, we design profile, memory and action modules to equip them, building LLM-based agents to simulate real users. To enable interactions between different agents and observe their behavior patterns, we design a sandbox environment, where each agent can interact with the recommendation system, and different agents can converse with their friends
via
one-to-one chatting or one-to-many social broadcasting. In the experiments, we first demonstrate the believability of the agent-generated behaviors based on both subjective and objective evaluations. Then, to show the potential applications of our method, we simulate and study two social phenomena including (1) information cocoons and (2) user conformity behaviors. We find that controlling the personalization degree of recommendation algorithms and improving the heterogeneity of user social relations can be two effective strategies for alleviating the problem of information cocoon, and the conformity behaviors can be highly influenced by the amount of user social relations. To advance this direction, we have released our project at
https://github.com/RUC-GSAI/YuLan-Rec
.
Combining Personalized Federated Hypernetworks and Shared Residual Learning for Distributed QoS Prediction
Authors: Zou Guobing , Lin Shiyi , Wu Shaogang , Hu Shengxiang , Yang Song , Gan Yanglan , Zhang Bofeng , Chen Yixin
Published: December 2024

Connected vehicles due to the high mobility and dynamic network topologies of connected vehicles require accurate QoS that includes high throughput and low latency to assess satisfactory QoE. Existing methods mainly focus on centralized QoS prediction while paying little attention to distributed mobile QoS prediction, making it challenging to protect user privacy information when invoking Web services. Moreover, even though some advanced centralized methods can be transformed into federated architectures, they often face difficulty in capturing latent feature representations of users and services and learning personalized prediction layers between them due to the heterogeneity of the QoS dataset. To address the above issues, we propose a novel framework for distributed QoS prediction, called

Combining Personalized
F
ederated
H
ypernetworks and Shared
R
esidual Learning for
D
istributed
Q
oS
P
rediction

(FHR-DQP). FHR-DQP adopts the federated averaging (FedAvg) to aggregate location-aware residual shared feature information across all clients. Additionally, a hypernetwork is leveraged to generate personalized networks for user-service QoS prediction in each client. These components are integrated as a hybrid framework that performs training using a federated approach and makes personalized QoS predictions within each client. Extensive experiments are conducted on a real-world benchmark QoS dataset called WS-DREAM, containing nearly 2,000,000 historical QoS invocation records. Compared with both centralized and federated competing baselines, the results demonstrate that FHR-DQP achieves the highest performance for distributed QoS prediction, when it provides privacy-preserving of users’ QoS invocations.
Health-Oriented Strategy for Clean Air and Climate Actions: Differential Health Effects of Atmospheric Components
Authors: Xue Tao , Kang Ning , Zhu Tong
Published: December 2024

Health is at the forefront of clean air and climate action. However, most existing studies of health impacts were based on additive single-exposure effects, which often oversimplify the relationships between atmospheric components and health outcomes. This review examines various atmospheric components’ common sources and differential health effects, including greenhouse gases and major air pollutants such as fine particulate matter (PM2.5). It emphasizes the need for a comparative assessment of health impacts across various atmospheric components. We further highlight black carbon as an illustrative example, given its higher toxicity compared with other major PM2.5 components. By integrating the best available findings on the differential effects of particulate matter components with multiple gridded estimates of air pollution concentrations and population data, we conducted a risk assessment to quantify the health benefits of particulate matter reductions associated with China's clean air actions (2013–2020) and future climate mitigation scenarios (2020–2060). Our assessments indicate that, in regions or during periods where black carbon accounts for a higher proportion of exposure reduction relative to other PM2.5 components, reducing per-unit concentrations of PM2.5 can prevent more premature deaths. We propose a conceptual framework for a health-oriented strategy to enhance the effectiveness of clean air and climate initiatives.
Lab-grown, 3D extracellular matrix particles improve cardiac function and morphology in myocardial ischemia
Authors: Broadwin Mark , St. Angelo Katerina , Petersen Max , Teixeira Rayane B. , Harris Dwight D. , Stone Christopher R. , Xu Cynthia , Kanuparthy Meghamsh , Sellke Frank W. , Morgan Jeffrey , Abid M. Ruhul
Published: December 2024

Our novel lab-grown, human 3-D extracellular matrix (ECM) represents a novel therapeutic approach to prevent pathological remodeling and heart failure in an animal model of heart attack. This novel finding may help develop nonsurgical therapeutic modalities aimed at reducing the global burden of cardiovascular disease.
Heart and health behavior responses to GLP-1 receptor agonists: a 12-wk study using wearable technology and causal inference
Authors: Grosicki Gregory J. , Kim Jeongeun , Fielding Finn , Jasinski Summer R. , Chapman Christopher , Hippel William von , Holmes Kristen E.
Published: December 2024

These findings are among the first to provide daily insights into cardiovascular and behavioral responses following GLP-1 RA initiation. Substantial weight loss and significant increases in resting heart rate mediated by reductions in heart rate variability during the initial 12 wk of GLP-1 RA therapy were observed. In addition, trends suggest an increase in physical activity with GLP-1 therapy, and that physical activity may help to temper GLP-1 RA-associated increases in resting heart rate.
Guidelines for sex-specific considerations to improve rigor in renal research and how we got there
Authors: Ilatovskaya Daria V. , Ogola Benard , Faulkner Jessica L. , Mamenko Mykola , Taylor Erin B. , Dent Elena , Ryan Michael J. , Sullivan Jennifer C.
Published: December 2024

Biological sex significantly influences disease presentation, progression, and therapeutic outcomes in chronic kidney disease and acute kidney injury. Sex hormones, including estrogen and testosterone, modulate key renal functions, including renal blood flow, glomerular filtration, and electrolyte transport, thereby affecting disease trajectory in a sex-specific manner. It is critical for researchers to understand why and how to integrate sex as a biological variable in data collection, analysis, and reporting. Integrating a sex-based perspective in kidney research will lead to more personalized and efficacious treatment strategies, optimizing therapeutic interventions for each sex. If addressed properly, the incorporation of sex as a biological variable (SABV) in renal research not only enhances the mechanistic understanding of renal disease, but also paves the way for precision medicine, promising improved clinical outcomes, and tailored treatment protocols for all patients. This paper is designed to serve as a guideline for researchers interested in rigorously incorporating sex as a biological variable in their studies.
A brief history of the cortical thick ascending limb: a systems-biology perspective
Authors: Sohail Shahzad K. , Jayatissa Nipun U. , Mejia Raymond , Khan Shaza , Chou Chung-Lin , Yang Chin-Rang , Knepper Mark A.
Published: December 2024

Here, we review key events in the accrual of knowledge about the cortical thick ascending limb (CTAL) of the kidney, starting with its initial characterization by Maurice Burg in 1973, and culminating with the application of systems biology techniques including mathematical modeling.
Activation of branched chain amino acid catabolism protects against nephrotoxic acute kidney injury
Authors: DiMartino Samaneh , Revelo Monica P. , Mallipattu Sandeep K. , Piret Sian E.
Published: December 2024

This study explored the effects of pharmacological activation of branched chain amino acid (BCAA) catabolism using BT2 to prevent nephrotoxic acute kidney injury (AKI) in mice. Our results indicate that activation of BCAA catabolism protects against nephrotoxic AKI, in association with reduced BCAA accumulation, reduced mammalian target of rapamycin protein complex 1 signaling, and improved mitochondrial bioenergetics.
Induction of plasmalemmal vesicle-associated protein exacerbates glomerular endothelial injury in thrombotic microangiopathy
Authors: Estrada Chelsea C. , Wilson Craig , Gujarati Nehaben , Ahmed Sumaya , Bronstein Robert , Daehn Ilse S. , Revelo Monica P. , Guo Yiqing , Mallipattu Sandeep K.
Published: December 2024

This study investigated the mechanism(s) underlying glomerular endothelial cell (GEnC) injury in thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). We identified plasmalemmal vesicle-associated protein (PLVAP) as specifically upregulated in injured GEnCs in TMA, which was accompanied by pathways involved in angiogenesis and loss of differentiation. Induction of Plvap increased proliferation and migration of GEnCs. Human kidney biopsies with TMA demonstrated an increase in glomerular PLVAP, which correlated with histological markers of GEnC injury, confirming its pathologic role in TMA.
Pax proteins mediate segment-specific functions in proximal tubule survival and response to ischemic injury
Authors: McElliott Madison C. , Telang Asha C. , Ference-Salo Jenna T. , Al-Suraimi Anas , Chowdhury Mahboob , Otto Edgar A. , Soofi Abdul , Dressler Gregory R. , Beamish Jeffrey A.
Published: December 2024

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common clinical syndrome with few effective treatments. In this report, we identify a novel and proximal tubule segment-specific role for the Pax family of transcription factors in the differential sensitivity of proximal tubule segments to ischemic AKI. These results may lead to new therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of AKI.
Existence and Controllability for Second‐Order Functional Differential Equations With Infinite Delay and Random Effects
Authors: Madhumitha Srinivasan , Gunasekar Tharmalingam , Alsinai Ammar , Raghavendran Prabakaran , Qahtan Read S. A.
Published: December 2024

This paper investigates the existence and controllability of second‐order functional differential equations with infinite delay, incorporating random operators. The existence of solutions is established using the Schauder fixed point theorem, ensuring that solutions exist under specified conditions. Additionally, the controllability of the system is analyzed using fixed point theory, demonstrating that the solutions can be controlled under specific criteria. An example is included to illustrate the application of the theoretical results.
Smoking-Associated Carcinogen–Induced Inflammation Promotes Lung Carcinogenesis via IRAK4 Activation
Authors: Aggarwal Ritesh K. , Sidoli Simone , Wang Jingli , Sahu Srabani , Sanawar Rahul , Gupta Varun , Aluri Srinivas , Sukrithan Vineeth , Vegivinti Charan T.R. , Zavras Phaedon D. , Verma Divij , Gordon-Mitchell Shanisha , Agarwal Beamon , Verma Tanya , Starczynowski Daniel T. , Steidl Ulrich G. , Shastri Aditi , Halmos Balazs , LaFave Lindsay M. , Cheng Haiying , Verma Amit , Zou Yiyu
Published: December 2024

Purpose:

Even though smoking is associated with lung cancer, the exact molecular pathways that link carcinogens with inflammation and oncogenic transformation are not well elucidated. Two major carcinogens in cigarette smoke, nicotine-derived nitrosamine ketone, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), and benzo(α)pyrene (BaP), have not been tested in models that mimic inhaled exposure for prolonged periods of time.

Experimental Design:

Mouse models were used for intratracheal delivery of NNK and BaP (NB) for 18 months. Tissue microarrays from human lung cancers were evaluated for IL-1 receptor–associated kinase-4 (IRAK4) expression. Functional effects of IRAK4 inhibition were evaluated in cell lines and xenografts.

Results:

Smoking-associated carcinogen–treated mice developed epithelial dysplasia followed by lung cancers at increased rates relative to controls. Histology revealed myeloid inflammation in murine lung tissues. Lung macrophages showed elevated levels of proinflammatory IL-1β when exposed to cigarette smoking condensate. A key downstream mediator of IL-1β signaling, IRAK4, was overexpressed in murine lung tissues exposed to carcinogens. The majority of human lung cancer samples also exhibited overactivated IRAK4 expression. IRAK4 localized in microtubules in lung cancer cell lines. Using mass spectrometry on isolated microtubules, we observed that IRAK4 inhibition was associated with decreased phosphorylation of tubular motility proteins, including myosin heavy-chain 9. Inhibition of IRAK4 resulted in decreased invasion in lung cancer cell lines and reduced growth of lung cancer xenografts.

Conclusions:

These data demonstrate that smoking-associated carcinogens can be linked to oncogenic transformation via inflammatory IRAK4 activation.
Discrimination between Inflammatory and Fibrotic Activity in Crohn’s Disease-Associated Ileal-Colonic Anastomotic Strictures by Combined Ga-68-FAPI-46 and F-18-FDG-PET/CT Imaging
Authors: Beck Michael , Kuwert Torsten , Atzinger Armin , Gerner Maximilian , Hartmann Arndt , Saake Marc , Uder Michael , Neurath Markus Friedrich , Atreya Raja
Published: December 2024

Introduction: The development of an intestinal stricture in patients with Crohn’s disease represents an important and frequent complication, reflecting the progressive nature of the disease. Depending on the inflammatory and fibrotic composition of the stricture, intensified medical therapy, interventional endoscopy, or surgical intervention is required. However, currently available diagnostic approaches can only assess the level of inflammation, but not the degree of fibrosis, limiting rational therapeutic management of Crohn’s disease patients. Recently, prolyl endopeptidase fibroblast activating protein (FAP) has been functionally implicated in fibrotic tissue remodelling, indicating it as a promising target for detection of sites of fibrotic tissue remodelling. Thus, intestinal fibrosis might be visualized using Gallium-68 labelled inhibitors of FAP (FAPI). While F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)/CT is a standard diagnostic tool for visualizing inflammatory processes, we combined Ga-68-FAPI-46-PET/CT and F-18-FDG-PET/CT to differentiate predominantly fibrotic or inflammatory areas in Crohn’s disease patients with ileo-colonic strictures. Methods: In our study, we analysed three Crohn’s disease patients with anastomotic ileo-colonic strictures who underwent both dynamic Ga-68-FAPI-46-PET/CT and static F-18-FDG-PET/CT imaging to assess the level of visualized fibrotic areas within the stricture and differentiate it from inflammatory ones. PET images were analysed both visually and quantitatively. Furthermore, conventional MR enterography and endoscopy were performed in parallel to correlate observed findings. Two of the included patients underwent surgery and the histological specimen were analysed for the level of inflammation and fibrosis, which results were similarly compared to the findings of the PET imaging procedures. Results: Different uptake patterns of Ga-68-FAPI-46 could be observed in the anastomotic ileo-colonic strictures of the examined Crohn’s disease patients, respectively. Immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated that there was a correlation between the level of Ga-68-FAPI-46 uptake and severity of fibrosis, while FDG uptake correlated with the inflammatory activity in the analysed strictures. Discussion: The combination with F-18-FDG-PET/CT represents a promising imaging modality to distinguish inflammation from fibrosis and guide subsequent therapy in stricturing Crohn’s disease patients, warranting further studies.
Association between metabolic disorders and impaired kidney function thereafter in the Japanese general population
Authors: Kin Fumihiko , Takase Hiroyuki , Kawakatsu Naomi , Hayashi Kazusa , Isogaki Takeru , Dohi Yasuaki
Published: December 2024

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and chronic kidney disease are both important risk factors for cardiovascular disease and are closely related to each other. We retrospectively investigated whether MetS or its components increase the risk of development of impaired kidney function in the Japanese general population.
Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study　which enrolled 14917 participants who visited our hospital for physical checkups from 2008 to 2018 and had normal estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2) during the baseline examination. Participants were followed up for the median of 1847 days until 2019 with the development of impaired kidney function (eGFR<60 mL/min/1.73 m2) as the endpoint. The definition of MetS was based on Japanese diagnostic criteria (2005).
Results: Throughout the study, 2150 participants (25.9 per 1000 person-year) developed impaired kidney function after their baseline checkup. The incidence of impaired kidney function was more frequent in participants with MetS (39.3 per 1000 person-year) than without (24.2 per 1000 person-year, p<0.001). Moreover, each metabolic syndrome component was positively associated with the incidence of impaired kidney function, where the incidence of impaired kidney function increased with the number of MetS components at baseline (0, 1, 2 and ≥3 component(s); 17.3, 26.9, 32.9 and 39.7 per 1000 person-year, respectively). Multivariate Cox hazard analysis revealed that MetS was an independent risk factor for impaired kidney function after adjusting for known risk factors (hazard ratio, 1.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.15–1.45).
Conclusions: Testing for MetS and its components can help evaluate the risk of developing impaired kidney function in the general population.
Paradoja de inclusión digital: uso del celular y tecnodependencia en estudiantes universitarios. Estudio de caso
Authors: Melo-Solarte Diego Samir , Narváez-Solarte William , Grisales-Giraldo Jhonathan
Published: December 2024

(analytical)This study aimed to characterize and determine behavioral patterns regarding cellphone use amonguniversity students. The methodology involved creating an mobile App to capture statistical data from a person’s cellphone, which was installed on 73 students’ cellphones who enrolled in the Faculty of Sciences and Engineering of the Manizales University. The App captured data over a period of three weeks, which was then complemented by 18 interviews. The collected data was processed using the Crisp-DM methodology. The results showed that students used their cellphones for an average of 29.2 minutes each day, unlocking it 43 times per hour. The cellphones were occasionally used for productive activities, but most of the time the focus was on using them for recreational activities. This research on cellphone use revealed behaviors that can contribute to psychological disorders.
Keywords:  Cell phone use; technological culture; technological progress; young people.
Authors’ keywords:  Techno-dependence; mobile phone addiction.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Assessment of the Risk of Sudden Death in Cardiac Sarcoidosis: What Is Extensive or Significant Late Gadolinium Enhancement?
Authors: Pöyhönen Pauli , Lehtonen Jukka , Syväranta Suvi , Velikanova Diana , Mälkönen Henriikka , Simonen Piia , Nordenswan Hanna-Kaisa , Uusitalo Valtteri , Vihinen Tapani , Kaikkonen Kari , Haataja Petri , Kerola Tuomas , Rissanen Tuomas T. , Vepsäläinen Ville , Alatalo Aleksi , Pietilä-Effati Päivi , Kupari Markku
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND:

Cardiac sarcoidosis involves a significant but difficult-to-define risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Current guidelines recommend consideration of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator for patients with extensive or significant myocardial late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. However, extensive/significant LGE is not defined.

METHODS:

A nationwide cardiac sarcoidosis registry was screened for patients entered before 2020 with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging done before or <3 months after diagnosis. Available studies were re-analyzed for LGE mass as a percentage of left ventricular (LV) mass and the number of LGE-positive LV segments in a 17-segment model. The occurrence of fatal or aborted SCD and ventricular tachycardia (VT) prompting therapy was recorded until the end of 2020 and subjected to cumulative incidence analyses, including competing events (LV assist device implantations, heart transplantations, and fatalities other than SCD). The predictors of SCD/VT were assessed using Fine and Gray modeling and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic analysis.

RESULTS:

Altogether, 305 patients (66% women, median age 51) with clinically manifest, definite (45%) or probable cardiac sarcoidosis (55%) were analyzed. On follow-up (median, 4.0 years), 21 SCDs, 60 VTs, and 14 competing events were noted. Both LGE mass and the number of LGE segments predicted the composite of SCD/VT (
P
<0.001), with receiver operating characteristic analyses identifying LGE mass ≥9.9% and ≥6 LGE segments as discriminative thresholds. At presentation, 70 patients were free of class I and class IIa implantable cardioverter defibrillator indications unrelated to LGE. Their 5-year rate of SCD/VT was 6.3% (0.0–14.8%) with LGE mass <9.9% versus 21.5% (6.5–36.6%) with higher LGE mass, and 6.9% (0.0–16.3%) with <6 LGE segments versus 20.5% (5.9–35.2%) with ≥6 segments.

CONCLUSIONS:

In cardiac sarcoidosis, myocardial LGE making up ≥9.9% of LV mass or affecting ≥6 LV segments may suggest prognostically significant LV involvement and a high risk of SCD. However, prospective validation of the thresholds is needed.
Dual Antiplatelet Treatment up to 72 Hours After Ischemic Stroke Stratified by Risk Profile: A Post Hoc Analysis
Authors: Zhang Yanli , Wang Xuan , Gao Ying , Chen Weiqi , Johnston S. Claiborne , Amarenco Pierre , Bath Philip M. , Yan Hongyi , Wang Tingting , Yang Yingying , Zhou Qi , Wang Mengxing , Jing Jing , Wang Chunjuan , Wang Yongjun , Wang Yilong , Pan Yuesong
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND:

Risk profile of recurrence may influence the effect of antiplatelet therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of clopidogrel-aspirin initiated within 72 hours after symptom onset for acute mild stroke or high-risk transient ischemic attack stratified by risk profile.

METHODS:

This is a secondary post hoc analysis of the INSPIRES (Intensive Statin and Antiplatelet Therapy for Acute High-risk Intracranial or Extracranial Atherosclerosis) randomized clinical trial that enrolled patients 35 to 80 years old with acute mild ischemic stroke or high-risk transient ischemic attack between 2018 and 2022. Patients were stratified into different groups based on the Essen Stroke Risk Score (ESRS) and modified ESRS. The primary efficacy outcome was any new stroke within 90 days. The primary safety outcome was moderate-to-severe bleeding within 90 days.

RESULTS:

Among 6100 patients (3050 each in the clopidogrel-aspirin group and aspirin group), the median age was 65 years (interquartile range, 57–71 years), and 3915 (64.2%) were male. Clopidogrel-aspirin was associated with a reduced risk of new stroke in patients with an ESRS of <3 (hazard ratio [HR], 0.67 [95% CI, 0.52–0.86]), but not in those with an ESRS of ≥3 (HR, 0.92 [95% CI, 0.72–1.18]), compared with aspirin (
P
interaction
=0.07). Similar results were found in patients stratified by modified ESRS (modified ESRS <6 in male and <5 in female: HR, 0.68 [95% CI, 0.55–0.83]; modified ESRS ≥6 in male and ≥5 in female: HR, 1.14 [95% CI, 0.82–1.59];
P
interaction
=0.01). The association between antiplatelet therapy and the moderate-to-severe bleeding did not differ across risk profile subgroups (ESRS of <3: HR, 1.35 [95% CI, 0.54–3.35]; ESRS of ≥3: HR, 3.21 [95% CI, 1.18–8.78];
P
interaction
=0.21; modified ESRS of <6 in male and <5 in female: HR, 1.96 [95% CI, 0.88–4.36]; modified ESRS of ≥6 in male and ≥5 in female: HR, 2.27 [95% CI, 0.70–7.39];
P
interaction
=0.85).

CONCLUSIONS:

This post hoc analysis of the INSPIRES trial showed that patients with a low level of risk profile assessed by ESRS received greater benefit from clopidogrel-aspirin initiated within 72 hours after symptom onset than aspirin alone.

REGISTRATION:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT03635749.
Dynamics of Illicit Arms Trade and Regional Security Challenges in West Africa
Authors: Balogun Wasiu Abiodun
Published: December 2024

This study investigates the interplay between illicit arms trade, transnational criminal networks and regional security in West Africa, with a particular focus on Nigeria. It examines the sources, drivers and actors involved, highlighting Nigeria’s pivotal role as a source and transit point for illicit arms in the West African subregion. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating qualitative and quantitative data for a comprehensive analysis. Thematic analysis of the data reveals the evolving tactics of transnational criminal networks, including their adaptation to countermeasures and their impact on local conflicts. Statistical methods further uncover previously underreported trends in arms trafficking routes. Notably, the study identifies a significant link between the influx of illicit arms and the intensification of sociopolitical instability in rural areas of Nigeria. The findings highlight the necessity for a multidimensional strategy that incorporates regional and international cooperation to dismantle these criminal networks and address the root causes of the illicit arms trade.
Pentecostal Theological and Higher Education
Authors: Cartledge Mark J.
Published: December 2024

This essay offers an overview of the field of pentecostal and charismatic theological and higher education, engaging with the contributions of three recent books (Kay and Butler, 2023), Topf (2021), and Yong and Coulter (2023). It identifies several key tensions that emerged in the movement as it developed its institutional structures. It also pays attention to two contexts, namely (1) the Bible college and seminary context, and (2) the liberal arts and university context. Subsequently, Christian scholarship in its intellectual and cultural context is considered as a factor in the pentecostal and charismatic educational endeavor. Following this discussion, the essay explores future opportunities and issues that might be considered going forward. It provides an introductory piece for the articles that follow in this special issue and opens up the conversation before concluding by framing the educational mission of the church within its doxological life.
Unavoidable Factors that Outline the Future of Pentecostal Theological Higher Education in Europe
Authors: Dimitrov Joseph
Published: December 2024

“You will know them by their graduates.” This is how the European pentecostal-charismatic churches assess the few pentecostal colleges and seminaries that offer higher theological education. This essay analyzes some critical socio-ecclesiological factors that, in juxtaposition with the established academic standards, would help these institutions improve what they currently do and also possibly plan for growth. The article introduces a layout in which the expectations of the churches being constituencies of these schools, the established norms for assessing curricula, the employed faculty, and the debated benefits of accreditation face one another. For almost three decades of university-level experience, pentecostal churches and academia seem to recognize that what has been gained should not be lost. Recognition for making necessary mutual adjustments would provide the best perspective for the future, and this proposed perception is supported by critical reflections and some practical suggestions. Pentecostal theology would be useless without genuine pentecostal spirituality. The local churches could be a great asset for both, and even the challenging European accreditation standards could help the concerned institutions in some way.
Novus Futurum: Latin American Pentecostals and Formal Theological Education
Authors: Ruarte Daniel , Aldana Hugo Melvin
Published: December 2024

The article brings light to the Latin American realities as it pertains to formal theological education. It begins with a brief historical overview of early Pentecostal efforts to train pastors and leaders. Continues with a selected number of current realities and challenges faced in the larger landscape of Biblical training, such as educational quality, resources, and access. It proposes several new futures to elevate the value of theological education for Pentecostal ministry. First, a quest for genuine support in a globalized world, second, an understanding of contextual Pentecostal praxis, inclusive of diverse theological perspectives. Lastly, an emphasis on strategic partnerships for the benefit of God’s kingdom by joining efforts to educate Pentecostal leaders for present and future generations.
Gender-Based Violence and Its Socio-Economic Impacts on Women: A Case Study of Hawassa City, Ethiopia
Authors: Mohammed Awol Ali
Published: December 2024

This study aims to explore the Socio-economic impacts gender-based violence on women in Hawassa city, Sidama Regional State, Ethiopia. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative research approaches within a survey research design. Six Kebeles were selected from sub-cities using purposive and random sampling techniques. Subsequently, 311 participants were chosen from 584 populations using a simple random sampling technique. The findings underscored that gender-based violence remains a pervasive challenge in the study area, with existing legal frameworks facing substantial enforcement gaps due to societal norms and weak local legal structures. The study highlights the challenge of limited interventions addressing the root causes of gender-based violence, compounded by existing power imbalances between men and women. The prevalence of sexual violence, coupled with the absence of targeted programs, underscores the urgent need for initiatives specifically addressing rape and sexual harassment.
Albrecht Dürer’s Drawing Devices: an Experimental Study
Authors: Steadman Philip
Published: December 2024

In the two editions of his Underweysung der Messung of 1525 and 1538, Albrecht Dürer published designs for four devices to help artists with drawing. The present author has reconstructed all four tools and made experiments, in each case drawing a lute. The paper reports on the problems encountered and the times taken. For comparison, a perspective view of the lute is constructed geometrically, and other drawings are made freehand. The two more complex machines proved to be inaccurate, time-consuming, and almost unworkable. The gridded frame is faster and more accurate. Best of all in terms of speed and precision is tracing on glass, which in the experiments took less than a tenth of the time needed to set up and draw a perspective of the lute’s difficult curved form. The paper follows the historical legacy of Dürer’s devices. The complex machines are republished repeatedly in Renaissance texts on perspective but were arguably little used in practice. By contrast, the gridded frame and tracing on glass were recommended in many teaching texts and used widely by artists right up to the twentieth century.
Christian Kabbalah and Indo-Iranian Philology
Authors: Roling Bernd
Published: December 2024

With the late 18th and early 19th century the movement of speculative antiquarianism in France and Great Britain reached its peak. Figures like Charles Dupuis, Jean-Sylvain Bailly, Jacob Bryant, or Georges Stanley Faber might have been different in the final aims of their theoretical architecture, but they nevertheless had many objects in common. One key figure of the early 18th century was Charles Vallancey (1731–1812), who with immense efforts tried to demonstrate how a primordial European religion was created by the Druids. His student was the freemason Godfrey Higgins (1772–1838), who in his intentions was even more ambitious than his predecessor. In his Celtic Druids (1827) and especially in his two-volume Anacalypsis (1836) Higgins, according to his opinion, consistently demonstrated how the oldest of all religions was based on a simple model of astral-religious Buddhism, and especially Jews were the heirs of this tradition. Christian Kabbalah was forming a key instrument to support this theory, by laying open the inner – Buddhistic – sense of the Pentateuch. The paper aims to give a survey of Higgins complex synthesis and exemplifies his use of Christian Kabbalah in his Anacalypis.
Die Wissenschaftslehre und die Fundamentaltheologie: Bilanz und Ausblick wesensverwandter Rationalitäten
Authors: Müller Mathias
Published: December 2024

„G[ottes]L[ehre] in gewisser Beziehung = W[issenschafts]L[ehre]“ (GA II/7: 381). So lautet 1805 in nuce Fichtes Verhältnisbestimmung von transzendentaler und (modern:) theologischer Reflexion, die sich so wesensverwandt gegenüberstehen. Während die Wissenschaftslehre in gewisser Beziehung theologische Rationalität wird, verdankt sich gerechtfertigte Theologie immer schon transzendentaler Rationalität. Es ist zu zeigen, dass diese spezifische Theologie, die Fichte damals vor Augen hatte, seit ihrem Aufkommen im 19. Jahrhundert, die sogenannte Fundamentaltheologie ist. Wissenschaftslehre und Fundamentaltheologie sind Grundlagenwissenschaften.

Die folgenden Überlegungen gehen einerseits historisch fünf Figuren (Pentatomie) der Rezeptionsgeschichte der Wissenschaftslehre in der Fundamentaltheologie nach, um eine Zwischenbilanz zu geben, die in einen Ausblick mündet.

Andererseits wird systematisch die These dargelegt und unterlegt, dass Fundamentaltheologie heute nicht mehr auskommt, ohne in gewisser Beziehung zur Wissenschaftslehre zu stehen; ebenso ist in gewisser Beziehung die Wissenschaftslehre fähig und ist ihr inhärent, fundamentaltheologische Logoumena auszuweisen. Es gilt, u. a. folgenden Fragen betreffend transzendentale Gotteslehre nachzugehen: Warum ist das Offenlegen von Enthymemen so wichtig? Wie lässt sich Normativität begründen? Wie steht es um die Wichtigkeit von Aufzeigen (demonstratio), Beweisen und Begründen? Warum ist das ‚deum loqui‘ nicht mehr auszuschliessen von einer allgemeinen Wissenschaftstheorie?
L’engagement au féminin
Authors: Nakamura Aya
Published: December 2024

Les écrivaines de la génération de Beauvoir étaient confrontées à un dilemme où l’engagement politique était devenu un impératif dans le champ littéraire, alors qu’elles étaient historiquement exclues du domaine politique en raison de leur sexe. L’objectif de cet article est de réfléchir à la conjonction de la littérature et de la politique chez Beauvoir en comparant sa trajectoire avec celles d’autres écrivaines de son temps afin d’en montrer le caractère exceptionnel.