bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deep Reinforcement Learning for Economics: Progress and Challenges
Authors: Green Etan A. , Plunkett E. Barry
Published: October 2024

We discuss the application of deep reinforcement learning to economic domains in general, and to bargaining on eBay in particular.
Puzzle: Does Occasional Simulation Enable Cooperation? (Puzzle in Honor of Joe Halpern's 70th Birthday)
Authors: Conitzer Vincent
Published: October 2024

Please send solutions to the author by e-mail, with the title of this puzzle in the subject header. By agreement with the editors, the best solution will be published in the next issue of SIGecom Exchanges, provided that that solution is of sufficiently high quality. Quality is judged by the author, taking into account at least soundness, completeness, and clarity of exposition. (Incidentally, there is another birthday puzzle for which we still need a solution [1]!)
Market Design Job Market Candidate Profiles 2024
Authors: Gonczarowski Yannai A. , Romm Assaf , Shorrer Ran
Published: October 2024

Inspired by the SIGecom Exchanges' annual survey of job market candidates,
1
this is the fourth annual collection of profiles of the junior faculty job market candidates of the market design community. The eleven candidates are listed alphabetically. Along with information regarding the candidate's bio, job market paper, other representative papers, and short research summary, each profile also contains links to the candidate's homepage and CV.

We dedicate this effort in memory of all the innocents who were murdered or otherwise harmed in the terrorist attack on Israel on Oct 7, and all the innocents who were killed or otherwise harmed in its ongoing aftermath, and with the hope that all those abducted---children, women, and men---will be back home by the end of this job market season.
SIGecom Winter Meeting 2024 Highlights
Authors: Mammadov Aghaheybat , Ryu Emily , Saitto Roberto
Published: October 2024

The fourth annual ACM SIGecom Winter Meeting took place on February 15, 2024. Organized by Sigal Oren and Ran Shorrer, this year's meeting brought together researchers from economics, computer science, and adjacent fields to focus behavioral models. The virtual meeting took the form of a workshop including talks and presentations from leading experts on various directions, as well as a fireside chat on getting into the research space and exciting opportunities that lie ahead. We share some highlights from the 2024 Winter Meeting, and additional insights from follow-up interviews with the speakers.
Impartial Peer Selection: An Annotated Reading List
Authors: Lev Omer , Lyon Harper , Mattei Nicholas
Published: October 2024

The study of peer selection mechanisms presents a unique opportunity to understand and improve the practice of a group selecting its best members, despite each member of that group wanting to be selected. A prime example of such a setting is academic peer review, for which peer selection offers a variety of improvement directions. We present an annotated reading list covering the foundations of peer selection as well as recent and emerging work within the field.
Online Matching: A Brief Survey
Authors: Huang Zhiyi , Tang Zhihao Gavin , Wajc David
Published: October 2024

Matching, capturing allocation of items to unit-demand buyers, or tasks to workers, or pairs of collaborators, is a central problem in economics. Indeed, the growing prevalence of matching-based markets, many of which online in nature, has motivated much research in economics, operations research, computer science, and their intersection. This brief survey is meant as an introduction to the area of online matching, with an emphasis on recent trends, both technical and conceptual.
SIGCSE Speaker Fund Report: Funding for Pre-Conference Workshop at CCSC-CP 2024
Authors: Hsin Wen
Published: October 2024

On April 5, 2024, the SIGCSE Speaker Fund supported Mr. Carter Zenke of Harvard University and Mr. Charlie Liu of Yale University who conducted a 3-hour pre-conference workshop entitled "Distributing, Collecting, and Autograding Assignments with GitHub Classroom" at the Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges - Central Plains Region (CCSC-CP) Conference at Graceland University, Lamoni, Iowa. The presenters shared their knowledge, expertise, and classroom material (CS50 at Harvard) on GitHub Classroom with the audience. There were about 28 participants in the workshop. Mr. Zenke, Mr. Liu, and other colleagues had previously presented and conducted the workshop at SIGCSE 2023 on March 17, 2023, in Toronto, Canada.
ICER 2024: Call for Participation
Authors: Denny Paul , Hamilton Margaret , Porter Leo , Morrison Briana
Published: October 2024

Do you know that the 20th ICER Conference will be happening soon? In Australia?

The ACM Conference on International Computing Education Research (ICER) will be held at Storey Hall in RMIT University right in the centre of Melbourne.
The Ovarian-Adnexal Reporting and Data System (O-RADS) US Score Effect on Surgical Resection Rate
Authors: Shen Luyao , Sadowski Elizabeth A. , Gupta Akshya , Maturen Katherine E. , Patel-Lippmann Krupa K. , Zafar Hanna M. , Kamaya Aya , Antil Neha , Guo Yang , Barroilhet Lisa M. , Jha Priyanka
Published: October 2024

Among ovarian and adnexal lesions surgically removed before 2015, a large proportion were retrospectively assessed as Ovarian-Adnexal Imaging Reporting and Data System US 2, which may have allowed for more conservative management in these patients.
Fecal microbial transplants as investigative tools in cancer
Authors: Bohm Margaret S. , Ramesh Arvind V. , Pierre Joseph F. , Cook Katherine L. , Murphy E. Angela , Makowski Liza
Published: October 2024

The microbiome impacts the onset, progression, and therapy response of certain types of cancer. Fecal microbial transplants (FMTs) are an increasingly prevalent tool to test these mechanisms that require standardization by the field.
Assessing the Performance of ChatGPT 3.5 and ChatGPT 4 in Operative Dentistry and Endodontics: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Snigdha Niher Tabassum , Batul Rumesa , Karobari Mohmed Isaqali , Adil Abdul Habeeb , Dawasaz Ali Azhar , Hameed Mohammad Shahul , Mehta Vini , Noorani Tahir Yusuf
Published: October 2024

Background: Artificial intelligence is an innovative technology that mimics human cognitive capacities and has gathered the world’s attention through its vast applications in various fields.

Aim: This study is aimed at assessing the effects of ChatGPT 3.5 and ChatGPT 4 on the validity, reliability, and authenticity of standard assessment techniques used in undergraduate dentistry education.

Methodology: Twenty questions, each requiring a single best answer, were selected from two domains: 10 from operative dentistry and 10 from endodontics. These questions were divided equally, with half presented with multiple choice options and the other half without. Two investigators used different ChatGPT accounts to generate answers, repeating each question three times. The answers were scored between 0% and 100% based on their accuracy. The mean score of the three attempts was recorded, and statistical analysis was conducted.

Results: No statistically significant differences were found between ChatGPT 3.5 and ChatGPT 4 in the accuracy of their responses. Additionally, the analysis showed high consistency between the two reviewers, with no significant difference in their assessments.

Conclusion: This study evaluated the performance of ChatGPT 3.5 and ChatGPT 4 in answering questions related to endodontics and operative dentistry. The results showed no statistically significant differences between the two versions, indicating comparable response accuracy. The consistency between reviewers further validated the reliability of the assessment process.
Nutritious Instant Powder Production by Extrusion Processing Using Whole Oat and Broken Rice Flour
Authors: Okhravi Somayeh , Milani Elnaz , Koocheki Arash
Published: October 2024

The effects of feed moisture content of 23% and 27%; die temperature of 120°C, 145°C, and 170°C; whole oat flour (WOF); and broken rice flour (BRF) at different ratios of 25:75, 50:50, and 75:25 were studied on functional and technological properties of the extrudates. Results showed that EI, hardness, porosity, and WAI were negatively affected by increasing WOF content, while this trend had a positive effect on WSI. Higher temperature resulted in higher WAI and WSI, but EI and hardness did not change with the amount of thermal treatment. Increasing the feed moisture content had a significant effect on elevating BD, hardness, and WAI and decreasing EI, porosity, and WSI. The FTIR spectrum demonstrated that the chemical groups of the textured samples from WOF and BRF did not change after extrusion. Simultaneous increase of WOF and the die temperature could noticeably change the morphology and crystallinity of the products. The optimized grain‐based instant powder in terms of functional properties such as good flowability and lower cohesiveness was determined at WOF 25:75 BRF blend, 170°C, and 27% moisture content. Our results demonstrate an innovative approach for the use of WOF in combination with BRF in the production of nutritious instant powder by extrusion.
Numerical Investigation on Charging–Discharging of a PCM Using PV and Thermal Oil for Injera Baking Application
Authors: Abinet Meseret Alemu , Hassen Abdulkadir A. , Gashaw G.
Published: October 2024

In Ethiopia, where millions rely on biomass, charcoal, and animal dung for energy, the predominant use is in baking injera, constituting over 50% of energy consumption. This traditional practice adversely affects the health of women and children and hampers education. To address this, solar energy is explored as a sustainable alternative. However, the intermittent nature of solar power poses challenges. A solution involves integrating a thermal storage system, ensuring a consistent and reliable energy supply for the crucial task of baking injera, ultimately improving lives and empowering communities. This study investigates the thermal characteristics of the charging and discharge processes and main heat transfer processes in the injera baking system with PV which was integrated with the thermal storage system. Our study journey began with exploring relevant papers and system designs, collecting and analyzing data, and, in addition, performing mathematical and numerical models. A numerical simulation was conducted using a finite‐difference computational model for the thermal storage containing PCM and thermal oil. The thermal oil was used to store energy and transfer heat; furthermore, the developed computational models were analyzed using MATLAB programming software. The numerical simulation result by using solar radiation data from Addis Ababa showed that the thermal storage has the capacity to store about 33.03 MJ during charging using constant heat flux which was from the PV. The amount of energy discharged from the PCM was 13.1 MJ, and from the thermia oil, it was 3.50 MJ using natural convection heat transfer, and the discharging and overall efficiency of the system were about 50.2% and 46.67%, respectively. Also, the baking pan surface temperature stayed between 220°C and 146.4°C for about 3 h. This result was compared with different papers, and it can be concluded that the numerically investigated solar‐powered injera baking integrated with thermal storage showed a promising result.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications of ZnO, Ag2O, and ZnO/Ag2O Nanocomposites: A Review
Authors: Saka Abel , Tesfaye Leta , Ramaswamy Krishnaraj
Published: October 2024

Nanoscale dimensional materials represent a captivating area of research in modern technology, owing to their unique properties and vast potential applications. The distinct advantage of nanosized materials lies in their large surface area to volume ratio, which endows them with enhanced stability and significant functional characteristics. Among these, metal oxide nanomaterials have garnered significant attention due to their substantial energy bandgaps and high exciton binding energies, making them suitable for a wide range of applications, including antimicrobial activity and optoelectronics. This review delves into the synthesis methods of various metal oxides, emphasizing the advantages and drawbacks of physical, chemical, and biological approaches. Specifically, it focuses on the synthesis, characterization, and applications of single metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs), such as zinc oxide (ZnO) and silver oxide (Ag2O), as well as binary or composite metal oxides like ZnO/Ag2O nanocomposites. Through this comprehensive literature review, readers will gain insights into the fabrication techniques and explore the intrinsic properties of both single and composite metal oxide NPs, thereby broadening their understanding of these innovative materials and their potential technological impacts.
Distribution of the Quill Mite Bubophilus aluconis Parasitising Western Palaearctic Owls Belonging to the Genus Strix
Authors: Kwieciński Zbigniew , Kosicki Jakub Z. , Skoracki Maciej
Published: October 2024

Background: The paper presents the results of studies on the distribution of the parasitic quill mite species Bubophilus aluconis (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) in the feather quills of the Western Palaearctic owls of the genus Strix, that is, tawny owl S. aluco, collected in Poland and Sweden, the Ural owl S. uralensis, from Poland, Sweden, and Finland, and the great grey owl S. nebulosa, from Sweden and Finland. The two latter species are new hosts for B. aluconis.

Methods: Feather samples of the tawny owl, Ural owl, and great grey owl used in this study come from Prof. Marian Cieślak’s private collection, which contains feathers of Western Palearctic birds of prey and owls. Each of the 77 tawny owl, 75 Ural owl, and 55 great grey owl specimens are represented either by whole dry wings or a full complement of flight feathers (primaries (P) and secondaries (S)) and tails (rectrices (R)). Particular types of feathers were coded as follows: Ps, Ss, R, primary greater upperwing coverts (PGUppC), secondary greater upperwing coverts (SGUppC), primary greater underwing coverts (PGUndrC), secondary greater underwing coverts (SGUndrC), uppertail coverts (UppTC), and undertail coverts (UndrTC).

Results: The prevalence was relatively low for all of the examined birds, that is, 12% for S. uralensis (N = 79), 2.6% for S. aluco (N = 77), and 3.6% for S. nebulosa (N = 55). In total, we examined 37,260 flight feathers and coverts. The mite B. aluconis occupied only the inner S of the tawny owl, secondary greater under and upperwing coverts of the great grey owl, and inner Ss, primary and secondary upperwing coverts, UndrTC, and coverts from the scapulars of the Ural owl.

Conclusion: We hypothesise that the absence of these parasites in the examined P, S, and R suggests that these feather types might be unsuitable for the mites due to their thick quill walls, preventing successful feeding.
Survival and Recovery From Postmyocardial Infarction Apical Wall Rupture With a Complex Course
Authors: Al Hennawi Hussam , Bedi Angad , Cheng Jesse , Lim Philip , Al-Rawas Nawar , Garrido Mauricio , Mathew Aswin , Mazzoni Jennifer A.
Published: October 2024

Ventricular wall rupture is associated with poor outcomes subsequent to an acute myocardial infarction. We describe a case of postmyocardial infarction apical wall rupture following percutaneous coronary intervention. Our case emphasizes the importance of swift evaluation, diagnosis, and management to enhance survival in individuals confronting this critical condition.
Morphology, Phylogeny, and Evolution of the Rarely Known Genus Admetella McIntosh, 1885 (Annelida, Polynoidae) with Recognition of Four New Species from Western Pacific Seamounts
Authors: Wu Xuwen , Kou Qi , Sun Yanan , Zhen Wenquan , Xu Kuidong
Published: October 2024

The polynoid genus Admetella constitutes a deep‐sea assemblage of polychaetes, notable for their large bodies adorned with antennal scales positioned dorsally to the bases of lateral antennae. Furthermore, the genus exhibits swimming proficiencies facilitated by elongated parapodia and flattened chaetae. Despite the frequent encounters with Admetella members during various deep‐sea explorations, a substantial gap in our comprehension of their diversity, phylogeny, and evolutionary trajectories still exists. Our thorough morphological and phylogenetic investigations of specimens obtained from three seamounts located in the tropical western Pacific have unveiled six species belonging to the genus Admetella, four of these being newly identified as Admetella multiseta sp. nov., A. levensteini sp. nov., A. nanhaiensis sp. nov., and A. undulata sp. nov. The other two species of Admetella remain unidentifiable at the species level due to the loss of crucial details. Our phylogenetic analysis, grounded on 13 mitochondrial protein‐coding genes and the inclusion of 12S, 16S, 18S, 28S rRNA, and ITS1–ITS2 genes, substantiates the monophyly of Admetella. Admetella is positioned at an intermediate node within the phylogenetic tree, situated between representative shallow‐water and deep‐sea subfamilies. The independent evolution of antennal scales within Admetella among polynoids constitutes a synapomorphy for this genus. Ancestral state reconstruction (ASR) analyses suggest that deep‐sea polynoids evolved from shallow‐water ancestors that possessed lateral antennae, which were subsequently lost in members inhabiting extreme marine environments, such as deep‐sea hydrothermal vents and anchialine caves. The analysis further implicates that swimming ability independently evolved at least four times within the Polynoidae family.
Figure S2 from Antiangiogenic Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors have Differential Efficacy in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma in Bone
Authors: Maksimovic Stefan , Boscolo Nina C. , La Posta Ludovica , Barrios Sergio , Moussa Mohammad Jad , Gentile Emanuela , Pesquera Pedro I. , Li Wenjiao , Chen Jianfeng , Gomez Javier A. , Basi Akshay , Burks Jared K. , Alvarez-Breckenridge Christopher , Gao Jianjun , Campbell Matthew T. , Dondossola Eleonora
Published: October 2024

Osteoclast recruitment and bone disruption. A) RENCA VHL- cells (green, GFP); osteoclasts (red, TRAP); nuclei (blue, DAPI); white arrowhead, TRAP+ cells. Bar, 50 µm; B) UM-RC-3 (green, GFP); osteoclasts (red, TRAP); nuclei (blue, DAPI); white arrowhead, TRAP+ cells. Bar, 50 µm. Images captured by confocal microscope. TRAP-tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase. White rectangle, (i); magnification.
Figure S11 from Antiangiogenic Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors have Differential Efficacy in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma in Bone
Authors: Maksimovic Stefan , Boscolo Nina C. , La Posta Ludovica , Barrios Sergio , Moussa Mohammad Jad , Gentile Emanuela , Pesquera Pedro I. , Li Wenjiao , Chen Jianfeng , Gomez Javier A. , Basi Akshay , Burks Jared K. , Alvarez-Breckenridge Christopher , Gao Jianjun , Campbell Matthew T. , Dondossola Eleonora
Published: October 2024

In vivo efficacy of TKIs in VHL- RENCA model over 20 days. A, B) Response to TKIs in bone (A) and lung (B) tumors detected by bioluminescence, mean + SEM, n = 8 to 16/group.
Autobiographical Memory in Feeding and Eating Disorders: A Systematic Review
Authors: Frisone Fabio , Brizzi Giulia , Sansoni Maria , Di Natale Anna Flavia , Pizzoli Silvia Francesca Maria , Stanghellini Giovanni , Riva Giuseppe
Published: October 2024

Introduction: Prominent eating disorders (EDs) theories identify a critical relationship between body and self. One of the ways to study this relationship is through autobiographical memories (AMs). The present review aimed to evaluate the studies that investigated AM in patients with EDs. Methods: A search of PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus databases was performed to identify relevant articles. Of the 57,113 studies found, 25,016 were not duplicated. After screening, 27 articles were included. Results: The studies had some methodological flaws: none of the articles was a randomized control trial and the sample sizes were small. Nevertheless, important evidence emerged because all studies showed that patients with EDs have impaired AM function. This is because the way patients with EDs remember and define themselves is through an allocentric perspective associated with the gazes of others whose role has an impact on AM, body shape, and self. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first systematic review to examine AM in patients with EDs. Future research is needed in EDs to expand knowledge about the relationship between the body and the self.
DRESS Syndrome That Resembles Graft-Versus-Host Disease after Chemotherapy in a Pediatric Patient: A Case Report
Authors: Rolón Marian , Barros Mateo , Ortiz Clara , Cruz Romero Sergio Danilo , Álvarez Johanna
Published: October 2024

Introduction: Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a potentially life-threatening, drug-induced adverse reaction characterized by skin eruptions, lymphadenopathy, fever, and a broad range of other bodily manifestations. The spectrum of histopathologic and clinical presentations is wide; therefore, DRESS syndrome can mimic other diseases. Case Presentation: We present a case of a 4-year-old male patient who started chemotherapy with vincristine, cytarabine, and etoposide. The first clinical signs were fever, hemodynamic in-stability, and maculopapular erythema. Biopsies of skin lesions were taken, and hyperkeratosis, focal parakeratosis, acanthosis with slight spongiosis, and intraepithelial dyskeratotic cells were observed. There was a perivascular lymphoid infiltrate with abundant eosinophils in the dermis, and eosinophil permeations to the acrosyringium and epithelium were found. Conclusion: DRESS syndrome is a drug-induced reaction that shares histopathological findings in skin biopsies with those seen in graft-versus-host disease. Although the histological findings are non-pathognomonic, they were characteristic enough to be of importance in the differential diagnosis.
A Novel Homozygous Variant in CPLANE1 Gene in a Patient with Developmental Deficits
Authors: Shankarappa Bhagyalakshmi , Prasad Vishnu P. , Kumar Sujith , Rao Ravi Shankar , Royal Angel Beula , Swamy Mahadeva , Prasad Pannaga , Niranjana Murthy Ashitha S. , Ganesh Suhas , Viswanath Biju , Jain Sanjeev , Purushottam Meera , Thyloth Murali
Published: October 2024

Background: Oral-facial-digital syndrome (OFDS) type 6 is a rare subtype of Joubert syndrome characterized by orofacial anomalies and polydactyly with neurological features of Joubert syndrome. This rare syndrome is divided into thirteen subtypes, all of which demonstrate autosomal recessive inheritance, except for OFDS type 1 which demonstrates X-linked dominant inheritance. Case Presentation: A 19-year-old man with mild developmental delay was brought to a rural community clinic, as he had become irritable and angry, in the recent past. There was no history of prior medical conditions. In view of orofacial anomalies, and developmental deficits, a genetic analysis was requested. Karyotype analysis revealed a normal male karyotype (46,XY) in all 30 metaphase spreads analyzed. No numerical or structural chromosomal abnormalities were observed. Clinical exome sequencing and chromosomal microarray detected a variant of uncertain significance in exon 5 of CPLANE1 gene c.365T>G (p.Val122Gly) leading to substitution of Glycine for Valine. This was confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Parents were heterozygous, and the unaffected sibling was homozygous for the wild-type allele. This variant has not been reported earlier in the mutation databases or gnomAD. Runs of homozygosity (ROH) analysis showed a 3.2 Mb ROH around the CPLANE1 gene in the proband, which was absent in both parents and the unaffected sibling. Conclusion: We find a novel homozygous mutation in the CPLANE1 gene in a patient of non-consanguineous parentage with atypical orofacial features. This suggests that potentially deleterious, rare variants may occur in the heterozygous state in the population. Hence, sequencing of population samples might help understand the genetic epidemiology of rare syndromes.
Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Drainage of Pelvic Fluid Collections with Lumen-Apposing Metal Stents
Authors: Pereira Marco , Caldeira Ana , Barreiro Joana , Almeida Mafalda , Banhudo António
Published: October 2024

Introduction: A pelvic abscess is a potential life-threatening condition that should be managed conservatively whenever possible. Currently, computed tomography or ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage is still the gold standard approach for pelvic fluid collections (PFCs) requiring intervention. More recently, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) drainage using lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMSs) has been used off-label in PFCs with similar efficacy, a favorable safety profile, better quality of life, and generally a shorter duration of treatment when compared to the gold standard treatment. Methods: An observational retrospective analysis of 6 patients who underwent EUS-guided PFC drainage with LAMS at our institution was conducted. Records were reviewed to identify etiology, size of the collection, number of endoscopic procedures required until complete resolution, stent indwelling time, concomitant surgical or percutaneous associated procedures, successful removal and resolution. Results: The 6 patients included had an average age of 69 years old and 5 (83.3%) were male. The average size of the PFCs was 72.5 mm. All patients (100%) had successful drainage following LAMS placement, though 1 patient had an early recurrence. The mean stent indwelling time in our study was 6.7 days. An additional percutaneous or surgical drainage intervention was not required in any of the participants. Also, no adverse events related to the procedure were reported during the follow-up period. Conclusion: EUS-guided drainage of PFCs with LAMS is a safe and minimally invasive technique, which allows rapid PFC resolution, with no need for percutaneous or surgical drainage interventions.
Fatores de risco para psicoses
Authors: Ramalho Fernanda Naira Zambelli , Shuhama Rosana , Del-Ben Cristina Marta
Published: October 2024

The main objective of this article is to introduce undergraduate medical students to the concept of psychosis. The authors discuss the criteria for diagnosing psychosis and provide an overview of the epidemiology and risk factors for psychotic disorders such as: childhood trauma, cannabis use, migration, discrimination, social disadvantage, and skin color. The observation of these factors is essential in the evaluation of psychiatric patients, as it helps in predicting the development of psychosis.
Efeitos adversos agudos de medicações utilizadas na psiquiatria
Authors: Castro Raphael Antonio Medeiros de , Del-Ben Cristina Marta
Published: October 2024

All medications available present a risk for adverse reactions, and when it comes to psychiatry it is no different. Some of these reactions can take the patient to seek medical advice and assessment. Also, a few of these reactions can be potentially fatal. In this article, we will approach some of the adverse effects from medications used in psychiatry that the practitioner may have to assess.
Ursodeoxycholic Acid for Trans Intestinal Cholesterol Excretion Stimulation: A Randomized Placebo Controlled Crossover Study
Authors: Oostveen Reindert F. , Kaiser Yannick , Hartgers Merel L. , Meessen Emma C. E. , Grefhorst Aldo , Hovingh G. Kees , Kuipers Folkert , Stroes Erik S. G. , Groen Albert K. , Reeskamp Laurens F.
Published: October 2024

Background

The trans intestinal cholesterol excretion (TICE) pathway is a potential therapeutic target to reduce plasma low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. TICE encompasses the direct excretion of cholesterol by enterocytes into feces. In mice, TICE has been shown to be stimulated by a hydrophilic bile acid pool, resulting in increased fecal neutral sterol loss and reduced plasma cholesterol levels. We investigated whether treatment with a hydrophilic bile acid, ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), would increase fecal neutral sterols in humans as a proxy for TICE.

Methods and Results

We performed a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, cross‐over trial in 20 male participants aged >18 years, with plasma LDL cholesterol levels ≥2.6 mmol/L. After a run‐in period of ezetimibe 20 mg once daily for 3 weeks, patients were randomized to UDCA 600 mg or placebo orally once daily for 2 weeks. After a 3 week washout, patients underwent the alternate treatment. At baseline, mean (SD) age, body mass index, and plasma LDL cholesterol were 59±11.3 years, 26.4±3.1 kg/m
2
, and 3.9±0.8 mmol/L, respectively. After UDCA treatment, the plasma bile acid hydrophobicity index was reduced compared with placebo (−118.7% versus +2.3%,
P
<0.001). The fecal neutral sterols did not change (−5.8% versus +18.8%,
P
=0.51) and treatment with UDCA increased LDL cholesterol with 0.39 mmol/L (+8.1% versus −3.64%,
P
=0.002) when compared with placebo.

Conclusions

UDCA in combination with ezetimibe increased plasma bile acid hydrophilicity in healthy subjects with LDL cholesterol levels >2.6 mmol/L but did not result in increased fecal neutral sterols or decreased LDL cholesterol. This suggests that TICE is not stimulated by an increase in the hydrophilicity of the bile acid pool in humans.
Early Renal Outcomes Following Heart Transplantation Using Organs Procured After Circulatory Death
Authors: Zhou Joyce C. , Sise Meghan E. , Drezek Kamila , Wolfe Stanley B. , Osho Asishana A. , Prario Monica N. , Rabi S. Alireza , Michel Eriberto , Tsao Lana , Coglianese Erin , Doucette Meaghan , Newton‐Cheh Christopher , Thomas Sunu , Ton Van‐Khue , Sutaria Nilay , Schoenike Mark W. , Christ Anastasia M. , Paneitz Dane C. , Villavicencio Mauricio , Madsen Joren C. , Pierson Richard , Lewis Gregory D. , D'Alessandro David A. , Zlotoff Daniel A.
Published: October 2024

Background

Transplantation using hearts obtained through donation after circulatory death (DCD) is increasing, but data on recipient renal outcomes are limited.

Methods and Results

Patients at a single institution who underwent heart transplantation using organs procured through DCD or donation after brain death (DBD) from April 2016 to August 2022 were included in this retrospective cohort study. Hemodynamic measures were collected via right heart catheterization performed 1 week after transplantation. Posttransplantation renal outcomes included estimated glomerular filtration rate at 1 week, 4 weeks, and 16 weeks, and the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) and renal replacement therapy within 1 week. The analysis included 225 patients (55 recipients of DCD). Baseline characteristics were comparable between recipients of DCD and DBD. Renal outcomes within 1 week posttransplantation in recipients of DCD were similar to recipients of DBD, including percent change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (−37.9% [−58.6 to −6.2] versus −31.9% [−52.4 to −9.9];
P
=0.91), incidence of AKI (47.3% versus 46.5%;
P
>0.99) and incidence of renal replacement therapy (3.6% versus 4.7%;
P
>0.99). Recipients of DCD with AKI within 1 week (“early AKI”) did not recover to baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (75.8 [60.2–91.3] mL/min per 1.73 m
2
) by week 16 (59.3 [46.9–73.6] mL/min per 1.73 m
2
;
P
=0.002), whereas recipients without early AKI exhibited comparable estimated glomerular filtration rate to baseline by week 4 (84.5 [70.8–98.5] mL/min per 1.73 m
2
;
P
=0.084). Similar trends were observed in recipients of DBD.

Conclusions

Recipients of DCD demonstrated similar renal outcomes compared with recipients of DBD, supporting the ongoing use of DCD transplantation. Early AKI was associated with persistent renal dysfunction for recipients of both DCD and DBD.
Predictive Value of Life's Crucial 9 for Cardiovascular and All‐Cause Mortality: A Prospective Cohort Study From the NHANES 2007 to 2018
Authors: Ge Jinzhuo , Peng Wenyao , Lu Jiapeng
Published: October 2024

Background

The predictive value of Life's Crucial 9 (LC9), a recently proposed cardiovascular health risk score combining psychological health and Life's Essential 8 (LE8), remains unclear.

Methods and Results

In this cohort study, we included 16 290 adults without cardiovascular disease from the 2007 to 2018 cycles of NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey). The LC9 was the mean of the LE8 score and the depression score, which represented a dimension of psychological health. The study outcomes were cardiovascular and all‐cause mortality. Cox proportional hazard models were fitted to estimate the association of LC9 and LE8 scores with outcomes. The differences in Harrell's concordance index, net reclassification improvement index, and integrated discrimination improvement were calculated to assess the predictive ability of the depression score in addition to the LE8 score. During a median follow‐up of 7.08 years, 879 (5.40%) participants died, and 242 (1.49%) died from cardiovascular disease. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of per LE8 10‐score increase for cardiovascular mortality was 0.80 (95% CI, 0.72–0.88;
P
<0.001) and the adjusted HR of per LC9 10‐score increase was 0.77 (95% CI, 0.69–0.86;
P
<0.001). Adding the depression score to the LE8 score, the improvement in concordance index for cardiovascular mortality was 0.001 (95% CI, −0.001 to 0.003;
P
=0.30), the net reclassification improvement index was 10.6% (95% CI, −7.6% to 18.9%;
P
=0.073), and the IDI was 0.002 (95% CI, 0.000–0.007;
P
=0.033). The results for all‐cause mortality showed similar patterns.

Conclusions

Compared with the LE8, the improvement in the predictive value of LC9 was negligible. It may not be necessary to add a depression score to the current cardiovascular health score.
Electrophysiological Correlates of Visual Memory Search
Authors: Williams Lauren H. , Wiegand Iris , Lavelle Mark , Wolfe Jeremy M. , Fukuda Keisuke , Peelen Marius V. , Drew Trafton
Published: October 2024

In everyday life, we frequently engage in ‘hybrid’ visual and memory search, where we look for multiple items stored in memory (e.g., a mental shopping list) in our visual environment. Across three experiments, we used event-related potentials to better understand the contributions of visual working memory (VWM) and long-term memory (LTM) during the memory search component of hybrid search. Experiments 1 and 2 demonstrated that the FN400 (an index of LTM recognition) and the CDA (an index of VWM load) increased with memory set size (target load), suggesting that both VWM and LTM are involved in memory search, even when target load exceeds capacity limitations of VWM. In Experiment 3, we used these electrophysiological indices to test how categorical similarity of targets and distractors affects memory search. The CDA and FN400 were modulated by memory set size only if items resembled targets. This suggests that dissimilar distractor items can be rejected before eliciting a memory search. Together, our findings demonstrate the interplay of VWM and LTM processes during memory search for multiple targets.
Neural and Computational Mechanisms of Motivation and Decision-making
Authors: Yee Debbie M.
Published: October 2024

Motivation is often thought to enhance adaptive decision-making by biasing actions toward rewards and away from punishment. Emerging evidence, however, points to a more nuanced view whereby motivation can both enhance and impair different aspects of decision-making. Model-based approaches have gained prominence over the past decade for developing more precise mechanistic explanations for how incentives impact goal-directed behavior. In this Special Focus, we highlight three studies that demonstrate how computational frameworks help decompose decision processes into constituent cognitive components, as well as formalize when and how motivational factors (e.g., monetary rewards) influence specific cognitive processes, decision-making strategies, and self-report measures. Finally, I conclude with a provocative suggestion based on recent advances in the field: that organisms do not merely seek to maximize the expected value of extrinsic incentives. Instead, they may be optimizing decision-making to achieve a desired internal state (e.g., homeostasis, effort, affect). Future investigation into such internal processes will be a fruitful endeavor for unlocking the cognitive, computational, and neural mechanisms of motivated decision-making.
Taxonomic revision of Achradocera Becker (Diptera: Dolichopodidae), with description of two new species
Authors: QUEVEDO LUCAS , CAPELLARI RENATO S. , LAMAS CARLOS JOSÉ E.
Published: October 2024

The New World genus Achradocera Becker, 1922 (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) is revised and includes the following 12 species: A. angustifacies Becker stat. rev. (= A. chilensis (Van Duzee) syn. nov. and A. edwardsi (Van Duzee) syn. nov.; Chile); A. apicalis (Aldrich) (Antigua, Dominica, Marquesas, Montserrat, St. Lucia, Tonga and French Polynesia); A. arcuata (Van Duzee) (western USA, Hawaii and Mexico); A. balin sp. nov. (Brazil); A. barbata (Loew) (eastern Canada and eastern USA); A. excavata (Van Duzee) (Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Puerto Rico); A. femoralis Becker (Colombia and Curaçao); A. gimli sp. nov. (Brazil, Bolivia and Trinidad and Tobago); A. insignis Parent (Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina); A. longiseta Parent (Argentina); A. meridionalis Becker (= A. contracta (Van Duzee) syn. nov. and A. shannoni (Van Duzee) syn. nov.; Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Peru and Hawaii); and A. tuberculata (Van Duzee) (Brazil, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela). All valid species and their diagnostic features are fully photographed, a key to males is provided and the known distribution of each species is mapped.
Being-Time, or How Traditional Japanese Thought Collided with Western Philosophy and Modern Physics at Hiroshima
Authors: Mead Christopher
Published: October 2024

The atom bomb that annihilated Hiroshima, Japan, on August 6, 1945, proved Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity. Mass became energy and the classic Western dialectic of three-dimensional space and linear time was displaced by the integrated concept of spacetime. On that day, modern physics also collided with the traditional Japanese understanding that space and time are interdependent phenomena. This collision speaks to conceptual parallels relating Buddhist thought, modern Japanese philosophy, phenomenology, and the physics of spacetime. The thirteenth-century Zen Buddhist monk Dōgen said that all phenomena are made possible by the universal principle of emptiness and that our existence arises with each moment in what he termed Being-Time, where past, present, and future co-exist. The Japanese philosopher Nishida Kitarō, along with Tanabe Hajime and Watsuji Tetsurō, saw reality as a multi-dimensional field of space-in-time where the individual subject no longer stood apart from the objective world but instead arose dynamically as contingent activities rather than an autonomous thing. The German philosopher Martin Heidegger rejected the rational binary of subject and object in Western thought and grounded our “being” in phenomena that came from their temporal being-in-the-world rather than representing some preexisting objective reality. The physicist Albert Einstein radically rethought the dialectic of three-dimensional space and linear time, used to schematize the physical world in the West since antiquity, and theorized the relativity of spacetime, in which all phenomena occur in space in relation to their place in time. Interwoven, these intellectual threads stripped the bombing of Hiroshima of its historical inevitability. The story of human experience lost its customary sense of going somewhere predetermined and was revealed instead to be an endlessly discrete accumulation of moments that could go anywhere at every transient and directionless moment in time.
Characteristic Analysis of India–Burma Trough Events and Its Impact on Winter Precipitation in South and East Asia: Based on Objective Identification
Authors: Cao Xiaohang , Yuan Junpeng , Yan Xin , Yang Tong
Published: October 2024

During the boreal winter, the India–Burma trough (IBT), a shortwave trough system primarily positioned over the northern Bay of Bengal, exerts a significant synoptic-scale variation and impact on precipitation in South and East Asia. This study utilizes the 6-hourly ERA5 dataset to objectively identify and track 714 IBT events from 1981 to 2019. On average, IBT occurred about 54.7 days yr−1, with an average of 18.3 events annually and lasting around 2.5 days. IBT events are classified into two types: local and eastward moving. Local IBTs manifest in the mid- and lower troposphere with a vertical temperature structure of warm-over-cold, whereas the signals of the eastward-moving IBTs extend from the lower to the upper troposphere, exhibiting cold anomalies vertically. The impacts on winter precipitation in South and East Asia differ significantly between these two IBT types. Local IBTs are primarily linked with the eastward propagation of wave disturbances along the subtropical westerly jet, while eastward-moving IBTs are associated with robust disturbance sources from mid–high latitudes and jointly modulated by the consequent eastward propagation of Rossby wave trains along northern and southern branches of the westerly jet streams. Precipitation anomalies during local IBTs are typically positive (negative) in the Indochina Peninsula and southwestern China (Indian Peninsula), whereas eastward-moving IBTs correlate with more intense and widespread precipitation in South and East Asia, with a pronounced band of anomalies from the Indochina Peninsula to southern China.
A Review of Immunotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Goetz J.W. , Rabinowits G. , Kalman N. , Villa A.
Published: October 2024

The introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) to oncological care has transformed the management of various malignancies, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), offering improved outcomes. The first-line treatment of recurrent and malignant HNSCC for many years was combined platinum, 5-fluorouracil, and cetuximab. Recently, the ICI pembrolizumab was approved as a first-line treatment, with or without chemotherapy, based on tumor and immune cell percentage of programmed-death ligand 1 (PD-L1). Multiple head and neck (HN) cancer trials have subsequently explored immunotherapies in combination with surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation. Immunotherapy regimens may be personalized by tumor biomarker, including PD-L1 content, tumor mutational burden, and microsatellite instability. However, further clinical trials are needed to refine biomarker-driven protocols and standardize pathological methods to guide combined regimen timing, sequencing, and deescalation. Gaps remain for protocols using immunotherapy to reverse oral premalignant lesions, particularly high-risk leukoplakias. A phase II nonrandomized controlled trial, using the ICI nivolumab, showed a 2-y cancer-free survival of 73%, although larger trials are needed. Guidelines are also needed to standardize the role of dental evaluation and care before, during, and after immunotherapy, specifically in regard to oral immune-related adverse events and their impact on cancer recurrence. Standardized diagnostic and oral care coordination strategies to close these gaps are needed to ensure continued success of HN cancer immunotherapy.
Developing the Scale of the Social Health Impact of War
Authors: Filiz Mustafa , Hattatoğlu Sedat
Published: October 2024

Background/Aim: This study was conducted to develop the “Scale of the Effects of War on Social Health” to better understand the effects that news of have on individuals. Method: 389 adult individuals participated in the study. The scale was developed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses to test its structural validity.

Results: As a result of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, the scale was found to consist of four dimensions: “worry and despair”, “concentration”, “shame and guilt” and “anger and control”. The scale consists of a total of 16 statements. The calculated CR and AVE values show that the scale has a reliable structure. Conclusion: This study, conducted to determine the effect of war news on the social health of individuals, provides a scientific tool to identify and measure the potential effects of the frames reflected in mass media news during wartime on the social health status of individuals. The scale developed can contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the effects of war news on the people who are not directly involved in the war but listen or read the news.
Critical Issues in Measuring and Teaching Social Problem-solving in Early Childhood Research
Authors: Hardy Jessica K. , Mere-Cook Yvette , Yang Hsiu-Wen
Published: October 2024

Young children’s social-emotional competence is predictive of their later success in school. Social problem-solving is a key component of social-emotional competence. While there is research to suggest we can effectively support young children in developing social problem-solving skills, further work is needed to advance our understanding of how to operationalize, measure, and provide interventions on social problem-solving skills. It is particularly important to understand how to support social problem-solving skills in children with disabilities and diverse functional repertoires. We outline critical issues related to operationalizing, measuring, and teaching social problem-solving and propose 19 recommendations for addressing these critical issues. We suggest future directions for research in social problem-solving centering around four key questions.
Dual-Stage Analysis Combining Structural Equation Modeling and Machine Learning for Low-Carbon Travel Intention of Urban Residents
Authors: Li Xinguang , Hu Han , Qu Dayi
Published: October 2024

Guiding urban residents to travel with low carbon is an important measure to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable urban development. To explore the important factors affecting urban residents’ low-carbon travel intention, this study proposes a composite model of urban residents’ low-carbon travel intention based on the composite framework of the theory of planned behavior and value belief norm theory. A total of 398 valid pieces of data were collected in Qingdao, China. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to empirically analyze the data to identify the predictors that have a significant effect on low-carbon travel intention. Then, two machine learning methods, artificial neural networks (ANN) and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), were used to conduct sensitivity analysis on the SEM results to identify the determinants that affect residents’ low-carbon travel intention. The results showed that personal norm, attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control have a significant direct effect on residents’ low-carbon travel intention. Policy factors can indirectly affect low-carbon travel intention, through mediating variables. Environmental awareness and travel time perception have a direct effect on both residents’ attitude and subjective norms. In addition, the explained variance (R2) of low-carbon travel intention by ANN and XGBoost is 0.75 and 0.77, respectively. The Root Square Mean Error (RMSE) in both models are small, which verifies the effectiveness of the two machine learning methods. The results can provide a reference basis for policymakers to prompt urban sustainable development.