bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analyzing and assessing explainable AI models for smart agriculture environments
Authors: Cartolano Andrea , Cuzzocrea Alfredo , Pilato Giovanni
Published: January 2024

We analyze a case study in the field of smart agriculture exploiting Explainable AI (XAI) approach, a field of study that aims to provide interpretations and explanations to the behaviour of AI systems. The study regards a multiclass classification problem on the Crop Recommendation dataset. The original task is the prediction of the most adequate crop, according to seven features. In addition to the predictions, two of the most well-known XAI approaches have been used in order to obtain explanations and interpretations of the behaviour of the models: SHAP (SHapley Additive ExPlanations), and LIME (Local Interpretable Model-Agnostic Explanations). Both packages provide easy-to-understand visualizations that allow common users to understand explanations of single predictions even without going into the mathematical details of the algorithms. Within the scientific community criticisms have been raised against these approaches, and recently some papers brought to light some weaknesses. However, the two algorithms are among the most popular in XAI and are still considered points of reference for this field of study.
Detecting COVID-19 in chest CT images based on several pre-trained models
Authors: Hassan Esraa , Shams Mahmoud Y. , Hikal Noha A. , Elmougy Samir
Published: January 2024

This paper explores the use of chest CT scans for early detection of COVID-19 and improved patient outcomes. The proposed method employs advanced techniques, including binary cross-entropy, transfer learning, and deep convolutional neural networks, to achieve accurate results. The COVIDx dataset, which contains 104,009 chest CT images from 1,489 patients, is used for a comprehensive analysis of the virus. A sample of 13,413 images from this dataset is categorised into two groups: 7,395 CT scans of individuals with confirmed COVID-19 and 6,018 images of normal cases. The study presents pre-trained transfer learning models such as ResNet (50), VGG (19), VGG (16), and Inception V3 to enhance the DCNN for classifying the input CT images. The binary cross-entropy metric is used to compare COVID-19 cases with normal cases based on predicted probabilities for each class. Stochastic Gradient Descent and Adam optimizers are employed to address overfitting issues. The study shows that the proposed pre-trained transfer learning models achieve accuracies of 99.07%, 98.70%, 98.55%, and 96.23%, respectively, in the validation set using the Adam optimizer. Therefore, the proposed work demonstrates the effectiveness of pre-trained transfer learning models in enhancing the accuracy of DCNNs for image classification. Furthermore, this paper provides valuable insights for the development of more accurate and efficient diagnostic tools for COVID-19.
Analytic patristics
Authors: Rojek Paweł
Published: January 2024

Georges Florovsky, in 1936, called for a revival of the teaching of the Church Fathers. At the same time, Fr. Joseph Bocheński formulated the program for the renewal of Thomism by means of formal logic. In this paper, I propose to integrate these two projects. Analytic Patristics aims at expressing and developing patristic thought with the tools of analytic philosophy. The broad program of the logic of religion formulated by Bocheński included semiotics, methodology, and the formal logic of religion. I present here three examples of the integration of analytic philosophy and patristics in these three areas. I discuss first Basil Lourié’s paraconsistent interpretation of Dionysius the Areopagite’s theory of the divine names, then Richard Swinburne’s efforts to revive Orthodox natural theology, and finally Beau Branson’s reconstruction of Gregory of Nyssa’s metaphysics of the Trinity. These examples perfectly illustrate how analytic philosophy can contribute to the development of patristics, and how the tradition of the Church Fathers can inspire contemporary analytic philosophy of religion.
Insights into the evolution of the eucalypt CER1 and CER3 genes involved in the synthesis of alkane waxes
Authors: Hernández Mariano A. , Vaillancourt René E. , Potts Brad M. , Butler Jakob B.
Published: January 2024

The genes ECERIFERUM1 (CER1) and ECERIFERUM3 (CER3) encode the biosynthesis of alkane waxes, a key component of the plant cuticle. To study the evolution of CER1 and CER3 in a highly diverse group of eucalypts, we performed a genome-wide survey using recently released genome assemblies of 28 Myrtaceae species, with 22 species from the main eucalypt lineage and 6 non-eucalypt Myrtaceae tree species. We manually annotated 250 genes and pseudogenes, identifying a near-ubiquitous single copy of CER3 and 2 to 10 CER1 gene copies per Myrtaceae species. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that copy number variation in eucalypts is due to multiple tandem duplication events, both ancient (shared by all Myrtaceae species studied) and relatively recent (present only in eucalypts). Inter-chromosomal translocations were discovered for both CER1 and CER3, along with recurrent loss of often the same CER1 introns in the WAX2 domain, the domain that is essential for wax production. Despite the varied environments occupied by the eucalypt species in this study, we did not find statistically significant associations between intra-genic structural changes or CER1 copy number and aspects of the environment they occupy (including aridity). The challenge is now to explain the species-specific evolutionary histories that contributed to the observed variation in CER1 and the extent to which it may contribute to the adaptability of eucalypts.
Distribution characteristics of intestinal flora in patients with OSAHS and the relationship between different intestinal flora and sleep disorders, hypoxemia and obesity
Authors: Feng Guofei , Zhuge Pan , Zou Yaping , Zhang Zhifeng , Guo Jiandong , Ma Junxiang
Published: January 2024

Objective

To investigate the distribution characteristics of intestinal flora in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) of different severities and the relationship between different intestinal flora and sleep structure disorder, hypoxemia and obesity.

Methods

A total of 25 healthy volunteers and 80 patients with OSAHS were enrolled in this study. The control group was healthy, and the experimental group comprised patients with OSAHS. The apnoea–hypopnea index (AHI), minimum saturation of peripheral oxygen (SpO2min), mean saturation of peripheral oxygen, body mass index, maximum apnoea time and other indicators were collected in clinical practice. The patients with OSAHS were divided into 20 mild and 42 moderate OSAHS cases, as well as 18 patients with severe OSAHS according to the AHI classification. Bioinformatics-related statistics were analysed using the QIIME2 software, and clinical data were analysed with the SPSS 22.0 software.

Results

The changes in microbial alpha diversity in the intestinal flora of patients with OSAHS showed that richness, diversity and evenness decreased, but the beta diversity did not change significantly. The Thermus Anoxybacillus, Anaerofustis, Blautia, Sediminibacterium, Ralstonia, Pelomonas, Ochrobactrum, Thermus Sediminibacterium, Ralstonia, Coccidia, Cyanobacteria, Anoxic bacilli and Anaerobes were negatively correlated with AHI (r = −0.38, −0.36, −0.35, −0.33, −0.31, −0.29, −0.22, −0.18) and positively correlated with SpO2min (r =0.38, 0.2, 0.25, 0.22, 0.24, 0.11, 0.23, 0.15).

Conclusion

Some bacteria showed a significant correlation with clinical sleep monitoring data, which provides a possibility for the assessment of disease risk, but the mechanisms of their actions in the intestinal tract are not clear at present. Further research and observations are needed.
Stability and Generalization of Hypergraph Collaborative Networks
Authors: Ng Michael K. , Wu Hanrui , Yip Andy
Published: January 2024

Graph neural networks have been shown to be very effective in utilizing pairwise relationships across samples. Recently, there have been several successful proposals to generalize graph neural networks to hypergraph neural networks to exploit more complex relationships. In particular, the hypergraph collaborative networks yield superior results compared to other hypergraph neural networks for various semi-supervised learning tasks. The collaborative network can provide high quality vertex embeddings and hyperedge embeddings together by formulating them as a joint optimization problem and by using their consistency in reconstructing the given hypergraph. In this paper, we aim to establish the algorithmic stability of the core layer of the collaborative network and provide generalization guarantees. The analysis sheds light on the design of hypergraph filters in collaborative networks, for instance, how the data and hypergraph filters should be scaled to achieve uniform stability of the learning process. Some experimental results on real-world datasets are presented to illustrate the theory.
The Effects of Preoperative Glycaemic Control (HbA1c) on Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery Outcomes: Data from a Tertiary-Referral Bariatric Centre in the UK
Authors: Wilmington Rebekah , Abuawwad Mahmoud , Holt Guy , Anderson Robyn , Aldafas Rami , Awad Sherif , Idris Iskandar
Published: January 2024

Background

Current recommendations advocate the achievement of an optimal glucose control (HbA1c < 69 mmol/mol) prior to elective surgery to reduce risks of peri- and post-operative complications, but the relevance for this glycaemic threshold prior to Bariatric Metabolic Surgery (BMS) following a specialist weight management programme remains unclear.

Methods

We undertook a retrospective cohort study of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who underwent BMS over a 6-year period (2016–2022) at a regional tertiary referral following completion of a specialist multidisciplinary weight management. Post-operative outcomes of interest included 30-day mortality, readmission rates, need for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) care and hospital length of stay (LOS) and were assessed according to HbA1c cut-off values of < 69 (N = 202) and > 69 mmol/mol (N = 67) as well as a continuous variable.

Results

A total of 269 patients with T2D were included in this study. Patients underwent primary Roux en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB, n = 136), Sleeve Gastrectomy (SG, n = 124), insertion of gastric band (n = 4) or one-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB, n = 4). No significant differences in the rates of complications were observed between the two groups of pre-operative HbA1c cut-off values. No HbA1c threshold was observed for glycaemic control that would affect the peri- and post-operative complications following BMS.

Conclusions

We observed no associations between pre-operative HbA1C values and the risk of peri- and post-operative complications. In the context of a specialist multidisciplinary weight management programme, optimising pre-operative HbA1C to a recommended target value prior to BMS may not translate into reduced risks of peri- and post-operative complications.

Graphical Abstract
Effect of Spray Drying on Physicochemical Stability and Antioxidant Capacity of Rosa pimpinellifolia Fruit Extract-Loaded Liposomes Conjugated with Chitosan or Whey Protein During In Vitro Digestion
Authors: Kasapoğlu Kadriye Nur , Gültekin-Özgüven Mine , Kruger Johanita , Frank Jan , Bayramoğlu Pelin , Barla-Demirkoz Aslı , Özçelik Beraat
Published: January 2024

Spray drying is a well-established, energy efficient, and scalable process widely used in the food industry, however it may lead to thermal degradation of susceptible compounds, such as (poly)phenols, resulting in biological activity loss to some extent. In this study, we aimed to improve the physicochemical stability and bioaccessibility of (poly)phenols from Rosa pimpinellifolia fruit extract (Rosa extract) loaded in liposomes by generating solid particles via spray drying. Liposomes were conjugated with chitosan (Ch) and whey protein (Wp) to optimize the biopolymer concentrations by monitoring mean particle diameter, polydispersity index, and surface charge. The mean diameter of liposomes ranged between 135 and 210 nm upon optimal addition of Ch (0.4%, w/v) and Wp (4.0%, w/v) which also increased the entrapment efficiency of (poly)phenols from 74.2 to 77.8% and 79.1%, respectively. After spray drying, about 65–76% of the antioxidant capacity were retained in biopolymer-conjugated liposomes (Ch or Wp) while the retention rate was 48% in only spray-dried extract (Rosa extract powder). Compared to unencapsulated Rosa extract, spray drying (Rosa extract powder) and conjugation with Ch (Ch-Lip powder) or Wp (Wp-Lip powder) significantly increased the bioaccessibility of (poly)phenols and preserved their antioxidant capacity. Based on the findings of this study, Ch- or Wp-conjugation of liposomes prior to spray drying could improve physicochemical stability and protect (poly)phenols loaded in liposomes against processing stress and passage through the digestive tract. Further in vitro and in vivo investigations on a variety of bioactive compounds may draw more attention to their potential as functional foods.
The Role of Zinc on Liver Fibrosis by Modulating ZIP14 Expression Throughout Epigenetic Regulatory Mechanisms
Authors: Aksoy-Ozer Zeynep Busra , Bitirim Ceylan Verda , Turan Belma , Akcali Kamil Can
Published: January 2024

Zinc plays a pivotal role in tissue regeneration and maintenance being as a central cofactor in a plethora of enzymatic activities. Hypozincemia is commonly seen with chronic liver disease and is associated with an increased risk of liver fibrosis development and hepatocellular carcinoma. Previously favorable effects of zinc supplementation on liver fibrosis have been shown. However, the underlying mechanism of this effect is not elucidated. Liver fibrosis was induced in mice by using CCl4 injection, followed by treatment with zinc chloride (ZnCl2) both at fibrotic and sham groups, and their hepatocytes were isolated. Our results showed that the administration of ZnCl2 restored the depleted cytosolic zinc levels in the hepatocytes isolated from the fibrotic group. Also, alpha-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) expression in hepatocytes was decreased, indicating a reversal of the fibrotic process. Notably, ZIP14 expression significantly increased in the fibrotic group following ZnCl2 treatment, whereas in the sham group ZIP14 expression decreased. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) experiments revealed an increased binding percentage of Metal-regulatory transcription factor 1 (MTF1) on ZIP14 promoter in the hepatocytes isolated from fibrotic mice compared to the sham group after ZnCl2 administration. In the same group, the binding percentage of the histone deacetylase HDAC4 on ZIP14 promoter decreased. Our results suggest that the ZnCl2 treatment ameliorates liver fibrosis by elevating intracellular zinc levels through MTF1-mediated regulation of ZIP14 expression and the reduction of ZIP14 deacetylation via HDAC4. The restoration of intracellular zinc concentrations and the modulation of ZIP14 expression by zinc orchestrated through MTF1 and HDAC4, appear to be essential determinants of the therapeutic response in hepatic fibrosis. These findings pave the way for potential novel interventions targeting zinc-related pathways for the treatment of liver fibrosis and associated conditions.
Esketamine Prevents Postoperative Emotional and Cognitive Dysfunction by Suppressing Microglial M1 Polarization and Regulating the BDNF-TrkB Pathway in Ageing Rats with Preoperative Sleep Disturbance
Authors: Wen Yuxin , Xu Jiawen , Shen Jiahong , Tang Zili , Li Shuxin , Zhang Qun , Li Jiaqi , Sun Jianliang
Published: January 2024

Postoperative depression (POD) and postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) have placed heavy burden on patients’ physical and mental health in recent years. Sleep disturbance before surgery is a common phenomenon that has been increasingly believed to affect patients’ recovery, especially in aged patients, while little attention has been paid to sleep disruption before surgery and the potential mechanism remains ambiguous. Ketamine has been reported to attenuate POCD after cardiac surgery and elicit rapid-acting and sustained antidepressant actions. The present study aimed to clarify the effect of esketamine’s (the S-enantiomer of ketamine) protective effects and possible mechanisms of action in POCD and POD. Our results showed that sleep disturbance before surgery exacerbated microglial M1 polarization and microglial BDNF-TrkB signalling dysfunction induced by surgery, resulting in postoperative emotional changes and cognitive impairments. Notably, treatment with esketamine reversed the behavioural abnormalities through inhibiting the M1 polarization of microglia and the inflammatory response thus improving BDNF-TrkB signalling in vivo and vitro. In addition, esketamine administration also reversed the impaired hippocampal synaptic plasticity which has been perturbed by sleep disturbance and surgery. These findings warrant further investigations into the interplay of esketamine and may provide novel ideas for the implication of preoperative preparations and the prevention of postoperative brain-related complications.
Mapping the everyday concept of disgust in five cultures
Authors: Schweiger Gallo Inge , El-Astal Sofian , Yik Michelle , Pablo-Lerchundi Iciar , Herrero López Reyes , Terrazo-Felipe Mónica , Gollwitzer Peter M. , Fernández-Dols José Miguel
Published: January 2024

Past research has shown that disgust is a heterogeneous category and lacks unity in its defining features. In the two studies reported in this paper, we examined the internal structure of disgust in English, and its translation equivalents of asco in Spanish, Ekel in German, garaf in Arabic, and yanwu in Chinese. In Study 1, 517 participants listed the most accessible constitutive features (definition, elicitors, and physical responses) of the concept of disgust in their culture. In Study 2, 653 participants were asked to judge the extent to which each of the 63 features extracted from Study 1 was typical of the concept of disgust in their respective culture. Results revealed differences in content, as well as internal structures across the five cultural groups: the disgust concepts differed in the degree of typicality of their constitutive features, the relevance of single features, the extent to which they shared features and the structural properties of the features. Taken together, our results question the assumed conceptual equivalence of the disgust concept across five cultures and raise questions about the suitability of deploying direct translations of disgust terms in cross-cultural research.
The European Portuguese version of the Fear of Missing Out scale (FoMOs-P) in higher education students
Authors: Almeida Filipa , Pires Luís , Marques Daniel Ruivo , Gomes Ana Allen
Published: January 2024

This study adapted and validated the European Portuguese version of the Fear of Missing Out scale (FoMOs-P) and determined an “optimal” cutoff score for higher education students with high social media engagement. Five hundred Portuguese students (M = 22.37, SD = 5.68) completed FoMOs-P and measures of sleep quality, rumination, and social media. Following previous conflicting results, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was conducted to compare two competing factor structures. Model invariance regarding sex was tested using multi-group CFA. FoMOs-P’ internal consistency, convergent and discriminant validity were analyzed, and an “optimal” cutoff point was explored through Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis. When comparing CFA models, the two-related-factor model fit best (Δχ2 (1) = 495.01, p < .001), demonstrating a good fit (χ2/df = 2.96; CFI = .98; TLI = .97; RMSEA [90 CI] = .063 [.049;.077]). This model showed metric invariance but not scalar invariance across sex. There was adequate reliability for both factors and total scale (ω > .7). Convergent and discriminant validity were supported. ROC analysis revealed an AUC = .742 (p < .001) and an “optimal” cutoff point of 20 (70.1% sensitivity, 68.4% specificity) to detect probable disruptive social media engagement. FoMOs-P was shown to be a reliable and valid instrument, supporting its use among higher education students. FoMOs-P appears to be composed of two factors [(i.e., internalizing and externalizing Fear of Missing Out (FoMO)] and has moderate accuracy to screen students with high social media usage.
The Concept of Property Between Technology, Anthropology and Ontology
Authors: Pezzano Giacomo
Published: January 2024

The article Anthropological crisis or crisis in moral status: a philosophy of technology approach to the moral consideration of artificial intelligence questions the anthropology of properties commonly assumed in philosophical discussions about the relationship between humans and technologies and the attribution of moral status. By beginning to develop the possible link between the ontology of properties and the anthropological question aptly outlined by that contribution, this short commentary suggests that the adoption of a truly relational or non-proprietary approach in the philosophy of technology seems at once necessary and challenging. For, on the one hand, it represents a response to the demands posed by information technologies; on the other it seems to call into question some of our deeply ingrained habits of thought.
Characterization of a novel natural plant-based fiber from reddish shell bean as a potential reinforcement in bio-composites
Authors: Eyupoglu Seyda , Eyupoglu Can , Merdan Nigar
Published: January 2024

The main aim of this study is to identify a new sustainable plant-based fiber extracted from the reddish shell bean plant to investigate its usage in polymer matrix composites. Natural reddish shell bean fiber was extracted from vegetable shells with a biological degradation method. To determine the fiber characteristic properties, physical, chemical, and instrumental tests were performed on reddish shell bean fiber. The surface of the sample was determined with a scanning electron microscope, and it shows that the fiber has a rough surface along its length. In addition, an image processing approach was devised and implemented to determine the average fiber diameter of the reddish shell bean fiber. The elemental composition of fiber was obtained as 50.67 wt.% oxygen, 47.89 wt.% carbon, and 1.52 wt.% calcium with an energy disperse X-ray analysis device. In addition, fiber diameter was predicted as 785.87 μm with the image processing technique. The fiber density was measured as 1080 kg/m3. The crystallinity index of reddish shell bean fiber was calculated as 57%, and the fiber stables up to 328.23°C. The ultimate tensile strength of reddish shell bean fiber was obtained as 111 MPa. The elongation at break and estimated values of Young’s modulus of reddish shell bean fiber are 1.83% and 6.11 GPa, respectively. According to the results, reddish shell bean fiber can be utilized as reinforcement in polymer matrix composites.
“We became our own media!” : Australian perspectives on the beneficial potentialities of new media for environmental activism
Authors: Calibeo Diletta Luna
Published: January 2024

This article discusses activist perceptions of the beneficial potentialities of new media for environmental campaigning as investigated in Australia, due to its high level of environmental activism and Internet usage. Drawing upon literature on communication theory, environmental politics, digital activism, and social movement theory, this study explores new media use for activism in two large Australia-wide environmental campaigns: contestation of old-growth forest logging and unconventional gas mining (fracking) development. From March to May 2017, 34 environmental activists involved in these campaigns were interviewed for this study. They shared their opinions on what it meant for them to use new media, the difficulties they encountered, but also the beneficial potentialities they identified in using these media for their activism. The study findings show that new media built significantly on more ‘traditional’ forms of activism, including stalls and non-violent street demonstrations, but also enabled extended activist outreach, enhanced engagement with supporters, and boosted campaign mobilisation. As such, despite an array of quite challenging limitations they also referred to, and to which they responded strategically, Australian environmental activists found new media highly beneficial to their activism.
Access to the UK Financial Market After the UK Withdrawal from the EU: Disruption, Design, and Diffusion
Authors: Moloney Niamh
Published: January 2024

This article examines the setting of the legal regime governing third country access to the UK financial market, in light of the political, market, and legal disruption associated with the UK withdrawal from the EU. It considers the UK reform context and the priority being given to securing UK financial market competitiveness, identifies a related and significant liberalization of the third country regime, and examines the implications for the UK, the EU, and for international financial market access.
PGM-Free Biomass-Derived Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction in Energy Conversion Devices: Promising Materials
Authors: Zago Stefano , Scarpetta-Pizo Laura C. , Zagal José H. , Specchia Stefania
Published: January 2024

Biomass is a low-cost, abundant and renewable resource that can be used to manufacture porous carbon-based materials for a variety of applications. Different mesoporous carbon supports can be obtained from the various synthetic approaches that are aimed at increasing the specific surface area and functionalization. Currently, most of the biomass is used for energy recovery. The circular economy approach could lead to the development of cheap and sustainable materials, and turning of wastes into a precious resource. In this review, we provide the recent advances in the field of electrochemistry for porous carbon materials derived from biomass, which offers wider applications in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) and Zn-air batteries (ZABs). The focus is on understanding the required properties of the materials and the role of synthetic pathways in platinum group metal (PGM) free electrocatalysts. The most promising materials are evaluated towards the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in PEMFC, AEMFC, and ZAB. The results achieved showed that the expected performances on these energy conversion devices still lack for deployment in practice, especially if compared with commercially available PGM-free electrocatalysts. This review article provides insights on how to improve the actual electrocatalytic activity of biomass-derived materials.

Graphical Abstract
Research contribution of bibliometric studies related to sustainable development goals and sustainability
Authors: Raman Raghu , Lathabhai Hiran , Pattnaik Debidutta , Kumar Chandan , Nedungadi Prema
Published: January 2024

This bibliometric study analyzes 1433 former reviews on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Sustainability, providing a comprehensive overview of the evolving research landscape in this domain. Notably, we observe a substantial annual growth rate of 74% in publications and a remarkable 171% increase in total citations from 2016 to 2022, reflecting a growing interest in this area. We identify the leading countries and institutions contributing to quantitative reviews on SDGs and Sustainability. SDG 12 (Sustainable Consumption and Production) emerges as the most extensively studied and is highly represented in influential journals like Sustainability and the Journal of Cleaner Production. Across various research fields, SDGs 12 and 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) stand out, with SDGs 4 (Quality Education), 5 (Gender Equality), and 15 (Life on Land) showing significance in specific domains. Thematic analysis reveals key topics like environmental protection, circular economy, life cycle assessment, and supply chain management, with strong connections to SDG 12. Further clusters highlight environmental management, renewable energy, and energy policy linked to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), along with a smaller cluster focusing on urbanization driven by SDG 11. Network analysis emphasizes the critical roles of SDGs 12 and 9 (Industry Innovation and Infrastructure) in achieving a sustainable future. However, alternative social network indicators highlight the potential influence of SDGs 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) on other goals. Intriguingly, mainstream SDG research predominantly focuses on SDGs 3 and 7, presenting challenges due to the volume and complexity of related publications. While SDG 7 could find suitable outlets in leading journals, addressing SDG 3’s (Good Health and Well Being) complexity remains a formidable task. Nevertheless, conducting bibliometric studies on SDGs 3, 7, and 13 (Climate Action) offers promising opportunities in future if the associated challenges are addressed effectively.
Analysis of Breast Cancer Screening Results and Influencing Factors of Breast Cancer in Guangdong Province from 2017 to 2021
Authors: Wu Li , Chen Guo-Zhen , Zeng Zu-Rui , Ji Cun-Wei , Zhang An-Qin , Xia Jian-Hong , Liu Guo-Cheng
Published: January 2024

Backgrounds

Breast cancer screening plays an important role in the early detection, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the screening results and explore the influencing factors of breast cancer detection rate in Guangdong.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted among 2,024,960 women aged 35–64 in Guangdong Province during 2017–2021. The data about breast cancer screening information were collected from the Guangdong maternal and child health information system. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to explain demographic characteristics and results of breast cancer screening. The generalized linear regression model was applied to analyze the related influencing factors of breast cancer detection rate.

Results

The estimated detection rate of breast cancer in Guangdong Province is 70.32/105, with an early diagnosis rate of 82.06%. After adjusting covariates, those women with older age (45–55 [OR (95% CI) 2.174 (1.872, 2.526)], 55–65 [OR (95% CI) 2.162 (1.760, 2.657)]), education for high school ([OR (95% CI) 1.491 (1.254, 1.773)]) and older age at first birth ([OR (95% CI) 1.632 (1.445, 1.844)]) were more likely to have higher detection rate of breast cancer. No history of surgery or biopsy ([OR (95% CI) 0.527 (0.387, 0.718)]), no history of breast cancer check ([OR (95% CI) 0.873 (0.774, 0.985)]) and no family history of breast cancer ([OR (95% CI) 0.255 (0.151, 0.432)]) women were more likely to screen negative for breast cancer (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The detection rate of breast cancer in screening showed an increasing trend year by year in Guangdong Province. Older age, education for high school and older age at first birth were risk factors for breast cancer detection rate, while no surgery or biopsy history, no family history of breast cancer and no history of breast cancer check were protective factors.
The Politics of the First World War
Authors: Wolford Scott
Published: January 2024

The Great War is an immense, confusing and overwhelming historical conflict - the ideal case study for teaching game theory and international relations. Using thirteen historical puzzles, from the outbreak of the war and the stability of attrition, to unrestricted submarine warfare and American entry into the war, this book provides students with a rigorous yet accessible training in game theory. Each chapter shows, through guided exercises, how game theoretical models can explain otherwise challenging strategic puzzles, shedding light on the role of individual leaders in world politics, cooperation between coalitions partners, the effectiveness of international law, the termination of conflict, and the challenges of making peace. Its analytical history of World War I also surveys cutting edge political science research on international relations and the causes of war. Written by a leading game theorist known for his expertise of the war, this textbook includes useful student features such as chapter key terms, contemporary maps, a timeline of events, a list of key characters and additional end-of-chapter game-theoretic exercises.
The Validity of the Argument from Inductive Risk
Authors: Brown Matthew J. , Stegenga Jacob
Published: January 2024

Joyce Havstad has argued in this journal that the argument from inductive risk is deductively valid and sound. As far as we know, this is the best reconstruction of the argument in the literature. Unfortunately, it suffers from a small flaw that renders the argument invalid. We identify this flaw, show that it is superficial, and show that a small amendment to the argument rescues the claim of its validity.
Vitamin D3 and its Potential to Ameliorate Chemical and Radiation-Induced Skin Injury During Cancer Therapy
Authors: Nguyen Cuong V. , Lu Kurt Q.
Published: January 2024

Skin injury and dermatitis are common complications following chemotherapy and radiation administration for cancer treatment. Symptomatic relief of these complications is limited to slow-acting therapies and often results in holding or modifying cancer therapy that may impact patient outcomes. The off-label use of oral high dose vitamin D3 has demonstrated rapid clinical improvement in skin inflammation and swelling in both chemotherapy and radiation-induced injury. Furthermore, vitamin D3 has been shown to downregulate pro-inflammatory pathways and cytokines, including NFkB, and CCL2, as well as CCL20, which are not only involved in tissue injury, but may confer resistance to cancer treatment. In this paper, we discuss 2 patients with acute radiation dermatitis and acute radiation recall dermatitis following chemotherapy who received 50 000 – 100 000 IU of oral high dose vitamin D3 with improvement in their symptoms. These findings may indicate the potential use of vitamin D as a therapeutic intervention and future target for studying skin healing following chemotherapy and/ or radiation-induced cutaneous toxicity.
Testimony and Non-Evidential Reasons for Belief (A Non-Purist Place for Interpersonalism)
Authors: Rimoldi Florencia , Penelas Federico
Published: January 2024

Interpersonalist theories of testimony have the theoretical virtue of giving room to the characteristic interpersonal features of testimonial exchange among persons. Nonetheless, it has been argued that they are at a serious disadvantage when it comes to accounting for the way in which testimonial beliefs may be epistemically justified. In this paper, we defend the epistemological credentials of interpersonalism, emphasizing that it is inseparable from the acceptance of non-evidential epistemic reasons to believe, which demands proper conceptual elaborations on the notions of epistemic reasons and of epistemic justification. We offer a proper reading of epistemic reason, and we defend non-purism on justification as the adequate way to conceive the epistemic proposal of interpersonalism on testimony, realizing that only this combination is capable of apprehending certain cases in which there seems to be no way to rule out the idea that the assurance offered by the testifier offers an epistemic reason to believe that it is not evidential.
My Body Is My Temple? Comparing Sexual Crimes and Property Crimes in a Human Rights Tradition
Authors: Piha Otava
Published: January 2024

Despite recent criminal law reforms to define rape through the lack of consent, practical questions remain about how to regulate different kinds of violations of sexual autonomy. Many common law scholars have found it eye-opening how much more extensive and easily accepted the protection of property rights is compared to the protection of sexual autonomy. But when the rationale of criminalization resides in human rights, such a comparison is alien; protecting human dignity appears separate from protecting instrumental property rights. Considering rape a subversion of our ownership rights to our bodies (the property model of rape) is rightly regarded as problematic. This article argues that comparing sexual crimes and property crimes is not predicated on the property model but rather on autonomy itself. Comparisons based on autonomy could help resolve practical dilemmas of consent-based rape laws while respecting human dignity and thus be fruitful research pursuits within a human rights tradition.
The next frontier of healthcare-associated infection (HAI) surveillance metrics: Beyond device-associated infections
Authors: Advani Sonali D. , Cawcutt Kelly , Klompas Michael , Marschall Jonas , Meddings Jennifer , Patel Payal K.
Published: January 2024

In recent years, it has become increasingly evident that surveillance metrics for invasive device-associated infections (ie, central-line–associated bloodstream infections, ventilator-associated pneumonias, and catheter-associated urinary tract infections) do not capture all harms; they capture only a subset of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Although prevention of device-associated infections remains critical, we need to address the full spectrum of potential harms from device use and non–device-associated infections. These include complications associated with additional devices, such as peripheral venous and arterial catheters, non–device-associated infections such as nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia, and noninfectious device complications such as trauma, thrombosis, and acute lung injury. As authors of the device-associated infection sections in the SHEA/IDSA/APIC Compendium of Strategies to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections in Acute Care Hospitals, we highlight catheter-associated urinary tract infection as an example of the strengths and limitations of the current emphasis on device-associated infection surveillance, suggest performance metrics that present a more comprehensive picture of patient harm, and provide a high-level overview of similar issues with other infection surveillance measures.
Effect of tip speed ratio on coherent dynamics in the near wake of a model wind turbine
Authors: Biswas Neelakash , Buxton Oliver R.H.
Published: January 2024

The near wake of a small-scale wind turbine is investigated using particle image velocimetry experiments at different tip speed ratios (

$\lambda$

). The wind turbine model had a nacelle and a tower mimicking real-scale wind turbines. The near wake is found to be dominated by multiple coherent structures, including the tip vortices, distinct vortex sheddings from the nacelle and tower, and wake meandering. The merging of the tip vortices is found to be strongly dependent on

$\lambda$

. A convective length scale (

$L_c$

) related to the pitch of the tip vortices is defined that is shown to be a better length scale than turbine diameter (

$D$

) to demarcate the near wake from the far wake. The tower induced strong vertical asymmetry in the flow by destabilising the tip vortices and promoting mixing in the lower (below the nacelle) plane. The nacelle's shedding is found to be important in ‘seeding’ wake meandering, which, although not potent, exists close to the nacelle, and it becomes important only after a certain distance downstream (

$x>3L_c$

). A link between the ‘effective porosity’ of the turbine and

$\lambda$

is established, and the strength and frequency of wake meandering are found to be dependent on

$\lambda$

. In fact, a decreasing trend of wake meandering frequency with

$\lambda$

is observed, similar to vortex shedding from a porous plate at varying porosity. Such similarity upholds the notion of wake meandering being a global instability of the turbine, which can be considered as a ‘porous’ bluff body of diameter

$D$

.
Snow effects on brash ice and level ice growth
Authors: Zhaka Vasiola , Bridges Robert , Riska Kaj , Nilimaa Jonny , Cwirzen Andrzej
Published: January 2024

Brash ice formation and accumulation occur at a faster rate in ship channels, harbours and turning areas compared to the surrounding level ice. Accurate prediction of brash ice thickness plays an important role in addressing operational challenges and optimisation of ice management strategies. This study enhances existing brash ice growth models by considering the effects of snow and accounting for brash ice expulsion towards the sides of ship channels at each passage. To validate the influence of these critical factors on brash ice thickness, three distinct ship channels located in the Bay of Bothnia, Luleå, Sweden, were investigated. For two test channels formed for study purposes, the slower growth rate of brash ice caused by snow insulation was more prominent than the brash ice growth acceleration caused by the snow–slush–snow ice transformation. In the third channel characterised by frequent navigation, the transformation of slush into snow ice played a more substantial role than snow insulation. In both test channels, the brash ice growth model performed optimally, assuming a 10% expulsion of brash ice sideways at each vessel passage. In the third, wider and more frequently navigated channel, a 1.2% brash ice expelling coefficient predicted well the measured brash ice thicknesses.
Individual differences in structural priming in bilingual and monolingual children: the influence of perspective-taking
Authors: van Zwet Joyce L. , Unsworth Sharon
Published: January 2024

When speaking or writing, people tend to re-use the syntactic structures they recently encountered (structural priming). Individuals differ in the extent to which they are primed (primeability). Previous research has suggested that perspective-taking, that is, the ability to imagine the feelings, thoughts and perceptions of others, predicts the magnitude of priming in adults. The present study investigates if this also holds for monolingual and bilingual children. We primed the possessive structure in monolingual Dutch children and bilingual children with varying L2s. There was individual variation in children’s primeability in both groups. For both monolinguals and bilinguals, we found that the better children were at perspective-taking, the more likely they were to be primed. Dutch language proficiency also influenced children’s primeability: higher language proficiency resulted in more priming in both groups. The findings suggest that structural priming serves a social function which is mediated by perspective-taking abilities.
Establishing the validity and robustness of facial electromyography measures for political science
Authors: Schumacher Gijs , Homan Maaike D. , Rebasso Isabella , Fasching Neil , Bakker Bert N. , Rooduijn Matthijs
Published: January 2024

Opinion formation and information processing are affected by unconscious affective responses to stimuli—particularly in politics. Yet we still know relatively little about such affective responses and how to measure them. In this study, we focus on emotional valence and examine facial electromyography (fEMG) measures. We demonstrate the validity of these measures, discuss ways to make measurement and analysis more robust, and consider validity trade-offs in experimental design. In doing so, we hope to support scholars in designing studies that will advance scholarship on political attitudes and behavior by incorporating unconscious affective responses to political stimuli—responses that have too often been neglected by political scientists.
Contagion to unrest: Investigating the link between disease and civil unrest in Africa
Authors: Walker Christina P. , Cramer Evan R.
Published: January 2024

Scholars, policymakers, and citizens alike remain invested in the impact of infectious diseases worldwide. Studies have found that emerging diseases and disease outbreaks burden global economies and public health goals. This article explores the potential link between measles outbreaks and various forms of civil unrest, such as demonstrations, riots, strikes, and other anti-government violence, in four central African countries from 1996 to 2005. Using a difference-in-differences model, we examine whether disease outbreaks have a discernible impact on the prevalence of civil unrest. While our findings indicate that the relationship between disease and civil unrest is not as strong as previously suggested, we identify a notable trend that warrants further investigation. These results have significant implications for health and policy officials in understanding the complex interplay between state fragility, civil unrest, and the spread of disease.
Characterization of phreatic overgrowths on speleothems precipitated in the northern Adriatic during a sea-level stillstand at ca. 2.8 ka
Authors: Lončar Nina , Faivre Sanja , Miklavič Blaž , Onac Bogdan P. , Polyak Victor J. , Asmerom Yemane
Published: January 2024

We examined a Late Holocene sea-level stillstand using phreatic overgrowths on speleothems (POS) recovered from Medvjeđa Špilja [Bear Cave] (northern Adriatic Sea) from −1.28 ± 0.15 m below present mean sea level. Different mineralogical analyses were performed to characterize the POS and better understand the mechanisms of their formation. Results reveal that the fibrous overgrowth is formed of calcite and that both the supporting soda straw and the overgrowth have very similar trace element compositions. This suggests that the drip-water and groundwater pool from which the POS formed have similar chemical compositions. Four subsamples were dated by means of uranium-series. We found that ca. 2800 years ago, the relative sea level was stable for about 300 years at a depth of approximately −1.28 ± 0.15 m below the current mean sea level. This finding roughly corresponds with the end of a relatively stable sea-level period, between 3250 and 2800 cal yr BP, previously noted in the southern Adriatic. Our research confirms the presence of POS in the Adriatic region and establishes the Medvjeđa Špilja pool as a conducive environment for calcite POS formation, which encourages further investigations at this study site.
Stratigraphy and evolution of the late Pleistocene (MIS 5) coastal Barrier III in southern Brazil
Authors: Lopes Renato Pereira , Pereira Jamil Corrêa , Caron Felipe , Dillenburg Sergio Rebello , Rosa Maria Luiza Corrêa da Câmara , Barboza Eduardo Guimarães , Savian Jairo Francisco , Sawakuchi André Oliveira , Tatumi Sonia Hatsue , Yee Márcio
Published: January 2024

The structure and origin of the Pleistocene (Marine Isotope Stage [MIS] 5) coastal Barrier III in southern Brazil were investigated through analysis of lithofacies, numerical ages, and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) data obtained in outcrops and subsurface deposits. The stratigraphic succession is characteristic of transgressive barriers, with muddy lagoon bottom facies unconformably overlying an older unit (Barrier II) and overlain by landward-dipping lagoon margin and aeolian facies. The back-barrier lagoon was filled with sediments and shells transferred from the foreshore through overwash and/or inlets during the MIS 5e transgressive-high-stand phase, with a higher sea level that reached about +6 to +7 m relative to the present. Marine sediments and shells on the seaward side of the barrier dated to ~100–106 ka indicate another high stand at +4 to +5.1 m during MIS 5c. One shell dated to ~87 ka and aeolian deposits dated to ~82 and ~85 ka suggest a third high stand during MIS 5a that reached at least −2 m relative to the present. The two (possibly three) juxtaposed marine deposits show that Barrier III is a more complex unit than previously recognized, built by successive orbitally forced eustatic sea-level oscillations also recorded in other deposits along the Brazilian coast and worldwide.