bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ATE-FS: An Average Treatment Effect-based Feature Selection Technique for Software Fault Prediction
Authors: Mangal Akshat , Rathore Santosh Singh
Published: February 2025

In software development, software fault prediction (SFP) models aim to identify code sections with a high likelihood of faults before the testing process. SFP models achieve this by analyzing data about the structural properties of the software’s previous versions. Consequently, the accuracy and interpretation of SFP models depend heavily on the chosen software metrics and how well they correlate with patterns of fault occurrence. Previous research has explored improving SFP model performance through feature selection (metric selection). Yet inconsistencies in conclusions arose due to the presence of inconsistent and correlated software metrics. Relying solely on correlations between metrics and faults makes it difficult for developers to take actionable steps, as the causal relationships remain unclear. To address this challenge, this work investigates the use of Causal Inference (CI) methods to understand the causal relationships between software project characteristics, development practices, and the fault-proneness of code sections. We propose a CI-based technique called Average Treatment Effect for Feature Selection (ATE-FS). This technique leverages the causal inference concept to quantify the cause-and-effect relationships between software metrics and fault-proneness. ATE-FS utilizes Average Treatment Effect (ATE) features to identify code metrics that are most suitable for building SFP models. These ATE features capture the causal impact of a metric on fault-proneness. Through an experimental analysis involving twenty-seven SFP datasets, we validate the performance of ATE-FS. We further compare its performance with other state-of-the-art feature selection techniques. The results demonstrate that ATE-FS achieves a significant performance for fault prediction. Additionally, ATE-FS improved consistency in feature selection across diverse SFP datasets.
Modeling Infectious Disease Epidemics in Mass Religious Gatherings: A Systematic Review
Authors: Alshammari Sultanah , Ba-Aoum Mohammed , Alganmi Nofe , Showail Ahmad
Published: February 2025

Like other global mass gatherings, religious pilgrimages, such as Hajj, Arba’een, and the Hindu festival Kumbh Mela, attract millions of pilgrims to gather at specific holy sites on specific dates. During disease pandemics, mass gatherings can become super spreader events, causing exponential growth of infections in multiple regions. Epidemic modeling approaches can be valuable tools for studying the impact of mass gatherings on global health during disease outbreaks. To assess the use of epidemic models at religious pilgrimages, we compile published studies that proposed epidemic models at mass religious gatherings. A review of existing epidemic models at various religious gatherings highlights the role of epidemic modeling approaches in assessing the implications of religious pilgrimages on disease pandemics. All the articles surveyed showed a link between hosting religious gatherings and an increase in the number of cases of the simulated epidemic. In addition, we found that the SEIR mathematical model was the most common type developed with variations in some of the retrieved papers. The results reported in these studies motivate further investigation of the role of epidemic modeling and simulation in estimating the size and geographic scale of infections while hosting religious gatherings. Finally, we believe that this survey paper draws attention to the application of epidemic models in the advanced planning of recurrent religious pilgrimages, as it is not feasible to cancel, suspend, or reallocate these pilgrimages. These epidemic models can provide a baseline for policymakers to determine which control measures should be implemented and when.
ARACHNE: Optimizing Distributed Parallel Applications with Reduced Inter-Process Communication
Authors: He Yifu , Zhao Han , Cui Weihao , Zhang Shulai , Chen Quan , Guo Minyi
Published: February 2025

In high-performance computing (HPC), parallelization is essential for improving computational efficiency as data and computation scales exceed single-node capacity. Existing methods, such as the polyhedral model used in
Pluto
-Distmem, focus on loop and array optimizations within shared memory but struggle with high communication overheads and inflexibility in distributed environments. These methods often fail to effectively partition computation and manage data across nodes, leading to suboptimal performance.

This paper presents
Arachne
, an innovative system designed to address these shortcomings by generating distributed parallel code with minimized communication overhead. The system introduces a dynamic programming algorithm to optimally distribute computational tasks across multiple processes, ensuring minimal communication costs. It also incorporates user-friendly compiler directives, allowing programmers to influence code generation easily and accommodate a broader range of parallelization scenarios without needing in-depth knowledge of parallel architectures.
Arachne
significantly reduces the learning curve and need for extensive code modifications, making parallel programming more accessible and efficient. Evaluation of various HPC benchmarks demonstrates that
Arachne
outperforms existing methods by reducing communication overhead, lowering memory requirements, and supporting more complex parallel logic, thus enhancing the overall scalability and efficiency of HPC applications.
Explicit Formulas for Concatenations of Terms of An Arithmetic Progression
Authors: Luca Florian , Tabuguia Bertrand Teguia
Published: February 2025

We construct explicit formulas for sequences of general terms formed by concatenations of the first
n
+ 1 terms of an arithmetic progression in a natural number base. We highlight the non-holonomic character of these sequences and present our implementation for the sequences A007908 and A000422 on https://oeis.org. The code is available at https://github.com/T3gu1a/Concatenations. These formulas are useful for efficient computations of asymptotic terms in these sequences. In the case of A007908, the formula may help investigating the long-standing search of primes among its terms.
In Memoriam: Brett Becker
Authors: Smith Julie M.
Published: February 2025

The SIGCSE community was saddened by the recent loss of Brett Becker (1976 - 2024). He had been serving as vice-chair of SIGCSE. He was an assistant professor in the School of Computer Science at University College Dublin, founder and chair of the Ireland SIGCSE chapter, and associate editor of ACM TOCE. He was also the inaugural chair of the ACM Global Computing Education conference.
Koli Calling 2024 Conference Recap
Authors: Leinonen Juho , Mühling Andreas
Published: February 2025

Koli Calling is a long-running conference for researchers, educators, and practitioners in computing education, providing opportunities for presenting research and networking in a unique natural setting. The conference is a single-track event and covers a wide range of topics within computing education. The 24th Koli Calling International Conference on Computing Education Research (Koli Calling 2024) took place from November 14-17, 2024, in the beautiful Koli National Park in Eastern Finland. This year, there was a pre-conference workshop on November 13th and a Doctoral Consortium on November 12th-13th, with both events taking place in Joensuu, Finland, about 60 kilometers from the Koli National Park. The conference was held in cooperation with the ACM and SIGCSE and was organized by the University of Eastern Finland, Aalto University, and the Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education (Germany).
GPCR Biosensors to Study Conformational Dynamics and Signaling in Drug Discovery
Authors: Saca Victoria R. , Burdette Colin , Sakmar Thomas P.
Published: February 2025

G protein–coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a superfamily of transmembrane signal transducers that facilitate the flow of chemical signals across membranes. GPCRs are a desirable class of drug targets, and the activation and deactivation dynamics of these receptors are widely studied. Multidisciplinary approaches for studying GPCRs, such as downstream biochemical signaling assays, cryo-electron microscopy structural determinations, and molecular dynamics simulations, have provided insights concerning conformational dynamics and signaling mechanisms. However, new approaches including biosensors that use luminescence- and fluorescence-based readouts have been developed to investigate GPCR-related protein interactions and dynamics directly in cellular environments. Luminescence- and fluorescence-based readout approaches have also included the development of GPCR biosensor platforms that utilize enabling technologies to facilitate multiplexing and miniaturization. General principles underlying the biosensor platforms and technologies include scalability, orthogonality, and kinetic resolution. Further application and development of GPCR biosensors could facilitate hit identification in drug discovery campaigns. The goals of this review are to summarize developments in the field of GPCR-related biosensors and to discuss the current available technologies.
MRI after Cervical Spine Decompression and Fusion Surgery: Technical Considerations, Expected Findings, and Complications
Authors: Abel Frederik , Tan Ek T. , Lin Yenpo , Chazen J. Levi , Lebl Darren R. , Sneag Darryl B.
Published: February 2025

The projected growth of cervical spine surgeries will likely increase postoperative use of MRI for identifying potential complications and require adaption of protocols to distinguish expected from unexpected imaging findings.
Phase Formation and Elemental Transport in the Electrosynthesis of Nickel Ferrite by Sacrificial Iron Anode in Nickel Salt Solution
Authors: Utama Riski Agung Nata , Nurtono Tantular , Widiyastuti Widiyastuti , Lenggoro I. Wuled , Setyawan Heru
Published: February 2025

Electrochemical methods are promising for the synthesis of ferrite particles with controlled sizes and morphologies. Nevertheless, the mechanisms of particle formation in these systems are still unclear. Here, we report the mechanisms of nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) particle formation via an electrochemical method. Specifically, the iron anode was electrooxidized in a nickel salt solution, and the generated particles were sampled and characterized for their composition and crystal phase. High-purity NiFe2O4 particles were obtained at high voltages, whereas impurities in the form of β-Ni(OH)2 and β-FeOOH existed at low voltages. Magnetite (Fe3O4) nuclei were initially formed when an appropriate proportion of Fe(OH)2 and FeOOH in solution was attained. The growth of NiFe2O4 was caused by the diffusion of Ni atoms from the solution to the surface of the generated Fe3O4 particles, followed by atomic substitution. Ni diffusion toward the Fe3O4 powder surface and then through the Fe3O4 lattice started only after the formation of Fe3O4. The formation rate of Fe3O4 increased with increasing voltage. These results provide invaluable insight into the mechanisms of the formation of ferrite particles using a promising synthesis route for the production of ferrite particles in an electrochemical system.
Figure 3 from Active Surveillance in Patients with Extra-abdominal Desmoid-Type Fibromatosis: A Pooled Analysis of Three Prospective Observational Studies
Authors: Colombo Chiara , Hakkesteegt Stefanie , Le Cesne Axel , Barretta Francesco , Blay Jean-Yves , Grünhagen Dirk J. , Penel Nicolas , Lam Laurent , Fiore Marco , Palassini Elena , Grignani Giovanni , Tolomeo Francesco , Collini Paola , Merlini Alessandra , Perrone Federica , Stacchiotti Silvia , Verhoef Cornelis , Bonvalot Sylvie , Gronchi Alessandro
Published: February 2025

CCI curves for RR according to sex (A), initial tumor size in mm (B), tumor locations (C), and CTNNB1 mutation types (D). WT, wild-type.
Supplementary Figure 4 from Active Surveillance in Patients with Extra-abdominal Desmoid-Type Fibromatosis: A Pooled Analysis of Three Prospective Observational Studies
Authors: Colombo Chiara , Hakkesteegt Stefanie , Le Cesne Axel , Barretta Francesco , Blay Jean-Yves , Grünhagen Dirk J. , Penel Nicolas , Lam Laurent , Fiore Marco , Palassini Elena , Grignani Giovanni , Tolomeo Francesco , Collini Paola , Merlini Alessandra , Perrone Federica , Stacchiotti Silvia , Verhoef Cornelis , Bonvalot Sylvie , Gronchi Alessandro
Published: February 2025

Supplementary Figure 4. Crude cumulative incidence curves for first regression according to sex (A), initial tumour size in mm (B), tumour locations (C), CTNNB1 mutation types (D).
Supplementary Figure 2 from Active Surveillance in Patients with Extra-abdominal Desmoid-Type Fibromatosis: A Pooled Analysis of Three Prospective Observational Studies
Authors: Colombo Chiara , Hakkesteegt Stefanie , Le Cesne Axel , Barretta Francesco , Blay Jean-Yves , Grünhagen Dirk J. , Penel Nicolas , Lam Laurent , Fiore Marco , Palassini Elena , Grignani Giovanni , Tolomeo Francesco , Collini Paola , Merlini Alessandra , Perrone Federica , Stacchiotti Silvia , Verhoef Cornelis , Bonvalot Sylvie , Gronchi Alessandro
Published: February 2025

Supplementary Figure 2. Kaplan-Meier curves for treatment-free survival (A) and crude cumulative incidence curves for RECIST progression (B), RECIST regression as first event (C), regression post-RECIST progression (D), first regression (E), RECIST regression as any event (F), progression free survival (PFS) (G), on the whole series.
Data from Active Surveillance in Patients with Extra-abdominal Desmoid-Type Fibromatosis: A Pooled Analysis of Three Prospective Observational Studies
Authors: Colombo Chiara , Hakkesteegt Stefanie , Le Cesne Axel , Barretta Francesco , Blay Jean-Yves , Grünhagen Dirk J. , Penel Nicolas , Lam Laurent , Fiore Marco , Palassini Elena , Grignani Giovanni , Tolomeo Francesco , Collini Paola , Merlini Alessandra , Perrone Federica , Stacchiotti Silvia , Verhoef Cornelis , Bonvalot Sylvie , Gronchi Alessandro
Published: February 2025

AbstractPurpose:
Three prospective observational studies (Italy, the Netherlands, and France) on active surveillance (AS) in patients with extra-abdominal desmoid-type fibromatosis support AS as a first-line approach. Identifying prognostic factors for the failure of AS will help determine the strategy. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic impact of clinical and molecular variables in a larger series.
Experimental Design:
Data available as of January 31, 2024, from the three studies, in which patients were followed for ≥3 years, were pooled. Patients ≥18 years of age, with primary sporadic desmoid-type fibromatosis, and with CTNNB1 mutations available were eligible. The primary study endpoint was treatment-free survival (TFS). Secondary endpoints included the incidence of RECIST progression, spontaneous RECIST regression, and regression post-RECIST progression.
Results:
Patients (n = 282) with a median follow-up of 53 months (IQR, 39–63) were included. The 3- and 5-year TFS rates were 67% and 66%, respectively; the 3- and 5-year crude cumulative incidences were 33% and 34% for RECIST progression, 26% and 34% for RECIST regression, and 33% and 38% for regression post-RECIST progression, respectively. In multivariable analysis, larger tumor size, mutation type, and tumor locations were associated with lower TFS. The specific mutation (S45F), larger tumor size, and extremity and trunk locations were all associated with a lower probability of spontaneous RECIST regression.
Conclusions:
This study confirms that spontaneous regression occurs in a significant proportion of patients and that two-thirds are treatment free at 5 years. Initial tumor size, CTNNB1 mutation, and location should be factored into the initial decision-making process.
Supplementary Tables S1-S14 and S17 from A Recurrent Activating Missense Mutation in Waldenström Macroglobulinemia Affects the DNA Binding of the ETS Transcription Factor SPI1 and Enhances Proliferation
Authors: Roos-Weil Damien , Decaudin Camille , Armand Marine , Della-Valle Véronique , Diop M'boyba K. , Ghamlouch Hussein , Ropars Virginie , Hérate Cécile , Lara Diane , Durot Eric , Haddad Rima , Mylonas Elena , Damm Frederik , Pflumio Francoise , Stoilova Bilyana , Metzner Marlen , Elemento Olivier , Dessen Philippe , Camara-Clayette Valérie , Cosset François-Loïc , Verhoeyen Els , Leblond Véronique , Ribrag Vincent , Cornillet-Lefebvre Pascale , Rameau Philippe , Azar Nabih , Charlotte Frédéric , Morel Pierre , Charbonnier Jean-Baptiste , Vyas Paresh , Mercher Thomas , Aoufouchi Said , Droin Nathalie , Guillouf Christel , Nguyen-Khac Florence , Bernard Olivier A.
Published: February 2025

Supplementary tables
Supplementary Table S16 from A Recurrent Activating Missense Mutation in Waldenström Macroglobulinemia Affects the DNA Binding of the ETS Transcription Factor SPI1 and Enhances Proliferation
Authors: Roos-Weil Damien , Decaudin Camille , Armand Marine , Della-Valle Véronique , Diop M'boyba K. , Ghamlouch Hussein , Ropars Virginie , Hérate Cécile , Lara Diane , Durot Eric , Haddad Rima , Mylonas Elena , Damm Frederik , Pflumio Francoise , Stoilova Bilyana , Metzner Marlen , Elemento Olivier , Dessen Philippe , Camara-Clayette Valérie , Cosset François-Loïc , Verhoeyen Els , Leblond Véronique , Ribrag Vincent , Cornillet-Lefebvre Pascale , Rameau Philippe , Azar Nabih , Charlotte Frédéric , Morel Pierre , Charbonnier Jean-Baptiste , Vyas Paresh , Mercher Thomas , Aoufouchi Said , Droin Nathalie , Guillouf Christel , Nguyen-Khac Florence , Bernard Olivier A.
Published: February 2025

Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) comparing SPI1 WT (n = 29) versus QE (n = 3) WM RNAseq samples (MSigDB database) (H, hallmark gene sets)
TLR5 signaling causes dendritic-cell dysfunction and orchestrates failure of immune checkpoint therapy against ovarian cancer
Authors: McGinty Mitchell T. , Putelo Audrey M. , Kolli Sree H. , Feng Tzu-Yu , Dietl Madison R. , Hatzinger Cara N. , Bajgai Simona , Poblete Mika K. , Azar Francesca N. , Mohammad Anwaruddin , Kumar Pankaj , Rutkowski Melanie R.
Published: February 2025

Ovarian cancer accounts for more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. Patients who have ovarian tumors infiltrated with high frequencies of T cells are associated with a greater survival probability. However, therapies to revitalize tumor-associated T cells, such as PD-L1/PD-1 or CTLA4 blockade, are ineffective for the treatment of ovarian cancer. In this study, we demonstrate that for ovarian cancer, Toll-Like Receptor 5 (TLR5) signaling, for which the only known ligand is bacterial flagellin, governed failure of PD-L1 and CTLA4 blockade. Mechanistically, chronic TLR5 signaling on CD11c+ cells in vivo and in vitro impaired the differentiation of functional IL-12-producing XCR1+CD103+ conventional type 1 dendritic cells (cDC1), biasing CD11c+ precursor cells toward myeloid subsets expressing high levels of PD-L1. This culminated in impaired activation of CD8+ T cells, reducing CD8+ T-cell function and ability to persist within the ovarian tumor microenvironment. Expansion of cDC1s in situ using FLT3L in combination with PD-L1 blockade achieved significant survival benefit in TLR5 knockout mice bearing ovarian tumors, whereas no benefit was observed in the presence of TLR5 signaling. Thus, we have identified a host-intrinsic mechanism leading to the failure of PD-L1 blockade for ovarian cancer, demonstrating that chronic TLR5 signaling on CD11c+ cells is a barrier limiting the efficacy of checkpoint therapy.
Figure 2 from Stanniocalcin 1 in Patients with Refractory Colorectal Cancer Treated with Regorafenib: A Post Hoc Biomarker Analysis of the TEXCAN and CORRECT Trials
Authors: Vienot Angélique , Vernerey Dewi , Bouard Adeline , Klajer Elodie , Kim Stefano , Tournigand Christophe , Louvet Christophe , André Thierry , Rousseau Benoît , Wespiser Mylène , Spehner Laurie , Wang Ying A. , Weispfenning Anke , Dochy Emmanuelle , Borg Christophe
Published: February 2025

OS according to baseline STC1 plasma levels (optimized cut-off*) in patients with chemorefractory mCRC in the CORRECT study. A, Overall cohort (N = 646). B, Regorafenib cohort (n = 435). C, Placebo cohort (n = 211). *Optimized STC1 plasma levels: STC1 low: <1,436.87 pg/mL; STC1 high: ≥1,436.87 pg/mL.
WORLDING is a Verb: Co-Creating Climate Futures with 3D Game Environments and Community Wisdom
Authors: Cizek Katerina , Psaros Marina , Kamat Srushti , Smith Paisley , Sigha Mrinalini , Bald Vivek
Published: February 2025

The act of co-creating extended reality (XR) worlds can be powerful in both storytelling and placemaking. The process not only sparks collective imagination but can also make community-based land-use climate planning more equitable. The WORLDING research team is investigating this co-creative approach by gathering interdisciplinary teams that build sustainable worlds in virtual environments and render them possible in the physical world. This theoretically framed report outlines an iterative experiment in the deployment of worlding as a method and includes stories, data, results, and recommendations that may be of interest to scholars, artists, climate scientists, curators, documentarians, speculative designers, and land-use planners.
An AI-powered Interactive Platform for Visualizing Psychological States and Processes
Authors: Rakshit Abhishek , Gabora Liane
Published: February 2025

The Indra’s Net platform aims to enhance self-understanding, emotional regulation, and flourishing by providing a system for visually depicting psychological states (e.g., high arousal) and processes (e.g., repression). It uses a metaphor between properties of light and psychological processes that is cross-culturally universal and reflected in language (e.g., “ray of hope,” “brilliant idea”). A large language model assistant learns to associate user descriptions of psychological states and processes with the visual metaphor (e.g., reflecting on an idea is depicted as reiterated reflection of light) to render the states and processes more tangible and manageable.
Artificial Intelligence and The Technological Imaginary
Authors: Punt Michael
Published: February 2025

This paper situates the current iteration of artificial intelligence in a historical context to introduce the Technological Imaginary as a recent concept that can throw light upon why the technologies that we use have the form that they do. The Technological Imaginary is explored here in relation to the post-war development of AI in a summary of Accidental Machines to highlight the imaginary aspect of computer-based technological solutions to the creation of human intelligence. It concludes by suggesting how discussions of AI might benefit from recognizing the power of human agency in technological form and the visions for its future.
From Multimodal Sensorimotor Integration to Semantic Networks: A Phylogenetic Perspective on Speech and Language Evolution
Authors: Michon Maëva , Aboitiz Francisco
Published: February 2025

This integrative perspective article delves into the crucial role of the superior temporal sulcus (STS) and adjacent perisylvian regions in multimodal integration and semantic cognition. Drawing from a wide range of neuroscientific evidence, including studies on nonhuman primates and human brain evolution, the article highlights the significance of the STS in linking auditory and visual modalities, particularly in the establishment of associative links between auditory inputs and visual stimuli. Furthermore, it explores the expansion of the human temporal lobe and its implications for the amplification of multisensory regions, emphasizing the role of these regions in the development of word-related concepts and semantic networks. We propose a posteroanterior gradient organization in the human temporal lobe, from low-level sensorimotor integration in posterior regions to higher-order, transmodal semantic control in anterior portions, particularly in the anterior temporal lobe. Overall, this perspective provides a comprehensive overview of the functional and evolutionary aspects of the STS and adjacent regions in multimodal integration and semantic cognition, offering valuable insights for future research in this field.
Drivers of Regional Variation in the De-Emergence of Climate Change under Negative Emissions
Authors: Douglas Hunter C. , Revell Laura E. , Joshi Manoj , King Andrew , Harrington Luke J. , Frame David J.
Published: February 2025

A central question of climate change impact assessments is identifying when the signal of change emerges from the noise of natural variability, though to date, this framework has been almost exclusively applied under warming conditions. In this work, we investigate the phenomenon of de-emergence, where temperatures rise beyond a given threshold and subsequently drop back below that threshold as forcing reverses. Large-scale carbon dioxide removal (CDR), also referred to as negative emissions, has been proposed to lower global average temperatures and to mitigate damage to the Earth system, though the regional effects of this have been understudied to date. Here, we analyze the results of eight Earth system models (ESMs) that participated in the CDR Model Intercomparison Project (CDRMIP). Decades after CO2 concentrations return to preindustrial levels following a gradual quadrupling, the only regions that most models agree to return to preindustrial temperatures are an area across northwestern Eurasia and a small area off the coast of West Antarctica. Around half of the models project de-emergence for areas of North America and East Asia. We investigate potential causes for these patterns and find that the land areas that cool more also exhibit enhanced latent heat flux, net carbon uptake, and precipitation, implying enhanced evapotranspiration. The region off West Antarctica appears to experience a cooling influence from changes to sea ice and meltwater. Both regions experience changes to cloud radiative effects that cause net cooling. The distribution of de-emergence patterns raises questions about the equity and fairness of overshoot scenarios.

Significance Statement

In this work, we seek to find out which regions of the globe are more likely to return to preindustrial conditions after a significant warming overshoot (a concept we call de-emergence), as well as why. Northwestern Eurasia and a small area off West Antarctica, and to a lesser extent parts of North America and East Asia, are the regions where temperatures are most likely to de-emerge in an idealized experiment. We identify changes to the hydrological and carbon cycles, as well as the cryosphere and clouds, as major drivers of these patterns. These findings are important for understanding both the regional effects and ethical implications of negative emissions after overshooting temperature goals.
More People Would Visit Yellowstone If It Weren’t So Crowded: Optimal Congestion Pricing for High Demand Protected Areas
Authors: Carr Taurey , Newbold Stephen C.
Published: February 2025

We propose a new revealed preference approach to estimate the optimal congestion price for a protected area subject to high visitation. In an exploratory application, we estimated the influence of congestion on the demand for visits to Yellowstone National Park by fitting the predicted to the observed seasonal distribution of trips to the park between 1979 and 2023. Our results imply that if the optimal fee were charged in each month of 2018, total annual visits would have been 22% lower, fee revenues would have been 2.3 times higher, total surplus would have been 7.6% higher, and surplus per visit would have been 38% higher than under the observed entry fee schedule. We also estimated the peak-season entry fee that would leave total annual visits unchanged while maximizing fee revenues, and we examined differentiated entry fees for local and non-local visitors.
A Rare Case With Mixed Growth of Facial Nerve Neurofibroma and Schwannoma Without Facial Paralysis
Authors: Liu Yuehong , Zhou Lingling , Zhao Yun , Zhou Jing , Han Zhao
Published: February 2025

Facial neuromas are benign with a common clinical manifestation of gradual or sudden peripheral facial nerve paralysis. This study reports an atypical case of facial neuroma in the absence of facial nerve paralysis and discusses the diagnosis and pathophysiological features. A rare case of extensive facial neuroma histopathologically confirmed as a mixed growth of schwannoma and neurofibroma in a 51-year-old man was described. Analysis of the clinical manifestations and Computed Tomography/Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CT/MRI) characteristics was conducted, with documentation of the surgical intervention and associated complications. Intraoperative findings revealed complete destruction of the facial nerve structure, contrasting the patient’s preoperative lack of facial paralysis. The patient underwent complete resection of the tumor followed by end-to-side neurorrhaphy of the facial nerve to the hypoglossal nerve by means of great auricular nerve grafting. Postoperative pathology showed mixed growth of schwannoma and neurofibroma. Postoperative follow-up showed no significant recovery of facial paralysis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an extensive facial neuroma with a mixture growth of schwannoma and neurofibroma without facial paralysis. The clinical manifestations of facial neuromas are diverse, necessitating a differential diagnosis of each case of temporal bone tumor.
FurnitureBench: Reproducible real-world benchmark for long-horizon complex manipulation
Authors: Heo Minho , Lee Youngwoon , Lee Doohyun , Lim Joseph J
Published: February 2025

Reinforcement learning (RL), imitation learning (IL), and task and motion planning (TAMP) have demonstrated impressive performance across various robotic manipulation tasks. However, these approaches have been limited to learning simple behaviors in current real-world manipulation benchmarks, such as pushing or pick-and-place. To enable more complex, long-horizon behaviors of an autonomous robot, we propose to focus on real-world furniture assembly, a complex, long-horizon robotic manipulation task that requires addressing many current robotic manipulation challenges. We present FurnitureBench, a reproducible real-world furniture assembly benchmark aimed at providing a low barrier for entry and being easily reproducible, so that researchers across the world can reliably test their algorithms and compare them against prior work. For ease of use, we provide 200+ hours of pre-collected data (5000+ demonstrations), 3D printable furniture models, a robotic environment setup guide, and systematic task initialization. Furthermore, we provide FurnitureSim, a fast and realistic simulator of FurnitureBench. We benchmark the performance of offline RL, IL, and offline-to-online RL algorithms on our assembly tasks and demonstrate the need to improve such algorithms to be able to solve our tasks in the real world, providing ample opportunities for future research.
Effects of impulsivity and emotions on time perception: Laboratory behavioral measures
Authors: Moreira Diana , Azeredo Andreia , Leite Ângela , Barbosa Fernando
Published: February 2025

Impulsivity is consistently linked to various problematic behaviors, including aggression, substance abuse, pathological gambling, risky driving, and numerous psychopathological disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and personality disorders. This study aims to investigate the relationship between self-reported impulsivity, measured by the Behavioral Inhibition/Behavioral Activation Scales, and emotional states (pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral), in the context of time estimation deviations. A time estimation task was administered to 129 adult participants (88 females) from the community to assess this deviation. The findings reveal that participants underestimated time across all emotional conditions, enhancing our understanding of how impulsivity relates to time perception. Therefore, it is crucial to continue neuropsychophysiological research on impulsivity to explore its causes, manifestations, and connections with other aspects of cognitive and affective functioning. This research will lead to a more precise definition and comprehensive understanding of impulsive behavior.
Black Women’s Unthought Position: A Black Feminist Examination of Du Bois’s Writings on Black Women’s Oppression at the Intersections of Gender and Race
Authors: Green Venus
Published: February 2025

The recent revival of Du Boisian sociological scholarship has resituated W.E.B. Du Bois as a foundational innovator of empirically grounded sociology who theoretically and methodologically shaped the development of multiple subfields. At the same time, this emerging body of work leaves unclear how Du Boisian sociology should be understood in relation to theorizing on the intersections of race and gender. Following Black feminist and critical approaches to antiblackness, gender, and the afterlife of slavery, I analyze the insights and limitations of Du Bois’s writings at the intersections of race and gender by examining Du Bois’s theorizations on women’s suffrage and Black people’s rebellion against slavery. While Du Bois begins to identify Black women’s intersecting oppressions, he is limited in how he theorizes on womanhood, obscuring how antiblackness operates through this gendered and racialized category for Black women. Additionally, in his writings on Black emancipation, Du Bois undertheorizes how Black women’s political agency was central to dismantling the plantocracy. Considering these insights and limitations, I demonstrate how critical Black feminist approaches to antiblackness and gender can advance the emancipatory aims of Du Boisian sociological scholarship on racialized modernity.
Past-present-future childhoods: Technology, time, and childhoods in narratives of pandemic parenting
Authors: Sheppard Lindsay C.
Published: February 2025

Re-turning interviews with 15 mothers in Southern Ontario about parenting during the COVID-19 pandemic, this paper explores meanings and experiences of childhood, children, and technology. Thinking with Karen Barad I ask: how is temporality evoked in stories of childhood and parenting in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic? Entangling with some of the material-discursive arrangements of childhood in the mothers’ narratives, I trace the differences that time, technology, and space enact for the boundaries of childhood. This theorizing can complicate conceptualizations of childhood, time, and linearity, by illustrating how past, present, and future childhoods are co-existing and co-constituting.
Locus of Control in Patients with Mild-to-Moderate Ulcerative Colitis: A Comparative Study
Authors: Suraj Shaini , Prakash Anand , Patil Pradeep , Sangolkar Deepa , Rane Nayna
Published: February 2025

Background

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic condition characterised by inflammation of the large intestine, causing an impact on a patient’s psychological well-being. Earlier research has demonstrated the important role of locus of control (LOC) in facing the challenges brought out by many gastrointestinal system diseases.

Purpose

The aim of this research is to assess LOC in patients with mild-to-moderate UC as compared to non-UC individuals. This study also explored the impact of various demographic variables: age, gender, education level, type of family, working status, socio-economic status (SES), marital status and region of residence, on LOC among UC patients

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted for a period of two months. The tool used was Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC). A chi-squared test was used to investigate the LOC among individuals with UC (100 patients) in comparison to a control group of non-UC (100) healthy individuals. The age group was between 30 and 50 years.

Results

In the UC group, 31% endorsed an internal LOC, while 40% attributed outcomes to chance, and 29% believed in powerful others. A chi-square test indicated a significant association between LOC and UC, χ²(2) = 38.1, P < .001. These findings suggest that individuals with UC are more likely to attribute outcomes to external factors, such as chance or powerful others, rather than their own actions. A positive effect of SES, region and working status on LOC was seen.

Conclusion

The observed tendency towards external LOC highlights the need for targeted interventions aimed at enhancing patients’ sense of agency and control over their health. Healthcare professionals can help people with these chronic conditions live better lives and achieve better results by enabling them to actively participate in their health.
Just-in-time Training to Improve Confidence in Radiant Warmer Setup for Pediatric Residents
Authors: Choi Jenni , Abuso Stephanie , Hanna Monica , Islam Shahidul , Nayak Amrita
Published: February 2025

Background

Up to 10% of hospital deliveries may require neonatal resuscitation. After Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) certification, pediatric residents are not formally trained in delivery room (DR) preparedness. Just-in-Time Training (JITT) is used to bolster skills for critical care practices and rarely used procedures. To address the expected decline in knowledge and skills after NRP training, we developed a formal JITT curriculum to familiarize residents with setting up and utilizing the radiant warmer (RW). Familiarity with its setup and use in resuscitation can bolster skills acquired through NRP certification.

Objective

To improve resident preparedness for DR setup by implementing a curriculum and to improve the setup of the RW by our residents by 10% from August 2020 to November 2023 using educational intervention.

Design/Methods

This study employed a one-group pretest-posttest design. Using NRP guidelines, we created a curriculum and checklist for DR preparedness. Baseline evaluation of residents included a questionnaire and demonstration of how to setup the RW, scored using a checklist. The questionnaire included statements regarding confidence and comfort in setting up the warmer. At the end of each rotation, residents were re-evaluated.

Results

Forty pediatric residents were evaluated and found to have a significant difference between pre- and posttest scores, with an average score improvement of 47.7. There was also an increase in self-reported confidence in comfort in DR setup ( P < .0001).

Conclusion

JITT in DR preparedness bolsters the skills gained through NRP certification and enhances the provision of high-quality neonatal resuscitation by pediatric residents.
The mediating role of psychological well being in the effect of virtuous leadership on job satisfaction
Authors: Özkan Sema Alimoğlu , Ardıç Kadir
Published: February 2025

Background

Virtuous leadership is seen as an important leadership approach in increasing the welfare of employees. Today, it is seen that the virtuous behaviors exhibited by managers are effective in employees’ positive attitudes and approaches.

Objective

This article aims to examine with an empirical study how virtuous behaviors of leaders affect employees’ job satisfaction levels and the mediating role of psychological well-being in this effect. The research was designed to contribute to the virtuous leadership literature and was examined within the framework of the hypotheses developed for the mediating role of psychological well-being in the effect of virtuous leadership on job satisfaction.

Method

Data were obtained from 478 participants working in a large-scale industrial enterprise operating in the Karabük province of Turkey. SPSS and Structural Equation Model (SEM) AMOS program were used to analyze the interaction between variables.

Results

The results of the research show that virtuous leadership has a mediating effect of psychological well-being on job satisfaction.

Conclusion

Research indicates that virtuous leadership significantly affects individual and institutional outcomes. This study confirms the Broaden and Build Theory for predicting virtuous leadership behaviours as a critical foundation to build wellbeing and work satisfaction.
Impact of demographic variables on interplay of workplace bullying, organizational culture, and organizational performance: SEM-based multi group analysis
Authors: Tubussum Humera , Hashim Hezlina Mohd , Javaid Muhammad Umair , Marimuthu Maran
Published: February 2025

Background

Workplace bullying and organizational culture are two crucial factors that can significantly affect organizational performance. Understanding the interplay between these variables is imperative for creating conducive work environment and enhancing overall productivity. Additionally, demographic variables such as gender, age, designation, and work experience may also influence these dynamics within an organizational setting.

Objective

This study aims to investigate the influence of demographic variables on the relationship between workplace bullying, organizational culture, and organizational performance. Specifically, it examines three primary hypotheses: the impact of workplace bullying on organizational performance, the influence of organizational culture on organizational performance, and the moderating role of organizational culture in the relationship between workplace bullying and organizational performance.

Methods

Data were collected from academic staff members at 20 public universities in Malaysia, resulting in 626 responses. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was applied to test the primary hypotheses while the Partial Least Squares Multigroup Analysis (PLS-MGA) was employed through SmartPLS to explore the effect of demographic variables on the identified structural paths of the model.

Results

The findings indicate a significant negative impact of workplace bullying and a significant positive effect of organizational culture on organizational performance. Moreover, the analysis reveals notable variations across demographic subgroups. Additionally, the moderating effect of organizational culture demonstrates distinctions between subgroups based on varying levels of work experience, particularly between those with less than 10 years of experience and those with over 20 years.

Conclusions

This study provides valuable insights into the complex relationships among workplace bullying, organizational culture, and organizational performance within Malaysian public universities. The findings underscore the moderating influence of organizational culture and the contextual impact of demographic variables, shedding light on strategies for fostering a supportive work environment and enhancing overall organizational effectiveness.
Prevalence and risk factors of burnout syndrome among public health personnel in the Errachidia Province (Morocco)
Authors: Fattahi Rkia , Attiya Nourdine , Bensouda Korachi Imane , Filali-Zegzouti Ayoub , El Haidani Ahmed , Boutahricht Mohammed , El Jaafari Samir , Amarouch Mohamed-Yassine , Filali-Zegzouti Younes
Published: February 2025

Background

Public health workers in the Errachidia province (Morocco) are confronted with a multitude of professional challenges that may precipitate burnout syndrome (BOS). Nevertheless, epidemiological studies in Morocco investigating this syndrome and its associated risk factors remain limited.

Objective

To identify burnout syndrome characteristics among health staff and investigate the main factors associated with the development of this syndrome.

Methods

An exhaustive cross-sectional study was implemented, with a target group of 750 health personnel. The Maslach Burnout Inventory test was used to assess burnout status. Binary Logistic regression was applied to estimate the risks associated with various socio-demographic, economic, and work-related environmental factors. The study was carried out in early 2019.

Results

Among the 503 health personnel employed in public establishments who completed the distributed and validated forms (response rate = 67.1%), a noteworthy prevalence of burnout (63.22%) was identified. This prevalence signifies a genuine state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion among medical and paramedical staff in the study area. The final adjusted logistic model revealed a significant association between burnout and the urban setting, female gender, and nursing profession. Furthermore, our findings indicated that, despite some autonomy, health workers experienced a lack of recognition from the hierarchy, and operated in understaffed structures with a predominant focus on medical rather than social tasks. Such conditions increase the burnout risk.

Conclusions

The status of burnout among healthcare professionals is determined by a complex interplay of risk and protective factors. Effective management strategies are essential to improve the well-being of this population.
The impact of uncertainty stress and social support on the occupational well-being of healthcare professionals during public health emergencies
Authors: Wang Yun-Zhi , Xu Ying , Ren Ling-Zhen , Wang Yun , Xu Yu-Hong , Wang Ye-Feng
Published: February 2025

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed substantial challenges to the occupational well-being of healthcare professionals. Uncertainty stress and social support are potentially substantial in influencing well-being during public health emergencies.

Objective

To assess the impact of uncertainty stress and social support on the occupational well-being of healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic and elucidate the pathways of interaction among these factors.

Methods

A cohort of 1028 healthcare professionals across 8 tertiary hospitals in Zhejiang Province were surveyed between May and June 2021 to evaluate their current occupational well-being, levels of uncertainty stress, and received social support. One-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression models were utilised to analyse the factors influencing occupational well-being. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was employed to elucidate the pathways through which uncertainty stress and social support impact occupational well-being.

Results

The overall average score for the occupational well-being of healthcare professionals was 3.13 ± 1.02, indicating a moderate level. Pearson correlation analysis identified a significant negative correlation between uncertainty stress and occupational well-being ( r = −0.456, P < 0.01) and a positive correlation between social support and occupational well-being ( r = 0.219, P < 0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis highlighted that years of service, nature of employment, job position, leisure time, personality traits, self-rated health, uncertainty stress, subjective social support, and utilisation of social support were significant predictors of occupational well-being ( P < 0.05 for each). The SEM analysis demonstrated that uncertainty stress directly reduced occupational well-being ( β = −0.274, P < 0.05), whereas social support indirectly enhanced it by alleviating uncertainty stress ( β = 0.130, P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Uncertainty stress serves as a mediator in the relationship between social support and occupational well-being, with social support acting to buffer the effects of uncertainty stress and thereby enhance occupational well-being.