bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Outcome‐based comparative analysis of five fetal growth velocity models to define slow growth
Authors: Gardosi J. , Hugh O.
Published: May 2023

Objective

Fetal growth surveillance includes assessment of size as well as rate of growth, and various definitions for slow growth have been adopted into clinical use. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of different models to identify stillbirth risk, in addition to risk represented by the fetus being small‐for‐gestational age (SGA).

Methods

This was a retrospective analysis of a routinely collected and anonymized dataset of pregnancies that had two or more third‐trimester ultrasound measurements of estimated fetal weight (EFW). SGA was defined as EFW < 10th customized centile, and slow growth was defined according to five published models in clinical use: (1) a fixed velocity limit of 20 g per day (FVL20); (2) a fixed > 50 centile drop, regardless of scan‐measurement interval (FCD50); (3) a fixed > 30 centile drop, regardless of scan interval (FCD30); (4) growth trajectory slower than the third customized growth‐centile limit (GCL3); and (5) EFW at second scan below the projected optimal weight range (POWR), based on partial receiver‐operating‐characteristics‐curve‐derived  cut‐offs specific to the scan interval.

Results

The study cohort consisted of 164 718 pregnancies with 480 592 third‐trimester ultrasound scans (mean ± SD, 2.9 ± 0.9). The last two scans in each pregnancy were performed at an average gestational age of 33 + 5 and 37 + 1 weeks. At the last scan, 12 858 (7.8%) EFWs were SGA, and of these, 9359 were also SGA at birth (positive predictive value, 72.8%). The rate at which slow growth was defined varied considerably (FVL20, 12.7%; FCD50, 0.7%; FCD30, 4.6%; GCL3, 19.8%; POWR, 10.1%), and there was varying overlap between cases identified as having slow growth and those identified as SGA at the last scan. Only the POWR method identified additional non‐SGA pregnancies with slow growth (11 237/16 671 (67.4%)) that had significant stillbirth risk (relative risk, 1.58 (95% CI, 1.04–2.39)). These non‐SGA cases resulting in stillbirth had a median EFW centile of 52.6 at the last scan and a median weight centile of 27.3 at birth. Subgroup analysis identified methodological problems with the fixed‐velocity model because it assumes linear growth throughout gestation, and with the centile‐based methods because the non‐parametric distribution of centiles at the extremes does not reflect actual difference in weight gain.

Conclusion

Comparative analysis of five clinically used methods to define slow fetal growth has shown that only the measurement‐interval‐specific POWR model can identify non‐SGA fetuses with slow growth that are at increased risk of stillbirth. © 2023 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Territorial vocalization patterns of captive Asiatic lions (Panthera leo persica) in the middle of winter at high latitude
Authors: Hennessy Juliette , Fonteneau Julien , Scanaill Cathriona Ní , McKeown Sean , O′Donovan Declan , Killeen Gerry F.
Published: May 2023

Wild lions, especially the males, spend much of their time performing various territorial advertising behaviors, the most obvious of which are loud vocalizations that can be heard several kilometers away. This study investigated whether a captive pride of three Asiatic lions at Fota Wildlife Park in Ireland exhibited typical patterns of territorial vocalizations and associated behaviors. A total of 705 bouts of territorial vocalization were noted over 1 month of near‐continuous audio recording in the middle of winter in 2020. Also, complementary visual observations were performed during regular daytime visits to collect audio data and maintain recording equipment. These captive lions exhibited generally similar territorial urine spraying, scent rubbing and vocalization behaviors to their wild counterparts but differed in that they primarily vocalized during daylight hours, including afternoons and late mornings. While most roaring occurred during the day there was also a brief peak just before dawn, between 07:00 and 08:00, and another after dusk, between 17:00 and 18:00. Vocalization activity tailed off after 22:00 and became infrequent over the remaining hours of darkness. Although this contrasts starkly with the predominantly nocturnal activity patterns of wild lions, it is consistent with some reports from some other captive settings. Although the underlying reasons for this habit of roaring throughout the day remain unclear, it is fortuitous because the spectacular territorial vocalizations of these captive lions enrich visitor experiences and may hopefully stimulate interest in travel to the low and middle‐income countries where tourist income is essential to sustain the conservation areas they and many other species depend on.
Decision Support for the Optimization of Continuous Processes using Digital Shadows
Authors: Idzik Christian , Hilger Daniel , Hosters Norbert , Kemmerling Marco , Niemietz Philipp , Ortjohann Lucia , Sasse Jana , Serafeim Alexandros , Wang Jing , Wolff Daniel , Hirt Gerhard
Published: May 2023

Decision support systems can provide real-time process information and correlations, which in turn assists process experts in making decisions and thus further increase productivity. This also applies to well-established and already highly automated processes in continuous production employed in various industrial sectors. Continuous production refers to processes in which the produced material, either fluid or solid form, is continuously in motion and processed. As a result, the process can usually not be stopped. It is only possible to influence the running process. However, the highly nonlinear interactions between process parameters and product quality are not always known in their entirety which led to inferior product quality in terms of mechanical properties and surface quality. This requires accurate representations of the processes and the products in real-time, so-called digital shadows.

Therefore, this contribution shows the necessary steps to provide a digital shadow based on numerical, physical models and process data and to couple the digital shadow with data analysis and machine learning to enable automatic decision support. This is exemplified at various stages throughout two different process chains with continuous processes: first, by using a thermoplastic production process called profile extrusion, and second, on the example of a metal processing process chain, from which three processes are described in more detail, namely, hot rolling, tempering, and fine blanking. Finally, the presented approaches and results are summarized.
Differential Topology
Authors: Jongeneel Wouter , Moulay Emmanuel
Published: May 2023

In this chapter we discuss differentiable structures on topological manifolds. In particular, we discuss transversality, tubular neighbourhoods, index theory, the degree and the theorems by Poincaré and Hopf and Bobylev and Krasnosel’skiĭ.
Rare b decays meet high-mass Drell-Yan
Authors: Greljo Admir , Salko Jakub , Smolkovič Aleks , Stangl Peter
Published: May 2023

Abstract

Rare b hadron decays are considered excellent probes of new semileptonic four-fermion interactions of microscopic origin. However, the same interactions also correct the high-mass Drell-Yan tails. In this work, we revisit the first statement in the context of this complementarity and chart the space of short-distance new physics that could show up in rare b decays. We analyze the latest b → qℓ+ℓ− measurements, where q = d or s and ℓ = e or μ, including the most recent LHCb $$ {R}_{K^{\left(\ast \right)}} $$

R

K

∗

update, together with the latest charged and neutral current high-mass Drell-Yan data, pp → ℓν and pp → ℓ+ℓ−. We implement a sophisticated interpretation pipeline within the flavio framework, allowing us to investigate the multidimensional SMEFT parameter space thoroughly and efficiently. To showcase the new functionalities of flavio, we construct several explicit models featuring either a Z′ or a leptoquark, which can explain the tension in b → sμ+μ− angular distributions and branching fractions while predicting lepton flavor universality (LFU) ratios to be SM-like, $$ {R}_{K^{\left(\ast \right)}}\approx {R}_{K^{\left(\ast \right)}}^{\textrm{SM}} $$

R

K

∗

≈

R

K

∗

SM

, as indicated by the recent data. Those models are then confronted against the global likelihood, including the high-mass Drell-Yan, either finding tensions or compatibility.
Bethe-Salpeter equation for classical gravitational bound states
Authors: Adamo Tim , Gonzo Riccardo
Published: May 2023

Abstract

The Bethe-Salpeter equation is a non-perturbative, relativistic and covariant description of two-body bound states. We derive the classical Bethe-Salpeter equation for two massive point particles (with or without spin) in a bound gravitational system. This is a recursion relation which involves two-massive-particle-irreducible diagrams in the space of classical amplitudes, defined by quotienting out by symmetrization over internal graviton exchanges. In this context, we observe that the leading eikonal approximation to two-body scattering arises directly from unitarity techniques with a coherent state of virtual gravitons. More generally, we solve the classical Bethe-Salpeter equation analytically at all orders by exponentiating the classical kernel in impact parameter space. We clarify the connection between this classical kernel and the Hamilton-Jacobi action, making manifest the analytic continuation between classical bound and scattering observables. Using explicit analytic resummations of classical (spinless and spinning) amplitudes in momentum space, we further explore the relation between poles with bound state energies and residues with bound state wavefunctions. Finally, we discuss a relativistic analogue of Sommerfeld enhancement which occurs for bound state cross sections.
N = (2, 0) AdS3 solutions of M-theory
Authors: Ashmore A.
Published: May 2023

Abstract

We consider the most general solutions of eleven-dimensional supergravity preserving N = 2 supersymmetry whose metrics are warped products of three-dimensional anti-de Sitter space with an eight-dimensional manifold, focusing on those realising (2,0) superconformal symmetry. We give a set of necessary and sufficient conditions for a solution to be supersymmetric, which can be phrased, in the general case, in terms of a local SU(2) structure and its intrinsic torsion. We show that these supergravity backgrounds always admit a nowhere-vanishing Killing vector field that preserves the solution and encodes the U(1) R-symmetry of the dual field theory. We illustrate our results with examples which have appeared in the literature, including those with SU(4), G2 and SU(3) structures, and discuss new classes of Minkowski solutions.
dS4 universe emergent from Kerr-AdS5 spacetime: bubble nucleation catalyzed by a black hole
Authors: Koga Issei , Oshita Naritaka , Ueda Kazushige
Published: May 2023

Abstract

The emergence of a four-dimensional de Sitter (dS4) universe on an expanding bubble in the five-dimensional anti-de Sitter (AdS5) background has been suggested as a possible cosmological scenario. It is motivated by the difficulties in the realization of a stable de Sitter vacua in string theory. The bubble can be nucleated in a meta-stable pure AdS5 spacetime, but it is known that a pure AdS spacetime is non-perturbatively unstable. It means that the pure AdS5 background is an idealized situation, and in realistic situations, non-linear perturbations in AdS may lead to the formation of black holes due to the gravitational turbulent instability. To investigate how the proposed scenario works in a more realistic situation, we here study the nucleation process of a vacuum bubble in the Kerr-AdS5 spacetime. Especially we investigate conditions sufficient to ensure the nucleation of a vacuum bubble with a rotating black hole and how the black hole affects the transition rate. We find that even in the Kerr-AdS5 spacetime, a quasi-dS4 expansion can be realized on the nucleated vacuum bubble without contradicting the de Sitter swampland conjectures.
A CFT interpretation of cosmological correlation functions in α−vacua in de-Sitter space
Authors: Jain Sachin , Kundu Nilay , Kundu Suman , Mehta Abhishek , Sake Sunil Kumar
Published: May 2023

Abstract

De-Sitter(dS) space allows for a generalized class of vacua, known as α–vacua, described by some parameters. The Bunch-Davies (BD) vacuum is a point in this parameter space. The cosmological correlation function in BD vacuum in four dimensions and can be interpreted as CFT3 correlation function of certain operators. However, the correlation function in α–vacua takes a much more complicated form. In this paper, we give a simple prescription to compute correlation function in α–vacua in terms of correlation function of BD vacuum. We also show that the correlation function in the α–vacua can be related to three-dimensional CFT correlation functions if we relax the requirement of consistency with OPE limit. Relaxation of consistency with OPE limit can be naturally achieved in momentum space.
Composite topological structures in SO(10)
Authors: Lazarides George , Shafi Qaisar , Tiwari Amit
Published: May 2023

Abstract

We explore a variety of composite topological structures that arise from the spontaneous breaking of SO(10) to SU(3)c× U(1)em via one of its maximal subgroups SU(5) × U(1)χ, SU(4)c× SU(2)L× SU(2)R, and SU(5) × U(1)X (also known as flipped SU(5)). They include i) a network of ℤ strings which develop monopoles and turn into necklaces with the structure of ℤ2 strings, ii) dumbbells connecting two different types of monopoles, or monopoles and antimonpoles, iii) starfish-like configurations, iv) polypole configurations, and v) walls bounded by a necklace. We display these structures both before and after the electroweak breaking. The appearance of these composite structures in the early universe and their astrophysical implications including gravitational wave emission would depend on the symmetry breaking patterns and scales, and the nature of the associated phase transitions.
Remarks on 2d unframed quiver gauge theories
Authors: Zhao Peng , Zou Hao
Published: May 2023

Abstract

We study 2d $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= (2, 2) quiver gauge theories without flavor nodes. There is a special class of quivers whose gauge group ranks stay positive in any duality frame. We illustrate this with the Abelian Kronecker quiver and the Abelian Markov quiver as the simplest examples. In the geometric phase, they engineer an infinite sequence of projective spaces and hypersurfaces in Calabi-Yau spaces, respectively. We show that the Markov quiver provides an Abelianization of SU(3) SQCD. Turning on the FI parameters and the θ angles for the Abelian quiver effectively deform SQCD by such parameters. For an Abelian necklace quiver corresponding to SU(k) SQCD, we find evidence for singular loci supporting non-compact Coulomb branches in the Kähler moduli space.
Changing Aesthetic Surgery Interest in Men: An 18-Year Analysis
Authors: Lem Melinda , Pham Jason T. , Kim Joshua KyungHo , Tang Cathy J.
Published: May 2023

Background

Historically, men have been shamed if they cared seemingly too much about their appearance and especially, if they pursued aesthetic surgery. However, due to the changing landscape of the culture, this stigma has seemed to decrease. Men have diverse and quickly changing interests in particular procedures that have not been readily explored in the currently available reports. To examine this, we analyzed interest in specific plastic surgery procedures in men over the last two decades using the Google Trends tool.

Methods

The most common cosmetic procedures were chosen from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons website and served as the search terms for the Google Trends tool from 2004 to 2021. All 19 procedures were examined for overall trends and for changes in the last decade through comparing the data in bisected time periods.

Results

Interest in all plastic surgery procedures in men increased since 2004 except for breast reduction. Most notably, jawline filler, Botox, microneedling, lip filler, chemical peel, CoolSculpting, and butt lift had the largest trend increases. In the last decade, all procedures showed a significant increase in interest.

Conclusions

While surgical volume data are valuable, our study shows that Google Trends is a beneficial tool to predict quickly changing and specific trends, especially as the patient population of plastic surgery grows with increased diversity and generational changes. Our study shows that there is an increase in male-centered plastic surgery procedures, especially nonsurgical facial procedures. Male interest in plastic surgery will continue to increase with time.

Level of Evidence IV

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors  www.springer.com/00266.
Higher-order block-structured hex meshing of tubular structures
Authors: Bošnjak Domagoj , Pepe Antonio , Schussnig Richard , Schmalstieg Dieter , Fries Thomas-Peter
Published: May 2023

Numerical simulations of the cardiovascular system are growing in popularity due to the increasing availability of computational power, and their proven contribution to the understanding of pathodynamics and validation of medical devices with in-silico trials as a potential future breakthrough. Such simulations are performed on volumetric meshes reconstructed from patient-specific imaging data. These meshes are most often unstructured, and result in a brutally large amount of elements, significantly increasing the computational complexity of the simulations, whilst potentially adversely affecting their accuracy. To reduce such complexity, we introduce a new approach for fully automatic generation of higher-order, structured hexahedral meshes of tubular structures, with a focus on healthy blood vessels. The structures are modeled as skeleton-based convolution surfaces. From the same skeleton, the topology is captured by a block-structure, and the geometry by a higher-order surface mesh. Grading may be induced to obtain tailored refinement, thus resolving, e.g., boundary layers. The volumetric meshing is then performed via transfinite mappings. The resulting meshes are of arbitrary order, their elements are of good quality, while the spatial resolution may be as coarse as needed, greatly reducing computing time. Their suitability for practical applications is showcased by a simulation of physiological blood flow modelled by a generalised Newtonian fluid in the human aorta.
Transorbital neuroendoscopy-assisted resection of a giant optic pathway glioma in a neonate
Authors: Maseko Rodney , Mabogo Maanda , Lockhat Zarina , Makunyane Priscilla , Ahmad Samia , Bida Meshack , Padayachy Llewellyn
Published: May 2023

Congenital
giant orbital tumors in infancy are relatively rare, especially when the tumors are associated with significant intracranial extension. We describe the use of a transorbital neuroendoscopy-assisted resection of such a lesion. While this approach is increasingly gaining popularity for certain anterior and middle skullbase lesions in adults, this report represents the youngest patient reported on where this minimally invasive approach has been successfully used to resect the intracranial tumor. This surgical approach obviated the need for a separate craniotomy, with the additional benefit of minimizing blood loss.
Health-care expenditures are less for minimally invasive than open colectomy for colon cancer: A US commercial claims database analysis
Authors: Bastawrous Amir L. , Shih I.-Fan , Li Yanli , Khalil Marissa , Almaz Biruk , Cleary Robert K.
Published: May 2023

Background

Most studies comparing surgical platforms focus on short-term outcomes. In this study, we compare the expanding societal penetration of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) with open colectomy by assessing payer and patient expenditures up to one year for patients undergoing surgery for colon cancer.

Methods

We analyzed the IBM MarketScan Database for patients who underwent left or right colectomy for colon cancer between 2013 and 2020. Outcomes included perioperative complications and total health-care expenditures up to 1 year following colectomy. We compared results for patients who had open colectomy (OS) to those with MIS operations. Subgroup analyses were performed for adjuvant chemotherapy (AC+) versus no adjuvant chemotherapy (AC-) groups and for laparoscopic (LS) versus robotic (RS) approaches.

Results

Of 7,063 patients, 4,417 cases did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy (OS: 20.1%, LS: 67.1%, RS: 12.7%) and 2646 cases had adjuvant chemotherapy (OS: 28.4%, LS: 58.7%, RS: 12.9%) after discharge. MIS colectomy was associated with lower mean expenditure at index surgery and post-discharge periods for AC- patients (index surgery: $34,588 vs $36,975; 365-day post-discharge $20,051 vs $24,309) and for AC+ patients (index surgery: $37,884 vs $42,160; 365-day post-discharge $103,341vs $135,113; p < 0.001 for all comparisons). LS had similar index surgery expenditures but significantly higher expenditures at post-discharge 30 days (AC-: $2,834 vs $2276, p = 0.005; AC+: $9100 vs $7698, p = 0.020) than RS. The overall complication rate was significantly lower in the MIS group than the open group for AC- patients (20.5% vs 31.2%) and AC+ patients (22.6% vs 39.1%, both p < 0.001).

Conclusion

MIS colectomy is associated with better value at lower expenditure than open colectomy for colon cancer at the index operation and up to one year after surgery. RS expenditure is less than LS in the first 30 postoperative days regardless of chemotherapy status and may extend to 1 year for AC- patients.
Development and validation of a preoperative difficulty scoring system for endoscopic resection of gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor: a multi-center study
Authors: Liu Luojie , Han Mei , Shi Dongtao , Wang Qinghua , Feng Yunfu , Lu Fenying , Li Rui , Xu Xiaodan
Published: May 2023

Background

Endoscopic resection (ER) is a promising technique for resecting gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumors (gGISTs); however, ER is technically challenging. This study aimed to develop and validate a difficulty scoring system (DSS) to determine the difficulty for ER of a gGIST.

Methods

This retrospective study enrolled 555 patients with gGISTs in multi-centers from December 2010 to December 2022. Data on patients, lesions, and outcomes of ER were collected and analyzed. A difficult case was defined as an operative time ≥ 90 min, or the occurrence of severe intraoperative bleeding, or conversion to laparoscopic resection. The DSS was developed in the training cohort (TC) and validated in the internal validation cohort (IVC) and external validation cohort (EVC).

Results

The difficulty occurred in 97 cases (17.5%). The DSS comprised the following: tumor size ≥ 3.0 cm (3 points) or 2.0–3.0 cm (1 point); location in the upper third of the stomach (2 points); invasion depth beyond the muscularis propria (2 points); lack of experience (1 point). The area under the curve (AUC) of DSS in IVC and EVC was 0.838 and 0.864, respectively, and the negative predictive value (NPV) was 0.923 and 0.972, respectively. The proportions of difficult operation in easy (score 0–3), intermediate (score 4–5), and difficult (score 6–8) categories were 6.5%, 29.4%, and 88.2% in the TC, 7.7%, 45.8%, and 85.7% in the IVC, and 7.0%, 29.4%, and 85.7% in the EVC, respectively.

Conclusions

We developed and validated a preoperative DSS for ER of gGISTs based on tumor size, location, invasion depth, and endoscopists’ experience. This DSS can be used to grade the technical difficulty before surgery.
Repeated steroid injection and polyglycolic acid shielding for prevention of refractory esophageal stricture
Authors: Sakaguchi Yoshiki , Tsuji Yosuke , Sato Junichi , Kubota Dai , Obata Miho , Cho Rina , Nagao Sayaka , Miura Yuko , Ohki Daisuke , Mizutani Hiroya , Yakabi Seiichi , Kakushima Naomi , Niimi Keiko , Fujishiro Mitsuhiro
Published: May 2023

Background

Postoperative stricture and refractory stricture are severe adverse events which occur after expansive esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of steroid injection, polyglycolic acid (PGA) shielding, and of additional steroid injection thereafter for the prevention of refractory esophageal stricture.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study of 816 consecutive cases of esophageal ESD performed between 2002 and 2021 at the University of Tokyo Hospital. After 2013, all patients with a diagnosis of superficial esophageal carcinoma covering over 1/2 the esophageal circumference underwent preventive treatment immediately after ESD with either “PGA shielding”, “steroid injection”, or “steroid injection + PGA shielding”. Additional steroid injection was performed for high-risk patients after 2019.

Results

The risk of refractory stricture was especially high in the cervical esophagus (OR 24.77, p = 0.002) and after total circumferential resection (OR 894.04, p < 0.001). “Steroid injection + PGA shielding” was the only method significantly effective in preventing stricture occurrence (OR 0.36; 95% CI 0.15–0.83, p = 0.012). This method also decreased the risk of refractory stricture (OR 0.38; 95% CI 0.10–1.28, p = 0.096), but additional steroid injection was the only significantly effective method for prevention of refractory stricture (OR 0.42; 95% CI 0.14–0.98, p = 0.029).

Conclusion

Combining steroid injection and PGA shielding is effective for preventing post-ESD stricture and refractory stricture. Additional steroid injection is a viable option for patients at high-risk for refractory stricture.

Graphical abstract
Psychosocial interventions for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: rapid review and meta-analysis
Authors: Hoedl Manuela , Osmancevic Selvedina , Thonhofer Nina , Reiter Lea , Schoberer Daniela
Published: May 2023

This rapid review was conducted by following a predefined protocol developed by the Cochrane Rapid Reviews Methods Group. A total of 172 potential reviews and 167 primary studies of interest were found. AMSTAR II was used to assess the quality of the included reviews and the JBI Checklist for Randomized Controlled Trials for primary studies. Overall, four studies were included in this review. The study quality ranged from 5 to 12 out of 13 possible stars. No robust evidence was found that psychosocial interventions can reduce psychological distress. No significant effect could be found regarding post-traumatic stress. Two studies on anxiety were identified, one which showed an effect and another which did not. The psychosocial intervention had no beneficial effect on burnout and depression, whereas providing a mindfulness- or relaxation-based intervention resulted in a significant improvement in sleep quality. By considering the secondary results and results of previous reviews, a combination of training and mindfulness seems to be beneficial for decreasing anxiety and stress in home care workers. In summary, the evidence-based recommendations are still limited and, therefore, more evidence is needed to make a general statement of high certainty about the effects.
Probabilistic causal bipolar abstract argumentation: an approach based on credal networks
Authors: Morveli-Espinoza Mariela , Nieves Juan Carlos , Tacla Cesar Augusto
Published: May 2023

The Bipolar Argumentation Framework approach is an extension of the Abstract Argumentation Framework. A Bipolar Argumentation Framework considers a support interaction between arguments, besides the attack interaction. As in the Abstract Argumentation Framework, some researches consider that arguments have a degree of uncertainty, which impacts on the degree of uncertainty of the extensions obtained from a Bipolar Argumentation Framework under a semantics. In these approaches, both the uncertainty of the arguments and of the extensions are modeled by means of precise probability values. However, in many real application domains there is a need for aggregating probability values from different sources so it is not suitable to aggregate such probability values in a unique probability distribution. To tackle this challenge, we use credal networks theory for modelling the uncertainty of the degree of belief of arguments in a BAF. We also propose an algorithm for calculating the degree of uncertainty of the extensions inferred by a given argumentation semantics. Moreover, we introduce the idea of modelling the support relation as a causal relation. We formally show that the introduced approach is sound and complete w.r.t the credal networks theory.
The abscopal effect of anti-CD95 and radiotherapy in melanoma
Authors: Xu Jixiang , He JiangFeng , He JiaJun , He Yuanmin , Zhang DaoJun , Kong Rui , Dan Kena
Published: May 2023

Background

Radiotherapy (RT) is frequently adopted to control cancer cell proliferation, which is achieved by altering the tumor microenvironment (TME) and immunogenicity. Apoptosis of cancer cells is the major effect of radiation on tumor tissues. Fas/APO-1(CD95) receptors on the cell membrane are death receptors that can be activated by diverse factors, including radiation and integration with CD95L on CD8+ T cells. The abscopal effect is defined as tumor regression out of the local RT field, and it is produced through anti-tumor immunity. The immune response against the radiated tumor is characterized by the cross-presentation between antigen-presenting cells (APCs), which includes cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) and dendritic cells (DCs).

Methods

The effect of activation and radiation of CD95 receptors on melanoma cell lines was examined in vivo and in vitro. In vivo, bilateral lower limbs were given a subcutaneous injection of a dual-tumor. Tumors in the right limb were radiated with a single dose of 10 Gy (primary tumor), while tumors in the left limb (secondary tumor) were spared.

Results

The anti-CD95 treatment plus radiation (combination treatment) reduced growth rates of both primary and secondary tumors relative to the control or radiation groups. In addition, higher degrees of infiltrating CTLs and DCs were detected in the combination treatment compared to the other groups, but the immune response responsible for secondary tumor rejection was not proven to be tumor specific. In vitro, combination treatment combined with radiation resulted in further apoptosis of melanoma cells relative to controls or cells treated with radiation.

Conclusions

Targeting CD95 on cancer cells will induce tumor control and the abscopal effect.
Material flow control in Remanufacturing Systems with random failures and variable processing times
Authors: Paschko Felix , Knorn Steffi , Krini Abderrahim , Kemke Markus
Published: May 2023

Material flow control in remanufacturing is an important issue in the field of disassembly. This paper deals with the potential of autonomous material release decisions for remanufacturing systems to balance the uncertainties related to changing bottlenecks, to maximise throughput ($$TH$$

TH

) and to minimise work-in-process ($$WIP$$

WIP

). The goal is to achieve the highest possible throughput rate using real-time data while keeping costs to a minimum. Unlike traditional production systems, remanufacturing must consider and handle high uncertainties in the process. Up to now, classical methods such as CONWIP, Material Requirement Planning (MRP) and Kanban have been used for material flow control. However, these methods do not perform well in a system with high variation and uncertainties such as remanufacturing as they aim to find solutions for static environments. Crucial for optimal production in stochastic environments is finding the optimum pull or release rate which can vary over time in terms of maximising $$TH$$

TH

and minimising $$WIP$$

WIP

. We propose a deep reinforcement learning approach that acts on the environment and can adapt to changing conditions. This ensures that changing bottlenecks are taken care of and that there is a minimum $$WIP$$

WIP

in the system.
Biological Individuality
Authors: McConwell Alison K.
Published: May 2023

This Element develops a view about biological individuality's value in two ways: while biological individuality matters for its theoretical and methodological roles in the production of scientific knowledge, its historical use in promoting the politics of social ideologies concerning progress and perfection of humanity's evolutionary future must not be ignored. Recent trends in biological individuality are analyzed and set against the history of evolutionary thought drawing from the early twentieth century. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Pleurocystites?scylla, a new species of pleurocystitid rhombiferan, and comments on early echinoderm teratologies
Authors: Sweeney Aidan , Sumrall Colin D.
Published: May 2023

Pleurocystitid echinoderms are known to have consistent plating in the theca or body. However, many specimens with aberrant plating are known among glyptocystitoids (Glyptocystella,Hadrocystis,Tyrridiocystis, and so on) as well as the new Ordovician speciesPleurocystites?scylla, described here from the Benbolt Formation near Thorn Hill, Tennessee, USA. The presence of an extra plate in the holotype ofP?scyllais most likely teratological. While teratology is often misconstrued as parasitism and pathology, it is easily recognized among glyptocystitoid rhombiferans because of the conservative nature of plate arrangements found in these taxa. Teratologic features in stemmed echinoderm thecae appear only to alter suture positioning and not significantly change the thecal shape or diminish the diagnosability of a specimen taxonomically.

UUID:http://zoobank.org/287bb0b9-2df5-4b9a-b1ea-0d3cd7923826
Lxs anarquistas
Authors: Craib Raymond
Published: May 2023

This essay reviews the following works:

Rebellion in Patagonia. By Osvaldo Bayer. Chico, CA: Edinburgh AK Press, 2016. Pp. 425. $21.95 paperback. ISBN: 1849352216.

Anarchism in Latin America. By Angel J. Cappelletti. Baltimore: AK Press, 2017. Pp. 429. $20.95 paperback. ISBN: 9781849352826.

Writing Revolution: Hispanic Anarchism in the United States. Edited by Christopher J. Castañeda and Montse Feu. Champaign: University of Illinois Press, 2019. Pp. xvi + 305. $30.00 paperback. ISBN: 9780252084577.

155: Simón Radowitzky. By Agustín Comotto. Madrid: Nórdica Libros, 2018. Pp. 269. $46.00 paperback. ISBN: 8417281525.

Bad Mexicans: Race, Empire and Revolution in the Borderlands. By Kelly Lytle Hernández. New York: W. W. Norton & Co., 2022. Pp. 384. $24.99 hardcover. ISBN: 9781324004370.

For a Just and Better World: Engendering Anarchism in the Mexican Borderlands, 1900–1938. By Sonia Hernández. Champaign: University of Illinois Press, 2021. Pp. xxiv + 222. $28.00 paperback. ISBN: 9780252086106.

El anarquismo y la emancipación de la mujer en Chile, 1890–1927. By Manuel Lagos Mieres. Santiago de Chile: Centro de Estudios Sociales Lombardozzi, 2017. Pp. 436.

Anarchists of the Caribbean: Countercultural Politics and Transnational Networks in the Age of US Expansion. By Kirwin R. Shaffer. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2020. Pp. xiv + 318. $49.99 hardcover. ISBN: 9781108489034.

The World in a City: Multiethnic Radicalism in Early Twentieth-Century Los Angeles. By David M. Struthers. Champaign: University of Illinois Press, 2019. Pp. 310. $28.00 paperback. ISBN: 9780252084256.
Christianity, Human Rights, and American Political Polarization
Authors: Zubovich Gene
Published: May 2023

Over the course of the twentieth century, American conceptions of rights became more global. This development—usually described as a move from “civil rights” to “human rights”—was especially acute in American Christian communities. The role of Christianity deserves our attention because of the religion's important role in the conceptualization, popularization, and practice of human rights in the United States and, thanks to Christians’ overseas networks, to every corner of the world.1The increasingly global understanding of rights, however, did not lead to the liberalization of rights for American Christians. True, human rights talk contributed to important milestones in religious pluralism and the Civil Rights movement, and often served as a gateway to democratic liberalism for some groups resistant to the American liberal tradition. Human rights, however, were not only a liberal project. Conservatives also embraced human rights but in starkly different ways. The divergent interpretations of human rights were not merely a reflection of the growing political divide in the second half of the twentieth century. Christian activists’ adoption of human rights helped forge new alliances and exacerbated the divide between liberal and conservative Christianity, and between political liberalism and political conservatism.
“Gundamentalism”
Authors: Tucker Jennifer
Published: May 2023

“They talk about gun rights. What about Chris's right to live?”

—Richard Martinez, after his son Chris was killed in the 2014 Santa Barbara spree shootings

“Your dead kids don't trump my Constitutional rights.”

—Joe “the Plumber” Wurzlebacher, responding to Richard Martinez

Firearms and ballistics are at the center of public debate in the United States today. They are technologies that are associated both with danger (in the form of gun violence) and safety (in the form of claims that firearms offer personal protection). This essay explores our understanding of the role of gun rights in American society through history: an issue which recent Supreme Court rulings have moved to the forefront of political debates in the face of efforts to regulate firearms and stem the tide of gun violence in the United States.
From resolution to resecuritization: populist communication of the AKP’s Kurdish peace process in Turkey
Authors: Dinc Pinar , Ozduzen Ozge
Published: May 2023

This article contributes to the existing literature on the populist online communication of governments. We look at the role of the micro-blogging social media platform Twitter under the authoritarian rule of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the wider Justice and Development Party (Adalet ve Kalkınma Partisi; AKP) during the peace process. We carried out a rhetorical analysis of the Twitter posts of four key AKP actors – Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Ahmet Davutoğlu, Yalçın Akdoğan, and Efkan Ala – between July 1, 2012 and November 1, 2015. First, we show that the AKP actors persistently label the Kurdish political movement in Turkey and in Syria as a threat to the national security of Turkey, reflected in their rhetoric toward the remilitarization and resecuritization of Turkey’s Kurdish question within and across its borders. Second, we argue that the AKP used the peace process and various persuasive communicative techniques not only to consolidate Kurdish electoral support, but also to reach its aim to remove the Kemalist military–bureaucratic tutelage in Turkey that was replaced with hyper-presidentialism under the strong personality cult of Erdoğan. Third, we argue that Erdoğan’s increased one-man power has been reflected in the AKP’s branding itself as the only viable choice for the Kurdish region’s stability, which has blocked more constructive dialogue toward a peaceful resolution to the Kurdish question.
Doing Ethnicity: Multi-layered Ethnic Scripts in Contemporary China
Authors: Mao Jingyu
Published: May 2023

Drawing on lengthy ethnographic fieldwork with ethnic performers in South-West China, this article seeks to explore the multi-layered ethnic scripts in contemporary China. Ethnic performers are people who perform ethnic songs and dances in restaurants or tourist sites, most of whom are rural–urban migrants from ethnic minority backgrounds. Ethnic performers’ ambivalences regarding whether they are “authentic minorities” points to the inadequacy of attempting to understand ethnicity in an essentialized way. Understanding ethnicity as something people do rather than who they are, the concept of “ethnic scripts” is proposed as a conceptual tool to illuminate the cultural and social repertoires which deeply shape people's understanding of and ways of doing ethnicity. By exploring the multi-layered meaning of ethnic scripts in contemporary China, this article highlights the ways that ethnic scripts are closely related to migrant performers’ emotions and sense of self, and addresses the fact that ethnic scripts are inherently gendered.
Evaluating the pressure dependence of PZT structures using a virtual reality environment
Authors: Rodriguez Mark A. , Krukar John , Valdez Nichole R. , Harris James Z. , Perkins Kathryn A. , DiAntonio Christopher , Yang Pin
Published: May 2023

Pb–Zr–Ti–O (PZT) perovskites span a large solid-solution range and have found widespread use due to their piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties that also span a large range. Crystal structure analysis via Rietveld refinement facilitates materials analysis via the extraction of the structural parameters. These parameters, often obtained as a function of an additional dimension (e.g., pressure), can help to diagnose materials response within a use environment. Often referred to as “in-situ” studies, these experiments provide an abundance of data. Viewing structural changes due to applied pressure conditions can give much-needed insight into materials performance. However, challenges exist for viewing/presenting results when the details are inherently three-dimensional (3D) in nature. For PZT perovskites, the use of polyhedra (e.g., Zr/Ti–O6 octahedra) to view bonding/connectivity is beneficial; however, the visualization of the octahedra behavior with pressure dependence is less easily demonstrated due to the complexity of the added pressure dimension. We present a more intuitive visualization by projecting structural data into virtual reality (VR). We employ previously published structural data for Pb0.99(Zr0.95Ti0.05)0.98Nb0.02O3 as an exemplar for VR visualization of the PZT R3c crystal structure between ambient and 0.62 GPa pressure. This is accomplished via our in-house CAD2VR™ software platform and the new CrystalVR plugin. The use of the VR environment enables a more intuitive viewing experience, while enabling on-the-fly evaluation of crystal data, to form a detailed and comprehensive understanding of in-situ datasets. Discussion of methodology and tools for viewing are given, along with how recording results in video form can enable the viewing experience.
Experimental synthesis and crystal structure refinement of a new ternary intermetallic compound Al3GaCu9
Authors: Liang Liuqing , Li Weijun , Lu Meiwen , Li Sheng , Li Degui , Gu Bin
Published: May 2023

A new ternary intermetallic compound Al3GaCu9 was synthesized experimentally. A high-quality powder diffraction pattern of the compound was collected by an X-ray diffractometer, and its crystal structure was determined using the Rietveld refinement method. Results show that the compound has a cubic cell with the Al4Cu9 structure type (space group $P\bar{4}3m$ and Pearson symbol cP52). The lattice parameter a = 8.7132(3) Å, unit-cell volume V = 661.52 Å3, calculated density Dcalc = 7.26 g/cm3, and Z = 4. The residual factors converge to Rp = 2.96%, Rwp = 4.06%, and Rexp = 2.57%. The experimentally obtained reference intensity ratio value is 7.04.
How Should Risk and Ambiguity Affect Our Charitable Giving?
Authors: Buchak Lara
Published: May 2023

Suppose we want to do the most good we can with a particular sum of money, but we cannot be certain of the consequences of different ways of making use of it. This article explores how our attitudes towards risk and ambiguity bear on what we should do. It shows that risk-avoidance and ambiguity-aversion can each provide good reason to divide our money between various charitable organizations rather than to give it all to the most promising one. It also shows how different attitudes towards risk and ambiguity affect whether we should give to an organization which does a small amount of good for certain or to one which does a large amount of good with some small or unknown probability.
The mental health of all children in contact with social services: a population-wide record-linkage study in Northern Ireland
Authors: McKenna Sarah , O’Reilly Dermot , Maguire Aideen
Published: May 2023

Aims

Children in contact with social services are at high risk for mental ill health, but it is not known what proportion of the child population has contact with social services or how risk varies within this group compared to unexposed peers. We aim to quantify the extent and nature of contact with social services within the child population in Northern Ireland (NI) and the association with mental ill health. We also examine which social care experiences identify those most at risk.

Methods

This is a population-based record-linkage study of 497,269 children (aged under 18 years) alive and resident in NI in 2015 using routinely collected health and social care data. Exposure was categorized as (1) no contact, (2) referred but assessed as not in need (NIN), (3) child in need (CIN) and (4) child in care (CIC). Multilevel logistic regression analyses estimated odds ratios (ORs) for mental ill health indicated by receipt of psychotropic medication (antidepressants, anxiolytics, antipsychotics and hypnotics), psychiatric hospital admission and hospital-presenting self-harm or ideation.

Results

Over one in six children (17.2%, n = 85,792) were currently or previously in contact with social services, and almost one child in every 20 (4.8%, n = 23,975) had contact in 2015. Likelihood of any mental ill health outcome increased incrementally with the level of contact with social services relative to unexposed peers: NIN (OR 5.90 [95% confidence interval (CI) 5.10–6.83]), CIN (OR 5.99 [95% CI 5.50–6.53]) and CIC (OR 12.60 [95% CI 10.63–14.95]). All tiers of contact, number of referrals, number of care episodes and placement type were strongly associated with the likelihood of mental ill health.

Conclusion

Children who have contact with social services account for a large and disproportionate amount of mental ill health in the child population. Likelihood of poor mental health across indicators is highest in care experienced children but also extends to the much larger population of children in contact with social services but never in care. Findings suggest a need for targeted mental health screening and enhanced support for all children in contact with social services.