bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Parameter-Agnostic Deep Graph Clustering
Authors: Zhao Han , Yang Xu , Deng Cheng
Published: November 2023

Deep graph clustering, efficiently dividing nodes into multiple disjoint clusters in an unsupervised manner, has become a crucial tool for analyzing ubiquitous graph data. Existing methods have acquired impressive clustering effects by optimizing the clustering network under the parametric condition—predefining the true number of clusters (

K
tr

). However,

K
tr

is inaccessible in pure unsupervised scenarios, in which existing methods are incapable of inferring the number of clusters (
K
), causing limited feasibility. This article proposes the first Parameter-Agnostic Deep Graph Clustering method (PADGC), which consists of two core modules:
K
-guidence clustering and topological-hierarchical inference, to infer
K
efficiently and gain impressive clustering predictions. Specifically,
K
-guidence clustering is employed to optimize the cluster assignments and discriminative embeddings in a mutual promotion manner under the latest updated
K
, even though
K
may deviate from

K
tr

. In turn, such optimized cluster assignments are utilized to explore more accurate
K
in the topological-hierarchical inference, which can split the dispersive clusters and merge the coupled ones. In this way, these two modules are complementarily optimized until generating the final convergent
K
and discriminative cluster assignments. Extensive experiments on several benchmarks, including graphs and images, can demonstrate the superiority of our method. The mean values of our inferred
K
, in 11 out of 12 datasets, deviates from

K
tr

by less than 1. Our method can also achieve competitive clustering effects with existing parametric deep graph clustering.
SparGD: A Sparse GEMM Accelerator with Dynamic Dataflow
Authors: Wang Bo , Ma Sheng , Luo Shengbai , Wu Lizhou , Zhang Jianmin , Zhang Chunyuan , Li Tiejun
Published: November 2023

Deep learning has become a highly popular research field, and previously deep learning algorithms ran primarily on CPUs and GPUs. However, with the rapid development of deep learning, it was discovered that existing processors could not meet the specific large-scale computing requirements of deep learning, and custom deep learning accelerators have become popular. The majority of the primary workloads in deep learning are general matrix-matrix multiplications (GEMMs), and emerging GEMMs are highly sparse and irregular. The TPU and SIGMA are typical GEMM accelerators in recent years, but the TPU does not support sparsity, and both the TPU and SIGMA have insufficient utilization rates of the Processing Element (PE). We design and implement SparGD, a sparse GEMM accelerator with dynamic dataflow. SparGD has specific PE structures, flexible distribution networks and reduction networks, and a simple dataflow switching module. When running sparse and irregular GEMMs, SparGD can maintain high PE utilization while utilizing sparsity, and can switch to the optimal dataflow according to the computing environment. For sparse, irregular GEMMs, our experimental results show that SparGD outperforms systolic arrays by 30 times and SIGMA by 3.6 times.
Local Overlapping Spatial-aware Community Detection
Authors: Ni Li , Xu Hefei , Zhang Yiwen , Luo Wenjian , Huang Yingying , Sheng Victor S.
Published: November 2023

Local spatial-aware community detection refers to detecting a spatial-aware community for a given node using local information. A spatial-aware community means that nodes in the community are tightly connected in structure, and their locations are close to each other. Existing studies focus on detecting the local non-overlapping spatial-aware community, i.e., detecting a spatial-aware community containing the given node. However, many geosocial networks often contain overlapping spatial-aware communities. Therefore, we propose a local overlapping spatial-aware community detection (LOSCD) problem, which aims to detect all spatial-aware communities that contain a given node with local information. To address LOSCD problem, we design an algorithm based on Spatial Modularity and Edge Similarity, called SMES. SMES contains two processes: spatial expansion and structure detection. The spatial expansion process involves using spatial modularity to identify nodes that are spatially close, while the structural detection process employs edge similarity to identify nodes that are structurally close. Experimental results demonstrate that SMES outperforms comparison algorithms in terms of both structural and spatial cohesiveness.
Sparse Grid Imputation Using Unpaired Imprecise Auxiliary Data: Theory and Application to PM2.5 Estimation
Authors: Yang Ming-Chuan , Wong Guo-Wei , Chen Meng Chang
Published: November 2023

Sparse grid imputation (SGI) is a challenging problem, as its goal is to infer the values of the entire grid from a limited number of cells with values. Traditionally, the problem is solved using regression methods such as KNN and kriging, whereas in the real world, there is often extra information—usually imprecise—that can aid inference and yield better performance. In the SGI problem, in addition to the limited number of fixed grid cells with precise target domain values, there are contextual data and imprecise observations over the whole grid. To solve this problem, we propose a distribution estimation theory for the whole grid and realize the theory via the composition architecture of the Target-Embedding and the Contextual CycleGAN trained with contextual information and imprecise observations. Contextual CycleGAN is structured as two generator–discriminator pairs and uses different types of contextual loss to guide the training. We consider the real-world problem of fine-grained PM2.5 inference with realistic settings: a few (less than 1%) grid cells with precise PM2.5 data and all grid cells with contextual information concerning weather and imprecise observations from satellites and microsensors. The task is to infer reasonable values for all grid cells. As there is no ground truth for empty cells, out-of-sample mean squared error and Jensen–Shannon divergence measurements are used in the empirical study. The results show that Contextual CycleGAN supports the proposed theory and outperforms the methods used for comparison.
Subsampled Randomized Hadamard Transformation-based Ensemble Extreme Learning Machine for Human Activity Recognition
Authors: Thakur Dipanwita , Pal Arindam
Published: November 2023

Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) is becoming a popular learning algorithm due to its diverse applications, including Human Activity Recognition (HAR). In ELM, the hidden node parameters are generated at random, and the output weights are computed analytically. However, even with a large number of hidden nodes, feature learning using ELM may not be efficient for natural signals due to its shallow architecture. Due to noisy signals of the smartphone sensors and high dimensional data, substantial feature engineering is required to obtain discriminant features and address the “curse-of-dimensionality”. In traditional ML approaches, dimensionality reduction and classification are two separate and independent tasks, increasing the system’s computational complexity. This research proposes a new ELM-based ensemble learning framework for human activity recognition to overcome this problem. The proposed architecture consists of two key parts: (1) Self-taught dimensionality reduction followed by classification. (2) they are bridged by “Subsampled Randomized Hadamard Transformation” (SRHT). Two different HAR datasets are used to establish the feasibility of the proposed framework. The experimental results clearly demonstrate the superiority of our method over the current state-of-the-art methods.
Quantitative Phase Field Model for Electrochemical Systems
Authors: Zhang Jin , Chadwick Alexander F. , Voorhees Peter W.
Published: November 2023

Modeling microstructure evolution in electrochemical systems is vital for understanding the mechanism of various electrochemical processes. In this work, we propose a general phase field framework that is fully variational and thus guarantees that the energy decreases upon evolution in an isothermal system. The bulk and interface free energies are decoupled using a grand potential formulation to enhance numerical efficiency. The variational definition of the overpotential is used, and the reaction kinetics is incorporated into the evolution equation for the phase field to correctly capture capillary effects and eliminate additional model parameter calibrations. A higher-order kinetic correction is derived to accurately reproduce general reaction models such as the Butler-Volmer, Marcus, and Marcus-Hush-Chidsey models. Electrostatic potentials in the electrode and the electrolyte are considered separately as independent variables, providing additional freedom to capture the interfacial potential jump. To handle realistic materials and processing parameters for practical applications, a driving force extension method is used to enhance the grid size by three orders of magnitude. Finally, we comprehensively verify our phase field model using classical electrochemical theory.
Certificateless Public Auditing for Cloud‐Based Medical Data in Healthcare Industry 4.0
Authors: Tian Hui , Ye Weiping , Wang Jia , Quan Hanyu , Chang Chin-Chen
Published: November 2023

In the context of healthcare 4.0, cloud‐based eHealth is a common paradigm, enabling stakeholders to access medical data and interact efficiently. However, it still faces some serious security issues that cannot be ignored. One of the major challenges is the assurance of the integrity of medical data remotely stored in the cloud. To solve this problem, we propose a novel certificateless public auditing for medical data in the cloud (CPAMD), which can achieve efficient batch auditing without complicated certificate management and key escrow. Specifically, in our CPAMD, a new secure certificateless signature method is designed to generate tamper‐proof data block tags; a manageable delegated data outsourcing mechanism is presented to reduce the burden of data maintenance on patients and achieve auditability of outsourcing behavior; and a privacy‐preserving augmented verification strategy is proposed to provide comprehensive auditing of both medical data and its source information without compromising privacy. We perform formal security analysis and comprehensive performance evaluation for CPAMD. The results demonstrate that the presented scheme can provide better auditing security and more comprehensive auditing capabilities while achieving good performance comparable to state‐of‐the‐art ones.
Deformation Control of Subway Tunnels Undercrossing Airport Facilities: A Case Study of the Xinzheng Airport Rail Transit Hub Project
Authors: Liqiang Zhang , Zhao Jinxing , Le Qi
Published: November 2023

The rapid expansion of urban areas due to China’s booming economy has led to a conflict between people and vehicular traffic. Consequently, rail transit, represented by subways, has become the primary mode of transportation for residents. However, the influence of soil damage on tunnel deformation is often overlooked in research on the safety of soft soil tunneling, leading to discrepancies between the results predicted by models and the actual settlement of tunnels. In this study, soil investigation and mechanical strength testing were carried out to analyze the impact of aircraft takeoff and landing activities on the Xinzheng Airport facilities. Damage variables are introduced into the Drucker‒Prager ideal elastic‒plastic criterion, and a soft soil tunneling model with soil deformation is established to investigate the spatial and temporal effects of the shield-cutting force, moving aircraft load, and tunnel deformation. Based on the synchronous grouting technique, a mechanical load-bearing system consisting of a concrete runway, solidified grout, and high-strength segments is formed to ensure the safety of flight activities.
Organized Chronic Subdural Hematoma Mimicking Acute Epidural Hematoma
Authors: Cao Jun , Wang Zhichun , Liu Cegang , Shen Jun , Fang Jincheng
Published: November 2023

Background. Chronic subdural hematoma is a common disease in neurosurgery, but organized chronic subdural hematoma is rarely seen clinically. This article reports a case of misdiagnosis of organized chronic subdural hematoma as acute epidural hematoma. Through literature review, the causes of misdiagnosis and the treatment methods of organized chronic subdural hematoma are discussed. Case Description. A 70-year-old male patient was admitted to the hospital due to headache and dizziness after head trauma. Emergency head CT reported “left frontotemporal parietal epidural hematoma.” Because the head CT showed that the hematoma occupying effect was obvious, an emergency “intracranial hematoma evacuation” was performed. After opening the skull during the operation, no epidural hematoma was seen. Upon incision of the dura mater, the outer membrane of organized chronic subdural hematoma was found. When the outer membrane was cut open, a large amount of reddish-brown silt-like materials was found in the capsule cavity. The inner membrane was not forcibly removed. Postoperative head CT showed that the organized chronic subdural hematoma was basically cleared. Conclusion. The early symptoms of organized chronic subdural hematoma are atypical, with insidious onset and easy misdiagnosis. By carefully inquiring about the medical history and carefully reading the head CT, such misdiagnosis can be avoided. Craniotomy is currently an important treatment option for organized chronic subdural hematoma.
Clozapine Serum Concentrations Are Disrupted by SARS-CoV-2 Vaccinations
Authors: Kersting Xenia A. K. , Momtahen Nicoletta , Lieb Klaus
Published: November 2023

This paper reports the case of a 27-year-old man with paranoid schizophrenia who was finally stabilized on clozapine medication. After vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, serum levels of clozapine increased. It is well established that immune responses can trigger cytokine cascades affecting drug metabolism, which, in the case of clozapine treatment, can lead to severe intoxication.
Modulating Gut Microbiota Prevents Anastomotic Leak to Reduce Local Implantation and Dissemination of Colorectal Cancer Cells after Surgery
Authors: Hajjar Roy , Oliero Manon , Fragoso Gabriela , Ajayi Ayodeji Samuel , Alaoui Ahmed Amine , Vennin Rendos Hervé , Calvé Annie , Cuisiniere Thibault , Gerkins Claire , Thérien Sophie , Taleb Nassima , Dagbert François , Sebajang Herawaty , Loungnarath Rasmy , Schwenter Frank , Ratelle Richard , Wassef Ramses , De Broux Eric , Richard Carole , Santos Manuela M.
Published: November 2023

Purpose:

Anastomotic leak (AL) is a major complication in colorectal cancer surgery and consists of the leakage of intestinal content through a poorly healed colonic wound. Colorectal cancer recurrence after surgery is a major determinant of survival. We hypothesize that AL may allow cancer cells to escape the gut and lead to cancer recurrence and that improving anastomotic healing may prevent local implantation and metastatic dissemination of cancer cells.

Experimental Design:

We investigated the association between AL and postoperative outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer. Using mouse models of poor anastomotic healing, we assessed the processes of local implantation and dissemination of cancer cells. The effect of dietary supplementation with inulin and 5-aminosalicylate (5-ASA), which activate PPAR-γ in the gut, on local anastomotic tumors was assessed in mice undergoing colonic surgery. Inulin and 5-ASA were also assessed in a mouse model of liver metastasis.

Results:

Patients experiencing AL displayed lower overall and oncologic survival than non-AL patients. Poor anastomotic healing in mice led to larger anastomotic and peritoneal tumors. The microbiota of patients with AL displays a lower capacity to activate the antineoplastic PPAR-γ in the gut. Modulation of gut microbiota using dietary inulin and 5-ASA reinforced the gut barrier and prevented anastomotic tumors and metastatic spread in mice.

Conclusions:

Our findings reinforce the hypothesis that preventing AL is paramount to improving oncologic outcomes after colorectal cancer surgery. Furthermore, they pave the way toward dietary targeting of PPAR-γ as a novel way to enhance healing and diminish cancer recurrence.
Neuroimaging Findings in Fetal Hemimegalencephaly: Case Study and Review
Authors: Sepulveda Waldo , Sepulveda Francisco , Schonstedt Valeria , Stern Jocelyn , Diaz-Serani Ricardo
Published: November 2023

Background: Limited information exists in the prenatal literature regarding the neuroimaging features of fetal hemimegalencephaly. Summary: This report describes ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in a second-trimester fetus with an isolated, severe form of hemimegalencephaly. The most prominent imaging findings included unilateral enlarged cerebral hemisphere and ipsilateral ventriculomegaly causing cerebral asymmetry, midline shift, and macrocephaly. Abnormal cortical development imaging signs were also evident. A literature review encompassing 23 reports describing 36 cases, including ours, is presented. Key Messages: Characteristic ultrasound findings for the diagnosis of hemimegalencephaly are not always apparent prenatally. Asymmetric ventriculomegaly emerges as the most common but nonspecific presenting feature during routine second- or third-trimester ultrasound scans. Subsequent high-resolution prenatal neurosonography and fetal MRI facilitate definitive prenatal diagnosis, showcasting associated features primarily related to cortical migration, differentiation, and maturation. Postnatally, the prognosis is poor due to intractable seizures, hemiplegia, and progressive neurodevelopmental delay.
Evolving Contemporary Management of Atrial Fibrillation in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Rowin Ethan J. , Link Mark. S. , Maron Martin S. , Maron Barry J.
Published: November 2023

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) with clinical and subclinical episodes occurring in nearly one-half of patients. AF in HCM historically has been characterized as a decisive disease complication associated with substantial risk for thromboembolic stroke and increased morbidity and mortality. However, there have been many advances in treatment strategy resulting in improved outcomes for this patient group. For example, stroke risk in HCM has been greatly reduced by using systemic oral anticoagulation initiated after the first clinical (symptomatic) AF episode, usually with preference given to direct anticoagulants over warfarin. In contrast, stroke risk scoring systems (such as CHA
2
DS
2
-VASc score) are not informative in HCM given the substantial potential for stroke events in patients with low scores, and therefore should not be used for anticoagulation decisions in this disease. A novel risk score specifically designed for HCM (HCM-AF score) can reliably identify most patients with HCM at risk for future AF. Although a strategy focused on controlling ventricular rate is effective in asymptomatic (or minimally symptomatic) patients with AF, restoring and maintaining sinus rhythm is required for most patients with marked AF symptom burden and impaired quality of life. Several antiarrhythmic drugs such as sotalol, disopyramide, and amiodarone, can be effective in suppressing AF episodes; albeit safe, long-term efficacy is supported by only limited data. Catheter AF ablation has emerged as an important treatment option for some patients, although freedom from AF after a single ablation is relatively low (35% at 3 years), multiple ablations and the concomitant use of antiarrhythmic drugs can control AF with more than two-thirds of patients maintaining sinus rhythm at 5 years. Surgical AF ablation with biatrial Cox-Maze IV performed as an adjunctive procedure during myectomy can reduce symptomatic AF episodes (70% of patients free from AF at 5 years). For the vast majority of patients who have HCM with AF, the implementation of contemporary therapies has allowed for improved quality of life and low HCM-related mortality.
Preserved Corticospinal Tract Revealed by Acute Perfusion Imaging Relates to Better Outcome After Thrombectomy in Stroke
Authors: Koch Philipp J. , Rudolf Linda F. , Schramm Peter , Frontzkowski Lukas , Marburg Maria , Matthis Christine , Schacht Hannes , Fiehler Jens , Thomalla Götz , Hummel Friedhelm C. , Neumann Alexander , Münte Thomas F. , Royl Georg , Machner Björn , Schulz Robert
Published: November 2023

BACKGROUND:

The indication for mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in stroke patients with large vessel occlusion has been constantly expanded over the past years. Despite remarkable treatment effects at the group level in clinical trials, many patients remain severely disabled even after successful recanalization. A better understanding of this outcome variability will help to improve clinical decision-making on MT in the acute stage. Here, we test whether current outcome models can be refined by integrating information on the preservation of the corticospinal tract as a functionally crucial white matter tract derived from acute perfusion imaging.

METHODS:

We retrospectively analyzed 162 patients with stroke and large vessel occlusion of the anterior circulation who were admitted to the University Medical Center Lübeck between 2014 and 2020 and underwent MT. The ischemic core was defined as fully automatized based on the acute computed tomography perfusion with cerebral blood volume data using outlier detection and clustering algorithms. Normative whole-brain structural connectivity data were used to infer whether the corticospinal tract was affected by the ischemic core or preserved. Ordinal logistic regression models were used to correlate this information with the modified Rankin Scale after 90 days.

RESULTS:

The preservation of the corticospinal tract was associated with a reduced risk of a worse functional outcome in large vessel occlusion–stroke patients undergoing MT, with an odds ratio of 0.28 (95% CI, 0.15–0.53). This association was still significant after adjusting for multiple confounding covariables, such as age, lesion load, initial symptom severity, sex, stroke side, and recanalization status.

CONCLUSIONS:

A preinterventional computed tomography perfusion–based surrogate of corticospinal tract preservation or disconnectivity is strongly associated with functional outcomes after MT. If validated in independent samples this concept could serve as a novel tool to improve current outcome models to better understand intersubject variability after MT in large vessel occlusion stroke.
Learning Cognitive Flexibility: Neural Substrates of Adapting Switch-Readiness to Time-varying Demands
Authors: Sali Anthony W. , Bejjani Christina , Egner Tobias
Published: November 2023

An individual's readiness to switch tasks (cognitive flexibility) varies over time, in part, as the result of reinforcement learning based on the statistical structure of the world around them. Consequently, the behavioral cost associated with task-switching is smaller in contexts where switching is frequent than where it is rare, but the underlying brain mechanisms of this adaptation in cognitive flexibility are not well understood. Here, we manipulated the likelihood of switches across blocks of trials in a classic cued task-switching paradigm while participants underwent fMRI. As anticipated, behavioral switch costs decreased as the probability of switching increased, and neural switch costs were observed in lateral and medial frontoparietal cortex. To study moment-by-moment adjustments in cognitive flexibility at the neural level, we first fitted the behavioral RT data with reinforcement learning algorithms and then used the resulting trial-wise prediction error estimate as a regressor in a model-based fMRI analysis. The results revealed that lateral frontal and parietal cortex activity scaled positively with unsigned switch prediction error and that there were no brain regions encoding signed (i.e., switch- or repeat-specific) prediction error. Taken together, this study documents that adjustments in cognitive flexibility to time-varying switch demands are mediated by frontoparietal cortex tracking the likelihood of forthcoming task switches.
Can Authorship Representation Learning Capture Stylistic Features?
Authors: Wang Andrew , Aggazzotti Cristina , Kotula Rebecca , Soto Rafael Rivera , Bishop Marcus , Andrews Nicholas
Published: November 2023

Automatically disentangling an author’s style from the content of their writing is a longstanding and possibly insurmountable problem in computational linguistics. At the same time, the availability of large text corpora furnished with author labels has recently enabled learning authorship representations in a purely data-driven manner for authorship attribution, a task that ostensibly depends to a greater extent on encoding writing style than encoding content. However, success on this surrogate task does not ensure that such representations capture writing style since authorship could also be correlated with other latent variables, such as topic. In an effort to better understand the nature of the information these representations convey, and specifically to validate the hypothesis that they chiefly encode writing style, we systematically probe these representations through a series of targeted experiments. The results of these experiments suggest that representations learned for the surrogate authorship prediction task are indeed sensitive to writing style. As a consequence, authorship representations may be expected to be robust to certain kinds of data shift, such as topic drift over time. Additionally, our findings may open the door to downstream applications that require stylistic representations, such as style transfer.
Optimal Transport Posterior Alignment for Cross-lingual Semantic Parsing
Authors: Sherborne Tom , Hosking Tom , Lapata Mirella
Published: November 2023

Cross-lingual semantic parsing transfers parsing capability from a high-resource language (e.g., English) to low-resource languages with scarce training data. Previous work has primarily considered silver-standard data augmentation or zero-shot methods; exploiting few-shot gold data is comparatively unexplored. We propose a new approach to cross-lingual semantic parsing by explicitly minimizing cross-lingual divergence between probabilistic latent variables using Optimal Transport. We demonstrate how this direct guidance improves parsing from natural languages using fewer examples and less training. We evaluate our method on two datasets, MTOP and MultiATIS++SQL, establishing state-of-the-art results under a few-shot cross-lingual regime. Ablation studies further reveal that our method improves performance even without parallel input translations. In addition, we show that our model better captures cross-lingual structure in the latent space to improve semantic representation similarity.1
Spring and autumn fauna of Cladocera (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) in the center of East Asia plain: Hunan and Hubei Provinces of China
Authors: DADYKIN IVAN A. , SINEV ARTEM Y. , GU YANGLIANG , HAN BO-PING
Published: November 2023

Cladoceran (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) fauna of Hunan and Hubei provinces of China was studied in April 2014 and October 2018. 49 species of Cladocera were found, Anthalona sanoamuangae Sinev & Kotov, 2012 was recorded for China for the first time. Eight species were newly recorded for central China, taxonomic status of four species was clarified. Among the observed species, 19 taxa are predominantly Boreal, 13 species are recorded predominantly in south part of temperate zone and subtropics, and 17 species are mainly tropical. Significant difference was revealed between the spring and autumn fauna: Boreal species were the most frequent in spring, whereas subtropical and tropical species became more common in autumn. Species diversity and composition of the cladoceran fauna in the center of East Asia plain is discussed.
Mediastinal Mass, Cancer, or Infection, Atypical Paraesophageal Actinomycosis Infection, Clinical and Surgical Approach
Authors: Enofe Nosayaba , Garcia Russo Manuel , Kadakia Esha R. , Axelrod Peter I. , Friedberg Joseph , Su Stacey , Kumar Rohit
Published: November 2023

Actinomyces israelii (AI) is a Gram-positive, rod-shaped bacterium that lives commensally on and within humans as a typical colonizer within the gastrointestinal tract, including the mouth. As an opportunistic pathogen, infection often results from tissue injury or breach of the mucosal barrier (ie, during various dental or GI procedures, aspiration, or specific pathologies such as diverticulitis). Symptoms generally present slowly as a non-tender, indurated mass that evolves into multiple abscesses, fistulae, or draining sinus tracts without regard for anatomical barriers, including fascial planes or lymphatic drainage. However, it may also present as an acute suppurative infection with pain and rapid progression to abscess formation.
Entrepreneurship Lock and the Demand for Health Insurance: Evidence from the US Affordable Care Act
Authors: Blume-Kohout Margaret E.
Published: November 2023

Most US workers have health insurance plans sponsored and subsidized by their employers. The US Affordable Care Act (ACA) improved and expanded the availability of non-employer-based health insurance, with protections for pre-existing conditions, guaranteed issue, and community rating in non-group markets. Using National Health Interview Survey data for 2009 to 2018 and a difference-in-differences modeling approach, this study finds that the ACA increased self-employment in 2015 and 2016 among US adults with higher demand for health insurance. The probability of self-employment increased by 1.4 to 1.8 percentage points among adults ages 30 to 64 with at least one pre-ACA declinable condition and no alternative source of health insurance through a spouse’s employer or public programs. However, these effects were short-lived. As uncertainty about the long-term viability of the ACA’s health insurance exchanges increased in 2017 and 2018, the probability of self-employment among individuals with high demand for insurance fell to pre-ACA levels.
Study of an improved single neuron PID control algorithm in the Tokamak plasma density control system
Authors: Shu Shuangbao , Yang Ziqiang , Zhang Jiaxin , Luo Jiarong , Wang Jiyao , Tao Xiaojie
Published: November 2023

Tokamak is an important device for controlled nuclear fusion research. The plasma electronic density control system (PEDCS) is an important system for controlling the Tokamak discharge process, which should be of high stability, rapidity, and accuracy. Gas seeding systems are widely used in many Tokamak devices to achieve plasma electronic density control. According to the mechanism model analysis for the plasma electronic density object, an adapted single neuron proportion integration differentiation (PID) control algorithm with the radial basis function (RBF) neural network tuning is studied. The principle and the implementation of the intelligent control algorithm are described in detail in this paper. The intelligent controller enables the system to optimize the PID parameters online according to the density state in the discharge process. The experimental results show that the adapted algorithm achieves a good control effect and also improves the control performance. The proposed method provides a useful reference for Tokamak devices and other similar control systems.
Spatial Response Discrimination May Elicit a Simon Effect on a Non-Complementary Task
Authors: Lam Melanie Y. , Chua Romeo
Published: November 2023

When paired participants are each assigned a complementary half of the Simon task, a joint Simon effect (JSE) has been observed. Co-representation, a cognitive representation of not only one’s own task but also that of the co-actor, has been one of several proposed mechanisms in the JSE. Using the response-discrimination hypothesis as a framework, we tested whether it was sufficient to highlight alternative task keys in a two-person setting in which a non-complementary task was completed to elicit a Simon effect (SE). In our design, the participant’s role was to perform the Go/No-Go Simon task and the co-actor’s role was to initiate each trial for the participant. In one two-person setting participant group (SK group), the same task key was assigned to both the participant and the co-actor; another group (OK) was assigned spatially opposite task keys. In a third group (joint setting, TS group), the standard joint Simon task was also completed to verify that a JSE could be replicated. We hypothesized that an SE would be elicited in the OK group, since opposite task keys would uniquely promote spatial coding. We found a weak but marginally significant SE in the OK group but not in the SK group. These results suggest that, on a non-complementary task, response discrimination may contribute to the emergence of a SE in a two-person setting, while it does not have the same impact as a complementary task completed in a joint setting (TS group) that may afford more robust response representations that reveal the enhanced so-called JSE.
Students’ other-oriented cognitions: The roles of teachers’ emotional competence and classroom social support in a Greek sample
Authors: Poulou Maria S. , Garner Pamela
Published: November 2023

The current study examined whether the extent to which students perceived their teachers provided positive support influenced associations between teachers’ emotional intelligence and social emotional learning (SEL) beliefs and multiple dimensions of students’ other-oriented cognitions (i.e., perspective taking empathetic concern, and prosocial motivations and goals). Forty-three fifth-grade and sixth-grade teachers from 12 Greek elementary schools and 353 students (192 boys) were participants. The majority of students were White and of Greek nationality. Teachers’ emotional intelligence was associated positively with students’ empathic concern and prosocial goals. However, the association between teachers’ emotional intelligence was related negatively to students’ perspective taking skills, but only when students reported receiving less positive support from their teachers. Conversely, when students reported high levels of positive teacher support, teachers’ comfort with SEL teaching practices was related positively to students’ prosocial goals. Findings also highlighted differences in Greek teachers’ emotional intelligence and comfort with and commitment to SEL teaching practices as compared to those reported in other countries. Additionally, girls rated themselves as higher in empathetic concern than did boys. Implications for teacher training and professional development that support teachers and students’ SEL are discussed.
Longitudinal relationships between grit, self-esteem, and academic achievement among Korean primary school students
Authors: Park Sanghyun
Published: November 2023

In a competition-driven meritocratic learning environment, academic achievement can have a direct effect on self-esteem and self-concept. As such, academic achievement can act as an antecedent to grit and self-esteem. This study examined the longitudinal reciprocal relationships of academic achievement, consistency of interest (CI), perseverance of effort (PE), and self-esteem among fourth-grade and fifth-grade primary school students in South Korea, who were under heavy pressure in a performance-oriented learning environment. Data pertaining to 2,240 students were extracted from the 2018 Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey conducted by the National Youth Policy Institute, and cross-lagged structural equation modeling was conducted to examine the longitudinal relationship between three variables. The results revealed that academic achievement had a statistically significant positive relationship with CI, PE, and self-esteem; CI had a statistically significant positive relationship with PE; and PE had a statistically significant positive relationship with self-esteem through the mediation of academic achievement. In addition, self-esteem demonstrated the highest level of stability, and although CI and PE demonstrated similar levels of stability, CI displayed slightly greater stability compared to PE. Findings from this study suggest the need to support grit and self-esteem among Korean students under pressure in performance-oriented academic environments.
Leveraging Co-Teaching as a Social Justice Pedagogy: What School Leaders Need to Know
Authors: Preis Deirdra , Jara Dawn
Published: November 2023

Co-teaching is a social justice pedagogy that can increase educational access to groups of students who have historically been underserved and segregated in their schools. However, a school leader's failure to ensure inclusive cultures and critical support is its greatest obstacle. This retrospective, written by a former administrator and a special education teacher who collaborated on a high school co-teaching model for ten years, offers practical perspectives on implementation and includes actionable leader strategies for creating truly transformative co-taught classrooms.
The effect of dual-task training on cognitive ability, physical function, and dual-task performance in people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yu Dan , LI Xun , He Shutang , Zhu Huina , Lam Freddy Man Hin , Pang Marco Yiu Chung
Published: November 2023

Objective

To summarize the effect of dual-task training on cognitive, physical function, and dual-task performance in people with mild cognitive impairment or dementia.

Data sources

Embase, PEDro, PsycINFO, PubMed, CINAHL, The Cochrane Library, and a forward search conducted via Web of Science have been searched from inception to July 2023.

Review methods

Good-quality randomized controlled trials compared dual-task training with no/placebo intervention or single-task training among people with a primary diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or dementia were included. The PEDro scale was used to evaluate the methodological quality of individual studies. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations system was adopted to appraise the quality of evidence for each outcome.

Results

Eighteen trials (1325 participants) were included, and 17 provided data for meta-analysis. Comparing with no intervention, dual-task training led to significant improvements on attention (mean difference (MD) = −20.66, 95%CI [−39.42, −1.90]), functional mobility (MD = −2.73; 95%CI [−3.98, −1.49]). Compared with single-task training, dual-task training had greater effects on overall cognitive function (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.29, 95%CI [0.09, 0.49]), balance (SMD = 0.78, 95%CI [0.40, 1.15]) and functional mobility (MD = −1.17; 95%CI [−1.77, −0.58]). Its effect on dual-task performance remains inconclusive due to the inconsistent results reported.

Conclusion

Low- to moderate-quality evidence supports that dual-task training has beneficial effects on cognitive function and physical function in individuals with dementia or mild cognitive impairment. The optimal training protocol of dual-task training on cognitive and physical functions, and dual-task performance remains uncertain. Well-designed, randomized studies with large enough sample sizes are warranted.
Clinical treatment of patients with scrub typhus-induced liver injury and intracranial infection
Authors: Sun HongKui , Lei Li , Li JianWei , Niu Haiming , Yang Jiezhang , Chen MiaoLian
Published: November 2023

Scrub typhus is an infectious disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, a bacterium within the family Rickettsiaceae. The clinical symptoms are usually acute and are characterized by fever, eschar formation or ulceration, local or generalized lymphadenopathy, and rash. Because of the extensive damage to small blood vessels throughout the body, scrub typhus can involve multiple systems and organs, causing damage to the respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems and inducing kidney and liver dysfunction. Death can occur in severe cases. We herein report two cases of scrub typhus with liver damage and intracranial infection. Among patients with scrub typhus, the risk of death is significantly higher in those who develop liver injury and intracranial infection. However, there are few reports on the treatment of patients with liver injury and intracranial infection caused by scrub typhus, and relevant treatment experience is thus lacking. Our clinical case report helps to fill the knowledge gap in this area.
Expanding the IDEA: Ongoing- and Evolving-Evaluation of an Art Therapy in Prisons Program
Authors: Hart Marissa , Soape Evie , Barlow Casey , Torrech-Perez Michelle , Gussak David E. , Schubarth Anna
Published: November 2023

In 2021 an article was published that presented an art therapy in prisons program that emerged through a contractual partnership between a major state university and that state’s Department of Corrections, funded by Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The program was charged to provide art therapy with youthful offenders to alleviate behavioral, emotional, and intellectual impediments to their education. The program began in the summer of 2019 with a 3-year contract for two full-time art therapists for four sites. Responses to the annual reports and subsequent changes and benefits to the targeted population resulted in the contract being revised in the summer of 2021 that expanded it considerably, to four full-time art therapists for nine prisons. This follow-up research article will delineate the successful efficacy of this program and the impactful changes instituted since its inception and expansion. In addition, this article will further examine the evolution in the data gathering process, specifically applying more distinct considerations needed to accurately examine the effectiveness of the program.
The impact of cognitive biases, mental models, and mindsets on leadership and change in the health system
Authors: Petrie David A. , Lindstrom Ronald R. , Campbell Samuel G.
Published: November 2023

Understanding how cognitive biases, mental models, and mindsets impact leadership in health systems is essential. This article supports the notion of cognitive biases as flawed thinking or cognitive traps which negatively influence leadership. Mental models that do not fit with current evidence limit our ability to comprehend and respond to system issues. Resulting mindsets affect cognition, behaviour, and decision-making. Metacognition is critical. The wicked problems in today’s complex health system require leaders and everyone involved to elevate their personal, organizational, and disciplinary perspectives to a systems level. Three examples of mental models/mindsets are reviewed. They do not change simply because we wish or will them to. The first step is being aware of what they are and how they impact our thinking and decision-making. Some tips for managing these traps are offered as examples of how to challenge our leadership approach in the health system.
Thermo-electrical postbuckling behavior of carbon nanotubes-reinforced composite beams with piezoelectric layers and tangentially restrained ends
Authors: Thinh Nguyen Van , Tung Hoang Van
Published: November 2023

An analytical investigation on the buckling and postbuckling behavior of carbon nanotube-reinforced composite beams integrated with surface-bonded piezoelectric layers under uniform temperature rise is presented in this paper. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are reinforced into isotropic matrix through uniform distribution and functionally graded distributions. The properties of material constituents are assumed to be temperature-dependent and effective properties of CNT-reinforced composite are estimated using an extended rule of mixture. Equilibrium equations of the beams are established based on Euler-Bernoulli theory including von Kármán nonlinearity and solved using analytical solutions and Galerkin method. Critical temperatures and postbuckling load-deflection paths are determined using an iteration algorithm. Parametric studies are performed to examine the influences of CNT distribution and volume fraction, applied voltage, in-plane and out-of-plane conditions of the ends, slenderness, and thickness ratio of layers on the critical loads and postbuckling load carrying capacity of beams. Results reveal that CNT volume fraction and degree of in-plane ends constraint have slight and significant influences on the critical temperatures and thermal postbuckling paths, respectively. The study also finds that negative and positive voltages increase and decrease the thermal buckling temperatures of piezoelectric CNT-reinforced composite beams.
Age Changes in Religious Service Attendance in Mexican American Older Adults: A Growth Curve Analysis
Authors: Stroope Samuel , Kroeger Rhiannon A.
Published: November 2023

Objectives

This study examines age patterns in religious attendance in older Mexican Americans. Previous research has focused on majority-white samples, limiting generalizability to other groups. Research in ethnic minority populations is needed.

Methods

We descriptively analyze Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly (Hispanic EPESE) data and estimate a mixed effects linear growth curve model to assess the relationship between age and religious attendance. Results: Descriptive results reveal an inverse U-shaped pattern of religious attendance. Results from the growth curve model indicate rising religious attendance after age 65 and a decline after the mid-70s, an earlier decline compared to majority-white studies. Discussion: These findings have implications for individual well-being, the functioning of religious congregations, and for understanding the patterning of a salient form of social participation among older adults. Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms and to examine religious attendance patterns in understudied populations.
State-of-the-art on microstructural, mechanical and tribological properties of friction stir processed aluminium 2xxx series alloy
Authors: Das Rahul , Kumar Sanjeev , Katiyar Jitendra Kumar , Choudhury Smrity , Roy Barnik Saha
Published: November 2023

As a noble surface modification technique, friction stir processing (FSP) has been established based on the principle of friction stir welding that refines the microstructure and localized plastic deformation of the material. Nevertheless, despite notable technological progress, challenges persist in utilizing FSP to improve material characteristics. This review paper offers a concise overview, summarizing the influence of process parameters on the microstructure mechanical and tribological properties of aluminium alloy subjected to FSP. In particular, the performance of aluminium alloy is discussed about FSP factors such as tool travel speed, rotating speed, reinforcement particles, multiple passes and tool tilt angle. This paper also reviewed the effect of different process parameters on the wear properties, corrosion and tribological characteristics of the processed alloy, which will facilitate researchers and business organizations in creating the needed upgraded composite.