bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enabling Research through the SCIP Optimization Suite 8.0
Authors: Bestuzheva Ksenia , Besançon Mathieu , Chen Wei-Kun , Chmiela Antonia , Donkiewicz Tim , van Doornmalen Jasper , Eifler Leon , Gaul Oliver , Gamrath Gerald , Gleixner Ambros , Gottwald Leona , Graczyk Christoph , Halbig Katrin , Hoen Alexander , Hojny Christopher , van der Hulst Rolf , Koch Thorsten , Lübbecke Marco , Maher Stephen J. , Matter Frederic , Mühmer Erik , Müller Benjamin , Pfetsch Marc E. , Rehfeldt Daniel , Schlein Steffan , Schlösser Franziska , Serrano Felipe , Shinano Yuji , Sofranac Boro , Turner Mark , Vigerske Stefan , Wegscheider Fabian , Wellner Philipp , Weninger Dieter , Witzig Jakob
Published: March 2023

The
SCIP
Optimization Suite provides a collection of software packages for mathematical optimization centered around the constraint integer programming framework
SCIP
. The focus of this article is on the role of the
SCIP
Optimization Suite in supporting research.
SCIP
’s main design principles are discussed, followed by a presentation of the latest performance improvements and developments in version 8.0, which serve both as examples of
SCIP
’s application as a research tool and as a platform for further developments. Furthermore, this article gives an overview of interfaces to other programming and modeling languages, new features that expand the possibilities for user interaction with the framework, and the latest developments in several extensions built upon
SCIP
.
A Discriminant Information Theoretic Learning Framework for Multi-modal Feature Representation
Authors: Gao Lei , Guan Ling
Published: March 2023

As sensory and computing technology advances, multi-modal features have been playing a central role in ubiquitously representing patterns and phenomena for effective information analysis and recognition. As a result, multi-modal feature representation is becoming a progressively significant direction of academic research and real applications. Nevertheless, numerous challenges remain ahead, especially in the joint utilization of discriminatory representations and complementary representations from multi-modal features. In this article, a discriminant information theoretic learning (DITL) framework is proposed to address these challenges. By employing this proposed framework, the discrimination and complementation within the given multi-modal features are exploited jointly, resulting in a high-quality feature representation. According to characteristics of the DITL framework, the newly generated feature representation is further optimized, leading to lower computational complexity and improved system performance. To demonstrate the effectiveness and generality of DITL, we conducted experiments on several recognition examples, including both static cases, such as handwritten digit recognition, face recognition, and object recognition, and dynamic cases, such as video-based human emotion recognition and action recognition. The results show that the proposed framework outperforms state-of-the-art algorithms.
TiO2/Ni–NC Hybrid Derived from Ti3C2TX/NiMOF for Highly Sensitive Electrochemical Sensing of Mercury Ions
Authors: Wang Xue , Bai Xuting , Wang Wenzhong , Zhao Zixuan , Shan Jiajia
Published: March 2023

Mercury ions (Hg2+) pose serious threats to ecological environment and human health, which lead to the increasing demand for rapid and sensitive detection methods. Herein, an electrochemical sensor based on titanium dioxide/nickel nanoparticles-nitrogen doped carbon (TiO2/Ni–NC) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was developed for the detection of Hg2+. A Ti3C2TX/NiMOF composite was synthesized by in situ growing NiMOF on the multilayered structure of Ti3C2TX. Through a facile pyrolysis treatment, TiO2/Ni–NC was derived from Ti3C2TX/NiMOF. N element doped carbon with a porous structure provided electron transfer channels for the electrochemical reaction and an ideal matrix for immobilizing catalytic sites. The TiO2 and Ni nanoparticles were homogeneously distributed on the carbon matrix, and they exhibited good catalytic activity toward the electrochemical reaction of Hg2+. The accumulation of Hg2+ was promoted due to the chelation with the doped N element. The differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) method coupled with the TiO2/Ni–NC/GCE sensor was used to determine the concentration of Hg2+. Under the optimal conditions, our proposed method presented a wide detection range (1 nM to 10 μM) and a low detection limit (0.79 nM). The sensor provided a satisfactory recovery in real water sample analysis, demonstrating the feasibility for environmental monitoring applications.
Monitoring Changes in Electrolyte Composition of Commercial Li-Ion Cells after Cycling using NMR Spectroscopy and Differential Thermal Analysis
Authors: Maddar F. M. , Genieser R. , Tan C. C. , Loveridge M. J.
Published: March 2023

We illustrate a simple and effective electrolyte extraction methodology from commercial 18650 lithium-ion cells. This methodology is based on a liquid-liquid extraction step, which is highlighted for robustness, reproducibility, and reliability. We assess the consumption of electrolyte by tracking compositional changes using liquid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, supported by differential thermal analysis (DTA) before and after cell cycling. An analysis method that monitors compositional dynamics is presented and shows the impact of these changes throughout a cell’s lifetime. Such methodology can be employed in the understanding of electrolyte degradation mechanisms to enhance the understanding of performance fade in commercial cells. Moreover, it will help build robust mathematical models that are able to predict the drive of cell degradation and ultimate failure.
Cardiovascular magnetic resonance rest and exercise-stress left atrioventricular coupling index to detect diastolic dysfunction
Authors: Backhaus Sören J. , Lange Torben , Schulz Alexander , Evertz Ruben , Frey Simon M. , Hasenfuß Gerd , Schuster Andreas
Published: March 2023

Evaluation of the left atrioventricular coupling index (LACI) in a rest and exercise-stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging protocol allows identification of patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction with high diagnostic accuracy. LACI holds similar diagnostic accuracy at rest compared with left atrial ejection fraction during exercise stress. This highlights the value of LACI as a widely available and cost-effective test for diastolic dysfunction, which may help to guide patient selection for referral to specialized testing/treatment.
Efficacy of a growth hormone-releasing hormone agonist in a murine model of cardiometabolic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
Authors: Kanashiro-Takeuchi Rosemeire M. , Takeuchi Lauro M. , Dulce Raul A. , Kazmierczak Katarzyna , Balkan Wayne , Cai Renzhi , Sha Wei , Schally Andrew V. , Hare Joshua M.
Published: March 2023

This randomized study used rigorous hemodynamic tools to test the efficacy of a synthetic GHRH agonist to improve cardiac performance in a cardiometabolic HFpEF. Daily injection of the GHRH agonist, MR-356, reduced the HFpEF-like effects as evidenced by improved diastolic dysfunction, reduced cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and pulmonary congestion. Notably, end-diastolic pressure and end-diastolic pressure-volume relationship were reset to control levels. Moreover, treatment with MR-356 increased exercise capacity and reduced myocardial stress associated with metabolic inflammation in HFpEF.
Mitigating Effect of Dietary Dioclea reflexa (Hook F) Seed Inclusion in Experimental Colon Carcinogenesis
Authors: Dorathy Iliemene-Ejike Uju , Ene-Ojo Atawodi Sunday
Published: March 2023

Rats exposed to 72-hour intrarectal instillations of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) were fed with Dioclea reflexa seed-included diets (0, 2.5, 5.0, and 10%). Following sacrifice, organs and blood were collected and analyzed for indices of oxidative stress and carcinogenesis using spectrophotometric, ELISA, histological, and immunohistochemical techniques. Dioclea reflexa seed-included diets significantly (

p
<
0.05

) prevented MNU-induced elevation of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), malondialdehyde, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and boosted the activities of glutathione s-transferase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase. It also prevented MNU-induced colonic mucosal ulceration/interglandular inflammations and protected the mismatch repair gene, Mutl homolog1, against MNU-induced damage. There was a strong negative relationship between CEA, NLR, and the antioxidant enzyme activities, as well as total polyphenols, total flavonoids, and crude fiber, while CEA correlated positively with malondialdehyde levels. These results suggest that Dioclea reflexa seed is endowed with constituents possessing a potent capacity to mitigate oxidative stress, as well as the initiation and promotion of chemically induced colon carcinogenesis.
Preoperative Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis Prediction in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Noninvasive Clinical Multimodal Radiomics (CMR) Nomogram Analysis
Authors: Hu Wenjuan , Zhuang Yuzhong , Tang Lang , Chen Hongyan , Wang Hao , Wei Ran , Wang Lanyun , Ding Yi , Xie Xiaoli , Ge Yaqiong , Wu Pu-Yeh , Song Bin
Published: March 2023

This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of applying a clinical multimodal radiomics nomogram based on ultrasonography (US) and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the prediction of cervical lymph node metastasis (LNM) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) preoperatively. We performed retrospective evaluations of 133 patients with pathologically confirmed PTC, who were assigned to the training cohort and validation cohort (7 : 3), and extracted radiomics features from the preoperative US, T2-weighted (T2WI),diffusion-weighted (DWI), and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted (CE-T1WI) images. Optimal subsets were selected using minimum redundancy, maximum relevance, and recursive feature elimination in the support vector machine (SVM). For LNM prediction, the radiomics model was constructed by SVM, and Multi-Omics Graph cOnvolutional NETworks (MOGONET) was used for the effective classification of multiradiomics data. Multivariable logistic regression incorporating multiradiomics signatures and clinical risk factors was used to generate a nomogram, whose performance and clinical utility were assessed. Results showed that the nine most predictive features were separately selected from US, T2WI, DWI, and CE-T1WI images, and 18 features were selected in the combined model. The combined radiomics model showed better performance than models based on US, T2WI, DWI, and CE-T1WI. In a comparison of the combined radiomics and MOGONET model, receiver operating curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) value (95% CI) was 0.84 (0.76–0.93) and 0.84 (0.71–0.96) for the MOGONET model in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. The corresponding values (95% CI) for the combined radiomics model were 0.82 (0.74–0.90) and 0.77 (0.61–0.94), respectively. The MOGONET model had better performance and better prediction specificity compared with the combined radiomics model. The nomogram including the MOGONET signature showed a better predictive value (AUC: 0.81 vs. 0.88) in the training and validation (AUC: 0.74vs. 0.87) cohorts, as compared with the clinical model. Calibration curves showed good agreement in both cohorts. The applicability of the clinical multimodal radiomics (CMR) nomogram in clinical settings was validated by decision curve analysis. In patients with PTC, the CMR nomogram could improve the prediction of cervical LNM preoperatively and may be helpful in clinical decision-making.
[Retracted] Applying Blockchain Technology in Network Public Opinion Risk Management System in Big Data Environment
Authors: Luo Zhenqing , Zhang Cheng
Published: March 2023

Network public opinion represents public social opinion to a certain extent and has an important impact on formulating national policies and judgment. Therefore, China and other countries attach great importance to the study of online public opinion. However, the current researches lack the combination of theory and practical cases and lack the intersection of social and natural sciences. This work aims to overcome the technical defects of traditional management systems, break through the difficulties and pain points of existing network public opinion risk management, and improve the efficiency of network public opinion risk management. Firstly, a network public opinion isolation strategy based on the infectious disease propagation model is proposed, and the optimal control theory is used to realize a functional control model to maximize social utility. Secondly, blockchain technology is used to build a network public opinion risk management system. The system is used to conduct a detailed study on identifying and perceiving online public opinion risk. Finally, a Chinese word segmentation scheme based on Long Short‐Term Memory (LSTM) network model and a text emotion recognition scheme based on a convolutional neural network are proposed. Both schemes are validated on a typical corpus. The results show that when the system has a control strategy, the number of susceptible drops significantly. Two days after the public opinion is generated, the number of susceptible people decreased from 1,000 to 250; 3 days after the public opinion is generated, the number of susceptible people stabilized. 2 days after the public opinion is generated, the number of lurkers increased from 100 to 620; 3 days after the public opinion is generated, the number of lurkers stabilized. The data demonstrate that the designed isolation control strategy is effective. Changes in public opinion among infected people show that quarantine control strategies played a significant role in the early days of Corona Virus Disease 2019. The rate of change in the number of infections is more affected when quarantine controls are increased, especially in the days leading up to the outbreak. When the system adopts the optimal control strategy, the influence scope of public opinion becomes smaller, and the control becomes easier. When the dimension of the word vector of emergent events is 200, its accuracy may be higher. This method provides certain ideas for blockchain and deep learning technology in network public opinion control.
Human Detection and Action Recognition for Search and Rescue in Disasters Using YOLOv3 Algorithm
Authors: Valarmathi B. , Kshitij Jain , Dimple Rajpurohit , Srinivasa Gupta N. , Harold Robinson Y. , Arulkumaran G. , Mulu Tadesse
Published: March 2023

Drone examination has been overall quickly embraced by NDMM (natural disaster mitigation and management) division to survey the state of impacted regions. Manual video analysis by human observers takes time and is subject to mistakes. The human identification examination of pictures caught by drones will give a practical method for saving lives who are being trapped under debris during quakes or in floods and so on. Drone investigation for research and security and search and rescue (SAR) should involve the drone to filter the impacted area using a camera and a model of unmanned area vehicles (UAVs) to identify specific locations where assistance is required. The existing methods (Balmukund et al. 2020) used were faster-region based convolutional neural networks (F-RCNNs), single shot detector (SSD), and region-based fully convolutional network (R-FCN) for the detection of human and recognition of action. Some of the existing methods used 700 images with six classes only, whereas the proposed model uses 1996 images with eight classes. The proposed model is used YOLOv3 (you only look once) algorithm for the detection and recognition of actions. In this study, we provide the fundamental ideas underlying an object detection model. To find the most effective model for human recognition and detection, we trained the YOLOv3 algorithm on the image dataset and evaluated its performance. We compared the outcomes with the existing algorithms like F-RCNN, SSD, and R-FCN. The accuracies of F-RCNN, SSD, R-FCN (existing algorithms), and YOLOv3 (proposed algorithm) are 53%, 73%, 93%, and 94.9%, respectively. Among these algorithms, the YOLOv3 algorithm gives the highest accuracy of 94.9%. The proposed work shows that existing models are inadequate for critical applications like search and rescue, which convinces us to propose a model raised by a pyramidal component extracting SSD in human localization and action recognition. The suggested model is 94.9% accurate when applied to the proposed dataset, which is an important contribution. Likewise, the suggested model succeeds in helping time for expectation in examination with the cutting-edge identification models with existing strategies. The average time taken by our proposed technique to distinguish a picture is 0.40 milisec which is a lot better than the existing method. The proposed model can likewise distinguish video and can be utilized for real-time recognition. The SSD model can likewise use to anticipate messages if present in the picture.
PSMA-positive Circulating Tumor Cell Detection and Outcomes with Abiraterone or Enzalutamide Treatment in Men with Metastatic Castrate-resistant Prostate Cancer
Authors: Gupta Santosh , Halabi Susan , Yang Qian , Roy Akash , Tubbs Alisa , Gore Yamini , George Daniel J. , Nanus David M. , Antonarakis Emmanuel S. , Danila Daniel C. , Szmulewitz Russell Z. , Wenstrup Richard , Armstrong Andrew J.
Published: March 2023

Purpose:

In men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted radioligand therapy has drastically improved clinical outcomes. A liquid biopsy characterizing PSMA expression could be useful in guiding optimal therapy.

Experimental Design:

We conducted a retrospective analysis of the prospective multicenter PROPHECY (Prospective CiRculating PrOstate Cancer Predictors in HighEr Risk mCRPC StudY) trial of men with mCRPC (n = 118) treated with abiraterone (abi) or enzalutamide (enza). Circulating tumor cells (CTC) were enriched (CTC/mL) and characterized for PSMA protein expression/heterogeneity at baseline and progression. We utilized proportional hazards modeling of the association between PSMA-positive (PSMA+) CTC enumeration with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

Results:

Overall, 97 men with mCRPC had evaluable blood samples for baseline CTC PSMA detection; 78 men (80%) had detectable CTCs. Of these, 55% (43/78) of men had any PSMA CTC detection, 21% (16/78) had ≥2 PSMA+ CTCs/mL, and 19% (8/43) were 100% PSMA+. At progression on abi/enza, 88% (50/57) of men had detectable CTCs, 68% (34/50) had any PSMA CTCs, and 12% (4/34) had 100% PSMA+ CTCs. Among paired cases (n = 57), PSMA+ CTC detection increased slightly after abi/enza progression. Using an optimal cutoff of ≥2 PSMA+ CTCs/mL, median OS was 26, 21, and 11 months for men without CTCs, PSMA− CTCs, and PSMA+ CTCs. Adjusting for prior abi/enza therapy, Halabi clinical risk score, and CTC enumeration, the HRs for OS and PFS for PSMA+ CTC+ were 3.0 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.1–7.8] and 2.3 (95% CI = 0.9–5.8).

Conclusions:

We observed PSMA CTC heterogeneity between and within patients with mCRPC over time during abi/enza progression. CTC PSMA enumeration was adversely prognostic independent of clinical factors and disease burden. Further validation is warranted in the context of PSMA-targeted therapies.
Chromosome 18 Loss of Heterozygosity in Small Intestinal Neuroendocrine Tumours: Multi-Omic and Tumour Composition Analyses
Authors: Waterfield Scott , Yousefi Paul , Webster Amy , Relton Caroline , Thirlwell Chrissie , Suderman Matt
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Small intestinal neuroendocrine tumours (siNETs) are rare neoplasms which present with low mutational burden and can be subtyped based on copy number variation (CNV). Currently, siNETs can be molecularly classified as having chromosome 18 loss of heterozygosity (18LOH), multiple CNVs (MultiCNV), or no CNVs. 18LOH tumours have better progression-free survival when compared to MultiCNV and NoCNV tumours, however, the mechanism underlying this is unknown, and clinical practice does not currently consider CNV status. Methods: Here, we use genome-wide tumour DNA methylation (n = 54) and gene expression (n = 20 matched to DNA methylation) to better understand how gene regulation varies by 18LOH status. We then use multiple cell deconvolution methods to analyse how cell composition varies between 18LOH status and determine potential associations with progression-free survival. Results: We identified 27,464 differentially methylated CpG sites and 12 differentially expressed genes between 18LOH and non-18LOH (MultiCNV + NoCNV) siNETs. Although few differentially expressed genes were identified, these genes were highly enriched with the differentially methylated CpG sites compared to the rest of the genome. We identified differences in tumour microenvironment between 18LOH and non-18LOH tumours, including CD14+ infiltration in a subset of non-18LOH tumours which had the poorest clinical outcomes. Conclusions: We identify a small number of genes which appear to be linked to the 18LOH status of siNETs, and find evidence of potential epigenetic dysregulation of these genes. We also find a potential prognostic marker for worse progression-free outcomes in the form of higher CD14 infiltration in non-18LOH siNETs.
Quality of Life and Treatment Adherence in Patients with Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus
Authors: Geisler Amaris N. , Koptyev Jonathan , Strunk Andrew , Shah Pooja R. , Garg Amit
Published: March 2023

Background: Vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS) is a chronic, relapsing, inflammatory dermatosis that has significant impact on patients’ quality of life (QoL). While disease severity and associated QoL impact have been studied, factors associated with treatment adherence and their relation to QoL in VLS remain unexplored. Objective: The objectives of this study were to describe demographics, clinical characteristics, and skin-related QoL in VLS patients and to assess the relationship between QoL and treatment adherence. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, single institution, electronic survey study. The relationship between adherence, measured using the validated Domains of Subjective Extent of Nonadherence (DOSE-Nonadherence) scale, and skin-related QoL, using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score, was assessed using Spearman correlation. Results: Of 28 survey respondents, 26 provided complete responses. Among 9 patients classified as adherent and 16 classified as nonadherent, mean DLQI total score was 1.8 and 5.4, respectively. Spearman correlation between summary nonadherence score and DLQI total was 0.31 (95% CI: −0.09–0.63) overall and 0.54 (95% CI: 0.15–0.79) when patients who reported missing doses due to asymptomatic disease were excluded. Most frequently reported factors preventing treatment adherence included application/treatment time (43.8%) and asymptomatic or well-controlled disease (25%). Conclusions: Though Qol impairment was relatively small in both our adherent and nonadherent groups, we identified important factors preventing treatment adherence, with the most common being application/treatment time. These findings may help dermatologists and other providers generate hypotheses as to how to facilitate better treatment adherence among their patients with VLS, with the goal of optimizing QoL.
“A Viagem à Casa das Onças”: Narrativas sobre experiências extraordinárias
Authors: Langdon Esther Jean
Published: March 2023

A performance das narrativas entre os índios Siona manifestam a função estética, apontada por Richard Bauman e outros, por meio da recriação da experiência das viagens xamânicas e da transformação de perspectiva que faz parte dos ritos com o uso do enteógeno yajé (ayahuasca). Nestas viagens, a perspectiva cotidiana é substituída por uma outra, que permite à plateia conhecer os seres que habitam o mundo invisível revelado nas visões. Ademais, as performances têm o importante papel de transmitir o conhecimento xamânico. A literatura oral dramatiza experiências de encontros ou viagens no mundo invisível, sejam estas ligadas ou não ao uso de enteógenos e aos sonhos. Através dos mecanismos poéticos, essas narrativas transmitem conhecimento ao indexar as relações entre o cotidiano e as regiões ocultas. Assim, elas criam expectativas na plateia a respeito das experiências extraordinárias com os espíritos e dão pistas de como entender e preparar-se para a mudança de perspectiva que caracteriza os encontros com o lado oculto. No intuito de explorar a relação entre a experiência extraordinária, performance e perspectiva, este trabalho analisa uma narrativa relatada por vários Siona sobre a época de sua juventude e aprendizagem xamânica – “A viagem à Casa das Onças”. Nesta, o jovem é convidado pelo mestre-xamã para visitar a casa das onças, onde elas aparecem na forma de humanos, em festas onde elas convidam o jovem para descansar numa rede nova, enquanto o mestre-xamã orienta o que o jovem está vendo. Esta viagem ao lado oculto não acontece durante o ritual sob a influência do yajé, mas na manhã seguinte, quando o novato está de volta à aldeia. A análise aponta para as estratégias que permitem à narrativa em performance criar experiências, transmitindo conhecimento xamânico e informando sobre a troca de perspectivas e o poder xamânico.
Estilo de vida e atuação política de jovens do hip-hop em Sergipe
Authors: Marcon Frank , Souza  Filho Florival de
Published: March 2023

Neste artigo pretendemos analisar as relações existentes entre as formas de expressão cultural da juventude ligada ao hip-hop e a atuação política de alguns deles na articulação coletiva das chamadas posses. Percebemos que é relativamente recente a participação política de jovens ligados a este tipo de movimento cultural no cenário político e estamos interessados em compreender: como isto acontece? Quem são estes protagonistas? Quais as formas e as prioridades desta articulação? Bem como, procuramos demonstrar como algumas expressões culturais juvenis estão se tornando uma característica do protagonismo das juventudes no cenário contemporâneo no Brasil. Realizamos a pesquisa privilegiando a observação participante junto a alguns coletivos de hip-hop, assim como gravando entrevistas com alguns dos jovens de posses envolvidas com partidos políticos.
Caste Groups
Authors: Pal Satanik
Published: March 2023

The following article seeks to establish caste groups in India as Weberian status groups. Dumont and Weber’s understanding of caste, while partially correct in this area, sought to establish caste as uniquely Indian, through their orientalist leanings. The Brahmin caste was seen by most orientalists as being an exclusive group of ascetic priests who headed Hindu society. By attempting to demonstrate the political and economic factors behind their dominance, the author here seeks to de-exoticize these assumptions, and calls for the term caste to be replaced by status. This will allow us to compare endogamous caste groups or jatis in India with status groups in premodern and modern complex societies all over the world.
4Q1 (4QGen-Exoda)
Authors: Tigchelaar Eibert
Published: March 2023

This note presents identifications of small unidentified 4Q1 fragments, and comments on the variants and corrections in the manuscript, its script and height, and suggests that 4Q1 was a professionally produced scroll.
Frag. 2 of 2QRuthb
Authors: Bonanno Beatrice
Published: March 2023

This contribution focuses on fragment 2 of 2QRuthb, which attests several difficulties from a material, palaeographic, and textual perspective. The analysis proposes a hypothesis regarding its composition and the identification of the text. This fragment may be considered a textual witness of Ruth 3:10–11 and it attests a textual variant, which agrees with the Septuagint against the Masoretic Text.
Examining Chinese-foreign Cooperation in Running Schools During the Epidemic Period: A Macro Education Policy Analysis
Authors: Xue Eryong , Li Jian
Published: March 2023

After the epidemic, the increase of the number of Chinese students studying abroad slowed down, and the flow scale of international students entered a downward stage, but the overall trend was still stable. The globalization of education in the epidemic period presents a new feature of “double-edged sword”. Along with the current situation of studying aboard, this study explores China’s new policy on studying abroad in the epidemic era. Overview of China’s new policy on studying abroad during the epidemic period and interpretation of China’s new policy on studying abroad during the epidemic period have been provided in this study. In addition, the suggestions and remarks have been offered in the last.
Public Information Priorities across Weather Hazards and Time Scales
Authors: Krocak Makenzie J. , Ripberger Joseph T. , Ernst Sean , Silva Carol , Jenkins-Smith Hank , Bitterman Abby
Published: March 2023

As the abundance of weather forecast guidance continues to grow, communicators will have to prioritize what types of information to pass on to decision-makers. This work aims to evaluate how members of the public prioritize weather forecast attributes (including information about location, timing, chance, severity, impacts, and protective actions) on average and across event timelines in the severe, tropical, and winter weather domains. Data from three demographically representative surveys of U.S. adults indicate that members of the public generally prioritize information about event location, timing, and severity when evaluating the importance of forecast attributes. This pattern is largely consistent across hazard domains but varies across event timelines. In early stages of a forecast (such as the outlook time scale), people generally prioritize information about chance and location. In middle stages (watch time scale), event timing and severity become more important. In late stages (warning time scale), information about protective actions is a higher priority, especially for people with less exposure to a hazard.
Observed Upper Deep Branch of the Pacific Meridional Overturning Circulation North of New Guinea
Authors: Zhang Hang , Wang Jianing , Wang Fan , Zhang Zhixiang , Ma Qiang
Published: March 2023

The deep channel north of New Guinea (NG) is the choke site for the upper deep branches of the Pacific meridional overturning circulation (U-PMOC). The U-PMOC is a crucial element of the ocean’s climate and biogeochemical systems. It carries the mixed water of the Upper Circumpolar Water and North Pacific Deep Water with a potential temperature over 1.2°–2.2°C. The pathway and volume transport of U-PMOC through the deep channel north of NG are revealed by mooring measurements from 2014 to 2019. Mean U-PMOC is located at ∼2000–3500 m with a velocity core at 2550 m and is directed eastward. The U-PMOC shows a strong seasonal variability with a direction reversal from June to September. The oceanic reanalysis product GLORYS12V1 well reproduces the observed U-PMOC and is thus used to estimate the mean and standard deviation of U-PMOC’s volume transport as 2.19 ± 11.4 Sv (1 Sv ≡ 106 m3 s−1) and to explore the underlying dynamics of the U-PMOC. The seasonality of U-PMOC is induced by the vertical propagation of the Rossby energy through the upper ocean in the eastern Pacific to the deep ocean in the western Pacific. The mean eastward U-PMOC transport is forced by the zonal deep pressure gradient, which is mainly determined by the local upper-ocean processes above 500 m.
Does RAS Status Increase the Prevalence of Positive Resection Margin in Colorectal Liver Metastasis? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Brandão Gabriela Rangel , Trindade Bruna Oliveira , Flores Luís Henrique Fernandes , Motter Sarah Bueno , Alves Cassio Bona , Remonti Tiago Auatt Paes , Lucchese Angélica Maria , Junior Antonio Dal Pizzol , Kalil Antonio Nocchi
Published: March 2023

Background

Colorectal liver metastasis has a high incidence, and RAS oncogene mutation status carries significant prognostic information. We aimed to assess whether RAS-mutated patients present more or less frequently with positive margins in their hepatic metastasectomy.

Methods

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies from PubMed, Embase, and Lilacs databases. We analyzed liver metastatic colorectal cancer studies, which included information on RAS status and had surgical margin analysis of the liver metastasis. Odds ratios were computed using a random-effect model due to anticipated heterogeneity. We further performed a subanalysis limited to studies that included only patients with KRAS instead of all-RAS mutations.

Results

From the 2,705 studies screened, 19 articles were included in the meta-analysis. There were 7,391 patients. The prevalence of positive resection margin was not significantly different between patients carrier vs non-carrier for the all-RAS mutations (OR .99; 95% CI 0.83-1.18; P = .87), and for only KRAS mutation (OR .93; 95% CI 0.73-1.19; P = .57).

Conclusions

Despite the strong correlation between colorectal liver metastasis prognosis and RAS mutation status, our meta-analysis’s results suggest no correlation between the RAS status and the prevalence of positive resection margins. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the RAS mutation’s role in the surgical resections of colorectal liver metastasis.
Sarcopenia in Patients With Rectal Adenocarcinoma: An Opportunity for Preoperative Rehabilitation
Authors: Bliggenstorfer Jonathan T. , Hashmi Ahmad , Bingmer Katherine , Chang Carolyn , Liu Jessica C. , Ginesi Meridith , Stein Sharon L. , Steinhagen Emily
Published: March 2023

Background

Sarcopenia, defined as low skeletal muscle mass, affects up to 60% of rectal adenocarcinoma patients receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiation (NACRT), with negative impact on patient outcomes. Identifying modifiable risk factors may decrease morbidity and mortality.

Methods

A retrospective review of rectal cancer patients from a single academic center from 2006 to 2020 was performed. Sixty-nine patients with pre- and post-NACRT CT imaging were included. Skeletal muscle index (SMI) was calculated as total L3 skeletal muscle divided by height squared. Sarcopenia thresholds were 52.4 cm2/m2 for men and 38.5 cm2/m2 for women. Student T-test, chi-square test, multivariable regression, and multivariable Cox hazard analysis were performed.

Results

62.3% of patients lost SMI from pre- to post-NACRT imaging, with a mean change of −7.8% (±19.9%). Eleven (15.9%) patients were sarcopenic at presentation, increasing to 20 (29.0%) following NACRT. Mean SMI decreased from 49.0 cm2/m2 (95% CI: 42.0 cm2/m2-56.0 cm2/m2) to 38.2 cm2/m2 (95% CI: 33.6 cm2/m2-42.9 cm2/m2) (P = .003). Pre-NACRT sarcopenia correlated with post-NACRT sarcopenia (OR 20.6, P = .002). Percent decrease in SMI was associated with a 5% increased mortality risk.

Conclusion

The presence of sarcopenia at diagnosis and its association with post-NACRT sarcopenia suggests an opportunity for a high-impact intervention.
Does Vehicle Intrusion Alone Still Predict Injury: A Retrospective Analysis of Mechanism as Trauma Activation Criteria
Authors: Travis Harrison J. , Platt Blake , Muramoto Sara G. , Smith Alison A. , Hunt John P. , Stuke Lance E. , Greiffenstein Patrick P. , Schoen Jonathan E. , Marr Alan B.
Published: March 2023

Automobile collisions with driver side intrusion >12 inches or >18 elsewhere meet criteria for trauma activation. However, vehicle safety features have improved since this inception. We hypothesized vehicle intrusion (VI) alone as mechanism-of-injury (MOI) criteria inadequately predicts trauma center activation. A retrospective, single-center chart review of adult patients involved in motor vehicle collisions presenting to a level 1 trauma center from July 2016 to March 2022 was performed. Patients were divided by MOI criteria: VI vs. multiple MOI criteria. 2940 patients met inclusion criteria. The VI group reported lower injury severity scores ( P = 0.004), higher incidence of ED discharge ( P = 0.001), lower ICU admissions ( P = 0.004), and fewer in-hospital procedures ( P = 0.03). Vehicle intrusion was found to have a positive likelihood ratio of 0.889 for predicting trauma center need. According to current guidelines, these results suggest that VI criteria alone may not be an accurate predictor for trauma center transport and require further investigation.
Lymph Node Metastases in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma can be Predicted by a Convolutional Neural Network: a Multi-Institution Study
Authors: Esce Antoinette , Redemann Jordan P. , Olson Garth T. , Hanson Joshua A. , Agarwal Shweta , Yenwongfai Leonard , Ferreira Juanita , Boyd Nathan H. , Bocklage Thèrése , Martin David R.
Published: March 2023

Objectives:

The presence of nodal metastases in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has both staging and treatment implications. However, lymph nodes are often not removed during thyroidectomy. Prior work has demonstrated the capability of artificial intelligence (AI) to predict the presence of nodal metastases in PTC based on the primary tumor histopathology alone. This study aimed to replicate these results with multi-institutional data.

Methods:

Cases of conventional PTC were identified from the records of 2 large academic institutions. Only patients with complete pathology data, including at least 3 sampled lymph nodes, were included in the study. Tumors were designated “positive” if they had at least 5 positive lymph node metastases. First, algorithms were trained separately on each institution’s data and tested independently on the other institution’s data. Then, the data sets were combined and new algorithms were developed and tested. The primary tumors were randomized into 2 groups, one to train the algorithm and another to test it. A low level of supervision was used to train the algorithm. Board-certified pathologists annotated the slides. HALO-AI convolutional neural network and image software was used to perform training and testing. Receiver operator characteristic curves and the Youden J statistic were used for primary analysis.

Results:

There were 420 cases used in analyses, 45% of which were negative. The best performing single institution algorithm had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.64 with a sensitivity and specificity of 65% and 61% respectively, when tested on the other institution’s data. The best performing combined institution algorithm had an AUC of 0.84 with a sensitivity and specificity of 68% and 91% respectively.

Conclusion:

A convolutional neural network can produce an accurate and robust algorithm that is capable of predicting nodal metastases from primary PTC histopathology alone even in the setting of multi-institutional data.
The Political Economy of Indigenous Local Media for Minority Languages in Zimbabwe: A Case of Lyeja FM Community Radio
Authors: Mathe Limukani , Motsaathebe Gilbert
Published: March 2023

This article analyses the political economy of indigenous language media for minority ethnolinguistic groups in Zimbabwe. Using political economy as theory, the study engaged members of Lyeja-Nyai Development Trust to analyse socio-cultural and political challenges for Lyeja FM community radio of the Nambya and Dombe/Tonga ethnic groups in a multilingual community of Hwange. The findings of the study show that Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe (BAZ) licensed community radio stations through local or ethnic non-governmental organisations and these ethnic non-governmental organisations determined indigenous language programmes for community radio broadcasting. The article argues that local communities should be custodians of their own community radio broadcasting.
Africa’s Urban Fantasy? The Sustainability Question for Konza Technology City
Authors: K’Akumu O.A.
Published: March 2023

Konza technology city has been proposed as a flagship project in the ICT sector that would propel the Republic of Kenya to the status of a newly industrializing, middle-income country providing a high quality of life to all its citizens by 2030. It is billed as a sustainable, eco-friendly and smart city. Taking the perspective of the built environment, this paper evaluates the sustainability claims of the project against the sustainable development needs of the African city and its denizens. First, the project’s aim and objectives are laid out followed by a detailing of the project proposals concerning its governance structure, its master plan, its PPP strategy and its smart city prospects. This is followed by an evaluation of the project and the key proposals in the context of sustainable urban development. These include the rationale of the project, the suitability of site, the governance and inclusive development. In the end, a conclusion is reached that Konza’s smart city project proposals are not a set of sustainable solutions in the context of Africa’s urban development needs.
Negotiating Gender Roles and Power Relations Through the Management of International Migrant Remittances in a Patriarchal Community in Ghana
Authors: Teye Joseph Kofi , Darkwah Akosua Keseboa , Thorsen Dorte , Abutima Theophilus Kwabena , Boateng Doris Akyere
Published: March 2023

This paper draws on a feminist poststructural perspective to examine gendered dimensions of sending and managing international migrant remittances in a patriarchal community in Ghana. It relies on primary data collected through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and observation in Nkoranza, a Ghanaian community with a long history of international migration and receipt of remittances, to analyze the fluidity of gendered and intergenerational power relationships associated with managing remittances. The findings show that males and females perform different roles as remitters and managers of remittances. While the patterns of sending and receiving remittances tend to conform to gender norms, which construct men as providers and women as carers, these subject positions are fluid. Although men are generally reluctant to perform traditional female roles even when their wives migrate, gendered and intergenerational power relations are being negotiated through the sending and management of remittances.
Establishment of cell lines from individual zebrafish embryos
Authors: Geyer Nathalie , Kaminsky Sabrina , Confino Shir , Livne Zohar Ben-Moshe , Gothilf Yoav , Foulkes Nicholas S , Vallone Daniela
Published: March 2023

With the increasing use of fish as model species for research, cell cultures derived from caudal fin explants as well as pre-hatching stage embryos have provided powerful in vitro tools that can complement or serve as an ethically more acceptable alternative to live animal experiments. The widely-used protocols to establish these lines require, as a starting point, homogeneous pools of embryos or viable adult fish which are large enough for collecting sufficient fin tissue. This excludes the use of fish lines with adverse phenotypes or lines that exhibit mortality at early developmental stages and so can only be propagated as heterozygotes. Specifically, when no visually overt mutant phenotype is detectable for identifying homozygous mutants at early embryonic stages, it is then impossible to sort pools of embryos with the same genotypes to generate cell lines from the progeny of a heterozygote in-cross. Here, we describe a simple protocol to generate cell lines on a large scale starting from individual early embryos that can subsequently be genotyped by polymerase chain reaction. This protocol should help to establish fish cell culture models as a routine approach for the functional characterization of genetic changes in fish models such as the zebrafish. Furthermore, it should contribute to a reduction of experiments which are ethically discouraged to avoid pain and distress.
Portrayal of Suicide in Bollywood Movies Over Last Two Decades: A Content Analysis
Authors: Bhatia Gayatri , Mathur Rahul , Thakur Manish Roshan
Published: March 2023

Aim: To analyse Bollywood movies depicting suicides, released in last two decades, on content and scientific accuracy. Methodology: Online movie databases, blogs were accessed along with Google search to compile a list of movies portraying suicide (thought, plan, or act) in at least one character. Each movie was screened twice for details of character, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and scientific accuracy of depiction. Results: Twenty-two movies were analyzed. Most characters were middle-aged, unmarried, well educated, employed and affluent. Most common motives were emotional pain and guilt/shame. Most suicides were impulsive, method of choice was fall from height and resulted in death. Conclusion: Cinematic depiction of suicide may promote misconceptions among viewers. Alignment of cinematization with scientific knowledge is needed.
Breaking climate justice ‘silence’ in everyday life: The environmentalist killjoy, negotiation and relationship risk
Authors: Howard Lisa
Published: March 2023

The moral and justice dimensions of climate change are uncomfortable and commonly avoided in the conversations of day-to-day UK life. This ‘silence’ impedes the genesis of a public discourse to drive justice-oriented social and political change. Two social realms identified as silence-breaking are social movements and personal relationships, yet the potential of this intersection has yet to be explored. This article applies Goffman’s theories of interaction to a qualitative study of UK-based climate activists to show how silence around climate justice is often a means to avoid relationship conflict, and the ways in which this is negotiated within everyday interactions. Activist participants faced conversational resistance through normative avoidance of climate-related death talk, and from negative environmental activist stereotyping. In efforts to protect relationships while promoting their climate politics, participants backgrounded their activist identity, slowly ‘chipped away’ at climate obstruction through social and sustainable practices, and prioritised humour. Breaking silences required taking relationship risks through radical environmentalist ‘killjoy-talk’: a deliberate, politicised transgression of polite conversation norms. The article reflects on the normativities and loci of power discursively obstructing a moral engagement, and the potential for activists’ practical and discursive strategies to work against these to normalise politicised climate talk.
Spatial Authenticity and Extraordinary Experiences: Music Festivals and the Everyday Nature of Tourism Destinations
Authors: Skandalis Alexandros , Banister Emma , Byrom John
Published: March 2023

Research taking into account the everyday nature of tourism destinations and its impact upon authenticity and attendees’ resulting extraordinary experiences is limited. Drawing upon a 3-year ethnography (including fieldnotes, photos/videos, artifact material) and interviews with festival attendees, we explore the interrelationships between authenticity and extraordinary experiences in the context of Primavera Sound music festival. Our emergent thematic categories—the festival’s indie music character, its urban and quotidian configuration, and the instrumental orientation of the festival experience—suggest the festival is firmly positioned within the structures of the indie music industry, while also being located within the confines of day-to-day urban life. Attendees seek to achieve a sense of spatial authenticity by engaging with the features of tourism destinations. We contribute to discussions about authenticity and extraordinary experiences by unpacking the everyday nature of tourism destinations, demonstrating that not all music festivals need to be “extraordinary” muddy camping events.