bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Do White Women Gain Status for Engaging in Anti-black Racism at Work? An Experimental Examination of Status Conferral
Authors: Berdahl Jennifer L. , Bhattacharyya Barnini
Published: June 2024

Businesses often attempt to demonstrate their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) by showcasing women in their leadership ranks, most of whom are white. Yet research has shown that organizations confer status and power to women who engage in sexist behavior, which undermines DEI efforts. We sought to examine whether women who engage in racist behavior are also conferred relative status at work. Drawing on theory and research on organizational culture and intersectionality, we predicted that a white woman who expresses anti-Black racism is conferred more status in the workplace than a white woman who does not. A pilot study (N = 30) confirmed that making an anti-Black racist comment at work was judged to be more offensive than making no comment, but only for a white man, not a white woman. Study 1 (N = 330) found that a white woman who made an anti-Black racist comment at work was conferred higher status than a white woman who did not, whereas the opposite held true for a white man, with perceived offensiveness mediating these effects. Study 2 (N = 235) revealed that a white woman who made an anti-racist/pro-Black Lives Matter comment was conferred lower status than a white woman who did not, whereas the opposite held true for a white man. Finally, Study 3 (N = 295) showed that people who endorse racist and sexist beliefs confer more status to a white man than to a white woman regardless of speech, but that people low in racism and sexism confer the highest status to a white woman who engages in anti-Black racist speech. These studies suggest that white women are rewarded for expressing support for beliefs that mirror systemic inequality in the corporate world. We discuss implications for business ethics and directions for future research.
Coronary artery calcium quantification technique using dual energy material decomposition: a simulation study
Authors: Black Dale , Singh Tejus , Molloi Sabee
Published: June 2024

Coronary artery calcification is a significant predictor of cardiovascular disease, with current detection methods like Agatston scoring having limitations in sensitivity. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel CAC quantification method using dual-energy material decomposition, particularly its ability to detect low-density calcium and microcalcifications. A simulation study was conducted comparing the dual-energy material decomposition technique against the established Agatston scoring method and the newer volume fraction calcium mass technique. Detection accuracy and calcium mass measurement were the primary evaluation metrics. The dual-energy material decomposition technique demonstrated fewer false negatives than both Agatston scoring and volume fraction calcium mass, indicating higher sensitivity. In low-density phantom measurements, material decomposition resulted in only 7.41% false-negative (CAC = 0) measurements compared to 83.95% for Agatston scoring. For high-density phantoms, false negatives were removed (0.0%) compared to 20.99% in Agatston scoring. The dual-energy material decomposition technique presents a more sensitive and reliable method for CAC quantification.
Affective Discernment as a Boundary Experience
Authors: Turcan Nicolae
Published: June 2024

This article is a theo-phenomenological study on discernment in Eastern Orthodox spirituality, particularly as it is described in the Philokalia and the Apophthegmata Patrum. The article focuses on two fundamental dimensions: firstly, discernment as both theoretical and practical wisdom, characterized by the importance of preliminary discernment criteria; secondly, discernment as a spiritual gift of the Holy Spirit, which can be interpreted phenomenologically through the figure of the saturated phenomenon. In its concluding sections, the article proposes a new approach to religious thought, termed “diacritical thought”. This innovative approach evolves from objective thought, grounded in value criteria and contextual understanding, towards relational thought. It emphasizes affectivity and the importance of engaging with others, ultimately leading to prayer and mystical experiences. Throughout these stages, discernment undergoes a transformation: it evolves from a poor phenomenon into a saturated phenomenon, going on a journey from ordinary experience to testing the boundaries of human experience.
A new perspective on the molecular dating of the stone crayfish with an extended phylogeographic information on the species
Authors: Stanković David , Zorić Katarina , Đuretanović Simona , Stamenković Gorana , Ilić Marija , Marković Vanja , Marić Saša
Published: June 2024

Reconstructing the origin and historical biogeography of the Austropotamobius torrentium is hampered by insufficient phylogeographic coverage of the Balkans and deep contradictions in previous molecular dating. The present work extends the phylogeographic coverage to Serbia, a country crucial for understanding the species southward dispersal. Our analysis revealed that the Southern Balkans lineage occurs in most of the country, the Central and southeastern Europe lineage is restricted to the southwest and northeast of the country, while a single population in the north of the country harbors the Lika and Dalmatia lineage, which was previously thought to be restricted to the northern-central Dinarides. Dataset expansion led to revised phylogenetic relationships, which indicated that the Apuseni lineage is not nested within Northern-central Dinarides lineages but arose after the most basal split within Austropotamobius torrentium. This ‘Apuseni first’ phylogeny provides a new perspective for molecular dating, according to which the split between Austropotamobius pallipes and A. torrentium took place in the Late Oligocene, while the formation of the phyletic lineages and the dispersal from the Dinarides to Serbia occurred in the late Miocene and is probably associated with the complex and protracted process of disintegration of the Neogene freshwater lakes in southeastern Europe.
Benefits and risks of orthokeratology treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Sartor Lauren , Hunter Damien S. , Vo Mai Linh , Samarawickrama Chameen
Published: June 2024

Background

This meta-analysis reviews the evidence for the risks and benefits associated with orthokeratology (OK) treatment compared with other methods of myopia control in children and adults.

Methods

A systematic search of Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Pubmed, Embase and Ovid was conducted from database inception to 22nd August 2021. Studies that reported on risks, visual and ocular biometric effects of OK in patients > 5 years of age with myopia (− 0.75 to − 6.00D) were included. Main outcomes are change in axial length and any adverse event.

Results

Fourty-five papers were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The quality of data was variable and of moderate certainty, and selection bias likely skewed the results towards a relative benefit for OK. The rate of axial elongation in children was lower for OK treatment compared to other treatment modalities at one year (MD − 0.16 mm, 95% CI − 0.25 to − 0.07). Rate of change in axial length in children rebounded after OK discontinuation compared to participants who continued treatment (MD 0.10 mm, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.14). Adults and children wearing OK were up to 3.79 times more likely to experience an adverse event when compared with conventional contact lenses (OR 3.79, 95% CI 1.24 to ll.), though this evidence base is underdeveloped and requires additional well-designed studies for substantial conclusions to be drawn.

Conclusions

OK arrests myopia progression while in use, however, there remain unanswered questions about the optimal duration of treatment, discontinuation effects and long-term risk for adverse events.
New Methods for Old Questions: The Use of Elliptic Fourier Analysis for the Formal Study of Palaeolithic Art
Authors: García-Bustos Miguel , García Bustos Paula , Rivero Olivia
Published: June 2024

One of the main objectives of Palaeolithic art researchers is to study and systematise the form of artistic representations. Some methodologies include the analysis of qualitative variables, linear measurements or the use of geometric morphometry with landmarks. However, these techniques depend to a large extent on the subjectivity of the researcher, which often leads to biased results. To overcome this issue, we present an application of geometric morphometry using Elliptic Fourier Analysis (EFA), together with multivariate statistics and hypothesis testing, for the first time to the study of form in prehistoric art. In order to explain its use, the “duck-bill” convention of pre-Magdalenian horses, often used as a chronological and geographical marker, has been used as a case study. This formalism is described disparately in the literature, so the main objective is to use EFA to determine whether it is possible to characterise this type of convention according to the definitions given by certain authors. The results indicate a possible classification of the heads of these animals. Through this taxonomic proposal, it has been possible to verify the great diversity of forms in which the authors classify the duck-bill horses and, therefore, to demonstrate that this peculiar form can be considered neither a conventionalism nor a chronological/regional marker. In conclusion, the methodology based on EFA combined with multivariate statistics for the objective study of form in prehistoric art is effective and opens a new avenue of analysis in the art of prehistoric societies.
Test of Specificity in Signalling between Potato Plants in Response to Infection by Fusarium Solani and Phytophthora Infestans
Authors: Martín-Cacheda Lucía , Röder Gregory , Abdala-Roberts Luis , Moreira Xoaquín
Published: June 2024

Plant-plant signalling via volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in response to insect herbivory has been widely studied, but its occurrence and specificity in response to pathogen attack has received much less attention. To fill this gap, we carried out a greenhouse experiment using two fungal pathogens (Fusarium solani and Phytophthora infestans) to test for specificity in VOC induction and signalling between potato plants (Solanum tuberosum). We paired potato plants in plastic cages, one acting as VOC emitter and the other as receiver, and subjected emitters to one of the following treatments: no infection (control), infected by F. solani, or infected by P. infestans. We measured total emission and composition of VOCs released by emitter plants to test for pathogen-specificity in VOC induction, and then conducted a pathogen infection bioassay to assess resistance levels on receiver plants by subjecting half of the receivers of each emitter treatment to F. solani infection and the other half to P. infestans infection. This allowed us to test for specificity in plant VOC signalling by comparing its effects on conspecific and heterospecific sequential infections. Results showed that infection by neither F. solani or P. infestans produced quantitative (total emissions) or qualitative (compositional) changes in VOC emissions. Mirroring these patterns, emitter infection treatment (control vs. pathogen infection) did not produce a significant change in pathogen infection levels on receiver plants in any case (i.e., either for conspecific or heterospecific sequential infections), indicating a lack of signalling effects which precluded pathogen-based specificity in signalling. We discuss possible mechanisms for lack of pathogen effects on VOC emissions and call for future work testing for pathogen specificity in plant-plant signalling and its implications for plant-pathogen interactions under ecologically relevant scenarios involving infections by multiple pathogens.
Geometry of entanglement and separability in Hilbert subspaces of dimension up to three
Authors: Liss Rotem , Mor Tal , Winter Andreas
Published: June 2024

We present a complete classification of the geometry of the mutually complementary sets of entangled and separable states in three-dimensional Hilbert subspaces of bipartite and multipartite quantum systems. Our analysis begins by finding the geometric structure of the pure product states in a given three-dimensional Hilbert subspace, which determines all the possible separable and entangled mixed states over the same subspace. In bipartite systems, we characterise the 14 possible qualitatively different geometric shapes for the set of separable states in any three-dimensional Hilbert subspace (5 classes which also appear in two-dimensional subspaces and were found and analysed by Boyer et al. (Phys Rev A 95:032308, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.95.032308), and 9 novel classes which appear only in three-dimensional subspaces), describe their geometries, and provide figures illustrating them. We also generalise these results to characterise the sets of fully separable states (and hence the complementary sets of somewhat entangled states) in three-dimensional subspaces of multipartite systems. Our results show which geometrical forms quantum entanglement can and cannot take in low-dimensional subspaces.
Enhancing self-adaptation for efficient decision-making at run-time in streaming applications on multicores
Authors: Vogel Adriano , Danelutto Marco , Torquati Massimo , Griebler Dalvan , Fernandes Luiz Gustavo
Published: June 2024

Parallel computing is very important to accelerate the performance of computing applications. Moreover, parallel applications are expected to continue executing in more dynamic environments and react to changing conditions. In this context, applying self-adaptation is a potential solution to achieve a higher level of autonomic abstractions and runtime responsiveness. In our research, we aim to explore and assess the possible abstractions attainable through the transparent management of parallel executions by self-adaptation. Our primary objectives are to expand the adaptation space to better reflect real-world applications and assess the potential for self-adaptation to enhance efficiency. We provide the following scientific contributions: (I) A conceptual framework to improve the designing of self-adaptation; (II) A new decision-making strategy for applications with multiple parallel stages; (III) A comprehensive evaluation of the proposed decision-making strategy compared to the state-of-the-art. The results demonstrate that the proposed conceptual framework can help design and implement self-adaptive strategies that are more modular and reusable. The proposed decision-making strategy provides significant gains in accuracy compared to the state-of-the-art, increasing the parallel applications’ performance and efficiency.
Knowledge creation through maker practices and the role of teacher and peer support in collaborative invention projects
Authors: Davies Sini , Seitamaa-Hakkarainen Pirita , Hakkarainen Kai
Published: June 2024

This study analyzed collaborative invention projects by teams of lower-secondary (13–14-year-old) Finnish students. In invention projects, student teams design and make materially embodied collaborative inventions using traditional and digital fabrication technologies. This investigation focused on the student teams’ knowledge creation processes by examining how they applied maker practices (i.e., design process, computer engineering, product design, and science practices) in their co-invention projects and the effects of teacher and peer support. In our investigations, we relied on video data and on-site observations, utilizing and further developing visual data analysis methods. Our findings assist in expanding the scope of computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) research toward sociomaterially mediated knowledge creation, revealing the open-ended, nonlinear, and self-organized flow of the co-invention projects that take place around digital devices. Our findings demonstrate the practice-based, knowledge-creating nature of these processes, where computer engineering, product design, and science are deeply entangled with design practices. Furthermore, embodied design practices of sketching, practical experimenting, and working with concrete materials were found to be of the essence to inspire and deepen knowledge creation and advancement of epistemic objects. Our findings also reveal how teachers and peer tutor students can support knowledge creation through co-invention.
Investigating the impact of hearing loss on attentional networks among older individuals: an event-related potential study
Authors: Madashetty Sankalpa , Palaniswamy Hari Prakash , Rajashekhar Bellur
Published: June 2024

Attention is a core cognitive domain crucial in facilitating day-to-day life. Using an attention network test (ANT) along with event-related potentials (ERPs) in older individuals with hearing loss would provide excellent information about the impact of hearing loss on attentional processes. Thus, the current study aims to understand the attentional deficits and its cortical dynamics in older individuals with and without hearing loss. The study recruited 40 participants, 20 older individuals with hearing loss and 20 age and education-matched controls with normal hearing. All the participants underwent cognitive assessment using ANT with simultaneous 32-channel EEG recording. Results revealed significant impairment in executive attention and subtle alterations in alerting and orienting attention among older individuals with hearing loss compared to their normal-hearing counterparts. These findings suggest the negative impact of hearing loss on attentional networks. In addition, ANT and ERPs provide insight into the underlying neural mechanisms in specific attention network deficits associated with hearing loss.
The Role of the Microbiome in Allergy, Asthma, and Occupational Lung Disease
Authors: Peer Ashley , Samuelson Derrick R.
Published: June 2024

Purpose of Review

The human commensal microbiota is now widely accepted as a key regulator of human health and disease. The composition of the mucosal associated microbiota has been shown to play a critical role in the lung health. The role of the mucosal microbiota in the development and severity of allergy, asthma, and occupational lung disease is only beginning to take shape. However, advances in our understanding of these links have tremendous potential to led to new clinical interventions to reduce allergy, asthma, and occupational lung disease morbidity.

Recent Findings

We review recent work describing the relationship and role of the commensal microbiota in the development of allergy, asthma, and occupational lung disease. Our review primarily focuses on occupational exposures and the effects of the microbiome, both in composition and function. Data generated from these studies may lead to the development of interventions targeted at establishing and maintaining a healthy microbiota. We also highlight the role of environmental exposures and the effects on the commensal microbial community and their potential association with occupational lung disease.

This review explores the current research describing the role of the human microbiome in the regulation of pulmonary health and disease, with a specific focus on the role of the mucosal microbiota in the development of allergy, asthma, and occupational lung disease.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors-associated thrombosis in patients with head and neck cancer: a study of the Spanish society of medical oncology (SEOM) thrombosis and cancer group
Authors: Sánchez Cánovas Manuel , Moya Hernández Miguel Ángel , Adoamnei Evdochia , Cacho Lavin Diego , Fernández Garay David , Quintanar Verdúguez Teresa , Rogado Revuelta Jacobo , García Verdejo Francisco José , García Adrián Silvia , Ferrer Pérez Ana Isabel , Guirao García María Esperanza , López Robles Javier , Mendiola Jaime , Muñoz Martín Andrés J.
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Both venous and arterial thrombotic events (VTE/AT) can be associated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICI). However, there is a paucity of information apropos patients in routine clinical practice.

Methods

/Patients.

This retrospective, multicenter study was promoted by the Thrombosis and Cancer Section of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM). Individuals with head and neck cancer who initiated ICI between 01/01/2015 and 31/12/2021 were recruited. Minimum follow-up was 6 months (except in cases of demise).

The primary objective was to calculate the incidence of ICI-associated VTE/AT, with secondary objectives including the analysis of their impact on survival and the identification of variables predictive of VTE/AT.

Results

A total of 143 patients with head and neck cancer were enrolled. The incidence of VTE/AT during follow-up (median 8.6 months) was 2.8%. Survival analysis showed no significant differences (p = 0.644) between the group that developed VTE/AT (median 7.13 months, 95% CI 0–22.9) and the group that did not (median 9.86 months, 95% CI 6.3–13.4). The presence of liver metastases was predictive of VTE/AT (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Thromboembolic disease associated with immunotherapy in patients with head and neck neoplasia does not significantly impact survival. The presence of liver metastases can predict these events.
EGMS-toolkit: a set of Python scripts for improved access to datasets from the European Ground Motion Service
Authors: Hrysiewicz Alexis , Khoshlahjeh Azar Mahdi , Holohan Eoghan P.
Published: June 2024

Continental-scale, open-access datasets of ground surface displacement in all countries of the European Union, plus Norway, United Kingdom, and Iceland, are now available from the European Ground Motion Service (EGMS). Under the European Union’s Copernicus program, the EGMS has been available since the end of 2022 and will continue for the foreseeable future. The EGMS data are presently derived from Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) processing of the Sentinel-1 SAR satellite imagery, which has been collected from 2015 to date. While EGMS data can be visualised and obtained through an online platform (EGMS Explorer), the data access arrangements are inefficient for large-scale analysis of ground surface displacements due to the volume of data, the tile-formatting of datasets and some server limitations. Here we present a Python-based toolkit, named EGMS-toolkit, to provide a unified and more efficient workflow for accessing EGMS datasets. The toolkit can automatically detect and download EGMS datasets based on a Region of Interest provided by users, then it can merge, clip, and crop the results to that region regardless of its scale. The toolkit then produces files of EGMS ground surface motions in GIS-ready formats for further analysis.
Comparative Analysis of Seven Endogenous Hormones in a Novel Dual-axillary Bud Mutant Genotype of Sugarcane
Authors: Wickramasinghe Kamal Priyananda , Mao Jun , Xu Chao-hua , Lin Xiu-qin , Li Xu-juan , Qin Wei , Liu Hong-bo , Liu Xin-long , Mehdi Faisal , Zhao Pei-fang , Lu Xin
Published: June 2024

The sugarcane genotype YZ 07-86 is a distinct natural mutant with dual-axillary buds. Exploitation of this valuable trait in sugarcane breeding requires an understanding of the physiological mechanism of dual-axillary bud formation. This experiment determined the contents of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellins (GA3 and GA4), and three cytokinins (CKs), namely isopentenyl adenosine (iPA), zeatin riboside (ZR), and dihydrozeatin riboside (DHZR), in the shoot apical meristem tissues of YZ 07-86 and its sister line YZ 07-87, which served as the control genotype. The field experiment followed a completely randomized design with three replications for each genotype. Sampling was done at 5-day intervals, starting 106 days after planting. The ELISA technique was used to measure the contents of endogenous hormones. The study revealed that the mean contents of IAA, GA3, GA4, DHZR, and iPA were not significantly different (P > 0.05) among the genotypes. Conversely, in YZ 07-86, the mean ZR content was significantly higher (P < 0.05), and the mean ABA content was significantly lower than in the control genotype. Moreover, the mean content ratios of ZR/IAA, ZR/ABA, ZR/GA3, and ZR/GA4 were also significantly higher in YZ 07-86. The study concludes that elevated ZR content and an increased ZR/ABA ratio directly contributes to dual-axillary bud formation in YZ 07-86, offering valuable insights for the advancement of sugarcane genotypes.
Optical dromions with polarization–mode dispersion having parabolic law of self–phase modulation with multiplicative white noise
Authors: Zayed Elsayed M. E. , Alurrfi Khaled A. E. , El–Shater Mona , Biswas Anjan , Yildirim Yakup , Rawal Bharat S. , Alshomrani Ali Saleh
Published: June 2024

This article studies optical dromions with spatio–temporal dispersion having parabolic law of nonlinear refractive index change in presence of white noise. Two integration approaches reveal the dromion solutions. They are the extended auxiliary equation approach and the generalized projective Riccati equation scheme. A wide spectrum of dromion solution structures have been revealed from such algorithms. The parameter constraints are also enlisted for these dromions to exist.
A Probe in to Site Occupancy of Uranium in Barium Aluminium Borate (BaAl2B2O7) Matrix by EXAFS and its Photoluminescence Studies
Authors: Rout Annapurna , Jha S. K. , Nayak C. , Bhattacharyya D. , Jha S. N.
Published: June 2024

A host matrix with a potential of incorporating heavy element like uranium, that have several forms of stabilization is the key interest. Uranium-doped BaAl2B2O7 is synthesized through solution combustion synthesis method. The luminescence studies indicate suitability of this alumino borate matrix to stabilize uranium as uranate (UO66−). The uranium life-time values suggest uranium to be surrounded by two different environments with varied defect concentration. The site occupancy of uranium in BaAl2B2O7 is probed through EXAFS studies. It is observed that the preferred sites for uranium incorporation is the Al3+ regular lattice sites.
BOLERO-5: a phase II study of everolimus and exemestane combination in Chinese post-menopausal women with ER + /HER2- advanced breast cancer
Authors: Shao Zhi-Ming , Cai Li , Wang Shusen , Hu Xichun , Shen Kunwei , Wang Haibo , Li Huiping , Feng Jifeng , Liu Qiang , Cheng Jing , Wu Xinhong , Wang Xiaojia , Li Hongyuan , Luo Ting , Liu Jinping , Amin Khalid , Slimane Khemaies , Qiao Yongping , Liu Yongmin , Tong Zhongsheng
Published: June 2024

Background

The global BOLERO-2 trial established the efficacy and safety of combination everolimus (EVE) and exemestane (EXE) in the treatment of estrogen receptor positive (ER +), HER2-, advanced breast cancer (ABC). BOLERO-5 investigated this combination in a Chinese population (NCT03312738).

Methods

BOLERO-5 is a randomized, double-blind, multicenter, placebo controlled, phase II trial comparing EVE (10 mg/day) or placebo (PBO) in combination with EXE (25 mg/day). The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) per investigator assessment. Secondary endpoints included PFS per blinded independent review committee (BIRC), overall survival (OS), overall response rate (ORR), clinical benefit rate (CBR), pharmacokinetics, and safety.

Results

A total of 159 patients were randomized to EVE + EXE (n = 80) or PBO + EXE (n = 79). By investigator assessment, treatment with EVE + EXE prolonged median PFS by 5.4 months (HR 0.52; 90% CI 0.38, 0.71), from 2.0 months (PBO + EXE; 90% CI 1.9, 3.6) to 7.4 months (EVE + EXE; 90% CI 5.5, 9.0). Similar results were observed following assessment by BIRC, with median PFS prolonged by 4.3 months. Treatment with EVE + EXE was also associated with improvements in ORR and CBR. No new safety signals were identified in BOLERO-5, with the incidence of adverse events in Chinese patients consistent with the safety profile of both drugs.

Conclusion

The efficacy and safety results of BOLERO-5 validate the findings from BOLERO-2, and further support the use of EVE + EXE in Chinese post-menopausal women with ER + , HER2- ABC. NCT03312738, registered 18 October 2017.
Establishment and validation of a novel disulfidptosis-related immune checkpoint gene signature in clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Du Lihuan , Zhang Nan , Wang Bohan , Cheng Wei , Wen Jiaming
Published: June 2024

Background

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most prevalent subtype of renal tumors and is associated with a unfavorable prognosis. Disulfidptosis is a recently identified form of cell death mediated by disulfide bonds. Numerous studies have highlighted the significance of immune checkpoint genes (ICGs) in ccRCC. Nevertheless, the involvement of disulfidptosis-related immune checkpoint genes (DRICGs) in ccRCC remains poorly understood.

Methods

The mRNA expression profiles and clinicopathological data of ccRCC patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. The associations between disulfidptosis-related genes (DRGs) and immune checkpoint genes (ICGs) were assessed to identify DRICGs. Cox regression analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analysis were conducted to construct a risk signature.

Results

A total of 39 differentially expressed immune-related candidate genes were identified. A prognostic signature was constructed utilizing nine DRICGs (CD276, CD80, CD86, HLA-E, LAG3, PDCD1LG2, PVR, TIGIT, and TNFRSF4) and validated using GEO data. The risk model functioned as an independent prognostic indicator for ccRCC, while the associated nomogram provided a reliable scoring system for ccRCC. Gene set enrichment analysis indicated enrichment of phospholipase D, antigen processing and presentation, and ascorbate and aldarate metabolism-related signaling pathways in the high-risk group. Furthermore, the DRICGs exhibited correlations with the infiltration of various immune cells. It is noteworthy that patients with ccRCC categorized into distinct risk groups based on this model displayed varying sensitivities to potential therapeutic agents.

Conclusions

The novel DRICG-based risk signature is a reliable indicator for the prognosis of ccRCC patients. Moreover, it also aids in drug selection and correlates with the tumour immune microenvironment in ccRCC.
PARP1 bound to XRCC2 promotes tumor progression in colorectal cancer
Authors: Xu Kaiwu , Yu Zhige , Lu Tailiang , Peng Wei , Gong Yongqiang , Chen Chaowu
Published: June 2024

Background

By complexing poly (ADP-ribose) (PAR) in reaction to broke strand, PAR polymerase1 (PARP1) acts as the key enzyme participated in DNA repair. However, recent studies suggest that unrepaired DNA breaks results in persistent PARP1 activation, which leads to a progressively reduce in hexokinase1 (HK1) activity and cell death. PARP-1 is TCF-4/β-A novel co activator of gene transactivation induced by catenin may play a role in the development of colorectal cancer. The molecular mechanism of PARP1 remains elusive.

Methods

212 colorectal cancer (CRC) patients who had the operation at our hospital were recruited. PARP1 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Stable CRC cell lines with low or high PARP1 expression were constructed. Survival analysis was computed based on PARP1 expression. The cell proliferation was tested by CCK-8 and Colony formation assay. The interaction of PARP1 and XRCC2 was detected by immunoprecipitation (IP) analysis.

Results

Compared with matching adjacent noncancerous tissue, PARP1 was upregulated in CRC tissue which was correlated with the degree of differentiation, TNM stage, depth of invasion, metastasis, and survival. In addition, after constructing CRC stable cell lines with abnormal expression of PARP1, we found that overexpression of PARP1 promoted proliferation, and demonstrated the interaction between PARP1 and XRCC2 in CRC cells through immunoprecipitation (IP) analysis. Moreover, the inhibitor of XRCC2 can suppress the in vitro proliferation arousing by upregulation of PARP1.

Conclusions

PARP1 was upregulated in CRC cells and promoted cell proliferation. Furthermore, the expression status of PARP1 was significantly correlated with some clinicopathological features and 5-year survival.
Photosynthetic response to a winter heatwave in leading and trailing edge populations of the intertidal red alga Corallina officinalis (Rhodophyta)
Authors: Kolzenburg Regina , Ragazzola Federica , Tamburello Laura , Nicastro Katy R. , McQuaid Christopher D. , Zardi Gerardo I.
Published: June 2024

Marine heatwaves (MHWs) caused by anthropogenic climate change are becoming a key driver of change at the ecosystem level. Thermal conditions experienced by marine organisms across their distribution, particularly towards the equator, are likely to approach their physiological limits, resulting in extensive mortality and subsequent changes at the population level. Populations at the margins of their species’ distribution are thought to be more sensitive to climate-induced environmental pressures than central populations, but our understanding of variability in fitness-related physiological traits in trailing versus leading-edge populations is limited. In a laboratory simulation study, we tested whether two leading (Iceland) and two trailing (Spain) peripheral populations of the intertidal macroalga Corallina officinalis display different levels of maximum potential quantum efficiency (Fv/Fm) resilience to current and future winter MHWs scenarios. Our study revealed that ongoing and future local winter MHWs will not negatively affect leading-edge populations of C. officinalis, which exhibited stable photosynthetic efficiency throughout the study. Trailing edge populations showed a positive though non-significant trend in photosynthetic efficiency throughout winter MHWs exposure. Poleward and equatorward populations did not produce significantly different results, with winter MHWs having no negative affect on Fv/Fm of either population. Additionally, we found no long-term regional or population-level influence of a winter MHWs on this species’ photosynthetic efficiency. Thus, we found no statistically significant difference in thermal stress responses between leading and trailing populations. Nonetheless, C. officinalis showed a trend towards higher stress responses in southern than northern populations. Because responses rest on a variety of local population traits, they are difficult to predict based solely on thermal pressures.
AI in Healthcare and the Public Sector: How to Face the Challenges of High-Risk Applications and What AI Research Can Get Out of It
Authors: Braun Tanya , Möller Ralf
Published: June 2024

Application projects, may it be in healthcare and the public sector or elsewhere, have the potential to advance foundational (“genuine”) artificial intelligence (AI) research. Unfortunately, insights from specific application projects are rarely propagated back to AI research. This article argues for ways to facilitate such backpropagation and how the contributions in this special issue enable exactly this backpropagation. It also addresses the challenges that come along with high-risk application project, which frequently occur in the area of healthcare and the public sector due to the sensitivity of the subjects.
Integrating vertidrome management tasks into U-space
Authors: Schuchardt Bianca I. , Devta Aditya , Volkert Andreas
Published: June 2024

U-space as defined by the European Commission is a set of new services relying on a high level of digitalization and automation of functions and specific procedures, designed to provide safe, efficient, and secure access to airspace for large numbers of unmanned aircraft, operating automatically and even beyond visual line of sight. This kind of concepts of operations (ConOps) of airspace integration for drones and air taxis are also called UTM (unmanned aircraft system traffic management) systems, being U-space the UTM ConOps agreed for Europe. U-space services are under development but commercially not available yet. For demonstration purposes, in the project HorizonUAM, a central U-space cloud service is simulated through a local messaging server using the protocol MQTT (message queuing telemetry transport). A prototypical vertidrome management tool was created to demonstrate the scheduling and sequencing of air taxi flights. The vertidrome manager is fully integrated within U-space and receives real-time information on flight plans, including requests for start and landing and emergency notifications. Additional information coming from other U-space services (e.g., weather information) can be accessed on request. The integration was demonstrated in a scaled flight test environment with multicopters (< 15 kg) representing passenger carrying air taxis.
Fast and Memory-Efficient Approximate Minimum Spanning Tree Generation for Large Datasets
Authors: Almansoori Mahmood K. M. , Meszaros Andras , Telek Miklos
Published: June 2024

Conventional minimum spanning tree (MST) algorithms typically start by creating a distance matrix of the $$n(n-1)/2$$

n
(
n
-
1
)
/
2

pairs of data points, leading to a time complexity of $$O(n^2)$$

O
(

n
2

)

. This initial step poses a computational bottleneck. To overcome this limitation, we present a novel method that constructs an initial random k-neighbor graph and optimizes this graph by employing a crawling technique to efficiently approximate the k Nearest Neighbors (kNN) graph. This crawling approach allows us to approximate the closest neighbors of each node. Subsequently, the approximate kNN graph is utilized to build an initial approximate MST and iteratively refine it by the same crawling process. Using this approach, an approximate MST can be obtained for a data set of size n with empirical cost around $$O(n^{1.07})$$

O
(

n

1.07

)

and a minimal O(n) memory consumption. In contrast to spatial tree-based approaches, the presented method also scales well to high dimensional data. We have shown that the proposed approach achieves such a level of performance with only a marginal accuracy reduction between 0.5% and 6%. These qualities make it an excellent candidate for approximate MST calculation for high-dimensional, large data sets.
Positioning the notion of group in children’s learning: an Australian study
Authors: Guo Karen , Nolan Andrea , Lanting Carole
Published: June 2024

Current research and literature emphasize the crucial role of group experiences in children’s learning during early childhood. However, despite the frequent use of the term ‘group’, little attention has been paid to its position in children’s learning and the diverse perspectives that inform it. This study addressed this gap by applying a tri-partite lens, considering the perspectives of young children, parents and teachers in three preschools in Australia. We defined group broadly as any social context within preschool environments. Data were collected through focus group discussions with 24 children, individual interviews with six teachers and questionnaires completed by 48 parents in the preschools. The findings have conceptualised group as a complex interweaving of various elements, involving the dynamic tensions and relationships between children’s needs and adults’ expectations and practices. Central to this is the exploration of self and others, and an understanding of how children's desires for togetherness and belonging could stimulate thinking about what it means to be learning in groups.
A Lifetime of Work on Defect Modelling for Luminescence
Authors: Townsend Peter D. , Wang Yafang
Published: June 2024

To fully appreciate the contributions of Professor Watanabe to studies of luminescence, it is important to recall how, during his lifetime, not only have experimental facilities changed dramatically, but also there have been (and still are) many conflicting models as to the relevant lattice sites. This current overview summarises some of these factors. Indeed, several powerful early techniques have gone into abeyance, but there is a real potential benefit in resurrecting them. Equally, early key experiments on the existence of long-range interactions are frequently ignored, to the detriment of many models of lattice sites related to luminescence. Despite difficulties with defect site models and understanding luminescence processes, empirical data have nevertheless been effective in many applications from archaeological dating, luminescence dosimetry, and the development of modern phosphors for use across a wide range of modern applications. Improved models that include long-range features will inevitably add to this empirical progress.
Navigating Postpartum Weight Loss: Evidence and Interventions
Authors: Dellapiana Gabriela , Nguyen Quy Tu , Naqvi Mariam
Published: June 2024

Purpose of Review

Postpartum weight retention increases the risk for adverse obstetric outcomes in subsequent pregnancies, childhood obesity, and long-term metabolic and cardiovascular disease for the birthing person. This review examines recent evidence for the efficacy of various weight loss interventions to address this issue.

Recent Findings

Combining exercise with caloric restriction is more effective to reduce weight after childbirth than either intervention alone. Weight loss medications like GLP-1 agonists, while becoming more widely prescribed, require continuous use for optimal results and should be discontinued before attempting pregnancy. In 2022, indications for metabolic and bariatric surgery were updated to include BMI ≥ 35 kg/m2 and BMI 30–34.9 kg/m2 with metabolic disease that is refractory to medical interventions for weight loss.

A multimodal approach is recommended to support postpartum weight loss including, but not limited to, nutrition counseling and physical activity interventions. Weight loss medications and bariatric surgery are recommended adjuncts for patients who are otherwise unable to meet their weight loss goals.
Transplantation of Neural Progenitor Cells Derived from Stem Cells from Apical Papilla Through Small-Molecule Induction in a Rat Model of Sciatic Nerve Injury
Authors: Koh Junhao , Liu Junqing , Poon Chi Him , Kang Jun , Basabrain Mohammed S. , Lim Lee Wei , Zhang Chengfei
Published: June 2024

Background:

Stem cell-based transplantation therapy holds promise for peripheral nerve injury treatment, but adult availability is limited. A cell culture protocol utilizing a small-molecule cocktail effectively reprogrammed stem cells from apical papilla (SCAPs) into neural progenitor cells, subsequently differentiating into neuron-like cells. This study aims to evaluate neural-induced SCAPs, with and without small-molecule cocktail, for sciatic nerve repair potential.

Methods:

A scaffold-free cell sheet technique was used to construct a three-dimensional cell sheet. Subsequently, this cell sheet was carefully rolled into a tube and seamlessly inserted into a collagen conduit, which was then transplanted into a 5 mm sciatic nerve injury rat model. Functional sciatic nerve regeneration was evaluated via toe spread test, walking track analysis and gastrocnemius muscle weight. Additionally, degree of sciatic nerve regeneration was determined based on total amount of myelinated fibers.

Results:

Small-molecule cocktail induced SCAPs enhanced motor function recovery, evident in improved sciatic function index and gastrocnemius muscle retention. We also observed better host myelinated fiber retention than undifferentiated SCAPs or neural-induced SCAPs without small-molecule cocktail. However, clusters of neuron-like cell bodies (surrounded by sparse myelinated fibers) were found in all cell sheet-implanted groups in the implantation region. This suggests that while the implanted cells likely survived transplantation, integration was poor and would likely hinder long-term recovery by occupying the space needed for host nerve fibers to project through.

Conclusion:

Neural-induced SCAPs with small-molecule cocktail demonstrated promising benefits for nerve repair; further research is needed to improve its integration and optimize its potential for long-term recovery.
The Menstrual Health Manager (MHM): A Resource to Reduce Discrepancies Between Science and Practice in Sport and Exercise
Authors: Badenhorst Claire E.
Published: June 2024

Inadequate research on female health and performance; the complexity of the research; low menstrual health literacy of athletes, coaches, and support staff; and ethical and cultural sensitivities are all recognized as barriers to effective health monitoring for females in sports. Frameworks have been developed for academics to follow to help improve the quality of female-specific research. However, a similar resource that enables correct terminology, and use of health monitoring techniques has not been provided for sporting organizations, coaches, support staff or athletes. Therefore, this critical commentary presents a new resource, the Menstrual Health Manager. This resource may be used to determine the level of menstrual health monitoring detail that may be used by organisations, coaches or athletes, and specifies what reproductive health details the data will provide. This resource aims to provide organizations and coaches with a means of understanding the data that inform their decisions for female athletes. Utilization of this resource may aid in the consistent use of terminology and methods for female-specific health monitoring in both sports and research.
The Environmental Costs of Artificial Intelligence for Healthcare
Authors: Katirai Amelia
Published: June 2024

Healthcare has emerged as a key setting where expectations are rising for the potential benefits of artificial intelligence (AI), encompassing a range of technologies of varying utility and benefit. This paper argues that, even as the development of AI for healthcare has been pushed forward by a range of public and private actors, insufficient attention has been paid to a key contradiction at the center of AI for healthcare: that its pursuit to improve health is necessarily accompanied by environmental costs which pose risks to human and environmental health—costs which are not necessarily directly borne by those benefiting from the technologies. This perspective paper begins by examining the purported promise of AI in healthcare, contrasting this with the environmental costs which arise across the AI lifecycle, to highlight this contradiction inherent in the pursuit of AI. Its advancement—including in healthcare—is often described through deterministic language that presents it as inevitable. Yet, this paper argues that there is need for recognition of the environmental harm which this pursuit can lead to. Given recent initiatives to incorporate stakeholder involvement into decision-making around AI, the paper closes with a call for an expanded conception of stakeholders in AI for healthcare, to include consideration of those who may be indirectly affected by its development and deployment.
Moving beyond Technical Issues to Stakeholder Involvement: Key Areas for Consideration in the Development of Human-Centred and Trusted AI in Healthcare
Authors: Kaye Jane , Shah Nisha , Kogetsu Atsushi , Coy Sarah , Katirai Amelia , Kuroda Machie , Li Yan , Kato Kazuto , Yamamoto Beverley Anne
Published: June 2024

Discussion around the increasing use of AI in healthcare tends to focus on the technical aspects of the technology rather than the socio-technical issues associated with implementation. In this paper, we argue for the development of a sustained societal dialogue between stakeholders around the use of AI in healthcare. We contend that a more human-centred approach to AI implementation in healthcare is needed which is inclusive of the views of a range of stakeholders. We identify four key areas to support stakeholder involvement that would enhance the development, implementation, and evaluation of AI in healthcare leading to greater levels of trust. These are as follows: (1) aligning AI development practices with social values, (2) appropriate and proportionate involvement of stakeholders, (3) understanding the importance of building trust in AI, (4) embedding stakeholder-driven governance to support these activities.