bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multilevel Laser-Induced Pain Measurement with Wasserstein Generative Adversarial Network — Gradient Penalty Model
Authors: Leng Jiancai , Zhu Jianqun , Yan Yihao , Yu Xin , Liu Ming , Lou Yitai , Liu Yanbing , Gao Licai , Sun Yuan , He Tianzheng , Yang Qingbo , Feng Chao , Wang Dezheng , Zhang Yang , Xu Qing , Xu Fangzhou
Published: October 2023

Pain is an experience of unpleasant sensations and emotions associated with actual or potential tissue damage. In the global context, billions of people are affected by pain disorders. There are particular challenges in the measurement and assessment of pain, and the commonly used pain measuring tools include traditional subjective scoring methods and biomarker-based measures. The main tools for biomarker-based analysis are electroencephalography (EEG), electrocardiography and functional magnetic resonance. The EEG-based quantitative pain measurements are of immense value in clinical pain management and can provide objective assessments of pain intensity. The assessment of pain is now primarily limited to the identification of the presence or absence of pain, with less research on multilevel pain. High power laser stimulation pain experimental paradigm and five pain level classification methods based on EEG data augmentation are presented. First, the EEG features are extracted using modified S-transform, and the time-frequency information of the features is retained. Based on the pain recognition effect, the 20–40[Formula: see text]Hz frequency band features are optimized. Afterwards the Wasserstein generative adversarial network with gradient penalty is used for feature data augmentation. It can be inferred from the good classification performance of features in the parietal region of the brain that the sensory function of the parietal lobe region is effectively activated during the occurrence of pain. By comparing the latest data augmentation methods and classification algorithms, the proposed method has significant advantages for the five-level pain dataset. This research provides new ways of thinking and research methods related to pain recognition, which is essential for the study of neural mechanisms and regulatory mechanisms of pain.
Computational study of BisGMA: A component of dental resin material
Authors: Maurya M. , Urs G. Thejas , Kumarswamy S. R. , Somashekar R.
Published: October 2023

BisGMA, a crucial component of dental resin widely employed in oral care, undergoes an in-depth computational investigation in this study. Employing advanced computational tools such as Large-scale Atomic/Molecular Massively Parallel Simulator (LAMMPS) and General Utility Lattice Program (GULP), we explore a wide range of physical parameters. These encompass the stress–strain variations, Young’s and linear moduli, pair distribution functions, RMSD trajectory analysis, enthalpy, entropy, elastic constants, self-energy, zero-point energy and optical and dielectric constants. This multifaceted analysis enhances our understanding on intricate correlation of this material, offering insights that are frequently challenging to obtain.
Competitive Influence Maximization with Uncertain Competitor Sources and the Bandwagon Effect in Social Networks
Authors: Sun Tao , Gong Suning , Fan Guo-Qiang , Xu Gongjie
Published: October 2023

In today’s networked society, various sources of competitive information vie for attention and strive to enhance their social influence. Agents with valuable information aim to select a strategic set of influential individuals for information dissemination. This study delves into the Competitive Influence Maximization problem based on the independent cascade model, where an agent selects a seed set to maximize their social influence while contending with uncertain sources of competition. When adopting information, individuals exhibit a bandwagon effect. We begin by demonstrating that the objective function in our problem is neither supermodular nor submodular. Subsequently, we introduce upper and lower bound problems using the Sandwich approach, showcasing their objective functions as submodular and monotone non-decreasing. We propose a greedy algorithm to solve these bounds effectively. A theoretical analysis of the Sandwich approach’s performance is presented, followed by experimental evaluations to assess its effectiveness.
Stability of stationary solutions to a multidimensional parabolic–parabolic chemotaxis-consumption model
Authors: Li Xiaowen , Li Jingyu
Published: October 2023

We study the dynamical stability of nontrivial steady states to a multidimensional parabolic–parabolic chemotaxis-consumption model in a bounded domain, where the physical zero-flux boundary condition for the bacteria and the nonhomogeneous Dirichlet boundary condition for the oxygen are prescribed. We first prove that the spectrum set of the linearized operator at the steady state only consists of eigenvalues with finite algebraic multiplicity. Then we show that all eigenvalues have negative real part if the concentration of the oxygen at boundary is small, or the diffusive coefficient [Formula: see text] of the oxygen is large, or [Formula: see text] is small. In the radial setting, we further show that all eigenvalues have negative real part without any assumption on the parameters. This result of spectral analysis implies the local asymptotic stability of the nontrivial steady states to the chemotaxis-consumption model under the above assumptions.
From Herbert A. Simon’s legacy to the evolutionary artificial world with heterogeneous collective behaviors
Authors: Bellomo Nicola , Egidi Massimo
Published: October 2023

This paper focuses on Herbert A. Simon’s visionary theory of the Artificial World. The artificial world evolves over time as a result of various actions, including interactions with the external world as well as interactions among its internal components. This paper proposes a mathematical theory of the conceptual framework of the artificial world. This goal requires the development of new mathematical tools, inspired in some way by statistical physics and stochastic game theory. The mathematical theory is applied in particular to the study of the dynamics of organizational learning, where cooperation and competition evolve through decomposition and recombination of organizational structures; the effectiveness of the evolutionary changes depends on the dynamic prevalence of cooperative over selfish behaviors, showing features common to the evolution of all living systems.
Timelike geodesic congruence in the simplest solutions of general relativity with quantum-improved metric tensor
Authors: Tawfik A. , Dabash T. F.
Published: October 2023

A recent quantum-geometrical approach for the possible reconciliation of the principles of general relativity and quantum mechanics extends the fundamental tensor to the relativistic (quantum) scales, in which additional geometric structures and curvatures, i.e., additional sources of gravitation, are emerged. This paper introduces some characteristics of the emerged curvatures and their consequences on regulating the space and initial singularities. We analyze the timelike geodesic congruence in the simplest solutions of the Einstein field equations; the homogeneous, isotropic, and spherically symmetric Schwarzschild, de Sitter–Schwarzschild, and Friedmann–Lemaitre–Robertson–Walker (FLRW) metrics. From the expansion of the trajectory congruence that follows the change in the shape of the volume which keeps the same set of geodesics in the bundle along the flow lines which are generated by the velocity fields, we conclude that the analytical and numerical analyses give an unambiguous signature that the space and initial singularities are attenuated or even regulated, especially in the relativistic (quantum) regime. This means that the regulation of the singularity in Einstein’s general relativity (GR) would not be possible until quantum-mechanical ingredients are properly imposed on it.
Recent progress in configuration–interaction shell model
Authors: Liu Menglan , Yuan Cenxi
Published: October 2023

Since Mayer and Jensen employed the single-particle shell model to interpret the magic numbers, various microscopic nuclear models have been developed to study the nuclear force and structure. The configuration–interaction shell model (CISM), performed in truncated model space with the inclusion of the residual interaction, is one widely-used nuclear structure model. In the last decade, CISM has progressed in investigating the cross-shell excitation in exotic light nuclei, the similarity and difference in mirror nuclei, and the isomerism and seniority conservation in medium and heavy nuclei. Additionally, researchers have attempted to construct effective Hamiltonians for nuclei near [Formula: see text]Sn and [Formula: see text]Pb through a unified way in the CISM framework. In parallel, related models, including the nucleon-pair approximation (NPA) approach, the Monte Carlo shell model (MCSM), the projected shell model (PSM), the Gamow shell model (GSM), etc., have also been extensively developed and validated in the last decade. This paper reviews the recent progress in CISM and some related models.
ANALYSIS ON POWER CONSUMPTION FOR LIFE CYCLE SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT IN HARD TURNING OF AISI 4140 STEEL USING SPPP—AlTiSiN-COATED CARBIDE TOOL UNDER VARIOUS CUTTING ENVIRONMENTS
Authors: ROY SOUMIKH , PRADHAN ARUPAM , PADHAN SMITA , DAS ANSHUMAN , DAS SUDHANSU RANJAN , DHUPAL DEBABRATA
Published: October 2023

High strength low alloy (HSLA) AISI grade 4140 is grabbing the eyes of automobile industries for its superior properties. However, the production of finished components of HSLA steel by machining under dry environment is challenging owing to high cutting temperature and friction. The usage of low-cost coated carbide tools and environment-friendly cooling-lubrication approach are thereof being given importance for the past few decades for economic and sustainable machining. In this study, the power consumption (Pc) during the hard turning process of AISI 4140 steel was analyzed using an AlTiSiN-coated carbide tool under various cutting environment conditions, including dry cutting, flooded cutting, and nanofluid-MQL cutting. For this study, the nanofluid was prepared by blending MWCNT nanoparticles with an environmentally friendly automotive radiator coolant, which served as the base fluid. Briefly, the cooling-lubrication performance is investigated by comparing the machining responses like machined surface morphology, tool wear, cutting force, and temperature. The variance analysis was adopted to determine the significance level of experimental parameters (speed, feed, nose radius, depth of cut, cutting environments) affecting the Pc. To predict and optimize Pc during hard turning with machining variables, the response surface method (RSM) was proposed. Following the predictive modeling and optimization, the results were applied for economic assessment and for energy saving carbon footprint evaluation. This innovative research also addresses comparative sustainability evaluation in hard turning under different C/L environments using life cycle assessment (LCA) towards cleaner and safer production. Results indicate that cutting speed was the most influential item on Pc enhancement. Furthermore, as compared to dry and flooded turning, lower cutting force, reduced cutting temperature, shorter width of flank wear, and better surface morphology are obtained under nanofluid-MQL machining. It is experienced that nanofluid-MQL machining outperformed towards sustainability improvement concerning techno-economically viable societal acceptable and environment friendliness.
UTILITY OF PROVOCATIVE TEST POSITIVATION TIME IN CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME SEVERITY ASSESSMENT
Authors: Daliri Mahla , Sahebalam Mohamad , Olia Neda Daliri Beirak , Moradi Ali
Published: October 2023

Background: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) provocative tests, such as Phalen, reverse Phalen, Tinel and compression, are solely used to help diagnosis. However, there are limited data about the application of these clinical tests for severities determination.

Methods: A total of 64 patients with confirmed CTS were included. Three groups of mild, moderate, and severe were then defined based on the electrodiagnostic (EDx) test. The time to turning positive for Phalen, reverse Phalen, and compression tests were recorded. Initially, the percentage of positive results were compared among three groups of disease severity. Then, test positivation time was categorized into two groups of below and above 30 s, and comparison was made among groups with regard to this threshold. Finally, correlational analysis between mean positivation time and EDx quantitative parameters was conducted.

Results: We found no difference between the three groups of disease severity, and there was no correlation between the time duration for three tests to become positive and EDx severity parameters.

Conclusions: CTS clinical provocative tests are not of use in evaluation of disease severity.
Sharp permutation groups whose point stabilizers are AGL(1,p)
Authors: Norman Blake
Published: October 2023

We determine the structure of sharp permutation groups of type [Formula: see text] whose point-stabilizers are isomorphic to [Formula: see text]. It is shown that, up to permutation isomorphism, there is precisely one such permutation group for each odd prime [Formula: see text].
LUCK OF OUTCOME IN THE TALENT VERSUS LUCK MODEL
Authors: HAMADA HIROSHI
Published: October 2023

This paper analyzes the Talent versus Luck model, which examines the impact of talent and luck on an individual’s career success. The original simulation-based model demonstrated that the distribution of capital has a heavy tail, and the most successful individuals are not necessarily the most talented. While the implications of the original model are intriguing, those findings were based solely on numerical calculations, and it was unclear how generally valid they are. Challet et al. generalize the original model using an analytical approach and successfully clarify the relationship between talent, lucky events, and capital when talent is constant and follows a uniform distribution. We reformulate a simplified model and derive more general propositions about the relationship between luck and talent in individual success by introducing the new concept of luck of outcome in addition to the luck of opportunity in previous models. We show that the capital distribution generated from a simplified talent versus luck model follows a lognormal distribution even when the talent is subject to a normal distribution. Moreover, we specify the relationship between the inequality of the distribution, which is indicated by the Gini coefficient, and the parameters of talent distribution.
Buckling of Stiffened Heterogeneous Shells Taking into Account Material Creep
Authors: Panin Aleksandr N. , Semenov Alexey A. , Karpov Vladimir V.
Published: October 2023

The authors propose a mathematical model of shell structures taking into account the linear theory of hereditary material creep. This model is based on the total potential strain energy functional. Shells are reinforced with stiffeners, and the contact between the stiffener and the shell skin along a strip is taken into account. The Ritz method is applied to the functional, and a system of algebraic or integro-algebraic equations is found. The resulting system is first solved as a linear system (without account for the terms reflecting material creep), and the state of the structure under the specified load is determined. Then the iterative method is used to solve the creep problem for a given value of time. The paper presents the results of studying stiffened shallow shells of double curvature made of reinforced concrete under uniformly distributed load. The buckling of shells occurs over time as a result of the development of creep strains. Values of the buckling load as a result of material creep are found. It is shown that stresses are redistributed over the shell field over time and the maximum stress is observed near the contour of the structure.
The limit of the Yang–Mills–Higgs flow for twisted Higgs pairs
Authors: Pan Changpeng , Shen Zhenghan , Zhang Pan
Published: October 2023

In this paper, we consider the Yang–Mills–Higgs flow for twisted Higgs pairs over Kähler manifolds. We prove that this flow converges to a reflexive twisted Higgs sheaf outside a closed subset of codimension [Formula: see text], and the limiting twisted Higgs sheaf is isomorphic to the double dual of the graded twisted Higgs sheaves associated to the Harder–Narasimhan–Seshadri filtration of the initial twisted Higgs bundle.
Acoustic Characteristics of a Plate Silencer with a Flexible Back Cavity Under Arbitrary Boundary Conditions
Authors: Yuan S. W. , Hou J. X. , Zhu H. C. , Liao J. L.
Published: October 2023

The flexible back cavity (FBC) plate silencer is composed of an FBC and a flexible inner plate. Through the coupling of the sound field with the flexible inner and outer plates, the transmitted sound energy of the downstream is reduced, and it has a good broadband muffling effect at low frequencies. In order to obtain the transmission loss (TL) of the FBC plate silencer under arbitrary boundary conditions, this paper establishes the acoustic-vibration coupling model of the FBC plate silencer based on the energy principle. Translational restraints and rotational restraints are used to simulate the arbitrary boundary conditions of the flexible plate, and then the influence of the boundary conditions of the flexible plate on the TL is analyzed. The results show that the results of the proposed method are in good agreement with the finite element method (FEM) results. The structural boundary restraint has a significant influence on the acoustic characteristics of the system, and the rotational restraints suppress the muffling effect. By appropriately releasing the translational restraints, a better low-frequency broadband muffling effect can be achieved, with the minimum muffling frequency reduced by 44.8% and the muffling bandwidth broadened by 57.4%.
Study on military metaverse and applications
Authors: Cheng Hongbo , Liu Ying , Zhang Lin , Wang Kunyu , Lu Han
Published: October 2023

With the rapid advancement of metaverse technology, the military field has gradually begun to pay attention to the potential applications of metaverse technology. The military metaverse is a new and comprehensive military ecosystem that integrates the virtual world and the real world, unlocking new possibilities in areas such as military training, education, exercises, combat support, and equipment research and development. This paper analyzes the concept and connotation of the military metaverse and presents its main features and key technologies, as well as the role it plays in the military field. Furthermore, it proposes the primary application scenarios of the military metaverse and provides an application architecture. Finally, the paper offers a forward-looking perspective on the future development of military metaverse.
Sequence-Based Mechanistic Resolution of Amino Acid Replacement and Impact on the Activities of Peptide-Based Derivatives Targeting CXCR4 for the Treatment of Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia
Authors: Elamin Ghazi , Soremekun Opeyemi S. , Sayed Shaban R. M. , Sidhom Peter A. , Ibrahim Mahmoud A. A. , Ahmed Muhammad Naeem , Soliman Mahmoud E. S.
Published: October 2023

Targeting C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), as an oncogenic factor in Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia (WM), has been considered a promising treatment strategy, and various CXCR4 antagonists, such as small molecules, peptides, and antibodies, are currently in preclinical and clinical phases. Recently, a 16-mer fragment of human serum albumin, the most abundant protein in plasma, has been identified as a potent inhibitor of CXCR4. Hence, it was given the name Endogenous Peptide Inhibitor of CXCR4 (EPI-X4) and demonstrated a less toxic alternative to the current therapies due to its improved selectivity profile. Further research has led to the discovery of optimized EPI-X4 derivatives, JM#21, and WSC02, as potent CXCR4 antagonists. Despite the ongoing research in this area, the molecular basis of how EPI-X4 and its derivatives bind to CXCR4 is still unexplored. In this study, three aspects were investigated using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and binding energy calculations: (1) mapping the structure-function of the amino acid sequence composition of the peptides to determine the contribution of each amino acid towards the overall binding to CXCR4, as well as the key interaction peptide motifs; (2) the detailed binding mechanism of EPI-X4, JM#21, and WSC02 against CXCR4 at the molecular level; and (3) the impact of peptide binding on the conformational landscape of CXCR4. Per-residue energy decomposition analysis revealed that the inclusion of arginine residue in the peptide sequence has significantly improved the binding affinity towards CXCR4, particularly at positions Arg3 for EPI-X4 and WSC02 and Arg3 and Arg6 for JM#21. This may explain the finding that JM#21 exhibited the highest binding affinity. Additionally, MD simulations coupled with thermodynamic calculations provided a comprehensive picture of the “dynamic” interaction motif of the peptides with CXCR4. Separate MD simulations in a POPC bilayer were executed to determine its effect on the binding energy. This study provides molecular insights into the binding mechanism of the endogenous peptide EPI-X4 and its optimized derivatives with CXCR4, laying the basis for the rational design of optimized peptide derivatives against WM.
DevEX: What Actually Drives Productivity?
Authors: Noda Abi , Storey Margaret-Anne , Forsgren Nicole , Greiler Michaela
Published: October 2023

The developer-centric approach to measuring and improving productivity.
How Climate Change Was Won
Authors: Koningstein Ross
Published: October 2023

From the intersection of computational science and technological speculation, with boundaries limited only by our ability to imagine what could be.
Legal Challenges to Generative AI, Part II
Authors: Samuelson Pamela
Published: October 2023

Deliberating on inconclusive AI-generated policy questions.
The Gamification of Academia
Authors: Flaherty Sean , Gordon Gregg
Published: October 2023

Gaming the system.
Privacy in the Age of AI
Authors: Das Sauvik , Lee Hao-Ping (Hank) , Forlizzi Jodi
Published: October 2023

What has changed and what should we do about it?
AI Policy Matters
Authors: Medsker Larry
Published: October 2023

AI Policy Matters is a regular column in AI Matters featuring summaries and commentary based on postings that appear in the AI Matters blog (https://sigai.acm.org/aimatters/blog/). We welcome everyone to make blog comments so we can develop a rich knowledge base of information and ideas representing the SIGAI members.
Conference Reports
Authors: Dennis Louise A.
Published: October 2023

This section is compiled from reports of recent events sponsored or run in cooperation with ACM SIGAI. In general these reports were written and submitted by the conference organisers.
Application of 3D Image Technology in Rural Planning
Authors: Cao Yejun , Yu Xiwen , Jiang Fengling
Published: October 2023

The well-being of villages and villagers is directly related to the development of urban-rural relations. Rural development is an important part of poverty alleviation, as well as the main goal and means of rural rejuvenation, because rural planning affects rural economic development and rural revitalization. Electronic imaging can improve the speed of rural area planning, and can also model the planned scheme. However, the current rural planning still lacks top-level design, which cannot improve the overall structural design of rural planning, and the data resources of rural planning are not perfect. Therefore, this article studied the direction of rural planning and design by analyzing the focus, problems, and external environment characteristics of rural planning, and then analyzed the application characteristics in rural planning according to the process of 3D image technology. By reducing the complex design links in rural planning, the office efficiency of planning and the 3D visualization of planning model can be promoted, so as to improve the effect of rural planning and the construction service of rural planning. The simulated annealing algorithm showed that the planning efficiency and average planning speed of 3D image application in rural planning were gradually increasing; the average planning efficiency was about 1.80, and the average planning speed was about 1.05. The planning efficiency increased by 1.20 in the whole process, while the average planning speed increased by 0.33 in the whole process. Through comparison, it can be seen that the planning rationality of rural planning under 3D image was 12.16% higher than the original one, while the measurement error rate of some teachers was 47.28% lower. In a word, 3D imaging and electronic imaging can improve the architectural design and layout planning of rural planning.
SILVAN
: Estimating Betweenness Centralities with Progressive Sampling and Non-uniform Rademacher Bounds
Authors: Pellegrina Leonardo , Vandin Fabio
Published: October 2023

“Sim Sala Bim!”
—Silvan,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silvan_(illusionist)

Betweenness centrality is a popular centrality measure with applications in several domains and whose exact computation is impractical for modern-sized networks. We present
SILVAN
, a novel, efficient algorithm to compute, with high probability, accurate estimates of the betweenness centrality of all nodes of a graph and a high-quality approximation of the top-
k
betweenness centralities.
SILVAN
follows a progressive sampling approach and builds on novel bounds based on Monte Carlo Empirical Rademacher Averages, a powerful and flexible tool from statistical learning theory.
SILVAN
relies on a novel estimation scheme providing
non-uniform
bounds on the deviation of the estimates of the betweenness centrality of all the nodes from their true values and a refined characterisation of the number of samples required to obtain a high-quality approximation. Our extensive experimental evaluation shows that
SILVAN
extracts high-quality approximations while outperforming, in terms of number of samples and accuracy, the state-of-the-art approximation algorithm with comparable quality guarantees.
Fine-Grained Domain Adaptation for Chinese Syntactic Processing
Authors: Zhang Meishan , Guo Peiming , Jiang Peijie , Long Dingkun , Sun Yueheng , Xu Guangwei , Xie Pengjun , Zhang Min
Published: October 2023

Syntactic processing is fundamental to natural language processing. It provides rich and comprehensive syntax information in sentences that could be potentially beneficial for downstream tasks. Recently, pretrained language models have shown great success in Chinese syntactic processing, which typically involves word segmentation, POS tagging, and dependency parsing. However, the on-going research never ends since performance would be degraded drastically when tested on a highly-discrepant domain. This problem is widely accepted as domain adaptation, where the test domain differs from the training domain in supervised learning. Self-training is one promising solution for it, and straightforward source-to-target adaptation has already shown remarkable effectiveness in previous work. While this strategy ignores the fact that sentences of the target domain sentences may have very different gaps from the source training domain. More specifically, sentences with large gaps might fail by direct self-training adaptation. To this end, we propose fine-grained domain adaptation for Chinese syntactic processing in this work, aiming to model the gaps between the source and the target domains accurately and progressively. The key idea is to divide the target domain into fine-grained subdomains by using a specified domain distance metric, and then perform gradual self-training on the subdomains. We further offer an intuitive theoretical illustration based on the theory of Kumar et al. (2020) approximately. In addition, a novel representation learning framework is proposed to encode fine-grained subdomains effectively, aiming to utilize the above idea fully. Experimental results on benchmark datasets show that our method can achieve significant improvements over a variety of baselines.
Characterizing Multi-Chip GPU Data Sharing
Authors: Zhang Shiqing , Naderan-Tahan Mahmood , Jahre Magnus , Eeckhout Lieven
Published: October 2023

Multi-chip Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) systems are critical to scale performance beyond a single GPU chip for a wide variety of important emerging applications. A key challenge for multi-chip GPUs, though, is how to overcome the bandwidth gap between inter-chip and intra-chip communication. Accesses to shared data, i.e., data accessed by multiple chips, pose a major performance challenge as they incur remote memory accesses possibly congesting the inter-chip links and degrading overall system performance. This article characterizes the shared dataset in multi-chip GPUs in terms of (1) truly versus falsely shared data, (2) how the shared dataset scales with input size, (3) along which dimensions the shared dataset scales, and (4) how sensitive the shared dataset is with respect to the input’s characteristics, i.e., node degree and connectivity in graph workloads. We observe significant variety in scaling behavior across workloads: some workloads feature a shared dataset that scales linearly with input size, whereas others feature sublinear scaling (following a

\(\sqrt {2}\)

or

\(\sqrt [3]{2}\)

relationship). We further demonstrate how the shared dataset affects the optimum last-level cache organization (memory-side versus SM-side) in multi-chip GPUs, as well as optimum memory page allocation and thread scheduling policy. Sensitivity analyses demonstrate the insights across the broad design space.
Challenges in Conducting Accessibility Research with Users with Multiple, Profound, or Complex Disabilities
Authors: Theil Arthur
Published: October 2023

The lack of involvement of users with multiple disabilities or complex needs in accessibility research is a problem that needs further attention from the field. Designing and evaluating accessible technologies that accommodate the complex, multifaceted needs of users with multiple or profound disabilities can be challenging in many ways. However, the challenges related to conducting accessibility research with underrepresented communities are not discussed enough within the field. Motivated by this pressing issue, this report presents a summary of discussions initiated during the ASSETS 2022 workshop "Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Designing Accessible Systems for Users with Multiple Impairments: Grand Challenges and Opportunities for Future Research".
The Effect of a Turkey Berry (Solanum torvum)-Fortified Biscuit on the Hemoglobin Level and Cognitive Performance of Adolescent Females in the Ahafo Region of Ghana: A Pilot Study
Authors: Appiah Abigail Owusuaa , Tandoh Marina Aferiba , Puotege Pepertual Suglo , Edusei Anthony Kwaku
Published: October 2023

Anemia is a public health problem that affects about 50% of adolescent females in sub-Saharan Africa. Anemia can negatively affect the overall growth, cognitive performance, and productivity of school-going adolescents. This pilot study assessed the impact of Solanum torvum-fortified biscuits on hemoglobin levels and cognitive performance of school-going adolescent females. A cluster randomized controlled, open labeled trial was undertaken among four basic schools in the Ahafo Region of Ghana. Out of the 169 participants, 151 (

intervention
=
83

,

control
=
68

) adolescent females completed the trial. The intervention and control groups were made up of two schools each. The participants in the intervention and control groups received a total of 30 turkey berry-fortified biscuit supplementation or 30 placebos for a period of six weeks, respectively. The hemoglobin levels and cognitive test scores were obtained before and after the intervention. The number of anemic cases and low cognitive performance among the female adolescents in the intervention group reduced by 23.8% and 8.7%, respectively. There was a positive impact on the hemoglobin levels and cognitive performance of the intervention group. For every unit of turkey berry-fortified biscuit consumed by the intervention group, there was a 0.945 unit increase in hemoglobin level (

p
=
0.001

) and a 2.796 unit increase in cognitive performance (

p
=
0.005

). The turkey berry-fortified biscuit significantly reduced anemia prevalence and improved cognitive performance among the adolescent girls. Therefore, its potential in the management of anemia and improvement of cognition could be explored.
Lithiophilic and Conductive CuO-Cu2O-Cu Microspheres with Controlled Void Structure via Spray Pyrolysis for Improved Lithium Metal Anode Performance
Authors: Choi Jae Hun , Kang Jae Wook , Koo Hye Young , Kang Yun Chan
Published: October 2023

Lithium metal anodes (LMAs) have attracted significant attention owing to their high theoretical capacity and lowest redox potential. However, dendritic growth of lithium limits its practical application. Controlling lithium deposition through structuring host materials for LMAs has been widely studied. In this study, a unique structured CuO-Cu2O-Cu composite microsphere is synthesized through facile one-step spray pyrolysis process as a new lithium host material for LMAs. During lithium deposition, lithium ions preferred to be adsorbed on composite microspheres due to the electric field generated from the metallic Cu-based conductive matrix. The adsorbed ions reacted with lithiophilic copper oxides to form copper and Li2O, promoting the generation of a uniform electric field and ion transfer. Moreover, hollow structure can guide lithium to be encapsulated inside the structures, enabling effective suppression of dendritic lithium growth. As a result, this composite microsphere is capable to store lithium with high areal capacity of 5.0 mAh cm-2 without dendritic growth of lithium. Consequently, the composite microspheres exhibit a coulombic efficiency above 99% for more than 200 cycles at a current density of 1.0 mA cm-2 as an asymmetric cell and show low voltage hysteresis of 19 mV for more than 1,000 h as a symmetric cell. This study demonstrates that the designed microstructures with an appropriate ratio of conductive and lithiophilic matrices with sufficient pore structures provide promising cycle performance as host materials for lithium metal anode.
Low‐Density Lipoprotein Contributes to Endometrial Carcinoma Cell Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion by Activating the JAK–STAT Signaling Pathway
Authors: Shen Lifan , Zhang Chen , Cui Kaiying , Liang Xin , Zhu Genhai
Published: October 2023

Background. Cholesterol‐rich low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) particles have been demonstrated to regulate breast cancer cell proliferation and migration, but their biological function and relevant mechanisms in endometrial carcinoma (EC) remain unclear Methods. Serum and tissue samples were collected from EC patients (n = 50) and patients with benign endometrial hyperplasia (n = 50). Ishikawa and RL95‐2 cells were stimulated with different concentrations of LDL, followed by treatment with a JAK2 inhibitor (SD‐1029). LDL concentrations were determined by ELISA. The in vitro biological behavior of cells was examined using the CCK‐8 assay, EdU staining, and Transwell assay. The tumorigenicity of LDL in vivo was examined using a xenograft mouse model. western blotting, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry studies were performed to measure related protein expression. Results. The LDL concentrations and levels of p‐JAK2 and p‐STAT3 expression were elevated in the clinical samples. Similar trends in expression were detected in EC cells after LDL stimulation. LDL treatment significantly promoted EC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and also upregulated p‐JAK2 and p‐STAT3 expression in a dose‐dependent manner. Moreover, SD‐1029 dramatically blocked the LDL‐mediated effects on EC cells. Intravenous injection of LDLs promoted tumor growth in the xenograft nude mice, and also increased p‐JAK2, p‐STAT3, and Ki‐67 expression, and downregulated caspase‐3 expression. Conclusions. These findings indicate that LDLs exert an oncogenic effect in EC cells by activating the JAK/STAT signaling pathway, and also suggest the JAK/STAT pathway as a possible therapeutic target for EC.
The Value of IgM Memory B-Cells in the Assessment of Splenic Function in Childhood Cancer Survivors at Risk for Splenic Dysfunction: A DCCSS-LATER Study
Authors: Houtman Bente M. , Walraven Iris , de Grouw Elke , van der Maazen Richard W. M. , Kremer Leontien C. M. , van Dulmen-den Broeder Eline , van den Heuvel-Eibrink Marry M. , Tissing Wim J. E. , Bresters Dorine , van der Pal Helena J. H. , de Vries Andrica C. H. , Louwerens Marloes , van der Heiden-van der Loo Margriet , Neggers Sebastian J. C. , Janssens Geert O. , Blijlevens Nicole M. A. , Lambeck Annechien J. A. , Preijers Frank , Loonen Jacqueline J.
Published: October 2023

Background. Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) who received radiotherapy involving the spleen or total body irradiation (TBI) might be at risk for splenic dysfunction. A comprehensive screening test for examining splenic dysfunction is lacking. Objective. We investigated whether IgM memory B-cells could be used to assess splenic dysfunction in CCS who received a splenectomy, radiotherapy involving the spleen, or TBI. Methods. All CCS were enrolled from the DCCSS-LATER cohort. We analyzed differences in IgM memory B-cells and Howell–Jolly bodies (HJB) in CCS who had a splenectomy (n = 9), received radiotherapy involving the spleen (n = 36), or TBI (n = 15). IgM memory B-cells < 9 cells/µL was defined as abnormal. Results. We observed a higher median number of IgM memory B-cells in CCS who received radiotherapy involving the spleen (31 cells/µL,

p
=
0.06

) or TBI (55 cells/µL,

p

 = 0.03) compared to CCS who received splenectomy (20 cells/µL). However, only two CCS had IgM memory B-cells below the lower limit of normal. No difference in IgM memory B-cells was observed between CCS with HJB present and absent (35 cells/µL vs. 44 cells/µL). Conclusion. Although the number of IgM memory B-cells differed between splenectomized CCS and CCS who received radiotherapy involving the spleen or TBI, only two CCS showed abnormal values. Therefore, this assessment cannot be used to screen for splenic dysfunction.
The Suitability of Stool Antigen Testing in the Detection of Helicobacter pylori in a Regional and Rural Area of Australia
Authors: Wearne Timothy , Nadeem Safaa , Wilson Bruce , Mansfield Kylie J. , Keighley Caitlin
Published: October 2023

Background. Helicobacter pylori is considered the most widespread bacterial pathogen worldwide. Successful eradication protocols are well established, highlighting the importance of appropriate infection detection. Noninvasive testing (NIT) methods are commonly used to detect infection, with test selection dependent on access and previous infection. This study examined trends in NIT by age group and test selection for eradication screening as well as examining H. pylori area prevalence by socioeconomic status (SES) in the Illawarra Shoalhaven and surrounding region. Materials and Methods. This retrospective cohort quantitative study is based on 20,998 NIT including stool antigen test (SAT), urea breath test (UBT), or H. pylori serology via Southern.IML Pathology between 2018 and 2020. Test percentage positives per and total test percentages within age groups were calculated for each NIT. Positive sample postcode data was assigned to socioeconomic percentiles. Total test utilisation and prevalence were calculated and depicted as geospatial representations. Results. Overall: 58.5% UBT, 31% serology, and 10.5% SAT were performed, with 14.7% positive for any NIT. Highest percent positive age group: SAT 80-89yo (18.6%), UBT 0-9yo (20.8%), and serology 90–99yo (32.6%). Test majority per age group: SAT 0-9yo (67.4%), UBT 10-89yo (59.4%), and serology 90-99yo (48.3%). A trend was seen between increasing infection prevalence and increasing socioeconomic disadvantage (

p
=
0.161

,

R

2

=
0.0361

). Prevalence rates visually correlated with total test utilisation. Conclusions. SAT was underutilised compared to UBT or serology. Serology was inappropriately used in older age groups, and the result validity was questioned following confirmed infection. SAT is a viable alternative for use in these settings. No significant correlation was seen between lower SES areas and higher H. pylori infection prevalence, but low-test utilisation suggests likely prevalence underestimation within the studied area and may indicate reduced accessibility to healthcare.
Phase I Dose-Escalation Study of the Safety and Pharmacokinetics of AGS15E Monotherapy in Patients with Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma
Authors: Petrylak Daniel P. , Eigl Bernhard J. , George Saby , Heath Elisabeth I. , Hotte Sebastien J. , Chism David D. , Nabell Lisle M. , Picus Joel , Cheng Susanna Y. , Appleman Leonard J. , Sonpavde Guru P. , Morgans Alicia K. , Pourhosseini Pourya , Wu Ruishan , Standley Laura , Croitoru Ruslan , Yu Evan Y.
Published: October 2023

Purpose:

Effective treatment of locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) remains an unmet need. Antibody–drug conjugates (ADC) providing targeted drug delivery have shown antitumor activity in this setting. AGS15E is an investigational ADC that delivers the cytotoxic drug monomethyl auristatin E to cells expressing SLITRK6, a UC-associated antigen.

Patients and Methods:

This was a multicenter, single-arm, phase I dose-escalation and expansion trial of AGS15E in patients with mUC (NCT01963052). During dose escalation, AGS15E was administered intravenously at six levels (0.10, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00, 1.25 mg/kg), employing a continual reassessment method to determine dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) and the recommended phase II dose (RP2D) for the dose-expansion cohort. The primary objective was to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of AGS15E in patients with and without prior chemotherapy and with prior checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) therapy. Best overall response was also examined.

Results:

Ninety-three patients were recruited, including 33 patients previously treated with CPI. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events were fatigue (54.8%), nausea (37.6%), and decreased appetite (35.5%). Peripheral neuropathy and ocular toxicities occurred at doses of ≥0.75 mg/kg. AGS15E increased in a dose-proportional manner after single- and multiple-dose administration; accumulation was low. Five DLT occurred from 0.50 to 1.25 mg/kg. The RP2D was assessed at 1.00 mg/kg; the objective response rate (ORR) was 35.7% at this dose level. The ORR in the total population and CPI-exposed subgroup were 18.3% and 27.3%, respectively.

Conclusions:

DLT with AGS15E were observed at 0.75, 1.00, and 1.25 mg/kg, with an RP2D of 1.00 mg/kg being determined.
FIGURE 4 from Immune Cell Abundance and T-cell Receptor Landscapes Suggest New Patient Stratification Strategies in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Secrier Maria , McGrath Lara , Ng Felicia , Gulati Sakshi , Raymond Amelia , Nuttall Barrett R. B. , Berthe Julie , Jones Emma V. , Sidders Ben S. , Galon Jérôme , Barrett J. Carl , Angell Helen K.
Published: October 2023

TLS signatures and TCR repertoire richness as markers of immune “hot” tumors with improved survival outcomes. A, Expression of TLS-specific signature genes and chemokine signaling appears elevated in the cytotoxic and PC high subgroups. Other individual markers associated with TLSs (28) display similar trends. ****, P < 0.0001; ***, P < 0.001; **, P < 0.01; *, P < 0.05; ns, nonsignificant (P > 0.05). B, Protein staining for CD8+/CD3+ T cells and regulatory T cell markers (FOXP3, GITR) by IHC shows increased levels in the cytotoxic groups. TC, staining at the tumor center; IM, staining at the immune margin. Boxplots compare staining levels between independent samples across the five groups: immune-excluded, n = 32; macrophage rich, n = 61; DC rich, n = 41; PC rich, n = 14; cytotoxic, n = 4. C, The TLS signature score is strongly correlated with the observed richness of the TCR repertoire. A grouping of tumor TME subtypes emerges from these two parameters. The density plots along the scatter plot depict the distribution of TLS signature scores and observed TCR richness, respectively, for every immune category. The upper right corner of the scatter plot, comprising all cytotoxic samples, corresponds to an immune “hot” state with high evidence of TLS and high richness of the TCR repertoire. The bottom left corner of the scatter plot is enriched in samples with excluded/weak immunity. D, Patients with an “immune-excluded” phenotype (as classified in B) present a trend for worse overall survival outcomes, while highly cytotoxic tumors confer a survival advantage.
Effects of Aliskiren Monotherapy versus Amlodipine Monotherapy in Hypertensive Patients with Obesity or Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Seki Yasufumi , Morimoto Satoshi , Kimura Shihori , Takano Noriyoshi , Yamashita Kaoru , Bokuda Kanako , Sasaki Nobukazu , Watanabe Daisuke , Ichihara Atsuhiro
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Renin-angiotensin system inhibitors have been reported to exert protective effects against organ damage and failure; however, the impact of the direct renin inhibitor as monotherapy has not been assessed. Here, we investigated the effects of 24-week monotherapy with aliskiren compared to amlodipine in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes or obesity. Methods: In this randomized intervention study, 62 adult hypertensive patients with visceral obesity (defined as a body mass index [BMI] greater than 25 kg/m2 and a visceral adipose tissue area [VFA] greater than 100 cm2) or type 2 diabetes mellitus (age 57 ± 13, 65% men, BMI 28.8 ± 4.8 kg/m2, VFA 134.8 ± 47.0 cm2, blood pressure 141 ± 16/86 ± 13 mm Hg) were randomized to receive 24-week treatment with aliskiren (max. 300 mg) or amlodipine (max. 10 mg). The primary outcome was the change in VFA at 24 weeks post-treatment. Results: Change in VFA did not differ significantly from baseline in either group. Systolic blood pressure significantly decreased at 12 weeks (−10 mm Hg, p = 0.001) and 24 weeks (−10 mm Hg, p = 0.001) in the amlodipine group and at 24 weeks (−11 mm Hg, p = 0.001) in the aliskiren group. Diastolic blood pressure significantly decreased at 24 weeks (−6 mm Hg, p = 0.009) only in the amlodipine group. Although the estimated glomerular filtration rates did not significantly change in either group, the logarithm of urinary albumin excretion significantly decreased at 24 weeks only in the aliskiren group (−0.60, p < 0.001). The 24-week changes in the urinary albumin excretion significantly correlated with the changes in the plasma renin activity in the aliskiren group (r = 0.51, p = 0.008). Conclusion: Aliskiren monotherapy did not show any superiority to amlodipine monotherapy on VFA, estimated glomerular filtration rates, or urinary albumin excretion in obese or type 2 diabetic hypertensive patients.