bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An improved AlexNet deep learning method for limb tumor cancer prediction and detection
Authors: Perumal Arunachalam , Nithiyanantham Janakiraman , Nagaraj Jamuna
Published: October 2024

Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a rare cancer that forms in soft tissues around joints, and early detection is crucial for improving patient survival rates. This study introduces a convolutional neural network (CNN) using an improved AlexNet deep learning classifier to improve SS diagnosis from digital pathological images. Key preprocessing steps, such as dataset augmentation and noise reduction techniques, such as adaptive median filtering (AMF) and histogram equalization were employed to improve image quality. Feature extraction was conducted using the Gray-Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM) and Improved Linear Discriminant Analysis (ILDA), while image segmentation targeted spindle-shaped cells using repetitive phase-level set segmentation (RPLSS). The improved AlexNet architecture features additional convolutional layers and resized input images, leading to superior performance. The model demonstrated significant improvements in accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and AUC, outperforming existing methods by 3%, 1.70%, 6.08%, and 8.86%, respectively, in predicting SS.
Pioneering diabetes screening tool: machine learning driven optical vascular signal analysis
Authors: M Sameera Fathimal , Kumar JS , Jeya Prabha A , Selvaraj Jothiraj , Kirubha S P Angeline
Published: October 2024

The escalating prevalence of diabetes mellitus underscores the critical need for non-invasive screening tools capable of early disease detection. Present diagnostic techniques depend on invasive procedures, which highlights the need for advancement of non-invasive alternatives for initial disease detection. Machine learning in integration with the optical sensing technology can effectively analyze the signal patterns associated with diabetes. The objective of this research is to develop and evaluate a non-invasive optical-based method combined with machine learning algorithms for the classification of individuals into normal, prediabetic, and diabetic categories. A novel device was engineered to capture real-time optical vascular signals from participants representing the three glycemic states. The signals were then subjected to quality assessment and preprocessing to ensure data reliability. Subsequently, feature extraction was performed using time-domain analysis and wavelet scattering techniques to derive meaningful characteristics from the optical signals. The extracted features were subsequently employed to train and validate a suite of machine learning algorithms. An ensemble bagged trees classifier with wavelet scattering features and random forest classifier with time-domain features demonstrated superior performance, achieving an overall accuracy of 86.6% and 80.0% in differentiating between normal, prediabetic, and diabetic individuals based on the optical vascular signals. The proposed non-invasive optical-based approach, coupled with advanced machine learning techniques, holds promise as a potential screening tool for diabetes mellitus. The classification accuracy achieved in this study warrants further investigation and validation in larger and more diverse populations.
Weighted naïve bayes multi-user classification for adaptive authentication
Authors: Mavhemwa Prudence M , Zennaro Marco , Nsengiyumva Philibert , Nzanywayingoma Frederic
Published: October 2024

Machine learning classification algorithms have been extensively utilized in addressing user authentication challenges. Nonetheless, a majority of solutions categorize users into three classes, whereas adaptive authentication scenarios necessitate classification beyond this threshold. The rationale behind this limitation has not been thoroughly explored. The current study leveraged the Naive Bayes theorem for user authentication endeavors to assess the risk associated with login attempts. The Naive Bayes Machine Learning algorithm, along with its variations such as Gaussian, Categorical, and Bernoulli, was applied on both weighted and unweighted datasets to ascertain risk levels and categorize them into six classes. Additionally, the classification task was executed using alternative algorithms. The outcomes of cross-validation and comparative analyses revealed that the performance was commendable for up to three classes, after which a decrease was observed in certain Naive Bayes and SVM classifiers. Among the Naïve Bayes family, the Bernoulli NB algorithm exhibited superior performance but was surpassed by Decision Trees, SVM, XGB, and Random Forests. Notably, the weighted dataset consistently outperformed the unweighted counterpart, with the allocation of weights significantly influencing algorithmic efficacy. The 80:20 split strategy yielded the most favorable outcomes in contrast to the 70:30 and 60:40 splits, albeit no significant variances were detected during cross-validation. Non-Naïve Bayes algorithms demonstrated superior performance compared to Naïve Bayes algorithms. For Naïve Bayes, optimal performance is achieved with three classes, highlighting its utility in conditional risk calculation, while non-Naïve Bayes multi-classification algorithms are more suitable for classification tasks due to the problem’s inherent compatibility with conditional probabilities. In conclusion, it is imperative to acknowledge that the characteristics of the data, the use of weights, and the data splitting methodology significantly influence the accuracy of machine learning algorithms in multi-class user classification.
The impacts of climate change on violent conflict risk: a review of causal pathways
Authors: Xie Xiaolan , Hao Mengmeng , Ding Fangyu , Scheffran Jürgen , Ide Tobias , Maystadt Jean-François , Qian Yushu , Wang Qian , Chen Shuai , Wu Jiajie , Sun Kai , Ma Tian , Jiang Dong
Published: October 2024

The potential impacts of climate change on violent conflict are high on the agenda of scholars and policy makers. This article reviews existing literature to clarify the relationship between climate change and conflict risk, focusing on the roles of temperature and precipitation. While some debate remains, substantial evidence shows that climate change increases conflict risk under specific conditions. We examine four key pathways through which climate affects conflict: (i) economic shocks, (ii), agricultural decline, (iii) natural resources competition, and (iv) migration. Key gaps include limited long-term data, insufficient integrated studies, and the inadequate understanding of causal mechanisms, necessitating transdisciplinary research that addresses social vulnerability and underlying pathways.
Advanced hybrid techniques for predicting discharge coefficients in ogee-crested spillways: integrating physical, numerical, and machine learning models
Authors: Hien Le Thi Thu , Van Chien Nguyen , Xuan-Hien Le
Published: October 2024

The primary objective of this work was to examine the flow characteristics over an ogee spillway using both a numerical model and the Machine Learning (ML) approach. A 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was employed to simulate the flow over an ogee spillway, utilizing the Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes equations. The simulation encompassed a wide variety of head ratios, ranging from 0.1 to 6.0, to extend the rating curve of discharge coefficient (C) and head ratio (H

e

/H
0). The formation of the negative pressure zone rapidly occurred, and the maximum velocity area developed from toe to top of the spillway surface as the head ratio increased. Then, four ML models—RF, FNN, ADB, and KNN—were utilized to estimate the discharge coefficient of the spillway. Hyperparameter tuning using the Tree-Structured Parzen Estimator (TPE) and five-fold cross-validation ensured robust model performance. The ML model’s efficacy was assessed by conducting 200 random seed simulations. The RF and ADB models exhibited the highest predictive accuracy and consistency, with mean correlation coefficient (CC) values of 0.979 and 0.975, respectively. FNN and KNN also performed well but showed greater variability in their prediction. The results demonstrated reasonably good agreement between the physical, numerical, and ML models. Both numerical simulation methods and ML models, particularly RF, proved to be cost-efficient and reliable tools for designing and analyzing flow over an ogee spillway. These findings highlight the potential of integrating numerical simulations and advanced ML techniques to enhance the prediction and analysis of hydraulic structures, providing valuable insights for the design and management of spillway systems.
Precise modulation of the debonding behaviours of ultra-thin wafers by laser-induced hot stamping effect and thermoelastic stress wave for advanced packaging of chips
Authors: Zhang Jieyuan , Hu Yanlei , Wang Fangcheng , Liu Qiang , Niu Fangfang , Li Jinhui , Huang Mingqi , Zhang Guoping , Sun Rong
Published: October 2024

Laser debonding technology has been widely used in advanced chip packaging, such as fan-out integration, 2.5D/3D ICs, and MEMS devices. Typically, laser debonding of bonded pairs (R/R separation) is typically achieved by completely removing the material from the ablation region within the release material layer at high energy densities. However, this R/R separation method often results in a significant amount of release material and carbonized debris remaining on the surface of the device wafer, severely reducing product yields and cleaning efficiency for ultra-thin device wafers. Here, we proposed an interfacial separation strategy based on laser-induced hot stamping effect and thermoelastic stress wave, which enables stress-free separation of wafer bonding pairs at the interface of the release layer and the adhesive layer (R/A separation). By comprehensively analyzing the micro-morphology and material composition of the release material, we elucidated the laser debonding behavior of bonded pairs under different separation modes. Additionally, we calculated the ablation threshold of the release material in the case of wafer bonding and established the processing window for different separation methods. This work offers a fresh perspective on the development and application of laser debonding technology. The proposed R/A interface separation method is versatile, controllable, and highly reliable, and does not leave release materials and carbonized debris on device wafers, demonstrating strong industrial adaptability, which greatly facilitates the application and development of advanced packaging for ultra-thin chips.
Experimental study on optimization of abrasive water jet process parameters
Authors: Pan Yue , Yuan Hao , Pei Kangchao , Zhai Shengyu , Geng Zhongcheng
Published: October 2024

To improve the cutting efficiency of abrasive water jet technology, a high-pressure water jet cutting system was developed to examine the cutting effects on granite and red sandstone under various process parameters. The results reveal that the average slit depth increases linearly with rising jet pressure, while the slit width shows a decreasing trend. In contrast, as the transverse speed increases, both the depth and width of the slit decline. The slit depth initially rises and then falls with an increase in jet target distance, peaking at a target distance of 5 mm, whereas the slit width consistently decreases. Furthermore, as the jet angle increases, the slot depth exhibits an oscillatory pattern of increase and decrease, with the maximum slot depth occurring at a jet angle of 10°. Conversely, the slit width first decreases and then increases with the jet angle, reaching its maximum at a jet angle of 20°. To clarify the relative importance of these parameters, an L16(4^4) orthogonal experimental design was utilized to conduct extensive experiments on granite and red sandstone. Through range analysis and variance analysis, the primary and secondary relationships among the factors affecting abrasive water jet cutting were established in the following order: transverse velocity > jet pressure > jet inclination > target distance. The optimal jet parameters identified were a jet pressure of 40 MPa, a target distance of 5 mm, a transverse velocity of 2 mm s−1, and a jet inclination of 10°.
International trade makes European food markets less vulnerable to concurrent and recurrent climate extremes
Authors: Pieralli Simone , Pérez-Domínguez Ignacio
Published: October 2024

Extreme weather events are occurrences of unusually severe weather or climate conditions that can devastate local communities, agriculture and natural ecosystems. Due to climate change, these extreme events are becoming increasingly more likely, lasting longer, and more severe in impact. In this paper, we illustrate the potential effects of concurrent and recurrent extreme weather events on EU agricultural commodity markets and, in particular, on production and trade. A combination of concurrent and recurrent events is expected to have a negative and compounding effect on domestic food supply and trade, making EU agricultural markets less resilient. A set of scenarios based on record low yields show how EU production could be drastically affected compared to a business-as-usual situation. Market disruptions would be potentially larger for commodities in which the EU has a strong net exporter position, such as wheat. In the absence of extremes in non-EU regions, trade reveals as a key element in buffering the adverse impacts of extreme events in the EU.
Reframing the Debate on Frontline Worker Motivation
Authors: Aiyar Yamini
Published: October 2024

This chapter pulls together the empirical descriptive account presented in the previous two chapters to locate the perspectives, self-image and professional identities of frontline workers—district and block education officers and teachers—within a broader theoretical understanding of state capacity. The effort is to draw on theoretical debates on worker motivation, management practice, and accountability to push boundaries of existing explanations on frontline worker behaviour. It seeks to. Move the debate away from a focus on questions of compliance and monitoring, toward a broader engagement with the organizational sociology of the frontline state. It makes the case for the need to build the debate on state capacity in India around the frameworks of alternative management practices that privilege autonomy, deliberation and align worker incentives to the organizational mission.
Delhi’s Education Revolution
Authors: Aiyar Yamini
Published: October 2024

This chapter details the Delhi reform effort as observed by the study team. It draws on the participant and classroom observations, analysis of government circulars, interviews with key reformers, and other secondary sources to describe the roll out of the Delhi government’s reform efforts. The description focuses specifically on the classroom-based learning-oriented, pedagogical reform interventions called Chunauti and Mission Buniyaad. It also presents details other linked efforts like the mentor teachers, the Happiness Curriculum and the changes in the assessment structure. During the rollout, researchers were embedded in schools and training centers to capture the immediate reactions and perspectives of school level stakeholders as they struggled to make sense of what was demanded of them. Thus this chapter is able to offer a birds eye view of the early phase of the rollout of the reform from the perspective of the stakeholders. The effort is to present to the reader a realistic account of the challenges that frontline actors and reformers alike encounter when rolling out disruptive ideas in entrenched, low-state capacity organizations.
The History of Chinese Meteorology
Authors: Chen Zhenghong , Zhang Li
Published: October 2024

China’s meteorological history, from ancient times to modern times to contemporary science, has its own culture and regional characteristics. China’s ancient meteorological achievements from the earliest Chinese civilization to the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644 ad) basically took the lead in the world. The Taosi Ancient Observatory in Shanxi Province in the 21st century bc was the earliest observatory found in the world. Meteorological information has been found in the oracle bone inscriptions of Shang Dynasty ruins from more than 3,000 years ago. Poems describing weather phenomena date from the Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 bc). By the Spring and Autumn and Warring States (770–221 bc) periods, the 24 solar terms had formed. From the Qin and Han Dynasties (221 bc–220 ad), the scope of meteorological observation continuously deepened and expanded, meteorological instruments were created and applied in observing celestial phenomena, and theoretical discussion on atmospheric phenomena arose. A number of classical books containing rich meteorological knowledge and thoughts, such as Guanzi(《管子》)and Dream Pool Essays known as Mengxi Bi Tan(《梦溪笔谈》), were published; and many famous scholars who also are regarded as meteorologists, including Guan Zhong (管仲), Dong Zhongshu (董仲舒), and Shen Kuo (沈括) emerged. Unfortunately, from the late Qing Dynasty (1616–1911 ad), China’s meteorological technology fell behind for a variety of reasons. Modern meteorological history in China began with the introduction of Western meteorology in the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644 ad) and runs to the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. During this period, the development of meteorology in China was closely associated with Western missionaries and military aggression. In the late Qing Dynasty, meteorological agencies or observing sites were successively built by France, Britain, Germany, Japan, and Russia to serve these countries’ needs in China, but they did promote the introduction of advanced Western meteorological science and technology in China. After the end of the Qing Dynasty in 1911, Jiang Bingran (蒋丙然), Zhu Kezhen (竺可桢), and other Chinese meteorologists began to devote themselves to the science. The Central Observatory, Meteorological Institute, and Chinese Meteorological Society were established during this period, and meteorology education began in China as well. Meteorological agencies and weather stations were set up in various places to conduct weather observation and forecasting, scientific research, and personnel training. Since 1949, Chinese meteorology has entered what can be referred to as the contemporary stage. Much progress has been made, especially in the development of meteorological science research, numerical weather prediction, observation systems, automatic weather stations, meteorological satellite, and so forth; many of these achievements built on historical and modern meteorological sciences. Thus, studying China’s meteorological history is of great significance for contemporary and future meteorological developments.
The Impact of COVID-19 Laws, Policies, and Practices on Educational Equity
Authors: Hutcherson Nate , Barragán Sergio D. , Islem Shadman , Muñiz Raquel
Published: October 2024

K–12 education and higher education in the United States were drastically affected by COVID-19. Local, state, and federal leaders’ decisions in response to the pandemic were meant to protect the health of their communities. These decisions included school closures across the country, vaccine mandates in some states, and bans on vaccine mandates in other states. Additionally, educational institutions made adaptations to education that resulted in widespread differences in students’ educational environments. These adaptations included remote learning in the K–12 and higher education contexts, changes to student support services, and changes in standardized testing requirements for higher education admissions applications.

The result of these decisions and adaptations were educational laws, policies, and practices that were not equally enjoyed and experienced by all students but rather further exacerbated preexisting educational disparities. Marginalized students, including low-income individuals, students of color, first-generation students, and English Learners, already faced significant barriers to fully engage in their education prepandemic. The inequities of pandemic responses only served to further entrench these disadvantages. These efforts raise important considerations for future research, policy, and practice that can curb the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and future crises.
Śaivism in Premodern Java ( c. 700–1500)
Authors: Acri Andrea
Published: October 2024

Java forms the political, economic, and cultural core of the modern state of Indonesia. In the premodern period, the island constituted a crossroads of contacts across the maritime routes connecting South Asia to East Asia through Southeast Asia. Java has played an important role in the exchange of knowledge that mainly took place between the 5th and 15th centuries ce, referred to as “Indianization,” “Sanskritization,” or “Indicization,” as its Malayo-Polynesian language-speaking societies received—and “localized”—Sanskrit language as well as Indic legal norms, aesthetic and political paradigms, and religions like Śaivism, Vaiṣṇavism, and Buddhism.

Śaivism was one of the most important religious traditions of what is now generally termed “Hinduism,” focusing on the cult of Śiva as the paramount god. Prior to the widespread Islamization of Java and the European expansion, Śaivism was patronized by the Javanese political elites and adopted by the common people too. It was also the main religion in the neighboring island of Bali, which has survived up to nowadays as the reformed version of “Balinese Hinduism” that came to the fore from the early 20th century onward. The importance of Śaivism for the history and culture of premodern Java and its continuation through the early modern to the modern period (during which Islam became predominant) cannot be stressed enough. Śaiva symbols and ideas played an important role not only in the religious sphere but also in artistic and political life, influencing the local concepts of kingship and shaping the iconography of many temples and artistic remains.
Urban Development and the East African Railways
Authors: Kiriama Herman O.
Published: October 2024

During the colonial era, the British constructed a railway line linking landlocked Uganda to coastal Kenya. During the same era, the Germans developed a railway system connecting hinterland areas within Tanzania (at the time, Tanganyika) to the seaport of Dar es Salaam. Today, the Dar es Salaam and Mombasa railways constitute what are known, respectively, as the central and northern corridors of the railway lines linking the landlocked countries in the region to the Indian Ocean. The central corridor runs for 1,254 km from Dar es Salaam to Kigoma on the shores of Lake Tanganyika and connects to the Burundian capital of Bujumbura by ships and barges on Lake Tanganyika and to Rwanda by road. The northern corridor, on the other hand, runs from Mombasa to Malaba, 1,082 km inland on the Kenya–Uganda border, and then a further 251 km from Malaba to Kampala. The Tazara (Tanzania–Zambia) corridor runs from Dar es Salaam to Ndola in Zambia. A fourth railway corridor, the Lamu Port, South Sudan, and Ethiopia Transport corridor (LAPSSET), is under construction and encompasses a network of highways and oil pipelines as well as a railroad to connect a new harbor at Lamu on the Kenyan north coast with Ethiopia and South Sudan.

The development of the railway infrastructure inescapably led to the reconfiguration of the East African landscape. The new transport infrastructure not only brought changes to the areas the railways traversed but also led to major changes in the spatial accessibility of those areas. Transport is of great significance in influencing the distribution of economic activities, in integrating resources, and in linking regions of different types. The colonial administrations in East Africa were keen on infrastructure development to enable them to easily extract, produce, and move commodities through their territories. This infrastructural development enabled the flow of capital for the dual purposes of empire and profit-making, on the one hand, and of enabling European powers to exploit the full economic potential of their colonies, on the other. The construction of the East African railways led to the opening up of large areas of the interior of East Africa to European settlement, the growing of new cash crops such as cotton and tea, and the development of major urban centers, such as Nairobi, Kisumu, and Jinja, that would serve both the European settlers and the railways.
Music of Igbo
Authors: Okigbo Austin C.
Published: October 2024

The Igbo, one of the largest ethnic groups in Nigeria and West Africa possesses one of the richest cultures in the region. Their ethnic name is derived from their language which is part of the Benue-Congo branch of the Niger–Congo language family. Their musical heritage is also one of the most sophisticated by means of which their ways of being in the world—their social life, spirituality, political organization, subsistence living, and aesthetic ideals are articulated and may be deduced.

The Igbo are known to practice a republican form of socio-political system in a loose-confederacy long before the colonial project brought them into the Nigerian state of the early 21st century. They are also among the most mobile groups on the continent, having established huge trade routes before the arrival of European traders and colonialists. Their social structure, subsistent agrarian culture, and mobility due to trade have implications on the nature of their musical culture. For example, musical activity among them is voluntary and not structured around or imposed on persons by virtue of belonging to any given socioeconomic class or religious caste system. The further implication is that their music is characterized by constant innovation, drawing influences from their immediate neighbors, and even sharing musical traits with other ethnic groups of West and Central Africa. This is evident in their collection of musical instruments and the types of ritual music in their culture. Further evidence of this is also seen in the ways in which they have developed their contemporary music in the areas of popular music, Christian music, and art music.
Slave-Ship Insurrections
Authors: Richardson David , Saint Chandler B.
Published: October 2024

Explores the number and reasons for revolts on the slave ships that transported captured Africans via the Middle Passage from Atlantic Africa to the Americas between 1500 and 1867. Drawing on the extensive data in the slavevoyages.org registry, it is possible to develop definitive patterns of types and places of revolts, the different groups involved, the origins of these groups, the areas in which the victims were captured, and how they were taken to the ships and loaded for the voyage. By looking at the known insurrections included in the data set and the patterns of where and on what carriers they occurred, it is possible to draw conclusions about the total numbers of both the documented insurrections and the estimated ones, their outcomes, and the number of lives lost as a result, both of the enslaved and of the ships’ crews. The economic impact of the insurrections on the people involved, the victims, the traders, and the economies of Africa and the Caribbean, can be evaluated. The patterns and conclusions then show how these different factors affected the lengths to which the victims of the slave trade would go and the risks they would take to resist the oppression and attempt to regain their freedom.
Flora Nwapa
Authors: Kalu Anthonia C.
Published: October 2024

Flora Nwapa was a novelist, an author of children’s stories, a political administrator, an activist, and an entrepreneur. Born in Ugwuta, Nigeria, she was among the first group of women to obtain a university degree from University College, Ibadan, Nigeria. Nwapa’s life focused on bringing women to the front of contemporary society in postcolonial Nigeria. Efuru, an eponymous novel, is Nwapa’s best-known work. It was the first novel by a Nigerian (African) woman to receive wide international attention. Her other novels include Idu, Never Again, One Is Enough, and Women Are Different. Her writings examine the challenges encountered by both colonizing and colonized peoples in a developing African nation. Her later works address women’s efforts to combine Western-type education with marriage and motherhood. Her novel Efuru extends prevalent discussions in African fictional works about African land as a legacy and resource to include Africa’s waters and waterways. Nwapa’s contributions also call attention to Igbo (African) thought about motherhood, barrenness, and women’s access to different kinds of wealth, including economic wealth. An entrepreneur, Nwapa was the first African woman to own a publishing press.
History of the American School Lunch Program
Authors: Figueroa Shayne
Published: October 2024

School lunch programs in the United States reflect over one hundred years of public debate and policy involving nutrition, welfare, and agriculture. These programs originated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, largely driven by philanthropic organizations and municipal efforts aimed at mitigating child hunger and improving educational outcomes among urban poor populations. The transformation from a decentralized patchwork of programs to a cohesive federal initiative began in earnest with the passage of the National School Lunch Act in 1946, signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. This pivotal legislation was a response to widespread concerns about child nutrition exacerbated by the Great Depression and World War II, fears regarding the fitness of American youth for military service, and the desire to continue agricultural commodity support for American farmers. It established the National School Lunch Program as a federally funded program that supported both agricultural interests and public health mandates, administered at the state level. As the program grew and evolved over the second half of the 20th century and into the 21st century, it became one of the largest and most debated social welfare programs in the United States. Updates to the legislation, including the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, further underscored the federal commitment to nutritional standards in school meals, as well as the intensely divided public debates around government involvement in family food choices.
Food and Ethnicity
Authors: Ray Krishnendu
Published: October 2024

Ethnic food is a slippery concept, used in various anglophone publications by the 1960s, peaking in the 1980s, and no longer used in major US metropolitan newspapers by the 2020s. It came into play in other parts of the world about a generation later and continues to be used unevenly. It is typically used to identify cuisines that are not considered mainstream or archetypical of a region or a nation. Inferiority (or lack of class), cheapness, spiciness, and authenticity are the typical tropes used to judge such cuisines. It has always had the stench of primitivism and Orientalism attached to it and is increasingly considered outdated, such as terms like “Negro” or “Oriental.” The term was historically used to describe a cuisine that is different horizontally, such as Thai, Indian, or Chinese, but it also carried a hierarchical connotation, where French or Nordic cuisines were hardly ever named as ethnic anywhere in the world. New York City offers a case study in examining the history and hierarchy between food and ethnicity.
Spice Trade in Europe
Authors: Sutherland Bobbi
Published: October 2024

Spices made their way to Europe before the Roman Era, but it was during the Roman Empire that the spice trade and its routes fully developed. Spices arrived in the Mediterranean via three overland routes through Central Asia, through the Middle East via the Red Sea and up from the Horn of Africa. By the 2nd century ce, the Romans were also using a maritime route directly to India from Egypt. The rise of Axumite and later Arab traders led to a decline in European merchants engaging in the spice trade in the Early Middle Ages. However, the trade did not cease, and trade in spices continued as far away as England. As the Middle Ages progressed, Europeans, especially the Venetians, once more entered the spice trade. With the Black Death, the trade contracted slightly but did not cease. The fall of the Mongol Empire in Central Asia made Europeans more reliant on Arab middlemen and motivated a quest to find alternate routes to India. Famously, these led to the discovery of the Americas and the rounding of the Cape of Good Hope. Subsequently, the price of spices dropped, although they still remained highly prized for over a century. They were, however, joined by new “spices,” such as chocolate and tobacco, arriving from the Americas. By the 18th century, spices no longer conveyed status and were used in new ways, causing the importance of the trade to severely decline.
Comparative Social Welfare
Authors: Brown C. Taylor , Gilbert Neil
Published: October 2024

Comparative social welfare or comparative social policy may be defined as the comparative study of welfare states, policies, and programs. Social workers have been instrumental in the development of the field of comparative social welfare and continue to make significant contributions to its international knowledge and practice base. With roots in Europe and the United States in the 1960s, comparative social welfare research evolved from descriptive case studies of welfare programs to causal and quantitative studies, all aimed at understanding and improving domestic social welfare policy through comparison with other nations. The 1990s marked a significant increase in the number of studies on comparative social welfare motivated largely by interest from the European Union, though the field has benefited from contributions by a global community of scholars since then. Although the field continues to evolve, comparative social welfare can roughly be split between theoretical studies of welfare state development and empirical studies of welfare policies, programs, and outcomes. Studies in comparative social welfare can be classified by their method of comparison, nature of comparison, and level of comparison.
Associations between changes in deprivation and alcohol use disorder: a nationwide longitudinal study
Authors: Kim Dan Bi , Lim Jae Hyeok , Ko Ji Su , Joo Min Jeong , Park Eun-Cheol , Jang Suk-yong
Published: October 2024

Background

Despite conflicting findings on the association between socioeconomic status and drinking, little is known about the impact of deprivation as a measure of inequality on alcohol use disorders (AUDs).

Methods

We used the Korea Welfare Panel Study, a longitudinal survey conducted from 2012 to 2022, and included 1569 Korean adult participants. Deprivation (at least one including food, housing, medical, educational, and credit deprivation) was measured by self-report and divided into four categories according to the change in deprivation experience from the previous year to the following year. AUD was measured using the Korean version of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test scale. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals and adjusted for confounders.

Results

Among 1569 participants, worsened deprivation and consistent deprivation were positively associated with AUD compared to non-deprivation. In particular, worsened deprivation was more likely to be associated with AUD in participants with low household income, high school education level, and economic activity.

Conclusion

We found that worsened deprivation and consistent deprivation were associated with AUD. Deprivation should be considered as a health policy intervention to improve drinking problems.
Measurements of dust and respirable crystalline silica during indoor demolition and renovation
Authors: Halvorsen Johanne Ø , Graff Pål , Gjengedal Elin Lovise Folven , Ervik Torunn K
Published: October 2024

Increased focus on renovating and maintaining the existing building stock is an integral part of the circular economy, however this might pose challenges to workers health. The aim of this study was to assess the renovation workers’ exposure to inhalable dust, thoracic dust, respirable dust, and respirable crystalline silica (RCS). Personal aerosol samples were collected as full shift samples from 92 workers to a total of 407 samples. Fourteen locations around Oslo, Norway was visited for multiple days with repeated measurements of the same individual. Particulate matter from 3 aerosol fractions, respirable, thoracic, and inhalable, were analyzed gravimetrically, and the respirable fraction was analyzed for RCS by NIOSH 7500 method for X-ray diffraction (XRD) with low temperature plasma ashing sample preparation. The total measured concentrations of respirable dust (n = 192) had a geometric mean (GM) of 0.88 mg/m3, RCS concentrations (n = 182) had a GM of 0.040 mg/m3, thoracic dust (n = 131) had GM 2.4 mg/m3, and inhalable dust (n = 84) had a GM of 8.5 mg/m3. The maximum measured concentrations were 29 mg/m3, 3.2 mg/m3, 65 mg/m3, and 163 mg/m3, respectively. Workdays involving tasks such as mechanical demolition and clearing out demolished materials led to the highest exposure levels of both dust and RCS. However, other workers at the renovation sites were indirectly exposed to a considerable amount of RCS. This study revealed substantial exposure to both RCS and dust during renovation, and protective measures are warranted to reduce exposure levels in the industry.
Utilization of Artificial Intelligence to Improve Equitable Healthcare Access for Breast Implant Patients
Authors: Ragsdale Louisa B , Kareh Aurora M , Gupta Rohun , Firouzbakht Peter K , Plikaitis Christina M , Rodby Katherine A
Published: October 2024

Recently, mandated FDA patient decision checklists were developed with the goal of improving the informed decision-making process for patients considering breast implants. However, these checklists are written at reading levels far higher than recommended by the National Institutes of Health and the American Medical Association. This study aims to improve the accessibility, and therefore, the utility of the mandated FDA patient literature for the average breast implant patient using the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI). Patient decision checklists were obtained from the 3 most utilized breast implant manufacturers in the United States—Allergan, Mentor, and Sientra. A novel patient decision checklist was synthesized by AI, written at the sixth grade reading level, using these checklists as source material. The AI-assisted checklist was edited by plastic surgeons for both formatting and content. The overall readability of Allergan, Mentor, and Sientra patient checklists correlated with the college reading level. These documents were of a statistically significantly higher reading level than the AI-assisted checklist, which was written at the recommended sixth grade level. Text composition analysis similarly demonstrated substantial differences between the AI-assisted and FDA-mandated literature. The currently mandated breast implant patient checklists are written at a college reading level and are inaccessible to the average patient. The authors propose a new patient decision checklist, generated with the assistance of AI, to improve healthcare access within plastic surgery. This simplified material can be used as an adjunct to the current checklists to improve shared decision making.
ProCogGraph: a graph-based mapping of cognate ligand domain interactions
Authors: Crown Matthew , Bashton Matthew
Published: October 2024

Motivation

Mappings of domain-cognate ligand interactions can enhance our understanding of the core concepts of evolution and be used to aid docking and protein design. Since the last available cognate-ligand domain database was released, the PDB has grown significantly and new tools are available for measuring similarity and determining contacts.

Results

We present ProCogGraph, a graph database of cognate-ligand domain mappings in PDB structures. Building upon the work of the predecessor database, PROCOGNATE, we use data-driven approaches to develop thresholds and interaction modes. We explore new aspects of domain-cognate ligand interactions, including the chemical similarity of bound cognate ligands and how domain combinations influence cognate ligand binding. Finally, we use the graph to add specificity to partial EC IDs, showing that ProCogGraph can complete partial annotations systematically through assigned cognate ligands.

Availability and implementation

The ProCogGraph pipeline, database and flat files are available at https://github.com/bashton-lab/ProCogGraph and https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13165851.
Improving bioinformatics software quality through teamwork
Authors: Ferenc Katalin , Rauluseviciute Ieva , Hovan Ladislav , Kumar Vipin , Kuijjer Marieke L , Mathelier Anthony
Published: October 2024

Since high-throughput techniques became a staple in biological science laboratories, computational algorithms, and scientific software have boomed. However, the development of bioinformatics software usually lacks software development quality standards. The resulting software code is hard to test, reuse, and maintain. We believe that the root of inefficiency in implementing the best software development practices in academic settings is the individualistic approach, which has traditionally been the norm for recognizing scientific achievements and, by extension, for developing specialized software. Software development is a collective effort in most software-heavy endeavors. Indeed, the literature suggests teamwork directly impacts code quality through knowledge sharing, collective software development, and established coding standards. In our computational biology research groups, we sustainably involve all group members in learning, sharing, and discussing software development while maintaining the personal ownership of research projects and related software products. We found that group members involved in this endeavor improved their coding skills, became more efficient bioinformaticians, and obtained detailed knowledge about their peers’ work, triggering new collaborative projects. We strongly advocate for improving software development culture within bioinformatics through collective effort in computational biology groups or institutes with three or more bioinformaticians.

Availability and implementation

Additional information and guidance on how to get started is available at https://ferenckata.github.io/ImprovingSoftwareTogether.github.io/.
Deucravacitinib, an oral selective allosteric tyrosine kinase 2 inhibitor, in patients from China mainland, Taiwan and South Korea with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis: a phase III randomized clinical trial
Authors: Zhang Jianzhong , Ding Yangfeng , Wang Ping , Li Linfeng , Pan Weili , Lu Yan , Cheng Hao , Jiang Xian , Ho Ji-Chen , Guo Shuping , Liu Leona , Chatterjee Arkendu , Kisa Renata M , Banerjee Subhashis
Published: October 2024

Background

Deucravacitinib, an oral selective allosteric tyrosine kinase 2 inhibitor, is approved in the USA, the European Union, Japan, South Korea, China and other countries for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

Objectives

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of deucravacitinib in Asian patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

Methods

In the 52-week blinded phase III POETYK PSO-3 trial (NCT04167462), patients were randomized 1 : 2 to placebo (n = 74) or deucravacitinib 6 mg once daily (n = 146) for 16 weeks followed by deucravacitinib alone. Co-primary endpoints were the achievement of a ≥75% reduction from baseline in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 75) and static Physician Global Assessment score of 0 (clear) or 1 (almost clear; sPGA 0/1) at week 16. Efficacy and safety were evaluated throughout.

Results

At week 16, significantly higher proportions of patients receiving deucravacitinib compared with placebo achieved PASI 75 (68.8% vs. 8.1%; P < 0.001) and sPGA 0/1 (55.6% vs. 6.8%; P < 0.001). Response rates with deucravacitinib were maintained through week 52. Common adverse events (AEs) included upper respiratory tract infection and nasopharyngitis. Serious AE and discontinuation rates were low.

Conclusions

Deucravacitinib was efficacious and well tolerated in Asian patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.
Quality assessment in bone densitometry: a case of incorrect hip analysis
Authors: Xu Hongmin , Gabriel Medhat Sam , James Judy Rose
Published: October 2024

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is a sophisticated imaging technique utilized in the field of medical diagnostics to measure bone mineral density. The significance of DXA lies in its ability to accurately assess bone health, which is crucial in the evaluation of osteoporosis, a condition characterized by weakened bones and heightened susceptibility to fractures. Despite its widespread adoption and clinical utility, DXA is not without limitations. Factors such as body size, tissue hydration, the presence of metal implants, improper equipment installation and maintenance, as well as inadequate education and training in bone densitometry may influence DXA measurements, necessitating careful interpretation by trained professionals. We present a case to show the errors that occurred during DXA analysis leading to dramatic T-score changes, highlighting the importance of technologists’ adherence to manufacturers’ recommendations, to ensure the accurate processing of DXA scans and diagnosis.
Expression of sPD-L1 levels in an ex vivo liver perfusion model
Authors: Irsara Christian , Weissenbacher Annemarie , Krendl Felix Julius , Anliker Markus , Hofmann Julia , Hautz Theresa , Schneeberger Stefan , Griesmacher Andrea , Loacker Lorin
Published: October 2024

The programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) acts as a central inhibitory immune checkpoint receptor. The soluble form of its primary ligand, sPD-L1, was found to be elevated in the serum of patients with cancer, infectious diseases, and chronic inflammation. So far, the hepatic origin of sPD-L1 has received relatively little attention and is therefore the subject of this study in the context of normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) of liver grafts. sPD-L1 concentrations as well as several well-established clinically relevant laboratory parameters were determined in the perfusate of 16 donor liver grafts undergoing NMP up to 30 hours. sPD-L1 levels continuously increased during NMP and significantly correlated with markers of hepatic synthesis (cholinesterase), acute-phase proteins (von Willebrand factor, procalcitonin, antithrombin, interleukin-6, fibrinogen), and liver decay markers (gamma-glutamyltransferase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase). Perfusate leukocytes were in the lower reference range and decreased after 12 hours. Mean sPD-L1 levels in the perfusate correlated with donor levels of gamma-glutamyltransferase, alanine aminotransferase, creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen. Our study reveals a significant increase in the concentration of sPD-L1 following ischemia-reperfusion injury in a hepatic ex vivo model. sPD-L1 concentrations during NMP correlate with established acute-phase proteins and liver cell decay markers, suggesting that hepatic sPD-L1 synthesis or shedding increases during the acute phase and cell decay. Furthermore, sPD-L1 correlates with established liver function and synthesis parameters as well as with donor laboratory values and might therefore be a potential biomarker for the hepatic function of liver grafts.