bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A comparison of linear consistent correction methods for first-order SPH derivatives
Authors: Westhofen Lukas , Jeske Stefan , Bender Jan
Published: August 2023

A well-known issue with the widely used Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method is the neighborhood deficiency. Near the surface, the SPH interpolant fails to accurately capture the underlying fields due to a lack of neighboring particles. These errors may introduce ghost forces or other visual artifacts into the simulation.

In this work we investigate three different popular methods to correct the first-order spatial derivative SPH operators up to linear accuracy, namely the Kernel Gradient Correction (KGC), Moving Least Squares (MLS) and Reproducing Kernel Particle Method (RKPM). We provide a thorough, theoretical comparison in which we remark strong resemblance between the aforementioned methods. We support this by an analysis using synthetic test scenarios. Additionally, we apply the correction methods in simulations with boundary handling, viscosity, surface tension, vorticity and elastic solids to showcase the reduction or elimination of common numerical artifacts like ghost forces. Lastly, we show that incorporating the correction algorithms in a state-of-the-art SPH solver only incurs a negligible reduction in computational performance.
A Unified Analysis of Penalty-Based Collision Energies
Authors: Shi Alvin , Kim Theodore
Published: August 2023

We analyze a wide class of penalty energies used for contact response through the lens of a reduced frame. Applying our analysis to both spring-based and barrier-based energies, we show that we can obtain closed-form, analytic eigensystems that can be used to guarantee positive semidefiniteness in implicit solvers. Our approach is both faster than direct numerical methods, and more robust than approximate methods such as Gauss-Newton. Over the course of our analysis, we investigate physical interpretations for two separate notions of length. Finally, we showcase the stability of our analysis on challenging strand, cloth, and volume scenarios with large timesteps on the order of 1/40 s.
Towards Realtime
Authors: Huang Li , Yang Fan , Wei Chendi , Chen Yu Ju (Edwin) , Yuan Chun , Gao Ming
Published: August 2023

This paper introduces a hair simulator optimized for real-time applications, including console and cloud gaming, avatar live-streaming, and metaverse environments. We view the collisions between strands as a mechanism to preserve the overall volume of the hair and adopt explicit Material Point Method (MPM) to resolve the strand-strand collision. For simulating single-strand behavior, a semi-implicit Discrete Elastic Rods (DER) model is used. We build upon a highly efficient GPU MPM framework recently presented by Fei et al. [2021b] and propose several schemes to largely improve the performance of building and solving the semi-implicit DER systems on GPU. We demonstrate the efficiency of our pipeline by a few practical scenes that achieve up to 260 frames-per-second (FPS) with more than two thousand simulated strands on Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080.
Physical Cyclic Animations
Authors: Jia Shiyang , Wang Stephanie , Li Tzu-Mao , Chern Albert
Published: August 2023

We address the problem of synthesizing physical animations that can loop seamlessly. We formulate a variational approach by deriving a physical law in a periodic time domain. The trajectory of the animation is represented as a parametric closed curve, and the physical law corresponds to minimizing the bending energy of the curve. Compared to traditional keyframe animation approaches, our formulation is constraint-free, which allows us to apply a standard Gauss--Newton solver. We further propose a fast projection method to efficiently generate an initial guess close to the desired animation. Our method can handle a variety of physical cyclic animations, including clothes, soft bodies with collisions, and N-body systems.
ACT2G
Authors: Teshima Hitoshi , Wake Naoki , Thomas Diego , Nakashima Yuta , Kawasaki Hiroshi , Ikeuchi Katsushi
Published: August 2023

Recent increase of remote-work, online meeting and tele-operation task makes people find that gesture for avatars and communication robots is more important than we have thought. It is one of the key factors to achieve smooth and natural communication between humans and AI systems and has been intensively researched. Current gesture generation methods are mostly based on deep neural network using text, audio and other information as the input, however, they generate gestures mainly based on audio, which is called a beat gesture. Although the ratio of the beat gesture is more than 70% of actual human gestures, content based gestures sometimes play an important role to make avatars more realistic and human-like. In this paper, we propose a attention-based contrastive learning for text-to-gesture (ACT2G), where generated gestures represent content of the text by estimating attention weight for each word from the input text. In the method, since text and gesture features calculated by the attention weight are mapped to the same latent space by contrastive learning, once text is given as input, the network outputs a feature vector which can be used to generate gestures related to the content. User study confirmed that the gestures generated by ACT2G were better than existing methods. In addition, it was demonstrated that wide variation of gestures were generated from the same text by changing attention weights by creators.
Electricity Consumption by ICT: Facts, trends, and measurements
Authors: Gelenbe Erol
Published: August 2023

This paper considers key issues surrounding energy consumption by information and communication technologies (ICT), which has been steadily growing and is now attaining approximately 10% of the worldwide electricity consumption with a significant impact on greenhouse gas emissions. The perimeter of ICT systems is discussed, and the role of the subsystems that compose ICT is considered. Data from recent years is used to understand how each of these sub-systems contribute to ICT's energy consumption. The quantitatively demonstrated positive correlation between the penetration of ICT in the world's different economies and the same economies' contributions to undesirable greenhouse gas emissions is also discussed. The paper also examines how emerging technologies such as 5G, AI, edge computing, and cryptocurrencies are contributing to the worldwide increase in electricity consumption by ICT, despite the increases in ICT efficiency, in terms of energy consumed per bit processed, stored, or transmitted. The measurement of specific ICT systems' electricity consumption is also addressed, and the manner in which this consumption can be minimized in a specific edge computing context is discussed.
The Resistance Analysis Attack and Security Enhancement of the IMC LUT Based on the Complementary Resistive Switch Cells
Authors: Cui Xiaole , Yin Mingqi , Liu Hanqing , Cui Xiaoxin
Published: August 2023

The resistive random access memory (RRAM) based in-memory computing (IMC) is an emerging architecture to address the challenge of the “memory wall” problem. The complementary resistive switch (CRS) cell connects two bipolar RRAM elements anti-serially to reduce the sneak current in the crossbar array. The CRS array is a generic computing platform, for the arbitrary logic functions can be implemented in it. The IMC CRS LUT consumes fewer CRS cells than the static CRS LUT. The CRS array has built-in polymorphic characteristics because the correct logic function cannot be distinguished based on the circuit layout. However, the logic state of every CRS cell can be readout after each operation. It helps the attacker to recover the correct function of the IMC CRS LUT. This work discusses the resistance analysis attack of the IMC LUT based on the CRS array. The proposed resistance analysis attack method is able to be applied to different computation styles based on the CRS array, such as the CRS IMPLY, CRS NOR-OR/NAND-AND, and so on. The attacker can recover the logic function of the LUT by tracing the states of CRS cells. Furthermore, an improved IMC CRS LUT method is proposed and discussed to enhance security. The simulation and analysis results show that the improved IMC CRS LUT can resist various attacks, and it maintains the polymorphic characteristics of the IMC CRS LUT. And the N-bit full adder circuit based on the improved IMC CRS NOR-OR LUTs achieves the best performance compared with the previous counterparts.
A Feature Map is Worth a Video Frame: Rethinking Convolutional Features for Visible-Infrared Person Re-identification
Authors: He Qiaolin , Zheng Zhijie , Hu Haifeng
Published: August 2023

Visible-Infrared Person Re-identification (VI-ReID) aims to search for the identity of the same person across different spectra. The feature maps obtained from the convolutional layers are generally used for loss calculation in the later stages of the model in VI-ReID, but their role in the early and middle stages of the model remains unexplored. In this article, we propose a novel Rethinking Convolutional Features (ReCF) approach for VI-ReID. ReCF consists of two modules: Middle Feature Generation (MFG), which utilizes the feature maps in the early stage to reduce significant modality gap, and Temporal Feature Aggregation (TFA), which uses the feature maps in the middle stage to aggregate multi-level features for enlarging the receptive field. MFG generates middle modality features in the form of a learnable convolution layer as a bridge between RGB and IR modalities, which is more flexible than using fixed-parameter grayscale images and yields a better middle modality to further reduce the modality gap. TFA first treats the convolution process as a video sequence, and the feature map of each convolution layer can be considered a worthwhile video frame. Based on this, we can obtain a multi-level receptive field and a temporal refinement. In addition, we introduce a color-unrelated loss and a modality-unrelated loss to constrain the modality features for providing a common feature representation space. Experimental results on the challenging VI-ReID datasets demonstrate that our proposed method achieves state-of-the-art performance.
Fair and Private Data Preprocessing through Microaggregation
Authors: González-Zelaya Vladimiro , Salas Julián , Megías David , Missier Paolo
Published: August 2023

Privacy protection for personal data and fairness in automated decisions are fundamental requirements for responsible Machine Learning. Both may be enforced through data preprocessing and share a common target: data should remain useful for a task, while becoming uninformative of the sensitive information. The intrinsic connection between privacy and fairness implies that modifications performed to guarantee one of these goals, may have an effect on the other, e.g., hiding a sensitive attribute from a classification algorithm might prevent a biased decision rule having such attribute as a criterion. This work resides at the intersection of algorithmic fairness and privacy. We show how the two goals are compatible, and may be simultaneously achieved, with a small loss in predictive performance. Our results are competitive with both state-of-the-art fairness correcting algorithms and hybrid privacy-fairness methods. Experiments were performed on three widely used benchmark datasets:
Adult Income
,
COMPAS,
and
German Credit
.
SIGLOG Monthly 239: July 2023
Authors: Purser David
Published: August 2023

July 2023 edition of SIGLOG Monthly, featuring deadlines, calls and community announcements.
Biology, Ecology, and Management of the Potato Psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Hemiptera: Triozidae), and Zebra Chip Disease in Potato
Authors: Wenninger Erik J. , Rashed Arash
Published: August 2023

The potato psyllid, Bactericera cockerelli (Šulc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae), transmits the pathogen “ Candidatus liberibacter solanacearum” (Lso), the putative causal agent of zebra chip disease (ZC). ZC is a disease of potato that reduces yield and quality and has disrupted integrated pest management programs in parts of the Americas and New Zealand. Advances in our understanding of the ecological factors that influence ZC epidemiology have been accelerated by the relatively recent identification of Lso and motivated by the steady increase in ZC distribution and the potential for devastating economic losses on a global scale. Management of ZC remains heavily reliant upon insecticides, which is not sustainable from the standpoint of insecticide resistance, nontarget effects on natural enemies, and regulations that may limit such tools. This review synthesizes the literature on potato psyllids and ZC, outlining recent progress, identifying knowledge gaps, and proposing avenues for further research on this important pathosystem of potatoes.
Turbulent Drag Reduction by Streamwise Traveling Waves of Wall-Normal Forcing
Authors: Fukagata Koji , Iwamoto Kaoru , Hasegawa Yosuke
Published: August 2023

We review some fundamentals of turbulent drag reduction and the turbulent drag reduction techniques using streamwise traveling waves of blowing/suction from the wall and wall deformation. For both types of streamwise traveling wave controls, their significant drag reduction capabilities have been well confirmed by direct numerical simulation at relatively low Reynolds numbers. The drag reduction mechanisms by these streamwise traveling waves are considered to be the combination of direct effects due to pumping and indirect effects of the attenuation of velocity fluctuations due to reduced receptivity. Prediction of their drag reduction capabilities at higher Reynolds numbers and attempts at experimental validation are also intensively ongoing toward their practical implementation.
The dawn of muscle energetics: contraction before and after discovery of ATP
Authors: Rall Jack A.
Published: August 2023

The dawn of muscle energetics began in the early twentieth century when Otto Meyerhof and A. V. Hill made bold attempts to link biochemical studies with thermal measurements during muscle contraction. In the search for the direct fuel for muscle contraction, lactic acid formation and phosphocreatine breakdown turned out to be false trails. Nonetheless, these investigations led to the discovery of ATP and the proposal of ATP as the direct fuel for muscle contraction.
Increased corticospinal inhibition following brief maximal and submaximal contractions in humans
Authors: Paish Alexander D. , Zero Alexander M. , McNeil Chris J. , Rice Charles L.
Published: August 2023

The transcranial magnetic stimulation-induced silent period reflects a transient state of corticospinal inhibition that is influenced by recent history of muscle activation, which may include an effect of potentiation. We demonstrate that silent period duration increases following both voluntary and electrically evoked maximal and submaximal conditioning contractions, even though the latter intensity produced virtually no muscle potentiation. Feedback from group Ia and Ib muscle afferents is proposed as the cause of the increased corticospinal inhibition.
High-intensity aerobic, but not resistance or combined, exercise training improves both cardiometabolic health and skeletal muscle mitochondrial dynamics
Authors: Ruegsegger Gregory N. , Pataky Mark W. , Simha Suvyaktha , Robinson Matthew M. , Klaus Katherine A. , Nair K. Sreekumaran
Published: August 2023

We assessed the effects of 12 wk of supervised high-intensity interval training (HIIT), resistance training, and combined training (CT) on skeletal muscle mitochondrial abundance and markers of fission and fusion. HIIT increased mitochondrial area and size and promoted protein changes indicative of increased mitochondrial fusion, whereas lessor effects were observed after CT and no changes were observed after RT. Furthermore, increased mitochondrial area and size after HIIT associated with improved mitochondrial respiration, cardiorespiratory fitness, and insulin sensitivity.
On Nonlocal Elliptic Problems of the Kirchhoff Type Involving the Hardy Potential and Critical Nonlinearity
Authors: El Mokhtar M. E. O. , Benmansour S. , Matallah A.
Published: August 2023

In this article, we deal with the nonlocal elliptic problems of the Kirchhoff type involving the Hardy potential and critical nonlinearity on a bounded domain in

R

3

. Under an appropriate condition on the nonhomogeneous term and using variational methods, we obtain two distinct solutions.
Key Roles of p53 Signaling Pathway-Related Factors GADD45B and SERPINE1 in the Occurrence and Development of Gastric Cancer
Authors: Li Yaoqing , Shen Liyijing , Tao Kelong , Xu Guangen , Ji Kewei
Published: August 2023

p53 can function as an independent and unfavorable prognosis biomarker in cancer patients. We tried to identify the key factors of the p53 signaling pathway involved in gastric cancer (GC) occurrence and development based on the genotype-tissue expression (GTEx) and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) screening. We downloaded gene expression data and clinical data of GC included in the GTEx and TCGA databases, followed by differential analysis. Then, the key factors in the p53 signaling pathway were identified, followed by an analysis of the correlation between key factors and the prognosis of GC patients. Human GC cell lines were selected for in vitro cell experiments to verify the effects of key prognostic factors on the proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of GC cells. We found 4,944 significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 2,465 were upregulated and 2,479 downregulated in GC. Then, 27 DEGs were found to be involved in the p53 signaling pathway. GADD45B and SERPINE1 genes were prognostic high-risk genes. The regression coefficients of GADD45B and SERPINE1 were positive. GADD45B was poorly expressed, while SERPINE1 was highly expressed in GC tissues, highlighting their prognostic role in GC. The in vitro cell experiments confirmed that overexpression of GADD45B or silencing of SERPINE1 could inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion and augment the apoptosis of GC cells. Collectively, the p53 signaling pathway-related factors GADD45B and SERPINE1 may be key genes that participate in the development of GC.
Mid-infrared Spectrally Pure Single-Photon States Generation from 22 Nonlinear Optical Crystals
Authors: Cai Wu-Hao , Tian Ying , Jin Rui-Bo
Published: August 2023

We theoretically investigate the preparation of pure-state single-photon source from 14 birefringent crystals (CMTC, THI, LiIO3, AAS, HGS, CGA, TAS, AGS, AGSe, GaSe, LIS, LISe, LGS, and LGSe) and 8 periodic poling crystals (LT, LN, KTP, KN, BaTiO3, MgBaF4, PMN-0.38PT, and OP-ZnSe) in a wavelength range from 1224 nm to 11650 nm. The three kinds of group-velocity-matching (GVM) conditions, the phase-matching conditions, the spectral purity, and the Hong-Ou-Mandel interference are calculated for each crystal. This study may provide high-quality single-photon sources for quantum sensing, quantum imaging, and quantum communication applications at the mid-infrared wavelength range.
“It's Probably Just Hemorrhoids”: A Qualitative Exploration of the Lived Experiences and Perceptions of Long-term Survivors of Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Rogers Charles R. , Korous Kevin M. , De Vera Mary A. , Shaukat Aasma , Brooks Ellen , Rifelj Kelly Krupa , Henley Candace , Johnson Wenora , Rogers Tiana N.
Published: August 2023

Background:

Colorectal cancer among adults aged <50 years [early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC)] is projected to be the leading cause of cancer-related death by 2030. Although evidence-based guidelines for colorectal cancer screening now recommend beginning screening at age 45, the needs of many at-risk young adults are potentially being overlooked. Unanswered questions also remain regarding the effects of EOCRC on quality-of-life and psychosocial outcomes. This qualitative study explored the lived experiences and perceptions of a sample of adult EOCRC survivors in the United States through one-on-one interviews.

Methods:

An EOCRC advocate survivor team member led 27 structured virtual interviews using a 10-question interview guide. Data were analyzed using a 9-step inductive approach.

Results:

Participants were geographically diverse. Most were women (66.6%) who self-identified as non-Hispanic White (85.2%). The mean age at interview was 40.19 ± 5.99; at diagnosis, 33.93 ± 5.90. Six overarching themes emerged: signs and symptoms, risk factors, system-level factors, quality of life, social support, and reflection.

Conclusions:

The specific needs of individuals in this younger population of patients with colorectal cancer should be considered during treatment and future interventions and throughout survivorship.

Impact:

While the reasons for the increasing incidence of EOCRC are currently unknown, the lived experiences and perceptions of EOCRC survivors noted in this study highlight specific needs of this population that can inform educational materials, comprehensive care, future research, and policy change.
Prediagnostic Hormone Levels and Risk of Testicular Germ Cell Tumors: A Nested Case–Control Study in the Janus Serum Bank
Authors: Wu Zeni , Trabert Britton , Guillemette Chantal , Caron Patrick , Bradwin Gary , Graubard Barry I. , Weiderpass Elisabete , Ursin Giske , Langseth Hilde , McGlynn Katherine A.
Published: August 2023

Background:

It has been hypothesized that poorly functioning Leydig and/or Sertoli cells of the testes, indicated by higher levels of serum gonadotropins and lower levels of androgens, are related to the development of testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT). To investigate this hypothesis, we conducted a nested case–control study within the Janus Serum Bank cohort.

Methods:

Men who developed TGCT (n = 182) were matched to men who did not (n = 364). Sex steroid hormones were measured using LC/MS. Sex hormone binding globulin, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) were quantified by direct immunoassay. Multivariable logistic regression was used to calculate ORs and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for associations between hormone levels and TGCT risk.

Results:

Higher FSH levels [tertile (T) 3 vs. T2: OR = 2.89, 95% CI = 1.83–4.57] were associated with TGCT risk, but higher LH levels were not (OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 0.81–1.96). The only sex steroid hormone associated with risk was androstane-3α, 17β-diol-3G (3α-diol-3G; OR = 2.37, 95% CI = 1.46–3.83). Analysis by histology found that increased FSH levels were related to seminoma (OR = 3.55, 95% CI = 2.12–5.95) but not nonseminoma (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 0.38–3.13). Increased levels of 3α-diol-3G were related to seminoma (OR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.35–3.89) and nonsignificantly related to nonseminoma (OR = 2.71, 95% CI = 0.82–8.92).

Conclusions:

Higher FSH levels are consistent with the hypothesis that poorly functioning Sertoli cells are related to the development of TGCT. In contrast, higher levels of 3α-diol-3G do not support the hypothesis that insufficient androgenicity is related to risk of TGCT.

Impact:

Clarifying the role of sex hormones in the development of TGCT may stimulate new research hypotheses.
FIGURE 1 from A First-in-human, Dose-escalation Study of the Methionine Aminopeptidase 2 Inhibitor M8891 in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors
Authors: Carducci Michael A. , Wang Ding , Habermehl Christina , Bödding Matthias , Rohdich Felix , Lignet Floriane , Duecker Klaus , Karpenko Oleksandr , Pudelko Linda , Gimmi Claude , LoRusso Patricia
Published: August 2023

Mean relative change in platelet count from baseline per dose level in cycle 1 (%). C, cycle; D, day.
Accelerating Cancer Histopathology Workflows with Chemical Imaging and Machine Learning
Authors: Falahkheirkhah Kianoush , Mukherjee Sudipta S. , Gupta Sounak , Herrera-Hernandez Loren , McCarthy Michael R. , Jimenez Rafael E. , Cheville John C. , Bhargava Rohit
Published: August 2023

Histopathology has remained a cornerstone for biomedical tissue assessment for over a century, with a resource-intensive workflow involving biopsy or excision, gross examination, sampling, tissue processing to snap frozen or formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks, sectioning, staining, optical imaging, and microscopic assessment. Emerging chemical imaging approaches, including stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy, can directly measure inherent molecular composition in tissue (thereby dispensing with the need for tissue processing, sectioning, and using dyes) and can use artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to provide high-quality images. Here we show the integration of SRS microscopy in a pathology workflow to rapidly record chemical information from minimally processed fresh-frozen prostate tissue. Instead of using thin sections, we record data from intact thick tissues and use optical sectioning to generate images from multiple planes. We use a deep learning–based processing pipeline to generate virtual hematoxylin and eosin images. Next, we extend the computational method to generate archival-quality images in minutes, which are equivalent to those obtained from hours/days-long formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded processing. We assessed the quality of images from the perspective of enabling pathologists to make decisions, demonstrating that the virtual stained image quality was diagnostically useful and the interpathologist agreement on prostate cancer grade was not impacted. Finally, because this method does not wash away lipids and small molecules, we assessed the utility of lipid chemical composition in determining grade. Together, the combination of chemical imaging and AI provides novel capabilities for rapid assessments in pathology by reducing the complexity and burden of current workflows.

Significance:

Archival-quality (formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded), thin-section diagnostic images are obtained from thick-cut, fresh-frozen prostate tissues without dyes or stains to expedite cancer histopathology by combining SRS microscopy and machine learning.
Burle Marx and his collaborations: micro-histories of modern dreams in design and of Brazilian micro-landscapes in small Uruguay
Authors: Sprechmann Gomez Magdalena Ana
Published: August 2023

This study is a preliminary inquiry into the work of Burle Marx in Uruguay between the decades of 1950 and 1980. In this period, he had some piecemeal collaborations with two pioneers of modern design in Uruguay: Luis García Pardo and Walter Pintos Risso. They attempted to pragmatically materialize the idea of Gesamtkunstwerk, i.e., total artwork, produced for a local bourgeoisie. This was expressed through architecture, gardens, built-in works of art (such as sculptures and murals), designer furniture, and advertising graphic design for their own products. As our research methodology, primary sources were searched, such as document resource centers (which remain private), contemporary press, and advertising brochures. The studied works were visited and interviews were conducted with people associated with the work of Burle Marx and the aforementioned Uruguayan architects.
Retracted: Anterior Circulation Thrombectomy in Patients With Low National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Score: Analysis of the National Inpatient Sample
Authors: Patel Karan , Taneja Kamil , Shu Liqi , Zhang Linda , Yu Yunting , Abdalkader Mohamad , Obusan Matthew B. , Yaghi Shadi , Nguyen Thanh N. , Asdaghi Negar , Oak Solomon , Tonetti Daniel A. , Siegler James E.
Published: August 2023

Background

Prior studies have shown benefit for endovascular therapy (EVT) in patients with large‐vessel occlusion and severe deficits, as captured by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. However the benefit of EVT in patients with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score <6 is unclear.

Methods

We queried the National Inpatient Sample (2018–2020) for patients with a large‐vessel occlusion of the internal carotid or middle cerebral artery with a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score <6, and compared outcomes between patients treated with EVT versus best medical management, using propensity score matching. The primary outcome was routine discharge (home or self‐care). Secondary outcomes were in‐hospital mortality, intracerebral hemorrhage, and length of stay. Primary and secondary outcomes were evaluated using multivariable regression adjusted for baseline characteristics, stroke severity, and treatment with thrombolysis.

Results

Of the 212 515 patients with an internal carotid artery/middle cerebral artery stroke, 49 115 met the inclusion criteria for our study. A total of 8035 patients were treated with EVT, and 41 080 were treated with best medical management. Patients treated with EVT had increased odds of routine discharge (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.78 [95% CI, 1.57–2.01];
P
<0.001), shorter length of hospital stays (adjusted β, −0.41 [95% CI, −0.63 to −0.19];
P
<0.001), and similar rates of death (adjusted OR, 0.70 [95% CI, 0.39–1.24];
P
= 0.22), compared with patients treated with best medical management. These relationships persisted in the propensity‐matched cohort.

Conclusions

Patients treated with EVT compared with best medical management had greater odds of routine discharge, reduced length of stay, and no differences in intracerebral hemorrhage or early mortality. Our findings suggest potential real‐world benefit for EVT in patients with low National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores.
Further additions to the guardstone spider fauna from China (Araneae: Phrurolithidae)
Authors: MU YANNAN , ZHANG FENG
Published: August 2023

Twenty-three new phrurolithid species belonging to eight genera, including two new genera, are described from China: Beatitas gen. nov. and Punctus gen. nov., Abdosetae baoting sp. nov., Aculithus brevispina sp. nov., Alboculus yanling sp. nov., Beatitas octomaculatus sp. nov., Otacilia allomanubrium sp. nov., O. guposhan sp. nov., O. horizon sp. nov., O. impleta sp. nov., O. maliu sp. nov., O. shaoyao sp. nov., O. shennongjia sp. nov., O. spina sp. nov., O. striata sp. nov., O. subdentigera sp. nov., O. subforcipata sp. nov., O. wenbi sp. nov., O. yongjia sp. nov., Pennalithus liaoning sp. nov., P. micous sp. nov., Punctus maoxian sp. nov., P. taibai sp. nov., Xilithus pugious sp. nov., and X. wangi sp. nov.. The male of Otacilia ailan Liu et al., 2019 and the female of Grandilithus fengshan Liu & Li, 2022 are described for the first time. Two new combinations, Aculithus pseudofabiformis (Liang et al., 2021) comb. nov. and Corealithus nigerus (Yin, 2012) comb. nov., are established. Corealithus subnigerus (Fu, Chen & Zhang, 2016) syn. n. is also synonymized with C. nigerus comb. nov.. Three species, Otacilia dawushan Liu & Li, 2022 syn. n., O. xingguo Liu & Li, 2022 syn. n. and O. zhonglong Liu & Li, 2022 syn. n., are synonymized with O. wugongshanica Liu, 2020.
Evaluation of Experimental High-Resolution Model Forecasts of Tropical Cyclone Precipitation Using Object-Based Metrics
Authors: Stackhouse Shakira D. , Zick Stephanie E. , Matyas Corene J. , Wood Kimberly M. , Hazelton Andrew T. , Alaka Ghassan J.
Published: August 2023

Tropical cyclone (TC) precipitation poses serious hazards including freshwater flooding. High-resolution hurricane models predict the location and intensity of TC rainfall, which can influence local evacuation and preparedness policies. This study evaluates 0–72-h precipitation forecasts from two experimental models, the Hurricane Analysis and Forecast System (HAFS) model and the basin-scale Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting (HWRF-B) Model, for 2020 North Atlantic landfalling TCs. We use an object-based method that quantifies the shape and size of the forecast and observed precipitation. Precipitation objects are then compared for light, moderate, and heavy precipitation using spatial metrics (e.g., area, perimeter, elongation). Results show that both models forecast precipitation that is too connected, too close to the TC center, and too enclosed around the TC center. Collectively, these spatial biases suggest that the model forecasts are too intense even though there is a negative intensity bias for both models, indicating there may be an inconsistency between the precipitation configuration and the maximum sustained winds in the model forecasts. The HAFS model struggles with forecasting stratiform versus convective precipitation and with the representation of lighter (stratiform) precipitation during the first 6 h after initialization. No such spinup issues are seen in the HWRF-B forecasts, which instead exhibit systematic biases at all lead times and systematic issues across all rain-rate thresholds. Future work will investigate spinup issues in the HAFS model forecast and how the microphysics parameterization affects the representation of precipitation in both models.
The Role of MRI in Assessing Residual Breast Cancer After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy
Authors: Rezkallah Emad , Mekhaeil Kamel , Tin Su Min Min , Hanna Ragai Sobhy
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women in the world. The role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in the management of breast cancer is increasing. The decision about the management after NAC depends mainly on the tumor response to NAC.

Objectives

The role of the current study is to evaluate the role of the MRI scan in assessing the residual disease after NAC, which would help in decision making regarding the best treatment plan for the patient.

Patients and Methods

We did this retrospective review for all patients who were diagnosed with breast cancer in our center and had NAC over four years. All patients in our study had a post-NAC magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to assess the residual tumor size. A 2×2 table was used to calculate the diagnostic accuracy, and SPSS software version 25 was used to get the correlation coefficients between the post-NAC MRI measurements and pathological size.

Results

28 female patients were included in our study. The average age was 45.25 ± 10 years. We utilized the tumor size on histology as the standard for comparison. We calculated MRI sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV rates of 90.9%, 100%, 100%, and 94.4%, respectively. The correlation coefficient was strong (r = 0.859, P = 0.01).

Conclusion

Magnetic resonance imaging is a good test to assess the residual tumor disease after NAC in breast cancer patients. However, cases of under- and overestimation are still seen, which require more caution when making a decision regarding the management of such cases.
Clinical Outcomes of Patients With Cholesterol Crystal Embolism Accompanied by Lower Extremity Wound
Authors: Hata Yosuke , Iida Osamu , Okamoto Shin , Ishihara Takayuki , Nanto Kiyonori , Tsujimura Takuya , Higashino Naoko , Toyoshima Taku , Nakao Sho , Fukunaga Masashi , Kawasaki Daizo , Fujihara Masahiko , Takahara Mitsuyoshi , Mano Toshiaki
Published: August 2023

Cholesterol crystal embolism (CCE) accompanied by a lower extremity wound is occasionally difficult to differentiate from chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) and treat. The present multi-center retrospective observational study investigated the clinical characteristics and prognosis of CCE with lower extremity wounds. Consecutive patients (n = 58) clinically diagnosed as CCE with lower extremity wounds between April 2010 and December 2019 were studied. CCE was diagnosed using histological findings, foot condition, renal impairment, and eosinophilia. The primary outcome was 1-year wound healing rate. Patients with CCE were compared with 1309 patients diagnosed with CLTI with tissue loss during the same study period. The CCE group had a significantly more severe Wound, Ischemia, and foot Infection (WIfI) classification compared with the CLTI group. After Kaplan–Meier analysis, the CCE group had a similar 1-year wound healing (55.1 vs 58.3%, P = .096) as the CLTI group. In multivariate stratified Cox regression analysis by WIfI stages, CCE was significantly associated with poor wound healing compared with CLTI [hazard ratio .36 (95% confidence interval .21–.62)]. In conclusion, among the similar WIfI clinical stages, wound healing was significantly worse in the CCE group than in the CLTI group.
Rethinking Decolonization in “Sub-Saharan Africa”: Toward Reinventionism
Authors: Lock Etienne
Published: August 2023

This article contributes to the assessment of decolonization in what is known as sub-Saharan Africa, from the context of a contested independence in many African countries, which highlights the claim for a new kind of decolonization. After reconsidering the way in which the decolonization process took place in Africa in the aftermath of the Second World War, the article proposes the theory of reinventionism as a way to gain genuine self-determination. That theory, which should fuel all the aspects of the African reality, is meant to lead to a breaking up with any structural domination in Africa. Rethinking decolonization in Africa, as no longer a mere Africanization of the structures of domination but as a way of liberation, is imperative.
Threat Dynamics and Police Use of Force
Authors: Krajewski Andrew T. , Worrall John L. , Scales Robert M.
Published: August 2023

Objective

Police officers’ use of force (UoF) has traditionally been understood vis-à-vis subject resistance, but researchers have recently argued for a greater emphasis on subject threat. We examine the role of static and dynamic threat measures, consisting of indicators for ability, opportunity, and intent, in police UoF while accounting for subject resistance.

Data and Methods

We use data from a large multiagency sample of coded police force narratives and a series of multilevel models that nest temporally ordered force sequences (dyadic exchanges between officers and subjects) within their respective UoF incidents.

Results

Our results suggest that (1) police force incidents are dynamic with levels of force and resistance often fluctuating throughout the incident, (2) each element of subject threat significantly predicts force, net of resistance and other variables, and (3) the elements of threat interact with one another to explain force, but not completely as expected.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that subject threat, in addition to resistance, provides important insights for understanding when officers either use or escalate force. We conclude with suggestions for those interested in further exploring the intersection of threat, resistance, and police UoF.
After the end of the world? Rethinking temporalities of critique and affirmation in the Anthropocene
Authors: Chipato Farai , Chandler David
Published: August 2023

The contemporary era of the Anthropocene has undermined linear views of progress and development. In its wake, alternative futural imaginaries have become central to critical and decolonial accounts in the discipline of International Relations. We argue that radical imaginaries of alternative non-modern futures risk failing to account fully for the ongoing violence and exclusions of modernity. We identify two strands of Anthropocene work: firstly, the critique posed by ‘posthuman’ ontologies of relation and entanglement, seeking new modes of governance in the face of climate catastrophe; secondly, decolonial affirmative ways of being, drawn from the experiences of the dispossessed in modernity. Both these approaches to futurity seek to move beyond a modernist world to new futures. In our argument, we set out an alternative perspective, the Black Horizon, which rejects the call to imagine new productive futures, and instead focusses on the deconstruction of modernity, in search of ending the current world of antiblackness, rather than critique or affirm its existence. Thus, even though contemporary critical and decolonial approaches stress the attention to ontology, alterity and difference, in their attempts to ground alternative worlds in existing practices or knowledges, they offer salvific alternatives, whilst leaving the foundations of our current world intact.
Fear of Falling Carries Over into Overprotection in Old Age: A Cross-Lagged Panel Analysis
Authors: Steckhan Greta M. , Fleig Lena , Wurm Susanne , Wolff Julia K. , Schwarzer Ralf , Warner Lisa M.
Published: August 2023

Fear of falling might result in overprotection by one's social environment. In turn, feeling dependent could increase fear of falling. However, the association between fear of falling and perceived overprotection and its temporal order is unknown. This longitudinal study explores this potential mutual longitudinal association. This study presents secondary analyses from a larger trial. We tested the association between fear of falling and perceived overprotection in a cross-lagged path model controlled for falls, health-related quality of life, age, gender, and trial condition. N = 310 participants ( M = 70 years, range: 64–92) completed self-reports at Time 1, 7 (Time 2), and 11 weeks (Time 3) after baseline assessment. We found a positive association from fear of falling to perceived overprotection (β = .12, 95% CI[0.02, 0.21], p = .02; β = .10; [0.01, 0.18], p = .03). The reversed cross-lagged paths were not significant. Findings suggest higher fear of falling translates into perceived overprotection, which may in turn increase loss of independence in old age.
Temporal Bone Chondrosarcoma: Presentation of 4 Cases and Review of the Literature
Authors: Tao Duoduo , Hoffman Matthew R. , Chen Bing
Published: August 2023

We describe 4 cases of chondrosarcoma of the temporal bone, which occurred in a 66-year-old man and in 3 women aged 34, 37, and 47 years. One of these patients was originally diagnosed with an epithelial cyst and another with a middle ear neoplasm. Three patients underwent surgical removal of their tumor, while the other patient declined (a craniotomy for biopsy was performed in this case). An accurate diagnosis in all 4 cases was not made until histopathologic examination was performed. None of the patients received postoperative radiotherapy for various reasons. However, the male patient experienced a tumor recurrence, which necessitated a second surgery, and he did receive radiotherapy after the second operation. All 3 operated patients were doing well at the most recent follow-up, and the other patient was soon lost to follow-up. Because of its rarity and potential for severe complications, temporal bone chondrosarcoma remains a difficult disease to diagnose and manage.
Self-management of Diabetes for Empty Nest Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Li Fang , Guo Shaofan , Gong Wenhuan , Xie Xuejuan , Liu Na , Zhang Qingjing , Zhao Wenjing , Cao Mengjie , Cao Yuzhong
Published: August 2023

Background:

Despite much evidence showing the effectiveness of structured self-management education for diabetes, poor glycemic control remains a challenge among empty nest older adults.

Objective:

We explored the effect of a health education intervention based on the PRECEDE-PROCEED model on the self-management of empty nest older adults with type 2 diabetes in Lanzhou, China.

Methods:

We conducted a 2-armed, randomized controlled trial using a multistage sampling method. A total of 100 patients were randomly assigned to receive either community nurse–led diabetes education based on the PRECEDE-PROCEED model or general community diabetes education. Self-management scores and blood glucose were compared at baseline and at 3 and 6 months after the intervention.

Results:

Analyses were conducted on the 98 patients completing follow-up. In the experimental group, diabetes self-management knowledge ( t = 7.578, P < .001), self-management attitude ( t = 9.155, P < .001), self-management behavior ( t = 7.809, P < .001), and overall self-management scores ( t = 7.626, P < .001) improved, with hemoglobin A1c ( t = −2.825, P = .006), fasting plasma glucose ( t = −3.100, P = .003), 2-hour postprandial blood glucose ( t = −3.812, P < .001), and diastolic blood pressure ( t = −2.104, P = .038) decreasing compared with the control group at 6 months postintervention.

Conclusions:

This study demonstrated that education based on the PRECEDE-PROCEED model was more effective than general health education in improving diabetes self-management and glycemic control among empty nest older adults.
The e-government adoption ecosystem from the perspective of stakeholder theory: A case study on the village information systems in Indonesia
Authors: Sihotang Dony Martinus , Hidayanto Achmad Nizar , Kurnia Sherah
Published: August 2023

The village information system (VIS) is a form of e-government that villages in Indonesia have adopted. However, many village administrations still have difficulty implementing it. Gunungkidul Regency, Indonesia, is a regency where all villages have successfully adopted VIS in a sustainable manner. This study aims to portray the ecosystem that the adoption or implementation of VIS in the regency has formed. The researchers carried out data collection using observation techniques, document studies, and interviews with entities involved in the management and utilization of VIS in the regency. We used a historical approach and a stakeholder-theory lens to capture the roles and interests of each entity that comprises the ecosystem. Our findings reveal the role and interest in VIS of regional heads, several local government (or supra-village) organizations, vendors or non-governmental organizations (NGOs), village-owned enterprises (BUMDes), civil society organizations (CSO), and villagers in an ecosystem portrait. They are entities that contribute to the management and utilization of VIS. These results can provide an overview of how VIS must be managed collaboratively by involving various stakeholders. Collaborative governance is still rarely found in e-government applications in general, such as e-service, e-procurement, or e-participation, which only tend to provide general e-government roles such as automation and increasing information flow. The results of this study also offer lessons learned for other village administrations in sustainably implementing the VIS.
An evaluation of the shape-memory behavior and mechanical properties of polylactic acid/Ni80Cr20 continuous wire composite produced by extrusion-based additive manufacturing and in-melt simultaneous impregnation method
Authors: Akhoundi Behnam
Published: August 2023

This study evaluates the mechanical and shape-memory properties of PLA/Ni80Cr20 continuous wire composite materials. The samples were produced using an extrusion-based additive manufacturing (AM) process with in-melt simultaneous impregnation of metal wire, followed by 3D printing. The reinforced samples were fabricated using metal wires of 0.1 and 0.15 mm in diameter and 5 and 10% volume percentages. The maximum mechanical (tensile and flexural) properties were obtained in the reinforced samples with a 10% volume percentage of metal wire of 0.1 mm in diameter. The samples exhibited a maximum ultimate tensile strength of 116 MPa, a maximum tensile modulus of 11.7 GPa, a maximum flexural strength of 221 MPa, and a maximum flexural modulus of 17.8 GPa. This research used a novel method to investigate the shape-memory properties of PLA. By applying a potential difference to the samples, the heat generated by the metal wire was absorbed by the matrix polymer, which increased the temperature of the material. This increase in temperature resulted in a change in the samples' shape. The effect of voltage on the wire was investigated, and a voltage of 40 V was applied to the U-shaped samples with special fixtures to measure the shape recovery and shape stabilization percentage. Based on the final results, it can be deduced that 3D-printed composite materials, along with appropriate wire type, wire diameter, voltage, and uniform temperature distribution, can be used as shape-memory materials for a wide range of applications with desired temperature conditions, especially in cases where direct heat cannot be applied to the sample.