bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kinetostatics Modeling and Analysis of a Spherical Parallel Continuum Manipulator
Authors: Duan Xuyang , Yan Wei , Yan Tianyi , Chen Genliang , Wang Hao
Published: June 2024

In this paper, a spherical parallel continuum manipulator (SPCM) which is the flexible version of the 3-RRR“Agile Eye” mechanism is proposed and analyzed. The SPCM consists of three parallel flexible limbs, each limb is formed by compliant truncated cone elements, and the moving platform connects each limb with a passive revolute joint. Three servo motors are used to control the manipulator actively, and the spherical motion is realized by the coupled large deflections of the flexible links. An equivalent compliance analysis method of the element is developed based on finite element analysis and principal axis decomposition. By combining all three limbs, the kinetostatics model of the whole manipulator is derived, and a gradient iteration algorithm is developed to solve the forward and inverse kinetostatics. Finally, a prototype of the manipulator is constructed using 3D-printing technology, and the accuracy for element equivalence and end-effector characteristics is validated by experiments. The results show that the derived kinetostatics model can accurately describe the force–deflection behavior of the SPCM.
Modeling Abduction Mechanism of Soft Actuator With Elastica for Robotic Hands
Authors: Lin Sheng-Guan , Chang Jen-Yuan (James)
Published: June 2024

Soft actuators, composed of pliable materials, are increasingly adopted in industrial grippers owing to their inherent flexibility, elasticity, and safety attributes, making them well-suited for anthropomorphic robotic applications. A significant gap in existing literature is the detailed exploration of hand abduction movements. Addressing this gap, the present study makes three principal contributions. First, it introduces the abduction soft-actuator (ASA), an innovative design tailored specifically for robotic hand abduction. Second, it establishes an analytical framework using the large deformation virtual beam (LDVB) theory for soft elastica, which enables a detailed analysis of the intrinsic physical properties of the actuator's internal membrane. Third, this study highlights the ASA's versatility, showcasing its ability to integrate membranes and springs seamlessly, thereby broadening its utility across diverse design paradigms. Empirical results underscore the ASA's capability to predict operational angles with varying spring stiffnesses, enhancing the precision of spring selection for a range of applications. This ASA exhibits an abduction angle ranging from 14.17 deg to 27.78 deg as the spring stiffness K varies from 200 N/m to 1600 N/m, with a root mean square error associated with these measurements ranging from 0.3321 deg to 1.2651 deg. Unlike traditional soft actuators that typically utilize a single material, the ASA demonstrates modularity, facilitating easy adjustments of springs to meet varied requirements. Contrasting with the typical case-by-case analytical approaches, the ASA significantly extends its applicability. Validation experiments using inflated silicone membranes corroborate the LDVB theoretical framework, suggesting that these empirically based estimations are conducive to analytical prediction. Collectively, this methodological advancement not only bridges the current technological divide but also enhances the understanding of soft actuator mechanics across a wide range of applications.
Who is singing? Voice recognition from spoken versus sung speech
Authors: Cooper Angela , Eitel Matthew , Fecher Natalie , Johnson Elizabeth , Cirelli Laura K.
Published: June 2024

Singing is socially important but constrains voice acoustics, potentially masking certain aspects of vocal identity. Little is known about how well listeners extract talker details from sung speech or identify talkers across the sung and spoken modalities. Here, listeners (n = 149) were trained to recognize sung or spoken voices and then tested on their identification of these voices in both modalities. Learning vocal identities was initially easier through speech than song. At test, cross-modality voice recognition was above chance, but weaker than within-modality recognition. We conclude that talker information is accessible in sung speech, despite acoustic constraints in song.
Supplemental Material: P–T evolution of metapelitic and metamafic rocks from the Northern Liaoning: Implications on the Neoarchean tectonic regime of North China Craton
Authors: Guo Minjie , Zhang Jian , al. et
Published: June 2024

This section includes additional data figures and tables that support the findings presented in the main manuscript.
Use of computer-assisted self-interview in detection of and referral for depression among adolescents living with HIV at an urban HIV treatment clinic in Uganda: a quasi-experimental study
Authors: Alinaitwe Racheal , Elyanu Peter James , Kanywa Jacqueline Balungi , Akena Dickens
Published: June 2024

Background

Depression is common among adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) and impacts their quality of life. However, it is not routinely detected and treated due to a lack of screening tools, coupled with large numbers of clients in the HIV clinics and limited staff. Enabling adolescents to do a self-assessment for depression on a tablet computer could possibly improve the detection of depression in this population. We set out to assess the detection and referral of depression among ALHIV in care in Uganda.

Methods

This was a quasi-experimental study design with a historical control at Baylor College of Medicine of Children’s Foundation. We conducted a retrospective chart review of 425 adolescents covering a 3-month period and documented the proportion screened for depression and referred to the clinic counsellors. From July to September 2022, eligible adolescents aged 10–19 years who had assented and consented self-assessed for depression using a Patient Health Questionnaire-Adolescent on a tablet computer-assisted self-interview (CASI). Adolescents who screened positive had a prompt on the tablet computers referring them to the counsellor for mental healthcare. We compared the proportions of participants screened for depression and referred to counsellors from clinic chart review and on the CASI using paired t-tests.

Results

Out of 425 medical records reviewed, 54% (231/425) were females and the median age was 15 years. Of the participants who self-assessed on the CASI, 52% (222/425) were males and the median age of all participants was 16 years. Self-assessment on the CASI increased the rate of detection of depression from 0% to 23.3%. Of those referred on the CASI, 15% accessed care at the referral point.

Conclusion

The use of CASI improves the rate of detection of depression among ALHIV; however, there is a need to address the barriers to effective referral for mental health services.
Towards a transformative health humanities approach in teaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Authors: Engebretsen Eivind
Published: June 2024

The adoption of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) marks a significant shift in global political agendas, emphasising sustainability in various fields, including health. To engage meaningfully with sustainability, a transformative educational approach is essential. Lange’s concept of transformative learning encompasses three levels: personal and cognitive change (micro level), changes in our interactions with others and the environment (meso level) and societal changes (macro level). This paper posits that applying health humanities approaches, particularly narrative medicine, can enhance transformative education at these three levels, leading to a powerful, transformative health humanities framework for teaching sustainability and the SDGs. This interdisciplinary method, which includes reflective self-assessment, exploration of different relational perspectives and social reality comprehension, facilitates transformative learning. However, implementing this transformative strategy requires a critical reassessment of some core principles and methods within the existing health humanities paradigm.
Design of English Lexical Analysis System for Machine Translation Based on Multimodal Neural Network
Authors: Deng Yadan , Shi Juanzhi
Published: June 2024

Information resources have become a very important source of wealth, and due to differences in language and writing, technological information exchange between countries has become difficult. In this article, we propose a data augmentation method based on statistical models. A framework for a multimodal output model is proposed, taking into account the semantic relevance and importance between different languages. This framework is based on text sequence to sequence framework, decoupled, and a network architecture based on dual stream attention mechanism is designed. A multimodal interactive neural network layer was added between the encoder and decoder, achieving the fusion of multilingual domain information. It compensates for the influence of text on traditional translation generation systems in the process of English Chinese translation, and solves the problems of inaccurate translation results and low similarity with the original text in English Chinese machine translation. The system proposed in this article mainly consists of preprocessing module, lexical analysis and segmentation module, part of speech tagging and phrase analysis module, translation rule construction module, decoding module, translation generation module, etc. The experimental results show that using an improved generation system, compared with traditional generation systems, improves the accuracy of translation generation, has certain advantages, and is more practical.
AHBSMO-DRN: Single Device and Multiple Sharing-Based Geo-Position Spoofing Detection in Instant Messaging Platform
Authors: Koparde Shweta , Mane Vanita
Published: June 2024

In recent years, location check-in on mobile components is a trending topic over social media. At the same time, hackers grasp the geographical position (geo-position) data that destruct the security of users. Hence, it is crucial to detect the originality of geo-position. A plethora of methods have been developed for geo-position spoofing identification that depends on geo-position data. Nonetheless, such techniques are incapable in terms of missing prior data or insufficient of large samples. To counterpart this issue, an effective model is invented to detect spoofing activity by Adaptive Honey Badger Spider Monkey Optimization_Deep residual Network (AHBSMO-based DRN). Here, neuro camera footprint refining is performed using Neuro Fuzzy filter and extracted footprint image obtained while considering the input and spoofed image are fused using Pearson correlation coefficient. Meanwhile, geo-tagged value of input image and spoofed image is also fused based on same Pearson coefficient. Finally, fusion is performed and then, spoofing detection is accomplished by comparing the Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) foot print of two images to find if the input image is spoofed or not. Moreover, AHBSMO-based DRN model has gained outstanding outcomes in regard of accuracy of 0.921, True Positive Rate (TPR) 0 of 0.911, and False Positive Rate (FPR) of 0.136.
Harnessing Complexity and Participatory Foresight: An Innovative Approach for Sustainable Urban Planning
Authors: Sweeney John A. , Kurniawan Jude H.
Published: June 2024

This Insight paper argues that urban planning should be more than “smart” or more than just relying on the sheer amount of urban data. Rather, the urban planning should also incorporate foresight to address the complexity of urban development that urban data might have revealed. To do this, we propose the convergence of foresight (or futures studies) and complexity science within the context of urban planning. Foresight equips stakeholders with tools to anticipate and prepare for future scenarios in urban development, facilitating strategic decision-making, risk management, and policy development. Complexity science, on the other hand, offers a deeper understanding of urban systems by examining nonlinear interactions and emergent properties. This paper discusses how complexity science enriches our comprehension of urban systems, revealing intricate patterns and behaviors in the urban context. This, in turn, informed foresight methodologies that can enhance urban planning by considering dynamic urban systems. This Insight paper suggests the way to move forward is by combining foresight and complexity science for developing innovative urban planning practices to shape the future of smart and sustainable cities.
Association of MRI Indexes of the Perivascular Space Network and Cognitive Impairment in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Authors: Lin Shiwei , Lin Xiaoshan , Chen Shengli , Liang Qunjun , Li Ying , Wei Fajian , Wu Xingsha , Qian Long , Li Shuo , Qiu Yingwei
Published: June 2024

Patients with differing severities of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) exhibited differences in MRI indexes of the perivascular space network, and those with moderate OSA treated with uvulopalatopharyngoplasty showed improvements in these indexes and in cognitive performance.
Navigating Treatment Refusal: Behaviour Guidance for Down Syndrome Oral Health Management
Authors: Sari Lila , Primarti Risti Saptarini , Setiawan Arlette Suzy
Published: June 2024

Background. Managing dental care in children with special health care needs poses distinct challenges. This case report explores these challenges within the context of a 9‐year‐old boy with Down syndrome (DS) facing dental treatment refusal. Case Report. Over ten months and 13 visits, a tailored approach was devised for the patient who presented with multiple cavities and retained primary teeth. Key strategies included gradually introducing dental procedures, including tooth brushing, intraoral examination, tooth preparation, extraction, and myofunctional therapy. Behaviour guidance techniques include tell‐show‐do, desensitization, positive reinforcement, and close collaboration between dental professionals and the patient’s mother. Discussion. This methodical approach helped overcome the child’s initial refusal without sedation or general anaesthesia, facilitating successful dental care. Conclusion. This case emphasizes the effectiveness of patient‐centred strategies and detailed communication in pediatric dentistry for children with DS, providing valuable insights for managing similar challenges in dental care.
Automatic Welding of Corrugated Steel Webs on Composite Box Girder with Corrugated Steel Webs
Authors: Wu Yunfei , Zhu Yingbo , Chen Xiaoyong , Wan Shui
Published: June 2024

With the advancement of technology, automation in construction has gained great popularity in both the industrial and academic worlds to date, since it not only can improve construction efficiency and alleviate the request for intensive labor but also can improve construction quality by reducing human error. The composite box girder with corrugated steel webs (CBGCSW), a new type of composite bridge, has become popular and attracted considerable attention in the world. However, the welding of corrugated steel webs (CSWs) poses challenges on construction sites, primarily due to the considerable height of CSWs and also due to the complexity of construction environments of such composite structures, causing complications for welding personnel. In the context, based on the welding characteristics of CSW, this study proposes a direct rail‐type mobile welding equipment for automatic welding of CSW to reduce the requirements for intensive labor and ensure welding quality. Three types of welding tests including lap welding, butt welding, and V‐groove butt welding are carried out in this study by using this automatic welding method and manual method in order to verify the feasibility of the automatic welding method. The comparison between the two approaches shows that the quality of those specimens welded by the proposed straight rail welding equipment is significantly superior to the manual method: weld seams are smoother, the fish scale pattern is clear, and the texture is uniform. Furthermore, tensile experiments are performed on the welded specimens to further validate the welding capacity of such automated methods, indicating that the strength of the welded steel specimens operated by using the proposed straight rail welding mobile equipment can achieve good mechanical performance. Based on the experimental investigation, the direct‐guided rail‐type mobile welding equipment is applied to the on‐site construction of CBGCSW. This study reveals that this automatic method not only can achieve a good welding quality and effect of CSWs but also improve efficiency and reduce the requests for intensive labor on construction sites.
MaterniCode: New Bioinformatic Pipeline to Detect Fetal Aneuploidies and Rearrangements Using Next‐Generation Sequencing
Authors: Gabrielli Federico , Papa Filomena Tiziana , Di Pietro Fabio , Paytuví-Gallart Andreu , Julian Daniel , Sanseverino Walter , Alfonsi Cinzia
Published: June 2024

Objective: The present study is aimed at introducing and evaluating MaterniCode, a state‐of‐the‐art bioinformatic pipeline for noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) that leverages the Ion Torrent semiconductor sequencing platform. The initiative strives to revolutionize prenatal diagnostics by offering a rapid and cost‐effective method without sacrificing accuracy.

Methods: Two distinct bioinformatic strategies were employed for fetal sex determination, one of which achieved 100% accuracy. We analyzed 1225 maternal blood samples for fetal aneuploidies, benchmarking against the industry standard Illumina VeriSeq™ NIPT Solution v2. The capability of MaterniCode to detect and characterize complex chromosomal anomalies was also assessed.

Results: MaterniCode achieved near‐perfect accuracy in fetal sex determination through chromosome Y (chrY )–specific gene analysis, whereas the alternative method, employing the ratio of high‐quality mapped reads on chrY relative to all reads, delivered 100% accuracy. For fetal aneuploidy detection, both the integrated WisecondorX and NIPTeR algorithms demonstrated a 100% sensitivity and specificity rate, consistent with Illumina VeriSeq™ NIPT Solution v2. The pipeline also successfully identified and precisely mapped significant chromosomal abnormalities, exemplified by a 2.4 Mb deletion on chromosome 13 and a 3 Mb duplication on chromosome 2.

Conclusion: MaterniCode has proven to be an innovative and highly efficient tool in the domain of NIPT, demonstrating excellent sensitivity and specificity. Its robust capability to effectively detect a wide range of complex chromosomal aberrations, including rare and subtle variations, positions it as a promising and valuable addition to prenatal diagnostic technologies. This enhancement to diagnostic precision significantly aids clinicians in making informed decisions during pregnancy management.
Table 2 from Monitoring Circulating Tumor DNA During Surgical Treatment in Patients with Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors
Authors: Johansson Gustav , Berndsen Marta , Lindskog Stefan , Österlund Tobias , Fagman Henrik , Muth Andreas , Ståhlberg Anders
Published: June 2024

Number of patients with tumor-specific mutations detected in cfDNA.
Figure 3 from Monitoring Circulating Tumor DNA During Surgical Treatment in Patients with Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors
Authors: Johansson Gustav , Berndsen Marta , Lindskog Stefan , Österlund Tobias , Fagman Henrik , Muth Andreas , Ståhlberg Anders
Published: June 2024

Disease status in relation to ctDNA levels of tumor-specific and TKI resistance mutations. Black and gray bars indicate treatment duration. Disease status according to imaging. CR, complete response; PD, progressive disease; PR, partial response; SD, stable disease.
Zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein Secreted by Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Promotes Peritumoral Fibrosis
Authors: Verma Surbhi , Giagnocavo Stephanie D. , Curtin Meghan C. , Arumugam Menusha , Osburn-Staker Sandra M. , Wang Guoying , Atkinson Aaron , Nix David A. , Lum David H. , Cox James E. , Hilgendorf Keren I.
Published: June 2024

Obesity is a modifiable predisposition factor for postmenopausal breast cancer. This suggests a localized, reciprocal interaction between breast cancer cells and the surrounding mammary white adipose tissue. To investigate how breast cancer cells alter the composition and function of adipose tissue, we screened the secretomes of 10 human breast cancer cell lines for the ability to modulate the differentiation of adipocyte stem and progenitor cells. The screen identified an adipogenic modulator, zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein (ZAG/AZGP1) that is secreted by triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. TNBC-secreted ZAG inhibits adipogenesis and instead induces the expression of fibrotic genes. Accordingly, depletion of ZAG in TNBC cells attenuates fibrosis in white adipose tissue and inhibits tumor growth. Further, high expression of ZAG is linked to poor prognosis in patients with TNBC but not in patients with other clinical subtypes of breast cancer. Our findings suggest a role of TNBC-secreted ZAG in promoting the transdifferentiation of adipocyte stem and progenitor cells into cancer-associated fibroblasts to support tumorigenesis.

Significance:

Functional screening of breast cancer secretomes revealed that triple-negative breast cancer promotes fibrosis in the adipose tissue microenvironment by secreting zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein and promoting the transdifferentiation of adipocyte stem cells into myofibroblasts.
The Relationship between Muscarinic and Cannabinoid Receptors in Neuronal Excitability and Epilepsy: A Review
Authors: Hall Ryan Renaldo , Cohall Damian Hugh
Published: June 2024

Background: Of the seventy million people who suffer from epilepsy, 40 percent of them become resistant to more than one antiepileptic medication and have a higher chance of death. While the classical definition of epilepsy was due to the imbalance between excitatory glutamatergic and inhibitory γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic signalling, substantial evidence implicates muscarinic receptors in the regulation of neural excitability. Summary: Cannabinoids have shown to reduce seizure activity and neuronal excitability in several epileptic models through the activation of muscarinic receptors with drugs which modulate their activity. Cannabinoids also have been effective in reducing antiepileptic activity in pharmaco-resistant individuals; however, the mechanism of its effects in temporal lobe epilepsy is not clear. Key Messages: This review seeks to elucidate the relationship between muscarinic and cannabinoid receptors in epilepsy and neural excitability.
A Comparative Randomized Clinical Study Assessing the Efficacy of a 1% Selenium Disulfide-Based Shampoo versus 2% Ketoconazole Shampoo in Subjects with Moderate to Severe Scalp Seborrheic Dermatitis
Authors: Barbosa Victoria , Melo Daniel Fernandes , Vañó-Galván Sergio , Lutchmanen-Kolanthan Vimi , Sant'Anna Beatriz , Leclerc-Mercier Stéphanie , Reygagne Pascal
Published: June 2024

Introduction: Scalp seborrheic dermatitis (SSD) is a chronic, relapsing, and inflammatory condition impacting quality of life (QoL). This study evaluated the efficacy and impact on QoL of a 1% selenium disulphide-containing shampoo (SeS2 shampoo) compared to a 2% ketoconazole shampoo. Methods: This multi-centric, double-blinded, randomized 4-week study was conducted in 64 adult subjects with moderate to severe SSD (SSD severity score (SSSD) > 6). Shampoo was applied on the scalp and hair, according to product indications. Clinical examinations at baseline and on Day (D) 3, 7, 14, and 28 included the assessment of SSSD, total scales score (TSS, sum of adherent, and non-adherent scales), erythema, irritation, seborrhea, and itching. Self-evaluations included QoL and hair quality assessment (scales and greasiness). Results: The SSSD improved in both groups as early as D3, after one application of shampoo. This significant (p < 0.001) improvement was −71% for SeS2 and −69% for ketoconazole at D28. The decrease of the TSS was significant (p < 0.001) at D28 in both groups (−75% SeS2 and −68% for ketoconazole). The SSSD severity of all subjects decreased to mild at D28. Signs and symptoms had significantly (p < 0.001) improved in both groups after 28 days. QoL improved earlier with SeS2 than with ketoconazole shampoo. The cosmetic acceptability of SeS2 shampoo was higher than that of ketoconazole shampoo. Both shampoos were very well tolerated. Conclusion: SeS2 shampoo is a reliable and well-tolerated alternative care to ketoconazole shampoo in patients with moderate to severe scalp seborrheic dermatitis.
Acute administration of Calafate (Berberis microphylla) extract induce
the expression of thermogenic markers and modulates gut
microbiota in mice fed a high-fat chow diet
Authors: Duarte Lissette , Villanueva Vannesa , Barroux Robert , Orellana Juan Francisco , Poblete-Aro Carlos , Gotteland Martin , Castro Mauricio , Magne Fabien , Garcia-Diaz Diego
Published: June 2024

Introduction: Obesity, characterised by excess adipose tissue, is a major public health problem worldwide. Brown (BAT) and beige adipose tissue participate in thermogenesis through uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). Polyphenols including those from Calafate (a native polyphenol-rich Patagonian berry), are considered as potential anti-obesity compounds due to their pro-thermogenic characteristics. However, polyphenols are mainly metabolized by the colonic microbiota by the gut microbiota (GM) that may influence their bioactivity and bioavailability. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of dietary administration with a Calafate polyphenol-rich extract on thermogenic activity of BAT and beige adipose tissue and GM composition.
Methods: 8-week-old C57BL6 mice (n=30) were divided into 4 groups to receive for 24 weeks a control diet (C), a high-fat diet alone (HF) or high-fat diet supplemented with Calafate extract (HFC) or the same high-fat diet supplemented with Calafate extract but treated with antibiotics (HFCAB) from week 19 to 20. Administration with Calafate extract (50 mg/kg. day) was carried out for 3 weeks from week 21 to 23 in the HFC and HFCAB groups. After euthanasia, gene expression of thermogenic markers was analysed in BAT and inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT). Transmission electron microscopy was performed to assess mitochondrial morphology and cristae density in BAT. GM diversity and composition was characterized by deep sequencing with the MiSeq-Illumina platform.
Results: Calafate extract administration had no effect on weight gain in mice fed a high-fat diet. However, it prevented alterations in mitochondrial cristae induced by HFD, and increased Dio2 expression in BAT and iWAT. The intervention also influenced the gut microbiota composition, preventing changes in specific bacterial taxa induced by the high-fat diet. However, the antibiotic treatment prevented in part these effects, suggesting the implications of GM.
Discussion/Conclusion: These results suggest that the acute administration of a Calafate extract modulates the expression of thermogenic markers, prevents alterations in mitochondrial cristae and intestinal microbiota in preclinical models. The study highlights the complex interaction between polyphenols, thermogenesis and the gut microbiota, providing valuable insights into their potential roles in the treatment of obesity-related metabolic diseases.
Obstructive Urosepsis: Is It Possible to Personalize the Ureteral Endoscopic Treatment?
Authors: Reggio Ernesto , Westphal Glauco Adrieno , Zahdi Natalia Silva , Bessa Jr José de , Gomes Cristiano Mendes , Mazzucchi Eduardo , Nahas William Carlos
Published: June 2024

Introduction: Urinary tract infection involves mortality rate when combined with ureteral obstruction. Lithotripsy has been contraindicated; however, it has been shown to be safe in selected situations. No specific criteria have been widely accepted to indicate which patients are suitable for definitive treatment. The objective of this study was to identify prognostic factors associated with poor outcome but also those patients whose definitive treatment can be performed. Methods: Observational cohort study from a prospectively maintained database of septic patients defined by the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA). Univariate analysis was used to compare prognostic factors with Δ-SOFA score <2 (group 1) and those with a Δ-SOFA ≥2 (group 2) obtained on day 3 and on admission. Different combinations of neutrophils, lymphocytes and platelets were tested as prognostic factors. Time to decompression calculated from the CT scan report to the end of surgery. Results: A total of 229 patients were enrolled during 11 years. Two patients died. Time from CT scan to urinary tract decompression was higher in the Δ-SOFA≥2 (p = 0.04). Thrombocytopenia and the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio were associated with Δ-SOFA≥2. Stones were disintegrated in 33.48% in group 1 and 48.84% in group 2. Platelet count and time to decompression were associated with a worse prognosis (p = 0.0008 and 0.0017). On receiver operator curve analysis, platelets count <105,056 and time to decompression >4.72 hours were linked to poorer outcomes. Conclusions: Personalized treatment, based on accessible biomarkers, can be achieved in most patients. Early surgical decompression was associated with better prognosis and definitive treatment can be performed in selected patients.
É a retorica bolsonarista fascista?: reflexões necessárias
Authors: Sahd Fábio Bacila
Published: June 2024

A partir del análisis de fuentes, contrastado con las reflexiones de Jason Stanley y Federico Finchelstein, exploramos el potencial explicativo del concepto de fascismo para comprender los actos retóricos de Bolsonaro durante las elecciones de 2018 y el inicio de su mandato. Luego de introducir y contextualizar este caso, teniendo como eje el programa registrado por el entonces candidato del PSL en el TSE, presentamos los puntos centrales de la narrativa bolsonarista. Luego, presentamos el tipo ideal desarrollado por Stanley y Finchelstein y lo usamos para analizar las fuentes. Para reforzar las interpretaciones y señalar otras lecturas posibles, introducimos consideraciones de otros autores. Si bien enfatizamos las convergencias, no ignoramos las divergencias, que legitiman la extensa discusión sobre la mejor definición del bolsonarismo y similares, poniendo en duda la pertinencia del uso del concepto de fascismo.
Machine Learning Detects Symptomatic Plaques in Patients With Carotid Atherosclerosis on CT Angiography
Authors: Pisu Francesco , Williamson Brady J. , Nardi Valentina , Paraskevas Kosmas I. , Puig Josep , Vagal Achala , de Rubeis Gianluca , Porcu Michele , Cau Riccardo , Benson John C. , Balestrieri Antonella , Lanzino Giuseppe , Suri Jasjit S. , Mahammedi Abdelkader , Saba Luca
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND:

This study aimed to develop and validate a computed tomography angiography based machine learning model that uses plaque composition data and degree of carotid stenosis to detect symptomatic carotid plaques in patients with carotid atherosclerosis.

METHODS:

The machine learning based model was trained using degree of stenosis and the volumes of 13 computed tomography angiography derived intracarotid plaque subcomponents (eg, lipid, intraplaque hemorrhage, calcium) to identify plaques associated with cerebrovascular events. The model was internally validated through repeated 10-fold cross-validation and tested on a dedicated testing cohort according to discrimination and calibration.

RESULTS:

This retrospective, single-center study evaluated computed tomography angiography scans of 268 patients with both symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis (163 for the derivation set and 106 for the testing set) performed between March 2013 and October 2019. The area-under-receiver-operating characteristics curve by machine learning on the testing cohort (0.89) was significantly higher than the areas under the curve of traditional logit analysis based on the degree of stenosis (0.51,
P
<0.001), presence of intraplaque hemorrhage (0.69,
P
<0.001), and plaque composition (0.78,
P
<0.001), respectively. Comparable performance was obtained on internal validation. The identified plaque components and associated cutoff values that were significantly associated with a higher likelihood of symptomatic status after adjustment were the ratio of intraplaque hemorrhage to lipid volume (≥50%, 38.5 [10.1–205.1]; odds ratio, 95% CI) and percentage of intraplaque hemorrhage volume (≥10%, 18.5 [5.7–69.4]; odds ratio, 95% CI).

CONCLUSIONS:

This study presented an interpretable machine learning model that accurately identifies symptomatic carotid plaques using computed tomography angiography derived plaque composition features, aiding clinical decision-making.
Deciphering Abdominal Aortic Diseases Through T‐Cell Clonal Repertoire of Perivascular Adipose Tissue
Authors: Piacentini Luca , Vavassori Chiara , Werba Pablo J. , Saccu Claudio , Spirito Rita , Colombo Gualtiero I.
Published: June 2024

Background

Recent studies suggest that immune‐mediated inflammation of perivascular adipose tissue of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) contributes to disease development and progression. Whether the perivascular adipose tissue of AAA is characterized by a specific adaptive immune signature remains unknown.

Methods and Results

To investigate this hypothesis, we sequenced the T‐cell receptor β‐chain in the perivascular adipose tissue of patients with AAA and compared it with patients with aortic occlusive disease, who share the former anatomical site of the lesion and risk factors but differ in pathogenic mechanisms. Our results demonstrate that patients with AAA have a lower repertoire diversity than those with aortic occlusive disease and significant differences in variable/joining gene segment usage. Furthermore, we identified a set of 7 public T‐cell receptor β‐chain clonotypes that distinguished AAA and aortic occlusive disease with very high accuracy. We also found that the T‐cell receptor β‐chain repertoire differentially characterizes small and large AAAs (aortic diameter<55 mm and ≥55 mm, respectively).

Conclusions

This work supports the hypothesis that T cell–mediated immunity is fundamental in AAA pathogenesis and opens up new clinical perspectives.
Imposing Policy on Reluctant Actors: The Hospital Desegregation Campaign and Black Postneonatal Mortality in the Deep South
Authors: Anderson D. Mark , Charles Kerwin Kofi , Rees Daniel I.
Published: June 2024

In 1966, Southern hospitals were barred from participating in Medicare unless they discontinued their longstanding practice of racial segregation. Using data from five Deep South states and exploiting county-level variation in Medicare certification dates, we find that gaining access to an ostensibly integrated hospital had no effect on Black postneonatal mortality. Similarly, there is little evidence that the campaign contributed to the trend towards in-hospital births among Southern Black mothers. These results are consistent with descriptions of the hospital desegregation campaign as producing only cosmetic changes and illustrate the limits of anti-discrimination policies imposed upon reluctant actors.
The Summer Drop in Female Employment
Authors: Price Brendan M. , Wasserman Melanie
Published: June 2024

We provide the first systematic account of summer declines in women's labor market activity. From May to July, US women's employment-to-population ratio declines 1.1pp, whereas men's rises; women's hours worked fall 9.8%, twice the decline among men. School closures for summer break provide a unifying explanation. The summer drop aligns with cross-state differences in school closure timing, is concentrated among mothers with young school-aged children, and coincides with increased time spent on childcare. Gender differences both within and across jobs explain gender gaps in summer exits from employment. Women's summer work interruptions contribute to gender gaps in pay.
Fascist Transnationalism
Authors: Toro Daniele
Published: June 2024

The article argues that contact between the German, Austrian, and Italian radical nationalist milieux through the long 1920s represented a specific form of fascist relationship-building which should be understood in terms of fascist transnationalism: a cross-border networking process that took place against the backdrop of fluid, evolving social relationships. Starting from the analysis of the mutual exclusiveness of radical nationalist mobilizations, the article highlights the analytical limits of the concept ‘internationalism’ when applied to early fascist relationships that developed in transnational, informal settings. Then, it makes an argument for a processual approach based on the observation of relational practices, while sketching out the peculiarities of these milieux. Accordingly, it outlines the development of the trilateral networking process between German, Austrian, and Italian organizations (Stahlhelm, DNVP, NSDAP, Heimwehren, and PNF) along its different stages. Finally, it offers an outlook on the key features of fascist transnationalism grounded in the historical analysis of this specific triangular case study.
Systematic study in Dipcadi ursulae (Asaparagaceae, Scillioideae) from Maharashtra, India
Authors: RODRIGUES HENSAL SALVADOR , DUTTA SUCHANDRA RANJIT , CHAKRAL KIRAN GANGADHAR
Published: June 2024

Dipcadi ursulae is identified as having leaves with a central white band, long acuminate bracts, and sweet-scented flowers. Dipcadi ursulae var. longiracemosum has been raised to the species level due to its morphological and anatomical features. Morphometric analysis based on 89 morphological characters is provided to support the status change. A unique new variety of Dipcadi, which is morphologically closely related to Dipcadi ursulae but differs in having pure white campanulate-urceolate flowers, and unequal spreading perianth lobes, is described here. Anatomical, phylogenetic and morphometric evidence is provided to support the status of the new variety.
The Unchanging Representation of the 1956 Revolution in Public Art in Budapest
Authors: Harlov-Csortán Melinda
Published: June 2024

Hungary, and especially its capital, Budapest, is famous for its vast number of public artworks. Unlike their impressive quantity and diversity, their representation techniques are rather monotonous. Apart from nostalgia apparent in those works that represent emotionally charged narratives about the past, we can also trace the anxiety of new forms and interpretations, manifesting itself in the constant over-repetition of well-known symbols and representations. The article investigates possible reasons behind the unchanging character of these public artworks despite the increasing number and variety of procures.
In terms of methodology, this paper follows the author’s work on numerous smaller projects and draws on secondary literature, case studies, and content analysis of policy documents and media coverage of particular events. The article presents the memorials dedicated to the 1956 revolution erected in Budapest between 1989 and 2019, focusing on their symbolic and political dimensions as well as physical context.
The investigation points out that the range of procurers of public art in Budapest is still not varied, and the lack of expert assessment also prevents contemporary representations. Moreover, the general public does not and cannot play a role in memorialization processes. The observations made in this paper suggest how this particular public art genre manifests nostalgia about the glorious (but failed) historical moment and anxiety of newforms and interpretations.
The Symbols That Failed: The Formation and Promotion of Czechoslovak State Symbolism after 1918
Authors: Kessler Vojtěch
Published: June 2024

This article presents selected symbols that were adopted, either through official legislation or through political and social negotiations, as symbols of the state after the fall of the Habsburg Empire and the establishment of the Czechoslovak Republic. Their main weakness was their strong association with Czech identity. The symbols of the new state came from the period of mutual national struggles and identity affirmation in the last decades of the monarchy, but they were only significant for the modern Czech nation. This was the reason why they never became a unifying element of the democratic and multinational Czechoslovak state, nor did they appeal to most of its Slovak inhabitants, whose historical traditions and symbols were virtually ignored. What is more, they were even perceived as provocative and hostile by the German, Hungarian, Ruthenian and Polish populations of the interwar Czechoslovak Republic.
Laus Terrae: Praising the Homeland in the Oldest Central European Historiographic Monuments
Authors: Quéret-Podesta Adrien
Published: June 2024

The term laus terrae (praise of the land) refers to a very positive description of the homeland which appears frequently at the beginning of medieval historiographic works. The paper analyzes the composition of such texts in the oldest known extensive Polish, Czech, and Hungarian chronicles. The three works in question give very similar descriptions of the homeland, which is presented as a wealthy land abounding in various natural resources, whose qualities are also underlined in a similar manner. The existence of those analogies is not surprising as the authors of those works were clearly influenced by the same literary motifs. Their choice to present the homeland as a locus amoenus (pleasant place) was of course related to their intention to emphasize the position of the country whose past they related as well as the power of the current and previous rulers of this territory.
“Maybe he’s thinking something on the inside but is not showing it to us”: The Dynamics of Neighborhood Relations between Azerbaijani and Armenian Communities in a Multiethnic Region in Georgia after the Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020
Authors: Kosicińska Klaudia
Published: June 2024

This paper explores the specifics of post-conflict neighborhood relations in the Azerbaijani and Armenian communities in Kvemo Kartli, one of the most ethnically mixed regions in Georgia. The diverse ethnic composition of the region and its historical and political background demonstrate that the non-homogenous, multiethnic local communities coexist, coping with post-conflict experiences. Drawing on ethnographic research conducted between 2020 and 2022, including interviews and field observations, this paper presents how the outbreak of the Nagorno-Karabakh war influenced contemporary Azerbaijani-Armenian relations in Georgia. The results of author's  research indicate that local communities developed contrasting approaches and strategies while still maintaining neighborly relations involving antagonistic tolerance. The article poses the question of whether relations in the community are based on the komshuluk system, or whether it is rather the case of antagonistic tolerance. It also reveals in what situations conflicts occur and in what situations good neighborly relations are nurtured. Therefore, the research results also fill a gap in the studies on interethnic relations in Georgia after the Nagorno-Karabakh war. This is also the first study that uses the aforementioned theoretical framework to analyze this particular area in Georgia.
Identifying Climate Patterns Using Clustering Autoencoder Techniques
Authors: Kurihana Takuya , Mastilovic Ilijana , Wang Lijing , Meray Aurelien , Praveen Satyarth , Xu Zexuan , Memarzadeh Milad , Lavin Alexander , Wainwright Haruko
Published: June 2024

The complexity of growing spatiotemporal resolution of climate simulations produces a variety of climate patterns under different projection scenarios. This paper proposes a new data-driven climate classification workflow via an unsupervised deep learning technique that can dimensionally reduce the vast volume of spatiotemporal numerical climate projection data into a compact representation. We aim to identify distinct zones that capture multiple climate variables as well as their future changes under different climate change scenarios. Our approach leverages convolutional autoencoders combined with k-means clustering (standard autoencoder) and online clustering based on the Sinkhorn–Knopp algorithm (clustering autoencoder) across the conterminous United States (CONUS) to capture unique climate patterns in a data-driven fashion from the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Earth System Model with GOLD component (GFDL-ESM2G). The developed approach compresses 70 years of GFDL-ESM2G simulation at 0.125° spatial resolution across the CONUS under multiple warming scenarios to a lower-dimensional space by a factor of 660 000 and then tested on 150 years of GFDL-ESM2G simulation data. The results show that five climate clusters capture physically reasonable and spatially stable climatological patterns matched to known climate classes defined by human experts. Results also show that using a clustering autoencoder can reduce the computational time for clustering by up to 9.2 times when compared to using a standard autoencoder. Our five unique climate patterns resulting from the deep learning–based clustering of the lower-dimensional space thereby enable us to provide insights on hydrometeorology and its spatial heterogeneity across the conterminous United States immediately without downloading large climate datasets.

Significance Statement

This paper presents a data-driven climate classification approach using unsupervised deep learning to dimensionally reduce climate model outputs and to identify distinct climate regions for their future changes. Our approach compresses climate information for 70 years of Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Earth System Model data across the conterminous United States (CONUS) at 0.125° spatial resolution. The results reveal that five climate clusters capture reasonable and stable climatological patterns matched to known climate patterns. The embedded clustering process in deep learning provides ×9.2 times faster execution than the k-means clustering technique. These results give us insight about climate spatial patterns and heterogeneity of hydrological patterns across the conterminous United States without downloading large climate datasets.
Does Operating Volume On-Call Vary by Surgeon? Analysis of On-Call Cases in an Academic Colorectal Practice
Authors: McKenna Nicholas P. , Mirande Maxwell D. , Bews Katherine A. , Dozois Eric J. , Kelley Scott R. , Mathis Kellie L.
Published: June 2024

The aim was to determine whether on-call case volumes differ amongst colorectal surgeons, and what cases are performed on-call in an academic colorectal surgery practice. The on-call schedule for the year 2021 of a colorectal surgery practice was analyzed. Details of the case origin and operative details were collected. Average cases performed per call per surgeon were compared. Ten surgeons were included, and average cases per call ranged from .5 to 1.4 with 1.0 the overall average ( P = .007). Analyzing individual pairs, differences existed between the 2 busiest and the least busy on-call surgeon (both P < .05). Most patients operated on-call were admitted via the emergency department (59%), and the most common operations were exams under anesthesia (39%) and bowel resections (33%). On average, 1 on-call case was performed per day. Surgeon on-call volume was similar aside from the busiest and least busy on-call surgeons.