bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rethinking multi‐site studies in social and personality psychology: Can the cross‐indigenous approach remedy common cross‐cultural vulnerabilities?
Authors: Silan Miguel
Published: October 2024

The cross‐indigenous approach is introduced as a framework for conducting multi‐site studies. The cross‐indigenous approach is a simultaneous multi‐emic approach to studying psychological and social phenomena across cultures which intends to mitigate vulnerabilities commonly found in typical cross‐cultural studies done in social and personality psychology including methodological artifacts introduced when instruments, protocols, or research design do not work as expected across target cultures, and the unrealistic expectation of construct equivalence across sites. The article discusses ways to carry out a cross‐indigenous project which aims to be a principled way of making comparisons across cultures, aiming to stake out what are unique, what are shared and what are universals across populations, to explain psychological and social processes through culture‐sensitive and naturalistic methods.
Flourishing together: Leveraging social‐personality psychology in community building for scholars of color
Authors: Bell Angela C. , Harris Kelci , Jerald Morgan C.
Published: October 2024

Many faculty of color (FOC) lack the necessary social and professional support structures to facilitate their successful advancement on the tenure track. We present Flourish, a network for pre‐tenure social and personality psychologists of color, as a case study to illustrate how an affinity group model can aid in supporting FOC. We demonstrate that using social support to diffuse social identity threats can increase belonging and academic fit and, as a result, promote the success of early career FOC. As a field, psychological science has the potential to transcend the boundaries of academic institutions by leveraging our theories, methods, and applied expertise to build infrastructure to better support FOC. Attracting and retaining a diverse faculty workforce addresses racial inequities in higher education, diversifies research output, and makes our science more representative and reproducible. Thus, investing in affinity groups is essential for developing accessible social support systems and increasing role models for future scholars of color.
Artificial Intelligence Smartphone Application for Detection of Simulated Skin Changes: An In Vivo Pilot Study
Authors: Grove Gabriela Lladó , Reedtz Gorm , Vangsgaard Brian , Eskandarani Hassan , Haedersdal Merete , Andersen Flemming , Bjerring Peter
Published: October 2024

Background

The development of artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly expanding, showing promise in the dermatological field. Skin checks are a resource‐heavy challenge that could potentially benefit from AI‐tool assistance, particularly if provided in widely available AI solutions. A novel smartphone application(app)‐based AI system, “SCAI,” was developed and trained to recognize spots in paired images of skin, pursuing identification of new skin lesions. This pilot study aimed to investigate the feasibility of the SCAI‐app to identify simulated skin changes in vivo.

Materials and methods

The study was conducted in a controlled setting with healthy volunteers and standardized, simulated skin changes (test spots), consisting of customized 3‐mm adhesive spots in three colors (black, brown, and red). Each volunteer had a total of eight test spots adhered to four areas on back and legs. The SCAI‐app collected smartphone‐ and template‐guided standardized images before and after test spot application, using its backend AI algorithms to identify changes between the paired images.

Results

Twenty‐four volunteers were included, amounting to a total of 192 test spots. Overall, the detection algorithms identified test spots with a sensitivity of 92.0% (CI: 88.1–95.9) and a specificity of 95.5% (CI: 95.0–96.0). The SCAI‐app's positive predictive value was 38.0% (CI: 31.0–44.9), while the negative predictive value was 99.7% (CI: 99.0–100).

Conclusion

This pilot study showed that SCAI‐app could detect simulated skin changes in a controlled in vivo setting. The app's feasibility in a clinical setting with real‐life skin lesions remains to be investigated, where the challenge with false positives in particular needs to be addressed.
Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Low‐Energy Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Various Conditions of Deep Dermal and Subdermal Fibrosis
Authors: Ko Jeongah , Cho Sung Bin
Published: October 2024

Background

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) enhances extracellular matrix remodeling and tissue regeneration by promoting growth factor release, regulating blood and lymphatic flows, and reducing fat and fibrotic tissues. Focused shock wave therapy (F‐SWT), radial shock wave therapy (R‐SWT), and combined F‐SWT and R‐SWT have been used to deliver different patterns of shock energy depending on the characteristics of the target lesions.

Methods

We investigated the efficacy and safety of ESWT in patients with dermal and subdermal fibrosis. Fifty‐two patients treated with F‐SWT and/or R‐SWT for dermal and subdermal fibrosis caused due to various reasons were retrospectively analyzed by reviewing their medical records, clinical images, and ultrasound study images.

Results

The mean number of pulses administered for F‐SWT on the cheek, temple, and chin were 2600.0 ± 1040.8 shocks/session and for R‐SWT were 5080.0 ± 2234.6 pulses/session, and the number of treatment sessions were 8.0 ± 4.4. In patients who were treated with ESWT on the abdomen, the mean number of pulses for F‐SWT were 2600.0 ± 2408.3 shocks/session and for R‐SWT were 8400.0 ± 894.4 pulses/session, and the number of treatment sessions were 3.2 ± 1.6. Most patients were satisfied with the results. Pain during ESWT was well tolerated and post‐ESWT edema was more common in R‐SWT than in F‐SWT.

Conclusion

Our data demonstrated that ESWT effectively and safely improved the clinical appearance and functional movement of patients with dermal and subdermal fibrosis caused due to various reasons.
Comparison of the efficacy of a generic plerixafor versus Mozobil as adjunct peripheral blood stem cell mobilization agents in multiple myeloma patients
Authors: Yuan Shan , Chang Shelley , Kim Hoim , Wang Shirong
Published: October 2024

Background

Plerixafor is an adjunct peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) mobilization agent with well‐demonstrated safety and efficacy. The routine use of the originator brand drug (Mozobil) has been limited by cost. This retrospective study was conducted to compare the mobilization efficacy of a lower‐cost generic plerixafor and Mozobil in multiple myeloma (MM) patients.

Study Design and Methods

The study included two near‐concurrent cohorts of MM patients mobilized with brand (n = 64) or generic (n = 61) plerixafor in addition to filgrastim. Collection and early engraftment outcomes were compared.

Results

The two cohorts had comparable distributions of sex, age, and weight. Previous treatment histories and proportions of upfront versus just‐in‐time plerixafor use were similar. There was no significant difference in their median overall cumulative total yield (106 CD34+ cells/kg) (brand, 5.91; generic, 5.80; p = .51). However, the generic cohort had a significantly higher median yield after the first dose (4.79 vs. 3.78, p = .03), and consequently lower median numbers of plerixafor doses (p = .001) and collection days (p = .002). Only 31.1% of patients in the generic arm required more than one dose versus 59.4% of patients in the brand arm (p = .006).

All transplanted patients in the brand and generic arms (90.6% and 85.2% respectively, p = .42) achieved engraftment. There was no significant difference in their median times to platelet and neutrophil engraftment, nor their transfusion requirements during the first 30 days post‐transplant.

Conclusion

The generic plerixafor produced comparable cumulative collection yields and early engraftment outcomes as Mozobil, but fewer doses and collection days were needed to reach collection goal.
The pro‐competitive effects of indirect export exposures: Evidence from China
Authors: Li Jie , Lu Angdi
Published: October 2024

Using China's accession to WTO in 2001 as an episode for trade liberalisation, this paper empirically investigates whether export expansions affect firms' markup adjustments through local production networks. Following Helm (2020), we construct an indirect local export exposure measure to capture the degree to which firms in each prefecture‐industry cell are indirectly affected by export expansions of other local industries. To analyse the role played by local production networks, we further decompose indirect export shocks into upstream and downstream shocks. Combining this with markups estimated following De Loecker et al. (2016), our empirical results suggest that the average level of indirect export shocks would lead to a 0.363 decrease in markups. This magnitude accounts for 6.862% of overall markup changes during 2000–2007. In particular, the baseline results are driven by local indirect shocks from downstream industries. Further empirical analysis shows that reductions in firms' markups are induced by increased competition, which can be summarised as the “indirect pro‐competitive effects”. Further analysis at the prefecture‐industry level reveals that the impact mainly exists at the within‐firm margin, not at the between‐firm, or entry/exit margin.
Radiographic anatomy of the nasal conchal bullae and conchal sinuses in mature horses
Authors: Piñeros Diego Darley Velasquez , de Lima Aymara Eduarda , de Souza Anderson Fernando , Mendes Rubens Peres , Bittar Maurício José , de Freitas Silvio Henrique , Bernardino Thiago , Corrêa Rodrigo Romero
Published: October 2024

The dorsal and ventral nasal conchal bullae and conchal sinuses are part of the complex equine paranasal sinus system and are commonly affected by secondary sinusitis. However, the radiographic anatomy of the conchal sinuses is poorly reported in the literature. The present study aimed to describe the radiographic anatomical characteristics of the nasal conchal bullae and conchal sinuses in mature horses. Six equine cadaveric heads without sinus or dental disorders were studied. A maxillary sinusotomy was performed to identify the dorsal and ventral nasal conchal bullae and conchal sinuses, allowing the application of radiopaque contrast medium in these structures. Afterward, the same projections were repeated. Laterolateral views allowed an adequate visualization of nasal conchal bullae and conchal sinuses; however, they overlapped the same contralateral structure. In the latero30°dorsal–
lateroventral oblique view, the same structures were easily recognizable, but in an oblique view, the structures were projected dorsally in relation to the contralateral one. The dorsoventral view allowed partial visualization of the dorsal conchal bullae and dorsal sinuses, but it was not possible to identify the ventral conchal sinus and ventral conchal bullae. The offset dorsoventral view helped in the identification of the dorsal conchal bullae and dorsal conchal sinus, also achieving visualization of the medial region of the ventral conchal sinus and ventral conchal bullae. The use of contrast medium, added to the anatomical dissection, allowed a better radiographic identification of the sinuses and conchal bullae. The combination of different radiographic views is recommended for the evaluation of these structures.
Preliminary in vivo investigation of the mesenchymal stromal cell secretome as a novel treatment for methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus in equine skin wounds
Authors: Fahey Megan J. , Harman Rebecca M. , Thomas Matthew A. , Pugliese Brenna R. , Peters‐Kennedy Jeanine , Delco Michelle L. , Van de Walle Gerlinde R.
Published: October 2024

Objective

We aimed to study the antimicrobial and pro‐healing potential of equine mesenchymal stromal cell secreted products (i.e. secretome), collected as conditioned media (mesenchymal stromal cell‐conditioned media, MSC CM), in a novel in vivo model of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)‐inoculated equine thorax wounds.

Study design

Prospective in vivo study.

Animals

Two Thoroughbred geldings.

Methods

Six full‐thickness cutaneous wounds were created bilaterally on the dorsal thorax of two horses (n = 12 wounds/horse). Wounds on the left thoraces were inoculated with MRSA on day 0. All wounds were then treated with either mupirocin ointment, MSC CM, or vehicle control (n = 4 wounds per group) once daily for 3 days. Photographs were taken to quantify wound scores and sizes, as well as samples to determine bacterial colony forming units (CFUs), at days 0, 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28. The wound edge was biopsied on days 0, 7, and 28, and scored histologically.

Results

Inoculated wounds had more bacterial CFUs at day 1 (p < .0001) and were larger in size at day 28 (p = .0009) than noninoculated wounds. Mupirocin‐treated wounds were smaller than MSC CM and vehicle control‐treated wounds at day 28 (p = .003). Mesenchymal stromal cell‐conditioned media did not affect CFU numbers in inoculated and noninoculated wounds. Moreover, MSC CM did not affect the parameters of wound size or gross or microscopic wound scores over time.

Conclusion

Mesenchymal stromal cell‐conditioned media did not exhibit antimicrobial or pro‐healing properties in the current study; however, the in vivo model of inoculated equine thorax wounds requires further optimization.

Clinical significance

This pilot study contributes to a growing understanding of the equine MSC secretome as an antimicrobial and pro‐healing therapeutic for equine wounds.
Description of a cricotracheostomy technique for permanent tracheostomy in eight dogs
Authors: Pieczynski Jordan D. , Stanley Bryden J. , Ham Kathleen M.
Published: October 2024

Objective

To describe and report the outcome of a cricotracheostomy (CT) technique for the creation of a permanent upper airway ventral cervical stoma in dogs.

Study design

Short case series.

Animals

Eight client‐owned dogs.

Methods

Upper airway obstruction due to various disease processes was confirmed via upper airway examination and appropriate imaging. Medical records were reviewed to assess complications experienced during and following permanent CT. Owner questionnaires regarding quality of life (QoL) following permanent CT were performed.

Results

All dogs experienced a routine recovery. The CT provided a robust dorsolateral. wall to the stoma from the cricoid cartilage. The stomata did not show any evidence of dorsal wall collapse or stenosis. Four dogs required further skin fold resection. The high position of this stoma also appears to be appropriate functionally with bilateral cervical skin fold resections. The owner questionnaires reported high satisfaction in the postoperative QoL.

Conclusion

CT was feasible and led to a reliable outcome for surgical patients and improvement in QoL. Comparative clinical investigation of the CT technique with traditional permanent tracheostomy techniques is indicated to definitively prove the validity and any superiority of the CT technique.
The anisotropic Calderón problem at large fixed frequency on manifolds with invertible ray transform
Authors: Ma Shiqi , Sahoo Suman Kumar , Salo Mikko
Published: October 2024

We consider the inverse problem of recovering a potential from the Dirichlet to Neumann map at a large fixed frequency on certain Riemannian manifolds. We extend the earlier result of Uhlmann and Wang [arXiv:2104.03477] to the case of simple manifolds, and more generally to manifolds where the geodesic ray transform is stably invertible. The argument involves an invariantly formulated construction of Gaussian beam quasimodes with uniform bounds for the underlying constants.
On the homology of big mapping class groups
Authors: Palmer Martin , Wu Xiaolei
Published: October 2024

We prove that the mapping class group of the one‐holed Cantor tree surface is acyclic. This in turn determines the homology of the mapping class group of the once‐punctured Cantor tree surface (i.e. the plane minus a Cantor set), in particular answering a recent question of Calegari and Chen. We in fact prove these results for a general class of infinite‐type surfaces called binary tree surfaces. To prove our results we use two main ingredients: one is a modification of an argument of Mather related to the notion of dissipated groups; the other is a general homological stability result for mapping class groups of infinite‐type surfaces.
NLPLego: Assembling Test Generation for Natural Language Processing Applications
Authors: Ji Pin , Feng Yang , Zhang Ruohao , Xue Ruichen , Zhang Yichi , Huang Weitao , Liu Jia , Zhao Zhihong
Published: October 2024

With the development of Deep Learning, Natural Language Processing (NLP) applications have reached or even exceeded human-level capabilities in certain tasks. Although NLP applications have shown good performance, they can still have bugs like traditional software and even lead to serious consequences. Inspired by Lego blocks and syntax structure analysis, we propose an assembling test generation method for NLP applications or models and implement it in
NLPLego
. The key idea of
NLPLego
is to assemble the sentence skeleton and adjuncts in order by simulating the building of Lego blocks to generate multiple grammatically and semantically correct sentences based on one seed sentence. The sentences generated by
NLPLego
have derivation relations and different degrees of variation. These characteristics make it well-suited for integration with metamorphic testing theory, addressing the challenge of test oracle absence in NLP application testing. To validate
NLPLego
, we conduct experiments on three commonly used NLP tasks (i.e., machine reading comprehension, sentiment analysis, and semantic similarity measures), focusing on the efficiency of test generation and the quality and effectiveness of generated tests. We select five advanced NLP models and one popular industrial NLP software as the tested subjects. Given seed tests from SQuAD 2.0, SST, and QQP,
NLPLego
successfully detects 1,732, 3,140, and 261,879 incorrect behaviors with around 93.1% precision in three tasks, respectively. The experiment results show that
NLPLego
can efficiently generate high-quality tests for multiple NLP tasks to detect erroneous behaviors effectively. In the case study, we analyze the testing results provided by
NLPLego
to obtain intuitive representations of the different NLP capabilities of the tested subjects. The case study confirms that
NLPLego
can provide developers with clarity on the direction to improve NLP models or applications, laying the foundation for enhancing performance.
Building Instructions You Can Feel: Edge-Changing Haptic Devices for Digitally Guided Construction
Authors: Tashiro Naomi , Faulkner Robert , Melnyk Samantha , Rosales Rodriguez Tamara , Javot Bernard , Tahouni Yasaman , Cheng Tiffany , Wood Dylan , Menges Achim , Kuchenbecker Katherine J.
Published: October 2024

Recent efforts to connect builders to digital designs during construction have primarily focused on visual augmented reality, which requires accurate registration and specific lighting, and which could prevent a user from noticing safety hazards. Haptic interfaces, on the other hand, can convey physical design parameters through tangible local cues that don’t distract from the surroundings. We propose two edge-changing haptic devices that use small inertial measurement units (IMUs) and linear actuators to guide users to perform construction tasks in real time:
Drangle
gives feedback for angling a drill relative to gravity, and
Brangle
assists with orienting bricks in the plane. We conducted a study with 18 participants to evaluate user performance and gather qualitative feedback. All users understood the edge-changing cues from both devices with minimal training. Drilling holes with Drangle was somewhat less accurate but much faster and easier than with a mechanical guide; 89% of participants preferred Drangle over the mechanical guide. Users generally understood Brangle’s feedback but found its hand-size-specific grip, palmar contact, and attractive tactile cues less intuitive than Drangle’s generalized form factor, fingertip contact, and repulsive cues. After summarizing design considerations, we propose application scenarios and speculate how such devices could improve construction workflows.
Mutually-Guided Hierarchical Multi-Modal Feature Learning for Referring Image Segmentation
Authors: Li Jiachen , Xie Qing , Chang Xiaojun , Xu Jinyu , Liu Yongjian
Published: October 2024

Referring image segmentation aims to locate and segment the target region based on a given textual expression query. The primary challenge is to understand semantics from visual and textual modalities and achieve alignment and matching. Prior works have attempted to address this challenge by leveraging separately pretrained unimodal models to extract global visual and textual features and perform straightforward fusion to establish cross-modal semantic associations. However, these methods often concentrate solely on the global semantics, disregarding the hierarchical semantics of expression and image and struggling with complex and open real scenarios, thus failing to capture critical cross-modal information. To address these limitations, this article introduces an innovative mutually-guided hierarchical multi-modal feature learning scheme. By leveraging the guidance of global visual features, the model mines hierarchical text features from different stages of the text encoder. Simultaneously, the guidance of global textual features is leveraged to aggregate multi-scale visual features. This mutually guided hierarchical feature learning effectively addresses the semantically inaccurate cause by free-form text and naturally occurring scale variations. Furthermore, a Segment Detail Refinement (SDR) module is designed to enhance the model’s spatial detail awareness through attention mapping of low-level visual features and cross-modal features. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, extensive experiments are conducted on three widely used referring image object segmentation datasets. The results demonstrate the superiority of the presented method in accurately locating and segmenting objects in images.
Explaining Recommendation Fairness from a User/Item Perspective
Authors: Li Jie , Ren Yongli , Sanderson Mark , Deng Ke
Published: October 2024

Recommender systems play a crucial role in personalizing user experiences, yet ensuring fairness in their outcomes remains an elusive challenge. This work explores the impact of individual users or items on the fairness of recommender systems, thus addressing a significant knowledge gap in the field. We introduce an innovative approach called Adding-Based Counterfactual Fairness Reasoning (
ACFR
), designed to elucidate recommendation fairness from the unique perspectives of users and items. Conventional methodologies, like erasing-based counterfactual analysis, pose limitations, particularly in modern recommender systems dealing with a large number of users and items. These traditional methods, by excluding specific users or items, risk disrupting the crucial relational structure central to collaborative filtering recommendations. In contrast,
ACFR
employs an adding-based counterfactual analysis, a unique strategy allowing us to consider potential, yet-to-happen user-item interactions. This strategy preserves the core user-item relational structure, while predicting future behaviors of users or items. The commonly used feature-based counterfactual analysis, relying on gradient-based optimization to identify interference on each feature, is not directly applicable in our case. In the recommendation scenario we consider, only interactions between users and items are present during model training—no distinct features are involved. Consequently, the traditional mechanism proves impractical for identifying interference on these existing interactions. Our extensive experiments validate the superiority of
ACFR
over traditional baseline methods, demonstrating significant improvements in recommendation fairness on benchmark datasets. This work, therefore, provides a fresh perspective and a promising methodology for enhancing fairness in recommender systems.
Exploring the SoundVizVR Plugin in the Development of Sound-Accessible Virtual Reality Games: Insights from Game Developers and Players
Authors: Li Ziming , Peiris Roshan
Published: October 2024

Based on a virtual reality (VR) sound visualization indicator system named “SoundVizVR” proposed and evaluated in previous research, we developed a plugin for the Unity platform, enabling developers to adopt the SoundVizVR system in their VR applications and games. Next, we worked with two VR game developers to explore the usability of the plugin and how it impacted the view on accessibility from the game developers’ perspectives. The developers used the plugin for 1 week to integrate it into their current projects or design new games with the plugin. Then, we recruited 10 deaf or hard-of-hearing (DHH) participants and 5 hearing participants to play the 2 developed VR games to evaluate the user experience and effectiveness of the SoundVizVR system in advancing audio accessibility in VR games. According to the findings of the study process, we provide game design practices for making sounds in VR games accessible and suggestions on optimizing the developers’ and players’ experiences of a sound accessibility plugin for the Unity platform.
An Integrated Approach to an Emerging Problem: Implementing a Whole Year of Camera Trap Survey in Evaluating the Impact of Wildlife on Tick Abundance
Authors: Ferroglio Ezio , Vada Rachele , Occhibove Flavia , Fracchia Mattia , Cicco Federica De , Palencia Pablo , Varzandi Amir Reza , Zanet Stefania
Published: October 2024

Tick‐borne zoonoses are an emerging health issue. The expansion of ticks is mainly driven by climatic changes but also by new approaches to the management of the natural environment, increasing the abundance of vertebrate host species and thus the potential exposure to tick bites for both humans and companion animals. In this context, a holistic approach to studying ticks’ ecology is required. In the present work, we shed light on the link between environmental tick abundance (global and specific of Ixodes ricinus nymphs, as the highest zoonotic threat) and the temporal occupancy of wildlife host species retrieved from camera traps (namely, wild ruminants, mesocarnivores and wild boar). We modelled this relationship by integrating abiotic factors relevant to tick survival, such as the vegetation cover and saturation deficit, and estimated the accuracy of prediction. To collect these data, we deployed camera traps in a peri‐urban Natural Park in Northwest Italy to monitor wildlife for 1 whole year while collecting ticks in front of camera traps by dragging transects every 2 weeks. Overall, wildlife temporal occupancy showed an additive impact on tick abundance for species that are preferential hosts (deer and mesocarnivores) and a detractive impact for wild boar, which also presented a lower tick burden, particularly with regard to the tick species collected in the environment (mainly I. ricinus and Haemaphysalis punctata). Accuracy of prediction was higher for I. ricinus nymphs rather than the global model. Temporal fluctuations in the tick population were also highlighted. Wildlife temporal occupancy was not constant and varied between seasons according to feeding habits. In conclusion, we highlighted the utility of camera trap data to investigate tick ecology and acarological risk. This information is crucial in informing monitoring and prevention strategies to decrease the risk of tick bites in humans and thus zoonotic risk of tick‐borne diseases.
A Network and Pathway Analysis of Genes Associated With Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Zeng Mengying , Yang Xian , Chen Yunhao , Fan Jinqi , Cao Li , Wang Menghao , Xiao Peilin , Ling Zhiyu , Yin Yuehui , Chen Yunlin
Published: October 2024

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is affected by both environmental and genetic factors. Previous genetic association studies, especially genome‐wide association studies, revealed a large group of AF‐associated genes. However, little is known about the functions and interactions of these genes. Moreover, established genetic variants of AF contribute modestly to AF variance, implying that numerous additional AF‐associated genetic variations need to be identified. Hence, a systematic network and pathway analysis is needed.

Methods: We retrieved all AF‐associated genes from genetic association studies in various databases and performed integrative analyses including pathway enrichment analysis, pathway crosstalk analysis, network analysis, and microarray meta‐analysis.

Results: We collected 254 AF‐associated genes from genetic association studies in various databases. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed the top biological pathways that were enriched in the AF‐associated genes related to cardiac electromechanical activity. Pathway crosstalk analysis showed that numerous neuro‐endocrine‐immune pathways connected AF with various diseases including cancers, inflammatory diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, an AF‐specific subnetwork was constructed with the prize‐collecting Steiner forest algorithm based on the AF‐associated genes, and 24 novel genes that were potentially associated with AF were inferred by the subnetwork. In the microarray meta‐analysis, six of the 24 novel genes (APLP1, CREB1, CREBBP, PRMT1, IRAK1, and PLXND1) were expressed differentially in patients with AF and sinus rhythm.

Conclusions: AF is not only an isolated disease with abnormal electrophysiological activity but might also share a common genetic basis and biological process with tumors and inflammatory diseases as well as cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, the six novel genes inferred from network analysis might help detect the missing AF risk loci.
Dual Detection of Hepatitis B and C Viruses Using CRISPR‐Cas Systems and Lateral Flow Assay
Authors: Shahni Syeda Najidah , Albogami Sarah , Azmi Iqbal , Pattnaik Bijay , Chaudhuri Rituparna , Dev Kapil , Iqbal Jawed , Sharma Amit , Ahmad Tanveer
Published: October 2024

The development of sensitive and specific diagnostic tools for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) remains crucial for effective disease management and control. In this study, we utilized CRISPR‐Cas12 and CRISPR‐Cas13 systems for the detection of HBV (DNA virus) and HCV (RNA virus), respectively. We designed and tested multiple guide RNAs (gRNAs) targeting both viruses, confirming successful cleavage of target sequences through gel electrophoresis and a fluorescent reporter assay. Using optimized gRNAs, we developed a lateral flow assay (LFA) for sensitive detection of HBV and HCV, demonstrating a concentration‐dependent signal increase. Importantly, no cross‐reactivity was observed with other viral targets. To further enhance sensitivity, we employed a dual‐enzyme approach, combining Cas12 and Cas13 in a single reaction, which significantly improved detection limits for both viruses. Finally, we developed a dual antigen detection LFA strip capable of simultaneously detecting both HBV and HCV in a single sample. This approach holds promise for point‐of‐care (POC) diagnostics where the specific viral infection is unknown. This study addresses the current limitations in CRISPR‐Cas based diagnostics, namely, the need for ultrasensitive detection methods and the ability to detect multiple antigens using a single test strip. Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of using CRISPR‐Cas systems for highly sensitive and specific detection of HBV and HCV, paving the way for potential POC application.
Incorporating ALBI Grade with Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index Enhances Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk Stratification
Authors: Nam Heechul , Sung Pil Soo , Lee Sung Won , Song Do Seon , Kwon Jung Hyun , Jang Jeong Won , Kim Chang Wook , Bae Si Hyun
Published: October 2024

Introduction: Despite its prognostic impact, nutritional status has not yet been integrated into the assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study investigated the association between geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) and overall survival (OS) in patients with HCC using a nationwide registry. Methods: Data from the Korea Central Cancer Registry between 2008 and 2019 were analyzed. We explored the integration of the GNRI with the albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grade for prognostic stratification. Restricted cubic spline regression was used to assess the association between GNRI and survival, stratified by ALBI grade. Results: Among the 16,416 treatment-naïve HCC patients, the ALBI grades were distributed as follows: grade 1, 7,409; grade 2, 7,445; and grade 3, 1,562. Patients were categorized according to Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stages: 5,132 stage 0/A, 2,608 stage B, 5,289 stage C, and 968 stage D. The median OS for all patients was 3.1 years (95% CI: 3.0–3.2) and significantly differed with the inclusion of ALBI grade and GNRI (p < 0.001). The effect of combining ALBI grade and GNRI was further evaluated for each BCLC stage. This risk stratification showed a significant correlation with OS for each BCLC stage (all p < 0.001), except for stage D (p = 0.082). Multivariate analysis revealed that a combination of favorable ALBI grade and high GNRI score was independently associated with decreased mortality risk. Conclusion: The GNRI was significantly correlated with OS across ALBI grades and BCLC stages. Integrating the GNRI into the ALBI grade may enhance risk stratification for patients with HCC.
The Link between Metabolic Syndrome and the Brain
Authors: Zouridis Spyridon , Nasir Ahmad Basil , Aspichueta Patricia , Syn Wing-Kin
Published: October 2024

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of cardiometabolic conditions that has been linked to high risk for cardiovascular disease, liver complications, and several malignancies. More recently, MetS has been associated with cognitive dysfunction. Summary: Studies have shown an association with minimal cognitive impairment, progression to vascular dementia, and even Alzheimer’s disease. MetS components have been individually explored, and glucose intolerance has the strongest association with impairment in several cognitive domains. Several hypotheses have been proposed regarding the pathophysiology underlying the MetS-cognitive dysfunction association, and even though insulin resistance plays a major role, more studies are needed to elucidate this topic. Moreover, several other factors contributing to this association have been identified. Liver disease and more specifically metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease can on its own contribute to cognitive decline through systemic inflammation and higher ammonia levels. Gut dysbiosis that has also been identified in MetS can also lead to cognitive impairment through several mechanisms that result in neurotoxicity. Finally, there are several other factors that may modify the MetS-cognitive dysfunction relationship, such as lifestyle, diet, education status, and age. More recently, circadian syndrome was explored and was found to be even more strongly associated with cognitive impairment. Key Message: MetS is associated with cognitive decline. Certain cardiometabolic risk factors have a stronger association with cognitive impairment, and there are several factors that may modify this relationship. The aim of this review was to assess and summarize the existing body of evidence on the association between MetS and cognitive impairment and identify areas that necessitate further investigation.
Dental Caries among over 1.5 Million Records of Schoolchildren in Singapore, 2007–2019: Age-Period-Cohort Effect Analyses
Authors: Peres Karen Glazer , Li Huihua , Lim Wanyi , Wong Yim Heng , Lai Bien , Eu Oy Chu , Peres Marco Aurelio
Published: October 2024

Introduction: This study aimed to examine the effects of age, period (historical events), and cohort (generational impact) (APC) on caries prevalence and mean DMFT among Singapore schoolchildren from 2007 to 2019. Methods: Anonymised records of all 6-year-old primary 1 (P1), 11-year-old primary 6 (P6), and 14-year-old secondary 3 (S3) students before the start of each school year between 2007 and 2019 were extracted from the Integrated Dental Electronic Assessment System (IDEAS), categorised by school level, ethnicity, and sex. Poisson regression and partial least squares regressions were applied to estimate APC effects. Results: In total, 502,339 P1, 535,579 P6, and 496,725 S3 records were included from 2007 to 2019, with 1,058,589 (69.0%) Chinese, 187,948 (12.2%) Malay, and 152,618 (9.9%) Indian students; 245,447 (48.8%) P1, 259,389 (48.4%) P6, and 243,941 (49.1%) S3 students were girls. Overall, the APC effects on caries prevalence and mean DMFT showed a strong age effect, with the lowest prevalence in the youngest P1 group and the highest in the oldest S3 group. Period and cohort effects were identified, with the prevalence decreasing among those born after 1995 and the lowest prevalence rate in 2013. Similarly, period and cohort effects on mean DMFT were also detected, with decreased mean DMFT after period 2009 and the highest mean DMFT (0.72 in P6 and 1.13 in S3) in cohort 1995. Conclusion: Caries prevalence and DMFT increased with age. While both decreased in individuals born after 1995, mean DMFT began to rise again in those born after 2003.
Schopenhauer, Judicial Compassion, and the Case of Cecilia the Chimpanzee
Authors: Samamé Luciana
Published: October 2024

Over the last decades, a growing body of literature has focused on the role of compassion in legal decision making. To this respect, judicial compassion has been almost exclusively thematized in relation to human animals. In this paper, I claim that compassion shows itself especially relevant when judges should decide controversial cases involving animals. Drawing on Schopenhauer’s account of compassion, I contend that this emotion in particular can contribute to good decision making. To illustrate the argument, I analyze a renowned case from Argentinian jurisprudence: the case of Cecilia the chimpanzee.
Geographical distribution and molecular identification of cyst nematodes in Bajaur, Pakistan
Authors: Price James A. , Khanum Tabassum A. , Orr Jamie , Ullah Sami , Javed Salma
Published: October 2024

A survey conducted along the Panjkora river in Bajaur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan, identified seven isolates of nematode populations belonging to the Heteroderidae family among the 25 soil and root samples examined. Within these isolates, three were classified as Heterodera avenae, H. filipjevi and H. zeae, while the remaining four were identified as Globodera pallida. The identification of these cyst nematodes involved a combination of morphological and morphometric analyses, complemented by molecular techniques employing newly designed primers to amplify diagnostic regions from any cyst nematode. This study marks the first molecular characterisation of H. avenae, H. zeae and G. pallida in Pakistan and the initial report of H. filipjevi in the country. The mapping of crop-growing regions with sampling points highlights areas at high risk for further pathogen spread.
The Lexical and Syntactical Calque superaedificare in the Latin Tradition of the New Testament Epistles
Authors: Persig Anna
Published: October 2024

The prefixed verb superaedificare, which is a calque of ἐποικοδοµέω, governs prepositional phrases and plain cases in the Latin New Testament Epistles. The Vulgate and Old Latin manuscripts feature constructions of superaedificare in agreement with the Greek source text. However, alternative translations are attested when the biblical text is cited by early Christian writers. In citations where the biblical passage is included in the author’s text, aedificare is frequently used instead of superaedificare. By contrast, when the biblical text is quoted for the first time and its source is acknowledged, superaedificare is employed and its construction matches that of the Greek text. These citation habits show that the construction of superaedificare is a syntactical calque of the Greek source text, which is attested when the citations are marked as such but is not used when the biblical text is embedded in the patristic text.
Request for an Advisory Opinion Submitted by the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law, Case 31
Authors: Freestone David , Schofield Clive , Barnes Richard , Akhavan Payam
Published: October 2024

On 21 May 2024, the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) delivered a ground-breaking and authoritative advisory opinion on States’ obligations under Part XII of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOSC). After confirming its jurisdiction over the request, ITLOS ruled that greenhouse gas emissions cause ‘deleterious effects on the marine environment’ and therefore constitute pollution under the LOSC. ITLOS explained the relationship between obligations under the LOSC and climate law and clarified the due diligence nature of the LOSC obligations to prevent marine pollution and to protect the marine environment.
“If You make these People Literate, You are undressing Me!”
Authors: Shelley Baskouda S.K.
Published: October 2024

This article discusses Jean-Marc Ela’s contribution to Kirdi empowerment in Tokombéré, Northern Cameroon, during the period 1970 and 1984. Drawing on ethnographic data, in-depth interviews and historical biography approach, the article argues that through a mixed methodology of fun, education and critical discourse towards authorities, Ela worked towards the awaking of the subalterns’ consciousness in Tokombéré.
Towards the Development of a Strategic Framework for Entrepreneurial Universities: A Case of Botswana Public Universities
Authors: Letsebe Lametse Nono , Ebewo Patrick Ebong , Nesamvuni AE
Published: October 2024

This study investigated the relevance of a triple helix model in the transition of public universities in Botswana into entrepreneurial universities. A qualitative study with 30 participants from four (4) public universities was conducted using a semi-structured interview. The sample was drawn from top management in each university using purposive and snowballing non-probability sampling techniques. Data was transcribed, coded and grouped into themes using Atlas ti software version 22. The study results revealed that the triple helix model was a relevant and applicable model for public universities in Botswana to transform into entrepreneurial universities. The relationship between academics, industry and government was found critical for the success of an entrepreneurial university. Even though this was the case, a unique finding specific to the Botswana context was that the model lacked the involvement of another key player, which was identified as the community. Hence, the study recommended a quadruple helix model. The study was the first to examine the relevance of a triple helix model in transforming public universities into entrepreneurial universities in Botswana.
Suspension of Judgment as a Doxastic Default
Authors: Satta Mark
Published: October 2024

In Outlines of Skeptical-Dogmatism, Mark Walker argues for Skeptical-Dogmatism about philosophical views—i.e., he argues that we should disbelieve most philosophical views. Walker argues for Skeptical-Dogmatism over both Dogmatism and Skepticism. In response, I defend Skepticism—i.e., the view that we should neither believe nor disbelieve most philosophical views. I argue that Walker’s arguments overlook some of the most plausible forms of philosophical Skepticism where the Skeptic suspends judgment about most disputed philosophical views without assigning a credence of 0.5 to those views. In doing so, I argue that suspension of judgment is the default justified doxastic attitude—i.e., the doxastic attitude one is epistemically justified in adopting absent any reason to do otherwise. I also champion Skepticism by offering modified versions of some of Walker’s thought experiments, posing challenges for Skeptical-Dogmatism, and arguing that Skepticism and Skeptical-Dogmatism share some common benefits.
Legalizing Bequests to Heirs in Egypt as a Legislative Application of Talfīq: towards a Purposive Interpretation of Article 37 of Law No. 71/1946
Authors: Fouad Ahmed
Published: October 2024

This paper tackles one example of interaction between state laws and social norms. It investigates the rationale behind the unprecedented legalization of bequeathing to heirs in Egypt that happened by the virtue of article 37 of law no. 71/1946. This article represents a legal rule that renegotiates a well settled matter in the Sunni jurisprudence based on an undefined common need that was alleged in the explanatory memorandum of this law. The paper investigates that common need through an originalist approach into the mentioned article then validates the output of that investigation by a review of relevant judicial rulings. As part of this originalist approach, the paper engages with the available data pertaining to the drafting process of law no. 71/1946, the key members in the drafting committee, and the parliamentary discussion on article 37 of the law. It also attempts a contextual reading for article 37 to understand its legal rationale and propose criteria for judicial enforcement that would maintain this rationale.
Arbitrability and Mediability of Disputes: The Iranian Perspective
Authors: Ghaffari Sima , Kashkouli Rasoul
Published: October 2024

There has been a growing trend in the use of alternative dispute resolution methods (“ADR”), particularly arbitration, on a global scale and Iran is no exception to this trend. In simple terms, arbitrability means that certain disputes may not be submitted to arbitration. Mirroring this concept, mediability refers to the capability of disputes to be resolved through mediation. The definition of arbitrability and mediability are subject to significant ambiguity, as there is currently no universally recognized and uniform standard for these concepts. In fact, national laws determine the definitions and concepts of arbitrability and mediability.

In order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the extent to which disputes are capable to be resolved through arbitration and mediation, it is necessary to initially examine the current legislative framework. The present article attempts to examine the arbitrability and mediability of disputes within the Iranian legal framework. In doing so, after recalling the background of ADR system in Iran in the first section, the second section will discuss the arbitrability with regard to arbitration-related laws. The third section will successively explore the arbitrability in Iranian legal jurisprudence, clarifying that while some disputes are not inherently non-arbitrable, there are certain limitations on their referral to arbitration. The fourth section will delve into the concept of mediability in Iran. Lastly, the fifth section will conclude the article by positioning the approach of the Iranian legal system towards arbitrability and mediability.