bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Positive indiscernibles
Authors: Kamsma Mark
Published: May 2024

We generalise various theorems for finding indiscernible trees and arrays to positive logic: based on an existing modelling theorem for s-trees, we prove modelling theorems for str-trees, str$$_0$$

0

-trees (the reduct of str-trees that forgets the length comparison relation) and arrays. In doing so, we prove stronger versions for basing—rather than locally basing or EM-basing—str-trees on s-trees and str$$_0$$

0

-trees on str-trees. As an application we show that a thick positive theory has k-$$\mathsf {TP_2}$$

TP
2

iff it has 2-$$\mathsf {TP_2}$$

TP
2
A pilot study evaluating stress factors during and after the COVID-19 pandemic in Viennese families who have the suspicion of child maltreatment or abuse
Authors: Pantazidou Anastasia , Grylli Chryssa , Klomfar Sophie , Mora-Theuer Eva , Schöggl Johanna , Macura Sarah , Schaller Laura , Pokorny Iulia , Greber-Platzer Susanne
Published: May 2024

The global population was affected by the unprecedented coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of the pandemic on children who suffer child maltreatment has not been explored sufficiently. Child abuse is known to increase in stressful circumstances, and therefore potentially during this pandemic.

We aimed to identify and measure the impact of pandemic-related stress in families with a suspicion or confirmed child maltreatment. In addition, other parameters were determined, including resilience factors and family dynamics.

We conducted a pilot study at the Medical University of Vienna, Forensic Examination Centre for Children and Adolescents (FOKUS Safeguarding team). Parents, carers and legal guardians of children who were referred for potential child abuse (study group) participated by completing two questionnaires, one year apart, covering the following periods: pre-COVID, during-COVID and post-COVID. Simultaneously, a control group was devised with patients who presented to the Paediatric Emergency Department with unrelated conditions (other than child maltreatment concerns). The questionnaires addressed psychological stress factors and were completed face-to-face and/or via telephone. A total of 35 carers participated, with almost equal numbers in both intervention and control groups.

Results show that there was statistically significantly higher stress level perception before and during the pandemic period in the study group. Several families in this group commented on the positive effect of support received from health professionals, especially after the pandemic.
Performance evaluation of national and international kidney exchange programmes with the ENCKEP simulator
Authors: Druzsin Kristóf , Biró Péter , Klimentova Xenia , Fleiner Rita
Published: May 2024

In this paper we present simulations for international kidney exchange programmes (KEPs). KEPs are organised in more than ten countries in Europe to facilitate the exchanges of immunologically incompatible donors. The matching runs are typically conducted in every three months for finding optimal exchanges using hierarchical optimisation with integer programming techniques. In recent years several European countries started to organise international exchanges using different collaboration policies. In this paper we conduct simulations for estimating the benefits of such collaborations with a simulator developed by the team of the ENCKEP COST Action. We conduct our simulations on generated datasets mimicking the practice of the three largest KEPs in Europe, the UK, Spanish and the Dutch programmes. Our main performance measure is the number of transplants compared to the number of registrations to the KEP pools over a 5-year period, however, as a novelty we also analyse how the optimisation criteria play a role in the lexicographic and weighted optimisation policies for these countries. Besides analysing the performances on a single instance, we also conduct large number of simulations to obtain robust findings on the performance of specific national programmes and on the possible benefits of international collaborations.
Understanding Fire and Rescue Service Practices Through Problems and Problem-Solving Networks: An Analysis of a Critical Incident
Authors: Vylund Lotta , Frykmer Tove , McNamee Margaret , Eriksson Kerstin
Published: May 2024

This study explores how the Fire and Rescue Service can better prepare for solving complex problems in emergencies by using the concept of problems and problem-solving networks. Primary and secondary data from an extensive fire incident were analysed, including semi-structured interviews and incident assessment reports. Complex problems that arise during emergencies can be challenging to define, and solutions can be difficult to identify. However, this study demonstrates that breaking down complex problems into sub-problems can facilitate the identification of what kind of problem-solving network is needed to be able to solve problems in emergencies. Overall, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the rationale behind problem-solving network in emergency situations and highlights the importance of relationships in problem-solving network to address complex problems during emergencies.
A Soft Supernumerary Robotic Limb with Fiber-Reinforced Actuators
Authors: Xu Jiajun , Zhang Tianyi , Huang Kaizhen , Zhao Mengcheng , Hou Xuyan , Li Youfu
Published: May 2024

Supernumerary robotic limbs (SRLs) have great potentials to assist human in daily activities and industrial manufacturing by providing extra limbs. However, current SRLs have heavy and rigid structures that may threaten the operator safety; moreover, their limited degrees of freedom and movement modes are not suitable for complicated tasks. Although soft SRLs have exhibited advantages in structure compliance and flexible manipulation to address these problems, it remains challenging to accurately design the geometrical parameters to adapt to specific tasks, and accurate control is also required to realize the expected movement. Inspired by the biological characteristics of the octopus arm muscle fibers, fiber-reinforced actuators (FRAs) are employed to realize various motions, including extension, expansion, bending, and twisting; multiple FRAs are assembled to implement the SRL to achieve complex movement trajectories. The analytic model of the FRA is established to reveal the relationship between its deformation and geometrical parameters as well as input air pressures, which is validated with finite element simulation. Trajectory and payload optimization algorithms are proposed to optimally design the SRL and its control strategy with meeting the prescribed requirement of movement trajectory and payload capacity. Finally, experiments are conducted to validate the proposed robotic system.
Touched by beauty: a qualitative inquiry into phenomenology of beauty
Authors: Kudahl Benedikte , Roald Tone
Published: May 2024

Philosophy of aesthetics and beauty has traditionally prioritized the sense of vision while deprioritizing the more basic-bodily and thus less “noble” sense of touch. This paper examines bodily aspects of how beauty appears in the experience of visual art and motivates the view that touch is fundamental to such experiences. We appeal to Merleau-Ponty to show the relevance given to touch in his phenomenology of aesthetics, to unfold the meaning of touch as “reversible,” and to understand how vision can be conceptualized as a form of touch. Further, we present four cases of feeling touched by beauty in experiences of visual art collected through interviews with art museum visitors. The descriptions of these experiences show that when people open themselves to an artwork they also open themselves to themselves. Based on the qualitative descriptions, we discuss how Merleau-Ponty’s phenomenology of touch is revelatory of the meaning of feeling “touched” in experiences of beauty.
Stability analysis of interval type-2 sampled-data polynomial fuzzy-model-based control system with a switching control scheme
Authors: Chen Ming , Lam Hak-Keung , Xiao Bo , Zhou Hongying , Xuan Chengbin
Published: May 2024

The stability of an interval type-2 (IT2) sampled-data (SD) polynomial fuzzy-model-based control system with a switching control scheme is studied in this paper. The uncertain nonlinear plant is depicted via an IT2 polynomial fuzzy model. To realize control, a switching IT2SD polynomial fuzzy controller is generated. This paper adopts a switching control scheme with a variable sampling period. The modeling domain consists of several sub-domains, and each sub-domain corresponds to a local IT2SD polynomial fuzzy controller. These local IT2SD polynomial fuzzy controllers form the switching IT2SD polynomial fuzzy controller. To aid in the stability analysis, this paper adopts a looped-functional-based technique. The imperfect premise matching concept is brought in to solve the mismatch dilemma caused by the SD control strategy and uncertainties. For decreasing the conservativeness, this paper takes into account the state information as well as the information of IT2 membership functions. The stability analysis is performed for each sub-domain, providing the potential for further relaxation. As polynomials exist in the stability conditions, this paper employs the sum-of-squares method for the stability investigation. The simulation outcomes confirm the efficacy of the proposed method.
Harnessing the power of ML for robust SISO and MIMO FSO communication systems in fog weather
Authors: El-Mottaleb Somia A. Abd , Elhefny Alia , Métwalli Ahmed , Fayed Heba A. , Aly Moustafa H.
Published: May 2024

This study examines Free Space Optical (FSO) communication’s performance in different fog conditions, focusing on Single-Input Single-Output (SISO) and Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) setups. In low fog, SISO handles signal degradation well. MIMO improves link robustness in moderate fog. High fog challenges traditional FSO, leading to ML integration to optimize communication parameters. For weather channel classification, a preprocessing scheme reduces features from 12 to 2 given that the 12 features are Bit Error Rate (BER), Quality Factor (Q-factor) and Received Optical Power (ROP) for different 4 users. A Gaussian Process Classifier (GPC) achieves an accuracy greater than 99%, surpassing SVM, Decision Tree, and Random Forest. GPC’s fit and predict functions execute in 0.15 s, outperforming NuSVM (0.2 s). This study highlights FSO, SISO, MIMO, and Machine Learning (ML) practicality in enhancing communication resilience in adverse weather, especially in fog-prone areas.
Competitiveness and tourism GDP in Magic Towns: an analysis based on the theory of forgotten effects
Authors: Pérez-Romero Miriam Edith , Flores-Romero Martha Beatriz , Álvarez-García José , Alfaro-García Víctor G.
Published: May 2024

The magic towns of Mexico require strategies that help them to face competition and influence the economic development of the country and the tourism sector itself. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to evaluate the relationship between tourism competitiveness and tourism GDP in the magic towns, in order to identify direct and indirect effects of the phenomenon from the perspective of experts. To respond to this approach made, the theory of forgotten effects proposed by Kaufmann & Aluja in 1988 was used. In order to apply the forgotten effects, 25 experts from different countries and knowledgeable about the “Pueblos Mágicos” programme evaluated the cause-effect relationships. A close relationship was observed between natural and cultural resources and stock market, exchange and investment activities. A strong relationship was also found between accessibility to the destination, tourism infrastructure and complementary tourism services with photography and videography services. Finally, a relationship was found between natural resources and retail trade. These relationships suggest that investment in natural and cultural resources, improved accessibility, tourism infrastructure and the promotion of complementary tourism services can have a positive impact on the local economy. Prior to the present work, an evaluation between the two aforementioned variables (tourism competitiveness and tourism GDP) in Magic Towns had not been performed. With the results obtained, the cause-effect relationships of the phenomenon under study were made visible, both direct and indirect relationships, thus being able to obtain a complete picture and in fact, facilitate both decision-making and the generation of strategies that seek to improve these tourist destinations.
A Composite Indicator of Polyvictimisation Through the Lens of the Ecological Model in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Arcaio Micaela , Parroco Anna Maria
Published: May 2024

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a worldwide issue. One of the latest developments in its theoretical framework deals with the concept of polyvictimisation – the simultaneous occurrence of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. However, the literature lacks an overall measure of violence for surveys. The aim of this research is to study IPV within the framework of the ecological model. A model-based composite indicator that takes into account the relationship between domestic abuse and individual characteristics of respondents, family dynamics, and community and societal traits is built using survey data. The data are from the Demographic and Health Survey collected in eleven African countries on women aged 15–49. The employed structural equation model shows the importance of individual characteristics while community and societal factors are less relevant. The composite indicator is also used for classification and ranking purposes, allowing areas where socio-educational interventions are more urgent to be identified.
Ant Mill: an adversarial traffic pattern for low-diameter direct networks
Authors: Camarero Cristóbal , Martínez Carmen , Beivide Ramón
Published: May 2024

Since today’s HPC and data center systems can comprise hundreds of thousands of servers and beyond, it is crucial to equip them with a network that provides high performance. New topologies proposed to achieve such performance need to be evaluated under different traffic conditions, aiming to closely replicate real-world scenarios. While most optimizations should be guided by common traffic patterns, it is essential to ensure that no pathological traffic pattern can compromise the entire system. Determining synthetic adversarial traffic patterns for a network typically relies on a thorough understanding of its topology and routing. In this paper, we address the problem of identifying a generic adversarial traffic pattern for low-diameter direct interconnection networks. We first focus on Random Regular Graphs (RRGs), which represent a typical case for these networks. Moreover, RRGs have been proposed as topologies for interconnection networks due to their superior scalability and expandability, among other advantages. We introduce Ant Mill, an adversarial traffic pattern for RRGs when using routes of minimal length. Secondly, we demonstrate that the Ant Mill traffic pattern is also adversarial in other low-diameter direct interconnection networks such as Slimfly, Dragonfly, and Projective networks. Ant Mill is thoroughly motivated and evaluated, enabling future studies of low-diameter direct interconnection networks to leverage its findings.
Values, bias and replicability
Authors: Sikorski Michał
Published: May 2024

The Value-free ideal of science (VFI) is a view that claims that scientists should not use non-epistemic values when they are justifying their hypotheses, and is widely considered to be obsolete in the philosophy of science. I will defend the ideal by demonstrating that acceptance of non-epistemic values, prohibited by VFI, necessitates legitimizing certain problematic scientific practices. Such practices, including biased methodological decisions or Questionable Research Practices (QRP), significantly contribute to the Replication Crisis. I will argue that the realizability of VFI is not a necessary condition for its validity. Then, I will show how some of the prominent proposals of value-laden science legitimize problematic scientific practices, provide real-world examples, and generalize the argument. Finally, I will show how value-laden methodological decisions contribute to the Replicability Crisis and discuss two strategies for realizing VFI.
Factivity, hallucination, and justification
Authors: Lyons Jack C.
Published: May 2024

Veridically perceiving puts us in a better epistemic position than, say, hallucinating does, at least in that veridical perception affords knowledge of our environment in a way that hallucination does not. But is there any further epistemic advantage? Some authors have recently argued that veridical perception provides a superior epistemic benefit over hallucination not just concerning knowledge, but concerning justification as well. This contrasts with a traditional view according to which experience provides justification irrespective of whether it’s veridical or hallucinatory. I think both views are mistaken. Although this traditional view should be rejected in favor of one on which some hallucinations are epistemically worse than veridical perceptions (and some are not), I don’t believe there is good reason to think that the mere fact of hallucination—or factivity more generally—has any consequences for justification. Susanna Schellenberg has endorsed both the traditional and the factive views (for different elements or kinds of perceptual justification), and I critique her views in detail, though I also draw out more general epistemological lessons about factivity and evidence.
Nutrient utilization, growth performance, and antioxidative status of Barki lambs fed diets supplemented with black (Nigella sativa) and rocket (Eruca sativa) seeds
Authors: Rahmy Hassan Awny Fouad , El-Tanany Reham Roshdi Ali , Ghoneem Wafaa Mostafa Ali
Published: May 2024

The current study aimed to determine the polyphenol compounds in Nigella sativa (NS) and Eruca sativa (ES) seeds, and evaluate the impact of their addition either as a sole additive or in combination on the growth performance, digestibility, some rumen and blood parameters and antioxidative status of Barki lambs. Forty-eight male lambs (27.18 ± 0.22 kg, 5–6 months), were divided into 4 balanced groups. The experimental diets were randomly distributed to the control group (CON); fed alfalfa hay plus concentrate feed mixture at a ratio of 30:70% without additives, while, NSD, ESD, and NESD groups: fed CON diet plus 2% NS, 2% ES or 1% NS + 1% ES, respectively as a ratio from total mixed ration (TMR). Results indicated that rutin and catechin were the most phenolic compounds observed either in NS or ES seeds. The NS and ES-supplemented groups recorded the highest (P < 0.05) values for dry matter digestibility, nutritive values, average daily gain, and the best feed conversion ratio. However, growth performance, nutritive value, and all nutrient digestibility except for dry matter were not significantly altered with the NESD group. Concentrations of ruminal NH3-N and TVFA were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced with the NESD group, with no significant differences in pH values among different groups. Values of blood parameters showed significant increases in WBCs, PCV, and T-AOC, and decreases in cholesterol, triglycerides, and MDA with the addition of NS and ES seeds or both. Therefore, the addition of NS and ES seeds is recommended to improve lambs’ health and antioxidant status.
Cement production and CO2 emission cycles in the USA: evidence from MS-ARDL and MS-VARDL causality methods with century-long data
Authors: Bildirici Melike E. , Ersin Özgür Ömer
Published: May 2024

The cement industry is among the top three polluters among all industries and the examination of the nonlinear and cointegration dynamics between cement production and CO2 emissions has not been explored. Focusing on this research gap, the study employs a novel Markov-switching autoregressive distributed lag (MS-ARDL) model and its generalization to vector error correction, the MS-VARDL model, for regime-dependent causality testing. The new method allows the determination of nonlinear long-run and short-run relations, regime duration, and cement-induced-CO2 emission cycles in the USA for a historically long dataset covering 1900–2021. Empirical findings point to nonlinearity in all series and nonlinear cointegration between cement production and cement-induced CO2 emissions. The phases of regimes coincide closely with NBER’s official economic cycles for the USA. The second regime, characterized by expansions, lasts twice as long relative to the first, the contractionary regime, which contains severe economic recessions, as well as economic crises, the 1929 Great Depression, the 1973 Oil Crisis, the 2009 Great Recession, and the COVID-19 Shutdown and Wars, including WWI and II. In both regimes, the adverse effects of cement production on CO2 emissions cannot be rejected with varying degrees both in the long and the short run. Markov regime-switching vector autoregressive distributed lag (MS-VARDL) causality tests confirm unidirectional causality from cement production to CO2 emissions in both regimes. The traditional Granger causality test produces an over-acceptance of causality in a discussed set of cases. Industry-level policy recommendations include investments to help with the shift to green kiln technologies and energy efficiency. National-level policies on renewable energy and carbon capture are also vital considering the energy consumption of cement production.

Graphical Abstract
A Network Analysis of the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale–Short-Form (IGDS9-SF): An Intercontinental Large-Scale Study
Authors: Lecuona Oscar , Lin Chung-Ying , Montag Christian , Pontes Halley M. , Pakpour Amir H.
Published: May 2024

The present study aimed to use a novel method (i.e., network analysis) to examine if the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale–Short-Form (IGDS9-SF) has its unidimensional structure supported across different subgroups, including gender groups, continent groups, and age groups. Participants from five continents (n = 545 in Africa; n = 27,910 in Americas; n = 4640 in Asia; n = 88,835 in Europe; and n = 1633 in Oceania) completed the IGDS9-SF. The IGDS9-SF items showed a positively correlated network with moderate-to-high predictability (mean of R2 = 0.338, SD = 0.068). Moreover, the network analysis results suggested that the IGDS9-SF is very likely to have a one-factor model. This one-factor model was further found to be invariant across gender groups (men vs. women), continent groups (Africa, Americas, Asian, Europe, and Oceania), and age groups (minor aged under 18 years, young adults aged between 18 and 30 years, and adults aged 30 years or above).
Trends in Suicidality and Bullying among New York City Adolescents across Race and Sexual Identity: 2009–2019
Authors: English Devin , Kelman Elizabeth , Lundy De La Cruz Nneka , Thompson Azure B. , Le Karolyn , Garretson Marné , Viswanath Aishwarya L. , Brahmbhatt Diksha , Lockwood Cynthia , Busby Danielle R. , Davila Marivel
Published: May 2024

Despite evidence showing rising suicidality among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) and Black adolescents, separately, there is scant research on suicide risk trajectories among youth groups across both racial and sexual identities. Thus, we examined trajectories of self-reported suicidal ideation and attempt and their associations with bullying among New York City-based adolescents. We analyzed 2009–2019 NYC Youth Risk Behavior Survey data. We ran weighted descriptive and logistic regression analyses to test for trends in dichotomous suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, bullying at school, and e-bullying variables among students across both race/ethnicity and sexual identity. We assessed associations between suicidality trends and bullying with logistic regressions. Models controlled for age and sex. Suicidal ideation and attempt were 2 and 5 times more likely among LGB than heterosexual participants, respectively. Bullying at school and e-bullying were 2 times more likely among LGB than heterosexual participants. Black LGB participants were the only LGB group for which both suicidal ideation (AOR = 1.04, SE = .003, p < .001) and attempt (AOR = 1.04, SE = .004, p < .001) increased over time. Both increased at accelerating rates. Conversely, White LGB participants were the only LGB group for which both suicidal ideation (AOR = 0.98, SE = .006, p < .001) and attempt (AOR = 0.92, SE = .008, p < .001) decreased over time. These changes occurred in parallel with significant bullying increases for Black and Latina/o/x LGB adolescents and significant bullying decreases for White LGB adolescents. Bullying was positively associated with suicidal ideation and attempt for all adolescents. Findings suggest resources aimed at curbing rising adolescent suicide should be focused on Black LGB youth.
Advances in CALPHAD Methodology for Modeling Hydrides: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Palumbo M. , Dematteis E. M. , Fenocchio L. , Cacciamani G. , Baricco M.
Published: May 2024

Hydrides enable handling hydrogen at low pressure and near room temperature, offering higher volumetric densities than compressed or liquid hydrogen and enhancing safety. The CALPHAD method, rooted in the principles of thermodynamics, offers a systematic approach for predicting phase equilibria and thermodynamic properties in multicomponent materials. This comprehensive review paper aims to provide a detailed overview of the application of the CALPHAD method in the realm of metallic and complex hydrides. After an introduction to the fundamental thermodynamic aspects of hydrides, key elements of applying the CALPHAD method to model metal-hydrogen systems and complex hydrides are discussed. Subsequently, recent publications are reviewed, highlighting key findings and recent progresses in the field. Finally, the challenges that must be overcome to achieve further progress in this area are explored.
Residents underestimate their robotic performance: evaluating resident robotic console participation time
Authors: Yoder Lauren , Elson Nora , Fellner Angela N , Meister Katherine , Guend Hamza
Published: May 2024

Lack of formal national robotic curriculum results in a void of knowledge regarding appropriate progression of autonomy in robotic general surgery training. One midwestern academic surgical training program has demonstrated that residents expect to independently operate more on the robotic console than they perceive themselves to do. As such, our study sought to evaluate expectations of residents and faculty regarding resident participation versus actual console participation time (CPT) at a community general surgery training program. We surveyed residents and faculty in two phases. Initially, participants were asked to reflect on their perceptions and expectations from the previous six months. The second phase included surveys (collected over six months) after individual cases with subjective estimation of participation versus CPT calculated by the Intuitive Surgical, Inc. MyIntuitive application. Using Mann–Whitney U-Test, we compared resident perceptions of CPT to actual CPT by case complexity and post-graduate year (PGY). Faculty (n = 7) estimated they allowed residents to complete a median of 26–50% of simple and 0–25% of complex cases in the six months prior to the study. They expected senior residents (PGY-4 and PGY-5) to complete more: 51–75% of simple and 26–50% of complex cases. Residents (n = 13), PGY-2–PGY-5, estimated they completed less than faculty perceived (0–25% of simple and 0–25% of complex cases). Sixty-six post-case (after partial colectomy, abdominoperoneal resection, low anterior resection, cholecystectomy, inguinal/ventral hernia repair, and others) surveys were completed. Residents estimated after any case that they had completed 26–50% of the case. However, once examining their MyIntuitive report, they actually completed 51–75% of the case (median). Residents, especially PGY-4 and 5, completed a higher percentage than estimated of robotic cases. Our study confirms that residents can and should complete more of (and increasingly complex) robotic cases throughout training, like the transition of autonomy in open and laparoscopic surgery.
Indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence technology in pediatric robotic surgery
Authors: Esposito Ciro , Masieri Lorenzo , Cerulo Mariapina , Castagnetti Marco , Del Conte Fulvia , Di Mento Claudia , Esposito Giorgia , Tedesco Francesco , Carulli Roberto , Continisio Leonardo , Chiodi Annalisa , Escolino Maria
Published: May 2024

This study aimed to report our experience in indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) in pediatric robotics. The data of 55 patients (35 boys and 20 girls), who underwent robotic surgery using ICG fluorescence in three institutions over the last 7 years, were retrospectively reviewed. The following robotic procedures were included: pyeloplasty (n = 21), complex Lich–Gregoir ureteral reimplantation (n = 8), varicocelectomy (n = 7), adnexal pathology resection (n = 8), partial nephrectomy (n = 4), nephrectomy (n = 4), renal cyst removal (n = 2), and excision of prostatic utricle (n = 1). The ICG was injected intravenously in all indications except for varicocele where intratesticular injection was done, and prostatic utricle or paraureteral diverticulum where trans-catheter injection was done. The ICG dosage was 0.2–0.3 mg/mL/kg. All the procedures were performed using da Vinci Xi platform. Firefly® allowed to switch form bright light to ICG-NIRF view and vice versa. All the procedures were accomplished in robotics without conversions to laparoscopy or open surgery. No episodes of allergy or anaphylaxis to ICG were recorded. An excellent ICG-NIRF view of target organs was obtained in all procedures. Based on our experience, we believe that application of ICG FGS in pediatric robotics enhances the identification of critical anatomical elements and pathological structures, thereby positively impacting both oncological and functional outcomes. This technique is safe, feasible, and versatile. We advocate the consideration of ICG as the standard of care in certain procedures such as partial nephrectomy, varicocele repair, tumor resection, and ovarian torsion. Nonetheless, further investigations are warranted to explore its potential broader applications in pediatric urology.
Integer syndrome decoding in the presence of noise
Authors: Drăgoi Vlad-Florin , Colombier Brice , Cayrel Pierre-Louis , Grosso Vincent
Published: May 2024

Code-based cryptography received attention after the NIST started the post-quantum cryptography standardization process in 2016. A central NP-hard problem is the binary syndrome decoding problem, on which the security of many code-based cryptosystems lies. The best known methods to solve this problem all stem from the information-set decoding strategy, first introduced by Prange in 1962. A recent line of work considers augmented versions of this strategy, with hints typically provided by side-channel information. In this work, we consider the integer syndrome decoding problem, where the integer syndrome is available but might be noisy. We study how the performance of the decoder is affected by the noise. First we identify the noise model as being close to a centered in zero binomial distribution. Second we model the probability of success of the ISD-score decoder in presence of a binomial noise. Third, we demonstrate that with high probability our algorithm finds the solution as long as the noise parameterdis linear int(the Hamming weight of the solution) andtis sub-linear in the code-length. We provide experimental results on cryptographic parameters for the BIKE andClassic McEliececryptosystems, which are both candidates for the fourth round of the NIST standardization process.
New proboscidean specimens from the Late Miocene of Romania: the huge-sized deinothere Deinotherium proavum, the rare “Mammut” cf. obliquelophus and the first description of the shovel-tusker Konobelodon from the country
Authors: Konidaris George E. , Rățoi Bogdan G. , Badea Daniel D. , Ursachi Laurențiu
Published: May 2024

In this article, we describe so far unpublished proboscidean specimens from several Late Miocene localities of Romania. A partial mandible and the complete upper/lower cheek tooth rows of a deinothere individual from the site of Gherghești 1 belong to Deinotherium proavum and comprise one of the few examples of entire cheek tooth rows of the same individual of this species. Gherghești 1 is geographically close to Mânzaţi from where the celebrated skeleton of “Deinotherium gigantissimum” was discovered at the end of the nineteenth century, and thus further highlights the importance of Romania in the study of this emblematic deinothere. Deinotherium proavum represents the last deinothere species in Europe and corresponds to the terminal stage of the size increase characterizing the evolution of European deinotheres. Two zygodont molars are attributed to the rare “Mammut” cf. obliquelophus and add to the scarce record of “Mammut” in the Miocene of Eurasia. They document the secure presence of “Mammut” in the Miocene of Romania. The small size of the studied molars compared to known specimens of the Pliocene “Mammut” borsoni and the weak development of the distal cingulum in the lower third molars may have taxonomic and biostratigraphic importance. Furthermore, the presence of an amebelodontid is documented by a large-sized and dorsoventrally flattened lower tusk fragment that shows tubular dentine in its inner part and is attributed to the tetralophodont shovel-tusker Konobelodon. This specimen marks the first record of the genus in Romania. Finally, the biostratigraphic distribution of the taxa is discussed.
Exploration of the influence of GOLGA8B on prostate cancer progression and the resistance of castration-resistant prostate cancer to cabazitaxel
Authors: Li Haopeng , Wang Xin’an , Zhai Menghe , Xu Chengdang , Chen Xi
Published: May 2024

Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) represents the final stage of prostate cancer (PCa). Cabazitaxel, a taxane chemotherapy drug, is used in treating CRPC. However, patients with CRPC eventually develop resistance to cabazitaxel, and the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we aimed to investigate potential genetic alterations that may play a role in CRPC resistance to cabazitaxel. Using microarray data from the GSE158494 dataset, we identified ten critical genes (CXCL8, ITGB8, CLIP4, MAP1B, WIPI1, MMP13, CXCL1, C1S, GOLGA8B, and CXCL6) associated with CRPC cell resistance to cabazitaxel. The potential function of these key genes in PCa progression was analyzed using different databases, including Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and Chinese Prostate Cancer Genome and Epigenome Atlas (CPGEA). Our findings revealed altered expression of these genes in the development of PCa. Furthermore, CXCL1 and GOLGA8B were found to influence the disease-free survival (DFS) status of patients with PCa, with GOLGA8B affecting the overall prognosis in patients with PCa. Additionally, GOLGA8B expression was associated with the infiltration of various immune cells in PCa, and it was upregulated in clinical PCa and CRPC samples. Through CCK-8 assays, we established that GOLGA8B could influence the sensitivity of CRPC cells to cabazitaxel and docetaxel. In conclusion, we identified GOLGA8B as a crucial gene that influences PCa progression and contributes to CRPC resistance to cabazitaxel.
Elucidating the impact of parthanatos-related microRNAs on the tumoral immune microenvironment and clinical outcome in low-grade gliomas
Authors: Zhu Penglei , Wu Hao , Zheng Buyi , Wang Hua , Zou Yi
Published: May 2024

Parthanatos, a cell death mechanism triggered by PARP-1 activation, is implicated in oncogenic processes, yet their role in low-grade gliomas (LGG) remains poorly understood. This research investigates Parthanatos-related miRNAs' prognostic and immunomodulatory potential, alongside their influence on therapeutic outcomes in LGGs. Comprehensive miRNA and mRNA profiles of LGG patients were extracted from TCGA and CGGA databases, integrating clinical parameters to identify Parthanatos-associated miRNAs. IHC data validated the expression levels of Parthanatos-related genes in glioma versus normal brain tissues. Protein–protein interaction networks and Spearman correlation analysis facilitated the identification of key miRNAs. Parthanatos-related miRNA indices (PMI) were screened using Lasso and assessed for their accuracy in predicting prognosis, comparing their associated potential molecular functions and heterogeneity of the immune microenvironment. Drug sensitivity was assessed between different groups and optimal therapeutic agents were predicted. Validate the expression levels of key miRNAs by qPCR. Ninety-one miRNAs significantly associated with Parthanatos were screened, through which a PMI prognosis model of nine miRNAs was constructed. The PMI score was able to independently predict the prognosis of patients with LGG, and the nomogram constructed based on the PMI provided a practical tool for clinical prediction of patient prognosis. The proportion of immune response was lower in patients in the high-risk group, and there were significant differences in drug sensitivity between different risk classes, while drugs such as Fasudil were identified as the most promising therapeutic agents for patients in the high-risk group. Our findings highlight the critical role of Parthanatos-associated miRNAs in the progression and treatment of LGG, offering novel insights into their prognostic value and therapeutic potential.
Acceptability and Feasibility of Survivorship Group Medical Visits for Breast Cancer Survivors in a Safety Net Hospital
Authors: Trejo Evelin , Velazquez Ana I. , Castillo Elizabeth , Couey Paul , Cicerelli Barbara , McBride Robin , Burke Nancy J. , Dixit Niharika
Published: May 2024

Providing cost-effective, comprehensive survivorship care remains a significant challenge. Breast cancer survivors (BCS) who have limited income and are from marginalized racial and ethnic groups experience a worse quality of life and report higher distress. Thus, innovative care models are required to address the needs of BCS in low resource settings. Group medical visits (GMV), utilized in chronic disease management, are an excellent model for education and building skills. This single-arm intervention study was conducted at a public hospital in California. GMVs consisted of five 2-h weekly sessions focused on survivorship care planning, side effects of treatment and prevention, emotional health, sexual health, physical activity, and diet. The patient navigators recruited three consecutive GMV groups of six English-speaking BCS (N = 17). A multidisciplinary team delivered GMVs, and a patient navigator facilitated all the sessions. We used attendance rates, pre- and post-surveys, and debriefing interviews to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. We enrolled 18 BCS. One participant dropped out before the intervention started, 17 BCS consistently attended and actively participated in the GMV, and 76% (13) attended all planned sessions. Participants rated GMVs in the post-survey and shared their support for GMVs in debriefing interviews. The BCS who completed the post-survey reported that GMVs increased their awareness, confidence, and knowledge of survivorship care. GMVs were explicitly designed to address unmet needs for services necessary for survivorship care but not readily available in safety net settings. Our pilot data suggest that patient-navigator-facilitated GMVs are a feasible and acceptable model for integrating survivorship care in public hospitals.
Eliciting risk preferences in an artefactual field experiment via replication and an alternative approach
Authors: Jozwik Jan
Published: May 2024

This paper investigates risk preferences using an artefactual field experiment conducted with a non-standard subject pool of farmers in Ghana. I introduce an alternative methodology for studying preferences following replication of a seminal risk elicitation procedure by Binswanger (Am J Agric Econ 62(3):395407, 1980). An important feature of both approaches is that they are easy to understand and, hence, are particularly suitable for eliciting preferences among subjects with low levels of formal education. I successfully replicate Binswanger's study, documenting how his original result of the moderate level of risk aversion for an average farmer can be generalized to a different country. However, using my alternative approach, whereby lotteries are presented in the loss domain, I find that half of my experimental subjects violated expected utility theory. This approach is of relevance to the current literature on studying risk preferences among subjects with poor literacy skills.
Computational Organic Chemistry: The Frontier for Understanding and Designing Bioorthogonal Cycloadditions
Authors: Svatunek Dennis
Published: May 2024

Computational organic chemistry has become a valuable tool in the field of bioorthogonal chemistry, offering insights and aiding in the progression of this branch of chemistry. In this review, I present an overview of computational work in this field, including an exploration of both the primary computational analysis methods used and their application in the main areas of bioorthogonal chemistry: (3 + 2) and [4 + 2] cycloadditions. In the context of (3 + 2) cycloadditions, detailed studies of electronic effects have informed the evolution of cycloalkyne/1,3-dipole cycloadditions. Through computational techniques, researchers have found ways to adjust the electronic structure via hyperconjugation to enhance reactions without compromising stability. For [4 + 2] cycloadditions, methods such as distortion/interaction analysis and energy decomposition analysis have been beneficial, leading to the development of bioorthogonal reactants with improved reactivity and the creation of orthogonal reaction pairs. To conclude, I touch upon the emerging fields of cheminformatics and machine learning, which promise to play a role in future reaction discovery and optimization.
Which Cyclaneusma minus morphotypes are responsible for needle cast of Pinus spp. in Slovakia?
Authors: Ondruskova Emilia , Kobza Marek , Janosikova Zuzana , McDougal Rebecca , Adamcikova Katarina
Published: May 2024

Cyclaneusma needle cast (CNC) is a needle disease which caused deterioration of vitality and reduction in the growth of pines. The disease is caused by the ascomycetous fungus Cyclaneusma minus, which has two well-described morphotypes; C. minus simile and C. minus verum. The distribution and host range of C. minus simile and verum was determined from needle samples and isolates collected throughout Slovakia from 2014 to 2020. Samples from 111 localities, 11 pine host species and 245 trees collected in different types of planting were analysed. It was found, that both morphotypes are present, but C. minus verum is predominantly responsible for CNC in urban and forest plantings in Slovakia. C. minus verum was positively detected in more than 88% of collected samples, whereas C. minus simile was only in four samples from three localities. Morphotype-specific primers were sufficiently sensitive even for new pine-host species. The host range of C. minus simile and C. minus verum was enriched worldwide. C. minus verum was observed in nine host species, whereas C. minus simile was identified only in one. Cyclaneusma niveum was also recorded and its presence was confirmed through DNA sequencing.
Bullying Victimization as an Adverse Experience for Psychosocial Adjustment among Irish Adolescents
Authors: D’Urso Giulio , Caravita Simona Carla , Symonds Jennifer
Published: May 2024

This study investigates the long-term effects of victimization from middle adolescence to late adolescence and early adulthood, examining emotional and behavioral problems, peer relationships, and smoking habits and sleeping difficulties. The study also explores how these outcomes can persist into early adulthood, taking into consideration early victimization experiences, gender, cognitive ability, and family social class. The total sample included 7525 participants, spanning the ages of 13, 17, and 20, from the Child Cohort of the Growing Up in Ireland study (48.9% male). The path analysis model suggests that victimization is associated with behavioral problems at age 17, and it is also linked to emotional problems and sleeping difficulties at both ages 17 and 20. Additionally, sleeping difficulties, smoking habits, and indices of emotional and behavioral adjustment exhibit some stability between ages 13 and 17, as well as 17 and 20. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Identification of potential landfill site suitability for urban solid waste disposal of Balurghat Municipality of Dakshin Dinajpur District using GIS and multi-criteria decision-making approach
Authors: Malo Sujoy Kumar , Mandal Debasish , Chakraborty Kunal , Saha Snehasish
Published: May 2024

The production of urban solid waste is one of the most dangerous environmental health risks on the planet. By selecting suitable landfill sites, it is possible to resolve the issue of health risks and environmental pollution driven by the unscientific disposal of solid waste. The current research is centered on determining suitable landfill locations for solid waste disposal within the Balurghat municipality through the integration of Geographic Information System (GIS) and Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) approach. Ten factors were taken into consideration according to their weightage including elevation (0.022), Lithology (0.027), Slope (0.032), Land use and land cover LULC (0.040), Depth of water (0.057), Population density (0.075), Distance from sensitive places (0.107), Distance from road (0.154), Distance from river (0.205) and Land value (0.282). After conducting thorough field visits, an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) under the MCDM approach using GIS reveals acceptable sites that were noted and referenced. Final results are validated through a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve using randomly selected 80 potential landfill-suitable site location points with higher accuracy, and a total of 93% of the area under the curve (AUC) has been found worthy to validate the spatial result. The present investigation revealed that only 0.65% of land is very highly suitable, 31.06% of land is highly suitable, 52.54% of land is moderately suitable and 14.74% of land is not suitable for landfilling in Balurghat Municipal area and surroundings respectively. The highly suitable site belongs to the Mamna, Katna, Kuaran, Amtali, Noksha, Bannapara, and Malancha villages of the study area which is a very negligible area. So, the planners should adopt alternative strategies like source minimization, composting, sanitary landfills and awareness programmes for sustainable solid waste management. Hence, the Balurghat Municipality administration, urban planners, and administrative authorities stand to gain valuable insights from the findings of this study as they endeavour to enhance the management of urban solid waste in the area.