bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A study of a thermoelastic body possessing microtemperatures
Authors: Marin Marin , Öchsner Andreas , Vlase Sorin , Sedighi Hamid M. , Pirlog Stefan
Published: January 2025

In our study we approach a Cosserat thermoelastic body in which we take into account both the usual temperature and the microtemperature, that is, the temperature of the microparticles of the body. After constructing the mixed problem with initial and boundary values, in this context, we define an appropriate Hilbert space in which we obtain a temporal evolutionary equation which is equivalent to the already constructed mixed problem. With the help of some known results from the theory of contraction semigroups we prove both the existence and the uniqueness of the solution of the evolution equation, therefore of the considered mixed problem. Furthermore, the same semigroup theory allows us to obtain the continuous dependence of the solution of the mixed problem, both with respect to the initial data and with respect to the loading.
Tumor-infiltrating plasma cells are a prognostic factor in penile squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Stenzel P. J. , Thomas A. , Schindeldecker M. , Macher-Goeppinger S. , Porubsky S. , Haferkamp A. , Tsaur I. , Roth W. , Tagscherer K. E.
Published: January 2025

Penile cancer (PeCa) is a rare disease with poor prognosis in the metastatic stage. Neither effective adjuvant nor palliative therapeutic options are available. Research efforts in this field have so far failed to establish robust predictors of survival. To identify prognostic targets in PeCa, the current project focused on characterizing the tumor microenvironment (TME). A study cohort of 93 men with PeCa was used for the construction of a tissue microarray and immunohistochemical staining for CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, CD56, CD138, FoxP3, and PD-L1. The quantity and spatial distribution of tumor-infiltrating immune cells were analyzed using digital image analysis. PD-L1 staining of tumor and immune cells was manually scored (combined positivity score (CPS)). T cells, T helper cells, cytotoxic T cells (CTLs), and regulatory T cells were detected in > 90% of PeCa and B cells in 88%, plasma cells in 85%, and NK cells in 23%. Approximately 50% of the PeCa samples were PD-L1 positive. In the univariate survival analysis, high PD-L1 CPS, plasma cells, CTLs, and B cells were significantly associated with favorable overall survival (OS), and the latter two with adverse recurrence-free survival. In multivariate analysis, plasma cells remained a significant factor for favorable OS (p = 0.04). In this study, the immune cells in the TME, especially plasma cells, were favorably associated with patient survival compared to other established prognostic factors in PeCa. Contemporarily, plasma cells have been discussed in the light of contributing to responses to modern immunotherapies. The results of this study support this notion.
Home-use agents in the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity: clinical effectiveness evaluation with different measurement methods
Authors: Ayan Gizem , Mіsіllі Tuğba , Buldur Mehmet
Published: January 2025

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of home-use desensitizing agents over an 8-week period by comparing them using different measurement methods.

Methods

A randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted with 180 individuals aged between 18 and 70 who clinically diagnosed dentin hypersensitivity (DH) in two or more non-adjacent teeth. Subjects who met the inclusion criteria (n = 164) were randomly allocated into five test groups—using Casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP), Arginine, Novamin, Propolis, and Potassium nitrate—and a control group using standard fluoride toothpaste. The status of DH was assessed at week 4 and week 8 by the same independent examiner. Changes from baseline in Dentine Hypersensitivity Experience Questionnaire-15 (DHEQ-15), Schiff Sensitivity Scale (SSS) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were analysed using ANOVA and Kruskall-Wallis tests.

Results

All test groups showed statistically significant improvements in DH at weeks 4 and 8 compared to baseline in the DHEQ-15, VAS, and SSS assessments (p < 0.005). In the control group, significant improvements were observed only in the VAS and SSS measurements from baseline to weeks 8 (p < 0.005). The CPP-ACP group demonstrated the greatest reduction in scores by the end of week 8 compared to baseline, with DHEQ-15 (56.68 ± 17.87), VAS (6.52 ± 1.48), and SSS (2.32 ± 0.56).

Conclusions

Among the tested agents, the CPP-ACP group demonstrated the most notable reduction in DH symptoms by week 8, highlighting its potential as an effective method for alleviating DH symptoms in a home-use agents.

Clinical relevance

Home-use desensitizing agents are effective in the treatment of DH, improving the daily activities of patients who cannot access clinical care and ensuring the relief of DH before clinical invasive procedures.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06216262.
Bacteria-Produced Algicide for Field Control of Toxic Dinoflagellates Does Not Cause a Cortisol Stress Response in Two Estuarine Fish Species
Authors: Simons Victoria E. , Targett Timothy E. , Gaffney Patrick M. , Coyne Kathryn J.
Published: January 2025

Application of algicides produced by naturally occurring bacteria is considered an environmentally friendly approach to control harmful algal blooms. However, few studies assess the effects of bacterial algicides on non-target species, either independently or with other stressors. Here, we measured sub-lethal effects of dinoflagellate-specific algicide IRI-160AA on the estuarine fish Fundulus heteroclitus and Menidia menidia in laboratory experiments. Plasma cortisol levels were measured to test whether a neuroendocrine stress response was induced in these fish following exposure to the algicide alone, and in combination with diel-cycling hypoxia and/or pH, at 25 and 30 °C. Results show that exposure to IRI-160AA does not significantly affect cortisol levels in either species, at either temperature tested, whether exposure occurs independently or with co-occurring hypoxia and/or pH cycles as potential multiple stressors. These results support the application of IRI-160AA as an environmentally friendly approach to control harmful algal blooms in estuarine environments.
Artificial dural regeneration matrix as a substitute for autologous tissue in indirect bypass in Moyamoya disease: Investigation of a rat model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion
Authors: Kameno Koki , Kaku Yasuyuki , Ohmori Yuki , Takemoto Yushin , Uekawa Ken , Mukasa Akitake
Published: January 2025

Indirect bypass using autologous tissue is effective in Moyamoya disease, especially among pediatric patients. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of indirect bypass using DuraGen (absorbable artificial dura mater composed of collagen matrix), as a substitute for autologous tissue in a rat model of chronic cerebral hypoperfusion. Male Wistar rats were subjected to bilateral internal carotid artery occlusion and divided into three groups: a control group without bypass surgery, a group wherein indirect bypass was performed using the temporalis muscle (encephalo-myo-synangiosis [EMS] group), and a group wherein DuraGen was used (Dura group). The ratio of the number of vascular endothelial cells, detected by antibodies to CD31 and glucose transporter type 1 (Glut-1), on the operative side to that on the non-operative side was measured and compared between the three groups. The ratio of CD31-positive cells was 1.50 ± 0.13 and 1.92 ± 0.29 in the EMS and Dura groups, respectively, and that of Glut-1-positive cells was 1.32 ± 0.10 and 1.53 ± 0.18 in the EMS and Dura groups, respectively. No significant difference was observed in the ratio of vascular endothelial cells on the bypass side between the EMS and Dura groups. Indirect bypass with DuraGen resulted in an increased ratio of vascular endothelial cells, equivalent to that of an indirect bypass with the temporalis muscle in a rat model. Thus, in an actual indirect bypass for patients with Moyamoya disease, the use of DuraGen may produce the same angiogenesis as using autologous tissue.
A meta-heuristic approach to estimate and explain classifier uncertainty
Authors: Houston Andrew , Cosma Georgina
Published: January 2025

Trust is a crucial factor affecting the adoption of machine learning (ML) models. Qualitative studies have revealed that end-users, particularly in the medical domain, need models that can express their uncertainty in decision-making allowing users to know when to ignore the model’s recommendations. However, existing approaches for quantifying decision-making uncertainty are not model-agnostic, or they rely on complex mathematical derivations that are not easily understood by laypersons or end-users, making them less useful for explaining the model’s decision-making process. This work proposes a set of class-independent meta-heuristics that can characterise the complexity of an instance in terms of factors that are mutually relevant to both human and ML decision-making. The measures are integrated into a meta-learning framework that estimates the risk of misclassification. The proposed framework outperformed predicted probabilities and entropy-based methods of identifying instances at risk of being misclassified. Furthermore, the proposed approach resulted in uncertainty estimates that proves more independent of model accuracy and calibration than existing approaches. The proposed measures and framework demonstrate promise for improving model development for more complex instances and provides a new means of model abstention and explanation.
Cohabitation and Mortality Across the Life Course: A Longitudinal Cohort Study with Swedish Register-Based Sibling Comparisons
Authors: Lindmarker Jesper , Kolk Martin , Drefahl Sven
Published: January 2025

Research has shown that married individuals live longer lives than unmarried women and men. A smaller number of studies have included non-marital cohabitation and have found that their mortality falls between the married and other unmarried groups. There are indications that the cohabiting population is diverse in terms of mortality risk, yet very little is known about how the association is related to age and stages of the life course. Sweden is a forerunner in family trends, and this is the first study that examines cohabitation and mortality in a Swedish context. Using Swedish register data for the years 2012–2017, we investigated how different partnership statuses are related to mortality for men and women at different ages (N = 5,572,011). We also examine whether the association between cohabitation and mortality is similar after accounting for family-of-origin effects through the use of a sibling comparison design. Our findings confirmed the notion of cohabiters as a diverse group whose relative mortality risk differs depending on the timing of cohabitation. Never-married cohabiters had a mortality risk similar to married couples at younger ages and a gradually increased risk with age. Divorced and widowed cohabiters exhibited an age gradient in the opposite direction. Future research should consider how the context of cohabitation changes across the life course.
Metabolic skinflint or spendthrift? Insights into ground sloth integument and thermophysiology revealed by biophysical modeling and clumped isotope paleothermometry
Authors: Deak Michael D. , Porter Warren P. , Mathewson Paul D. , Lovelace David M. , Flores Randon J. , Tripati Aradhna K. , Eagle Robert A. , Schwartz Darin M. , Butcher Michael T.
Published: January 2025

Remains of megatheres have been known since the 18th -century and were among the first megafaunal vertebrates to be studied. While several examples of preserved integument show a thick coverage of fur for smaller ground sloths living in cold climates such as Mylodon and Nothrotheriops, comparatively very little is known about megathere skin. Assuming a typical placental mammal metabolism, it was previously hypothesized that megatheres would have had little-to-no fur as they achieved giant body sizes. Here the “hairless model of integument” is tested using geochemical analyses to estimate body temperature to generate novel models of ground sloth metabolism, fur coverage, and paleoclimate with Niche Mapper software. The simulations assuming metabolic activity akin to those of modern xenarthrans suggest that sparse fur coverage would have resulted in cold stress across most latitudinal ranges inhabited by extinct ground sloths. Specifically, Eremotherium predominantly required dense 10 mm fur with implications for seasonal changes of coat depth in northernmost latitudes and sparse fur in the tropics; Megatherium required dense 30 mm fur year-round in its exclusive range of cooler, drier climates; Mylodon and Nothrotheriops required dense 10–50 mm fur to avoid thermal stress, matching the integument remains of both genera, and further implying the use of behavioral thermoregulation. Moreover, clumped isotope paleothermometry data from the preserved teeth of four genera of ground sloth yielded reconstructed body temperatures lower than those previously reported for large terrestrial mammals (29 ± 2°–32 ± 3° C). This combination of low metabolisms and thick fur allowed ground sloths to inhabit various environments.
Development of Predictive Model of Surgical Case Durations Using Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Park Jung-Bin , Roh Gyun-Ho , Kim Kwangsoo , Kim Hee-Soo
Published: January 2025

Optimizing operating room (OR) utilization is critical for enhancing hospital management and operational efficiency. Accurate surgical case duration predictions are essential for achieving this optimization. Our study aimed to refine the accuracy of these predictions beyond traditional estimation methods by developing Random Forest models tailored to specific surgical departments. Utilizing a comprehensive dataset, we applied several machine learning algorithms, including RandomForest, XGBoost, Linear Regression, LightGBM, and CatBoost, and assessed their performance using Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), and R-Squared (R2) metrics. Our findings highlighted that Random Forest models excelled in department-specific applications, achieving an MAE of 16.32, an RMSE of 31.19, and an R2 of 0.92, significantly outperforming general models and conventional estimates. This improvement emphasizes the advantage of customizing models to fit the distinct characteristics and data patterns of each department. Additionally, our SHAP-based feature importance analysis identified morning operation timing, ICU ward assignments, operation codes, and surgeon IDs as key factors influencing surgical duration. This suggests that a detailed and nuanced approach to model development can substantially increase prediction accuracy. By providing a more accurate, reliable tool for predicting surgical case durations, our department-specific Random Forest models promise to enhance surgical scheduling, leading to more effective OR management. This approach underscores the importance of leveraging tailored, data-driven models to improve healthcare outcomes and operational efficiency.
Governance Quality and Sustainable Development: Insights from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in Africa
Authors: Adebayo Adeyemi , Ackers Barry , Erin Olayinka , Adegboye Alex
Published: January 2025

We examine the effect of governance quality on sustainable development in Africa. We focus on 48 African countries for the period of 2010 to 2022 using the Generalized Method of Moments framework to analyze the data. We measured sustainable development through three key variables: sustainable economic development, sustainable social development and sustainable environmental development. The findings of this study provides a strong evidence that governance quality plays a critical role in promoting sustainable development. Thus, the empirical evidence in this study largely proves a strong and robust link between the governance quality and sustainable development in Africa.
From the ‘Russian idea’ to the ‘Russian World’
Authors: Soboleva Maja
Published: January 2025

The article examines the concept of the ‘Russian idea’ and its transformation into a conservative political ideology for the establishing of the so-called ‘Russian world’ in contemporary Russia. The analysis focuses on three levels of conceptual development of this idea: at the level of political technologies—a state level, at the level of university philosophy, and at the level of militarized so-called Z-philosophy. At the state level, the author argues, this idea represents a specific set of values aimed at creating a state identity of Russians and emphasizing their exclusive position in the modern world. At the level of university philosophy, it turns out to be an ontological concept used to demonstrate the necessary teleological character of the Russian idea. The Russian idea of Z-philosophers appears as a purely ideological construct serving the political establishment and justifying the war against Ukraine. In this connection some ideas of Aleksandr Dugin concerning the concept of the Russian idea are discussed.
The impact of co-housing on murine aging studies
Authors: Luciano Alison , Churchill Gary A.
Published: January 2025

Analysis of preclinical lifespan studies often assume that outcome data from co-housed animals are independent. In practice, treatments, such as controlled feeding or putative life-extending compounds, are applied to whole housing units, and as a result, the outcomes are potentially correlated within housing units. We consider intra-class (here, intra-cage) correlation in three published and two unpublished lifespan studies of aged mice encompassing more than 20,000 observations. We show that the independence assumption underlying common analytic techniques does not hold in these data, particularly for traits associated with frailty. We describe and demonstrate various analytical tools available to accommodate this study design and highlight a limitation of standard variance components models (i.e., linear mixed models) which are the usual statistical tools for handling correlated errors. Through simulations, we examine the statistical biases resulting from intra-cage correlations with similar magnitudes as observed in these case studies and discuss implications for power and reproducibility.
Two new species of ectoparasitic microfungi within the Hesperomyces virescens complex from Algeria, Italy, and Malaysia
Authors: Van Caenegem Warre , Merzoug Aicha , Ceryngier Piotr , Biranvand Amir , Boualem Malika , Musa Nadia Nisha , Verbeken Annemieke , Yaakop Salmah , Haelewaters Danny
Published: January 2025

Arthropods are hosts to a variety of parasitic fungi, including those within the order of Laboulbeniales (Ascomycota, Laboulbeniomycetes). Species in the genus Hesperomyces are specialized in growing on ladybirds (Coccinellidae). Recent studies have uncovered multiple cryptic species within the Hesperomyces virescens species complex. They found that these species are segregated not only by host, but also by a geographic component. Here, we describe two new species in this species complex, based on morphological, molecular phylogenetic, ecological, and geographical evidence: Hesperomyces chilocori-bipustulati sp. nov. on Chilocorus bipustulatus from the Mediterranean region, and He. coccinellae-transversalis sp. nov. on Coccinella transversalis from Peninsular Malaysia. Hesperomyces chilocori-bipustulati is the second species known to associate with a representative of the genus Chilocorus, after He. virescens sensu stricto which was described from Ch. stigma from the USA. The findings of this paper contribute to our understanding of the diversity, host specificity, and biogeographical distribution within the Hesperomyces virescens species complex and highlight the need for further integrative taxonomy approaches in Laboulbeniales.
Islam as liberatory exploration: praying with British inclusive Muslims
Authors: Rahman Fahad
Published: January 2025

This paper explores the process of meaning-making in an Islamic site—The Inclusive Mosque Initiative (IMI)—where the cultivation of a plural religious space is pursued as an Islamic, rather than a secular, virtue. The study highlights the discourse, spatiality, and praxis of the Friday prayers at IMI, revealing a distinctive non-hierarchical symbolic spatiality, plural congregational practices, shared ritual leadership, and interactive sermons cultivating diversity in congregants’ ethical self-formation. Drawing on these ethnographic experiences, the paper advocates for an expansion of Talal Asad’s concept of the discursive tradition of Islam by proposing a greater emphasis on ‘non-established’ practices, such as IMI’s gender-expansive Friday prayers. Additionally, by questioning the primacy given to reason and argumentation referring to the foundational Islamic texts in Asad’s approach, it highlights how embodied, affective, and phenomenological experiences play a defining role in Islamic discursive traditions. Inclusive Muslims offer an expanded purpose of power within the Islamic discursive tradition, moving away from conceptions of Islamic authority linked with ‘orthodoxy’ to ones demonstrating, what Shahab Ahmed calls, the ‘explorative’ mode of authority. Consequently, the study of non-normative, inclusive Muslim communities, exemplified by the IMI, offers insights into alternative Islamic practices and discourses and challenges conventional anthropological definitions of Islam as a discursive tradition.
Häusliche Gewalterfahrungen von Kindern und Jugendlichen: Implikationen für das Bedrohungsmanagement
Authors: Beyli May , Habermeyer Elmar , Schmidt Catharina
Published: January 2025

Häusliche Gewalt verursacht nicht nur unermessliches Leid bei den Betroffenen, sondern stellt auch ein gesellschaftspolitisches Problem dar, weil sie im weitesten Sinne Gegengewalt erzeugt. Kinder und Jugendliche, die von elterlicher Paargewalt betroffen sind, haben nicht nur ein höheres Risiko, selbst Opfer von Gewalt zu werden, sondern auch ein höheres Risiko, sich gewalttätig zu verhalten. Die Folgen sind manchmal noch Jahre später zu spüren. Um diesen Teufelskreis zu durchbrechen, ist Gewaltprävention auf den verschiedensten Ebenen notwendig. Dazu müssen alle am Fall beteiligten Fachkräfte zusammenstehen und für die Formen, Auswirkungen und Folgen von häuslicher Gewalt sensibilisiert werden. Der Beitrag des Bedrohungsmanagements besteht u. a. darin, die Fachkräfte bei der Risikoeinschätzung zu unterstützen und Wissen zu vermitteln.
A multi-site feasibility study of a stepped-care telehealth intervention for depression and anxiety in post-treatment cancer survivors at community cancer clinics (WF-30917CD)
Authors: Danhauer Suzanne C. , Brenes Gretchen A. , Weaver Kathryn E. , Dressler Emily V. , Westcott Grace , Zhang Zhang , Lu Lingyi , Wagi Cheyenne R. , Vaidya Rakhee , Curtis Amarinthia , Pawloski Pamala A. , Adams Sara , Lesser Glenn J. , Tooze Janet A.
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This feasibility study estimated accrual, retention, adherence, and summarized preliminary efficacy data from a stepped-care telehealth intervention for cancer survivors with moderate or severe levels of anxiety and/or depressive symptoms.

Methods

Participants were randomized to intervention or enhanced usual care (stratified by symptom severity). In the intervention group, those with moderate symptoms received a cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) workbook/6 bi-weekly check-in calls (low intensity) and severe symptoms received the workbook/12 weekly therapy sessions (high intensity). Depression, anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, quality of life (QOL), fear of recurrence, and cancer-related distress were assessed pre- and post-intervention.

Results

Participants (N = 68; ages 36–82; 88% White) were randomized to telehealth (n = 34) or enhanced usual care (EUC, n = 34), stratified by symptoms (moderate, n = 38; severe, n = 30). Accrual was 1.8/month with 88% retention and > 75% adherence. For those with moderate symptoms, the low-intensity intervention was associated with better cancer-related distress post-intervention but worse fatigue, insomnia, and physical QOL and and minimal differences for anxiety, depression, fear of recurrence, and mental QOL compared with EUC using clinically meaningful values to assess differences. For those with severe symptoms, the high-intensity intervention was associated with better fatigue, fear of recurrence, cancer-related distress, and physical/mental QOL.

Conclusions

Accrual to a stepped-care telehealth intervention for distressed cancer survivors was lower than expected, but retention and adherence were strong. Data suggest potential impact of the high-intensity intervention.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

A telephone-based CBT intervention where cancer survivors worked with a therapist yielded improvements in fatigue, fear of recurrence, distress, and quality of life.
Populist attitudes related to science and politics: prevalence and exploratory factors of populist attitudes in Slovakia
Authors: Piterová Ivana , Loziak Alexander
Published: January 2025

Science-related populism has recently emerged alongside political populism. However, its occurrence, connections with political populist attitudes, and underlying factors have not been explored in the Central-European context. This study seeks to achieve three key objectives: (1) examine the relationships among science-related populist attitudes, their subdimensions, and political populist attitudes; (2) assess the prevalence of populist attitudes; and (3) analyze a set of explanatory and exploratory factors contributing to political and science-related populist attitudes. Drawing from a national sample of 643 Slovaks, our study highlights the importance of addressing science-related populism in parallel with political populism. It elucidates the intricate interplay between these attitudes, with political populism being more prevalent in the Slovak population, albeit intertwined with science-related populism. Several contributing factors, such as education, political orientation, religiosity, trust in science, relative deprivation, faith in intuition, and susceptibility to pseudoscientific beliefs, were identified. These factors offer valuable insights into the emergence of populist attitudes in Slovakia. The findings from this study hold significance for further research aimed at comprehending and addressing the phenomenon of science-related populism within the Central-European context.
Altered Intracerebellar Functional Connectivity in Friedreich’s Ataxia: A Graph-Theory Functional MRI Study
Authors: Tranfa Mario , Costabile Teresa , Pontillo Giuseppe , Scaravilli Alessandra , Pane Chiara , Brunetti Arturo , Saccà Francesco , Cocozza Sirio
Published: January 2025

Historically, Friedreich’s Ataxia (FRDA) has been linked to a relatively preserved cerebellar cortex. Recent advances in neuroimaging have revealed altered cerebello-cerebral functional connectivity (FC), but the extent of intra-cerebellar FC changes and their impact on cognition remains unclear. This study investigates intra-cerebellar FC alterations and their cognitive implications in FRDA. In this cross-sectional, single-center study, resting-state functional MRI data from 17 patients with FRDA (average age 27.7 ± 13.6 years; F/M = 6/11) and 20 healthy controls (HC) (average age 29.4 ± 9.7 years; F/M = 9/11), all of whom underwent neuropsychological testing, were analyzed. From functional connectivity matrices, graph measures were computed at both the network and node levels using two complementary parcellations. FRDA patients exhibited decreased global efficiency (p = 0.04), nodal degree (p = 0.001) and betweenness centrality (p = 0.04) in the vermal portion of lobule VIII, along with reduced global efficiency in cerebellar regions belonging to the Control-A network (p = 0.02), one of the three subdivisions of the Frontoparietal network. Verbal memory deficits correlated with global efficiency in both the vermal portion of lobule VIII (r = 0.53, p = 0.02) and the cerebellar regions of the Control-A network (r = 0.49, p = 0.05). Graph analysis revealed regional intra-cerebellar FC changes in FRDA, marked by reduced functional centrality in cerebellar regions of the vermis and responsible for executive functions. These changes correlated with cognitive alterations, highlighting the role of the cerebellar cortex in the cognitive impairment observed in FRDA.
Attitudes of Person at Driver’s Seat of Level 3–4 Automated Vehicle Affect Human Driver Entering Roadway
Authors: Saeki Hidehiro , Shidoji Kazunori
Published: January 2025

In the transportation sector, traffic participants communicate to ensure smooth traffic. Although research on automated driving has been remarkable in recent years, conventional communication methods, such as eye contact, cannot be used in automated vehicles because a person sitting in the driver’s seat does not control the vehicles. Therefore, this study focuses on communication methods using an external human-machine interface (eHMI) to realize safe, secure, and comfortable transportation. We conducted an experimental study to determine how the posture of the person seated in the driver’s seat of a vehicle traveling on the mainline affects the driving maneuvers and psychological aspects of a driver attempting to enter the mainline from the parking lot of an off-road facility. The results showed that when the person sitting in the driver’s seat gazed at a smartphone, assuming the car was an automated vehicle, the driver’s subjective evaluation of the driving operation and “smoothness” of merging onto the mainline showed a reaction of hesitation in merging. This suggests that a specific and clear presentation of information by the eHMI is necessary when providing information on “intendment of give way.”
Romosozumab adverse event profile: a pharmacovigilance analysis based on the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) from 2019 to 2023
Authors: Liu Luyu , Wu Shaobo , Wei Liangliang , Xia Zhihao , Ji Jiajia , Huang Dageng
Published: January 2025

Objective

This study aims to analyze adverse drug events (ADE) related to romosozumab from the second quarter of 2019 to the third quarter of 2023 from FAERS database.

Methods

The ADE data related to romosozumab from 2019 Q2 to 2023 Q3 were collected. After data normalization, four signal strength quantification algorithms were used: ROR (Reporting Odds Ratios), PRR (Proportional Reporting Ratios), BCPNN (Bayesian Confidence Propagation Neural Network), and EBGM (Empirical Bayesian Geometric Mean).

Results

Screening for romosozumab-related AEs (adverse events) included 23 system organ categories (SOCs). PT (preferred terms) levels were screened for adverse drug reaction (ADR) signals. A total of 7055 reports with romosozumab as the primary suspect (PS) and 14,041 PTs induced by romosozumab as PS were identified. Common significant signals of general disorders and administration site conditions, musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders have emerged. Specifically, unexpected AEs such as gastrointestinal disorder, respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders also occur. Notably, fracture (n = 503, ROR = 107.8, PRR = 103.83, IC = 6.6, EBGM = 97.02) and bone density abnormal (n = 429, ROR = 343.65, PRR = 332.77, IC = 8.08, EBGM = 271.34) exhibited relatively high occurrence rates and signal strengths.

Conclusion

Our study identifies potential new AE signals and provides broader data support for the safety of romosozumab. In clinical application, doctors are provided with a warning to closely monitor adverse reactions to support their rational use in diseases such as osteoporosis.
Artificial intelligence and criminal justice: How to use algorithmic sentencing support in real life (and ethically non-ideal) penal systems?
Authors: Ryberg Jesper
Published: January 2025

The use of artificial intelligence as an instrument to assist judges in determining sentences in criminal cases is attracting increasing theoretical attention. While many theorists have argued that there may be important advantages to introducing algorithmic sentencing support in criminal cases, almost no one has considered how such systems should actually be implemented. The purpose of this chapter is to fill this void. First, it is argued that current penal practice is non-ideal in the sense that it is dominated by overpunishment of offenders (the overpunishment assumption), and that algorithmic sentencing support systems are unlikely to be introduced in a way that appears to disturb the existing penal order (the preservation assumption). Second, a model called the “Restricted Application Model” is presented for how such algorithms might be used by judges within a framework characterized by the two outlined assumptions. Third, three objections to the model are considered and ultimately rejected. Thus, the model serves as a first attempt at outlining a procedure for the use of sentencing advisory systems by judges within real-life, and ethically non-ideal, penal systems.
Ecosystem carbon storage, allocation and carbon credit values of major forest types in the central Himalaya
Authors: Joshi Rajendra Kumar , Garkoti Satish Chandra
Published: January 2025

Himalayan forests are crucial global carbon reservoirs that contribute significantly to carbon mitigation efforts. Although situated within a single climatic zone, Himalayan forests include diverse forest types within a short distance due to variations in altitude, mountain range, slope, and aspect. This study aimed to estimate ecosystem carbon storage (including plant biomass, deadwood, litter, and soil organic carbon [SOC]) and allocation and to evaluate carbon sequestration and carbon credit potential in chir-pine plants (Pinus roxburghii Sarg.), deodar (Cedrus deodara [Roxb.] G. Don), oak (Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus), and sal (Shorea robusta [Roth]) forests in the central Himalaya. Volumetric equations were utilized across diverse tree species and supplemented by field sampling, particularly by employing the quadrat method to quantify tree biomass. The carbon stocks within ecosystems varied considerably, ranging between 122.44 and 306.44 Mg C ha−1, with discernible differences among forest types, with oak forests exhibiting the highest carbon stock, followed by deodar and sal forests, and pine forests showing the lowest. The allocation of ecosystem carbon stocks among the different components, including trees (21%–34%), soil (64%–77%), deadwood (0.9%–0.35%), and litter (0.46%–1.20%), demonstrated significant variability. The Mantel test revealed the significant influence of environmental factors on carbon storage. Carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration ranged from 448.98 (pine forest) to 1123.16 (oak forest) Mg CO2 ha−1, while carbon credit values ranged from 1346.96 EUR ha−1 (pine forests) to 3379.49 EUR ha−1 (oak forest). In this study, dominant trees in various forest types contributed to higher carbon storage in their biomass and forest soil, resulting in greater carbon credits. The present research evaluated ecosystem carbon storage, CO2 sequestration potential, and carbon credit valuation for major forests in the central Himalaya. By incorporating these findings into forest management plans and strategies, the carbon sequestration potential and carbon trading of the central Himalayan forest ecosystem in India can be enhanced.
A Pleistocene hyenid trackway from the Cape south coast of South Africa
Authors: Helm Charles , Cawthra Hayley , Daqm #oma , De Vynck Jan , Nǂamce /uce , Thompson Clive
Published: January 2025

The global record of fossil hyenid tracks is sparse—the only formal reports that can be considered reliable are of trackways from Tanzania and a single track from Greece. However, trackway and track patterns of the four extant members of the Hyaenidae are distinctive among the tracks of carnivorans. A Pleistocene trackway comprising five manus–pes pairs has been identified on an aeolianite surface on the Cape south coast of South Africa, and is attributed to a hyena, most likely the brown hyena (Parahyaena brunnea). The diagnostic approach followed involves a combination of the knowledge of Indigenous Master Trackers and the methods of modern ichnology.
Molecular mechanisms of the GABA type A receptor function
Authors: Michałowski Michał A. , Kłopotowski Karol , Wiera Grzegorz , Czyżewska Marta M. , Mozrzymas Jerzy W.
Published: January 2025

The GABA type A receptor (GABAAR) belongs to the family of pentameric ligand-gated ion channels and plays a key role in inhibition in adult mammalian brains. Dysfunction of this macromolecule may lead to epilepsy, anxiety disorders, autism, depression, and schizophrenia. GABAAR is also a target for multiple physiologically and clinically relevant modulators, such as benzodiazepines (BDZs), general anesthetics, and neurosteroids. The first GABAAR structure appeared in 2014, but the past years have brought a particularly abundant surge in structural data for these receptors with various ligands and modulators. Although the open conformation remains elusive, this novel information has pushed the structure–function studies to an unprecedented level. Electrophysiology, mutagenesis, photolabeling, and in silico simulations, guided by novel structural information, shed new light on the molecular mechanisms of receptor functioning. The main goal of this review is to present the current knowledge of GABAAR functional and structural properties. The review begins with an outline of the functional and structural studies of GABAAR, accompanied by some methodological considerations, especially biophysical methods, enabling the reader to follow how major breakthroughs in characterizing GABAAR features have been achieved. The main section provides a comprehensive analysis of the functional significance of specific structural elements in GABAARs. We additionally summarize the current knowledge on the binding sites for major GABAAR modulators, referring to the molecular underpinnings of their action. The final chapter of the review moves beyond examining GABAAR as an isolated macromolecule and describes the interactions of the receptor with other proteins in a broader context of inhibitory plasticity. In the final section, we propose a general conclusion that agonist binding to the orthosteric binding sites appears to rely on local interactions, whereas conformational transitions of bound macromolecule (gating) and allosteric modulation seem to reflect more global phenomena involving vast portions of the macromolecule.
Are we jingling modern hunter-gatherers and early Homo sapiens?
Authors: Protzko John
Published: January 2025

Using modern hunter-gatherers to infer about early Homo sapiens only works if at least (a) modern hunter-gatherers represent an unbiased sample of humanity, and (b) modern hunter-gatherers act in ways similar to the behavior of early Homo sapiens. Both of these are false, leading to the problem of whether we can draw conclusions about early Homo sapiens from modern hunter-gatherers.
Indonesian Tourism Workers on Volcanoes and Geotourism's Colonial Origins: Making a Subaltern History Visible
Authors: Protschky Susie
Published: January 2025

Indonesia's volcanoes are places of recreation, aesthetic production, and scientific knowledge-gathering, as well as sites of pilgrimage, spirituality, and natural disasters for locals as well as international travellers. In this article, I focus on volcanoes as historic sites of labour to demonstrate the entanglement of colonial tourism and science with local forms of work and knowledge, and to reveal the origins of the porting and guiding work that takes place on Indonesia's volcanoes to this day. Using Tina Campt's method of “listening to images,” I show how colonial photographs, albeit partial sources, make modes of subaltern labour visible that written sources routinely minimised, restoring porters, guides, and what I call “camp domestics” to histories of service, science and geotourism in Indonesia. Recognising the homosocial setting of the colonial scientific expedition and the peculiar physical challenges of the volcano environment, I also examine the negotiation of Indonesian and European masculinities and their intersection with class and racial hierarchies on the volcano. The article thus reflects on how Javanese workers’ spatial and social mobility entailed the negotiation of opportunity as well as exploitation on tour.
To Keep the Land Populated. Localising Empire and Constructing Locality, in the Sixteenth-Century Charcas Frontier
Authors: Graña Taborelli Mario
Published: January 2025

The present article studies the foundation of San Juan de la Frontera de Paspaya in the jurisdiction of the Real Audiencia de Charcas in the second half of the sixteenth century, framing the event as part of the wider process of incorporation of new geographies into the Spanish monarchy. The documentation analysed describes the complex negotiations among various agents organised around networks of patronage and hierarchies, including Spanish frontier captains and their men as well as the Andean indigenous communities of San Lucas de Payacollo and the Guaraní-speaking Chiriguanaes. The article provides some insights into the manner in which frontier spaces of the Catholic monarchy were politically constructed and equipped with relations and institutions in the late sixteenth century.
Populists in Opposition: A Neglected Threat to Liberal Democracy?
Authors: de Lange Sarah L. , Böckmann Larissa
Published: January 2025

When the impact of populism on liberal democracy is examined, the focus often is on populists in power. After all, when in office, populists have the possibility to change legislation, thereby negatively affecting individual freedoms and rights, and to transform the political system, often toward democratic decline and illiberalism (Pappas 2019; Ruth-Lovell and Grahn 2023).1 Far less attention has been devoted to populist parties in opposition, even though this is the position in which populists find themselves most frequently.2 Prominent examples of Western European populist parties with a decades-long position in opposition include the Rassemblement National in France and the Vlaams Belang in Belgium on the right and Die Linke in Germany and the Socialistische Partij in the Netherlands on the left. Outside of Western Europe, populist parties often have less longevity and more frequently assume office. However, many of these parties spend years in opposition before taking on government responsibility and/or have returned to the opposition benches afterwards (e.g., Partido Justicialista in Argentina and Prawo i Sprawiedliwość in Poland).
Populism in Power and Different Models of Democracy
Authors: Ruth-Lovell Saskia P. , Wiesehomeier Nina
Published: January 2025

Populism is both prolific and resilient. By now, populist forces around the globe have managed to enter the highest echelons of power (Rovira Kaltwasser and Taggart 2016). It is no wonder that the contemporary academic debate has shifted its focus to exploring the consequences of populism in power, particularly its impact on democracy. Although populism and democracy are not synonymous, the representation of “the people” is a central claim to both. Most populism scholars agree that “all forms of populism without exception involve some kind of exaltation of and appeal to ‘the people’” (Canovan 1981, 94). However, depending on which democratic ideas are emphasized over others—as well as which political practices and structures are favored to institutionalize these ideas (Dahl 1991; Held 2006; Lijphart 2012)—the basic tenet of the “rule by the people” may have many different meanings.
The Effect of Populist Incumbents on Democracy
Authors: Hawkins Kirk A. , Mitchell Grant A.
Published: January 2025

Populism’s effects on democracy after populists gain control of government (hereafter, populist incumbents) are some of the best theorized and documented consequences. The argument that populist incumbents threaten institutions of democratic contestation—and, less frequently, that they correct some aspects of political participation and representation—has been made from multiple approaches.1 Scholars and commentators often cite specific cases of populists harming democracy and, since 2016, several large-N studies have confirmed their negative impact. Specifically, studies repeatedly show the harmful effects of populist incumbents on civil liberties, including media freedom, horizontal accountability, and electoral integrity in both electoral and liberal democracies. Research has been less consistent in showing the positive consequences of populist incumbents, especially for democratic representation and political participation.
Emotionale virtuelle Charaktere für die Lehre in der Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie
Authors: Gradl-Dietsch Gertraud , Graf Linda , Hagemann Marie , Seitz Jochen , Masuch Maic
Published: January 2025

Zusammenfassung: Kommunikation und Interaktion sind zentral in der Lehre der Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie, wobei praktische Übungen oft durch Herausforderungen wie den begrenzten Zugang zu realen Patient_innen oder Schauspielpersonen erschwert werden. Virtual Reality (VR) bietet eine innovative Lösung, indem sie simulationsbasiertes Lernen ermöglicht. Mithilfe computergenerierter, interaktiver Charaktere können Studierende ärztliche Gesprächsführung wiederholt und standardisiert üben. Erste Tests mit Studierenden zeigen hohe Akzeptanz und Glaubwürdigkeit, trotz Optimierungsbedarf bei der Spracheingabe, sowie den Wunsch der Studierenden eine solche neue Technologie zukünftig in der Lehre nutzen zu wollen. In einem nächsten Schritt wird der Nutzen der VR-Anwendung hinsichtlich des Lernerfolges sowie des Einflusses der Lehrmethode auf Motivation und Freude am Lernen evaluiert.
Tongue squamous cell carcinoma-targeting Au-HN-1 nanosystem for CT imaging and photothermal therapy
Authors: Hao Ming , Li Xingchen , Zhang Xinxin , Tao Boqiang , Shi He , Wu Jianing , Li Yuyang , Li Xiang , Li Shuangji , Wu Han , Xiang Jingcheng , Wang Dongxu , Liu Weiwei , Wang Guoqing
Published: January 2025

Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is a prevalent malignancy that afflicts the head and neck area and presents a high incidence of metastasis and invasion. Accurate diagnosis and effective treatment are essential for enhancing the quality of life and the survival rates of TSCC patients. The current treatment modalities for TSCC frequently suffer from a lack of specificity and efficacy. Nanoparticles with diagnostic and photothermal therapeutic properties may offer a new approach for the targeted therapy of TSCC. However, inadequate accumulation of photosensitizers at the tumor site diminishes the efficacy of photothermal therapy (PTT). This study modified gold nanodots (AuNDs) with the TSCC-targeting peptide HN-1 to improve the selectivity and therapeutic effects of PTT. The Au-HN-1 nanosystem effectively targeted the TSCC cells and was rapidly delivered to the tumor tissues compared to the AuNDs. The enhanced accumulation of photosensitizing agents at tumor sites achieved significant PTT effects in a mouse model of TSCC. Moreover, owing to its stable long-term fluorescence and high X-ray attenuation coefficient, the Au-HN-1 nanosystem can be used for fluorescence and computed tomography imaging of TSCC, rendering it useful for early tumor detection and accurate delineation of surgical margins. In conclusion, Au-HN-1 represents a promising nanomedicine for imaging-based diagnosis and targeted PTT of TSCC.