bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Incidence Trends and Survival in Early-Onset Esophagogastric Adenocarcinoma: A Swedish Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Radkiewicz Cecilia , Asplund Johannes , Lagergren Jesper
Published: May 2023

Background:

Early-onset adenocarcinomas of different sites are increasing in high-income countries, data on esophagogastric adenocarcinoma are sparse.

Methods:

We performed a Swedish population-based cohort study over 1993 to 2019 to delineate differences in incidence and survival in early-onset (age 20–54 years) compared with later-onset (55–99 years) esophageal, cardia, and noncardia gastric adenocarcinoma. Temporal incidence trends were quantified as annual percentage changes (APC) and survival differences as excess mortality rate ratios (EMRR) using Poisson regression and including 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results:

Among 27,854 patients with esophagogastric adenocarcinoma, 2,576 were early-onset whereof 470 were esophageal, 645 were cardia, and 1,461 were noncardia gastric. Except noncardia gastric, the male predominance was larger in early-onset compared with later-onset disease. Advanced stage and signet ring cell morphology were more common among early-onset patients. Early-onset and later-onset APC estimates were comparable and esophageal adenocarcinoma incidence increased, cardia remained stable, and noncardia gastric decreased. Early-onset patients had better survival than later-onset, which was amplified when adjusting for prognostic factors including stage [adjusted EMRR 0.73 (95% CI, 0.63–0.85) in esophageal, 0.75 (95% CI, 0.65–0.86) in cardia, and 0.67 (95% CI, 0.61–0.74) in noncardia gastric adenocarcinoma]. The early-onset survival advantage was more pronounced in localized stages 0 to II (all sites) and women (esophageal and noncardia gastric).

Conclusions:

We found no major differences in incidence trends comparing early-onset and later-onset esophagogastric adenocarcinoma. Despite unfavorable prognostic features, early-onset esophagogastric adenocarcinoma survival was better than later-onset, particularly in localized stages and women.

Impact:

Our findings suggest delayed diagnosis in younger individuals and especially men.
Table 2 from Targeting Senescence as a Therapeutic Opportunity for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: de Paula Bruno , Kieran Rosalind , Koh Samantha Shui Yuan , Crocamo Susanne , Abdelhay Eliana , Muñoz-Espín Daniel
Published: May 2023

Examples of “one-two punch” strategy in TNBC.
Table 1 from Targeting Senescence as a Therapeutic Opportunity for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: de Paula Bruno , Kieran Rosalind , Koh Samantha Shui Yuan , Crocamo Susanne , Abdelhay Eliana , Muñoz-Espín Daniel
Published: May 2023

Examples of senescence inducers in TNBC.
Figure S4 from Loss of LGR5 through Therapy-induced Downregulation or Gene Ablation Is Associated with Resistance and Enhanced MET-STAT3 Signaling in Colorectal Cancer Cells
Authors: Posey Tressie A. , Jacob Joan , Parkhurst Ashlyn , Subramanian Shraddha , Francisco Liezl E. , Liang Zhengdong , Carmon Kendra S.
Published: May 2023

shows cytotoxicity of cryptotanshinone in combination with irinotecan in control and LGR5 KD LoVo cells
Figure S2 from Loss of LGR5 through Therapy-induced Downregulation or Gene Ablation Is Associated with Resistance and Enhanced MET-STAT3 Signaling in Colorectal Cancer Cells
Authors: Posey Tressie A. , Jacob Joan , Parkhurst Ashlyn , Subramanian Shraddha , Francisco Liezl E. , Liang Zhengdong , Carmon Kendra S.
Published: May 2023

shows inhibitors of IL6/Gp130 and EGFR do not attenuate STAT3 activation in LGR5 KD/KO CRC cells, LGR5 KD in DLD-1 cells increases MET-STAT3 activation, and the effects of MET and STAT3 inhibitors at different time-points
Fig. S5 from Small-Molecule–Mediated Stabilization of PP2A Modulates the Homologous Recombination Pathway and Potentiates DNA Damage-Induced Cell Death
Authors: Avelar Rita A. , Armstrong Amy J. , Carvette Gracie , Gupta Riya , Puleo Noah , Colina Jose A. , Joseph Peronne , Sobeck Alexander M. , O'Connor Caitlin M. , Raines Brynne , Gandhi Agharnan , Dziubinski Michele L. , Ma Daniel S. , Resnick Kimberly , Singh Sareena , Zanotti Kristine , Nagel Christa , Waggoner Steven , Thomas Daffyd G. , Skala Stephanie L. , Zhang Junran , Narla Goutham , DiFeo Analisa
Published: May 2023

Fig. S5
Targeting N-linked Glycosylation for the Therapy of Aggressive Lymphomas
Authors: Scheich Sebastian , Chen Jiji , Liu Jiamin , Schnütgen Frank , Enssle Julius C. , Ceribelli Michele , Thomas Craig J. , Choi Jaewoo , Morris Vivian , Hsiao Tony , Nguyen Hang , Wang Boya , Bolomsky Arnold , Phelan James D. , Corcoran Sean , Urlaub Henning , Young Ryan M. , Häupl Björn , Wright George W. , Huang Da Wei , Ji Yanlong , Yu Xin , Xu Weihong , Yang Yandan , Zhao Hong , Muppidi Jagan , Pan Kuan-Ting , Oellerich Thomas , Staudt Louis M.
Published: May 2023

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) can be subdivided into the activated B-cell (ABC) and germinal center B cell–like (GCB) subtypes. Self-antigen engagement of B-cell receptors (BCR) in ABC tumors induces their clustering, thereby initiating chronic active signaling and activation of NF-κB and PI3 kinase. Constitutive BCR signaling is essential in some GCB tumors but primarily activates PI3 kinase. We devised genome-wide CRISPR–Cas9 screens to identify regulators of IRF4, a direct transcriptional target of NF-κB and an indicator of proximal BCR signaling in ABC DLBCL. Unexpectedly, inactivation of N-linked protein glycosylation by the oligosaccharyltransferase-B (OST-B) complex reduced IRF4 expression. OST-B inhibition of BCR glycosylation reduced BCR clustering and internalization while promoting its association with CD22, which attenuated PI3 kinase and NF-κB activation. By directly interfering with proximal BCR signaling, OST-B inactivation killed models of ABC and GCB DLBCL, supporting the development of selective OST-B inhibitors for the treatment of these aggressive cancers.

Significance:

DLBCL depends on constitutive BCR activation and signaling. There are currently no therapeutics that target the BCR directly and attenuate its pathologic signaling. Here, we unraveled a therapeutically exploitable, OST-B–dependent glycosylation pathway that drives BCR organization and proximal BCR signaling.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1749
p53 Oligomerization Domain Mutants: A New Class of Mutants That Retain “License to Kill”
Authors: Stieg David , Casey Kaitlyn , Murphy Maureen E.
Published: May 2023

In this issue of Cancer Discovery, companion articles from the Prives and Lozano groups describe functional analyses of a common dimeric mutant of p53 found in Li–Fraumeni disease and sporadic cancer: A347D (AD). The authors show that the AD mutant is completely defective for canonical p53 transcriptional function, but interestingly retains some tumor suppressor function, which they show is manifested as “neomorphic” activities in transcription and the control of mitochondrial metabolism.

See related article by Gencel-Augusto et al., p. 1230 (7).

See related article by Choe et al., p. 1250 (6).
Supplementary Figure S2 from Epidermal growth factor receptor inhibition by cetuximab modulates hypoxia and interferon response genes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Chaudhary Ritu , Slebos Robbert J.C. , Noel Leenil C. , Song Feifei , Poole Maria I. , Hoening Dirk S , Hernandez-Prera Juan C. , Conejo-Garcia Jose R , Guevara Jose Alejandro , Wang Xuefeng , Xie Mengyu , Tan Aik Choon , Chung Christine H.
Published: May 2023

(A, B) Representative mIHC images showing staining of nuclei (blue), tumor cell (orange - PCK) and selected immune checkpoint markers in each molecular subgroup. (A) Images show four lymphoid markers - CD3+ T-cells (Green), CD8+ cytotoxic T-cells (Yellow), CD69+ activated T-cells (Red) and CD103+ resident memory T-cells (Cyan). (B) Images show three myeloid markers – HLA-DR+ APCs (Green), MHCII+ APCs (Cyan) and CD163+ M2 macrophages (Yellow).
(C) Linear model showing correlation between PD-L1 CPS and Immune, Mixture and Hypoxia subgroups.
(D-E) Boxplots showing cell counts distribution of different immune markers among the primary (n = 63) and recurrent (n = 20) tumors in TMA mIHC cohort. Students t-tests were used to test for significant differences between the groups.
Persistence of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae on red palm weevil-infested date palm trees in an arid environment
Authors: Yaacobi Gal , Salame Llora , Glazer Itamar
Published: May 2023

The persistence of the entomopathogenic nematode (EPN), Steinernema carpocapsae, was evaluated following application on date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) trees infested with the red palm weevil (RPW) Rhynchophorus ferrugineus in an arid environment. Live S. carpocapsae were detected in different sections of the tree trunk, including internal parts, in the soil, and from RPW cadavers. EPN third-stage infective juveniles were extracted from the palm stem tissue and soil up to 45 days and 180 days after application, respectively. Results support the high potential of commercial S. carpocapsae application as a useful biological control agent for R. ferrugineus in date palms in arid environments.
Rabbi Kook in Žeimelis: A Big Data Analysis
Authors: Hershkowitz Isaac
Published: May 2023

In this study I demonstrate a distant reading of Rabbi Kook’s early writings from the Žeimelis period, using advanced tools of big data analytics. Analyzing frequent words and phrases in the Žeimelis corpus is coupled with a comparison to the most important corpus of Kook’s writing: Shemonah Qevaṣim. This parallelization illustrates the clear and consistent differences between the corpora—verbal and phrasal—as well as some similarities. The Žeimelis period can be described as more particularistic in nature, with an emphasis on traditional rabbinic writing: a strong linkage to rabbinic classical sources, a clear differentiation between Halakhah and Kabbalah, and a wide perspective on numerous subjects, yet without blending them into one. Kook’s original teachings were not abandoned in later phases but rather reshaped in a more sophisticated manner. A pan(en)theistic disposition dominates his later works, effecting content and form in unique ways, and creating a more complex and intertwined philosophy.
Rescaffolding the bundle in Afroasiatic inflection
Authors: Shlonsky Ur
Published: May 2023

Person, number and gender features in the Afroasiatic verbal system are sometimes prefixes, sometimes suffixes and sometimes both. This paper attempts to derive the Tamazight and Hebrew systems using syntactic tools and eschewing postsyntactic or morphological linearization rules. My point of departure is that syntactic heads contain a single feature and that features can be assembled into bundles and placed to the left or to the right of a stem by syntactic movement alone. In the simplest case, a feature is prefixal when it is merged above the verbal stem and the verbal stem remains below it and is c-commanded by it and it is a suffix when the verbal stem moves above it. The often-complex combination of prefixes and suffixes in the languages studied arises from the combination of multiple steps of movement which can target the stem alone or a category it pied pipes or is pied piped by. Allomorphy is expressed in terms of selectional restrictions and an alternative to impoverishment is proposed to handle neutralization.
The Tigrinya zɨ- prefix
Authors: Cacchioli Gioia
Published: May 2023

Head-final languages are not expected to display verbal prefixes. However, in Tigrinya—a consistent SOV Ethio-Semitic language—the “relative marker” is a prefix that precedes the subordinate verb. Taking an antisymmetric and LCA approach to head-finality, I challenge the idea that what have been traditionally called prefixes in head-final languages have an intrinsic “prefixal morphological property”. Instead, I argue that prefixes are elements that are subject to specific syntactic constraints that result in them appearing in front of verbs. I therefore propose a new syntactic analysis of relative clauses in Tigrinya that explains not only the appearance of the prefix zɨ- on the left of the subordinate verb, but also its occurrence on both the verb and the auxiliary in periphrastic verbal forms expressing progressive aspect: I suggest that zɨ- is a marker of successive-cyclic movement.
Prefixes and suffixes in Afroasiatic
Authors: Kastner Itamar
Published: May 2023

How can we tell whether an agreement feature will end up as a prefix, a suffix, or a combination of exponents? Research on Afroasiatic languages has identified a number of asymmetries which can be found between prefixes and suffixes. This short review considers these asymmetries, points out three cross-Semitic generalizations, and outlines the possible sources for them. Four kinds of theoretical explanations are evaluated: Syntactic, Morphological, Morphotactic and Morphophonological.
In Charisma’s Wake: History, Divinity, and Change in Early Mādhva Vedānta
Authors: Stoker Valerie
Published: May 2023

As religious reformers who, since their origins in late thirteenth-century Tulunadu, sought to correct what they believed were false interpretations of the Vedic canon, Mādhva Brahmins have thought actively about processes of social and intellectual change. This article examines several Sanskrit texts attributed to fourteenth-century Mādhva authors that recount the movement’s origins and contemplate how past forces had corrupted the canon and what kind of circumstances might rehabilitate it. Of course, one of those circumstances was the advent of the movement’s founder, Śrī Madhvācārya (1238–1317) whose self-proclaimed divinity legitimated his reformist message. But while these texts elaborate Madhva’s supernatural identity so as to promote the Mādhva movement’s regional importance within Tulunadu, they also consider more mundane aspects of religious and social innovation. In the process, these texts acknowledge their divinely guided movement’s historical contingency. This acknowledgment complicates certain longstanding scholarly perspectives on premodern Sanskrit intellectuals’ attitudes towards change.
Interdecadal Changes in the Dominant Modes of Spring Snow Cover over the Tibetan Plateau around the Early 1990s
Authors: Zhang Chao , Jia XiaoJing , Duan AnMin , Hu Die
Published: May 2023

The current work investigated the interdecadal changes in the leading empirical orthogonal function (EOF) pattern of the interannual variation in spring [March–May (MAM)] snow-cover extent (SCE) over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) (SSC_TP). The leading EOF pattern of the SSC_TP is transformed from an east to west dipole pattern during the period 1970–89 (P1) to a monopole structure during the period 1991–2020 (P2). Observational analysis shows that during P1, the negative Antarctic Oscillation (AAO) (−AAO) is associated with low-level cross-equator southeasterly anomalies across the Bay of Bengal and transports more water vapor to the eastern TP. Moreover, at a high level, anomalous northerly winds accompanied by an anomalous sinking motion dominate the western TP, favoring an east-wet–west-dry dipole pattern of SSC_TP. Further analysis shows that the −AAO induces anomalous divergence over the Antarctic, which contributes to the formation of a Rossby wave source (RWS). This RWS is related to a northeastward-propagating atmospheric wave train that crosses the equator and contributes to the SSC_TP variation during P1. In contrast, in P2, the Arctic Oscillation (AO) is associated with a barotropic atmospheric wave train originating from southern Greenland, moving across the North Atlantic Ocean and North Africa and reaching the TP. This wave train results in significant positive vorticity and ascending airflow above the TP and favors a monopole pattern of the SSC_TP. Further analysis shows that the AO can induce divergence anomalies over southeastern Greenland and RWS anomalies there. This RWS induces an atmospheric wave train that propagates eastward and reaches the TP during P2. The above mechanisms have been supported by the results of numerical experiments performed using the linear baroclinic model.
Public support for affirmative action policies favouring women and migrants in recruitment processes: An international survey experiment
Authors: Möhring Katja , Teney Céline
Published: May 2023

Affirmative action policies (AAP) polarise the public debate in Western democracies as they involve favouring one candidate at the cost of others because of their group membership. Against this backdrop, we ran a factorial survey experiment in Denmark, France and Germany on the introduction of a hypothetical regulation favouring women and immigrants with equal qualifications in the recruitment process for a management position (N = 4264; YouGov online panel). Our data show that support for AAP for women is significantly greater than for immigrants in all three countries. Moreover, support for AAP is much higher in France than in Germany and Denmark. Germans and Danes show similar low support for AAP for immigrants, while support for AAP for women is higher in Germany than Denmark. We conducted multilevel regression models to investigate the power of several attitudinal factors in explaining target group and country differences. Results show that respondents’ varying levels of ethnic and gender prejudice and perceived disadvantage entirely explain target group differences in support for AAP. Furthermore, differences between Germany and Denmark in the support of AAP for women are explained by different levels of prejudices and perceived disadvantage, and attitudes towards state intervention. However, these attitudinal variables cannot explain why support for AAP is much higher in France.
Incidental Preduodenal Portal Vein Causing Partial Duodenal Obstruction and Hypertrophied Pre-Pyloric Gastric Polyp
Authors: Briscoe W. Eric , Urevick Alexander , Fisher Jeremy , Bhattacharya S. Dave
Published: May 2023

Preduodenal portal vein (PDPV) is a rare congenital anomaly in which the portal vein lies anterior to the duodenum rather than its normal posterior position. It is a known rare cause of duodenal obstruction and can be associated with other anomalies such as malrotation with or without jejunal atresia. Presented is an incidentally found PDPV causing partial duodenal obstruction during exploration for the resection of a gastric mass and placement of open gastrostomy tube for feeding. This was managed with duodenoduodenostomy, re-creating normal anatomy with portal.
Design and characteristic research of smart rod based on optical fiber grating for strain monitoring of power transmission tower
Authors: Min Xue , Chun Zhu , Binai Li , Wenbin Zhao , Fenghong Chu , Rui Zhu , Binxia Yuan
Published: May 2023

The safety of the power transmission towers is the basis for the reliable operation of the power grid. Real-time monitoring of the strain of the key rods of the power transmission tower can reflect the safety status of the power transmission tower. In this paper, a smart rod equipped with fiber Bragg grating with strain sensitivity enhanced structure is proposed to detect the strain of key rods of large-span power transmission towers on the southeast coast of the Yangtze River. The smart rod can be connected with the power transmission tower rod through the foot nails and the force on the tower can be transformed effectively. This structure has the advantages of convenient installation and no damage to the power transmission tower. Prestress can be applied to fiber Bragg grating equipped in the smart rod through the prestressed sleeve and can be continuously and accurately adjusted, sensitivity of the fiber Bragg grating was enhanced by strain sensitivity enhanced structure. The relationship between force and strain of fiber Bragg grating installed in the smart rod was analyzed by ANSYS software. Experimental results show that the sensitivity of the fiber Bragg grating strain sensor in the smart rod is 13 times that of the conventional structure fiber Bragg grating strain sensor, and the linearity between the fiber Bragg grating wavelength change and force is as high as 0.999. Temperature compensation was realized through temperature measurement fiber Bragg grating installed in the smart rod. This structure can be used to measure the strain of a large-span power transmission tower from 0 to 2000 με with an accuracy of 0.1 με with good repeatability.
Hybrid optimization algorithm for thermal displacement compensation of computer numerical control machine tool using regression analysis and fuzzy inference
Authors: Chang Ping-Yueh , Yang Po-Yuan , Chou Fu-I , Chen Shao-Hsien
Published: May 2023

During the machining process, the computer numerical control machine is susceptible to variations in ambient temperature, cutting heat, and friction within the transmission parts, which generate different heat sources. These heat sources affect the machine structure in different ways, causing deformation of the machine and displacement of the tooltip and workpiece position, ultimately resulting in deviations in machining accuracy. The amount of thermal drift depends on several factors, including the material of the machine components, the cutting conditions, the duration of the machining process, and the environment. This study proposes a hybrid optimization algorithm to optimize the thermal variables of computer numerical control machine tool spindles. The proposed approach combines regression analysis and fuzzy inference to model the thermal behavior of the spindle. Spindle speed and 16 temperature measurement points distributed on the machine are input factors, while the spindle's axial thermal error is considered an output factor. This study develops a regression equation for each speed to account for the different temperature rise slopes and spindle thermal variations at different speeds. The experimental results show that the hybrid thermal displacement compensation framework proposed in this study effectively reduces the thermal displacement error caused by spindle temperature variation. Furthermore, the study finds that the model can be adapted to significant variations in environmental conditions by limiting the machining speed range, which significantly reduces the amount of data needed for model adaptation and shortens the adaptation time of the thermal displacement compensation model. As a result, this framework can indirectly improve product yield. The effects observed in this study are remarkable.
Prayer as an actant: Freedom and sociality in the subject formation of a Catholic nun in Kerala, South India
Authors: Antony Anu K , Robinson Rowena
Published: May 2023

Going beyond current sociological and anthropological understandings, the article harnesses Latour’s idea of actant to grasp prayer as a comparatively independent entity, analytically cleavable from the nun’s act of praying. Based on an ethnographic study of two indigenous congregations of Catholic nuns in Kerala, India, the article argues that conceptualising prayer as actant takes it out of pure interior spirituality and re-imagines it as a form of the sociality of a nun, which includes her relationships with herself, with God, and with those inside and outside the convent, particularly those who solicit her prayers. Perceiving prayer as an actant brings the non-human, divine but real and active presence of God into sociological conversation, enabling us to examine its crucial place in the discipline and formation of the nun as a subject within her everyday life in the congregation. Moreover, analysing its diverse modes locates prayer within the networks and relationships of the congregational community, thereby engaging Foucault’s subjectivation with Latour’s actant.
Explaining Social Selectivity in Study Abroad Participation of German Students between 1994 and 2016
Authors: Aerts Nathalie , Van Mol Christof
Published: May 2023

In recent years, it has been well established that study abroad participation is a socially selective process. Today, scholars generally focus on single social markers, often using cross-sectional data. In this article, we instead adopt an intersectional and longitudinal approach to improve our understanding of the development of social selectivity in study abroad, with a particular focus on the intersection between socioeconomic background and gender. Our analyses are based on the Learning Conditions and Student Orientations (N = 49,931), a representative survey of German higher education students, and covers the period 1994 to 2016. Our analyses indicate that social selectivity in German study abroad programs increased in 2003 and remained stable afterward, which can be partly explained by differences in cultural, economic, and social capital. Finally, our analysis suggests that cultural capital also explains the gender imbalance in study abroad programmes.
A modified tissue expander method for ear reconstruction in patients with excessively insufficient postauricular skin
Authors: Liang Jiaxin , Cao Tongyu , Wang Yue , Wang Bingqing , Qian Jin , Chen Qi , Zhang Qingguo
Published: May 2023

Objective

For microtia patients with excessively insufficient postauricular skin, it is difficult to obtain a satisfied outcome with existing strategies. In this study, we developed a modified tissue expander method for auricular reconstruction.

Methods

The modified tissue expander method divided into 4 stages. In the first stage, a 30 ml or 50 ml kidney-shaped tissue expander was implanted in the mastoid region. A short time expansion (average 33.5 days) was conducted subsequently. In the second stage, the expander was removed and a modified cartilage framework without tragus was inserted through the same incision. A crescent-shaped cartilage pad was inserted into the incision of cartilage-harvest site at the same time. In the third stage, the reconstructed ear was elevated. Lobule rotation and remanent modification were performed in the fourth stage. The patients were followed up between half a year and 10 years. The outcomes of the reconstructed ears were scored with evaluation criteria.

Results

From January 2010 to December 2019, a total of 45 microtia patients with excessively insufficient postauricular skin were performed the modified tissue expander method. Fourty-two patients showed satisfied outcomes. Complications such as hyperpigmentation in the skin graft area (3, 6.7%), scar hyperplasia (3, 6.7%) and folliculitis (1, 2.2%) were found. There were no complications related to the tissue expander.

Conclusion

The modified tissue expander method is an effective and safe technique for auricular reconstruction in patients having excessively insufficient postauricular skin, with satisfying medium-term results.
Extending Migrants’ Rights but Limiting Long-Term Settlement: Migrant Integration Policy Trends in EU and OECD Countries Between 2010 and 2019
Authors: Solano Giacomo , Schmid Samuel D. , Helbling Marc
Published: May 2023

Due to a lack of data, quantitative analysis of integration policy trends during the past decade has received limited attention. This research note presents newly collected data from the Migrant Integration Policy Index, which includes information on several different policy areas related to migrant integration in 36 EU and OECD countries between 2010 and 2019. Employing a wide set of methods, we investigate whether migrant integration policies have become more liberal or restrictive and whether they have converged across these countries during this period. We find that overall these policies have become more liberal, except in non-EU countries as well as in the areas of family reunion and permanent residence. However, the magnitude of these changes is rather small. We also show that there has been a trend of convergence in integration policy, which varies in intensity across policy areas. We conclude that while migrants’ rights have been extended, long-term settlement has been limited. The popular idea that this decade, marked by crises, has triggered a comprehensive restrictive backlash in migrant integration policies is refuted.
Analysis and Prediction of Pothole Formation Rate Using Spatial Density Measurements and Pavement Condition Indicators
Authors: Abed Ahmed , Rahman Mujib , Thom Nick , Hargreaves David , Li Linglin , Airey Gordon
Published: May 2023

Potholes represent one of the dangerous distress types on roads. They form as a result of various factors, including water ingress, freeze–thaw, and pavement condition deterioration. In the UK, 1.7 million potholes were repaired in 2021; this critical number causes significant economic, social, and environmental impacts; there is no tool able to predict the number of potholes that might appear in a road network. This study aims to analyze pothole formation and its relationship with other distress types and their severity, and to develop a simple tool able to predict the number of potholes that might appear in a road network based on the network condition. Significant pothole data from the road network of Greater London between 2017 and 2020, in addition to surface distress data, were used in this study. ‘Spatial density’ and ‘join’ tools embedded in ArcGIS were used to correlate pothole spatial density (PSD) with the road condition surrounding the potholes. This analysis was then used to calculate PSD as a function of different condition indicators, such as road condition index and crack intensity, allowing prediction of the number of potholes based on the length and condition of the sections being analyzed. The results demonstrate that potholes are significantly concentrated in sections with deteriorated conditions. They also show that it is possible to predict the number of potholes using PSD with reasonable accuracy. Lastly, it was found that sections with low crossfall are more susceptible to pothole formation, presumably because of water ponding and consequent damage.
Multimodal Public Transit Network Design Method Based on Hub-and-Spoke Infrastructure
Authors: Boutarfa Zakaria , Gok Mustafa
Published: May 2023

This paper presents a two-phase method for generating a hub-and-spoke network for a multimodal public transit network (MPTN). The first phase addresses the problem of clustering in MPTNs, which is a key operation in solving the hub location problem (HLP) in MPTN design. However, previous work often oversimplifies or neglects the clustering phase, so this study presents a spatial clustering algorithm that can process real urban MPTNs without reducing their size or dividing them into zones. The algorithm is tested on four large city datasets and compared with popular spatial clustering algorithms. In the second phase, a heuristic algorithm is presented that aims to maximize network coverage. The proposed method is tested using the MPTN of Greater London and the resulting hub-and-spoke network is compared with the Journey API provided by Transport for London. The results show that the total travel time is improved by 16.9% with a strict hubbing policy. Transportation planners can adapt the proposed method to their specific needs by changing the size and number of clusters using the cluster scaling factor ([Formula: see text]) parameter and including or excluding any criteria in the decision equations.
Deglobalization and the political psychology of white supremacy
Authors: Kinnvall Catarina , Kisić Merino Pasko
Published: May 2023

This article is concerned with the psychological dimensions of deglobalization and white supremacy as related to fantasies of “whiteness.” The (re)construction of narratives and myths are contested processes, concerning both the struggle for control over historical and cultural space as well as the articulation of particular needs for individuals and groups in the present. We explore the stories and myths created around globalization, (in)security, and the nation. Of importance is how deglobalization and emerging ontological insecurities relate to various fantasy narratives and how these can be understood in psychological terms of dislocation, hybridity, and impermanence in conjunction with a search for security and stability. The implications of these processes on contemporary political identities are of crucial importance as they are able to speak to some of the most contested issues of our times: the threat of extremist and white supremacist groups and discourses to democracy and democratic institutions.
Dunning–Kruger effect and flat-earthers: An exploratory analysis
Authors: Arroyo-Barrigüete Jose Luis , Bellón Núñez-Mera Carlos , Labrador Fernández Jesús , De Nicolas Victor Luis
Published: May 2023

This article aims to analyze the factors influencing belief in a flat Earth. We focus on Spain, a country that sadly has some of the most relevant figures on this topic in the Spanish-speaking world. After a qualitative analysis of YouTube videos on the main channels on the subject, a survey was carried out on 1252 individuals. The results point to two conclusions. First is the presence of a considerable Dunning–Kruger effect among flat-earthers. There is a significant negative correlation between science literacy—overall and practically all its dimensions—and overconfidence in science in this group. The second, evaluated through a regression tree, confirms that the interaction of low scientific literacy and overconfidence is highly relevant in explaining the belief in a flat earth. Neither factor alone is determinant, but the combination of the two (low scientific literacy and high overconfidence) leads to high levels of flat earth belief.
Responsible School Leadership: Exploring Role Expansion in Crisis and Beyond
Authors: Stone-Johnson Corrie , Hubbard Lea , Resultan Barbara , Steilen Kate
Published: May 2023

Crisis events external to schools can present challenges for teaching and learning, and the ways that school leaders respond to these challenges both immediately and over time can have implications that extend beyond the crisis itself. Drawing on responsible leadership theory (Maak, 2007; Maak & Pless, 2006; Pless, 2007; Pless & Maak, 2011), our qualitative interview study with 26 elementary school principals in 14 states explores how school leaders facilitate learning in a time of crisis. We find that leaders who built and sustained relationships both within their immediate community of stakeholders and beyond with the local district and networks of principal peers ultimately addressed the immediate needs of students as well as created the conditions to support these needs over time. These positive changes impacted all students, but specifically benefitted the schools’ most vulnerable learners, including students receiving special education and English language service. These findings draw attention to the importance of understanding the role that responsible leadership plays in school crisis leadership, specifically the necessity of weaving and brokering relationships that help leaders achieve not only their school-level goals but societal goals, including more equitable learning outcomes, while highlighting the implications of what we identify as role expansion for school leaders.
The road to European parliament mandate for populist radical-right parties: Selecting the ‘perfect’ AfD candidate
Authors: Kamenova Valeriya
Published: May 2023

With growing public distrust toward European institutions, Eurosceptic populist radical-right parties make up almost a third of MEPs in the current European Parliament. As part of the larger scholarly debate on populist parties’ success, this article examines intra-party selection logic for the ‘perfect’ populist radical-right MEP candidate. Using original data from participant observation and interviews with Alternative for Germany delegates during the 2018/2019 European Election Assembly, this study suggests that party members were more likely to be selected as candidates if they (1) possessed extensive network with right-wing social movements to strengthen their electoral mobilization; (2) and showed strong commitment to party cohesion and good reputation to fend off accusations of racism and Nazism.
Foreigners’ crime and punishment: Punitive application of immigration law as a substitute for criminal justice
Authors: Könönen Jukka
Published: May 2023

Notwithstanding claims about the emergence of ‘crimmigration’ systems, immigration law and criminal law entail two different sets of instruments for authorities to control foreign nationals. Drawing on an analysis of removal orders for foreign offenders in Finland, this article demonstrates that significant administrative powers in immigration enforcement are employed largely autonomously from the criminal justice system. Immigration law enables the police and immigration officials to issue removal orders based on fines or penal orders for (suspected) minor offences, without obtaining criminal convictions. In addition to disproportionate administrative sanctions for foreign nationals, removal orders involve a preventive rationale targeting future risks for the society based on the assumed continuation of criminal activities. While criminal courts adjudicate all severe offences, punitive application of immigration law enables authorities to bypass criminal justice procedures and safeguards, resulting in a distinct, administrative punitive system for visiting third-country nationals.
Diplomacy Versus Politics: Two Mutually (In)Dependent Systems
Authors: Nishikawa-Pacher Andreas
Published: May 2023

Diplomacy is often presented as subordinated to politics as if it merely received politically willed ‘inputs’ to produce politically structured ‘outputs’. However, diplomacy often deviates from political instructions. It can even operate almost without any political considerations whatsoever. This observation gives rise to a sense that politics and diplomacy operate as two separate systems that are mutually dependent and yet simultaneously independent from each other. To illuminate this relationship, the present paper draws from Modern Systems Theory (especially Parsons and Luhmann) to argue that politics and diplomacy engage in double interchanges: (1) they stimulate each other through premises for actions like ‘foreign policy goals’, and (2) they implement each other such that diplomatic happenings can be booked as political successes and vice versa. The discussion section outlines how the autonomy of the two systems varies empirically – such as in the case of politically appointed diplomats – and how extreme cases of autonomous operations (apolitical diplomacy or adiplomatic politics) face negative sanctions.
Arctic Specimens in the Zoological Collections at the Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Norway (NHMO)
Authors: Johannessen Lars Erik , Johnsen Arild , Koppetsch Thore , Lifjeld Jan Terje , Matschiner Michael , Søli Geir E. E. , Voje Kjetil Lysne
Published: May 2023

In the NHMO zoological collections, specimens from the Arctic include about 9,000 mammals and 7,100 birds, whereas the Insect Collection holds about 105,000 specimens plus more than hundred jars with unsorted material. The Fish Collection contains approximately 1,400 specimens, while the Herptile Collection (amphibians & reptiles) holds only thirty-one specimens of three taxa. Many of these specimens originate from expeditions to E Greenland, N Canada, Svalbard, Novaya Zemlya, Finnmark, and NE Siberia in the period 1898 to 1966. Furthermore, the DNA Bank has about 5,600 tissue and extracted DNA samples, mostly sampled from wild animals during the last decades but also from specimens in the voucher collections. Most of the Arctic specimens have been digitized and are available in online data portals like GBIF, except for the Insect Collection, where only the type material and about 30 percent of the total specimens are digitized.
Feasibility of a Cinematic-Virtual Reality Training Program for Health Professional Students: A Single-Arm Pre-Post Study
Authors: McCalla Monet M. , Jones DeWitt , Grice Re’Aija , Love Matthew , Love Carrie , Lammert Lori , Beverly Elizabeth A.
Published: May 2023

Background:

Cinematic-virtual reality (cine-VR) has demonstrated improvements in cultural self-efficacy, diabetes attitudes, and empathy among healthcare providers, but its impact on health professional students is unknown. The purpose of the single-arm pre-post study was to examine the feasibility of this cine-VR diabetes training program as well as to assess changes in cultural self-efficacy, diabetes attitudes, and empathy among health professional students.

Method:

Participants viewed 12 cine-VR 12 simulations about a 72-year-old patient with type 2 diabetes. Pre-training and post-training, they completed the Transcultural Self-Efficacy Tool, Diabetes Attitude Scale-3, and Jefferson Scale of Empathy.

Results:

All 92 participants completed the full training. No participants reported technological difficulties or adverse events. For the assessment, 66 participants completed the pre-post measures for a response rate of 71.7% (mean age = 21.1 ± 1.9 years, 82.6% [n = 57] women; 84.1% [n = 58] white). We observed positive improvements in all three cultural self-efficacy subscales: “Cognitive” ( t value = −4.705, P < .001), “Practical” (mean change = −.99, t value = −4.240, P < .001), and “Affective” ( t value = −2.763, P = .008). Similarly, we observed positive improvements in four of the five diabetes attitude subscales: “Need for special training” ( Z = −4.281, P < .001), “Seriousness of type 2 diabetes” ( Z = −3.951, P < .001), “Value of tight glucose control” ( Z = −1.676, P = .094), “Psychosocial impact of diabetes” ( Z = −5.892, P < .001), and “Attitude toward patient autonomy” ( Z = −2.889, P = .005). Finally, we observed a positive improvement in empathy ( t value = −5.151, P < .001).

Conclusions:

Findings suggest that the cine-VR diabetes training program has the potential to improve cultural self-efficacy, diabetes attitudes, and empathy among health professional students. A randomized controlled trial is needed to confirm its effectiveness.
When Sleep is Elusive: The Spiritual Consequences and Means Towards Coping With Insomnia
Authors: Schwanda Tom
Published: May 2023

Insomnia is legion in our contemporary world; yet, it is hardly a new experience. This article provides a historical review of the spirituality of insomnia. While sleep is a necessity to function well followers of Jesus from every tradition across the centuries have often practiced an asceticism that privileged their prayers over their sleep. Yet paradoxically to neglect sleep produces a myriad of consequences that weakens a person spiritually both in relation to God and others. This confronts every sleepless disciple with the decision whether they will respond with anger or acceptance of their lack of sleep. The largest section of this essay focuses on how believers sought to cope with God’s “disguised sweetness” during the night watches. Their responses can be summarized primarily in two ways, proper preparation for setting the best mood for falling asleep and more difficultly how to respond when you awake and can’t resume sleeping. Central to coping with insomnia is the recognition that God is the Lord of all time and is in as much control of the wakeful nights as the during the normal days.
Mesenchymal Stem Cell–Derived Extracellular Vesicles Protect Rat Nucleus Pulposus Cells from Oxidative Stress
Authors: Ekram Sobia , Khalid Shumaila , Ramzan Faiza , Salim Asmat , Bashir Imtiaz , Durrieu Marie Christine , Khan Irfan
Published: May 2023

Background

Oxidative stress (OS) is mainly associated with the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration; it causes nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) to undergo senescence and triggers autophagy and apoptosis. This study aims to evaluate the regeneration potential of extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from human umbilical cord-mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) in an in vitro rat NPC-induced OS model.

Design

NPCs were isolated from rat coccygeal discs, propagated, and characterized. OS was induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which is confirmed by 2,7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (H2DCFDA) assay. EVs were isolated from hUC-MSCs and characterized by analyzing the vesicles using fluorescence microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM), atomic force microscope (AFM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and Western blot (WB). The in vitro effects of EVs on migration, uptake, and survival of NPCs were determined.

Results

SEM and AFM topographic images revealed the size distribution of EVs. The phenotypes of isolated EVs showed that the size of EVs was 403.3 ± 85.94 nm, and the zeta potential was −0.270 ± 4.02 mV. Protein expression analysis showed that EVs were positive for CD81 and annexin V. Treatment of NPCs with EVs reduced H2O2-induced OS as evidenced by a decrease in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Co-culture of NPCs with DiI-labeled EVs showed the cellular internalization of EVs. In the scratch assay, EVs significantly increased NPC proliferation and migration toward the scratched area. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that EVs significantly reduced the expression of OS genes.

Conclusion

EVs protected NPCs from H2O2-induced OS by reducing intracellular ROS generation and improved NPC proliferation and migration.
Is paracetamol prescribed appropriately in elderly patients admitted for a fall? – A Geriatrician’s perspective
Authors: Yap Angela Frances Hui Wen , Dhaliwal Trishpal Kaur , Varman Surendra Doraiswamy
Published: May 2023

Background

Paracetamol is a commonly used analgesic among older adults. There have been reports of adverse events with chronic paracetamol use even at therapeutic doses. The objective of this clinical audit is twofold – 1. To evaluate the prevalence of inappropriate paracetamol prescription in the elderly admitted for falls; 2. To introduce strategies to reduce the rate of inappropriate paracetamol prescription in this population.

Methods

A clinical audit was performed on 100 patients aged 75 years and older who were admitted to the Geriatric Medicine department of a tertiary hospital between July 2019 and October 2019 with a primary diagnosis of a fall. Data collected included demographic data, relevant medical history of cirrhosis, cognitive impairment, alcohol use and weight <50 kg, prescription pattern of paracetamol on day 1 or two of admission and on discharge as well as clinical data on the documented indications for paracetamol use.

Results

Paracetamol was prescribed in 84 patients. Out of these 84 patients, 56 were prescribed round-the-clock paracetamol with a median duration of 9 (IQR = 10) days. In this group, paracetamol use was inappropriate in 32 (57%) of them and 32 (57%) patients were discharged with round-the-clock paracetamol for a median duration of 17.5 (IQR = 46) days.

Conclusion

This clinical audit revealed a high prevalence of round-the-clock and inappropriate paracetamol prescription in elderly patients admitted for a fall. Moving forward, we hope that the implementation of a paracetamol prescribing algorithm may reduce the rates of inappropriate paracetamol prescribing in this population.