bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Threshold Study for Hanzi Image Recognition: Defining Character and Component Limits in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Script Processing
Authors: Li Weigang , Ramos Rafael Marconi , Brom Pedro Carvalho , Li Danilo Lelin
Published: December 2024

Chinese, Japanese, and Korean (CJK) Hanzi image recognition still faces significant challenges, particularly with pixel resolution, stroke count, character frequency and structure. This paper introduces the concepts of character and component thresholds to establish foundational parameters for Hanzi recognition, considering Unevenly Distributed Composite Character (UDCC), which account for up to 88% of Chinese characters. We compiled corpora of Simplified, Traditional characters, and Japanese Kanji, analyzing 3395 images with stroke counts ranging from 1 to 64, and developed the ZH-TC-IM965858 database, containing 33,950 images across 10 pixel resolutions. Using Euclidean distance and ResNet50 similarity analysis, we identified a character threshold of 26 strokes for 24×24 pixel images, a component threshold of 14 strokes, and a comprehensive threshold of 16 strokes. We found that 7.61% of 8105 common Chinese characters, 27.41% of 96,585 Traditional characters, and 5.99% of 2163 Japanese Kanji exceed this comprehensive threshold. Character Length and Character Frequency (CLCF) models were employed to explore relationships between stroke count, frequency, and thresholds. Additionally, Scale-invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) was applied to match radicals and components, providing insights for improving recognition accuracy. This research advances Hanzi image recognition and enhances multimodal Large Language Models (LLMs) for ideographic languages.
Deciphering the Selective Targeting of Noncovalent, Wild Type-sparing, and ATP-competitive Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors to EGFR T790M Gatekeeper Mutant
Authors: Meng Shu , Cheng Jin , Wu Hongyan , Wang Jing
Published: December 2024

Various tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been developed to target human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) for cancer therapy. However, many patients treated with first-line TKIs are clinically observed to eventually establish a gatekeeper T790M mutation in the ATP-binding site of the EGFR kinase domain, which is primarily responsible for acquired drug resistance to cancers. Over the past decades, a number of noncovalent, wild-type-sparing and ATP-competitive inhibitors (NWAIs) were reported to selectively target the T790M mutant over wild-type kinase, which are independent of the traditional inhibitor classification system that categorizes EGFR TKIs into four generations. Here, we systematically investigated the intermolecular interaction of wild-type EGFR (EGFR[Formula: see text] and its T790M mutant (EGFR[Formula: see text] with 15 existing NWAI inhibitors, paying attention to the structural and energetic responses of inhibitor ligands to the gatekeeper mutation. It was revealed that the NWAIs can be typed into three classes I, II and III, which can form S[Formula: see text] interactions, hydrophobic (van der Waals) contacts and weak hydrogen (halogen) bonding with the side-chain thioether moiety of the mutant Met790 residue, respectively, thus conferring additional affinity and specificity to inhibitor ligands upon the T790M mutation. In addition, we further performed 2D-chemical similarity search to identify new class I NWAIs, from which two Staurosporine analogs (i.e. UCN01 and ZHD0501) were identified to have a good selectivity for EGFR[Formula: see text] over EGFR[Formula: see text]. They can be exploited as promising leading chemical scaffolds to further develop potent, selective, wild-type-sparing NWAI inhibitors of EGFR[Formula: see text] gatekeeper mutant.
Common Neighborhood Estimation over Bipartite Graphs under Local Differential Privacy
Authors: He Yizhang , Wang Kai , Zhang Wenjie , Lin Xuemin , Zhang Ying
Published: December 2024

Bipartite graphs, formed by two vertex layers, arise as a natural fit for modeling the relationships between two groups of entities. In bipartite graphs, common neighborhood computation between two vertices on the same vertex layer is a basic operator, which is easily solvable in general settings. However, it inevitably involves releasing the neighborhood information of vertices, posing a significant privacy risk for users in real-world applications. To protect edge privacy in bipartite graphs, in this paper, we study the problem of estimating the number of common neighbors of two vertices on the same layer under edge local differential privacy (edge LDP). The problem is challenging in the context of edge LDP since each vertex on the opposite layer of the query vertices can potentially be a common neighbor. To obtain efficient and accurate estimates, we propose a multiple-round framework that significantly reduces the candidate pool of common neighbors and enables the query vertices to construct unbiased estimators locally. Furthermore, we improve data utility by incorporating the estimators built from the neighbors of both query vertices and devise privacy budget allocation optimizations. These improve the estimator's robustness and consistency, particularly against query vertices with imbalanced degrees. Extensive experiments on 15 datasets validate the effectiveness and efficiency of our proposed techniques.
GOLAP: A GPU-in-Data-Path Architecture for High-Speed OLAP
Authors: Boeschen Nils , Ziegler Tobias , Binnig Carsten
Published: December 2024

In this paper, we suggest a novel GPU-in-data-path architecture that leverages a GPU to accelerate the I/O path and thus can achieve almost in-memory bandwidth using SSDs. In this architecture, the main idea is to stream data in heavy-weight compressed blocks from SSDs directly into the GPU and decompress it on-the-fly as part of the table scan to inflate data before processing it by downstream query operators. Furthermore, we employ novel GPU-optimized pruning techniques that help us further inflate the perceived read bandwidth. In our evaluation, we show that the GPU-in-data-path architecture can achieve an effective bandwidth of up to 100 GiB/s, surpassing existing in-memory systems' capabilities.
Transforming RDF Graphs to Property Graphs using Standardized Schemas
Authors: Rabbani Kashif , Lissandrini Matteo , Bonifati Angela , Hose Katja
Published: December 2024

Knowledge Graphs can be encoded using different data models. They are especially abundant using RDF and recently also as property graphs. While knowledge graphs in RDF adhere to the subject-predicate-object structure, property graphs utilize multi-labeled nodes and edges, featuring properties as key/value pairs. Both models are employed in various contexts, thus applications often require transforming data from one model to another. To enhance the interoperability of the two models, we present a novel technique, S3PG, to convert RDF knowledge graphs into property graphs exploiting two popular standards to express schema constraints, i.e., SHACL for RDF and PG-Schema for property graphs. S3PG is the first approach capable of transforming large knowledge graphs to property graphs while fully preserving information and semantics. We have evaluated S3PG on real-world large-scale graphs, showing that, while existing methods exhibit lossy transformations (causing a loss of up to 70% of query answers), S3PG consistently achieves 100% accuracy. Moreover, when considering evolving graphs, S3PG exhibits fully monotonic behavior and requires only a fraction of the time to incorporate changes compared to existing methods.
Personalized Truncation for Personalized Privacy
Authors: Sun Dajun , Dong Wei , Qiu Yuan , Yi Ke
Published: December 2024

In the standard model of differential privacy (DP), every user's privacy is treated equally, which is captured by a single privacy parameter \varepsilon. However, in many real-world situations, users may have diverse privacy concerns and requirements, some conservative while others liberal. This is formalized by the model of
personalized differential privacy (PDP),
where each user may have a different privacy parameter \varepsilon. However, existing techniques for PDP cannot provide good utility for many fundamental problems such as basic counting and sum estimation. In this paper, we present the
personalized truncation mechanism
for these problems under PDP. We first show that, theoretically, it is never worse than previous mechanisms (up to polylogarithmic factors) on any instance, while can be much better in certain cases. Then we use extensive experiments on both real and synthetic data to demonstrate its empirical advantages. Our mechanism also works for user-level DP, thus supporting a large class of SJA queries over relational databases under foreign-key constraints.
Review and Comparative Evaluation of Resource-Adaptive Collaborative Training for Heterogeneous Edge Devices
Authors: Radovič Boris , Canini Marco , Pejović Veljko
Published: December 2024

Growing concerns about centralized mining of personal data threatens to stifle further proliferation of machine learning (ML) applications. Consequently, a recent trend in ML training advocates for a paradigm shift – moving the computation of ML models from a centralized server to a federation of edge devices owned by the users whose data is to be mined. Though such decentralization aims to alleviate concerns related to raw data sharing, it introduces a set of challenges due to the hardware heterogeneity among the devices possessing the data. The heterogeneity may, in the most extreme cases, impede the participation of low-end devices in the training or even prevent the deployment of the ML model to such devices.

Recent research in distributed collaborative machine learning (DCML) promises to address the issue of ML model training over heterogeneous devices. However, the actual extent to which the issue is solved remains unclear, especially as an independent investigation of the proposed methods’ performance in realistic settings is missing. In this paper, we present a detailed survey and an evaluation of algorithms that aim to enable collaborative model training across diverse devices. We explore approaches that harness three major strategies for DCML, namely Knowledge Distillation, Split Learning, and Partial Training, and we conduct a thorough experimental evaluation of these approaches on a real-world testbed of 14 heterogeneous devices. Our analysis compares algorithms based on the resulting model accuracy, memory consumption, CPU utilization, network activity, and other relevant metrics, and provides guidelines for practitioners as well as pointers for future research in DCML.
FedPref: Federated Learning Across Heterogeneous Multi-objective Preferences
Authors: Hartmann Maria , Danoy Grégoire , Bouvry Pascal
Published: December 2024

The Federated Learning paradigm is a distributed machine learning strategy, developed for settings where training data is owned by distributed devices and cannot be shared with others. Federated Learning circumvents this constraint by carrying out model training in distribution, so that each participant, or client, trains a local model only on its own data. The parameters of these local models are shared intermittently among participants and aggregated to enhance model accuracy. This strategy has shown impressive success, and has been rapidly adopted by the industry in efforts to overcome confidentiality and resource constraints in model training.

However, the application of FL to real-world settings brings additional challenges, many associated with heterogeneity between participants. Research into mitigating these difficulties in Federated Learning has largely focused on only two particular types of heterogeneity: the unbalanced distribution of training data, and differences in client resources. Yet many more types of heterogeneity exist, and some are becoming increasingly relevant as the capability of FL expands to cover more and more complex real-world problems, from the tuning of large language models to enabling machine learning on edge devices. In this work, we discuss a novel type of heterogeneity that is likely to become increasingly relevant in future applications: this is
preference heterogeneity
, emerging when clients learn under multiple objectives, with different importance assigned to each objective on different clients. In this work, we discuss the implications of this type of heterogeneity and propose a FedPref, a first algorithm designed to facilitate personalised federated learning in this setting. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithm across several different problems, preference distributions and model architectures. In addition, we introduce a new analytical point of view, based on multi-objective metrics, for evaluating the performance of federated algorithms in this setting beyond the traditional client-focused metrics. We perform a second experimental analysis based in this view, and show that FedPref outperforms compared algorithms.
T Cell Development and Responses in Human Immune System Mice
Authors: Khosravi-Maharlooei Mohsen , Li Hao Wei , Sykes Megan
Published: December 2024

Human Immune System (HIS) mice constructed with mature human immune cells or with human hematopoietic stem cells and thymic tissue have provided an important tool for human immunological research. In this article, we first review the different types of HIS mice based on human tissues transplanted and sources of the tissues. We then focus on knowledge of human T cell development and responses obtained using HIS mouse models. These areas include the development of human T cell subsets, with a focus on
$\upalpha$

$\upbeta$
conventional T cells and regulatory T cells, and human T cell responses in the settings of infection, transplantation rejection and tolerance, autoimmune disease, cancer immunotherapy, and regulatory T cell therapy. We also discuss the limitations and potential future applications of HIS mouse models.
Tracing the Evolution of Human Immunity Through Ancient DNA
Authors: Patin Etienne , Quintana-Murci Lluis
Published: December 2024

Infections have imposed strong selection pressures throughout human evolution, making the study of natural selection's effects on immunity genes highly complementary to disease-focused research. This review discusses how ancient DNA studies, which have revolutionized evolutionary genetics, increase our understanding of the evolution of human immunity. These studies have shown that interbreeding between modern humans and Neanderthals or Denisovans has influenced present-day immune responses, particularly to viruses. Additionally, ancient genomics enables the tracking of how human immunity has evolved across cultural transitions, highlighting strong selection since the Bronze Age in Europe (<4,500 years) and potential genetic adaptations to epidemics raging during the Middle Ages and the European colonization of the Americas. Furthermore, ancient genomic studies suggest that the genetic risk for noninfectious immune disorders has gradually increased over millennia because alleles associated with increased risk for autoimmunity and inflammation once conferred resistance to infections. The challenge now is to extend these findings to diverse, non-European populations and to provide a more global understanding of the evolution of human immunity.
SARS-CoV-2: The Interplay Between Evolution and Host Immunity
Authors: Case James Brett , Jain Shilpi , Suthar Mehul S. , Diamond Michael S.
Published: December 2024

The persistence of SARS-CoV-2 infections at a global level reflects the repeated emergence of variant strains encoding unique constellations of mutations. These variants have been generated principally because of a dynamic host immune landscape, the countermeasures deployed to combat disease, and selection for enhanced infection of the upper airway and respiratory transmission. The resulting viral diversity creates a challenge for vaccination efforts to maintain efficacy, especially regarding humoral aspects of protection. Here, we review our understanding of how SARS-CoV-2 has evolved during the pandemic, the immune mechanisms that confer protection, and the impact viral evolution has had on transmissibility and adaptive immunity elicited by natural infection and/or vaccination. Evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 evolution initially selected variants with increased transmissibility but currently is driven by immune escape. The virus likely will continue to drift to maintain fitness until countermeasures capable of disrupting transmission cycles become widely available.
Perspective—Rising Era of Green Semiconductors at Nanoscale: Challenges and Prospects
Authors: Chaudhary Vishal
Published: December 2024

Semiconductors with nanoscale dimensions are indispensable vectors for devising modern-age electronics-enabled technologies. Meeting the rising technological demand of the globally expanding population, while limiting the cost to the ecosystem, necessitates the sustainable development of green semiconductors at the nanoscale. This perspective highlights the state-of-the-art green nano-semiconductors, including metal oxides, organic materials, and hybrid nanosystems, with three key challenges: scalability, stability, and susceptibility. It also discusses alternate solutions integrating modern technologies like artificial intelligence to establish these green nano-semiconductors as a sustainable frontier to revolutionize multidimensional applications such as sensors, medicines, electronics, energy systems, and environmental remediation while minimizing ecological footprints.
Separate and combined blockades of α- and β-adrenergic receptors in forearm sweating induced by adrenergic agents and exercise in the heat in young adults
Authors: Amano Tatsuro , Fujii Naoto , Kenny Glen P. , Mündel Toby , Inoue Yoshimitsu , Yokoyama Shotaro , Kondo Narihiko
Published: December 2024

Pharmacological stimulation of α- and β-adrenergic receptors produces sweating in vivo. Still, the separate and interactive roles of these adrenergic receptors during exercise and pharmacological adrenergic stimulation in the heat remain unknown. We showed that β-adrenergic receptors may interact with α-adrenergic receptors pharmacologically, but it does not modulate exercise-induced sweating. The α-adrenergic receptors independently modulate sweating during exercise in the heat. We provide important new insights into our understanding of the mechanisms regulating human sweating.
Excess dietary sodium restores electrolyte and water homeostasis caused by loss of the endoplasmic reticulum molecular chaperone, GRP170, in the mouse nephron
Authors: Porter Aidan W. , Vorndran Hannah E. , Marciszyn Allison , Mutchler Stephanie M. , Subramanya Arohan R. , Kleyman Thomas R. , Hendershot Linda M. , Brodsky Jeffrey L. , Buck Teresa M.
Published: December 2024

Loss of the endoplasmic reticulum chaperone, GRP170, results in widespread kidney injury and induction of the unfolded protein response (UPR). We now show that sodium supplementation is able to at least partially restore electrolyte imbalance and reduce kidney injury markers in a sex-dependent manner.
Chilean brush-tailed mouse (Octodon degus): a diurnal precocial rodent as a new model to study visual receptive field properties of superior colliculus neurons
Authors: Márquez Natalia I. , Deichler Alfonso , Fernández‐Aburto Pedro , Perales Ignacio , Letelier Juan-Carlos , Marín Gonzalo J. , Mpodozis Jorge , Pallas Sarah L.
Published: December 2024

Rodent species commonly used to study vision are crepuscular/nocturnal, altricial, and possess simpler visual systems than diurnal mammals. Here we introduce an alternative model, the diurnal, precocial, Octodon degus, a Caviomorph rodent with a well-developed visual system. In this study, we characterize the visual responses of the degus’ superior colliculus. Our results suggest that degus have higher visual acuity than nocturnal rodents, positioning degus as a well-suited species for studies of human-like diurnal vision.
The mammalian locomotor CPG: revealing the contents of the black box
Authors: Gosgnach Simon
Published: December 2024

It has long been known that a neural circuit situated in the spinal cord of mammals is independently capable of generating and modulating locomotor movements. Following its initial discovery over a century ago, a great deal of research has been focused on characterizing this neural circuit to determine how it is able to elicit movement. For much of the 20th century, difficulty in identifying individual component interneurons that comprised this neural circuit resulted in it being considered a powerful but mysterious “black box.” In this article, we will review the development of a number of innovative experimental approaches that have brought us to the current state of research in the field, where we are able to identify populations that comprise this neural circuit, pinpoint their specific function, and image their activity in real time during a locomotor task.
The Mechanism and New Strategy on Competitive Release Effect of β‐Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes
Authors: Fu Yingjie , Xi Hui , Wang Dingzhong , Sun Wenqian , Zhao Jiaming , Li Peng , Lu Binbin , Zeng Shitong , Shi Qingzhao , Zhang Weichen , Sun Shihao
Published: December 2024

Competitive release is an important release pattern of β‐cyclodextrin (β‐CD) inclusion complexes. Releasing flavor by absorbing harmful molecules is an ideal situation. Thus, two inclusion complexes, phenethyl alcohol β‐CD inclusion (PACD) and phenol β‐CD inclusion (PNCD), were prepared and their combining capacity was studied. The binding constant of PNCD was over 9 times more than PACD. PN could accelerate the release of PACD by entering the empty β‐CD, revealing competitive release effect. However, we noticed that weak‐combining molecules also induced competitive release effect. PACD and PNCD were treated with several different competitors, demonstrating that the release behavior of β‐CD inclusion complexes could be controlled by changing competitors. However, the process lasted much longer for “weak” molecules to exchange “strong” ones. The mechanism of competitive release of β‐CD inclusion complexes was conforming to chemical equilibrium theory. The release rate could be adjusted by changing the competitors with different concentration and different combining capacity. Moreover, solid inclusion complexes could interact with gaseous competitors, revealing competitive release effect. Competitive release effect could achieve the release of flavor while absorbing harmful molecules. Also, combining capacity or solvent condition was not the determination of competitive release effect, but also an adjustment strategy for molecule release, largely expanding the application of β‐CD inclusion complexes.
Social Capital and Depressive Symptoms: A Systematic Review
Authors: Kemppainen Johanna , Timonen Markku
Published: December 2024

Objective: The aim of this empirical literature review was to conduct a scoping review outlining all research focusing on the association between social capital and depressive symptoms. To be included in the review articles were required to include a definition and measurement of depressive symptoms and social capital dimensions.

Methods: Studies from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, CINAHL, and APA databases were included. Search terms included “social capital” and variations of the term “depression.” Two researchers blindly assessed studies using Covidence software. Outcome variables were various social capital measures and depressive symptoms.

Results: 2486 studies were identified, which were reduced to 1258 after the duplicates were removed. 1135 studies were found irrelevant and 125 studies were assessed for eligibility through a full‐text review. 39 studies were found to be eligible for this review.

Conclusion: The review indicated a strong association between cognitive social capital and depression. However, mixed results between other dimensions of social capital and depression warrant further research. Specifically, more longitudinal research is needed to examine the association between variables.
Metastatic Colonic Adenocarcinoma Mimicking Acute Bowel Perforation: Hiccups and Vomiting as Unusual Initial Symptoms: A Case Report
Authors: Qadir Abdul , Iqbal Hafsah , Sabir Ayesha , Khalid Osama Bin , Sajid Jamal
Published: December 2024

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC), the third most prevalent malignancy globally, can present with complications such as bleeding, obstruction, and, less commonly, perforation. These complications are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, demanding timely recognition and intervention. Unusual initial symptoms can obscure the clinical picture, delaying diagnosis, and treatment. Case Presentation: We report a 50-year-old male with a history of rectosigmoid adenocarcinoma treated with surgery and chemoradiotherapy, presenting with atypical symptoms of intractable hiccups, watery diarrhea, and vomiting. Initial imaging indicated an ileostomy site perforation with signs of ischemic colitis. Exploratory laparotomy revealed a perforation at the splenic flexure, ischemic colitis, and a stenosing rectosigmoid tumor. A total colectomy with end ileostomy was performed, leading to resolution of symptoms and stabilization of the patient. Conclusion: This case emphasizes the importance of recognizing atypical presentations of CRC and its complications. Prompt and comprehensive diagnostic evaluations followed by appropriate surgical intervention can improve outcomes and prevent further deterioration. Early recognition of unusual symptoms is critical in guiding effective management.
"Enriching the Hospital's Scientific Fame": Research at the Vienna Foundling Hospital
Authors: Obladen Michael
Published: December 2024

Background: Little is known about medical research at the Vienna Foundling Hospital during the 18th and 19th centuries. Summary: The present paper focuses on nutrition, medical care, and research concerning newborn infants. In 1784, Emperor Joseph II merged obstetric and foundling hospitals under common leadership with specific statutes. Admissions rose from 1,704 in 1785 to 9,797 in 1859. A third of all infants born in Vienna in the 1890s were "foundlings" – correctly: abandoned infants, illegitimate birth was a prerequisite for admission. Differing from other foundling hospitals, the statutes obliged physicians to research, which focused on the great baby killers of the 18th century: smallpox, puerperal sepsis, connatal syphilis, tuberculosis, and malformations. Researchers included Anton Rechberger, Lucas Boër, Ignaz Semmelweis, Carl Rokitansky, Alois Bednar, and Carl Friedinger. Major scientific achievements were Rechbergers introduction of smallpox inoculation in Austria in 1768; Semmelweis’ prevention of puerperal sepsis in 1847, and Bednar’s classification of congenital heart malformations in 1852. Mortality statistics were doctored: deaths within one year were related to admissions from several years, which yielded maximum “mortality rates” of 76% in 1811, and a minimum rate of 13% in 1829. Actual mortality, however, per number of admissions, was over 90% in the first year of life. The institution persisted for 126 years because of the strict anonymity of extramarital birth, faked statistics deceiving supervisors, and esteem for the imperial inaugurator even beyond the end of the Austrian Empire. Key Message: Despite appalling mortality, successful research was conducted at the Vienna Foundling Hospital.
Association of drug use and erosive tooth wear in prisoners: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Riboli Rafaela , Rien Cecília , Tres Ana Carolina , Iponema Costa Antônio Augusto , Collares Kauê , Bervian Juliane
Published: December 2024

Introduction: The present study evaluated the association between drug use and erosive dental wear in prisoners.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical research carried out in Southern Brazil. Data collection took place through the application of questionnaires and clinical examination. ETW was assessed using the BEWE index and the use of illicit substances using the Screening Test for Involvement with Alcohol, Smoking and Other Substances (WHO). Data were tabulated and statistics were performed using the STATA 14.0 software.
Results: A total of 653 volunteers participated in the research, and prisoners were mostly male (94.0%), self-declared as black (53.5%), with average age of 34 years (SD= 10.17). It was possible to identify that 81.3% of prisoners have used some type of drug during their lives, the most prevalent being alcohol (74.2%) followed by cocaine (46.0%). Through clinical examination, it was detected that 49.6% of prisoners evaluated showed some degree of erosive wear (BEWE>0). In the univariate analysis, prisoners with higher schooling (≥ 8 years) and age between 18 and 29 years had statistical association with ETW index ≥3, respectively (p=0.010) and (p=0.015). In the multivariate analysis, there was no association between dental wear and drug use. Conclusion: In conclusion, it was possible to observe high consumption of drugs by prisoners and the prevalence of erosive dental wear; however, the hypothesis that drug consumption would be associated with the presence of ETW in the prison population was rejected.
Significados de educación científica desde la experiencia de adolescentes escolarizados en el departamento de Córdoba, Colombia
Authors: Valencia-Jiménez Nydia Ninna , Ortega-Montes Jorge Eliecer , Hernández Álvarez Israel de Jesús
Published: December 2024

(analytical)Scientific education is a challenge in terms of comprehensive education for children and adolescents. This research aimed to identify the meaning of scientific education that has been generated through the experiences of a group of students from schools in the Bajo Sinú subregion, located in the department of Córdoba, Colombia. This was a qualitative study that used a hermeneutic phenomenological design with participation from 25 adolescents. The data was collected through semistructured interviews and group conversations and was then organized and analyzed using the content analysis technique. The findings identify adolescents’ perceptions of the conservative viewpoints held by science and society, the deficiencies faced by the educational system in terms of connectingscience with students’ social realities and the importance of student research groups to develop their scientific capabilities.
Relationship Between Coronary Artery Calcium Score and Vulnerability of Culprit Plaque Assessed by OCT in Patients With Established Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Fujimoto Daichi , Usui Eisuke , Vergallo Rocco , Kinoshita Daisuke , Suzuki Keishi , Niida Takayuki , Covani Marco , McNulty Iris , Lee Hang , Otake Hiromasa , Shite Junya , Ferencik Maros , Dey Damini , Kakuta Tsunekazu , Jang Ik-Kyung
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND:

Coronary artery calcium score (CACS) is widely used for risk stratification. However, in patients with established coronary artery disease, its clinical implication and relationship with plaque vulnerability are unclear. We sought to correlate the CACS and plaque vulnerability assessed by optical coherence tomography.

METHODS:

Patients with coronary artery disease who had CACS and optical coherence tomography before percutaneous coronary intervention were included. Patients were divided into 5 groups based on CACS: CACS of 0, 1 to 99, 100 to 399, 400 to 999, and ≥1000. Optical coherence tomography–derived vulnerable features in culprit plaque were compared between the groups.

RESULTS:

In 460 patients, the prevalence of lipid-rich plaque, macrophage, and cholesterol crystal significantly differed among the 5 groups, being lowest in the patients with a CACS of 0. The prevalence of thin-cap fibroatheroma tended to be lower in those with a CACS of 0. No significant difference in vulnerable features was observed between the 4 groups with CACS >0. In the 2-group comparison between the group with a CACS of 0 and the other 4 groups combined, the prevalence of lipid-rich plaque (60.5% versus 85.9%;
P
<0.001), macrophage (48.8% versus 74.1%;
P
<0.001), thin-cap fibroatheroma (16.3% versus 35.0%;
P
=0.013), and cholesterol crystal (11.6% versus 32.9%;
P
=0.004) was significantly lower in the patients with CACS of 0. CACS of 0 was independently negatively associated with lipid-rich plaque, macrophage, thin-cap fibroatheroma, and cholesterol crystal after adjustment for patient characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS:

Patients with a CACS of 0 have a significantly lower prevalence of vulnerable plaque features compared with those with CACS >0 in patients with established coronary artery disease.

REGISTRATION:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT04523194.
Prognostic Value and Safety of Serial Exercise Echocardiography in Asymptomatic Severe Aortic Stenosis
Authors: Abergel Eric , Venner Clement , Tribouilloy Christophe , Chauvel Christophe , Simon Marc , Codiat Rébecca , Piechaud Thierry , Maurin Vincent , Dejour Edouard , Kumble Ankitha , Saffarini Mo
Published: December 2024

Background

The prognostic value of serial exercise echocardiography (EEC) in asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis is unknown. We sought to evaluate the safety and utility of monitoring patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis by annual EECs to refer them to aortic valve replacement (AVR) or to keep them under follow‐up.

Methods and Results

The cohort comprised 196 patients, with a normal screening EEC and a minimal follow‐up of 18 months. Follow‐up was planned until there was an indication for AVR, based on a resting transthoracic echocardiography at 6 months and then every year, and an EEC at 1 year and then every year (alternating resting transthoracic echocardiography and EEC every 6 months). During follow‐up, patients were referred to AVR if they reported symptoms, if rest transthoracic echocardiography was positive (left ventricular dysfunction, aortic maximal velocity ≥5 m/s, or severe valve calcification with aortic maximal velocity progression ≥0.3 m/s per year) or if EEC was positive (occurrence during exercise of any aortic stenosis‐related symptoms, significant ventricular arrhythmias, a drop or an insufficient rise (<20 mm Hg) in systolic blood pressure from baseline, or a left ventricular dysfunction). Among the 196 patients (76% men, aged 76.1±11.1 years), a mean 2.85±1.22 EECs were conducted. There were no serious complications during any of the EECs. Each serial transthoracic echocardiography at rest and each EEC yielded 0%–22% and 23.5%–50% of positive results, respectively, leading to AVR. We delayed AVR by a mean of 2.93±1.95 years after the screening EEC. No cardiac‐related death or sudden death was reported during the study.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate the safety and prognostic utility of serial EECs in the management of patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis to guide timely AVR.
For the Future of Pentecostal Higher Education in Korea
Authors: Kim Dongsoo
Published: December 2024

This essay examines the current status of Korean pentecostal higher education. In their latest book, The Holy Spirit and Higher Education, Amos Yong and Dale M. Coulter suggest the Holy Spirit factor for renewing Christian universities. Accordingly, this essay analyzes Korean pentecostal higher education based on three questions they have raised in the book. Is Korean pentecostal higher education moving with the Holy Spirit factor? Are Korean pentecostal institutions and churches mutually developing and influencing each other? Are Korean pentecostal institutions exerting a positive influence on institutions outside the church? This essay answers all these questions positively. At the same time, this essay adds suggestions for further developing Korean pentecostal institutions.
“Northerners are Strong, Southerners are Timid”: the Notion of Climate in Medieval Physiognomy
Authors: Devriese Lisa
Published: December 2024

This article examines the role that climate played in medieval physiognomy, and more specifically in the medieval commentaries on the pseudo-Aristotelian Physiognomonica. As the Physiognomonica is mainly a listing of external bodily features and of their corresponding character traits without explaining how precisely these connections come about, certain medieval commentators attempted to fill this knowledge gap. Our study shows how the notion of climate in medieval commentaries on the Physiognomonica is employed to support and explain physiognomic theories, in two general ways. On the one hand, the notion of climate offers a general framework to explain how the body is formed; on the other, climate is used also to rationalize certain pseudo-Aristotelian connections that would seem at a first glance not to make sense.
Manufacturing Religion in the Anthropocene
Authors: van den Heever Gerhard
Published: December 2024

The article sets the essays that constitute the two-part theme issue, Manufacturing Religion: From Christian Origins to Classical Islam, in a broader theoretical framework. The framework employed here is the work of Russell T. McCutcheon and Willi Braun that emphasise the human manufacturedness of both the concept “religion” and the practices and discourses that go by the descriptor “religion.” The essays collected here in this theme issue collectively perform the double act of historicising the concept “religion” as well as the constituent operations of religion-making.
Fichte’s Analysis of Self-Consciousness: Critique and Refutation
Authors: Su Yi
Published: December 2024

In recent decades, the Heidelberg School’s contributions have become a subject in the philosophical research into self-consciousness. Henrich addressed the reflection model and its problem of begging the question. Later, Frank applied the ex negativo reasoning method to the reflection model to review theories of self-consciousness, including Fichte’s analysis. For Fichte, self-consciousness is immediate, non-objective, and pre-reflective. In order to avoid the problem of infinite regress, the relationship between self-consciousness and object-consciousness should be immediate and non-objective. Pre-reflectivity refers to the relationship between self-consciousness and reflection, that is to say, before the reflection, the self-consciousness has already taken place, and is thus its precondition. In Fichte’s concept of self-consciousness, non-objectivity and pre-reflectivity are different characteristics that neither concern the explanation of how self-consciousness is formed nor solve the problem of begging the question. Therefore, it is not appropriate to criticize Fichte’s analysis of self-consciousness applying the ex negativo methodology to the reflection model.
Inclusive forms in South-Central Trans-Himalayan
Authors: SÆBØ Lilja Maria , KONNERTH Linda
Published: December 2024

Many of the South-Central (“Kuki-Chin”) Trans-Himalayan languages differentiate between an inclusive and an exclusive first person group category. The first person singular and the exclusive tend to be based on the same form, and are very uniform across the branch, while the inclusive shows a lot of variation in form. In this paper we try to systematically look at the inclusive forms and categorize the variation that exists. The paper is based on a sample of 40 languages from all six subgroups of South-Central. We look at both the preverbal and postverbal person indexation paradigms, as well as the free pronouns.
Old Age in Simone de Beauvoir and Martine Franck
Authors: Jordan Shirley
Published: December 2024

This article explores connections between Beauvoir’s work on aging and the photographic study of older people by humanist photographer Martine Franck. It traces entanglements between Beauvoir’s The Coming of Age and Franck’s photobook Time to Grow Old, focusing especially on differences related to gender and aging and on epistemologies of aging research. The author argues that the projects on aging by Beauvoir and Franck illuminate each other in important ways and underscore blind spots in Beauvoir’s approach.
Prediction of Mortality and Length of Hospital Stay in Geriatric Patients Undergoing Emergency General Surgery: Use of the SHARP Score
Authors: Okay Nermin Damla , Özensoy Habibe Selmin
Published: December 2024

Background

The need for emergency general surgery (EGS) in geriatric patients is increasing with the aging population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of SHARP score to predict mortality rate and length of hospital and emergency service stay for EGS patients.

Methods

Patients aged ≥65 years who applied to the emergency service, required EGS, and underwent surgery between February 1, 2022, and January 31, 2023, were retrospectively analyzed from our hospital’s information system. Demographic data (age, gender, and comorbidities), surgical diagnoses, and SHARP risk scores of the patients were evaluated. Also, 30-day mortality and length of stay in the emergency service and hospital were examined.

Results

A total of 386 patients were evaluated in this study. The mean age of these patients was 75 years (65-94). The most common cause of EGS was hernia. The cause with the highest mortality was intraabdominal perforations. The presence of malignancy and an increase in the number of comorbidities were associated with mortality. SHARP scores of 3, 4, and 5 were significantly associated with length of hospital stay and mortality.

Conclusion

We recommend considering the SHARP risk score to predict mortality and length of hospital stay in geriatric EGS patients.
‘What Frightful Children!’: The Disobedient and the Unruly in British Overseas Child Migration, 1939–45
Authors: Wyse Emma
Published: December 2024

This article examines the movement of British evacuee children and adolescents to Dominion countries during the Second World War. While these evacuees were spared from exposure to the violence of war, such as the bombing of major British cities, their move to safety came with certain demands on their behaviour. These young evacuees were expected to act with ‘ambassadorial dignity’ in all ways; they were to be polite, courteous, chaste, law-abiding and, above all, grateful to their host family and the country that took them in. But acting with ambassadorial dignity was a task beyond what many evacuees were willing or able to carry out. Their failure – or refusal – to act as expected was often interpreted as a form of disobedience. This article uses case studies of evacuee children and adolescents to illuminate the many ways that disobedience was conceptualized by adults in charge of these evacuees. Specifically, this article focusses on sexual disobedience, evacuees who rejected the standards of chaste heterosexuality expected of them, and bodily disobedience, where overweight bodies of pubescent girls were seen to pose a threat to the future of the ‘British race’ as envisioned by adult administrators of this evacuation.
Artificial Intelligence and Assessment: Three Implications for Music Educators
Authors: Shaw Brian P.
Published: December 2024

In the coming years, the proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) will lead to changes and challenges to many traditional practices in school music and beyond, particularly related to student assessment and grading. At the same time, the AI revolution may also facilitate new and exciting directions for assessment and differentiation in music education. In this article, I offer a range of considerations and suggestions for music educators seeking to teach music effectively and ethically in the age of AI.
Music Teachers’ Influence on Student Values and Beliefs: Insights from Seventh Graders
Authors: Broomhead Paul
Published: December 2024

Writings related to the meaning and value of music establish that experiences with music influence values and beliefs. The potential impact of this influence highlights the need for sensitivity as teachers orchestrate experiences with musical resources. In a time of increasing division in society, teachers responsibly exercise their influence over student values and beliefs by focusing on respect. Insights from seventh graders reveal three guiding principles related to respect: “Leave others’ stuff alone,” “Don’t put down others’ ideas,” and “Listen to understand.” This article presents these principles and provides three practical examples of how they can help teachers responsibly and respectfully select and implement musical resources to nurture student openness while honoring students’ own values and beliefs.
The synthesis and characterisation of derivatives of o-phenylenediamine and assessing their effectiveness in inhibiting corrosion for rust prevention
Authors: Köntös Zoltán
Published: December 2024

The corrosion of metals, particularly rust on iron and its alloys, poses significant challenges across industries, with notable economic and environmental consequences. Traditional rust prevention methods, reliant on chemical inhibitors and coatings, often raise concerns regarding their environmental and health impacts. In response, advancements in corrosion science have emphasized the potential of o-phenylenediamine (OPD) derivatives and vaseline-based mixtures as innovative, eco-friendly solutions. This article reviews the efficacy of OPD derivatives in mitigating anodic and cathodic reactions, thereby preventing rust formation by creating robust protective layers on metal surfaces. These derivatives act as physical barriers, impeding corrosive agents and offering versatile applications, including integration into protective coatings for new and existing metal structures. The synergistic combination of OPD with other inhibitors enhances protection, supporting sustainable practices by reducing resource consumption and environmental impact. Vaseline-based layers, while providing satisfactory initial hydrophobicity and ease of application, face challenges such as achieving uniform coverage on polar metal surfaces and preventing pore formation. Integrating Fe(III)(BTA)3 into vaseline coatings represents a paradigm shift in sustainable corrosion prevention, with a 30% concentration identified as optimal for maximum protection. This development marks a pivotal advancement in materials science, offering robust corrosion protection aligned with sustainability principles. The use of OPD derivatives introduces a novel, environmentally benign approach, leveraging their ability to adsorb onto metal surfaces and create protective layers against moisture and oxygen. This innovation aligns with global initiatives to reduce industrial environmental footprints, promoting sustainable, effective corrosion prevention strategies.
On measuring Muslim segregation in urban India
Authors: Shah Arpit , Sugathan Anish , Bharathi Naveen , Rahman Andaleeb , Garg Amit , Malghan Deepak
Published: December 2024

The spatial segregation of Muslims in urban India is central to their social, economic and political marginalisation. However, the quantitative characterisation of Muslim segregation has suffered from the lack of readily available demographic data at high spatial and temporal resolution. This paper demonstrates the feasibility of accurately quantifying Muslim segregation in urban India using the latest electoral rolls data from Bengaluru (a megapolis of over 13 million residents) and an improved open-source algorithm to identify Muslim names. Our approach provides significant improvements over past efforts in this regard. We introduce two new metrics (diversity and local divergence) to account for substantial intra-city variation in the spatial segregation of Muslims. Our analysis suggests that the threefold ghetto–enclave–mixed taxonomy that the extant literature has quantified for entire towns can be found within large urban agglomerations such as Bengaluru. Our quantitative framework for Muslim segregation helps uncover the complex relationship between segregation and the ghettoisation of Muslims in urban India. Our measurement framework uses publicly available data and can be applied to study segregation patterns across urban India.