bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Figure S10 from Lenvatinib, Toripalimab plus FOLFOX Chemotherapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients with Extrahepatic Metastasis: A Biomolecular Exploratory, Phase II Trial (LTSC)
Authors: He MinKe , Huang YeXing , Du ZeFeng , Lai ZhiCheng , Ouyang Hanyue , Shen JingXian , Wen DongSheng , Li QiJiong , Zhang YaoJun , Wei Wei , Chen MinShan , Xu Li , Kan Anna , Shi Ming
Published: December 2023

snRNA-seq of tumor biopsies captures representative diversity of cell types in the training and validation cohort.
Supplementary Figure S10 from CD24hiCD27+ Bregs within Metastatic Lymph Nodes Promote Multidrug Resistance in Breast Cancer
Authors: Huang Huanhuan , Yao Yao , Shen Lesang , Jiang Jingxin , Zhang Ting , Xiong Jia , Li Jiaxin , Sun Shanshan , Zheng Siwei , Jia Fang , Zhou Jun , Yu Xiuyan , Chen Wuzhen , Shen Jun , Xia Wenjie , Shao Xuan , Wang Qingqing , Huang Jian , Ni Chao
Published: December 2023

Fig. S10. CD24hiCD27+ Bregs induce the upregulation of CD40L and PD-L1 in BC cells.
Figure S2 from Deuterium Magnetic Resonance Imaging Using Deuterated Water-Induced 2H-Tissue Labeling Allows Monitoring Cancer Treatment at Clinical Field Strength
Authors: Asano Hirofumi , Elhelaly Abdelazim Elsayed , Hyodo Fuminori , Iwasaki Ryota , Noda Yoshifumi , Kato Hiroki , Ichihashi Koki , Tomita Hiroyuki , Murata Masaharu , Mori Takashi , Matsuo Masayuki
Published: December 2023

Ex vivo 2H-NMR spectroscopy confirmed the reduction of 2H content in tumor tissues after treatment
2H-NMR spectroscopy data analysis of control and treated tumor samples. A reference standard was added to the tumor extracts of gemcitabine-treated and control mice and placed into a 5 mm NMR tube and examined for by 2H-NMR at 800 MHz in an Avance 800 NMR spectrometer (Bruker BioSpin). NMR data processing and analysis were performed using TopSpin NMR software package v3.6.2. The data represent the means ± SD. **p < 0.01 (n=3, each group).
Data from Facts and Hopes on RAS Inhibitors and Cancer Immunotherapy
Authors: Boumelha Jesse , Molina-Arcas Miriam , Downward Julian
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Although the past decade has seen great strides in the development of immunotherapies that reactivate the immune system against tumors, there have also been major advances in the discovery of drugs blocking oncogenic drivers of cancer growth. However, there has been very little progress in combining immunotherapies with drugs that target oncogenic driver pathways. Some of the most important oncogenes in human cancer encode RAS family proteins, although these have proven challenging to target. Recently drugs have been approved that inhibit a specific mutant form of KRAS: G12C. These have improved the treatment of patients with lung cancer harboring this mutation, but development of acquired drug resistance after initial responses has limited the impact on overall survival. Because of the immunosuppressive nature of the signaling network controlled by oncogenic KRAS, targeted KRAS G12C inhibition can indirectly affect antitumor immunity, and does so without compromising the critical role of normal RAS proteins in immune cells. This serves as a rationale for combination with immune checkpoint blockade, which can provide additional combinatorial therapeutic benefit in some preclinical cancer models. However, in clinical trials, combination of KRAS G12C inhibitors with PD-(L)1 blockade has yet to show improved outcome, in part due to treatment toxicities. A greater understanding of how oncogenic KRAS drives immune evasion and how mutant-specific KRAS inhibition impacts the tumor microenvironment can lead to novel approaches to combining RAS inhibition with immunotherapies.
Data from Genomic Tumor Correlates of Clinical Outcomes Following Organ-Sparing Chemoradiation Therapy for Bladder Cancer
Authors: Kamran Sophia C. , Zhou Yuzhen , Otani Keisuke , Drumm Michael , Otani Yukako , Wu Shulin , Wu Chin-Lee , Feldman Adam S. , Wszolek Matthew , Lee Richard J. , Saylor Philip J. , Lennerz Jochen , Van Allen Eliezer , Willers Henning , Hong Theodore S. , Liu Yang , Davicioni Elai , Gibb Ewan A. , Shipley William U. , Mouw Kent W. , Efstathiou Jason A. , Miyamoto David T.
Published: December 2023

AbstractPurpose:
There is an urgent need for biomarkers of radiation response in organ-sparing therapies. Bladder preservation with trimodality therapy (TMT), consisting of transurethral tumor resection followed by chemoradiation, is an alternative to radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), but molecular determinants of response are poorly understood.
Experimental Design:
We characterized genomic and transcriptomic features correlated with long-term response in a single institution cohort of patients with MIBC homogeneously treated with TMT. Pretreatment tumors from 76 patients with MIBC underwent whole-exome sequencing; 67 underwent matched transcriptomic profiling. Molecular features were correlated with clinical outcomes including modified bladder-intact event-free survival (mBI-EFS), a composite endpoint that reflects long-term cancer control with bladder preservation.
Results:
With a median follow-up of 74.6 months in alive patients, 37 patients had favorable long-term response to TMT while 39 had unfavorable long-term response. Tumor mutational burden was not associated with outcomes after TMT. DNA damage response gene alterations were associated with improved locoregional control and mBI-EFS. Of these alterations, somatic ERCC2 mutations stood out as significantly associated with favorable long-term outcomes; patients with ERCC2 mutations had significantly improved mBI-EFS [HR, 0.15; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.06–0.37; P = 0.030] and improved BI-EFS, an endpoint that includes all-cause mortality (HR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.15–0.68; P = 0.044). ERCC2 mutant bladder cancer cell lines were significantly more sensitive to concurrent cisplatin and radiation treatment in vitro than isogenic ERCC2 wild-type cells.
Conclusions:
Our data identify ERCC2 mutation as a candidate biomarker associated with sensitivity and long-term response to chemoradiation in MIBC. These findings warrant validation in independent cohorts.
Data from Phase II Trial of Nivolumab in Metastatic Rare Cancer with dMMR or MSI-H and Relation with Immune Phenotypic Analysis (the ROCK Trial)
Authors: Okuma Hitomi S. , Watanabe Keisuke , Tsuchihashi Kenji , Machida Ryunosuke , Sadachi Ryo , Hirakawa Akihiro , Ariyama Hiroshi , Kanai Masashi , Kamikura Masahisa , Anjo Kenta , Hiramitsu Akari , Sekine Shigeki , Okita Natsuko , Mano Hiroyuki , Nishikawa Hiroyoshi , Nakamura Kenichi , Yonemori Kan
Published: December 2023

AbstractPurpose:
Mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR)/microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) are positive predictive markers for immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, data on the activity of nivolumab in advanced dMMR/MSI-H rare cancers and more accurate biomarkers are worth exploring.
Patients and Methods:
We conducted a multicenter phase II, open-label, single-arm clinical trial to explore the effectiveness and safety of nivolumab monotherapy in patients with advanced rare cancers with dMMR/MSI-H, in parallel with immune phenotype analysis, to explore new biomarkers. A Bayesian adaptive design was applied. Characterization of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was characterized by multicolor flow cytometric analysis and CyTOF using samples collected before and after the intervention. The dMMR was identified by the complete loss of MLH1/MSH2/MSH6/PMS2.
Results:
From May 2018 to March 2021, 242 patients were screened, and 11 patients were enrolled, of whom 10 were included in the full analysis. Median follow-up was 24.7 months (interquartile range, 12.4–31.5). Objective response rate was 60% [95% confidence interval (CI), 26.2–87.8] by central assessment and 70% (95% CI, 34.8–93.3) by local investigators. Median progression-free survival was 10.1 months (95% CI, 0.9–11.1). No treatment-related adverse events of grade 3 or higher were observed. Patients with a tumor mutation burden of ≥10/Mb showed a 100% response rate (95% CI, 47.8–100). Responders had increased T-bet+ PD-1+ CD4+ T cells in PBMC compared with nonresponders (P < 0.05).
Conclusions:
The trial met its primary endpoint with nivolumab, demonstrating clinical benefit in advanced dMMR/MSI-H rare solid cancers. Besides, the proportion of T-bet+ PD-1+ CD4+ T-cells may serve as a novel predictive biomarker.
Supplementary Data from Targeting Aggressive B-cell Lymphomas through Pharmacological Activation of the Mitochondrial Protease OMA1
Authors: Schwarzer Adrian , Oliveira Matheus , Kleppa Marc-Jens , Slattery Scott D. , Anantha Andy , Cooper Alan , Hannink Mark , Schambach Axel , Dörrie Anneke , Kotlyarov Alexey , Gaestel Matthias , Hembrough Todd , Levine Jedd , Luther Michael , Stocum Michael , Stiles Linsey , Weinstock David M. , Liesa Marc , Kostura Matthew J.
Published: December 2023

Compiled RNAseq data from HCT-116 cells treated with BTM-3528.
Supplementary Vignette 1 from Building Tools for Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in Cancer Research: Best Practices and a Case Study with the PathML Toolkit for Computational Pathology
Authors: Rosenthal Jacob , Carelli Ryan , Omar Mohamed , Brundage David , Halbert Ella , Nyman Jackson , Hari Surya N. , Van Allen Eliezer M. , Marchionni Luigi , Umeton Renato , Loda Massimo
Published: December 2023

In this vignette, we use 15 publicly available images of a wide range of imaging modalities and file formats to demonstrate how PathML supports loading all of them under a simple, standardized syntax.
Data from Building Tools for Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in Cancer Research: Best Practices and a Case Study with the PathML Toolkit for Computational Pathology
Authors: Rosenthal Jacob , Carelli Ryan , Omar Mohamed , Brundage David , Halbert Ella , Nyman Jackson , Hari Surya N. , Van Allen Eliezer M. , Marchionni Luigi , Umeton Renato , Loda Massimo
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Imaging datasets in cancer research are growing exponentially in both quantity and information density. These massive datasets may enable derivation of insights for cancer research and clinical care, but only if researchers are equipped with the tools to leverage advanced computational analysis approaches such as machine learning and artificial intelligence. In this work, we highlight three themes to guide development of such computational tools: scalability, standardization, and ease of use. We then apply these principles to develop PathML, a general-purpose research toolkit for computational pathology. We describe the design of the PathML framework and demonstrate applications in diverse use cases. PathML is publicly available at www.pathml.com.
FIGURE 2 from Optimizing Early-stage Clinical Pharmacology Evaluation to Accelerate Clinical Development of Giredestrant in Advanced Breast Cancer
Authors: Malhi Vikram , Agarwal Priya , Gates Mary R. , Liu Lichuan , Wang Jianshuang , De Bruyn Tom , Lam Scott , Eng-Wong Jennifer , Perez-Moreno Pablo , Chen Ya-Chi , Yu Jiajie
Published: December 2023

Dose proportionality of giredestrant dose-normalized exposure. A, Single-dose Cmax and AUC0-inf. B, Steady-state Cmax and AUC0–24h. Solid line represents the linear regression and dotted lines represent the 90% confidence interval from the power model (10).

Abbreviations: AUC0-inf, area under the plasma concentration–time curve from time 0 extrapolated to infinity. AUC0–24h, area under the plasma concentration–time curve from time 0 to 24 hours.
FIGURE 1 from Optimizing Early-stage Clinical Pharmacology Evaluation to Accelerate Clinical Development of Giredestrant in Advanced Breast Cancer
Authors: Malhi Vikram , Agarwal Priya , Gates Mary R. , Liu Lichuan , Wang Jianshuang , De Bruyn Tom , Lam Scott , Eng-Wong Jennifer , Perez-Moreno Pablo , Chen Ya-Chi , Yu Jiajie
Published: December 2023

Giredestrant mean (±SD) plasma concentration–time profiles after a single dose.
Data from Optimizing Early-stage Clinical Pharmacology Evaluation to Accelerate Clinical Development of Giredestrant in Advanced Breast Cancer
Authors: Malhi Vikram , Agarwal Priya , Gates Mary R. , Liu Lichuan , Wang Jianshuang , De Bruyn Tom , Lam Scott , Eng-Wong Jennifer , Perez-Moreno Pablo , Chen Ya-Chi , Yu Jiajie
Published: December 2023

AbstractPurpose:
We describe the clinical pharmacology characterization of giredestrant in a first-in-human study.
Experimental Design:
This phase Ia/Ib dose-escalation/-expansion study (NCT03332797) evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and preliminary antitumor activity of giredestrant in estrogen receptor–positive HER2-negative locally advanced/metastatic breast cancer. The single-agent dose-escalation stage evaluated giredestrant 10, 30, 90, or 250 mg once daily. The dose-expansion stage evaluated single-agent giredestrant at 30, 100, and 250 mg once daily. Dose-escalation and -expansion phases also evaluated giredestrant 100 mg combined with palbociclib 125 mg.
Results:
Following single-dose oral administration, giredestrant was rapidly absorbed and generally showed a dose-proportional increase in exposure at doses ranging from 10 to 250 mg. At the 30 mg clinical dose, maximum plasma concentration was 266 ng/mL (50.1%) and area under the concentration–time curve from 0 to 24 hours at steady state was 4,320 ng·hour/mL (59.4%). Minimal giredestrant concentrations were detected in urine, indicating that renal excretion is unlikely to be a major elimination route for giredestrant. Mean concentration of 4beta-hydroxycholesterol showed no apparent increase over time at both the clinical dose (30 mg) and a supratherapeutic dose (90 mg), suggesting that giredestrant may have low CYP3A induction potential in humans. No clinically relevant drug–drug interaction was observed between giredestrant and palbociclib. Giredestrant exposure was not affected by food and was generally consistent between White and Asian patients.
Conclusions:
This study illustrates how the integration of clinical pharmacology considerations into early-phase clinical trials can inform the design of pivotal studies and accelerate oncology drug development.
Significance:
This work illustrates how comprehensive clinical pharmacology characterization can be integrated into first-in-human studies in oncology. It also demonstrates the value of understanding clinical pharmacology attributes to inform eligibility, concomitant medications, and combination dosing and to directly influence late-stage trial design and accelerate development.
Variáveis explicativas do bem-estar psicológico: um estudo com pós-graduandos em Ciências Contábeis
Authors: Silva Taís Duarte , Leal Edvalda Araújo , Faro André
Published: December 2023

Previous studies have indicated the high frequency of stressors and stress in graduate studies, however, there is a need to better understand the role of coping strategies in this environment and the impact of all these variables on the well-being of students. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between stressors and self-efficacy, mediated by stress and coping, in the psychological well-being of graduate students in Accounting. To achieve the aim, an online survey was carried out, with a questionnaire consisting of the Stressors (worries and difficulties), General Self-Efficacy, Perceived Stress, Brief Cope and General Health Questionnaire (to measure well-being) scales, in addition to questions about the respondents’ profile. The sample consisted of 366 participants. It was observed that the most stressors show the fear of not achieving good results and the difficulty in reconciling the demands of graduate studies with other aspects of life. On average, students had high self-efficacy and most had a high stress level. The most used coping strategies were active coping, self-blame and positive reinterpretation. With the use of mediation analysis, it was concluded that stressors, as well as self-efficacy, are mediated by stress and by the positive reinterpretation strategy, thus explaining the psychological well-being of graduate students. In this way, the identification of the investigated variables encourages debate and provides support for the planning and execution of institutional actions that aim to alleviate stressors, as well as help students to develop greater adaptive capacity in the face of postgraduate challenges.
Code ICH: A Call to Action
Authors: Li Qi , Yakhkind Aleksandra , Alexandrov Anne W. , Alexandrov Andrei V. , Anderson Craig S. , Dowlatshahi Dar , Frontera Jennifer A. , Hemphill J. Claude , Ganti Latha , Kellner Chris , May Casey , Morotti Andrea , Parry-Jones Adrian , Sheth Kevin N. , Steiner Thorsten , Ziai Wendy , Goldstein Joshua N. , Mayer Stephan A.
Published: December 2023

Intracerebral hemorrhage is the most serious type of stroke, leading to high rates of severe disability and mortality. Hematoma expansion is an independent predictor of poor functional outcome and is a compelling target for intervention. For decades, randomized trials aimed at decreasing hematoma expansion through single interventions have failed to meet their primary outcomes of statistically significant improvement in neurological outcomes. A wide range of evidence suggests that ultra-early bundled care, with multiple simultaneous interventions in the acute phase, offers the best hope of limiting hematoma expansion and improving functional recovery. Patients with intracerebral hemorrhage who fail to receive early aggressive care have worse outcomes, suggesting that an important treatment opportunity exists. This consensus statement puts forth a call to action to establish a protocol for Code ICH, similar to current strategies used for the management of acute ischemic stroke, through which early intervention, bundled care, and time-based metrics have substantially improved neurological outcomes. Based on current evidence, we advocate for the widespread adoption of an early bundle of care for patients with intracerebral hemorrhage focused on time-based metrics for blood pressure control and emergency reversal of anticoagulation, with the goal of optimizing the benefit of these already widely used interventions. We hope Code ICH will endure as a structural platform for continued innovation, standardization of best practices, and ongoing quality improvement for years to come.
Learning More from Mixed Emotions: A Label Refinement Method for
Emotion Recognition in Conversations
Authors: Wen Jintao , Tu Geng , Li Rui , Jiang Dazhi , Zhu Wenhua
Published: December 2023

One-hot labels are commonly employed as ground truth in Emotion Recognition in Conversations (ERC). However, this approach may not fully encompass all the emotions conveyed in a single utterance, leading to suboptimal performance. Regrettably, current ERC datasets lack comprehensive emotionally distributed labels. To address this issue, we propose the Emotion Label Refinement (EmoLR) method, which utilizes context- and speaker-sensitive information to infer mixed emotional labels. EmoLR comprises an Emotion Predictor (EP) module and a Label Refinement (LR) module. The EP module recognizes emotions and provides context/speaker states for the LR module. Subsequently, the LR module calculates the similarity between these states and ground-truth labels, generating a refined label distribution (RLD). The RLD captures a more comprehensive range of emotions than the original one-hot labels. These refined labels are then used for model training in place of the one-hot labels. Experimental results on three public conversational datasets demonstrate that our EmoLR achieves state-of-the-art performance.
“It’s a Lovely Peaceful Gentle Soothing Sound, Why Do You Hate It?”
Authors: Mansouri Shahriyar
Published: December 2023

This essay examines tinnitus in Samuel Beckett’s Embers as a hidden audiological disability that informs the core soundscape of the radio drama. Henry’s tinnitus as an invisible condition replaces his voice and transforms into a dramatic and personal anchor, one that parodies conventional radiophonic narratives by explicating how the tics of his ears propel his sonic narrative. Henry’s radiographic quest for silence is not betrayed by the phantom sound or the tic in his ears, or his troupe of phantom characters, but rather by his failure to appreciate, reveal, and prove his disability to his hearing audience. To this end, the article assays and expands key concepts in social understanding of audiological disabilities such as ‘dysconscious audism’, and ‘impaired consciousness’, to address a phonocentric culture that either suppresses or normalizes such otological disorders by disregarding them as invisible personal matters rather than a debilitating handicap.
Exploring Directions for Uzbekistan Pre-service Science Teacher Education on the Ecological Environment
Authors: Seo Misuk , Lee Yumi , Bae Kyungsuk , Son Yeon-A
Published: December 2023

This study provides a comparative analysis of pre-service science teachers in Uzbekistan and Korea, exploring ecological footprint, ecological worldview, subjective happiness, and pro-environmental behavior. Using a questionnaire whose reliability and validity had been verified, an online and offline survey was conducted targeting pre-science teachers attending teacher education universities: in metropolitan areas in Korea and Uzbekistan. Independent samples t-tests revealed significant findings: Uzbekistani teachers exhibited a lower ecological footprint but shared a similar ecological worldview with their Korean counterparts, while also reporting higher levels of subjective happiness and pro-environmental behavior. The results emphasize the need for science education strategies tailored to Uzbekistan’s context, particularly the development of the new ecological paradigm (NEP). To enhance subjective happiness and pro-environmental behavior, we suggest employing pedagogical approaches such as case-based or phenomenon-based learning. This research underscores the importance of contextualization, with NEP development, and practical methodologies among Uzbekistani students.
Positive effects of dietary honey and aflatoxin B1 on serum enzymes, superoxide dismutase activity, β-glucuronidase enzyme activity, and colonic probiotic bacteria on rats
Authors: Baazeem Alaa , Helal Mahmoud , Sami Rokayya , Alshehry Garsa , Algarni Eman , Hilary Uguru , Baakdah Fadi , Alharthy Saif A. , Mahmoud Johari Doaa
Published: December 2023

Dietary honey as a natural product can attenuate the inflammatory process and prevent several diseases. The current research aimed to assess some positive effects of dietary honey and aflatoxin B1 on serum enzymes, superoxide dismutase activity, β-glucuronidase enzyme activity,
and colonic probiotic bacteria in rats. Four kinds of honey were coded as NSH, MOH, SIH, and PUH for Nigella sativa, moringa, pumpkin, and Sidr honey, respectively. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was daily administered orally for rats with a dose of 200 μg/kg until 90 days. The rat groups’
body weights at the beginning and end of the experiment ranged from 311.29 g to 327.55 g, and 302.97 g to 342.77 g respectively. Dietary honey decreased the values of some serum enzymes and protected the animals from AFB1 hepatotoxicity compared with the positive group (+). The concentrations
of liver superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) among rat groups ranged from 19.55 u ·g in MOH+AFB1 rat group to 27.21 u·g in SIH+AFB1 rat group. Dietary honey was reported to defend the liver against aflatoxins and enhance the gut microflora as β-glucuronidase activity
and colonic probiotic bacteria in rats.
Of One’s Own Making: Leadership Legitimation Strategy and Human Rights
Authors: Bagwell Stephen , Rains Matthew , LaVelle Meridith
Published: December 2023

Why do states and their agents abuse citizens? Traditional explanations focus on contentious politics, the presence of institutions, and international pressures. Despite this, accounts dissecting the state and its agents in this context of abuse remain largely theoretic in nature. This article offers a breakthrough for within-the-state accounts of human rights abuses by focusing on state leaders and their relationship to broader government institutions and function. We posit that personalist leaders have fundamentally different relationship with institutions that foster human rights respect, arguing that leaders relying on their own merits and qualities are less likely to either activate or manipulate institutions of accountability for human rights abuses. Using data from 1991 to 2019, we show that the presence of leaders legitimizing themselves within personalist framing can worsen human rights conditions.
A variable sample size side-sensitive synthetic coefficient of variation chart
Authors: Lim Sok Li , Yeong Wai Chung , Chong Zhi Lin , Gan Chew Peng , Khoo Michael Boon Chong
Published: December 2023

A major challenge for control charts monitoring the coefficient of variation is to quickly detect shifts in this parameter, so that assignable cause(s) can be quickly removed and the process can operate in an in-control state with a stable coefficient of variation. This is especially so when there are constraints in the sample size. One proposed strategy is to vary the sample size according to the most recent information. However, a side-sensitive synthetic chart monitoring the coefficient of variation with variable sample size is not available. This paper contributes to the literature by developing a variable sample size side-sensitive synthetic chart for the coefficient of variation. The main contributions are in terms of illustrating the operations of the chart, deriving the formulae to evaluate its performance and developing the algorithms to optimize its performance. Comparisons with current charts show that the proposed chart outperforms all existing synthetic-type charts monitoring the coefficient of variation. The proposed chart also outperforms the variable sample size coefficient of variation chart for all shift sizes. In addition, it outperforms the variable sample size run sum and variable sample size Exponentially Weighted Moving Average charts monitoring the coefficient of variation for moderate and large shift sizes.
Central Neck Lymph Node Size Measured by Ultrasound Significantly Predicts Central Neck Lymph Node Metastasis of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Chotigavanich Chanticha , Ongard Sunun , Metheetrairut Choakchai , Wongsuwan Pranruetai , Sureepong Paiboon
Published: December 2023

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether Central lymph node (CLN) size as measured by an ultrasound can significantly predict CLN metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Materials and methods: This retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with PTC who underwent ultrasound and central neck dissection (CND). We excluded patients who received previous thyroid surgery or radiation. We analyzed the correlation between CLN size and characteristics by ultrasound and histopathologic findings among positive CLN patients. Results: Of the 48 patients who underwent preoperative ultrasound and CND, 34 patients had positive CLN identified by ultrasound. The positive predictive value, negative predictive value, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of ultrasound in this diagnostic setting was 88.0%, 21.0%, 73.2%, 42.9%, and 68.7%, respectively. The risk of CLN metastasis of PTC was 67.7% and 85.7% for lymph node size 3.1 to 4 mm and 4.1 to 5 mm, respectively. The risk increased to 100% when the lymph node size was >5 mm. Positive preoperative ultrasound of lateral neck lymph node was found to be a significant risk factor for CLN metastasis ( P = .003). Conclusion: Ultrasound was found to be an effective preoperative evaluation in patients with PTC to determine the likelihood of CLN metastasis and whether CND is indicated, especially in the ultrasound-positive central lymph node. A high risk of metastasis was found in CLN size >3 mm by ultrasound, and the risk dramatically increased in CLN size >5 mm. We also found positive lateral neck node from preoperative ultrasound to be a significant risk factor for CLN metastasis.
Contained Redistribution: The Technopolitics of Plastic Burning
Authors: Dey Tridibesh
Published: December 2023

Plastic stands for designed materials, chemically synthesized for massive use in industry and commerce. As plastic production continues to accelerate, plastic waste is incinerated, globally, as a preferred—though contested—technology for disposal. Burning plastic can be harmful; many associated chemicals, including those produced by burning certain plastics, are potentially toxic. They accumulate in bio-geological environments, known to entail serious health effects in humans for generations. Thus, matters of containment—emission filtration, limiting exposure, spatial localization, and so on—assume technopolitical significance.
Evaluation of Low- and Intermediate-Temperature Cracking Performance of Fiber-Reinforced Asphalt Mixtures
Authors: Raza Khan Ali , Ali Ayman , Mehta Yusuf , Elshaer Mohamed
Published: December 2023

This study was conducted to assess the impact of aramid fiber reinforcement on the fatigue and thermal cracking performance of asphalt mixtures at intermediate and low temperatures, respectively. The study also involved evaluating the experimental consistency and ranking fiber-reinforced asphalt mixtures (FRAMs) based on their performance. One aggregate (diabase stone), one binder type (PG 76-22), and two combinations of aramid fibers, added at different dosages, were used to produce three FRAMs. These fibers included polyolefin/aramid (PFA) fibers at 0.05% dosage by mix weight and Sasobit-coated aramid (SCA) fibers at 0.01% and 0.02% dosages. An unreinforced (control) mix was also produced without any reinforcement. All mixtures were produced at a batch plant by keeping their binder content constant (at 5.5%). The manufacturer recommended dry and wet mixing times were used for better fiber distribution and represent actual mixing conditions. The laboratory performance of plant-produced FRAMs was assessed to characterize the low- and intermediate-temperature cracking performance. The indirect tension asphalt cracking test, semi-circular bend test, three-point bending beam tests, and uniaxial fatigue tests were performed at intermediate temperature; the disk shape compact tension test and thermal stress restrained specimen test tests were performed at low temperature. Fibers were successful at improving the fatigue cracking of asphalt mixtures based on intermediate-temperature testing results. In addition, fiber reinforcement, regardless of dosage and combination, showed improvements in low-temperature (thermal) cracking performance. Furthermore, based on ranking analysis for selected performance indicators from each experiment, the SCA 0.02% reinforced mix on average showed the highest cracking resistance.
Canadian Association of Radiologists Thoracic Imaging Referral Guideline
Authors: Hamel Candyce , Avard Barb , Belanger Catherine , Bourgouin Patrick , Lam Stephen , Manos Daria , Michaud Alan , Rowe Brian H. , Sanders Kevin , Bilawich Ana-Maria
Published: December 2023

The Canadian Association of Radiologists (CAR) Thoracic Expert Panel consists of radiologists, respirologists, emergency and family physicians, a patient advisor, and an epidemiologist/guideline methodologist. After developing a list of 24 clinical/diagnostic scenarios, a rapid scoping review was undertaken to identify systematically produced referral guidelines that provide recommendations for one or more of these clinical/diagnostic scenarios. Recommendations from 30 guidelines and contextualization criteria in the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) for guidelines framework were used to develop 48 recommendation statements across the 24 scenarios. This guideline presents the methods of development and the referral recommendations for screening/asymptomatic individuals, non-specific chest pain, hospital admission for non-thoracic conditions, long-term care admission, routine pre-operative imaging, post-interventional chest procedure, upper respiratory tract infection, acute exacerbation of asthma, acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, suspect pneumonia, pneumonia follow-up, immunosuppressed patient with respiratory symptoms/febrile neutropenia, chronic cough, suspected pneumothorax (non-traumatic), clinically suspected pleural effusion, hemoptysis, chronic dyspnea of non-cardiovascular origin, suspected interstitial lung disease, incidental lung nodule, suspected mediastinal lesion, suspected mediastinal lymphadenopathy, and elevated diaphragm on chest radiograph.
Personality is (so much) more than just self-reported Big Five traits
Authors: Rauthmann John F.
Published: December 2023

Common reductionist contractions in thinking or writing about personality and individual differences are to conflate personality, dispositional traits, the Big Five, and self-reports. To avoid conceptual confusions and communicate more effectively, we should bear in mind: (a) Personality is much more than dispositional traits or basic tendencies, (b) basic tendencies are more than just Big Five traits, and (c) self-reports of traits—which capture explicit self-concepts—are just one out of many approaches to trait measurement. These distinctions should be reflected in our thinking, writing, and communication. Attending to them can help clarify what has been studied and (re-)contextualize our knowledge bases. Personality psychology is a science, and scientific language must be accurate, precise, and nuanced.
Sobre Feminismo Descolonial Y Praxis Colectiva: Una Entrevista a Ochy Curiel Pichardo
Authors: Villalón Roberta
Published: December 2023

Esta es una transcripción ligeramente editada de una entrevista con Ochy Curiel Pichardo, que tuvo lugar en la conferencia de invierno de Sociologists for Women in Society (SWS) de 2023 en el panel titulado: “Feminismos descoloniales: Una entrevista con Ochy Curiel, ganadora inaugural de la Distinción Honorífica de Sociología Feminista de SWS.” Conducida en español e interpretada al inglés, se publica de modo bilingüe aquí. Basada en la notable trayectoria de Curiel Pichardo como académica activista dedicada a proyectos descoloniales, Roberta Villalón, la presidenta de SWS que creó y otorgó el premio, condujo la entrevista centrándose en los aspectos distintivos de su cuerpo teórico y praxis feminista. Tanto la entrevista original como el discurso que dio Curiel Pichardo en la reunión invernal de SWS del 2022, en el que compartió como sus experiencias, investigación y acción han contribuido al feminismo, se encuentran disponibles en el canal de YouTube de SWS en: https://youtu.be/jC8xuBUj2S0?si=3GxE_nWKQj5m6ZqP y https://youtu.be/8A1vrjWInCs?si=WqHrcGxdnlepdWMF , respectivamente (en español con subtítulos en inglés).
Masticatory Myositis in a Guinea Pig (Cavia porcellus): A Case Report
Authors: Barbosa Bruna Emely Pereira , Fecchio Roberto Silveira , Lucena Marcel de Freitas , Yarto-Jaramillo Enrique
Published: December 2023

Masticatory myositis is an autoimmune neuromuscular disorder that affects the muscles of mastication. The affected individual has difficulties in opening or closing the mouth, pain, and swelling in the acute phase, and significant atrophy of the affected musculature in the chronic phase. A guinea pig ( Cavia porcellus) with a history of chronic hyporexia, recurrent cheek teeth overgrowth, and loss of facial silhouette, was suspected of having masticatory myositis. The disease was confirmed by computed tomography and histopathological examination of muscle fragments. The patient was treated with a protocol involving corticosteroids and gabapentin, and occlusal correction procedures.
Review on aerodynamic characteristics and energy recovery of vehicle platoon
Authors: Luo Jianbin , Li Mingsen , Chen Xiaofeng , Ye Lei , Xu Hongxiang , Liu Zhonghang , Tie Yuanhao , Xu Song , Jiang Chunmei
Published: December 2023

Platooning can reduce air drag when driving at high speed and improve aerodynamic characteristics. It can not only improve fuel economy, driving comfort, and safety of drivers but also reduce emissions and alleviate traffic congestion. At the same time, the energy recovery of vehicle driving is also in line with the general trend of international environmental governance. It has played an active role in reducing emissions and improving the ecological environment. In this paper, the effects of vehicle longitudinal spacing, number of vehicles and crosswind on the aerodynamic performance of longitudinal and side-by-side platoons are reviewed, as well as energy recovery. The study found that the three-vehicle platoon reduces drag by 30% compared to the two-vehicle platoon. Comparing the aerodynamic drag of the three-vehicle platoon with that of the single vehicle, the drag coefficient of the first and last vehicles can be reduced by 20%, and the drag coefficient of the middle vehicle can be reduced by about 50%. As the crosswind speed and crosswind angle increase, the drag coefficient and pressure of each member in the platoon increase. Recycling wind energy through wind turbines and alternators can increase the driving range of electric vehicles by 23%. The study of the aerodynamic characteristics and energy recovery of platooning vehicles can provide direction and theoretical basics for the development and sustainable development of intelligent transportation.
Analysis of vibration and load-sharing characteristics of two-stage planetary gear transmission system with cracks
Authors: Hao Dong , Yue Bi , Bing-Xing Ren , Wen Yan , Yue Li , Xiao-Long Zhao
Published: December 2023

To reveal the influence of cracks on the dynamic characteristics of a two-stage planetary gear transmission system (TSPGTS), a nonlinear dynamic model with 30-DOF in bending and torsion was constructed, taking into account parameters of different crack degrees (depth, angle, length), as well as factors such as error, time-varying meshing stiffness (TVMS), and damping. In the model, the TVMS model of components with cracks was established using the potential energy method. By incorporating the crack factor into the model, time domain, frequency domain, phase diagram, and Poincare diagram characterizing the dynamic load characteristics were obtained, as well as the curve of dynamic load-sharing characteristics changing with cracks. The influence of different crack degrees on the displacement vibration and dynamic load characteristics of the system was analyzed, and vibration testing experiments were conducted on the system with planetary gear cracks. The results indicate that when the gear contains cracks, it will lead to a decrease in the stiffness of the system, when cracks appear on the II-stage planetary gear, the system will experience impact components with intervals of the rotation period of the II-stage planetary gear, and obvious sidebands will appear near the meshing frequency doubling. These situations will become more pronounced as the degree of cracks intensifies. As the degree of cracks in the II-stage planetary gear increases, the dynamic load-sharing characteristics of the TSPGTS will first improve and then deteriorate, and as the degree of cracks increases, the external and internal dynamic load coefficients continue to increase. Through experiments, the influence of normal gears and cracked gears on system vibration changes was compared and analyzed, and the theoretical results were in good agreement with experimental results, verifying the correctness of the theoretical model. This provides a theoretical basis for fault diagnosis and reliability research of the system.
Autonomous overtaking decision and motion planning of intelligent vehicles based on graph convolutional network and conditional imitation learning
Authors: Lv Yanzhi , Wei Chao , Hu Jibin , He Yuanhao
Published: December 2023

To ensure safe overtaking of intelligent vehicles in dynamic interactive environments, this paper proposes an end-to-end learning method for autonomous overtaking based on Graph Convolutional Network (GCN) and Conditional Imitation Learning (CIL). This method completes the autonomous overtaking behavior by directly mapping the environmental perception data to the underlying vehicle control actions (e.g. throttle and steer angle). This method fully considers the influence of other vehicles’ driving behavior on the overtaking behavior of the ego vehicle. Firstly, the dynamic interactive environments information around the ego vehicle is aggregated in the form of graph-structured data, and the aggregated global features are used as the input of the GCN to output the optimal action instructions that the ego vehicle should take. Secondly, combined with CIL, the action instructions output by the GCN are used as high-level commands to guide CIL. Finally, combined with other perception data, the underlying control actions of the vehicle will be output by CIL to complete safe overtaking in dynamic interactive environments. The method proposed in this paper can effectively extract the global information of the driving scene and complete the collision-free autonomous overtaking behavior, which greatly improves the intelligence of the driving system. The feasibility of the method has been verified by experiments on the CARLA simulation platform. The experimental results prove that the performance of this method is better than that of the conventional end-to-end learning framework, and it has better success rate and generalization performance.
Adaptive multi-mode control system for stability and tracking control of distributed drive automated electric vehicle
Authors: Tang Xuequan , Yan Yunbing , Wang Baohua
Published: December 2023

Conventional tracking control algorithms of Distributed Drive Automated Electric Vehicles (DDAEVs) are typically designed for a unique control mode, which may lead to poor lateral stability under various driving conditions. Aimed this problem, an Adaptive Multi-mode Control System (AMCS) is proposed. Firstly, according to the adhesion utilization between tires and road surface, the driving condition is classified into three categories, and three control modes corresponding to them are proposed. Secondly, an Adaptive Neuro-fuzzy Inference-based Mode Matching Control System (ANFI-MMCS) is constructed to calculate the matching degree between vehicle states and control modes. Then, in order to achieve the ideal distribution of road wheel angle and yaw moment while avoiding approaching the limit speed corresponding to the reference trajectory, a model predictive control trajectory tracking controller and a speed controller with limitations were built. Finally, to achieve smooth switching between control modes, the outputs of AMCS are weighted according to the matching degree. In the experimental section, AMCS is evaluated on Carsim-Simulink co-simulation platform, and the results under different tests reveal that the proposed controller is more adaptable.
Influence of magnetic field on charge and discharge performance of electric vehicle power battery
Authors: Ruan Guanqiang , Fu Xiaoyu , Hu Xing , Cao Jinliang , Yan Rong
Published: December 2023

The charge and discharge performance of 18650 Li-ion battery was studied in a magnetic field environment, and it was found that the charge and discharge capacities of the battery increased with the increase of magnetic field strength at the same charge and discharge rates. At different charge and discharge rates, the higher the multiplier, the more obvious the battery capacity is affected by the magnetic field. Under the scanning electron microscope, it was found that the cracking phenomena of the cathode and anode materials of the battery were obvious without application of magnetic field environment. While the magnetic field was applied, the cracking phenomenon diminished. The magnetic field environment affects the direction of the movement of materials inside the battery, which makes the lithium ions evenly distributed and suppresses the cracking phenomena of the cathode and anode materials, thus reducing the capacity decay rate of lithium-ion battery and obtaining a larger capacity gain.
Mechanical and tribological properties of nano clay/PMMA composites extruded with a twin-screw extruder
Authors: Paul Aneesh , Kesharvani Sujeet , Agrawal Anjali , Dwivedi Gaurav , Singh Vishal , Saxena Kuldeep K
Published: December 2023

An analysis has been done on the strength and wear of the nanocomposites. The synthesis of nano clay or poly-methyl methacrylate (PMMA) nanocomposites by using a twin-screw extruder is discussed here. During the synthesis of nanocomposites, a compatibilizer was added to improve the bonding between the clay and matrix between the five different types of composites. The samples obtained are then used for tensile testing after being molded into dog-bone-shaped samples. The tensile test is done by using a UTM (Universal Testing Machine) and tensile strength and tensile modulus were recorded. Then flexural strength and modulus were recorded by conducting a flexural test. The rectangular part of the dog-bone samples is sliced for this test. Similarly, testing of wear was done using a pin-on-disc apparatus. After the flexural test and wear test analysis, scanning electron microscope imaging of the failed and worn-out surfaces is recorded. It was concluded that the pure PMMA sample has lesser strength than the 2.5 wt% sample. But the pre PMMA sample exhibits higher tensile strength and flexural modulus. And on boosting the filler content in the composite material, the strength reduces but the wear resistance of the composite improves.
Mind the gap: Young people and welfare-state related knowledge in deservingness and welfare attitude research
Authors: Sowula Jakub
Published: December 2023

Welfare deservingness opinions help explain welfare attitudes and hence are crucial for understanding the social legitimacy of the welfare state. However, even when considering deservingness alongside other explanatory frameworks, many open questions remain in the welfare attitude framework. This article argues that a novel research agenda focusing on welfare-state related knowledge and young people could considerably enrich current debates in deservingness and welfare attitude research. Deservingness assessments are made heuristically and could greatly depend on what people know (especially when they are misinformed). Studying this with young people is highly relevant, as the formative years are crucial for welfare attitude formation and change, even later in life. Research with young people provides unique opportunities for disentangling causal mechanisms between welfare-state related knowledge, deservingness and welfare attitudes. Moreover, it could help challenge welfare-state related misinformation and build resilience against disinformation. This thematic review outlines benefits, blind spots, and research trajectories when focusing on knowledge and young people in deservingness and welfare attitude research.