bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Belimumab versus anifrolumab in adults with systemic lupus erythematosus: an indirect comparison of clinical response at 52 weeks
Authors: Neupane Binod , Shukla Pragya , Slim Mahmoud , Martin Amber , Petri Michelle , Bertsias George K , Kim Alfred H J , Fanouriakis Antonis , Levy Roger A , Chauhan Deven , Ballew Nick
Published: May 2023

Objective

To generate comparative efficacy evidence of belimumab versus anifrolumab in SLE that can inform treatment practices.

Methods

The SLE Responder Index (SRI)-4 response at 52 weeks of belimumab versus anifrolumab was evaluated with an indirect treatment comparison. The evidence base consisted of randomised trials that were compiled through a systemic literature review.

A feasibility assessment was performed to comprehensively compare the eligible trials and to determine the most appropriate indirect treatment comparison analysis method. A multilevel network meta-regression (ML-NMR) was implemented that adjusted for differences across trials in four baseline characteristics: SLE Disease Activity Index-2K, anti–double-stranded DNA antibody positive, low complement (C)3 and low C4. Additional analyses were conducted to explore if the results were robust to different sets of baseline characteristics included for adjustment, alternative adjustment methods and changes to the trials included in the evidence base.

Results

The ML-NMR included eight trials: five belimumab trials (BLISS-52, BLISS-76, NEA, BLISS-SC, EMBRACE) and three anifrolumab trials (MUSE, TULIP-1, TULIP-2). Belimumab and anifrolumab were comparable in terms of SRI-4 response (OR (95% credible interval), 1.04 (0.74–1.45)), with the direction of the point estimate slightly favouring belimumab. Belimumab had a 0.58 probability of being the more effective treatment. The results were highly consistent across all analysis scenarios.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that the SRI-4 response of belimumab and anifrolumab are similar at 52 weeks in the general SLE population, but the level of uncertainty around the point estimate means we cannot rule out the possibility of a clinically meaningful benefit for either treatment. It remains to be seen if specific groups of patients could derive a greater benefit from anifrolumab or from belimumab, and there is certainly an unmet need to identify robust predictors towards more personalised selection of available biological agents in SLE.
Economic burden of low muscle strength in Canadian adults
Authors: Chaput Jean-Philippe , Janssen Ian , Sampasa-Kanyinga Hugues , Tomkinson Grant R. , Lang Justin J.
Published: May 2023

We used a prevalence-based approach to estimate the economic costs associated with low muscle strength, as assessed using handgrip strength, in Canadian adults. We estimated the annual economic burden of low muscle strength at $3.0 billion, representing 2.2% of the 2021 Canadian burden of illness costs. The two most expensive chronic diseases attributable to low muscle strength were cardiovascular disease ($899 million) and type 2 diabetes ($880 million). A 10% decrease in the prevalence of low handgrip strength would save approximately $546 million per year, equivalent to an 18.1% cost reduction. Strategies to increase population-level muscle strength are needed to reduce healthcare costs and improve health.

The economic cost associated with low muscle strength in Canadian adults is unknown. The total annual economic burden of low muscle strength in Canadian adults represents 2.2% of the overall burden of illness costs in 2021. We estimated that $546 million per year would be saved if the prevalence of low handgrip strength was reduced by 10%.
Enhanced light signal for the suppression of pile-up events in Mo-based bolometers for the 0$$\nu \beta \beta $$ decay search.
Authors: Ahmine A. , Armatol A. , Bandac I. , Bergé L. , Calvo-Mozota J. M. , Carniti P. , Chapellier M. , Dixon T. , Dumoulin L. , Giuliani A. , Gras Ph. , Ferri F. , Imbert L. , Khalife H. , Loaiza P. , de Marcillac P. , Marnieros S. , Marrache-Kikuchi C. A. , Nones C. , Olivieri E. , de Solórzano A. Ortiz , Pessina G. , Poda D. V. , Redon Th. , Scarpaci J. A. , Velázquez M. , Zolotarova A.
Published: May 2023

Random coincidences of events could be one of the main sources of background in the search for neutrino-less double-beta decay of $$^{100}$$

100

Mo with macro-bolometers, due to their modest time resolution. Scintillating bolometers as those based on Li$$_2$$

2

MoO$$_4$$

4

crystals and employed in the CROSS and CUPID experiments can eventually exploit the coincident fast signal detected in a light detector to reduce this background. However, the scintillation provides a modest signal-to-noise ratio, making difficult a pile-up pulse-shape recognition and rejection at timescales shorter than a few ms. Neganov–Trofimov–Luke assisted light detectors (NTL-LDs) offer the possibility to effectively increase the signal-to-noise ratio, preserving a fast time-response, and enhance the capability of pile-up rejection via pulse shape analysis. In this article we present: (a) an experimental work performed with a Li$$_2$$

2

MoO$$_4$$

4

scintillating bolometer, studied in the framework of the CROSS experiment, and utilizing a NTL-LD; (b) a simulation method to reproduce, synthetically, randomly coincident two-neutrino double-beta decay events; (c) a new analysis method based on a pulse-shape discrimination algorithm capable of providing high pile-up rejection efficiencies. We finally show how the NTL-LDs offer a balanced solution between performance and complexity to reach background index $$\sim $$
∼
$$10^{-4}$$

10

-
4

counts/keV/kg/year with 280 g Li$$_2$$

2

MoO$$_4$$

4

($$^{100}$$

100

Mo enriched) bolometers at 3034 keV, the Q$$_{\beta \beta }$$

β
β

of the double-beta decay, and target the goal of a next generation experiment like CUPID.
Shifting physics of vortex particles to higher energies via quantum entanglement
Authors: Karlovets D. V. , Baturin S. S. , Geloni G. , Sizykh G. K. , Serbo V. G.
Published: May 2023

Physics of structured waves is currently limited to relatively small particle energies as the available generation techniques are only applicable to the soft X-ray twisted photons, to the beams of electron microscopes, to cold neutrons, or non-relativistic atoms. The highly energetic vortex particles with an orbital angular momentum would come in handy for a number of experiments in atomic physics, nuclear, hadronic, and accelerator physics, and to generate them one needs to develop alternative methods, applicable for ultrarelativistic energies and for composite particles. Here, we show that the vortex states of in principle arbitrary particles can be generated during photon emission in helical undulators, via Cherenkov radiation, in collisions of charged particles with intense laser beams, in such scattering or annihilation processes as$$e\mu \rightarrow e\mu , ep \rightarrow ep, e^-e^+ \rightarrow p\bar{p}$$eμ→eμ,ep→ep,e-e+→pp¯, and so forth. The key element in obtaining them is the postselection protocol due to entanglement between a pair of final particles and it is largely not the process itself. The state of a final particle – be it a$$\gamma $$γ-ray, a hadron, a nucleus, or an ion – becomes twisted if the azimuthal angle of the other particle momentum is measured with a large error or is not measured at all. As a result, requirements to the beam transverse coherence can be greatly relaxed, which enables the generation of highly energetic vortex beams at accelerators and synchrotron radiation facilities, thus making them a new tool for hadronic and spin studies.
Effective fluid mixture of tensor-multi-scalar gravity
Authors: Miranda Marcello , Graham Pierre-Antoine , Faraoni Valerio
Published: May 2023

We apply to tensor-multi-scalar gravity the effective fluid analysis based on the representation of the gravitational scalar field as a dissipative effective fluid. This generalization poses new challenges as the effective fluid is now a complicated mixture of individual fluids mutually coupled to each other, and many reference frames are possible for its description. They are all legitimate, although not all convenient for specific problems, and they give rise to different physical interpretations. Two of these frames are highlighted, and implications for cosmology are pointed out.
Investigation of the intrinsic magnetic properties of GdCo4B single crystal: determination of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy from the first-order magnetization processes
Authors: Svitlyk V. , Kuz’min M. D. , Mozharivskyj Y. , Isnard O.
Published: May 2023

We report on the intrinsic magnetic properties of a GdCo4B single crystal as derived from magnetization measurements. The occurrence of a first-order magnetization process (FOMP) in a magnetic field applied perpendicularly to the easy magnetization direction provides an opportunity to determine the anisotropy parameters K1 and K2. To this end, the theoretical approach proposed previously for easy-plane magnets has been adapted for the case of easy-axis compounds exhibiting a FOMP. The obtained anisotropy parameters of GdCo4B are compared with the values deduced by other classical techniques. The presence of a compensation point in the thermal dependence of the spontaneous magnetization has enabled the determination of the exchange field on Gd, Bex = 131 T, which is in good agreement with inelastic neutron scattering results published earlier. Influence of the applied pressure on the anisotropy parameters is quantified using the pressure dependence of the FOMP, revealing a significant sensitivity of the anisotropy parameters to pressure.
DRC-SG 2.0: Efficient Design Rule Checking Script Generation via Key Information Extraction
Authors: Zhu Binwu , Zhang Xinyun , Lin Yibo , Yu Bei , Wong Martin
Published: May 2023

Design Rule Checking (DRC) is a critical step in integrated circuit design. DRC requires formatted scripts as the input to design rule checkers. However, these scripts are manually generated in the foundry, which is tedious and error prone for generation of thousands of rules in advanced technology nodes. To mitigate this issue, we propose the first DRC script generation framework, leveraging a deep learning-based key information extractor to automatically identify essential arguments from rules and a script translator to organize the extracted arguments into executable DRC scripts. We further enhance the performance of the extractor with three specific design rule generation techniques and a multi-task learning-based rule classification module. Experimental results demonstrate that the framework can generate a single rule script in 5.46 ms on average, with the extractor achieving 91.1% precision and 91.8% recall on the key information extraction. Compared with the manual generation, our framework can significantly reduce the turnaround time and speed up process design closure.
Deep Reinforcement Learning Verification: A Survey
Authors: Landers Matthew , Doryab Afsaneh
Published: May 2023

Deep reinforcement learning (DRL) has proven capable of superhuman performance on many complex tasks. To achieve this success, DRL algorithms train a decision-making agent to select the actions that maximize some long-term performance measure. In many consequential real-world domains, however, optimal performance is not enough to justify an algorithm’s use—for example, sometimes a system’s robustness, stability, or safety must be rigorously ensured. Thus, methods for verifying DRL systems have emerged. These algorithms can guarantee a system’s properties over an infinite set of inputs, but the task is not trivial. DRL relies on deep neural networks (DNNs). DNNs are often referred to as “black boxes” because examining their respective structures does not elucidate their decision-making processes. Moreover, the sequential nature of the problems DRL is used to solve promotes significant scalability challenges. Finally, because DRL environments are often stochastic, verification methods must account for probabilistic behavior. To address these complications, a new subfield has emerged. In this survey, we establish the foundations of DRL and DRL verification, define a taxonomy for DRL verification methods, describe approaches for dealing with stochasticity, characterize considerations related to writing specifications, enumerate common testing tasks/environments, and detail opportunities for future research.
Effect of Arginine Vasopressin on Intraoperative Hypotension Caused by Oral Administration of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid
Authors: Owada Gen , Nishizawa Hideo , Matoyama Yuki , Watanabe Eri , Mitsuda Keigo , Kaneko Naoki , Kimura Yasuhiro , Nanao Taikan , Fujimoto Junichi
Published: May 2023

5-Aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is used for the photodynamic diagnosis of malignant tumors and has been effectively utilized to improve the complete resection rate and reduce the risk of tumor recurrence. However, intraoperative hypotension is a common adverse effect of oral 5-ALA, and it occasionally progresses to severe prolonged hypotension requiring high-dose catecholamine administration. We report a case of intraoperative hypotension due to oral 5-ALA in which arginine vasopressin (AVP) administration was effective for increasing the blood pressure. A 77-year-old man scheduled for a craniotomy for glioma was administered 5-ALA orally before surgery. After the induction of anesthesia, his blood pressure decreased substantially. Although we administered various vasopressor agents, hypotension was prolonged. However, after starting a continuous administration of AVP, the systolic blood pressure increased, and the hemodynamic parameters remained stable during the remainder of the operation. 5-ALA administration may lower blood pressure by inducing nitric oxide production, and AVP inhibits inducible nitric oxide synthase messenger RNA expression and interleukin-1β-stimulated nitric oxide production. In light of these mechanisms, AVP may be a reasonable treatment agent for hypotension induced by 5-ALA.
A Novel Characterization of Fuzzy Soft Substructures in Quantales Theory
Authors: Mazher Qurashi Saqib , Gulzar Muhammad , Sumaira Kanwal Rani , Akter Dilruba , Shawaiz Safdar Muhammad
Published: May 2023

In this paper, we use an algebraic structure quantale and define the idea of fuzzy soft substructures as a generalization of fuzzy substructures in quantale. These fuzzy soft substructures include fuzzy soft subquantales, fuzzy soft ideals, fuzzy soft prime ideals, fuzzy soft semiprime ideals, and fuzzy soft primary ideals. Furthermore, different characterizations of fuzzy soft substructures in quantales are introduced. Moreover, we extend this ideology to investigate that for each fuzzy soft substructure in quantale, there exists an α-soft substructure in quantales. These fuzzy soft subquantales and fuzzy soft ideals are characterized by their level subquantales and ideals, respectively. Finally, fuzzy soft image and fuzzy soft inverse image of fuzzy soft substructures under quantale homomorphism in quantale are discussed.
The Intersection Multiplicity of Intersection Points over Algebraic Curves
Authors: Lai Kailing , Meng Fanning , He Huanqi
Published: May 2023

In analytic geometry, Bézout’s theorem stated the number of intersection points of two algebraic curves and Fulton introduced the intersection multiplicity of two curves at some point in local case. It is meaningful to give the exact expression of the intersection multiplicity of two curves at some point. In this paper, we mainly express the intersection multiplicity of two curves at some point in and under fold point, where char(K) = 0. First, we give a sufficient and necessary condition for the coincidence of the intersection multiplicity of two curves at some point and the smallest degree of the terms of these two curves in . Furthermore, we show that two different definitions of intersection multiplicity of two curves at a point in are equivalent and then give the exact expression of the intersection multiplicity of two curves at some point in under fold point.
A Collaborative Method on Reversible Lane Clearance and Signal Coordination Control in Associated Intersection
Authors: Xie Xiaolan , Dong Luxi , Gu Huinan , Li Hailing , Zhang Lieping
Published: May 2023

To improve traffic efficiency and utilization of road resources and alleviate traffic congestion caused by imbalance of bidirectional traffic flow, in view of the conversion conditions of reversible lane function, the operating characteristics of associated intersections under dynamic reversible lanes are analysed in terms of capacity, and a reversible lane control model is constructed based on short-term traffic flow prediction. On this basis, the reversible lane segment clearing time and upstream and downstream signal control strategies under different states are studied. The collaborative control model of reversible lane clearing time and signal timing of associated intersections is established to obtain the optimal time for reversible lane function switching. Finally, using Chaoyang Road, Beijing, as an example, the effectiveness of the proposed model is verified by the simulation indexes of average vehicle delay and reversible lane clearing time. The results show that the optimized clearing efficiency exceeds 15% and the optimized average vehicle delay is reduced by more than 10%. Combined with the future traffic state, the traffic capacity and saturation flow are greatly improved, and the intelligent reversible lane control is better achieved.
Recent Progress in Genetics and Epigenetics Research on Diabetic Nephropathy in Malaysia
Authors: Abu Seman Norhashimah , Othman Siti Haslina
Published: May 2023

Diabetic nephropathy is a multifactorial disease. Gene susceptibility, as well as environmental exposure, plays an important role in disease progression. Malaysia is reported to be among the world’s second-fastest-growing rates of kidney failure. Diabetic nephropathy has become the main cause of end-stage renal disease in Malaysia. This article is aimed at reviewing genetic studies conducted among diabetic nephropathy patients in the Malaysian population. This review was conducted by searching PubMed, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar databases to identify all relevant papers published in English from March 2022 to April 2022, using the following keywords: diabetes, type 2 diabetes, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic kidney disease, and Malaysia. The case-control study among diabetic patients with and without diabetic nephropathy showed a significant association with diabetic nephropathy in CNDP1, NOS3, and MnSOD genes. In the ethnic subgroup analysis, significant differences for diabetic nephropathy in terms of diabetes duration (≥10 years) were observed for CCL2 rs3917887, CCR5 rs1799987, ELMO1 rs74130, and IL8 rs4073. The IL8 rs4073 was associated only with the Indians, while the CCR5 rs1799987 was associated with the Chinese. In Malays, SLC12A3 Arg913Gln polymorphism and ICAM1 K469E (A/G) polymorphism were found to be associated with diabetic nephropathy. Studies on gene-environment interactions have suggested significant genetic and environmental factors such as smoking, waist circumference, and sex for eNOS rs2070744, PPARGC1A rs8192678, KCNQ1 rs2237895, and KCNQ1 rs2283228 with kidney disease. The genetic variants’ contributions differed across ethnic groups. Therefore, a study to validate the genetic variants that are found to be associated with different ethnicities in Malaysia may be important in future studies.
Identification of Rock Resistivity and Slip Surface in the Ambon Volcanic Rock in the Kayu Putih Area of Ambon City
Authors: Latupapua Andrias Izaac , Puturuhu Ferad , Marthen Maylsea Camay
Published: May 2023

Research on rock resistivity and slip surface in the Ambon Volcanic Rock formation has been carried out through geoelectric mapping with the Wenner-Schlumberger configuration in the Kayu Putih area, Ambon City as one of the areas prone to landslides. Measurement of rock resistivity by Mapping was carried out on two tracks each 120 m long and 70 m long intersecting each other. The results showed that the resistivity values ​​of the rocks ranged from 185 Ωm to 4,128 Ωm consisting of Top Soil, Unsaturated Landfill, and Loose Sand as the cover layer followed by Dry Sandy Soil and Gravel, and Breccia Dacite and Tuff at the bottom layer. Breccia Dacite rocks with a resistivity of greater than 2,000 Ωm are found at a depth of 11 – 13 m below the soil surface functioning as slip surface for the sand layer above them. The movement of the soil mass over the slip surface causes cracks in the surface of the road and houses.
Writech: Enhancing Students’ Writing Skills Using the SAMR Model
Authors: Capangpangan Bryan R.
Published: May 2023

Writing is one of the major competencies of 21st century skills that students need to develop. Accompanying the cultivation of this skill is the selection of timely methods involving the use of technology and educational platforms. In this study, the researcher undertook to realize the use of the SAMR model in enhancing the writing skills of the students of Meycauayan National High School – Senior High School. This study aims to assess the level of writing skills of students from the controlled and experimental groups. Using a quasi-experimental design, the study was conducted on 50 Grade 12 students from the ABM and HUMSS strands. In calculating the details, the researcher used a statistical method to obtain the weighted average mean and t-test measure to compare the results of the conducted preliminary and final tests, as well as the analysis of data in each category of writing. From the collected data, it was laid out in the study that after the intervention was carried out, the level of students' writing skills significantly increased. This study suggests the use of the SAMR model in developing the writing skills of students from different goals and strands of Senior High School. There were also some other problems related to other macro skills that need to be developed at the Filipino level and try to spread the use of technology and other educational platforms to bring out the best learning possibilities.
The Elusive Mandate of Heaven: Changing Views of Tianming 天命 in the Eastern Zhou Period
Authors: Luo Xinhui , Pines Yuri
Published: May 2023

The concept of tianming 天命 (Mandate of Heaven/Heaven’s Mandate) is often viewed as a foundational principle of Chinese political culture. However, as paleographic and textual evidence marshalled in our article suggests, during the formative age of this culture—the Eastern Zhou period (eighth through third centuries BCE)—this concept underwent profound changes and lost much of its original appeal. With the de facto collapse of Zhou authority in 771 BCE, tianming became dissociated from the idea of singular and universal rule. Henceforth it could refer to a regional lord’s hegemonic power, or the right to rule one’s state, or just to an opportune moment or individual destiny. The very idea of Heaven as an activist deity that guaranteed political order was questioned by many, further eroding the appeal of tianming. However, the Western Zhou notion of tianming did not perish altogether. It remained “an ideology in reserve,” part of a broad toolkit of political ideas, to be rediscovered and redeployed by Han dynasty imperial ideologues.
The Making of a Hero and a Villain: Southern Song Literati’s Changing Perceptions of the Memoirs of Li Gang and Wang Boyan
Authors: Chu Ming-kin
Published: May 2023

This article discusses how Southern Song literati’s changing perceptions of the three memoirs of Li Gang 李綱 (1083–1140) and Wang Boyan 汪伯彥 (1069–1141) shaped their posthumous reputations. Both men served as chief councilor in the early Southern Song. Literati in the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries became increasingly skeptical of Wang Boyan’s memoir, a work that had been considered as authentic decades earlier. Partly driven by their irredentist passion and their disappointment with autocratic councilors, literati identified with the hawkish Li and supported the printing of his works. After Li’s formerly lesser-known personal memoir had a wider circulation in the thirteenth century, daoxue 道學 historians deliberately adopted his overt criticism of Wang to form a new narrative that praised Li and vilified Wang. The posthumous reputations of the two men went into two extremes as a result—Wang was nefarious while Li was an illustrious minister.
Comparison of transmission of Bursaphelenchus mucronatus via two different pathways from Monochamus saltuarius to host trees
Authors: Nakayama Yusuke , Togashi Katsumi
Published: May 2023

Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, the causative agent of pine wilt disease, and B. mucronatus are transmitted by Monochamus adults to host trees. Feeding and oviposition wounds made by vectors are the primary transmission pathways to trees. Monochamus saltuarius female adults carrying B. mucronatus were reared singly and allowed to mate with nematode-free males at 5-day intervals, to determine the ratio of nematodes transmitted via the two different pathways. The survival time, lifetime fecundity and other reproductive traits decreased with increasing initial nematode load (number of nematodes carried by a newly-emerged adult). Model selection indicated that numbers of B. mucronatus departing from M. saltuarius and of those transmitted to pine via oviposition and feeding wounds were closely related to the initial nematode load, which was affected by survival time and number of oviposition wounds constructed. Most temporal patterns of nematode departure and transmission via oviposition or feeding wounds from individual vectors had a peak in the medium and heavy initial nematode loads. The nematode departure curve was significantly similar in shape to each of the nematode transmission curves via oviposition and feeding wounds, which were not significantly similar to each other, for individual vectors. After M. saltuarius females began to construct the oviposition wounds, it was estimated that B. mucronatus was transmitted via the oviposition wounds at a probability of 0.767. If B. xylophilus is transmitted in the same way as B. mucronatus, the incidence of pine wilt disease by mature vectors would be much lower than in the case of no oviposition-related transmission.
If I Ran the Zoo: Protecting the Rights of Black African Minorities
Authors: Lalude Olalekan Moyosore
Published: May 2023

If I Ran a Zoo is a metaphoric trope for the normalisation of racism in European society for decades at a time when the contradiction of aspiring to the civilised world where human dignity, regardless of any distinctive status, would be respected. This article resolved the research question on how the rights of black African minorities can be protected while creating a safe space for the black people in Europe. Through content analysis, the article demonstrated the nature and origin of racism. It argued that racism and racial discrimination as it is rife against black African people, is a serious challenge for the realisation of human rights in Europe. It further considered the rights of black African minorities in the context of an Afrophobic Europe, and why international human rights law has failed to protect black African people. While it examined the risk posed to the lives of black minorities, it concluded that the elimination of racism and racial discrimination is within the capacity of European states, and consists in their showing greater responsibility towards their obligations in the European Convention on Human Rights.
The White Nuns in Outremer
Authors: Duba William , Schabel Chris
Published: May 2023

This is the first in a series of papers on the history and archaeology of St Theodore Abbey, a Cistercian nunnery founded in Nicosia, Cyprus, in the early thirteenth century that survived into the mid-sixteenth century, the remains of which were discovered and excavated in 2004-2005. This paper begins by placing the abbey into its historical context, describing the Cistercian Order, its spread to the East, and the early history of the White Nuns. Then it traces the history of the abbey of St Theodore itself as told by the surviving documentary evidence, which is published in an appendix.
Beyond the Ego-Politics of Critical Pedagogy: the Rise of Radical Social Justice Pedagogies from the Global South
Authors: Moyo Last
Published: May 2023

Critical pedagogy faces epistemic limitations that are negatively impacting its ability to effectively deal with social justice issues arising from the Global South. The Global South consists of those who live in the exteriority or the margins of a modern system that classifies world populations hierarchically based on the color line. It is about those who inhabit zones of nonbeing whose humanity continues to be discounted even after the presumed globalization of human rights. The Global South comprises several racialized populations, indigenous peoples, women, unwelcome refugees and many others who live in conditions of dehumanization arising from systemic racism and capitalist exploitation. Most of these epistemic limits of critical pedagogy, have culminated in the proliferation of decolonial or border pedagogies that appeal more to the social justice and protest struggles of the marginalized and the poor.
The Prague Spring of 1968
Authors: Chmelar Jiri
Published: May 2023

The Prague Spring of 1968 and the events immediately following it represent a significant historical moment in Czechoslovak history. The unprecedented activation of society through protest and media, the search for its own path of development and its violent interruption, still resonate in society today. The following essay narrates major occurrences of the ‘Prague Spring,’ starting with its prologue, moving to the unfolding of 1968 events, and closing with an epilogue. It focuses on the activation of society in its criticism of the old order, support for change, rejection of the violent interruption and the onset of normalization in a changed political scene.
Surgical Instrument Designers and Inventors—Where are the Women?
Authors: Weinreich Heather M. , Jin Vivian , Crowell Lake , Skovlund Sandra M. , Williams Quintin L. , Buhimschi Irina A.
Published: May 2023

Historically, surgical instruments were designed by men for male surgeons. Although instrumentation has changed with the changing paradigms of surgery, it has failed to adapt to the changing surgical workforce. Almost 30% of surgeons are female and nearly 90% of surveyed female surgeons report poor instrument design and associated musculoskeletal injuries from use. Understanding the current state of handheld surgical instrument design, published literature was reviewed, surgical instrument collections were contacted, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark databases were queried to identify public patents and pre-granted applications of female inventors of handheld surgical instruments. Twenty-five female inventors were identified from published literature and 1551 unique females hold patents. This number pales when the denominator of male inventors is considered. Hence, to address the female surgeon’s lack of instrumentation and design, there is a critical need for participatory ergonomics whereby both the female surgeon and engineer collaborate on design.
Metastasis of Renal Cell Carcinoma to Pancreatic Bile Duct
Authors: Torres Olivieri Andres , Longoria Dubocq Texell , Hernandez Rivera Pedro
Published: May 2023

Secondary pancreatic neoplasms account for less than 5% of all pancreatic malignancies, with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) being one of the most common primary tumors. Here, we present the case of a patient with obstructive jaundice secondary to an isolated metastatic RCC, to the intrapancreatic portion of the common bile duct, ampulla of Vater, and pancreatic parenchyma. Patient had a history of a left radical nephrectomy due to a primary RCC 10 years prior to presentation, and eventually underwent a pylorus-sparing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) with minor morbidity. While metastases of RCC to the pancreatic body and tail have been reported, isolated metastasis to the pancreatic bile duct comprises an even rarer subgroup.
Harvesting the Power of Artificial Intelligence for Surgery: Uses, Implications, and Ethical Considerations
Authors: Kavian Joseph A. , Wilkey Hannah L. , Patel Parth A. , Boyd Carter J.
Published: May 2023

Artificial intelligence is rapidly advancing, especially with the advent of ChatGPT technology, and its role in the world of medicine is expanding. Within surgery, AI has the capacity to improve efficiency and results in surgical treatments; however, it similarly has the potential to impose harm onto patients and undermine the role of medical providers. Its benefits may include improvements in surgical outcomes, spanning from enhanced pre-operative diagnostic capabilities to more refined intra-operative techniques, and long term patient experiences, by identifying and reducing complications. Nevertheless apprehensions revolve around laymen use potentially resulting in inappropriate therapeutic interventions, in addition to safety and ethical risks surrounding the use of patient data. Various strategies towards mitigating these harms must be considered, such as patient disclaimers and secondary review policies. While artificial intelligence brings exciting advancements to surgery, its integration must be cautiously monitored.
Orchestrating Human-Machine Designer Ensembles during Product Innovation
Authors: Recker Jan , von Briel Frederik , Yoo Youngjin , Nagaraj Varun , McManus Mickey
Published: May 2023

Product innovation increasingly involves both human designers (engineers, developers, lead users, creative geniuses, and other innovators) and machine designers (algorithmically organized software tools that autonomously collect and interpret data to make innovative design decisions). This article provides practical guidance about how firms can leverage different forms of machine designers in tandem with human designers to fundamentally change the way they engage in product innovation. It describes how successful companies have managed to optimally orchestrate the capabilities of human and machine designers to create both effective and ethical product innovations that were previously unthinkable.
An Innovative and Integrative Approach to Breaking Down Barriers to Traditional Morbidity and Mortality Conference
Authors: Tresselt Erin , Darnell Bowens Cindy , Dhar Archana
Published: May 2023

Children are vulnerable to medical errors. Adverse events are leveraged as educational tools in Morbidity and Mortality (M&M) Conference. Traditionally, M&M has brought angst when discussing adverse events. Our goal was to transition M&M to an educational environment highlighting system failures. A survey was created to capture data on satisfaction, education, and system process improvement. Feedback from the surveys led to several changes, including fostering a multidisciplinary forum, prioritizing educational topics, and emphasizing process improvement. In 5 years, satisfaction with M&M Conference has increased by 29%, with an increase by 50% when asked if process improvement issues were addressed adequately, and 100% of faculty incorporate what they learn from M&M into their practice. By developing a hands-on approach to M&M, we have improved satisfaction and focused on education and system process improvement. This design could be used throughout the medical community to improve discussion of adverse events which should improve patient safety.
The Where and Why of Accelerated Middle-School Mathematics
Authors: Peters Scott J. , Carter James A.
Published: May 2023

Students in any grade level vary widely in their mathematics achievement, with the typical classroom including four to seven grade levels of mathematics proficiency. Due to this large range of mathematics learning needs, some schools offer certain courses in earlier grades than is typical. In this study, we analyzed multiple, large, national datasets to understand which schools provide access to seventh-grade algebra and eighth-grade geometry. Next, we explored what factors predicted school-level access to those courses and the proportion of eligible students enrolled in either course. We found that access varies widely across, and even within, states and districts, with factors such as parental education and within-district economic segregation remaining predictive even after controlling for average school achievement. In general, predictors of the proportion of a school identified as gifted were weaker, but schools in more-segregated districts and those with larger proportions of White students enrolled did tend to enroll fewer students in either math course.
G.B. Riccioli’s geo-heliocentric use of Epicepicycles, ellipses and spirals
Authors: Marcacci Flavia
Published: May 2023

According to Giovanni Battista Riccioli (1598–1671), planets describe orbits in a fluid heaven in a helio-geocentric model of cosmos. In his Almagestum Novum (1651) he stresses the need for a novel and rigorous geometrical explanation for the motion of heavenly bodies, which considers a separate Primum Mobile as an unnecessary hypothesis. Riccioli rejects the standard eccentric-epicycle theory as unsatisfactory and argues for what he calls “Eccentrepicyclos” or “Epicepicycles.” He takes the Keplerian elliptical theory into account and includes a variable oscillation of both the mobile eccentric center and the variation of the epicycle’s diameter. As a result, planets move along spiral orbits that have variable sizes. The inequalities, which astronomers had always tried to explain, are now justified: the spiral trajectory, obtained by means of the oscillation of the eccentric center, warrants the first inequality, about the variation of the planets’ velocity. The variable amplitude of the spirals, obtained by the variation of the epicycle’s diameter, explains the second inequality, namely the apparent retrograde or progressive planetary motion. In the later work Astronomia Reformata (1665), Riccioli uses explicitly the term “ellipse.” Riccioli’s innovations are of great interest and help to understand the complexity of the astronomical debates about the best world-system.
The total eclipse of the sun of July 29, AD1478, in contemporary Spanish documents
Authors: Martínez Usó María José , Marco Castillo Francisco J.
Published: May 2023

The total solar eclipse on July 29, AD 1478, went unnoticed by most of Europe. Although several scholars accurately predicted it, very few observations made by professional astronomers have survived, and these contain very little relevant information. In contrast, several observations, many of which unknown or unpublished, made by casual eyewitnesses have reached our days from the different kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula in the 15th century. We present six such observations. These descriptions, collected in observations, chronicles, or diaries, although not professional, provide interesting information that, in some cases, lead us to obtain valid values for the Δ T parameter.
Investigation of mechanical properties of nanoclay modified E-glass/epoxy composites
Authors: Kiratli Sakine , Aslan Züleyha
Published: May 2023

Nanocomposites have an important place due to their improved mechanical properties. Nanoclays have attracted interest from researchers due to their features such as a high aspect ratio and low cost. In this study, the effect of nanoclay on the mechanical properties of E-glass/epoxy composites was investigated. The nanoclay was added to the epoxy at the ratios of 1, 3, and 5 wt%. The tensile strength and the modulus of elasticity were found in both directions. In addition, the Poisson’s ratio was obtained. Additionally, the flexural strength, the shear strength, and the interlaminar shear strength were investigated. The damaged surfaces of the tested samples were examined by scanning electron microscopy. According to the results obtained, it was seen that the shear strength, the tensile strength, and the modulus of elasticity in the fiber direction and the tensile strength in the transverse direction decreased for all ratios. While the Poisson’s ratio increased by 16.67% at the ratios of 3 and 5 wt%, the modulus of elasticity in the transverse direction increased by 2.06% at the ratio of 1 wt%. In addition, the flexural strength and the interlaminar shear strength increased 14.63% and 4.78% at the ratio of 1 wt%, respectively. The mechanical properties of the E-glass/epoxy composites are significantly influenced by the nanoclays.
ScRNA-Seq Reveals a Distinct Osteogenic Progenitor of Alveolar Bone
Authors: Jin A. , Xu H. , Gao X. , Sun S. , Yang Y. , Huang X. , Wang X. , Liu Y. , Zhu Y. , Dai Q. , Bian Q. , Jiang L.
Published: May 2023

The metabolism and remodeling of alveolar bone are the most active among the whole skeletal system, which is related to the biological characteristics and heterogeneity of the bone mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). However, there is a lack of systematic description of the heterogeneity of MSC-derived osteoblastic lineage cells as well as their distinct osteogenic differentiation trajectory of alveolar bone. In this study, we constructed a single-cell atlas of the mouse alveolar bone cells through single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). Remarkably, by comparing the cell compositions between the alveolar bone and long bone, we uncovered a previously undescribed cell population that exhibits a high expression of protocadherin Fat4 (Fat4+ cells) and is specifically enriched around alveolar bone marrow cavities. ScRNA-seq analysis indicated that Fat4+ cells may initiate a distinct osteogenic differentiation trajectory in the alveolar bone. By isolating and cultivating Fat4+ cells in vitro, we demonstrated that they possess colony-forming, osteogenic, and adipogenic capabilities. Moreover, FAT4 knockdown could significantly inhibit the osteogenic differentiation of alveolar bone MSCs. Furthermore, we revealed that the Fat4+ cells exhibit a core transcriptional signature consisting of several key transcription factors, such as SOX6, which are involved in osteogenesis, and further demonstrated that SOX6 is required for the efficient osteogenic differentiation of the Fat4+ cells. Collectively, our high-resolution single-cell atlas of the alveolar bone reveals a distinct osteogenic progenitor that may contribute to the unique physiological characteristics of alveolar bone.
Social Media Burnout and Internet Addiction: The Role of Extroversion and Social Self-Concept in a Brazilian Sample
Authors: Santos Layrtthon Carlos de Oliveira , Alves Matheus Marcelino
Published: May 2023

The aim of this study was to examine the role played by the extroversion and social self-concept in the relationship between internet addiction and social media burnout. 200 individuals from the Brazilian general population between the ages of 18 and 45 participated and responded to the Compulsive Internet Use Scale, the Social Media Burnout Scale, the Multidimensional Self-Concept Scale, and a scale of reduced markers for personality assessment. The data were analyzed with the SPSS software. Results showed positive and statistically significant correlations between internet addiction and social media burnout, as well as negative correlations between both variables with social self-concept and extroversion. Furthermore, social self-concept had a significant indirect effect on the relationship between Internet addiction and social media burnout by appearing to mediate this relationship. This study contributes to the endorsement of the literature on the subject and prompts consideration of interventions needed by psychologists to promote social skills and appropriate internet use.
Should We Continue to Tell Autistic People that Their Brains are Different?
Authors: Crawshaw Daniel
Published: May 2023

Autism is often considered to reflect categorically ‘different brains’. Neuropsychological research on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) however, has struggled to define this difference, or derive clear-cut boundaries between autism and non-autism. Consequently, restructuring or disbanding the ASD diagnosis is becoming increasingly advocated within research. Nonetheless, autism now exists as a salient social construction, of which ‘difference’ is a key facet. Clinical and educational professionals must influence this cautiously, as changes to autism’s social construction may counterproductively affect the quality of life of autistic people. This paper therefore reviews ASD’s value as both neuropsychological and social constructs. Although lacking neuropsychological validity, the autism label may be beneficial for autistic self-identity, reduction of stigma, and administering support. Whilst a shift away from case-control ASD research is warranted, lay notions of ‘different brains’ may be preserved.
Inclusionary Emergency Management Planning: Floridian Emergency Management Planners’ Orientations and Perceptions
Authors: Knox Claire Connolly , Rivera Jason D.
Published: May 2023

The need for effective inclusionary planning practices is paramount in the whole community approach within emergency management. However, accountability, legitimacy, bureaucratic discretion, and a planner’s perspective on public involvement can limit the ability to effectively include the public in emergency management planning processes. Through survey and focus group analysis of county-level emergency management planners in Florida, this preliminary study explores the implications of these factors for effectively engaging in democratic policy and planning development within the realm of emergency management. We provide recommendations for practitioners attempting to engage the public and suggestions for future research.
Constructing a multi-layer heterogeneous networks model to explore the public opinion evolution pattern of key users in public health emergencies
Authors: Li Tingting , Zeng Ziming , Sun Shouqiang , Sun Jingjing , Li Qingqing
Published: May 2023

This article aims to discover key users in public health emergencies and explore their public opinion evolution patterns, thus providing theoretical support for the establishment of a clear cyberspace. In this article, a multi-layer heterogeneous network model based on multiple node attributes (user nodes, microblogs nodes, emotional nodes and topic nodes) is constructed at each stage of the public opinion cycle. Specifically, a novel semi-supervised self-training method based on the bidirectional encoder representations from transformers (SSST-BERT) method is proposed to automatically label the fine-grained emotional nodes. The latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) model is used to construct the topic nodes. Moreover, the degree centrality, betweenness centrality and closeness centrality of the constructed heterogeneous network are adopted to dynamically identify key users. Finally, the emotional states and topic tendencies of key users are explored to obtain the public opinion evolution pattern of emergencies. The experimental results show that the SSST-BERT automatically labels emotion categories with an F1-score of 80.48%. The key users identified by the constructed heterogeneous network are more representative of the opinion status of ordinary users. Analysis of the public opinion status of key users reveals that netizens show more negative emotions such as anger and fear in public health emergencies, and the shift of focus drives the evolution of discussion topics.