bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Workflow and Outcome of Thrombectomy in Late Time Window: A Pooled Multicenter Analysis
Authors: Ademola Ayoola , Bala Fouzi , Menon Bijoy K. , Thornton John , Casetta Ilaria , Nannoni Stefania , Goyal Mayank , Herlihy Darragh , Fainardi Enrico , Power Sarah , Saia Valentina , Hegarty Aidan , Pracucci Giovanni , Demchuk Andrew , Mangiafico Salvatore , Boyle Karl , Michel Patrik , Hildebrand Kevin A. , Sajobi Tolulope T. , Hill Michael D. , Toni Danilo , Murphy Sean , Kim Beom Joon , Almekhlafi Mohammed A.
Published: April 2024

Background:

We investigated the impact of workflow times on the outcomes of patients treated with endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) in the late time window.

Methods:

Individual patients’ data who underwent EVT in the late time window (onset to imaging >6 hours) were pooled from seven registries and randomized clinical trials. Multiple time intervals were analyzed. Mixed-effects logistic regression was used to estimate the likelihood of functional independence at 90 days (modified Rankin Scale 0–2). Mixed-effects negative binomial regression was used to evaluate the relationship between patient characteristics and workflow time intervals.

Results:

608 patients were included. The median age was 70 years (IQR: 58–71), 307 (50.5%) were female, and 310 (53.2%) had wake-up strokes. Successful reperfusion was achieved in 493 (81.2%) patients, and 262 (44.9%) achieved 90-day mRS 0–2. The estimated odds of functional independence decreased by 13% for every 30 minute delay from emergency department (ED) arrival to imaging time and by 7% from ED arrival to the end of EVT in the entire cohort. Also, the estimated odds of functional independence decreased by 33% for every 30 minute delay in the interval from arterial puncture to end of EVT, 16% in the interval from arrival in ED to end of EVT and 6% in the interval from stroke onset to end of EVT among patients who had a wake-up stroke.

Conclusion:

Faster workflow from ED arrival to end of EVT is associated with improved functional independence among stroke patients treated in the late window.
Examining Crime-Specific and Crime-General Theories of Crime Causation at Place: The Case of Property and Violent Crime on Street Segments in Tel Aviv-Yafo
Authors: Amram Shai , Weisburd David , Shay Maor
Published: April 2024

We use data on street segments in Tel Aviv-Yafo to examine whether general or specific crime factors are key to understanding crime rates on street segments. We pose two questions. (1) What causal factors explain the property and violent crimes at the same locations? (2) What are the differences and similarities between the risk factors of the two crime types? Our study capitalizes on data drawn from the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) to identify social and opportunity data at the street segment level. The dependent variable is the average counts of violent and property crimes in Tel Aviv-Yafo between 2010 and 2014. Zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) regression explains violent and property crime variations. While many of the significant factors that explain crime are similar between the two crime types, there are also distinct criminogenic factors predicting violent and property crime. Overall, our results support the position of common or general crime causes at places, but at the same time, they suggest the importance of understanding specific causes for specific crime types.
Internal and External Crime Hot Spots: From Neural to Micro-Geographical Networks
Authors: Leshem Rotem
Published: April 2024

Antisocial behaviour arises from a complex interplay of innate and environmental factors, with the brain’s adaptability to shifting environmental demands playing a pivotal role. An important but scantly studied environmental factor – micro-geographic hot spots of crime – covers a broad array of problems that produce frequent triggers for antisocial behaviour. Despite the established influence of neural substrates and various environmental factors on antisocial behaviour, the impact of residing in high-risk, violent crime hot spots in Israel, as well as other global locales, remains understudied. This paper aims to elucidate the intricate interplay between neurobiological mechanisms and crime hot spots in the context of antisocial behaviour. Its objectives are twofold: first, to acquaint researchers with the existing literature on the subject; and second, to catalyse further research and robust discourse in this domain. The article commences by reviewing the behavioural manifestations of antisocial tendencies within the framework of crime hot spots. Subsequently, it delves into the influence of crime hot spots on neurocognitive substrates, particularly emphasizing their impact on developmental trajectories associated with antisocial tendencies and the expression of antisocial behaviours. In closing, the paper offers implications and conclusions pertinent to crime hot spots in Israel.
Subjective Obligation to Obey the Police in Diverse Societies: A Social Resistance Perspective
Authors: Factor Roni , Trotsky Maria
Published: April 2024

A sense of obligation to obey the police is an important predictor of public cooperation and compliance with the law. Minorities tend to feel less obligated to obey the police than the majority. Previous work based on the social resistance framework shows that the experiences that shape the lives and attitudes of minorities may encourage them to actively engage in a variety of everyday resistance acts against the majority group, which may include high-risk and delinquent behaviours. The present study tests this framework for the first time concerning the self-perceived obligation to obey the police while also considering different minority groups who experience varying levels of marginalization. We use a representative sample of about 1,100 Israelis from four minority groups – Muslims, immigrants from the former Soviet Union, ultra-Orthodox Jews and Jews of Ethiopian origin – along with the Jewish majority group. The results show that Muslims feel the least obligation to obey the police, followed by Jews of Ethiopian origin. Social resistance was negatively related to the self-perceived obligation to obey the police among Muslims and ultra-Orthodox Jews while controlling for demographic characteristics and previous theoretical explanations, namely procedural justice, self-help and anger.
Risk and Protective Factors of Juvenile Delinquency among Youth Exposed to Political Conflict: The Role of Social Resistance
Authors: Itskovich Eran , Khoury Mona , Hasisi Badi
Published: April 2024

Previous studies have identified diverse risk and protective factors of youth involvement in delinquency. However, less is known about the causes of this phenomenon in the context of political conflict. Drawing from theoretical frameworks emphasizing the notion of social resistance, in the current study we examine the risk and protective factors of juvenile delinquency in the context of majority–minority political conflict. Applying multilevel analysis to survey data provided by a representative sample of 814 Arab youth from East Jerusalem, we find that, although this behaviour shares similar lines with juvenile delinquency in regular contexts, in the context of political conflict it bears a unique core of resistance to the social order. Specifically, we find that a strong predictor of juvenile delinquency is attitudes towards political violence, whereas, surprisingly, attitudes towards general violence do not have a significant effect. Our findings suggest that juvenile delinquency in the context of social conflict stems, at least partially, from a unique mechanism of resistance towards political order.
Exploring the practices of “data-driven innovation” in the European public sector
Authors: Lämmerhirt Danny , Micheli Marina , Schade Sven
Published: April 2024

The European public sector has for a long time tried to change its activities and its relation to the public through the production and provision of data and data-based technologies. Recent debates raised attention to data uses, through which societal value may be realized. However, often absent from these discussions is a conceptual and methodological debate on how to grasp and study such uses. This collection proposes a turn toward data practices—intended here as the analysis of data uses and policies, as they are articulated, understood, or turned into situated activities by different actors in specific contexts, involving organizational rules, socioeconomic factors, discourses, and artifacts. Through a mix of conceptual and methodological studies, the contributions explore how data-driven innovation within public institutions is understood, imagined, planned for, conducted, or assessed. The situations examined in this special issue show, for instance, that data initiatives carried out by different actors lack institutional rules to align data use to the actual needs of citizens; that data scientists are important moral actors whose ethical reasoning should be fostered; and that the materiality of data practices, such as databases, enables and constrains opportunities for public engagement. Collectively, the contributions offer new insights into what constitutes “data-driven innovation practices,” how different practices are assembled, and what their different political, moral, economic, and organizational implications are. The contributions focus on three particular topics of concern: the making of ethical and normative values in practice; organizational collaborations with and around data; and methodological innovations of studying data practices.
Family Banking Firms (Shanxi piaohao) and the North Chinese Interior, 1820–1930
Authors: Wang Luman
Published: April 2024

This article begins by examining the historiography of Shanxi piaohao and asking how modernist financial discourse gradually took shape over the past century. It then counters the persistent modernist discourse and its anachronistic application to the history of piaohao and the north Chinese interior from two aspects. First, how piaohao managed to build an empire-wide financial network and facilitated flows of capital and goods during the nineteenth century. Second, how family-centered capitalist and non-capitalist histories countered piaohao's unrealized path to modern Western-style banking. This article challenges the perceived universalism of the Western European economy and adopts a Braudelian emphasis on an essential feature of the history of capitalism in a global context—that is, capitalism's unlimited flexibility and capacity for change and adaptation, as seen throughout the history of the Shanxi merchants and piaohao firms, not confined to the singular future of transformation into modern Western-style banks.
Effects of buoyancy on the dispersion of drugs released intrathecally in the spinal canal
Authors: Alaminos-Quesada J. , Gutiérrez-Montes C. , Coenen W. , Sánchez A.L.
Published: April 2024

This paper investigates the transport of drugs delivered by direct injection into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that fills the intrathecal space surrounding the spinal cord. Because of the small drug diffusivity, the dispersion of neutrally buoyant drugs has been shown in previous work to rely mainly on the mean Lagrangian flow associated with the CSF oscillatory motion. Attention is given here to effects of buoyancy, arising when the drug density differs from the CSF density. For the typical density differences found in applications, the associated Richardson number is shown to be of order unity, so that the Lagrangian drift includes a buoyancy-induced component that depends on the spatial distribution of the drug, resulting in a slowly evolving cycle-averaged flow problem that can be analysed with two-time scale methods. The asymptotic analysis leads to a nonlinear integro-differential equation for the spatiotemporal solute evolution that describes accurately drug dispersion at a fraction of the cost involved in direct numerical simulations of the oscillatory flow. The model equation is used to predict drug dispersion of positively and negatively buoyant drugs in an anatomically correct spinal canal, with separate attention given to drug delivery via bolus injection and constant infusion.
Visual similarity effects in the identification of Arabic letters: evidence with masked priming
Authors: AlJassmi Maryam A. , Perea Manuel
Published: April 2024

Research using masked priming and parafoveal preview techniques has shown that visual letter similarity has an impact on word processing during the initial stages in Latin-derived scripts. However, these effects appear to be absent in Arabic. One reason for this discrepancy could be attributed to the distinctive features of the Arabic script, which includes numerous letters sharing a basic form while varying in the location or number of diacritics. To shed light on this issue, the present study employed Arabic letters rather than words in two masked priming experiments: an alphabetic decision task and a letter-matching task. Both experiments showed that visually similar letters were more effective as primes than visually dissimilar letters. These findings suggest that the processes of letter identification in Arabic and Latin scripts may be roughly alike, implying that differences in visual letter similarity across scripts may arise at later stages of processing.
System design and validation of Central Redundant Array Mega-tile (CRAM)
Authors: Selvaraj Aishwarya , Wayth Randall B. , Trott Cathryn M. , Bhatia Gurashish Singh
Published: April 2024

Exploration of the 21cm signal during the Cosmic Dawn and the Epoch of Reionisation (EoR) can unravel the mysteries of the early Universe when the first stars and galaxies were born and ionised, respectively. However, the 21 cm signal is exceptionally weak, and thus, the detection amidst the bright foregrounds is extremely challenging. The Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) aims to measure the brightness temperature fluctuations of neutral hydrogen from the early Universe. The MWA telescope observes the radio sky with a large field of view (FoV) that causes the bright galaxies, especially near the horizon, to contaminate the measurements. These foregrounds contaminating the EoR datasets must be meticulously removed or treated to detect the signal successfully. The Central Redundant Array Mega-tile (CRAM) is a zenith-pointing new instrument, installed at the centre of the MWA Phase II southern hexagonal configuration, comprising of 64 dipoles in an

$8 \times 8$

configuration with a FoV half the width of the MWA’s at every frequency under consideration. The primary objective of this new instrument is to mitigate the impact of bright radio sources near the field centre in accordance with the reduced primary beamshape and to reduce the contamination of foreground sources near the horizon with the reduced sidelobe response of the larger array configuration. In this paper, we introduce the new instrument to the community and present the system architecture and characteristics of the instrument. Using the first light observations, we determine the CRAM system temperature and system performance.
LUCRETIUS’ HOMERIC MOURNERS
Authors: Godwin John
Published: April 2024

Lucretius (3.894–9) puts words into the mouths of mourners as part of his attack on the fear of death. The language of the passage has been read simply as mockery of the bereaved, but the poet is using language strongly reminiscent of Homer, in particular from Circe's speech advising Odysseus about the dangers of hearing the Sirens’ singing. This adds a level of irony to the passage as the poet has a complex relationship with the bewitching power of poetry.
Separability of dependents from VP in English: Beyond the argument/adjunct distinction
Authors: McInnerney Andrew
Published: April 2024

This paper considers the traditional idea about English that syntactic operations targeting Verb Phrase (VP), including do so-anaphora, do what-pseudoclefting and VP-fronting, can separate adjuncts but not arguments from the VP. I argue that, in each case, the argument/adjunct distinction (A/AD) makes incorrect predictions and that the behavior of verbal dependents is more accurately explained without reference to the A/AD. With do so-anaphora and do what-pseudoclefting, I show that the behavior of a variety of Prepositional Phrase (PP) dependents is better explained by the lexical properties of the verb do: a PP’s ability to occur with do so-anaphora/do what-pseudoclefting depends on the PP’s independent compatibility with the lexical verb do. On VP-fronting, I show that apparent stranding of arguments and adjuncts poses major problems for A/AD-based analyses and suggest apparent stranding is better analyzed as extraposition. These results weaken an important motivation for the idea that adjuncts attach to a higher projection in the VP than arguments do.
A coachman's tall tales: The street humour of Kuwentong Kutsero and radio broadcasting in twentieth-century Manila
Authors: Pante Michael D.
Published: April 2024

This is the first article-length study of Kuwentong Kutsero (A Coachman's Tales), an immensely popular radio comedy in mid-twentieth century Philippines. This sitcom had two iterations: the first aired a few years prior to the outbreak of the Second World War in the country, while the second dominated the airwaves in the postwar years and enjoyed even greater success than its predecessor despite major changes in the script. The programme was so influential that the phrase kuwentong kutsero entered the Tagalog lexicon as an idiom to mean tall tales. Such a level of success was ironic considering that in the postwar decades the cochero as an actual occupation was on its way to obsolescence. This article argues that the reformatted programme was able to improve on the breakthroughs of the original because of the changes in the language used, the type of humour employed, and the topics tackled—factors that could only be understood if analysed alongside the historical experience of actual rig drivers.
Characteristics and biomarkers associated with mortality in COVID-19 patients presenting to the emergency department
Authors: Park Joon Oh , Cho Hyun Kyu , Jeon Cheon Hoo , Kim Si-Ho , Park Ik Hyun , Kim Kwang Min , Lee Junho , Wi Yu Mi
Published: April 2024

This study aimed to investigate the diverse clinical manifestations and simple early biomarkers predicting mortality of COVID-19 patients admitted to the emergency department (ED). A total of 710 patients with COVID-19 were enrolled from 6,896 patients presenting to the ED between January 2022 and March 2022. During the study period, a total of 478 patients tested positive for COVID-19, among whom 222 (46.4%) presented with extrapulmonary manifestations of COVID-19; 49 (10.3%) patients displayed gastrointestinal manifestations, followed by neurological (n = 41; 8.6%) and cardiac manifestations (n = 31; 6.5%). In total, 54 (11.3%) patients died. A Cox proportional hazards model revealed that old age, acute kidney injury at presentation, increased total leukocyte counts, low platelet counts, decreased albumin levels, and increased LDH levels were the independent predictors of mortality. The albumin levels exhibited the highest area under the curve in receiver operating characteristic analysis, with a value of 0.860 (95% confidence interval, 0.796–0.875). The study showed the diverse clinical presentations and simple-to-measure prognostic markers in COVID-19 patients presenting to the ED. Serum albumin levels can serve as a novel and simple early biomarker to identify COVID-19 patients at high risk of death.
McMurdo Dry Valley lake edge ‘moats’: the ecological intersection between terrestrial and aquatic polar desert habitats
Authors: Stone Michael S. , Devlin Shawn P. , Hawes Ian , Welch Kathleen A. , Gooseff Michael N. , Takacs-Vesbach Cristina , Morgan-Kiss Rachael , Adams Byron J. , Barrett J.E. , Priscu John C. , Doran Peter T.
Published: April 2024

Aquatic ecosystems - lakes, ponds and streams - are hotspots of biodiversity in the cold and arid environment of Continental Antarctica. Environmental change is expected to increasingly alter Antarctic aquatic ecosystems and modify the physical characteristics and interactions within the habitats that they support. Here, we describe physical and biological features of the peripheral ‘moat’ of a closed-basin Antarctic lake. These moats mediate connectivity amongst streams, lake and soils. We highlight the cyclical moat transition from a frozen winter state to an active open-water summer system, through refreeze as winter returns. Summer melting begins at the lakebed, initially creating an ice-constrained lens of liquid water in November, which swiftly progresses upwards, creating open water in December. Conversely, freezing progresses slowly from the water surface downwards, with water at 1 m bottom depth remaining liquid until May. Moats support productive, diverse benthic communities that are taxonomically distinct from those under the adjacent permanent lake ice. We show how ion ratios suggest that summer exchange occurs amongst moats, streams, soils and sub-ice lake water, perhaps facilitated by within-moat density-driven convection. Moats occupy a small but dynamic area of lake habitat, are disproportionately affected by recent lake-level rises and may thus be particularly vulnerable to hydrological change.
Macroscopic limit of a Fokker-Planck model of swarming rigid bodies
Authors: Degond Pierre , Frouvelle Amic
Published: April 2024

We consider self-propelled rigid bodies interacting through local body-attitude alignment modelled by stochastic differential equations. We derive a hydrodynamic model of this system at large spatio-temporal scales and particle numbers in any dimension$n \geq 3$. This goal was already achieved in dimension$n=3$or in any dimension$n \geq 3$for a different system involving jump processes. However, the present work corresponds to huge conceptual and technical gaps compared with earlier ones. The key difficulty is to determine an auxiliary but essential object, the generalised collision invariant. We achieve this aim by using the geometrical structure of the rotation group, namely its maximal torus, Cartan subalgebra and Weyl group as well as other concepts of representation theory and Weyl’s integration formula. The resulting hydrodynamic model appears as a hyperbolic system whose coefficients depend on the generalised collision invariant.
Abstract cyclic proofs
Authors: Afshari Bahareh , Wehr Dominik
Published: April 2024

Cyclic proof systems permit derivations that are finite graphs in contrast to conventional derivation trees. The soundness of such proofs is ensured by imposing a soundness condition on derivations. The most common such condition is the global trace condition (GTC), a condition on the infinite paths through the derivation graph. To give a uniform treatment of such cyclic proof systems, Brotherston proposed an abstract notion of trace. We extend Brotherston’s approach into a category theoretical rendition of cyclic derivations, advancing the framework in two ways: first, we introduce activation algebras which allow for a more natural formalisation of trace conditions in extant cyclic proof systems. Second, accounting for the composition of trace information allows us to derive novel results about cyclic proofs, such as introducing a Ramsey-style trace condition. Furthermore, we connect our notion of trace to automata theory and prove that verifying the GTC for abstract cyclic proofs with certain trace conditions is PSPACE-complete.
The exercise of discretion on commutation factors in defined benefit schemes: time for change?
Authors: O’Brien Christopher D.
Published: April 2024

This paper is motivated by the findings of a review in 2020 by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries, which found that commutation factors differed widely between schemes, they were typically significantly below transfer value factors, and that in nearly 30% of cases, trustees did not act fully on the actuary’s advice. The author suggests that regulation of commutation factors, instead of factors being decided by trustees’ discretion, could be a suitable way forward. The focus is commutation factors for UK-defined benefit pension schemes, having regard to the law that governs the discretion available to trustees. Relevant legal principles are explained, including the requirement for trustees’ decisions to be made for a proper purpose and to be made with due care and skill, taking into account relevant considerations. These principles are applied to the setting of commutation factors. The author describes four methods trustees may use to assess the actuarial equivalence of the pension being exchanged for cash, which is ordinarily part of the process to set commutation factors. None of the four is entirely satisfactory, although it is suggested that there are some advantages in viewing commutation as a transaction between trustees and members. The possible use of market-consistent factors is one of the topics discussed. Commutation factors can also incorporate guarantee charges and/or deductions for underfunding, although the author explains the argument that the latter should not be commonly applied. The role of employers’ and members’ expectations is discussed and can explain why commutation factors can reasonably be less than 100% of actuarial equivalence. It is argued that the impact of commutation on employers’ contributions can in some circumstances justify adjusting commutation factors. The paper also considers other reasons sometimes put forward for reducing factors: tax, utility and optionality. The author also argues that reviewing commutation factors only every three years sits uneasily with legal principles. Further enquiry is suggested as to the responsibilities in law of actuaries when certifying that factors are reasonable. The author suggests that trust law permits trustees to use their discretion in a way that can produce a wide range of outcomes, which may be regarded as unsatisfactory for determining what may be an important part of a member’s reward package, and that a better approach may be for the government to introduce regulations on commutation factors, including a form of disclosure to help inform members’ choice on exercising the option.
Habitability constraints by nutrient availability in atmospheres of rocky exoplanets
Authors: Herbort Oliver , Woitke Peter , Helling Christiane , Zerkle Aubrey Lea
Published: April 2024

Life as we know it requires the presence of liquid water and the availability of nutrients, which are mainly based on the elements C, H, N, O, P and S (CHNOPS) and trace metal micronutrients. We aim to understand the presence of these nutrients within atmospheres that show the presence of water cloud condensates, potentially allowing the existence of aerial biospheres. In this paper, we introduce a framework of nutrient availability levels based on the presence of water condensates and the chemical state of the CHNOPS elements. These nutrient availability levels are applied to a set of atmospheric models based on different planetary surface compositions resulting in a range of atmospheric compositions. The atmospheric model is a bottom-to-top equilibrium chemistry atmospheric model which includes the atmosphere–crust interaction and the element depletion due to the formation of clouds. While the reduced forms of CNS are present at the water cloud base for most atmospheric compositions, P and metals are lacking. This indicates the potential bio-availability of CNS, while P and metals are limiting factors for aerial biospheres.
The Demise of Globalization and Rise of Industrial Policy: Caveat Emptor
Authors: Mercurio Bryan
Published: April 2024

The global trading system has reached an inflection point. The future of the liberalized, rules-based global world order is in doubt as countries that have for decades preached and practiced policies, which can loosely be defined as embodying the ‘Washington Consensus’, have started to backtrack. Free and fair trade is no longer the mantra as governments embrace industrial policy, protectionism, national security, risk management, and managed trade. Perhaps the most surprising adherent of the reversal is the US, whose embrace of what has been termed a ‘modern American industrial strategy’ runs counter to traditional American views and norms. While David Ricardo's theory of comparative advantage still holds true, it has certainly fallen out of fashion. Where it leads remains unknown – caveat emptor. This article analyses President Joe Biden's industrial policy and its implications as well as shifts that have occurred as a result of the pandemic, geopolitical competition, and other recent global events.
Mixing Dynamics Within the Kuroshio Area Are Reflected in Dissolved Inorganic Radiocarbon Values
Authors: Lan Hui , Yokoyama Yusuke , Hirabayashi Shoko , Miyairi Yosuke , Jiang Siyu , Saito Hiroaki , Hasumi Hiroyasu , Yasuda Ichiro
Published: April 2024

Kuroshio is an important western boundary current system in the North Pacific subtropical gyre. Mesoscale eddies play an important role in Kuroshio path variations, which significantly affect fisheries, marine navigation, and climate in regions along the Kuroshio path. However, the direct physical impacts of the Kuroshio variabilities on mixing dynamics within the water columns off the southern coast of Japan remain unclear due to the lack of observational records. The radiocarbon (Δ14C) in dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) of seawater has been used as a reliable tracer of water circulation and mixing processes. Here, we present the high‐resolution dissolved inorganic radiocarbon (DIC ∆14C) measurements for water samples collected during the Kuroshio large‐meander (LM) period in March 2022 to observe the mixing dynamics within the Kuroshio area and elucidate the controls of mixing processes. In the present study, horizontal variations (12–175‰) in DIC Δ14C values were observed between 400 and 1,000 m and were attributed mainly to changes in the depth of isopycnal surfaces associated with mesoscale eddies and the position of the Kuroshio axis. Furthermore, fluctuations in DIC Δ14C values (10–25‰) were observed on the same isopycnal surfaces ( 25.5–27.0), suggesting the occurrence of diapycnal mixing. By comparing this newly obtained data with values previously reported at similar locations, variations in penetration depths of high bomb 14C signals from past observations are found to be mainly caused by changes in the depth of isopycnal surfaces associated with mesoscale eddies and Kuroshio path variations.
Strep A: challenges, opportunities, vaccine-based solutions, and economics
Authors: Bloom David E. , Carapetis Jonathan
Published: April 2024

This collection of articles focuses on Streptococcus pyogenes (Strep A) vaccine research and innovation, with a focus on emerging efforts to understand and estimate the full societal value of Strep A vaccination.
A study on why foreign-born East Asians but not US-born East Asians are underrepresented in leadership attainment in the U.S.
Authors: Cao Jing , Zhang Song
Published: April 2024

A recent study investigated the impact of culture of Asian groups on leadership attainment in the U.S. It revealed that East Asians (EAs) are less likely than South Asians (SAs) and white people (WP) to attain leadership positions, and SAs may even surpass WP in leadership attainment. The study explained that the underrepresentation of EAs in leadership positions in the U.S. (the so called bamboo ceiling) is partly because EAs communicate less assertively. Specifically, EA cultures value collectivism (e.g., humility and harmony), which are at odds with western cultures that value individualism (e.g., extraversion and assertiveness), whereas SA cultures are congruent with western cultures. However, the study did not distinguish the different impact of home culture (i.e., EA cultures) and host culture (i.e., western cultures) on US-born EAs versus foreign-born EAs. We argue that for US-born EAs (i.e., second generation EAs), host culture plays a more important role than home culture in their growth and they may not be underrepresented in leadership attainment compared to WP. The bamboo ceiling effect is mostly demonstrated among foreign-born EAs (i.e., first generation EAs) who are shaped mainly under the home culture. We support the argument by conducting analysis on one of the datasets in the original study and a new dataset from Fortune’s 40-under-40 list. Our study suggests that when studying the underrepresentation of leadership attainment for EAs, US-born EAs and foreign-born EAs should not be aggregated in one category. Considering the ethnic EA group, the bamboo ceiling phenomenon may exist mainly among foreign-born EAs because US-born EAs, with a median age of 21.3, are much younger than the general American population, who may not be experienced enough to be considered for leadership positions in established large companies.
Classification and counting of cells in brightfield microscopy images: an application of convolutional neural networks
Authors: Ferreira E. K. G. D. , Silveira G. F.
Published: April 2024

Microscopy is integral to medical research, facilitating the exploration of various biological questions, notably cell quantification. However, this process's time-consuming and error-prone nature, attributed to human intervention or automated methods usually applied to fluorescent images, presents challenges. In response, machine learning algorithms have been integrated into microscopy, automating tasks and constructing predictive models from vast datasets. These models adeptly learn representations for object detection, image segmentation, and target classification. An advantageous strategy involves utilizing unstained images, preserving cell integrity and enabling morphology-based classification—something hindered when fluorescent markers are used. The aim is to introduce a model proficient in classifying distinct cell lineages in digital contrast microscopy images. Additionally, the goal is to create a predictive model identifying lineage and determining optimal quantification of cell numbers. Employing a CNN machine learning algorithm, a classification model predicting cellular lineage achieved a remarkable accuracy of 93%, with ROC curve results nearing 1.0, showcasing robust performance. However, some lineages, namely SH-SY5Y (78%), HUH7_mayv (85%), and A549 (88%), exhibited slightly lower accuracies. These outcomes not only underscore the model's quality but also emphasize CNNs' potential in addressing the inherent complexities of microscopic images.
C16, a PKR inhibitor, suppresses cell proliferation by regulating the cell cycle via p21 in colorectal cancer
Authors: Hashimoto Yu , Tokumoto Yoshio , Watanabe Takao , Ogi Yusuke , Sugishita Hiroki , Akita Satoshi , Niida Kazuki , Hayashi Mirai , Okada Masaya , Shiraishi Kana , Tange Kazuhiro , Tomida Hideomi , Yamamoto Yasunori , Takeshita Eiji , Ikeda Yoshio , Oshikiri Taro , Hiasa Yoichi
Published: April 2024

Double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase R (PKR) is highly expressed in colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the role of PKR in CRC remains unclear. The aim of this study was to clarify whether C16 (a PKR inhibitor) exhibits antitumor effects and to identify its target pathway in CRC. We evaluated the effects of C16 on CRC cell lines using the MTS assay. Enrichment analysis was performed to identify the target pathway of C16. The cell cycle was analyzed using flow cytometry. Finally, we used immunohistochemistry to examine human CRC specimens. C16 suppressed the proliferation of CRC cells. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed that the cell cycle-related GO category was substantially enriched in CRC cells treated with C16. C16 treatment resulted in G1 arrest and increased p21 protein and mRNA expression. Moreover, p21 expression was associated with CRC development as observed using immunohistochemical analysis of human CRC tissues. C16 upregulates p21 expression in CRC cells to regulate cell cycle and suppress tumor growth. Thus, PKR inhibitors may serve as a new treatment option for patients with CRC.
Impact of fellowship training for specialists on thyroidectomy outcomes of patients with thyroid cancer
Authors: Lin Rujiao , Huang Sitao , Guo Xiumei , Gao Shengnan , Zheng Feng , Zheng Zhengrong
Published: April 2024

We aimed to evaluate the impact of fellowship training (FT) for thyroid specialists on the outcomes of patients with thyroid cancer. We reviewed surgeries performed for thyroid cancer before (non-FT group) and after (FT group) fellowship training and compared several variables, including length of stay of patients, tumor diameter, surgical method, lymph node dissection, parathyroid implantation, surgical duration, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative complications. Compared with the non-FT group, the FT group had a shorter hospital stay, more adequate fine needle aspiration biopsy of the thyroid, less intraoperative blood loss, higher rate of parathyroid implantation, higher lymph node dissection rate, and lower nerve injury and hypoparathyroidism rates. When the surgical duration was < 200 min and/or only central lymph node dissection was performed, the FT group had a lower incidence of postoperative complications than the non-FT group. When, the incidence of postoperative complications, including postoperative nerve injury and hypoparathyroidism. In conclusion, FT for thyroid specialists is beneficial for patients with thyroid cancer and may allow a shorter hospital stay and reduced incidence of postoperative complication. Accordingly, FT may facilitate a more appropriate surgical approach with a preoperative pathological diagnosis.
The synergy complement control approach for seamless limb-driven prostheses
Authors: Kühn Johannes , Hu Tingli , Tödtheide Alexander , Pozo Fortunić Edmundo , Jensen Elisabeth , Haddadin Sami
Published: April 2024

Limb-driven control allows for direct control by using residual limb movements rather than unnatural and complex muscle activation. Existing limb-driven methods simultaneously learn a variety of possible motions, ranging from a residual limb to entire arm motions, from human templates by relying on linear or nonlinear regression techniques. However, the map between a low-dimensional residual limb movement and high-dimensional total limb movement is highly underdetermined. Therefore, this complex, high-dimensional coordination problem cannot be accurately solved by treating it as a data-driven black box problem. Here we address this challenge by introducing the residual limb-driven control framework synergy complement control. Firstly, the residual limb drives a one-dimensional phase variable to simultaneously control the multiple joints of the prosthesis. Secondly, the resulting prosthesis motion naturally complements the movement of the residual limb by its synergy components. Furthermore, our framework adds information on contextual tasks and goals and allows for seamless transitions between these. Experimental validation was conducted using subjects with preserved arms employing an exo-prosthesis setup, and studies involving participants with and without limb differences in a virtual reality setup. The findings affirm that the restoration of lost coordinated synergy capabilities is reliably achieved through the utilization of synergy complement control with the prosthesis.
Viruses in glioblastoma: an update on evidence and clinical trials
Authors: Gunasegaran Bavani , Ashley Caroline L. , Marsh-Wakefield Felix , Guillemin Gilles J. , Heng Benjamin
Published: April 2024

Background

Glioblastoma (GB) is a lethal and aggressive brain tumour. While molecular characteristics of GB is studied extensively, the aetiology of GB remains uncertain. The interest in exploring viruses as a potential contributor to the development of GB stems from the notion that viruses are known to play a key role in pathogenesis of other human cancers such as cervical cancer. Nevertheless, the role of viruses in GB remains controversial.

Methods

This review delves into the current body of knowledge surrounding the presence of viruses in GB as well as provide updates on clinical trials examining the potential inclusion of antiviral therapies as part of the standard of care protocol.

Conclusions

The review summarises current evidences and important gaps in our knowledge related to the presence of viruses in GB.
Operando investigations of the solid electrolyte interphase in the lithium mediated nitrogen reduction reaction
Authors: Deissler Niklas H. , Mygind J. Bjarke V. , Li Katja , Niemann Valerie A. , Benedek Peter , Vinci Valentin , Li Shaofeng , Fu Xianbiao , Vesborg Peter C. K. , Jaramillo Thomas F. , Kibsgaard Jakob , Drnec Jakub , Chorkendorff Ib
Published: April 2024

Operando GI-WAXS showed that the SEI layer formed by LiBF4 enhances Li-NRR performance by limiting proton transport to the electrode. Intermediate LiNxHy species give insight into the mechanism of Li-NRR.
Polymeric membrane potentiometric sensors based on template-removal-free imprinted receptors for determination of antibiotics
Authors: Wang Xinyao , Cui Guohua , Liang Rongning , Qin Wei
Published: April 2024

A template-removal-free strategy for simple and robust fabrication of MIP-based potentiometric sensors is demonstrated for the first time.
Nickel-catalyzed C(sp2)–C(sp3) coupling via photoactive electron donor–acceptor complexes
Authors: Alsharif Salman , Zhu Chen , Liu Xiushan , Lee Shao-Chi , Yue Huifeng , Rueping Magnus
Published: April 2024

We have developed a novel Ni-catalyzed reductive cross-coupling reaction of aryl bromides and alkyl iodides via a photoactive electron donor–acceptor (EDA) complex.
Synthesis and structural trends in a series of simple tetraalkylphosphonium salts
Authors: Gawraczyński Jakub , Leszczyński Piotr J. , Cyrański Michał K. , Dobrzycki Łukasz , Koźmiński Wiktor , Fijałkowski Karol J. , Grochala Wojciech , Jaroń Tomasz
Published: April 2024

[R4P]HSO4 salts reveal anion association in the solid state in contrast to their SO42– analogues composed of distinct ions. Both tetrabutylphosphonium salts melt close to 100 °C while thermal decomposition of all these compounds begins above 300 °C.
A stable metal azolate framework with rare nonintersecting one-/two-dimensional pore channels
Authors: Yi Heng , Zhou Mu-Yang , Ye Le , Lu Xiao-Tong , Zhou Dong-Dong , Zhang Jie-Peng
Published: April 2024

Using a new azole ligand, a special porous metal azolate framework with two distinct and nonintersecting 1D/2D pore channels was constructed.
Magnetism of single-doped paramagnetic tin clusters studied using temperature-dependent Stern–Gerlach experiments with enhanced sensitivity: impact of the diamagnetic ligand field and paramagnetic dopant
Authors: Rivic Filip , Schäfer Rolf
Published: April 2024

Arachno-type geometries have been validated for Sn14TM (with TM = Cr, Mn, Fe) by cryogenic electric beam deflection. Variable temperature Stern–Gerlach experiments reveal that Sn14Cr is a singlet, Sn14Mn a doublet and Sn14Fe most probably a triplet.
Reactivity of Schiff base-[C,N,S] pincer palladacycles: hydrolysis renders singular trinuclear, tetranuclear, and heteropentanuclear Pd3W2 coordinated complexes
Authors: Reigosa Francisco , Polo Paula M. , Pereira M. Teresa , Vila José M.
Published: April 2024

Schiff base palladacycles undergo singular transformations to render six- and eight-membered Pd3N3 and Pd4N4 ring complexes, and a penta-nuclear Pd3W2trans-configured heterometallic linear compound.
Coinage metal-ethylene complexes of sterically demanding 1,10-phenanthroline ligands
Authors: Karade Deepika V. , Phan Vo Quang Huy , Dias H. V. Rasika
Published: April 2024

Bulky phenanthroline provides ideal support to stabilize ethylene complexes of copper(i), silver(i) and gold(i), permitting their complete characterization. Copper complexes catalyze the carbene insertion to C–H bonds of adamantane.
Stability and structure of the aqueous LiTFSI–LiCl interface
Authors: Wood Hannah O. , Burnett Hannah M. , Dryfe Robert A. W. , Carbone Paola
Published: April 2024

The stability of the LiCl/LiTFSI interface increases with the concentration of both electrolytes, but mainly LiCl.
Transforming patterned defects into dynamic poly-regional topographies in liquid crystal oligomers
Authors: You Yuxin , Golestani Youssef M. , Broer Dirk J. , Yang Tinghong , Zhou Guofu , Selinger Robin L. B. , Yuan Dong , Liu Danqing
Published: April 2024

We transform patterned defects into high-aspect-ratio poly-regional surface topographies. The active intricate textures are induced by generated shear forces under external stimuli.
On the structural evolution of nanoporous optically transparent CuO photocathodes upon calcination for photoelectrochemical applications
Authors: Korell Lukas , Lauterbach Stefan , Timm Jana , Wang Li , Mellin Maximilian , Kundmann Anna , Wu Qingyang , Tian Chuanmu , Marschall Roland , Hofmann Jan P. , Osterloh Frank E. , Einert Marcus
Published: April 2024

Nanocrystalline and nanoporous CuO thin films prepared by a novel dip-coating synthesis protocol for application as optically transparent photocathodes in photoelectrochemical cells.
Electronic structure modification of metal phthalocyanines by a carbon nanotube support for efficient oxygen reduction to hydrogen peroxide
Authors: Lee Yesol , Lee Chaehyeon , Back Seoin , Sa Young Jin
Published: April 2024

A carbon nanotube support improves the H2O2 electrosynthesis activity of metal phthalocyanines (MPcs). This improvement originates from the modification of the electronic structure of MPc and the enhancement of the electron transfer rate.
Charge carrier recombination processes, intragap defect states, and photoluminescence mechanisms in stoichiometric and reduced TiO2 brookite nanorods: an interpretation scheme through in situ photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy in controlled environment
Authors: Rega Romina , Fioravanti Ambra , Hejazi S. M. Hossein , Shahrezaei Mahdi , Kment Štěpán , Maddalena Pasqualino , Naldoni Alberto , Lettieri Stefano
Published: April 2024

A scheme for the main photophysical processes in brookite TiO2 nanorods is derived by excitation-resolved PL spectroscopy in controlled gas environment, shedding light on their efficient hydrogen generation via alcohol photo-oxidation.
Fabrication of a wearable and foldable photodetector based on a WSe2-MXene 2D–2D heterostructure using a scalable handprint technique
Authors: Patel Rahul P. , Shah Parth V. , Siraj Sohel , Sahatiya Parikshit , Pataniya Pratik M. , Sumesh C. K.
Published: April 2024

Several studies on semiconductor material-based single-band, high-performance photosensitive, and chemically stable photodetectors are available; however, the lack of broad spectral response, device flexibility, and biodegradability prevents them from being used in wearable and flexible electronics.
Integrin αvβ3-targeted self-assembled polypeptide nanomicelles for efficacious sonodynamic therapy against breast cancer
Authors: Ren Xueli , Yang Yanxi , Kong Xinru , Liu Zhe
Published: April 2024

This study reports self-assembled nanomicelles (REPNs) with the encapsulation of rose bengal as a sonosensitizer for integrin αvβ3-targeted sonodynamic tumor therapy in vivo.
Niobium sulfide nanocomposites as cathode materials for all-solid-state lithium batteries with enhanced electrochemical performance
Authors: Wang Na , Chang Mingyuan , Xie Wenrui , Liu Gaozhan , Zhang Lu , He Hao , Yao Xiayin
Published: April 2024

The a-NbS4/20%VGCF@15%Li7P3S11 nanocomposite shows superior electronic/ionic conductivity by five and two orders of magnitude of those of NbS4, enabling all-solid-state lithium batteries with enhanced electrochemical performances.
Design of polysulfobetaine derivatives for enhanced inhibition of protein aggregation
Authors: Rajan Robin , Matsumura Kazuaki
Published: April 2024

Unveiling a novel series of polysulfobetaine (PSPB) derivatives, this research pioneers advancements in polymer science for enhanced protein stabilization, showcasing a new frontier in biopharmaceutical stabilizers.