bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Revisiting Bag of Words Document Representations for Efficient Ranking with Transformers
Authors: Rau David , Dehghani Mostafa , Kamps Jaap
Published: February 2024

Modern transformer-based information retrieval models achieve state-of-the-art performance across various benchmarks. The self-attention of the transformer models is a powerful mechanism to contextualize terms over the whole input but quickly becomes prohibitively expensive for long input as required in document retrieval. Instead of focusing on the model itself to improve efficiency, this paper explores different bag of words document representations that encode full documents by only a fraction of their characteristic terms, allowing us to control and reduce the input length. We experiment with various models for document retrieval on MS MARCO data, as well as zero-shot document retrieval on Robust04, and show large gains in efficiency while retaining reasonable effectiveness. Inference time efficiency gains are both lowering the time and memory complexity in a controllable way, allowing for further trading off memory footprint and query latency. More generally, this line of research connects traditional IR models with neural “NLP” models and offers novel ways to explore the space between (efficient, but less effective) traditional rankers and (effective, but less efficient) neural rankers elegantly.
RoSI: A Model for Predicting Robot Social Influence
Authors: Erel Hadas , Vázquez Marynel , Sebo Sarah , Salomons Nicole , Gillet Sarah , Scassellati Brian
Published: February 2024

A wide range of studies in Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) has shown that robots can influence the social behavior of humans. This phenomenon is commonly explained by the Media Equation. Fundamental to this theory is the idea that when faced with technology (like robots), people perceive it as a social agent with thoughts and intentions similar to those of humans. This perception guides the interaction with the technology and its predicted impact. However, HRI studies have also reported examples in which the Media Equation has been violated, that is when people treat the influence of robots differently from the influence of humans. To address this gap, we propose a model of Robot Social Influence (RoSI) with two contributing factors. The first factor is a robot’s violation of a person’s expectations, whether the robot exceeds expectations or fails to meet expectations. The second factor is a person’s social belonging with the robot, whether the person belongs to the same group as the robot or a different group. These factors are primary predictors of robots’ social influence and commonly mediate the influence of other factors. We review HRI literature and show how RoSI can explain robots’ social influence in concrete HRI scenarios.
Supporting Better Insights of Data Science Pipelines with Fine-grained Provenance
Authors: Chapman Adriane , Lauro Luca , Missier Paolo , Torlone Riccardo
Published: February 2024

Successful data-driven science requires complex data engineering pipelines to clean, transform, and alter data in preparation for machine learning, and robust results can only be achieved when each step in the pipeline can be justified, and its effect on the data explained. In this framework, we aim at providing data scientists with facilities to gain an in-depth understanding of how each step in the pipeline affects the data, from the raw input to training sets ready to be used for learning. Starting from an extensible set of data preparation operators commonly used within a data science setting, in this work we present a provenance management infrastructure for generating, storing, and querying very granular accounts of data transformations, at the level of individual elements within datasets whenever possible. Then, from the formal definition of a core set of data science preprocessing operators, we derive a
provenance semantics
embodied by a collection of templates expressed in PROV, a standard model for data provenance. Using those templates as a reference, our provenance generation algorithm generalises to any operator with observable input/output pairs. We provide a prototype implementation of an application-level provenance capture library to produce, in a semi-automatic way, complete provenance documents that account for the entire pipeline. We report on the ability of that reference implementation to capture provenance in real ML benchmark pipelines and over TCP-DI synthetic data. We finally show how the collected provenance can be used to answer a suite of provenance benchmark queries that underpin some common pipeline inspection questions, as expressed on the Data Science Stack Exchange.
Generation-based Multi-view Contrast for Self-supervised Graph Representation Learning
Authors: Han Yuehui
Published: February 2024

Graph contrastive learning has made remarkable achievements in the self-supervised representation learning of graph-structured data. By employing perturbation function (i.e., perturbation on the nodes or edges of graph), most graph contrastive learning methods construct contrastive samples on the original graph. However, the perturbation-based data augmentation methods randomly change the inherent information (e.g., attributes or structures) of the graph. Therefore, after nodes embedding on the perturbed graph, we cannot guarantee the validity of the contrastive samples as well as the learned performance of graph contrastive learning. To this end, in this article, we propose a novel generation-based multi-view contrastive learning framework (GMVC) for self-supervised graph representation learning, which generates the contrastive samples based on our generator rather than perturbation function. Specifically, after nodes embedding on the original graph we first employ random walk in the neighborhood to develop multiple relevant node sequences for each anchor node. We then utilize the transformer to generate the representations of relevant contrastive samples of anchor node based on the features and structures of the sampled node sequences. Finally, by maximizing the consistency between the anchor view and the generated views, we force the model to effectively encode graph information into nodes embeddings. We perform extensive experiments of node classification and link prediction tasks on eight benchmark datasets, which verify the effectiveness of our generation-based multi-view graph contrastive learning method.
Information Politics and Propaganda in Authoritarian Societies
Authors: Rosenfeld Bryn , Wallace Jeremy
Published: February 2024

What role does propaganda play in the information politics of authoritarian societies, and what is its relationship to censorship? What have we learned from rival accounts in recent literature about why states produce it? While regimes clearly invest in propaganda believing that it is effective, there is still much to learn about whether, when, and how it actually is effective. We first discuss some of the tensions inherent in distinguishing between persuasive and dominating, soft and hard, propaganda. We then review efforts to understand the conditions under which propaganda changes attitudes and/or behavior in terms of propaganda's content, relational factors, aspects of the political environment, and citizens’ own predispositions. We highlight the need for more research on propaganda in authoritarian settings, especially on how patterns of its consumption may change amid crises, technological shifts, and direct state interventions.
Controlled Pore Size of NiO-YSZ Tubular Substrate for Improved Performance of Reversible Solid Oxide Cell Using LaGaO3 Electrolyte Film
Authors: Liu Bin , Zhe Tan , Kim Sun , Song Jun Tae , Watanabe Motonori , Ishihara Tatsumi
Published: February 2024

Effects of channel size in NiO-YSZ porous substrate were studied on power density in solid oxide fuel cell mode and electrolysis current in steam electrolysis mode. It was found that the cell deposited on anode substrate with larger pore diameter shows a superior performance. The LSGM cell prepared on Ni-YSZ tube with average channel diameter of ca. 2.5 μm shows the maximum power density of 0.36 W cm−2 in SOFC mode and 0.42 A cm−2 at 1.6 V in SOEC mode at 873 K. Spike potential noise which may be caused by insufficient gas diffusion in NiO-YSZ porous substrate was observed under constant current electrolysis condition in case of NiO-YSZ tube with narrow channel and the spike noise is suppressed by increasing channel size. NiO-YSZ tube with large channel size is also effective for increasing long term stability in electrolysis mode.
Review—Aptasensors: Cutting-Edge Technologies for Bisphenol A Detection as an Endocrine Disruptor
Authors: Verma Damini , Ranjan Kumar Rakesh , Solanki Pratima R. , Singh Jay , Das Mukherjee Maumita
Published: February 2024

Recently, research has been focused on detection of bisphenol A (BPA), a prominent endocrine disruptor (EDC) because of major health concerns. It is mostly employed as raw material to produce harmful environmental pollutants such polycarbonate plastics, thermal papers, and epoxy resins. BPA is renowned EDC that mimics oestrogen hormone produced by humans and disrupts both endocrine and reproductive systems. Although many analytical methods have been used to detect BPA biosensors, but using aptamers, as a bioreceptor has shown to be fairly promising in this respect because of its inexpensiveness, speed, high sensitivity, and specificity and portable benefits. Quantum dots, metal associated oxide nanocomposites, metal-organic framework, polymer nanocomposites, carboneous nanomaterials and molecularly imprinted polymers were all proposed as aptamer-based sensors for the sensitive screening of BPA. This review summarises advancements done in aptasensors area since 2011 for determination of BPA in food products, water samples and human body fluids using different transducer, including electrochemical, optical and other techniques. In addition, this article delves into the challenges and potential opportunities associated with aptasensors specifically tailored for BPA recognition. It serves as valuable resource for researchers and scientists offering insights that can guide future studies and advancements in the new aptasensors development for BPA detection.
High Volumetric Energy Density LiFePO4 /C Cathode Materials Synthesized by Dodecyl Polyglucoside-Assisted Glucose-Polyethylene Glycol Composite Carbon Source
Authors: Li Weida , Gu Haoyan , Yang Hao , Li Quanchen , Li Xinran , Wang Yaping , Liang Guangchuan
Published: February 2024

High volumetric energy density LiFePO4/C cathode materials were synthesized by wet ball milling, spray drying, and carbothermal reduction method using glucose and polyethylene glycol (PEG) as composite carbon sources and dodecyl polyglucoside (C12APG) as a milling aid. With the introduction of C12APG during the ball milling process, the prepared cathode materials have uniform particle size (100–200 nm in diameter) and regular primary particle morphology. In addition, PEG substitutes part of glucose as a carbon source, resulting in low carbon content and high graphitization of residual carbon after high-temperature calcination. The prepared LiFePO4/C cathode materials have a high powder compaction density (2.68 g cm−3) and excellent electrochemical performance (discharged capacities of 161.2 and 141.7 mAh g−1 at 0.2 C and 5 C, and cycle retention of 98.6% for 100 cycles at 1 C/1 C). This LiFePO4/C composite was assembled into 14500-type cylindrical batteries with a compaction density of 2.62 g cm−3 for the positive electrode. The volumetric energy densities of the positive electrode were 1135.18 Wh L−1 and 918.16 Wh L−1 at 0.2 C and 5 C, respectively.
HDL-C and apolipoprotein A-I are independently associated with skeletal muscle mitochondrial function in healthy humans
Authors: Giacona John M. , Petric Ursa B. , Kositanurit Weerapat , Wang Jijia , Saldanha Suzanne , Young Benjamin E. , Khan Ghazi , Connelly Margery A. , Smith Scott A. , Rohatgi Anand , Vongpatanasin Wanpen
Published: February 2024

Our study provides the first direct evidence supporting the beneficial role of HDL-C and ApoA-I on enhanced skeletal muscle mitochondrial function in healthy young to middle-aged humans without cardiometabolic disease.
Exercise testing unmasks exaggerated blood pressure independent of fibrinolytic response in Black but not White postmenopausal females
Authors: Marôco João L. , Szymanski Linda M. , Baynard Tracy , Fernhall Bo
Published: February 2024

Exaggerated SBP responses to exercise testing are more frequent in Black than in White male adults. Such responses, if translatable to females, may detect early racial disparities arriving during menopause. Because the endothelium regulates BP and fibrinolytic responses, these could be linked during exercise. At peak exercise, Black but not White postmenopausal females had more exaggerated SPB responses regardless of reduced fibrinolytic potential. Maximal exercise unmasked risk factors for cardiovascular disease in Black postmenopausal females.
Comparative Analysis of US Guidelines for the Management of Cutaneous Squamous Cell and Basal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Mittal Amit , Mittal Bharat B.
Published: February 2024

Background. This study presents a comparative analysis of recently published guidelines to manage cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) and cutaneous basal cell carcinoma (cBCC) within the United States (US). Methods. A PubMed database search was performed for the time period between June 1, 2016, and December 1, 2022. A comprehensive comparison was performed in the following clinical interest areas: staging and risk stratification, management of primary tumor and regional nodes with curative intent, and palliative treatment. Results. Guidelines from 3 organizations were analyzed: the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), and the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). The guidelines used different methodologies to grade evidence, making comparison difficult. There was agreement that surgery is the preferred treatment for curative cBCC and cSCC. For patients ineligible for surgery, there was a consensus to recommend definitive radiation. AAD and NCCN recommended consideration of other topical modalities in selected low-risk cBCC. Postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) was uniformly recommended in patients with positive margins that could not be cleared with surgery and in patients with nerve invasion. The definition and extent of nerve invasion varied. All guidelines recommended surgery as the primary treatment in patients with lymph node metastases in a curative setting. The criteria used for PORT varied; NCCN and ASTRO used lymph node size, number of nodes, and extracapsular extension for recommending PORT. Both NCCN and ASTRO recommend consideration of systemic treatment along with PORT in patients with extracapsular extension. Conclusion: US guidelines provide contemporary and complementary information on the management of cBCC and cSCC. There are opportunities for research, particularly in the areas of staging, indications for adjuvant treatment in curative settings, extent of nerve invasion and prognosis, and the role of systemic treatments in curative and palliative settings.
New Weighted Burr XII Distribution: Statistical Properties, Applications, and Regression
Authors: Anafo Abdulzeid Yen , Ocloo Selasi Kwaku , Nasiru Suleman
Published: February 2024

In this study, a three-parameter modification of the Burr XII distribution has been developed through the integration of the weighted version of the alpha power transformation family of distributions. This newly introduced model, termed the modified alpha power-transformed Burr XII distribution, exhibits the unique ability to effectively model decreasing, right-skewed, or unimodal densities. The paper systematically elucidates various statistical properties of the proposed distribution. The estimation of parameters was obtained using maximum likelihood estimation. The estimator has been evaluated for consistency through simulation studies. To gauge the practical applicability of the proposed distribution, two distinct datasets have been employed. Comparative analyses involving six alternative distributions unequivocally demonstrate that the modified alpha power-transformed Burr XII distribution provides a better fit. Additionally, a noteworthy extension is introduced in the form of a location-scale regression model known as the log-modified alpha power-transformed Burr XII model. This model is subsequently applied to a dataset related to stock market liquidity. The findings underscore the enhanced fitting capabilities of the proposed model in comparison to existing distributions, providing valuable insights for applications in financial modelling and analysis.
System Identification of a Structure Equipped with a Cable‐Bracing Inerter System Using Adaptive Extended Kalman Filter
Authors: Zhang Rui , Xue Songtao , Ban Xinlei , Zhang Ruifu , Xie Liyu
Published: February 2024

An innovative cable‐bracing inerter system (CBIS) has been proposed and shown to be effective in mitigating the structural response under dynamic excitation. The CBIS comprises an inerter element, an eddy current damping element, and a pair of tension‐only cables that can transfer the story drift to rotating flywheels. To further investigate the characteristics of the CBIS, a system identification approach based on an adaptive extended Kalman filter (AEKF) and a recursive least‐squares (RLS) algorithm is proposed. Depending on the CBIS model’s availability, the proposed approach uses two strategies: the AEKF identifies the parameters of the structure and the CBIS when the model is specific; alternatively, when the model is unspecific, the KF combined with an RLS algorithm identifies the restoring force generated by the CBIS as an unknown fictitious input. In addition, the AEKF incorporates a time‐variant fading factor to track the target adaptively. The proposed approach is validated through free vibration and shaking table tests, demonstrating the accuracy in identifying structural parameters and restoring force provided by the CBIS. The identification process involves two stages: initially, the AEKF identifies the parameters of the bare structure without the CBIS, followed by a dual strategy using either AEKF or KF‐RLS for identifying the parameters of the CBIS or its restoring force, respectively. The findings also verify the feasibility and validity of the mechanical model and operating principle of the CBIS, thereby contributing to the advancement and application of the CBIS in future studies.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Vaccine Availability on Utilization of Breast Imaging in a Multistate Radiology Practice
Authors: Hillman Andrew K. , Ramis Phil , Nielsen Patrick , Rohren Eric M.
Published: February 2024

Purpose of Study. Our study evaluated the impact of COVID-19 on breast imaging volumes and the recovery of these volumes following availability of COVID-19 vaccination. Method. Data were obtained from medical health records across 77 Radiology Partners practices in the US. The data provided us with the total monthly mammography, breast ultrasound, and breast MRI procedures from January 2019 to September 2022. An interrupted time-series (ITS) analysis was conducted to evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and the COVID-19 vaccination. We chose March 2020 and December 2020 as critical time points in the pandemic and analyzed trends before and after these dates. Results. The starting level (at baseline in January 2019) of the total breast imaging procedure volume was estimated at 114,901.5, and this volume appeared to significantly increase every month prior to March 2020 by 4,864.0 (p<0.0001, CI = [3,077.1, 6,650.9]). In March 2020, there appeared to be a significant decrease in volume by 104,446.3 (p=0.003, CI = [−172,063.1, −36,829.5]), followed by a significant increase in the monthly trend of service volume (relative to the pre-COVID trend) of 20,660.7 per month (p=0.001, CI = [8,828.5, 32,493.0]). In December 2020, there appeared to be a significant decrease in service volume by 69,791.2 (p=0.012, CI = [−123,602.6, −15,979.7]). Compared to the period from March to November 2020, there was a decrease in the monthly trend of service volumes per month by 24,213.9 (p<0.0001, CI = [−36,027.6, −12,400.2]). After March 2020, the total service volume increased at the rate of 25,524.7 per month (p<0.0001, CI = [13,828.2, 37,221.2]). In contrast, the service volumes after December 2020 appeared to grow steadily and slowly at a rate of 1,310.8 per month (p=0.118, CI = [−348.8, 2970.3]). Conclusion. Our study revealed that there has been a recovery and a further increase in breast imaging service volumes compared to prepandemic levels. The increase can be best explained by vaccination rollout, reopening of elective/nonemergency healthcare services, insurance coverage expansion, the decline in the US uninsured rate due to government interventions and policies, and the recovery of jobs with employer-provided medical insurance post-pandemic.
A Stochastic Discrete Fractional Cournot Duopoly Game: Modeling, Stability, and Optimal Control
Authors: Ran Jie , Zhou Yonghui
Published: February 2024

A stochastic discrete fractional Cournot duopoly game model with a unique interior Nash equilibrium is developed in this study. Some sufficient criteria of the Lyapunov stability in probability for the proposed model at the interior Nash equilibrium are derived using the Lyapunov theory. The proposed model’s finite time stability in probability is then investigated using a nonlinear feedback control approach at the interior Nash equilibrium. The stochastic Bellman theory is also used to explore the locally optimum control problem. Furthermore, bifurcation diagrams, time series, and the 0-1 test are used to investigate the chaotic dynamics of this model. Finally, numerical examples are given to illustrate the obtained results.
The Co‐Occurrence of Polypharmacy and Unmet Needs for Social Care in Older People: A Systematic Review
Authors: Davies Laurie E. , Spiers Gemma F. , Kingston Andrew , Todd Adam , Hanratty Barbara
Published: February 2024

Polypharmacy is common in older people who often live with disability and dependency. The number of older people living with unmet needs for social care is also believed to be rising. Polypharmacy is simple to operationalise, whilst unmet needs are not routinely identified but are known to adversely affect health and well‐being. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to investigate whether polypharmacy is a marker of unmet needs for social care in older people. Sixteen databases were searched from inception to January 2021. Studies were included if they reported quantitative data for polypharmacy (“multiple medicines”) in relation to unmet needs for social care (“relative or absolute”) in older people (“study criteria aged ≥55 years or mean age ≥55 in the sample as a whole or stratified data for the ≥55‐year age group”) and were from a high‐income country (defined by the World Bank). Quality was assessed using the National Institute for Health tool for observational studies. Four studies were identified from 2,549 citations, and overall, the quality of evidence was low. Some older people using multiple medications had their social care needs met, whilst others did not. However, there is a clear rationale as to why polypharmacy may be linked to unmet social care needs. Given the limited studies identified in this review, future research should explore this further. The type of unmet need measure may be important to understand the nature of the relationship between the use of multiple medications and unmet social care needs.
Sarcoma Cells Secrete Hypoxia-Modified Collagen VI to Weaken the Lung Endothelial Barrier and Promote Metastasis
Authors: Liu Ying , Murazzi Ileana , Fuller Ashley M. , Pan Hehai , Irizarry-Negron Valerie M. , Devine Ann , Katti Rohan , Skuli Nicolas , Ciotti Gabrielle E. , Pak Koreana , Pack Michael A. , Simon M. Celeste , Weber Kristy , Cooper Kumarasen , Eisinger-Mathason T.S. Karin
Published: February 2024

Intratumoral hypoxia correlates with metastasis and poor survival in patients with sarcoma. Using an impedance sensing assay and a zebrafish intravital microinjection model, we demonstrated here that the hypoxia-inducible collagen-modifying enzyme lysyl hydroxylase PLOD2 and its substrate collagen type VI (COLVI) weaken the lung endothelial barrier and promote transendothelial migration. Mechanistically, hypoxia-induced PLOD2 in sarcoma cells modified COLVI, which was then secreted into the vasculature. Upon reaching the apical surface of lung endothelial cells, modified COLVI from tumor cells activated integrin β1 (ITGβ1). Furthermore, activated ITGβ1 colocalized with Kindlin2, initiating their interaction with F-actin and prompting its polymerization. Polymerized F-actin disrupted endothelial adherens junctions and induced barrier dysfunction. Consistently, modified and secreted COLVI was required for the late stages of lung metastasis in vivo. Analysis of patient gene expression and survival data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) revealed an association between the expression of both PLOD2 and COLVI and patient survival. Furthermore, high levels of COLVI were detected in surgically resected sarcoma metastases from patient lungs and in the blood of tumor-bearing mice. Together, these data identify a mechanism of sarcoma lung metastasis, revealing opportunities for therapeutic intervention.

Significance:

Collagen type VI modified by hypoxia-induced PLOD2 is secreted by sarcoma cells and binds to integrin β1 on endothelial cells to induce barrier dysfunction, which promotes sarcoma vascular dissemination and metastasis.
Single-Cell Analysis Identifies NOTCH3-Mediated Interactions between Stromal Cells That Promote Microenvironment Remodeling and Invasion in Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Xiang Handan , Pan Yidan , Sze Marc A. , Wlodarska Marta , Li Ling , van de Mark Karyn Ann , Qamar Haleema , Moure Casey J. , Linn Douglas E. , Hai Josephine , Huo Ying , Clarke James , Tan Tze Guan , Ho Samantha , Teng Karen W. , Ramli Muhammad N. , Nebozhyn Michael , Zhang Chunsheng , Barlow Julianne , Gustafson Corinne E. , Gornisiewicz Savanna , Albertson Thomas P. , Korle Stephanie L. , Bueno Raphael , Moy Lily Y. , Vollmann Elisabeth H. , Chiang Derek Y. , Brandish Philip E. , Loboda Andrey
Published: February 2024

Cancer immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD); however, a significant proportion of patients do not respond. Recent transcriptomic studies to understand determinants of immunotherapy response have pinpointed stromal-mediated resistance mechanisms. To gain a better understanding of stromal biology at the cellular and molecular level in LUAD, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing of 256,379 cells, including 13,857 mesenchymal cells, from 9 treatment-naïve patients. Among the mesenchymal cell subsets, FAP+PDPN+ cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) and ACTA2+MCAM+ pericytes were enriched in tumors and differentiated from lung-resident fibroblasts. Imaging mass cytometry revealed that both subsets were topographically adjacent to the perivascular niche and had close spatial interactions with endothelial cells (EC). Modeling of ligand and receptor interactomes between mesenchymal and ECs identified that NOTCH signaling drives these cell-to-cell interactions in tumors, with pericytes and CAFs as the signal receivers and arterial and PLVAPhigh immature neovascular ECs as the signal senders. Either pharmacologically blocking NOTCH signaling or genetically depleting NOTCH3 levels in mesenchymal cells significantly reduced collagen production and suppressed cell invasion. Bulk RNA sequencing data demonstrated that NOTCH3 expression correlated with poor survival in stroma-rich patients and that a T cell–inflamed gene signature only predicted survival in patients with low NOTCH3. Collectively, this study provides valuable insights into the role of NOTCH3 in regulating tumor stroma biology, warranting further studies to elucidate the clinical implications of targeting NOTCH3 signaling.

Significance:

NOTCH3 signaling activates tumor-associated mesenchymal cells, increases collagen production, and augments cell invasion in lung adenocarcinoma, suggesting its critical role in remodeling tumor stroma.
Adding New Dimensions to 3D Cancer Models
Authors: Chu Kevan , Dow Lukas E.
Published: February 2024

Understanding patient-specific responses to anticancer therapies and how individual tumors interact with their tumor microenvironment (TME) is a challenging task. To measure the impact of the TME on diverse and clinically relevant treatments, Ramos Zapatero and colleagues coupled patient-derived organoid (PDO) and cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) cocultures with high-throughput mass cytometry–based assessment of cell state. Using a newly developed “Trellis” algorithm enabled integration and analysis of highly complex, multidimensional treatment response data. This work showed that tumor cell response to chemotherapy was associated with both intrinsic and nonintrinsic signaling states, whereby proliferative rate, growth factor signaling, and CAFs interaction influenced chemoprotection. Furthermore, the work suggests a potential role for the TME in promoting lineage plasticity associated with drug resistance. In all, the pipeline described provides a blueprint for exploring the intricate interplay of factors influencing cancer treatment response.
Patient and Device Factors Contributing to Electrically Evoked Stapedial Reflex Thresholds in Cochlear Implanted Adults
Authors: Chai Brianna , Holland Mary Laing , Camposeo Elizabeth L. , King Kaylene , Schvartz-Leyzac Kara C.
Published: February 2024

Introduction: Optimal cochlear implant (CI) outcomes are due to, at least in part, appropriate device programming. Objective measures, such as electrically evoked stapedial reflex thresholds (ESRTs), can be used to more accurately set programming levels. However, underlying factors that contribute to ESRT levels are not well understood. The objective of the current study was to analyze how demographic variables of patient sex and age, along with CI electrode location, influence ESRTs in adult CI recipients. Methods: A single institution retrospective review was performed. Electronic medical records, CI programming records, and clinic database of postoperative computerized tomography were reviewed to gather information regarding patient demographics, ESRTs, and electrode array metrics including medial-lateral distance and scalar location. Linear mixed models were constructed to determine how demographic variables and electrode position influence ESRTs recorded in 138 adult CI recipients. Results: ESRTs were significantly affected by recipient age, with older listeners demonstrating higher ESRT levels. On average, males had higher ESRT levels when compared to females. In a subset of the study sample, ESRT levels increased with increasing medial-lateral distance; however, there was not a statistically significant effect of electrode type (lateral/straight arrays compared to perimodiolar arrays). ESRTs were not affected by scalar location. Discussion/Conclusions: The results suggest that key demographic and electrode position characteristics influence the level of ESRTs in adult CI recipients. While ESRTs are widely used to assist with CI programming, underlying factors are not well understood. The significant factors of aging and sex could be due to middle ear mechanics or neural health differences. However, further data are needed to better understand these associations.
The Relation between Vascular Risk Factors and Flow in Cerebral Perforating Arteries: A 7 Tesla MRI Study
Authors: Onkenhout Laurien , Arts Tine , Ferro Doeschka , Kuipers Sanne , Oudeman Eline , van Harten Thijs , van Osch Matthias J.P. , Zwanenburg Jaco , Hendrikse Jeroen , Biessels Geert Jan , Kappelle L. Jaap ,   on behalf of the Heart-Brain Connection-study group
Published: February 2024

Introduction: Cerebral perforating arteries provide blood supply to the deep regions of the brain. Recently, it became possible to measure blood flow velocity and pulsatility in these small arteries. It is unknown if vascular risk factors are related to these measures. Methods: We measured perforating artery flow with 2D phase-contrast 7 Tesla MRI at the level of the centrum semiovale (CSO) and the basal ganglia (BG) in seventy participants from the Heart Brain Connection study with carotid occlusive disease (COD), vascular cognitive impairment (VCI), or no actual cerebrovascular disease. Vascular risk factors included hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and smoking. Results: No consistent relations were found between any of the vascular risk factors and either flow velocity or flow pulsatility, although there was a relation between lower diastolic blood pressure and higher pulse pressure and higher cerebral perforator pulsatility (p = 0.045 and p = 0.044, respectively) at the BG level. Results were similar in stratified analyses for patients with and without a history of cardiovascular disease, or only COD or VCI. Conclusion: We conclude that, cross-sectionally, cerebral perforating artery flow velocity and pulsatility are largely independent of the presence of common vascular risk factors in a population with a mixed vascular burden.
Association of HIV and HCV Infection With Carotid Artery Plaque Echomorphology in the MACS/WIHS Combined Cohort Study
Authors: Bravo Claudio A. , Moon Jee-Young , Davy Krista , Kaplan Robert C. , Anastos Kathryn , Rodriguez Carlos J. , Post Wendy S. , Gange Stephen J. , Kassaye Seble G. , Kingsley Lawrence A. , Lazar Jason M. , Mack Wendy J. , Pyslar Nataliya , Tien Phyllis C. , Witt Mallory D. , Palella Frank J. , Li Yanjie , Yan Mingzhu , Hodis Howard N. , Hanna David B.
Published: February 2024

BACKGROUND:

HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are associated with increased risk of carotid artery atherosclerotic plaque and stroke. We examined associations of HIV- and HCV-related factors with echomorphologic features of carotid artery plaque.

METHODS:

This cross-sectional study included participants from the MACS (Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study)/WIHS (Women’s Interagency HIV Study) Combined Cohort Study who underwent high-resolution B-mode carotid artery ultrasound. Plaques were characterized from 6 areas of the right carotid artery. Poisson regression controlling for demographic and cardiometabolic risk factors determined adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% CIs for associations of HIV- and HCV-related factors with echomorphologic features.

RESULTS:

Of 2655 participants (65% women, median age 44 [interquartile range, 37–50] years), 1845 (70%) were living with HIV, 600 (23%) were living with HCV, and 425 (16%) had carotid plaque. There were 191 plaques identified in 129 (11%) women with HIV, 51 plaques in 32 (7%) women without HIV, 248 plaques in 171 (28%) men with HIV, and 139 plaques in 93 (29%) men without HIV. Adjusted analyses showed that people with HIV and current CD4
+
count <200 cells/µL had a significantly higher prevalence of predominantly echolucent plaque (aPR, 1.86 [95% CI, 1.08–3.21]) than those without HIV. HCV infection alone (aPR, 1.86 [95% CI, 1.08–3.19]) and HIV-HCV coinfection (aPR, 1.75 [95% CI, 1.10–2.78]) were each associated with higher prevalence of predominantly echogenic plaque. HIV-HCV coinfection was also associated with higher prevalence of smooth surface plaque (aPR, 2.75 [95% CI, 1.03–7.32]) compared with people without HIV and HCV.

CONCLUSIONS:

HIV with poor immunologic control, as well as HCV infection, either alone or in the presence of HIV, were associated with different echomorphologic phenotypes of carotid artery plaque.
Interim Report on Gribshunden (1495) Excavations: 2019–2021
Authors: Foley Brendan
Published: February 2024

We present an interim archaeological report on the shipwreck of the Danish-Norwegian flagship Gribshunden. Built in 1485, extensively employed by King Hans as his floating castle, and ultimately lost in June 1495 en route to Kalmar, the ship carried people and material selected to further the political goal of re-unifying the Nordic region. Three field campaigns led by Lund University and Blekinge Museum after 2019 have delivered a compelling assemblage of mundane artefacts and high-status items, some without precedent, and all conveying new information beyond the events of the ship’s loss. Highlights from these efforts and the 2019 excavation include wooden casks, a milled tankard, a purse of silver coins, artillery and accoutrements, several crossbows and accessories, mail armour elements, and an assortment of exotic spices. Laboratory analyses of these and other finds allow new avenues of inquiry and provide deep insights into the late medieval world. This manuscript is derived from a conference presentation. It delivers an overview of recent scientific results, alerts readers to detailed studies already published, and offers waypoints to ongoing research threads.
The Impact of Martin Luther’s Religious Reform on the Conversion of New Chinese Immigrants to Christianity
Authors: Zeng Weifu
Published: February 2024

Through a study of the M Church in Bangkok, this research paper explores the influence of Martin Luther’s Reformation spirit of freedom of religion on the conversion of new Chinese immigrants to Christianity. With the increase in the number of Chinese who have emigrated overseas since the reform and opening up, Christianity has become increasingly popular among new Chinese immigrants, and the concept of freedom of religion advocated by Martin Luther’s Reformation has played an active role in this process. This study first, introduces the background of Martin Luther’s Reformation and his advocacy of religious freedom. Then, the literature related to Martin Luther’s Reformation, the Christian faith of new immigrants in China, and the Christian faith of Chinese in Thailand is reviewed. Then, through field research, the history and current situation of the new Chinese immigrants’ participation in the M Church in Bangkok are analyzed, and the transmutation of their beliefs in this chapel is discussed. Through interviews and surveys, the paper further analyzes the reasons for the conversion of Chinese new immigrants to Christianity. The study shows that the concept of religious freedom advocated by Martin Luther’s Reformation has played a positive role in the conversion of Chinese new immigrants to Christianity. However, Chinese new immigrants face many difficulties and challenges in the process of converting to Christianity, such as understanding and identifying with the faith and understanding the cultural differences between China and the West. Therefore, this paper argues that the concept of religious freedom advocated by Martin Luther’s Reformation has played an important role in the conversion of new Chinese immigrants to Christianity, but this process also needs to be combined with the integration and development of traditional Chinese culture.
Reverse case in child sexual abuse
Authors: Habek Dubravko , Habek Jurica
Published: February 2024

Child sexual abuse is a public health and medico-legal problem in developed and developing countries. Prompted by rare presentations of cases from this issue that change the course and outcome of events, we present the completed criminal-medico-legislative procedure as a contribution to the dynamics of the investigative process from my own many years of forensic practice. Two preschool teachers of late reproductive age from a home for neglected children reported to the State Attorney’s Office a former ward of the home, now an older minor, and an auxiliary employee of the same home, for having sexual relations with a two-year-old girl. But the state attorney also ordered an examination of the reported young man, so the reported case that the teachers “saw” penetrative intercourse was rejected by the expert and the state attorney as an action impossible without injuring the girl at that age. Further investigation proved the continuous sexual abuse by two teachers of the young man since he was 13 years old, i.e. for three years, which he did not report for fear that he would be kicked out of the home. He had sexual relations with each of them several times during those incriminated years. After his statement, other employees of the home were questioned as witnesses who confirmed the suspect boy’s claims. He was then released from custody, and the teachers were dismissed from their jobs and accused of years of sexual abuse of minors and abuse of their position and authority as competent persons.
What Is the Nexus between Migration and Mobility? A Framework to Understand the Interplay between Different Ideal Types of Human Movement
Authors: Piccoli Lorenzo , Gianni Matteo , Ruedin Didier , Achermann Christin , Dahinden Janine , Hoffmeyer-Zlotnik Paula , Nedelcu Mihaela , Zittoun Tania
Published: February 2024

Categorising certain forms of human movement as ‘migration’ and others as ‘mobility’ has far-reaching consequences. We introduce the migration–mobility nexus as a framework for other researchers to interrogate the relationship between these two categories of human movement and explain how they shape different social representations. Our framework articulates four ideal-typical interplays between categories of migration and categories of mobility: continuum (fluid mobilities transform into more stable forms of migration and vice versa), enablement (migration requires mobility, and mobility can trigger migration), hierarchy (migration and mobility are political categories that legitimise hierarchies of movement) and opposition (migration and mobility are pitted against each other). These interplays reveal the normative underpinnings of different categories, which we argue are too often implicit and unacknowledged.
An Alternative Approach to Municipalization: The Transition of Human Waste Disposal in Hangzhou, 1900s-1940s
Authors: Wang Gang
Published: February 2024

Urban reforms in modern China included the municipalization of human waste disposal, which played a crucial role. However, previous studies often equated municipalization with nationalization and monopolization. This study examines Hangzhou, a major city in the Yangtze Delta, where the human waste industry was well established, and analyzes the structural changes in human waste disposal from the 1900s to the 1940s. In the 1910s, the municipality attempted to nationalize and monopolize the human waste industry but was met with resistance and ultimately failed. Nevertheless, the reform successfully introduced a new model of human waste disposal, which involved government supervision and the participation of private collectors, and this model became popular after a compromise was reached. Beyond financial gains, the transition was also shaped by various underlying structural factors.
Microstructure, microhardness and mechanical behavior of dissimilar AA7075/AA6061 alloys under friction stir welding
Authors: Jia Hepeng , Wu Kai
Published: February 2024

Friction stir welding (FSW) of dissimilar AA6061 and AA7075 aluminum alloys faces challenges such as an unclear forming mechanism and low welding efficiency. In order to improve welding efficiency and elucidate the variations in metallography, Microhardness, and mechanical properties of dissimilar alloy FSW joints, this article designed FSW experiments using the Taguchi method with welding speeds ranging from 600 to 1000 mm/min. We studied the relationship between material mixing and welding defects through macroscopic metallography, microscopic metallography, and Microhardness, while the impact of welding parameters on the microstructure and properties was evaluated. The results show that void defects do not exist in dissimilar alloy FSW joints, and the Microhardness changes are “U” and “W” shaped. Material mixing played a decisive role in determining the microstructure and properties of dissimilar aluminum alloy FSW joints, with increased rotational speed enhancing material flow. The order of influence on the mechanical properties of the joint was found to be plunge depth, welding speed, and rotational speed. Under the conditions of 1000 mm/min, 2400 rpm, and 0.25 mm, the yield strength (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of the dissimilar alloy FSW joints reached 87.3% and 73.4% of the AA6061-T6 alloy, respectively.
Optimization and synthesis process of biodiesel production from coconut oil using central composite rotatable design of response surface methodology
Authors: Kannan Rajesh , Ramalingam Sathiyamoorthi , Sampath Senthil , Nedunchezhiyan Mukilarasan , Dillikannan Damodharan , Jayabal Ravikumar
Published: February 2024

In the transportation and power production industries, the use of renewable and environmentally friendly fuels has grown in importance. Biodiesel derived from coconut oil contains over 90% saturated fatty acids. Biodiesel was made using alkaline transesterification since coconut oil has a free fatty acid content of less than 2.5%. Enzymatic or chemical transesterification are both possible. For the synthesis of coconut biodiesel, the optimal processing conditions are 60 °C for 1 h, a 6:1 ratio, 1% potassium hydroxide and a 95% yield. According to the experiment, 55 °C was the ideal reaction temperature for using coconut oil to produce biodiesel. Sixty minutes was the ideal amount of time to extract biodiesel from coconut oil. The methanol-to-oil molar ratio raised yield from 6:1 to 8:1, a 95% increase. Significant amounts of an alkaline catalyst, which allows soap to develop under the influence of fatty acids, are responsible for the high yield response; it is concluded that 1 wt% would be an appropriate catalyst concentration for the present investigation. The central composite rotatable design (CCRD) of the response surface methodology method is used to optimize several process parameters, including temperature, reaction duration, methanol-to-oil ratio and catalyst concentration. The CCRD optimization approach produced better results. The following are the final, optimized results: coconut oil methyl ester ratio: 96.69%, temperature: 55 °C; duration: 59.2 min; catalyst concentration: 0.7; molar ratio: 6.4.
Detecting regional unevenness and influencing factors of ecological resilience in China
Authors: Hu Han , Yan Kegao , Fan Houbao , Lv Tiangui , Zhang Xinmin
Published: February 2024

Existing research on the state transition process of ecological resilience (ER) has neglected the ultimate goal of enhancing well-being and lacks theoretical framework support. To address these issues, we have innovatively developed a three-dimensional analysis framework of “resistant, absorptive, and restorative capacity” to measure ER. We also explored the regional unevenness and factors influencing ER at the provincial level in China through spatiotemporal evolution analysis and GeoDetector models. The results indicate that: the ecological resilience of Chinese provinces ranges from 0.415 to 0.596, with all provinces falling into the risk or good areas. Furthermore, a fluctuating and increasing trend is observed. The eastern coastal provinces, such as Beijing and Shandong, comprise predominantly good areas of ecological resilience that are distributed in a band manner, while the western provinces, notably Xinjiang, comprise primarily risk areas distributed in a clustered pattern. The per capita electricity consumption, per capita GDP, and patent applications in high-tech industries are identified as the primary factors influencing the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of ecological resilience, and the interaction effects of each factor have synergistic enhancement effects. Spatial ecological resilience displays certain degrees of “nonhomogeneous” agglomeration and spatial heterogeneity. However, no apparent spatial polarization phenomenon is observed. These findings provide valuable insights for cities aiming to address ecological risks and enhance urban resilience.