bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How is reputation management by regulatory agencies related to their employees' reputational perception?
Authors: Pedersen Mette Østergaard , Verhoest Koen , Salomonsen Heidi Houlberg
Published: December 2023

Existing research investigating regulatory agencies' reputation‐conscious behavior have primarily focused on reactive behavior in the context of reputational threats. Additionally, this literature has primarily focused on agencies' responses to such threats and external audiences' perceptions of agencies reputation, although reputation resides in both external and internal audiences. This study aims to address these two gaps by (1) identifying the relevance of regulatory agencies' reputations vis‐à‐vis internal audiences and (2) investigating whether reputations, in this case as judged by internal audiences, can be cultivated when managers of regulatory agencies perform reputation management in a more proactive sense. Using a unique two‐wave panel survey targeting internal audiences from three Danish regulatory agencies, we find a positive and significant relationship between reputation management and how internal audiences perceive the organizational reputation. Moreover, we find that employee advocacy partially mediates this relationship. Given that regulatory agencies are particularly susceptible to reputational threats and given that the reputational perception of employees affect other employee outcomes as well as their regulatory decision making, this study shows the potential of reputation management by regulatory agencies as an instrument for affecting employees' outcomes.
Measuring the unit cost of financial intermediation in South Africa: A measure of bank productivity
Authors: Mncube Keaoleboga , Viegi Nicola
Published: December 2023

This paper presents evidence on productivity growth in the South African banking industry in the last 30 years. The productivity measures we construct shed light on whether the development, increased contribution and influence of the banking industry have translated into lower cost of intermediation and improved productivity and efficiency of the banking sector. Our results show that there is no apparent trend in the unit cost of intermediation in the period 1993 to 2019, which is indicative of constant productivity.
MASP‐2 deficiency does not prevent the progression of diabetic kidney disease in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes
Authors: Charlotte Brinck Holt , Lene Halkjær , Tom Dudler , Wilhelm Schwaeble , Troels Krarup Hansen , Steffen Thiel , Jakob Appel Østergaard
Published: December 2023

Mannan‐binding lectin (MBL) initiates the lectin pathway of complement and has been linked to albuminuria and mortality in diabetes. We hypothesize that MBL‐associated serine protease 2 (MASP‐2) deficiency will protect against diabetes‐induced kidney damage. Male C57BL/6J MASP‐2 knockout (Masp2−/−) mice and wildtype (WT) mice were divided into a diabetic group and a non‐diabetic group. Renal hypertrophy, albumin excretion, mesangial area and specific mRNA expressions in the renal cortex were measured after 8 and 12 weeks of diabetes. By two‐way ANOVA it was tested if MASP‐2 modulated the renal effects of diabetes, that is interaction. After 12 weeks of diabetes Masp2−/− diabetic mice had a smaller mesangium at 21.1% of the glomerular area (95% CI 19.7, 22.6) compared with WT diabetic mice, 25.2% (23.2, 27.2), p(interaction) = 0.001. After 8 weeks of diabetes, plasma cystatin C was 261.5 ng/mL (229.6, 297.8) in the WT diabetic group compared to 459.9 ng/mL (385.7, 548.3) in non‐diabetic WT mice, p < 0.001. By contrast, no difference in plasma cystatin C levels was found between the Masp2−/− diabetic mice, 288.2 ng/mL (260.6, 318.6) and Masp2−/− non‐diabetic mice, 293.5 ng/mL (221.0, 389.7), p = 0.86 and p(interaction) = 0.001. We demonstrated a protective effect of MASP‐2 deficiency on mesangial hypertrophy after 12 weeks of diabetes and an effect on plasma cystatin C level. MASP‐2 deficiency did, however, fail to protect against diabetic‐induced alterations of kidney weight, albuminuria and renal mRNA expression of fibrotic‐ and oxidative stress markers.
Dielectric Breakdown Strength of Polypropylene Blended with Ethylene Octene Elastomers
Authors: Kamarudin Siti Noorhazirah , K. Y. Lau  , N. A. Ahmad  , N. A. Azrin  , A. B. A. Ghani  , N. A. N. Arifin
Published: December 2023

Polymer blends have become a major focus of research in exploring the potential for new dielectric material applications, particularly in the insulation of high voltage systems. In the current research area, polypropylene (PP) is being investigated as an insulation material for high voltage alternating current and direct current power cables. However, PP must be treated with rubbery materials such as elastomers to lessen its overall stiffness for power cable extrusion. While various promising results have been published on the potential use of PP/elastomer blends as dielectric materials, the dielectric effects of adding ethylene octene elastomer to PP have been less explored. This paper discusses the alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) breakdown strength of PP that contains different amounts of ethylene octene elastomer (10, 30, and 50 wt%). The addition of ethylene octene elastomer to PP affects the breakdown performance of the blend systems under both AC and DC fields. Significantly, an increase in elastomer contents results in a notable reduction in the AC and DC breakdown strength. A discussion is presented on the mechanisms underlying the change in the breakdown strength caused by the different amounts of ethylene octene elastomer blended with PP.
Rare Trichilemmal Cyst Localized in the Pulp of the Middle Finger
Authors: Li Yanan , Zhao Qinghua , Tian Qiqi , Wu Jiaheng , Pan Xiaojie , Shi Miao
Published: December 2023

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M1 macrophages induce PD-L1hicell-led collective invasion in HPV-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma via TNF-α/CDK4/UPS14
Authors: Wu Jiashun , Pang Xin , Yang Xiao , Zhang Mei , Chen Bingjun , Fan Huayang , Wang Haofan , Yu Xianghua , Tang Yaling , Liang Xinhua
Published: December 2023

Background

Although the roles of PD-L1 in promoting tumor escape from immunosurveillance have been extensively addressed, its non-immune effects on tumor cells remain unclear.

Methods

The spatial heterogeneity of PD-L1 staining in human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tissues was identified by immunohistochemistry. Three-dimensional (3D) specific cell-led invasion assay and 3D cancer spheroid model were used to investigate the roles of PD-L1hileader cells in collective invasion. The impact of M1 macrophages on specific PD-L1 expression in leader cells and its mechanisms were further studied. Finally, the effect of combination therapy of anti-PD-L1 and CDK4 inhibitor on HPV-positive tumors were evaluated on a mice model.

Results

Here, we observed a distinctive marginal pattern of PD-L1 expression in HPV-positive HNSCC tissues. By mimicking this spatial pattern of PD-L1 expression in the 3D invasion assay, we found that PD-L1hicells led the tumor collective invasion. M1 macrophages induced specific PD-L1 expression in leader cells, and depletion of macrophages in tumor-bearing mice abrogated PD-L1hileader cells and collective invasion. Mechanistically, TNF-α secreted by M1 macrophages markedly increased the abundance of PD-L1 via CDK4/ubiquitin-specific peptidase 14-mediated deubiquitination of PD-L1. We also found that suppression of CDK4 enhanced the efficacy of anti-PD-L1 therapy in an E6/E7 murine model.

Conclusions

Our study identified TNF-α/CDK4/ubiquitin-specific peptidase 14-mediated PD-L1 stability as a novel mechanism underlying M1 macrophage-induced PD-L1hileader cells and collective tumor invasion, and highlighted the potential of the combination therapy of anti-PD-L1 and CDK4 inhibitor for HPV-positive HNSCC.
Influences affecting decision-making regarding use of pre-exposure prophylaxis among black men who have sex with men in the USA: a systematic review and meta-synthesis
Authors: Hutchins Freddie , Drey Nicholas
Published: December 2023

Aim

To systematically identify, evaluate, and synthesise qualitative research examining positive and negative influences affecting decision-making behaviour among black men who have sex with men (BMSM) in the USA regarding use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Background

Used correctly, PrEP is highly efficacious in preventing HIV infection and is available via healthcare services throughout the USA. BMSM are a key target population for HIV prevention services, however their engagement with these services is low. With potential barriers to access ranging from systemic to personal, a phenomenological perspective on the influences affecting individuals’ decision-making is essential, helping to better understand the needs of this target population and guide development and delivery of more effective future policy and intervention services.

Design

Qualitative meta-synthesis with meta-aggregation.

Data sources

The electronic databases Medline, CINAHL, APA PsycInfo, Embase and Ovid Emcare were comprehensively searched from inception to 21 January 2022.

Review methods

Systematic identification, quality assessment and synthesis of existing qualitative research according to protocols of meta-aggregation. This included identifying salient study findings and corroborating illustrations from the data, sorting like findings into descriptive themed categories and developing transformative synthesised statements from aggregate appraisal of category findings.

Results

Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria and were assessed to be of acceptable quality. Synthesis of study data yielded 30 categories grouped under five themes: Stigma, Discrimination, Mistrust, PrEP positivity and PrEP negativity. Twelve synthesised statements were produced to provide a summary of the results and suggest improvements to the delivery of future PrEP services and interventions.

Conclusion

A more targeted approach focused on advocacy and ambassadorship outside of clinical settings may be more influential in positive decision-making regarding use of PrEP in BMSM populations than relying on traditional outreach methods via institutions and their representatives where stigma, mistrust and structural inequalities perpetuate.
Dc conductivity of two-dimensional ionic Hubbard model extracted by analytic continuation
Authors: Huang Yiqun , Han Wanpeng , Sun Junsong , Guo Huaiming , Feng Shiping
Published: December 2023

The ionic Hubbard model in a two-dimensional square lattice is revisited using determinant quantum Monte Carlo (DQMC) and numerical analytic continuation. From the dc conductivity extracted by stochastic maximum entropy of the DQMC data, we find that the band insulator induced by a staggered potential [Formula: see text] goes through a metallic phase before entering a Mott insulator as the on-site Hubbard interaction U is increased. Moreover, we map out the phase diagram in the [Formula: see text] plane, and reveal a smaller metallic region than that found in the previous studies. Our results provide a more exact location of the phase boundaries, and are an important complement to those obtained by an approximate approach.
Origins of anomalies in the temperature dependences of specific heat and superfluid density in doped high-Tc cuprates: Signatures of Bose-liquid superconductivity
Authors: Dzhumanov S. , Mayinova U. K. , Karimbaev E. Kh. , Djumanov D. S.
Published: December 2023

We show that the temperature-dependent superconducting order parameter and related superconducting properties (in particular, the temperature dependences of specific heat, superfluid density and related London penetration depth) of high-[Formula: see text] cuprates are fundamentally different from those of conventional superconductors and cannot be understood within the existing theories based on the Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer (BCS)-type condensation of weakly bound Cooper pairs into a superfluid Fermi-liquid and on the usual Bose–Einstein condensation (BEC) of bosonic Cooper pairs. We examine the validity of an alternative approach to the unconventional superconductivity in high-[Formula: see text] cuprates and establish that these materials exhibiting a [Formula: see text]-like superconducting transition at the critical temperature [Formula: see text] are similar to the superfluid 4He and are also superfluid Bose systems. We argue that the doped high-[Formula: see text] cuprates, from underdoped to overdoped regime, are unconventional (bosonic) superconductors and the tightly bound (polaronic) Cooper pairs in these polar materials behave like composite bosons just like 4He atoms and condense into a Bose superfluid at [Formula: see text]. We identify the superconducting order parameter [Formula: see text] in underdoped and optimally doped cuprates as the coherence parameter [Formula: see text] of bosonic Cooper pairs, which appears just below [Formula: see text] and has a kink-like temperature dependence near the characteristic temperature [Formula: see text]. We find that the [Formula: see text]-like specific heat anomaly in high-[Formula: see text] cuprates near [Formula: see text] predicted by the theory of Bose-liquid superconductivity is similar to that observed both in superfluid 4He near [Formula: see text] and in Hg-based cuprate superconductor HgBa2Ca2Cu3O8 near [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]K. We demonstrate that in high-[Formula: see text] superconductor YBa2Cu3[Formula: see text] the superfluid density [Formula: see text] exhibits distinctly different temperature dependences in the temperature ranges [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. In this superconductor, a pronounced anomaly in [Formula: see text] exists near [Formula: see text] and the temperature dependence of [Formula: see text] below [Formula: see text] deviates downwards from the high-temperature behavior. Our results for the normalized superfluid density [Formula: see text] are in good agreement with the experimental data on the temperature dependence of [Formula: see text] in YBa2Cu3[Formula: see text]. The anomalous temperature dependences of specific heat and superfluid density observed in Hg- and Y-based high-[Formula: see text] superconductors are clear signatures of Bose-liquid superconductivity.
Deep Reinforcement Learning-Based Motion Control for Unmanned Vehicles from the Perspective of Multi-Sensor Data Fusion
Authors: Wei Hongbo , Cui Xuerong , Zhang Yucheng , Chen Haihua , Zhang Jingyao
Published: December 2023

In this paper, the vehicle position points obtained by multi-sensor fusion are taken as the observed values, and Kalman filter is combined with the vehicle kinematics equation to further improve the vehicle trajectory. To realize this, mathematical principles of deep reinforcement learning are analyzed, and the theoretical basis of reinforcement learning is also analyzed. It is proved that the controller based on dynamic model is better than the controller based on kinematics in deviation control, and the performance of the controller based on deep reinforcement learning is also verified. The simulation data show that the proportion integration differentiation (PID) controller has a better tracking effect, but it does not have the constraint ability, which leads to radical acceleration change, resulting in unstable acceleration and deceleration control. Therefore, the deep reinforcement learning controller is selected as the longitudinal velocity tracking controller. The effectiveness of lateral and longitudinal motion decoupling strategy is verified by simulation experiments.
Primordial cosmology of an emergent-like universe from modified gravity: Reconstruction and phenomenology optimization with a genetic algorithm
Authors: Oikonomou V. K. , Kafanelis Gregory
Published: December 2023

General relativity has been the dominant paradigm theory of gravity for the last century, it manages to explain a plethora of astronomical and cosmological observations with high accuracy. A major challenge faced by general relativity is, that it predicts a singularity as the beginning of our universe. In this paper, we shall explore a well-known idea in the literature that of the emergent universe and its viability according to Planck 2018 data and BBN constraints.
Initiative Diplomacy: China’s New Rules for Global Governance, Security and Development
Authors: HAENLE Paul , SHER Nathaniel
Published: December 2023

Since 2022, Chinese officials have embarked on an international mobilisation campaign to promote China’s new Global Security Initiative (GSI), Global Development Initiative (GDI) and Global Civilisation Initiative (GCI). The three new initiatives espouse China’s principles of global governance, security and development in order to reinforce the domestic legitimacy of the Chinese Communist Party, reform the global governance system, expand China’s international influence, especially in the developing world, and compete with the United States’ conception of the liberal rules-based international order.
Zero-COVID Policy in China: Epidemic Control and the Mode of Politics
Authors: LAI Hongyi
Published: December 2023

In 2022, highly restrictive measures were imposed in China to contain the less deadly Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 virus or the COVID-19 virus. This study argues that these measures stemmed from a move away from pragmatic authoritarianism and towards totalitarianism since 2013 and that the lockdown of scores of cities such as Shanghai in 2022 carried quintessential features of totalitarianism. Revived totalitarianism in China has helped explain the longest and likely the most comprehensive strict epidemic control among all nations during the COVID-19 pandemic. The politics and the end of zero-COVID policy in China in 2022 are analysed.
Directional search for dark matter using nuclear emulsions with NEWSdm
Authors: Di Crescenzo A.
Published: December 2023

Cosmological observations indicate that most of the matter in the Universe is Dark Matter. Dark Matter in the form of Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) can be detected directly, via its elastic scattering off target nuclei. Most current direct detection experiments only measure the energy of the recoiling nuclei. However, directional detection experiments are sensitive to the direction of the nuclear recoil as well. NEWSdm is meant to be the first experiment with a solid target for directional dark matter searches: the use of a nuclear emulsion based detector, acting both as target and tracking device, would allow to extend dark matter searches beyond the neutrino floor and provide an unambiguous signature of the detection of Galactic dark matter.
The NUSES space mission
Authors: Di Santo Margherita
Published: December 2023

NUSES is a new project aiming to explore and test innovative technological and observational approaches for satellite-borne particle detectors dedicated to the study of cosmic radiation, astrophysical neutrinos, Sun-Earth environment, Space weather and Magnetospheric-Ionospheric-Lithospheric Coupling (MILC). The satellite will host two payloads, named TERZINA and ZIRÈ. TERZINA will test innovative observational techniques devoted to the hunt for astrophysical neutrino signals, looking at the Cherenkov light produced by extensive air showers generated in the atmosphere. The ZIRÈ experiment will exploit new technological approaches devoted to flux measurements of electrons, protons and light nuclei with energies spanning from few to hundreds of MeVs, but also to the detection of cosmic MeV photons and to the monitoring of eventual MILC signals. The main scientific objectives and features of the NUSES project will be presented in this work.
A Greedy-Strategy-Based Iterative Optimization Method for Articulated Vehicle Global Trajectory Optimization in Complex Environments
Authors: Hua Bikang , Chai Runqi , Chen Kaiyuan , Jiang Hankun , Chai Senchun , Xia Yuanqing
Published: December 2023

This paper considers the problem of trajectory planning for articulated vehicles in complex environments. We formulate this problem as an optimal control problem (OCP) and propose a greedy-strategy-based planner. This planner consists of three stages. In stage 1, an IAA* algorithm is proposed to identify the homotopy class. In stage 2, the collision-free tunnels are constructed along the guiding trajectory generated in stage 1 to simplify the intractable collision-avoidance constraints. In stage 3, a greedy-strategy-based iterative optimization (GSIO) framework is designed, which contributes to escaping from local optimums, making the optimization process more targeted, and converging to the global optimum solution quickly, especially in complex tasks. One feature of the proposed planner is that it is suitable for any type of articulated vehicle, and the proposed optimization framework can be used as an open framework to optimize any criterion that can be described explicitly by a polynomial. Furthermore, in the set simulation cases, our work shows significant competitiveness, under the premise of ensuring moderate CPU processing time, our algorithm achieves approximately a 40% performance improvement in optimization effects compared to selected comparative algorithms.
Behind OpenAI CEO Dismissal: An Ethical Dilemma And ANew AI Revolution
Authors: El-Deeb Ahmed
Published: December 2023

The world of Artificial Intelligence and Silicon Valley have been rocked in Nov. 2023 by the sudden ouster of OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman, by the company's board. OpenAI is the 2015 start-up behind ChatGPT and GPT-4, which enabled generating content and media-altered by AI. While nothing much was revealed by the board, the official statement mentioned that he wasn't transparent about his communication to the board about the developments of the company, which led the board to lose trust in him and deciding to fire him. Backed up by 700 OpenAI staffers who threatened to resign in solidarity with their fired leader and a supportive offer from Microsoft CEO Satya hiring Altman to lead significant AI Research Lab in Microsoft, Altman was back again as CEO in 5 days along with a revamped new board. While this dramatic story that entertained the software industry for a week could be seen as mere news, it is indeed more than that; and the significance of this story is not Sam Altman himself as an AI business figure. The back story of this fiasco and what happened behind the scene is what interest us as a Software professionals. The purpose of this article is bring some pointers for our learning.
Summary of the 1st Interpretability and Robustness in Neural Software Engineering (InteNSE 2023)
Authors: Jabbarvand Reyhaneh , Tizpaz-Niari Saeid , Barr Earl T. , Chandra Satish
Published: December 2023

InteNSE is an interdisciplinary workshop for research at the intersection of Machine Learning (ML) and Software Engineering (SE) and would be a pioneer in emphasizing the implicit properties of neural software engineering and analysis. Due to recent computational advancements, ML has become an inseparable part of the SE research community. ML can indeed improve and revolutionize many SE tasks. However, most research in the AI and SE communities consider ML as a closed box, i.e., only considering the final performance of the developed models as an evaluation metric. Ignoring the implicit properties of neural models, such as interpretability and robustness, one cannot validate the model's actual performance, generalizability, and whether it is learning what it is supposed to do. Specifically, in the domain of SE, where the result of ML4SE tools is code synthesis, bug finding, or repair, interpretability and robustness are crucial to ensure the reliability of the products.
Bio-Oil Upgrading over ZSM-5 Catalyst: A Review of Catalyst Performance and Deactivation
Authors: Kariim Ishaq , Swai Hulda , Kivevele Thomas
Published: December 2023

Due to population explosion and industrialization, waste biomass and polymer conversion into biofuel has attracted the interest of researchers. The application of the ZSM-5 catalyst for bio-oil upgrading into renewable biofuels has attracted researchers’ efforts as an excellent catalyst. The need for improved biofuel quality with reduced oxygenates has further necessitated the application of catalyzed upgrading techniques. The catalytic performance of the ZSM-5 catalyst was attributed to its exceptional pore structure and window architecture and when it is incorporated with some selected transition metals to improve aromatic hydrocarbon formation. The review revealed that the development of coke deposit on the microspores of the ZSM-5 catalyst hindered the effective transport of large molecular compounds into the active sites for an easy deoxygenation process. Hence, the introduction of mesoporosity, hybrid catalyst development, and tailored crystal growth on the ZSM-5 catalyst could address several hindrances associated to conventional ZSM-5. Therefore, the need for catalyst modification is paramount for ZSM-5 performance during bio-oil upgrading.
The Relationship of Hedonic Hunger and Night‐Eating Symptoms with Difficulties in Emotion Regulation in Young Adults
Authors: Hamurcu Pınar , Çamlıbel Beyzanur
Published: December 2023

Purpose. This study aimed to examine the association between hedonic hunger and night‐eating syndrome (NES) with difficulties in emotion regulation (DER) among young adults. Design and Methods. This cross‐sectional, descriptive study was conducted on a voluntary basis at a private foundation university, involving a total of 1010 students enrolled in the 2020‐2021 academic year. Data were collected through an online application of an information form, which assessed demographic characteristics, the Power of Food Scale (PFS), the Night‐Eating Questionnaire (NEQ), and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale‐Short Form (DERS‐16). The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS26® software. Findings. Women made up 80.4% of the students in the study. The mean age was 21.58 ± 2.98 years, and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 22.06 ± 3.71 kg/m2. The results indicated that 68.1% of the students reported hedonic hunger and 88.7% had NES. Moreover, DER was found to be more prevalent among women (p = 0.031). In addition, the DERS‐16 score increased by 6.5% (p = 0.040) with each increase in age and by 6.8% (p = 0.031) with each increase in BMI. Furthermore, the total PFS score increased by 32.5% (p < 0.001), and the total NEQ score increased by 22.4% (p < 0.001), corresponding to an increase in the total DERS‐16 score. Practice Implications. These findings suggest that an increase in the difficulties experienced in emotion regulation is associated with higher levels of hedonic hunger and night‐eating tendencies among young adults.
TABLE 2 from SHP2 Inhibition with TNO155 Increases Efficacy and Overcomes Resistance of ALK Inhibitors in Neuroblastoma
Authors: Valencia-Sama Ivette , Kee Lynn , Christopher Gabriella , Ohh Michael , Layeghifard Mehdi , Shlien Adam , Hayes Madeline N. , Irwin Meredith S.
Published: December 2023

Treatment regimens administered to Kelly xenografts
Supplementary Materials and Methods from SHP2 Inhibition with TNO155 Increases Efficacy and Overcomes Resistance of ALK Inhibitors in Neuroblastoma
Authors: Valencia-Sama Ivette , Kee Lynn , Christopher Gabriella , Ohh Michael , Layeghifard Mehdi , Shlien Adam , Hayes Madeline N. , Irwin Meredith S.
Published: December 2023

Includes additional information regarding cell culture, scratch wound-healing assays, antibodies, and mass spectrometry and phosphoproteomics analyses.
Figure S9 from SHP2 Inhibition with TNO155 Increases Efficacy and Overcomes Resistance of ALK Inhibitors in Neuroblastoma
Authors: Valencia-Sama Ivette , Kee Lynn , Christopher Gabriella , Ohh Michael , Layeghifard Mehdi , Shlien Adam , Hayes Madeline N. , Irwin Meredith S.
Published: December 2023

Figure S9. TNO155 re-sensitizes lorlatinib-resistant ALKF1174L cells and tumors.
Figure S6 from SHP2 Inhibition with TNO155 Increases Efficacy and Overcomes Resistance of ALK Inhibitors in Neuroblastoma
Authors: Valencia-Sama Ivette , Kee Lynn , Christopher Gabriella , Ohh Michael , Layeghifard Mehdi , Shlien Adam , Hayes Madeline N. , Irwin Meredith S.
Published: December 2023

Figure S6. Assessment of TNO155 and ALK-TKI efficacy in zebrafish embryos.
Figure S2 from SHP2 Inhibition with TNO155 Increases Efficacy and Overcomes Resistance of ALK Inhibitors in Neuroblastoma
Authors: Valencia-Sama Ivette , Kee Lynn , Christopher Gabriella , Ohh Michael , Layeghifard Mehdi , Shlien Adam , Hayes Madeline N. , Irwin Meredith S.
Published: December 2023

Figure S2. ALK-TKIs synergize with TNO155 in ALK mutant neuroblastoma cells.
FIGURE 5 from SHP2 Inhibition with TNO155 Increases Efficacy and Overcomes Resistance of ALK Inhibitors in Neuroblastoma
Authors: Valencia-Sama Ivette , Kee Lynn , Christopher Gabriella , Ohh Michael , Layeghifard Mehdi , Shlien Adam , Hayes Madeline N. , Irwin Meredith S.
Published: December 2023

Dual SHP2/ALK inhibition resensitizes lorlatinib-resistant ALKF1174L cells and reduces tumor regrowth. A, Kelly cells were treated with increasing doses of lorlatinib (0.1–5.0 µmol/L) or DMSO over 90 days to select for subpopulations of lorlatinib-resistant (Kelly-LR) or -sensitive (Kelly-S) cells. Cell lines were maintained under chronic exposure to lorlatinib or DMSO. Created with BioRender.com. Cell viability (alamarBlue) and IC50 was assessed in Kelly-S and Kelly-LR cells treated with increasing concentrations of lorlatinib alone (B) or lorlatinib plus TNO155 (C) for 72 hours. A maximum of 150 µmol/L of either or both drugs was serially diluted (1:3) to assess wide-range dose efficacy (0–150 µmol/L, doses of 0.0076, 0.0228, 0.0685, 0.205, 0.617, 1.851, 5.555, 16.666, 50, and 150 µmol/L). D, Western immunoblots of Kelly-S and Kelly-LR cells treated with TNO155 (1.5 µmol/L), lorlatinib (1 µmol/L), or combination treatment for 6 hours. Tumor growth (E) and Kaplan–Meier survival curves (F) of Kelly xenografts treated with two rounds of low-dose vehicle control (n = 4), TNO155 (n = 3), lorlatinib (n = 5), or combination treatment (Combo, n = 4) for 4 weeks each, with a 3 week drug break in between each round. **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001.
Portuguese Pancreatic Club Perspectives on Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: Diagnosis and Staging, Associated Genetic Syndromes and Particularities of Their Clinical Approach
Authors: Ferreira-Silva Joel , Meireles Sara , Falconi Massimo , Fernandes Alexandra , Vilas-Boas Filipe , Bispo Miguel , Rio-Tinto Ricardo , Rodrigues-Pinto Eduardo ,   the Portuguese Pancreatic Club, specialized section of the Portuguese Society of Gastroenterology
Published: December 2023

Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (panNENs) have been historically regarded as rare, but their incidence has raised more than 6-fold over the last 3 decades, mostly owing to improvement in the detection of small asymptomatic tumours with imaging. Early detection and proper classification and staging are essential for the prognosis and management of panNENs. Histological evaluation is mandatory in all patients for the diagnosis of panNEN. Regarding localization and staging, multiphasic contrast-enhanced computer tomography is considered the imaging study of choice. Nevertheless, several other diagnostic modalities might present complementary information that can help in diagnosis and staging optimization: magnetic resonance imaging, somatostatin receptor imaging using positron emission tomography in combination with computed tomography (PET/CT), PET/CT with fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG), and endoscopic ultrasound. Approximately 10% of panNENs are due to an inherited syndrome, which includes multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1, von Hippel-Lindau disease, neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1), tuberous sclerosis complex, and Mahvash disease. In this review, the Portuguese Pancreatic Club summarizes the classification, diagnosis, and staging of panNENs, with a focus on imaging studies. It also summarizes the characteristics and particularities of panNENs associated with inherited syndromes.
The Utility of Urinary NGAL as an Alternative for Serum Creatinine to Detect Acute Kidney Injury in Infants Exposed to Nephrotoxic Medications in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Stoops Christine , Gavigan Hailey , Krallman Kelli , Anderson Nekayla , Griffin Russell , Slagle Cara , House Scott , Goldstein S.L. , Askenazi D.J.
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Nephrotoxic medication (NTM) exposure is commonly associated with acute kidney injury (AKI) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Baby Nephrotoxic Injury Negated by Just-in-Time Action (NINJA) is a quality improvement program that assesses for AKI in those exposed to NTM with daily serum creatinine (SCr) levels. However, blood draws for SCr are invasive and have clinical disadvantages. Urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) is a promising indicator of AKI. We tested the hypothesis that uNGAL could reliably screen for NTM-AKI in the Baby NINJA program. Methods: This two-center prospective study screened 174 NICU subjects, of whom 148 met screening criteria from January 29, 2019, to September 18, 2020. Daily SCr and urine samples were obtained for up to 7 days of NTM exposure plus 2 days after exposure ended or end of AKI. AKI was defined by a SCr rise of 50% from baseline. The highest uNGAL obtained was evaluated to determine its relationship to the diagnosis of AKI. Logistic regression models were used to determine optimal uNGAL cutoffs. Results: The negative predictive value of a uNGAL value ≥250 ng/mL was 96.8% (95% CI = 93.3–100%). Urine NGAL ≥400 ng/mL demonstrated the highest ROC-AUC value of 0.72 with a positive likelihood risk for AKI of 2.76 (1.39–4.13). Discussion/Conclusion: We propose that uNGAL could be used to screen for NTM-AKI and thus replace many blood draws needed in those exposed to NTM. The ideal uNGAL threshold requires further investigation in infants.
Assessing and understanding diversity and foraging guilds of bird community structure in Gautam Buddha Wildlife Sanctuary, Bihar and Jharkhand, India
Authors: Umar Saeed  , Ahamad Mujahid , Vivek Ranjan  , Syed Ainul Hussain  , Ruchi Badola
Published: December 2023

This study was conducted between June 2017 and December 2018 to assess the bird community structure, diversity, feeding guilds, and the residential status of birds in Gautam Buddha Wildlife Sanctuary (GBWS). Avian diversity and guild organization in five different habitat types were classified according to the forest type present in the landscape. The results indicated a total of 99 avifauna that belongs to 48 families, distributed in 16 orders. Among the 99 species, 77 were residents, 17 were winter visitors, four were summer visitors, and only one was a passage migrant. Based on the feeding guild evaluation, the majority were insectivorous (47%), followed by omnivorous (24%), carnivorous (14%), granivorous (8%), frugivorous (4%), insectivorous (1%), and piscivorous (1%). The scrubland, among other forest types, represented the highest diversity value for the Shannon-Weiner diversity index (3.2), evenness was recorded highest in riverine habitat (0.63), whereas utmost Simpson’s dominance (0.98) and Fisher’s index value (41) were in human settlement. These findings of our study illustrate the outstanding potential of GBWS as an important protected site for mixed bird diversity and specific feeding guilds, precisely in terms of the insectivorous and omnivorous communities. Hence, the study outcomes set a notable landmark for understanding birds and their habitats.
An updated checklist of non-marine molluscs of the western Himalaya
Authors: Ahmed Hilal , Ahmed Imtiaz , Aravind Neelavar Ananthram
Published: December 2023

This paper presents the first comprehensive checklist of the non-marine molluscs from the western Himalaya, a region of high biodiversity and endemism. Based on faunistic surveys during 2019-2023 and published records, the paper reports 242 species belonging to 101 genera and 45 families of gastropods and bivalves, of which 168 species are endemic to the region. The paper also provides new distribution records and taxonomic notes for some species. Among the notable findings are the first records of Limax mayae, Oxyloma sp., Odhneripisidium kuiperi, Thiara aspera from India, and Bensonies jamuensis, Euaustenia cassida, Stagnicola sp. from the western Himalaya. The paper presents some species with substitutional illustrations and literature from the region for the past two centuries. Additionally, the paper also discusses the threats that non-marine molluscs face in the western Himalaya and suggests some conservation measures to protect them. The authors hope this paper will serve as a baseline for future studies on the diversity, distribution, ecology, and conservation of non-marine molluscs in the western Himalaya.
The diatom genus Ctenophora: A discussion on its morphology, relationships, and some species
Authors: WILLIAMS DAVID M. , VIJVER BART VAN DE
Published: December 2023

The diatom genus Ctenophora is examined for its morphological characters and its relationships. Some aspects of the nomenclature of the genus are clarified with respect to various specimens identified as Ctenophora pulchella, Ctenophora saxonica and Ctenophora vertebrata. The focus is on the structure of the valves and girdle rather than a complete account of the species-level diversity in Ctenophora. General conclusions are (1) Ctenophora is not a monotypic genus; (2) the relationships of Ctenophora will include ‘Fragilaria’ famelica, Catacombas (= Synedra) and the various groups within the paraphyletic Tabularia.
A new species of Brassica (Brassicaceae) from Bolkar Mountains (Türkiye) with morphological and molecular evidence
Authors: BAŞKÖSE İSA , ÖZÜDOĞRU BARIŞ , SAVRAN AHMET , KESKİN ALİ
Published: December 2023

Brassica huseyin-duralii from Niğde province in the Central Anatolian region of Türkiye is described and illustrated here as a new species of the tribe Brassiceae. It resembles B. repanda but differs from that species by its combination of woody caudex, leaf structure, and rosette and stem leaf shapes. It is also similar to B. elongata, from which it differs by its stem length, basal and stem leaf shapes and hair types, number of flowers, siliqua position and its width. This classification is also supported by phylogenetic analyses of nuclear ribosomal ITS data with B. huseyin-duralii and B. elongata constituting a monophyletic clade. The diagnosis, description, distribution and habitat of a new species, its distribution map and diagnostic key to Turkish Brassica species, are given; a Turkish name and IUCN Red List category are suggested.
New taxa of Cosmarium and Euastrum (Zygnematophyceae) from the North Coast of Bahia, Brazil
Authors: COSTA FABIANA DE MATOS , RAMOS GERALDO JOSÉ PEIXOTO , MOURA CARLOS WALLACE DO NASCIMENTO
Published: December 2023

In this study, three new taxa of Cosmarium (C. lineatum, C. margigranulatum, C. panamense var. therezienii) and one taxon of Euastrum (E. evolutum var. truncatum) have been described based on the analysis of periphytic material collected in the Capivara river basin, the north coast region from the Bahia State, Brazil. Taxonomic notes and ecological characteristics of the taxa are provided.
Beyond PCA: Additional Dimension Reduction Techniques to Consider in the Development of Climate Fingerprints
Authors: Weylandt Michael , Swiler Laura P.
Published: December 2023

Dimension reduction techniques are an essential part of the climate analyst’s toolkit. Due to the enormous scale of climate data, dimension reduction methods are used to identify major patterns of variability within climate dynamics, to create compelling and informative visualizations, and to quantify major named modes such as El Niño–Southern Oscillation. Principal components analysis (PCA), also known as the method of empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs), is the most commonly used form of dimension reduction, characterized by a remarkable confluence of attractive mathematical, statistical, and computational properties. Despite its ubiquity, PCA suffers from several difficulties relevant to climate science: high computational burden with large datasets, decreased statistical accuracy in high dimensions, and difficulties comparing across multiple datasets. In this paper, we introduce several variants of PCA that are likely to be of use in climate sciences and address these problems. Specifically, we introduce non-negative, sparse, and tensor PCA and demonstrate how each approach provides superior pattern recognition in climate data. We also discuss approaches to comparing PCA-family results within and across datasets in a domain-relevant manner. We demonstrate these approaches through an analysis of several runs of the E3SM climate model from 1991 to 1995, focusing on the simulated response to the Mt. Pinatubo eruption; our findings are consistent with a recently identified stratospheric warming fingerprint associated with this type of stratospheric aerosol injection.
Age, 12-Step Group Involvement, and Relapse Affect Use of Sobriety Date as Recovery Start Date: A Mixed Methods Analysis
Authors: Cyders Melissa A. , Fry Melissa , Fox Taylor , Shircliff Katherine , Jacobs Molly , Scott Hannah
Published: December 2023

The purpose of this paper is to explore the use of sobriety date as recovery start date, from the perspective of those in recovery, using a mixed methods approach. We report findings from 389 individuals who identify as being in recovery from a substance and/or alcohol use disorder concerning how they define their recovery start date. We report findings from logistic regression examining how the use of a sobriety date as a recovery start date differs across age, 12-step group engagement, and previous relapse occurrence. We complement these findings with qualitative data from focus groups discussions of how 44 individuals who identify as in recovery define what “recovery” means, how and why people choose their recovery start date, and the significance of sobriety in recovery start date definitions. About 50% (n = 182) of the quantitative sample defined their recovery start date as their date of last substance use or their first day of sobriety. Individuals who were younger, engaged in 12-step groups, and did not report a relapse had significantly greater odds of using a sobriety date as their recovery start date. Focus groups revealed nuances around sobriety date and, what for some was, a broader concept of recovery. The current findings prioritize the views of those in recovery to understand and define their own recovery start date. How those in recovery think about and define their recovery start date may have particular meaning. Research and clinical work would benefit from inquiring about recovery and sobriety dates separately.
Applicability of Transfer Function to Disturbance Growth Estimation and Traffic Stability
Authors: Zhou Jiazu , Dong Tianyu , Zhu Feng
Published: December 2023

In linear stability analysis, some unrealistic assumptions (e.g., small and long wavelength disturbance) are made for the derivation of the transfer function, which may result in an inaccurate estimation of disturbance growth rate and incorrect judgment of traffic stability. To gain more insights into the relaxation of assumptions on disturbance, this paper studies the effect of disturbance magnitude and frequency on the accuracy of disturbance growth rate estimation and the applicability of transfer function to traffic stability. The disturbance growth rates of several car-following (CF) models, including both linear and nonlinear CF models, are examined through two-vehicle simulations. The calibrated growth rate is then verified with a simulation involving a long vehicle platoon. The simulation results demonstrate that the calibrated growth rate from a two-vehicle CF pair is applicable to predict the disturbance magnitude of a long platoon. In addition, a concave growth pattern is observed, for which a novel explanation is provided based on the traditional deterministic CF model for the first time.
When boss puts off, the team worse off: The mitigating role of initiative-enhancing HRM systems
Authors: Yang Fu , Ding Lianyong , Lu Mengqian , Chen Gang , Bai Changjing , Wang Feng , Guo Jie
Published: December 2023

The negative role of workplace procrastination is widely recognized, while much less research focuses on leader procrastination. We bring our attention to this domain and investigate the implications of leader procrastination. By drawing insights from social information processing theory and identifying team procrastination climate as a new construct, which describes the collective perceptions team members hold regarding procrastination at work, we develop a moderated-mediation model to examine how leader procrastination and initiative-enhancing human resource management (HRM) systems foster conditions to inhibit or facilitate team procrastination climate and subsequent team effectiveness, operationalized as team performance and team organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). We tested the theoretical model with two-source data collected from 550 members of 124 teams across three time periods. Results showed that leader procrastination facilitated the development of team procrastination climate that undermined team effectiveness. Further, the effects of leader procrastination were significant only under low levels of initiative-enhancing HRM systems. These results offer new insights into theoretical implications for research on procrastination at work and provide practical implications on how to counteract the development of team procrastination climate.
Red Blood Cell Distribution Width: A Novel Predictor of Mortality Following Amputation in Diabetic Foot
Authors: Yoon Yeokwon , Shim Dong Woo , Park Kwang Hwan , Park Jae Han , Han Seung Hwan , Lee Jin Woo
Published: December 2023

Category:

Diabetes; Other

Introduction/Purpose:

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) reflects the degree of heterogeneity of erythrocyte volume. The number of studies investigating the relationship between RDW and various human disorders has exponentially increased over the past decades. However, the association of RDW with diabetic foot amputation has not been evaluated to date. In this study, we assessed the value of RDW as a prognostic factor in diabetic foot amputation.

Methods:

Data on 415 patients with diabetic foot who underwent amputation between January 2009 and January 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. After establishing optimal cut-off point of preoperative RDW for all-cause mortality, univariable and multivariable analyses with Cox proportional hazard model for survivorship and logistic regression for length of hospital stay more than 30 days were performed to identify significant prognostic factors including RDW, other laboratory results, demographic variables and co-morbidities.

Results:

RDW cut-off of 14.5% was found to be significantly associated with all-cause mortality (P < 0.001). High RDW was a significant risk factor or all-cause mortality (hazard ratio[HR]: 2.42, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.46 to 4.00) on multivariable- adjusted regression analysis. High RDW was also associated with longer hospitalization (odds ratio: 2.17, 95% CI: 1.29 to 3.66).

Conclusion:

High RDW over 14.5% value is an independent prognostic factor with increased mortality and prolonged hospital stay, implying that RDW may be a simple and inexpensive laboratory parameter for risk stratification in diabetic foot amputation.