bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Network patterns of university-industry collaboration: A case study of the chemical sciences in Australia
Authors: Gallagher Colin , Lusher Dean , Koskinen Johan , Roden Bopha , Wang Peng , Gosling Aaron , Polyzos Anastasios , Stenzel Martina , Hegarty Sarah , Spurling Thomas , Simpson Gregory
Published: June 2023

University–industry (U–I) collaboration takes on many forms, from research services, teaching and training, to curiosity-led research. In the chemical industries, academic chemists generate new knowledge, address novel problems faced by industry, and train the future workforce in cutting-edge methods. In this study, we examine the dynamic structures of collaborative research contracts and grants between academic and industry partners over a 5-year period within a research-intensive Australian university. We reconstruct internal contract data provided by a university research office as records of its collaborations into a complex relational database that links researchers to research projects. We then structure this complex relational data as a two-mode network of researcher-project collaborations for utilisation with Social Network Analysis (SNA)—a relational methodology ideally suited to relational data. Specifically, we use a stochastic actor-oriented model (SAOM), a statistical network model for longitudinal two-mode network data. Although the dataset is complicated, we manage to replicate it exactly using a very parsimonious and relatable network model. Results indicate that as academics gain experience, they become more involved in direct research contracts with industry, and in research projects more generally. Further, more senior academics are involved in projects involving both industry partners and other academic partners of any level. While more experienced academics are also less likely to repeat collaborations with the same colleagues, there is a more general tendency in these collaborations, regardless of academic seniority or industry engagement, for prior collaborations to predict future collaborations. We discuss implications for industry and academics.
Insights from the co-authorship network of the Italian academic statisticians
Authors: Bacci Silvia , Bertaccini Bruno , Petrucci Alessandra
Published: June 2023

Nowadays, new technologies have favored communication among scholars from different universities and countries, and huge amount of data and scientific works have become more and more accessible. This has led to an increase in the multidisciplinarity of research products, but often also to a more specialized level of knowledge of the scholars. Therefore, while belonging to the same disciplinary field, scholars may present different working styles and willingness to collaborate according to their specific topics of interest. This plays a particularly relevant role in Italy, where tenured scholars in academic institutions are classified in sub-fields that, in turn, may be aggregated for purposes of recruitment and career advancement. Aim of this contribution is to propose a methodological approach to understand if the work and collaborative style of academic scholars belonging to different sub-fields is really so similar as to justify their grouping. For illustrative purposes, we focus on the co-authorship network of Italian academic statisticians relying on the database of scientific works published since 1990 until 2021 and downloaded by SCOPUS. From this database, we obtain a network composed of 758 nodes and 1730 edges. Some network measures at node level representing the work and collaborative style of scholars (i.e., number of publications, degree, degree strength, some centrality indices, transitivity, and external-internal index) are explained through quantile regression models. Results provide policy makers with useful insights on which sub-fields present significant differences in terms of research interests and collaborative style, thus not justifying their aggregation for recruitment and career advancement purposes.
On the lack of women researchers in the Middle East and North Africa
Authors: El-Ouahi Jamal , Larivière Vincent
Published: June 2023

Recent gender policies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region have improved legal equality for women with noticeable effects in some countries. The implications of these policies on science, however, are not well-understood. This study applies a bibliometric lens to describe the landscape of gender disparities in scientific research in MENA. Specifically, we examine 1.7 million papers indexed in the Web of Science published by 1.1 million authors from MENA between 2008 and 2020. We used bibliometric indicators to analyze potential disparities between men and women in the share of authors, research productivity, and seniority in authorship. The results show that gender parity is far from being achieved in MENA. Overall, men authors obtain higher representation, research productivity, and seniority. But some countries stand out: Tunisia, Lebanon, Turkey, Algeria and Egypt have higher shares of women researchers compared to the rest of MENA countries. The UAE, Qatar, and Jordan have shown progress in terms of women participation in science, but Saudi Arabia lags behind. We find that women are more likely to stop publishing than men and that men publish on average between 11 and 51% more than women, with this gap increasing over time. Finally, men, on average, achieved senior positions in authorship faster than women. Our longitudinal study contributes to a better understanding of gender disparities in science in MENA which is catching up in terms of policy engagement and women representation. However, the results suggest that the effects of the policy changes have yet to materialize into distinct improvements in women’s participation and performance in science.
Behind the curtains of academic publishing: strategic responses of economists and business scholars
Authors: Scheidegger Fabian , Briviba Andre , Frey Bruno S.
Published: June 2023

Bibliometric measurements are becoming omnipresent and crucially important for academic career decisions. The measured criteria induce strong incentives to align academics’ time and efforts. Based on a survey of economics and business scholars in German-speaking countries, this article empirically explores the interactions between scientific journal metrics and the behavior of authors in the publishing process. The impact different types of pressure have on their decisions is emphasized. In line with rational choice, authors generally move down in journal ranking as they resubmit their papers. While the process is highly influenced by random elements, the Scimago journal rank provides the best fit to researcher’s behavior. Doctoral students initially submit to lower ranked journals compared to higher academic positions, which is likely due to the time pressure they face. The empirical findings improve our understanding of strategic responses in the scientific publishing process. Qualified lotteries, along with other propositions, are suggested to mitigate adverse responses by academics.
Interactions of hydrology, geochemistry, and biodiversity in woodland ponds located in riverine floodplains: case study from Scotland
Authors: Krivtsov Vladimir , Buckman Jim , Birkinshaw Steve , Olive Valerie
Published: June 2023

The Gore Glen pond is located in the forested floodplain of the Gore River, in the Mid-Lothian region near Edinburgh, Scotland. This work has considered in detail the hydrology, hydrochemistry, and biodiversity of the pond together with all their interactions and in addition interactions with the adjacent Gore River. It is important as it is one of few studies considering all these issues for a pond located in a riverine floodplain. This work shows the pond is connected to the Gore River for discharge events in the river larger than a 1 in 5-year return period. For these events, the pond acts as an online storage feature and will attenuate the flow, thus contributing towards the mitigation of downstream flooding. These large events are also a potential source of the large amount of sediments, as well as adsorbed chemicals, accumulated in the pond. The open water surface of the pond is covered by duckweed, Lemna minor, for most of the year, and that has profound implications for the hydrobiological community and biogeochemical cycling. The system is characterised by nutrient release from sediments due to the extensive hypolimnion anoxia in the summer/autumn period caused by the decomposition of organic matter. Algae are mostly represented by epiphytic diatoms and the cyanobacterium Microcystis, but their development appears to be constrained by light penetration. The eutrophic conditions are also conducive for the population of Difflugia (Protozoa, Rhizopoda). This work improves our understanding of the ecological relations of testate amoebae—an important group which has recently been used as biological indicators for the analysis of paleoecological relationships and paleogeographical reconstructions.
Nanoformulations with exopolysaccharides from cyanobacteria: enhancing the efficacy of bioactive molecules in the Mediterranean fruit fly control
Authors: Falsini Sara , Rosi Marzia Cristiana , Ravegnini Elia , Schiff Silvia , Gonnelli Cristina , Papini Alessio , Adessi Alessandra , Urciuoli Silvia , Ristori Sandra
Published: June 2023

The increasing demand for food has required intensive use of pesticides which are hazardous to the ecosystem. A valid alternative is represented by biopesticides; however, these molecules are often insoluble in water, and poorly bioavailable. Nanopesticides can be engineered to reach a selected target with controlled release of the active principle. In this work, capsaicin, an irritant alkaloid from hot chili peppers, and hydroxytyrosol, a phenolic compound obtained from extra-virgin olive oil by-products, were loaded into innovative nanocarriers. These were designed ad hoc combining exopolysaccharides from the cyanobacteria Neocyanospira capsulata, and a lipid component, i.e., egg phosphatidylcholine. The polysaccharide was chosen for chemical affinity with the chitin of insect exoskeleton, while the lipids were introduced to modulate the carrier rigidity. The newly formed nanosystems were characterized by physico-chemical techniques and tested for their possible use in pest control programs. The Mediterranean Fruit Fly Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann, 1824 (Diptera, Tephriditae), a pest of the Mediterranean Region causing high economic losses, was used as a model insect. We found that the nanoformulations nanocarriers prepared in this work, were able to increase the ovicidal effect of hydroxytyrosol. Moreover, the formulation encapsulating either hydroxytyrosol or capsaicin were able to reduce the number of females landing on treated apricots.

Graphical Abstract
Dual-energy computed tomography for improved visualization of internal jugular chain neck lymph node metastasis and nodal necrosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Baba Akira , Kurokawa Ryo , Kurokawa Mariko , Rivera-de Choudens Roberto , Srinivasan Ashok
Published: June 2023

Purpose

To evaluate and compare the utility of 40-keV virtual monochromatic imaging (VMI) reconstructed from dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) in the assessment of neck lymph node metastasis with 70-keV VMI, which is reportedly equivalent to conventional 120-kVp single-energy computed tomography.

Materials and methods

Patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma who had neck lymph node metastasis in contact with the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM) and underwent contrast-enhanced DECT were included. In 40- and 70-keV VMI, contrast differences and contrast noise ratio (CNR) between the solid component of neck lymph node metastasis (SC) and the SCM and between SC and nodal necrosis (NN) were calculated. Two board-certified radiologists independently and qualitatively evaluated the boundary discrimination between SC and SCM and the diagnostic certainty of NN.

Results

We evaluated 45 neck lymph node metastases. The contrast difference between SC and SCM and SC and NN were significantly higher at 40-keV VMI than at 70-keV VMI (p < 0.001). The CNR between SC and SCM was significantly higher at 40-keV VMI than at 70-keV VMI (p < 0.001). Scoring of the boundary discrimination between SC and SCM as well as the diagnostic certainty of NN at 40-keV VMI was significantly higher than that at 70-keV VMI (p < 0.001). The inter-rater agreements for these scores were higher at 40-keV VMI than at 70-keV VMI.

Conclusion

Additional employing 40-keV VMI in routine clinical practice may be useful in the diagnosis of head and neck lymph node metastases and nodal necrosis.
Sex/gender differences in metabolic syndrome among cancer survivors in the US: an NHANES analysis
Authors: Ezeani Adaora , Tcheugui Justin B. E. , Agurs-Collins Tanya
Published: June 2023

Background

The purpose of this study was to assess the association of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its individual components in cancer survivors (CS) by gender, in comparison to participants without a history of cancer who have at least one chronic disease (CD) and those without a chronic disease diagnosis (NCD).

Methods

Data from participants 40 years and older (n = 12,734) were collected from the 2011 to 2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey dataset. MetS was defined based on the National Cholesterol Education Program’s Adult Treatment Panel III. Chi-square test and multivariate-adjusted logistic regression was used to assess group comparisons and associations respectively.

Results

Compared to NCD, CS and CD men had increased odds of meeting MetS, OR 2.60 (CI 1.75–3.87) and OR 2.18 (CI 1.59–2.98) respectively. For women, CS and CD participants also had higher odds of meeting MetS criteria compared to their healthy counterparts, OR 2.05 (CI 1.44–2.93) and OR 2.14 (CI 1.63–2.81) respectively. In subgroup analysis by cancer site, CS men with a history of hematologic malignancies (OR 4.88, CI 1.30–18.37) and CS women with cervical cancer (OR 4.25, CI 1.70–10.59) had highest odds of developing MetS, compared to NCD. CS men also showed a strong association with elevated waist circumference, low high density lipoprotein-c, and elevated triglycerides, even by cancer site, but there were no consistent findings among women.

Conclusion

This study indicates that CS men have a strong association with MetS, especially among those with blood-related cancers.
Nanostructured Materials for Drug Delivery and Tissue Engineering Applications
Authors: Matić Antonela , Sher Emina Karahmet , Farhat Esma Karahmet , Sher Farooq
Published: June 2023

Nanotechnology and nanostructured materials for drug delivery and tissue engineering applications are relatively new field that is constantly advancing and expanding. The materials used are at the nanoscale level. Recently, great discoveries and applications have been made (Agents for use in chemotherapy, biological agents and immunotherapy agents) in the treatment of diseases in various areas. Tissue engineering is based on the regeneration and repair of damaged organs and tissues by developing biological substitutes that restore, maintain or improve the function of tissues and organs. Cells isolated from patients are used to seed 3D nanoparticles that can be synthetic or natural biomaterials. For the development of new tissue in tissue engineering, it is necessary to meet the conditions for connecting cells. This paper will present the ways of connecting cells and creating new tissues. Some recent discoveries and advances in the field of nanomedicine and the application of nanotechnology in drug delivery will be presented. Furthermore, the improvement of the effectiveness of new and old drugs based on the application of nanotechnology will be shown.
Biphenotypic Sinonasal Sarcoma with Orbital and Skull Base Involvement Report of 3 Cases and Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Anastasiadou Sofia , Karkos Peter , Constantinidis Jannis
Published: June 2023

Biphenotypic sinonasal sarcoma (BSNS) is a rare malignant tumour of the upper nasal cavity and ethmoid sinuses that presents predominantly in middle aged female patients and show a characteristic infiltrative and hypercellular proliferation of spindle cells that demonstrate a specific immunoreactivity. We present three cases with BSNS that had different presenting complaints, either sinonasal or orbital problems, underwent endoscopic surgical treatment and/or radiotherapy and have been disease free on long follow up. A systematic review of all published cases was performed to identify all BSNS cases known at present. BSNS requires prompt and correct diagnosis with accurate surgical resection as well as consideration of radiotherapy. Our three cases confirm the findings of the literature and support that BSNS is an aggressive but treatable malignant disease of the sinonasal tract.
Rational homogeneous spaces as geometric realizations of birational transformations
Authors: Occhetta Gianluca , Romano Eleonora A. , Conde Luis Eduardo Solá , Wiśniewski Jarosław A.
Published: June 2023

In this paper we study geometric realizations of some classic birational maps, such as inversion maps, special Cremona transformations, special birational transformations of type (2, 1), by considering$${{\mathbb {C}}}^*$$C∗-actions on rational homogeneous spaces and their subvarieties.
Mesolithic hearth-pits and formation processes: a geoarchaeological investigation of sediments from El Arenal de la Virgen site (SE Iberia)
Authors: Polo-Díaz Ana , Rabuñal Jose Ramón , Guérin Guillaume , Fernández-López de Pablo Javier
Published: June 2023

Hearth-pits are some of the most common archaeological features documented in open-air Mesolithic sites, especially in coversand areas of NW Europe. However, very few geoarchaeological studies have addressed their formation, function and relationship with occupation surfaces. This work introduces new interdisciplinary investigations on the sediments of the Mesolithic open-air site of El Arenal de la Virgen (SE Iberia). A selection of five hearth-pits from two different occupation phases (Phase 1: 9.3–9.1 cal ka BP and Phase 2: 8.6–8.3 cal ka BP) has been analysed using stratigraphy, texture, soil chemistry, micromorphology, petrography and OSL and TL analyses. Combustion traits of the carbonate rock assemblages preserved in the sediments of the hearth-pits have also been investigated and compared to reference and experimental data from local geogenic materials. Our results allowed us to discuss the anthropogenic origin and taphonomy of the hearth-pits studied and approach their function. The structures from Phase 1 are interpreted as a possible oven and a dumping feature linked to single/occasional use events. In contrast, for hearth-pits from Phase 2, we propose they were related to combustion and dwelling areas subject to recurrent occupation episodes and disturbance. Finally, our sedimentary and soil data revealed existing favourable paleoenvironmental conditions during the Mesolithic occupation of the site characterized by increased moisture, temperature and vegetation cover, in contrast to the Pleistocene and Middle Holocene periods pre- and post-dating the human settlement. This work highlights the potential of integrating geoarchaeological and contextual evidence to clarify the factors involved in the formation of hearth-pits and infer intra-site occupation patterns.
Subjective Experiences of Committed Meditators Across Practices Aiming for Contentless States
Authors: Woods Toby J. , Windt Jennifer M. , Brown Lydia , Carter Olivia , Van Dam Nicholas T.
Published: June 2023

A﻿bstract

Objectives

Contentless experience involves an absence of mental content such as thoughts and perceptions. It is often described aspure consciousnessor complete stillness/silence, and is a goal in Shamatha, Thai Forest, and Stillness Meditation. This study examined the subjective character of the deepest experience of stillness/silence typically reported in each practice, and whether there are differences in reports across traditions.

Method

Eighty-four Shamatha, 80 Thai Forest, and 88 Stillness Meditation participants (Mlifetime hours practice = 2305; median = 671; range = 5–34,021) provided usable responses to an online questionnaire. Participants were presented with 48 types of mental content described as absent or present in traditional texts, including well-recognized forms of content such as thoughts and perceptions, and less obvious forms—referred to in this paper as abstract content—such as wakefulness, naturalness, calm, bliss/joy, and freedom. Participants indicated the extent to which each type of content was part of their deepest experience of stillness/silence during a specific retreat or during class and home practice.

Results

In each tradition, participants typically reported a highly positive experience involving low awareness of content such as thoughts and perceptions, and a high degree of abstract content such as calm and mental relaxation. Across the practices, there were robust differences with respect to bliss/joy, wakefulness, absorptiveness, and depth.

Conclusions

The reported experiences are contentless in the sense that participants reported little awareness of content such as thoughts and perceptions. However, the experiences are not the states devoid of all content (and therefore identical to one another) that have been classically referred to in academic literature. These findings demonstrate the importance of examining contentless experiences in a fine-grained manner that takes into account abstract forms of content and assesses differences as well as similarities.
Evaluation of peritoneal Carcinoembryonic Antigen as a survival prognostic factor in gastric cancer patients: a single western center experience
Authors: Natalizi Nicola , Marino Elisabetta , Graziosi Luigina , Donini Annibale
Published: June 2023

The aim of this study is to define the importance of peritoneal CEA (pCEA) as a prognostic factor of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in gastric cancer (GC) patients surgically treated with a curative intent In our department. A total of 64 patients affected by gastric cancer with intraoperatively measurement of CEA on peritoneal lavage were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into two groups: (A) the peritoneal lavage CEA ( −) with CEA < 0.5 ng/ml and (B) the peritoneal lavage CEA ( +) with CEA ≥ 0.5 ng/ml. Then we analyzed OS and DFS of the two groups correlating them to others clinico-pathological features. Furthermore, we investigated the correlation between pCEA and peritoneal cytology. We demonstrated a strong significant difference in OS and in DFS in CEA ( +) patients. We emphasized that pCEA had a strong survival impact, in both OS and DFS, in selected patients affected by diffuse histotype GC (p = 0.0048 and p = 0.0030 respectively), stage III (p = 0.015 and p = 0.021, respectively) and distal gastric cancer (p = 0.0036 and p = 0.0017, respectively). There is a strong need to recognize prognostic factors that can help clinicians to stratify patients at high risk to develop post-surgical recurrences and moreover to recognize who could benefit from an aggressive surgical treatment of cytoreductive surgery and intra-peritoneal chemotherapy.

pCEA is a good predictor of survival in advanced gastric cancer and could discriminate which patients need a more accurate follow-up program and an intensive therapeutic strategy.
Application of KRR, K-NN and GPR Algorithms for Predicting the Soaked CBR of Fine-Grained Plastic Soils
Authors: Verma Gaurav , Kumar Brind , Kumar Chintoo , Ray Arunava , Khandelwal Manoj
Published: June 2023

California bearing ratio (CBR) test is one of the comprehensive tests used for the last few decades to design the pavement thickness of roadways, railways and airport runways. Laboratory-performed CBR test is considerably rigorous and time-taking. In a quest for an alternative solution, this study utilizes novel computational approaches, including the kernel ridges regression, K-nearest neighbor and Gaussian process regression (GPR), to predict the soaked CBR value of soils. A vast quantity of 1011 in situ soil samples were collected from an ongoing highway project work site. Two data divisional approaches, i.e., K-Fold and fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering, were used to separate the dataset into training and testing subsets. Apart from the numerous statistical performance measurement indices, ranking and overfitting analysis were used to identify the best-fitted CBR prediction model. Additionally, the literature models were also tried to validate through present study datasets. From the results of Pearson’s correlation analysis, Sand, Fine Content, Plastic Limit, Plasticity Index, Maximum Dry Density and Optimum Moisture Content were found to be most influencing input parameters in developing the soaked CBR of fine-grained plastic soils. Experimental results also establish the proficiency of the GPR model developed through FCM and K-Fold data division approaches. The K-Fold data division approach was found to be helpful in removing the overfitting of the models. Furthermore, the predictive ability of any model is considerably influenced by the geological location of the soils/materials used for the model development.
Electrochemically-stimulated nanoscale mechanochemical wear of silicon
Authors: Xiao Chen , Van Vliet Stefan , Bliem Roland , Weber Bart , Franklin Steve
Published: June 2023

Mechanochemical reactions at the sliding interface between a single-crystalline silicon (Si) wafer and a silica (SiO2) microsphere were studied in three environmental conditions: humid air, potassium chloride (KCl) solution, and KCl solution with an applied voltage. Compared to that from humid air, mechanochemical material removal from the silicon surface increased substantially in the KCl-immersed condition, and further increased when electrochemistry was introduced into the tribological system. By measuring the load dependence of the material removal rate and analyzing the results using a mechanically assisted Arrhenius-type kinetic model, the activation energy (Ea) and the mechanical energy (Em), by which this energy is reduced by mechanical activation, were compared qualitatively under different environmental conditions. In the KCl-immersed condition, mechanochemistry may decrease the required effective energy of reactions (Eeff = Ea − Em) and promote material removal mainly through improved catalysis of the mechanochemical reactions facilitated by greater availability of water molecules compared to the humid air condition. Thus, the effectiveness of the mechanochemistry is improved. In the electrochemical condition, electrochemically-accelerated oxidation of the silicon surface was confirmed by the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) characterization. The results strongly suggest that electrochemistry further stimulates mechanochemical reactions primarily by increasing the initial energy state of the surface via the facilitated formation of interfacial bonding bridges, i.e., a surface oxidation/hydroxylation process.
Rough bipolar fuzzy ideals in semigroups
Authors: Malik Nosheen , Shabir Muhammad , Al-shami Tareq M. , Gul Rizwan , Arar Murad , Hosny M.
Published: June 2023

Fuzzy set (FS) theory and rough sets (RSs) are constructed to accommodate the data uncertainty. In contrast, the bipolar FS (BFS) theory can tackle the uncertainty and the bipolarity of the data in different circumstances. This article aims to introduce the idea of rough bipolar fuzzy ideals in semigroup (SG), which is a generalization of the concept of rough BFSs (RBFSs) in an SG. We also investigate the roughness in the bipolar fuzzy subsemigroup (BF-SSG) with the help of congruence relation (cng-R) defined on the SG and studied some relevant structural properties. Moreover, the idea is extended to the rough bipolar fuzzy left ideal, rough bipolar fuzzy right ideal, rough bipolar fuzzy two-sided ideal, rough bipolar fuzzy interior ideal, and rough bipolar fuzzy bi-ideal in SGs. Further, it is seen that cng-Rs and complete cng-Rs play vital roles in the construction of rough approximations of bipolar fuzzy ideals. Consequently, their associated properties are explored by using cng-Rs and complete cng-Rs.
Authenticity and Inauthenticity in Adolescents: A Scoping Review
Authors: Alchin Carolyn Elizabeth , Machin Tanya M. , Martin Neil , Burton Lorelle J.
Published: June 2023

In everyday life, adolescents’ authenticity and inauthenticity (sense of, and being, the real me/true self; or false self/not the real me) are assumed to be general indicators of their psychosocial health as they navigate developmental processes of identity exploration and relational connectedness on their way to adulthood. Authenticity is important for psychological thriving in adolescents and inauthenticity is considered maladaptive, but there was no broad and systematic evidence-based resource on the topic. Therefore, this scoping review maps: (1) how authenticity and inauthenticity in adolescents (12–18 years old) have been understood, defined, and characterized; (2) what is known about authenticity and inauthenticity; (3) contexts authenticity and inauthenticity have been explored in; and (4) methodological approaches utilized. This review followed a pre-registered protocol (2852 records identified; 39 peer-reviewed primary research studies included). The review revealed authenticity and inauthenticity are typically: characterized as dispositional, involving thoughts, feelings, awareness, and a sense of being one’s true self or a false self; investigated quantitatively; and contextualized in close social relationships (parents, friends, classmates). Authenticity and inauthenticity outcomes included friendship quality, wellbeing, self-esteem, depressive symptoms, internet addiction, and moral disengagement. Adolescents’ authenticity generally increases over time and social support is very important for that process. Adolescents can be more authentic if parents facilitate adolescents’ increasing independence and support role experimentation. Future research should target state (here-and-now) authenticity, as a critical finding was that autonomy satisfaction has an immediate and positive influence on adolescents’ state authenticity, which implies people interacting with adolescents can promptly boost their capacity for positive psychological development.
Bayesian modeling via discrete nonparametric priors
Authors: Catalano Marta , Lijoi Antonio , Prünster Igor , Rigon Tommaso
Published: June 2023

The availability of complex-structured data has sparked new research directions in statistics and machine learning. Bayesian nonparametrics is at the forefront of this trend thanks to two crucial features: its coherent probabilistic framework, which naturally leads to principled prediction and uncertainty quantification, and its infinite-dimensionality, which exempts from parametric restrictions and ensures full modeling flexibility. In this paper, we provide a concise overview of Bayesian nonparametrics starting from its foundations and the Dirichlet process, the most popular nonparametric prior. We describe the use of the Dirichlet process in species discovery, density estimation, and clustering problems. Among the many generalizations of the Dirichlet process proposed in the literature, we single out the Pitman–Yor process, and compare it to the Dirichlet process. Their different features are showcased with real-data illustrations. Finally, we consider more complex data structures, which require dependent versions of these models. One of the most effective strategies to achieve this goal is represented by hierarchical constructions. We highlight the role of the dependence structure in the borrowing of information and illustrate its effectiveness on unbalanced datasets.
Supplying War
Authors: Creveld Martin van
Published: June 2023

Why did Napoleon succeed in 1805 but fail in 1812? Could the European half of World War II have been ended in 1944? These are only two of the many questions that form the subject-matter of this meticulously researched, lively book. Drawing on a very wide range of sources, van Creveld examines the specifics of war: namely, those formidable problems of movement and supply, transportation and administration, so often mentioned - but rarely explored - by the vast majority of books on military history. In doing so he casts his net far and wide, from Gustavus Adolphus to Rommel, from Marlborough to Patton, subjecting the operations of each to a thorough analysis from an unusual point of view. In this edition with a new introduction, van Creveld revisits his now-classic text, and comments in a new afterword on the role of logistics in high-tech, modern warfare.
Asian Americans in an Anti-Black World
Authors: Kim Claire Jean
Published: June 2023

Where do Asian Americans fit into the U.S. racial order? Are they subordinated comparably to Black people or permitted adjacency to whiteness? The racial reckoning prompted by the police murder of George Floyd and the surge in anti-Asian hate during the COVID-19 pandemic raise these questions with new urgency. Asian Americans in an Anti-Black World is a groundbreaking study that will shake up scholarly and popular thinking on these matters. Theoretically innovative and based on rigorous historical research, this provocative book tells us we must consider both anti-Blackness and white supremacy—and the articulation of the two forces—in order to understand U.S. racial dynamics. The construction of Asian Americans as not-white but above all not-Black has determined their positionality for nearly two centuries. How Asian Americans choose to respond to this status will help to define racial politics in the U.S. in the twenty-first century.
Making Democracy Safe for Business
Authors: Kubinec Robert
Published: June 2023

Businesses in the Middle East and North Africa have failed to bring sustainable development despite decades of investment from the private and public sectors. Yet we still know little about why the Arab Uprisings failed to usher in more transparent government that could break this enduring cycle of corruption and mismanagement. Examining posttransition politics in Egypt and Tunisia, Kubinec employs interviews and quantitative surveys to map out the corrupting influence of businesses on politics. He argues that businesses must respond to changes in how perks and privileges are distributed after political transitions, either by forming political coalitions or creating new informal connections to emerging politicians. Employing detailed case studies and original experiments, Making Democracy Safe for Business advances our empirical understanding of the study of the durability of corruption in general and the dismal results of the Arab Uprisings in particular.
Understanding Living Systems
Authors: Noble Raymond , Noble Denis
Published: June 2023

Life is definitively purposive and creative. Organisms use genes in controlling their destiny. This book presents a paradigm shift in understanding living systems. The genome is not a code, blueprint or set of instructions. It is a tool orchestrated by the system. This book shows that gene-centrism misrepresents what genes are and how they are used by living systems. It demonstrates how organisms make choices, influencing their behaviour, their development and evolution, and act as agents of natural selection. It presents a novel approach to fundamental philosophical and cultural issues, such as free-will. Reading this book will make you see life in a new light, as a marvellous phenomenon, and in some sense a triumph of evolution. We are not in our genes, our genes are in us.
Sour Grapes? Party Donors and Canadian Leadership Primaries
Authors: Pruysers Scott
Published: June 2023

Political parties around the world are adopting primaries to select leaders and legislative candidates. While a large, though inconclusive, literature has emerged in the American context to explore the consequences of primaries, little attention has been devoted to other national contexts. Exploring patterns of financial donation, this study examines whether individuals who supported a losing leadership candidate are less likely to exhibit subsequent financial commitment to the party compared to those donors whose preferred candidate won the internal election. Drawing upon a novel dataset that includes tens of thousands of donors to recent leadership elections in Canada, we demonstrate that intra-party winners (i.e. those who supported the winning leadership candidate) are more likely to be financially committed to the party in the year after the election than those who supported losers. Results suggest that open and inclusive elections, while participatory in nature, may come at a cost for political parties as losers withdraw from the party in the wake of their loss.
Morphological and molecular evidence for the recognition ofAllocreadium bursensisn. sp. (Trematoda: Allocreadiidae) from Angora loachOxynoemacheilus angoraefrom Turkey
Authors: Aydogdu N. , Vaınutıs K. S. , Voronova A. N. , Aydogdu A.
Published: June 2023

This is the first study reporting parasites from the freshwater cyprinidOxynoemacheilus angorae(Steindachner 1897) caught in Nilüfer Stream, Bursa, in the Northwest Anatolian Region of Turkey.Allocreadium bursensisn. sp. was described from the intesine ofO.angoraebased on morphological and genetic characteristics.Allocreadium bursensisn. sp. was differentiated from otherAllocreadiumspp. in having a combination of external (ventral and oral suckers ratio; body length and width and its ratio to forebody) and internal (cirrus pouch position; uterus extension in hindbody; egg size; disposition of anterior border of vitellarium; esophagus length) features. Phylogenetic hypotheses based on maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, Bayesian inferrence, and neighbor joining analyses of sequence data strongly supported the hypothesis thatA. bursensisis nested within the clade ofAllocreadiumspecies hosted by cypriniform fish, and it is more closely related to the Far Eastern speciesA. pseudoisoporum(Primorsky region, Russia) than to the AfricanA. apokryfi.According to genetic p-distances, the taxonomic status of trematodes collected in Turkey was established as independent relative to nine of the validAllocreadiumspp.: 1.8–5.8% in 28S gene and 18.8–22.6% incox1gene. The present study increases the number ofAllocreadiumspecies and their definitive hosts recorded in Turkey and raises the number of Palearctic representatives ofAllocreadiumspp. to 26.
Work Resilience Scale
Authors: Liu Doudou , Meng Xue , Li Chaoping , Xie Songke
Published: June 2023

Abstract: This study aims to investigate the psychometric properties of the WRS-C (Work Resilience Scale – Chinese version) through two studies. In Study 1 (Sample 1: N = 463), we conducted an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and identified the two-factor solution representing work resilience after translating the Work Resilience Scale (WRS) into Chinese. In Study 2, the psychometric properties of the WRS-C were investigated in two samples (Sample 2: N = 477; Sample 3: N = 374). The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) confirms a two-factor structure. Furthermore, the WRS-C shows measurement invariance across groups by gender, age, job tenure, and education level. Furthermore, the results provide evidence for the convergent and concurrent validity of the WRS-C. In addition, its predictive validity has been demonstrated through its associations with mental health outcomes, performance outcomes, and attitude outcomes. Overall, the WRS-C is a reliable and valid instrument in the Chinese context, which can be utilized in future research and practice.
Fingerprinting Wood to Curb Illegal Deforestation
Authors: Pardikar Rishika
Published: June 2023

Researchers developed a new forensic tool for tracing the origins of timber that could enable enforcement of antideforestation legislation in the European Union.
Childhood sexual abuse is associated with higher total ghrelin serum levels in adulthood: results from a large, population-based study
Authors: Wittekind Dirk Alexander , Kratzsch Jürgen , Mergl Roland , Wirkner Kerstin , Baber Ronny , Sander Christian , Witte A. Veronica , Villringer Arno , Kluge Michael
Published: June 2023

Ghrelin is an orexigenic peptide hormone synthesized in times of stress and hunger and alterations of the ghrelin system following acute stressors could be repeatedly shown in humans. However, little data exists on long-term effects of trauma on the ghrelin system. We aimed to investigate the influence of childhood trauma on total ghrelin serum levels in a large, population-based study. Total serum ghrelin was measured in 1666 participants of a population-based cross-sectional study (‘LIFE study’). The Childhood Trauma Screener (CTS) was used for the assessment of childhood trauma in the final sample (n = 1086; mean age: 57.10 ± 16.23 years; 632 males, 454 females). Multiple linear regression analyses and generalized linear models were chosen to examine the association between childhood trauma and total serum ghrelin concentrations. Childhood sexual abuse went along with significantly higher ghrelin serum levels in the total sample (β = 0.114, t = 3.958; p = 0.00008) and in women (β = 0.142, t = 3.115; p = 0.002), but not in men (β = 0.055; t = 1.388; p = 0.166). Women with severe emotional neglect in the childhood had higher ghrelin levels than those without (odds ratio = 1.204; p = 0.018). For the CTS Sum Score and other CTS sub-scale scores, no significant association with ghrelin serum levels was found. Our study is the first to show associations between childhood sexual trauma and total ghrelin levels in adults in a large, community-based sample. Our results should initiate further research of the role of ghrelin in human stress response in prospective study designs.
Maternal NAT10 orchestrates oocyte meiotic cell-cycle progression and maturation in mice
Authors: Jiang Xue , Cheng Yu , Zhu Yuzhang , Xu Caoling , Li Qiaodan , Xing Xuemei , Li Wenqing , Zou Jiaqi , Meng Lan , Azhar Muhammad , Cao Yuzhu , Tong Xianhong , Qin Weibing , Zhu Xiaoli , Bao Jianqiang
Published: June 2023

In mammals, the production of mature oocytes necessitates rigorous regulation of the discontinuous meiotic cell-cycle progression at both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. However, the factors underlying this sophisticated but explicit process remain largely unclear. Here we characterize the function of N-acetyltransferase 10 (Nat10), a writer for N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C) on RNA molecules, in mouse oocyte development. We provide genetic evidence that Nat10 is essential for oocyte meiotic prophase I progression, oocyte growth and maturation by sculpting the maternal transcriptome through timely degradation of poly(A) tail mRNAs. This is achieved through the ac4C deposition on the key CCR4-NOT complex transcripts. Importantly, we devise a method for examining the poly(A) tail length (PAT), termed Hairpin Adaptor-poly(A) tail length (HA-PAT), which outperforms conventional methods in terms of cost, sensitivity, and efficiency. In summary, these findings provide genetic evidence that unveils the indispensable role of maternal Nat10 in oocyte development.
Trispecific antibody targeting HIV-1 and T cells activates and eliminates latently-infected cells in HIV/SHIV infections
Authors: Promsote Wanwisa , Xu Ling , Hataye Jason , Fabozzi Giulia , March Kylie , Almasri Cassandra G. , DeMouth Megan E. , Lovelace Sarah E. , Talana Chloe Adrienna , Doria-Rose Nicole A. , McKee Krisha , Hait Sabrina Helmold , Casazza Joseph P. , Ambrozak David , Beninga Jochen , Rao Ercole , Furtmann Norbert , Birkenfeld Joerg , McCarthy Elizabeth , Todd John-Paul , Petrovas Constantinos , Connors Mark , Hebert Andrew T. , Beck Jeremy , Shen Junqing , Zhang Bailin , Levit Mikhail , Wei Ronnie R. , Yang Zhi-yong , Pegu Amarendra , Mascola John R. , Nabel Gary J. , Koup Richard A.
Published: June 2023

Agents that can simultaneously activate latent HIV, increase immune activation and enhance the killing of latently-infected cells represent promising approaches for HIV cure. Here, we develop and evaluate a trispecific antibody (Ab), N6/αCD3-αCD28, that targets three independent proteins: (1) the HIV envelope via the broadly reactive CD4-binding site Ab, N6; (2) the T cell antigen CD3; and (3) the co-stimulatory molecule CD28. We find that the trispecific significantly increases antigen-specific T-cell activation and cytokine release in both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Co-culturing CD4+ with autologous CD8+ T cells from ART-suppressed HIV+ donors with N6/αCD3-αCD28, results in activation of latently-infected cells and their elimination by activated CD8+ T cells. This trispecific antibody mediates CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell activation in non-human primates and is well tolerated in vivo. This HIV-directed antibody therefore merits further development as a potential intervention for the eradication of latent HIV infection.
Tetraspanin-8 sequesters syntaxin-2 to control biphasic release propensity of mucin granules
Authors: Wojnacki José , Lujan Agustin Leonardo , Brouwers Nathalie , Aranda-Vallejo Carla , Bigliani Gonzalo , Rodriguez Maria Pena , Foresti Ombretta , Malhotra Vivek
Published: June 2023

Agonist-mediated stimulated pathway of mucin and insulin release are biphasic in which rapid fusion of pre-docked granules is followed by slow docking and fusion of granules from the reserve pool. Here, based on a cell-culture system, we show that plasma membrane-located tetraspanin-8 sequesters syntaxin-2 to control mucin release. Tetraspanin-8 affects fusion of granules during the second phase of stimulated mucin release. The tetraspanin-8/syntaxin-2 complex does not contain VAMP-8, which functions with syntaxin-2 to mediate granule fusion. We suggest that by sequestering syntaxin-2, tetraspanin-8 prevents docking of granules from the reserve pool. In the absence of tetraspanin-8, more syntaxin-2 is available for docking and fusion of granules and thus doubles the quantities of mucins secreted. This principle also applies to insulin release and we suggest a cell type specific Tetraspanin/Syntaxin combination is a general mechanism regulating the fusion of dense core granules.
Hypoxia induced responses are reflected in the stromal proteome of breast cancer
Authors: Kjølle Silje , Finne Kenneth , Birkeland Even , Ardawatia Vandana , Winge Ingeborg , Aziz Sura , Knutsvik Gøril , Wik Elisabeth , Paulo Joao A. , Vethe Heidrun , Kleftogiannis Dimitrios , Akslen Lars A.
Published: June 2023

Cancers are often associated with hypoxia and metabolic reprogramming, resulting in enhanced tumor progression. Here, we aim to study breast cancer hypoxia responses, focusing on secreted proteins from low-grade (luminal-like) and high-grade (basal-like) cell lines before and after hypoxia. We examine the overlap between proteomics data from secretome analysis and laser microdissected human breast cancer stroma, and we identify a 33-protein stromal-based hypoxia profile (33P) capturing differences between luminal-like and basal-like tumors. The 33P signature is associated with metabolic differences and other adaptations following hypoxia. We observe that mRNA values for 33P predict patient survival independently of molecular subtypes and basic prognostic factors, also among low-grade luminal-like tumors. We find a significant prognostic interaction between 33P and radiation therapy.