bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Congenital trans-sellar trans-sphenoidal encephalocele: a systematic review of diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis
Authors: Jiang Zheng , Yang Deming , Ainiwaer Mailudan , Li Qiong , Mo Wei , Liu Feng
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Clinical presentations encompass respiratory, feeding issues, nasopharyngeal mass, meningitis, CSF leakage, craniofacial anomalies, and endocrine problems. Surgery is the primary treatment, transitioning from frontal craniotomy to endoscopic methods, offering improved outcomes. Yet, more studies are needed. A comprehensive review on trans-sellar trans-sphenoidal encephalocele (TSTSE) is missing. Our study aims to fill this gap, offering a comprehensive perspective for physicians.

Methods

This review adhered to the PRISMA guideline. Eligible studies focused on human subjects, specifically trans-sellar encephaloceles, and provided comprehensive treatment details. English language articles published up to April 11th, 2023, were considered. Two trained researchers conducted article screening using consistent criteria. Data extraction covered various aspects, including clinical presentation, surgical methods, and outcomes, with results presented descriptively in two tables. Due to the rarity of this congenital anomaly, meta-analysis and publication bias assessment were not feasible. Data extraction was independently conducted by two reviewers, with subsequent cross-verification.

Results

A total of 36 patients were identified from 14 studies, the most frequently observed clinical presentation was dyspnea (41.67%) and the most frequently observed accompanying anomaly was cleft lip/palate (55.56%). CT and MRI were adopted in nearly all the cases, and trans-nasal approach was the most often used surgical approach (57.14%) with the ‘soft material combination’ the most commonly used method for cranial base repairment (35.71%). A total of two deaths occurred and diabetes insipidus was the most common perioperative complication which occurred in six surgery patients (21.43%).

Conclusion

TSTSE predominantly affects males and presents with dyspnea, visual deficits, pituitary insufficiency, and cranial base-related symptoms. Early diagnosis is critical, with advanced imaging playing a key role. Endocrine assessment is vital for hormone management. Surgery offers symptom relief but entails risks, including reported fatalities and complications. The choice between surgery and conservative management requires careful deliberation. The trans-nasal approach is favored for its reduced trauma, yet further research is necessary to validate this preference.
Counting Arcs in $${\mathbb {F}}_q^2$$
Authors: Bhowmick Krishnendu , Roche-Newton Oliver
Published: January 2024

An arc in $$\mathbb F_q^2$$

F
q
2

is a set $$P \subset \mathbb F_q^2$$

P
⊂

F
q
2

such that no three points of P are collinear. We use the method of hypergraph containers to prove several counting results for arcs. Let $${\mathcal {A}}(q)$$

A
(
q
)

denote the family of all arcs in $$\mathbb F_q^2$$

F
q
2

. Our main result is the bound $$\begin{aligned} |{\mathcal {A}}(q)| \le 2^{(1+o(1))q}. \end{aligned}$$

|
A

(
q
)

|

≤

2

(
1
+
o
(
1
)
)
q

.

This matches, up to the factor hidden in the o(1) notation, the trivial lower bound that comes from considering all subsets of an arc of size q. We also give upper bounds for the number of arcs of a fixed (large) size. Let $$k \ge q^{2/3}(\log q)^3$$

k
≥

q

2
/
3

(
log
q
)

3

, and let $${\mathcal {A}}(q,k)$$

A
(
q
,
k
)

denote the family of all arcs in $$\mathbb F_q^2$$

F
q
2

with cardinality k. We prove that $$\begin{aligned} |{\mathcal {A}}(q,k)| \le \left( {\begin{array}{c}(1+o(1))q\\ k\end{array}}\right) . \end{aligned}$$

|
A

(
q
,
k
)

|

≤

(
1
+
o
(
1
)
)
q

k

.

This result improves a bound of Roche-Newton and Warren [12]. A nearly matching lower bound $$\begin{aligned} |{\mathcal {A}}(q,k)| \ge \left( {\begin{array}{c}q\\ k\end{array}}\right) \end{aligned}$$

|
A

(
q
,
k
)

|

≥

q

k

follows by considering all subsets of size k of an arc of size q.
Associations between violent crime inside and outside, air temperature, urban heat island magnitude and urban green space
Authors: Stevens Heather R. , Graham Petra L. , Beggs Paul J. , Ossola Alessandro
Published: January 2024

There are more incidents of violence in summer and on hot days, a trend likely to be exacerbated by climate change. Urban areas experience additional temperature modulation due to the urban form, however, to date, no studies have considered the effect of the urban heat island (UHI) or green space with respect to the temperature–violence relationship. This study modelled the relationship between the number of daily violent crime incidents that occurred inside or outside between July 2013 and June 2018, and the average surface UHI or percentage greencover (including grasses, shrubs and trees) within each local government area in Greater Sydney, Australia. Panelised negative binomial time series regression models indicated that the violent crime rate was associated with higher surface UHI for crimes committed outside (p = 0.006) but not inside (p = 0.072). Greater percentage of all vegetation was associated with significantly lower rates of violent crime committed outside (p = 0.011) but was not associated with violent crimes committed inside (p = 0.430). More socio-economic disadvantage was associated with higher rates of violent crime committed inside (p = 0.002) but not outside (p = 0.145). Greater temperature was non-linearly associated with higher rates of violent crime committed both inside and outside (p < 0.001). The findings of this study are important because both violence and heat exposure are critical health issues and will be stressed by urbanisation and climate change. The expansion of green space and/or reduction in UHI may mitigate these effects.
Pathways to change: The transformative potential of human rights and sustainable development in and through education
Authors: Carney Sarah , Carty Catherine
Published: January 2024

The international human rights framework and United Nations’ Agenda 2030 with its Sustainable Development Goals are two closely linked frameworks. Agenda 2030 has galvanized much interest and action within the education sector around Education for Sustainable Development. The human rights framework, with its calls for Human Rights Education, provides a legal imperative for embedding these pedagogies in education. This article argues that for the education sector, unifying actions and embracing the two pedagogies of Education for Sustainable Development and Human Rights Education can form a foundation for a new social contract for education. For these frameworks to meet their potential in education, they must be embedded at both curricular and institutional levels. We will need robust and committed governance at national and institutional levels for these approaches to achieve their transformational potential.
DeepPyramid+: medical image segmentation using Pyramid View Fusion and Deformable Pyramid Reception
Authors: Ghamsarian Negin , Wolf Sebastian , Zinkernagel Martin , Schoeffmann Klaus , Sznitman Raphael
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Semantic segmentation plays a pivotal role in many applications related to medical image and video analysis. However, designing a neural network architecture for medical image and surgical video segmentation is challenging due to the diverse features of relevant classes, including heterogeneity, deformability, transparency, blunt boundaries, and various distortions. We propose a network architecture, DeepPyramid+, which addresses diverse challenges encountered in medical image and surgical video segmentation.

Methods

The proposed DeepPyramid+ incorporates two major modules, namely “Pyramid View Fusion” (PVF) and “Deformable Pyramid Reception” (DPR), to address the outlined challenges. PVF replicates a deduction process within the neural network, aligning with the human visual system, thereby enhancing the representation of relative information at each pixel position. Complementarily, DPR introduces shape- and scale-adaptive feature extraction techniques using dilated deformable convolutions, enhancing accuracy and robustness in handling heterogeneous classes and deformable shapes.

Results

Extensive experiments conducted on diverse datasets, including endometriosis videos, MRI images, OCT scans, and cataract and laparoscopy videos, demonstrate the effectiveness of DeepPyramid+ in handling various challenges such as shape and scale variation, reflection, and blur degradation. DeepPyramid+ demonstrates significant improvements in segmentation performance, achieving up to a 3.65% increase in Dice coefficient for intra-domain segmentation and up to a 17% increase in Dice coefficient for cross-domain segmentation.

Conclusions

DeepPyramid+ consistently outperforms state-of-the-art networks across diverse modalities considering different backbone networks, showcasing its versatility. Accordingly, DeepPyramid+ emerges as a robust and effective solution, successfully overcoming the intricate challenges associated with relevant content segmentation in medical images and surgical videos. Its consistent performance and adaptability indicate its potential to enhance precision in computerized medical image and surgical video analysis applications.
Verfallende Infrastruktur bei Rekordeinnahmen: Eine Institutionssoziologie bundesdeutscher Haushaltspolitik
Authors: Wansleben Leon
Published: January 2024

In den 2010er-Jahren betrieb die deutsche Regierung eine strukturkonservative Haushaltspolitik, was eine schwache staatliche Investitionstätigkeit trotz günstiger fiskalischer Bedingungen zur Folge hatte. Wie lässt sich das erklären? Die Literatur zum deutschen Haushaltsregime hat jüngst vor allem die Tradition des Ordoliberalismus sowie das konservative deutsche Wohlfahrtsmodell angeführt, um dieses BRD-typische Muster der Ausgabenpolitik zu hintergründen. Der Beitrag bietet stattdessen eine institutionssoziologische Erklärung, die das für die Haushaltspolitik grundlegende Beziehungsmuster zwischen Parlament, Regierung und Verwaltung fokussiert. Qua Ressortprinzip sind die relativ eigenständigen Minister mitsamt ihren Spitzenbeamten die zentralen Protagonisten der bundesdeutschen Haushaltsverhandlungen, in denen sich Partei- und Ressortpolitik überlagern. Der Finanzminister verfügt in der tradierten Rollenstruktur der deutschen Kabinettsordnung über eine besondere Machtstellung, was ihm die Profilierung als „Sparsamkeitsminister“ nahelegt. Umgekehrt verfügen die Repräsentanten der Koalitionsparteien und des Bundestages wie auch die Verwaltungsspitzen der anderen Ministerien über ein je spezifisches Profil an Machtmitteln. Diese Konstellationen bringen inkrementalistische Interaktionen in der Exekutive hervor, die je nach Umständen in der Erstreitung marginaler Ausgabenspielräume oder der Kürzung freiwilliger Ausgaben resultieren. Diese Verhandlungslogiken laufen einer umfassenderen Investitionsplanung zuwider. Die Rolle des Bundestags beschränkt sich trotz seiner formalen haushaltspolitischen Souveränität darauf, die Unterstützung oder Missbilligung von Ministern zu kommunizieren. Im Ergebnis zeigt sich, dass das institutionelle Macht- und Rollenprofil der Ministerien, das in den Haushaltsverhandlungen zur Geltung kommt und in dem das BMF traditionell als mächtiger Vetospieler agiert, die Kontinuität des haushaltspolitischen Strukturkonservatismus über Machtwechsel hinweg garantiert.
Gastric Submucosal Fat Accumulation Is Associated with Insulin Resistance in Patients with Obesity
Authors: Lu Tao , Kan Jianxun , He Xue , Zou Jialai , Sheng Dandan , Xue Yating , Wang Yan , Xu Lijian
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Ectopic fat accumulation plays a significant role in obesity-related metabolic dysfunction, and few studies have reported an association between ectopic gastric fat and metabolic risk factors. We aim to fulfill this need by assessing the degree of gastric submucosal fat accumulation in pathologic sections of 190 sleeve gastrectomy specimens.

Methods

Study patients were divided into two groups (D1 and D2) based on whether fat accumulation exceeded 1/3 of the submucosa of the stomach. Demographic and metabolic risk factors were compared between the two groups. Metabolic risk variables that might be associated with the degree of fat accumulation were screened in the original cohort. After balancing for possible confounders, the robustness of the correlations was assessed using binary and conditional logistic regression analyses.

Results

All study patients had fat accumulation in the submucosa of the stomach. C-reactive protein (CRP), body mass index (BMI), visceral fat area (VFA), and insulin resistance (IR) were higher in the D2 group than in the D1 group in the original cohort (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that BMI and IR may be associated with increased fat accumulation. After balancing variables other than obesity indicators and IR using propensity score matching, BMI and IR remained significantly different between the two groups (P < 0.05). Further analysis of the matched cohort using two logistic regression analyses showed that IR was an independent risk factor for increased fat accumulation.

Conclusion

This study indicated that gastric submucosal fat accumulation was prevalent in patients with obesity and was associated with IR.

Graphical Abstract
A computed tomography radiomics-based model for predicting osteoporosis after breast cancer treatment
Authors: Lai Yu-Hsuan , Tsai Yi-Shan , Su Pei-Fang , Li Chung-I , Chen Helen H. W.
Published: January 2024

Many treatments against breast cancer decrease the level of estrogen in blood, resulting in bone loss, osteoporosis and fragility fractures in breast cancer patients. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate a novel opportunistic screening for cancer treatment-induced bone loss (CTIBL) in breast cancer patients using CT radiomics. Between 2011 and 2021, a total of 412 female breast cancer patients who received treatment and were followed up in our institution, had post-treatment dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) examination of the lumbar vertebrae and had post-treatment chest CT scan that encompassed the L1 vertebra, were included in this study. Results indicated that the T-score of L1 vertebra had a strongly positive correlation with the average T-score of L1–L4 vertebrae derived from DXA (r = 0.91, p < 0.05). On multivariable analysis, four clinical variables (age, body weight, menopause status, aromatase inhibitor exposure duration) and three radiomic features extracted from the region of interest of L1 vertebra (original_firstorder_RootMeanSquared, wavelet.HH_glcm_InverseVariance, and wavelet.LL_glcm_MCC) were selected for building predictive models of L1 T-score and bone health. The predictive model combining clinical and radiomic features showed the greatest adjusted R2 value (0.557), sensitivity (83.6%), specificity (74.2%) and total accuracy (79.4%) compared to models that relied solely on clinical data, radiomic features, or Hounsfield units. In conclusion, the clinical-radiomic predictive model may be used as an opportunistic screening tool for early identification of breast cancer survivors at high risk of CTIBL based on non-contrast CT images of the L1 vertebra, thereby facilitating early intervention for osteoporosis.
Racial Inequalities in the Health Establishment Access to the Treatment of COVID-19 in Brazil in 2020
Authors: Santos Silva Lídia , da Conceição Barbosa Raphael Barreto , Lima João Paulo , Castro-Alves Julio , Ribeiro-Alves Marcelo
Published: January 2024

The Brazilian health system simultaneously allows for the existence of the public and private sectors, which often imposes financial barriers to access to services and affects the health of exposed groups. Studies have shown evidence of higher lethality risks among Black/Biracial and Indigenous People admitted to hospitals due to COVID-19 during the pandemic when compared to White People. This paper evaluated the association between access to treatment for COVID-19, race, and COVID-19-related deaths among the five macro-regions of Brazil in 2020. We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional observational, and population-wide study. Logistical models were used including first-order interactions between race and the health establishment administration sector using deaths as outcome, adjusted for covariates. The lethality risk, defined as the percentage of deaths among hospitalized patients, of Black/Biracial and Indigenous People was up to 78% (in the Midwest) and 29% (in the South) higher when compared to White People, respectively. The association of the race/access interaction with COVID-19-related deaths suggested the possibility of institutional racism in health establishments. The results highlight the need to guarantee adequate funding to the public health sector to improve equity in access to healthcare and the constant development of educational activities and increased participation of racialized minorities in the healthcare workforce at influential positions for health workers on topics such as racism.
Clinical Informed Consent and ABA
Authors: Graber Abraham , Maguire Allison
Published: January 2024

The practice of clinical informed consent in America is governed by over 100 years of case law. Although predominant ethics resources for behavior analysts offer some guidance regarding the provision of clinical informed consent, such guidance remains limited. The goal of this article is thus to expand the contemporary literature on clinical informed consent in behavior analysis by providing a historical and contemporary guide to relevant case law. The article will highlight seminal moments in the history of case law regarding clinical informed consent, discuss their applicability to the process of clinical informed consent in behavior analysis, and provide an enhanced understanding of the ethical and legal obligations related to informed consent in the therapeutic context.
On the nature of evolutionary explanations: a critical appraisal of Walter Bock’s approach with a new revised proposal
Authors: de Santis Marcelo Domingos
Published: January 2024

Walter Bock was committed to developing a framework for evolutionary biology. Bock repeatedly discussed how evolutionary explanations should be considered within the realm of Hempel’s deductive-nomological model of scientific explanations. Explanation in evolution would then consist of functional and evolutionary explanations, and within the latter, an explanation can be of nomological-deductive and historical narrative explanations. Thus, a complete evolutionary explanation should include, first, a deductive functional analysis, and then proceed through nomological and historical evolutionary explanations. However, I will argue that his views on the deductive proprieties of functional analysis and the deductive-nomological parts of evolution fail because of the nature of evolution, which contains a historical element that the logic of deduction and Hempel’s converting law model do not compass. Conversely, Bock’s historical approach gives a critical consideration of the historical narrative element of evolutionary explanation, which is fundamental to the methodology of the historical nature of evolutionary theory. Herein, I will expand and discuss a modern view of evolutionary explanations of traits that includes the currentacknowledgement of the differences between experimental and the historical sciences, including the token and type event dichotomy, that mutually illuminate each other in order to give us a well confirmed and coherent hypothesis for evolutionary explanations. Within this framework, I will argue that the duality of evolutionary explanations is related to two components of character evolution: origin, with its evolutionary pathways along with the history, and maintenance, the function (mainly a current function) for the character being selected.
Enhancing the occupational safety and well-being of mining and construction workers: an application of emotional intelligence training (EIT)
Authors: Iyanda Mukhtar Olalekan , Taiwo Blessing Olamide , Fissha Yewuhalashet , Akinlabi Adams Abiodun , Phili Kelebogile , Ikeda Hajime , Kawamura Youhei
Published: January 2024

The mining and construction sector in Nigeria holds a pivotal position in driving economic development; nonetheless, it encounters notable challenges, such as project failures and safety apprehensions. The impact of leadership and safety considerations encompasses a broad spectrum of outcomes for projects and the welfare of individuals. The primary aim of this study is to investigate the possibility of inducing significant changes by introducing emotional intelligence (EI) training in the mining and construction industries in Ogun State, Nigeria. The present study employed a mixed-methods research design to authenticate the significant enhancements in post-training emotional intelligence (EI) levels seen among personnel at New Creation Constructions Ltd. The study included the consideration of five distinct groups (A-E) that were responsible for managing comparable projects. The optimization of Group E’s improvement was achieved by the implementation of Emotional Intelligence (EI) training, and subsequently compared to the performance of the remaining four groups. The safety procedures within Group E experienced a substantial enhancement, marked by an escalated utilization of protective equipment, heightened consciousness of safety measures, and a reinforced dedication to safeguarding the welfare of colleagues. Group E exhibited outstanding project management efficiency, displaying commendable performance in multiple areas such as budget adherence, adherence to safety procedures, stakeholder satisfaction, effective communication, and proficient procurement management. To optimize the benefits outlined above, we suggest implementing emotional intelligence (EI) training programs, leadership development initiatives, stress management interventions, regular evaluations of well-being, and focused research tailored to the specific needs of the organization.
A machine learning assisted prediction of potential biochar and its applications in anaerobic digestion for valuable chemicals and energy recovery from organic waste
Authors: Zhang Pengshuai , Zhang Tengyu , Zhang Jingxin , Liu Huaiyou , Chicaiza-Ortiz Cristhian , Lee Jonathan T. E. , He Yiliang , Dai Yanjun , Tong Yen Wah
Published: January 2024

The utilization of biochar derived from biomass residue to enhance anaerobic digestion (AD) for bioenergy recovery offers a sustainable approach to advance sustainable energy and mitigate climate change. However, conducting comprehensive research on the optimal conditions for AD experiments with biochar addition poses a challenge due to diverse experimental objectives. Machine learning (ML) has demonstrated its effectiveness in addressing this issue. Therefore, it is essential to provide an overview of current ML-optimized energy recovery processes for biochar-enhanced AD in order to facilitate a more systematic utilization of ML tools. This review comprehensively examines the material and energy flow of biochar preparation and its impact on AD is comprehension reviewed to optimize biochar-enhanced bioenergy recovery from a production process perspective. Specifically, it summarizes the application of the ML techniques, based on artificial intelligence, for predicting biochar yield and properties of biomass residues, as well as their utilization in AD. Overall, this review offers a comprehensive analysis to address the current challenges in biochar utilization and sustainable energy recovery. In future research, it is crucial to tackle the challenges that hinder the implementation of biochar in pilot-scale reactors. It is recommended to further investigate the correlation between the physicochemical properties of biochar and the bioenergy recovery process. Additionally, enhancing the role of ML throughout the entire biochar-enhanced bioenergy recovery process holds promise for achieving economically and environmentally optimized bioenergy recovery efficiency.

Graphical Abstract
A course-based approach to conducting program review
Authors: Hoare Alana , Dishke Hondzel Catharine , Wagner Shannon , Church Shelley
Published: January 2024

External program review is often considered the “gold standard” approach to evaluating academic programs in higher education. Despite the importance of program review, skepticism persists regarding its ability to meaningfully engage faculty and have sustaining impact on program improvement. This paper builds on the academic Program Review Learning Community conceptual model and presents a process for applying a project management facilitation technique that leverages a course structure. The Program Review Course allows for multiple programs to be reviewed concurrently as part of an interdisciplinary cohort. Within the cohort, faculty teams gain access to templates, information sessions, workshops, and discussion forums, with opportunities for engagement both within and across multiple disciplines. Using learning modules, this approach is designed to create efficiency and collaboration in delivering program review tools and customized supports. Utilizing a course structure for program review fits well with a new way to think about program review because successful learning communities are often embedded within institutional structures. Use of this approach is expected to increase clarity and consistency, improve administrative feasibility, provide guidance for those new to program review, promote collegiality within and across programs, and involve team members in the creation of action planning. The authors propose that a course-based approach for conducting program review, with teams of disciplinary faculty joining an interdisciplinary cohort and supported by quality assurance practitioners and educational developers is a novel way to provide structure and academic development while meeting legislative requirements.
Numerical simulation of droplet impingement and film flow for three-dimensional wings
Authors: Xu Z. , Zeng X. , Yang S. , Yang J.
Published: January 2024

In order to investigate the three-dimensional effects on the flow characteristics of the thin water film for the three-dimensional wings, the numerical simulation of the droplet impingement and film flow on the MS-0317 wing is implemented based on the open-source package OpenFOAM. The simulation focuses on the effects of the angle-of-attack and the angle of sweepback. The movement and impingement of the droplets are calculated using the Lagrangian method, and the film flow is simulated using the thin film assumption and the finite area method. The simulation of the water film flow of the three-dimensional MS-0317 wing shows that there is a spanwise flow of the water film due to the three-dimensional effects. This suggests that more research should be conducted on the warm glaze ice with surface water film of three-dimensional ice accretion on three-dimensional geometries.
Exact solutions to the Erdős-Rothschild problem
Authors: Pikhurko Oleg , Staden Katherine
Published: January 2024

Let

$\boldsymbol {k} := (k_1,\ldots ,k_s)$

be a sequence of natural numbers. For a graph G, let

$F(G;\boldsymbol {k})$

denote the number of colourings of the edges of G with colours

$1,\dots ,s$

such that, for every

$c \in \{1,\dots ,s\}$

, the edges of colour c contain no clique of order

$k_c$

. Write

$F(n;\boldsymbol {k})$

to denote the maximum of

$F(G;\boldsymbol {k})$

over all graphs G on n vertices. There are currently very few known exact (or asymptotic) results for this problem, posed by Erdős and Rothschild in 1974. We prove some new exact results for

$n \to \infty $

:

(i)

A sufficient condition on

$\boldsymbol {k}$

which guarantees that every extremal graph is a complete multipartite graph, which systematically recovers all existing exact results.

(ii)

Addressing the original question of Erdős and Rothschild, in the case

$\boldsymbol {k}=(3,\ldots ,3)$

of length

$7$

, the unique extremal graph is the complete balanced

$8$

-partite graph, with colourings coming from Hadamard matrices of order

$8$

.

(iii)

In the case

$\boldsymbol {k}=(k+1,k)$

, for which the sufficient condition in (i) does not hold, for

$3 \leq k \leq 10$

, the unique extremal graph is complete k-partite with one part of size less than k and the other parts as equal in size as possible.
California beer price posting: An exploratory analysis of pricing along the supply chain
Authors: Cole Matthew T. , McCullough Michael
Published: January 2024

Using newly released public data on beer prices in the state of California, we construct a large dataset (approximately 2 million observations) that includes beer prices and packaging configurations. We merge this dataset with brewery attributes and county demographics to explore pricing differentials across California, the U.S.’s largest brewing state. We provide evidence of potential pricing-to-market conducted by macro breweries across the three-tier distribution system where craft breweries do not. In addition, we describe package attributes that exhibit price differentials across brewery types. We make the cleaned data available to the public and provide avenues for future research that may be addressed with this new data.
Cavitation of a spherical body under mechanical and self-gravitational forces
Authors: Negrón–Marrero Pablo V. , Sivaloganathan Jeyabal
Published: January 2024

In this paper, we look for minimizers of the energy functional for isotropic compressible elasticity taking into consideration the effect of a gravitational field induced by the body itself. We consider two types of problems: the displacement problem in which the outer boundary of the body is subjected to a Dirichlet-type boundary condition, and the one with zero traction on the boundary but with an internal pressure function. For a spherically symmetric body occupying the unit ball

$\mathcal {B}\in \mathbb {R}^3$

, the minimization is done within the class of radially symmetric deformations. We give conditions for the existence of such minimizers, for satisfaction of the Euler–Lagrange equations, and show that for large displacements or large internal pressures, the minimizer must develop a cavity at the centre. We discuss a numerical scheme for approximating the minimizers for the displacement problem, together with some simulations that show the dependence of the cavity radius and minimum energy on the displacement and mass density of the body.
Conclusion
Authors: Tam Gina Anne
Published: January 2024

This roundtable explores the potential of decolonization as a framework for understanding and addressing the problems of traditional narratives of Chinese history. We came together with the contention that the hegemonic narrative of Chinese history, which emphasizes 5,000 years of civilizational unity, is both misleading and harmful. A decolonization framework, we posited, could help illuminate past injustices and give us the tools to create better and more just histories about China.
Introduction: Why ‘Decolonizing Chinese History?’
Authors: Tam Gina Anne
Published: January 2024

It is commonly stated that China has 5,000 years of continuous history. It is a claim repeated in textbooks, mini-dramas, and tourist sites across the People’s Republic of China (PRC, also commonly referred to as ‘China’). It formed the narrative foundation for the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. It is also a ubiquitous claim internationally, recited by global political leaders, in foreign media, and in children’s books. Ironically, it even serves as the tag line for the highly political and anti-communist global dance show ‘Shen Yun’, its posters promising a celebration of ‘5,000 years of civilization reborn’.1 This millennia-long history, often short-handed as ‘Yao-to-Mao’ – the Yao referring to Emperor Yao, one of five founding Chinese rulers who is said to have lived in the third millennium BC, the Mao referring to Mao Zedong, the founder of the PRC – is a story of civilizational continuity in which a politically and culturally unified ‘China’ maintains its fundamental cohesion despite a range of challengers, invasions, and upheavals.2
ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISMS OF MULTILATERAL DEVELOPMENT BANKS AND THE LAW OF INTERNATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
Authors: Lorenzo Johanna Aleria P.
Published: January 2024

Multilateral development banks (MDBs) are international organizations subject to the law of international responsibility. Yet, the relationship between their accountability mechanisms and the International Law Commission (ILC) Articles on the Responsibility of International Organizations (ARIO) remains unclear. Understanding this relationship is essential in fully realizing the right to remedy in the development finance context. A comparative analysis of these legal frameworks clarifies that notwithstanding their different rationale, scope and functions, the two are not normatively conflicting and both serve to control public power. While the accountability mechanisms correct the ARIO's State-centric orientation by granting legal standing to project-affected people, they have their own deficiency concerning the actions they can prescribe to MDBs upon a finding of noncompliance. Highlighting that the MDBs’ mandate to ‘do no harm’ and pursue sustainable development is left unfulfilled by the accountability mechanisms’ deficient remedial function, this article identifies specific ARIO provisions to complement rather than undermine the MDBs’ accountability system. The ARIO's residual character, combined with the proposition that remedies arise not only from wrongful conduct but also from harm suffered by one party due to another's risky activities, justify this complementarity.
Right on the money? U.S. dairy farmers' varied understanding of consumer preferences and attitudes towards animal health, welfare and biotechnology
Authors: Ufer Danielle J. , Ortega David L.
Published: January 2024

This Research Communication investigates how well U.S. dairy farmers understand the voting behaviour and willingness to pay of consumers for products with production traits relevant to animal health, welfare and biotechnology. Accurately understanding consumer behaviour is key to making sound production decisions and reducing risks. Comparing survey data with the literature shows that U.S. dairy farmers correctly assess consumer attitudes and behaviour over animal welfare practices like pain-controlled dehorning but could improve knowledge of attitudes towards antibiotic use and novel biotechnologies like gene editing.
Investigating oral human papillomavirus co-infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis
Authors: Trembizki Ella , Anderson Taylah , Whiley David M. , Antonsson Annika
Published: January 2024

Compared to cervical cancer, little is known about human papillomavirus (HPV)-driven oropharyngeal cancer and their cofactors. Here, we investigated potential associations between Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) with oral HPV and HPV persistence, which are known cofactors in cervical carcinogenesis, and also play a role in HPV-driven oropharyngeal cancer. Saliva samples (n = 547) from 312 people were tested for CT and NG and whom had previously been tested for oral HPV infection in a longitudinal study. Eight participants were positive for CT (2.6%) and one for NG (0.3%). Six of these nine participants were also positive for oral HPV in at least one of their samples. We found no significant associations between HPV, CT, or NG infection in the saliva samples analyzed. These preliminary data suggest CT and NG have little influence on oral HPV-positivity and persistence in a general population. However, larger studies focusing on ‘at risk’ population cohorts are necessary to assess potential associations between oral sexually transmissible infections and oral HPV infections, and their outcomes.
The Method of Metaphysics and the Architectonic: Remarks on Gava’s Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason and the Method of Metaphysics
Authors: La Rocca Claudio
Published: January 2024

The article addresses some aspects of Gava’s book, highlighting two main points: (1) the notion of philosophy in a cosmic sense; (2) its connection with the meaning of the concept of method. Regarding (1) I show how Gava’s interpretation of the systematic concept of philosophy does not account adequately for the scholastic concept. This has consequences for the notion of philosophy in a cosmic sense itself; its nature as an objective archetype and its personification in the ideal of a master of wisdom are not properly emphasized. These features are closely related to Kant’s claim that philosophy cannot be learned, which is connected with Kant’s peculiar idea of method. Regarding (2), I argue that ‘method’ for Kant does not concern only the construction of scientific systems, but also the establishment of a way of thinking, a stance embracing thought and action. The meaning of the postulates and the notion of ‘faith’ thus acquire a ‘weaker’ connotation, as an attitude, habitus, aimed at the establishment and promotion of a ‘life-structuring’ rationality, and not as an alternative route to a theoretical ‘commitment’.
Determinants of social norms II – religion and family as mediators
Authors: Voigt Stefan
Published: January 2024

It is now abundantly clear that social norms channel behaviour and impact economic development. This insight leads to the question: How do social norms evolve? In a companion paper (Voigt (2023). Journal of Institutional Economics, 20), I survey studies showing that geographical conditions can have direct and long-lasting effects on social norms. This paper goes one step further: It surveys studies that show how different geographical conditions affect both religious beliefs as well as traditions of family organization and how these, in turn, affect social norms.
Friends, Family, and Food: Development of a Food Allergy Intervention, F3-App, for Children
Authors: Jandasek Barbara N. , Kopel Sheryl J. , Esteban Cynthia A. , Rudders Susan A. , Spitalnick Josh S. , Larsen Margo Adams , Cushman Grace K. , McQuaid Elizabeth L.
Published: January 2024

Objective:

Despite a marked increase in the prevalence of pediatric immunoglobulin E-mediated food allergy (FA) in recent decades, there is a dearth of age-appropriate management education and support tools for youth with FA. The purpose of this report is to detail our methods for intervention design and refinement of an interactive educational software program for school-aged children with FA.

Method:

Development of the “Friends, Family, and Food Application (F3-App)” employed an iterative, user-centered design approach with input from children with FA, their caregivers, and other key experts. Phase 1 (prototype development/pilot evaluation) involved family input on key themes and educational messages, development of a prototype, and pilot testing. Phase 2 (full F3-App development/open trial) included refinement and expansion of the prototype per advisory panel and end-user recommendations, followed by an open trial with additional iterative refinement.

Results:

Acceptability and credibility of the F3-App were rated highly by most participants. Relatively few technical challenges arose with F3-App installation or use. Follow-up interviews with children and caregivers suggested that the F3-App was generally well received, families found the content useful, and that it prompted family discussion about the child’s FA management.

Conclusions:

User input is critical to developing family-friendly software to support management of pediatric chronic conditions. Interactive educational software can be a useful channel for children to practice skills and build confidence in disease self-management and to facilitate family communication regarding the stresses of FA management.

Implications for Impact Statement

This study describes the development of the Friends, Family, and Food Application (F3-App), with a focus on the community partner-driven design process. The F3-App was credible and highly accepted and recommended by families and promoted family communication around food allergy management. The F3-App that was developed was used in a subsequent randomized, controlled trial.
Ingested nitrate and nitrite and end-stage renal disease in licensed pesticide applicators and spouses in the Agricultural Health Study
Authors: Chen Dazhe , Parks Christine G. , Beane Freeman Laura E. , Hofmann Jonathan N. , Sinha Rashmi , Madrigal Jessica M. , Ward Mary H. , Sandler Dale P.
Published: January 2024

Background

Nitrate and nitrite ingestion has been linked to kidney cancer, possibly via the endogenous formation of carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds. These exposures might also contribute to end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Objectives

We investigated associations of drinking water nitrate and dietary nitrate and nitrite intakes (total and by food type) with incident ESRD in the Agricultural Health Study. We also explored modifying effects of vitamin C and heme iron intake, which may affect endogenous nitrosation.

Methods

We performed complete case analyses among private pesticide applicators and their spouses. We obtained water nitrate estimates for participants whose primary drinking water source at enrollment (1993−1997) was public water supplies (PWS) or private wells (N = 59,632). Average nitrate concentrations were computed from historical data for PWS users and predicted from random forest models for private well users. Analysis of dietary nitrate and nitrite was restricted to the 30,177 participants who completed the NCI Dietary History Questionnaire during follow-up (1999−2003). Incident ESRD through 2018 was ascertained through linkage with the U.S. Renal Data System. We estimated adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95%CI for associations of tertiles (T) of exposure with ESRD overall and explored effects in strata of vitamin C and heme iron intake.

Results

We identified 469 incident ESRD cases (206 for dietary analysis). Water nitrate and total dietary nitrate/nitrite were not associated with ESRD, but increased ESRD was associated with nitrate and nitrite from processed meats. We found apparent associations between nitrite and ESRD only among participants with vitamin C <median (T3 vs. T1 HR: 2.26, 95%CI: 1.05, 4.86) and with heme iron ≥median (T3 vs. T1 HR: 1.73, 95%CI: 0.89, 3.39).

Significance

ESRD incidence was associated with dietary nitrate/nitrite from processed meat among all study participants and with total dietary nitrite among participants with lower vitamin C or higher heme iron intake.

Impact statement

There are few well-established environmental risk factors for end-stage renal disease (ESRD), a worldwide public health challenge. Ingestion of nitrate and nitrite, which may lead to endogenous formation of carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds, has been linked to some cancers and chronic diseases. We investigated these exposures in relation to ESRD in an agricultural cohort. ESRD incidence was associated with dietary nitrate/nitrite from processed meat and with total dietary nitrite among subgroups with lower vitamin C or higher heme iron intake. This study provides preliminary evidence that points to dietary nitrite and possibly dietary nitrate intake as a potential contributor to ESRD.
Targeting proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9): from bench to bedside
Authors: Bao Xuhui , Liang Yongjun , Chang Hanman , Cai Tianji , Feng Baijie , Gordon Konstantin , Zhu Yuekun , Shi Hailian , He Yundong , Xie Liyi
Published: January 2024

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) has evolved as a pivotal enzyme in lipid metabolism and a revolutionary therapeutic target for hypercholesterolemia and its related cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This comprehensive review delineates the intricate roles and wide-ranging implications of PCSK9, extending beyond CVD to emphasize its significance in diverse physiological and pathological states, including liver diseases, infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders, and notably, cancer. Our exploration offers insights into the interaction between PCSK9 and low-density lipoprotein receptors (LDLRs), elucidating its substantial impact on cholesterol homeostasis and cardiovascular health. It also details the evolution of PCSK9-targeted therapies, translating foundational bench discoveries into bedside applications for optimized patient care. The advent and clinical approval of innovative PCSK9 inhibitory therapies (PCSK9-iTs), including three monoclonal antibodies (Evolocumab, Alirocumab, and Tafolecimab) and one small interfering RNA (siRNA, Inclisiran), have marked a significant breakthrough in cardiovascular medicine. These therapies have demonstrated unparalleled efficacy in mitigating hypercholesterolemia, reducing cardiovascular risks, and have showcased profound value in clinical applications, offering novel therapeutic avenues and a promising future in personalized medicine for cardiovascular disorders. Furthermore, emerging research, inclusive of our findings, unveils PCSK9’s potential role as a pivotal indicator for cancer prognosis and its prospective application as a transformative target for cancer treatment. This review also highlights PCSK9’s aberrant expression in various cancer forms, its association with cancer prognosis, and its crucial roles in carcinogenesis and cancer immunity. In conclusion, this synthesized review integrates existing knowledge and novel insights on PCSK9, providing a holistic perspective on its transformative impact in reshaping therapeutic paradigms across various disorders. It emphasizes the clinical value and effect of PCSK9-iT, underscoring its potential in advancing the landscape of biomedical research and its capabilities in heralding new eras in personalized medicine.
∆Np63α inhibits Rac1 activation and cancer cell invasion through suppression of PREX1
Authors: Aljagthmi Amjad A. , Hira Akshay , Zhang Jin , Cooke Mariana , Kazanietz Marcelo G. , Kadakia Madhavi P.
Published: January 2024

ΔNp63α, a member of the p53 family of transcription factors, plays a critical role in maintaining the proliferative potential of stem cells in the stratified epithelium. Although ΔNp63α is considered an oncogene and is frequently overexpressed in squamous cell carcinoma, loss of ΔNp63α expression is associated with increased tumor cell invasion and metastasis. We recently identified a ΔNp63α/miR-320a/PKCγ signaling axis that regulates cancer cell invasion by inhibiting phosphorylation of the small GTPase Rac1, a master switch of cell motility that positively regulates cell invasion in multiple human cancers. In this study, we identified a novel mechanism by which ΔNp63α negatively regulates Rac1 activity, by inhibiting the expression of the Rac-specific Guanine Exchange Factor PREX1. ΔNp63α knockdown in multiple squamous cell carcinoma cell lines leads to increased Rac1 activation, which is abrogated by treatment with the Rac1 inhibitor NSC23766. Furthermore, ΔNp63α negatively regulates PREX1 transcript and protein levels. Using a Rac-GEF activation assay, we also showed that ΔNp63α reduces the levels of active PREX1. The inhibition of the PREX1-Rac1 signaling axis by ΔNp63α leads to impaired cell invasion, thus establishing the functional relevance of this link. Our results elucidated a novel molecular mechanism by which ΔNp63α negatively affects cancer cell invasion and identifies the ΔNp63α/Rac1 axis as a potential target for metastasis.