bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lost Decades or Blessing?
Authors: Lopes Carlos
Published: July 2024

Economic depression and stagflation during the late 1970s as a result of the oil and debt crises heralded a new era of economic hardship for Africa. As Western powers grappled with the consequences of diminished energy resources and heightened inflation, Africa's role in the crisis narrative became paradoxically amplified, and the continent was wrongly blamed as the architect of its own economic turmoil. The ‘remedy’ proposed was free-market reforms to be delivered via structural adjustment.

In simple terms, structural adjustment linked aid to a set of political and economic reforms that a country had to adhere to in order to secure a loan from the IMF or World Bank. Such free-market reforms were intended to deliver a new socioeconomic dawn to Africa, but instead, the continent moved backwards on almost all indicators. This tutorship approach was maintained primarily by European countries, although African intellectuals and some African leaders contributed to the situation. The lost decades that followed this ill-conceived approach allowed some actors to amass enormous profits and for corruption to thrive while social spending declined, and economic growth stagnated. In this chapter, we explore how foreign, mostly European, influence has endured in Africa even as countries have gained their independence and how late colonialism, characterised by a rent-seeking and extractive approach, and other post-independence economic assistance mechanisms have conspired to limit African nations.
Migration Takes Centre Stage
Authors: Lopes Carlos
Published: July 2024

By 2050, one in four people in the world will be African, according to population projections. As such, Africa’s burgeoning youth population could be a boon for the world’s economy, helping to offset ageing populations across the rest of the planet, including in Europe. However, EU attitudes towards African migration are often clouded by a neo-Malthusian lens that emphasises scarcity, incapacity, unemployment, and other negative undercurrents. This view is influenced by the historical legacy of colonisation, a legacy that has worked to undermine much of the work done to address migration between the two continents over the past two decades.

In this chapter, we look beneath the hood at how the EU deals with African migration, unpack the actual size and flows of African migration, and explore the moral and political underpinnings of the debate. Contrary to the notion that Africa is a continent experiencing mass exodus, data sets show that Africa’s role in the global migrant population is significantly smaller than other regions. Additionally, we see that a proliferation of initiatives to address migration and a tendency to focus on short-term security measures at the expense of paying attention to the root causes mean that migrants’ needs and rights are often side-lined. This fragmentation of approaches also weakens African agency and undermines the unified, continent-wide framework that the AU seeks to establish.
The Free Trade Fantasy
Authors: Lopes Carlos
Published: July 2024

Free trade is fêted as a cornerstone of a competitive economy, essential to build prosperous nations and create socioeconomic benefits. But in Africa, this has not been a universal experience. Far from integrating African economies into the world economy, free trade appears to have cemented Africa’s marginalisation. This is largely because trade agreements have been systematically used to impose norms, standards, and preferences that perpetuate extractive colonial structures and create a dependency on external trade partners for processed products.

This chapter provides a background to and overview of the trade agreements that have shaped African trade, including a deep dive on EPAs, which brought about a sea change in how Africa engaged with its largest trading partner, the EU. We also highlight the EU’s conflicting involvement with the AfCFTA process and how this is influencing Africa’s positioning on trade issues as the AU attempts to redefine its trade relationships in a way that prioritises African interests, aligns with continental goals, and contributes to sustainable development.
Collaborative Workshop for Women in Mathematical Biology: Mathematical Modeling for Women’s Health
Authors: Ford Versypt Ashlee N. , Segal Rebecca A. , Sindi Suzanne S.
Published: July 2024

Despite advances in health care, women continue to have disparate outcomes. Women experience higher morbidity and mortality especially with regard to cancer, cardiovascular disease, and recently COVID-19. Reproductive health and maternity are also a continued source of health risk. Collaborative teams were formed during a workshop to study topics relevant to women’s health using mathematical modeling. Here, the workshop is described, and research topics are introduced.
Introduction: Europarties—Ubiquitous Yet Rarely Noticed
Authors: Johansson Karl Magnus , Raunio Tapio
Published: July 2024

Europarties, parties operating at the European level, are ever-present in EU governance, yet their impact is often indirect and difficult to measure. This chapter reviews existing literature on Europarties and explains their relevance in EU policymaking. The starting point of this book is that European integration cannot be understood without accounting for the impact of the Europarties. It identifies Europarties as transnational partisan actors that operate both at intergovernmental and supranational levels of EU decision-making. Europarties have consolidated their own organizational structures and have over the decades built their own networks and coalitions that enable them to wield influence in ways not captured by previous studies.
Extending the Comparative Argumentative Machine: Multilingualism and Stance Detection
Authors: Nikishina Irina , Bondarenko Alexander , Zaczek Sebastian , Haag Onno Lander , Hagen Matthias , Biemann Chris
Published: July 2024

The comparative argumentative machine CAM can retrieve arguments that answer comparative questions—questions that ask which of several to-be-compared options should be favored in some scenario. In this paper, we describe how we equipped CAM with a better answer stance detection (i.e., a better detection of which option “wins” a comparison) and with system variants to support non-English requests. As for the improved answer stance detection, we develop RoBERTa-based approaches and experimentally show them to be more effective than previous feature-based and LLM-based stance detectors. As for the multilingualism, in a proof of concept, we compare two approaches to support Russian requests and answers: (1) translating the original English CAM data and (2) using an existing replica of CAM on native Russian data. Comparing the translation-based and the replica-based CAM variants in a user study shows that combining their answers seems to be the most promising. For individual questions, the retrieved arguments of the two variants are often different and of quite diverse relevance and quality. As a demonstrator, we deploy a first multilingual CAM version that combines translation-based and replica-based outputs for English and Russian and that can easily be extended to further languages.
Objective Argument Summarization in Search
Authors: Ziegenbein Timon , Syed Shahbaz , Potthast Martin , Wachsmuth Henning
Published: July 2024

Decision-making and opinion formation are influenced by arguments from various online sources, including social media, web publishers, and, not least, the search engines used to retrieve them. However, many, if not most, arguments on the web are informal, especially in online discussions or on personal pages. They can be long and unstructured, subjective and emotional, and contain inappropriate language. This makes it difficult to find relevant arguments efficiently. We hypothesize that, on search engine results pages, “objective snippets” of arguments are better suited than the commonly used extractive snippets and develop corresponding methods for two important tasks:snippet generationandneutralization. For each of these tasks, we investigate two approaches based on (1) prompt engineering for large language models (LLMs), and (2) supervised models trained on existing datasets. We find that a supervised summarization model outperforms zero-shot summarization with LLMs for snippet generation. For neutralization, using reinforcement learning to align an LLM with human preferences for suitable arguments leads to the best results. Both tasks are complementary, and their combination leads to the best snippets of arguments according to automatic and human evaluation.
On the D5-brane description of $$ \frac{1}{4} $$-BPS Wilson loops in $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 4 super Yang-Mills theory
Authors: Faraggi Alberto , Moreno Cristóbal
Published: July 2024

Abstract

We construct the probe D5-brane solution in AdS5 × S5 dual to the $$ \frac{1}{4} $$

1
4

-BPS latitude Wilson loop in $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 super Yang-Mills theory in the k-antisymmetric representation of SU(N). The solution is exact in the latitude parameter θ0 and correctly reproduces the $$ \frac{1}{2} $$

1
2

-BPS limit. We compute the string charge k and the renormalized on-shell action perturbatively to order $$ \mathcal{O}\left({\theta}_0^{10}\right) $$
O

θ
0
10

and find full agreement with the expectation value of the Wilson loop predicted by the Gaussian matrix model in the limit N ∼ k → ∞, λ → ∞.
Celestial leaf amplitudes
Authors: Melton Walker , Sharma Atul , Strominger Andrew
Published: July 2024

Abstract

Celestial amplitudes may be decomposed as weighted integrals of AdS3-Witten diagrams associated to each leaf of a hyperbolic foliation of spacetime. We show, for the Kleinian three-point MHV amplitude, that each leaf subamplitude is smooth except for the expected light-cone singularities. Moreover, we find that the full translationally-invariant celestial amplitude is simply the residue of the pole in the leaf amplitude at the point where the total conformal weights of the gluons equals three. This full celestial amplitude vanishes up to light-cone contact terms, as required by spacetime translation invariance, and reduces to the expression previously derived by Mellin transformation of the Parke-Taylor formula.
Searching for axion forces with spin precession in atoms and molecules
Authors: Agrawal Prateek , Hutzler Nicholas R. , Kaplan David E. , Rajendran Surjeet , Reig Mario
Published: July 2024

Abstract

We propose to use atoms and molecules as quantum sensors of axion-mediated monopole-dipole forces. We show that electron spin precession experiments using atomic and molecular beams are well-suited for axion searches thanks to the presence of co-magnetometer states and single-shot temporal resolution. Experimental strategies to detect axion gradients from localised sources and the earth are presented, taking ACME III as a prototype example. Other possibilities including atomic beams, and laser-cooled atoms and molecules are discussed.
Variety Evasive Subspace Families
Authors: Guo Zeyu
Published: July 2024

We introduce the problem of constructing explicit variety evasive subspace families.
Given a family $$\mathcal{F}$$
F
of subvarieties of a projective or affine space, a collection $$\mathcal{H}$$
H
of projective or affine $$k$$
k
-subspaces is $$(\mathcal{F},\epsilon)$$

(
F
,
ϵ
)

-evasive if
for every $$\mathcal{V}\in\mathcal{F}$$

V
∈
F

, all but at most $$\epsilon$$
ϵ
-fraction of $$W\in\mathcal{H}$$

W
∈
H

intersect every irreducible component of $$\mathcal{V}$$
V
with (at most) the expected dimension.
The problem of constructing such an explicit subspace family generalizes both deterministic black-box polynomial identity testing (PIT) and the problem of constructing explicit (weak) lossless rank condensers.

Using Chow forms, we construct explicit $$k$$
k
-subspace families of polynomial size that are evasive for all varieties of bounded degree in a projective or affine $$n$$
n
-space. As one application, we obtain a complete derandomization of Noether’s normalization lemma for varieties of low degree in a projective or affine $$n$$
n
-space. In another application, we obtain a simple polynomial-time black-box PIT algorithm for depth-4 arithmetic circuits with bounded top fan-in and bottom fan-in that are not in the Sylvester–Gallai configuration, improving and simplifying a result of Gupta (ECCC TR 14-130).

As a complement of our explicit construction, we prove a tight lower bound for the size of $$k$$
k
-subspace families that are evasive for degree-$$d$$
d
varieties in a projective $$n$$
n
-space. When $$n-k=n^{\Omega(1)}$$

n
-
k
=

n

Ω
(
1
)

, the lower bound is superpolynomial unless $$d$$
d
is bounded.
The proof uses a dimension counting argument on Chow varieties that parametrize projective subvarieties.
Prediction model for leaflet thrombosis in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation: the EFFORT study
Authors: Steiner-Gager Gloria M. , Rogozarski Jovan , Kronberger Christina , Dizdarevic Al Medina , Quehenberger Peter , Schernthaner Ruediger , Loewe Christian , Reider Lukas , Strassl Andreas , Kovacevic Miljevic Katarina , Jilma Bernd , Ay Cihan , Königsbrügge Oliver , Postula Marek , Hengstenberg Christian , Siller-Matula Jolanta M.
Published: July 2024

Background

Leaflet thrombosis (LT) is a multifaceted and underexplored condition that can manifest following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The objective of this study was to formulate a prediction model based on laboratory assessments and clinical parameters, providing additional guidance and insight into this relatively unexplored aspect of post-TAVI complications.

Methods

The present study was an observational prospective hypothesis-generating study, including 101 patients who underwent TAVI and a screening for LT (the primary endpoint) by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). All images were acquired on a third-generation dual-source CT system. Levels of von Willebrand factor (vWF) activity, hemoglobin (Hb), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were measured among other parameters. A predictive score utilizing binary logistic regression, Kaplan–Meier time-to-event analysis, and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was established.

Results

LT (11 subclinical and 2 clinical) was detected in 13 of 101 patients (13%) after a median time to screening by MDCT of 105 days (IQR, 98–129 days). Elevated levels of vWF activity (> 188%) pre-TAVI, decreased Hb values (< 11.9 g/dL), as well as increased levels of LDH (> 312 U/L) post-TAVI and absence of oral anticoagulation (OAC) were found in patients with subsequent LT formation as compared to patients without LT. The established EFFORT score ranged from − 1 to 3 points, with an increased probability for LT development in patients with ≥ 2 points (85.7% of LT cases) vs < 2 points (14.3% of LT cases; p < 0.001). Achieving an EFFORT score of ≥ 2 points was found to be significantly associated with a 10.8 times higher likelihood of developing an LT (p = 0.001). The EFFORT score has an excellent c-statistic (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.89; 95% CI 0.74–1.00; p = 0.001) and a high negative predictive value (98%).

Conclusion

An EFFORT score might be a helpful tool to predict LT development and could be used in risk assessment, if validated in confirmatory studies. Therefore, the score has the potential to guide the stratification of individuals for the planning of subsequent MDCT screenings.

Graphical abstract

Central illustration. Created with BioRender.com
TRF1 and TRF2: pioneering targets in telomere-based cancer therapy
Authors: Kallingal Anoop , Krzemieniecki Radosław , Maciejewska Natalia , Brankiewicz-Kopcińska Wioletta , Baginski Maciej
Published: July 2024

This article presents an in-depth exploration of the roles of Telomere Repeat-binding Factors 1 and 2 (TRF1 and TRF2), and the shelterin complex, in the context of cancer biology. It emphasizes their emerging significance as potential biomarkers and targets for therapeutic intervention. Central to the shelterin complex, TRF1 and TRF2 are crucial in maintaining telomere integrity and genomic stability, their dysregulation often being a hallmark of cancerous cells. The article delves into the diagnostic and prognostic capabilities of TRF1 and TRF2 across various cancer types, highlighting their sensitivity and specificity. Furthermore, it reviews current strides in drug discovery targeting the shelterin complex, detailing specific compounds and their modes of action. The review candidly addresses the challenges in developing therapies aimed at the shelterin complex, including drug resistance, off-target effects, and issues in drug delivery. By synthesizing recent research findings, the article sheds light on the intricate relationship between telomere biology and cancer development. It underscores the urgency for continued research to navigate the existing challenges and fully leverage the therapeutic potential of TRF1, TRF2, and the shelterin complex in the realm of cancer treatment.
Consequences of age and education correction of cognitive screening tests – A simulation study of the MoCA test in Italy
Authors: Wischmann Hans-Aloys , Logroscino Giancarlo , Kurth Tobias , Piccininni Marco
Published: July 2024

Background

Cognitive screening tools are widely used in clinical practice to screen for age-related cognitive impairment and dementia. These tools' test scores are known to be influenced by age and education, leading to routine correction of raw scores for these factors. Despite these corrections being common practice, there is evidence suggesting that corrected scores may perform worse in terms of discrimination than raw scores.

Objective

To address the ongoing debate in the field of dementia research, we assessed the impact of the corrections on discrimination, specificity, and sensitivity of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment test in Italy, both for the overall population and across age and education strata.

Methodology

We created a realistic model of the resident population in Italy in terms of age, education, cognitive impairment and test scores, and performed a simulation study.

Results

We confirmed that the discrimination performance was higher for raw scores than for corrected scores in discriminating patients with cognitive impairment from individuals without (areas under the curve of 0.947 and 0.923 respectively). With thresholds determined on the overall population, raw scores showed higher sensitivities for higher-risk age-education groups and higher specificities for lower-risk groups. Conversely, corrected scores showed uniform sensitivity and specificity across demographic strata, and thus better performance for certain age-education groups.

Conclusion

Raw and corrected scores show different performances due to the underlying causal relationships between the variables. Each approach has advantages and disadvantages, the optimal choice between raw and corrected scores depends on the aims and preferences of practitioners and policymakers.
Overview of microbial communities in the surface water of the Seine River to understand their response to climate change and human activities
Authors: Bagagnan Sadia , Guerin-Rechdaoui Sabrina , Marconi Anthony , Rocher Vincent , Giusti-Miller Stéphanie , Moilleron Régis , Jusselme My Dung
Published: July 2024

Diverse microbial communities play a crucial role in maintaining the proper functioning of river ecosystems and are considered important indicators of river water quality. Although the Seine River being heavily impacted by human activities, little is known about the microbial communities in its surface waters. In order to monitor water quality and promote sustainable use, we studied its microbial diversity using high-throughput sequencing technology, and explored their relationships with physico-chemical properties. The dominant phyla identified were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, Bacteriodota, and Cyanobacteria. The presence of the Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria indicates that the Seine River water nutrient profile is mainly determined by the recalcitrant organic compounds present in WWTP effluents. Bacterial diversity showed significant temporal variability with a highly significant difference in bacterial composition between 2020 and 2021, probably due to variations in water flow favoring Cyanobacteria growth. Summer displayed higher microbial activity and abundance than autumn, attributed to temperature and orthophosphate content. Spatial variation in bacterial composition was observed between sites upstream and downstream of Paris, as well as before and after of the Seine Valenton-WWTP, subject to an accumulation phenomenon and impacted by wastewater treatment. Further assessment of emerging contaminants and other pollutants is required to better understand these variations. These results provide a basic understanding of the microbial community in the Seine River, serving as a reference for assessing the impact of implementing new wastewater disinfection techniques in the near future.

Graphical abstract
A Pilot Randomized Control Trial of the Striving Towards EmPowerment and Medication Adherence (STEP-AD) Intervention for Black Women Living with HIV
Authors: Dale Sannisha K. , Wright Ian A. , Madhu Aarti , Reid Rachelle , Shahid Naysha N. , Wright Mya , Sanders Jasmyn , Phillips Arnetta , Rodriguez Allan , Safren Steven A.
Published: July 2024

Black women living with HIV (BWLWH) face adversities associated with lower HIV medication adherence, viral non-suppression, and mental health symptoms (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder) such as trauma/violence, racism, HIV-related discrimination/stigma, and gender-related stressors. We developed the first intervention based in cognitive behavioral therapy and culturally congruent coping for BWLWH to increase medication adherence and decrease PTSD symptoms by enhancing resilience, self-care, engagement in care, and coping for trauma, racism, HIV-related discrimination/stigma, and gender-related stressors. A pilot randomized control trial was conducted with BWLWH and histories of trauma who were at risk for their HIV viral load remaining or becoming detectable (i.e., below 80% medication adherence, detectable viral load in the past year, and/or missed HIV-related appointments). 119 BWLWH were assessed at baseline and 70 met inclusion criteria, completed one session of Life-Steps adherence counseling, and were randomized to either nine sessions of STEP-AD (Striving Towards EmPowerment and Medication Adherence) or ETAU (enhanced treatment as usual consisting of biweekly check-ins). Women completed a post intervention follow up assessment (3 months post baseline) and 3-month post intervention follow-up (6 months post baseline). Via STATA the difference-in-difference methodology with mixed models compared STEP-AD to ETAU on changes in outcomes over time. BWLWH in STEP-AD compared to E-TAU had significantly higher ART adherence (estimate = 9.36 p = 0.045) and lower likelihood of being clinically diagnosed with PTSD (OR = .07, estimate = − 2.66, p = 0.03) as well as borderline significance on higher CD4 count (estimate = 161.26, p = 0.05). Our findings suggest preliminary efficacy of STEP-AD in improving ART adherence, mental health, and immune function.
Federated learning for biometric recognition: a survey
Authors: Guo Jian , Mu Hengyu , Liu Xingli , Ren Hengyi , Han Chong
Published: July 2024

Recently, deep learning (DL) has achieved great success in biometric recognition. The application of DL has also led to a high demand for biometric data. However, as people attach more importance to privacy protection, biometric data have become increasingly difficult to obtain and access, leading to significant limitations in the development and application of DL-based biometric recognition. Federated learning (FL), a distributed learning technique with privacy protection, provides a potential solution to this problem. Several researchers have attempted to integrate FL into biometric recognition. These studies have shown that the introduction of FL not only solves the conflict between privacy and accessibility of biometric data but also improves the accuracy and generalizability of local recognition systems. Therefore, the combination of FL and biometric recognition techniques has become a new research hotspot. In this survey, we comprehensively review the latest advances regarding the application of FL to biometric recognition, biometric presentation attack detection and the related fields to provide new researchers with a quick and systematic overview of this emerging cross-disciplinary field. This paper also summarizes the future opportunities and challenges of this field. To our knowledge, this is the first survey that systematically organizes and analyses federated biometric recognition and related fields to provide suggestions and references for future research.
Fire Identification Based on Novel Dense Generative Adversarial Networks
Authors: Shawly Tawfeeq , Alsheikhy Ahmed A.
Published: July 2024

Increasing death rates, damage to properties, and loss of trees can be caused by fires. In Australia and the United States of America, many fire incidents are reported annually. Due to that, both governments struggle from the devastation beyond plants, buildings, and infrastructure. A lot of people have lost their properties and land. Various innovations in fire detection technologies have been implemented to minimize the impacts of fires on the economy and lives. Some of these solutions are costly, while others lack accuracy. In this article, a novel deep-learning model to detect fires is presented. This model is based on new Novel Dense Generative Adversarial Networks (NDGANs) and image preprocessing technologies for fire detection through a continuous monitoring system. This system produces alarms if a fire or smoke is detected. The proposed approach was trained and tested on five datasets. This system was evaluated using four performance quantities, which are accuracy, sensitivity, dice, and F-score, and attained 98.87%, 97.64%, 98.82%, and 98.69% for the considered quantities, respectively. In addition, the proposed method was compared with other developed approaches and outperformed these methods. The presented New Dense Generative Adversarial Networks technology is useful in fire detection as shown from the conducted simulation experiments on MATLAB.
Genetic assessment and monitoring of wild, captive, and reintroduced northern leopard frog populations
Authors: Khalilzadeh Parinaz , Randall Lea , Coltman David , Anderson Lindsay , Lesbarrères David
Published: July 2024

The northern leopard frog (Lithobates pipiens) has undergone dramatic declines in population size and range over recent decades in western Canada and the United States. In British Columbia, only a single population remains at the Creston Valley Wildlife Management Area. Yet, the continuing viability of this population is uncertain. In this paper, the current genetic structure of northern leopard frog populations in western Canada was assessed using microsatellite markers. Historical samples from the extinct population of Fort Steele in British Columbia were compared with the Creston Valley population to understand changes in population genetic parameters over time. Genotypic data from four populations (Creston Valley, Drain K, Prince Spring, and Cypress Hill) sampled in 2004 and 2019 were compared. To evaluate changes in the genetic diversity of the Creston Valley population over time, allelic richness and expected heterozygosity of the population were compared at three time points using genotypes from 2000, 2004, and 2019. Northern leopard frog populations in western Canada showed high genetic differentiation, with genetic diversity decreasing from east to west. Although there weren’t notable changes in genetic parameters between 2004 and 2019, there was evidence of a decline in diversity between 2000 and 2019. The extinct population of Fort Steele had private alleles, while the current Creston Valley population did not, suggesting a genetic bottleneck in the Creston Valley population. Therefore, genetic rescue, specifically for the endangered Creston Valley population, can be considered as an action to support recovery. Additionally, continued genetic monitoring will help in the effective management of the species by providing information on the success of conservation actions.
Improved Scoring of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale – Revised: An Item Response Theory Analysis
Authors: Bean Christian A. L. , Mueller Sophia B. , Abitante George , Ciesla Jeffrey A. , Cho Sun-Joo , Cole David A.
Published: July 2024

The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale – Revised (CESD-R) is a popular self-report screening measure for depression. A 20-item questionnaire with scores ranging from 0 to 4 for each item, the CESD-R can produce total scores ranging from 0 to 80. However, the typical scoring protocol for the CESD-R restricts the range of possible scores to between 0 and 60 to retain the same range and clinical cutoff scores as the original CES-D. Despite the widespread adoption of this scoring approach, the psychometric impact has never been systematically examined. In an undergraduate and community adult sample (n = 869), item response theory analyses indicated that scoring the CESD-R with all 5 response options (CESD-R5opt) provided nearly twice as much information about a person’s latent depression for individuals with high levels of depression than did scoring the CESD-R with 4 response options per item (CESD-R4opt). The CESD-R5opt retained the strong reliability and factor structure of the CESD-R4opt and was more sensitive to individual differences for participants at high levels of depression compared to the CESD-R4opt. Results provide preliminary evidence that researchers and clinicians should score the CESD-R using the full 0-to-80 scale and a clinical cutoff score of 29.
Effects of Hexagonal Boron Nitride and Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles on the Morphology, Mechanical Properties and Antimicrobial Activity of Dental Composites
Authors: Kaptan Usul Sedef , Aslan Ayşe , Lüleci Hatice Büşra , Ergüden Bengü
Published: July 2024

Hexagonal boron nitride (HBN), an artificial material with unique properties, is used in many industries. This article focuses on the extent to which hexagonal boron nitride and silica nanoparticles (MSN) affect the physicochemical and mechanical properties and antimicrobial activity of prepared dental composites. In this study, HBN, and MSN were used as additives in dental composites. 5% and 10% by weight of HBN are added to the structure of the composite materials. FTIR analysis were performed to determine the components of the produced boron nitride powders, hexagonal boron nitride-containing composites, and filling material applications. The structural and microstructural properties of dental composites have been extensively characterized using X-ray diffractometry (XRD). Surface morphology and distributions of nano boron nitride were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-EDS. In addition, the solubility of dental composites in water and their stability in water and chemical solution (Fenton) were determined by three repetitive experiments. Finally, the antimicrobial activity of dental composites was detected by using Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) measurement, as well as Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) method against yeast strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) method against bacteria strains, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Since the HMP series have better antimicrobial activity than the HP series, they are more suitable for preventing dental caries and for long-term use of dental composites. In addition, when HMP and HP series added to the composite are compared, HMP-containing dental composites have better physicochemical and mechanical properties and therefore have a high potential for commercialization.
Association between Socioeconomic Status and Vaccination Hesitancy, Reluctancy and Confidence among Asian-Americans Living in the State of New Jersey
Authors: Rana Brijesh , Jimenez Humberto R. , Khan Zeba M. , Narayanan Navaneeth
Published: July 2024

Backgroud

Socioeconomic status (SES) plays a vital role in determining vaccination uptake and attitudes. Vaccine hesitancy varies among different communities, yet knowledge of vaccine attitudes among Asian-Americans is limited.

Objective

This study aims to investigate the relationship between SES and vaccine attitudes among Asian-Americans in the State of New Jersey (NJ).

Methods

Asian-Americans aged ≥ 18 years living in NJ were included (N = 157). SES was measured by education level, employment type, employment status, and household income. The primary outcomes were vaccine hesitancy, reluctance, and confidence for COVID-19, influenza, and pneumococcal vaccines. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify associations between SES and vaccine hesitancy while controlling for confounders such as age, gender, birthplace, and religion.

Results

Among 157 participants, 12.1% reported vaccine hesitancy. There was no statistically significant association between vaccine hesitancy and education level (p = 0.68), employment status (p = 1), employment type (p = 0.48), and household income (p = 0.15). Multivariable logistic regression modeling confirmed that none of the SES predictor variables were associated with vaccine hesitancy. However, as exploratory finding, gender was found to be a significant predictor, with males having lower odds of vaccine hesitancy than females (Adjusted OR = 0.14; p < 0.05). Confidence in influenza and pneumococcal vaccines increased during the pandemic, from 62.34% to 70.13% and from 59.2% to 70.51%, respectively. For the COVID-19 vaccine, 73.1% of participants reported having “a lot of confidence” in taking vaccine.

Conclusion

Most sampled Asian-Americans in NJ have high confidence in taking COVID-19 vaccines, and there is no significant association between vaccine hesitancy and SES.
Very High-Order Accurate Discontinuous Galerkin Method for Curved Boundaries with Polygonal Meshes
Authors: Santos Milene , Araújo Adérito , Barbeiro Sílvia , Clain Stéphane , Costa Ricardo , Machado Gaspar J.
Published: July 2024

Preserving the optimal convergence order of discontinuous Galerkin (DG) discretisations in curved domains is a critical and well-known issue. The proposed approach relies on the reconstruction for off-site data (ROD) method developed originally within the finite volume framework. The main advantages are simplicity, since the PDE solver only considers polygonal domains, and versatility, since any type of boundary condition can be imposed. The developed DG–ROD method consists in splitting the boundary conditions treatment and the leading discrete equations from a classical DG formulation into two independent solvers coupled in a simple and efficient iterative procedure. A numerical benchmark is provided to assess the capability of the method with Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions prescribed on curved boundaries, demonstrating that the optimal convergence order is effectively achieved.
XAI-TRIS: non-linear image benchmarks to quantify false positive post-hoc attribution of feature importance
Authors: Clark Benedict , Wilming Rick , Haufe Stefan
Published: July 2024

The field of ‘explainable’ artificial intelligence (XAI) has produced highly acclaimed methods that seek to make the decisions of complex machine learning (ML) methods ‘understandable’ to humans, for example by attributing ‘importance’ scores to input features. Yet, a lack of formal underpinning leaves it unclear as to what conclusions can safely be drawn from the results of a given XAI method and has also so far hindered the theoretical verification and empirical validation of XAI methods. This means that challenging non-linear problems, typically solved by deep neural networks, presently lack appropriate remedies. Here, we craft benchmark datasets for one linear and three different non-linear classification scenarios, in which the important class-conditional features are known by design, serving as ground truth explanations. Using novel quantitative metrics, we benchmark the explanation performance of a wide set of XAI methods across three deep learning model architectures. We show that popular XAI methods are often unable to significantly outperform random performance baselines and edge detection methods, attributing false-positive importance to features with no statistical relationship to the prediction target rather than truly important features. Moreover, we demonstrate that explanations derived from different model architectures can be vastly different; thus, prone to misinterpretation even under controlled conditions.
Development and Unfolding of the Life Course Movement in the Field of Maternal and Child Health: An Oral History
Authors: Bazzano Alessandra N. , Pies Cheri , Lu Michael C. , Parthasarathy Padmini , Fine Amy , Kotelchuck Milton
Published: July 2024

Introduction

A life course perspective in maternal, child, and family health allows for integrated exploration of outcomes, incorporating multifactorial determinants of health to interrogate sources of inequity and identify opportunities for intervention. This article explores the historical development, integration, and implications of the contemporary life course perspective in the field of maternal and child health (MCH), and particularly the people and events which institutionalized the framework as central to national and local MCH practice and research over the last decades.

Methods

Drawing on an oral history approach, key leaders of the life course movement in MCH were interviewed. Lived experiences and personal recollections of six interviewees were recorded and synthesized using a narrative descriptive approach to portray the social ecology of the movement’s origins.

Results

We documented systematic efforts made in the first two decades of the 21st century to consciously promote life course through convening a National MCH Life Course Invitational Meeting, incorporating life course as a foundational framework for strategic planning at the Maternal Child Health Bureau, and development of tools and resources by MCH professional organizations.

Discussion

The integration of life course theory into the MCH field signified a major shift towards addressing protective and social factors, which aligns with the field’s historical emphasis on social justice and rights-based approaches, and parallels the broader public health movement towards social determinants of health and the need to address structural racism. The ongoing relevance of the life course approach in promoting reproductive justice and addressing inequities in health underscores the historical importance of its adoption and use in the current mainstream of MCH research, policy, and practice.
Ageing-in-the-world
Authors: Massie Pascal , Staude Mitchell
Published: July 2024

Ageing brings together biological, personal, and social horizons. Attempts to reduce it or to privilege one of these dimensions over the others fail to fully capture the phenomenon. The temporality of ageing presents an irreducible complexity. It is the inextricable intertwinement of three temporalities, three rhythms on different scales: biological time, personal-narrative time, and historical time. In all these dimensions something is of crucial concern: time and temporality. Yet, many philosophers who have thought about time (even those who take seriously the lived experience of temporality) have paid little attention to ageing. Drawing from Heidegger, Scheler, and Schutz, this paper argues that ageing is an irreducible complex of different temporalities where one encounters the historicity of the world through a process of losing touch with it.
The social and psychological impact of hepatic encephalopathy
Authors: Sørensen Michael , Lauridsen Mette Munk , Montagnese Sara
Published: July 2024

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a brain dysfunction caused by liver insufficiency with symptoms ranging from slight cognitive changes detectable only by neuropsychiatric testing to coma. Up to 60% of patients with cirrhosis have mild forms of HE and 35% will at some point experience overt HE. Even in its milder forms, HE impacts the patient’s daily routines, self-sufficiency, quality of life, and, thereby, socio-economic status. HE is a condition affecting the whole household including formal and informal caregivers, who carry a heavy burden. Early identification, prophylaxis, and treatment of HE are essential for relieving patients and informal caregivers.
Mapping the postwar legacies of eugenics in socialist countries: a conceptual history of eugenics in Hungary
Authors: Kakuk Péter , Sándor Judit
Published: July 2024

The paper aims to understand the various legacies of eugenics in the postwar period to recognize both the continuities and discontinuities of eugenics with an approach which is both conceptually sound and historically correct. Building on earlier work of Lene Koch, the paper endeavours to chart the historical trajectory of eugenics by examining how its definition and those of its related or oppositional concepts have evolved within selected lexicon entries across various stages of the century. The inclusion and publication of a concept within a lexicon indicate its significance, linguistic vitality, and prevalence in public discourse. These entries serve as a window into the contemporary understanding and application of concepts over an entire century, offering insights into the practices of eugenics as interpreted by the authoritative scholars of the era. Additionally, these lexicon entries offer more than just a mirror to the past’s prevailing attitudes. The very act of articulating a concept may be viewed as a pivotal element in social struggles, influencing the course of eugenic practices and their interpretations. Both conceptual history and discourse analysis share common ground in their perception of concepts, considering the use of language as a social activity endowed with performative capabilities. They recognize that language does not merely reflect reality but can actively shape it, playing a significant role in societal dynamics and power relations. The Hungarian lexicon entries on eugenics reveal notable disparities in the identified content, the periodization, and the evolution of changes when compared to Lene Koch’s earlier study on Scandinavian eugenics. In Hungary, the concept of eugenics underwent significant changes over four successive periods. The history and interpretation of eugenics can vary significantly from one country to another. Different nations have had their unique experiences and trajectories with the eugenics movement, which have been shaped by their specific cultural, political, and social contexts. These variations emphasize the importance of considering the localized and historical perspectives when examining the concept of eugenics.
Knowledge sources, narratives, and living in social-ecological systems
Authors: Cockerill Kristan , Glynn Pierre , Cerrutti Estefania Santamaria , Little John C.
Published: July 2024

Humans exist as part of social-ecological systems (SES) in which biological, physical, chemical, economic, political and other social processes are tightly interwoven. Global change within these systems presents an increasingly untenable situation for long-term human security. Further, knowledge that humans possess about ourselves and SES represents a complex amalgamation of individual and collective factors. Because of various evolutionary pressures, people often reject this complex reality in favor of more simplistic perceptions and explanations. This thought paper offers an overview of how and where people acquire knowledge and how that knowledge acquisition process reflects and influences narratives, which subsequently affect efforts to address challenges in SES. We highlight three narratives as examples of constraints on finding ways forward toward a more resilient future. Our focal narratives include tendencies to conflate tame and wicked problems; to posit a false human-nature duality; and to resist the explanatory evidence from biocultural evolution. We then discuss the human cognitive propensity to create narratives to think about how we might intentionally develop narratives that are more appropriate for living in coevolving SES.
Health-related quality of life and utility values among patients with anxiety and/or depression in a low-income tertiary care setting: a cross-sectional analysis
Authors: Belay Yared Belete , Mihalopoulos Cathrine , Lee Yong Yi , Engel Lidia
Published: July 2024

Objectives

To describe the health-related quality of life (HRQoL), estimate the associated health state utility values (HSUVs) and explore factors associated with HRQoL of patients with anxiety and/or depression in a resource-limited hospital setting.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey involving 462 participants was conducted in a hospital setting. The Amharic version of the EQ-5D-5 L assessed HRQoL, while the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 measured severity of anxiety and depression symptoms respectively. HSUVs were analysed based on clinical and demographic profiles; mean differences were compared using t-tests and one-way ANOVA; Scheffe’s post hoc comparisons and effect sizes (Cohen’s d statistic) were used to assess the magnitude of group differences. Factors associated with HRQoL were explored using regression analysis.

Results

The mean HSUV was 0.87 (SD = 0.17) and the EQ VAS was 71.4 (SD = 19.1). Patients with both anxiety and depression scored significantly lower (HSUV = 0.83 [0.16], EQ VAS = 64.4 [17.9]) compared to those with either anxiety only (HSUV = 0.88 [0.17], EQ VAS = 75.3 [17.9]) or depression only (HSUV = 0.89 [0.18], EQ VAS 74.4 [19.7]). Males had slightly higher mean scores than females, while those aged 18–35 years demonstrated the highest scores on both the EQ-5D-5 L and EQ VAS. Older age (β=-0.002), higher PHQ-9 scores (β=-0.008) and comorbid hypertension (β=-0.07) associated with lower HSUVs. Lower EQ VAS scores were associated with being female (β=-4.4), having comorbid hypertension (β=-7.4) and higher PHQ-9 scores (β=-0.86), while a positive association was found with having ‘more than enough’ income (β = 11.8).

Conclusions

Older age, severity or co-diagnosis of anxiety or depression and comorbid conditions were associated with lower HRQoL, highlighting the need for better interventions to improve the HRQoL of patients with anxiety and depression in Ethiopia.
Corporate culture and tax planning
Authors: Afzali Mansoor , Thor Timmy
Published: July 2024

In this paper, we study the relationship between corporate culture and tax planning. Using the competing values framework and natural language processing techniques, we document that firms with collaboration-oriented (control-oriented) corporate cultures are associated with lower (higher) effective tax rates. We further find that firms with collaboration-oriented corporate cultures achieve these tax savings by engaging in tax-sheltering activities and that such savings positively affect firm value. While firms with salient control-oriented characteristics have previously been recognized to benefit from small tax burdens, we contribute with new evidence suggesting that intra-organizational reciprocity also promote tax savings that ultimately benefit shareholders.