bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Baltimore's Hidden Communication: (Un)written Words by Harriet Tubman and Eleanor Roosevelt and Her Journalist, Lorena Hickok
Authors: Cottle Katherine
Published: April 2024

“Baltimore's Hidden Communication: Un(written) Words by Harriet Tubman and Eleanor Roosevelt and her Journalist, Lorena Hickok” explores the hidden words used to divert secret communication around the societal and geographical borders and boundaries of 19th‐ and 20th‐ century America. Tubman's unwritten words and Eleanor Roosevelt's and Lorena Hickok's written (but inaccessible and/or destroyed) words passed through and influenced the Baltimore landscape; however, these communicative routes remain absent from standard public histories.
Expressions of Sorrow: Nonverbal Forms of Communication
Authors: Jeremiah Milford A.
Published: April 2024

Nonverbal forms of communication are just as important as verbal ones. This article investigates nonverbal communication observed in response to acts of tragedy, primarily those brought about by acts of terror or by untimely death. Nonverbal communication at these moments takes the form of balloons cards, candles, letters, pictures of the deceased, personal items and street protests. Furthermore, as an element of culture, these nonverbal expressions of sorrow convey meaning to those participants at the site of the tragedy and to those observing at a distance. In essence, both groups have a shared sense of thinking and responding to these events in almost a similar manner.
The Trajectory of a Comic Celebrity's Career: Robin Williams Does Television
Authors: Jackson Kathy Merlock
Published: April 2024

The whole world mourned when actor and comedian Robin Williams ended his life on August 11, 2014 at his home in Tiburon, California. The larger‐than‐life actor and comedian was best remembered for big‐screen performances as a warm paternal figure or caregiver, often a man‐child with traces of arrested development. Williams accomplished what many television actors today aspire to but cannot achieve: he made the transition from situation comedy star to movie star. This article explores Robin Williams's early career in television, arguing that his unconventional role in Mork and Mindy proved the perfect vehicle for this, informing his future roles and serving as a trajectory for his film career, thus offering a thematic lesson for comic actors seeking movie stardom.
Rediscovering the Pleasure Principle: Imaginology Versus Critical Theory in Post‐Trump Literary Studies
Authors: Keene Jarret
Published: April 2024

In this review, the author assesses the value of a new dismantling of poststructural theory and its ascendancy over what are supposed to be the objects of study, literary texts. Subjects discussed include the timing of the book's release, arriving as it does at a moment when university campuses are increasingly under threat from political clashes, microaggressions, safe spaces, censorship, and sexual assault. The author compares the book with an earlier effort to undermine the distinction between high and low culture. Ultimately, Beyond Literary Studies is necessary reading for anyone entering the field of literary studies or starting out as an English graduate student or junior faculty member in a humanities department.
When in Rome—Caesars Palace: The First Themed Casino in Las Vegas
Authors: Kirtley Patricia M. , Kirtley William M.
Published: April 2024

“Welcome to Caesars, I am your slave” intoned toga‐clad cocktail waitresses wearing high‐heeled sandals on the opening day of this stately pleasure dome. This single sentence typified the intent of the creator and builder of this sumptuous development, Jay Sarno (1922‐1984). He dreamed of building a casino‐hotel that afforded every “reveler”—a unique gaming experience: posh accommodations, fine dining, star‐studded entertainment, and up‐scale shopping. Sarno chose replicas of the world's most famous art to adorn his creation. This paper analyzes the realization of his dream through the theory of two philosophers fascinated by the reproduction of images. Roland Barthes (1915‐1980) elaborated upon the objective nature of art and what the viewer brings to it. Walter Benjamin (1892‐1940) developed the notion of phantasmagoria to describe the illusions of sound and light shows in Paris, an apt metaphor for this establishment in Paradise. Benjamin's thoughts on lithographs illuminate the characteristics of the art in Caesars: accessibility, flexibility, decorativeness, and anonymity. These attributes transformed this casino‐resort into an icon of popular culture. The authors take a deeper look into the simulacrum, pastiche, and theme of a place that caters to men's wants and desires. The authors also discuss the Forum, an extension of Caesars Entertainment Corporation's holdings. The Forum provides an opportunity for consumers to shop without guilt for the most exclusive products the world has to offer in a Roman themed environment. The authors conclude with an analysis of the Forum as a cathedral of consumption, an entrepreneur's dream where people pay, not for the intrinsic worth of goods and services; but for the status attached to them.
Why Mario Works: Super Mario as Transformative Icon for the Working Class
Authors: Williams G. Christopher , Simenson Brady
Published: April 2024

Nintendo's Mario has transcended the realm of character and sits firmly in the realm of icon. Despite his appearance as a simple working man, nevertheless, just as Mario takes different forms throughout his adventure series, he is also a pliable figure of transformation throughout culture in general. Mario is a transformative and easily adaptable figure in the lineage of silent film stars, but Mario echoes them even further as a specifically transformative hero of the working class, a group who greatly desire the freedom of form that he represents. Thus, it is, perhaps, unsurprising that the 1980s, the era of Mario, would look for something of a solution to the problem of the working class or at least attempt to ameliorate their situation by adding a virtuous component to working hard in order to survive, a kind of heroics that comes along with hard work and economic struggle.
The Discourse of Memes: Regressive Politics and Internet Culture
Authors: Khayambashi Shahbaz
Published: April 2024

A new popular form of political debate has appeared in the meme, a simple, repeatable and ephemeral medium that mixes images and words to pass on information. This form has become extremely helpful for regressive and reactionary politics, as right‐leaning groups now use the meme to spread misinformation and disinformation to their supporters. This paper discusses the meme's use in the spread of willful disinformation in online spaces around the Black Lives Matter movement through humor, false information and appropriation of talking points.
“I Had A Weird Dream:” Atlanta and Afro‐Surrealism as Alternative Narrativization
Authors: Scroggins Emily
Published: April 2024

Characterized by a feeling of unease, weirdness, or outright absurdity, the television show Atlanta utilizes Afro‐Surrealist storytelling to depict everyday experiences of minoritized individuals. By relying on the extraordinary, Afro‐Surrealism emphasizes the unusualness of Black lives in the United States and highlights the limitations of narrative in representing the voices and stories of marginalized individuals. These limitations have pushed media makers to adopt alternative narratives for those who cannot identify with traditional televisual narratives.
Associations of the fibrosis‐4 index with left atrial low‐voltage areas and arrhythmia recurrence after catheter ablation: cardio‐hepatic interaction in patients with atrial fibrillation
Authors: Yamada Shinya , Kaneshiro Takashi , Nodera Minoru , Amami Kazuaki , Nehashi Takeshi , Oikawa Masayoshi , Yamaki Takayoshi , Nakazato Kazuhiko , Ishida Takafumi , Takeishi Yasuchika
Published: April 2024

Background

The relationship between liver fibrosis and left atrial (LA) remodeling in atrial fibrillation (AF) remains uncertain. We examined the associations between the fibrosis‐4 (FIB4) index, an indicator of liver fibrosis, and both LA low‐voltage areas (LVAs) on electroanatomic mapping and AF recurrence postablation.

Methods

We recruited 343 patients who underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) or cryoballoon ablation (CBA) for AF. First, the association between the FIB4 index and LA LVAs (<0.5 mV) was evaluated in RFCA using electroanatomic mapping (n = 214). Next, the utility of a FIB4 index ≥1.3, recommended cut‐off value of liver fibrosis, was verified to assess the risk for AF recurrence in CBA without additional LVA ablation (n = 129).

Results

Patients with a FIB4 index ≥1.3 had a higher prevalence of LA LVAs (>5 cm2) compared to those without. Additionally, the quantitative size of LVAs showed a positive correlation with the FIB4 index (R = .642, p < .001). In multivariate logistic models, a FIB4 index ≥1.3 was related to the presence of LVAs after adjusting for LA diameter, right atrial end‐systolic area, and nonparoxysmal AF (odds ratio 2.508; p = 0.039). In CBA, AF recurrence rate was 13.1% during 3–12 months postablation. In multivariate Cox models, a FIB4 index ≥1.3 was an important predictor of AF recurrence (hazard ratio 3.796; p = .037), suggesting that LVAs might be associated with AF recurrence after CBA.

Conclusion

The FIB4 index was a novel predictor of the existence of LA LVAs on electroanatomic mapping and AF recurrence after CBA.
Combinatory data‐independent acquisition and parallel reaction monitoring method for revealing the lipid metabolism biomarkers of coronary heart disease and its comorbidities
Authors: Wu Hao , Yang Lijuan , Ren Dabing , Gu Ying , Ding Xiaoxue , Zhao Yan , Fu Guanghui , Zhang Hong , Yi Lunzhao
Published: April 2024

Disorders of lipid metabolism are a common cause of coronary heart disease (CHD) and its comorbidities. In this study, ultra‐performance liquid chromatography–high‐resolution mass spectrometry in data‐independent acquisition (DIA) mode was applied to collect abundant tandem mass spectrometry data, which provided valuable information for lipid annotation. For the lipid isomers that could not be completely separated by chromatography, parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) mode was used for quantification. A total of 223 plasma lipid metabolites were annotated, and 116 of them were identified for their fatty acyl chain composition and location. In addition, 152 plasma lipids in patients with CHD and its comorbidities were quantitatively analyzed. Multivariate statistical analysis and metabolic pathway analysis demonstrated that glycerophospholipid and sphingolipid metabolism deserved more attention for CHD. This study proposed a method combining DIA and PRM for high‐throughput characterization of plasma lipids. The results also improved our understanding of metabolic disorders of CHD and its comorbidities, which can provide valuable suggestions for medical intervention.
Generalized log orthogonal functions spectral collocation method for two dimensional weakly singular Volterra integral equations of the second kind
Authors: Huang Qiumei , Wang Min
Published: April 2024

In this article, a generalized log orthogonal functions (GLOFs)‐spectral collocation method to two dimensional weakly singular Volterra integral equations of the second kind is proposed. The mild singularities of the solution at the interval endpoint can be captured by Gauss‐GLOFs quadrature and the shortcoming of the traditional spectral method which cannot well deal with weakly singular Volterra integral equations with limited regular solutions is avoided. A detailed convergence analysis of the numerical solution is carried out. The efficiency of the proposed method is demonstrated by numerical examples.
Clinical study on the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on mandibular fractures at a regional core hospital for emergency and critical care medicine in Tokyo, Japan
Authors: Kitano Erina , Abe Shigehiro , Shinoda Kenta , Takayama Hiromasa , Fujiwara Yuusuke , Kawano Tempei , Masaoka Yoh , Nagai Tomoya , Aizawa Sohichi , Kitano Hisataka
Published: April 2024

Aim

Maxillofacial trauma is routinely encountered in oral and maxillofacial surgery, especially in cases of mandibular fractures; however, no clinical studies currently exist on the effects of the coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) pandemic on mandibular fractures in Japan. This study aimed to analyze the impact of COVID‐19 on mandibular fractures in Tokyo, Japan.

Methods

This retrospective study included patients with mandibular fractures who visited the Department of Oral Surgery at our hospital between January 2014 and December 2022. We conducted a clinico‐statistical study of patients who presented with mandibular fractures before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Results

The monthly average number of patients presenting with mandibular fractures decreased significantly in the first to third waves of the COVID‐19 pandemic (p = 0.0191) but increased during the fourth to seventh waves. The median patients' age was 46 and 59 years before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic, respectively, and this difference was significant (p = 0.0275). No significant differences were observed in sex, site of injury, cause, or treatment. However, the day of presentation (same day as injury or 1 day later) differed significantly (p = 0.0091) before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic. A significant decrease in concomitant trauma was observed during the COVID‐19 pandemic compared with the prepandemic period (p = 0.0054).

Conclusions

This study is the first to report the impact of COVID‐19 on mandibular fractures in Japan. The findings differ from those obtained from studies in other countries and provide a good basis for understanding COVID‐19 and preparing for future pandemics.
Expanding access to identification cards and social programs: Experimental evidence from Panamá
Authors: Reyes Ángela María , Roseth Benjamin , Vera‐Cossio Diego
Published: April 2024

We experimentally analyze the effects of an intervention to induce the renewal of identification cards on access to a government social program in Panamá. On‐time renewals and access to government transfers increased by 10 and 3.6 percentage points, respectively. Simple reminders about expiration dates generated larger effects than also enabling individuals to renew their documents through an online platform, which users struggled to use despite its being designed to simplify the process. The results suggest that increasing access to identity documentation can reduce exclusion errors in social programs and that simply granting access to e‐government platforms may not necessarily improve public service delivery.
Survival outcomes in pediatric patients with metastatic Ewing sarcoma who achieve a rapid complete response of pulmonary metastases
Authors: Reiter Audra J. , Huang Lynn , Craig Brian T. , Davidoff Andrew M. , Talbot Lindsay J. , Coggins Jordan , Smith Jasmine , Aldrink Jennifer H. , Bergus Katherine C. , MacArthur Taleen A. , Polites Stephanie F. , Boehmer Chloe , Brungardt Joseph , Malek Marcus M. , Rinehardt Hannah N. , Kastenberg Zachary J. , Arkin Cameron M. , Gourmel Antoine , Piche Nelson , Wallace Marshall , Liang Jiancong , Lovvorn Harold N. , Petroze Robin T. , Gillies Gwendolyn , Marquart John P. , Becktell Kerri , Le Hau D. , Favela Juan , Rich Barrie S. , Glick Richard D. , Seemann Natashia M. , Davidson Jacob , Wilson Claire A. , Roach Jonathan , Brown Erin G. , Doyle Kathleen E. , Coakley Brian A. , Emengo Pamela , Merola Pamela , Grant Christa N. , Tirumani Anuritha , Tracy Elisabeth T. , Moya‐Mendez Mary E. , Dasgupta Roshni , Lautz Timothy B. ,   Pediatric Surgical Oncology Research Collaborative
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Our objectives were to compare overall survival (OS) and pulmonary relapse between patients with metastatic Ewing sarcoma (EWS) at diagnosis who achieve rapid complete response (RCR) and those with residual pulmonary nodules after induction chemotherapy (non‐RCR).

Patients and methods

This retrospective cohort study included children under 20 years with metastatic EWS treated from 2007 to 2020 at 19 institutions in the Pediatric Surgical Oncology Research Collaborative. Chi‐square tests were conducted for differences among groups. Kaplan–Meier curves were generated for OS and pulmonary relapse.

Results

Among 148 patients with metastatic EWS at diagnosis, 61 (41.2%) achieved RCR. Five‐year OS was 71.2% for patients who achieved RCR, and 50.2% for those without RCR (p = .04), and in multivariable regression among patients with isolated pulmonary metastases, RCR (hazards ratio [HR] 0.42; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.17–0.99) and whole lung irradiation (WLI) (HR 0.35; 95% CI: 0.16–0.77) were associated with improved survival. Pulmonary relapse occurred in 57 (37%) patients, including 18 (29%) in the RCR and 36 (41%) in the non‐RCR groups (p = .14). Five‐year pulmonary relapse rates did not significantly differ based on RCR (33.0%) versus non‐RCR (47.0%, p = .13), or WLI (38.8%) versus no WLI (46.0%, p = .32).

Discussion

Patients with EWS who had isolated pulmonary metastases at diagnosis had improved OS if they achieved RCR and received WLI, despite having no significant differences in rates of pulmonary relapse.
Prognostic value of hemogram parameters in osteosarcoma: The French OS2006 experience
Authors: Bastard Paul , Cozic Nathalie , Brion Régis , Gaspar Nathalie , Piperno‐Neumann Sophie , Cordero Camille , Leculée‐Thébaud Estelle , Gomez‐Mascard Anne , Rédini Françoise , Marchais Antonin , Ikonomova Raina , Cleirec Morgane , Laurence Valérie , Rigaud Charlotte , Abbas Rachid , Verrecchia Franck , Brugières Laurence , Minard‐Colin Véronique
Published: April 2024

Background

Previous studies have shown that neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte (NLR) ratio at diagnosis and early lymphocytes recovery on doxorubicin‐based chemotherapy, may impact the outcome in patients with osteosarcoma (OST). This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of hemogram parameters in patients with OST treated with high‐dose methotrexate and etoposide/ifosfamide (M‐EI) chemotherapy.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively analyzed the prognostic value of various hemogram parameters at diagnosis and during therapy in a large consecutive cohort of patients with OST included in the French OS2006 trial and treated with M‐EI chemotherapy.

Results

A total of 164 patients were analyzed. The median age was 14.7 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 11.7–17). Median follow‐up was 5.6 years (IQR: 3.3–7.7 years). Three‐year event‐free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were 71.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 64%–78%) and 86.4% (95% CI: 80%–91%), respectively. In univariate analysis, blood count parameters at diagnosis and early lymphocyte recovery at Day 14 were not found prognostic of survival outcomes. By contrast, an increase of NLR ratio at Day 1 of the first EI chemotherapy (NLR‐W4) was associated with reduced OS in univariate (p = .0044) and multivariate analysis (hazards ratio [HR] = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.1–1.5; p = .002), although not with EFS. After adjustment on histological response and metastatic status, an increase of the ratio NLR‐W4 of 1 was associated with an increased risk of death of 30%.

Conclusions

We identified NLR‐W4 as a potential early biomarker for survival in patients with OST treated with M‐EI chemotherapy. Further studies are required to confirm the prognostic value of NLR and better identify immune mechanisms involved in disease surveillance.
Invasive fungal disease in children with solid tumors: An Australian multicenter 10‐year review
Authors: Jain Neha , Ryan Anne L. , Haeusler Gabrielle M. , McMullan Brendan J. , Moore Andrew S. , Bartlett Adam W. , Blyth Christopher C. , Kotecha Rishi S. , Yeoh Daniel K. , Clark Julia E.
Published: April 2024

Invasive fungal disease (IFD) occurs less frequently during treatment for solid compared to hematological malignancies in children, and risk groups are poorly defined. Retrospective national multicenter cohort data (2004–2013) were analyzed to document prevalence, clinical characteristics, and microbiology of IFD. Amongst 2067 children treated for solid malignancy, IFD prevalence was 1.9% overall and 1.4% for proven/probable IFD. Of all IFD episodes, 42.5% occurred in patients with neuroblastoma (prevalence 7.0%). Candida species comprised 54.8% of implicated pathogens in proven/probable IFD. In children with solid tumors, IFD is rare, and predominantly caused by yeasts.Routine prophylaxis may not be warranted.
Developmental and adaptive functioning of very young children with solid tumors and brain tumors
Authors: Fitzpatrick Sequoya , Jacola Lisa M. , Harman Jennifer L. , Willard Victoria W.
Published: April 2024

Purpose

Infancy/toddlerhood is a period of rapid development. All infants/toddlers (0–36 months‐of‐age) undergoing cancer‐directed treatment at one hospital are offered developmental assessments and related services. Yet, literature comparing development of infants/toddlers with brain tumors to those with non‐CNS solid tumors is sparse.

Design and methods

Developmental assessment data were abstracted from electronic health records of infants/toddlers undergoing treatment for a brain tumor (n = 36; mean age = 21.83 ± 9.96 months) or a solid tumor (n = 40; mean age = 17.35 ± 8.50). Z‐scores compared obtained data with age expectations. Chi‐square analyses assessed whether a greater proportion of participants scored within the clinical range than normative expectations. Multivariate analysis of variance and chi‐square analyses compared developmental outcomes between groups.

Results

Compared with age expectations, the overall group demonstrated significantly less well‐developed skills. Infants/toddlers with solid tumors demonstrated clinical deficits at rates higher than expected for most domains; the rate of impairment for the solid tumor group did not differ significantly from that of the brain tumor group across most subtests.

Conclusions

Like young patients with brain tumors, the developmental functioning of infants/toddlers with solid tumors should be studied across time to determine the trajectory of functioning for these young patients and to inform future developmental intervention studies.

Practice implications

Infants/toddlers with a malignant solid tumor may be at increased risk for delayed development. These very young patients would likely benefit from developmental assessment, early intervention services during and after treatment, and ongoing monitoring of development across time.
Informing research on generative artificial intelligence from a language and literacy perspective: A meta‐synthesis of studies in science education
Authors: Tang Kok‐Sing
Published: April 2024

Research in languages and literacies in science education (LLSE) has developed substantial theoretical and pedagogical insights into how students learn science through language, discourse, and multimodal representations. At the same time, language is central to the functioning of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). On this common basis concerning the role of language, this paper explores how foundational ideas from LLSE studies can inform the use of GenAI in science education. A bibliometric analysis of 412 journal articles from Web of Science provided the initial step to identify major themes and relationships in the LLSE literature. The analysis revealed four clusters of research in LLSE: reading and writing scientific text, science discourse and interaction, multilingual science classroom, and multimodality and representations. Each cluster was further analyzed through close reading of selected articles to identify and connect key constructs to the potential use of GenAI. These constructs include the interactive‐constructive reading model, text genre, reading‐writing integration, dialogic interaction, critical questioning, argumentation, translanguaging, hybridity, thematic pattern, modal affordance, and transduction. From these ideas and connections, the paper recommends several pedagogical principles for science educators to guide the use of GenAI. It concludes that LLSE research offers valuable insights for researchers and teachers to investigate and design the use of GenAI in science education. In turn, the impending use of GenAI also calls for a rethinking of literacy that will shape future research in LLSE.
Multimode Luminescence with Temperature and Energy Level Synergistic Dependence in Rare Earth Halide DPs for Advanced Multifunctional Applications
Authors: Lian Bo , Hou Haowen , Lin Fangping , Luo Binbin , Pan Daocheng , Zou Bingsuo , Zeng Ruosheng
Published: April 2024

Rare‐earth halide double perovskites (DPs) have attracted extensive attention due to their excellent optoelectronic performance. However, the correlation between luminescence performance, crystal structure, and temperature, as well as the inherent energy transfer mechanism, is not well understood. Herein, Lanthanide ions (Ln3+: Nd3+ or Dy3+) as the co‐dopants are incorporated into Sb3+ doped Cs2NaYbCl6 DPs to construct energy transfer (ET) models to reveal the effects of temperature and energy levels of rare earth on luminescence and ET. The different excited state structures of Sb3+‐Ln3+ doped Cs2NaYbCl6 DPs at different temperatures and relative positions of energy levels of rare earth synergistically determine the physical processes of luminescence. These multi‐mode luminescent materials exhibit good performance in anti‐counterfeiting, NIR imaging, and temperature sensing. This work provides new physical insights into the effects of temperature and energy levels of rare earth on the energy transfer mechanism and related photophysical process.
MXene Crosslinked Hydrogels with Low Hysteresis Conferred by Sliding Tangle Island Strategy
Authors: Zou Jian , Jing Xin , Li Shitao , Feng Peiyong , Chen Yi , Liu Yuejun
Published: April 2024

Single‐network hydrogels are often too fragile to withstand mechanical loading, whereas double‐network hydrogels typically exhibit significant hysteresis during cyclic stretching‐releasing process due to the presence of a sacrificial network. Consequently, it is a considerable challenge for designing hydrogels that are both low in hysteresis and high in toughness for applications requiring dynamic mechanical loads. Herein, the study introduced a novel “sliding tangle island” strategy for creating tough and low‐hysteresis hydrogels, which are prepared through in situ polymerization of highly concentrated acrylamides (AM) to form numerous entanglements within the MXene spacing without any chemical crosslinker. The MXene entangled with long polyacrylamide (PAM) chains to form tangle island that served as a relay station to transmit stress to neighboring molecular chains. This mechanism helps alleviate stress concentration and enhances energy dissipation efficiency, thereby reducing mechanical hysteresis. The resulting hydrogel exhibited exceptional properties, including high stretchability (≈900%), low hysteresis (less than 7%), high toughness (1.34 MJ m−3), and excellent sensing performance to rival the commercial hydrogel electrode. Therefore, this work sheds light on feasible design of energy dissipation structure to reduce the hysteresis of the composite hydrogels.
Prussian Blue Analogues for Sodium‐Ion Battery Cathodes: A Review of Mechanistic Insights, Current Challenges, and Future Pathways
Authors: Xiao Yang , Xiao Jun , Zhao Hangkai , Li Jiayi , Zhang Guilai , Zhang Dingyi , Guo Xin , Gao Hong , Wang Yong , Chen Jun , Wang Guoxiu , Liu Hao
Published: April 2024

Prussian blue analogues (PBAs) have emerged as highly promising cathode materials for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) due to their affordability, facile synthesis, porous framework, and high theoretical capacity. Despite their considerable potential, practical applications of PBAs face significant challenges that limit their performance. This review offers a comprehensive retrospective analysis of PBAs' development history as cathode materials, delving into their reaction mechanisms, including charge compensation and ion diffusion mechanisms. Furthermore, to overcome these challenges, a range of improvement strategies are proposed, encompassing modifications in synthesis techniques and enhancements in structural stability. Finally, the commercial viability of PBAs is examined, alongside discussions on advanced synthesis methods and existing concerns regarding cost and safety, aiming to foster ongoing advancements of PBAs for practical SIBs.
Self‐Assembled Molecular Fibers Aligned by Compression in Water
Authors: Mizoshita Norihiro , Yamada Yuri , Masuoka Yumi
Published: April 2024

Molecular self‐assembly has attracted much attention as a potential approach for fabricating nanostructured functional materials. To date, energy‐efficient fabrication of nano‐objects such as nanofibers, nanorings, and nanotubes is achieved using well‐designed self‐assembling molecules. However, the application of molecular self‐assembly to industrial manufacturing processes remains challenging because regulating the positions and directions of self‐assembled products is difficult. Non‐covalent molecular assemblies are also too fragile to allow mechanical handling. The present work demonstrates the macroscopic alignment of self‐assembled molecular fibers using compression. Specifically, the macroscopic bundling of self‐assembled nanofibers is achieved following dispersion in water. These fiber bundles can also be chemically crosslinked without drastic changes in morphology via trialkoxysilyl groups. Subsequently, vertically oriented porous membranes can be produced rapidly by slicing the bundles. This technique is expected to be applicable to various functional self‐assembled fibers and can lead to the development of innovative methods of producing anisotropic nanostructured materials.
An Insight in the Viscosity–Temperature Property of CaO‐SiO2‐Al2O3‐Based Slag Systems from Melt Structure
Authors: Zhang Li , He Hang , Zhang Lei , Sun Yongqi , Gao Xu , Zeng Jie , Wang Wanlin
Published: April 2024

Viscosity is an important property for CaO‐SiO2‐Al2O3‐based slag systems, which showcases different scenarios in basic and acid slag systems with temperature change. This article elucidates the mechanism of their difference in viscosity–temperature property from melt structure. Results reveal that basic slag shows a low degree of polymerization (DOP) and a low viscosity of the melt due to an excessive O2− ions depolymerizing the complex network structures, resulting in more low‐polymerized Q0(Si) units and less high‐polymerized Q3(Si) units. With the temperature decreases, the DOP and viscosity do not change significantly. However, the low DOP and viscosity favor crystal precipitation in the melt, leading to a solid–liquid mixed state of the slag, and thus a sharp increase in viscosity when the temperature decreases to 1275 °C. For acid slag, it undergoes a transformation into aluminosilicate structures with the introduction of numerous [AlO4]5− tetrahedra, accompanied by a significant increase in the relative mole fraction of high‐polymerized Q3(Si) units. Consequently, the DOP and viscosity are obviously higher than that of the basic slag. Furthermore, the DOP and viscosity of the acid slag increase continuously with the temperature decreasing, thus impeding crystal precipitation and enhancing the glass transition tendency of the molten slag.
FedSteg: Coverless Steganography‐Based Privacy‐Preserving Decentralized Federated Learning
Authors: Xu Mengfan , Lin Yaguang
Published: April 2024

Federated learning (FL) represents a novel privacy‐preserving learning paradigm that offers a practical solution for distributed privacy preservation. Although privacy‐preserving FL based on homomorphic encryption (HE‐PPFL) exhibits resistance to gradient leakage attacks while ensuring the accuracy of aggregation results, its widespread adoption in blockchain privacy preservation is hindered by the reliance on a trusted key generation center and secure transfer channels. Conversely, coverless steganography schemes effectively ensure the covert transmission of sensitive information across insecure channels. However, their incompatibility with HE‐PPFL arises from the lossy extraction process. To address these challenges, we present a decentralized federated learning privacy‐preserving framework based on the Lifted ElGamal threshold decryption cryptosystem. We introduce a reversible steganography method tailored to safeguard gradient privacy. Furthermore, we introduce a lightweight, secure blind aggregation algorithm founded on the Raft protocol, which serves to protect gradient privacy while substantially mitigating computational overhead. Finally, we provide rigorous theoretical proof of the security and correctness of our proposed scheme. Experimental results from four public data sets demonstrate that our proposed scheme achieves a 100% extraction accuracy without the need for lossless methods, while simultaneously reducing the computational cost of ciphertext gradient aggregation by at least three orders of magnitude. The FedSteg framework is publicly accessible at
https://github.com/Xumeili/FedSteg. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Hypoelliptic functional inequalities
Authors: Ruzhansky Michael , Yessirkegenov Nurgissa
Published: April 2024

In this paper we derive a variety of functional inequalities for general homogeneous invariant hypoelliptic differential operators on nilpotent Lie groups. The obtained inequalities include Hardy, Sobolev, Rellich, Hardy–Littllewood–Sobolev, Gagliardo–Nirenberg, Caffarelli–Kohn–Nirenberg and Heisenberg–Pauli–Weyl type uncertainty inequalities. Some of these estimates have been known in the case of the sub-Laplacians, however, for more general hypoelliptic operators almost all of them appear to be new as no approaches for obtaining such estimates have been available. The approach developed in this paper relies on establishing integral versions of Hardy inequalities on homogeneous Lie groups, for which we also find necessary and sufficient conditions for the weights for such inequalities to be true. Consequently, we link such integral Hardy inequalities to different hypoelliptic inequalities by using the Riesz and Bessel kernels associated to the described hypoelliptic operators.
Quantitative assessment of background parenchymal enhancement is associated with lifetime breast cancer risk in screening MRI
Authors: Yan Ran , Murakami Wakana , Mortazavi Shabnam , Yu Tiffany , Chu Fang-I. , Lee-Felker Stephanie , Sung Kyunghyun
Published: April 2024

Objectives

To compare the quantitative background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) in women with different lifetime risks and BRCA mutation status of breast cancer using screening MRI.

Materials and methods

This study included screening MRI of 535 women divided into three groups based on lifetime risk: nonhigh-risk women, high-risk women without BRCA mutation, and BRCA1/2 mutation carriers. Six quantitative BPE measurements, including percent enhancement (PE) and signal enhancement ratio (SER), were calculated on DCE-MRI after segmentation of the whole breast and fibroglandular tissue (FGT). The associations between lifetime risk factors and BPE were analyzed via linear regression analysis. We adjusted for risk factors influencing BPE using propensity score matching (PSM) and compared the BPE between different groups. A two-sided Mann–Whitney U-test was used to compare the BPE with a threshold of 0.1 for multiple testing issue-adjusted p values.

Results

Age, BMI, menopausal status, and FGT level were significantly correlated with quantitative BPE based on the univariate and multivariable linear regression analyses. After adjusting for age, BMI, menopausal status, hormonal treatment history, and FGT level using PSM, significant differences were observed between high-risk non-BRCA and BRCA groups in PEFGT (11.5 vs. 8.0%, adjusted p = 0.018) and SERFGT (7.2 vs. 9.3%, adjusted p = 0.066).

Conclusion

Quantitative BPE varies in women with different lifetime breast cancer risks and BRCA mutation status. These differences may be due to the influence of multiple lifetime risk factors. Quantitative BPE differences remained between groups with and without BRCA mutations after adjusting for known risk factors associated with BPE.

Clinical relevance statement

BRCA germline mutations may be associated with quantitative background parenchymal enhancement, excluding the effects of known confounding factors. This finding can provide potential insights into the cancer pathophysiological mechanisms behind lifetime risk models.

Key Points

Expanding understanding of breast cancer pathophysiology allows for improved risk stratification and optimized screening protocols.

Quantitative BPE is significantly associated with lifetime risk factors and differs between BRCA mutation carriers and noncarriers.

This research offers a possible understanding of the physiological mechanisms underlying quantitative BPE and BRCA germline mutations.
The role of agricultural biomass in supply chain decarbonization
Authors: Lyu Ruxia , Arisian Sobhan , Li Zhitang , Taskhiri Mohammad Sadegh , Mavi Reza Kiani
Published: April 2024

To achieve supply chain decarbonization, environmentally conscious manufacturers are transforming their energy infrastructure. While certain manufacturers are adopting a pure bioenergy strategy in their production processes, others are opting for a hybrid energy approach that combines traditional energy with bioenergy. This choice is often influenced by limitations in land capacity and the developmental stage of biomass conversion technologies. This paper introduces a game-theoretic model that explores the optimal approach to achieving supply chain decarbonization by strategically selecting energy portfolios. Our findings reveal that in scenarios where the market size is small, manufacturers tend to adopt a hybrid energy strategy, particularly when the average yield of biomass is low. However, as the biomass yield increases, manufacturers lean towards a hybrid (or pure) bioenergy strategy in smaller (or larger) markets. In larger markets, the manufacturer’s energy strategies become more complex and are influenced by various factors. Our results emphasize that farmers should base their planting decisions on considerations such as available land, initial investment, and agricultural biomass yield. This paper urges manufacturers to effectively navigate the complexities of the carbon tax policy and make informed decisions that promote a sustainable energy strategy. By utilizing technological advancements, governments and manufacturers can collect and analyze data on factors such as market size, biomass yield, and carbon tax policy, ultimately working towards a more efficient, productive, and environmentally sustainable future.
Going a Step Deeper Down the Rabbit Hole: Deep Learning Model to Measure the Size of the Unregistered Economy Activity
Authors: Lazebnik Teddy
Published: April 2024

Accurately estimating the size of unregistered economies is crucial for informed policymaking and economic analysis. However, many studies seem to overfit partial data as these use simple linear regression models. Recent studies adopted a more advanced approach, using non-linear models obtained using machine learning techniques. In this study, we take a step forward on the road of data-driven models for the unregistered economy activity’s (UEA) size prediction using a novel deep-learning approach. The proposed two-phase deep learning model combines an AutoEncoder for feature representation and a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) for time-series prediction. We show it outperforms traditional linear regression models and current state-of-the-art machine learning-based models, offering a more accurate and reliable estimation. Moreover, we show that the proposed model is better in generalizing UEA’s dynamics across countries and timeframes, providing policymakers with a more profound group to design socio-economic policies to tackle UEA.
Accepting video conferencing technology as an in-service training tool for health professionals
Authors: Ünal Rabia , Yilmaz M. Betül
Published: April 2024

This study investigates healthcare professionals’ acceptance of video conferences for in-service training in terms of performance expectancy and social influence. Furthermore, it attempts to determine which properties of video conferences influenced and predicted the adoption of video conferencing technology. We employed the cross-sectional survey research design, one of the descriptive research designs. The participants consisted of 181 physicians from a medical specialty society. To collect data, we used the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology-2 (UTAUT-2) scale. Findings revealed that being able to ask questions during the video conferences, not paying for participation, timing problems, and lack of social interaction predicted the acceptance of video conferences for in-service training regarding performance expectancy and social influence among physicians. This article offers practical recommendations for professionals to adopt and maximize the use of videoconferencing for in-service training. The findings of this study will shed light on future practices and studies regarding the use of video conferencing systems for in-service training by revealing the preferences of physicians and the factors affecting their acceptance behavior.
Global mercury concentrations in biota: their use as a basis for a global biomonitoring framework
Authors: Evers David C. , Ackerman Joshua T. , Åkerblom Staffan , Bally Dominique , Basu Nil , Bishop Kevin , Bodin Nathalie , Braaten Hans Fredrik Veiteberg , Burton Mark E. H. , Bustamante Paco , Chen Celia , Chételat John , Christian Linroy , Dietz Rune , Drevnick Paul , Eagles-Smith Collin , Fernandez Luis E. , Hammerschlag Neil , Harmelin-Vivien Mireille , Harte Agustin , Krümmel Eva M. , Brito José Lailson , Medina Gabriela , Barrios Rodriguez Cesar Augusto , Stenhouse Iain , Sunderland Elsie , Takeuchi Akinori , Tear Tim , Vega Claudia , Wilson Simon , Wu Pianpian
Published: April 2024

An important provision of the Minamata Convention on Mercury is to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the adopted measures and its implementation. Here, we describe for the first time currently available biotic mercury (Hg) data on a global scale to improve the understanding of global efforts to reduce the impact of Hg pollution on people and the environment. Data from the peer-reviewed literature were compiled in the Global Biotic Mercury Synthesis (GBMS) database (>550,000 data points). These data provide a foundation for establishing a biomonitoring framework needed to track Hg concentrations in biota globally. We describe Hg exposure in the taxa identified by the Minamata Convention: fish, sea turtles, birds, and marine mammals. Based on the GBMS database, Hg concentrations are presented at relevant geographic scales for continents and oceanic basins. We identify some effective regional templates for monitoring methylmercury (MeHg) availability in the environment, but overall illustrate that there is a general lack of regional biomonitoring initiatives around the world, especially in Africa, Australia, Indo-Pacific, Middle East, and South Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Temporal trend data for Hg in biota are generally limited. Ecologically sensitive sites (where biota have above average MeHg tissue concentrations) have been identified throughout the world. Efforts to model and quantify ecosystem sensitivity locally, regionally, and globally could help establish effective and efficient biomonitoring programs. We present a framework for a global Hg biomonitoring network that includes a three-step continental and oceanic approach to integrate existing biomonitoring efforts and prioritize filling regional data gaps linked with key Hg sources. We describe a standardized approach that builds on an evidence-based evaluation to assess the Minamata Convention’s progress to reduce the impact of global Hg pollution on people and the environment.
Explaining Siamese networks in few-shot learning
Authors: Fedele Andrea , Guidotti Riccardo , Pedreschi Dino
Published: April 2024

Machine learning models often struggle to generalize accurately when tested on new class distributions that were not present in their training data. This is a significant challenge for real-world applications that require quick adaptation without the need for retraining. To address this issue, few-shot learning frameworks, which includes models such as Siamese Networks, have been proposed. Siamese Networks learn similarity between pairs of records through a metric that can be easily extended to new, unseen classes. However, these systems lack interpretability, which can hinder their use in certain applications. To address this, we propose a data-agnostic method to explain the outcomes of Siamese Networks in the context of few-shot learning. Our explanation method is based on a post-hoc perturbation-based procedure that evaluates the contribution of individual input features to the final outcome. As such, it falls under the category of post-hoc explanation methods. We present two variants, one that considers each input feature independently, and another that evaluates the interplay between features. Additionally, we propose two perturbation procedures to evaluate feature contributions. Qualitative and quantitative results demonstrate that our method is able to identify highly discriminant intra-class and inter-class characteristics, as well as predictive behaviors that lead to misclassification by relying on incorrect features.
Coupled fluid-structure simulation of a flapping wing using free multibody dynamics software
Authors: Caccia Claudio , Guerrero Joel , Masarati Pierangelo
Published: April 2024

Computer simulations offer invaluable insights into fluid-structure interaction phenomena, increasing our understanding of complex behaviors within fluid flows and enabling predictions of consequential effects. This paper explores flapping wing simulation using an original toolchain based on free software. The structural domain is modeled using multibody dynamics, interfaced with arbitrary fluid dynamics solvers through a general-purpose multiphysics coupling library. The proposed toolchain is validated against benchmark models, demonstrating its effectiveness in various applications. Our study, inspired by experimental ones, applies this coupling to investigate the hydroelastic behavior of a flexible wing. Wing motion characteristics, structural properties, and convergence criteria are analyzed through numerical simulations. While achieving appreciable agreement with experimental data on wing motion ratios, challenges in dealing with large displacements have been identified. Nonetheless, the present study provides valuable insights into fluid-structure interactions, laying the groundwork for future refinements in computational modeling techniques and advancing the understanding of bio-inspired flight mechanisms.