bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Centralidade do Trabalho e Políticas de Governo
Authors: Grillo Coutinho Sayonara
Published: November 2023

A Reforma Trabalhista espanhola de 2021 está na agenda de pesquisa de juristas e sociólogos do trabalho no Brasil, país em que se discute uma necessária reformulação de seu Direito do Trabalho. O que a experiência espanhola do último quinquênio (2018/2023) evidencia? A partir do acompanhamento do debate público trabalhista e de uma cartografia da legislação espanhola, o artigo argumenta que mais que uma contrarreforma corretiva das políticas de austeridade adotadas em 2012, com vistas a reduzir a temporalidade dos contratos, diminuir a precariedade e reequilibrar a negociação coletiva, a Espanha vivenciou um processo de reformas mais amplo, para melhorar as condições de vida das pessoas no trabalho e acenar com a construção de um Direito do Trabalho voltado para contra-arrestar os graves problemas derivados das transformações tecnológicas e digitais e do poder das grandes corporações transnacionais. Um olhar estrangeiro, deslocado das controvérsias hermenêuticas, permite concluir pela transversalidade da temática laboral nas políticas de governo, do qual emerge a centralidade do trabalho na abordagem de temas emergentes no século XXI.

 

Palavras-chave: Direito do Trabalho; reformas trabalhistas; políticas de governo.
Calibration of an electroacoustic transducer without a primary standard
Authors: Garrett Steven
Published: November 2023

The Reflections series takes a look back on historical articles from The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America that have had a significant impact on the science and practice of acoustics.
Approach to active control of scattered sound field from underwater targets
Authors: Mei Manjie , Zhang Lihong , An Buchao , Li Jianlong
Published: November 2023

Active control of scattered sound fields is of great significance for the acoustic stealth of underwater targets. In this paper, we propose an approach to control the target scattered field based on the measurement of a single holographic surface. Compared to existing methods, our approach significantly reduces the required number of hydrophones and only relies on the incident direction as prior information. First, we introduce a sound field separation method that uses the measurement of a single holographic surface to extract scattered field near the scatterer. Then two control strategies are presented to reduce redundant sound power outside the selected direction radiated by secondary sources in different situations. Finally, the proposed method is verified by the simulation based on finite element method and the experiment conducted in an anechoic tank. Experimental results in the tank show that the scattered sound pressure level in far-field is reduced by at least 10 dB at 2 kHz after activating the real-time control system.
Out-of-plane arrivals recorded by drifting hydrophones during the Northern Ocean Rapid Surface Evolution Experiment
Authors: Ballard Megan S. , Sagers Jason D. , Poulain Pierre-Marie , Mackinnon Jennifer , Lucas Andrew J. , Sanchez-Rios Alejandra
Published: November 2023

This paper reports on an observation of three-dimensional (3D) arrivals for which the change in the direction of horizontally refracted sound is nearly 180°. The experimental site is Jan Mayen Channel (JMCh), which connects the Greenland and Norwegian Seas. During the experiment, signals from a moored source transmitting a 500–1500 Hz sweep every 4 h were recorded by three surface drifters equipped with hydrophone arrays. Over a 3-day period, the drifters moved north across JMCh toward the moored source. In each recording, an in-plane arrival is identified. In a subset of these recordings, a second arrival is observed, having travel time consistent with propagation from the moored source, turning at the ridge on the south side of the channel, and arriving at the drifters. In a smaller subset of recordings, a third arrival is also observed having travel time consistent with a turning point on the face of the bathymetric rise on the west end of the channel that forms the Jan Mayen volcano. A 3D ray trace is employed to show the change in direction results from repeated reflections from the seafloor such that it is classified as horizontal refraction and not a single-bounce reflection.
AI-driven robotic chemist for autonomous synthesis of organic molecules
Authors: Ha Taesin , Lee Dongseon , Kwon Youngchun , Park Min Sik , Lee Sangyoon , Jang Jaejun , Choi Byungkwon , Jeon Hyunjeong , Kim Jeonghun , Choi Hyundo , Seo Hyung-Tae , Choi Wonje , Hong Wooram , Park Young Jin , Jang Junwon , Cho Joonkee , Kim Bosung , Kwon Hyukju , Kim Gahee , Oh Won Seok , Kim Jin Woo , Choi Joonhyuk , Min Minsik , Jeon Aram , Jung Yongsik , Kim Eunji , Lee Hyosug , Choi Youn-Suk
Published: November 2023

The automation of organic compound synthesis is pivotal for expediting the development of such compounds. In addition, enhancing development efficiency can be achieved by incorporating autonomous functions alongside automation. To achieve this, we developed an autonomous synthesis robot that harnesses the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic technology to establish optimal synthetic recipes. Given a target molecule, our AI initially plans synthetic pathways and defines reaction conditions. It then iteratively refines these plans using feedback from the experimental robot, gradually optimizing the recipe. The system performance was validated by successfully determining synthetic recipes for three organic compounds, yielding that conversion rates that outperform existing references. Notably, this autonomous system is designed around batch reactors, making it accessible and valuable to chemists in standard laboratory settings, thereby streamlining research endeavors.
Draft genome of
Lysinibacillus fusiformis
PwPw_T2 isolated from
Ananas comosus
revealing acetic acid producing and xenobiotic degrading enzymes
Authors: Adefiranye Oyetayo Olaoluwa , Adeniji Adetomiwa Ayodele , Obidi Olayide Folashade , Oyetibo Ganiyu Oladunjoye , Babalola Olubukola Oluranti
Published: November 2023

Lysinibacillus fusiformis
PwPw_T2 isolated from deteriorating
Ananas comosus
sample collected from Lagos State, Nigeria putatively possesses genomic features like potential enzymes catalyzing acetic acid production and xenobiotic compounds degradation via various pathways as indicated by its genome sequences. These could make the organism relevant in food waste valorization and micro-biotechnology.
Complete genome sequence of a
Clostridioides difficile
cryptic C-III strain isolated from horse feces
Authors: Schüler Miriam Antonia , Daniel Rolf , Poehlein Anja
Published: November 2023

We provide the complete genome of a non-toxigenic
Clostridioides difficile
strain isolated from horse feces. The strain represents a sub-cluster in the cryptic clade C-III. The genome consists of one chromosome (4,144,784 bp) and one plasmid (10,144 bp) and encodes 3,798 putative genes.
Gut bacteria mediated adaptation of diamondback moth,
Plutella xylostella,
to secondary metabolites of host plants
Authors: Xia Xiaofeng , Wang Qian , Gurr Geoff M. , Vasseur Liette , Han Shuncai , You Minsheng
Published: November 2023

The diamondback moth (DBM),
Plutella xylostella,
has successfully adapted to the potent chemical defenses of Brassicaceae plants that deter most other herbivores. Gut bacteria are increasingly recognized as key to the biology of many species but their role in DBM adaptation to plant defense compounds is not well known. In this study, the secondary metabolites of radish seedlings, rich in flavonoids, were identified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. These secondary metabolites reduced the larval growth of DBM lacking gut bacteria. The effect was rapidly eclipsed by the re-introduction of gut microbiota, which was dominated by
Enterobacter
(Proteobacteria). Similarly, while treatment with the flavonoid kaempferol adversely affected growth and extended the development time, these were alleviated by the re-introduction of
Enterobacter
sp. EbPXG5 (EbPXG5) to the DBM gut. EbPXG5 not only degrades kaempferol both
in vitro
and DBM gut, but is also shown to colonize the gut epithelium, forming a protective biofilm. Genomic sequencing of EbPXG5 showed that metabolic genes were the most abundant, especially those involved in xenobiotic degradation, and the metabolism of terpenoids and polyketides, which could participate in the degradation of plant secondary metabolites such as kaempferol. Overall, our results showed that EbPXG5 is a bacterium common in the gut of DBM larvae and has the
in vitro
and
in vivo
capacity to detoxify a major secondary metabolite that is produced in brassica plants as a defense against herbivores. This insect-bacterial association may be an important contributor to the status of DBM as a major pest of brassica crops worldwide.

IMPORTANCE

In this study, we identify an important role of gut bacteria in mediating the adaptation of diamondback moth (DBM) to plant secondary metabolites. We demonstrate that kaempferol’s presence in radish seedlings greatly reduces the fitness of DBM with depleted gut biota. Reinstatement of gut biota, particularly Enterobacter sp. EbPXG5, improved insect performance by degrading kaempferol. This bacterium was common in the larval gut of DBM, lining the epithelium as a protective film. Our work highlights the role of symbiotic bacteria in insect herbivore adaptation to plant defenses and provides a practical and mechanistic framework for developing a more comprehensive understanding of insect-gut microbe-host plant co-evolution.
The variations of native plasmids greatly affect the cell surface hydrophobicity of sphingomonads
Authors: Song Da , Chen Xingjuan , Yao Hui , Kong Guannan , Xu Meiying , Guo Jun , Sun Guoping
Published: November 2023

The organic pollutant-degrading microorganisms with high cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) are generally favorable due to the positive role of high CSH in pollutant capture and cell colonization. Sphingomonads, an important bacterial group with metabolic versatility, have significant potential for biodegradation and bioremediation of organic pollutants and generally harbor higher CSH than typical Gram-negative bacteria. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying their high CSH are still unclear. In this study,
Sphingobium xenophagum
C1, the most hydrophobic sphingomonad ever known, and its hydrophilic variant C2 were used to identify the genome variations responsible for the CSH difference by comparative genome and transcriptome analysis, as well as gene knockout verification. Our results indicated that the high CSH of strain C1 was largely attributed to the low copy number of the native plasmid p3, which mainly affected the transcriptional levels of outer membrane protein genes through direct and indirect means. In addition, loss of the genes on the native plasmid p5 involved in polysaccharide synthesis and secretion could increase CSH and cell surface friction. The bioinformatics analysis further revealed that some sphingomonad genomes also contained the long homologous fragments and/or key genes of p3 and p5. This study demonstrated the important role of native plasmids in regulating the CSH of sphingomonads, suggesting a novel CSH regulation strategy and evolution process.

IMPORTANCE

Microbial cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) reflects nonspecific adhesion ability and affects various physiological processes, such as biofilm formation and pollutant biodegradation. Understanding the regulation mechanisms of CSH will contribute to illuminating microbial adaptation strategies and provide guidance for controlling CSH artificially to benefit humans. Sphingomonads, a common bacterial group with great xenobiotic-degrading ability, generally show higher CSH than typical Gram-negative bacteria, which plays a positive role in organic pollutant capture and cell colonization. This study verified that the variations of two native plasmids involved in synthesizing outer membrane proteins and polysaccharides greatly affected the CSH of sphingomonads. It is feasible to control their CSH by changing the plasmid copy number and sequences. Additionally, considering that plasmids are likely to evolve faster than chromosomes, the CSH of sphingomonads may evolve quickly to respond to environmental changes. Our results provide valuable insights into the CSH regulation and evolution of sphingomonads.
Mucorales-disseminated infection in burn wound
Authors: Herbst Isabella , Helleberg Marie , Overgaard-Steensen Christian , Holmgaard Rikke
Published: November 2023

A previously fit and well man in his 50s was rescued from a burning apartment with Glasgow Coma Scale 3 and admitted to the burn intensive care unit with 18% mixed dermal and full thickness burns and inhalation injury. He received standardised acute burn treatment according to the Emergency Management of Severe Burn guidelines and was found to have acute kidney injury requiring dialysis and cerebral watershed infarcts. The burns were deep especially on the left leg that was deemed unsalvageable and on day 8, he underwent a mid-femoral amputation.

A wound swab on day 8 grew mould and with progression of skin necrosis,Mucoralesinfection was clinically suspected. Microbiological assessment of the swab confirmedMucoralesinfection—an invasive fungus with the ability to invade blood vessels leading to vessel thrombosis and tissue necrosis and associated with high mortality. Recommended radical debridement with free cutaneous margins was not possible due to the widespread disease, and the patient was treated conservatively with antifungal therapy and survived.
Mesenteric panniculitis as a possible cause of fever of unknown origin
Authors: Lombana Gregory Richard , Patel Nisha Ajay , High Kevin P
Published: November 2023

Mesenteric panniculitis is a non-neoplastic condition involving inflammation and fibrosis of the small bowel mesentery. We describe a man in his 60s who presented with 3 months of febrile episodes, confusion and weight loss. The diagnosis of mesenteric panniculitis had been established 2 weeks prior based on an abdominal computerized tomography scan. Extensive diagnostic investigations during his hospitalisation were unrevealing, and the symptoms were ultimately attributed to the mesenteric panniculitis. The fevers resolved over several weeks, and no further episodes have occurred since discharge. This case suggests that mesenteric panniculitis merits consideration in the differential diagnosis of fever of unknown origin.
Health-related quality of life and economic burden of childhood pneumonia in China: a multiregion study
Authors: Gao Junyang , Fan Jingzhi , Zhou Huijun , Jit Mark , Wang Pei
Published: November 2023

Objective

To systematically investigate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and economic burden of children with pneumonia in different regions of China.

Study design

The study recruited a series of children under 5 years hospitalised for pneumonia in Shanghai, Zhengzhou and Kunming from January to October 2019.

Health utility was assessed using the proxy version of EQ-5D-Y by interviewing patients’ guardians face to face. The assessment was administered twice at patients’ admission and discharge. Cost incurred for receiving the hospitalisation was collected. Multiple linear regression and quantile regression were used to explore factors of EQ-5D-Y Health Utility Score (HUS) and costs, respectively.

Results

A total of 501 paediatric patients with a median age (IQR) of 1.5 (0.83–2.71) years were included in the analysis. The mean HUS (SD) of the patients was 0.78 (0.18) at admission, and increased to 0.96 (0.10) at discharge. Some patients (14.2%) still felt worried, sad or unhappy after hospitalisation. The mean hospitalisation cost and total cost were RMB5859 (€773) and RMB6439, respectively. The HUS was lower and the economic burden was heavier for the children in Zhengzhou. Apart from region, type of work, insurance status and hospital days were also related to the baseline HUS or HUS increment after treatment; insurance status, Visual Analogue Scale score at discharge, guardians’ employment and hospitalisation days were associated with the costs.

Conclusion

The children with pneumonia have poor baseline HRQOL, and many of them still have psychological well being problems after treatment. The economic burden varied significantly across regions and is heavy for the patients’ families in less developed areas (ie, Zhengzhou and Kunming).
Gender disparity among psychiatry departments awarded Canadian Institutes of Health Research grants: a retrospective study
Authors: Tao Brendan , Mah Kaitlyn , Tsang Vivian W L , Varnals Tyler , Naveed Sadiq , Khosa Faisal
Published: November 2023

Objective

Although medical institutions aim to promote equity within the workplace, gender disparities persist in academic psychiatry. Previous evidence indicates that women in psychiatry encounter gender-based barriers to career advancement, resulting in slower rates of promotion, lower research productivity and less grant funding than men. Here, we investigate gender disparity in Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) grant funding decisions for researchers from Canadian Departments of Psychiatry.

Method

Data since inception from the CIHR funding decision database were searched for awards to applicants affiliated with Canadian psychiatry departments. For each grant, we collected the principal investigator’s (PI) name, conferral year, duration and total funding contribution. PI gender was extracted from an agreement between self-reported gender identity on provincial or territorial physician directories, from an official institutional website biography, and a validated gender application programming interface. Primary analysis was conducted for all recipients from Canadian psychiatry departments (including physician and non-physician scientists), and secondarily within a subgroup of physician scientists alone.

Results

Women (both physician and non-physician scientists) consistently received fewer grants (40.75%) and were less likely to obtain multiple awards in a year than men. Most strikingly, women received a total of US$110 658 191 while men received over double this amount, totalling US$253 339 865. Women (both physician and non-physician scientists) also received shorter award durations (p=2.312e-06, rg=0.179), fewer awards per year (p=0.002128, rg=0.662) and less money per grant (p=1.583e-07, rg=0.205). Within the subgroup of physician scientists, women were awarded a total of US$22 901 569 altogether, while men received a total of US$144 451 178. Women also received significantly fewer grants per year than men (p=3.565e-05, rg=0.889).

Conclusions

Gender disparity in CIHR funding decisions may pose another barrier to career progression for psychiatrists who are women. Further work is recommended to reduce gender funding gap in medical academia.
Determination of black holes by boundary measurements
Authors: Eskin G.
Published: November 2023

For a wave equation with time-independent Lorentzian metric consider an initial-boundary value problem in [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the time variable and [Formula: see text] is a bounded domain in [Formula: see text]. Let [Formula: see text] be a subdomain of [Formula: see text]. We say that the boundary measurements are given on [Formula: see text] if we know the Dirichlet and Neumann data on [Formula: see text]. The inverse boundary value problem consists of recovery of the metric from the boundary measurements. In the author’s previous works a localized variant of the boundary control method was developed that allows the recovery of the metric locally in a neighborhood of any point of [Formula: see text] where the spatial part of the wave operator is elliptic. This allows the recovery of the metric in the exterior of the ergoregion.

The goal of this survey paper is to recover the black holes. In some cases the ergoregion coincides with the black hole. In the case of two space dimensions we recover the black hole inside the ergoregion assuming that the ergosphere, i.e. the boundary of the ergoregion, is not characteristic at any point of the ergosphere.
Mechanisms and applications of third-order nonlinear optics in 2D lead halide perovskites
Authors: Nie Yuan , Hu Jinming , Zhang Yinan , Gu Min , Zhang Qiming
Published: November 2023

The unique optical and electrical characteristics of lead halide perovskites have garnered considerable interest, and they are highly suitable for use in devices such as solar cells and other optoelectronic equipment. The discovery of nonlinear optical characteristics in lead halide perovskites, especially those with a two-dimensional quantum well structure, has been a recent development. These substances demonstrate remarkable third-order nonlinear phenomena, such as saturation absorption, two-photon absorption, and nonlinear refraction, positioning them as a likely emerging focus in the realm of nonlinear optics. In this review, we present the structure and attributes of two-dimensional lead halide perovskites, delve into their diverse third-order nonlinear optical traits, and encapsulate their applications rooted in third-order nonlinear optics. Additionally, we offer a perspective on potential future trajectories in this area of study.
PRICING AMERICAN OPTION USING A MODIFIED FRACTIONAL BLACK–SCHOLES MODEL UNDER MULTI-STATE REGIME SWITCHING
Authors: YOUSUF M. , KHALIQ A. Q. M.
Published: November 2023

The American option pricing problem is examined in this work using a regime switching finite moment log-stable model. The option prices under this model are governed by a coupled system of fractional partial differential equations. Combination of the coupled system and the spatial-fractional derivative makes it extremely difficult to find an analytic solution. We have constructed a numerical algorithm to numerically solve such problems. The developed predictor-corrector type method is highly efficient and reliable in solving coupled system in each regime having different volatility and interest rates. Two-sided Riesz space fractional diffusion term is approximated using fractional finite difference scheme whereas the classical space derivative term is approximated using central difference formula. Splitting technique is utilized to construct a highly efficient scheme which can also be implemented on parallel processors. Stability and error analysis of the scheme is proved analytically and demonstrated through numerical experiments. Effect of the order of the fractional derivative (also called tail index) on the option prices is shown through graphs by performing numerical experiments for different values of the tail index.
Navigation Services and Urban Sustainability
Authors: Cornacchia Giuliano , Nanni Mirco , Pedreschi Dino , Pappalardo Luca
Published: November 2023

The rise of socio-technical systems in which humans interact with various forms of Artificial Intelligence, including assistants and recommenders, multiplies the possibility for the emergence of large-scale social behavior, possibly with unintended negative consequences. In this work, we discuss a particularly interesting case, i.e., navigation services’ impact on urban emissions, showing through simulations that the sum of many individually “optimal” choices may have unintended negative outcomes because such choices influence and interfere with each other on top of shared resources. To prove this point, we demonstrate how the introduction of a random component in the path suggestion phase may help to relieve the effect of collective and individual choices on the urban environment in terms of urban emissions.
A Novel Two-Dimensional Quad-Stable Stochastic Resonance System for Bearing Fault Detection
Authors: Zhang Gang , Xu Jiaqi , Huang Xiaoxiao , Li Zhaorui
Published: November 2023

A novel two-dimensional Quad-stable stochastic resonance (NTDQSR) system is proposed in this paper to address the poor signal detection capability of the original one-dimensional Quad-stable stochastic resonance (ODQSR) system. Firstly, expressions for the equivalent potential function and the steady-state probability density (SPD) function of the system are derived to study the impact of parameters on it. Secondly, the system is simulated numerically, and the performance of NTDQSR system is evaluated under trichotomous noise in this paper, because trichotomous noise exists widely in practical applications. Finally, the genetic algorithm (GA) is used to optimize the system parameters, and NTDQSR system is applied to bearing fault detection. In LDK UER204 ring fault detection, MSNRG in NTDQSR system is 0.9927 dB and 0.4805 dB higher than ODQSR and under-damped Quad-stable stochastic resonance (UQSR) system. In the outer ring experiment on the experimental bench at CWRU, MSNRG in NTDQSR system is 0.7255dB and 0.0734dB higher than the other two systems, while in the inner ring experiment, MSNRG is 0.6535dB and 0.1943dB higher than the other two systems, respectively. NTDQSR system is compared with ODQSR and UQSR systems to verify the good application value of NTDQSR system in practical engineering.
One-step assembly of bimetal-phenolic networks for antifouling and antibacterial coatings
Authors: Huang Chuangxin , Meng Lingwei , Fu Shangwan , Liu Xin , Qu Hongyi , Wang Qiuliang
Published: November 2023

Titanium (Ti) and its alloys have been widely used as clinical implant biomaterials. However, protein adhesion and bacterial infection can negatively impact the efficacy of these implants. To combat this, a promising strategy is to develop a versatile coating on Ti materials that endows them with antifouling and antibacterial capabilities. This work focused on the development of a polydopamine (PDA) and poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (PSBMA) co-deposition coating on Ti substrates. The coating contained copper ions, iron ions, and catechol groups, which coordinated to assemble bimetal-phenolic networks (bMPNs). Digital imaging, SEM, AFM, XPS, water contact angle, and film thickness tests confirmed the success of the modification. The antibacterial properties of the coating were evaluated using Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus, while the cytotoxicity of the coating on human umbilical vein endothelial cells was also examined. The results demonstrated an excellent improvement in hydrophilicity, antibacterial properties, and benign biocompatibility of the coated Ti substrate, making it suitable for bioimplants and medical devices.
High-directive multiband microstrip patch antenna for biomedical applications, inspired by metamaterial
Authors: Mercy P. Arockia Michael , Wilson K. S. Joseph
Published: November 2023

Recent advancements in medical technology impose a limited number of devices for biomedical applications. A variety of techniques are being proposed to improve the performance of novel antenna designs in response to the rapid development of modern wireless technologies. A miniaturised microstrip antenna structure based on metamaterial (MTM) is presented here. The objective of this work is to present a high-directive antenna for wireless systems utilising MTM properties. Directivity is improved by the incorporation of the MTM structure on the ground structure. In order to improve the performance parameters of the antenna for medical applications, this study provides the design and analysis of a multiband patch antenna employing split-ring MTM. The split-ring resonator (SRR) MTM structures are embedded in a unique and novel way in the ground structure of the antenna. So that subwavelength modes get introduced in the patch cavity and a good performance characteristics is obtained. The reference antenna is a rectangular microstrip patch antenna exhibiting a directivity of 1.1823[Formula: see text]dB that resonates at a frequency of 2.32[Formula: see text]GHz. The optimised SRR MTM is positioned in the ground plane of the suggested antenna to increase the directivity of the antenna. This technology covers the frequency range between 2.24 and 3.96[Formula: see text]GHz used for biomedical applications and the ultra-wideband (UWB) range from 4.48 to 9.08[Formula: see text]GHz used for medical applications, industrial and scientific areas. The number of gaps of the rectangular-shaped SRRs is a key component of the enhancement of directivity from 1.1823 to 8.88823[Formula: see text]dB.
Embodied Provenance for Immersive Sensemaking
Authors: Zhang Yidan , Ens Barrett , Satriadi Kadek Ananta , Yang Ying , Goodwin Sarah
Published: November 2023

Immersive analytics research has explored how embodied data representations and interactions can be used to engage users in sensemaking. Prior research has broadly overlooked the potential of immersive space for supporting analytic provenance, the understanding of sensemaking processes through users’ interaction histories. We propose the concept of embodied provenance, the use of three-dimensional space and embodied interactions in supporting recalling, reproducing, annotating and sharing analysis history in immersive environments. We design a conceptual framework for embodied provenance by highlighting a set of design criteria for analytic provenance drawn from prior work and identifying essential properties for embodied provenance. We develop a prototype system in virtual reality to demonstrate the concept and support the conceptual framework by providing multiple data views and embodied interaction metaphors in a large virtual space. We present a use case scenario of energy consumption analysis and evaluated the system through a qualitative evaluation with 17 participants, which show the system’s potential for assisting analytic provenance using embodiment. Our exploration of embodied provenance through this prototype provides lessons learnt to guide the design of immersive analytic tools for embodied provenance.
1D-Touch: NLP-Assisted Coarse Text Selection via a Semi-Direct Gesture
Authors: Jiang Peiling , Feng Li , Sun Fuling , Sarkar Parakrant , Xia Haijun , Liu Can
Published: November 2023

Existing text selection techniques on touchscreen focus on improving the control for moving the carets. Coarse-grained text selection on word and phrase levels has not received much support beyond word-snapping and entity recognition. We introduce 1D-Touch, a novel text selection method that complements the carets-based sub-word selection by facilitating the selection of semantic units of words and above. This method employs a simple vertical slide gesture to expand and contract a selection area from a word. The expansion can be by words or by semantic chunks ranging from sub-phrases to sentences. This technique shifts the concept of text selection, from defining a range by locating the first and last words, towards a dynamic process of expanding and contracting a textual semantic entity. To understand the effects of our approach, we prototyped and tested two variants: WordTouch, which offers a straightforward word-by-word expansion, and ChunkTouch, which leverages NLP to chunk text into syntactic units, allowing the selection to grow by semantically meaningful units in response to the sliding gesture. Our evaluation, focused on the coarse-grained selection tasks handled by 1D-Touch, shows a 20% improvement over the default word-snapping selection method on Android.
Default and Bankruptcy Resolution in China
Authors: Hotchkiss Edith , John Kose , Li Bo , Ponticelli Jacopo , Wang Wei
Published: November 2023

In this article, we review the literature on the recent growth of corporate debt in China and present stylized facts on the evolution of debt composition, nonperforming loans, defaults, and bankruptcy filings. We then describe the legal and political institutions that characterize the system for restructuring and liquidating financially distressed firms, including recent reforms of China's bankruptcy law. Finally, we discuss the main challenges faced by China in the implementation of these reforms, including frictions in judicial enforcement. We also propose potential avenues for future research.
Xylanase-Producing Microbes and Their Real-World Application
Authors: Phuyal Milan , Budhathoki Uttam , Bista Durga , Shakya Shailendra , Shrestha Rajan , Shrestha Ashwinee Kumar
Published: November 2023

The present study is focused on the availability of microbial sources capable of producing xylanase, a hemicelluloses-degrading enzyme with multiple modes of action along with specificity, and their real-world applications. For the accumulation of suitable data, article surfing was carried out using multiple search engines viz. Hinari and PubMed; irrelevant and duplicate articles were discarded and articles were summarized in a narrative way herein. This review article was written aiming to bridge the recent research activities with the commercial activities of xylanase going on around the globe. The readers would be able to acknowledge themselves with the basic idea of the hydrolytic enzyme xylanase, their classification representing their different families, presenting the affinity of different families at the structural level, the sources, and the commercial implications that have been going on alone and in combination. The major hemicellulose, Xylan is digested with the help of combination other enzymes such as alpha-amylase, subtilisin, protease, and endo-1,3(4)-β-glucanase along with xylanase. Xylanase has a diverse applications such as pharmaceutical, food and feed, bakery, paper and pulp, textile, and bio-refinery industries. The objective of this review article is to compile microbial sources of this enzyme and its application for betterment of human kind.
Low-Code Application and Practical Implications of Common Machine Learning Models for Predicting Punching Shear Strength of Concrete Reinforced Slabs
Authors: Nguyen Khuong Le , Do Thanh Tu , Nguyen Giang Huu , Ahmad Afaq
Published: November 2023

This paper investigates the effectiveness of machine learning (ML) models available in MATLAB Regression Learner app and MATLAB App Designer, both low-code applications, for accurately predicting punching shear strength (PSS) in reinforced concrete (RC) slabs. A database of 379 RC slab samples without transverse reinforcement was compiled from renowned publications. RandomSearch and Bayesian optimisation were employed for tuning hyperparameters. The performance of these models was compared with six empirical models, which included three current design codes, three equations from other researchers, and 227 finite-element simulations conducted by the authors. The ML models and finite-element method (FEM) demonstrated superior performance compared with the literature and practical codes. Furthermore, the results emphasised the exceptional performance of the Gaussian process regression (GPR) with optimised hyperparameters, exhibiting the best performance in validation, training, and testing datasets with R2 values of 0.95, 0.99, and 0.98, respectively. A user-friendly standalone application was developed, providing real-time predictions of the PSS using the two best-developed ML models, GPR and support vector machine (SVM), as well as six empirical models from the literature. This tool offers users flexibility in choosing the most appropriate model for their specific needs, delivering reliable, and accurate results for estimating the PSS of RC slabs.
Poor Correlation of Rivaroxaban Concentration with the Routine Coagulation Screening Test in Chinese Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: He Jiake , Zhu Bo , Shen Yang , Hu Jianping , Hong Kui
Published: November 2023

Aims. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between rivaroxaban plasma concentration quantified by the gold standard and anticoagulant activities measured by routine coagulation assays in Chinese atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. Whether the normal results of these tests were reliable to rule out clinically relevant rivaroxaban levels at various thresholds was also explored. The effect of clinical drug-drug interactions (DDIs) on the exposure and anticoagulant effect of rivaroxaban were further evaluated. Methods. 116 patients receiving rivaroxaban for the management of nonvalvular AF were recruited. Rivaroxaban concentrations and coagulation tests were measured by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) and a blood coagulation analyzer, respectively. Results. The correlation of trough concentration (Ctrough) and prothrombin time (PT) or international normalized ratio (INR) was moderate with Spearman’s correlation coefficient of 0.495 and 0.506, respectively. A normal PT/INR was unable to rule out Ctrough levels of >30 ng/mL and >50 ng/mL, but the negative predictive value reached 100% to exclude Ctrough of >100 ng/mL. Ctrough showed a small correlation with activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) (Spearman’s correlation coefficient: 0.241) and no correlation with thrombin time (TT) (Spearman’s correlation coefficient: 0.074). Neither aPTT nor TT accurately predicted Ctrough at any concentration. Peak concentration (Cpeak) did not correlate with any coagulation parameters. The presence of digoxin and febuxostat significantly increased rivaroxaban Ctrough by 2.18 fold and prolonged PT and INR by 44.16% and 43.60%, respectively. Conclusions. Normal routine coagulation assays were insufficient to monitor therapy with rivaroxaban. Poor correlations between rivaroxaban concentration and routine coagulation assays were observed in Chinese AF patients. The use of digoxin/febuxostat alone had no effect on rivaroxaban concentrations; however, combined strong breast cancer resistance protein inhibitor (febuxostat) and P-glycoprotein probe (digoxin) in patients with renal impairment is likely to cause clinically significant DDI with rivaroxaban. More studies are needed to establish routine therapeutic drug monitoring of rivaroxaban in clinical practice.
Effect Analysis of Steel Sheet Pile Supporting for Utility Tunnel Foundation Pit in Water-Rich Soft Soil
Authors: Shao Guotao , Tang Dan , Tan Duyun , Liu Zizhen , Zhu Yongjian
Published: November 2023

Given the structural stability of steel sheet pile support in a water-rich soft soil area, the interaction mechanical mechanism between steel sheet pile support and soft soil was analyzed in the paper. Based on the limit equilibrium theory of soil mass and the coordinated deformation effect of retaining structure and soil, the force equation and action coefficient considering the cohesion of soil and the friction angle of steel sheet pile to soil were obtained. According to the characteristics of the soil around the foundation pit, reasonable supporting spacing (d = 4 m) could be obtained considering the friction angle of the steel sheet pile to soil properly without the cohesion of soil. The monitoring results show that the axial force during the support process is more reasonable considering the cohesion of soil and the friction angle of interaction with the wall and soil. The axial force of the measuring point was affected by the construction site and the layout of the utility tunnel foundation pit. The location with large deformation of the steel sheet pile and the most unfavorable range from the top of the foundation pit was 0.5–0.7 H. For the mechanical analysis of the interaction between steel sheet pile and soil, the apparent cohesion and friction angle can be taken as 0.05 rH and φ/3–φ/2, respectively. The foundation pit in the water-rich soft soil area could operate stably with a better waterproof effect by the steel sheet pile under different working conditions.
Data from Assessing a Polygenic Risk Score for Lung Cancer Susceptibility in Non-Hispanic White and Black Populations
Authors: Trendowski Matthew R. , Lusk Christine M. , Wenzlaff Angela S. , Neslund-Dudas Christine , Gadgeel Shirish M. , Soubani Ayman O. , Schwartz Ann G.
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Background: Polygenic risk scores (PRS) have become an increasingly popular approach to evaluate cancer susceptibility, but have not adequately represented Black populations in model development.

Methods: We used a previously published lung cancer PRS based on 80 SNPs associated with lung cancer risk in the OncoArray cohort and validated in UK Biobank. The PRS was evaluated for association with lung cancer risk adjusting for age, sex, total pack-years, family history of lung cancer, history of COPD, and the top five principal components for genetic ancestry.

Results: Among the 80 PRS SNPs included in the score, 14 were significantly associated with lung cancer risk (p<0.05) in INHALE White participants, while there were no significant SNPs among INHALE Black participants. After adjusting for covariates, the PRS was significantly associated with risk in Whites (continuous score p=0.007), but not in Blacks (continuous score p=0.88). The PRS remained a statistically significant predictor of lung cancer risk in Whites ineligible for lung cancer screening under current USPSTF guidelines (p=0.02).

Conclusions: Using a previously validated PRS, we did find some predictive ability for lung cancer in INHALE White participants beyond traditional risk factors. However, this effect was not observed in Black participants, indicating the need to develop and validate ancestry-specific lung cancer risk models.

Impact: While a previously published lung cancer PRS was able to stratify White participants into different levels of risk, the model was not predictive in Blacks. Our findings highlight the need to develop and validate ancestry-specific lung cancer risk models.
Abbreviated Score to Assess Adherence to the 2018 WCRF/AICR Cancer Prevention Recommendations and Risk of Cancer in the UK Biobank
Authors: Malcomson Fiona C. , Parra-Soto Solange , Ho Frederick K. , Celis-Morales Carlos , Sharp Linda , Mathers John C.
Published: November 2023

Background:

The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF)/American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) Cancer Prevention Recommendations are lifestyle-based guidelines which aim to reduce cancer risk. This study investigated, in the UK Biobank, associations between an abbreviated score to assess adherence to these Recommendations and the risk of all cancers combined and of 14 cancers for which there is strong evidence for links with diet, adiposity, and physical activity.

Methods:

We used data from 288,802 UK Biobank participants (mean age 56.2 years), cancer-free at baseline. An abbreviated version of the 2018 WCRF/AICR Score was calculated to assess adherence to five Recommendations on (i) body weight, (ii) physical activity, (iii) fruits, vegetables, and dietary fiber, (iv) red and processed meat, and (v) alcohol. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze associations between the abbreviated score (range, 0–5 points) and cancer incidence, adjusting for confounders.

Results:

During a median follow-up of 8.2 years (interquartile range, 7.4–8.9), 23,448 participants were diagnosed with cancer. The abbreviated score was inversely associated with risk of cancer overall [HR: 0.93; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.92–0.95 per 1-point increment], and breast (HR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.87–0.94), colorectal (HR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.83–0.90), lung (HR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.84–0.94), kidney (HR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.76–0.90), pancreatic (HR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.79–0.94), uterine (HR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.73–0.86), esophageal (HR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.75–0.90), stomach (HR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.79–0.99), and liver (HR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.72–0.90) cancers.

Conclusions:

Greater adherence to the Cancer Prevention Recommendations, assessed using an abbreviated score, was associated with reduced risk of all cancers combined and of nine site-specific cancers.

Impact:

Our findings support compliance to these Recommendations for cancer prevention.
Cooperative Armoring of CAR and TCR T Cells by T Cell–Restricted IL15 and IL21 Universally Enhances Solid Tumor Efficacy
Authors: Nguyen Rosa , Doubrovina Ekaterina , Mousset Charlotte M. , Jin Benjamin Y. , Okada Reona , Zhang Xiyuan , Clavel Arina , Reyes-Gonzalez Jeyshka M. , Dyomin Vadim , Diaz Louis , Zhang Ling , Abbas Shahroze , Sun Ming , Hsieh Chao-Ming , Ho Mitchell , Shern Jack F. , Gulley James L. , Hinrichs Christian S.
Published: November 2023

Purpose:

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and T-cell receptor (TCR) T-cell therapies are effective in a subset of patients with solid tumors, but new approaches are needed to universally improve patient outcomes. Here, we developed a technology to leverage the cooperative effects of IL15 and IL21, two common cytokine-receptor gamma chain family members with distinct, pleiotropic effects on T cells and other lymphocytes, to enhance the efficacy of adoptive T cells.

Experimental Design:

We designed vectors that induce the constitutive expression of either membrane-tethered IL15, IL21, or IL15/IL21. We used clinically relevant preclinical models of transgenic CARs and TCRs against pediatric and adult solid tumors to determine the effect of the membrane-tethered cytokines on engineered T cells for human administration.

Results:

We found that self-delivery of these cytokines by CAR or TCR T cells prevents functional exhaustion by repeated stimulation and limits the emergence of dysfunctional natural killer (NK)-like T cells. Across different preclinical murine solid tumor models, we observed enhanced regression with each individual cytokine but the greatest antitumor efficacy when T cells were armored with both.

Conclusions:

The coexpression of membrane-tethered IL15 and IL21 represents a technology to enhance the resilience and function of engineered T cells against solid tumors and could be applicable to multiple therapy platforms and diseases.

See related commentary by Ruffin et al., p. 1431
Supplementary Table S8 from Transposable Elements Are Co-opted as Oncogenic Regulatory Elements by Lineage-Specific Transcription Factors in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Grillo Giacomo , Keshavarzian Tina , Linder Simon , Arlidge Christopher , Mout Lisanne , Nand Ankita , Teng Mona , Qamra Aditi , Zhou Stanley , Kron Ken J. , Murison Alex , Hawley James R. , Fraser Michael , van der Kwast Theodorus H. , Raj Ganesh V. , He Housheng Hansen , Zwart Wilbert , Lupien Mathieu
Published: November 2023

Top 5% transcription factor cistromes enriched at intestine transposable elements
Supplementary Data - Supplementary Table 7 from Neoadjuvant Durvalumab Alone or Combined with Novel Immuno-Oncology Agents in Resectable Lung Cancer: The Phase II NeoCOAST Platform Trial
Authors: Cascone Tina , Kar Gozde , Spicer Jonathan D. , García-Campelo Rosario , Weder Walter , Daniel Davey B. , Spigel David R. , Hussein Maen , Mazieres Julien , Oliveira Julio , Yau Edwin H. , Spira Alexander I. , Anagnostou Valsamo , Mager Raymond , Hamid Oday , Cheng Lin-Yang , Zheng Ying , Blando Jorge , Tan Tze Heng , Surace Michael , Rodriguez-Canales Jaime , Gopalakrishnan Vancheswaran , Sellman Bret R. , Grenga Italia , Soo-Hoo Yee , Kumar Rakesh , McGrath Lara , Forde Patrick M.
Published: November 2023

Supplementary Table 7. Tumor RNA sequencing.
(File too large to be included in main supplementary file).
Supplementary Table S2 from Transposable Elements Are Co-opted as Oncogenic Regulatory Elements by Lineage-Specific Transcription Factors in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Grillo Giacomo , Keshavarzian Tina , Linder Simon , Arlidge Christopher , Mout Lisanne , Nand Ankita , Teng Mona , Qamra Aditi , Zhou Stanley , Kron Ken J. , Murison Alex , Hawley James R. , Fraser Michael , van der Kwast Theodorus H. , Raj Ganesh V. , He Housheng Hansen , Zwart Wilbert , Lupien Mathieu
Published: November 2023

Tissue-state enriched transposable element families vs pluripotent stem cells
Supplementary Table S10 from Transposable Elements Are Co-opted as Oncogenic Regulatory Elements by Lineage-Specific Transcription Factors in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Grillo Giacomo , Keshavarzian Tina , Linder Simon , Arlidge Christopher , Mout Lisanne , Nand Ankita , Teng Mona , Qamra Aditi , Zhou Stanley , Kron Ken J. , Murison Alex , Hawley James R. , Fraser Michael , van der Kwast Theodorus H. , Raj Ganesh V. , He Housheng Hansen , Zwart Wilbert , Lupien Mathieu
Published: November 2023

Top 5% transcription factor cistromes enriched at lung transposable elements