bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving Pt Utilization and Electrochemical Activity of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Through Surface Modification of Carbon Nanotube Catalyst Support
Authors: Ganguly Dipsikha , Ramanujam Kothandaraman , Ramaprabhu Sundara
Published: January 2024

The main hindrances in commercializing hydrogen fuel cells are the high catalyst cost, sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) kinetics, and low durability over long cycling. Herein, a low‐Pt‐based efficient cathode catalyst decorated on nitrogen‐doped carbon nanotube (CNT) support is developed. The effect of N doping and chemical etching of CNTs on the performance of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) are demonstrated in this work. Half‐cell studies showed that Pt decorated N‐doped etched carbon nanotubes (Pt/NECNT) exhibit higher electrochemical surface area, onset potential, specific activity, and mass activity than Pt/CNT, Pt/ECNT, Pt/NCNT, and commercial Pt/C samples. In contrast to the commercial Pt/C catalyst, minimal loss in limiting current density and half‐wave potential is observed for Pt/NECNT catalyst even after the 10000th ADT cycle. From single‐cell study, the peak power density of 950 mW cm−2 and operational power density of 840 mW cm−2 (at 0.6 V) are obtained using Pt/NECNT cathode catalyst at 80 °C with low Pt loading. The remarkable enhancement in the electrocatalytic activity, kinetic property, and high durability of Pt/NECNT are ascribed to the N doping and surface modification of CNT support.
3D spheroid culturing of Astyanax mexicanus liver‐derived cell lines recapitulates distinct transcriptomic and metabolic states of in vivo tissue environment
Authors: Biswas Tathagata , Rajendran Naresh , Hassan Huzaifa , Li Hua , Zhao Chongbei , Rohner Nicolas
Published: January 2024

In vitro assays are crucial tools for gaining detailed insights into various biological processes, including metabolism. Cave morphs of the river‐dwelling fish species, Astyanax mexicanus, have adapted their metabolism allowing them to thrive in the biodiversity‐deprived and nutrient‐limited environment of caves. Liver‐derived cells from the cave and river morphs of A. mexicanus have proven to be excellent in vitro resources to better understand the unique metabolism of these fish. However, the current 2D cultures have not fully captured the complex metabolic profile of the Astyanax liver. It is known that 3D culturing can modulate the transcriptomic state of cells when compared to its 2D monolayer culture. Therefore, to broaden the possibilities of the in vitro system by modeling a wider gamut of metabolic pathways, we cultured the liver‐derived Astyanax cells of both surface and cavefish into 3D spheroids. We successfully established 3D cultures at various cell seeding densities for several weeks and characterized the resultant transcriptomic and metabolic variations. We found that the 3D cultured Astyanax cells exhibit an altered transcriptomic profile and consequently represent a wider range of metabolic pathways, including cell cycle changes and antioxidant activities, associated with liver functioning as compared to its monolayer culture. Enzymatic assay measuring antioxidants in 2D culture and 3D spheroids also revealed enhanced antioxidative capacity of 3D cultured spheroids, in line with the differential gene expression data. Additionally, the spheroids also exhibited surface and cave‐specific metabolic signatures, making it a suitable system for evolutionary studies associated with cave adaptation. Notably, cavefish derived spheroids enriched for genes responding to xenobiotic stimulus, while the ones from surface enriched for immune response, both of which resonated with known physiologically adaptations associated with each morph. Taken together, the liver‐derived spheroids prove to be a promising in vitro model for widening our understanding of metabolism in A. mexicanus and of vertebrates in general.
A Highly Chemically Robust 3D Interpenetrated MOF Heterogeneous Catalyst for the Synthesis of Hantzsch 1,4‐Dihydropyridines and Drug Molecules
Authors: Sahoo Rupam , Pramanik Bikram , Mondal Supriya , Das Madhab C.
Published: January 2024

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted immense attention as efficient heterogeneous catalysts over other solid catalysts, however, their chemical environment instability often limits their catalytic potential. Herein, utilizing a flexible unexplored tetra‐acid ligand and employing the mixed ligand approach, a 3D interpenetrated robust framework is strategically developed, IITKGP‐51 (IITKGP stands for Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur), which retained its crystallinity over a wide range of pH solution (4–12). Having ample open metal sites (OMSs), IITKGP‐51 is explored as a heterogeneous catalyst in one‐pot Hantzsch condensation reaction, with low catalyst loading for a broad range of substrates. The synthesis of drug molecules remains one of the most significant and emergent areas of organic and medicinal chemistry. Considering such practical utility, biologically important Nemadipine B and Nifedipine drug molecules (calcium channel protein inhibitor) are synthesized for the first time by using this catalyst and fully characterized via SC‐XRD and other spectroscopic methods. This report inaugurates the usage of a MOF material as a catalyst for the synthesis of drug molecules.
Recent Progress on Quantum Dot Patterning Technologies for Commercialization of QD‐LEDs: Current Status, Future Prospects, and Exploratory Approaches
Authors: Lee Jaeyeop , Jo Hyeona , Choi Minseok , Park Sangwook , Oh Jiyoon , Lee Kyoungeun , Bae Yeyun , Rhee Seunghyun , Roh Jeongkyun
Published: January 2024

Colloidal quantum dots (QDs) are widely regarded as advanced emissive materials with significant potential for display applications owing to their excellent optical properties such as high color purity, near‐unity photoluminescence quantum yield, and size‐tunable emission color. Building upon these attractive attributes, QDs have successfully garnered attention in the display market as down‐conversion luminophores and now venturing into the realm of self‐emissive displays, exemplified by QD light‐emitting diodes (QD‐LEDs). However, despite these advancements, there remains a relatively limited body of research on QD patterning technologies, which are crucial prerequisites for the successful commercialization of QD‐LEDs. Thus, in this review, an overview of the current status and prospects of QD patterning technologies to accelerate the commercialization of QD‐LEDs is provided. Within this review, a comprehensive investigation of three prevailing patterning methods: optical lithography, transfer printing, and inkjet printing are conducted. Furthermore, several exploratory QD patterning techniques that offer distinct advantages are introduced. This study not only paves the way for successful commercialization but also extends the potential application of QD‐LEDs into uncharted frontiers.
Lymph node metastases and recurrence in pT1 colorectal cancer: Prediction with the International Budding Consortium Score—A retrospective, multi‐centric study
Authors: Dawson Heather , Bokhorst John‐Melle , Studer Linda , Vieth Michael , Oguz Erdogan Ayse Selcen , Kus Öztürk Sonay , Kirsch Richard , Brockmoeller Scarlett , Cathomas Gieri , Buslei Rolf , Fink David , Roumet Marie , Zlobec Inti , van der Laak Jeroen , Nagtegaal Iris D. , Lugli Alessandro
Published: January 2024

Background

The International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting proposes histological tumour type, lymphovascular invasion, tumour grade, perineural invasion, extent, and dimensions of invasion as risk factors for lymph node metastases and tumour progression in completely endoscopically resected pT1 colorectal cancer (CRC).

Objective

The aim of the study was to propose a predictive and reliable score to optimise the clinical management of endoscopically resected pT1 CRC patients.

Methods

This multi‐centric, retrospective International Budding Consortium (IBC) study included an international pT1 CRC cohort of 565 patients. All cases were reviewed by eight expert gastrointestinal pathologists. All risk factors were reported according to international guidelines. Tumour budding and immune response (CD8+ T‐cells) were assessed with automated models using artificial intelligence. We used the information on risk factors and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression to develop a prediction model and generate a score to predict the occurrence of lymph node metastasis or cancer recurrence.

Results

The IBC prediction score included the following parameters: lymphovascular invasion, tumour buds, infiltration depth and tumour grade. The score has an acceptable discrimination power (area under the curve of 0.68 [95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.61–0.75]; 0.64 [95% CI 0.57–0.71] after internal validation). At a cut‐off of 6.8 points to discriminate high‐and low‐risk patients, the score had a sensitivity and specificity of 0.9 [95% CI 0.8–0.95] and 0.26 [95% 0.22, 0.3], respectively.

Conclusion

The IBC score is based on well‐established risk factors and is a promising tool with clinical utility to support the management of pT1 CRC patients.
Optimization of a pre-concentration method for the analysis of mercury isotopes in low-concentration foliar samples
Authors: Ali Saeed Waqar , Božič Dominik , Vijayakumaran Nair Sreekanth , Živković Igor , Gačnik Jan , Andron Teodor-Daniel , Jagodic Hudobivnik Marta , Kocman David , Horvat Milena
Published: January 2024

Hg isotope analysis in samples from background regions is constrained by the presence of low Hg concentration and therefore requires a pre-concentration method. Existing Hg pre-concentration methods are constrained by long sample processing time and limited sample loading capacity. Using foliar samples as a test case, an optimized Hg pre-concentration method is presented that involves the microwave-assisted digestion of samples for Hg isotope analysis with the addition of a pre-digestion step. Microwave-digested foliar samples and CRMs were transferred to an impinger, reduced with SnCl2, and collected in a 2.25 mL concentrated inverse aqua regia (3:1 HNO3:HCl, v/v). This resulted in an optimal acid concentration in the solution ideal for analysis on MC-ICP-MS. The time for purging with Hg-free N2 was optimized to 30 min and the efficiency of the pre-concentration method was tested using a combination of approaches. Tests performed on pure reagents and matrix of foliar samples spiked with 197Hg radiotracer showed recoveries averaging 99 ± 1.7% and 100 ± 3.0%, respectively. Mercury at concentrations as low as 1.83 ng g−1 was pre-concentrated by digesting aliquots of foliage samples in individual digestion vessels. Recoveries following their pre-concentration averaged 99 ± 6.0%, whereas recoveries of 95 ± 4.7% and 95 ± 2.5% were achieved for NIST SRM 1575a (pine needle) and reagents spiked with NIST SRM 3133, respectively. Analysis using multicollector-ICP-MS showed low fractionation of δ202Hg during sample pre-concentration with no significant mass-independent fractionation. The proposed method is a relatively simple and robust way to prepare Hg samples for Hg isotopic analysis and is suitable even for complex biological matrices.

Graphical abstract
Natural products targeting the MAPK-signaling pathway in cancer: overview
Authors: Shi Aiwen , Liu Li , Li Shuang , Qi Bin
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This article summarizes natural products that target the MAPK-signaling pathway in cancer therapy. The classification, chemical structures, and anti-cancer mechanisms of these natural products are elucidated, and comprehensive information is provided on their potential use in cancer therapy.

Methods

Using the PubMed database, we searched for keywords, including “tumor”, “cancer”, “natural product”, “phytochemistry”, “plant chemical components”, and “MAPK-signaling pathway”. We also screened for compounds with well-defined structures that targeting the MAPK-signaling pathway and have anti-cancer effects. We used Kingdraw software and Adobe Photoshop software to draw the chemical compound structural diagrams.

Results

A total of 131 papers were searched, from which 85 compounds with well-defined structures were selected. These compounds have clear mechanisms for targeting cancer treatment and are mainly related to the MAPK-signaling pathway. Examples include eupatilin, carvacrol, oridonin, sophoridine, diosgenin, and juglone. These chemical components are classified as flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids, alkaloids, steroidal saponins, and quinones.

Conclusions

Certain MAPK pathway inhibitors have been used for clinical treatment. However, the clinical feedback has not been promising because of genomic instability, drug resistance, and side effects. Natural products have few side effects, good medicinal efficacy, a wide range of sources, individual heterogeneity of biological activity, and are capable of treating disease from multiple targets. These characteristics make natural products promising drugs for cancer treatment.
The effect of a post-anaesthesia high-care unit (PAHCU) admission on mobilization, length of stay and in-hospital mortality post-surgery in low energy neck of femur fracture patients
Authors: Essa S. , Venter S. , Jordaan J. D.
Published: January 2024

Purpose/aim

With an ageing population and an increase in fragility fractures of the hip (FFH), the role of an anaesthetist is evolving to include more peri-operative care. A post-anaesthesia high-care unit (PAHCU) should enhance care in post-operative patients. To our knowledge, there are no studies that have investigated the effect of a PAHCU admission on post-operative outcomes after FFH. This study aimed to compare post-operative outcomes of FFH patients admitted to PAHCU versus a standard post-operative orthopaedic ward (POOW).

Methodology

A retrospective cohort study was conducted on adult patients with FFH who underwent surgery between January 2019 and December 2020 at our institution. Data were sourced from electronic medical records. SPSS version 28 was used to analyse data.

Results

A total of 231 patients were included. The PAHCU group (n = 35) displayed a higher burden of chronic illness and higher peri-operative risk scores as compared to the POOW group (n = 196). Median time to mobilize (TTM) in PAHCU was 84 h vs. 45 h in POOW group (p = 0.013). Median length of stay (LOS) in PAHCU was 133 h vs. 94 h in POOW (p = 0.001). The in-hospital mortality was 2.9% (n = 1) for PAHCU and 3.6% (n = 7) for POOW (p = 1). The 30-day mortality was 11.8% (n = 4) for PAHCU and 10.1% (n = 19) in POOW.

Conclusion

PAHCU admission resulted in delayed time to surgery and TTM, together with prolonged LOS, compared to those managed in POOW. However, these mortality rates remained comparable in both groups. This study contributes valuable insights into post-operative care of FFH patients in a resource-poor setting.
Smart house system for safety of elderly living alone based on camera and PIR sensor
Authors: Wang Yichen , Wu Yutian , Zhang Shuwei , Ogai Harutoshi , Hirai Katsumi , Tateno Shigeyuki
Published: January 2024

With the improvement of human life quality, life expectancy generally increases. As a result, more and more elderly people living alone appear. Recently, the safety problems of the elderly living alone have attracted more and more attention from the public. Due to living alone, the elderly cannot be found at the first time when an accident occurs indoors or out, and the rescue time is delayed. This article proposes a way to use the speed up module to realize real-time face detection on the Raspberry Pi and optimize the processing of PIR sensor signals and write a logic system based on the camera and PIR signals to record and analyze the life of the elderly living alone and warning system to their family members.
Chitinases as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Xu Aoling , Luo Yujun , Tang Yudi , Yang Fen , Gao Xiaolian , Qiao Guiyuan , Zhu Xinhong , Zhou Jing
Published: January 2024

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons, and there is currently a lack of reliable diagnostic biomarkers. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate CHIT1, CHI3L1, and CHI3L2 levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or blood and their diagnostic potential in ALS patients. A systematic, comprehensive search was performed of peer-reviewed English-language articles published before April 1, 2023, in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. After a thorough screening, 13 primary articles were included, and their chitinases-related data were extracted for systematic review and meta-analysis. In ALS patients, the CSF CHIT1 levels were significantly elevated compared to controls with healthy control (HC) (SMD, 1.92; 95% CI, 0.78 – 3.06; P < 0.001). CHIT1 levels were elevated in the CSF of ALS patients compared to other neurodegenerative diseases (ONDS) control (SMD, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.22 – 1.27; P < 0.001) and exhibited an even more substantial increase when compared to ALS-mimicking diseases (AMDS) (SMD, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.35 – 1.94, P < 0.001). Similarly, the CSF CHI3L1 levels were significantly higher in ALS patients compared to HC (SMD, 3.16; 95% CI, 1.26 – 5.06, P < 0.001). CHI3L1 levels were elevated in the CSF of ALS patients compared to ONDS (SMD, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.32 – 1.19; P = 0.017) and exhibited a more pronounced increase when compared to AMDS (SMD, 1.92; 95% CI, 0.41 – 3.42; P < 0.001). The levels of CSF chitinases in the ALS patients showed a significant increase, supporting the role of CSF chitinases as diagnostic biomarkers for ALS.
Association of nutrition, physical activity, and morbidity among older adults
Authors: Faronbi Joel Olayiwola , Awoleye Tolulope Elizabeth , Idowu Olanrewaju Augustine , Olagbegi Oladapo Michael
Published: January 2024

Aim

Globally, the burden of non-communicable diseases is increasing rapidly, but little is known about the interactive effects of nutrition, physical activity (PA), and morbidity in older adults in Nigeria. This study examined the associations among nutrition, PA, and morbidity among older adults in Nigeria.

Subject and methods

A cross-sectional design was adopted, and a multistage sampling technique was used to survey 330 older adult residents of a town in Nigeria. Nutritional status and physical activity levels were assessed using the full Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire, respectively. It also included questions about the presence of health problems when diagnosed and respondents' perceptions of their health.

Results

About 62% of the respondents had at least one chronic illness, and the prevalent conditions included musculoskeletal (25.6%), heart conditions (16.6%), and ear/eye problems (9.7%). Findings further showed that 21.4% were at risk of malnutrition and 1.9% were malnourished. Also, 31.6% reported low PA participation. Morbidity was significantly associated with age (p < 0.000), level of education (p < 0.000), income (p < 0.000), PA (p < 0.000), and nutrition (p = 0.045). In addition, factors that predicted the presence or absence of chronic illness included nutrition (OR = 0.395, p = 0.016), high PA (OR = 0.077, p = 0.000), age (OR = 1.063, p = 0.006), BMI overweight (OR = 0.127, p < .000), education (OR = 1.835, p = 0.001), artisan occupation (OR = 3.382, p = 0.006), and income of 10,000–20,000 Nigerian naira per month (OR = 0.363, p = 0.023).

Conclusion

Chronic illness is prevalent among older adults and is associated with poor nutrition, physical inactivity, and certain demographic characteristics.
Characterizing attitudes related to future child-bearing in young women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer
Authors: Umashankar Saumya , Li Moming , Blevins Kaylee , Kim Mi-Ok , Majure Melanie , Park John , Huppert Laura A. , Melisko Michelle , Rugo Hope S. , Esserman Laura , Chien A. Jo
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This study characterizes attitudes and decision-making around the desire for future children in young women newly diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer and assesses how clinical factors and perceived risk may impact these attitudes.

Methods

This is a prospective study in women < 45 years with newly diagnosed stage 1–3 breast cancer. Patients completed a REDCap survey on fertility and family-building in the setting of hypothetical risk scenarios. Patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics were collected through surveys and medical record.

Results

Of 140 study patients [median age = 41.4 (range 23–45)], 71 (50.7%) were interested in having children. Women interested in future childbearing were younger than those who were not interested (mean = 35.2 [SD = 5.2] vs 40.9 years [3.90], respectively, p < 0.001), and more likely to be childless (81% vs 31%, p < 0.001). 54 women (77.1% of patients interested in future children) underwent/planned to undergo oocyte/embryo cryopreservation before chemotherapy. Interest in future childbearing decreased with increasing hypothetical recurrence risk, however 17% of patients wanted to have children despite a 75–100% hypothetical recurrence risk. 24.3% of patients wanted to conceive < 2 years from diagnosis, and 35% of patients with hormone receptor positive tumors were not willing to complete 5 years of hormone therapy.

Conclusion

Many young women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer prioritize childbearing. Interest in having a biologic child was not associated with standard prognostic risk factors. Interest decreased with increasing hypothetical recurrence risk, though some patients remained committed to future childbearing despite near certain hypothetical risk. Individual risk assessment should be included in family-planning discussions throughout the continuum of care as it can influence decision-making.
First report of bacteria causing Acute Oak Decline on Quercus robur in Slovakia
Authors: Tkaczyk Miłosz , Sikora Katarzyna , Galko Juraj
Published: January 2024

Acute Oak Decline (AOD) is an oak disease that was first described in the United Kingdom. From the time the first symptoms appear, the disease can kill trees even within 6 years. One of the factors causing this disease is the action of the pathogenic bacteria Brenneria goodwinii, Rahnella victoriana and Gibbsiella quercinecans. In recent years, a deterioration in the condition of oak stands has been observed throughout Slovakia. These trees show exudates characteristic of AOD, which may indicate the presence of pathogenic bacteria. Samples of such symptomatic exudates from tree trunks were collected and analysed on 20 different plots in central and western Slovakia. Using real-time PCR, the presence of Brenneria goodwinii and Gibbsiella quercinecans was confirmed in ten and three stands, respectively. This report is the first information about the observation of these bacteria in weakened stands of Quercus robur in Slovakia.
Management of saltwater intrusion using 3D numerical modelling: a first for Pacific Island country of Vanuatu
Authors: Sharan Ashneel , Datta Bithin , Lal Alvin , Kotra Krishna K.
Published: January 2024

Small island countries like Vanuatu are facing the brunt of climate change, sea level rise (SLR), tropical cyclones, and limited or declining access to freshwater. The Tagabe coastal aquifer in Port Vila (the capital of Vanuatu) shows the presence of salinity, indicating saltwater intrusion (SWI). This study aims to develop and evaluate effective SWI management strategies for Tagabe coastal aquifer. To manage SWI, the numerical simulation model for the study area was developed using the SEAWAT code. The flow model was developed using MODFLOW and the transport model was developed using MT3DMS. Whereby SEAWAT solved flow and transport equations simultaneously. The model was calibrated, and different scenarios were evaluated for the management of SWI. The SLR was also considered in the model simulations. The results indicated that increased population, pumping rates, and SLR affect the SWI rates. To manage the SWI, we introduced hydraulic barriers like barrier wells and injection wells which effectively managed SWI in Tagabe coastal aquifer. The results from this study are significantly important whereby, the water managers, site owners, and governing bodies can use the management strategies presented in this study to create policies and regulations for managing SWI rates in Port Vila. Additionally, the water industry, private businesses, and investors who wish to extract groundwater from the Tagabe can use this study as a reference for daily or yearly freshwater production rates without the risk of SWI.
Analysis of production routes for silicon carbide using air as carbon source empowering negative emissions
Authors: Mühlbauer Andreas , Keiner Dominik , Galimova Tansu , Breyer Christian
Published: January 2024

A rapid defossilisation of the industry sector is required to stop further greenhouse gas emissions and to curb global warming. Additionally, to avoid irreversible consequences caused by climate change, the deployment of negative emission technologies is required to reduce the carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration in Earth’s atmosphere to a sustainable level. A novel approach to store gaseous CO2 from direct air capture facilities in solid silicon carbide (SiC) is presented. A chain of established processes to produce SiC from renewable electricity and air is evaluated in terms of energy and mass balances. Furthermore, possible fields of SiC utilisation are considered. Electricity-based SiC (e-SiC) can serve the growing global market for technical ceramics and can possibly be used to tackle increasing construction sand shortages in the construction industry by partially substituting sand. Calculations of the levelised cost of carbon dioxide removal show that storing ambient CO2 in solid SiC that can be subsequently sold on the world market can eventually create profit. In 2050, a net benefit of 259 €/tCO2 or 631 €/tSiC can be realised if the SiC product is sold at the world market with additional carbon compensation. Therefore, the proposed SiC production chain might be able to challenge conventionally produced SiC, while empowering negative emissions. In 2050, the net CO2 emission potential is limited to about 290 MtCO2/a for technical ceramics, but may reach up to 13.6 GtCO2/a for construction sand. Results show that e-SiC production is economically feasible for technical ceramics but not for construction sand without further process cost decrease. Alternative processes to produce e-SiC are described and evaluated. Future research opportunities are discussed.
Gatekeepers or gatecrashers? The inside connection in editorial board publications of Turkish national journals
Authors: Tutuncu Lokman
Published: January 2024

This study investigates publication portfolio of 2684 editors in 255 Turkish university journals in Social Sciences. It argues that semi-closed structures of university journals are places fostering insider culture and editors engaging in inside publication practice are likely to publish inside articles of their colleagues from the same institution. The research relies on the contrast between inside articles and international articles to quantify editors’ publication behaviour. Results show that editors demonstrate widespread insider behaviour and rarely publish international articles. Editors’ inside articles correspond to nearly one third of their national research output and outnumber Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) publications by 3.5 to 1. Two measures, board inside articles and inside-to-SSCI article ratio are used to test the association between editor and journal inside publications and show that editors publishing through inside connections facilitate publication of inside papers. At the individual level, editorial seniority, academic seniority and academic experience are related to insider behaviour, while female editors and editors with overseas PhD degrees are negatively associated. Education journal editors are the most prolific SSCI publishers (2 papers per editor) while Faculty of Science and Literature journal editors are the most prolific insiders (6.6 inside papers per editor). Results indicate an underqualification problem and highlight the importance of meritocratic editor selection to mitigate insider bias.
Valdeprovedo open-air site: a knapping event in the early Upper Paleolithic of the Sierra de Atapuerca (Burgos, Spain)
Authors: Santamaría Marta , Navazo Marta , Benito-Calvo Alfonso , Medialdea Alicia , Carbonell Eudald
Published: January 2024

In this paper, we present the site of Valdeprovedo (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos), an open-air Paleolithic site. This site is attractive for study and research for three main reasons. First, it is an open-air site with an extraordinarily well-preserved lithic assemblage that corresponds to a very short-lived event. Second, in this small area, refits have been achieved with a high refitting rate, which allows us to reconstruct the action carried out in this place during a specific moment, around 28 ka. And third, this is the first site of this chronology that has been documented in the Sierra de Atapuerca, providing new data on the inland population of the Iberian Peninsula by Upper Paleolithic groups.
Context-flexible cartography with Siamese topological neural networks
Authors: Hartono Pitoyo
Published: January 2024

Cartography is a technique for creating maps, which are graphical representations of spatial information. Traditional cartography involves the creation of geographical data, such as locations of countries, geographical features of mountains, rivers, and oceans, and celestial objects. However, cartography has recently been utilized to display various data, such as antigenic signatures, graphically. Hence, it is natural to consider a new cartography that can flexibly deal with various data types. This study proposes a model of Siamese topological neural networks consisting of a pair of hierarchical neural networks, each with a low-dimensional internal layer for creating context-flexible maps. The proposed Siamese topological neural network transfers high-dimensional data with various contexts into their low-dimensional spatial representations on a map that humans can use to gain insights from the data. Here, it is enough to define a metric of difference between an arbitrary pair of data instances for training the proposed neural network. As the metric can be arbitrarily defined, the proposed neural network realizes context-flexible cartography useful for visual data analysis. This paper applies the proposed network for visualizing various demographic data.
Automatic Food Recognition Using Deep Convolutional Neural Networks with Self-attention Mechanism
Authors: Abiyev Rahib , Adepoju Joseph
Published: January 2024

The significance of food in human health and well-being cannot be overemphasized. Nowadays, in our dynamic life, people are increasingly concerned about their health due to increased nutritional ailments. For this reason, mobile food-tracking applications that require a reliable and robust food classification system are gaining popularity. To address this, we propose a robust food recognition model using deep convolutional neural networks with a self-attention mechanism (FRCNNSAM). By training multiple FRCNNSAM structures with varying parameters, we combine their predictions through averaging. To prevent over-fitting and under-fitting data augmentation to generate extra training data, regularization to avoid excessive model complexity was used. The FRCNNSAM model is tested on two novel datasets: Food-101 and MA Food-121. The model achieved an impressive accuracy of 96.40% on the Food-101 dataset and 95.11% on MA Food-121. Compared to baseline transfer learning models, the FRCNNSAM model surpasses performance by 8.12%. Furthermore, the evaluation on random internet images demonstrates the model's strong generalization ability, rendering it suitable for food image recognition and classification tasks.
Generalised Jeffery's equations for rapidly spinning particles. Part 1. Spheroids
Authors: Dalwadi M.P. , Moreau C. , Gaffney E.A. , Ishimoto K. , Walker B.J.
Published: January 2024

The observed behaviour of passive objects in simple flows can be surprisingly intricate, and is complicated further by object activity. Inspired by the motility of bacterial swimmers, in this two-part study we examine the three-dimensional motion of rigid active particles in shear Stokes flow, focusing on bodies that induce rapid rotation as part of their activity. In Part 1 we develop a multiscale framework to investigate these emergent dynamics and apply it to simple spheroidal objects. In Part 2 (Dalwadi et al., J. Fluid Mech., vol. 979, 2024, A2) we apply our framework to understand the emergent dynamics of more complex shapes; helicoidal objects with chirality. Via a multiple scales asymptotic analysis for nonlinear systems, we systematically derive emergent equations of motion for long-term trajectories that explicitly account for the strong (leading-order) effects of fast spinning. Supported by numerical examples, we constructively link these effective dynamics to the well-known Jeffery's orbits for passive spheroids, deriving an explicit closed-form expression for the effective shape of the active particle, broadening the scope of Jeffery's seminal study to spinning spheroids.
Can Confirmation Bias Improve Group Learning?
Authors: Gabriel Nathan , O’Connor Cailin
Published: January 2024

Confirmation bias has been widely studied for its role in failures of reasoning. Individuals exhibiting confirmation bias fail to engage with information that contradicts their current beliefs, and, as a result, can fail to abandon inaccurate beliefs. But although most investigations of confirmation bias focus on individual learning, human knowledge is typically developed within a social structure. We use network models to show that moderate confirmation bias often improves group learning. However, a downside is that a stronger form of confirmation bias can hurt the knowledge-producing capacity of the community.
Trajectories of spirituality: Producing and assessing cultural evidence at the International Criminal Court
Authors: D'hondt Sigurd , Pérez-León-Acevedo Juan-Pablo , Ferraz de Almeida Fabio , Barrett Elena
Published: January 2024

In this article, we examine the production and assessment of evidence about spirit beliefs in the international criminal trial of Ugandan rebel commander Dominic Ongwen, submitted by the defense to show that their client committed the crimes he is accused of under duress. This duress defense was ultimately rejected by the ICC Judges, based on a binary understanding of ‘believing’ that depicts Ongwen and other LRA commanders as impostors. However, our analysis of how this evidence about Acholi spirituality is entextualized in testimony-taking and recontextualized in the Judgment reveals that this belief-binary is not exclusively the outcome of the Judges’ recontextualization efforts. In fact, the foundations are already established at entextualization stage, in the questioning by the defense. These continuities, we argue, offer a fresh perspective on the notion of text trajectory, redirecting attention to the underlying ‘grammar’ of the legal language game. (International Criminal Court, text trajectory, entextualization, recontextualization, evidence, spirit belief, Dominic Ongwen, Uganda)*
Welfare, egalitarianism, and polarization: the politics of noncontributory social programs
Authors: Svensen Eric Paul
Published: January 2024

This study analyzes the link between egalitarian ideals and the rise in party polarization in Congress. To demonstrate how philosophical differences over conceptions of fairness, equality, and justice help explain the recent growth in partisanship over the past few decades, I argue one overlooked explanatory factor which assists in capturing this ideological rift is noncontributory welfare spending. Recovering annual ideal point estimates between 1947 and 2018 that are comparable with annual federal spending, I use multivariate time series models and find convincing evidence which suggests welfare outlays have a strong short- and long-run effect on polarization. Moreover, analysis of the roll call record also shows when ideal point estimates are recovered by specific policy area, lawmakers exhibit higher levels of ideological separation on welfare compared to, among others, policies such as defense and transportation. Robustness checks confirm these findings also hold even when controlling for income inequality.
Islamic religious behaviors and civic engagement in Europe and North America
Authors: Westfall Aubrey
Published: January 2024

This paper analyzes relationships between Islamic religious behaviors and civic engagement in Europe and North America. Using data from an original survey of Muslims in Canada, France, Germany, the UK, and the United States, it finds that Muslim religious behaviors relate to civic behaviors in varied ways. The conventional distinction between public and private religious behaviors does not graft perfectly on to Islamic religious behaviors, but the way Islamic religious behaviors straddle the public-private divide help explain their relationships with civic behaviors. Mosque attendance, an example of public religious behavior, is positively associated with secular organizational membership and mainstream political behaviors, and negatively associated with protest activity. Private, or quasi-private, religious behaviors are more commonly associated with protest activities. There are some national-level differences in patterns of civic engagement after controlling for other determinants, but not many, suggesting similar mechanisms mobilize and facilitate Muslim civic incorporation across national contexts. The results suggest that Islamic religious behaviors create diverse opportunities for Muslims to engage as civic citizens.
Adaptations in wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum) flowering time, Part 1: Individual-based modeling of a polygenic trait
Authors: Somerville Gayle J. , Ashworth Michael B. , Beckie Hugh J.
Published: January 2024

This study investigated replicating six generations of glasshouse-based flowering date selection in wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum L.) using an adaptation of the population model SOMER (Spatial Orientated Modelling of Evolutionary Resistance). This individual-based model was chosen because it could be altered to contain varying numbers of genes, along with varying levels of environmental influence on the phenotype (namely the heritability). Accurate replication of six generations of genetic change that had occurred in a previous glasshouse-based selection was achieved, without intermediate adjustments. This study found that multiple copies of just two genes were required to reproduce the polygenic flowering time adaptations demonstrated in that previous research. The model included major effect type M1 genes, with linkage and crossing over, and minor effect type M2 genes undergoing independent assortment. Within the model, transmissibility (heritability of each gene type) was parameterized at 0.60 for the M1 genes and 0.45 for the M2 genes. The serviceable parameterization of the genetics of flowering in R. raphanistrum within a population model means that simulated examinations of the effects of external weed control on flowering time adaptations are now more feasible. An accurate and simplified Mendelian-based model replicating the adaptive shifts of flowering time that is controlled by a complex array of genes is useful in predicting life-cycle adaptations to evade weed control measures such as harvest weed seed control, which apply intense adaptive selections on traits that affect seed retention at harvest, including flowering time.
Oceanic Plateau and Spreading Ridge Subduction Accompanying Arc Reversal in the Solomon Islands
Authors: Taylor B. , Benyshek E. K.
Published: January 2024

We study the collision of the Ontong Java Plateau, reversal of the Solomon Islands arc, and subduction of the Woodlark Basin spreading ridge in the southwest Pacific. Double‐sided subduction and intra‐arc deformation, not just polarity reversal, characterize the rapid Australia‐Pacific plate convergence. The rifted margins of the 0–6.2‐Ma Woodlark Basin separate its unflexed young lithosphere without a trench from the older flexed lithosphere with >8‐km‐deep trenches subducting to either side. A gap evident in the seismicity and tomography between the NE‐subducted slabs of the Solomon Sea and Australia plates indicates that the Woodlark lithosphere likely melts and/or is quickly (<1 m.y.) resorbed into the mantle. A section of the Pacific Plate remains attached within the gap and provides the slab pull to form the Malaita accretionary prism. Quaternary arc‐composition volcanoes that occur on both sides of the Woodlark Basin subduction front are not sourced from a mantle wedge overlying a Wadati‐Benioff zone, but come from and through breaks in the young incoming and subducting lithosphere and the overturning mantle beneath. Though the basin is too weak to sustain plate flexure, arc volcanoes on the subducting crust result in locally strong coupling to the forearc, manifest by tsunamigenic earthquakes. At 150–400‐km depth, the subducted slabs under the Solomon Islands are near vertical. They are near‐horizontal between the 410 and 660‐km mantle discontinuities beneath the Woodlark Basin and further south, whereas beneath the Solomon Sea Basin they dip southwest and penetrate the 660‐km discontinuity, having been detached by the north‐dipping Solomon Sea slab.
Neurogenesis-independent mechanisms of MRI-detectable hippocampal volume increase following electroconvulsive stimulation
Authors: Abe Yoshifumi , Yokoyama Kiichi , Kato Tomonobu , Yagishita Sho , Tanaka Kenji F. , Takamiya Akihiro
Published: January 2024

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the most effective psychiatric treatments but the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. In vivo human magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have consistently reported ECT-induced transient hippocampal volume increases, and an animal model of ECT (electroconvulsive stimulation: ECS) was shown to increase neurogenesis. However, a causal relationship between neurogenesis and MRI-detectable hippocampal volume increases following ECT has not been verified. In this study, mice were randomly allocated into four groups, each undergoing a different number of ECS sessions (e.g., 0, 3, 6, 9). T2-weighted images were acquired using 11.7-tesla MRI. A whole brain voxel-based morphometry analysis was conducted to identify any ECS-induced brain volume changes. Additionally, a histological examination with super-resolution microscopy was conducted to investigate microstructural changes in the brain regions that showed volume changes following ECS. Furthermore, parallel experiments were performed on X-ray-irradiated mice to investigate the causal relationship between neurogenesis and ECS-related volume changes. As a result, we revealed for the first time that ECS induced MRI-detectable, dose-dependent hippocampal volume increase in mice. Furthermore, increased hippocampal volumes following ECS were seen even in mice lacking neurogenesis, suggesting that neurogenesis is not required for the increase. The comprehensive histological analyses identified an increase in excitatory synaptic density in the ventral CA1 as the major contributor to the observed hippocampal volume increase following ECS. Our findings demonstrate that modification of synaptic structures rather than neurogenesis may be the underlying biological mechanism of ECT/ECS-induced hippocampal volume increase.
Zebrafish xenograft as a tool for the study of colorectal cancer: a review
Authors: Fontana Camilla Maria , Van Doan Hien
Published: January 2024

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death, mostly due to metastatic disease and the fact that many patients already show signs of metastasis at the time of first diagnosis. Current CRC therapies negatively impact patients’ quality of life and have little to no effect on combating the tumor once the dissemination has started. Danio rerio (zebrafish) is a popular animal model utilized in cancer research. One of its main advantages is the ease of xenograft transplantation due to the fact that zebrafish larvae lack the adaptative immune system, guaranteeing the impossibility of rejection. In this review, we have presented the many works that choose zebrafish xenograft as a tool for the study of CRC, highlighting the methods used as well as the promising new therapeutic molecules that have been identified due to this animal model.
Characterizing influence of rCHOP treatment on diffuse large B-cell lymphoma microenvironment through in vitro microfluidic spheroid model
Authors: Sullivan Matthew R. , White Rachel P. , Dashnamoorthy Ravi  , Kanetkar Ninad , Fridman Ilana Berger , Ekenseair Adam , Evens Andrew M. , Konry Tania
Published: January 2024

For over two decades, Rituximab and CHOP combination treatment (rCHOP) has remained the standard treatment approach for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Despite numerous clinical trials exploring treatment alternatives, few options have shown any promise at further improving patient survival and recovery rates. A wave of new therapeutic approaches have recently been in development with the rise of immunotherapy for cancer, however, the cost of clinical trials is prohibitive of testing all promising approaches. Improved methods of early drug screening are essential for expediting the development of the therapeutic approaches most likely to help patients. Microfluidic devices provide a powerful tool for drug testing with enhanced biological relevance, along with multi-parameter data outputs. Here, we describe a hydrogel spheroid-based microfluidic model for screening lymphoma treatments. We utilized primary patient DLBCL cells in combination with NK cells and rCHOP treatment to determine the biological relevance of this approach. We observed cellular viability in response to treatment, rheological properties, and cell surface marker expression levels correlated well with expected in vivo characteristics. In addition, we explored secretory and transcriptomic changes in response to treatment. Our results showed complex changes in phenotype and transcriptomic response to treatment stimuli, including numerous metabolic and immunogenic changes. These findings support this model as an optimal platform for the comparative screening of novel treatments.
A full-body transcription factor expression atlas with completely resolved cell identities in C. elegans
Authors: Li Yongbin , Chen Siyu , Liu Weihong , Zhao Di , Gao Yimeng , Hu Shipeng , Liu Hanyu , Li Yuanyuan , Qu Lei , Liu Xiao
Published: January 2024

Invariant cell lineage in C. elegans enables spatiotemporal resolution of transcriptional regulatory mechanisms controlling the fate of each cell. Here, we develop RAPCAT (Robust-point-matching- And Piecewise-affine-based Cell Annotation Tool) to automate cell identity assignment in three-dimensional image stacks of L1 larvae and profile reporter expression of 620 transcription factors in every cell. Transcription factor profile-based clustering analysis defines 80 cell types distinct from conventional phenotypic cell types and identifies three general phenotypic modalities related to these classifications. First, transcription factors are broadly downregulated in quiescent stage Hermaphrodite Specific Neurons, suggesting stage- and cell type-specific variation in transcriptome size. Second, transcription factor expression is more closely associated with morphology than other phenotypic modalities in different pre- and post-differentiation developmental stages. Finally, embryonic cell lineages can be associated with specific transcription factor expression patterns and functions that persist throughout postembryonic life. This study presents a comprehensive transcription factor atlas for investigation of intra-cell type heterogeneity.