bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Workshop examines role of CCBHCs in crisis response system
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: April 2024

Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) are being viewed as an emerging resource for both crisis and ongoing care, particularly regarding the launch of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and the growing demand for behavioral health services, according to panelists at the National Council for Mental Wellbeing's annual conference held last week in St. Louis, Missouri.
SAMHSA assistant secretary discusses goals during fireside chat
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: April 2024

Progress achieved with such initiatives and programs as the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), and a perspective on her three‐year tenure so far with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), are some of the areas SAMHSA Assistant Secretary Miriam E. Delphin‐Rittmon, Ph.D., discussed during a “fireside chat” last week with Chuck Ingoglia, MSW, president and CEO of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.
Mathematical analysis of stability and Hopf bifurcation in a delayed HIV infection model with saturated immune response
Authors: Hu Zihao , Yang Junxian , Li Qiang , Liang Song , Fan Dongmei
Published: April 2024

This paper explores the dynamics analysis of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) model with saturated cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) immune response and Beddington–DeAngelis infection rate. There are two time delays in the model to describe the time needed for infection of cell and CTL immune response generation, respectively. We obtain two thresholds and three possible equilibria from the model. By analyzing the corresponding characteristic equations, we study the stabilities of equilibrium and the effect of delays on CTL immune response. The results indicate that when immune delay is present, the steady state of equilibrium is disrupted and leads to a Hopf bifurcation. Finally, we use sensitivity analyses to show the effect of parameters on thresholds and numerical simulations to illustrate the theoretical results.
MRI‐based clinical‐radiomics nomogram model for predicting microvascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Wang Qinghua , Zhou Yongjie , Yang Hongan , Zhang Jingrun , Zeng Xianjun , Tan Yongming
Published: April 2024

Background

Preoperative microvascular invasion (MVI) of liver cancer is an effective method to reduce the recurrence rate of liver cancer. Hepatectomy with extended resection and additional adjuvant or targeted therapy can significantly improve the survival rate of MVI+ patients by eradicating micrometastasis. Preoperative prediction of MVI status is of great clinical significance for surgical decision‐making and the selection of other adjuvant therapy strategies to improve the prognosis of patients.

Purpose

Established a radiomics machine learning model based on multimodal MRI and clinical data, and analyzed the preoperative prediction value of this model for microvascular invasion (MVI) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Method

The preoperative liver MRI data and clinical information of 130 HCC patients who were pathologically confirmed to be pathologically confirmed were retrospectively studied. These patients were divided into MVI‐positive group (MVI+) and MVI‐negative group (MVI‐) based on postoperative pathology. After a series of dimensionality reduction analysis, six radiomic features were finally selected. Then, linear support vector machine (linear SVM), support vector machine with rbf kernel function (rbf‐SVM), logistic regression (LR), Random forest (RF) and XGBoost (XGB) algorithms were used to establish the MVI prediction model for preoperative HCC patients. Then, rbf‐SVM with the best predictive performance was selected to construct the radiomics score (R‐score). Finally, we combined R‐score and clinical‐pathology‐image independent predictors to establish a combined nomogram model and corresponding individual models. The predictive performance of individual models and combined nomogram was evaluated and compared by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC).

Result

Alpha‐fetoprotein concentration, peritumor enhancement, maximum tumor diameter, smooth tumor margins, tumor growth pattern, presence of intratumor hemorrhage, and RVI were independent predictors of MVI. Compared with individual models, the final combined nomogram model (AUC: 0.968, 95% CI: 0.920–1.000) constructed by radiometry score (R‐score) combined with clinicopathological parameters and apparent imaging features showed the optimal predictive performance.

Conclusion

This multi‐parameter combined nomogram model had a good performance in predicting MVI of HCC, and had certain auxiliary value for the formulation of surgical plan and evaluation of prognosis.
Evolution from Topological Nodal Points to Nodal Line: Realized in Fused Carbon Allotrope
Authors: Xing Jinhui , Yue Wentao , Yuan Jiaren , Zhang Lizhi , Wei Yingcong , Zhang Lichuan , Xie Yuee , Chen Yuanping
Published: April 2024

Herein, via first‐principle calculations and theoretical analysis, a new Dirac semimetal carbon system called C32, which is composed of pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, and octagonal carbon rings is systematically investigated. The stability of C32 is verified by calculating the phonon dispersion, elastic constants, etc., and an appropriate pathway for experimental synthesis is proposed. Besides, it is discovered that the system holds the quadruple rotation and inversion symmetry, resulting in the emergence of eight twisted Dirac cones (D1 and D2) with a highly anisotropic Fermi velocity from 3.83 × 105 to 8.96 × 105 m s−1 along different k directions. To substantiate the semimetallic nature of C32, its nontrivial topological properties are confirmed through the presence of topologically protected edge states, and the nonzero ℤ2 topological invariant. More importantly, by introducing biaxial strain, it is uncovered that Dirac cones can gradually evolve into a nodal line, and the perfect nodal line can be obtained when the biaxial strain is 13.3%. Furthermore, by constructing the tight‐binding model, the appearance of the Dirac cone is perfectly repeated and its evolution into the nodal line under biaxial strain is explained.
Cucurbitacin B attenuates osteoarthritis development by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis through activating Nrf2/HO‐1 pathway
Authors: Lou Chao , Fang Yuqin , Mei Yifan , Hu Wei , Sun Liaojun , Jin Chen , Chen Hua , Zheng Wenhao
Published: April 2024

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a complicated joint disorder characterized by inflammation that causes joint destruction. Cucurbitacin B (CuB) is a naturally occurring triterpenoid compound derived from plants in the Cucurbitaceae family. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential role and mechanisms of CuB in a mouse model of OA. This study identified the key targets and potential pathways of CuB through network pharmacology analysis. In vivo and in vitro studies confirmed the potential mechanisms of CuB in OA. Through network pharmacology, 54 potential targets for CuB in treating OA were identified. The therapeutic potential of CuB is associated with the nod‐like receptor pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and pyroptosis. Molecular docking results indicate a strong binding affinity of CuB to nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2) and p65. In vitro experiments demonstrate that CuB effectively inhibits the expression of pro‐inflammatory factors induced by interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), including cyclooxygenase‐2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, IL‐1β, and IL‐18. CuB inhibits the degradation of type II collagen and aggrecan in the extracellular matrix (ECM), as well as the expression of matrix metalloproteinase‐13 and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs‐5. CuB protects cells by activating the Nrf2/hemeoxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) pathway and inhibiting nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB)/NLRP3 inflammasome‐mediated pyroptosis. Moreover, in vivo experiments show that CuB can slow down cartilage degradation in an OA mouse model. CuB effectively prevents the progression of OA by inhibiting inflammation in chondrocytes and ECM degradation. This action is further mediated through the activation of the Nrf2/HO‐1 pathway to inhibit NF‐κB/NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Thus, CuB is a potential therapeutic agent for OA.
Transition towards circular economy in EU countries: A composite indicator and drivers of circularity
Authors: Galdeano‐Gómez Emilio , García‐Fernández Rosa M.
Published: April 2024

The transition to a circular economy (CE) has become one of the main issues of sustainable development policies in many countries worldwide. The present paper offers an empirical analysis of this transition to circularity in European Union (EU) countries. It provides multidimensional indicators for CE performance and observes the interrelationship between macroeconomic indicators and the level of CE implementation. Taking data from 26 EU member states during the period 2010–2019, weighted indicators are constructed for the assessment and comparison between heterogenous countries. Subsequently, a multivariant analysis is performed to quantify the impact of different macroeconomic variables on circularity indicators, such as R + D, sectoral added value, renewable energy usage and population density. The results reveal three distinct groups: those whose indicators display a positive sign, those that show a negative sign, and those that display a changeable evolution throughout the period studied. The panel data regressions carried out to assess the determinants of circularity show the positive impact of expenditure on R + D. Also, it is worth mentioning the existing differences in the implementation status of CE among countries, contingent upon on when they joined the EU.
Organic Molecule and Inorganic Salt Synergistic‐Modified SnO2 for Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Li Guoming , Ma Zhu , Yu Tangjie , Xuan Ningqiang , Huang Zhangfeng , Li Yanlin , Hou Shanyue , Liu Qianyu , You Wei , Chen Yi , Du Zhuowei , Yang Junbo , Yang Qiang , Tan Li , Huang Cheng , Xiang Yan , Mai Yaohua , Yu Jian , Long Wei
Published: April 2024

Element doping and interface modification strategy are effective methods to regulate the electrical properties of SnO2 electron transport material, SnO2/perovskite (PVK) interface, and PVK crystal growth. Herein, rubidium fluoride (RbF) is introduced into SnO2 colloidal dispersion, and then an ultra‐thin layer of 4‐carboxy‐3‐fluorobenzoboric acid (FBCA) is applied to the SnO2 layer surface. This synergistic modification strategy can improve the electrical conductivity of the electron transport layer, increase the chemical connection of the buried interface, improve the crystallization and grain growth of PVK, and thus promote the performance and stability of devices. The results show that the PVK solar cells (PSCs) with the synergistic‐modified SnO2 electron transport material (M‐SnO2) obtain an optimum power conversion efficiency of 21.92% and the unencapsulated PSCs sustain 91% and 87% of the original value, which stored in a nitrogen atmosphere and ambient atmosphere (25 ± 5 °C, 30–50% relative humidity) more than 1000 h, respectively.
A sparse empirical Bayes approach to high‐dimensional Gaussian process‐based varying coefficient models
Authors: Kim Myungjin , Goh Gyuhyeong
Published: April 2024

Despite the increasing importance of high‐dimensional varying coefficient models, the study of their Bayesian versions is still in its infancy. This paper contributes to the literature by developing a sparse empirical Bayes formulation that addresses the problem of high‐dimensional model selection in the framework of Bayesian varying coefficient modelling under Gaussian process (GP) priors. To break the computational bottleneck of GP‐based varying coefficient modelling, we introduce the low‐cost computation strategy that incorporates linear algebra techniques and the Laplace approximation into the evaluation of the high‐dimensional posterior model distribution. A simulation study is conducted to demonstrate the superiority of the proposed Bayesian method compared to an existing high‐dimensional varying coefficient modelling approach. In addition, its applicability to real data analysis is illustrated using yeast cell cycle data.
Population assignment of migratory Westslope Cutthroat Trout (WCT) in the Clark Fork–Pend Oreille River basin
Authors: Wells Craig D. , Connor Jason , Small Maureen P. , Spruell Paul
Published: April 2024

Objective

The Clark Fork–Pend Oreille River basin of northeastern Washington and the Idaho Panhandle historically supported a robust metapopulation of the Westslope Cutthroat Trout (WCT) Oncorhynchus lewisi, a western native salmonid of high cultural and economic value. The construction of impassible hydroelectric dams and smaller instream barriers has prevented the return of migratory WCT to spawning tributaries, leading to the fragmentation of this metapopulation over the past 100 years. One such impassible barrier is Albeni Falls Dam (AFD) near Newport, Washington, which was completed without fish passage capabilities in 1955. We sought to examine large-scale genetic patterns in the study area and determine the most likely spawning tributary of origin for migratory WCT captured below AFD.

Methods

We created a genetic baseline representative of populations within the Clark Fork–Pend Oreille River basin from upstream and downstream of the dam using 191 biallelic single-nucleotide polymorphism genetic markers. Our data set included 124 collections, which allowed for an examination of population structure and hatchery influence across the study area and provided a robust tool for population assignment. Population assignment tests were conducted using the program RUBIAS.

Result

Population assignment tests were successful for all pure WCT of unknown origin despite potential influence from hatchery lineages across the study area. Of 83 migratory WCT captured below AFD, approximately 80% were assigned to tributaries upstream of AFD with a posterior assignment probability of at least 90%. Only one fish was assigned to a tributary downstream of AFD.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that AFD disrupts the natural metapopulation dynamics of WCT populations in the basin. Passage for WCT at this barrier would reestablish metapopulation connectivity within the basin by allowing migratory individuals to make genetic contributions to populations upstream of the dam.
Migratory passage and run size of American Shad and river herring in the Raritan River, New Jersey, USA
Authors: Jensen Olaf P. , Vastano Anthony R. , Allen Michael C. , Hernandez Mario F. , Lockwood Julie L. , Vasslides James M. , Weldon Orion
Published: April 2024

Objective

Restoration of many populations of anadromous American Shad Alosa sapidissima and river herring (Alewife A. pseudoharengus and Blueback Herring A. aestivalis) has been hampered by the presence of barriers to their spawning migrations and insufficient monitoring of run size. Here, we describe results of a 10-year (2012–2021) study of American Shad and river herring passage at the Island Farm Weir (IFW), the downstream-most migration barrier on the Raritan River, New Jersey, United States.

Methods

We used passive integrated transponder tags applied to fish that were captured and released downstream of the IFW to estimate passage rates and migration delays associated with upstream movements through an antenna array on a vertical slot fishway within the weir. By combining estimated passage rates with video monitoring of the total numbers of American Shad and river herring transiting the fishway, we estimated the annual run size below the weir.

Result

Results suggest that the fishway on the IFW is moderately effective for American Shad (passage rate = 41%; 95% credible interval [CI] = 21–61%) but ineffective for the smaller-bodied river herring (passage rate = 0.5%, 95% CI = 0–2%; fallback-adjusted passage rate = 1.1%, 95% CI = 0.0–4.5%). The IFW may have also delayed the spawning migrations of those fish that did pass, with total passage times ranging from 0.4 to 20.9 days (mean ± standard deviation = 8.2 ± 5.3 days) for American Shad and 15.0 days for the one river herring that passed within the same year that it was tagged. Run size estimates during the study period ranged from 103 to 2624 individuals for American Shad and from 1486 to 53,334 for river herring.

Conclusion

Restoration of these species in the Raritan River will likely require removal of the IFW or replacement of its current fish passage device with one that increases the passage rates of alosines.
Diallyl disulfide antagonizes DJ‐1 mediated proliferation, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and chemoresistance in gastric cancer cells
Authors: Su Jian , Xia Hong , He Hui , Tang Huan , Zhou Juan , Xun Yi , Liu Fang , Su Bo , Su Qi
Published: April 2024

Diallyl disulfide (DADS), an organic component of allicin abstracted from garlic, possesses multi‐target antitumor activity. DJ‐1 performs a vital function in promoting AKT aberrant activation via down‐regulating phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) in tumors. It is unknown the involvement of DJ‐1 in epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of gastric cancer (GC) cells. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether diallyl disulfide (DADS) intervenes in the role of DJ‐1 in GC. Based on the identification that the correlation between high DJ‐1 and low PTEN expression in GC was implicated in clinical progression, we illuminated that down‐regulation of DJ‐1 by DADS aided in an increase in PTEN expression and a decrease in phosphorylated AKT levels, which was in line with the results manifested in the DJ‐1 knockdown and overexpressed cells, concurrently inhibiting proliferation, EMT, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, the antagonistic effects of DADS on DJ‐1 were observed in in vivo experiments. Additionally, DADS mitigated the DJ‐1‐associated drug resistance. The current study revealed that DJ‐1 is one of potential targets for DADS, which hopefully provides a promising strategy for prevention and adjuvant chemotherapy of GC.
Children's anthropomorphism of inanimate agents
Authors: Goldman Elizabeth J. , Poulin‐Dubois Diane
Published: April 2024

This review article examines the extant literature on animism and anthropomorphism in infants and young children. A substantial body of work indicates that both infants and young children have a broad concept of what constitutes a sentient agent and react to inanimate objects as they do to people in the same context. The literature has also revealed a developmental pattern in which anthropomorphism decreases with age, but social robots appear to be an exception to this pattern. Additionally, the review shows that children attribute psychological properties to social robots less so than people but still anthropomorphize them. Importantly, some research suggests that anthropomorphism of social robots is dependent upon their morphology and human‐like behaviors. The extent to which children anthropomorphize robots is dependent on their exposure to them and the presence of human‐like features. Based on the existing literature, we conclude that in infancy, a large range of inanimate objects (e.g., boxes, geometric figures) that display animate motion patterns trigger the same behaviors observed in child‐adult interactions, suggesting some implicit form of anthropomorphism. The review concludes that additional research is needed to understand what infants and children judge as social agents and how the perception of inanimate agents changes over the lifespan. As exposure to robots and virtual assistants increases, future research must focus on better understanding the full impact that regular interactions with such partners will have on children's anthropomorphizing.

This article is categorized under:

Psychology > Learning

Cognitive Biology > Cognitive Development

Computer Science and Robotics > Robotics
Bethe/Gauge correspondence for AN spin chains with integrable boundaries
Authors: Wang Ziwei , Zhu Rui-Dong
Published: April 2024

Abstract

We continue the survey initiated in [1] to explore the Bethe/Gauge correspondence between supersymmetric SO/Sp gauge theories in 2d/3d/4d and open spin chain with integrable boundaries. We collect the known Bethe ansatz equations of different types of spin chains with general boundaries that have been analyzed in the literature, and compare them with the vacua equations of the quiver gauge theories. It seems that not all the vacua equations of quiver gauge theory with BCD-type gauge groups can be realized as some known Bethe ansatz equations of integrable spin chain models.
Tips and tricks for Bayesian VAR models in gretl
Authors: Pedini Luca
Published: April 2024

Bayesian Vector Autoregressive models have become the natural response to the dense parametrization often required by multivariate time series modeling. However, the Bayesian approach is somehow new to the ecosystem: classical analysis of Vector Autoregressions (VARs) is natively supported and supplemented via addons and function packages, but a Bayesian counterpart in the form of equally general and advanced functions or, at a lower level, in the form of didactic example scripts is missing. This paper pursues the second route describing, via a replication exercise, how to perform basic Bayesian inference in using VARs, with particular reference to structural analysis. The contribution goes in the direction of providing new hints and tools, available to the user, for a more complete and up-to-date understanding of modern macroeconometrics.
Extranodal natural killer/T cell lymphoma of the skeletal muscle
Authors: di Gaeta Ettore , Verspoor Floortje , Savci Dilara , Donner Naomi , Maas Mario , Hemke Robert
Published: April 2024

This case report highlights a case of extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma initially misdiagnosed as myositis, emphasizing the appearance on both MRI and FDG PET images. The patient presented with systemic symptoms and calf muscle swelling, prompting imaging studies that revealed diffuse muscle involvement. Despite negative myositis markers and inconclusive biopsy, post-amputation findings confirmed lymphoma with EBV positivity. The appearance in both MRI and FDG PET complicated the diagnostic process, underscoring the importance of considering lymphoma in cases of muscle-related symptoms to prevent delays in appropriate management. This case contributes to the understanding of the diagnostic challenges associated with extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma and emphasizes the significance of peripheral band-like features in imaging studies.
A phase I trial of autologous RAK cell immunotherapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Xu Jing , Zhang Wen , Tong Jinlian , Liu Caixia , Zhang Qiaohui , Cao Liren , Yu Jiangyong , Zhou Aiping , Ma Jie
Published: April 2024

Background

Treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) remains a challenge worldwide. Here, we introduced a phase I trial of autologous RAK cell therapy in patients with mRCC whose cancers progressed after prior systemic therapy. Although RAK cells have been used in clinic for many years, there has been no dose-escalation study to demonstrate its safety and efficacy.

Methods

We conducted a phase I trial with a 3 + 3 dose-escalation design to investigate the dose-related safety and efficacy of RAK cells in patients with mRCC whose cancers have failed to response to systemic therapy (ChiCTR1900021334).

Results

Autologous RAK cells, primarily composed of CD8+ T and NKT cells, were infused intravenously to patients at a dose of 5 × 109, 1 × 1010 or 1.5 × 1010 cells every 28 days per cycle. Our study demonstrated general safety of RAK cells in a total of 12 patients. Four patients (33.3%) showed tumor shrinkage, two of them achieved durable partial responses. Peripheral blood analysis showed a significant increase in absolute counts of CD3+ and CD8+ T cells after infusion, with a greater fold change observed in naive CD8+ T cells (CD8+CD45RA+). Higher peak values of IL-2 and IFN-γ were observed in responders after RAK infusion.

Conclusion

This study suggests that autologous RAK cell immunotherapy is safe and has clinical activity in previously treated mRCC patients. The improvement in peripheral blood immune profiling after RAK cell infusion highlights its potential as a cancer treatment. Further investigation is necessary to understand its clinical utility.
Mechanical failure of distal femur mega prosthesis due to polyaryl-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) hinge component
Authors: Merose Omri , Factor Shai , Gortzak Yair , Dadia Solomon , Segal Ortal , Vituri Aya , Bussiba Arie , Sternheim Amir
Published: April 2024

Background

Polyaryl-ether-ether-ketone (PEEK) has gained popularity as a substrate for orthopaedic hardware due to its desirable properties such as heat and deformation resistance, low weight, and ease of manufacturing. However, we observed a relatively high failure rate of PEEK-based hinges in a distal femur reconstruction system. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the proportion of patients who experienced implant failure, analyse the mechanism of failure, and document the associated clinical findings.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study, reviewing the medical charts of 56 patients who underwent distal femur resection and reconstruction with a PEEK Optima hinge-based prosthesis between 2004 and 2018. Concurrently, we performed a clinical and biomechanical failure analysis.

Results

PEEK component failure occurred in 21 out of 56 patients (37.5%), with a mean time to failure of 63.2 months (range: 13–144 months, SD: 37.9). The survival distributions of PEEK hinges for males and females were significantly different (chi-square test, p-value = 0.005). Patient weight was also significantly associated with the hazard of failure (Wald’s test statistic, p-value = 0.031).

Discussion

Our findings suggest that PEEK hinge failure in a distal femur reconstruction system is correlated with patient weight and male gender. Retrieval analysis revealed that failure was related to fretting and microscopic fractures due to cyclic loading, leading to instability and mechanical failure of the PEEK component in full extension. Further assessment of PEEK-based weight bearing articulating components against metal is warranted.
Circ_0087851 suppresses colorectal cancer malignant progression through triggering miR-593-3p/BAP1-mediated ferroptosis
Authors: Huang Ming , Gao Ting , Chen Xianyong , Yi Junlei , Zhou Xuan
Published: April 2024

Background

Emerging research has validated that circular RNAs (circRNAs) have indispensable regulatory functions in tumorigenesis, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Ferroptosis is a specific cell death form and implicates in the malignant progression of tumors. Here, this study aimed to investigate the biofunction of circ_0087851 in tumor progression and ferroptosis of CRC, as well as its underlying molecular mechanism.

Methods

The expression pattern of circ_0087851 in CRC was validated by qRT-PCR. The biological characteristics of circ_0087851 in CRC were assessed through CCK-8, colony formation and transwell assays in vitro. The ferroptosis was measured using ferroptosis-related reagents on iron, Fe2+, and lipid ROS detection. Bioinformatics, luciferase reporter, and RNA pulldown assays were employed to reveal the circ_0087851-mediated regulatory network. In addition, the effect of circ_0087851 on tumor growth in vivo was detected using a xenograft model.

Results

Circ_0087851 was notably diminished in CRC tissues and cells. Functionally, overexpression of circ_0087851 suppressed CRC cell growth, migration, invasion, and facilitated ferroptosis in vitro. Meanwhile, circ_0087851 upregulation impeded CRC growth in vivo. Mechanistically, circ_0087851 functioned as a molecular sponge for miR-593-3p, and BRCA1 associated protein 1 (BAP1) was identified as a downstream target of miR-593-3p. Besides, rescue experiments revealed that miR-593-3p overexpression or silencing of BAP1 reversed circ_0087851-mediated CRC progression.

Conclusion

Circ_0087851 performed as a tumor suppressor and ferroptosis promoter by the miR-593-3p/BAP1 axis, providing novel biomarker and therapeutic target for the clinical management of CRC.
Improved recurrence rates and progression-free survival in primarily surgically treated oral squamous cell carcinoma – results from a German tertiary medical center
Authors: Struckmeier Ann-Kristin , Buchbender Mayte , Lutz Rainer , Kesting Marco
Published: April 2024

Objectives

This study aimed to explore survival and recurrence patterns in patients undergoing primarily surgical treatment for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) at a high-volume tertiary medical center in Germany.

Materials and methods

The study included 421 patients with primary OSCC who underwent radical tumor resection, neck dissection, and reconstruction with a free flap. Prognostic relevance of clinicopathological characteristics was assessed using Cox proportional-hazards models. Kaplan-Meier method estimated local recurrence-free survival, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS), while the log-rank test compared survival outcomes between groups.

Results

Recurrence manifested in 16.63% of the patients (70 patients), encompassing local recurrence in 54 patients (77.14%) and distant metastasis in 24 patients (34.28%). Neck recurrence occurred in only 1 patient (0.24%) on the contralateral side. The majority of recurrences occurred within the initial twelve months following primary tumor surgery (64.29%). Overall, the 5-year OS stood at 58.29%, while the 5-year PFS reached 72.53%. Patients with early recurrence within ≤ 12 months showed the least favorable prognosis (log-rank, all p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Our findings show a significant decrease in recurrence rates and enhanced PFS at a high-volume tertiary medical center in Germany compared to previous studies. Local recurrence was the primary form observed, with most recurrences happening within the initial twelve months post-surgery. Opting for treatment at a high-volume center and devising therapy plans in interdisciplinary tumor boards may not only enhance OS but also contribute to improved PFS.

Clinical relevance

These findings offer valuable insights for physicians regarding the post-treatment care of patients with OSCC. The results underscore the importance of frequent follow-up appointments, particularly during the initial year, and highlight the critical need for vigilance in monitoring for local recurrence.
Consequence of habitat specificity: a rising risk of habitat loss for endemic and sub-endemic woody species under climate change in the Hyrcanian ecoregion
Authors: Sękiewicz Katarzyna , Salvà-Catarineu Montserrat , Walas Łukasz , Romo Angel , Gholizadeh Hamid , Naqinezhad Alireza , Farzaliyev Vahid , Mazur Małgorzata , Boratyński Adam
Published: April 2024

Endemic species are more impacted by climate change than other taxa. However, assessing the vulnerability of endemics to these changes in some regions, such as the Hyrcanian forest, is limited, despite its importance for biodiversity and ecosystem function. To address the question of expected habitat shifts under climate change across the Hyrcanian ecoregion, we built an ensemble of species distribution models (SDM) under two emission scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5) for 15 endemic woody taxa. To identify the potential priority conservation areas, we also applied a spatial prioritization approach. Overall, our results suggest that the impacts of climate change are more severe on the eastern parts of the region (Golestan) and the Talysh Mountains (north-western Hyrcanian ecoregion) with over 85% and 34% loss of suitable habitats over the next 80 years. The central part of the Alborz Mountains (Mazandaran) and some areas in the Talysh Mountains could be potential climatic refugia under the future conditions for endemic taxa. The most prominent changes are expected for Ruscus hyrcanus, Gleditsia capsica, Acer velutinum, Frangula grandifolia, and Buxus hyrcana. The worrying predicted loss of suitable habitats for most studied taxa would dramatically affect the stability and resilience of forests, threatening thus biodiversity of the Hyrcanian ecoregion. We present the first estimation of the potential risks involved and provide useful support for regional climate-adaptation strategy, indicating potential conservation priority areas for maintaining and preserving its resources. Notably, only 13.4% of areas designated for conservation and management under climate change will be located within the current Hyrcanian protected areas, yet the majority of these areas are classified as low priority.
Carbon–neutral hydrogen production by catalytic methane decomposition: a review
Authors: Hantoko Dwi , Khan Wasim Ullah , Osman Ahmed I. , Nasr Mahmoud , Rashwan Ahmed K. , Gambo Yahya , Al Shoaibi Ahmed , Chandrasekar Srinivasakannan , Hossain Mohammad M.
Published: April 2024

The global hydrogen demand is projected to increase from 70 million tons in 2019 to more than 200 million tons in 2030. Methane decomposition is a promising reaction for H2 production, coupled with the synthesis of valuable carbon nanomaterials applicable in fuel cell technology, transportation fuels, and chemical synthesis. Here, we review catalytic methane decomposition, with focus on catalyst development, deactivation, reactivation, regeneration, and on economics. Catalysts include mono-, bi-, and trimetallic compounds and carbon-based compounds. Catalyst deactivation is induced by coke deposition. Despite remarkable strides in research, industrialization remains at an early stage.
Worldwide Research on Australopiths
Authors: Guil-Guerrero José Luis , Manzano-Agugliaro Francisco
Published: April 2024

Australopiths are a group of early human ancestors that lived approximately 4 to 2 million years ago and are considered a key transitional form between apes and humans. Studying australopiths can help to understand the evolutionary processes that led to the emergence of humans and gain insights into the unique adaptations and characteristics that set humans apart from other primates. A bibliometric-based review of publications on australopiths contained in the Scopus database was conducted, analyzing approximately 2000 of them. The main authors, institutions, and countries researching this subject were identified, as well as their future development. The connections between authors, countries, and research topics were also analyzed through the detection of communities. The more frequent keywords in this subject are hominid, animal, human, South Africa, and Australopithecus afarensis. Four main research clusters were identified in the field of australopiths: palaeobiology, cranial evolution, locomotion, and mandible evolution and morphometry. The most important countries in terms of collaboration networks are South Africa, the UK, France, and Germany. Research on australopiths is ongoing, and new research clusters are expected to emerge, such as those focused on pre-australopiths and the molecular evolution and taxonomy of australopiths. Overall, this work provides a comprehensive overview of the state of research on australopiths and offers insights into the current direction of the field.
Teachers’ Perceptions of the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Their Implementation of an Evidence-based HIV Prevention Program in the Bahamas
Authors: Schieber Elizabeth , Cottrell Lesley , Deveaux Lynette , Li Xiaoming , Taylor Marcellus , Adderley Richard , Marshall Sharon , Forbes Nikkiah , Wang Bo
Published: April 2024

Information on how school-based programs is implemented and sustained during crises is limited. In this study, we assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the implementation of a HIV prevention intervention in The Bahamas. Data were collected from 139 Grade 6 teachers in 2021–2022. Teachers attended virtual training and received implementation monitoring from coordinators. On average, teachers taught 26.4 (SD = 9.2) of the 35 core activities, and 7.4 (SD = 2.4) out of 9 sessions. More than half (58.3%) of teachers completed 28 or more core activities; 69.1% covered eight or all nine sessions, which is equivalent to 80% of the HIV intervention curriculum. Almost half of the teachers (43%) reported that the pandemic negatively impacted their ability to teach the program; 72% of teachers maintained that the program remained “very important” during times of crisis. Greater self-efficacy and supports increased implementation fidelity.
Supporting ANFIS interpolation for image super resolution with fuzzy rough feature selection
Authors: Ismail Muhammad , Shang Changjing , Yang Jing , Shen Qiang
Published: April 2024

Image Super-Resolution (ISR) is utilised to generate a high-resolution image from a low-resolution one. However, most current techniques for ISR confront three main constraints: i) the assumption that there is sufficient data available for training, ii) the presumption that areas of the images concerned do not involve missing data, and iii) the development of a computationally efficient model that does not compromise performance. In addressing these issues, this study proposes a novel lightweight approach termed Fuzzy Rough Feature Selection-based ANFIS Interpolation (FRFS-ANFISI) for ISR. Popular feature extraction algorithms are employed to extract the potentially significant features from images, and population-based search mechanisms are utilised to implement effective FRFS methods that assist in selecting the most important features among them. Subsequently, the processed data is entered into the ANFIS interpolation model to execute the ISR operation. To tackle the sparse data challenge, two adjacent ANFIS models are trained with sufficient data where appropriate, intending to position the ANFIS model of sparse data in the middle. This enables the two neighbouring ANFIS models to be interpolated to produce the otherwise missing knowledge or rules for the model in between, thereby estimating the corresponding outcomes. Conducted on standard ISR benchmark datasets while considering both sufficient and sparse data scenarios, the experimental studies demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed approach in helping deal with the aforementioned challenges facing ISR.
CEO Religion and Corporate Social Responsibility: A Socio-behavioral Model
Authors: Le Breton-Miller Isabelle , Miller Danny , Tang Zhenyang , Xu Xiaowei
Published: April 2024

Studies linking religion to CSR have produced conflicting findings due to a failure to draw distinctions among religious influences and different CSR practices, and to theorize their connection. Drawing on social identity theory and the theory of planned behavior, we first argue that religion will influence CSR when ethical values from a CEO’s religious social identification resonate with an aspect of CSR. Second, CEO attitudes congruent with those values and forms of CSR—interpersonal empathy and proactiveness—will strengthen that relationship. Third, the relationship between religious social identification and CSR will be strengthened by a CEO’s ability to enact CSR policies, a function of personal and firm market power. Our research on 270 CEOs from 242 publicly traded US firms from 2007 to 2020 supports these relationships.
Political conflict, political polarization, and constitutional compliance
Authors: Lewkowicz Jacek , Metelska-Szaniawska Katarzyna , Fałkowski Jan
Published: April 2024

While the economic approach to constitutions highlights their contribution to resolving conflict, recent work on the de jure–de facto distinction in relation to various constitutional rules suggests that political conflict and polarization could play a role in explaining the size and evolution of the gap between constitution text and constitutional practice. In this paper, we are interested in the relationship between the degree of conflict in the political arena within the state, captured by the polarization of the political landscape, as well as the underlying political polarization in society, and compliance of government actors with the country’s constitution. Based on a number of theoretical arguments, we provide an empirical investigation for ca. 170 countries in the period 1975–2020, using the new Comparative Constitutional Compliance Database. Our results suggest that constitutional non-compliance is associated with more intense political polarization in society, but it does not seem to be correlated with polarization of the political landscape.
Khat-Chewing, Adiaphorisation and Morality: Rethinking Ethics in the Age of the Synopticon
Authors: Swain Spencer , Lashua Brett , Spracklen Karl
Published: April 2024

In June 2014, the UK Government made khat (Catha edulis) a Class C drug under the UK Misuse of Drugs Act. Based on limited evidence, this decision went against the Government's own Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs and has divided members of the British–Somali diaspora, where khat is a popular form of recreation. The Government’s decision to ban khat highlights broader questions regarding how ethical legislation is implemented within post-industrial societies, exposing postcolonial power systems that ‘Other’ migrant groups through synoptic control. Based on qualitative interviews with members of the Somali diaspora and external agencies in Northern England, the research explores how this system fails to consider khat's complex moral position while framing users and those living within the diaspora as deviant.
Socio-ecological gestures of mathematics education
Authors: Coles Alf , Solares-Rojas Armando , le Roux Kate
Published: April 2024

In this theoretical article, we argue that the imminent collapse of earth systems that sustain life forms calls for mathematics education as a field to reflect on and re-evaluate its priorities and thus practices. We consider both what ecological collapse means for mathematics education and whether mathematics education might offer meaningful gestures in response. We explore how the relationship between the social and the ecological is conceptualised in mathematics education (and other relevant) research and what this implies for mathematics education. We read, in this scholarship, a growing focus on the ecological and conceptualisations of socio-ecological relations between existing entities that are dialectical, or mutually dependent. More rarely, are they seen as entangled and monist, and it is in this thought that we locate our contribution of multi-layered gestures of mathematics education. We describe these, in terms of three broad practices: listening for socio-ecological entanglement; attending to the scales of socio-ecological entanglements; and living entanglement as mathematics educators. We exemplify these gestures through examples of curriculum innovation. This article, a socio-ecological gesture in itself, is written in the spirit of opening a conversation into which we invite others.
The moderating effect of corporate governance on readability of the chairman's statement: an analysis of Jordanian listed companies
Authors: Gutiérrez Ponce Herenia , Chamizo González Julián , Al-Mohareb Manar
Published: April 2024

Due to the novelty of corporate governance rules in emerging economies, which could impact management policies and readability of the statement by the chairman of the Board of Directors, academics and companies have analyzed the moderating role of corporate governance in many regional development issues. This study investigates the moderating role of corporate governance in readability of the chairman's statement and firm performance. It also investigates whether the board’s characteristics directly affect chairman's statement readability, as the board’s characteristics were determined to be independence, ownership concentration, and board's accounting expertise, based on Jordan’s Corporate Governance Code (2017). This study uses multiple linear regression analysis to analyze moderation and cause-and-effect relationships between study variables for Jordanian service and manufacturing companies listed on the Amman Stock Exchange, examining 69 companies from 2017 to 2021. The results indicate that corporate governance significantly moderates readability of the chairman's statement and the firm’s performance. They also indicate a statistical relationship between readability of the chairman's statement and characteristics of the board, such as directors’ accounting expertise, independence, and concentration of the board’s ownership. This study has significant implications for stakeholders, including governance policy-makers.
Foster Care Leads to Lower Irritability Among Adolescents with a History of Early Psychosocial Deprivation
Authors: Niu Yanbin , Buzzell George A. , Cosmoiu Ana , Fox Nathan A. , Nelson Charles A. , Zeanah Charles H. , Humphreys Kathryn L.
Published: April 2024

Irritability reflects a propensity for frustration and anger, and is a transdiagnostic symptom of both externalizing and internalizing psychopathology. While early adverse experiences are associated with higher levels of irritability, experiences of early psychosocial deprivation and whether family-based placements can mitigate the impact on subsequent irritability, remain underexplored. The current study examined irritability in 107 16-year-olds with a history of institutional care from a randomized controlled trial of foster care as an alternative to institutional care and 49 community comparison children. At age 16 years, irritability was assessed using parent- and self-report forms of the Affective Reactivity Index. Compared to community adolescents, those with a history of institutional care exhibited significantly elevated irritability levels. Among those who experienced institutional care, those randomized to foster care had lower levels of irritability compared to participants randomized to the care-as-usual group, and this effect persists after controlling for baseline negative emotionality. These findings suggest a causal link between high-quality foster care and lower irritability following psychosocial deprivation. Additionally, longer duration in institutional care and non-family placement at age 16 years were associated with higher levels of irritability, highlighting the role of caregiving in explaining variation in irritability in adolescence. Policies that support long-term, high-quality family placements for children without regular caregivers should be prioritized.
Lawful, but not Really: The Dual Character of the Concept of Law
Authors: Flanagan Brian , de Almeida Guilherme
Published: April 2024

Disagreement on law’s relationship to morality has long been driven by disagreement about our ordinary concept. Until recently, however, there had been no systematic investigation of lay intuitions. In this paper, we advance this nascent effort. Across two studies (N = 697), our findings reveal that most people consider law to be more than a matter of political circumstance alone. Contrary to the expectations of most contemporary philosophers, morality (both substantive and procedural) emerges as a key influence on judgments of legal validity: many people say that conduct prohibited by immoral statutes is not truly illegal, and that immoral conduct which was never explicitly prohibited is truly illegal. This suggests that people often treat law as a dual character concept that, like the concepts of scientist or of artist, features autonomous concrete and abstract dimensions.