bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Drug survival of biologic therapies for palmoplantar pustulosis: A nationwide study
Authors: Bertelsen T. , Egeberg A. , Skov L. , Rasmussen M. , Bryld L. , Funding A. , Ajgeiy K. , Thein D.
Published: October 2023

Background

Biological therapies have established efficacy in psoriasis vulgaris. However, palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP) has proven difficult to treat, and data on drug survival in these patients remain scarce.

Objective

To investigate drug survival of biological treatments in a nationwide cohort of patients with PPP.

Methods

We included all patients treated for PPP with a biologic from a prospective Danish nationwide registry between 2007 and 2019. Descriptive statistics were reported. Drug survival was calculated for all patients and specified for the most frequently used biologics. Drug survival was reported as median time to discontinuation. Kaplan–Meier plots were used to visualize drug survival. Trajectories of Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scores were plotted by interpolating between the different visits with a dermatologist for each treatment course.

Results

We identified 85 individual patients who received biological therapy for PPP across 194 treatment courses during follow‐up. Of the included treatment courses, 151 (77.8%) were discontinued. The most frequent cause of discontinuation was ineffective response to treatment (54.3%), while 18.5% of courses were discontinued due to adverse events. The median drug survival across all therapies for PPP was 9.3 (Inter quartile range (IQR), 3.9–25.6) months. Ustekinumab demonstrated the longest median time to discontinuation of 14.6 (IQR, 9.1–51.8) months. The proportion of bio‐naive patients in treatment at 12 months were according to drug 47.9% for adalimumab, 64.3% for ustekinumab and 40.0% for secukinumab. For bio‐experienced, it was 58.2% adalimumab, 54.5% for ustekinumab and 51.4% for secukinumab.

Conclusions

The treatment of PPP poses significant challenges, with limited drug survival observed across all therapies regardless of prior experience with biologics. Ustekinumab demonstrated the longest median drug survival. Notably, patients discontinuing therapy due to inefficacy exhibited higher DLQI scores, highlighting the importance of personalized treatment selection and timely consideration of therapy changes when inefficacy is established.
The role of epidermal growth factor‐containing topical products on recovery and post‐inflammatory hyperpigmentation prevention after laser surgeries: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Ying Jieya , Zhang Yong , Qiu Yu , Xiang Wenzhong
Published: October 2023

Background

Post‐inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is a common complication after laser surgeries. Recent studies applied epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the lasered area after laser surgery to decrease the incidence of PIH with controversial results. Therefore, a comprehensive literature review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted to investigate the issue.

Methods

Two reviewers independently searched the literatures, extracted, and analyzed the data. A total of seven RCTs involving 169 patients were included to evaluate the efficacy of EGF on recovery and PIH prevention after laser surgery.

Results

The results show that the incidence of PIH in the EGF group was relatively lower than that in the control group, although the difference was not statistically significant (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.33 ~ 1.25, p = 0.19). However, the EGF groups had a significant decrease in melanin index (MI) scores at the 1st month after the laser surgery when compared to the control groups (SMD −1.57, 95% CI −2.83 ~ −0.31, p = 0.01). In addition, the patients on the EGF side rated significantly higher satisfactory scores (SMD 0.49, 95% CI 0.22 ~ 0.76, p = 0.0004). There was no significant difference as regard to changes in MI at the 2nd week and 2nd month, erythema index (EI), and trans‐epidermal water loss (TEWL) at days 3 and 7 after laser therapy, respectively.

Conclusion

The current meta‐analysis found a limited temporary inhibitory effect of EGF‐containing topical products on PIH with no significant effect on reducing post‐laser erythema or promoting epidermal barrier repair. More studies are needed in the future due to the small sample size and marked intergroup heterogeneities.
Improving School Environments for Preventing Sexual Violence Among LGBTQ+ Youth*
Authors: Adhia Avanti , Pugh Dylan , Lucas Ruby , Rogers Megan , Kelley Jessi , Bekemeier Betty
Published: October 2023

BACKGROUND

Sexual violence (SV) is a serious public health concern, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ+) youth report higher rates than their heterosexual and cisgender peers. This qualitative study aimed to understand LGBTQ+ students' perspectives on how middle and high school environments can better prevent and address SV.

METHODS

In partnership with a school‐based LGBTQ+ support group in Washington State, we recruited 31 LGTBQ+ students ages 13‐18 for virtual interviews (n = 24) and for providing text‐based answers to interview questions (n = 7). We used inductive thematic analysis to analyze data and identify themes.

RESULTS

To prevent and respond to SV, students highlighted schools having: (1) access to gender‐neutral spaces; (2) LGBTQ+ competency training for staff; (3) enforcement of school policies (eg, SV, anti‐bullying) and accountability; (4) LGBTQ+‐competent mental health support; and (5) comprehensive sexual health education that addresses LGBTQ+ relationships and SV.

IMPLICATIONS FOR SCHOOL HEALTH POLICY, PRACTICE, AND EQUITY

Students expressed the need for changes in school physical and social environments to address SV among LGBTQ+ youth.

CONCLUSIONS

Incorporating youth perspectives, particularly LGBTQ+ youth at high risk of SV, can help schools implement strategies that are supported by youth and thus potentially more sustainable and effective.
Sensory properties of thickened tomato soup enhanced with different sources of protein (whey, soy, hemp, and pea)
Authors: Amyoony Jamal , Dabas Tanvi , Gorman Mackenzie , Moss Rachael , McSweeney Matthew B.
Published: October 2023

Thickened soup formulations were created with different proteins (hemp, soy, pea, and whey) to improve protein and fluid intake. The formulations consisted of a control soup, and soups with 6% whey protein, 6% hemp protein, 6% pea protein, and 6% soy protein by volume. The suitability of the samples for those living with dysphagia was evaluated using the international dysphagia diet standardization initiative (IDDSI) spoon tilt test and a sensory trial (51 older adults and 51 younger adults). The sensory trial used nine‐point hedonic scales and check‐all‐that‐apply to evaluate the different formulations. The sample with the whey addition was not significantly different than the control in terms of liking of flavor and texture, but it decreased the participants' overall liking. The hemp, pea, and soy decreased overall liking as well as liking of flavor and texture. They were associated with off‐flavors, aftertaste, and astringency. The responses from the older and younger adults were compared and significant differences were found in their liking of the texture, with the older adults finding the formulations' texture significantly more acceptable. Overall, the study identified that hemp, pea, and soy did not create acceptable thickened soup formulations and the hemp and pea formulations did not achieve a consistency level that is acceptable for those living with dysphagia.
Updated ACVIM consensus statement on leptospirosis in dogs
Authors: Sykes Jane E. , Francey Thierry , Schuller Simone , Stoddard Robyn A. , Cowgill Larry D , Moore George E.
Published: October 2023

Since publication of the last consensus statement on leptospirosis in dogs, there has been revision of leptospiral taxonomy and advancements in typing methods, widespread use of new diagnostic tests and vaccines, and improved understanding of the epidemiology and pathophysiology of the disease. Leptospirosis continues to be prevalent in dogs, including in small breed dogs from urban areas, puppies as young as 11 weeks of age, geriatric dogs, dogs in rural areas, and dogs that have been inadequately vaccinated for leptospirosis (including dogs vaccinated with 2‐serovar Leptospira vaccines in some regions). In 2021, the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Board of Regents voted to approve the topic for a revised Consensus Statement. After identification of core panelists, a multidisciplinary group of 6 experts from the fields of veterinary medicine, human medicine, and public health was assembled to vote on the recommendations using the Delphi method. A draft was presented at the 2023 ACVIM Forum, and a written draft posted on the ACVIM website for comment by the membership before submission to the editors of the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. This revised document provides guidance for veterinary practitioners on disease in dogs as well as cats. The level of agreement among the 12 voting members (including core panelists) is provided in association with each recommendation. A denominator lower than 12 reflects abstention of ≥1 panelists either because they considered the recommendation to be outside their scope of expertise or because there was a perceived conflict of interest.
Spotted hyaena population density across habitat and land use types in southern Tanzania
Authors: Searle C. E. , Strampelli P. , Smit J. B. , Mkuburo L. , Mathews F. , Kiwango H. , Macdonald D. W. , Loveridge A. J. , Dickman A. J.
Published: October 2023

Although the spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) has been widely considered to be resilient to human disturbance, the species is now thought to be undergoing widespread population declines. Nevertheless, only a handful of population density estimates are available for the species, despite the importance of this information for informing conservation management. This is a consequence of both a lack of surveys and logistical challenges associated with processing spotted hyaena data. In this study, we collaborated with a cohort of students to process camera trap data from the Ruaha‐Rungwa landscape initially collected to estimate lion (Panthera leo) and leopard (Panthera pardus) population density. By doing so, we provide the first spatially explicit population density estimates for spotted hyaena in Tanzania, via spatially explicit capture‐recapture (SECR) modelling. We also examine the relationship between population densities of spotted hyaena, lion and leopard at each site. Spotted hyaena densities varied from 3.55 ± 0.72 adults and sub‐adults per 100 km2in a miombo (Brachystegia‐Julbernardia) woodland area of Ruaha National Park, to 10.80 ± 1.08 per 100 km2in a prey‐rich open woodland savannah habitat in Ruaha National Park, with intermediate densities recorded in Rungwa Game Reserve and MBOMIPA Wildlife Management Area. Our results suggest that spotted hyaena density is influenced by prey availability and protection, and the species may be less resilient to human pressures than widely thought. Spotted hyaena densities were generally positively correlated with densities of lion and leopard, suggesting that prey availability and anthropogenic disturbance had a greater impact than interspecific effects in shaping large carnivore densities in this system. Overall, our study provides some of the first insights into an under‐studied species in an under‐researched part of its range, while shedding light into the impact of anthropogenic versus interspecific effects in shaping population status of spotted hyaena in human‐impacted African systems.
The Africa paradox: Locating Africa in eighteenth‐century studies
Authors: Mitsein Rebekah
Published: October 2023

This article is about why Africa is overlooked in eighteenth‐century literary studies. Africa’s neglect is not merely a problem of attention. Neither the parameters of the field nor the tools of the discipline appear particularly suited for engaging Africa as anything other than an invention of the European imagination. In what follows, I seek to bring more clarity to the origins of this paradox and to contextualize some of its governing assumptions not in order to solve it but to show that having already solved it can’t and doesn’t need to be a prerequisite for scholars of eighteenth‐century literature to face it head‐on. The first section offers a brief account of how this paradox arose from the political and intellectual matrix of the mid‐twentieth century when African Studies was first institutionalized in the West. The subsequent sections highlight the way this history has shaped—both directly and indirectly—the way scholars and teachers of eighteenth‐century literature have understood Africa and their obligations to it and suggests some ways we might begin to rethink Africa’s place in the field
Flowering shift due to climate warming in cool temperate Japan
Authors: Imamura Akio
Published: October 2023

Biological processes can be disrupted by global climate warming, causing phenological mismatching and mistiming. On Hokkaido Island (Japan), which has a cool temperate climate, warmer and shorter winters affect plant flowering phenology. Rapid changes in flowering phenology suggest that shorter winters will result in earlier flowering. Flowering phenology patterns were recorded for nine years (2013–2021), and nine species were selected for analysis. I analyzed climate variables that affect plant flowering phenology, including annual changes in aerial temperature, snow depth, and snowmelt timing. The results indicated that winters are getting shorter and that the accumulated degree hours of aerial temperature have not significantly changed over nine years for these plant species except one species. Plant responses to these changes differed between species, with the first flowering day occurring earlier (1.5–1.8 days per year) for two species, although that of the other seven not. If climate warming continues, it will have diverse, complex, and unpredictable effects on various individual organisms and biological relationships among species. Detailed studies are needed to link climate change predictions to the predicted degree of mismatch in species interactions and networks.
Resurrection of the genus Camelinopsis (Brassicaceae, tribe Thlaspideae); with introduction of a new species
Authors: Doostmohammadi Moslem , Ghorbanalizadeh Atefeh , Esmailbegi Kermani Shokouh
Published: October 2023

The ditypic genus Camelinopsis was recently subsumed into Pseudocamelina. However, we here show that the type species of the genus, Camelinopsis campylopoda is distinct from Pseudocamelina, and should be recognized as a separate genus. The second species C. kurdica, however belongs to the genus Pseudocamelina. Camelinopsis differs from Pseudocamelina mainly by its subglobose to broadly obovoid, slightly flattened silicle which is 1.8–2.6 mm wide, instead of a linear, narrowly ellipsoid, occasionally oblong to obovoid silique, that is never wider than 1.5 mm. In addition, seeds of Camelinopsis are mucilaginous when wetted while seeds of Pseudocamelina are not. A new species of Camelinopsis is also described and illustrated based on new collections from western Alborz Mountains, northern Iran. This novelty, C. alborzica, is readily distinguished from C. campylopoda by its biennial (versus annual) habit, straight (versus strongly flexuous) racemes, longer sepals (1.7–2.1 versus 1.2–1.5 mm), shorter fruiting pedicels (0.5–1 versus 1.5– 4 cm) and higher ovule number (8 versus 4 per ovary). The genus Camelinopsis is considered a low mountain relative of the high‐elevation genus Didymophysa, as indicated by an ITS phylogeny.
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE EFFECT ON SILICON PHOTOVOLTAICS UNDER SIMULATED ENVIRONMENTS
Authors: Abdulaziz Turkistani , Chan Kah-Yoong , Thien Gregory Soon How , Siow Chun-Lim , Yap Boon Kar , Marlinda Ab Rahman
Published: October 2023

Solar energy is a significant renewable source for home and commercial applications. These solar technologies behave differently depending on the ambient temperature surrounding the devices. Thus, the varying ambient temperature necessitates research into the efficacy of various solar technologies under real-life circumstances. In this study, three types of solar technology were studied, which were polycrystalline, monocrystalline, and amorphous silicon photovoltaics (PVs). All the PVs were tested under various simulated environments (hot, room, and cold temperatures). Additionally, real environmental condition tests under direct sunlight successfully depicted the relationship between solar irradiance and ambient temperature on the PVs. Overall, monocrystalline PV outperformed polycrystalline PV, whereas amorphous PV performed poorly. This observation was evident in the lowest performance reduction of monocrystalline PV in hot (power, Ppv = 37%), room (Ppv = 82%), cold (Ppv = 95%), and direct sunlight (Ppv = 72%) conditions. Hence, this research could address the importance of selecting PVs in real-life environments in producing efficient solar PV technologies.
The Quartic Commutativity Degree of Dihedral Groups
Authors: Abdul Hamid Muhanizah , Nawi Adnin Afifi
Published: October 2023

The combination of group theory and probability theory was used in studying the connection between the two. In recent years, probability theory has been widely used in solving several difficult problems in group theory. The commutativity degree of a group,  is defined as the probability that two random elements in a group commute. In addition, there exist a generalization of commutativity degree of a group which is the -th power commutativity degree of a group and it is defined as the probability of the -th power of two random elements in a group commute. Some previous studies have been found for  equal to 2 and 3 and both probabilities are called as squared commutativity degree and cubed commutativity degree respectively. In this research, the -th power commutativity degree is determined for  equal to 4, called as quartic commutativity degree and some generalization formulas have been obtained. However, this research focuses only on the dihedral groups.
Fuzzy Intuitionistic Alpha Cut of B-Spline Curve Interpolation Modeling for Shoreline Island Data
Authors: Jifrin Arina Nabilah , Zakaria Rozaimi , Ismail Isfarita
Published: October 2023

Traditional approaches are unable to handle the uncertainty data issue, which leads to inaccurate data analysis and prediction. Data with uncertainty are frequently collected during the data collection phase but cannot be directly used to create geometric models. Therefore, using intuitionistic alpha cuts for the uncertainty data, this paper discusses B-Spline curve interpolation modeling. To resolve the uncertain data and produce the mathematical model, fuzzy set theory, intuitionistic fuzzy sets, and geometry modeling are combined. Three main procedures are used in detail, the first of which is the application of fuzzy set theory to defined uncertainty data, followed by the use of an intuitionistic fuzzy set to take into account the membership, non-membership, and indeterminacy values of the alpha, and finally the fuzzification and defuzzification procedures. The B-spline curve interpolation function is used in geometric modeling to create mathematical geometry in the form of curves. As a result, several numerical examples are provided, along with their algorithms for producing the desired curve.
A context-based approach to predict intelligibility of meaningful and nonsense words in interrupted noise: Model evaluation
Authors: van Schoonhoven Jelmer , Rhebergen Koenraad S. , Dreschler Wouter A.
Published: October 2023

The context-based Extended Speech Transmission Index (cESTI) by Van Schoonhoven et al. (2022) was successfully used to predict the intelligibility of meaningful, monosyllabic words in interrupted noise. However, it is not clear how the model behaves when using different degrees of context. In the current paper, intelligibility of meaningful and nonsense CVC words in stationary and interrupted noise was measured in fourteen normally hearing adults. Intelligibility of nonsense words in interrupted noise at −18 dB SNR was relatively poor, possibly because listeners did not profit from coarticulatory cues as they did in stationary noise. With 75% of the total variance explained, the cESTI model performed better than the original ESTI model (R2 = 27%), especially due to better predictions at low interruption rates. However, predictions for meaningful word scores were relatively poor (R2 = 38%), mainly due to remaining inaccuracies at interruption rates below 4 Hz and a large effect of forward masking. Adjusting parameters of the forward masking function improved the accuracy of the model to a total explained variance of 83%, while the predicted power of previously published cESTI data remained similar.
Hepatoviruses promote very-long-chain fatty acid and sphingolipid synthesis for viral RNA replication and quasi-enveloped virus release
Authors: Shiota Tomoyuki , Li Zhucui , Chen Guan-Yuan , McKnight Kevin L. , Shirasaki Takayoshi , Yonish Bryan , Kim Heyjeong , Fritch Ethan J. , Sheahan Timothy P. , Muramatsu Masamichi , Kapustina Maryna , Cameron Craig E. , Li You , Zhang Qibin , Lemon Stanley M.
Published: October 2023

Virus-induced changes in host lipid metabolism are an important but poorly understood aspect of viral pathogenesis. By combining nontargeted lipidomics analyses of infected cells and purified extracellular quasi-enveloped virions with high-throughput RNA sequencing and genetic depletion studies, we show that hepatitis A virus, an hepatotropic picornavirus, broadly manipulates the host cell lipid environment, enhancing synthesis of ceramides and other sphingolipids and transcriptionally activating acyl–coenzyme A synthetases and fatty acid elongases to import and activate long-chain fatty acids for entry into the fatty acid elongation cycle. Phospholipids with very-long-chain acyl tails (>C22) are essential for genome replication, whereas increases in sphingolipids support assembly and release of quasi-enveloped virions wrapped in membranes highly enriched for sphingomyelin and very-long-chain ceramides. Our data provide insight into how a pathogenic virus alters lipid flux in infected hepatocytes and demonstrate a distinction between lipid species required for viral RNA synthesis versus nonlytic quasi-enveloped virus release.
Genomic characterization of
Streptococcus equi
subspecies
zooepidemicus
from a 2021 outbreak in Indiana with increased sow mortality
Authors: Chen Xuhua , Mou Kathy , Lu Weili , Schumacher Loni , Resende-De-Macedo Nubia , Sitthicharoenchai Panchan , Derscheid Rachel , Burrough Eric , Li Ganwu
Published: October 2023

Streptococcus equi
subspecies
zooepidemicus
(
S. zooepidemicus
) was reported to cause epizootic outbreaks in swine, resulting in significant economic losses in Asia in the 1970s and in North America in 2019. In February 2021, another outbreak due to
S. zooepidemicus
occurred in 2-year-old adult sows in a production system in Indiana. Whole-genome sequencing analysis of three outbreak isolates from Indiana revealed that all were genetically distant from the isolates of a strain that caused high mortality events in Ohio and Tennessee in 2019, as well as from the ATCC 35246 strain that caused outbreaks in China in the 1970s. The Indiana outbreak isolates were also distantly related to outbreak-unrelated swine isolate AZ-45470 from Arizona but closely related to an
S. zooepidemicus
equine isolate from Iowa. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that one genomic island, GI-13, was unique to the genome of a representative Indiana outbreak isolate, IN-6992. The genomic islands GI-1, GI-3, and GI-10 were also present in IN-6992 but absent from the Ohio and Tennessee outbreak isolates. In addition, the ATCC 35246-type
szM
gene and the Fic domain-containing protein gene (
bifA
) were absent from IN-6992, while present in all isolates from the Ohio and Tennessee outbreaks. Our findings have significant implications for understanding, monitoring, and developing control measures against diseases caused by
S. zooepidemicus
.

IMPORTANCE

This study highlights a
Streptococcus equi
subspecies
zooepidemicus
(
S. zooepidemicus
) strain isolated from an outbreak in Indiana, which resulted in mortality events among a swine herd in 2021. The Indiana outbreak strain was found to be genetically and phylogenetically distant to a strain isolated from the 2019 outbreaks in Ohio and Tennessee, which caused high swine mortality. We also discovered multiple unique genetic features in the Indiana outbreak strain, including distinct
S. zooepidemicus
genomic islands, and notable
S. zooepidemicus
virulence genes—many of which could serve as biomarkers for the diagnosis of this strain. These findings provide significant insights into monitoring and potentially preventing severe outbreaks caused by the Indiana outbreak strain in the future.
Mobilome-driven partitions of the resistome in
Salmonella
Authors: Jia Chenghao , Wang Zining , Huang Chenghu , Teng Lin , Zhou Haiyang , An Hongli , Liao Sihao , Liu Yuhao , Huang Linlin , Tang Biao , Yue Min
Published: October 2023

Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) or mobilomes promote the mobilization and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), serving as critical drivers for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) accumulation, interaction, and persistence. However, systematic and quantitative evaluations of the role of mobilome in spreading resistome in a bacterial pathogen remain unaddressed, partially due to the lack of closed genomes. Here, we examined MGEs across 1,817
Salmonella
isolates with complete genomic sequences from 58 countries between 1911 and 2022. We found the plasmid harboring 69.8% ARGs to be the largest ARG reservoir, correlated with serovar-based evolution in most
Salmonella
lineages. Prophages, specifically RCS47 and SJ46, play a crucial role in the plasmids’ plasticity and the acquisition of ARGs. Furthermore, distinct ARG accumulation, including resistance toward last-resort antibiotics, exhibited an MGE-favored manner. Certain socioeconomic and ecological factors, as additional layers of mediators, are associated with the preferential distribution of MGE-mediated ARGs in
Salmonella
. Collectively, this study demonstrated an uncharted knowledge of the segmentation of
Salmonella
resistome driven by mobilome, elucidating dynamic drivers and distinct mediators for resistome development that are of immediate relevance for targeted interventions.

IMPORTANCE

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a significant global challenge, with an estimated 10 million deaths annually by 2050. The emergence of AMR is mainly attributed to mobile genetic elements (MGEs or mobilomes), which accelerate wide dissemination among pathogens. The interaction between mobilomes and AMR genes (or resistomes) in
Salmonella
, a primary cause of diarrheal diseases that results in over 90 million cases annually, remains poorly understood. The available fragmented or incomplete genomes remain a significant limitation in investigating the relationship between AMR and MGEs. Here, we collected the most extensive closed
Salmonella
genomes (
n
= 1,817) from various sources across 58 countries. Notably, our results demonstrate that resistome transmission between
Salmonella
lineages follows a specific pattern of MGEs and is influenced by external drivers, including certain socioeconomic factors. Therefore, targeted interventions are urgently needed to mitigate the catastrophic consequences of
Salmonella
AMR.
Cross-basin chronostratigraphic correlation of carbonate succession (Llandovery, Michigan Basin, USA) using global carbon δ13Ccarb isotope excursions
Authors: Al-Musawi Mohammed , Kuglitsch Jeffrey J. , Harrison III William B. , Voice Peter J. , Griffith Elizabeth M. , Saltzman Matthew R. , Kaczmarek Stephen E.
Published: October 2023

Correlating shallow shelf carbonates and their deep basin equivalents is a perennial challenge in the geosciences, with wide-ranging implications. This hurdle is well illustrated in the Llandovery succession of the Michigan Basin, USA, a 40- to 265-m-thick carbonate interval represented by three lithostratigraphic units: the Cataract, the Burnt Bluff, and the Manistique groups. Although extensively studied at various localities within the basin and across the region, the chronostratigraphic relationships between these units remain unknown. The current study presents a cross-basin chronostratigraphic framework for the Llandovery succession utilizing globally documented carbon (δ13Ccarb) isotope excursions (CIEs). From 10 drill cores and three quarry sites throughout the Michigan Basin, five CIEs were identified and chronostratigraphically constrained using conodont biostratigraphy and conodont 87Sr/86Sr data. The five excursions are interpreted to be the global CIEs: the (1) Hirnantian Isotope Carbon Excursion (HICE; Hirnantian Stage), (2) Early Aeronian, (3) Late Aeronian (Aeronian Stage), (4) Valgu (Telychian Stage), and (5) Ireviken (Sheinwoodian Stage). Most importantly, the HICE and the Ireviken CIEs bracket the Llandovery strata preserved in the basin.

The new high-resolution δ13Ccarb data suggest that CIEs can be effectively used to correlate among shallow marine shelf carbonates and their deeper water equivalents. The new chronostratigraphic framework shows that CIE-based time horizons across the Michigan Basin cut across lithostratigraphic unit boundaries, which indicates that these lithostratigraphic units are diachronous in the Michigan Basin. In addition to refining the stratigraphy of the Llandovery succession of the Michigan Basin, particularly the timing of various key sedimentary deposits, the new chronostratigraphic framework can be used to: (1) constrain the timing of various regional tectonic phenomena, (2) identify multiple tectonically driven siliciclastic sediment pulses in the basin, and (3) predict various stratal relationships that may result in previously unknown stratigraphic traps and, therefore, new hydrocarbon plays within the basin. The results of the current study also show that δ13Ccarb trends across the shelf-to-basin transect are spatially and temporally variable and do not match those reported in Modern carbonate settings, which possibly suggests that such δ13Ccarb trends, to some extent, reflect variations in water circulation and water mass heterogeneity during deposition.
Total Collision with Slow Convergence to a Degenerate Central Configuration
Authors: Moeckel Richard
Published: October 2023

For total collision solutions of the $$n$$-body problem, Chazy showed that the overall size of the configuration converges to zero with asymptotic rate proportional to $$|T-t|^{\frac{2}{3}}$$ where $$T$$ is the
collision time. He also showed that the shape of the configuration converges to the set of
central configurations. If the limiting central configuration is nondegenerate, the rate of convergence of the shape is of order $$O(|T-t|^{p})$$ for some $$p>0$$. Here we show by example that in the planar four-body
problem there exist total collision solutions whose shape converges to a degenerate central configuration at a rate which is slower that any power of $$|T-t|$$.
Could Better Jobs for Men Have Improved Gender Equality? The Relationship between Economic Growth and Gender Equality in India
Authors: BALASUBRAMANIAN SUJATA
Published: October 2023

Economic theory suggests that growth may improve gender equality directly by raising women’s employment and indirectly by reducing poverty–thereby causing poorer families to discriminate less against females in intra-household allocations. This paper argues that growth in India has not substantially improved gender equality because it has not sufficiently activated either of these mechanisms. I analyze structural changes from 1982/83 to 2011/12 to show that India’s high-growth period has not been pro-poor. While female employment levels have actually declined since the 1980s, growth has not expanded remunerative employment opportunities sufficiently, even for poor males. This suggests that better-paid jobs for men—by lowering poverty—might actually have led to greater gender equality in India—by reducing poverty-linked gender discrimination. The analysis thus highlights the importance of pro-poor growth, illustrating how structural changes can shape employment, thereby altering the quality of growth and its impact on gender equality.
The Effects of Digitalization, Energy Intensity, and the Demographic Dividend on Viet Nam’s Economic Sustainability Goals
Authors: HUNG NGO THAI
Published: October 2023

This research examines how the digital economy, energy efficiency, and demographic transition might help Viet Nam achieve more sustainable economic development. The causal association between digitalization, the demographic dividend, energy intensity, and long-term economic development has not been thoroughly investigated yet. Therefore, this paper aims to examine the asymmetric relationship between these indicators in Viet Nam, which is recognized as an emerging economy, using the relatively novel quantile-on-quantile regression and Granger causality approaches in different quantiles. The empirical findings suggest that the asymmetric interaction between digital innovation, energy intensity, demographic change, and economic growth in Viet Nam is primarily positive, even though there are slight differences across various quantiles of the selected indicators. In addition, the outcomes of Granger causality in quantile analysis uncover that, during the sample period, a bidirectional association exists between digitalization, the demographic dividend, and economic growth, while a unidirectional causality runs from energy intensity to economic growth.
Kinetic-based optimization enhanced by genetic dynamics
Authors: Albi Giacomo , Ferrarese Federica , Totzeck Claudia
Published: October 2023

We propose and analyze a variant of the recently introduced kinetic-based optimization method that incorporates ideas like survival-of-the-fittest and mutation strategies well-known from genetic algorithms. Thus, we provide a first attempt to reach out from the class of consensus/kinetic-based algorithms towards genetic metaheuristics. Different generations of genetic algorithms are represented via two species identified with different labels, binary interactions are prescribed on the particle level and then we derive a mean-field approximation in order to analyze the method in terms of convergence. Numerical results underline the feasibility of the approach and show in particular that the genetic dynamics allows to improve the efficiency, of this class of global optimization methods in terms of computational cost.
Reduction in the Searching Time to Find a Brownian Nanoparticle in the Fluid
Authors: Alzulaibani Alaa Awad , El-Hadidy Mohamed Abd Allah
Published: October 2023

This work studies the existence of a new search technique that uses two cooperative nanosensors to track a one-dimensional Brownian nanoparticle (target) in the fluid. This technique participates in the purification of impurities and contaminants from the fluid. In addition, it allows us to include the discounted effort-reward search as a parameter (factor) in the distance function. This parameter is based on past or observed data about the nanoparticle position at any time [Formula: see text]. This will reduce the expected value of the first meeting time between one of the nanosensors and a nanoparticle. The searching process starts at the origin. More than finding the conditions that make this expected value finite, we calculate its approximate value. We present the effectiveness and applicability of this model by using an illustrative example.
Announcing the ACM SIGCSE 2024 Award Winners
Authors: Becker Brett
Published: October 2023

The SIGCSE Board is honored to announce the 2024 ACM SIGCSE Award winners.
Professional Development Workshop for New and Aspiring Educators at SIGCSE TS 2024
Authors: Allen Meghan , Azhar Mohammad
Published: October 2023

A successful career as an educator involves more than a deep understanding of a research area. Even so, many new CS educators experience relatively little training as educators --- and face more questions than answers, e.g., How do I find a career path and institution that are right for me? What strategies can I use during the job search and interviewing process to achieve my goals? What tips could help me organize a course, scaffold engaging experiences, and build lasting relationships with students? What practical steps can I take to support equity, diversity, and inclusion in my work? How can I navigate the AI coding revolution for CS education? How can I find a balance between my teaching and scholarly work?
TABLE 5 from Predicting Mammogram Screening Follow Through with Electronic Health Record and Geographically Linked Data
Authors: Davis Matthew , Simpson Kit , Lenert Leslie A. , Diaz Vanessa , Alekseyenko Alexander V.
Published: October 2023

Coefficients on logistic regression predict failure to complete a breast cancer screening test, demonstrating effect of menopause-related diagnoses and Medicaid associated with increasing risk of missing a screening
Regulação das técnicas de reprodução assistida nas resoluções do Conselho Federal de Medicina: da liberalização gradativa à virada pró-vida
Authors: Luna Naara
Published: October 2023

O artigo analisa a regulação das técnicas de reprodução assistida no Brasil, examinando a regulamentação existente no Código Civil de 2002, na Nova lei de Biossegurança de 2005, no provimento CNJ 63/2017 e comparando as sete resoluções do Conselho Federal de Medicina (CFM) emitidas em 1992, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2020 e 2021. O foco é verificar como configurações de parentesco e de pessoa (o estatuto do embrião) são apresentadas nas resoluções. Trata-se de pesquisa documental que, analisando a mudança das regras, mapeia controvérsias que revelam os sistemas de valores da sociedade. Diante da omissão legislativa, constata-se que as alterações nas normas correspondem a mudanças na legislação brasileira, mas principalmente a transformações na sociedade, nos últimos anos no tocante ao reconhecimento da constituição de novas famílias, sendo as principais as referentes ao acesso de casais “homoafetivos”. Percebe-se também a dessacralização paulatina do embrião extracorporal até a virada pró-vida em 2021.
Legal Constraints on Australian Coal Mining: The Role of the Paris Agreement
Authors: Vines Ella
Published: October 2023

This commentary assesses legal constraints on coal-mining in Australia in the context of developments in the climate regime. There is a growing global consensus that unabated coal-power must be phased down, yet executive branches of government at the national and subnational levels in Australia continue to approve new coal mines. This commentary looks to litigation that has challenged the approval of new coal mines on climate change grounds. I analyse how the Paris Agreement is being used in these claims. The Agreement provides background and context to the climate impacts of coal use in several cases. However, in a few cases, decisions to refuse coal mines are underpinned by substantive engagement with the Agreement’s global warming limitation goals. These refusals are significant in an Australian legal context that is otherwise weighted in favour of coal mining.
Climate change impacts on habitat suitability of Cinnamomum travancoricum (Lauraceae), a critically endangered endemic vascular plant in the Western Ghats, India
Authors: Das Mukesh Lal , Bondada Sairuchir , Rajesh Keshav , Subrahmanyam Sreenath
Published: October 2023

The habitat of Cinnamomum travancoricum, a critically endangered endemic vascular plant that thrives at high altitudes (1,500–3,500 m asl) and in moist environments (600–850 hPa) in Western Ghats (WG), is shrinking due to climate change (CC), increase in herbivore populations, urbanization, and over-exploitation of C. travancoricum. Cinnamomum travancoricum’s current habitat and predictive range shift were modeled using MaxEnt for 2030, 2050, and 2070 CE under two emission scenarios: Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5. The 19 WorldClim bioclimatic variables, including slope, aspect, elevation data, and 16 spatially dispersed-species-occurrence points, were used to predict the potential distribution. Jackknife test identified ‘isothermality’, ‘mean diurnal range’, and ‘precipitation of the driest month’ as the most impactful variables for modeling the habitat and range shift. This MaxEnt model was accurate with an area under curve (AUC) value of 0.995. This ecological model predicted a substantial range contraction in suitable habitats, with ‘highly suitable’ and ‘moderately suitable’ habitats shrinking by 100% in RCP 8.5, confirming that C. travancoricum is highly vulnerable to the effects of CC, making it one key species for conservation in WG. The present study suggests the restoration of existing protected areas, creation of specialized reserves, habitat connectivity, and further education towards local communities as the key adaptation strategies for conservation.
Checklist of Omophoita Chevrolat, 1836 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini) and diagnoses for some species from southern Brazil: notes on the taxonomic history, redescriptions and new records
Authors: BEGHA BRUNO PIOTROVSKI , ANJOS CAMILA ALVES DOS , SANTOS MATEUS HENRIQUE , PRADO LAURA ROCHA
Published: October 2023

Morphological descriptions, taxonomic history and distribution data of Omophoita species recorded for southern Brazil (states of Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul) are presented. Through the analysis of the existing literature, databases, loaned material, and specimen collecting, we studied seven species of Omophoita recorded for southern Brazil: O. communis (Bechyné 1959), O. equestris (Fabricius 1787), O. magniguttis (Bechyné 1955), O. octoguttata (Fabricius 1775), O. personata (Illiger 1807), O. sesquilunata (Klug 1829), and O. sexnotata (Harold 1876). We report O. sesquilunata for this region for the first time. Updated morphological descriptions, including novel information for male and female genitalia are presented for those taxa with dissected specimens.
Descriptions of the last instar larvae of Anotogaster chaoi Zhou, 1998 and Neallogaster annandalei (Fraser, 1923) from Erhai Lake Basin, Yunnan, China (Odonata: Cordulegastrids)
Authors: YANG GUO-HUI , ZI DONG-DONG
Published: October 2023

The exuviae of Anotogaster chaoi Zhou, 1998 and Neallogaster annandalei (Fraser, 1923) are described and illustrated for the first time from Erhai Lake Basin, Yunnan Province, China, based on the final stage larvae reared in a laboratory. Diagnostic differences between the larvae of congeneric A. chaoi, A. gregoryi Fraser, 1923, as well as N. annandalei and N. hermionae (Fraser, 1927) are discussed, and notes on their habitats are provided.
Notes on Aulocera pygmaea (Holik, 1949) and its related taxa (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Satyrinae)
Authors: LANG SONG-YUN , HUANG SI-YAO
Published: October 2023

In this paper, Aulocera pygmaea (Holik, 1949) and its related taxa from W. China (S. Gansu, N. Sichuan, N.W. Yunnan, S.E. Tibet) and N. Myanmar (N. Kachin) are studied. The specific status of A. pygmaea (Holik) is confirmed based upon examining the syntype series. Aulocera atuntsensis (Gross, 1959), A. melanoleuca Sakai, Aoki & Yamaguchi, 2001 stat. nov., and A. auloceroides (H. Huang, 1999) are raised or restored to specific rank rather than treated as subspecies of A. pygmaea (Holik), as in Lang (2021). The lectotype for Satyrus sybillina pygmaea Holik, 1949 is designated. Other related taxa are also discussed.
Association between Tibetan Heat Sources and Heat Waves in China
Authors: Tan Ziyuan , Liu Yuzhi , Shao Tianbin , Luo Run , Luo Min , Xie Yongkun
Published: October 2023

The Tibetan Plateau (TP), known as the “Third Pole,” profoundly affects weather and climate at regional and global scales. In this study, we investigate the characteristics of heat waves in China and their association with the TP heat source. The results show that during the summertime from 1980 to 2020, the frequency of heat wave days that hit eastern China and northwest China increased at rates of 0.09 and 0.24 days yr−1, respectively, accompanied by an increase in the atmospheric heat source (AHS) over the TP by over 2 W m−2 yr−1 under the background of global warming. The enhanced TP heat source induces an anomalous upper-tropospheric anticyclone, which caused the western Pacific subtropical high and South Asia high to be stronger and closer to each other, causing descending motions over eastern China and consequently more heat waves. At the same time, the enhanced TP heat source weakened the westerlies, thereby favoring the occurrence and maintenance of the anticyclone centered in northwest China and creating more heat waves due to strong descending motions. Therefore, the association between the TP heat source and heat waves in China provides relevant information for studying the mechanism and future changes of heat waves.

Significance Statement

The Tibetan Plateau significantly affects the surrounding weather and climate. We find that there are some linkages between the Tibetan heat source and heat waves in China. The stronger the Tibetan heat source is, the more heat waves hit China. The enhancement of the Tibetan heat source could induce an anomalous upper-tropospheric anticyclone by affecting the western Pacific subtropical high and South Asia high, consequently causing descending motions over eastern China and the resulting heat waves. The weaker westerly due to the enhanced Tibetan heat source favors the occurrence of the anticyclone centered in northwest China, leading to more heat waves by descending motions. This study reveals a potential contributor to heat waves in China, providing some clues for better prediction in the future.
Tribological and corrosion characteristics of tetra hybrid particulate-reinforced aluminum composites for aerospace and automotive applications
Authors: Ashebir Demeke Abay , Mengesha Getinet Asrat , Sinha Devendra Kumar , Bereda Yodit Birhanu
Published: October 2023

This study investigates Hybrid Particulate-Reinforced Aluminum Matrix Composites (HPRAMCs), a material class known for exceptional physico-mechanical, tribological, and corrosion resistant properties. The research synthesizes HPRAMCs using SiC, Al2O3, graphite (Gr), and sugar cane bagasse ash (SCBA) reinforcements through a powder metallurgy process, followed by sintering at 550°C for 3 h. Comprehensive tests include X-ray diffraction (XRD) for phase analysis, physico-mechanical assessments, tribological evaluations, and corrosion resistance analyses. Notably, secondary reinforcements significantly reduce porosity, with AS4 HPRAMC exhibiting a 0.53% porosity, while AS1 HPRAMC has 1.446%. AS4 HPRAMC displays a remarkable 209.76% increase in compressive strength and a 446.40% boost in material hardness compared to pure aluminum. Secondary reinforcements also improve tribological performance, reducing wear loss by 60.27% and the coefficient of friction by 89.89%. Exceptional corrosion resistance, with an inhibition efficiency of 99.691%, is observed in the AS4 HPRAMC sample, confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). These findings underline the substantial potential of HPRAMC materials, positioning them as promising candidates for aerostructural components, aircraft systems, automobiles, spacecraft, and high-performance engineering applications.