bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Proteome of the 2-h in vivo Formed Acquired Enamel Pellicle of Adolescents with Erosive Tooth Wear, Caries, or Sound
Authors: Avila Viviana , Proctor Gordon , Velandia-Romero Myriam , Castellanos Jaime E. , Beltrán Edgar O. , Lynham Steven , Martignon Stefania
Published: October 2024

Introduction: Acquired pellicle (AP) acts as a membrane preventing acids from coming into direct contact with the tooth. Possibly, individuals with different dental health status present changes in its composition that could disrupt this function. Thus, the aim of this study was to compare the protein composition of the AP in adolescents with erosive tooth wear (ETW), caries, or sound. Methods: Calibrated examiners in BEWE index and ICDAS-merged Epi criteria assessed ETW and caries in a sample of 454 systemically healthy adolescents aged 12–15 years old. Thirty subjects from that sample were selected for this study: ETW group (n = 10; total BEWE ≥9 and absence of dentinal caries lesions); caries group (n = 10; total BEWE <9 and with at least one dentinal caries lesion), and sound group (n = 10; total BEWE <9 and absence of dentinal caries lesions). Two-hour-formation AP samples were taken from buccal, occlusal/incisal, palatal/lingual tooth surfaces. Protein composition was analysed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Using mean reporter ion values, relative abundances of proteins were compared among the three groups to calculate for fold changes. Twofold protein increases or decreases were reported (t test, p < 0.05). Gene Ontology (GO) of included proteins was assigned. Results: Mean age of participants was 13.1 ± 1.14 years and 56.6% were females. The prevalence of ETW was of 66.6% and of dentinal caries of 33.3%. The GO analyses showed that the majority of detected proteins were stress response related. The ETW group disclosed upregulated relative abundance of antileukoprotease (2.85-fold in ETW vs. sound and 2.34-fold in ETW group vs. caries group); histatin (2.42-fold in ETW group vs. sound group and 2.20-fold in ETW group vs. caries group), and prolactin-induced protein (2.30-fold in ETW group vs. sound group and 2.06-fold in ETW group vs. caries group) (p < 0.05). Hemoglobin subunits alpha (HBA) and beta (HBB) showed decreased relative abundances in the ETW and caries groups when compared to the sound group (HBA: 0.42-fold in ETW group and 0.40-fold in caries group; HBB: 0.45-fold in ETW group and 0.38-fold in caries group; p < 0.05). Conclusion: AP from individuals with ETW showed differences when compared to other dental conditions, with relative abundance increasing of some stress response-associated proteins in ETW and a decrease in proteins related to salivary protection against acid challenges.
Fortschreitende neoadjuvante Therapien beim resektablen nicht kleinzelligen Lungenkarzinom: Implikationen für neue Behandlungsstrategien und die Entdeckung von Biomarkern
Authors: Jeon Hyein , Gor Rajvi , D’Aiello Angelica , Stiles Brendon , Illei Peter B. , Halmos Balazs
Published: October 2024

Die neoadjuvante und perioperative Therapie des nicht kleinzelligen Lungenkarzinoms (NSCLC) hat sich durch bedeutende Fortschritte und die Einbeziehung von zielgerichteten Therapien und Immuncheckpoint-Inhibitoren allein oder in Kombination mit einer konventionellen Chemotherapie radikal verändert. Besonders bemerkenswert ist diese Entwicklung bei der Aufnahme von Immuntherapien und zielgerichteten Therapien in die Behandlung des resektablen NSCLC, wo die jüngsten FDA-Zulassungen von Medikamenten wie Nivolumab und Pembrolizumab in Kombination mit einer Platin-Doubletten-Chemotherapie zu erheblichen Verbesserungen bei den Raten des pathologischen Komplettansprechens und beim Potenzial für verbesserte Ergebnisse in Bezug auf das langfristige Überleben geführt haben. Diese Übersichtsarbeit beleuchtet die zunehmende Bedeutung von Biomarkern bei der Optimierung der Behandlungswahl und untersucht die Auswirkungen neuer Studien, die bestehende Behandlungsparadigmen infrage stellen und neuartige therapeutische Kombinationen untersuchen, die die Standardbehandlung neu definieren könnten. Darüber hinaus wird der ungedeckte Bedarf im Bereich der perioperativen Therapiebeurteilung und -prognose diskutiert und der zukünftige Wert von Biomarkern bei der Beurteilung von Therapieansprechen und -prognose hervorgehoben.
Effect of Preoperative Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index on Prognosis in Patients after Surgery for Lower Gastrointestinal Perforation
Authors: Hasegawa Makoto , Sanmoto Yohei
Published: October 2024

Introduction: Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) is a reliable index derived from serum albumin levels, height, and weight. Although various prognostic factors have been studied, the effect of preoperative nutritional status on surgical outcomes remains unexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the GNRI in predicting postoperative outcomes of lower gastrointestinal perforation. Methods: Eighty patients treated at our institution between January 2016 and December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. This study primarily focused on the correlation between preoperative GNRI and two key outcomes: postoperative hospital stay duration and 1-year mortality rate. Results: Our findings revealed a significant association between low GNRI scores and increased 1-year mortality (odd ratio 4.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1–16, p = 0.025). Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank test showed that patients in the low GNRI group had markedly poorer overall survival rates than those in the high GNRI group (12-month survival rate 0.88 [95% CI: 0.75–0.95] vs. 0.65 [95% CI: 0.47–0.78]; p = 0.018). Additionally, both univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that lower GNRI scores were associated with prolonged hospital stays. Conclusion: We showed that a low GNRI score was associated with high mortality and prolonged hospital stay after emergency surgery for lower gastrointestinal perforation.
Burnout and Work Engagement Concerning Dental Malpractice among Saudi Dentists: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Halawani Rouwaida , Ramadan Iman Kamal , Natto Zuhair S.
Published: October 2024

Introduction: Dental malpractice is becoming an increasing concern in the health care sector. Dentistry is a highly stressful profession, and neglecting stress and burnout can harm patients, dentists, and the quality of their work. This study estimated the prevalence of dental malpractice, evaluated the association between burnout, work engagement, and dental malpractice, and identified other potential risk factors. Methods: Between May 2023 and May 2024, a cross-sectional study was conducted using a convenience sample of 259 Saudi dentists working in public dental clinics in Jeddah. Dentists completed an online self-administered anonymous questionnaire that included four sections: sociodemographics and occupational characteristics, a previously valid and reliable Maslach Burnout Inventory, Areas of Worklife Survey, and self-reported dental malpractice questions. Data were analyzed using STATA 18, including descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, and multivariate analysis. Results: Among the 259 responding Saudi dentists, 27% reported malpractice concerns, and 20.8% reported that they had a malpractice claim. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that dentists with high levels of depersonalization (OR = 2.44, p = 0.012) and low levels of community engagement (OR = 2.92, p = 0.011) were more likely to have malpractice concerns. Additionally, dentists working in primary health care centers (OR = 4.62, p ≤ 0.001), dentists experiencing high emotional exhaustion (OR = 2.58, p = 0.033), and those with low-value engagement (OR = 2.99, p = 0.017) were more likely to be involved in malpractice claims. Conclusion: This study provides in-depth information on dentists’ characteristics, burnout levels, work engagement levels, and their association with dental malpractice. Saudi dentists experience high emotional exhaustion and low personal accomplishment. In addition, various workplace factors have been associated with dental malpractice.
A Consideration on Infinite and Finite Dosing in Skin Permeation Using Reconstructed Models
Authors: Saeki Yuko , Kato Eiko , Tokudome Yoshihiro
Published: October 2024

Introduction: When vitamin derivatives penetrate the epidermis, they release active compound such as ascorbic acids (AsA) and tocopherols via enzymatic digestion of chemical modifiers. To determine the transdermal penetration of the derivatives, the total permeation of both the derivatives and their active compounds that released from the derivatives should be considered. In this study, we established a skin penetration test method using a cultured, reconstructed skin model with active epidermal enzymes. And we analyzed two vitamin derivatives with different chemical properties: magnesium ascorbyl phosphate (APM) and sodium tocopheryl phosphate (TPNa), both of which has been confirmed their skin permeation in the reconstructed models and the digestion to AsA and α-tocopherol by the epidermal enzymes, respectively. Methods: We prepared the 1% of water solution containing either APM or TPNa. Then, we tested the cumulative permeation of the derivatives at 2 application volumes, 25 μL/cm2 (finite dosing) and 85 μL/cm2 (infinite dosing), on cultured reconstructed skin and observed the permeation of the permeants every 2 h up to 24 h. Results: When the applied formula was used to assess the evaporation rate to determine an end point of the test system, all the water evaporated in 6 h in finite model and in 8 h in infinite model. Both models showed that the cumulative permeation of the active compounds increased and a constant flux until 8 h after application; however, the flux decreased thereafter, indicating that the decreased flux depended on an end point of the test system. This indicated that our test system can analyze the permeation of the vitamin derivatives within 8 h before reaching the end point. Conclusion: Using an infinite model of this system, we assessed the cumulative permeation of vitamin derivatives within 8 h using a reconstructed skin model.
Long-Term Outcome of a Multicenter Prospective Study on Efficacy and Safety of High-Dose Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy ≥48-h Interfraction Interval for ≤5 cm Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Kang Jin-Kyu , Kim Mi-Sook , Jang Won Il , Han Chul Ju , Kim Jin , Park Su Cheol , Shin Young-Joo , Choi Chul Won , Jeon Wan , Yu Tosol , Chang Ah Ram , Park Hae Jin , Park Younghee , Kim Eun Seog , Jo Sunmi , Kim Woo Chul , Kim Hun Jung , Bae Sun Hyun , Kim Eunji
Published: October 2024

Introduction: The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of high-dose stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) with an extended (48 h or more) interfraction interval for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ≤5 cm in size after incomplete response to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). Methods: This multicenter prospective study included 54 patients with inoperable HCC of ≤5 cm size between July 2012 and June 2015. A total SBRT dose of 60 Gy in 3 fractions was administered within 14 days with ≥48-h interfraction interval to patients who showed an incomplete response after 1–5 sessions of TACE. Treatment responses were defined according to the modified Response Evaluation Criteria for Solid Tumors. Toxicities were evaluated using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0. Results: Forty-eight patients were evaluated with a median follow-up period of 66 months (range, 2–126 months). The median tumor size was 2.0 cm (range, 1.0–4.5 cm), and most patients (87.5%) had a single lesion. The 1-, 2-, and 5-year local control (LC) rates were 100%, 94.8%, and 90.7%, respectively. The 1-, 2-, and 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 63.4%, 56.9%, and 24.9%, respectively. The 1-, 2-, and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 95.6%, 90.9%, and 76.5%, respectively. None of the patients experienced grade 3+ gastrointestinal toxicity, while 1 patient developed non-classic radiation-induced liver disease 2 months after SBRT. Conclusion: High-dose SBRT with a ≥48-h interfraction interval after incomplete response to TACE is effective for HCC ≤5 cm in size as evidenced by the high rates of LC and OS and acceptable treatment-related toxicity.
Comparing the Efficacy of Intralesional Injection versus Systemic Steroids in Treating Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis: Insights from a Single-Center Experience
Authors: Burcu Buşra , Çetinoğlu Işık , Hacim Nadir Adnan , Çerekçi Esma , Şener Aziz , Uçak Ramazan , Yanar Ceylan , Kaya Cemal
Published: October 2024

Objective: Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is a benign inflammatory condition predominantly affecting women of reproductive age, particularly those with a history of breastfeeding. Although the precise etiology remains unknown, treatment strategies continue to be a subject of debate. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of intralesional steroid (ILS) injections with oral steroid (OS) therapy in managing IGM. Materials and Methods: A total of 72 patients, clinically and histopathologically diagnosed with IGM, were treated with either ILSs (group ILS, n = 47) or OSs (group OS, n = 25) at a tertiary referral hospital between January 2022 and January 2024. The data were retrospectively analyzed. Results: The mean age of the patients was 33.5 years (range: 22–56). No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of demographic characteristics, presenting symptoms, clinical findings, or laboratory results. The mean treatment duration was 6 months. There were no significant differences in treatment response or recurrence rates between the two groups. However, there was a statistically significant difference in the incidence of side effects, with 6.3% in the ILS group compared to 36% in the OS group (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Given its ease of application, lower incidence of side effects, and comparable efficacy, ILS injections may be considered a first-line treatment option in the management of IGM.
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Its Association with Kidney and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Moderate to Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Park Cheol Ho , Lim Hyunsun , Kim Youn Nam , Kim Jae Young , Kim Hyung Woo , Chang Tae Ik , Han Seung Hyeok
Published: October 2024

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as a potential indicator for cardio-metabolic risk. However, clinical implications of NAFLD in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are still elusive. We investigated to explore the association between NAFLD and adverse clinical outcomes among patients with CKD. Methods: In this national population-based retrospective cohort study, we analyzed 816,857 individuals who underwent National Health Insurance Service health examinations and had an estimated glomerular filtration rate of 15–59 mL/min/1.73 m2. The main predictor was the fatty liver index (FLI), a surrogate marker for NAFLD. The primary outcome was a composite cardiovascular or kidney events, which were examined combined or separately. Results: During a median follow-up of 7.7 (IQR, 6.4–9.6) years, the composite outcome events occurred in 74,266 (9.1%) individuals. Among these, there were 55,525 (6.8%) cardiovascular events and 22,961 (2.8%) kidney events, respectively. Compared to FLI of <30, the hazard ratio (HRs; 95% confidence intervals [CIs]) for the composite outcome were 1.16 (1.14–1.18) and 1.30 (1.26–1.33) for the FLIs of 30–59 and ≥60, respectively. The corresponding HRs for cardiovascular events were 1.21 (95% CI, 1.18–1.23) and 1.36 (95% CI, 1.31–1.40), respectively. Furthermore, FLIs of 30–59 and ≥60 were associated with an 11% (HR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.07–1.15) and 24% (HR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.17–1.30) increased risk of kidney events, respectively. Conclusions: NAFLD was associated with higher risk of adverse clinical outcomes in individuals with CKD. These findings suggest that NAFLD, as assessed by the FLI, can serve as a predictor of cardiovascular and kidney events in CKD population.
Neural Semantic Parsing with Extremely Rich Symbolic Meaning Representations
Authors: Zhang Xiao , Bouma Gosse , Bos Johan
Published: October 2024

Current open-domain neural semantics parsers show impressive performance. However, closer inspection of the symbolic meaning representations they produce reveals significant weaknesses: Sometimes they tend to merely copy character sequences from the source text to form symbolic concepts, defaulting to the most frequent word sense based in the training distribution. By leveraging the hierarchical structure of a lexical ontology, we introduce a novel compositional symbolic representation for concepts based on their position in the taxonomical hierarchy. This representation provides richer semantic information and enhances interpretability. We introduce a neural “taxonomical” semantic parser to utilize this new representation system of predicates, and compare it with a standard neural semantic parser trained on the traditional meaning representation format, employing a novel challenge set and evaluation metric for evaluation. Our experimental findings demonstrate that the taxonomical model, trained on much richer and complex meaning representations, is slightly subordinate in performance to the traditional model using the standard metrics for evaluation, but outperforms it when dealing with out-of-vocabulary concepts. We further show through neural model probing that training on a taxonomic representation enhances the model’s ability to learn the taxonomical hierarchy. This finding is encouraging for research in computational semantics that aims to combine data-driven distributional meanings with knowledge-based symbolic representations.
ReMiND: Recovery of missing neuroimaging using diffusion models with application to Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Yuan Chenxi , Duan Jinhao , Xu Kaidi , Tustison Nicholas J. , Hubbard Rebecca A. , Linn Kristin A.
Published: October 2024

Missing data is a significant challenge in medical research. In longitudinal studies of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) where structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is collected from individuals at multiple time points, participants may miss a study visit or drop out. Additionally, technical issues such as participant motion in the scanner may result in unusable imaging data at designated visits. Such missing data may hinder the development of high-quality imaging-based biomarkers. To address the problem of missing MRI data in studies of AD, we introduced a novel 3D diffusion model specifically designed for imputing missing structural MRI (Recovery of Missing Neuroimaging using Diffusion models (ReMiND)). The model generates a whole-brain image conditional on a single structural MRI observed at a past visit or conditional on one past and one future observed structural MRI relative to the missing observation. The performance of models was compared with two alternative imputation approaches: forward filling and image generation using variational autoencoders. Experimental results show that our method can generate 3D structural MRI with high similarity to ground-truth images at designated visits. Furthermore, images generated using ReMiND show relatively lower differences in volume estimation between the imputed and observed images compared to images generated by forward filling or autoencoders. Additionally, ReMiND provides more accurate estimated rates of atrophy over time in important anatomical brain regions than the two comparator methods. Our 3D diffusion model can impute missing structural MRI data at a single designated visit and outperforms alternative methods for imputing whole-brain images that are missing from longitudinal trajectories.
Philip Mallory Jones’s Electronic Consciousness in Afrodiasporic Video
Authors: Kim Liz
Published: October 2024

Philip Mallory Jones’s “videomation” was an early video image processing technique of the 1970s that superimposed multiple forms of image-making to convey the aesthetics of Afrodiasporic rhythms. While videomation’s application in Jones’s collaboration with Gunilla Mallory Jones in Beyond the Mountains, More Mountains (1975) expressed a disillusionment that tested the limits of Afrodiasporic connections between the United States and Haiti, he later refined this technique through splicing and weaving of visual polyrhythms in his collaboration with the Burkinabe media pioneer Moustapha Thiombiano, Wassa (1989), as an expression of double consciousness.
Carlos Trilnick: An Argentine Electronic Image-Processing Pioneer
Authors: Cantú Mariela
Published: October 2024

The author analyzes three 1980s video works by Argentinian pioneer artist Carlos Trilnick (1957–2020), whose insubordinate interventions with image-processing tools served the purpose of a reflection upon time, challenging traditional narratives of sequentiality, segmentation, and cause-effect linearity. These video works display a virtuous interconnection of art and technology, built upon a solid politica perspective on audiovisual representation, art history, and territorial disputes. Acknowledging the work of this artist contributes to the expansion of global dialogues about the use of image-processing tools, incorporating Latin America into traditional narratives dominated by Europe-U.S. exchanges.
Raster Manipulations
Authors: Gyenes Zsolt
Published: October 2024

Nam June Paik’s artistic experiments, especially the distortion of the electronic image with magnets, from which he started, provide the author a defining example and reference point for his audiovisual work. The possible combinations of analog and digital techniques open up new doors for contemporary media artists. In this artistic statement the author describes some of his own experimental works of art in the hopes of stimulating a discourse on experimentation and innovation.
The disruption index is biased by citation inflation
Authors: Petersen Alexander Michael , Arroyave Felber , Pammolli Fabio
Published: October 2024

A recent analysis of scientific publication and patent citation networks by Park et al. (Nature, 2023) suggests that publications and patents are becoming less disruptive over time. Here we show that the reported decrease in disruptiveness is an artifact of systematic shifts in the structure of citation networks unrelated to innovation system capacity. Instead, the decline is attributable to “citation inflation,” an unavoidable characteristic of real citation networks that manifests as a systematic time-dependent bias and renders cross-temporal analysis challenging. One driver of citation inflation is the ever-increasing lengths of reference lists over time, which in turn increases the density of links in citation networks, and causes the disruption index to converge to 0. The impact of this systematic bias further stymies efforts to correlate disruption to other measures that are also time dependent, such as team size and citation counts. In order to demonstrate this fundamental measurement problem, we present three complementary lines of critique (deductive, empirical and computational modeling), and also make available an ensemble of synthetic citation networks that can be used to test alternative citation-based indices for systematic bias.
A Study on the Aesthetic Mechanism and Pathways of the Empowerment of Art and Fashion on the Rural Area’s Development of China
Authors: Zhang Junzhe
Published: October 2024

With the in-depth implementation of the Chinese rural revitalization strategy, the integration of art and fashion elements has brought new vitality and development momentum to rural areas. Based on the theory of aesthetic needs and cultural empowerment and community participation, this paper proposes specific mechanisms about how to enhance environmental aesthetics, form cultural identity, and community participation and also how to increase tourism attraction through art fashion. This paper analyzes the main challenges encountered in the implementation of art fashion empowerment, including the unbalanced allocation of resources, the adaptability of cultural differences, the balance between sustainability and economic benefits, and the lack of education and training. Based on this, the paper puts forward an effective path to realize the rural action of art fashion empowerment, including the combination of comprehensive art and local characteristics, the support of policies and funds, the continuous promotion of community education and the innovation of cross-field cooperation. By integrating arts and local characteristics, strengthening policy and financial support, building education systems, and promoting cross-sectoral cooperation, we can inject lasting vitality into rural revitalization. This paper deeply analyzes the application of art fashion in rural areas and its positive impact, aiming at providing a new perspective and practical path for rural revitalization, making it an important force to promote the overall development of rural areas.
COVID-19 Racism and American Chinese Restaurants 2019–2022
Authors: Banh Jenny
Published: October 2024

Chinese restaurants in the US are symbolic “canaries in the coalmine,” indicating widespread anti-Asian hate by attracting negative reactions from the American community but also inspiring love and resistance from the Asian American community. This study examines the relationship between the number of American Chinese restaurant closures, lowered revenue, and the incidence of anti-Asian American hate crimes in the US during the 2019–2022 period. During the pandemic, many American Chinese restaurants lost revenue or closed down. The findings of this study suggest that hatred directed at Chinese American restaurants historically and because of COVID-19 correlates with the incidence of anti-Asian hate crimes. Chinese Americans and Asian Americans are fighting back against this xenophobia via social media campaigns urging consumers to support Chinese restaurants and Chinatowns economically and socially. The vacillating reception of Chinese restaurants in the US shows how culture and consumption are intimately interrelated with society.
The Use of History in American Military Doctrine
Authors: Griffin Christopher
Published: October 2024

American military forces have been working on a major doctrinal change since the middle of the last decade to move away from counterinsurgency and toward large-scale conventional warfare. The introduction of the concept of Multi-Dimensional Operations (MDO) to fight peer competitors has been accompanied by extensive historical studies of previous conventional campaigns. This article looks at the lessons learned from one of the main recent collections of historical cases, the Army’s Large-Scale Combat Operations (LSCO) Series. The book series contains a large number of cases of major conventional war from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, and demonstrates a clear break with doctrine and historical interpretation developed in Iraq and in Afghanistan. Two sets of historical cases from the LSCO series were chosen for this study, the analyses of the October 1973 War and of the Soviet experience in World War II. These were also two of the main cases that were used in the 1970s and 1980s to help develop AirLand Battle doctrine after Vietnam. The article examines the lessons learned from both of the cases in the LSCO Series and compares those to earlier lessons learned about the same cases in the 1970s and 1980s. In this way, it also finds that the U.S. Army believes that AirLand Battle doctrine continues to be relevant today from a historical standpoint of lessons learned.
Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy as an Accurate Forensic Tool for Bone Classification and Individual Reassignment
Authors: Cárdenas-Escudero Jafet , Galán-Madruga David , Cáceres Jorge O.
Published: October 2024

This article provides a detailed discussion of the evidence available to date on the application of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and supervised classification methods for the individual reassignment of commingled bone remains. Specialized bone chemistry studies have demonstrated the suitability of bone elemental composition as a distinct individual identifier. Given the widely documented ability of the LIBS technique to provide elemental emission spectra that are considered elemental fingerprints of the samples analyzed, the analytical potential of this technique has been assessed for the investigation of the contexts of commingled bone remains for their individual reassignment. The LIBS bone analysis consists of the direct ablation of micrometric portions of bone samples, either on their surface or within their internal structure. To produce reliable, accurate, and robust bone classifications, however, the available evidence suggests that LIBS spectral information must be processed by appropriate methods. When comparing the performance of seven different supervised classification methods using spectrochemical LIBS data for individual reassociation, those employing artificial intelligence-based algorithms produce analytically conclusive results, concretely individual reassociations with 100% accuracy, sensitivity, and robustness. Compared to LIBS, other techniques used for the purpose of interest exhibit limited performance in terms of robustness, sensitivity, and accuracy, as well as variations in these results depending on the type of bones used in the classification. The available literature supports the suitability of the LIBS technique for reliable individual reassociation of bone remains in a fast, simple, and cost-effective manner without the need for complicated sample processing.
Field-Testing Multiple-Choice Questions With AI Examinees: English Grammar Items
Authors: Maeda Hotaka
Published: October 2024

Field-testing is an essential yet often resource-intensive step in the development of high-quality educational assessments. I introduce an innovative method for field-testing newly written exam items by substituting human examinees with artificially intelligent (AI) examinees. The proposed approach is demonstrated using 466 four-option multiple-choice English grammar questions. Pre-trained transformer language models are fine-tuned based on the 2-parameter logistic (2PL) item response model to respond like human test-takers. Each AI examinee is associated with a latent ability θ, and the item text is used to predict response selection probabilities for each of the four response options. For the best modeling approach identified, the overall correlation between the true and predicted 2PL correct response probabilities was .82 (bias = 0.00, root mean squared error = 0.18). The study results were promising, showing that item response data generated from AI can be used to calculate item proportion correct, item discrimination, conduct item calibration with anchors, distractor analysis, dimensionality analysis, and latent trait scoring. However, the proposed approach did not achieve the level of accuracy obtainable with human examinee response data. If further refined, potential resource savings in transitioning from human to AI field-testing could be enormous. AI could shorten the field-testing timeline, prevent examinees from seeing low-quality field-test items in real exams, shorten test lengths, eliminate test security, item exposure, and sample size concerns, reduce overall cost, and help expand the item bank. Example Python code from this study is available on Github: https://github.com/hotakamaeda/ai_field_testing1
Terrorist Attacks and Trust in Institutions: Micro Evidence From Europe
Authors: Jha Chandan Kumar , Tripathi Ishita
Published: October 2024

The existing literature on terrorism focuses on the “rally-around-the-flag-effect” – a relatively short-term phenomenon. The non-immediate effects of terrorist attacks on trust in institutions, however, remain largely unexplored. Arguing that maintaining law and order and upholding peace is considered the responsibility of the political and legal institutions in democracies, we theorize the “accountability effect” suggesting that terrorist activities indicate institutional failures in preventing casualties, undermining residents’ trust in these institutions. Using over 350,000 individual-level observations from the European Social Survey, we find evidence of the accountability effect showing that exposure to terrorist activities undermines self-reported trust in various national and international institutions, including the parliament, legal institutions, the police, politicians, political parties, the European Parliament, and the United Nations. Whereas this negative relationship does not weaken with additional terrorist attacks, strong governance and high trust in institutions mitigate these adverse effects. Lastly, terrorist attacks do not affect trust among people.
Bayesian statistical concepts with examples from rodent toxicology studies
Authors: Larson Gary J , Shockley Keith R
Published: October 2024

The theory and practice of statistics comprises two main schools of thought: frequentist statistics and Bayesian statistics. Frequentist methods are most commonly used to analyze animal-based laboratory data, while Bayesian statistical methods have been implemented less widely and may be relatively unfamiliar to practitioners in experimental science. This paper provides a high-level overview of Bayesian statistics and how they compare with frequentist methods. Using examples in rodent toxicity research, we argue that Bayesian methods have much to offer laboratory animal researchers. We advocate for increased attention to and adoption of Bayesian methods in laboratory animal research. Bayesian statistical theory, methods, software, and education have advanced significantly in the last 30 years, making these tools more accessible than ever.
Methods for applying blinding and randomisation in animal experiments
Authors: Verhave PS , van Eenige R , Tiebosch IACW
Published: October 2024

Blinding and randomisation are important methods for increasing the robustness of pre-clinical studies, as incomplete or improper implementation thereof is recognised as a source of bias. Randomisation ensures that any known and unknown covariates introducing bias are randomly distributed over the experimental groups. Thereby, differences between the experimental groups that might otherwise have contributed to false positive or -negative results are diminished. Methods for randomisation range from simple randomisation (e.g. rolling a dice) to advanced randomisation strategies involving the use of specialised software. Blinding on the other hand ensures that researchers are unaware of group allocation during the preparation, execution and acquisition and/or the analysis of the data. This minimises the risk of unintentional influences resulting in bias. Methods for blinding require strong protocols and a team approach. In this review, we outline methods for randomisation and blinding and give practical tips on how to implement them, with a focus on animal studies.
Study design: think ‘scientific value’ not ‘p-values’
Authors: Reynolds Penny S
Published: October 2024

Statistically based experimental designs have been available for over a century. However, many preclinical researchers are completely unaware of these methods, and the success of experiments is usually equated only with ‘ p < 0.05’. By contrast, a well-thought-out experimental design strategy provides data with evidentiary and scientific value. A value-based strategy requires implementation of statistical design principles coupled with basic project management techniques. This article outlines the three phases of a value-based design strategy: proper framing of the research question, statistically based operationalisation through careful selection and structuring of appropriate inputs, and incorporation of methods that minimise bias and process variation. Appropriate study design increases study validity and the evidentiary strength of the results, reduces animal numbers, and reduces waste from noninformative experiments. Statistically based experimental design is thus a key component of the ‘Reduction’ pillar of the 3R (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) principles for ethical animal research.
Have City Deals delivered higher productivity in England? An empirical assessment of a broad-spectrum local growth policy
Authors: Raja Sanjay I , Larsson Johan P
Published: October 2024

The issue of what constitutes effective regional growth policy has remained elusive, particularly for ‘broad-spectrum’ policy aimed at a large part of a country. We undertake one of the first quantitative studies looking at the City Deals in England, analysing effects on productivity. We employ a difference-in-differences model, an event study, and a synthetic control method to evaluate effects on productivity. The results are mixed and usually not statistically different from zero. While the difference-in-differences framework indicates some positive effects, possibly driven by places that were the most productive before the intervention, the event study and synthetic control methods point to, at best, small effects that diminish over time. Our findings, therefore, question the efficacy of such deals in terms of narrowing the UK’s longstanding regional inequalities, while opening up several avenues for further research to understand what worked and what did not within a ‘broad-spectrum’ local growth strategy.
Health Care Utilization and Perceived Quality of Care in a Colombian Indigenous Health Organization
Authors: Hinds Aynslie , Suárez Aguilar Beda , Duarte Yercine , Ospina Dorian , Gómez Vargas John Harold , Mignone Javier
Published: October 2024

Indigenous governance of health care has increasingly been advocated among Indigenous peoples in many countries. However, there is limited research that has empirically examined its benefits. In 2020/21, we conducted a survey of 2113 Indigenous Wayuu individuals in Colombia who received services from the Indigenous Wayuu led health care insurance organization Anas Wayuu and its network of service providers, and Wayuu individuals who received services from non-Indigenous health insurance organizations. We compared their health care utilization and perception of quality of care. A main finding of the study was that Anas Wayuu enrollees were more than twice as likely to access health care than enrollees from non-Indigenous health insurance organizations, even when controlling for the demographic and health characteristics. The study provided compelling evidence suggesting that Anas Wayuu, being an Indigenous led health organization improves access to, and quality of care, among Indigenous health service recipients.
Machiavelli’s pendulum: Political action, time, and constitutional change
Authors: Corradetti Claudio
Published: October 2024

In this research, I advance an interpretation of Machiavelli’s philosophy for constitutional change. I suggest that Machiavelli’s reading of Polybius’s theory of anacyclosis (circular theory of political change) opens up a new vision for political action and historical transformation. Machiavelli subjects the inherited metaphysical conception of constitutional change to a secular view, one characterized by virtue of action and uncertainty of outcomes ( Virtù/Fortuna), social divisions (nobility/plebeians), and political ideals (Republicanism). The interpretive suggestion put forth here is that Machiavelli’s innovation of the ancient theory of constitutional changes can be appreciated in terms of an oscillating pendulum rather than as a cycle, thereby fictitiously referring to the pendulum as an instrument mimicking the ‘truth of the matter’ ( verità effettuale) of a perpetual shift between principalities and republics rather than as an esoteric rite to foresee the future.
Split Incentives in Emerging Countries
Authors: Sandovalⓡ Hector H. , Hancevicⓡ Pedro I.
Published: October 2024

In this paper, we provide empirical evidence of the energy-efficiency gap between homeowners and renters and quantify the magnitude of the split incentives problem in an emerging economy by studying Mexican households. Using micro-level data from the first National Survey on Energy Consumption in Private Homes (ENCEVI-2018) and a regression framework, we show that underinvestment problems occur in multiple categories of residential energy efficiency. Concretely, our results show that renters have significantly less insulation and energy-efficient equipment, that they tend to use some of their equipment more frequently, and that they pay higher utility bills than homeowners. In addition, renters are less aware of government programs that can reduce their energy expenditure and are also less likely to take advantage of them. Finally, a substantial reduction in carbon emissions could be achieved if renters were equally energy efficient as homeowners.

JEL classification: D12; Q15; Q40; Q53
Daily Episodic and Continuous Arbitrage Trading With Electric Batteries
Authors: Hou Shujin , Bunn Derek
Published: October 2024

The business models for the operation of battery storage systems often depend substantially upon the revenues from arbitrage in the daily electricity wholesale market. Other revenue streams can be attractive, but even with them, wholesale market arbitrage is often used as the benchmark. There can be various trading policies for wholesale market arbitrage and this paper provides a comparison of three main variations. These are: day-ahead spread trading, day-ahead trading with look-ahead and intra-day continuously trading with look-ahead. The example is from the GB electricity market in which wind and solar generation as well as demand forecasts are used to forecast electricity prices. The results of the back-testing indicate the comparative attractiveness of day-ahead spread trading in terms of risk and return performance.

JEL Classification: Q28
Assimilation Theories in the 21st Century: Appraising Accomplishments and Future Challenges
Authors: Drouhot Lucas G.
Published: October 2024

Over a quarter century has passed since theoretical debates surrounding competing assimilation models emerged, and durably structured research on immigrants and their descendants in America and beyond. In this article, I offer a three-pronged reflection on the contemporary state of assimilation research. First, I aim to take stock of the relative merits of segmented and neoassimilation theories and their ability to explain major empirical trends in both the US and Europe. I argue that there is now an emerging empirical consensus about the second generation in the US and Western Europe primarily experiencing intergenerational progress rather than downward assimilation as envisioned by segmented assimilation theory. I then note six analytical challenges facing further theory building: clarifying the role of race and better understanding how cultural difference shapes assimilation trajectories, rethinking the relationship between immigrant socioeconomic mobility and the experience of belonging, acknowledging the importance of immigrant selectivity in conditioning assimilation, facing issues of in- and out-of-sample selectivity due to processes endogenous to assimilation such as ethnic attrition and incarceration, and studying the third generation. Looking out and into the future, I note the need for conversations across methodological traditions and specialist subfields to encourage further theoretical progress and assess existing data infrastructures and future data requirements. Finally, in tandem with machine learning applications allowing for empirical surprise and abductive reasoning, I argue that the current era of data plenitude and unprecedented ability to collect high-dimensional surveys through nonprobability online samples is likely to lead to further theoretical progress.
Property Crimes and the Marginally Employed
Authors: Thompson Alexi , Jozefowicz James J.
Published: October 2024

This paper studies the relationship between unemployment and property crime rates for the United States using aggregate data from 1993 to 2022. Given the mixed results of previous studies, we construct a new unemployment rate: the difference between U-6 and U-3 unemployment rates. The U-6 unemployment measure includes marginally employed and underemployed workers as unemployed, differing from the U-3 unemployment measure which includes these individuals as employed. As such, our measure isolates the number of discouraged, underemployed and marginally employed individuals. We argue that this group is the appropriate population for whom the marginal benefit of property crimes may exceed marginal costs, relative to unemployed individuals according to the U-3 unemployment rate definition. The results of our double-difference error correction model confirm our hypothesis. We find a positive relationship between unemployment and total property crime rates, theft rates and burglary rates in the short and long run. Policy implications are discussed.

JEL Code: C33, J69, Z10
social giftedness - its characteristics and identification
Authors: Smith David
Published: October 2024

The writer argues that just as high ability exists in the creative, cognitive and psychomotor domains there is high ability in the psychosocial domain and one of its facets is social giftedness. A definition of social giftedness is provided. The research design is described. Then the researcher sets out to identify the specific behaviours associated with social giftedness and constructs a measure. Individuals are identified from this measure who are subjected to interview, a personality test, and detailed case study. General findings are discussed.
the influence of locus of control on gifted and talented students
Authors: Knight Bruce Allen
Published: October 2024

The locus of control construct and its importance in allowing gifted and talented students to reach their maximum potential is discussed. This article suggests that an understanding of gifted and talented students’ perceptions of responsibility for behaviour aids in understanding their learning processes.
empowering parents of high ability children- step 1: identifying their needs
Authors: Olivier A , Kokot S J , Verrynne K , Jansen C J
Published: October 2024

In response to the awareness of problems experienced by individual parents of high ability children in the Witwatersrand area, lecturers in the Department of Psychology of Education at Unisa, who are responsible for Gifted Child Education courses, decided to further investigate the nature and extent of the needs of parents and to plan strategies to address their needs. This article describes the steps taken to identify particular need areas. Results show that parents feel unsure of many areas concerning parenting gifted children and require support and information. Certain steps are being planned to meet these needs.