bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Artificial intelligence system for automatic maxillary sinus segmentation on cone beam computed tomography images
Authors: Bayrakdar Ibrahim Sevki , Elfayome Nermin Sameh , Hussien Reham Ashraf , Gulsen Ibrahim Tevfik , Kuran Alican , Gunes Ihsan , Al-Badr Alwaleed , Celik Ozer , Orhan Kaan 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Objectives
The study aims to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) model based on nnU-Net v2 for automatic maxillary sinus (MS) segmentation in cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) volumes and to evaluate the performance of this model.

Methods
In 101 CBCT scans, MS were annotated using the CranioCatch labelling software (Eskisehir, Turkey) The dataset was divided into 3 parts: 80 CBCT scans for training the model, 11 CBCT scans for model validation, and 10 CBCT scans for testing the model. The model training was conducted using the nnU-Net v2 deep learning model with a learning rate of 0.00001 for 1000 epochs. The performance of the model to automatically segment the MS on CBCT scans was assessed by several parameters, including F1-score, accuracy, sensitivity, precision, area under curve (AUC), Dice coefficient (DC), 95% Hausdorff distance (95% HD), and Intersection over Union (IoU) values.

Results
F1-score, accuracy, sensitivity, precision values were found to be 0.96, 0.99, 0.96, 0.96, respectively for the successful segmentation of maxillary sinus in CBCT images. AUC, DC, 95% HD, IoU values were 0.97, 0.96, 1.19, 0.93, respectively.

Conclusions
Models based on nnU-Net v2 demonstrate the ability to segment the MS autonomously and accurately in CBCT images.
‘Global Disordering’: Practices of Reflexivity in Global Economic Governance
Authors: Lang Andrew 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
In this article, I offer a reinterpretation of late 20th-century ‘neo-liberal’ transformations of global economic governance. My argumentative foil is a macro-institutional interpretation of the post-1980s period in which neo-liberalism appears as programmatic institutional form and disciplinary formation. I argue that a second, and complementary, dynamic also needs to be taken into account – namely, the emergence and operationalization of a set of critical technologies for embedding practices of reflexivity within the state. I suggest, moreover, that attention to this dimension of neo-liberalization provides a new perspective on the present. I offer an interpretation of the current moment of transition as one in which a similar repertoire of neo-liberal techniques of reflexivization is, in a second iteration, being trained on the architecture of global economic governance itself.
Trade liberalization, economic activity and political violence in the Global South: evidence from PTAs
Authors: Amodio Francesco , Baccini Leonardo , Chiovelli Giorgio , Di Maio Michele 
Published: March 2024

Summary
This paper investigates the impact of agricultural trade liberalization on economic activity and political violence in emerging countries. We use data on all preferential trade agreements (PTAs) signed between 25 low- and middle-income countries and their high-income trade partners between 1995 and 2013. We exploit the implied reduction in agricultural tariffs over time combined with variation within countries in their suitability to produce liberalized crops to find that economic activity increases differentially in affected areas. We also find strong positive effects on political violence, and present evidence consistent with both producer- and consumer-side mechanisms: violence increases differentially in more urbanized areas that are suitable to produce less labour-intensive crops as well as crops that are consumed locally. Our estimates imply that economic activity and political violence would have been around 2% and 7% lower, respectively, across countries in our sample had the PTAs not been signed.
Conserved Noncoding Elements Evolve Around the Same Genes Throughout Metazoan Evolution
Authors: Gonzalez Paul , Hauck Quinn C , Baxevanis Andreas D 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Conserved noncoding elements (CNEs) are DNA sequences located outside of protein-coding genes that can remain under purifying selection for up to hundreds of millions of years. Studies in vertebrate genomes have revealed that most CNEs carry out regulatory functions. Notably, many of them are enhancers that control the expression of homeodomain transcription factors and other genes that play crucial roles in embryonic development. To further our knowledge of CNEs in other parts of the animal tree, we conducted a large-scale characterization of CNEs in more than 50 genomes from three of the main branches of the metazoan tree: Cnidaria, Mollusca, and Arthropoda. We identified hundreds of thousands of CNEs and reconstructed the temporal dynamics of their appearance in each lineage, as well as determining their spatial distribution across genomes. We show that CNEs evolve repeatedly around the same genes across the Metazoa, including around homeodomain genes and other transcription factors; they also evolve repeatedly around genes involved in neural development. We also show that transposons are a major source of CNEs, confirming previous observations from vertebrates and suggesting that they have played a major role in wiring developmental gene regulatory mechanisms since the dawn of animal evolution.
The Costs of Coping: Long-Term Mortality Risk in Aging Men
Authors: Marino Victoria R , Trudel-Fitzgerald Claudia , Aldwin Carolyn M , Spiro Avron , Lee Lewina O 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Objectives
Prospective associations between coping and all-cause mortality risk are understudied, particularly among nonmedical samples. We assessed independent and joint associations of multiple components of the transactional stress and coping model with all-cause mortality in a cohort of community-dwelling men. We were particularly interested in how coping effort related to mortality.

Methods
Participants included 743 men from the Veterans Affairs Normative Aging Study who completed 1+ stress and coping assessment in 1993–2002 (baseline age: M = 68.4, standard deviation [SD] = 7.1) and had mortality follow-up through 2020. The Brief California Coping Inventory assessed coping with a past-month stressor. Cox regression evaluated associations of problem stressfulness, coping strategies, total coping effort, and coping efficiency with all-cause mortality risk.

Results
Over a mean follow-up of 16.7 years (SD = 7.1), 473 (64%) men died. Problem stressfulness was not associated with mortality risk (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.98–1.17), adjusted for demographics and health conditions. When examining coping via specific strategies, only social coping was associated with higher mortality risk (HR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.05–1.26) after Bonferroni correction. Total coping effort was associated with 14% greater risk of all-cause mortality (95% CI: 1.04–1.26), independent of problem stressfulness, demographics, and health conditions. Coping efficiency, a benefit–cost ratio of coping efficacy to total coping effort, was not associated with mortality risk in adjusted models.

Discussion
Total coping effort may be an important indicator for longevity among aging men, above and beyond problem stressfulness and specific coping strategies, which have been the foci in prior research.
Contributions and limitations of environmental magnetism to characterize traffic-related particulate matter sources
Authors: Letaïef Sarah , Carvallo Claire , Franke Christine , Isambert Aude , Camps Pierre 
Published: March 2024

SUMMARY
The chronic exposure to particulate matter (PM) pollution causes societal and environmental issues, in particular in urban areas where most citizen are regularly exposed to vehicular traffic. Since almost two decades, environmental magnetic monitoring has demonstrated its efficiency to successfully map relative concentrations of airborne particle deposition on accumulative surfaces. A better understanding of the magnetic results requires discriminating the main traffic-related sources of the observed signal on particle collectors. To meet this objective, we investigated a sample set of exhaust and non-exhaust sources with respect to their magnetic fingerprints inferred from hysteresis loops, first-order reversal curve (FORC) diagrams, temperature dependency of initial susceptibility and unmixing of isothermal remanent magnetization acquisition curves. The source sample set comprises 14 diesel and gasoline exhaust smoke residues, 12 abrasive-fatigue wear test pieces from worn brake-pads, brake powders, worn tire-tread and three resuspension products: asphalt concrete, street dust and Saharan mineral dust deposited by precipitation after long-range eolian transport. Magnetic properties of the source samples were compared to those from various accumulative surfaces exposed to urban traffic (passive collectors, filters of facemasks for cycling, plant leaves and tree barks). We found some fingerprints of exhaust pipes and brake wear products on these collectors. The findings highlight the relevance of environmental magnetism tools to characterize different traffic-related source signals in accumulative surfaces in urban environment.
China in African American cosmopolitanism, 1919–29
Authors: Zhang Tao 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
The betrayal of the Western powers at the Paris Conference of 1919 directly led to the eruption of extensive anti-imperialism in China. This influenced Chinese politics throughout the 1920s and helped secure the return of tariff autonomy and the start of extraterritoriality talks at the end of the decade. The development, though not prominently anti-racist, struck African American observers as a notable achievement against white supremacy. Including it into their imaginary of a global offensive against racial discrimination, they regarded association with China as a unique opportunity to strengthen themselves and weaken white racists. But because of the ineffectiveness of China, African American reactions stemmed mainly from empathy rather than admiration. China, for its part, served as a resolute co-fighter for racial equality in a relationship of mutual usefulness.
Why we do science—marine ecosystems in context
Authors: Hessen Dag O 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Any scientific career is a mix of planning and stochastic events, often with a fair share of the latter. I illustrate this by the evolution of my own career. Ecosystem studies of food webs under the impact of eutrophication (Master), and carbon cycling in DOC (Dissolved Organic Carbon)-rich lakes (PhD) led me to elemental ratios in organisms and the establishment of ecological stoichiometry. The role of phosphorus (P) in cellular processes again led to research on the evolution and regulation of genome size. As climate came higher on the agenda, it was time to apply the basic research on the C-cycle and climate in a wider context. As natural scientists, we should also engage in even wider contexts, and I have enjoyed discussions and co-operation with philosophers, psychologist, and social scientists. This helps seeing our own work in context. We should also reflect on why we do science. I have always felt that science should also add purpose to life by giving something back to society, and I have devoted much time to outreach, public talks, debates, and writing popular science books. It takes some time, but it is also rewarding and important—perhaps even more so than yet another paper.
In vitro activity of apramycin (EBL-1003) in combination with colistin, meropenem, minocycline or sulbactam against XDR/PDR Acinetobacter baumannii isolates from Greece
Authors: Galani I , Souli M , Katsala D , Karaiskos I , Giamarellou H , Antoniadou A 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Objectives
To evaluate the in vitro activity of the combination of apramycin with colistin, meropenem, minocycline or sulbactam, against some well-characterized XDR Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates from Greece, to understand how apramycin can be best incorporated into clinical practice and optimize effectiveness.

Methods
In vitro interactions of apramycin (0.5×, 1× and 2× the MIC value) with colistin (2 mg/L), meropenem (30 mg/L), minocycline (3.5 mg/L) or sulbactam (24 mg/L) were tested using time–kill methodology. Twenty-one clinical A. baumannii isolates were chosen, exhibiting apramycin MICs of 4–16 mg/L, which were at or below the apramycin preliminary epidemiological cut-off value of 16 mg/L. These isolates were selected for a range of colistin (4–32 mg/L), meropenem (16–256 mg/L), minocycline (8–32 mg/L) and sulbactam (8–32 mg/L) MICs across the resistant range. Synergy was defined as a ≥2 log10 cfu/mL reduction compared with the most active agent.

Results
The combination of apramycin with colistin, meropenem, minocycline or sulbactam was synergistic, at least at one of the concentrations of apramycin (0.5×, 1× or 2× MIC), against 83.3%, 90.5%, 90.9% or 92.3% of the tested isolates, respectively. Apramycin alone was bactericidal at 24 h against 9.5% and 33.3% of the tested isolates at concentrations equal to 1× and 2× MIC, while the combination of apramycin at 2× MIC with colistin, meropenem or sulbactam was bactericidal against all isolates tested (100%). The apramycin 2× MIC/minocycline combination had bactericidal activity against 90.9% of the tested isolates.

Conclusions
Apramycin combinations may have potential as a treatment option for XDR/pandrug-resistant (PDR) A. baumannii infections and warrant validation in the clinical setting, when this new aminoglycoside is available for clinical use.
Antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of highly soluble polypyrrole against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Rosa Danillo Sales , Oliveira Samily Aquino de Sá , Souza Renata de Faria Silva , de França Chirles Araujo , Pires Isabelle Caroline , Tavares Márcio Rennan Santos , de Oliveira Helinando Pequeno , da Silva Júnior Fernando Antônio Gomes , Moreira Maria Aparecida Scatamburlo , de Barros Mariana , de Menezes Gustavo Batista , Antunes Maísa Mota , Azevedo Vasco Ariston de Carvalho , Naue Carine Rosa , da Costa Mateus Matiuzzi 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Aims
The purpose was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of highly soluble polypyrrole (Hs-PPy), alone or combined with oxacillin, as well as its antibiofilm potential against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains. Furthermore, the in silico inhibitory mechanism in efflux pumps was also investigated.

Methods and results
Ten clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and two reference strains were used. Antimicrobial activity was determined by broth microdilution, and the combination effect with oxacillin was evaluated by the checkerboard assay. The biofilm formation capacity of MRSA and the interference of Hs-PPy were evaluated. The inhibitory action of Hs-PPy on the efflux pump was evaluated in silico through molecular docking. Hs-PPy showed activity against the isolates, with inhibitory action between 62.5 and 125 µg ml−1 and bactericidal action at 62.5 µg ml−1, as well as synergism in association with oxacillin. The isolates ranged from moderate to strong biofilm producers, and Hs-PPy interfered with the formation of this structure, but not with mature biofilm. There was no in silico interaction with the efflux protein EmrD, the closest homolog to NorA.

Conclusions
Hs-PPy interferes with biofilm formation by MRSA, has synergistic potential, and is an efflux pump inhibitor.
Limited genetic variability and spatial population structure in grasshoppers between natural and metal-contaminated areas in Egypt
Authors: Soliman Mustafa , Almadiy Abdulrhman , Al-Akeel Rasha , Hesselberg Thomas , Mohamed Amr 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Pollutants in an environment can have long-term implications for the species living there, resulting in local adaptations with implications for their genetic structure. Heavy metal pollutants infiltrate soils and groundwater, bioaccumulate in food webs, and negatively impact biota. In this study, we investigated the degree to which the genetic structure and variability of the slender green-winged grasshopper (Aiolopus thalassinus (Fabricius) (Orthoptera: Acrididae)) were impacted by heavy metal pollution and distance. We used the random amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) method to examine the genetic variability of populations in 3 heavy metal-polluted and 3 unpolluted locations across varying geographical distances in Egypt. The heavy metal concentrations of cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc were measured from the grasshopper tissue and soils. Sixty-nine unique and polymorphic bands were produced by 4 primers. Cluster and principal component analyses separated the populations inside and outside Cairo into 2 main branches, which were further divided into smaller branches corresponding to their geographical regions. We found no differences in the Shannon genetic diversity index between populations or with increasing heavy metal concentrations in either the soil or the grasshopper tissue. Our results showed a greater genetic variation among populations than between populations within the same location, indicating populations within locations were less differentiated than those between locations. The moderate correlation between genetic similarity and spatial distance suggests geographical isolation influenced grasshopper population differentiation. Based on the RAPD analysis, environmental pollutants and geographical distances impact the A. thalassinus population structure, potentially restricting gene flow between sites even at small spatial scales.
‘There seems to be some disparity then between our Syrian and Iraqi refugee children who seemed to have everything’: Constructing ‘good refugees’ and the ensuing equity issues in Australian schools
Authors: Reid Carol , Mourad Zainab 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Australia took double the normal intake of refugees over 2015–17. On top of the usual humanitarian intake were refugees specifically from Syria and Iraq who were mostly Christian and were settled in metropolitan and regional NSW, Queensland, and Victoria. This article explores the responses of teachers in some of the schools where this cohort was settled. Using Critical Discourse Analysis, it argues that for the Australian population to accept this doubling of humanitarian migration it was important to ensure they were perceived as ‘good refugees’ in a discursive climate shaped by anti-Muslim, anti-refugee and anti-asylum seeker rhetoric. The insights provided in this article aim to support the educational needs and well-being of all refugee students by revealing how discursive positioning can lead to practices and processes of inclusion while simultaneously being exclusionary.
Bayesian modelling of effective and functional brain connectivity using hierarchical vector autoregressions
Authors: Wegmann Bertil , Lundquist Anders , Eklund Anders , Villani Mattias 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Analysis of brain connectivity is important for understanding how information is processed by the brain. We propose a novel Bayesian vector autoregression hierarchical model for analysing brain connectivity within resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging, and apply it to simulated data and a real data set with subjects in different groups. Our approach models functional and effective connectivity simultaneously and allows for both group- and single-subject inference. We combine analytical marginalization with Hamiltonian Monte Carlo to obtain highly efficient posterior sampling. We show that our model gives similar inference for effective connectivity compared to models with a common covariance matrix to all subjects, but more accurate inference for functional connectivity between regions compared to models with more restrictive covariance structures. A Stan implementation of our model is available on GitHub.
Text Messages to Facilitate the Transition to Web-First Sequential Mixed-Mode Designs in Longitudinal Surveys
Authors: Cabrera-Álvarez Pablo , Lynn Peter 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
This article is concerned with the transition of a longitudinal survey from a single-mode design to a web-first mixed-mode design and the role that text messages to sample members can play in smoothing that transition. We present the results of an experiment that investigates the effects of augmenting the contact strategy of letters and emails with text messages, inviting the sample members to complete a web questionnaire and reminding them of the invite. The experiment was conducted in a subsample of Understanding Society, a household panel survey in the United Kingdom, in the wave that transitioned from a CAPI-only design to a sequential design combining web and CATI. In the experiment, a quarter of the sample received letters and emails, while the rest received between one and three text messages with a personalized link to the questionnaire. We examine the effect of the text messages on response rates, both at the web phase of a sequential design and at the end of the fieldwork after a CATI follow-up phase, and explore various mechanisms that might drive the increase in response rates. We also look at the effects on the device used to complete the survey and field efforts needed at the CATI stage. The findings indicate that text messages did not help to significantly increase response rates overall, although some subgroups benefited from them, such as panel members who had not provided an email or postal address before. Likewise, the text messages increased web completion among younger panel members and those with an irregular response pattern. We only found a slight and nonsignificant effect on smartphone use and no effect on the web household response rate, a proxy for fieldwork efforts.