bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quantum Bisimilarity via Barbs and Contexts: Curbing the Power of Non-deterministic Observers
Authors: Ceragioli Lorenzo , Gadducci Fabio , Lomurno Giuseppe , Tedeschi Gabriele 
Published: January 2024

Past years have seen the development of a few proposals for quantum extensions of process calculi. The rationale is clear: with the development of quantum communication protocols, there is a need to abstract and focus on the basic features of quantum concurrent systems, like CCS and CSP have done
for their classical counterparts. So far, though, no accepted standard has emerged, neither for the syntax nor for the behavioural semantics. Indeed, the various proposals do not agree on what should be the observational properties of quantum values, and as a matter of fact, the soundness of such properties has never been validated against the prescriptions of quantum theory.
To this aim, we introduce a new calculus, Linear Quantum CCS (lqCCS), and investigate the features of behavioural equivalences based on barbs and contexts. Our calculus can be thought of as an asynchronous, linear version of qCCS, which is in turn based on value-passing CCS. The combination of linearity and asynchronous communication fits well with the properties of quantum systems (e.g. the no-cloning theorem), since it ensures that each qubit is sent exactly once, precisely specifying which qubits of a process interact with the context.
We exploit contexts to examine how bisimilarities relate to quantum theory. We show that the observational power of general contexts is incompatible with quantum theory: roughly, they can perform non-deterministic moves depending on quantum values without measuring (hence perturbing) them.
Therefore, we refine the operational semantics in order to prevent contexts from performing unfeasible non-deterministic choices. This induces a coarser bisimilarity that better fits the quantum setting: (i) it lifts the indistinguishability of quantum states to the distributions of processes and, despite the additional constraints, (ii) it preserves the expressiveness of non-deterministic choices based on classical information. To the best of our knowledge, our semantics is the first one that satisfies the two properties above.
Decision and Complexity of Dolev-Yao Hyperproperties
Authors: Rakotonirina Itsaka , Barthe Gilles , Schneidewind Clara 
Published: January 2024

The formal analysis of cryptographic protocols traditionally focuses on trace and equivalence properties, for which decision procedures in the symbolic (or Dolev-Yao, or DY) model are known. However, many relevant security properties are expressed as DY hyperproperties that involve quantifications over both execution paths and attacker computations (which are constrained by the attacker's knowledge in the underlying model of computation). DY hyperproperties generalise hyperproperties, for which many decision procedures exist, to the setting of DY models. Unfortunately, the subtle interactions between both forms of quantifications have been an obstacle to lifting decision procedures from hyperproperties to DY hyperproperties.
The central contribution of the paper is the first procedure for deciding DY hyperproperties, in the usual setting where the number of protocol sessions is bounded and where the equational theory modelling cryptography is subterm-convergent. We prove that our decision procedure can decide the validity of any hyperproperty in which quantifications over messages are guarded and quantifications over attacker computations are limited to expressing the attacker's knowledge. We also establish the complexity of the decision problem for several important fragments of the hyperlogic. Further, we illustrate the techniques and scope of our contributions through examples of related hyperproperties.
VST-A: A Foundationally Sound Annotation Verifier
Authors: Zhou Litao , Qin Jianxing , Wang Qinshi , Appel Andrew W. , Cao Qinxiang 
Published: January 2024

Program verifiers for imperative languages such as C may be annotation-based, in which assertions and invariants are put into source files and then checked, or tactic-based, where proof scripts separate from programs are interactively developed in a proof assistant such as Coq. Annotation verifiers have been more automated and convenient, but some interactive verifiers have richer assertion languages and formal proofs of soundness. We present VST-A, an annotation verifier that uses the rich assertion language of VST, leverages the formal soundness proof of VST, but allows users to describe functional correctness proofs intuitively by inserting assertions.
VST-A analyzes control flow graphs, decomposes every C function into control flow paths between assertions, and reduces program verification problems into corresponding straightline Hoare triples. Compared to existing foundational program verification tools like VST and Iris, in VST-A such decompositions and reductions can nonstructural, which makes VST-A more flexible to use.
VST-A's decomposition and reduction is defined in Coq, proved sound in Coq, and computed call-by-value in Coq. The soundness proof for reduction is totally logical, independent of the complicated semantic model (and soundness proof) of
VST's Hoare triple. Because of the rich assertion language, not all reduced proof goals can be automatically checked, but the system allows users to prove residual proof goals using the full power of the Coq proof assistant.
Facts and Hopes on Chimeric Cytokine Agents for Cancer Immunotherapy
Authors: Ren Zhenhua , Zhang Xuhao , Fu Yang-Xin 
Published: January 2024

AbstractCytokines are key mediators of immune responses that can modulate the antitumor activity of immune cells. Cytokines have been explored as a promising cancer immunotherapy. However, there are several challenges to cytokine therapy, especially a lack of tumor targeting, resulting in high toxicity and limited efficacy. To overcome these limitations, novel approaches have been developed to engineer cytokines with improved properties, such as chimeric cytokines. Chimeric cytokines are fusion proteins that combine different cytokine domains or link cytokines to antibodies (immunocytokines) or other molecules that can target specific receptors or cells. Chimeric cytokines can enhance the selectivity and stability of cytokines, leading to reduced toxicity and improved efficacy. In this review, we focus on two promising cytokines, IL2 and IL15, and summarize the current advances and challenges of chimeric cytokine design and application for cancer immunotherapy. Most of the current approaches focus on increasing the potency of cytokines, but another important goal is to reduce toxicity. Cytokine engineering is promising for cancer immunotherapy as it can enhance tumor targeting while minimizing adverse effects.
Targeting DHX9 Triggers Tumor-Intrinsic Interferon Response and Replication Stress in Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Murayama Takahiko , Nakayama Jun , Jiang Xinpei , Miyata Kenichi , Morris Alexander D. , Cai Kathy Q. , Prasad Rahul M. , Ma Xueying , Efimov Andrey , Belani Neel , Gerstein Emily R. , Tan Yinfei , Zhou Yan , Kim William , Maruyama Reo , Campbell Kerry S. , Chen Lu , Yang Yibin , Balachandran Siddharth , Cañadas Israel 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Activating innate immunity in cancer cells through cytoplasmic nucleic acid sensing pathways, a phenomenon known as “viral mimicry,” has emerged as an effective strategy to convert immunologically “cold” tumors into “hot.” Through a curated CRISPR-based screen of RNA helicases, we identified DExD/H-box helicase 9 (DHX9) as a potent repressor of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) in small cell lung cancers (SCLC). Depletion of DHX9 induced accumulation of cytoplasmic dsRNA and triggered tumor-intrinsic innate immunity. Intriguingly, ablating DHX9 also induced aberrant accumulation of R-loops, which resulted in an increase of DNA damage–derived cytoplasmic DNA and replication stress in SCLCs. In vivo, DHX9 deletion promoted a decrease in tumor growth while inducing a more immunogenic tumor microenvironment, invigorating responsiveness to immune-checkpoint blockade. These findings suggest that DHX9 is a crucial repressor of tumor-intrinsic innate immunity and replication stress, representing a promising target for SCLC and other “cold” tumors in which genomic instability contributes to pathology.

Significance:
One promising strategy to trigger an immune response within tumors and enhance immunotherapy efficacy is by inducing endogenous “virus-mimetic” nucleic acid accumulation. Here, we identify DHX9 as a viral-mimicry-inducing factor involved in the suppression of double-stranded RNAs and R-loops and propose DHX9 as a novel target to enhance antitumor immunity.
See related commentary by Chiappinelli, p. 389.
This article is featured in Selected Articles from This Issue, p. 384
Resilience of Japanese Multinational Enterprise Production Networks during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Licheng Liang 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
We use COVID-19 as an exogenous shock to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Japanese multinational affiliates’ performance, determining that the pandemic adversely impacted performance in general, but severe disruptions did not last longer than one year. The COVID-19 shock also affected global transaction networks, and affiliates’ total sales were severely affected by procurement challenges. Regarding heterogeneous effects, affiliates actively engaged in trade experienced worse conditions than local-oriented firms. Finally, we explore whether and which local backward linkages could mitigate such shocks, concluding that affiliates’ local procurement from companies beyond only Japanese firms could gain resilience.
Exploring the Impact of China's Internal Circulation Strategy on Its Stock Market under Deglobalization
Authors: Shi Yujie , Hong Xinyi , Wang Liming 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
In May 2020, China formulated the Internal Circulation Strategy (ICS) to address the risks of global economic downturns caused by deglobalization. This study is the first to empirically examine the impacts of China's ICS on its stock market performance, focusing on investor behavior. Using data from the Baidu search index and the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges for the period 27 July 2020 to 5 May 2023, the results reveal that stock returns are negatively associated with investor attention to China's ICS, while stock volatilities are positively associated. This suggests that the ongoing and profound shift in economic strategy might have raised concerns among investors. Furthermore, our analysis of heterogeneity finds that the negative association with stock market returns is statistically significant only during times of high policy uncertainty or geopolitical risk. The positive association with stock market volatility is statistically significant only during times of high geopolitical risk. This indicates that the stability of the internal and external environment plays a crucial role in alleviating investor concerns. We also observe mixed impacts on different sectors of the stock markets, with some sectors unaffected while others primarily experiencing a decline in returns.
The Untimely Demise of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in Malaysia: A Postmortem and the Way Forward
Authors: Narayanan Suresh , Latiff Abdul Rais Abdul 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
We discuss the reasons for the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in Malaysia, its subsequent abolition, and the factors to consider if it is to be reinstated. The GST was implemented hastily to rein in mounting government deficits and debt. The lack of preparation to address its impact on the general price level, and incomes of poorer households in an economy already predisposed to inflation, led to widespread public discontent. The high compliance costs borne by smaller firms, delays in providing tax refunds to businesses, and the wasteful use of the additional revenues the tax generated strengthened the anti-GST sentiment. Any attempt to bring back the GST must focus on gaining acceptance rather than the revenue it generates. This is best achieved by timing its reintroduction correctly, keeping the rate low, the base broad, and implementing parallel measures to supplement the incomes of households seriously undermined by the tax on the consumption side. Additionally, addressing leakages, waste, and corruption in the public sector will strengthen public acceptance of the tax and instill confidence in public sector fiscal management.
Tracking Lexical and Semantic Prediction Error Underlying the N400 Using Artificial Neural Network Models of Sentence Processing
Authors: Lopopolo Alessandro , Rabovsky Milena 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Recent research has shown that the internal dynamics of an artificial neural network model of sentence comprehension displayed a similar pattern to the amplitude of the N400 in several conditions known to modulate this event-related potential. These results led Rabovsky et al. (2018) to suggest that the N400 might reflect change in an implicit predictive representation of meaning corresponding to semantic prediction error. This explanation stands as an alternative to the hypothesis that the N400 reflects lexical prediction error as estimated by word surprisal (Frank et al., 2015). In the present study, we directly model the amplitude of the N400 elicited during naturalistic sentence processing by using as predictor the update of the distributed representation of sentence meaning generated by a sentence gestalt model (McClelland et al., 1989) trained on a large-scale text corpus. This enables a quantitative prediction of N400 amplitudes based on a cognitively motivated model, as well as quantitative comparison of this model to alternative models of the N400. Specifically, we compare the update measure from the sentence gestalt model to surprisal estimated by a comparable language model trained on next-word prediction. Our results suggest that both sentence gestalt update and surprisal predict aspects of N400 amplitudes. Thus, we argue that N400 amplitudes might reflect two distinct but probably closely related sub-processes that contribute to the processing of a sentence.
Sohn-Rethel’s Unity of the Critique of Society and the Critique of Epistemology, and his Theoretical Blind Spot: Measure
Authors: Engster Frank 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Sohn-Rethel’s great idea was to ‘socialise’ Kant’s transcendental subject by combining it with Marx’s commodity-form. In so doing, he took on three challenges simultaneously: a) the timeless validity of modern natural science; b) the social genesis of empirically pure forms of cognition; and c) socialisation occurring through a purely social synthesis.
However, Sohn-Rethel construed Marx’s value-form analysis as an empirical exchange of commodities and held that such exchange performs a real abstraction – in this way, he laboured under the very semblance that money engenders at the surface of society by virtue of its function qua means of exchange. This semblance can be rendered transparent by, on the one hand, explaining value in terms of capitalist valorisation rather than as a product of abstraction, and, on the other, developing money as the measure and form of this valorisation.
A Framework for Assessing the Drivers and Impacts of Drought Events: The Contemporary Drought in the Western and Central United States
Authors: Ellison Lucas , Coats Sloan 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
We develop a framework for assessing the drivers and impacts of droughts, built upon a Markov random field and machine learning–based drought identification algorithm that operates simultaneously in space and time. The method uses a precipitation threshold for drought, while considering the drought state of neighboring grid points and identifies contiguous and distinct droughts that propagate through space and time. Importantly, this method can identify droughts of any scale, from a single grid point to those encompassing many thousands. We apply it to North American precipitation from observations and a multimodel ensemble of 67 historical simulations to produce a repository of 25 156 identified droughts. The framework uses an observed drought for comparison, and we choose the 2011–14 drought in the western and central United States, which is among the most severe and persistent in recorded history. As the spatiotemporal characteristics of the simulated droughts become more like the observed drought, we quantify if their local-scale impacts (evaporation, leaf area index, soil moisture, and runoff) and large-scale drivers (atmospheric circulation, sea surface temperature, and modes of climate variability) become predictable. Our findings suggest that ecological impacts are not predictable even when simulated droughts closely match the spatiotemporal characteristics of the observed drought. The drought drivers are also not predictable, with similar droughts occurring under a range of atmosphere–ocean conditions. These results suggest that the drivers and impacts of even the most persistent and severe droughts have limited predictability, although additional work is needed to quantify the role of structural uncertainty and better understand the real-world applicability of climate model-based results.

Significance Statement
The purpose of this study was to determine if we can predict the atmosphere–ocean conditions that cause simulated (in climate models) drought events that are similar in their characteristics to an observed drought that occurred in the central and western United States between 2011 and 2014. We also analyze the impact of these events on water availability for ecological and human use and whether these impacts are predictable. Our results suggest that both the conditions that cause droughts and their ecological impacts are largely unpredictable. While further work is needed to understand the implications of these results for real-world drought predictability, our results help to elucidate the processes underlying persistent and severe droughts in climate models.
Benefits of a Light-Painting Technique for Learning to Write New Characters: A Proof of Concept With Adults
Authors: Connan Jean-François , Jover Marianne , Luigi Manon , Saint-Cast Alexandrine , Danna Jérémy 
Published: January 2024

Learning to write relies on the effective integration of sensory feedback and a transition from motor control based on written tracings to motor control based on expert writing movements. This study aimed to test whether the photographic technique of light painting (LP) would facilitate this transition. To achieve this, we conducted two experiments using different LP setups. LP involves moving a light source in a dark environment while taking a long-exposure photograph. LP entails both a real-time reduction of product-related visual information and a post-trial addition of process-related visual information. In the first experiment, we conducted a pre-test, training, and post-test in which 16 adults wrote four new characters with the non-dominant hand. During the training sessions, participants stood and wrote in a vertical frame (1 × 1.2 m) two characters in the control condition (with a marker on the vertical support) and two characters in the LP condition (with a flashlight in the air). In the test phases, participants were seated at a table and copied the four characters into a square (4 cm * 4 cm) on a fixed sheet of graphics paper. As in-air writing strongly differs from classical handwriting situations, we performed a second LP experiment. The aim was to implement LP training in a condition closer to writing. Sixteen new participants followed the same protocol but sat at a table and wrote in a horizontal square (20 cm * 20 cm). In both experiments, participants who trained with the LP method wrote faster and with less pressure than those trained in the control condition. We also observed an improvement in spatial accuracy in Experiment 2, whatever the training condition. LP seemed to have led participants to focus on the writing process, probably because it modified the nature and timing of the visual information used for writing. LP may be a promising technique for remediating writing difficulties.
Was There a Left Turn in Latin America? Building a Social Democracy Index
Authors: Gürcan Efe Can , Otero Gerardo , Fidan İlayda İsabetli 
Published: January 2024

A social democracy index designed to adjudicate among positions in the debate on the extent to which the political left in Latin America has been leftist shows empirically that both the maximalist Marxist and the liberal institutionalist perspectives are inaccurate. Most countries belonging to the so-called radical-left camp have undergone substantial social democratic achievements since their electoral victories. Moreover, the uneven distribution of social democracy performance in so-called moderate and radical camps casts serious doubt on the homogeneity of these country groupings. Un índice del nivel de socialdemocracia diseñado para establecer las distintas posiciones en el debate sobre el grado de izquierdismo en la izquierda política de América Latina da muestra empírica de la inexactitud de tanto la perspectiva marxista maximalista como de la institucionalista liberal. La mayoría de los países pertenecientes al llamado campo de la izquierda radical han experimentado logros socialdemócratas sustanciales a partir de sus victorias electorales. Además, la distribución desigual de los resultados del proyecto socialdemócrata entre los llamados campos moderados y radicales arroja serias dudas sobre la homogeneidad inherente a estas agrupaciones de países.
Chinese Foreign Direct Investment and the Myth of Autocracy Spread in Latin America
Authors: Vargas Castilhos Guilherme 
Published: January 2024

Since the 2010s, Chinese investment in Latin America has increased. It is a symbol of the emerging influence of China and represents the potential export of its nondemocratic socialist development model. Experts have been concerned that China may undermine democracy in foreign countries in general and erode the United States’ influence in Latin America. A discourse analysis of official Chinese documents on its foreign policy objectives examines whether Chinese investment has undermined the national sovereignty of host nations in Latin America and concludes by refuting the myth that China’s economy and rise in Latin America leads to the adoption of more autocratic governance models. Desde la década de 2010 ha aumentado la inversión china en América Latina. Esto constituye un símbolo de la influencia emergente de China y representa la exportación potencial de su modelo de desarrollo socialista no democrático. A los expertos les preocupa que China pueda socavar la democracia en la generalidad de los países extranjeros y erosionar la influencia de Estados Unidos en América Latina. Un análisis del discurso de los documentos oficiales chinos sobre los objetivos del país en política exterior examina si la inversión china ha socavado la soberanía nacional de las naciones anfitrionas latinoamericanas y concluye refutando el mito de que el ascenso económico de China en América Latina haya conducido a la adopción de modelos de gobernanza más autocráticos.