bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Determinants of HIV Testing Among Migrant Men Who Have Sex With Men from Sub-Saharan Africa and Other Regions Residing in 10 European Countries
Authors: Shobowale Oladipupo , Schmidt Axel J. , Meireles Paula , Rojas Castro Daniela , Detandt Sandrine , Stutterheim Sarah E. , Weatherburn Peter , Jonas Kai J. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractMigrant men who have sex with men (mMSM) from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and other regions outside Europe are highly vulnerable to HIV. However, research on the determinants of HIV testing among mMSM from SSA, and how these differ across the categories of mMSM living in Europe, is limited. Using data from the European MSM Internet Survey (EMIS-2017), we assessed HIV testing prevalence and recency in mMSM from SSA and other mMSM residing in ten European countries, as well as the determinants of HIV testing across different mMSM categories with logistic regression analyses. Ever-testing for HIV was slightly higher in mMSM from SSA (83%) compared to other mMSM categories (75–80%), except for mMSM from Latin America and Caribbean region (84%). Overall, 20% of mMSM had never tested. In multivariable analysis, higher age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.05, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01–1.10), higher HIV knowledge (AOR 1.45, 95%-CI 1.11–1.90), and residence in smaller settlements (AOR 0.45, 95%-CI 0.21–0.96) were significantly associated with ever testing for HIV in mMSM from SSA. Comparing mMSM from SSA to mMSM from other regions, we found varying significant similarities (higher age, residence in smaller settlements and HIV knowledge) and differences (lower educational attainment, not identifying as gay, being a student, and limited disclosure of homosexual attraction) in the determinants of ever-testing for HIV. Community-specific interventions addressing identified sociodemographic and behavioral determinants to increase HIV testing uptake in the different mMSM categories and better data for further research are warranted.
Graph neural networks: a survey on the links between privacy and security
Authors: Guan Faqian , Zhu Tianqing , Zhou Wanlei , Choo Kim-Kwang Raymond 
Published: February 2024

AbstractGraph neural networks (GNNs) are models that capture the dependencies between graph data by passing messages between graph nodes and they have been widely used to process graph data that contains relational information. Example application areas include social networks, recommendation systems, and life sciences. However, like all neural networks, there are underpinning security and privacy concerns associated with GNN deployments in practice. For example, attackers can perturb a graph’s data to undermine a model’s effectiveness, or they can steal the model’s data and/or parameters, thus threatening the privacy of the model. In this survey, we provide a comprehensive review of recent research efforts on security and/or privacy in GNNs. We also systematically describe the distinctions and relationships between security and privacy, as well as providing an outlook on future directions of research in this area.
Impacts of forestry drainage on surface peat stoichiometry and physical properties in boreal peatlands in Finland
Authors: Turunen Jukka , Anttila Jani , Laine Anna M. , Ovaskainen Juha , Laatikainen Matti , Alm Jukka , Larmola Tuula 
Published: February 2024

AbstractManagement of drained peatlands may pose a risk or a solution on the way towards climate change mitigation, which creates a need to evaluate the current state of forestry-drained peatlands, the magnitude of degradation processes and indicators for carbon (C) loss. Using a large dataset (778 profiles, 891 peat samples, collected between 1977 and 2017) from peatlands having different fertility classes across Finland, we investigate whether the surface peat profiles of undrained and forestry-drained peatlands differ in C:N, von Post and dry bulk density. The utility of element ratios (C:N:H stoichiometry) as site indicators for degradation were further analyzed from a subsample of 16 undrained and 30 drained peat profiles. This subsample of drained sites had carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) fluxes measured allowing us to link peat element ratios to annual C gas effluxes. Element ratios H:C, O:C and C:N and degree of unsaturation (combining C, N, H changes) were found widely valid: they captured both differences in the botanical origin of peat as well as its potential decomposition pathway (C lost via a combination of dissolved organic C and C gas loss and/or the gaseous loss predominantly as CO2). Of the stoichiometric indexes, peat H:C ratio seemed to be the best proxy for degradation following drainage, it indicated not only long-term degradation but also explained 48% of the variation in annual CO2 emission. The O:C ratio positively correlated with annual CH4 flux, presumably because high O:C in peat reflected the availability of easily degradable substrate for methanogenesis. The differences in C:N ratio indicated notable decomposition processes for Sphagnum-dominated peatlands but not in Carex-dominated peatlands. Degree of unsaturation showed potential for an integrative proxy for drainage-induced lowering water table and post-drainage changes in peat substrate quality.
Cancer cell plasticity: from cellular, molecular, and genetic mechanisms to tumor heterogeneity and drug resistance
Authors: Bhat Gh Rasool , Sethi Itty , Sadida Hana Q. , Rah Bilal , Mir Rashid , Algehainy Naseh , Albalawi Ibrahim Altedlawi , Masoodi Tariq , Subbaraj Gowtham Kumar , Jamal Farrukh , Singh Mayank , Kumar Rakesh , Macha Muzafar A. , Uddin Shahab , Akil Ammira S. Al-Shabeeb , Haris Mohammad , Bhat Ajaz A. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractCancer is a complex disease displaying a variety of cell states and phenotypes. This diversity, known as cancer cell plasticity, confers cancer cells the ability to change in response to their environment, leading to increased tumor diversity and drug resistance. This review explores the intricate landscape of cancer cell plasticity, offering a deep dive into the cellular, molecular, and genetic mechanisms that underlie this phenomenon. Cancer cell plasticity is intertwined with processes such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition and the acquisition of stem cell–like features. These processes are pivotal in the development and progression of tumors, contributing to the multifaceted nature of cancer and the challenges associated with its treatment. Despite significant advancements in targeted therapies, cancer cell adaptability and subsequent therapy-induced resistance remain persistent obstacles in achieving consistent, successful cancer treatment outcomes. Our review delves into the array of mechanisms cancer cells exploit to maintain plasticity, including epigenetic modifications, alterations in signaling pathways, and environmental interactions. We discuss strategies to counteract cancer cell plasticity, such as targeting specific cellular pathways and employing combination therapies. These strategies promise to enhance the efficacy of cancer treatments and mitigate therapy resistance. In conclusion, this review offers a holistic, detailed exploration of cancer cell plasticity, aiming to bolster the understanding and approach toward tackling the challenges posed by tumor heterogeneity and drug resistance. As articulated in this review, the delineation of cellular, molecular, and genetic mechanisms underlying tumor heterogeneity and drug resistance seeks to contribute substantially to the progress in cancer therapeutics and the advancement of precision medicine, ultimately enhancing the prospects for effective cancer treatment and patient outcomes.
A Computational Model of School Achievement
Authors: Schuetze Brendan A. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe computational model of school achievement represents a novel approach to theorizing school achievement, conceptualizing educational interventions as modifications to students’ learning curves. By modeling the process and products of educational achievement simultaneously, this tool addresses several unresolved questions in educational psychology through computational modeling. For example, prior research has highlighted perplexing inconsistencies in the relationship between time spent on task and academic achievement. The present simulation reveals that even under the assumption that time-on-task always positively contributes to achievement, the correlations between time-on-task and achievement can vary substantially across different contexts and, in some cases, may even be negative. Analysis of the correlation between prior knowledge and knowledge gains uncovers similar patterns. The computational model of school achievement presents a framework, bolstered through simulation, enabling researchers to formalize their assumptions, address ongoing debates, and design tailored interventions that consider both the school environment and individual student contexts.
Synthesis and characterization of hierarchical suspended carbon fiber structures decorated with carbon nanotubes
Authors: Nguyen Sura , Flores Claudia B. , Madou Marc J. , Ray Mallar , Salazar Arnoldo , Vargas Regina , Aguilar Iris , Ornelas Nancy E. , Torres-Castro Alejandro , Martínez Sergio O. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractCarbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon microfibers (CMFs) have received significant attention due to their exceptional mechanical and electrical properties, which make them promising materials for various applications. This study introduces a novel approach to integrate CNTs and CMFs into a unified architecture by simultaneously conducting pyrolysis and chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The localized CVD of CNTs on suspended CMFs was achieved by utilizing Fe–Co nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers as catalysts. Scanning electron microscopy and elemental analysis confirmed the formation of needle-like carbon structures on the pyrolyzed fiber surface, where carbon gases released from the pyrolyzing PAN fiber acted as the carbon source for the localized CVD. The incorporation of an additional carbon source, such as camphor vapor, significantly enhanced the growth and density of CNTs on the CMF. Various characterization techniques, including transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and Atomic Force Microscopy, were employed to analyse the properties of the synthesized materials. The substantial increase in electrical conductivity upon incorporating CNTs highlights their positive influence on electrical properties and defect reduction. These characterization results highlight the potential applications of the fabricated structures in various fields, including sensors, lithium-ion electrodes, and microfabrication. In addition, the economic advantages of optimizing the process by integrating CVD with pyrolysis were assessed, revealing decreased operation time, lower energy consumption, and reduced chemical costs in comparison to conventional methods involving multiple intermediate processing steps.
Graphical Abstract
Death as the extinction of the source of value: the constructivist theory of death as an irreversible loss of moral status
Authors: Nowak Piotr Grzegorz 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIn 2017, Michael Nair-Collins formulated his Transitivity Argument which claimed that brain-dead patients are alive according to a concept that defines death in terms of the loss of moral status. This article challenges Nair-Collins’ view in three steps. First, I elaborate on the concept of moral status, claiming that to understand this notion appropriately, one must grasp the distinction between direct and indirect duties. Second, I argue that his understanding of moral status implicit in the Transitivity Argument is faulty since it is not based on a distinction between direct and indirect duties. Third, I show how this flaw in Nair-Collins’ argument is grounded in the more general problems between preference utilitarianism and desire fulfillment theory. Finally, I present the constructivist theory of moral status and the associated moral concept of death and explain how this concept challenges the Transitivity Argument. According to my view, brain death constitutes a valid criterion of death since brain death is incompatible with the preserved capacity to have affective attitudes and to value anything.
Severity and death
Authors: Ehlert Adam 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThis article discusses the relationship between two theories about the badness of death, the Life-Comparative Account and the Gradualist Account, and two methods of operationalizing severity in health care priority setting, Absolute Shortfall and Proportional Shortfall. The aim is that theories about the badness of death can influence and inform the idea of the basis of severity as a priority setting criterion. I argue that there are strong similarities between the Life-Comparative Account and Absolute Shortfall, and since the Life-Comparative Account is one of the most reasonable accounts of the badness of death, this provides some support for using Absolute Shortfall. I also argue that it is difficult to find support for Proportional Shortfall from theories about the badness of death, and also, that it is difficult to find support for Gradualist Account from theories about severity.
Intact modulation of response vigor in major depressive disorder
Authors: Bakbani-Elkayam Shirel , Dolev-Amit Tohar , Hemed Eitan , Zilcha-Mano Sigal , Eitam Baruch 
Published: February 2024

AbstractBlunted motivation is a core symptom of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Although the empirical picture is mixed, cognitive processes that can be collectively referred to as reward processing have been found to be consistently muted in MDD; most notably, reward sensitivity and reinforcement learning. Works on the modulation of response vigor in individuals with MDD have examined various types of reward, but recent research has shown that in the general population, response vigor is not modulated by type of reward on tasks that are highly similar to those used in these experiments. The present study implemented a form of non-reward related reinforcement which has repeatedly been shown to modulate response vigor in the general population. It investigated whether modulation of response vigor by this type of reinforcement would be effective in individuals with MDD. Clinically depressed individuals (N = 121; 76 post-exclusion) engaged in a task in which their responses led to predictable and immediate sensorimotor effects, or no such effects. Response vigor increased when responses led to sensorimotor effects, which was comparable to the increase found in the general population. These findings support the utility of isolating the computations leading to different reinforcement types and suggest that motivational deficits in MDD may be specific to the type of reward (i.e., hedonically or otherwise explicitly desired stimuli). These results contribute to the literature by suggesting that the reinforcement from sensorimotor predictability stems from processes devolved to motor control, whereas reinforcement from rewards may depend on more general-purpose processes.
Intravesical thermochemotherapy in the treatment of high-risk and very high-risk non-muscle-invasive urothelial bladder cancer: a single-arm study
Authors: Brisuda Antonín , Horňák Jakub , Žemličková Barbora , Háček Jaromír , Babjuk Marek 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Aim
Intravesical thermochemotherapy, also known as HIVEC (Hyperthermic Intra-VEsical Chemotherapy), represents an alternative adjuvant topical treatment for non-muscle-invasive urothelial bladder cancer (NMIBC). High-risk (HR) and very HR tumors carry a substantial risk of recurrence and progression. In this study, we present our own results using HIVEC as an alternative to unavailable Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine in the treatment of such groups of patients.

Methods
During the period of November 2014–June 2022, a total of 47 patients with HR and very HR NMIBC underwent treatment with HIVEC after transurethral resection. They were given an induction of 6 instillations with/without a maintenance. The aim was to evaluate the time to recurrence, event-free survival (recurrence or progression), as measured by Kaplan–Meier analysis, the effect of maintenance treatment and other factors on survival (log-rank test and multivariable Cox regression analysis), and complications.

Results
The median follow-up for patients who did not experience an event was 32 months. The median time to HR (high grade and/or T1 tumor) recurrence in those who recurred was 15 months. The survival rate without HR recurrence at 12, 24, and 48 months was 84, 70, and 59%, respectively. Progression was detected in 10.6% of patients, which translated to 89% of patients living without progression after 24 months. Maintenance treatment (defined as more than six instillations) and presence of CIS significantly correlated with risk of HR recurrence (Hazard ratio 0.34 and 3.12, respectively). One female patient underwent salvage cystectomy due to contractory bladder, and 19.1% of patients experienced transient lower urinary tract symptoms.

Conclusion
Based on our experience, HIVEC represents an adequate and safe alternative treatment for HR and very HR NMIBC in situations where BCG is not available or radical cystectomy is not an option for the patient. However, high-quality data from prospective randomized studies are still lacking, and thus, thermochemotherapy should still be regarded as an experimental treatment modality.
Insights into single-timepoint ASL hemodynamics: what visual assessment and spatial coefficient of variation can tell
Authors: Pizzini Francesca Benedetta , Boscolo Galazzo Ilaria , Natale Valerio , Ribaldi Federica , Scheffler Max , Caranci Ferdinando , Lovblad Karl-Olof , Menegaz Gloria , Frisoni Giovanni B. , Gunther Matthias 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Arterial spin labeling (ASL) represents a noninvasive perfusion biomarker, and, in the study of nonvascular disease, the use of the single-timepoint ASL technique is recommended. However, the obtained cerebral blood flow (CBF) maps may be highly influenced by delayed arterial transit time (ATT). Our aim was to assess the complexity of hemodynamic information of single-timepoint CBF maps using a new visual scale and comparing it with an ATT proxy, the “coefficient of spatial variation” (sCoV).

Material and methods
Individual CBF maps were estimated in a memory clinic population (mild cognitive impairment, dementia and cognitively unimpaired controls) and classified into four levels of delayed perfusion based on a visual rating scale. Calculated measures included global/regional sCoVs and common CBF statistics, as mean, median and standard deviation. One-way ANOVA was performed to compare these measures across the four groups of delayed perfusion. Spearman correlation was used to study the association of global sCoV with clinical data and CBF statistics.

Results
One hundred and forty-four participants (72 ± 7 years, 53% women) were included in the study. The proportion of maps with none, mild, moderate, and severe delayed perfusion was 15, 20, 37, and 28%, respectively. SCoV demonstrated a significant increase (p < 0.05) across the four groups, except when comparing none vs mild delayed perfusion groups (pBonf > 0.05). Global sCoV values, as an ATT proxy, ranged from 67 ± 4% (none) to 121 ± 24% (severe delayed) and were significantly associated with age and CBF statistics (p < 0.05).

Conclusion
The impact of ATT delay in single-time CBF maps requires the use of a visual scale or sCoV in clinical or research settings.
Bundling Colorectal Cancer Screening Outreach with Screening for Social Risk in Federally Qualified Health Centers: A Stepped-Wedge Implementation-Effectiveness Study
Authors: Kruse Gina R. , Percac-Lima Sanja , Barber-Dubois Marjanna , Davies Madeline E. , Gundersen Daniel A. , Ho Oanh , Mascioli Lynette , Munshi Mehezbin , Perry Sarah , Singh Deepinder , Thomas Annette , Emmons Karen M. , Haas Jennifer S. 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background
Bundling is combining individual interventions to meet quality metrics. Bundling offers of cancer screening with screening for social determinants of health (SDOH) may enable health centers to assist patients with social risks and yield efficiencies.

Objective
To measure effects of bundling fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) and SDOH screening in federally qualified health centers (FQHCs).

Design
Clustered stepped-wedge trial.

Participants
Four Massachusetts FQHCs randomized to implement bundled FIT-SDOH over 8-week “steps.”

Intervention
Outreach to 50–75-year-olds overdue for CRC screening to offer FIT with SDOH screening. The implementation strategy used facilitation and training for data monitoring and reporting.

Main Measures
Implementation process descriptions, data from facilitation meetings, and CRC and SDOH screening rates. Rates were compared between implementation and control FQHCs in each “step” by fitting generalized linear mixed-effects models with random intercepts for FQHCs, patients, and “step” by FQHC.

Key Results
FQHCs tailored implementation processes to their infrastructure, workflows, and staffing and prioritized different groups for outreach. Two FQHCs used population health outreach, and two integrated FIT-SDOH within established programs, such as pre-visit planning. Of 34,588 patients overdue for CRC screening, 54% were female; 20% Black, 11% Latino, 10% Asian, and 47% white; 32% had Medicaid, 16% Medicare, 32% private insurance, and 11% uninsured. Odds of CRC screening completion in implementation “steps” compared to controls were higher overall and among groups prioritized for outreach (overall: adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.41, p = 0.005; prioritized: aOR 2.88, p = 0.002). Odds of SDOH screening did not differ across “steps.”

Conclusions
As healthcare systems are required to conduct more screenings, it is notable that outreach for a long-standing cancer screening requirement increased screening, even when bundled with a newer screening requirement. This outreach was feasible in a real-world safety-net clinical population and may conserve resources, especially compared to more complex or intensive outreach strategies.

Clinical Trials Registration
NCT04585919
Fairer Sex or Fairer Analysis? Gender, Risk, and Corruption
Authors: Dietrich Vincent , Neudorfer Natascha S. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractScholars of the relationship between gender and corruption frequently assume that women are more risk averse than men in order to explain why women are less corrupt than men. Despite the popularity of this assumption, existing scholarship on gender and corruption lacks rigorous, large‑N testing of the relationship between risk, gender, and corruption. We reviewed the economics literature around risk and gender and the literature in political science on risk, gender, and corruption to derive hypotheses. Using the World Values Survey (49 countries), we analysed the relationship between risk, gender, and bribery (generalised linear mixed model). Unsurprisingly, respondents who perceive higher risks of being held accountable for corrupt actions engage in less corruption than respondents who perceive low risks. Yet this relationship is rather weak. Surprisingly, we found no significant gender difference for perceived risk of being held accountable for corruption, nor did we find gendered differences for the relationship between risk and corruption.