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The present work synthesizes the studies in flipped language education based on Social Sciences Citation Index publications up to the year 2018. A sum of 33 studies were finalized as the targeted studies and our research questions were formulated regarding (1) the overall trend and features of the existing studies, (2) their research foci, (3) the role of technology, and (4) the integration of FL/L2 learning and teaching theories, models or strategies into flipped classroom. Some research gaps were identified, including a bias toward outcome-oriented quantitative studies over process-oriented qualitative studies. Additionally, an overwhelming majority of the studies were conducted from the learners' perspectives, while few studies took the teachers' perspectives. More importantly, to guide the course design and implementation, the present review proposed a comprehensive 'interaction model' integrating four key elements into flipped FL/L2 education. The model featured two types of interaction, namely 'interaction with content' and 'interaction via content', highlighting the uniqueness of flipped FL/L2 education. The study incorporated learner preparedness in the interaction model, entailing a practical interface for the principle of 'design for failure', that is, predicting and preparing contingencies for the times when in-class interactions do not go as planned for technical or other reasons.

Background: Despite the oral cavity being readily accessible, oral cancer (OC) remains a significant burden. The objective of this study is to develop a DNA ploidy‐based cytology test for early detection of high‐risk oral lesions. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted using 569 oral brushing samples collected from 95 normal and 474 clinically abnormal mucosa with biopsy diagnosis of reactive, low‐grade or high‐grade precancer or cancers. Brushing cells were processed to characterize DNA ploidy. A two‐step DNA ploidy‐based algorithm, the DNA ploidy oral cytology (DOC) test, was developed using a training set, and verified in test and validation sets to differentiate high‐grade lesions (HGLs) from normal. The prognostic value of the test was evaluated by an independent outcome cohort, including progressed and non‐progressing normal, reactive and low‐grade lesions. Classification performance was assessed by accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity, while the prognostic value was evaluated by using the Cox proportional hazards analysis on 3‐year progression‐free survival (PFS). Results: The developed DOC test exhibited high accuracy for detecting HGLs in the test and validation sets, with a sensitivity of 0.97 and 0.96, respectively. Its application to the Outcome cohort demonstrated significant prognostic value for 3‐year PFS (log rank, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that high‐grade pathology was the only variable explaining positive DOC test, not age, smoking, or lesional site. Conclusion: Clinical implementation of the DOC test could provide an effective screening method for detecting HGLs for biopsy and lesions at risk of progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate continental dynamics underneath the south‐central Tibetan plateau, which composes the Himalayan, Lhasa, and Qiangtang blocks, we have conducted comprehensive examinations of seismic azimuthal anisotropy in the crust using receiver functions (RFs) and crustal and mantle anisotropy using teleseismic shear wave splitting (SWS) analysis. In the Qiangtang block, the observed predominantly E‐W fast orientations from RF and SWS analyses with similar magnitude are interpreted as resulting from eastward crustal flow with minor contributions from the mantle. In the Lhasa block, the crustal anisotropy is approximately N‐S oriented, which is parallel to the strike of rift basins and southward crustal flow. Anisotropy revealed by SWS demonstrates a rotation from E‐W in the north to NE‐SW in the south, which can be interpreted as reflecting mantle flow field induced by the northward movement of the subducting Indian plate. The addition of PKS and SKKS measurements and extension of epicentral distance range to 171.8° for SWS analysis revealed dominantly strong E‐W oriented anisotropy in most parts of the Himalayan block, where most previous studies reported pervasively null measurements. The absence of azimuthal anisotropy is observed in two regions in the Himalayan block which is attributable to mantle upwelling through a previously identified slab window. A two‐layered anisotropy structure with different fast orientations for the upper and lower layers can be constrained in the southern Qiangtang and the vicinity of the Main Boundary Thrust. Plain Language Summary: In our study exploring the underground dynamics beneath the south‐central Tibetan plateau, an area encompassing the Himalayan, Lhasa, and Qiangtang blocks, we utilized advanced seismic techniques to uncover the structure and dynamics of the earth's crust and mantle. In the Qiangtang region, our findings suggest an eastward crustal movement with minimal mantle influence. In the Lhasa block, the observed crustal anisotropy aligns with rift basins with a reduced magnitude, indicating a smaller‐scale southward flow. In the same area, we also observed a transition in mantle flow patterns from east‐west in the north to northeast‐southwest in the south, attributed to the northward movement of the Indian plate. Contrary to previous studies that mostly found no anisotropy in the Himalayan block, our research detected strong anisotropy with east‐west orientations. In two areas of the Himalayan block, the absence of anisotropy likely results from molten rock rising through a gap in the Indian plate. Moreover, we discovered a two‐layered structure of rock alignment near the Main Boundary Thrust and the Qiangtang block. Key Points: Significant anisotropy is revealed in the Himalayan block, where previous studies suggest pervasively null measurementsThe crust significantly impacts observed anisotropy in teleseismic shear wave splitting, potentially leading to double‐layered anisotropyAsthenospheric upwelling through a slab window beneath the Himalayan block accounts for the pervasive null measurements [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Oral cancers are associated with high mortality in advanced stages. Early diagnosis is associated with better patient outcomes, but this is challenging to achieve as benign lesions look similar to lesions of concern, and multiple biopsies may be required to ensure the most pathologic tissue is sampled. This work leverages a previously developed endoscopic imaging system and deep learning segmentation tool to provide measurements of subsurface changes in the first few millimeters of oral tissue. We present seven quantitative features that allow for rapid examination of tissue, which we propose may be useful for biopsy site or treatment margin selection. Optical coherence tomography is a noninvasive imaging technique that provides three-dimensional visualization of subsurface tissue structures. OCT has been proposed and explored in the literature as a tool to assess oral cancer status, select biopsy sites, or identify surgical margins. Our endoscopic OCT device can generate widefield (centimeters long) imaging of lesions at any location in the oral cavity—but it is challenging for raters to quantitatively assess and score large volumes of data. Leveraging a previously developed epithelial segmentation network, this work develops quantifiable biomarkers that provide direct measurements of tissue properties in three dimensions. We hypothesize that features related to morphology, tissue attenuation, and contrast between tissue layers will be able to provide a quantitative assessment of disease status (dysplasia through carcinoma). This work retrospectively assesses seven biomarkers on a lesion-contralateral matched OCT dataset of the lateral and ventral tongue (40 patients, 70 sites). Epithelial depth and loss of epithelial–stromal boundary visualization provide the strongest discrimination between disease states. The stroma optical attenuation coefficient provides a distinction between benign lesions from dysplasia and carcinoma. The stratification biomarkers visualize subsurface changes, which provides potential for future utility in biopsy site selection or treatment margin delineation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we use broadband seismic data recorded by 190 stations of the EarthScope program's Transportable Array to construct a 3‐D shear wave velocity model for the upper 180 km using a non‐linear Bayesian Monte‐Carlo joint inversion of receiver functions (RFs) and Rayleigh wave dispersion curves. Ambient noise and teleseismic data are used for obtaining Rayleigh wave phase velocity dispersion curves. A resonance removal filtering technique is applied to the RFs contaminated by reverberations from the thick sedimentary layers that cover most of the region. Our observations of the higher crustal shear velocities (∼3.40 km/s) beneath the Sabine Block (SB), along with the estimated relatively thicker crust (∼34.0 km) and lower crustal Vp/Vs estimates (∼1.80) in comparison with the rest of the Gulf Coastal Plain (GCP) (∼3.10 km/s for crustal shear velocities, ∼29.0 km for crustal thickness, and ∼1.90 for crustal Vp/Vs estimates), indicating that this crustal block has different crustal properties from the surrounding coastal plain regions. The southern Ouachita Mountains have a thin crust (∼30.0 km) and low mean crustal Vp/Vs value (∼1.73), suggesting that lower crustal delamination has occurred in this region. Low velocities in the upper mantle beneath most of the GCP are interpreted as a combined result of thin lithosphere, higher‐than‐normal temperatures, and possibly compositional variations. Plain Language Summary: The Gulf of Mexico Coastal Plain and its adjacent areas of the South‐Central United States contain some of the largest hydrocarbon reserves in the world. Thus an improved understanding about the formation mechanism and evolution of the region is important for both theoretical and practical reasons. In this study, we apply several computationally intensive techniques to image the upper 180 km of the Earth's interior beneath the South‐Central United States. Our results suggest that the crustal properties of the Sabine Block, located in the northern coast of the Gulf Coastal Plain (GCP), are different in comparison with the surrounding coastal plain regions. They are also consistent with the notion that the southern Ouachita Mountains have lost the lower part of its original crust into the deep mantle through a process called delamination. Low velocities are observed from approximately 30 to at least 180 km deep beneath most of the GCP, which are attributed to the thin lithosphere that allows the replacement of low‐velocity asthenospheric materials, higher‐than‐normal temperatures of the region, and probably also compositional changes beneath the GCP. Key Points: Results provide evidence that the Sabine Block has different crustal properties from the surrounding Gulf Coastal Plain (GCP)Lower crustal delamination beneath the southern Ouachita Mountains is suggested by a thin and felsic crustLow velocities in the upper mantle of the GCP are mainly caused by the thin lithosphere and high temperatures [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The diagnosis of oral cancer can require multiple biopsies to increase the likelihood of sampling the most pathologic site within a lesion. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) enables the examination of subsurface morphology and has shown potential in biopsy guidance. OCT captures changes in tissue stratification related to depth, topology, and presence of the epithelial-stromal boundary, which are structural biomarkers for pre-invasive and invasive oral cancer. This study presents a neural network pipeline to simplify OCT interpretation by providing information about epithelial depth and stratification through simple en face maps. U-net models were employed to segment the boundaries of the epithelial layer, and supporting convolutional neural networks were used for identification of the imaging field and artifacts. Non-cancerous, precancerous, and cancerous pathologies across the oral cavity were evaluated. The predictions demonstrate as-good-as or better agreement than inter-rater agreement, suggesting strong predictive power. This paper aims to simplify the application of optical coherence tomography (OCT) for the examination of subsurface morphology in the oral cavity and reduce barriers towards the adoption of OCT as a biopsy guidance device. The aim of this work was to develop automated software tools for the simplified analysis of the large volume of data collected during OCT. Imaging and corresponding histopathology were acquired in-clinic using a wide-field endoscopic OCT system. An annotated dataset (n = 294 images) from 60 patients (34 male and 26 female) was assembled to train four unique neural networks. A deep learning pipeline was built using convolutional and modified u-net models to detect the imaging field of view (network 1), detect artifacts (network 2), identify the tissue surface (network 3), and identify the presence and location of the epithelial–stromal boundary (network 4). The area under the curve of the image and artifact detection networks was 1.00 and 0.94, respectively. The Dice similarity score for the surface and epithelial–stromal boundary segmentation networks was 0.98 and 0.83, respectively. Deep learning (DL) techniques can identify the location and variations in the epithelial surface and epithelial–stromal boundary in OCT images of the oral mucosa. Segmentation results can be synthesized into accessible en face maps to allow easier visualization of changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To advance our comprehension of the complex geological history and mantle dynamics in the North Atlantic region, we employ all available broadband seismic data recorded in Greenland to reveal an abnormal mantle transition zone (MTZ) structure. Central and eastern Greenland exhibits depressed 410 and 660 km discontinuities (d410 and d660, respectively) bordering the MTZ, indicative of a substantial thermal anomaly associated with an underlying plume, surpassing the 1,800°C threshold for post‐garnet phase transitions at the d660. Variations in MTZ thickness across Greenland stem from differing temperature anomalies at the d410 and d660, possibly linked to a tilted plume within the MTZ. These findings corroborate geodynamic models, elucidating the interaction between post‐garnet phase transitions and upwelling plumes. The results shed light on the origin of the enigmatic Icelandic hotspot track and its influence on the thermal and lithospheric structures beneath Greenland. Plain Language Summary: The physical and chemical processes responsible for producing the magnificent volcanic eruptions in Iceland and the North Atlantic region are debated issues in the geoscientific community despite numerous field and laboratory studies over the past several decades. One of the hypotheses for the formation of the volcanoes is that they originate from a column of hot rocks rising from the deep mantle, that is, a mantle plume. The geometry, depth extent, and temperature anomaly of the plume are not well defined but can be constrained using the topography of two phase‐transition boundaries approximately at the globally averaged depths of 410 and 660 km, respectively. By analyzing P‐to‐S converted phases from the two discontinuities recorded by seismic stations, our results support the existence of a mantle plume that is broader than most other plumes on Earth beneath east Greenland. In addition, the results suggest that the nature of the phase transition across the 660 km discontinuity is different between the hottest core of the plume stem and the colder peripheral areas. The existence of the particular type of phase transition in the plume center can explain the large dimension of the plume, the excessive volcanism and other observations in the area. Key Points: The central and east Greenland shows abnormal mantle transition zone (MTZ) thickness, indicating a deep‐seated mantle plumeSeismic data unveil the impact of post‐garnet phase transition at the 660‐km discontinuity on mantle dynamicsVariations in MTZ thickness suggest the existence of a tilted plume and offer insights into the plume behavior [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Banda arc‐continent collision zone signifies one of the most seismically active and tectonically intricate zones. The high convergence rate across the region, coupled with the exceptionally arcuate arc and subducted slab, makes it an ideal locale for investigating interactions between plate (slab) kinematics and plastic flow in the asthenosphere, which can be diagnosed by seismic anisotropy from shear wave splitting analyses. In total, 206 pairs of splitting measurements using teleseismic SKS, SKKS, and PKS, along with 43 pairs using local S phases, are obtained by utilizing broadband seismic data from five permanent seismic stations. To reduce the ambiguity in determining the origin of anisotropy leading to the teleseismic splittings, which lack vertical resolution, crustal anisotropy is constrained according to the sinusoidal moveout of converted S phases at the Moho using receiver functions. A layered anisotropic structure based on joint analyses of the anisotropy measurements characterizing different depth layers suggests the presence of trench‐parallel flow both in the mantle wedge and the sub‐slab region. The northeastward motion of the slab, entrained by the fast‐moving Australian Plate, deflects asthenospheric materials. The modulation results in trench‐parallel plastic mantle flows and leads to the steepening of the southern portion of the asymmetric spoon‐shaped Banda slab. In the shallower part of the sub‐slab region, the northeastward Australian Plate motion produces simple shear in the transitional layer between the rigid lithosphere and the viscous asthenosphere. The shear deformation induces seismic anisotropy with resulting fast orientations in accordance with the plate motion direction. Plain Language Summary: The Banda region represents a nascent arc‐continent collision with the Australian continental lithosphere. The volcanic arc and non‐volcanic arc‐islands display a unique horseshoe shape. The subducted slab is anomalously bent 180°, leading to a spoon‐shaped morphology with a steeper southern portion. The role of the kinematics of the Australian Plate and this bent slab in shaping the asthenosphere is not clear. This study uses seismic anisotropy measured using data recorded over 14 years by five broadband seismic stations on the non‐volcanic arc‐islands to explore this intriguing problem. Results suggest that the northeastward movement of the Australian Plate makes asthenospheric materials flow along the depth contour of the slab, steepening the Banda slab's southern part. In the sub‐slab region, the upper portion follows the movement direction of the Australian Plate, while the deeper part is influenced more by slab deflection, directing asthenospheric flow. Key Points: Mantle flow field associated with the spoon‐shaped Banda slab is investigated using seismic azimuthal anisotropy measurementsObservations can be explained by trench‐parallel flow both in the mantle wedge and the sub‐slab regionNortheastward movement of the slab relative to the asthenosphere induces the two flow systems and leads to steepening of the southern slab [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has long been established that plastic flow in the asthenosphere interacts constantly with the overlying lithosphere and plays a pivotal role in controlling the occurrence of geohazards such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Unfortunately, accurately characterizing the direction and lateral extents of the mantle flow field is notoriously difficult, especially in oceanic areas where deployment of ocean bottom seismometers (OBSs) is expensive and thus rare. In this study, by applying shear wave splitting analyses to a dataset recorded by an OBS array that we deployed between mid-2019 and mid-2020 in the South China Sea (SCS), we show that the dominant mantle flow field has a NNW–SSE orientation, which can be attributed to mantle flow extruded from the Tibetan Plateau by the ongoing Indian–Eurasian collision. In addition, the results suggest that E–W oriented flow fields observed in South China and the Indochina Peninsula do not extend to the central SCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many countries, especially countries in Asia, there has always been a lack of understanding on the role of the teacher librarians. Through the results of interviews with two professionally recognized teacher librarians in Hong Kong, we define some enhancing roles and best practices of teacher librarians in the Asia that merit further exploration. Because previous empirical studies have been small and quantitative, this qualitative study highlights key topics in a proposed research agenda that focuses on current and emerging issues of teacher librarianship in the digital age., Introduction Professional practices among teacher librarians in Asia, Hong Kong in particular, have been little studied. Unfortunately, in many countries, especially in Asia, there has always been a lack of [...]

Objectives: High‐risk human papillomavirus (HR‐HPV) can cause oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OpSCC). The revised 8th edition of the AJCC Staging Manual now stages OpSCC by incorporating p16 immunohistochemistry (IHC), the surrogate marker for HPV status. This study assessed the prognostic values of p16 and HPV markers. Methods: We identified 244 OpSCC patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2008 from the British Columbia Cancer Registry with enough tissue to conduct experiments. Formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded tissue sections were stained for p16 IHC, RNA in situ hybridization (ISH) HPV 16 and 18, and DNA ISH HR‐HPV. Electronic charts were reviewed to collect clinical and outcome data. Combined positive RNA and/or DNA ISH was used to denote HPV status. Results: Human papillomavirus was positive among 77.9% of samples. Using HPV as the benchmark, p16 IHC had high sensitivity (90.5%), but low specificity (68.5%). Distinct subgroups of patients were identified by sequential separation of p16 then HPV status. Among both p16‐positive and p16‐negative groups, HPV‐positive patients were younger, more males, and had better clinical outcomes, especially 5‐year overall survival. We further evaluated the technical costs associated with HPV testing. Conclusion: Human papillomavirus is more prognostic than p16 for OpSCC. Clinical laboratories can adopt HPV RNA ISH for routine analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seismic azimuthal anisotropy beneath Australia is investigated using splitting of the teleseismic PKS, SKKS, and SKS phases to delineate asthenospheric flow and lithospheric deformation beneath one of the oldest and fast‐moving continents on Earth. In total 511 pairs of high‐quality splitting parameters were observed at 116 seismic stations. Unlike other stable continental areas in Africa, East Asia, and North America, where spatially consistent splitting parameters dominate, the fast orientations and splitting times observed in Australia show a complex pattern, with a slightly smaller than normal average splitting time of 0.85 ± 0.33 s. On the North Australian Craton, the fast orientations are mostly N‐S, which is parallel to the absolute plate motion (APM) direction in the hotspot frame. Those observed in the South Australian Craton are mostly NE‐SW and E‐W, which are perpendicular to the maximum lithospheric horizontal shortening direction. In east Australia, the observed azimuthal anisotropy can be attributed to either APM induced simple shear or lithospheric fabric parallel to the strike of the orogenic belts. The observed spatial variations of the seismic azimuthal anisotropy, when combined with results from depth estimation utilizing the spatial coherency of the splitting parameters and seismic tomography studies, suggest that the azimuthal anisotropy in Australia can mostly be related to simple shear in the rheologically transition layer between the lithosphere and asthenosphere. Non‐APM parallel anisotropy is attributable to modulations of the mantle flow system by undulations of the bottom of the lithosphere, with a spatially variable degree of contribution from lithospheric fabric. Plain Language Summary: The ancient continent of Australia is moving northward at a speed that is rarely matched by any other continent on Earth. The anticipated differential movements between the lithosphere and the asthenosphere may produce simple shear in the rheologically transitional layer between the stronger lithosphere and the weaker asthenosphere, leading to observable seismic azimuthal anisotropy. In addition, lithospheric shortening especially that experienced by the boundary zones between continental blocks may also contribute to the observed anisotropy. In this study we analyzed the splitting of seismic shear waves produced by earthquakes and recorded by seismographs deployed on the Australian continent. Our results suggest the existence of a differential movement between the lithosphere and the asthenosphere, with an orientation that is generally parallel to the absolute plate motion direction in most part of the continent. This differential movement is the major cause of the observed anisotropy in areas with thinner than normal lithosphere. The asthenospheric flow is deflected by the southern cratonic edge, leading to E‐W oriented anisotropy. In the transition zone between the North and South Australian Cratons, the observed E‐W anisotropy suggests existence of strong E‐W oriented lithospheric fabric formed by N‐S shortening during the Proterozoic continental collisional event. Key Points: Spatial variations of azimuthal anisotropy in Australia can be attributed to mantle flow with variable lithospheric contributionsThe northern, eastern, and western peripheral areas of the continent are dominated by anisotropy parallel to absolute plate motionMantle flow deflected by the southern cratonic edge and strong N‐S shortening in central Australia lead to E‐W anisotropy [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cratons are generally defined as stable continental blocks with a strong cratonic root that typically is at least ∼200 km thick. Many cratons have undergone little internal tectonism and destruction since their formation, but some of them, such as the eastern part of the North China Craton (NCC), the Dharwar Craton and the Wyoming Craton, have lost their thick cratonic root and become reactivated in recent geological history, leading to widespread Meso-Cenozoic volcanisms. The mechanisms responsible for such decratonization remain debated. To provide new constraints on models leading to decratonization, in this study we stack 612 854 source-normalized P -to- S conversions (receiver functions or RFs) from the 410 and 660 km discontinuities (d410 and d660, respectively) bordering the mantle transition zone (MTZ) recorded at 1986 stations in the NCC. Both the number of RFs and the number of stations are unprecedented in the study area. The average apparent depths of the d410 and d660 and the thickness of the MTZ are 413 ± 6, 669 ± 8 and 255 ± 6 km, respectively. A depression of up to 37 km and mean 11 km of the d660 are clearly observed beneath the eastern NCC, mainly caused by the possible existence of a relatively large amount of water in the MTZ. Our study provides strong observational evidence for geodynamic modelling that suggests water in the MTZ can be driven out into the upper mantle by poloidal mantle flow induced by the subduction and retreat of subducted oceanic slabs. The results are consistent with the weakening of the lithosphere beneath the eastern NCC by the release of water (in the form of structurally bound H/OH) brought down to the MTZ by subduction of the Pacific slab. Continuous slab dehydration and the ascent of fluids would have triggered intraplate volcanism and mantle upwelling in the eastern NCC, as evidenced by the spatial correspondence among the lower-than-normal upper-mantle seismic velocities, unusually large depressions of the d660, Cenozoic basaltic volcanism and thinning of the cratonic lithosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Huge advances in peer-to-peer systems and attempts to develop the semantic web have revealed a critical issue in information systems across multiple domains: the absence of semantic interoperability. Today, businesses operating in a digital environment require increased supply-chain automation, interoperability, and data governance. While research on the semantic web and interoperability has recently received much attention, a dearth of studies investigates the relationship between these two concepts in depth. To address this knowledge gap, the objective of this study is to conduct a review and bibliometric analysis of 3511 Scopus-registered papers on the semantic web and interoperability published over the past two decades. In addition, the publications were analyzed using a variety of bibliometric indicators, such as publication year, journal, authors, countries, and institutions. Keyword co-occurrence and co-citation networks were utilized to identify the primary research hotspots and group the relevant literature. The findings of the review and bibliometric analysis indicate the dominance of conference papers as a means of disseminating knowledge and the substantial contribution of developed nations to the semantic web field. In addition, the keyword co-occurrence network analysis reveals a significant emphasis on semantic web languages, sensors and computing, graphs and models, and linking and integration techniques. Based on the co-citation clustering, the Internet of Things, semantic web services, ontology mapping, building information modeling, bioinformatics, education and e-learning, and semantic web languages were identified as the primary themes contributing to the flow of knowledge and the growth of the semantic web and interoperability field. Overall, this review substantially contributes to the literature and increases scholars' and practitioners' awareness of the current knowledge composition and future research directions of the semantic web field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the dynamic mechanism of continental rifting within a convergent setting, we determine the first P wave radial anisotropic tomography beneath the Woodlark rift in southeastern Papua New Guinea, which develops within the obliquely colliding zone between the Australian and southwest Pacific plates. The rift zone is depicted as localized low‐velocity anomalies with positive radial anisotropy, which rules out a dominant role of active mantle upwelling in promoting the rift development and favors passive rifting with decompression melting as main processes. Downwelling slab relics in the upper mantle bounding the rift zone are revealed based on observed high‐velocity anomalies and negative radial anisotropy, which may contribute to the ultra‐high pressure rock exhumations and rift initiation. Our observations thus indicate that the Woodlark rift follows a passive model and is mainly driven by slab pull from the northward subduction of the Solomon plate. Plain Language Summary: The Woodlark rift in Papua New Guinea develops within the shear zone between the Australian and southwest Pacific plates and is one of the youngest and most rapidly extending continental rifts in the world. In this work, we analyze teleseismic P wave arrivals to study both 3‐D velocity and radial anisotropy structures of the upper mantle, offering new evidence to understand rift initiation under a generally convergent setting. Slab remnants in the upper mantle bordering the rift zone are detected and sinking into the deeper mantle. Downwelling of these slab segments may induce small scale return flows in the mantle and contribute to exhumation of the ultra‐high pressure rocks and rift development. Significant low‐velocity anomalies are revealed beneath the rift zone and have consistently positive radial anisotropy, which indicates a dominant strain in the horizontal plane and supports a passive rifting model, where mantle material is brought to shallower depths simply as a result of the extension of the lithosphere and melt is produced due to the lowered melting point at reduced pressure (decompression melting). Tensional stresses transferred from slab pull of the northward Solomon subduction are probably driving the rifting. Key Points: P wave radial anisotropic structure beneath the young and highly extended Woodlark rift is constrained from teleseismic tomographyDownwelling of slab relics bordering the rift zone may contribute to ultra‐high pressure rock exhumation and rift developmentSlab‐pull drives rift initiation and induces decompression melting in the upper mantle under the rift zone by horizontal stress transfer [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early identification and management of precancerous lesions at high risk of developing cancers is the most effective and economical way to reduce the incidence, mortality, and morbidity of cancers as well as minimizing treatment-related complications, including pain, impaired functions, and disfiguration. Reliable cancer-risk-predictive markers play an important role in enabling evidence-based decision making as well as providing mechanistic insight into the malignant conversion of precancerous lesions. The focus of this article is to review updates on markers that may predict the risk of oral premalignant lesions (OPLs) in developing into oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs), which can logically be discovered only by prospective or retrospective longitudinal studies that analyze pre-progression OPL samples with long-term follow-up outcomes. These risk-predictive markers are different from those that prognosticate the survival outcome of cancers after they have been diagnosed and treated, or those that differentiate between different lesion types and stages. Up-to-date knowledge on cancer-risk-predictive markers discovered by longitudinally followed studies will be reviewed. The goal of this endeavor is to use this information as a starting point to address some key challenges limiting our progress in this area in the hope of achieving effective translation of research discoveries into new clinical interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To delineate the mantle flow fields in the vicinity of a previously proposed slab window and the possible roles that they may play in the formation of potassic volcanism in Central Java, we conduct shear wave splitting analyses using both local S and teleseismic XKS waves (including SKS, SKKS, and PKS) recorded by 121 onshore stations and two ocean bottom seismometers (OBSs). The XKS fast orientations from the OBSs are trench normal and in accord with previous subslab anisotropy measurements. In the eastern part of Central Java, the XKS and local S fast orientations from the onshore stations are mostly trench‐parallel; in contrast, in the western part of Central Java, the XKS fast orientations are trench‐normal while the local S measurements are spatially varying. The observations can be attributed to four flow systems including (a) subslab trench normal mantle flow in areas away from the trench which is entrained by the Australian Plate, (b) trench normal flow that goes into the mantle wedge from the subslab area through a slab window beneath the western part of the study area, (c) trench‐parallel subslab flow near the trench beneath the eastern part of the study area which is driven by slab‐rollback, and (d) dominantly trench‐parallel flow system in the mantle wedge reflecting the horizontal component of the escaped flow system through the slab window. We propose that the vertical component of the escaped flow is responsible for the formation of the potassic volcanoes in the adjacent oceanic area. Plain Language Summary: It has been well established that the vast majority of the world's volcanoes not associated with spreading centers are located along volcanic arcs, ultimately originating from dehydration of water‐bearing minerals brought down by subducting oceanic slabs. Some volcanoes occur in areas away from the volcanic arcs and are usually geochemically different from arc volcanoes. The intraplate volcanoes in Central Java are potassic (K)‐rich and have been hypothesized to be caused by a supply of volcanic material in the deeper asthenosphere compared to the arc volcanoes. The most frequently cited mechanism is mantle upwelling through a slab window. The window was imaged by some of the seismic tomography studies, but its location is debated due to diminishing resolution at greater depth and limited station coverage. More importantly, whether there is indeed a flow system traversing the slab window remains unrevealed. Here we conducted seismic azimuthal anisotropy investigation using splitting analyses of two kinds of shear waves that are originated at different depths. Our results indicate that mantle flow from the subslab enters the mantle wedge by traversing a slab window, and suggest that the vertical component of this flow system accounts for the formation of the potassic volcanoes in the area. Key Points: Azimuthal anisotropy beneath Central Java is delineated using teleseismic and local S wave splitting with unprecedented spatial resolutionMost results are consistent with subslab entrained flow traversing a slab window into the mantle wedge and flows parallel to trenchThe vertical component of the escaped flow through the slab window accounts for producing the potassic volcanoes in the back‐arc region [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vast majority of teleseismic XKS (including SKS, SKKS and PKS) shear wave splitting studies interpret the observed splitting parameters (fast orientation and splitting time) based on the assumption of a spatially invariant anisotropy structure in the vicinity of a recording station. For such anisotropy structures the observed splitting parameters are either independent of the arriving azimuth of the seismic ray paths if the medium traversed by the ray paths can be represented by a single layer of anisotropy with a horizontal axis of symmetry (i.e. simple anisotropy), or demonstrate a periodic variation with respect to the arriving azimuth for a more complicated structure of anisotropy (e.g. multiple layers with a horizontal axis of symmetry, or a single layer with a dipping axis). When a recording station is located near the boundary of two or more regions with different anisotropy characteristics, the observed splitting parameters are dependent on the location of the ray piercing points. Such a piercing-point dependence is clearly observed using a total of 360 pairs of XKS splitting parameters at three stations situated near the northeastern edge of the Sichuan Basin in central China. For a given station, the fast orientations differ as much as 90°, and the azimuthal variation of the fast orientations lacks a 90° or 180° periodicity which is expected for double-layered or dipping axis anisotropy. The observed splitting parameters from the three stations are spatially most consistent when they are projected at a depth of ∼250 km, and can be explained by shear strain associated with the absolute plate motion and mantle flow deflected by the cone-shaped lithospheric root of the Sichuan Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Early-stage oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients have a one-in-four risk of regional metastasis (LN+), which is also the most significant prognostic factor for survival. As there are no validated biomarkers for predicting LN+ in early-stage OSCC, elective neck dissection often leads to over-treatment and under-treatment. We present a machine-learning-based model using the quantitative nuclear phenotype of cancer cells from the primary tumor to predict the risk of nodal disease. Methods and findings: Tumor specimens were obtained from 35 patients diagnosed with primary OSCC and received surgery with curative intent. Of the 35 patients, 29 had well (G1) or moderately (G2) differentiated tumors, and six had poorly differentiated tumors. From each, two consecutive sections were stained for hematoxylin & eosin and Feulgen-thionin staining. The slides were scanned, and images were processed to curate nuclear morphometric features for each nucleus, measuring nuclear morphology, DNA amount, and chromatin texture/organization. The nuclei (n = 384,041) from 15 G1 and 14 G2 tumors were randomly split into 80% training and 20% test set to build the predictive model by using Random Forest (RF) analysis which give each tumor cell a score, NRS. The area under ROC curve (AUC) was 99.6% and 90.7% for the training and test sets, respectively. At the cutoff score of 0.5 as the median NRS of each region of interest (n = 481), the AUC was 95.1%. We then developed a patient-level model based on the percentage of cells with an NRS ≥ 0.5. The prediction performance showed AUC of 97.7% among the 80% (n = 23 patient) training set and with the cutoff of 61% positive cells achieved 100% sensitivity and 91.7% specificity. When applying the 61% cutoff to the 20% test set patients, the model achieved 100% accuracy. Conclusions: Our findings may have a clinical impact with an easy, accurate, and objective biomarker from routine pathology tissue, providing an unprecedented opportunity to improve neck management decisions in early-stage OSCC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data from 186 stations belonging to the USArray Transportable Array, a three‐dimensional shear wave velocity model for the southeastern United States is constructed for the top 180 km by a joint inversion of receiver functions and Rayleigh wave phase velocity dispersion computed from ambient noise and teleseismic earthquake data. The resulting shear wave velocity model and the crustal thickness and Vp/Vs (κ) measurements show a clear spatial correspondence with major surficial geological features. The distinct low velocities observed in the depth range of 0–25 km beneath the eastern Gulf Coastal Plain reflect the thick layer of unconsolidated or poorly consolidated sediments atop the crystalline crust. The low κ (1.70–1.74) and slow lowermost crustal velocities observed beneath the eastern Southern Appalachian Mountains (including the Carolina Terrane and Inner Piedmont) relative to the adjacent Blue Ridge Mountains and Valley and Ridge can be interpreted by lower crustal delamination followed by relamination. The Osceola intrusive complex in the central Suwannee Terrane has similar crustal characteristics as the eastern Southern Appalachian Mountains and thus can similarly be attributed to crustal delamination/relamination processes. The Grenville Province and adjacent areas possess relatively high κ values which can be attributed to mafic intrusion associated with crustal extension in a recently recognized segments of the eastern arm of the Proterozoic Midcontinent Rift. Plain Language Summary: The southeastern United States accommodates some of the most diverse geological features in the world, as a result of several episodes of continental rifting, formation of ocean basins, and continental collision over the past several billion years. Imaging the interior structure in the area provides key information needed for better understanding how the Earth has operated and evolved over its history. In this study we use ground vibrations generated by distant earthquakes and ambient noise to image the structure in the top 180 km beneath the Southern Appalachian Mountains and the bordering coastal plains. The observations suggest that the eastern part of the Southern Appalachian Mountains, including the Carolina Terrane and the Inner Piedmont, may have lost its original lower part of the crust which has been replaced by a layer of more felsic (i.e., rich in silicate minerals) materials derived from the mantle. The measurements also support a recently proposed model that the Midcontinent Rift could have extended more southward than previously thought, and provide some intriguing preliminary observations for additional investigations, such as the low mantle velocities and their possible linkage with an area of thinner than normal lithosphere in northern Florida. Key Points: Crustal and mantle structure for the top 180 km beneath southeastern U.S. was imaged using receiver functions and Rayleigh wave dispersionResults support lower crustal delamination/relamination in the Carolina Terrane and Inner Piedmont of the southern Appalachian MountainsHigh crustal Vp/Vs values observed in the Grenville Province suggest mafic intrusion associated with the Proterozoic Midcontinent rift [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]