bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Computational Study on Skin Tissue Freezing Using Three-Phase Lag Bioheat Model
Authors: Verma Rohit , Kumar Sushil
Published: July 2021

This paper considers the three-phase lag (TPL) bioheat model to study the phase change phenomena in skin tissue during cryosurgery. The considered TPL model is based on the model of thermo-elasticity, i.e., the combination of the rate of thermal conductivity and new phase lag (τv) due to thermal displacement. An effective heat capacity-based numerical algorithm is established to solve the nonlinear governing equation for biological tissue freezing. Space and time derivatives appearing in the mathematical model are approximated using the radial basis function (RBF) and finite difference method (FDM), respectively. The impact of three nonclassical models, single-phase lag (SPL), dual-phase lag (DPL), and TPL, on the freezing process is studied. The effects of phase lags involved in the models on freezing are also part of this study.
In Vitro Flow Chamber Design for the Study of Endothelial Cell (Patho)Physiology
Authors: Fallon Meghan E. , Mathews Rick , Hinds Monica T.
Published: July 2021

In the native vasculature, flowing blood produces a frictional force on vessel walls that affects endothelial cell function and phenotype. In the arterial system, the vasculature's local geometry directly influences variations in flow profiles and shear stress magnitudes. Straight arterial sections with pulsatile shear stress have been shown to promote an athero-protective endothelial phenotype. Conversely, areas with more complex geometry, such as arterial bifurcations and branch points with disturbed flow patterns and lower, oscillatory shear stress, typically lead to endothelial dysfunction and the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Many studies have investigated the regulation of endothelial responses to various shear stress environments. Importantly, the accurate in vitro simulation of in vivo hemodynamics is critical to the deeper understanding of mechanotransduction through the proper design and use of flow chamber devices. In this review, we describe several flow chamber apparatuses and their fluid mechanics design parameters, including parallel-plate flow chambers, cone-and-plate devices, and microfluidic devices. In addition, chamber-specific design criteria and relevant equations are defined in detail for the accurate simulation of shear stress environments to study endothelial cell responses.
Generalized intensity vector and energy density in the spherical harmonic domain: Theory and applications
Authors: Herzog Adrian , Habets Emanuël A. P.
Published: July 2021

The acoustic intensity vector and energy density are perceptually relevant physical measures of a sound field that can be used in the context of sound field reproduction or acoustic parameter estimation. In this work, weighted spatial averaging of the intensity vector and energy density is investigated, and the results are expressed in terms of the spherical harmonic coefficients of the sound field. Higher-order spherical harmonic coefficients are incorporated by considering radial averaging. This radial averaging is then generalized, yielding the proposed generalized intensity vector and energy density. Direction-of-arrival and diffuseness estimators are constructed based on the generalized intensity vector and energy density. In the evaluation, the proposed parameter estimators are compared to existing state-of-the-art estimators using simulated signals containing directional, diffuse, and sensor-noise components.
Range-coherent matched field processing for low signal-to-noise ratio localization
Authors: Hunter Akins F. , Kuperman W. A.
Published: July 2021

Range-coherent matched field processing (MFP) coherently combines snapshots to localize a moving, narrowband source. This approach differs from existing MFP approaches that treat each snapshot as having a random phase due to both unknown motion through the medium and imprecise knowledge of the source frequency. Range-coherent MFP requires determination of the source phase acquired between snapshots. With that information, MFP can be applied to the cross-spectrum of snapshots acquired at different times, since relative phase between snapshots is determined by the medium properties, source location, and source velocity. Viewed another way, range-coherent MFP is simply MFP applied to a passive synthetic aperture formed from a moving source. The synthetic aperture geometry depends on source velocity, which is included in the MFP search space. Range-coherent MFP produces robust velocity estimates at low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), which permits the use of a longer fast Fourier transform in pre-processing. The synthetic aperture array gain plus the increased input SNR afforded by the enhanced pre-processing significantly lowers the required signal level for successful localization. In data from the SWellEx-96 experiment, range-coherent MFP successfully localizes a source that is too quiet for conventional methods to localize.
Physical Activity Promotion and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: Building Synergies to Maximize Impact
Authors: Salvo Deborah , Garcia Leandro , Reis Rodrigo S. , Stankov Ivana , Goel Rahul , Schipperijn Jasper , Hallal Pedro C. , Ding Ding , Pratt Michael
Published: July 2021

Background: Many of the known solutions to the physical inactivity pandemic operate across sectors relevant to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Methods: The authors examined the contribution of physical activity promotion strategies toward achieving the SDGs through a conceptual linkage exercise, a scoping review, and an agent-based model. Results: Possible benefits of physical activity promotion were identified for 15 of the 17 SDGs, with more robust evidence supporting benefits for SDGs 3 (good health and well-being), 9 (industry, innovation, and infrastructure), 11 (sustainable cities and communities), 13 (climate action), and 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions). Current evidence supports prioritizing at-scale physical activity-promoting transport and urban design strategies and community-based programs. Expected physical activity gains are greater for low-and middle-income countries. In high-income countries with high car dependency, physical activity promotion strategies may help reduce air pollution and traffic-related deaths, but shifts toward more active forms of travel and recreation, and climate change mitigation, may require complementary policies that disincentivize driving. Conclusions: The authors call for a synergistic approach to physical activity promotion and SDG achievement, involving multiple sectors beyond health around their goals and values, using physical activity promotion as a lever for a healthier planet.
Active Efflux Leads to Heterogeneous Dissipation of Proton Motive Force by Protonophores in Bacteria
Authors: Le Dai , Krasnopeeva Ekaterina , Sinjab Faris , Pilizota Teuta , Kim Minsu
Published: July 2021

Various toxic compounds disrupt bacterial physiology. While bacteria harbor defense mechanisms to mitigate the toxicity, these mechanisms are often coupled to the physiological state of the cells and become ineffective when the physiology is severely disrupted.
In Vivo
Therapy with M2e-Specific IgG Selects for an Influenza A Virus Mutant with Delayed Matrix Protein 2 Expression
Authors: Van den Hoecke Silvie , Ballegeer Marlies , Vrancken Bram , Deng Lei , Job Emma R. , Roose Kenny , Schepens Bert , Van Hoecke Lien , Lemey Philippe , Saelens Xavier
Published: July 2021

Broadly protective influenza vaccine candidates may have a higher barrier to immune evasion compared to conventional influenza vaccines. We used Illumina MiSeq deep sequence analysis to study the mutational patterns in A/Puerto Rico/8/34 viruses that evolve in chronically infected SCID mice that were treated with different M2e-specific MAbs.
Ancient Gene Capture and Recent Gene Loss Shape the Evolution of Orthopoxvirus-Host Interaction Genes
Authors: Senkevich Tatiana G. , Yutin Natalya , Wolf Yuri I. , Koonin Eugene V. , Moss Bernard
Published: July 2021

Orthopoxviruses (ORPV) include smallpox (variola) virus, one of the most devastating human pathogens, and vaccinia virus, comprising the vaccine used for smallpox eradication. Among roughly 200 ORPV genes, about half are essential for genome replication and expression as well as virion morphogenesis, whereas the remaining half consists of accessory genes counteracting the host immune response.
Protein Transfer through an F Plasmid-Encoded Type IV Secretion System Suppresses the Mating-Induced SOS Response
Authors: Al Mamun Abu Amar M. , Kishida Kouhei , Christie Peter J.
Published: July 2021

Many bacteria carry plasmids and other mobile genetic elements (MGEs) whose conjugative transfer through encoded type IV secretion systems (T4SSs), or “mating channels,” can lead to a rapid intra- and interspecies proliferation of genes encoding resistance to antibiotics or heavy metals or virulence traits. Here, we show that a model IncF plasmid-encoded T4SS translocates not only DNA but also several proteins intercellularly.
The LysR-Type Transcriptional Regulator BsrA (PA2121) Controls Vital Metabolic Pathways in
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Modrzejewska Magdalena , Kawalek Adam , Bartosik Aneta Agnieszka
Published: July 2021

This study shows that BsrA, a LysR-type transcriptional regulator from
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
, previously identified as a repressor of biofilm synthesis, is part of an intricate global regulatory network. BsrA acts directly and/or indirectly as the repressor and/or activator of genes from vital metabolic pathways (e.g., pyruvate, acetate, and tricarboxylic acid cycle) and is involved in control of transport functions and the formation of surface appendages.
A Scale-Free, Fully Connected Global Transition Network Underlies Known Microbiome Diversity
Authors: Jing Gongchao , Zhang Yufeng , Liu Lu , Wang Zengbin , Sun Zheng , Knight Rob , Su Xiaoquan , Xu Jian
Published: July 2021

Microbiomes are inherently linked by their structural similarity, yet the global features of such similarity are not clear. Here, we propose as a solution a search-based microbiome transition network.
Targeting Bacterial Gyrase with Cystobactamid, Fluoroquinolone, and Aminocoumarin Antibiotics Induces Distinct Molecular Signatures in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Franke Raimo , Overwin Heike , Häussler Susanne , Brönstrup Mark
Published: July 2021

Novel antibiotics are urgently needed to tackle the growing worldwide problem of antimicrobial resistance. Bacterial pathogens possess few privileged targets for a successful therapy: the majority of existing antibiotics as well as current candidates in development target the complex bacterial machinery for cell wall synthesis, protein synthesis, or DNA replication.
RNA-Protein Interaction Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 5′ and 3′ Untranslated Regions Reveals a Role of Lysosome-Associated Membrane Protein-2a during Viral Infection
Authors: Verma Rohit , Saha Sandhini , Kumar Shiv , Mani Shailendra , Maiti Tushar Kanti , Surjit Milan
Published: July 2021

Replication of a positive-strand RNA virus involves an RNA-protein complex consisting of viral genomic RNA, host RNA(s), virus-encoded proteins, and host proteins. Dissecting out individual components of the replication complex will help decode the mechanism of viral replication. 5′ and 3′ UTRs in positive-strand RNA viruses play essential regulatory roles in virus replication.
IS
26
Is Responsible for the Evolution and Transmission of
bla
NDM
-Harboring Plasmids in Escherichia coli of Poultry Origin in China
Authors: Zhao Qiu-Yun , Zhu Jia-Hang , Cai Run-Mao , Zheng Xing-Run , Zhang Li-Juan , Chang Man-Xia , Lu Yue-Wei , Fang Liang-Xing , Sun Jian , Jiang Hong-Xia
Published: July 2021

Carbapenem resistance in members of the order
Enterobacterales
is a growing public health problem that is associated with high mortality in developing and industrialized countries. Moreover, in the field of veterinary medicine, the occurrence of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase-producing
Escherichia coli
isolates in animals, especially food-producing animals, has become a growing concern in recent years.
Impact of a standardised parenteral nutrition protocol: a quality improvement experience from a NICU of a developing country
Authors: Ambreen Gul , Kumar Vikram , Ali Syed Rehan , Jiwani Uswa , Khowaja Waqar , Hussain Ali Shabbir , Hussain Kashif , Raza Syed Shamim , Rizvi Arjumand , Ansari Uzair , Ahmad Khalil , Demas Simon , Ariff Shabina
Published: July 2021

Objective

Nutrition societies recommend using standardised parenteral nutrition (SPN) solutions. We designed evidence-based SPN formulations for neonates admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and evaluated their outcomes.

Design

This was a quality improvement initiative. Data were collected retrospectively before and after the intervention.

Setting

A tertiary-care level 3 NICU at the Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan.

Patients

All NICU patients who received individualised PN (IPN) from December 2016 to August 2017 and SPN from October 2017 to June 2018.

Interventions

A team of neonatologists and nutrition pharmacists collaborated to design two evidence-based SPN solutions for preterm neonates admitted to the NICU.

Main outcome measures

We recorded mean weight gain velocity from days 7 to 14 of life. The other outcomes were change in weight expressed as z-scores, metabolic abnormalities, PN-associated liver disease (PNALD), length of NICU stay and episodes of sepsis during hospital stay.

Results

Neonates on SPN had greater rate of change in weight compared with IPN (β=13.40, 95% CI: 12.02 to 14.79) and a smaller decrease in z-scores (p<0.001). Neonates in the SPN group had fewer hyperglycemic episodes (IPN: 37.5%, SPN: 6.2%) (p<0.001), electrolyte abnormalities (IPN: 56.3%, SPN: 21%) (p<0.001), PNALD (IPN: 52.5%, SPN: 18.5%) (p<0.001) and sepsis (IPN: 26%, SPN: 20%) (p<0.05). The median length of stay in NICU was 14.0 (IQR 12.0–21.0) for the IPN and 8.0 (IQR 5.0–13.0) days for the SPN group.

Conclusions

We found that SPN was associated with shorter NICU stay and greater weight gain. In-house preparation of SPN can be used to address the nutritional needs in resource-limited settings where commercially prepared SPN is not available.
Critical presentation and management of an acute gastrointestinal haemorrhage as a result of an arterioenteric fistula secondary to a failed pancreatic allograft
Authors: Naritsin Anastasia , Peck Jessica
Published: July 2021

We present a case of a 60-year-old woman status post failed pancreatic transplant, presenting with right lower extremity pain and large volume rectal bleeding. The team initiated a massive transfusion protocol. Investigations revealed an arterioenteric (AE) fistula between the right external iliac artery and terminal ileum. The patient was then emergently sent for right iliac artery stent placement, successfully stopping the active arterial haemorrhage. Afterwards, the surgical team transected the pancreatic jejunal anastomosis, subsequently resecting 7 cm of jejunum. On postoperative day 1, the patient became unstable, going into disseminated intravascular coagulation evidenced by low platelet count, elevated prothrombin time and bloody output from multiple sites. Resuscitation with pressors and blood product transfusion was unsuccessful. She was made comfort measures only and expired shortly after extubation. Although a rare aetiology, it is important to consider AE fistulas in patients presenting with vascular and gastrointestinal symptoms in the setting of a failed allograft.
Uncommon obstacle: management of end-stage heart failure in thrombocytopenia with absent radii (TAR) syndrome
Authors: Kim Jean , Kewcharoen Jakrin , Lum Corey J , Azuma Steven S
Published: July 2021

Thrombocytopenia with absent radii (TAR) syndrome is a rare genetic condition causing absent radial bones and thrombocytopenia. Management is generally supportive although there may be a role for platelet-stimulating agents such as romiplostim. In this case, we highlight the obstacles in managing end-stage heart failure in a patient with TAR syndrome.
Tackler and ball-carrier technique during moderate and severe injuries (≥8 days lost) compared with player-matched and team-matched injury-free controls in Elite Rugby Union
Authors: Meintjes Vincent , Forshaw Pip , den Hollander Steve , Starling Lindsay , Lambert Michael Ian , Viljoen Wayne , Readhead Clint , Hendricks Sharief
Published: July 2021

Objective

To analyse tackler and ball-carrier technical proficiency during moderate and severe contact injuries (≥8 days lost) in professional rugby union, and compare it with injury-free event-matched controls from the same player and from the same team.

Methods

Technical proficiency for 74 (n=74) (moderate and severe; ≥8 days lost) tackler and ball-carrier injuries during The Currie Cup (2014–2018) and 623 matched non-injury events (253 own controls, 370 team controls) were examined through video analysis using a standardised list of technical criteria.

Results

Mean technical proficiency score for injured tacklers during front-on tackles was 6.19/16 (arbitrary units (AU) 95% CI 4.89 to 7.48), which was significantly different to their own controls (8.90/16 AU, 95% CI 8.37 to 9.43, p<0.001, effect size (ES)=1.21, large) and team controls (9.93/16 AU, 95% CI 9.50 to 10.40, p<0.001, ES=1.71, large). Mean technical proficiency score for injured ball-carriers during front-on tackles was 5.60/14 AU (95% CI 4.65 to 6.55), which was significantly different to their own controls (8.08/14 AU, 95% CI 7.56 to 8.60, p<0.001, ES=1.16, moderate) and team controls (8.16/14 AU, 95% CI 7.75 to 8.57, p<0.001, ES=1.25, large).

Conclusion

For the tackler and ball-carrier, for both front-on and side-on/behind tackles, overall technical proficiency scores were significantly lower for the injury-causing event, when compared with the player’s own injury-free tackles and the team’s injury-free tackles. Through analysing player and team controls, player technique deficiencies for the injured player and player technique deficiencies that expose all players to injury were highlighted, which may inform injury prevention strategies and policies, and assist coaches in optimising training to reduce tackle injury risk.
Risk of atrial fibrillation in athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Newman William , Parry-Williams Gemma , Wiles Jonathan , Edwards Jamie , Hulbert Sabina , Kipourou Konstantina , Papadakis Michael , Sharma Rajan , O'Driscoll Jamie
Published: July 2021

Objective

A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression were performed on selected studies to investigate the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) among athletes compared with non-athlete controls.

Design

Meta-analysis with heterogeneity analysis and subsequent meta-regression to model covariates were performed. The mode of exercise (endurance and mixed sports) and age were the a priori determined covariates.

Data sources

PubMed, MEDLINE, Science Direct, SPORTDiscus and the Cochrane library were searched.

Eligibility criteria

Research articles published after 1990 and before 2 December 2020 were included if they reported the number of AF cases in athletes with non-athlete (physically active or inactive) control groups, were case–control or cohort studies and if data allowed calculation of OR.

Results

The risk of developing AF was significantly higher in athletes than in non-athlete controls (OR: 2.46; 95% CI 1.73 to 3.51; p<0.001, Z=4.97). Mode of exercise and risk of AF were moderately correlated (B=0.1259, p=0.0193), with mixed sport conferring a greater risk of AF than endurance sport (B=−0.5476, p=0.0204). Younger (<55 years) athletes were significantly more likely to develop AF compared with older (≥55 years) athletes (B=−0.02293, p<0.001).

Conclusion

Athletes have a significantly greater likelihood of developing AF compared with non-athlete controls, with those participating in mixed sport and younger athletes at the greatest risk. Future studies of AF prevalence in athletes according to specific exercise dose parameters, including training and competition history, may aid further in delineating those at risk.
Cerebral microbleed distribution following cardiac surgery can mimic cerebral amyloid angiopathy
Authors: De Sciscio Michele , De Sciscio Paul , Vallat Wilson , Kleinig Timothy
Published: July 2021

Background and aims

Having anecdotally noted a high frequency of lobar-restricted cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) mimicking cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) in patients with previous cardiac surgery (especially valve replacement) presenting to our transient ischaemic attack (TIA) clinic, we set out to objectively determine the frequency and distribution of microbleeds in this population.

Methods

We performed a retrospective comparative cohort study in consecutive patients presenting to two TIA clinics with either: (1) previous coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) (n=41); (2) previous valve replacement (n=41) or (3) probable CAA (n=41), as per the Modified Boston Criteria, without prior cardiac surgery. Microbleed number and distribution was determined and compared.

Results

At least one lobar-restricted microbleed was found in the majority of cardiac surgery patients (65%) and 32/82 (39%) met diagnostic criteria for CAA. Valve replacement patients had a higher microbleed prevalence (90 vs 51%, p<0.01) and lobar-restricted microbleed count (2.6±2.7 vs 1.0±1.4, p<0.01) than post-CABG patients; lobar-restricted microbleed count in both groups was substantially less than in CAA patients (15.5±20.4, p<0.01). In postcardiac surgery patients, subcortical white matter (SWM) microbleeds were proportionally more frequent compared with CAA patients. Receiver operator curve analysis of a ‘location-based’ ratio (calculated as SWM/SWM+strictly-cortical CMBs), revealed an optimal ratio of 0.45 in distinguishing cardiac surgery-associated microbleeds from CAA (sensitivity 0.56, specificity 0.93, area under the curve 0.71).

Conclusion

Lobar-restricted microbleeds are common in patients with past cardiac surgery, however a higher proportion of these CMBs involve the SWM than in patients with CAA.
Are the rights of people with disabilities included in international guidance on WASH during the COVID-19 pandemic? Content analysis using EquiFrame
Authors: Scherer Nathaniel , Mactaggart Islay , Huggett Chelsea , Pheng Pharozin , Rahman Mahfuj-ur , Wilbur Jane
Published: July 2021

Purpose

People with disabilities are at increased risk from COVID-19. Access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services and facilities is a fundamental right for all, and is vital in stopping the transmission of COVID-19. However, people with disabilities often face difficulties accessing WASH. Various international organisations have published guidance and recommendations on WASH service provision during the COVID-19 pandemic, and this must include information of relevance to people with disabilities. This study aimed to investigate the inclusion of core concepts of rights for people with disabilities in guidance on WASH during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method

We used the EquiFrame content analysis tool to analyse the inclusion of 21 core concepts of rights for people with disabilities in international guidance documents on WASH during the pandemic. 29 documents were included from multilateral entities, international consortiums and non-governmental organisations. Key information from the included guidance documents was extracted for each of the 21 core concepts.

Results

One-third of the WASH guidance did not include any reference to the rights of people with disabilities, and the majority of information was provided by just one guidance document. Most commonly referenced across all was access to WASH, including details on accessible infrastructure (eg, handwashing stations) and communication strategies. Information on many important rights and considerations, such as the affordability of services and caregiver support, was rarely included.

Conclusion

Although some information is provided in international WASH guidance, this often has a narrow focus on access, rather than the full array of rights and considerations that are important for people with disabilities. International guidance should continue to be reviewed and updated to include further information of relevance to people with disabilities, informing a disability-inclusive approach to WASH during the remainder of the COVID-19 pandemic and future crises.
Intention to have the seasonal influenza vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic among eligible adults in the UK: a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Sherman Susan M , Sim Julius , Amlôt Richard , Cutts Megan , Dasch Hannah , Rubin G James , Sevdalis Nick , Smith Louise E
Published: July 2021

Objective

To investigate the likelihood of having the seasonal influenza vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic in individuals who were eligible to receive it.

Design

We conducted a cross-sectional online survey in July 2020. We included predictors informed by previous research, in the following categories: sociodemographic variables; uptake of influenza vaccine last winter and beliefs about vaccination.

Participants

570 participants (mean age: 53.07; 56.3% female, 87.0% white) who were eligible for the free seasonal influenza vaccination in the UK.

Results

59.7% of our sample indicated they were likely to have the seasonal influenza vaccination, 22.1% reported being unlikely to have the vaccination and 18.2% were unsure. We used logistic regression to investigate variables associated with intention to receive a seasonal influenza vaccine in the 2020–2021 season. A positive attitude to vaccination in general predicted intention to have the influenza vaccine in 2020–2021 (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.19 to 1.77, p<0.001) but the strongest predictor of intention was previous influenza vaccination behaviour (OR 278.58, 95% CI 78.04 to 994.46, p<0.001).

Conclusions

Previous research suggests that increasing uptake of the influenza vaccination may help contain a COVID-19 outbreak, so steps need to be taken to convert intention into behaviour and to reach those individuals who reported being unlikely or unsure about having the vaccine.
AI-based clinical decision-making systems in palliative medicine: ethical challenges
Authors: De Panfilis Ludovica , Peruselli Carlo , Tanzi Silvia , Botrugno Carlo
Published: July 2021

Background

Improving palliative care (PC) is demanding due to the increase in people with PC needs over the next few years. An early identification of PC needs is fundamental in the care approach: it provides effective patient-centred care and could improve outcomes such as patient quality of life, reduction of the overall length of hospitalisation, survival rate prolongation, the satisfaction of both the patients and caregivers and cost-effectiveness.

Methods

We reviewed literature with the objective of identifying and discussing the most important ethical challenges related to the implementation of AI-based data processing services in PC and advance care planning.

Results

AI-based mortality predictions can signal the need for patients to obtain access to personalised communication or palliative care consultation, but they should not be used as a unique parameter to activate early PC and initiate an ACP. A number of factors must be included in the ethical decision-making process related to initiation of ACP conversations, among which are autonomy and quality of life, the risk of worsening healthcare status, the commitment by caregivers, the patients’ psychosocial and spiritual distress and their wishes to initiate EOL discussions

Conclusions

Despite the integration of artificial intelligence (AI)-based services into routine healthcare practice could have a positive effect of promoting early activation of ACP by means of a timely identification of PC needs, from an ethical point of view, the provision of these automated techniques raises a number of critical issues that deserve further exploration.
Voluntarily chosen roles and conscientious objection in health care
Authors: Robinson Michael
Published: July 2021

The longstanding dominant view is that health care practitioners should be permitted to refrain from participating in medical interventions when they have a conscientious objection to doing so in a broad range of cases. In recent years, a growing minority have been fervently advocating a sea change. In their view, medical professionals should not be permitted to refuse to participate in medical interventions merely because doing so conflicts with their own moral or religious views. One of the most commonly offered arguments in support of this position focuses on the fact that health care practitioners knew what they were getting into when they voluntarily chose to take on their professional roles; nobody forced them to do this. I will argue that, despite its popularity among opponents of conscientious refusal, this argument from voluntariness fails to provide us with a good reason to reject broad accommodationism in favour of non-accommodationism.
Changes in retail sales of tobacco products in Ontario after a menthol sales restriction
Authors: Brown Elizabeth M , Gammon Doris G , Rogers Todd , Coats Ellen M , Olson Lindsay T , Ross Ashley , Engstrom Martha , Nonnemaker James M
Published: July 2021

Background

Ontario, Canada prohibited menthol tobacco product sales beginning 1 January 2017. We measured retail sales of menthol cigarettes and possible substitute products before and after policy implementation in Ontario.

Methods

We licensed retail scanner data for tobacco product sales in Ontario and British Columbia (BC), a comparison province without a menthol tobacco policy at that time. We assessed changes in per capita unit sales (per 1000 people) from pre-policy (January–June 2016) to post-policy (January–June 2017) periods. Classification of cigarettes as menthol or non-menthol, or having menthol-suggestive descriptors (‘green’, ‘blue’, ‘silver’ and ‘fresh’), was based on scanner data.

Results

Ontario menthol cigarette sales decreased 93%, from 596 to 40 packs per capita compared with a 2% decrease (696 to 679 packs per capita) in BC. Menthol capsule cigarette sales remained low in Ontario (<1% of total cigarette sales) but rose sixfold in BC. Although cigar sales data were unavailable, substitution appeared minimal; sales of non-menthol cigarettes increased 0.4% in Ontario (11 470 to 11 519 packs per capita) while vaping product sales decreased. Ontario had a larger increase in sales of cigarettes with menthol-suggestive descriptors (11% increase) than BC (3% increase). In Ontario, nearly all (>99%) pre-policy sales of cigarettes with ‘green’ menthol-suggestive descriptors were menthol cigarettes, but post-policy, 94% of ‘green’ cigarettes sold were non-menthol.

Conclusions

Ontario’s menthol policy was associated with a decrease in retail sales of cigarettes classified as menthol, with little evidence of product substitution. Understanding changes in sales of cigarettes with menthol-suggestive descriptors would be informative.
Development of very-thick transparent GEMs with wavelength-shifting capability for noble element TPCs
Authors: Kuźniak M. , González-Díaz D. , Amedo P. , Azevedo C. D. R. , Fernández-Posada D. J. , Kuźwa M. , Leardini S. , Leonhardt A. , Łȩcki T. , Manzanillas L. , Muenstermann D. , Nieradka G. , de Oliveira R. , Pollmann T. R. , Saá Hernández A. , Sworobowicz T. , Türkoğlu C. , Williams S.
Published: July 2021

A new concept for the simultaneous detection of primary and secondary scintillation in time projection chambers is proposed. Its core element is a type of very-thick GEM structure supplied with transparent electrodes and machined from a polyethylene naphthalate plate, a natural wavelength shifter. Such a device has good prospects for scalability and, by virtue of its genuine optical properties, it can improve on the light collection efficiency, energy threshold and resolution of conventional micropattern gas detectors. This, together with the intrinsic radiopurity of its constituting elements, offers advantages for noble gas and liquid based time projection chambers, used for dark matter searches and neutrino experiments. Production, optical and electrical characterization, and first measurements performed with the new device are reported.
Observation of Odderon effects at LHC energies: a real extended Bialas–Bzdak model study
Authors: Csörgő T. , Szanyi I.
Published: July 2021

The unitarily extended Bialas–Bzdak model of elastic proton–proton scattering is applied, without modifications, to describe the differential cross-section of elastic proton–antiproton collisions in the TeV energy range, and to extrapolate these differential cross-sections to LHC energies. In this model-dependent study we find that the differential cross-sections of elastic proton–proton collision data at 2.76 and 7 TeV energies differ significantly from the differential cross-section of elastic proton–antiproton collisions extrapolated to these energies. The elastic proton–proton differential cross-sections, extrapolated to 1.96 TeV energy with the help of this extended Bialas–Bzdak model do not differ significantly from that of elastic proton–antiproton collisions, within the theoretical errors of the extrapolation. Taken together these results provide a model-dependent, but statistically significant evidence for a crossing-odd component of the elastic scattering amplitude at the at least 7.08 sigma level. From the reconstructed Odderon and Pomeron amplitudes, we determine the $$\sqrt{s}$$

s

dependence of the corresponding total and differential cross-sections.
Ratio of flavour non-singlet and singlet scalar density renormalisation parameters in $$N_\mathrm {f}=3$$ QCD with Wilson quarks
Authors: Heitger Jochen , Joswig Fabian , Petrak Pia L. J. , Vladikas Anastassios
Published: July 2021

We determine non-perturbatively the normalisation factor $$r_{\mathrm{m}}\equiv Z_{\mathrm{S}}/Z_{\mathrm{S}}^{0}$$

r
m

≡

Z
S

/

Z

S

0

, where $$Z_{\mathrm{S}}$$

Z
S

and $$Z_{\mathrm{S}}^{0}$$

Z

S

0

are the renormalisation parameters of the flavour non-singlet and singlet scalar densities, respectively. This quantity is required in the computation of quark masses with Wilson fermions and for instance the renormalisation of nucleon matrix elements of scalar densities. Our calculation involves simulations of finite-volume lattice QCD with the tree-level Symanzik-improved gauge action, $$N_{\mathrm{f}}= 3$$

N
f

=
3

mass-degenerate $${\mathrm{O}}(a)$$

O
(
a
)

improved Wilson fermions and Schrödinger functional boundary conditions. The slope of the current quark mass, as a function of the subtracted Wilson quark mass is extracted both in a unitary setup (where nearly chiral valence and sea quark masses are degenerate) and in a non-unitary setup (where all valence flavours are chiral and the sea quark masses are small). These slopes are then combined with $$Z \equiv Z_{\mathrm{P}}/(Z_{\mathrm{S}}Z_{\mathrm{A}})$$

Z
≡

Z
P

/

(

Z
S

Z
A

)

in order to obtain $$r_{\mathrm{m}}$$

r
m

. A novel chiral Ward identity is employed for the calculation of the normalisation factor Z. Our results cover the range of gauge couplings corresponding to lattice spacings below $$0.1\,$$

0.1

fm, for which $$N_{\mathrm{f}}= 2+1$$

N
f

=
2
+
1

QCD simulations in large volumes with the same lattice action are typically performed.
Medical Data and Mathematically Modeled Implicit Surface Real-Rime Visualization in Web Browsers
Authors: Zhang Qi
Published: July 2021

Raycasting can display volumetric medical data in fine details and reveal crucial inner imaging information, while implicit surface is able to effectively model complex objects with high flexibility, combining these two rendering modalities together will provide comprehensive information of the scene and has wide applications in surgical simulation, image-guided intervention, and medical training. However, medical data rendering is based on texture depth at every sampling point, while mathematically modeled implicit surfaces do not have geometric information in texture space. It is a challenging task to visualize both physical scalar data and virtual implicit surfaces simultaneously. To address this issue, in this paper, we present a new dual-casting ray-based double modality data rendering algorithm and web-based software platform to visualize volumetric medical data and implicit surface in the same browser. The algorithm runs on graphics processing unit and casts two virtual rays from camera to each pixel on the display panel, where one ray travels through the mathematically defined scene for implicit surface rendering and the other one passes the 3D texture space for volumetric data visualization. The proposed algorithm can detect voxel depth information and algebraic surface models along each casting ray and dynamically enhance the visualized dual-modality data with the improved lighting model and transparency adjustment function. Moreover, auxiliary innovative techniques are also presented to enhance the shading and rendering features of interest. Our software platform can seamlessly visualize volumetric medical data and implicit surfaces in the same web browser over Internet.
Synthesis of narrow-band red-emitting SrLiAl3N4:Eu2+ phosphor and the study of its influencing factors on luminescence performance
Authors: Yang Yuxiao , Lu Zicheng , Liu Yiheng , Wang Chen , Yan Bing , Wang Yongqian
Published: July 2021

In this paper, safer raw materials were used to synthesize SrLiA13N4:Eu[Formula: see text] phosphors under high purity nitrogen gas by high-temperature solid-state method, and the effects of activator doping concentration, calcination temperature, calcination time and matrix lattice cation substitution on their luminescence performance were studied. All the samples can emit red light effectively excited by ultraviolet or blue light, and the narrow-band red emission peak is at [Formula: see text]651 nm. Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) results show that the Eu[Formula: see text] element has been successfully doped and uniformly distributed. The X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) pattern showed that impurities of AlN and SrO were present in the synthesized samples, and the impurity phase was significantly reduced or eliminated with the increase of calcination temperature. The relationship between luminescence intensity of phosphor and Eu[Formula: see text] doping concentration indicates that with the increase of Eu[Formula: see text] doping concentration, the luminescence intensity of powder first increases and then decreases, and the optimal doping concentration is 0.02. Concentration quenching will occur if the doping amount of Eu[Formula: see text] continues to increase. The addition of Ca makes it replace Sr in the crystal lattice, resulting in the reduction of field force in the lattice expansion crystal, resulting in the reduction of luminescence intensity, the red shift of emission peak, and the increase of half height and width. The results exhibit that SrLiAl3N4:Eu[Formula: see text] may be a more suitable phosphor than CaLiAl3N4:Eu[Formula: see text] as a narrow-band red component in white LEDs.
Network Simulation on the Evaluation of Urbanization in Turkey against the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: NIŞANCI Murat , SOYYIĞIT Semanur
Published: July 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic, which began as an international health crisis, has quickly become an economic crisis on both national and global scale. As economies are linked through global value chains, this crisis has significantly affected the global economy. The strict measures to prevent the rapid spread of the virus negatively affected the supply and demand relations. In this study, the authors examine the inter-provincial supply–demand relations in Turkey via a complex network analysis. The analysis has the following two stages: examination of topological properties and simulation estimates. The topological analysis reveals the complexity and core–periphery structure of the inter-provincial trade network. Istanbul comes to the forefront as the strongest node in the network in terms of both supply and demand. Simulation results reveal that such economic dependence on Istanbul alone makes the inter-provincial trade system more vulnerable against supply or demand shock.
Survey of Post-OCR Processing Approaches
Authors: Nguyen Thi Tuyet Hai , Jatowt Adam , Coustaty Mickael , Doucet Antoine
Published: July 2021

Optical character recognition (OCR) is one of the most popular techniques used for converting printed documents into machine-readable ones. While OCR engines can do well with modern text, their performance is unfortunately significantly reduced on historical materials. Additionally, many texts have already been processed by various out-of-date digitisation techniques. As a consequence, digitised texts are noisy and need to be post-corrected. This article clarifies the importance of enhancing quality of OCR results by studying their effects on information retrieval and natural language processing applications. We then define the post-OCR processing problem, illustrate its typical pipeline, and review the state-of-the-art post-OCR processing approaches. Evaluation metrics, accessible datasets, language resources, and useful toolkits are also reported. Furthermore, the work identifies the current trend and outlines some research directions of this field.
Images in Space and Time
Authors: Badr Eman
Published: July 2021

Medical imaging diagnosis is mostly subjective, as it depends on medical experts. Hence, the service provided is limited by expert opinion variations and image complexity as well. However, with the increasing advancements in deep learning field, techniques are developed to help in the diagnosis and risk assessment processes. In this article, we survey different types of images in healthcare. A review of the concept and research methodology of Radiomics will highlight the potentials of integrated diagnostics. Convolutional neural networks can play an important role in next generations of automated imaging biomarker extraction and big data analytics systems. Examples are provided of what is already feasible today and also describe additional technological components required for successful clinical implementation.
Topic-based Video Analysis
Authors: Pal Ratnabali , Sekh Arif Ahmed , Dogra Debi Prosad , Kar Samarjit , Roy Partha Pratim , Prasad Dilip K.
Published: July 2021

Manual processing of a large volume of video data captured through closed-circuit television is challenging due to various reasons. First, manual analysis is highly time-consuming. Moreover, as surveillance videos are recorded in dynamic conditions such as in the presence of camera motion, varying illumination, or occlusion, conventional supervised learning may not work always. Thus, computer vision-based automatic surveillance scene analysis is carried out in unsupervised ways. Topic modelling is one of the emerging fields used in unsupervised information processing. Topic modelling is used in text analysis, computer vision applications, and other areas involving spatio-temporal data. In this article, we discuss the scope, variations, and applications of topic modelling, particularly focusing on surveillance video analysis. We have provided a methodological survey on existing topic models, their features, underlying representations, characterization, and applications in visual surveillance’s perspective. Important research papers related to topic modelling in visual surveillance have been summarized and critically analyzed in this article.
A Survey of Reinforcement Learning Algorithms for Dynamically Varying Environments
Authors: Padakandla Sindhu
Published: July 2021

Reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms find applications in inventory control, recommender systems, vehicular traffic management, cloud computing, and robotics. The real-world complications arising in these domains makes them difficult to solve with the basic assumptions underlying classical RL algorithms. RL agents in these applications often need to react and adapt to changing operating conditions. A significant part of research on single-agent RL techniques focuses on developing algorithms when the underlying assumption of stationary environment model is relaxed. This article provides a survey of RL methods developed for handling dynamically varying environment models. The goal of methods not limited by the stationarity assumption is to help autonomous agents adapt to varying operating conditions. This is possible either by minimizing the rewards lost during learning by RL agent or by finding a suitable policy for the RL agent that leads to efficient operation of the underlying system. A representative collection of these algorithms is discussed in detail in this work along with their categorization and their relative merits and demerits. Additionally, we also review works that are tailored to application domains. Finally, we discuss future enhancements for this field.
Exploring Norm Violations and Norm Management in Collocated Synchronous Communication: Dual-channel Communication as Hybrid Space with Spillover and Asymmetries
Authors: Nelimarkka Matti , Salovaara Antti , Jacucci Giulio
Published: July 2021

Digital tools for collocated synchronous communication, like backchannels and question management systems, are increasingly used in events and education to support interaction between performer(s) and audience. Discussions in the communication tool are prone to various unexpected interruptions which violate against the communication tools' original purpose, i.e. violating performers' expected norms. We study such norm violations and related performers' coping approaches in two 15-week-long field experiments in two elementary schools. Our results demonstrate how the collocated synchronous tools form dual-channel communication environment where both physical and digital channel are in use at the same time. We show how norm violations 'spill over' from their onset in one channel to continue in the other. However, we observed performers coping approaches were primarily focused in the physical channel. This resulted in an asymmetry of presence and delayed the performers' ability to act on violations. Our findings show that the channels in dual-channel communication are tightly interwoven and must be considered as an integrated communication space instead of two co-occurring but separate channels. We provide a framework to study norm violations and discuss implications of this framework on the design of these systems.
Fluid Dynamics of Respiratory Infectious Diseases
Authors: Bourouiba Lydia
Published: July 2021

The host-to-host transmission of respiratory infectious diseases is fundamentally enabled by the interaction of pathogens with a variety of fluids (gas or liquid) that shape pathogen encapsulation and emission, transport and persistence in the environment, and new host invasion and infection. Deciphering the mechanisms and fluid properties that govern and promote these steps of pathogen transmission will enable better risk assessment and infection control strategies, and may reveal previously underappreciated ways in which the pathogens might actually adapt to or manipulate the physical and chemical characteristics of these carrier fluids to benefit their own transmission. In this article, I review our current understanding of the mechanisms shaping the fluid dynamics of respiratory infectious diseases.