bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RETRACTED: Early Detection of Seizure Using Electrical Brain Activity
Authors: Sangeetha V , Shanthini E , Aravindhan T , Dineshkumar S , Ashwin Shivaa D
Published: September 2022

Epilepsy is a chronic brain condition characterized by an uncontrollable electric blast in the brain, manifested as Epilepsy seizures. More than one percent of the world population is affected by Epilepsy seizures. This framework employs a few corporal boundaries, such as temperature, pulse, and movement limits. The device measures the electrical activity of the brain by using an EEG sensor and alerts the patient according to the electrical brain activity. This paper focuses on the development of early detection of seizures by EEG to alert the patient to changes in his/her body.
Simulation Study of Hetero-Junction Single Gate Extended Source TFET
Authors: Singh Suryavansh , Roy Saurav Guha , Kumari Anjali , Chander Sweta , Sinha Sanjeet Kumar , Chaudhary Rekha
Published: September 2022

The paper provides the information regarding the examination of Uni-Gate-Extended Source TFET w.r.t the doping concentration of source, drain and channel and device’s dimensions. The moto of extending the source into channel is to enhance the point to point tunneling. 2D simulations in TCAD tool are carried out to analyse and investigate the performance of proposed device. Because of the transposed SS down the thermionic limit of 60 mV/decade, TFETs can be considered as the most trustworthy devices that have lower power consumption and that’s why they are among the deserving devices for upcoming future CMOS logic applications. Although the TFET marks have been examined in fewer material systems, they are burdened by low ON-currents. We discussed the impact of sound on Tunnel FET devices and circuits. The dialogue is designed for the sound of a random noise effects. The paper also deals with configuration of gm and gd and their obtained significant values are rise up in the graph till 1x10-4 V-1 and 2x10-4V-1.
Design of Montgomery Multiplier – RSA Algorithm
Authors: Venkatalakshmi K , Gayathri Pamuru , Likhitha Tadakaluru Sai , Shinde Sushmitha , Pavan Kumar MOV.
Published: September 2022

In cryptography, during the process of encryption, we use multiplication modulo architectures (2^n- 1) and (2^n+ 1) are proposed that enable the implementation of very efficient combinational and pipelined circuits for modular arithmetic. This project is an improvisation of existing modulo multiplier architectures for higher speed and regularity. We use the Montgomery multiplier in this project for the RSA algorithm. Hence, the IDEA block cipher is represented as a high-performance modulo multiplier adder. The circuits that arise are compared qualitatively and quantitatively for the RSA algorithm.
Hybrid Precoder Design Using Alternating Minimization Algorithm in MultiCell Multi-User Millimeter-Wave Communications for Massive MIMO
Authors: Al Imran Md. Ibrahim , Hossain Md. Farhad , Shabab Rashid
Published: September 2022

In the field of upcoming generation in wireless communication technology there is an extreme demand for higher bandwidth which is expected to be fulfilled by the frequency spectrum ranging from 30GHz to 300GHz which in other words can be defined as millimeter wave (mmWave). But it is a fact that, the mmWave technology lacks the simplicity in the design of precoder. There is higher power loss and higher cost in the baseband precoding in the case of fully digital baseband precoder. As the supported number of analog-to-digital (ADC) converters is very few, the mmWave technology requires ‘Hybrid Precoder’ which may reduce the loss of extensive power and lessen cost. The cost-effective hybrid precoder transceiver formulation has not been standardized yet. In this paper, we proposed the design of an optimal hybrid precoder in fully connected structure which has a higher complexity but lower cost and lower power consumption in the case of multi-cell multi-user massive MIMO. We have used Alternating Minimization Algorithm for getting the optimal Reimannian manifold solution. Here the comparison between the Digital Baseband precoder performance and the Hybrid Precoder performance has been done using simulation tools.
Partial Power Processing Based Bidirectional Converter for Electric Vehicle Fast Charging Stations
Authors: Geetha V M , Saravanan S , Swathisriranjani M , Satheesh C S , Saranraj S
Published: September 2022

This paper focuses on the design of a charging unit for an electric vehicle fast-charging station. Electric Vehicle is turning into a real alternative to conventional combustion-based vehicles due to their reduced greenhouse emissions. The conventional system experiences harmonic distortions, losses and takes more time to charge. To overcome these problems, new methods and techniques are established here.

With the help of a bidirectional-based converter, electric vehicle charging stations offer quick charging. When using a three-phase supply, phase voltage is given to the suggested converter. In conventional type converters, harmonic distortions are inherent; however, we can lessen voltage distortions by employing bidirectional converters. When tested with a prototype model featuring the suggested converter, the voltage ripple factor is quite low. Phase-shifting pulse width modulation is the topology employed in this procedure. The output voltages are controlled by a precise and simple algorithm. We can also use artificial intelligence gadgets to improve the circuit in the future. By comparing the input and output voltages in the feedback system, we can eliminate both steady-state and transient errors. The charging stations implemented in various areas are used effectively for efficiently charging Electric vehicles. The number of components is reduced compared to traditional converters and thus increasing the efficiency of bi-directional converters with less cost. This charger is also verified for fluctuations in power supply and supply voltages with higher magnitudes. The proposed charger gives us improved power factor and efficiency.
Friend Recommendation System using Image Encryption and Deep learning
Authors: Mohammed Yaseen M. , Akilan M. , Ranjith A.G. , Soundariya S. , Manisekaran S.V. , Ramakrishnan S.
Published: September 2022

The recommendation system functions similarly to a content filtering system, providing information depending on the preferences and behavior of the user. People use image sharing platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram to share photographs of various elements to convey their sentiments with linked peers. As image sharing has been increasingly popular among individuals in recent years, it plays an important part in our daily lives. However, because of photo leaks and misuse, people are becoming increasingly concerned about their privacy. Encrypting photographs before publishing to social media is a better approach but decrypting the images and then searching for comparable images is computationally costly. The prior model advocated encrypting pictures using AES encryption and classifying them with deep autoencoders which is only a 2-step compression technique and takes quite more time for classifying. We provide a feasible privacy-protected friend recommendation system in proposed model by encrypting images using the Gaussian blur technique and a deep learning strategy for feature extraction and image classification for user recommendation. For training the dataset, the deep learning system utilizes the Keras model with CNN method, and a new model is generated from the features extracted from the blurred images. After that, the test dataset is compared to the model developed for similar image prediction. The accuracy measurements used to plot the graph are val acc and val loss. The accuracy result for the original image is 91.8%, while the accuracy result for the blurred image is 86.2% percent, demonstrating that our model is highly efficient and results in lower data loss.
Brain Tumor Segmentation and survival prediction using 3D U-net
Authors: Srinidhi Kotha , Ashwini Musthyala , Sree Banala Sowjanya , Apoorva Pinumalla , Akshitha Vadla , Khasim K.N.V.
Published: September 2022

Detecting Brain Tumor is a critical problem in the medical field and analyzing its location and size has been a challenging task for doctors. Designing automated brain tumor systems for MRI is one of the important factor in this decade, to avoid high expenses, low accuracy due to parallax errors and time consumption. Automated systems assist in diagnosis and early detection of tumors, which allows physicians to focus more on treating a patient. A method based on Convolutional Neural Network (encoder decoder architecture) captures 3D Flair (MRI) for glioblastomas as an input, which could be anywhere, any shape or size of the brain. These factors made us to investigate for an artificial intelligence system that utilizes the flexibility of a highly efficient neural network with an astonishing efficiency. The U-Net model is essential for achieving optimal performance in segmenting brain tumor and patient stage. The current approach uses 3d image instead of 2d image for proper diagnosis.
An Analysis of Machine Learning-Based Android Malware Detection Approaches
Authors: Srinivasan R. , Karpagam S , Kavitha M. , Kavitha R.
Published: September 2022

Despite the fact that Android apps are rapidly expanding throughout the mobile ecosystem, Android malware continues to emerge. Malware operations are on the rise, particularly on Android phones, it make up 72.2 percent of all smartphone sales. Credential theft, eavesdropping, and malicious advertising are just some of the ways used by hackers to attack cell phones. Many researchers have looked into Android malware detection from various perspectives and presented hypothesis and methodologies. Machine learning (ML)-based techniques have demonstrated to be effective in identifying these attacks because they can build a classifier from a set of training cases, eliminating the need for explicit signature definition in malware detection.

This paper provided a detailed examination of machine-learning-based Android malware detection approaches. According to present research, machine learning and genetic algorithms are in identifying Android malware, this is a powerful and promising solution. In this quick study of Android apps, we go through the Android system architecture, security mechanisms, and malware categorization.
Radiomics software comparison using digital phantom and patient data: IBSI-compliance does not guarantee concordance of feature values
Authors: Paquier Zelda , Chao Shih-Li , Acquisto Anaïs , Fenton Chifra , Guiot Thomas , Dhont Jennifer , Levillain Hugo , Gulyban Akos , Bali Maria Antonietta , Reynaert Nick
Published: September 2022

Introduction. Radiomics is a promising imaging-based tool which could enhance clinical observation and identify representative features. To avoid different interpretations, the Image Biomarker Standardisation Initiative (IBSI) imposed conditions for harmonisation. This study evaluates IBSI-compliant radiomics applications against a known benchmark and clinical datasets for agreements. Materials and methods. The three radiomics platforms compared were RadiomiX Research Toolbox, LIFEx v7.0.0, and syngo.via Frontier Radiomics v1.2.5 (based on PyRadiomics v2.1). Basic assessment included comparing feature names and their formulas. The IBSI digital phantom was used for evaluation against reference values. For agreement evaluation (including same software but different versions), two clinical datasets were used: 27 contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) of colorectal liver metastases and 39 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of breast cancer, including intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC, lower 95% confidence interval) was used, with 0.9 as the threshold for excellent agreement. Results. The three radiomics applications share 41 (3 shape, 8 intensity, 30 texture) out of 172, 84 and 110 features for RadiomiX, LIFEx and syngo.via, respectively, as well as wavelet filtering. The naming convention is, however, different between them. Syngo.via had excellent agreement with the IBSI benchmark, while LIFEx and RadiomiX showed slightly worse agreement. Excellent reproducibility was achieved for shape features only, while intensity and texture features varied considerably with the imaging type. For intensity, excellent agreement ranged from 46% for the DCE maps to 100% for CECT, while this lowered to 44% and 73% for texture features, respectively. Wavelet features produced the greatest variation between applications, with an excellent agreement for only 3% to 11% features. Conclusion. Even with IBSI-compliance, the reproducibility of features between radiomics applications is not guaranteed. To evaluate variation, quality assurance of radiomics applications should be performed and repeated when updating to a new version or adding a new modality.
Cork derived laser-induced graphene for sustainable green electronics
Authors: Silvestre Sara L , Pinheiro Tomás , Marques Ana C , Deuermeier Jonas , Coelho João , Martins Rodrigo , Pereira Luís , Fortunato Elvira
Published: September 2022

The demand for smart, wearable devices has been dictating our daily life with the evolution of integrated miniaturized electronics. With technological innovations, comes the impactful human footprint left on the planet’s ecosystems. Therefore, it is necessary to explore renewable materials and sustainable methodologies for industrial processes. Here, an eco-friendly approach to producing flexible electrodes based on a single-step direct laser writing is reported. A 1.06 µm wavelength fiber laser was used for the first time to produce porous three-dimensional laser-induced graphene (LIG) on an agglomerated cork substrates. The obtained material exhibits the typical Raman spectra, along with an exceptionally low sheet resistance between 7.5 and 10 ohm sq−1. LIG on cork high electrical conductivity and the friendliness of the used production method, makes it an interesting material for future technological applications. To show its applicability, the production of planar micro-supercapacitors was demonstrated, as a proof of concept. Electrochemical performance studies demonstrate that LIG interdigitated electrodes, using PVA-H2SO4 electrolyte, achieve an area capacitance of 1.35 mF cm−2 (103.63 mF cm−3) at 5 mV s−1 and 1.43 mF cm−2 (109.62 mF cm−3) at 0.1 mA cm−2. In addition, devices tested under bending conditions exhibit a capacitance of 2.20 mF cm−2 (169.22 mF cm−3) at 0.1 mA cm−2. Here, showing that these electrodes can be implemented in energy storage devices, also successfully demonstrating LIG promising application on innovative, green, and self-sustaining platforms.
Quad-port electromagnetic band gap (EBG)—backed non-isomorphic multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna for wearable applications
Authors: Govindan Thennarasi , Palaniswamy Sandeep Kumar , Kanagasabai Malathi , Velan Sangeetha , Kumar Sachin , Rao Thipparaju Rama
Published: September 2022

This paper presents the design of a quad-port orthogonal ultra-wideband (UWB) monopole antenna backed with an electromagnetic band gap (EBG) structure. The EBG structure provides band stop/band reject characteristics in the entire UWB range. The overall dimension of the diversity antenna is 70 × 70 × 1

m

m

3

(

0.68

λ
0

×
0.68

λ
0

×
0.01

λ
0

), where

λ
0

corresponds to the lowest resonating frequency. The proposed monopole antenna offers good impedance bandwidth of 8.67 GHz (2.93–11.6 GHz). The estimated diversity characterization metrics observed over the obtained frequency range are envelope correlation coefficient < 0.11, mean effective gain (MEG) < 1 dB, effective diversity gain < 9.88 dB, apparent diversity gain < 9.99 dB, channel capacity loss < 0.19 bits (s Hz)−1, and total active reflection coefficient < −20.95 dB. Also, specific absorption rate analysis is realized for the antenna in seven different tissues of the body (forehead, forearm, upper arm, chest, abdomen, thigh and lower leg) to check radiation exposure towards the human body.
Mechanism of NH3 gas sensing by SnO2/PANI nanocomposites: charge transport and temperature dependence study
Authors: Gautam Shivam Kumar , Gokhale Nachiket Aashish , Panda Siddhartha
Published: September 2022

Metal oxide-Polyaniline (PANI) nanocomposites have shown improved gas sensing characteristics that can be attributed to the formation of a p–n junction between the n-type metal oxide and the p-type PANI. The charge transport, grain boundary depletion region, and intragrain resistance are studied to understand the gas sensing mechanism of pristine metal oxide gas sensors. However, gas sensing mechanisms for metal-oxide/PANI nanocomposites have not been studied extensively. In this work, we have studied the gas sensing mechanism of SnO2/PANI nanocomposites using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and temperature dependent gas sensing experiments. Well-defined SnO2 nanoclusters were observed in the PANI matrix. The n-type SnO2 was covered by p-type PANI, and a depletion region was formed at the interface. The presence of the p–n junction depletion region was confirmed by impedance spectroscopy. The polarons in PANI were trapped by NH3 leading to a change in the width of the conducting path due to rearrangement of charge carriers along the depletion region. The change in the conduction path, along with the trapped polarons, enhanced the sensor response. For higher loadings of SnO2, the depletion region was deformed, and the sensor response decreased due to non-uniform boundaries. 1 wt% SnO2 with respect to aniline precursor in in situ synthesis showed the best response of 37.8% for 100 ppm NH3 at 35 °C. The response was stable for low humidity levels up to 51%RH. The response increased for higher humidity levels. The sensor response increased from 0.17 to 2.99 upon bending 1000 times at 7.8 mm diameter due to cracks in the surface. The sensor showed only 10% variation in response after 9 months.
Universal approach to sending-or-not-sending twin field quantum key distribution
Authors: Hu Xiao-Long , Jiang Cong , Yu Zong-Wen , Wang Xiang-Bin
Published: September 2022

We present a universal approach to sending-or-not-sending (SNS) protocol of twin-field quantum key distribution with the method of actively odd parity pairing. In this improved protocol, the code bits are not limited to heralded events in time windows participated by pulses of intensity μ

z
and vacuum. All kinds of heralded events can be used for code bits to distill the final keys. The number of intensities (3 or 4) and the kinds of heralded events for code bits are automatically chosen by the key rate optimization itself. Numerical simulation shows that the key rate rises drastically in typical settings, up to 80% improvement compared with the prior results. Also, larger intensity value can be used for decoy pulses. This makes the protocol more robust in practical experiments.
Nitrogen Inventories and Nitrogenase Expression Rates of a Drywood and a Subterranean Termite
Authors: Mullins Aaron , Scheffrahn Rudolf , Su Nan-Yao
Published: September 2022

Recent research has shown that a subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki) is dependent on dietary nitrogen in order to fulfill it's nitrogen requirements for colony growth and development. Crypototermes brevis (Walker) was chosen as a model for comparison, as it has no access to dietary nitrogen outside of it’s wood diet. A full nitrogen inventory before and after colony growth was conducted in order to determine the species’ dependence on atmospheric N2 fixation. In addition, an expression assay was conducted for a gene encoding a nitrogenase subunit (nifH). Nitrogenase expression was then compared between C. formosanus and Cr. brevis. Results showed that N2 fixation was an important source of nitrogen acquisition for Cr. brevis, and nitrogenase expression was approximately four-fold higher in Cr. brevis than in C. formosanus. The nitrogenase assay used in this study is proposed as a potential tool to measure dependence on N2 fixation versus dietary nitrogen roles in diverse species of termite.
Evolutionary history of marginal habitats regulates the diversity of tree communities in the Atlantic Forest
Authors: Massante Jhonny Capichoni , Gastauer Markus
Published: September 2022

Background and Aims

The Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspot is a complex mosaic of habitat types. However, the diversity of the rain forest at the core of this complex has received far more attention than that of its marginal habitats, such as cloud forest, semi-deciduous forest or restinga. Here, we investigate broad-scale angiosperm tree diversity patterns along elevation gradients in the south-east Atlantic Forest and test if the diversity of marginal habitats is shaped from the neighbouring rain forest, as commonly thought.

Methods

We calculated phylogenetic indices that capture basal [mean pairwise phylogenetic distance (MPD)] and terminal [mean nearest taxon distance (MNTD)] phylogenetic variation, phylogenetic endemism (PE) and taxonomic and phylogenetic beta diversity (BD and PBD) for 2074 angiosperm tree species distributed in 108 circular sites of 10 km diameter across four habitat types i.e. rain forest, cloud forest, semi-deciduous forest and coastal vegetation known as restinga. We then related these metrics to elevation and environmental variables.

Key Results

Communities in wetter and colder forests show basal phylogenetic overdispersion and short phylogenetic distances towards the tips, respectively. In contrast, communities associated with water deficit and salinity show basal phylogenetic clustering and no phylogenetic structure toward the tips. Unexpectedly, rain forest shows low PE given its species richness, whereas cloud and semi-deciduous forests show unusually high PE. The BD and PBD between most habitat types are driven by the turnover of species and lineages, except for restinga.

Conclusions

Our results contradict the idea that all marginal habitat types of the Atlantic Forest are sub-sets of the rain forest. We show that marginal habitat types have different evolutionary histories and may act as ‘equilibrium zones for biodiversity’ in the Atlantic Forest, generating new species or conserving others. Overall, our results add evolutionary insights that reinforce the urgency of encompassing all habitat types in the Atlantic Forest concept.
I2b2-etl: Python application for importing electronic health data into the informatics for integrating biology and the bedside platform
Authors: Wagholikar Kavishwar B , Ainsworth Layne , Zelle David , Chaney Kira , Mendis Michael , Klann Jeffery , Blood Alexander J , Miller Angela , Chulyadyo Rupendra , Oates Michael , Gordon William J , Aronson Samuel J , Scirica Benjamin M , Murphy Shawn N
Published: September 2022

Motivation

The i2b2 platform is used at major academic health institutions and research consortia for querying for electronic health data. However, a major obstacle for wider utilization of the platform is the complexity of data loading that entails a steep curve of learning the platform’s complex data schemas. To address this problem, we have developed the i2b2-etl package that simplifies the data loading process, which will facilitate wider deployment and utilization of the platform.

Results

We have implemented i2b2-etl as a Python application that imports ontology and patient data using simplified input file schemas and provides inbuilt record number de-identification and data validation. We describe a real-world deployment of i2b2-etl for a population-management initiative at MassGeneral Brigham.

Availability and implementation

i2b2-etl is a free, open-source application implemented in Python available under the Mozilla 2 license. The application can be downloaded as compiled docker images. A live demo is available at https://i2b2clinical.org/demo-i2b2etl/ (username: demo, password: Etl@2021).

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Evolutionary history of theAsplenium scolopendriumcomplex (Aspleniaceae), a relictual fern with a northern pan-temperate disjunct distribution
Authors: Heo Namjoo , Lomolino Mark V , Watkins James E , Yun Seona , Weber-Townsend Josh , Fernando Danilo D
Published: September 2022

Asplenium scolopendrium is distributed in northern temperate forests with many global biogeographic disjunctions. The species complex of A. scolopendrium has been generated by spatial segregation coupled with divergent evolution. We elucidated the biogeographic history of the A. scolopendrium complex by exploring its origin, dispersal and evolution, thus providing insights into the evolutionary history of the Tertiary floras with northern pan-temperate disjunct distributions. The results revealed that all infraspecific taxa descended from a widely distributed common ancestor in the Northern Hemisphere. This pan-temperate ancestral population formed by unidirectional westward dispersal from European origins primarily during the Early Eocene when the Earth’s climate was much warmer than today. The splitting of European, American and East Asian lineages occurred during the Early Miocene due to geo-climatic vicariances. Polyploidy events in the American ancestral populations created additional reproductive barriers. The star-shaped haplotypes in each continent indicated that local disjunctions also led to derived genotypes with potential to diverge into different taxa. This intracontinental lineage splitting is likely related to latitudinal range shift and habitat fragmentation caused by glacial cycles and climate change during the Pleistocene. The evolutionary history of the A. scolopendrium complex supported the Boreotropical hypothesis exhibiting range expansion during the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum.
Evolution of the rostral scale and mimicry in the genusXenodonBoie, 1826 (Serpentes: Dipsadidae: Xenodontinae)
Authors: Cabral Hugo , Cacciali Pier , Santana Diego José
Published: September 2022

Snakes are a stimulating life form from an evolutionary perspective. Despite the basic morphological body shape (limbless, with a tubular body), these vertebrates are extremely diverse. The Neotropical region is one of the most diverse regions for snakes in the world, with >650 known species. Within this great diversity, the genus Xenodon includes 12 species with interesting adaptations to terrestrial and semi-fossorial habitats. Members of this genus are mostly diurnal and terrestrial, feed mainly on anurans and exhibit Batesian mimicry of venomous snakes of the genera Bothrops or Micrurus. Here, through phylogenetic analysis and ancestral state estimation, we explore the evolution of the rostral scale and mimicry within the genus Xenodon. Our results suggest that the ancestral lineage of Xenodon had a rounded rostral scale and exhibited Bothrops mimicry. The evolution of the rostral scale in Xenodon might be related to abiotic factors, as an adaptation for open and forested habitats, and mimicry is likely to be related to biotic factors, as a defensive strategy resembling those of venomous snakes.
Targeted transcript analysis in muscles from patients with genetically diverse congenital myopathies
Authors: Bachmann Christoph , Franchini Martina , Van den Bersselaar Luuk R , Kruijt Nick , Voermans Nicol C , Bouman Karlijn , Kamsteeg Erik-Jan , Knop Karl Christian , Ruggiero Lucia , Santoro Lucio , Nevo Yoram , Wilmshurst Jo , Vissing John , Sinnreich Michael , Zorzato Daniele , Muntoni Francesco , Jungbluth Heinz , Zorzato Francesco , Treves Susan
Published: September 2022

Congenital myopathies are a group of early onset muscle diseases of variable severity often with characteristic muscle biopsy findings and involvement of specific muscle types. The clinical diagnosis of patients typically relies on histopathological findings and is confirmed by genetic analysis. The most commonly mutated genes encode proteins involved in skeletal muscle excitation–contraction coupling, calcium regulation, sarcomeric proteins and thin–thick filament interaction. However, mutations in genes encoding proteins involved in other physiological functions (for example mutations in SELENON and MTM1, which encode for ubiquitously expressed proteins of low tissue specificity) have also been identified. This intriguing observation indicates that the presence of a genetic mutation impacts the expression of other genes whose product is important for skeletal muscle function. The aim of the present investigation was to verify if there are common changes in transcript and microRNA expression in muscles from patients with genetically heterogeneous congenital myopathies, focusing on genes encoding proteins involved in excitation–contraction coupling and calcium homeostasis, sarcomeric proteins, transcription factors and epigenetic enzymes. Our results identify RYR1, ATPB2B and miRNA-22 as common transcripts whose expression is decreased in muscles from congenital myopathy patients. The resulting protein deficiency may contribute to the muscle weakness observed in these patients. This study also provides information regarding potential biomarkers for monitoring disease progression and response to pharmacological treatments in patients with congenital myopathies.
Decoding sounds depicting hand–object interactions in primary somatosensory cortex
Authors: Bailey Kerri M , Giordano Bruno L , Kaas Amanda L , Smith Fraser W
Published: September 2022

Neurons, even in the earliest sensory regions of cortex, are subject to a great deal of contextual influences from both within and across modality connections. Recent work has shown that primary sensory areas can respond to and, in some cases, discriminate stimuli that are not of their target modality: for example, primary somatosensory cortex (SI) discriminates visual images of graspable objects. In the present work, we investigated whether SI would discriminate sounds depicting hand–object interactions (e.g. bouncing a ball). In a rapid event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging experiment, participants listened attentively to sounds from 3 categories: hand–object interactions, and control categories of pure tones and animal vocalizations, while performing a one-back repetition detection task. Multivoxel pattern analysis revealed significant decoding of hand–object interaction sounds within SI, but not for either control category. Crucially, in the hand-sensitive voxels defined from an independent tactile localizer, decoding accuracies were significantly higher for hand–object interactions compared to pure tones in left SI. Our findings indicate that simply hearing sounds depicting familiar hand–object interactions elicit different patterns of activity in SI, despite the complete absence of tactile stimulation. These results highlight the rich contextual information that can be transmitted across sensory modalities even to primary sensory areas.
Antibiotic Indications and Appropriateness in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: A 10-Center Point Prevalence Study
Authors: Chiotos Kathleen , Blumenthal Jennifer , Boguniewicz Juri , Palazzi Debra L , Stalets Erika L , Rubens Jessica H , Tamma Pranita D , Cabler Stephanie S , Newland Jason , Crandall Hillary , Berkman Emily , Kavanagh Robert P , Stinson Hannah R , Gerber Jeffrey S
Published: September 2022

Background

Antibiotics are prescribed to most pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients, but data describing indications and appropriateness of antibiotic orders in this population are lacking.

Methods

We performed a multicenter point prevalence study that included children admitted to 10 geographically diverse PICUs over 4 study days in 2019. Antibiotic orders were reviewed for indication, and appropriateness was assessed using a standardized rubric.

Results

Of 1462 patients admitted to participating PICUs, 843 (58%) had at least 1 antibiotic order. A total of 1277 antibiotic orders were reviewed. Common indications were empiric therapy for suspected bacterial infections without sepsis or septic shock (260 orders, 21%), nonoperative prophylaxis (164 orders, 13%), empiric therapy for sepsis or septic shock (155 orders, 12%), community-acquired pneumonia (CAP; 118 orders, 9%), and post-operative prophylaxis (94 orders, 8%). Appropriateness was assessed for 985 orders for which an evidence-based rubric for appropriateness could be created. Of these, 331 (34%) were classified as inappropriate. Indications with the most orders classified as inappropriate were empiric therapy for suspected bacterial infection without sepsis or septic shock (78 orders, 24%), sepsis or septic shock (55 orders, 17%), CAP (51 orders, 15%), ventilator-associated infections (47 orders, 14%), and post-operative prophylaxis (44 orders, 14%). The proportion of antibiotics classified as inappropriate varied across institutions (range, 19%–43%).

Conclusions

Most PICU patients receive antibiotics. Based on our study, we estimate that one-third of antibiotic orders are inappropriate. Improved antibiotic stewardship and research focused on strategies to optimize antibiotic use in critically ill children are needed.
Liver Inflammation Is Common and Linked to Metabolic Derangements in Persons With Treated Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Authors: Chew Kara W , Wu Kunling , Tassiopoulos Katherine , Palella Frank J , Naggie Susanna , Utay Netanya S , Overton Edgar T , Sulkowski Mark
Published: September 2022

Background

We sought to characterize in people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH) the potential etiologies of elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, which are common and often unexplained.

Methods

Participants from the longitudinal observational AIDS Clinical Trials Group HAILO cohort without a history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) or hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection nor reported heavy alcohol use were included. Clinical and demographic characteristics, including medication use, the hepatic steatosis index (HSI), and metabolic syndrome (MetS) were compared between participants with and without ALT elevation.

Results

Six hundred sixty-two participants were included; 444 (67%) had ≥1 and 229 (35%) ≥2 consecutive ALT elevations during a median of 4.0 years of follow-up. HSI and Hispanic or other (non-White or Black) race/ethnicity were consistently associated with higher odds of abnormal ALT (odds ratio [OR] 1.1 for HSI as a continuous variable, OR 1.9–2.8 for Hispanic/other race/ethnicity for ≥1 or ≥2 ALT elevations); older age and current smoking were associated with lower odds of abnormal ALT. Associations with metabolic disease, as well as with incident HBV and HCV infection, were strengthened by restricting outcomes to persistent and higher degrees of ALT elevation.

Conclusions

ALT elevation was common in this cohort of PWH and associated with metabolic disease and hepatic steatosis markers. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is likely a common cause of liver inflammation in PWH receiving suppressive antiretrovirals, deserving targeted diagnosis and intervention.
Challenges and Opportunities in Designing and Deploying Remote Health Monitoring Technology for Older Adults With Cancer
Authors: LeBaron Virginia
Published: September 2022

Remote health monitoring (RHM) technologies (eg, wearables, smart phones, embedded sensors, and telehealth platforms) offer significant opportunities to improve health and wellness for older adults facing serious illness. This article highlights key challenges and opportunities for designing and deploying RHM systems in the context of caring for older adults with cancer, with an emphasis on the key role nurses can play in this work. Focal topics include user-centered design, interdisciplinary collaboration, addressing health inequities and disparities, privacy and data security, participant recruitment and burden, personalized and tailored care, rapid technological change, family caregiver perspectives, and naturalistic data collection. It is critical for nurses to be aware of both challenges and opportunities within each of these areas in order to develop RHM systems that are optimally beneficial for patients, family caregivers, clinicians, and organizations. By leveraging their unique knowledge of the illness experience from the patient, family, and health care provider perspective, nurses can make essential clinical and scientific contributions to advance the field of RHM.
The sensitivity of the intraplate Kachchh Rift Basin, NW India to the direction of incoming seismic waves of teleseismic earthquakes
Authors: Dixit Mayank , Bansal Abhey Ram , Kumar M Ravi , Kumar Santosh , Teotia S S
Published: September 2022

The dynamic stresses generated during the passage of surface waves perturb most major plate boundaries and active volcanic/geothermal regions. The present investigation aims to understand and find evidence for dynamic triggering in the intraplate Kachchh Rift Basin, northwestern India. We analysed the local earthquake catalogues and waveforms of 36 teleseismic earthquakes with Mw ≥ 7.5, which occurred between 2007 and 2017 and generated peak dynamic stresses of at least 1 kPa. The study manually examines the waveforms 24 hr before and after the teleseismic P wave and detects missing earthquakes by applying the matched filter technique. Notably, the analysis reveals that 6 out of 36 earthquakes (17 per cent of the analysed earthquakes) are responsible for triggering non-volcanic tremors or microearthquakes during the passage of surface waves and later. Although the triggering potential in the region seems insensitive to the amplitude of dynamic stresses imparted by the teleseismic surface waves, the direction of the incoming waves appears critical. The surface waves of events whose backazimuths are parallel to the strike of the active faults are capable of triggering. The triggered earthquakes lie along the Kachchh Mainland Fault, North Wagad Fault and South Wagad Fault, in the vicinity of the epicentre of the 2001 January 26, Mw 7.7 Bhuj earthquake. The largest triggered event of magnitude 3.2 occurred ∼7 hr after the 2009 October 7, Mw 7.7 Vanuatu event.
Antoine v Barclays Bank [2019] EWCA Civ 2846, Court of Appeal (Civil Division)
Authors: Nair Aruna
Published: September 2022

Essential Cases: Land Law provides a bridge between course textbooks and key case judgments. This case document summarizes the facts and decision in Antoine v Barclays Bank [2019] EWCA Civ 2846, Court of Appeal (Civil Division). The document also includes supporting commentary from author Aruna Nair.
Prudential Assurance Co. Ltd v London Residuary Body [1992] 2 AC 386, House of Lords
Authors: Nair Aruna
Published: September 2022

Essential Cases: Land Law provides a bridge between course textbooks and key case judgments. This case document summarizes the facts and decision in Prudential Assurance Co. Ltd v London Residuary Body [1992] 2 AC 386, House of Lords. The document also includes supporting commentary from author Aruna Nair.
Mitchell and another v Glasgow City Council [2009] UKHL 11
Authors: Purshouse Craig
Published: September 2022

Essential Cases: Tort Law provides a bridge between course textbooks and key case judgments. This case document summarizes the facts and decision in Mitchell and another v Glasgow City Council [2009] UKHL 11. The document also included supporting commentary from author Craig Purshouse.
McLoughlin v O’Brian [1983] 1 AC 410
Authors: Purshouse Craig
Published: September 2022

Essential Cases: Tort Law provides a bridge between course textbooks and key case judgments. This case document summarizes the facts and decision in McLoughlin v O’Brian [1983] 1 AC 410. The document also included supporting commentary from author Craig Purshouse.
Barnett v Chelsea and Kensington Hospital Management Committee [1969] 1 QB 428
Authors: Purshouse Craig
Published: September 2022

Essential Cases: Tort Law provides a bridge between course textbooks and key case judgments. This case document summarizes the facts and decision in Barnett v Chelsea and Kensington Hospital Management Committee [1969] 1 QB 428. The document also included supporting commentary from author Craig Purshouse.
McGhee v National Coal Board [1973] 1 WLR 1
Authors: Purshouse Craig
Published: September 2022

Essential Cases: Tort Law provides a bridge between course textbooks and key case judgments. This case document summarizes the facts and decision in McGhee v National Coal Board [1973] 1 WLR 1. The document also included supporting commentary from author Craig Purshouse.
Re Barlow’s Will Trusts [1979] 1 WLR 278, Chancery Division
Authors: Whayman Derek
Published: September 2022

Essential Cases: Equity & Trusts provides a bridge between course textbooks and key case judgments. This case document summarizes the facts and decision in Re Barlow’s Will Trusts [1979] 1 WLR 278, Chancery Division. The document also includes supporting commentary from author Derek Whayman.
Neville Estates v Madden [1962] Ch 832, Chancery Division
Authors: Whayman Derek
Published: September 2022

Essential Cases: Equity & Trusts provides a bridge between course textbooks and key case judgments. This case document summarizes the facts and decision in Neville Estates v Madden [1962] Ch 832, Chancery Division. The document also includes supporting commentary from author Derek Whayman.
Vandervell v Inland Revenue Commissioners [1967] 2 AC 291, House of Lords
Authors: Whayman Derek
Published: September 2022

Essential Cases: Equity & Trusts provides a bridge between course textbooks and key case judgments. This case document summarizes the facts and decision in Vandervell v Inland Revenue Commissioners [1967] 2 AC 291, House of Lords. The document also includes supporting commentary from author Derek Whayman.
Bartlett v Barclays Bank Trust Co Ltd (Nos 1 & 2) [1980] Ch 515, Chancery Division
Authors: Whayman Derek
Published: September 2022

Essential Cases: Equity & Trusts provides a bridge between course textbooks and key case judgments. This case document summarizes the facts and decision in Bartlett v Barclays Bank Trust Co Ltd (Nos 1 & 2) [1980] Ch 515, Chancery Division. The document also includes supporting commentary from author Derek Whayman.
Congreve v Home Office [1976] QB 629, Court of Appeal (Civil Division)
Authors: Webb Thomas E.
Published: September 2022

Essential Cases: Public Law provides a bridge between course textbooks and key case judgments. This case document summarizes the facts and decision in Congreve v Home Office [1976] QB 629, Court of Appeal (Civil Division). This case provides an example of illegality in the context of judicial review and also discusses the concept of parliamentary intention, and theoretical models for justifying particular interpretations of it. The document also includes supporting commentary and questions from author Thomas Webb.
R (on the application of UNISON) v Lord Chancellor [2017] UKSC 51, Supreme Court
Authors: Webb Thomas E.
Published: September 2022

Essential Cases: Public Law provides a bridge between course textbooks and key case judgments. This case document summarizes the facts and decision in R (on the application of UNISON) v Lord Chancellor [2017] UKSC 51, Supreme Court. This case considers whether the fees applicants were required to pay to access the Employment Tribunal and Employment Appeals Tribunal interfered with their ability to access justice. The UKSC articulated the right of access to justice as deriving from the common law. The document also includes supporting commentary and questions from author Thomas Webb.
1. An Introduction to Bioethics
Authors: Jackson Emily
Published: September 2022

This chapter provides an introduction to bioethical reasoning. Borrowing from different traditions in moral philosophy, bioethics offers a variety of ways to resolve and think through medical and ethical dilemmas.
6. Incapacity II: Children
Authors: Jackson Emily
Published: September 2022

This chapter discusses children’s medical treatment. It looks at the limits of parental decision-making, and cases in which the courts have overruled parental wishes in order to protect the child’s best interests. Courts may also be asked to resolve disputes between parents, or to make decisions about particularly controversial treatments. If a mature minor is Gillick-competent, she can give consent to medical treatment, but her right to refuse life-saving treatment may be more limited.
12. Organ Transplantation
Authors: Jackson Emily
Published: September 2022

This chapter discusses organ transplantation. It first considers cadaveric donation, looking at who can become a donor, and which organs can be taken. England, Scotland, and Wales have introduced opt-out systems, which means that if someone has not opted out, their consent to organ donation will be deemed. It then turns to living organ donation, looking at informed consent and the legitimacy of incentives. Finally, it considers the ethical, practical, and legal obstacles to animal-to-human transplantation.
15. Assisted Conception
Authors: Jackson Emily
Published: September 2022

This chapter examines the regulation of assisted conception in the UK, which involves a detailed look at the legislation: the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, and the work of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). It examines: the licensing procedures through which clinics are inspected and authorized to perform certain procedures; access to treatment; consent to the use of gametes (sperm and eggs); gamete donation; rules governing the parentage of children; and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). It also considers mitochondrial transfer and genome editing.
16. Surrogacy
Authors: Jackson Emily
Published: September 2022

This chapter first discusses the legitimacy of surrogacy, and the particular issues raised by cross-border surrogacy arrangements. It then turns to the regulation of surrogacy in the UK. Although commercial involvement in surrogacy is prohibited, the court has a wide discretion retrospectively to authorize payments to surrogates. In addition, the courts have adopted a flexible approach to some of the other criteria for the making of parental orders. Finally, it evaluates the Law Commissions’ proposed reforms.
7. The Americas
Authors: Smith Rhona K. M.
Published: September 2022

This chapter traces the development of human rights protection in the Americas. That is to say, the geographical region spanning from Canada in the north to Argentina and Chile in the south and including the Caribbean states. It discusses the declarations, conventions, and the institutional framework of the Organization of American States tasked with ensuring the compliance of States with the provisions of the American Convention and the potential for Member States to be held accountable for human rights violations even when not party to core human rights treaties. It also considers key sub-regional organizations—MERCOSUR, CARICOM, and the Caribbean Court of Justice.
24. Current issues: non-State actors
Authors: Smith Rhona K. M.
Published: September 2022

This chapter look towards the future agenda for international human rights and provides an overview of issues that are likely to characterize the evolution of international human rights. Whilst States remain the primary obligees, required to take all necessary measures to respect, promote, and protect human rights in fulfilment of their treaty obligations, a number of other entities are increasingly powerful and influential. Securing their support for advancing human rights is important, as is ensuring that such entities act in accordance with human rights and can be held to account for violating actions. This chapter considers non-State actors, including non-State armed groups and businesses. The roles of international organizations when engaged in activities in other States and non-governmental organizations are considered briefly.