bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
JAK2 mutation may predict response and guide first line treatment in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Adel Yasmin , Sabry Mohamed , El-Sabbagh Amr Mohamed , Sadeq Yousra
Published: December 2021

Background

JAK (Janus kinase) inhibitors work by inhibiting the activity of one or more of the enzyme Janus kinase with a therapeutic application for treatment of cancer and inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We aimed to study impact of JAK2 mutation in serum of rheumatoid arthritis patients on response to first line with conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (csDMARDS) at 3rd month by evaluating DAS28 and ACR response criteria. The study included 85 newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis patients and 50 matched controls. Basal JAK2 mutation assessed by PCR in blood samples, TNF-α and IL 6 were measured by ELISA in serum of patient and control groups. All patients started therapy with csDMARDs. Response assessment at 3rd month was evaluated by DAS28 and ACR response criteria. JAK2 mutation was correlated with different clinical and laboratory parameters of patients.

Results

Seventeen females (83.5%) and 14 males (16.5%) with age mean ± SD (years); (48.7 ± 7.2). Pretreatment JAK2 mutation, TNF-α and IL 6 were significantly high in patients. JAK2 mutation was detected in 45 (52.9%) patients while 40 (47.1%) patients were JAK2 non-mutant. Mutant JAK2 was significantly linked to severity of disease evaluated by DAS28; 14 (70%) of patients with DAS28 (≤ 2.6) were non-mutant JAK2 vs sex (30%) patients mutant JAK2 while 19 (73.1%) of patients with DAS28 (> 5.1) were mutant JAK2 vs 7 (26.9%) patients non-mutant JAK2 (P 0.02). JAK2 mutation found to be significantly correlated with ACR 20, 50, and 70 response criteria; 68.2% of patients with non-mutant JAK2 showed ACR 70 vs 31.8% in mutant group, 52% of patients with non-mutant JAK2 showed ACR 50 vs 48% in mutant group while 31.6% of patients with non-mutant JAK2 showed ACR 20 vs 68.4% in mutant group (P 0.02). JAK2 mutation were more presented in young age patients (mean ± SD; 47.1 ± 7.2 vs 50.4 ± 6.9 in mutant vs non-mutant JAK2 patients, respectively with P 0.03). JAK2 mutation was associated with high pretreatment TNFα and IL6 level in serum. Mean ± SD of TNFα; 49.4 ± 41.9 in mutant vs 26 ± 24.4 pg/ml in non-mutant group, with P (0.003) while mean ± SD of IL6; 83.5 ± 56.8 in mutant vs 47 ± 46.9 pg/ml in non-mutant group, with P (0.002).

Conclusions

Adult RA with pretreatment JAK2 mutation significantly showed high disease activity and high pretreatment TNFα and IL6 levels. Patients with JAK2 mutation found to be linked to poor response to 1st line csDMARDs including MTX so they could get more benefit with early introduction of JAK inhibitors as first line monotherapy or when combined with csDMARDS especially those with moderate to severe active RA.

Trial registration

Institutional Research Board (IRB)-Faculty of Medicine: IRB Proposal Code: R.20.11.1075-2020/11/16. Clinicaltrials.gov registration date: 8/12/2020, code: NCT04667988.
Olfactory dysfunction as a screening tool for mild and moderate cases of COVID-19: a single-center prevalence study of 646 patients in flu clinic
Authors: Harit Anshika , Kumar Pankaj , Jha Ravi Prakash
Published: December 2021

Background

To evaluate the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction (OD) in the Indian population and to establish olfactory dysfunction as a screening tool in COVID-19-positive patients. Data was collected using a questionnaire from laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients. The patient’s demographic and clinical details were analyzed to calculate the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction, general symptoms like fever, cough, malaise, diarrhea, along with the sinonasal symptoms. All the symptoms were self-reported, and no objective tests were carried out.

Results

Out of 646 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection, olfactory dysfunction was self-reported by 465 (72%) patients and gustatory dysfunction (GD) was seen in 406 (62.8%) patients. The affected males (416) were proportionately more than females (230), with the mean age of our study population being 39.47 ± 13.85 (range 18–85 years). The most common symptoms were myalgia (n = 494, 76.5%), cough (n = 471, 72.9%), and fever (n = 444, 68.7%). Out of 465 patients with olfactory dysfunction, only 108 (23.2%) reported nasal obstruction. Five hundred thirty-three (82.5%) RT-PCR-positive patients did not give a history of smoking; however, co-morbidity was reported by 163 patients, of which 117 were found to have olfactory dysfunction. One hundred seventy (26.3%) patients gave a positive contact history.

13.6% reported olfactory dysfunction as their first symptom. A positive association was seen between olfactory dysfunction and gustatory dysfunction

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates a high prevalence of 72% in the Indian population. We recommend that anosmia be used as a screening tool to identify mild to moderate cases of COVID-19.
Kink propagation in the Artificial Axon
Authors: Qi Xinyi , Zocchi Giovanni
Published: December 2021

The Artificial Axon is a unique synthetic system, based on biomolecular components, which supports action potentials. Here we consider, theoretically, the corresponding space extended system, and discuss the occurrence of solitary waves, or kinks. Such structures are indeed observed in living systems. In contrast to action potentials, stationary kinks are possible. We point out an analogy with the interface separating two condensed matter phases, though our kinks are always non-equilibrium, dissipative structures, even when stationary.
Sex and Gender Differences in Lung Cancer and Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease
Authors: Siegfried Jill M
Published: December 2021

Two highly prevalent pulmonary diseases, lung cancer and chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), show both sex and gender differences in their presentations and outcomes. Sex differences are defined as biological differences associated with the male vs female genotype, and gender differences are defined as behavioral or social differences that primarily arise because of gender identity. The incidence of both lung cancer and COPD has increased dramatically in women over the past 50 years, and both are associated with chronic pulmonary inflammation. Development of COPD is also a risk factor for lung cancer. In this review, the main differences in lung cancer and COPD biology observed between men and women will be summarized. Potential causative factors will be discussed, including the role of estrogen in promoting pro-growth and inflammatory phenotypes which may contribute to development of both lung cancer and COPD. Response of the innate and adaptive immune system to estrogen is a likely factor in the biology of both lung cancer and COPD. Estrogen available from synthesis by reproductive organs as well as local pulmonary estrogen synthesis may be involved in activating estrogen receptors expressed by multiple cell types in the lung. Estrogenic actions, although more pronounced in women, may also have importance in the biology of lung cancer and COPD in men. Effects of estrogen are also timing and context dependent; the multiple cell types that mediate estrogen action in the lungs may confer both positive and negative effects on disease processes.
A single-cell atlas of mouse lung development
Authors: Negretti Nicholas M. , Plosa Erin J. , Benjamin John T. , Schuler Bryce A. , Habermann A. Christian , Jetter Christopher S. , Gulleman Peter , Bunn Claire , Hackett Alice N. , Ransom Meaghan , Taylor Chase J. , Nichols David , Matlock Brittany K. , Guttentag Susan H. , Blackwell Timothy S. , Banovich Nicholas E. , Kropski Jonathan A. , Sucre Jennifer M. S.
Published: December 2021

Lung organogenesis requires precise timing and coordination to effect spatial organization and function of the parenchymal cells. To provide a systematic broad-based view of the mechanisms governing the dynamic alterations in parenchymal cells over crucial periods of development, we performed a single-cell RNA-sequencing time-series yielding 102,571 epithelial, endothelial and mesenchymal cells across nine time points from embryonic day 12 to postnatal day 14 in mice. Combining computational fate-likelihood prediction with RNA in situ hybridization and immunofluorescence, we explore lineage relationships during the saccular to alveolar stage transition. The utility of this publicly searchable atlas resource (www.sucrelab.org/lungcells) is exemplified by discoveries of the complexity of type 1 pneumocyte function and characterization of mesenchymal Wnt expression patterns during the saccular and alveolar stages – wherein major expansion of the gas-exchange surface occurs. We provide an integrated view of cellular dynamics in epithelial, endothelial and mesenchymal cell populations during lung organogenesis.
Surgical Outcomes and Comparative Analysis of Transduodenal Ampullectomy and Pancreaticoduodenectomy: A Single-Center Study
Authors: Min Eun-Ki , Hong Seung Soo , Kim Ji Su , Choi Munseok , Hwang Hyeo Seong , Kang Chang Moo , Lee Woo Jung , Yoon Dong Sup , Hwang Ho Kyoung
Published: December 2021

Background

Transduodenal ampullectomy (TDA) is performed for adenoma or early cancer of the ampulla of Vater (AoV). This study aimed to analyze the short- and long-term outcomes of TDA (TDA group) when compared with conventional pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) or pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD group).

Methods

Patients who underwent TDA between January 2006 and December 2019, and PD cases performed for AoV malignancy with carcinoma in-situ (Tis) (high-grade dysplasia, HGD) and T1 and T2 stage from January 2010 to December 2019 were reviewed.

Results

Forty-six patients underwent TDA; 21 had a benign tumor, and 25 cases with malignant tumors were compared with PD cases (n = 133). Operation time (p < 0.001), estimated blood loss (p < 0.001), length of hospital stays (p = 0.003), and overall complication rate (p < 0.001) were lower in the TDA group than in the PD group. Lymph node metastasis rates were 14.6% in pT1 and 28.9% in pT2 patients. The 5-year disease-free survival and 5-year overall survival rates for HGD/Tis and T1 tumor between the two groups were similar (TDA group vs PD group, 72.2% vs 77.7%, p = 0.550; 85.6% vs 79.2%, p = 0.816, respectively).

Conclusion

TDA accompanied with lymph node dissection is advisable in HGD/Tis and T1 AoV cancers in view of superior perioperative outcomes and similar long-term survival rates compared with PD.
Evaluation of microvascular invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma using whole-lesion histogram analysis with the stretched-exponential diffusion model
Authors: Li Hongxiang , Wang LiLi , Zhang Jing , Duan Qing , Xu Yikai , Xue Yunjing
Published: December 2021

Objectives:

To evaluate the potential role of histogram analysis of stretched exponential model (SEM) through whole-tumor volume for preoperative prediction of microvascular invasion (MVI) in single hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods:

This study included 43 patients with pathologically proven HCCs by surgery who underwent multiple b-values diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and contrast-enhanced MRI. The histogram metrics of distributed diffusion coefficient (DDC) and heterogeneity index (α) from SEM were compared between HCCs with and without MVI, by using the independent t-test. Morphologic features of conventional MRI and clinical data were evaluated with chi-squared or Fisher’s exact tests. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of different parameters for predicting MVI.

Results:

The tumor size and non-smooth tumor margin were significantly associated with MVI (all p < 0.05). The mean, fifth, 25th, 50th percentiles of DDC, and the fifth percentile of ADC between HCCs with and without MVI were statistically significant differences (all p < 0.05). The histogram parameters of α showed no statistically significant differences (all p > 0.05). At multivariate analysis,the fifth percentile of DDC was independent risk factor for MVI of HCC(p = 0.006).

Conclusions:

Histogram parameters DDC and ADC, but not the α value, are useful predictors of MVI. The fifth percentile of DDC was the most useful value to predict MVI of HCC.

Advances in knowledge:

There is limited literature addressing the role of SEM for evaluating MVI of HCC. Our findings suggest that histogram analysis of SEM based on whole-tumor volume can be useful for MVI prediction.
Essays in industrial organization theory
Authors: Παύλου Απόστολος
Published: December 2021

Η παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή αποτελείται από τρία κεφάλαια και εστιάζει κυρίως στις κάθετες σχέσεις επιχειρήσεων σε ολιγοπωλιακές αγορές. Συγκεκριμένα, δύο από τα κεφάλαια ασχολούνται με την ανάλυση των κάθετων σχέσεων και τον τρόπο διαμόρφωσης των κάθετων συμβολαίων σε ένα τέτοιο περιβάλλον. Το πρώτο κεφάλαιο εστιάζει στην ανάλυση οριζόντιων συγχωνεύσεων μεταξύ επιχειρήσεων που δραστηριοποιούνται στην πρωτογενή αγορά. Παρέχει μια εξήγηση για τους λόγους για τους οποίους συγχωνεύονται οι επιχειρήσεις στην πρωτογενή αγορά, τονίζοντας τον ρόλο των επενδύσεων Ε&Α και τη φύση τους, καθώς και τον ρόλο του ανταγωνισμού στη δευτερογενή αγορά. Το δεύτερο κεφάλαιο κάνει μια ανάλυση των οριζόντιων συγχωνεύσεων όταν η παραγωγή χαρακτηρίζεται από εκμάθηση μέσω της διαδικασίας παραγωγής σε μία αγορά όπου υπάρχει ένα επίπεδο παραγωγής, χωρίς κάθετες σχέσεις. Αποδεικνύει σε ένα δυναμικό υπόδειγμα (δύο-περιόδων) με ν-επιχειρήσεις πως αντί να παρατηρούνται δυσμενείς επιπτώσεις στην ευημερία, λόγω της αύξησης της συγκέντρωσης στην αγορά, υπό συγκεκριμένες προϋποθέσεις μπορεί η πραγματοποίηση της συγχώνευσης να βελτιώσει την ευημερία, όταν η παραγωγή χαρακτηρίζεται από την εκμάθηση μέσω της διαδικασίας παραγωγής. Τέλος, το τρίτο κεφάλαιο ασχολείται με ασύμμετρη πληροφόρηση και κάθετα συμβόλαια με ανταγωνισμό επιχειρήσεων στην δευτερογενή αγορά. Αυτό το κεφάλαιο αναλύει την απόφαση τιμολόγησης μιας επιχείρησης στην πρωτογενή αγορά, κάθετα συνδεδεμένη με ανταγωνιστικές επιχειρήσεις στην δευτερογενή αγορά, όταν είναι λιγότερο ενημερωμένη σχετικά με το οριακό κόστος τους.
Essays on political competitions
Authors: Κολιός Γεώργιος
Published: December 2021

Σε ανταγωνισμό μεταξύ πολλών κομμάτων με απλή αναλογική, η κυβέρνηση είναι ένας σχηματισμός κομμάτων που συμφωνεί στην πολιτική και την κατανομή των ωφελειών χαρτοφυλακίου σε παίγνιο κοινοβουλευτικής διαπραγμάτευσης με κόστη παραχωρήσεων. Το διαπραγματευτικό αποτέλεσμα ισορροπίας βασίζεται στην ιδεολογική εγγύτητα των κομμάτων και των σχετικών ποσοστών στο κοινοβούλιο. Το μοντέλο υποστηρίζει ισορροπία δύο πολιτικών κομμάτων όταν το κόστη εισόδου στις εκλογές είναι απαγορευτικά υψηλά, συνθήκες δίνονται για ισορροπία περισσότερων κομμάτων. Σε ανταγωνισμό τριών κομμάτων με κόμματα που έχουν ως κίνητρο τα οφέλη χαρτοφυλακίου και στρατηγικούς ψηφοφόρους, δύο μεγάλα κόμματα υιοθετούν την θέση του διάμεσου ψηφοφόρου και ένα μικρότερη διαφορετική θέση πολιτικής. Η κυβέρνηση σχηματίζεται από ένα μεγάλο και το μικρότερο κόμμα.Στο δεύτερο κεφάλαιο αποδεικνύεται ότι η εκλογική δύναμη ενός κόμματος στην κυβέρνηση είναι στατιστικά σημαντική στην επεξήγηση της χρησιμότητας που αποκτά το κόμμα σε έναν κυβερνητικό συνασπισμό. Χρησιμοποιώντας ένα νέο σύνολο δεδομένων αναφορικά με τα κόμματα με την πρωτοβουλία σχηματισμού κυβερνητικού συνασπισμού, το κόμμα με αυτήν την πρωτοβουλία εμφανίζεται να είναι μάλλον σε μειονεκτική θέση έναντι κρίσιμων εταίρων αναφορικά με την κατανομή ωφελειών χαρτοφυλακίου.Στο τρίτο κεφάλαιο αναλύω ένα μοντέλο τριμερούς μισθολογικής διαπραγμάτευσης όπου η κυβέρνηση συμμετέχει καθορίζοντας την σχετική διαπραγματευτική δύναμη των εταίρων στην διαπραγμάτευση: το εργατικό συνδικάτο και την ένωση εργοδοτών. Η απόφαση της κυβέρνησης έναν από τους δύο εταίρους στην διαπραγμάτευση εξαρτάται από την λόμπι συμπεριφορά τους. Λόγω της σύγκρουσης συμφερόντων μεταξύ των κοινωνικών εταίρων, η κυβέρνηση πρέπει να ισορροπήσει τις χρηματικές εισφορές που λαμβάνει από το λόμπι με την απώλεια που υφίσταται απομακρυνόμενη από την ιδανική της πολιτική και τα κίνητρα επανεκλογής. Σε εκλογικό ανταγωνισμό μεταξύ δύο κομμάτων το λόμπι βελτιώνει την χρησιμότητά του όσο εγγύτερα βρίσκονται τα σημεία ιδανικής πολιτικής σε αυτό του διάμεσου ψηφοφόρου.
Importance of respiratory syncytial virus as a predictor of hospital length of stay in bronchiolitis
Authors: Buendia Jefferson Antonio , Guerrero Patino Diana
Published: December 2021

IIntroduction : Bronchiolitis is the leading cause of hospitalization in children. Estimate potentially preventable variables that impact the length of hospital stay are a priority to reduce the costs associated with this disease. This study aims to identify clinical variables associated with length of hospital stay of bronchiolitis in children in a tropical middle-income country

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in 417 infants with bronchiolitis in tertiary centers in Colombia. All medical records of all patients admitted to the emergency department were reviewed. To identify factors independently associated we use negative binomial regression model, to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRR) and adjust for potential confounding variables

Results : The median of the length of hospital stay was 3.68 days, with a range of 0.74 days to 29 days, 138 (33.17%) of patients have a hospital stay of 5 or more days. After modeling and controlling for potential confounders age <6 months, comorbidities (CHD or neurological), BPD,  chest indrawing, RSV isolation, and C-reactive protein were independent predictors of LOS

Conclusions : Our results show that in infants with bronchiolitis, RSV isolation, age <6 months, comorbidities (CHD or neurological), BPD,  chest indrawing, and C-reactive protein were independent predictors of LOS. As a potentially modifiable risk factor, efforts to reduce the probability of RSV infection can reduce the high medical cost associates with prolonged LOS in bronchiolitis.
Playing Edcraft at Home: Gamified Online Learning for Recycling Intention during Lockdown
Authors: Cheng Kin Meng , Koo Ah Choo , Mohd Nasir Junita Shariza , Wong Shen Yuong
Published: December 2021

Background: Gamification is an innovative approach to engaging in activities that people believe as less interesting. Recycling has been an issue not taken aware by the people in environmental sustainability. There are substantial studies on recycling intention due to the continual growth of unethical and unsustainable waste disposal. Creative approaches to recycling awareness activities should be made to fulfil youths’ increasing interest in and demand for recycling. The main objective of this study is to explore the factors related to youths’ recycling intentions after experiencing a gamified online recycling learning activity, Edcraft Gamified Learning (EGL). Gamified recycling education is believed to be a practical and engaging approach for youths.

Methods: 100 students participated in EGL, consisting of two levels of plastic crafting and recycling activities. They experienced online EGL at home between May and September in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic total lockdown in Malaysia, namely, Movement Control Order (MCO). 29 participants were selected to participate in five focus group discussions (FGDs) with five to eight participants per session to explore their opinions towards gamified learning, motivation and recycling intention.

Results: This paper reports the findings of the FGDs. A codebook was developed based on the codes from the FGD feedback. The codes were rated by two raters, followed by an assessment of inter-rater reliability and thematic analysis. The findings emerged and were confirmed with four themes as factors that influence recycling intention. They are gameful experience, social influence, intrinsic motivation, and extrinsic motivation.

Conclusion: The dependent variable, recycling intention, was connected to the four themes to verify the conceptual framework. One limitation of the study was the design of the EGL activity, which was only carried out over two days with two levels of gamified recycling education, as students had concurrent academic online classes during that period.
Trends and correlates of hardcore smoking in India: findings from the Global Adult Tobacco Surveys 1 & 2
Authors: Veena Kattiyeri Puthenveedu , Mathews Elezebeth , Kodali Prakash Babu , Thankappan Kavumpurathu Raman
Published: December 2021

Background: Data on prevalence of hardcore smoking (HCS) among different socioeconomic status (SES) groups in low- and middle-income countries are limited. We looked at the prevalence and pattern of HCS in India with the following objectives: 1) to analyse the association between SES and HCS, 2) to find trends in HCS in different SES groups and 3) to find state-wide variations in hardcore smoking.

Methods: Data of individuals aged ≥25 years from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) India 2009-10 (N= 9223) and 2016-17 (N= 7647) were used for this study. If an individual met all the following criteria: (1) current smoker, (2) smokes 10 or more cigarettes/day, (3) smokes first puff within 30 minutes after waking up, (4) no quit attempt in last 12 months, (5) no intention to quit at all or in the next 12 months, (6) lack of knowledge of harmful effect of smoking, s/he was identified as a hardcore smoker. Multiple regression analysis was done to find the factors associated with HCS.

Results: Prevalence of HCS deceased from 2.5% in GATS 1 to 1.9% in GATS 2: males from 6.2% to 3.9% and females from 0.3% to 0.2%. Compared to the richest group the poorest, poor and those who belonged to the middle-income group were more likely to report HCS in GATS 1 and 2. However, only in the poorest SES group there was an increase in the proportion of hardcore smokers in GATS 2 compared to GATS 1. Other factors that were significantly associated with HCS in both surveys were male gender, working adults, those with lower education, early initiation of smoking and households without any rules for smoking inside the home.

Conclusions: Tobacco control and cessation efforts need to focus on individuals of poor SES groups particularly in the high prevalence Indian states.
Possible traces of Finnic influence in Latvian subdialect phonetics and morphology
Authors: Stafecka Anna
Published: December 2021

This article discusses areas observed on geolinguistic maps showing Finnic or Finnic-like features in Latvian subdialects possibly resulting from Finnic influence. The Latvian dialect material analysed for this study shows that several such areas can be identified based on their phonetics and morphology: the Livonic dialect, the Selonic subdialects, certain Selonic subdialects on both banks of the Daugava River, certain subdialects in the former Leivu territory in northeastern Latvia near Alūksne and Gulbene, and a few subdialects in Zemgale near Bauska and Vecsaule where the Krevin Votians were settled. The shortening of word endings and generalisation of third-person verb forms is also quite regularly encountered in the subdialects spoken around Preiļi in Latgale. The least amount of language material is available about the Ludza Estonians or Lutsis who lived in eastern Latgale where their influence is seen in the tone system of the local subdialects.

Kokkuvõte. Anna Stafecka: Läänemeresoome mõju võimalikud jäljed läti murrakute foneetikas ja morfoloogias. Artikkel käsitleb läänemeresoome ja läänemeresoomepäraste joonte maa-alalist levikut läti murretes. Läti murdeainestik, mida on selle uurimuse jaoks analüüsitud, näitab, et foneetilise ja morfoloogilise eripära põhjal on võimalik määratleda mitu sellist mõjuala: liivipärased murded, teatud seeli murrakud Daugava jõe mõlemal kaldal, teatud Kirde-Läti Alūksne ja Gulbene ümbruse murrakud ajaloolisel leivu alal ning mõned semgali murrakud Bauska ja Vecsaule lähistel, kus kunagi elasid kreevini vadjalased. Sõnalõppude lühenemist ja kolmanda isiku verbivormide üldistumist on üsna regulaarselt märgitud ka Latgales Preiļi ümbruse murrakutes. Vähem on selliseid andmeid Ida-Latgalest Ludza eestlaste ehk lutside kunagistelt asualadelt. Siiski on seal lutsi mõju nähtav kohalike murrakute toonisüsteemis.
Leivu influence in the Latvian dialects of northeastern Vidzeme
Authors: Jansone Ilga
Published: December 2021

This article examines features of several northeastern Vidzeme Latvian subdialects (spoken in Ilzene, Zeltiņi, Kalniena, Lejasciems, Sinole, etc.), which may have developed due to influence from the Leivu language historically spoken in this area. This influence is found at all levels of language. Finnic borrowings are typical of local vocabulary. The morphology shows characteristic phonetic changes like reduction of final-syllable vowels and diphthongs. Unfortunately, nearly all of these features have been lost in the 21st century and the only evidence of the Leivus’ presence exists in place names. Most Finnic-origin place names are found in the names of villages and homes; however, they are also found in the names of hills, swamps, and other objects. The most ancient examples are found among hydronyms. Even just based on the place names still existing in the 20th century, it can be safely said that Estonians, i.e., Leivus, settled in northeastern Vidzeme before 1600.

Kokkuvõte. Ilga Jansone: Leivu mõju Kirde-Vidzeme läti murretes. Artikkel käsitleb läti keele Kirde-Vidzeme murrakute (mida on räägitudIlzene, Zeltiņi, Kalniena, Lejasciems, Sinole jms piirkonnas) keelejooni, mis on võinud seal kujuneda ajalooliselt leivu keele mõjul. Läänemeresoome laenud on tüüpilised kohalike läti murrakute sõnavarale. Sõnavormides tuleb esile ka iseloomulikke foneetilisi muutusi, nagu sõnalõpuliste vokaalide ja diftongide reduktsioon. Kahjuks peaaegu kõik need jooned on 21. sajandil kadunud ja ainult kohanimedes püsib leivu keelepärand. Enamik läänemeresoome päritolu kohanimesid on küla- ja talunimed, siiski on leida ka kõrgendike, soode ja teiste loodusobjektide nimesid. Kõige vanemaid näiteid on hüdronüümidega. Isegi arvesse võttes ainult 20. sajandil kasutusel olnud kohanimesid, võib kindlalt väita, et eestlased, st leivud elasid Kirde-Vidzemes juba enne 1600. aastat.
From Sementovskij to the 20th century. Notes on the Lutsis in the Latvian press
Authors: Korjus Hannes
Published: December 2021

The Lutsis, a historically South Estonian-speaking language island community located near the town of Ludza in southeastern Latvia, have come increasingly into public awareness in Latvia over the last decade with the release of books on Lutsi history and language suitable for both professional and lay audiences as well as other new works relating to Lutsi folk culture. However, even before this recent burst of activity, the Lutsis have been mentioned in the Latvian and Estonian press and have also appeared in the field notes of researchers whose work was connected with the Lutsis. This article traces the descriptions of the Lutsis in a variety of sources from the first descriptions in the mid-19th century, through the interwar independence of Latvia, and as late as the 1970s when important expeditions by Latvian researchers documented the impressions of the last Lutsi speakers on the state of their language and culture.

Kokkuvõte. Hannes Korjus: Sementovskijst 20. sajandisse. Märkmeid lutsidest Läti ajakirjanduses. Kunagine lõunaeestikeelne lutside kogukond elas Kagu-Lätis Ludza linna ümbruses. Lätis on nad saanud suurema avaliku tähelepanu osalisteks alles viimastel kümnenditel, kui on ilmunud raamatuid nende ajaloo ja keele kohta nii asjatundjatele kui ka laiemale huvirühmale ning on hakatud elavdama lutsi rahvakultuuri. Siiski ka enne seda viimast aktiivsuse tõusu on lutsidest kirjutatud Läti ja Eesti ajakirjanduses ja on ilmunud välitööde märkmeid lutsidega seotud uurimuste tegijatelt. Antud artikkel jälgib lutside kirjeldusi erinevates allikates alates varastest mainimistest 19. sajandi keskel, jätkates maailmasõdadevahelise perioodiga ning jõudes viimaks 1970. aastateni, kui Läti uurijad dokumenteerisid oma ekspeditsioonidel viimaste lutsi kõnelejate keelelist ja kultuurilist olukorda.
A linguistic analysis of Heikki Ojansuu’s phonograph recordings of Kraasna
Authors: Weber Tobias
Published: December 2021

The South Estonian Kraasna subdialect was spoken until the first half of the 20th century by a now vanished community in Krasnogorodsk, Russia. All linguistic descriptions to date are based on textual sources, mostly manuscripts from Heikki Ojansuu’s 1911/12 and 1914 fieldwork. Ojansuu’s phonograph recordings were thought to be lost by previous researchers and remained unused. The rediscovery of these recordings allows for the first analysis of Kraasna based on spoken language data, closing gaps in the description and enabling further research. This description follows a theory-neutral and framework-free approach, while respecting traditions in Estonian linguistics and linking the results to research in Estonian dialectology. It provides key information on the Kraasna subdialect based on the corpus – phonology, morphology, syntax – despite being restricted to the phonograph recordings. Future research can expand on these points and build on the present description.

Kokkuvõte. Tobias Weber: Heikki Ojansuu Kraasna murraku fonogrammide lingvistiline analüüs. Venemaal Pihkva oblastis Krasnogorodski ümbruses elanud Kraasna maarahvas rääkis lõunaeestipärast Kraasna murrakut 20. sajandi esimese pooleni. Kõik keeleteaduslikud käsitlused Kraasna murra- kust on siiani kasutanud kirjalikke allikaid, enamjaolt Heikki Ojansuu 1911.– 12. ning 1914. aastal kogunud käsikirju. Ojansuu tehtud fonogrammid arvati enne käesoleva uurimistöö tegemist olevat kadunud ning sellepärast pole neid varasemad uurijad kasutanud. Taasleitud helisalvestiste abil on selles artiklis kirjeldatud Kraasna murrakut esimest korda suulise kõne andmete alusel, täites lünki eelnevates analüüsides. Siinses kirjelduses järgitakse teoreetiliselt neutraalset deskriptiivset lähenemist, samas austades Eesti keeleteaduse traditsioone ja arvestades Eesti murdeuurimise varasemate tulemustega. Artikkel esitab Kraasna fonoloogia, morfoloogia ja süntaksi kohta põhiteavet, piirdudes aga korpuspõhise uurimusena fonogrammide keeleainesega. See on aluseks järgnevatele uurimisprojektidele, mis saavad käesolevat kirjeldust lähtekohaks kasutades arendada analüüsi edasi, seda laiendades ja süvendades.
Relationship between geomagnetic storm development and the solar wind parameter β
Authors: Kurazhkovskaya Nadezhda , Zotov Oleg , Klain Boris
Published: December 2021

We have analyzed the dynamics of solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) parameters during the development of 933 isolated geomagnetic storms, observed over the period from 1964 to 2010. The analysis was carried out using the epoch superposition method at intervals of 48 hrs before and 168 hrs after the moment of Dst minimum. The geomagnetic storms were selected by the type of storm commencement (sudden or gradual) and by intensity (weak, moderate, and strong). The dynamics of the solar wind and IMF parameters was compared with that of the Dst index, which is an indicator of the development of geomagnetic storms. The largest number of storms in the solar activity cycle is shown to occur in the years of minimum average values (close in magnitude to 1) of the solar wind parameter β (β is the ratio of plasma pressure to magnetic pressure). We have revealed that the dynamics of the Dst index is similar to that of the β parameter. The duration of the storm recovery phase follows the characteristic recovery time of the β parameter. We have found out that during the storm main phase the β parameter is close to 1, which reflects the maximum turbulence of solar wind plasma fluctuations. In the recovery phase, β returns to background values β~2‒3.5. We assume that the solar wind plasma turbulence, characterized by the β parameter, can play a significant role in the development of geomagnetic storms.
The Name of Grim: Tracing the Character of Grim the Collier in Sixteenth- and Seventeenth-Century English Theatre
Authors: Seymour Laura
Published: December 2021

Grim the Collier is a curious comic character who receives little critical attention. Grim appears in three key plays, sixteenth- and seventeenth-century pamphlets, herbals, and ballad culture. This article examines, and rejects, Grim as a potentially useful figure for environmental awareness. I dispel legends about the basis of this character, and examine how the labile significance of the name ‘Grim’ implicates it in networks of superficial similarity between devils, colliers, and racialized black skin. These networks link to the proverb that underlies most early modern depictions of Grim: ‘like will to like quoth the devil to the collier’.
Introduction. Changing Fortunes: Reviving and Revisiting The Misfortunes of Arthur
Authors: Nuttall Romola
Published: December 2021

The dramatic mixture of Arthurian legend and Senecan tragedy inspired the revival of The Misfortunes of Arthur in 2019, a play originally written by lawyers at Gray’s Inn and performed before Elizabeth I in 1588. A small but significant body of scholarship has highlighted the play’s function as a vehicle for offering monarchic counsel. As the essays in this Issues in Review demonstrate, however, there are alternative ways of approaching Misfortunes through its theatricality, its dramatization of Inns ideology, its composition, and its publication. This introduction outlines why the play merits further attention.
Sourcing Misfortunes: Translation and Tragedy
Authors: Brown Felicity
Published: December 2021

From its first review to recent scholarship, critics have derided and dismissed the use made of translation in The Misfortunes of Arthur (1588). This essay reconsiders how the play approaches imitation by examining its translations from Senecan tragedy and Lucan’s De Bello Civili (ca 61-5 CE). With particular emphasis on Misfortunes’s ghost sequences and Oedipal echoes, this approach reveals the play’s engagement not just with the pedagogy and politics of Elizabethan England but also with innovations in dramatic form.
Editorial
Authors: Kelly Erin E. , Gough Melinda J.
Published: December 2021

This editorial discusses content for Early Theatre issue 24.2 (December 2021) as well as future plans for the journal.
Publishing Misfortunes: Recording Performance at the Inns of Court
Authors: Nuttall Romola
Published: December 2021

This essay investigates the motivation behind the print publication of The Misfortunes of Arthur, privileging its functionality as a record of court performance rather than the political significance of its circulation. Examination of the playbook’s distinctive and extensive paratextual apparatus reveals the authors’ involvement with print publication. In considering the bibliographic presentation of the dumbshows, this essay finds overlooked parallels between Misfortunes and Stuart court masques and thus repositions the role which Misfortunes, and Inns drama more broadly, played in the developing relationship between early modern English print and performance.
Malaysian and Italian trend line for Covid-19: A study on trend analysis
Authors: Wan Ahmad Wan Muhammad Amir bin , Ibrahim Noor Azlinaliana , Nawi Mohamad Arif Awang , Mohd Noor Nor Farid , Mohamad Noraini , Aleng Nor Azlida , Mohamad Ghazali Farah Muna , Um Min Allah Nasar
Published: December 2021

The first objective of this study was to evaluate trend line pattern, obtain the appropriate statistical equation model, and predict individual numbers infected by Covid-19. The second objective is to obtain a predictive equation model and forecast death rate for Malaysia and Italy. Malaysia's first positive case Covid-19 recorded January 24, 2020, consisting of three cases. Collected from January 24 to March 29, 2020. Sixty-six day-observations, based on their trend line pattern, earned special attention. Although the first positive case was identified on January 31, 2020, involving two patients. From January 31 to March 29, 2020, approximately 59 observations were collected from Italy. On 18 March 2020, the pattern will contrast with the Malaysian Movement Control Order (MCO). Malaysia and Italy collect death figures. A similar methodology will be applied to find the best-fitted model that fits both countries' death-number scenario. In Italy, the number of Covid-19-infected patients rises and meets quadratic trend line patterns. This induces extreme public distress and diversion. The quadratic trend line series analysed individual Covid-19-infected results. After March 18, 2020, it will continue to use a linear pattern. However, trend deaths also follow quadratic trend line pattern. Trend-line quadratic matched Italy's results. The quadratic line-of-trend model projection demonstrated dominance in estimating infected Covid-19. The quadratic death line from daily death collection data also showed superiority in estimating death number. The fitted quadratic model is better fitted in the Malaysian case, but the pattern shifts to linear trend line after MCO is implemented.
Blood pressure targets: comparing lower versus standard targets for people with hypertension
Authors: Hamer Oliver , Hill James Edward , Harrison Joanna
Published: December 2021

In this commentary, Hamer, Hill and Harrison critically appraise a systematic review comparing lower versus standard targeted blood pressure and how this impacts morbidity and mortality in people with hypertension.
Cortical bone thickness of the distal radius predicts the local bone mineral density
Authors: Schmidutz Florian , Schopf Christoph , Yan Shuang G. , Ahrend Marc-Daniel , Ihle Christoph , Sprecher Christoph
Published: December 2021

Aims

The distal radius is a major site of osteoporotic bone loss resulting in a high risk of fragility fracture. This study evaluated the capability of a cortical index (CI) at the distal radius to predict the local bone mineral density (BMD).

Methods

A total of 54 human cadaver forearms (ten singles, 22 pairs) (19 to 90 years) were systematically assessed by clinical radiograph (XR), dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), CT, as well as high-resolution peripheral quantitative CT (HR-pQCT). Cortical bone thickness (CBT) of the distal radius was measured on XR and CT scans, and two cortical indices mean average (CBTavg) and gauge (CBTg) were determined. These cortical indices were compared to the BMD of the distal radius determined by DXA (areal BMD (aBMD)) and HR-pQCT (volumetric BMD (vBMD)). Pearson correlation coefficient (r) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were used to compare the results and degree of reliability.

Results

The CBT could accurately be determined on XRs and highly correlated to those determined on CT scans (r = 0.87 to 0.93). The CBTavg index of the XRs significantly correlated with the BMD measured by DXA (r = 0.78) and HR-pQCT (r = 0.63), as did the CBTg index with the DXA (r = 0.55) and HR-pQCT (r = 0.64) (all p < 0.001). A high correlation of the BMD and CBT was observed between paired specimens (r = 0.79 to 0.96). The intra- and inter-rater reliability was excellent (ICC 0.79 to 0.92).

Conclusion

The cortical index (CBTavg) at the distal radius shows a close correlation to the local BMD. It thus can serve as an initial screening tool to estimate the local bone quality if quantitative BMD measurements are unavailable, and enhance decision-making in acute settings on fracture management or further osteoporosis screening. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2021;10(12):820–829.
Specialty optical fiber modeling, fabrication, and characterization feature issue: publisher’s note
Authors: Ortaç Bülend , Jain Deepak , Jha Rajan , Hu Jonathan , Ung Bora
Published: December 2021

“Invited” labels were added to the titles of two articles appearing in
this feature issue [J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 38,
F38 (2021)JOBPDE0740-322410.1364/JOSAB.434413; J. Opt. Soc. Am. B
38, F115 (2021)JOBPDE0740-322410.1364/JOSAB.437891].
Double profound enhancements of Cu2O nano-octahedrons connected by intertwined Ag nanovines for elevating SERS activity toward ultrasensitive pesticide detection
Authors: Jiao Anxin , Cui Qingqiang , Li Shuang , Tian Yue , Ma Hui , Wang Chang , Zhang Mengya , Chen Ming , Li Guihua , Liu Xiangdong
Published: December 2021

Recently, hybrid plasmonic metal/semiconductor-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has attracted ever-increasing attention due to its combined characteristics of electromagnetic (EM) enhancement and chemical (CM) enhancement, holding great potential for trace molecular detection. Herein, we demonstrate an interesting heterostructure by linking Cu2O nano-octahedrons with intertwined Ag nanovines (NVs). The obtained Ag NVs/Cu2O heterostructures exhibit excellent SERS activity, which is about 2.7 and 7.0 times higher than that of monodispersed Ag or Au nanoparticles (NPs) modified Cu2O. The intertwined Ag NVs among adjacent Cu2O octahedrons serve as efficient electron transport channels, which can obviously promote the separation of electrons and holes, reduce the recombination of photogenerated carriers, and then improve the CM enhancement effect. Meanwhile, the accumulated electrons on plasmonic NVs can effectively optimize the collective oscillation of electrons and further improve the EM enhancement. The optimal SERS substrate possesses fascinating multifunctional SERS properties, including ultra-low detection limit (CV, 10−14 M), excellent anti-interference capability and selectivity. Finally, the established nanosensor can be effectively applied for the quantitative detection of pesticide thiram molecules in soil and biological samples, with low detection limits of 0.48 ng g−1 and 10−7 M, respectively. The proposed work demonstrates a high-performance SERS heterostructure with both improved CM enhancement and enhanced EM effect by linking adjacent Cu2O nano-octahedrons with Ag NVs, which is particularly suitable for ultrasensitive residual pesticide detection in real-world environment.
Accurate gamut boundary descriptor for displays
Authors: Lihao Xu , Chunzhi Xu , Luo Ming Ronnier
Published: December 2021

A new gamut boundary descriptor (GBD) is presented in this paper. Unlike the traditional methods to perform sampling in RGB space and to interpolate the data in a uniform color space (UCS), the proposed method is designed in a reverse manner, i.e., to sample the data in UCS. This unique characteristic makes it simple and yields a smooth and accurate boundary. The proposed method can be divided into three simple steps. Firstly, coarse sampling is performed to make a rough estimate of the boundary. In step two, dense sampling is conducted to refine the boundary. Finally, the cusp is identified to achieve the accurate boundary. An experiment was carried out to compare the performance of the proposed method with the two commonly used SMGBD and Mountain Range methods. The results showed that the proposed method can give the most accurate and smooth boundary. It can be considered for practical applications.
2.4 ng/√Hz low-noise fiber-optic MEMS seismic accelerometer
Authors: Qu Ziqiang , Ouyang Hao , Liu Huafeng , Hu Chenyuan , Tu Liang-Cheng , Zhou Zebing
Published: December 2021

This paper introduces a fiber-optic microelectromechanical system (MEMS) seismic-grade accelerometer that is fabricated by bulk silicon processing using photoresist/silicon dioxide composite masking technology. The proposed sensor is a silicon flexure accelerometer whose displacement transduction system employs a light intensity detection method based on Fabry–Perot interference (FPI). The FPI cavity is formed between the end surface of the cleaved optical fiber and the gold-surfaced sidewall of the proof mass. The proposed MEMS accelerometer is fabricated by one-step silicon deep reactive ion etching with different depths using the composite mask, among which photoresist is used as the etching-defining mask for patterning the etching area while silicon dioxide is used as the depth-defining mask. Noise evaluation experiment results reveal that the overall noise floor of the fiber-optic MEMS accelerometer is 2.4 ng/

H
z

at 10 Hz with a sensitivity of 3165 V/g, which is lower than that of most reported micromachined optical accelerometers, and the displacement noise floor of the optical displacement transduction system is 208 fm/

H
z

at 10 Hz. Therefore, the proposed MEMS accelerometer is promising for use in high-performance seismic exploration applications.
Low loss nested hollow-core anti-resonant fiber at 2 µm spectral range
Authors: Zhang Xin , Song Weihua , Dong Zihan , Yao Jingyuan , Wan Shuangqin , Hou Yubin , Wang Pu
Published: December 2021

We report the fabrication and characterization of a five-tube nested hollow-core anti-resonant fiber (Nested HC-ARF), which exhibits outstanding optical performance in terms of a record attenuation value of 0.85 dB/km at 2 µm wavelength range with a 200 nm bandwidth below 2 dB/km and excellent modal purity. The power handling capability of the Nested HC-ARF is also demonstrated in this work. Pulses of 75 W, 160 ps from the thulium-doped fiber laser are delivered using a 6-m-long fabricated Nested HC-ARF. The tested fiber is coiled into a 20 cm bending radius and achieves a coupling efficiency of 86.7%. The maximum average power of 60.5 W is transmitted through our Nested HC-ARF in a robust single-mode fashion without introducing any damage to the input and output fiber end-faces, which demonstrates the superior ability of such a fiber for high-power laser delivery.
High-performance polarization-independent black phosphorus refractive index sensors enabled by a single-layer pattern design
Authors: Wu Shiwen , Jian Ruda , Xiong Guoping
Published: December 2021

The in-plane orientation-dependent electrical and optical properties of two-dimensional (2D) anisotropic materials attract significant attention because of the intriguing underlying physics. However, this feature limits their further development in polarization-independent applications such as refractive index sensors and light absorbers. In this paper, polarization-independent optical properties of black phosphorous (BP) metadevices are achieved by the design of a single-layer pattern of 2D anisotropic material. Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulation results indicate that the absorption spectrum remains unchanged as the polarization angle of the incident light varies from 0° to 360°. The performance of the BP metadevices when used as refractive index sensors is also studied. The results show that the polarization-independent BP sensors exhibit high sensitivity and figures of merit (FOMs). This work opens up the possibility of fabricating optically polarization-independent devices based on a single-layer pattern of 2D anisotropic material.
Off-axis camera-in-the-loop optimization with noise reduction strategy for high-quality hologram generation
Authors: Chen Chun , Kim Dongyeon , Yoo Dongheon , Lee Byounghyo , Lee Byoungho
Published: December 2021

In this Letter, we introduce a noise reduction (NR) strategy in the
off-axis camera-in-the-loop (CITL) optimization for high-quality
hologram generation. Our proposal adopts the Gaussian blur in the NR
strategy to suppress the high-frequency noise and improve the
optimization convergence. A double-hologram generation technique is
used to reduce the noise further. The off-axis system’s aberrations
are eliminated by integrating the aberration compensation method as
well. Compared with the original CITL method, the image quality of the
proposed method is improved by approximately 5.5 dB in the optical
experiment.