bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Serendipity and Observations in Functional Neurosurgery: From James Parkinson’s Stroke to Hamani’s & Lozano’s Flashbacks
Authors: Hariz Marwan , Lees Andrew J. , Blomstedt Yulia , Blomstedt Patric
Published: August 2022

Background: Serendipity and observations have a noble tradition in medicine, including neurology, and are responsible for many medical treatments (carbamazepine for tic douloureux, amantadine for Parkinson’s disease, gabapentin for restless legs…). We aimed at examining the contribution of serendipity and observations to functional neurosurgery. Scholarly publications relevant to the history of functional neurosurgery for movement and psychiatric disorders were reviewed, starting from the pre-stereotactic era. The documents were scrutinized with respect to indications for surgery, surgical methods, and brain targets, in view of determining whether serendipitous discoveries and other observations contributed to various functional neurosurgical procedures. Summary: James Parkinson’s observation that tremors disappeared in the arm of a person with shaking palsy after a hemiparetic stroke encouraged neurosurgeons in the first half of the 20th century to perform ablative procedures on central motor pathways. Following a lobotomy performed by Browder that extended too far medially in a psychiatric patient with coexisting Parkinson’s disease (PD), it was noted that the Parkinsonian signs improved. This encouraged Russel Meyers to carry out open surgery on the caudate nucleus and basal ganglia in PD. Cooper introduced ligation of the anterior choroidal artery as a treatment for PD following a surgical accident during a pedunculotomy. Cooper later started to perform stereotactic surgery on the ventrolateral thalamus following the pathological finding that an intended pallidal lesion had in fact targeted the thalamus. Leksell discovered the ideal location of a pallidal lesion being in the posteroventral area empirically, long before the advent of the basal ganglia model of PD. Modern Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) that started in the thalamus for tremor was the result of an observation by Benabid that intraoperative high-frequency stimulation during a thalamotomy reduced tremor. Both the discoveries of the anterior limbic subthalamic nucleus as a DBS target for OCD and the medial forebrain bundle as a DBS target for depression occurred by chance. Hamani and Lozano observed memory flashbacks in a patient who was undergoing DBS for obesity, which led to the discovery of the fornix as a potential DBS target for Alzheimer’s disease. Key Messages: In the history of functional neurosurgery, serendipity and observations have resulted in discoveries of several procedures, brain targets for lesioning or DBS as well as new clinical surgical indications. In this era of neuromodulation, this technology should be exquisite in allowing potential serendipitous discoveries, provided that clinicians remain both observant and prepared.
Rare Choristoma of the Tarsal Conjunctiva: Critical Inspection Prevents Unnecessary Mutilation
Authors: Vetter Viola Katharina , Correa-Perez Maria E. , Chaloupka Karla , Mihic-Probst Daniela
Published: August 2022

We report a case of a 26-year-old male patient with an incidental finding of a flesh-colored tumor with few vellus hairs on its surface, located on the fornix and the tarsal conjunctiva of the left lower eyelid. Histology of the biopsy showed a choristoma consisting of abundant vellus hairs, sebaceous glands, and sparse lacrimal gland tissue. Recognition of conjunctival vellus hairs is significant and raises the suspected diagnosis of choristoma, which can be confirmed by a small sample biopsy. A complete excision is unnecessary and possible surgical complications can be prevented. Choristomas of the tarsal conjunctiva are very rare and, to our knowledge, this is the first histological documentation of a choristoma containing vellus hair located on the tarsal conjunctiva. In addition, we review the histopathological findings of choristomas and their differential diagnoses.
Cardiovascular Effects of Home Dialysis Therapies: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
Authors: Sarnak Mark J. , Auguste Bourne L. , Brown Edwina , Chang Alexander R. , Chertow Glenn M. , Hannan Mary , Herzog Charles A. , Nadeau-Fredette Annie-Claire , Tang Wai Hong Wilson , Wang Angela Yee-Moon , Weiner Daniel E. , Chan Christopher T. ,   on behalf of the American Heart Association Council on the Kidney in Cardiovascular Disease; Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology; Council on Cardiovascular Radiology and Intervention; Council on Clinical Cardiology; Council on Hypertension; and Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health
Published: August 2022

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with end-stage kidney disease. Currently, thrice-weekly in-center hemodialysis for 3 to 5 hours per session is the most common therapy worldwide for patients with treated kidney failure. Outcomes with thrice-weekly in-center hemodialysis are poor. Emerging evidence supports the overarching hypothesis that a more physiological approach to administering dialysis therapy, including in the home through home hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, may lead to improvement in several cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular outcomes compared with thrice-weekly in-center hemodialysis. The Advancing American Kidney Health Initiative, which has a goal of increasing the use of home dialysis, is aligned with the American Heart Association’s 2024 mission to champion a full and healthy life and health equity. We conclude that incorporation of interdisciplinary care models to increase the use of home dialysis therapies in an equitable manner will contribute to the ultimate goal of improving outcomes for patients with kidney failure and cardiovascular disease.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Surgery
Authors: Rajesh Aashish , Asaad Malke
Published: August 2022

In the present era, the technology of artificial intelligence has started to rapidly gain popularity as a revolutionary innovation in healthcare. The following article serves as the introduction to our symposium on artificial intelligence in surgery.
The Impact of an Enhanced Recovery Protocol in a High-Risk Population Undergoing Colon Cancer Surgery
Authors: Wong Denise L. , Holland Alexis , Kocak Mehmet , Coday Mace , Brown Caroline , Monroe Justin J. , Hinkle Nathan M. , Deneve Jeremiah L. , Glazer Evan S. , Shibata David
Published: August 2022

Objective

Enhanced Recovery ERP protocols (ERP) have improved surgical outcomes in patients undergoing elective colon cancer (CC) surgery; however, efficacy in different populations may vary. We examined the impact of an ERP in a population with high rates of obesity and multiple comorbidities.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of factors associated with postoperative complications (PoC) and length of stay (LOS) following CC surgery from 2011 to 2019 in a 5-hospital healthcare system which serves a population with higher rates of obesity (body mass index ≥30kg/m2) and multi-comorbidities, as compared to published studies. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed.

Results

A total of 408 elective CC surgery patients with complete oncologic surgical data were identified. Of these, 191 (46.81%) were under ERP. Factors independently associated with PoC included obesity (OR=1.66, P=.029), laparoscopic (OR=.52, P=.020), and hybrid (OR=.38, P=.012) versus open surgery and ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) class ≥3 (OR=1.98, P=.006). ERP did not impact PoC but was associated with a reduction in LOS (β=−1.02 days, 95%CI: −1.75 – -.30, P=.006). ERP had an impact on LOS in both the non-obese and obese groups (P<.001 and P=.034, respectively). PoC significantly increased LOS (β=6.67 days, 95%CI: 5.41-7.03, P<.001).

Conclusions

Following elective CC surgery, obesity and medical comorbidities were associated with increased PoC and in turn, as expected, increased LOS. ERP was associated with a reduction in LOS in both obese and non-obese patients. In high-risk populations, application of ERP may be particularly important to optimize surgical outcomes following CC surgery.
Conflict Events Worldwide Since 1468BC: Introducing the Historical Conflict Event Dataset
Authors: Miller Charles , Bakar K. Shuvo
Published: August 2022

Quantitative datasets of international conflict skew temporally to modern times and geographically and culturally to the West. Yet post–1815 conflicts featuring Western actors are only a small part of the history of warfare. Many scholars have bemoaned the potential selection bias which this introduces to studies of the causes and effects of military conflict, but as yet quantitative datasets which remedy both these temporal and geographic shortcomings have been lacking. Some datasets have expanded the scope of existing offerings temporally and others spatially, while others have attempted to expand both but with an important lack of detail in terms of location, participants, timing and outcomes. This dataset sets out to remedy the deficit. Using military history’s most extensive encyclopedia of conflict events, we have created a dataset of conflict events spanning the globe and a timescale from 1468BC to the invasion of Iraq in 2003, complete with precise geographic coordinates, year, participants and outcome. We demonstrate the promise of this data-set by using it to assess the frequently asserted relationship between conflict history and economic development, combined with Nordhaus’ GECON sub–national wealth data and historical data on population density from the Netherlands Environmental Agency.
Parent-child Relations, Religiousness, and Adolescent Substance Use Disorders
Authors: Hoffmann John P.
Published: August 2022

Research has shown that parent-child relationships and religiousness are negatively associated with substance use among adolescents, but few studies have addressed their relationship with substance use disorders (SUDs). This study explored whether high quality parent-child relations are negatively associated with the risk of an SUD among adolescents, especially when religiousness is high. The data used to assess this inquiry were from 4 years (2016–2019) of the U.S. National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). SUDs in the past year were based on a set of questions consistent with criteria enumerated in the DSM-IV. Latent measures of parent-child relations and religiousness were also constructed. The results of an augmented inverse probability weighting (AIPW) model furnished empirical evidence in support of the notion that the lowest risk of an SUD occurred among those reporting high quality parent-child relations and high religiousness, even after adjusting for a substantial number of selection factors.
From policy to institution: Implementing land reform in Dar es Salaam’s unplanned settlements
Authors: Manara Martina
Published: August 2022

Tanzania led the wave of land reform in sub-Saharan Africa, promoting ‘institutional fixes’ of property rights to stimulate urban development and poverty alleviation. Since 2005, the Residential Licence programme has offered short-term leases to around 180,000 households in the unplanned settlements of Dar es Salaam. However, the rate of title acquisition has been moderate to low, as in much of urban Africa. To understand the demand for land titles, this paper adopts an institutional approach and a novel analytic framework examining social expectations around the Residential Licence and their effects on choices of formalisation. Primary data was collected through a two-round survey with 1363 and 243 respondents, respectively. The paper finds that landholders have conditional preferences for formalisation based on the behaviour of their neighbours and the advice of other landholders, local leaders and higher-level government. Interactions between state and non-state actors generate social expectations that compliance with the programme is low and the government is not committed to enforcing interim property rights. These beliefs discourage choices of formalisation and transform the Residential Licence into an ‘empty’ institution, which fails to embed in social practice. The study contributes to the literature on land tenure formalisation by examining the interaction of state and social forces in the implementation of land reform and by proposing a complex understanding of the demand for tenure formalisation, underpinned by collective choice considerations. Additionally, the paper offers a methodological contribution by adopting a novel method for institutional analysis with further potential applications in urban studies and geographic research.
Pharmacological Therapies for Connective Tissue Fibrosis in Orthopaedics
Authors: Disser Nathaniel P. , Yu Jonathan S. , Yao Vincent J.H. , Rodeo Scott A.
Published: August 2022

Fibrosis is a common and debilitating pathological process that affects many organ systems and contributes to connective tissue disorders in orthopaedics. Tendons heal after acute and chronic injury through a process of fibrovascular scar tissue formation, and soft tissue joint capsules can be affected after traumatic joint injury, leading to arthrofibrosis. Although the precise underlying mechanisms are still being elucidated, fibrosis is thought to be a consequence of dysregulated immune and cytokine signaling that leads to myofibroblast activation and proliferation and subsequent excessive collagen deposition. Current treatments for connective tissue fibrosis include physical therapy and surgery, but there are no therapies that directly target the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of fibrosis. Many pharmacological agents have been used to successfully target fibrosis in other tissues and organ systems and thus are a promising treatment option to fill this gap. However, limited evidence is available to guide the use of these agents in musculoskeletal connective tissues. This article provides an overview of pharmacological therapies that have potential to treat connective tissue fibrosis in patients with musculoskeletal conditions, along with the current supporting evidence and future uses of each therapy.
How Do Internet-Related Characteristics Affect Whether Members of a German Mixed-Mode Panel Switch from the Mail to the Web Mode?
Authors: Bretschi David , Weiß Bernd
Published: August 2022

In recent years, several longitudinal studies have transitioned from an interviewer-administered to a mixed-mode design, using the internet as one of the modes of data collection. However, a substantial proportion of panelists are reluctant to participate in web surveys when offered a choice in an ongoing mixed-mode panel. We still know little about the characteristics of panel members that drive them to comply with the request to complete surveys via the internet. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating how internet-related characteristics are linked to the willingness of panelists to switch from the mail mode to the web. We use data from multiple waves of the GESIS Panel, a probability-based mixed-mode panel in Germany ( N = 5734). A web-push intervention motivated 28% of 1364 panelists of the mail mode to complete the survey online in a single wave and 70% of these 380 short-term switchers to switch to the web mode permanently. We measured indicators of internet use, internet skills, and attitudes toward the internet as potential mechanisms of this short-term and long-term mode switching in the two waves before the intervention. Our results suggest that internet use and internet skills affect respondents’ willingness to switch modes in a single wave. For these short-term switchers, however, none of the internet-related characteristics could explain mode switching in the long term. We also present self-reported reasons by panelists for not accepting the offer to switch modes that correspond to these findings. The results of this study can be used to develop effective push-to-web methods for longitudinal mixed-mode surveys.
Nascent narratives of Armenian remembrance: The Armenian genocide reflected in the Armenian-American press
Authors: Diłanian-Pinkowicz Karina
Published: August 2022

This article explores the cultural memory of the Armenian genocide archived, to a major extent, in non-digitized form. In the initial decades following the genocide, the memory of the crimes committed against Armenians in 1915 was almost non-existent in the public space of America. Monuments, demonstrations, state, and international resolutions, and other instruments of memorialization did not materialize until the 1960s when, as a result of worldwide Armenian mobilization ahead of the 50th anniversary, traces of genocide remembrance were gradually brought to life. Analyzing two Armenian newspapers from the United States – Hairenik Weekly (HW) and The Armenian Mirror-Spectator (AMS) – this paper reveals how Armenians recollected the genocide in the decades preceding the emergence of subsequent lieux de mémoire. What evoked their memories before 1965? And how did narratives change over time, eventually leading to the “exteriorization of Armenian memory”? The case of the Armenian genocide shows that memories of a traumatic event can quickly penetrate the cultural sphere, but remain closed for longer in the narrow framework of a specific community. This had consequences, including an almost complete lack of representation of the genocide in the public domain – one that would be designed by Armenians for non-Armenians. The process of meaning-making (traced through editorials from the two Armenian-American newspapers) influenced a gradual bridging of the representation gap in the American public space, beginning in 1965.
Profiling the role of microorganisms in quality improvement of the aged flue-cured tobacco
Authors: Wu Xinying , Cai Wen , Zhu Pengcheng , Peng Zheng , Zheng Tianfei , Li Dongliang , Li Jianghua , Zhou Guanyu , Du Guocheng , Zhang Juan
Published: August 2022

Background

The aging process in the tobacco production, as in other food industries, is an important process for improving the quality of raw materials. In the spontaneous aging, the complex components in flue-cured tobacco (FT) improve flavor or reduce harmful compounds through chemical reactions, microbial metabolism, and enzymatic catalysis. Some believed that tobacco-microbe played a significant part in this process. However, little information is available on how microbes mediate chemical composition to improve the quality of FT, which will lay the foundation for the time-consuming spontaneous aging to seek ways to shorten the aging cycle.

Results

Comparing aged and unaged FT, volatile and non-volatile differential compounds (DCs) were multi-dimensionally analyzed with the non-targeted metabolomes based on UPLC-QTOP-MS (the ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry), GC–MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometer) assisted derivatization and HP-SPME-GC/MS (headspace solid-phase micro-extraction assisted GC–MS). Products associated with the degradation pathways of terpenoids or higher fatty acids were one of the most important factors in improving FT quality. With the microbiome, the diversity and functions of microbial flora were analyzed. The high relative abundance function categories were in coincidence with DCs-related metabolic pathways. According to the correlation analysis, Acinetobacter, Sphingomonas and Aspergillus were presumed to be the important contributor, in which Aspergillus was associated with the highest number of degradation products of terpenoids and higher fatty acids. At last, the screened Aspergillus nidulans strain F4 could promote the degradation of terpenoids and higher fatty acids to enhance tobacco flavor by secreting highly active lipoxygenase and peroxidase, which verified the effect of tobacco-microbes on FT quality.

Conclusions

By integrating the microbiome and metabolome, tobacco-microbe can mediate flavor-related substances to improve the quality of FT after aging, which provided a basis for identifying functional microorganisms for reforming the traditional spontaneous aging.
Prediction of carotid plaque by blood biochemical indices and related factors based on Fisher discriminant analysis
Authors: Hu Jian , Su Fan , Ren Xia , Cao Lei , Zhou Yumei , Fu Yuhan , Tatenda Grace , Jiang Mingfei , Wu Huan , Wen Yufeng
Published: August 2022

Objective

This study aims to establish the predictive model of carotid plaque formation and carotid plaque location by retrospectively analyzing the clinical data of subjects with carotid plaque formation and normal people, and to provide technical support for screening patients with carotid plaque.

Methods

There were 4300 subjects in the ultrasound department of Maanshan People's Hospital collected from December 2013 to December 2018. We used demographic and biochemical data from 3700 subjects to establish predictive models for carotid plaque and its location. The leave-one-out cross-validated classification, 600 external data validation, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were used to verify the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and application value of the model.

Results

There were significant difference of age (F = − 34.049, p < 0.01), hypertension (χ2 = 191.067, p < 0.01), smoking (χ2 = 4.762, p < 0.05) and alcohol (χ2 = 8.306, p < 0.01), Body mass index (F = 15.322, p < 0.01), High-density lipoprotein (HDL) (F = 13.840, p < 0.01), Lipoprotein a (Lp a) (F = 52.074, p < 0.01), Blood Urea Nitrogen (F = 2.679, p < 0.01) among five groups. Prediction models were built: carotid plaque prediction model (Model CP); Prediction model of left carotid plaque only (Model CP Left); Prediction model of right carotid plaque only (Model CP Right). Prediction model of bilateral carotid plaque (Model CP Both). Model CP (Wilks' lambda = 0.597, p < 0.001, accuracy = 78.50%, sensitivity = 78.07%, specificity = 79.07%, AUC = 0.917). Model CP Left (Wilks' lambda = 0.605, p < 0.001, accuracy = 79.00%, sensitivity = 86.17%, specificity = 72.70%, AUC = 0.880). Model CP Right (Wilks' lambda = 0.555, p < 0.001, accuracy = 83.00%, sensitivity = 81.82%, specificity = 84.44%, AUC = 0.880). Model CP Both (Wilks' lambda = 0.651, p < 0.001, accuracy = 82.30%, sensitivity = 89.50%, specificity = 72.70%, AUC = 0.880).

Conclusion

Demographic characteristics and blood biochemical indexes were used to establish the carotid plaque and its location discriminant models based on Fisher discriminant analysis (FDA), which has high application value in community screening.
Patient experiences of sexual dysfunction after transition to dolutegravir-based HIV treatment in mid-Western Uganda: a qualitative study
Authors: Zakumumpa Henry , Kiguba Ronald , Ndagije Helen Byomire , Ategeka Gilbert , Ssanyu Jacquellyn Nambi , Kitutu Freddy Eric
Published: August 2022

Background

The literature on dolutegravir (DTG)-based HIV treatment has focused on assessing therapeutic efficacy particularly with regard to viral load suppression. However, little empirical attention has been devoted to understanding the effects of DTG on quality of life, in particular sexual health and functioning in PLHIV. This study focused on understanding patient experiences of sexual dysfunction, after transition to DTG-based regimens in Rwenzori region in Mid-Western Uganda.

Methods

We adopted a qualitative exploratory research design. Between August and September 2021, we conducted sixteen in-depth interviews and six focus group discussions (48 participants) with patients reporting ‘new’ sexual dysfunction after transition to DTG-based regimens at seven health facilities in mid-Western Uganda. Data were analyzed by thematic approach.

Results

Decreased libido was reported in both sexes of patients within weeks of transition to DTG-based regimens. Diminished interest in sex was more frequently reported among women while men complained of a marked reduction in the frequency of sex. Women reported loss of psycho-social attraction to their long-term male partners. Erectile dysfunction was common among men in this sample of patients. Patients described their experiences of sexual dysfunction as an affront to their socially-constructed gender identities. Patients described tolerating sexual adverse drug reactions (ADRs) as a necessary tradeoff for the extension in life granted through antiretroviral therapy. A number of women reported that they had separated from their spouses as a result of perceived drug-induced sexual dysfunction. Marital strife and conflict arising from frustration with sexual-partner dysfunction was frequently reported by participants in both sexes. Several participants indicated experiencing insecurity in their heterosexual relationships due to difficulties in sexual functioning.

Conclusion

Sexual dysfunction following transition to DTG-based regimens is common in both sexes of PLHIV, who indicated that they had no prior experience of difficulties in sexual health. Our findings demonstrate that sexual ADRs negatively impact self-esteem, overall quality of life and impair gender relations. DTG-related sexual health problems merit increased attention from HIV clinicians. Further research is warranted to assess the prevalence of DTG-associated sexual dysfunction in patients in Uganda.
The diverse functions of FAT1 in cancer progression: good, bad, or ugly?
Authors: Chen Zhuo Georgia , Saba Nabil F. , Teng Yong
Published: August 2022

FAT atypical cadherin 1 (FAT1) is among the most frequently mutated genes in many types of cancer. Its highest mutation rate is found in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), in which FAT1 is the second most frequently mutated gene. Thus, FAT1 has great potential to serve as a target or prognostic biomarker in cancer treatment. FAT1 encodes a member of the cadherin-like protein family. Under normal physiological conditions, FAT1 serves as a molecular “brake” on mitochondrial respiration and acts as a receptor for a signaling pathway regulating cell–cell contact interaction and planar cell polarity. In many cancers, loss of FAT1 function promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the formation of cancer initiation/stem-like cells. However, in some types of cancer, overexpression of FAT1 leads to EMT. The roles of FAT1 in cancer progression, which seems to be cancer-type specific, have not been clarified. To further study the function of FAT1 in cancers, this review summarizes recent relevant literature regarding this protein. In addition to phenotypic alterations due to FAT1 mutations, several signaling pathways and tumor immune systems known or proposed to be regulated by this protein are presented. The potential impact of detecting or targeting FAT1 mutations on cancer treatment is also prospectively discussed.
Clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with very severe acute hypertension visiting the emergency department
Authors: Kim Hyun-Jin , Kim Byung Sik , Shin Jeong-Hun
Published: August 2022

Background

Data regarding very severe acute hypertension, a serious problem in emergency departments (EDs), are scarce. We investigated the clinical characteristics, practice patterns, and long-term prognoses of patients presenting to the ED with very severe acute hypertension.

Methods

Cross-sectional study data were obtained from a single regional emergency medical center, including patients aged ≥ 18 years who were admitted to the ED between January 2016 and December 2019 for very severe acute hypertension, which was defined as systolic blood pressure of > 220 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure of > 120 mmHg. The patients were classified into two groups based on the presence or absence of hypertension-mediated organ damage (HMOD).

Results

Among 1,391 patients with very severe acute hypertension in the ED, half of the them (50.2%) had a previous medical history of hypertension, and 547 (39.3%) had acute HMOD. The overall 3-month, 1-year, and 3-year mortality rates were 5.2%, 11.9%, and 17.3%, respectively. In particular, patients with HMOD had a significantly higher mortality rate at each time point than those without HMOD. Among patients with HMOD, acute ischemic stroke was the most common (28.7%). Moreover, intravenous antihypertensive drugs were significantly more prescribed in patients with HMOD than in those without HMOD (79.0% vs. 22.2%, P < 0.001), but there were no differences in oral antihypertensive drugs between the two groups.

Conclusions

Patients with very severe acute hypertension had poor long-term clinical prognoses. Clinicians should be continuously monitoring and providing appropriate treatment and close follow-up for patients with very severe acute hypertension.
Labor Reserves in the Russian Economy: Problems of Evaluation and Effective Use
Authors: Kazanceva N. , Ostapenko V.
Published: August 2022

The article presents the main problems of finding and involving labor reserves in the Russian economy. The directions of economic transformation reflecting the problems of the labor market are determined. The approaches to the assessment of labor reserves from the positions of the number,number of hours of work, qualification level are revealed. Trends in the demand for certain professions in connection with the introduction of information and computer technologies and in the conditions of interdependence of national and international labor markets are outlined.
Empirical Legal Research Services
Authors:   University of North Texas, Ryan Sarah
Published: August 2022

Empirical Legal Research Services covers the skills and core work of applied law and justice research support in law libraries. Foundational skills include subject area mastery and specialized approaches to reference interviewing, social science bibliography, and literature review researching. Core services include data and statistics acquisition, bibliometrics assistance, original data collection and data management support. Advanced services include quantitative study design assistance and survey instrument review, qualitative research support, and empirical legal research teaching. The book concludes with a snapshot of emerging law library service areas such as artificial intelligence product adoption and training. The innovative work of past and present law librarians is highlighted throughout the book.
Digital Privacy
Authors: Fainmesser Itay P. , Galeotti Andrea , Momot Ruslan
Published: August 2022

We study the incentives of a digital business to collect and protect users’ data. The users’ data the business collects improve the service it provides to consumers, but they may also be accessed, at a cost, by strategic third parties in a way that harms users, imposing endogenous users’ privacy costs. We characterize how the revenue model of the business shapes its optimal data strategy: collection and protection of users’ data. A business with a more data-driven revenue model will collect more users’ data and provide more data protection than a similar business that is more usage driven. Consequently, if users have small direct benefit from data collection, then more usage-driven businesses generate larger consumer surplus than their more data-driven counterparts (the reverse holds if users have large direct benefit from data collection). Relative to the socially desired data strategy, the business may over- or undercollect users’ data and may over- or underprotect it. Restoring efficiency requires a two-pronged regulatory policy, covering both data collection and data protection; one such policy combines a minimal data protection requirement with a tax proportional to the amount of collected data. We finally show that existing regulation in the United States, which focuses only on data protection, may even harm consumer surplus and overall welfare.

This paper was accepted by Itai Ashlagi, revenue management and market analytics.

Funding: A. Galeotti acknowledges financial support from the European Research Council [European Research Council Consolidator Grant 724356]. R. Momot acknowledges financial support from the HEC Paris Foundation and the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency) “Investissements d’Avenir” [Grant LabEx Ecodec/ANR-11-LABX-0047].

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.4513 .
MF-AV-Net: an open-source deep learning network with multimodal fusion options for artery-vein segmentation in OCT angiography
Authors: Abtahi Mansour , Le David , Lim Jennifer I. , Yao Xincheng
Published: August 2022

This study is to demonstrate the effect of multimodal fusion on the performance of deep learning artery-vein (AV) segmentation in optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA); and to explore OCT/OCTA characteristics used in the deep learning AV segmentation. We quantitatively evaluated multimodal architectures with early and late OCT-OCTA fusions, compared to the unimodal architectures with OCT-only and OCTA-only inputs. The OCTA-only architecture, early OCT-OCTA fusion architecture, and late OCT-OCTA fusion architecture yielded competitive performances. For the 6 mm×6 mm and 3 mm×3 mm datasets, the late fusion architecture achieved an overall accuracy of 96.02% and 94.00%, slightly better than the OCTA-only architecture which achieved an overall accuracy of 95.76% and 93.79%. 6 mm×6 mm OCTA images show AV information at pre-capillary level structure, while 3 mm×3 mm OCTA images reveal AV information at capillary level detail. In order to interpret the deep learning performance, saliency maps were produced to identify OCT/OCTA image characteristics for AV segmentation. Comparative OCT and OCTA saliency maps support the capillary-free zone as one of the possible features for AV segmentation in OCTA. The deep learning network MF-AV-Net used in this study is available on GitHub for open access.
Low loss and broadband low back-reflection interconnection between a hollow-core and standard single-mode fiber
Authors: Suslov Dmytro , Numkam Fokoua Eric , Dousek Daniel , Zhong Ailing , Zvánovec Stanislav , Bradley Thomas D. , Poletti Francesco , Richardson David J. , Komanec Matěj , Slavík Radan
Published: August 2022

We report simultaneous low coupling loss (below 0.2 dB at 1550 nm) and low back-reflection (below −60 dB in the 1200-1600 nm range) between a hollow core fiber and standard single mode optical fiber obtained through the combination of an angled interface and an anti-reflective coating. We perform experimental optimization of the interface angle to achieve the best combination of performance in terms of the coupling loss and back-reflection suppression. Furthermore, we examine parasitic cross-coupling to the higher-order modes and show that it does not degrade compared to the case of a flat interface, keeping it below −30 dB and below −20 dB for LP11 and LP02 modes, respectively.
Pushing the colorimetry camera-based fluorescence microscopy to low light imaging by denoising and dye combination
Authors: Zhang Zhaoning , Kuang Weibing , Shi Bing , Huang Zhen-li
Published: August 2022

Colorimetry camera-based fluorescence microscopy (CCFM) is a single-frame imaging method for observing multiple biological events simultaneously. Compared with the traditional multi-color fluorescence microscopy methods based on sequential excitation or spectral splitting, the CCFM method simplifies multi-color fluorescence imaging experiments, while keeping a high spatial resolution. However, when the level of the detected fluorescence signal decreases, the image quality, the demosaicking algorithm precision, and the discrimination of fluorescence channels on the colorimetry camera will also decrease. Thus, CCFM has a poor color resolution under a low signal level. For example, the crosstalk will be higher than 10% when the signal is less than 100 photons/pixel. To solve this problem, we developed a new algorithm that combines sCMOS noise correction with demosaicking, and a dye selection method based on the spectral response characteristics of the colorimetry camera. By combining the above two strategies, low crosstalk can be obtained with 4 ∼ 6 fold fewer fluorescence photons, and low light single-frame four-color fluorescence imaging was successfully performed on fixed cos-7 cells. This study expands the power of the CCFM method, and provides a simple and efficient way for various bioimaging applications in low-light conditions.
Distributed birefringence sensing at 10−9 accuracy over ultra-long PMF by optical frequency comb and distributed Brillouin amplifier
Authors: Tovar Pedro , Wang Yuan , Chen Liang , Bao Xiaoyi
Published: August 2022

Brillouin dynamic gratings (BDG) can measure the distributed birefringence of polarization-maintaining fibers (PMF), however, its sensing range is limited by both stimulated Brillouin scattering depletion and fiber losses in PMF, which are significantly higher than those in standard single-mode fibers. In this work, we theoretically and experimentally verify that BDG can be sustained over ultra-long distances when assisted by distributed Brillouin amplification, significantly extending the distributed birefringence measurement distance. Using an optical frequency comb pumped by a narrow linewidth laser to both generate and interrogate the amplified BDG, a birefringence measurement accuracy of 7.5 × 10−9 was achieved over 7 km sensing length, more than double the longest range reported. This opens a new opportunity to investigate small birefringence changes due to nonlinear optics effects and monitoring fiber network security from eavesdropping.
Spectrum dispersion element based on the metasurface with parabolic phase
Authors: Chen Yufeng , Zhao Ruizhe , He Haoyang , Li Xin , Zhou Hongqiang , Ullah Naqeeb , Geng Guangzhou , Li Junjie , Wang Yongtian , Huang Lingling
Published: August 2022

New kinds of dispersion elements are required for the minimization of the spectrometers. Metasurfaces offer new methods for a novel type of spectrometers due to their ultra-thin property and great ability to manipulate the electromagnetic field. Here, we propose and demonstrate a spectral modulated metasurface as a miniaturized dispersion element that possesses parabolic phase profile. Different wavelengths of the incident light can be dispersed to different spatial positions due to the accumulation of the dynamic phase varies with the wavelengths from metasurface. Detailed theoretical spectrum dispersion ability is analyzed and experimental demonstration is achieved. The polarization conversion efficiency is high, which is promising to be used in practical applications. Such metasurface provides a new and simple way to design dispersion devices and has the potential to be used in spectrometers, variable filters, spectrum tomography, etc.
Tunable acousto-optic optical frequency combs
Authors: Voloshin Andrey , Mantsevich Sergey
Published: August 2022

Examination of various issues related to the generation and application of optical frequency combs (OFCs) is an important branch of modern optoelectronics. Some of the proposed OFC generation methods apply acousto-optic (AO) devices. The AO devices are used either as the element devoted to the OFC phase stabilization or they play the role of an optical radiation frequency shifting element in the frequency-shifting loop (FSL) scheme. The results of two experiments related to the application of AO cells in the FSL scheme are represented in this paper. The first experiment confirms the previously proposed effect of AO mismatch influence on all the OFC characteristics. The second experiment shows the possibility of tunable AO dual-comb downconversion with a single AO device.
Magnetometry based on the effect of laser-induced plasmas in a sodium-containing environment
Authors: Ding Ning , Kang Guo-Guo , Zhang Xiao-Xu , Guo Yi-Xin , Guo Zong-Yu , Zhao Luo , Jin Wei-Qi , Zheng Hui-Qi , Ren Qiong-Ying , Zhao Hua
Published: August 2022

The magneto-optical resonance response of sodium atoms generated by a high-energy solid-state pulse Nd:YAG laser is studied in different external magnetic fields. We investigate the resonance fluorescence signal of sodium atoms in a simulated sea fog environment based on the laser-induced plasma (LIP) effect. By ionizing an NaCl solution spray to generate sodium atoms in an atmospheric environment, we build a Bell–Bloom magneto-optical resonance system under laboratory conditions. With the help of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and extinction spectrum, we obtain sodium atoms with a lifetime of 250 µs. A narrowband tunable continuous wave (CW) 589-nm laser tuned at the D2 line with a modulation frequency around the Larmor frequency is used as the pump beam to polarize sodium atoms in the test magnetic field. We find that the magneto-optical resonance signals vary with different external magnetic fields and the positions of the resonance signal are consistent with the theoretical values. An intrinsic magnetometric sensitivity of 620.4 pT in a 1-Hz bandwidth is achieved.
Mitigating end-to-end nonlinearity in LED-based VLC transceivers via optical intensity feedback: erratum
Authors: Song Peng-Cheng , Wu Zi-Yang , Wang Jiao
Published: August 2022

We present an erratum to our Letter [Opt. Lett. 47, 3688 (2022)10.1364/OL.463637]. This erratum corrects subscript errors in Eq. (1), H1 and H2. These errors could confuse readers when they perform the derivation processes, but the errors do not affect our experimental results. Therefore, these corrections do not affect the results and conclusions of the original Letter.
Analytical framework to evaluate and optimize the use of imperfect diagnostics to inform outbreak response: Application to the 2017 plague epidemic in Madagascar
Authors: ten Bosch Quirine , Andrianaivoarimanana Voahangy , Ramasindrazana Beza , Mikaty Guillain , Rakotonanahary Rado J. L. , Nikolay Birgit , Rahajandraibe Soloandry , Feher Maxence , Grassin Quentin , Paireau Juliette , Rahelinirina Soanandrasana , Randremanana Rindra , Rakotoarimanana Feno , Melocco Marie , Rasolofo Voahangy , Pizarro-Cerdá Javier , Le Guern Anne-Sophie , Bertherat Eric , Ratsitorahina Maherisoa , Spiegel André , Baril Laurence , Rajerison Minoarisoa , Cauchemez Simon
Published: August 2022

During outbreaks, the lack of diagnostic “gold standard” can mask the true burden of infection in the population and hamper the allocation of resources required for control. Here, we present an analytical framework to evaluate and optimize the use of diagnostics when multiple yet imperfect diagnostic tests are available. We apply it to laboratory results of 2,136 samples, analyzed with 3 diagnostic tests (based on up to 7 diagnostic outcomes), collected during the 2017 pneumonic (PP) and bubonic plague (BP) outbreak in Madagascar, which was unprecedented both in the number of notified cases, clinical presentation, and spatial distribution. The extent of these outbreaks has however remained unclear due to nonoptimal assays. Using latent class methods, we estimate that 7% to 15% of notified cases were Yersinia pestis-infected. Overreporting was highest during the peak of the outbreak and lowest in the rural settings endemic to Y. pestis. Molecular biology methods offered the best compromise between sensitivity and specificity. The specificity of the rapid diagnostic test was relatively low (PP: 82%, BP: 85%), particularly for use in contexts with large quantities of misclassified cases. Comparison with data from a subsequent seasonal Y. pestis outbreak in 2018 reveal better test performance (BP: specificity 99%, sensitivity: 91%), indicating that factors related to the response to a large, explosive outbreak may well have affected test performance. We used our framework to optimize the case classification and derive consolidated epidemic trends. Our approach may help reduce uncertainties in other outbreaks where diagnostics are imperfect.
Malformations of the sacculus and the semicircular canals in spider morph pythons
Authors: Starck J. Matthias , Schrenk Fabian , Schröder Sophia , Pees Michael
Published: August 2022

Spider morph ball pythons are a frequently-bred designer morph with striking alterations of the skin color pattern. We created high-resolution μCT-image series through the otic region of the skulls, used 3D-reconstruction software for rendering anatomical models, and compared the anatomy of the semicircular ducts, sacculus and ampullae of wildtype Python regius (ball python) with spider morph snakes. All spider morph snakes showed the wobble condition (i.e., twisting movements of the head, impaired locomotion, difficulty striking or constricting prey items). We describe the inner ear structures in wildtype and spider morph snakes and report a deviant morphology of semicircular canals, ampullae and sacculus in the latter. We also report about associated differences in the desmal skull bones of spider morph snakes, which were characterized by wider semicircular canals, ampullae widened and difficult to discern in μCT, a deformed crus communis, and a small sacculus with a highly deviant X-ray morphology as compared to wildtype individuals. We observed considerable intra- and interindividual variability of these features. This deviant morphology in spider morph snakes could easily be associated with an impairment of sense of equilibrium and the observed neurological wobble condition. Limitations in sample size prevent statistical analyses, but the anatomical evidence is strong enough to support an association between the wobble condition and a malformation of the inner ear structures. A link between artificially selected alterations in pattern and specific color design with neural-crest associated developmental malformations of the statoacoustic organ as known from other vertebrates is discussed.
Patterns of association and distribution of estuarine-resident common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in North Carolina, USA
Authors: Hohn Aleta A. , Gorgone Antoinette M. , Byrd Barbie L. , Shertzer Kyle W. , Eguchi Tomo
Published: August 2022

The social structure of estuarine-resident bottlenose dolphins is complex and varied. Residing in habitats often utilized for resource exploitation, dolphins are at risk due to anthropogenic pressures while still federally protected. Effective conservation is predicated upon accurate abundance estimates. In North Carolina, two estuarine-resident stocks (demographically independent groups) of common bottlenose dolphin have been designated using spatiotemporal criteria. Both stocks are subjected to bycatch in fishing gear. The southern North Carolina estuarine stock was estimated at <200 individuals from surveys in 2006, which is outdated per US guidelines. Thus, we conducted a new capture-mark-recapture survey in 2018, identifying 547 distinct individuals, about three times higher than the prior abundance estimate. We compared those individuals to our long-term photo-identification catalog (1995–2018, n = 2,423 individuals), matching 228 individuals. Of those 228, 65 were also included in the 2013 abundance estimate for the northern North Carolina estuarine stock. Using sighting histories for all individuals in the long-term catalog, we conducted a social network analysis, which is independent ofa prioristock assignments. The three primary clusters identified were inconsistent with current stock designations and not defined by spatiotemporal distribution. All three clusters had sighting histories in the estuary and on the coast, however, that with the highest within-cluster associations appeared to use estuarine waters more often. The within-cluster association strength was low for one cluster, possibly due to only part of that cluster inhabiting the southern North Carolina estuarine system. Between-cluster differences occurred in infestation rates by the pseudostalked barnacle,Xenobalanus globicipitis, but that did not predict clusters. We suggest the need to re-evaluate the stock structure of estuarine-resident common bottlenose dolphins in North Carolina and currently have insufficient information to assign an abundance estimate to a currently designated stock.