bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impaired topology and connectivity of grey matter structural networks in major depressive disorder: evidence from a multi-site neuroimaging data-set
Authors: Long Jing-Yi , Qin Kun , Pan Nanfang , Fan Wen-Liang , Li Yi
Published: April 2024

Background

Major depressive disorder (MDD) has been increasingly understood as a disruption of brain connectome. Investigating grey matter structural networks with a large sample size can provide valuable insights into the structural basis of network-level neuropathological underpinnings of MDD.

Aims

Using a multisite MRI data-set including nearly 2000 individuals, this study aimed to identify robust topology and connectivity abnormalities of grey matter structural network linked to MDD and relevant clinical phenotypes.

Method

A total of 955 MDD patients and 1009 healthy controls were included from 23 sites. Individualised structural covariance networks (SCN) were established based on grey matter volume maps. Following data harmonisation, network topological metrics and focal connectivity were examined for group-level comparisons, individual-level classification performance and association with clinical ratings. Various validation strategies were applied to confirm the reliability of findings.

Results

Compared with healthy controls, MDD individuals exhibited increased global efficiency, abnormal regional centralities (i.e. thalamus, precentral gyrus, middle cingulate cortex and default mode network) and altered circuit connectivity (i.e. ventral attention network and frontoparietal network). First-episode drug-naive and recurrent patients exhibited different patterns of deficits in network topology and connectivity. In addition, the individual-level classification of topological metrics outperforms that of structural connectivity. The thalamus-insula connectivity was positively associated with the severity of depressive symptoms.

Conclusions

Based on this high-powered data-set, we identified reliable patterns of impaired topology and connectivity of individualised SCN in MDD and relevant subtypes, which adds to the current understanding of neuropathology of MDD and might guide future development of diagnostic and therapeutic markers.
Latin American Consensus on the Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Matos Leandro Luongo , Kowalski Luiz Paulo , Chaves Aline Lauda Freitas , de Oliveira Thiago Bueno , Marta Gustavo Nader , Curado Maria Paula , de Castro Junior Gilberto , Farias Terence P. , Bardales Gustavo Sarria , Cabrera Mario Avila , Capuzzo Renato de Castro , de Carvalho Genival Barbosa , Cernea Claudio Roberto , Dedivitis Rogério Aparecido , Dias Fernando Luiz , Estefan Andrés Munyo , Falco Agustin Horacio , Ferraris Gustavo Alberto , Gonzalez-Motta Alejandro , Gouveia Andre Guimarães , Jacinto Alexandre Arthur , Kulcsar Marco Aurelio Vamondes , Leite Ana Kober , Lira Renan Bezerra , Mak Milena Perez , De Marchi Pedro , de Mello Evandro Sobroza , de Matos Fátima Cristina Mendes , Montero Pablo H. , de Moraes Eduardo Dias , de Moraes Fabio Ynoe , Morais Diego Chaves Rezende , Poenitz Fernando Miguel , Poitevin Adela , Riveros Hernán Ortiz , Sanabria Álvaro , Ticona-Castro Miguel , Vartanian José Guilherme , Viani Gustavo , Vines Eugenio F. , William Junior William Nassib , Conway David , Virani Shama , Brennan Paul ,   HEADSpAcE Consortium
Published: April 2024

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is well known as a serious health problem worldwide, especially in low-income countries or those with limited resources, such as most countries in Latin America. International guidelines cannot always be applied to a population from a large region with specific conditions. This study established a Latin American guideline for care of patients with head and neck cancer and presented evidence of HNSCC management considering availability and oncologic benefit. A panel composed of 41 head and neck cancer experts systematically worked according to a modified Delphi process on (1) document compilation of evidence-based answers to different questions contextualized by resource availability and oncologic benefit regarding Latin America (region of limited resources and/or without access to all necessary health care system infrastructure), (2) revision of the answers and the classification of levels of evidence and degrees of recommendations of all recommendations, (3) validation of the consensus through two rounds of online surveys, and (4) manuscript composition. The consensus consists of 12 sections: Head and neck cancer staging, Histopathologic evaluation of head and neck cancer, Head and neck surgery—oral cavity, Clinical oncology—oral cavity, Head and neck surgery—oropharynx, Clinical oncology—oropharynx, Head and neck surgery—larynx, Head and neck surgery—larynx/hypopharynx, Clinical oncology—larynx/hypopharynx, Clinical oncology—recurrent and metastatic head and neck cancer, Head and neck surgery—reconstruction and rehabilitation, and Radiation therapy. The present consensus established 48 recommendations on HNSCC patient care considering the availability of resources and focusing on oncologic benefit. These recommendations could also be used to formulate strategies in other regions like Latin America countries.
Mitoxantrone Versus Liposomal Daunorubicin in Induction of Pediatric AML With Risk Stratification Based on Flow Cytometry Measurement of Residual Disease
Authors: Tierens Anne , Arad-Cohen Nira , Cheuk Daniel , De Moerloose Barbara , Fernandez Navarro Jose Maria , Hasle Henrik , Jahnukainen Kirsi , Juul-Dam Kristian Løvvik , Kaspers Gertjan , Kovalova Zanna , Lausen Birgitte , Norén-Nyström Ulrika , Palle Josefine , Pasauliene Ramune , Jan Pronk Cornelis , Saks Kadri , Zeller Bernward , Abrahamsson Jonas
Published: April 2024

PURPOSE

Measurable residual disease (MRD) by using flow cytometry after induction therapy is strongly prognostic in pediatric AML, and hematopoietic stem-cell transplant (hSCT) may counteract a poor response. We designed a phase III study with intensified response-guided induction and MRD-based risk stratification and treated poor induction response with hSCT. The efficacy of liposomal daunorubicin (DNX) in induction was compared with mitoxantrone.

METHODS

The study planned to randomly assign 300 patients, but the production of DNX ceased in 2017. One hundred ninety-four patients were randomly assigned to mitoxantrone or experimental DNX in induction 1. Ninety-three non–randomly assigned patients served as an observation cohort. Primary end point was fraction of patients with MRD <0.1% on day 22 after induction 1. Patients with MRD ≥15% after induction 1 or ≥0.1% after induction 2 or FLT3-ITD with NPM1 wildtype were stratified to high-risk therapy, including hSCT.

RESULTS

Outcome for all 287 children was good with 5-year event-free survival (EFS5y) 66.7% (CI, 61.4 to 72.4) and 5-year overall survival (OS5y) 79.6% (CI, 75.0 to 84.4). Overall, 75% were stratified to standard-risk and 19% to high-risk. There was no difference in the proportion of patients with MRD <0.1% on day 22 after induction 1 (34% mitoxantrone, etoposide, araC [MEC], 30% DNX, P = .65), but the proportion increased to 61% for MEC versus 47% for DNX ( P = .061) at the last evaluation before induction 2. EFS5y was significantly lower, 56.6% (CI, 46.7 to 66.5) versus 71.9% (CI, 63.0 to 80.9), and cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) was higher, 35.1% (CI, 25.7 to 44.7) versus 18.8% (CI, 11.6 to 27.2) for DNX. The inferior outcome for DNX was only in standard-risk patients with EFS5y 55.3% (CI, 45.1 to 67.7) versus 79.9% (CI, 71.1 to 89.9), CIR 39.5% (CI, 28.4 to 50.3) versus 18.7% (CI, 10.5 to 28.7), and OS5y 76.2% (CI, 67.2 to 86.4) versus 88.6% (CI, 81.4 to 96.3). As-treated analyses, including the observation cohort, supported these results. For all high-risk patients, 85% received hSCT, and EFS5y was 77.7 (CI, 67.3 to 89.7) and OS5y was 83.0 (CI, 73.5 to 93.8).

CONCLUSION

The intensification of induction therapy with risk stratification on the basis of response to induction and hSCT for high-risk patients led to improved outcomes. Mitoxantrone had a superior anti-leukemic effect than liposomal daunorubicin.
Phase II Study of Erdafitinib in Patients With Tumors With Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor Mutations or Fusions: Results From the NCI-MATCH ECOG-ACRIN Trial (EAY131) Subprotocol K2
Authors: Gong Jun , Mita Alain C. , Wei Zihan , Cheng Heather H. , Mitchell Edith P. , Wright John J. , Ivy S. Percy , Wang Victoria , Gray Robert C. , McShane Lisa M. , Rubinstein Larry V. , Patton David R. , Williams P. Mickey , Hamilton Stanley R. , Tricoli James V. , Conley Barbara A. , Arteaga Carlos L. , Harris Lyndsay N. , O'Dwyer Peter J. , Chen Alice P. , Flaherty Keith T.
Published: April 2024

PURPOSE

Subprotocol K2 (EAY131-K2) of the NCI-MATCH platform trial was an open-label, single-arm, phase II study designed to evaluate the antitumor efficacy of the oral FGFR1-4 inhibitor, erdafitinib, in patients with tumors harboring FGFR1-4 mutations or fusions.

METHODS

Central confirmation of tumor FGFR1-4 mutations or fusions was required for outcome analysis. Patients with urothelial carcinoma were excluded. Enrolled subjects received oral erdafitinib at a starting dose of 8 mg daily continuously until intolerable toxicity or disease progression. The primary end point was objective response rate (ORR) with key secondary end points of safety, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

Thirty-five patients were enrolled, and 25 patients were included in the primary efficacy analysis as prespecified in the protocol. The median age was 61 years, and 52% of subjects had received ≥3 previous lines of therapy. The confirmed ORR was 16% (4 of 25 [90% CI, 5.7 to 33.0], P = .034 against the null rate of 5%). An additional seven patients experienced stable disease as best-confirmed response. Four patients had a prolonged PFS including two with recurrent WHO grade IV, IDH1-/2-wildtype glioblastoma. The median PFS and OS were 3.6 months and 11.0 months, respectively. Erdafitinib was manageable with no new safety signals.

CONCLUSION

This study met its primary end point in patients with several pretreated solid tumor types harboring FGFR1-3 mutations or fusions. These findings support advancement of erdafitinib for patients with fibroblast growth factor receptor–altered tumors outside of currently approved indications in a potentially tumor-agnostic manner.
Associations between Body Mass Index, Gait Mechanics and Trochlear Cartilage Thickness in Those with ACL Reconstruction
Authors: GARCIA STEVEN A. , WHITE MCKENZIE S. , GALLEGOS JOVANNA , BALZA ISABELLA , KAHAN SETH , PALMIERI-SMITH RIANN M.
Published: April 2024

Purpose

High body mass index (BMI) is a strong predictor of posttraumatic osteoarthritis (OA) after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Altered gait mechanics are independently affected by BMI and ACLR, and influence OA risk. Yet, evidence directly assessing the impact of high BMI on gait or cartilage characteristics after ACLR are limited. Here, we evaluated if high BMI moderates associations between gait and trochlear cartilage structure in individuals with ACLR.

Methods

Treadmill walking biomechanics were evaluated in 40 normal BMI and 24 high BMI participants with ACLR at self-selected speeds. Normalized and absolute peak and cumulative loads (i.e., impulse) were extracted for peak knee flexion and adduction moments (KFM, KAM) and vertical ground reaction force (GRF). Medial and lateral femoral cartilage thickness and medial/lateral thickness ratios were assessed via ultrasound.

Results

Those with ACLR and high BMI walked with reduced normalized peak vertical GRFs, and greater absolute peak and cumulative loads compared with normal BMI individuals with ACLR. Those with ACLR and high BMI also exhibitedthinnercartilage and greater medial/lateral ratios in ACLR limbs compared with contralateral limbs whereas normal BMI individuals with ACLR exhibitedthickerACLR limb cartilage. Lastly, greater peak KAM and KAM cumulative load were associated with thicker lateral cartilage and lesser medial/lateral thickness ratios, but only in the high BMI group.

Conclusions

We observed those with high BMI after ACLR exhibited trochlear cartilage structural alterations not observed in normal BMI patients, whereas differential associations between loading outcomes and cartilage thickness in ACLR knees were observed between groups. Those with high BMI after ACLR may require different therapeutic strategies to optimize joint health in this subset of patients.
Bicycling over a Lifetime Is Associated with Less Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis: Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative
Authors: LO GRACE H. , RICHARD MICHAEL J. , KRISKA ANDREA M. , MCALINDON TIMOTHY E. , HARKEY MATTHEW , ROCKETTE-WAGNER BONNY , EATON CHARLES B. , HOCHBERG MARC C. , KWOH C. KENT , NEVITT MICHAEL C. , BHAKTA PREEYA B. , MCLAUGHLIN COLIN P. , DRIBAN JEFFREY B.
Published: April 2024

Introduction

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between a history of bicycling and symptomatic and structural outcomes of knee osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis.

Methods

This was a retrospective, cross-sectional study within the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI), where we investigated OAI participants with complete data on bicycling, knee pain, and radiographic evidence of knee OA. We used a self-administered questionnaire at the 96-month OAI visit to identify participation in bicycling during four time periods throughout a participant’s lifetime (ages 12–18, 19–34, 35–49, and >50 yr). Using logistic regression, we evaluated the influence of prior bicycling status (any history, history for each time period, number of periods cycling) on three outcomes at the 48-month OAI visit: frequent knee pain, radiographic OA (ROA), and symptomatic radiographic OA (SOA), adjusting for age and gender.

Results

A total of 2607 participants were included: 44.2% were male, mean age was 64.3 (SD, 9.0) yr, and body mass index was 28.5 (SD, 4.9) kg·m−2. The adjusted risk ratios for the outcome of frequent knee pain, ROA, and SOA among those who reported any history of bicycling compared with non-bicyclers were 0.83 (0.73–0.92), 0.91 (0.85–0.98), and 0.79 (0.68–0.90), respectively. We observed a dose–response among those who participated in bicycling during more time periods.

Conclusions

People who participated in bicycling had a lower prevalence of frequent knee pain, ROA, and SOA. The benefit appeared cumulative. This study indicates that bicycling may be favorable to knee health and should be encouraged.
Ποιοτική διερεύνηση των αφηγήσεων των τέκνων γονέων με ψύχωση στην αναδυόμενη ενηλικίωση
Authors: Ρούσσινος Σπυρίδων , Παπασταθόπουλος Ευστάθιος
Published: April 2024

Σύμφωνα με τη βιβλιογραφία οι επιπτώσεις της ψυχικής νόσου των γονέων στα παιδιά και τις οικογένειες είναι ισχυρές και μακρόχρονες. Σκοπός της παρούσας έρευνας είναι η διερεύνηση των αφηγήσεων ατόμων στην περίοδο της αναδυόμενης ενηλικίωσης για τις εμπειρίες της ανατροφής με γονείς με διάγνωση από το φάσμα των ψυχώσεων. Το δείγμα αποτελείται από 18 συμμετέχοντες, 11 γυναίκες και 7 άνδρες, 18 έως 25 ετών, με έναν ή και τους δύο γονείς στο φάσμα των ψυχώσεων, η συλλογή των δεδομένων πραγματοποιήθηκε με την χρήση ημιδομημένων συνεντεύξεων και η ανάλυση των δεδομένων έγινε με την μέθοδο της αφηγηματικής θεματικής ανάλυσης. Από την ανάλυση των αφηγήσεων προέκυψαν πέντε μείζονα θέματα. Το θέμα ‘σα να ‘χω δύο ζωές’, που περιλαμβάνει τα ψυχολογικά και ψυχιατρικά προβλήματα των ίδιων των νέων, τις δυσκολίες εκπλήρωσης των ακαδημαϊκών υποχρεώσεων, τις δυσκολίες στην ευρύτερη κοινωνικότητα, και την εμπειρία αντιξοοτήτων στο παρόν. Το δεύτερο θέμα αφορά το συναισθηματικό βίωμα από την εμπειρία της γονικής ψυχικής νόσου, το τρίτο θέμα περιλαμβάνει τη σχέση με τον πάσχοντα γονιό στο παρόν και την ανάληψη από τους νέους του ρόλου του φροντιστή, το τέταρτο θέμα αφορά τις ανησυχίες για τις συντροφικές σχέσεις, και το πέμπτο θέμα την οπτική του εαυτού στο μέλλον, τους φόβους, τα όνειρα και τις επιθυμίες. Συμπερασματικά, η εμπειρία της γονικής ψυχικής νόσου σύμφωνα με τις αφηγήσεις των συμμετεχόντων επισύρει πολλαπλές επιπτώσεις, θετικές και αρνητικές, στην αναδυόμενη ενηλικίωση.
Data-driven modeling in digital twin for power system anomaly detection
Authors: Shi Xin , Fang Fang , Qiu Robert
Published: April 2024

Background: Power system anomaly detection is of great significance for realizing system situation awareness and early detection of system operating risks. In view of the complex operating conditions of the system, there are a large number of opaque links in the mechanism, and the anomaly detection approach based on physical mechanism modeling is prone to system errors due to assumptions, simplification, and transfer in the modeling process. This paper focuses on digital twin based data-driven approaches for power system anomaly detection to compensate for the limitation of physical methods in dynamical modeling.

Methods: First of all, a digital twin framework for power system real-time analysis is constructed based on the concept of digital twin. Then, this paper conducts researches on the core of the designed framework, i.e., digital twin modeling. Considering the complexity of power system operating conditions, data-driven modeling is preferred and a random matrix and free probability theory based model for anomaly detection of system operating situation is constructed.

Results: Simulation data with different spatiotemporal structure generated through a Monte Carlo experiment verified the sensitivity of the constructed model for data correlations. Meanwhile, the case on the system operating data generated through the IEEE 118-bus system validate the effectiveness of the proposed model for the system anomaly detection.

Conclusions: The constructed data-driven model can accurately characterize the correlations among data elements, has good sensitivity to the variation of data spatial and temporal correlations, and can depict the data residuals better than the M-P law curve, which indicates the practicability and necessity of the constructed data-driven model for the digital twin modeling of power system anomaly detection.
Trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) agonism for psychosis: a living systematic review and meta-analysis of human and non-human data
Authors: Siafis Spyridon , Chiocchia Virginia , Macleod Malcolm R. , Austin Charlotte , Homiar Ava , Tinsdeall Francesca , Friedrich Claire , Ramage Fiona J. , Kennett Jaycee , Nomura Nobuyuki , Maksym Olena , Rutigliano Grazia , Vano Luke J. , McCutcheon Robert A. , Gilbert David , Ostinelli Edoardo G. , Stansfield Claire , Dehdarirad Hossein , Juma Damian Omari , Wright Simonne , Simple Ouma , Elugbadebo Olufisayo , Tonia Thomy , Mantas Ioannis , Howes Oliver D. , Furukawa Toshi A. , Milligan Lea , Moreno Carmen , Elliott Julian H. , Hastings Janna , Thomas James , Michie Susan , Sena Emily S. , Seedat Soraya , Egger Matthias , Potts Jennifer , Cipriani Andrea , Salanti Georgia , Leucht Stefan
Published: April 2024

Background Trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1) agonism shows promise for treating psychosis, prompting us to synthesise data from human and non-human studies. Methods We co-produced a living systematic review of controlled studies examining TAAR1 agonists in individuals (with or without psychosis/schizophrenia) and relevant animal models. Two independent reviewers identified studies in multiple electronic databases (until 17.11.2023), extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. Primary outcomes were standardised mean differences (SMD) for overall symptoms in human studies and hyperlocomotion in animal models. We also examined adverse events and neurotransmitter signalling. We synthesised data with random-effects meta-analyses. Results Nine randomised trials provided data for two TAAR1 agonists (ulotaront and ralmitaront), and 15 animal studies for 10 TAAR1 agonists. Ulotaront and ralmitaront demonstrated few differences compared to placebo in improving overall symptoms in adults with acute schizophrenia (N=4 studies, n=1291 participants; SMD=0.15, 95%CI: -0.05, 0.34), and ralmitaront was less efficacious than risperidone (N=1, n=156, SMD=-0.53, 95%CI: -0.86, -0.20). Large placebo response was observed in ulotaront phase-III trials. Limited evidence suggested a relatively benign side-effect profile for TAAR1 agonists, although nausea and sedation were common after a single dose of ulotaront. In animal studies, TAAR1 agonists improved hyperlocomotion compared to control (N=13 studies, k=41 experiments, SMD=1.01, 95%CI: 0.74, 1.27), but seemed less efficacious compared to dopamine D2 receptor antagonists (N=4, k=7, SMD=-0.62, 95%CI: -1.32, 0.08). Limited human and animal data indicated that TAAR1 agonists may regulate presynaptic dopaminergic signalling. Conclusions TAAR1 agonists may be less efficacious than dopamine D2 receptor antagonists already licensed for schizophrenia. The results are preliminary due to the limited number of drugs examined, lack of longer-term data, publication bias, and assay sensitivity concerns in trials associated with large placebo response. Considering their unique mechanism of action, relatively benign side-effect profile and ongoing drug development, further research is warranted. Registration PROSPERO-ID:CRD42023451628.
Fundamentals of the organization of Judicial Power in the Russian Federation
Authors: Smirnova Irina , Litvinceva Natal'ya
Published: April 2024

The textbook examines the issues of organization of the judicial system and judicial power at the present stage, reveals the features of the institutional nature of the activities of courts, and also contains an analysis of judicial panels.
Meets the requirements of the latest generation of federal state educational standards for higher education.
For students of higher educational institutions studying in the areas of training “Jurisprudence”, “Legal support of national security”, “Judicial and prosecutorial activities”.
Evictionism: the only compromise solution to the abortion controversy
Authors: Block Walter
Published: April 2024

One of the most important philosophical debates now tearing our nation apart is the one concerning abortion. In this matter, there can be little controversy. The present paper is an attempt to patch up this matter by offering a compromise solution, that gives each side, pro-choice and pro-life, half a loaf. Moreover, it is a principled compromise, not merely adding up the two sides and dividing them equally. No cutting babies in half, here.
La innovación en el proceso de producción y transformación de la hoja de bijao (Calathea lutea) en los sistemas tradicionales de agricultura familiar
Authors: Fonseca Contreras Miguel , Higuera Mora Nubia Carolina , Angarita Arlex , Morales Perdomo Jéssica Andrea
Published: April 2024

Los procesos para obtener la hoja de bijao, la cual se usa para envolver el bocadillo veleño, han cambiado a través de los años. La innovación ha permitido dar valor agregado al producto y a la cadena de producción de bocadillo veleño, una golosina tradicional colombiana. El objetivo central de este trabajo consistió en identificar los procesos y aspectos de innovación que han realizado los productores tradicionales de bijao y por los impulsores de innovación, y las áreas que requieren ser atendidas con futuras innovaciones que mejoren el desempeño del proceso. La metodología empleada comprendió revisión documental, entrevistas semiestructuradas, diagnósticos rápidos y ejecución de talleres participativos con integrantes de las asociaciones de productores de bijao en los municipios colombianos de Vélez (Santander) y Moniquirá (Boyacá), en los cuales participaron también diferentes actores relacionados que estaban presentes en el territorio. Con esto se identificó la manera como se ha venido innovando en la transformación de la hoja de bijao a través del tiempo y el impacto positivo que esto ha tenido en aspectos técnicos productivos, organizativos, comerciales y ambientales. También se identificaron algunas limitaciones en el trabajo en las organizaciones, como el trabajo en equipo, la baja motivación en los jóvenes para participar y la necesidad de fortalecer la cohesión social como organizaciones que permitan la búsqueda de nuevas oportunidades colectivas que lleven a una valoración más amplia sobre la labor que ha fortalecido la identidad del territorio a partir de la producción del bocadillo veleño.
Measurements and Simulation of Compressive Behavior of Biodegradable Seedling Containers
Authors: Jiang Yu , Zhang Xinyue , Hoppe Teo , Birch Robyn , Chen Ying
Published: April 2024

Highlights

Compression tests were conducted on biodegradable containers with various conditions.

The lateral loading reduced the compressive strength compared with the vertical loading.

A model was developed using FEA to simulate the compressive behavior of the biocontainer.

Model results showed similar ductile behaviors of the biocontainers with test results.

The compressive strengths of wet biocontainers were below 20% of dry ones.

Abstract. Biodegradable seedling containers (biocontainers) are becoming increasingly popular for use in transplanting and greenhouse applications. However, biocontainers have reduced mechanical strength when compared to plastic containers, often being damaged during the handling process. In this study, Canadian peat moss biocontainers were tested to study their compressive properties under different scenarios of various container sizes (small and large), moisture conditions (dry and wet), and orientation (vertical and lateral) relative to the loading direction. Also, simulations were performed using the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for the selected scenario, focusing on the small container with two moisture conditions. The testing results showed that the force-displacement behavior of biocontainers varied dramatically with the orientation. In the lateral orientation, the biocontainers were able to carry loads while being largely deformed. However, the lateral orientation resulted in a reduced compressive strength of 21% compared with the vertical orientation. The moisture condition was found to be the second most dominant factor affecting the result. The compressive strength of the wet biocontainer was only 15.4%-19.6% of the dry ones. FEA simulation results showed similar ductile behaviors of the biocontainers under compression. Compared with the testing results, the relative errors of the simulated compressive strengths were 24.0% for the small, dry container and 9.89% for the small, wet one. FEA simulations were conducted with various Young’s Modulus values, revealing a logarithmic relationship with the container strength and deformation. The obtained knowledge of how the biocontainers react when subjected to compression provides insight to the failure mechanism of the container. The information is valuable for guiding the proper handling of biocontainers. Keywords: Biocontainer, Compression, FEA, Moisture condition, Property.
Adaptive decision threshold algorithm based on a sliding window to reduce BER of free-space optical communication systems
Authors: Ying Ruilei , Zheng Yunqiang , Wei Sentao , He Yuanchen , Xie Zhuang , He Mingze , Wang Wei
Published: April 2024

Free-space optical communication (FSOC) systems face susceptibility to several factors, such as transmission distance, atmospheric turbulence, and alignment errors. These elements contribute to fluctuations in the signal strength reaching the receiver. The resultant signal fluctuations can result in misjudgments and an elevated bit error rate (BER). This paper proposes an adaptive decision threshold algorithm based on a sliding window (ADTSW). By estimating received signal parameters and delimiting the amplitude interval, the algorithm ensures that the decision threshold tracks signal fluctuations, thereby reducing signal misjudgment. The effectiveness of the algorithm is validated through simulations and experimentation. When the signal peak-to-peak value fluctuates, simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm achieves a 1-order-of-magnitude reduction in BER compared to the traditional fixed decision threshold (FDT) method. Under the influence of weak atmospheric turbulence with different scintillation variance, both simulation and experimentation indicate a 1-order-of-magnitude reduction in BER compared to the FDT method. The ADTSW algorithm proves its capability in minimizing misjudgments, thereby effectively reducing BER and improving communication quality.
Tunable multifunctional terahertz metasurface based on an indium antimonide medium
Authors: Jiang Ming-yang , Li Jiu-sheng , Xiong Ri-hui
Published: April 2024

Active adjustable terahertz multifunctional devices are crucial for the application of terahertz technology. In this paper, we propose a composite metasurface structure based on an indium antimonide metal octagonal pattern, which achieves different functional switching by controlling the phase state of indium antimonide material under different ambient temperatures. When indium antimonide exhibits in the dielectric state, by stacking and encoding the unit cell, the designed metasurface has the functions of two-beam splitting beam superposition, vortex beam and quarter beam superposition, and dual vortex beam superposition for circularly polarized and linearly polarized wave incidence. When indium antimonide appears in the metallic state, the encoding metasurface alters the modulation function of incident circularly polarized and linearly polarized terahertz waves. This terahertz metasurface provides a new approach for the design of multifunctional devices that can flexibly regulate terahertz wave metasurfaces.
Thermo-optic reconfigurable three-mode (de)multiplexer based on an asymmetrical horizontal directional coupler
Authors: Memon Areez Khalil , Zhang Hao , Chen Kaixin
Published: April 2024

In this paper, we propose a thermo-optic reconfigurable three-mode (de)multiplexer
based on an asymmetrical horizontal three-waveguide directional
coupler that includes two identical single-mode waveguides and a
three-mode waveguide. Over the whole wavelength range of
1540–1560 nm, and for the TE (TM) polarization, our typical
fabricated device with polymer material shows coupling efficiencies as
high as 94% (93%) and 93% (92%) for the mode conversions of LP01−LP11a and LP01−LP11b, with the heating powers of
53.57 mW and 71.19 mW, respectively. Our proposed device
can be employed in the fields of reconfigurable mode-division
multiplexing systems.
Cost-effective 3D-printed rotatable reflectors for two-dimensional beam steering
Authors: Shen Ching-Kai , Tsui Wei-An , Yeh Pin-Hung , Tsai Cheng-Lin , Cheng Yi-Wen , Tsai Jui-Che
Published: April 2024

In this paper, we have developed a 2D optical scanning module comprising cascaded
3D-printed one-axis rotating mirrors with large areas (30×30mm2 for the X-direction scan and 60×25mm2 for the Y-direction scan). Each
mirror device contains a square or rectangular silicon substrate
coated with aluminum, serving as the mirror. A 3D-printed structure,
including the mirror frame (with four embedded mini permanent magnets
on the backside), torsion springs, and base, is combined with the
mirror; two electromagnets are situated under the mirror as the
actuation mechanism. We apply DC voltage to the electromagnets to
create magnetic force. The electromagnets can interact with the
permanent magnets to make the mirror rotate. The X scan of the 2D
scanning module can achieve a static optical scan angle of ∼11.8deg at the -X corners, and the
corresponding Y-scan angle is ∼4.5deg, both with 12 VDC. Moreover, we have
observed a fan-shaped distortion, a phenomenon not thoroughly studied
previously for combining two single-axis scan mirrors. Therefore, we
also perform a simulation to establish and demonstrate a correlation
between the simulation prediction and experimental results. The 2D
scanning module can be a low-cost alternative to the expensive
conventional galvanometer scanners, and it can be used to upgrade a
rangefinder to a simplified LiDAR.
SAHIS-Net: a spectral attention and feature enhancement network for microscopic hyperspectral cholangiocarcinoma image segmentation
Authors: Zhang Yunchu , Dong Jianfei
Published: April 2024

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) poses a significant clinical challenge due to its aggressive nature and poor prognosis. While traditional diagnosis relies on color-based histopathology, hyperspectral imaging (HSI) offers rich, high-dimensional data holding potential for more accurate diagnosis. However, extracting meaningful insights from this data remains challenging. This work investigates the application of deep learning for CCA segmentation in microscopic HSI images, and introduces two novel neural networks: (1) Histogram Matching U-Net (HM-UNet) for efficient image pre-processing, and (2) Spectral Attention based Hyperspectral Image Segmentation Net (SAHIS-Net) for CCA segmentation. SAHIS-Net integrates a novel Spectral Attention (SA) module for adaptively weighing spectral information, an improved attention-aware feature enhancement (AFE) mechanism for better providing the model with more discriminative features, and a multi-loss training strategy for effective early stage feature extraction. We compare SAHIS-Net against several general and CCA-specific models, demonstrating its superior performance in segmenting CCA regions. These results highlight the potential of our approach for segmenting medical HSI images.
Compact adiabatic mode (de)multiplexer using a subwavelength grating waveguide in the silicon-on-insulator platform
Authors: Long Jing , Liu Xiaochun , Chen Changshui
Published: April 2024

Mode-division multiplexing technology holds great promise for addressing the ever-increasing demand for data transmission capacity. This paper proposes a compact adiabatic mode (de)multiplexer [(de)MUX] using a subwavelength grating (SWG) waveguide in the silicon-on-insulator platform, with optimization for the TE0-TE1 and TE0-TE2 mode (de)MUXs. By introducing an SWG waveguide, the coupling strength of waveguides can be enhanced, making it possible for the realization of more compact adiabatic mode (de)MUXs. The adiabatic evolution lengths for TE0-TE1 and TE0-TE2 mode (de)MUXs are only 10 µm and 17.5 µm, respectively. The numerical simulation shows that the operating bandwidth of the proposed device is beyond 200 nm. For the TE0-TE1 mode (de)MUX, the insertion loss and mode crosstalk of TE0-TE1 mode conversion within the whole wavelength range of 1450–1650 nm are less than 0.25 dB and −32.0dB, respectively. For the TE0-TE2 mode (de)MUX, the insertion loss and mode crosstalk of TE0-TE2 mode conversion within the entire bandwidth are less than 0.26 dB and −27.4dB, respectively. The TE0-TE1 and TE0-TE2 mode (de)MUXs can be cascaded to form a three-mode (de)MUX. For TE0-TE0, TE0-TE1, and TE0-TE2 processes within the entire bandwidth, the mode crosstalks are less than −33.5dB, −26.1dB, and −25.8dB, respectively. The device is scalable to the conversion of TE0 mode to higher-order mode.
Ultrafast evanescently coupled waveguide MUTC-PDs with high responsivity
Authors: Sun Mingwei , Xiong Bing , Sun Changzheng , Hao Zhibiao , Wang Jian , Wang Lai , Han Yanjun , Li Hongtao , Gan Lin , Luo Yi
Published: April 2024

Novel evanescently coupled waveguide modified uni-traveling carrier photodiodes (MUTC-PDs) employing a thick multi-layer coupling waveguide are reported. To improve the optical-to-electrical (O/E) conversion efficiency, a thick multi-layer coupling waveguide with a gradually increased refractive index from the bottom layer to the absorption layer is utilized. The refractive index profile facilitates the upward transmission of incident light into the absorption region, thereby enhancing the evanescent coupling efficiency. Meanwhile, the coupling waveguide, with a total thickness of 1.75 µm, expands the mode field diameter, thereby reducing the input coupling loss. Additionally, the top layer of the coupling waveguide also serves as the drift layer. This configuration facilitates efficient light absorption within a short PD length, thus ensuring ultrawide bandwidth and high O/E conversion efficiency simultaneously. Without an additional spot size coupler or anti-reflection coating, the measured responsivity is as high as 0.38 A/W for the PD with an active area of 5 × 6 µm2. Meanwhile, an ultrawide 3-dB bandwidth of 153 GHz has been demonstrated.
Fully dense generative adversarial network for removing artifacts caused by microwave dielectric effect in thermoacoustic imaging
Authors: Fu Jia , Tang Xiaoyu , Wang Xinghua , Jin Zhiyuan , Fu Yichao , Zhang Huimin , Xu Xiongjun , Qin Huan
Published: April 2024

Microwave-induced thermoacoustic (TA) imaging (MTAI) combines pulsed microwave excitation and ultrasound detection to provide high contrast and spatial resolution images through dielectric contrast, which holds great promise for clinical applications. However, artifacts caused by microwave dielectric effect will seriously affect the accuracy of MTAI images that will hinder the clinical translation of MTAI. In this work, we propose a deep learning-based method fully dense generative adversarial network (FD-GAN) for removing artifacts caused by microwave dielectric effect in MTAI. FD-GAN adds the fully dense block to the generative adversarial network (GAN) based on the mutual confrontation between generator and discriminator, which enables it to learn both local and global features related to the removal of artifacts and generate high-quality images. The practical feasibility was tested in simulated, experimental data. The results demonstrate that FD-GAN can effectively remove the artifacts caused by the microwave dielectric effect, and shows superiority in denoising, background suppression, and improvement of image distortion. Our approach is expected to significantly improve the accuracy and quality of MTAI images, thereby enhancing the diagnostic accuracy of this innovative imaging technique.
InSb all-dielectric metasurface for ultrahigh efficient Si-based mid-infrared detection
Authors: Wang Sheng Yi , Wang Qiu , Luo Hao , Ge Hua , Li Xiang , Jia Bo Wen
Published: April 2024

Mid-infrared (MIR) Si-based optoelectronics has wide potential applications, and its design requires simultaneous consideration of device performance optimization and the feasibility of heterogeneous integration. The emerging interest in all-dielectric metasurfaces for optoelectronic applications stems from their exceptional ability to manipulate light. In this Letter, we present our research on an InSb all-dielectric metasurface designed to achieve ultrahigh absorptivity within the 5–5.5 µm wavelength range. By integrating an InSb nanodisk array layer on a Si platform using wafer bonding and heteroepitaxial growth, we demonstrate three kinds of metasurface with high absorptivity of 98.36%, 99.28%, and 99.18%. The enhanced absorption is mainly contributed by the Kerker effect and the anapole state and the peak, with the added flexibility of tuning both the peak and bandwidth of absorption by altering the metasurface parameters. Our findings provide an alternative scheme to develop high-performance detectors and absorbers for MIR silicon photonics.
Space-time modulated loaded-wire metagratings for magnetless nonreciprocity and near-complete frequency conversion
Authors: Hadad Yakir , Sounas Dimitrios
Published: April 2024

In recent years, significant progress has been made in the development of magnet-less nonreciprocity using space-time modulation, both in electromagnetics and acoustics. This approach has so far resulted in a plethora of non-reciprocal devices, such as isolators and circulators, over different parts of the spectrum, for guided waves. On the other hand, very little work has been performed on non-reciprocal devices for waves propagating in free space, which can also have many practical applications. For example, it was shown theoretically that non-reciprocal scattering by a metasurface can be obtained if the surface-impedance operator is continuously modulated in space and time. However, the main challenge in the realization of such a metasurface is due to the high complexity required to modulate in space and time many sub-wavelength unit-cells of which the metasurface consists. In this paper, we show that spatiotemporally modulated metagratings can lead to strong nonreciprocal responses, even though they are based on electrically-large unit cells and use only three modulation domains. We specifically focus on wire metagratings loaded with time-modulated capacitances. We use the discrete-dipole approximation and an ad-hoc generalization of the theory of polarizability for time-modulated particles and demonstrate an effective non-reciprocal anomalous reflection (diffraction) with an efficient frequency conversion. Thus, our work opens a venue for a practical design and implementation of highly non-reciprocal magnet-less metasurfaces in electromagnetics and acoustics.
The quantitative genetics of gene expression in Mimulus guttatus
Authors: Veltsos Paris , Kelly John K.
Published: April 2024

Gene expression can be influenced by genetic variants that are closely linked to the expressed gene (cis eQTLs) and variants in other parts of the genome (trans eQTLs). We created a multiparental mapping population by sampling genotypes from a single natural population of Mimulus guttatus and scored gene expression in the leaves of 1,588 plants. We find that nearly every measured gene exhibits cis regulatory variation (91% have FDR < 0.05). cis eQTLs are usually allelic series with three or more functionally distinct alleles. The cis locus explains about two thirds of the standing genetic variance (on average) but varies among genes and tends to be greatest when there is high indel variation in the upstream regulatory region and high nucleotide diversity in the coding sequence. Despite mapping over 10,000 trans eQTL / affected gene pairs, most of the genetic variance generated by trans acting loci remains unexplained. This implies a large reservoir of trans acting genes with subtle or diffuse effects. Mapped trans eQTLs show lower allelic diversity but much higher genetic dominance than cis eQTLs. Several analyses also indicate that trans eQTLs make a substantial contribution to the genetic correlations in expression among different genes. They may thus be essential determinants of “gene expression modules,” which has important implications for the evolution of gene expression and how it is studied by geneticists.
The World Health Organization was born as a normative agency: Seventy-five years of global health law under WHO governance
Authors: Gostin Lawrence O. , Meier Benjamin Mason , Abdool Karim Safura , Bueno de Mesquita Judith , Burci Gian Luca , Chirwa Danwood , Finch Alexandra , Friedman Eric A. , Habibi Roojin , Halabi Sam , Lee Tsung-Ling , Toebes Brigit , Villarreal Pedro
Published: April 2024

The World Health Organization (WHO) was born as a normative agency and has looked to global health law to structure collective action to realize global health with justice. Framed by its constitutional authority to act as the directing and coordinating authority on international health, WHO has long been seen as the central actor in the development and implementation of global health law. However, WHO has faced challenges in advancing law to prevent disease and promote health over the past 75 years, with global health law constrained by new health actors, shifting normative frameworks, and soft law diplomacy. These challenges were exacerbated amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as states neglected international legal commitments in national health responses. Yet, global health law reforms are now underway to strengthen WHO governance, signaling a return to lawmaking for global health. Looking back on WHO’s 75thanniversary, this article examines the central importance of global health law under WHO governance, reviewing the past successes, missed opportunities, and future hopes for WHO. For WHO to meet its constitutional authority to become the normative agency it was born to be, we offer five proposals to reestablish a WHO fit for purpose: normative instruments, equity and human rights mainstreaming, sustainable financing, One Health, and good governance. Drawing from past struggles, these reforms will require further efforts to revitalize hard law authorities in global health, strengthen WHO leadership across the global governance landscape, uphold equity and rights at the center of global health law, and expand negotiations in global health diplomacy.
Bacterial diversity and composition on the rinds of specific melon cultivars and hybrids from across different growing regions in the United States
Authors: Goforth Madison , Obergh Victoria , Park Richard , Porchas Martin , Crosby Kevin M. , Jifon John L. , Ravishankar Sadhana , Brierley Paul , Leskovar Daniel L. , Turini Thomas A. , Schultheis Jonathan , Coolong Timothy , Miller Rhonda , Koiwa Hisashi , Patil Bhimanagouda S. , Cooper Margarethe A. , Huynh Steven , Parker Craig T. , Guan Wenjing , Cooper Kerry K.
Published: April 2024

The goal of this study was to characterize the bacterial diversity on different melon varieties grown in different regions of the US, and determine the influence that region, rind netting, and variety of melon has on the composition of the melon microbiome. Assessing the bacterial diversity of the microbiome on the melon rind can identify antagonistic and protagonistic bacteria for foodborne pathogens and spoilage organisms to improve melon safety, prolong shelf-life, and/or improve overall plant health. Bacterial community composition of melons (n = 603) grown in seven locations over a four-year period were used for 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and analysis to identify bacterial diversity and constituents. Statistically significant differences in alpha diversity based on the rind netting and growing region (p < 0.01) were found among the melon samples. Principal Coordinate Analysis based on the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity distance matrix found that the melon bacterial communities clustered more by region rather than melon variety (R2 value: 0.09 & R2 value: 0.02 respectively). Taxonomic profiling among the growing regions found Enterobacteriaceae, Bacillaceae, Microbacteriaceae, and Pseudomonadaceae present on the different melon rinds at an abundance of ≥ 0.1%, but no specific core microbiome was found for netted melons. However, a core of Pseudomonadaceae, Bacillaceae, and Exiguobacteraceae were found for non-netted melons. The results of this study indicate that bacterial diversity is driven more by the region that the melons were grown in compared to rind netting or melon type. Establishing the foundation for regional differences could improve melon safety, shelf-life, and quality as well as the consumers’ health.
Who supports Bernie? Analyzing identity and ideological variation on Twitter during the 2020 democratic primaries
Authors: Shuster Stef M. , Campos-Castillo Celeste , Madani Navid , Joseph Kenneth
Published: April 2024

Using a novel dataset of 590M messages by 21M users, we present the first large-scale examination of the behavior of likely Bernie supporters on Twitter during the 2020 U.S. Democratic primaries and presidential election. We use these data to dispel empirically the notion of a unified, stereotypical Bernie supporter (e.g., the “Bernie Bro”). Instead, our work uncovers significant variation in the identities and ideologies of Bernie supporters who were active on Twitter. Our work makes three contributions to the literature on social media and social movements. Methodologically, we present a novel mixed methods approach to surface identity and ideological variation within a movement via use of patterns in who retweets whom (i.e. who retweets which other users) and who retweets what (i.e. who retweets which specific tweets). Substantively, documentation of these variations challenges a trend in the social movement literature to assume actors within a particular movement are unified in their ideology, identity, and values.