bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In vivo probabilistic atlas of white matter tracts of the human subthalamic area combining track density imaging and optimized diffusion tractography
Authors: Basile Gianpaolo Antonio , Quartu Marina , Bertino Salvatore , Serra Maria Pina , Trucas Marcello , Boi Marianna , Demontis Roberto , Bramanti Alessia , Anastasi Giuseppe Pio , Milardi Demetrio , Ciurleo Rosella , Cacciola Alberto
Published: September 2022

The human subthalamic area is a region of high anatomical complexity, tightly packed with tiny fiber bundles. Some of them, including the pallidothalamic, cerebello-thalamic, and mammillothalamic tracts, are relevant targets in functional neurosurgery for various brain diseases. Diffusion-weighted imaging-based tractography has been suggested as a useful tool to map white matter pathways in the human brain in vivo and non-invasively, though the reconstruction of these specific fiber bundles is challenging due to their small dimensions and complex anatomy. To the best of our knowledge, a population-based, in vivo probabilistic atlas of subthalamic white matter tracts is still missing. In the present work, we devised an optimized tractography protocol for reproducible reconstruction of the tracts of subthalamic area in a large data sample from the Human Connectome Project repository. First, we leveraged the super-resolution properties and high anatomical detail provided by short tracks track-density imaging (stTDI) to identify the white matter bundles of the subthalamic area on a group-level template. Tracts identification on the stTDI template was also aided by visualization of histological sections of human specimens. Then, we employed this anatomical information to drive tractography at the subject-level, optimizing tracking parameters to maximize between-subject and within-subject similarities as well as anatomical accuracy. Finally, we gathered subject level tracts reconstructed with optimized tractography into a large-scale, normative population atlas. We suggest that this atlas could be useful in both clinical anatomy and functional neurosurgery settings, to improve our understanding of the complex morphology of this important brain region.
Derotation screws provide no advantage over polyaxial screws regarding coronal & sagittal correction in thoracic curves of AIS patients
Authors: Hammad Ahmed , Wirries André , Eberl Johanna , Geiger Florian
Published: September 2022

Purpose

We compared two techniques for thoracic apical derotation; one using conventional reduction screws (Single-Innie–SI) and one requiring special derotation screws that can be converted to monoaxial screws to enhance dorotation (Dual-Innie–DI) for coronal and sagittal correction and.

Methods

A total of 200 patients with thoracic AIS have been included. In the SI-Group (n = 127) the convex rod was applied first. Vertebral derotation was done by translation to the concave rod with the convex rod being in place and center of rotation (COR). In the DI-Group (n = 73) correction started with translation on the concave side as well but now followed by derotation around the concave rod using the DI-mechanism.

Results

The mean rotation according to Raimondi and coronal correction was not sig. affected (72 (± 12) % in the SI-Group versus 68 (± 15) % in the DI-Group), even when flexibility was respected (Cincinnati Correction Index CCI was 2.9 (± 4.9) versus 3.5 (± 4.4). (p < 0.01). The gain of kyphosis was sig greater (2.7°) in the SI-group, but not clinical relevant.

Conclusion

The use of DI screws for apical derotation did not provide an advantage for coronal correction or derotation in thoracic curves. Presumably after translation is performed in the DI-group, there was too much tension and friction in the construct impeding further derotation. Simultaneous translation and derotation in the SI-group, with the convex rod being the COR, yielded similar correction with better kyphosis and was faster and more economic.
Towards dynamic and heterogeneous social IoT environments
Authors: Flores-Martin Daniel , Berrocal Javier , García-Alonso José , Murillo Juan M.
Published: September 2022

Nowadays, there are millions of smart devices connected to the Internet. The purpose of these devices is to make people’s lives easier. Thanks to the collaboration among them, the possibilities that the Internet of Things brings can grow exponentially. However, many manufacturers develop closed protocols and devices to protect their market share, limiting in many ways this collaboration. This paper presents a conceptual architecture that improves the proactive collaboration between IoT devices regardless of the protocols developed by their manufacturers. This architecture aims to identify entities in smart environments, describe their features and interfaces, and identify strategies fostering their collaborations. As a result, devices from different manufacturers can communicate to create a collaborative environment in a simple, efficient, and affordable way. This architecture has been evaluated in a real and a simulated environment, to validate its feasibility and efficiency.
Medical decision-making competence regarding puberty suppression: perceptions of transgender adolescents, their parents and clinicians
Authors: Vrouenraets Lieke Josephina Jeanne Johanna , de Vries Annelou L. C. , Arnoldussen Marijn , Hannema Sabine E. , Lindauer Ramón J. L. , de Vries Martine C. , Hein Irma M.
Published: September 2022

According to international transgender care guidelines, transgender adolescents should have medical decision-making competence (MDC) to start puberty suppression (PS) and halt endogenous pubertal development. However, MDC is a debated concept in adolescent transgender care and little is known about the transgender adolescents’, their parents’, and clinicians’ perspectives on this. Increasing our understanding of these perspectives can improve transgender adolescent care. A qualitative interview study with adolescents attending two Dutch gender identity clinics (eight transgender adolescents who proceeded to gender-affirming hormones after PS, and six adolescents who discontinued PS) and 12 of their parents, and focus groups with ten clinicians was conducted. From thematic analysis, three themes emerged regarding transgender adolescents’ MDC to start PS: (1) challenges when assessing MDC, (2) aspects that are considered when assessing MDC, and (3) MDC’s relevance. The four criteria one needs to fulfill to have MDC—understanding, appreciating, reasoning, communicating a choice—were all, to a greater or lesser extent, mentioned by most participants, just as MDC being relative to a specific decision and context. Interestingly, most adolescents, parents and clinicians find understanding and appreciating PS and its consequences important for MDC. Nevertheless, most state that the adolescents did not fully understand and appreciate PS and its consequences, but were nonetheless able to decide about PS. Parents’ support of their child was considered essential in the decision-making process. Clinicians find MDC difficult to assess and put into practice in a uniform way. Dissemination of knowledge about MDC to start PS would help to adequately support adolescents, parents and clinicians in the decision-making process.
The Discourje project: run-time verification of communication protocols in Clojure
Authors: Hamers Ruben , Horlings Erik , Jongmans Sung-Shik
Published: September 2022

To simplify shared-memory concurrent programming, languages have started to offer core support for high-level communications primitives, in the form of message passing though channels, in addition to lower-level synchronisation primitives. Yet, a growing body of evidence suggests that channel-based programming abstractions also have their issues. The Discourje project aims to help programmers cope with channels and concurrency bugs in Clojure programs, based on dynamic analysis. The idea is that programmers write not only implementations of communication protocols in their Clojure programs, but also specifications. Discourje then offers a run-time verification library to ensure that channel actions in implementations are safe relative to specifications. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of Discourje, including case studies, theoretical foundations, and practical aspects.
Unmet needs and gaps in the identification of secondary progression in multiple sclerosis: a Southern Italy healthcare professionals’ perspective
Authors: Lus Giacomo , Bassano Marco André , Brescia Morra Vincenzo , Bonavita Simona , Gallo Antonio , Maimone Davide , Malerba Laura , Maniscalco Giorgia Teresa , Saccà Francesco , Salemi Giuseppe , Turrini Renato , Cottone Salvatore , Sessa Edoardo , Buccafusca Maria , Grimaldi Luigi Maria Edoardo
Published: September 2022

Objective

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease with different clinical courses and a tendency to worsening. The relapsing–remitting MS presents acute onset and relapses of neurological symptoms, followed by their remission. This form can convert to secondary progressive MS (SPMS) with irreversible neurological worsening and disability. The identification of signs, symptoms, markers of progression, and strategies to manage MS patients is mandatory to allow early identification of those at higher risk of conversion to SPMS, for prompt intervention to cope with the progression of the disease.

Methods

A panel of Italian experts from Southern Italy have reviewed the current knowledge on MS and its management and identified the crucial tools for SPMS recognition.

Results

More effective communication between patients and clinicians should be established, with the support of digital tools. Moreover, the improvement in the clinical use of biomarkers for progression (cellular structures and tissue organization, such as neurofilaments and chitinase 3-like 1, axonal and neurons density) and of instrumental analyses for recognition of whole-brain atrophy, chronic active lesions, spinal cord lesions and atrophy, and the improvement the combination of the Expanded Disability Status Scale and the evaluation of cognitive dysfunction are discussed.

Conclusion

Given the availability of a pharmacological option, adequate education both for patients, regarding the evolution of the disease and the specific treatment, and for professionals, to allow more effective and sensitive communication and the best use of diagnostic and management tools, could represent a strategy to improve patient management and their quality of life.
Non-asymptotic superlinear convergence of standard quasi-Newton methods
Authors: Jin Qiujiang , Mokhtari Aryan
Published: September 2022

In this paper, we study and prove the non-asymptotic superlinear convergence rate of the Broyden class of quasi-Newton algorithms which includes the Davidon–Fletcher–Powell (DFP) method and the Broyden–Fletcher–Goldfarb–Shanno (BFGS) method. The asymptotic superlinear convergence rate of these quasi-Newton methods has been extensively studied in the literature, but their explicit finite–time local convergence rate is not fully investigated. In this paper, we provide a finite–time (non-asymptotic) convergence analysis for Broyden quasi-Newton algorithms under the assumptions that the objective function is strongly convex, its gradient is Lipschitz continuous, and its Hessian is Lipschitz continuous at the optimal solution. We show that in a local neighborhood of the optimal solution, the iterates generated by both DFP and BFGS converge to the optimal solution at a superlinear rate of $$(1/k)^{k/2}$$

(
1
/
k
)

k
/
2

, where k is the number of iterations. We also prove a similar local superlinear convergence result holds for the case that the objective function is self-concordant. Numerical experiments on several datasets confirm our explicit convergence rate bounds. Our theoretical guarantee is one of the first results that provide a non-asymptotic superlinear convergence rate for quasi-Newton methods.
Effect of dapagliflozin on the initial estimated glomerular filtration rate dip in chronic kidney disease patients without diabetes mellitus
Authors: Shibata Ryo , Taguchi Kensei , Kaida Yusuke , Fukami Kei
Published: September 2022

Background

Dapagliflozin (DAPA), a sodium-glucose transporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i), attenuates kidney outcomes in patients with not only diabetes mellitus (DM) but also chronic kidney disease (CKD). SGLT2i-derived initial dip in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) has been considered to reduce excess glomerular pressure, followed by renal protection in patients with DM. However, whether DAPA confers the eGFR dip and its independent determinants for CKD patients without DM are unclear.

Methods

A total of 126 patients with CKD treated with 10 mg DAPA daily was retrospectively registered. After participants with missing data and DM were excluded, 51 participants were enrolled.

Results

An initial eGFR dip was observed 1 month after initiation of DAPA, which was sustained until 2 months. DAPA did not affect urinary protein excretion; however, serum uric acid was decreased, while hemoglobin level was increased. Multiple regression analysis revealed that eGFR at baseline was the only independent determinant of the initial dip of eGFR. The patients currently showing exacerbation of glomerular hyperfiltration exhibited the larger initial eGFR dip rather than those showing progressive renal dysfunction. The patients meeting exclusion criteria of DAPA-CKD trial exhibited same degree of the initial eGFR dip as others.

Conclusions

DAPA causes an initial dip of eGFR in CKD patients without DM at 1 month after starting DAPA treatment. A higher eGFR at baseline predicts a large initial eGFR dip, which might be linked to the subsequent recovery in eGFR in CKD patients without DM.
The long-term cost-effectiveness of once-weekly semaglutide 1 mg vs. dulaglutide 3 mg and 4.5 mg in the UK
Authors: Viljoen Adie , Chubb Barrie , Malkin Samuel J. P. , Berry Sasha , Hunt Barnaby , Bain Stephen C.
Published: September 2022

Aims

Once-weekly semaglutide and dulaglutide represent two highly efficacious treatment options for type 2 diabetes. A recent indirect treatment comparison (ITC) has associated semaglutide 1 mg with similar and greater improvements in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and body weight, respectively, vs. dulaglutide 3 mg and 4.5 mg. The present study aimed to evaluate the long-term cost-effectiveness of semaglutide 1 mg vs. dulaglutide 3 mg and 4.5 mg in the UK.

Materials and methods

The IQVIA CORE Diabetes Model (v9.0) was used to project outcomes over patients’ lifetimes. Baseline cohort characteristics were sourced from SUSTAIN 7, with changes in HbA1c and body mass index applied as per the ITC. Modelled patients received semaglutide or dulaglutide for 3 years, after which treatment was intensified to basal insulin. Costs (expressed in 2020 pounds sterling [GBP]) were accounted from a healthcare payer perspective.

Results

Semaglutide 1 mg was associated with improvements in quality-adjusted life expectancy of 0.05 and 0.04 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) vs. dulaglutide 3 mg and 4.5 mg, respectively, due to a reduced incidence of diabetes-related complications with semaglutide. Direct costs were estimated to be GBP 76 lower and GBP 8 higher in the comparisons with dulaglutide 3 mg and 4.5 mg, respectively. Overall outcomes were similar, but favoured semaglutide, and based on modelled mean outcomes it was considered dominant vs. dulaglutide 3 mg and associated with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of GBP 228 per QALY gained vs. dulaglutide 4.5 mg.

Conclusions

Semaglutide 1 mg represents a cost-effective treatment vs. dulaglutide 3 mg and 4.5 mg for type 2 diabetes from a healthcare payer perspective in the UK.
UTC and GNSS system time access using PPP with broadcast ephemerides
Authors: Carlin Luca , Montenbruck Oliver , Furthner Johann , Hauschild André
Published: September 2022

The application of precise point positioning with broadcast ephemerides (PPP-BCE) is discussed as an alternative to the established all-in-view technique for multi-GNSS time transfer. It combines the use of broadcast ephemerides with low-noise carrier-phase observations for accessing GNSS system time scales and Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) with improved precision, and can be employed on stationary as well as mobile receivers in offline or real-time analyses. Using calibrated timing receivers, the method is shown to provide estimates of the GNSS-to-GNSS time offsets (XYTOs) with an accuracy at the 2 ns level. In the absence of prior calibrations, 0.5 ns consistency across different stations is achieved for GPS, Galileo, and BeiDou-3 after adjustment of systematic biases in comparison with calibrated reference stations or broadcast XYTO values. Furthermore, access to GNSS-specific UTC realizations can be obtained through predictions of the UTC offset from GNSS system time as provided in the broadcast ephemerides of individual constellations. The overall quality of the PPP-BCE-derived receiver clock offsets from UTC is assessed using calibrated receivers at various timing laboratories along with BIPM-provided UTC-UTC(k) measurements. Over the 1.5 years covered in the study, an accuracy of 1.8 ns for GPS and 2.5 ns for Galileo is demonstrated. For BeiDou, a slightly worse accuracy of 3 ns is obtained for a single timing laboratory over 9 months.
A Credibility Assessment Plan for an In Silico Model that Predicts the Dose–Response Relationship of New Tuberculosis Treatments
Authors: Curreli Cristina , Di Salvatore Valentina , Russo Giulia , Pappalardo Francesco , Viceconti Marco
Published: September 2022

Tuberculosis is one of the leading causes of death in several developing countries and a public health emergency of international concern. In Silico Trials can be used to support innovation in the context of drug development reducing the duration and the cost of the clinical experimentations, a particularly desirable goal for diseases such as tuberculosis. The agent-based Universal Immune System Simulator was used to develop an In Silico Trials environment that can predict the dose–response of new therapeutic vaccines against pulmonary tuberculosis, supporting the optimal design of clinical trials. But before such in silico methodology can be used in the evaluation of new treatments, it is mandatory to assess the credibility of this predictive model. This study presents a risk-informed credibility assessment plan inspired by the ASME V&V 40‐2018 technical standard. Based on the selected context of use and regulatory impact of the technology, a detailed risk analysis is described together with the definition of all the verification and validation activities and related acceptability criteria. The work provides an example of the first steps required for the regulatory evaluation of an agent-based model used in the context of drug development.
Automatic captioning for medical imaging (MIC): a rapid review of literature
Authors: Beddiar Djamila-Romaissa , Oussalah Mourad , Seppänen Tapio
Published: September 2022

Automatically understanding the content of medical images and delivering accurate descriptions is an emerging field of artificial intelligence that combines skills in both computer vision and natural language processing fields. Medical image captioning is involved in various applications related to diagnosis, treatment, report generation and computer-aided diagnosis to facilitate the decision making and clinical workflows. Unlike generic image captioning, medical image captioning highlights the relationships between image objects and clinical findings, which makes it a very challenging task. Although few review papers have already been published in this field, their coverage is still quite limited and only particular problems are addressed. This motivates the current paper where a rapid review protocol was adopted to review the latest achievements in automatic medical image captioning from the medical domain perspective. We aim through this review to provide the reader with an up-to-date literature in this field by summarizing the key findings and approaches in this field, including the related datasets, applications and limitations as well as highlighting the main competitions, challenges and future directions.
miR-24-3p Regulates Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition and the Malignant Phenotype of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma by Regulating ASF1B Expression
Authors: Huang Wentao , Lin Tiansheng , Huang Long , Wu Junyi , Hong Jiaming , Qiu Funan , Tian Yifeng , Wang Yaodong
Published: September 2022

Anti-silencing function protein 1 homolog B (ASF1B) has been implicated in the occurrence and development of cancers. The present work explored the functional role and the expression regulation of ASF1B in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Based on the real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC), ASF1B was significantly upregulated in PDAC tissues. High expression of ASF1B was associated with a poor overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (DFS) in the PDAC patients. ASF1B also showed a relatively higher expression in PDAC cells (AsPC-1, PANC-1) when compared with human pancreatic ductal epithelial cells (HPDFe-6). CCK8 and clone formation assay demonstrated that silencing ASF1B impaired the proliferation in PANC-1 and AsPC-1 cells, and Annexin V-PI staining showed an increased level of apoptosis upon ASF1B silencing. ASF1B silencing also suppressed the migration and invasion in PDAC cells, as revealed by Transwell assays. We further showed that miR-24-3p was downregulated in PDAC tissues and cells, which functionally interacted with ASF1B by dual-luciferase reporter assay. miR-24-3p negatively regulated ASF1B expression to modulate the malignant phenotype of PDAC cells. ASF1B shows high expression in PDAC, which promotes the malignancy and EMT process of PDAC cells. miR-24-3p is a negative regulator of ASF1B and is downregulated in PDAC cells. Our data suggest that targeting ASF1B/miR-24-3p axis may serve as an intervention strategy for the management of PDAC.
Ductal carcinoma in situ of the male breast: clinical radiological features and management in a cancer referral center
Authors: Nicosia Luca , Lissidini Germana , Sargenti Manuela , Bozzini Anna Carla , Farante Gabriel , Vila José , Oriecuia Chiara , Pagan Eleonora , Bagnardi Vincenzo , Lazzeroni Matteo , Pesapane Filippo , Sangalli Claudia , Galimberti Viviana , Cassano Enrico , Veronesi Paolo
Published: September 2022

Purpose

To present an overview of the management of male patients with Ductal Carcinoma In Situ of the breast (male DCIS).

Methods

We retrospectively studied all male patients with a diagnosis of pure DCIS from January 1999 to December 2018: 20 patients were identified in our cancer referral center. We collected data regarding clinical presentation, age of onset, radiological features, receptor status of the neoplasm, histological type, and the follow-up of those patients.

Results

The median age was 62 years (range 21–80). All patients underwent surgery, in 15/20 (75%) cases a mastectomy was carried out. Two patients (10%) underwent endocrine treatment and 1/20 (5%) underwent radiotherapy. The receptor status for 15/20 patients was documented: 13/15 patients were ER+/Pr+. In 3 cases the Ki 67% was positive (i.e., > 20%). All cases were negative for Her2. The median follow-up time was 9.0 years (IQR 4.0–13.7). Only one patient had an ipsilateral recurrence with the finding of an infiltrating carcinoma in the same breast after 14 years. The 5-year disease-free survival was 92.9%.

Conclusion

Pure DCIS in men is an extremely rare disease: proper diagnosis and management allow an excellent prognosis.
Right ventricular longitudinal function is linked to left ventricular filling pressure in patients with repaired tetralogy of fallot
Authors: Johansson Martin , Binka Edem , Barnes Benjamin , Gaur Lasya , Hedström Erik , Kutty Shelby , Carlsson Marcus
Published: September 2022

Experimental data on pulmonary regurgitation has linked right ventricular longitudinal function to left ventricular filling pressure in animals with induced and treated pulmonary regurgitation but this relationship has not been investigated in patients with repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (rToF). The aim of this study was to determine if right ventricular longitudinal function assessed using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is associated with left ventricular filling pressure in patients with rToF. A second objective of this study was to determine if direction of septal movement is related to right ventricular pressure load in rToF. Eighteen patients with rToF undergoing CMR and heart catheterization prior to pulmonary valve replacement were retrospectively included and catheter-based pressure measurements were compared with CMR-derived RV regional function. Left ventricular filling pressure was measured as precapillary wedge pressure (PCWP). Longitudinal contribution to RV stroke volume correlated with PCWP (r = 0.48; p = 0.046) but not with RV EF or pulmonary regurgitation. Neither RV longitudinal strain nor TAPSE showed correlation with PCWP. Longitudinal contribution to stroke volume was lower for the RV compared to the LV (49 vs 54%; p = 0.039). Direction of septal movement did not show a correlation with RV end-systolic pressure. Right ventricular longitudinal pumping is associated with left ventricular filling pressure in rToF-patients and this inter-ventricular coupling may explain LV underfilling in patients with pulmonary regurgitation and rToF and may be of value to determine right ventricular dysfunction. RV systolic pressure, however, cannot be assessed from the direction of septal movement, in these patients.
Prediction of cellulose micro/nanofiber aspect ratio and yield of nanofibrillation using machine learning techniques
Authors: Signori-Iamin Giovana , Santos Alexandre F. , Corazza Marcos L. , Aguado Roberto , Tarrés Quim , Delgado-Aguilar Marc
Published: September 2022

Predictive monitoring of two key properties of nanocellulose, aspect ratio and yield of nanofibrillation, would help manufacturers control and optimize production processes, given the uncertainty that still surrounds their influential factors. For that, 20 different types of cellulosic and lignocellulosic micro/nanofibers produced from spruce and pine softwoods, and by different pre-treatment and fibrillation techniques, were used as training and testing datasets aiming at the development and evaluation of three machine learning models. The models used were Random Forests (RF), Linear Regression (LR) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), broadening the scope of our previous work (Santos et al. in Cellulose 29:5609–5622, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-022-04631-5). Performance of these models were evaluated by comparing statistical parameters such as Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) and R². For the aspect ratio and the yield of nanofibrillation, inputs were chosen among these easily controlled or measured variables: Total lignin (wt%), Cellulose (wt%), Hemicellulose (wt%), Extractives (wt%), HPH Energy Consumption (kWh/kg), Cationic Demand (µeq/g), Transmittance at 600 nm and Consistency index (Ostwald-De Waele’s k). In both cases, the ANN models trained here provided satisfactory estimates of aspect ratio (MAPE = 4.54% and R2 = 0.96) and the yield of nanofibrillation (MAPE = 6.74% and R2 = 0.98), being able to capture the effect of the applied energy along the fibrillation process. RF and LR models resulted in correlation coefficients of 0.93 and 0.95, respectively, for aspect ratio, while for yield of nanofibrillation the correlation coefficients were 0.87 and 0.92.
Butson full propelinear codes
Authors: Armario José Andrés , Bailera Ivan , Egan Ronan
Published: September 2022

In this paper we study Butson Hadamard matrices, and codes over finite rings coming from these matrices in logarithmic form, called BH-codes. We introduce a new morphism of Butson Hadamard matrices through a generalized Gray map on the matrices in logarithmic form, which is comparable to the morphism given in a recent note of Ó Catháin and Swartz. That is, we show how, if given a Butson Hadamard matrix over the$$k{\mathrm{th}}$$kthroots of unity, we can construct a larger Butson matrix over the$$\ell \mathrm{th}$$ℓthroots of unity for any$$\ell $$ℓdividingk, provided that any primepdividingkalso divides$$\ell $$ℓ. We prove that a$${\mathbb {Z}}_{p^s}$$Zps-additive code withpa prime number is isomorphic as a group to a BH-code over$${\mathbb {Z}}_{p^s}$$Zpsand the image of this BH-code under the Gray map is a BH-code over$${\mathbb {Z}}_p$$Zp(binary Hadamard code for$$p=2$$p=2). Further, we investigate the inherent propelinear structure of these codes (and their images) when the Butson matrix is cocyclic. Some structural properties of these codes are studied and examples are provided.
Full-Polarimetric Tx/Rx Duplexer Concept for Broadband High-Power Radar Applications
Authors: Haas Daniel
Published: September 2022

In radar systems with a common Tx/Rx antenna, duplexers are used to separate Tx/Rx signals during operation. Especially for high-power radar systems, Tx/Rx duplexers are key components, affecting the overall system performance. This letter presents a novel Tx/Rx duplexer concept, suitable for circular full-polarimetric radar operation with multi-kW transmission power and broad bandwidth. The concept allows to push the reconnaissance capability of future broadband high-power radar sensors for space observation.
Characteristics of the ocular surface in neurotrophic keratitis induced by trigeminal nerve injury following neurosurgery
Authors: Xie Caiyuan , Liu Bo , Zhao Xiaoyu , He Qing , Liu Lin , Wei Ruihua
Published: September 2022

Purpose

To analyse and quantify ocular surface parameters in patients with unilateral neurotrophic keratitis (NK) induced by trigeminal nerve injury post-neurosurgery.

Methods

The study included 26 unilateral NK patients who had undergone neurosurgery, and 20 matched normal controls. Demographic and clinical characteristics of all participants were collected and analysed. Slit-lamp examination, Cochet–Bonnet aesthesiometry, Keratograph 5 M, and LipiView interferometer were performed on both eyes of 17 mild NK patients. For nine moderate/severe NK patients, sub-basal nerve density was measured by in vivo confocal microscopy.

Results

Of the 26 patients, nine had acoustic neuroma, nine had trigeminal neuralgia, and eight had neoplasms. Facial nerve paralysis was observed in one of the 17 mild NK eyes (5.9%) and seven of the nine moderate/severe NK eyes (77.8%). Compared to contralateral and normal control eyes, 26 NK eyes showed significantly reduced sensitivity in five corneal regions (P < 0.05). Corneal sensitivity in moderate/severe NK eyes was significantly lower than in mild NK eyes (P < 0.05). Moderate/severe NK eyes had poor visual acuity, and their sub-basal nerve density was lower than that of the controls. The onset of the moderate/severe NK was from 0.5 to 24 months (median [Q1, Q3], 1 [0.5, 2.5] months) after neurosurgery. For the mild NK eyes, the number of total blinks, the first non-invasive tear breakup time (NITBUT) and average NITBUT were significantly lower than contralateral and normal control eyes (P < 0.05), and the number of partial blinks and partial blinking rate were significantly higher than the other two control groups (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Patients with NK induced by trigeminal nerve injury following neurosurgery had decreased corneal sensitivity to various degrees accompanied by increased partial blinks and shortened NITBUT. The severity of NK is related to the severity of the corneal sensory impairment. Facial nerve paralysis can worsen the clinical progression of NK.

Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100044068, Date of Registration: March 9, 2021).
New Predictor–Corrector Algorithm for Symmetric Cone Horizontal Linear Complementarity Problems
Authors: Darvay Zsolt , Rigó Petra Renáta
Published: September 2022

We propose a new predictor–corrector interior-point algorithm for solving Cartesian symmetric cone horizontal linear complementarity problems, which is not based on a usual barrier function. We generalize the predictor–corrector algorithm introduced in Darvay et al. (SIAM J Optim 30:2628–2658, 2020) to horizontal linear complementarity problems on a Cartesian product of symmetric cones. We apply the algebraically equivalent transformation technique proposed by Darvay (Adv Model Optim 5:51–92, 2003), and we use the difference of the identity and the square root function to determine the new search directions. In each iteration, the proposed algorithm performs one predictor and one corrector step. We prove that the predictor–corrector interior-point algorithm has the same complexity bound as the best known interior-point methods for solving these types of problems. Furthermore, we provide a condition related to the proximity and update parameters for which the introduced predictor-corrector algorithm is well defined.
An Adaptive Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers
Authors: Bartz Sedi , Campoy Rubén , Phan Hung M.
Published: September 2022

The alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) is a powerful splitting algorithm for linearly constrained convex optimization problems. In view of its popularity and applicability, a growing attention is drawn toward the ADMM in nonconvex settings. Recent studies of minimization problems for nonconvex functions include various combinations of assumptions on the objective function including, in particular, a Lipschitz gradient assumption. We consider the case where the objective is the sum of a strongly convex function and a weakly convex function. To this end, we present and study an adaptive version of the ADMM which incorporates generalized notions of convexity and penalty parameters adapted to the convexity constants of the functions. We prove convergence of the scheme under natural assumptions. To this end, we employ the recent adaptive Douglas–Rachford algorithm by revisiting the well-known duality relation between the classical ADMM and the Douglas–Rachford splitting algorithm, generalizing this connection to our setting. We illustrate our approach by relating and comparing to alternatives, and by numerical experiments on a signal denoising problem.
Control of Partial Differential Equations via Physics-Informed Neural Networks
Authors: García-Cervera Carlos J. , Kessler Mathieu , Periago Francisco
Published: September 2022

This paper addresses the numerical resolution of controllability problems for partial differential equations (PDEs) by using physics-informed neural networks. Error estimates for the generalization error for both state and control are derived from classical observability inequalities and energy estimates for the considered PDE. These error bounds, that apply to any exact controllable linear system of PDEs and in any dimension, provide a rigorous justification for the use of neural networks in this field. Preliminary numerical simulation results for three different types of PDEs are carried out to illustrate the performance of the proposed methodology.
Bidirectional Associations of Prosocial Behavior with Peer Acceptance and Rejection in Adolescence
Authors: Chávez Daniela V. , Salmivalli Christina , Garandeau Claire F. , Berger Christian , Kanacri Bernadette P. Luengo
Published: September 2022

As most studies on the link between peer status and prosocial behavior are cross-sectional, conducted with children, and operationalize status as the difference between acceptance and rejection, it remains unclear whether peer acceptance and rejection are consequences or prerequisites of prosocial behavior in adolescence. To fill this gap, this study examines the bidirectional associations of prosocial behavior with peer acceptance and peer rejection with data collected at 3 time points, 6 months apart, in a sample of 660 early Chilean adolescents (M = 12.94, SD = 0.62; 55.1% boys). Cross-lagged panel analyses showed that prosocial behavior positively predicted future peer acceptance, whereas peer acceptance had no significant effect on future prosocial behavior. The association between rejection and prosocial behavior was negative and bidirectional between Time 1 and Time 2. When a new academic year began, between Time 2 and Time 3, prosocial behavior negatively predicted rejection, whereas rejection in the previous grade level was positively associated with prosocial behavior at the beginning of the next grade. Multi-group panel analyses did not detect significant differences between boys and girls in the cross-lagged associations of prosociality with peer acceptance and peer rejection. The results suggest that acting prosocially can make adolescents better liked by their peers and highlight the possible importance of the transition to a new academic year for the prosocial behavior of previously rejected students. Implications for future research on peer relations are discussed.
Mapping and characterising buildings for flood exposure analysis using open-source data and artificial intelligence
Authors: Bhuyan Kushanav , Van Westen Cees , Wang Jiong , Meena Sansar Raj
Published: September 2022

The mapping and characterisation of building footprints is a challenging task due to inaccessibility and incompleteness of the required data, thus hindering the estimation of loss caused by natural and anthropogenic hazards. Major advancements have been made in the collaborative mapping of buildings with platforms like OpenStreetMap, however, many parts of the world still lack this information or the information is outdated. We created a semi-automated workflow for the development of elements-at-risk (EaR) databases of buildings by detecting building footprints using deep learning and characterising the footprints with building occupancy information using building morphological metrics and open-source auxiliary data. The deep learning model was used to detect building EaR footprints in a city in Kerala (India) with an F1 score of over 76%. The footprints were classified into 13 building occupancy types along with information such as average number of floors, total floor space area, building density, and percentage of built-up area. We analysed the transferability of the approach to a different city in Kerala and obtained an almost similar F1 score of 74%. We also examined the exposure of the buildings and the associated occupancies to floods using the 2018 flood susceptibility map of the respective cities. We notice certain shortcomings in our research particularly, the need for a local expert and good quality auxiliary data to obtain reasonable building occupancy information, however, our research contributes to developing a rapid method for generating a building EaR database in data-scarce regions with attributes of occupancy types, thus supporting regional risk assessment, disaster risk mitigation, risk reduction initiatives, and policy developments.
Emotion and attention
Authors: Mitchell Jonathan
Published: September 2022

This paper first demonstrates that recognition of the diversity of ways that emotional responses modulate ongoing attention generates what I call thepuzzle of emotional attention, which turns on the fact that distinct emotions (e.g., fear, happiness, disgust, admiration etc.) have different attentional profiles. The puzzle concerns why this is the case, such that a solution consists in explaining why distinct emotions have the distinct attentional profiles they do. It then provides an account of the functional roles of different emotions, as tied to their evaluative themes, which explains and further elucidates the distinctive attentional profiles of different emotions, so solving the puzzle of emotional attention. Following that, it outlines how such attentional profiles are reflected in the character of emotional experience and its attentional phenomenology. The resulting picture is a more detailed account of the connections between emotion and attention than is currently on offer in the philosophical literature.
3D-Arterial analysis software and CEUS in the assessment of severity and vulnerability of carotid atherosclerotic plaque: a comparison with CTA and histopathology
Authors: Fresilli Daniele , Di Leo Nicola , Martinelli Ombretta , Di Marzo Luca , Pacini Patrizia , Dolcetti Vincenzo , Del Gaudio Giovanni , Canni Fabrizio , Ricci Ludovica Isabella , De Vito Corrado , Caiazzo Corrado , Carletti Raffaella , Di Gioia Cira , Carbone Iacopo , Feinstein Steven B. , Catalano Carlo , Cantisani Vito
Published: September 2022

Purpose

Our purpose is to assess Multiparametric Ultrasound (MPUS) efficacy for evaluation of carotid plaque vulnerability and carotid stenosis degree in comparison with Computed Tomography angiography (CTA) and histology.

Material and methods

3D-Arterial Analysis is a 3D ultrasound software that automatically provides the degree of carotid stenosis and a colorimetric map of carotid plaque vulnerability.

We enrolled 106 patients who were candidates for carotid endarterectomy. Prior to undergoing surgery, all carotid artery plaques were evaluated with Color-Doppler-US (CDUS), Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS), and 3D Arterial analysis (3DAA) US along with Computerized Tomographic Angiography (CTA) to assess the carotid artery stenosis degree. Post-surgery, the carotid specimens were fixed with 10% neutral buffered formalin solution, embedded in paraffin and used for light microscopic examination to assess plaque vulnerability morphological features.

Results

The results of the CTA examinations revealed 91 patients with severe carotid stenoses with a resultant diagnostic accuracy of 82.3% for CDUS, 94.5% for CEUS, 98.4% for 3DAA, respectively. The histopathological examination showed 71 vulnerable plaques with diagnostic accuracy values of 85.8% for CDUS, 93.4% for CEUS, 90.3% for 3DAA, 92% for CTA, respectively.

Conclusions

The combination of CEUS and 3D Arterial Analysis may provide a powerful new clinical tool to identify and stratify “at-risk” patients with atherosclerotic carotid artery disease, identifying vulnerable plaques. These applications may also help in the postoperative assessment of treatment options to manage cardiovascular risks.
Dressing of hybrid-bonded graded diamond grinding wheels
Authors: Denkena Berend , Bergmann Benjamin , Raffalt Daniel
Published: September 2022

For tool grinding, an optimization potential in terms of productivity is available using graded grinding wheels. This is especially the case when grinding flutes in cemented carbide. Due to the properties of the cemented carbide, high radial wear occurs. Depending on the geometry of the flute, the radial wear varies along the engagement width of the grinding tool. The varying radial wear can be compensated by load adapting the grinding tool properties along its engagement width. The adaptation of the wear behaviour to non-uniform engagement conditions results in non-uniform radial wear occurring under uniform engagement conditions. Indeed, this is the case when dressing these grinding tools. Therefore, this publication presents a method that enables the dressing of graded grinding wheels. For this purpose, four differently graded grinding wheels and two non-graded grinding wheels are dressed with SiC-rolls. Different SiC-rolls, as well as dressing parameters, are investigated. The contour accuracy after dressing is analysed using contour profiles in polyurethane. In the presented paper, dressing parameters are proposed which allow reproducible dressing of all grinding wheels used.
Genome-wide identification and functional prediction of silicon (Si) transporters in poplar (Populus trichocarpa)
Authors: Hassan Md Mahmudul , Martin Samir , Feng Kai , Yates Timothy B. , Yuan Guoliang , Martin Madhavi Z. , Martin Stanton , Muchero Wellington , Griffiths Natalie A. , Weston David J. , Yang Xiaohan
Published: September 2022

Silicon (Si) enhances plant tolerance to various biotic and abiotic stressors such as salinity, drought, and heat. In addition, Si can be biomineralized within plants to form organic carbon-containing phytoliths that can have ecosystem-level consequences by contributing to long-term carbon sequestration. Si is taken up and transported in plants via different transporter proteins such as influx transporters (e.g., Lsi1, Lsi6) and efflux transporters (e.g., Lsi2). Additionally, the imported Si can be deposited in plant leaves via silicification process using the Siliplant 1 (e.g., Slp1) protein. Functional homologs of these proteins have been reported in different food crops. Here, we performed a genome-wide analysis to identify different Si transporters and Slp1 homologs in the bioenergy crop poplar (Populus trichocarpa Torr. and A. Gray ex W. Hook). We identified one channel-type Si influx transporter (PtLsi1; Potri.017G083300), one Si efflux transporter (PtLsi2; Potri.012G144000) and two proteins like Slp1 (PtSlp1a; Potri.004G168600 and PtSlp1b; Potri.009G129900) in the P. trichocarpa genome. We found a unique sequence (KPKPPVFKPPPVPI) in PtSlp1a which is repeated six times. Repeated presence of this sequence in PtSlp1a indicates that this protein might be important for silicification processes in P. trichocarpa. The mutation profiles of different Si transporters in a P. trichocarpa genome-wide association study population identified significant and impactful mutations in Potri.004G168600 and Potri.009G129900. Using a publically accessible database (http://bar.utoronto.ca/eplant_poplar/), digital expression analysis of the putative Si transporters in P. trichocarpa found low to moderate expression in the anticipated tissues, such as roots and leaves. Subcellular localization analysis found that PtLsi1/PtLsi2 are localized in the plasma membrane, whereas PtSlp1a/PtSlp1b are found in the extracellular spaces. Protein–Protein interaction analysis of PtLsi1/PtLsi2 identified Delta-1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthase (P5CS) as one of the main interacting partners of PtLsi2, which plays a key role in proline biosynthesis. Proline is a well-known participant in biotic and abiotic stress tolerance in plants. These findings will reinforce future efforts to modify Si accumulation for enhancing plant stress tolerance and carbon sequestration in poplar.
Fuel sources, natural vegetation and subsistence at a high-altitude aboriginal settlement in Tenerife, Canary Islands: Microcontextual geoarchaeological data from Roques de García Rockshelter
Authors: Tomé Laura , Jambrina-Enríquez Margarita , Égüez Natalia , Herrera-Herrera Antonio V. , Davara Javier , Marrero Salas Efraín , Arnay de la Rosa Matilde , Mallol Carolina
Published: September 2022

High-altitude island environments, with their characteristic strong seasonal contrast and limited resources, are challenging contexts for human subsistence. However, although archaeological contexts in this kind of setting hold great potential to explore the diversity of human biological and cultural adaptations, such sites are rare. In this paper, we present the results of a microcontextual geoarchaeological study carried out at Roques de García Rockshelter, the highest altitude cave archaeological site in the Canary Islands (Spain). The site was inhabited by the aboriginal population of the island and has yielded a rich archaeological context derived from combustion activity. We carried out soil micromorphology to characterize site function and lipid biomarker analysis to investigate the natural and anthropogenic organic record. Our data indicate that the aboriginal groups that occupied the site kept goats with them (in the rockshelter) and probably used Juniperus turbinata (sabina) wood, a current distant fuel source. These results suggest that the aboriginal societies of Tenerife occupied the highlands regularly, taking their herds and firewood with them. Further research is necessary to explore the use and exploitation of fuel sources, the seasonality of these occupations and their differences with lowland sites.