bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Style transfer generative adversarial networks to harmonize multisite MRI to a single reference image to avoid overcorrection
Authors: Liu Mengting , Zhu Alyssa H. , Maiti Piyush , Thomopoulos Sophia I. , Gadewar Shruti , Chai Yaqiong , Kim Hosung , Jahanshad Neda ,   for the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: July 2023

Recent work within neuroimaging consortia have aimed to identify reproducible, and often subtle, brain signatures of psychiatric or neurological conditions. To allow for high‐powered brain imaging analyses, it is often necessary to pool MR images that were acquired with different protocols across multiple scanners. Current retrospective harmonization techniques have shown promise in removing site‐related image variation. However, most statistical approaches may over‐correct for technical, scanning‐related, variation as they cannot distinguish between confounded image‐acquisition based variability and site‐related population variability. Such statistical methods often require that datasets contain subjects or patient groups with similar clinical or demographic information to isolate the acquisition‐based variability. To overcome this limitation, we consider site‐related magnetic resonance (MR) imaging harmonization as a style transfer problem rather than a domain transfer problem. Using a fully unsupervised deep‐learning framework based on a generative adversarial network (GAN), we show that MR images can be harmonized by inserting the style information encoded from a single reference image, without knowing their site/scanner labels a priori. We trained our model using data from five large‐scale multisite datasets with varied demographics. Results demonstrated that our style‐encoding model can harmonize MR images, and match intensity profiles, without relying on traveling subjects. This model also avoids the need to control for clinical, diagnostic, or demographic information. We highlight the effectiveness of our method for clinical research by comparing extracted cortical and subcortical features, brain‐age estimates, and case–control effect sizes before and after the harmonization. We showed that our harmonization removed the site‐related variances, while preserving the anatomical information and clinical meaningful patterns. We further demonstrated that with a diverse training set, our method successfully harmonized MR images collected from unseen scanners and protocols, suggesting a promising tool for ongoing collaborative studies. Source code is released in USC‐IGC/style_transfer_harmonization (github.com).
The effect of information strategies on support for a peace agreement: An experimental study on the private sector in Afghanistan
Authors: Hotak Nematullah , Kaneko Shinji , Simangan Dahlia
Published: July 2023

This paper reports the results of an experiment conducted before the 2021 regime change in Afghanistan that examined how different types of information strategies affected private sector support for a hypothetical peace agreement with the Taliban. We compared the impact of historical, pecuniary, and religious information on the stated preferences of Afghan business elites and employees in Kabul. The results show that historical information had less of an effect than pecuniary information on respondents' probability of accepting a peace agreement with the Taliban but a slightly larger effect than religious information. Although the context of the study has dramatically changed, the findings can inform practitioners and policymakers in mediating future peace negotiations in Afghanistan and elsewhere.
Fetal gene therapy
Authors: Waddington Simon N. , Peranteau William H. , Rahim Ahad A. , Boyle Ashley K. , Kurian Manju A. , Gissen Paul , Chan Jerry K. Y. , David Anna L.
Published: July 2023

Fetal gene therapy was first proposed toward the end of the 1990s when the field of gene therapy was, to quote the Gartner hype cycle, at its “peak of inflated expectations.” Gene therapy was still an immature field but over the ensuing decade, it matured and is now a clinical and market reality. The trajectory of treatment for several genetic diseases is toward earlier intervention. The ability, capacity, and the will to diagnose genetic disease early—in utero—improves day by day. A confluence of clinical trials now signposts a trajectory toward fetal gene therapy. In this review, we recount the history of fetal gene therapy in the context of the broader field, discuss advances in fetal surgery and diagnosis, and explore the full ambit of preclinical gene therapy for inherited metabolic disease.
Varietal and environmental influences on organoleptic and cooking quality of water yam (Dioscorea alata) landraces
Authors: Rinaldo Dominique , Rolland‐Sabaté Agnès , Lange David , Pétro Dalila
Published: July 2023

BACKGROUND

Yam is a major staple food that provides both energy (starch) and bioactive compounds. However, there is a lack of knowledge on its cooking quality. We have determined the cooking quality of five varieties of water yam (among those most appreciated by consumers), when they were steamed or boiled. The yams were grown in two contrasting locations with regard to pedoclimatic conditions.

RESULTS

Ratio of length to mean circumference of the tuber, difficulty to peel, cooking time, color attributes, hardness of steamed pulp, and dry matter (DM) and starch contents significantly varied among varieties. Cooking time and hardness of the cooked pulp, either steamed or boiled, were higher for tubers grown at the drier location, with vertisols, than at the rainy one, with a ferralitic soil. The raw pulp was richer in starch at the rainy location. We found no correlation between either textural properties or DM and the cooking time. A slight (r = 0.44) but significant correlation was recorded between the DM of the raw pulp and the hardness of the steamed product.

CONCLUSION

We propose a comprehensive multicriteria approach for determination of yam cooking quality, textural properties, color attributes and chemical composition, along with varietal and environmental influences. This approach takes into consideration the complexity of food quality, allows a better understanding of its determinants and provides a basis for useful guidelines for breeders. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Pixel Super‐Resolution Interference Pattern Sensing Via the Aliasing Effect for Laser Frequency Metrology
Authors: Wan Lipeng , Yu Tianbao , Zhao Daomu , Löffler Wolfgang
Published: July 2023

The superposition of several optical beams with large mutual angles results in sub‐micrometer periodic patterns with a complex intensity, phase, and polarization structure. For high‐resolution imaging thereof, one often employs optical super‐resolution methods such as scanning nano‐particle imaging. Here, it is reported that by using a conventional arrayed image sensor in combination with 2D Fourier analysis, the periodicities of light fields much smaller than the pixel size can be resolved in a simple and compact setup, with a resolution far beyond the Nyquist limit set by the pixel size. The ability to resolve periodicities with spatial frequencies of ≈3 µm−1, 15 times higher than the pixel sampling frequency of 0.188 µm−1, is demonstrated. This is possible by analyzing high‐quality Fourier aliases in the first Brillouin zone. In order to obtain the absolute spatial frequencies of the interference patterns, simple rotation of the image sensor is sufficient, which modulates the effective pixel size and allows determination of the original Brillouin zone. Based on this method, wavelength sensing with a resolving power beyond 100,000 without any special equipment is demonstrated.
CT Scan in Children Suspected of Foreign Body Aspiration: A Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis
Authors: El Khoury Patrick , Makhoul Mikhael , El Hadi Christopher , Haber Christelle , Rassi Simon
Published: July 2023

Objective

The goal of this study is to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of computed tomography (CT) scans in the diagnosis of foreign body aspiration (FBA) in children, and to determine whether chest CT scans would reduce the need for diagnostic rigid bronchoscopies.

Data Sources

MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases were searched for relevant articles and conference proceedings that were published in English through November 1, 2022.

Review Methods

We included prospective and retrospective studies comparing chest CT scans and rigid bronchoscopy for the diagnosis of FBA in pediatric patients (<16 years old). The pooled estimates of the sensitivity and specificity of the chest CT scan in the diagnosis of FBA were calculated using a fixed‐ or common‐effects analysis and a random‐effects analysis that accounts for heterogeneity if present. Forest plots were constructed to combine the evidence identified during the systematic review.

Results

Eighteen articles (4178 patients) were included. The average age of the children was 2.26 (±0.75) years, and 65% (±5.64%) of them were boys. Cough was the most prevalent symptom upon presentation. The pooled analysis showed that the sensitivity of chest CT scan in detecting a foreign body in children was 99% (95% confidence interval, CI [97, 100]; I2 = 72%, τ2 = 0.0065, p < .01). The false negative rate was 1.8% (95% CI [0.3, 2.7]; I2 = 72%, p < .01). The specificity of chest CT scan was 92% (95% CI [83, 98]; I2 = 83%, τ2 = 0.0437, p < .01).

Conclusions

Chest CT scan is a sensitive and specific test for the diagnosis of FBA in the pediatric population. Its use can help to reduce unnecessary rigid bronchoscopies, especially in patients with a low clinical suspicion of aspiration. It should not be a replacement for the gold standard bronchoscopy, particularly in cases where there is a clear history and symptoms suggestive of aspiration.
Successful treatment of postinfectious bronchiolitis obliterans with gamma globulin in a tertiary center: 10 years of experience
Authors: Yilmaz Aslı İmran , Gül Yahya , Kapaklı Hasan , Ünal Gökçen , Çağlar Hanife Tuğçe , Ercan Fatih , Reisli İsmail , Keleş Sevgi , Poyraz Necdet , Pekcan Sevgi
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Bronchiolitis obliterans is characterized by partial or total occlusion of the bronchioles due to inflammation and fibrosis, and the most common form is postinfectious bronchiolitis obliterans (PIBO). This study aimed to retrospectively present our intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment experience in PIBO patients with a clinically severe course despite receiving commonly used treatment protocols.

Materials and Methods

The study included patients aged 0–18 with subtle immunological abnormalities who were followed up in our center for PIBO between 2010 and 2021. Clinical evaluation, body mass index (BMI), computerized tomography (CT) image scoring, and immunological parameters were recorded before and after IVIG treatment.

Results

Of the 11 patients included in the study, 90% were male, the mean age at diagnosis was 27.1 months (range: 5–68 months) and the mean current age was 81.4 months (range: 15–188 months). The number of hospital visits due to infection and the frequency of hospitalizations decreased markedly in the patients who underwent IVIG therapy. Oxygen therapy was discontinued in all patients, and improvements in radiological severity scores were observed. BMI z‐scores improved over the baseline values after IVIG therapy.

Conclusion

Corticosteroids are considered the best first‐line treatment to control inflammation in PIBO. In our study group, PIBO patients showed favorable clinical and radiological responses to regular IVIG treatment, possibly due to minor immune deficiency secondary to steroids or as a result of undetected adaptive and innate immune defects involved in the etiology of severe PIBO.
Salivary microbiome and asthma risk in children with orofacial defects
Authors: Chen I‐Lun , Huang Faye , Li Sung‐Chou , Huang Hsin‐Chun
Published: July 2023

Background

Patients with congenital orofacial defects, cleft lip (CL), cleft palate (CP), and cleft lip and palate (CLP) have continuous exposure of the respiratory system to the microbiome from the oral environment, offering opportunities to develop mucosal immunity in the airway. This two‐part study aims to analyze data on asthma occurrence in CL, CP, and CLP infants and the composition of the salivary microbiome, and to evaluate the oral microbiota and its association with the risk of developing childhood asthma.

Methods

Patient data from the research database of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital from 2004 to 2015 were retrospectively analyzed by multivariable regression. Diseases diagnoses were defined by ICD codes. Asthma must also meet the criteria for receiving selective β2 agonistic or/and inhaled corticosteroid treatments twice within 1 year. Analysis of the saliva microbiome was performed prospectively from 2016 to 2020 in 10 healthy term infants and 10 CLP infants on postnatal 7th day, 1 month, and 6 months by next‐generation sequencing.

Results

Asthma and nonasthma groups included 988 and 3952 patients, respectively. The incidence of asthma development was higher in patients with CP than in CL and CLP groups (aOR: 5.644, CI: 1.423–22.376). The species composition of the microbiome at 1 and 6 months was significantly different between infants with CLP and healthy infants.

Conclusion

Children with orofacial defects have a higher risk of developing asthma with a possible contribution from oral microbiota in the early months of life.
Effects of wheat varieties, fungicides and application time onFusariumhead blight and deoxynivalenol contamination control in wheat
Authors: Meng DanDan , Dong Xu , He XianFang , Pan Rui , Sun MingNa , Chu Yue , Tong Zhou , Yi XiaoTong , Fan Hui , Gao TongChun , Duan JinSheng
Published: July 2023

BACKGROUND

Yield loss and toxin contamination caused by wheatFusariumhead blight (FHB) have always been a worldwide concern. Cultivating disease‐resistant varieties and fungicide application are effective measures to control FHB. The comprehensive control technology system for FHB and toxin contamination of wheat in Anhui Province needs further improvement. This study compared the control efficacy of different wheat varieties, fungicides and application times on wheat FHB and deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination, and the dynamic change of DON accumulation after application.

RESULTS

Among the 93 main wheat varieties in Anhui Province, the disease‐resistant and low‐toxic wheat variety “Ningmai 26” was more suitable for planting in the central part of Anhui Province. At the same time, “Yangmai 22” was used for subsequent experiments. The field efficacy trials of different fungicides showed that 30% prothioconazole oil dispersion (OD) had the highest control efficacy on FHB and DON contamination, reaching 94.33 and 77.49%, respectively. The study on the optimum application time of prothioconazole showed that the 0–20% flowering stage was the key point of DON control. The survey of the dynamic changes of DON accumulation showed that prothioconazole could significantly reduce the level of DON accumulation while inhibiting the accumulation rate of DON. At the same time, the control fungicide carbendazim increased the level of DON contamination.

CONCLUSION

This study will provide excellent germplasm resources for cultivating disease‐resistant and low‐toxic wheat varieties, and provide a theoretical reference for establishing a collaborative prevention and control system of disease control and toxin reduction. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Analog Photonics Computing for Information Processing, Inference, and Optimization
Authors: Stroev Nikita , Berloff Natalia G.
Published: July 2023

This review presents an overview of the current state‐of‐the‐art in photonics computing, which leverages photons, photons coupled with matter, and optics‐related technologies for effective and efficient computational purposes. It covers the history and development of photonics computing and modern analogue computing platforms and architectures, focusing on optimization tasks and neural network implementations. The authors examine special‐purpose optimizers, mathematical descriptions of photonics optimizers, and their various interconnections. Disparate applications are discussed, including direct encoding, logistics, finance, phase retrieval, machine learning, neural networks, probabilistic graphical models, and image processing, among many others. The main directions of technological advancement and associated challenges in photonics computing are explored, along with an assessment of its efficiency. Finally, the paper discusses prospects and the field of optical quantum computing, providing insights into the potential applications of this technology.
Prediction of Protein‐Ligand Binding Affinity by a Hybrid Quantum‐Classical Deep Learning Algorithm
Authors: Dong Lina , Li Yulin , Liu Dandan , Ji Ye , Hu Bo , Shi Shuai , Zhang Fangyan , Hu Junjie , Qian Kun , Jin Xianmin , Wang Binju
Published: July 2023

Rapid and accurate prediction of protein‐ligand binding affinity plays a vital role in high‐throughput drug screening. With the development of deep learning, increasingly accurate prediction models have been established. Deep learning may have ushered in an era of quantization, but the practical use of this theory for protein‐ligand binding affinity is still infrequent. Here, the introduction of the quantum algorithm into classical deep learning is described, which enables it to reliably predict protein‐ligand binding affinity using simple sequence information. Based on different deep learning models, including graph neural networks (GNN) and convolutional neural networks (CNN), corresponding quantum hybrid deep learning models have been constructed and compared to the classical models. This study has shown that the quantum algorithm can achieve considerable accuracy and good generalization, and show potential to balance between accuracy and generalization, although the parameters used in the model have been remarkably reduced. These models based on quantum hybrid deep learning (QDL) show robust predictions on four benchmark datasets, and exhibit the practical application power in drug screening for targets related to human liver cirrhosis. This work highlights the potential of the hybrid quantum deep learning algorithm in solving complex problems in bioinformatics.
Postdeposition Halide Exchange for Achieving Deep‐Blue Perovskite Light‐Emitting Diodes: The Role of the Organic Cations in the Chloride Source
Authors: Zhao Shenghe , Yu Hui , Jia Yongheng , Zhou Yang , Zhang Zheng , Zhao Ni
Published: July 2023

Postdeposition halide exchange has been a popular strategy for tuning the emission wavelength of metal halide perovskites and is particularly attractive in achieving deep‐blue perovskite light‐emitting diodes (PeLEDs), where the quality of the emissive layer is largely limited by the low solubility of chlorides in perovskite precursor solution. In this work, the halide exchange strategy is examined for deep‐blue PeLEDs, with a focus on understanding the role of the organic cations of the halide salt (i.e., the chloride source for ion exchange) in modifying the properties of the perovskite films and consequently the PeLED performances. By comparatively investigating the treatment effects of two model systems, namely phenethylammonium chloride and 2,2‐diphenylethylammonium chloride (DPEACl), it is found that although the two chlorides produce highly similar photoluminescence properties of the perovskite films, they create different landscapes for current flow in the PeLEDs. In particular, the bulky branch‐structured DPEA cations exhibit minimal disturbance to the perovskite grains while providing highly effective inter‐grain void filling and thus leakage current blocking, leading to 3D perovskite‐based PeLEDs with a record high peak external quantum efficiency of 6.4% at 462 nm. The study highlights the importance of organic cation selection in the halide exchange processes for PeLEDs.
Reviewing and analyzing shrinkage of peat and other organic soils in relation to selected soil properties
Authors: Seidel Ronny , Dettmann Ullrich , Tiemeyer Bärbel
Published: July 2023

Peat and other organic soils (e.g., organo‐mineral soils) show distinctive volume changes through desiccation and wetting. Important processes behind volume changes are shrinkage and swelling. There is a long history of studies on shrinkage which were conducted under different schemes for soil descriptions, nomenclatures and parameters, measurement approaches, and terminologies. To date, these studies have not been harmonized in order to compare or predict shrinkage from different soil properties, for example, bulk density or substrate composition. This, however, is necessary to prevent biases in the determination of volume‐based soil properties or for the interpretation of elevation measurements in peatlands, in order to predict carbon dioxide emissions or uptake caused by microbial decomposition or peat formation. This study gives a comprehensive overview of shrinkage studies carried out in the last 100 years. Terminology and approaches are systematically classified. In part I, the concepts for shrinkage characteristics, measurement methods, and model approaches are summarized. Part II is a meta‐analysis of shrinkage studies on peat and other organic soils amended by own measurement data obtained by a three‐dimensional structured light scanner. The results show that maximum shrinkage has a wide range from 11% to 93% and is strongly affected by common soil properties (botanical composition, degree of decomposition, soil organic carbon, and bulk density). Showing a stronger correlation, bulk density was a better predictor than soil organic carbon, but maximum shrinkage showed a large spread over all types of peat and other organic soils and ranges of bulk density and soil organic carbon.
More on affine Dynkin quiver Yangians
Authors: Bao Jiakang
Published: July 2023

Abstract

We consider the quiver Yangians associated to general affine Dynkin diagrams. Although the quivers are generically not toric, the algebras have some similar structures. The odd reflections of the affine Dynkin diagrams should correspond to Seiberg duality of the quivers, and we investigate the relations of the dual quiver Yangians. We also mention the construction of the twisted quiver Yangians. It is conjectured that the truncations of the (twisted) quiver Yangians can give rise to certain 𝒲-algebras. Incidentally, we give the screening currents of the 𝒲-algebras in terms of the free field realization in the case of generalized conifolds. Moreover, we discuss the toroidal and elliptic algebras for any general quivers.
The Linear CS/WZW Bulk/Boundary System in AQFT
Authors: Benini Marco , Grant-Stuart Alastair , Schenkel Alexander
Published: July 2023

This paper constructs in the framework of algebraic quantum field theory (AQFT) the linear Chern–Simons/Wess–Zumino–Witten system on a class of 3-manifolds M whose boundary $$\partial M$$

∂
M

is endowed with a Lorentzian metric. It is proven that this AQFT is equivalent to a dimensionally reduced AQFT on a 2-dimensional manifold B, whose restriction to the 1-dimensional boundary $$\partial B$$

∂
B

is weakly equivalent to a chiral free boson.
Derivations and KMS-Symmetric Quantum Markov Semigroups
Authors: Vernooij Matthijs , Wirth Melchior
Published: July 2023

We prove that the generator of the $$L^2$$

L
2

implementation of a KMS-symmetric quantum Markov semigroup can be expressed as the square of a derivation with values in a Hilbert bimodule, extending earlier results by Cipriani and Sauvageot for tracially symmetric semigroups and the second-named author for GNS-symmetric semigroups. This result hinges on the introduction of a new completely positive map on the algebra of bounded operators on the GNS Hilbert space. This transformation maps symmetric Markov operators to symmetric Markov operators and is essential to obtain the required inner product on the Hilbert bimodule.
Almost complex parallelizable manifolds: Kodaira dimension and special structures
Authors: Cattaneo Andrea , Nannicini Antonella , Tomassini Adriano
Published: July 2023

We study the Kodaira dimension of a real parallelizable manifold M, with an almost complex structure J in standard form with respect to a given parallelism. For $$X = (M, J)$$

X
=
(
M
,
J
)

we give conditions under which $${{\,\textrm{kod}\,}}(X) = 0$$

kod

(
X
)
=
0

. We provide examples in the case $$M = G \times G$$

M
=
G
×
G

, where G is a compact connected real Lie group. Finally we describe geometrical properties of real parallelizable manifolds in the framework of statistical geometry.
Gaps and Challenges in Harnessing the Benefits and Opportunities of Indigenous Certification for a Sustainable Communal Commercial Lobster Fishery
Authors: Elegbede Isa , Zurba Melanie , Hameed Ahmad , Campbell Chelsey
Published: July 2023

The Marshall Decision of Canada’s Supreme Court inspired the Mi’kmaq in the 1700s regarding recognizing fishing rights to the Mi’kmaq communities. Despite this recognition, the Mi’kmaq communities did not have access to commercial fisheries due to the denial of absolute recognition of territories and rights and underrepresentation and participation in resource allocation, governance, and decision-making processes. A potential approach to these issues is the development of third-party Indigenous community-based sustainability certification standards for the American lobster (Homarus americanus) commercial fishery of Nova Scotia by Mi’kmaq communities. An Indigenous certification is a market-based tool that focuses on a holistic approach to the sustainability of the resource, followed by independent accreditations and standards. This study identifies the gaps, challenges, and opportunities of Indigenous-based certifications for the American lobster commercial fishery. We adopt a participatory approach to conventional policy analysis and perform a secondary analysis of existing legal and scientific resources to glean valuable information for supporting the establishment of an Indigenous certification for the American lobster. Certification could provide benefits such as increased control over fisheries management, governance, rights, and socioeconomic interest, building capacity for Mi’kmaq communities, and improving stakeholder relationships. However, there are issues with the entry points of certification for Indigenous peoples related primarily to the dominant actors in accreditation. This study will support further research and engagement of the Mi’kmaq people toward developing an Indigenous certification scheme.
Quantitative evaluation of corneal irregularity and scarring after infectious keratitis using anterior segment optical coherence tomography
Authors: Ichikawa Kazunori , Ono Takashi , Chen Lily , Kitamoto Kohdai , Taketatni Yukako , Toyono Tetsuya , Yoshida Junko , Aihara Makoto , Miyai Takashi
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Corneal scars after infectious keratitis lead to insufficient transparency and irregular astigmatism, affecting visual acuity; therefore, they should be accurately evaluated to estimate visual function. This study aimed to quantitatively evaluate corneal irregularity and scarring after infectious keratitis using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT).

Methods

This was an observational clinical study. We included patients who had corneal scarring after treatment of infectious keratitis between 2014 and 2021 at University of Tokyo Hospital. We retrospectively examined best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA), average keratometric power, central corneal thickness (CCT), and four components of the Fourier harmonic analysis including spherical and asymmetry components, as well as regular astigmatism and higher-order irregularity. We included anterior and posterior corneal data and compared results with those of contralateral healthy eyes. Additionally, we quantitatively evaluated the densitometry of the cornea obtained using AS-OCT.

Results

A total of 122 eyes of 61 patients were examined; male predominance was observed (n = 37), and the mean patient age was 55.3 ± 19.4 years. Comparisons with contralateral healthy eyes showed that BSCVA worsened (0.30 ± 0.83 and 0.93 ± 1.36 logMAR, respectively, P = 0.003), and CCT (531.1 ± 46.2 and 591.8 ± 132.4 μm, respectively, P < 0.001) and corneal densitometry (84.4 ± 11.8 and 111.9 ± 19.2 grayscale units, respectively, P < 0.001) increased significantly in affected eyes. The asymmetry component and higher-order irregularities that were not corrected with spectacles significantly increased (both P < 0.001), and there were no significant differences in the changes among the bacterial, fungal, herpetic, and acanthamoeba types of keratitis.

Conclusion

Corneal scarring persisted after treatment for infectious keratitis, and the asymmetry and irregularities of corneal astigmatism increased as visual acuity deteriorated. AS-OCT with the Fourier harmonic analysis was useful for evaluating corneal topographic changes in patients with corneal scarring after keratitis.
Changes in anxiety and depression among public health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic response
Authors: Stone Kahler W. , Jagger Meredith A. , Horney Jennifer A. , Kintziger Kristina W.
Published: July 2023

Objectives

The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted mental health indicators, leading to an increase in symptoms of anxiety and depression in both the general population of adults and children and many occupational groups. This study aims to examine changes in anxiety and depression among a cohort of public health workers in the U.S. during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and identify potential risk factors.

Methods

Longitudinal data were collected from a sub-sample (N = 85) of public health workers in 23 U.S. states who completed two surveys in 2020 and 2021. Information on background characteristics, personal well-being, and work environment as well as validated scales to assess generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), depressive disorder, and burnout was collected. Data were analyzed using Stata Version 17, and significant differences were determined using Pearson’s Chi2 and Fisher’s Exact tests.

Results

The proportion of those reporting GAD (46.3% to 23.2%) or depression (37.8% to 26.8%) improved from Survey 1 to Survey 2 overall; symptoms of anxiety saw the largest improvement. Persistent depression was associated with sustained burnout, changes in social support, and days worked per week.

Conclusion

Public health workers experienced elevated levels of anxiety and depression during the initial pandemic response, but a reduction in these symptoms was observed in the subsequent year after vaccines had become widely available. However, unmet needs remain for ongoing workplace mental health supports to address burnout, as well as for additional emotional supports outside of work for public health professionals.
Perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComas) of the bone and soft tissue: a Japanese Musculoskeletal Oncology Group (JMOG) multi-institutional study
Authors: Izubuchi Yuya , Hamada Shunsuke , Tanzawa Yoshikazu , Fujita Ikuo , Imanishi Jungo , Koyanagi Hirotaka , Shimatani Akiyoshi , Komatsubara Tadashi , Tanaka Takaaki , Fukushima Mana , Imamura Yoshiaki , Ueda Takafumi , Kawano Hirotaka , Matsumine Akihiko
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumors (PEComas) of the bone and soft tissues are rare mesenchymal neoplasms, some of which are malignant. However, their clinical and pathological characteristics remain unclear. This study was performed to investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics of PEComas in bone and soft tissues by leveraging information from the Japanese Musculoskeletal Oncology Group.

Methods

Nine patients, including four male and five female patients with a median age of 50 years, were retrospectively reviewed. PEComas of the visceral organs, including the uterus and retroperitoneum, were excluded.

Results

Eight tumors arose in the soft tissue and one in the bone, with a mean size of 8.8 cm. Four patients showed local recurrence or distant metastasis. The 1-year survival rate was 78%. Pathologically, eight tumors were classified as malignant and one as having uncertain malignancy potential. Half of the tumors showed high MIB-1 index values of > 30%. Immunohistochemically, the melanocyte marker HMB45 was expressed in 89% of the cases, and muscle-specific markers were expressed only in 30–50% of the cases. Transcription factor binding to IGHM enhancer 3 (TFE3) expression was positive in 100% of the patients. Tumors with high expression of TFE3 were classified as PEComas with malignant potential according to Folpe’s classification.

Conclusions

Bone and soft tissue PEComas may have a higher malignancy potential than other visceral PEComas and are more likely to develop as TFE3-rearranged PEComas.
Computing Homotopy Classes for Diagrams
Authors: Filakovský Marek , Vokřínek Lukáš
Published: July 2023

We present an algorithm that, given finite diagrams of simplicial sets X, A, Y, i.e., functors $${\mathcal {I}}^\textrm{op}\rightarrow {\textsf {s}} {\textsf {Set}}$$

I

op

→
s
Set

, such that (X, A) is a cellular pair, $$\dim X\le 2\cdot {\text {conn}}Y$$

dim
X
≤
2
·
conn
Y

, $${\text {conn}}Y\ge 1$$

conn
Y
≥
1

, computes the set $$[X,Y]^A$$

[
X
,
Y
]

A

of homotopy classes of maps of diagrams $$\ell :X\rightarrow Y$$

ℓ
:
X
→
Y

extending a given $$f:A\rightarrow Y$$

f
:
A
→
Y

. For fixed $$n=\dim X$$

n
=
dim
X

, the running time of the algorithm is polynomial. When the stability condition is dropped, the problem is known to be undecidable. Using Elmendorf’s theorem, we deduce an algorithm that, given finite simplicial sets X, A, Y with an action of a finite group G, computes the set $$[X,Y]^A_G$$

[
X
,
Y
]

G
A

of homotopy classes of equivariant maps $$\ell :X\rightarrow Y$$

ℓ
:
X
→
Y

extending a given equivariant map $$f:A\rightarrow Y$$

f
:
A
→
Y

under the stability assumption $$\dim X^H\le 2\cdot {\text {conn}}Y^H$$

dim

X
H

≤
2
·
conn

Y
H

and $${\text {conn}}Y^H\ge 1$$

conn

Y
H

≥
1

, for all subgroups $$H\le G$$

H
≤
G

. Again, for fixed $$n=\dim X$$

n
=
dim
X

, the algorithm runs in polynomial time. We further apply our results to Tverberg-type problem in computational topology: Given a k-dimensional simplicial complex K, is there a map $$K\rightarrow {\mathbb {R}}^d$$

K
→

R

d

without r-tuple intersection points? In the metastable range of dimensions, $$rd\ge (r+1) k+3$$

r
d
≥
(
r
+
1
)
k
+
3

, the problem is shown algorithmically decidable in polynomial time when k, d, and r are fixed.
Almost-Monochromatic Sets and the Chromatic Number of the Plane
Authors: Frankl Nóra , Hubai Tamás , Pálvölgyi Dömötör
Published: July 2023

In a colouring of $${\mathbb {R}}^d$$

R

d

a pair $$(S,s_0)$$

(
S
,

s
0

)

with $$S\subseteq {\mathbb {R}}^d$$

S
⊆

R

d

and with $$s_0\in S$$

s
0

∈
S

is almost-monochromatic if $$S\setminus \{s_0\}$$

S
\
{

s
0

}

is monochromatic but S is not. We consider questions about finding almost-monochromatic similar copies of pairs $$(S,s_0)$$

(
S
,

s
0

)

in colourings of $${\mathbb {R}}^d$$

R

d

, $${\mathbb {Z}}^d$$

Z

d

, and of $${\mathbb {Q}}$$
Q
under some restrictions on the colouring. Among other results, we characterise those $$(S,s_0)$$

(
S
,

s
0

)

with $$S\subseteq {\mathbb {Z}}$$

S
⊆
Z

for which every finite colouring of $${\mathbb {R}}$$
R
without an infinite monochromatic arithmetic progression contains an almost-monochromatic similar copy of $$(S,s_0)$$

(
S
,

s
0

)

. We also show that if $$S\subseteq {\mathbb {Z}}^d$$

S
⊆

Z

d

and $$s_0$$

s
0

is outside of the convex hull of $$S\setminus \{s_0\}$$

S
\
{

s
0

}

, then every finite colouring of $${\mathbb {R}}^d$$

R

d

without a monochromatic similar copy of $${\mathbb {Z}}^d$$

Z

d

contains an almost-monochromatic similar copy of $$(S,s_0)$$

(
S
,

s
0

)

. Further, we propose an approach based on finding almost-monochromatic sets that might lead to a human-verifiable proof of $$\chi ({{\mathbb {R}}}^2)\ge 5$$

χ
(

R

2

)
≥
5

.
Deep reinforcement learning of passenger behavior in multimodal journey planning with proportional fairness
Authors: Chu Kai-Fung , Guo Weisi
Published: July 2023

Multimodal transportation systems require an effective journey planner to allocate multiple passengers to transport operators. One example is mobility-as-a-service, a new mobility service that integrates various transport modes through a single platform. In such a multimodal and diverse journey planning problem, accommodating heterogeneous passengers with different and dynamic preferences can be challenging. Furthermore, passengers may behave based on experiences and expectations, in the sense that the transport experience affects their state and decision of the next transport service. Current methods of treating each journey planning optimization as a non-time varying single experience problem cannot adequately model passenger experience and memories over many journeys over time. In this paper, we model passenger experience as a Markov model where prior experiences have a transient effect on future long-term satisfaction and retention rate. As such, we formulate a multi-objective journey planning problem that considers individual passenger preferences, experiences, and memories. The proposed approach dynamically determines utility weights to obtain an optimal journey plan for individual passengers based on their status. To balance the profit received by each transport operator, we present a variant-based proportional fairness. Our experiments using real-world and synthetic datasets show that our approach enhances passenger satisfaction, compared to baseline methods. We demonstrate that the overall profit is increased by 2.3 times, resulting in a higher retention rate caused by higher satisfaction levels. Our proposed approach can facilitate the participation of transport operators and promote passenger acceptance of MaaS.
Examining the causal factors of the electric vehicle adoption: a pathway to tackle climate change in resource-constrained environment
Authors: Sonar Harshad , Belal H M , Foropon Cyril , Manatkar Ramkrishna , Sonwaney Vandana
Published: July 2023

Electric vehicles (EVs) serve an important role in lowering greenhouse gas emissions, which helps to mitigate global warming while also contributing to long-term growth. Thus, this research explores various criterions relevant to electric vehicle (EVs) adoption and causal relationships using the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method. From the comprehensive literature review, a set of criteria for EVs adoption were identified and are finalised through the Delphi method. The data was gathered from eleven experts and was analyzed using the DEMATEL method to develop the causal relationship between each criterion. The sensitivity analysis was performed to check the robustness of the model. The findings revealed that the key criteria for EV adoption include their causal relationships. It is observed that charging time, driving range and price are the most important criteria for an EV purchase. Battery capacities have a major and influential impact on other criteria like charging time, torque, driving range, and maximum power. Professionals and managers in the EV manufacturing industry can benefit from this prioritization of criteria by understanding the causal relationships between them. This study can also serve as guidance for EV engineers when it comes to implementing client preferences into vehicle design. It can also assist low-performing electric vehicles in determining their benchmarks. This work contributes to building an improved understanding of causal factors of electric vehicle adoption in resource-constrained environments for policy making.
Thermoresponsive hydrogels with sulfated polysaccharide-derived copolymers: the effect of carbohydrate backbones on the responsive and mechanical properties
Authors: Zeng Kui , Xu Dan , Gong Shuaiyu , Lu Yi-Tung , Vana Philipp , Groth Thomas , Zhang Kai
Published: July 2023

Thermoresponsive hydrogels based on ionic cellulose/chitosan are widely used various fields, such as smart windows and tissue engineering, while the effect of carbohydrate backbones of cellulose/chitosan on the thermal response and mechanical properties of hydrogels has received less attention so far. Herein, poly(2(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA)-grafted cellulose sulfate (P-CS) and PDMAEMA-grafted chitosan sulfate (P-CHS) as research models are successfully synthesized through multi-step reactions. The P-CS and P-CHS polymers are further applied in crosslinked polyacrylamide networks, resulting in the P-CS and P-CHS hydrogels. Compared to P-CS hydrogels, P-CHS hydrogels could obviously block the transmission of visible light when the temperature is changed from 25 to 42 °C. In contrast to P-CHS hydrogels, the P-CS hydrogels change easily from soft and weak state to stiff and strong state according to their mechanical behaviors. These results indicate that different carbohydrate backbones of cellulose and chitosan should have caused distinct aggregation behaviors of corresponding P-CS and P-CHS hydrogels, which are accompanied by different light transmittance and mechanical properties.

Graphical abstract

Thermoresponsive hydrogels using PDMAEMA-grafted ionic cellulose sulfate (P-CS) and chitosan sulfate (P-CHS) are successfully prepared. Distinct carbohydrate backbone displayed different effects on the thermoresponsive and mechanical properties of hydrogels.
Teachers’ beliefs about technology integration in Ghana: a qualitative study of teachers’, headteachers’ and education officials’ perceptions
Authors: Abedi Emmanuel Ayisi , Prestridge Sarah , Hodge Steven
Published: July 2023

With increasing policy interest in improving educational outcomes, technology integration has become a requirement in Ghana’s education system, albeit with minimal impact on student learning. Several studies focus on identifying barriers to effective integration but pay scant consideration to the deeper reasons why teachers use technology. This qualitative study aimed to explore the underlying beliefs that shape teachers’ decision-making and thinking regarding technology integration. The study used open-ended questions and interviews with five education officials, twenty teachers, and five headteachers, and an ‘ICT Pedagogical Beliefs Classification Framework’ as a lens for interpreting and categorising teacher beliefs. Thematic analysis of findings revealed four main beliefs: productivity tools for teaching and lesson preparation; developing students’ ICT skills; meeting curriculum expectations, and engaging students in authentic teaching. Evidently, teachers are enthusiastic about using technology, but their beliefs indicate that they view technology primarily as a tool for productivity to supplement existing teaching practices, which they value. Findings indicate that most teachers espouse teacher-centred ICT beliefs, implying the need for transformative professional development that enables change in teachers’ beliefs to embrace the view of technology as a pedagogical tool that can facilitate constructive pedagogy and deep student learning.
Investigating the Dynamics of Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Co-Offending Networks: The Utility of Relational Hyper Event Models
Authors: Bright David , Sadewo Giovanni Radhitio Putra , Lerner Jürgen , Cubitt Timothy , Dowling Christopher , Morgan Anthony
Published: July 2023

Objectives

Approaches to the study of Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs OMCGs tend to focus on offending at the individual level, with limited focus on the nature and extent of co-offending among these affiliates. We aim to examine co-offending by using relational hyper event models (RHEM) to determine what additional insights can be discerned on co-offending above and beyond more traditional network approaches.

Methods

Using de-identified police recorded incident data for affiliates of OMCGs in New South Wales, Australia, including their rank and club affiliation, we examined the positioning of OMCG affiliates in co-offending network structures. The data comprised 2,364 nodes and 12,564 arrest events. We argue that Relational Hyperevent Models (RHEM) are the optimal analytical strategy for co-offending data as it overcomes some of the limitations of traditional co-offending analyses.

Results

We conducted RHEM modelling and found that co-offending networks were stable over time, whereby actors tended to repeatedly co-offend with the same partners. Lower ranked members were more likely to engage in co-offending compared with office bearers.

Conclusions

Results provide some support for the scenario in which OMCGs operate as criminal organisations, but also the protection and distance from offending that is afforded to office bearers. We review implications of the results for law enforcement policy and practice and for the scholarship of OMCGs.
A Match Made in Maastricht: Estimating The Treatment Effect of the Euro On Trade
Authors: Kopecky Joseph
Published: July 2023

Why do estimates of the European Monetary Union (EMU) effect on trade vary so greatly? Rose (2017) shows that the largest factor determining the size of EMU trade estimates is the choice of sample, with studies using only European or rich countries finding smaller impacts than those using more complete trade datasets. I push this question one step further, asking instead: what is the appropriate comparison group with which to study the euro’s trade impact? Using a first stage estimation of selection into the EMU and a robust propensity score weighting estimator, I extend the work of Millimet and Tchernis (2009) to a larger dataset of countries and years, showing that gravity estimates of the euro effect on trade are smaller when sample truncation and weighting brings the differences in observable characteristics between EMU and non-EMU pairs close to zero. Utilizing a Poisson pseudo-maximum likelihood approach, I find that estimates using this more robust estimator reflect the same pattern, but with significantly less initial upward bias. My work suggests that policy analysis in trade should be more careful to consider the comparability of “treated” and “control” observations, and more readily utilize propensity score methods as a data driven approach to rebalancing samples when differences across these groups are large.
Slice weighted average regression
Authors: Masioti Marina , Davies Joshua , Shaker Amanda , Prendergast Luke A.
Published: July 2023

It has previously been shown that ordinary least squares can be used to estimate the coefficients of the single-index model under only mild conditions. However, the estimator is non-robust leading to poor estimates for some models. In this paper we propose a new sliced least-squares estimator that utilizes ideas from Sliced Inverse Regression. Slices with problematic observations that contribute to high variability in the estimator can easily be down-weighted to robustify the procedure. The estimator is simple to implement and can result in vast improvements for some models when compared to the usual least-squares approach. While the estimator was initially conceived with the single-index model in mind, we also show that multiple directions can be obtained, therefore providing another notable advantage of using slicing with least squares. Several simulation studies and a real data example are included, as well as some comparisons with some other recent methods.