bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) are associated with adverse outcome after total hip arthroplasty: a matched case–control study
Authors: Chen Xi , Qian Wenwei , Qiu Guixing , Weng Xisheng , Lin Jin , Jin Jin , Zhu Shibai , Wang Yiou , Li Shanni
Published: August 2021

Background

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders (NMOSD) are rare inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system that cause transverse myelitis and optic neuritis. Steroids are commonly administered in NMOSD patients. The use of steroids may lead to osteonecrosis, which makes some of the NMOSD patients candidate for total hip arthroplasty (THA). To date, the clinical outcome of THA in NMOSD patients have not been investigated.

Aim

Investigate the patient reported outcome measures (PROM), radiographic outcome and complication in NMOSD patients after THA, compared with that of non-NMOSD patients.

Methods

Patients from Jan. 2016 to October. 2020 were identified in our database. 12 NMOSD cases which met the inclusion criteria were matched to non-NMOSD cases in a ratio of 1:2 based on age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and surgical date. Relevant outcome were analyzed and compared between the two groups.

Results

There was a significantly increased risk of dislocation in NMOSD patients. Post-operative HOOS score was similar between the two groups even though the pre-operative HOOS score is significantly higher in the non-NMOSD group. NMOSD patients had poor performance in EQ-5D and EQ-VAS. The cups were placed more anteverted in NMOSD cases (P = 0.01).

Conclusion

There is a significantly increased risk of dislocation after THA in NMOSD patients. However, satisfactory improvement in functional outcome of the hip was achieved. Due to the natural process of NMOSD, rehabilitation and hip precaution should be patient-specific and time-specific.
The validity of using one force platform to quantify whole-body forces, velocities, and power during a plyometric push-up
Authors: Sha Zhanxin , Dai Boyi
Published: August 2021

Background

Previous studies have typically measured velocity and power parameters during the push-up, either using one or two force platforms. The purpose of the study was to compare the force, velocity, and power parameters between the one-force-platform method and the two-force-platform method during plyometric push-ups.

Methods

Thirty-four physically active young adults participated in the study to perform the plyometric push-up. For the two-force-platform calculation method, the forces applied to the feet and hands were both measured. For the one-force-platform calculation method, the forces applied to the feet were assumed to be constant, while the forces applied to hands were measured by one force platform. Whole-body linear velocities were calculated based on the impulse and momentum theorem. Whole-body power was calculated as the product of the whole-body forces and velocities.

Results

The one-force-platform method overestimated the whole-body velocities and power compared with the two-force-platform method (1.39 ± 0.37 m/s vs. 0.90 ± 0.23 m/s, Cohen’s d = 1.59, p < 0.05; 1.63 ± 0.47 W/body weight vs. 1.03 ± 0.29 W/body weight, Cohen’s d = 1.49, p < 0.05). These differences were caused by the decreased forces applied to the feet compared to the initial value throughout most of the push-up phase. Large to perfect correlations (r = 0.55 – 0.99) were found for most variables between the two-force-platform and one-force-platform methods. Previous findings of push-up velocities and power using the two-force-platform and one-force-platform methods should be compared with caution. While the two-force-platform method is recommended, linear regression equations may be used to predict velocities and power parameters obtained from one force platform.

Conclusions

For those professionals who need to accurately quantify kinetic variables during the plyometric push-up, the two-force-platform method should be considered.
Challenges of dengue and coronavirus disease 2019 coinfection: two case reports
Authors: Agudelo Rojas Olga Lucia , Tello-Cajiao María Elena , Rosso Fernando
Published: August 2021

Background

Dengue fever and coronavirus disease 2019 have now begun to overlap within tropical and subtropical regions. This is due to the high prevalence of dengue fever in these regions and the current severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic situation. The similarity of symptoms between the two diseases can confuse diagnoses, but coinfection can also occur.

Case presentation

We present two cases of patients with dengue and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 coinfection. The first case is that of a 24-year-old Hispanic woman with acute fever, odynophagia, and diarrhea, without respiratory symptoms and with positive molecular tests for both dengue and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The second case is that of a 59-year-old Hispanic male patient with fever and respiratory symptoms of 2 weeks duration, negative molecular tests, and positive serological tests for both viruses. The clinical and epidemiological characteristics of both viral infections can help elucidate diagnoses and prognoses.

Conclusions

Severe dengue infection is common in young adults, while coronavirus disease 2019 is generally asymptomatic. In older people, the severity of dengue fever will depend on their comorbidities or the infectious serotype, but coronavirus disease 2019 is consistently more severe in this group. The accurate diagnosis of both infections can better guide clinical management, as well as public health actions in transmission control, now especially important during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
Some new oscillation criteria of fourth-order quasi-linear differential equations with neutral term
Authors: Althubiti Saeed , Alsharari Fahad , Bazighifan Omar , Chatzarakis George E.
Published: August 2021

In this article, we are interested in studying the asymptotic behavior of fourth-order neutral differential equations. Despite the growing interest in studying the oscillatory behavior of delay differential equations of second-order, fourth-order equations have received less attention. We get more than one criterion to check the oscillation by the generalized Riccati method and the integral average technique. Our results are an extension and complement to some results published in the literature. Examples are given to prove the significance of new theorems.
Structural decomposition analysis with disaggregate factors within the Leontief inverse
Authors: Muradov Kirill
Published: August 2021

A trivial case in input–output structural decomposition analysis is a decomposition of a product of variables, or factors, where one factor is an inverse—typically, Leontief inverse—of a sum of other factors. There may be dozens and hundreds of such factors that describe the changes in subsets of technical coefficients. The existing literature offers ambiguous guidance in this case. The solution that is consistent with the index number theory may be virtually infeasible. The simplified ad hoc solutions require the researcher to make arbitrary choices, lead to biased estimates and do not ensure the consistency-in-aggregation of factors. This paper reviews the ad hoc solutions to the said problem and describes a numerical test to identify the best-performing solution. It is found that calculating the average of the two polar decomposition forms for each factor is superior to other approximations in terms of minimising the errors.
Five risk factors and their interactions of probability for a sow in breeding herds having a piglet death during days 0–1, 2–8 and 9–28 days of lactation
Authors: Koketsu Yuzo , Iida Ryosuke , Piñeiro Carlos
Published: August 2021

Background

Increasing preweaning piglet mortality is a concern for veterinarians and producers in relation to sow performance and piglet welfare. Our objectives were (1) to characterize pre-weaning piglet mortality risk for sows (PWM) during early (0–1 days), mid- (2–8 days) and late (9–28 days) lactation and (2) to quantify the following five factors and their interactions, parity, number of piglets born alive (PBA), number of stillborn piglets (SB), gestation length (GL) and season for PWM during the three lactation phases.

Methods

Data obtained from 264,333 parity records of 55,635 sows farrowed in 2015 and 2016 from 74 Spanish herds. Three multi-level mixed-effects logistic regression models were separately applied for PWM during three lactation phases, which was analyzed as whether or not a sow had a piglet death (i.e. probability of a sow having a piglet death) in each phase.

Results

PWM during early, mid- and late lactation were 36.9, 27.0 and 15.4%, respectively. As PBA increased from 11 or less to 16 or more pigs, PWM during early and mid-lactation increased by 15.8 and 6.0%, respectively, but there was no increase during late lactation. Also, as GL decreased from 117–120 to 110–113 days, PWM during early, mid- and late lactation increased by 7.5, 6.8 and 1.5%, respectively. Additionally, PWM during the respective lactation phases increased by 8.3, 5.2 and 1.0%, as SB increased from 0 to 3 or more pigs. During early lactation, parity 1 sows had 2.1% lower PWM than parity 5 or higher sows, but during mid- and late lactation they had 4.2% higher PWM (P < 0.05). However, there was no difference between summer and winter for PWM during early lactation (P = 0.26).

Conclusion

Management practices to reduce PWM need to take account of these factors, and be modified for different phases. For example, during early lactation special care should be given to piglets born to parity 5 or higher sows farrowing 16 or more PBA, having 3 or more SB or GL 110–113 days, whereas during mid- and late lactation more care should be given to piglets born to parity 1 sows with the same PBA, GL and SB conditions.
Simultaneous quantification of empagliflozin, linagliptin and metformin hydrochloride in bulk and synthetic mixture by RP–LC method
Authors: Patel Ishita M. , Chhalotiya Usmangani K. , Jani Harsha D. , Kansara Devansh , Kachhiya Hetaben M. , Shah Dimal A.
Published: August 2021

Background

Extensive literature review revealed that no RP–LC method has been developed for simultaneous estimation of EMPA, LINA and MET in combined dosage form. This is a newer combination approved by USFDA on 4th June 2019 and it is launch in the United State Market on 27th January 2020.

Result

A simple, sensitive, specific, precise and accurate reverse phase—high performance liquid chromatography (RP- HPLC) method has been developed for simultaneous estimation of Empagliflozin, Linagliptin and Metformin HCl in bulk and synthetic mixture. Phenomenex C18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) was used as stationary phase for chromatographic separation through isocratic elution using Acetonitrile: Methanol: Water in a ratio (27: 20: 53, v/v/v) pH 4 adjusted with 1% Ortho-phosphoric acid as mobile phase at flow rate 1 ml/min. PDA detector was used for simultaneous analysis of all three drugs at common wavelength 223 nm and the each injection volume was 20 µl. The linearity range for Empagliflozin, Linagliptin and Metformin HCl was found to be 0.5–5 µg/ml, 0.25–2.5 µg/ml, and 50–500 µg/ml, respectively. The retention time for Empagliflozin, Linagliptin and Metformin HCl was found to be 14.5 min, 3.4 min and 2.01 min, respectively. The percentage (%) recovery was found to be 99.98–100.81% for Empagliflozin, 99.33–100.57% for Linagliptin and 100.65–101.35% for Metformin HCl respectively.

Conclusion

As per the international Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) Q2 (R1) guideline, proposed RP–LC method validation has been carried out. The proposed RP–LC method was repeatable and selective as per statistical analysis and it can be use for simultaneous estimation of Empagliflozin, Linagliptin and Metformin HCl in bulk and synthetic mixture. The proposed method might be applied for simultaneous estimation of all three drugs in pharmaceutical formulation.
Political Identities and Science Learning
Authors: Gouvea Julia Svoboda
Published: August 2021

This Current Insights explores emerging work that examines how students’ political identities influence and are influenced by science learning.
The Autonomy of Art and the Legitimization of Biofiction: An Aesthetic Turning Point in Twentieth-Century Literature
Authors: Lackey Michael
Published: August 2021

Biofiction is literature that names its protagonist after a historical figure, and since the 1990s it has become one of the most dominant literary forms. This is surprising because many prominent scholars, critics, and writers have criticized and even condemned it. This essay hypothesizes that postmodern theories of truth and concomitant transformations in reader sensibilities partly account for the legitimization and now dominance of biofiction. The essay analyzes a 1968 literary debate among Ralph Ellison, William Styron, and Robert Penn Warren, which on the surface concerned the uses of history in literature. But because it happened just one year after the publication of Styron’s controversial novel about Nat Turner, the debate ended up focusing primarily on the nature and value of biofiction. By analyzing the discussion in relation to contemporary formulations about and theorizations of biofiction, this essay illustrates why the forum represents a turning point in literary history, resulting in the decline of a traditional type of literary symbol and the rise of a more anchored and empirical symbol—that is, the type of symbol found in biofiction.
Inattention and Switching Costs as Sources of Inertia in Medicare Part D
Authors: Heiss Florian , McFadden Daniel , Winter Joachim , Wuppermann Amelie , Zhou Bo
Published: August 2021

Consumers’ health plan choices are highly persistent even though optimal plans change over time. This paper separates two sources of inertia, inattention to plan choice and switching costs. We develop a panel data model with separate attention and choice stages, linked by heterogeneity in acuity, i.e., the ability and willingness to make diligent choices. Using data from Medicare Part D, we find that inattention is an important source of inertia but switching costs also play a role, particularly for low-acuity individuals. Separating the two stages and allowing for heterogeneity is crucial for counterfactual simulations of interventions that reduce inertia. (JEL D12, G22, H51, I13, I18, L65)
Media, Pulpit, and Populist Persuasion: Evidence from Father Coughlin
Authors: Wang Tianyi
Published: August 2021

I study the political impact of the first populist radio personality in American history. Father Charles Coughlin blended populist demagoguery, anti-Semitism, and fascist sympathies to create a hugely popular radio program that attracted 30 million weekly listeners in the 1930s. I find that exposure to Father Coughlin’s anti-Roosevelt broadcast reduced Franklin D. Roosevelt’s vote share in the 1936 presidential election. Coughlin’s effects were larger among Catholics and persisted after Coughlin left the air. Moreover, places more exposed to Coughlin’s broadcast were more likely to form a local branch of the pro-Nazi German-American Bund and sold fewer war bonds during World War II. (JEL D72, L82, N32, N42, Z12)
La arquitectura como forma de entendimiento: interculturalidad y marginación
Authors: Muntañola Thornberg Josep
Published: August 2021

A partir de diferentes perspectivas disciplinares sobre el problema de la identidad cultural, el presente artículo intenta demostrar que la arquitectura no participa pasivamente en la construcción de dicha identidad, sino que colabora activamente en su construcción. Con ejemplos de análisis dialógico del significado social de algunas transformaciones arquitectónicas de la ciudad de Barcelona, se discutirá la manera a través de la cual dichas transformaciones actúan en la sociedad y en la cultura de los usuarios. Finalmente, se definirán los parámetros que delimitan la mutua influencia entre la cultura del individuo, de la sociedad y del territorio, para establecer una perspectiva dialógico-constructivista del impacto de la arquitectura del territorio sobre el comportamiento social.
De la invención de la ciudad culta a las prácticas cotidianas.
Authors: Provansal Danielle , Miquel Cécile , Tabakman Elisa
Published: August 2021

Las autoras nos sitúan ante dos movimientos contradictorios entre sí: por un lado, los discursos o narrativas de la ciudad que tienden a concebirla como un proyecto global y, aunque inacabado, coherente sin embargo: la ciudad inventada; y por otro lado, las prácticas urbanas singulares y múltiples que no se inspiran en ningún orden establecido: la ciudad prácticada. Aunque éstas últimas no suelen mencionarse como patrimonio a tener en cuenta por las primeras, poseen sin duda una capacidad para inscribirse en y escribir la ciudad. Esta dialéctica, y las cuestiones tanto urbanísticas como identitarias que suscita, es explorada tomando como ilustración el caso de la Ciutat Vella de Barcelona, espacio donde confluyen dos procesos simultáneos: las intenciones renovadoras y modernizadoras del urbanismo oficial y la instalación de muy diversas comunidades de inmigrantes.
A High-Fidelity Model to Predict Length of Stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Wang Kanix , Hussain Walid , Birge John R. , Schreiber Michael D. , Adelman Daniel
Published: August 2021

Having an interpretable, dynamic length-of-stay model can help hospital administrators and clinicians make better decisions and improve the quality of care. The widespread implementation of electronic medical record (EMR) systems has enabled hospitals to collect massive amounts of health data. However, how to integrate this deluge of data into healthcare operations remains unclear. We propose a framework grounded in established clinical knowledge to model patients’ lengths of stay. In particular, we impose expert knowledge when grouping raw clinical data into medically meaningful variables that summarize patients’ health trajectories. We use dynamic, predictive models to output patients’ remaining lengths of stay, future discharges, and census probability distributions based on their health trajectories up to the current stay. Evaluated with large-scale EMR data, the dynamic model significantly improves predictive power over the performance of any model in previous literature and remains medically interpretable.

Summary of Contribution: The widespread implementation of electronic health systems has created opportunities and challenges to best utilize mounting clinical data for healthcare operations. In this study, we propose a new approach that integrates clinical analysis in generating variables and implementations of computational methods. This approach allows our model to remain interpretable to the medical professionals while being accurate. We believe our study has broader relevance to researchers and practitioners of healthcare operations.
Optimal Sequential Multiclass Diagnosis
Authors: Wang Jue
Published: August 2021

In multiclass classification, one faces greater uncertainty when the data fall near the decision boundary. To reduce the uncertainty, one can wait and collect more data, but this invariably delays the decision. How can one make an accurate classification as quickly as possible? The solution requires a multiclass generalization of Wald’s sequential hypothesis testing, but the standard formulation is intractable because of the curse of dimensionality in dynamic programming. In “Optimal Sequential Multiclass Diagnosis,” Wang shows that, in a broad class of practical problems, the reachable state space is often restricted on, or near, a set of low-dimensional, time-dependent manifolds. After understanding the key drivers of sparsity, the author develops a new solution framework that uses a low-dimensional statistic to reconstruct the high-dimensional state. This framework circumvents the curse of dimensionality, allowing efficient computation of the optimal or near-optimal policies for quickest classification with large numbers of classes.
O Território Econômico Alemão na Europa Central: análise dos investimentos estrangeiros recebidos pelo Grupo de Visegrado a partir de Hilferding | The German Economic Territory in Central Europe: analysis of foreign investments received by the Visegrado Group based on Hilferding
Authors: Ferreira Letícia Figueiredo
Published: August 2021

Formado por Polônia, Hungria, República Tcheca e Eslováquia, o Grupo de Visegrado é uma área privilegiada de destino dos investimentos alemães, integrando com a indústria alemã a maior cadeia produtiva da Europa. Visando responder como se organizam as relações econômicas entre o grupo e a Alemanha, apresentamos a hipótese de que Berlim converteu os países da Europa Central em parte do seu território econômico através de exportações massivas de capital. O objetivo deste artigo é analisar as relações de produção entre Alemanha e Visegrado, de modo a lançar luz sobre a posição de dependência do último. Como referencial teórico, recorremos à obra de Hilferding (1910) e, como metodologia, empregamos uma análise quantitativa dos fluxos de capitais alemães para a região, além de uma análise qualitativa dos efeitos desse processo. Esperamos demonstrar que o grupo desempenha o papel de fábrica dos produtos alemães para o mercado europeu.Palavras-chave: Visegrad Group; Germany; economic territory.ABSTRACTFormed by Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the Visegrad Group is a privileged area of destination for German investments, integrating with the German industry the lar-gest supply chain in Europe. Aiming to answer how the economic relations between the group and Germany are organized, we present the hypothesis that Berlin converted the countries of Central Europe into part of its economic territory through massive capital exports. This article’s purpose is to analyze the production relations between Germany and Visegrad, in order to shed light on the latter's dependent position. As our theoretical framework, we resort to the work of Hilferding (1910) and, as our methodology, we employ a quantitative analysis of German capital flows to the region, as well as a qualitative analysis of the effects of this process. We expect to demonstrate that the group plays the role of a factory for German products in the European market.Keywords: Visegrad Group; Germany; economic territory. Recebido em: 02 abr. 2021 | Aceito em: 08 jun. 2021.
Implementation of a cauda equina service in a medium-sized district general hospital in the UK
Authors: Graham Selina , Madhavan Pradeep ,   on behalf of the Cauda Equina Syndrome Study Group at Somerset Foundation Trust
Published: August 2021

Aim

This project explored how the implementation of national guidance for investigation and management of patients with suspected cauda equina syndrome impacted on service provision.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of patients with suspected cauda equina syndrome during 12 months before the implementation of the national guidelines were compared with data from the 21 months following.

Results

Monthly mean numbers of referrals for suspected cauda equina syndrome increased from 10.1 to 18.9 (P<0.001). Statistically significant increases were also seen in the total number of magnetic resonance imaging scans for suspected cauda equina syndrome, and the number of magnetic resonance imaging scans performed out of hours. The mean time interval, from magnetic resonance imaging scan confirming cauda equina syndrome to starting emergency decompressive surgery, reduced from 14.87 hours to 9.57 hours.

Conclusions

Compliance with the national guidance for suspected cauda equina syndrome is imperative for patients to receive optimal treatment. However, this project has demonstrated challenges related to increased pressure on resources.
Tackling multimorbidity: staff perceptions of the transition from single-condition rehabilitation to a specialist-generalist model
Authors: Cowie Aynsley , Good Kathy , McKay Janet , Holt Jane
Published: August 2021

Background/aims

The Healthy and Active Rehabilitation Programme is a specialist-generalist approach to targeting multimorbidity, which was developed through reconfiguring single-condition rehabilitation pathways. This project examined staff perceptions of the transition from specialist rehabilitation, to delivering this new model.

Methods

A total of 18 staff from the Healthy and Active Rehabilitation Programme (eight nurses, seven exercise instructors, two physiotherapists, one occupational therapist) participated in three focus groups, generating three key themes: apprehension, confidence growth, and integrated working.

Results

Despite initial apprehension around the Healthy and Active Rehabilitation Programme's impact on the existing service, the service users, and their clinical roles, staff developed confidence in the service and in their broader roles. Integrated working within the Healthy and Active Rehabilitation Programme has enhanced their awareness of the wider rehabilitation team, and provides valuable peer support.

Conclusions

This project provides valuable information for single-condition rehabilitation services that are considering delivery of specialist-generalist care to help target multimorbidity.
Design of two compact waveguide display systems utilizing metasurface gratings as couplers
Authors: Afra T. , Salehi M. R. , Abiri E.
Published: August 2021

We propose two approaches to design compact head mount display (HMD) systems employing metasurface gratings. In the first approach, we design and simulate a monocular optical waveguide display by applying crystalline-silicon elliptical-shaped metasurface arrays as couplers on a right trapezoid waveguide to achieve large field of view (FOV) horizontally. As such, we achieve a FOV as large as 80° that is approximately 80% higher than the FOV in traditional waveguide systems based on diffractive gratings. In the second approach, considering the polarization sensitivity feature in metasurfaces and employing the proposed structures in the first technique, we design a metasurface grating as the input coupler in a binocular HMD system. The suggested structure diffracts incident light into two opposite directions with a 53.7° deflection angle on each side. We use the finite difference time domain method to study the behavior of the proposed systems.
10 kHz laser-induced schliere anemometry for velocity, Mach number, and static temperature measurements in supersonic flows
Authors: Lester Lauren , Gragston Mark
Published: August 2021

A new, to the best of our knowledge, technique for measuring velocity
and Mach number in freestream flow is discussed and demonstrated. The
technique, laser-induced schliere anemometry, uses a laser to write a
laser-induced schliere in the flow, which can then be imaged using
high-speed schlieren imaging. Here, we use a laser-induced plasma from
the focusing of nanosecond-duration laser pulses from a pulse burst
laser to write the disturbance. The resulting localized index of
refraction gradient left from the plasma is tracked well beyond the
plasma emission lifetime using schlieren imaging, and velocity is
found from tracking or through a simple correlation analysis. The
blast wave is also used to independently determine the Mach number via
the Mach cone effect, which provides information about the mean static
temperature. This technique shows great potential for use in
characterizing freestream flow in supersonic facilities and is
demonstrated here in a Mach 2 blowdown facility and a Mach 4 Ludwieg
tube.
Deriving the angular response function for backscattering sensors
Authors: Zhang Xiaodong , Leymarie Edouard , Boss Emmanuel , Hu Lianbo
Published: August 2021

We derived the angular response function (

W

N

) for scattering sensors that
automatically satisfies the normalization criterion and its
corresponding weight (

W

T

).

W

N

’s, derived for two commercial
sensors, HydroScat-6 (HOBI Labs) and ECO-BB (Sea-Bird Inc.), agrees
well with the Monte Carlo simulation and direct measurements. The
backscattering measured for microbeads of known sizes agrees better
with Mie calculation when the derived

W

N

was applied. We deduced that the
reduction of

W

T

with increasing attenuation
coefficient is related to path length attenuation and showed that this
theoretically derived correction factor performs better than the
default methods for the two commercial backscattering sensors. The
analysis conducted in this study also leads to an estimate of
uncertainty budget for the two sensors. The major uncertainty for
ECO-BB is associated with its angular response function because of its
wide field of view, whereas the main uncertainty for the HydrScat-6 is
due to attenuation correction because of its relatively long path
length.
Automatic algorithm for the characterization of sweat ducts in a three-dimensional fingerprint
Authors: Kong Chuiyu , Li Dezi , Lin Yongping , li Zhifang
Published: August 2021

In this study, an automatic algorithm has been presented based on a convolutional neural network (CNN) employing U-net. An ellipsoid and an ellipse were applied for approximation of a three-dimensional sweat duct and en face sweat pore at the different depths, respectively. The results demonstrated that the length and the diameter of the ellipsoid can be used to quantitatively describe the sweat ducts, which has a potential for estimating the frequency of resonance in millimeter (mm) wave and terahertz (THz) wave. In addition, projection-based sweat pores were extracted to overcome the effect that the diameters of en face sweat pores depend on the depth. Finally, the projection-based image of sweat pores was superposed with a maximum intensity projection (MIP)-based internal fingerprint to construct a hybrid internal fingerprint, which can be applied for identification recognition and information encryption.
Soliton-effect compression of picosecond pulses on a photonic chip
Authors: Oliver Richard , Okawachi Yoshitomo , Ji Xingchen , Johnson Adrea R. , Klenner Alexander , Lipson Michal , Gaeta Alexander L.
Published: August 2021

We report soliton-effect pulse compression of low energy (

∼
25

p
J

), picosecond pulses on a photonic chip. An ultra-low-loss, dispersion-engineered 40-cm-long waveguide is used to compress 1.2-ps pulses by a factor of 18, which represents, to our knowledge, the largest compression factor yet experimentally demonstrated on-chip. Our scheme allows for interfacing with an on-chip picosecond source and offers a path towards a fully integrated stabilized frequency comb source.
Utilizing thermally induced selective mode shaping for a high extinction ratio in-line fiber modulator/polarizer
Authors: Heidari Mohsen
Published: August 2021

Light–matter interactions of guided modes strongly depend on mode shape. This Letter presents an ultrahigh extinction ratio (ER) polarizer/modulator at

λ
=
1.55

µ

m

, enabled by selective mode reshaping for different orthogonal modes. This bi-function device benefits from a designed side-polished fiber (SPF) with a three-layer stack of graphene/

V
O

2

/PMMA overlay. Thermally induced insulator-metal transition (IMT) in

V
O

2

via a graphene microheater leads to the polarization-selective mode shaping (PSMS), which is used to manipulate orthogonal modes separately. As a result, a TE modulator (TM-pass polarizer) with an ultrahigh

E
R

=

168.4

d
B

/

m
m

(175.1 dB/mm) and low insertion loss (IL) of

I
L

=

3.38

d
B

/

m
m

(0.34 dB/mm) is achieved.
Critical behaviour of the stochastic Wilson-Cowan model
Authors: de Candia Antonio , Sarracino Alessandro , Apicella Ilenia , de Arcangelis Lucilla
Published: August 2021

Spontaneous brain activity is characterized by bursts and avalanche-like dynamics, with scale-free features typical of critical behaviour. The stochastic version of the celebrated Wilson-Cowan model has been widely studied as a system of spiking neurons reproducing non-trivial features of the neural activity, from avalanche dynamics to oscillatory behaviours. However, to what extent such phenomena are related to the presence of a genuine critical point remains elusive. Here we address this central issue, providing analytical results in the linear approximation and extensive numerical analysis. In particular, we present results supporting the existence of a bona fide critical point, where a second-order-like phase transition occurs, characterized by scale-free avalanche dynamics, scaling with the system size and a diverging relaxation time-scale. Moreover, our study shows that the observed critical behaviour falls within the universality class of the mean-field branching process, where the exponents of the avalanche size and duration distributions are, respectively, 3/2 and 2. We also provide an accurate analysis of the system behaviour as a function of the total number of neurons, focusing on the time correlation functions of the firing rate in a wide range of the parameter space.
A multi-objective genetic algorithm to find active modules in multiplex biological networks
Authors: Novoa-del-Toro Elva María , Mezura-Montes Efrén , Vignes Matthieu , Térézol Morgane , Magdinier Frédérique , Tichit Laurent , Baudot Anaïs
Published: August 2021

The identification of subnetworks of interest—or active modules—by integrating biological networks with molecular profiles is a key resource to inform on the processes perturbed in different cellular conditions. We here propose MOGAMUN, a Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm to identify active modules in MUltiplex biological Networks. MOGAMUN optimizes both the density of interactions and the scores of the nodes (e.g., their differential expression). We compare MOGAMUN with state-of-the-art methods, representative of different algorithms dedicated to the identification of active modules in single networks. MOGAMUN identifies dense and high-scoring modules that are also easier to interpret. In addition, to our knowledge, MOGAMUN is the first method able to use multiplex networks. Multiplex networks are composed of different layers of physical and functional relationships between genes and proteins. Each layer is associated to its own meaning, topology, and biases; the multiplex framework allows exploiting this diversity of biological networks. We applied MOGAMUN to identify cellular processes perturbed in Facio-Scapulo-Humeral muscular Dystrophy, by integrating RNA-seq expression data with a multiplex biological network. We identified different active modules of interest, thereby providing new angles for investigating the pathomechanisms of this disease.

Availability:MOGAMUN is available athttps://github.com/elvanov/MOGAMUNand as a Bioconductor package athttps://bioconductor.org/packages/release/bioc/html/MOGAMUN.html.

Contact:anais.baudot@univ-amu.fr
Multitrait GWAS to connect disease variants and biological mechanisms
Authors: Julienne Hanna , Laville Vincent , McCaw Zachary R. , He Zihuai , Guillemot Vincent , Lasry Carla , Ziyatdinov Andrey , Nerin Cyril , Vaysse Amaury , Lechat Pierre , Ménager Hervé , Le Goff Wilfried , Dube Marie-Pierre , Kraft Peter , Ionita-Laza Iuliana , Vilhjálmsson Bjarni J. , Aschard Hugues
Published: August 2021

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have uncovered a wealth of associations between common variants and human phenotypes. Here, we present an integrative analysis of GWAS summary statistics from 36 phenotypes to decipher multitrait genetic architecture and its link with biological mechanisms. Our framework incorporates multitrait association mapping along with an investigation of the breakdown of genetic associations into clusters of variants harboring similar multitrait association profiles. Focusing on two subsets of immunity and metabolism phenotypes, we then demonstrate how genetic variants within clusters can be mapped to biological pathways and disease mechanisms. Finally, for the metabolism set, we investigate the link between gene cluster assignment and the success of drug targets in randomized controlled trials.
Uterine Notch2 facilitates pregnancy recognition and corpus luteum maintenance via upregulating decidual Prl8a2
Authors: Bao Haili , Sun Yang , Yang Ningjie , Deng Na , Ni Zhangli , Tang Yedong , Li Gaizhen , Du Lili , Wang Yan-Ling , Chen Dunjin , Wang Haibin , Kong Shuangbo
Published: August 2021

The maternal recognition of pregnancy is a necessary prerequisite for gestation maintenance through prolonging the corpus luteum lifespan and ensuring progesterone production. In addition to pituitary prolactin and placental lactogens, decidual derived prolactin family members have been presumed to possess luteotropic effect. However, there was a lack of convincing evidence to support this hypothesis. Here, we unveiled an essential role of uterine Notch2 in pregnancy recognition and corpus luteum maintenance. Uterine-specific deletion of Notch2 did not affect female fertility. Nevertheless, the expression of decidual Prl8a2, a member of the prolactin family, was downregulated due to Notch2 ablation. Subsequently, we interrupted pituitary prolactin function to determine the luteotropic role of the decidua by employing the lipopolysaccharide-induced prolactin resistance model, or blocking the prolactin signaling by prolactin receptor-Fc fusion protein, or repressing pituitary prolactin release by dopamine receptor agonist bromocriptine, and found that Notch2-deficient females were more sensitive to these stresses and ended up in pregnancy loss resulting from abnormal corpus luteum function and insufficient serum progesterone level. Overexpression of Prl8a2 in Notch2 knockout mice rescued lipopolysaccharide-induced abortion, highlighting its luteotropic function. Further investigation adopting Rbpj knockout and DNMAML overexpression mouse models along with chromatin immunoprecipitation assay and luciferase analysis confirmed that Prl8a2 was regulated by the canonical Notch signaling. Collectively, our findings demonstrated that decidual prolactin members, under the control of uterine Notch signaling, assisted pituitary prolactin to sustain corpus luteum function and serum progesterone level during post-implantation phase, which was conducive to pregnancy recognition and maintenance.
Passive surveillance of human African trypanosomiasis in Côte d’Ivoire: Understanding prevalence, clinical symptoms and signs, and diagnostic test characteristics
Authors: Koné Minayégninrin , Kaba Dramane , Kaboré Jacques , Thomas Lian Francesca , Falzon Laura Cristina , Koffi Mathurin , Kouamé Cyrille Mambo , Ahouty Bernardin , Compaoré Charlie Franck Alfred , N’Gouan Emmanuel Kouassi , Solano Philippe , Fèvre Eric , Büscher Philippe , Lejon Veerle , Jamonneau Vincent
Published: August 2021

Background

Little is known about the diagnostic performance of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for passive screening of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) in Côte d’Ivoire. We determined HAT prevalence among clinical suspects, identified clinical symptoms and signs associated with HAT RDT positivity, and assessed the diagnostic tests’ specificity, positive predictive value and agreement.

Methods

Clinical suspects were screened with SD Bioline HAT, HAT Sero-K-Set and rHAT Sero-Strip. Seropositives were parasitologically examined, and their dried blood spots tested in trypanolysis, ELISA/Tbg, m18S-qPCR and LAMP. The HAT prevalence in the study population was calculated based on RDT positivity followed by parasitological confirmation. The association between clinical symptoms and signs and RDT positivity was determined using multivariable logistic regression. The tests’ Positive Predictive Value (PPV), specificity and agreement were determined.

Results

Over 29 months, 3433 clinical suspects were tested. The RDT positivity rate was 2.83%, HAT prevalence 0.06%. Individuals with sleep disturbances (p<0.001), motor disorders (p = 0.002), convulsions (p = 0.02), severe weight loss (p = 0.02) or psychiatric problems (p = 0.04) had an increased odds (odds ratios 1.7–4.6) of being HAT RDT seropositive. Specificities ranged between 97.8%-99.6% for individual RDTs, and 93.3–98.9% for subsequent tests on dried blood spots. The PPV of the individual RDTs was below 14.3% (CI 2–43), increased to 33.3% (CI 4–78) for serial RDT combinations, and reached 67% for LAMP and ELISA/Tbg on RDT positives. Agreement between diagnostic tests was poor to moderate (Kappa ≤ 0.60), except for LAMP and ELISA/Tbg (Kappa = 0.66).

Conclusion

Identification of five key clinical symptoms and signs may simplify referral for HAT RDT screening. The results confirm the appropriateness of the diagnostic algorithm presently applied, with screening by SD Bioline HAT or HAT Sero-K-Set, supplemented with trypanolysis. ELISA/Tbg could replace trypanolysis and is simpler to perform.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03356665.
Tobacco control policies and smoking cessation treatment utilization: A moderated mediation analysis
Authors: Thrul Johannes , Riehm Kira E. , Cohen Joanna E. , Alexander G. Caleb , Vernick Jon S. , Mojtabai Ramin
Published: August 2021

Background

Tobacco policies, including clean indoor air laws and cigarette taxes, increase smoking cessation in part by stimulating the use of cessation treatments. We explored whether the associations between tobacco policies and treatment use varies across sociodemographic groups.

Methods

We used data from 62,165 U.S. adult participants in the 2003 and 2010/11 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS) who reported smoking cigarettes during the past-year. We built on prior structural equation models used to quantify the degree to which smoking cessation treatment use (prescription medications, nicotine replacement therapy, counseling/support groups, quitlines, and internet resources) mediated the association between clean indoor air laws, cigarette excise taxes, and recent smoking cessation. In the current study, we added selected moderators to each model to investigate whether associations between tobacco polices and smoking cessation treatment use varied by sex, race/ethnicity, education, income, and health insurance status.

Results

Associations between clean indoor air laws and the use of prescription medication and nicotine replacement therapies varied significantly between racial/ethnic, age, and education groups in 2003. However, none of these moderation effects remained significant in 2010/11. Higher cigarette excise taxes in 2010/2011 were associated with higher odds of using counseling among older adults and higher odds of using prescription medications among younger adults. No other moderator reached statistical significance. Smoking cessation treatments did not mediate the effect of taxes on smoking cessation in 2003 and were not included in these analyses.

Conclusions

Sociodemographic differences in associations between clean indoor air laws and smoking cessation treatment use have decreased from 2003 to 2010/11. In most cases, policies appear to stimulate smoking cessation treatment use similarly across varied sociodemographic groups.
Impact of HLA type, age and chronic viral infection on peripheral T-cell receptor sharing between unrelated individuals
Authors: Johnson Sarah A. , Seale Spencer L. , Gittelman Rachel M. , Rytlewski Julie A. , Robins Harlan S. , Fields Paul A.
Published: August 2021

The human adaptive immune system must generate extraordinary diversity to be able to respond to all possible pathogens. The T-cell repertoire derives this high diversity through somatic recombination of the T-cell receptor (TCR) locus, a random process that results in repertoires that are largely private to each individual. However, factors such as thymic selection and T-cell proliferation upon antigen exposure can affect TCR sharing among individuals. By immunosequencing the TCRβ variable region of 426 healthy individuals, we find that, on average, fewer than 1% of TCRβ clones are shared between individuals, consistent with largely private TCRβ repertoires. However, we detect a significant correlation between increased HLA allele sharing and increased number of shared TCRβ clones, with each additional shared HLA allele contributing to an increase in ~0.01% of the total shared TCRβ clones, supporting a key role for HLA type in shaping the immune repertoire. Surprisingly, we find that shared antigen exposure to CMV leads to fewer shared TCRβ clones, even after controlling for HLA, indicative of a largely private response to major viral antigenic exposure. Consistent with this hypothesis, we find that increased age is correlated with decreased overall TCRβ clone sharing, indicating that the pattern of private TCRβ clonal expansion is a general feature of the T-cell response to other infectious antigens as well. However, increased age also correlates with increased sharing among the lowest frequency clones, consistent with decreased repertoire diversity in older individuals. Together, all of these factors contribute to shaping the TCRβ repertoire, and understanding their interplay has important implications for the use of T cells for therapeutics and diagnostics.
Reference intervals and values for fecal cortisol, aldosterone, and the ratio of cortisol to dehydroepiandrosterone metabolites in four species of cetaceans
Authors: Miller Lance J. , Lauderdale Lisa K. , Walsh Michael T. , Bryant Jocelyn L. , Mitchell Kevin A. , Granger Douglas A. , Mellen Jill D.
Published: August 2021

The goal of the current study was to create reference intervals and values for several common and one potential novel physiological indicators of animal welfare for four species of cetaceans. The subjects included 189 bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), 27 Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus), eight Pacific white-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens), and 13 beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) at Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and/or Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited facilities. During two sampling time periods between July and November of 2018 and between January and April of 2019, fecal samples were collected weekly for five weeks from all animals. Samples were processed and analyzed using enzyme immunoassay for fecal cortisol, aldosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) metabolites. Linear mixed models were used to examine demographic and time factors impacting hormone metabolite concentrations. Age, sex, and time of year were all significant predictors for some of the models (p < 0.01). An iOS mobile application ZooPhysioTrak was created for easy access to species-specific reference intervals and values accounting for significant predictors. For facilities without access to this application, additional reference intervals and values were constructed without accounting for significant predictors. Information gained from this study and the use of the application can provide reference intervals and values to make informed management decisions for cetaceans in zoological facilities.