bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with a liver abscess due to hepatic actinomycosis
Authors: Masuda Tomoya , Kobashi Kenta , Sugimoto Ryoma , Ishii Hiroshi , Tsunemitsu Kensuke
Published: March 2023

Background

Liver tumors with liver abscesses are unusual and rarely reported. In particular, studies of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with liver abscesses due to hepatic actinomycosis have not been reported.

Case presentation

A 73-year-old woman presented with swelling of the right hypochondrium. Computed tomography revealed a mass lesion that was continuous with the abdominal wall in the right lobe of the liver, suggesting a liver tumor invading the abdominal wall. A liver biopsy revealed intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with a liver abscess. The histopathological specimen contained bacterial masses of actinomycosis, and the cause of the liver abscess was determined to be hepatic actinomycosis. As a result of percutaneous drainage and antibiotic therapy, the part of the tumor attached to the abdominal wall disappeared; therefore, we assumed that most of the lesion was not cholangiocarcinoma but a liver abscess due to hepatic actinomycosis. Radical surgery for residual intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma was performed after chemotherapy. Currently, the patient is alive without recurrence 2 years and 9 months after the operation.

Conclusion

We encountered a difficult-to-diagnose case of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with a liver abscess due to hepatic actinomycosis. A needle biopsy allowed early diagnosis and percutaneous drainage was an effective treatment.
Automatic feedback and assessment of team-coding assignments in a DevOps context
Authors: Fernandez-Gauna Borja , Rojo Naiara , Graña Manuel
Published: March 2023

We describe an automated assessment process for team-coding assignments based on DevOps best practices. This system and methodology includes the definition of Team Performance Metrics measuring properties of the software developed by each team, and their correct use of DevOps techniques. It tracks the progress on each of metric by each group. The methodology also defines Individual Performance Metrics to measure the impact of individual student contributions to increase in Team Performance Metrics. Periodically scheduled reports using these metrics provide students valuable feedback. This process also facilitates the process of assessing the assignments. Although this method is not intended to produce the final grade of each student, it provides very valuable information to the lecturers. We have used it as the main source of information for student and team assessment in one programming course. Additionally, we use other assessment methods to calculate the final grade: written conceptual tests to check their understanding of the development processes, and cross-evaluations. Qualitative evaluation of the students filling relevant questionnaires are very positive and encouraging.
Theoretical study of attosecond laser interference on radioactive decay of cesium-137
Authors: Hu Jie , Li Xiao-Yun , Guo Jing-Shi , Tu Xing-Ming , Wen Fu-Ping , Wang Shao-Lin , Lou Hai-Lin , Tong Tong , Zou Zheng , Liu Kun
Published: March 2023

At present, the research on reducing radioactive contamination has special significance. Professor Sugihara found that the

fragments in the plasma could reduce cesium-137 radiation activity. In this paper, a well-established method based on direct numerical solution of the three-dimensional Schrödinger equation is applied to study the interaction between the cesium-137 nucleus and the plasma. It is found that the plasma is completely formed in the first three optical periods of 800 nm laser. From the fourth optical period, the electrons that generated from the decay of cesium-137 become the main source of electrons in the plasma. In order to maintain the stability of the plasma, cesium-137 has to accelerate its decay within a certain time. The intrinsic mechanism of the rapid reduction of the radiation activity of cesium-137 was explained by theoretical calculation for the first time.
Methemoglobinemia in the Era of COVID-19: A Potential Confounder of Glycemic Control
Authors: Ascherman Benjamin M , Smith Kolton , Fishman Sarah L
Published: March 2023

Glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is frequently used as a measure of glycemic control but can be inaccurate in certain clinical scenarios leading to poor estimates of insulin requirements. We present the case of a 76-year-old man with diabetes and COVID infection. HbA1c was measured at 5.7%, though the patient reported home glucose readings of 200 to 300 mg/dL (11.1-16.65 mmol/L). Pulse oximetry on presentation was 50% to 60%, which initially improved to 93% with supplemental oxygen of 15 L via nonrebreather face mask. Treatment with remdesivir and dexamethasone was initiated, but the patient was again found to have low oxygen saturations requiring bilevel positive airway pressure and transfer to the intensive care unit. The patient was started on 1.1 U/kg of insulin daily in a basal-bolus regimen. The patient developed severe hyperglycemia requiring 2.4 U/kg to achieve glycemic control. Co-oximeter analysis of an arterial blood gas sample revealed methemoglobinemia. Exchange transfusion was performed with clinical improvement. Subsequent measurement of fructosamine was 360 umol/L (360 000 µmol/L), correlating with reported home glucose measurements. Methemoglobinemia may impair glycation of hemoglobin or interfere with measurement of HbA1c, thereby compromising the use of this molecule as a marker for glycemic control in patients with this condition.
A Pilot Investigation Evaluating Relative Changes in Fronto-Occipital Alpha and Beta Spectral Power as Measurement of Anesthesia Hypnotic Depth
Authors: Fehrlin Eloy S. , Hight Darren , Kaiser Heiko A. , Luedi Markus M. , Huber Markus , Zubler Frédéric , Lersch Friedrich
Published: March 2023

BACKGROUND:

Other than clinical observation of a patient’s vegetative response to nociception, monitoring the hypnotic component of general anesthesia (GA) and unconsciousness relies on electroencephalography (EEG)-based indices. These indices exclusively based on frontal EEG activity neglect an important observation. One of the main hallmarks of transitions from wakefulness to GA is a shift in alpha oscillations (7.5–12.5 Hz activity) from occipital brain regions toward anterior brain regions (“alpha anteriorization”). Monitoring the degree of this alpha anteriorization may help to guide induction and maintenance of hypnotic depth and prevent intraoperative awareness. However, the occipital region of the brain is completely disregarded and occipital alpha as characteristic of wakefulness and its posterior-to-anterior shift during induction are missed. Here, we propose an application of Narcotrend’s reduced power alpha beta (RPAB) index, originally developed to monitor differences in hemispheric perfusion, for determining the ratio of alpha and beta activity in the anterior-posterior axis.

METHODS:

Perioperative EEG data of 32 patients undergoing GA in the ophthalmic surgery department of Bern University Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. EEG was recorded with the Narcotrend® monitor using a frontal (Fp1-Fp2) and a posterior (T9-Oz) bipolar derivation with reference electrode over A2. The RPAB index was computed between both bipolar signals, defining the fronto-occipital RPAB (FO-RPAB). FO-RPAB was analyzed during wakefulness, GA maintenance, and emergence, as well as before and after the intraoperative administration of a ketamine bolus. FO-RPAB was compared with a classical quantitative EEG measure—the spectral edge frequency 95% (SEF-95).

RESULTS:

A significant shift of the FO-RPAB was observed during both induction of and emergence from GA (P < .001). Interestingly, the additional administration of ketamine during GA did not lead to a significant change in FO-RPAB (P = 0.81). In contrast, a significant increase in the SEF-95 in the frontal channel was observed during the 10-minute period after ketamine administration (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS:

FO-RPAB appears to qualify as a marker of unconsciousness, reflecting physiological fronto-occipital activity differences during GA. In contrast to frontal SEF-95, it is not disturbed by additional administration of ketamine for analgesia.
Awake Craniotomy in Africa: A Scoping Review of Literature and Proposed Solutions to Tackle Challenges
Authors: Mofatteh Mohammad , Mashayekhi Mohammad Sadegh , Arfaie Saman , Adeleye Amos Olufemi , Jolayemi Edward Olaoluwa , Ghomsi Nathalie C. , Shlobin Nathan A. , Morsy Ahmed A. , Esene Ignatius N. , Laeke Tsegazeab , Awad Ahmed K. , Labuschagne Jason J. , Ruan Richard , Abebe Yared Nigusie , Jabang John Nute , Okunlola Abiodun Idowu , Barrie Umaru , Lekuya Hervé Monka , Idi Marcel Ehanga , Kabulo Kantenga Dieu Merci , Bankole Nourou Dine Adeniran , Edem Idara J. , Ikwuegbuenyi Chibuikem A. , Nguembu Stephane , Zolo Yvan , Bernstein Mark
Published: March 2023

BACKGROUND:

Awake craniotomy (AC) is a common neurosurgical procedure for the resection of lesions in eloquent brain areas, which has the advantage of avoiding general anesthesia to reduce associated complications and costs. A significant resource limitation in low- and middle-income countries constrains the usage of AC.

OBJECTIVE:

To review the published literature on AC in African countries, identify challenges, and propose pragmatic solutions by practicing neurosurgeons in Africa.

METHODS:

We conducted a scoping review under Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis-Scoping Review guidelines across 3 databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science). English articles investigating AC in Africa were included.

RESULTS:

Nineteen studies consisting of 396 patients were included. Egypt was the most represented country with 8 studies (42.1%), followed by Nigeria with 6 records (31.6%). Glioma was the most common lesion type, corresponding to 120 of 396 patients (30.3%), followed by epilepsy in 71 patients (17.9%). Awake-awake-awake was the most common protocol used in 7 studies (36.8%). Sixteen studies (84.2%) contained adult patients. The youngest reported AC patient was 11 years old, whereas the oldest one was 92. Nine studies (47.4%) reported infrastructure limitations for performing AC, including the lack of funding, intraoperative monitoring equipment, imaging, medications, and limited human resources.

CONCLUSION:

Despite many constraints, AC is being safely performed in low-resource settings. International collaborations among centers are a move forward, but adequate resources and management are essential to make AC an accessible procedure in many more African neurosurgical centers.
Neural activation patterns associated with mouthbrooding, maternal care, infanticide and fry release in an African cichlid fish
Authors: Ray Emily J. , Butler Julie M. , Maruska Karen P.
Published: March 2023

Parental care has evolved several times and is present across taxa. Parental care behaviors, such as food provisioning and protection, are critical for offspring success. However, infanticide can co-exist with parental care in the same species. The mechanisms underlying the switch from care to consumption and from offspring dependence to independence are relatively unknown, especially in fishes, the oldest and largest group of vertebrates. Mouthbrooding, an extreme example of parental care present in dozens of genera of fishes, provides an excellent opportunity to investigate the brain regions important for parental care. The maternal mouthbrooding African cichlid fish Astatotilapia burtoni broods developing young inside the mouth for approximately 14 days, then provides post-release maternal care by protecting fry inside the mouth when threatened. Following the post-release maternal care phase, females can exhibit infanticide and consume their own offspring. We used immunohistochemistry for the neural activation marker pS6 to identify differences in neural activation among mouthbrooding, maternal-care-providing and infanticide-exhibiting females, and between pre- and post-release fry. We identified five brain regions (Dc-5, ATn, nPPa, Vd-c and Dl-g) that are differentially activated among mouthbrooding, maternal care and infanticide females as well as six regions (Dm, Vv, Vd, Vs-m, TPp, PGZ and INL of retina) differentially activated between pre- and post-release fry. This study identifies both shared and distinct circuitry that may support transitions between parental care states and from care to infanticide, as well as regions in developed fry that support the transition from pre- to post-release.
Of corpses, ghosts and mirages: biomechanical consequences of morphology depend on the environment
Authors: Koehl M. A. R.
Published: March 2023

Organisms are subject to the laws of physics, so comparative biomechanics is a powerful approach for identifying basic principles that apply across taxa of how morphology affects performance of mechanical functions such as locomotion, feeding or resisting damage. Journal of Experimental Biology has been a leading journal for decades in publishing studies revealing such basic biomechanical principles. However, field studies of the physical environment, ecological interactions and life-history strategies of organisms reveal which aspects of their biomechanical performance are important to their success in different types of natural habitats, and thus enable us to design ecologically relevant laboratory experiments to understand biomechanical function. Because the fitness consequences of differences in morphology are affected by the biological and physical environment, biomechanics can be used to identify how physical constraints on the performance of organisms with different body plans in variable environments can affect evolution. I illustrate these points with examples from the literature that show how the biomechanical consequences of morphology depend on the ecology of the organisms. Knowledge of the temporal patterns of interactions of organisms with their physical and biological environments is essential for understanding their functional morphology as it changes during ontogeny, and it reveals constraints on their evolution.
Basel, Rittergasse 16: Ein Beitrag zur Siedlungsgeschichte im römischen vicus
Authors: Ammann Sandra
Published: March 2023

Die Ausgrabungen, die in den Jahren 1969 und 1970 an der Rittergasse 16 durchgeführt wurden, gehören zu den wichtigsten Untersuchungen im römischen vicus von Basel. Die integrale Auswertung der Befunde und Funde hat zu einer substantiellen Erweiterung des Kenntnisstandes in der hier bislang noch kaum erforschten Zeit zwischen 100 und 250 n. Chr. geführt. Im Mittelpunkt der Untersuchungen von Sandra Ammann steht die komplexe Baugeschichte eines Streifenhauses. Das Einbeziehen von Erkenntnissen aus archäologischen Untersuchungen im unmittelbaren Umfeld ermöglicht eine neue Sicht auf die Entwicklung der römischen Besiedlung im Bereich des gesamten Münsterhügels.
DEVEA: an interactive shiny application for Differential Expression analysis, data Visualization and Enrichment Analysis of transcriptomics data
Authors: Riquelme-Perez Miriam , Perez-Sanz Fernando , Deleuze Jean-François , Escartin Carole , Bonnet Eric , Brohard Solène
Published: March 2023

We are at a time of considerable growth in transcriptomics studies and subsequent in silico analysis. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) is the most widely used approach to analyse the transcriptome and is integrated in many studies.

The processing of transcriptomic data typically requires a noteworthy number of steps, statistical knowledge, and coding skills, which are not accessible to all scientists. Despite the development of a plethora of software applications over the past few years to address this concern, there is still room for improvement.

Here we present DEVEA, an R shiny application tool developed to perform differential expression analysis, data visualization and enrichment pathway analysis mainly from transcriptomics data, but also from simpler gene lists with or without statistical values.

The intuitive and easy-to-manipulate interface facilitates gene expression exploration through numerous interactive figures and tables, and statistical comparisons of expression profile levels between groups. Further meta-analysis such as enrichment analysis is also possible, without the need for prior bioinformatics expertise.

DEVEA performs a comprehensive analysis from multiple and flexible data sources representing distinct analytical steps. Consequently, it produces dynamic graphs and tables, to explore the expression levels and statistical results from differential expression analysis. Moreover, it generates a comprehensive pathway analysis to extend biological insights. Finally, a complete and customizable HTML report can be extracted to enable the scientists to explore results beyond the application. DEVEA is freely accessible at https://shiny.imib.es/devea/ and the source code is available on our GitHub repository https://github.com/MiriamRiquelmeP/DEVEA.
Barriers to compliance with evidence-based guidelines for ventilator-associated pneumonia among critical care nurses: A scoping review
Authors: Al-Tamimi Muna , Refaat Fatma , Bani Issa Wegdan
Published: March 2023

Background: Healthcare organizations provide evidence-based guidelines designed to support nurses in preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in intensive care units (ICUs), but there are barriers to compliance with such guidelines. This review explicitly explored evidence of compliance barriers among critical care nurses.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and EBSCO databases for relevant English-language studies published between January 2003 and June 2022, focused on barriers to nursing compliance with VAP prevention guidelines. Data was reported according to the Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMAScR) guidelines. 

Results:

230 publications were screened, resulting in 53 full-text articles being retrieved after removing duplicates, of which 13 relevant to the aims of the review and meeting the inclusion criteria were included for data extraction. One was a qualitative study, while the remainder were quantitative. Simple descriptive content analysis identified the barriers to critical care nurses’ compliance with VAP prevention guidelines, and categorized them as: (1) work environment barriers (e.g., lack of equipment and supplies; lack of staff and time; lack of educational support; and ineffective supportive system); (2) nurse-related barriers (limited personal competencies); and (3) situation-related barriers (patient health, discomfort, and adverse events).

Conclusions: This review revealed important evidence on barriers to VAP prevention guidelines compliance. Nurses are challenged mainly by work-environmental barriers along, with the presence of nurse and situational barriers. It is evident from the findings that further qualitative and mixed-methodology follow-up studies are recommended to further explore the issues in depth.  Healthcare leaders must be aware of these barriers and integrate work policies that assist in overcoming them, to increase compliance.
Cortical thickness of the rostral anterior cingulate gyrus is associated with frailty in patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis in Korea: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Jung Sang Hyun , Oh Jong Soo , Lee So-Young , Jeong Hye Yun
Published: March 2023

Background: Frailty is defined as a condition of being weak and delicate, and it represents a state of high vulnerability to adverse health outcomes. Recent studies have suggested that the cingulate gyrus is associated with frailty in the elderly population. However, few imaging studies have explored the relationship between frailty and the cingulate gyrus in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing hemodialysis. Methods: Eighteen right-handed patients with ESRD undergoing hemodialysis were enrolled in the study. We used the FreeSurfer software package to estimate the cortical thickness of the regions of interest, including the rostral anterior, caudal anterior, isthmus, and posterior cingulate gyri. The Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and laboratory tests were also conducted. Results: The cortical thickness of the right rostral anterior cingulate gyrus (ACG) was significantly correlated with the Fried frailty index, age, and creatinine level. Multiple regression analysis indicated that the cortical thickness of the right rostral ACG was associated with frailty after controlling for age and creatinine level. Conclusion: Our results indicate that the cortical thickness of the rostral ACG may be associated with frailty in patients with ESRD on hemodialysis and that the rostral ACG may play a role in the frailty mechanism of this population.
The Development of the Personality of a Younger Student Is a Priority Goal of Modern Primary Education (Part 3)
Authors: Vinogradova Natalya
Published: March 2023

The article deals with the problem of the development of the personality of a younger schoolchild as a member of Russian society, a citizen of the Russian Federation, as well as a subject of a new for him, socially important educational and cognitive activity. The content of the process of education in elementary school, its methods, techniques and forms of organization are characterized. Examples of the integration of educational and upbringing tasks in the classroom and in extracurricular activities of schoolchildren are given.
Pragmática histórica del español. Formas de tratamiento, actos de habla y construcción del diálogo.
Authors: Iglesias Recuero Silvia
Published: March 2023

El objeto de la pragmática y del análisis del discurso en su vertiente diacrónica es reconstruir, en la medida en que lo permita la documentación existente, la competencia pragmática y discursiva de los hablantes que vivieron en épocas pasadas. En este volumen, que recoge importantes aportaciones para la historia del español peninsular y americano, se abordan tres ámbitos de investigación: las formas de tratamiento, la formulación de los actos de habla y su relación con la (des)cortesía, así como la historia de la construcción del diálogo en los textos literarios. De esta manera, se logra establecer una vinculación entre los fenómenos lingüísticos estudiados y las formas de organización social y las ideologías culturales, perspectiva transdisciplinar de gran interés no solo para los lingüistas, sino también para los investigadores en historia social y cultural o en literatura española e hispanoamericana.
Asymmetric Information and R&D Disclosure: Evidence from Scientific Publications
Authors: Baruffaldi Stefano , Simeth Markus , Wehrheim David
Published: March 2023

We examine how asymmetric information in financial markets affects voluntary research and development (R&D) disclosure, considering scientific publications as a disclosure channel. Difference-in-differences regressions around brokerage house mergers and closures, which increase information asymmetry through reductions in analyst coverage, indicate a quick and sustained increase in scientific publications from treated firms relative to the number of publications from control firms. The treatment effects are concentrated among firms with higher information asymmetry and lower investor demand, firms with greater financial constraints, and firms with lower proprietary costs. We do not find evidence of changes in financial disclosure, nor do we find changes in patenting. Results from ordinary least squares regressions show that scientific publications by firms are positively associated with investor attention toward those firms. We complement these results with qualitative evidence from conference calls. Our results highlight the limitations and trade-offs R&D firms face in their financial market disclosure policies.

This paper was accepted by Brian Bushee, accounting.

Funding: This work was supported by the Danish Independent Research Fund [Grant 0133-00119B] and the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities [Grant PGC2018-094418-B-I00].

Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4721 .
Can Third-Party Sellers Benefit from a Platform’s Entry to the Market?
Authors: Deng Yiting , Tang Christopher S. , Wang Wei , Yoo Onesun Steve
Published: March 2023

Because of the informational advantage of online marketplaces (i.e., platforms), it is a common belief that a platform’s market entry will be detrimental to third-party sellers who sell similar products on the platform. To examine the validity of this belief, we conduct an exploratory analysis using the sales data for a single product category provided by JD.com for the month of March 2018. Our analysis reveals an unexpected result. Upon the platform’s entry, third-party sellers who sell similar products can afford to charge a higher price, obtain a higher demand, and earn a higher profit. To provide a plausible explanation for this unexpected exploratory result, we develop a duopoly model that incorporates the changing competitive dynamic before and after the platform’s entry. Specifically, before entry, the platform earns a commission (based on the seller’s revenue), whereas the seller sets its retail price as a monopoly. After entry, the platform earns a profit generated by its direct sales in addition to the commission from the seller. In addition, the seller and the platform operate in a duopoly and engage in a sequential game. By examining the equilibrium outcomes associated with this sequential game, we identify conditions under which the platform’s entry can create a win-win situation for both parties. Specifically, these conditions hold when the platform’s market potential is moderate and when the platform’s entry creates a sufficiently high spillover effect on the seller, providing a plausible explanation for our empirical finding that the seller can benefit from a platform’s entry.

Funding: W. Wang acknowledges the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant 72173019], the Beijing Social Science Foundation [Grant 20JJA004], the Chinese Ministry of Education Research Funds on Humanities and Social Sciences [Grant 21YJA790056], and the Excellent Young Scholar Funds of UIBE [Grant 19YQ17].
Asking the fundamental questions
Authors: Tingle John , Cattini Amanda
Published: March 2023

John Tingle and Amanda Cattini discuss some recent reports on patient safety and clinical negligence, considering the need for policy makers to look forward as well as to react to crises
USO DE LABORATÓRIOS CASEIROS E APOSTILA EXPERIMENTAL PARA O ENSINO DE FÍSICA
Authors: De Almeida Esteves Warlle , Castanheira da Silva Marcelo
Published: March 2023

Este trabalho tem como objetivo propor a utilização de uma apostila experimental e a construção de laboratórios caseiros no ensino de Física. O público-alvo consistia em alunos e professores de todos os 22 municípios do estado do Acre em 2015, região amazônica do Brasil, promovido pela Secretaria de Estado de Ciência e Tecnologia e cujo projeto se intitulava Expedição Científica. A apostila “O Lado Brilhante da Física”, de autoria própria, contém 19 atividades experimentais e foi aplicada no referido projeto. Os experimentos abordaram conteúdos de Cinemática, Dinâmica, Termodinâmica, Gases, Eletromagnetismo, Ondas e Óptica, auxiliando a fortalecer a aplicação da aprendizagem significativa que foi embasada nas teorias de Ausubel e Vygotsky. Os resultados mostraram que os experimentos contribuíram na melhoria da alfabetização científica dos alunos, especificamente na identificação e interpretação da associação entre fatos cotidianos e fatos científicos. No caso dos professores houve uma conscientização da necessidade de incluir no planejamento a realização de aulas experimentais. Também foi constatada uma evolução na interação entre alunos e professores ao longo das atividades desenvolvidas nos minicursos, oficinas e palestras, conduzindo a um melhor desempenho na execução e demonstração dos experimentos.
An exploration of young carers’ experiences in secondary school and their perceptions regarding their future career: a scoping review
Authors: Moloney Breda , Lafferty Attracta , Mucheru Doreen , Kroll Thilo
Published: March 2023

Compared with their peers, young carers are at a higher risk of being not in education, employment or training. Using Arksey and O’Malley’s framework, this review aims to map out the literature on young carers’ experiences of caring while attending school and their future career perceptions. The key themes that emerge from the literature include: the impact of the caring role on education and future aspirations; school awareness and multiagency support; and the positives gained from caring. Greater support in secondary school, along with multiagency collaboration, are highlighted as key influences on the likelihood of young carers maximising their career opportunities.
Laser diode photoacoustic point source detection: machine learning-based denoising and reconstruction
Authors: Vousten Vincent , Moradi Hamid , Wu Zijian , Boctor Emad M. , Salcudean Septimiu E.
Published: March 2023

A new development in photoacoustic (PA) imaging has been the use of compact, portable and low-cost laser diodes (LDs), but LD-based PA imaging suffers from low signal intensity recorded by the conventional transducers. A common method to improve signal strength is temporal averaging, which reduces frame rate and increases laser exposure to patients. To tackle this problem, we propose a deep learning method that will denoise point source PA radio-frequency (RF) data before beamforming with a very few frames, even one. We also present a deep learning method to automatically reconstruct point sources from noisy pre-beamformed data. Finally, we employ a strategy of combined denoising and reconstruction, which can supplement the reconstruction algorithm for very low signal-to-noise ratio inputs.
90-m/560-Mbps underwater wireless optical communication utilizing subband multiple-mode full permutation CAP combined with an SNR-weighted detector and multi-channel DFE
Authors: Ge Wenmin , Du Zihao , Cai Chengye , Song Guangbin , Qin Sitong , Wang Haipeng , Zhang Tianhao , Xu Jing
Published: March 2023

In this paper, a joint signal processing scheme including a subband multiple-mode full permutation carrierless amplitude phase modulation (SMMP-CAP), signal-to-noise ratio weighted detector (SNR-WD), and multi-channel decision feedback equalizer (MC-DFE) is proposed to mitigate the bandwidth limitation of a high-speed long-reach underwater wireless optical communication (UWOC) system. Referring to the trellis coded modulation (TCM) subset division strategy, 16 quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) mapping set is divided into four 4-QAM mapping subsets by SMMP-CAP scheme. An SNR-WD and an MC-DFE are employed to enhance the demodulation effect of this system in a fading channel. In a laboratory experiment, the minimal required received optical powers (ROPs) for data rates of 480 Mbps, 600 Mbps, and 720 Mbps, at hard-decision forward error correction (HD-FEC) threshold of 3.80 × 10−3, are -32.7 dBm, -31.3 dBm, and -25.5 dBm, respectively. Moreover, the proposed system successfully achieves a data rate of 560 Mbps in a swimming pool with a transmission distance up to 90 m and a total attenuation measured to be 54.64 dB. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time to demonstrate a high-speed, long-distance UWOC system by employing an SMMP-CAP scheme.
Kelpwatch: A new visualization and analysis tool to explore kelp canopy dynamics reveals variable response to and recovery from marine heatwaves
Authors: Bell Tom W. , Cavanaugh Kyle C. , Saccomanno Vienna R. , Cavanaugh Katherine C. , Houskeeper Henry F. , Eddy Norah , Schuetzenmeister Falk , Rindlaub Nathaniel , Gleason Mary
Published: March 2023

Giant kelp and bull kelp forests are increasingly at risk from marine heatwave events, herbivore outbreaks, and the loss or alterations in the behavior of key herbivore predators. The dynamic floating canopy of these kelps is well-suited to study via satellite imagery, which provides high temporal and spatial resolution data of floating kelp canopy across the western United States and Mexico. However, the size and complexity of the satellite image dataset has made ecological analysis difficult for scientists and managers. To increase accessibility of this rich dataset, we created Kelpwatch, a web-based visualization and analysis tool. This tool allows researchers and managers to quantify kelp forest change in response to disturbances, assess historical trends, and allow for effective and actionable kelp forest management. Here, we demonstrate how Kelpwatch can be used to analyze long-term trends in kelp canopy across regions, quantify spatial variability in the response to and recovery from the 2014 to 2016 marine heatwave events, and provide a local analysis of kelp canopy status around the Monterey Peninsula, California. We found that 18.6% of regional sites displayed a significant trend in kelp canopy area over the past 38 years and that there was a latitudinal response to heatwave events for each kelp species. The recovery from heatwave events was more variable across space, with some local areas like Bahía Tortugas in Baja California Sur showing high recovery while kelp canopies around the Monterey Peninsula continued a slow decline and patchy recovery compared to the rest of the Central California region. Kelpwatch provides near real time spatial data and analysis support and makes complex earth observation data actionable for scientists and managers, which can help identify areas for research, monitoring, and management efforts.
The value of artificial intelligence in the diagnosis of lung cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Mingsi , Wu Jinghui , Wang Nian , Zhang Xianqin , Bai Yujiao , Guo Jinlin , Zhang Lin , Liu Shulin , Tao Ke
Published: March 2023

Lung cancer is a common malignant tumor disease with high clinical disability and death rates. Currently, lung cancer diagnosis mainly relies on manual pathology section analysis, but the low efficiency and subjective nature of manual film reading can lead to certain misdiagnoses and omissions. With the continuous development of science and technology, artificial intelligence (AI) has been gradually applied to imaging diagnosis. Although there are reports on AI-assisted lung cancer diagnosis, there are still problems such as small sample size and untimely data updates. Therefore, in this study, a large amount of recent data was included, and meta-analysis was used to evaluate the value of AI for lung cancer diagnosis. With the help of STATA16.0, the value of AI-assisted lung cancer diagnosis was assessed by specificity, sensitivity, negative likelihood ratio, positive likelihood ratio, diagnostic ratio, and plotting the working characteristic curves of subjects. Meta-regression and subgroup analysis were used to investigate the value of AI-assisted lung cancer diagnosis. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the combined sensitivity of the AI-aided diagnosis system for lung cancer diagnosis was 0.87 [95% CI (0.82, 0.90)], specificity was 0.87 [95% CI (0.82, 0.91)] (CI stands for confidence interval.), the missed diagnosis rate was 13%, the misdiagnosis rate was 13%, the positive likelihood ratio was 6.5 [95% CI (4.6, 9.3)], the negative likelihood ratio was 0.15 [95% CI (0.11, 0.21)], a diagnostic ratio of 43 [95% CI (24, 76)] and a sum of area under the combined subject operating characteristic (SROC) curve of 0.93 [95% CI (0.91, 0.95)]. Based on the results, the AI-assisted diagnostic system for CT (Computerized Tomography), imaging has considerable diagnostic accuracy for lung cancer diagnosis, which is of significant value for lung cancer diagnosis and has greater feasibility of realizing the extension application in the field of clinical diagnosis.
Effects of climate and price on soybean production: Empirical analysis based on panel data of 116 prefecture-level Chinese cities
Authors: Wang Hao , Guohui Shen , Zizhong Shi , Xiangdong Hu
Published: March 2023

This paper uses panel data from 116 prefecture-level cities in China from 2003 to 2019 to study the impact of price and climate factors on soybean planting area and yield per unit area in China. We adopt the panel instrumental variable method to control the endogeneity of the price in the regression and allow possible spatial autocorrelation errors. According to the research results, price is the primary factor affecting soybean production. For every 1% increase in soybean prices, the soybean planting area increases by 1.650%, and the per unit yield decreases by 0.898%. As for fertilizer prices, for every 1% increase in fertilizer prices, the soybean planting area will decrease by 2.616%, and the yield per unit area will increase by 0.819%. At the same time, climate change will also significantly affect soybean production. For every 1 cm increase in precipitation in April and May, the soybean planting area will increase by 0.233% and decrease by 0.172%, respectively. The precipitation increase in June and July can also significantly promote soybean yield. The results demonstrate that because soybean is a shade-loving crop, the increase of growing degree days will hinder the progress of soybean yield.
Dynamics of two-step reversible enzymatic reaction under fractional derivative with Mittag-Leffler Kernel
Authors: Khan Maryam , Ahmad Zubair , Ali Farhad , Khan Naveed , Khan Ilyas , Nisar Kottakkaran Sooppy
Published: March 2023

Chemical kinetics is a branch of chemistry that is founded on understanding chemical reaction rates. Chemical kinetics relates many aspects of cosmology, geology, and even in some cases of, psychology. There is a need for mathematical modelling of these chemical reactions. Therefore, the present research is based on chemical kinetics-based modelling and dynamics of enzyme processes. This research looks at the two-step substrate-enzyme reversible response. In the two step-reversible reactions, substrate combines with enzymes which is further converted into products with two steps. The model is displayed through the flow chart, which is then transformed into ODEs. The Atangana-Baleanu time-fractional operator and the Mittag-Leffler kernel are used to convert the original set of highly nonlinear coupled integer order ordinary differential equations into a fractional-order model. Additionally, it is shown that the solution to the investigated fractional model is unique, limited, and may be represented by its response velocity. A numerical scheme, also known as the Atangana-Toufik method, based on Newton polynomial interpolation technique via MATLAB software, is adopted to find the graphical results. The dynamics of reaction against different reaction rates are presented through various figures. It is observed that the forward reaction rates increase the reaction speed while backward reaction rates reduce it.
Role of institutions in promoting finance in emerging markets: A panel data analysis
Authors: Aman Arfia , Khan Muhammad Asif , Khan Mohammed Arshad , Haider Ahsanuddin , Oláh Judit , Fenyves Veronika
Published: March 2023

Differences in institutions have garnered much attention in recent years as one of the primary reasons for long-term economic performance, and a vast corpus of theoretical and empirical research demonstrates that financial development can have a substantial impact on economic and financial performance. In fast-growing emerging markets, the demand for financial services has considerably increased, which amplified the need for an efficient regulatory framework to deal with the sensitive nature of financial activities. Surprisingly, the existing literature on the impact of institutions and finance is focused on developed economies, while emerging markets are rarely focused on. Since emerging markets are becoming increasingly important as a result of the swift evolution of institutional and financial transformation, it is crucial to examine how the growth of financial markets reacts to institutional quality. This study investigates the role of institutions in promoting finance in emerging economies using the balanced panel dataset of 21 emerging market. Given the endogenous relationship between institutions and finance, the paper applies a two-stage least squares estimator to test the settler mortality hypothesis in this context. Aligned with theoretical intuition, the empirical result shows that settler mortality is a relevant instrument to institutions. Furthermore, the study performs robustness, using framework that deals with heterogeneity, and cross-section dependence. This empirical effort validates La Porta’s Law and Finance Hypothesis in the context of emerging markets. The results of the study are found robust across the variety of alternative measures of institutions and finance, and standard error correction specifications. Therefore, the study offers useful insight into policy implications.
Temperature and feeding frequency impact the survival, growth, and metamorphosis success of Solea solea larvae
Authors: Sardi Adriana E. , Bégout Marie-Laure , Lalles Anne-Laure , Cousin Xavier , Budzinski Hélène
Published: March 2023

Human-induced climate change impacts the oceans, increasing their temperature, changing their circulation and chemical properties, and affecting marine ecosystems. Like most marine species, sole has a biphasic life cycle, where one planktonic larval stage and juvenile/adult stages occur in a different ecological niche. The year-class strength, usually quantified by the end of the larvae stage, is crucial for explaining the species’ recruitment. We implemented an experimental system for rearing larvae under laboratory conditions and experimentally investigated the effects of temperature and feeding frequencies on survival, development (growth), and metamorphosis success of S. solea larvae. Specific questions addressed in this work include: what are the effects of feeding regimes on larvae development? How does temperature impact larvae development? Our results highlight that survival depends on the first feeding, that the onset of metamorphosis varies according to rearing temperature and that poorly fed larvae take significantly longer to start (if they do) metamorphosing. Moreover, larvae reared at the higher temperature (a +4°C scenario) showed a higher incidence in metamorphosis defects. We discuss the implications of our results in an ecological context, notably in terms of recruitment and settlement. Understanding the processes that regulate the abundance of wild populations is of primary importance, especially if these populations are living resources exploited by humans.
Linguistic effects on news headline success: Evidence from thousands of online field experiments (Registered Report)
Authors: Gligorić Kristina , Lifchits George , West Robert , Anderson Ashton
Published: March 2023

What makes written text appealing? In this registered report, we study the linguistic characteristics of news headline success using a large-scale dataset of field experiments (A/B tests) conducted on the popular website Upworthy.com comparing multiple headline variants for the same news articles. This unique setup allows us to control for factors that could otherwise have important confounding effects on headline success. Based on the prior literature and an exploratory portion of the data, we formulated hypotheses about the linguistic features associated with statistically superior headlines, previously published as a registered report protocol. Here, we report the findings based on a much larger portion of the data that became available after the publication of our registered report protocol. Our registered findings contribute to resolving competing hypotheses about the linguistic features that affect the success of text and provide avenues for research into the psychological mechanisms that are activated by those features.
The socio-demographic, clinical characteristics and outcomes of tuberculosis among HIV infected adults in Lithuania: A thirteen-year analysis
Authors: Matulyte Elzbieta , Davidaviciene Edita , Kancauskiene Zavinta , Diktanas Saulius , Kausas Aidas , Velyvyte Daiva , Urboniene Jurgita , Lipnickiene Vilnele , Laurencikaite Megan , Danila Edvardas , Costagliola Dominique , Matulionyte Raimonda
Published: March 2023

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) is a public health problem in Lithuania, among the 18 high-priority TB countries in the European region, and the most common AIDS-indicative disease with the highest proportion in the EU/EEA since 2015. The study aimed to identify socio-demographic, clinical characteristics and their relationship with TB outcomes in TB-HIV co-infected patients in Lithuania.

Methods

A retrospective chart review analysed the characteristics of TB-HIV co-infected adults registered in State Information System of Tuberculosis over 2008–2020. The factors associated with drug-resistant TB and unsuccessful treatment outcome were identified by multivariable logistic regression.

Results

The study included 345 cases in 311 patients (239 new, 106 previously treated cases), median age 40 years (IQR 35–45), 80.7% male. 67.8% patients knew their HIV-positive status before TB diagnosis, median time to TB diagnosis was 8 years (IQR 4–12). 83.6% were unemployed, 50.5%—anytime intravenous drug users (IDU), 34.9% abused alcohol. Drug-resistant TB rates in new and previously treated TB cases were 38.1% and 61.3%, respectively. In multivariable analysis, higher risk of drug-resistant TB was associated with imprisonment in new (aOR 3.35; 95%CI 1.17–9.57) and previously treated (aOR 6.63; 95%CI 1.09–40.35) cases. In 52.3% of new TB cases and in 42.5% previously treated TB cases the treatment outcomes were unsuccessful. In multivariable analysis of new TB cases, current imprisonment (aOR 2.77; 95%CI 1.29–5.91) and drug-resistant TB (aOR 2.18; 95%CI 1.11–4.28) were associated with unsuccessful treatment outcome. In multivariable analysis of previously treated TB cases, female gender (aOR 11.93; 95%CI 1.86–76.69), alcohol abuse (aOR 3.17; 95%CI 1.05–9.58), drug-resistant TB (aOR 4.83; 95%CI 1.53–15.28) were associated with unsuccessful treatment outcome.

Conclusions

In the TB-HIV-infected adult cohort in Lithuania, unemployment, imprisonment, IDU, alcohol abuse, known to be risk factors for TB, were very frequent. Drug resistance was an undeniable risk factor for unsuccessful treatment outcome and imprisonment was associated with drug resistant TB.