bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correlation Power Analysis of Lightweight Block Cipher Algorithm LiCi
Authors: Xia Xuan , Chen Bowei , Zhong Weidong
Published: July 2021

The lightweight block cipher algorithm LiCi processes the input plaintexts into high 32-bits and low 32-bits respectively in Feistel structure, and the corresponding keys of these two parts are not related. Therefore, keys of the first round can be cracked independently, and the computational complexity can be reduced from 264 to 232. After studying the key update strategy, this paper proposed that the computational complexity of cracking the second round keys can reduce from 264 to 213 by using the key obtained in the first round attack. When cracking the sixth round, the complete 128-bit key can be recovered. In this paper, the LiCi encryption algorithm was deployed on FPGA, the power consumption curves were measured with Tektronix MSO5204B oscilloscope which are used to recover the key in the LiCi encryption algorithm. we choose 8 bits keys as attack goal and get the true keys.
Research on Detection Technology for the Changes of Buildings by High Resolution Remote Sensing Image
Authors: Wang Ting , Zhang Jie , Li Ting , Li Yifei , Zhu Wenshan , Li Tao , Zhang Xi
Published: July 2021

Remote sensing is one of the most effective monitoring technologies for space change at home and abroad. This paper was designed to investigate the application methods of aerial and space remote sensing techniques in urban building change monitoring. It also proposed an urban spatial data updating method combining the InSAR technology and aerospace remote sensing for large-scale data updating and aerial photogrammetry technology for small-scale key data updating. Through simulation experiments of watershed-based image recognition and monitoring, observation and comparison, this paper adopted a watershed-based segmentation algorithm for GPU and its application to change recognition of urban building images.
Transformation and upgrading of aquatic products cold chain logistics from the perspective of new and traditional kinetic energy conversion
Authors: Cheng Kun
Published: July 2021

Aquatic products are favored by people because of its high quality protein, low fat content, balanced nutrients and delicious taste. However, aquatic products have a high demand for freshness, which is very hard to keep fresh and greatly increases the difficulty of circulation and easily destroys its appearance, odor shape, nutritional value and market economic value. The transportation of products, that is, logistics, has become an important means to provide fresh-keeping products and ensure that nutrition does not lose. Therefore, this paper will analyze this topic. This paper first analyzes the development status of China’s cold chain logistics and the impact of the emergence of new kinetic energy on logistics, and then analyzes the specific development measures, development strategies and development routes of cold chain logistics, so as to help China’s cold chain logistics find the right development direction.
Stability analysis of full-section construction of staggered distance double-hole tunnel
Authors: Liu Zhen , Wang Zhenxing , Zhang Junwu , Wei Xiaohang , Zhang Xiaowei
Published: July 2021

In the staggered distance double-hole tunnel located on the slope of the mountain, the deformation of the surrounding rock and the supporting structure of the tunnel is complicated. The deformation stability of the tunnel entrance is one of the most difficult points of the tunnel. In order to clarify the deformation law of the full-section construction at the entrance of the staggered distance double-hole tunnel, the entrance section of the Georgia E60 Highway No. 3 tunnel under construction is used as the background, and the method of numerical simulation test is used to study the staggered distance double-hole tunnel, the influence of section construction on the deformation and stability of the side and front slopes of the tunnel entrance section and the support structure of the tunnel entrance section. The research results show that: For tunnels with full-section construction, excavation will cause certain deformations on the ground and the tunnel, and the stability of the left side support structure of the right line tunnel without rock column between the two tunnels is worse than that in other positions, on the whole, the construction plan is reasonable and feasible.
Layout Optimization of Guidance Signs in Subway Station Based on Passenger Flow Line
Authors: Ji Hong-Wei , Zhou Hui-Juan
Published: July 2021

With the continuous acceleration of urbanization, urban public traffic congestion is becoming more and more serious. In order to alleviate traffic congestion, people’s demand for public transportation is increasing. Due to the increasing passenger flow in the subway station, the original guidance signs in the station often fail to play the expected role, and passengers cannot get effective guidance in the crowded passenger flow. This paper takes the maximum amount of information obtained by passengers as the objective function to establish the guidance sign layout model, and chooses a 0-1 integer programming model to solve it. Based on the distribution coefficient ρij;
, the passenger flow wij;
, the weight coefficient d and the inverse of the number of intersections qij
, these four variables are used to comprehensively analyze the amount of guidance information of the guidance signs, and set constraints based on the number of passenger flow lines and guidance signs. Xiyuan Subway station, for example, through the site of the actual passenger flow survey, to obtain the required parameters, and finally using MATLAB programming solution, to get an effective guidance sign layout position, improve the guidance sign guide efficiency.
Refined Calculation of Temperature Field in Cross-passage by Artificial Ground Freezing
Authors: Lu Xiangzhong , Zhang Qingwu , Sun Wenbin , Yan Su , Zhang Jiarong
Published: July 2021

In China, the artificial ground freezing (AGF) method is widely used in the construction of cross-passages, however, it is difficult to accurately calculate the numerical solution of the freezing temperature field. In this paper, the boundary conditions in the numerical calculation are refined through in-suit measurements, and finally the freezing process of the connecting channel is effectively simulated. The calculation results show that the thickness and temperature of the frozen wall at 1.0 m near the main tunnel segment are significantly weakened. The frozen wall at the top of the cross-passage is affected by densely arranged holes, which is prone to excessive freezing. And based on the calculation results, an optimization plan for the highest cooling efficiency in the initial stage of active freezing and speeding up freezing is proposed.
Prediction Model of Emergency Rescue time for Special Major Accidents in High-speed Railway based on GERTS Network
Authors: Tao Zhao , Jing Zuo
Published: July 2021

The existing emergency rescue process of high-speed railway mainly depends on the command and experience of emergency managers, and the rescue efficiency fluctuates greatly. In order to solve this problem, this paper constructs a model which can predict the time needed for emergency rescue. Firstly, the emergency rescue process of high-speed railway emergency is analyzed, then the relationship between key rescue tasks and the required time can be obtained according to the data mining of rescue cases and expert consultation, and the GERTS network model is established. Finally, the Yong-Wen line accident rescue case is simulated. The accident of Yong-Wen line was interrupted for 32 hours and 35 minutes, the number of simulations is 10000, and the average time is 32 hours. The results show that the model can accurately predict the time needed for emergency rescue and assist the rescue department to make scientific decisions.
Research on Optimization of Joint Distribution of Cold Chain Logistics Adopts Carbon Emission
Authors: Wushuang Li , Xiaofei Kou , Chengming Zhu
Published: July 2021

Aiming at high energy consumption, high carbon emission and high cost of cold chain logistics distribution. In this paper, an optimization model of cold chain joint distribution terminal distribution path with carbon emission is established, and the model takes fixed cost, carbon emission cost, transportation cost, damage cost and penalty cost with time window into consideration, and optimizes the total distribution cost. In this paper, genetic algorithm is used as the optimization algorithm to solve the model, and combined with concrete examples to demonstrate.
Comparison of Smart City Development in Japan and China by Text Mining Analysis
Authors: Liu Dixin , Morimoto Akinori , Kitano Naohiro
Published: July 2021

With the information technology development, Smart city has become popular worldwide in recent years. However, the applications of smart cities are diversified among countries to achieve different objectives. This research compared how the smart city concept has been applied differently in China and Japan, two major economies in East Asia, through text mining techniques on relevant journal articles. The journal articles in either countries are analyzed by software, KH-Coder, which automatically extracts word, count the frequency of each word then using statistic method to classify and find the relationship among each high-frequency word. The results imply that in the case of Japan, energy efficiency in local level is a primary focus while the smart city concept is applied as a basic infrastructure for economic development in China.
Simulation Analysis of the Exit Capacity of Depot of Urban Rail Transit
Authors: Chang Sheng , Wang Zhimei
Published: July 2021

A large number of subway trains depart from the depot before the morning rush hour, so the exit capacity of depot is insufficient. Using Anylogic software as the simulation platform, the paper has carried out an in-depth study on the exit capacity of depot from the perspectives of the access line and the main line, analyzed the impact of access lines capacity on exit capacity of depot under different conditions; researched the impact of different main line occupancy conditions caused by different traffic densities on exit capacity of depot. Taking the existing exit capacity of depot of Taipinghu Depot as an example, corresponding optimization scheme is put forward, and the effectiveness is verified by building a simulation model.
The Future Integrated Traffic Management System to Optimize the Automobile Traffic
Authors: Zhou Nan
Published: July 2021

Automobiles have developed rapidly at this time, where Europe, the US, and China are the largest markets for automobile production and sales. However, traffic congestion is not only the main problem, environmental deterioration, energy exhaustion, and atmospheric pollution also occurs in line with the growing of automobiles. Therefore, it requires adequate infrastructure and steps on how to optimize traffic to increase productivity, safety and satisfaction of road users. This research aimed to determine how a developed country like the US controls its infrastructure system, how the development of automobiles is in line with the increasing level of road congestion, and how modern traffic management solutions optimize congestion. In collecting data in this study, the author uses descriptive methods with literature study. Data will be collected through journals, books, research in the same field, electronic documents, statistical data, etc. The research shows that to optimize the automobile traffic, a country and automobile companies should manage the traffic with computational framework, using algorithms, future interaction and signals connected cars, and using the central control center. The future integrated traffic management will allow a new transport standard that will benefit the road users in fuel saving, ridesharing, creating high quality worldwide route and traffic light optimization, and avoid them from time wasting.
Liquid CO2 Phase Change Fracturing and Vibration Monitoring in Roadbed Slope Excavation
Authors: Hailiang Yuan , Chen Chen , Jianxin Yu , Xiaoyi Liu , Bin Dong
Published: July 2021

In order to analyze the vibration impact of carbon dioxide fracturing tube blasting red sandstone, combined with the engineering conditions and surrounding environment of Anqing High-tech Zone, the rock-breaking blasting plan is carefully designed. The fracturing tube is arranged in two rows, the first row has 23 holes with a spacing of 1.5m, and the second batch of holes has 22 holes, which are arranged in a quincunx pattern with a distance of ‘1.3m between the front and rear rows. And design the corresponding vibration signal monitoring test to study the crack propagation caused by blasting, the attenuation law of vibration and its frequency spectrum distribution. The results show that after blasting, there is a relatively smooth crack in the plane area of the fracture zone 7m away from the critical surface. The width of the crack is between 20-40cm. The vibration velocity of the measuring point decays rapidly with the increase of the vibration source distance, and the vibration velocity decay curves in the X and Y directions are basically the same. Spectrum analysis shows that the main frequency band of each sub-velocity is generally below 100Hz, and the main vibration frequencies in the X and Y directions are concentrated in 30∼60Hz. The main vibration frequency band of the rock-breaking blasting vibration signal has little correlation with the direction and propagation distance of the vibration signal. And compared with the analysis of emulsion explosives, it is found that the particle vibration speed caused by the emulsion explosive rock-breaking blasting is much greater than that of the liquid CO2 fracturing tube rock-breaking blasting, indicating that the use of liquid carbon dioxide to break the rock can effectively reduce the vibration generated by blasting.
Study on Discrete Railway Bulk Transportation Option Based on Game Theory
Authors: Zhang Ji , Yang Ting , Guo Jingwei
Published: July 2021

Railway transportation is an important part of China’s transportation system, and its freight price level has a direct impact on the national economy and social development. In this paper, taking railway freight pricing as the research object, based on pricing theories and theorems, the option theory is introduced into the railway freight pricing problem, a Stackelberg game model of railway freight option is established, and an optimization algorithm is proposed to solve the model. It is helpful for railway transportation enterprises to participate in the market competition of railway freight rate system, which provides the theoretical basis and technical support for the market-oriented reform of railway freight rate.
Optimal design of transportation signal control at the intersection based on Webster signal timing method
Authors: Li Yang , Qin Zhong , Zhu Cheng Ming
Published: July 2021

Urban transportation congestion has become a common phenomenon in the morning and evening peak. As the key node of urban transportation, optimizing the signal timing scheme of intersections is an effective measure to improve its traffic efficiency. In this paper, Webster signal timing method is used to optimize the signal timing scheme of intersection, and then VISSIM software is used to simulate the two schemes, and the queue length, parking times, travel time, delay time and pollution emission of each entrance at the intersection are optimized and analyzed. After optimization, the traffic condition of the intersection is obviously improved.
Ranked choice voting for representative transcripts with TRaCE
Authors: Olson Andrew J , Ware Doreen
Published: July 2021

Genome sequencing projects annotate protein-coding gene models with multiple transcripts, aiming to represent all of the available transcript evidence. However, downstream analyses often operate on only one representative transcript per gene locus, sometimes known as the canonical transcript. To choose canonical transcripts, Transcript Ranking and Canonical Election (TRaCE) holds an ‘election’ in which a set of RNA-seq samples rank transcripts by annotation edit distance. These sample-specific votes are tallied along with other criteria such as protein length and InterPro domain coverage. The winner is selected as the canonical transcript, but the election proceeds through multiple rounds of voting to order all the transcripts by relevance. Based on the set of expression data provided, TRaCE can identify the most common isoforms from a broad expression atlas or prioritize alternative transcripts expressed in specific contexts.

Availability and implementation

Transcript ranking code can be found on GitHub at {{https://github.com/warelab/TRaCE}}.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Transformation and differential abundance analysis of microbiome data incorporating phylogeny
Authors: Zhou Chao , Zhao Hongyu , Wang Tao
Published: July 2021

Motivation

Microbiome data have proven extremely useful for understanding microbial communities and their impacts in health and disease. Although microbiome analysis methods and standards are evolving rapidly, obtaining meaningful and interpretable results from microbiome studies still requires careful statistical treatment. In particular, many existing and emerging methods for differential abundance (DA) analysis fail to account for the fact that microbiome data are high-dimensional and sparse, compositional, negatively and positively correlated and phylogenetically structured. To better describe microbiome data and improve the power of DA testing, there is still a great need for the continued development of appropriate statistical methodology.

Results

In this article, we propose a model-based approach for microbiome data transformation, and a phylogenetically informed procedure for DA testing based on the transformed data. First, we extend the Dirichlet-tree multinomial (DTM) to zero-inflated DTM for multivariate modeling of microbial counts, addressing data sparsity and correlation and phylogeny among bacterial taxa. Then, within this framework and using a Bayesian formulation, we introduce posterior mean transformation to convert raw counts into non-zero relative abundances that sum to one, accounting for the compositionality nature of microbiome data. Second, using the transformed data, we propose adaptive analysis of composition of microbiomes (adaANCOM) for DA testing by constructing log-ratios adaptively on the tree for each taxon, greatly reducing the computational complexity of ANCOM in high dimensions. Finally, we present extensive simulation studies, an analysis of HMP data across 18 body sites and 2 visits, and an application to a gut microbiome and malnutrition study, to investigate the performance of posterior mean transformation and adaANCOM. Comparisons with ANCOM and other DA testing procedures show that adaANCOM controls the false discovery rate well, allows for easy interpretation of the results, and is computationally efficient for high-dimensional problems.

Availability and implementation

The developed R package is available at https://github.com/ZRChao/adaANCOM. For replicability purposes, scripts for our simulations and data analysis are available at https://github.com/ZRChao/Papers_supplementary.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Genome-wide gene–smoking interaction study identified novel susceptibility loci for non-small cell lung cancer in Chinese populations
Authors: Wang Yuzhuo , Ji Mengmeng , Zhu Meng , Fan Jingyi , Xie Junxing , Huang Yanqian , Wei Xiaoxia , Jiang Xiangxiang , Xu Jing , Chen Liang , Yin Rong , Wang Cheng , Zhang Ruyang , Zhao Yang , Dai Juncheng , Jin Guangfu , Hu Zhibin , Christiani David C , Ma Hongxia , Xu Lin , Shen Hongbing
Published: July 2021

Gene–smoking interactions play important roles in the development of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that modify the association of smoking behavior with NSCLC risk, we conducted a genome-wide gene–smoking interaction study in Chinese populations. The genome-wide interaction analysis between SNPs and smoking status (ever- versus never-smokers) was carried out using genome-wide association studies of NSCLC, which included 13 327 cases and 13 328 controls. Stratified analysis by histological subtypes was also conducted. We used a genome-wide significance threshold of 5 × 10−8 for identifying significant gene–smoking interactions and 1 × 10–6 for identifying suggestive results. Functional annotation was performed to identify potential functional SNPs and target genes. We identified three novel loci with significant or suggestive gene–smoking interaction. For NSCLC, the interaction between rs2746087 (20q11.23) and smoking status reached genome-wide significance threshold [odds ratio (OR) = 0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.54–0.74, P = 3.31 × 10–8], and the interaction between rs11912498 (22q12.1) and smoking status reached suggestive significance threshold (OR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.63–0.82, P = 8.10 × 10–7). Stratified analysis by histological subtypes identified suggestive interactions between rs459724 (5q11.2) and smoking status (OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.51–0.73, P = 7.55 × 10–8) in the risk of lung squamous cell carcinoma. Functional annotation indicated that both classic and novel biological processes, including nicotine addiction and airway clearance, may modulate the susceptibility to NSCLC. These novel loci provide new insights into the biological mechanisms underlying NSCLC risk. Independent replication in large-scale studies is needed and experimental studies are warranted to functionally validate these associations.
Distinct Contributions of Genes and Environment to Visual Size Illusion and the Underlying Neural Mechanism
Authors: Chen Lihong , Xu Qian , Shen Li , Yuan Tian , Wang Ying , Zhou Wen , Jiang Yi
Published: July 2021

As exemplified by the Ebbinghaus illusion, the perceived size of an object can be significantly biased by its surrounding context. The phenomenon is experienced by humans as well as other species, hence likely evolutionarily adaptive. Here, we examined the heritability of the Ebbinghaus illusion using a combination of the classic twin method and multichannel functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Results show that genes account for over 50% of the variance in the strength of the experienced illusion. Interestingly, activations evoked by the Ebbinghaus stimuli in the early visual cortex are explained by genetic factors whereas those in the posterior temporal cortex are explained by environmental factors. In parallel, the feedforward functional connectivity between the occipital cortex and the temporal cortex is modulated by genetic effects whereas the feedback functional connectivity is entirely shaped by environment, despite both being significantly correlated with the strength of the experienced illusion. These findings demonstrate that genetic and environmental factors work in tandem to shape the context-dependent visual size illusion, and shed new light on the links among genes, environment, brain, and subjective experience.
Enriching Deaf Children’s American Sign Language Phonological Awareness: A Quasi-Experimental Study
Authors: Holcomb Leala , Golos Debbie , Moses Annie , Broadrick Anna
Published: July 2021

With the knowledge that deaf children benefit from early exposure to signed language, questions are raised about the role of specific types of language input that are beneficial in early childhood classrooms. This quasi-experimental study explores the effects of ASL rhyme, rhythm, and handshape awareness activities on 4- to 6-year-old deaf children’s ASL phonological awareness. Deaf children received three-week structured activities and four-week teacher-choice activities that targeted handshape awareness. Results yielded evidence that interventions as brief as 12 minutes daily for up to 2 months can produce positive effects on deaf children’s phonological awareness. Furthermore, although the intervention focused only on handshape awareness, children’s positive gains on the ASL Phonological Awareness Test suggests one targeted phonological awareness skill (e.g., handshape) may generalize to other phonological awareness skills (e.g., location and movement). Further investigation is needed on the relationship between ASL phonological awareness and overall language and literacy skills in both ASL and English.
Myocardial rupture and left ventricular pseudoaneurysm due to late STEMI presentation during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown: a classical case report
Authors: Banisauskaite Audra , Velavan Periaswamy , Hasleton Jonathan , Mediratta Neeraj , Arzanauskaite Monika , Binukrishnan Sukumaran
Published: July 2021

Background

Left ventricular (LV) pseudoaneurysm is a serious and rare complication of myocardial infarction (MI). It occurs when an injured myocardial wall ruptures and is contained by overlying adherent pericardium or scar tissue, most commonly it develops in patients with late presentation of MI and delayed revascularization.

Case summary

A 64-year-old man presented to the emergency department with intermittent central chest pain radiating to back and neck and increasing on deep inspiration, which was considered to be of musculoskeletal origin for a week, but worsened despite medications. Electrocardiography showed features of ST-elevation MI; a circumflex artery occlusion was found on coronary angiogram and angioplasty was performed. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) revealed features of healed lateral wall rupture with adherent parietal pericardium and the patient was managed conservatively. Two months later the patient returned with severe chest pain; echocardiogram and cardiac computed tomography showed significant interval progression of the pseudoaneurysm. Aneurysmectomy was performed, after which the patient recovered and had none of the previous symptoms since. Follow-up CMR study revealed improvement of LV systolic function.

Discussion

A rare case of post-infarction LV pseudoaneurysm was reported. Multimodality imaging helped to detect and to differentiate this complication from the true aneurysm and to follow it up and plan the treatment. Conservative treatment was not effective in this case as the pseudoaneurysm progressed; aneurysmectomy helped to improve LV systolic function.
Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation with unexplained cyanosis as the first presentation of hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia, case report, and literature review
Authors: Alakhfash Ali , Alqwaiee Abdullah , Almesned Abdulrahman , Al-Hassnan Zuhair N
Published: July 2021

Background

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) are rare pulmonary vascular anomalies. They can result in right-to-left shunt and, if significant, low systemic saturation, cyanosis, polycythaemia, and paradoxical systemic embolization.

Case summary

Eighteen months old female child was referred to our centre due to unexplained central and peripheral cyanosis. Based on the agitated saline contrast echocardiography study, computed tomography scan confirmed the presence of abnormal vasculature at the left lower lobe. Percutaneous closure of the PAVM was performed using Amplatzer Duct Occluder type 1 device. The genetic study revealed a pathogenic mutation in the endoglin gene, which is a known cause of hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) inhered in an autosomal dominance pattern.

Discussion

PAVM could be the first manifestation of HHT. Closing the malformation percutaneously is feasible, which can eliminate the right to left shunt and improves the saturation. Genetic study is warranted in these cases, as well as long-term follow-up.
Novel concepts and early results of repairing common arterial trunk
Authors: Yacoub Magdi H , Hosny Hatem , Afifi Ahmed , Nagy Mohamed , Mahgoub Ahmed , Simry Walid , AbouZeina Mohammad Gibreel , Doss Ramy , El Sawy Amr , Shehata Nairouz , Elafifi Abdelrahman , Abdullah Hedaia , Romeih Soha
Published: July 2021

OBJECTIVES

Common Arterial Trunk (CAT) continues to have a very poor prognosis globally. To address that, we have developed a novel technique targeting key concepts for the correction of all components of the anomaly, using autologous arterial tissue. This aims to enhance results, availability worldwide, and importantly to avoid the need for repeated reoperations.

METHODS

From January 2019 to 4 January 2021, all patients with isolated CAT had repair of the defect using autologous arterial trunk tissue with direct right ventricle (RV) to pulmonary artery (PA) connection. Clinical outcomes, follow-up which included multi-slice computed tomography 3D segmentation and 4D cardiovascular magnetic resonance flow, are presented.

RESULTS

Twenty patients were included in the study (median age 4.5 months). There were 2 hospital deaths due to systemic infection and pulmonary hypertensive crisis, respectively. Following discharge all patients remained asymptomatic with no signs of heart failure and improved pattern of growth (median follow-up: 8 months). Early postoperative 3D segmentation showed a conical shaped neo-right ventricular outflow chamber connecting the body of the RV to the main PA through a valveless ostium, and normal crossing of PA and neo-aorta. 4D cardiovascular magnetic resonance pattern of flow showed normal rapid laminar flow through the atrioventricular valves followed by a vortex towards the outflow tracts. There was laminar flow through the neo-aorta and neo-PA with velocity not exceeding 2.5 m/s. The PA regurgitant fraction was 25 ± 5% and was limited to early diastole.

CONCLUSIONS

The initial results of utilizing the key concepts, using autologous arterial tissue for the repair of CAT, are encouraging, both clinically and by multimodality imaging.
Cerebral microemboli during extracorporeal life support: a single-centre cohort study
Authors: Kietaibl Clemens , Horvat Menih Ines , Engel Adrian , Ullrich Roman , Klein Klaus U , Erdoes Gabor
Published: July 2021

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate the load and composition of cerebral microemboli in adult patients undergoing venoarterial extracorporeal life support (ECLS).

METHODS

Adult ECLS patients were investigated for the presence of cerebral microemboli and compared to critically ill, pressure-controlled ventilated controls and healthy volunteers. Cerebral microemboli were detected in both middle cerebral arteries for 30 min using transcranial Doppler ultrasound. Neurological outcome (ischaemic stroke, global brain ischaemia, intracerebral haemorrhage, seizure, metabolic encephalopathy, sensorimotor sequelae and neuropsychiatric disorders) was additionally evaluated.

RESULTS

Twenty ECLS patients (cannulations: 15 femoro-femoral, 4 femoro-subclavian, 1 femoro-aortic), 20 critically ill controls and 20 healthy volunteers were analysed. ECLS patients had statistically significantly more cerebral microemboli than critically ill controls {123 (43–547) [median (interquartile range)] vs 35 (16–74), difference: 88 [95% confidence interval (CI) 19–320], P = 0.023} and healthy volunteers [11 (5–12), difference: 112 (95% CI 45–351), P < 0.0001]. In ECLS patients, 96.5% (7346/7613) of cerebral microemboli were of gaseous composition, while solid cerebral microemboli [1 (0–5)] were detected in 12 out of 20 patients. ECLS patients had more neurological complications than critically ill controls (12/20 vs 3/20, P = 0.003). In ECLS patients, a high microembolic rate (>100/30 min) tended to be associated with neurological complications including ischaemic stroke, neuropsychiatric disorders, sensorimotor sequelae and non-convulsive status epilepticus (odds ratio 4.5, 95% CI 0.46–66.62; P = 0.559).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that adult ECLS patients are continuously exposed to many gaseous and, frequently, to few solid cerebral microemboli. Prolonged cerebral microemboli formation may contribute to neurological morbidity related to ECLS treatment.

Clinical trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02020759, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02020759?term=erdoes&rank=1.
Forms in Motion: The Poetic Prose of Robert Macfarlane and Kathleen Jamie
Authors: John Stefanie
Published: July 2021

This essay examines the use of poetic prose in recent non-fiction by Robert Macfarlane and Kathleen Jamie. Drawing on selected chapters from Macfarlane’s The Old Ways (2012), Jamie’s Sightlines (2012), and a prose poem from Jamie’s The Bonniest Companie (2015), it demonstrates the hybridity of contemporary nature writing by paying attention to the works’ transgressions of the bounds of verse and prose. After introducing the nineteenth-century debate on differences between lyric and prosaic language and outlining Romantic efforts to poeticize prose descriptions of nature and environment, the article discusses Macfarlane’s and Jamie’s role in this conversation. I argue that formal transgressions – evident in metrical and rhyming effects, typographical experiments, imagery, and allusion – are especially strong in passages that describe movement: in accounts of walking or in observations of the shifting motions of light and weather. Prose forms that approximate and integrate lyricism here enhance a sense of transience as well as exhibit the continuity of human and non-human worlds. Self-consciously tracing the footsteps of other poets who have traversed genre boundaries, Macfarlane’s and Jamie’s work establishes nature writing as a form that is persistently on the move.
CRISPR-mediated knock-in of transgenes into the malaria vector Anopheles funestus
Authors: Quinn Charlotte , Anthousi Amalia , Wondji Charles , Nolan Tony
Published: July 2021

The ability to introduce mutations, or transgenes, of choice to precise genomic locations has revolutionized our ability to understand how genes and organisms work. In many mosquito species that are vectors of various human diseases, the advent of CRISPR genome editing tools has shed light on basic aspects of their biology that are relevant to their efficiency as disease vectors. This allows a better understanding of how current control tools work and opens up the possibility of novel genetic control approaches, such as gene drives, that deliberately introduce genetic traits into populations. Yet for the Anopheles funestus mosquito, a significant vector of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa and indeed the dominant vector species in many countries, transgenesis has yet to be achieved. We describe herein an optimized transformation system based on the germline delivery of CRISPR components that allows efficient cleavage of a previously validated genomic site and preferential repair of these cut sites via homology-directed repair (HDR), which allows the introduction of exogenous template sequence, rather than end-joining repair. The rates of transformation achieved are sufficiently high that it should be able to introduce alleles of choice to a target locus, and recover these, without the need to include additional dominant marker genes. Moreover, the high rates of HDR observed suggest that gene drives, which employ an HDR-type mechanism to ensure their proliferation in the genome, may be well suited to work in A. funestus.
Role of gut microbiota in functional constipation
Authors: Zhang Shengsheng , Wang Ruixin , Li Danyan , Zhao Luqing , Zhu Lixin
Published: July 2021

Functional constipation (FC) is common, yet the etiology is not clear. Accumulating evidence suggests an association between FC and abnormal gut microbiota. The relationship between the gut microbiota and the gut transit is likely bidirectional. This review summarizes the current evidence regarding the impact of gut microbiota on the pathogenesis of FC. By modulating the colonic motility, secretion, and absorption, gut microbiota may contribute to the development of FC through microbial metabolic activities involving bile acids, short-chain fatty acids, 5-hydroxytryptamine, and methane. In support of the key roles of the gut microbiota in FC, treatment with probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and traditional Chinese medicine often result in compositional and functional changes in the gut microbiota. Further studies on the pathogenesis of FC and the therapeutic mechanism of microecological agents will provide a knowledge base for better management of FC.
Health systems, population and patient challenges for achieving universal health coverage for hypertension in Ghana
Authors: Koduah Augustina , Nonvignon Justice , Colson Abigail , Kurdi Amanj , Morton Alec , van der Meer Robert , Aryeetey Genevieve , Megiddo Itamar
Published: July 2021

Ghana has signed on to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal to achieve universal health coverage (UHC), ensuring that all individuals receive the health care they require without financial hardship. Achieving that goal is a difficult task in any setting. The challenges are further exacerbated by a changing disease landscape, as the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is increasing and creating a dual burden along with infectious diseases. This study explores the existing health system for delivering hypertension care and the challenges of delivering UHC for hypertension in Ghana. Document analysis of national health reports, policies and legislations along with a review of research articles was conducted to explore the challenges of delivering UHC for NCDs in Ghana, and hypertension in particular. The main themes and indicators related to the challenges of delivering UHC for hypertension were mapped and analysed. The main challenges to delivering UHC for hypertension can be grouped into population and patient, on the one hand, and health system factors, on the other. Population and patient factors include (1) unhealthy lifestyles overburdening the health system, (2) poor health-seeking behaviour and (3) poor adherence to medication, which has led to uncontrolled cases and poor clinical outcomes even among treated patients with hypertension. Health system factors include (1) inadequate health system capacity for early diagnosis due to an increasing number of patients, (2) inequitable distribution of health care facilities affecting access, (3) financial sustainability of the National Health Insurance Scheme and delays in reimbursement of claims to facilities that affect the health system’s ability to provide timely management of hypertension and (4) health care facilities and practitioners’ use of non-standardized and uncalibrated blood pressure measuring equipment. Ghana therefore will need to make important decisions to overcome operational and financial challenges on its path to UHC.
Towards healthy One Planet cities and communities: planetary health promotion at the local level
Authors: Hancock Trevor ,   the IUHPE’s Global Working Group on Waiora Planetary Health
Published: July 2021

Health promotion has paid a lot of attention to the social determinants of health and to health equity but much less attention to the ecological determinants. Yet the most fundamental determinants of health are the natural systems that make the Earth liveable and are the source of our air, water, food, fuels and materials. Yet they are threatened by the very economic and social development that we have created to meet the social determinants of health. Moreover, the benefits and burdens of that development are inequitably distributed, resulting in both ecological and social injustice. In the past few years the new field of planetary health—‘the health of human civilization and the state of the natural systems on which it depends’—has emerged, while WHO has confirmed that ‘the source of human health [is] nature’. So arguably the most important task facing health promotion in the 21st century is to turn its attention to planetary health: health promotion workers must become planetary health promoters. Local health promotion in the 21st century needs to incorporate the concept of planetary health promotion and its application in the creation of healthy ‘One Planet’ communities and must become part of the emerging network of community organizations and individuals working to create sustainable, just and healthy communities.
Visceral Adipose Tissue Volumetrics Inform Odds of Treatment Response and Risk of Subsequent Surgery in IBD Patients Starting Antitumor Necrosis Factor Therapy
Authors: Gu Phillip , Chhabra Avneesh , Chittajallu Punya , Chang Christopher , Mendez Denisse , Gilman Andrew , Fudman David I , Xi Yin , Feagins Linda A
Published: July 2021

Background

Data describing the effect of obesity on antitumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) treatment response are inconsistent. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is a superior marker of adiposity to body mass index. However, its effect on treatment response is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the effect of VAT on anti-TNF treatment response.

Methods

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients starting anti-TNF agents between January 1, 2009, and July 31, 2019, were included. 3-dimensional measurements of VAT volume and visceral fat index (visceral:subcutaneous adipose tissue ratio; VFI) were obtained from computed tomography (CT) scans. Subjects were categorized by predefined volume cutoffs (<1500cm3, 1500–2999cm3, ≥3000cm3) and VFI (<0.33, 0.33–0.66, ≥0.67). Primary outcomes included a composite treatment response end point at 6 and 12 months. Secondary outcomes were surgery at 6 and 12 months. Multivariable logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results

The final cohort included 176 patients. No significant differences in treatment response at 6 months was observed. At 12 months, compared with volume <1500cm3, patients with volume 1500–2999cm3 had higher odds of response (aOR, 3.52; 95% CI, 1.16–10.71; P = .023), whereas volume ≥3000cm3 did not. Compared with VFI<0.33, VFI ≥0.67 had higher odds of surgery at 6 (aOR, 48.22; 95% CI, 4.73–491.57; P = .023) and 12 months (aOR, 20.94; 95% CI, 3.14–139.67; P = .004). Post hoc analysis suggested VAT may affect drug pharmacokinetics.

Conclusions

We found VAT volume is associated with anti-TNF treatment response in a nondose dependent manner, and VFI may inform risk of surgery after anti-TNF initiation. If confirmed by prospective studies, VAT volumetrics are potentially useful biomarkers to inform IBD treatment decisions.
Diversity of lymphatic flow in patients with lung cancer revealed by computed tomography lymphography
Authors: Kawakami Yukikiyo , Takizawa Hiromitsu , Toba Hiroaki , Kawakita Naoya , Yoshida Mitsuteru , Kondo Kazuya , Tangoku Akira
Published: July 2021

OBJECTIVES

This study was conducted to verify the optimal extent of lymph node dissection or sampling during lung cancer surgery based on the sentinel node (SN) map created by computed tomography (CT) lymphography.

METHODS

From April 2010 to January 2015, patients with clinical stage I non-small-cell lung cancer, who were candidates for lobectomy or segmentectomy with standard hilar and mediastinal lymph node dissection, and in whom bronchus reached the tumour, were enrolled. An ultrathin bronchoscope was inserted to the target bronchus under the guidance of virtual bronchoscopic navigation images. CT images of the chest were obtained 30 s after 2.5 ml of iopamidol was injected. SNs were identified when the maximum CT attenuation value of the lymph nodes on postcontrast CT images increased by 30 Hounsfield units or more compared with the precontrast images. Patients underwent lobectomy with standard lymph node dissection.

RESULTS

SNs were identified in 36 (87.8%) of the 41 patients. The average number of SNs was 1.6 (range, 1–4). There was 1 false negative case; therefore, the accuracy of SN identification was 97.2% (35/36). In 5 (13.9%) of 36 patients, SNs were outside the lobe-specific lymph node station range (#11i from right S1, #7 from right S1, #4R from right S8, #12u from right S8, #7 and #12l from left S1 + 2).

CONCLUSIONS

CT lymphography demonstrated the diversity of lymphatic spreading patterns and there were cases in which lymph flows are found outside the lymph node dissection range.
Marginal Benefits of the Core Securities Laws
Authors: Haeberle Kevin S
Published: July 2021

To every thing there is a season. In the area of securities regulation in the United States, it is the season for expansion. This article shows why such expansion should not involve use of the core issuer disclosure, fraud, and insider trading laws to reduce information asymmetry in the stock market in the name of investor protection. I argue that any expansion of these laws focused on this secondary market should therefore be justified by distinct concerns (namely, efficiency ones). Moreover, any push to better serve and protect investors should be focused on other areas of securities law (such as those relating to the structure of securities markets) or other markets (such as the market for investment management).
Hate Crimes Against Minorities in India
Authors: Viswanath Raghavi
Published: July 2021

Violence against Muslims and Dalits in India has drastically increased since the incumbent political party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), came to power in 2014. Around 85% of perpetrators are alleged to have been associated either with the BJP or its sister Hindu organizations. In at least some cases, law enforcement agencies have been either indifferent or hostile to the victims. Such crimes may be considered as hate crimes, yet an understanding of this concept — as a tool which accounts for the criminality of individual acts while appreciating the systemic prejudices that motivate them — is lacking in Indian law. This warrants consideration of international criminal law, as a discourse which may complement and support domestic reform, since hate crimes constitute an inhumane affront to the values of dignity and liberty which underlie international core crimes. In this context, this article examines whether the elements of crimes against humanity, particular those of murder and persecution, may be applied to the recent events in India.
Determining PD-L1 Status in Patients With Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Lessons Learned From IMpassion130
Authors: Badve Sunil S , Penault-Llorca Frédérique , Reis-Filho Jorge S , Deurloo Regula , Siziopikou Kalliopi P , D’Arrigo Corrado , Viale Giuseppe
Published: July 2021

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for approximately 12% to 17% of all breast cancers and has an aggressive clinical behavior. Increased tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte counts are prognostic for survival in TNBC, making this disease a potential target for cancer immunotherapy. Research on immunophenotyping of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes is revealing molecular and structural organization in the tumor microenvironment that may predict patient prognosis. The anti–programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibody atezolizumab plus nab-paclitaxel was the first cancer immunotherapy combination to demonstrate progression-free survival benefit and clinically meaningful overall survival benefit in the first-line treatment of metastatic TNBC (mTNBC) in patients with PD-L1–expressing tumor-infiltrating immune cells in 1% or more of the tumor area. This led to its United States and European Union approval for mTNBC and US approval of the VENTANA PD-L1 (SP142) assay as a companion diagnostic immunohistochemistry assay. Subsequently, the anti–programmed death-1 (PD-1 ) antibody pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for mTNBC based on progression-free survival benefit in patients with a combined positive score of at least 10 by its concurrently approved 22C3 companion diagnostic assay. Treatment guidelines now recommend PD-L1 testing for patients with mTNBC, and the testing landscape will likely become increasingly complex as new anti–PD-L1 and anti–PD-1 agents and diagnostics are approved for TNBC. Integrating PD-L1 testing into current diagnostic workflows for mTNBC may provide more treatment options for these patients. Therefore, it is critical for medical oncologists and pathologists to understand the available assays and their relevance to therapeutic options to develop an appropriate workflow for immunohistochemistry testing.