bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Physical design of a new set of high poloidal mode number coils in the EAST tokamak
Authors: LIAO Liang , LIANG Yunfeng , LIU Shaocheng , ZHANG Huaxiang , JI Xiang , SUN Youwen , WEI Wenyin , WANG Huihui , QIAN Jinping , WANG Liang , JIA Manni , ZENG Long , GAO Xiang
Published: January 2022

An external resonant magnetic perturbation (RMP) field, which is an effective method to mitigate or suppress the edge localized mode (ELM), has been planned to be applied on the ELM control issue in ITER. A new set of magnetic perturbation coils, named as high m coils, has been developed for the EAST tokamak. The magnetic perturbation field of the high m coils is localized in the midplane of the low field side, with the spectral characteristic of high m and wide n, where m and n are the poloidal and toroidal mode numbers, respectively. The high m coils generate a strong localized perturbation field. Edge magnetic topology under the application of high m coils should have either a small or no stochastic region. With the combination of the high m coils and the current RMP coils in the EAST, flexible working scenarios of the magnetic perturbation field are available, which is beneficial for ELM control exploration on EAST. Numerical simulations have been carried out to characterize the high m coil system, including the magnetic spectrum and magnetic topology, which shows a great flexibility of magnetic perturbation variation as a tool to investigate the interaction between ELM and external magnetic perturbation.
Phase retrieval and reconstruction of coherent synthesis by genetic algorithm
Authors: Lemons Randy , Carbajo Sergio
Published: January 2022

In the context of diffractive optics, phase retrieval is a heavily investigated process of recreating an entire complex electric field from partial amplitude-only information through iterative algorithms. However, existing methods can fall into local minima during reconstructions or struggle to recover unusual and novel electric field distributions. We present a numerical method based on a global-optimization genetic algorithm that reconstructs non-trivial electric field distributions from single diffracted intensity distributions. Diffraction and propagation of the optical fields over arbitrary distances is modeled through implementation of the angular spectrum technique. Additionally, a coherently-locked laser array system is used as an experimental case-study demonstrating 0.09π phase reconstruction accuracy of initial laser parameters from single intensity images.
Incidence and Preoperative Risk Factors for Major Complications After Capsulectomy: Analysis of 3048 Patients
Authors: Afshari Ashkan , Nguyen Lyly , Glassman Gabriella E , Perdikis Galen , Grotting James C , Higdon Kent K
Published: January 2022

Background

Although there are many indications for periprosthetic breast capsulectomy, heightened public attention surrounding breast implant illness has resulted in increased rates of capsulectomy.

Objectives

This study aimed to identify the incidence of major complications and risk factors associated with capsulectomy.

Methods

From an examination of a prospectively enrolled cosmetic surgery insurance database, CosmetAssure (Birmingham, AL), patients undergoing capsulectomy between January 2, 2017 and July 31, 2019 were identified. Outcomes measured included the occurrence of and risk factors for major complication(s) necessitating an emergency department visit, hospitalization, or reoperation within 45 postoperative days.

Results

Among 76,128 patients evaluated, 3048 (4.0%) underwent capsulectomy. There was a significant increase in number of capsulectomies following January 6, 2019 (2.7/day vs 5.2/day, P < 0.05). Capsulectomy patients were more likely to have any complication and specifically hematoma than those undergoing breast implant removal or replacement without capsulectomy (2.8% vs 1.9% and 1.6% vs 0.9%, respectively, P < 0.05). Eighty-four (2.8%) developed at least 1 complication. The most common complications included hematoma (1.6%) followed by infection (0.5%). American Society of Anesthesiologists Class III/IV was an independent risk factor for any complication and BMI ≥30 kg/m2 and office-based surgical suites were risk factors for infection.

Conclusions

A growing number of capsulectomies are being performed. The most common major complication is hematoma. Patients undergoing capsulectomy experience a higher complication rate than those undergoing breast implant removal or replacement without capsulectomy. Patients should be counseled regarding the potential for major complications.

Level of Evidence: 2
Intralesional Tetracycline Injection, Pinch Technique, and Canthopexy for the Treatment of Severe Festoons: Preliminary Results
Authors: Lessa Sergio , Pontello João , Duarte Deilton , Lobão Diogo
Published: January 2022

Background

Many techniques have been presented for the treatment of lower eyelid festoons, but no singular technique has become dominant.

Objectives

The authors describe the safety and efficacy of intralesional tetracycline injection, the pinch technique, and canthopexy for the treatment of severe festoons.

Methods

Institutional board review approval was obtained, and a retrospective chart review was performed on 15 consecutive patients who had received 2% tetracycline injections to treat lower eyelid large festoons between February 2017 and February 2020. Three months after the last injection, a series of patients underwent the surgical procedure: pinch technique and canthopexy bilaterally.

Results

Clinical and photographic records were reviewed, and 12 patients were included in the analysis. Three patients did not return for follow-up after the injection series. Of the 12 patients, there were 3 male patients and 9 female patients, with an average age of 66.6 years. The mean volume injected in each festoon was 0.43 mL, and the mean follow-up was 313 days. A series of injections with a 3-month time interval were performed for patients with a partial response to the initial injection. There was no evidence of complications at the site of the injection. Three months after the last injection, these 12 patients underwent complementary surgical treatment, which included pinch resection and canthopexy.

Conclusions

These preliminary results suggest that intralesional injections of tetracycline 2% may offer a safe option to treat lower eyelid festoons. This noninvasive procedure represents adjunct benefits to complementary surgical therapy.

Level of Evidence: 4
MSPypeline: a python package for streamlined data analysis of mass spectrometry-based proteomics
Authors: Heming Simon , Hansen Pauline , Vlasov Artyom , Schwörer Florian , Schaumann Stephen , Frolovaitė Paulina , Lehmann Wolf-Dieter , Timmer Jens , Schilling Marcel , Helm Barbara , Klingmüller Ursula
Published: January 2022

Mass spectrometry-based proteomics is increasingly employed in biology and medicine. To generate reliable information from large datasets and ensure comparability of results, it is crucial to implement and standardize the quality control of the raw data, the data processing steps and the statistical analyses. MSPypeline provides a platform for importing MaxQuant output tables, generating quality control reports, data preprocessing including normalization and performing exploratory analyses by statistical inference plots. These standardized steps assess data quality, provide customizable figures and enable the identification of differentially expressed proteins to reach biologically relevant conclusions.

Availability and implementation

The source code is available under the MIT license at https://github.com/siheming/mspypeline with documentation at https://mspypeline.readthedocs.io. Benchmark mass spectrometry data are available on ProteomeXchange (PXD025792).

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics Advances online.
End-to-end learning of evolutionary models to find coding regions in genome alignments
Authors: Mertsch Darvin , Stanke Mario
Published: January 2022

Motivation

The comparison of genomes using models of molecular evolution is a powerful approach for finding, or toward understanding, functional elements. In particular, comparative genomics is a fundamental building brick in annotating ever larger sets of alignable genomes completely, accurately and consistently.

Results

We here present our new program ClaMSA that classifies multiple sequence alignments using a phylogenetic model. It uses a novel continuous-time Markov chain machine learning layer, named CTMC, whose parameters are learned end-to-end and together with (recurrent) neural networks for a learning task. We trained ClaMSA discriminatively to classify aligned codon sequences that are candidates of coding regions into coding or non-coding and obtained four times fewer false positives for this task on vertebrate and fly alignments than existing methods at the same true positive rate. ClaMSA and the CTMC layer are general tools that could be used for other machine learning tasks on tree-related sequence data.

Availability and implementation

Freely from https://github.com/Gaius-Augustus/clamsa.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
massNet: integrated processing and classification of spatially resolved mass spectrometry data using deep learning for rapid tumor delineation
Authors: Abdelmoula Walid M , Stopka Sylwia A , Randall Elizabeth C , Regan Michael , Agar Jeffrey N , Sarkaria Jann N , Wells William M , Kapur Tina , Agar Nathalie Y R
Published: January 2022

Motivation

Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) provides rich biochemical information in a label-free manner and therefore holds promise to substantially impact current practice in disease diagnosis. However, the complex nature of MSI data poses computational challenges in its analysis. The complexity of the data arises from its large size, high-dimensionality and spectral nonlinearity. Preprocessing, including peak picking, has been used to reduce raw data complexity; however, peak picking is sensitive to parameter selection that, perhaps prematurely, shapes the downstream analysis for tissue classification and ensuing biological interpretation.

Results

We propose a deep learning model, massNet, that provides the desired qualities of scalability, nonlinearity and speed in MSI data analysis. This deep learning model was used, without prior preprocessing and peak picking, to classify MSI data from a mouse brain harboring a patient-derived tumor. The massNet architecture established automatically learning of predictive features, and automated methods were incorporated to identify peaks with potential for tumor delineation. The model’s performance was assessed using cross-validation, and the results demonstrate higher accuracy and a substantial gain in speed compared to the established classical machine learning method, support vector machine.

Availability and implementation

https://github.com/wabdelmoula/massNet. The data underlying this article are available in the NIH Common Fund’s National Metabolomics Data Repository (NMDR) Metabolomics Workbench under project id (PR001292) with http://dx.doi.org/10.21228/M8Q70T.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Berberine alleviates LPS-induced apoptosis, oxidation, and skewed lineages during mouse preimplantation development
Authors: Miao Xiaosu , Cui Wei
Published: January 2022

Female infertility is a heterogeneous disorder with a variety of complex causes, including inflammation and oxidative stress, which are also closely associated with the pathogenesis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). As a new treatment for PCOS, berberine (BER), a natural compound from Berberis, has been clinically applied recently. However, the mechanisms underlying the association between BER and embryogenesis are still largely unknown. In this study, effects of BER on preimplantation development were evaluated under both normal and inflammatory culture conditions induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice. Our data first suggest that BER itself (25 nM) does not affect embryo quality or future developmental potency; however, it can effectively alleviate LPS-induced embryo damage by mitigating apoptosis via reactive oxygen species (ROS)-/caspase-3-dependent pathways and by suppressing proinflammatory cytokines via inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway during preimplantation embryonic development. In addition, skewed cell lineage specification in the inner cell mass (ICM) and primitive endoderm (PE) caused by LPS can also be successfully rescued with BER. In summary, these findings for the first time demonstrate the nontoxicity of low doses of BER and its antiapoptotic and antioxidative properties on embryonic cells during mammalian preimplantation development.
The placenta as a target of opioid drugs
Authors: Rosenfeld Cheryl S
Published: January 2022

Opioid drugs are analgesics increasingly being prescribed to control pain associated with a wide range of causes. Usage of pregnant women has dramatically increased in the past decades. Neonates born to these women are at risk for neonatal abstinence syndrome (also referred to as neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome). Negative birth outcomes linked with maternal opioid use disorder include compromised fetal growth, premature birth, reduced birthweight, and congenital defects. Such infants require lengthier hospital stays necessitating rising health care costs, and they are at greater risk for neurobehavioral and other diseases. Thus, it is essential to understand the genesis of such disorders. As the primary communication organ between mother and conceptus, the placenta itself is susceptible to opioid effects but may be key to understanding how these drugs affect long-term offspring health and potential avenue to prevent later diseases. In this review, we will consider the evidence that placental responses are regulated through an endogenous opioid system. However, maternal consumption of opioid drugs can also bind and act through opioid receptors express by trophoblast cells of the placenta. Thus, we will also discuss the current human and rodent studies that have examined the effects of opioids on the placenta. These drugs might affect placental hormones associated with maternal recognition of pregnancy, including placental lactogens and human chorionic gonadotropin in rodents and humans, respectively. A further understanding of how such drugs affect the placenta may open up new avenues for early diagnostic and remediation approaches.
Predicting postoperative complications and their impact on quality of life and functional status in older patients with breast cancer
Authors: Lemij A A , van der Plas-Krijgsman W G , Bastiaannet E , Merkus J W S , van Dalen T , Vulink A J E , van Gerven L , Guicherit O R , Linthorst-Niers E M H , Lans T E , van der Pol C C , Wyld L , Morgan J L , Portielje J E A , de Glas N A , Liefers G J
Published: January 2022

Background

The percentage of older patients undergoing surgery for early-stage breast cancer has decreased over the past decade. This study aimed to develop a prediction model for postoperative complications to better inform patients about the benefits and risks of surgery, and to investigate the association between complications and functional status and quality of life (QoL).

Methods

Women aged at least 70 years who underwent surgery for Tis–3 N0 breast cancer were included between 2013 and 2018. The primary outcome was any postoperative complication within 30 days after surgery. Secondary outcomes included functional status and QoL during the first year after surgery, as assessed by the Groningen Activity Restriction Scale and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23 questionnaires. A prediction model was developed using multivariable logistic regression and validated externally using data from the British Bridging the Age Gap Study. Linear mixed models were used to assess QoL and functional status over time.

Results

The development and validation cohorts included 547 and 2727 women respectively. The prediction model consisted of five predictors (age, polypharmacy, BMI, and type of breast and axillary surgery) and performed well in internal (area under curve (AUC) 0.76, 95 per cent c.i. 0.72 to 0.80) and external (AUC 0.70, 0.68 to 0.72) validations. Functional status and QoL were not affected by postoperative complication after adjustment for confounders.

Conclusion

This validated prediction model can be used to counsel older patients with breast cancer about the postoperative phase. Postoperative complications did not affect functional status nor QoL within the first year after surgery even after adjustment for predefined confounders.
Effect of Maternal Immunization With 10-Valent Pneumococcus Conjugate Vaccine (PCV-10), 23-Valent Pneumococcus Polysaccharide Vaccine, or Placebo on the Immunogenicity of PCV-10 in Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Exposed Uninfected Infants: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Mussi-Pinhata Marisa M , Ward Shawn , Laimon Lauren , Pelton Stephen I , Canniff Jennifer , Golner Amanda , Bone Frederic , Newton Lassallete , Muresan Petronella , Fenton Terence , Johnson Michael J , João Esau C , Santos Breno R , Pilotto Jose H , Oliveira Ricardo H , Pinto Jorge A , Dal Bó Andrea G B L , Kreitchmann Regis , Chakhtoura Nahida , Duarte Geraldo , Weinberg Adriana
Published: January 2022

Background

The effect of pneumococcal vaccination of mothers with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on infant responses to childhood vaccination has not been studied. We compared the immunogenicity of 10-valent pneumococcus conjugate vaccine (PCV-10) in HIV-exposed uninfected infants born to mothers who received PCV-10, 23-valent pneumococcus polysaccharide vaccine (PPV-23), or placebo during pregnancy.

Methods

Antibody levels against 7 serotypes were measured at birth, before the first and second doses of PCV-10m and after completion of the 2-dose regimen in 347 infants, including 112 born to mothers who received PPV-23, 112 who received PCV-10, and 119 who received placebo during pregnancy. Seroprotection was defined by antibody levels ≥0.35 µg/mL.

Results

At birth and at 8 weeks of life, antibody levels were similar in infants born to PCV-10 or PPV-23 recipients and higher than in those born to placebo recipient. After the last dose of PCV-10, infants in the maternal PCV-10 group had significantly lower antibody levels against 5 serotypes than those in the maternal PPV-23 group and against 3 serotypes than those in the maternal placebo group, and they did not have higher antibody levels against any serotype. The seroprotection rate against 7 serotypes was 50% in infants in the maternal PCV-10 group, compared with 71% in both of the maternal PPV-23 and placebo groups (P < .001).

Conclusions

Administration of PCV-10 during pregnancy was associated with decreased antibody responses to PCV-10 and seroprotection rates in infants. Considering that PCV-10 and PPV-23 had similar immunogenicity in pregnant women with HIV and that administration of PPV-23 did not affect the immunogenicity of PCV-10 in infants, PPV-23 in pregnancy may be preferred over PCV-10.
Outcomes of the management of corrosive injuries of the upper digestive tract in a tertiary care center
Authors: Biswas Ravi Shankar , Ray Dipankar
Published: January 2022

Esophageal stricture is the most common delayed sequelae of aerodigestive tract corrosive injuries. Early endoscopic dilatation is an integral part of corrosive injury management. Self-dilatation of the esophagus is effective in preventing stricture recurrence. In this prospective study, we included patients with corrosive aerodigestive tract injury from January 2009 to December 2020. We analyzed the outcome of the endoscopic dilatation and self-dilatation treatments administered to patients with a corrosive esophageal stricture. Among 295 patients, 164 had an esophageal injury, 73 had esophago-gastric injury, 55 had a gastric injury, and 3 had the pharyngeal injury. Of the 295 patients, 194 (81.85%) underwent dilatation, and 13 patients with diffuse esophageal injury underwent upfront surgery. Successful dilatation was performed in 169 (87.11%) patients. Of the 68 patients undergoing self-dilatation, 63 patients achieved nutritional autonomy by 28 days. Early endoscopic dilatation effectively prevents surgery, and self-dilatation appears promising to prevent recurrent esophageal stricture.
The Effect of Concealed-Carry and Handgun Restrictions on Gun-Related Deaths: Evidence from the Sullivan Act of 1911
Authors: Depew Briggs , Swensen Isaac
Published: January 2022

The 1911 New York State Sullivan Act outlawed carrying concealable firearms without a licence, established strict licencing rules and regulated the sale and possession of handguns. We analyse the effects of the Sullivan Act using historical data on mortality rates, pistol permits and citations for illegal carrying. Our analysis of pistol permits and citations reveal clear initial effects of the Sullivan Act on gun-related behaviours. Using synthetic control and difference-in-differences methodologies, our main analyses show no effects on overall homicide rates, evidence of a reduction in overall suicide rates and strong evidence of a large and sustained decrease in gun-related suicide rates.
Impact of hospital mergers: a systematic review focusing on healthcare quality measures
Authors: Mariani Marco , Sisti Leuconoe Grazia , Isonne Claudia , Nardi Angelo , Mete Rosario , Ricciardi Walter , Villari Paolo , De Vito Corrado , Damiani Gianfranco
Published: January 2022

Background

Despite mergers have increasingly affected hospitals in the recent decades, literature on the impact of hospitals mergers on healthcare quality measures (HQM) is still lacking. Our research aimed to systematically review evidence regarding the impact of hospital mergers on HQM focusing especially on process indicators and clinical outcomes.

Methods

The search was carried out until January 2020 using the Population, Intervention, Comparison and Outcome model, querying electronic databases (MEDLINE, Scopus, Web Of Science) and refining the search with hand search. Studies that assessed HQM of hospitals that have undergone a merger were included. HQMs were analyzed through a narrative synthesis and a strength of the evidence analysis based on the quality of the studies and the consistency of the findings.

Results

The 16 articles, included in the narrative synthesis, reported inconsistent findings and few statistically significant results. All indicators analyzed showed an insufficient strength of evidence to achieve conclusive results. However, a tendency in the decrease of the number of beds, hospital staff and inpatient admissions and an increase in both mortality and readmission rate for acute myocardial infarction and stroke emerged in our analysis.

Conclusions

In our study, there is no strong evidence of improvement or worsening of HQM in hospital mergers. Since a limited amount of studies currently exists, additional studies are needed. In the meanwhile, hospital managers involved in mergers should adopt a clear evaluation framework with indicators that help to periodically and systematically assess HQM ascertaining that mergers ensure and primarily do not reduce the quality of care.
Anti-malarial plants in Ethiopia and their activities on drug-resistant malaria
Authors: Sema Yimeslal Atnafu , Waktola Teshale Areda
Published: January 2022

In Ethiopia, the impacts of malaria continue to cause a many number of morbidity and mortality that accounts to most-outpatient observations. Ethiopia recently designed to attain nationwide malaria control by 2030 by beginning sub-national elimination in districts with low malaria transmission. However, the rise of drug-resistant parasites, especially Plasmodium falciparum hinder the malaria-containment strategies. Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax are dispersed all over Ethiopia, and account for 60% and 40% of malaria cases, respectively. The aim of this report was to overview the phytochemical constituents, diversity, and effect of some compound extracts on drug-resistant plasmodium species. Many plant species, a total 200 identified by 82 studies, are used in traditional malaria treatments throughout the country. Allium sativum, Croton macrostachyus, and Carica papaya were the more frequently used medicinal plant species. There are so many phytochemical constituents found in medicinal plants used to treat malaria. Alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolics, terpenoids, and glycosides are the most-reported for their effective activity on drug-resistant malaria.
Bactericidal efficacy of slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) against Listeria monocytogenes planktonic cells and biofilm on food-contact surfaces
Authors: Hao Jianxiong , Zhang Junyi , Zheng Xueqi , Zhao Dandan
Published: January 2022

In the present study, the bactericidal efficacy of slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) against Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) planktonic cells and biofilm on food-contact surfaces including stainless steel and glass was systematically evaluated. The results showed that SAEW (pH 5.09 and available chlorine concentration (ACC) of 60.33 mg/L) could kill L. monocytogenes on food-contact surfaces completely in 30 s, a disinfection efficacy equal to that of NaClO solutions (pH 9.23 and ACC of 253.53 mg/L). The results showed that long exposure time and high ACC contributed to the enhancement of the disinfection efficacy of SAEW on L. monocytogenes on food-contact surfaces. Moreover, the log reduction of SAEW treatment presented an increasing tendency within the prolonging of treatment time when SAEW was used to remove the L. monocytogenes biofilm formed on stainless steel and glass surfaces, which suggested that SAEW could remove L. monocytogenes biofilm effectively and its disinfection efficacy is equal to (in the case of stainless steel) or higher than (in the case of glass) that of high-ACC NaClO solutions. In addition, the results of the crystal violet staining and scanning electron microscopy also demonstrated that SAEW treatment could remove the L. monocytogenes biofilm on food-contact surfaces.
Reconstructing the Roles of Human Rights Treaty Organs under the ‘Two-Tiered Bounded Deliberative Democracy’ Theory
Authors: Takata Hinako
Published: January 2022

Growing concern for the democratic legitimacy of human rights treaty organs calls for the construction of an autonomous conception of ‘democracy’ as a constitutional principle of human rights treaties, and the reconstruction of the roles of treaty organs per that conception. This study responds to this call by proposing an original ‘two-tiered bounded deliberative democracy’ theory that harmonizes human rights with democracy globally. This theory gives priority to national deliberations while setting certain frameworks and limits on them based on the principles and values that have been firmly established through international deliberations, including human rights treaty standards. The theory not only appropriately explains the roles of treaty organs within the conception of democracy but also offers a comprehensive normative framework to guide their roles and interactions with other actors. Even for those who champion different versions of democracy, it offers a solid basis for constructive discussions and fruitful engagement.
Cloud services and government digital sovereignty in Australia and beyond
Authors: Mitchell Andrew D , Samlidis Theodore
Published: January 2022

The Australian government has expressed concerns about various ‘data challenges’ confronting the public sector. Similar concerns are reverberating throughout the globe. Other governments continue to voice and act upon their own apprehensions about the threats posed to public and private society by attenuations to their nations’ ‘digital sovereignty’. This article critically examines the Australian government’s potential justifications, particularly under international trade law, for introducing digital sovereignty policies explicitly targeted at protecting government cyber systems and government data. We explore the risks and vulnerabilities of hosting government data offshore or with foreign cloud providers onshore. We find that Australia has sufficient latitude under its existing trade commitments, and within its current procurement framework, to introduce legitimate and proportionate digital sovereignty measures for the public sector.
Clean? Green? Renewable? Sustainable?
Authors: Higgins John
Published: January 2022

John Higgins FBCS reflects on the 2021 Green IT issue of ITNOWand this moment in history, when IT’s role in either helping or hindering the climate crisis is critical.
COP26
Authors: Penketh Claire
Published: January 2022

The tech to fight climate change is already here – now it needs urgent investment and support. Claire Penketh, Senior Media Officer for BCS, reports from COP26.
The environmental consequence of deep learning
Authors: Borowiec Damian , Harper Richard R , Garraghan Peter
Published: January 2022

Deep learning and artificial intelligence are often viewed as panacea technologies — ones which can decarbonise many industries. But what is the carbon cost of these systems? Damian Borowiec, Richard R. Harper and Peter Garraghan discuss.
BCS partner: from Cats Protection to data protection
Authors: Adams Kevin
Published: January 2022

Kevin Adams and his team at Cats Protection rose to the challenges that COVID-19 brought to the charity’s rehoming processes… and discovered a nice shade of green along the way.
Pressing reset on IT management methods
Authors: Miller David
Published: January 2022

A working group from the BCS IT Leaders Forum is exploring the suggestion that we should be pressing reset on our IT management methods, writes Dr David Miller, Vice Chair of the BCS IT Leaders Forum.
Insight: leadership
Authors: Hall Jon G
Published: January 2022

Jon G. Hall CITP FBCS writes about the human cost to the mountains of accumulated technical debt — and what, if anything, can be done about it.
Insight: cybersecurity
Authors: Ratnayake Deepthi
Published: January 2022

Deepthi Ratnayake FHEA CITP MBCS, Senior Lecturer in Computer Science, explores where all the hacktivists have gone and whether they will make a comeback for the climate.
Every cloud has a green lining
Authors: Madders Jake
Published: January 2022

Climate change is slowly altering the way we live and operate in our day-to-day lives. Hyve Managed Hosting Co-director, Jake Madders, looks at the impact cloud computing is having on the environment.
What makes a good digital transformation?
Authors: Warr Alan
Published: January 2022

Dr Alan Warr CITP MBCS is a digital transformation consultant with over 25 years of experience in both the public and private sector. He talks about the people, the IT and how there is much to learn from the Tudor tome The Prince by Machiavelli, in modern day transformations.
Digital transformation and mentorship: what leaders need to know
Authors: Yetim Adem
Published: January 2022

Digital Transformation Leader and Technology Trusted Advisor, Adem Yetim CITP CEng Eur ING IntPE FBCS, discusses the evolving role of a leader in the digital age.
Priming effect of colour on aiding the attentional reorientation in sequential presentations of temporal data vizualisation: evidence from eye-tracking
Authors: Peng Ningyue , Xue Chengqi , Wang Haiyan , Niu Yafeng , Wu Lei
Published: January 2022

The paper by Ningyue Peng, Chengqi Xue, Haiyan Wang, Yafeng Niu and Lei Wu, published in Interacting with Computers (August 2021), explores the use of colour to influence behavioural performance using eye-tracking.
WebGIS approach of entity-oriented search to visualize historical and cultural events
Authors: Wei Tong , Sang Yuchen , Chen Shufen , Wang Letian , Wang Rui , Wang Jun , Huang Qi , Wang Jun
Published: January 2022

The chronological biography or ‘Nianpu’ is a special style of Chinese historical writing formed by a person’s life events in time order. It provides significant records for the research of historical events. However, from syntactic collation, structural, and semantic aspects, the heterogeneousness of Nianpu materials caused the lack of systematical information collation, which could hinder the research of historical events. The article presents a semantic WebGIS platform based on an entity-oriented search and visualization system to reorganize unstructured information. It delivers: (1) a Chinese historical event database to store and manage Chinese historical information derived from the chronological biography; (2) an ontology to integrate different historical datasets; and (3) a web geographic information system to visualize and analyze information of historical events. This platform achieves the reorganization of historical event information at spatial and temporal levels by the Web. It enables humanities researchers to explore the relationships of historical entities and their evolution visually and interactively. The platform is available at https://nianpu.pkudh.org/.
Running the gauntlet – survival of small circumbinary planets migrating through destabilizing resonances
Authors: Martin David V , Fitzmaurice Evan
Published: January 2022

All of the known circumbinary planets are large (Rp ≥ 3 R⊕). Whilst observational biases may account for this dearth of small planets, in this paper we propose a theoretical explanation. Most of the known planets are near the stability limit, interspersed between potentially unstable 5:1, 6:1, and 7:1 mean motion resonances with the binary. It is believed that these planets did not form in situ, but rather migrated from farther out in the disc, and hence passed through these resonances. Planets are expected to migrate at a speed proportional to their mass, and a slower rate makes resonant capture and subsequent ejection more likely. Therefore, whilst large planets may be able to successfully ‘run the gauntlet’, small planets may be imperilled. This hypothesis is tested using N-body integrations of migration in a truncated and turbulent disc. We discover that surprisingly none of the known planets exist interior to a fully unstable resonance. We demonstrate that resonant ejection of migrating planets may occur in nature, and that it does indeed disproportionately affect small planets, but it requires a highly turbulent disc and its efficiency is likely too low to fully explain a dearth of Rp < 3 R⊕ planets.
BASS XXXI: Outflow scaling relations in low redshift X-ray AGN host galaxies with MUSE
Authors: Kakkad D , Sani E , Rojas A F , Mallmann Nicolas D , Veilleux S , Bauer Franz E , Ricci F , Mushotzky R , Koss M , Ricci C , Treister E , Privon George C , Nguyen N , Bär R , Harrison F , Oh K , Powell M , Riffel R , Stern D , Trakhtenbrot B , Urry C M
Published: January 2022

Ionized gas kinematics provide crucial evidence of the impact that active galactic nuclei (AGNs) have in regulating star formation in their host galaxies. Although the presence of outflows in AGN host galaxies has been firmly established, the calculation of outflow properties such as mass outflow rates and kinetic energy remains challenging. We present the [O iii]λ5007 ionized gas outflow properties of 22 z<0.1 X-ray AGN, derived from the BAT AGN Spectroscopic Survey using MUSE/VLT. With an average spatial resolution of 1 arcsec (0.1–1.2 kpc), the observations resolve the ionized gas clouds down to sub-kiloparsec scales. Resolved maps show that the [O iii] velocity dispersion is, on average, higher in regions ionized by the AGN, compared to star formation. We calculate the instantaneous outflow rates in individual MUSE spaxels by constructing resolved mass outflow rate maps, incorporating variable outflow density and velocity. We compare the instantaneous values with time-averaged outflow rates by placing mock fibres and slits on the MUSE field-of-view, a method often used in the literature. The instantaneous outflow rates (0.2–275 M⊙ yr−1) tend to be two orders of magnitude higher than the time-averaged outflow rates (0.001–40 M⊙ yr−1). The outflow rates correlate with the AGN bolometric luminosity (Lbol ∼ 1042.71–1045.62 erg s−1) but we find no correlations with black hole mass (106.1–108.9 M⊙), Eddington ratio (0.002–1.1), and radio luminosity (1021–1026 W Hz−1). We find the median coupling between the kinetic energy and Lbol to be 1 per cent, consistent with the theoretical predictions for an AGN-driven outflow.
Accretion disc sizes from continuum reverberation mapping of AGN selected from the ZTF survey
Authors: Jha Vivek Kumar , Joshi Ravi , Chand Hum , Wu Xue-Bing , Ho Luis C , Rastogi Shantanu , Ma Qinchun
Published: January 2022

We present the accretion disc-size estimates for a sample of 19 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) using the optical g-, r-, and i-band light curves obtained from the Zwicky Transient Facility survey. All the AGNs have reliable supermassive black hole (SMBH) mass estimates based on previous reverberation mapping measurements. The multiband light curves are cross-correlated, and the reverberation lag is estimated using the Interpolated Cross-Correlation Function method and the Bayesian method using the javelin code. As expected from the disc-reprocessing arguments, the g − r band lags are shorter than the g − i band lags for this sample. The interband lags for all, but five sources, are larger than the sizes predicted from the standard Shakura Sunyaev (SS) analytical model. We fit the light curves directly using a thin disc model implemented through the javelin code to get the accretion disc sizes. The disc sizes obtained using this model are on an average 3.9 times larger than the prediction based on the SS disc model. We find a weak correlation between the disc sizes and the known physical parameters, namely the luminosity and the SMBH mass. In the near future, a large sample of AGNs covering broader ranges of luminosity and SMBH mass from large photometric surveys would be helpful in a better understanding of the structure and physics of the accretion disc.
Formation of millisecond pulsars with long orbital periods by accretion-induced collapse of white dwarfs
Authors: Wang Bo , Liu Dongdong , Chen Hailiang
Published: January 2022

Accretion-induced collapse (AIC) of massive white dwarfs (WDs) has been proposed as an important way for the formation of neutron star (NS) systems. An oxygen-neon (ONe) WD that accretes H-rich material from a red-giant (RG) star may experience the AIC process, eventually producing millisecond pulsars (MSPs), known as the RG donor channel. Previous studies indicate that this channel can only account for MSPs with orbital periods $\gt 500\, \rm d$. It is worth noting that some more MSPs with wide orbits ($60\!-\!500\, \rm d$) have been detected by recent observations, but their origin is still highly uncertain. In this work, by employing an adiabatic power-law assumptions for the mass-transfer process, we performed a large number of complete binary evolution calculations for the formation of MSPs through the RG donor channel in a systematic way. We found that this channel can contribute to the observed MSPs with orbital periods in the range of $50\!-\!1200\, {\rm d}$, and almost all the observed MSPs with wide orbits can be covered by this channel in the WD companion mass versus orbital period diagram. This work indicates that the AIC process provides a viable way to form MSPs with wide orbits.
Multiwavelength emission from leptonic processes in ageing galaxy bubbles
Authors: Owen Ellis R , Yang H-Y Karen
Published: January 2022

The evolutionary behaviour and multiwavelength emission properties of bubbles around galaxies, such as the Fermi bubbles of the Milky Way, is unsettled. We perform 3D magneto-hydrodynamical simulations to investigate the evolution of leptonic galaxy bubbles driven by a 0.3-Myr intense explosive outburst from the nucleus of Milky-Way-like galaxies. Adopting an ageing model for their leptonic cosmic rays, we post-process our simulations to compute the multiwavelength emission properties of these bubbles. We calculate the resulting spectra emitted from the bubbles from radio frequencies to γ-rays, and construct emission maps in four energy bands to show the the development of the spatial emission structure of the bubbles. The simulated bubbles show a progression in their spectral properties as they age. In particular, the TeV γ-ray emission is initially strong and dominated by inverse Compton scattering, but falls rapidly after ∼1 Myr. In contrast, the radio synchrotron emission remains relatively stable and fades slowly over the lifetime of the bubble. Based on the emission properties of our post-processed simulations, we demonstrate that γ-ray observations will be limited in their ability to detect galaxy bubbles, with only young bubbles around nearby galaxies being within reach. However, radio observations with, e.g. the upcoming Square Kilometer Array, would be able to detect substantially older bubbles at much greater distances, and would be better placed to capture the evolutionary progression and diversity of galaxy bubble populations.
Phylotranscriptomics Reveals Discordance in the Phylogeny of Hawaiian Drosophila and Scaptomyza (Diptera: Drosophilidae)
Authors: Church Samuel H , Extavour Cassandra G
Published: January 2022

Island radiations present natural laboratories for studying the evolutionary process. The Hawaiian Drosophilidae are one such radiation, with nearly 600 described species and substantial morphological and ecological diversification. These species are largely divided into a few major clades, but the relationship between clades remains uncertain. Here, we present new assembled transcriptomes from 12 species across these clades, and use these transcriptomes to resolve the base of the evolutionary radiation. We recover a new hypothesis for the relationship between clades, and demonstrate its support over previously published hypotheses. We then use the evolutionary radiation to explore dynamics of concordance in phylogenetic support, by analyzing the gene and site concordance factors for every possible topological combination of major groups. We show that high bootstrap values mask low evolutionary concordance, and we demonstrate that the most likely topology is distinct from the topology with the highest support across gene trees and from the topology with highest support across sites. We then combine all previously published genetic data for the group to estimate a time-calibrated tree for over 300 species of drosophilids. Finally, we digitize dozens of published Hawaiian Drosophilidae descriptions, and use this to pinpoint probable evolutionary shifts in reproductive ecology as well as body, wing, and egg size. We show that by examining the entire landscape of tree and trait space, we can gain a more complete understanding of how evolutionary dynamics play out across an island radiation.
Irradiation of the subventricular zone and subgranular zone in high- and low-grade glioma patients: an atlas-based analysis on overall survival
Authors: Bruil Danique E , David Szabolcs , Nagtegaal Steven H J , de Sonnaville Sophia F A M , Verhoeff Joost J C
Published: January 2022

Background

Neural stem cells in the subventricular zone (SVZ) and subgranular zone (SGZ) are hypothesized to support growth of glioma. Therefore, irradiation of the SVZ and SGZ might reduce tumor growth and might improve overall survival (OS). However, it may also inhibit the repair capacity of brain tissue. The aim of this retrospective cohort study is to assess the impact of SVZ and SGZ radiotherapy doses on OS of patients with high-grade (HGG) or low-grade (LGG) glioma.

Methods

We included 273 glioma patients who received radiotherapy. We created an SVZ atlas, shared openly with this work, while SGZ labels were taken from the CoBrA atlas. Next, SVZ and SGZ regions were automatically delineated on T1 MR images. Dose and OS correlations were investigated with Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analysis.

Results

Cox regression analyses showed significant hazard ratios for SVZ dose (univariate: 1.029/Gy, P < .001; multivariate: 1.103/Gy, P = .002) and SGZ dose (univariate: 1.023/Gy, P < .001; multivariate: 1.055/Gy, P < .001) in HGG patients. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed significant correlations between OS and high-/low-dose groups for HGG patients (SVZ: respectively 10.7 months (>30.33 Gy) vs 14.0 months (<30.33 Gy) median OS, P = .011; SGZ: respectively 10.7 months (>29.11 Gy) vs 15.5 months (<29.11 Gy) median OS, P < .001). No correlations between dose and OS were found for LGG patients.

Conclusion

Irradiation doses on neurogenic areas correlate negatively with OS in patients with HGG. Whether sparing of the SVZ and SGZ during radiotherapy improves OS, should be subject of prospective studies.
Primary central nervous system lymphoma: a real-world comparison of therapy access and outcomes by hospital setting
Authors: Patel Akshat M , Ali Omer , Kainthla Radhika , Rizvi Syed M , Awan Farrukh T , Patel Toral , Pan Edward , Maher Elizabeth , Desai Neil B , Timmerman Robert , Kumar Kiran A , Ramakrishnan Geethakumari Praveen
Published: January 2022

Background

This study analyzes sociodemographic barriers for primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) treatment and outcomes at a public safety-net hospital versus a private tertiary academic institution. We hypothesized that these barriers would lead to access disparities and poorer outcomes in the safety-net population.

Methods

We reviewed records of PCNSL patients from 2007–2020 (n = 95) at a public safety-net hospital (n = 33) and a private academic center (n = 62) staffed by the same university. Demographics, treatment patterns, and outcomes were analyzed.

Results

Patients at the safety-net hospital were significantly younger, more commonly Black or Hispanic, and had a higher prevalence of HIV/AIDS. They were significantly less likely to receive induction chemotherapy (67% vs 86%, P = .003) or consolidation autologous stem cell transplantation (0% vs. 47%, P = .001), but received more whole-brain radiation therapy (35% vs 16%, P = .001). Younger age and receiving any consolidation therapy were associated with improved progression-free (PFS, P = .001) and overall survival (OS, P = .001). Hospital location had no statistical impact on PFS (P = .725) or OS (P = .226) on an age-adjusted analysis.

Conclusions

Our study shows significant differences in treatment patterns for PCNSL between a public safety-net hospital and an academic cancer center. A significant survival difference was not demonstrated, which is likely multifactorial, but likely was positively impacted by the shared multidisciplinary care delivery between the institutions. As personalized therapies for PCNSL are being developed, equitable access including clinical trials should be advocated for resource-limited settings.