bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scattering in Quantum Dots via Noncommutative Rational Functions
Authors: Erdős László , Krüger Torben , Nemish Yuriy
Published: August 2021

In the customary random matrix model for transport in quantum dots withMinternal degrees of freedom coupled to a chaotic environment via$$N\ll M$$N≪Mchannels, the density$$\rho $$ρof transmission eigenvalues is computed from a specific invariant ensemble for which explicit formula for the joint probability density of all eigenvalues is available. We revisit this problem in the largeNregime allowing for (i) arbitrary ratio$$\phi := N/M\le 1$$ϕ:=N/M≤1; and (ii) general distributions for the matrix elements of the Hamiltonian of the quantum dot. In the limit$$\phi \rightarrow 0$$ϕ→0, we recover the formula for the density$$\rho $$ρthat Beenakker (Rev Mod Phys 69:731–808, 1997) has derived for a special matrix ensemble. We also prove that the inverse square root singularity of the density at zero and full transmission in Beenakker’s formula persists for any$$\phi <1$$ϕ<1but in the borderline case$$\phi =1$$ϕ=1an anomalous$$\lambda ^{-2/3}$$λ-2/3singularity arises at zero. To access this level of generality, we develop the theory of global and local laws on the spectral density of a large class of noncommutative rational expressions in large random matrices with i.i.d. entries.
A novel lung-avoidance planning strategy based on 4DCT ventilation imaging and CT density characteristics for stage III non-small-cell lung cancer patients
Authors: Feng AiHui , Shao Yan , Wang Hao , Chen Hua , Gu HengLe , Duan YanHua , Gan WuTian , Xu ZhiYong
Published: August 2021

Background

Functional planning based merely on 4DCT ventilation imaging has limitations. In this study, we proposed a radiotherapy planning strategy based on 4DCT ventilation imaging and CT density characteristics.

Materials and methods

For 20 stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, clinical plans and lung-avoidance plans were generated. Through deformable image registration (DIR) and quantitative image analysis, a 4DCT ventilation map was calculated. High-, medium-, and low-ventilation regions of the lung were defined based on the ventilation value. In addition, the total lung was also divided into high-, medium-, and low-density areas according to the HU threshold. The lung-avoidance plan aimed to reduce the dose to functional and high-density lungs while meeting standard target and critical structure constraints. Standard and dose–function metrics were compared between the clinical and lung-avoidance plans.

Results

Lung avoidance plans led to significant reductions in high-function and high-density lung doses, without significantly increasing other organ at risk (OAR) doses, but at the expense of a significantly degraded homogeneity index (HI) and conformity index (CI; p < 0.05) of the planning target volume (PTV) and a slight increase in monitor units (MU) as well as in the number of segments (p > 0.05). Compared with the clinical plan, the mean lung dose (MLD) in the high-function and high-density areas was reduced by 0.59 Gy and 0.57 Gy, respectively.

Conclusion

A lung-avoidance plan based on 4DCT ventilation imaging and CT density characteristics is feasible and implementable, with potential clinical benefits. Clinical trials will be crucial to show the clinical relevance of this lung-avoidance planning strategy.
Densfraktur nach Hochrasanztrauma
Authors: Hemker K. , Stangenberg M. , Dreimann M. , Köpke L. , Heuer A. , Viezens L.
Published: August 2021

Densfrakturen sind häufige Verletzungen der Halswirbelsäule und kommen meist in höherem Lebensalter vor; hierbei sind diese oft durch Bagatelltraumata bedingt. Bei jüngeren Patienten werden diese v. a. im Rahmen von Hochrasanztraumata beobachtet. Klassifiziert werden die Densfrakturen nach Anderson und D’Alonzo. Selten kommt es durch die Fraktur zu einer zervikalen Myelopathie, die lebensbedrohlich sein kann.

In diesem Artikel werden zwei Fälle von Patienten mit Densfrakturen mit traumatischer Myelopathie dargestellt. Beim ersten Fall handelt es sich um eine Typ-III-Fraktur, beim anderen Fall um eine Typ-II-Fraktur. In beiden Fällen wurde die vorliegende Instabilität aufgrund der anatomischen Stellung in der initialen Computertomographie (CT) falsch eingeschätzt. Im weiteren Verlauf zeigte sich in beiden Fällen eine erhebliche Instabilität, aufgrund deren es zu fatalen Myelonverletzungen gekommen war.

In diesem „case report“ soll auf das mögliche Vorliegen von Myelonverletzungen bei vermeintlich trivialen Densfrakturen bei stattgehabten Hochrasanztraumata aufmerksam gemacht werden. Insbesondere bei reanimationspflichtigen Patienten ohne internistische Ursache muss an eine Myelonkompression gedacht werden. Sollte der Patient bei Vorliegen einer knöchernen Verletzung im CT z. B. durch eine Intubation klinisch nicht ausreichend beurteilbar sein, muss die Indikation zur Magnetresonanztomographie großzügig gestellt werden. Nur durch diese wird einem die frühzeitige Erkennung einer Myelopathie und die rechtzeitige Therapie ermöglicht.
Topology optimization in concrete construction: a systematic review on numerical and experimental investigations
Authors: Stoiber Nadine , Kromoser Benjamin
Published: August 2021

Structural optimization within concrete construction has been increasingly taken up in research within the last two decades. Possible drivers are the need for material-reduced and thus resource-efficient structures as well as recent advancements in automated concrete construction. However, structural concrete is characterized by nonlinear material behavior. Consequently, the merge of structural concrete design and topology optimization is not trivial. This paper reviews and assesses the topic of topology optimization within concrete construction, carrying out an extensive quantitative as well as qualitative review on practical and numerical applications. The following research areas are identified: Multimaterial modeling, stress constraints, concrete damage modeling, strut and tie modeling, combined truss-continuum topology optimization, the consideration of multiple load cases, a focus on construction techniques and alternative approaches. Although the number of research papers dealing with the topic of topology optimization in concrete construction is numerous, there are only few that actually realized topology optimized concrete structures. In addition, only a little number of experiments was performed for an objective evaluation of the found geometries so far. Concluding this review, a list of future challenges, like the incorporation of sustainability measurements within the optimization process, is given and thus serves as a guidance for subsequent research.
Telomerase-based GX301 cancer vaccine in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: a randomized phase II trial
Authors: Filaci Gilberto , Fenoglio Daniela , Nolè Franco , Zanardi Elisa , Tomasello Laura , Aglietta Massimo , Del Conte Gianluca , Carles Joan , Morales-Barrera Rafael , Guglielmini Pamela , Scagliotti Giorgio , Signori Alessio , Parodi Alessia , Kalli Francesca , Astone Giuseppina , Ferrera Francesca , Altosole Tiziana , Lamperti Giuseppina , Criscuolo Domenico , Gianese Francesco , Boccardo Francesco
Published: August 2021

Debate is around the optimal immunization regimen for cancer vaccines since too intense vaccination schedules may exhaust reactive lymphocytes. GX301 is a telomerase-based cancer vaccine whose safety and immunological effects were tested in a phase I trial applying an eight administrations schedule. Main objective of this study was to comparatively analyse safety and immunological response to three GX301 regimens in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients with response/disease stability after docetaxel chemotherapy. This was a multicentre, randomized, parallel-group, open-label trial registered with EudraCT (2014-000095-26) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02293707, 2014). Ninety-eight patients were randomized to receive either eight (regimen 1), four (regimen 2) or two (regimen 3) vaccine administrations. Sixty-three patients were assessable for the primary immunological end-point. Vaccine-specific immune responses were evaluated by intracellular staining for IFN, elispot and cytotoxic assay at 90 and 180 days from baseline. No major side effects were recorded. A 54% overall immune responder rate was observed with 95% of patients showing at least one vaccine-specific immune response. Rate of immunological responders and number of immunizations were proportionally related, suggesting superiority of regimens 1 and 2 over regimen 3. Overall survival did not differ among regimens in both immunological responders and non-responders and was inversely associated (P = 0.002) with increase in the number of circulating CD8 + T regulatory cells at 180 days. These data indicate that GX301 cancer vaccine is safe and immunogenic in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients. Schedules with high number of administrations should be preferred in future studies due to their better immunological outcome.
Patient Safety in the Operating Room During Urologic Surgery: The OR Black Box Experience
Authors: Rai A. , Beland L. , Aro T. , Jarrett M. , Kavoussi L.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

To mitigate intraoperative adverse events, it is important to understand the context in which these errors occur. The purpose of this study is to characterize the IAEs and potential distractions that occur in minimally invasive urologic procedures.

Methods

We conducted a prospective cohort study in patients undergoing laparoscopic urologic surgery at an academic health center. The OR Black Box, a unique technology system which captures video and audio recordings of the operating room as well as the operative field, was used to collect data regarding procedure type, critical step, IAEs, and distractions.

Results

Of a total of 80 cases analyzed, the majority of these cases were partial nephrectomy (n = 36; 45%), radical nephrectomy (n = 20; 25%), and adrenalectomy (n = 4; 5%). Across all cases, there were a total of 138 clinically significant IAEs, 10 of which (14%) were of the highest severity (five on the SEVerity of intraoperative Events and Rectification Tool (SEVERE) matrix). Of these, 70 (51%) occurred during an a priori defined critical step of the operation. Distractions were common across all cases. The median rate of external communication per case was 16 events (IQR 11‐22); and per critical step was 4 (IQR 2.75‐8), while median room traffic per case was 65 entries/exits (IQR 42‐76); and per critical step was 17 (IQR 10‐65).

Conclusion

Our data demonstrate that IAEs occur frequently during all phases of the operation at hand. Future study will be required to examine the role of distractions and IAE as well as IAE and their relationship to post‐operative clinical outcomes.
Stability of a one-dimensional morphoelastic model for post-burn contraction
Authors: Egberts Ginger , Vermolen Fred , van Zuijlen Paul
Published: August 2021

To deal with permanent deformations and residual stresses, we consider a morphoelastic model for the scar formation as the result of wound healing after a skin trauma. Next to the mechanical components such as strain and displacements, the model accounts for biological constituents such as the concentration of signaling molecules, the cellular densities of fibroblasts and myofibroblasts, and the density of collagen. Here we present stability constraints for the one-dimensional counterpart of this morphoelastic model, for both the continuous and (semi-) discrete problem. We show that the truncation error between these eigenvalues associated with the continuous and semi-discrete problem is of order $${{\mathcal {O}}}(h^2)$$

O
(

h
2

)

. Next we perform numerical validation to these constraints and provide a biological interpretation of the (in)stability. For the mechanical part of the model, the results show the components reach equilibria in a (non) monotonic way, depending on the value of the viscosity. The results show that the parameters of the chemical part of the model need to meet the stability constraint, depending on the decay rate of the signaling molecules, to avoid unrealistic results.
Fast and faithful scale-aware image filters
Authors: Yoshizawa Shin , Yokota Hideo
Published: August 2021

This paper proposes a fast and accurate computational framework for scale-aware image filters. Our framework is based on accurately approximating $$L^{1}$$

L
1

Gaussian convolution with respect to a transformed pixel domain representing geodesic distance on a guidance image manifold in order to recover salient edges in a manner faithful to scale-space theory while removing small image structures. Our framework possesses linear computational complexity with high approximation precision. We examined it numerically in terms of speed, accuracy, and quality compared with conventional methods.
Mapping of long-term cognitive and motor deficits in pediatric cerebellar brain tumor survivors into a cerebellar white matter atlas
Authors: Grosse Frederik , Rueckriegel Stefan Mark , Thomale Ulrich-Wilhelm , Hernáiz Driever Pablo
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Diaschisis of cerebrocerebellar loops contributes to cognitive and motor deficits in pediatric cerebellar brain tumor survivors. We used a cerebellar white matter atlas and hypothesized that lesion symptom mapping may reveal the critical lesions of cerebellar tracts.

Methods

We examined 31 long-term survivors of pediatric posterior fossa tumors (13 pilocytic astrocytoma, 18 medulloblastoma). Patients underwent neuronal imaging, examination for ataxia, fine motor and cognitive function, planning abilities, and executive function. Individual consolidated cerebellar lesions were drawn manually onto patients’ individual MRI and normalized into Montreal Neurologic Institute (MNI) space for further analysis with voxel-based lesion symptom mapping.

Results

Lesion symptom mapping linked deficits of motor function to the superior cerebellar peduncle (SCP), deep cerebellar nuclei (interposed nucleus (IN), fastigial nucleus (FN), ventromedial dentate nucleus (DN)), and inferior vermis (VIIIa, VIIIb, IX, X). Statistical maps of deficits of intelligence and executive function mapped with minor variations to the same cerebellar structures.

Conclusion

We identified lesions to the SCP next to deep cerebellar nuclei as critical for limiting both motor and cognitive function in pediatric cerebellar tumor survivors. Future strategies safeguarding motor and cognitive function will have to identify patients preoperatively at risk for damage to these critical structures and adapt multimodal therapeutic options accordingly.
Carcinosarcomas of the larynx: systematic review of the literature of a rare nosologic entity
Authors: Colizza Andrea , Gilardi Antonio , Greco Antonio , Cialente Fabrizio , Zoccali Federica , Ralli Massimo , Minni Antonio , de Vincentiis Marco
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Carcinosarcoma, also known as Spindle Cell Carcinoma (SpCC), is a rare type of malignant tumor. Generally, this type of pathology occurs in the urogenital tract, the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract and mammary gland; in the larynx, SpCC represents only 2–3% of all malignancies. Due to its rarity, there is currently no generally acceptable treatment guideline for this disease. The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature of SpCC of larynx and report epidemiologic, clinicopathologic and main therapeutic approaches for this entity.

Methods

A systematic literature review was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed and Scopus databases. For this review, the results were extrapolated in the period between January 1990 to September 2020. Data extraction was performed using a standard registry database. The clinical and pathological staging were recalculated according to the Eight Edition of AJCC Cancer Staging Manual and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS Version 25.0.

Results

A total of 111 patients affected by laryngeal carcinosarcoma were included. From our review arises that surgery is the main treatment for primary laryngeal carcinosarcoma. In this way, various techniques such as minimally invasive laryngoscopy excision, laser CO2 cordectomy, partial laryngectomy (vertical and horizontal) and total laryngectomy. The role of radiotherapy is still controversial. The overall survival (OS) for T1 stage tumor at 5 years of follow-up is 82.9%, the OS for T2 and T3 tumor is 74% and 73.4%. The OS at 5 years of follow-up is 91.7% for supraglottic tumor, 69.3% for glottic tumor and 50% for transglottic site. Subglottic site is described in only 2 cases [12–13], so the OS at 5 years is not statistically significant. The 5-year overall survival in patients without lymph nodes involvement (N0) is 90.2%, 66.7% and 50%, respectively, for N1 and N2 lesions.

Conclusion

Primary laryngeal carcinosarcoma is a very rare malignancy. There are no clear guidelines in the management but in the literature, surgery is described as the best modality of therapy; radiation only can be a reasonable alternative with controversial efficacy. The most important prognostic factor is the nodal metastasis.
The role of quantitative deep capillary plexus in the pathogenesis of type 3 macular neovascularization: an optical coherence tomography angiography study
Authors: Concilio Marina , Fossataro Federica , Montorio Daniela , Giordano Mariapaola , Cennamo Gilda
Published: August 2021

Purpose

To quantitatively investigate the role of deep capillary plexus (DCP) in patients affected by type 3 macular neovascularization (MNV), compared to patients with reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) eyes and healthy controls, using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).

Methods

In this prospective observational study, a total of seventy-eight eyes of 78 patients were included. Group 1 consisted of 40 eyes of 40 patients with stage 1 of type 3 MNV (22 males, 18 females, mean age 73.7, SD ± 6.60) and group 2 included 38 eyes of 38 patients with RPD (17 males, 21 females, mean age 73.2, SD ± 4.55). The control group included 40 eyes of 40 healthy subjects (20 males, 20 females, mean age 71.4, SD ± 6.36 years). We evaluated the retinal vessel density (VD) of superficial capillary plexus (SCP) and deep capillary plexus (DCP) using OCTA.

Results

Patients with diagnosis of type 3 MNV showed statistically lower values of VD in DCP with respect to controls and to RPD group (p < 0.001), while there were no statistical differences between RPD and control group in macular region. No significant differences in VD of SCP were detected among the three study groups.

Conclusion

OCTA provides a reproducible, non-invasive detailed quantitative analysis of retinal vascular features and changing in early-stage type 3 MNV patients, which allowed to shed the light on the main role of DCP ischemia in the development of type 3 MNV.
Fatigue-induced changes in knee-extensor torque complexity and muscle metabolic rate are dependent on joint angle
Authors: Pethick Jamie , Winter Samantha L. , Burnley Mark
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Joint angle is a significant determinant of neuromuscular and metabolic function. We tested the hypothesis that previously reported correlations between knee-extensor torque complexity and metabolic rate ($${\text{m}\dot{\text{V}}\text{O}}_{{2}}$$

m

V
˙

O

2

) would be conserved at reduced joint angles (i.e. shorter muscle lengths).

Methods

Eleven participants performed intermittent isometric knee-extensor contractions at 50% maximum voluntary torque for 30 min or until task failure (whichever occurred sooner) at joint angles of 30º, 60º and 90º of flexion (0º = extension). Torque and surface EMG were sampled continuously. Complexity and fractal scaling of torque were quantified using approximate entropy (ApEn) and detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) α. $${\text{m}\dot{\text{V}}\text{O}}_{{2}}$$

m

V
˙

O

2

was determined using near-infrared spectroscopy.

Results

Time to task failure/end increased as joint angle decreased (P < 0.001). Over time, complexity decreased at 90º and 60º (decreased ApEn, increased DFA α, both P < 0.001), but not 30º. $${\text{m}\dot{\text{V}}\text{O}}_{{2}}$$

m

V
˙

O

2

increased at all joint angles (P < 0.001), though the magnitude of this increase was lower at 30º compared to 60º and 90º (both P < 0.01). There were significant correlations between torque complexity and $${\text{m}\dot{\text{V}}\text{O}}_{{2}}$$

m

V
˙

O

2

at 90º (ApEn, r =  − 0.60, P = 0.049) and 60º (ApEn, r =  − 0.64, P = 0.035; DFA α, ρ = 0.68, P = 0.015).

Conclusion

The lack of correlation between $${\text{m}\dot{\text{V}}\text{O}}_{{2}}$$

m

V
˙

O

2

and complexity at 30º was likely due to low relative task demands, given the similar kinetics of $${\text{m}\dot{\text{V}}\text{O}}_{{2}}$$

m

V
˙

O

2

and torque complexity. An inverse correlation between $${\text{m}\dot{\text{V}}\text{O}}_{{2}}$$

m

V
˙

O

2

and knee-extensor torque complexity occurs during high-intensity contractions at intermediate, but not short, muscle lengths.
A conserved C-terminal peptide of sorghum phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase promotes its proteolysis, which is prevented by Glc-6P or the phosphorylation state of the enzyme
Authors: Gandullo Jacinto , Álvarez Rosario , Feria Ana-Belén , Monreal José-Antonio , Díaz Isabel , Vidal Jean , Echevarría Cristina
Published: August 2021

Main conclusion

A synthetic peptide from the C-terminal end of C4-phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase is implicated in the proteolysis of the enzyme, and Glc-6P or phosphorylation of the enzyme modulate this effect.

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) is a cytosolic, homotetrameric enzyme that performs a variety of functions in plants. Among them, it is primarily responsible for CO2 fixation in the C4 photosynthesis pathway (C4-PEPC). Here we show that proteolysis of C4-PEPC by cathepsin proteases present in a semi-purified PEPC fraction was enhanced by the presence of a synthetic peptide containing the last 19 amino acids from the C-terminal end of the PEPC subunit (pC19). Threonine (Thr)944 and Thr948 in the peptide are important requirements for the pC19 effect. C4-PEPC proteolysis in the presence of pC19 was prevented by the PEPC allosteric effector glucose 6-phosphate (Glc-6P) and by phosphorylation of the enzyme. The role of these elements in the regulation of PEPC proteolysis is discussed in relation to the physiological context.
A finite deformation electro-mechanically coupled computational multiscale formulation for electrical conductors
Authors: Kaiser T. , Menzel A.
Published: August 2021

Motivated by the influence of deformation-induced microcracks on the effective electrical properties at the macroscale, an electro-mechanically coupled computational multiscale formulation for electrical conductors is proposed. The formulation accounts for finite deformation processes and is a direct extension of the fundamental theoretical developments presented by Kaiser and Menzel (Arch Appl Mech 91:1509–1526, 2021) who assume a geometrically linearised setting. More specifically speaking, averaging theorems for the electric field quantities are proposed and boundary conditions that a priori fulfil the extended Hill–Mandel condition of the electro-mechanically coupled problem are discussed. A study of representative boundary value problems in two- and three-dimensional settings eventually shows the applicability of the proposed formulation and reveals the severe influence of microscale deformation processes on the effective electrical properties at the macroscale.
Fiscal Success During COVID-19 Says Believe the Good News
Authors: Posen Adam S.
Published: August 2021

Too much blood in terms of unemployment and sweat in terms of intellectual effort has been spent on trying to determine the amount of fiscal space that economies have — our policy focus instead should be on what to do with the fiscal space that almost all advanced economies (and a surprising number of emerging market economies) actually have.
On Gatekeepers and Structural Competition Problems
Authors: Rusche Christian , Büchel Jan
Published: August 2021

The Digital Age saw the rise of several rapidly growing digital platforms with substantial market shares, and this development is expected to continue. Europe is a large target market for these globally operating platforms, although the majority of the most successful platforms come from the USA and Asia and will likely continue to do so in the future. This article reveals the reasons for the success of digital platforms and discusses the recent European Commission proposal for a Digital Markets Act based on the analysis of the status quo.
The States of Law in Papua New Guinea
Authors: Demian Melissa
Published: August 2021

This article employs a consideration of Peter Fitzpatrick’s early work in Papua New Guinea to reflect on legal and social developments in the country since his residence there during the independence period. In particular, Fitzpatrick’s concerns about the emergence of a Papua New Guinean bourgeois legality that would shape the postcolony are shown to have been prescient in some respects, and also to have had other outcomes unanticipated by the Marxist legal and anthropological imagination of the 1970s. Finally, I use examples from the heterogeneous lawscape of Papua New Guinean cities to illustrate how the ‘true people’s law’ envisioned by Fitzpatrick is in the process of emerging in spaces outside of formal legislative or court processes.
Oxygen-Defect Enhanced Anion Adsorption Energy Toward Super-Rate and Durable Cathode for Ni–Zn Batteries
Authors: Yao Jia , Wan Houzhao , Chen Chi , Ji Jie , Wang Nengze , Zheng Zhaohan , Duan Jinxia , Wang Xunying , Ma Guokun , Tao Li , Wang Hanbin , Zhang Jun , Wang Hao
Published: August 2021

The alkaline zinc-based batteries with high energy density are becoming a research hotspot. However, the poor cycle stability and low-rate performance limit their wide application. Herein, ultra-thin CoNiO2nanosheet with rich oxygen defects anchored on the vertically arranged Ni nanotube arrays (Od-CNO@Ni NTs) is used as a positive material for rechargeable alkaline Ni–Zn batteries. As the highly uniform Ni nanotube arrays provide a fast electron/ion transport path and abundant active sites, the Od-CNO@Ni NTs electrode delivers excellent capacity (432.7 mAh g−1) and rate capability (218.3 mAh g−1at 60 A g−1). Moreover, our Od-CNO@Ni NTs//Zn battery is capable of an ultra-long lifespan (93.0% of initial capacity after 5000 cycles), extremely high energy density of 547.5 Wh kg−1and power density of 92.9 kW kg−1(based on the mass of cathode active substance). Meanwhile, the theoretical calculations reveal that the oxygen defects can enhance the interaction between electrode surface and electrolyte ions, contributing to higher capacity. This work opens a reasonable idea for the development of ultra-durable, ultra-fast, and high-energy Ni–Zn battery."Image missing"
HDR-Net-Fusion: Real-time 3D dynamic scene reconstruction with a hierarchical deep reinforcement network
Authors: Song Haoxuan , Huang Jiahui , Cao Yan-Pei , Mu Tai-Jiang
Published: August 2021

Reconstructing dynamic scenes with commodity depth cameras has many applications in computer graphics, computer vision, and robotics. However, due to the presence of noise and erroneous observations from data capturing devices and the inherently ill-posed nature of non-rigid registration with insufficient information, traditional approaches often produce low-quality geometry with holes, bumps, and misalignments. We propose a novel 3D dynamic reconstruction system, named HDR-Net-Fusion, which learns to simultaneously reconstruct and refine the geometry on the fly with a sparse embedded deformation graph of surfels, using a hierarchical deep reinforcement (HDR) network. The latter comprises two parts: a global HDR-Net which rapidly detects local regions with large geometric errors, and a local HDR-Net serving as a local patch refinement operator to promptly complete and enhance such regions. Training the global HDR-Net is formulated as a novel reinforcement learning problem to implicitly learn the region selection strategy with the goal of improving the overall reconstruction quality. The applicability and efficiency of our approach are demonstrated using a large-scale dynamic reconstruction dataset. Our method can reconstruct geometry with higher quality than traditional methods.
The Masjid in Contemporary Islamic Africa
Authors: Apotsos Michelle Moore
Published: August 2021

This volume examines the emergence of alternative spaces and architectural landscapes of Islamic practice in contemporary Africa through the lens of the masjid, whose definition as a “place of prostration” has enabled Muslim populations across the continent to navigate the murky waters of the contemporary condition through a purposeful renovation of spiritual space. Drawing from multiple disciplines and utilizing a series of diverse case studies, Michelle Apotsos reflects on the shifting realities of Islamic communities as they engage in processes of socio-political and cultural transformation. Illustrated through the growth of forward-thinking and in flexible environments that highlight how Muslim communities have developed unique solutions to the problem of performing identity within diverse contexts across the continent, she re-imagines the major themes surrounding definitions of Islamic architectural space in the contemporary period in Africa and the nature of the “modernity” as it has unfolded across diverse contexts on the continent.
Author's Response: Some Thoughts on War Prisons, the Law of Nations, and Historical Comparisons
Authors: Morieux Renaud
Published: August 2021

It is an honour and a pleasure to be able to converse with four such generous and thoughtful readers. I am relieved that Guillaume Calafat agrees with me, rather than with Julien Duvivier, that prisoners of war are, as the saying goes, good to think with! I also appreciate their suggestions for future research avenues, which I think open up a number of exciting possibilities. In order to give those readers who have not read the book a sense of what they will get out of it, my response will focus on issues on chronology, historiography, and methodology.
Prisoner Regimes and a Transnational History from Below
Authors: Hunt Margaret
Published: August 2021

Enemy combatants captured in wartime are both a potential resource for their captors and a logistical and security nightmare. This has long been reflected in their treatment. Over the centuries, captured enemy combatants have been sold as slaves (or simply used as slave labour), forced to switch sides, ransomed for money, swapped for other prisoners, physically maimed to ensure they could no longer fight, starved to death, imprisoned under abysmal conditions, or outright massacred. And yet, surprisingly, at other times (including in the period covered by this book), most prisoners of war – though not, as Morieux shows, all – have not only had a protected status but, especially in the case of officers, been allowed a degree of freedom of movement that seems extraordinary by modern-day standards.
Laminar and turbulent plasmoid ejection in a laboratory Parker Spiral current sheet
Authors: Peterson Ethan E. , Endrizzi Douglass A. , Clark Michael , Egedal Jan , Flanagan Kenneth , Loureiro Nuno F. , Milhone Jason , Olson Joseph , Sovinec Carl R. , Wallace John , Forest Cary B.
Published: August 2021

Quasi-periodic plasmoid formation at the tip of magnetic streamer structures is observed to occur in experiments on the Big Red Ball as well as in simulations of these experiments performed with the extended magnetohydrodynamics code, NIMROD. This plasmoid formation is found to occur on a characteristic time scale dependent on pressure gradients and magnetic curvature in both experiment and simulation. Single mode, or laminar, plasmoids exist when the pressure gradient is modest, but give way to turbulent plasmoid ejection when the system drive is higher, which produces plasmoids of many sizes. However, a critical pressure gradient is also observed, below which plasmoids are never formed. A simple heuristic model of this plasmoid formation process is presented and suggested to be a consequence of a dynamic loss of equilibrium in the high-

$\beta$

region of the helmet streamer. This model is capable of explaining the periodicity of plasmoids observed in the experiment and simulations, and produces plasmoid periods of 90 minutes when applied to two-dimensional models of solar streamers with a height of

$3R_\odot$

. This is consistent with the location and frequency at which periodic plasma blobs have been observed to form by Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronograph and Sun Earth Connection Coronal and Heliospheric Investigation instruments.
Brain correlates of impaired goal management in bipolar mania
Authors: Madre Mercé , Fuentes-Claramonte Paola , Palau Pol , Sáez Naia , Moro Noemí , Blanch Clara , Verdolini Norma , Garcia-Leon Maria Angeles , Feria Isabel , Munuera Josep , Sarró Salvador , Raduà Joaquim , McKenna Peter , Salvador Raymond , Pomarol-Clotet Edith
Published: August 2021

Background

Although executive impairment has been reported in mania, its brain functional correlates have been relatively little studied. This study examined goal management, believed to be more closely related to executive impairment in daily life than other executive tasks, using a novel functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigm in patients in this illness phase.

Methods

Twenty-one currently manic patients with bipolar disorder and 30 matched healthy controls were scanned while performing the Computerized Multiple Elements Test (CMET). This requires participants to sequentially play four simple games, with transition between games being made either voluntarily (executive condition) or automatically (control condition).

Results

CMET performance was impaired in the manic patients compared to the healthy controls. Manic patients failed to increase activation in the lateral frontal, cingulate and inferior parietal cortex when the executive demands of the task increased, while this increase was observed in the healthy controls. Activity in these regions was associated with task performance.

Conclusions

Manic patients show evidence of impaired goal management, which is associated with a pattern of reduced medial and lateral frontal and parietal activity.
The relative and interactive impact of multiple risk factors in schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a combined register-based and clinical twin study
Authors: Lemvigh C. , Brouwer R. , Hilker R. , Anhøj S. , Baandrup L. , Pantelis C. , Glenthøj B. , Fagerlund B.
Published: August 2021

Background

Research has yielded evidence for genetic and environmental factors influencing the risk of schizophrenia. Numerous environmental factors have been identified; however, the individual effects are small. The additive and interactive effects of multiple risk factors are not well elucidated. Twin pairs discordant for schizophrenia offer a unique opportunity to identify factors that differ between patients and unaffected co-twins, who are perfectly matched for age, sex and genetic background.

Methods

Register data were combined with clinical data for 216 twins including monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) proband pairs (one or both twins having a schizophrenia spectrum diagnosis) and MZ/DZ healthy control (HC) pairs. Logistic regression models were applied to predict (1) illness vulnerability (being a proband v. HC pair) and (2) illness status (being the patient v. unaffected co-twin). Risk factors included: A polygenic risk score (PRS) for schizophrenia, birth complications, birth weight, Apgar scores, paternal age, maternal smoking, season of birth, parental socioeconomic status, urbanicity, childhood trauma, estimated premorbid intelligence and cannabis.

Results

The PRS [odds ratio (OR) 1.6 (1.1–2.3)], childhood trauma [OR 4.5 (2.3–8.8)], and regular cannabis use [OR 8.3 (2.1–32.7)] independently predicted illness vulnerability as did an interaction between childhood trauma and cannabis use [OR 0.17 (0.03–0.9)]. Only regular cannabis use predicted having a schizophrenia spectrum diagnosis between patients and unaffected co-twins [OR 3.3 (1.1–10.4)].

Conclusion

The findings suggest that several risk factors contribute to increasing schizophrenia spectrum vulnerability. Moreover, cannabis, a potentially completely avoidable environmental risk factor, seems to play a substantial role in schizophrenia pathology.
‘And lastly, one for Saint Blaise’: bishops, widows and patronage in a lost Office of Reginold of Eichstätt
Authors: ALTSTATT ALISON
Published: August 2021

This article concerns a fragmentary Office for Saint Blaise found inD-PREk Reihe V G1,a late fourteenth-century antiphoner from the Benedictine convent of Kloster Preetz. Despite the late date of the source, compositional similarities between this office and the Saint Nicholas office support the possibility that the former may be a lost Office attributed to Bishop Reginold of Eichstätt (r. 966–91) by the chronicler Anonymus Haserensis. I argue that Reginold may have written both the Office for Saint Blaise and the recension of thepassioon which it is based for Pia of Bergen (Biletrud, Duchess of Bavaria), whom the chronicler names as Reginold's patron. This theory is supported by a consideration of the historical position and practices of Ottonian aristocratic widows, the development of saints’ cults in tenth-century Eichstätt and the text of thepassioitself. These findings give new insight into the office compositions of Reginold of Eichstätt, the Ottonian veneration of Byzantine saints and female patrons’ involvement in the liturgical arts and establishment of cults in the late tenth century. These findings also provide hints to the origin of the liturgy of Kloster Preetz, whose mother house has never been identified.
The relationship between simulated milrinone exposure and hypotension in children
Authors: Commander Sarah Jane , Gonzalez Daniel , Kumar Karan R. , Spears Tracy , Cohen-Wolkowiez Michael , Zimmerman Kanecia O. , Balevic Stephen J. , Hornik Christoph P.
Published: August 2021

Introduction:

Hypotension is an adverse event that may be related to systemic exposure of milrinone; however, the true exposure–safety relationship is unknown.

Methods:

Using the Pediatric Trials Network multicentre repository, we identified children ≤17 years treated with milrinone. Hypotension was defined according to age, using the Pediatric Advanced Life Support guidelines. Clinically significant hypotension was defined as hypotension with concomitant lactate >3 mg/dl. A prior population pharmacokinetic model was used to simulate milrinone exposures to evaluate exposure–safety relationships.

Results:

We included 399 children with a median (quarter 1, quarter 3) age of 1 year (0,5) who received 428 intravenous doses of milrinone (median infusion rate 0.31 mcg/kg/min [0.29,0.5]). Median maximum plasma milrinone concentration was 110.7 ng/ml (48.4,206.2). Median lowest systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 74 mmHg (60,85) and 35 mmHg (25,42), respectively. At least 1 episode of hypotension occurred in 178 (45%) subjects; clinically significant hypotension occurred in 10 (2%). The maximum simulated milrinone plasma concentrations were higher in subjects with clinically significant hypotension (251 ng/ml [129,329]) versus with hypotension alone (86 ng/ml [44, 173]) versus without hypotension (122 ng/ml [57, 208], p = 0.002); however, this relationship was not retained on multivariable analysis (odds ratio 1.01; 95% confidence interval 0.998, 1.01).

Conclusions:

We successfully leveraged a population pharmacokinetic model and electronic health record data to evaluate the relationship between simulated plasma concentration of milrinone and systemic hypotension occurrence, respectively, supporting the broader applicability of our novel, efficient, and cost-effective study design for examining drug exposure–response and –safety relationships.
Age differences in the impact of a Positive Deviance/Hearth programme on the nutritional status of children in rural Bangladesh
Authors: Kim Yunjeong , Biswas Jaganmay Prajesh , Hossain Md. Iqbal , Baik Diane , Reinsma Kathryn , Min Shinhye , Kang Yunhee
Published: August 2021

Objective:

To examine the difference in the rehabilitation rate from underweight by child age at enrolment in the Positive Deviance (PD)/Hearth programme.

Design:

This secondary data analysis used programme monitoring records of underweight children aged 6–60 months attending a 2-week PD/Hearth session and followed up for 6 months from September 2018 to March 2019. Data were analysed using multilevel mixed-effect regression and Poisson regression with robust variance.

Setting:

Rajshahi Division, Bangladesh.

Participants:

A total of 5227 underweight (weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ) <-2) children attended the PD/Hearth sessions.

Results:

From enrolment to 6 months follow-up, the mean WAZ improved from −2·80 to −2·09, and the percentage of underweight children decreased to 54·5 %. Compared to the enrolment age of 6–11 months, the estimated monthly change in WAZ at 6 months of follow-up were 0·05 lower for 12–23 months, 0·06 lower for 24–35 months, and 0·09 lower for 36–60 months of the enrolment age (all P < 0·001). The probability of rehabilitation at 6 months of follow-up were lower by 16·7 % for 12–23 months (RR = 0·83; 95 % CI 0·77, 0·91), 15·5 % for 24–35 months (RR = 0·84; 95 % CI 0·78, 0·92), and 34·9 % for 36–60 months of the enrolment age (RR = 0·65; 95 % CI 0·59, 0·72), compared to the enrolment age of 6–11 months.

Conclusions:

Enrolment in the PD/Hearth programme at a younger age had the advantage of greater rehabilitation from underweight than older age. Our findings provide a better understanding of the successes and failures of the PD/Hearth programme to achieve more sustainable and cost-effective impacts.
Systematic observation of healthy eating environments in after-school services: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Crowe Ruth K , Probst Yasmine , Weaver R Glenn , Beets Michael W , Kemp Byron , Stanley Rebecca M , Okely Anthony D
Published: August 2021

Objectives:

Few studies have examined the healthy eating environments within the Australian out of school hours care (OSHC) setting. This study aims to describe healthy eating environments, consisting of: (a) the alignment of provided food and beverages to Australian Dietary Guidelines; (b) healthy eating promotion practices; (c) nutrition education through cooking experiences; (d) staff role modelling healthy eating and (e) regular water availability.

Design:

A cross-sectional study was conducted using direct observations and the validated System for Observing Staff Promotion of Activity and Nutrition (SOSPAN) tool.

Setting:

OSHC located in urban and semi-rural regions of NSW, Australia.

Participants:

Staff (151) and children (1549) attending twelve OSHC services operating in the hours after school.

Results:

Fifty per cent (50 %) of services offered fruits and 100 % offered water as a part of the afternoon snack on all four observation days. Discretionary foods were offered on more days compared to vegetables (+1·9/d, P = 0·009), lean meats (+2·7/d, P =·0 004) and wholegrains (+2·8/d, P = 0 002). Staff promoted healthy eating on 15 % of days, sat and ate with children 52 %, consumed high sugar drinks 15 % and ate discretionary foods in front of children 8 % of days, respectively. No opportunities for cooking or nutrition education were observed.

Conclusion:

Afternoon snacks regularly contained fruits and water. Opportunities exist to improve the frequency by which vegetables, wholegrains and lean meats are offered in addition to staff healthy eating promotion behaviours. Future research is warranted to further explore healthy eating behaviours, practices and policies within the after-school sector.
Implementation of an Adaptive Bias‐Aware Extended Kalman Filter for Sea‐Ice Data Assimilation in the HARMONIE‐AROME Numerical Weather Prediction System
Authors: Batrak Yurii
Published: August 2021

Sea ice surface temperature is an important variable for short‐range numerical weather prediction systems operating in the Arctic. However, when provided by numerical sea ice models, this variable is seldomly constrained by the observations, thus introducing errors and biases in the simulated near‐surface atmospheric fields. In the present study a new sea ice data assimilation framework is introduced in the HARMONIE‐AROME numerical weather prediction system to assimilate satellite sea ice surface temperature products. The impact of the new data assimilation procedure on the model forecast is assessed through a series of model experiments and validated against sea ice satellite products and in‐situ land observations. The validation results showed that using sea ice data assimilation reduces the analyzed and forecasted ice surface temperature root mean square error (RMSE) by 0.4 °C on average. This positive impact is still traceable after 3 h of model forecast. It also reduces the 2 m temperature RMSE on average by 0.2 °C at the analysis time with effects persisting for up to 24 h forecast over the Svalbard and Franz Josef Land archipelagos. As for the 2 m specific humidity and 10 m wind speed, no effect was observed. Possible impact on the upper‐air fields was assessed by comparing the model forecast against the radiosonde soundings launched from Spitsbergen, with no clear improvement found. Implications of using a coupled surface‐atmosphere data assimilation technique in HARMONIE‐AROME are discussed.
Polyphase Deformation and Strain Migration on the Septentrional‐Oriente Fault Zone in the Windward Passage, Northern Caribbean Plate Boundary
Authors: Oliveira de Sá A. , d’Acremont E. , Leroy S. , Lafuerza S.
Published: August 2021

Oblique collision between the Caribbean plate and the Bahama Banks has lead an eastward migration of the northern Caribbean plate boundary by successive southward jumps of major strike‐slip faults. The Septentrional‐Oriente Fault zone (SOFZ) defines the present‐day northern Caribbean plate boundary accommodating most of the eastward escape of the Caribbean plate. Here, we reevaluate the complex history of the SOFZ along the Windward Passage area between the easternmost region of Cuba and the northwest of Haiti. Based on seismic reflection and swath‐bathymetric data set we interpret the structure and tectonic pattern of the Windward Passage. The tectono‐sedimentary framework of this large strait shows contrasting patterns of deformation linked to a complex polyphase tectonic history of dominantly strike‐slip faulting. SOFZ segments offset the seismic units and yield key markers of displacement along the fault system. Our study provides structural and stratigraphic insights into the relative timing of deformation along the Windward Passage and presents new elements that constrain the southeastward jump of the north Caribbean plate boundary to its present‐day position. We propose dates for the identified seismic units based on the correlation of offshore deformation phases recorded in the Windward Passage sedimentary cover with major paleogeographic reorganization episodes described onland (Late Eocene, Late Oligocene, Middle Miocene and Late Pliocene). By restoring the offset of the seismic units, we demonstrate that at least ∼80 km of left‐lateral motion has occurred on the SOFZ, and that the SOFZ has been active since the Pliocene.