bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bulk-like magnetic properties in MBE-grown unstrained, antiferromagnetic CuMnSb
Authors: Scheffler L. , Werther J. , Gas K. , Schumacher C. , Gould C. , Sawicki M. , Kleinlein J. , Molenkamp L. W.
Published: July 2022

A detailed study of the influence of molecular beam epitaxial growth conditions on the structural and magnetic characteristics of CuMnSb films on lattice matched GaSb is presented. For a set of nine 40 nm thick layers, the Mn and Sb fluxes are varied to produce material with different elemental compositions. It is found that the layers grown under a relative Mn to Sb flux ratio of ΦMn/ΦSb=1.24±0.02 are closest to the stoichiometric composition for which the Néel temperature (TN) attains its maximum values. Mn-related structural defects are believed to be the driving contribution to changes in the vertical lattice parameter. Having established the optimum growth conditions, a second set of samples with CuMnSb layer thickness varied from 5 to 510 nm is fabricated. We show that for sufficiently large thicknesses, the magnetic characteristics (TN≃62K, Curie–Weiss temperature ΘCW=−100 K) of the stoichiometric layers do correspond to the parameters reported for bulk samples. On the other hand, we observe a reduction of TN as a function of the CuMnSb thickness for our thinnest layers. All findings reported here are of particular relevance for studies aiming at the demonstration of Néel vector switching and detection in this noncentrosymmetric antiferromagnet, which have been recently proposed.
N-representability of the target density in Frozen-Density Embedding Theory based methods: Numerical significance and its relation to electronic polarization
Authors: Ricardi Niccolò , González-Espinoza Cristina E. , Wesołowski Tomasz Adam
Published: July 2022

The accuracy of any observable derived from multi-scale simulations based on Frozen-Density Embedding Theory (FDET) is affected by two inseparable factors: (i) the approximation for the ExcTnad[ρA,ρB] component of the FDET energy functional and (ii) the choice of the density ρB(r) for which the FDET eigenvalue equation for the embedded wavefunction is solved. A procedure is proposed to estimate the relative significance of these two factors. Numerical examples are given for four weakly bound intermolecular complexes. It is shown that the violation of the non-negativity condition is the principal source of error in the FDET energy if ρB is the density of the isolated environment, i.e., it is generated without taking into account the interactions with the embedded species. Reduction of both the magnitude of the violation of the non-negativity condition and the error in the FDET energy can be pragmatically achieved by means of the explicit treatment of the electronic polarization of the environment.
On the Ohmic-dominant heating mode of capacitively coupled plasma inverted by boundary electron emission
Authors: Zhang Shu , Sun Guang-Yu , Chen Jian , Sun Hao-Min , Sun An-Bang , Zhang Guan-Jun
Published: July 2022

Electron emission from the boundary is ubiquitous in a capacitively coupled plasma (CCP) and precipitates nonnegligible influence on the discharge properties. Here, we present Particle-in-Cell/Monte Carlo Collision simulation of an Ohmic-dominant heating mode of the capacitively coupled plasma, where the stochastic heating vanishes and only Ohmic heating sustains the discharge due to sheath inversion by boundary electron emission. The inverted CCP features negative sheath potential without Bohm presheath, hence excluding plasma heating due to sheath edge oscillation. The particle and energy transport of the proposed heating mode is analyzed. The influence of boundary electron emission flux, source voltage, and neutral pressure on the transition between classic and Ohmic-dominant CCP heating modes is shown with designated simulation scans. A modified inverse sheath–plasma coupling due to excessive ionization is discovered. In the end, key indicators of the proposed heating mode in plasma diagnostics are provided for future experimental verifications.
Jetting mechanisms in bubble-pair interactions
Authors: Biller Benedikt , Hoppe Nils , Adami Stefan , Adams Nikolaus A.
Published: July 2022

Jetting mechanisms in cavitation bubbles play a crucial role in the destructive forces of cavitation. Depending on the application, these forces can have desirable effects like in medical treatments or catastrophic effects like in the erosion of ship propellers. Still today, thorough understanding of all details in complex bubble collapse scenarios is lacking. Hence, in this work, we numerically investigate the jetting mechanisms for air bubble pairs in water following a recent experimental setup. We apply a finite-volume approach with fifth-order low-dissipation shock-capturing weighted essentially non-oscillatory reconstruction. The interface interaction is described by a conservative sharp-interface level-set method. For time integration, a third-order total-variation-diminishing Runge–Kutta scheme is employed. Complementing experimental observations, our simulations reveal the presence of dominating gas jets and new types of jetting mechanisms.
Topological sensor on a silicon chip
Authors: Kumar Abhishek , Gupta Manoj , Pitchappa Prakash , Tan Yi Ji , Wang Nan , Singh Ranjan
Published: July 2022

An ultrasensitive photonic sensor is vital for sensing matter with absolute specificity. High specificity terahertz photonic sensors are essential in many fields, including medical research, clinical diagnosis, security inspection, and probing molecular vibrations in all forms of matter. Widespread photonic sensing technology detects small frequency shifts due to the targeted specimen, thus requiring ultra-high quality (Q) factor resonance. However, the existing terahertz waveguide resonating structures are prone to defects, possess limited Q-factor, and lack the feature of chip-scale CMOS integration. Here, inspired by the topologically protected edge state of light, we demonstrate a silicon valley photonic crystal based ultrasensitive, robust on-chip terahertz topological insulator sensor that consists of a topological waveguide critically coupled to a topological cavity with an ultra-high quality (Q) factor of Q=0.14×106. Topologically protected cavity resonance exhibits strong resilience against disorder and multiple sharp bends. Leveraging on the extremely narrow linewidth (2.3 MHz) of topological cavity resonance, the terahertz sensor shows a record-high figure of merit of 4000 RIU mm−1. In addition to the spectral shift, the intensity modulation of cavity resonance offers an additional sensor metric through active tuning of critical coupling in the waveguide-cavity system. We envision that the ultra-high Q photonic terahertz topological sensor could have chip-scale biomedical applications such as differentiation between normal and cancerous tissues by monitoring the water content.
Numerical simulation of indirect freezing desalination using lattice Boltzmann method
Authors: Mousavi Seyed Pedram , Jalali Alireza , Rahimian Mohammad Hassan
Published: July 2022

With the increasing demand for freshwater for drinking, industrial, and agricultural purposes, desalination of seawater is a significant solution. Freezing desalination is a less costly process compared to other thermal methods; thus, it can be a proper alternative choice in the desalination industry. Numerical simulation of this process is advantageous in the design and optimization of this technology. The modeling of this process with common computational fluid dynamics methods is computationally expensive due to the small time scale of freezing. In this study, we develop a lattice Boltzmann method to solve the momentum and energy equations. This method is coupled with the finite difference discretization of species transport equation for the concentration of salt. A two-dimensional cavity filled with 35 g/L saltwater with one cold surface is investigated. The desalination process at three different times is analyzed. Also, the effect of changing the position of the cold wall in the presence of gravity is examined. The left and top surface cooling presents higher desalination efficiency as the purification efficiency is twice as the bottom surface cooling in terms of brine salt concentration. It was also found that reducing the temperature of the cold wall can have a more significant effect on desalination efficiency rather than changing the position of the cooling surface. The brine concentration obtained from the top cooling surface after 30 min at 250 K was 7.803%, while that of the bottom surface cooling after 10 min at 230 K was 8.40%.
A double-layer high-transmission terahertz linear-to-circular polarization converter
Authors: Wu JiangHao , Syed Mohsin Ali Shah , Qi Limei , Tao Xiang , Yang Jun , Wen Lue
Published: July 2022

A double-layer broadband high-transmission terahertz linear-to-circular polarization metasurface is experimentally demonstrated in frequencies between 0.46 and 0.62 THz. The measured results show a good agreement with the simulations. The values of co-polarization transmission coefficients Txx and Tyy remain above 0.82 in both simulation and experiment, and the simulated and measured axial ratio is 26.2% and 29.6%, respectively. Moreover, the experimental ellipticity remains above 0.98 in the region from 0.5 to 0.62 THz. The average measured polarization conversion ratio is 0.68. The multi-reflection and transmission interference model is used to explain the physical mechanism of polarization conversion. The proposed structure could be used in terahertz transmission and detection because of its stable, high ellipticity and transmittance.
Computing time-periodic steady-state currents via the time evolution of tensor network states
Authors: Strand Nils E. , Vroylandt Hadrien , Gingrich Todd R.
Published: July 2022

We present an approach based upon binary tree tensor network (BTTN) states for computing steady-state current statistics for a many-particle 1D ratchet subject to volume exclusion interactions. The ratcheted particles, which move on a lattice with periodic boundary conditions subject to a time-periodic drive, can be stochastically evolved in time to sample representative trajectories via a Gillespie method. In lieu of generating realizations of trajectories, a BTTN state can variationally approximate a distribution over the vast number of many-body configurations. We apply the density matrix renormalization group algorithm to initialize BTTN states, which are then propagated in time via the time-dependent variational principle (TDVP) algorithm to yield the steady-state behavior, including the effects of both typical and rare trajectories. The application of the methods to ratchet currents is highlighted, but the approach extends naturally to other interacting lattice models with time-dependent driving. Although trajectory sampling is conceptually and computationally simpler, we discuss situations for which the BTTN TDVP strategy can be beneficial.
Incorporating Lindblad decay dynamics into mixed quantum-classical simulations
Authors: Koessler Eric R. , Mandal Arkajit , Huo Pengfei
Published: July 2022

We derive the L-mean-field Ehrenfest (MFE) method to incorporate Lindblad jump operator dynamics into the MFE approach. We map the density matrix evolution of Lindblad dynamics onto pure state coefficients using trajectory averages. We use simple assumptions to construct the L-MFE method that satisfies this exact mapping. This establishes a method that uses independent trajectories that exactly reproduce Lindblad decay dynamics using a wavefunction description, with deterministic changes of the magnitudes of the quantum expansion coefficients, while only adding on a stochastic phase. We further demonstrate that when including nuclei in the Ehrenfest dynamics, the L-MFE method gives semi-quantitatively accurate results, with the accuracy limited by the accuracy of the approximations present in the semiclassical MFE approach. This work provides a general framework to incorporate Lindblad dynamics into semiclassical or mixed quantum-classical simulations.
Dynamic response of Maxwell fluid in an elastic cylindrical tube
Authors: Liu Jiajie , Wang Shaowei , Zhao Moli , Xiao Yue
Published: July 2022

In the present study, the dynamic response of Maxwell fluid in an elastic cylindrical tube is considered. Focusing on the viscoelastic flow through a thin-walled slender elastic cylindrical shell and neglecting inertia in the liquid and solid, a non-homogeneous linear diffusion equation controlling the coupled viscous–elastic system is obtained. The fluid pressure and deformation fields are obtained by numerical Laplace inversion. The results show that the relaxation time of Maxwell fluid has a significant effect on the flow and deformation fields of the viscoelastic system. This research can be used for the design and control of complex time-varying deformation fields and has a certain value for the applications of soft actuators, micro-autonomous systems, and soft robotics.
Extrapolation of turbulence intensity scaling to Reτ≫105
Authors: Basse Nils T.
Published: July 2022

We have characterized a transition of turbulence intensity (TI) scaling for friction Reynolds numbers Reτ∼104 in the companion papers [Basse, “Scaling of global properties of fluctuating and mean streamwise velocities in pipe flow: Characterization of a high Reynolds number transition region,” Phys. Fluids 33, 065127 (2021); Basse, “Scaling of global properties of fluctuating streamwise velocities in pipe flow: Impact of the viscous term,” Phys. Fluids 33, 125109 (2021)]. Here, we build on those results to extrapolate TI scaling for Reτ≫105 under the assumption that no further transitions exist. Scaling of the core, area-averaged and global peak TI demonstrates that they all scale inversely with the logarithm of Reτ, but with different multipliers. Finally, we confirm the prediction that the TI squared is proportional to the friction factor for Reτ≫105.
Effects of the tensor force on low-energy heavy-ion fusion reactions: a mini review
Authors: Sun Xiang-Xiang , Guo Lu
Published: July 2022

In recent several years, the tensor force, one of the most important components of the nucleon–nucleon force, has been implemented in time-dependent density functional theories and it has been found to influence many aspects of low-energy heavy-ion reactions, such as dissipation dynamics, sub-barrier fusions, and low-lying vibration states of colliding partners. Especially, the effects of tensor force on fusion reactions have been investigated from the internuclear potential to fusion crosssections systematically. In this work, we present a mini review on the recent progress on this topic. Considering the recent progress of low-energy reaction theories, we will also mention more possible effects of the tensor force on reaction dynamics.
Mortality and morbidity risk prediction for older former smokers based on a score of smoking history: evidence from UK Biobank and ESTHER cohorts
Authors: Gao Xu , Huang Ninghao , Jiang Meijie , Holleczek Bernd , Schöttker Ben , Huang Tao , Brenner Hermann
Published: July 2022

Background

Rapid population ageing has raised the proportion of older former smokers considerably, but a comprehensive assessment tool of former smoking-related health risks is absent.

Objective

We utilised the large-scale data of UK Biobank and ESTHER study to build a former smoking score (FSS) for older former smokers using three major former smoking traits: pack-years, smoking duration and time since smoking cessation.

Design

UK Biobank and ESTHER study are two cohorts of older adults with 502,528 and 9,940 participants from the UK and Germany, respectively.

Methods

Smoking history and covariates were retrieved from the self-administrated questionnaires and mortality and morbidity data were obtained through regular linkages to hospital records.

Results

We constructed the FSS based on the 94,446 former smokers of UK Biobank by retrieving the averaged effect estimates of each trait with a 100-time random sampling. This score was robustly associated with higher risks of mortality and incidence of major smoking-related diseases, outperforming each trait. In the validation panel of 2,683 former smokers from ESTHER study, the FSS was highly predictive of mortality and morbidities. Particularly, compared with the 1st quartile of the FSS group, the 4th quartile group had 114.1, 104.5 and 158.9% higher risks of all-cause, CVD and cancer mortality, respectively, and 41.9, 31.9, 52.4 and 831.3% higher risks of incident CVD, type 2 diabetes, any cancers and lung cancer, respectively.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates the large potential of refined risk assessment of former smokers by more comprehensive consideration of the major traits of former smoking.
Preliminary Findings from a Telephone-Based Cognitive Screening of an Adult HIV Research Cohort during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Gonzalez Jairo A , Clark Uraina S , Byrd Desiree , Clarke Yusuf , Greenwood Kaitlyn , Tell Elizabeth , Carrion-Park Cira , Pizzirusso Maria , Burgess Rhonda , Morgello Susan
Published: July 2022

Objectives

Few publications have documented the utility of in-home telephone-based cognitive screeners during COVID-19. This manuscript describes the adaptation of select face-to-face (FTF) neuropsychological tests to telephonic administration in a longitudinal cohort of people with HIV (PWH). Using the cohort’s pre-pandemic neuropsychological data, we explore the utility of telephonic administration in this population.

Methods

Of a longitudinal cohort of 170 adult PWH, 59 completed telephonic medical and cognitive screenings with comparable pre-pandemic FTF data. Telephone screeners and FTF evaluations were compared using repeated measures ANCOVAs to examine whether test performance differed between administration types and levels of pre-pandemic cognitive performance. Individuals with pre-pandemic test scores more than a standard deviation below the demographically-corrected mean were categorized as “below average” cognitive performance (n = 23), and the remainder as “average” (n = 36).

Results

Over 90% of participants gave positive feedback about the telephone encounter. The average cognitive performance group scored higher than the below average group on all measures across both administration types. Telephone and FTF test scores did not differ significantly for measures of category fluency, letter fluency, and verbal learning. However, the below average group scored higher on a verbal memory measure administered via telephone compared with FTF.

Conclusions

Support for telephonic adaptation of select FTF measures in longitudinal research is mixed, with verbal fluency tasks showing the strongest equivalency. When employed carefully with a clear understanding of their limitations, telephone adaptations can provide an opportunity to continue study objectives, promote equity, and monitor participant well-being during times of duress.
Optimal blocking of the cerebral cortex for cytoarchitectonic examination: a neuronavigation-based approach
Authors: Novek Jennifer , Sprung-Much Trisanna , Nolan Erika , Petrides Michael
Published: July 2022

Certain sulci of the human cerebral cortex hold consistent relationships to cytoarchitectonic areas (e.g. the primary motor cortical area 4 and the somatosensory cortical area 3 occupy the anterior and posterior banks of the central sulcus, respectively). Recent research has improved knowledge of the cortical sulci and their variability across individuals. However, other than the so-called primary sulci, understanding of the precise relationships cortical folds hold with many cytoarchitectonic areas remains elusive. To examine these relationships, the cortex must be blocked, sectioned, and histologically processed in a manner that allows the cytoarchitectonic layers to be clearly observed. The optimal strategy to view the cytoarchitecture is to block and section the cortex perpendicular to the sulcal orientation. Most cytoarchitectonic investigations of the cortex, however, have been conducted on specimens cut along a single axis (e.g. the coronal plane), which distorts the appearance of the cytoarchitectonic layers within parts of the cortical ribbon not sectioned optimally. Thus, to understand further the relationships between sulci and cytoarchitectonic areas, the cortex should be sectioned optimally to the sulci of interest. A novel approach for blocking the cortex optimally using structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and surgical neuronavigation tools is presented here.
Understanding Performance of a Vulnerable Heterogeneous Edge Data Center: A Modeling Approach
Authors: Yang Runkai , Mišić Jelena , Mišić Vojislav B , Liang Xiao , Zhou Shenshen , Chang Xiaolin
Published: July 2022

Internet of Things (IoT) jobs not only require computational resources but also are delay-sensitive and security-sensitive. Edge computing emerges as a promising paradigm to improve the quality of experience for IoT users. Edge computing faces many security threats, perhaps even more than traditional data centers. With a growing amount of data offloaded to Edge Data Centers (EDCs), the EDC performance needs to be considered and evaluated carefully for improving the vulnerable EDC resource utilization while satisfying IoT job requirements. This paper develops an analytical model, which can capture the dynamics of an EDC system with the following features: (i) The system is under heterogeneous workloads; (ii) the system is subject to attacks, which prevent equipment units in the system from providing service and (iii) the jobs in the system are delay-sensitive. Namely, the job processing fails before the processing is completed. Based on the proposed model, we develop formulas for performance and profit metrics and conduct a series of simulation experiments to verify the correctness and accuracy of our model. Finally, through our model, we evaluate the performance of the EDC, and we offer solutions for EDC administrators to maximize profit.
Revocable Policy-Based Chameleon Hash for Blockchain Rewriting
Authors: Tian Yangguang , Miyaji Atsuko , Matsubara Koki , Cui Hui , Li Nan
Published: July 2022

Policy-based chameleon hash is a useful primitive for blockchain rewriting systems. It allows a user to create a mutable transaction associated with an access policy, whereas a modifier who possesses sufficient rewriting privileges from a trusted authority satisfying the access policy can rewrite the mutable transaction. However, it lacks a revocation mechanism. The modifiers can always rewrite the mutable transactions even if their given rewriting privileges are compromised. In this work, we introduce revocable policy-based chameleon. The property of revocation allows some modifiers’ rewriting privileges to be revoked, regardless of whether their rewriting privileges are compromised or not.
Ustekinumab Exposure in Pregnant Women From Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinical Trials: Pregnancy Outcomes Through Up To 5 Years in Crohn’s Disease and 2 Years in Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Abraham Bincy P , Ott Elyssa , Busse Christopher , Murphy Conor , Miller Lindsay , Baumgart Daniel C , Scherl Ellen , Gasink Christopher
Published: July 2022

Background

While no adverse developmental outcomes were observed in preclinical animal studies, limited data exist regarding effects of ustekinumab on human pregnancies. Previously, no data have been reported for women treated with ustekinumab in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) clinical trials and corresponding pregnancy outcomes. Here, we present pregnancy outcomes from IBD clinical trials, incorporating 5 years of treatment in Crohn’s disease (CD) and 2 in ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods

All patients in the clinical trials agreed to use adequate birth control and were discontinued from treatment upon pregnancy confirmation. Nonetheless, 39 pregnancies occurred with maternal ustekinumab exposure from 4 CD and 1 UC study. Maternal and neonatal outcomes and data are presented with summary statistics, where available.

Results

Of 1289 women who received ≥1 dose of ustekinumab, 39 maternal pregnancies with outcomes were reported (pregnancy cohort). Median maternal age was 28.0 years and median duration of ustekinumab treatment before pregnancy was 63.7 weeks with the last dose of ustekinumab administered prior to or during the first trimester (terminal half-life of ~3 weeks). Outcomes for the 39 pregnancies were: 26 live births (all normal newborns), 8 spontaneous abortions, and 5 elective abortions. No congenital anomalies were reported among normal newborns and no safety signals emerged with neonatal outcomes.

Conclusions

Based on this series of 39 pregnancies with outcomes from IBD clinical trials, mothers treated with ustekinumab (limited to up to the first trimester) did not demonstrate a risk of negative outcomes. More data are needed to characterize the safety profile of ustekinumab use during pregnancy.
Evolution of drug-eluting coronary stents: a back-and-forth journey from the bench to bedside
Authors: Nicolas Johny , Pivato Carlo Andrea , Chiarito Mauro , Beerkens Frans , Cao Davide , Mehran Roxana
Published: July 2022

Coronary stents have revolutionized the treatment of coronary artery disease. Compared with balloon angioplasty, bare-metal stents (BMSs) effectively prevented abrupt vessel closure but were limited by in-stent restenosis (ISR) due to smooth muscle cell proliferation and neointimal hyperplasia. The first-generation drug-eluting stent (DES), with its antiproliferative drug coating, offered substantial advantages over BMSs as it mitigated the risk of ISR. Nonetheless, they had several design limitations that increased the risk of late stent thrombosis. Significant advances in stent design, including thinner struts, enhanced polymers’ formulation, and more potent antiproliferative agents, have led to the introduction of new-generation DES with a superior safety profile. Cardiologists have over 20 different DES types to choose from, each with its unique features and characteristics. This review highlights the evolution of stent design and summarizes the clinical data on the different stent types. We conclude by discussing the clinical implications of stent design in high-risk subsets of patients.
Evaluation of post-operative surveillance strategies for esophageal and gastric cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Chidambaram Swathikan , Sounderajah Viknesh , Maynard Nick , Markar Sheraz R
Published: July 2022

Background

There is no consensus or guidelines internationally to inform clinicians of how patients should be monitored for recurrence after esophagogastric resections.

Aim

This systematic review and meta-analysis summarizes the latest evidence investigating the usefulness of surveillance protocols in patients who underwent esophagectomy or gastrectomy.

Methods

A systematic review of the literature was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Review and Scopus databases. Articles were evaluated for the use of surveillance strategies including history-taking, physical examination, imaging modalities and endoscopy for monitoring patients post-gastrectomy or esophagectomy. Studies that compared surveillance strategies and reported detection of recurrence and post-recurrence survival were also included in the meta-analysis.

Results

Fifteen studies that described a surveillance protocol for post-operative patients were included in the review. Seven studies were used in the meta-analysis. Random-effects analysis demonstrated a statistically significant higher post-recurrence survival (standardized mean difference [SMD] 14.15, 95% CI 1.40–27.26, p = 0.03) with imaging-based planned surveillance post-esophagectomy. However, the detection of recurrence (OR 1.76, 95% CI 0.78–3.97, p = 0.17) for esophageal cancers as well as detection of recurrence (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.11–5.12, p = 0.76) and post-recurrence survival (SMD 6.42, 95% CI –2.16–18.42, p = 0.14) for gastric cancers were not significantly different with planned surveillance.

Conclusion

There is no consensus on whether surveillance carries prognostic survival benefit or how surveillance should be carried out. Surveillance may carry prognostic benefit for patients who underwent surgery for esophageal cancer. Randomized controlled trials are required to evaluate the survival benefits of intensive surveillance strategies, determine the ideal surveillance protocol and tailor it to the appropriate population.
Semiprone thoracoscopic approach during totally minimally invasive Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy seems to be beneficial
Authors: Froiio Caterina , Uzun Eren , Hadzijusufovic Edin , Capovilla Giovanni , Berlth Felix , Lang Hauke , Grimminger Peter P
Published: July 2022

Minimally invasive Ivor-Lewis Esophagectomy (MIE) is widely accepted as a surgical treatment of resectable esophageal cancer. Aim of this paper is to describe the surgical details of our standardized MIE technique and its safety. We also evaluate the esophageal mobilization in semiprone compared to the left lateral position. A retrospective analysis of 141 consecutive patients who underwent Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy for cancer, from February 2016 to September 2021, was conducted. All the procedures were performed by totally thoraco-laparoscopic with an intrathoracic end-to-side circular stapled anastomosis. Thoracic phase was performed in left lateral position (LLP-group, n=47) followed by a semiprone position (SP-group, n=94). The intraoperative and postoperative outcomes were prospectively collected and analyzed. The procedure was completed without intraoperative complication in 94.68% of cases in SP-group and in 93.62% of cases in LLP-group (P=0.99). The total operative time and thoracic operative time were significantly shorter in SP-group (P=0.0096; P=0.009). No statistically significant differences were detected in postoperative outcomes between the groups, except for anastomotic strictures (higher in LLP-group, P=0.02) and intensive care unit stay (longer in LLP-group, P=00.1). No reoperation was needed in any cases. Surgical radicality was comparable; the median of harvested lymph nodes was significantly higher in SP-group (P<0.0001).

The present semiprone technique of thoraco-laparoscopic Ivor-Lewis esophagectomy is safe and feasible but may also provide some advantages in terms of lymph nodes harvested and total operation time.
Mapping wheel-ruts from timber harvesting operations using deep learning techniques in drone imagery
Authors: Bhatnagar Saheba , Puliti Stefano , Talbot Bruce , Heppelmann Joachim Bernd , Breidenbach Johannes , Astrup Rasmus
Published: July 2022

Wheel ruts, i.e. soil deformations caused by harvesting machines, are considered a negative environmental impact of forest operations and should be avoided or ameliorated. However, the mapping of wheel ruts that would be required to monitor harvesting operations and to plan amelioration measures is a tedious and time-consuming task. Here, we examined whether a combination of drone imagery and algorithms from the field of artificial intelligence can automate the mapping of wheel ruts. We used a deep-learning image-segmentation method (ResNet50 + UNet architecture) that was trained on drone imagery acquired shortly after harvests in Norway, where more than 160 km of wheel ruts were manually digitized. The cross-validation of the model based on 20 harvested sites resulted in F1 scores of 0.69–0.84 with an average of 0.77, and in total, 79 per cent of wheel ruts were correctly detected. The highest accuracy was obtained for severe wheel ruts (average user’s accuracy (UA) = 76 per cent), and the lowest accuracy was obtained for light wheel ruts (average UA = 67 per cent). Considering the nowadays ubiquitous availability of drones, the approach presented in our study has the potential to greatly increase the ability to effectively map and monitor the environmental impact of final felling operations with respect to wheel ruts. The automated mapping of wheel ruts may serve as an important input to soil impact analyses and thereby support measures to restore soil damages.
The impact of security force assistance in Niger: meddling with borders
Authors: Wilén Nina
Published: July 2022

How does Security Force Assistance (SFA) impact Niger's security sector and beyond? I draw on extensive fieldwork in Niger and identify and analyse two developments taking place in Niger's security sector: the development of an expanded Special Forces Command and the elaboration of multiple mobile hybrid units. I build upon, and contribute to, existing studies related to the politicization and securitization of borders in the Sahel and research discussing the blurring of borders between internal and external security forces. The aim is twofold: first, to unpack SFA efforts and effects through a focus on both geopolitical borders in Niger, and borders between and within corps and units in the security sector; and second, to contextualize and compare the developments in Niger's security sector with broader, global security trends. I find that both of the SFA projects constitute and feed into institutional games and inter-agency rivalry regarding task division, equipment and training. The overuse of the newly created Special Forces Command mirrors global trends of the latter as an ‘easy button to push’, while the multiplication of hybrid units to secure geopolitical borders reinforces the status and power of intermediary agencies that are at the interface between internal and external security forces. On an overarching level, the two trends of meddling with borders are found to be co-constituted by external and local actors who decide which developments that should be considered threats and how they should be addressed, questions that are deeply intertwined with power and control.
Role of interferons (IFNs) in the differentiation of T peripheral helper (Tph) cells
Authors: Tanemura Shuhei , Seki Noriyasu , Tsujimoto Hideto , Saito Shuntaro , Kikuchi Jun , Sugahara Kunio , Yoshimoto Keiko , Suzuki Katsuya , Kaneko Yuko , Chiba Kenji , Takeuchi Tsutomu
Published: July 2022

Interleukin (IL)-21-producing T peripheral helper (Tph) cells are thought to contribute to extra-follicular B cell activation and play a pathogenic role in autoimmune diseases. In this study, we investigated the relationship between Tph cells and interferons (IFNs) in several autoimmune diseases because our previous study demonstrated that type I IFNs promote the differentiation of IL-21-producing Tph-like cells. The frequency of Tph cells in the blood as well as serum IFN-α2a and IFN-λ1 were markedly elevated in patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared to other autoimmune diseases or healthy controls. Notably, the frequency of Tph cells was positively correlated with the SLE disease activity index, serum IFN-α and serum IFN-λ1 in SLE patients. Additionally, we found that type III IFNs (IFN-λ1, IFN-λ2 and IFN-λ3) promote the differentiation of programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)+ CXCR5 −CD4+ T cells and enhance the secretion of IL-21, IFN-γ and CXCL13. IFN-λ1, like IFN-α, up-regulated the mRNA expression of IL21, IFNG, CXCL13, CD244, SLAMF7, GZMB, PRF1, CCR5 and PRDM1, whereas it down-regulated that of CXCR5 and BCL6, reflecting a Tph-related gene expression pattern. IFN-α in combination with IFN-λ1, IFN-λ2 or IFN-λ3 significantly increased the differentiation of PD-1+CXCR5− Tph-like cells and the secretion of Tph-related cytokines as compared with each IFN alone, suggesting a cooperative interaction. From these findings, it is highly probable that type III IFNs in addition to type I IFNs play a key role in the differentiation of Tph cells and that high levels of IFN-α and IFN-λ1 trigger the differentiation and expansion of Tph cells in SLE.
Mining Ultraconserved Elements From Transcriptome and Genome Data to Explore the Phylogenomics of the Free-living Lice Suborder Psocomorpha (Insecta: Psocodea)
Authors: Saenz Manchola Oscar Fernando , Samacá Sáenz Ernesto , Virrueta Herrera Stephany , D’Alessio Lorenzo Mario , García Aldrete Alfonso Nerí , Johnson Kevin P
Published: July 2022

The order Psocodea includes the two historically recognized groups Psocoptera (free-living bark lice) and Phthiraptera (parasitic lice) that were once considered separate orders. Psocodea is divided in three suborders: Trogiomorpha, Troctomorpha, and Psocomorpha, the latter being the largest within the free-living groups. Despite the increasing number of transcriptomes and whole genome sequence (WGS) data available for this group, the relationships among the six known infraorders within Psocomorpha remain unclear. Here, we evaluated the utility of a bait set designed specifically for parasitic lice belonging to suborder Troctomorpha to extract UCE loci from transcriptome and WGS data of 55 bark louse species and explored the phylogenetic relationships within Psocomorpha using these UCE loci markers. Taxon sampling was heavily focused on the families Lachesillidae and Elipsocidae, whose relationships have been problematic in prior phylogenetic studies. We successfully recovered a total of 2,622 UCE loci, with a 40% completeness matrix containing 2,081 UCE loci and an 80% completeness matrix containing 178 UCE loci. The average number of UCE loci recovered for the 55 species was 1,401. The WGS data sets produced a larger number of UCE loci (1,495) on average than the transcriptome data sets (972). Phylogenetic relationships reconstructed with Maximum Likelihood and coalescent-based analysis were concordant regarding the paraphyly of Lachesillidae and Elipsocidae. Branch support values were generally lower in analyses that used a fewer number of loci, even though they had higher matrix completeness.
Thermal Biology ofLiorhyssus hyalinus(Hemiptera: Rhopalidae) andNysius simulans(Hemiptera: Lygaeidae), Fed on the Milky Stage of Maize Grains
Authors: Cruces Luis , de la Peña Eduardo , De Clercq Patrick
Published: July 2022

When quinoa, Chenopodium quinoa Willd., is cultivated in South America outside of its Andean origin, the heteropterans Liorhyssus hyalinus (Fabricius) and Nysius simulans Stål may emerge as important pests. Here we studied the development and reproduction of both species at different constant temperatures in the laboratory. Egg and nymphal development were investigated at 18, 22, 26, 30, 34, and 36°C. For both species, egg incubation time significantly decreased as the temperature increased. Nymphs did not successfully develop at 18°C and the total nymphal time significantly decreased as the temperature increased from 22 to 36°C. Based on a linear day-degree (DD) model, the lower developmental threshold (LDT) temperatures for eggs and nymphs were estimated to be 16.0 and 17.9°C for L. hyalinus, and 16.1 and 19.7°C for N. simulans, respectively. Thermal requirements for egg and nymphal development were 68.6 and 114.8 DD for L. hyalinus, and 77.7 and 190.3 DD for N. simulans, respectively. Reproduction and adult longevity were studied at 22, 26, 30, and 34°C. For both species preoviposition time decreased as temperature increased, and the oviposition period was longest at 26°C. The highest fecundity and egg viability were observed at 30°C, whereas longevities were higher at 22–26°C than at 30–34°C. As the lowest tested temperatures were not suitable to both heteropterans and 30°C was found to be the optimal temperature for development and reproduction, peak densities are expected in warm areas and seasons.
Arthropod Community in Hybrid Hazelnut Plantings in the Midwestern United States
Authors: Chediack Ariadna , Liesch Patrick J , Shanovich Hailey N , Aukema Brian H
Published: July 2022

There is a lack of knowledge of the arthropod communities in both wild hazelnut and cultivated hybrid hazelnut ecosystems in the Midwestern United States. Our goal was to characterize the composition of these arthropod communities in hazelnut plantings. We surveyed six experimental plantings of hazelnuts in Wisconsin and two in Minnesota during growing seasons, from May 2017 to August 2021. We used four methods to survey the arthropod community of these plantings: ad libitum survey of specimen observations and collection, dissection of hazelnut buds and nuts, cone traps placed on the ground, and beat sheet sampling of plants. We registered 116 different morphospecies of five classes and 83 families. Arthropods with known feeding habits were grouped into four guilds: 59 herbivores, 36 carnivores (predators, parasites, and parasitoids), 4 decomposers (detritivores and scavengers), and 4 omnivores. While we registered 12 herbivorous species that could potentially cause damage to hazelnuts, we directly observed nine of them feeding upon or damaging plant parts: Phytoptus avellanae s.l. Nalepa (Eriophyoidea: Phytoptidae), Curculio obtusus Blanchard and Strophosoma melanogrammum Förster (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera: Scarabeidae), Parthenolecanium sp. (Hemiptera: Coccidae), Euschistus servus euschistoides Say (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae), Acleris sp., and Choristoneura rosaceana Harris (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). We also registered eight species of parasites or parasitoids that could offer biocontrol services in the cropping system. These findings provide a foundation for future targeted studies on potential pests and beneficial arthropods, as well as ecological interactions within the hybrid hazelnut ecosystem in the Midwest.
Infectivity of Entomopathogenic Fungal Isolates Against Tarnished Plant Bug Lygus lineolaris (Hemiptera: Miridae)
Authors: Maniania Nguya K , Portilla Maribel M , Amnulla Fayaz M , Mfuti David K , Darie Andrei , Dhiman Geetika , Rao Ishtiaq M
Published: July 2022

Twelve isolates of entomopathogenic fungi belonging to Metarhizium robertsii, M. pinghaense, M. brunneum, Beauveria bassiana, and Isaria fumosorosea were screened against tarnished plant bug. All isolates were pathogenic, causing mortality from 28.8 ± 3.4 to 96.3 ± 2.7%. The LT50 values ranged from 2.7 to 6.0 d while the LT90 values varied between 6.6 and 15.0 d. Metarhizium robertsii isolate CPD6 (will be under the trade name NoVil) was among the isolates that caused high mortality within shorter times and was selected for study on developmental stages and greenhouse trial. The third-, fourth-, and fifth-instar nymphs, and adults were inoculated with 106, 107, and 108 conidia per ml of NoVil. All the stages were susceptible to fungal infection. However, third and fourth instars were the most susceptible with no significant differences in mortality across the three concentrations. On the other hand, mortality was dose-dependent with fifth-instar nymph and adult stages. The LT50 and LT90 values were also dose-dependent, with higher concentrations having shorter lethal-time values as compared to the lower concentrations. In the greenhouse, pepper plants were sprayed with NoVil and chemical insecticide Flonicamid (as industrial standard), before releasing adult tarnished plant bug. Mortality of 37.3, 75.5, and 76.3% was recorded in the control, NoVil, and Flonicamid, respectively. This study has identified NoVil as a potential mycoinsecticide candidate for the control of tarnished plant bug under greenhouse conditions. Further field testing on juvenile and adults is needed to evaluate the potential for in-field control.
Detection limit of electron spin resonance for Japanese deciduous tooth enamel and density separation method for enamel–dentine separation
Authors: Oka Toshitaka , Takahashi Atsushi , Koarai Kazuma , Kino Yasushi , Sekine Tsutomu , Shimizu Yoshinaka , Chiba Mirei , Suzuki Toshihiko , Osaka Ken , Sasaki Keiichi , Shinoda Hisashi
Published: July 2022

Electron spin resonance (ESR) dosimetry is one of the most powerful tools for radiation dose reconstruction. The detection limit of this technique using human teeth is reported to be 56 mGy or 67 mGy; however, the absorbed dose of Fukushima residents after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP) accident was estimated to be lower than this detection limit. Our aim is to assess the absorbed radiation dose of children in Fukushima Prefecture after the accident; therefore, it is important to estimate the detection limit for their teeth. The detection limit for enamel of deciduous teeth of Japanese children separated by the mechanical method is estimated to be 115.0 mGy. The density separation method can effectively separate enamel from third molars of Japanese people. As we have collected thousands of teeth from children in Fukushima, the present technique may be useful to examine their external absorbed dose after the FNPP accident.
Usefulness of pro-gastrin-releasing peptide as a predictor of the incidence of brain metastasis and effect of prophylactic cranial irradiation in patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer
Authors: Ueki Kazuhito , Matsuo Yukinori , Kishi Noriko , Yoneyama Masahiro , Yoshida Hironori , Sakamori Yuichi , Ozasa Hiroaki , Hirai Toyohiro , Mizowaki Takashi
Published: July 2022

Prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) is recommended for patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) who respond well to initial treatment. However, PCI is often omitted because of its potential neurotoxicity in the era of modern diagnostic imaging devices. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the risk factors for brain metastasis (BM) in patients eligible for PCI and who may benefit more from it. Patients with LS-SCLC who responded well to definitive thoracic chemoradiotherapy were included in the present study. Competing risk regression was used to identify factors associated with BM, and the Kaplan–Meier method was used to assess overall survival (OS). Between 2004 and 2017, 62 patients were eligible for PCI and were analyzed. Of these, 38 (61.3%) underwent PCI. Overall, 17 patients (27.4%) developed BM, with a 2-year cumulative incidence of 22.8%. Multivariate analysis (MVA) revealed that pretreatment elevated pro-gastrin-releasing peptide (ProGRP) levels were associated with an increased risk for BM (HR, 7.96, P = 0.0091). PCI tended to reduce the risk of BM (HR, 0.33; P = 0.051). The use of PCI was associated with improved OS in patients with ProGRP levels > 410 pg/mL (P = 0.008), but not in those with ProGRP ≤ 410 pg/mL (P = 0.9). Pretreatment ProGRP levels may be useful in predicting the development of BM in patients with LS-SCLC who achieved a good response to initial therapy and to determine which patients should undergo PCI.
Comparing the toxicity and disease control rate of radiotherapy for prostate cancer between salvage settings after high-intensity focused ultrasound therapy and initial settings
Authors: Kuroki Toshihisa , Shoji Sunao , Uchida Toyoaki , Akiba Takeshi , Kabuki Shigeto , Nagao Ryuta , Fukuzawa Tsuyoshi , Matsumoto Yoshitsugu , Katsumata Tomomi , Futakami Natsumi , Mikami Tatsuya , Nakano Yoji , Toyoda Yuri , Takazawa Tsuyoshi , Kunieda Etsuo , Sugawara Akitomo
Published: July 2022

The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare the toxicity and disease control rate of radiotherapy for prostate cancer in salvage settings after high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy (HIFU cohort) with those in radical settings (non-HIFU cohort). From 2012 to 2020, 215 patients were identified for this study and 17 were treated in the salvage settings after HIFU. The median follow-up time was 34.5 months (range: 7–102 months, inter-quartile range [IQR]: 16–64 months). Genitourinary (GU) and gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events were evaluated in acute and late periods with Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5, and the rates of biochemical-clinical failure free survival (BCFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated. The cumulative incidence of late GU Grade 2 or greater toxicity after five years was significantly different between the non-HIFU and HIFU cohorts with rates of 7.3% and 26.2%, respectively (P = 0.03). Regarding GI Grade 2 or greater toxicity, there was no significant difference between the two cohorts. The 5y-BCFS was 84.2% in the non-HIFU cohort and 69.5% in the HIFU cohort with no significant difference (P = 0.10) and the 5y-OS was 95.9% and 92.3%, respectively (P = 0.47). We concluded that the possibility of increased late GU Grade 2 or greater should be considered when applying salvage radiotherapy for local recurrence after HIFU.