bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Right Heart Remodeling After Pulmonary Valve Replacement in Patients with Pulmonary Atresia or Critical Stenosis with Intact Ventricular Septum
Authors: Irwin Margaret , Reynolds Lindsey , Binney Geoffrey , Lipsitz Stuart , Ghelani Sunil J , Harrild David M , Baird Christopher W , Geva Tal , Brown David W.
Published: May 2023

Background

Patients with pulmonary atresia or critical pulmonary stenosis with intact ventricular septum (PA/IVS) and biventricular circulation may require pulmonary valve replacement (PVR). Right ventricular (RV) remodeling after PVR is well-described in tetralogy of Fallot (TOF); we sought to investigate RV changes in PA/IVS using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR).

Methods

A retrospective cohort of PA/IVS patients who underwent PVR at Boston Children’s Hospital from 1995-2021 with CMR before and after PVR was matched 1:3 with TOF patients by age at PVR. Median regression modeling was performed with post-PVR indexed RV end-diastolic volume (RVEDVi) as the primary outcome.

Results

20 PA/IVS patients (cases) were matched with 60 TOF (controls), with median age at PVR 14 years. Pre-PVR RVEDVi was similar between groups; cases had higher RV ejection fraction (EF; 51.4 vs 48.6%, p=0.03). Pre-PVR RV free wall and LV longitudinal strain (LS) were similar, although LV mid-cavity circumferential strain (CS) was decreased in cases (−15.6 vs -17.1, p=0.001). At median 2 years after PVR, RVEDVi was similarly reduced; cases continued to have higher RV EF (52.3% vs 46.9%, p=0.007) with less reduction in RV mass (Δ4.5 vs 9.6 g/m2, p=0.004). Post PVR, RV and LV LS remained unchanged and LV CS was similar, though lower in cases.

Conclusion

Compared with TOF patients, PA/IVS patients demonstrate similar RV remodeling after PVR, with lesser reduction in RV mass and comparatively higher RVEF. While no differences were detected in peak systolic RV or LV strain values, further investigation of diastolic parameters is needed.

Clinical Perspective

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This paper provides new insights on the remodeling of the right heart in patients pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum or critical pulmonary stenosis, namely that compared with tetralogy of Fallot patients, these patients demonstrate overall similar right ventricular remodeling following pulmonary valve replacement.

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CMR strain imaging found no significant pre-post pulmonary valve replacement differences in right ventricular or left ventricular systolic parameters
Deep Learning for Automated Detection of Generalized Paroxysmal Fast Activity in Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome
Authors: Nurse Ewan S , Dalic Linda J , Clarke Shannon , Cook Mark J , Archer John
Published: May 2023

Objectives Generalized paroxysmal fast activity (GPFA) is a key EEG feature of Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS). Automated analysis of scalp EEG has been successful in detecting focal epileptiform abnormalities and generalized spike-wave discharges. Automatic detection of GPFA has been more challenging, due to its variability from patient to patient and similarity to normal brain rhythms such as sleep spindles. In this work, a deep learning convolutional neural network model is investigated for detection of GPFA events and estimating its overall burden from scalp EEG. Methods Data from 10 patients recorded during 4 ambulatory EEG monitoring sessions are used to generate and validate the model. All patients had confirmed LGS and were recruited into a trial for thalamic deep-brain stimulation therapy (ESTEL Trial). Results The correlation coefficient between manual and model estimates of event counts was r2=0.87 and for total burden (percentage of recording that is GPFA) was r2=0.91. Average GPFA detection sensitivity was 0.876, with an average false positive rate of 3.35 per minute. There was no significant difference found in the outcome measures between patients with early or delayed DBS treatment, an active VNS, indicating neuromodulation did not significantlly affect these results. Significance Overall, the deep learning model was able to accurately detect GPFA and provided accurate estimates of overall GPFA burden and electrographic event counts.
Spatiotemporal kinetics of CAF-1-dependent chromatin maturation ensures transcription fidelity during S-phase
Authors: Chen Boning , MacAlpine Heather K. , Hartemink Alexander J. , MacAlpine David M.
Published: May 2023

Proper maintenance of epigenetic information after replication is dependent on the rapid assembly and maturation of chromatin. Chromatin Assembly Complex 1 (CAF-1) is a conserved histone chaperone that deposits (H3-H4)2tetramers as part of the replication-dependent chromatin assembly process. Loss of CAF-1 leads to a delay in chromatin maturation, albeit with minimal impact on steady-state chromatin structure. However, the mechanisms by which CAF-1 mediates the deposition of (H3-H4)2tetramers and the phenotypic consequences of CAF-1-associated assembly defects are not well understood. We used nascent chromatin occupancy profiling to track the spatiotemporal kinetics of chromatin maturation in both wild-type (WT) and CAF-1 mutant yeast cells. Our results show that loss of CAF-1 leads to a heterogeneous rate of nucleosome assembly, with some nucleosomes maturing at near WT kinetics and others exhibiting significantly slower maturation kinetics. The slow-to-mature nucleosomes are enriched in intergenic and poorly transcribed regions, suggesting that transcription-dependent assembly mechanisms can reset the slow-to-mature nucleosomes following replication. Nucleosomes with slow maturation kinetics are also associated with poly(dA:dT) sequences, which implies that CAF-1 deposits histones in a manner that counteracts resistance from the inflexible DNA sequence, promoting the formation of histone octamers as well as ordered nucleosome arrays. In addition, we demonstrate that the delay in chromatin maturation is accompanied by a transient and S-phase specific loss of gene silencing and transcriptional regulation, revealing that the DNA replication program can directly shape the chromatin landscape and modulate gene expression through the process of chromatin maturation.
Inhibitory G proteins play multiple roles to polarize sensory hair cell morphogenesis
Authors: Jarysta Amandine , Tadenev Abigail L.D. , Day Matthew , Krawchuk Barry , Low Benjamin E. , Wiles Michael V. , Tarchini Basile
Published: May 2023

Inhibitory G alpha (GNAI or Gαi) proteins are critical for the polarized morphogenesis of sensory hair cells and for hearing. The extent and nature of their actual contributions remains unclear, however, as previous studies did not investigate all GNAI proteins and included non-physiological approaches. Pertussis toxin can downregulate functionally redundant GNAI1, GNAI2, GNAI3 and GNAO proteins, but may also induce unrelated defects. Here we directly and systematically determine the role(s) of each individual GNAI protein in mouse auditory hair cells. GNAI2 and GNAI3 are similarly polarized at the hair cell apex with their binding partner GPSM2, whereas GNAI1 and GNAO are not detected. InGnai3mutants, GNAI2 progressively fails to fully occupy the subcellular compartments where GNAI3 is missing. In contrast, GNAI3 can fully compensate for the loss of GNAI2 and is essential for hair bundle morphogenesis and auditory function. Simultaneous inactivation ofGnai2andGnai3recapitulates for the first time two distinct types of defects only observed so far with pertussis toxin: 1) a delay or failure of the basal body to migrate off-center in prospective hair cells, and 2) a reversal in the orientation of some hair cell types. We conclude that GNAI proteins are critical for hair cells to break planar symmetry and to orient properly before GNAI2/3 regulate hair bundle morphogenesis with GPSM2.
Genetically Identical Mice Express Alternative Reproductive Tactics Depending on Social Conditions in the Field
Authors: Zipple Matthew N. , Vogt Caleb C. , Sheehan Michael J
Published: May 2023

In many species, establishing and maintaining a territory is critical to survival and reproduction, and an animal’s ability to do so is strongly influenced by the presence and density of competitors. Here we manipulate social conditions to study the alternative reproductive tactics displayed by genetically identical, age-matched laboratory mice competing for territories under ecologically realistic social environmental conditions. We introduced adult males and females of the laboratory mouse strain (C57BL/6J) into a large, outdoor field enclosure containing defendable resource zones under one of two social conditions. We first created a low-density social environment, such that the number of available territories exceeded the number of males. After males established stable territories, we introduced a pulse of intruder males and observed the resulting defensive and invasive tactics employed. In response to this change in social environment, males with large territories invested more in patrolling but were less effective at excluding intruder males as compared to males with small territories. Intruding males failed to establish territories and displayed an alternative tactic featuring greater exploration as compared to genetically identical territorial males. Alternative tactics did not lead to equal reproductive success—males that acquired territories experienced greater survival and had greater access to females.
Bayesian target optimisation for high-precision holographic optogenetics
Authors: Triplett Marcus A. , Gajowa Marta , Adesnik Hillel , Paninski Liam
Published: May 2023

Two-photon optogenetics has transformed our ability to probe the structure and function of neural circuits. However, achieving precise optogenetic control of neural ensemble activity has remained fundamentally constrained by the problem of off-target stimulation (OTS): the inadvertent activation of nearby non-target neurons due to imperfect confinement of light onto target neurons. Here we propose a novel computational approach to this problem called Bayesian target optimisation. Our approach uses nonparametric Bayesian inference to model neural responses to optogenetic stimulation, and then optimises the laser powers and optical target locations needed to achieve a desired activity pattern with minimal OTS. We validate our approach in simulations and using data fromin vitroexperiments, showing that Bayesian target optimisation considerably reduces OTS across all conditions we test. Together, these results establish our ability to overcome OTS, enabling optogenetic stimulation with substantially improved precision.
Implications of variable synaptic weights for rate and temporal coding of cerebellar outputs
Authors: Wu Shuting , Wardak Asem , Khan Mehak M. , Chen Christopher H. , Regehr Wade G.
Published: May 2023

Purkinje cell (PC) synapses onto cerebellar nuclei (CbN) neurons convey signals from the cerebellar cortex to the rest of the brain. PCs are inhibitory neurons that spontaneously fire at high rates, and many uniform sized PC inputs are thought to converge onto each CbN neuron to suppress or eliminate firing. Leading theories maintain that PCs encode information using either a rate code, or by synchrony and precise timing. Individual PCs are thought to have limited influence on CbN neuron firing. Here, we find that single PC to CbN synapses are highly variable in size, and using dynamic clamp and modelling we reveal that this has important implications for PC-CbN transmission. Individual PC inputs regulate both the rate and timing of CbN firing. Large PC inputs strongly influence CbN firing rates and transiently eliminate CbN firing for several milliseconds. Remarkably, the refractory period of PCs leads to a brief elevation of CbN firing prior to suppression. Thus, PC-CbN synapses are suited to concurrently convey rate codes, and generate precisely-timed responses in CbN neurons. Variable input sizes also elevate the baseline firing rates of CbN neurons by increasing the variability of the inhibitory conductance. Although this reduces the relative influence of PC synchrony on the firing rate of CbN neurons, synchrony can still have important consequences, because synchronizing even two large inputs can significantly increase CbN neuron firing. These findings may be generalized to other brain regions with highly variable sized synapses.
The temporal and genomic scale of selection following hybridization
Authors: Groh Jeffrey , Coop Graham
Published: May 2023

1

Genomic evidence supports an important role for selection in shaping patterns of introgression along the genome, but frameworks for understanding the dynamics underlying these patterns within hybrid populations have been lacking. Here, we develop methods based on the Wavelet Transform to understand the spatial genomic scale of local ancestry variation and its association with recombination rates. We present theory and use simulations to show how wavelet-based decompositions of ancestry variance along the genome and the correlation between ancestry and recombination reflect the joint effects of recombination, genetic drift, and genome-wide selection against introgressed alleles. Due to the clock-like effect of recombination in hybrids breaking up parental haplotypes, drift and selection produce predictable patterns of local ancestry variation at varying spatial genomic scales through time. Using wavelet approaches to identify the genomic scale of variance in ancestry and its correlates, we show that these methods can detect temporally localized effects of drift and selection. We apply these methods to previously published datasets from hybrid populations of swordtail fish (Xiphophorus) and baboons (Papio), and to inferred Neanderthal introgression in modern humans. Across systems, we find that upwards of 20% of the variation in local ancestry at the broadest genomic scales can be attributed to systematic selection against introgressed alleles, consistent with strong selection acting on early-generation hybrids. We also see signals of selection at fine genomic scales and much longer time scales. However, we show that our ability to confidently infer selection at fine scales is likely limited by inherent biases in current methods for estimating local ancestry from genomic similarity. Wavelet approaches will become widely applicable as genomic data from systems with introgression become increasingly available, and can help shed light on generalities of the genomic consequences of interspecific hybridization.
Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of cell culture study of mercury complex derived from benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid
Authors: Shah Javed Hussain , Sharif Shahzad , Rehman Rashid , Arooj Anum
Published: May 2023

Mercury complexes have diverse effects on the human body and cells that depend upon the biochemical form of mercury-complexes and the nature of exposure. In the present work, we have investigated the impacts of mercury-complex derived from benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid on cell culture and DNA damage. This is novel mercury-complex having cell culture study. The mercury complex has been synthesized and characterized by CHNS analyzer, FTIR, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and DNA damage. Surface morphology of prepared mercury-complex was studied by microscopy imaging/Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The main goal of this contribution is to address the damaging effects of mercury-complex in cell cultures through fluorescence imaging and identifying cell Live/Death quantitative results. These live/death color intensities are red or green in presence to the mercury-complex. For this purpose, we measured the concentration dependence of mercury-complex on the rate of death in cells which may be useful for the cell culture and DNA study. The mercury-complex derived from benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid has the ability to break the polynucleotide structure of DNA to mono nucleotides resulting irreparable DNA damage. The experimental results of fluorescence microscopy and live/dead cell assay on cell viability reflected the potent cellular toxicity of mercury-complex causes cell culture study. Generally, the damaging effects of mercury-complex may be used for medical treatment of different diseases specially cancer.
Development of a genetically encoded sensor for probing endogenous nociceptin opioid peptide release
Authors: Zhou Xuehan , Stine Carrie , Prada Patricia Oliveira , Fusca Debora , Assoumou Kevin , Dernic Jan , Bhat Musadiq A. , Achanta Ananya S. , Johnson Joseph C. , Pasqualini Amanda Loren , Jadhav Sanjana , Bauder Corinna A. , Steuernagel Lukas , Ravotto Luca , Benke Dietmar , Weber Bruno , Suko Azra , Palmiter Richard D. , Stoeber Miriam , Kloppenburg Peter , Brüning Jens C. , Bruchas Michael R. , Patriarchi Tommaso
Published: May 2023

Nociceptin/orphanin-FQ (N/OFQ) is a recently appreciated critical opioid peptide with key regulatory functions in several central behavioral processes including motivation, stress, feeding, and sleep. The functional relevance of N/OFQ action in the mammalian brain remains unclear due to a lack of high-resolution approaches to detect this neuropeptide with appropriate spatial and temporal resolution. Here we develop and characterize NOPLight, a genetically encoded sensor that sensitively reports changes in endogenous N/OFQ release. We characterized the affinity, pharmacological profile, spectral properties, kinetics, ligand selectivity, and potential interaction with intracellular signal transducers of NOPLightin vitro. Its functionality was established in acute brain slices by exogeneous N/OFQ application and chemogenetic induction of endogenous N/OFQ release from PNOC neurons.In vivostudies with fibre photometry enabled direct recording of NOPLight binding to exogenous N/OFQ receptor ligands, as well as detection of endogenous N/OFQ release within the paranigral ventral tegmental area (pnVTA) during natural behaviors and chemogenetic activation of PNOC neurons. In summary, we show here that NOPLight can be used to detect N/OFQ opioid peptide signal dynamics in tissue and freely behaving animals.
Targeted memory reactivation during non-rapid eye movement sleep enhances neutral, but not negative, components of memory
Authors: Denis Dan , Payne Jessica D.
Published: May 2023

Emotionally salient components of memory are preferentially remembered at the expense of accompanying neutral information. This emotional memory trade-off is enhanced over time, and possibly sleep, though a process of memory consolidation. Sleep is believed to benefit memory through a process of reactivation during non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREM). Here, targeted memory reactivation (TMR) was used to manipulate the reactivation of negative and neutral memories during NREM sleep. Thirty-one male and female participants encoded scenes containing either a negative or neutral object superimposed on an always neutral background. During NREM sleep, sounds associated with these scenes were replayed, and memory for scene components was tested the following morning. We found that TMR during NREM sleep improved memory for neutral, but not negative scene objects. This effect was associated with sleep spindle activity, with a larger spindle response following TMR cues predicting TMR effectiveness for neutral items only. These findings therefore do not suggest a role of NREM memory reactivation in enhancing the emotional memory trade-off across a 12-hour period but do align with growing evidence of spindle-mediated memory reactivation in service of neutral declarative memory.

Significance statement

Memory reactivation during sleep is believed to be a key mechanism facilitating consolidation, the strengthening and stabilisation of memories over time. Emotional memories appear to be preferentially consolidated compared to neutral information, but the role sleep-related memory reactivation in this process is still unclear. Here, we found that experimentally reactivating memories during sleep in humans did not preferentially enhance emotional memory components but did improve neutral memory when tested after one night of sleep. These findings speak against a role of memory reactivation in the early stages of memory consolidation.
OPERANT REFLEX CONDITIONING SIMULATION ENVIRONMENT REVEALS EFFECTS OF FEEDBACK PARAMETERS
Authors: Kim Kyoungsoon , Oblak Ethan , Manella Kathleen , Sulzer James
Published: May 2023

Operant conditioning of neural activation has been researched for decades in humans and animals. Many theories suggest two parallel learning processes, implicit and explicit. The degree to which feedback affects these processes individually remains to be fully understood and may contribute to a large percentage of non-learners. Our goal is to determine the explicit decision-making processes in response to feedback representing an operant conditioning environment. We developed a simulated operant conditioning environment based on a feedback model of spinal reflex excitability, one of the simplest forms of neural operant conditioning. We isolated the perception of the feedback signal from self-regulation of an explicit unskilled visuomotor task, enabling us to quantitatively examine feedback strategy. Our hypothesis was that feedback type, signal quality and success threshold affect operant conditioning performance and operant strategy. Healthy individuals (N = 41) were instructed to play a web application game using keyboard inputs to rotate a virtual knob representative of an operant strategy. The goal was to align the knob with a hidden target. Participants were asked to “down-condition” the amplitude of the virtual feedback signal, which was achieved by placing the knob as close as possible to the hidden target. We varied feedback type (knowledge of performance, knowledge of results), success threshold (easy, moderate, difficult), and biological variability (low, high) in a factorial design. Parameters were extracted from real operant conditioning data. Our main outcomes were the feedback signal amplitude (performance) and the mean change in dial position (operant strategy). We observed that performance was modulated by variability, while operant strategy was modulated by feedback type. These results show complex relations between fundamental feedback parameters and provide the principles for optimizing neural operant conditioning for non-responders.
Parietex™ Composite Ventral Patch for primary and incisional hernia repair
Authors: Barranquero Alberto G. , Villalobos Mori Rafael , Maestre González Yolanda , Protti Gian Pier , López Soler Guillermo , Villarreal León Fernando , González Alfaro Irvin Jair , Olsina Kissler Jorge Juan
Published: May 2023

Backgrounds

Ventral hernia repair with a preformed device is a frequent intervention, but few reports exist with Parietex™ Composite Ventral Patch. The aim was to evaluate the results of this mesh with the open intraperitoneal onlay mesh (open IPOM) technique.

Methods

Observational retrospective single institution study of all consecutive patients intervened for ventral or incisional hernia with a diameter inferior to 4 cm, from January 2013 to June 2020. The surgical repair was performed according to the open IPOM technique with Parietex™ Composite Ventral Patch.

Results

A total of 146 patients were intervened: 61.6% with umbilical hernias, 8.2% with epigastric hernias, 26.7% with trocar incisional hernias, and 3.4% with other incisional hernias.

The global recurrence rate was 7.5% (11/146). Specifically, it was 7.8% in umbilical hernias, 0% in epigastric hernias, 7.7% in trocar incisional hernias and 20% (1/5) in other incisional hernias. The median time for recurrence was 14 months (IQR: 4.4–18.7). The median indirect follow‐up was 36.9 months (IQR: 27.2–49.6), and the median presential follow‐up was 17.4 months (IQR: 6.5–27.3).

Conclusion

The open IPOM technique with a preformed patch offered satisfactory results for the treatment of ventral and incisional hernias.
Conspiracy believers claim to be free thinkers but (Under)Use advice like everyone else
Authors: Altay Sacha , Nera Kenzo , Ejaz Waqas , Schöpfer Céline , Tomas Frédéric
Published: May 2023

Conspiracy believers often claim to be critical thinkers their ‘own research’ instead of relying on others' testimony. In two preregistered behavioural studies conducted in the United Kingdom and Pakistan (Nparticipants = 864, Ntrials = 5408), we test whether conspiracy believers have a general tendency to discount social information (in favour of their own opinions and intuitions). We found that conspiracy mentality is not associated with social information use in text‐based (Study 1) and image‐based (Study 2) advice‐taking tasks. Yet, we found discrepancies between self‐reported and actual social information use. Conspiracy believers were more likely to report relying less on social information than actually relying less on social information in the behavioural tasks. Our results suggest that the scepticism of conspiracy believers towards epistemic authorities is unlikely to be the manifestation of a general tendency to discount social information. Conspiracy believers may be more permeable to social influence than they sometimes claim.
Effects of acaricides on the activities of monooxygenases in bovine liver microsomes
Authors: Larsen Karen , Ichinose Paula , Fernández‐San Juan Rocío , Lifschitz Adrián , Virkel Guillermo
Published: May 2023

Organophosphates (OPs), pyrethrins and fipronil, are acaricides commonly used in cattle, mainly as pour on formulations. Scant information is available on their potential interactions with hepatic xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes. This work aimed to evaluate in vitro the potential inhibitory effects of widely employed acaricides on catalytic activities mediated by hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) and flavin‐monooxygenase (FMO) enzymes in cattle. Bovine (n = 4) liver microsomes were incubated in the absence (control assays) and in presence of different OPs (fenthion, chlorpyrifos, ethion, diazinon and dichlorvos), fipronil and cypermethrin at 0.1–100 μm. Five oxidative enzyme activities were assayed by spectrofluorimetric or HPLC methods: 7‐ethoxyresorufin O‐deethylase (for CYP1A1), methoxyresorufin O‐demethylase (for CYP1A2), benzyloxyresorufin O‐debenzylase (for CYP2B), testosterone 6‐beta hydroxylase (for CYP3A) and benzydamine N‐oxidase (for FMO). All acaricides, particularly phosphorothionate‐containing OPs, inhibited to some extent more than one enzyme activity. The most frequent inhibitor was fenthion, which inhibited (p < .05) all enzyme activities tested (from 22% at 1 μm to 72% at 100 μm). However, low inhibitory potencies (IC50s higher than 7 μm) of all acaricides studied were observed against the catalytic activities assayed. Therefore, the risk of in vivo metabolic interactions due to inhibition of monooxygenases would be low under common husbandry conditions.
Coronavirus Classification based on Enhanced X-ray Images and Deep Learning
Authors: Najjar Fallah H. , Waheed Safa Riyadh , Mahdi Duha Amer
Published: May 2023

In light of the fact that the global pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still having a significant impact on the health of people all over the world, there is a growing need for testing diagnosis and treatment that can be completed quickly. The primary imaging modalities used in the respiratory disease diagnostic process are the Chest X-ray (CXR) and the computed tomography scan. In this context, this paper aims to design a new Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to diagnose COVID-19 in patients based on CXR images and determine whether they are COVID or healthy. We have tested the performance of our CNN on the COVID-19 Radiography Database with three classes (COVID, Pneumonia, and Normal). Also, we proposed a new enhancement technique to enhance the CXR image using the Laplacian kernel with Delta Function and Contrast-Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization. The proposed CNN has been trained and tested on 15153 enhanced and original images, COVID (3616), Pneumonia (1345), and Normal (10192). Our enhancement technique increased the performance metrics scores of the proposed CNN. Hence, the proposed method obtained better results than the state-of-the-art methods in accuracy, sensitivity, precision, specificity, and F measure.
Optical System to Recognize Car Plate Ownership
Authors: Hashem Noor M , Abbas Heba Kh , Mohamad Haidar J.
Published: May 2023

The process development of the image processing can solve the problem of detection and recognition of the license plate by taking pictures of the cars and then recognizing them. Most traffic applications rely on automatic vehicle plate detection in parking lots, border control, speed control, etc. In this study, a smart visual system was presented to identify car plates in the College of Science for Girls - University of Baghdad parking lot. The work included distinguishing the car plate and identifying cars, whether they belonged to the college or not. This process was based on the Cascade Classifier method based on the Viola-Jones algorithm, and a database for all car plate features was stored in a file using the proposed method. The recognized car was compared with the characteristics of the database using Oriented FAST and Rotated BRIEF then features were extracted using Histograms of Oriented Gradients. The license plate is recognized when matching features are employed using the matching feature’s function. The results of congruence and discrimination were excellent and very highly efficient. The luminous intensity dependence is considered, as the work is based on the red band of the car's image.
Modulation of the LaFeO3 film growth by the terrace width of SrTiO3 substrates
Authors: Lin Zeguo , Xu Xiaofeng , Liu Xiaoran , Guo Jiandong , Yang Fang
Published: May 2023

We have investigated the growth of polar LaFeO3 thin films on SrTiO3 (001) substrates with various terrace widths by pulsed laser deposition. It is found that the growth of LaFeO3 films undergoes a transition from a two-dimensional (2D) mode to a three-dimensional (3D) mode due to polarity compensation. Notably, however, the critical thickness of the growth mode transition from 2D to 3D can be modulated by the terrace width of the substrate, i.e., when the film is 30 monolayers thick, it becomes 3D growth on the substrates with narrow terrace width (∼100 nm) while it maintains 2D growth on those with wide terrace width (∼400 nm). Combined with dynamic and kinetic models, we have found that the modulation of the critical thickness from 2D to 3D is rationalized as a result of competition between the dynamic process and the kinetic process. These findings highlight the key influence of substrate surface morphology on the epitaxial growth of complex oxide films, shedding light on the construction of multifunctional artificial low-dimensional structures with polar stackings.
Functional binding of PD1 ligands predicts response to anti-PD1 treatment in patients with cancer
Authors: Kaufman Bar , Abramov Orli , Ievko Anna , Apple Daria , Shlapobersky Mark , Allon Irit , Greenshpan Yariv , Bhattachrya Baisali , Cohen Ofir , Charkovsky Tatiana , Gayster Alexandra , Shaco-Levy Ruthy , Rouvinov Keren , Livoff Alejandro , Elkabets Moshe , Porgador Angel
Published: May 2023

Accurate predictive biomarkers of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are required for better stratifying patients with cancer to ICI treatments. Here, we present a new concept for a bioassay to predict the response to anti-PD1 therapies, which is based on measuring the binding functionality of PDL1 and PDL2 to their receptor, PD1. In detail, we developed a cell-based reporting system, called the immuno-checkpoint artificial reporter with overexpression of PD1 (IcAR-PD1) and evaluated the functionality of PDL1 and PDL2 binding in tumor cell lines, patient-derived xenografts, and fixed-tissue tumor samples obtained from patients with cancer. In a retrospective clinical study, we found that the functionality of PDL1 and PDL2 predicts response to anti-PD1 and that the functionality of PDL1 binding is a more effective predictor than PDL1 protein expression alone. Our findings suggest that assessing the functionality of ligand binding is superior to staining of protein expression for predicting response to ICIs.
“You may think that the consultants are great, and they know everything, but they don’t”: exploring how new emergency medicine consultants experience uncertainty
Authors: Collini Anna , Alstead Elspeth , Knight Alec , Page Michael
Published: May 2023

Background

Uncertainty is particularly obvious in emergency medicine (EM) due to the characteristics of the patient cohort, time constraints, and busy environment. Periods of transition are thought to add to uncertainty. Managing uncertainty is recognised as a key ability for medical practice, but is often not addressed explicitly. This study explored how new consultants in EM experience uncertainty, with the aim of making explicit what is often hidden and potentially informing support for doctors to manage the uncertainty they face.

Methods

This was a qualitative study using interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA). Five consultants working in the UK within one year of achieving a certificate of completion of training were interviewed online during 2021, these were transcribed and analysed using IPA.

Results

Three superordinate themes were identified: ‘transition and performance as a source of uncertainty’, ‘uncertainty and decision-making in the context of the emergency department’ and ‘sharing uncertainty and asking for help’. The transition created uncertainty related to their professional identity that was compounded by a lack of useful feedback. There was tension between perceived expectations of certainty and the recognition of uncertainty in practice. EM doctors were seen as experts in managing uncertainty, with responses to uncertainty including gathering information, sharing uncertainty and seeking help. Expressing uncertainty was viewed as necessary for good patient care but could be risky to credibility, with psychological safety and role modelling behaviour making it easier for the participants to express uncertainty.

Conclusion

This study highlights the need for new consultants to have psychologically safe, reflective spaces to think through uncertainties with others. This appears to reduce uncertainty, and also act as a source of feedback. The study adds to the existing calls to address uncertainty more explicitly in training, and challenge the expectations of certainty that exist within medicine.
Role of hospital strain in determining outcomes for people hospitalised with COVID-19 in England
Authors: Gray William K , Navaratnam Annakan V , Day Jamie , Heyl Johannes , Hardy Flavien , Wheeler Andrew , Eve-Jones Sue , Briggs Tim W R
Published: May 2023

Background

In England, reported COVID-19 mortality rates increased during winter 2020/21 relative to earlier summer and autumn months. This study aimed to examine the association between COVID-19-related hospital bed-strain during this time and patient outcomes.

Methods

This was a retrospective observational study using Hospital Episode Statistics data for England. All unique patients aged ≥18 years in England with a diagnosis of COVID-19 who had a completed (discharged alive or died in hospital) hospital stay with an admission date between 1 July 2020 and 28 February 2021 were included. Bed-strain was calculated as the number of beds occupied by patients with COVID-19 divided by the maximum COVID-19 bed occupancy during the study period. Bed-strain was categorised into quartiles for modelling. In-hospital mortality was the primary outcome of interest and length of stay a secondary outcome.

Results

There were 253 768 unique hospitalised patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19 during a hospital stay. Patient admissions peaked in January 2021 (n=89 047), although the crude mortality rate peaked slightly earlier in December 2020 (26.4%). After adjustment for covariates, the mortality rate in the lowest and highest quartile of bed-strain was 23.6% and 25.3%, respectively (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.17). For the lowest and the highest quartile of bed-strain, adjusted mean length of stay was 13.2 days and 11.6 days, respectively in survivors and was 16.5 days and 12.6 days, respectively in patients who died in hospital.

Conclusions

High levels of bed-strain were associated with higher in-hospital mortality rates, although the effect was relatively modest and may not fully explain increased mortality rates during winter 2020/21 compared with earlier months. Shorter hospital stay during periods of greater strain may partly reflect changes in patient management over time.
Effects of brood viability and rising temperature on oxygen consumption of freshwater mussel glochidia (Bivalvia: Unionidae)
Authors: Fluharty Ryan S. , Abdelrahman Hisham A. , Stoeckel James A.
Published: May 2023

Unionid mussels are imperiled worldwide. Understanding the impacts of thermal and hypoxia stress on larval (glochidia) and adult physiology is critical for understanding the potential impacts of climate change. We tested whether brood viability (proportion of glochidia competent to attach to a host) was correlated with oxygen demand (MO2), ability to regulate oxygen consumption (regulation index (RI)), and/or critical dissolved oxygen concentration (DOcrit). We then examined the effects of temperature on MO2, RI, and DOcrit. The results were coupled with a previous study to estimate the fraction of brooding female oxygen demand comprised of glochidial respiration. We found little evidence that respiratory patterns of glochidia changed with declining brood viability, but strong evidence for decreasing glochidial RI and increasing DOcrit with increasing temperatures. Glochidial respiration temperature coefficient ( Q10) values were approximately 2–3× those estimated for brooding females, indicating greater temperature sensitivity. The proportion of gravid female respiration comprised of glochidial respiration reached its maximum at temperatures (23–28 °C) coinciding with brood expulsion. These patterns suggest high temperatures may have deleterious effects on unionids by decreasing the hypoxia tolerance of glochidia, increasing the rate at which glochidia deplete energy reserves, and increasing the proportion of oxygen consumption by gravid females that is comprised of glochidial oxygen demand.
Kronecker coefficients from algebras of bi-partite ribbon graphs
Authors: Geloun Joseph Ben , Ramgoolam Sanjaye
Published: May 2023

Bi-partite ribbon graphs arise in organizing the large N expansion of correlators in random matrix models and in the enumeration of observables in random tensor models. There is an algebra $$\mathcal {K}(n)$$

K
(
n
)

, with basis given by bi-partite ribbon graphs with n edges, which is useful in the applications to matrix and tensor models. The algebra $$\mathcal {K}(n)$$

K
(
n
)

is closely related to symmetric group algebras and has a matrix-block decomposition related to Clebsch–Gordan multiplicities, also known as Kronecker coefficients, for symmetric group representations. Quantum mechanical models which use $$\mathcal {K}(n)$$

K
(
n
)

as Hilbert spaces can be used to give combinatorial algorithms for computing the Kronecker coefficients.
Singular limits for stochastic equations
Authors: Blömker Dirk , Tölle Jonas M.
Published: May 2023

We study singular limits of stochastic evolution equations in the interplay of disappearing strength of the noise and insufficient regularity, where the equation in the limit with noise would not be defined due to lack of regularity. We recover previously known results on vanishing small noise with increasing roughness, but our main focus is to study for fixed noise the singular limit where the leading order differential operator in the equation may vanish. Although the noise is disappearing in the limit, additional deterministic terms appear due to renormalization effects. We separate the analysis of the equation from the convergence of stochastic terms and give a general framework for the main error estimates. This first reduces the result to bounds on a residual and in a second step to various bounds on the stochastic convolution. Moreover, as examples we apply our result to the singularly regularized Allen–Cahn (AC) equation with a vanishing Bilaplacian, and the Cahn–Hilliard/AC homotopy with space-time white noise in two spatial dimensions.
RESEARCH ON ONLINE PREDICTION OF SOFT TISSUE MECHANICAL RESPONSE BASED ON GREY MODEL
Authors: YANG FAN , YANG JING , GUO YUFENG , ZHAO YIDA , WANG WENJIE
Published: May 2023

Soft tissue is an important operation object in robot-assisted surgery and its mechanical response is of great significance to the precision of surgical operation. Accurate prediction of soft tissue mechanical properties can effectively avoid the potential damage of biological tissue caused by excessive operating force. In this paper, three typical mechanical responses of soft tissue were obtained by no-slip compression experiments of liver tissue. Second, the prediction model of soft tissue mechanical response based on gray prediction was established, and the influence of key parameters of the model on the precision of mechanical response prediction was analyzed. The results show that the gray prediction model can accurately predict the mechanical response of soft tissue, and the prediction accuracy is the highest when the number of historical data is 7. The prediction method of soft tissue mechanical response proposed in this paper will provide important data reference for accurate operation of surgery.
A Cu-Modified Photocatalyst Composite: Synthesis, Characterization and Photocatalysis
Authors: Huang Chengsha , Li Jin , Wu Benze
Published: May 2023

To obtain highly efficient photocatalysts, we successfully prepared the GO/ZnO/CdS/Cu2S composite that possesses superior photocatalytic degradation performance via a three-step solvothermal process. A series of characterization techniques were used to verify the composition and performance of prepared samples, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectra, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and so on. SEM reveals that copper ions are supported on the surface of CdS to form active sites for photocatalysis. Under the irradiation of ultraviolet (UV) and visible light, GO/ZnO/CdS/Cu2S photocatalyst exhibited relatively excellent photocatalytic degradation efficiency of methylene blue (MB), with 100% (80 min) and 95% (30 min), respectively. Compared with pure ZnO ([Formula: see text]) under the illumination of UV light, the kinetic constant of GO/ZnO/CdS/Cu2S catalyst is up to [Formula: see text], and as for visible light illumination, up to [Formula: see text], showing relatively excellent visible-light-induced photocatalytic activity. Besides, under UV and visible light, after three cycles of photodegradation, GO/ZnO/CdS/Cu2S still maintains the degradation efficiency of 78.3% and 74.8%, respectively, indicating that it has good stability. This work might inspire a new perspective that introduces the surface reaction sites (Cu2S) in the design of other graphene oxide/mental oxide-based heterojunctions for environmental purification.
Correlation Analysis of Stock Markets in the Belt and Road Regions
Authors: Chen Kexin , He Zeqing , Zhang Shaojun
Published: May 2023

As a regional cooperation framework, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) aims to spur economic development by investing in infrastructure and improving connectivity between the countries in Asia, Europe, and Africa located along the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Many studies have documented that BRI-related investment projects reduce trade costs, increase trade and investment flows, bring benefits to trading parties, and improve connectivity between countries along the Belt and Road. Financial integration is a critical aspect of intangible connectivity that is fundamental to and benefits from increased trade and investment flows between countries. This study examines the pairwise correlations between 39 stock markets in the Belt and Road regions from 2008 to 2018, focusing on the correlations between China and the other markets. We find that the correlation between two markets in the same region is greater than those in different regions. China has a higher correlation with markets in Southeast Asia and North and Central Asia than in other regions. The correlations fluctuate over time, but their relative rankings among market pairs remain stable. In the first half of 2015, there was an unusually low correlation between China and all other markets, most likely due to China’s stock market bubble. Our systematic examination of stock market correlations in the Belt and Road regions sheds new light on the temporal and cross-sectional dynamics in these understudied financial markets. The findings suggest significant potential for financial integration in the Belt and Road regions.
Using numerical modelling to test the geological and groundwater conceptual understanding of a complex, layered aquifer: a case study from the Fell Sandstone, Northumbria
Authors: Bianchi M. , Collins S. , Ford J. , Wakefield O. , Dearlove J. , Swartz M. , Hughes A. G.
Published: May 2023

Groundwater abstractions from the Carboniferous Fell Sandstone, Northumbria, NE England, provide water supply to the Berwick-upon-Tweed area. Management of these abstractions, totalling 6.5 Ml/day, by the water company along with the regulator for sustainability issues is required. Groundwater abstraction takes place from different sandstone units, which are separated by mudstones, with monitored groundwater heads showing variable responses to system stresses. To improve understanding of this complex system, various activities have been undertaken. Geological mapping and interpretation have been conducted to characterize the nature, geometry and interconnection of the sandstone units, along with the superficial deposits. Recharge modelling helped to quantify inputs to the system and to understand the long-term water balance. A time-variant model has been implemented to simulate groundwater flow in the sandstone units and to quantify the groundwater balance. The work confirms that the Fell Sandstone can be split into seven discrete sandstone units, separated by low-permeability mudstones, with variable laterally connectivity not necessarily laterally connected. There is a range of timescales of groundwater response to recharge events from slow (6 months) to very rapid (
c.
1 day). These findings confirm the complexity of this groundwater system and are transferable to similar sandstone systems in the UK and worldwide.

Thematic collection:
This article is part of the Hydrogeology of Sandstone collection available at:
https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/hydrogeology-of-sandstone
Evaluating the crisis communications campaign during the 2020–21 eruption of La Soufrière, St Vincent
Authors: Mani Lara , Edwards Stacey , Joseph Erouscilla , Juman Alia , Thomas Thalia
Published: May 2023

During the 2020–21 eruption of La Soufrière, St Vincent, the University of the West Indies, Seismic Research Centre played a major role in supporting communication of hazard and risk information to publics and stakeholders across St Vincent. Due to COVID-19 restrictions on in-person education and outreach activities, the communications campaign was heavily reliant on social media platforms, and TV and radio broadcasts. Although the communications approach sought to be inclusive of all members of the affected communities, we consider that more vulnerable residents, such as the elderly, children, and those with low literacy levels and limited digital access were likely excluded from the communication efforts.

In order to establish effectiveness of the crisis communications campaign at engaging communities and stakeholders with relevant information, and to identify areas for improvement, a large-scale evaluation campaign was conducted in St Vincent in August 2021. The results demonstrate that radio broadcasts are the most important communication tool for broad community reach, but that person-to-person information sharing was more important in the most exposed communities. Agencies such as the Red Cross and grassroots community disaster preparedness groups were instrumental in amplifying the reach of information to vulnerable members of at-risk communities and for evacuation co-ordination.