bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Robust watermarking algorithm for medical images based on log-polar transform
Authors: Li Tianfu , Li Jingbing , Liu Jing , Huang Mengxing , Chen Yen-Wei , Bhatti Uzair Aslam
Published: March 2022

In the information age, network security has gradually become a potentially huge problem, especially in the medical field, it is essential to ensure the accuracy and safety of images, and patient information needs to be included with minimal change. Combined log-polar transform (LPT) and discrete cosine transform (DCT), a novel robust watermarking algorithm for medical images, is proposed. It realized the lossless embedding of patient information into medical images. In the process of feature extraction and watermark embedding, the proposed algorithm reflects the characteristics of LPT, scale invariance and rotation invariance, and retains the advantages of DCT's ability to resist conventional attacks and robustness. As it adopts zero-watermarking embedding technology, it solves the defects caused by the traditional watermark embedding technology to modify the original image data and guaranteed the quality of medical images. The good experimental results show the effectiveness of this algorithm.
Racial and ethnic disparities of sudden unexpected infant death in large US cities: a descriptive epidemiological study
Authors: Boyer Brett T. , Lowell Gina S. , Roehler Douglas R. , Quinlan Kyran P.
Published: March 2022

Background

Sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) accounts for ~ 3400 deaths per year in the USA, and minimal progress has been made in reducing SUID over the past two decades. SUID is the sudden death of an infant that has occurred as a result of accidental suffocation in a sleeping environment, SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), or from an unknown cause of death. Nationally, non-Hispanic Black (NHB) infants have twice the risk of SUID compared to non-Hispanic White (NHW) infants. In Chicago, this disparity is greatly magnified. To explore whether this disparity is similarly seen in other large cities, we analyzed SUIDs by race and ethnicity for a seven-year period from the 10 most populous US cities. SUID case counts by race and ethnicity were obtained for 2011–2017 from the 10 most populous US cities based on 2010 census data. For each city, we calculated average annual SUID rates (per 1000 live births) by race and ethnicity, allowing calculation of disparity rate ratios.

Findings

Nationally, from 2011 through 2017, there were 0.891 SUIDs per 1000 live births, with a rate of 0.847 for NHWs, 1.795 for NHBs, and 0.522 for Hispanics. In most study cities, the NHB and Hispanic SUID rates were higher than the corresponding national rate. Hispanic SUID rates were higher than NHW rates in 9 of the 10 largest cities. In every study city, the NHW SUID rate was lower than the national NHW rate. In Chicago, NHB infants had a SUID rate 12.735 times that of NHW infants.

Conclusion

With few exceptions, the 10 largest US cities had higher NHB and Hispanic SUID rates, but lower NHW SUID rates, compared to the corresponding rates at the national level. Unlike the national pattern, Hispanic SUID rates were higher than NHW rates in 9 of the 10 largest cities. Prevention is currently hampered by the lack of detailed, accurate, and timely information regarding the circumstances of these tragic deaths. A national SUID surveillance system would allow greater understanding of the factors that lead to this disproportionately distributed and enduring cause of infant death.
Faculty perceptions, awareness and use of open educational resources for teaching and learning in higher education: a cross-comparative analysis
Authors: Marín Victoria I. , Zawacki-Richter Olaf , Aydin Cengiz H. , Bedenlier Svenja , Bond Melissa , Bozkurt Aras , Conrad Dianne , Jung Insung , Kondakci Yasar , Prinsloo Paul , Roberts Jennifer , Veletsianos George , Xiao Junhong , Zhang Jingjing
Published: March 2022

This paper explores faculty’s perspectives and use of open educational resources (OER) and their repositories across different countries by conducting a multiple case study to find similarities and differences between academics’ awareness, perceptions and use of OER, as well as examining related aspects of institutional policy and quality that may influence individual views. Data were collected through nine expert reports on each country studied (Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Japan, South Africa, South Korea, Spain and Turkey) and were analyzed through qualitative content analysis using thematic coding. Findings show the impact on individual OER adoption with regard to the individual control of diverse factors by faculty members; of institutional policies and quality measures on the externally determined factors (by the institution); and of institutional professional development and provision of incentives in more internally determined factors (by the faculty members themselves). These findings carry implications for higher education institutions around the world in their attempt to boost OER adoption by faculty members.
Pneumonia, influenza, and dengue cases decreased after the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand
Authors: Prasertbun Rapeepun , Mori Hirotake , Mahittikorn Aongart , Siri Sukhontha , Naito Toshio
Published: March 2022

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected all healthcare systems worldwide. Effective COVID-19 preventive measures, including wearing a mask, hand washing, avoiding the “Three Cs”, and city lockdowns, could decrease other infectious diseases. The case numbers of the major infectious diseases in Thailand were investigated (pneumonia, influenza, and dengue fever) during the COVID-19 pandemic using Thailand government national data sources from 2018 to August 2021. Pneumonia, influenza, and dengue fever cases decreased after the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to respiratory tract infections, COVID-19 preventive measures could decrease dengue fever cases.
Population Pharmacodynamic Modeling of Eflornithine-Based Treatments Against Late-Stage Gambiense Human African Trypanosomiasis and Efficacy Predictions of L-eflornithine-Based Therapy
Authors: Amilon Carl , Boberg Mikael , Tarning Joel , Äbelö Angela , Ashton Michael , Jansson-Löfmark Rasmus
Published: March 2022

Eflornithine is a recommended treatment against late-stage gambiense human African trypanosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease. Standard dosing of eflornithine consists of repeated intravenous infusions of a racemic mixture of L- and D-eflornithine. Data from three clinical studies, (i) eflornithine intravenous monotherapy, (ii) nifurtimox-eflornithine combination therapy, and (iii) eflornithine oral monotherapy, were pooled and analyzed using a time-to-event pharmacodynamic modeling approach, supported by in vitro activity data of the individual enantiomers. Our aim was to assess (i) the efficacy of the eflornithine regimens in a time-to-event analysis and (ii) the feasibility of an L-eflornithine-based therapy integrating clinical and preclinical data. A pharmacodynamic time-to-event model was used to estimate the total dose of eflornithine, associated with 50% reduction in baseline hazard, when administered as monotherapy or in the nifurtimox-eflornithine combination therapy. The estimated total doses were 159, 60 and 291 g for intravenous eflornithine monotherapy, nifurtimox-eflornithine combination therapy and oral eflornithine monotherapy, respectively. Simulations suggested that L-eflornithine achieves a higher predicted median survival, compared to when racemate is administered, as treatment against late-stage gambiense human African trypanosomiasis. Our findings showed that oral L-eflornithine-based monotherapy would not result in adequate efficacy, even at high dose, and warrants further investigations to assess the potential of oral L-eflornithine-based treatment in combination with other treatments such as nifurtimox. An all-oral eflornithine-based regimen would provide easier access to treatment and reduce burden on patients and healthcare systems in gambiense human African trypanosomiasis endemic areas.
Lenvatinib as a Therapeutic Option in Unresectable Metastatic Pheochromocytoma and Paragangliomas
Authors: Hassan Nelson Lauren , Fuentes-Bayne Harry , Yin Jun , Asmus Erik , Ryder Mabel , Morris John C , Hilger Crystal R , Bible Keith C , Chintakuntlawar Ashish V , Rao Sarika N
Published: March 2022

Context

Metastatic pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (mPPGL) are rare vascular neuroendocrine tumors that highly express vascular growth factors. Systemic treatment options in cases of unresectable multisite disease are limited. Multikinase inhibitors that inhibit angiogenesis, such as lenvatinib, have proven effective in several other malignancies, and may be a viable option for mPPGL.

Objective

We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of lenvatinib as salvage therapy in mPPGLs.

Methods

This was a retrospective analysis of mPPGL patients ≥ 18 years of age who received lenvatinib from 2015 to 2020 at a tertiary referral center. Patients were started on lenvatinib 20 mg daily and dose was adjusted according to tolerance or disease progression.

Results

Eleven patients were included. Median treatment duration was 14.7 months (95% CI, 2.3-NE). Treatment was discontinued due to disease progression, adverse events, or death. Overall survival at 12 months was 80.8% (95% CI, 42.3-94.9%) but its median was not reached. Median progression-free survival was 14.7 months (95% CI, 1.7-NE). Among the 8 patients with measurable disease, overall response rate was 63%, as 5/8 experienced a partial response and 3/8 had stable disease. Worsening hypertension and anemia were the most common adverse events.

Conclusion

Lenvatinib may be a viable treatment option for mPPGL, although at the potential risk of worsening hypertension. Larger, multicenter studies are needed to better characterize treatment efficacy.
“Your Life Is One-Hundred-Percent at Risk”
Authors: Vázquez Eric
Published: March 2022

This essay examines the cultural politics of migrant caravans through video testimonies produced by Honduras's Association of Returned Migrants with Disabilities (AMIREDIS). While the stated aim of the 2015 association-sponsored Caravan of the Mutilated involved raising transnational public awareness of the plight of Central American migrants, this essay argues that AMIREDIS's testimonies and embodiments conjoin the savage risk confronting migrants with histories of imperialist expropriation and transnational financial processes in which migrants find themselves increasingly incorporated. In effect, their testimonies and embodiments invert the reparative logic of worker remittances — cash transfers often thought to be the objective of migration. Against the cruel economies of risk that decapacitated AMIREDIS members as laborers, their testimonies offer an internationalism of the vulnerable. This ethic of mutual vulnerability works against financial markets’ “pooled risks” and capitalism's predilections to explain away its crippling eventualities with terms like “negative externalities” or “spillover effects.”
The Checkpoint State
Authors: Agbiboa Daniel E.
Published: March 2022

This essay is about everyday encounters with the checkpoint state in a locus of enduring counterinsurgency. Specifically, the essay examines how road-transport workers in northeast Nigeria experience and negotiate the omnipresent threat of the checkpoint state in their workaday world. Further, the essay underscores the spatial practices and social imaginaries through which the checkpoint state is constituted as simultaneously an apparatus of predation and as a space of negotiation. For mobile subjects in extremis, the threat of the checkpoint state is not episodic, but a feature of the landscape itself — a permanent, radical sense of immobility and insecurity. The daily pursuit of survival under the shadow of the “war on terror” compels road-transport workers to participate in the corrupt, coercive, and humiliating system they denounce.
Characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 patients with COPD from the United States, South Korea, and Europe
Authors: Moreno-Martos David , Verhamme Katia , Ostropolets Anna , Kostka Kristin , Duarte-Sales Talita , Prieto-Alhambra Daniel , Alshammari Thamir M , Alghoul Heba , Ahmed Waheed-Ul-Rahman , Blacketer Clair , DuVall Scott , Lai Lana , Matheny Michael , Nyberg Fredrik , Posada Jose , Rijnbeek Peter , Spotnitz Matthew , Sena Anthony , Shah Nigam , Suchard Marc , Chan You Seng , Hripcsak George , Ryan Patrick , Morales Daniel
Published: March 2022

Background: Characterization studies of COVID-19 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are limited in size and scope. The aim of the study is to provide a large-scale characterization of COVID-19 patients with COPD.

Methods: We included thirteen databases contributing data from January-June 2020 from North America (US), Europe and Asia. We defined two cohorts of patients with COVID-19 namely a ‘diagnosed’ and ‘hospitalized’ cohort. We followed patients from COVID-19 index date to 30 days or death. We performed descriptive analysis and reported the frequency of characteristics and outcomes among COPD patients with COVID-19.

Results: The study included 934,778 patients in the diagnosed COVID-19 cohort and 177,201 in the hospitalized COVID-19 cohort. Observed COPD prevalence in the diagnosed cohort ranged from 3.8% (95%CI 3.5-4.1%) in French data to 22.7% (95%CI 22.4-23.0) in US data, and from 1.9% (95%CI 1.6-2.2) in South Korean to 44.0% (95%CI 43.1-45.0) in US data, in the hospitalized cohorts. COPD patients in the hospitalized cohort had greater comorbidity than those in the diagnosed cohort, including hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and obesity. Mortality was higher in COPD patients in the hospitalized cohort and ranged from 7.6% (95%CI 6.9-8.4) to 32.2% (95%CI 28.0-36.7) across databases. ARDS, acute renal failure, cardiac arrhythmia and sepsis were the most common outcomes among hospitalized COPD patients.  

Conclusion: COPD patients with COVID-19 have high levels of COVID-19-associated comorbidities and poor COVID-19 outcomes. Further research is required to identify patients with COPD at high risk of worse outcomes.
Iceland spar and birefringent filter (BF) development
Authors: Skomorovsky Valery , Kushtal Galina , Tokareva (Lopteva) Lyubov
Published: March 2022

Birefringent crystals for BF are required to provide the necessary linear aperture, wavefront quality, and filter transmission in a given spectral region. Based on the review of foreign and domestic BF developments, the difficulties in using crystals from known deposits are examined. The Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics has developed BFs with extreme characteristics, using an innovative method for enriching crystals from East Siberian deposits and new methods for optical treatment and control of BF elements. We present the characteristics of the filters. Further progress in the creation of BFs in our country depends on the availability of necessary synthetic crystals and natural crystal of Iceland spar, which turned out to be a difficult fate in Russia.
Podstawy prawne działania e-administracji a ochrona danych osobowych
Authors: Dudzik Sławomir
Published: March 2022

Rozwój nowoczesnej e-administracji zakłada przetwarzanie (w tym zbieranie, utrwalanie i wykorzystywanie) coraz większej ilości danych, w tym danych osobowych. Mają one służyć optymalizacji różnego rodzaju procesów zachodzących wewnątrz aparatu administracyjnego, jak i usprawniać działanie administracji na zewnątrz, w tym w zakresie świadczonych usług publicznych. Dane osobowe podlegają jednak szczególnej ochronie prawnej. Celem artykułu jest zatem odpowiedź na pytanie, w jaki sposób ta szczególna ochrona wpływa na kształtowanie się podstaw prawnych działania administracji publicznej, w tym e-administracji. Rozważania dotyczą zasady legalności w działaniu administracji publicznej w odniesieniu do przetwarzania danych osobowych. Autor wykazuje, że zarówno czynności władcze, jak i czynności o charakterze niewładczym, w tym czynności materialno-techniczne w zakresie, w którym obejmują przetwarzanie danych osobowych, wymagają szczególnej, dostatecznie skonkretyzowanej podstawy prawnej zawartej w aktach rangi ustawowej. Podstawy takiej nie mogą stanowić zaś ogólne normy dotyczące zadań lub ogólnych kompetencji w zakresie czynności niewładczych, a także akty stosowania prawa (np. porozumienie administracyjne, polecenie służbowe lub decyzja administracyjna). Kompetencja administracji publicznej do przetwarzania danych osobowych nie może być również domniemywana.
Regulatory Impact Assessment – Retrospect Preview, Purpose, Consequences: Toward e-RIA
Authors: Śliwa Renata
Published: March 2022

The complexity and dynamism of management of enormous amount of information, analytical methods and human capital resources toward informing regulatory decisions always entails the question whether or not the costs of the regulatory process exceed its benefits. What were the premises to deepen the analysis upon the entanglement of regulatory aims? Are the results straightforward or even predictable within the contingencies? The main research question of the paper boils down to the following: does the regulatory impact assessment as a tool toward agile regulation, and then better regulatory governance, incorporate the potential to stimulate the effectiveness of economic ecosystem? The paper aims to emphasize the essence of economic analysis of regulation, drawing on the analysis of the secondary data and the case studies (e-RIA in Korea) on implementation of regulatory impact assessment.
E-administracja w procesie inwestycyjnym. Elektroniczna forma składania wniosków w postępowaniu budowlanym – uwagi na tle ostatnich nowelizacji prawa budowlanego
Authors: Godlewski Mariusz
Published: March 2022

The purpose of progressive digitalization of the investment process is not only to improve the quality of activity of public administration bodies in relation to the investor and other entities involved in this process, but also in relation to other bodies, which in the case of the Construction Law (especially in the context of the necessity to obtain permits, arrangements or opinions) is extremely important. The possibility of settling matters in the form of an electronic document (and making this form equal to the written form), which was introduced to the Code of Administrative Procedure some time ago, created the possibility of electronic exchange of documents between the investor and the authority, including, above all, the possibility of initiating the proceedings (filing an application) in the form of electronic document. Subsequent changes in the administrative procedure related to electronic delivery or a possibility of electronic access to the proceedings files will undoubtedly determine the further direction of changes in the construction law. The progressive electronification of the investment process will involve not only the possibility to submit an application for a building permit or notification of construction or works in this form, but also the development of investment process instruments, such as a creation of an electronic construction log or a central electronic register of persons with building qualifications (e-CRUB). The first amendments to the Construction Law, constituting a gradual implementation of modern administration, came into force on 4 February 2021, and the subsequent ones on 01 July 2021. Ratio legis of these amendments is to increase the efficiency and transparency of investment proceedings but, above all, to improve the economy and simplify procedures, which is highly significant in times of Covid-19 pandemic. The subject of the analysis, apart from discussing the progress of modern administration in the Construction Law, will be, most importantly, an attempt to identify threats (especially procedural ones) connected not only with concerns about technical possibilities of public administration bodies, including, for example, proper archiving of documents submitted in electronic form, but also with the course of administrative proceedings initiated in electronic form. I would like to make an attempt to identify areas which will require further developments, especially in the context of: protection of parties’ procedural rights in administrative proceedings, such as the right to active participation in the proceedings (art. 10 of the Code of Administrative Procedure), not only for the investor but also for the participants of the proceedings through access to case files in an IT system, electronic evidence proceedings or a mixed paper- -electronic form of making notifications during the proceedings.
Wybrane aspekty wdrożenia i funkcjonowania e-administracji w Polsce na przykładzie Urzędu Transportu Kolejowego
Authors: Małecka Elżbieta
Published: March 2022

The goal of the paper is to present the practical aspect of the implementation and functioning of e-administration on the example of the Office of Rail Transport. The text presents the author’s own research of this issue. Additionally, the One-Stop Shop (OSS) will be presented as an IT tool developed by the European Railway Agency for servicing specific case types. This solution is functioning in the area of proceedings related to uniform safety certificates/ permits for vehicles. Also, the “Engine-Driver Licence Service System” and the RINF-PL application for collecting data on railway infrastructure from railway line and railway side-track administrators will be described. The paper will prove the thesis that the effective implementation and functioning of e-administration in public administration units will be impacted more by the systematic nature of actions and time rather than by legal solutions. The main plane for the deliberations will be legal provisions, scientific monographs and scientific articles. The following methods were applied in the study: dogmatic-legal and analytic-synthetic.
International and EU E-Norm and Decision Making (E-Governance): Lessons for Public Administrations for the COVID-19 Era and Beyond
Authors: Apter Itai
Published: March 2022

E-norm and decision making (e-governance) are now integral to global and regional legal order responding to COVID-19 restrictions. After discussing how processes impact normative outcome according to global administrative law, the article explores practices of UNCITRAL, UNODC, HCCH, EC and the EP. In view of their successes, the article suggests that European public administrations consider taking similar measures to ensure efficient governance during the pandemic and beyond.
Meeting Corporate Renewable Power Targets
Authors: Trivella Alessio , Mohseni-Taheri Danial , Nadarajah Selvaprabu
Published: March 2022

Several corporations have committed to procuring a percentage of their electricity demand from renewable sources by a future date. Long-term financial contracts with renewable generators based on a fixed strike price, known as virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs), are popular to meet such a target. We formulate rolling power purchases using a portfolio of VPPAs as a Markov decision process, accounting for uncertainty in generator availability and in the prices of electricity, renewable energy certificates, and VPPAs. Obtaining an optimal procurement policy is intractable. We consider forecast-based reoptimization heuristics consistent with practice that limit the sourcing of different VPPA types and the timing of new agreements. We extend these heuristics and introduce an information-relaxation based reoptimization heuristic, both of which allow for full sourcing and timing flexibilities. The latter heuristic also accounts for future uncertainties when making a decision. We assess the value of decision flexibility in rolling power purchases to meet a renewable target by numerically comparing the aforementioned policies and variants thereof on realistic instances involving a novel strike price stochastic process calibrated to data. Policies with full timing flexibility and no sourcing flexibility reduce procurement costs significantly compared with one with neither type of flexibility. Introducing sourcing flexibility in the former policies results in further significant cost reduction, thus providing support for using VPPA portfolios that are both dynamic and heterogeneous. Computing near-optimal portfolios of this nature entails using our information-relaxation based reoptimization heuristic because portfolios constructed via forecast-based reoptimization exhibit higher suboptimality.

This paper was accepted by Ilia Tsetlin, behavioral economics and decision analysis.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.4354 .
Learning in Structured MDPs with Convex Cost Functions: Improved Regret Bounds for Inventory Management
Authors: Agrawal Shipra , Jia Randy
Published: March 2022

A fundamental yet notoriously difficult problem in operations management is the periodic inventory control problem under positive lead time and lost sales. More recently, there has been interest in the problem setting where the demand distribution is not known a priori and must be learned from the observations made during the decision-making process. In “Learning in Structured MDPs with Convex Cost Functions: Improved Regret Bounds for Inventory Management,” Agrawal and Jia present a reinforcement learning algorithm that uses the observed outcomes of past decisions to implicitly learn the underlying dynamics and adaptively improve the decision-making strategy over time. They show that, compared with the best base-stock policy, their algorithm achieves an optimal regret bound in terms of the time horizon and scales linearly with the lead time of the inventory ordering process. Furthermore, they demonstrate that their approach is not restricted to the inventory problem and can be applied in an almost black box manner to more general reinforcement learning problems with convex cost functions.
No Longer in the Dark: Utilizing Imperfect Advance Load Information for Single-Truck Operators
Authors: Najafi Mehdi , Zolfagharinia Hossein
Published: March 2022

This study investigates how imperfect advance load information (IALI) can improve profits and other operational indicators, such as empty movements, for a single-truck company. To analyze the value of IALI, we first develop a deterministic mathematical model. Then, we propose a stochastic dynamic programming approach that can utilize IALI. After designing a comprehensive set of experiments, we employ both models using a dynamic implementation mechanism to assess the benefits of using IALI. Our statistical analysis reveals that (1) utilizing IALI can significantly improve a single-truck company’s profits, by as much as almost 30% on average, and (2) the impact of using IALI can be affected by other factors (e.g., network size). In another set of experiments, we examine the benefits of IALI in a new environment where there are two classes of shippers, high risk and low risk. The results suggest that the potential benefits can be even larger with two classes of shippers. Last, we collect data over two three-week periods for a single-truck company that operates in Ontario, Canada, and we apply our methods for evaluating the benefits of IALI.
Herbal Teas and Thrombocytopenia: A Curious Case of Yellow Dock and Burdock-Induced Thrombocytopenia
Authors: Latif Asnia , Fichadiya Hardik , Abid Fareeha , Capo Gerardo
Published: March 2022

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a bleeding disorder characterized by a decreased number of platelets. It is an immune system-mediated condition, with formation of antibodies against a structural platelet antigen. Although the pathogenesis remains elusive, primary disease is idiopathic and comprises 80% of cases. However, quite a few secondary causes have been established including Helicobacter pylori, varicella-zoster virus and cytomegalovirus. A few cases with an incidental association with herbal medications have been reported, but this causality has not been studied in detail. Here we present the case of 38-year-old African-American woman who presented with symptomatic thrombocytopenia, with a platelet count of 5 K/µl 1 week after she had consumed herbal tea containing Rumex crispus (yellow dock) and Arctium lappa (burdock). The association between unstudied herbs and ITP needs further research, given the widespread use of these substances and ongoing public uncertainty about their benefits.
Helping survivors of abuse to cope with anxieties triggered during the pandemic
Authors: Welfare-Wilson Alison
Published: March 2022

Alison Welfare-Wilson, Senior Research Nurse, Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust ( alison.welfare-wilson@nhs.net ), runner-up in the Mental Health Nurse of the Year category of the BJN Awards 2021
Not a bag for life… a bag for living
Authors: Coulter Helen
Published: March 2022

Stoma products often look and feel medical and can prevent ostomates from living life to the full. They are not designed to address common problems experienced by patients; they can be bulky and visible, allow flatus to escape, need frequent changing (often disrupting sleep) and are uncomfortable. Pelican Healthcare's ModaVi range of ostomy pouches were designed using insight from intestinal ostomates. The company considered their unmet needs and designed products intended to improve patients' quality of life, allowing them to lead the lives they want. ModaVi pouches have innovative features, including being made of a soft fabric that is comfortable and water resistant, and come in black and neutral colours. The pouches are made in different sizes, which can be altered to meet patients' lifestyles and fit in clothing. In addition, they are adapted for people with poor sight or dexterity, and the simple outlet and viewing window make them easier to use. New and established ostomates have evaluated them positively.
Assessing Chilling Injury in Cucumber Seedlings Using Chlorophyll Fluorescence Based on a Quantum Genetic Algorithm and Support Vector Regression Model
Authors: Lu Miao , Yuan Kaikai , Li Bin , Gao Pan , Wu Huarui , Hu Jin
Published: March 2022

Highlights

A method is proposed to analyze chilling injury in cucumber seedlings.

A mutual information method was adopted to determine model output.

Different modeling approaches were compared for improving accuracy.

The optimal model input type was determined and discussed.

Abstract. Low temperature limits photosynthesis and leads to reduced production in plants. Accurate monitoring of the physiological state of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) seedlings and assessing their chilling injury are of great importance for the off-season cucumber industry. Dark chlorophyll fluorescence parameters have been proven to be efficient for revealing environmental stress on plant growth. We used seedlings of cucumber cultivar Bonai 14-3 to test a nested set of fluorescence parameters to assess the response characteristics of dark chlorophyll fluorescence parameters during eight days at low temperatures. Mutual information analysis showed that the dark chlorophyll fluorescence parameter Fv/Fo, an indicator of the potential activity of photosystem II, gave the strongest correlation with stage of chilling injury. We compared three Fv/Fo prediction models with different inputs, constructed using a quantum genetic algorithm support vector regression method. The model showed the highest accuracy when the inputs were Fv and Fo measured before low-temperature treatment, coupled with temperature, and duration. The coefficient of determination of the training and testing sets were both greater than 0.98. The root mean square error and the mean absolute error were both less than 0.15. This model was able to achieve accurate prediction of Fv/Fo for seedlings in a low-temperature environment, providing a potential method for non-destructive analysis and diagnosis of cucumber chilling injury. Keywords: Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, Low temperature, Mutual information, Prediction.
Experimental realization of efficient nondegenerate four-wave mixing in cesium atoms
Authors: Wu Jinze , Guo Miaojun , Zhou Haitao , Liu Jinhong , Li Jinhong , Zhang Junxiang
Published: March 2022

Nondegenerate four-wave mixing (FWM) in diamond-type atomic systems has important applications in a wide range of fields, including quantum entanglement generation, frequency conversion, and optical information processing. Although the efficient self-seeded nondegenerate FWM with amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) has been realized extensively, the seeded nondegenerate FWM without ASE is inefficient in reported experiments so far. Here we present the experimental realization of the seeded nondegenerate FWM in cesium atoms with a significantly improved efficiency. Specifically, with two pump lasers at 852 and 921 nm and a seed laser at 895 nm, a continuous-wave laser at 876 nm is efficiently generated via FWM in a cesium vapor cell with a power up to 1.2 mW, three orders of magnitude larger than what has been achieved in previous experiments. The improvement of the efficiency benefits from the exact satisfaction of the phase-matching condition realized by an elaborately designed setup. Our results may find applications in the generation of squeezing and entanglement of light via nondegenerate FWM.
Algorithmic decoding of dense OAM signal constellations for optical communications in turbulence
Authors: Anguita Jaime A. , Cisternas Jaime E.
Published: March 2022

We demonstrate an optical detection and decoding strategy to increase the information rate and spectral efficiency of free-space laser communication links affected by turbulence by means of dense orbital angular momentum (OAM) modulation. Using three candidate receiver architectures–based on a Shack-Hartmann sensor, a Mode Sorter, and a complex conjugate projection scheme as a base case–we demonstrate an algorithmic classification system based on the received OAM spectra produced by these architectures. This classification scheme allows low-error-rate data transmission in turbulence using 16-OAM, 32-OAM, and 64-OAM symbol constellations, with OAM states between −20 and 20. We evaluate and compare their performance under weak to strong atmospheric turbulence conditions using an accuracy metric and confusion matrices.
Flatband mode in photonic moiré superlattice for boosting second-harmonic generation with monolayer van der Waals crystals
Authors: Hong Peilong , Xu Lei , Ying Cuifeng , Rahmani Mohsen
Published: March 2022

We theoretically investigate boosting second-harmonic generation (SHG) of monolayer van der Waals crystals by employing flatband modes hosted by photonic moiré superlattices. Such a system with high quality factor and a monolayer crystal accommodated on the top of it, provides a unique opportunity to enhance and manipulate SHG emission. We show that employing a doubly resonant diagram on such a moiré superlattice system not only boosts the SHG, but also tunes the directional emission of the second-harmonic wave. Moreover, we demonstrate that a structured beam illumination could further boost SHG, with the phase structure retrieved through a two-beam second-harmonic interference configuration. These results suggest the flatband modes in moiré superlattice as a promising platform for boosting SHG with monolayer van der Waals crystals, offering new possibilities for developing compact nonlinear photonic devices.
Non-invasive chemically selective energy delivery and focusing inside a scattering medium guided by Raman scattering
Authors: Tian Bingxin , Rauer Bernhard , Boniface Antoine , Han Jun , Gigan Sylvain , de Aguiar Hilton B.
Published: March 2022

Raman scattering is a chemically selective probing mechanism with diverse applications in industry and clinical settings. Yet, most samples are optically opaque limiting the applicability of Raman probing at depth. Here, we demonstrate chemically selective energy deposition behind a scattering medium by combining prior information on the chemical’s spectrum with the measurement of a spectrally resolved Raman speckle as a feedback mechanism for wavefront shaping. We demonstrate unprecedented sixfold signal enhancement in an epi-geometry, realizing targeted energy deposition and focusing on individual Raman active particles.
Mining folded proteomes in the era of accurate structure prediction
Authors: Bayly-Jones Charles , Whisstock James C.
Published: March 2022

Protein structure fundamentally underpins the function and processes of numerous biological systems. Fold recognition algorithms offer a sensitive and robust tool to detect structural, and thereby functional, similarities between distantly related homologs. In the era of accurate structure prediction owing to advances in machine learning techniques and a wealth of experimentally determined structures, previously curated sequence databases have become a rich source of biological information. Here, we use bioinformatic fold recognition algorithms to scan the entire AlphaFold structure database to identify novel protein family members, infer function and group predicted protein structures. As an example of the utility of this approach, we identify novel, previously unknown members of various pore-forming protein families, including MACPFs, GSDMs and aerolysin-like proteins.
Effects of ivermectin treatment of backyard chickens on mosquito dynamics and West Nile virus transmission
Authors: Holcomb Karen M. , Nguyen Chilinh , Foy Brian D. , Ahn Michelle , Cramer Kurt , Lonstrup Emma T. , Mete Asli , Tell Lisa A. , Barker Christopher M.
Published: March 2022

Background

Vector control strategies typically rely on pesticides to target mosquitoes involved in enzootic and zoonotic transmission of West Nile virus (WNV). Nevertheless, increasing insecticide resistance and a desire to reduce pesticide usage provide the impetus for developing alternative strategies. Ivermectin (IVM), an antiparasitic drug which is widely used in human and veterinary medicine, is a potential alternative for targeted control because Culex mosquitoes experience increased mortality following ingestion of IVM in bloodmeals.

Methodology/Principal findings

We conducted a randomized field trial to investigate the impact of treating backyard chicken flocks with IVM in urban neighborhoods across Davis, California on mosquito populations and WNV transmission dynamics. We observed a significant reduction in WNV seroconversions in treated vs. untreated chickens, suggesting a reduction in WNV transmission intensity around treated flocks. We also detected a reduction in parity rates of Cx. tarsalis near treated vs. untreated flocks and increased mortality in wild mosquitoes following a bloodmeal on treated chickens (IVM serum concentration > 5ng/mL) vs. chickens with IVM serum concentrations < 5 ng/mL. However, we did not find a significant difference in abundance or infection prevalence in mosquitoes between treatment groups associated with the reductions in seroconversions. Mosquito immigration from surrounding larval habitat, relatively low WNV activity in the study area, and variable IVM serum concentrations likely contributed to uncertainty about the impact.

Conclusions/Significance

Taken together, our results point to a reduction in WNV transmission due to the impact of IVM on Culex mosquito populations and support the ongoing investigation of oral administration of IVM to wild birds for local control of WNV transmission, although further work is needed to optimize dosing and understand effects on entomological endpoints.
The genetic interaction of REVOLUTA and WRKY53 links plant development, senescence, and immune responses
Authors: Bresson Justine , Doll Jasmin , Vasseur François , Stahl Mark , von Roepenack-Lahaye Edda , Kilian Joachim , Stadelhofer Bettina , Kremer James M. , Kolb Dagmar , Wenkel Stephan , Zentgraf Ulrike
Published: March 2022

In annual plants, tight coordination of successive developmental events is of primary importance to optimize performance under fluctuating environmental conditions. The recent finding of the genetic interaction of WRKY53, a key senescence-related gene with REVOLUTA, a master regulator of early leaf patterning, raises the question of how early and late developmental events are connected. Here, we investigated the developmental and metabolic consequences of an alteration of the REVOLUTA and WRKY53 gene expression, from seedling to fruiting. Our results show that REVOLUTA critically controls late developmental phases and reproduction while inversely WRKY53 determines vegetative growth at early developmental stages. We further show that these regulators of distinct developmental phases frequently, but not continuously, interact throughout ontogeny and demonstrated that their genetic interaction is mediated by the salicylic acid (SA). Moreover, we showed that REVOLUTA and WRKY53 are keys regulatory nodes of development and plant immunity thought their role in SA metabolic pathways, which also highlights the role of REV in pathogen defence. Together, our findings demonstrate how late and early developmental events are tightly intertwined by molecular hubs. These hubs interact with each other throughout ontogeny, and participate in the interplay between plant development and immunity.
Pentoxifylline-induced protein expression change in RAW 264.7 cells as determined by immunoprecipitation-based high performance liquid chromatography
Authors: Seo Mi Hyun , Kim Dae Won , Kim Yeon Sook , Lee Suk Keun
Published: March 2022

Although pentoxifylline (PTX) was identified as a competitive non-selective phosphodiesterase inhibitor, its pharmacological effect has not been clearly elucidated. The present study explored the effect of low dose 10 μg/mL PTX (therapeutic dose) compared to high dose 300 μg/mL PTX (experimental dose) in RAW 264.7 cells through immunoprecipitation-based high performance liquid chromatography (IP-HPLC), immunohistochemistry, and western blot. 10 μg/mL PTX increased the expression of proliferation (Ki-67, PCNA, cyclin D2, cdc25A), epigenetic modification (KDM4D, PCAF, HMGB1), protein translation (DOHH, DHPS, eIF5A1), RAS signaling (KRAS, pAKT1/2/3, PI3K), NFkB signaling (NFkB, GADD45, p38), protection (HSP70, SOD1, GSTO1/2), survival (pAKT1/2/3, SP1, sirtuin 6), neuromuscular differentiation (NSEγ, myosin-1a, desmin), osteoblastic differentiation (BMP2, RUNX2, osterix), acute inflammation (TNFα, IL-1, CXCR4), innate immunity (β-defensin 1, lactoferrin, TLR-3, -4), cell-mediated immunity (CD4, CD8, CD80), while decreased the expression of ER stress (eIF2α, eIF2AK3, ATF6α), fibrosis (FGF2, CTGF, collagen 3A1), and chronic inflammation (CD68, MMP-2, -3, COX2) versus the untreated controls. The activation of proliferation by 10 μg/mL PTX was also supported by the increase of cMyc-MAX heterodimer and β-catenin-TCF1 complex in double IP-HPLC. 10 μg/mL PTX enhanced FAS-mediated apoptosis but diminished p53-mediated apoptosis, and downregulated many angiogenesis proteins (angiogenin, VEGF-A, and FLT4), but upregulated HIF1α, VEGFR2, and CMG2 reactively. Whereas, 300 μg/mL PTX consistently decreased proliferation, epigenetic modification, RAS and NFkB signaling, neuromuscular and osteoblastic differentiation, but increased apoptosis, ER stress, and fibrosis compared to 10 μg/mL PTX. These data suggest PTX has different biological effect on RWA 264.7 cells depending on the concentration of 10 μg/mL and 300 μg/mL PTX. The low dose 10 μg/mL PTX enhanced RAS/NFkB signaling, proliferation, differentiation, and inflammation, particularly, it stimulated neuromuscular and osteoblastic differentiation, innate immunity, and cell-mediated immunity, but attenuated ER stress, fibrosis, angiogenesis, and chronic inflammation, while the high dose 300 μg/mL PTX was found to alleviate the 10 μg/mL PTX-induced biological effects, resulted in the suppression of RAS/NFkB signaling, proliferation, neuromuscular and osteoblastic differentiation, and inflammation.
Mind the gender gap: COVID-19 lockdown effects on gender differences in preprint submissions
Authors: Ucar Iñaki , Torre Margarita , Elías Antonio
Published: March 2022

The gender gap is a well-known problem in academia and, despite its gradual narrowing, recent estimations indicate that it will persist for decades. Short-term descriptive studies suggest that this gap may have actually worsened during the months of confinement following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In this work, we evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on female and male academics’ research productivity using preprint drop-off data. We examine a total of 307,902 unique research articles deposited in 5 major preprint repositories during the period between January and May each year from 2017 to 2020. We find that the proportion of female authors in online repositories steadily increased over time; however, the trend reversed during the confinement and gender parity worsened in two respects. First, the proportion of male authors in preprints increased significantly during lockdown. Second, the proportion of male authors in COVID-19-related articles was significantly higher than that of women. Overall, our results imply that the gender gap in academia suffered an approximately 1-year setback during the strict lockdown months of 2020, and COVID-related research areas suffered an additional 1.5-year setback.
Optimization of CRISPR/LbCas12a-mediated gene editing in Arabidopsis
Authors: Zhang Qiang , Zhang Yan , Chai Yiping
Published: March 2022

CRISPR/LbCas12a system (LbCpf1) has been widely used for genome modification including plant species. However, the efficiency of CRISPR/LbCas12a varied considerably in different plant species and tissues, and the editing efficiency needs to be further improved. In this study, we tried to improve the editing efficiency of CRISPR/LbCas12a in Arabidopsis by optimizing the crRNA expression strategies and Pol II promoters. Notably, the combination of tRNA-crRNA fusion strategy and RPS5A promoter in CRISPR/LbCas12a system has highest editing efficiency, while CRISPR/LbCas12a driven by EC1f-in(crR)p had the highest ratio of homozygous & bi‐allelic mutants. In addition, all homozygous & bi‐allelic mutants can be stably inherited to the next generation and have no phenotypic separation. In this study, the editing efficiency of the CRISPR/LbCas12a system was improved by selecting the optimal crRNA expression strategies and promoter of LbCas12a in Arabidopsis, which will prove useful for optimization of CRISPR/LbCas12a methods in other plants.