bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictors of mortality within the first year post-hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Sheriff Sanaa , Madhavan Sudharsan , Lei Geraldine Yanlei , Chan Yiong Huak , Junnarkar Sameer P. , Huey Cheong Wei , Low Jee Keem , Shelat Vishal G.
Published: April 2022

Background

Hepatic resection (HR) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is safe with good perioperative and long-term oncologic outcomes. There is a paucity of data with regards to intermediate-term outcomes (i.e., beyond 90-day and within 1-year mortality). This paper studies the risk factors for within 1-year mortality after elective HR with curative intent in patients with HCC.

Methods

An audit of patients who underwent curative HR for HCC from January 2007 to April 2016 was conducted. Univariate and multivariate analysis were sequentially performed on perioperative variables using Cox-regression analysis to identify factors predicting intermediate-term outcomes defined as within 1-year mortality. Kaplan–Meier survival curves and hazard ratios were obtained.

Results

Three hundred forty-eight patients underwent HR during the study period and 163 patients had curative hepatectomy for HCC. Fifteen patients (9.2%) died within 1-year after HR. Multivariate analysis identified Child-Pugh class B/C (HR 5.5, p = 0.035), multinodularity (HR 7.1, p = 0.001), macrovascular invasion (HR 4.2, p = 0.04) postoperative acute renal failure (HR 5.8, p = 0.049) and posthepatic liver failure (HR 9.6, p = 0.009) as significant predictors of 1-year mortality.

Conclusion

One-year mortality following HR for HCC remains high and can be predicted preoperatively by multinodularity, Child-Pugh class, and macrovascular invasion. Postoperative acute renal failure and liver failure are associated with 1-year mortality.
Effect of achieving sustained virological response with direct-acting antiviral agents on glycemic control in diabetic patients with chronic hepatitis C infection
Authors: El-Kassas Mohamed , El-Folly Runia , Aboromia Maram , Aly Heba , Bahgat Mohamed , Hamed Mostafa
Published: April 2022

Background

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a significant cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide. Liver disease is not the only problem caused by chronic HCV infection; many extrahepatic complications, such as insulin resistance, can be associated with HCV infection. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of achieving a sustained virological response after treatment with directly acting antiviral drugs on insulin resistance in patients with chronic HCV infection.

Results

This prospective study was conducted on 46 HCV patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who received directly acting antiviral drugs for HCV infections. Fasting insulin, fasting blood glucose, and lipid profiles were assessed in all patients at three time points: before treatment, at the end of treatment, and 12 weeks after the end of treatment. Despite using three different directly acting antiviral drug regimens, all patients achieved a sustained viral response, regardless of the regimen used. the Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance decreased significantly at the end of treatment; however, when recalculated at week 12 after end of treatment, the reduction of the Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance was not significant compared to the baseline levels. Total cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins increased at the end of treatment and continued to increase for 12 weeks after the end of treatment.

Conclusions

Improvements in insulin resistance and glycemic control were noted in HCV patients at the end of treatment with directly acting antiviral drugs; this effect was also apparent after 12 weeks. An increase in the levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein can be expected after treatment with directly acting antiviral drugs.
Feasibility, safety and effectiveness of laparoscopic transperitoneal pyeloplasty in children: Ain Shams University early experience
Authors: Mohamed Hany Emad , EL-Asmar Khaled Mohamed , Hassan Tarek Ahmed , EL-Shafei Ehab Abd El-Aziz , Soliman Mohamed Hisham , Allam Ayman Mostafa
Published: April 2022

Background/purpose

Laparoscopic pyeloplasty (LP) is now widely recognized as a minimally invasive alternative for the surgical repair of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) in paediatrics. In this work, we aim to evaluate the feasibility, safety and effectiveness of LP in our early experience.

Patients and methods

Between April 2019 and April 2020, patients presented with indication for surgical repair of UPJO were offered laparoscopic transperitoneal Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty. Demographic data, preoperative investigations, operative data and intra- or postoperative complications, as well as short and mid-term follow-ups were recorded.

Results

During the specified period, 13 patients underwent LP (8 girls and 5 boys) with a median age of 12 months (range from 5 to 150 months). There was no conversion to open approach with operative time ranging from 120 to 240 min (mean = 175 ± 34 min). No intra- or postoperative complications were encountered. One to 2 years postoperative follow-up was performed (median = 18 months) in 11 patients. One patient discontinued follow-up after 1 month and another after 6 months. Follow-up PAUS showed a reduction in the anteroposterior diameter of the renal pelvis in all cases. Postoperative diuretic renal scans (DTPA renography) were done for three patients with a persistent anteroposterior diameter of the renal pelvis greater than 20 mm which showed improvement in the washout. All patients had a good cosmetic outcome.

Conclusion

In our early experience in LP, we found the procedure a safe, feasible and effective technique in managing UPJO in children and infants with good cosmetic outcome.

Level of evidence

This is a case series study (level IV evidence).
Minimal Residual Disease After Autologous Stem-Cell Transplant for Patients With Myeloma: Prognostic Significance and the Impact of Lenalidomide Maintenance and Molecular Risk
Authors: de Tute Ruth M. , Pawlyn Charlotte , Cairns David A. , Davies Faith E. , Menzies Tom , Rawstron Andy , Jones John R. , Hockaday Anna , Henderson Rowena , Cook Gordon , Drayson Mark T. , Jenner Matthew W. , Kaiser Martin F. , Gregory Walter M. , Morgan Gareth J. , Jackson Graham H. , Owen Roger G.
Published: April 2022

PURPOSE

Minimal residual disease (MRD) can predict outcomes in patients with multiple myeloma, but limited data are available on the prognostic impact of MRD when assessed at serial time points in the context of maintenance therapy after autologous stem-cell transplant (ASCT) and the interaction between MRD and molecular risk.

METHODS

Data from a large phase III trial (Myeloma XI) were examined to determine the relationship between MRD status, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) in post-ASCT patients randomly assigned to lenalidomide maintenance or no maintenance at 3 months after ASCT. MRD status was assessed by flow cytometry (median sensitivity 0.004%) before maintenance random assignment (ASCT + 3) and 6 months later (ASCT + 9).

RESULTS

At ASCT + 3, 475 of 750 (63.3%) patients were MRD-negative and 275 (36.7%) were MRD-positive. MRD-negative status was associated with improved PFS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.47; 95% CI, 0.37 to 0.58 P < .001) and OS (HR = 0.59; 95% CI, 0.40 to 0.85; P = .0046). At ASCT + 9, 214 of 326 (65.6%) were MRD-negative and 112 (34.4%) were MRD-positive. MRD-negative status was associated with improved PFS (HR = 0.20; 95% CI, 0.13 to 0.31; P < .0001) and OS (HR = 0.33; 95% CI, 0.15 to 0.75; P = .0077). The findings were very similar when restricted to patients with complete response/near complete response. Sustained MRD negativity from ASCT + 3 to ASCT + 9 or the conversion to MRD negativity by ASCT + 9 was associated with the longest PFS/OS. Patients randomly assigned to lenalidomide maintenance were more likely to convert from being MRD-positive before maintenance random assignment to MRD-negative 6 months later (lenalidomide 30%, observation 17%). High-risk molecular features had an adverse effect on PFS and OS even for those patients achieving MRD-negative status. On multivariable analysis of MRD status, maintenance therapy and molecular risk maintained prognostic impact at both ASCT + 3 and ASCT + 9.

CONCLUSION

In patients with multiple myeloma, MRD status at both ASCT + 3 and ASCT + 9 is a powerful predictor of PFS and OS.
The Phenotypes of Anxiety and Depression: Analysis of Combined Comorbidity and Treatment in Patients Undergoing Spinal Fusion
Authors: Jain Nikhil , Sharma Mayur , Wang Dengzhi , Ugiliweneza Beatrice , Drazin Doniel , Boakye Maxwell
Published: April 2022

BACKGROUND:

Anxiety and depression are associated with suboptimal outcomes, higher complications, and cost of care after elective spine surgery. The effect of combined anxiety-depression and preoperative antidepressant treatment in spinal fusion patients is not known.

OBJECTIVE:

To study the burden of combined anxiety-depression and its impact on healthcare utilization and costs in patients undergoing spinal fusion and to study the prevalence and impact of antidepressant treatment preoperatively.

METHODS:

This is a retrospective cohort study from the IBM MarketScan Research Database (2000-2018). Patients were studied in 7 different “phenotypes” of anxiety and depression based on combination of diagnoses and treatment. Outcome measures included healthcare utilization and costs from 1 year preoperatively to 2 years postoperatively. Bivariate and multivariable analyses have been reported.

RESULTS:

We studied 75 087 patients with a median age of 57 years. Patients with combined anxiety-depression were associated with higher preoperative and postoperative healthcare utilization and costs, as compared with anxiety or depression alone. The presence of depression in patients with and without anxiety disorder was a risk factor for postoperative opioid use and 2-year reoperation rates, as compared with anxiety alone. Patients with anxiety and/or depression on antidepressants are associated with significantly higher healthcare costs and opioid use. The adjusted 2-year reoperation rate was not significantly different between treated and untreated cohorts.

CONCLUSION:

Spine surgeons should use appropriate measures/questionnaires to screen depressed patients for anxiety and vice versa because the presence of both adds significant risk of higher healthcare utilization and costs over patients with 1 diagnosis, especially anxiety alone.
Design and process planning methodologies for additive manufacturing
Authors: Μπίκας Χαρίσης
Published: April 2022

Αντικείμενο της παρούσας εργασίας είναι η ανάπτυξη μιας ολοκληρωμένης μεθοδολογίας λήψης αποφάσεων, σχεδιασμού και προγραμματισμού παραγωγής για διεργασίες εναπόθεσης υλικού/τρισδιάστατης εκτύπωσης. Η εργασία φιλοδοξεί να αποτελέσει μια πηγή μεθόδων και εργαλείων που θα καταστήσει τις διεργασίες εναπόθεσης υλικού πιο προσιτή στους μέσους χρήστες, καταργώντας τις απαιτήσεις για εξαιρετικά εξειδικευμένες γνώσεις.Αρχικά έγινε μια μελέτη των υπάρχουσων μεθόδων που σχετίζονται με την αξιολόγηση της καταλληλότητας των διεργασιών εναπόθεσης υλικού καθώς και της επιλογής των καταλληλότερων διεργασιών με βάση το ζητούμενο αποτέλεσμα. Με βάση τα κενά που εντοπίστηκαν, στοιχειοθετήθηκε και παρουσιάστηκε μια μέθοδος αξιολόγησης της σκοπιμότητας και της τεχνολογικής καταλληλότητας των διεργασιών εναπόθεσης υλικού. Επιπλέον, μελετήθηκαν οι υπάρχουσες μέθοδοι για την επιλογή της καταληλότερης διεργασίας. Για να ξεπεραστούν οι αδυναμίες τους, αναπτύχθηκε μια νέα μέθοδος που περιλαμβάνει τρία διακριτά αλλά αλληλένδετα βήματα (επιλογή υλικού, επιλογή διεργασίας, επιλογή μηχανής). Οι προτάσεις αυτές αξιολογούνται και παρουσιάζονται στον χρήστη με σειρά καταλληλότητας με βάση πολλαπλά κριτήρια που επιλέγονται από τους ίδιους.Στην συνέχεια η διατριβή επικεντρώνεται στο θέμα του σχεδιασμού. Παρουσιάζονται οι σχεδιαστικοί περιορισμοί ανά τύπο/οικογένεια διεργασίας εναπόθεσης υλικού, και γίνεται συστηματοποίηση τους σε κανόνες σχεδιασμού. Με βάση κανόνες που τέθηκαν, αναλύεται η προτεινόμενη μέθοδος βελτιστοποίησης σχεδιασμού για διεργασίες εναπόθεσης υλικού, η οποία λαμβάνει υπ’ όψιν τόσο την βέλτιστη κατανομή υλικού με βάση την μηχανική συμπεριφορά, όσο και την κατασκευασιμότητα προκειμένου το τελικό αποτέλεσμα να συνάδει με τους κανόνες σχεδιασμού της εκάστοτε διεργασίας που έχει επιλεχθεί.Συνεχίζοντας, προτείνεται μέθοδος προγραμματισμού της παραγωγής, λαμβάνοντας υπ’ όψιν πως οι διεργασίες εναπόθεσης υλικού συνήθως απαιτούν μετεπεξεργασία με κατεργασίες αφαίρεσης υλικού, για επίτευξη της απαιτούμενης διαστασεολογικής ακρίβειας. Τέλος, παρουσιάζεται η προτεινόμενη μέθοδος για την συνολική αξιολόγηση της επίδρασης της υιοθέτησης διεργασιών εναπόθεσης υλικού σε κάθε στάδιο της ανάπτυξης και παραγωγής του προϊόντος, θεσπίζοντας κατάλληλους αριθμοδείκτες.Η χρηστικότητα των προτεινόμενων μεθόδων επιβεβαιώνεται σε μια περιπτωσιολογική μελέτη προερχόμενη από τη βιομηχανία.
Formal definition of the MARS method for quantifying the unique target class discoveries of selected machine classifiers
Authors: Restrepo Felipe , Mali Namrata , Abrahams Alan , Ractham Peter
Published: April 2022

Conventional binary classification performance metrics evaluate either general measures (accuracy, F score) or specific aspects (precision, recall) of a model’s classifying ability. As such, these metrics, derived from the model’s confusion matrix, provide crucial insight regarding classifier-data interactions. However, modern- day computational capabilities have allowed for the creation of increasingly complex models that share nearly identical classification performance. While traditional performance metrics remain as essential indicators of a classifier’s individual capabilities, their ability to differentiate between models is limited. In this paper, we present the methodology for MARS (Method for Assessing Relative Sensitivity/ Specificity) ShineThrough and MARS Occlusion scores, two novel binary classification performance metrics, designed to quantify the distinctiveness of a classifier’s predictive successes and failures, relative to alternative classifiers. Being able to quantitatively express classifier uniqueness adds a novel classifier-classifier layer to the process of model evaluation and could improve ensemble model-selection decision making. By calculating both conventional performance measures, and proposed MARS metrics for a simple classifier prediction dataset, we demonstrate that the proposed metrics’ informational strengths synergize well with those of traditional metrics, delivering insight complementary to that of conventional metrics.
The genome sequence of the marbled white butterfly, Melanargia galathea (Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: Vila Roger , Lohse Konrad , Hayward Alex , Laetsch Dominik ,   Natural History Museum Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: April 2022

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Melanargia galathea (the marbled white; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Nymphalidae). The genome sequence is 606 megabases in span. The majority (99.97%) of the assembly is scaffolded into 25 chromosomal pseudomolecules, with the W and Z sex chromosomes assembled.
The genome sequence of the ringed china-mark, Parapoynx stratiotata (Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: Boyes Douglas , Chadd Richard ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Natural History Museum Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective, Mulhair Peter ,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: April 2022

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Parapoynx stratiotata (the ringed china-mark; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Crambidae). The genome sequence is 478 megabases in span. The majority of the assembly (99.98%) is scaffolded into 30 chromosomal pseudomolecules, with the Z sex chromosome assembled. The mitochondrial genome was also assembled and is 15.4 kilobases in length.
The genome sequence of Tenthredo notha Klug, 1814, a sawfly
Authors: Falk Steven ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective, Broad Gavin R. ,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: April 2022

We present a genome assembly from an individual Tenthredo notha (Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Halictidae) of unknown sex. The genome sequence is 253 megabases in span. The majority of the assembly (99.91%) is scaffolded into 20 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome was also assembled and is 19.8 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl has identified 10,235 protein coding genes.
Comparative analysis of informed consent for spine surgery in patients in Ethiopia and Poland and the importance of verbal contact with patients based on the medical mission "Polish Medical Team Helping Hand"
Authors: Siedlecki Zygmunt , Sahlu Abat , Sileshy Adu , Mendere Surafel Mekonnen , Dilnesaw Amanuel Firew , Bizuneh Yemisirach , Grzyb Sebastian , Tegene Bizuayehu Mengesha , Tirsit Abenezer , Śniegocki Maciej
Published: April 2022

The authors present a comparative analysis of the issue of legal consents for surgical procedures between Ethiopia and Poland. The analysis is based on the procedures performed as part of the Polish medical mission "Polish Medical Team Helping Hand". As part of this project, the authors performed ten surgical procedures for percutaneous spine stabilization in soldiers injured during the war with gunshots of the spine and after falling from a height. All soldiers signed informed written consent to the procedure. However, the authors noticed a significant role of additional oral/ verbal (not written) information in discussing the details of the procedure, which in Polish hospitals must be in writing for formal and legal reasons. The authors conclude that while the written consent for surgical treatment is key and necessary both in Poland and in Ethiopia, in the case of medical procedures performed in Ethiopia, oral communication between the doctor and patients and oral explanations are more binding even regardless of the language barrier.
El Panteón: imagen, tiempo y espacio. Proyecto y Patrimonio
Authors: Montero Fernández Francisco Javier
Published: April 2022

Libro que hace un recorrido por la imagen de los panteones, desde la urbe romana hasta la actualidad, y su significado según el contexto de cada época.
Offline Pricing and Demand Learning with Censored Data
Authors: Bu Jinzhi , Simchi-Levi David , Wang Li
Published: April 2022

We study a single product pricing problem with demand censoring in an offline data-driven setting. In this problem, a retailer has a finite amount of inventory and faces a random demand that is price sensitive in a linear fashion with unknown price sensitivity and base demand distribution. Any unsatisfied demand that exceeds the inventory level is lost and unobservable. We assume that the retailer has access to an offline data set consisting of triples of historical price, inventory level, and potentially censored sales quantity. The retailer’s objective is to use the offline data set to find an optimal price, maximizing his or her expected revenue with finite inventories. Because of demand censoring in the offline data, we show that the existence of near-optimal algorithms in a data-driven problem—which we call problem identifiability—is not always guaranteed. We develop a necessary and sufficient condition for problem identifiability by comparing the solutions to two distributionally robust optimization problems. We propose a novel data-driven algorithm that hedges against the distributional uncertainty arising from censored data, with provable finite-sample performance guarantees regardless of problem identifiability and offline data quality. Specifically, we prove that, for identifiable problems, the proposed algorithm is near-optimal and, for unidentifiable problems, its worst-case revenue loss approaches the best-achievable minimax revenue loss that any data-driven algorithm must incur. Numerical experiments demonstrate that our proposed algorithm is highly effective and significantly improves both the expected and worst-case revenues compared with three regression-based algorithms.

This paper was accepted by J. George Shanthikumar, big data analytics.

Funding: This work was supported by the MIT Data Science Laboratory. J. Bu was partially supported by a Hong Kong Polytechnic University Start-up Fund for New Recruits [Project ID P0039585].

Supplemental Material: Data and the online appendices are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.4382 .
Optimization-Based Scenario Reduction for Data-Driven Two-Stage Stochastic Optimization
Authors: Bertsimas Dimitris , Mundru Nishanth
Published: April 2022

In the field of data-driven optimization under uncertainty, scenario reduction is a commonly used technique for computing a smaller number of scenarios to improve computational tractability and interpretability. However traditional approaches do not consider the decision quality when computing these scenarios. In “Optimization-Based Scenario Reduction for Data-Driven Two-Stage Stochastic Optimization,” Bertsimas and Mundru present a novel optimization-based method that explicitly considers the objective and problem structure for reducing the number of scenarios needed for solving two-stage stochastic optimization problems. This new proposed method is generally applicable and has significantly better performance when the number of reduced scenarios is 1%–2% of the full sample size compared with other state-of-the-art optimization and randomization methods, which suggests this improves both tractability and interpretability.
Formulation Development and Evaluation of Microemulsion Based Lornoxicam Gel
Authors: Thombre Nilima A. , Niphade Pooja S. , D. Ahire Eknath , J. Kshirsagar Sanjay
Published: April 2022

The objective of the existing research was formulation development and preparation of microemulsion loaded emulgel in augmenting the topical delivery of Lornoxicam. Emulsion and gel combined are recognized as Emulgels. Gelling agents Carbopol 940, 974, 980 were used to formulating Lornoxicam emulgel. The drug release from emulgel was determined depending on the different gelling agents. Clove oil for internal phase and Polyethylene glycol 200 was applied as co-surfactant and Tween 20 as permeation enhancer. Prepared emulgels were evaluated for in-vitro and in- vivo anti-inflammatory activity using Albino mice and stability studies. The optimized batch of emulgel gave better results when compared with the marketed Diclofenac sodium gel. 90.42% drug release was detected in 8 hr. Prepared formulation was free from skin irritation and detected with 62.02% inhibition of edema. Correspondingly, prepared formulations were found to be stable. Developed microemulsion increased solubility of drugs, so that less soluble drugs can be applied in the formulation. Carbopol 980 (1.5 %) gave better results for emulgel. Therefore, microemulsion-loaded Lornoxicam Emulgel detected with better analgesic effect.
Potential Antimicrobial Activity of Cyanobacteria Oscillatoria Boryana and Oscillatoria Pseudogeminata Isolated from Odisha Coast, India
Authors: Mahish Pramod Kumar , Fule Ujwala , Pandaw Madhulika , Rakshit Arpita
Published: April 2022

The present report is an investigation of commonly used hand sanitizer and spry in India to fight against Covid-19. Apart from alcohol, the rest part of the sanitizer and spray belongs to colors, water, preservatives therefore some medicinal plants are added to the formulation because of their antimicrobial property. The study, therefore, aims to analyze medicinal plant extract utilized in hand sanitizer and spray, its composition, and its manufacturer too. The hand sanitizer and spray were gathered from various sources and their manufacturers, the composition of medicinal plant extract was noted down. The present study finds 63% of sanitizer and spray uses medicinal plants in their composition. Medicinal plant-based hand sanitizer and spray manufactured all over the country in which pharmaceutical, personal care, and cosmetics, herbal product-based companies and industries are the largest producer. A total of 19 medicinal plants were recorded in which Azadirachta indica and Alove barbadensis were most commonly used. The composition of hand sanitizer and spray medicinal plant extracts included around 0.15 to 0.20% of the total. The study concluded that the use of medicinal plant extract in hand sanitizer and spray is encouraging and antiviral potential medicinal plants are incorporated in the formulation. The use of Alove barbadensis also protects moisture and avoids the dehydration caused by alcohol. Therefore the study will be helpful to aware the peoples and manufacturing industries for the use of hand sanitizer and spray based on medicinal plants.
Screening and Optimisation of the Biodegradation Potential for Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Films by Fusarium Equiseti and Brevibacillus Parabrevis
Authors: A. Ali Sally , Zakarya Shimaa , Khaled Shimaa
Published: April 2022

The accumulation of low density polyethylene, used extensively in packaging for industrial and agricultural applications, in the ecosystem is a great threat. This study focuses on the isolation of micro-biota from the plastic polluted sites to screen and optimise their potential for low density polyethylene (LDPE) film biodegradation. Firstly, the plastic samples from soil dumping plastic debris and plastic polluted water were collected; then fungi and bacteria were isolated using potato dextrose agar media and nutrient agar media, respectively, while screening low density polyethylene film biodegradation performed on mineral salt media (MSM) using the isolated micro-biota. The measurement of the potential biodegradation was assessed by visual observation. The most microbial colonization for low density polyethylene films was identifying molecular which was then utilized for optimisation of the biodegradation processes with different parameters such as media type, inoculum size, shaking speed, different incubation temperature and pH at different incubation time. Then the weight loss in the LDPE films percentage was calculated measuring dry mycelium weight and bacterial absorbance. The results revealed that, among the isolated micro-biota fifteenth, the most colonization was Fusarium equiseti and Brevibacillus parabrevis depending on the scanning electron microsope (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis, in addition to optimum media, inoculum size, shaking speed, incubation temperature, pH, MSM, 2 disks and 2 ml, 30˚ C and 35˚C, pH5 and pH7 for 30:20 days for F.equiseti and B.parabrevis, respectively. The overall results confirmed that F.equiseti and B.parabrevis from the plastic polluted sites play an essential role in low density polyethylene films biodegradation.
Assessment of Salinity Tolerance Deploying Antioxidant Defense Systems in Gerbera Jamesonii
Authors: Uzma Javeria , Talla Sai Krishna , Madam Ebenezer , Mamidala Praveen
Published: April 2022

Inconsistency in the environment exposes plants to various abiotic stresses. This results in damage of a plant’s cellular components due to excessive accumulation of unstable reactive oxygen. Besides, it also disrupts enzymatic/non-enzymatic detoxification mechanisms in plants making them more sensitive. Salinity is one such abiotic stress which disrupts regular physiological mechanisms in plants. In this study, we examined the effects of salinity using NaCl in four different genotypes of Gerbera jamesonii cv Bolus, an important ornamental plant of family Compositae. We hypothesized that, upon treatment with NaCl (50, 100, 150 200mM concentration), alterations in the morphological features along with elevated levels of H2O2, MDA, proline, and degradation of chlorophyll will be observed. The enzymatic antioxidant defenses were also hypothesized to differ among genotypes based on their level of tolerance. These parameters were monitored on the 5th and 20th day of NaCl treatment and results were recorded. The observations suggest that 1. the Lattara genotype of Gerbera is sensitive to NaCl and 2. Faith is tolerant, while 3. Alcatras and Basic are moderately tolerant. These findings accompanied by further research on the physiological parameters responsible for attaining salinity tolerance may help in developing salt-tolerant varieties in Gerbera. Future studies on decoding molecular networks associated with the antioxidative defense system in Gerbera can help improve breeding and create novel germplasm in various ornamentally important plants besides Gerbera.
N,N-Dimethylformamide inhibits high glucose-induced osteoporosis via attenuating MAPK and NF-κB signalling
Authors: Liu Ya Dong , Liu Jian Feng , Liu Bin
Published: April 2022

Aims

The role of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) in diabetes-induced osteoporosis (DM-OS) progression remains unclear. Here, we aimed to explore the effect of DMF on DM-OS development.

Methods

Diabetic models of mice, RAW 264.7 cells, and bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) were established by streptozotocin stimulation, high glucose treatment, and receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) treatment, respectively. The effects of DMF on DM-OS development in these models were examined by micro-CT analysis, haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, osteoclast differentiation of RAW 264.7 cells and BMMs, H&E and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of TRAP5b and c-terminal telopeptides of type 1 (CTX1) analyses, reactive oxygen species (ROS) analysis, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, and Western blot.

Results

The established diabetic mice were more sensitive to ovariectomy (OVX)-induced osteoporosis, and DMF treatment inhibited the sensitivity. OVX-treated diabetic mice exhibited higher TRAP5b and c-terminal telopeptides of type 1 (CTX1) levels, and DMF treatment inhibited the enhancement. DMF reduced RAW 264.7 cell viability. Glucose treatment enhanced the levels of TRAP5b, cathepsin K, Atp6v0d2, and H+-ATPase, ROS, while DMF reversed this phenotype. The glucose-increased protein levels were inhibited by DMF in cells treated with RANKL. The expression levels of antioxidant enzymes Gclc, Gclm, Ho-1, and Nqo1 were upregulated by DMF. DMF attenuated high glucose-caused osteoclast differentiation by targeting mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signalling in BMMs.

Conclusion

DMF inhibits high glucose-induced osteoporosis by targeting MAPK and NF-κB signalling. Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2022;11(4):200–209.
The feasibility of achieving Elective Care Framework targets for total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty in Northern Ireland
Authors: Mayne Alistair I. W. , Cassidy Roslyn S. , Magill Paul , Mockford B. J. , Acton Danny A. , McAlinden M. Gavan
Published: April 2022

Aims

Waiting times for arthroplasty surgery in Northern Ireland are among the longest in the NHS, which have been further lengthened by the onset of the COVID-19 global pandemic in March 2020. The Department of Health in Northern Ireland has announced a new Elective Care Framework (ECF), with the framework proposing that by March 2026 no patient will wait more than 52 weeks for inpatient/day case treatment. We aimed to assess the feasibility of achieving this with reference to total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods

Mathematical modelling was undertaken to calculate when the ECF targets will be achieved for THA and TKA, as well as the time when waiting lists for THA and TKA will be cleared. The number of patients currently on the waiting list and percentage operating capacity relative to pre-COVID-19 capacity was used to determine future projections.

Results

As of May 2021, there were 3,757 patients awaiting primary THA and 4,469 patients awaiting primary TKA in Northern Ireland. Prior to April 2020, there were a mean 2,346 (2,085 to 2,610) patients per annum boarded for primary THA, a mean 2,514 (2,494 to 2,514) patients per annum boarded for primary TKA, and there were a mean 1,554 primary THAs and 1,518 primary TKAs performed per annum. The ECF targets for THA will only be achieved in 2030 if operating capacity is 200% of pre COVID-19 pandemic capacity and in 2042 if capacity is 170%. For TKA, the targets will be met in 2034 if capacity is 200% of pre-COVID-19 pandemic capacity.

Conclusion

This modelling demonstrates that, in the absence of major funding and reorganization of elective orthopaedic care, the targets set out in the ECF will not be achieved with regard to THA and TKA. Waiting times for THA and TKA surgery in Northern Ireland are likely to remain greater than 52 weeks for most of this decade. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2022;3(4):302–306.
America’s longest war was founded on false pretences
Authors: Gokay Bulent
Published: April 2022

The war in Afghanistan ended as it had started, with total ambiguity of its objectives as well as what it achieved. The official Western narrative in 2001 was that “everything changed” on the day four airliners were hijacked and nearly 5,000 people murdered. The US intervention in Afghanistan, by this account, was hastily improvised in less than a month. However, the decisions shaping the US military campaign in Afghanistan in 2001 show a remarkable continuity based on an ongoing pre-September 11 evolution in the US foreign policy. As a matter of fact, the US operations in Afghanistan did not begin 20 years ago. But in 1979, during the presidency of Jimmy Carter.
Vaccine nationalism: Competition, EU parochialism, and COVID-19
Authors: Kampmark Binoy , Kurečić Petar
Published: April 2022

This paper considers the forms of vaccine nationalism specific to responses to SARS-CoV-2. First, it considers the initial vaccine responses to SARS-CoV-2 and how the competition unfolded in a broader, global sense. The second part considers the way the European Union adopted its own type of nationalism, despite claiming to distinguish itself as more humanitarian and equitable in approaching COVID-19 vaccine production, supply, and distribution. The creation of the export control mechanism, and the threat of its use, was itself an expression of Euro-nationalism in action. The need to do so was largely a product of the EU’s own making, given its own contractual relationships with the pharmaceutical companies. Finally, this paper contends that the advocacy for vaccine passports, championed by the EU, served to cause parochial ruptures in the bloc for commercial reasons.
China’s Miracle
Authors: Xie Fusheng , Kuang Xiaolu , Wang Jiateng
Published: April 2022

We construct a framework for the interaction between economic system reform and the technological-economic system in order to analyze the dynamic process of China’s economic transformation and development. China has passed through three major phases of economic system reform, which have involved reforming the commodity economy through planning, establishing the socialist market economic system, and improving the socialist market economic system. Correspondingly, China has gone through three technological-economic systems, which may be summed up as: “quantitative subsistence consumption and extensive production without technological progress,” “qualitative subsistence consumption and extensive production with technological progress,” and “standardized mass consumption and mass production.” Since 2012, China’s economy has entered the era of a “new normal,” characterized by lower growth rates. This indicates a fundamental shift in the patterns of social demand away from the current technological-economic system that is growing incapable of sustaining rapid capital accumulation and thus needs transforming. To better explain China’s miracle, we focus on the ways in which the contradictions within each technological-economic system have evolved and have been resolved through targeted reforms to the economic system. Eventually, these reforms will lead to a new system that facilitates further capital accumulation.
Networked Intelligence
Authors: Stavdas Alexandros
Published: April 2022

In this article, it is argued that the Fourth Industrial Revolution (I4.0) is the result of a technology fusion between the following factors that define an economic epoch: (a) The production systems and the type of tools these systems are employing; (b) The communication technologies as well as the means used for information storage, processing, sensing and knowledge creation: the information and communication technologies (ICT); (c) The energy generation and distribution systems used, and (d) The biotechnology. The thesis of this article is that ICT is the predominant factor in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. To justify this claim, the progress of the scientific fields of which this factor consists is elaborated, and its impact on other factors is highlighted with emphasis on the societal impact. It is claimed that the eventual fusion of these factors leads to a single technological continuum. The eventual fusion of all factors is made possible because they all exploit a common material base while we are entering the era where we can regulate and superintend a vast number of heterogeneous technologies via open software. The eventual fusion of these factors will lead to a single technological continuum, and it will redefine the notions of “production” and “work,” as it will allow overcoming the over-fragmentation in specialization, while it will reshape our cities, our personal lives and our relationship with science.
Range resolution modeling for 3D gated range-intensity correlation imaging based on a statistical theory
Authors: Liu Xiaoquan , Wang Xinwei , Sun Liang , Hou Wei , Lu Tao , Zhou Yan
Published: April 2022

This paper systematically establishes a range resolution model for 3D gated range-intensity correlation imaging (GRICI) based on the law of error propagation and statistical theory, and especially takes the high-repetition frequency characteristic of 3D GRICI into consideration. The model can theoretically guide the setting of the GRICI system parameters to obtain a higher range resolution compared with existing modeling methods. This paper also verifies the correctness of the proposed model through simulation and experiments, and quantitatively analyzes the influence of the accumulated pulse number in a single frame. In addition, the range resolution for our 3D GRICI system is measured under the guidance of the proposed model, and it reaches the millimeter order.
Enhanced lighting on the road surface with TIR-PA optical element on tunnel sidewall
Authors: Guo Ziyang , Dai Haitao , Gao Meini , Zhang Yu , Hao Xichen , Zhang Han , Mohamed Zolkefl A. Y. , Fu Yikai , Feng Shouzhong
Published: April 2022

Both the lighting quality and driving safety inside the tunnel have been quite a concern around the world. In this study, a plate with prism array of total internal reflection (TIR-PA) has been designed to enhance the lighting on the road surface inside the tunnel in adherence to traffic safety as well as energy savings. Such optical elements, above the tunnel sidewall, can redirect the rays emitted from both the headlight and lighting devices to the road surface, which supports higher flux on the road. Simultaneously, the simulation is conducted with consideration of practical factors based on the mathematical model and edge-ray principle to attain the effect of the TIR-PA plates. On the one hand, for the rays from the lighting devices, the enhancement rate of illuminance has reached 12.60%–16.58%, which is attributed to TIR-PA plates above the different sidewalls of the Lambertian scattering property. TIR-PA can be suitable for various sidewall materials due to the small effect of illumination reduction. On the other hand, 30.2%–32.2% rays of the headlight source received by the sidewall, due to the effect of TIR-PA plates, are redirected to the driving distance for 27.3–71.9 m, which makes

15.9
−
31.1

m

2

of road surface brighter. It makes contributions to the improvement of illuminance distribution and drivers’ pre-judgment. In the future, broader applications regarding the TIR-PA plates will be explored widely in tunnel lighting systems due to the low production cost.
Terahertz anisotropy in fascia and lean meat tissues
Authors: Xiong Hongting , Sun Hongyan , Zhou Jiangping , Li Haotian , Zhang Hao , Liu Shaojie , Cai Jiahua , Feng Lin , Miao Jungang , Chen Sai , Wu Xiaojun
Published: April 2022

Terahertz (THz) spectroscopy provides multifaceted capabilities for observing low-energy responses of macromolecules, cells and tissues, understanding THz biophysical effects, and expecting to realize the application of THz technology in biomedicine. However, its high-frequency characteristics of limited penetration depth and strong absorption of water in the body comparable to microwaves are impeding the proliferation of THz spectroscopy. Here we show that THz spectroscopy makes possible the observation of THz anisotropy phenomena for the first time in fascia and lean tissue. Through optical microscopy, we infer that the microscopic mechanism of THz anisotropy comes from the periodic stripe structure of the biological tissue. The above related experimental findings may be expected to promote the application of THz technology in biomedicine.
Multispectral truncated-correlation photothermal coherence tomography imaging modality for detection of early stage dental caries
Authors: Baradaran Shokouhi Elnaz , Welch Robert , Sivagurunathan Koneswaran , Mandelis Andreas
Published: April 2022

One of the major oral health conditions worldwide is dental caries. Light-absorption-based thermophotonic diagnostic imaging is well positioned for this challenge thanks to its speed, safety, and high molecular contrast advantages. In this work, a multispectral (MS) truncated-correlation photothermal coherence tomography (TC-PCT) imaging modality is introduced for the detection of bacterial-induced dental caries. MS TC-PCT provided thorough information about optimal lesion contrast and type of dental defects such as caries in teeth. The experimental results were validated using micro-computed tomography (µCT) including quantitative lesion depth profiles at wavelengths in the 675-700 nm range. MS TC-PCT gives rise to hard-tissue biomedical diagnostic applications such as bone and dental imaging.
Analytical theory of finite-size photonic crystal slabs near the band edge
Authors: Chen Zihao , Yin Xuefan , Li Peishen , Zheng Zhao , Zhang Zixuan , Wang Feifan , Peng Chao
Published: April 2022

An analytical three-dimensional (3D) coupled-wave theory (CWT) for the finite-size photonic crystal slabs (PhCs) has been presented to depict the discretized modes at band-edges residing inside and outside the continuum. Specifically, we derive the CWT equations of slow-varying envelop function of dominant Bloch waves. By combining the trial solutions that are composed of a basis of bulk states with appropriate boundary conditions (B.C.), we analytically solve the equations and discuss the far-field patterns, asymptotic behavior and flatband effect of the finite-size modes, respectively. The proposed method presents a clear picture in physics for the origins of finite-size modes and provides an efficient and comprehensive tool for designing and optimizing PhC devices such as PCSELs.
Transversely oriented cylindrically polarized optical fields
Authors: Meng Xindong , Wan Chenhao , Zhan Qiwen
Published: April 2022

Cylindrical vector (CV) beams have nonuniform polarization vector distribution with a singularity line directed along the optical axis. In this paper, we propose a method to synthesize transversely oriented cylindrically polarized optical fields in the focal region with a singularity line perpendicular to the optical axis. The scheme is based on the time-reversal method, the vectorial diffraction theory, and the 4Pi optical configuration. Both transversely oriented radially polarized and azimuthally polarized optical fields are demonstrated. The superposition of transverse cylindrically polarized optical fields leads to a peculiar distribution carrying controllable transverse spin angular momentum (SAM) and transverse orbital angular momentum (OAM) that may find applications in optical tweezing, light-matter interaction, and unidirectional beam propagation excitation.
Emission bandwidth control on a two-dimensional superlattice microcavity array
Authors: Liu Zhen , Shimizu Makoto , Yugami Hiroo
Published: April 2022

Narrowband thermal emission at high temperatures is required for various thermal energy systems. However, the large lossy energy of refractory metals induces a broad bandwidth emission. Here, we demonstrated a two-dimensional (2D) superlattice microcavity array on refractory metals to control the emission bandwidth. A hybrid resonance mode was obtained by coupling the standing-wave modes and propagating surface-wave modes. The bandwidth emission was controlled by varying the superlattice microcavity array resulting from the change in electric field (E-field) concentration. The quality factor (Q-factor) improved by more than 3 times compared to that of a single-lattice array. A narrower band emission originating from the hybrid mode was observed and analyzed experimentally. This novel surface-relief microstructure method can be used to control the emission bandwidth of thermal emitters used in thermophotovoltaic (TPV) systems and other high-temperature thermal energy systems.
Quantum phase modulation with acoustic cavities and quantum dots
Authors: Imany Poolad , Wang Zixuan , DeCrescent Ryan A. , Boutelle Robert C. , McDonald Corey A. , Autry Travis , Berweger Samuel , Kabos Pavel , Nam Sae Woo , Mirin Richard P. , Silverman Kevin L.
Published: April 2022

Fast, efficient, and low-power modulation of light at microwave
frequencies is crucial for chip-scale classical and quantum processing
as well as for long-range networks of superconducting quantum
processors. A successful approach to bridge the gap between microwave
and optical photons has been to use intermediate platforms, such as
acoustic waves, that couple efficiently to a variety of quantum
systems. Here, we use gigahertz-frequency focusing surface acoustic
wave cavities on GaAs that are piezo-electrically coupled to
superconducting circuits and parametrically coupled, via strain, to
photons scattered from InAs quantum dots. We demonstrate modulation of
single photons with a half-wave voltage as low as 44 mV, and
subnatural modulation sideband linewidths. These demonstrations pave
the way for efficient and low-noise transduction of quantum
information between microwave and optical domains.