bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of neuropsychological profiles in children and adolescent with anorexia nervosa and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID)
Authors: Basile C. , Gigliotti F. , Colaiori M. , Santo F. Di , Terrinoni A. , Ardizzone I. , Sabatello U.
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Anorexia Nervosa (AN) is an eating disorder characterized by low body weight, fear of gaining weight and distorted perception of body. Patients have rigidity, repetition of thoughts, alterations in decision-making skills and poor ability to provide new solutions. Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is a new eating disorder characterized by the absence of distress about body shape or fear of weight gain. Studies on neurocognitive aspects are few and no effective treatments are known.

Objectives

The aim of our study was to further investigate the executive functions’ domains in AN and ARFID children and adolescents, to provide possible distinct neurocognitive traits in these patients.

Methods

AN or ARFID patients (15 + 15; range 6-18 years), were assessed by neuropsychological tools, such as: Wechsler Intelligence Scale to measure I.Q. profile, NEPSY-II to explore attention and executive functions, Tower of London test to detect planning and problem solving abilities, the Bells Test to evaluate visual selective and focused attention, the Wisconsing Card Sorting Test (WCST) for assessment of flexibility and directing behaviors by achieving a goal and the Rey-Osterrieth complex figure test (ROCF) to assess visual-spatial abilities.

Results

Patients with ARFID presented impairments in several executive functions domains, with difficulties in the impulse inhibition, in the sustained attention and in visual-spatial skills. Finally, in their anamnesis a higher comorbidity with neurodevelopmental disorders such as specific learning disorder has been underlined.

Conclusions

The identification of specific deficit in neuropsychological profile of ARFID patients could be a rehabilitation target, together with standardized treatment.
Role of oxytocin in modulating addictive behaviour
Authors: Bach P. , Koopmann A. , Kiefer F.
Published: February 2022

Background

The brain oxytocin system is involved in a wide range of addictive behaviors, inhibiting prime- and cue-induced relapse in preclinical models of substance use disorders. Animal studies linked oxytocin’s effects on drug ingestion to modulation of neurotransmission in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). We set out to investigate whether oxytocin can modulate alcohol cue-induced functional connectivity between the brain reward system and cortical regions.

Methods

Fifteen male heavy social drinkers were enrolled in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over functional magnetic resonance imaging study (fMRI) investigating the effect of 24 IU oxytocin on alcohol cue-modulated functional connectivity.

Results

Results of the functional connectivity analyses show that oxytocin application significantly reduced connectivity between the NAc and cuneus and thalamo-occipital connectivity, while enhancing connectivity between the paracingulate gyrus and precentral gyrus (tow-sided seed-level false discovery rate pFDR < 0.05). These effects were specific to the alcohol presentation and were absent during processing of neutral pictures. In addition, the NAc-cuneus connectivity significantly correlated with subjective alcohol cue-induced craving during the scanning session (r = 0.538, p = 0.024). Conclusion: Results provide initial evidence for condition-specific and significant attenuation of NAc connectivity by oxytocin in a sample of heavy social drinkers that was related to lower subjective alcohol craving during the fMRI task. Oxytocin-induced attenuation of NAc connectivity was specific to processing alcohol stimuli and might reflect an attenuation of alcohol-cue saliency by oxytocin that could lead to a reduction of the sensitivity towards the appetitive aspects of alcohol cues.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.
A Novel Artificial Intelligence–Powered Method for Prediction of Early Recurrence of Prostate Cancer After Prostatectomy and Cancer Drivers
Authors: Huang Wei , Randhawa Ramandeep , Jain Parag , Hubbard Samuel , Eickhoff Jens , Kummar Shivaani , Wilding George , Basu Hirak , Roy Rajat
Published: February 2022

PURPOSE

To develop a novel artificial intelligence (AI)–powered method for the prediction of prostate cancer (PCa) early recurrence and identification of driver regions in PCa of all Gleason Grade Group (GGG).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Deep convolutional neural networks were used to develop the AI model. The AI model was trained on The Cancer Genome Atlas Prostatic Adenocarcinoma (TCGA-PRAD) whole slide images (WSI) and data set (n = 243) to predict 3-year biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy (RP) and was subsequently validated on WSI from patients with PCa (n = 173) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

RESULTS

Our AI-powered platform can extract visual and subvisual morphologic features from WSI to identify driver regions predictive of early recurrence of PCa (regions of interest [ROIs]) after RP. The ROIs were ranked with AI-morphometric scores, which were prognostic for 3-year biochemical recurrence (area under the curve [AUC], 0.78), which is significantly better than the GGG overall (AUC, 0.62). The AI-morphometric scores also showed high accuracy in the prediction of recurrence for low- or intermediate-risk PCa—AUC, 0.76, 0.84, and 0.81 for GGG1, GGG2, and GGG3, respectively. These patients could benefit the most from timely adjuvant therapy after RP. The predictive value of the high-scored ROIs was validated by known PCa biomarkers studied. With this focused biomarker analysis, a potentially new STING pathway–related PCa biomarker—TMEM173—was identified.

CONCLUSION

Our study introduces a novel approach for identifying patients with PCa at risk for early recurrence regardless of their GGG status and for identifying cancer drivers for focused evolution-aware novel biomarker discovery.
Efficacy and Safety of Sintilimab Plus Anlotinib for PD-L1–Positive Recurrent or Metastatic Cervical Cancer: A Multicenter, Single-Arm, Prospective Phase II Trial
Authors: Xu Qin , Wang Junjie , Sun Yang , Lin Yibin , Liu Jing , Zhuo Yanhong , Huang Zhangzhou , Huang Songhua , Chen Ying , Chen Li , Ke Meifang , Li Li , Li Zirong , Pan Junping , Song Yanwen , Liu Rongqiang , Chen Chuanben
Published: February 2022

PURPOSE

No combined immunotherapy and antiangiogenic therapy have been investigated in exclusively programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1)–positive advanced cervical cancer (CA). We investigated the efficacy and safety of sintilimab plus anlotinib as second-line or later therapy for PD-L1–positive recurrent or metastatic (R/M) CA.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with PD-L1–positive (Combined Positive Score ≥ 1) R/M CA who progressed after at least one prior systemic chemotherapeutic regimen or could not tolerate chemotherapy were eligible for the phase II trial. The patients received 200 mg sintilimab once on day 1 and 10 mg anlotinib once daily on days 1-14 every 3 weeks. The primary end point was investigator-confirmed objective response rate (ORR) per RECIST v1.1. Secondary end points included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival, and disease control rate. Biomarkers were explored.

RESULTS

Forty-two patients were enrolled. The ORR was 54.8% (95% CI, 38.7 to 70.2). In 39 efficacy-evaluable patients, the ORR was 59.0% (95% CI, 42.1 to 74.4); the disease control rate was 94.9% (95% CI, 82.7 to 99.4). The median PFS was 9.4 months (95% CI, 8.0 to 14.6). The median overall survival was not reached. Furthermore, 85.8% of the patients experienced treatment-related adverse events. The most frequent treatment-related adverse events were hypothyroidism (33.3%), elevated aspartate aminotransferase levels (21.4%), and hypertension (19.0%). Patients with altered PIK3CA, PI3K-AKT signaling, or KMT2D had a higher ORR, whereas those with altered STK11 and/or JAK2 had a significantly shorter PFS.

CONCLUSION

Sintilimab plus anlotinib as second-line or later therapy is efficacious and safe for patients with advanced CA who have failed prior chemotherapy.
Downstream events initiated by expression of FSHD-associated DUX4: Studies of nucleocytoplasmic transport, γH2AX accumulation, and Bax/Bak-dependence
Authors: Masteika Isabel F. , Sathya Anvitha , Homma Sachiko , Miller Bess M. , Boyce Frederick M. , Miller Jeffrey Boone
Published: February 2022

Abnormal expression in skeletal muscle of the double homeobox transcription factor DUX4 underlies pathogenesis in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). Though multiple changes are known to be initiated by aberrant DUX4 expression, the downstream events initiated by DUX4 remain incompletely understood. In this study, we examined plausible downstream events initiated by DUX4. First, we found that nucleocytoplasmic protein export appeared to be decreased upon DUX4 expression as indicated by nuclear accumulation of a shuttle-GFP reporter. Second, building on studies from other labs, we showed that phospho(Ser139)-H2AX (γH2AX), an indicator of double-strand DNA breaks, accumulated both in human FSHD1 myotube nuclei upon endogenous DUX4 expression and in Bax-/-;Bak-/- (double knockout), SV40-immortalized mouse embryonic fibroblasts upon exogenous DUX4 expression. In contrast, DUX4-induced caspase 3/7 activation was prevented in Bax-/-;Bak-/- double knockout SV40-MEFs, but not by single knockouts of Bax, Bak, or Bid. Thus, aberrant DUX4 expression appeared to alter nucleocytoplasmic protein transport and generate double-strand DNA breaks in FSHD1 myotube nuclei, and the Bax/Bak pathway is required for DUX4-induced caspase activation but not γH2AX accumulation. These results add to our knowledge of downstream events induced by aberrant DUX4 expression and suggest possibilities for further mechanistic investigation.
Visible Light-induced Emission Enhancement in Aggregates of an Azobenzene Derivative
Authors: Okaji Miho , Yamauchi Mitsuaki , Masuo Sadahiro
Published: February 2022

The aggregation-induced emission (AIE) behaviors of an azobenzene derivative with two naphthalenes were studied by spectroscopic and microscopic measurements. The trans-azobenzene derivative exhibited clear AIE due to ordered aggregation, whereas the cis isomer did not show such AIE because it was a liquid. The nonemissive cis isomers in the liquid state underwent photoisomerization into trans isomers upon visible light irradiation, leading to emission enhancement due to the formation of ordered aggregates of trans isomers.
A rare case report of adenoid cystic carcinoma of parotid gland with perivascular and perineural spread
Authors: Pabbisetti Divya , Praharaju Bala Subrahmanyam , Inampudi Jyothik Varun , Jakkireddy Prudviram , Machineni Vamsi , Gudipati Anantaram , Papalkar Amber , Isamalla Chaithanya
Published: February 2022

Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a slow growing malignant neoplasm of the salivary glands, mainly occurring in minor salivary glands and relatively rare in parotid glands. It has got a remarkable capacity for extensive subclinical spread to the adjacent structures. Here, we present a case report of adenoid cystic carcinoma of parotid gland with perineural and perivascular spread. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of adenoid cystic carcinoma of parotid gland with perivascular spread along a major artery (ECA) and perineural spread along two different nerves (mandibular nerve and facial nerve)
Association between the body mass index, waist circumference, and body fat percentage with erosive esophagitis in adults with obesity after sleeve gastrectomy
Authors: Zevallos-Ventura Alba S. , de la Cruz-Ku Gabriel , Runzer-Colmenares Fernando M. , Pinto-Elera Jesús , Toro-Huamanchumo Carlos J.
Published: February 2022

Background: High anthropometric indexes before sleeve gastrectomy (SG) are associated with an increased risk of erosive esophagitis (EE) in bariatric surgery candidates. Reasons that explain how these indexes influence the development of esophageal pathology after surgery remains unclear.

Objectives: To assess the association between the body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and body fat percentage (BFP) with the development of EE in adults with obesity three months after SG.

Setting: Clínica Avendaño, Lima, Peru.

Methods: Retrospective cohort using a database including adults with obesity who underwent SG during 2017-2020. All the patients included had an endoscopy before and after the surgery. Sociodemographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics were compared according to BMI, WC and BFP, as well as by the development of de novo esophagitis. The association was evaluated by crude and adjusted generalized linear models with the log-Poisson family.

Results: From a total of 106 patients, 23 (21.7%) developed EE. We did not find significant differences in sociodemographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics between patients with de novo EE compared to those who did not develop EE. After adjustment, BMI (aRR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.18-1.40), BFP (aRR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.15-1.19) and WC (aRR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.69-1.16) were not associated with the development of EE three months post SG.

Conclusions: We found no association between preoperative anthropometric indexes and the development of de novo EE; therefore, morbid obesity should not be a criterion to exclude the patients to undergo SG as primary surgery because of the risk of developing EE.
COVID-19: Comparison of immunogenicity response between natural and post-vaccination infections
Authors: Rotty Ivonne Elisabeth , Kristanto Erwin , Sekeon Sekplin , Liwe Henny Ruth , Ekawardani Neni
Published: February 2022

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia has been ongoing for a year as at time of writing, since March 2020. Vaccination interventions are public health efforts that are arguably the most effective in the current pandemic situation, in addition to routine health protocols. Until now, there have been few reports of the effectiveness of vaccination and antibody titers formed after vaccination is carried out. This study aims to find out the difference in antibody titers after vaccination in confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Methods: This observational study investigated the difference in SARS-Cov-2 quantitative antibody titers between two cohorts: unvaccinated COVID patients who were confirmed -with COVID-19 and individuals undergoing vaccination at the hospital Prof. dr. R. D. Kandou Manado. Inclusion and exclusion criteria, statistical analysis, and research ethics were applied in the study.

Results: Antibody titers in survivor groups were relatively lower at 56 days and 84 days after COVID-19 diagnosis, while the antibody titer in the elderly group undergoing vaccination relatively increased at 56 days and 84 days after the first vaccination. There was a significant difference in antibody titers between a group of survivors and those who underwent vaccination on the first (28 days) and third (84 days).

Conclusions: From this study, it was found that in the naturally COVID-19-infected group, antibody titers were still found for 84 days after COVID-19 diagnosis. In the group undergoing vaccination, it was found that antibody titers increased significantly at 56 days after vaccination.
Eco-geographic patterns of child malnutrition in India and its association with cereal cultivation: An analysis using demographic health survey and agriculture datasets
Authors: Sanjeev Rama Krishna , Nuggehalli Srinivas Prashanth , Krishnan Bindu , Basappa Yogish Channa , Dinesh Akshay S. , Ulahannan Sabu K.
Published: February 2022

Background: High prevalence of maternal malnutrition, low birth-weight and child malnutrition in India contribute substantially to the global malnutrition burden. Rural India has disproportionately higher levels of child malnutrition. Stunting and wasting are the primary determinants of child malnutrition and their district-level distribution shows clustering in different geographies and regions. Cereals, particularly millets, constitute the bulk of protein intake among the poor, especially in rural areas in India where high prevalence of wasting persists.

Methods: The previous round of National Family Health Survey (NFHS4) has disaggregated data by district, enabling a more fine-scale characterisation of the prevalence of markers of malnutrition. We used data from NFHS4 and agricultural statistics datasets to analyse relationship of prevalence of malnutrition at the district level and area under cereal cultivation. We analysed malnutrition through data on under-5 stunting and wasting by district. 

Results: Stunting and wasting patterns across districts show a distinct geographical and age distribution; districts with higher wasting showed relatively higher prevalence at six months of age. Wasting prevalence at district level was associated with higher cultivation of millets, with a stronger association seen for jowar and other millets (Kodo millet, little millet, proso millet, barnyard millet and foxtail millet). District level stunting was associated with higher district level cultivation of wheat. In multivariable analysis, wasting was positively associated with women’s body mass index and stunting with women’s short stature.

Conclusions: Well-designed intervention studies will be required to confirm causal pathways contributing to ecogeographic patterns of child malnutrition. The cultivation of other millets has a strong association with prevalence of wasting. State-of-the-art studies that improve our understanding of bio-availability of amino acids and other nutrients from the prevalent dietary matrices of rural poor communities will be needed to confirm causal pathways contributing to potential eco-geographic patterns.
Orthodox Doctrine: spiritual and moral foundations of the Russian Cossacks
Authors: Kondrat'ev Sergey , KARPIKOV ALEKSEY
Published: February 2022

In the textbook, the Orthodox doctrine is considered as the spiritual and moral basis of the Cossacks. General concepts about God, the surrounding world, the Orthodox faith, and the sacraments of the Orthodox Church are given. The evangelistic history, the deeds and creations of the Holy Apostles, and the peculiarities of the worship of the Orthodox Church are consistently presented.
It is intended for students of Cossack and Orthodox secondary professional organizations, and can also be used in the educational process of Cossack classes of general education organizations, Cossack cadet corps, Orthodox gymnasiums and Sunday schools.
Human physiology
Authors: Evstaf'eva Elena , Zinchenko Svetlana , Tymchenko Svetlana , Zalata Ol'ga , Moskovchuk Ol'ga , Slyusarenko Aleksandra , Boyarinceva Yuliya
Published: February 2022

The textbook reflects modern ideas about the physiological functions of the human body. The necessary and sufficient information on normal physiology, which is the basic discipline for a future doctor, is presented.
The structure of the textbook provides for the presentation of the main provisions of the sections of physiology, the availability of practical tasks to consolidate the material, as well as topics for self-preparation.
It is intended for independent preparation of students for practical classes in the course of normal physiology in medical universities.
Eco-friendly air protection systems for motor transport facilities
Authors: Mihaylov Vyacheslav , Sotnikova Elena , Kalpina Nina
Published: February 2022

The textbook considers the issue of assessing the heat and humidity state of air in the processes of its processing in various systems, provides requirements for air protection means, taking into account their environmental friendliness, shows ways of energy saving in cooling, heating and year-round air conditioning systems, as well as when protecting the atmosphere from harmful emissions. The way of energy saving with individual thermal protection of the operator by means of local cooling during air treatment in an irrigated intensified nozzle is shown and recommendations for reducing its material consumption are developed. The method and means of reducing the toxicity of emissions of tractor internal combustion engines during its operation in rooms of limited volume by water vapor humidification of the fuel-air mixture are demonstrated. The ways of noise reduction of air protection systems are shown.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation.
It is intended for students studying in the specialties "Ground transport and technical means", "Operation of transport and technological machines and complexes", "Power engineering", "Ground transport and technological complexes", "Refrigeration, cryogenic equipment and life support systems", "Technosphere safety", "Ecology and nature management".
Commodity science in customs
Authors: Panova Anna
Published: February 2022

The textbook outlines the theoretical foundations of commodity science, describes the consumer properties of goods, reveals the classification of goods, the concepts of metrology, standardization, certification, etc. Particular attention is paid to the quality of the goods, the definition of the country of origin of the goods, labeling, bar coding, etc.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation.
It is intended for students studying in the specialty 38.05.02 "Customs".
Mood language
Authors: Harchenko Vera
Published: February 2022

In the monograph, mood is considered as a derivative of its components: travel, theater, pets, reading, replenishing collections, painting. The deficit of hard work and daily creative perception as the most important components of mood is emphasized. Much attention in creating a good mood is paid to conversational, and especially lively, creative speech.
For linguists and a wide range of readers.
Public-legal significance of acts of civil status (on the example of the legislation of Russia and Spain)
Authors: Trofimec Irina
Published: February 2022

The monograph is devoted to the study of the legal consequences of the state registration of acts of civil status for public legal relations. The author analyzes the provisions of Russian and Spanish legislation in the field of civil status records. It is shown that acts of civil status are legal facts for various legal relations, and in addition, they are recognized by other legal categories. The current trends in the development of the Registry Office legal institute within the framework of building a global information society and an electronic state are determined.
It is intended for lawyers, teachers and students of law schools, as well as for a wide range of readers interested in domestic and foreign experience in the information sphere of civil status records.
Theory and practice of initiating a criminal case
Authors: Maslennikova Larisa , Vilkova Tat'yana , Sobenin Andrey , Tabolina Kseniya
Published: February 2022

The source material of the textbook was the actual theoretical and applied issues of the stage of initiation of a criminal case. The manual reveals the general provisions of the theory of initiation of a criminal case, the actual problems of considering a crime report, the procedural significance of the results of verification actions in proving a criminal case, trends and prospects for the development of this procedural institution. All sections are accompanied by control questions, tasks of a training nature designed to help in mastering knowledge of the discipline being taught.
The publication is addressed to undergraduates studying under the program "Criminal Law and Criminal Proceedings" at the Moscow State Law University named after O. E. Kutafin (MSLA), it will also be useful to graduate students, students, scientists dealing with the problems of criminal proceedings.
Constitutional law of Russia
Authors: Salikov Marat , Kokotov Aleksandr , Nesmeyanova Svetlana , Bendyurina Svetlana , Goncharov Maksim , Evstifeev Denis , Zaharov Il'ya , Karasev A , Holodilova E
Published: February 2022

In the textbook, in accordance with the requirements of federal state educational standards, from the standpoint of the current state
of constitutional law, the issues of the course of constitutional law of Russia, theory and practice of constitutional
construction, constitutional and legal regulation of the structure of the state, the political system, society as a whole are systematically and fully disclosed.
For students and teachers of educational institutions of secondary professional education of a legal profile, as well
as employees of state and local self-government bodies and for all those interested in constitutional law issues.
Negotiations in Competing Supply Chains: The Kalai-Smorodinsky Bargaining Solution
Authors: Feng Qi , Li Yuanchen , Shanthikumar J. George
Published: February 2022

Supply chain contract negotiation has gained increasing attention in recent years, and the studies involving negotiations in the operations literature almost exclusively apply the concept of the Nash bargaining (NB) solution. The NB solution, however, is derived based on the axiom of independence of irrelevant alternatives (IIA), an unrealistic assumption in many contexts. Indeed, our analysis suggests that the NB solution can lead to unreasonable negotiation outcomes in supply chains with horizontal competition. As an alternative, the Kalai-Smorodinsky (KS) solution has been applied in many fields but has not been introduced to the supply chain contexts. The KS solution is derived under the axiom of individual monotonicity in replacement of the IIA axiom. We perform a comprehensive comparison of contract negotiations under the KS and NB solutions in horizontally competing supply chains. Although the KS solution does not possess the flexibility of explicitly specifying the relative bargaining power as the NB solution does, the KS solution can appropriately capture the negotiation power shift induced by the decision ownership, the negotiation sequence, the vertical relationship, the competition intensity, the trade contingency, and the contract type. Our study sheds lights on the appropriate selection of solution concepts in studying negotiations in competing supply chains.

This paper was accepted by David Simchi-Levi, operations management.
Revenue-Sharing Allocation Strategies for Two-Sided Media Platforms: Pro-Rata vs. User-Centric
Authors: Alaei Saeed , Makhdoumi Ali , Malekian Azarakhsh , Pekeč Saša
Published: February 2022

We consider a two-sided streaming service platform that generates revenues by charging users a subscription fee for unlimited access to the content and compensates content providers (artists) through a revenue-sharing allocation rule. Platform users are heterogeneous in both their overall consumption and the distribution of their consumption over different artists. We study two primary revenue allocation rules used by market-leading music streaming platforms—pro-rata and user-centric. With pro-rata, artists are paid proportionally to their share of the overall streaming volume, whereas with user-centric, each user’s subscription fee is divided proportionally among artists based on the consumption of that user. We characterize when these two allocation rules can sustain a set of artists on the platform and compare them from both the platform’s and the artists’ perspectives. In particular, we show that, despite the cross-subsidization between low- and high-streaming-volume users, the pro-rata rule can be preferred by both the platform and the artists. Furthermore, the platform’s problem of selecting an optimal portfolio of artists is NP-complete. However, by establishing connections to the knapsack problem, we develop a polynomial time approximation scheme (PTAS) for the optimal platform’s profit. In addition to determining the platform’s optimal revenue allocation rule in the class of pro-rata and user-centric rules, we consider the optimal revenue allocation rule in the class of arbitrary rules. Building on duality theory, we develop a polynomial time algorithm that outputs a set of artists so that the platform’s profit is within a single artist’s revenue from the optimal profit.

This paper was accepted by Gabriel Weintraub, revenue management and market analytics.

Supplemental Material: The online appendices are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.4307 .
A Strongly Polynomial Algorithm for Linear Exchange Markets
Authors: Garg Jugal , Végh László A.
Published: February 2022

We present a strongly polynomial algorithm for computing an equilibrium in Arrow-Debreu exchange markets with linear utilities. Our algorithm is based on a variant of the weakly polynomial Duan–Mehlhorn (DM) algorithm. We use the DM algorithm as a subroutine to identify revealed edges—that is, pairs of agents and goods that must correspond to the best bang-per-buck transactions in every equilibrium solution. Every time a new revealed edge is found, we use another subroutine that decides if there is an optimal solution using the current set of revealed edges or, if none exists, finds the solution that approximately minimizes the violation of the demand and supply constraints. This task can be reduced to solving a linear program (LP). Even though we are unable to solve this LP in strongly polynomial time, we show that it can be approximated by a simpler LP with two variables per inequality that is solvable in strongly polynomial time.

Funding: Financial support from the Division of Computing and Communication Foundations, National Science Foundation (NSF) [Grants 1755619 and 1942321] and from European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme [Grant ScaleOpt-757481] is gratefully acknowledged.
Impact of Modular Distance Learning on High School Students Mathematics Motivation, Interest/Attitude, Anxiety and Achievement during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Capinding Andie Tangonan
Published: February 2022

This study examined the impact of modular distance learning on students' motivation, interest/attitude, anxiety and achievement in mathematics. This was done at the Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija, Philippines during the first and second grading of the academic year 2021-2022. The study included both a descriptive-comparative and descriptive-correlational research design. The 207 high school students were chosen using stratified sampling. According to the findings, students have a very satisfactory rating in mathematics. Students agree that they are motivated, enthusiastic, and have a positive attitude toward mathematics. They do, however, agree that mathematics causes them anxiety. When students are subdivided based on sex, their mathematics interest and anxiety differ significantly. However, there was no significant difference in interest/attitude and achievement. When students are divided into age groups, their mathematics motivation, interest/attitude, anxiety, and achievement differ significantly. Students' motivation, anxiety, and achievement differ significantly by year level. There was a positive relationship between and among mathematics motivation, interest/attitude, and achievement. However, there is a negative association between mathematics anxiety and mathematics motivation; mathematics anxiety and mathematical interest/attitude; and mathematics anxiety and mathematical performance. The study's theoretical and practical implications were also discussed, and recommendations for educators and researchers were given.
Lock-in functional near-infrared spectroscopy for measurement of the haemodynamic brain response
Authors: Wojtkiewicz Stanislaw , Bejm Karolina , Liebert Adam
Published: February 2022

Here we show a method of the lock-in amplifying near-infrared signals originating within a human brain. It implies using two 90-degree rotated source-detector pairs fixed on a head surface. Both pairs have a joint sensitivity region located towards the brain. A direct application of the lock-in technique on both signals results in amplifying common frequency components, e.g. related to brain cortex stimulation and attenuating the rest, including all components not related to the stimulation: e.g. pulse, instrumental and biological noise or movement artefacts. This is a self-driven method as no prior assumptions are needed and the noise model is provided by the interfering signals themselves. We show the theory (classical modified Beer-Lambert law and diffuse optical tomography approaches), the algorithm implementation and tests on a finite element mathematical model and in-vivo on healthy volunteers during visual cortex stimulation. The proposed hardware and algorithm complexity suit the entire spectrum of (continuous wave, frequency domain, time-resolved) near-infrared spectroscopy systems featuring real-time, direct, robust and low-noise brain activity registration tool. As such, this can be of special interest in optical brain computer interfaces and high reliability/stability monitors of tissue oxygenation.
Self-calibrated 3D differential phase contrast microscopy with optimized illumination
Authors: Cao Ruiming , Kellman Michael , Ren David , Eckert Regina , Waller Laura
Published: February 2022

3D phase imaging recovers an object’s volumetric refractive index from intensity and/or holographic measurements. Partially coherent methods, such as illumination-based differential phase contrast (DPC), are particularly simple to implement in a commercial brightfield microscope. 3D DPC acquires images at multiple focus positions and with different illumination source patterns in order to reconstruct 3D refractive index. Here, we present a practical extension of the 3D DPC method that does not require a precise motion stage for scanning the focus and uses optimized illumination patterns for improved performance. The user scans the focus by hand, using the microscope’s focus knob, and the algorithm self-calibrates the axial position to solve for the 3D refractive index of the sample through a computational inverse problem. We further show that the illumination patterns can be optimized by an end-to-end learning procedure. Combining these two, we demonstrate improved 3D DPC with a commercial microscope whose only hardware modification is LED array illumination.
Optical properties and energy transfer performances in high quality Cr,Nd: YAG transparent laser ceramics for solar pumped lasers
Authors: Li Tao , Zhou Tianyuan , Cao Yifei , Cai Zitao , Zhao Changming , Yuan Mingxing , Zheng Xinyu , Huang Guocan , Wang Zhongying , Zhang Le , Chen Hao
Published: February 2022

Realizing a high solar light conversion magnitude in Cr,Nd: YAG transparent ceramic is crucial to its applications in solar pumped solid state lasers. In this study, high quality Cr,Nd:YAG transparent laser ceramics with homogeneous microstructure and theoretical transmittance were fabricated, and an efficient laser oscillation of watt-level was realized by pumping ceramic at 808 nm. There were no any characteristic absorptions corresponding to Cr2+or Cr4+ions detected, even when the Cr3+ion doping concentration reached 0.6 at.%. Increasing Cr3+and Nd3+doping concentrations significantly enhanced the emission intensity of ceramics at 1.06 µm, and energy transfer efficiency of the 0.3 at.% Cr,Nd: YAG ceramics was increased from 14.9% to 36.9% when increasing Nd3+ion concentration from 0.3 at.% to 1.0 at.%, with an increasing magnitude of 247.6%. The results indicated that Cr,Nd: YAG transparent ceramic is a promising gain medium for solar pumped solid state lasers.
Analysis of Fano lineshape in extraordinary optical transmission
Authors: Lee S. C. , Brueck S. R. J.
Published: February 2022

We analyze the lineshape of the extraordinary optical transmission (EOT) associated with surface plasma waves (SPWs) excited with a metal photonic crystal (MPC), an Au film perforated with a 2.6 µm period, two-dimensional array of holes, integrated atop a GaAs substrate. From its asymmetry by Fano interference between transmission mediated by SPWs and direct transmission through individual holes, the resonance energy of the fundamental SPW propagating along the MPC/GaAs interface is extracted as 138.8 meV. This energy, the reference of the analysis, is slightly higher than the energy of the apparent peak of the EOT but lower than that of the Rayleigh anomaly closely related to the direct transmission. Its accuracy is verified with an identical MPC integrated on a quantum dot infrared photodetector coupled to the same SPW. Additional lineshape parameters, including relative strength of the two pathways to the transmission and SPW broadening, are determined from experiments. A condition of the Fano interference for EOT, critical to the intensity of its peak transmission, is established with their relations.
Improved cross-talk suppression for digitally enhanced interferometry using Golay complementary pairs
Authors: Spollard James T. , Roberts Lyle E. , Sibley Paul G. , Sambridge Callum S. , Shaddock Daniel A. , McKenzie Kirk
Published: February 2022

We demonstrate digitally enhanced interferometry with better than 100
dB mean cross-talk suppression with Golay complementary pairs using a
combination of numerical simulations and experiments. These results
exceed previously reported cross-talk suppression using conventional
maximal length sequences by more than 48 dB.
Second to fifth harmonic generation in individual β-barium borate nanocrystals
Authors: Possmayer Thomas , Tilmann Benjamin , Maia Lauro J. Q. , Maier Stefan A. , Menezes Leonardo de S.
Published: February 2022

We have studied the nonlinear optical properties of single β-barium borate nanocrystals, with potential applications as probes in nonlinear sensing and imaging schemes. Our work demonstrates their ability to generate second, third, fourth, and fifth harmonics. The particles’ polarization response is studied and compared with simulations based on the bulk nonlinear tensors, with good agreement. Furthermore, the nonlinear susceptibilities of different orders are estimated.
Supercontinuum intensity noise coupling in Fourier transform photoacoustic spectroscopy
Authors: Mikkonen Tommi , Genty Goëry , Toivonen Juha
Published: February 2022

We investigate the noise transfer mechanism from the light source intensity fluctuations to the acoustic signal in Fourier transform photoacoustic spectroscopy (FT-PAS). This noise coupling is expected to be reduced in FT-PAS compared with conventional Fourier transform spectroscopy, as only the specific spectral components that are absorbed by the probed sample contribute to the noise level. We employ an incoherent supercontinuum (SC) light source in our experiments and observe a linear relation between the sample gas concentration and the detected noise level, which significantly reduces the influence of the SC noise on the detection limit. Based on our experimental results, we derive a model for the noise level, which establishes the foundation for practical sensitive implementation of FT-PAS.
Full-Stokes polarization transformations and time sequence metasurface holographic display
Authors: Zhang Shifei , Huang Lingling , Geng Guangzhou , Li Junjie , Li Xiaowei , Wang Yongtian
Published: February 2022

With the development of micro/nano fabrication technology, metasurface holography has emerged as a revolutionary technology for the manipulation of light with excellent performance. However, for applications of full-Stokes polarization encryption and time sequence holographic display, multiplexing strategies of metasurfaces with large bandwidths and simple operations still need to be developed. As one of the most popular schemes of multiplexing, polarization multiplexed metasurfaces have shown flexible recording abilities for both free-space beam and surface waves. Here, by using a dielectric metasurface equipped with double phase holograms, we have achieved flexible polarization multiplexed transformations from one full-Stokes space to another. The vectorial hologram is optimized by a hybrid genetic algorithm and digitalized with subwavelength modulated units. Based on a quantitative map and remarkable information capacity, time sequence holographic display and complex optical encryption are experimentally demonstrated by changing input/output polarization channels in real time. We believe our method will facilitate applications in smart compact devices of dynamic display, dynamic optical manipulation, optical encryption, anticounterfeiting, etc.
Memory-assisted quantum accelerometer with multi-bandwidth
Authors: Yu Zhifei , Fang Bo , Chen Liqing , Zhang Keye , Yuan Chun-Hua , Zhang Weiping
Published: February 2022

The accelerometer plays a crucial role in inertial navigation. The performance of conventional accelerometers such as lasers is usually limited by the sensing elements and shot noise limitation (SNL). Here, we propose an advanced development of an accelerometer based on atom–light quantum correlation, which is composed of a cold atomic ensemble, light beams, and an atomic vapor cell. The cold atomic ensemble, prepared in a magneto-optical trap and free-falling in a vacuum chamber, interacts with light beams to generate atom–light quantum correlation. The atomic vapor cell is used as both a memory element storing the correlated photons emitted from cold atoms and a bandwidth controller through the control of free evolution time. Instead of using a conventional sensing element, the proposed accelerometer employs interference between quantum-correlated atoms and light to measure acceleration. Sensitivity below SNL can be achieved due to atom–light quantum correlation, even in the presence of optical loss and atomic decoherence. Sensitivity can be achieved at the

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Hz

level, based on evaluation via practical experimental conditions. The present design has a number of significant advantages over conventional accelerometers such as SNL-broken sensitivity, broad bandwidth from a few hundred Hz to near MHz, and avoidance of the technical restrictions of conventional sensing elements.
Lrh1 can help reprogram sexual cell fate and is required for Sertoli cell development and spermatogenesis in the mouse testis
Authors: Agrimson Kellie S. , Minkina Anna , Sadowski Danielle , Wheeler Andrew , Murphy Mark W. , Gearhart Micah D. , Bardwell Vivian J. , Zarkower David
Published: February 2022

The mammalian nuclear hormone receptors LRH1 (NR5A2) and SF1 (NR5A1) are close paralogs that can bind the same DNA motif and play crucial roles in gonadal development and function.Lrh1is essential for follicle development in the ovary and has been proposed to regulate steroidogenesis in the testis.Lrh1expression in the testis is highly elevated by loss of the sex regulatorDmrt1, which triggers male-to-female transdifferentiation of Sertoli cells. WhileSf1has a well-defined and crucial role in testis development, no function forLrh1in the male gonad has been reported. Here we use conditional genetics to examineLrh1requirements both in gonadal cell fate reprogramming and in normal development of the three major cell lineages of the mouse testis. We find that loss ofLrh1suppresses sexual transdifferentiation, confirming thatLrh1can act as a key driver in reprogramming sexual cell fate. In otherwise wild-type testes, we find thatLrh1is dispensable in Leydig cells but is required in Sertoli cells for their proliferation, for seminiferous tubule morphogenesis, for maintenance of the blood-testis barrier, for feedback regulation of androgen production, and for support of spermatogenesis. Expression profiling identified misexpressed genes likely underlying most aspects of the Sertoli cell phenotype. In the germ line we found thatLrh1is required for maintenance of functional spermatogonia, and hence mutants progressively lose spermatogenesis. Reduced expression of the RNA binding factorNxf2likely contributes to the SSC defect. Unexpectedly, however, over time theLrh1mutant germ line recovered abundant spermatogenesis and fertility. This finding indicates that severe germ line depletion triggers a response allowing mutant spermatogonia to recover the ability to undergo complete spermatogenesis. Our results demonstrate thatLrh1, likeSf1, is an essential regulator of testis development and function but has a very distinct repertoire of functions.
A lethal model of Leptospira infection in hamster nasal mucosa
Authors: Wang Jiaqi , Zhang Wenlong , Jin Zhao , Ding Yue , Zhang Shilei , Wu Dianjun , Cao Yongguo
Published: February 2022

Leptospirosis is a fatal zoonosis caused by contact between skin or a mucosal surface and contaminated soil or water. Hamsters were infected by intraperitoneal injection fto establish experimental leptospirosis, which is not a natural route of infection. There are no reports of nasal mucosal infection in hamsters. In this study, infection of the nasal mucosa was performed to establish a model of natural infection. Both methods of infection can cause lethal models with similar symptoms in the later stages of infection, such as weight loss, blood concentration, increased neutrophils (GRAN), and decreased lymphocytes (LYM) in the blood, severe organ damage and liver function obstruction. The burden of Leptospira in the organs and blood was lower in the mucosal inoculation groups at 1 day after infection. However, mucosal infection induced a higher Leptospira burden in urine than intraperitoneal infection in the late stages of infection. After nasal mucosal infection, antibody levels were higher and lasted longer. These results indicated that the route of nasal mucosal infection is a good choice for studying leptospirosis in hamsters.
Factors associated with antenatal exercise in Arba Minch town, Southern Ethiopia: A community-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Beyene Maechel Maile , Shimbre Mulugeta Shegaze , Ukke Gebresilasea Gendisha , Gebremichael Mathewos Alemu , Gurara Mekdes Kondale
Published: February 2022

Background

Many health risks in pregnant women and their foetuses can be reduced by practicing antenatal exercise. However, the adequate practice of antenatal exercise among pregnant women is low in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the practice of antenatal exercise and its associated factors among pregnant women in Arba Minch town.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted. Data were collected by using a structured questionnaire from 422 pregnant women selected by a simple random sampling technique. Descriptive statistics were computed and a binary logistic regression model was fitted. In multivariable logistic-regression adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals were used to determine the strength of associations. The significance level was declared at a p-value < 0.05.

Results

Among 410 participants, 32.9% (95% CI 28%-37%) adequately practiced antenatal exercise. Factors negatively associated with an adequate antenatal exercise were husband’s primary school level [Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.3, (95% CI: 0.1, 0.7)], history of miscarriage [AOR = 0.3, (95% CI: 0.1, 0.7)], inadequate knowledge [AOR = 0.2, (95% CI: 0.1, 0.3)], and unfavorable attitude [AOR = 0.3, (95% CI 0.2, 0.5)]. Whereas, factors positively associated with an adequate antenatal exercise were employment status of women [AOR = 4.8, (95% CI: 1.8, 13.1)], and a practice of regular exercise before current pregnancy [AOR = 1.9, (95% CI: 1.1, 3.2)].

Conclusions

The findings of this study indicated that adequate practice of antenatal exercise was found to be low. Appropriate measures should be taken to improve the husband’s educational level, mother’s occupation, knowledge, and attitudes towards antenatal exercise. Special consideration should be given to those with a history of miscarriage and women should be encouraged to practice regular exercise before pregnancy.