bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Umbilical Nodule Metastasis from Unknown Primary: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Dilemma
Authors: Gupta Sweety , Sharma Gaurav , Sharma Nidhi , Mandal Shreyosi , Gupta Amit , Gupta Manoj
Published: June 2022

Umbilical nodule metastasis is not a common presentation of carcinoma of unknown primary. It may be the presenting symptom of a primary malignancy or as metastatic site of previously diagnosed cancer and is considered to be a poor prognostic finding. We here report a case of young male who presented with umbilical mass, but the primary could not be localized even after thorough investigations and work up. Also, there existed therapeutic dilemma because immunohistochemistry did not favor one site, and so he was considered for combination chemotherapy in view of unresectable disease.
Single-Center Experience of Management of Mediastinal Cyst—A Case Series
Authors: Gokce Anil , Valiyev Elgun , Turk Merve Satir , Sayan Muhammed , Celik Ali , Kurul I Cuneyt , Tastepe A Irfan
Published: June 2022

Background Mediastinal cysts are benign lesions that may be seen in adulthood as well as in childhood. Mostly congenital lesions constitute 20 to 32% of lesions located in the mediastinum. The main cystic masses are congenital benign cysts (bronchogenic, esophageal replications, neuroenteric, pericardial and thymic cysts), meningocele, mature cystic teratoma, and lymphangioma. In this study, we aimed to analyze the mediastinal cysts operated in our clinic according to the histopathological type, surgical type, morbidity rates and to contribute to the literature on these rare lesions.

Methods The records of patients with mediastinal cysts who were operated in Gazi University Faculty of Medicine Department of Thoracic Surgery, between January 2013 and June 2021, were reviewed retrospectively.

Results A total of 32 patients were included the study. Thirteen (40.6%) of the patients were male and 19 (59.4%) were female. The mean age was 45 (range: 12–71). The most common symptom in patients was chest pain with 12 patients. Histopathologically, the most common subtype was thymic cyst. Video-assisted thoracic surgery was applied in 19 patients (59.3%), thoracotomy in 8 patients (25%), and sternotomy in 5 patients (15.63%). There was no mortality.

Conclusion In patients with mediastinal cysts, the prognosis after complete excision is excellent and rates of morbidity and mortality associated with surgery are low.
Dynamic modulation of electromagnetically induced transparency in complementary graphene metamaterial
Authors: Wang Ziyu , Wang Yinghua , Wu Longlong , Wu Qionghua , Shao Jian
Published: June 2022

In this paper, we use a complementary graphene metamaterial to achieve dynamic modulation of electromagnetically induced transparency. The structure consists of a disk slot graphene and a strip slot graphene corresponding to bright and dark modes, respectively. A clear transparency window appears in the transmission spectrum. In contrast to metallic metamaterials, the transmission spectrum of the complementary graphene metamaterial can be controlled by changing the Fermi energy rather than reconstructing the structure. The complementary graphene metamaterial proposed in this paper modulates the gate voltage more simply than discrete structures of a graphene metamaterial. Active control of the slow-light effect can also be realized by modulating the Fermi energy. This work demonstrates potential applications in the design of terahertz modulators, environmental sensors, and slow-light devices.
Capturing transition around low-Reynolds number hydrofoil with zero-equation transition model
Authors: Rahman M. M. , Hasan K. , Pan Huachen
Published: June 2022

Compared with the local correlation-based shear stress transport (SST) γ−Reθ transition model (where SST k−ω transport equations are coupled with intermittency γ and transitional momentum-thickness Reynolds number Reθ transport equations), relatively simple and convenient modifications are applied to the parent SST k−ω model for computing natural and separation-induced transitions over the hydrofoil at a low-Reynolds number (LRN). The curiosity toward hydrofoil performance at an LRN has been enhanced by increasing attention to autonomous marine systems, deserving numerical simulations for transitional flow using computational fluid dynamics. With the newly devised transitional SST (T-SST) model, the viscous sublayer blending function F2 is slightly modified, and a stress-intensity parameter as a function of eddy-to-laminar viscosity ratio RT is introduced; intended formulations are plausible and have significant impacts on the transition prediction. Owing to the inherent potential for predicting bypass transition, two anisotropic versions of the v¯2−f(V2F) turbulence model are selected to evaluate their competencies in capturing separation-induced and natural transitions. Results demonstrate that natural transition prediction is more challenging than separation-induced transition for the V2F model. Nonetheless, the T-SST model performs consistently well in replicating both transitional phenomena.
Guiding epitaxial crystallization of amorphous solids at the nanoscale: Interfaces, stress, and precrystalline order
Authors: Janicki T. D. , Wan Z. , Liu R. , Evans P. G. , Schmidt J. R.
Published: June 2022

The crystallization of amorphous solids impacts fields ranging from inorganic crystal growth to biophysics. Promoting or inhibiting nanoscale epitaxial crystallization and selecting its final products underpin applications in cryopreservation, semiconductor devices, oxide electronics, quantum electronics, structural and functional ceramics, and advanced glasses. As precursors for crystallization, amorphous solids are distinguished from liquids and gases by the comparatively long relaxation times for perturbations of the mechanical stress and for variations in composition or bonding. These factors allow experimentally controllable parameters to influence crystallization processes and to drive materials toward specific outcomes. For example, amorphous precursors can be employed to form crystalline phases, such as polymorphs of Al2O3, VO2, and other complex oxides, that are not readily accessible via crystallization from a liquid or through vapor-phase epitaxy. Crystallization of amorphous solids can further be guided to produce a desired polymorph, nanoscale shape, microstructure, or orientation of the resulting crystals. These effects enable advances in applications in electronics, magnetic devices, optics, and catalysis. Directions for the future development of the chemical physics of crystallization from amorphous solids can be drawn from the structurally complex and nonequilibrium atomic arrangements in liquids and the atomic-scale structure of liquid–solid interfaces.
The complex adoption pathways of digital technology in Australian livestock supply chains systems
Authors: Jackson Elizabeth L. , Cook Simon
Published: June 2022

This paper reviews early experiences, expectations and obstacles concerning the adoption of digital technologies in Australian livestock systems. Using three case studies of publicly-available information on Australia’s red meat industry, we identify the process of digitally enhanced value creation according to four themes: (1) supply chain operability; (2) product quality; (3) animal welfare; and (4) innovation and learning. We find reasons for both optimism and pessimism concerning the adoption of digital agriculture. While digital technology is being offered by various stakeholders to support collaboration within supply chains, it is also being met with scepticism amongst some producers who are not actively engaging with a digital transformation. We identify that the ‘technology fallacy’, which proposes that organisations, people, learning and processes are as important to digital transformation as the technology itself; but while digital technologies enable change, it is the people who determine how quickly it can occur. We argue that – since quality appears to be the major basis on which Australian red meat producers will compete in global markets – the broad adoption of digital technology will prove increasingly essential to future growth and sustainability of this supply chain.
A genetically linked pair of NLR immune receptors shows contrasting patterns of evolution
Authors: Shimizu Motoki , Hirabuchi Akiko , Sugihara Yu , Abe Akira , Takeda Takumi , Kobayashi Michie , Hiraka Yukie , Kanzaki Eiko , Oikawa Kaori , Saitoh Hiromasa , Langner Thorsten , Banfield Mark J. , Kamoun Sophien , Terauchi Ryohei
Published: June 2022

Throughout their evolution, plant nucleotide-binding leucine-rich-repeat receptors (NLRs) have acquired widely divergent unconventional integrated domains that enhance their ability to detect pathogen effectors. However, the functional dynamics that drive the evolution of NLRs with integrated domains (NLR-IDs) remain poorly understood. Here, we reconstructed the evolutionary history of an NLR locus prone to unconventional domain integration and experimentally tested hypotheses about the evolution of NLR-IDs. We show that the rice (
Oryza sativa
) NLR Pias recognizes the effector AVR-Pias of the blast fungal pathogen
Magnaporthe oryzae
. Pias consists of a functionally specialized NLR pair, the helper Pias-1 and the sensor Pias-2, that is allelic to the previously characterized Pia pair of NLRs: the helper RGA4 and the sensor RGA5. Remarkably, Pias-2 carries a C-terminal DUF761 domain at a similar position to the heavy metal–associated (HMA) domain of RGA5. Phylogenomic analysis showed that Pias-2/RGA5 sensor NLRs have undergone recurrent genomic recombination within the genus
Oryza
, resulting in up to six sequence-divergent domain integrations. Allelic NLRs with divergent functions have been maintained transspecies in different
Oryza
lineages to detect sequence-divergent pathogen effectors. By contrast, Pias-1 has retained its NLR helper activity throughout evolution and is capable of functioning together with the divergent sensor-NLR RGA5 to respond to AVR-Pia. These results suggest that opposite selective forces have driven the evolution of paired NLRs: highly dynamic domain integration events maintained by balancing selection for sensor NLRs, in sharp contrast to purifying selection and functional conservation of immune signaling for helper NLRs.
‘Arm’s length’ phraseology?
Authors: Rojas Díaz José Luis
Published: June 2022

In the last decades, the study of phraseology within general and specialized lexicographic resources has been of interest to scholars. However, phraseology has not been studied in language for specific purposes (LSP) as much as in language for general purposes (LGP). Therefore, this study (i) offers an overview of the definitions regarding LSP phraseology, (ii) provides a series of linguistic analyses of specialized phraseological units (SPUs) extracted from a specialized bilingual dictionary, and (iii) draws a comparative line between LGP and LSP phraseology. To do so, 11,086 entries were extracted to build the analysis database. This study provides 1,054 morphosyntactic and 4,369 semantic patterns, a definition and a taxonomy of SPUs based on the data analysis and revision of LGP phraseology notions, and a hybrid lexicographic indexation method for SPUs. The contributions of this paper answer the question ‘what is a SPU?’; while highlighting similarities and differences with LGP phraseology.
Yukawa black holes from interacting vacuum
Authors: Maier Rodrigo
Published: June 2022

In this paper we obtain an exact solution of Einstein field equations assuming an interaction between a vacuum component and the Maxwell field. The key feature of such interaction refers to a simple stress exchange so that the electromagnetic field naturally incorporates the Yukawa potential. It is shown that the resulting spacetime thus obtained can either be a naked singularity or a black hole with an inner Cauchy horizon R
− and an exterior event horizon R
+. For this latter configuration we examine the group velocity of test photons in the region R > R
+. Beyond a lower bound for the frequency we show that superluminal velocities arise in a neighbourhood of the event horizon and that the coupling parameter of the interaction is actually connected to a nonvanishing rest mass for the photon.
Benchmark of few-level quantum theory vs ab initio numerical solutions for the strong-field Autler–Townes effect in photoionization of hydrogen
Authors: Younis D , Eberly J H
Published: June 2022

The temporal and spectral consequences of an intermediate resonance en route to photoionization are investigated theoretically in two ways: by solving few-level model equations and by ab initio numerical solution of the time-dependent Schrödinger equation, in both cases for hydrogen in three dimensions. The model consists of atomic states resonantly field-dressed in a three-level reduction of the hydrogen atom that consists of the 2p–3d (Balmer) transition and one energetically-distant continuum state. The model’s level occupation probabilities are derived from three Schrödinger amplitude equations and are benchmarked against an ab initio numerical solution for the hydrogen electron’s wavefunction under the same field. We examine contrasts between the results of the two approaches with a particular focus on Autler–Townes doublets that appear in the photoelectron spectrum.
Atomistic origin of nano-silver paracrystalline structure: molecular dynamics and x-ray diffraction studies
Authors: Jurkiewicz Karolina , Kamiński Michał , Bródka Aleksander , Burian Andrzej
Published: June 2022

Classical molecular dynamics (MD) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) have been used to establish the origin of the paracrystalline structure of silver nanoparticles at the atomic scale. Models based on the face-centred cubic structure have been computer generated and their atomic arrangements have been optimized by the MD with the embedded-atom model (EAM) potential and its modified version (MEAM). The simulation results are compared with the experimental XRD data in reciprocal and real spaces, i.e. the structure factor and the pair distribution function. The applied approach returns the structural models, defined by the Cartesian coordinates of the constituent atoms. It has been found that most of the structural features of Ag nanoparticles are better reproduced by the MEAM. The presence of vacancy defects in the structure of the Ag nanoparticles has been considered and the average concentration of vacancies is estimated to be 3 at.%. The average nearest-neighbour Ag–Ag distances and the coordination numbers are determined and compared with the values predicted for the bulk Ag, demonstrating a different degree of structural disorder on the surface and in the core, compared to the bulk crystalline counterpart. It has been shown that the paracrystalline structure of the Ag nanoparticles has origin in the surface disorder and the disorder generated by the presence of the vacancy defects. Both sources lead to network distortion that propagates proportionally to the square root of the interatomic distances.
Feed-forward neural network based variational wave function for the fermionic Hubbard model in one dimension
Authors: Sarder Md Tahir Hossain , Medhi Amal
Published: June 2022

We explore the suitability of a feed-forward neural network (FNN) to represent the ground state of the fermionic Hubbard model in one dimension (1D). We consider the model at half-filling, represent the ground state wave function in terms of an FNN and optimize it using the variational Monte Carlo (VMC) method. The results are compared with the exact Bethe Ansatz solution. We find that for lattice sizes which give a ‘filled-shell’ condition for the non-interacting Fermi sea wave function, a simple FNN performs very well at all values of Hubbard interaction U. For lattice sizes where this condition is not obtained, the simple FNN fails and we find a modified network with a ‘sign’ component (sFNN) to work in such cases. On the flip side, though we find the FNN to be successful in providing an unbiased variational wave function for the fermionic many-body system in 1D, the computational cost for the wave function scales up rapidly with lattice size which limits its applicability.
A hybrid shape memory polymer filled metallic foam composite: shape restoring, strain sensing, Joule heating, strengthening, and toughening
Authors: Abedin Rubaiyet , Konlan John , Feng Xiaming , Mensah Patrick , Li Guoqiang
Published: June 2022

In this paper, an open-cell metallic foam was filled in by a tough shape memory polymer (SMP), to form a hybrid metal/polymer composite with multifunctionalities and enhanced mechanical properties. This work aims to study the positive composite actions between the metallic skeleton and the SMP filler. Mechanical, thermal, and conductive properties of the resulting hybrid composite were evaluated and compared to the individual components. Uniaxial compression tests and shape memory effect tests were conducted. Results demonstrated an improvement in the compressive strength and toughness. The hybrid composite also exhibited excellent shape recovery and high recovery stress of 1.76 MPa. Infrared thermography has been used to verify the free shape recovery by Joule heating. Sandwich structures with the hybrid composite as the core were studied through low velocity impact test and three-point bending test. The sandwich structures with the composite foam core showed significant performance improvement in both tests. Electrical resistivity study during the three-point bending test validates the possible application of this multifunctional polymer-aluminum open cell foam composite as strain sensor. This type of hybrid composites can be beneficial in many industrial sectors that search for an ideal combination of high strength, high toughness, low weight, damage sensing, and excellent energy absorption capabilities.
Electron–phonon coupling constant and BCS ratios in LaH10−y
doped with magnetic rare-earth element
Authors: Talantsev Evgeny F
Published: June 2022

Stoichiometric near-room-temperature superconductors (NRTS) (for instance, H3S and LaH10) exhibit a high ground-state upper critical field, B
c2(0) ⩾ 100 T, so that the magnetic phase diagram in these materials cannot be measured in non-destructive experiments. However, (Semenok et al 2022 Adv. Mater.) proposed the idea of exploring the full magnetic phase diagram in NRTS samples, in which the superconducting order parameter is suppressed by magnetic element doping. If the elements areuniformly distributed in the material, then the theory of electron–phonon mediated superconductivity predicts the suppression of the order parameter in a 3D s-wave superconductor. (Semenok et al 2022 Adv. Mater.) experimentally proved this idea by substituting lanthanum with the magnetic rare-earth neodymium in (La1−x
Nd
x
)H10−y
. As a result, the transition temperature in (La1−x
Nd
x
)H10−y
(x = 0.09) was suppressed to T
c ∼ 120 K, and the upper critical field decreased to B
c2(T= 41 K) = 55 T. While the exact hydrogen content should be further established in the (La1−x
Nd
x
)H10−y
(x = 0.09) (because similar T
c suppression was observed in hydrogen-deficient LaH10−y
samples reported by Drozdov et al (2019 Nature
569 528)), a significant part of the full magnetic phase diagram for the (La1−x
Nd
x
)H10−y
(x = 0.09) sample was measured. Here, we analyzed the reported (Semenok et al 2022 Adv. Mater.) magnetoresistance data for (La1−x
Nd
x
)H10−y
(x = 0.09) compressed at P = 180 GPa and deduced: (a) Debye temperature,

T
θ

=
1156
±
6

K

; (b) the electron–phonon coupling constant,

λ

e

−

ph

=
1.65
±
0.01

; (c) the ground-state superconducting energy gap,

Δ

0

=
20.2
±
1.3

meV

; (d) the gap-to-transition temperature ratio,

2

Δ

0

k

B

T

c

=
4.0
±
0.2

; and (e) the relative jump in specific heat at transition temperature,

Δ

C

γ

T

c

=
1.68
±
0.15

. The deduced values indicate that (La1−x
Nd
x
)H10−y
(x = 0.09; P = 180 GPa) is a moderately strongly coupled s-wave superconductor.
Photocatalytic degradation of anionic dye using well-crystalline SnWO4 polyoxometalate
Authors: Alharthi Fahad A , AlFawaz Amal , Ahmad Naushad
Published: June 2022

Rose Bengal (RB) is well known anionic dye and considered as one of the major water pollutants. It can be hazardous to human and aquatic life. Polyoxometalates play major role for the decomposition of such type of pollutants. In this study, cubic tin tungsten oxide nanoparticles (β-SnWO4-NPs), a polyoxometalate, had been synthesized by sol-gel method and physically characterized by XRD, FT-IR, Raman, UV-DRS, PL, XPS, and SEM. Photocatalytic performance was evaluated by photodegradation of RB under visible light irradiation, and corresponding photodegradation mechanism was also proposed. The role of various reaction parameters such as catalyst amount, dye concentration and solution pH were investigated. Under given parameters the degradation percentage of RB was found to ∼94.6% after 150 min. The cubic crystal structure and honeycomb morphology of the β-SnWO4-NPs endows excellent photocatalytic properties. The radical scavenger investigations showed that photogenerated h+, O2
•−, and •OH radicals were responsible for RB degradation. The obtained results can be effectively used in future for the wastewater treatment.
Probing cosmic strings by reconstructing polarization rotation of the cosmic microwave background
Authors: Yin Weichen Winston , Dai Liang , Ferraro Simone
Published: June 2022

Cosmic birefringence — the rotation of the polarization of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) photons as they travel to the Earth — is a smoking gun for axion-like particles (ALPs) that interact with the photon. It has recently been suggested that topological defects in the ALP field called cosmic strings can cause polarization rotation in quantized amounts that are proportional to the electromagnetic chiral anomaly coefficient 𝒜, which holds direct information about physics at very high energies. In this work, we study the detectability of a random network of cosmic strings through estimating rotation using quadratic estimators (QEs). We show that the QE derived from the maximum likelihood estimator is equivalent to the recently proposed global-minimum-variance QE; the classic Hu-Okamoto QE equals the global-minimum-variance QE under special conditions, but is otherwise still nearly globally optimal. We calculate the sensitivity of QEs to cosmic birefringence from string networks, for the Planck satellite mission, as well as for third- and fourth-generation ground-based CMB experiments. Using published binned rotation power spectrum derived from the Planck 2015 polarization data, we obtain a constraint 𝒜2 ξ0 < 0.93 at the 95% confidence level, where ξ0 is the total length of strings in units of the Hubble scale per Hubble volume, for a phenomenological but reasonable string network model describing a continuous distribution of string sizes. Looking forward, experiments such as the Simons Observatory and CMB-S4 will either discover or falsify the existence of an ALP string network for the theoretically plausible parameter space 𝒜 ξ0 ≳ 0.01.
Discovery of new characterizations of parameter distributions in a semi- empirical mass model: an investigation by dividing an overdetermined system into numerous balanced subsystems*
Authors: Meng Hai-Yan , Wang Hua-Lei , Zhang Zhen-Zhen , Liu Min-Liang
Published: June 2022

We propose and test a new method of estimating the model parameters of the phenomenological Bethe-Weizsäcker mass formula. Based on the Monte Carlo sampling of a large dataset, we obtain, for the first time, a Cauchy-type parameter distribution formed by the exact solutions of linear equation systems. Using the maximum likelihood estimation, the location and scale parameters are evaluated. The estimated results are compared with those obtained by solving overdetermined systems, e.g., the solutions of the traditional least-squares method. Parameter correlations and uncertainty propagation are briefly discussed. As expected, it is also found that improvements in theoretical modeling (e.g., considering microscopic corrections) decrease the parameter and propagation uncertainties.
Anisotropic stars in modified gravity: An extended gravitational decoupling approach*
Authors: Maurya S. K. , Mishra B. , Ray Saibal , Nag Riju
Published: June 2022

In this study, we conduct an investigation on decoupling gravitational sources under the framework of

gravity. Basically, the complete geometric deformation technique is employed, which facilitates finding the exact solutions to the anisotropic astrophysical system smoothly without imposing any particular ansatz for the deformation function. In addition, we used 5-dimensional Euclidean spacetime in order to describe the embedding Class I spacetime in order to obtain a solvable spherical physical system. The resulting solutions are both physically interesting and viable with new possibilities for investigation. Notably, the present investigation demonstrates that the mixture of

+ CGD translates to a scenario beyond the pure GR realm and helps to enhance the features of the interior astrophysical aspects of compact stellar objects. To determine the physical acceptability and stability of the stellar system based on the obtained solutions, we conducted a series of physical tests that satisfied all stability criteria, including the nonsingular nature of density and pressure.
Pre-explosion Helium Shell Flash in Type Ia Supernovae
Authors: Soker Noam
Published: June 2022

I study the possibility that within the frame of the core degenerate (CD) scenario for type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) the merger process of the core of the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) star and the white dwarf (WD) maintains an envelope mass of ≈0.03 M
⊙ that causes a later helium shell flash. I estimate the number of pre-explosion helium shell flash events to be less than a few per cent of all CD scenario SNe Ia. A helium shell flash while the star moves to the left on the HR diagram as a post-AGB star (late thermal pulse—LTP) or along the WD cooling track (very LTP—VLTP) causes the star to expand and become a “born again” AGB star. Merger remnants exploding while still on the AGB form hydrogen-polluted peculiar SNe Ia, while an explosion inside an inflated born-again star results in an early flux excess in the light curve of the SN Ia. The fraction of systems that might show an early flux excess due to LTP/VLTP is <few × 10−4 of all SNe Ia, much below the observed fraction. In the frame of the CD scenario SNe Ia with early flux excess result from SN ejecta collision with planetary nebula fallback gas, or from mixing of 56Ni to the outer regions of the SN ejecta. Ongoing sky surveys might find about one case per year where LTP/VLTP influences the SN light curve.
Three-dimensional monopole-free CP
N−1 models: behavior in the presence of a quartic potential
Authors: Bonati Claudio , Pelissetto Andrea , Vicari Ettore
Published: June 2022

We investigate the phase diagram and the nature of the phase transitions in a three-dimensional model characterized by a global SU(N) symmetry, a local U(1) symmetry, and the absence of monopoles. It represents a natural generalization of the gauge monopole-free (MF) CP
N−1 model, in which the fixed-length constraint (London limit) is relaxed. We have performed Monte Carlo simulations for N = 2 and 25, observing a finite-temperature transition in both cases, related to the condensation of a local gauge-invariant order parameter. For N = 2 results for the MF model are consistent with a weak first-order transition. A continuous transition would be possible only if scaling corrections were anomalously large. For N = 25 the results in the general MF model are also consistent with a first-order transition, that becomes weaker as the size of the field-length fluctuations decreases.
Design method of sensors for quantitative mechanical testing of nanomaterials in transmission electron microscopy
Authors: Wang Xiaodong , Zhou Xinyang , Liu Zhan , Duan Yaoyong
Published: June 2022

Material structure at atomic scale determines its macroscopic physical and chemical properties. Transmission electron microscopy, as an effective and important technique for analyzing the microstructure of materials at atomic scale, has become an indispensable tool for studying the relationship between material properties and microstructure. According to the structure characteristics and working mode of transmission electron microscope, a design method of mechanical sensor based on piezoresistors is presented in this paper. The sensor can be used for in-situ quantitative tensile test in transmission electron microscope.
Towards the ultimate PMT waveform analysis for neutrino and dark matter experiments
Authors: Xu D.C. , Xu B.D. , Bao E.J. , Wu Y.Y. , Zhang A.Q. , Wang Y.Y. , Zhang G.L. , Xu Y. , Guo Z.Y. , Pei J.H. , Mao H.Y. , Liu J.S. , Wang Z. , Chen S.M.
Published: June 2022

Photomultiplier tube (PMT) voltage waveforms are the raw
data of many neutrino and dark matter experiments. Waveform analysis
is the cornerstone of data processing. We evaluate the performance
of all the waveform analysis algorithms known to us and find fast
stochastic matching pursuit the best in accuracy. Significant
time (up to × 2) and energy (up to × 1.07) resolution
boosts are attainable with fast stochastic matching pursuit,
approaching theoretical limits. Other methods also outperform the
traditional threshold crossing approach in time resolution.
A metamaterial with applications in broad band antennas used in radio astronomy and satellite communications
Authors: De Miguel J. , Franceschet C. , Realini S. , Fuerte-Rodríguez P.
Published: June 2022

Electromagnetic metamaterials at microwave frequencies are
well established in industry and research. Recent work has shown how
a specific kind of metallic metamaterial can contribute towards
improving the performance of the feedhorn antennas used in radio
astronomy and satellite telecommunications. In this article, we
discuss an innovative type of meta-ring of remarkable
manufacturability, able to improve the state of the art in these
fields. A pioneering meta-horn antenna formed of meta-rings is then
fabricated and characterized in the laboratory. It shows an
excellent feature on an octave bandwidth, especially in terms of
cross-polarization, a key figure of merit in both radio astronomy
and telecommunications, and also side-lobe level, return-loss and
gain.
Corrigendum: The ropelength of complex knots (2021 J. Phys. A: Math. Theor.

54 445201)
Authors: Klotz Alexander R , Maldonado Matthew
Published: June 2022

In the initial version of the article (Klotz and Maldonado 2021 J. Phys. A: Math. Theor.
54 445201), an upper bound on the ropelength of (p, 2) torus links was found by considering a helix wrapped around a circle. The exact expression for the bound was determined using a small-angle approximation which was unjustified. Here we provide the correct expression, which has the same asymptotic behavior as the original.
A separation between tropical matrix ranks
Authors: Shitov Yaroslav
Published: June 2022

We continue to study the rank functions of tropical matrices. In this paper, we explain how to reduce the computation of ranks for matrices over the ‘supertropical semifield’ to the standard tropical case. Using a counting approach, we prove the existence of a

01
01

-matrix with many ones and without large all-one submatrices, and we put our results together and construct an

n
×
n

n\times n

matrix with tropical rank

o
(

n

0.5
+
ε

)

o(n^{0.5+\varepsilon })

and Kapranov rank

n
−
o
(
n
)

n-o(n)

.
A direct construction of a full family of Whitham solitary waves
Authors: Ehrnström Mats , Nik Katerina , Walker Christoph
Published: June 2022

Starting with the periodic waves earlier constructed for the gravity Whitham equation, we parameterise the solution curves through relative wave height, and use a limiting argument to obtain a full family of solitary waves. The resulting branch starts from the zero solution, traverses unique points in the wave speed–wave height space, and reaches a singular highest wave at

φ
(
0
)
=

μ
2

\varphi (0) = \frac {\mu }{2}

. The construction is based on uniform estimates improved from earlier work on periodic waves for the same equation, together with limiting arguments and a Galilean transform to exclude vanishing waves and waves levelling off at negative surface depth. In fact, the periodic waves can be proved to converge locally uniformly to a wave with negative tails, which is then transformed to the desired branch of solutions. The paper also contains some proof concerning uniqueness and continuity for signed solutions (improved touching lemma).
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infections and Reinfections Among Fully Vaccinated and Unvaccinated University Athletes—15 States, January–November 2021
Authors: Good Mary K , Czarnik Michaila , Harmon Kimberly G , Aukerman Doug , O’Neal Catherine S , Day Carly , Goerl Kyle , Sifre Katlynn , Fink Steven , Riggs Margaret A
Published: June 2022

Background

Limited data currently exist on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections among fully vaccinated persons or reinfections in college-aged populations. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) partnered with National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) institutions to analyze retrospective data and present characteristics of positive coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases among student athletes 18 years of age and older.

Methods

De-identified, individual-level data contributed by 21 universities on 1378 student athletes who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 from January through November 2021 (pre-Omicron) were examined to determine percentages of infection among unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, and fully vaccinated individuals (breakthrough infections) as well as reinfections. Comparisons by demographic characteristics and regions were also made to further characterize these infections.

Results

Among the 1378 student athletes positive for SARS-CoV-2, 1070 (77.6%) were infected when unvaccinated and 22.4% (n = 308) were infected after full vaccination. There was a significant difference between Black (14.7%, n = 40) and White (23.9%, n = 168) student athletes who experienced a SARS-CoV-2 infection after being fully vaccinated (P < .01). Proportions of infections among fully vaccinated individuals did not differ statistically by sex (p = 0.06).

Conclusions

This article adds to the knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 infections among fully vaccinated individuals in college-aged populations. The level of infections among fully vaccinated student athletes indicates the need for maintaining precautions to prevent infection. Further study of COVID-19 vaccination, infection, and reinfection among the well-resourced and diverse population of student athletes might contribute further understanding of factors that play a role in health equity among young adults.
Pan-Cancer Detection and Typing by Mining Patterns in Large Genome-Wide Cell-Free DNA Sequencing Datasets
Authors: Che Huiwen , Jatsenko Tatjana , Lenaerts Liesbeth , Dehaspe Luc , Vancoillie Leen , Brison Nathalie , Parijs Ilse , Van Den Bogaert Kris , Fischerova Daniela , Heremans Ruben , Landolfo Chiara , Testa Antonia Carla , Vanderstichele Adriaan , Liekens Lore , Pomella Valentina , Wozniak Agnieszka , Dooms Christophe , Wauters Els , Hatse Sigrid , Punie Kevin , Neven Patrick , Wildiers Hans , Tejpar Sabine , Lambrechts Diether , Coosemans An , Timmerman Dirk , Vandenberghe Peter , Amant Frédéric , Vermeesch Joris Robert
Published: June 2022

Background

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) analysis holds great promise for non-invasive cancer screening, diagnosis, and monitoring. We hypothesized that mining the patterns of cfDNA shallow whole-genome sequencing datasets from patients with cancer could improve cancer detection.

Methods

By applying unsupervised clustering and supervised machine learning on large cfDNA shallow whole-genome sequencing datasets from healthy individuals (n = 367) and patients with different hematological (n = 238) and solid malignancies (n = 320), we identified cfDNA signatures that enabled cancer detection and typing.

Results

Unsupervised clustering revealed cancer type-specific sub-grouping. Classification using a supervised machine learning model yielded accuracies of 96% and 65% in discriminating hematological and solid malignancies from healthy controls, respectively. The accuracy of disease type prediction was 85% and 70% for the hematological and solid cancers, respectively. The potential utility of managing a specific cancer was demonstrated by classifying benign from invasive and borderline adnexal masses with an area under the curve of 0.87 and 0.74, respectively.

Conclusions

This approach provides a generic analytical strategy for non-invasive pan-cancer detection and cancer type prediction.
Patients’ and GPs’ duties and responsibilities in long-term care after myocardial infarction: a qualitative study of patients’ perspectives
Authors: Pohl Jonathan , Heintze Christoph , Herrmann Wolfram J
Published: June 2022

Background

Cardiovascular disease is one of the main causes of death in Europe and around the world. Effective and individualized long-term treatment of patients with chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and myocardial infarction reduces mortality and the risk of recurrence and prevents secondary disease. However, there is little data on patients’ views.

Objective

To examine patients’ perspectives on long-term care after myocardial infarction.

Methods

A qualitative interview study with patients after myocardial infarction in Berlin and Brandenburg, Germany. Fifteen episodic interviews were conducted, transcribed, coded, and analyzed using framework analysis.

Results

Participants consistently emphasized major functions fulfilled by general practitioners: monitoring, advice, diagnosis, referral, coordination. Furthermore, other functions such as empathy and feeling emotionally valued. Major patient roles emerged such as information sharing, lifestyle change, and coping. Responsibility toward doctors was expressed in terms of active participation in describing their symptoms, following the doctor’s directions, and sharing in decision-making. Self-responsibility in participants showed 2 contrasting approaches. On the one hand, a passive attitude (acceptance, helplessness), and on the other, active resistance and taking action.

Conclusion

The study underlines the importance of communication and awareness of the patient’s perspective. General practitioners must address patients’ aims and fears, encourage their initiative, and focus on empathy and education.
O-047 Can ovarian response be predicted and why would you want to know?
Authors: Fauser B C J M
Published: June 2022

Since the early days, IVF has often been combined with ovarian stimulation. Starting the in viteo fertilization procedure with multiple oocytes, may compensate for suboptimal laboratory performance. This trend has developed during 4 decades into the development of extremely complex and expensive ovarian stimulation regimens, along with the widespread belief that the ‘more oocytes the better’ for IVF success rates. Moreover, ovarian response to standard stimulation varies greatly, and over-response is clearly linked to added side effects and health risks for women.

Multiple studies emphasize that current standard IVF represents a very wasteful procedure, since only 1 out of 20 to 50 oocytes generated does result in a live birth. The concept of ‘the more oocytes the better’ is largely based on the observation that few oocytes are associated with poor clinical outcomes. However, generating few oocytes following maximal stimulation in conventional IVF is mostly due to diminished ovarian reserve, an intrinsic problem of the ovary unrelated to the extent of stimulation and clearly associated with poor outcomes. Increasing evidence suggests that few oocytes retrieved following mild stimulation do coincide with good IVF success rates. This difference is often ignored.

It would be most important to reach a more broad scope consensus on the optimal number of oocytes to be retrieved for IVF, taking cost, patient discomfort, and safety into consideration next to clinical success rates. Subsequently, individualized stimulation regimens should be developed to reach the optimal response in the majority of women undergoing IVF. individual patient characteristics should be identified which are linked to ovarian response, such as female age, body weight, ovarian reserve biomarkers (like Anti-Mullerian hormone, and antral follicle count) soon to be complemented with genomic ovarian markers.

In the current transition from mass medicine (the same treatment for all) to patient-tailored approaches, individualized ovarian stimulation based on robust markers would represent a true step forward giving rise to safer, simpler, and more cost-effective IVF with comparable success rates.
O-081 Brad Pitt or the Next Door Neighbor?
Authors: Aharoni A , Blais I , Koifman M , Wiener-Megnazi Z , Ishai D , Oron G , Lahav-Baratz S
Published: June 2022

Study question

Can we identify the preferences of sperm recipients regarding traits of the ideal sperm donor?

Summary answer

According to our questionnaire, patients’ priority was a “healthy child” but they were also trying to assemble “the perfect looking child”.

What is known already

Recruiting sperm donors is tedious and time consuming. Literature is scarce on the factors guiding women when choosing a donor. Increasing knowledge regarding these factors could assist in the recruitment process. In certain countries sperm donation is anonymous. The shared information about the donors is limited and includes basic physical traits (hair, eye color, skin complexion, height) in addition to religion, education, and occupation. Single women are free of social constraints when choosing an anonymous donor, shedding a light on what are the most critical elements.

Study design, size, duration

An anonymous questionnaire was developed to explore sperm recipients’ preferences in choosing a sperm donor. The respondents were asked to describe themselves and choose the traits of the ideal donor from a structured list in the questionnaire. Patients were asked to rank the importance of a list of traits.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

Sixty four patients completed the questionnaire. The data was statistically analyzed.

Main results and the role of chance

Eighty percent of participants are single women. 45% of the participants are 35-40 years old. Most of them have an academic degree (70%) and grew up in the city (77%). 74% of our patients have dark hair and 67% have brown eyes. We compared the traits of the recipients to the traits of the hypothetical ideal donor. Interestingly, recipients did not desire a donor that looks like them overcoming the natural instinctive desire to have a child that looks like you. Even though the average recipient at our unit does not have a fair appearance, the ideal donor of 73% of the recipients is light haired with blue/green colored eyes. The average height of the women was 166cm±6 while the average height of the ideal donor was 178cm±6. Still, when ranking the importance of traits; 89% ranked genetic testing as most important in their selection and 67% ranked the staff's impression of the donor as very important. Recipients with an academic degree ranked education as important compared with non-academic recipients.

Limitations, reasons for caution

Preference in choosing a sperm donor may be influenced by local factors and might not generally applicable

Wider implications of the findings

Recruitment of sperm donors is an ongoing process demanding commitment between the medical staff and the donors. It requires a psychologic evaluation, serologic and genetic testing and repeated sperm sampling. Knowing factors that guide women when choosing a sperm donor may precise the recruitment process of donors.

Trial registration number

None
O-146 Extended carrier testing of inherited disorders for reproductive risk assessment in preconception care
Authors: Diblik J , Jarošová R , Bittóová M , Zembol F , Dohnalová L , Vilímová Z , Soldátová I , Hrabíková M , Koudová M , Stejskal D
Published: June 2022

Study question

What are the clinical implications of extended carrier screening including genetic risk factors linked to infertility and pregnancy?

Summary answer

The preconception care is simplified by combining the carrier screening for autosomal recessive and X-linked disorders with examination of other risk factors in one test.

What is known already

Preconception care includes screening for autosomal recessive and X-linked disorders, usually based on family history or ethnicity. Current molecular genetic methods allow simultaneous detection of mutations in a large number of genes and thus developing a unified test for all couples.

Study design, size, duration

Retrospective analysis of results from 19944 individuals (9972 couples) examined between March 2017 and July 2021.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

Massively parallel sequencing panel CarrierTest screens for mutations in 80 genes associated with severe inherited diseases along with common risk factors for infertility, pregnancy loss and IVF-related treatment complications.

Main results and the role of chance

The risk of disorders with autosomal recessive inheritance was found in 1.59 % of couples and risk of X- linked disorders in 1.56 % of couples. Risk of pregnancy complications due to inherited thrombophilia (Factor 5 Leiden mutation and Factor 2 Prothrombin mutation) in the woman was detected in 10.4 % couples and due to the M2 haplotype of ANXA5 gene in 3.53 % couples. Increased sensitivity for FSH due to the FSHR gene Ser680Asn variant in homozygous state was found in 30.7 % of women and microdeletions of chromosome Y associated with male infertility were detected in 0.72 % of men.

Limitations, reasons for caution

The findings in most genes for autosomal recessive genes are likely to represent the real population frequency of carriers, but in other categories the data are influenced by selection of patients and couples for testing due the reproductive problems or family history.

Wider implications of the findings

Implementation of CarrierTest allowed us to considerably extend the breadth of tested severe diseases and risk factors and thus to offer the examined couples the opportunity of primary prevention of the consequences of their carrier status.

Trial registration number

Not applicable
O-161 Using pluripotent stem cells for in vitro gametogenesis
Authors: Clark A
Published: June 2022

Human reproduction depends on the formation of germ cells, the cell lineage responsible for making gametes.  Gametes are the only cell types in the body capable of passing DNA from one generation to the next, therefore problems at any stage of germ cell development leading up to the formation of gametes can lead to reproductive challenges or even premature ovarian aging.  In humans, germ cell development begins soon after embryo implantation with the specification of primordial germ cells (PGCs) from peri-implantation progenitor cells.  Once PGC specification has finished, no other cell type in the body is capable of contributing to the germ cell lineage.  Therefore, failure to specify PGCs will lead to certain infertility.  In order to study PGC development, my laboratory animal models, stem cells and organoid technology.  The advantage of using laboratory animal model is that PGC specification development and differentiation can be studied in vivo. The disadvantage is that human-specific mechanisms of PGC specification can be overlooked when not using human cells in research.  To overcome this, my lab builds and uses stem cell models of peri-implantation human development in order to understand PGC specification as well as stem cell models to study in vitro gametogenesis.  In this lecture, I will discuss latest advances in stem cell technology to understand fertility and infertility as well as human embryology.