bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Case of Cyclic Cushing’s Disease with Improvement of Psoriatic Skin Lesions During a Period of Hypercortisolemia
Authors: Nakatake Nobuhiro , Hiraoka Fumihiro , Yano Shigetoshi , Hara Takeshi , Matsubayashi Sunao
Published: March 2021

Cushing’s syndrome (CS) is known to involve periodic cortisol secretion in some patients. It has also been demonstrated that resolution of cortisol hypersecretion in CS may cause autoimmune-related disease to become apparent. At least 3 cases of psoriasis that became apparent after resolution of hypercortisolism in CS have been reported. We describe a 45-year-old man with cyclic Cushing’s disease in whom psoriasis vulgaris, an autoimmune-related disease, was ameliorated during a period of hypercortisolemia. He had complained of intermittent sensations of “whole-body swelling” and improvement of his psoriatic skin lesions, which lasted 2 to 3 weeks at 2- to 3-month intervals over several years. During a 2-week hospitalization for endocrine investigations, an episode of hypercortisolemia appeared unexpectedly. During this time period, the peak serum cortisol level reached 75.7 µg/mL (adrenocorticotropic hormone level, 585 pg/mL) and 24-hour urinary free cortisol reached 10 500 µg/day. A diagnosis of Cushing’s disease was made based on a markedly elevated urinary free cortisol level, an adequate increase in adrenocorticotropic hormone level in response to corticotropin-releasing hormone stimulation, and the presence of a giant pituitary tumor with a maximum diameter of approximately 4 cm. Interestingly, during this time period, there was a marked improvement in the psoriatic skin lesions and whole-body swelling sensations.
A Case Report of Bilateral Phrenic Nerve Dysfunction After Unilateral Supraclavicular Brachial Plexus Block: Unveiling Preexisting Diaphragmatic Dysfunction
Authors: Castro Anne L. , Chen Christina , Bronshteyn Yuriy , Ray Neil , Gadsden Jeff
Published: March 2021

A 48-year-old woman with a history of cardiac surgery developed severe dyspnea and anxiety following right-sided supraclavicular nerve block for hand surgery. In this case, right phrenic nerve blockade from a supraclavicular block unmasked a subclinical hemidiaphragmatic paresis from phrenic nerve injury on the left, the latter likely due to previous cardiac surgery. When performing brachial plexus block at or above the clavicle, particularly for prior cardiothoracic surgical patients, anesthesiologists can easily, quickly, and inexpensively use point-of-care ultrasound to assess whether any degree of phrenic nerve dysfunction exists on the contralateral side, as patients may be asymptomatic at baseline.
The Formulation of Cognitive Aids and a Systematic Approach to Emergency Front-of-Neck Access, Following a “Can’t Intubate, Can’t Oxygenate” Crisis in a Patient With Ankylosing Spondylitis
Authors: Zhang Jinbin , Ong Shimin , Toh Han
Published: March 2021

A patient with ankylosing spondylitis in a “can’t intubate, can’t oxygenate” situation was rescued with cannula cricothyrotomy and transtracheal jet oxygenation. The case revealed clinical and systematic weaknesses, leading to standardization and reorganization of our equipment. Prepackaged cannula cricothyrotomy sets were placed in standardized locations in the operating rooms in line with our institution’s “cannula first” policy. Cognitive aids specific to emergency front-of-neck access (eFONA) were created and placed strategically with the eFONA equipment to prompt and guide operators during airway emergencies. The aids have also been incorporated into our training curriculum to encourage their use.
Quantifying energetic costs and defining energy landscapes experienced by grizzly bears
Authors: Carnahan Anthony M. , van Manen Frank T. , Haroldson Mark A. , Stenhouse Gordon B. , Robbins Charles T.
Published: March 2021

Animal movements are major determinants of energy expenditure and ultimately the cost–benefit of landscape use. Thus, we sought to understand those costs and how grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) move in mountainous landscapes. We trained captive grizzly bears to walk on a horizontal treadmill and up and down 10% and 20% slopes. The cost of moving upslope increased linearly with speed and slope angle, and this was more costly than moving horizontally. The cost of downslope travel at slower speeds was greater than the cost of traveling horizontally but appeared to decrease at higher speeds. The most efficient walking speed that minimized cost per unit distance was 1.19±0.11 m s−1. However, grizzly bears fitted with GPS collars in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem moved at an average velocity of 0.61±0.28 m s−1 and preferred to travel on near-horizontal slopes at twice their occurrence. When traveling uphill or downhill, grizzly bears chose paths across all slopes that were ∼54% less steep and costly than the maximum available slope. The net costs (J kg−1 m−1) of moving horizontally and uphill were the same for grizzly bears, humans and digitigrade carnivores, but those costs were 46% higher than movement costs for ungulates. These movement costs and characteristics of landscape use determined using captive and wild grizzly bears were used to understand the strategies that grizzly bears use for preying on large ungulates and the similarities in travel between people and grizzly bears that might affect the risk of encountering each other on shared landscapes.
Exercise training has morph-specific effects on telomere, body condition and growth dynamics in a color-polymorphic lizard
Authors: Friesen Christopher R. , Wilson Mark , Rollings Nicky , Sudyka Joanna , Giraudeau Mathieu , Whittington Camilla M. , Olsson Mats
Published: March 2021

Alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs) are correlated suites of sexually selected traits that are likely to impose differential physiological costs on different individuals. While moderate activity might be beneficial, animals living in the wild often work at the margins of their resources and performance limits. Individuals using ARTs may have divergent capacities for activity. When pushed beyond their respective capacities, they may experience condition loss, oxidative stress, and molecular damage that must be repaired with limited resources. We used the Australian painted dragon lizard that exhibits color polymorphism as a model to experimentally test the effect of exercise on body condition, growth, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and telomere dynamics – a potential marker of stress and aging and a correlate of longevity. For most males, ROS levels tended to be lower with greater exercise; however, males with yellow throat patches – or bibs – had higher ROS levels than non-bibbed males. At the highest level of exercise, bibbed males exhibited telomere loss, while non-bibbed males gained telomere length; the opposite pattern was observed in the no-exercise controls. Growth was positively related to food intake but negatively correlated with telomere length at the end of the experiment. Body condition was not related to food intake but was positively correlated with increases in telomere length. These results, along with our previous work, suggest that aggressive – territory holding – bibbed males suffer physiological costs that may reduce longevity compared with non-bibbed males with superior postcopulatory traits.
Reference Points for Retirement Behavior: Evidence from German Pension Discontinuities
Authors: Seibold Arthur
Published: March 2021

This paper studies the large concentration of retirement behavior around statutory retirement ages, a puzzling stylized fact. To investigate this fact, I estimate bunching responses to 644 pension benefit discontinuities, using administrative data on the universe of German retirees. Financial incentives alone cannot explain retirement patterns, but there is a large direct effect of statutory retirement ages. I argue that the framing of statutory ages as reference points for retirement provides a plausible explanation. Simulations based on a model with reference dependence highlight that shifting statutory ages via pension reforms is an effective policy to influence retirement behavior. (JEL D91, H55, J26, J32)
Fidelity of base-pair recognition by a 3′–5′ polymerase: mechanism of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae tRNAHis guanylyltransferase
Authors: Patel Krishna J. , Yourik Paul , Jackman Jane E.
Published: March 2021

The tRNAHis guanylyltransferase (Thg1) was originally discovered in Saccharomyces cerevisiae where it catalyzes 3′–5′ addition of a single nontemplated guanosine (G−1) to the 5′ end of tRNAHis. In addition to this activity, S. cerevisiae Thg1 (SceThg1) also catalyzes 3′–5′ polymerization of Watson–Crick (WC) base pairs, utilizing nucleotides in the 3′-end of a tRNA as the template for addition. Subsequent investigation revealed an entire class of enzymes related to Thg1, called Thg1-like proteins (TLPs). TLPs are found in all three domains of life and preferentially catalyze 3′–5′ polymerase activity, utilizing this unusual activity to repair tRNA, among other functions. Although both Thg1 and TLPs utilize the same chemical mechanism, the molecular basis for differences between WC-dependent (catalyzed by Thg1 and TLPs) and non-WC-dependent (catalyzed exclusively by Thg1) reactions has not been fully elucidated. Here we investigate the mechanism of base-pair recognition by 3′–5′ polymerases using transient kinetic assays, and identify Thg1-specific residues that play a role in base-pair discrimination. We reveal that, regardless of the identity of the opposing nucleotide in the RNA “template,” addition of a non-WC G−1 residue is driven by a unique kinetic preference for GTP. However, a secondary preference for forming WC base pairs is evident for all possible templating residues. Similar to canonical 5′–3′ polymerases, nucleotide addition by SceThg1 is driven by the maximal rate rather than by NTP substrate affinity. Together, these data provide new insights into the mechanism of base-pair recognition by 3′–5′ polymerases.
Is Matching Exercise Intensity to Heart Rate Variability a Key to Effective Conditioning for Dancers? A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Butulis Meredith N. , Fedor Brittany J. , McGaver Rebecca Stone , Giveans M. Russell
Published: March 2021

Dancers seek studio-based conditioning methods that improve fitness to help them meet the demands of their discipline. Heart rate variability (HRV) mobile technology offers one such potential method. The purpose of this prospective randomized controlled trial was to investigate how
HRV impacted fitness outcomes over a 4 to 6 week period of supplemental training. The study's cohort, 134 competitive female dancers ages 12 to 35, were randomly assigned to one of three groups: the HRV study group, the Tabata high-intensity control group, or the Vinyasa yoga low-intensity
control group. Fitness assessments conducted in the pre- and post-training period included cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance, and lower extremity power. These assessments were evaluated with ANOVA between group and within group comparisons. Results revealed lower extremity power
improvement in the HRV group at a statistically significant level (p < 0.05) and overall trends toward greater muscle endurance. Additional unanticipated findings surfaced in the yoga control group that demonstrated cardiovascular improvements and normalization of right versus left lower
extremity power discrepancies. Conclusions support the use of HRV mobile technology to individualize daily conditioning intensity, thereby efficiently improving lower extremity power and overall muscle endurance for dancers while monitoring for signs of overtraining.
Prevalence of Movement Dysfunction in Female Collegiate Dancers
Authors: Kautzmann Brett M. , Kase James B. , Coker Cheryl A.
Published: March 2021

The Functional Movement Screen (FMS™) is a screening instrument developed to identify basic movement dysfunctions that may increase musculoskeletal injury risk potential. To date there are no published normative values for the FMS™ in dancers; consequently, this study sought
to establish those values in addition to identifying the prevalence and nature of movement dysfunction in collegiate dancers. The functional movement proficiency of 111 collegiate dancers was determined using the FMS™, which provides three variables of interest: 1. FMS™ total score,
2. number of asymmetries (unequal performance of right and left sides), and 3. number of move- ment pattern dysfunctions. Total FMS™ scores ranged from 11 to 20 out of 21 possible points, with a mean of 16.42 (SD = 1.72). Forty-four percent of dancers presented with one or more asymmetries
and 43% demonstrated one or more dysfunctional movement patterns. The active straight-leg raise was the most proficiently performed movement pattern, while the deep squat, hurdle step, and rotary stability were the least proficient. Functional Movement Screen outcome scores indicated that
dysfunctional movement patterns and asymmetries exist in collegiate dancers. Additional research is needed to establish normative FMS TM scores for the different genres and levels of dance and establish the relationship between FMS™ scores and injury risk potential, and if that relationship
is established, determine the efficacy of the FMS™ to develop intervention programs for injury prevention.
Οι περιορισμοί των αποκρατικοποιήσεων μέσα από τη νομολογία του εθνικού δικαστή και του δικαστή της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης
Authors: Λάππα Ελένη
Published: March 2021

Σκοπός της διατριβής είναι η παρουσίαση των περιορισμών που διέπουν τις αποκρατικοποιήσεις, μέσα από τη νομολογία του εθνικού δικαστή και του δικαστή της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης. Η έρευνα αναπτύσσεται πάνω στη διάκριση των περιορισμών που θέτουν από τη μια οι συνταγματικές διατάξεις και από την άλλη οι θεμελιώδεις ελευθερίες και οι κανόνες του ενωσιακού δικαίου. Αρχικά παρουσιάζεται το περιεχόμενο της έννοιας «περιουσία του Δημοσίου» καθώς και οι εθνικές νομοθετικές ρυθμίσεις με τις οποίες δρομολογήθηκε η αποκρατικοποίηση των στοιχείων που την απαρτίζουν. Έπειτα, αναλύεται ο τρόπος με τον οποίο το Συμβούλιο της Επικρατείας εντοπίζει τους περιορισμούς που θέτουν οι συνταγματικές διατάξεις στις αποκρατικοποιήσεις προκειμένου να εξασφαλισθεί η εξυπηρέτηση του δημοσίου συμφέροντος. Στη συνέχεια, εξετάζονται οι περιορισμοί που, σύμφωνα με τη νομολογία του ΔΕΕ, απορρέουν από τις θεμελιώδεις ελευθερίες του ενωσιακού δικαίου και τις διατάξεις για τον ανταγωνισμό και διέπουν την απελευθέρωση των υπηρεσιών γενικού οικονομικού συμφέροντος, όπως αυτή συντελέστηκε στους τομείς των ταχυδρομικών υπηρεσιών, των μεταφορών, της ενέργειας, των ηλεκτρονικών επικοινωνιών και των λιμενικών υπηρεσιών. Επίσης, ιδιαίτερα σημαντική είναι η επίδραση του δικαίου των κρατικών ενισχύσεων καθώς των κανόνων του δευτερογενούς δικαίου που διέπουν τη σύναψη δημοσίων συμβάσεων κατά την οργάνωση μιας αποκρατικοποίησης, υπό τη μορφή της ιδιωτικοποίησης και, ειδικότερα, της σύναψης σύμβασης για τη μεταβίβαση δικαιωμάτων, μετοχών ή ακινήτων του Δημοσίου σε ιδιώτες. Το γενικό συμπέρασμα της μελέτης είναι ότι, κατά τη θέσπιση ενός προγράμματος αποκρατικοποιήσεων, ο εθνικός νομοθέτης υπόκειται σε κανόνες οι οποίοι εγγυώνται την οικονομική ωφέλεια του Δημοσίου και την εύρυθμη λειτουργία του ανταγωνισμού, ταυτόχρονα όμως και σε περιορισμούς που εξασφαλίζουν τα δικαιώματα των πολιτών και το φυσικό και ανθρωπογενές περιβάλλον.
Things We Do for No Reason™: Ova and Parasite Testing in Patients With Acute Diarrhea Arising During Hospitalization
Authors: Golfeyz Shmuel , Haviland Adam , Burger Alfred
Published: March 2021

Inspired by the ABIM Foundation's Choosing Wisely® campaign, the “Things We Do for No Reason™” (TWDFNR) series reviews practices that have become common parts of hospital care but may provide little value to our patients. Practices reviewed in the TWDFNR series do not represent clear‐cut conclusions or clinical practice standards but are meant as a starting place for research and active discussions among hospitalists and patients. We invite you to be part of that discussion.
Burying America's Malls: Cyclical Capital, Commodity, and Creative Destruction
Authors: Kirk Richard
Published: March 2021

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NOTAS SOBRE LA PUBLICACIÓN E INSERCIÓN DE POSGRADUADOS EN MATEMÁTICA EDUCATIVA
Authors: Cantoral Uriza Ricardo
Published: March 2021

En los últimos decenios se constata el crecimiento de los posgrados en Matemática Educativa, tanto de universidades como de institutos académicos de América Latina, Portugal y España. Bajo distintas modalidades y orientaciones teórico – metodológicas, según el ciclo educativo atendido o la tradición de escuela, se ha producido una expansión en la matrícula y en la graduación de maestros y doctores lo que modifica su habitual incersión al ámbito laboral, aun con un claro desequilibrio en la dinámica impuesta entre países y regiones.
UN EXPERIMENTO DE ENSEÑANZA EN FORMACIÓN CONTINUA ESTRUCTURADO POR EL MODELO MTSK
Authors: Montes Miguel , Pascual María Isabel , Climent Nuria
Published: March 2021

La formación de maestros ya egresados es un área infraexplorada en la investigación en Educación Matemática, especialmente en relación con su conocimiento. Presentamos aquí los resultados de un experimento de enseñanza orientado a la formación de maestros egresados. Este experimento tuvo lugar en la Universidad de Huelva con un total de 39 maestros, en el contexto de un curso de adaptación al Grado de Primaria. Para la fundamentación teórica del experimento usamos el modelo de Conocimiento Especializado del Profesor de Matemáticas, que permitió a su vez generar una hipótesis de progresión de aprendizaje. Mostraremos tanto el diseño del experimento, como el análisis retrospectivo del mismo. Los resultados del estudio evidenciaron que los maestros mejoran en el uso de su conocimiento de los temas, y de la enseñanza de las matemáticas.
Hedge Fund Activism and Corporate M&A Decisions
Authors: Wu Szu-Yin (Jennifer) , Chung Kee H.
Published: March 2021

This paper shows that hedge fund activism is associated with a decrease in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and offer premiums and an increase in stock and operating performance. Activist hedge funds improve target firms’ M&A performance by reducing poor M&A, diversifying M&A, and the M&A of firms with multiple business segments. Activist hedge funds improve target firms’ M&A decisions by influencing their governance practices. We show that our results are unlikely driven by selection bias. Overall, activist hedge funds play an important role in the market for corporate control by increasing the efficiency of target firms’ M&A activities through interventions.

This paper was accepted by Gustavo Manso, finance.
Integrated Ad Delivery Planning for Targeted Display Advertising
Authors: Shen Huaxiao , Li Yanzhi , Chen Youhua (Frank) , Pan Kai
Published: March 2021

Revenue Management for Online Advertising: A Holistic Approach
Local Adaptation Without Work Intensification: Experimentalist Governance of Digital Technology for Mutually Beneficial Role Reconfiguration in Organizations
Authors: Kellogg Katherine C.
Published: March 2021

This 1.5-year ethnographic study of a U.S. medical center shows that avoiding loss of autonomy and work intensification for less powerful actors during digital technology introduction and integration presents a multisited collective action challenge. I found that technology-related participation problems, threshold problems, and free rider problems may arise during digital technology introduction and integration that enable loss of autonomy and work intensification for less powerful actors. However, the emergence of new triangles of power allows for novel coalitions between less powerful actors and newly powerful third-party actors that can help mitigate this problem. I extend the political science perspective of experimentalist governance to examine how a digital technology-focused, iterative collective action process of local experimentation followed by central revision can facilitate mutually beneficial role reconfiguration during digital technology introduction and integration. In experimentalist governance of digital technology, local units are given discretion to adapt digital technologies to their specific contexts. A central unit composed of diverse actors then reviews progress across local units integrating similar digital technology to negotiate a new shared understanding of mutually beneficial technology-related tasks for each group of actors. The central unit modifies both local routines and the technology itself in response to problems and possibilities revealed by the central revision process, and the cycle repeats. Here, accomplishing mutually beneficial role reconfiguration occurs through an experimentalist, collective action process rather than through a labor-management bargaining process or a professional-led tuning process.
Do Managers’ Affiliation Ties Have a Negative Relationship with Subordinates’ Interfirm Mobility? Evidence from Large U.S. Law Firms
Authors: Carnahan Seth , Rabier MaryJane , Uribe Jose
Published: March 2021

We hypothesize that employee mobility between organizations will be lower when the organizations’ managers share affiliation ties. We test this idea by examining interorganizational employee mobility between large corporate law practices. We find that a practice area is less likely to hire attorneys from a rival practice area when the leaders of the two practice areas attended the same law school at the same time, our proxy for the presence of an affiliation tie. The negative relationship is stronger for hiring higher-ranked attorneys, and it is driven by practice leaders from the same law school class. Exploiting appointments of new practice leaders, we find a sharp and immediate decline in interorganizational mobility following an appointment that creates an affiliation tie between the leadership of the practice areas. Although we cannot rule out the possibility that job seekers’ preferences drive the results, we conclude that rival managers’ ties deserve further scrutiny because they might limit the outside employment opportunities of their subordinates.
Implementation of Four-Tier Multiple-Choice Instruments Based on the Partial Credit Model in Evaluating Students’ Learning Progress
Authors: Laliyo Lukman Abdul Rauf , Hamdi Syukrul , Pikoli Masrid , Abdullah Romario , Panigoro Citra
Published: March 2021

One of the issues that hinder the students’ learning progress is the inability to construct an epistemological explanation of a scientific phenomenon. Four-tier multiple-choice (hereinafter, 4TMC) instrument and Partial-Credit Model were employed to elaborate on the diagnosis process of the aforementioned problem. This study was to develop and implement the four-tier multiple-choice instrument with Partial-Credit Model to evaluate students’ learning progress in explaining the conceptual change of state of matter. This research applied a development research referring to the test development model by Wilson. The data were obtained through development and validation techniques on 20 4TMC items tested to 427 students. On each item, the study applied diagnostic-summative assessment and certainty response index. The students’ conceptual understanding level was categorized based on the combination of their answer choices; the measurement generated Partial-Credit Model for 1 parameter logistic (IPL) data. Analysis of differences was based on the student level class using Analysis of Variants (One-way ANOVA). This study resulted in 20 valid and reliable 4TMC instruments. The result revealed that the integration of 4TMC test and Partial-Credit Model was effective to be treated as the instrument to measure students’ learning progress. One-way ANOVA test indicated the differences among the students’ competence based on the academic level. On top of that, it was discovered that low-ability students showed slow progress due to the lack of knowledge as well as a misconception in explaining the Concept of Change of State of Matter. All in all, the research regarded that the diagnostic information was necessary for teachers in prospective development of learning strategies and evaluation of science learning.
Smart Automated Language Teaching Through the Smart Sender Platform
Authors: Lychuk Mariia , Bilous Nataliya , Isaienko Svitlana , Gritsyak Lesya , Nozhovnik Oleg
Published: March 2021

The purpose of the research was to identify whether the English language e-classes that are automated and delivered through the Smart Sender platform influence the students’ attendance and procrastination rates, their motivation, time management skills, cognitive processing speed, and satisfaction. The study used qualitative and quantitative methods to monitor students’ attendance and procrastination rates, motivation and engagement, time management skills, thinking speed, and satisfaction. The questionnaire on learning motivation, engagement, and competence, the time management skills test, the mental speed test, and the course satisfaction questionnaire were used to collect data. The focus group discussion questionnaire was used to obtain verbal feedback for the participants. The Smart Sender platform proved effective as an instructional tool for teaching the English Language to students majoring in Philology, International Business, and Law. The automated delivery of the English language e-classes was effective in addressing the issues of dropouts and procrastination in distance learning through automation of the lesson delivery based on the ‘push’ factor. It increased students’ motivation, improves time management skills, and satisfaction. The quantitative findings showed that the students experienced a positive change in attendance, motivation and learning engagement, time management skills, and thinking speed due to the intervention. The students perceived the automated delivery-based approach to language teaching positively. They reported that the delivery approach content met the participants’ expectations and needs. Focus group discussion revealed that the intervention changed their learning behaviour and strategies which were considered the improvements of the quality learning outcomes.
Efficacy of adjuvant intrastromal and combination of intrastromal and intracameral voriconazole in Aspergillus fumigatus-induced moderate fungal keratitis in rabbits
Authors: Sarika Dyah Tjintya , Louisa Melva , Rozaliyani Anna , Evelina  , Susiyanti Made
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND There is no in vivo evidence for the effectiveness of adjuvant intrastromal and combination of intrastromal and intracameral voriconazole (VCZ) for treating Aspergillus fumigatus keratitis. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of both agents against it. 

METHODS A randomized, masked, controlled experimental study was conducted on 11 albino New Zealand white rabbits in which moderate fungal keratitis was induced by inoculating spores of A. fumigatus to the cornea. The rabbits were allocated into 3 groups: 50 μg/0.1 ml intrastromal VCZ injection, 50 μg/0.1 ml intrastromal VCZ and intracameral VCZ injections, and topical VCZ (control). The treatment was given 5 days after inoculation. Epithelial defect, infiltrate size, corneal ulcer depth, and hypopyon were evaluated clinically. Histopathological and mycological examinations were also done 14 days after treatment. 

RESULTS All rabbits in the adjuvant treatment groups demonstrated a tendency of a better clinical response with decreasing size of epithelial defect (p = 0.679) and infiltrate (p = 0.755) than in the control group. Direct microscopy, corneal culture, and chop corneal tissue culture were still positive in most of the rabbits from all groups. Histopathological examination showed an increase of inflammatory cells after treatment in all groups, especially in rabbits which were inoculated with A. fumigatus spores in both eyes. 

CONCLUSIONS An adjuvant combination of intrastromal and intracameral VCZ showed a tendency of better clinical response for A. fumigatus-induced moderate fungal keratitis in rabbits.
Factors associated with delay in diagnosis among tuberculosis patients in the north of Iran
Authors: Moosazadeh Mahmood , Kheradmand Motahareh , Aarabi Mohsen , Afshari Mahdi , Parsaee Mohammadreza , Nezammahalleh Asghar , Hessami Amirhossein
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND Recognizing factors that affect delay in diagnosis in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is critical. This study aimed to identify such factors among TB patients in the north of Iran.

METHODS In this retrospective cohort study, we reviewed patient’s medical records from the TB registration system of the Health Deputy of Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran that was responsible for the TB registry in the province from 2007 to 2017. All hospitals affiliated with the university, including private hospitals, reported TB cases directly to the health deputy. Patient’s gender, age, TB smear result, TB type, imprisonment, diabetes, nationality, residence area, and drug use were considered factors of delay in diagnosis, which was defined as a delay of >30 days between symptom onset and diagnosis. Data from 3,453 patients were analyzed using the chi-square test and logistic regression models.

RESULTS The frequency of patients with delay in diagnosis was 67.7%. There was no association between delay in diagnosis and gender (p = 0.194), TB type (p = 0.140), and diabetes (p = 0.198). On the other hand, old age (≥60 years) was related to delay in diagnosis (OR = 1.37; 95% CI = 1.12–1.68; p = 0.002). The chance of delay in diagnosis in prisoners was lower than in non-prisoners (OR = 0.62; 95% CI = 0.46–0.82; p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS Old age was a risk factor for delay in diagnosis, and interestingly, prisoners had been diagnosed significantly faster.
Achromatic anamorphic anastigmatic laser focusing
Authors: Meng Lei
Published: March 2021

This paper presents a simple method to focus multi-wavelength circular laser beams to elliptical spots (anamorphic) at a common waist location (achromatic) on both major and minor axes of the ellipse (anastigmatic), provided that each wavelength can be pre-shaped to appropriate waist sizes and locations. All lenses in the system are low-cost dispersive singlets and can be made out of the same material. The characteristics of Gaussian beam transformation through lenses are used to analyze how it works.
Color mismatch and observer metamerism between conventional liquid crystal displays and organic light emitting diode displays
Authors: Wu Jialu , Wei Minchen , Fu Yang , Cui Chunhui
Published: March 2021

Organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays use red, green, and blue primaries with a higher saturation level to produce larger color gamuts than conventional liquid crystal displays (LCD). No past study, however, experimentally investigated how such a difference between these two display types causes color mismatch and observer metamerism using the most widely used color matching functions (CMFs)—the CIE 1931 2° CMFs—for color calibration and specification. In this study, 50 human observers performed color matching tasks for six color stimuli with a field-of-view of 4.77° between four test displays (i.e., one LCD and three OLED) and a reference OLED display. The color gamuts of the LCD and OLED displays were similar to the sRGB and P3 standard color gamuts. It was found the CIE 1931 2° CMFs cannot accurately characterize the color matches between the LCD and OLED displays, with different chromaticities required to produce matched color appearance. Particularly, when the stimuli had matched color appearance, the chromaticities of the stimuli produced by the LCD display were all shifted towards the -u’+v’ direction in the CIE 1976 u’v’ chromaticity diagram in comparison to those produced by the OLED display. This suggested that using the CIE 1931 2° CMFs for display calibration would cause the colors shown on OLED displays to have a yellow-green tint if those on LCD displays appear neutral. In addition, a larger degree of observer metamerism was found between the LCD and OLED displays, while little differences, in terms of color mismatch and observer metamerism, were found between the OLED displays. The CIE 2006 2° CMFs were found to have better performance than the CIE 1931 2°, 1964 10°, and 2006 10° CMFs, which could be partially due to the size of the stimulus used in the experiment.
Generalized efficiency mismatch attack to bypass the detection-scrambling countermeasure
Authors: Ruhul Fatin M. A. , Sajeed Shihan
Published: March 2021

The ability of an eavesdropper to compromise the security of a quantum communication system by changing the angle of the incoming light is well-known. Randomizing the role of the detectors has been proposed to be an efficient countermeasure to this type of attack. Here we show that the proposed countermeasure can be bypassed if the attack is generalized by including more attack variables. Using the experimental data from existing literature, we show how randomization effectively prevents the initial attack but fails to do so when Eve generalizes her attack strategy. Our result and methodology could be used to scrutinize a free-space quantum communication receiver against detector-efficiency-mismatch type attacks.
Sub-100-nm precision distance measurement by means of all-fiber photonic microwave mixing
Authors: Jang Yoon-Soo , Park Jungjae , Jin Jonghan
Published: March 2021

The importance of dimensional metrology has gradually emerged from fundamental research to high-technology industries. In the era of the fourth industrial revolution, absolute distance measurements are required to cope with various applications, such as unmanned vehicles, intelligent robots, and positioning sensors for smart factories. In such cases, the size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) should essentially be restricted. In this paper, sub-100 nm precision distance measurements based on an amplitude-modulated continuous-wave laser (AMCW) with an all-fiber photonic microwave mixing technique is proposed and realized potentially to satisfy SWaP-C requirements. Target distances of 0.879 m and 8.198 m were measured by detecting the phase delay of 15 GHz modulation frequencies. According to our measurement results, the repeatability could reach 43 nm at an average time of 1 s, a result not previously achieved by conventional AMCW laser distance measurement methods. Moreover, the performance by the proposed method in terms of Allan deviation is competitive with most frequency-comb-based absolute distance measurement methods, even with a simple configuration. Because the proposed method has a simple configuration such that it can be easily utilized and demonstrated on a chip-scale platform using CMOS-compatible silicon photonics, it is expected to herald new possibilities, leading to the practical realization of a fully integrated chip-scale LIDAR system.
Anamorphic zoom lens based on rotating cylindrical lenses
Authors: DeHoog Edward A.
Published: March 2021

An anamorphic zoom lens is designed for altering the size and aspect ratio of a laser beam. The design is based on using a Galilean beam expander in which the optical elements consist of two rotating cylinders. The rotation of the cylinders allows the spherical and cylindrical powers of the rotating cylindrical lens to be altered in such a manner that the magnification is anamorphic. A simple anamorphic zoom lens based on rotating cylindrical lenses is designed and then implemented. Operation of the anamorphic lens demonstrates a 1 to 1 to 10 to 1 aspect ratio beam conversion.
High-speed and high-responsivity p-i-n waveguide photodetector at a 2  µm wavelength with a Ge0.92Sn0.08/Ge multiple-quantum-well active layer
Authors: Wang Haibo , Zhang Jishen , Zhang Gong , Chen Yue , Huang Yi-Chiau , Gong Xiao
Published: March 2021

We report on p-i-n waveguide photodetectors with a

G
e

0.92

S
n

0.08

/

G
e

multiple-quantum-well (MQW) active layer on a strain-relaxed Ge-buffered silicon substrate. The waveguide-photodetector structure is used to elongate the photo-absorption path and keeps a short photo-generated carrier transmission path. In addition, the double-mesa structure with a low substrate doping concentration is implemented, which minimizes the parasitic capacitance. As a result, a high responsivity of 119 mA/W at

−

1

V

and a high bandwidth of more than 10 GHz at

−

7

V

were achieved at a 2 µm wavelength. Compared with the surface-illuminated photodetector, the responsivity was improved by

∼

8

times at a 2 µm wavelength, while keeping the comparable bandwidth.
Back-side illuminated optical stack optimized with a high refractive index micro-lens array for CMOS image sensors
Authors: Douix Maurin , Crocherie Axel , Mamdy Bastien
Published: March 2021

We simulate a simplified optical stack model with Lumerical FDTD over wide ranges of optical parameters: wavelength, 550 nm to 1.4 μm, and pixel array pitch, 1 to 10 μm. By increasing the lens and the planarization layer refractive indices from the usual 1.5 to 2, we study the improved lens focalization abilities, in terms of spot width, power, and depth below the micro-lens. We show an NIR wavelength range benefit from slightly increasing the optical stack index to 1.7 while visible wavelengths have less interest. Indeed, increasing the lens and planarization layer index enables thinner back-side illuminated optical stacks for higher quantum efficiencies and angular response improvement.
Estimating incidence of infection from diverse data sources: Zika virus in Puerto Rico, 2016
Authors: Quandelacy Talia M. , Healy Jessica M. , Greening Bradford , Rodriguez Dania M. , Chung Koo-Whang , Kuehnert Matthew J. , Biggerstaff Brad J. , Dirlikov Emilio , Mier-y-Teran-Romero Luis , Sharp Tyler M. , Waterman Stephen , Johansson Michael A.
Published: March 2021

Emerging epidemics are challenging to track. Only a subset of cases is recognized and reported, as seen with the Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic where large proportions of infection were asymptomatic. However, multiple imperfect indicators of infection provide an opportunity to estimate the underlying incidence of infection. We developed a modeling approach that integrates a generic Time-series Susceptible-Infected-Recovered epidemic model with assumptions about reporting biases in a Bayesian framework and applied it to the 2016 Zika epidemic in Puerto Rico using three indicators: suspected arboviral cases, suspected Zika-associated Guillain-Barré Syndrome cases, and blood bank data. Using this combination of surveillance data, we estimated the peak of the epidemic occurred during the week of August 15, 2016 (the 33rdweek of year), and 120 to 140 (50% credible interval [CrI], 95% CrI: 97 to 170) weekly infections per 10,000 population occurred at the peak. By the end of 2016, we estimated that approximately 890,000 (95% CrI: 660,000 to 1,100,000) individuals were infected in 2016 (26%, 95% CrI: 19% to 33%, of the population infected). Utilizing multiple indicators offers the opportunity for real-time and retrospective situational awareness to support epidemic preparedness and response.
Personalized computational model quantifies heterogeneity in postprandial responses to oral glucose challenge
Authors: Erdős Balázs , van Sloun Bart , Adriaens Michiel E. , O’Donovan Shauna D. , Langin Dominique , Astrup Arne , Blaak Ellen E. , Arts Ilja C. W. , van Riel Natal A. W.
Published: March 2021

Plasma glucose and insulin responses following an oral glucose challenge are representative of glucose tolerance and insulin resistance, key indicators of type 2 diabetes mellitus pathophysiology. A large heterogeneity in individuals’ challenge test responses has been shown to underlie the effectiveness of lifestyle intervention. Currently, this heterogeneity is overlooked due to a lack of methods to quantify the interconnected dynamics in the glucose and insulin time-courses. Here, a physiology-based mathematical model of the human glucose-insulin system is personalized to elucidate the heterogeneity in individuals’ responses using a large population of overweight/obese individuals (n = 738) from the DIOGenes study. The personalized models are derived from population level models through a systematic parameter selection pipeline that may be generalized to other biological systems. The resulting personalized models showed a 4-5 fold decrease in discrepancy between measurements and model simulation compared to population level. The estimated model parameters capture relevant features of individuals’ metabolic health such as gastric emptying, endogenous insulin secretion and insulin dependent glucose disposal into tissues, with the latter also showing a significant association with the Insulinogenic index and the Matsuda insulin sensitivity index, respectively.
Validation of a human-serum-based in vitro growth method for drug screening on juvenile development stages of Schistosoma mansoni
Authors: Buchter Valentin , Schneeberger Pierre H. H. , Keiser Jennifer
Published: March 2021

Background

Schistosomiasis affects over 200 million people worldwide but only praziquantel is available for treatment and control. Drug discovery is often based on phenotypic drug screening, involving different parasite stages retrieved from infected mice. Aiming to reduce animal use, we validated an in vitro growth method for juvenile Schistosoma mansoni for the purpose of drug sensitivity assays.

Methodology/Principal findings

We compared inter–batch variability of serum, worm size and organ development, gender distribution, and drug sensitivity between in vitro and in vivo grown worms over different life stages. In vitro developed S. mansoni in Hybridoma medium supplemented with 20% human serum were similar in size as in vivo worms until 28 days of incubation (males 1.4 ± 0.2 mm, females 1.1 ± 0.5 mm long). qPCR analysis revealed similar gender distribution both on newly transformed schistosomula and worms grown for 21 days. Worms developed in vitro and in vivo were similarly sensitive to praziquantel from 7 to 35 days of development with the exception of 21 days of development, where a slightly lower activity was observed for the in vitro grown worms (IC50: 0.54 μM in vitro, 0.14 μM in vivo 72 hours post-incubation). The evaluation of five additional drugs revealed a similar sensitivity on worms developed for 21 days, with the exception of mefloquine, where we observed a 10-fold lower sensitivity on in vitro developed schistosomes when compared to in vivo grown (IC50: 4.43 μM in vitro, 0.48 μM in vivo).

Conclusion

A large number of juvenile S. mansoni worms can be grown in vitro, which show similar drug sensitivity, gender distribution, size and morphology as the worms recovered from rodents, supporting the use of this method in drug screening efforts.
Genome-wide analysis of long noncoding RNAs, 24-nt siRNAs, DNA methylation and H3K27me3 marks in Brassica rapa
Authors: Mehraj Hasan , Shea Daniel J. , Takahashi Satoshi , Miyaji Naomi , Akter Ayasha , Seki Motoaki , Dennis Elizabeth S. , Fujimoto Ryo , Osabe Kenji
Published: March 2021

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are RNA fragments that generally do not code for a protein but are involved in epigenetic gene regulation. In this study, lncRNAs of Brassica rapa were classified into long intergenic noncoding RNAs, natural antisense RNAs, and intronic noncoding RNAs and their expression analyzed in relation to genome-wide 24-nt small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), DNA methylation, and histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation marks (H3K27me3). More than 65% of the lncRNAs analyzed consisted of one exon, and more than 55% overlapped with inverted repeat regions (IRRs). Overlap of lncRNAs with IRRs or genomic regions encoding for 24-nt siRNAs resulted in increased DNA methylation levels when both were present. LncRNA did not overlap greatly with H3K27me3 marks, but the expression level of intronic noncoding RNAs that did coincide with H3K27me3 marks was higher than without H3K27me3 marks. The Brassica genus comprises important vegetables and oil seed crops grown across the world. B. rapa is a diploid (AA genome) thought to be one of the ancestral species of both B. juncea (AABB genome) and B. napus (AACC) through genome merging (allotetrapolyploidization). Complex genome restructuring and epigenetic alterations are thought to be involved in these allotetrapolyploidization events. Comparison of lncRNAs between B. rapa and B. nigra, B. oleracea, B. juncea, and B. napus showed the highest conservation with B. oleracea. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the epigenome structure of B. rapa at multi-epigenetic levels (siRNAs, DNA methylation, H3K27me3, and lncRNAs) and identified a suite of candidate lncRNAs that may be epigenetically regulated in the Brassica genus.
Clinical characteristics and outcomes for 7,995 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: McPadden Jacob , Warner Frederick , Young H. Patrick , Hurley Nathan C. , Pulk Rebecca A. , Singh Avinainder , Durant Thomas J. S. , Gong Guannan , Desai Nihar , Haimovich Adrian , Taylor Richard Andrew , Gunel Murat , Dela Cruz Charles S. , Farhadian Shelli F. , Siner Jonathan , Villanueva Merceditas , Churchwell Keith , Hsiao Allen , Torre Charles J. , Velazquez Eric J. , Herbst Roy S. , Iwasaki Akiko , Ko Albert I. , Mortazavi Bobak J. , Krumholz Harlan M. , Schulz Wade L.
Published: March 2021

Objective

Severe acute respiratory syndrome virus (SARS-CoV-2) has infected millions of people worldwide. Our goal was to identify risk factors associated with admission and disease severity in patients with SARS-CoV-2.

Design

This was an observational, retrospective study based on real-world data for 7,995 patients with SARS-CoV-2 from a clinical data repository.

Setting

Yale New Haven Health (YNHH) is a five-hospital academic health system serving a diverse patient population with community and teaching facilities in both urban and suburban areas.

Populations

The study included adult patients who had SARS-CoV-2 testing at YNHH between March 1 and April 30, 2020.

Main outcome and performance measures

Primary outcomes were admission and in-hospital mortality for patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection as determined by RT-PCR testing. We also assessed features associated with the need for respiratory support.

Results

Of the 28605 patients tested for SARS-CoV-2, 7995 patients (27.9%) had an infection (median age 52.3 years) and 2154 (26.9%) of these had an associated admission (median age 66.2 years). Of admitted patients, 2152 (99.9%) had a discharge disposition at the end of the study period. Of these, 329 (15.3%) required invasive mechanical ventilation and 305 (14.2%) expired. Increased age and male sex were positively associated with admission and in-hospital mortality (median age 80.7 years), while comorbidities had a much weaker association with the risk of admission or mortality. Black race (OR 1.43, 95%CI 1.14–1.78) and Hispanic ethnicity (OR 1.81, 95%CI 1.50–2.18) were identified as risk factors for admission, but, among discharged patients, age-adjusted in-hospital mortality was not significantly different among racial and ethnic groups.

Conclusions

This observational study identified, among people testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection, older age and male sex as the most strongly associated risks for admission and in-hospital mortality in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. While minority racial and ethnic groups had increased burden of disease and risk of admission, age-adjusted in-hospital mortality for discharged patients was not significantly different among racial and ethnic groups. Ongoing studies will be needed to continue to evaluate these risks, particularly in the setting of evolving treatment guidelines.