bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MiR-214-3p promotes proliferation and inhibits estradiol synthesis in porcine granulosa cells
Authors: Shi Shengjie , Zhou Xiaoge , Li Jingjing , Zhang Lutong , Hu Yamei , Li Yankun , Yang Gongshe , Chu Guiyan
Published: September 2020

Background

Granulosa cells (GCs) proliferation and estradiol synthesis significantly affect follicular development. The miR-214-3p expression in the ovarian tissues of high-yielding sows is higher than that in low-yielding sows, indicating that miR-214-3p may be involved in sow fertility. However, the functions and mechanisms of miR-214-3p on GCs are unclear. This study focuses on miR-214-3p in terms of the effects on GCs proliferation and estradiol synthesis.

Results

Our findings revealed that miR-214-3p promotes proliferation and inhibits estradiol synthesis in porcine GCs. MiR-214-3p can increase the percentage of S-phase cells, the number of EdU labeled positive cells, and cell viability. However, E2 concentration was reduced after miR-214-3p agomir treatment. We also found that miR-214-3p up-regulates the expression of cell cycle genes including cell cycle protein B (Cyclin B), cell cycle protein D (Cyclin D), cell cycle protein E (Cyclin E), and cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) at the transcription and translation levels, but down-regulates the mRNA and protein levels of cytochrome P450 family 11 subfamily A member 1 (CYP11A1), cytochrome P450 family 19 subfamily A member 1 (CYP19A1), and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) (i.e., the key enzymes in estradiol synthesis). On-line prediction, bioinformatics analysis, a luciferase reporter assay, RT-qPCR, and Western blot results showed that the target genes of miR-214-3p in proliferation and estradiol synthesis are Mfn2 and NR5A1, respectively.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that miR-214-3p plays an important role in the functional regulation of porcine GCs and therefore may be a target gene for regulating follicular development.
Mutations of uncertain significance in heterozygous variants as a possible cause of severe short stature: a case report
Authors: Mohammadian Khonsari Nami , Mohammad Poor Nami Sahar , Hakak-Zargar Benyamin , Voth Tessa
Published: September 2020

Background

Linear bone growth is achieved by the division of chondrocytes at the growth plate and is regulated by endocrine and paracrine factors such as growth hormone. Mutations that negatively affect chondrogenesis can be a contributor to short stature. One such mutation can occur in the ACAN gene, causing short stature and advanced bone age. Similarly, mutations in growth hormone receptors (GHR) can lead to Laron syndrome (LS), one of the several disorders that are collectively called growth hormone insensitivity syndrome (GHI). Another example is Floating-Harbor syndrome (FHS), a rare autosomal dominant due to mutations in the SRCAP gene that can also result in short stature.

Case presentation

We report the case of a 6-year-old female with concomitant mutations in the three genes mentioned above. The mutations reported here were found on genetic studies and are usually benign, causing a variant of undetermined significance. However, our patient’s phenotype could only be explained by the compounded effects of pathogenic mutations of these genes. Some of the same mutations were also found in the patient’s father and her paternal grandfather. Both also presented with short stature, though not to the same degree as our patient. While these mutations are often reported to be insignificant, they gave rise to severe short stature and a specific phenotype in the patient when presented together. We think that even though the GHI spectrum is inherited through an autosomal recessive pattern, the sum of these heterozygous mutations resulted in severe short stature despite the limited GHI seen in our patient, the father, and the grandfather, through a rare ACAN and SRCAP mutation that, to our knowledge, has not been previously reported as a pathogenic mutation in the literature.

Conclusion

We investigated the possible synergistic effects of these variations on exacerbation or masking of the signs and symptoms of GHI with the hope of providing a better understanding of these genes and their function through our rare case.
Pediatric rigid bronchoscopy and foreign body removal during the COVID-19 pandemic: Case report
Authors: Leitao Darren Jonathan , Jones Jodi L. P.
Published: September 2020

We present the case of an eight year old boy who presented with foreign body aspiration during the COVID-19 pandemic. The patient was taken the operating room for rigid bronchoscopy and foreign body removal. The details of the operation, steps taken for protection of health care workers, and lessons learned are discussed. Bronchoscopy was performed using N95 respirators and Stryker Flyte Hood garments, combined with a streamlined instrument set-up. Simulation in advance of these cases improves communication and operative planning. Surgeons should have equipment to retrieve foreign bodies from the oropharynx available. Techniques that reduce surgical time and thus exposure risk should be considered.
Discovering forest height changes based on spaceborne lidar data of ICESat-1 in 2005 and ICESat-2 in 2019: a case study in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region of China
Authors: Sun Tong , Qi Jianbo , Huang Huaguo
Published: September 2020

Background

The assessment of change in forest ecosystems, especially the change of canopy heights, is essential for improving global carbon estimates and understanding effects of climate change. Spaceborne lidar systems provide a unique opportunity to monitor changes in the vertical structure of forests. NASA’s Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellites, ICESat-1 for the period 2003 to 2009, and ICESat-2 (available since 2018), have collected elevation data over the Earth’s surface with a time interval of 10 years. In this study, we tried to discover forest canopy changes by utilizing the global forest canopy height map of 2005 (complete global coverage with 1 km resolution) derived from ICESat-1 data and the ATL08 land and vegetation products of 2019 (sampling footprints with 17 m diameter) from ICESat-2.

Results

Our study revealed a significant increase in forest canopy heights of China’s Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Evaluations of unchanging areas for data consistency of two products show that the bias values decreased significantly from line-transect-level (− 8.0 to 6.2 m) to site-level (− 1.5 to 1.1 m), while RMSE values are still relatively high (6.1 to 15.2 m, 10.2 to 12.0 m). Additionally, 58% of ATL08 data are located in ‘0 m’ pixels with an average height of 7.9 m, which are likely to reflect the ambitious tree planting programs in China.

Conclusions

Our study shows that it is possible, with proper calibrations, to use ICESat-1 and -2 products to detect forest canopy height changes in a regional context. We expect that the approach presented in this study is potentially suitable to derive a fine-scale map of global forest change.
Constructing cultural identity through weaving among Ri-Bhoi women weavers: a symbolic interactionist approach
Authors: Dias Rebecca Maria , Ogle Jennifer Paff , Diddi Sonali
Published: September 2020

With this interpretive study, we sought to understand how weaving as an activity contributed to constructing women handloom weavers’ cultural identity in the region of Ri-Bhoi, a district in Meghalaya, India, by exploring weavers’ experiences through changing tides of modernization in the handloom industry of the region. We adopted a lens of symbolic interaction to consider the ways in which interactions within the Ri-Bhoi cultural context contributed to meanings about the women’s weaving activities and their cultural identities. An ethnographic approach was implemented using participant observation, field notes/journaling, and informal and formal interviews to collect relevant data. Analyses revealed four themes representing the value that Ri-Bhoi women weavers attached to various aspects of their weaving tradition, which in turn, supported their cultural identities: (a) maintaining the tradition of weaving through acquisition and exchange of knowledge, (b) securing social support from family and community, (c) maintaining the tradition of weaving through creation of textiles that symbolize tribe and culture, and (d) achieving a sense of fulfillment (i.e., joy, happiness, and pride). Further exploration revealed that the modernization of the Ri-Bhoi handloom industry increased engagement of women in weaving and their passion to preserve their tradition, which further strengthened their connection to weaving. Implications and future research directions are discussed.
Core outcome sets in cancer and their approaches to identifying and selecting patient-reported outcome measures: a systematic review
Authors: Ramsey Imogen , Eckert Marion , Hutchinson Amanda D. , Marker Julie , Corsini Nadia
Published: September 2020

Objectives

Issues arising from a lack of outcome standardisation in health research may be addressed by the use of core outcome sets (COS), which represent agreed-upon recommendations regarding what outcomes should be measured as a minimum in studies of a health condition. This review investigated the scope, outcomes, and development methods of consensus-based COS for cancer, and their approaches and criteria for selecting instruments to assess core patient-reported outcomes (PROs).

Methods

Studies that used a consensus-driven approach to develop a COS containing PROs, for use in research with cancer populations, were sought via MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane Library, and grey literature.

Results

Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria. Most COS (82%) were specific to a cancer type (prostate, esophageal, head and neck, pancreatic, breast, ovarian, lung, or colorectal) and not specific to an intervention or treatment (76%). Conducting a systematic review was the most common approach to identifying outcomes (88%) and administering a Delphi survey was the most common approach to prioritising outcomes (71%). The included COS contained 90 PROs, of which the most common were physical function, sexual (dys) function, pain, fatigue, and emotional function. Most studies (59%) did not address how to assess the core PROs included in a set, while 7 studies (41%) recommended specific instruments. Their approaches to instrument appraisal and selection varied.

Conclusion

Efforts to standardise outcome assessment via the development of COS may be undermined by a lack of recommendations on how to measure core PROs. To optimise COS usefulness and adoption, valid and reliable instruments for the assessment of core PROs should be recommended with the aid of resources designed to facilitate this process.
Temporal dynamics of the fecal microbiota in veal calves in a 6-month field trial
Authors: Massot Méril , Haenni Marisa , Nguyen Thu Thuy , Madec Jean-Yves , Mentré France , Denamur Erick
Published: September 2020

Background

Little is known about maturation of calves’ gut microbiome in veal farms, in which animals are confined under intensive-farming conditions and the administration of collective antibiotic treatment in feed is common. We conducted a field study on 45 calves starting seven days after their arrival in three veal farms. We collected monthly fecal samples over six months and performed 16S rRNA gene sequencing and quantitative PCR of Escherichia coli to follow the dynamics of their microbiota, including that of their commensal E. coli populations. We used mixed-effect models to characterize the dynamics of α-diversity indices and numbers of E. coli, and searched for an effect of collective antibiotic treatments on the estimated parameters. On two farms, we also searched for associations between recommended daily doses of milk powder and bacterial abundance.

Results

There was high heterogeneity between calves’ microbiota upon their arrival at the farms, followed by an increase in similarity, starting at the first month. From the second month, 16 genera were detected at each sampling in all calves, representing 67.5% (± 9.9) of their microbiota. Shannon diversity index showed a two-phase increase, an inflection occurring at the end of the first month. Calves receiving antibiotics had a lower intercept estimate for Shannon index (− 0.17 CI95%[-0.27; − -0.06], p = 0.003) and a smaller number of E. coli/ gram of feces during the treatment and in the 15 days following it (− 0.37 log10 (E. coli/g) CI95%[− 0.66; − 0.08], p = 0.01) than unexposed calves. There were moderate to strong positive associations between the dose of milk powder and the relative abundances of the genera Megasphaera, Enterococcus, Dialister and Mitsuokella, and the number of E. coli (rs ≥ 0.40; Bonferroni corrected p < 0.05).

Conclusions

This observational study shows early convergence of the developing microbiota between veal calves and associations between the dose of milk powder and members of their microbiota. It suggests that administration of collective antibiotic treatment results in a reduction of microbial diversity and size of the E. coli population and highlights the need for additional work to fully understand the impact of antibiotic treatment in the veal industry.
Distinct fungal communities associated with different organs of the mangrove Sonneratia alba in the Malay Peninsula
Authors: Lee Nicole Li Ying , Huang Danwei , Quek Zheng Bin Randolph , Lee Jen Nie , Wainwright Benjamin J.
Published: September 2020

Mangrove forests are key tropical marine ecosystems that are rich in fungi, but our understanding of fungal communities associated with mangrove trees and their various organs remains limited because much of the diversity lies within the microbiome. In this study, we investigated the fungal communities associated with the mangrove tree Sonneratia alba throughout Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. At each sampling location, we collected leaves, fruits, pneumatophores and sediment samples and performed amplicon sequencing of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 to characterise the associated communities. Results show distinct fungal communities at each sampled location with further differentiation according to the plant part. We find a significant distance decay of similarity, particularly for sediment samples due to the greater variability of sediment environments relative to the more stable fungal habitats provided by living plant organs. We are able to assign taxonomy to the majority of sequences from leaves and fruits, but a much larger portion of the sequences recovered from pneumatophores and sediment samples could not be identified. This pattern underscores the limited mycological research performed in marine environments and demonstrates the need for a concerted research effort on multiple species to fully characterise the coastal microbiome and its role in the functioning of marine ecosystems.
Qualitative analysis of the coordination of major system change within the Colombian health system in response to COVID-19: study protocol
Authors: Turner Simon , Niño Natalia
Published: September 2020

Background

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is posing a major and unprecedented challenge to health service planning and delivery across health systems internationally. This nationally funded study is analysing the response of the Colombian health system to the COVID-19 pandemic, drawing on qualitative case studies of three local health systems within the country. The approach will be informed by the concept of ‘major system change’—or coordinated change among a variety of healthcare organizations and other relevant stakeholders— to identify processes that both enable and inhibit adaptation of health services to the challenges presented by COVID-19. The study will collect information on capacity ‘bottlenecks’ as well as successful practices and forms of innovation that have emerged locally, which have the potential for being ‘scaled up’ across Colombia’s health services.

Methods/design

This qualitative study will be undertaken in two phases. In the first, up to 30 stakeholder interviews will be conducted to ascertain immediate challenges and opportunities for improvement in response to COVID-19 that can be shared in a timely way with health service leaders to inform health service planning. The stakeholders will include planning, provider and intermediary organizations within the health system at the national level. In the second, up to 60 further interviews will be conducted to develop in-depth case studies of three local health systems at the metropolitan area level within Colombia. The interview data will be supplemented with documentary analysis and, where feasible, non-participant observation of planning meetings.

Discussion

The study’s findings will aid evaluation of the relevance of the concept of major system change in a context of ‘crisis’ decision-making and contribute to international lessons on improving health systems’ capacity to respond to COVID-19 and future pandemics. Study findings will be shared among various stakeholders in the Colombian healthcare system in a formative and timely way in order to inform healthcare planning in response to COVID-19 and future pandemics. Conducting the study at a time of COVID-19 raises a number of practical issues (including physical distancing and pressure on health services) which have been anticipated in the study design and research team’s ways of working.
Old age mental health services in Southern Balkans: Features, geospatial distribution, current needs, and future perspectives
Authors: Alexopoulos P. , Novotni A. , Novotni G. , Vorvolakos T. , Vratsista A. , Konsta A. , Kaprinis S. , Konstantinou A. , Bonotis K. , Katirtzoglou E. , Siarkos K. , Bekri E. S. , Kokkoris I. , Como A. , Gournellis R. , Stoyanov D. S. , Politis A.
Published: September 2020

Background

Healthcare services are increasingly confronted with challenges related to old age mental disorders. The survey aimed to provide an overview of existing psychogeriatric services in Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, and North Macedonia.

Methods

After identification of psychogeriatric units across the four countries, their head physicians were asked to provide data on their clinical, teaching, and research activity, as well as staff composition. Moreover, the attitudes of head physicians to current needs and future service development were explored.

Results

A total of 15 psychogeriatric units were identified (3 in Bulgaria, 8 in Greece, and 4 in North Macedonia). Results show wide variation regarding the location, team size and composition, service availability, numbers of patients attending, and inpatient treatment length. Most head physicians underscored the urgent need for breakthroughs in the graduate and postgraduate education in psychogeriatrics of medical and nonmedical professionals, as well as in the interconnection of their units with community primary healthcare services and long-term care facilities for seniors via telemedicine. They would welcome the development of national standards for psychogeriatric units, potentially embodying clear pointers for action. A number of head physicians advocated the development of nationwide old age mental health registries.

Conclusions

Regional disparities in resources and services for seniors’ mental health services were unveiled. These data may enrich the dialogue on optimizing psychogeriatric services through planning future cross-border collaborations mainly based on telemedicine services, especially in the era of the novel coronavirus pandemic, and training/education in psychogeriatrics of mental health professionals.
Machine Learning in Oncology: What Should Clinicians Know?
Authors: Nagy Matthew , Radakovich Nathan , Nazha Aziz
Published: September 2020

The volume and complexity of scientific and clinical data in oncology have grown markedly over recent years, including but not limited to the realms of electronic health data, radiographic and histologic data, and genomics. This growth holds promise for a deeper understanding of malignancy and, accordingly, more personalized and effective oncologic care. Such goals require, however, the development of new methods to fully make use of the wealth of available data. Improvements in computer processing power and algorithm development have positioned machine learning, a branch of artificial intelligence, to play a prominent role in oncology research and practice. This review provides an overview of the basics of machine learning and highlights current progress and challenges in applying this technology to cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment recommendations, including a discussion of current takeaways for clinicians.
Olanzapine for Prevention of Vomiting in Children and Adolescents Receiving Highly Emetogenic Chemotherapy: Investigator-Initiated, Randomized, Open-Label Trial
Authors: Naik Ramavath D. , V Sreenivas , Singh Vishwajeet , Pillai Ashwati S. , Dhawan Deepa , Bakhshi Sameer
Published: September 2020

PURPOSE

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is a significant toxicity of chemotherapy. Olanzapine is recommended in adult patients for the prevention of CINV but has not been prospectively investigated in children.

METHODS

This investigator-initiated, randomized, open-label trial evaluated olanzapine in children (ages 5-18 years) scheduled to receive the first cycle of highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC). All participants received aprepitant, ondansetron, and dexamethasone during and 2 days after chemotherapy. Participants in the study group additionally received oral olanzapine 0.14 mg/kg/day (rounded to the nearest 2.5 mg; maximum, 10 mg) during the chemotherapy block and 3 days postchemotherapy. The primary objective was to compare complete response (CR) rates (no vomiting and no rescue medication) between the groups in the acute, delayed, and overall periods. Nausea comparison and safety evaluation were secondary and additional objectives, respectively. The collection of outcomes and adverse events was performed daily until the completion of the overall period.

RESULTS

A total of 240 patients underwent randomization. We performed a modified intention-to-treat analysis on 231 patients (116 in the control group and 115 in the study group). A higher proportion of patients in the olanzapine group achieved CR in the acute period (78% v 59%; P = .001), delayed period (74% v 47%; P < .001) and overall period (64% v 38%; P < .001) than in the control group. The proportion of patients with no nausea was significantly higher in the olanzapine group in the acute period (74% v 52%; P < .001), delayed period (74% v 47%; P < .001), and overall period (64% v 37%; P < .001). Grade 1/2 somnolence was greater in the olanzapine group (35% v 11%; P < .001). There was no grade 3/4 somnolence reported.

CONCLUSION

Olanzapine significantly improved CR rates for vomiting in children receiving the first cycle of HEC.
RNA-seq accuracy and reproducibility for the mapping and quantification of influenza defective viral genomes
Authors: Boussier Jeremy , Munier Sandie , Achouri Emna , Meyer Bjoern , Crescenzo-Chaigne Bernadette , Behillil Sylvie , Enouf Vincent , Vignuzzi Marco , van der Werf Sylvie , Naffakh Nadia
Published: September 2020

Like most RNA viruses, influenza viruses generate defective viral genomes (DVGs) with large internal deletions during replication. There is accumulating evidence supporting a biological relevance of such DVGs. However, further understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie the production and biological activity of DVGs is conditioned upon the sensitivity and accuracy of detection methods, that is, next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies and related bioinformatics algorithms. Although many algorithms were developed, their sensitivity and reproducibility were mostly assessed on simulated data. Here, we introduce DG-seq, a time-efficient pipeline for DVG detection and quantification, and a set of biological controls to assess the performance of not only our bioinformatics algorithm but also the upstream NGS steps. Using these tools, we provide the first rigorous comparison of the two commonly used sample processing methods for RNA-seq, with or without a PCR preamplification step. Our data show that preamplification confers a limited advantage in terms of sensitivity and introduces size- but also sequence-dependent biases in DVG quantification, thereby providing a strong rationale to favor preamplification-free methods. We further examine the features of DVGs produced by wild-type and transcription-defective (PA-K635A or PA-R638A) influenza viruses, and show an increased diversity and frequency of DVGs produced by the PA mutants compared to the wild-type virus. Finally, we demonstrate a significant enrichment in DVGs showing direct, A/T-rich sequence repeats at the deletion breakpoint sites. Our findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms of influenza virus DVG production.
Effects of rehabilitation training on an elderly population with mild to moderate hearing loss: study protocol for a randomised clinical trial
Authors: Rasouli Fard Parisa , Jarollahi Farnoush , Sameni Seyyed Jalal , Kamali Mohammad
Published: September 2020

Background: Age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) is a form of hearing loss in over 60-years-olds and has a negative impact on quality of life. Presbycusis is multifactorial and is predominately characterised with a loss of speech perception in noise. In the cochlea, auditory filters decompose broadband sound into a series of narrowband output signals, which contains two kinds of temporal information: slow changes in overall amplitude envelope (ENV) and faster variations in temporal fine structure (TFS). TFS is important for recognition of target speech in noise. The main aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of TFS rehabilitation training in participants over the age of 60 years with mild to moderate hearing loss.

Methods: A randomised clinical trial  conducted on 30 participants with mild (loss of 20-39dB HL) to moderate (40-69dB HL) hearing loss, aged between 60 and 75 years old. Participants with conductive hearing loss, abnormal middle ear pathology and central nervous system disease were excluded. Participants were selected randomly  to an intervention and control group with a 1:1 ratio. Rehabilitation for the intervention Group are 30-minute sessions three times a week for a total five weeks of vowel consonant vowel words that are used to eliminate ENV and keep only TFS. Word in noise test, binaural TFS test, and Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale scores are performed at the beginning and end of study to evaluate the effect of rehabilitation training.

Conclusion:  Life expectancy in the elderly has improved, leading to an increased prevalence of age-related diseases including presbycusis. A literature review highlighted that TFS damage is permanent; however, in this study we will attempt to prove that TFS training may lead to speech in noise perception improvement.

Trial registration: Registry of Clinical Trials, IRCT2019625044006N1 (7th August 2019).
Revenue Management and the Rise of the Algorithmic Economy
Authors: Lobel Ilan
Published: September 2020

Revenue management has evolved over the years from its origins in the airline industry into a much broader discipline that analyzes algorithmic methods for demand and marketplace management, but many outside of the discipline are not aware of this transformation. The field’s transition tracks the widespread adoption of algorithmic decision-making techniques by businesses in a wide variety of industries over the last decade. We study this evolution in the field’s breadth of research, with a particular focus on revenue-management papers that study online marketplaces such as e-commerce retailing, digital advertisement, and ride-hailing markets for urban transportation.

This paper was accepted by David Simchi-Levi, Special Section of Management Science: 65th Anniversary.
Self-Selected Task Allocation
Authors: Hassin Refael , Nathaniel Adam
Published: September 2020

Problem definition: Tasks sequentially arrive, and their values to the workers who are going to perform them are independent random variables. The common way to allocate tasks to workers is according to the first-in, first-out order. But this method both is inefficient and seems unfair to those who receive a low-valued task after a long wait. We are looking for a better allocation method. Academic/practical relevance: Finding a fair and efficient task allocation method is an aspiration of manpower firms that employ a pool of workers, such as salespersons, technicians, emergency medical stuff, nurses, or taxi drivers. We present many more implementations, such as turn taking and load management. Methodology: We propose a self-selected task allocation method and discuss its importance and implementations. The proposed method is defined as a cyclic queueing game with a fixed number of players. Every unit of time a prize with a random value is offered to the players according to their order in the queue, and a player who accepts a prize moves to the end of the queue. The process of choosing which prizes to accept in each position is presented as a noncooperative multiplayer game. We analyze strategies and symmetric equilibria for three variations. Results: We provide closed-form solutions and suggest a novel intuitive interpretation to find equilibria via calculating maximum-profit strategies. We complement the theoretical results by conducting a numerical study. Managerial implications: The proposed method is natural and easy to implement, its outcome is better than the common allocation by seniority, and the ratio of the expected value obtained under the two methods is unbounded.
The practicalities and cost-effectiveness of screening at-risk groups for kidney disease
Authors: Bridger Jane C
Published: September 2020

This article considers the practicalities and cost-effectiveness of screening for chronic kidney disease among at-risk groups and the general population. The systems currently in place to deliver screening for both groups use flawed methodology to determine the presence of chronic kidney disease, while failing to meet screening target numbers. The cost-effectiveness of such systems is therefore compromised. Meanwhile, despite the rising incidence of chronic kidney disease, patients in known at-risk groups, including those with common conditions such as diabetes or hypertension, have no guarantee of being screened. This raises major questions about how the NHS can practically and cost-effectively tackle the rising prevalence of chronic kidney disease. A major revision of strategy is needed to address the human and financial costs associated with failure to identify and effectively manage chronic kidney disease.
Adaptive Context-Aware Design Using Context State Information for the Internet of Things Paradigm
Authors: Ntalasha Derrick , Li Renfa , Wang Yongheng
Published: September 2020

In the Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm, context state information plays a critical role in advancing the development of adaptive pervasive applications. Pervasive services and context-aware computing are emerging as the next computing paradigms in which infrastructure and services are seamlessly available anywhere, anytime, and in any format. The IoT paradigm raises new opportunities and demands on the underlying systems, in particular, the need to have systems that are adaptive and context-aware using context state information. In this paper, we introduce a new adaptive context state design technique to model context-aware applications that are sensitive to context state information changes. Each context change event is captured, interpreted and reacted to so that applications and users use only the functionality and adaptability needs that are solutions to their needs. The solution is modeled using Finite State Machine (FSM) and semantic localization so that context state information within the IoT paradigm is aligned to events. The semantic localization process precisely estimates the proximity location of the user along with the quality of context (QoC) attributes using the Bluetooth cell-based approach. This semantic information is useful in determining and inferring the user activities in a location. The QoC attributes are used to determine the confidence of the user location and range of the Bluetooth beacons within the IoT domain. This will, in turn, be used to determine whether the user is in the location or not. The alignment technique in our model represents the proper and new solution concerning functionality and adaptability needs expressed by other user applications in the IoT environment. The experimental scenario results indicate that a user can continue to enjoy their daily activities while the IoT application adapts continuously to their changing needs and notifying service providers of the changes according to the events of the user.
SATSEARCHTORY: Searching Online Platform for Niche Product in a Metropolitan Area
Authors: Sutipitakwong Sutipong , Jamsri Pornsuree
Published: September 2020

Satsearchtory helps users perform an uncomplicated search for products that are rare items. It also can be used for nonrare or regular items by showing locations for purchasing the item and comparisons of prices and promotions that are available for ensuring the best deal. The tool, thereby, can guarantee users’ satisfaction through online service using search engines for accurate results. Because search engines using keywords and phrases have not been able previously to achieve a 100% result for users, Satsearchtory was designed to increase the percentage of users’ satisfaction.
Polarization-Diverse Metasurfaces for High-Dimensional Spatial-Mode Entanglement Generation
Authors: Boo Hyunpil , Lee Yoo Seung , Yang Hangbo , Chang Kai-Chi , Wong Chee Wei
Published: September 2020

We demonstrate metasurfaces consisting of meta-atoms that generate spatial-mode entangled photons with different polarization, designed through careful finite-difference time-domain simulations. Using our biphoton comb setup, these metasurfaces will enable for testing spatial-energy-time hyperentanglement.
Ultra-small mode volume hyperbolic metamaterial cavity enhanced emission from 2D TMDC materials
Authors: Indukuri S.R.K.Chaitanya , Frydendahl Christian , Bar-David Jonathan , Mazurski Noa , Levy Uriel
Published: September 2020

We design and experimentally demonstrate ultra-small mode volume hyperbolic metamaterial nano cavities in the visible frequency band. These HMM cavities show enhancement of light-matter interaction with 2D TMDC materials in the deep subwavelength limit.
Attosecond Vacuum-Ultraviolet Photoconductive Switching in Dielectrics
Authors: Ossiander M. , Golyari K , Scharl K. , Lehnert L. , Siegrist F. , Zimin D. , Weidman M. , Floss I. , Smejkal V. , Lemell C. , Burgdörfer J. , Krausz F. , Schultze M.
Published: September 2020

We demonstrate an attosecond one-photon photoconductive switch by injecting conduction band carriers in dielectrics using vacuum-ultraviolet light pulses. Femtosecond pulse- driven currents reveal intra- and inter-band conduction band carrier dynamics.
Breaking the Inversion Symmetry via Hot-Electron Transport
Authors: Taghinejad Mohammad , Xu Zihao , Lee Kyu-Tae , Lian Tianquan , Cai Wenshan
Published: September 2020

We demonstrate the ultrafast conversion of statically passive dielectrics (e.g., amorphous TiO2) to transient second-order nonlinear media upon the sub-picosecond transfer of hot electrons, enabling active control of second-order optical processes.
Large Second Harmonic Generation from Polar van der Waals Bismuth Telluro-Halide Semiconductors
Authors: Padmanabhan Prashant , Kwock Kevin W. C. , Gilinsky Samuel , Sirica Nicholas , Kim Jaewook , Du Kai , Cheong Sang-Wook , Prasankumar Rohit P.
Published: September 2020

We demonstrate large second harmonic generation from the polar van der Waals semiconductors BiTel and BiTeBr, with responses comparable to leading semiconducting nonlinear optical (NLO) materials. This highlights their promise for nanoscale NLO applications.
Combining silicon photonics and micro-electronics for high bandwidth squeezed light detection
Authors: Frazer Jonathan , Tasker Joel F. , Ferranti Giacomo , Allen Euan J. , Brunei Floriane , Tanzilli Sebastien , D’Auria Virginia , Matthews Jonathan C. F.
Published: September 2020

We demonstrate a homodyne detector consisting of integrated silicon waveg uides and Si-Ge photodiodes wirebonded directly to an amplification integrated circuit. The device performance is verified by detecting squeezed vacuum over 9 GHz of optical bandwidth.
Giant nonlinearity of THz waves mediated by photon-phonon strong coupling
Authors: Lu Yao , Wu Qiang , Xiong Hao , Chen Zhigang , Xu Jingjun
Published: September 2020

We demonstrate a giant difference frequency generation of THz waves in a subwavelength waveguide, mediated by phonon-photon strong coupling. The nonlinear susceptibility achieved five (three) orders of magnitude larger than that for visible light (microwave).
Ultrafast Dephasing and Coherent Exciton Dynamics in Transition Metal Dichalcogenide Bilayers
Authors: Helmrich Sophia , Woggon Ulrike , Owschimikow Nina , Sampson Kevin , Tran Kha , Li Xiaoqin
Published: September 2020

We investigate quantum dynamics of excitons in MoSe2 bilayers using coherent two-dimensional spectroscopy. When compared to a MoSe2 monolayer, we find ultrafast dephasing and an additional excited state absorption in the bilayer.
Dynamics and Efficient Conversion of Excitons to Trions in Non-Uniformly Strained Monolayer WS2
Authors: Harats Moshe G. , Kirchhof Jan N. , Qiao Mengxiong , Greben Kyrylo , Bolotin Kirill I.
Published: September 2020

We present for the first time an experimental setup that strains 2D materials with an AFM and with optical access. We find that the main mechanism is the efficient conversion of excitons to charged trions.
Frequency-Multiplexed Rate-Adaptive Quantum Key Distribution with High-Dimensional Encoding
Authors: Sarihan Murat Can , Chang Kai-Chi , Cheng Xiang , Lee Yoo Seung , Chen Changchen , Zhong Tian , Zhou Hongchao , Zhang Zheshen , Wong Franco N.C. , Shapiro Jeffrey H. , Wong Chee Wei
Published: September 2020

We offer a photon-efficient QKD protocol based on energy-time entangled biphoton frequency combs that supports multiplexing and rate adaptivity under various channel conditions.
Demonstration of Robust Self-Referenced Continuous Variable Quantum Key Distribution over 25km Fiber Link
Authors: Ren Shengjun , Yang Shuai , Wonfor Adrian , Penty Richard , White Ian
Published: September 2020

We experimentally demonstrate a practical self-referenced continuous variable quantum key distribution system composed of embedded data conversion/acquisition units and standard telecommunication components over a 25km optical fiber, with a predicted key rate of 649kbps.
Supeconducting nanowire multi-photon detectors
Authors: Zou Kai , Meng Yun , Wang Zhao , Hu Xiaolong
Published: September 2020

We propose superconducting nanowire multi-photon detectors with simple bias and readout circuitry to count n-fold photon coincidences, where n is set by bias conditions. We present the concept, device architecture, and operating principle.
Integrated superconducting detectors on titanium in-diffused lithium niobate waveguides
Authors: Höpker Jan Philipp , Verma Varun B. , Gerrits Thomas , Lita Adriana E. , Ricken Raimund , Quiring Viktor , Mirin Richard P. , Nam Sae Woo , Silberhorn Christine , Bartley Tim J.
Published: September 2020

Integrating single-photon detectors on an electro-optic, second-order nonlinear medium opens the field for new complex photonic circuits. We present our detection efficiency results on evanescently coupled SNSPDs and TESs on titanium in-diffused lithium niobate waveguides.
Aluminum Outshines Silver: Radiative Decay Engineering and Ultrahigh Q-Factor Plasmonics with a Lossy Metal
Authors: Zhu Xiangchao , Hossain Golam Md. Imran , George Matthew C. , Farhang Arash , Cicek Ahmet , Yanik Ahmet Ali
Published: September 2020

Aluminum has emerged as a broadband and low-cost alternative to noble metals. We demonstrate remarkably high quality-factor plasmonic resonances in inverse-designed aluminum- nanostructures over a broad spectrum from visible to near-ultraviolet, surpassing those of silver counterparts.
Dynamic tuning of visible spectrum response using polymer-embedded TiO2 nanodiscs
Authors: Um Han-Don , Choi Deokjae , Solanki Amit , Seo Kwanyong , Habbal Fawwaz
Published: September 2020

We created a polymer-embedded TiO2 nanodiscs device with a robust tunable color filters that preserve veiy sharp spectral bands through spatial variations of the pitch of the meta array.
Omnipolarizer Action via Encirclement of Exceptional Points
Authors: Lopez-Galmiche G. , Lopez Aviles H. E. , Hassan A. U. , Schumer A. , Kottos T. , LiKamWa P. L. , Khajavikhan M. , Christodoulides D. N.
Published: September 2020

We experimentally demonstrate for the first time omnipolarizer action in the optical domain. This is achieved by encircling a non-Hermitian singularity through which the output polarization state can be faithfully and unidirectionally preselected.
Room-Temperature Lasing from Topological Cavities
Authors: Tripathi Aditya , Smirnova Daria , Kruk Sergey , Hwang Min-Soo , Kim Ha-Reem , Park Hong-Gyu , Kivshar Yuri
Published: September 2020

We fabricate nanophotonic topological cavities incorporating III-V semiconductor quantum wells and observe room-temperahrre lasing with narrow spectrum, high coherence, and threshold behavior. The emitted beam hosts a singularity encoded by the specific triade cavity mode.
Electromagnetic Response of Ballistic Metamaterials
Authors: Narimanov Evgenii
Published: September 2020

The electromagnetic response of ballistic metamaterials, metal-dielectric composites with the unit cell size smaller than electron mean free path, is defined by the surface scattering of the free electrons at the metal-dielectric interface.
Deep Subwavelength Singularity Imaging Beyond λ/100
Authors: Pu Tanchao , Savinov Vassili , Yuan Guang Hui , Ou Jun-Yu , Papasimakis Nikitas , Zheludev Nikolay I.
Published: September 2020

We introduce a new far-field and label-free imaging paradigm based on combining singularity illumination with artificial-intelligence enabling reconstruction of an object from the scattered light. We demonstrate imaging resolution beyond X/100.
PT-symmetric topological edge-gain effect
Authors: Song Alex Y. , Sun Xiao-Qi , Dutt Avik , Minkov Momchil , Wojcik Casey , Wang Haiwen , Williamson Ian , Orenstein Meir , Fan Shanhui
Published: September 2020

A uniform non-Hermitian material can exhibit a state where non-Hermicity, i.e. gain and loss, only manifests on the edge but not in the bulk. This effect is protected by the bulk topology and parity-time symmetry.
Topological transport quantization by dissipation in fast Thouless pumps
Authors: Fedorova (Cherpakova) Zlata , Qiu Haixin , Linden Stefan , Kroha Johann
Published: September 2020

Thouless pumping is intrinsically an adiabatic effect, which breaks down at finite driving frequencies. We demonstrate both theoretically and experimentally that using time-periodic dissipation Thouless pumping can be restored outside of the adiabatic limit.
Experimental Realization of Parity-Time-Symmetric Flat Bands
Authors: Biesenthal Tobias , Kremer Mark , Heinrich Matthias , Szameit Alexander
Published: September 2020

We demonstrate experimentally dispersionless flat bands with parity-time symmetiy. To this end, we employ precisely tailored losses in laser-written waveguide arrays as key ingredient to manage light propagation and suppress diffractive broadening.
Measuring Optical Spin in the Near Field of Photonic Topological Edge States
Authors: Arora Sonakshi , Bauer Thomas , Barczyk Rene , Verhagen Ewold , Kuipers Kobus
Published: September 2020

With phase- and polarization-resolving near-field optical microscopy we directly visualize the electromagnetic vector field in topological photonic crystals featuring the optical quantum spin Hall effect. We reveal that the local optical spin of spin-protected edge states is highly structured.
Giant nonlinear circular dichroism from nonlinear chiral polaritonic metasurfaces
Authors: Kim D. , Yu J. , Demmerle F. , Boehm G. , Amann M.-C. , Belkin M.A. , Lee J.
Published: September 2020

We report giant nonlinear circular dichroism for second- and third-harmonic generation from nonlinear chiral polaritonic metasurfaces. Experimentally, over 86% of circular dichroisms for the two harmonic generations on one-chip system around 10 pm were achieved.
Continuous-wave 6-dB-squeezed vacuum state of light from optical parametric amplifier with THz-order bandwidth
Authors: Kashiwazaki Takahiro , Takanashi Naoto , Yamashima Taichi , Kazama Takushi , Enbutsu Koji , Kasahara Ryoichi , Umeki Takeshi , Furusawa Akira
Published: September 2020

TEMoo-shaped continuous-wave 6-dB-squeezed light was obtained from a single-mode periodically poled ZnO:LiNbO3 waveguide with a 2.5-THz optical-parametric-amplification bandwidth. The results will lead to the development of high-speed on-chip optical quanhrm processors with time-domain multiplexing.
Identifying ultrafast fs-squeezing with a genuinely local oscillator and photon counting
Authors: Tiedau Johannes , Eigner Christof , Quiring Victor , Padberg Laura , Ricken Raimund , Sperling Jan , Brecht Benjamin , Bartley Tim J. , Silberhorn Christine
Published: September 2020

We show repetition-rate locking of two passively mode-locked laser systems in order to prepare a genuine local oscillator. We demonstrate the potential of this system by measuring two-mode squeezing with photon counting.
Light condensation in multimode fibers
Authors: Baudin K. , Fusaro A. , Krupa K. , Garnier J. , Michel C. , Rica S. , Millot G. , Picozzi A.
Published: September 2020

We report the observation of the transition to condensation of optical waves propagating in multimode fibers: below a critical value of the energy, the fundamental mode gets macroscopic populated, in agreement with the equilibrium theory.
Toward Nanophotonic Free-Electron Lasers
Authors: Rivera Nicholas , Roques-Carmes Charles , Kaminer Ido , Soljačić Marin
Published: September 2020

We show that nanophotonic structures enable the possibility of realizing lasers based on stimulated emission by free electrons. The associated threshold beam currents are in the nanoampere range, and could be realized in electron microscopes.
Non-PT-symmetric Two-layer Waveguides for Exceptional-point-enhanced Optical Devices
Authors: Huang Yin , Shen Yuecheng , Veronis Georgios
Published: September 2020

We investigate the exceptional points in a two-layer cylindrical waveguide structure consisting of absorbing and non-absorbing dielectrics. We show that the sensitivity of the effective index of the waveguide mode is enhanced at exceptional points.
Optimal Monitoring of Arbitrary Target Polarization with Metasurfaces
Authors: Lung Shaun , Wang Kai , Kamali Khosro Zangeneh , Rahmani Mohsen , Neshev Dragomir N. , Sukhorukov Andrey A.
Published: September 2020

We reveal that dielectric metasurfaces can perform tailored non-Hermitian transformations optimized for monitoring of deviations around arbitrarily linear, circular, or elliptical polarizations, delivering the amplified vertical-to-horizontal polarization ratios for sensitive single-shot detection.
Position and Frequency Control of Strain-induced Quantum Emitters in WSe2 Monolayers
Authors: Kim Hyoju , Moon Jong Sung , Noh Gichang , Lee Jieun , Kim Je-Hyung
Published: September 2020

By integrating WSe2 monolayers with a nanopatterned Si micro-cantilever, we create the quantum emitters at deterministic sites and control their frequency with voltages. Also, reduction of the fine-structure splitting is observed by engineering the strain.
Coherent Control of Higher-Order Spin Precession Modes in Ferromagnetic Permalloy Thin Films by Double Pulse Excitation
Authors: Okano Makoto , Takahashi Tomohiro , Watanabe Shinichi
Published: September 2020

We demonstrate ultrafast coherent control of higher-order spin precession modes in the permalloy thin film by means of optical techniques. We can selectively excite one of the higher spin precession modes using double pulse excitation.