bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Noninvasive Systemic Modalities for Prevention of Head and Neck Radiation-Associated Soft Tissue Injury: A Narrative Review
Authors: Kim Leslie N. , Rubenstein Robyn N. , Chu Jacqueline J. , Allen Robert J. , Mehrara Babak J. , Nelson Jonas A.
Published: February 2022

Background Radiation-associated soft tissue injury is a potentially devastating complication for head and neck cancer patients. The damage can range from minor sequelae such as xerostomia, which requires frequent daily maintenance, to destructive degenerative processes such as osteoradionecrosis, which can contribute to flap failure and delay or reverse oral rehabilitation. Despite the need for effective radioprotectants, the literature remains sparse, primarily focused on interventions beyond the surgeon's control, such as maintenance of good oral hygiene or modulation of radiation dose.

Methods This narrative review aggregates and explores noninvasive, systemic treatment modalities for prevention or amelioration of radiation-associated soft tissue injury.

Results We highlighted nine modalities with the most clinical potential, which include amifostine, melatonin, palifermin, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, photobiomodulation, pentoxifylline–tocopherol–clodronate, pravastatin, transforming growth factor-β modulators, and deferoxamine, and reviewed the benefits and limitations of each modality. Unfortunately, none of these modalities are supported by strong evidence for prophylaxis against radiation-associated soft tissue injury.

Conclusion While we cannot endorse any of these nine modalities for immediate clinical use, they may prove fruitful areas for further investigation.
Clinical Outcomes after Mitral Valve Surgery in Failed MitraClip Procedures
Authors: Pingpoh Clarence , Kreibich Maximillian , Berger Tim , Thoma Martin , Beyersdorf Friedhelm , Comberg Thomas , Fagu Albi , Siepe Matthias , Czerny Martin
Published: February 2022

Background We retrospectively evaluated in-hospital and overall outcome of patients who received mitral valve replacement (MVR) after failed MitraClip procedure.

Methods A total of 26 out of 740 patients received MVR after treatment with MitraClip between June 2010 and December 2020. We analyzed in-hospital mortality and overall mortality during the median follow-up period of 72 days after MVR.

Results The median age in the entire cohort was 77.5 years. In-hospital mortality was 15.4% (n = 4) and the overall mortality during the follow-up period was 27% (n = 7). The median time between the MitraClip procedure and surgery was 34.5 days. The main reasons for surgery were mitral stenosis (23.1%), persistent prolapse of the mitral valve leaflets (42.3%), and persistent tethering of the mitral valve leaflets (34.6%). At the time of surgery all of the patients presented with New York Heart Association 3 and above. The underlying mitral valve pathology was mainly secondary 61.5% (n = 16). Median left ventricular end-diastolic diameter was 60 mm. Preoperative ejection fraction was 40% and above in 73% of the cohort. In addition to the mitral valve procedure, 57.7% of patients received either concomitant tricuspid annuloplasty, aortic valve surgery, ascending aortic replacement, or coronary artery bypass grafting.

Conclusion The need for MVR for failed MitraClip repair is low and the results are acceptable. However, remaining options for reconstruction are usually limited and MVR is often needed. Anticipating success or failure according to the underlying pathology more than according to concomitant risk factors should form the basis in decision making for the treatment modality of first choice.
Safety and Efficacy of Stereoelectroencephalography in Pediatric Epilepsy Surgery
Authors: Kassiri Janani , Elliott Cameron , Liu Natarie , Narvacan Karl , Wheatly Matt , Sinclair D.Barry
Published: March 2022

Stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) is the preoperative assessment of choice when the epileptogenic zone (EZ) is unclear in patients requiring surgery for severe, drug-refractory epilepsy. There are relatively little data on the safety and efficacy of SEEG in the pediatric epilepsy population. We, therefore, investigated the insertional complications, rate of successful identification of the EZ, and long-term seizure outcomes following surgery after SEEG in children. This was a retrospective study of drug-resistant pediatric epilepsy patients treated with surgery between 2005 and 2020 and who underwent presurgical SEEG. Rationale for and coverage of SEEG, identification of the EZ, and ultimate seizure outcome following SEEG-tailored resections were collected and analyzed. Thirty patients (15 male, mean age: 12.4 ± 5 years) who underwent SEEG were studied. SEEG-related complications occurred in one case (3%). A total of 190 multicontact electrodes (mean: 7.0 ± 2.5 per patient) were implanted across 30 insertions capturing 440 electrographic seizures (mean: 17.5 ± 27.6 per patient). The most common rationale for SEEG was normal magnetic resonance imaging with surface EEG that failed to identify the EZ (17/30; 57%). SEEG identified a putative EZ in all cases, resulting in SEEG-tailored resections in 25/30 (83%). Freedom from disabling seizures was achieved following resections in 20/25 cases (80%) with 5.9 ± 4.0 years of postoperative follow-up. SEEG is a safe and effective way to identify the EZ in the presurgical evaluation of children with refractory epilepsy and permits effective and long-lasting SEEG-tailored resections.
Comparison of Bioinformatics Approaches for Fetal Microdeletions and Monogenic Variations Estimation in Non-invasive Prenatal Testing
Authors: Paul Lizzy Teleboshe , Ergoren Mahmut Cerkez
Published: February 2022

Prenatal testing provides crucial information about the health status of fetuses as well as recommending better treatment. For the past decades, prenatal testing using chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis were the two majorly used forms of invasive prenatal diagnostic approaches. However, to facilitate prenatal testing without causing any danger to the fetus, the noninvasive prenatal diagnostic method, which uses circulating cell-free deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), has become a suitable method of prenatal diagnosis. This review discusses the recent bioinformatics approaches used for analyzing fetal DNA concentration.
Studying soft matter interactions at liquid interfaces
Authors: Thompson Avery
Published: March 2022

Using phase- and polarization-resolved sum-frequency generation spectroscopy to accurately measure molecular orientation at an air-water interface
Double and triple pole solutions for the Gerdjikov–Ivanov type of derivative nonlinear Schrödinger equation with zero/nonzero boundary conditions
Authors: Peng Wei-Qi , Chen Yong
Published: March 2022

In this work, the double and triple pole soliton solutions for the Gerdjikov–Ivanov type of the derivative nonlinear Schrödinger equation with zero boundary conditions (ZBCs) and nonzero boundary conditions (NZBCs) are studied via the Riemann–Hilbert (RH) method. With spectral problem analysis, we first obtain the Jost function and scattering matrix under ZBCs and NZBCs. Then, according to the analyticity, symmetry, and asymptotic behavior of the Jost function and scattering matrix, the RH problem (RHP) with ZBCs and NZBCs is constructed. Furthermore, the obtained RHP with ZBCs and NZBCs can be solved in the case that reflection coefficients have double or triple poles. Finally, we derive the general precise formulas of N-double and N-triple pole solutions corresponding to ZBCs and NZBCs, respectively. In addition, the asymptotic states of the one-double pole soliton solution and the one-triple pole soliton solution are analyzed when t tends to infinity. The dynamical behaviors for these solutions are further discussed by image simulation.
Godunov variables and convex entropy for relativistic fluid dynamics with bulk viscosity
Authors: Olbermann H.
Published: March 2022

Based on the conservation–dissipation formalism proposed by Zhu et al. [J. Non-Equilib. Thermodyn. 40, 67 (2015)], we formulate a general version of the Israel–Stewart theory for relativistic fluid dynamics with bulk viscosity. Our generalization consists in allowing for a wide range of dependence of the entropy density on the bulk viscosity. We show the existence of Godunov–Boillat variables for this model. By known properties of systems possessing such variables, this provides an alternative proof of the recently established existence of solutions for the Israel–Stewart theory locally in time, and a proof that entropy production is positive across weak Lax shocks.
Silicon integrated terahertz quantum cascade ring laser frequency comb
Authors: Jaidl M. , Opačak N. , Kainz M. A. , Theiner D. , Limbacher B. , Beiser M. , Giparakis M. , Andrews A. M. , Strasser G. , Schwarz B. , Darmo J. , Unterrainer K.
Published: March 2022

We demonstrate terahertz quantum cascade lasers realized in “ideal” ring resonators without discontinuities from, e.g., contacting pads. We realize this by mounting rings episide-down on a silicon substrate by a die-bonding technique. This technique allows one to realize ideal conditions for optical confinement as well as heat dissipation and provides the basis for future Si integrated THz devices. The lasers emit light around 3.8 THz and show much reduced threshold current densities. When operated in continuous-wave operation, frequency comb formation with a spectral bandwidth of 70 GHz is observed. Frequency comb operation is indicated by a narrow beat note signal at 8.55 GHz with a signal-to-noise ratio up to 40 dB. The experimentally measured spectral behavior of ring devices is described accurately by the results obtained from numerical simulations based on the Maxwell–Bloch formalism.
Charge carrier nonadiabatic dynamics in non-metal doped graphitic carbon nitride
Authors: Agrawal Sraddha , Vasenko Andrey S. , Trivedi Dhara J. , Prezhdo Oleg V.
Published: March 2022

Graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) has attracted significant attention due to its excellent performance in photocatalytic applications. Non-metal doping of GCN has been widely used to improve the efficiency of the material as a photocatalyst. Using a combination of time-domain density functional theory with nonadiabatic molecular dynamics, we study the charge carrier dynamics in oxygen and boron doped GCN systems. The reported simulations provide a detailed time-domain mechanistic description of the charge separation and recombination processes that are of fundamental importance while evaluating the photovoltaic and photocatalytic performance of the material. The appearance of smaller energy gaps due to the presence of dopant states improves the visible light absorption range of the doped systems. At the same time, the nonradiative lifetimes are shortened in the doped systems as compared to the pristine GCN. In the case of boron doped at a carbon (B–C–GCN), the charge recombination time is very long as compared to the other two doped systems owing to the smaller electron–phonon coupling strength between the valence band maximum and the trap state. The results suggest B–C–GCN as the most suitable candidate among three doped systems studied in this work for applications in photocatalysis. This work sheds light into the influence of dopants on quantum dynamics processes that govern GCN performance and, thus, guides toward building high-performance devices in photocatalysis.
A three-dimensional off-lattice Boltzmann method for the simulation of blood flow through a model irregular stenosis
Authors: Sakthivel M. , Anupindi Kameswararao
Published: March 2022

In the present work, a three-dimensional characteristic-based off-lattice Boltzmann method is developed in general cylindrical curvilinear coordinates to handle body-fitted non-uniform meshes that typically arise in blood flow simulation of stenosed arteries. To handle the singularity point at r = 0, the azimuthal mapping approach together with a special periodic boundary condition is developed. The numerical solver is validated, using reference data from literature, for steady flow through a stenosed lumen and for pulsatile flow through an abdominal aortic aneurysm. Thereafter, the solver is applied to study pulsatile blood flow through a model irregular arterial stenosis with an aerial occlusion of 75%. The surface irregularity of the stenosis is modeled using a sine function while keeping the cosine-shaped occlusion. The degree of irregularity is controlled by the amplitude and frequency of the sine function. Flow characteristics such as wall shear stress (WSS), divergence of WSS, oscillatory shear index, relative residence time (RRT), the turbulence kinetic energy (TKE), and power spectral density are used to investigate the near-wall vascular remodeling caused by the resulting disturbed flow. The present study demonstrates that for a given areal occlusion, an increase in the amplitude and frequency of the surface irregularity increases the number of locations susceptible for perfusion of low-density lipoproteins and promotes flow disturbances in the stenotic and post-stenotic regions. An increase in the Reynolds number not only increases the peaks of the WSS but also brings the peaks together causing alternating stress in the stenosed region. Furthermore, a positive correlation is found between the Reynolds number and the TKE production. On the other hand, an increase in the Womersley number reduces the TKE production, curtails the disturbed flow, and reduces the RRT of the solutes, all of which further reduce the risk factors. Overall, the developed solver demonstrates the importance of shape of the stenosis on the blood flow dynamics for physiological inflow conditions.
Realization of self-powered bidirectional photoresponse in the ultraviolet/visible wavelength region in ferroelectric heterojunctions
Authors: Shen Xuemin , Chen Siyi , Liu Yuhe , Chen Mingming , Lei Han , Cai Jing , Su Jiayun , Yang Shuaiheng , Liu Yuan , Wang Quan , Cao Dawei , Xu Chunxiang
Published: March 2022

Broadband and wavelength selective photodetection are of great importance for photodetectors in practical applications, while these two features are generally in conflict with each other in conventional semiconductor heterojunctions. In the current work, CH3NH3PbBr3/PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3 ferroelectric heterojunction photodetectors have been demonstrated to obtain a self-powered bidirectional photoresponse, which realized a broadband and wavelength selective photodetection in the ultraviolet (UV)/visible wavelength region. By a combination of bulk photovoltaic effects of ferroelectric PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3 and built-in electric field at the CH3NH3PbBr3/PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3 heterojunction interface, the photodetectors exhibited a positive sensitivity in the UV spectral range and a negative sensitivity in the visible spectral range. Specifically, the sensitivities were +0.22 mA/W at 340 nm and −0.032 mA/W at 530 nm, both at the bias voltage of 0 V. Notably, the photoresponse polarity in the UV spectral range can be further reversed through electrically polarizing the ferroelectric PbZr0.52Ti0.48O3. The results provided in this work highlight the superiorities of ferroelectric heterojunction photodetectors and open a window for the fabrication of broadband and wavelength selective photodetectors.
Stoichiometry control and automated growth of alkali antimonide photocathode films by molecular beam deposition
Authors: Pavlenko Vitaly , Smedley John , Scheinker Alexander , Fleming Ryan L. , Alexander Anna , Hoffbauer Mark A. , Moody Nathan A.
Published: March 2022

We report on a method of photoemissive film growth that controls stoichiometry in real time. We show that stoichiometry control using a feedback loop is possible because (a) photoemissive properties exhibit a distinct dependence on the stoichiometric composition and (b) stoichiometric composition strongly depends on the ratio of the incident fluxes. The reported results were obtained on Cs3Sb but are expected to be relevant to other alkali antimonides and tellurides.
Two-dimensional phonon polaritons in multilayers of hexagonal boron nitride from a macroscopic phonon model
Authors: Zhang J.-Z.
Published: March 2022

Phonon polaritons (PHPs) in freestanding and supported multilayers of hexagonal boron nitride are systematically studied using a macroscopic optical-phonon model. The PHP properties such as confinement, group velocity, propagation quality factor (PQF), and wavelength scaling are studied. Owing to high-frequency screening, there is an upper frequency limit making the two-dimensional (2D) PHPs have a frequency band and also a maximum PQF occurs near the center frequency. The substrate’s dielectric response should be included to accurately calculate the PHP properties. While the simple electrostatic approximation (ESA) is valid for PHPs with frequencies ω above ω0 (e.g., ω>1.03ω0 for the 30-layers; ω0 is the Γ point optical-phonon frequency), it fails to describe the PHP properties near ω0 and the effect of retardation should be included for a proper description. The PHP wavelength vs layer thickness near ω0 deviates significantly from a linear scaling law given by the ESA due to strong coupling of photons and longitudinal optical phonons. The calculated PHP dispersion and scaling are compared with experimental data of a number of spectroscopic studies and found to be in good agreement for most of the results. While the frequency of incident light should be near the center frequency to maximize the PQF, the PHP wavelength, confinement, and propagation length can be engineered by varying the multilayer thickness and its dielectric environment.
The construction of Cr2Te3/Bi2/Bi2Te3 superlattice via reduction method by molecular beam epitaxy
Authors: Li Bin , Zhang Runnan , Zhou Liang , Wang Linjing , Yan Zijun , He Hongtao , Wang Gan
Published: March 2022

A delicate superlattice structure of Cr2Te3/Bi2/Bi2Te3 has been constructed based on the chemical reduction at the interface. The growth was conducted by the molecular beam epitaxy, and the structural characterizations have provided solid evidence of the designed structure. The interfaces between Cr2Te3, Bi2 and Bi2Te3 are sharp. The ferromagnetism has been introduced in this system as revealed by the negative magnetoresistance curve and the anomalous Hall effect.
Uncovering strengthening and softening mechanisms of nano-twinned CoCrFeCuNi high entropy alloys by molecular dynamics simulation
Authors: Shen T. Z. , Song H. Y. , An M. R. , Li Y. L.
Published: March 2022

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) break the design concept of traditional alloys and exhibit excellent mechanical properties. However, as a new member of the alloy family in recent years, the dependence of the deformation behavior of the HEAs on alloy composition and twin boundary (TB) is still unclear, and many phenomena urgently need to be revealed. Here, the effects of TB spacing and Ni concentration on the mechanical properties and deformation behavior of the nano-twinned (CoCrFeCu)1−XNiX HEA (nt-HEA) under tensile loading are investigated by molecular dynamics simulation. The results show that with the decrease in TB spacing, the average flow stress of the nt-HEA changes from Hall–Petch strengthening to inverse Hall–Petch softening. When the TB spacing is greater than a critical value, the plastic deformation mechanism is dominated by the slip of partial dislocations. However, when the TB spacing is less than the critical value, the plastic deformation mechanism is transformed into the formation of voids induced by the amorphous phase, which becomes the key factor for the softening of the nt-HEA. It is also found that the mechanical properties of the nt-HEA can also change from strengthening to softening by adjusting Ni concentration, which is closely related to the change of stacking fault energy of the nt-HEA. In addition, the plastic deformation mechanism and voids formation mechanism of the nt-HEA are also discussed in detail.
Experimental study of vortex formation in pulsating jet flow by time-resolved particle image velocimetry
Authors: Ma Xingyu , Gong Xuan , Jiang Nan
Published: March 2022

We experimentally investigate the pulsating circular jet flow at moderate Reynolds numbers. By applying time-resolved particle image velocimetry in the axial-radial plane, we measure the near-field velocity fields with the jet source temporally modulated by sinusoidal pulsations. As a baseline, the steady jet flow with the same mean Reynolds number is tested. The direct comparisons of the mean and fluctuating velocity fields show that the whole potential core as well as the axisymmetric shear layer is modulated by the pulsation effect. Meanwhile, larger-scale vortices are formed in the shear layer with phase correlation of the pulsation cycle. As a result, the pulsation increases the turbulent mixing in the latter half of the potential core, and it extends the fluid entrainment further in the radial direction. The increased fluid entrainment of the ambient quiescent fluid is clearly identified by the attracting Lagrangian coherent structures as the bounds of the growing vortices within the shear layer. By analyzing the dynamic modes, we find that the low-frequency off-the-axis helical structures, which are dominant in the steady jet flow, are inhibited. The axisymmetric jet column mode and its harmonics along the axis are strengthened by the pulsation effect. Furthermore, the vortex formation mainly takes place particularly in the deceleration phase, whereas a shock-like wave front is formed during the acceleration, indicating the distinct roles of the pulsation phases in the jet instability.
Does quantum mechanics need imaginary numbers?
Authors: Miller Johanna L.
Published: March 2022

A newly proposed experiment rules out a class of real-valued quantum theories.
Vietnam tourism: a view from within.
Authors: Bui Huong T. , Phi Giang T.
Published: February 2022

This chapter defines the scope of the book with reference to the political, social and economic situation of Vietnam. By reviewing existing work on Vietnam tourism published in English, the authors highlight the issues of minorities and fragmentation with regards to current writing on the topic. This justifies the importance and significance of compiling a compendium of current work on policies and practices of tourism development from various levels of administration across different types and forms of tourism and encompassing diverse segments of the tourism industry.
Ecotourism in forests and protected areas.
Authors: Pham Long H. , Bui Huong T. , Do Huong H. , Jones Thomas E.
Published: February 2022

This chapter offers an overview of ecotourism in forest-protected areas in Vietnam from theoretical concepts and historical evolution of forest conservation to the current structure of governance and management of forest resources and the economic and socio-cultural perspectives of forest resources ecotourism and ecotourists. Differentiated from conventional approaches using cases or empirical research focus on particular sites, the current study systematically analyses national policies and practices of ecotourism in national parks and protected areas (PAs). The review synthesizes existing studies published on various channels in and outside the country and numerous government reports and research conducted by NGOs on ecotourism, PAs and forest conservation. The analysis pertinent in this chapter, however, excludes marine-based ecotourism, which is covered in a separate chapter.
Community-based tourism: challenges and opportunities for sustainable development.
Authors: Phi Giang T. , Pham Long H.
Published: February 2022

The chapter first provides background information on the evolution of community-based tourism (CBT) in Vietnam before exploring critical areas of the CBT literature. Next, the qualitative approaches utilized for the study, on which the findings and discussions are drawn upon, are presented. The findings are further discussed within the context of three CBT case studies in Vietnam. Finally, recommendations are suggested for the future sustainable development of CBT in Vietnam.
Dark tourism in the former Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
Authors: Ngo Phuong M. , Bui Huong T. , Dimache Alexandru
Published: February 2022

This chapter discusses the current practices of dark tourism conducted in the former demilitarized zone (DMZ), evoking the confrontation of two ideologies between Vietnamese and American troops in the Vietnam War. The two authors, Ngo, Bui and Dimache, examine the structure of the dark tourism industry, issues of governance, promotion and production of dark tourism and the involvement of tourists and tour guides in the historic sites in the DMZ of Quang Tri province. The analysis of construction and narration at former battlefields offers an in-depth understanding of dark tourism at former war sites in post-war Vietnam.
Public opinion on quarantine hotels: a question of corporate social responsibility.
Authors: Nghiem-Phu Binh , Tran Hang T. B.
Published: February 2022

This chapter, written by Nghiem-Phu and Tran, examines how hotel businesses in Vietnam overcome the challenges caused by COVID-19 by transforming lodgings into quarantine facilities. Analysing press and user-generated content, it was found that both positive and negative images were attached to the quarantine hotels. The findings have demonstrated that corporate social responsibility (CSR) could be implemented to sustain business in the current circumstances while preparing for brand strengthening for recovery.
Policies and stakeholder engagement in cultural events.
Authors: Dang Phuong-Anh , Trinh Le-Anh , Phi Giang T. , Bui Huong T.
Published: February 2022

This chapter analyses policies and stakeholders' engagement in the planning and management of festivals and cultural events. The authors, Dang et al., utilize a case-study approach with four vignettes: (i)Giong Festival (Ha Noi city); (ii)Thanh Tuyen Festival (Tuyen Quang province); (iii)Tich Dien Festival (Ha Nam province); and (iv)the Tea Festival (Thai Nguyen province). Findings from semi-structured interviews with different stakeholders reveal a range of endogenous and exogenous drivers presented on vertical axes for stakeholder engagement. Important findings from this study relate to the process of changing roles of the local community, local authorities and the central state as the events evolve over time.
The shear strain energy fluctuations caused by random porosities in graphene based on the stochastic finite element model
Authors: Chu Liu , Shi Jiajia , Souza de Cursi Eduardo
Published: March 2022

Strain-induced deformation is a promising strategy to modify and functionalize the material properties of graphene. However, the impacts of random porosities are inevitable and complicated in the microstructure. In order to quantify and analyze the effects of random porosities in graphene under shear stress, the energy fluctuations and the equivalent elastic modulus are computed and recorded based on the stochastic finite element model. The finite element computation is combined with the Monte Carlo stochastic sampling procedure to distribute and propagate the random porosities in pristine graphene. Two different boundary conditions are taken into consideration and compared. Furthermore, the probability statistics of shear strain energy and equivalent elastic modulus are provided based on the comparison with the results of pristine graphene. The inhomogeneous spatial randomness is founded in the statistic records of shear strain energy. The sensitivity to the graphene chirality and boundary conditions are also shown for the porous graphene. The work in this paper provides important references for strain-induced engineering and artificial functionalization through topological vacancy control in graphene.
Generalised scalar-tensor theories
and self-tuning
Authors: Copeland Edmund J. , Ghataore Sukhraj , Niedermann Florian , Padilla Antonio
Published: March 2022

We explore a family of generalised scalar-tensor theories that exhibit self-tuning to low scale anti de Sitter vacua, even in the presence of a large cosmological constant. We are able to examine the linearised fluctuations about these vacua and compute the corresponding amplitude. Thanks to a subtle interplay between a weak scalar coupling and a low scalar mass, it is possible to exhibit self-tuning and compatibility with solar system tests of gravity without resorting to non-linearities and unreliable screening mechanisms. The weakness of the scalar coupling and the correspondingly slow response to vacuum energy phase transitions may present some interesting possibilities for connecting early universe inflation to the cancellation of vacuum energy.
Overview of the SPARC physics basis towards the exploration of burning-plasma regimes in high-field, compact tokamaks
Authors: Rodriguez-Fernandez P. , Creely A.J. , Greenwald M.J. , Brunner D. , Ballinger S.B. , Chrobak C.P. , Garnier D.T. , Granetz R. , Hartwig Z.S. , Howard N.T. , Hughes J.W. , Irby J.H. , Izzo V.A. , Kuang A.Q. , Lin Y. , Marmar E.S. , Mumgaard R.T. , Rea C. , Reinke M.L. , Riccardo V. , Rice J.E. , Scott S.D. , Sorbom B.N. , Stillerman J.A. , Sweeney R. , Tinguely R.A. , Whyte D.G. , Wright J.C. , Yuryev D.V.
Published: March 2022

The SPARC tokamak project, currently in engineering design, aims to achieve breakeven and burning plasma conditions in a compact device, thanks to new developments in high-temperature superconductor technology. With a magnetic field of 12.2 T on axis and 8.7 MA of plasma current, SPARC is predicted to produce 140 MW of fusion power with a plasma gain of Q ≈ 11, providing ample margin with respect to its mission of Q > 2. All tokamak systems are being designed to produce this landmark plasma discharge, thus enabling the study of burning plasma physics and tokamak operations in reactor relevant conditions to pave the way for the design and construction of a compact, high-field fusion power plant. Construction of SPARC is planned to begin by mid-2021.
Hurricane adaptation behaviors in Texas and Florida: exploring the roles of negative personal experience and subjective attribution to climate change
Authors: Wong-Parodi Gabrielle , Garfin Dana Rose
Published: March 2022

Understanding the motivation to adopt personal household adaptation behaviors in the face of climate change-related hazards is essential for developing and implementing behaviorally realistic interventions that promote well-being and health. Escalating extreme weather events increase the number of those directly exposed and adversely impacted by climate change. But do people attribute these negative events to climate change? Such subjective attribution may be a cognitive process whereby the experience of negative climate-change-related events may increase risk perceptions and motivate people to act. Here we surveyed a representative sample of 1846 residents of Florida and Texas, many of whom had been repeatedly exposed to hurricanes on the Gulf Coast, facing the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season. We assessed prior hurricane negative personal experiences, climate-change-related subjective attribution (for hurricanes), risk appraisal (perceived probability and severity of a hurricane threat), hurricane adaptation appraisal (perceived efficacy of adaptation measures and self-efficacy to address the threat of hurricanes), and self-reported hurricane personal household adaptation. Our findings suggest that prior hurricane negative personal experiences and subjective attribution are associated with greater hurricane risk appraisal. Hurricane subjective attribution moderated the relationship between hurricane negative personal experiences and risk appraisal; in turn, negative hurricane personal experiences, hurricane risk appraisal, and adaptation appraisal were positively associated with self-reported hurricane personal adaptation behaviors. Subjective attribution may be associated with elevated perceived risk for specific climate hazards. Communications that help people understand the link between their negative personal experiences (e.g. hurricanes) and climate change may help guide risk perceptions and motivate protective actions, particularly in areas with repeated exposure to threats.
Linear hybrid simulations of low-frequency fishbone instability driven by energetic passing particles in tokamak plasmas
Authors: YANG Jixing , FU Guoyong , SHEN Wei , YE Minyou
Published: March 2022

A linear simulation study of energetic passing particle-driven low-frequency fishbone instability in tokamak plasmas has been carried out using the global kinetic-MHD (magnetohydrodynamics) hybrid code M3D-K. This work is focused on the interaction of energetic passing beam ions and n = 1 mode with a monotonic safety factor q profile and

q

0

<
1
.

Specifically, the stability and mode frequency as well as mode structure of the n = 1 mode are calculated for scans of parameter values of beam ion beta, beam ion injection energy, beam ion orbit width, beam ion beta profile, as well as background plasma beta. The excited modes are identified as a low-frequency fishbone with the corresponding resonance of

ω

ϕ

+

ω

θ

=
ω
,

where

ω

ϕ

is the beam ion toroidal transit frequency and

ω

θ

is the beam ion poloidal transit frequency. The simulated mode frequency is approximately proportional to the beam ion injection energy and beam ion orbit width. The mode structure is similar to that of internal kink mode. These simulation results are similar to the analytic theory of Yu et al.
Surface properties of Al-doped ZnO thin film before and after CF4/Ar plasma etching
Authors: JOO Young-Hee , KIM Gwan-Ha , UM Doo-Seung , KIM Chang-Il
Published: March 2022

Al-doped ZnO (AZO) is considered as an alternative to transparent conductive oxide materials. Patterning and achieving a stable surface are important challenges in the development and optimization of dry etching processes, which must be overcome for the application of AZO in various devices. Therefore, in this study, the etch rate and surface properties of an AZO thin film after plasma etching using the adaptive coupled plasma system were investigated. The fastest etch rate was achieved with a CF4/Ar ratio of 50:50 sccm. Regardless of the ratio of CF4 to Ar, the transmittance of the film in the visible region exceeded 80%. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis of the AZO thin film confirmed that metal-F bonding persists on the surface after plasma etching. It was also shown that F eliminates O vacancies. Consequently, the work function and bandgap energy increased as the ratio of CF4 increased. This study not only provides information on the effect of plasma on AZO thin film, but identifies the cause of changes in the device characteristics during device fabrication.
Absolutes and Ambiguity: Transforming Artefacts Towards Non-violence
Authors: Frayne Nicholas Forrest
Published: March 2022

Often created by colonial societies characterized by violence and oppression, historical artefacts such as monuments are increasingly under criticism for perpetuating violent attitudes. While the links between artefacts and society are well understood, there has been little work that finds the opportunity for resistance to violence in these artefacts themselves. Developing a ‘spectrum of violence’ for artefacts, I argue that ambiguous artefacts move us towards non-violence by provoking critique, while absolute artefacts move us away from it by stilling critique. Applying this spectrum to a discussion of a graffitied New York monument in 2020, I propose that the act of ‘refacement’ can turn absolute artefacts into ambiguous ones. In so doing, the artefacts that once upheld colonial values might be transformed to resist them. This paper offers a timely exploration of monuments and violence, and seeks to better understand how cultural artefacts can lay the foundations for a non-violent future.
Linking Patient-Centered Outcomes to Neuropsychological Practice: A Conceptual Framework and Opportunities for Research
Authors: Colvin M K , Roebuck-Spencer T M , Sperling S A , Acheson S , Bailie J M , Espe-Pfeifer P , Glen T , Bragg T , Bott N , Hilsabeck R C
Published: February 2022

In the current healthcare climate, reimbursement for services is increasingly linked to the ability to demonstrate beneficial patient outcomes. Neuropsychology faces some unique challenges in outcomes research, namely, that neuropsychologists often do not follow patients over time and the effect of neuropsychological services on patient outcomes may not be fully realized until under another provider’s care. Yet there is an urgent need for empirical evidence linking neuropsychological practice to positive patient outcomes. To provide a framework for this research, we define a core set of patient-centered outcomes and neuropsychological processes that apply across practice settings and patient populations. Within each area, we review the available existing literature on neuropsychological outcomes, identifying substantial gaps in the literature for future research. This work will be critical for the field to demonstrate the benefit of neuropsychological services, to continue to advocate effectively for reimbursement, and to ensure high-quality patient care.
On the strategic learning of signal associations
Authors: Sherratt Thomas N , Voll James
Published: March 2022

Signal detection theory (SDT) has been widely used to identify the optimal response of a receiver to a stimulus when it could be generated by more than one signaler type. While SDT assumes that the receiver adopts the optimal response at the outset, in reality, receivers often have to learn how to respond. We, therefore, recast a simple signal detection problem as a multi-armed bandit (MAB) in which inexperienced receivers chose between accepting a signaler (gaining information and an uncertain payoff) and rejecting it (gaining no information but a certain payoff). An exact solution to this exploration–exploitation dilemma can be identified by solving the relevant dynamic programming equation (DPE). However, to evaluate how the problem is solved in practice, we conducted an experiment. Here humans (n = 135) were repeatedly presented with a four readily discriminable signaler types, some of which were on average profitable, and others unprofitable to accept in the long term. We then compared the performance of SDT, DPE, and three candidate exploration–exploitation models (Softmax, Thompson, and Greedy) in explaining the observed sequences of acceptance and rejection. All of the models predicted volunteer behavior well when signalers were clearly profitable or clearly unprofitable to accept. Overall however, the Softmax and Thompson sampling models, which predict the optimal (SDT) response towards signalers with borderline profitability only after extensive learning, explained the responses of volunteers significantly better. By highlighting the relationship between the MAB and SDT models, we encourage others to evaluate how receivers strategically learn about their environments.
Protein design via deep learning
Authors: Ding Wenze , Nakai Kenta , Gong Haipeng
Published: March 2022

Proteins with desired functions and properties are important in fields like nanotechnology and biomedicine. De novo protein design enables the production of previously unseen proteins from the ground up and is believed as a key point for handling real social challenges. Recent introduction of deep learning into design methods exhibits a transformative influence and is expected to represent a promising and exciting future direction. In this review, we retrospect the major aspects of current advances in deep-learning-based design procedures and illustrate their novelty in comparison with conventional knowledge-based approaches through noticeable cases. We not only describe deep learning developments in structure-based protein design and direct sequence design, but also highlight recent applications of deep reinforcement learning in protein design. The future perspectives on design goals, challenges and opportunities are also comprehensively discussed.
Gene and drug landing page aggregator
Authors: Clarke Daniel J B , Kuleshov Maxim V , Xie Zhuorui , Evangelista John E , Meyers Marilyn R , Kropiwnicki Eryk , Jenkins Sherry L , Ma’ayan Avi
Published: February 2022

Motivation

Many biological and biomedical researchers commonly search for information about genes and drugs to gather knowledge from these resources. For the most part, such information is served as landing pages in disparate data repositories and web portals.

Results

The Gene and Drug Landing Page Aggregator (GDLPA) provides users with access to 50 gene-centric and 19 drug-centric repositories, enabling them to retrieve landing pages corresponding to their gene and drug queries. Bringing these resources together into one dashboard that directs users to the landing pages across many resources can help centralize gene- and drug-centric knowledge, as well as raise awareness of available resources that may be missed when using standard search engines. To demonstrate the utility of GDLPA, case studies for the gene klotho and the drug remdesivir were developed. The first case study highlights the potential role of klotho as a drug target for aging and kidney disease, while the second study gathers knowledge regarding approval, usage, and safety for remdesivir, the first approved coronavirus disease 2019 therapeutic. Finally, based on our experience, we provide guidelines for developing effective landing pages for genes and drugs.

Availability and implementation

GDLPA is open source and is available from: https://cfde-gene-pages.cloud/.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics Advances online.
Genetic insights into the range expansion of the cattle egret (Pelecaniformes: Ardeidae) in Brazil and population differentiation between the native and colonized areas
Authors: Miño Carolina Isabel , Geronimo Cristiana Trujilu , Castillo Carlos Congrains , Bonatelli Isabel A S , Valdes Talita Alvarenga , Laroca Bruno Acuña , Del Lama Sílvia Nassif
Published: February 2022

Bubulcus ibis ibis expanded its range by flying across the Atlantic Ocean from Africa or Europe to South America. To provide insights into the source of migrant birds, we genotyped cattle egret sampled in Central and southern Africa (N = 129, 13 sites, five countries) and Brazil (N = 166, six sites) at 14 microsatellites. Expected heterozygosity was high in all colonies, but significantly lower in Brazilian samples. Population-genetic analyses based on different assumptions concurrently found significant genetic differentiation between Brazil and Africa. The genetic homogeneity among African populations did not enable us to identify the source of the invasive birds. Among Brazilian populations, the highest proportion of the African allelic ancestry was found in Fernando de Noronha. This archipelago on the north-eastern coast of Brazil could be an important stopover site for migrating birds coming from Africa. Bayesian demographic analyses supported population growth in Africa with subsequent expansion to Brazil and migration from Africa to Brazil at the time of colonization. We discuss our findings in light of previous colonization trajectories suggested by meteorological models and the anthropogenic changes that may promote the expansion of the cattle egret in Brazil.
Fighting does not influence the morphological integration of crustacean claws (Decapoda: Aeglidae)
Authors: Nogueira Caio S , da Silva Alexandre R , Palaoro Alexandre V
Published: February 2022

Animal weapons are generally complex systems composed of more than one structure. A crab’s claw, for instance, is composed of a dactyl (a movable finger) and a propodus (where the muscle resides). Any weapon feature that increases winning probability also increases an individual’s fitness, meaning that all moving parts of a weapon will be under the same selective force—increasing their integration. By comparing weapons to homologous structures not used for fighting, we can test whether fighting increases morphological integration. Here, we tested that hypothesis by comparing the right (non-fighting) and left (fighting) claws of males of Aegla. First, we tested if the shape and size of the propodus and dactyl differed between claws. Then, we compared the degree of morphological integration. We showed that claws differed in their shape and size, but both claws showed similarly high levels of integration. This pattern can occur if selection favours an adequate squeeze on both claws, even though squeezing performance might differ between the claws. Nevertheless, the dactyl is important in determining the integration of a claw but it has been greatly ignored in crustacean studies and its study might increase our knowledge of claw evolution.
Introducing Ethanol Ablation as a treatment for thyroid cysts in the emergency setting
Authors: Robb Lydia , Hey Shi Ying , Reid Helen , Nixon Iain
Published: March 2022

Introduction

New techniques have been adopted for minimally invasive management of thyroid lesions which has been well explored by Nixon et al. Ethanol ablation (EA) for the treatment of thyroid cysts has been well documented in the literature as a safe, effective treatment option in the elective setting. Our unit has introduced this service in the elective setting for treatment of thyroid cysts. This study demonstrates the use of EA in the emergency setting, which has potential to reduce recurrence rates and avoid a general anaesthetic in patients who present acutely.

Methods

Three patients presenting with airway threatening compressive symptoms secondary to thyroid cysts. Treated with EA within 24 hours of presentation to hospital. Patients were followed up radiologically and clinically and a telephone consultation to gather the GBI (Glasgow Benefit Inventory) survey.

Results

2 patients female and 1 male, median age of 41 years old. Median Pre-ablation cyst volume was 97.3mls. Median 100% radiological resolution of cystic component. 100% resolution of symptoms at median 9-month follow-up post procedure. 66% of patients requiring only one treatment for 100% resolution, with 1 patient with the largest cyst requiring three ablations and two aspirations. No complications reported. GBI (Glasgow Benefit Inventory) score mean +27.7, similar GBI of a tonsillectomy.

Discussion

EA is a safe, cost effective and efficient treatment option for thyroid cysts in the acute setting. Larger thyroids cysts may require repeated procedures for symptom resolution. Patient will require long term follow up to assess the rate of recurrence.