bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Autosegmentation of brain metastases using 3D FCNN models and methods to manage GPU memory limitations
Authors: Bognar Joshua , Ramachandran Prabhakar
Published: October 2022

Aims. To explore the efficacy of two different approaches to train a Fully Convolutional Neural Network (FCNN) with Graphical Processing Unit (GPU) memory limitations and investigate if pre-trained two-dimensional weights can be transferred into a three-dimensional model for the purpose of brain tumour segmentation. Materials and methods. Models were developed in Python using TensorFlow and Keras. T1 contrast-enhanced MRI scans and associated contouring data from 104 patients were used to train and validate the model. The data was resized to one-quarter of its original resolution, and the original data was also split into four quarters for comparison to fit within GPU limitations. Transferred weights from a two-dimensional VGG16 model trained on ImageNet were transformed into three dimensions for comparison with randomly generated initial weights. Results. Resizing the data produced superior dice similarity coefficients with fewer false positives than quartering the data. Quartering the data yielded a superior sensitivity. Transforming and transferring two-dimensional weights was not able to consistently produce improvement in training or final metrics. Conclusion. For segmentation of brain tumours, resizing the data results in better performance than quartering the data. For the model and approaches used in this report, transferring weights were not able to demonstrate any benefit.
Study of the performance change in digital mammography systems depending on the total number of examinations
Authors: Kaya Karaaslan Melike , Muzoğlu Nedim , Gündoğdu Özcan
Published: October 2022

Digital mammography equipment should operate at a high-performance level for detecting breast cancer over the lifetime of the systems. This study investigates the performance of the Fujifilm Amulet Innovality full-field digital mammography system in relation to the number of exposures. The performance of twelve systems, from new and up to 17 000 examinations, was compared. The x-ray output, half-value layer (HVL), contrast-detail (C-D) detectability, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), mean glandular dose (MGD), signal transfer property (STP), pre-sampled modulation transfer function (MTF), normalized noise power spectra (NNPS), detective quantum efficiency (DQE) tests were performed to determine the performance change. The noise sources were also analyzed in the spatial domain. The x-ray output and HVL values at 28 kV with tungsten anode and rhodium filter were 15 μGy/mAs ± 1.0 (coefficient of variation (cov) = 7.0%) and 0.54 mmAl ± 0.008 (cov = 1.5%), respectively. The average MGDs for 60 mm equivalent breast to reach the achievable image quality level for 0.1 mm and 0.25 mm detail diameters of circular discs on the CDMAM 3.4 phantom image were 1.17 mGy ± 0.13 (cov = 11%) and 1.40 mGy ± 0.09 (cov = 6%), respectively. The average MGD for 53 mm equivalent breast was 1.08 mGy ± 0.14 (cov = 13%) at dose setting Normal in automatic exposure control (AEC) mode. All tested devices demonstrated good linearity with R2  ≥ 0.999 in the STP curves. The average MTF at 5.0 mm−1 spatial frequency was 0.66 ± 0.007 (cov = 1.0%). The average NNPS was 2.38 × 10−6 mm2 ± 2.13 × 10−7 (cov = 9.0%) at 5.0 mm−1. The average DQE value at 5.0 mm−1 was 0.33 ± 0.02 (cov = 5.0%), and the mean peak DQE was 0.66 ± 0.03 (cov = 5.0%). The mean power coefficient (b), determined from the power relationship between linearised standard deviation and detector dose while analyzing noise sources, was 0.49 ± 0.007 (cov = 1.4%). There was no gradual change in the x-ray tube and detector performance by the number of exposures, and taking up to 68 000 images did not decrease the quality of the systems.
Fault diagnosis algorithm for 3-phase passive rectifiers based on frequency-domain analysis for acceleration grid power supply in CFETR NBI system
Authors: ZHU Bangyou , MA Shaoxiang , ZHANG Hongqi , LI Zhiheng , ZHANG Ming , PAN Yuan
Published: October 2022

The acceleration grid power supply (AGPS) is a crucial part of the Negative-ion Neutral Beam Injection system in the China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor, which includes a 3-phase passive (diode) rectifier. To diagnose and localize faults in the rectifier, this paper proposes a frequency-domain analysis-based fault diagnosis algorithm for the rectifier in AGPS. First, time-domain expressions and spectral characteristics of the output voltage of the TPTL-NPC inverter-based power supply are analyzed. Then, frequency-domain analysis-based fault diagnosis and frequency-domain analysis-based sub-fault diagnosis algorithms are proposed to diagnose open circuit (OC) faults of diode(s), which benefit from the analysis of harmonics magnitude and phase-angle of the output voltage. Only a fundamental period is needed to diagnose and localize exact faults, and a strong Variable-duration Fault Detection Method is proposed to identify acceptable ripple from OC faults. Detailed simulations and experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness, quickness, and robustness of the proposed algorithms, and the diagnosis algorithms proposed in this article provide a significant method for the fault diagnosis of other rectifiers and converters.
Coulomb interaction mediated tuning of surface plasmon resonances in terahertz hole arrays
Authors: Sajeev Vaishnavi , Jana Arun , Mallick Soumyajyoti , Devi Koijam Monika , Roy Chowdhury Dibakar
Published: October 2022

Resonance excitation of surface plasmons in sub-wavelength periodic apertures (popularly known as hole arrays) is typically decided by its lattice configurations and constituent material characteristics. Therefore, the excitation frequency of surface plasmon resonances (SPRs) in hole arrays is not easy to alter without modifying these basic structural parameters. However, we experimentally demonstrate modulation of SPR frequency by carefully incorporating an additional hole of similar geometry. By suitably modifying the relative positions between the holes inside the unit cell (fixed lattice parameters), we have tailored the SPR excitation frequency. Predominantly, we attribute such frequency detuning to near-field Coulomb interactions in between the holes that can modify the effective permittivity of the hole arrays, hence SPR characteristics. In totality, our experiments demonstrate a 7.6% shift in the SPR frequency. Further, all the experimental findings are explained through elaborate electromagnetic simulations that helped to acquire deeper physical insights related to the SPR excitation. We believe such near-field effect-based resonance tuning can find potential applications in realizing SPR-based sensors, tunable filters, and tunable non-linear devices operating in the terahertz (THz) domain.
Dynamic mechanical behavior of mono/synthetic-natural fiber composites—a review
Authors: Krishnasamy Prabu , C K Arvinda Pandian , G Rajamurugan , T Jayaraman , Maniyambath Akash , J Kesav Chandran
Published: October 2022

Recently, fiber-based polymer composites have been subjected to direct and indirect dynamic loads in various applications. However, the dynamic behavior of the fiber composites is crucially influenced due to excitation frequency, temperature, fiber length, fiber loading, and other geometrical constraints. The effectiveness of viscoelastic property on fiber composite ensures reliability and minimizes the effects of dynamic loading in structural applications. Limited reviews have reported the viscoelastic performance of natural fiber composite through DMA. Notably, the previous review articles lagged in addressing the performance affecting parameters such as frequency, temperature, fiber type, fiber loading, filler type, etc. This review has two parts: the viscoelastic performance of mono and synthetic natural fiber composites. The present review aims to express a broad understanding of natural fiber polymer composites, DMA analysis, and viscoelastic performance. Also, this study detailed DMA performance affecting factors. Comprehensively, the reviewed works revealed that Visco elastic performance of mono (Matrix-natural) /synthetic-natural fiber composites is extensively influenced by excitation frequency, temperature, length of the fiber, fiber loading, and type/size of filler particles. Further, a boundless opportunity is available to enhance the DMA performance fiber reinforced composites.
Identification of city motifs: a method based on modularity and similarity between hierarchical features of urban networks
Authors: Domingues Guilherme S , Tokuda Eric K , da F Costa Luciano
Published: October 2022

Several natural and theoretical networks can be broken down into smaller portions, henceforth called neighborhoods. The more frequent of these can then be understood as motifs of the network, being therefore important for better characterizing and understanding of its overall structure. Several developments in network science have relied on this interesting concept, with ample applications in areas including systems biology, computational neuroscience, economy and ecology. The present work aims at reporting a methodology capable of automatically identifying motifs respective to streets networks, i.e. graphs obtained from city plans by considering street junctions and terminations as nodes while the links are defined by the streets. Interesting results are described, including the identification of nine characteristic motifs, which have been obtained by three important considerations: (i) adoption of five hierarchical measurements to locally characterize the neighborhoods of nodes in the streets networks; (ii) adoption of an effective coincidence similarity methodology for translating datasets into networks; and (iii) definition of the motifs in statistical terms by using community finding methodology. The nine identified motifs are characterized and discussed from several perspectives, including their mutual similarity, visualization, histograms of measurements, and geographical adjacency in the original cities. Also presented is the analysis of the effect of the adopted features on the obtained networks as well as a simple supervised learning method capable of assigning reference motifs to cities.
Normal subgroups of big mapping class groups
Authors: Calegari Danny , Chen Lvzhou
Published: October 2022

Let

S
S

be a surface and let

Mod
⁡
(
S
,
K
)

\operatorname {Mod}(S,K)

be the mapping class group of

S
S

permuting a Cantor subset

K
⊂
S

K \subset S

. We prove two structure theorems for normal subgroups of

Mod
⁡
(
S
,
K
)

\operatorname {Mod}(S,K)

.

(Purity:) if

S
S

has finite type, every normal subgroup of

Mod
⁡
(
S
,
K
)

\operatorname {Mod}(S,K)

either contains the kernel of the forgetful map to the mapping class group of

S
S

, or it is ‘pure’ — i.e. it fixes the Cantor set pointwise.

(Inertia:) for any

n
n

element subset

Q
Q

of the Cantor set, there is a forgetful map from the pure subgroup

PMod
⁡
(
S
,
K
)

\operatorname {PMod}(S,K)

of

Mod
⁡
(
S
,
K
)

\operatorname {Mod}(S,K)

to the mapping class group of

(
S
,
Q
)

(S,Q)

fixing

Q
Q

pointwise. If

N
N

is a normal subgroup of

Mod
⁡
(
S
,
K
)

\operatorname {Mod}(S,K)

contained in

PMod
⁡
(
S
,
K
)

\operatorname {PMod}(S,K)

, its image

N
Q

N_Q

is likewise normal. We characterize exactly which finite-type normal subgroups

N
Q

N_Q

arise this way.

Several applications and numerous examples are also given.
Bott-Chern cohomology of compact Vaisman manifolds
Authors: Istrati Nicolina , Otiman Alexandra
Published: October 2022

We give an explicit description of the Bott-Chern cohomology groups of a compact Vaisman manifold in terms of the basic cohomology. We infer that the Bott-Chern numbers and the Dolbeault numbers of a Vaisman manifold determine each other. On the other hand, we show that the cohomological invariants

Δ
k

\Delta ^k

introduced by Angella-Tomassini are unbounded for Vaisman manifolds. Finally, we give a cohomological characterization of the Dolbeault and Bott-Chern formality for Vaisman metrics.
1039 RECEIVING ASSISTANCE FROM DOMESTIC ROBOTS: WHAT ARE ELDERS’ PREFERENCES?
Authors: Lee L Y K , Yeung C K , Choi C W , Leung M N , Lui S Y , Tam W Y , Tang K Y , Wong C S , Wong Y S , Yau C Y , Yeung T L , Lee J K L , Chui D L K
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Aging leads to decline in physical and functional ability. Strengthening the domestic support enables elders to manage their health and living at home and reduce their need for residential service. Domestic robots can potentially provide a broad range of support to the elders. However, relatively little research attention has investigated elders’ preferences on it. This study aims to investigate elders’ preferences on receiving assistance from domestic robots.

Methods

This cross-sectional descriptive study recruited a convenient sample of 365 robotic inexperienced elders (65-99 years old). It used the Assistance Preference Checklist to assess participants’ preferences on receiving assistance from domestic robots in 48 home-based tasks under six aspects including personal care, leisure activities, health assistance, chores, information management, and manipulating objects. It used t-test and one-way analysis of variance to compare the difference in preferences between participants with different demographic and health characteristics.

Results

Overall, participants preferred domestic robots to assist in tasks under the aspect on chores, information management, and manipulating objects. Specifically, males indicated a higher preference for domestic robots to assist in maintaining lawn or raking leaves than females (p = 0.05). Married participants indicated a higher preference for domestic robots to assist in getting information on weather/news than unmarried participants (p = 0.049). In contrast, participants who were partially dependent and fully dependent indicated a higher preference for domestic robots to assist in tasks under the personal care aspect such as shaving, bathing, washing/combing hair, getting dressed, walking, and brushing teeth (p < 0.001), comparing to participants who were physically independent.

Conclusion

This study provides insight for manufacturers to develop domestic robots with specific capabilities which are important to support elders’ living in the community. Moreover, it helps the care providers to identify domestic robots with the required capabilities that meet elders’ specific preferences.
A clarification on the Boorse–Wakefield debate about health: Is the theoretical/therapeutic distinction dispensable?
Authors: Dussault Antoine C
Published: October 2022

Although Boorse’s and Wakefield’s accounts of health are generally regarded as competing ones, they are in fact so only if they are aimed at the same concept. Some remarks made by Boorse and Wakefield, however, leave it unclear whether they are. On one possible interpretation, Boorse’s account aims at analysing a theoreticalconcept of abnormality, which ought to be distinguished from a more clinicalor therapeuticconcept, whereas Wakefield’s account aims at analysing a clinicalor therapeuticconcept. The debate between Boorse and Wakefield would then either be merely terminological, or would boil down to whether Boorse is correct to assert the existence of a theoreticalconcept of abnormality which ought to be distinguished from a clinicalor therapeuticone. This paper aims to clarify what is at stake between Boorse and Wakefield, by maintaining that their accounts are most plausibly interpreted as both being aimed towards a theoreticalconcept of abnormality.
Language Differences Among Individuals with Normal Cognition, Amnestic and Non-Amnestic MCI, and Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Liampas Ioannis , Folia Vasiliki , Morfakidou Renia , Siokas Vasileios , Yannakoulia Mary , Sakka Paraskevi , Scarmeas Nikolaos , Hadjigeorgiou Georgios , Dardiotis Efthimios , Kosmidis Mary H
Published: October 2022

Objective

To investigate differences in language performance among older adults with normal cognition (CN), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and Alzheimer’s disease (ad). Owing to the conflicting literature concerning MCI, discrepancies between amnestic (aMCI) and non-amnestic MCI (naMCI) were explored in greater detail.

Method

The study sample was drawn from the older (>64 years) HELIAD cohort. Language performance was assessed via semantic and phonemic fluency, confrontation naming, verbal comprehension, verbal repetition as well as a composite language index. Age, sex, and education adjusted general linear models were used to quantify potential pairwise differences in language performance.

Results

The present analysis involved 1607 participants with CN, 146 with aMCI [46 single and 100 multi-domain aMCI], 92 with naMCI [41 single and 51 multi-domain naMCI], and 79 with ad. The mean age and education of our predominantly female (60%) participants were 73.82 (±5.43) and 7.98 (±4.93) years, respectively. MCI individuals performed between those with CN and ad, whereas participants with aMCI performed worse compared to those with naMCI, especially in the semantic fluency and verbal comprehension tasks. Discrepancies between the aMCI and naMCI groups were driven by the exquisitely poor performance of multi-domain aMCI subgroup.

Conclusions

Overall, individuals could be hierarchically arranged in a continuum of language impairment with the CN individuals constituting the healthy reference and naMCI, aMCI, ad patients representing gradually declining classes in terms of language performance. Exploration of language performance via separation of single from multi-domain naMCI provided a potential explanation for the conflicting evidence of previous research.
A Direct Comparison of 10 WAIS-IV Digit Span Embedded Validity Indicators among a Mixed Neuropsychiatric Sample with Varying Degrees of Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Resch Zachary J , Cerny Brian M , Ovsiew Gabriel P , Jennette Kyle J , Bing-Canar Hanaan , Rhoads Tasha , Soble Jason R
Published: October 2022

Objective

Reliable Digit Span (RDS), RDS-Revised (RDS-R), and age-corrected scaled score (ACSS) have been previously validated as embedded performance validity tests (PVTs) from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV Digit Span subtest (WAIS-IV DS). However, few studies have directly compared the relative utility of these and other proposed WAIS-IV DS validity indicators within a single sample.

Method

This study compared classification accuracies of 10 WAIS-IV DS indices in a mixed neuropsychiatric sample of 227 outpatients who completed a standardized neuropsychological battery. Participants with ≤1 PVT failures of the four, freestanding criterion PVTs constituted the valid group (n = 181), whereas those with ≥2 PVT failures formed the invalid group (n = 46). Among the valid group, 113 met criteria for mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Results

Classification accuracies for all DS indicators were statistically significant across the overall sample and subsamples with and without MCI, apart from indices derived from the Forward trial in the MCI sample. DS Sequencing ACSS, working memory RDS (wmRDS), and DS ACSS emerged as the most effective predictors of validity status, with acceptable to excellent classification accuracy for the overall sample (AUCs = 0.792–0.816; 35%–50% sensitivity/88%–96% specificity).

Conclusions

Although most DS indices demonstrated clinical utility as embedded PVTs, DS Sequencing ACSS, wmRDS, and DS ACSS may be particularly robust to cognitive impairment, minimizing risk of false positive errors while identifying noncredible performance. Moreover, DS indices incorporating data from multiple trials (i.e., wmRDS, DS ACSS) also generally yielded greater classification accuracy than those derived from a single trial.
XI—Parmenides of Elea and Xenophanes of Colophon: The Conceptually Deeper Connections
Authors: Mourelatos Alexander P D
Published: October 2022

According to the influential Plato-Aristotle account, Parmenides advocates holistic monism (‘all things are one’), and Xenophanes anticipated him by advocating some version of monotheism. Over the last half-century or so, Parmenides studies have disputed this vulgate by arguing that Parmenides’ focus is on the nature of ‘what is’ (to eon), rather than on ‘the One’. Correspondingly, there has developed a tendency to minimize the philosophical importance of Xenophanes, by viewing him primarily as a reformer of Greek religious beliefs and as social critic. I argue that a close study of Xenophanes shows that he had developed a coherent naturalist or physicalist world-view. And this also allows us to gain deeper insights into Parmenides, by viewing the latter as generalizing Xenophanes’ critique of peculiarly ‘anthropist’ (or anthropomorphist) bias in our approach to the universe.

Dedication: to Dan Graham
Development of crescentic membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis after COVID-19 vaccination
Authors: Göndör Gabor , Ksiazek Sara H , Regele Heinz , Kronbichler Andreas , Knechtelsdorfer Maarten , Säemann Marcus D
Published: October 2022

Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) comprises a histologic pattern of glomerular injury with different underlying diseases. Here we report on a 47-year-old female with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) on top of a previously diagnosed idiopathic MPGN after receiving the first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA vaccine. After aggressive immunosuppression her serum creatinine returned to normal values, along with reduction of proteinuria. Recently, numerous publications have reported an association of glomerular diseases with COVID-19 vaccination. Our case presents to the best of our knowledge the first occurrence of possible association of COVID-19 mRNA vaccination with a crescentic form of MPGN.
Microvascular perfusion, perfused boundary region and glycocalyx shedding in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: results from the GlycoScore III study
Authors: Fuchs Alexander , Dederichs Jennifer , Arjune Sita , Todorova Polina , Wöstmann Fabian , Antczak Philipp , Illerhaus Anja , Gathof Birgit , Grundmann Franziska , Müller Roman-Ulrich , Annecke Thorsten
Published: October 2022

Background

Vascular abnormalities and endothelial dysfunction are part of the spectrum of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). The mechanisms behind these manifestations, including potential effects on the endothelial surface layer (ESL) and glycocalyx integrity, remain unknown.

Methods

Forty-five ambulatory adult patients with ADPKD were enrolled in this prospective, observational, cross-sectional, single-centre study. Fifty-one healthy volunteers served as a control group. All participants underwent real-time microvascular perfusion measurements of the sublingual microcirculation using sidestream dark field imaging. After image acquisition, the perfused boundary region (PBR), an inverse parameter for red blood cell (RBC) penetration into the ESL, was automatically calculated. Microvascular perfusion was assessed by RBC filling and capillary density. Concentrations of circulating glycocalyx components were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

ADPKD patients showed a significantly larger PBR compared with healthy controls (2.09 ± 0.23 µm versus 1.79 ± 0.25 µm; P < .001). This was accompanied by significantly lower RBC filling (70.4 ± 5.0% versus 77.9 ± 5.4%; P < .001) as well as a higher valid capillary density {318/mm2 [interquartile range (IQR) 269–380] versus 273/mm2 [230–327]; P = .007}. Significantly higher plasma concentrations of heparan sulphate (1625 ± 807 ng/ml versus 1329 ± 316 ng/ml; P = .034), hyaluronan (111 ng/ml [IQR 79–132] versus 92 ng/ml [82–98]; P = .042) and syndecan-1 were noted in ADPKD patients compared with healthy controls (35 ng/ml [IQR 27–57] versus 29 ng/ml [23–42]; P = .035).

Conclusions

Dimensions and integrity of the ESL are impaired in ADPKD patients. Increased capillary density may be a compensatory mechanism for vascular dysfunction to ensure sufficient tissue perfusion and oxygenation.
Elemental sulphur recovery from a sulphate-rich aqueous stream in a single hybrid linear flow channel reactor is mediated through microbial community dynamics and adaptation to reactor zones
Authors: Marais T S , Huddy R J , Harrison S T L
Published: October 2022

The coupled application of biological sulphate reduction (BSR) and partial sulphide oxidation to treat sulphate-rich wastewater is an effective strategy to mitigate pollution and recover elemental sulphur for repurposing. The recent development of the hybrid linear flow channel reactor (LFCR) achieves simultaneous BSR and partial sulphide oxidation with biosulphur recovery via a floating sulphur biofilm (FSB). Here, we explore the microbial community zoning and dynamics facilitating the process. A total of three continuous LFCRs were used to evaluate the effect of reactor zones, hydraulic residence time (HRT), carbon source, namely lactate and acetate, as well as reactor geometry and scale on process performance and microbial community dynamics. Community composition of sessile and planktonic microbial consortia were resolved at a 5- and 2-day HRT through 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Preferential attachment and prevalence of specific phylotypes within the sessile and planktonic communities revealed clear adaptation of key microorganisms to different microenvironments. Key microbial taxa affiliated with sulphate reduction and sulphide oxidation as well as those implicated in fermentation and syntrophic metabolism, fluctuated in response to changes in HRT and process performance. Through understanding the relationship between microbial community dynamics and process performance, this research will inform better process design and optimization of the hybrid LFCR.
High-quality genome of the basidiomycete yeast Dioszegia hungarica PDD-24b-2 isolated from cloud water
Authors: Jarrige Domitille , Haridas Sajeet , Bleykasten-Grosshans Claudine , Joly Muriel , Nadalig Thierry , Sancelme Martine , Vuilleumier Stéphane , Grigoriev Igor V , Amato Pierre , Bringel Françoise
Published: October 2022

The genome of the basidiomycete yeast Dioszegia hungarica strain PDD-24b-2 isolated from cloud water at the summit of puy de Dôme (France) was sequenced using a hybrid PacBio and Illumina sequencing strategy. The obtained assembled genome of 20.98 Mb and a GC content of 57% is structured in 16 large-scale contigs ranging from 90 kb to 5.56 Mb, and another 27.2 kb contig representing the complete circular mitochondrial genome. In total, 8,234 proteins were predicted from the genome sequence. The mitochondrial genome shows 16.2% cgu codon usage for arginine but has no canonical cognate tRNA to translate this codon. Detected transposable element (TE)-related sequences account for about 0.63% of the assembled genome. A dataset of 2,068 hand-picked public environmental metagenomes, representing over 20 Tbp of raw reads, was probed for D. hungarica related ITS sequences, and revealed worldwide distribution of this species, particularly in aerial habitats. Growth experiments suggested a psychrophilic phenotype and the ability to disperse by producing ballistospores. The high-quality assembled genome obtained for this D. hungarica strain will help investigate the behavior and ecological functions of this species in the environment.
Application of six-component ambient seismic noise data for high-resolution imaging of lateral heterogeneities
Authors: Tang Le , Fang Xinding
Published: October 2022

We develop a novel approach for imaging subsurface lateral heterogeneities using six-component (6C) ambient seismic noise data, consisting of three translational components and three rotational components. We first derive the 6C cross-correlation functions (CCFs) from ambient seismic noise data for surface waves and then apply the modified frequency Bessel (MF-J) transform to the 6C CCFs for surface wave dispersion curves. The phase velocities of Rayleigh and Love waves can be directly calculated from the 6C CCFs of a single pair of stations. Traditional array-based surface wave methods derive the surface wave phase velocity based on the presumption of a horizontally layered model. When this assumption breaks down due to the presence of, for example, dipping layer or heterogeneities, the resulting phase velocity can be severely smeared. By contrast, the proposed approach is not limited by the layered model assumption because it relies on single-point measurements to calculate the localized dispersion relations of the formation right beneath a receiver. Our numerical modelling results demonstrate that this approach is applicable to heterogeneous models and can image small-scale subsurface anomalies with very high lateral resolution.
Populist peacemaking: Trump's peace initiatives in the Middle East and the Balkans
Authors: Landau Dana M , Lehrs Lior
Published: October 2022

With the rise of populist leaders around the world, populism's impact on foreign policy and international affairs has come into focus. Adding to this literature, we propose the concept of ‘populist peacemaking’, in which key tenets of populism, in style and substance, are projected onto the sphere of international mediation. We offer an analytical framework for understanding populist peacemaking consisting of three features. Firstly, populist peacemaking is characterized by a rejection of the ‘peacemaking elites’ and their established rules and practices, including international norms, a refutation of context-specific knowledge, and a clean-slate approach that disregards past peacemaking attempts and alienates other international mediators. Secondly, populist peacemaking employs aggrandized rhetoric and symbolism that puts the mediator—rather than the conflict parties—in the spotlight, thus integrating domestic politics into peacemaking. Finally, populist peacemaking frames the process as representing the volonté générale, i.e. serving the interests of the ‘pure people’ in the conflict-affected context. We illustrate this phenomenon empirically with a case-study of United States' peacemaking efforts during the Trump era, tracing initiatives pursued by US envoys in the Israeli–Palestinian and Kosovo–Serbia conflicts. From this analysis, populist peacemaking emerges as a distinct phenomenon, not to be subsumed under the heading of ‘illiberal peacemaking’.
Distance in the International Criminal Court’s Relations with the ‘Local’
Authors: Lugano Geoffrey
Published: October 2022

ABSTRACT∞

The literature on the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) relations with the local broadly falls under the rubric of either acceptance of or resistance to the Court. This article provides contrasting insights on the binaries in equal measure, revealing complex and dynamic processes of continuous negotiations of the parameters of the Court’s reach among the local. The article introduces the state of flux as a spatio-temporal account of how local actors order ‘distance’ in their relations with the ICC by invoking metaphorical kinship in ways that enable their oscillations between approval and hostility to the Court over time and space. In so doing, the article builds on the agency of a section of Kenya’s political elite, who have demonstrated the most dramatic trends of the state of flux since the Court’s establishment. The state of flux calls for the ICC’s continuous engagement with the local as a mitigation for its distancing.
In vitro evaluation of efficacy of nonstarch polysaccharides enzymes on wheat by simulating the avian digestive tract
Authors: Yang Xiaojie , Li Xi , Xu Weihan , Wang Heng , Liu Chuang , Wang Wence , Yang Lin , Zhu Yongwen
Published: October 2022

In this study, the efficacy of different nonstarch polysaccharide (NSP) enzyme sources on wheat ingredients and wheat basal diets in vitro were evaluated by simulating the avian digestive tract. In Exp. 1, pH level was increased from 2.0 to 8.0 by simulating the avian digestive tract. The relative enzyme activities of xylanase A, B, and C and β-glucanase X at pH 3.0–3.5 were higher (P < 0.05) than those at pH 2.0 or 7.0–8.0. The optimal pH levels of 3.5 and 7.0 were screened by simulating the proventriculus and small intestine, respectively to evaluate the efficacy of NSP enzyme on wheat sources. In Exp. 2, wheat 1 contained the highest content of NSP fractions and the lowest digestibility in vitro dry matter (IVDMD) and energy (IVED) in wheat samples. Therefore, wheat 1 was selected for hydrolysis research under different NSP enzyme sources and levels (1,500, 4,500, 13,500, 40,500, 121,500 U xylanase/kg and 250, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 4,000 U β-glucanase/kg) in vitro. The hydrolysis of wheat on the basis of the released reducing sugar content was determined by xylanase sources A > B > C (P < 0.05) and β-glucanase sources of X > Y (P < 0.05). On the basis of the hydrolysis, the optimum dose of xylanase A and β-glucanase X were 40,500 U/kg and 2,000 U/kg, respectively. Subsequently, the completely randomized designs involving 2 NSP enzymes treatments × 2 endogenous digestive enzymes treatments (Exp. 3), as well as 2 wheat basal diets × 2 NSP enzymes treatments (Exp. 4) were used to evaluate the efficacy of NSP enzymes on dietary nutrient digestibility. The addition of NSP enzymes (40,500 U xylanase A/kg and 2,000 U β-glucanase X/kg) increased the IVDMD and IVED of wheat 1 without endogenous enzymes (P < 0.05), while the IVDMD and IVED of wheat 1 with endogenous enzyme were only slightly increased (P > 0.05). The addition of NSP enzymes could increase the IVDMD and IVED of corn–wheat–soybean meal diet (P < 0.05), but had no effect on those of wheat–cottonseed meal rapeseed meal diet (P > 0.05). In conclusion, xylanase and β-glucanase additions could effectively eliminate the adverse effects on wheat and wheat basal diets at the optimal pH levels of 3.5 and 7.0 by simulating the proventriculus and small intestine parts, respectively. The efficacy of NSP enzymes was influenced by the enzyme sources, dietary type, and the interaction of endogenous enzymes.
Is now the time for a Rubiscuit or Ruburger? Increased interest in Rubisco as a food protein
Authors: Pearce F Grant , Brunke Joel E
Published: October 2022

Much of the research on Rubisco aims at increasing crop yields, with the ultimate aim of increasing plant production to feed an increasing global population. However, since the identification of Rubisco as the most abundant protein in leaf material, it has also been touted as a direct source of dietary protein. The nutritional and functional properties of Rubisco are on a par with those of many animal proteins, and are superior to those of many other plant proteins. Purified Rubisco isolates are easily digestible, nutritionally complete, and have excellent foaming, gelling, and emulsifying properties. Despite this potential, challenges in efficiently extracting and separating Rubisco have limited its use as a global foodstuff. Leaves are lower in protein than seeds, requiring large amounts of biomass to be processed. This material normally needs to be processed quickly to avoid degradation of the final product. Extraction of Rubisco from the plant material requires breaking down the cell walls and rupturing the chloroplast. In order to obtain high-quality protein, Rubisco needs to be separated from chlorophyll, and then concentrated for final use. However, with increased consumer demand for plant protein, there is increased interest in the potential of leaf protein, and many commercial plants are now being established aimed at producing Rubisco as a food protein, with over US$60 million of funding invested in the past 5 years. Is now the time for increased use of Rubisco in food production as a nitrogen source, rather than just providing a carbon source?
Impact of Oral Ovulatory Induction Medications Among Female Military Members and Military Beneficiaries
Authors: Kim Ji Won , Grounds Benjamin E , Van Bokkem Kelsey C , Raiciulescu Sorana , Spitzer Trimble L
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Twelve percent of reproductive aged females in the United States have utilized fertility services, and it is estimated that 25% of infertility patients have ovulatory dysfunction. Clomiphene and letrozole are currently first-line treatment options for ovulatory dysfunction. These are both disqualifying medications in the U.S. Navy and Air Force for duties that involve flying. These medication restrictions could reduce the likelihood of female aviators seeking infertility treatment. This pilot study seeks to evaluate the severity of common side effects in order to provide recommendations to the current aeromedical guidelines.

Materials and Methods

An anonymous survey was provided to all active duty and dependent patients who presented to the infertility clinic at a single military medical center for a mid-cycle scan from February 2021 to February 2022. The survey included demographic, treatment cycle, medication type, medication dose, and the presence and severity of common adverse reactions. The provider additionally recorded the number of dominant follicles that were noted at the time of ultrasound. The Kruskal–Wallis test was used to analyze the severity of adverse effects, and chi-square analysis was used to compare the difference in symptoms from previous cycles.

Results

A total of 569 surveys were collected. Of the participants, 45.4% were military members and 3.5% worked in the field of aviation. Letrozole was prescribed to 88.7% of the patients. Less than 3% reported severe or debilitating side effects. There was no difference in presence or severity when comparing the cycle number.

Conclusions

The majority of side effects for oral ovulation induction medications were described as slight or mild. Therefore, this study provides evidence-based data of severity side effects that could be used to guide the waiver process and improve readiness for female aviators in the military.
Standardization of Pulmonary Embolism Evaluation and Management Through Implementation of a Pulmonary Embolism Response Team: A Single-Center Experience at Brooke Army Medical Center
Authors: Tunzi Matthew , Boster Joshua , Godar Cassandra , Yugawa Craig , Prichard Ian , Walter Robert , Anderson Jess
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is associated with significant rates of morbidity and mortality. Management of PE is complex, and adverse patient events are not uncommon. Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) is among several select institutions that have implemented multidisciplinary pulmonary embolism response teams (PERTs) to improve PE outcomes. PERT structure varies among institutions and often involves specialty expertise from a variety of departments within the hospital. PE response teams aim to improve the diagnosis and treatment for patients with acute PE. Here, we report our initial experience with this intervention.

Materials and Methods

We developed a multidisciplinary PERT and implemented a standardized algorithm to guide the evaluation, management, and disposition of patients with acute PE. Patients with PE were identified in the pre-PERT period (2015-2017) and the post-PERT period (2020-2021). A retrospective analysis of clinical characteristics, management strategies, and outcomes was performed for both cohorts.

Results

A total of 68 patients with acute PE were analyzed, 38 patients before PERT adoption, and 30 patients post-PERT. Baseline characteristics between the two cohorts were similar. A statistically significant increase in the evaluation for right ventricle dysfunction was noted in the post-PERT cohort, with 80% of patients having pro-brain natriuretic peptide labs obtained compared to 47% in the pre-PERT cohort (P = .005). Furthermore, 97% of patients in the post-PERT cohort had a transthoracic echocardiogram compared to 55% in the pre-PERT cohort (P = .0001). Six patients in the pre-PERT cohort underwent catheter-directed thrombolysis, compared to zero in the post-PERT cohort (P = .006). There were no differences in other treatment modalities. There was no statistically significant difference in length of stay between the two cohorts.

Conclusions

To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the successful implementation of a PERT at a military treatment facility to guide the evaluation, management, and treatment of PE. The implementation of the PERT improved the appropriate diagnostic evaluation for patients with intermediate-risk PE and reduced the use of non-guideline-based catheter-directed thrombolysis. This initiative serves as an example of what could be applied across other military treatment facilities within the Defense Health Agency.
Constraints on primordial magnetic fields from their impact on the ionization history with Planck 2018
Authors: Paoletti D , Chluba J , Finelli F , Rubiño-Martín J A
Published: October 2022

We update and extend our previous cosmic microwave background anisotropy constraints on primordial magnetic fields through their dissipation by ambipolar diffusion and magnetohydrodynamic decaying turbulence effects on the post-recombination ionization history. We derive the constraints using the latest Planck 2018 data release which improves on the E-mode polarization leading to overall tighter constraints with respect to Planck 2015. We also use the low-multipole E-mode polarization likelihood obtained by the SROLL2 map making algorithm and we note how it is compatible with larger magnetic field amplitudes than the Planck 2018 baseline, especially for positive spectral indices. The 95 per cent confidence level constraints on the amplitude of the magnetic fields from the combination of the effects is $\sqrt{\langle B^2 \rangle } \lt 0.69 (\lt 0.72)$ nG for Planck 2018 (SROLL2) by marginalizing on the magnetic spectral index. We also investigate the impact of a damping scale allowed to vary and the interplay between the magnetic field effects and the lensing amplitude parameter.
An intergalactic medium temperature from a giant radio galaxy
Authors: Oei Martijn S S L , van Weeren Reinout J , Hardcastle Martin J , Vazza Franco , Shimwell Tim W , Leclercq Florent , Brüggen Marcus , Röttgering Huub J A
Published: October 2022

The warm–hot intergalactic medium (warm–hot IGM, or WHIM) pervades the filaments of the Cosmic Web and harbours half of the Universe’s baryons. The WHIM’s thermodynamic properties are notoriously hard to measure. Here we estimate a galaxy group–WHIM boundary temperature using a new method. In particular, we use a radio image of the giant radio galaxy (giant RG, or GRG) created by NGC 6185, a massive nearby spiral. We analyse this extraordinary object with a Bayesian 3D lobe model and deduce an equipartition pressure Peq = 6 × 10−16 Pa – among the lowest found in RGs yet. Using an X-ray-based statistical conversion for Fanaroff–Riley II RGs, we find a true lobe pressure $P = 1.5\substack{+1.7\\ -0.4}\times 10^{-15}\ \mathrm{Pa}$. Cosmic Web reconstructions, group catalogues, and MHD simulations furthermore imply an Mpc–scale IGM density $1 + \delta _\mathrm{IGM} = 40\substack{+30\\ -10}$. The buoyantly rising lobes are crushed by the IGM at their inner side, where an approximate balance between IGM and lobe pressure occurs: PIGM ≈ P. The ideal gas law then suggests an IGM temperature $T_\mathrm{IGM} = 11\substack{+12\\-5} \times 10^6\ \mathrm{K}$, or $k_\mathrm{B}T_\mathrm{IGM} = 0.9\substack{+1.0\\-0.4}\ \mathrm{keV}$, at the virial radius – consistent with X-ray-derived temperatures of similarly massive groups. Interestingly, the method is not performing at its limit: in principle, estimates TIGM ∼ 4 × 106 K are already possible – rivalling the lowest X-ray measurements available. The technique’s future scope extends from galaxy group outskirts to the WHIM. In conclusion, we demonstrate that observations of GRGs in Cosmic Web filaments are finally sensitive enough to probe the thermodynamics of galaxy groups and beyond.
HiFENS: high-throughput FISH detection of endogenous pre-mRNA splicing isoforms
Authors: Shilo Asaf , Pegoraro Gianluca , Misteli Tom
Published: October 2022

Splicing factors play an essential role in regulation of alternative pre-mRNA splicing. While much progress has been made in delineating the mechanisms of the splicing machinery, the identity of signal transduction pathways and upstream factors that regulate splicing factor activity is largely unknown. A major challenge in the discovery of upstream regulatory factors of pre-mRNA splicing is the scarcity of functional genomics screening methods to monitor splicing outcomes of endogenous genes. Here, we have developed HiFENS (high throughput FISH detection of endogenous splicing isoforms), a high-throughput imaging assay based on hybridization chain reaction (HCR) and used HiFENS to screen for cellular factors that regulate alternative splicing of endogenous genes. We demonstrate optimized detection with high specificity of endogenous splicing isoforms and multiplexing of probes for accurate detection of splicing outcomes with single cell resolution. As proof-of-principle, we perform an RNAi screen of 702 human kinases and identify potential candidate upstream splicing regulators of the FGFR2 gene. HiFENS should be a useful tool for the unbiased delineation of cellular pathways involved in alternative splicing regulation.
A functional SNP regulates E-cadherin expression by dynamically remodeling the 3D structure of a promoter-associated non-coding RNA transcript
Authors: Sharma Shrikant , Pisignano Giuseppina , Merulla Jessica , Catapano Carlo V , Varani Gabriele
Published: October 2022

Transcription of E-cadherin, a tumor suppressor that plays critical roles in cell adhesion and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, is regulated by a promoter-associated non-coding RNA (paRNA). The sense-oriented paRNA (S-paRNA) includes a functional C/A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP rs16260). The A-allele leads to decreased transcriptional activity and increased prostate cancer risk. The polymorphic site is known to affect binding of a microRNA-guided Argonaute 1 (AGO1) complex and recruitment of chromatin-modifying enzymes to silence the promoter. Yet the SNP is distant from the microRNA-AGO1 binding domain in both primary sequence and secondary structure, raising the question of how regulation occurs. Here we report the 3D NMR structure of the 104-nucleotide domain of the S-paRNA that encompasses the SNP and the microRNA-binding site. We show that the A to C change alters the locally dynamic and metastable structure of the S-paRNA, revealing how the single nucleotide mutation regulates the E-cadherin promoter through its effect on the non-coding RNA structure.
G4Atlas: a comprehensive transcriptome-wide G-quadruplex database
Authors: Yu Haopeng , Qi Yiman , Yang Bibo , Yang Xiaofei , Ding Yiliang
Published: October 2022

RNA G-quadruplex (rG4) is a vital RNA tertiary structure motif that involves the base pairs on both Hoogsteen and Watson-Crick faces of guanines. rG4 is of great importance in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Experimental technologies have advanced to identify in vitro and in vivo rG4s across diverse transcriptomes. Building on these recent advances, here we present G4Atlas, the first transcriptome-wide G-quadruplex database, in which we have collated, classified, and visualized transcriptome rG4 experimental data, generated from rG4-seq, chemical profiling and ligand-binding methods. Our comprehensive database includes transcriptome-wide rG4s generated from 82 experimental treatments and 238 samples across ten species. In addition, we have also included RNA secondary structure prediction information across both experimentally identified and unidentified rG4s to enable users to display any potential competitive folding between rG4 and RNA secondary structures. As such, G4Atlas will enable users to explore the general functions of rG4s in diverse biological processes. In addition, G4Atlas lays the foundation for further data-driven deep learning algorithms to examine rG4 structural features.