bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inflammatory metabolic profile of South African patients with prostate cancer
Authors: Cacciatore Stefano , Wium Martha , Licari Cristina , Ajayi-Smith Aderonke , Masieri Lorenzo , Anderson Chanelle , Salukazana Azola Samkele , Kaestner Lisa , Carini Marco , Carbone Giuseppina M. , Catapano Carlo V. , Loda Massimo , Libermann Towia A. , Zerbini Luiz F.
Published: August 2021

Background

Men with African ancestry are more likely to develop aggressive prostate cancer (PCa) and to die from this disease. The study of PCa in the South African population represents an opportunity for biomedical research due to the high prevalence of aggressive PCa. While inflammation is known to play a significant role in PCa progression, its association with tumor stage in populations of African descent has not been explored in detail. Identification of new metabolic biomarkers of inflammation may improve diagnosis of patients with aggressive PCa.

Methods

Plasma samples were profiled from 41 South African men with PCa using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. A total of 41 features, including metabolites, lipid classes, total protein, and the inflammatory NMR markers, GlycA, and GlycB, were quantified from each NMR spectrum. The Bruker’s B.I.-LISA protocols were used to characterize 114 parameters related to the lipoproteins. The unsupervised KODAMA method was used to stratify the patients of our cohort based on their metabolic profile.

Results

We found that the plasma of patients with very high risk, aggressive PCa and high level of C-reactive protein have a peculiar metabolic phenotype (metabotype) characterized by extremely high levels of GlycA and GlycB. The inflammatory processes linked to the higher level of GlycA and GlycB are characterized by a deep change of the plasma metabolome that may be used to improve the stratification of patients with PCa. We also identified a not previously known relationship between high values of VLDL and low level of GlycB in a different metabotype of patients characterized by lower-risk PCa.

Conclusions

For the first time, a portrait of the metabolic changes in African men with PCa has been delineated indicating a strong association between inflammation and metabolic profiles. Our findings indicate how the metabolic profile could be used to identify those patients with high level of inflammation, characterized by aggressive PCa and short life expectancy. Integrating a metabolomic analysis as a tool for patient stratification could be important for opening the door to the development of new therapies. Further investigations are needed to understand the prevalence of an inflammatory metabotype in patients with aggressive PCa.
Adaptation to family-based treatment for Medicaid-insured youth with anorexia nervosa in publicly-funded settings: Protocol for a mixed methods implementation scale-out pilot study
Authors: Accurso Erin C. , Mu Karen J. , Landsverk John , Guydish Joseph
Published: August 2021

Background

Family-based treatment (FBT) for anorexia nervosa is an evidence-based treatment, but its effectiveness is untested among socioeconomically disadvantaged and racially diverse youth. Adapting FBT may facilitate “scale-out” for Medicaid-insured youth served in publicly-funded settings and potentially improve outcomes for more diverse populations.

Methods

This mixed methods effectiveness-implementation Hybrid Type 3 pilot study protocol included a planning period in collaboration with the San Francisco Department of Public Health, culminating in a two-day in-person FBT training for 25 therapists in the county, followed by the opportunity to engage in one year of weekly supervision. The training incorporated FBT adaptations intended to improve fit for low-income families within community-based settings. Treatment appropriateness and acceptability will be measured immediately post-training. Following the training, cases referred for FBT will only be assigned to the trained clinicians who voluntarily opted into long-term group supervision. Clinicians treating at least one FBT case during the supervision period will report on implementation, adaptations, and patient weight gain. Finally, semi-structured interviews with clinician participants will be conducted, focused on implementation challenges and facilitators, local treatment adaptations, and overall satisfaction with FBT.

Discussion

Learning about clinician adaptations will advance knowledge about treatment of eating disorders in publicly-funded community clinics, which serve a racially/ethnically and socioeconomically diverse group of youth. This project is designed to accelerate FBT implementation in publicly-funded mental health systems, and inform service improvements for underserved youth with eating disorders.
Characteristics of powerful learning environments in VET transition program for at-risk students: qualitative insights from teachers and support specialists implementing the program
Authors: Roos Liana , Trasberg Karmen , Kõiv Kristi , Säre Egle
Published: August 2021

At-risk students like those with special educational needs, learning difficulties, or pupils at risk of exclusion frequently struggle in transition from basic to secondary vocational education and training, often due to poor personal, learning and social skills. Therefore, several countries implement transition programs like the choice of profession training (CoPT) in Estonia to support youngsters’ readiness to continue their studies. This study aimed to identify how the characteristics of powerful learning environments in vocational education (PoLEVE) appear in CoPT in VET teachers and support specialists’ experiences. The deductive thematic analysis of 16 semistructured interviews illuminated the development of learning-, life-, cooperation- and self-determinations skills through adaptive teaching and learning support in a safe and positive learning community. Nevertheless, the results also call for empowering at-risk students to cope independently, supporting their construction of vocational knowledge through reflective dialogue and intellectually challenging problem-solving.
Single-cell multimodal analysis in a case with reduced penetrance of Progranulin-Frontotemporal Dementia
Authors: Natarajan Karthick , Eisfeldt Jesper , Hammond Maria , Laffita-Mesa José Miguel , Patra Kalicharan , Khoshnood Behzad , Öijerstedt Linn , Graff Caroline
Published: August 2021

We identified an autosomal dominant progranulin mutation carrier without symptoms of dementia in her lifetime (Reduced Penetrance Mutation Carrier, RedPenMC). This resistance to develop expected pathology presents a unique opportunity to interrogate neurodegenerative mechanisms. We performed multimodal single-nuclei analyses of post-mortem frontal cortex from RedPenMC, including transcriptomics and global levels of chromatin marks. RedPenMC had an increased ratio of GRN-expressing microglia, higher levels of activating histone mark H3k4me3 in microglia and lower levels of the repressive chromatin marks H3k9me1 and H3k9me3 in the frontal cortex than her affected mutation carrier son and evidence of higher protein levels of progranulin in both plasma and brain homogenates. Although the study is limited to one case, the results support that restoring brain progranulin levels may be sufficient to escape neurodegeneration and FTD. In addition to previously identified modifier genes, it is possible that epigenetic marks may contribute to the increased progranulin expression in cases of reduced penetrance. These findings may stimulate similar follow-up studies and new therapeutic approaches.
Advances in single-cell sequencing: insights from organ transplantation
Authors: Wang Ying , Wang Jian-Ye , Schnieke Angelika , Fischer Konrad
Published: August 2021

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a comprehensive technical tool to analyze intracellular and intercellular interaction data by whole transcriptional profile analysis. Here, we describe the application in biomedical research, focusing on the immune system during organ transplantation and rejection. Unlike conventional transcriptome analysis, this method provides a full map of multiple cell populations in one specific tissue and presents a dynamic and transient unbiased method to explore the progression of allograft dysfunction, starting from the stress response to final graft failure. This promising sequencing technology remarkably improves individualized organ rejection treatment by identifying decisive cellular subgroups and cell-specific interactions.
An ectopic thymoma arising in the middle mediastinum that was difficult to distinguish from a lymph node metastasis
Authors: Fukahori Michiko , Kimura Naoko , Miyauchi Yoshihiro , Hirano Kazuhiko , Morimoto Kohei , Takahashi Miyuki , Ueda Ayaka , Okazaki Sayano , Taguchi Keisuke , Tsukahara Yu , Hattori Sakurako , Suematsu Yuki , Yan Masahiro , Teranishi Nobuhisa , Wakabayashi Kazuhiko , Itoh Yutaka
Published: August 2021

Background

Ectopic thymomas often occur in the upper mediastinum; however, they rarely arise in the middle mediastinum, especially on the dorsal side of the innominate vein and superior vena cava in the peribronchial region.

Case presentation

Six years prior, a 27-year-old female presented to our department and was diagnosed with locally advanced left breast cancer. First, we administered chemotherapy including an anti-human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 antibody. The size of the tumor was markedly reduced, and a radical operation involving mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection was then performed. The patient underwent radiotherapy after the mastectomy, followed by trastuzumab therapy; she continued to receive endocrine therapy thereafter. She underwent computed tomography once a year after the surgery, and a nodule in the middle mediastinum on the dorsal side of the innominate vein and superior vena cava in the parabronchial region was detected at 4 years. We speculated that the nodule was a solitary mediastinal lymph node metastasis from her breast cancer; therefore, we performed thoracoscopic resection of the tumor. We diagnosed the tumor as a thymoma. Currently, the patient visits our hospital to receive continuous hormone therapy for her breast cancer, and the latest computed tomography scan demonstrated no metastases from or recurrence of her breast cancer or thymoma.

Conclusions

We report a case of ectopic thymoma in the middle mediastinum. The tumor, which was detected during systemic therapy for locally advanced breast cancer, was located on the dorsal side of the innominate vein and superior vena cava in the parabronchial region and was indistinguishable from a lymph node metastasis from breast cancer.
Gallbladder Wall Thickening associated with Dengue Shock Syndrome in a German traveller – no indication for surgical therapy – a case report
Authors: Freise Noemi F. , Jensen Björn , Keitel Verena , Luedde Tom
Published: August 2021

Background

With the increasing number of dengue virus infections imported into Germany, knowledge about the different phases of the disease and possible complications is essential for the treatment of patients. The virus is endemic in the tropics and subtropics and up to 2.5 billion people are at risk of infection.

Case presentation

Here we present a German traveller with dengue shock syndrome after returning from Thailand. After hospitalization the patient developed acute upper abdominal pain. The ultrasound findings were consistent with an acute acalculous cholecystitis, but were interpreted as dengue associated gallbladder wall thickening (GBWT). Therefore a surgical intervention was not indicated and would have been associated with an higher risk of complications in this situation. Under supportive care spontaneous regression of GBWT could be documented by sonography four days later as well as complete resolution of clinical symptoms.

Conclusion

GBWT in dengue virus infection mimicking acute cholecystitis is a differential diagnosis one should take into consideration in travellers returning from endemic areas and should be managed conservatively because of an high risk of bleeding and increased mortality under surgical therapy.
Weaving Lines of Inquiry: Promoting Transdisciplinarity as a Distinctive Way of Undertaking Sport Science Research
Authors: Woods Carl T. , Rudd James , Araújo Duarte , Vaughan James , Davids Keith
Published: August 2021

The promotion of inter- and multidisciplinarity — broadly drawing on other disciplines to help collaboratively answer important questions to the field — has been an important goal for many professional development organisations, universities, and research institutes in sport science. While welcoming collaboration, this opinion piece discusses the value oftransdisciplinaryresearch for sports science. The reason for this is that inter- and multidisciplinary research are still bound by disciplinary convention — often leading sport science researchers to studyabouta phenomenon based on pre-determined disciplinary ways of conceptualising, measuring, and doing. In contrast, transdisciplinary research promotes contextualised studywitha phenomenon, like sport, unbound by disciplinary confines. It includes a more narrative and abductive way of performing research, with this abduction likely opening newlines of inquiryfor attentive researchers to follow. It is in theweavingof these lines where researchers can encounter new information, growing knowledge in-between, through, and beyond the disciplines to progressivelyentanglenovel and innovative insights related to a phenomenon or topic of interest. To guide innovation and the development of such research programmes in sport science, we lean on the four cornerstones of transdisciplinarity proposed by Alfonso Montuori, exemplifying what they could mean for such research programmes in sport science.
Needle penetration test - qualifying examination of 3D printable silicones for vascular models in surgical practice
Authors: von Steuben Thore , Salewski Christoph , Xepapadeas Alexander B. , Mutschler Moritz , Spintzyk Sebastian
Published: August 2021

Background

During cardiogenic shock blood circulation is minimal in the human body and does not suffice to survive. The extracorporeal life support system (ECLS) acts as a miniature heart-lung-machine that can be temporarily implanted over major vessels e.g. at the groin of the patient to bridge cardiogenic shock. To perform this procedure in an emergency, a proper training model is desirable. Therefore, a 3-dimensional-printable (3D) material must be found that mimics large vessel needle penetration properties. A suitable test bench for material comparison is desirable.

Methods

A test setup was built, which simulated the clinically relevant wall tension in specimens. The principle was derived from an existing standardized needle penetration test. After design, the setup was fabricated by means of 3D printing and mounted onto an universal testing machine. For testing the setup, a 3D printable polymer with low Shore A hardness and porcine aorta were used. The evaluation was made by comparing the curves of the penetration force to the standardized test considering the expected differences.

Results

3D printing proved to be suitable for manufacturing the test setup, which finally was able to mimic wall tension as if under blood pressure and penetration angle. The force displacement diagrams showed the expected curves and allowed a conclusion to the mechanical properties of the materials. Although the materials forces deviated between the porcine aorta and the Agilus30 polymer, the graphs showed similar but still characteristic curves.

Conclusions

The test bench provided the expected results and was able to show the differences between the two materials. To improve the setup, limitations has been discussed and changes can be implemented without complications.
Content and Quality of Science Training Programs Matter: Longitudinal Study of the Biology Scholars Program
Authors: Estrada Mica , Young Gerald R. , Flores Lilibeth , Yu Brook , Matsui John
Published: August 2021

The current study examined a well-established science training program, the UC Berkeley Biology Scholars Program, to see which aspects of the program contribute to students’ greater integration into their professional communities and intentions to persist in science career pathways.
Testicular Cancer in the Cisplatin Era: Causes of Death and Mortality Rates in a Population-Based Cohort
Authors: Hellesnes Ragnhild , Myklebust Tor Åge , Fosså Sophie D. , Bremnes Roy M. , Karlsdottir Ása , Kvammen Øivind , Tandstad Torgrim , Wilsgaard Tom , Negaard Helene F. S. , Haugnes Hege S.
Published: August 2021

PURPOSE

Using complete information regarding testicular cancer (TC) treatment burden, this study aimed to investigate cause-specific non-TC mortality with impact on previous treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy (PBCT) or radiotherapy (RT).

METHODS

Overall, 5,707 men identified by the Cancer Registry of Norway diagnosed with TC from 1980 to 2009 were included in this population-based cohort study. By linking data with the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry, standardized mortality ratios (SMRs), absolute excess risks (AERs; [(observed number of deaths − expected number of deaths)/person-years of observation] ×10,000), and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated.

RESULTS

Median follow-up was 18.7 years, during which non-TC death was registered for 665 (12%) men. Overall excess non-TC mortality was 23% (SMR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.33; AER, 11.14) compared with the general population, with increased risks after PBCT (SMR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.43; AER, 7.68) and RT (SMR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.15 to 1.43; AER, 19.55). The highest non-TC mortality was observed in those < 20 years at TC diagnosis (SMR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.32 to 3.90; AER, 14.42). The most important cause of death was non-TC second cancer with an overall SMR of 1.53 (95% CI, 1.35 to 1.73; AER, 7.94), with increased risks after PBCT and RT. Overall noncancer mortality was increased by 15% (SMR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.27; AER, 4.71). Excess suicides appeared after PBCT (SMR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.01 to 2.69; AER, 1.39). Compared with surgery, increased non-TC mortality appeared after 3 (HR, 1.47; 95% CI, 0.91 to 2.39), 4 (HR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.99), and more than four (HR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.25 to 3.35) cisplatin-based chemotherapy cycles after > 10 years of follow-up.

CONCLUSION

TC treatment with PBCT or RT is associated with a significant excess risk of non-TC mortality, and increased risks emerged after more than two cisplatin-based chemotherapy cycles after > 10 years of follow-up.
Pathophysiological Mechanisms That Alter the Autonomic Brain-Liver Communication in Metabolic Diseases
Authors: Silva Anisia , Caron Alexandre
Published: August 2021

The brain influences liver metabolism through many neuroendocrine and autonomic mechanisms that have evolved to protect the organism against starvation and hypoglycemia. Unfortunately, this effective way of preventing death has become dysregulated in modern obesogenic environments, although the pathophysiological mechanisms behind metabolic dyshomeostasis are still unclear. In this Mini-Review, we provide our thoughts regarding obesity and type 2 diabetes as diseases of the autonomic nervous system. We discuss the pathophysiological mechanisms that alter the autonomic brain-liver communication in these diseases, and how they could represent important targets to prevent or treat metabolic dysfunctions. We discuss how sympathetic hyperactivity to the liver may represent an early event in the progression of metabolic diseases and could progressively lead to hepatic neuropathy. We hope that this discussion will inspire and help to frame a model based on better understanding of the chronology of autonomic dysfunctions in the liver, enabling the application of the right strategy at the right time.
Efficacy of Ultrasound-Guided Intermediate Cervical Plexus Block by Anterior Route for Perioperative Analgesia in Robotic Thyroidectomy by Retroauricular Approach: A Case Series
Authors: Bhoi Debesh , Bhatia Ridhima , Mohan Virender K. , Thakar Alok , Kalagara Reshma , Sikka Kapil
Published: August 2021

Retroauricular or facelift approach for robotic thyroidectomy involves a long incision with extensive subcutaneous dissection causing severe pain and discomfort. Multimodal analgesic regimen with inclusion of intermediate cervical plexus block by anterior route provided excellent perioperative analgesia without affecting recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring in 10 cases. All the patients were monitored with bispectral index (maintained 40–60) and extubated on table. Median numeric pain rating scale score in 24 hours postoperatively was 3. None of the cases had any significant complications on follow-up.
A mouse model displays host and bacterial strain differences in Aerococcus urinae urinary tract infection
Authors: Gilbert Nicole M. , Choi Brian , Du Jingjie , Collins Christina , Lewis Amanda L. , Putonti Catherine , Wolfe Alan J.
Published: August 2021

In recent years, the clinical significance of Aerococcus urinae has been increasingly recognized. A. urinae has been implicated in cases of urinary tract infection (UTI; acute cystitis and pyelonephritis) in both male and female patients, ranging from children to older adults. Aerococcus urinae can also be invasive, causing urosepsis, endocarditis, and musculoskeletal infections. Mechanisms of pathogenesis in A. urinae infections are poorly understood, largely due to the lack of an animal model system. In response to this gap, we developed a model of A. urinae urinary tract infection in mice. We compared A. urinae UTI in female C3H/HeN and C57BL/6 mice and compared four clinical isolates of A. urinae isolated from patients with UTI, urgency urinary incontinence, and overactive bladder. Our data demonstrate that host genetic background modulates A. urinae UTI. Female C57BL/6 female mice rapidly cleared the infection. Female C3H/HeN mice, which have inherent vesicoureteral reflux that flushes urine from the bladder up into the kidneys, were susceptible to prolonged bacteriuria. This result is consistent with the fact that A. urinae infections most frequently occur in patients with underlying urinary tract abnormalities or disorders that make them susceptible to bacterial infection. Unlike uropathogens such as E. coli, which cause infection and inflammation both of the bladder and kidneys in C3H/HeN mice, A. urinae displayed tropism for the kidney, persisting in kidney tissue even after clearance of bacteria from the bladder. Aerococcus urinae strains from different genetic clades displayed varying propensities to cause persistent kidney infection. Aerococcus urinae infected kidneys displayed histological inflammation, neutrophil recruitment and increased pro-inflammatory cytokines. These results set the stage for future research that interrogates host-pathogen interactions between A. urinae and the urinary tract.
SUMOylation of RepoMan during late telophase regulates dephosphorylation of lamin A
Authors: Moriuchi Takanobu , Hirose Fumiko
Published: August 2021

Dephosphorylation of lamin A, which triggers nuclear lamina reconstitution, is crucial for the completion of mitosis. However, the specific phosphatase and regulatory mechanism that allow timely lamin A dephosphorylation remain unclear. Here, we report that RepoMan (also known as CDCA2), a regulatory subunit of protein phosphatase 1γ (PP1γ) is transiently modified with SUMO-2 at K762 during late telophase. SUMOylation of RepoMan markedly enhanced its binding affinity with lamin A. Moreover, SUMOylated RepoMan contributes to lamin A recruitment to telophase chromosomes and dephosphorylation of the mitotic lamin A phosphorylation. Expression of a SUMO-2 mutant that has a defective interaction with the SUMO-interacting motif (SIM) resulted in failure of the lamin A and RepoMan association, along with abrogation of lamin A dephosphorylation and subsequent nuclear lamina formation. These findings strongly suggest that RepoMan recruits lamin A through SUMO–SIM interaction. Thus, transient SUMOylation of RepoMan plays an important role in the spatiotemporal regulation of lamin A dephosphorylation and the subsequent nuclear lamina formation at the end of mitosis.
Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping in Endometrial Cancer after Supracervical Hysterectomy
Authors: Bizzarri Nicolò , Rosati Andrea , Scambia Giovanni , Fanfani Francesco
Published: August 2021

Background

Occult endometrial cancer after supracervical hysterectomy is uncommon. Even if optimal management of those rare cases is still unproven, to guide the need for adjuvant treatment, restaging should be recommended in this situation.

Methods

The study was approved by institutional review board (DIPUSVSP-27-07-20107). We report the case of a 52-year-old woman with occult grade 2 endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma (pT1a) with negative surgical margin and smooth uterine muscle of uncertain malignant potential after supracervical hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy performed for pelvic pain and uterine fibroids in a local hospital. Preoperative CT scan of chest-abdomen-pelvis did not show any lymphadenopathy or distant metastasis. Pelvic US scan revealed a normal cervical stump and a hypoechoic 18-mm right parametrial nodule. We describe the feasibility of laparoscopic sentinel lymph node identification with cervical stump injection of indocyanine green.

Results

The patient underwent laparoscopic radical trachelectomy, left pelvic sentinel lymph node biopsy, right pelvic lymphadenectomy, peritoneal washing. Patient did not report any intraoperative or postoperative complication. At final histology cervix, SLN (ultrastaging) and pelvic lymph nodes were negative, while parametrial nodule was reported as metastasis from endometrial adenocarcinoma. Surgical margins were clear. Patient was staged as FIGO IIIB and underwent adjuvant chemo-radiation. She is now alive and disease-free, 12 months after the surgery.

Conclusions

This video (Video 1) underlines the fact that SLN mapping with cervical injection is a feasible and safe technique also without the uterine corpus after supracervical hysterectomy. The unilateral mapping could be due to the presence of metastatic parametrium on the right side.
Interplay between COVID-19 vaccines and social measures for ending the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic
Authors: Young Glenn , Xiao Pengcheng , Newcomb Ken , Michael Edwin
Published: August 2021

Background: The development and authorization of COVID-19 vaccines has provided the clearest path forward to eliminate community spread and thus end the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. However, the limited pace at which the vaccine can be administered motivates the question, to what extent must we continue to adhere to social intervention measures such as mask wearing and social distancing?

Methods: We develop a mathematical model of COVID-19 spread incorporating both vaccine dynamics and socio-epidemiological parameters. We use this model to study two important measures of disease control and eradication, the effective reproductive number Rt and the peak intensive care unit (ICU) caseload, over three key parameters: social measure adherence, vaccination rate, and vaccination coverage.

Results: Our results suggest that, due to the slow pace of vaccine administration, social measures must be maintained by a large proportion of the population until a sufficient proportion of the population becomes vaccinated for the pandemic to be eradicated. By contrast, with reduced adherence to social measures, hospital ICU cases will greatly exceed capacity, resulting in increased avoidable loss of life. We then investigate the threat of localized outbreaks in low-vaccinated populations that have removed all social intervention mandates, and show that such populations could remain highly susceptible to major outbreaks particularly in the face of more easily transmissible variants. 

Conclusions: These findings highlight the complex interplay involved between vaccination and social protective measures, and indicate the practical importance of continuing with extant social measures while vaccines are scaled up to allow the development of the herd immunity needed to end or control SARS-CoV-2 sustainably.
Book Reviews
Authors: Shen Wenjing
Published: August 2021

In Book Reviews, we review an extensive and diverse range of books. They cover theory and applications in operations research, statistics, management science, econometrics, mathematics, computers, and information systems. In addition, we include books in other fields that emphasize technical applications. The editor will be pleased to receive an email from those willing to review a book, with an indication of specific areas of interest. If you are aware of a specific book that you would like to review, or that you think should be reviewed, please contact the editor. The following books are reviewed in this issue of INFORMS Journal on Applied Analytics, 51(4), July–August: Applications of Operations Research and Management Science for Military Decision Making, William P. Fox, Robert Burks; Behavioral Operational Research: A Capabilities Approach, Leroy White, Martin Kunc, Katharina Burger, Jonathan Malpass.
Learning to Be Creative: A Mutually Exciting Spatiotemporal Point Process Model for Idea Generation in Open Innovation
Authors: Aggarwal Vipul , Hwang Elina H. , Tan Yong
Published: August 2021

This study investigates the creative idea generation process in an open innovation platform. The idea generation process is simultaneously influenced by multiple activities: knowledge acquisition from participants’ interactions with each other’s ideas, deliberate practice through persistent participation, and learning through failures. Due to the dynamic interplay across these activities, it is challenging to identify each activity’s influence on creative ideation outcomes using reduced-form regression analysis. To overcome these challenges, we employ a comprehensive empirical framework, the mutually exciting spatiotemporal point process model with unobserved heterogeneity, which endogenizes the occurrences of these activities in continuous time and allows for user-dependent effects. By utilizing the activity stream data of 13,028 participants from 2010 to 2016 in an open innovation platform, we uncovered synergistic effects of these activities on creative outcomes. We find that knowledge acquired through interaction with others (i.e., stimulus ideas) plays a vital role in the creative ideation process, but their effect is more nuanced than what we have known so far. In contrast to the prior belief that distant analogies, stimulus ideas outside of a problem domain, spur creativity, we find that distant analogies lead to failures. Yet, we further find that such failures are indispensable to the creative ideation process because failures motivate idea generators (1) to acquire more knowledge by increasing their future interactions with other participants’ ideas (learning from others), and (2) to persist in generating ideas that lead to improvements in their ability to apply the acquired knowledge and to identify innovation tasks that are relevant to their stock of acquired knowledge (learning by doing). Our results indicate that failures are a stronger driver of the learning activities than successes. Based on our findings, we offer insights on how to cultivate creativity in an open innovation setting.
When Does the Underdog Win?
Authors: Wernerfelt Birger
Published: August 2021

In several celebrated examples, incumbents with significant resources have been beaten, in their own core businesses, by young start-ups. We identify a general mechanism that explains how these entrants can succeed against seemingly impossible odds. Specifically, we argue that they circumvent the entry barriers by using new business models that do not depend on the hard-to-imitate resources protecting the incumbent. While the entrants are gaining experience with their business models, they develop their own hard-to-imitate resources, and these eventually allow them to expand into the incumbents’ core markets. We formalize the argument in a model, derive several comparative static predictions, and illustrate it with a number of examples. The mechanism does not work if the incumbents react immediately, but we will draw on the literature on corporate inertia to argue that three of the mechanism’s properties make it especially likely that incumbents will be slow to adopt new business models.
Where is the joined-up thinking?
Authors: Allingham Sue
Published: August 2021

It is vital to reflect on our practice and provision and adapt appropriately, but this also requires the government to do the same. Dr Sue Allingham questions why there isn't joined-up thinking about what is important across the sector, including how early childhood education should work.
Looking at harvests
Authors: Hart Karen
Published: August 2021

The activities here are all designed to encourage an interest into how our food started its life, while using the theme of harvest to inspire creative and expressive art.
Postnatal depression
Authors: Rawstrone Annette
Published: August 2021

It may seem unexpected to feel down and anxious after giving birth, but this is entirely normal after what a mother's body has been through and the big new change in her life.
Strain-relaxed GeSn-on-insulator (GeSnOI) microdisks
Authors: Burt Daniel , Joo Hyo-Jun , Jung Yongduck , Kim Youngmin , Chen Melvina , Huang Yi-Chiau , Nam Donguk
Published: August 2021

GeSn alloys offer a promising route towards a CMOS compatible light source and the realization of electronic-photonic integrated circuits. One tactic to improve the lasing performance of GeSn lasers is to use a high Sn content, which improves the directness. Another popular approach is to use a low to moderate Sn content with either compressive strain relaxation or tensile strain engineering, but these strain engineering techniques generally require optical cavities to be suspended in air, which leads to poor thermal management. In this work, we develop a novel dual insulator GeSn-on-insulator (GeSnOI) material platform that is used to produce strain-relaxed GeSn microdisks stuck on a substrate. By undercutting only one insulating layer (i.e., Al2O3), we fabricate microdisks sitting on SiO2, which attain three key properties for a high-performance GeSn laser: removal of harmful compressive strain, decent thermal management, and excellent optical confinement. We believe that an increase in the Sn content of GeSn layers on our platform can allow us to achieve improved lasing performance.
Rigorous approach for unifying wave optics and state of the art rendering techniques
Authors: Lange Tobias , Völl Annika , Berens Michael , Stollenwerk Jochen , Loosen Peter , Holly Carlo
Published: August 2021

With the capabilities of diffractive optics there is a rising demand for determining the light interaction of diffractive elements with arbitrary illumination and scenery. Since the structured surfaces’ scale lies within the visible wavelengths and below, the light’s interaction cannot be simulated with state of the art geometric optic rendering approaches. This paper presents a new model for the inclusion of wave-optical effects into Monte Carlo path rendering concepts. The derived method allows the coupling of a rigorous full-field approach with the concept of backward ray propagation through complex scenes. Therefore, the rendering of arbitrarily structured periodic optical components is now possible for complex sceneries for design, verification and testing purposes. The method’s performance is demonstrated by comparing rendering results of complex sceneries including CDs with corresponding photographs.
Full-visible achromatic imaging with a single dual-pinhole-coded diffractive photon sieve
Authors: Wang Chuan , Sun Ti , Pu Donglin , Xu Feng , Wang Chinhua
Published: August 2021

Conventional diffractive optical elements suffer from large chromatic aberration due to its nature of severe dispersion so that they can only work at a single wavelength with near zero bandwidth. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate an achromatic imaging in the full-visible wavelength range with a single dual-pinhole-coded diffractive photon sieve (PS). The pinhole pattern (i.e., distribution of the position and size of each pinhole) is generated with dual wavelength-multiplexing coding (WMC) and wavefront coding (WFC), in which WMC makes multiple wavelengths that are optimally selected within the full visible range focus coherently on a common designed focal length while WFC expands the bandwidth of the diffracted imaging at each of the selected wavelengths. Numerical simulations show that when seven wavelengths (i.e., 484.8, 515.3, 547.8, 582.4, 619.1, 658.1 and 699.5 nm) within the visible range between 470 nm to 720 nm and a cubic wavefront coding parameter α = 30π are selected, a broadband achromatic imaging can be obtained within the full range of visible wavelength. Experimental fabrication of the proposed dual-pinhole-coded PS with a focal length of 500 mm and a diameter of 50 mm are performed using the mask-free UV-lithography. The experimental imaging results agree with the numerical results. The demonstrated work provides a novel and practical way for achieving achromatic imaging in the full visible range with features of thin, light and planar.
Design and fabrication of composite polygonal Fresnel lenses
Authors: Yew Jin Nicholas Tan , Lim Zi Heng , Zhou Guangya , Liu Kui , Senthil Kumar A.
Published: August 2021

High fill factor for Fresnel lens arrays has been achieved with the aid of polygonal lenses. This has been done for both circular trimmed lenses and full polygonal lenses, both of which present some optical drawbacks. The composite polygonal Fresnel lens (CPFL) avoids these issues with its unique design – a radial symmetric Fresnel center filling into a polygon, avoiding any intersecting facets within the lens by introducing fillets. To manufacture the CPFL, diamond shaping is applied to not only meet the strict standards required for optical fabrication but also maneuver around the curvilinear features that cannot be fabricated using conventional turning techniques. As such, direct diamond shaping (DDS) was employed to generate an array of CPFLs on a PMMA substrate. Optical simulation was used to validate the performance of the CPFL before production of the lens array, followed by testing of the fabricated lenses, showing less overall noise with better focus compared to conventional polygonal lenses.
Panoramic reconstruction of quasi-cylindrical objects with digital holography and a conical mirror
Authors: León-Rodríguez Miguel , Rayas Juan A. , Martínez-García Amalia , Martínez-González Adrián , Téllez-Quiñones Alejandro , Porras-Aguilar Rosario
Published: August 2021

In this work, we present a panoramic digital holographic system for the first time capable of obtaining 3D information of a quasi-cylindrical object by using a conical mirror. The proposed panoramic digital holographic system is able to scan the entire surface of the object to determine the amplitude and phase simultaneously. This paper demonstrates the feasibility of analyzing quasi-cylindrical objects in a short time (0.5 s) with a single camera and a minimum number of optical components. In addition, it can be applied to determine not only topographic measurement of the cylindrical surface but also measurements of radial deformations. Experimental results are presented at different magnifications, thus illustrating its capabilities and versatility.
Annular coherent wake emission
Authors: Yehuda Hadar , Porat Elkana , Cohen Itamar , Halifa Levi Raz , Levanon Assaf , Pomerantz Ishay
Published: August 2021

Coherent wake emission may be generated only by sufficiently
high-contrast driving laser pulses. When the laser contrast is too
low, the formed long-scale-length plasma cannot support its
generation. In this Letter, we show how, by gently spoiling a pristine
laser contrast in an engineered way, coherent wake emission becomes
inhibited in the center of the irradiated substrate only, thus forming
an annular-shaped source of coherent extreme ultraviolet (XUV) pulses.
We present an analytical model that describes the phenomenon and
validation of its predictions in the experiment and the simulation. We
also show how the ion-acoustic velocity dependency on the laser
intensity may be obtained from the emission patterns and offer
examples for future applications.
Ring-shaped optical trap based on an acousto-optic tunable spatial filter
Authors: Obydennov Dmitry V. , Yushkov Konstantin B. , Molchanov Vladimir Ya.
Published: August 2021

We report on a novel, to the best of our knowledge, optical scheme of an annular optical trap based on an acousto-optic tunable spatial filter. Design of the optical trap is proposed and validated. Experimental demonstration with polystyrene microspheres includes controllable arrangement of freely floating particles into a circular pattern, aggregation, and disaggregation of the particles. Dynamical adjustment of the trapping field potential diameter is achieved by programmable frequency-swept controlling of the acousto-optic filter.
Eigenvalue calibration method for dual rotating-compensator Mueller matrix polarimetry
Authors: Sheng Sheng , Chen Xiuguo , Chen Chao , Zhuang Jinfeng , Wang Cai , Gu Honggang , Liu Shiyuan
Published: August 2021

Dual rotating-compensator Mueller matrix polarimetry (DRC-MMP) has achieved wide spread applications in material characterization, nano-scale measurement, and biomedical diagnostics. However, the traditional calibration method for DRC-MMP relies on establishing an accurate system model, making its implementation cumbersome, especially in the presence of polarizing components that are to complex to be modeled. We propose a novel, to the best of our knowledge, eigenvalue calibration method for DRC-MMP without system modeling. Two specific basis vectors are introduced in order to transform the continuously modulated light intensity in DRC-MMP into a

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projection matrix. Eigenvalue analysis is then performed based on the light intensity projection matrix to obtain the modulation matrix and the analysis matrix associated with the polarization state generator and the polarization state analyzer, respectively. The method is applied for DRC-MMP in both single-pass and double-pass setups. The experimental results have verified the proposed calibration method.
Defect-engineered ring laser harmonic frequency combs
Authors: Kazakov Dmitry , Opačak Nikola , Beiser Maximilian , Belyanin Alexey , Schwarz Benedikt , Piccardo Marco , Capasso Federico
Published: August 2021

A monochromatic wave that circulates in a nonlinear and dispersive optical cavity can become unstable and form a structured waveform. This phenomenon, known as modulation instability, was encountered in fiber lasers, optically pumped Kerr microresonators and, most recently, in monolithic ring quantum cascade lasers (QCLs). In ring QCLs, the instability led to generation of fundamental frequency combs—optical fields that repeat themselves once per cavity round trip. Here we show that the same instability may also result in self-starting harmonic frequency combs—waveforms that repeat themselves multiple times per round trip, akin to perfect soliton crystals in ring Kerr microresonators. We can tailor the intermode spacing of harmonic frequency combs by placing two minute defects with a well-defined separation between them along the ring waveguide. On-demand excitation of frequency comb states with few powerful modes spaced by hundreds of gigahertz may find their use in future sub-terahertz generators.
Highly efficient transparent quantum-dot light-emitting diodes based on inorganic double electron-transport layers
Authors: Zhang Nan , Qu Xiangwei , Lyu Quan , Wang Kai , Sun Xiao Wei
Published: August 2021

Herein, we report the fabrication of high-performance transparent quantum-dot light-emitting diodes (Tr-QLEDs) with ZnO/ZnMgO inorganic double electron-transport layers (ETLs). The ETLs effectively suppress the excess electron injection and facilitate charge balance in the Tr-QLEDs. The thick ETLs as buffer layers can also withstand the plasma-induced damage during the indium tin oxide sputtering. These factors collectively contribute to the development of Tr-QLEDs with improved performance. As a result, our Tr-QLEDs with double ETLs exhibited a high transmittance of 82% at 550 nm and a record external quantum efficiency of 11.8%, which is 1.27 times higher than that of the devices with pure ZnO ETL. These results indicate that the developed ZnO/ZnMgO inorganic double ETLs could offer promising solutions for realizing high-efficiency Tr-QLEDs for next-generation display devices.
Unveiling functions of the visual cortex using task-specific deep neural networks
Authors: Dwivedi Kshitij , Bonner Michael F. , Cichy Radoslaw Martin , Roig Gemma
Published: August 2021

The human visual cortex enables visual perception through a cascade of hierarchical computations in cortical regions with distinct functionalities. Here, we introduce an AI-driven approach to discover the functional mapping of the visual cortex. We related human brain responses to scene images measured with functional MRI (fMRI) systematically to a diverse set of deep neural networks (DNNs) optimized to perform different scene perception tasks. We found a structured mapping between DNN tasks and brain regions along the ventral and dorsal visual streams. Low-level visual tasks mapped onto early brain regions, 3-dimensional scene perception tasks mapped onto the dorsal stream, and semantic tasks mapped onto the ventral stream. This mapping was of high fidelity, with more than 60% of the explainable variance in nine key regions being explained. Together, our results provide a novel functional mapping of the human visual cortex and demonstrate the power of the computational approach.
Nuclear translocation of MTL5 from cytoplasm requires its direct interaction with LIN9 and is essential for male meiosis and fertility
Authors: Zhang Xingxia , Li Ming , Jiang Xiaohua , Ma Hui , Fan Suixing , Li Yang , Yu Changping , Xu Jianze , Khan Ranjha , Jiang Hanwei , Shi Qinghua
Published: August 2021

Meiosis is essential for the generation of gametes and sexual reproduction, yet the factors and underlying mechanisms regulating meiotic progression remain largely unknown. Here, we showed that MTL5 translocates into nuclei of spermatocytes during zygotene-pachytene transition and ensures meiosis advances beyond pachytene stage. MTL5 shows strong interactions with MuvB core complex components, a well-known transcriptional complex regulating mitotic progression, and the zygotene-pachytene transition of MTL5 is mediated by its direct interaction with the component LIN9, through MTL5 C-terminal 443–475 residues. Male Mtl5c-mu/c-mu mice expressing the truncated MTL5 (p.Ser445Arg fs*3) that lacks the interaction with LIN9 and is detained in cytoplasm showed male infertility and spermatogenic arrest at pachytene stage, same as that of Mtl5 knockout mice, indicating that the interaction with LIN9 is essential for the nuclear translocation and function of MTL5 during meiosis. Our data demonstrated MTL5 translocates into nuclei during the zygotene-pachytene transition to initiate its function along with the MuvB core complex in pachytene spermatocytes, highlighting a new mechanism regulating the progression of male meiosis.