bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Added value of enhanced CT on LR-3 and LR-4 observation of Gd-EOB-DTPA MRI for the diagnosis of HCC: are CT and MR washout features interchangeable?
Authors: Lim Kyungjae , Kwon Heejin , Cho Jinhan , Kim Dongwon , Kang Eunju , Kim Sanghyeon
Published: December 2021

Objective:

To characterize the use of portal venous or delayed phase CT as an alternative to estimate washout for the non-invasive diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI in combination with other features.

Methods:

This retrospective study included 226 observations (n = 162 patients) at high risk for HCC imaged with gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI and enhanced liver CT between March 2015 and March 2018. Two radiologists independently evaluated two sets of images and assigned the final Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS) categories by consensus using gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI. LR-1, LR-2, LR-5, and LR-M were excluded from the study.

The observations were divided using different criteria for washout: hypointensity on the portal venous phase (PVP) at MRI (criteria 1), hypointensity on PVP at MRI and/or hypoattenuation on the PVP/delayed phase at dynamic CT (criteria 2), and hypointensity on the PVP and/or hepatobiliary phase at MRI (criteria 3). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for the diagnosis of HCC were analyzed for each criterion.

Results:

Using gadoxetic acid-enhanced, 226 lesions were diagnosed as LR-3 or LR-4 by LI-RADS. Among them, 98 and 152 had “washout” at criteria 1 and 2, respectively. For the diagnosis of HCC, criteria 2 and 3 showed significantly higher sensitivities (67.3 and 92.5%, respectively) compared with criteria 1 (35.5%) (p < 0.001). The specificity of criteria 3 (13%) was significantly lower than those of criteria 1 and 2 (40.7% and 38.4%, respectively, p < 0.001). The specificities between criteria 1 and 2 were not statistically different (p = 0.427).

Conclusion:

Although the LI-RADS lexicon does not permit the interchange of image features among various image modalities, the sensitivity of HCC diagnosis could be improved without any decrease in specificity by adding CT image washout features.

Advances in knowledge:

Although the LI-RADS lexicon does not permit the interchange of image features among various image modalities, complementary use of dynamic CT in LR-3 or LR-4 categories on the basis of gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI may contribute to major imaging feature.
The role of governance style, institutional capacity and regulatory culture in the adoption of ISO14001
Authors: Κασώλη Μαρία
Published: December 2021

H διδακτορική διατριβή πραγματεύεται την κατανόηση της εξάπλωση της διεθνούς νόρμας και θεσμικών εργαλείων της Βιώσιμης Ανάπτυξης υπό το πρίσμα συγκεκριμένου εννοιολογικού τρίπτυχου: θεσμική ικανότητα, νομοθετική / κανονιστική νοοτροπία, ύφος διακυβέρνησης.Η υιοθέτηση και υλοποίηση πολιτικών περιβαλλοντικής διαχείρισης (πλαίσιο Βιώσιμης Ανάπτυξης), υπό τη μορφή διεθνών (κατά ISO14001) και Ευρωπαϊκών προτύπων Περιβαλλοντικής Διαχείρισης (κατά EMAS - Eco- Management and Audit Scheme), στην Ελλάδα σε σχέση με τις τάσεις του Εθνικού, Ευρωπαϊκού και Διεθνούς θεσμικού και κανονιστικού πλαισίου μελετάται.Αυτή η διδακτορική διατριβή μελετά σε βάθος την περίπτωση εφαρμογής του διεθνούς προτύπου Περιβαλλοντικής Διαχείρισης, ISO14001, στο Διεθνή Αερολιμένα Αθηνών «Ελευθέριος Βενιζέλος» με στόχο να εξετάσει πως πρότυπα περιβαλλοντικής διαχείρισης εξελίσσονται σε μια παγκόσμια αγορά καθώς και τις πιέσεις για την εφαρμογή τους σε εθνικό επίπεδο (Ελλάδα) και σε διάφορους τομείς. Μέσω της συγκεκριμένης περιγραφής της διαδικασίας υιοθέτησης και εφαρμογής σε ένα τεχνολογικά προηγμένο τομέα με παγκόσμια απήχηση εξετάζεται γενικότερα η επιρροή και επίπτωση των θεσμικών, επιχειρηματικών και περιβαλλοντικών παραγόντων κατά το εννοιολογικό πλαίσιο του τρίπτυχου: θεσμική ικανότητα, νομοθετική / κανονιστική νοοτροπία, ύφος διακυβέρνησης.http://orca.cf.ac.uk/55579/
Introduction to Genetics
Authors: Puhal'skiy Vitaliy
Published: December 2021

The textbook outlines the cytological foundations of heredity, the regularities of Mendelian genetics, the chromosomal theory of heredity, the basics of molecular genetics and genetic engineering, the patterns of inheritance during distant hybridization, polyplodia and mutagenesis. Special attention is paid to the heterosis and genetics of populations. A significant part of the data is presented in the form of figures, diagrams, graphs and tables that facilitate the understanding of the material presented.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation.
For students of higher educational institutions studying in agronomic specialties.
Theory and practice of analysis of financial statements of organizations
Authors: Parushina Natal'ya , Gubina Oksana , Gubin Vitaliy , Butenko Inna , Suchkova Natal'ya , Deminova Svetlana , Timofeeva Svetlana
Published: December 2021

The textbook discusses the theoretical and practical
aspects of the analysis of financial statements of organizations in various
fields of activity. The theory and practice of the analysis of reporting forms are based
on the use of modern regulatory documents in the field
of accounting and tax accounting, auditing, statistics.
The textbook reflects the features of the analysis
of financial, accounting, tax, statistical reporting of organizations
based on the use of a system of analytical indicators and
the interconnection of reporting forms.
Examples of execution of analytical documents
of the economist-analyst are given, which allow to visualize the process of conducting
and summarizing the results of the analysis of reporting indicators in organizations
of various types of activity.
Meets the requirements of the federal state
educational standards of higher education of the latest generation and
includes a course of lectures, discussion questions, tests, practical situations
and tasks.
For undergraduate and graduate students, graduate
students, teachers of economic universities and colleges, auditors, accountants,
economists, employees of tax, statistical and financial services.
Formation and structure of the biota of Kamchatka's natural ecosystems
Authors: Smetanin Anatoliy
Published: December 2021

The formation of the modern flora and fauna of Kamchatka, paleogeography, natural ecosystems are considered. The biological diversity of the most important groups of biota is analyzed: vascular plants, mollusks, echinoderms, crustaceans, insects, fish, birds, mammals. The most prominent representatives, including economically significant ones, are highlighted. Brief information on paleodendroflora is given, a brief analysis of currently flourishing vascular plants is given. The fossil forms of extinct and currently living animals inhabiting the natural ecosystems of Kamchatka are described. A polytomic analysis of the biota was performed and its functional structure was established.
For researchers in the field of ecology and nature protection, teachers and students of relevant academic disciplines, as well as for a wide range of readers in order to learn about the nature of the region and environmental education.
Organization of training based on a system-activity approach in obtaining secondary general education
Authors: Svetlana Vladimirovna , Ol'ga Gennad'evna
Published: December 2021

The teaching and methodological manual presents theoretical and practical aspects of the implementation of the system-activity approach in obtaining secondary general education, materials for conducting classes and self-study within the module "System-activity approach as a methodological basis of the Federal State Educational Standard of General Education" under the program "Achieving meta-subject educational results of students by means of teaching academic subjects".
For teachers and trainees of the advanced training system, senior teaching staff and teachers interested in the implementation of the system-activity approach in educational activities.
Management analysis
Authors: Nikiforova Elena , Kupriyanova Lyudmila , Shnayder Viktor , Borovickaya Marina , Gizatullina Ol'ga , Mihalenok Natal'ya , Berdnikova Leyla
Published: December 2021

The textbook reveals the role and importance of management analysis in the formation of the strategy and tactics of organization management, taking into account the industry specifics of the functioning of economic entities in the production sector, the conceptual apparatus of management analysis; describes the main approaches to information support; presents applied tools and practical situations aimed at ensuring the financial stability of business, describes approaches to assessing the effectiveness of entrepreneurial activity based on alternative management solutions adequate to current real-time conditions.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation.
It is intended for graduate students of economic universities, teachers, practitioners and specialists in the field of management and analysis, studying in the field of training 38.04.01 "Economics", to acquire practical skills in conducting managerial analysis and making informed managerial decisions. It may be of interest to employees of financial services, financial managers of enterprises, as well as students of the system of training, certification and development of professional competencies of managers, auditors and business analysis specialists.
Theory, methodology and practice of regional strategic planning
Authors: Babina Ol'ga
Published: December 2021

In the monograph, the region is presented as a complex, multilevel socio-economic system consisting of many heterogeneous, interacting economic entities of different levels (economic agents and markets, management, resources and economic processes), jointly organizing reproduction processes embedded in the economic space of the national economy on the local territory. Currently, the role of rational management of the socio-economic development of the region is increasing. In such conditions, it is advisable to use strategic planning, which, in turn, has increasingly been carried out using a simulation model. The simulation model in regional strategic planning allows government agencies to predict their activities in the presence of various controlled and uncontrolled factors of the external and internal environment. In this study, the list of principles of strategic planning focused on the processes of strategic planning of the region using the method of simulation modeling is supplemented. A methodology for organizing strategic planning processes at the meso-level using simulation modeling technology is proposed.
For a wide range of readers interested in the problems of regional strategic planning.
The doctrine of the financial and legal status of municipalities in the Russian Federation and its implementation
Authors: Mironova Svetlana
Published: December 2021

The monograph forms the doctrine of the financial and legal status of municipalities and identifies the features of its implementation in the Russian Federation at the present stage. The structure of the financial and legal status of the municipality as a whole is comprehensively presented, its elements are defined, their detailed characteristics are given; the features of the implementation of the financial and legal status of certain types of municipalities (urban and municipal districts, municipal districts, urban and rural settlements, etc.), those of them that have a special legal status (single-industry towns, BUT, science towns) or are located on the territory with a special economic status (territories of advanced socio-economic development, the free port of Vladivostok), as well as within the framework of inter-municipal cooperation and the development of urban agglomerations are indicated; a system of guarantees for the implementation by municipalities is established its financial and legal status.
Particular attention is paid to the disclosure of the social block of the financial and legal status of municipalities, represented by the mechanism of citizens' participation in the financial activities of municipalities, including the involvement of citizens in the budget process at the municipal level and the implementation of public financial control over local finances.
For researchers, teachers, postgraduates and law students, employees of public authorities and local self-government.
Relationship between geomagnetic storm development and the solar wind parameter ß
Authors: Kurazhkovskaya Nadezhda , Zotov Oleg , Klain Boris
Published: December 2021

We have analyzed the dynamics of solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) parameters during the development of 933 isolated geomagnetic storms, observed over the period from 1964 to 2010. The analysis was carried out using the epoch superposition method at intervals of 48 hrs before and 168 hrs after the moment of Dst minimum. The geomagnetic storms were selected by the type of storm commencement (sudden or gradual) and by intensity (weak, moderate, and strong). The dynamics of the solar wind and IMF parameters was compared with that of the Dst index, which is an indicator of the development of geomagnetic storms. The largest number of storms in the solar activity cycle is shown to occur in the years of minimum average values (close in magnitude to 1) of the solar wind parameter β (β is the ratio of plasma pressure to magnetic pressure). We have revealed that the dynamics of the Dst index is similar to that of the β parameter. The duration of the storm recovery phase follows the characteristic recovery time of the β parameter. We have found out that during the storm main phase the β parameter is close to 1, which reflects the maximum turbulence of solar wind plasma fluctuations. In the recovery phase, β returns to background values β~2‒3.5. We assume that the solar wind plasma turbulence, characterized by the β parameter, can play a significant role in the development of geomagnetic storms.
Cluster analysis of lightning discharges: based on Vereya-MR network data
Authors: Tkachev Ivan , Vasilyev Roman , Belousova Elena
Published: December 2021

Monitoring thunderstorm activity can help you solve many problems such as infrastructure facility protection, warning of hazardous phenomena associated with intense precipitation, study of conditions for the occurrence of thunderstorms and the degree of their influence on human activity, as well as the influence of thunderstorm activity on the formation of near-Earth space. We investigate the characteristics of thunderstorm cells by the method of cluster analysis. We take the Vereya-MR network data accumulated over a period from 2012 to 2018 as a basis. The Vereya-MR network considered in this paper is included in networks operating in the VLF-LF range (long and super-long radio waves). Reception points equipped with recording equipment, primary information processing systems, communication systems, precision time and positioning devices based on global satellite navigation systems are located throughout Russia. In the longitudinal-latitudinal thunderstorm distributions of interest, the dependence on the location of recording devices might be manifested. We compare the behavior of thunderstorms on the entire territory of the Russian Federation with those in the Baikal natural territory. We have established the power of thunderstorms over the Baikal region is lower. The daily variation in thunderstorm cells we obtained is consistent with the data from other works. There are no differences in other thunderstorm characteristics between the regions under study. This might be due to peculiarities of the analysis method. On the basis of the work performed, we propose sites for new points of our own lightning location network, as well as additional methods of cluster analysis.
Measurement of Siberian Radioheliograph cable delays
Authors: Lesovoi Sergey , Globa Mariia
Published: December 2021

To achieve the maximum dynamic range of solar radio images obtained using aperture synthesis in relatively wide frequency bands 0.1−0.5 % of the operating frequency, it is necessary to compensate the signal propagation delays in the antenna receive path before calculating visibility functions (hereinafter visibilities). When visibilities are corrected without delay compensation, the signal-to-noise ratio decreases due to residual phase slopes in the receiving system bandwidth. In addition to enhancing dynamic range, preliminary compensation for delays simplifies real-time imaging — no antenna gain calibration is required to get a first approximation image. The requirements for the accuracy of antenna placement are also reduced — in contrast to the measurement of the phase visibility error, the measurement of the delay is actually not so critical to the antenna position errors that are larger than the operating wavelength. The instantaneous frequency band of the Siberian Radioheliograph, which determines the minimum step for measuring the phase slope, and hence the accuracy of determining the delay, is 10 MHz. At the speed of light in an optical fiber of ~0.7c, a step of 10 MHz makes it possible to unambiguously measure the difference between electrical lengths of cables up to 20 m and to correct antenna positions by radio observations, even if the error in the position of the antennas exceeds the operating wavelength. Correction of the band phase slopes during the observation time adapts the radio telescope to the temperature drift of delays and decreases antenna gain phase spread. This, in turn, leads to more stable solutions to systems of equations containing antenna gains as unknowns.
Identifying Perverse Incentives in Buyer Profiling on Online Trading Platforms
Authors: Kannan Karthik , Saha Rajib L. , Khern-am-nuai Warut
Published: December 2021

With advance machine learning and artificial intelligence models, the capability of online trading platforms to profile consumers to identify and understand their needs has substantially increased. In this study, we use an analytical model to study whether these platforms have an incentive to profile their customers as accurately as possible. We find that “payments-for-transactions” platforms (i.e., platforms that charge for transactions that occur on the platform) indeed have such incentives to accurately profile the customers. However, surprisingly, “payments-for-discoveries” platform (i.e., platforms that charge customers for discoveries) have a perverse incentive to deviate from accurate consumer profiling. Our study provides insights into underlying mechanisms that drive this perverse incentive and discuss circumstances that lead to such a perverse incentive.
What Makes a Good Image? Airbnb Demand Analytics Leveraging Interpretable Image Features
Authors: Zhang Shunyuan , Lee Dokyun , Singh Param Vir , Srinivasan Kannan
Published: December 2021

We study how Airbnb property demand changed after the acquisition of verified images (taken by Airbnb’s photographers) and explore what makes a good image for an Airbnb property. Using deep learning and difference-in-difference analyses on an Airbnb panel data set spanning 7,423 properties over 16 months, we find that properties with verified images had 8.98% higher occupancy than properties without verified images (images taken by the host). To explore what constitutes a good image for an Airbnb property, we quantify 12 human-interpretable image attributes that pertain to three artistic aspects—composition, color, and the figure-ground relationship—and we find systematic differences between the verified and unverified images. We also predict the relationship between each of the 12 attributes and property demand, and we find that most of the correlations are significant and in the theorized direction. Our results provide actionable insights for both Airbnb photographers and amateur host photographers who wish to optimize their images. Our findings contribute to and bridge the literature on photography and marketing (e.g., staging), which often either ignores the demand side (photography) or does not systematically characterize the images (marketing).

This paper was accepted by Juanjuan Zhang, marketing.
Prophet Inequalities for Independent and Identically Distributed Random Variables from an Unknown Distribution
Authors: Correa José , Dütting Paul , Fischer Felix , Schewior Kevin
Published: December 2021

A central object of study in optimal stopping theory is the single-choice prophet inequality for independent and identically distributed random variables: given a sequence of random variables [Formula: see text] drawn independently from the same distribution, the goal is to choose a stopping time τ such that for the maximum value of α and for all distributions, [Formula: see text]. What makes this problem challenging is that the decision whether [Formula: see text] may only depend on the values of the random variables [Formula: see text] and on the distribution F. For a long time, the best known bound for the problem had been [Formula: see text], but recently a tight bound of [Formula: see text] was obtained. The case where F is unknown, such that the decision whether [Formula: see text] may depend only on the values of the random variables [Formula: see text], is equally well motivated but has received much less attention. A straightforward guarantee for this case of [Formula: see text] can be derived from the well-known optimal solution to the secretary problem, where an arbitrary set of values arrive in random order and the goal is to maximize the probability of selecting the largest value. We show that this bound is in fact tight. We then investigate the case where the stopping time may additionally depend on a limited number of samples from F, and we show that, even with o(n) samples, [Formula: see text]. On the other hand, n samples allow for a significant improvement, whereas [Formula: see text] samples are equivalent to knowledge of the distribution: specifically, with n samples, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], and with [Formula: see text] samples, [Formula: see text] for any [Formula: see text].
Mixed-Projection Conic Optimization: A New Paradigm for Modeling Rank Constraints
Authors: Bertsimas Dimitris , Cory-Wright Ryan , Pauphilet Jean
Published: December 2021

Many central problems throughout optimization, machine learning, and statistics are equivalent to optimizing a low-rank matrix over a convex set. However, although rank constraints offer unparalleled modeling flexibility, no generic code currently solves these problems to certifiable optimality at even moderate sizes. Instead, low-rank optimization problems are solved via convex relaxations or heuristics that do not enjoy optimality guarantees. In “Mixed-Projection Conic Optimization: A New Paradigm for Modeling Rank Constraints,” Bertsimas, Cory-Wright, and Pauphilet propose a new approach for modeling and optimizing over rank constraints. They generalize mixed-integer optimization by replacing binary variables z that satisfy z2 =z with orthogonal projection matrices Y that satisfy Y2 = Y. This approach offers the following contributions: First, it supplies certificates of (near) optimality for low-rank problems. Second, it demonstrates that some of the best ideas in mixed-integer optimization, such as decomposition methods, cutting planes, relaxations, and random rounding schemes, admit straightforward extensions to mixed-projection optimization.
Immune Thrombocytopenia: A Rare Presentation of Pulmonary Sarcoidosis
Authors: da Silva Leal Mariana , Amado Carolina , Paracana Bárbara , Pereira Flávio , Sousa Mariana , Mendes Aurora
Published: December 2021

Thrombocytopenia may be the initial presentation of sarcoidosis, which is a systemic granulomatous disorder. Various pathophysiological mechanisms have been identified. Immune thrombocytopenia often has a severe presentation but may respond favourably to immunosuppressive therapy. There are no guidelines for the treatment of thrombocytopenia in sarcoidosis. However, in emergency situations with major bleeding, it seems reasonable to apply the current guidelines recommended for immune thrombocytopenia. The authors report a case of sarcoidosis presenting with severe thrombocytopenia, petechial rash, and nasal and gingival bleeding.
Grating-coupled excitation of high-phase-speed Dyakonov surface waves
Authors: Mujeeb Kiran , Faryad Muhammad , Lakhtakia Akhlesh , Urbina Julio V.
Published: December 2021

Excitation of high-phase-speed Dyakonov surface waves guided by a surface-relief grating made of a uniaxial dielectric material was theoretically studied using the rigorous coupled-wave approach for illumination by

p

- and/or

s

-polarized plane waves. The absorptance at a fixed value of the free-space wavelength was plotted against the polar angle of incidence, and absorptance peaks were correlated with the solution of the dispersion equation of the underlying canonical boundary-value problem for Dyakonov-surface-wave propagation. Both

p

- and

s

-polarized plane waves can excite the high-phase-speed Dyakonov surface waves. No, one, or multiple excitations of high-phase-speed Dyakonov surface waves are possible, depending upon the structural parameters of the grating. Excitation of a high-phase-speed Dyakonov surface wave as a specular Floquet harmonic also appears possible.
Switchable and tunable bifunctional THz metamaterial absorber
Authors: Zhang Baohe , Xu Kai-da
Published: December 2021

The recent rise of active materials offers new opportunities for dynamically tunable metamaterial devices. However, metamaterial devices with a dynamically switchable function are in high demand. Inspired by previous studies, a dynamically switchable and tunable bifunctional THz (THz) metamaterial absorber based on vanadium dioxide (

V
O

2

) and graphene is proposed and investigated in this paper. Using the phase transition properties of

V
O

2

, the switchable performance between broadband near-perfect absorption and multiband near-perfect absorption can be achieved. When

V
O

2

is in the metallic state, the designed metamaterial absorber acts as a broadband near-perfect absorber with more than 90% absorption in the frequency range from 2.6 THz to 7.5 THz. Alternatively, the designed metamaterial absorber with the same geometry can be transformed into a tunable multiband absorber when

V
O

2

is converted to the insulated state. The performance of the absorber is analyzed by the multiple interference theory (MIT), which is in good agreement with the numerical simulation results. Due to the high symmetry of the structure, the presented absorber exhibits excellent polarization insensitivity and wide incident-angle stability, which opens a direction to design a new type of multifunctional metamaterial devices in the THz regime.
Teleportation-based noiseless quantum amplification of coherent states of light
Authors: Fiurášek Jaromír
Published: December 2021

We propose and theoretically analyze a teleportation-based scheme for the high-fidelity noiseless quantum amplification of coherent states of light. In our approach, the probabilistic noiseless quantum amplification operation is encoded into a suitable auxiliary two-mode entangled state and then applied to the input coherent state via continuous-variable quantum teleportation. The scheme requires conditioning on the outcomes of homodyne measurements in the teleportation protocol. In contrast to high-fidelity noiseless quantum amplifiers based on combination of conditional single-photon addition and subtraction, the present scheme requires only photon subtraction in combination with auxiliary Gaussian squeezed vacuum states. We first provide a pure-state description of the protocol which allows us to to clearly explain its principles and functioning. Next we develop a more comprehensive model based on phase-space representation of quantum states, that accounts for various experimental imperfections such as excess noise in the auxiliary squeezed states or limited efficiency of the single-photon detectors that can only distinguish the presence or absence of photons. We present and analyze predictions of this phase-space model of the noiseless teleamplifier.
Patterned achromatic elliptical polarizer for short-wave infrared imaging polarimetry
Authors: Jiang Linan , Miller Sawyer , Tu Xingzhou , Smith Matt , Zou Yang , Reininger Francis , Pau Stanley
Published: December 2021

Short-wave infrared (SWIR) imaging polarimetry has widespread applications in telecommunication, medical imaging, surveillance, remote-sensing, and industrial metrology. In this work, we design, fabricate, and test an achromatic SWIR elliptical polarizer, which is a key component of SWIR imaging polarimetry. The elliptical polarizer is made of a patterned linear polarizer and a patterned optical elliptical retarder. The linear polarizer is a wire grid polarizer. The elliptical retarder is constructed with three layers of nematic phase A-plate liquid crystal polymer (LCP) films with different fast axis orientations and physical film thicknesses. For each LCP layer, four arrays of hexagonal patterns with individual fast-axis orientations are realized utilizing selective linearly polarized ultraviolet (UV) irradiation on a photo-alignment polymer film. The Mueller matrices of the optical filters were measured in the wavelength range 1000 nm to 1600 nm and compared with theory. Our results demonstrate the functionality and quality of the patterned retarders with normalized analyzer vector parameter deviation below 7% over this wavelength range. To the best of our knowledge, this work represents the first polymer-based patterned elliptical polarizer for SWIR polarimetry imaging applications.
Highly sensitive methane detection based on light-induced thermoelastic spectroscopy with a 2.33 µm diode laser and adaptive Savitzky-Golay filtering
Authors: Liu Xiaonan , Qiao Shunda , Ma Yufei
Published: December 2021

In this manuscript, a highly sensitive methane (CH4) sensor based on light-induced thermoelastic spectroscopy (LITES) using a 2.33 µm diode laser with high power is demonstrated for the first time. A quartz tuning fork (QTF) with an intrinsic resonance frequency of 32.768 kHz was used to detect the light-induced thermoelastic signal. A Herriot multi-pass cell with an effective optical path of 10 m was adopted to increase the laser absorption. The laser wavelength modulation depth and concentration response of this CH4-LITES sensor were investigated. The sensor showed excellent long term stability when Allan deviation analysis was performed. An adaptive Savitzky-Golay (S-G) filtering algorithm with χ2 statistical criterion was firstly introduced to the LITES technique. The SNR of this CH4-LITES sensor was improved by a factor of 2.35 and the minimum detection limit (MDL) with an integration time of 0.1 s was optimized to 0.5 ppm. This reported CH4-LITES sensor with sub ppm-level detection ability is of great value in applications such as environmental monitoring and industrial safety.
Ion-based high-order harmonic generation from water window to keV region with a transverse disruptive pulse for quasi-phase-matching
Authors: Liu Yao-Li , Wang Jyhpyng , Chu Hsu-hsin
Published: December 2021

A scheme for ion-based high-harmonic generation from water window to keV x-ray is investigated. He1+ ions with 54.42-eV ionization potential extend the harmonic cutoff energy to 1 keV. The transverse selective-zoning method of quasi-phase-matching is utilized to overcome the severe plasma dispersion in a highly ionized medium. The calculated conversion efficiency reaches about 15% of the perfect phase-matching condition. Wavelength tunability is achieved by incorporating a programmable spatial-light modulator to control the quasi-phase-matching pattern.
All-fiber negative axicon probe with a Bessel beam for cellular-level low coherence phase microscopy and refractive index measurement
Authors: Gupta Pooja , Vairagi Kaushal , Mondal Samir K
Published: December 2021

We demonstrate an all-fiber negative axicon probe with a Bessel beam for low coherence phase microscopy including refractive index measurement of a cellular level sample in reflection mode. The negative axicon chemically incised at the distal end of the optical fiber spawns the Bessel beam. The system provides a phase sensitivity of ∼0.28 mrad and optical path length sensitivity of ∼23 pm in air. The lateral resolution and working distance are found to be ∼3.91 µm and 650 µm to exhibit the performance of the system experimentally. The three-dimensional (3D) phase map of the cheek cell along with the refractive index is obtained from the reflected power spectrum. The combined low coherence phase microscopy and refractive index measurement provides the system with a potential for biological application. Also, the all-fiber probe can be easily integrated as an endoscopic probe.
Using lossy mode resonance for in situ measurement of the refractive index of a layer deposited on an optical fiber lateral surface
Authors: Savelyev E. A. , Sudas D. P. , Kuztestov P. I.
Published: December 2021

We demonstrate an approach that allows for measurement of the real part of the refractive index (RI) and the thickness of the coating deposited on the cylindrical surface of a thinned optical fiber using a tin dioxide (SnO2) film as an example. While the layer is being synthesized, lossy mode resonances (LMRs) are observed in the transmission spectra of the fiber light guide at any particular wavelength at regular intervals. It is shown that there are at least two functions by which the RI of a film can be calculated from the obtained spectra.
Integral imaging using a MoS2 Schottky diode
Authors: Choi Sungwon , Ahn Jongtae , Ahn Il-Ho , Hwang Do Kyung , Park Min-Chul
Published: December 2021

We report the performance of a MoS2 Schottky diode on three-dimensional (3D) integral imaging. The MoS2 Schottky diode has asymmetric Pt electrodes for the Schottky contact and Ti/Au electrodes for the ohmic contact. Such a Schottky diode exhibits an excellent rectification ratio of 103, a broad spectral photoresponse in the 450–700 nm range, an almost ideal linearity of 1, and a wide linear dynamic range of 106 dB. We successfully conduct object pickup experiments using integral imaging and validate the feasibility of a single-pixel imager as a 3D image sensor.
Morphology and waveguiding properties of ultrafast-laser-inscribed type-II waveguides in IG2
Authors: Hu W. , Kilinc M. , Gebremichael W. , Dorrer C. , Qiao J.
Published: December 2021

Ultrafast-laser-inscribed type-II waveguides inside the chalcogenide glass IG2 and the morphology of the inscribed tracks are presented for the first time to our knowledge. Self-organized periodic structures induced by the ultrafast laser in the tracks are characterized. The near-infrared waveguiding properties are studied for various pulse energies, durations, repetition rates, and polarization states, as well as different separations between the two written tracks. A propagation loss of ∼ 2.3 dB/cm is demonstrated in a type-II waveguide formed in IG2.
Self-powered heterojunction photodetector based on thermal evaporated p-CuI and hydrothermal synthesised n-TiO2 nanorods
Authors: Zhou Zhiying , Li Xiaoxuan , Zhao Fengzhou , Wang Cheng , Zhang Menglong , He Shunli , Zhang Yuqi , Zhang Dengying , Xu Man , Zhang Lichun
Published: December 2021

CuI film was grown by thermal evaporation technology on TiO2 nanorods array synthesized using a hydrothermal method, and a p-CuI/n-TiO2 heterostructure photodetector was constructed. The structure, morphology, light absorption, and photoresponse performance of the device were investigated. The heterojunction detector is self-powered and sensitive to light in the range of 320nm∼450nm. At 0V, the on/off ratio of the device is ∼770. The peak responsivity (0V, 410nm) is about 4.5mA/W and the peak detectivity is 1.08×1011 Jones. Also, the reproducibility and stability of the heterojunction photodetector are excellent. This work provides an effective route for the study of self-powered photodetectors.
Green und Sustainable Software im Kontext von Software Qualitätsmodellen
Authors: Gerstlacher Julia , Groher Iris , Plösch Reinhold
Published: December 2021

Insbesondere durch die gegenwärtige Corona-Krise ist der Digitalisierungsdruck gestiegen. Doch Digitalisierung hat auch ihre Schattenseiten, in Form von steigenden Emissionen und einem hohen Bedarf an Energie und Ressourcen. Konzepte wie Green Software, Green in IT und Green by IT sollen ein Bewusstsein für diese Thematik schaffen und dazu beitragen Nachhaltigkeitsziele zu erreichen. Ziel dieser Publikation ist die Untersuchung von Green Software Qualitätsmodellen, welche auf dem Standard ISO/IEC 25010 basieren. Im Rahmen einer Literaturrecherche haben wir Publikationen herausgefiltert, welche im Zeitraum 2011 bis 2020 veröffentlicht wurden und sich mit Green Software und Nachhaltigkeit im Kontext von Softwarequalität (ISO/IEC 25010) beschäftigt haben. Wir haben 7 verschiedene Modelle gefunden, welche Nachhaltigkeit in der folgenden Weise berücksichtigen: als eigenes Konzept von Softwarequalität (2 von 7), als Erweiterung des ISO/IEC 25010 (3 von 7), Nachhaltigkeit im ISO/IEC 25010 bereits enthalten (1 von 7), als Einflussfaktor, aber nicht als Teil der Produktqualität. Ein Modell lässt sich zu mehreren Betrachtungsweisen zuordnen. Fast alle Modelle (5 von 7) adressieren dabei die Dimension der ökologischen Nachhaltigkeit. Soziale Nachhaltigkeit wird in 2 von 7 Modellen angesprochen. Lediglich 1 Modell berücksichtigt zusätzlich ökonomische, technische und individuelle Nachhaltigkeit. Im Kontext von Green und Sustainable Software werden, in den 7 Modellen, die folgenden Kriterien des ISO/IEC 25010 am häufigsten genannt: Performance Efficiency, Usability und Freedom from risk. Unser Beitrag liegt in der Identifikation von Green Software Qualitätsmodellen und dem ausführlichen Vergleich der einzelnen Modelle. Insbesondere analysieren wir, welche Qualitätskriterien des ISO/IEC 25010 als relevant für die Entwicklung von Green und Sustainable Software angesehen werden und wie die einzelnen Modelle Nachhaltigkeit adressieren.
Relationship of Notch Signal, Surfactant Protein A, and Indomethacin in Cervix During Preterm Birth: Mast Cell and Jagged-2 May Be Key in Understanding Infection-mediated Preterm Birth
Authors: Avci Sema , Kuscu Nilay , Kilinc Leyla , Ustunel Ismail
Published: December 2021

Although it is thought that there is a close relationship between Notch signal and preterm birth, the functioning of this mechanism in the cervix is unknown. The efficacy of surfactants and prostaglandin inhibitors in preterm labor is also still unclear. In this study, 48 female CD-1 mice were distributed to pregnant control (PC), Sham, PBS, indomethacin (2 mg/kg; intraperitoneally), lipopolysaccharides (LPS) (25 μg/100 μl; intrauterine), LPS + IND, and Surfactant Protein A Block (SP-A Block: SP-A B; the anti-SP-A antibody was applied 20 µg/100μl; intrauterine) groups. Tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and Western blot analysis. LPS administration increased the expression of N1 Dll-1 and Jagged-2 (Jag-2). Although Toll-like receptor (Tlr)-2 significantly increased in the LPS-treated and SP-A-blocked groups, Tlr-4 significantly increased only in the LPS-exposed groups. It was observed that Jag-2 is specifically expressed by mast cells. Overall, this experimental model shows that some protein responses increase throughout the uterus, starting at a specific point on the cervix epithelium. Surfactant Protein A, which we observed to be significantly reduced by LPS, may be associated with the regulation of the epithelial response, especially during preterm delivery due to infection. On the contrary, prostaglandin inhibitors can be considered an option to delay infection-related preterm labor with their dose-dependent effects. Finally, the link between mast cells and Jag-2 could potentially be a control switch for preterm birth:
HES1 is a novel downstream modifier of the SHH-GLI3 Axis in the development of preaxial polydactyly
Authors: Sharma Deepika , Mirando Anthony J. , Leinroth Abigail , Long Jason T. , Karner Courtney M. , Hilton Matthew J.
Published: December 2021

Sonic Hedgehog/GLI3 signaling is critical in regulating digit number, such that Gli3-deficiency results in polydactyly and Shh-deficiency leads to digit number reductions. SHH/GLI3 signaling regulates cell cycle factors controlling mesenchymal cell proliferation, while simultaneously regulatingGrem1to coordinate BMP-induced chondrogenesis. SHH/GLI3 signaling also coordinates the expression of additional genes, however their importance in digit formation remain unknown. Utilizing genetic and molecular approaches, we identified HES1 as a downstream modifier of the SHH/GLI signaling axis capable of inducing preaxial polydactyly (PPD), required for Gli3-deficient PPD, and capable of overcoming digit number constraints of Shh-deficiency. Our data indicate that HES1, a direct SHH/GLI signaling target, induces mesenchymal cell proliferation via suppression ofCdkn1b, while inhibiting chondrogenic genes and the anterior autopod boundary regulator,Pax9. These findings establish HES1 as a critical downstream effector of SHH/GLI3 signaling in the development of PPD.
RNA-driven JAZF1-SUZ12 gene fusion in human endometrial stromal cells
Authors: Gupta Sachin Kumar , Jea Jocelyn Duen-Ya , Yen Laising
Published: December 2021

Oncogenic fusion genes as the result of chromosomal rearrangements are important for understanding genome instability in cancer cells and developing useful cancer therapies. To date, the mechanisms that create such oncogenic fusion genes are poorly understood. Previously we reported an unappreciated RNA-driven mechanism in human prostate cells in which the expression of chimeric RNA induces specified gene fusions in a sequence-dependent manner. One fundamental question yet to be addressed is whether such RNA-driven gene fusion mechanism is generalizable, or rather, a special case restricted to prostate cells. In this report, we demonstrated that the expression of designed chimeric RNAs in human endometrial stromal cells leads to the formation of JAZF1-SUZ12, a cancer fusion gene commonly found in low-grade endometrial stromal sarcomas. The process is specified by the sequence of chimeric RNA involved and inhibited by estrogen or progesterone. Furthermore, it is the antisense rather than sense chimeric RNAs that effectively drive JAZF1-SUZ12 gene fusion. The induced fusion gene is validated both at the RNA and the genomic DNA level. The ability of designed chimeric RNAs to drive and recapitulate the formation of JAZF1-SUZ12 gene fusion in endometrial cells represents another independent case of RNA-driven gene fusion, suggesting that RNA-driven genomic recombination is a permissible mechanism in mammalian cells. The results could have fundamental implications in the role of RNA in genome stability, and provide important insight in early disease mechanisms related to the formation of cancer fusion genes.
Characterization of the adaptive immune response of donors receiving live anthrax vaccine
Authors: Firstova Victoria V. , Shakhova Anastasia S. , Riabko Alena K. , Silkina Marina V. , Zeninskaya Natalia A. , Romanenko Yana O. , Marin Maksim A. , Rogozin Methun M. , Kartseva Alena S. , Dyatlov Ivan A. , Shemyakin Igor G.
Published: December 2021

Live anthrax vaccine containing spores from attenuated strains STI-1 of Bacillus anthracis is used in Russia and former CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) to prevent anthrax. In this paper we studied the duration of circulation of antibodies specific to spore antigens, the protective antigen (PA), the lethal factor (LF) and their domains (D) in donors’ blood at different times after their immunization with live anthrax vaccine. The relationship between the toxin neutralization activity level and the level of antibodies to PA, LF and their domains was tested. The effect of age, gender and number of vaccinations on the level of adaptive post-vaccination immune response has been studied. It was shown that antibodies against PA-D1 circulate in the blood of donors for 1 year or more after immunization with live anthrax vaccine. Antibodies against all domains of LF and PA-D4 were detected in 11 months after vaccination. Antibodies against the spores were detected in 8 months after vaccination. A moderate positive correlation was found between the titers of antibodies to PA, LF, or their domains, and the TNA of the samples of blood serum from the donors.
Spatial associations between plants and vegetation community characteristics provide insights into the processes influencing plant rarity
Authors: Sritharan Meena S. , Scheele Ben C. , Blanchard Wade , Lindenmayer David B.
Published: December 2021

Determining the drivers of plant rarity is a major challenge in ecology. Analysing spatial associations between different plant species can provide an exploratory avenue for understanding the ecological drivers of plant rarity. Here, we examined the different types of spatial associations between rare and common plants to determine if they influence the occurrence patterns of rare species. We completed vegetation surveys at 86 sites in woodland, forest, and heath communities in south-east Australia. We also examined two different rarity measures to quantify how categorisation criteria affected our results. Rare species were more likely to have positive associations with both rare and common species across all three vegetation communities. However, common species had positive or negative associations with rare and other common species, depending on the vegetation community in which they occurred. Rare species were positively associated with species diversity in forest communities. In woodland communities, rare species were associated negatively with species diversity but positively associated with species evenness. Rare species with high habitat specificity were more clustered spatially than expected by chance. Efforts to understand the drivers of plant rarity should use rarity definitions that consider habitat specificity. Our findings suggest that examining spatial associations between plants can help understand the drivers of plant rarity.
Data protection, data management, and data sharing: Stakeholder perspectives on the protection of personal health information in South Africa
Authors: Staunton Ciara , Tschigg Kathrina , Sherman Gayle
Published: December 2021

The Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) 2013 came into force in South Africa on 1 July 2020. It seeks to strengthen the processing of personal information, including health information. While POPIA is to be welcomed, there are concerns about the impact it will have on the processing of health information. To ensure that the National Health Laboratory Service [NHLS] is compliant with these new strict processing requirements and that compliance does not negatively impact upon its current screening, treatment, surveillance and research mandate, it was decided to consider the development of a NHLS POPIA Code of Conduct for Personal Health. As part of the process of developing such a Code and better understand the challenges faced in the processing of personal health information in South Africa, 19 semi-structured interviews with stakeholders were conducted between June and September 2020. Overall, respondents welcomed the introduction of POPIA. However, they felt that there are tensions between the strengthening of data protection and the use of personal information for individual patient care, treatment programmes, and research. Respondents reported a need to rethink the management of personal health information in South Africa and identified 5 issues needing to be addressed at a national and an institutional level: an understanding of the importance of personal information; an understanding of POPIA and data protection; improve data quality; improve transparency in data use; and improve accountability in data use. The application of POPIA to the processing of personal health information is challenging, complex, and likely costly. However, personal health information must be appropriately managed to ensure the privacy of the data subject is protected, but equally that it is used as a resource in the individual’s and wider public interest.