bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Citizen science for monitoring the spatial and temporal dynamics of malaria vectors in relation to environmental risk factors in Ruhuha, Rwanda
Authors: Murindahabi Marilyn Milumbu , Hoseni Arash , Corné Vreugdenhil L. C. , van Vliet Arnold J. H. , Umupfasoni Jackie , Mutabazi Alphonse , Hakizimana Emmanuel , Poortvliet P. Marijn , Mutesa Leon , Takken Willem , Koenraadt Constantianus J. M.
Published: December 2021

Background

As part of malaria prevention and control efforts, the distribution and density of malaria mosquitoes requires continuous monitoring. Resources for long-term surveillance of malaria vectors, however, are often limited. The aim of the research was to evaluate the value of citizen science in providing insight into potential malaria vector hotspots and other malaria relevant information, and to determine predictors of malaria vector abundance in a region where routine mosquito monitoring has not been established to support vector surveillance.

Methods

A 1-year citizen science programme for malaria mosquito surveillance was implemented in five villages of the Ruhuha sector in Bugesera district, Rwanda. In total, 112 volunteer citizens were enrolled and reported monthly data on mosquitoes collected in their peridomestic environment using handmade carbon-dioxide baited traps. Additionally, they reported mosquito nuisance experienced as well as the number of confirmed malaria cases in their household.

Results

In total, 3793 female mosquitoes were collected, of which 10.8% were anophelines. For the entire period, 16% of the volunteers reported having at least one confirmed malaria case per month, but this varied by village and month. During the study year 66% of the households reported at least one malaria case. From a sector perspective, a higher mosquito and malaria vector abundance was observed in the two villages in the south of the study area. The findings revealed significant positive correlations among nuisance reported and confirmed malaria cases, and also between total number of Culicidae and confirmed malaria cases, but not between the numbers of the malaria vectorAnopheles gambiaeand malaria cases. At the sector level, of thirteen geographical risk factors considered for inclusion in multiple regression, distance to the river network and elevation played a role in explaining mosquito and malaria mosquito abundance.

Conclusions

The study demonstrates that a citizen science approach can contribute to mosquito monitoring, and can help to identify areas that, in view of limited resources for control, are at higher risk of malaria.
Circulating tumor DNA: a noninvasive biomarker for tracking ovarian cancer
Authors: Yang Fang , Tang Jun , Zhao Zihao , Zhao Chunling , Xiang Yuancai
Published: December 2021

Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women worldwide. Despite the development of technologies over decades to improve the diagnosis and treatment of patients with ovarian cancer, the survival rate remains dismal, mainly because most patients are diagnosed at a late stage. Traditional treatment methods and biomarkers such as cancer antigen-125 as a cancer screening tool lack specificity and cannot offer personalized combinatorial therapy schemes. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a promising biomarker for ovarian cancer and can be detected using a noninvasive liquid biopsy. A wide variety of ctDNA applications are being elucidated in multiple studies for tracking ovarian carcinoma during diagnostic and prognostic evaluations of patients and are being integrated into clinical trials to evaluate the disease. Furthermore, ctDNA analysis may be used in combination with multiple “omic” techniques to analyze proteins, epigenetics, RNA, nucleosomes, exosomes, and associated immune markers to promote early detection. However, several technical and biological hurdles impede the application of ctDNA analysis. Certain intrinsic features of ctDNA that may enhance its utility as a biomarker are problematic for its detection, including ctDNA lengths, copy number variations, and methylation. Before the development of ctDNA assays for integration in the clinic, such issues are required to be resolved since these assays have substantial potential as a test for cancer screening. This review focuses on studies concerning the potential clinical applications of ctDNA in ovarian cancer diagnosis and discusses our perspective on the clinical research aimed to treat this daunting form of cancer.
n-Heptane isomerization activities of Pt catalyst supported on micro/mesoporous composites
Authors: Ghaderi Z. , Peyrovi M. H. , Parsafard N.
Published: December 2021

Pt loaded on a series of MCM-48 silica and composites with HZSM-5 zeolite, HY zeolite, or TiO2has been prepared and studied for n-heptane isomerization reaction at 200–350 °C. The structural characterization, acid distribution, and morphology of these catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, UV–Vis diffuse reflectance, scanning electron microscope, temperature-programmed desorption of NH3, and nitrogen adsorption–desorption methods. The results show that these catalysts have a good selectivity to multi branched isomers, while producing low aromatic compounds. Also, these new composite catalysts prove the catalytic stability during the time of reaction. The most desirable results, and significantly higher n-heptane conversion and isomerization selectivity were achieved with Pt/MCM48-HZSM5 catalyst.
The clinical features of pulmonary artery involvement in Takayasu arteritis and its relationship with ischemic heart diseases and infection
Authors: Mukoyama Hiroki , Shirakashi Mirei , Tanaka Nozomi , Iwasaki Takeshi , Nakajima Toshiki , Onizawa Hideo , Tsuji Hideaki , Kitagori Koji , Akizuki Shuji , Nakashima Ran , Murakami Kosaku , Tanaka Masao , Morinobu Akio , Yoshifuji Hajime
Published: December 2021

Background

Pulmonary artery involvement (PAI) in Takayasu arteritis (TAK) can lead to severe complications, but the relationship between the two has not been fully clarified.

Methods

We retrospectively investigated 166 consecutive patients with TAK who attended Kyoto University Hospital from 1997 to 2018. The demographic data, clinical symptoms and signs, comorbidities, treatments, and imaging findings were compared between patients with and without PAI. TAK was diagnosed based on the American College of Rheumatology Classification Criteria (1990) or the Japanese Clinical Diagnostic Criteria (2008). PAI was identified using enhanced computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, or lung scintigraphy.

Results

PAI was detected in 14.6% (n = 24) of total TAK patients. Dyspnea (25.0% vs. 8.6%; p = 0.043), pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) (16.7% vs. 0.0%; p < 0.001), ischemic heart disease (IHD) (29% vs. 9.3%; p = 0.018), respiratory infection (25.0% vs. 6.0%; p = 0.009), and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection (20.8% vs. 0.8%; p < 0.001) were significantly more frequent, and renal artery stenosis (0% vs. 17%; p = 0.007) was significantly less frequent in TAK patients with PAI than in those without PAI. PAI and biologics were risk factors for NTM.

Conclusions

TAK patients with PAI more frequently have dyspnea, PAH, IHD, and respiratory infection, including NTM, than TAK patients without PAI.
Scalable user selection in FDD massive MIMO
Authors: Zhang Xing , Sabharwal Ashutosh
Published: December 2021

User subset selection requires full downlink channel state information to realize effective multi-user beamforming in frequency-division duplexing (FDD) massive multi-input multi-output (MIMO) systems. However, the channel estimation overhead scales with the number of users in FDD systems. In this paper, we propose a novel propagation domain-based user selection scheme, labeled as zero-measurement selection, for FDD massive MIMO systems with the aim of reducing the channel estimation overhead that scales with the number of users. The key idea is to infer downlink user channel norm and inter-user channel correlation from uplink channel in the propagation domain. In zero-measurement selection, the base-station performs downlink user selection before any downlink channel estimation. As a result, the downlink channel estimation overhead for both user selection and beamforming is independent of the total number of users. Then, we evaluate zero-measurement selection with both measured and simulated channels. The results show that zero-measurement selection achieves up to 92.5% weighted sum rate of genie-aided user selection on the average and scales well with both the number of base-station antennas and the number of users. We also employ simulated channels for further performance validation, and the numerical results yield similar observations as the experimental findings.
ASS1 and ASL suppress growth in clear cell renal cell carcinoma via altered nitrogen metabolism
Authors: Khare Sanika , Kim Laura C. , Lobel Graham , Doulias Paschalis-Thomas , Ischiropoulos Harry , Nissim Itzhak , Keith Brian , Simon M. Celeste
Published: December 2021

Background

Kidney cancer is a common adult malignancy in the USA. Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), the predominant subtype of kidney cancer, is characterized by widespread metabolic changes. Urea metabolism is one such altered pathway in ccRCC. The aim of this study was to elucidate the contributions of urea cycle enzymes, argininosuccinate synthase 1 (ASS1), and argininosuccinate lyase (ASL) towards ccRCC progression.

Methods

We employed a combination of computational, genetic, and metabolomic tools along with in vivo animal models to establish a tumor-suppressive role for ASS1 and ASL in ccRCC.

Results

We show that the mRNA and protein expression of urea cycle enzymes ASS1 and ASL are reduced in ccRCC tumors when compared to the normal kidney. Furthermore, the loss of ASL in HK-2 cells (immortalized renal epithelial cells) promotes growth in 2D and 3D growth assays, while combined re-expression of ASS1 and ASL in ccRCC cell lines suppresses growth in 2D, 3D, and in vivo xenograft models. We establish that this suppression is dependent on their enzymatic activity. Finally, we demonstrate that conservation of cellular aspartate, regulation of nitric oxide synthesis, and pyrimidine production play pivotal roles in ASS1+ASL-mediated growth suppression in ccRCC.

Conclusions

ccRCC tumors downregulate the components of the urea cycle including the enzymes argininosuccinate synthase 1 (ASS1) and argininosuccinate lyase (ASL). These cytosolic enzymes lie at a critical metabolic hub in the cell and are involved in aspartate catabolism and arginine and nitric oxide biosynthesis. Loss of ASS1 and ASL helps cells redirect aspartate towards pyrimidine synthesis and support enhanced proliferation. Additionally, reduced levels of ASS1 and ASL might help regulate nitric oxide (NO) generation and mitigate its cytotoxic effects. Overall, our work adds to the understanding of urea cycle enzymes in a context-independent of ureagenesis, their role in ccRCC progression, and uncovers novel potential metabolic vulnerabilities in ccRCC.
Physical modeling of the long-term behavior of integral abutment bridge backfill reinforced with tire-rubber
Authors: Zadehmohamad Mehdi , Bazaz Jafar Bolouri , Riahipour Ramin , Farhangi Visar
Published: December 2021

The primary objective of this study is to investigate the benefits of adding tire rubber as an inclusion to backfill behind integral bridge abutments. In this respect, four physical model tests that enable cyclic loading of the backfill-abutment are conducted and evaluated. Each test consisted of 120 load cycles, and both the horizontal force applied to the top of the abutment wall and the pressures along the wall-backfill interface is measured. The primary variable in this study is the tire rubber content in the backfill soil behind the abutment. Results show adding tire rubber to the backfill would be beneficial for both pressure and settlement behind the abutment. According to results, adding tire rubber to soil decreases the equivalent peak lateral soil coefficient (Keq-peak) up to 55% and earth pressure coefficient ($${K}^{*}$$

K

∗

) at upper parts of the abutment up to 59%. Moreover, the settlements of the soil behind the wall are decreased up to 60%.
Novel Insight Into the Association Between Obesity and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Occurrence and Recurrence: High-Throughput Microarray Data Set Analysis of Differentially Expressed Genes
Authors: Hassani Seyedeh Faezeh , Sayaf Masoud , Danandeh Seyedeh Sara , Nourollahzadeh Zahra , Shahmohammadi Mahshid , Akbari Sanaz , Shirvaliloo Milad , Sheervalilou Roghayeh , Shams Zinat
Published: December 2021

PURPOSE

This study aims to identify potential biomarkers of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) occurrence/recurrence and obesity, along with the molecular mechanisms that involve these biomarkers.

METHODS

Three microarray data sets, namely GSE18897, GSE25097, and GSE36376 (genetic suppressor elements associated with obesity, tumor, and recurrence, respectively), were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus database to be investigated for their expression as differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in HCC and obesity. The functional and pathway enrichment analysis of these DEGs were identified by the Database for Annotation Visualization and Integrated Discovery. The protein-protein interaction network analysis was performed with STRING online tool and Cytoscape software.

RESULTS

One hundred sixty common DEGs were screened. We found that these genes were associated with certain pathways such as metabolic pathways, terpenoid backbone biosynthesis, and adipocytokine signaling pathway. The involvements of 10 genes, including RPS16, RPS7, CCT3, HNRNPA2B1, EIF4G1, PSMC4, NHP2, EGR1, FDPS, and MCM4, were identified in the subnetwork. HNRNPA2B1 and RPS7 in the GSE18897 data set, RPS16, RPS7, CCT3, HNRNPA2B1, PSMC4, NHP2, FDPS, and MCM4 in the GSE25097 data set, and RPS16, RPS7, CCT3, HNRNPA2B1, EIF4G1, PSMC4, NHP2, FDPS, and MCM4 in the GSE36376 data set exhibited positive fold changes.

CONCLUSION

These DEGs and pathways could be of diagnostic value as potential biomarkers involved in the pathogenesis of HCC, pertaining to both obesity and HCC occurrence/recurrence.
Accuracy of Pathologic Diagnosis in Patients With Lymphoma and Survival: A Prospective Analysis From Botswana
Authors: Chipidza Fallon E. , Kayembe Mukendi K. A. , Nkele Isaac , Efstathiou Jason A. , Chabner Bruce A. , Abramson Jeremy , Dryden-Peterson Scott L. , Sohani Aliyah R.
Published: December 2021

PURPOSE

With intense HIV epidemics, southern African countries have a high burden of classic Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). However, suboptimal access to pathology resources limits subtype classification. We sought to assess the diagnostic accuracy of specimens classified as lymphoma and to determine association between discordant pathologic diagnosis and overall survival.

METHODS

Seventy patients with CHL or NHL and treated at three Botswana hospitals from 2010 to 2016 were analyzed. Local pathologic assessment relied primarily on morphology. All cases underwent secondary US hematopathology review, which is considered gold standard.

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 58 months. The overall reclassification rate was 20 of 70 cases (29%). All 20 CHL cases were correctly classified in Botswana, and mixed cellularity was the most common subtype, diagnosed in 11 (55%) cases. Of 47 confirmed NHL cases, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma was the final US diagnosis in 28 cases (60%), another aggressive B-cell NHL in nine (19%), an indolent B-cell NHL in six (13%), and T-cell NHL in four (9%). Common types of diagnostic discordance included NHL subtype reclassification (11 of 20, 55%) and CHL reclassified as NHL (7 of 20, 35%). Concordant versus discordant diagnosis after secondary review was associated with improved 5-year overall survival (60.1% v 26.3%, P = .0066). Discordant diagnosis was independently associated with increased risk of death (adjusted hazard ratio 2.733; 95% CI, 1.102 to 6.775; P = .0300) even after stratifying results by CHL versus NHL.

CONCLUSION

In this single prospective cohort, discordant pathologic diagnosis was associated with a nearly three-fold increased risk of death. Limited access to relatively basic diagnostic techniques impairs treatment decisions and leads to poor patient outcomes in low-resource countries.
Low Programmed Death-Ligand 1–Expressing Subgroup Outcomes of First-Line Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Gastric or Esophageal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Zhao Joseph J. , Yap Dominic Wei Ting , Chan Yiong Huak , Tan Benjamin Kye Jyn , Teo Chong Boon , Syn Nicholas L. , Smyth Elizabeth C. , Soon Yu Yang , Sundar Raghav
Published: December 2021

PURPOSE

The US Food and Drug Administration has granted regulatory approval for the use of nivolumab—an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)—in the first-line treatment of advanced gastric or esophageal adenocarcinoma (GEAC), regardless of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression. However, the efficacy of ICIs in low PD-L1–expressing tumors remains unclear.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study aims to reconstruct unreported Kaplan-Meier (KM) plots of PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS) subgroups of randomized phase III trials comparing the addition of ICIs with conventional chemotherapy in the first-line treatment of GEAC. A graphical reconstructive algorithm was adopted to estimate time-to-event outcomes from reported overall survival and progression-free survival (OS and PFS) KM plots describing overall or subgroup cohorts. Using reconstructed time-to-event outcomes, KMSubtraction conducts bipartite matching of patients from the reported subgroup among the overall cohort. By excluding matched patients, KM plots and survival analyses of the unreported subgroups were retrieved.

RESULTS

CheckMate-649, KEYNOTE-062, and KEYNOTE-590 were included. Two PD-L1 subgroups were identified with data unreported in the primary manuscripts: PD-L1 CPS 1-4 from CheckMate-649 and PD-L1 CPS 1-9 from KEYNOTE-062. No significant differences in OS and PFS were demonstrated in ICI-chemotherapy combinations when compared with chemotherapy among CheckMate-649 PD-L1 CPS 1-4 (OS: hazard ratio [HR] = 0.950, 95% CI, 0.747 to 1.209, P = .678; PFS: HR = 0.958, 95% CI, 0.743 to 1.236, P = .743) and KEYNOTE-062 PD-L1 CPS 1-9 subgroups. In the KEYNOTE-062 PD-L1 CPS 1-9 subgroup, patients treated with pembrolizumab had an increased hazard of tumor progression (HR = 2.092, 95% CI, 1.661 to 2.635, P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Using KMSubtraction, data of PD-L1 subgroups previously unreported by primary manuscripts of pivotal clinical trials were retrieved. These data suggest the lack of benefit in the addition of ICI to chemotherapy in low PD-L1–expressing GEAC tumors.
Multi-disciplinary Approach for Drug and Gene Delivery Systems to the Brain
Authors: Ndemazie Nkafu Bechem , Inkoom Andriana , Morfaw Ellis Fualefeh , Smith Taylor , Aghimien Monica , Ebesoh Dexter , Agyare Edward
Published: December 2021

Drug delivery into the brain has for long been a huge challenge as the blood–brain barrier (BBB) offers great resistance to entry of foreign substances (with drugs inclusive) into the brain. This barrier in healthy individuals is protective to the brain, disallowing noxious substances present in the blood to get to the brain while allowing for the exchange of small molecules into the brain by diffusion. However, BBB is disrupted under certain disease conditions, such as cerebrovascular diseases including acute ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage, and neurodegenerative disorders including multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and cancers. This review aims to provide a broad overview of present-day strategies for brain drug delivery, emphasizing novel delivery systems. Hopefully, this review would inspire scientists and researchers in the field of drug delivery across BBB to uncover new techniques and strategies to optimize drug delivery to the brain. Considering the anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiological functioning of the BBB in health and disease conditions, this review is focused on the controversies drawn from conclusions of recently published studies on issues such as the penetrability of nanoparticles into the brain, and whether active targeted drug delivery into the brain could be achieved with the use of nanoparticles. We also extended the review to cover novel non-nanoparticle strategies such as using viral and peptide vectors and other non-invasive techniques to enhance brain uptake of drugs.

Graphical abstract
Phospholipase C-related but catalytically inactive protein acts as a positive regulator of insulin signalling in adipocytes
Authors: Gao Jing , Mizokami Akiko , Takeuchi Hiroshi , Li Aonan , Huang Fei , Nagano Haruki , Kanematsu Takashi , Jimi Eijiro , Hirata Masato
Published: December 2021

Insulin signalling is tightly controlled by various factors, but the exact molecular mechanism remains incompletely understood. We have previously reported that phospholipase C-related but catalytically inactive protein (PRIP; used here to refer to both PRIP-1 and PRIP-2, also known as PLCL1 and PLCL2, respectively) interacts with Akt1, the central molecule in insulin signalling. Here, we investigated whether PRIP is involved in the regulation of insulin signalling in adipocytes. We found that insulin signalling, including insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of the insulin receptor (IR), insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and Akt, and glucose uptake were impaired in adipocytes from PRIP double-knockout (PRIP-KO) mice compared with those from wild-type (WT) mice. The amount of IR expressed on the cell surface was decreased in PRIP-KO adipocytes. Immunoprecipitation assays showed that PRIP interacted with IR. The reduced cell surface IR in PRIP-KO adipocytes was comparable with that in WT cells when Rab5 (Rab5a, -5b and -5c) expression was silenced using specific siRNA. In contrast, the dephosphorylation of IRS-1 at serine residues, some of which have been reported to be involved in the internalisation of IR, was impaired in cells from PRIP-KO mice. These results suggest that PRIP facilitates insulin signalling by modulating the internalisation of IR in adipocytes.
Inhibition of minor intron splicing reduces Na+ and Ca2+ channel expression and function in cardiomyocytes
Authors: Montañés-Agudo Pablo , Casini Simona , Aufiero Simona , Ernault Auriane C. , van der Made Ingeborg , Pinto Yigal M. , Remme Carol Ann , Creemers Esther E.
Published: December 2021

Eukaryotic genomes contain a tiny subset of ‘minor class’ introns with unique sequence elements that require their own splicing machinery. These minor introns are present in certain gene families with specific functions, such as voltage-gated Na+ and voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. Removal of minor introns by the minor spliceosome has been proposed as a post-transcriptional regulatory layer, which remains unexplored in the heart. Here, we investigate whether the minor spliceosome regulates electrophysiological properties of cardiomyocytes by knocking down the essential minor spliceosome small nuclear snRNA component U6atac in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes. Loss of U6atac led to robust minor intron retention within Scn5a and Cacna1c, resulting in reduced protein levels of Nav1.5 and Cav1.2 channels. Functional consequences were studied through patch-clamp analysis, and revealed reduced Na+ and L-type Ca2+ currents after loss of U6atac. In conclusion, minor intron splicing modulates voltage-dependent ion channel expression and function in cardiomyocytes. This may be of particular relevance in situations in which minor splicing activity changes, such as in genetic diseases affecting minor spliceosome components, or in acquired diseases in which minor spliceosome components are dysregulated, such as heart failure.
Unconventional Approaches to Light-Promoted Dynamic Surface Morphing on Polymer Films
Authors: Zhang Dongyu , Liu Danqing , Ubukata Takashi , Seki Takahiro
Published: December 2021

Recent progress in research of light-promoted surface morphing on polymer materials is reviewed. Photoinduced mass transport motions in azobenzene polymers leading to surface relief gratings (widely called SRGs) formation are well-known and extensively discussed. Among many efforts, this article focuses on unconventional approaches, most of which are seemingly less highlighted. The first part introduces investigations using azobenzene polymers; introducing supramolecular approaches with tunable and removable azobenzene units, self-structuring of surface morphology upon single laser beam irradiation, photo-triggered migration via Marangoni flow, SRG formation and other functions of polymer brushes etc. The second part overviews the mass transport motions driven by other photoreaction classes such as photopolymerization, photocrosslinking, and photoisomerization of non-azobenzene components. The final part describes new dynamic surface morphing processes observed in fingerprint texture of liquid crystals and liquid crystal polymer networks, which can be applied to reversible friction control and self-cleaning. These uncommon attempts at photo-assisted dynamic morphing extend the possibilities of microfabrication on polymer films and are expected to find new opportunities to create new surface functions in soft materials.
Deep learning-based artificial intelligence applications in prostate MRI: brief summary
Authors: Turkbey Baris , Haider Masoom A.
Published: December 2021

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common cancer type in males in the Western World. MRI has an established role in diagnosis of PCa through guiding biopsies. Due to multistep complex nature of the MRI-guided PCa diagnosis pathway, diagnostic performance has a big variation. Developing artificial intelligence (AI) models using machine learning, particularly deep learning, has an expanding role in radiology. Specifically, for prostate MRI, several AI approaches have been defined in the literature for prostate segmentation, lesion detection and classification with the aim of improving diagnostic performance and interobserver agreement. In this review article, we summarize the use of radiology applications of AI in prostate MRI.
Proteus syndrome with sciatic nerve fibrolipomatous hamartoma: an uncommon finding in a rare disease: report of two cases with literature review
Authors: Ibrahim Dalia
Published: December 2021

Proteus syndrome is an extremely rare condition, characterized by progressive asymmetric overgrowth of multiple body tissues. Here, we present two cases of Proteus syndrome demonstrating typical clinical and radiological features of Proteus syndrome, in addition to an uncommon fibrolipomatous hamartoma of the sciatic nerve. The first case is a 5-year-old girl who presented with seizures. The patient showed facial dysmorphic features, left head enlargement, kyphoscoliosis, asymmetric overgrowth of the right lower limb, right foot drop, and cribriform connective tissue nevi on the right palm and the right sole. Radiological examinations demonstrated left calvarial hyperostosis, dysplasia of the left cerebral hemisphere, dysregulation of the subcutaneous adipose fat of the body, kyphoscoliosis, and lipoma of the filum terminale. CT of both thighs showed asymmetric soft tissue overgrowth of the right thigh, associated with diffuse enlargement and fatty infiltration of the right sciatic nerve starting from the upper thigh, down to its bifurcation into the tibial and common peroneal nerves. The second case is an 18-year-old girl who presented with left conductive deafness. The patient showed facial dysmorphic features, right head enlargement, asymmetric overgrowth of the right upper limb, kyphoscoliosis, left foot drop, and cribriform connective tissue nevi on the nose and the left foot. Radiological examinations demonstrated right calvarial hyperostosis, left external auditory canal hyperostosis and stenosis, and kyphoscoliosis. CT and MRI of both thighs showed diffuse enlargement of the left sciatic nerve starting from the upper thigh down to the mid-thigh and showing interfascicular adipose tissue proliferation, giving the typical features of nerve lipomatosis.
Revisiting dynamic range and image enhancement ability of contemporary digital radiographic systems
Authors: Marinho-Vieira Luiz Eduardo , Martins Luciano Augusto Cano , Freitas Deborah Queiroz , Haiter-Neto Francisco , Oliveira Matheus L.
Published: December 2021

Objectives:

To assess the dynamic range and enhancement ability of radiographs acquired with contemporary digital systems.

Methods:

Five repeated periapical radiographs of human mandibles with an aluminium step-wedge were acquired using two sensor-based and three photostimulable phosphor plate-based systems and an X-ray unit at ten exposure times 0.020, 0.032, 0.063, 0.080, 0.100, 0.200, 0.320, 0.400, 0.500, and 0.630 s. All images had their brightness and contrast enhanced by two experienced oral and maxillofacial radiologists in consensus and were exported as both the original and enhanced file formats. Mean grey values were obtained from the aluminium steps and tabulated with their corresponding thicknesses for each exposure time, digital radiographic system, and file format. Images with saturated steps were excluded and the mean grey values from the remaining images were averaged to assess image brightness and the angular coefficient of the linear trendlines was generated from the relationship between mean grey values and their corresponding aluminium thicknesses to assess image contrast. Brightness and contrast values were compared using two-way ANOVA with post-hoc Tukey (α = 0.05).

Results:

Photostimulable phosphor plate-based digital radiographic systems had a broader dynamic range. Longer exposure times produced original images with lower brightness and variable contrast (p < 0.05). Subjective enhancement significantly increased or reduced brightness and/or contrast in some systems (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

Contemporary digital radiographic systems present different dynamic ranges and exposure-related brightness and contrast. Image enhancement may be a valuable tool at slightly suboptimal exposure times.
Toehold-mediated strand displacement to measure released product from self-cleaving ribozymes
Authors: Kapadia Jay Bhakti , Kharma Nawwaf , Davis Alen Nellikulam , Kamel Nicolas , Perreault Jonathan
Published: December 2021

This paper presents a probe comprising a fluorophore and a quencher, enabling measurement of released product from self-cleaving hammerhead ribozyme, without labeled RNA molecules, regular sampling or use of polyacrylamide gels. The probe is made of two DNA strands; one strand is labeled with a fluorophore at its 5′-end, while the other strand is labeled with a quencher at its 3′-end. These two DNA strands are perfectly complementary, but with a 3′-overhang of the fluorophore strand. These unpaired nucleotides act as a toehold, which is utilized by a detached cleaved fragment (coming from a self-cleaving hammerhead ribozyme) as the starting point for a strand displacement reaction. This reaction causes the separation of the fluorophore strand from the quencher strand, culminating in fluorescence, detectable in a plate reader. Notably, the emitted fluorescence is proportional to the amount of detached cleaved-off RNAs, displacing the DNA quencher strand. This method can replace or complement radio-hazardous unstable 32P as a method of measurement of the product release from ribozyme cleavage reactions; it also eliminates the need for polyacrylamide gels, for the same purpose. Critically, this method allows to distinguish between the total amount of cleaved ribozymes and the amount of detached fragments, resulting from that cleavage reaction.
Percepción y consecuencias verbales: un análisis interconductual
Authors: Carpio Claudio , Barrios Diana Valeria , Montes María Guadalupe , Pacheco Virginia , Cano-Casillas Rafael
Published: December 2021

Para evaluar el efecto de distintos tipos de consecuencias verbales sobre la percepción de trayectorias en estudiantes universitarios de optometría, se utilizó la tarea de “encontrar un móvil extraviado” consistente en presentar en la pantalla de una computadora a “Caperucita Roja” caminando con dirección a un bosque siguiendo distintas trayectorias (horizontal, vertical, diagonal a 15o, diagonal a 45o y en zigzag). Transcurrido un tiempo desde el internamiento y desaparición en el bosque (demoras de 1, 2 o 4 segundos), se solicitó a los participantes colocar el puntero en la zona del bosque donde podría encontrarse Caperucita (i.e., respuesta de localización). Los grupos independientes de estudiantes universitarios recibieron puntos por sus respuestas correctas, pero también diferentes consecuencias verbales: (a) correcto/incorrecto, (b) especificación de parámetros del error, y (c) consecuencias autoadministradas. Un grupo control solo recibió puntos por sus respuestas correctas. Los resultados muestran mayor precisión de la respuesta de localización en los participantes que recibieron consecuencias que especificaban los parámetros del error, en las trayectorias horizontal y vertical, y con las demoras más breves. Se discute la función disposicional de las consecuencias verbales como mediadoras de la percepción de trayectorias.
ELSA cohorte 2014: clases de consumo de alcohol, tabaco y marihuana en estudiantes universitarios argentinos
Authors: Vera Belen , Pilatti Angelina , Pautassi Ricardo Marcos
Published: December 2021

El consumo de sustancias es altamente prevalente en estudiantes universitarios de Argentina y el mundo. Diferenciar consumidores con diversos patrones de consumo de sustancias es importante para identificar aquellos más vulnerables a avanzar hacia un consumo patológico. Por ello, el objetivo fue identificar, mediante Análisis de Clases Latentes (ACL) aplicado a diferentes indicadores de consumo de alcohol, tabaco y marihuana, las clases de consumidores y observar si dichas clases diferían en la densidad de familiares con abuso de alcohol y otros indicadores de consumo. El análisis se realizó en un total de 4497 estudiantes de primer año que completaron instrumentos para medir: 1-consumo de alcohol, 2-consecuencias negativas del consumo de alcohol y 3-historia familiar de abuso de alcohol. Así se identificaron cuatro clases de consumidores: 1-ACTM: Consumo Elevado de Alcohol, Consumo de Tabaco y Marihuana; 2-CMEA: Consumo Moderado/Elevado de Alcohol, Sin Consumo de Otras Sustancias; 3-CMBA: Consumo Moderado/Bajo de Alcohol, Sin Consumo de Otras Sustancias; y 4-SC: Sin Consumo de Sustancias. Los miembros de las clases CATM y CMEA reportaron niveles de consumo de alcohol significativamente más elevados que el resto de las clases. Los integrantes de CATM presentaron consumo extremo de alcohol. Las clases SC y CATM exhibieron mayor densidad de familiares con abuso de alcohol que las otras clases. La mayor parte de los encuestados fueron clasificados en categorías de consumo de alto riesgo, caracterizadas por co-uso de sustancias o por consumo elevado de alcohol. Estos patrones de consumo se han asociado a numerosas consecuencias negativas.
Sparse Solutions of a Class of Constrained Optimization Problems
Authors: Yang Lei , Chen Xiaojun , Xiang Shuhuang
Published: December 2021

In this paper, we consider a well-known sparse optimization problem that aims to find a sparse solution of a possibly noisy underdetermined system of linear equations. Mathematically, it can be modeled in a unified manner by minimizing [Formula: see text] subject to [Formula: see text] for given [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. We then study various properties of the optimal solutions of this problem. Specifically, without any condition on the matrix A, we provide upper bounds in cardinality and infinity norm for the optimal solutions and show that all optimal solutions must be on the boundary of the feasible set when [Formula: see text]. Moreover, for [Formula: see text], we show that the problem with [Formula: see text] has a finite number of optimal solutions and prove that there exists [Formula: see text] such that the solution set of the problem with any [Formula: see text] is contained in the solution set of the problem with p = 0, and there further exists [Formula: see text] such that the solution set of the problem with any [Formula: see text] remains unchanged. An estimation of such [Formula: see text] is also provided. In addition, to solve the constrained nonconvex non-Lipschitz Lp-L1problem ([Formula: see text] and q = 1), we propose a smoothing penalty method and show that, under some mild conditions, any cluster point of the sequence generated is a stationary point of our problem. Some numerical examples are given to implicitly illustrate the theoretical results and show the efficiency of the proposed algorithm for the constrained Lp-L1problem under different noises.
Omnichannel Assortment Optimization Under the Multinomial Logit Model with a Features Tree
Authors: Lo Venus , Topaloglu Huseyin
Published: December 2021

Problem definition: We consider the assortment optimization problem of a retailer that operates a physical store and an online store. The products that can be offered are described by their features. Customers purchase among the products that are offered in their preferred store. However, customers who purchase from the online store can first test out products offered in the physical store. These customers revise their preferences for online products based on the features that are shared with the in-store products. The full assortment is offered online, and the goal is to select an assortment for the physical store to maximize the retailer’s total expected revenue. Academic/practical relevance: The physical store’s assortment affects preferences for online products. Unlike traditional assortment optimization, the physical store’s assortment influences revenue from both stores. Methodology: We introduce a features tree to organize products by features. The nonleaf vertices on the tree correspond to features, and the leaf vertices correspond to products. The ancestors of a leaf correspond to features of the product. Customers choose among the products within their store’s assortment according to the multinomial logit model. We consider two settings; either all customers purchase online after viewing products in the physical store, or we have a mix of customers purchasing from each store. Results: When all customers purchase online, we give an efficient algorithm to find the optimal assortment to display in the physical store. With a mix of customers, the problem becomes NP-hard, and we give a fully polynomial-time approximation scheme. We numerically demonstrate that we can closely approximate the case where products have arbitrary combinations of features without a tree structure and that our fully polynomial-time approximation scheme performs remarkably well. Managerial implications: We characterize conditions under which it is optimal to display expensive products with underrated features and expose inexpensive products with overrated features.
Application of Analytic Hierarchy Process and Weighted Product Methods in Determining the Best Employees
Authors: Harjanto Sri , Setiyowati Setiyowati , Vulandari Retno Tri
Published: December 2021

Abstract. Employees are one of the company's assets that must be managed properly. Therefore the selection of the best employees is now needed. The problem faced in determining the best and qualified employees is that there are still no standards in assessing only one person subjectively in determining the best employee, which consequently lacks appropriate or objective results. To provide rewards for the best employees, we need a system to support the decisions of the best employees who deserve to receive rewards to be on target. The purpose of this research is to design and build a decision support system application in determining the best employees using the analytic hierarchy process and weighted product methods. Stages of software development of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) uses a waterfall, that is data analysis, system design, construction, coding, testing and implementation. The results of this process are in the form of calculation applications that have been obtained from the analytic hierarchy process and weighted product methods in determining the best employee. The result gives an accuracy rate of 82.3%.

Keywords: analytic hierarchy process, weighted product, decision support system, employees
Toilet Signs as Border Markers: Exploring Disabled People's Access to Space
Authors: Slater Jen , Jones Charlotte
Published: December 2021

Signs prescribing our permission to enter or abstain from specific places, such as those on toilet doors, mark murky borders between quasi-public and private space and have profound impacts upon our lives and identities. In this paper we draw on research which centred trans, queer and disabled people's experiences of toilet in/exclusion to explore how the signs on toilet doors shape disabled people's experiences of toilet access away from home and therefore their use of public space more broadly. We argue that the use of the International Symbol of Access (ISA) both delivers a false promise of accessibility and maintains the borders of disability through (re)enforcing a particular public imaginary of disability. We note the forced reliance on toilets in institutional and commercial settings when away from home and argue that, under capitalism, accessibility is persistently restricted by its potential to be lucrative.
Parents displaying family consumption in Ireland
Authors: Kiely Elizabeth , Ging Debbie , Kitching Karl , Leane Máire
Published: December 2021

This article considers qualitative data collected from 78 parents in an Irish study on the commercialisation and sexualisation of children. It makes a distinctive contribution in showing that the framework of family display (Finch, 2007) can be productively applied to the entire field of family consumption. It shows that consumption narratives can be viewed as a tool that is used to display family – in other words, showing how family is done – to internal family members and to outsiders. While family display has been more often applied empirically with non-conventional families, its relevance for all families is reasserted by our data. Our application of the family display framework shows that middle-class parenting ideals are stretched and can become unstuck when displayed by middle-class parents, the constituency most associated with their production and propagation.
Random jumps in the phase-OTDR response
Authors: Alekseev A. E. , Gorshkov B. G. , Potapov V. T. , Taranov M. A. , Simikin D. E.
Published: December 2021

In the paper, we present a qualitative analysis of the dual-pulse phase
optical time domain reflectometry (phase-OTDR) response to uniform and
nonuniform propagating fiber strain. It is found that on average over
all realizations of scattering centers the response of the dual-pulse
phase-OTDR is linear with respect to an external perturbation.
Meanwhile, individual responses contain random phase jumps, which are
an intrinsic property of phase-OTDR. These jumps are the result of
nonlinear responses of the scattering fiber segments and arise due to
interference of random backscattered fields varying in time. Two types
of phase jumps are considered:

π

jumps and

2
π

jumps; the first type is caused by
the fading in phase-OTDR spatial channel, while the second type occurs
when a nonuniform perturbation propagates along the fiber. The origin
of the phase jumps is explained by considering the simulated response
on the complex plane. It is shown that the distribution of

2
π

jumps can be well described by the
Gaussian probability mass function (PMF), provided the number of

2
π

jumps is large. The conducted
experiments on the registration of uniform and nonuniform fiber strain
confirm the presence of the jumps in the phase-OTDR response.
Tunable electrochromic Au nanorod-based metalenses for visible light
Authors: Lin Yu , Zhang Xingliang , Xin Qian , Zhao Yongmin , Song Aimin , Zeng Zhongming , Yang Fan , Jiang Chunping
Published: December 2021

Metalenses with dynamically controllable smart materials have attracted growing attention for next-generation integrated intelligent optical and photonics systems. Here, we incorporate an electrochromic material into the Au nanorod-based metalens, and demonstrate that the intensity of the focused visible light can be controlled by an external voltage without using any mechanical moving parts, while the focal length and the focal spot size remain stable. Furthermore, a large modulation depth (>90%) is obtained with relatively low power consumption (

∼

3 mW/cm2). Such ultracompact electrical-controlled metalenses may enable miniaturization and integration of various optical components and systems such as optical imaging, optical sensing and optical communications.
Aligned polymer dispersed liquid crystal film for light enhancement of quantum dot backlight
Authors: Halder Suman , Shin Yunho , Zhou Ziyuan , Zhang Xinfang , Hu Lang , Yang Deng-Ke
Published: December 2021

Quantum dots (QDs) have been used to make backlight, which provides a superior color gamut, for liquid crystal flat panel displays. In the backlight system, quantum dots, embedded in a polymer film and illuminated by blue light, emit red and green light with narrow bandwidths. There is, however, a problem with the system in that the quantum dots emit light in all directions, and most of the emitted light is in directions with large incident angles and cannot exit the film due to the total internal reflection at the film-air interface and is wasted. We propose to use an aligned polymer dispersed liquid crystal (APDLC) film to reduce the total internal reflection in the QD backlight and thus improve the light efficiency. A regular PDLC film, where the embedded liquid crystal droplets are randomly oriented, exhibits isotropic scattering and is not a good candidate for the enhancement of light efficiency of QD backlight. Through a two-step polymerization, we successfully developed an aligned polymer dispersed liquid crystal (APDLC) film where the liquid crystal droplets are permanently unidirectionally aligned in the film’s normal direction. It exhibits selective scattering: it scatters light with large incident angles but not light with small incident angles. When the APDLC film is laminated on the QD backlight film, a significant enhancement of the light efficiency of the QD backlight is achieved. The APDLC film can also be used to increase the light efficiency of other flat panel displays, such as organic light emitting diode (OLED) display and micro-light emitting diode (MLED) display.
Multiplexed multi-focal and multi-dimensional SHE (spin Hall effect) metalens
Authors: Wang Wei , Yang Qingyuan , He Shan , Shi Yan , Liu Xiangmin , Sun Jinghua , Guo Kai , Wang Lulu , Guo Zhongyi
Published: December 2021

Metalenses are two-dimensional ultrathin metalenses composed of subwavelength artificial microstructures. In this paper, various multi-focal spin Hall effect (SHE)-based metalenses are designed to provide spin-dependent splitting in transverse and longitudinal directions, which possess spin-dependent two focal points under left-circularly polarized (LCP) or right-circularly polarized (RCP) incidence, and all four focal points can be observed under the linearly polarized (LP) incidence. A spin-independent bifocal metalens was investigated, which possesses the same bifocal focusing phenomena for LCP and RCP incidences. Our method is significant for designing high-efficiency multifunctional optics devices based on optical SHE.