bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Quad‐Frequency On–Off Modulator Based on a Simple Graphene Metasurface in Terahertz
Authors: Cui Wei , Wang Yixuan , Ma Huqiang , Xu Hui , Yi Zao , Li Linqiao , Cao Xinliang , Ren Xincheng , He Zhihui
Published: April 2021

It is necessary to explore the potential applications of surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) on graphene metasurfaces and enhance the performance of their on–off modulators and slow‐light effect. A simple monolayer graphene metasurface is developed for achieving the plasmon‐induced transparency (PIT) phenomenon in the terahertz range. PIT can be effectively tuned by the positional parameter, the Fermi level, and the carrier mobility using the finite‐difference time‐domain (FDTD). Moreover, it is found that a quad‐frequency on–off modulator and an outstanding slow‐light effect can be realized in this proposed metasurface. Interestingly, modulation depth (MD), insertion loss (IL), ΔT, and the group index are of 98.90%, ≈0.05 dB, 0.97, and 3383, respectively. Hence, the results show that the proposed metasurface has excellent performance for on–off modulators and a slow‐light effect, which can provide theoretical guidance for designing terahertz micro‐nanophotonic devices.
A person‐centered evaluation of subjective well‐being using a latent profile analysis: Associations with negative life events, distress, and emotion regulation strategies
Authors: Lazić Milica , Jovanović Veljko , Gavrilov‐Jerković Vesna , Boyda David
Published: April 2021

The present study examined the structure of subjective well‐being (SWB) using a person‐centered approach, and tested whether SWB profiles differed in a number of self‐reported negative life events, emotional distress, and cognitive emotion regulation strategies. The sample included a total of 945 undergraduate students from Serbia (78% female, Mage = 20.14 years). A 3‐step latent profile analysis with partial conditional independence revealed four profiles, which have been tentatively labeled: low SWB (a combination of low life satisfaction, low positive affect, and high negative affect), mixed SWB (moderate to high life satisfaction, moderate to low positive affect, high negative affect), moderately low SWB (low life satisfaction, moderate to low positive affect, moderate negative affect), high SWB (high life satisfaction, high positive affect, low negative affect). A comparison of SWB profiles applied to symptoms of emotional distress, along with the number of self‐reported negative life events and emotion regulation strategies, offered support to the validity of four SWB profiles. Our findings suggest that a person‐centered perspective might be a valuable tool for understanding the structure of SWB.
Three‐Dimensional Visualization of Subcellular Dynamics of Cancer Cell Destruction on Therapeutic Nanodrug Treatment
Authors: Raveendran Sreejith , Sen Anindito , Maekawa Toru , Kumar D. Sakthi
Published: April 2021

Ultrastructural visualization of targeted nanoparticles against its interactions with subcellular organelles through electron microscopy and its 3D rendering is always challenging. Mechanistic and conformational understandings of specific subcellular connections of novel smart nanocarriers with various intrinsic receptors of breast cancer cells are critical for the design and delivery of novel cancer therapeutics. Toxicological effects of gold nanocages, passivated with extremophilic polysaccharide, Mauran functionalized with 4‐hydroxytamoxifen and monoclonal antibody Pr1E11 result in downright decimation of subcellular organelles in breast cancer MCF7 cells resulting in parallel type I and type II cell deaths. Herein, the deleterious repercussions of the therapeutic gold nanocages (TANs) on the subcellular organelles of MCF7 cells are studied. Confocal and transmission electron microscopic images reveal significant localization of the TANs within the mitochondria, lysosomes, and autophagosomes leading to their destruction in a span of 96 h from their incubation. The 3D electron density maps of these subcellular organelles computed using images recorded by scanning block‐face electron and transmission electron microscopes reveal a previously unknown systemic degradation process of mitochondria and the structure of autolysosome. Together, this data fortifies the benefit of subcellular cancer targeting and multiple parallel damage explained through advanced electron microscopic visualization.
Social Development (Excerpts from Her 2004 Oral History)
Authors: Davis Gloria
Published: April 2021

I did my anthropological research in Indonesia between 1972 and 1974. I happened to work on the movement of Balinese to central Sulawesi, a part of the Indonesian transmigration program, which, in fact, after a few years is what led directly to my being hired by the Bank. I taught at Yale for three years. While I was teaching, a person came up after my lecture, and said, “The World Bank wants you.”
Fighting Poverty, Combatting Social Exclusion
Authors: Partridge William L.
Published: April 2021

The Chinese have a saying: through a drop of water you can see the whole ocean. This chapter analyzes the process of integrating social development policy and practice into the operations of the World Bank through the lens of my own personal experience, a drop of water through which we will see how sociologists and anthropologists transformed the larger organizational culture of the institution.
From Onlookers to Participants: How the Role of Social Scientists Has Changed in India’s Development in the Last 70 Years
Authors: Mathur Hari Mohan
Published: April 2021

Prior to the mid-1970, India’s non-economic social scientists had no role in policy, planning or implementation of resettlement, though their skills were relevant for the purpose and anthropologists had the requisite expertise. But anthropologists remained only distant onlookers of the terrible things that were happening in the name of development. In 1974 a historic change took place in the World Bank. This was the appointment of anthropologists and sociologists as regular staff. Thereafter, social concerns began receiving increasing attention in the Bank. This also resulted in a sudden demand for anthropologists and sociologists to prepare projects for Bank financing. India then also began involving anthropologists and sociologists in preparing projects involving social issues. From mere onlookers, they then became active participants in development activities.
The 1995 Malinowski Award Lecture: Social Organization and Development Anthropology
Authors: Cernea Michael M.
Published: April 2021

It is a great honor to receive the Bronislaw Malinowski Award from this scholarly community of development social scientists, and I am deeply grateful for this recognition. Being associated through this Award with the name and legacy of Malinowski, and with the line of distinguished scholars who have preceded me as its recipients, is a moving and stimulating experience.
Meson spectrum in the large N limit
Authors: Pérez Margarita García , González-Arroyo Antonio , Okawa Masanori
Published: April 2021

Abstract

We present the result of our computation of the lowest lying meson masses for SU(N) gauge theory in the large N limit (with Nf /N → 0). The final values are given in units of the square root of the string tension, and with errors which account for both statistical and systematic errors. By using 4 different values of the lattice spacing we have seen that our results scale properly. We have studied various values of N (169, 289 and 361) to monitor the N-dependence of the most sensitive quantities. Our methodology is based upon a first principles approach (lattice gauge theory) combined with large N volume independence. We employed both Wilson fermions and twisted mass fermions with maximal twist. In addition to masses in the pseudoscalar, vector, scalar and axial vector channels, we also give results on the pseudoscalar decay constant and various remormalization factors.
Generalized global symmetries of T[M] theories. Part I
Authors: Gukov Sergei , Hsin Po-Shen , Pei Du
Published: April 2021

Abstract

We study reductions of 6d theories on a d-dimensional manifold Md, focusing on the interplay between symmetries, anomalies, and dynamics of the resulting (6 −d)-dimensional theory T[Md]. We refine and generalize the notion of “polarization” to polarization on Md, which serves to fix the spectrum of local and extended operators in T[Md]. Another important feature of theories T[Md] is that they often possess higher-group symmetries, such as 2-group and 3-group symmetries. We study the origin of such symmetries as well as physical implications including symmetry breaking and symmetry enhancement in the renormalization group flow. To better probe the IR physics, we also investigate the ’t Hooft anomaly of 5d Chern-Simons matter theories. The present paper focuses on developing the general framework as well as the special case of d = 0 and 1, while an upcoming paper will discuss the case of d = 2, 3 and 4.
Scattering of gravitons and spinning massive states from compact numerators
Authors: Bjerrum-Bohr N. Emil J. , Brown Taro V. , Gomez Humberto
Published: April 2021

Abstract

We provide a new efficient diagrammatic tool, in the context of the scattering equations, for computation of covariantD-dimensional tree-leveln-point amplitudes with pairs of spinning massive particles using compact exponential numerators. We discuss how this framework allows non-integer spin extensions of recurrence relations for amplitudes developed for integer spin. Our results facilitate the on-going program for generating observables in classical general relativity from on-shell tree amplitudes through the Kawai-Lewellen-Tye relations and generalized unitarity.
Nonrepetitive List Colorings of the Integers
Authors: Bosek Bartłomiej , Grytczuk Jarosław , Nayar Barbara , Zaleski Bartosz
Published: April 2021

A coloring of the integers is nonrepetitive if no two adjacent intervals have the same color sequence. A beautiful theorem of Thue asserts that there exists a nonrepetitive coloring of $${\mathbb {N}}$$
N
using only three colors. We obtain some generalizations of this result in which the adjacency of intervals is specified by more general graphs. We focus on the list variant of the problem, in which every integer gets a color from its own set of colors. For instance, we prove that there exists a coloring of $${\mathbb {N}}$$
N
from arbitrary lists of size 8, such that the following property holds for every $$n\ge 1$$

n
≥
1

: among any $$2^n$$

2
n

consecutively adjacent intervals, each of length n, no two have the same color sequence. Another result is related to the possible extension of the famous Dejean’s conjecture to the list setting. It asserts that for every $$k\ge 1$$

k
≥
1

, there is a coloring of $${\mathbb {N}}$$
N
from lists of size $$k+2\sqrt{k}$$

k
+
2

k

, such that no two among any k consecutively adjacent intervals have the same color sequence.
Honest, Open, Proud to support disclosure decisions and to decrease stigma’s impact among people with mental illness: conceptual review and meta-analysis of program efficacy
Authors: Rüsch Nicolas , Kösters Markus
Published: April 2021

Purpose

Honest, Open, Proud (HOP; formerly “Coming Out Proud”/COP) is a peer-led group program to support people with mental illness in their disclosure decisions and in their coping with stigma. The aims of this study were to provide (i) a conceptual review of HOP, including versions for different target groups and issues related to outcome measurement and implementation; and (ii) a meta-analysis of program efficacy.

Methods

Conceptual and empirical literature on disclosure and the HOP program was reviewed. Controlled trials of HOP/COP were searched in literature databases. A meta-analysis of HOP efficacy in terms of key outcomes was conducted.

Results

HOP program adaptations for different target groups (e.g. parents of children with mental illness; veterans or active soldiers with mental illness) exist and await evaluation. Recruitment for trials and program implementation may be challenging. A meta-analysis of five HOP RCTs for adults or adolescents with mental illness or adult survivors of suicide attempts found significant positive effects on stigma stress (smd = − 0.50) as well as smaller, statistically non-significant effects on self-stigma (smd = − 0.17) and depression (smd = − 0.11) at the end of the HOP program. At 3- to 4-week follow-up, there was a modest, not statistically significant effect on stigma stress (smd = − 0.40, 95%-CI -0.83 to 0.04), while effects for self-stigma were small and significant (smd = − 0.24). Long-term effects of the HOP program are unknown.

Conclusion

There is initial evidence that HOP effectively supports people with mental illness in their disclosure decisions and in their coping with stigma. Implementation issues, future developments and public health implications are discussed.
Attitudes towards disclosing a mental illness: impact on quality of life and recovery
Authors: Mayer Lea , Corrigan Patrick W. , Eisheuer Daniela , Oexle Nathalie , Rüsch Nicolas
Published: April 2021

Purpose

The decision whether to disclose a mental illness has individual and social consequences. Secrecy may protect from stigma and discrimination while disclosure can increase social support and facilitate help-seeking. Therefore, disclosure decisions are a key reaction to stigma. The first aim of this study was to test a newly developed scale to measure disclosure attitudes, the Attitudes to Disclosure Questionnaire (AtDQ). The second aim was to examine the impact of attitudes towards disclosing a mental illness on quality of life and recovery.

Methods

Among 100 participants with mental illness, disclosure attitudes, quality of life, recovery, benefits of disclosure, secrecy, social withdrawal, self-stigma, and depressive symptoms were assessed at weeks 0, 3 and 6. Psychometric properties of the AtDQ were analysed. Longitudinal associations between disclosure attitudes at baseline and quality of life and recovery after 6 weeks were examined in linear regressions.

Results

The analyses of the AtDQ indicated one-factor solutions, high acceptability, high internal consistency, and good retest reliability for the total scale and the subscales as well as high construct validity of the total scale. Results provided initial support for sensitivity to change. More positive disclosure attitudes in general and in particular regarding to family at baseline predicted better quality of life and recovery after 6 weeks.

Conclusion

The current study provides initial support for the AtDQ as a useful measure of disclosure attitudes. Disclosing a mental illness, especially with respect to family, may improve quality of life and recovery of people with mental illness.
Supporting independence at home for people living with dementia: a qualitative ethnographic study of homecare
Authors: Leverton Monica , Burton Alexandra , Beresford-Dent Jules , Rapaport Penny , Manthorpe Jill , Azocar Ignacia , Giebel Clarissa , Lord Kathryn , Cooper Claudia
Published: April 2021

Purpose

The aim of this ethnographic study was to investigate how homecare workers support or inhibit independence in people living with dementia.

Methods

We undertook 100 h of participant observations with homecare workers (n = 16) supporting people living with dementia (n = 17); and 82 qualitative interviews with people living with dementia (n = 11), family carers (n = 22), homecare managers and support staff (n = 11), homecare workers (n = 19) and health and social care professionals (n = 19). We triangulated data and analysed findings thematically.

Results

We developed three themes: (1) independence and the home environment, highlighting ongoing negotiations between familiarity, suitability and safety for care; (2) independence and identity, exploring how homecare workers’ understanding of their clients’ identity can enable active participation in tasks and meaningful choices; and (3) independence and empowerment, considering the important position of homecare workers to advocate for clients living with dementia while navigating authoritative power amongst proxy decision-makers.

Conclusion

We consider that person-centred care should also be home-centred, respecting the client’s home as an extension of self. Homecare workers can use their understanding of clients’ identities, alongside skills in providing choice and developing relationships of interdependence to engage clients in everyday tasks. Homecare workers are well placed to advocate for their client’s voice within the care network, although their ability to do so is limited by their position within power structures.
Experimental comparative investigation on creep behavior of mineral cast, ultra-high-performance concrete, and natural stone for precision machinery structures
Authors: Relea Eduard , Pfyffer Benjamin , Weiss Lukas , Wegener Konrad
Published: April 2021

Precision machinery employs a variety of materials for its structures: welded steel, cast iron, mineral cast, ultra-high-performance concrete, and natural stone. The machine tool industry requires high control on the geometrical and dimensional stability of the machine structure in order to ensure precise and accurate parts in the micrometer range. This means that even the smallest deviation from the nominal values of the machine tool can result in unacceptable part tolerances. For this work, comparative experiments were set up to analyze and evaluate the influence of load on the creep behavior of three classes of materials: mineral cast, ultra-high-performance concrete, and natural stone.
Automated VLBI scheduling using AI-based parameter optimization
Authors: Schartner Matthias , Plötz Christian , Soja Benedikt
Published: April 2021

Within this work, a new geodetic very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) scheduling approach inspired by evolutionary processes based on selection, crossover and mutation is presented. It mimics the biological concept “surviving of the fittest” to iteratively explore the scheduling parameter space looking for the best solution. Besides providing high-quality results, one main benefit of the proposed approach is that it enables the generation of fully automated and individually optimized schedules. Moreover, it generates schedules based on transparent rules, well-defined scientific goals and by making decisions based on Monte Carlo simulations. The improvements in terms of precision of geodetic parameters are discussed for various observing programs organized by the International VLBI Service for Geodesy and Astrometry (IVS), such as the OHG, R1, and T2 programs. In the case of schedules with a difficult telescope network, an improvement in the precision of the geodetic parameters up to 15% could be identified, as well as an increase in the number of observations of up to 10% compared to classical scheduling approaches. Due to the high quality of the produced schedules and the reduced workload for the schedulers, various IVS observing programs are already making use of the evolutionary parameter selection, such as the AUA, INT2, INT3, INT9, OHG, T2 and VGOS-B program.
Parametric study of multiple shock-wave/turbulent-boundary-layer interactions with a Reynolds stress model
Authors: Boychev K. , Barakos G. N. , Steijl R. , Shaw S.
Published: April 2021

The flow of high-speed air in ducts may result in the occurrence of multiple shock-wave/boundary-layer interactions. Understanding the consequences of such interactions, which may include distortion of the velocity field, enhanced turbulence production, and flow separation, is of great importance in understanding the operating limits and performance of a number of systems, for example, the high-speed intake of an air-breathing missile. In this paper, the results of a computational study of multiple shock-wave/boundary-layer interactions occurring within a high-speed intake are presented. All of the results were obtained using the in-house computational fluid dynamics solver of Glasgow University, HMB3. First simulations of a Mach$$M=1.61$$M=1.61multiple shock-wave/boundary-layer interaction in a rectangular duct were performed. The$$M=1.61$$M=1.61case, for which experimental data is available, was used to establish a robust numerical approach, particularly with respect to initial and boundary conditions. A number of turbulence modelling strategies were also investigated. The results suggest that Reynolds-stress-based turbulence models are better suited than linear eddy-viscosity models. This is attributed to better handling of complex strain, in particular modelling of the corner separation. The corner separations affect the separation at the centre of the domain which in turn alters the structure of the initial shock and the subsequent interaction. Having established a robust numerical approach, the results of a parametric study investigating the effect of Mach number, Reynolds number, and confinement on the baseline solution are then presented. Performance metrics are defined to help characterize the effect of the interactions. The results suggest that reduced flow confinement is beneficial for higher-pressure recovery.
Approximations in $$L^1$$ with convergent Fourier series
Authors: Avetisyan Zhirayr , Grigoryan Martin , Ruzhansky Michael
Published: April 2021

For a separable finite diffuse measure space $${\mathcal {M}}$$
M
and an orthonormal basis $$\{\varphi _n\}$$

{

φ
n

}

of $$L^2({\mathcal {M}})$$

L
2

(
M
)

consisting of bounded functions $$\varphi _n\in L^\infty ({\mathcal {M}})$$

φ
n

∈

L
∞

(
M
)

, we find a measurable subset $$E\subset {\mathcal {M}}$$

E
⊂
M

of arbitrarily small complement $$|{\mathcal {M}}{\setminus } E|<\epsilon $$

|
M
\
E
|
<
ϵ

, such that every measurable function $$f\in L^1({\mathcal {M}})$$

f
∈

L
1

(
M
)

has an approximant $$g\in L^1({\mathcal {M}})$$

g
∈

L
1

(
M
)

with $$g=f$$

g
=
f

on E and the Fourier series of g converges to g, and a few further properties. The subset E is universal in the sense that it does not depend on the function f to be approximated. Further in the paper this result is adapted to the case of $${\mathcal {M}}=G/H$$

M
=
G
/
H

being a homogeneous space of an infinite compact second countable Hausdorff group. As a useful illustration the case of n-spheres with spherical harmonics is discussed. The construction of the subset E and approximant g is sketched briefly at the end of the paper.
Rigorous Asymptotics of a KdV Soliton Gas
Authors: Girotti M. , Grava T. , Jenkins R. , McLaughlin K. D. T.-R.
Published: April 2021

We analytically study the long time and large space asymptotics of a new broad class of solutions of the KdV equation introduced by Dyachenko, Zakharov, and Zakharov. These solutions are characterized by a Riemann–Hilbert problem which we show arises as the limit $$N\rightarrow + \infty $$

N
→
+
∞

of a gas of N-solitons. We show that this gas of solitons in the limit $$N\rightarrow \infty $$

N
→
∞

is slowly approaching a cnoidal wave solution for $$x \rightarrow - \infty $$

x
→
-
∞

up to terms of order $$\mathcal {O} (1/x)$$

O
(
1
/
x
)

, while approaching zero exponentially fast for $$x\rightarrow +\infty $$

x
→
+
∞

. We establish an asymptotic description of the gas of solitons for large times that is valid over the entire spatial domain, in terms of Jacobi elliptic functions.
CD19 CAR-T cell treatment conferred sustained remission in B-ALL patients with minimal residual disease
Authors: Lu Wenyi , Wei Yunxiong , Cao Yaqing , Xiao Xia , Li Qing , Lyu Hairong , Jiang Yili , Zhang Huan , Li Xin , Jiang Yanyu , Meng Juanxia , Yuan Ting , Zhu Haibo , He Xiaoyuan , Jin Xin , Sun Rui , Sui Tao , Liu Kaiqi , Zhao Mingfeng
Published: April 2021

The persistence or recurrence of minimal residual disease (MRD) after chemotherapy predicts relapse of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor T (CD19 CAR-T) cells have shown promising responses in B-ALL. However, their role in chemotherapy-refractory MRD-positive B-ALL remains unclear. Here we aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of CD19 CAR-T cells in MRD-positive B-ALL patients. From January 2018, a total of 14 MRD-positive B-ALL patients received one or more infusions of autogenous CD19 CAR-T cells. Among them, 12 patients achieved MRD-negative remission after one cycle of CAR-T infusion. At a median follow-up time of 647 days (range 172–945 days), the 2-year event-free survival rate in MRD-positive patients was 61.2% ± 14.0% and the 2-year overall survival was 78.6 ± 11.0%, which were significantly higher than patients with active disease (blasts ≥ 5% or with extramedullary disease). Moreover, patients with MRD had a lower grade of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) than patients with active disease. However, the peak expansion of CAR-T cells in MRD positive patients showed no statistical difference compared to patients with active disease. Five patients received two or more CAR-T cell infusions and these patients showed a decreased peak expansion of CAR-T cell in subsequent infusions. In conclusion, pre-emptive CD19 CAR-T cell treatment is an effective and safe approach and may confer sustained remission in B-ALL patients with chemotherapy-refractory MRD. The trials were registered at www.chictr.org.cn as ChiCTR-ONN-16009862 (November 14, 2016) and ChiCTR1800015164 (March 11, 2018).
Race and Gender Disparity in the Surgical Management of Hepatocellular Cancer: Analysis of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program Registry
Authors: Darden Michael , Parker Geoffrey , Monlezun Dominique , Anderson Edward , Buell Joseph F.
Published: April 2021

Background

The existence of race and gender disparity has been described in numerous areas of medicine. The management of hepatocellular cancer is no different, but in no other area of medicine, is the treatment algorithm more complicated by local, regional, and national health care distribution policy.

Methods

Multivariate logistic regression and Cox‐regression were utilized to analyze the treatment of patients with hepatocellular cancer registered in SEER between 1999 and 2013 to determine the incidence and effects of racial and gender disparity. Odd ratios (OR) are relative to Caucasian males, SEER region, and tumor characteristics.

Results

The analysis of 57,449 patients identified the minority were female (25.31%) and African‐American (16.26%). All tumor interventions were protective (p < 0.001) with respect to survival. The mean survival for all registered patients was 13.01 months with conditional analysis, confirming that African‐American men were less likely to undergo ablation, resection, or transplantation (p < 0.001). Women were more likely to undergo resection (p < 0.001). African‐American women had an equivalent OR for resection but had a significantly lower transplant rate (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Utilizing SEER data as a surrogate for patient navigation in the treatment of hepatocellular cancer, our study identified not only race but gender bias with African‐American women suffering the greatest. This is underscored by the lack of navigation of African‐Americans to any therapy and a significant bias to navigate female patients to resection potentially limiting subsequent access to definitive therapy namely transplantation.
Drug-eluting beads TACE is safe and non-inferior to conventional TACE in HCC patients with TIPS
Authors: Fan Wenzhe , Guo Jian , Zhu Bowen , Wang Shutong , Yu Lei , Huang Wanchang , Fan Huishuang , Li Fuliang , Wu Yanqin , Zhao Yue , Wang Yu , Xue Miao , Wang Hongyu , Li Jiaping
Published: April 2021

Objectives

This study aims to compare the safety and effectiveness between transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with drug-eluting beads (DEB-TACE) and conventional TACE (cTACE) using lipiodol-based regimens in HCC patients with a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS).

Methods

This retrospective study included patients with patent TIPS who underwent TACE from January 2013 to January 2019 that received either DEB-TACE (DEB-TACE group, n = 57) or cTACE (cTACE group, n = 62). The complications, liver toxicity, overall survival (OS), time to progression (TTP), and objective response rate (ORR) were compared between the groups.

Results

Altogether, 119 patients (50 ± 11 years, 107 men) were evaluated. The incidence of adverse events, including abdominal pain within 7 days (45.6% vs 79.0%, p < 0.001) and hepatic failure within 30 days (5.3% vs 19.4%, p = 0.027), were significantly lower in the DEB-TACE group than in the cTACE group. Compared to the cTACE group, the DEB-TACE group also showed mild liver toxicities in terms of increased total bilirubin (8.8% vs 22.6%), alanine aminotransferase (5.3% vs 21.0%), and aspartate aminotransferase (10.5% vs 29.0%) levels. The DEB-TACE group had better ORR than the cTACE group (70.2% vs 50.0%). The median OS and TTP were longer in the DEB-TACE group (11.4 vs 9.1 months, hazard ratio [HR] = 2.46, p < 0.001; 6.9 vs 5.2 months, HR = 1.47, p = 0.045). Multivariable analysis showed that α-fetoprotein levels, Barcelona clinic liver cancer stage, and treatment allocation were independent predictors of OS.

Conclusion

DEB-TACE is safe and effective in HCC patients with a TIPS and is potentially superior to cTACE in terms of complications, liver toxicities, OS, TTP, and ORR.

Key Points

• DEB-TACE is safe and effective in HCC patients after a TIPS procedure.

• DEB-TACE improves overall survival, objective response rate, and liver toxicities and is non-inferior to cTACE in terms of time to progression.

• DEB-TACE might be a potential new therapeutic option for HCC patients with TIPS.
Bicuspid aortic valve annulus: assessment of geometry and size changes during the cardiac cycle as measured with a standardized method to define the annular plane
Authors: Boccalini Sara , Bons Lidia R. , van den Hoven Allard T. , van den Bosch Annemien E. , Krestin Gabriel P. , Roos-Hesselink Jolien , Budde Ricardo P. J.
Published: April 2021

Purpose

Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a complex malformation affecting not merely the aortic valve. However, little is known regarding the dynamic physiology of the aortic annulus in these patients and whether it is similar to tricuspid aortic valves (TAV). Determining the BAV annular plane is more challenging than for TAV. Our aim was to present a standardized methodology to determine BAV annulus and investigate its changes in shape and dimensions during the cardiac cycle.

Methods

BAV patients were prospectively included and underwent an ECG-gated cardiac CTA. The annulus plane was manually identified on reconstructions at 5% intervals of the cardiac cycle with a new standardized method for different BAV types. Based on semi-automatically defined contours, maximum and minimum diameter, area, area-derived diameter, perimeter, asymmetry ratio (AR), and relative area were calculated. Differences of dynamic annular parameters were assessed also per BAV type.

Results

Of the 55 patients included (38.4 ± 13.3 years; 58% males), 38 had BAV Sievers type 1, 10 type 0, and 7 type 2. The minimum diameter, perimeter, area, and area-derived diameter were significantly higher in systole than in diastole with a relative change of 13.7%, 4.8%, 13.7%, and 7.2% respectively (all p < 0.001). The AR was ≥ 1.1 in all phases, indicating an elliptic shape, with more pronounced flattening in diastole (p < 0.001). Different BAV types showed comparable dynamic changes.

Conclusions

BAV annulus undergo significant changes in shape during the cardiac cycle with a wider area in systole and a more elliptic conformation in diastole regardless of valve type.

Key Points

• A refined method for the identification of the annulus plane on CT scans of patients with bicuspid aortic valves, tailored for the specific anatomy of each valve type, is proposed.

• The annulus of patients with bicuspid aortic valves undergoes significant changes during the cardiac cycle with a wider area and more circular shape in systole regardless of valve type.

• As compared to previously published data, the bicuspid aortic valve annulus has physiological dynamics similar to that encountered in tricuspid valves but with overall larger dimensions.
Exponential ReLU DNN Expression of Holomorphic Maps in High Dimension
Authors: Opschoor J. A. A. , Schwab Ch. , Zech J.
Published: April 2021

For a parameter dimension $$d\in {\mathbb {N}}$$

d
∈
N

, we consider the approximation of many-parametric maps $$u: [-\,1,1]^d\rightarrow {\mathbb R}$$

u
:

[
-

1
,
1
]

d

→
R

by deep ReLU neural networks. The input dimension d may possibly be large, and we assume quantitative control of the domain of holomorphy of u: i.e., u admits a holomorphic extension to a Bernstein polyellipse $${{\mathcal {E}}}_{\rho _1}\times \cdots \times {{\mathcal {E}}}_{\rho _d} \subset {\mathbb {C}}^d$$

E

ρ
1

×
⋯
×

E

ρ
d

⊂

C

d

of semiaxis sums $$\rho _i>1$$

ρ
i

>
1

containing $$[-\,1,1]^{d}$$

[
-

1
,
1
]

d

. We establish the exponential rate $$O(\exp (-\,bN^{1/(d+1)}))$$

O
(
exp

(
-

b

N

1
/
(
d
+
1
)

)

)

of expressive power in terms of the total NN size N and of the input dimension d of the ReLU NN in $$W^{1,\infty }([-\,1,1]^d)$$

W

1
,
∞

(

[
-

1
,
1
]

d

)

. The constant $$b>0$$

b
>
0

depends on $$(\rho _j)_{j=1}^d$$

(

ρ
j

)

j
=
1

d

which characterizes the coordinate-wise sizes of the Bernstein-ellipses for u. We also prove exponential convergence in stronger norms for the approximation by DNNs with more regular, so-called “rectified power unit” activations. Finally, we extend DNN expression rate bounds also to two classes of non-holomorphic functions, in particular to d-variate, Gevrey-regular functions, and, by composition, to certain multivariate probability distribution functions with Lipschitz marginals.
Real-time limb tracking in single depth images based on circle matching and line fitting
Authors: Tschiedel Michael , Russold Michael Friedrich , Kaniusas Eugenijus , Vincze Markus
Published: April 2021

Modern lower limb prostheses neither measure nor incorporate healthy residual leg information for intent recognition or device control. In order to increase robustness and reduce misclassification of devices like these, we propose a vision-based solution for real-time 3D human contralateral limb tracking (CoLiTrack). An inertial measurement unit and a depth camera are placed on the side of the prosthesis. The system is capable of estimating the shank axis of the healthy leg. Initially, the 3D input is transformed into a stabilized coordinate system. By splitting the subsequent shank estimation problem into two less computationally intensive steps, the computation time is significantly reduced: First, an iterative closest point algorithm is applied to fit circular models against 2D projections. Second, the random sample consensus method is used to determine the final shank axis. In our study, three experiments were conducted to validate the static, the dynamic and the real-world performance of our CoLiTrack approach. The shank angle can be tracked at 20 Hz for one sixth of the entire human gait cycle with an angle estimation error below $$2.8\pm 2.1^{\circ }$$

2.8
±
2
.

1
∘

. Our promising results demonstrate the robustness of the novel CoLiTrack approach to make “next-generation prostheses” more user-friendly, functional and safe.
The performance of CORDEX-EA-II simulations in simulating seasonal temperature and elevation-dependent warming over the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Niu Xiaorui , Tang Jianping , Chen Deliang , Wang Shuyu , Ou Tinghai , Fu Congbin
Published: April 2021

To explore the driving mechanisms of elevation-dependent warming (EDW) over the Tibetan Plateau (TP), the output from a suite of numerical experiments with different cumulus parameterization schemes (CPs) under the Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiments-East Asia (CORDEX-EA-II) project is examined. Results show that all experiments can broadly capture the observed temperature distributions over the TP with consistent cold biases, and the spread in temperature simulations commonly increases with elevation with the maximum located around 4000–5000 m. Such disagreements among the temperature simulations could to a large extent be explained by their spreads in the surface albedo feedback (SAF). All the experiments reproduce the observed EDW below 5000 m in winter but fail to capture the observed EDW above 4500 m in spring. Further analysis suggests that the simulated EDW during winter is mainly caused by the SAF, and the clear-sky downward longwave radiation (LWclr) plays a secondary role in shaping EDW. The models’ inability in simulating EDW during spring is closely related to the SAF and the surface cloud radiative forcing (CRFs). Furthermore, the magnitude and structure of the simulated EDW are sensitive to the choice of CPs. Different CPs generate diverse snow cover fractions, which can modulate the simulated SAF and its effect on EDW. Also, the CPs show great influence on the LWclr via altering the low-level air temperature. Additionally, the mechanism for different temperature changes among the experiments varies with altitudes during summer and autumn, as the diverse temperature changes appear to be caused by the LWclr for the low altitudes while by the SAF for the middle-high altitudes.
Mechanical plus oral bowel preparation with paromomycin and metronidazole reduces infectious complications in elective colorectal surgery: a matched case-control study
Authors: Mehdorn Matthias , Lübbert Christoph , Chaberny Iris F. , Gockel Ines , Jansen-Winkeln Boris
Published: April 2021

Purpose

Infectious complications are as high as 30% in elective colorectal surgery. In recent years, several studies have discussed the topic of preoperative bowel decontamination prior to colorectal surgery in order to reduce postoperative infectious complications and have found significant effects of oral antibiotic administration with a large variety of drugs used. No study has evaluated the combination of oral paromomycin and metronidazole in this context.

Methods

We performed a prospective single-center study with a matched-pair retrospective cohort to evaluate postoperative infectious complications (superficial site infections, organ space abscess, anastomotic leakage) in elective colorectal surgery.

Patients

A total of 120 patients were available for study inclusion; 101 gave informed consent and were included. A total of 92 patients were matched and subsequently analyzed. We could show a reduction in overall infectious complications in the intervention group (15.2% vs 30.8%, p = 0.018; odds ratio 0.333, 95% CI 0.142–0.784) as well as a reduction in superficial surgical site infections (8.7 vs 19.6%, p = 0.041, OR 0.333, 95% CI 0.121–0.917). The frequency of the other infectious complications such as intraabdominal abscesses and anastomotic leakage showed a tendency towards decreased frequencies in the intervention group (OR 0.714, 95% CI 0.235–2.169 and OR 0.571; 95% CI 0.167–1.952, respectively). Finally, the oral antibiotic administration led to an almost significantly reduced length of stay (12.24 days vs 15.25 days; p = 0.057).

Conclusions

Oral paromomycin and metronidazole with intravenous ertapenem effectively reduce infectious complications in elective colorectal surgery.

Trial registration

The study was registered at Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03759886) December 17, 2018
Advances in dietary pattern analysis in nutritional epidemiology
Authors: Schulz Christina-Alexandra , Oluwagbemigun Kolade , Nöthlings Ute
Published: April 2021

Background and Purpose

It used to be a common practice in the field of nutritional epidemiology to analyze separate nutrients, foods, or food groups. However, in reality, nutrients and foods are consumed in combination. The introduction of dietary patterns (DP) and their analysis has revolutionized this field, making it possible to take into account the synergistic effects of foods and to account for the complex interaction among nutrients and foods. Three approaches of DP analysis exist: (1) the hypothesis-based approach (based on prior knowledge regarding the current understanding of dietary components and their health relation), (2) the exploratory approach (solely relying on dietary intake data), and (3) the hybrid approach (a combination of both approaches). During the recent past, complementary approaches for DP analysis have emerged both conceptually and methodologically.

Method

We have summarized the recent developments that include incorporating the Treelet transformation method as a complementary exploratory approach in a narrative review.

Results

Uses, peculiarities, strengths, limitations, and scope of recent developments in DP analysis are outlined. Next, the narrative review gives an overview of the literature that takes into account potential relevant dietary-related factors, specifically the metabolome and the gut microbiome in DP analysis. Then the review deals with the aspect of data processing that is needed prior to DP analysis, particularly when dietary data arise from assessment methods other than the long-established food frequency questionnaire. Lastly, potential opportunities for upcoming DP analysis are summarized in the outlook.

Conclusion

Biological factors like the metabolome and the microbiome are crucial to understand diet-disease relationships. Therefore, the inclusion of these factors in DP analysis might provide deeper insights.
HIMF deletion ameliorates acute myocardial ischemic injury by promoting macrophage transformation to reparative subtype
Authors: Li Yanjiao , Dong Min , Wang Qing , Kumar Santosh , Zhang Rui , Cheng Wanwen , Xiang Jiaqing , Wang Gang , Ouyang Kunfu , Zhou Ruxing , Xie Yaohong , Lu Yishen , Yi Jing , Duan Haixia , Liu Jie
Published: April 2021

Appropriately manipulating macrophage M1/M2 phenotypic transition is a promising therapeutic strategy for tissue repair after myocardial infarction (MI). Here we showed that gene ablation of hypoxia-induced mitogenic factor (HIMF) in mice (Himf−/−and HIMFflox/flox;Lyz2-Cre) attenuated M1 macrophage-dominated inflammatory response and promoted M2 macrophage accumulation in infarcted hearts. This in turn reduced myocardial infarct size and improved cardiac function after MI. Correspondingly, expression of HIMF in macrophages induced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines; the culturing medium of HIMF-overexpressing macrophages impaired the cardiac fibroblast viability and function. Furthermore, macrophage HIMF was found to up-regulate C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP) expression, which exaggerated the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines via activating signal transducer of activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) and 3 (STAT3) signaling. Together these data suggested that HIMF promotes M1-type and prohibits M2-type macrophage polarization by activating the CHOP–STAT1/STAT3 signaling pathway to negatively regulate myocardial repair. HIMF might thus constitute a novel target to treat MI.
The microstructural change causing the failure of the Cox-Merz rule in Newtonian suspensions: experiments and simulations
Authors: Carotenuto Claudia , Rexha Genta , Martone Raffaella , Minale Mario
Published: April 2021

Newtonian non-Brownian concentrated suspensions show a mismatch between the steady state and the complex viscosity, whatever the strain amplitude imposed in the oscillatory flow. This result is counterintuitive in the two extreme cases of vanishing strain amplitude and very large one. In the first case, the oscillatory flow should not be able to alter the steady microstructure, as well as in the other opposite limit for which the strain amplitude is so high that the oscillatory flow resembles a steady flow reversal. If the microstructure is not altered with respect to the steady one, similarly the complex viscosity should be equal to the steady one. We here investigate experimentally and numerically the origin of the viscosities mismatch at any imposed strain amplitude. We focus on the first two or three cycles of oscillations and different particle concentrations. Experimental and numerical results agree and allow to prove that for intermediate amplitudes, the oscillatory shear induces the breakage of particle clusters and the microstructure modifies so to minimise particle collisions. For very small strain amplitudes, the oscillatory shear only induces the rotation of few couples of touching particles and the complex viscosity results slightly smaller than the steady one, while for very large strains, the oscillatory flow reshuffles the particles inducing a microstructure as clustered as the steady state one but with a different angular distribution function. We show that the vast majority of the microstructure rearrangement takes place in the first half cycle of oscillation.
Lithospheric mantle refertilization by DMM-derived melts beneath the Cameroon Volcanic Line—a case study of the Befang xenolith suite (Oku Volcanic Group, Cameroon)
Authors: Tedonkenfack Sylvin S. T. , Puziewicz Jacek , Aulbach Sonja , Ntaflos Theodoros , Kaczmarek Mary-Alix , Matusiak-Małek Magdalena , Kukuła Anna , Ziobro Małgorzata
Published: April 2021

The origin and evolution of subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) are important issues of Earth’s chemical and physical evolution. Here, we report detailed textural and chemical analyses on a mantle xenolith suite from Befang (Oku Volcanic Group, Cameroon Volcanic Line), which represents a major tectono-magmatic structure of the African plate. The samples are sourced from spinel-facies mantle and are dominated by lherzolites. Their texture is cataclastic to porphyroclastic, and foliation defined by grain-size variation and alignment of spinel occurs in part of peridotites. Spinel is interstitial and has amoeboidal shape. Clinopyroxene REE patterns are similar to those of Depleted MORB Mantle (DMM) except LREEs, which vary from depleted to enriched. The A-type olivine fabric occurs in the subset of one harzburgite and 7 lherzolites studied by EBSD. Orthopyroxene shows deformation consistent with olivine. The fabric of LREE-enriched clinopyroxene is equivalent to those of orthopyroxene and olivine, whereas spinel and LREE-depleted clinopyroxene are oriented independently of host rock fabric. The textural, chemical and thermobarometric constraints indicate that the Befang mantle section was refertilised by MORB-like melt at pressures of 1.0–1.4 GPa and temperatures slightly above 1200–1275 °C. The olivine-orthopyroxene framework and LREE-enriched clinopyroxene preserve the protolith fabric. In contrast, the LREE-depleted clinopyroxene, showing discordant deformation relative to the olivine-orthopyroxene protolith framework, and amoeboidal spinel crystallized from the infiltrating melt. The major element and REEs composition of minerals forming the Befang peridotites indicate subsequent reequilibration at temperatures 930–1000 °C. This was followed by the formation of websterite veins in the lithospheric mantle, which can be linked to Cenozoic volcanism in the Cameroon Volcanic Line that also brought the xenoliths to the surface. This study therefore supports the origin of fertile SCLM via refertilization rather than by extraction of small melt fractions, and further emphasizes the involvement of depleted melts in this process.