bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Increased proportions of inflammatory T cells and their correlations with cytokines and clinical parameters in patients with ankylosing spondylitis from northern Sweden
Authors: Lejon Kristina , Hellman Urban , Do Lan , Kumar Anjani , Forsblad‐d’Elia Helena
Published: May 2022

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an autoimmune disease affecting parts of the skeletal structure in particular. Previously increased levels of the inflammatory cell types Th17, Th22, Tc17 and Tc22 cells have been shown to be associated with AS. Here, we analysed the levels of inflammatory T cell subsets, related cytokines and clinical characteristics of AS patients vs controls from northern Sweden. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from 50 AS patients and 50 matched controls were short term stimulated with PMA/Ionomycin, stained and analysed by flow cytometry. Plasma levels of Interleukin (IL)‐17, IL‐22, IL‐10 as well as clinically relevant markers were determined. Compared to male controls, male AS patients showed 1.5‐ to 2‐fold increases of Th17 (P = .013), Th22 (P = .003) and Tc22 (P = .024) among CD45+CD3+ lymphocytes. Plasma IL‐22 levels correlated with the Tc17 proportion in male patients (Rs = 0.499, P = .003) and plasma IL‐10 levels were inversely correlated with Tc17 among all patients (Rs = −0.276, P = .05). Male patients with syndesmophytes showed significantly higher Th17 proportions (P = .038). In female AS patients, Tc22 was negatively correlated with C‐reactive protein (high sensitivity) (hsCRP) (Rs = −0.573, P = .016). We confirmed increased proportions of inflammatory T cells and correlations with relevant cytokines from male AS patients. The correlation between Th17 and syndesmophytes supports a role of Th17 in the pathogenic process.
Locke on Conditional Threats
Authors: Venezia Luciano
Published: May 2022

John Locke says that a victim is permitted to kill a Conditional Threat in self‐defense. Yet, David Rodin argues that killing is disproportionate to the harm averted and is therefore impermissible. But Rodin mischaracterizes the situation faced by a Conditional Threat victim as analyzed by Locke. In this article, I aim to provide a more satisfactory reading of Locke on self‐defense against Conditional Threats, particularly of the thesis that killing involves a proportionate response to the harm averted. In addition to this, I also aim to further elaborate and defend Locke's view. First, I show that a Conditional Threat deprives his victim of her freedom to act as she thinks fit, without having to depend on the Conditional Threat's arbitrary will. Second, I argue that an interest in not being deprived of one's freedom to act as one thinks fit, without having to depend on another person's arbitrary will, by a conditional threat of deadly harm, is of sufficient value to make killing a proportionate act, especially if the person is highly morally culpable. If killing also meets the necessity condition of justified self‐defense (admittedly, a big “if”), it follows that Locke, not Rodin, holds the correct view.
Experiencing art from a field of rice: How farmers relate to rural revitalisation and art at Japan's Echigo‐Tsumari Art Festival
Authors: Leung Kei Yan , Thorsen Line Marie
Published: May 2022

Focusing on the Echigo‐Tsumari Art Festival (ETAF) in Niigata, Japan, we propose a novel conceptualisation of the role of art in rural revitalisation, focused on how local farmers experience art as a catalyst for social, cultural and natural change. Scholarship on the role of art in rural revitalisation has often focussed on arts’ problem‐solving affordances (e.g., economic, demographic) or on how rural engagements matter to art development. Instead, we turn our attention to the middle‐ground: how art intervenes in the everyday life and practices of farmers in the festival area. Based on interviews and ethnographic fieldwork, our analysis draws on the theories of Tsurumi Shunsuke and John Dewey to offer a broad and inclusive notion of ‘art’ and ‘aesthetic experience’. With this framework, we explore how farmers relate to different artworks presented at ETAF and how art can spur farmers to reflect on their lives, their farming and the environments they inhabit.
Effect of 46 years' application of fertilizers, FYM and lime on physical, chemical and biological properties of soil under maize–wheat system in an acid Alfisol of northwest Himalayas
Authors: Thakur Anjali , Sharma Raj Paul , Sankhyan Narender Kumar , Sepehya Swapana
Published: May 2022

Imbalanced fertilizer use with intensive cropping has threatened the sustainability of agroecosystems, especially on acid soils. An understanding of the long‐term effects of fertilizers and amendments on soil health is essential for sustaining high crop yields. The effects of application of fertilizers, and amendments for 46 years on soil properties and maize yield in an acid Alfisol were investigated in this study. Ten fertilizer treatments comprising different amounts of NPK fertilizers, farmyard manure (FYM) and lime, and one control, were replicated three times in a randomized block design. At 0–15 cm soil depth, bulk density was least (1.20 t/m3), porosity (49.8%) and water holding capacity (61.7%) were greatest in 100% NPK + FYM, corresponding to the largest organic carbon content (13.93 g/kg). Microbial biomass C and dehydrogenase activity in 100% NPK + FYM were 42% and 13.7% greater than 100% NPK, respectively. Available nutrients were significantly more with 100% NPK + FYM and 100% NPK + lime than control and other fertilizer treatments. At 15–30 cm depth, the effect of various treatments was comparable to the surface layer. Grain yield declined by 55% and 53% in 100% NPK(‐S) and 100% NP, respectively, compared with 100% NPK, whereas 100% N as urea alone eventually led to crop failure. Soil porosity recorded the greatest positive correlation (r = .933**), whereas bulk density recorded a negative significant correlation (r = −.942**) with grain yield. The results suggest that integrated use of FYM/lime with chemical fertilizers is a sustainable practice in terms of crop yield and soil health, whereas continuous application of urea alone is detrimental to the soil health.
CO2, CH4 and N2O emissions after fertilizer application in banana plantations located in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest
Authors: da Silva Reginaldo Barboza , Antunes Taline , Rosa Jéssica Silva , Packer Ana Paula , Bento Camila Bolfarini , do Carmo Janaina Braga , de Melo Silva Francisca Alcivânia
Published: May 2022

Bananas are important tropical fruits conventionally cultivated under intensive nitrogen fertilization. A current challenge is to understand the environmental impacts of this crop across the different cultivation stages considering greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, the present study evaluated whether inorganic fertilization with ammonium sulphate and urea during different planting stages can change soil CO2, CH4 and N2O emissions. The experiment was conducted in 2018 in an Atlantic Forest region of São Paulo State, Brazil. We used the chamber‐based methodology for gas sampling in young and established banana plantations and in a forest remnant fragment. Seasonal differences in temperature and rainfall during the sampling period resulted in a larger WFPS during the wet season. The CO2 emissions followed the rainfall variations. CH4 fluxes were mainly resulted of methanotrophy reactions. The maximum and minimum N2O fluxes were 7.38 and −0.93 mg m2 day−1, peaking after nitrogen fertilization. We found that the accumulated N2O fluxes from soil were greater for the two banana plantations than those observed in the forest remnant in dry and wet seasons. The highest N2O peaks were observed in the young banana plantation. CH4 uptake was 92 and 61% less in young and established banana plantations than in the forest remnant, while N2O emissions were 95 and 74% greater in young and established banana plantations than in the forest remnant. Considering the negative effect of N2O emissions, reduced rates of nitrogen application and the adoption of conservation practices should be considered in young banana plantations.
First transfusion of cold‐stored low‐titer group O whole blood in the French armed forces
Authors: Aloird Jonathan , Martinaud Christophe , Pasquier Pierre
Published: May 2022

Background

Hemorrhage is the most frequent cause of preventable death in the combat setting. Therefore, early transfusion can improve survival of combat casualties. In the case of hemorrhagic shock, massive transfusion must be performed immediately with high transfusion ratios (i.e., approximately 1:1:1 plasma:platelet:red blood cells). The use of cold‐stored low‐titer group O whole blood could address this challenging transfusion strategy in combat setting.

Results

We present here a clinical case illustrating this strategy of high transfusion ratios, which includes—for the first time in a modern conflict involving French Armed Forces—the use of cold‐stored low‐titer group O whole blood. A 29‐year‐old French soldier suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Because of the critical condition of the patient in hemorrhagic shock, successive medical teams initiated an early and massive transfusion, using French lyophilized plasma, red blood cells, cold‐stored low‐titer group O whole blood, and warm fresh whole blood.

Conclusion

This case report of a bleeding combat casualty, transfused with cold‐stored low‐titer group O whole blood for the first time in the French Armed Forces, emphasizes two important points: the importance of clinical assessment in the management of a bleeding patient with hemorrhagic shock and the feasibility of early massive transfusion using cold‐stored low‐titer group O whole blood.
Geometry and Kinematics of Cylindrical Waterbomb Tessellation
Authors: Imada Rinki , Tachi Tomohiro
Published: May 2022

Folded surfaces of origami tessellations have attracted much attention because they often exhibit nontrivial behaviors. It is known that cylindrical folded surfaces of waterbomb tessellation called waterbomb tube can transform into peculiar wave-like surfaces, but the theoretical reason why wave-like surfaces arise has been unclear. In this paper, we provide a kinematic model of waterbomb tube by parameterizing the geometry of a module of waterbomb tessellation and derive a recurrence relation between the modules. Through the visualization of the configurations of waterbomb tubes under the proposed kinematic model, we classify solutions into three classes: cylinder solution, wave-like solution, and finite solution. Through the stability and bifurcation analyses of the dynamical system, we investigate how the behavior of waterbomb tube changes when the crease pattern is changed. Furthermore, we prove the existence of a wave-like solution around one of the cylinder solutions.
In-depth analysis of iodine in artificial biofilm model layers by variable excitation energy XPS and argon gas cluster ion sputtering XPS
Authors: Dietrich Paul M. , Kjærvik Marit , Willneff Elizabeth A. , Unger Wolfgang E. S.
Published: May 2022

Here, we present a study on agarose thin-film samples that represent a model system for the exopolysaccharide matrix of biofilms. Povidone-iodide (PVP-I) was selected as an antibacterial agent to evaluate our x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)-based methodology to trace specific marker elements, here iodine, commonly found in organic matrices of antibiotics. The in-depth distribution of iodine was determined by XPS analyses with variable excitation energies and in combination with argon gas cluster ion beam sputter cycles. On mixed agarose/PVP-I nanometer-thin films, both methods were found to solve the analytical task and deliver independently comparable results. In the mixed agarose/PVP-I thin film, we found the outermost surface layer depleted in iodine, whereas the iodine is homogeneously distributed in the depth region between this outermost surface layer and the interface between the thin film and the substrate. Depletion of iodine from the uppermost surface in the thin-film samples is assumed to be caused by ultrahigh vacuum exposure resulting in a loss of molecular iodine (I2) as reported earlier for other iodine-doped polymers.
Robust and durable aberrative and absorptive phantom for therapeutic ultrasound applications
Authors: Peek Alex T. , Thomas Gilles P. L. , Leotta Daniel F. , Yuldashev Petr V. , Khokhlova Vera A. , Khokhlova Tatiana D.
Published: May 2022

Phase aberration induced by soft tissue inhomogeneities often complicates high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapies by distorting the field and, previously, we designed and fabricated a bilayer gel phantom to reproducibly mimic that effect. A surface pattern containing size scales relevant to inhomogeneities of a porcine body wall was introduced between gel materials with fat- and muscle-like acoustic properties—ballistic and polyvinyl alcohol gels. Here, the phantom design was refined to achieve relevant values of ultrasound absorption and scattering and make it more robust, facilitating frequent handling and use in various experimental arrangements. The fidelity of the interfacial surface of the fabricated phantom to the design was confirmed by three-dimensional ultrasound imaging. The HIFU field distortions—displacement of the focus, enlargement of the focal region, and reduction of focal pressure—produced by the phantom were characterized using hydrophone measurements with a 1.5 MHz 256-element HIFU array and found to be similar to those induced by an ex vivo porcine body wall. A phase correction approach was used to mitigate the aberration effect on nonlinear focal waveforms and enable boiling histotripsy treatments through the phantom or body wall. The refined phantom represents a practical tool to explore HIFU therapy systems capabilities.
The Effectiveness of Dry Needling Combined With Therapeutic Exercises in Treating Tendinopathy Conditions: A Systematic Review
Authors: Giorgi Emily , Smith Sarah , Drescher Matthew J. , Rivera Matthew J.
Published: May 2022

Context: Approximately 70,000 Americans miss work annually due to tendinopathies causing pain, disability, and lower quality of life. Various conservative treatments have been demonstrated to improve outcomes in these conditions. Dry needling (DN) and therapeutic exercise are 2 such interventions that have been proposed to be a positive intervention for addressing tendinopathy. Objective: To summarize the best available evidence on the use of DN and exercise combined to treat tendinopathy. Evidence Acquisition: PubMed, EBSCOHost, and Web of Science were systematically searched from inception to March 2021. Articles were assessed to determine eligibility and evaluated for methodological quality using the PEDro scale. The PRISMA guidelines were used for this review. Inclusion criteria consisted of use of DN in combination with therapeutic exercise, human participants, and active tendinopathy pathology. Evidence Synthesis: Seven studies met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, which averaged 6/11 on the PEDro scale. The level of agreement of evaluators was 94%. Current evidence supports the use of DN combined with therapeutic exercises, especially those including eccentric exercises, can improve pain and function for various tendinopathies. However, limited evidence exists regarding specific therapeutic interventions to be combined with DN. Conclusion: There is moderate, level B evidence to suggest the use of DN techniques targeted at the tendon and combined with eccentric therapeutic exercise to improve pain and functional outcomes for tendinopathies.
Twisted black phosphorus–based van der Waals stacks for fiber-integrated polarimeters
Authors: Xiong Yifeng , Wang Yushu , Zhu Runze , Xu Haotian , Wu Chenhui , Chen Jinhui , Ma Yang , Liu Yuan , Chen Ye , Watanabe Kenji , Taniguchi Takashi , Shi Mengzhu , Chen Xianhui , Lu Yanqing , Zhan Peng , Hao Yufeng , Xu Fei
Published: May 2022

The real-time, in-line analysis of light polarization is critical in optical networks, currently suffering from complex systems with numerous bulky opto-electro-mechanical elements tandemly arranged along the optical path. Here, we design and fabricate a fiber-integrated polarimeter by vertically stacking three photodetection units based on six-layer van der Waals materials, including one bismuth selenide (Bi
2
Se
3
) layer for power calibration, two twisted black phosphorus (BP) layers for polarization detection, and three hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) layers for encapsulation. The self-power-calibrated, self-driven, and unambiguous detection of both linearly polarized (LP) and circularly polarized (CP) light is realized by the broken symmetry–induced linear photogalvanic effects (LPGEs) and circular photogalvanic effects (CPGEs) in the two BP units. Moreover, the device enables single-pixel polarimetric imaging to acquire spatial polarization information. The ultracompact device structure, free from external optical and mechanical modules, may inspire the development of miniaturized optical and optoelectronic systems.
Plant-inspired TransfOrigami microfluidics
Authors: Pan Yi , Yang Zhenyu , Li Chang , Hassan Sammer Ul , Shum Ho Cheung
Published: May 2022

The healthy functioning of the plants’ vasculature depends on their ability to respond to environmental changes. In contrast, synthetic microfluidic systems have rarely demonstrated this environmental responsiveness. Plants respond to environmental stimuli through nastic movement, which inspires us to introduce transformable microfluidics: By embedding stimuli-responsive materials, the microfluidic device can respond to temperature, humidity, and light irradiance. Furthermore, by designing a foldable geometry, these responsive movements can follow the preset origami transformation. We term this device TransfOrigami microfluidics (TOM) to highlight the close connection between its transformation and the origami structure. TOM can be used as an environmentally adaptive photomicroreactor. It senses the environmental stimuli and feeds them back positively into photosynthetic conversion through morphological transformation. The principle behind this morphable microsystem can potentially be extended to applications that require responsiveness between the environment and the devices, such as dynamic artificial vascular networks and shape-adaptive flexible electronics.
Albumin nanoparticle containing a PI3Kγ inhibitor and paclitaxel in combination with α-PD1 induces tumor remission of breast cancer in mice
Authors: Song Yudong , Bugada Luke , Li Ruiting , Hu Hongxiang , Zhang Luchen , Li Chengyi , Yuan Hebao , Rajanayake Krishani Kumari , Truchan Nathan A. , Wen Fei , Gao Wei , Sun Duxin
Published: May 2022

Immunomodulators that remodel the tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment have been combined with anti–programmed death 1 (α-PD1) or anti–programmed death ligand 1 (α-PDL1) immunotherapy but have shown limited success in clinical trials. However, therapeutic strategies to modulate the immunosuppressive microenvironment of lymph nodes have been largely overlooked. Here, we designed an albumin nanoparticle, Nano-PI, containing the immunomodulators PI3Kγ inhibitor (IPI-549) and paclitaxel (PTX). We treated two breast cancer mouse models with Nano-PI in combination with α-PD1, which remodeled the tumor microenvironment in both lymph nodes and tumors. This combination achieved long-term tumor remission in mouse models and eliminated lung metastases. PTX combined with IPI-549 enabled the formation of a stable nanoparticle and enhanced the repolarization of M2 to M1 macrophages. Nano-PI not only enhanced the delivery of both immunomodulators to lymph nodes and tumors but also improved the drug accumulation in the macrophages of these two tissues. Immune cell profiling revealed that the combination of Nano-PI with α-PD1 remodeled the immune microenvironment by polarizing M2 to M1 macrophages, increasing CD4
+
and CD8
+
T cells, B cells, and dendritic cells, decreasing regulatory T cells, and preventing T cell exhaustion. Our data suggest that Nano-PI in combination with α-PD1 modulates the immune microenvironment in both lymph nodes and tumors to achieve long-term remission in mice with metastatic breast cancer, and represents a promising candidate for future clinical trials.
Safety of Inhaled Amphotericin B Lipid Complex as Antifungal Prophylaxis in Lung Transplant Recipients
Authors: Huggins Jonathan P. , Pease Robert , Stanly Kelly , Workman Adrienne , Reynolds John , Alexander Barbara D.
Published: May 2022

Inhaled formulations of amphotericin B are the most widely used antifungal prophylactic agents in lung transplant recipients, yet there are limited data on their safety. We performed a single-center retrospective cohort study of 603 consecutive patients who underwent lung transplantation between 2012 and 2017 and received antifungal prophylaxis with inhaled amphotericin B lipid complex (iABLC) from the day of transplantation until hospital discharge.
Aminoglycoside Antibiotics Inhibit Phage Infection by Blocking an Early Step of the Infection Cycle
Authors: Kever Larissa , Hardy Aël , Luthe Tom , Hünnefeld Max , Gätgens Cornelia , Milke Lars , Wiechert Johanna , Wittmann Johannes , Moraru Cristina , Marienhagen Jan , Frunzke Julia
Published: May 2022

Predation by phages is a major driver of bacterial evolution. As a result, elucidating antiphage strategies is crucial from both fundamental and therapeutic standpoints.
Novel Roles of the Nipah Virus Attachment Glycoprotein and Its Mobility in Early and Late Membrane Fusion Steps
Authors: Ortega Victoria , Zamora J. Lizbeth Reyes , Monreal I. Abrrey , Hoffman Daniel T. , Ezzatpour Shahrzad , Johnston Gunner P. , Contreras Erik M. , Vilchez-Delgado Fernando J. , Aguilar Hector C.
Published: May 2022

The important
Paramyxoviridae
family includes measles, mumps, human parainfluenza, and the emerging deadly zoonotic Nipah virus (NiV) and Hendra virus (HeV). The deadly emerging NiV can cause neurologic and respiratory symptoms in humans with a >60% mortality rate.
Draft Genome Sequence of Corynebacterium sanguinis Strain Marseille-P8776
Authors: Khare Mudra , Sinha Dhiraj , Zgheib Rita , Fadlane Amael , Raoult Didier , Fournier Pierre-Edouard
Published: May 2022

In 2018,
Corynebacterium sanguinis
strain Marseille-P8776 was isolated from the blood of a 64-year-old woman suffering from breast cancer who had undergone chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Following whole-genome sequencing, the chromosome of strain Marseille-P8776 was 2,613,836 bp long with a G+C content of 64.92%, 2,568 protein-coding genes, and 64 RNA genes.
Virucidal Properties of Photocatalytic Coating on Glass against a Model Human Coronavirus
Authors: Álvarez Ángel L. , Dalton Kevin P. , Nicieza Inés , Abade Dos Santos Fabio A. , de la Peña Pilar , Domínguez Pedro , Martin-Alonso José M. , Parra Francisco
Published: May 2022

Surface contamination is an important contributor to SARS-CoV-2 spread. The use of personal protective elements and physical barriers (i.e., masks, gloves, and indoor glass separators) increases safety and has proven invaluable in preventing contagion.
Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in patients with acute covid-19 associated respiratory failure: comparative effectiveness study
Authors: Urner Martin , Barnett Adrian G , Bassi Gianluigi Li , Brodie Daniel , Dalton Heidi J , Ferguson Niall D , Heinsar Silver , Hodgson Carol L , Peek Giles , Shekar Kiran , Suen Jacky Y , Fraser John F , Fan Eddy
Published: May 2022

Objective

To estimate the effect of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) compared with conventional mechanical ventilation on outcomes of patients with covid-19 associated respiratory failure.

Design

Observational study.

Setting

30 countries across five continents, 3 January 2020 to 29 August 2021.

Participants

7345 adults admitted to the intensive care unit with clinically suspected or laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Interventions

ECMO in patients with a partial pressure of arterial oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2) ratio <80 mm Hg compared with conventional mechanical ventilation without ECMO.

Main outcome measure

The primary outcome was hospital mortality within 60 days of admission to the intensive care unit. Adherence adjusted estimates were calculated using marginal structural models with inverse probability weighting, accounting for competing events and for baseline and time varying confounding.

Results

844 of 7345 eligible patients (11.5%) received ECMO at any time point during follow-up. Adherence adjusted mortality was 26.0% (95% confidence interval 24.5% to 27.5%) for a treatment strategy that included ECMO if the PaO2/FiO2ratio decreased <80 mm Hg compared with 33.2% (31.8% to 34.6%) had patients received conventional treatment without ECMO (risk difference –7.1%, 95% confidence interval –8.2% to –6.1%; risk ratio 0.78, 95% confidence interval 0.75 to 0.82). In secondary analyses, ECMO was most effective in patients aged <65 years and with a PaO2/FiO2<80 mm Hg or with driving pressures >15 cmH2O during the first 10 days of mechanical ventilation.

Conclusions

ECMO was associated with a reduction in mortality in selected adults with covid-19 associated respiratory failure. Age, severity of hypoxaemia, and duration and intensity of mechanical ventilation were found to be modifiers of treatment effectiveness and should be considered when deciding to initiate ECMO in patients with covid-19.
Symptom Improvement of ulceRative colitis after an Induction dose of UStekinumab in Japanese clinical practice (SIRIUS), measured using patient-reported outcomes: a prospective observational study
Authors: Matsuoka Katsuyoshi , Nagano Katsumasa , Nagasaki Shinya , Murata Yoko , Hisamatsu Tadakazu
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an idiopathic, chronic inflammatory disease of the large intestine. Ustekinumab is a monoclonal antibody against the p40 subunit of interleukin-12 and interleukin-23 and has proven efficacy in inducing and maintaining remission in adult patients with moderate-to-severe UC. In the Symptom Improvement of ulceRative colitis after an Induction dose of Ustekinumab study, we will document the initial treatment response (daily patient-reported outcomes for 8 weeks from first infusion) and treatment patterns of patients wih UC receiving an induction dose of ustekinumab in the real-world setting in Japan. We will also investigate the relationship between the treatment response at week 8 and early indicators of response and determine patient factors that may define the appropriate dosing interval for maintenance therapy.

Methods and analysis

For this single-arm, prospective observational study at 24 centres in Japan with a follow-up period of 16/20 weeks, we aim to recruit 140 patients with moderate-to-severe UC between July 2021 and July 2022. All surveys will be conducted in Japanese and patient-reported outcomes relating to rectal bleeding, stool frequency, abdominal pain, nocturnal diarrhoea, tenesmus and perception of UC symptoms will be recorded using a smartphone application, where the patients can enter their initial response to ustekinumab induction therapy on a daily basis. Dosing intervals and the reasons for selecting this interval, and concomitant medications taken during treatment with ustekinumab will be collected by a physician questionnaire at the end of the study. On completion of primary end point (8-week patient-reported outcomes) data collection, results will be reported sequentially.

Ethics and dissemination

The study has been approved by the ethics committee of each facility involved and the Institutional Review Board of the non-profit organisation MINS.

Trial registration number

UMIN000043753, NCT04963725.
Responding to Elder Abuse in GERiAtric care (REAGERA) educational intervention for healthcare providers: a non-randomised stepped wedge trial
Authors: Ludvigsson Mikael , Motamedi Atbin , Westerlind Björn , Swahnberg Katarina , Simmons Johanna
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Elder abuse is prevalent and associated with different forms of ill health. Despite this, healthcare providers are often unaware of abusive experiences among older patients and many lack training about elder abuse. The overall aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of an educational intervention on healthcare providers’ propensity to ask older patients questions about abusive experiences.

Methods and analysis

Healthcare providers at hospital clinics and primary healthcare centres in Sweden will undergo full-day education about elder abuse between the fall of 2021 and spring of 2023. The education consists of (1) theory and group discussions; (2) forum theatre, a form of interactive theatre in which participants are given the opportunity to practise how to manage difficult patient encounters; and (3) post-training reflection on changing practices.

The design is a non-randomised cluster, stepped wedge trial in which all participants (n=750) gradually transit from control group to intervention group with 6-month interval, starting fall 2021. Data are collected using the Responding to Elder Abuse in GERiAtric care–Provider questionnaire which was distributed to all clusters at baseline. All participants will also be asked to answer the questionnaire in conjunction with participating in the education as well as at 6-month and 12-month follow-up. Main outcome is changes in self-reported propensity to ask older patients questions about abuse post-intervention compared with pre-intervention. Linear mixed models including cluster as a random effect will be used to statistically evaluate the outcome.

Ethics and dissemination

The study has been approved by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority. The results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings. If the intervention is successful, a manual of the course content will be published so that the education can be disseminated to other clinics.

Trial registration number

NCT05065281.
A life cycle thinking centered methodology for energy retrofit evaluation
Authors: Toufeili Rania , Ruparathna Rajeev , Tam Edwin
Published: May 2022

Energy retrofits can improve the sustainability of a building by decreasing the energy consumption and resulting GHG emissions throughout its life. Adopting critical life cycle thinking is crucial when deciding on how to implement building retrofits. This article first evaluates innovative and proven building energy retrofits through a life cycle thinking lens. Next, it develops a methodological framework to assess building retrofits using four principal measures: environmental, economic, social, and technical criteria. The proposed method was demonstrated using an institutional building in Windsor, Ontario, as a case study. The case study revealed that the selected retrofit might result in the least energy savings, but it is still the preferred alternative because other factors can present valuable trade-offs that are desirable. The outcomes of this research, with the demonstrated tool, will assist building managers in determining the optimal energy retrofit for their buildings.
Vasorelaxant effect of monoterpene carvacrol on isolated human umbilical artery
Authors: Đukanović Đorđe , Bojić Milica Gajić , Marinković Sonja , Trailović Saša , Stojiljković Miloš P. , Škrbić Ranko
Published: May 2022

Carvacrol (CRV) is the main compound of essential oils extracted primarily from Thymus and Origanum species. Its various biological activities were confirmed: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-tumour, antinematodal, and vasorelaxant action. Although vasodilation mediated by CRV was previously described, the exact mechanism of its action has not yet been established. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate CRV vasoactivity on human umbilical arteries (HUA) and the different pathways involved in its mechanism of action using the tissue bath methodology. CRV caused a significant decrease in vascular tension of 5-HT-pre-contracted umbilical arteries, with EC50 of 442.13 ± 33.8 µmol/L (mean ± standard error of the mean—SEM). At 300 µmol/L, CRV shifted downward the 5-HT concentration–response curve with a statistical significance of p < 0.001 obtained for the four highest concentrations. At a concentration of 1 mmol/L, CRV completely abolished BaCl2-induced contraction in Ca2+-free Krebs–Ringer bicarbonate solution and the BAY K 8644-induced contraction in Krebs–Ringer bicarbonate solution ( p < 0.001). Isopentenyl pyrophosphate, the antagonist of TRPV3 channel, was able to decrease the efficacy of CRV ( p < 0.001). The blocking of L-type Ca2+ channels on smooth muscle cells is the most probable mechanism of CRV-induced vasorelaxation. However, the role of TRPV3 channels in CRV-induced vasodilation of HUA cannot be excluded either.
Heun’s equation and analytic structure of the gap in holographic superconductivity
Authors: Choun Yoon-Seok , Cai Wenhe , Sin Sang-Jin
Published: May 2022

We present the new method to calculate the critical temperature as a function of $$\Delta $$
Δ
, conformal dimension of the cooper operator. We find that, in the regime $$1/2\le \Delta <1$$

1
/
2
≤
Δ
<
1

where the AC conductivity does not show a gap, the critical temperature is not well defined. We also got expression of AC conductivity for $$\Delta =2$$

Δ
=
2

, which agrees with numerical result in the probe approximation.
Scientific Traveling through IJAIT’s 30 Years
Authors: Hatzilygeroudis Ioannis
Published: May 2022

IJAIT was established to cover the area between “Theory” and “Applications” in the general field of Artificial Intelligence (AI). That area was called “Tools” by IJAIT Founder, Prof. Nikolaos Bourbakis. “Tools” refers to algorithms, methods, techniques, languages, methodologies, and architectures. Thus, IJAIT has evolved to a general AI journal, covering almost all AI sub-fields in the above scope. Also, the “Tools” restriction was not a barrier for accepting good application-oriented papers.
Machine Learning Methods for Automatic Gender Detection
Authors: Sánchez Damián Morales , Moreno Antonio , López M. Dolores Jiménez
Published: May 2022

Automatic gender detection has attracted the attention of many research fields such as forensic linguistics or marketing. Within these areas, gender detection has been approached as a classification problem and, for this reason, supervised Machine Learning algorithms such as Naïve Bayes, Logistic Regression and Support Vector Machines, among others, have been employed. The latter algorithm has exhibited a better performance on gender detection. In recent years, with the development of Deep Learning methods, various neural networks structures such as Convolutional Neural Networks have been designed for gender detection. However, Deep Learning methods have led to a loss in the interpretability of the models. In this article, we review the AI techniques applied on gender detection.
Using Kernels to Harness the Complexity of Big Data Applications
Authors: Wah Benjamin W.
Published: May 2022

This paper presents the concept of kernels to address the complexity of solving big-data applications. Their solution strategies often require evaluating domain-dependent subspaces on the big data and selecting the best result. As the data space in these problems is so vast that it is infeasible to scan the data once, we need domain-specific methods for identifying promising and manageable subspaces with a high density of solutions before looking for individual ones. To this end, we introduce kernels to represent some properties of the statistical quality, average density, or probability of solutions in a subspace to prune subspaces with suboptimal kernels. We classify various past approaches based on their analysis methods and illustrate each by an example. Our results confirm that kernels can effectively harness the complexity of solving big-data applications.
HAS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AFFECTED THE FLOW OF INFORMATION AMONG CRYPTOCURRENCIES?
Authors: NASCIMENTO KEROLLY KEDMA FELIX DO , SANTOS FÁBIO SANDRO DOS , JALE JADER SILVA , JÚNIOR SÍLVIO FERNANDO ALVES XAVIER , FERREIRA TIAGO A. E.
Published: May 2022

In this paper, we investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the cryptocurrency market. The direction of information transfer between the 67 digital cryptocurrency markets was evaluated, in particular Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Ripple, and we determined which of them were the most influential in the markets. The comparison of the first half of 2019 (outside the pandemic of COVID-19) against the first semester of 2020 (during the COVID-19 pandemic) was used to analyze the pandemic influence. We found two distinct behaviors: (i) in 2019, Bitcoin, as the primary capitalization bond, presented a more substantial transfer of information than the other cryptocurrencies toward Bitcoin [Formula: see text] Ripple (0.0541), followed by Litecoin [Formula: see text] Ripple (0.0522); (ii) in 2020, the most substantial transfers of information occurred from Ethereum to other cryptocurrencies (Litecoin, Bitcoin, and Ripple, in that order). In this period, the weakest transfers happened from Litecoin [Formula: see text] Ripple and in the opposite direction, with equal value (0.0104). Our results indicate that there was a change in the direction of the information flow between the investigated cryptocurrencies, where ETH became the dominant cryptocurrency during the period of turbulence caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
A NOVEL PERSPECTIVE TO THE LOCAL FRACTIONAL BIDIRECTIONAL WAVE MODEL ON CANTOR SETS
Authors: WANG KANGLE
Published: May 2022

In this paper, the bidirectional wave model is described by using the local fractional derivative (LFD) on Cantor sets for the first time. A novel algorithm is established to obtain the exact traveling-wave solution of the non-differential type for the local fractional bidirectional wave model (LFBWM), which is called the local fractional wave method (LFWM). The advantages of the LFWM are simple, efficient and accurate. The LFWM sheds a new light on solving the local fractional wave equations (LFWE) in physics and engineering. Finally, the physical properties of the obtained exact traveling-wave solution of the non-differential type are elaborated by some simulation figures.
INVESTIGATION TO THE LOCAL FRACTIONAL FOKAS SYSTEM ON CANTOR SET BY A NOVEL TECHNOLOGY
Authors: WANG KANG-JIA
Published: May 2022

This paper derives a new fractional Fokas system with the aid of the local fractional derivative. A novel technology named the extended rational fractal sine–cosine method is presented for the first time ever to develop the abundant traveling wave solutions. Two families (six sets) of the traveling wave solutions on Cantor set are successfully constructed. The dynamic behaviors of the solutions on Cantor sets are provided via numerical simulations. The obtained results in this work strongly prove that the proposed approach is simple but effective, which is expected to shed a new light on the study of the traveling wave theory of the local fractional equations.
Segment-Wise Time-Varying Dynamic Bayesian Network with Graph Regularization
Authors: Yang Xing , Zhang Chen , Zheng Baihua
Published: May 2022

Time-varying dynamic Bayesian network (TVDBN) is essential for describing time-evolving directed conditional dependence structures in complex multivariate systems. In this article, we construct a TVDBN model, together with a score-based method for its structure learning. The model adopts a vector autoregressive (VAR) model to describe inter-slice and intra-slice relations between variables. By allowing VAR parameters to change segment-wisely over time, the time-varying dynamics of the network structure can be described. Furthermore, considering some external information can provide additional similarity information of variables. Graph Laplacian is further imposed to regularize similar nodes to have similar network structures. The regularized maximum a posterior estimation in the Bayesian inference framework is used as a score function for TVDBN structure evaluation, and the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) with L-BFGS-B algorithm is used for optimal structure learning. Thorough simulation studies and a real case study are carried out to verify our proposed method’s efficacy and efficiency.
DCGrid
Authors: Raateland Wouter , Hädrich Torsten , Herrera Jorge Alejandro Amador , Banuti Daniel T. , Pałubicki Wojciech , Pirk Sören , Hildebrandt Klaus , Michels Dominik L.
Published: May 2022

We introduce Dynamic Constrained Grid (DCGrid), a hierarchical and adaptive grid structure for fluid simulation combined with a scheme for effectively managing the grid adaptations. DCGrid is designed to be implemented on the GPU and used in high-performance simulations. Specifically, it allows us to efficiently vary and adjust the grid resolution across the spatial domain and to rapidly evaluate local stencils and individual cells in a GPU implementation. A special feature of DCGrid is that the control of the grid adaption is modeled as an optimization under a constraint on the maximum available memory, which addresses the memory limitations in GPU-based simulation. To further advance the use of DCGrid in high-performance simulations, we complement DCGrid with an efficient scheme for approximating collisions between fluids and static solids on cells with different resolutions. We demonstrate the effectiveness of DCGrid for smoke flows and complex cloud simulations in which terrain-atmosphere interaction requires working with cells of varying resolution and rapidly changing conditions. Finally, we compare the performance of DCGrid to that of alternative adaptive grid structures.
Interactive simulation of plume and pyroclastic volcanic ejections
Authors: Lastic Maud , Rohmer Damien , Cordonnier Guillaume , Jaupart Claude , Neyret Fabrice , Cani Marie-Paule
Published: May 2022

We propose an interactive animation method for the ejection of gas and ashes mixtures in volcano eruption. Our novel, layered solution combines a coarse-grain, physically-based simulation of the ejection dynamics with a consistent, procedural animation of multi-resolution details. We show that this layered model can be used to capture the two main types of ejection, namely ascending plume columns composed of rapidly rising gas carrying ash which progressively entrains more air, and pyroclastic flows which descend the slopes of the volcano depositing ash, ultimately leading to smaller plumes along their way. We validate the large-scale consistency of our model through comparison with geoscience data, and discuss both real-time visualization and off-line, realistic rendering.
Effect of Render Resolution on Gameplay Experience, Performance, and Simulator Sickness in Virtual Reality Games
Authors: Wang Jialin , Shi Rongkai , Xiao Zehui , Qin Xueying , Liang Hai-Ning
Published: May 2022

Higher resolution is one of the main directions and drivers in the development of virtual reality (VR) head-mounted displays (HMDs). However, given its associated higher cost, it is important to determine the benefits of having higher resolution on user experience. For non-VR games, higher resolution is often thought to lead to a better experience, but it is unexplored in VR games. This research aims to investigate the resolution tradeoff in gameplay experience, performance, and simulator sickness (SS) for VR games, particularly first-person shooter (FPS) games. To this end, we designed an experiment to collect gameplay experience, SS, and player performance data with a popular VR FPS game, Half-Life: Alyx. Our results indicate that 2K resolution is an important threshold for an enhanced gameplay experience without affecting performance and increasing SS levels. Moreover, the resolution from 1K to 4K has no significant difference in player performance. Our results can inform game developers and players in determining the type of HMD they want to use to balance the tradeoff between costs and benefits and achieve a more optimal experience.
Bringing Linearly Transformed Cosines to Anisotropic GGX
Authors: KT Aakash , Heitz Eric , Dupuy Jonathan , Narayanan P. J.
Published: May 2022

Linearly Transformed Cosines (LTCs) are a family of distributions that are used for real-time area-light shading thanks to their analytic integration properties. Modern game engines use an LTC approximation of the ubiquitous GGX model, but currently this approximation only exists for isotropic GGX and thus anisotropic GGX is not supported. While the higher dimensionality presents a challenge in itself, we show that several additional problems arise when fitting, post-processing, storing, and interpolating LTCs in the anisotropic case. Each of these operations must be done carefully to avoid rendering artifacts. We find robust solutions for each operation by introducing and exploiting invariance properties of LTCs. As a result, we obtain a small 84 look-up table that provides a plausible and artifact-free LTC approximation to anisotropic GGX and brings it to real-time area-light shading.
Oracle Separation of BQP and PH
Authors: Raz Ran , Tal Avishay
Published: May 2022

We present a distribution 𝓓 over inputs in {± 1}

2
N

, such that:

(1)

There exists a quantum algorithm that makes one (quantum) query to the input, and runs in time
O
(log
N
), that distinguishes between 𝓓 and the uniform distribution with advantage
Ω
(1/log
N
).

(2)

No Boolean circuit of quasi-polynomial size and constant depth distinguishes between 𝓓 and the uniform distribution with advantage better than polylog(N)/√
N
.

By well-known reductions, this gives a separation of the classes Promise-
BQP
and Promise-
PH
in the
black-box
model and implies an oracle relative to which
BQP
is not contained in
PH
.
Ally: Understanding Text Messaging to Build a Better Onscreen Keyboard for Blind People
Authors: Lottridge Danielle , Yoon Chris , Burton Darren , Wang Chester , Kaye Jofish
Published: May 2022

Millions of people worldwide use smartphones every day, but the standard issue QWERTY keyboard is poorly optimized for non-sighted input. In this article, we document the variety of methods blind people use to enter text into their smartphones, and focus on one particular need: sending text messages. We analyze two modern corpora of text messages and contrast them with an older text message corpus, as well as other corpora gathered from news articles, chat rooms, and books. We present a virtual keyboard for blind people optimized for sending text messages called Ally. To evaluate Ally, we conducted two user studies with blind participants. Our first study found increasing speeds and our second study found that half of participants reached comparable speeds to QWERTY, suggesting it may be a viable replacement. We conclude with a discussion of future work for non-sighted text-entry of text messages.
Detecting Anomalous Graphs in Labeled Multi-Graph Databases
Authors: Nguyen Hung T. , Liang Pierre J. , Akoglu Leman
Published: May 2022

Within a large database 𝒢 containing graphs with labeled nodes and directed, multi-edges; how can we detect the anomalous graphs? Most existing work are designed for plain (unlabeled) and/or simple (unweighted) graphs. We introduce
CODEtect
, the
first
approach that addresses the anomaly detection task for graph databases with such complex nature. To this end, it identifies a small representative set 𝒮 of structural patterns (i.e., node-labeled network motifs) that losslessly compress database 𝒢 as concisely as possible. Graphs that do not compress well are flagged as anomalous.
CODEtect
exhibits two novel building blocks: (i) a motif-based lossless graph encoding scheme, and (ii) fast memory-efficient search algorithms for 𝒮. We show the effectiveness of
CODEtect
on transaction graph databases from three different corporations and statistically similar synthetic datasets, where existing baselines adjusted for the task fall behind significantly, across different types of anomalies and performance metrics.