bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of surgical modality and timing of surgery as clinical outcome predictors following acute subdural hematoma evacuation
Authors: Altaf Imran , Shams Shahzad , Vohra Anjum Habib
Published: February 2020

Background & Objective: A Craniotomy (CO) or decompressive craniectomy (DC) are the two main surgical procedures employed for evacuation of acute traumatic subdural hematoma (ASDH). However, the optimal surgical procedure remains controversial. The beneficial effect of early surgical evacuation of acute subdural hematoma in improving outcome also remains unclear. Our objective was to study the role of these two parameters in determining the outcome in patients undergoing surgical evacuation of acute traumatic subdural hematoma.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 58 patients presenting with acute traumatic subdural hematoma and with presenting Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) ≤ 8 that had been operated in Lahore General Hospital between June 2014 and July 2015 was performed. The demographic data, preoperative GCS, type of surgical procedure performed and timing of surgery were analysed.

Results: Forty (69%) patients underwent CO, and eighteen (31%) patients underwent DC. The CO and DC groups showed no difference in the demographic data and preoperative GCS. Six patients survived in the craniotomy group, while none survived in the decompressive craniectomy group (p=0.083). The relationship of timing of surgery with survival in the craniotomy group was found not to be clinically significant (p=0.87).

Conclusion: In this study craniotomy was associated with a better outcome as compared to decompressive craniectomy, however, the difference did not reach statistical significance. Early surgery was also found not to be associated with an improved outcome.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.3.1771

How to cite this:Altaf I, Shams S, Vohra AH. Role of surgical modality and timing of surgery as clinical outcome predictors following acute subdural hematoma evacuation. Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(3):412-415. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.3.1771

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Machine learning meets pKa
Authors: Baltruschat Marcel , Czodrowski Paul
Published: February 2020

We present a small molecule pKa prediction tool entirely written in Python. It predicts the macroscopic pKa value and is trained on a literature compilation of monoprotic compounds. Different machine learning models were tested and random forest performed best given a five-fold cross-validation (mean absolute error=0.682, root mean squared error=1.032, correlation coefficient r2 =0.82). We test our model on two external validation sets, where our model performs comparable to Marvin and is better than a recently published open source model. Our Python tool and all data is freely available at https://github.com/czodrowskilab/Machine-learning-meets-pKa.
The deep(er) roots of Eukaryotes and Akaryotes
Authors: Harish Ajith , Morrison David
Published: February 2020

Background: Locating the root node of the “tree of life” (ToL) is one of the hardest problems in phylogenetics. The root-node or the universal common ancestor (UCA) divides descendants into organismal domains. Two notable variants of the two-domains ToL (2D-ToL) have gained support recently. One 2D-ToL posits that eukaryotes (organisms with nuclei) and akaryotes (organisms without nuclei) are sister clades that diverged from the UCA and that Asgard archaea are sister to other archaea, whereas the other proposes that eukaryotes emerged within archaea and places Asgard archaea sister to eukaryotes. Williams et al. (Nature Ecol. Evol. 4: 138–147; 2020) re-evaluated the data and methods that support the competing two-domains proposals and concluded that eukaryotes are the closest relatives of Asgard archaea.

Critique: We argue that important aspects of estimating evolutionary relatedness and assessing phylogenetic signal in empirical data were overlooked. We focus on phylogenetic character reconstructions necessary to describe the UCA or its closest descendants in the absence of reliable fossils. It is well known that different character types present different perspectives on evolutionary history that relate to different phylogenetic depths. Which 2D-ToL is better supported depends on which kind of molecular features – protein-domains or their component amino acids – are better for resolving common ancestors at the roots of clades. In practice, this involves reconstructing character compositions of the ancestral nodes all the way back to the UCA. We believe the criticisms of 2D-ToL focus on superficial aspects of the data and reflects common misunderstandings of phylogenetic reconstructions using protein domains (folds).  

Clarifications: Models of protein domain evolution support more reliable phylogenetic reconstructions. In contrast, even the best available amino acid substitution models fail to resolve the archaeal radiation, despite employing thousands of genes. Therefore, the primary domains Eukaryotes and Akaryotes are better supported in a 2D-ToL.
Punishing the individual or the group for norm violation
Authors: El Zein Marwa , Seikus Chloe , De-Wit Lee , Bahrami Bahador
Published: February 2020

Background: It has recently been proposed that a key motivation for joining groups is the protection from consequences of negative behaviours, such as norm violations. Here we empirically test this claim by investigating whether cooperative decisions and the punishment of associated fairness-based norm violations are different in individuals vs. collectives in economic games.

Methods: In the ultimatum game, participants made or received offers that they could reject at a cost to their outcome, a form of social punishment. In the dictator game with third-party punishment, participants made offers to a receiver while being observed by a punisher, or could themselves punish unfair offers.

Results: Participants made lower offers when making their decision as part of a group as compared to alone. This difference correlated with participants’ overall mean offers: those who were generally less generous were even less so in a group, suggesting that the collective structure was compatible with their intention. Participants were slower when punishing vs not punishing an unfair offer. Importantly here, they were slower when deciding whether to punish or not to punish groups as compared to individuals, only when the offer concerned them directly in second party punishment. Participants thus take more time to punish others, and to make their mind on whether to punish or not when facing a group of proposers.

Conclusions: Together, these results show that people behave differently in a group, both in their willingness to share with others and in their punishment of norm violations. This could be explained by the fact that being in a collective structure allows to share responsibility with others, thereby protecting from negative consequences of norm violations.
The genome sequence of the eastern grey squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis Gmelin, 1788
Authors: Mead Dan , Fingland Kathryn , Cripps Rachel , Portela Miguez Roberto , Smith Michelle , Corton Craig , Oliver Karen , Skelton Jason , Betteridge Emma , Doulcan Jale , Quail Michael A. , McCarthy Shane A. , Howe Kerstin , Sims Ying , Torrance James , Tracey Alan , Challis Richard , Durbin Richard , Blaxter Mark
Published: February 2020

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Sciurus carolinensis (the eastern grey squirrel; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Eutheria; Rodentia; Sciuridae). The genome sequence is 2.82 gigabases in span. The majority of the assembly (92.3%) is scaffolded into 21 chromosomal-level scaffolds, with both X and Y sex chromosomes assembled.
A strawberry, an animal cry and a human subject: Where existential semiotics, biosemiotics and relational metaphysics seem to meet one another
Authors: Machtyl Katarzyna
Published: February 2020

The article discus ses some semiotic approaches to the relation between nature and culture. Starting with outlining the structuralistic approach to this issue, especially the ideas of Juri Lotman and Algirdas Julien Greimas, the author finds parallels between different views on the relation between the natural world and human beings. First, the juxtaposition of Eero Tarasti’s existential semiotics with selected concepts of biosemiotics is discussed. The following part of the paper is dedicated to Bruno Latour’s ideas on nature–culture relation, hybrids and mediations. Then the author refers to Lotman’s notion of the semiosphere as the common space for all living and inanimate elements. Closing the paper with a return to biosemiotics, the author comes back to Tarasti’s ideas and compares these with some ideas in biosemiotics, paying special attention to the concepts of unpredictability, choice and dynamics. The comparison shows that some intuitions, assumptions and theses of these different scholars turn out to be surprisingly convergent. The author believes that the outlined parallels between Tarasti’s view, Latour’s and Lotman’s concepts, and biosemiotics may be promising for further research, inviting detailed study.
Contribution of Primary School Subjects to the Subsequent History Education of Adolescents
Authors: Vorozheykina N.
Published: February 2020

The article describes the primary school subjects, which play an important role in the process of mastering the content of the social and humanitarian field by students at the next stage of school education, primarily the historical one. The author reveals the complex of knowledge and universal educational actions that are formed in primary school graduates, necessary for the study of history in primary school, and thus the continuity between the links of school education is traced.
Periodization of Children’s Imaging Activities
Authors: Moreva Ol'ga
Published: February 2020

The article discusses the changes that occur in the drawings of children as they grow up. Based on the analysis of studies of children’s drawings and taking into account their own pedagogical experience, the author’s periodization of children’s visual activity was compiled. Its age stages and stages of artistic development of children aged from 1 year to 12 years are reflected in it. The characteristics of children’s drawings at each stage are given, the corresponding features of the children’s pictorial activity, their relation to the drawing process and their artwork are analyzed. Brief methodological recommendations are given on the organization of the pictorial activity of children at each of the distinguished stages.
Optimal Subsidies for Development Supply Chains
Authors: Yu Jiayi Joey , Tang Christopher S. , Sodhi ManMohan S. , Knuckles James
Published: February 2020

Problem definition: When donors subsidize products for sale to low-income families, they need to address who to subsidize in the supply chain and to what extent and whether such supply chain structures as retail competition, substitutable products, and demand uncertainty matter. Academic/practical relevance: By introducing and analyzing development supply chains in which transactions are commercial but subsidies are needed for affordability, we explore different supply chain structures, with product substitution and retail competition motivated by a field study in Haiti of subsidized solar lantern supply chains. Methodology: We incorporate product substitution, retail competition, and demand uncertainty in a three-echelon supply chain model with manufacturers, retailers, and consumers. This model has transactions among the donor, manufacturers, retailers, and consumers as a four-stage Stackelberg game, and we solve different variations of this game by using backward induction. Results: The donor can subsidize the manufacturer, retailer, or customer as long as the total subsidy per unit across these echelons is maintained at the optimal level. Having more product choice and having more retail channel choice can increase the number of beneficiaries adopting the products; this increase becomes more pronounced as demand becomes more uncertain. Managerial implications: Donors must coordinate across different programs along the entire supply chain. They should look for evidence in their collective experience of more beneficiaries when subsidizing competing retailers selling diverse substitutable products.
Q&A: highlighting careers, nurse-led work and innovation in cardiovascular nursing
Authors: Cowan Helen
Published: February 2020

This month, we hear from Helen Cowan, a cardiac nurse in a care home and freelance health writer
Preoperative peripheral and core temperature: an observational study at a day-surgery unit
Authors: Matilda Ek , Westergaard-Nielsen Emma , Henricson Maria
Published: February 2020

Background:

Hypothermia is a common problem in the surgical context and can lead to serious consequences for the patient and increased costs for society.

Aims:

To study day-surgery patients' peripheral and core temperatures during the preoperative phase.

Methods:

In total, 50 day-surgery patients participated in the study. Two sets of measurements of temperatures were made: core temperature and peripheral temperatures (two measuring points on the upper body and lower extremities respectively) were measured on arrival at the day-surgery unit, as well as on arrival at the operating theatre. The data were normally distributed and a paired t-test was used for statistical analysis.

Findings:

Peripheral temperatures had significant changes, with measuring points on the upper body decreasing and measuring points on the lower extremities increasing in temperature. The results show no significant change in core temperature.

Conclusion:

The measurements show that 28% of the patients were below recommended preoperative temperature on arrival at the operating theatre. Further research is needed to study the development of body temperature perioperatively as well as at what point reheating interventions should be introduced.
Restrictive practice: should all nurses be competent in safe holding and restraint?
Authors: Eales Sarah
Published: February 2020

Sarah Eales, Senior Lecturer, Mental Health Nursing, Bournemouth University, discusses the idea that all nurses should be able to demonstrate competence in restrictive practices, and the issues that raises
Shifting the mindset in the NHS complaints system
Authors: Tingle John
Published: February 2020

John Tingle, Lecturer in Law, Birmingham Law School, University of Birmingham, discusses a Healthwatch report showing that improvements need to take place in the way the NHS reports on patient complaints
Approaches for Implementing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) Activities among Middle School Students in Thailand
Authors: Changtong Nidawan , Maneejak Nantakarn , Yasr Pratchayapong
Published: February 2020

STEM education is a pedagogical philosophy which aims to draw the interrelationship between science, technology, engineering and mathematics to solve complex problems in real life situations. In order to use STEM education to foster students’ learning, the researchers designed STEM activities for middle school students related to the concept of force and motion in three different approaches: a linear model, a jigsaw learning and a stand-alone engineering design activity. To compare the effectiveness of the three approaches, the researchers analysed students’ reasoning and problem-solving scores gained before and after doing the activities. The result showed students participating in the linear model and in the jigsaw learning significantly outperformed those in the stand-alone engineering design activity. In addition, when comparing conceptual development between those attending the linear model and jigsaw learning, the result showed that the former significantly outperformed the latter. It is therefore suggested that to maximise the effectiveness of STEM activities in promoting conceptual understanding as well as reasoning and problem-solving skills, teachers should adopt the linear model. However, when instructional time is limited, the jigsaw learning can be considered as an alternative approach. The stand-alone engineering design activity although can promote students’ enthusiasm to learn, it may not sufficiently lead to the development of reasoning and problem-solving skills as expected.
First record of two interesting genera of hover flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) in South India

Authors: SANKARARAMAN HARIHARAKRISHNAN , ALFRED DANIEL J , MANICKAVASAGAM SAGADAI , PENNARDS GERARD
Published: February 2020

The bee mimicking hover fly genus Volucella Geoffroy, 1762 and the potter wasp mimicking genus Monoceromyia Shannon, 1922 are reported for the first time from South India. Brief diagnosis of Volucella trifasciata Wiedemann, 1830 and Monoceromyia javana (Wiedemann, 1824), high-resolution images of the habitus and other important characters, as well as notes on their distribution, mimicry and biology are provided. Key words: Volucella, Monoceromyia, batesian mimicry, new record, range extension
Follow-up of walking quality after end of growth in 28 children with bilateral cerebral palsy
Authors: Bonnefoy-Mazure Alice , De Coulon Geraldo , Lascombes Pierre , Armand Stéphane
Published: February 2020

Purpose

Assessment of surgical treatments on gait in patients with bilateral cerebral palsy (CP) is often performed in short-term studies. The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of single-event multilevel surgery (SEMLS) on long-term evolution of gait using gait deviation index (GDI) and walking speed.

Methods

In all, 28 patients with bilateral CP (Gross Motor Function Classification System I to III) with two clinical gait analyses (CGA) were included (mean age: 9.0 years (sd 2.9) at the first CGA, 19.6 years (sd 4.1) at the last, all of them at skeletal maturity). GDI, walking speed and their changes were calculated. Statistical analysis was performed to observe differences between baseline and follow-up CGA. Pearson's correlations were conducted to evaluate the associations between GDI and walking speed changes with: GDI at baseline and walking speed at baseline. GDI and walking speed evolution have been analyzed for two groups of patients: with and without SEMLS.

Results

Regardless of the treatment, GDI was significantly higher at follow-up CGA (baseline: 73.1 (sd 13.1) versus follow-up: 80.1 (sd 13.2); p = 0.014). Significant negative correlations were found between GDI change and GDI at baseline (r = -0.52; p = 0.004) and between walking speed change and walking speed at the baseline (r = -0.70; p < 0.001). Regarding the group of patients with or without SEMLS, only significant improvement of GDI was found for patients with SEMLS (at baseline: 69.0 (sd 12.1) versus follow-up: 77.8 (sd 11.2); p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Analysis at skeletal maturity showed a gait quality maintained for patients without SEMLS and an improvement for patients with SEMLS.

Level of evidence

Level III
A LINGUISTIC STUDY OF MANIPULATIVE ADVERTISING STRATEGIES OF THE MOBILE NETWORK OPERATORS IN EGYPT AND THE UNITED STATES. COMPARATIVE APPROACH.
Authors: SHARAF ELDIN Ahmad Abdel Tawwab
Published: February 2020

Advertising nowadays penetrates all aspects of our daily life: on TV, the radio, in the newspapers, in the mailboxes, on the side of underground metro, etc. Whether advertising is annoying or amusing, useful or misleading, it is a form of communication whereby advertisers communicate the value of a product or service to customers. However, advertising is far from just being informative in an innocent and straightforward way. Advertising has an agenda. It is a skillfully constructed message, which manipulates the viewers’ culturally created perceptions and aspirations, and which presents the advertised product as a way to satisfy the audience’s desires. This happens by creating a specific image for the advertised stuff and building the viewers’ perception of such ads.
Advertising is also about establishing a relationship between the advertiser and the viewer and it is important to look at this relationship as it helps to form the consumers’ behavior towards the advertised product. Academic contributions on the linguistic features of advertising appeared few decades and developed into a rich interdisciplinary field of study. Advertising has attracted consistent and intense attention across academic disciplines including marketing, media studies, psychology, sociology, and linguistics.
From a linguistic dimension, advertising research focused heavily on the description of specific textual devices or the relations between text and image, and certain pragmatic features, which view advertising as a special concept of discourse. In this sense some important questions remain unapproached, like, how are the addressees motivated to tackle and process linguistic notions in advertising and what are the strategies to manipulate their mental concepts.
VARIATION OF LEXICAL ITEMS AND THE CHANGING NEED OF IDENTITY PROJECTION: A STUDY ON MAPPILA MALAYALAM.
Authors: JAYARAJ Thapasya , KUMAR Rajesh
Published: February 2020

This paper analyses the variation in language at the lexical level and how the lexical choice of the speaker(s) affects in shaping their identity by obtaining primary data from the lexicon of the Mappila dialect of Malayalam spoken by the members of Mappila (Muslim) community of Kerala. Borrowings from Arabic, Persian and Urdu helped in shaping their identity as Mappilas because of the correlation between these languages and the Muslim religion. The paper shows how a variation in the lexical choice of the speakers could be socially motivated and involve in shaping and changing identities and lexical items or vocabulary clearly project the group identity and personal identity.
La colaboración entre dibujante y escritor en el guion de animación: una constante creativa en la historia del género
Authors: De Larrauri Escudero Julián , Sánchez-Escalonilla Antonio
Published: February 2020

Desde los inicios del cine de animación, la construcción del relato se ha desarrollado tradicionalmente mientras los dibujos cobraban vida, de manera que no es posible distinguir una etapa de desarrollo de guion previa al proceso de construcción visual del filme. Esta peculiaridad ha dado lugar a unos recursos particulares que, en la fase de preproducción, se ponen en juego para el planteamiento de los proyectos. El presente ensayo aborda el proceso de elaboración del relato en el cine de animación, basado en una estrecha colaboración entre dibujante y guionista que se remonta a los orígenes del género.
Luis Buñuel y Alfonso Cuarón: de “Los olvidados” a “Roma”
Authors: Viñamata Pablo
Published: February 2020

Este artículo analiza las similitudes y diferencias entre la obra del director de origen español Luis Buñuel, "Los olvidados", y la del mexicano Alfonso Cuarón, "Roma".
El imaginario de la Segunda República española en el cine de ficción (1940-2011)
Authors: Barrenetxea Marañón Igor
Published: February 2020

En las últimas décadas, diversos historiadores han abierto nuevas vías de investigación, tratando de estudiar la importancia del cine como fuente histórica y como nueva forma de escribir la Historia; además de profundizar en su influencia en la conformación de mentalidades, de la memoria histórica y del imaginario colectivo. Pero todavía, en España, hay amplios territorios abiertos sin explorar como es el estudio de la visión que el cine de ficción ha transmitido del período histórico de la Segunda República española hasta 1936 (a diferencia del posterior de la Guerra Civil). Por ello, el objetivo de este artículo es desvelar las claves cinematográficas del modo en el que el cine ha retratado el periodo de la Segunda República, en relación al contexto histórico pasado y presente (momento de su rodaje), desde 1940 a 2011.
Smart specialization for building up a regional innovation agenda: the case of San Luis Potosí, Mexico
Authors: Solleiro-Rebolledo Jose Luis , García-Martínez Moisés Braulio , Castañón-Ibarra Rosario , Martínez-Salvador Laura Elena
Published: February 2020

The state of San Luis Potosí (SLP) is divided into four regions: “Altiplano, Centro, Huasteca and Media”. A large socioeconomic inequality is perceived among the regions, this is especially observed when comparing Centro with the other regions, mainly because Centro region shows greater economic dynamism and has a great amount of companies, educational institutions and research centers, which contributes to lower its socioeconomic lag. In order to reduce the social inequality and the economic development gap of SLP, a project for the construction of innovation agendas with a regional focus was formulated applying RIS3 methodology.Therefore, this article has as its main objective, to present and analyze the results of this project, through the identification of regional economic potential and their areas of smart specialization, as well as international technological trends in those areas. As an important component, a governance mechanism was organized in the four regions used to build consensus and legitimate the RIS3 process. In the framework of triple- helix participatory workshops, a portfolio of priority innovation projects was defined. This article offers an analysis of favorable factors and obstacles faced during the process; a series of recommendations for the promotion of regional innovation agendas (RIA) plus brief conclusions.
Deconstrucció i reflexió (auto)biogràfica des d’una experiència docent a l’assignatura de Rol i identitat del Treball Social
Authors: Sangrà Boladeres Toni , López Rodríguez Jose Antonio , Iannitelli Musculo Silvia , Alemany Monleon Rosa Maria
Published: February 2020

El text que presentem està relacionat amb l’experiència educativa i d’aprendre que anem desenvolupant en una assignatura obligatòria de quart curs del Grau de Treball Social anomenada Rol i identitat del Treball Social. Des del punt de vista pedagògic convidem a l’estudiant a reflexionar sobre el seu propi procés d’aprenentatge a partir de la deconstrucció de la seva autobiografia. Com a professors procurem acostar-nos a l’ensenyança amb metodologies educatives fomentin un aprenentatge heteràrquic entre estudiants i docents basat en el respecte dels sabers acadèmics i de la vida quotidiana. Pensem, que en l’actual context social i educatiu, els docents tenim el repte d’obrir les possibilitats pedagògiques a través d’altres formats de transmissió del coneixement en l’ensenyament del Treball Social, i així fomentar i estimular en els estudiants la participació (com a subjectes proactius), el pensament complex, l’acció transformadora i la transdisciplinarietat dels sabers.Aquesta proposta també s’emmarca en un projecte d’innovació docent que pretén reorientar la transmissió del coneixement a partir d’estratègies narratives. La incorporació d’aquesta experiència en el projecte comporta un aprenentatge col·lectiu i co-construït amb altres assignatures i professors que permeten ampliar les perspectives epistemològiques i les expectatives d’aprenentatge sobre les que partim.En aquest sentit, aquest article té l’objectiu de fonamentar, explicar i reflexionar al voltant del context de l’experiència, i alhora valorar la metodologia aplicada i les accions que s’han portat a terme a partir dels resultats obtinguts.
Nanostructured front electrodes for perovskite/c-Si tandem photovoltaics
Authors: Hossain Ihteaz M. , Donie Yidenekachew J. , Schmager Raphael , Abdelkhalik Mohamed S. , Rienäcker Michael , Wietler Tobias F. , Peibst Robby , Karabanov Andrei , Schwenzer Jonas A. , Moghadamzadeh Somayeh , Lemmer Ulrich , Richards Bryce S. , Gomard Guillaume , Paetzold Ulrich W.
Published: February 2020

The rise in the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of perovskite solar cells has triggered enormous interest in perovskite-based tandem photovoltaics. One key challenge is to achieve high transmission of low energy photons into the bottom cell. Here, nanostructured front electrodes for 4-terminal perovskite/crystalline-silicon (perovskite/c-Si) tandem solar cells are developed by conformal deposition of indium tin oxide (ITO) on self-assembled polystyrene nanopillars. The nanostructured ITO is optimized for reduced reflection and increased transmission with a tradeoff in increased sheet resistance. In the optimum case, the nanostructured ITO electrodes enhance the transmittance by ∼7% (relative) compared to planar references. Perovskite/c-Si tandem devices with nanostructured ITO exhibit enhanced short-circuit current density (2.9 mA/cm2 absolute) and PCE (1.7% absolute) in the bottom c-Si solar cell compared to the reference. The improved light in-coupling is more pronounced for elevated angle of incidence. Energy yield enhancement up to ∼10% (relative) is achieved for perovskite/c-Si tandem architecture with the nanostructured ITO electrodes. It is also shown that these nanostructured ITO electrodes are also compatible with various other perovskite-based tandem architectures and bear the potential to improve the PCE up to 27.0%.
Connection between BosonSampling with quantum and classical input states
Authors: Kim Yosep , Hong Kang-Hee , Kim Yoon-Ho , Huh Joonsuk
Published: February 2020

BosonSampling is a problem of sampling events according to the transition probabilities of indistinguishable photons in a linear optical network. Computational hardness of BosonSampling depends on photon-number statistics of the input light. BosonSampling with multi-photon Fock states at the input is believed to be classically intractable but there exists an efficient classical algorithm for classical input states. In this paper, we present a mathematical connection between BosonSampling with quantum and classical light inputs. Specifically, we show that the generating function of a transition probability for Fock-state BosonSampling (FBS) can be expressed as a transition probability of thermal-light inputs. The closed-form expression of a thermal-light transition probability allows all possible transition probabilities of FBS to be obtained by calculating a single matrix permanent. Moreover, the transition probability of FBS is shown to be expressed as an integral involving a Gaussian function multiplied by a Laguerre polynomial, resulting in a fast oscillating integrand. Our work sheds new light on computational hardness of FBS by identifying the mathematical connection between BosonSampling with quantum and classical light.
A fractional phase-coding strategy for terahertz beam patterning on digital metasurfaces
Authors: Wang Luyang , Lan Feng , Zhang Yaxin , Liang Shixiong , Liu Wenxin , Yang Ziqiang , Meng Lin , Shi Zongjun , Yin Jing , Song Tianyang , Zeng Hongxin , Mazumder Pinaki
Published: February 2020

Coding metasurfaces have drawn great attention for its digital wave manipulation in deep subwavelength-scale in the last decade, more sophisticated and flexible coding strategies suitable for terahertz wavefront manipulations are becoming more urgently demanded. Due to its rigidity in phase gradient division, both phase gradient metasurfaces and conventional phase coding technique lack the flexibility to expand applications in a large field of view and accurate targeting. This study presents a generalized coding method by precisely reconfiguring the array factor based on the phased array theory and metasurface concept, which can be applied for anomalous scattering and ultrafine radiation patterning. According to our quantitative analysis on the relationship between the deflected angles and the supercell spacing, a fractional coding method for arbitrary phase gradient distribution has been attained by logically discretizing the spacing scale of supercells. By switching on different coding sequences or incident frequencies, a single beam to multiple beam scanning in an expanded angular range with minimal step can be achieved on the fractional phase-coding metasurfaces. As a proof of concept, the 2-bit coding metasurfaces arranged by four fractional coding sequences have been fabricated and measured, demonstrating a consecutive single-beam steering pattern ranging from 22° to 74° in 0.34-0.5 THz. Crosswise verified by the good accordance among numerical prediction, simulation and experiment, the proposed coding strategy paves a path to delicate beam regulation for high-resolution imaging and detection.
Method to retrieve aerosol extinction profiles and aerosol scattering phase functions with a modified CCD laser atmospheric detection system
Authors: Bian Y. , Xu W. , Hu Y. , Tao J. , Kuang Y. , Zhao C.
Published: February 2020

Vertical distributions of ambient aerosols and their corresponding optical properties are crucial to the assessment of aerosol radiative effects. Traditionally, ambient aerosol phase function is assumed as a constant of input parameter in the retrieval of the vertical distribution of aerosol optical characteristics from remote sensing measurements (e.g. lidar or camera-laser based instruments). In this work, sensitivity studies revealed that using constant aerosol phase function assumptions in the algorithm would cause large uncertainties. Therefore, an improved retrieval method was established to simultaneously measure ambient aerosol scattering phase functions and aerosol scattering function profiles with a modified charge-coupled device-laser aerosol detection system (CLADS), which are then combined to yield vertical profiles of aerosol extinction coefficients. This method was applied and evaluated in a comprehensive field campaign in the North China Plain during January 2016. The algorithm showed robust performance and was able to capture temporal variations in ambient aerosol scattering phase functions and aerosol scattering function profiles. Aerosol extinction coefficients derived with simultaneously measured aerosol phase functions agreed well with in-situ measurements, indicating that uncertainties in the retrieval of aerosol extinction vertical profiles have been significantly reduced by using the proposed method with the modified CLADS. The advantage of this modified CLADS is that it can accomplish these aerosol measurements independent of other supplementary instruments. Benefiting from its low cost and high spatial resolution (∼1 m on average) in the boundary layer, this measurement system can play an important role in the research of aerosol vertical distributions and its impacts on environmental and climatic studies.
Low-voltage tunable liquid crystal lens fabricated with self-assembled polymer gravel arrays
Authors: Hsu Che Ju , Selvaraj Pravinraj , Huang Chi Yen
Published: February 2020

A novel approach for fabricating liquid crystal (LC) lenses is presented. The approach involves the use of a photocurable prepolymer dispersed in a cell fabricated with vertically aligned substrates. A radial gradient UV irradiation intensity distribution is produced using a radial variable neutral density filter. Under UV irradiation, the prepolymer diffuses and is then polymerized on the substrate surfaces owing to vertical phase separation. After polymerization, the diameter of the self-assembled polymer gravel on the substrates has a radial gradient distribution, causing a radial gradient pretilt angle (RGPA) distribution on the substrates and producing LC lenses. By numerical simulation, RGPA LC lens has significantly lower supplied voltage than conventionally hole-patterned electrode (HPE) LC lens, and higher lens power. In the experiment, the fabricated RGPA LC lens with aperture size of 5 mm possesses a simple planar electrode structure, low operation voltage (< 4 V), small root mean square wavefront error (< 0.08 λ), and acceptable focusing quality. By the overdriving scheme, the switched-off time of the fabricated RGPA LC lens reaches 0.27 s. With the novel approach, low-voltage LC lenses with different optical aperture sizes can be easily fabricated.
Chip-based measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution
Authors: Semenenko Henry , Sibson Philip , Hart Andy , Thompson Mark G. , Rarity John G. , Erven Chris
Published: February 2020

Modern communication strives towards provably secure systems which can be widely deployed. Quantum key distribution provides a methodology to verify the integrity and security of a key exchange based on physical laws. However, physical systems often fall short of theoretical models, meaning they can be compromised through uncharacterized side-channels. The complexity of detection means that the measurement system is a vulnerable target for an adversary. Here, we present secure key exchange up to 200 km while removing all side-channels from the measurement system. We use mass-manufacturable, monolithically integrated transmitters that represent an accessible, quantum-ready communication platform. This work demonstrates a network topology that allows secure equipment sharing which is accessible with a cost-effective transmitter, significantly reducing the barrier for widespread uptake of quantum-secured communication.
Treatment Pathways Leading to Biologic Therapies for Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease in the United States
Authors: Siegel Corey A. , Yang Fei , Eslava Sergio , Cai Zhaohui
Published: February 2020

OBJECTIVES:

Biologic therapies have been available for inflammatory bowel disease for >20 years, but patient outcomes have not changed appreciably over this time period. To better understand medication utilization for this disease, we evaluated a novel technique for visualizing treatment pathways, including initial treatment, switching, and combination therapies.

METHODS:

This retrospective, observational study used administrative claims data from the Truven Health MarketScan Commercial and Medicare Database. Adult patients with ≥2 consecutive health claims and newly diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD) were evaluated. Treatment pathways were visualized using Sankey diagrams representing the number of patients receiving treatment and duration of each treatment.

RESULTS:

In all, 28,119 patients with UC and 16,260 patients with CD were identified. The most common initial treatment for UC was 5-aminosalicylic acid monotherapy (61% of the patients), followed by corticosteroid monotherapy (25%); <1% of patients were initially treated with biologics. The most common initial treatment for CD was corticosteroid monotherapy (42%), followed by 5-aminosalicylic acid monotherapy (35%); <5% of the patients were initially treated with biologics. Significantly fewer patients followed biologic vs nonbiologic treatment pathways (UC: 6% vs 94%, CD: 19% vs 81%, both P < 0.05).

DISCUSSION:

Significantly fewer patients with inflammatory bowel disease followed treatment pathways that included biologic therapies compared with nonbiologic therapies, and very few patients were ever initiated on biologic therapy. Although we have made significant progress in treatment, our most effective medications are only being used in a small proportion of patients, suggesting barriers prevent optimized patient management.
Overview of foreign clinical guidelines for the use of fine-needle aspiration biopsy of thyroid nodules
Authors: Petrov Viktor G. , Nelaeva Alsu A. , Molozhavenko Ekaterina V. , Ivashina Elena G.
Published: February 2020

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) is the most accurate and cost-effective method for evaluating thyroid nodules. FNA results are useful for stratifying the risk of malignant neoplasms and provide key information to determine the appropriateness of an operation. However, we should keep in mind that FNA is an invasive diagnostic method, sothere is a possibility of complications. There is a likelihood of nondiagnostic, false positive and false negative results that can lead to a late or unnecessary operation. We see a growing incidence of thyroid nodules, associated mainly with the increased availability of ultrasound diagnostic of this organ. So the leading organizations involved in the development of clinical guidelines for diagnostics and treatment of thyroid pathologies suggest limiting the conduct of FNA. The use of this method in some cases is not necessary and at times can be even dangerous to apatient. When making clinical decisions, sonographic patterns of thyroid nodules and individual anamnestic and clinical factors ofthe patient should be considered. For small thyroid nodules, the FNA in most cases is not necessary. It is more rational to make a decision based on sonographic patterns rather than be guided by a threshold node size of 1 cm. The specific sonographic patterns of malignancy are: presence of calcifications, irregular margins, hypoechoic nodule, taller-than-wide shape, metastases to the cervical lymph nodes, and extrathyroidal extension. The totality of these signs is useful for stratifying the risk of malignancy of the thyroid nodules and deciding on the need for FNA.
Awareness of the population in Russian Federation about iodine deficiency, its effects and methods for prevention of iodine deficiency disorders.
Authors: Terekhov Petr A. , Rybakova Anastasia A. , Terekhova Maria A. , Troshina Ekaterina A.
Published: February 2020

Background: Throughout all territory of Russian Federation has been confirmed absence of iodine deficiency of varying severity. Chronic iodine deficiency leads to irreversible defects in the intellectual and physical development of children, thyroid gland diseases, including such severe manifestations as functional autonomy and iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis and reproductive disorders.
Aims: To assess the awareness of Russians about the effect of iodine deficiency on health and the need to use iodized salt in food.
Materials and methods: During November 2019 we conducted an anonymous online survey about iodine deficiency and methods of its prevention. The participants of this survey were 9309 Russians of different age categories. Weasked each respondent six questions regarding their knowledge about the importance of iodine for the body and its supply sources. This study is one-staged, uncontrolled, full-designed, and conducted using Google Forms (Google LLC, 2019). As a result, we summarized data on the awareness of Russians about iodine deficiency disorders and methods for its prevention.
Results: 60.4% of respondents is using iodized salt, while the number of respondents who consider prevention with iodized salt to be unhealthy (or have lack knowledge of its effects) is related to the number of respondents who do not use iodized salt. We get that in Volga region only 50% of population is using iodized salt (the lowest level), while 62.83% of the European South inhabitants is using iodized salt. In the rest of Russian Federation, this indicator varies from 52 to 57%. There is a low awareness of the population about prevention of iodine deficiency disorders and as a result myth about the dangers of universal salt iodization are widespread in Russian Federation.
Conclusions: Awareness of Russians about prevention of iodine deficiency disorders still remains at a low level, and it is directly affecting the success of ongoing prevention programs.
The role of autophagy in the thyroid tumors development, connection with the AKT/m-TOR signaling pathway activation
Authors: Spirina Liudmila V. , Chizhevskaya Sventlana Yu. , Kondakova Irina V. , Tarasenko Nataliya V.
Published: February 2020

Autophagy is an important intracellular process that supports cell death and survival. Oncogenesis is associated with a change in the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway status. At the same time, the existence of protective autophagy, as one of the mechanisms of disease progression and the formation of resistance to treatment, has been proven. The review describes the significant mechanisms of the autophagy development, its association with AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. A molecule mTOR in TORC1 complex is associated with the oncogenesis, it provides the proliferation of transformed cells, apoptosis inhibition, and to the development of autophagy.
The participation of this phenomenon at all stages of carcinogenesis, influencing on the main signal kinases: AKT, mTOR, is noted. It is shown that in most cases this mechanism is responsible for the progression of the disease and the development of resistance to treatment. The development of thyroid cancer associated with the BRAF mutation and with the activation of the RET oncoprotein, as well as with the formation of radio-resistant forms of the disease is associated with molecular peculiarities of autophagy. Given the inconsistency of this phenomenon regarding their influence on the processes of oncogenesis, its role in the development of thyroid cancer is still unknown.
Review of the clinical case of a patient with microcarcinoma of the thyroid gland
Authors: Melnichenko Galina A. , Mokrysheva Natalia G. , Katamadze Nino N.
Published: February 2020

Before us is the story of young woman who actively monitored the condition of the thyroid gland, due to the accidental detection of antibodies to the thyroid tissue. After the detection of a tumor (7 mm), hemi thyroidectomy was conducted. For two years after the operation she has been under the care of oncologist and endocrinologist. However, despite explanations about a good prognosis of the disease, she is extremely alarmed and unjustifiably often conducts laboratory tests, ignoring the fact that both the reference range and the evaluation methods are different. It should be said that similar problems exist in all countries (Nedman C. et al., 2017) fear of relapse of the disease worries the vast majority of patients even years after its been diagnosed. People are concerned not only about the risks of thyroid cancer recurrence, but also about the risks of development of other cancers, the risks of being not able to get access to skilled care. The obvious task of a doctor is to correct a pattern of patient behavior that increases anxiety.
Structural characterization, antioxidant and cytotoxic effects of iron nanoparticles synthesized using Asphodelus aestivus Brot. aqueous extract
Authors: Tuzun Burcu Sumer , Fafal Tugce , Tastan Pelin , Kivcak Bijen , Yelken Besra Ozmen , Kayabasi Cagla , Susluer Sunde Yılmaz , Gunduz Cumhur
Published: February 2020

ASPwas used to synthesize FeNPA. They were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, FT-IR, TEM, SEM, XRD and ZP. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro cytotoxic activity and antioxidant acitivities of FeNPAandASP. The antioxidant properties were evaluated using DPPH, ABTS+and H2O2assays. FeNPAhad higher antioxidant activity comparing toASPaccording to DPPH (IC50: 3.48 μg/mL) and ABTS+(60.52%) assays. Anti-cancer activities of FeNPAandASPwere investigated in breast cancer, melanoma and control cell lines. FeNPAwas more cytotoxic thanASPin MCF-7, MeWo, CHL-1, and HEL 299 cells. FeNPAhad shown that mitochondria induce apoptosis through stress in MDA-MB-231, and cells MeWo.ASPalso induced apoptosis 2.23-fold in MCF-7 cells. Progesterone receptor gene expression showed a 10-fold increase in a hormone-dependent MCF-7 cell line inASP, and FeNPAtreatment. Expressions of BCL6, CXCL12, DNAJC15, RB1 and TPM1 in melanoma cancer cell lines were significantly increased inASPand FeNPAadministration. It had been shown that FeNPAregulates gene expressions that may be considered important in terms of prognosis in breast cancer and melanoma cell lines and it is suggested that gene expressions regulated by FeNPAare also evaluated in animal models in vivo.