bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Legal sourcing of ten cannabis products in the Canadian cannabis market, 2019–2021: a repeat cross-sectional study
Authors: Wadsworth Elle , Rynard Vicki , Driezen Pete , Freeman Tom P. , Rychert Marta , Wilkins Chris , Hall Wayne , Gabrys Robert , Hammond David
Published: February 2023

Background

One of the objectives of cannabis legalization in Canada is to transition consumers from the illegal to the legal market. Little is known about how legal sourcing varies across different cannabis product types, provinces, and frequency of cannabis use.

Methods

Data were analyzed from Canadian respondents in the International Cannabis Policy Study, a repeat cross-sectional survey conducted annually from 2019 to 2021. Respondents were 15,311 past 12-month cannabis consumers of legal age to purchase cannabis. Weighted logistic regression models estimated the association between legal sourcing (“all”/ “some”/ “none”) of ten cannabis product types, province, and frequency of cannabis use over time.

Results

The percentage of consumers who sourced “all” their cannabis products from legal sources in the past 12 months varied by product type, ranging from 49% of solid concentrate consumers to 82% of cannabis drink consumers in 2021. The percentage of consumers sourcing “all” their respective products legally was greater in 2021 than 2020 across all products. Legal sourcing varied by frequency of use: weekly or more frequent consumers were more likely to source “some” (versus “none”) of their products legally versus less frequent consumers. Legal sourcing also varied by province, with a lower likelihood of legal sourcing in Québec of products whose legal sale was restricted (e.g., edibles).

Conclusion

Legal sourcing increased over time, demonstrating progress in the transition to the legal market for all products in the first three years of legalization in Canada. Legal sourcing was highest for drinks and oils and lowest for solid concentrates and hash.
WWP2 drives the progression of gastric cancer by facilitating the ubiquitination and degradation of LATS1 protein
Authors: Zou Jianping , Zhou Ling , Le Yi , Fang Zhi , Zhong Min , Nie Fengting , Wei Xianpin , Zhang Xiaomei , Chen Zhen , Cai Lingling , Wang Heng , Xiong Jianping , Fang Ziling , Xiang Xiaojun
Published: February 2023

Background

Large tumor suppressor kinase 1 (LATS1), one of the predominant components of the Hippo pathway, has been characterized as a key player controlling the proliferation and invasion of cancer cells, including gastric cancer (GC) cells. However, the mechanism by which the functional stability of LATS1 is modulated has yet to be elucidated.

Methods

Online prediction tools, immunohistochemistry and western blotting assays were used to explore the expression of WW domain-containing E3 ubiquitin ligase 2 (WWP2) in GC cells and tissues. Gain- and loss-of-function assays, as well as rescue experiments were performed to determine the role of the WWP2-LATS1 axis in cell proliferation and invasion. Additionally, the mechanisms involving WWP2 and LATS1 were assessed by coimmunoprecipitation (Co-IP), immunofluorescence, cycloheximide and in vivo ubiquitination assays.

Results

Our results demonstrate a specific interaction between LATS1 and WWP2. WWP2 was markedly upregulated and correlated with disease progression and a poor prognosis in GC patients. Moreover, ectopic WWP2 expression facilitated the proliferation, migration and invasion of GC cells. Mechanistically, WWP2 interacts with LATS1, resulting in its ubiquitination and subsequent degradation, leading to increased transcriptional activity of YAP1. Importantly, LATS1 depletion abolished the suppressive effects of WWP2 knockdown on GC cells. Furthermore, WWP2 silencing attenuated tumor growth by regulating the Hippo-YAP1 pathway in vivo.

Conclusions

Our results define the WWP2-LATS1 axis as a critical regulatory mechanism of the Hippo-YAP1 pathway that promotes GC development and progression.
Ultrasound-guided interlaminar approach for nusinersen administration in patients with spinal muscular atrophy with spinal fusion or severe scoliosis
Authors: Wei Cuijie , Liang Zhenwei , Wu Ying , Liu Shan , Qiu Jianxing , Meng Lingchao , Li Chunde , Li Shuang , Bao Xinhua , Wang Zhaoxia , Chen Luzeng , Xiong Hui
Published: February 2023

Background

Intrathecal injection of medications can be challenging in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patients with severe scoliosis or after spine surgery. Here we report our experience with real-time ultrasound (US)-guided intrathecal administration of nusinersen in patients with SMA.

Methods

Seven patients (six children and one adult) with either spinal fusion or severe scoliosis were enrolled. We performed intrathecal injections of nusinersen under US guidance. The efficacy and safety of US-guided injection were explored.

Results

Five patients had undergone spinal fusion, while the other two presented severe scoliosis. Success was achieved in 19/20 lumbar punctures (95%), 15 of which were performed through the near-spinous process approach. The intervertebral space with a designated channel was selected for the five postoperative patients, while the interspaces with the smallest rotation angle were chosen for the other two patients with severe scoliosis. In 89.5% (17/19) of the punctures, the number of insertions was no more than two. No major adverse events were observed.

Conclusion

Given its safety and efficacy, real-time US guidance is recommended for SMA patients with spine surgery or severe scoliosis, and the near-spinous process view can be used as a interlaminar puncture approach for US guidance.
Targeting tumor exosomal circular RNA cSERPINE2 suppresses breast cancer progression by modulating MALT1-NF-𝜅B-IL-6 axis of tumor-associated macrophages
Authors: Zhou Boxuan , Mo Zhaohong , Lai Guie , Chen Xiaohong , Li Ruixi , Wu Runxin , Zhu Jia , Zheng Fang
Published: February 2023

Background

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have important regulatory functions in cancer, but the role of circRNAs in the tumor microenvironment (TME) remains unclear. Moreover, we also explore the effects of si-circRNAs loaded in nanoparticles as therapeutic agent for anti-tumor in vivo.

Methods

We conducted bioinformatics analysis, qRT-PCR, EdU assays, Transwell assays, co-culture system and multiple orthotopic xenograft models to investigate the expression and function of circRNAs. Additionally, PLGA-based nanoparticles loaded with si-circRNAs were used to evaluate the potential of nanotherapeutic strategy in anti-tumor response.

Results

We identified oncogene SERPINE2 derived circRNA, named as cSERPINE2, which was notably elevated in breast cancer and was closely related to poor clinical outcome. Functionally, tumor exosomal cSERPINE2 was shuttled to tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) and enhanced the secretion of Interleukin-6 (IL-6), leading to increased proliferation and invasion of breast cancer cells. Furthermore, IL-6 in turn increased the EIF4A3 and CCL2 levels within tumor cells in a positive feedback mechanism, further enhancing tumor cSERPINE2 biogenesis and promoting the recruitment of TAMs. More importantly, we developed a PLGA-based nanoparticle loaded with si-cSERPINE2, which effectively attenuated breast cancer progression in vivo.

Conclusions

Our study illustrates a novel mechanism that tumor exosomal cSERPINE2 mediates a positive feedback loop between tumor cells and TAMs to promote cancer progression, which may serve as a promising nanotherapeutic strategy for the treatment of breast cancer.
Recommendations from a Canadian Delphi consensus study on best practice for optimal referral and appropriate management of severe asthma
Authors: Godbout K. , Bhutani M. , Connors L. , Chan C. K. N. , Connors C. , Dorscheid D. , Dyck G. , Foran V. , Kaplan A. G. , Reynolds J. , Waserman S.
Published: February 2023

Background

In Canada, severe asthma affects an estimated 5–10% of people with asthma and is associated with frequent exacerbations, poor symptom control and significant morbidity from the disease itself, as well as the high dose inhaled, and systemic steroids used to treat it. Significant heterogeneity exists in service structure and patient access to severe asthma care, including access to biologic treatments. There appears to be over-reliance on short-acting beta agonists and frequent oral corticosteroid use, two indicators of uncontrolled asthma which can indicate undiagnosed or suboptimally treated severe asthma. The objective of this modified Delphi consensus project was to define standards of care for severe asthma in Canada, in areas where the evidence is lacking through patient and healthcare professional consensus, to complement forthcoming guidelines.

Methods

The steering group of asthma experts identified 43 statements formed from eight key themes. An online 4-point Likert scale questionnaire was sent to healthcare professionals working in asthma across Canada to assess agreement (consensus) with these statements. Consensus was defined as high if ≥ 75% and very high if ≥ 90% of respondents agreed with a statement.

Results

A total of 150 responses were received from HCPs including certified respiratory educators, respirologists, allergists, general practitioners/family physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and respiratory therapists. Consensus amongst respondents was very high in 37 (86%) statements, high in 4 (9%) statements and was not achieved in 2 (5%) statements. Based on the consensus scores, ten key recommendations were proposed. These focus on referrals from primary and secondary care, accessing specialist asthma services, homecare provision for severe asthma patients and outcome measures.

Conclusions

Implementation of these recommendations across the severe asthma care pathway in Canada has the potential to improve outcomes for patients through earlier detection of undiagnosed severe asthma, reduction in time to severe asthma diagnosis, and initiation of advanced phenotype specific therapies.
Maternal adverse childhood experiences impact fetal adrenal volume in a sex-specific manner
Authors: Duffy Korrina A. , Sammel Mary D. , Johnson Rachel L. , Kim Deborah R. , Wang Eileen Y. , Ewing Grace , Hantsoo Liisa , Kornfield Sara L. , Bale Tracy L. , Epperson C. Neill
Published: February 2023

Background

The mechanisms by which parental early life stress can be transmitted to the next generation, in some cases in a sex-specific manner, are unclear. Maternal preconception stress may increase susceptibility to suboptimal health outcomes via in utero programming of the fetal hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis.

Methods

We recruited healthy pregnant women (N = 147), dichotomized into low (0 or 1) and high (2+) adverse childhood experience (ACE) groups based on the ACE Questionnaire, to test the hypothesis that maternal ACE history influences fetal adrenal development in a sex-specific manner. At a mean (standard deviation) of 21.5 (1.4) and 29.5 (1.4) weeks gestation, participants underwent three-dimensional ultrasounds to measure fetal adrenal volume, adjusting for fetal body weight (waFAV).

Results

At ultrasound 1,waFAV was smaller in high versus low ACE males (b = − 0.17;z = − 3.75;p < .001), but females did not differ significantly by maternal ACE group (b = 0.09; z = 1.72;p = .086). Compared to low ACE males,waFAV was smaller for low (b = − 0.20;z = − 4.10;p < .001) and high ACE females (b = − 0.11;z = 2.16;p = .031); however, high ACE males did not differ from low (b = 0.03;z = .57;p = .570) or high ACE females (b = − 0.06;z = − 1.29;p = .196). At ultrasound 2,waFAV did not differ significantly between any maternal ACE/offspring sex subgroups (ps ≥ .055). Perceived stress did not differ between maternal ACE groups at baseline, ultrasound 1, or ultrasound 2 (ps ≥ .148).

Conclusions

We observed a significant impact of high maternal ACE history onwaFAV, a proxy for fetal adrenal development, but only in males. Our observation that thewaFAV in males of mothers with a high ACE history did not differ from thewaFAV of females extends preclinical research demonstrating a dysmasculinizing effect of gestational stress on a range of offspring outcomes. Future studies investigating intergenerational transmission of stress should consider the influence of maternal preconception stress on offspring outcomes.
A latent rhythm complexity model for attribute-controlled drum pattern generation
Authors: Mezza Alessandro Ilic , Zanoni Massimiliano , Sarti Augusto
Published: February 2023

Most music listeners have an intuitive understanding of the notion of rhythm complexity. Musicologists and scientists, however, have long sought objective ways to measure and model such a distinctively perceptual attribute of music. Whereas previous research has mainly focused on monophonic patterns, this article presents a novel perceptually-informed rhythm complexity measure specifically designed for polyphonic rhythms, i.e., patterns in which multiple simultaneous voices cooperate toward creating a coherent musical phrase. We focus on drum rhythms relating to the Western musical tradition and validate the proposed measure through a perceptual test where users were asked to rate the complexity of real-life drumming performances. Hence, we propose a latent vector model for rhythm complexity based on a recurrent variational autoencoder tasked with learning the complexity of input samples and embedding it along one latent dimension. Aided by an auxiliary adversarial loss term promoting disentanglement, this effectively regularizes the latent space, thus enabling explicit control over the complexity of newly generated patterns. Trained on a large corpus of MIDI files of polyphonic drum recordings, the proposed method proved capable of generating coherent and realistic samples at the desired complexity value. In our experiments, output and target complexities show a high correlation, and the latent space appears interpretable and continuously navigable. On the one hand, this model can readily contribute to a wide range of creative applications, including, for instance, assisted music composition and automatic music generation. On the other hand, it brings us one step closer toward achieving the ambitious goal of equipping machines with a human-like understanding of perceptual features of music.
Malaria amongst children under five in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review of prevalence, risk factors and preventive interventions
Authors: Sarfo Jacob Owusu , Amoadu Mustapha , Kordorwu Peace Yaa , Adams Abdul Karim , Gyan Thomas Boateng , Osman Abdul-Ganiyu , Asiedu Immanuel , Ansah Edward Wilson
Published: February 2023

Introduction

Africa has a higher burden of malaria-related cases and deaths globally. Children under five accounted for over two-thirds of all malaria deaths in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This scoping review aims to map evidence of the prevalence, contextual factors and health education interventions of malaria amongst children under 5 years (UN5) in SSA.

Method

Four main databases (PubMed, Central, Dimensions and JSTOR) produced 27,841 records of literature. Additional searches in Google, Google Scholar and institutional repositories produced 37 records. Finally, 255 full-text records were further screened, and 100 records were used for this review.

Results

Low or no formal education, poverty or low income and rural areas are risk factors for malaria amongst UN5. Evidence on age and malnutrition as risk factors for malaria in UN5 is inconsistent and inconclusive. Furthermore, the poor housing system in SSA and the unavailability of electricity in rural areas and unclean water make UN5 more susceptible to malaria. Health education and promotion interventions have significantly reduced the malaria burden on UN5 in SSA.

Conclusion

Well-planned and resourced health education and promotion interventions that focus on prevention, testing and treatment of malaria could reduce malaria burden amongst UN5 in SSA.
Data analysis for sequential contingencies under uncertainty
Authors: Aslam Muhammad
Published: February 2023

The existing Z-test for comparing sequential contingencies under classical statistics can be implemented only in the presence of certain frequencies, and the level of significance. The existing Z-test for comparing sequential contingencies cannot be applied when uncertainty/indeterminacy is found in observed frequencies, and the level of significance. To apply frequencies, Z-test for comparing sequential contingencies under indeterminate environment its modification under neutrosophic statistics will be given in this paper. The decision procedure of the Z-test for comparing sequential contingencies under neutrosophic statistics will be given with the help of an example selected from the psychology field. From the comparison, the proposed Z-test for comparing sequential contingencies was found to be more effective and more informative than the Z-test for comparing sequential contingencies.
Controlled release of harmful pesticide dichlorvos through synthesized biodegradable aloe vera–acrylic acid-based hydrogel and its utilization in soil water management
Authors: Saruchi  , Kumar Vaneet , Ghfar Ayman A. , Pandey Sadanand
Published: February 2023

The present work deals with the synthesis of biodegradable hydrogel of a natural polysaccharide aloe vera and vinyl monomer acrylic acid. In this synthesis, ammonium persulfate–glutaraldehyde was used as initiator-cross-linker system, acrylic acid as monomer and aloe vera as backbone. Grafting was confirmed by different techniques like SEM, FT-IR, XRD and EDS. Maximum percentage swelling of synthesized hydrogel was found to be 756%. Biodegradation behavior of synthesized hydrogel [Av-cl-poly(AA)] was studied by soil burial, composting and vermicomposting methods. Maximum biodegradation was found to be 90%, 94% and 93% in case of soil burial, composting and vermicomposting methods, respectively. Biodegradation of Av-cl-poly(AA) was confirmed by FT-IR and SEM techniques. Water retention capacity was prolonged from 11 to 20 days using synthesized Av-cl-poly(AA). Water content of clay soil and sandy loam soil was increased to an extent of 6.1% and 5.79%, respectively. Synthesized Av-cl-poly(AA) has been found to be effective in sustained release of harmful pesticide dichlorvos. The results showed that maximum release of dichlorvos was found to be 1024.34 ppm after 44 h.
Fatigue in patients with cancer receiving outpatient chemotherapy: a prospective two-center study
Authors: Fujihara Takuya , Sano Motohiko , Negoro Yutaka , Yamashita Shinji , Kokubun Hideya , Yano Ryoichi
Published: February 2023

Background

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the most common symptoms in patients with cancer. However, CRF has not been sufficiently evaluated as it involves various factors. In this study, we evaluated fatigue in patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy in an outpatient setting.

Methods

Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy at the outpatient treatment center of Fukui University Hospital and Saitama Medical University Medical Center Outpatient Chemotherapy Center were included. The survey period was from March 2020 to June 2020. The frequency of occurrence, time, degree, and related factors were examined. All patients were asked to fill out the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System Revised Japanese version (ESAS-r-J) questionnaire, which is a self-administered rating scale, and patients with ESAS-r-J “Tiredness” scores of ≥ 3 were evaluated for factors related to tiredness, such as age, sex, weight, and laboratory parameters.

Results

A total of 608 patients were enrolled in this study. Fatigue after chemotherapy occurred in 71.0% of patients. ESAS-r-J “Tiredness” scores of ≥ 3 were observed in 20.4% of patients. The factors related to CRF were low hemoglobin level and high C-reactive protein level.

Conclusions

Twenty percent of patients receiving cancer chemotherapy on an outpatient basis had moderate or severe CRF. Patients with anemia and inflammation are at increased risk of developing fatigue after cancer chemotherapy.
Financial incentives to improve adherence: more clarity about their purpose may help the debate
Authors: Priebe Stefan
Published: February 2023

Financial incentives for medication adherence have been controversial in mental healthcare. Much of the debate, however, may be based on a misconception of what financial incentives are and what their purpose is. Financial incentives are not meant to influence informed consent about treatment decisions, but to bridge the gap between intentions and behaviour and help patients achieve adherence to a treatment that they have agreed to. In this context, patients’ positive views may reflect that the use of financial incentives can support a good therapeutic relationship rather than undermine it.
Thyroid Hormone Abuse Among Elite Athletes
Authors: Handelsman David J , Gild Matti , Clifton-Bligh Roderick , Speers Naomi , Kouzios Dorothy , McMartin Melissa C , Desai Reena
Published: February 2023

Context

Thyroid hormone (TH) abuse for performance enhancement in sport remains controversial and it is not prohibited in sports under the World Anti-Doping Code. However, the prevalence of TH usage in athletes is not known.

Objective

We investigated TH use among Australian athletes undergoing antidoping tests for competition in World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)–compliant sports by measuring TH in serum and surveying mandatory doping control form (DCF) declarations by athletes of all drugs used in the week prior to the antidoping test.

Methods

Serum thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), and reverse T3 were measured by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry and serum thyrotropin, free T4, and free T3 by immunoassays in 498 frozen serum samples from antidoping tests together with a separate set of 509 DCFs.

Results

Two athletes had biochemical thyrotoxicosis giving a prevalence of 4 per 1000 athletes (upper 95% confidence limit [CL] 16). Similarly, only 2 of 509 DCFs declared usage of T4 and none for T3, also giving a prevalence of 4 (upper 95% CL 16) per 1000 athletes. These estimates were consistent with DCF analyses from international competitions and lower than the estimated T4 prescription rates in the age-matched Australian population.

Conclusion

There is minimal evidence for TH abuse among Australian athletes being tested for competing in WADA-compliant sports.
A Case Report of Rotational Thromboelastometry-Assisted Decision Analysis for Two Pregnant Patients With Platelet Storage Pool Disorder
Authors: Hale John , Galanti Gregory , Langer Arielle , Lassey Sarah , Reiff Emily , Camann William
Published: February 2023

Platelet storage pool disorders (PSPDs) constitute a diverse group of hematologic abnormalities, which share the common feature of a deficiency in the ability of platelets to aggregate. Parturients with PSPD can present management challenges to their care team when they present for childbirth, especially with regard to neuraxial anesthesia. We report a series of 2 deliveries from unrelated patients affected by PSPD. In particular, we highlight the utility of rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) and the need for a multidisciplinary approach to the care of patients with this hematologic abnormality.
Siphoning and Sabotage
Authors: Gerson Sage
Published: February 2023

In a moment of electrified literary worldmaking, the unnamed protagonist of Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man steals electricity to power the 1,369 lightbulbs and radio phonography in his subterranean refuge. Narratively and materially, electricity theft diagnoses the uneven access to and impacts of electrification, while also (temporarily) creating alternative infrastructural relationships that refuse exclusion. Centered on Ellison's Invisible Man and its representation of electricity theft, this essay analyzes a constellation of US electrifictions focused on the relationship between Blackness and electricity. Going beyond a traditional literary close reading, this essay triangulates a reading of Invisible Man with a history of General Electric's “electric Slave” advertisements from the interwar period and concludes with an analysis of a 2010 WXYZ-TV Detroit news segment focused on electricity theft. GE's advertisements necessitate a reexamination of US cultural constructions of electrification as inherently progressive and instead highlight the ideologies of unfreedom and exploitation that undergird electrified modernity. While the 2010 news segment may seem of a different place and time than Ellison's novel, both are focused on moments where racialized individuals come into contact with the large-scale system of the electricity grid and the structures of power the grid both metaphorizes and materializes. Like in Invisible Man, the electricity thieves in the news segment do more than diagnose the racist impacts and exclusions of electrified modernity, they also, through their illicit acts of siphoning that redistribute electric current, materially intervene in and reimagine the larger infrastructural system.
School-Day Physical Activity and Academic Achievement: Mediators Among US Elementary Students
Authors: Elish Paul N. , Bryan Cassandra S. , Boedeker Peter , Saksvig Emilie R. , Calvert Hannah G. , Kay Christi M. , Meyer Adria , Gazmararian Julie A.
Published: February 2023

Introduction/Purpose

It is recommended that children get 60 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) daily. Previous research on MVPA’s effect on academic achievement (AA) is inconclusive, and few studies have investigated the relationship’s mediators. This study assessed whether cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and body mass index (BMI) mediate the school-based MVPA–AA relationship.

Methods

Grade 4 students (n = 4936) were recruited in 40 elementary schools from a large, diverse US public school district. Students wore accelerometers measuring school-day MVPA for 15 d across three semesters. Academic performance data were collected from grades 3 to 5, and CRF and BMI were measured in grades 4 and 5. Multilevel modeling assessed whether BMI and CRF were mediators in the cross-sectional and longitudinal MVPA–AA relationship. Stratified analyses assessed differences in mediation by sex.

Results

Cross-sectional analyses found that school-day MVPA had a significant positive indirect effect through higher CRF for various teacher-assigned course grades and English language arts standardized test scores (all P < 0.001). Cross-sectional analyses found no significant mediation through BMI. Longitudinal analyses found that a 10-min increase in daily grade 4 school-day MVPA was associated with higher CRF with 0.16-, 0.09-, and 0.14-point increases in grade 5 math, reading, and writing grades, respectively (all P < 0.001). Decreased grade 4 BMI mediated a 0.06-point increase and 0.05-point increase for grade 5 math and writing grades, respectively (both P < 0.001). The total effect of school-day MVPA on AA was negative but negligible in practical terms. Stratified analyses found more evidence for positive indirect effects through CRF among females.

Conclusions

School-day MVPA can positively impact AA through increased CRF and (to a lesser extent) lowered BMI, but the effect is negligible. The negative total effects and positive indirect effects suggest that there are other unmeasured mediators. It remains important for schools to protect school-based physical activity given its health benefits.
Arterial spin labeling perfusion in acute Wernicke encephalopathy: a case series discussion
Authors: Ann Phoebe , Chen Mark , Naidich Thomas , Belani Puneet , Nael Kambiz
Published: February 2023

Wernicke’s encephalopathy (WE) is a life-threatening neurologic disorder resulting from thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency that can be secondary to chronic alcohol abuse, gastrointestinal surgery, systemic infectious and non-infectious diseases, and chemotherapy. WE is classically characterized on MRI by reduced diffusion and T2 prolongation along the mammillothalamic tracts, periaqueductal gray and tectal plate. We present two patients with acute WE who had baseline arterial spin labeling (ASL) perfusion at the time of presentation, demonstrating increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF) within the classically involved brain regions and concurrent global cerebral cortical hypoperfusion. Both patients were successfully treated with intravenous thiamine infusion. Post-treatment MRI demonstrated improvement of reduced diffusion and normalization of CBF within the involved structures. Prior histopathological studies have documented prominent undulation and luminal dilatation of arteries and arterioles in acute WE lesions, likely explaining the increased perfusion shown by imaging. The root of this pathophysiologic process may trace back to thiamine’s biochemical role in maintaining osmotic gradients and glucose metabolism, that if failed can lead to arterial hyper-perfusion.

Our findings show that ASL-CBF can highlight the underlying pathophysiology in patients with acute WE by demonstrating increased CBF in involved central structures. This luxury perfusion may be a compensatory or protective mechanism by which increased metabolic demand is met in the acute setting and which, if treated timely, will show normalization of CBF on ASL imaging.
Imaging 2-hydroxyglutarate and other brain oncometabolites pertinent to critical genomic alterations in brain tumors
Authors: Thomas Teena , Thakur Sunitha , Young Robert
Published: February 2023

The 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System (CNS) and recent smaller annual updates have shown that alterations in tumor genetics are essential to determining tumor diagnosis, biological activity, and potential treatment options. This review summarizes the most important mutations and oncometabolites, with a focus on the central role played by 2-hydroxyglutarate in isocitrate dehydrogenase mutant tumors, as well as their corresponding imaging counterparts using standard and advanced imaging techniques.
Estilos de vida, factores de riesgo y salud autopercibida de la población argentina
Authors: Monterubbianesi Pablo Daniel , Luján Temporelli Karina
Published: February 2023

Al aplicar regresiones logísticas con datos de las cuatro Encuestas Nacionales de Factores de Riesgo (enfr) de Argentina, se estudió la relación entre el status de salud individual y sus determinantes, utilizando como marco teórico la función de producción de salud. Se hace especial hincapié en los estilos de vida por ser los que mayor influencia tienen sobre esta dimensión. El análisis de la evolución temporal muestra un incremento tanto en la obesidad como en el consumo de alcohol, poniendo de manifiesto la necesidad de intensificar estrategias públicas que incentiven estilos de vida menos riesgosos a fin demejorar la salud de la población.
Estimación del efecto de la segregación ocupacional por sexo en el ingreso laboral para Argentina (2016-2020)
Authors: Favata Federico , Zamparo Sofía
Published: February 2023

El objetivo de este trabajo es estimar el efecto de la segregación ocupacional por sexo en el ingreso laboral horario promedio en Argentina, para el periodo comprendido entre el 2016 y 2020. Para ello, utilizando la Encuesta Permanente de Hogares (eph) se estimó cómo impacta la segregación por sexo, a través de la regresión cuantílica bajo variables instrumentales. Los resultados indican que un aumento de 10 puntos porcentuales en la proporción de mujeres en una ocupación determinada, el ingreso promedio horario de los trabajadores de tal ocupación disminuye en promedio 0.50 %. Adicionalmente, esta magnitud varía acorde al cuantil de la distribución salarial condicional donde se posicione.
Duty Drawbacks, Imported Inputs Duties and Exports: Evidence from Firm-Level Data from Colombia
Authors: López David Camilo
Published: February 2023

Using a generalized difference-in-differences approach, this study draws on a firmcountry-product-year level database covering imports and exports from Colombia to study how duty exemptions on imported goods affect export performance. The impactwas estimated depending on the intensity exposure using the Colombian duty drawback policy —Plan Vallejo. Results suggest that input-duty reduction leads to rises in the export quantities and number of varieties, especially for products not benefited by the policy; however, the scheme allows firms to accentuate the negative impact of customs duty increases. The estimated tariff revenue leakage of the duty exemptions is non-negligible in terms of the country’s GDP.
The Lidar Revolution
Authors: Rodwell Sean , Skidmore Gage
Published: February 2023

As sensors become more affordable and the demands on traffic management, particularly in urban environments, become more acute, so lidar is stepping into the frame as the next big thing in enhancing transportation safety and efficiency. Tom Stone discovers how it is being deployed on infrastructure to create live data more accurate than anything ever seen before
How Does Macroeconomic and Socio-political Index Affect the Real GDP per Qualified Worker? Evidence from Turkic Republics
Authors: ÇELİK Eşref Uğur , ERDAL Fehmi Buğra , KÜÇÜKER Mustafa Can , OMAY Tolga
Published: February 2023

In this study, we concentrated on the socioeconomic factors affecting the level of real GDP per qualified worker. For this purpose, we have used the macroeconomic and socio-political performance index for Turkic Republics. By using these newly established indices, determinants of the level of real GDP per qualified worker are analyzed for the first time in the literature. From the empirical investigation, we found that certain threshold levels significantly affect the real GDP level perqualified worker. Therefore, the policymakers of these countries should seriously consider these threshold levels for macroeconomic and socio-political performance index for conducting a well-organized policy for the prosperity of their countries.
The emergence of critical criminology in Argentina’s law schools
Authors: Anitua Gabriel Ignacio
Published: February 2023

A discipline takes on the contours of its context. Therefore, the sociology of science asks in what context science occurs and what implications it has for scientific findings. Worldwide, criminology exists as an independent science linked to sociology or law. What determines the dependency or independency of criminology? In this article, through archival research, I explore the emergence of critical criminology in Argentina. My goal is to explain why it emerged among scholars and practitioners of law, and I propose five reasons for this. All these reasons have as a background the fact that law in Argentina is, at least it was in the 1970s and 80s when critical criminology emerged, more sensitive to cultural, geographical, and historical-critical (and generalist) developments than social and behavioural sciences.
Two-tier PON virtualization with scheduler synchronization supporting application-level ultra-low latency in MEC based cloud-RAN, using MESH-PON
Authors: Das Sandip , Slyne Frank , Kilper Daniel , Ruffini Marco
Published: February 2023

Ultra-low end-to-end latency is one of the most important requirements in 5G networks and beyond to support latency-critical applications. Cloud radio access networks and multi-access edge computing (MEC) are considered as the key driving technology that can help reduce end-to-end latency. However, the use of MEC nodes poses radical changes to the access network architecture. As it brings the processing and networking services closer to the edge, it often requires network functions [for example, the centralized unit/distributed unit (CU/DU) stack and application processing] to be distributed across different MEC sites. Therefore, a transport mechanism is needed to efficiently coordinate and connect network functions across MEC nodes. To address this challenge, we propose a two-tier virtualized passive optical network (PON) transport method with scheduler coordination over a virtualized and sliced MESH-PON architecture. While a MESH-PON architecture enables direct communication between MEC nodes hosting CUs/DUs and/or the application processing, our method provides a two-tier virtualized PON transport scheme with coordinated schedulers. This approach greatly reduces latency incurred in transporting signals across the different PON tiers, while maintaining the flexibility of multi-tier methods. We show that our proposed scheme can achieve end-to-end application-level latency below 1 or 2 ms, depending on the network configurations.
The Modulational Instability Laser
Authors: Nakazawa Masataka , Haus Hermann A.
Published: February 2023

Modulational instability (MI) is a general feature of wave propagation in nonlinear dispersive media and has been studied in such diverse fields as fluid dynamics, nonlinear optics, and plasma physics.1,2 It refers to a process in which weak perturbations from the steady state grow exponentially as a result of an interplay between nonlinearity (self phase modulation) and group velocity dispersion (GVD). In optical fibers, MI is responsible for the break-up into solitons3,4 of cw optical excitation. In 1980, Hasegawa and Brinkman proposed a new coherent infrared source by means of MI, in which a coherent signal is generated by extracting the sideband of the MI spectrum.5 Tai et. al. have recently reported observation of this phenomenon.6
Raman solitons in optical fibers
Authors: Druhl Kai J.
Published: February 2023

In this paper, we discuss the possibility of generating and propagating transient Raman solitons [1] in an optical fiber, and suggest a corresponding experiment. Raman solitons are coherent optical phenomena in stimulated Raman scattering (SRS), in which transient gain for the pump is created by a rapid phase-shift in the input fields. As a result, a stable pulse of pump radiation is sustained in an envelope of Stokes radiation. The Stokes field shows a corresponding dip in intensity to zero or almost zero in the region of maximal pump.
Nonlinear Prism Coupler with Diffusion
Authors: Vitrant G. , Reinisch R. , Paumier J.Cl. , Assanto G. , Stegeman G.I.
Published: February 2023

The salient question which arises when light is coupled via a grating or a prism into a waveguide exhibiting an intensity-dependent refractive index is whether switching occurs with or without bistability under appropriate detuning conditions. There are two prevailing theories. In the first1, a plane wave input is assumed leading to a uniform optically induced index change in the coupling region. In the second2, a finite width incident beam is assumed and the growth of the guided field under the coupler leads to an index change proportional to the local guided wave intensity. The first approach leads to optical bistability under certain detuning conditions, whereas the second results in switching only. Although it is known that plane wave analyses are inadequate when dealing with linear-nonlinear interfaces, bistability has been observed experimentally with nonlinear prism couplers3. Fundamentally the finite beam theoretical approaches are unable to predict bistability because no longitudinal feedback is included. Recently we showed that when non-locality is introduced into the optically induced refractive index change, longitudinal feedback occurs and bistability is predicted for the growing mode case4. However, the model used for the non-locality was artificial and resulted only in qualitative predictions. In this paper the nonlocality is modelled by the same equation used to describe heat transfer and carrier diffusion, leading to a quantitative estimate of the minimum diffusion length required for bistability.
Nonlinear Switching in Strongly Coupled Periodic Dual Waveguide Couplers
Authors: Russell P.St.J. , Payne D.N.
Published: February 2023

Ultrafast photonic switching using third-order optical nonlinearities has been reported in dual-guide nonlinear directional couplers1,2 (NDC's) and in a unique rocking-filter fibre switch3. In the second device, the two modes of a highly biréfringent fibre are coupled together by a periodic distortion that is induced during the pulling process by rocking the preform at the birefringent beat period. Nonlinear effects dephase the resonant condition, and switch the device. In this paper a somewhat analogous device is proposed and analysed. This is a periodically perturbed NDC that may be hundreds of coupling lengths Lc long.
Bistability in Nonlinear Diffraction
Authors: Agranovich V.M. , Leskova T.A.
Published: February 2023

It is well-known that the presence of a thin film on the surface of a wave guiding medium opens up a gap in the spectrum of allowed surface or waveguide modes when the frequency of the film dipole-active excitations falls within the frequency range of the existence of these modes. The splitting is quite analogous to the longitudinal-transverse splitting in bulk crystal optics. However, in the waveguide case under consideration here the gap width Δ depends on the film thickness d,

Δ
∼

d

/
λ

[1](λ being the vacuum wavelength of the mode, d≪λ). This splitting was observed for various systems by many investigators (for a review of the experimental results see, e.g. [2,3]). These experiments have stimulated us to study also nonlinear optical phenomena inherent to this frequency region. We found that the presence of the dipole-active film enhances the surface (and guided) wave nonlinearity. In addition, we studied multistability of nonlinear guided waves in an interferometer formed by a thin film of a finite length.
Theory of Nonlinear Magnetostatic Waves
Authors: Boardman A.D. , Gulyaev Yu.V. , Nikitov S.A.
Published: February 2023

It is now becoming accepted that recent discoveries of new nonlinear magnetic excitations are stimulating a new growth area that will lead to a new range of microwave and millimetre wave devices1. The literature already contains elegant experimental work on magnetostatic surface wave (MSSW) solitons on YIG films2,3 and a study of chaotic spin waves. This presentation contains the first theoretical derivation of the existence criteria for MSSW solitons. Third-order nonlinearity is accounted for in the magnetisation equation and it is proved that envelope solitons occur for propagation oblique to the applied field. Finally, nonlinear diffraction of light from the MSSW will be considered by taking into account both Faraday and Cotton-Mouton effects in a new nonlinear permittivity tensor.
Optical Fiber Kerr Switch: A New Twist
Authors: Menyuk Curtis R.
Published: February 2023

Methods for photonically switching optical signals in solid state devices made of LiNbO3 or GaAs have long been the object of intensive research. More recently, switching in optical fibers has been considered as well. In this presentation, we consider a scheme first proposed by Shirasaki, et al.1 In their scheme, one of the two nearly degenerate modes of a single-mode fiber is the transmission channel while the other mode is the switching channel. The two channels interact through the Kerr effect. As shown in Fig. 1, we may use a Mach-Zender interferometer configuration. If we inject the signal pulse into both arms and then inject the switching pulse into the second arm, it is possible to use the switching pulse to alter the phase of the signal pulse in the lower arm so that it interferes destructively with the signal pulse in the upper arm. Without the switching pulse, the two signal pulses interfere constructively. In order to avoid the effect of fluctuations, the two arms are temporally, not spatially, separated.1
Second Harmonie Generation in Optical Fibres
Authors: Farries M.C. , Fermann M.E. , Russell P.St.J.
Published: February 2023

There has been much interest in second harmonic generation (SHG) in optical fibres 1-13 since Osterberg and Margulis 1 reported a conversion efficiency of 0.5% and demonstrated dye laser pumping. Further work has achieved conversion efficiencies in excess of 10%. The phenomenon has stimulated particular interest in view of the classical theory that there is no second order nonlinearity in an isotropic medium such as fused silica. The results reported clearly indicate the generation of non-inversion symmetry in the fibre as a result of optical excitation. There have been earlier observations 14 of SHG in fibres but it is not clear if these arise from quadrupole nonlinearities, Raman related 4 wave mixing or optically written gratings. In this paper we review SHG due to optical modification of the fibre.
Correlation of Defect Centers with Second Harmonic Generation in Ge-and Ge-P-Doped Silica Core Single Mode Fibers
Authors: Tsai T. E. , Friebele E. J. , Griscom D. L. , Saifi M. A. , Österberg U.
Published: February 2023

Efficient second harmonic generation (SHG) of 1.06 pm light in Ge- and II P-doped silica core single mode fibers was first reported by Osterberg and Margulis, who suggested that phosphorus is a major participant.1 Subsequently, Saifi and Andrejco found that SHG could also be induced in fibers with only Ge-doping in the core, but not in P-doped or pure silica core fibers2, indicating that Ge is necessary for SHG generation.
Intensity-Dependent Few-Mode Lightguide Interferometry
Authors: Black R. J. , Hénault A. , Gagnon L. , Gonthier F. , Lacroix S.
Published: February 2023

Intensity-dependent transmission of a multiply spliced/tapered lightguide interferometer involving nonlinear phase-shifting/coupling between two modes (TE0/TE2 cf. LP01/LP02) is investigated.
"Cerenkov" configuration Second Harmonic Generation
Authors: Li M.J. , De Micheli M.P. , Ostrowsky D.B.
Published: February 2023

The use of the largest nonlinear coefficient d33 of LiNbO3 for second harmonic generation (SHG), first demonstrated with a guided wave phase-matched interaction suffering from poor field overlap integrals (1), has been considerably improved by the use of a Cerenkov type configuration : nonlinear polarization having a phase velocity greater than that of light in the waveguide, harmonic radiated into the substrate (2,3).
Nonlinear Grating Couplers in Integrated Optics
Authors: Moshrefzadeh Robert S. , Stegeman George I.
Published: February 2023

Third-order optical interactions have a great potential for applications to all-optical signal processing and nonlinear surface spectroscopy.1 Although the powers required for guided-wave nonlinear interactions are moderate, the strong beam confinement results in high enough power densities to cause changes in the refractive index of nonlinear waveguiding media. Therefore all guided-wave interactions that involve wavevector matching are affected, since the wavevector becomes power dependent. This includes distributed coupling into nonlinear waveguides by means of grating couplers, and in this paper we investigate this phenomenon. For example, we show that the coupling efficiency decreases with increasing power, making it difficult to achieve, within a waveguide, high power densities with standard gratings. However, we also show, both theoretically and experimentally, that chirped gratings lead to enhanced coupling efficiencies at high powers.
Absorption saturation and photodarkening in semiconductor doped glasses
Authors: Kull M. , Coutaz J. L. , Grivickas V. , Manneberg G.
Published: February 2023

Semiconductor doped glass [1] (SDG) is a promising composite material for third-order nonlinear integrated optics. It shows a good compromise between speed of response and magnitude of the nonlinearity. The glasses content sodium and are therefore good candidates for waveguide fabrication by ion-exchange [2]. Devices based on SDG waveguides may be useful in all optical switching and for optical logic. The nonlinearity stems from bandfilling [3] in small semiconductor crystallites. Since the response of an absorptive nonlinearity is limited by the recombination rate of the carriers, much interest has been focused on time resolved measurements [4,5]. Apparent contradictory results regarding the recombination time were explained by Roussignol et. al. [6]. They found that a photochemical process permanently changes the degenerate four wave mixing (DFWM) response of the material. A "fresh" unexposed glass shows a slow response - several nanoseconds, whereas after exposure of intense absorbing light, the response can be several orders of magnitude faster. After long exposures, a darkened area on the glass is also seen. Recent results by Mitsunaga et. al. [7] show recombination times as short as 7 ps for a darkened glass.