bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Visual and Hormone Outcomes in Pituitary Apoplexy: Results of a Single Surgeon, Single Institution 15-Year Retrospective Review and Pooled Data Analysis
Authors: Seaman Scott C. , Dougherty Mark C. , Zanaty Mario , Bruch Leslie A. , Graham Scott M. , Greenlee Jeremy D. W.
Published: June 2020

Introduction Pituitary apoplexy commonly presents with visual and hormonal deficits. While traditionally regarded as an emergency, there have been increasing trends toward conservative management. Our institutional practice consists of early surgery; therefore, we reviewed our series evaluating vision outcomes, hormone function, and complications compared with the present literature.

Methods We retrospectively reviewed our institution's medical records to identify pituitary apoplexy patients who were treated via the endoscopic endonasal approach by a single neurosurgeon (senior author). We recorded basic demographics, radiographic and operative features, and preoperative and postoperative vision and hormone status. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were performed. Pooled data analysis of visual outcomes in the current literature using Bayesian inference was performed.

Results We identified 44 patients with histologically confirmed pituitary apoplexy treated by endoscopic transsphenoidal decompression; 77% were treated within 24 hours of presentation. Total 45% had cranial nerve (CN) palsy, 36% anopsia, and 20% had visual acuity deficits. Postoperatively, 100% of CN palsies improved, 81% of anopsias improved, and 66.7% of visual acuity deficits improved. Long-lasting panhypopituitarism (25%) and hypothyrodism (22%) were common. Cavernous sinus involvement predicted residual tumor (p = 0.006). Pooled Bayesian inference showed 30% improvement in vision outcomes with surgical management compared with medical management with a number needed to treat of 3.3.

Conclusion Early surgery for pituitary apoplexy was associated with excellent visual outcomes and the need for long-term hormone replacement is common. Cavernous sinus involvement is an independent predictor of residual tumor. Pooled statistical analysis favors aggressive surgical management of apoplexy for improved visual outcomes.
Surgical Outcomes of Endoscopic Endonasal Surgery in 29 Patients with Craniopharyngioma
Authors: Iranmehr Arad , Esmaeilnia Mostafa , Afshari Khashayar , Sadrehosseini Seyed Mousa , Tabari Azin , Jouibari Morteza Faghih , Zeinalizadeh Mehdi
Published: June 2020

Background Recently the endoscopic endonasal surgery (EES) has been introduced as a modality for the treatment of patients with craniopharyngiomas. In this study, we describe our initial experience in treatment of 29 patients with craniopharyngiomas using this approach.

Methods Twenty-nine consecutive patients with craniopharyngiomas who had undergone EES in a 5-year period were studied retrospectively. Patients underwent preoperative and postoperative endocrinologic and ophthalmologic evaluations. Radiologic characteristics of tumors and extent of resection were determined. The recurrence and complications were evaluated.

Results Pituitary and visual dysfunction were observed preoperatively in 89.7 and 86% of patients, respectively. After EES, visual outcome either showed an improvement or else remained unchanged in 92.3% of the cases; however, pituitary function remained unchanged and even got worsened in 34.6% of the cases. Prevalence of diabetes insipidus before and after surgery was 58.6 and 69.2%. The rate of gross total resection was 62%. Moreover, 86.2% of the tumors were almost totally resected (more than 95% of the tumor size resected). After surgery, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak and meningitis occurred in four (13.8%) and two (6.9%) patients, respectively. Perioperative mortality was seen in two of the cases (6.9%). The mean follow-up was 25 months and tumor recurrence was discovered in four patients (15.3%).

Conclusion The EES with the goal of maximal and safe tumor resection could be used for the treatment of most craniopharyngiomas. Although the rates of visual improvement and gross tumor resection are high, CSF leak, pituitary dysfunction, and meningitis are serious concerns.
Survival and Prognostic Analysis after Pulmonary Metastasectomy for Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Dudek Wojciech , AlMoussa Emad , Schreiner Waldemar , Mantsopoulos Konstantinos , Sirbu Horia
Published: June 2020

Background There is no consensus on the value of pulmonary metastasectomy (PM) for head and neck cancer (HNC). The aim of our single-institution study was to evaluate outcomes and to examine factors influencing 5-year survival of patients undergoing resections for HNC lung metastases.

Methods All HNC patients undergoing curative-intent PM between January 2008 and December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The impact of factors related to primary tumor, metastases, and associated therapy on patient survival was evaluated using the univariable Cox proportional hazard model. Cutoff values of continuous variables were determined by a receiver operating characteristic analysis.

Results In total, 44 patients (32 males and 12 females, with a median age of 65 years) underwent PM for metastatic HNC. There was one perioperative death, and major complications occurred in 2 (4.5%) patients. The median interval between the treatment of primary tumor and PM was 19.4 months (range: 0–151 months). Median size of the largest resected pulmonary lesion was 1.3 cm (range: 0.3–6.9 cm). Mean follow-up was 21 months (range: 0–123 months), and 5-year overall survival (OS) rate after the first PM was 41%. Resection was complete (R0) in all patients. Larger size of pulmonary metastasis (≥1.4 cm; hazard ratio: 4.49; 95% confidence interval: 1.79–11.27) was a significantly negative prognostic factor.

Conclusion Despite the lack of randomized controlled trials, PM for HNC is a reasonable therapeutic option with favorable survival in a selected population. In patients with larger pulmonary lesions, shorter OS after PM is to be expected.
Fellow Involvement in Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty: Is There an “August Effect?”
Authors: Crawford David A. , Berend Keith R. , Lombardi Adolph V.
Published: June 2020

The purpose of this study is to determine if a fellow's involvement, as well as duration of a fellow's training, impacts complications, outcomes, and survivorship in primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA). A retrospective review identified 2,790 consecutive patients (3,530 knees) who underwent primary TKA between 2003 and 2008. A 2-year minimum follow-up was available on 2,785 knees (2,195 patients). Operative data, clinical outcomes, complications, and survivorship were compared between cases with and without a fellow involved as well as comparing cases in the first quarter (Q1) of the academic year to the last three quarters (Q2–4). Mean follow-up was 9.7 years. Fellows were involved in 1,434 (41%) surgeries. Fellow cases had significantly longer tourniquet times (59.5 vs. 49 minutes, p < 0.001) and operative times (82.4 vs. 70.8 minutes, p < 0.001). Overall, there was no difference in clinical, functional, or pain outcomes between attending and fellow cases. Fellow cases during Q1 had significantly worse pain scores (p = 0.009) and clinical scores (p < 0.001). Revision rate, infection rates, and survivorship were not significantly different between fellow and attendings or during Q1 of fellowship compared with attendings. Primary TKA survivorship and complications were not affected by fellow involvement or academic quarter. An “August Effect” may be suggested for clinical and pain outcomes in the first 3 months of fellowship.
“Ester”—A new ring-shear-apparatus for hydrate-bearing sediments
Authors: Spangenberg Erik , Heeschen Katja U. , Giese Ronny , Schicks Judith M.
Published: June 2020

We developed a new thermostated ring-shear-apparatus for investigation on hydrate- or ice-bearing sediments. A fluid inlet at the bottom of the static part of the cell and a fluid outlet at the top of the rotating half-cell allow exchanging and pressurizing the pore fluid in the sample cell to a certain value below the pressure providing the normal load that is applied hydraulically via a seal disk using a syringe pump. The volume change in the sample can be derived from the volume received or injected by the pump. The system allows the use of different methods for the formation and controlled decomposition of hydrate before, after, and during a shear test. The ring-shear-cell is designed for a maximum hydraulic pressure of 30 MPa. A commercial hollow shaft servo actuator applies the torque to the rotating half of the sample cell, and a rotary encoder provides information for determining the shear displacement. Stress path investigations in shear rate controlled experiments with large strain are possible with shear rates up to 12.6 mm/s and torques up to 1440 N m. The system design allows for complex experiments studying the behavior of a shear plane in hydrate- and/or ice-bearing sediments, including the decomposition and reformation of hydrate and/or ice under varying pressure and temperature conditions. It is a useful tool to provide experimental data to support research and engineering in solving problems related to permafrost and hydrate-bearing formations. The system performance is demonstrated by examples of tests on hydrate- and ice-bearing sand samples.
Absolute phase measurement with four patterns based on variant shifting phases
Authors: Cai Bolin , Zhang Lei , Wu Jun , Wang Mengyu , Chen Xiangcheng , Duan Minghui , Wang Keyi , Wang Yuwei
Published: June 2020

Fringe projection profilometry has been proverbially utilized for measuring the shapes of objects. A common challenge in those systems is to accurately obtain a smooth absolute phase. Many new methods have been proposed to address this challenge. In this paper, we discuss a technique based on variant shifting phases. This approach embeds codewords into the shifting phase and only needs four patterns. However, reliable measurement results are difficult to achieve with a large number of codewords because of the phase errors. To address this shortcoming, we present a robust coding method that embeds a specific code sequence into the shifting phase and can generate more than 36 periods. The fringe order is determined using unique three-adjacent-codes combining the current period and its neighbors. An error correction algorithm is also proposed to optimize the codewords. The proposed method is experimentally verified using an established measurement system. The result shows that the proposed method is robust and efficient.
Confined in a narrow channel, water separates into sheets with peculiar properties
Authors: Bandari Anashe
Published: June 2020

The stratification of water into sheets of different diffusion coefficients when confined in nanochannels has been difficult to observe experimentally.
Ferromagnetic martensitic transformation and large magnetocaloric effect in Ni35Co15−xFexMn35Ti15 (x = 2, 4, 6, 8) alloys
Authors: Li Yong , Huang Siyuan , Wang Wenhong , Liu Enke , Li Lingwei
Published: June 2020

The crystal structure, ferromagnetic martensitic transformation, and magnetocaloric effect of Ni35Co15−xFexMn35Ti15 (x = 2, 4, 6, 8) alloys have been investigated. All the alloys crystallize in a B2-type cubic structure at room temperature. The Curie temperature of austenite between paramagnetic and ferromagnetic states decreases from 349.0(7) K to 287.2(8) K with increasing Fe content x up to 8, whereas the corresponding martensitic transformation temperature from ferromagnetic austenite to weak-magnetic martensite increases continuously from 182 K to 230 K, and the accompanied thermal hysteresis decreases gradually. The maximum values of magnetic entropy change (ΔSM)/refrigeration capacity reach 9.5(8) J kg−1 K−1/79.4(5) J kg−1 (0–20 kOe) and 24.0(4) J kg−1 K−1/206.8(4) J kg−1 (0–50 kOe), respectively. The present results indicate that the Ni35Co15−xFexMn35Ti15 alloys are considerable for magnetic refrigeration.
Building a setup capable of characterizing large and low-loss optics: “STAR”
Authors: Hirose E. , Mochizuki K. , Kinoshita T.
Published: June 2020

We have built a setup called STAR that is capable of characterizing large and very low-loss optics. STAR stands for scattering, transmittance, absorption, and reflectance of the setup’s measurement items using 1064 nm laser light, a wavelength in which we are currently interested. Thanks to the design concept in which most of the optical components are shared by each measurement, the system is reasonably compact and can be quickly switched from one measurement setting to another with only minor modification and without offloading the piece to be measured from the setup. The instrument is capable of scanning large areas of 500 mm diameter or larger and can be used for both coated and uncoated optics. It is described here in detail, and the results of some measurements are presented.
Theory of ion aggregation and gelation in super-concentrated electrolytes
Authors: McEldrew Michael , Goodwin Zachary A. H. , Bi Sheng , Bazant Martin Z. , Kornyshev Alexei A.
Published: June 2020

In concentrated electrolytes with asymmetric or irregular ions, such as ionic liquids and solvent-in-salt electrolytes, ion association is more complicated than simple ion-pairing. Large branched aggregates can form at significant concentrations at even moderate salt concentrations. When the extent of ion association reaches a certain threshold, a percolating ionic gel network can form spontaneously. Gelation is a phenomenon that is well known in polymer physics, but it is practically unstudied in concentrated electrolytes. However, despite this fact, the ion-pairing description is often applied to these systems for the sake of simplicity. In this work, drawing strongly from established theories in polymer physics, we develop a simple thermodynamic model of reversible ionic aggregation and gelation in concentrated electrolytes accounting for the competition between ion solvation and ion association. Our model describes, with the use of several phenomenological parameters, the populations of ionic clusters of different sizes as a function of salt concentration; it captures the onset of ionic gelation and also the post-gel partitioning of ions into the gel. We discuss the applicability of our model, as well as the implications of its predictions on thermodynamic, transport, and rheological properties.
Most probable dynamics of stochastic dynamical systems with exponentially light jump fluctuations
Authors: Li Yang , Duan Jinqiao , Liu Xianbin , Zhang Yanxia
Published: June 2020

The emergence of the exit events from a bounded domain containing a stable fixed point induced by non-Gaussian Lévy fluctuations plays a pivotal role in practical physical systems. In the limit of weak noise, we develop a Hamiltonian formalism under the Lévy fluctuations with exponentially light jumps for one- and two-dimensional stochastic dynamical systems. This formalism is based on a recently proved large deviation principle for dynamical systems under non-Gaussian Lévy perturbations. We demonstrate how to compute the most probable exit path and the quasi-potential by several examples. Meanwhile, we explore the impacts of the jump measure on the quasi-potential quantitatively and on the most probable exit path qualitatively. Results show that the quasi-potential can be well estimated by an approximate analytical expression. Moreover, we discover that although the most probable exit paths are analogous to the Gaussian case for the isotropic noise, the anisotropic noise leads to significant changes in the structure of the exit paths. These findings shed light on the underlying qualitative mechanism and quantitative feature of the exit phenomenon induced by non-Gaussian noise.
Temperature dependence of the anomalous Nernst coefficient for Ni80Fe20 determined with metallic nonlocal spin valves
Authors: Bennet R. K. , Hojem A. , Zink B. L.
Published: June 2020

The anomalous Nernst effect, which generates an out-of-plane charge voltage in response to a thermal gradient perpendicular to the magnetization of a ferromagnet, can play a significant role in many spintronic devices where large thermal gradients exist. Since they typically include features deep within the submicron regime, nonlocal spin valves can be made very sensitive to this effect by lowering the substrate thermal conductance. Here, we use nonlocal spin valves suspended on thin silicon nitride membranes to determine the temperature dependence of the anomalous Nernst coefficient of 35 nm thick permalloy (Ni80Fe20) from 78 K to 300 K. In a device with a simple ferromagnet geometry, the transverse Seebeck coefficient shows a weak temperature dependence, with values at all T near 2.5 μV/K. Assuming previously measured values of the Seebeck coefficient for permalloy, which has a near-linear dependence on T, leads to a low temperature upturn in the anomalous Nernst coefficient RN. We also show that the temperature dependence of this coefficient is different when a constricted nanowire is used as the ferromagnetic detector element.
Enhanced proton acceleration via the leaky light-sail regime by laser interaction with nanofoils in strongly magnetized plasmas
Authors: Lv Chong , Meng Xiang-Hao , Wang Zhao , Cao Li-Hua , Wan Feng , Liu Qiu-Shi , Zhang Xiao-Hua , Zhao Bao-Zhen
Published: June 2020

An enhancing proton acceleration scheme is proposed by applying an external axial magnetic field in the leaky light-sail regime when a right-hand circularly polarized laser interacts with a multispecies nanofoil. In this scheme, the external axial magnetic field B0 can not only enhance the intensity of the accelerating electric field but also adjust the spatial distribution of the accelerating electric field. It is shown by 2D3V particle-in-cell simulations that a monoenergetic proton beam could be produced in the case of B0=2. Compared with the case of B0=0, the peak energy increases by 50% and the number improves by a factor of two when the laser intensity is 3.4×1019 W/cm2. Besides, the angle divergence of protons can be greatly improved by manipulating the shape of accelerating electric field from concave to convex under the influence of the B0=2. These results may be helpful to understand the process of particle motion in a strongly magnetized plasma.
Movable holder for a quartz crystal microbalance for exact growth rates in pulsed laser deposition
Authors: Franceschi Giada , Schmid Michael , Diebold Ulrike , Riva Michele
Published: June 2020

Controlling the amount of material deposited by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) down to fractions of one atomic layer is crucial for nanoscale technologies based on thin-film heterostructures. Albeit unsurpassed for measuring growth rates with high accuracy, the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) suffers from some limitations when applied to PLD. The strong directionality of the PLD plasma plume and its pronounced dependence on deposition parameters (e.g., background pressure and fluence) require that the QCM is placed at the same position as the substrate during growth. However, QCM sensors are commonly fixed off to one side of the substrate. This also entails fast degradation of the crystal, as it is constantly exposed to the ablated material. The design for a movable QCM holder discussed in this work overcomes these issues. The holder is compatible with standard transfer arms, enabling easy insertion and transfer between a PLD chamber and other adjoining vacuum chambers. The QCM can be placed at the same position as the substrate during PLD growth. Its resonance frequency is measured in vacuum at any location where it can be in contact with an electrical feedthrough, before and after deposition. We tested the design for the deposition of hematite (Fe2O3), comparing the rates derived from the QCM and from reflection high-energy electron diffraction oscillations during homoepitaxial growth.
Practical photoacoustic tomography: Realistic limitations and technical solutions
Authors: Choi Wonseok , Oh Donghyeon , Kim Chulhong
Published: June 2020

This article offers a perspective on photoacoustic tomography (PAT) under realistic scenarios. While PAT has gained much attention in preclinical and clinical research, most early works used image reconstruction techniques based on ideal assumptions, and thus these techniques may not be fully effective in real environments. In this work, we consider such non-ideal conditions as a limited view, limited bandwidth, lossy medium, or heterogeneous medium. More importantly, we use k-Wave simulation to numerically evaluate the effects of these limiting factors on various image reconstruction algorithms. Then, to enable more reliable PAT image reconstruction, we introduce recent techniques for mitigating each of the limiting conditions. We seek to emphasize the importance of working within these realistic limitations, and we encourage researchers to develop compensating solutions that advance PAT’s translation to real clinical environments.
Multidimensional four-wave-mixing spectroscopy with squeezed light
Authors: Yang Zhenquan , Saurabh Prasoon , Schlawin Frank , Mukamel Shaul , Dorfman Konstantin E.
Published: June 2020

A set of nonlinear spectroscopic measurements with quantum light is presented. It involves a strong pump with frequency ωpu and a weak probe at ωpr interacting with a solid state target to generate a conjugated beam ωc=2ωpu−ωpr via nondegenerate four-wave mixing. The χ(3) susceptibility can be measured by the noise spectra of the intensity difference of the squeezed beams. We discuss three spectroscopic setups based on squeezed light: first, single four-wave mixing in a single crystal; second, cascading scheme involving two crystals; third, an SU(1, 1) interferometer based on two separate four-wave mixing processes. We further investigate the microscopic noise and optical losses in all three setups. Simulations are presented for silicon-vacancy color centers in diamond.
A density functional theory study of the structural and electronic properties of pure and H2 doped polyethylene under high pressure and high temperature conditions of earth layers
Authors: Yuan Kelvin , Luo Xuan
Published: June 2020

Plastics have brought enormous conveniences to our everyday lives, but at the same time, they are causing detrimental environmental impacts. Plastics have recently been discovered in deep ocean trenches—proving their capabilities of traveling into the Earth’s inner layers. Of these plastics, polyethylene enjoys commercial popularity and widespread applications. We systematically study polyethylene at various pressures and temperatures to figure out its physical and chemical stability and further on its degradability, by performing first-principle calculations in the frame of the density functional theory. Results show that lattice constants and bond lengths decrease under high pressure applications, while marginal increases occur under high temperatures. The effect of the dopant H2 is also evaluated due to its abundance within the inner layers of the Earth. Our relaxation calculations show that H2 doped polyethylene exhibits greater decrease rates in structural parameters. The electronic structures of both the pure and doped polyethylene illustrate metallic transitions at pressures around 140 GPa, which is in good agreement with other theoretical studies. Throughout this paper, atomic and electronic structure changes under high pressures and temperatures are analyzed and discussed in more depth. We conclude that high pressure and temperature applications are potential factors that can be considered for future sustainable degradation methods.
Terahertz single-pixel near-field imaging based on active tunable subwavelength metallic grating
Authors: Yang Xingye , Tian Zhen , Chen Xieyu , Hu Mengyuan , Yi Zhihao , Ouyang Chunmei , Gu Jianqiang , Han Jiaguang , Zhang Weili
Published: June 2020

Terahertz (THz) single-pixel near-field imaging, producing images by introducing a scene with a series of spatially resolved subwavelength patterns while recording the correlated intensity on a single-element detector, is a promising technology for imaging applications. Spatial light modulator (SLM) is one of the key devices in THz single-pixel near-field imaging. Combined with a Digital Micromirror Device to shape the optical pump beam, a photo-induced tunable high-efficiency, ultra-thin, and fast THz SLM is presented by integrating designed subwavelength metallic grating into silicon on sapphire. In the experiments, the SLM is demonstrated with an over 60% THz peak amplitude modulation depth and broad bandwidth under a relative low pump fluence (80 μJ/cm2). The measurements, simulations, and calculations agree well with each other. Meanwhile, sub-nanosecond decay time extracted by fitting the |ΔT| curve suggests a fast response device. A two-dimensional grating is also explored, and the polarization-independent feature makes it easier to use. Finally, an imaging demonstration is conducted to verify the usability of the designed device. These results demonstrate the feasibility of realizing super-resolution and even real-time imaging simultaneously.
Nonlinear oscillations of non-neutral plasmas in a time-dependent harmonic trap
Authors: Haas Fernando , Ferreira Soares Luiz Gustavo
Published: June 2020

A non-neutral plasma is confined in a quasi-1D device and described by a fluid model. The use of the Lagrangian variables method together with a certain Ansatz for the velocity field reduces the problem essentially to ordinary differential equations satisfied by a scale function. In the case of thermal dominated plasma, the governing equation is the Pinney equation, having a close connection with the time-dependent harmonic oscillator. For a slowly varying frequency of the trap potential, an approximate solution is derived and shown to be accurate in the adiabatic limit. In the case of negligible thermal effects, the resulting non-homogeneous time-dependent oscillator equation for the scale function is also approximately solved, in the adiabatic limit. The validity conditions of the thermal dominated and Coulomb dominated cases are determined. The results are applied to a confined antiproton plasma, with implication on antimatter atom experiments.
Hedgehog–FGF signaling axis patterns anterior mesoderm during gastrulation
Authors: Guzzetta Alexander , Koska Mervenaz , Rowton Megan , Sullivan Kaelan R. , Jacobs-Li Jessica , Kweon Junghun , Hidalgo Hunter , Eckart Heather , Hoffmann Andrew D. , Back Rebecca , Lozano Stephanie , Moon Anne M. , Basu Anindita , Bressan Michael , Pott Sebastian , Moskowitz Ivan P.
Published: June 2020

Significance

Anterior–posterior axis patterning is a fascinating but poorly understood developmental process. Single-cell sequencing was utilized to interrogate patterning abnormalities in a mesoderm-specific Hedgehog (Hh) pathway mutant, which revealed selective anterior mesoderm defects. We found that Hh signaling was required for fibroblast growth factor (FGF) pathway activity in nascent mesoderm during gastrulation. Mouse genetics, cell biology, and genomic experiments indicate that FGF signaling acts downstream of Hh signaling in nascent mesoderm for anterior mesoderm morphogenesis. This work demonstrates the utility of applying single-cell technologies to resolve complex developmental phenotypes. Here, it revealed a role for Hh signaling from the node in organizing anterior mesoderm morphogenesis, independent of its role in left–right determination, by promoting FGF signaling in gastrulating mesoderm.
Label-free hematology analysis using deep-ultraviolet microscopy
Authors: Ojaghi Ashkan , Carrazana Gabriel , Caruso Christina , Abbas Asad , Myers David R. , Lam Wilbur A. , Robles Francisco E.
Published: June 2020

Hematological analysis, via a complete blood count (CBC) and microscopy, is critical for screening, diagnosing, and monitoring blood conditions and diseases but requires complex equipment, multiple chemical reagents, laborious system calibration and procedures, and highly trained personnel for operation. Here we introduce a hematological assay based on label-free molecular imaging with deep-ultraviolet microscopy that can provide fast quantitative information of key hematological parameters to facilitate and improve hematological analysis. We demonstrate that this label-free approach yields 1) a quantitative five-part white blood cell differential, 2) quantitative red blood cell and hemoglobin characterization, 3) clear identification of platelets, and 4) detailed subcellular morphology. Analysis of tens of thousands of live cells is achieved in minutes without any sample preparation. Finally, we introduce a pseudocolorization scheme that accurately recapitulates the appearance of cells under conventional staining protocols for microscopic analysis of blood smears and bone marrow aspirates. Diagnostic efficacy is evaluated by a panel of hematologists performing a blind analysis of blood smears from healthy donors and thrombocytopenic and sickle cell disease patients. This work has significant implications toward simplifying and improving CBC and blood smear analysis, which is currently performed manually via bright-field microscopy, and toward the development of a low-cost, easy-to-use, and fast hematological analyzer as a point-of-care device and for low-resource settings.
TERT
promoter mutation determines apoptotic and therapeutic responses of
BRAF
-mutant cancers to BRAF and MEK inhibitors: Achilles Heel
Authors: Tan Jie , Liu Rengyun , Zhu Guangwu , Umbricht Christopher B. , Xing Mingzhao
Published: June 2020

Significance

The use of BRAF V600E-selective inhibitor dabrafenib and MEK inhibitor trametinib is a standard first-line treatment for human cancers harboring
BRAF
V600E. However, drug resistance/tumor recurrence is common with this treatment and the outcomes are unpredictable. We demonstrate here that dabrafenib and trametinib robustly induce cell apoptosis and hence abolishment of growth/regrowth of cancers harboring both
BRAF
V600E and
TERT
promoter mutations with little effect in cells/tumors harboring only
BRAF
V600E. Thus,
TERT
promoter mutation, by governing the apoptotic and hence therapeutic sensitivities of BRAF-mutant cancer cells to BRAF/MEK inhibitors, may potentially be useful in helping patient selection for the inhibitor treatment and predicting therapeutic outcomes.
Intersecting location and possession
Authors: Matushansky Ora
Published: June 2020

The focus of this paper is the possessive relation arising in several configurations between the complement of a locative preposition (u‘at/by’ andk(o)‘towards’ in Russian,bij‘by’ in Dutch andla‘to/at’ in Romanian, henceforth,u-preposition, heading au-PP) and another NP in the same clause. I will show thatu-PPs can introduce a number of distinct possessive relations in function of the syntactic context and that languages differ subtly in the matter of which such relations are available in which contexts. I will attribute this variation to the different semantic domains of these possessive PPs (locus-modifiers as opposed to event-modifiers) arising from the lexical specification of the possessive relators lexicalized by these prepositions.
Pazar Laz as a weak verb-framed language
Authors: Öztürk Balkız , Eren Ömer
Published: June 2020

Pazar Laz (pl) has a rich set of spatial prefixes, which encode path information as separate morphemes. However, unlike satellite-framed languages,plspatial prefixes are incompatible with manner of motion verbs, which do not inherently encode path information, but they can only be used with directed motion verbs where the path information is available in the lexical semantics of the verb. Given this pattern, complementingAcedo-Matellán (2016)’s classification of weak vs. strong satellite-framed languages, we argue that verb-framed languages are also of two types. While languages like Romance are strong verb-framed languages encoding Path directly in the verb root,plconstitutes an example of a weak verb-framed language, where Path is affixal and forms a single word with the verb. We argue that spatial prefixes spell out the underassociated Path projection of the verb à laRamchand (2008b).
Trust, but customize: federalism’s impact on the Canadian COVID-19 response
Authors: Migone Andrea Riccardo
Published: June 2020

This article explores how Canadian federalism, with its complex mix of competencies, and the country’s punctuated gradualism policy style interface with urgent, complex decision-making like the COVID-19 pandemic. We find that while punctuated gradualism favors tailored responses to pandemic management it is weaker when coordination and resourcing are to be undertaken during non-crisis situations and that, while the level of cooperation among Canadian jurisdictions has progressively increased over the years, policy is still almost exclusively handled at the federal, provincial and territorial levels. Furthermore, the model appears to have critical ‘blind spots’ in terms of vulnerable communities that do not emerge as such until after a crisis hits.
Transcendence at workplace scale: development and validation
Authors: Khari Chitra , Sinha Shuchi
Published: June 2020

This paper explores the structural dimensions of Transcendence at Workplace (TAW) and develops and validates a measure for it. Transcendence at Workplace comprises of three correlated yet distinct dimensions: Work as service, Self-connectedness, and Sense of We-ness. Results establish
the convergent, discriminant, criterion-related concurrent, and nomological validity of TAW. Findings confirm satisfactory reliability of the measure. This research makes a significant theoretical contribution to the evolving discourse on transcendence (in organizational context) by defining,
developing, and validating the measure of Transcendence at Workplace. Practitioners can use the measure for assessing, and raising TAW, which will in turn have benefits for employees, organizations, and the larger community or society.
Autologous tumor cell vaccine induces antitumor T cell immune responses in patients with mantle cell lymphoma: A phase I/II trial
Authors: Frank Matthew J. , Khodadoust Michael S. , Czerwinski Debra K. , Haabeth Ole A.W. , Chu Michael P. , Miklos David B. , Advani Ranjana H. , Alizadeh Ash A. , Gupta Neel K. , Maeda Lauren S. , Reddy Sunil A. , Laport Ginna G. , Meyer Everett H. , Negrin Robert S. , Rezvani Andrew R. , Weng Wen-Kai , Sheehan Kevin , Faham Malek , Okada Ami , Moore A. Holliston , Phillips Destiny L. , Wapnir Irene L. , Brody Joshua D. , Levy Ronald
Published: June 2020

Here, we report on the results of a phase I/II trial (NCT00490529) for patients with mantle cell lymphoma who, having achieved remission after immunochemotherapy, were vaccinated with irradiated, CpG-activated tumor cells. Subsequently, vaccine-primed lymphocytes were collected and reinfused after a standard autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). The primary endpoint was detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) within 1 yr after ASCT at the previously validated threshold of ≥1 malignant cell per 10,000 leukocyte equivalents. Of 45 evaluable patients, 40 (89%) were found to be MRD negative, and the MRD-positive patients experienced early subsequent relapse. The vaccination induced antitumor CD8 T cell immune responses in 40% of patients, and these were associated with favorable clinical outcomes. Patients with high tumor PD-L1 expression after in vitro exposure to CpG had inferior outcomes. Vaccination with CpG-stimulated autologous tumor cells followed by the adoptive transfer of vaccine-primed lymphocytes after ASCT is feasible and safe.
Solid angles in perspective
Authors: Quincey Paul
Published: June 2020

The specialised uses of solid angles mean that they are quite unfamiliar
quantities. This article, apart from making solid angles a little more familiar,
brings out several topics of general interest, such as how units are
interrelated and how equations depend on the choice of units. Although the
steradian is commonly used as the unit for solid angle, another unit, the square
degree, is used in astronomy, and a unit introduced here, the solid degree (with
360 solid degrees in a hemisphere) could be used with benefits that are similar
to those of the degree when it is used as the unit for plane angle. The article,
which is suitable for students at A-level and introductory undergraduate level,
also shows how solid angles can provide a gentle introduction to crystal
structure, spherical trigonometry and non-Euclidean geometry.
Simultaneous switching at multiple frequencies and triple plasmon-induced transparency in multilayer patterned graphene-based terahertz metamaterial
Authors: Liu Zhimin , Zhang Xiao , Zhang Zhenbin , Gao Enduo , Zhou Fengqi , Li Hongjian , Luo Xin
Published: June 2020

A novel multilayer terahertz metamaterial composed of double rectangle, vertical single rectangle, vertical double rectangle and single rectangle graphene layer is proposed. The dynamic adjustable triple plasmon induced transparency (PIT) is realized by coupling two bright modes and two dark modes, which is an especial synergy effect between two single-PIT. Coupled mode theory contained four resonators is employed to explain the triple-PIT, and the theoretical results exhibit excellent consistency with finite-difference time-domain. Surprisingly, the triple-PIT can evolve into a dual-PIT or a single-PIT only by changing the Fermi level of graphene, and the amplitude modulation degrees at the four resonance frequencies of the triple-PIT are 74.7%, 87.8%, 76.5%, and 77.7%, respectively. In addition, a simultaneous switching at multiple frequencies is realized by adjusting different Fermi levels. Therefore, this study not only lays the foundation for explaining phenomenon of the triple-PIT but also puts forward new ideas for the design of optoelectronic device.
The role of mathematics and self-efficacy in learning quantum mechanics
Authors: Kontro I , Palmgren E
Published: June 2020

Quantum mechanics is a highly mathematical topic that many students struggle with. We studied the effect of initial mathematics knowledge and self-efficacy on student learning on an introductory (first to second-year) quantum mechanics course by administering a mathematics pre-test and a self-efficacy questionnaire (N = 50). We correlated the results with course performance (exercise and exam scores). The self-efficacy beliefs of different student groups differed, but correlations between self-efficacy, initial mathematics skills and performance on this course remained modest. In addition, the correlations between self-efficacy beliefs in different aspects of learning quantum mechanics were low to moderate, meaning that students’ self-efficacy beliefs in this topic are highly situational. We observed that first-year students with high self-efficacy were more likely to report theoretical physics as their study track. Their initial mathematics skills did not differ from their peers, but they scored slightly better in exercises and the exam than first-year physics students, as the (experimental) physics group also included lower performing individuals. Second-year students who reported physics as their study track scored lower than both first-year physics and theoretical physics students in all measures. The explanation is likely a selective effect: the physics students who take the course in their first year are more comfortable with more advanced physics and mathematics content.
Prior experience and sense-making – a case study from DC circuit
Authors: John I , Allie S
Published: June 2020

This is part of a broader investigation, describes the sense-making episodes of student’s engagement with a task in DC circuits. We investigated the variation of student responses using an open DC circuit. The instrument, ACQ, consisted of 8 questions, each comprised of forced choice responses and free written responses. The forced choice responses showed that the student responses are context dependent and the free written responses identified the reasons and foothold ideas behind these variations at a fine-grained level. The results of personal interviews suggest that, student’s sense-making attempt is the driving force behind the contextual variations in their responses. We present such an episode from one of the eight interviews.
From helicopter to lighthouse: the experiences of a lecturer in equipping first year university physics students to move away from ‘answer making’ towards ‘sense making’
Authors: Williams J
Published: June 2020

This paper outlines the author’s teaching philosophy in terms of an analogy to the contrasting parenting styles of a ‘helicopter parent’ as opposed to a ‘lighthouse parent’. This teaching philosophy grew out of the recognition that the majority of students enter higher education in the author’s context in South Africa as ‘answer makers’. The author uses the theoretical frameworks of Vygotsky and Bruner to inform her attempts to enable the students to make the desired transition to ‘sense makers’. This paper illustrates the analogy and then gives concrete examples of some ways in which the author puts her teaching philosophy into practice in a first-year physics lecture environment.
Teacher professional development in the context of the “Open Discovery of STEM laboratories” project: Is the MOOC methodology suitable for teaching physics?
Authors: Persano Adorno D , Pizzolato N
Published: June 2020

The “Open Discovery of STEM Laboratories” (ODL) project, funded by the European Erasmus+ KA2 program, was aimed at introducing the use of MOOCs in school curricula. In particular, it fostered teacher collaboration in creating and using micro-MOOCs for the inclusion of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) online remote or virtual laboratories in the everyday teaching practice. The project focused on teachers, educators and curriculum designers with the aim to strengthen their profile by supporting them to deliver high quality teaching practices and to adopt new methods and tools. Thanks to the project, in service and pre-service teachers had the opportunity to extend their knowledge about the inquiry-based science teaching approach, improve both digital skills and pedagogical competences, experience international collaborative work, explore attractive open education resources helpful to design creative lessons on STEM topics. In this contribution, we focus our attention on the results from the ODL teacher training in Italy, showing the valuable feedback collected by teachers on the impact of the ODL pedagogical approach on Physics education at secondary school, highlighting strengths and possible weaknesses of the proposed methodology. The feedback to the ODL experience provided by both teachers and students during the multiplier events, in the summer school and after the first pilot-studies in the classroom, was very positive. Experiencing micro-MOOCs’ approach has been reported by the teachers as a very effective strategy for increasing students’ motivation to learn physics more meaningfully. Thanks to the ODL methodology, student understanding of physics concepts has been achieved within a multidisciplinary learning context which also supports the development of transversal abilities, communication and reasoning skills. The ODL learning activities provided the students with the opportunity to develop a large range of complementary competencies, such as working in groups, interpreting and evaluating experimental data, designing models, facing and solving everyday problems, which are all very relevant in physics education.
Pre-service teachers’ perceptions of the professional attributes of future physics teachers
Authors: Nardi R , Parma F W , Belíssimo J R
Published: June 2020

We present here results of a study of longitudinal character, which sought to follow a group of future physics teachers of a State University in São Paulo, in Brazil, from the beginning until the conclusion of the teacher training course. The main objective was to understand how the research outcomes have been introduced or interfering in the education of these future teachers. In order to do that, we analyzed the possible variations in their imaginaries of aspects related to a possible ‘good teacher’ and the ‘evaluation of learning’. Data collection was carried out through questionnaires that were administered annually. The data were treated through Discourse Analysis, originated by Pêcheux and developed in Brazil by Orlandi and other researchers. Among the results obtained, we have noted the strength and impact that the course and its pedagogical project have on the students, and that the conditions of discourse production were fundamental for the change in their imaginaries regarding those themes.
Advantages of studying history and philosophy of science for pre-service physics teachers
Authors: Müller M G , Mendes A A
Published: June 2020

The purpose of this exploratory case study was to investigate the views of four undergraduate physics pre-teacher students about the nature of Science (NOS). The students completed an History and Philosophy (HPS) course during the first semester of 2017 at Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology Sul-rio-grandense (Pelotas – Brazil). Data on their views as well as the maintenance of their views, were collected through two surveys. The first survey was distributed after completion of the course. The second survey was distributed six months later. Students responses demonstrated that undertaking HPS studies was correlated with a positive influence on the development of adequate views of NOS. Students’ responses on the follow-up survey demonstrated that positive views on the NOS were retained for six months. The undergraduate physics teacher program from Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology Sul-rio-grandense, advocates curricular and pedagogical efforts to help science teachers develop deeper understandings of the NOS. Results of this study have important implications for teacher education as well as for the implementation of current Brazilian’s education reform.
Gaps in teacher competencies linked to inquiry-based practical work in certain resource-constrained South African physical sciences classrooms
Authors: Akuma F V , Callaghan R
Published: June 2020

Dwindling learner interest in science is a threat to economic development and scientific research. While the inquiry-based teaching and learning strategy in science education can contribute in countering this threat, the required teacher professional development efforts are not always linked to the actual pedagogical experiences and needs of participants. With this in mind, we focussed on the case of two resource-constrained South African schools. The purpose was to identify gaps in teacher competencies linked to the routine implementation of Inquiry-Based Practical Work in physical sciences classrooms. In this regard, we used a conceptual framework incorporating the Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework. This was coupled with a multi-method data collection technique and the inductive technique in thematic analysis. The results consist of gaps in Content Knowledge, Pedagogical Knowledge, Technological Knowledge, Technological Pedagogical Knowledge, and certain professional values. These results have significant implications in relation to evidence-based teacher professional development practice and research in the study context and possibly beyond.
Generalized Uncertainty Principle and Momentum-Dependent Effective Mass Schrödinger Equation
Authors: Bagchi B , Ghosh R , Goswami P
Published: June 2020

We show in this paper that the basic representations of position and momentum in a quantum mechanical system, that are guided by a generalized uncertainty principle and lead to a corresponding one-parameter eigenvalue problem, can be interpreted in terms of an extended Schrödinger equation embodying momentum-dependent mass. Some simple consequences are pointed out.