bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cold plasma endoscopy applied to biliary ducts: feasibility risk assessment on human-like and porcine models for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Decauchy Henri , Pavy Allan , Camus Marine , Fouassier Laura , Dufour Thierry
Published: August 2022

For the past 12 years, cold plasmas (i.e. weakly ionized gas) have been positioned as a breakthrough technology for treating cancer thanks to their antitumor properties. The innovation of ad hoc plasma sources and personalized protocols appears crucial to treat cancers with a very poor prognosis. This is the case for cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), a biliary tract cancer, whose treatment with cold plasma is envisioned but requires the innovation of catheters and endoscopic devices for local therapies. Before conducting clinical trials, the performances and limitations of cold plasma endoscopy (CPE) must be evaluated in terms of safety for both the patient and clinician as well as in terms of therapeutic efficacy. These objectives are pursued in the present work, in which a transferred plasma catheter is used, powered by 8–10 kV, 1–2 µs wide, 5–10 kHz repeated pulses, allowing guided streamers to be transferred over lengths of at least 2 m. In a first step, the catheter is utilized without the duodenoscope and directly inserted into an artificial model reproducing the topography and the electrical response of the biliary tree. This model allows to validate the technical feasibility of the technology and to demonstrate the absence of electrical and thermal risks. Indeed, the voltage and current deposited are as low as 3.98 V and 1.19 mA (RMS values) respectively, while the temperature locally increases from 23 °C to 27 °C. In a second step, the catheter is inserted into the duodenoscope, the whole being applied to a porcine anatomical model. After passing through the esophagus, stomach and duodenum, the distal part of the duodenoscope is placed at the entrance to the papilla so that the catheter can easily enter the choledoc and then the common bile duct. Interestingly, the electrical power values deposited are of the order of 100 mW especially because the current values are at least ten times higher. These more elevated values of electrical parameters but also electromagnetic effects are discussed considering physical aspects like eddy currents. The absence of electrical and thermal risks is demonstrated and consolidated by the medical devices standards fixed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). In a third time, we demonstrate that the cold plasma catheter can induce antitumor effects on in vitro experimental models of human CCA. The methodology proposed in this article validates the relevance of CPE as a potential local treatment for CCA and allows bridging cognitive and patient-oriented research.
Computational fluid dynamics predicts the nanoparticle transport in gas aggregation cluster sources
Authors: Ali-Ogly Suren , Kousal Jaroslav , Nikitin Daniil , Pleskunov Pavel , Hanuš Jan , Choukourov Andrei , Biederman Hynek
Published: August 2022

In a typical sputter-based gas aggregation cluster source (GAS), nanoparticles (NPs) are created from supersaturated vapours of the target material. The NPs then escape from the source with the expanding gas through an exit orifice. The carrier gas flow profile is one of the most critical parameters, which strongly affects the NP losses on the walls and determines the efficiency of the NP transport to the substrate. In this work, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are performed to understand the flow of the carrier gas inside the aggregation chamber. We focus on the impact of the inlet and outlet geometry on the carrier gas flow and, therefore, on the NP transportation. Two types of GAS with either a conventional planar magnetron or a cylindrical magnetron are considered. In the planar configuration, the working gas inlet is from behind the magnetron, and the gas flows around the target towards the orifice along the system axis, which may cause some vertices. The situation is even more critical for the cylindrical magnetron, where the gas inlet position and geometry have a drastic influence on the gas flow. Brownian diffusion is found to prevail for NPs smaller than 5 nm, regardless of the gas flow. This leads to their losses on the walls. Larger NPs experience a stronger drag force from the carrier gas flow, which should exceed 10 m s−1 to prevent loss of NPs on the walls and keep NP transport efficient. Therefore, the CFD simulations help to visualise the motion of the NPs and optimise the geometry of the GAS for future applications.
Noise-induced formation of heterogeneous patterns in the Turing stability zones of diffusion systems
Authors: Bashkirtseva Irina , Pankratov Alexander , Ryashko Lev
Published: August 2022

We study a phenomenon of stochastic generation of waveform patterns for reaction-diffusion systems in the Turing stability zone where the homogeneous equilibrium is a single attractor. In this analysis, we use a distributed variant of the Selkov glycolytic model with diffusion and random forcing. It is shown that in the Turing stability zone, random disturbances can induce a diversity of metastable spatial patterns with different waveforms. We carry out the parametric analysis of statistical characteristics of evolution of these patterns, and reveal the dominant patterns in the stochastic flow of mixed spatial structures.
3D involute gear evaluation - part II: deviations - basic algorithms for modern software validation
Authors: Stein Martin , Härtig Frank
Published: August 2022

The fundamental equations for the evaluation of cylindrical involute gear measurements on 3D gear measuring instruments are provided. The computations are based on the principles of gear kinematics and use the system of involute gear coordinates introduced in a previous work of the authors. This holistic approach focuses on significant error sources that only appear since 3D measurement technology is used and that are almost unrecognized till today. The proposed algorithms are beneficial for the description of gear deviations as they allow the use of simple formulas covering profile, helix and pitch evaluation for internal or external and spur or helical gears. The presented equations contain the key fundamentals to complement existing standards. They will become part of reference algorithms used by the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, the national metrology institute of Germany, to certify gear evaluation software.
UWB/INS-based robust anchor-free relative positioning scheme for UGVs
Authors: Zhang Haifeng , Li Zhitian , Zheng Shuaikang , Liu Yunfei , Zheng Pengcheng , Zou Xudong
Published: August 2022

With the development of new distributed cluster applications such as distributed radar and UGV cooperation, the concept of relative positioning springs up—different from the classic positioning application, relative positioning focuses on the real-time determination of relative position relationships in multi-node networks without pre-deployment anchor, prior map and GNSS. Under such application conditions, relative localization also requires high real-time performance, and high accuracy in short baseline scenes, and can solve the positioning failure caused by occlusion and other factors. A high-precision relative positioning scheme based on UWB-INS fusion is proposed in this paper: a robust relative positioning algorithm based on iterative extended Kalman filter is optimized by modeling the system error state, and the adaptive residual elimination algorithm is introduced to ensure the robustness of positioning service. A series of experiments show that the scheme proposed in this paper can provide centimeter-level real-time positioning service for multi-node dynamic networks without anchors and maps, and is expected to become a potential effective relative positioning technology scheme.
An adaptive spectrum segmentation-based optimized VMD method and its application in rolling bearing fault diagnosis
Authors: Meng Zong , Wang Xinyu , Liu Jingbo , Fan Fengjie
Published: August 2022

Variational mode decomposition (VMD) is a signal decomposition algorithm with excellent denoising ability. However, the drawback that VMD is unable to determine the input parameters adaptively seriously affects the decomposition results. For this issue, an optimized VMD method based on modified scale-space representation (MSSR-VMD) is proposed. Firstly, MSSR is proposed to segment the fault signal spectrum, acquiring modes’ number and the initial center frequency for each mode adaptively. Moreover, a pre-decomposition step is added to the original VMD, which selects a target mode from divided frequency bands. Finally, the penalty factor of the target mode is adjusted during the iterative update of the VMD to achieve accurate extraction for the fault features. MSSR-VMD and other adaptive decomposition algorithms are employed to handle the simulated and experimental signals separately. By comparing the analysis results, the method has certain superiority in rolling bearing fault feature extraction.
Modelling the HPRT-gene mutation induction of particle beams: systematic in vitro data collection, analysis and microdosimetric kinetic model implementation
Authors: Attili Andrea , Scifoni Emanuele , Tommasino Francesco
Published: August 2022

Objective. Since the early years, particle therapy treatments have been associated with concerns for late toxicities, especially secondary cancer risk (SCR). Nowadays, this concern is related to patients for whom long-term survival is expected (e.g. breast cancer, lymphoma, paediatrics). In the aim to contribute to this research, we present a dedicated statistical and modelling analysis aiming at improving our understanding of the RBE for mutation induction (

RBE

M

˜

) for different particle species. Approach. We built a new database based on a systematic collection of RBE data for mutation assays of the gene encoding for the purine salvage enzyme hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase from literature (105 entries, distributed among 3 cell lines and 16 particle species). The data were employed to perform statistical and modelling analysis. For the latter, we adapted the microdosimetric kinetic model (MKM) to describe the mutagenesis in analogy to lethal lesion induction. Main results. Correlation analysis between RBE for survival (RBES) and

RBE

M

˜

reveals significant correlation between these two quantities (ρ = 0.86, p < 0.05). The correlation gets stronger when looking at subsets of data based on cell line and particle species. We also show that the MKM can be successfully employed to describe

RBE

M

˜

,

obtaining comparably good agreement with the experimental data. Remarkably, to improve the agreement with experimental data the MKM requires, consistently in all the analysed cases, a reduced domain size for the description of mutation induction compared to that adopted for survival. Significance. We were able to show that RBES and

RBE

M

˜

are strongly related quantities. We also showed for the first time that the MKM could be successfully applied to the description of mutation induction, representing an endpoint different from the more traditional cell killing. In analogy to the RBES,

RBE

M

˜

can be implemented into treatment planning system evaluations.
Highly accelerated MR parametric mapping by undersampling the k-space and reducing the contrast number simultaneously with deep learning
Authors: Liu Shaonan , Li Haoxiang , Liu Yuanyuan , Cheng Guanxun , Yang Gang , Wang Haifeng , Zheng Hairong , Liang Dong , Zhu Yanjie
Published: August 2022

Introduction. To propose a novel deep learning-based method called RG-Net (reconstruction and generation network) for highly accelerated MR parametric mapping by undersampling k-space and reducing the acquired contrast number simultaneously. Methods. The proposed framework consists of a reconstruction module and a generative module. The reconstruction module reconstructs MR images from the acquired few undersampled k-space data with the help of a data prior. The generative module then synthesizes the remaining multi-contrast images from the reconstructed images, where the exponential model is implicitly incorporated into the image generation through the supervision of fully sampled labels. The RG-Net was trained and tested on the T1ρ
mapping data from 8 volunteers at net acceleration rates of 17, respectively. Regional T1ρ
analysis for cartilage and the brain was performed to assess the performance of RG-Net. Results. RG-Net yields a high-quality T1ρ
map at a high acceleration rate of 17. Compared with the competing methods that only undersample k-space, our framework achieves better performance in T1ρ
value analysis. Conclusion. The proposed RG-Net can achieve a high acceleration rate while maintaining good reconstruction quality by undersampling k-space and reducing the contrast number simultaneously for fast MR parametric mapping. The generative module of our framework can also be used as an insertable module in other fast MR parametric mapping methods.
The OpenGATE ecosystem for Monte Carlo simulation in medical physics
Authors: Sarrut David , Arbor Nicolas , Baudier Thomas , Borys Damian , Etxebeste Ane , Fuchs Hermann , Gajewski Jan , Grevillot Loïc , Jan Sébastien , Kagadis George C , Kang Han Gyu , Kirov Assen , Kochebina Olga , Krzemien Wojciech , Lomax Antony , Papadimitroulas Panagiotis , Pommranz Christian , Roncali Emilie , Rucinski Antoni , Winterhalter Carla , Maigne Lydia
Published: August 2022

This paper reviews the ecosystem of GATE, an open-source Monte Carlo toolkit for medical physics. Based on the shoulders of Geant4, the principal modules (geometry, physics, scorers) are described with brief descriptions of some key concepts (Volume, Actors, Digitizer). The main source code repositories are detailed together with the automated compilation and tests processes (Continuous Integration). We then described how the OpenGATE collaboration managed the collaborative development of about one hundred developers during almost 20 years. The impact of GATE on medical physics and cancer research is then summarized, and examples of a few key applications are given. Finally, future development perspectives are indicated.
Quantum annealing for industry applications: introduction and review
Authors: Yarkoni Sheir , Raponi Elena , Bäck Thomas , Schmitt Sebastian
Published: August 2022

Quantum annealing (QA) is a heuristic quantum optimization algorithm that can be used to solve combinatorial optimization problems. In recent years, advances in quantum technologies have enabled the development of small- and intermediate-scale quantum processors that implement the QA algorithm for programmable use. Specifically, QA processors produced by D-Wave systems have been studied and tested extensively in both research and industrial settings across different disciplines. In this paper we provide a literature review of the theoretical motivations for QA as a heuristic quantum optimization algorithm, the software and hardware that is required to use such quantum processors, and the state-of-the-art applications and proofs-of-concepts that have been demonstrated using them. The goal of our review is to provide a centralized and condensed source regarding applications of QA technology. We identify the advantages, limitations, and potential of QA for both researchers and practitioners from various fields.
Strange cousin of Z

c
(4020/4025) as a tetraquark state*
Authors: Wang Zhi-Gang
Published: August 2022

Motivated by the analogous properties of

and

, we tentatively assign

as the

-type hidden-charm tetraquark state with

, where A denotes the axialvector diquark states, and explore

-type tetraquark states without strange, with strange, and with hidden-strange via QCD sum rules in a consistent manner. We then explore the hadronic coupling constants in the two-body strong decays of tetraquark states without and with strange via QCD sum rules based on rigorous quark-hadron duality and acquire partial and total decay widths. The present calculations support assigning

as the

-type tetraquark state with

, while the predictions for its strange cousin

state can be confronted with experimental data in the future.
Demonstrating tungsten fiber-reinforced porous-matrix tungsten composites for future fusion application
Authors: Mao Yiran , Coenen Jan W. , Terra Alexis , Gao Liang , Kreter Arkadi , Wirtz Marius , Liu Chao , Chen Chang , Riesch Johann , Wu Yucheng , Broeckmann Christoph , Linsmeier Christian
Published: August 2022

Tungsten fiber-reinforced tungsten (Wf/W) has been developed to improve the fracture toughness of W materials, as demonstrated in previous studies (2019 Nucl. Fusion
59 086034; 2021 Mater. Sci. Eng. A
817 141361). In the present study, we focus on the performance of the developed Wf/W materials under fusion-relevant test conditions and further demonstrate their use as plasma facing materials in future fusion reactors. Specifically, one set of Wf/W samples was exposed to Ne plasma to investigate the erosion resistance against plasma sputtering, in comparison to the reference ITER-grade W sample. In addition, deuterium (D) retention in the plasma-exposed Wf/W samples was studied via thermal desorption spectroscopy. Furthermore, laser thermal shock tests were performed on Wf/W to simulate the transient heat load condition and to investigate the material performance under extreme heat flux. With increasing porosity, Wf/W exhibits lower mass loss (net erosion) after Ne plasma exposure. Though porous, Wf/W composites unexpectedly show a comparable D retention to the reference bulk W, which is attributed to the openness of the pores in the matrix. Thermal shock testing results indicate a similar cracking threshold (0.38 GW m−2, 1 ms) as compared with that of ITER-grade W materials. However, due to the lower thermal conductivity of porous matrix Wf/W, under extremely high loading conditions (1.6 GW m−2, 2 ms) surface melting was observed. The present work demonstrates the great potential of the porous matrix Wf/W for future fusion application.
Distributions of deposits and hydrogen on the upper and lower TDUs3 target elements of Wendelstein 7-X
Authors: Zhao Mingzhong , Masuzaki S. , Motojima G. , Tokitani M. , Yajima M. , Gao Y. , Jakubowski M. , Puig Sitjes A. , Pisano F. , Dhard C.P. , Naujoks D. , Romazanov J. , Brezinsek S. , the W7-X Team
Published: August 2022

Distributions of deposits and hydrogen (H) on the graphite divertor target elements TM4h4 and TM3v5 in the test divertor units 3 (TDUs3) of Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) are studied. The TM4h4 and TM3v5 are located at the magnetically symmetric positions in the upper and lower divertor. The microstructure of the deposition layer is characterized by a transmission electron microscope (TEM) combined with a focused ion beam (FIB). Metallic deposits such as iron (Fe), molybdenum (Mo), chromium (Cr) are detected in the deposition layer by energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The depth-resolved distribution patterns of boron (B) and metallic deposits on upper and lower horizontal (h) divertor target elements TDUs3-TM4h4 as well as upper and lower vertical (v) divertor target elements TDUs3-TM3v5 are clarified by glow discharge optical emission spectrometry (GDOES). Results for both TDUs3-TM4h4 and TDUs3-TM3v5 show that the B deposition regions exhibit higher H retention due to the co-deposition with deposits. On the other hand, up-down asymmetries in B deposition caused by particle drift exist on both TDUs3-TM4h4 and TDUs3-TM3v5. The B deposition amount on upper TDUs3-TM4h4 is 40% smaller than that on lower TDUs3-TM4h4. While for the vertical target elements, the B deposition amount on upper TDUs3-TM3v5 is 35% larger than that on lower TDUs3-TM3v5. Meanwhile, a shift of around 3 cm in B deposition peaks is observed on upper and lower TDUs3-TM4h4 and TDUs3-TM3v5. Results of numerical simulation of carbon deposition/erosion profiles on the target elements using ERO2.0 code and power flux measured by infrared cameras are shown and compared with the above mentioned B profiles.
Production of the artificial 51Cr neutrino source in the BEST project
Authors: Danshin S.N. , Gavrin V.N. , Gorbachev V.V. , Ibragimova T.V. , Komarov B.A. , Kozlova J.P. , Martynov A.A. , Veretenkin E.P. , Akimov L.V. , Kupriyanov A.V. , Malkov A.P. , Petelin A.L. , Pimenov V.V. , Romanov E.G. , Sazontov S.A. , Tabakin E.M. , Tarasov V.A. , Torgashov I.V. , Uzikov V.A. , Zvir A.I. , Kalaschnikova A.A.
Published: August 2022

The production of the artificial 51Cr neutrino source
with activity > 3 MCi for the experiment BEST is presented. This
procedure consisted of making a 50Cr target and irradiating it
with thermal neutrons in a nuclear reactor SM-3. The production of a
target in the form of disks with a thickness of 4 mm and a diameter
of 84 and 88 mm included enrichment (to 96.5% in 50Cr) of
natural chromium in the form of oxyfluoride by gas centrifugation,
electrolytic reduction and refining of metallic chromium, as well as
the formation of chromium disks by spark plasma
sintering. Simulations of various source geometries, neutron flux
and nuclear transmutation were carried out to validate the design of
the source, the irradiation device and the transport container, the
required chemical purity of the target and the irradiation schedule
in the reactor. The calculated activity of the source after 75
effective days of irradiation was 3.55 MCi. The activity of the
source was measured by the calorimetric method and amounted to
3.41 MCi at the time of its delivery to the Baksan Neutrino
Observatory. This is the most intense chemically pure neutrino
source ever produced.
Differentiation of equine mesenchymal stem cells into cells of osteochondral lineage: potential for osteochondral tissue engineering
Authors: Cheng Hiu Wa , Chik Tsz Kit , Weir Joe , Chan Barbara Pui
Published: August 2022

Damage to the hyaline cartilage of the joint surface and osteochondral fractures are key factors leading to the development of osteoarthritis in racehorses, representing a significant cause of racehorse retirement. To tissue-engineer an osteochondral unit that is suitable for joint repair, incorporation of a zone of calcified cartilage should be considered so as to mimic its in vivo counterpart. To date, equine mesenchymal stem cells (eMSCs) have been reported to have multilineage differentiation potential. Yet the generation of a zone of calcified cartilage using eMSCs has not been reported. This work is an initial attempt to generate a zone of calcified cartilage using eMSCs as the single source of cells and collagen as the scaffolding material. Main advantages of using eMSCs over equine deep zone chondrocytes for the generation of a zone of calcified cartilage include no donor site morbidity and their ease of expansion in culture. Initially, we fabricated cartilage-like tissues and bone-like tissues in vitro by differentiating eMSCs toward chondrogenic and osteogenic lineages for 21 d, respectively. We then aggregated the cartilage-like and bone-like tissues together with a layer of undifferentiated eMSCs-collagen gel in between to generate a 3-layer osteochondral unit. A zone of calcified cartilage was found between the cartilage-like and bone-like layers after a 14-day culture in chondrogenic differentiation medium. These results provide a solution toward tissue engineering of equine osteochondral units with interfacial zone without using chondrocytes harvested from the deep zone of healthy articular cartilage, and contribute to the future development of osteochondral tissue engineering strategies for human cartilage injuries in the long run.
Incorporating permafrost into climate mitigation and adaptation policy
Authors: Natali Susan M , Bronen Robin , Cochran Patricia , Holdren John P , Rogers Brendan M , Treharne Rachael
Published: August 2022

Permafrost thaw is drastically altering Arctic lands and creating hazardous conditions for its residents, who are being forced to make difficult and urgent decisions about where and how to live to protect themselves and their lifeways from the impacts of climate change. Permafrost thaw also poses a risk to global climate due to the large pool of organic carbon in permafrost, which, when thawed, can release greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere, exacerbating an already rapidly warming climate. Permafrost thaw has significant implications for adaptation and mitigation policy worldwide. However, it remains almost entirely excluded from policy dialogues at the regional, national, and international levels. Here we discuss current gaps and recommendations for increasing the integration of permafrost science into policy, focusing on three core components: reducing scientific uncertainty; targeting scientific outputs to address climate policy needs; and co-developing just and equitable climate adaptation plans to respond to the hazards of permafrost thaw.
A framework to incorporate spatiotemporal variability of rainfall extremes in summer monsoon declaration in India
Authors: Mishra Vimal , Tiwari Amar Deep , Kumar Rohini
Published: August 2022

The Indian summer monsoon rainfall is a lifeline for agricultural activities and the socio-economic development of more than 1 billion people. All-India averaged summer monsoon rainfall has about 10% variability from its long-term mean. A departure of all-India averaged precipitation within ±10% is declared a normal summer monsoon. Using the long-term (1901–2021) gridded rainfall observations, we highlight the limitations in the current approach to the declaration of the normal summer monsoon, which ignores the role of spatiotemporal variability of rainfall. Dry and wet extremes within the same monsoon season can lead to a normal monsoon. Moreover, different parts of the country face drought and wet extremes, while the summer monsoon can be declared normal. Considering the profound implications of dry and wet extremes on agricultural activities, we propose a novel framework to account for the rainfall variability in the declaration of the summer monsoon. The proposed framework accounts for the temporal variability through a combined severity coverage index, while spatial variability using a clustering approach. Based on the existing framework, we find that 84 years were declared normal in the last 121 years (1901–1921). However, 13 years (out of 84) were not normal based on the new framework due to dry and wet extremes occurring at different times and in different regions. The new framework of summer monsoon declaration can account for the occurrence of extremes and their implications for agriculture and water management.
The SAGEX review on scattering amplitudes Chapter 8: Half BPS correlators
Authors: Heslop Paul
Published: August 2022

Half BPS correlators in

N
=
4

super Yang–Mills theory are key quantities both in the AdS/CFT correspondence as well as in scattering amplitudes research. They are dual at strong coupling to quantum gravity amplitudes. At weak coupling on the other hand they contain all

N
=
4

SYM amplitudes. They have been found to possess a number of hidden symmetries, for example non-trivial permutation symmetry of perturbative four-point integrands and a higher dimensional conformal symmetry. Their study has enjoyed continuous progress since the discovery of AdS/CFT and they are now some of the best understood quantities of any four-dimensional quantum field theory. In this review we outline the current knowledge of half BPS correlators, emphasising these two co-existing relations to scattering amplitudes at strong and weak coupling.
Exact time-dependent dynamics of discrete binary choice models
Authors: Holehouse James , Moran José
Published: August 2022

We provide a generic method to find full dynamical solutions to binary decision models with interactions. In these models, agents follow a stochastic evolution where they must choose between two possible choices by taking into account the choices of their peers. We illustrate our method by solving Kirman and Föllmer’s ant recruitment model for any number N of discrete agents and for any choice of parameters, recovering past results found in the limit N → ∞. We then solve extensions of the ant recruitment model for increasing asymmetry between the two choices. Finally, we provide an analytical time-dependent solution to the standard voter model and a semi-analytical solution to the vacillating voter model. Our results show that exact analytical time-dependent solutions can be achieved for discrete choice models without invoking that the number of agents N are continuous or that both choices are symmetric, and additionally show how to practically use the analytics for fast evaluation of the resulting probability distributions.
Self-Bäcklund curves in centroaffine geometry and Lamé’s equation
Authors: Bialy Misha , Bor Gil , Tabachnikov Serge
Published: August 2022

Twenty five years ago U. Pinkall discovered that the Korteweg-de Vries equation can be realized as an evolution of curves in centroaffine geometry. Since then, a number of authors interpreted various properties of KdV and its generalizations in terms of centroaffine geometry. In particular, the Bäcklund transformation of the Korteweg-de Vries equation can be viewed as a relation between centroaffine curves.

Our paper concerns self-Bäcklund centroaffine curves. We describe general properties of these curves and provide a detailed description of them in terms of elliptic functions. Our work is a centroaffine counterpart to the study done by F. Wegner of a similar problem in Euclidean geometry, related to Ulam’s problem of describing the (2-dimensional) bodies that float in equilibrium in all positions and to bicycle kinematics.

We also consider a discretization of the problem where curves are replaced by polygons. This is related to discretization of KdV and the cross-ratio dynamics on ideal polygons.
Problems on the loss of heat: herd instinct versus individual feelings
Authors: Solynin A.
Published: August 2022

Several problems are discussed concerning steady-state distribution of heat in domains in

R

3

\mathbb {R}^3

that are complementary to a finite number of balls. The study of these problems was initiated by M. L. Glasser in 1977. Then, in 1978, M. L. Glasser and S. G. Davison presented numerical evidence that the heat flux from two equal balls in

R

3

\mathbb {R}^3

decreases when the balls move closer to each other. Those authors interpreted this result in terms of the behavioral habits of sleeping armadillos, the closer animals to each other, the less heat they lose. Much later, in 2003, A. Eremenko proved this monotonicity property rigorously and suggested new questions on the heat fluxes.

The goal of this paper is to survey recent developments in this area, provide answers to some open questions, and draw attention to several challenging open problems concerning heat fluxes from configurations consisting of

n
≥
2

n\ge 2

balls in

R

3

\mathbb {R}^3

.
Limit behavior of Weyl coefficients
Authors: Pruckner R. , Woracek H.
Published: August 2022

The sets of radial or nontangential limit points towards

i
∞

i\infty

of a Nevanlinna function

q
q

are studied. Given a nonempty, closed, and connected subset

L

{\mathcal {L}}

of

C

+

¯

\overline {{\mathbb {C}}_+}

, a Hamiltonian

H
H

is constructed explicitly such that the radial and outer angular cluster sets towards

i
∞

i\infty

of the Weyl coefficient

q
H

q_H

are both equal to

L

{\mathcal {L}}

. The method is based on a study of the continuous group action of rescaling operators on the set of all Hamiltonians.
The absence of eigenvalues for certain operators with partially periodic coefficients
Authors: Filonov N.
Published: August 2022

The absence of eigenvalues is proved for the Schrödinger operator−Δ+V(x,y)-\Delta + V(x,y)in the Euclidean space whose potential is periodic in some variables and decays in the remaining variables faster than power11. A similar result for the Maxwell operator is established.
Health Professionals’ Perceptions of Disparities in Hypertension Control: A Mixed Methods Study
Authors: Brewster Lizzy M , Tong Jingyu , Yan Lijing L , Moe Jeffrey , Harris Vanessa C , van Montfrans Gert A
Published: August 2022

BACKGROUND

Health professionals’ commitment is needed to address disparities in hypertension control by ancestry, but their perceptions regarding these disparities are understudied.

METHODS

Cross-sectional mixed methods study in a universal healthcare setting in the Netherlands. Snowball sampling was used to include professionals practicing in a large multicity conglomerate including the capital city. Online surveys were collected, and survey participants were randomly selected for in-depth interviews. We used quantitative and qualitative methods to analyze health professionals’ awareness, beliefs, and possible interventions regarding these disparities.

RESULTS

We analyzed questionnaire data of 77 health professionals (medical doctors n = 70, nurses = 7), whereas 13 were interviewed. Most professionals were women (59%), general practitioners (81%); and White-European (77%), with 79% caring for patients of diverse ancestry. Disparities in hypertension control by ancestry were perceived to exist nationally (83% [95% CI, 75;91]), but less so in health professionals’ own clinics (62% [52;73]), or among their own patients (56% [45;67]). Survey respondents emphasized patient rather than provider-level factors as mediators of poor hypertension control by ancestry. The collection of data on patients’ ancestry, updating guidelines, and professional training were considered helpful to reduce disparities. Interviewees further emphasized patient-level factors, but also the need to better educate health professionals and increase their awareness.

CONCLUSIONS

This explorative study finds that health professionals predominantly attribute disparities in hypertension control to patient-level factors. Awareness of disparities was lower for more proximate healthcare settings. These data emphasize the need to consider health professionals’ perceptions when addressing disparities in hypertension control.
Twenty-Four-Hour Central Hemodynamic Load in Adults With and Without a History of COVID-19
Authors: Heckel Andrew R , Arcidiacono Danielle M , Coonan Kailee A , Glasgow Alaina C , DeBlois Jacob P , Gump Brooks B , Kim Joon Young , Heffernan Kevin S
Published: August 2022

BACKGROUND

Although hypertension is a risk factor for severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) illness, little is known about the effects of COVID-19 on blood pressure (BP). Central BP measures taken over a 24-hour period using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) adds prognostic value in assessing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk compared with brachial BP measures from a single time point. We assessed CVD risk between adults with and without a history of COVID-19 via appraisal of 24-hour brachial and central hemodynamic load from ABPM.

METHODS

Cross-sectional analysis was performed on 32 adults who tested positive for COVID-19 (29 ± 13 years, 22 females) and 43 controls (28 ± 12 years, 26 females). Measures of 24-hour hemodynamic load included brachial and central systolic and diastolic BP, pulse pressure, augmentation index (AIx), pulse wave velocity (PWV), nocturnal BP dipping, the ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI), and the blood pressure variability ratio (BPVR).

RESULTS

Participants who tested positive for COVID-19 experienced 6 ± 4 COVID-19 symptoms, were studied 122 ± 123 days after testing positive, and had mild-to-moderate COVID-19 illness. The results from independent samples t-tests showed no significant differences in 24-hour, daytime, or nighttime measures of central or peripheral hemodynamic load across those with and without a history of COVID-19 (P > 0.05 for all).

CONCLUSIONS

No differences in 24-hour brachial or central ABPM measures were detected between adults recovering from mild-to-moderate COVID-19 and controls without a history of COVID-19. Adults recovering from mild-to-moderate COVID-19 do not have increased 24-hour central hemodynamic load.
NASMDR: a framework for miRNA-drug resistance prediction using efficient neural architecture search and graph isomorphism networks
Authors: Zheng Kai , Zhao Haochen , Zhao Qichang , Wang Bin , Gao Xin , Wang Jianxin
Published: August 2022

As a frontier field of individualized therapy, microRNA (miRNA) pharmacogenomics facilitates the understanding of different individual responses to certain drugs and provides a reasonable reference for clinical treatment. However, the known drug resistance-associated miRNAs are not yet sufficient to support precision medicine. Although existing methods are effective, they all focus on modelling miRNA-drug resistance interaction graphs, making their performance bounded by the interaction density. In this study, we propose a framework for miRNA-drug resistance prediction through efficient neural architecture search and graph isomorphism networks (NASMDR). NASMDR uses attribute information instead of the commonly used interactive graph information. In the cross-validation experiment, the proposed framework can achieve an AUC of 0.9468 on the ncDR dataset, which is 2.29% higher than the state-of-the-art method. In addition, we propose a novel sequence characterization approach, k-mer Sparse Nonnegative Matrix Factorization (KSNMF). The results show that NASMDR provides novel insights for integrating efficient neural architecture search and graph isomorphic networks into a unified framework to predict drug resistance-related miRNAs. The codes for NASMDR are available at https://github.com/kaizheng-academic/NASMDR.
The famous Linnean Society meeting: from old errors to new insights
Authors: Partridge Derek
Published: August 2022

A meeting of the Linnean Society of London held on the evening of 1 July 1858 is famous for being the occasion of the first public announcement of Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. This declaration was completed by publication of On the Origin of Species in the following year. The present analysis rebuffs this interpretation, in that the material read and subsequently published did not promote a theory of evolution, let alone the Origin theory. It did promote natural selection, a theory of organic change; however, a theory of evolution requires, in addition, a theory of how both the organic and physical components of the world behave and interact (i.e. a world-view theory). A first announcement of a theory of evolution also requires some promotion of the likelihood that new species will result. The Origin world view and species transmutation as an outcome are both largely absent from the contributions. Hence, Bell’s much maligned Presidential address might need re-assessment. Curiously, the published title almost denies species transmutation. The present paper undertakes detailed inspection of this meeting; it supports a re-assessment of its customary interpretation in the history of biological science.
Surgical controversies and current concepts in Lisfranc injuries
Authors: Ahluwalia Raju , Yip Grace , Richter Martinus , Maffulli Nicola
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Lisfranc injuries, not as rare as previously reported, range from ligamentous to complex fracture-dislocations. Anatomical studies have identified a complex of discrete structures, and defined the anatomical characteristics of the Lisfranc joint.

Sources of data

A narrative evidence-based review encompassed and analyzed published systematic reviews. Outcomes included clinical and surgical decision-making, including clinical-presentation, diagnosis, pathological-assessment, surgical-management techniques and indications, post-surgical care and comparative outcomes.

Areas of agreement

Better understanding of the Lisfranc complex anatomy aids surgical treatment and tactics. Prognosis is related to injury severity, estimated by the number of foot columns affected. Surgical outcome is determined by anatomical reduction for most fixation and fusion techniques. Appropriate treatment allows return to sport, improving outcome scores.

Areas of controversy

Identification of Lisfranc injuries may be improved by imaging modalities such as weight-bearing computer tomography. Recent evidence supports dorsal plate fixation as a result of better quality of reduction. In complex injuries, the use of combined techniques such as trans-articular screw and plate fixation has been associated with poorer outcomes, and fusion may instead offer greater benefits.

Growing points

Open reduction is mandatory if closed reduction fails, highlighting the importance of understanding surgical anatomy. If anatomical reduction is achieved, acute arthrodesis is a safe alternative to open reduction internal fixation in selected patients, as demonstrated by comparable outcomes in subgroup analysis.

Areas for developing research

The current controversies in surgical treatment remain around techniques and outcomes, as randomized controlled trials are infrequent.
Identifying platelet-derived factors as amplifiers ofB. burgdorferi-induced cytokine production
Authors: Kerstholt Mariska , van de Schoor Freek R , Oosting Marije , Moorlag Simone J C F M , Li Yang , Jaeger Martin , van der Heijden Wouter A , Tunjungputri Rahajeng N , dos Santos Jéssica C , Kischkel Brenda , Vrijmoeth Hedwig D , Baarsma M E , Kullberg Bart-Jan , Lupse Mihaela , Hovius Joppe W , van den Wijngaard Cees C , Netea Mihai G , de Mast Quirijn , Joosten Leo A B
Published: August 2022

Previous studies have shown that monocytes can be ‘trained’ or tolerized by certain stimuli to respond stronger or weaker to a secondary stimulation. Rewiring of glucose metabolism was found to be important in inducing this phenotype. As we previously found that Borrelia burgdorferi (B. burgdorferi), the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis (LB), alters glucose metabolism in monocytes, we hypothesized that this may also induce long-term changes in innate immune responses. We found that exposure to B. burgdorferi decreased cytokine production in response to the TLR4-ligand lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In addition, B. burgdorferi exposure decreased baseline levels of glycolysis, as assessed by lactate production. Using GWAS analysis, we identified a gene, microfibril-associated protein 3-like (MFAP3L) as a factor influencing lactate production after B. burgdorferi exposure. Validation experiments proved that MFAP3L affects lactate- and cytokine production following B. burgdorferi stimulation. This is mediated by functions of MFAP3L, which includes activating ERK2 and through activation of platelet degranulation. Moreover, we showed that platelets and platelet-derived factors play important roles in B. burgdorferi-induced cytokine production. Certain platelet-derived factors, such chemokine C-X-C motif ligand 7 (CXCL7) and (C-C motif) ligand 5 (CCL5), were elevated in the circulation of LB patients in comparison to healthy individuals.
Doctor trustworthiness influences pain and its neural correlates in virtual medical interactions
Authors: Anderson Steven R , Gianola Morgan , Medina Natalia A , Perry Jenna M , Wager Tor D , Losin Elizabeth A Reynolds
Published: August 2022

Trust is an important component of the doctor-patient relationship and is associated with improved patient satisfaction and health outcomes. Previously, we reported that patient feelings of trust and similarity toward their clinician predicted reductions in evoked pain in response to painful heat stimulations. In the present study, we investigated the brain mechanisms underlying this effect. We used face stimuli previously developed using a data-driven computational modeling approach that differ in perceived trustworthiness and superimposed them on bodies dressed in doctors' attire. During functional magnetic resonance imaging, participants (n = 42) underwent a series of virtual medical interactions with these doctors during which they received painful heat stimulation as an analogue of a painful diagnostic procedure. Participants reported increased pain when receiving painful heat stimulations from low-trust doctors, which was accompanied by increased activity in pain-related brain regions and a multivariate pain-predictive neuromarker. Findings suggest that patient trust in their doctor may have tangible impacts on pain and point to a potential brain basis for trust-related reductions in pain through the modulation of brain circuitry associated with the sensory-discriminative and affective-motivational dimensions of pain.
Revisiting Proportionality in Investment Arbitration: Theory, Methodology, and Interpretation
Authors: Qian Xu
Published: August 2022

The increasing tensions between a government’s right to regulate and investment protection are fueling the constantly increasing number of international environmental disputes and human rights disputes, in particular with respect to renewable energies, water services, and waste management. As a result, investor-State arbitration is facing greater criticism than ever before because of its potential to contradict international environmental agreements and international human rights agreements. Concerns about State sovereignty are on the rise; particularly the perception that investment tribunals have failed to strike a proper balance between investors’ economic interests and general interests of host States to further their environmental policies and interests. Against this background, this Article investigates the methodological justification for the application of proportionality analysis while discussing potential channels in investment law to crystallize such application which would have deep practical ramifications for the global energy market. At a more conceptual level, this Article proposes an alternative viewpoint in understanding constitutionalization of international investment law and argues proportionality is indispensable discourse in investor-State arbitration.
Survival of Patient With Hemorrhagic Meningitis Associated With Inhalation Anthrax
Authors: Lombarte Espinosa Evelyn , Villuendas Usón María Cruz , Arribas García Jorge , Jado García Isabel , Huarte Lacunza Rafael , Zárate Chug Paola , Claraco Vega Luis Manuel , Jesús Santed Andrés María , Ríos María Jiménez , Cook Rachel , Simard J Marc , Boyer Anne E , Rezusta Antonio
Published: August 2022

This report describes a 49-year-old male construction worker who acquired a Bacillus anthracis infection after working on a sheep farm. He experienced a severe respiratory infection, septic shock, and hemorrhagic meningoencephalitis with severe intracranial hypertension. After several weeks with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, he responded favorably to antibiotic treatment. Three weeks into his hospitalization, an intracranial hemorrhage and cerebral edema led to an abrupt deterioration in his neurological status. A single dose of raxibacumab was added to his antimicrobial regimen on hospital day 27. His overall status, both clinical and radiographic, improved within a few days. He was discharged 2 months after admission and appears to have fully recovered.