bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Activity measurements of the radionuclides 99mTc, 18F and 64Cu for the POLATOM, Poland, in the ongoing comparisons BIPM.RI(II)-K4 series and KCRV update in the corresponding BIPM.RI(II)-K1 comparison
Authors: Michotte C , Dziel T , Listkowska A , Ziemek T , Tymiński Z , Silva I Da
Published: January 2022

Main text

In 2016, comparisons of activity measurements of 99mTc, 18F and 64Cu using the Transfer Instrument of the International Reference System (SIRTI) took place at the National Centre for Nuclear Research, Radioisotope Centre (POLATOM, Poland). Ampoules containing about 33 kBq of 99mTc, 28 kBq of 18F and 110 kBq of 64Cu solutions were measured in the SIRTI for about 3, 5 and 1.5 half-lives, respectively. The POLATOM standardized the activity in the ampoules by 4π(LS)β–γ coincidence measurements. The comparisons, identifiers BIPM.RI(II)-K4.Tc-99m, BIPM.RI(II)-K4.F-18 and BIPM.RI(II)-K4.Cu-64, are linked to the corresponding BIPM.RI(II)-K1.Tc-99m, BIPM.RI(II)-K1.F-18 and BIPM.RI(II)-K1.Cu-64 comparisons. The BIPM.RI(II)-K1 99mTc and 18F key comparison reference values have been updated to include the latest BIPM.RI(II)-K4 linked results and degrees of equivalence for both comparison series have been evaluated.

To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database https://www.bipm.org/kcdb/.

The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCRI, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).
Hawking radiation of scalar particles and fermions from squashed Kaluza–Klein black holes based on a generalized uncertainty principle
Authors: Matsuno Ken
Published: January 2022

We study the Hawking radiation from the five-dimensional charged static squashed Kaluza–Klein black hole by the tunneling of charged scalar particles and charged fermions. In contrast to the previous studies of Hawking radiation from squashed Kaluza–Klein black holes, we consider the phenomenological quantum gravity effects predicted by the generalized uncertainty principle with the minimal measurable length. We derive corrections of the Hawking temperature to general relativity, which are related to the energy of the emitted particle, the size of the compact extra dimension, the charge of the black hole and the existence of the minimal length in the squashed Kaluza–Klein geometry. We obtain some known Hawking temperatures in five and four-dimensional black hole spacetimes by taking limits in the modified temperature. We show that the generalized uncertainty principle may slow down the increase of the Hawking temperature due to the radiation, which may lead to the thermodynamic stable remnant of the order of the Planck mass after the evaporation of the squashed Kaluza–Klein black hole. We also find that the sparsity of the Hawking radiation modified by the generalized uncertainty principle may become infinite when the mass of the squashed Kaluza–Klein black hole approaches its remnant mass.
Carleman estimate for the Navier–Stokes equations and applications
Authors: Imanuvilov Oleg Y , Lorenzi Luca , Yamamoto Masahiro
Published: January 2022

For linearized Navier–Stokes equations, we first derive a Carleman estimate with a regular weight function. Then we apply it to establish conditional stability for the lateral Cauchy problem and finally we prove conditional stability estimates for the inverse source problem of determining a spatially varying divergence-free factor of a source term.
Part II. Nanobubbles around plasmonic nanoparticles in terms of modern simulation modeling: what makes them kill the malignant cells?
Authors: Kostyukov A S , Isaev I L , Ershov A E , Gerasimov V S , Polyutov S P , Karpov S V
Published: January 2022

We have established numerically the physical pattern and conditions for formation of nanosized bubbles in aqueous medium around biocompatible plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) selectively bound to the membrane of the malignant cells by means of DNA-aptamers under the action of picosecond laser radiation. The results obtained are based on the finite volume method and hydrodynamic models underlying the ANSYS Fluent package with extended capabilities. We have found the main features and previously unknown dominant factors of the damage effect on the cell membrane at the moment of the bubble nucleation around the plasmonic NPs of different types taking into account the influence of the closely located membrane. Information on the kinetics of spatial distribution of pressure, temperature and the relative proportion of vapor in the ‘nanoparticle-membrane-medium’ system have been obtained. The attention is drawn to the advantages of using biocompatible, perfectly absorbing core–shell plasmonic NPs for anti-tumor therapy characterized by an increased mechanical effect on malignant cell membranes at lower laser radiation intensity and the spectral position of their plasmon resonance (λ = 700 nm) in the hemoglobin transparency range. This ensures penetration of laser radiation deep into tissues. The paper is provided with an extensive review of key publications and the state-of-art in this area.
Antitumor abscopal effects in mice induced by normal tissue irradiation using pulsed streamer discharge plasma
Authors: Jinno Reima , Komuro Atsushi , Yanai Hideyuki , Ono Ryo
Published: January 2022

An antitumor abscopal effect is occasionally observed in radiotherapy and plasma treatment. It is a remote antitumor effect induced by tumor irradiation that delays the growth of other distant, nonirradiated tumors. In this study, it was demonstrated that the plasma irradiation of normal tissues (not tumors) also leads to an abscopal effect. When a pulsed streamer discharge was irradiated to the left flanks of mice where no tumor existed, the growth of murine colorectal carcinoma CT26 tumors in their right limbs was delayed. This abscopal effect was significant for mice with small tumors before plasma irradiation, whereas it was not significant for those with large tumors before plasma irradiation. The abscopal effect induced by normal tissue irradiation was compared to the antitumor effect induced by direct tumor irradiation. Contrary to our expectation, normal tissue irradiation delayed the tumor growth equally or more than the direct tumor irradiation under the present experimental conditions.
Colloidal model of two-step protocol for epitaxial growth in one dimension
Authors: Camargo Manuel , González Diego Luis
Published: January 2022

We explore the application of a two-step growth protocol to a one-dimensional colloidal model. The evolution of the system is described in terms of the time-dependence of both monomer and island densities, N
1 and N, while its structure is characterized by using distributions of the gap length, the capture zone, the inter-island distance, and the island length. Analytical results obtained from rate equations are compared with these from molecular dynamics simulations. Since the two-step growth protocol deals with nucleation and aggregation processes in two completely separated time regimes, it makes possible to gain better understanding and control on the island formation mechanism than the standard one-step protocol. The predicted features and advantages of the two-step process could be experimentally tested using deposition of colloidal spheres on pattern substrates.
Coupling error model for the contact probe of a three-dimensional screw thread-measuring machine
Authors: Yu Jing , Yang Yan-ling , Cai Jin-hui , Li Dong-sheng
Published: January 2022

Coupling error is an important factor that affects the measurement accuracy of the contact scanning probe of a three-dimensional thread-measuring machine. To address this issue, this paper proposes a coupling error model for contact scanning probes. First, the mechanical structure of the contact scanning probe was introduced, and the main source of its coupling error was analyzed. Second, material mechanics was used to conduct a geometry–force analysis on the guiding mechanism of the probe, thereby establishing a coupling error model. Finally, the experiments were carried out to verify the accuracy of the coupling error model. From the experimental verification, the movement of the measuring head by 10 μm increased the deviation of the probe displacement by 2 μm, indicating the probe deflection. Moreover, the calculated probe deflection angle was consistent with the theoretical value, validating the proposed coupling error model. This method provides an important theoretical basis for the decoupling of measuring probe, thereby improving the accuracy of the probe guiding mechanism.
In free fall–the answer
Authors: Featonby David , Oliveira Rute
Published: January 2022

In the last issue we asked some questions on free fall. Here are the answers.
Measuring Young’s modulus with a tensile tester
Authors: Williams Hollis
Published: January 2022

We use a tensile testing machine to create stress-strain plots and determine Young’s modulus for some ductile and plastic materials. Supplementary videos are also provided.
Thermoplastic 3D printing technology using a single filament for producing realistic patient-derived breast models
Authors: Dukov Nikolay , Bliznakova Kristina , Okkalidis Nikiforos , Teneva Tsvetelina , Encheva Elitsa , Bliznakov Zhivko
Published: January 2022

Objective. This work describes an approach for producing physical anthropomorphic breast phantoms from clinical patient data using three-dimensional (3D) fused-deposition modelling (FDM) printing. Approach. The source of the anthropomorphic model was a clinical Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) patient image set, which was segmented slice by slice into adipose and glandular tissues, skin and tumour formations; thus obtaining a four component computational breast model. The segmented tissues were mapped to specific Hounsfield Units (HU) values, which were derived from clinical breast Computed Tomography (CT) data. The obtained computational model was used as a template for producing a physical anthropomorphic breast phantom using 3D printing. FDM technology with only one polylactic acid filament was used. The physical breast phantom was scanned at Siemens SOMATOM Definition CT. Quantitative and qualitative evaluation were carried out to assess the clinical realism of CT slices of the physical breast phantom. Main results. The comparison between selected slices from the computational breast phantom and CT slices of the physical breast phantom shows similar visual x-ray appearance of the four breast tissue structures: adipose, glandular, tumour and skin. The results from the task-based evaluation, which involved three radiologists, showed a high degree of realistic clinical radiological appearance of the modelled breast components. Measured HU values of the printed structures are within the range of HU values used in the computational phantom. Moreover, measured physical parameters of the breast phantom, such as weight and linear dimensions, agreed very well with the corresponding ones of the computational breast model. Significance. The presented approach, based on a single FDM material, was found suitable for manufacturing of a physical breast phantom, which mimics well the 3D spatial distribution of the different breast tissues and their x-ray absorption properties. As such, it could be successfully exploited in advanced x-ray breast imaging research applications.
Equivalent electric circuit model of accurate ion energy control with tailored waveform biasing
Authors: Yu Qihao , Lemmen Erik , Vermulst Bas , Mackus Adriaan J M , (Erwin) Kessels Wilhelmus M M , Wijnands Korneel
Published: January 2022

For atomic scale plasma processing involving precise, (an)isotropic and selective etching and deposition, it is required to precisely control the energy of the plasma ions. Tailored waveforms have been employed to bias the substrate table to accurately control this ion energy. Recent research has shown that switched-mode power converters can be used to generate this kind of waveform, with the benefit of increased energy efficiency and flexibility compared to the traditionally used linear amplifiers. In this article, an improved equivalent electric circuit model of the plasma reactor is proposed to allow simulation and bias waveform optimization. The equivalent electric circuit is analysed for different process phases, including the charge, discharge, and post-discharge phase. The proposed model is suitable for electric circuit simulation and can be used for predicting the electric waveforms and ion energy distributions. Plasma parameters are required as input for the model, thus an empirical parameter identification method based on the electrical measurements of the bias voltage and output current waveforms is introduced. Since these electrical measurements do not interact with the plasma process, the proposed parameter identification method is nonintrusive. Experiments have been carried out, which demonstrate that the proposed model and parameter identification method provide the expected accuracy.
Influence of chain-like cobalt particles on the properties of magnetorheological elastomers
Authors: Tong Yu , Dong Xufeng , Qi Min , Wu Zhanjun
Published: January 2022

The different pre-structure formed by the particles determine the performance of magnetorheological elastomers (MREs). In this study, spherical cobalt particles with a diameter of 2–5 μm and chain-like cobalt particles (CCPs) composed of spherical particles with a diameter of about 1 μm with a chain length of 10–40 μm were respectively prepared. These two kinds of particles were used to prepared MREs under different orientation magnetic fields. The effects of different chain-like microstructures on the performance of MRE are compared. The dynamic viscoelastic test results of MREs show that the chain-like particles increased the movement resistance in the matrix, thereby increasing the damping factor of CCP-MREs. The special chain-like particles improved the Payne effect factor and magnetic field-induced storage modulus of isotropic CCP-MRE. It is worth noting that the performance of anisotropic CCP-MRE is different from traditionally believed performance improvement. Based on this work, a relationship curve between the MR effect and the adjacent particles’ distance was proposed.
Universal order-parameter and quantum phase transition for two-dimensional q-state quantum Potts model
Authors: Dai Yan-Wei , Li Sheng-Hao , Chen Xi-Hao
Published: January 2022

We investigate quantum phase transitions for q-state quantum Potts models (q = 2,3,4) on a square lattice and for the Ising model on a honeycomb lattice by using the infinite projected entangled-pair state algorithm with a simplified updating scheme. We extend the universal order parameter to a two-dimensional lattice system, which allows us to explore quantum phase transitions with symmetry-broken order for any translation-invariant quantum lattice system of the symmetry group G. The universal order parameter is zero in the symmetric phase, and it ranges from zero to unity in the symmetry-broken phase. The ground-state fidelity per lattice site is computed, and a pinch point is identified on the fidelity surface near the critical point. The results offer another example highlighting the connection between (i) critical points for a quantum many-body system undergoing a quantum phase-transition and (ii) pinch points on a fidelity surface. In addition, we discuss three quantum coherence measures: the quantum Jensen–Shannon divergence, the relative entropy of coherence, and the l1
norm of coherence, which are singular at the critical point, thereby identifying quantum phase transitions.
Quantum speed limit of the double quantum dot in pure dephasing environment under measurement
Authors: Lin Zhenyu , Liu Tian , Li Zongliang , Zhang Yanhui , Lan Kang
Published: January 2022

The quantum speed limit (QSL) of the double quantum dot (DQD) system has been theoretically investigated by adopting the detection of the quantum point contact (QPC) in the pure dephasing environment. The Mandelstam–Tamm (MT) type of the QSL bound which is based on the trace distance has been extended to the DQD system for calculating the shortest evolving time. The increase of decoherence rate can weaken the capacity for potential speedup (CPS) and delay the evolving process due to the frequently measurement localizing the electron in the DQD system. The system needs longer time to evolve to the target state as the enhancement of dephasing rate, because the strong interaction between pure dephasing environment and the DQD system could vary the oscillation of the electron. Increasing the dephasing rate can sharp the QSL bound, but the decoherence rate would weaken the former effect and vice versa. Moreover, the CPS would be raised by increasing the energy displacement, while the enhancement of the coupling strength between two quantum dots can diminish it. It is interesting that there has an inflection point, when the coupling strength is less than the value of the point, the increasing effect of the CPS from the energy displacement is dominant, otherwise the decreasing tendency of the CPS is determined by the coupling strength and suppress the action of the energy displacement if the coupling strength is greater than the point. Our results provide theoretical reference for studying the QSL time in a semiconductor device affected by numerous factors.
Seawater salinity modeling using bivariate probit regression
Authors: Faisol  , Yulianto Tony , Arsyiah  , Sugiono  , Basuki Achmad , Zainuddin Muhammad Agus
Published: January 2022

Salt is one of the marine resources that is quite a lot needed as a supplementary food for the people of Indonesia. However, efforts to increase salt production have not been in demand, including in efforts to improve its quality, because many factors affect sea salt content or salinity, including the evaporation process, location and size of the sea, wind, air humidity and sea water temperature in this study are expected to produce the best salinity modeling by taking into account the factors that affect salinity. In this study, the method used was probit bivariate. The parameter estimation method used in the bivariate probit is the Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE). After the initial bivariate probit regression model is formed, then testing is carried out to determine the significance of each predictor variable to the response variable. After that the model that is formed identifies the criteria of goodness using the smallest Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) value of -9.03 so that the modeling results are good.
An illustration of mathematical skills: the procept (process-concept) junior high school students in solving mathematical problems
Authors: Prayogo  , Suwarsono St , Khabibah Siti
Published: January 2022

This study is inspired by the result of a previous study which found that student skills in managing mathematical concepts to solve mathematics are very low. Students find difficulties in searching, applying, or choosing the problem-solving procedures. By considering this issue, the researchers aim to discover the process of managing knowledge to find flexible solutions with conceptual basis while understanding the symbols used, both as the process and concept to solve mathematical problems. Procept in this paper is defined as the symbol that expresses process and concept. This study was a qualitative-explorative descriptive research. The research subject was determined by giving mathematics skill test to 42 Junior High School students as the subject, thus, five high-skilled students were acquired, while 22 students fell into the moderate category, and 15 students fell into the low category. The characterization for the illustration of procept skills of each category is formulated. Data collecting was conducted by implementing a task-based interview, and was analysed by applying the qualitative data analysis technique performed through data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. Research results show that in the formation stages of procept (pre-procedure, procedure, multi-procedure, process, procept), subjects with high and moderate skills of mathematics have reached the procept stage, while subjects with low mathematical skills are in the stage between the procedural and multi-procedural.
Improving students’ mathematical intuitive thinking ability using analogy learning model
Authors: Kurniawati L , Farhana I S , Miftah R
Published: January 2022

Analogy learning model is a learning that use analogies, namely comparing concepttarget and concept analog to find related features both of them then make conclusion. The purpose of this research was to know students’ mathematical intuitive thinking ability between students taught with Teaching with analogy model and those taught using a scientific learning. The research was conducted at senior high school in Depok. The method of research used quasi experiment method with posttest-only control group design. The samples are 71 students, they are 37 students in experimental group and 34 students in control group by cluster random sampling technique. Data collection to measure the ability of students’ mathematical intuitive thinking used by test instrument. The result of this research shows that the value of sig.=0,000 less than signification standard 0,05 on hypothesis test. This indicates that the average of students’ mathematical intuitive thinking abilityon teaching sequences and series taught using teaching with analogy model is higher than those taught with scientific learning. This research concludes that learning mathematics using teaching with analogy model has an effect on students’ mathematical intuitive thinking ability.
The usefulness of LabXChange virtual lab and PhyPhox real lab on pendulum student practicum during pandemic
Authors: Nanto D , Agustina R D , Ramadhanti I , Putra R P , Mulhayatiah D
Published: January 2022

Virtual Laboratory (virtual lab) is a series of virtual experiment laboratories that have been designed and programmed to be used by students for practicum, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. The virtual lab is helpful for student to build content knowledge which usually they do in real practicum activities. The virtual lab is arranged systematically. Therefore, the result should be close to the real value. Here we report our study on pendulum whether the virtual lab experiment yield the same result as the real laboratory (real lab). We compare both results of experimental data using data analytics and also graphic analytics. The results from the study, shows that there is no significant difference between virtual lab and real lab. Thus, the virtual laboratory is a comparable pendulum experimental result for students doing a remote practicum in physics.
Fast wave interferometer for ion density measurement on DIII-D
Authors: Akiyama T. , Boivin R.L. , Brookman M.W. , Degrandchamp G.H. , Heidbrink W.W. , Muscatello C.M. , Pinsker R.I. , Thome K.E. , Van Compernolle B. , Van Zeeland M.A.
Published: January 2022

A fast wave interferometer (FWI), which can measure ion mass density, has been developed on DIII-D for its use on future fusion reactors, as well as for the study of ion behavior in current plasma devices. The frequency of the fast waves used for the FWI is around 60 MHz, and require antennas and coaxial cables or waveguides, which, unlike traditional mirror-based optical interferometers, are less susceptible to neutron/gamma-ray radiation and are relatively immune to impurity deposition and erosion as well as alignment issues. The bulk ion density evaluated using FWI show good agreement with that derived from CO2 interferometry within about 15%. When the ion mass density measurement by FWI is combined with an electron density measurement from CO2 interferometry, Z
eff measurements are also enabled and are in agreement with those from visible Bremsstrahlung measurements. Additionally, large-bandwidth FWI measurements clearly resolve 10–100 kHz coherent modes and demonstrate its potential as a core fluctuation diagnostic, sensitive to both magnetic and ion density perturbations.
Prioritizing climate change adaptation needs for hydropower sector in China
Authors: Gu Weiyi , He Wenfeng , Su Hanshi , Liu Beibei
Published: January 2022

Differentiating spatial–temporal hydropower risk triggered by climate change is crucial to climate adaptation and hydropower programming. In this research, we use a fixed-effect model on 5082 plants in China to estimate how the revenue of hydropower plants responded to climate change over 16 years, and project the revenue change and fit the damage function driven by 42 climate realizations. Results show that the revenue change of the hydropower sector demonstrates substantial regional variation and would reduce by 9.34% ± 1.21% (mean ± s.d.) yr−1 on average under RCP 8.5 by 2090s as compared to 2013, about four times larger than that under RCP4.5. Carbon leakage caused by thermal power substitution reaches 467.56 ± 202.63 (112.49 ± 227.45) Mt CO2e under RCP8.5 (RCP4.5). Different climatic conditions manifest locally, and different climate resilience makes the response function regionally heterogeneous. Southwest China is identified as the priority region for adaptation through integrated evaluation of historical climate sensitivity, future climate variability, and regional hydropower importance, informing more adaptation and investment needs of further hydropower development in the area.
Bounds on fluctuations for ensembles of quantum thermal machines
Authors: Gerry Matthew , Kalantar Na’im , Segal Dvira
Published: January 2022

We study universal aspects of fluctuations in an ensemble of noninteracting continuous quantum thermal machines in the steady-state limit, beyond linear response. Considering an individual machine, such as a refrigerator, in which relative fluctuations (and high order cumulants) of the cooling heat current to the absorbed heat current, η
(n), are upper-bounded,

η

(

n

)

⩽

η

C

n

with n ⩾ 2 and η
C the Carnot efficiency, we prove that an ensemble of N distinct machines similarly satisfies this upper bound on the relative fluctuations of the ensemble,

η

N

(

n

)

⩽

η

C

n

. For an ensemble of distinct quantum refrigerators with components operating in the tight-coupling limit we further prove the existence of a lower bound on

η

N

(

n

)

in specific cases, exemplified on three-level quantum absorption refrigerators and resonant-energy thermoelectric junctions. Beyond special cases, the existence of a lower bound on

η

N

(

2

)

for an ensemble of quantum refrigerators is demonstrated by numerical simulations. We further show that the lower bound on

η

N

(

2

)

may, however, be violated for an ensemble of quantum engines.
A case study on manufacturing electronic-embedded garments with stitched surface-mount fabrication
Authors: Islam Molla Md Tahmidul , E Dunne Lucy
Published: January 2022

Electronic-embedded textiles or e-textiles preserve the form factor of typical apparel but have the ability to provide required electrical performance, enabling expanded functionality and comfort to the wearer. However, durable, reliable, and scalable manufacturing of e-textiles has remained one of the major challenges to large-scale development of garment-integrated applications of wearable technology. Moreover, there is a gap in our understanding of the impact of integration of electronics into textiles and challenges involved in manufacturing e-textile garments in mass. In this paper, we present the first manufacturing case study for electronic-embedded garments, to the best of our knowledge. We first developed a sensor-integrated fire-fighter turnout gear coat as an example e-textile product. Next, we performed a pre-production study to investigate the new variables that emerge from the prototyping phase to the production phase. To evaluate the challenges of manufacturing e-textiles in mass as compared to non-electronic garments, we produced 40 pieces each of regular and temperature sensing fire-fighter turnout gear coat liner garments using stitched surface-mount fabrication methods. The study results show that the average manufacturing time and cost to produce a sensor-integrated thermal liner are 3.27 and 3.44 times higher, respectively, than producing a regular thermal liner garment, given that all the materials, labor, and standard sewing methods and machines remain constant. Additionally, we show the impact on requisite worker skills and training and quality assurance methods to produce e-textile garments compared to regular garments. We illustrate high-potential areas where strategic product and production design that leverages existing machines and tools can reduce the impact that embedded technologies have on labor, equipment, and cost. We conclude that the stitched surface-mount manufacturing method could potentially be used as an alternative for manufacturing e-textiles in mass.
Predicting the Impact of Alcohol Taxation Increases on Mortality—A Comparison of Different Estimation Techniques
Authors: Tran Alexander , Jiang Huan , Kim Kawon Victoria , Room Robin , Štelemėkas Mindaugas , Lange Shannon , Rovira Pol , Rehm Jürgen
Published: January 2022

Aims

To examine how standard analytical approaches to model mortality outcomes of alcohol use compare to the true results using the impact of the March 2017 alcohol taxation increase in Lithuania on all-cause mortality as an example.

Methods

Four methodologies were used: two direct methodologies: (a) interrupted time-series on mortality and (b) comparing predictions based on time-series modeling with the real number of deaths for the year following the implementation of the tax increase; and two indirect methodologies: (c) combining a regression-based estimate for the impact of taxation on alcohol consumption with attributable-fraction methodology and (d) using price elasticities from meta-analyses to estimate the impact on alcohol consumption before applying attributable-fraction methodology.

Results and Conclusions

While all methodologies estimated reductions in all-cause mortality, especially for men, there was substantial variability in the level of mortality reductions predicted. The indirect methodologies had lower predictions as the meta-analyses on elasticities and risk relations seem to underestimate the true values for Lithuania. Directly estimated effects of taxation based on the actual mortalities seem to best represent the true reductions in alcohol-attributable mortality. A significant increase in alcohol excise taxation had a marked impact on all-cause mortality in Lithuania.
Toward Clinical Application of Leukocyte Counts Based on Targeted DNA Methylation Analysis
Authors: Sontag Stephanie , Bocova Ledio , Hubens Wouter H G , Nüchtern Selina , Schnitker Matthis , Look Thomas , Schröder Kema M , Plümäkers Birgit , Tharmapalan Vithurithra , Wessiepe Martina , Kraus Thomas , Kramer Jan , Rink Lothar , Koschmieder Steffen , Wagner Wolfgang
Published: January 2022

Background

Differential leukocyte counts are usually measured based on cellular morphology or surface marker expression. It has recently been shown that leukocyte counts can also be determined by cell-type–specific DNA methylation (DNAm). Such epigenetic leukocyte counting is applicable to small blood volumes and even frozen material, but for clinical translation, the method needs to be further refined and validated.

Methods

We further optimized and validated targeted DNAm assays for leukocyte deconvolution using 332 venous and 122 capillary blood samples from healthy donors. In addition, we tested 36 samples from ring trials and venous blood from 266 patients diagnosed with different hematological diseases. Deconvolution of cell types was determined with various models using DNAm values obtained by pyrosequencing or digital droplet PCR (ddPCR).

Results

Relative leukocyte quantification correlated with conventional blood counts for granulocytes, lymphocytes, B cells, T cells (CD4 or CD8), natural killer cells, and monocytes with pyrosequencing (r = 0.84; r = 0.82; r = 0.58; r = 0.50; r = 0.70; r = 0.61; and r = 0.59, respectively) and ddPCR measurements (r = 0.65; r = 0.79; r = 0.56; r = 0.57; r = 0.75; r = 0.49; and r = 0.46, respectively). In some patients, particularly with hematopoietic malignancies, we observed outliers in epigenetic leukocyte counts, which could be discerned if relative proportions of leukocyte subsets did not sum up to 100%. Furthermore, absolute quantification was obtained by spiking blood samples with a reference plasmid of known copy number.

Conclusions

Targeted DNAm analysis by pyrosequencing or ddPCR is a valid alternative to quantify leukocyte subsets, but some assays require further optimization.
ATRI EDC: a novel cloud-native remote data capture system for large multicenter Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias clinical trials
Authors: Jimenez-Maggiora Gustavo A , Bruschi Stefania , Qiu Hongmei , So Jia-Shing , Aisen Paul S
Published: January 2022

Objective

The Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute (ATRI) developed a novel clinical data management system, the ATRI electronic data capture system (ATRI EDC), to address the complex regulatory, operational, and data requirements that arise in the conduct of multicenter Alzheimer’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (AD/ADRDs) clinical trials. We describe the system, its utility, and the broader implications for the field of clinical trials and clinical research informatics.

Materials and Methods

The ATRI EDC system was developed, tested, and validated using community-based agile software development methods and cloud-native single-page application design principles. It offers an increasing number of application modules, supports a high degree of study-specific configuration, and empowers study teams to effectively communicate and collaborate on the accurate and timely completion of study activities.

Results

To date, the ATRI EDC system supports 10 clinical studies, collecting study data for 4596 participants. Three case descriptions further illustrate how the system’s capabilities support diverse study-specific requirements.

Discussion

The ATRI EDC system has several advantages: its modular capabilities can accommodate rapidly evolving research designs and technologies; its community-based agile development approach and community-friendly licensing model encourage collaboration per the principles of open science; finally, with continued development and community building efforts, the system has the potential to facilitate the effective conduct of clinical studies beyond the field of AD/ADRD.

Conclusion

By effectively addressing the requirements of multicenter AD/ADRD studies, the ATRI EDC system supports ATRI’s scientific mission of rigorously testing new AD/ADRD therapies and facilitating the effective conduct of multicenter clinical studies.
Standardized Health data and Research Exchange (SHaRE): promoting a learning health system
Authors: Davis Sierra , Ehwerhemuepha Louis , Feaster William , Hackman Jeffrey , Morizono Hiroki , Kanakasabai Saravanan , Mosa Abu Saleh Mohammad , Parker Jerry , Iwamoto Gary , Patel Nisha , Gasparino Gary , Kane Natalie , Hoffman Mark A
Published: January 2022

Aggregate de-identified data from electronic health records (EHRs) provide a valuable resource for research. The Standardized Health data and Research Exchange (SHaRE) is a diverse group of US healthcare organizations contributing to the Cerner Health Facts (HF) and Cerner Real-World Data (CRWD) initiatives. The 51 facilities at the 7 founding organizations have provided data about more than 4.8 million patients with 63 million encounters to HF and 7.4 million patients and 119 million encounters to CRWD. SHaRE organizations unmask their organization IDs and provide 3-digit zip code (zip3) data to support epidemiology and disparity research. SHaRE enables communication between members, facilitating data validation and collaboration as we demonstrate by comparing imputed EHR module usage to actual usage. Unlike other data sharing initiatives, no additional technology installation is required. SHaRE establishes a foundation for members to engage in discussions that bridge data science research and patient care, promoting the learning health system.
Attention-based spatial–temporal neural network for accurate phase recognition in minimally invasive surgery: feasibility and efficiency verification
Authors: Shi Pan , Zhao Zijian , Liu Kaidi , Li Feng
Published: January 2022

Laparoscopic surgery, as a representative minimally invasive surgery (MIS), is an active research area of clinical practice. Automatic surgical phase recognition of laparoscopic videos is a vital task with the potential to improve surgeons’ efficiency and has gradually become an integral part of computer-assisted intervention systems in MIS. However, the performance of most methods currently employed for surgical phase recognition is deteriorated by optimization difficulties and inefficient computation, which hinders their large-scale practical implementation. This study proposes an efficient and novel surgical phase recognition method using an attention-based spatial–temporal neural network consisting of a spatial model and a temporal model for accurate recognition by end-to-end training. The former subtly incorporates the attention mechanism to enhance the model’s ability to focus on the key regions in video frames and efficiently capture more informative visual features. In the temporal model, we employ independently recurrent long short-term memory (IndyLSTM) and non-local block to extract long-term temporal information of video frames. We evaluated the performance of our method on the publicly available Cholec80 dataset. Our attention-based spatial–temporal neural network purely produces the phase predictions without any post-processing strategies, achieving excellent recognition performance and outperforming other state-of-the-art phase recognition methods.
Polycomb proteins control floral determinacy by H3K27me3-mediated repression of pluripotency genes in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Müller-Xing Ralf , Ardiansyah Rhomi , Xing Qian , Faivre Léa , Tian Jingjing , Wang Guohua , Zheng Yucai , Wang Xue , Jing Tingting , de Leau Erica , Chen Song , Chen Su , Schubert Daniel , Goodrich Justin
Published: January 2022

Polycomb group (PcG) protein-mediated histone methylation (H3K27me3) controls the correct spatiotemporal expression of numerous developmental regulators in Arabidopsis. Epigenetic silencing of the stem cell factor gene WUSCHEL (WUS) in floral meristems (FMs) depends on H3K27me3 deposition by PcG proteins. However, the role of H3K27me3 in silencing of other meristematic regulator and pluripotency genes during FM determinacy has not yet been studied. To this end, we report the genome-wide dynamics of H3K27me3 levels during FM arrest and the consequences of strongly depleted PcG activity on early flower morphogenesis including enlarged and indeterminate FMs. Strong depletion of H3K27me3 levels results in misexpression of the FM identity gene AGL24, which partially causes floral reversion leading to ap1-like flowers and indeterminate FMs ectopically expressing WUS and SHOOT MERISTEMLESS (STM). Loss of STM can rescue supernumerary floral organs and FM indeterminacy in H3K27me3-deficient flowers, indicating that the hyperactivity of the FMs is at least partially a result of ectopic STM expression. Nonetheless, WUS remained essential for the FM activity. Our results demonstrate that PcG proteins promote FM determinacy at multiple levels of the floral gene regulatory network, silencing initially floral regulators such as AGL24 that promotes FM indeterminacy and, subsequently, meristematic pluripotency genes such as WUS and STM during FM arrest.
Ivermectin for COVID-19: Addressing Potential Bias and Medical Fraud
Authors: Hill Andrew , Mirchandani Manya , Pilkington Victoria
Published: January 2022

Ivermectin has become a controversial potential medicine for coronavirus disease 2019. Some early studies suggested clinical benefits in treatment of infection. However, the body of evidence includes studies of varying quality. Furthermore, some trials have now been identified as potentially fraudulent. We present a subgroup meta-analysis to assess the effects of stratifying by trial quality on the overall results. The stratification is based on the Cochrane Risk of Bias measures and raw data analysis where possible. The results suggest that the significant effect of ivermectin on survival was dependent on largely poor-quality studies. According to the potentially fraudulent study (risk ratio [RR], 0.08; 95% CI, 0.02–0.35), ivermectin improved survival ~12 times more in comparison with low-risk studies (RR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.56–1.66). This highlights the need for rigorous quality assessments, for authors to share patient-level data, and for efforts to avoid publication bias for registered studies. These steps are vital to facilitate accurate conclusions on clinical treatments.
Public Health in a Federation: Lessons from the Spanish Influenza in Australia
Authors: Holbrook Carolyn
Published: January 2022

Public health policy has been identified by scholars as a principal means by which the state has expanded its control over human populations. Yet, as the COVID-19 pandemic has shown, public health responses do not necessarily reinforce the authority and prestige of the state, even while governments employ strict measures such as lockdowns and border closures. This article examines arguments about the nation-making effects of public health measures through an examination of the Spanish influenza outbreak in the recently federated Australian nation during 1919. It examines the effort of the central government to co-ordinate quarantine and other public health measures in the face of serious tensions within the Australian federation. In doing so, the article suggests a need to think more subtly about the role of ‘bio-political’ events such as public health crises in consolidating state control and fostering exclusionary forms of nationalism. These lessons apply particularly to federal nation-states.
Justice beliefs and cultural values predict support for COVID-19 vaccination and quarantine behavioral mandates: a multilevel cross-national study
Authors: Lucas Todd , Manning Mark , Strelan Peter , Kopetz Catalina , Agostini Maximilian , Bélanger Jocelyn J , Gützkow Ben , Kreienkamp Jannis , Leander N Pontus ,   PsyCorona Collaboration
Published: January 2022

Understanding how individual beliefs and societal values influence support for measures to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission is vital to developing and implementing effective prevention policies. Using both Just World Theory and Cultural Dimensions Theory, the present study considered how individual-level justice beliefs and country-level social values predict support for vaccination and quarantine policy mandates to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Data from an international survey of adults from 46 countries (N = 6424) were used to evaluate how individual-level beliefs about justice for self and others, as well as national values—that is, power distance, individualism, masculinity, uncertainty avoidance, long-term orientation, and indulgence—influence support for vaccination and quarantine behavioral mandates. Multilevel modeling revealed that support for vaccination and quarantine mandates were positively associated with individual-level beliefs about justice for self, and negatively associated with country-level uncertainty avoidance. Significant cross-level interactions revealed that beliefs about justice for self were associated more strongly with support for mandatory vaccination in countries high in individualism, whereas beliefs about justice for others were more strongly associated with support for vaccination and quarantine mandates in countries high in long-term orientation. Beliefs about justice and cultural values can independently and also interactively influence support for evidence-based practices to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission, such as vaccination and quarantine. Understanding these multilevel influences may inform efforts to develop and implement effective prevention policies in varied national contexts.
Population Genetic Analyses ofPhytophthora cinnamomiReveals Three Lineages and Movement Between Natural Vegetation and Avocado Orchards in South Africa
Authors: Engelbrecht Juanita , Duong Tuan A. , Paap Trudy , Hubert Joseph M. , Hanneman Juanita J. , van den Berg Noëlani
Published: January 2022

Phytophthora cinnamomi is the causal agent of root rot, canker, and dieback of thousands of plant species around the globe. This oomycete not only causes severe economic losses to forestry and agricultural industries, but also threatens the health of various plants in natural ecosystems. In this study, 380 isolates of P. cinnamomi from four avocado production areas and two regions of natural vegetation in South Africa were investigated using 15 microsatellite markers. These populations were found to have a low level of genetic diversity and consisted of isolates from three lineages. Shared genotypes were detected between isolates from avocado orchards and natural vegetation, indicating the movement of isolates between these areas. The population from the Western Cape natural vegetation had the highest level of genotypic diversity and number of unique alleles, indicating this could be the point of introduction of P. cinnamomi to South Africa. Index of association analysis suggested that five of six populations were under linkage disequilibrium, suggesting a clonal mode of reproduction, whereas genotypes sampled from a recently established avocado orchard in the Western Cape were derived from a randomly recombining population. This study provided novel insights on the genetic diversity and spread of P. cinnamomi in South Africa. It also reported on the predominance of triploidy in natural occurring populations and provided evidence for recombination of P. cinnamomi for the first time. The presence of two dominant genotypes in all avocado production areas in South Africa highlight the importance of considering them in disease management and resistance breeding programs.
Generation of intense dissipation in high Reynolds number turbulence
Authors: Buaria Dhawal , Pumir Alain , Bodenschatz Eberhard
Published: January 2022

Intense fluctuations of energy dissipation rate in turbulent flows result from the self-amplification of strain rate via a quadratic nonlinearity, with contributions from vorticity (via the vortex stretching mechanism) and pressure-Hessian—which are analysed here using direct numerical simulations of isotropic turbulence on up to

12
 

288
3

grid points, and Taylor-scale Reynolds numbers in the range 140–1300. We extract the statistics involved in amplification of strain and condition them on the magnitude of strain. We find that strain is self-amplified by the quadratic nonlinearity, and depleted via vortex stretching, whereas pressure-Hessian acts to redistribute strain fluctuations towards the mean-field and hence depletes intense strain. Analysing the intense fluctuations of strain in terms of its eigenvalues reveals that the net amplification is solely produced by the third eigenvalue, resulting in strong compressive action. By contrast, the self-amplification acts to deplete the other two eigenvalues, whereas vortex stretching acts to amplify them, with both effects cancelling each other almost perfectly. The effect of the pressure-Hessian for each eigenvalue is qualitatively similar to that of vortex stretching, but significantly weaker in magnitude. Our results conform with the familiar notion that intense strain is organized in sheet-like structures, which are in the vicinity of, but never overlap with tube-like regions of intense vorticity due to fundamental differences in their amplifying mechanisms.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Scaling the turbulence edifice (part 1)’.
Weak stability and closure in turbulence
Authors: De Lellis C. , Székelyhidi L.
Published: January 2022

We survey recent results in the mathematical literature on the equations of incompressible fluid dynamics, highlighting common themes and how they might contribute to the understanding of some phenomena in the theory of fully developed turbulence.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Scaling the turbulence edifice (part 1)’.