bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Multifrequency Brain Network-Based Deep Learning Framework for Motor Imagery Decoding
Authors: Xue Juntao , Ren Feiyue , Sun Xinlin , Yin Miaomiao , Wu Jialing , Ma Chao , Gao Zhongke
Published: January 2021

Motor imagery (MI) is an important part of brain-computer interface (BCI) research, which could decode the subject’s intention and help remodel the neural system of stroke patients. Therefore, accurate decoding of electroencephalography- (EEG-) based motion imagination has received a lot of attention, especially in the research of rehabilitation training. We propose a novel multifrequency brain network-based deep learning framework for motor imagery decoding. Firstly, a multifrequency brain network is constructed from the multichannel MI-related EEG signals, and each layer corresponds to a specific brain frequency band. The structure of the multifrequency brain network matches the activity profile of the brain properly, which combines the information of channel and multifrequency. The filter bank common spatial pattern (FBCSP) algorithm filters the MI-based EEG signals in the spatial domain to extract features. Further, a multilayer convolutional network model is designed to distinguish different MI tasks accurately, which allows extracting and exploiting the topology in the multifrequency brain network. We use the public BCI competition IV dataset 2a and the public BCI competition III dataset IIIa to evaluate our framework and get state-of-the-art results in the first dataset, i.e., the average accuracy is 83.83% and the value of kappa is 0.784 for the BCI competition IV dataset 2a, and the accuracy is 89.45% and the value of kappa is 0.859 for the BCI competition III dataset IIIa. All these results demonstrate that our framework can classify different MI tasks from multichannel EEG signals effectively and show great potential in the study of remodelling the neural system of stroke patients.
Toward Enhancing the Energy Efficiency and Minimizing the SLA Violations in Cloud Data Centers
Authors: Elsedimy E. I. , Algarni Fahad
Published: January 2021

Recently, the problem of Virtual Machine Placement (VMP) has received enormous attention from the research community due to its direct effect on the energy efficiency, resource utilization, and performance of the cloud data center. VMP is considered as a multidimensional bin packing problem, which is a type of NP-hard problem. The challenge in VMP is how to optimally place multiple independent virtual machines into a few physical servers to maximize a cloud provider’s revenue while meeting the Service Level Agreements (SLAs). In this paper, an effective multiobjective algorithm based on Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) technique for the VMP problem, referred to as VMPMOPSO, is proposed. The proposed VMPMOPSO utilizes the crowding entropy method to optimize the VMP and to improve the diversity among the obtained solutions as well as accelerate the convergence speed toward the optimal solution. VMPMOPSO was compared with a simple single-objective algorithm, called First-Fit-Decreasing (FFD), and two multiobjective ant colony and genetic algorithms. Two simulation experiments were conducted to verify the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed VMPMOPSO. The first experiment shows that the proposed algorithm has better performance than the algorithms we compared it to in terms of power consumption, SLA violation, and resource wastage. The second indicates that the Pareto optimal solutions obtained by applying VMPMOPSO have a good distribution and a better convergence than the comparative algorithms.
Expectation‐Maximization Algorithm of Gaussian Mixture Model for Vehicle‐Commodity Matching in Logistics Supply Chain
Authors: Sun Qi , Jiang Liwen , Xu Haitao
Published: January 2021

A vehicle‐commodity matching problem (VCMP) is presented for service providers to reduce the cost of the logistics system. The vehicle classification model is built as a Gaussian mixture model (GMM), and the expectation‐maximization (EM) algorithm is designed to solve the parameter estimation of GMM. A nonlinear mixed‐integer programming model is constructed to minimize the total cost of VCMP. The matching process between vehicle and commodity is realized by GMM‐EM, as a preprocessing of the solution. The design of the vehicle‐commodity matching platform for VCMP is designed to reduce and eliminate the information asymmetry between supply and demand so that the order allocation can work at the right time and the right place and use the optimal solution of vehicle‐commodity matching. Furthermore, the numerical experiment of an e‐commerce supply chain proves that a hybrid evolutionary algorithm (HEA) is superior to the traditional method, which provides a decision‐making reference for e‐commerce VCMP.
Mycosis Fungoides with Dermal Mucin Deposition: An Unusual Variant of the Most Challenging Primary Cutaneous Lymphoma
Authors: Filosa Alessandra , Simonetti Stefano , Zanelli Magda , Zizzo Maurizio , Stingeni Luca , Martino Giovanni , Collina Guido , Ascani Stefano
Published: January 2021

Mycosis fungoides (MF) is defined as an epidermotropic primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma composed of small-to-medium-sized T lymphocytes with cerebriform nuclei and with a T-helper phenotype. LeBoit first described an unusual variant of MF with dermal acid mucin deposition. Such a variant was still considered in the list of clinicopathological variants of MF by Cerroni and colleagues. We herein report a case of patch-stage MF with abundant papillary dermal mucin deposition in a clinical setting of an erythematous patch on the lower abdomen and thigh.
Metastasis-Directed Radiotherapy for Oligoprogressive Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Recurrence Revealed by Choline PET/CT
Authors: Kitajima Kazuhiro , Yamamoto Shingo , Fujiwara Masayuki , Suzuki Hitomi , Yoshimura Nahomi , Kunimoto Ryo , Yokoyama Hiroyuki , Komoto Hisashi , Yamada Yusuke , Nagasawa Seiji , Kanematsu Akihiro , Oh Ryoong-Jin , Yamakado Koichiro
Published: January 2021

We report a 49-year-old male with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) with oligometastasis diagnosed by 11C-choline positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT) and treated with target radiotherapy. In the diagnosis of CRPC (serum prostate-specific antigen [PSA] level of 6.53 ng/mL after maximum androgen blockade (MAB) therapy, high-dose brachytherapy, and external beam radiotherapy), 11C-choline PET/CT detected one tiny obturator lymph node metastasis which fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT could not detect. He underwent intensity-modulated radiation therapy and MAB was restarted. The PSA value decreased and reached nadir (0.091 ng/mL) after 6 months. The time to PSA progression was 10 months. The choline PET/CT finding and the corresponding local treatment could play an important role in the management sequence of oligoprogressive CRPC.
Tumor pulmonar acompañado de infarto agudo de miocardio y embolismo arterial en las extremidades inferiores
Authors: Liu Jichun , Chen Hao , Xie Xiangrong , Yang Yuwen , Shengxing Tang
Published: January 2021

Antecedentes: La embolización de un tumor pulmonar que conduzca a un infarto agudo de miocardio (IAM) es poco frecuente. Se han reportado casos previos de embolización de un tumor pulmonar en la arteria coronaria. En este trabajo describimos un caso de embolización de tumor pulmonar que causó la ocurrencia simultánea de IAM y embolismo arterial en las extremidades inferiores. Presentación del caso: Un paciente de 64 años ingresó en el departamento de emergencias refiriendo dolor en el tórax, y se le diagnóstico IAM. Una ecocardiografía mostró una masa en la aurícula izquierda, y se especuló que sería un mixoma. Una angiografía coronaria de emergencia no mostró evidencia de aterosclerosis. Al segundo día de su ingreso, se diagnosticó embolismo arterial en las extremidades inferiores. Inicialmente, especulamos que el mixoma de la aurícula izquierda había causado un embolismo, que condujo al IAM y el embolismo arterial en las extremidades inferiores. Sin embargo, la causa real de ambas condiciones resultó ser un tumor pulmonar. Desgraciadamente, el paciente abandonó el tratamiento cuando supo de su enfermedad y muró tres días después del alta hospitalaria. Conclusiones: El embolismo de un tumor pulmonar es una causa extremadamente rara de IAM. Aún más raro es el caso aquí presentado, en el que el embolismo de un tumor pulmonar causó IAM y embolismo arterial en las extremidades inferiores. Los profesionales clínicos deben reconocer el embolismo de tumor pulmonar como una causa potencial de IAM.
Rola bola: dispositivo que produz guetos culturais
Authors: Spolaor Gabriel da Costa , Nunes Mario Luiz Ferrari
Published: January 2021

Dentre as diversas práticas pedagógicas produzidas no currículo da Educação Física escolar, investigamos a popularmente denominada rola bola. Inferimos seus efeitos em uma turma de 2º ano do Ensino Médio de uma escola da rede estadual de São Paulo. Por meio de uma etnografia, realizamos observações sistematizadas, registradas em diário de campo para a produção de dados. Para a interpretação dos resultados, tomamos as noções de identidade e diferença produzidas no campo dos Estudos Culturais, em sua vertente pós-estruturalista. Notamos a presença de guetos culturais instituídos no transcorrer das aulas, nos quais se evidenciam fronteiras simbólicas que delimitam formas de pertencimento dos sujeitos, bem como as condições de possibilidades de negociações promovidas pelas relações e práticas sociais que emanam no interior das aulas.
Limitações e possibilidades institucionais: a formação inicial em Educação Física - Licenciatura
Authors: Bisconsini Camila Rinaldi , Pizani Juliana , Oliveira Amauri Aparecido Bássoli de
Published: January 2021

O objetivo foi verifi car quais limitações enfrentam professores e acadêmicos de um curso de licenciatura em educação física para aproximar universidade e escola ao longo da formação inicial, bem como as possibilidades para integrar estas instituições e contribuir para a imersão dos futuros professores naeducação básica. É uma pesquisa qualitativa e descritiva que se deu a partir do estudo de caso em uma universidade pública do estado do Paraná, com 18 docentes e 41 egressos da licenciatura em educação física. Todos participaram de uma entrevista semiestruturada, cujo conteúdo foi investigado por meio da análise de conteúdo com suporte do software NVivo 10. A perspectiva apresentada revela que as barreiras institucionais, para qualifi car a formação inicial por meio de atividades pedagógicas integradas ao ambiente escolar, são mais expressivas do que as possibilidades existentes para estreitar a comunicação entre os níveis de ensino básico e superior. Mesmo assim, nenhum dos registros mostrou radicalidade; apesar das barreiras expostas, os professores se mostram predispostos a propor ou incorporar propostas formativas mais próximas da realidade interventiva dos professores de educação física que atuam no cenário escolar.
Condições de trabalho docente e a defesa da escola pública: fragilidades evidenciadas pela pandemia
Authors: Oliveira Dalila Andrade
Published: January 2021

O artigo discute as condições de trabalho docente nas escolas públicas brasileiras como critério indispensável para se avaliar a oferta educativa e a garantia de um direito social. Procura demonstrar, a partir de revisão de literatura e de dados estatísticos disponíveis sobre a situação dos professores de Educação Básica no Brasil, como as escolas públicas estão pouco preparadas para responder às necessidades básicas para uma boa oferta educativa. A partir de dados de pesquisa realizada durante a pandemia da covid-19, discute o agravamento da situação do trabalho docente no Brasil atual e os desafios para o retorno às aulas presenciais.
Arquitetura e estrutura: leitura e dissecação do edifício da OCA do Parque Ibirapuera
Authors: Perrone Rafael Antonio Cunha , Pisani Maria Augusta Justi , Schimidt Rafael
Published: January 2021

Com o objetivo de estabelecer relações entre o projeto de arquitetura e estrutura, este artigo revela uma investigação sobre o edifício da Oca, a partir de levantamentos de fontes gráficas até o início da investigação desconhecida. O trabalho se iniciou a partir de uma pesquisa sobre algumas estruturas projetadas pelo engenheiro José Carlos de Figueiredo Ferraz (1918-1994), cuja parte do acervo foi destruída devido a um incêndio. Muitos de seus trabalhos significativos de projeto de estrutura são conhecidos, como os edifícios MASP, FAUUSP, Faculdade de História e Geografia, ambas da USP, SESC Pompéia. A OCA, projetada por Oscar Niemeyer e equipe com o cálculo estrutural do Engenheiro José Carlos de Figueiredo Ferraz, no início dos anos 1950, foi a primeira das calotas construída nas obras do arquiteto e tornou-se muito utilizada em trabalhos posteriores. A pesquisa resgatou parte dos desenhos de projeto, o que tornou possível uma leitura das relações entre arquitetura e estrutura. O método empregou várias etapas paralelas e híbridas, envolvendo: busca de material iconográfico e documentos em arquivos e análises e redesenhos que expõem uma dissecação da estrutura do objeto de estudo. O texto se constrói por uma introdução sobre o Projeto da Oca no Parque Ibirapuera.
On the Complexities of Federating Research Data Infrastructures
Authors: Latif Atif , Limani Fidan , Tochtermann Klaus
Published: January 2021

Federated Research Data Infrastructures aim to provide seamless access to research data along with services to facilitate the researchers in performing their data management tasks. During our research on Open Science (OS), we have built cross-disciplinary federated infrastructures for different types of (open) digital resources: Open Data (OD), Open Educational Resources (OER), and open access documents. In each case, our approach targeted only the resource “metadata”. Based on this experience, we identified some challenges that we had to overcome again and again: lack of (i) harvesters, (ii) common metadata models and (iii) metadata mapping tools. In this paper, we report on the challenges we faced in the federated infrastructure projects we were involved with. We structure the report based on the three challenges listed above.
The millipede family Striariidae Bollman, 1893. II. New records and species of the genus Amplaria Chamberlin, 1941 (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida, Striarioidea)
Authors: SHEAR WILLIAM A.
Published: January 2021

The millipede genus Amplaria Chamberlin, 1941 (senior synonym of Vaferaria Causey, 1958 and Speostriaria Causey, 1960) is endemic to western North America, from Mt. Palomar and San Luis Obispo, California, north to southwestern British Columbia, Canada, and east to northern Idaho. Seven species names are currently assigned to the genus. Below I describe ten additional new species: Amplaria crawfordi, Amplaria fontinalis, Amplaria rykkenae, Amplaria arcata, Amplaria baughi, Amplaria staceyi, Amplaria umatilla, Amplaria cervus, Amplaria mendocino and Amplaria flucticulus, and provide new records of Amplaria nazinta Chamberlin.
Религията в теоретичното поле на съвременните балкански изследователи (контекстът на разпадането на бивша Югославия)
Authors: Богомилова [Bogomilova] Нонка [Nonka]
Published: January 2021

Religion Within the Theoretical Field of Contemporary Balkan Scholars (In the Context of the Collapse of the Former Yugoslavia)This study aims to describe and analyse the main topics and trends in the study of religion in contemporary Balkan countries. It pays special attention to the contemporary sociology of religion in the former Yugoslavian countries: Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Various theoretical approaches are presented that are used in order to understand the dynamic processes that have developed in the contemporary religious situation. The topics and discussions at various seminar sessions, conferences, and workshops are analyzed as theoretical reflection on religion and as an ethical attitude towards intellectual and cultural developments and processes accompanying social change, the war in former Yugoslavia, and the post-communist transformations in the end of 20th and the beginning of 21st century. The relevant publications and organizational forms are outlined. The mutual collaboration among Balkan scholars and the forms of international relations developed in the Balkans within the framework of religious studies are described. Religia w polu teoretycznym współczesnych badaczy bałkańskich (w kontekście rozpadu byłej Jugosławii)Celem artykułu jest opis i analiza głównych tematów i trendów we współczesnej nauce o religii na Bałkanach. Autorka skupia się na współczesnej socjologii religii w krajach byłej Jugosławii (Chorwacji, Słowenii, Serbii, Macedonii Północnej, Czarnogórze, Bośni i Hercegowinie) i wskazuje na różne podejścia teoretyczne, jakie stosowane są do zrozumienia dynamicznych procesów, którym podlega obecnie sytuacja wyznaniowa. Tematy i dyskusje na różnych sesjach seminaryjnych, konferencjach i warsztatach są tu interpretowane jako teoretyczna refleksja nad religią oraz jako wyraz etycznego podejścia do procesów intelektualnych i kulturowych towarzyszącym zmianom społecznym, wojnie w byłej Jugosławii i transformacjom postkomunistycznym na przełomie XX i XXI wieku. W artykule przedstawione zostały istotne publikacje i formy organizacyjne. Opisana została współpraca bałkańskich uczonych i formy stosunków międzynarodowych, jakie rozwinęły się na tym obszarze w ramach studiów religijnych.
Krzątactwo i droga pielgrzyma we wspomnieniach Michaiła Madżarowa
Authors: Szwat-Gyłybowa Grażyna
Published: January 2021

Bustling About and the Pilgrim’s Way in Mihail Madjarov’s MemoirThis article is devoted to reflection on Mihail Madjarov’s memoir prose, На Божи Гроб преди шестдесет години и днес (спомени, пътни бележки и впечатления) (To the tomb of Jesus sixty years ago and today (memoirs, travel notes and impressions), 1929), which is primarily dedicated to the author’s childhood pilgrimage to Jerusalem. In the article, I use the philosophical category of ‘bustling about’ (in Polish: krzątactwo), which was proposed by Jolanta Brach-Czaina, as a category that supports analysis of the strategies, described by Madjarov, of pilgrims experiencing everyday life in the three phases of their peregrination (according to Victor Turner’s classification). The analysis of the material takes into consideration the Ottoman historical context in connection with research on the testimonies of nineteenth-century Bulgarian hadjis. Krzątactwo i droga pielgrzyma we wspomnieniach Michaiła MadżarowaArtykuł poświęcony jest refleksji nad prozą wspomnieniową Michaiła Madżarowa На Божи Гроб преди шестдесет години и днес (спомени, пътни бележки и впечатления) (Do Grobu Jezusa przed sześćdziesięcioma laty i dziś (wspomnienia, notatki z podróży i wrażenia), 1929), poświęconą głównie odbytej przez autora w dzieciństwie pielgrzymce do Jerozolimy. W artykule posługuję się zaproponowaną przez Jolantę Brach-Czainę filozoficzną kategorią krzątactwa jako kategorią wspomagającą analizę opisanych przez autora strategii doświadczania codzienności przez pielgrzymów w trzech fazach ich peregrynacji (według klasyfikacji Turnera). Materiał analizowany jest z uwzględnieniem osmańskiego kontekstu historycznego, w powiązaniu z badaniami nad świadectwami bułgarskich dziewiętnastowiecznych hadżijów.
Křesťanský učitel v sekularizované škole České republiky
Authors: Podzimek Michal
Published: January 2021

Christian Teachers in Secularized Schools in the Czech RepublicThis article presents the specific situation of Christian teachers working in schools in North Bohemia. This region underwent forced secularization during the communist period and Christians became a marginal social group. Since the fall of communism, teachers have been bound by the official framework of objective science, ideological neutrality, and pluralism of opinion. The aforementioned values have been incorporated into the curriculum of the educational system in the Czech Republic. On the other hand, Christian teachers are bound in their conscience by requirements of ecclesiastical orthodoxy, which is partly based on pre-modern dogmatic positions. Chrześcijański nauczyciel w zsekularyzowanej szkole w CzechachArtykuł przedstawia specyficzną sytuację chrześcijańskich nauczycieli pracujących w szkołach w północnych Czechach. Region ten podlegał przymusowej sekularyzacji w czasach reżimu komunistycznego, a chrześcijanie stali się marginalną grupą społeczną. Po upadku komunizmu nauczyciele są związani oficjalnymi ramami obiektywnej nauki, ideologicznej neutralności i pluralizmu opinii. Z jednej strony wymienione wyżej wartości są zagwarantowane w systemie edukacji w Czechach. Z drugiej strony chrześcijańscy nauczyciele są związani w swoim sumieniu wymogami kościelnej ortodoksji, która częściowo opiera się na przednowoczesnych zasadach dogmatycznych.
The Growth Inhibition of Targeted Pluronic/Formononetin Nanocomposite on Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma In Vitro
Authors: Liu Ming , Lin Chen , Huang Xiaoqing , Lin Yuxiang
Published: January 2021

Natural flavonoid formononetin (FN) has anticancer effects, but the hydrophobic structure, characteristics of the short half-life in vivo, limiting its clinical wide-ranging application. In this study, FN loaded Pluronic (PF)@folic acid (FA) micelles (FN-PF@FA), were prepared
to improve the solubility, bioavailability and targeting. FA coupling PF was prepared by carbodiimide crosslinker chemical method, FN-PF@FA micelles were prepared by modified film hydration method, and compared the antitumor activity of FN loaded micelles with free FN In Vitro. The
spherical smooth surface of FN-PF@FA micelles had smaller particle size (112.3±5.3 nm), high encapsulation efficiency (86.14±2.68%), high negative zeta potential (-25.8±0.57 mV), low critical concentration CMC (0.03 mg/mL), and better sustained release profile. In addition,
FN-PF@FA micelles have a positive targeting effect on oral squamous cell carcinoma cells (SCC3). In 48 hours, the growth inhibition of 50% (GI50) was 28.6±1.2 μg/mL for FN and 17.4±0.78 μg/mL for FN-PF, the dose dropped by nearly 38.46%. In addition, the GI50
value of FN-PF@FA was 9.5±0.3 μg/mL, 66.43% lower than FN and 44.83% lower than FN-PF. Furthermore, the laser scanning confocal microscopy revealed that the conjugation of FA significantly improves the active targeting ability of micelles. FN-PF@FA micelles have the potential
to target the release of anticancer drugs with higher bioavailability, further provides a new avenue for the application of traditional Chinese medicine extract in oral malignant tumor.
Some Results on Recurrent Fractal Interpolation Function
Authors: Al-Shameri Wadia Faid Hassan
Published: January 2021

Barnsley (Barnsley, M.F., 1986. Fractal functions and interpolation. Constr. Approx., 2, pp.303–329) introduced fractal interpolation function (FIF) whose graph is the attractor of an iterated function system (IFS) for describing the data that have an irregular or self-similar
structure. Barnsley et al. (Barnsley, M.F., et al., 1989. Recurrent iterated function systems in fractal approximation. Constr. Approx., 5, pp.3–31) generalized FIF in the form of recurrent fractal interpolation function (RFIF) whose graph is the attractor of a recurrent iterated
function system (RIFS) to fit data set which is piece-wise self-affine. The primary aim of the present research is investigating the RFIF approach and using it for fitting the piece-wise self-affine data set in ℜ2.
Cognitive Diagnostic Assessment of Power Supply Magnetic Components Design Based on Bayesian Network
Authors: Kuang Yi , Duan Bin , Lv Mengping , Wu Junfeng
Published: January 2021

The power electronics engineering education is aimed at helping students in becoming qualified electronics engineers. However, the existing evaluation method cannot reflect the students’ performance in knowledge-structure and skillsets objectively and accurately. To address these
issues and improve the effectiveness of the current evaluation method in the field, we propose a Bayesian network model-based cognitive diagnostic assessment method and demonstrate it to evaluate students’ knowledge and skills condition with the switched-mode power supply (SMPS) magnetic
components design task. The paper starts with a brief introduction to the SMPS inductor design. It continues with the Bayesian network model-based inductor proficiency model, inductor evidence model, and the task model for power magnetics volume and weight in the aerospace SMPS. Then we identify
the parameters in the graded response model, relations among variables, and calculate the conditional probability between variables. Finally, we use Markov Chain Monte Carlo estimation method to get the posterior probability distribution of proficiency variables by OpenBUGS. The results show
that this cognitive diagnostic assessment system can effectively reflect the students’ study performances, scientifically advise their future study plans, and effectively achieve the education goals.
Transient Climate Response to Arctic Sea Ice Loss with Two Ice-Constraining Methods
Authors: Simon Amélie , Gastineau Guillaume , Frankignoul Claude , Rousset Clément , Codron Francis
Published: January 2021

The impact of Arctic sea ice loss on the ocean and atmosphere is investigated focusing on a gradual reduction of Arctic sea ice by 20% of the annual mean, occurring within 30 years, starting from present-day conditions. Two ice-constraining methods are explored to melt Arctic sea ice in a coupled climate model, while keeping present-day conditions for external forcing. The first method uses a reduction of sea ice albedo, which modifies the incoming surface shortwave radiation. The second method uses a reduction of thermal conductivity, which changes the heat conduction flux inside ice. Reduced thermal conductivity inhibits oceanic cooling in winter and sea ice basal growth, reducing the seasonality of sea ice thickness. For similar Arctic sea ice area loss, decreasing the albedo induces larger Arctic warming than reducing the conductivity, especially in spring. Both ice-constraining methods produce similar climate impacts, but with smaller anomalies when reducing the conductivity. In the Arctic, the sea ice loss leads to an increase of the North Atlantic water inflow in the Barents Sea and eastern Arctic, while the salinity decreases and the gyre intensifies in the Beaufort Sea. In the North Atlantic, the subtropical gyre shifts southward and the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation weakens. A dipole of sea level pressure anomalies sets up in winter over northern Siberia and the North Atlantic, which resembles the negative phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation. In the tropics, the Atlantic intertropical convergence zone shifts southward as the South Atlantic Ocean warms. In addition, Walker circulation reorganizes and the southeastern Pacific Ocean cools.
Improvement of Solid Precipitation Measurements Using a Hotplate Precipitation Gauge
Authors: Thériault Julie M. , Leroux Nicolas R. , Rasmussen Roy M.
Published: January 2021

Accurate snowfall measurement is challenging because it depends on the precipitation gauge used, meteorological conditions, and the precipitation microphysics. Upstream of weighing gauges, the flow field is disturbed by the gauge and any shielding used usually creates an updraft, which deflects solid precipitation from falling in the gauge, resulting in significant undercatch. Wind shields are often used with weighing gauges to reduce this updraft, and transfer functions are required to adjust the snowfall measurements to consider gauge undercatch. Using these functions reduces the bias in precipitation measurement but not the root-mean-square error (RMSE). In this study, the accuracy of the Hotplate precipitation gauge was compared to standard unshielded and shielded weighing gauges collected during the WMO Solid Precipitation Intercomparison Experiment program. The analysis performed in this study shows that the Hotplate precipitation gauge bias after wind correction is near zero and similar to wind corrected weighing gauges. The RMSE of the Hotplate precipitation gauge measurements is lower than weighing gauges (with or without an Alter shield) for wind speeds up to 5 m s−1, the wind speed limit at which sufficient data were available. This study shows that the Hotplate precipitation gauge measurement has a low bias and RMSE due to its aerodynamic shape, making its performance mostly independent of the type of solid precipitation.
Metastatic Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Involving the Parotid Gland: Experience Outside of the Sun Belt
Authors: Flukes Stephanie , Long Sallie , Lohia Shivangi , Barker Christopher A. , Dunn Lara A. , Cracchiolo Jennifer , Ganly Ian , Patel Snehal , Cohen Marc A.
Published: January 2021

Objective

To characterize a subset of patients with metastatic head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in a tertiary North American center and describe oncologic outcomes following definitive treatment.

Study Design

Retrospective chart review.

Setting

National Cancer Institute–designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma with metastases to intraparotid lymph nodes who underwent parotidectomy between 1993 and 2020. Baseline patient and tumor characteristics were assessed. Regional control, disease‐specific survival, and overall survival were estimated using Kaplan‐Meier method. Multivariate analysis was used to determine the relationship between adverse pathological features and survival.

Results

A total of 122 patients were included. The median age was 76, 84.4% of patients were male, and 17.2% were immunosuppressed. Regional control, disease‐specific survival, and overall survival were 68.5%, 70.7%, and 59.4% at 5 years, respectively. Perineural and lymphovascular invasion were predictive of worse disease‐specific survival. Extracapsular spread was observed in 90.2% of patients and was not a significant predictor of outcome.

Conclusions

We found the demographics and oncologic outcomes of our cohort in the Northeast United States to be comparable with those previously reported in Australia and the Sun Belt of the United States. We noted a high rate of extracapsular spread but did not find it to be a significant predictor of recurrence or survival. Future efforts should address the impact of extracapsular spread on prognosis and adjuvant treatment decisions.
Concizumab: a novel anti-TFPI therapeutic for hemophilia
Authors: Shapiro Amy D.
Published: January 2021

Concizumab is a novel subcutaneous prophylactic therapy for hemophilia. It is a hemostatic rebalancing agent that binds to the Kunitz-2 domain of tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), one of the molecules that contributes to downregulation of coagulation thereby preventing TFPI from binding to and blocking the factor Xa (FXa) active site. When the TFPI inhibitory activity is decreased, sufficient FXa is produced by the FVIIa-tissue factor complex to achieve hemostasis. On the basis of this mechanism of action, concizumab is expected to be equally effective in hemophilia A and B, regardless of inhibitor status. Moreover, the concizumab mechanism of action does not interfere with the regulation of coagulation downstream of TFPI. Results from 2 phase 2 trials in patients with hemophilia A or B with and without inhibitors demonstrated that concizumab had a favorable safety profile, with no deaths, no thromboembolic events, and no adverse events leading to withdrawal. Clinical proof of concept in prevention of bleeding episodes was confirmed in both concizumab phase 2 trials across all hemophilia subtypes assessed, with a statistically significant and clinically relevant reduction in annualized bleeding rates observed in inhibitor patients compared to those who received on-demand treatment. On the basis of phase 2 results, the US Food and Drug Administration granted concizumab Breakthrough Therapy designation for hemophilia B with inhibitor patients, a rare and vulnerable patient subgroup that currently has the highest unmet medical need. In the ongoing concizumab phase 3 trials, an optimized dosing regimen will be administered in patients with hemophilia A or B with and without inhibitors.
ASH ISTH NHF WFH 2021 guidelines on the diagnosis of von Willebrand disease
Authors: James Paula D. , Connell Nathan T. , Ameer Barbara , Di Paola Jorge , Eikenboom Jeroen , Giraud Nicolas , Haberichter Sandra , Jacobs-Pratt Vicki , Konkle Barbara , McLintock Claire , McRae Simon , R. Montgomery Robert , O’Donnell James S. , Scappe Nikole , Sidonio Robert , Flood Veronica H. , Husainat Nedaa , Kalot Mohamad A. , Mustafa Reem A.
Published: January 2021

Background:

von Willebrand disease (VWD) is the most common inherited bleeding disorder known in humans. Accurate and timely diagnosis presents numerous challenges.

Objective:

These evidence-based guidelines of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH), the National Hemophilia Foundation (NHF), and the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) are intended to support patients, clinicians, and other health care professionals in their decisions about VWD diagnosis.

Methods:

ASH, ISTH, NHF, and WFH established a multidisciplinary guideline panel that included 4 patient representatives and was balanced to minimize potential bias from conflicts of interest. The Outcomes and Implementation Research Unit at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) supported the guideline-development process, including performing or updating systematic evidence reviews up to 8 January 2020. The panel prioritized clinical questions and outcomes according to their importance for clinicians and patients. The panel used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach, including GRADE Evidence-to-Decision frameworks, to assess evidence and make recommendations, which were subsequently subject to public comment.

Results:

The panel agreed on 11 recommendations.

Conclusions:

Key recommendations of these guidelines include the role of bleeding-assessment tools in the assessment of patients suspected of VWD, diagnostic assays and laboratory cutoffs for type 1 and type 2 VWD, how to approach a type 1 VWD patient with normalized levels over time, and the role of genetic testing vs phenotypic assays for types 2B and 2N. Future critical research priorities are also identified.
Under the influence of regulations: spatio-temporal trends of the UV filter 2-Ethylhexyl-4-methoxycinnamate (EHMC) in German rivers
Authors: Nagorka Regine , Duffek Anja
Published: January 2021

Background

Globally, 2-Ethylhexyl-4-methoxycinnamate (EHMC) is one of the most commonly used UV filters in sunscreen and personal care products. Due to its widespread usage, the occurrence of EHMC in the aquatic environment has frequently been documented. In the EU, EHMC is listed under the European Community Rolling Action Plan (CoRAP) as suspected to be persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) and as a potential endocrine disruptor. It was included in the first watch list under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) referring to a sediment PNEC of 200 µg/kg dry weight (dw). In the light of the ongoing substance evaluation to refine the environmental risk assessment, the objective of this study was to obtain spatio-temporal trends for EHMC in freshwater.

We analyzed samples of suspended particulate matter (SPM) retrieved from the German environmental specimen bank (ESB). The samples covered 13 sampling sites from major German rivers, including Rhine, Elbe, and Danube, and have been collected since mid-2000s.

Results

Our results show decreasing concentrations of EHMC in annual SPM samples during the studied period. In the mid-2000s, the levels for EHMC ranged between 3.3 and 72 ng/g dw. The highest burden could be found in the Rhine tributary Saar. In 2017, we observed a maximum concentration ten times lower (7.9 ng/g dw in samples from the Saar). In 62% of all samples taken in 2017, concentrations were even below the limit of quantification (LOQ) of 2.7 ng/g dw.

Conclusions

The results indicate a general declining discharge of EHMC into German rivers within the last 15 years and correspond to the market data. Although the measured levels are below the predicted no-effect level (PNEC) in sediment, further research should identify local and seasonal level of exposure, e.g., at highly frequented bathing waters especially in lakes. In addition, possible substitutes as well as their potentially synergistic effects together with other UV filters should be investigated.
PacBio full-length transcriptome of wild apple (Malus sieversii) provides insights into canker disease dynamic response
Authors: Liu Xiaojie , Li Xiaoshuang , Wen Xuejing , Zhang Yan , Ding Yu , Zhang Yiheng , Gao Bei , Zhang Daoyuan
Published: January 2021

Background

Valsa canker is a serious disease in the stem of Malus sieversii, caused by Valsa mali. However, little is known about the global response mechanism in M. sieversii to V. mali infection.

Results

Phytohormone jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) profiles and transcriptome analysis were used to elaborate on the dynamic response mechanism. We determined that the JA was initially produced to respond to the necrotrophic pathogen V. mali infection at the early response stage, then get synergistically transduced with SA to respond at the late response stage. Furthermore, we adopted Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) full-length sequencing to identify differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) during the canker response stage. We obtained 52,538 full-length transcripts, of which 8139 were DETs. Total 1336 lncRNAs, 23,737 alternative polyadenylation (APA) sites and 3780 putative transcription factors (TFs) were identified. Additionally, functional annotation analysis of DETs indicated that the wild apple response to the infection of V. mali involves plant-pathogen interaction, plant hormone signal transduction, flavonoid biosynthesis, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. The co-expression network of the differentially expressed TFs revealed 264 candidate TF transcripts. Among these candidates, the WRKY family was the most abundant. The MsWRKY7 and MsWRKY33 were highly correlated at the early response stage, and MsWRKY6, MsWRKY7, MsWRKY19, MsWRKY33, MsWRKY40, MsWRKY45, MsWRKY51, MsWRKY61, MsWRKY75 were highly correlated at the late stage.

Conclusions

The full-length transcriptomic analysis revealed a series of immune responsive events in M. sieversii in response to V. mali infection. The phytohormone signal pathway regulatory played an important role in the response stage. Additionally, the enriched disease resistance pathways and differentially expressed TFs dynamics collectively contributed to the immune response. This study provides valuable insights into a dynamic response in M. sieversii upon the necrotrophic pathogen V. mali infection, facilitates understanding of response mechanisms to canker disease for apple, and provides supports in the identification of potential resistance genes in M. sieversii.
Correction to: A Bibliometric analysis of folate receptor research
Authors: Didion Cari A. , Henne Walter A.
Published: January 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
Sleep disturbances in obsessive-compulsive disorder: influence of depression symptoms and trait anxiety
Authors: Segalàs Cinto , Labad Javier , Salvat-Pujol Neus , Real Eva , Alonso Pino , Bertolín Sara , Jiménez-Murcia Susana , Soriano-Mas Carles , Monasterio Carmen , Menchón José M. , Soria Virginia
Published: January 2021

Background

Sleep disturbances have been reported in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients, with heterogeneous results. The aim of our study was to assess sleep function in OCD and to investigate the relationship between sleep and the severity of obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms, depressive symptoms and trait anxiety.

Methods

Sleep quality was measured in 61 OCD patients and 100 healthy controls (HCs) using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Multiple linear regression was conducted to explore the association between sleep and psychopathological measures; a mediation analysis was also performed.

Results

OCD patients showed poor sleep quality and more sleep disturbances compared to HCs. The severity of depression, trait anxiety and OC symptomatology were correlated with poor sleep quality. Multiple linear regression analyses controlling for potential confounders revealed that the severity of depression and trait anxiety were independently related to poor sleep quality in OCD. A mediation analysis showed that both the severity of trait anxiety and depression mediate the relationship between the severity of OC symptoms and poor sleep quality among patients with OCD.

Conclusions

Our findings support the existence of sleep disturbances in OCD. Trait anxiety and depression play a key role in sleep quality among OCD patients.
Different methylation signatures at diagnosis in patients with high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes and secondary acute myeloid leukemia predict azacitidine response and longer survival
Authors:   CETLAM group, Cabezón M. , Malinverni R. , Bargay J. , Xicoy B. , Marcé S. , Garrido A. , Tormo M. , Arenillas L. , Coll R. , Borras J. , Jiménez M. J. , Hoyos M. , Valcárcel D. , Escoda L. , Vall-Llovera F. , Garcia A. , Font L. L. , Rámila E. , Buschbeck M. , Zamora L.
Published: January 2021

Background

Epigenetic therapy, using hypomethylating agents (HMA), is known to be effective in the treatment of high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients who are not suitable for intensive chemotherapy and/or allogeneic stem cell transplantation. However, response rates to HMA are low and there is an unmet need in finding prognostic and predictive biomarkers of treatment response and overall survival. We performed global methylation analysis of 75 patients with high-risk MDS and secondary AML who were included in CETLAM SMD-09 protocol, in which patients received HMA or intensive treatment according to age, comorbidities and cytogenetic.

Results

Unsupervised analysis of global methylation pattern at diagnosis did not allow patients to be differentiated according to the cytological subtype, cytogenetic groups, treatment response or patient outcome. However, after a supervised analysis we found a methylation signature defined by 200 probes, which allowed differentiating between patients responding and non-responding to azacitidine (AZA) treatment and a different methylation pattern also defined by 200 probes that allowed to differentiate patients according to their survival. On studying follow-up samples, we confirmed that AZA decreases global DNA methylation, but in our cohort the degree of methylation decrease did not correlate with the type of response. The methylation signature detected at diagnosis was not useful in treated samples to distinguish patients who were going to relapse or progress.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that in a subset of specific CpGs, altered DNA methylation patterns at diagnosis may be useful as a biomarker for predicting AZA response and survival.
An Accurate Numerical Model Simulating Hysteretic Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Columns Irrespective of Types of Loading Protocols
Authors: Lee Chang Seok , Han Sang Whan
Published: January 2021

In older reinforced concrete (RC) buildings, columns are fragile elements that can induce collapse of entire buildings during earthquakes. An accurate assessment of the seismic vulnerability of RC buildings using nonlinear response history analyses requires an accurate numerical model. The peak-oriented hysteretic rule is often used in existing numerical models to simulate the hysteretic behavior of RC members, with predefined backbone curves and cyclic deterioration. A monotonic backbone curve is commonly constructed from a cyclic envelope. Because cyclic envelope varies according to loading protocols, particularly in a softening branch, it is difficult to obtain a unique backbone curve irrespective of loading protocols. In addition, cyclic deterioration parameters irrespective of loading protocols cannot be found because these parameters are estimated with respect to the backbone curves. Modeling parameters of existing numerical models can also vary with respect to loading protocol. The objective of this study is to propose a loading protocol-independent numerical model that does not require estimates of modeling parameters specifically tuned for a certain loading protocol. The accuracy of the proposed model is verified by comparing the simulated and measured cyclic curves of different sets of identical RC column specimens under various loading protocols.
Assessing fidelity to family-based treatment: an exploratory examination of expert, therapist, parent, and peer ratings
Authors: Couturier Jennifer , Kimber Melissa , Barwick Melanie , McVey Gail , Findlay Sheri , Webb Cheryl , Niccols Alison , Lock James
Published: January 2021

Introduction

Fidelity is an essential component for evaluating the clinical and implementation outcomes related to delivery of evidence-based practices (EBPs). Effective measurement of fidelity requires clinical buy-in, and as such, requires a process that is not burdensome for clinicians and managers. As part of a larger implementation study, we examined fidelity to Family-Based Treatment (FBT) measured by several different raters including an expert, a peer, therapists themselves, and parents, with a goal of determining a pragmatic, reliable and efficient method to capture treatment fidelity to FBT.

Methods

Each therapist audio-recorded at least one FBT case and submitted recordings from session 1, 2, and 3 from phase 1, plus one additional session from phase 1, two sessions from phase 2, and one session from phase 3. These submitted files were rated by an expert and a peer rater using a validated FBT fidelity measure. As well, therapists and parents rated fidelity immediately following each session and submitted ratings to the research team. Inter-observer reliability was calculated for each item using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), comparing the expert ratings to ratings from each of the other raters (parents, therapists, and peer). Mean scale scores were compared using repeated measures ANOVA.

Results

Intraclass correlation coefficients revealed that agreement was the best between expert and peer, with excellent, good, or fair agreement in 7 of 13 items from session 1, 2 and 3. There were only four such values when comparing expert to parent agreement, and two such values comparing expert to therapist ratings. The rest of the ICC values indicated poor agreement. Scale level analysis indicated that expert fidelity ratings for phase 1 treatment sessions scores were significantly higher than the peer ratings and, that parent fidelity ratings tended to be significantly higher than the other raters across all three treatment phases. There were no significant differences between expert and therapist mean scores.

Conclusions

There may be challenges inherent in parents rating fidelity accurately. Peer rating or therapist self-rating may be considered pragmatic, efficient, and reliable approaches to fidelity assessment for real-world clinical settings.