bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sodium valproate increases activity of the sirtuin pathway resulting in beneficial effects for spinocerebellar ataxia-3 in vivo
Authors: Watchon Maxinne , Luu Luan , Robinson Katherine J. , Yuan Kristy C. , De Luca Alana , Suddull Hannah J. , Tym Madelaine C. , Guillemin Gilles J. , Cole Nicholas J. , Nicholson Garth A. , Chung Roger S. , Lee Albert , Laird Angela S.
Published: August 2021

Machado-Joseph disease (MJD, also known as spinocerebellar ataxia type 3) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that impairs control and coordination of movement. Here we tested whether treatment with the histone deacetylase inhibitor sodium valproate (valproate) prevented a movement phenotype that develops in larvae of a transgenic zebrafish model of the disease. We found that treatment with valproate improved the swimming of the MJD zebrafish, affected levels of acetylated histones 3 and 4, but also increased expression of polyglutamine expanded human ataxin-3. Proteomic analysis of protein lysates generated from the treated and untreated MJD zebrafish also predicted that valproate treatment had activated the sirtuin longevity signaling pathway and this was confirmed by findings of increased SIRT1 protein levels and sirtuin activity in valproate treated MJD zebrafish and HEK293 cells expressing ataxin-3 84Q, respectively. Treatment with resveratrol (another compound known to activate the sirtuin pathway), also improved swimming in the MJD zebrafish. Co-treatment with valproate alongside EX527, a SIRT1 activity inhibitor, prevented induction of autophagy by valproate and the beneficial effects of valproate on the movement in the MJD zebrafish, supporting that they were both dependent on sirtuin activity. These findings provide the first evidence of sodium valproate inducing activation of the sirtuin pathway. Further, they indicate that drugs that target the sirtuin pathway, including sodium valproate and resveratrol, warrant further investigation for the treatment of MJD and related neurodegenerative diseases.

Graphical abstract
Bedshift: perturbation of genomic interval sets
Authors: Gu Aaron , Cho Hyun Jae , Sheffield Nathan C.
Published: August 2021

Functional genomics experiments, like ChIP-Seq or ATAC-Seq, produce results that are summarized as a region set. There is no way to objectively evaluate the effectiveness of region set similarity metrics. We present Bedshift, a tool for perturbing BED files by randomly shifting, adding, and dropping regions from a reference file. The perturbed files can be used to benchmark similarity metrics, as well as for other applications. We highlight differences in behavior between metrics, such as that the Jaccard score is most sensitive to added or dropped regions, while coverage score is most sensitive to shifted regions.
Effective control of large deletions after double-strand breaks by homology-directed repair and dsODN insertion
Authors: Wen Wei , Quan Zi-Jun , Li Si-Ang , Yang Zhi-Xue , Fu Ya-Wen , Zhang Feng , Li Guo-Hua , Zhao Mei , Yin Meng-Di , Xu Jing , Zhang Jian-Ping , Cheng Tao , Zhang Xiao-Bing
Published: August 2021

Background

After repairing double-strand breaks (DSBs) caused by CRISPR-Cas9 cleavage, genomic damage, such as large deletions, may have pathogenic consequences.

Results

We show that large deletions are ubiquitous but are dependent on editing sites and cell types. Human primary T cells display more significant deletions than hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), whereas we observe low levels in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). We find that the homology-directed repair (HDR) with single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotides (ssODNs) carrying short homology reduces the deletion damage by almost half, while adeno-associated virus (AAV) donors with long homology reduce large deletions by approximately 80%. In the absence of HDR, the insertion of a short double-stranded ODN by NHEJ reduces deletion indexes by about 60%.

Conclusions

Timely bridging of broken ends by HDR and NHEJ vastly decreases the unintended consequences of dsDNA cleavage. These strategies can be harnessed in gene editing applications to attenuate unintended outcomes.
The impact of recipient age on the effects of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells on HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure and liver cirrhosis
Authors: Zhang Ka , Sun Haixia , Cao Huijuan , Jia Yifan , Shu Xin , Cao Hong , Zhang Yufeng , Yang Xiaoan
Published: August 2021

Background

The results of a previous study verified that umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) have good therapeutic effects for the treatment of HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) and liver cirrhosis (LC). Nevertheless, it is still unknown whether the effects of UCMSCs are affected by recipient age.

Methods

Patients treated with UCMSCs who met the criteria of HBV-related ACLF and liver cirrhosis were identified in this retrospective observational study. Patients were divided into subgroups according to the World Health Organization (WHO) age criteria (< 45 vs. ≥ 45 years). Group A included young ACLF patients (< 45 y), and group B included older ACLF patients (≥ 45 y). Young LC patients (< 45 y) were assigned to group C, and group D included older LC patients (≥ 45 y). Patients’ clinical characteristics, demographics, biochemical factors, and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores were compared for 24 weeks.

Results

Sixty-four ACLF patients and 59 LC patients were enrolled in this study. Compared with patients in groups B and C, patients in group A did not show significant superiority in terms of the levels of ALT, AST, TBIL, AFP, and PTA and MELD scores. However, the median decrease and cumulative decrease in the TBIL and ALT levels of patients in group C were larger than those of patients in group D after four weeks of UCMSC transfusions. For older patients (≥ 45 y), the cumulative decrease and the median decrease in the TBIL of ACLF patients were significantly greater than those of LC patients after UCMSC treatment. However, the median decrease in ALT levels of ACLF patients was significantly greater than that of LC patients during UCMSC treatment, and the cumulative decrease in ALT levels of ACLF patients was significantly greater than that of LC patients at all time points.

Conclusion

The therapeutic effects of UCMSCs for HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure and liver cirrhosis varied partly by patient age. Assessing patient age is necessary prior to UCMSC clinical use.
On this month's Round the Corner: I welcome the argument about ECT
Authors: Read John
Published: August 2021

A recent review of research in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for depression, for which I was the first author, found that only 11 placebo-controlled studies have even been conducted, all pre-1986. Our review concluded that they were so flawed that the meta-analyses that relied on them were wrong to conclude that ECT is effective. This commentary responds to a critique of the review by Ian Anderson. Some valuable comments are acknowledged and several errors or misunderstandings rectified.
The Court of Protection: expert witness and professional reports
Authors: Curtice Martin
Published: August 2021

The Court of Protection has the legal jurisdiction to make decisions about people who lack capacity to make decisions themselves (in England and Wales). When hearing cases, evidence can be provided to the court by expert witnesses and professionals. The Court of Protection Rules 2017 inform the practice and procedure within the Court of Protection. This article reviews the judgment from a Court of Protection case that analyses the proper role of the expert witness in the court. In doing so the article provides guidance to authors of expert witness reports and reports under section 49 of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 submitted as evidence to the court.
Reassessment of Postural Stimulation Testing as a Simple Tool to Identify a Subgroup of Patients With Unilateral Primary Aldosteronism
Authors: Teresa Fuss Carmina , Brohm Katharina , Fassnacht Martin , Kroiss Matthias , Hahner Stefanie
Published: August 2021

Context

Adrenal vein sampling (AVS) represents the current diagnostic gold standard for differentiation between unilateral and bilateral primary aldosteronism (PA). Postural stimulation testing (PST) has been used to provide additional diagnostic information.

Objective

This work aimed to evaluate the diagnostic utility of PST in the differential diagnosis of PA.

Methods

This cohort study was conducted at a single tertiary reference center. We analyzed 106 PST performed between 2008 and 2020. Diagnosis of PA and cause of PA were determined according to the Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline, taking into account results of saline infusion testing, AVS, preoperative imaging, and outcome after medical or surgical treatment. The suggested cutoffs for the diagnosis of unilateral PA were revisited and optimized for high specificity using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis.

Results

A total of 106 patients had confirmed PA (unilateral PA: n = 55, bilateral PA: n = 29, AVS unsuccessful/declined by patients: n = 22). Based on decreased aldosterone plasma concentration of 28% or more after 4 hours in the upright position, the PST showed a sensitivity of 36.4% at a specificity of 100% to identify unilateral disease (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.72; 95% CI, 0.62-0.83; P = .001). In patients with valid testing (drop of cortisol of 10% or more after 4 hours, n = 53) the sensitivity of PST rose to 51.4% at a specificity of 100% (AUC = 0.77; 95% CI, 0.65-0.90; P = .001).

Conclusion

The high specificity of 100% for the detection of unilateral PA in patients with decreased aldosterone by at least 28% after 4 hours makes PST a simple, noninvasive contribution to subtype differentiation in PA.
Risk of Incident Heart Failure in Individuals With Early-Onset Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Liu Jian-Jun , Liu Sylvia , Wang Jiexun , Lee Janus , Tang Justin I-Shing , Gurung Resham L , Ang Keven , Shao Yi Ming , Tavintharan Subramaniam , Tang Wern Ee , Sum Chee Fang , Lim Su Chi
Published: August 2021

Context

Early-onset diabetes has been associated with unfavorable cardiovascular risk but data on heart failure (HF) in this subpopulation are scarce.

Objective

We aimed to study the risk of, and risk factors for, incident HF in individuals with early-onset type 2 diabetes.

Methods

We studied 606 individuals with type 2 diabetes diagnosed before 40 years of age (early-onset) and 1258 counterparts with diabetes diagnosed from 41 to 65 years of age (usual-onset) with no HF history, at a regional hospital, over a median follow-up period of 7.1 years. Incident HF by European Cardiology Society criteria was determined.

Results

A total of 62 and 108 HF events were identified in the early- and usual-onset groups (1.55 and 1.29 per 100 patient-years), respectively. Compared with usual-onset counterparts, individuals with early-onset diabetes had a 1.20-fold unadjusted (95% CI, 0.88-1.63; P = 0.26) and 1.91-fold age-adjusted (95% CI, 1.37-2.66; P < 0.001) hazard ratio (HR) for incident HF. Adjustment for traditional cardiometabolic risk factors only moderately mitigated the hazards (adjusted HR 1.69; 95% CI, 1.19-2.40; P = 0.003). However, additional adjustment for estimated glomerular filtration rate and albuminuria markedly attenuated the association of early-onset age with incident HF (adjusted HR 1.24; 95% CI, 0.87-1.77; P = 0.24). Notably, a long diabetes duration was not significantly associated with HF risk after accounting for kidney measures.

Conclusion

Individuals with early-onset diabetes have at least the same absolute risk and a 2-fold age-adjusted relative risk for incident HF. Excess cardiorenal risk factors but not a long diabetes duration are main drivers for HF development in this diabetic population.
Surgical, Obstetric, and Anesthetic Mortality Measurement at a Ugandan Secondary Referral Hospital
Authors: Firth Paul G. , Mushagara Rhina , Musinguzi Nicholas , Liu Charles , Boatin Adeline A. , Mugabi Walter , Kayaga Dorothy , Naturinda Phionah , Twesigye Deus , Sanyu Frank , Mugyenyi Godfrey , Ngonzi Joseph , Ttendo Stephen S.
Published: August 2021

BACKGROUND:

The health care systems of low-income countries have severely limited capacity to treat surgical diseases and conditions. There is limited information about which hospital mortality outcomes are suitable metrics in these settings.

METHODS:

We did a 1-year observational cohort study of patient admissions to the Surgery and the Obstetrics and Gynecology departments and of newborns delivered at a Ugandan secondary referral hospital. We examined the proportion of deaths captured by standardized metrics of mortality.

RESULTS:

There were 17,015 admissions and 9612 deliveries. A total of 847 deaths were documented: 385 (45.5%) admission deaths and 462 (54.5%) perinatal deaths. Less than one-third of admission deaths occurred during or after an operation (n = 126/385, 32.7%). Trauma and maternal mortality combined with perioperative mortality produced 79.2% (n = 305/385) of admission deaths. Of 462 perinatal deaths, 412 (90.1%) were stillborn, and 50 (10.9%) were early neonatal deaths. The combined metrics of the trauma mortality rate, maternal mortality ratio, thirty-day perioperative mortality rate, and perinatal mortality rate captured 89.8% (n = 761/847) of all deaths documented at the hospital.

CONCLUSIONS:

The combination of perinatal, maternal, trauma, and perioperative mortality metrics captured most deaths documented at a Ugandan referral hospital.
First two years of reimbursed enzyme replacement therapy in the treatment of Fabry disease in Poland
Authors: Nowicki Michał , Komar Monika , Kusztal Mariusz , Mizia-Stec Katarzyna , Liberek Tomasz , Małyszko Jolanta , Muras-Szwedziak Katarzyna , Pawlaczyk Krzysztof , Podolec Piotr , Sławek Jarosław
Published: August 2021

Fabry disease (FD) is an ultra-rare genetic lysosomal storage disease caused by pathologic gene variants resulting in insufficient expression of α-galactosidase A. This enzyme deficiency leads to accumulation of globotriaosylceramide and globotriaosylsphingosine in plasma and in different cells throughout the body, causing major cardiovascular, renal, and nervous system complications. Until 2018, reimbursed enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) for FD was available in all European Union countries except Poland.

            We present the preliminary results of the first two years of reimbursed ERT in Poland. We obtained data from the seven largest academic centers in Katowice, Kraków, Wrocław, Poznań, Gdańsk, Warszawa, and Łódź. The questionnaire included the following data: number of patients treated, number of patients qualified for ERT, and patient characteristics.

            All centers returned completed questionnaires that included data for a total of 71 patients (28 men and 43 women) as of June 2021. Thirty-five patients with the diagnosis of FD confirmed by genetic testing (22 men and 13 women) had already qualified for reimbursed ERT. Mean (SD) age at the commencement of the ERT program was 39.6 (15.5) years (range 18-79 years). Mean time from the first clinical symptoms reported by the patients to the FD diagnosis was 21.1 (8.9) years, and the mean time from the final diagnosis of FD to the beginning of ERT was 4.7 (4.6) years.

            FD is still underdiagnosed in Poland. To identify undiagnosed FD patients and to ensure that patients in Poland benefit fully from ERT, implementation of an effective nationwide screening strategy and close cooperation with a network of rare disease centers is advised.
Predictive Search for Capacitated Multi-Item Lot Sizing Problems
Authors: Wu Tao
Published: August 2021

For capacitated multi-item lot sizing problems, we propose a predictive search method that integrates machine learning/advanced analytics, mathematical programming, and heuristic search into a single framework. Advanced analytics can predict the probability that an event will happen and has been applied to pressing industry issues, such as credit scoring, risk management, and default management. Although little research has applied such technique for lot sizing problems, we observe that advanced analytics can uncover optimal patterns of setup variables given properties associated with the problems, such as problem attributes, and solution values yielded by linear programming relaxation, column generation, and Lagrangian relaxation. We, therefore, build advanced analytics models that yield information about how likely a solution pattern is the same as the optimum, which is insightful information used to partition the solution space into incumbent, superincumbent, and nonincumbent regions where an analytics-driven heuristic search procedure is applied to build restricted subproblems. These subproblems are solved by a combined mathematical programming technique to improve solution quality iteratively. We prove that the predictive search method can converge to the global optimal solution point. The discussion is followed by computational tests, where comparisons with other methods indicate that our approach can obtain better results for the benchmark problems than other state-of-the-art methods.

Summary of Contribution: In this study, we propose a predictive search method that integrates machine learning/advanced analytics, mathematical programming, and heuristic search into a single framework for capacitated multi-item lot sizing problems. The advanced analytics models are used to yield information about how likely a solution pattern is the same as the optimum, which is insightful information used to divide the solution space into incumbent, superincumbent, and nonincumbent regions where an analytics-driven heuristic search procedure is applied to build restricted subproblems. These subproblems are solved by a combined mathematical programming technique to improve solution quality iteratively. We prove that the predictive search method can converge to the global optimal solution point. Through computational tests based on benchmark problems, we observe that the proposed approach can obtain better results than other state-of-the-art methods.
Changes in Risky Benefits and in Risky Costs: A Question of the Right Order
Authors: Menegatti Mario , Peter Richard
Published: August 2021

We organize and extend findings on the comparative static effects of risk changes on optimal behavior in a unifying expected utility model. We determine restrictions on preferences for clear-cut results. Risk increases of a benefit are compensated by lowering exposure to risk. For risk increases of a cost, the response depends on the order of the risk change. This discrepancy arises because even-order risk increases of a cost raise the riskiness of the payoff distribution, whereas odd-order risk increases of a cost reduce it. We identify the stochastic dominance orders to resolve this discrepancy and discuss specific decision problems as applications.

This paper was accepted by Manel Baucells, behavioral economics and decision analysis.
Aspectos Processuais da Legislação Castelhana: as Testemunhas no Fuero Juzgo e no Fuero Real
Authors: Saldanha Mayara Ramos , Rigas Martins Rosiane Graça
Published: August 2021

Neste artigo buscamos analisar aspectos relativos ao papel das testemunhas em dois códigos jurídicos castelhanos do século XIII, o Fuero Juzgo e o Fuero Real. Procuramos fazer um estudo comparativo das leis referentes às testemunhas em ambos os fueros como forma de refletir acerca de sua influência nos processos e possíveis usos feitos pela monarquia.
Yfançonas, burguesas e rústicas: algumas reflexões sobre viuvidade e herança no texto normativo Vidal Mayor de Vidal de Canellas (séc. XIII)
Authors: Antunes Junior Guilherme
Published: August 2021

O Vidal Mayor é compilação de leis atribuída ao bispo de Huesca, Vidal de Canellas, a pedido de Jaime I de Aragão, em 1247. Em minha análise, destaco ao Liber Sextus, capítulo foral cujo tema central é o instituto jurídico chamado de arras. Chamo atenção para a viuvidade, isto é, uma condição ambígua que expressa as diferenças existentes entre homens e mulheres quanto ao direito à herança e o usufruto dos bens.
A literatura infanto-juvenil de Erico Veríssimo na Revista do Globo
Authors: De Carvalho Michele Ribeiro
Published: August 2021

Neste artigo, mapeiam-se e examinam-se os livros escritos pelo escritor Erico Veríssimo e veiculados nas seções infantis e nas propagandas literárias da Revista do Globo desde as primeiras ocorrências possíveis de se localizar, considerando-se a peculiaridade da pesquisa histórica que privilegia a seleção, o tratamento e a análise das fontes documentais. Ademais, procura-se contextualizar a Revista do Globo, problematizando sua linha editorial, os aspectos relacionados à sua produção, circulação e possível capacidade de formar a opinião pública. Tal estudo focalizou a década de 1930, período que concentrou as produções de Veríssimo para as crianças e os jovens. Os discursos proferidos nas páginas da revista acerca dos livros e coleções publicadas pela Livraria e Editora do Globo refletem a intenção de convencer os leitores do quinzenário de que a aquisição das obras garantiria uma boa formação para crianças e jovens.
A diversidade na opinião de uma comunidade escolar municipal
Authors: Coiado Marina Ramos , Dos Reis Verônica Lima , Capellini Vera Lucia Messias Fialho
Published: August 2021

Conceitos como tolerância, discriminação e identidades foram tomados como base para a definição de diversidade, que fundamenta pilares para a inclusão e convivência entre diferentes. Busca-se verificar a opinião dos sujeitos das escolas sobre culturas inclusivas. A pesquisa do tipo quantitativa descritiva, utilizou-se de dados acerca das afirmações condizentes com a definição de diversidade. Foram 12.338 questionários respondidos por: estudantes do ensino fundamental anos iniciais e anos finais, pais/responsáveis e equipe escolar de 16 escolas. As porcentagens das respostas fechadas quanto às afirmações foram separadas entre os segmentos respondentes para discussão sobre a tolerância nas relações avaliadas. Os resultados mostram que, mesmo com respostas positivas sobre a presença da diversidade em seus contextos, não se pode deduzir o exercício da tolerância no cotidiano escolar. As inconclusões dos resultados evidenciam a necessidade de especificar como tais segmentos compreendem o que estão afirmando no cotidiano em que a diversidade é vivenciada.
Memórias de plantação: escritos de Grada Kilomba
Authors: Santos Pamela Cristina
Published: August 2021

A resenha destaca algumas das principais contribuições da obra de Grada Kilomba, traduzida para o português como, Memórias da Plantação: episódios de racismo cotidiano. Embora a autora seja de origem portuguesa, a obra chega ao Brasil, já com tradução para a Língua Portuguesa, apenas no ano de 2019. Tal obra possui grande relevância para os estudos das Relações Étnico-Raciais no Brasil e no mundo visto que traz elementos concretos do racismo expresso nos cotidianos dos sujeitos negros/as. No livro, são apresentados os modos como o racismo é orquestrado nas sociedades e os modos como atingem as pessoas negras desde a infância até a vida adulta, além disso, ressalta as marcas psicológicas e sociais deixadas pelo racismo cotidiano. A partir de uma discussão profunda e politicamente posicionada Grada Kilomba nos apresenta, nessa obra, possibilidades de conhecer e reconhecer o racismo na sua essência como também maneiras de resistências urgentes.
Desenvolvendo práticas e valores para a inclusão social: as contribuições das aulas de ciências da natureza e matemática em uma escola especializada para alunos com deficiência visual
Authors: Bernardo Fábio Garcia , Rust Naiara Miranda
Published: August 2021

Este trabalho apresenta e discute algumas contribuições das aulas de ciências da natureza e matemática para alunos com deficiência visual, sob a perspectiva do desenvolvimento de culturas, políticas e práticas inclusivas. Considera-se que os movimentos inclusivos não devem estar vinculados apenas aos espaços escolares e precisam se basear, primeiramente, em valores inclusivos, os quais constituem-se como fundamentais para as ações. A pesquisa vem sendo desenvolvida ao longo dos últimos anos em uma escola especializada e se revela como uma investigação qualitativa, numa perspectiva de observação participante, que teve como campo de observação o próprio ambiente de trabalho dos autores. Como resultados, o trabalho tem se mostrado promissor, uma vez que as aulas se tornaram espaços de discussão crítica e reflexiva, extrapolando os limites das disciplinas. Dessa forma, propõe-se então o uso de diferentes e diversificados recursos e metodologias que respeitam as diferenças e as singularidades dos alunos em busca, acima de tudo, de inclusão social. Assim, espera-se que o trabalho possa consolidar o ideal colaborativo e desejado entre educação especial e educação inclusiva tendo como fim comum a promoção dos direitos humanos.
A favor da escola pública: a intersetorialidade como premissa para a educação inclusiva
Authors: Pletsch Marcia Denise , Calheiros de Sá Miriam Ribeiro , Lunardi Mendes Geovana Mendonça
Published: August 2021

Neste artigo, discute-se a importância da intersetorialidade como premissa para a educação inclusiva de crianças com deficiência múltipla e o papel da escola pública nesse processo. Uma pesquisa qualitativa foi realizada por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas com profissionais da Educação, Assistência Social e Saúde de três municípios da Baixada Fluminense e dois do Sul Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro. Os dados indicam que existe uma preocupação por parte dos gestores municipais em efetuar ações integradas e intersetoriais. Apontam, também, que, em grande medida, faltam condições de recursos humanos e diretrizes claras sobre como proceder para efetivar ações intersetoriais para a promoção integral dessas crianças, considerando a sua matrícula em turmas comuns das redes de ensino. Ressalta-se, assim, a importância da escola como espaço potencialmente capaz de mobilizar e articular ações mais integradas entre as diferentes áreas da política social.
Editorial
Authors: Paiva Jane , Leonardi Paula
Published: August 2021

N/a
Entrapped appendicitis in post TAPP mesh repair
Authors: Ramasamy S , Bylapudi SK , Jameel MR , Raja M
Published: August 2021

Transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) repair is a common laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair technique performed worldwide. A rare long-term complication of TAPP is mesh-induced appendicitis, of which only four cases have been described in the literature to date. We report a case of appendicitis due to appendix entrapped in the TAPP mesh.
Advanced breast conservation and partial breast reconstruction – a review of current available options for oncoplastic breast surgery
Authors: Alder L , Zaidi M , Zeidan B , Mazari FAK
Published: August 2021

Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting one in three women with new cancer diagnosis in England. Breast-conserving surgery is the primary surgical option in a vast majority of these patients. Use of oncoplastic techniques in breast conservation surgery has significantly improved the aesthetic outcomes without compromising the oncological safety of cancer resections. Oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery (OPBCS) has transformed the specialty with a paradigm shift in ideology and the recognition that aesthetic and oncological resections are synonymous when planning surgical intervention for patients with breast cancer. The two main options for OPBCS are therapeutic mammoplasty and partial beast reconstruction using pedicle-based flaps. This review aims to highlight key concepts in OPBCS demonstrating an overview of these surgical techniques, their safety, outcomes and the emergence of extreme oncoplastic breast surgery.
Learner Corpora without Error Tagging
Authors: Rastelli Stefano
Published: August 2021

The article explores the possibility of adopting a form-to-function perspective when annotating learner corpora in order to get deeper insights about systematic features of interlanguage. A split between forms and functions (or categories) is desirable in order to avoid the "comparative fallacy" and because – especially in basic varieties – forms may precede functions (e.g., what resembles to a "noun" might have a different function or a function may show up in unexpected forms). In the computer-aided error analysis tradition, all items produced by learners are traced to a grid of error tags which is based on the categories of the target language. Differently, we believe it is possible to record and make retrievable both words and sequence of characters independently from their functional-grammatical label in the target language. For this purpose at the University of Pavia we adapted a probabilistic POS tagger designed for L1 on L2 data. Despite the criticism that this operation can raise, we found that it is better to work with "virtual categories" rather than with errors. The article outlines the theoretical background of the project and shows some examples in which some potential of SLA-oriented (non error-based) tagging will be possibly made clearer.
Lexical Polysemy: Lexicographic Implications
Authors: García Pérez Rafael
Published: August 2021

This paper intends to show the importance of having linguistic instruments, principally semantic ones, for determining the meaning of words with the greatest precision and, consequently, managing to meticulously establish the different meanings of a dictionary's entry words. As an example, a new definition of the Spanish verb mezclar ('to mix') will be proposed.
Ein übereinzelsprachliches kontrastives Beschreibungsmodell für Partikelbedeutungen
Authors: Diewald Gabriele , Kresić Marijana
Published: August 2021

In this paper, a method for the semantic description of modal particles is presented. The method takes into account the context-sensitive meaning of this word class and offers an adequate basis for the purpose of language learning. Modal particles are analysed as grammatical markers of spoken dialogical language use. The model developed here can serve to describe the meaning of German modal particles as well as for contrastive semantic descriptions of particles. The contrastive application is demonstrated using the example of the language pair German-Croatian. First, an overview of the inventory and of the grammatical features of the word class of modal particles in German and of their Croatian equivalents is given. Then, existing methods of determining particle meanings are discussed. On the basis of the scheme for the description of particle meanings proposed by Diewald (1997, 2007), which relates to the Natural Semantic Metalanguage developed by Wierzbicka (e.g. 1996), a new universal model for the description of particle meanings is proposed. This new model is demonstrated with reference to the German modal particles doch, denn and ja and their Croatian equivalents pa, ma und a. Finally, some remarks on the use of the model for the purpose of learning German as a foreign language are made.
Verdopplung beim Verb afaa im nord-östlichen Aargau
Authors: Andres Marie-Christine
Published: August 2021

The present paper deals with the doubling verb aafaa "begin" in Swiss German. The investigation concentrates on the region Baden-Wettigen in the North of the Canton Aargau. This is a transition zone between doubling and non-doubling. The paper discusses the frequency of the doubling of the verb aafaa "begin" as well as the factors triggering or rather blocking doubling.
Hallo! Voulez vous luncher avec moi hüt? Le "code switching" dans la communication par SMS
Authors: Pekarek Doehler Simona
Published: August 2021

Within the last two decades, text messaging by means of SMS has become a central tool of communication around the globe. The use of more than one language for composing a message is wide spread, but, to this day, is relatively underrepresented in research. This paper presents an analysis of the plurilingual nature of SMS communication in Switzerland with the limelight on the forms and functions of code-switching within a set of 345 messages, base language of which is French. Results show that SMS users regularly exhibit code-switching even if they are not members of a bilingual speech community. Code-switching most frequently consists of inserts, i.e. embeddings of single items or combinations of items within a message composed in another language, and this typically involves (only) a limited range of routinized expressions. While English is the most frequently used language for code-switching, German, Swiss German, Spanish and Italian are also recurrent, the latter two being particularly associated with terms of endearment. Code-switching regularly highlights the expression of actions that have a strong interpersonal (phatic) focus, such as greetings, good-byes or thanks. It elucidates the expressive character of the messages, and is also associated with the expression of affection. The specificity of the plurilingual SMS repertoire is discussed in the paper's conclusion.
Language choice in bilingual, cross-cultural interpersonal communication
Authors: Piller Ingrid
Published: August 2021

This paper has three objectives: First, I am arguing for a social constructionist approach to the study of intercultural communication. Second, the discussion of my research design is intended to contribute to methods in the study of intercultural communication. Third, I am identifying language choice as a major factor in the linguistic construction of cultural identity. Through their language choices, bilingual couples most often align themselves with the majority. However, they may also actively construct themselves as intercultural border-crossers by the use of a mixed code, or even as minority members, which happens when both minority and majority partner use the minority language. The reasons the couples themselves identify for their choices are 'habit' and 'compensation.'
Zur Bedeutung von geschweige (denn)
Authors: Pasch Renate
Published: August 2021

Der deutsche Konnektor geschweige wird - mit nachfolgendem oder ohne nachfolgendes denn - vorwiegend mit negativem erstem Konnekt, viel seltener mit affirmativem erstem Konnekt verwendet.
Der Beitrag stellt eine Hypothese über einen spezifischen Weg der Rückführung dieser beiden unterschiedlichen Gebrauchsweisen von geschweige(denn) auf ein und dieselbe aussagenlogische Verknüpfung vor. Ausserdem unterbreitet er einen Vorschlag dazu, wie die in jüngerer Zeit zu beobachtende Spezialisierung der Verwendungen des Konnektors auf Verwendungen mit einem negativen ersten Konnekt zu analysieren ist.
The german conjunctor geschweige - with or without a following denn - mostly appears with a negative first connect, more seldom with an affirmative first connect.
The article presents a hypothesis about a specific way how one may understand both appearances of geschweige (denn) as one and the same logical connection. Moreover there is a suggestion about the analysis of the uses of geschweige (denn) with a negative first conjunct quite common at present.
On the consistent choice of effective permittivity and conductivity for modeling graphene
Authors: Hong Youngjoon , Nicholls David P.
Published: August 2021

Graphene has transformed the fields of plasmonics and photonics, and
become an indispensable component for devices operating in the
terahertz to mid-infrared range. Here, for instance, graphene surface
plasmons can be excited, and their extreme interfacial confinement
makes them vastly effective for sensing and detection. The rapid,
robust, and accurate numerical simulation of optical devices featuring
graphene is of paramount importance and many groups appeal to
Black-Box Finite Element solvers. While accurate, these are quite
computationally expensive for problems with simplifying geometrical
features such as multiple homogeneous layers, which can be recast in
terms of interfacial (rather than volumetric) unknowns. In either
case, an important modeling consideration is whether to treat the
graphene as a material of small (but non-zero) thickness with an
effective permittivity, or as a vanishingly thin sheet of current with
an effective conductivity. In this contribution we ponder the correct
relationship between the effective conductivity and permittivity of
graphene, and propose a new relation which is based upon a concrete
mathematical calculation that appears to be missing in the literature.
We then test our new model both in the case in which the interface
deformation is non-trivial, and when there are two layers of graphene
with non-flat interfacial deformation.
Quadruple plasmon-induced transparency of polarization desensitization caused by the Boltzmann function
Authors: Zhang Xiao , Zhou Fengqi , Liu Zhimin , Zhang Zhenbin , Qin Yipeng , Zhuo Shanshan , Luo Xin , Gao Enduo , Li Hongjian
Published: August 2021

This study proposes a graphene metamaterial desensitized to the polarized angle to produce tunable quadruple plasmon-induced transparency (PIT). As a tool employed to explain the PIT, n-order coupled mode theory (CMT) is deduced for the first time and closely agrees with finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations according to the quadruple PIT results in the case of n = 5. Additionally, the response of the proposed structure to the angle of polarized light is investigated. As a result, the Boltzmann function satisfied by the response of graphene strips to the polarization direction of incident light is proposed for the first time. Its property of polarization desensitization can be attributed to structural centrosymmetry, and conjugated variety which the Boltzmann functions result in. Therefore, a quintuple-mode modulation based on simultaneous electro-optical switch is realized by tuning Fermi levels within graphene. Its modulation degrees of amplitude and dephasing times are obtained. Given that the slow-light property is an important application of PIT, the n-order group index is thereby obtained. Hence, not only do the insights gained into polarization-desensitization structure provide new ideas for the design of novel optoelectronic devices, but also the results from the n-order CMT offer new research progress and references in theory.
Design guidelines for collimating or focusing graded-index fiber tips
Authors: Riesen Nicolas , Phillips Nicholas , Lancaster David G.
Published: August 2021

Graded-index optical fiber probes suitable for focusing or collimating the output of an optical fiber at a wavelength of 1.3 µm have become an enabling technology in optical coherence tomography imaging applications for in vivo bioimaging. Such fiber tips however remain uncommon in other photonics applications. This paper provides the first numerical study of graded-index fiber tips covering a broad range of wavelengths spanning from the UV to short-infrared. The wavelength dependency and the influence of probe geometry on performance characteristics such as far-field divergence angle, spot size and working distance are analyzed. The paper yields easily accessible design guidelines for the fabrication of collimating or focusing fiber tips. Fiber collimators have considerable potential for use in free-space systems and could benefit a range of devices such as variable attenuators, dynamic wavelength equalisers and large 3D optical cross-connect switches, whereas focusing fiber tips have applications in high-resolution imaging.
Investigation and demonstration of a high-power handling and large-range steering optical phased array chip
Authors: Zhang Lanxuan , Li Yingzhi , Hou Yu , Wang Yubing , Tao Min , Chen Bosong , Na Quanxin , Li Yuxuan , Zhi Zihao , Liu Xiaobin , Li Xueyan , Gao Fengli , Luo Xianshu , Lo Guo-Qiang , Song Junfeng
Published: August 2021

The optical power handling of an OPA scanning beam determines its targeted detection distance. So far, a limited number of investigations have been conducted on the restriction of the beam power. To the best of our knowledge, we for the first time in this paper explore the ability of the silicon photonics based OPA circuit for the high power application. A 64-channel SiN-Si based one-dimensional (1D) OPA chip has been designed to handle high beam power to achieve large scanning range. The chip was fabricated on the standard silicon photonics platform. The main lobe power of our chip can reach 720 mW and its peak side-lobe level (PSLL) is -10.33 dB. We obtain a wide scanning range of 110° in the horizontal direction at 1550 nm wavelength, with a compressed longitudinal divergence angle of each scanning beam of 0.02°.
Implementation of a 3 × 3 directionally-unbiased linear optical multiport
Authors: Kim Ilhwan , Lee Donghwa , Hong Seongjin , Cho Young-Wook , Jo Lee Kwang , Kim Yong-Su , Lim Hyang-Tag
Published: August 2021

Linear optical multiports are widely used in photonic quantum information processing. Naturally, these devices are directionally-biased since photons always propagate from the input ports toward the output ports. Recently, the concept of directionally-unbiased linear optical multiports was proposed. These directionally-unbiased multiports allow photons to propagate along a reverse direction, which can greatly reduce the number of required linear optical elements for complicated linear optical quantum networks. Here, we report an experimental demonstration of a 3 × 3 directionally-unbiased linear optical fiber multiport using an optical tritter and mirrors. Compared to the previous demonstration using bulk optical elements which works only with light sources with a long coherence length, our experimental directionally-unbiased 3 × 3 optical multiport does not require a long coherence length since it provides negligible optical path length differences among all possible optical trajectories. It can be a useful building block for implementing large-scale quantum walks on complex graph networks.
Demonstration of >1Tbit/s WDM OWC with wavelength-transparent beam tracking-and-steering capability
Authors: Hong Yang , Feng Feng , Bottrill Kyle R. H. , Taengnoi Natsupa , Singh Ravinder , Faulkner Grahame , O’Brien Dominic C. , Petropoulos Periklis
Published: August 2021

Beam tracking-and-steering is crucial for the operation of high-speed, narrow beam, optical wireless communication (OWC) systems. Using a system based on two sets of low-cost cameras for continuous beam tracking and a set of mirrors for steering, we demonstrate here a high-capacity (>1Tbit/s) ten-channel wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) OWC system based on discrete multitone transmission. The results, which are achieved over a 3.5-m perpendicular distance and across a lateral coverage up to 1.8 m, constitute to the best of our knowledge, the highest aggregate OWC capacity at this coverage.
Low-loss off-axis curved waveguide grating demultiplexer
Authors: Hadij-ElHouati Abdelfettah , Ortega-Moñux Alejandro , Wangüemert-Pérez J. Gonzalo , Halir Robert , Wang Shurui , Schmid Jens H. , Cheben Pavel , Molina-Fernández I.
Published: August 2021

Current optical communication systems rely on the use of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) to keep up with the increasing data rate requirements. The wavelength demultiplexer is the key component to implement WDM systems. In this Letter, we design and experimentally demonstrate a demultiplexer based on a curved grating waveguide geometry that separates eight channels with a spacing of 10 nm (1249 GHz) around the central wavelength of 1550 nm. The fabricated device shows very low insertion loss (

∼

1

d
B

) and a crosstalk (XT) below

−

25

d
B

. This device leverages metamaterial index engineering to implement the lateral cladding on one side of the waveguide. This makes it possible to design a waveguide grating with highly directional lateral emission by operating in a regime where diffraction into the silica upper cladding is frustrated, thus suppressing losses due to off-chip radiation.
Spectral filtering effect on the ultrafast mid-infrared Er3+-doped ZBLAN fiber laser
Authors: Ma Chunyang , Luo Mulin , Zhang Han , Tang Pinghua , Liu Jun
Published: August 2021

We investigate the spectral filtering effect on the mid-infrared ultrafast

E
r

3
+

-doped ZBLAN fiber laser based on nonlinear polarization evolution (NPE). A broad wavelength tuning range from 2720 nm to 2800 nm is achieved using a diffraction grating as the narrowband filter. Furthermore, numerical simulations are also carried out so that, by inserting a highly nonlinear fiber combined with an appropriate spectral filter in the laser system, a 329 nm ultra-broadband spectrum with a Fourier transform limit pulse as short as 47 fs can be achieved. Our results are conducive to understanding the spectral filtering effect on the lasing performance of mid-infrared ultrafast fiber lasers.
Compression of high-power laser pulses using only multiple ultrathin plane plates
Authors: Mironov S. Yu. , Wheeler J. A. , Khazanov E. A. , Mourou G. A.
Published: August 2021

A proposal for additional temporal compression and peak power enhancement of intense (

>

T
W

/

c
m

2

) femtosecond laser pulses using two thin plane-parallel plates is presented. The first ultrathin plate (order of mm) induces spectral broadening due to self-phase modulation, and the second ultrathin plate (order of micron) corrects the spectral phase. The elimination of the negative dispersive multilayer coating from the scheme offers an improved laser-induced damage threshold for the post-compression process.
Relationships between measures of boat acceleration and performance in rowing, with and without controlling for stroke rate and power output
Authors: Holt Ana C. , Ball Kevin , Siegel Rodney , Hopkins William G. , Aughey Robert J.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Boat acceleration profiles provide a valuable feedback tool by reflecting both rower technique and force application. Relationships between measures of boat acceleration and velocity to inform interpretation of boat acceleration profiles in rowing were investigated here.

Methods

Thirteen male singles, nine female singles, eight male pairs, and seven female pairs participated (national and international level, age 18–27 y). Data from each stroke for 74 2000-m races were collected using Peach PowerLine and OptimEye S5 GPS units. General linear mixed modelling established modifying effects on velocity of two within-crew SD of boat acceleration variables for each boat class, without and with adjustment for stroke rate and power, to identify potential performance-enhancement strategies for a given stroke rate and power. Measures of acceleration magnitude at six peaks or dips, and six measures of the rate of change (jerk) between these peaks and dips were analyzed. Results were interpreted using rejection of non-substantial and substantial hypotheses with a smallest substantial change in velocity of 0.3%.

Results

Several boat acceleration measures had decisively substantial effects (-2.4–2.5%) before adjustment for stroke rate and power. Most effect magnitudes reduced after adjustment for stroke rate and power, although maximum negative drive acceleration, peak drive acceleration, jerk during the mid-drive phase, and jerk in the late recovery remained decisively substantial (-1.8–1.9%) in some boat classes.

Conclusion

Greater absolute values of maximum negative drive acceleration and jerk in the late recovery are related to improved performance, likely reflecting delayed rower centre-of-mass negative acceleration in preparation for the catch. Greater absolute values of peak drive acceleration, first peak acceleration, and jerk in the early and mid-drive are also associated with improved performance, likely reflecting propulsive force during the drive. These proposed mechanisms provide potential strategies for performance enhancement additional to increases in stroke rate and power output.