bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validation of computed extreme ultraviolet emission spectra during solar flares
Authors: Nishimoto Shohei , Watanabe Kyoko , Kawai Toshiki , Imada Shinsuke , Kawate Tomoko
Published: March 2021

X-rays and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) emissions from solar flares rapidly change the physical composition of the Earth’s thermosphere and ionosphere, thereby causing space weather phenomena such as communication failures. Numerous empirical and physical models have been developed to estimate the effects of flare emissions on the Earth’s upper atmosphere. We verified the reproduction of the flare emission spectra using a one-dimensional hydrodynamic calculation and the CHIANTI atomic database. To validate the proposed model, we used the observed EUV spectra obtained by the Extreme ultraviolet variability experiment (EVE) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). We examined the “EUV flare time-integrated irradiance” and “EUV flare line rise time” of the EUV emissions for 21 events by comparing the calculation results of the proposed model and observed EUV spectral data. The proposed model successfully reproduced the EUV flare time-integrated irradiance of the Fe VIII 131 Å, Fe XVIII 94 Å, and Fe XX133 Å, as well as the 55–355 Å and 55–135 Å bands. For the EUV flare line rise time, there was an acceptable correlation between the proposed model estimations and observations for all Fe flare emission lines. These results demonstrate that the proposed model can reproduce the EUV flare emission spectra from the emitting plasma with a relatively high formation temperature. This indicates that the physics-based model is effective for the accurate reproduction of the EUV spectral irradiance.
Deep learning-based image quality improvement of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography: a retrospective observational study
Authors: Tsuchiya Junichi , Yokoyama Kota , Yamagiwa Ken , Watanabe Ryosuke , Kimura Koichiro , Kishino Mitsuhiro , Chan Chung , Asma Evren , Tateishi Ukihide
Published: March 2021

Background

Deep learning (DL)-based image quality improvement is a novel technique based on convolutional neural networks. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) images obtained with the DL method with those obtained using a Gaussian filter.

Methods

Fifty patients with a mean age of 64.4 (range, 19–88) years who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT between April 2019 and May 2019 were included in the study. PET images were obtained with the DL method in addition to conventional images reconstructed with three-dimensional time of flight-ordered subset expectation maximization and filtered with a Gaussian filter as a baseline for comparison. The reconstructed images were reviewed by two nuclear medicine physicians and scored from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent) for tumor delineation, overall image quality, and image noise. For the semi-quantitative analysis, standardized uptake values in tumors and healthy tissues were compared between images obtained using the DL method and those obtained with a Gaussian filter.

Results

Images acquired using the DL method scored significantly higher for tumor delineation, overall image quality, and image noise compared to baseline (P < 0.001). The Fleiss’ kappa value for overall inter-reader agreement was 0.78. The standardized uptake values in tumor obtained by DL were significantly higher than those acquired using a Gaussian filter (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Deep learning method improves the quality of PET images.
Laparoscopic surgery in a patient with foramen of Winslow hernia due to large uterine fibroids: a case report and literature review
Authors: Honma Shusaku , Itohara Takenori , Sha Seigo , Onoyama Hirohiko
Published: March 2021

Background

Foramen of Winslow hernia (FWH) is a rare but emergent condition caused by an increase in the foramen diameter, visceral mobility, and intra-abdominal pressure. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report a case of FWH secondary to large uterine fibroids that was successfully treated with laparoscopic surgery.

Case presentation

A 52-year-old woman with large uterine fibroids was diagnosed with FWH. Because of the absence of signs of bowel ischemia and peritonitis, we performed an elective laparoscopic surgery through a 5-port system after bowel decompression using a long intestinal tube. Although foramen of Winslow closure was not performed, her postoperative course was uneventful.

Conclusions

Laparoscopic surgery for FWH is considered an extremely effective surgical treatment option because of its safety and efficacy in performing delicate procedures (such as adhesiolysis) with a good magnified field of view.
Party expats? Mapping transnational party branches of French, German and UK parties
Authors: von Nostitz Felix-Christopher
Published: March 2021

Today many parties interact with members and supporters outside their national borders. One way parties do so is by establishing transnational party branches. However so far, there is a lack of theoretical and empirical research exploring this transnational aspect of party activity. This paper provides a first insight into why parties develop transnational branches, and how it affects their organization. It argues that the development of party branches abroad differs across countries due to the incentives provided by the national legal framework on voting and donations from abroad. In turn, the role and functions of the transnational branches vary depending on this legal framework. Looking at the two transnational branches of the two mainstream parties in France, Germany and the United Kingdom, this paper first briefly outlines the different national legal frameworks and the scope and size of transnational party branches. It then focuses on how they are organized, their role and function, and how this shapes their relationship to their homeland party. This explorative research is mainly based on legal and secondary data. The paper finds that the parties studied differ substantially in location, number and membership size for their transnational branches. Furthermore, the organizational links and the control by the national party over transnational party branches is the highest where parties have the most to gain in terms of votes in national elections and donations.
A comparative study between the effect of verapamil versus nalbuphine as an adjuvant in supraclavicular brachial plexus block
Authors: Khamis Mohammed Ibrahim , Mohamed Ahmed Saeed , El Azazy Hesham Mohamed , El Ozairy Hala Salah , Mohamed Mohamed Moien
Published: March 2021

Background

Brachial plexus block has substituted general anesthesia in the majority of patients planned for upper limb surgeries as it avoids the undesired effects of the medications used in general anesthesia as well as the stress response associated with airway manipulation. Opioid agonist–antagonists such as nalbuphine are used as adjuvant to improve the anesthetic properties of bupivacaine. Verapamil has an additive effect in brachial plexus blockade in the form of decreasing the consumption of analgesics in the postoperative period with reducing onset time and extending the duration of motor and sensory blockade. The aim of this study is to investigate the adjuvant effect of verapamil versus nalbuphine to 0.5% bupivacaine in brachial plexus block as regards onset, duration of sensory and motor blockade and postoperative analgesic augmentation. The study is randomized, prospective, double-blinded, comparative study where 90 patients subjected to arm, forearm and hand surgeries were randomized into three groups, group A received 30 ml of plain bupivacaine 0.5% plus 2 ml of normal saline, group B received 30 ml of bupivacaine 0.5% plus 2 ml verapamil equivalent to 5 mg, group C received 30 ml of bupivacaine 0.5% plus 10 mg of nalbuphine diluted in 2 ml of normal saline.

Results

Results of this study showed that group C and group B sensory block time onset was 7.25 ± 1.5 vs. 10.92 ± 3.84 min, P < 0.001 and was shorter than that in group A (13.2 ± 2.66 min). In addition, the motor block onset was (11.10 ± 1.24 vs. 13.50 ± 3.77 min, P < 0.001) shorter than group A (17.16 ± 1.30 min). In group C and group B, sensory block duration was 396 ± 32.17 vs. 355.83 ± 18.48 min, P < 0.001, respectively and was longer than that in group A (321.13 ± 25.08 min). Also, there was prolonged motor block duration in group C and group B recording (338.92 ± 25.2 vs. 302.93 ± 15.24 min, P < 0.001) and was longer than that in group A (280.70 ± 32.35 min). Time of demand of rescue analgesia dose was significantly long in group C and group B (449.53 ± 52.45 vs. 418.13 ± 41.12 min, P < 0.001) and was longer than group A (361.31 ± 21.42 min). Both verapamil and nalbuphine have additive effect to bupivacaine improving the all anesthetic parameters of the block.

Conclusion

Both drugs produce favorable enhancement of time onset and effective prolongation of duration of sensory and motor blockade and extend the period of postoperative analgesia with superiority to nalbuphine over verapamil.
An improved backward/forward sweep power flow method based on network tree depth for radial distribution systems
Authors: Kawambwa Shamte , Mwifunyi Rukia , Mnyanghwalo Daudi , Hamisi Ndyetabura , Kalinga Ellen , Mvungi Nerey
Published: March 2021

This paper presents an improved load flow technique for a modern distribution system. The proposed load flow technique is derived from the concept of the conventional backward/forward sweep technique. The proposed technique uses linear equations based on Kirchhoff’s laws without involving matrix multiplication. The method can accommodate changes in network structure reconfiguration by involving the parent–children relationship between nodes to avoid complex renumbering of branches and nodes. The IEEE 15 bus, IEEE 33 bus and IEEE 69 bus systems were used for testing the efficacy of the proposed technique. The meshed IEEE 15 bus system was used to demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed technique under network reconfiguration scenarios. The proposed method was compared with other load flow approaches, including CIM, BFS and DLF. The results revealed that the proposed method could provide similar power flow solutions with the added advantage that it can work well under network reconfiguration without performing node renumbering, not covered by others. The proposed technique was then applied in Tanzania electric secondary distribution network and performed well.
Toward Personalized Radiation Therapy of Liver Metastasis: Importance of Serial Blood Biomarkers
Authors: Ajdari Ali , Xie Yunhe , Richter Christian , Niyazi Maximilian , Duda Dan G. , Hong Theodore S. , Bortfeld Thomas
Published: March 2021

PURPOSE

To assess the added value of serial blood biomarkers in liver metastasis stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighty-nine patients were retrospectively included. Pre- and midtreatment blood samples were analyzed for potential biomarkers of the treatment response. Three biomarker classes were studied: gene mutation status, complete blood count, and inflammatory cytokine concentration in plasma. One-year local failure (LF) and 2-year overall survival (OS) were chosen as study end points. Multivariate logistic regression was used for response prediction. Added predictive benefit was assessed by quantifying the difference between the predictive performance of a baseline model (clinicopathologic and dosimetric predictors) and that of the biomarker-enhanced model, using three metrics: (1) likelihood ratio, (2) predictive variance, and (3) area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).

RESULTS

The most important predictors of LF were mutation in KRAS gene (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.92, 95% CI, [1.17 to 7.28], P = .02) and baseline and midtreatment concentration of plasma interleukin-6 (HR = 1.15 [1.04 to 1.26] and 1.06 [1.01 to 1.13], P = .01). Absolute lymphocyte count and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio at baseline as well as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio at baseline and before fraction 3 (HR = 1.33 [1.16 to 1.51] and 1.19 [1.09 to 1.30]) had the most significant association with OS ( P = .0003). Addition of baseline GEN and inflammatory plasma cytokine biomarkers in predicting LF, respectively, increased AUC by 0.06 (from 0.73 to 0.79) and 0.07 (from 0.77 to 0.84). In predicting OS, inclusion of midtreatment complete blood count biomarkers increased AUC from 0.72 to 0.80, along with significant boosts in likelihood ratio and predictive variance.

CONCLUSION

Inclusion of serial blood biomarkers leads to significant gain in predicting response to liver metastasis stereotactic body radiation therapy and can guide treatment personalization.
Novel pulmonary vascular imaging signs in COVID-19: pathophysiology, significance and management
Authors: Parry Arshed Hussain , Wani Abdul Haseeb
Published: March 2021

A growing body of evidence points to the frequent involvement of pulmonary microvessels in COVID-19 which was recognized first on CT, and subsequently demonstrated by clinical and pathological studies. Microvasculopathy occurring chiefly from endothelial and pericyte damage with resultant disruption of immune, thrombotic and renin–angiotensin–aldosterone balance leads to a constellation of clinical and biochemical derangements. Exploration of potential therapies directed at normalizing the vascular health can prove a major boon in the treatment of COVID-19.
Formation of the Vocational-Oriented Environment of the School: from the Experience of the Work of the School of Moscow Region
Authors: Nechaev Mikhail , Frolova Svetlana
Published: March 2021

Global changes taking place in all spheres of life have influenced the education sector. The school must prepare a graduate who can successfully socialize and be in demand and competitive. That is why the problem of professional self-determination and choice of a future profession by students is especially acute.

According to the authors of the article, one of the most important conditions for the successful professional self-determination of students is the vocational guidance environment of the school. The authors give a definition of the concept of "vocational guidance environment". They describe the stages of its formation, and also present the experience of creating a career guidance environment in one of the schools in the Moscow region.

The material of the authors can be useful for creating a career guidance environment, early career guidance and pre-professional training of students in educational organizations, which will ensure the emergence of a "new type" graduate - a young person who has the ability to consciously choose a professional path in unity with professional mobility.
Economic security: modeling and evaluation
Authors: Kovalenko Oksana , Malyutina Tatiana , Tkachenko Denis
Published: March 2021

The training manual presents the methodological aspects of the policy of economic security of the enterprise: the concept of policy, classification of risks, threats and methodology of their assessment, the mechanism of economic security of the enterprise, including the processes of formation of economic security strategy, accounting, control of risks and threats. The textbook meets the requirements of the GEF in the specialty 38.05.01 Economic security. Designed for undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students studying in economic specialties and areas of training, as well as for business leaders, specialists in the field of economic security
A Theory of Statistical Inference for Ensuring the Robustness of Scientific Results
Authors: Coker Beau , Rudin Cynthia , King Gary
Published: March 2021

Inference is the process of using facts we know to learn about facts we do not know. A theory of inference gives assumptions necessary to get from the former to the latter, along with a definition for and summary of the resulting uncertainty. Any one theory of inference is neither right nor wrong but merely an axiom that may or may not be useful. Each of the many diverse theories of inference can be valuable for certain applications. However, no existing theory of inference addresses the tendency to choose, from the range of plausible data analysis specifications consistent with prior evidence, those that inadvertently favor one’s own hypotheses. Because the biases from these choices are a growing concern across scientific fields, and in a sense the reason the scientific community was invented in the first place, we introduce a new theory of inference designed to address this critical problem. We introduce hacking intervals, which are the range of a summary statistic one may obtain given a class of possible endogenous manipulations of the data. Hacking intervals require no appeal to hypothetical data sets drawn from imaginary superpopulations. A scientific result with a small hacking interval is more robust to researcher manipulation than one with a larger interval and is often easier to interpret than a classical confidence interval. Some versions of hacking intervals turn out to be equivalent to classical confidence intervals, which means they may also provide a more intuitive and potentially more useful interpretation of classical confidence intervals.

This paper was accepted by J. George Shanthikumar, big data analytics.
Comment on “Optimal Contract to Induce Continued Effort”
Authors: Cao Ping , Tian Feng , Sun Peng
Published: March 2021

In this comment, we first use a counterexample to demonstrate that the optimal contract structure proposed in section 4 of the paper [Sun P, Tian F (2018) Optimal contract to induce continued effort. Management Sci. 64(9):4193–4217] can be wrong when the two players’ discount rates are different. We then specify correct optimal contract structures, which involve generalizing the contract space to allow random termination. Numerical study with a wide range of model parameters illustrates that such a random termination only occurs sparingly in optimal contracts. Moreover, the suboptimality gap, measured by the relative improvement of the optimal contract over the best contract without random termination, is extremely small.

This paper was accepted by Manel Baucells, decision analysis.
How human behaviour change science can help us manage obesity in horses
Authors: Furtado Tamzin
Published: March 2021

Equine obesity is one of the biggest welfare concerns facing our leisure horses today. As a preventable issue, with many serious consequences, obesity should be simple to fix (by reducing energy input and increasing exercise) – yet this issue remains one of the most complex and pervasive problems for the UK's horses. Despite many campaigns to raise awareness and improve owner education, levels of obesity in horses are thought to be as high as ever. In this article, we unpick some insights gained from the fields of psychology, sociology and human behaviour, which will help practitioners to find ways to buck the trend and encourage the equine community to manage horses' weight proactively.
Don't forget the foal: the nursing requirements of hospitalised foals when the mare is the primary patient
Authors: Harniman Suzannah
Published: March 2021

In the postpartum period, there are a range of factors that could result in the hospitalisation of the mare. To minimise the long-term impact that the hospitalisation period has on the physical and behavioural development of the foal, veterinary practices should have a protocol in place to care for a foal even though the mare is the primary patient. When mares are admitted, detailed information should be gathered from the owner about both the mare and the foal. This provides valuable information needed to plan appropriate nursing care. Important factors that need to be considered when planning care include the nutritional needs of the foal, the development of the selective bond between the mare and the foal, and the handling of them as patients. Where possible the owner should be encouraged to participate in the care of their mare and the foal during the hospitalisation period. This will help the owner feel more involved in the provision of care and give them a better understanding of the mare and foal's care requirements after discharge. This is a technique used in human paediatric nursing and is known as parent participation in care.
Streptococcus equiinfections: current best practice in the diagnosis and management of ‘strangles’
Authors: Rendle David , de Brauwere Nic , Hallowell Gayle , Ivens Philip , McGlennon Abigail , Newton Richard , White Jo , Waller Andrew
Published: March 2021

Foreword

This document was commissioned to provide UK veterinary surgeons with up-to-date information on Streptococcus equi infection and to provide practical recommendations for veterinary surgeons in the field. The participants were selected to provide representation from a range of expertise and viewpoints and included practitioners, academics and social scientists. The document and practical recommendations were developed using a modified non-anonymised two-round Delphi process, considering published and unpublished research relating to ‘strangles’ using online discussion. The expert group was convened by UK-Vet Equine and Redwings and an online meeting held on 20th January 2021 with sponsorship from MSD and support from World Horse Welfare. The sponsors did not participate in the meeting and had no influence over editorial content. Each of the panellists was provided with a sub-topic and presented a review of the evidence pertaining to that area prior to taking two rounds of questions relating to the evidence presented. Where research evidence was conflicting or absent, collective expert opinion, based on the experience of the group, was applied. The opinions expressed are the consensus of views expressed by the authors who all approved the final manuscript. Where it was not possible to reach consensus, different viewpoints are presented.
m-commuting maps on triangular and strictly triangular infinite matrices
Authors: Słowik Roksana , Aiat Hadj Ahmed Driss
Published: March 2021

Let $N_\infty(F)$ be the ring of infinite strictly upper triangular matrices with entries in an infinite field. The description of the commuting maps defined on $N_\infty(F)$, i.e. the maps $f\colon N_\infty(F)\rightarrow N_\infty(F)$ such that $[f(X),X]=0$ for every $X\in N_\infty(F)$, is presented. With the use of this result, the form of $m$-commuting maps defined on $T_\infty(F)$ -- the ring of infinite upper triangular matrices, i.e. the maps $f\colon T_\infty(F)\rightarrow T_\infty(F)$ such that $[f(X),X^m]=0$ for every $X\in T_\infty(F)$, is found.
Paleostress and outcrop fracture analysis along Himalayan Foothills (Eastern Salt Range), Potwar Plateau, NW Himalaya, Pakistan
Authors: Mehmood Hassan
Published: March 2021

The Salt Range (SR) is an ENE-WSW trending fault bend fold that form the range front of the Himalayan fold and thrust belt in Pakistan. The research is carried out in the Eastern Salt Range (ESR) with the objective to determine the paleostress inversion from reduced stress tensors by using fracture data. The surface morphology of the fold is predominantly shaped by Eocene limestone that provide best exposure of joint surfaces that can be used for kinematic and dynamic analysis. We adopted a classical circle inventory method in the field and collected orientation data (dip amount, direction, and strike) from 7 localities (outcrop stations) of the Eocene Sakesar Limestone. Three prominent fracture trends are present in the study area namely, FS-1; (E-W), FS-2; (ENE-WSW) and FS-3; (NNE-SSW). For stress analysis and data processing we used the Tensor Program of Delvaux and Sperner (2003) and calculated seven stress fields by the Right Dihedron Method. The orientations of the principal stress axes (ϭ1, ϭ2, ϭ3) and Stress Ratio (R) depicts ϭ1(Shmax) and ϭ2 are sub-horizontal while ϭ3 is vertical in all stress tensors. The paleostress results show that ϭ1(Shmax) oriented NNE-SSW belonging to a compressive regime. It is suggested that ϭ1 developed more or less perpendicular to the trend of SRT and other relevant structures in the Potwar Plateau.
Methane leak detection by tunable laser spectroscopy and mid-infrared
imaging
Authors: Strahl Thomas , Herbst Johannes , Lambrecht Armin , Maier Eric , Steinebrunner Jonas , Wöllenstein Jürgen
Published: March 2021

Tunable laser spectroscopy (TLS) combined with mid-infrared imaging is a powerful tool for a sensitive and quantitative visualization of gas leaks. This work deals with standoff methane leak detection within 2 m by an interband cascade laser (3270 nm wavelength) and an infrared camera. The concept demonstrates visualization of methane leakage rates down to 2 ml/min by images and sequences at frame rates up to 125 Hz. The gas plume and leak can be localized and quantified within a single image by direct absorption spectroscopy (DAS). The HITRAN database allows a calibration-free, pixelwise determination of the concentration in ppm*m. The active optical imaging concept showed pixelwise sensitivities around 1 ppm*m.
Optical design and intensity interferometry simulations in support of the Kilometer Space Telescope
Authors: Johnson Tim P. , Crowe Devon G.
Published: March 2021

Very large telescopes will be needed for the future of space science, space laser-com, and other interstellar or interplanetary applications. However, as telescopes’ diameters increase, their weight and cost increase dramatically. An approximation for ground-based observatories is that their cost increases to the power of 2.7 of its diameter [SAO, Special Report #385 (1979), p. 9]. Large space-based telescopes become limited by the rocket size and power. Multiple telescopes are also needed for very long baseline interferometry (VLBI), which further increases cost. A solution to overcome these issues is the use of inflatable telescopes. A thin mirror material clearly has much lower mass; however, controlling its surface error or wavefront can be a challenge. Intensity interferometry is an imaging method that has a much looser sensitivity to wavefront error (WFE), and thus is an ideal match for very large inflatable telescopes. A spherical inflatable mirror is the most practical; however, it suffers from spherical aberration. This paper presents new optical designs and simulations for intensity interferometry in support of large inflatable spherical telescopes. The optical system design includes a novel five-mirror off-axis, free-form, spherical aberration corrector. The system design shown is a 10 m diameter f/1 spherical primary mirror with 1.2 arcmin (0.02°) field of view (FOV). MATLAB simulations of intensity interferometry combine signal with noise and WFE. Visibility-based VLBI image simulations are shown based on various telescope arrays. Simulations show that with a 1 GHz detector, a 1 cm RMS WFE is tolerable. So the challenge of the optical design is then more about gathering and concentrating the light down to a reasonable size detector. Further simulations of signal combined with noise indicate that the signal rate must be about 100 times higher than the noise rate for an adequate intensity interferometry measurement. Visibility-based image simulations reveal that many telescopes (5–20 per axis) are needed in a 2D array out to the first visibility minimum to adequately resolve unknown features of a distant object.
Deep learning provides high accuracy in automated chondrocyte viability assessment in articular cartilage using nonlinear optical microscopy
Authors: Chen Xun , Li Yang , Wyman Nicole , Zhang Zheng , Fan Hongming , Le Michael , Gannon Steven , Rose Chelsea , Zhang Zhao , Mercuri Jeremy , Yao Hai , Gao Bruce , Woolf Shane , Pécot Thierry , Ye Tong
Published: March 2021

Chondrocyte viability is a crucial factor in evaluating cartilage health. Most cell viability assays rely on dyes and are not applicable for in vivo or longitudinal studies. We previously demonstrated that two-photon excited autofluorescence and second harmonic generation microscopy provided high-resolution images of cells and collagen structure; those images allowed us to distinguish live from dead chondrocytes by visual assessment or by the normalized autofluorescence ratio. However, both methods require human involvement and have low throughputs. Methods for automated cell-based image processing can improve throughput. Conventional image processing algorithms do not perform well on autofluorescence images acquired by nonlinear microscopes due to low image contrast. In this study, we compared conventional, machine learning, and deep learning methods in chondrocyte segmentation and classification. We demonstrated that deep learning significantly improved the outcome of the chondrocyte segmentation and classification. With appropriate training, the deep learning method can achieve 90% accuracy in chondrocyte viability measurement. The significance of this work is that automated imaging analysis is possible and should not become a major hurdle for the use of nonlinear optical imaging methods in biological or clinical studies.
Digital holographic microscopy evaluation of dynamic cell response to electroporation
Authors: Calin Violeta L. , Mihailescu Mona , Tarba Nicolae , Sandu Ana Maria , Scarlat Eugen , Moisescu Mihaela G. , Savopol Tudor
Published: March 2021

Phase-derived parameters and time autocorrelation functions were used to analyze the behavior of murine B16 cells exposed to different amplitudes of electroporation pulses. Cells were observed using an off-axis digital holographic microscope equipped with a fast camera. Series of quantitative phase images of cells were reconstructed and further processed using MATLAB codes. Projected area, dry mass density, and entropy proved to be predictors for permeabilized cells that swell or collapse. Autocorrelation functions of phase fluctuations in different regions of the cell showed a good correlation with the local effectiveness of permeabilization.
Power control strategies and network performance assessment for
C+L+S multiband optical transport
Authors: Correia Bruno , Sadeghi Rasoul , Virgillito Emanuele , Napoli Antonio , Costa Nelson , Pedro João , Curri Vittorio
Published: March 2021

Spatial-division multiplexing (SDM) and band-division multiplexing
(BDM) have emerged as solutions to expand the capacity of existing
C-band wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) optical systems and to
deal with increasing traffic demands. An important difference between
these two approaches is that BDM solutions enable data transmission
over unused spectral bands of already-deployed optical fibers, whereas
SDM solutions require the availability of additional fibers to
replicate C-band WDM transmission. On the other hand, to properly
design a multiband optical line system (OLS), the following fiber
propagation effects have been taken into account in the analysis:
(i) stimulated Raman scattering (SRS), which induces considerable
power transfer among bands; (ii) frequency dependence of fiber
parameters such as attenuation, dispersion, and nonlinear
coefficients; and (iii) utilization of optical amplifiers with
different doping materials, thus leading to different characteristics,
e.g., in terms of noise figures. This work follows a two-step
approach: First, we aim at maximizing and flattening the quality of
transmission (QoT) when adding L- and

-bands to a traditional WDM OLS where
only the C-band is deployed. This is achieved by
applying a multiband optimized optical power control for BDM upgrades,
which consists of setting a pre-tilt and power offset in the line
amplifiers, thus achieving a considerable increase in QoT, both in
average value and flatness. Second, the SDM approach is used as a
benchmark for the BDM approach by assessing network performance on
three network topologies with different geographical footprints. We
show that, with optical power properly optimized, BDM may enable an
increase in network traffic, slightly less than an SDM upgrade but
still comparable, without requiring additional fiber cables.
Spin-decoupled metalens with intensity-tunable multiple focal points
Authors: Yao Bingshuang , Zang Xiaofei , Zhu Yang , Yu Dahai , Xie Jingya , Chen Lin , Han Sen , Zhu Yiming , Zhuang Songlin
Published: March 2021

The control of spin electromagnetic (EM) waves is of great significance in optical communications. Although geometric metasurfaces have shown unprecedented capability to manipulate the wavefronts of spin EM waves, it is still challenging to independently manipulate each spin state and intensity distribution, which inevitably degrades metasurface-based devices for further applications. Here we propose and experimentally demonstrate an approach to designing spin-decoupled metalenses based on pure geometric phase, i.e., geometric metasurfaces with predesigned phase modulation possessing functionalities of both convex lenses and concave lenses. Under the illumination of left-/right-handed circularly polarized (LCP or RCP) terahertz (THz) waves, these metalenses can generate transversely/longitudinally distributed RCP/LCP multiple focal points. Since the helicity-dependent multiple focal points are locked to the polarization state of incident THz waves, the relative intensity between two orthogonal components can be controlled with different weights of LCP and RCP THz waves, leading to the intensity-tunable functionality. This robust approach for simultaneously manipulating orthogonal spin states and energy distributions of spin EM waves will open a new avenue for designing multifunctional devices and integrated communication systems.
Learning compositional sequences with multiple time scales through a hierarchical network of spiking neurons
Authors: Maes Amadeus , Barahona Mauricio , Clopath Claudia
Published: March 2021

Sequential behaviour is often compositional and organised across multiple time scales: a set of individual elements developing on short time scales (motifs) are combined to form longer functional sequences (syntax). Such organisation leads to a natural hierarchy that can be used advantageously for learning, since the motifs and the syntax can be acquired independently. Despite mounting experimental evidence for hierarchical structures in neuroscience, models for temporal learning based on neuronal networks have mostly focused on serial methods. Here, we introduce a network model of spiking neurons with a hierarchical organisation aimed at sequence learning on multiple time scales. Using biophysically motivated neuron dynamics and local plasticity rules, the model can learn motifs and syntax independently. Furthermore, the model can relearn sequences efficiently and store multiple sequences. Compared to serial learning, the hierarchical model displays faster learning, more flexible relearning, increased capacity, and higher robustness to perturbations. The hierarchical model redistributes the variability: it achieves high motif fidelity at the cost of higher variability in the between-motif timings.
Robustification of RosettaAntibody and Rosetta SnugDock
Authors: Jeliazkov Jeliazko R. , Frick Rahel , Zhou Jing , Gray Jeffrey J.
Published: March 2021

In recent years, the observed antibody sequence space has grown exponentially due to advances in high-throughput sequencing of immune receptors. The rise in sequences has not been mirrored by a rise in structures, as experimental structure determination techniques have remained low-throughput. Computational modeling, however, has the potential to close the sequence–structure gap. To achieve this goal, computational methods must be robust, fast, easy to use, and accurate. Here we report on the latest advances made in RosettaAntibody and Rosetta SnugDock—methods for antibody structure prediction and antibody–antigen docking. We simplified the user interface, expanded and automated the template database, generalized the kinematics of antibody–antigen docking (which enabled modeling of single-domain antibodies) and incorporated new loop modeling techniques. To evaluate the effects of our updates on modeling accuracy, we developed rigorous tests under a new scientific benchmarking framework within Rosetta. Benchmarking revealed that more structurally similar templates could be identified in the updated database and that SnugDock broadened its applicability without losing accuracy. However, there are further advances to be made, including increasing the accuracy and speed of CDR-H3 loop modeling, before computational approaches can accurately model any antibody.
“It really proves to us that we are still valuable”: Qualitative research to inform a safer conception intervention for men living with HIV in South Africa
Authors: Matthews Lynn T. , Greener Letitia , Khidir Hazar , Psaros Christina , Harrison Abigail , Mosery F. Nzwakie , Mathenjwa Mxolisi , O’Neil Kasey , Milford Cecilia , Safren Steven A. , Bangsberg David R. , Smit Jennifer A.
Published: March 2021

Objective

Many men living with HIV want to have children. Opportunities to reduce periconception HIV transmission include antiretroviral therapy as prevention, pre-exposure prophylaxis, limiting condomless sex to peak fertility, and sperm processing. Whether men have knowledge of or want to adopt these strategies remains unknown.

Methods

We conducted focus group discussions (FGDs) with men accessing HIV care in South Africa in 2014 to inform a safer conception intervention for men. Eligible men were 25–45 years old, living with HIV, not yet accessing treatment, and wanting to have a child with an HIV-negative or unknown serostatus female partner (referred to as the “desired pregnancy partner”). FGDs explored motivations for having a healthy baby, feasibility of a clinic-based safer conception intervention, and acceptability of safer conception strategies. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results

Twelve participants from three FGDs had a median age of 37 (range 23–45) years, reported a median of 2 (range 1–4) sexual partners, and 1 (range 1–3) desired pregnancy partner(s). A third (N = 4) had disclosed HIV-serostatus to the pregnancy partner. Emergent themes included opportunities for and challenges to engaging men in safer conception services. Opportunities included enthusiasm for a clinic-based safer conception intervention and acceptance of some safer conception strategies. Challenges included poor understanding of safer conception strategies, unfamiliarity with risk reduction [versus “safe” (condoms) and “unsafe” (condomless) sex], mixed acceptability of safer conception strategies, and concerns about disclosing HIV-serostatus to a partner.

Conclusions

Men living with HIV expressed interest in safer conception and willingness to attend clinic programs. Imprecise prevention counseling messages make it difficult for men to conceptualize risk reduction. Effective safer conception programs should embrace clear language, e.g. undetectable = untransmittable (U = U), and support multiple approaches to serostatus disclosure to pregnancy partners.
How similar is “similar,” or what is the best measure of soil spectral and physiochemical similarity?
Authors: Zeng R. , Zhang J. P. , Cai K. , Gao W. C. , Pan W. J. , Jiang C. Y. , Zhang P. Y. , Wu B. W. , Wang C. H. , Jin X. Y. , Li D. C.
Published: March 2021

Spectral similarity indices were used to select similar soil samples from a spectral library and improve the predictive accuracy of target samples. There are many similarity indices available, and precisely how to select the optimum index has become a critical question. Five similarity indices were evaluated: Spectral angle mapper (SAM), Euclidean distance (ED), Mahalanobis distance (MD), SAM_pca and ED_pca in the space of principal components applied to a global soil spectral library. The accordance between spectral and compositional similarity was used to select the optimum index. Then the optimum index was evaluated if it can maintain the greatest predictive accuracy when selecting similar samples from a spectral library for the prediction of a target sample using a partial least squares regression (PLSR) model. The evaluated physiochemical properties were: soil organic carbon, pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), clay, silt, and sand content. SAM and SAM_pca selected samples were closer in composition compared to the target samples. Based on similar samples selected using these two indices, PLSR models achieved the highest predictive accuracy for all soil properties, save for CEC. This validates the hypothesis that the accordance information between spectral and compositional similarity can help select the appropriate similarity index when selecting similar samples from a spectral library for prediction.
Effect of two phytases at two doses on performance and phytate degradation in broilers during 1–21 days of age
Authors: Dersjant-Li Yueming , Davin Roger , Christensen Trine , Kwakernaak Cees
Published: March 2021

The effect of two microbial phytases at two dose-levels on performance and apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of nutrients in broilers fed European-type diets was studied. A total of 1,200 d-old Ross 308 male broilers were randomly assigned to 5 treatments with 30 birds/pen and 8 pens/treatment. A nutritionally adequate positive control (PC) diet was tested against 4 experimental diets containing reduced total P, retainable P, Ca and Na as per the recommended nutritional contribution for Buttiauxella phytase (Phy B) at 1,000 FTU/kg (-1.87 g/kg, -1.59 g/kg, -1.99 g/kg and -0.4 g/kg vs. PC, respectively). Experimental diets were supplemented with Phy B at 500 FTU/kg or 1,000 FTU/kg, or Citrobacter phytase (Phy C) at 1,000 FTU/kg or 2,000 FTU/kg. Diets were based on corn, soybean meal, rapeseed meal and sunflower meal and formulated by phase (starter 1–10 d, grower 11–21 d) in crumbled or pelleted form. Overall (d 1–21), at 1,000 FTU/kg, birds fed Phy C exhibited lower BWG (-2.7%), FI (-3.4%) and tibia ash (-2.2%) vs. PC (P < 0.05), and reduced BWG (-3.6%), FI (-3.9%) and tibia ash (-1.8%) vs. Phy B (P < 0.05). Phy B at 1,000 FTU/kg and Phy C at 2,000 FTU/kg maintained performance equivalent to the PC. Digestibility of Ca did not differ among phytase treatments but at 1,000 FTU/kg AID P was greater with Phy B than Phy C (72.3% vs. 62.7%, P < 0.05). Ileal phytate (myo-inositol hexakisphosphate, IP6) digestibility was greatest with Phy B at 1,000 FTU/kg which was higher than Phy C at 1,000 FTU/kg (87.6 vs. 60.6%, P < 0.05). The findings indicate a higher phytate degradation rate of Phy B than Phy C at equivalent dose-level and this is correlated to the performance of the broilers.
Productive wetlands restored for carbon sequestration quickly become net CO2 sinks with site-level factors driving uptake variability
Authors: Valach Alex C. , Kasak Kuno , Hemes Kyle S. , Anthony Tyler L. , Dronova Iryna , Taddeo Sophie , Silver Whendee L. , Szutu Daphne , Verfaillie Joseph , Baldocchi Dennis D.
Published: March 2021

Inundated wetlands can potentially sequester substantial amounts of soil carbon (C) over the long-term because of slow decomposition and high primary productivity, particularly in climates with long growing seasons. Restoring such wetlands may provide one of several effective negative emission technologies to remove atmospheric CO2 and mitigate climate change. However, there remains considerable uncertainty whether these heterogeneous ecotones are consistent net C sinks and to what degree restoration and management methods affect C sequestration. Since wetland C dynamics are largely driven by climate, it is difficult to draw comparisons across regions. With many restored wetlands having different functional outcomes, we need to better understand the importance of site-specific conditions and how they change over time. We report on 21 site-years of C fluxes using eddy covariance measurements from five restored fresh to brackish wetlands in a Mediterranean climate. The wetlands ranged from 3 to 23 years after restoration and showed that several factors related to restoration methods and site conditions altered the magnitude of C sequestration by affecting vegetation cover and structure. Vegetation established within two years of re-flooding but followed different trajectories depending on design aspects, such as bathymetry-determined water levels, planting methods, and soil nutrients. A minimum of 55% vegetation cover was needed to become a net C sink, which most wetlands achieved once vegetation was established. Established wetlands had a high C sequestration efficiency (i.e. the ratio of net to gross ecosystem productivity) comparable to upland ecosystems but varied between years undergoing boom-bust growth cycles and C uptake strength was susceptible to disturbance events. We highlight the large C sequestration potential of productive inundated marshes, aided by restoration design and management targeted to maximise vegetation extent and minimise disturbance. These findings have important implications for wetland restoration, policy, and management practitioners.
Spectral effect of streetlamps on urban trees: A simulated study on tissue water, nitrogen, and carbohydrate contents in maple and oak
Authors: Liu Ping , Cao Baohui , Wang Yutao , Wei Zhongping , Ye Jingfeng , Wei Hongxu
Published: March 2021

Streetlamps enforce night lighting on urban forest trees, but scarce information is available concerning the ecophysiological performance of street trees under these conditions. In this study, maple (Acer truncatum Bunge) and oak (Quercus mongolica Fisch. ex Ledeb.) seedlings were cultured with simulated exposure to streetlamp spectra in white (red/green/blue, 7.7:1.0:2.2) and red plus blue (RB; red/green/blue, 4.6:0.0:1.0) lights with photosynthetic photon flux rate of 80 μmol m-2 s-1 in a 18-h photoperiod. Nitrogen (N) was loaded through 15 weekly applications to an amount of 80 mg N plant-1 to mimic the mineral N deposition to landscape trees. Variables of biomass, carbohydrate accumulation, N and water contents were rarely found difference between the two LED-spectra treatments for both species. Compared to the un-lighted control, the RB spectrum lowered N concentration in oak seedlings and water content in maple seedlings. The white light spectrum resulted in an increase of starch concentration. Carbohydrate concentration had a positive relationship with biomass and N content across two species but a negative relationship with water content in maple seedlings. Overall, streetlamp-lights imposed effects on tree growth by a prolonged photoperiod instead of specific spectrum. Maple had a strong response of water uptake to streetlamp lighting at the cost of carbohydrate consumption, but oak had scarce demand of water-use for growth.
On using centrality to understand importance of entities in the Panama Papers
Authors: Kejriwal Mayank
Published: March 2021

The Panama Papers comprise one of the most recent influential leaks containing detailed information on intermediary companies (such as law firms), offshore entities and company officers, and serve as a valuable source of insight into the operations of (approximately) 214,000 shell companies incorporated in tax havens around the globe over the past half century. Entities and relations in the papers can be used to construct a network that permits, in principle, a systematic and scientific study at scale using techniques developed in the computational social science and network science communities. In this paper, we propose such a study by attempting to quantify and profile the importance of entities. In particular, our research explores whether intermediaries are significantly more influential than offshore entities, and whether different centrality measures lead to varying, or even incompatible, conclusions. Some findings yield conclusions that resemble Simpson’s paradox. We also explore the role that jurisdictions play in determining entity importance.