bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic analysis of a complex system under preemptive repeat repair discipline
Authors: Kasim Ehmet , Gupur Geni
Published: April 2020

This paper considers a two-unit complex system, in which one of the components has priority with preemptive repeat repair disciplines, described by partial differential equations with integral boundary conditions. First, we prove that the system has a unique nonnegative time-dependent solution by using the strong continuous semigroup theory of linear operators. Then, we obtain the exponential convergence of the time-dependent solution to its steady-state solution by means of the spectral properties of the corresponding operator. We also provide the asymptotic behavior of some time-dependent reliability indices, a numerical illustration showing the effects of various parameters on the system, and the validity of the theoretical analysis.
Impact of phages on soil bacterial communities and nitrogen availability under different assembly scenarios
Authors: Braga Lucas P. P. , Spor Aymé , Kot Witold , Breuil Marie-Christine , Hansen Lars H. , Setubal João C. , Philippot Laurent
Published: April 2020

Background

Bacteriophages, the viruses infecting bacteria, are biological entities that can control their host populations. The ecological relevance of phages for microbial systems has been widely explored in aquatic environments, but the current understanding of the role of phages in terrestrial ecosystems remains limited. Here, our objective was to quantify the extent to which phages drive the assembly and functioning of soil bacterial communities. We performed a reciprocal transplant experiment using natural and sterilized soil incubated with different combinations of two soil microbial communities, challenged against native and non-native phage suspensions as well as against a cocktail of phage isolates. We tested three different community assembly scenarios by adding phages: (a) during soil colonization, (b) after colonization, and (c) in natural soil communities. One month after inoculation with phage suspensions, bacterial communities were assessed by 16S rRNA amplicon gene sequencing.

Results

By comparing the treatments inoculated with active versus autoclaved phages, our results show that changes in phage pressure have the potential to impact soil bacterial community composition and diversity. We also found a positive effect of active phages on the soil ammonium concentration in a few treatments, which indicates that increased phage pressure may also be important for soil functions.

Conclusions

Overall, the present work contributes to expand the current knowledge about soil phages and provide some empirical evidence supporting their relevance for soil bacterial community assembly and functioning.
Xylaria insolita and X. subescharoidea: two newly described species collected from a termite nesting site in Hua-lien, Taiwan
Authors: Hsieh Huei-Mei , Chou Jyh-Ching , Ju Yu-Ming
Published: April 2020

Background

A number of Xylaria species are exclusively associated with nests of macrotermitine termites. A nesting site of Odontotermes formosanus in eastern Taiwan, which is the only macrotermitine termite known on the island, had been inundated during the raining season of 2010, and hundreds of Xylaria stromata emerged from it thereafter. A thorough examination of these stromata showed that they represent a mixture of different species.

Results

Five Xylaria species were identified from the stromata collected from the nesting site, including two undescribed species, which are newly described as X. insolita and X. subescharoidea herein, and three known species X. brunneovinosa, X. escharoidea, and X. furcata.

Conclusion

Totally, there are 28 Xylaria species growing on termite nests or ground in the world. Although O. formosanus is the only macrotermitine species known in Taiwan, the Xylaria diversity associated with its nests is fairly high; the species number has reached 12 with X. furcata, X. insolita, and X. subescharoidea added to the Taiwan mycobiota.
An UHPLC-TOF-MS method for quantifying novel brominated anticancer compound bromophenol-thiosemicarbazone hybrid and its application to in vivo pharmacokinetic study
Authors: Li Xiuxue , Wang Lijun , Jia Xiaoling , Guo Chuanlong , Li Chao , Zhang Jiajia , Shi Dayong
Published: April 2020

Background

Bromophenol-thiosemicarbazone hybrid was a novel synthetic brominated anticancer compound with two bromine atoms. Bromophenol-thiosemicarbazone hybrid showed considerable selective inhibitory activity against PARP1 (IC50 = 29.5 nmol/L). UHPLC-TOF-MS was used to establish a new method to quantify bromophenol-thiosemicarbazone hybrid bio-samples for indispensable quantitation analysis in further extensive pre-clinical studies.

Methods

Chromatographic and mass spectrometry parameters were optimized for quantitative method establishment. Improved protein-precipitated method was applied to the extraction of bromophenol-thiosemicarbazone hybrid in rat plasma samples. Furthermore, this proposed method was applied to an intravenous bolus dose to male rats.

Results

Mobile phase was consisted of water for A and acetonitrile for B with 25 mmol/L formic acid in both A and B. The flow rate was 0.30 mL/min, and the run time of bromophenol-thiosemicarbazone hybrid was 4.0 min. A Thermo Fisher Accucore 2.6 μm C18 column (50 × 2.1 mm i.d.; San Jose, USA) was used for chromatographic separation. High resolution mass spectrometry was used to quantify samples by exact mass number of compound which was operated on negative ionization mode. Linear dynamic range of the established method was widely with 13.7–10000 nmol/L. Pharmacokinetics properties of bromophenol-thiosemicarbazone hybrid were shown in the results.

Conclusion

This method was reliable and reproducible from sample preparation to analysis and storage stability under the investigated conditions. It may be useful for analysis of halogenated compounds and brominated compounds in ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.
Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of primary cervical cancer in the detection of sub-centimetre metastatic lymph nodes
Authors: Perucho Jose Angelo Udal , Chiu Keith Wan Hang , Wong Esther Man Fung , Tse Ka Yu , Chu Mandy Man Yee , Chan Lawrence Wing Chi , Pang Herbert , Khong Pek-Lan , Lee Elaine Yuen Phin
Published: April 2020

Background

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has limited accuracy in detecting pelvic lymph node (PLN) metastasis. This study aimed to examine the use of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) in classifying pelvic lymph node (PLN) involvement in cervical cancer patients.

Methods

Fifty cervical cancer patients with pre-treatment magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were examined for PLN involvement by one subspecialist and one non-subspecialist radiologist. PLN status was confirmed by positron emission tomography or histology. The tumours were then segmented by both radiologists. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to test for differences between diffusion tumour volume (DTV), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), pure diffusion coefficient (D), and perfusion fraction (f) in patients with no malignant PLN involvement, those with sub-centimetre and size-significant PLN metastases. These parameters were then considered as classifiers for PLN involvement, and were compared with the accuracies of radiologists.

Results

Twenty-one patients had PLN involvement of which 10 had sub-centimetre metastatic PLNs. DTV increased (p = 0.013) while ADC (p = 0.015), and f (p = 0.006) decreased as the nodal status progressed from no malignant involvement to sub-centimetre and then size-significant PLN metastases. In determining PLN involvement, a classification model (DTV + f) had similar accuracies (80%) as the non-subspecialist (76%; p = 0.73) and subspecialist (90%; p = 0.31). However, in identifying patients with sub-centimetre PLN metastasis, the model had higher accuracy (90%) than the non-subspecialist (30%; p = 0.01) but had similar accuracy with the subspecialist (90%, p = 1.00). Interobserver variability in tumour delineation did not significantly affect the performance of the classification model.

Conclusion

IVIM is useful in determining PLN involvement but the added value decreases with reader experience.
Role of diffusion-weighted imaging in differentiation between posterior fossa brain tumors
Authors: Mustafa W. F. , Abbas M. , Elsorougy L.
Published: April 2020

Background

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is an imaging modality using multi-section single-shot spin echo planar imaging (EPI) sequence which is extremely sensitive for detection of water motion within intra, extra, and transcellular regions. This character is important to differentiate between brain tumors either low (benign) or highly (malignant) cellular tumors.

Objective

To evaluate the role of DWI and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in evaluation and differentiation between different brain posterior fossa tumors in children and adults.

Patients and methods

The study included 34 patients with different brain posterior fossa tumors for evaluation by conventional MRI (using 1.5 T MRI PHILIPS Achieva 2.1 Best Netherland) and DWI.

Results

Our study showed that mean ADC values were significantly different between the four groups of posterior fossa tumors in children: juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma (JPA), medulloblastoma, ependymoma, and brain stem glioma while mean ADC values were not significantly different between posterior fossa tumors in the adult group. Regions of interest were manually positioned, and all values were automatically calculated and expressed in 10−3 mm2/s.

Conclusion

DWI is an ideal additional imaging technique, which is a rapid, easy, non-invasive imaging modality, with no contrast injection needed. It has been widely applied in the differentiation between posterior fossa brain tumors and in the diagnosis of various intracranial diseases.
Isolation and characterization of betulinic acid from the stem bark of Feretia canthioides Hiern and its antimalarial potential
Authors: Egbubine Chiedozie O. , Adeyemi Modupe M. , Habila James D.
Published: April 2020

Background

Malaria is a parasitic disease that constitutes a major global health concern and the increasing resistance of Plasmodium falciparum strains to the commonly used antimalarial drugs has resulted in an increase in treatment failures (Zofou et al.,Malar Res Treat: 561342, 2011). Natural products isolated from plants used in traditional medicine have shown promising antimalarial actions in vitro, and these plants can serve as potential sources for new antimalarial drugs (Wright et al.,Phytother Res 8:149–152, 1994); hence, research into the use of medicinal plants for the treatment of malaria would provide viable options in the effective control of the disease by screening plant extracts for antimalarial activities and also isolating bioactive components from these extracts using TLC and column chromatographic techniques.

This research was focused on investigating the antimalarial potentials of the stem bark of Feretia canthioides Hiern used in the traditional treatment of malaria in Nigeria.

Results

In vitro antimalarial tests carried out on the plant extracts and isolated compound in this research revealed that the methanol extract displayed promising antimalarial activities with an inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 7.76 μg/ml, the n-hexane extract showed low activity with an IC50 value of 63.10 μg/ml, while the ethyl acetate and dichloromethane extracts were found to be inactive with IC50 values above 100 μg/ml. The isolated compound (betulinic acid) showed good antimalarial activity with an IC50 value of 12.60 μg/ml when compared with chloroquine phosphate which served as the positive control.

Detailed phytochemical screening of the plant extracts obtained after extraction of the plant material indicated that the methanolic extract of the stem bark of Feretia canthioides Hiern contained major plant secondary metabolites which include tannins, alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, steroids, alkaloids, saponins and glycosides. Chromatographic techniques carried out on the methanolic extract of this plant led to the isolation of a pentacyclic triterpenoid compound identified to be betulinic acid which is been reported for the first time from the methanolic extract of the stem bark of this plant.

Conclusion

The inhibitory concentration values (IC50) of the methanolic extract and isolated compound in this research prove that this plant can serve as an effective agent for the treatment of malaria. This research concluded that the stem bark of Feretia canthioides Hiern can be further investigated as a prospective antimalarial agent.
Purification and characterization of two killer toxins originated from Torulaspora delbrueckii (Lindner) and Wickerhamomyces anomalus (E.C.Hansen) Kurtzman, Robnett, and Basehoar-Powers
Authors: Abu-Mejdad Najwa Mohammed Jameel Ali , Al-Badran Adnan I. , Al-Saadoon Abdullah H.
Published: April 2020

Background

Ecological killer yeasts have had few studies compared with laboratory killer yeasts. The killer yeasts are known in excreting killer toxins that kill sensitive or susceptible yeasts. The killer toxins, such as TK and WK excreted from two yeast isolates (Torulaspora delbrueckii and Wickerhamomyces anomalus) have protenious nature with different molecular weight depending on yeast species.

Results

A qualitative test was conducted to determine the ability of both isolates to produce killer toxins on the media of yeast extract and malt extract broth when the two toxins were first purified by ammonium sulfate salt at 40% concentration and then by dialysis for the killer toxin TK and gel filtration method for WK. The molecular weight of TK was estimated at about 15 kDa, while WK was at 45 kDa. The chemical properties of the killer toxins were also studied. The results showed that the two killer toxins were with protenious nature.

Conclusion

Both yeast isolates (Torulaspora delbrueckii and Wickerhamomyces anomalus) had the ability of producing different kinds of killer toxins. The two killer toxins (TK and WK) were identified for the first time in Iraq, and their production involves many steps of economically unexpansive purification method with a good quality and high purity of producing killer toxins. The results confirmed that the nature of killer toxins (WK and TK) was similar to protein compounds resulted from the transition in UV and functional groups.
Psychiatric comorbidity and quality of life in patients undergoing hemodialysis
Authors: Elhadad Ayman Abdulfattah , Ragab Afaf Zein El Abedin , Atia Salma Abdelsamed Abdelsamed
Published: April 2020

Background

Hemodialysis has been shown to have an adverse impact on the emotional status of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Common associated psychological problems include depression, anxiety, fatigue, decreased quality of life, and an increased risk for suicide. This cross-sectional study aims to psychiatric assessment of ESRD patients on dialysis and patients’ quality of life (QOL). One hundred and seventeen patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis aged from 26 years to 77 years were enrolled from the Dialysis Unit at Shebin El Kom Teaching Hospital and Menoufia University Hospital and were approved by the local medical ethical committee. Cases were selected during the study period from October 2018 till May 2019. A semi-structured interview, clinical psychiatric assessment, psychometric test measuring psychiatric disorders, and psychometric test measuring QOL were measured.

Results

A reduction in scores of all domains of QOL was observed in ESRD patients with depression compared with patients without depression. There was a statistically significant correlation between QOL and presence of clinical illness either diabetes or hypertension among ESRD patients (P < 0.05). It was found that there was a reduction in all domains of QOL in patients with clinical illness compared with patients without.

Conclusions

Incidence of psychiatric illness among end-stage renal disease patients on hemodialysis is high. The most prevalent psychiatric disorders among these patients are depression and anxiety disorders. Poor quality of life (QOL) was also observed in ESRD patients.
Assessment of cardiac diastolic function in infants of diabetic mothers using tissue Doppler echocardiography
Authors: Sobeih Alaa A. , Sakr Magdy M. A. , Abolmaaty Rehab K.
Published: April 2020

Background

Limited number of studies evaluated cardiac diastolic function in infants of diabetic mothers using tissue Doppler imaging. The aim of this study was to evaluate diastolic parameters in full-term infants of diabetic mothers compared to healthy full-term neonates using both conventional echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging. This study is a comparative study. Fifty consecutive infants of diabetic mothers (cases) in the first 3 days of life: 25 neonates with poor maternal glycemic control (Hemoglobin A1c > 7.5 g/dl) and 25 neonates with good maternal glycemic control (Hemoglobin A1c ≤ 7.5 g/dl). Thirty healthy full-term infants of non-diabetic mothers with age and sex matching were included as controls. The studied groups were assessed by conventional pulsed wave Doppler and tissue Doppler imaging.

Results

Among pulsed wave Doppler parameters, cases had lower values than controls as regards mitral E velocity, mitral E/A ratio, tricuspid E velocity, and tricuspid E/A ratio, while neonates with poor maternal glycemic control had lower values than those with good maternal glycemic control as regards mitral E/A ratio, tricuspid E velocity, and tricuspid E/A ratio as well as higher mitral A velocity (denoting more diastolic dysfunction). Similarly, among tissue Doppler parameters, cases had lower values than controls as regards septal E' velocity, E'/A' ratio, left ventricular E' velocity, E'/A' ratio, and right ventricular E' velocity as well as higher septal A' velocity, left ventricular A' velocity, and right ventricular A' velocity, while neonates with poor maternal glycemic control had lower values than those with good maternal glycemic control as regards septal E' velocity, E'/A' ratio, left ventricular E' velocity, E'/A' ratio, and right ventricular E' velocity, as well as higher left ventricular A' velocity (denoting more diastolic dysfunction). Tissue Doppler was able to detect higher number of neonates with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction than conventional pulsed wave Doppler.

Conclusions

Tissue Doppler imaging was found to be able to detect diastolic dysfunction early in infants of diabetic mothers specifically as regards the left ventricle. Tissue Doppler imaging should be considered an integral part of cardiac function assessment in infants of diabetic mothers.
Subjective memory impairment after electroconvulsive therapy – potentially modifiable?
Authors: Eggleston Kate , Porter Richard
Published: April 2020

Memory impairment is an important side-effect of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). However, predicting which patients are at increased risk of developing this is difficult. The study by Sigström et al compares patients’ experience of memory difficulties before and after ECT and suggests that patients with negative expectations of ECT's memory effects are more likely to have subjective memory worsening post-ECT. This intriguing finding suggests that clinicians may be able to modify the risk of patients developing subjective memory difficulties post-ECT by providing appropriate information and addressing concerns prior to treatment, during the informed consent process.
Postdiagnosis Body Mass Index, Weight Change, and Mortality From Prostate Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease, and All Causes Among Survivors of Nonmetastatic Prostate Cancer
Authors: Troeschel Alyssa N. , Hartman Terryl J. , Jacobs Eric J. , Stevens Victoria L. , Gansler Ted , Flanders W. Dana , McCullough Lauren E. , Wang Ying
Published: April 2020

PURPOSE

To investigate the association of postdiagnosis body mass index (BMI) and weight change with prostate cancer–specific mortality (PCSM), cardiovascular disease–related mortality (CVDM), and all-cause mortality among survivors of nonmetastatic prostate cancer.

METHODS

Men in the Cancer Prevention Study II Nutrition Cohort diagnosed with nonmetastatic prostate cancer between 1992 and 2013 were followed for mortality through December 2016. Current weight was self-reported on follow-up questionnaires approximately every 2 years. Postdiagnosis BMI was obtained from the first survey completed 1 to < 6 years after diagnosis. Weight change was the difference in weight between the first and second postdiagnosis surveys. Deaths occurring within 4 years of the follow-up were excluded to reduce bias from reverse causation. Analyses of BMI and weight change included 8,330 and 6,942 participants, respectively.

RESULTS

Postdiagnosis BMI analyses included 3,855 deaths from all causes (PCSM, n = 500; CVDM, n = 1,155). Using Cox proportional hazards models, hazard ratios (HRs) associated with postdiagnosis obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) compared with healthy weight (BMI 18.5 to < 25.0 kg/m2) were 1.28 for PCSM (95% CI, 0.96 to 1.67), 1.24 for CVDM (95% CI, 1.03 to 1.49), and 1.23 for all-cause mortality (95% CI, 1.11 to 1.35). Weight gain analyses included 2,973 deaths (PCSM, n = 375; CVDM, n = 881). Postdiagnosis weight gain (> 5% of body weight), compared with stable weight (± < 3%), was associated with a higher risk of PCSM (HR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.21 to 2.25) and all-cause mortality (HR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.12 to 1.45) but not CVDM.

CONCLUSION

Results suggest that among survivors of nonmetastatic prostate cancer with largely localized disease, postdiagnosis obesity is associated with higher CVDM and all-cause mortality, and possibly higher PCSM, and that postdiagnosis weight gain may be associated with a higher mortality as a result of all causes and prostate cancer.
Cardiac Myxoma Caused by Fumarate Hydratase Gene Deletion in Patient With Cortisol-Secreting Adrenocortical Adenoma
Authors: Suda Kentaro , Fukuoka Hidenori , Yamazaki Yuto , Shigemura Katsumi , Mukai Miki , Odake Yukiko , Matsumoto Ryusaku , Bando Hironori , Takahashi Michiko , Iguchi Genzo , Fujisawa Masato , Oka Masahiro , Ono Katsuhiko , Chihara Kazuo , Sasano Hironobu , Ogawa Wataru , Takahashi Yutaka
Published: April 2020

Context

Germline mutations in fumarate hydratase (FH) gene are known to cause hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma (HLRCC) and are occasionally accompanied with cutaneous and uterine leiomyoma or cortisol-producing adrenocortical hyperplasia. However, the association between FH mutations and cardiac or adrenocortical tumors has remained unknown. Here, we identified a novel deletion in FH, exhibiting cardiac myxoma and subclinical Cushing syndrome due to adrenocortical tumor.

Case Description

A 44-year-old man was referred to our hospital for cardiac and adrenal tumor evaluation. He had a history of multiple painful, dermal papules and nodules diagnosed as cutaneous leiomyoma. The surgically resected cardiac tumor was diagnosed as myxoma. The adrenal tumor was clinically diagnosed as subclinical Cushing syndrome. Laparoscopically resected adrenal tumor was pathologically diagnosed as adrenocortical adenoma harboring unique histological findings similar to primary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease (PPNAD). DNA analysis revealed a germline deletion in FH c0.737delT (p. Phe225Leufs*31) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in cardiac myxoma. As a functional analysis of FH in cardiac myxoma, low FH protein expression with elevated 2-succinocysteine (2SC), a marker of FH dysfunction, was immunohistochemically detected. However, in adrenocortical tumor, LOH of FH was not detected, and FH or 2SC expression was not altered.

Conclusions

This is the first case of HLRCC complicated by cardiac myxoma. LOH of FH deletion and its dysfunction were identified in cardiac myxoma. The association between FH deletion and adrenocortical lesion, however, needs to be further clarified.
QUARTIC: QUick pArallel algoRithms for high-Throughput sequencIng data proCessing
Authors: Jarlier Frédéric , Joly Nicolas , Fedy Nicolas , Magalhaes Thomas , Sirotti Leonor , Paganiban Paul , Martin Firmin , McManus Michael , Hupé Philippe
Published: April 2020

Life science has entered the so-called ’big data era’ where biologists, clinicians and bioinformaticians are overwhelmed with unprecedented amount of data. High-throughput sequencing has revolutionized genomics and offers new insights to decipher the genome structure. However, using these data for daily clinical practice care and diagnosis purposes is challenging as the data are bigger and bigger. Therefore, we implemented software using Message Passing Interface such that the alignment and sorting of sequencing reads can easily scale on high-performance computing architecture. Our implementation makes it possible to reduce the time to delivery to few minutes, even on large whole-genome data using several hundreds of cores.
Promoting equity in immunization coverage through supply chain design in Pakistan
Authors: Zameer Mariam , Phillips-White Nora , Folorunso Olamide , Belt Rachel , Setayesh Hamidreza , Asghar Naeem , Chandio Arshad
Published: April 2020

To improve equity in immunization coverage, potent immunization products must be available in the communities in which low coverage rates persist. Most supply side investments are focused on replacing or establishing new health facilities to improve access to immunization. However, supply chain design must be improved to ensure that potent vaccines are available at all facilities to promote immunization equity. We used the supply chain design process in Pakistan as an opportunity to conceptualize how supply chains could impact equity outcomes. This paper outlines our approach and key considerations for assessing supply chain design as a contributing factor in achieving equitable delivery of immunization services.

We conducted a supply chain analysis based on sub-national supply chain and immunization coverage at district level. Supply chain metrics included cold chain coverage and distances between vaccination sites and storage locations. Immunization coverage metrics included the third-dose diphtheria- tetanus-pertussis (DTP3) vaccination rate and the disparity in DTP3 coverage between urban and rural areas. All metrics were analyzed at the district level. Despite data limitations, triangulation across these metrics provided useful insights into the potential contributions of supply chain to equitable program performance at the district level within each province. Overall, our analysis identified supply chain gaps, highlighted supply chain contributions to program performance and informed future health system investments to prioritize children unreached by immunization services.
Dysphagia: a guide for nurses in general practice
Authors: Nazarko Linda
Published: April 2020

Dysphagia is common in older adults. Linda Nazarko gives an overview of how practice nurses can support individuals living with dysphagia

The practice nurse may encounter people who present with a variety of medical problems that are ultimately caused by swallowing difficulties. These difficulties may be acute or longstanding, severe or mild. The number of adults living with swallowing difficulties is set to rise in line with population ageing and the increasing levels of frailty and comorbidities that occur in older adults. This article aims to provide a guide to why dysphagia develops, how dysphagia is diagnosed and how the practice nurse can support individuals who are living with dysphagia.
Remote scanning for ultra-large field of view in wide-field microscopy and full-field OCT
Authors: Recher Gaëlle , Nassoy Pierre , Badon Amaury
Published: April 2020

Imaging specimens over large scales and with a sub-micron resolution is instrumental to biomedical research. Yet, the number of pixels to form such an image usually exceeds the number of pixels provided by conventional cameras. Although most microscopes are equipped with a motorized stage to displace the specimen and acquire the image tile-by-tile, we propose an alternative strategy that does not require to move any part in the sample plane. We propose to add a scanning mechanism in the detection unit of the microscope to collect sequentially different sub-areas of the field of view. Our approach, called remote scanning, is compatible with all camera-based microscopes. We evaluate the performances in both wide-field microscopy and full-field optical coherence tomography and we show that a field of view of 2.2 × 2.2 mm2 with a 1.1 μm resolution can be acquired. We finally demonstrate that the method is especially suited to image motion-sensitive samples and large biological samples such as millimetric engineered tissues.
Structured decomposition of a multi-snapshot nine-reconstructables Mueller matrix polarimeter
Authors: Alenin Andrey S. , Tyo J. Scott
Published: April 2020

Snapshot channeled polarimeters forgo temporal modulation in favor of modulating polarization information in either space or wavenumber. We have recently introduced methodologies for describing both channeled and partial polarimeters. In this paper, we focus on the nine-reconstructables design, which limits the resolution loss by reducing the number of carriers. The architecture offers a number of favorable trade-offs: a factor of 5.44 increase in spatial bandwidth or a factor of 3.67 increase in spectral bandwidth, for a smaller amount of temporal bandwidth loss as dictated by the number of snapshots taken. The multi-snapshot structured decomposition given here allows one to analytically shape the measured space with optimal noise characteristics and minimum system complexity. A two-snapshot system can measure a premeditated set of 14 reconstructables; we provide the null space for the subset of optimal systems that also achieve better SNR than the baseline single-snapshot system. A three-snapshot system can measure all 16 Mueller elements while offering an overall 26.3% or 50.4% better bandwidth-SNR figure of merit for the spectral and spatial systems, respectively. Finally, four-snapshot systems provide diminishing returns, but may be more implementable.
Quantum image processing algorithm using edge extraction based on Kirsch operator
Authors: Xu Pengao , He Zhenxing , Qiu Tianhui , Ma Hongyang
Published: April 2020

In this work, a quantum image processing algorithm is developed using the edge extraction method together with the Kirsch operator. In our approach, novel enhanced quantum representation (NEQR) is employed as the image representation model for processing quantum image, which generates results of edge extraction using the Kirsch operator. The proposed algorithm can perform real-time image processing with high accuracy. We carry out the design, analyses, and simulations of quantum circuits based on our approach, which shows that the image processing speed and acuracy are much better than the classical edge extraction algorithms.
Low-complexity storage-reduced digital spectrum-based soft-failure management with Welch’s method
Authors: Shu Liang , Yu Zhenming , Wan Zhiquan , Xu Kun
Published: April 2020

In this paper, we propose a low-complexity storage-reduced digital spectrum-based soft failure management solution including soft failure detection (SFD), identification (SFI) and failure magnitude estimation (FME). Five soft failures are considered. Random fluctuation of key link parameters is introduced in simulations to investigate the robustness of the proposed solution. To reduce computational complexity and storage requirement for digital spectrum calculation, Welch’s method is employed instead of applying fast Fourier transform on a long sampling sequence. A false positive rate below 1% and a false negative rate below 3% are achieved for SFD after extensive numerical simulations. Besides, SFI realizes an identification accuracy of 97.4%. The mean square errors of FME for different soft failures are all below 0.4. Finally, with a very small segment length of 25, 46.2% of computational complexity and 99.6% of storage can be reduced for digital spectrum calculation.
Atmospheric effect study of continuous-variable quantum key distribution
Authors: Shen Shi-Yang , Zheng Xue-Tao , Guo Guang-Can , Han Zheng-Fu
Published: April 2020

We proposed a data acquisition method to monitor local oscillator (LO) intensity in real time in unidimensional continuous-variable quantum key distribution protocol. Based on this proposed method, the influence of weather conditions on the average transmittance and excess noise is studied, such as relative wetness, visibility, and beam jitter.
Multipulse dynamics in a Mamyshev oscillator
Authors: Xu Shi-Sheng , Liu Meng , Wei Zhi-Wei , Luo Ai-Ping , Xu Wen-Cheng , Luo Zhi-Chao
Published: April 2020

We report on the multipulse dynamics in an erbium-doped fiber Mamyshev oscillator. It was demonstrated that, in addition to the single pulse, the multipulse patterns could be observed by adjusting the pump power, where the multiple pulses operated in random distributed state or bound state. Particularly, the multiple pulses could exhibit apparent difference in intensity, which was attributed to the unique step-like saturable absorption property of the Mamyshev oscillator. The individual pulse spectrum could be assessed by utilizing dispersive Fourier transform technique. It was found that the multiple pulses with different intensities correspond to different spectral profiles. These findings give some new insights into the pulse dynamics in Mamyshev oscillators.
Dispersion independent long-haul photon-counting optical time-domain reflectometry
Authors: Li Bin , Zhang Ruiming , Wang Yong , Li Hao , You Lixing , Ou Zhonghua , Zhou Heng , Ling Yun , Wang Yunxiang , Deng Guangwei , Wang You , Song Haizhi , Qiu Kun , Zhou Qiang
Published: April 2020

Photon-counting optical time-domain reflectometry (PC-OTDR) based on single photon detection is an effective scheme to attain the high spatial resolution for optical fiber fault monitoring. Currently, due to the spatial resolution of PC-OTDR being proportional to the pulse width of a laser beam, short laser pulses are essential for a high spatial resolution. However, short laser pulses have a large bandwidth, which would be widened by the dispersion of fiber, causing inevitable deterioration in the spatial resolution, especially for long-haul fiber links. In this Letter, we propose a scheme of dispersion independent PC-OTDR based on an infinite backscatter technique. Our experimental results—with more than 45 km long fiber—show that the spatial resolution of the PC-OTDR system is independent with the total dispersion of the fiber under test. Our method provides an avenue for developing long-haul PC-OTDR with high performance.
Nonlinear optical absorption properties of InP nanowires and applications as a saturable absorber
Authors: Liu Junting , Nie Hongkun , Yan Bingzheng , Yang Kejian , Yang He , Khayrudinov Vladislav , Lipsanen Harri , Zhang Baitao , He Jingliang
Published: April 2020

Indium phosphide (InP) nanowires (NWs) have attracted significant attention due to their exotic properties that are different from the bulk counterparts, and have been widely used for light generation, amplification, detection, modulation, and switching, etc. Here, high-quality InP NWs were directly grown on a quartz substrate by the Au-nanoparticle assisted vapor-liquid-solid method. We thoroughly studied their nonlinear optical absorption properties at 1.06 μm by the open-aperture Z-scan method. Interestingly, a transition phenomenon from saturable absorption (SA) to reverse saturable absorption (RSA) was observed with the increase of the incident laser intensity. In the analysis, we found that the effective nonlinear absorption coefficient (

β

eff

∼
−

10

2

  
cm
/
MW

) under the SA process was 3 orders of magnitude larger than that during the RSA processes. Furthermore, the SA properties of InP NWs were experimentally verified by using them as a saturable absorber for a passively

Q

-switched

Nd
:

YVO

4

solid-state laser at 1.06 μm, where the shortest pulse width of 462 ns and largest single pulse energy of 1.32 μJ were obtained. Moreover, the ultrafast carrier relaxation dynamics were basically studied, and the intra-band and inter-band ultrafast carrier relaxation times of 8.1 and 63.8 ps, respectively, were measured by a degenerate pump–probe method with the probe laser of 800 nm. These results well demonstrate the nonlinear optical absorption properties, which show the excellent light manipulating capabilities of InP NWs and pave a way for their applications in ultrafast nanophotonic devices.
Family History of Colorectal or Esophageal Cancer in Barrett's Esophagus and Potentially Explanatory Genetic Variants
Authors: Rubenstein Joel H. , Tavakkoli Anna , Koeppe Erika , Ulintz Peter , Inadomi John M. , Morgenstern Hal , Appelman Henry , Scheiman James M. , Schoenfeld Philip , Metko Val , Stoffel Elena M.
Published: April 2020

INTRODUCTION:

We aimed to estimate the effects of a family history of colorectal cancer (CRC) or esophageal cancer on the risk of Barrett's esophagus (BE) and identify variants in cancer genes that may explain the association.

METHODS:

Men scheduled for screening colonoscopy were recruited to undergo upper endoscopy. Cases and noncases were screenees with and without BE, respectively. The effects of family histories on BE were estimated with logistic regression, adjusting for the potential confounders. We additionally recruited men recently diagnosed with BE by clinically indicated endoscopies. Banked germline DNA from cases of BE with ≥2 first-degree relatives (FDRs) with CRC and/or an FDR with esophageal cancer underwent next-generation sequencing using a panel of 275 cancer genes.

RESULTS:

Of the 822 men screened for CRC who underwent upper endoscopy, 70 were newly diagnosed with BE (8.5%). BE was associated with family histories of esophageal cancer (odds ratio = 2.63; 95% confidence interval = 1.07–6.47) and CRC in ≥2 vs 0 FDRs (odds ratio = 3.73; 95% confidence interval = 0.898–15.4). DNA analysis of subjects with both BE and a family history of cancer identified one or more germline variants of interest in genes associated with cancer predisposition in 10 of 14 subjects, including the same novel variant in EPHA5 in 2 unrelated individuals.

DISCUSSION:

We found an increased risk for BE associated with a family history of esophageal cancer or CRC. Although analysis of germline DNA yielded no clinically actionable findings, discovery of the same EPHA5 variant of uncertain significance in 2 of 14 cases merits additional investigation.
Eficácia do etidronato na remoção da smear layer dos canais radiculares: um estudo com microscopia eletrônica de varredura
Authors: Oliveira Ingrid , Silveira Ana Daniela , Nogueira Brenna , Mesquita Carla , Rothbarth Cláudia
Published: April 2020

Avaliar, por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), o efeito do uso individual e combinado do etidronato 18% (HEBP) na remoção da smear layer do canal radicular. Métodos: Trinta dentes humanos unirradiculares foram utilizados. As raízes foram preparadas com instrumentos rotatórios do Sistema ProTaper Universal e divididas aleatoriamente em três grupos, de acordo com o protocolo de irrigação empregado: G1 = hipoclorito de sódio 2,5% (NaOCl) e ácido etilenodiaminotetracético 17% (EDTA); G2 = NaOCl 2,5% e HEBP 18%; e G3 = NaOCl 2,5% + HEBP 18%, misturados em partes iguais. As raízes foram seccionadas longitudinalmente e metalizadas, para análise em MEV. As fotomicrografias obtidas dos terços cervical, médio e apical foram avaliadas por três examinadores calibrados, que atribuíram escores de 1 a 5 às imagens. Os grupos experimentais foram comparados usando o teste de Kruskal-Wallis e o teste de Student-New- man-Keuls. Os terços radiculares foram comparados pelo teste de Friedman. O nível de significância foi estabelecido em 5%. Resultados: A capacidade de remoção da smear layer com NaOCl 2,5% e 18% HEBP (G2) foi semelhante à obtida com NaOCl 2,5% e EDTA 17% (G1) no terço médio e cervical da raiz; o nível de limpeza do terço apical foi semelhante, independentemente do protocolo de irrigação utilizado. Conclusão: HEBP é uma solução promissora para uso em tratamentos endodônticos.
Kategoria praw dziecka w refleksji dydaktyki akademickiej
Authors: Turczyk Małgorzata
Published: April 2020

Turczyk Małgorzata, Kategoria praw dziecka w refleksji dydaktyki akademickiej [The category of children’s rights in the reflection of academic didactics]. Kultura – Społeczeństwo – Edukacja nr 2(14) 2018, Poznań 2018, pp. 119–126, Adam Mickiewicz University Press. ISSN 2300-0422. DOI 10.14746/kse.2018.14.10.

This paper concerns the place and meaning of a new category of children’s rights, which also finds its place in the area of interest of academic didactics. The current approach to human rights in schooling is basically normative, thus, the present academic didactics is challenged to prepare students of education – and teaching – related faculties to confront the issues in the field of children’s rights at work in a professional manner. The paper illustrates an author’s concept of didactics in terms of education to children’s rights at higher schools which was elaborated based of the research on the didactic aspects of children’s rights education for teachers and educationists on the academic level. The following issues were put in question and served as a basis for specific approaches to academic didactics in terms of education on children’s rights: an essence and need for inclusion of content related to children’s rights in academic learning practice, didactic tools at teacher’s disposal and their role in education for children’s rights. On the one hand, the paper presents a discussion on theprofessional preparation of teachers and educationists to face challenges related to protection and promotion of children’s rights within educational environments. On the other hand, it includes an attempt to merge the discrepancy between theory and practice in this field.
Stan inteligencji środowiskowej studentów z Polski, Słowacji, Czech i Ukrainy
Authors: Cynk Kaolina
Published: April 2020

Article consists from two part – theoretical, which contain conceptualization of basic concepts and empirical, in which have been presented investigative hypotheses and analysis of the data obtained results conducted research in Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Ukraine in 2015. The subject of the research was: “Environmental values in the awareness of the students of humanities and life sciences from the selected European countries”. Formulate conclusions are pessimistic enough. They indicate, that level of evolution of environmental intelligence is low among students, accompanies also deficit of feature of so called environmental personality ago. The highest level of environmental intelligence have presented non-believers and persons declaring other confession. In second variable they were inhabitants of cities. Results they should present impulse for taking of next research in this range.
Ciało w procesie konstruowania tożsamości
Authors: Marzec Jarosław
Published: April 2020

The main intention of my text is to describe the specific of the somatic turn of cultural studies and, to follow Chris Barker’s proposition, “the desire to understand the ways in which the body becomes the object of shaping and disciplining by social and cultural forces – i.e. how the body acquires meaning in contemporary culture”. The above problem provokes the consideration of the mutual relationships between the culture of late modernity and the category of identity (especially the body in the process of identity construction). The goal outlined in this way aims to present contexts and space for the manifestation of the issues of the body in contemporary culture, The aim of the proposed deliberations is to present the problem of the body from the perspective of reflexive identity (A. Giddens), constructivism perspective (Z. Melosik, A. Gromkowska, M. Bogunia-Borowska), in selected therapeutic systems (J. Kabat-Zinn, A. Lowen, S.&C. Block) and in the final section I present the category of the body in the integral approach to development (K. Wilber). Also, I shortly summarize my analysis and I point to the dangers of the presented approaches especially in the dominant instant culture practices.
Miejsce ucznia zdolnego w praktyce dydaktycznej
Authors: Maria Porzucek-Miśkiewicz Maria Porzucek-Miśkiewicz
Published: April 2020

The aim of the thesis is to draw attention to issues related to gifted students, their needs and problems at school. The author reflects on the ways of satisfying the needs of a gifted student in the classroom. A gifted student is a person with special educational needs. Teachers in schools, which should take care of the development of each individual, often leave gifted students without assistance, as they believe that they will manage on their own. The author shows fragments of the Polish educational reality of gifted students.
SOCIAL WORK, ETHICS AND VULNERABLE GROUPS IN THE TIME OF CORONAVIRUS AND COVID-19
Authors: FARKAS KATHLEEN J. , ROMANIUK J. RICHARD
Published: April 2020

The profession of social work is dedicated to the betterment of society and to the protection of marginalized and vulnerable groups. The profession’s mission is detailed in the set of seven core values: service; social justice; dignity and work of the person; importance of human relationships; integrity; and competence. Relationships between people and among groups are the primary tools of social work assessment, intervention and evaluation. In the time of coronavirus and COVID-19, there are many challenges for professional practitioners to adhere to social work’s core values as well as to maintain their own health and welfare in a time of uncertain and rapidly changing situations. This paper will examine the challenges and innovations for each social work core value and present ideas for innovation and adaptation suited to these times. The paper will present challenges and innovations using examples of two community agencies providing services to people who are homeless and addicted. In summary we will offer some insights and expectations for the future of social work in the coming years, after this experience of coronavirus and COVID-19.
CRIME IN THE TIME OF THE PLAGUE: FAKE NEWS PANDEMIC AND THE CHALLENGES TO LAW-ENFORCEMENT AND INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY
Authors: GRADOŃ KACPER
Published: April 2020

The Paper explores the problem of fake news and disinformation campaigns in the turmoil era of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The Author addresses the problem from the perspective of Crime Science, identifying the actual and potential impact of fake news propagation on both the social fabric and the work of the law-enforcement and security services. The Author covers various vectors of disinformation campaigns and offers the overview of challenges associated with the use of deep fakes and the abuse of Artificial Intelligence, Machine-, Deep- and Reinforcement-Learning technologies. The Paper provides the outline of preventive strategies that might be used to mitigate the consequences of fake news proliferation, including the introduction of counter-narratives and the use of AI as countermeasure available to the law-enforcement and public safety agencies. The Author also highlights other threats and forms of crime leveraging the pandemic crisis. As the Paper deals with the current and rapidly evolving phenomenon, it is based on qualitative research and uses the most up-to-date, reliable open-source information, including the Web-based material.