bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aplicativos de mobilidade urbana e compartilhamento de dados de tráfego com o poder público: uma análise com base na Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados brasileira / Urban mobility applications and sharing of traffic data with public power: an analysis based on the General Data Protection Law in Brazil
Authors: Guimarães Patrícia Borba Vilar , Xavier Yanko Marcius de Alencar , Diniz Braulio Gomes Mendes
Published: December 2020

ResumoEste artigo avalia as possibilidades de aplicativos de mobilidade urbana compartilharem dados de tráfego com o poder público como forma de auxiliar no planejamento da mobilidade urbana. Inicialmente, apresenta-se a estrutura de organização de da economia do compartilhamento, que depende intensamente do fornecimento de dados por parte dos usuários para oferecer os serviços propostos. Em seguida, destaca-se a relevância jurídica desses dados pessoais e os fundamentos de sua proteção, por um lado, e a importância de obter dados de tráfego para o planejamento da mobilidade urbana, por outro. Definido o contexto em que o debate é proposto, avalia-se de que maneira a Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados (LGPD) brasileira aborda essa questão do compartilhamento de dados pessoais com o Estado, bem como as regras específicas de três das plataformas de serviços de transporte em operação no Brasil (Uber, Cabify e 99). A partir da análise, sugerem-se como alternativas ao compartilhamento dentro dos parâmetros legais: i) o fornecimento de dados anonimizados, agregados ou tratados de modo a preservar o direito à privacidade; ii) a preservação de segredos comercial e industrial; e iii) reforço nas políticas de privacidade quanto às regras de consentimento do usuário.Palavras-chave: Mobilidade urbana. Aplicativos. Proteção de dados. LGPD. Compartilhamento de dados. AbstractThis article assesses the possibilities for urban mobility applications to share traffic data with the government as a way to assist in planning urban mobility. Initially sharing economy is presented as which depends heavily on data provision by users to offer their proposed services. Then, it highlights the legal relevance of personal data and their protection, on the one hand, and the importance of obtaining traffic data for the planning of urban mobility, on the other. Having defined the context in which the debate is proposed, it is assessed how the Brazilian General Data Protection Law (LGPD) addresses this issue of sharing personal data with the State, as well as the specific rules of three of the service urban mobility platforms in operation in Brazil (Uber, Cabify and 99). From the analysis, the following alternatives are suggested within the brazilian legal parameters: i) the provision of anonymized data, aggregated or treated in order to preserve the right to privacy; ii) the preservation of commercial and industrial secrets; and iii) reinforcement of privacy policies regarding user consent rules.Keywords: urban mobility. Applications. Data protection. LGPD. Data sharing.
A aplicação do método de simulação para o ensino da sucessão testamentária no curso de graduação em direito na Universidade Estadual Vale do Acaraú, em Sobral-CE
Authors: Mendes Ivana Mércia Aragão , Pereira Júnior Antonio Jorge
Published: December 2020

O presente artigo buscou relatar a aplicação do método de Simulação como forma de metodologia inovadora e participativa no Ensino Jurídico Superior. Trata-se de um relato de experiência que foi desenvolvida com os alunos de graduação do Curso de Direito da Universidade Estadual Vale do Acaraú-UEVA, na cidade de Sobral, Estado do Ceará, na disciplina de Direito Sucessório. O uso deste método enquanto ferramenta pedagógica se justificou partindo-se da premissa de que promoveria a autoaprendizagem sobre a sucessão testamentária, assunto por vezes de difícil percepção prática, ante a pouca utilidade do instituto pelos brasileiros. Durante o processo, propôs-se aos alunos que dividissem a simulação em duas partes: a feitura do testamento conforme a modalidade indicada pela professora, e a simulação de uma audiência de instrução e julgamento de abertura de inventário ou de alguma ação incidental importante para o resultado final da partilha dos bens. A aplicação deste método de ensino foi surpreendente, os alunos aliaram teoria e prática atuando como partes, juízes, advogados e promotores. Verificou-se a produção de conhecimento em diversas áreas do Direito, reforçando a importância de se trabalhar a interdisciplinaridade no ensino jurídico. A aprendizagem foi além das disposições de Direito Sucessório, tendo sido explorado também conhecimentos na área do Direito de Família e do Direito Processual Civil, tão importante para apreensão prática da Sucessão Testamentária. Na elaboração deste artigo, utilizou-se de pesquisa bibliográfica e documental, por meio de doutrina e legislação.
Uma análise crítica sobre os padrões de qualidade de água de uso e de reuso no Brasil
Authors: Santos Ana Silvia Pereira , Gonçalves Ricardo Franci , Melo Marília Carvalho de , Lima Maíra Araújo de Mendonça , Araujo Bruna Magalhães de
Published: December 2020

O reúso de águas tem sido considerado uma ferramenta estratégica para atenuar as pressões hídricas. No Brasil ainda não há uma legislação específica, de abrangência nacional, com a abordagem de padrões de qualidade de água para fins de reúso. Nesse estudo foram analisados 11 documentos reguladores (legais, normativos e norteadores) federais e sub federais, tanto em relação ao reúso de água como em relação aos usos múltiplos da água. Objetivou-se com isso estabelecer uma comparação entre os principais padrões de qualidade de água para contribuição à implementação e ao aprimoramento do instrumento de reúso no Brasil. Concluiu-se que os documentos legais que abordam o uso e o reúso de águas apresentam padrões sobrepostos e na maioria dos casos, com valores bastante discrepantes. Em relação à restrição de uso ou exposição ao risco para os casos de reúso urbano, há uma grande diversidade nas premissas conceituais entre os diferentes instrumentos avaliados. Os documentos legais específicos para reúso de águas no Brasil apresentam-se com restrições demasiadamente elevadas, podendo dificultar a implantação de ações efetivas de reúso no país. O padrão de qualidade de água específico para reúso deve ser condizente com a realidade socioeconômica do país, indicando principalmente o padrão microbiológico do efluente e os parâmetros que o representa. Avaliações de risco devem ser abordadas de maneira a respaldar os limites estabelecidos para padrões microbiológicos.
Paediatric dental treatment under inhalation sedation by a therapist in secondary care: An audit
Authors: Palmer Elara , Campbell Sarah-Jayne , Foo Lee
Published: December 2020

We investigated the success of paediatric dental treatment under inhalation sedation (IHS) with nitrous oxide completed by a dental therapist, as an alternative to general anaesthesia (GA) in secondary care. We found that 94% of had treatment successfully completed under IHS by a therapist. These patients were assessed as being suitable for IHS and were referred to the therapist via a new patient clinic. The success of therapists treating paediatric patients with IHS could help reduce pressure on GA waiting lists. As well as being a safer treatment option, this method allows effective conservative treatment to be completed and thereby reducing the number of extractions required, which is a major benefit to patients' future health and wellbeing.

CPD/Clinical Relevance: This study shows the success of treatment under inhalation sedation by a dental therapist. Appropriate referral to therapists has the potential to reduce the need for procedures under general anaesthesia. This has the affect of reducing the strain on our general anaesthetic waiting lists, as well as having a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of our patients with IHS being considered the safer option.
AI technology for remote clinical assessment and monitoring
Authors: Zoppo Gianluca , Marrone Francesco , Pittarello Monica , Farina Marco , Uberti Alberto , Demarchi Danilo , Secco Jacopo , Corinto Fernando , Ricci Elia
Published: December 2020

Objective:

To report the clinical validation of an innovative, artificial intelligence (AI)-powered, portable and non-invasive medical device called Wound Viewer. The AI medical device uses dedicated sensors and AI algorithms to remotely collect objective and precise clinical data, including three-dimensional (3D) wound measurements, tissue composition and wound classification through the internationally recognised Wound Bed Preparation (WBP) protocol; this data can then be shared through a secure General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)- and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-compliant data transfer system. This trial aims to test the reliability and precision of the AI medical device and its ability to aid health professionals in clinically evaluating wounds as efficiently remotely as at the bedside.

Method:

This non-randomised comparative clinical trial was conducted in the Clinica San Luca (Turin, Italy). Patients were divided into three groups: (i) patients with venous and arterial ulcers in the lower limbs; (ii) patients with diabetes and presenting with diabetic foot syndrome; and (iii) patients with pressure ulcers. Each wound was evaluated for area, depth, volume and WBP wound classification. Each patient was examined once and the results, analysed by the AI medical device, were compared against data obtained following visual evaluation by the physician and research team. The area and depth were compared with a Kruskal–Wallis one-way analysis of variations in the obtained distribution (expected p-value>0.1 for both tests). The WBP classification and tissue segmentation were analysed by directly comparing the classification obtained by the AI medical device against that of the testing physician.

Results:

A total of 150 patients took part in the trial. The results demonstrated that the AI medical device's AI algorithm could acquire objective clinical parameters in a completely automated manner. The AI medical device reached 97% accuracy against the WBP classification and tissue segmentation analysis compared with that performed in person by the physician. Moreover, data regarding the measurements of the wounds, as analysed through the Kruskal–Wallis technique, showed that the data distribution proved comparable with the other methods of measurement previously clinically validated in the literature (p=0.9).

Conclusion:

These findings indicate that remote wound assessment undertaken by physicians is as effective through the AI medical device as bedside examination, and that the device was able to assess wounds and provide a precise WBP wound classification. Furthermore, there was no need for manual data entry, thereby reducing the risk of human error while preserving high-quality clinical diagnostic data.
Oncoplastic breast surgery: the role of negative pressure wound therapy
Authors: Iqbal Fahad M , Reid Jeremy P , Vidya Raghavan
Published: December 2020

Wound-related problems following breast surgery are common. Delayed wound healing can lead to poor cosmesis and, among breast cancer patients, can result in delays in receiving adjuvant treatment. The aim of our review was to look at the literature in relation to the role of negative pressure wound therapy in oncoplastic breast surgery, as at the time of writing, there is no consensus on the use of prophylactic negative pressure dressings in closed wounds following breast surgery.
Hyaluronan in skin wound healing: therapeutic applications
Authors: King Ian CC , Sorooshian Parviz
Published: December 2020

Hyaluronan is a vital constituent in effective skin wound healing. This polysaccharide is ubiquitous throughout the human body and has functional significance for tissue repair and remodelling. The importance of hyaluronan in the proliferative phase of healing is diverse, impacting on cell migration, proliferation, modification of the inflammatory response and on angiogenesis. As such, it holds therapeutic potential for a variety of clinical applications that range from facilitating effective wound healing to burns management and scarring. This overview of the multifaceted roles of hyaluronan considers its current applications to clinical practice in plastic surgery as well as the latest advances in research.
Maggot debridement therapy in critical limb ischaemia: a case study
Authors: Maeda Taku , Yamamoto Yuhei , Murao Naoki , Hayashi Toshihiko , Kimura Chu , Matsui Suguru , Saito Tatsuya , Matsui Hotaka , Osawa Masayuki , Funayama Emi
Published: December 2020

Objective:

In critical limb ischaemia (CLI), first-line therapy is revascularisation, but alternative treatment options are needed in certain cases. Maggot debridement therapy (MDT) is historically considered to be contraindicated in ischaemic ulcers. Wound care in patients with CLI is becoming increasingly diverse with the development of novel revascularisation strategies; therefore, CLI now needs to be reconsidered as an indication for MDT.

Method:

We retrospectively reviewed five legs with CLI (five male, one female) treated with MDT between January 2013 and December 2017. Changes in skin perfusion pressure (SPP) around the ulcer before and after MDT were evaluated. One or two cycles of MDT were performed (eight in total). We also evaluated the proportion of necrotic tissue in the ulcer and the presence of exposed necrotic bone. The proportion of necrotic tissue in the ulcer was classified as NT 1+ (<25%), NT 2+ (25–50%), NT 3+ (50–75%) or NT 4+ (>75%).

Results:

When the proportion of necrotic tissue was >50%, with no exposed necrotic bone in the wound, an increase in SPP was observed after five (62.5%) of eight cycles of MDT. And with a proportion of necrotic tissue of <25% and/or exposed necrotic bone in the wound, a decrease in SPP was observed after three (37.5%) of eight cycles. Wound healing was accelerated in the presence of increased SPP.

Conclusion:

Effective MDT with increased SPP requires an ulcerative state of necrotic tissue grade > NT 3+, with no exposed necrotic bone.
Development and Sensitivity Analysis of an Online Tool for Evaluating Drainage Water Recycling Decisions
Authors: Reinhart Benjamin D. , Frankenberger Jane R. , Hay Christopher H. , Bowling Laura C. , Hancock Benjamin G.
Published: December 2020

Highlights

A modeling framework for drainage water recycling (DWR) was developed to estimate irrigation and water quality benefits.

Global sensitivity analysis was used to identify most and least influential input parameters affecting model outputs.

Parameters controlling total available water had the most influence on applied irrigation and captured tile drain flow.

The modeling framework and sensitivity results were used to develop an open-source, online tool for evaluating DWR.

Abstract. The U.S. Midwest is experiencing growth in both irrigation and subsurface (tile) drainage. Capturing, storing, and reusing tile drain water, a practice called drainage water recycling (DWR), represents a strategy for supporting supplemental irrigation while also reducing nutrient loads in tile-drained landscapes. This article describes the development and testing of an open-source online tool, Evaluating Drainage Water Recycling Decisions (EDWRD), which integrates soil and reservoir water balances for a tile-drained field and estimates potential benefits of DWR systems across multiple reservoir sizes. Irrigation benefits are quantified by applied irrigation and its relation to the irrigation demand, while water quality benefits are quantified by the amount and percentage of tile drain flow captured by the reservoir. Global sensitivity analysis identified input parameters affecting total available water as the most influential factors in estimating outputs. Initial and mid-season crop coefficients, irrigation management, and reservoir seepage rates were also influential. Curve number, fraction of wetted surface during irrigation, crop coefficients for the end of crop growth and frozen soil conditions, and the non-growing season residue amount were identified as low-sensitivity parameters. Results from the sensitivity analysis were used to prioritize and simplify user interaction with the tool. EDWRD represents the first open-source tool capable of evaluating DWR systems and can be used by multiple user groups to estimate the potential irrigation and water quality benefits of this innovative practice. Keywords: Drainage water recycling, Dual crop coefficient, Open-source model, Sensitivity analysis, Subsurface drainage, Supplemental irrigation.
Applying the FAO-56 Dual Kc Method for Irrigation Water Requirements over Large Areas of the Western U.S.
Authors: Allen Richard G. , Robison Clarence W. , Huntington Justin , Wright James L. , Kilic Ayse
Published: December 2020

Highlights

The FAO-56 dual crop coefficient procedure was applied over the entire agricultural areas of Idaho and Nevada to determine evapotranspiration (ET) and net irrigation water requirements (IWR).

Basal crop coefficients were expressed as functions of normalized cumulative growing degree days.

ET during dormant seasons was included in the estimates.

The procedure was applied to a U.S. West-wide study of climate change effects on ET and IWR.

Abstract. The FAO-56 dual crop coefficient procedure was used to determine evapotranspiration (ET) and net irrigation water requirements for all agricultural areas of the states of Idaho and Nevada and in a western U.S. study on effects of climate change on future irrigation water requirements. The products of the applications are for use by state governments for water rights management, irrigation system planning and design, wastewater application system design and review, hydrologic water balances, and groundwater modeling. The products have been used by the U.S. federal government for assessing impacts of current and future climate change on irrigation water demands. The procedure was applied to data from more than 200 weather station locations across the state of Idaho, 200 weather station locations across the state of Nevada, and eight major river basins in the western U.S. for available periods of weather records. Estimates were made over daily, monthly, and annual time intervals. Methods from FAO-56 were employed for calculating reference ET and crop coefficients (Kc), with ET calculations performed for all times of the calendar year including winter. Expressing Kc as a function of thermal-time units allowed application across a wide range of local climates and elevations. The ET estimates covered a wide range of agricultural crops grown in the western U.S. plus a number of native plant systems, including wetlands, rangeland, and riparian trees. Evaporation was estimated for three types of open-water surfaces ranging from deep reservoirs to small farm ponds. Keywords: Consumptive use, Dual crop coefficient, Evapotranspiration, FAO-56, Irrigation water requirements.
NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY IN HEALTHY SUBJECTS: POSSIBLE APPLICATION IN AVIATION AND AVIATION MEDICINE
Authors:   Neurocognitive Development Lab, Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Dopierała Aleksandra , Przewodzka Anna ,   Creative Neuroscience Lab – CNS Lab, Military Institute of Aviation Medicine, Tomalski Przemysław ,   Institute of Psychology, Polish Academy of Sciences
Published: December 2020

Abstract: Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a non-invasive optical brain monitoring technology for mapping the functioning of the human cortex in response to sensory or motor activation. There is a growing interest in implementing fNIRS to monitor the cognitive performance of military pilots. The method relies on differences in hemoglobin absorption spectra depending on blood oxygenation. However, this method was relatively rarely utilized in aviation and aviation medicine. Therefore, we will provide a broad review of applying this method in various avenues of medicine and cognitive psychology, as well as cover its documented use in aviation and aviation medicine. In this review, we cover the following topics: 1) fNIRS in comparison to most commonly used neuroimaging methods, 2) fNIRS in the evaluation of human performance, 3) fNIRS application in aviation and aviation medicine, and 4) fNIRS-based Brain-Computer-Interface (BCI) to overcome cognitive restrictions and for optimizing pilot training. In conclusion, over the years, fNIRS has become a neuroimaging technique that contributes to making advances toward understanding the functioning of the human brain.
Introduction to the Biophotonics Congress 2020 feature issue
Authors: Leitgeb Rainer A. , Sampson David , Choe Regine , Hendon Christine , Eliceiri Kevin , Tunnell James
Published: December 2020

The guest editors introduce a feature issue containing papers based on research presented at the OSA Biophotonics Congress (the former BIOMED) 20-23 April 2020, in the first all virtual, web conference format undertaken by OSA.
Control of the intensity distribution along the light spiral generated by a generalized spiral phase plate
Authors: Ustinov Andrey V. , Khonina Svetlana N. , Khorin Pavel A. , Porfirev Alexey P.
Published: December 2020

This paper proposes a method for shaping a light spiral with the desired intensity and phase distributions based on the addition of an angular-dependent amplitude distribution to the phase transmission function of a generalized spiral phase plate. An expression for the amplitude distribution of the illuminating beam, which provides a given intensity distribution in the focal plane along the light spiral, was derived, with the numerically and experimentally obtained results confirming the analytical calculations. The ability to control the phase and intensity gradient along the generated light curves allows one to shape the desired transverse energy flow distribution in the focal plane, which is important for optical manipulation of nano- and microparticles as demonstrated by the laser guiding of trapped 5 µm polystyrene microspheres.
Direct-laser-written integrated mid-IR directional couplers in a BGG glass
Authors: Le Camus Arthur , Petit Yannick , Bérubé Jean-Philippe , Bellec Matthieu , Canioni Lionel , Vallée Réal
Published: December 2020

The development of coherent sources and other optical components for the mid-infrared has been hampered by the lack of sturdy materials that can withstand high power radiation or exposition to harsh environment. BGG glasses are robust materials transmitting over the 2.5–5 μm region. We report here the direct femtosecond laser fabrication of efficient directional couplers integrated in a BGG glass chip. The photonic components are characterized from 2.1 to 4.2 μm and compared to similar structures inscribed in silica glass samples. At 2.85 μm, a 99% relative cross transmission is reported in BGG glass. The experimental measurements are in good agreement with the coupled mode theory for wavelengths up to 3.5 μm.
Effects of dissipation induced blockade on the dynamics of two qubits without direct interaction
Authors: Sampuli Elijah M. , Wang Yan , Xia Yan , Song Jie
Published: December 2020

We study the effects of dissipation induced blockade on the dynamics of an open quantum system having two qubits in nonequilibrium independent baths. The qubits are driven by a classical field with a temporally modulated detuning. The introduction of blockade induced via two effective baths together with the effect of the driving field enable us to observe maximal entanglement oscillation of about unity that decays with a quasi-steady entanglement state oscillating about the 1/2 limit with adjustable decay rate. When the temperature difference between two baths is not large, maximal entanglement oscillation can still be observed in the model. In addition, the adjustment of the nonequilibrium thermal baths by modulating the dissipation and the application of time-dependent detuning give rise to rich entanglement dynamics. We further demonstrate numerically the practical implementation of the proposed scheme with a universal cavity QED setting.
Unidirectional emission and nanoparticle detection in a deformed circular square resonator
Authors: Shen Zheng-zheng , Tang Min , Chen You-Ling , Huang Yong-Zhen
Published: December 2020

We propose a novel deformed square resonator which has four asymmetric circular sides. Photons leak out from specific points, depending on the interplay between stable islands and unstable manifolds in phase space. By carefully breaking the mirror reflection symmetry, optical modes with strong chirality approaching 1 and unidirectional emission can be achieved simultaneously. Upon binding of a nanoparticle, the far-field emission pattern of the deformed microcavity changes drastically. Due to the EP point of the degenerate mode pairs in the deformed cavity, chirality-based far-field detection of nanoparticles with ultra-small size can be realized.
Optoelectromechanical phase shifter with low insertion loss and a 13π tuning range
Authors: Grottke Thomas , Hartmann Wladick , Schuck Carsten , Pernice Wolfram H. P.
Published: December 2020

We present an on-chip optoectromechanical phase shifter with low insertion loss and low half-wave voltage using a silicon nitride platform. The device is based on a slot waveguide in which the electrostatic displacement of mechanical structures results in a change of the effective refractive index. We achieve insertion loss below 0.5 dB at a wavelength of 1550 nm in a Mach-Zehnder Interferometer with an extinction ratio of 31 dB. With a phase tuning length of 210 µm, we demonstrate a half-wave voltage of Vπ = 2.0 V and a 2π phase shift at V2π = 2.7 V. We measure phase shifts up to 13.3 π at 17 V. Our devices can be operated in the MHz range and allow for the generation of sub-µs pulses.
Geometric control over surface plasmon polariton out-coupling pathways in metal-insulator-metal tunnel junctions
Authors: Radulescu Andreea , Makarenko Ksenia S. , Hoang Thanh Xuan , Kalathingal Vijith , Duffin Thorin J. , Chu Hong-Son , Nijhuis Christian A.
Published: December 2020

Metal-insulator-metal tunnel junctions (MIM-TJs) can electrically excite surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) well below the diffraction limit. When inelastically tunneling electrons traverse the tunnel barrier under applied external voltage, a highly confined cavity mode (MIM-SPP) is excited, which further out-couples from the MIM-TJ to photons and single-interface SPPs via multiple pathways. In this work we control the out-coupling pathways of the MIM-SPP mode by engineering the geometry of the MIM-TJ. We fabricated MIM-TJs with tunneling directions oriented vertical or lateral with respect to the directly integrated plasmonic strip waveguides. With control over the tunneling direction, preferential out-coupling of the MIM-SPP mode to SPPs or photons is achieved. Based on the wavevector distribution of the single-interface SPPs or photons in the far-field emission intensity obtained from back focal plane (BFP) imaging, we estimate the out-coupling efficiency of the MIM-SPP mode to multiple out-coupling pathways. We show that in the vertical-MIM-TJs the MIM-SPP mode preferentially out-couples to single-interface SPPs along the strip waveguides while in the lateral-MIM-TJs photon out-coupling to the far-field is more efficient.
Generation of electromagnetic solitons with angular momentum
Authors: Li Zhongpeng , Bai Yafeng , Tian Ye
Published: December 2020

The optical vortex has been widely studied owing to its specific characteristics such as the orbital angular momentum, hollow intensity distribution, and topological charge. We report the generation of electromagnetic solitons with angular momentum and the conversion of angular momentum via a circularly polarized (CP) laser and underdense plasma interactions on the basis of three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. We find that when a CP laser is incident into the underdense plasma, a longitudinal current will be induced off the laser axis, which is critical for the angular momentum conversion. This novel, to the best of our knowledge, regime will allow potential applications such as optical control and electron manipulation.
Ultra-wide-dynamic-range gas sensing by optical pathlength multiplexed absorption spectroscopy
Authors: Lou Xiutao , Feng Yabo , Yang Shunhu , Dong Yongkang
Published: December 2020

Laser absorption spectroscopy (LAS) has become the most widely used laser spectroscopic technique for gas detection due to its capability of accurate quantification and straightforward operation. However, since resolving weak absorption and averting over-absorption are always mutually exclusive, the dynamic range of the LAS-based gas sensor is limited and insufficient for many applications in fundamental study and industry. To overcome the limitation on the dynamic range, this article reports optical pathlength (OPL) multiplexed absorption spectroscopy using a gas cell having multiple internal reflections. It organically fuses together the transmission and reflection operation modes: the former directly uses the entire OPL of the gas cell, while the latter interrogates different internal short OPLs by optical interferometry, yielding

>
100

-fold OPL variation. The achieved dynamic range is more than 6 orders of magnitude that surpasses other LAS techniques by 2–3 orders of magnitude. The proposed method promotes a novel way for the development of large-dynamic-range spectroscopic gas sensors for fundamental studies and industrial applications.
Rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 with CRISPR-Cas12a
Authors: Xiong Dan , Dai Wenjun , Gong Jiaojiao , Li Guande , Liu Nansong , Wu Wei , Pan Jiaqiang , Chen Chen , Jiao Yingzhen , Deng Huina , Ye Junwei , Zhang Xuanxuan , Huang Huiling , Li Qianyun , Xue Liang , Zhang Xiuming , Tang Guanghui
Published: December 2020

The recent outbreak of betacoronavirus Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is responsible for the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic, has created great challenges in viral diagnosis. The existing methods for nucleic acid detection are of high sensitivity and specificity, but the need for complex sample manipulation and expensive machinery slow down the disease detection. Thus, there is an urgent demand to develop a rapid, inexpensive, and sensitive diagnostic test to aid point-of-care viral detection for disease monitoring. In this study, we developed a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR associated proteins (Cas) 12a-based diagnostic method that allows the results to be visualized by the naked eye. We also introduced a rapid sample processing method, and when combined with recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), the sample to result can be achieved in 50 minutes with high sensitivity (1–10 copies per reaction). This accurate and portable detection method holds a great potential for COVID-19 control, especially in areas where specialized equipment is not available.
Self-limiting stem-cell niche signaling through degradation of a stem-cell receptor
Authors: Ladyzhets Sophia , Antel Matthew , Simao Taylor , Gasek Nathan , Cowan Ann E. , Inaba Mayu
Published: December 2020

Stem-cell niche signaling is short-range in nature, such that only stem cells but not their differentiating progeny receive self-renewing signals. At the apical tip of the Drosophila testis, 8 to 10 germline stem cells (GSCs) surround the hub, a cluster of somatic cells that organize the stem-cell niche. We have previously shown that GSCs form microtubule-based nanotubes (MT-nanotubes) that project into the hub cells, serving as the platform for niche signal reception; this spatial arrangement ensures the reception of the niche signal specifically by stem cells but not by differentiating cells. The receptor Thickveins (Tkv) is expressed by GSCs and localizes to the surface of MT-nanotubes, where it receives the hub-derived ligand Decapentaplegic (Dpp). The fate of Tkv receptor after engaging in signaling on the MT-nanotubes has been unclear. Here we demonstrate that the Tkv receptor is internalized into hub cells from the MT-nanotube surface and subsequently degraded in the hub cell lysosomes. Perturbation of MT-nanotube formation and Tkv internalization from MT-nanotubes into hub cells both resulted in an overabundance of Tkv protein in GSCs and hyperactivation of a downstream signal, suggesting that the MT-nanotubes also serve a second purpose to dampen the niche signaling. Together, our results demonstrate that MT-nanotubes play dual roles to ensure the short-range nature of niche signaling by (1) providing an exclusive interface for the niche ligand-receptor interaction; and (2) limiting the amount of stem cell receptors available for niche signal reception.
Defect patterns on the curved surface of fish retinae suggest a mechanism of cone mosaic formation
Authors: Nunley Hayden , Nagashima Mikiko , Martin Kamirah , Lorenzo Gonzalez Alcides , Suzuki Sachihiro C. , Norton Declan A. , Wong Rachel O. L. , Raymond Pamela A. , Lubensky David K.
Published: December 2020

The outer epithelial layer of zebrafish retinae contains a crystalline array of cone photoreceptors, called the cone mosaic. As this mosaic grows by mitotic addition of new photoreceptors at the rim of the hemispheric retina, topological defects, called “Y-Junctions”, form to maintain approximately constant cell spacing. The generation of topological defects due to growth on a curved surface is a distinct feature of the cone mosaic not seen in other well-studied biological patterns like the R8 photoreceptor array in theDrosophilacompound eye. Since defects can provide insight into cell-cell interactions responsible for pattern formation, here we characterize the arrangement of cones in individual Y-Junction cores as well as the spatial distribution of Y-junctions across entire retinae. We find that for individual Y-junctions, the distribution of cones near the core corresponds closely to structures observed in physical crystals. In addition, Y-Junctions are organized into lines, called grain boundaries, from the retinal center to the periphery. In physical crystals, regardless of the initial distribution of defects, defects can coalesce into grain boundaries via the mobility of individual particles. By imaging in live fish, we demonstrate that grain boundaries in the cone mosaic instead appear during initial mosaic formation, without requiring defect motion. Motivated by this observation, we show that a computational model of repulsive cell-cell interactions generates a mosaic with grain boundaries. In contrast to paradigmatic models of fate specification in mostly motionless cell packings, this finding emphasizes the role of cell motion, guided by cell-cell interactions during differentiation, in forming biological crystals. Such a route to the formation of regular patterns may be especially valuable in situations, like growth on a curved surface, where the resulting long-ranged, elastic, effective interactions between defects can help to group them into grain boundaries.
Cost of a new method of active screening for human African trypanosomiasis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Authors: Snijders Rian , Fukinsia Alain , Claeys Yves , Mpanya Alain , Hasker Epco , Meheus Filip , Miaka Erick , Boelaert Marleen
Published: December 2020

Background

Human African trypanosomiases caused by the Trypanosoma brucei gambiense parasite is a lethal disease targeted for eradication. One of the main disease control strategies is active case-finding through outreach campaigns. In 2014, a new method for active screening was developed with mini, motorcycle-based, teams. This study compares the cost of two active case-finding approaches, namely the traditional mobile teams and mini mobile teams, in the two health districts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Methods

The financial and economic costs of both approaches were estimated from a health care provider perspective. Cost and operational data were collected for 12 months for 1 traditional team and 3 mini teams. The cost per person screened and diagnosed was calculated and univariate sensitivity analysis was conducted to identify the main cost drivers.

Results

During the study period in total 264,630 people were screened, and 23 HAT cases detected. The cost per person screened was lower for a mini team than for a traditional team in the study setting (US$1.86 versus US$2.08). A comparable result was found in a scenario analysis, assuming both teams would operate in a similar setting, with the cost per person screened by a mini team 15% lower than the cost per person screened by a traditional team (1.86 $ vs 2.14$). The main explanations for this lower cost are that mini teams work with fewer human resources, cheaper means of transportation and do not perform the Capillary Tube Centrifugation test or card agglutination test dilutions.

Discussion

Active HAT screening with mini mobile teams has a lower cost and could be a cost-effective alternative for active case-finding. Further research is needed to determine if mini mobile teams have similar or better yields than traditional mobile teams in terms of detections and cases successfully treated.
Experimental Lagos bat virus infection in straw-colored fruit bats: A suitable model for bat rabies in a natural reservoir species
Authors: Begeman Lineke , Suu-Ire Richard , Banyard Ashley C. , Drosten Christian , Eggerbauer Elisa , Freuling Conrad M. , Gibson Louise , Goharriz Hooman , Horton Daniel L. , Jennings Daisy , Marston Denise A. , Ntiamoa-Baidu Yaa , Riesle Sbarbaro Silke , Selden David , Wise Emma L. , Kuiken Thijs , Fooks Anthony R. , Müller Thomas , Wood James L. N. , Cunningham Andrew A.
Published: December 2020

Rabies is a fatal neurologic disease caused by lyssavirus infection. Bats are important natural reservoir hosts of various lyssaviruses that can be transmitted to people. The epidemiology and pathogenesis of rabies in bats are poorly understood, making it difficult to prevent zoonotic transmission. To further our understanding of lyssavirus pathogenesis in a natural bat host, an experimental model using straw-colored fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) and Lagos bat virus, an endemic lyssavirus in this species, was developed. To determine the lowest viral dose resulting in 100% productive infection, bats in five groups (four bats per group) were inoculated intramuscularly with one of five doses, ranging from 100.1 to 104.1 median tissue culture infectious dose (TCID50). More bats died due to the development of rabies after the middle dose (102.1 TCID50, 4/4 bats) than after lower (101.1, 2/4; 101.1, 2/4) or higher (103.1, 2/4; 104.1, 2/4) doses of virus. In the two highest dose groups, 4/8 bats developed rabies. Of those bats that remained healthy 3/4 bats seroconverted, suggesting that high antigen loads can trigger a strong immune response that abrogates a productive infection. In contrast, in the two lowest dose groups, 3/8 bats developed rabies, 1/8 remained healthy and seroconverted and 4/8 bats remained healthy and did not seroconvert, suggesting these doses are too low to reliably induce infection. The main lesion in all clinically affected bats was meningoencephalitis associated with lyssavirus-positive neurons. Lyssavirus antigen was detected in tongue epithelium (5/11 infected bats) rather than in salivary gland epithelium (0/11), suggesting viral excretion via the tongue. Thus, intramuscular inoculation of 102.1 TCID50 of Lagos bat virus into straw-colored fruit bats is a suitable model for lyssavirus associated bat rabies in a natural reservoir host, and can help with the investigation of lyssavirus infection dynamics in bats.
Genetic and toxinological divergence among populations of Tityus trivittatus Kraepelin, 1898 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) inhabiting Paraguay and Argentina
Authors: Borges Adolfo , Rojas de Arias Antonieta , de Almeida Lima Sabrina , Lomonte Bruno , Díaz Cecilia , Chávez-Olórtegui Carlos , Graham Matthew R. , Kalapothakis Evanguedes , Coronel Cathia , de Roodt Adolfo R.
Published: December 2020

Envenoming by scorpions in genusTityusis a public health problem in Tropical America. One of the most medically significant species isTityus trivittatus, which is known to occur from southwest Brazil to central-northern and eastern Argentina. In this work, we studied the lethality, composition, antigenicity, and enzymatic activity of venom from aT.trivittatuspopulation found further north in urban areas of eastern Paraguay, where it has caused serious envenomation of children. Our results indicate that the population is of medical importance as it produces a potently toxic venom with an LD50around 1.19 mg/kg. Venom neutralization in preliminary mouse bioassays was complete when using Brazilian anti-T.serrulatusantivenom but only partial when using Argentinean anti-T.trivittatusantivenom. Venom competitive solid-phase enzyme immunoassays and immunoblotting from Argentinean and ParaguayanT.trivittatuspopulations indicated that antigenic differences exist across the species range. SDS-PAGE showed variations in type and relative amounts of venom proteins betweenT.trivitattussamples from Argentina and Paraguay. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry indicated that while some sodium channel toxins are shared, including β-toxin Tt1g, others are population-specific. Proteolytic activity by zymography and peptide identification through nESI-MS/MS also point out that population-specific proteases may exist inT.trivitattus, which are postulated to be involved in the envenoming process. A time-calibrated molecular phylogeny of mitochondrial COI sequences revealed a significant (8.14%) genetic differentiation between the Argentinean and Paraguayan populations, which appeared to have diverged between the mid Miocene and early Pliocene. Altogether, toxinological and genetic evidence indicate thatT.trivitattuspopulations from Paraguay and Argentina correspond to distinct, unique cryptic species, and suggest that further venom and taxonomic diversity exists in synanthropic southern South AmericanTityusthan previously thought.
A colorimetric comparison of sunless with natural skin tan
Authors: Amano Kinjiro , Xiao Kaida , Wuerger Sophie , Meyer Georg
Published: December 2020

The main ingredient of sunless tanning products is dihydroxyacetone (DHA). DHA reacts with the protein and amino acid composition in the surface layers of the skin, producing melanoidins, which changes the skin colour, imitating natural skin tan caused by melanin. The purpose of this study was to characterise DHA-induced skin colour changes and to test whether we can predict the outcome of DHA application on skin tone changes. To assess the DHA-induced skin colour shift quantitatively, colorimetric and spectral measurements of the inner forearm were obtained before, four hours and 24 hours after application of a 7.5% concentration DHA gel in the experimental group (n = 100). In a control group (n = 60), the same measurements were obtained on both the inner forearm (infrequently sun-exposed) and the outer forearm (frequently sun-exposed); the difference between these two areas was defined as the naturally occurring tan. Skin colour shifts caused by DHA tanning and by natural tanning were compared in terms of lightness (L*), redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) in the standard CIELAB colour space. Naturalness of the DHA-induced skin tan was evaluated by comparing the trajectory of the chromaticity distribution in (L*, b*) space with that of naturally occurring tan. Twenty-four hours after DHA application, approximately 20% of the skin colour samples became excessively yellow, with chromaticities outside the natural range in (L*, b*) space. A principal component analysis was used to characterise the tanning pathway. Skin colour shifts induced by DHA were predicted by a multiple regression on the chromaticities and the skin properties. The model explained up to 49% of variance in colorimetric components with a median error of less than 2 ΔE. We conclude that the control of both the magnitude and the direction of the colour shift is a critical factor to achieve a natural appearance.
Defining substrate requirements for cleavage of farnesylated prelamin A by the integral membrane zinc metalloprotease ZMPSTE24
Authors: Wood Kaitlin M. , Spear Eric D. , Mossberg Otto W. , Odinammadu Kamsi O. , Xu Wenxin , Michaelis Susan
Published: December 2020

The integral membrane zinc metalloprotease ZMPSTE24 plays a key role in the proteolytic processing of farnesylated prelamin A, the precursor of the nuclear scaffold protein lamin A. Failure of this processing step results in the accumulation of permanently farnesylated forms of prelamin A which cause the premature aging disease Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS), as well as related progeroid disorders, and may also play a role in physiological aging. ZMPSTE24 is an intriguing and unusual protease because its active site is located inside of a closed intramembrane chamber formed by seven transmembrane spans with side portals in the chamber permitting substrate entry. The specific features of prelamin A that make it the sole known substrate for ZMPSTE24 in mammalian cells are not well-defined. At the outset of this work it was known that farnesylation is essential for prelamin A cleavage in vivo and that the C-terminal region of prelamin A (41 amino acids) is sufficient for recognition and processing. Here we investigated additional features of prelamin A that are required for cleavage by ZMPSTE24 using a well-established humanized yeast system. We analyzed the 14-residue C-terminal region of prelamin A that lies between the ZMPSTE24 cleavage site and the farnesylated cysteine, as well 23-residue region N-terminal to the cleavage site, by generating a series of alanine substitutions, alanine additions, and deletions in prelamin A. Surprisingly, we found that there is considerable flexibility in specific requirements for the length and composition of these regions. We discuss how this flexibility can be reconciled with ZMPSTE24’s selectivity for prelamin A.