bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cerebral MRI in a prospective cohort study on depression and atherosclerosis: the BiDirect sample, processing pipelines, and analysis tools
Authors: Wulms Niklas , Kugel Harald , Cnyrim Christian , Tenberge Anja , Schwindt Wolfram , Dannlowski Udo , Berger Klaus , Sundermann Benedikt , Minnerup Heike
Published: February 2024

Background

The use of cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in observational studies has increased exponentially in recent years, making it critical to provide details about the study sample, image processing, and extracted imaging markers to validate and replicate study results. This article reviews the cerebral MRI dataset from the now-completed BiDirect cohort study, as an update and extension of the feasibility report published after the first two examination time points.

Methods

We report the sample and flow of participants spanning four study sessions and twelve years. In addition, we provide details on the acquisition protocol; the processing pipelines, including standardization and quality control methods; and the analytical tools used and markers available.

Results

All data were collected from 2010 to 2021 at a single site in Münster, Germany, starting with a population of 2,257 participants at baseline in 3 different cohorts: a population-based cohort (n = 911 at baseline, 672 with MRI data), patients diagnosed with depression (n = 999, 736 with MRI data), and patients with manifest cardiovascular disease (n = 347, 52 with MRI data). During the study period, a total of 4,315 MRI sessions were performed, and over 535 participants underwent MRI at all 4 time points.

Conclusions

Images were converted to Brain Imaging Data Structure (a standard for organizing and describing neuroimaging data) and analyzed using common tools, such as CAT12, FSL, Freesurfer, and BIANCA to extract imaging biomarkers. The BiDirect study comprises a thoroughly phenotyped study population with structural and functional MRI data.

Relevance statement

The BiDirect Study includes a population-based sample and two patient-based samples whose MRI data can help answer numerous neuropsychiatric and cardiovascular research questions.

Key points

• The BiDirect study included characterized patient- and population-based cohorts with MRI data.

• Data were standardized to Brain Imaging Data Structure and processed with commonly available software.

• MRI data and markers are available upon request.

Graphical Abstract
Comparative analysis of SIMILAR to RCD ONE (SRO) family from tetraploid cotton species and their diploid progenitors depict their significance in cotton growth and development
Authors: Shaban Muhammad , Tabassum Riaz , Rana Iqrar Ahmad , Atif Rana Muhammad , Azmat Muhammad Abubakkar , Iqbal Zubair , Majeed Sajid , Azhar Muhammad Tehseen
Published: February 2024

Background

SRO (Similar to RCD1) genes family is largely recognized for their importance in the growth, development, and in responding to environmental stresses. However, genome-wide identification and functional characterization of SRO genes from cotton species have not been reported so far.

Results

A total of 36 SRO genes were identified from four cotton species. Phylogenetic analysis divided these genes into three groups with distinct structure. Syntenic and chromosomal distribution analysis indicated uneven distribution of GaSRO, GrSRO, GhSRO, and GbSRO genes on A2, D5 genomes, Gh-At, Gh-Dt, Gb-At, and Gb-Dt subgenomes, respectively. Gene duplication analysis revealed the presence of six duplicated gene pairs among GhSRO genes. In promoter analysis, several elements responsive to the growth, development and hormones were found in GhSRO genes, implying gene induction during cotton growth and development. Several miRNAs responsive to plant growth and abiotic stress were predicted to target 12 GhSRO genes. Organ-specific expression profiling demonstrated the roles of GhSRO genes in one or more tissues. In addition, specific expression pattern of some GhSRO genes during ovule development depicted their involvement in these developmental processes.

Conclusion

The data presented in this report laid a foundation for understanding the classification and functions of SRO genes in cotton.
Brentuximab vedotin resistance in classic Hodgkin's lymphoma and its therapeutic strategies: a review
Authors: Bera Dayeeta , Roy Dattatreya
Published: February 2024

Background

Bone marrow cancer has been at the forefront of cancer research. The propensity of cancers to extravasate to the bone makes it a very relevant topic in the topology of this heterogeneous disease. Our narrative review article addresses Brentuximab vedotin (BV) resistance in classic Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients and discusses the current trends in the therapeutic process. The data have been collected from the works of well-established researchers, and the scientific evidence was abundantly supplemented with clinical and pre-clinical trial data. Although the findings cited are the latest, this review might not be very accurate for every population as the data from which this was derived have a population bias in several instances. The analysis has mostly been qualitative and interpretive, and quantitative evidence has only been used to explain the clinical trial results. We have divided our paper into the mode of action of BV, its probable and proven causes of resistance, and the therapeutic strategies employed to reverse them to ensure a systemic flow of information throughout the text.

Main body

Brentuximab vedotin is an antibody–drug conjugate with antineoplastic activity, used to target a novel immunophenotype tumor necrosis factor CD30. This factor is specific to the tumor-causing Reed-Sternberg cells in the inflammatory infiltrate. Though the drug had shown promise initially, the cancer was quick to develop resistance against the drug. We have analyzed and represented abundant statistical evidence to back this claim. The paper further discusses the role of the CD30 receptor, MDR1 gene, valine–citrulline linker, and tumor microenvironment in drug resistance. Lastly, we have discussed the possible therapeutics that can be used to overcome this resistance, discussing the well-established and trial-stage approaches taken in the endeavor.

Conclusion

The treatment is much better after the pursuit of reversing the drug resistance phenomenon. However, no therapeutic approach has been entirely successful in restricting the neoplastic property of cancer cells once and for all. This paper describes why that is so and how the heterogeneity of the disease complicates troubleshooting. We have tried to approach such problems through this specific example.
Deep-unrolling architecture for image-domain least-squares migration
Authors: Zhang Wei , Ravasi Matteo , Gao Jinghuai , Shi Ying
Published: February 2024

Deep-image prior (DIP) is a novel approach to solving ill-posed inverse problems whose solution is parameterized with an untrained deep neural network and cascaded with the forward modeling operator. A key component to the success of such a method is represented by the choice of the network architecture, which must act as a natural prior to the inverse problem at hand and provide a strong inductive bias toward the desired solution. Inspired by the close link between neural networks and iterative algorithms in classical optimization, we apply an unrolled version of the gradient descent (GD) algorithm as our DIP network architecture, denoted as the deep-unrolling (DU) architecture. Each layer of the unrolled network is comprised of two parts: the first part corresponds to the GD step of the data-fidelity term, whereas the second part, formed by a six-layer convolutional neural network (CNN), plays the role of a regularizer in the associated objective function. The developed DU architecture is applied to the problem of image-domain least-squares migration (IDLSM) to invert migrated seismic images for their underlying reflectivity and is denoted as DU-IDLSM. As such, the DU architecture parameterizes the reflectivity, and the input of each layer of the unrolled network is the reflectivity at the previous layer. Similar to the classical DIP approach, the parameters of the DU architecture are optimized in an unsupervised fashion by minimizing the data misfit function itself. Through experiments with a part of the Sigsbee2A model and a marine field data set, we test the effectiveness of the DU-IDLSM approach and highlight two key benefits. First, the DU architecture can effectively regularize the inversion process, resulting in reflectivity estimates with fewer artifacts and higher image resolution than those produced by conventional IDLSM approaches. Second, we indicate that by including dropout layers in the CNN architecture, DU-IDLSM can produce a qualitative measure of the uncertainty associated with the least-squares migration process.
ONC201 (Dordaviprone) in Recurrent H3 K27M–Mutant Diffuse Midline Glioma
Authors: Arrillaga-Romany Isabel , Gardner Sharon L. , Odia Yazmin , Aguilera Dolly , Allen Joshua E. , Batchelor Tracy , Butowski Nicholas , Chen Clark , Cloughesy Timothy , Cluster Andrew , de Groot John , Dixit Karan S. , Graber Jerome J. , Haggiagi Aya M. , Harrison Rebecca A. , Kheradpour Albert , Kilburn Lindsay B. , Kurz Sylvia C. , Lu Guangrong , MacDonald Tobey J. , Mehta Minesh , Melemed Allen S. , Nghiemphu Phioanh Leia , Ramage Samuel C. , Shonka Nicole , Sumrall Ashley , Tarapore Rohinton S. , Taylor Lynne , Umemura Yoshie , Wen Patrick Y.
Published: February 2024

PURPOSE

Histone 3 (H3) K27M–mutant diffuse midline glioma (DMG) has a dismal prognosis with no established effective therapy beyond radiation. This integrated analysis evaluated single-agent ONC201 (dordaviprone), a first-in-class imipridone, in recurrent H3 K27M–mutant DMG.

METHODS

Fifty patients (pediatric, n = 4; adult, n = 46) with recurrent H3 K27M–mutant DMG who received oral ONC201 monotherapy in four clinical trials or one expanded access protocol were included. Eligible patients had measurable disease by Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) high-grade glioma (HGG) criteria and performance score (PS) ≥60 and were ≥90 days from radiation; pontine and spinal tumors were ineligible. The primary end point was overall response rate (ORR) by RANO-HGG criteria. Secondary end points included duration of response (DOR), time to response (TTR), corticosteroid response, PS response, and ORR by RANO low-grade glioma (LGG) criteria. Radiographic end points were assessed by dual-reader, blinded independent central review.

RESULTS

The ORR (RANO-HGG) was 20.0% (95% CI, 10.0 to 33.7). The median TTR was 8.3 months (range, 1.9-15.9); the median DOR was 11.2 months (95% CI, 3.8 to not reached). The ORR by combined RANO-HGG/LGG criteria was 30.0% (95% CI, 17.9 to 44.6). A ≥50% corticosteroid dose reduction occurred in 7 of 15 evaluable patients (46.7% [95% CI, 21.3 to 73.4]); PS improvement occurred in 6 of 34 evaluable patients (20.6% [95% CI, 8.7 to 37.9]). Grade 3 treatment-related treatment-emergent adverse events (TR-TEAEs) occurred in 20.0% of patients; the most common was fatigue (n = 5; 10%); no grade 4 TR-TEAEs, deaths, or discontinuations occurred.

CONCLUSION

ONC201 monotherapy was well tolerated and exhibited durable and clinically meaningful efficacy in recurrent H3 K27M–mutant DMG.
Η συσχέτιση της ύπαρξης μη επικρατούσας δεξιάς στεφανιαίας αρτηρίας με ανάδειξη ισχαιμίας στο σπινθηρογράφημα αιμάτωσης του μυοκαρδίου με ή χωρίς διόρθωση της εξασθένισης των φωτονίων μέσω μαλακών ιστών (CT based attenuation correction) (spect/CT) σε ασθενείς με φυσιολογικά στεφανιαία αγγεία ή μη ύπαρξης σημαντικής στεφανιαίας νόσου
Authors: Μπλάνη Βιργινία-Αικατερίνη
Published: February 2024

Τι γνωρίζουμε: Η μη επικρατούσα δεξιά στεφανιαία αρτηρία (ΜΕΔΕΣ), απαντάται στο 7-9% περίπου των ασθενών που υποβάλλονται σε στεφανιογραφία. Σε αυτή την περίπτωση, η επικρατούσα αρτηρία είναι η περισπώμενη, η οποία θεωρητικά αιματώνει επαρκώς το κατώτερο μυοκαρδιακό τοίχωμα. Τι δεν είναι γνωστό: Δεν γνωρίζουμε στην περίπτωση της ΜΕΔΕΣ αν η αιμάτωση του κατωτέρου τοιχώματος του μυοκαρδίου είναι πραγματικά επαρκής και αν η ΜΕΔΕΣ σε άτομα χωρίς σημαντική αποφρακτική αθηροσκληρυντική νόσο των στεφανιαίων (χωρίς στένωση αυλού ≥ 50%), σχετίζεται με φυσιολογική απεικόνιση στον λειτουργικό έλεγχο ισχαιμίας με απεικόνιση της μυοκαρδιακής αιμάτωσης με υπολογιστική τομογραφία εκπομπής φωτονίων (SPECT-MPI). Μέθοδοι και αποτελέσματα: Συγκρίναμε τα αποτελέσματα του SPECT-MPI διαδοχικών ασθενών χωρίς σημαντική στεφανιαία νόσο και ΜΕΔΕΣ (Ομάδα-1), με αυτά ασθενών από την βάση δεδομένων μας οι οποίοι δεν είχαν σημαντική στεφανιαία νόσο και είχαν επικρατούσα δεξιά στεφανιαία αρτηρία (Ομάδα-2). Όλοι οι ασθενείς υποβλήθηκαν σε SPECT-MPI με ενδοφλέβια χορήγηση αδενοσίνης για την πρόκληση ισχαιμίας και χορήγηση TC99-tetrofosmin για την απεικόνιση με γ-κάμερα. Στην Ομάδα-1 περιελήφθησαν 69 ασθενείς (55 άνδρες, 79.9%), με μέση ηλικία 66.8±9.8 έτη. Στην Ομάδα-2 περιελήφθησαν 79 ασθενείς (56 άνδρες, 70.9%), με μέση ηλικία 62.7±11.5 έτη. Δεν υπήρχε διαφορά στα δημογραφικά στοιχεία και στους παράγοντες κινδύνου για στεφανιαία νόσο μεταξύ των δυο ομάδων. Τα αποτελέσματα του SPECT-MPI ήταν συμβατά με ισχαιμία του κατωτέρου τοιχώματος σε 35 ασθενείς (50.7%) από την Ομάδα-1 και σε 27 ασθενείς (34.1%) από την Ομάδα-2 (P = 0.041). Συμπέρασμα: Διαπιστώθηκε ένα σχετικά υψηλό ποσοστό ψευδώς θετικών αποτελεσμάτων του SPECT-MPI σε ασθενείς χωρίς σημαντική στεφανιαία νόσο και ΜΕΔΕΣ, σε σχέση με ασθενείς με επικρατούσα δεξιά στεφανιαία αρτηρία. Η ύπαρξη ΜΕΔΕΣ, θα μπορούσε να περιληφθεί στις πιθανές αιτίες ψευδώς θετικών αποτελεσμάτων SPECT-MPI.
From neurorights to neuroduties: the case of personal identity
Authors: M. Astobiza Aníbal , de Miguel Beriain íñigo
Published: February 2024

Background The neurorights initiative has been postulated as a way of ensuring the protection of individuals from the advances of neurotechnology and artificial intelligence (AI). With the advancement of neurotechnology, the human nervous system may be altered, modified, intervened with, or otherwise controlled. However, how do neurorights safeguard legal interests when an individual consciously chooses to modify their experiences using neurotechnology? Neurorights—the protection of cognitive liberty, psychological continuity, free will, personal identity, and mental privacy—are challenged when individuals opt for ‘artificial memories’, implanted experiences, etc., disrupting their natural cognitive dimensions. The present article examines these complex dilemmas through a legal and ethical lens. Furthermore, it introduces the concept of a ‘neuroduty’ to preserve identity, a moral obligation that stands in stark contrast to the individual’s right to self-determination. In the same way that neurorights protect us from external interference in our nervous system, is it possible to think of a neuroduty to preserve our identity? This article explores the tensions between neurorights, neuroduty, and the potential misuse of neurotechnology. Methods First, we explore these dilemmas, investigating the often-blurred lines between neurotechnology, neurorights, and personal autonomy. Secondly, we focus into the concept of voluntary alterations of one’s own brain, assessing the wider implications such actions could have on both individual and societal levels, in the light of the concept of neuroduty to preserve personal identity. Also, we examine the potential repercussions on personal identity and interpersonal relations. Finally, we advocate for a reassessment and potential reformulation of existing neurorights frameworks to account for the personal autonomy to use advancing neuroscientific capabilities. Results Our examination reveals a complex interplay between neurorights and neuroduty to preserve personal autonomy. Conclusions This analysis will provide valuable insights for stakeholders, policymakers, and society at large, guiding the responsible integration of neurotechnology into our lives.
Tasks and role of the tourist complex in the system of social and economic development of the national economy
Authors: Barna Marta , Iablon Volodymyr
Published: February 2024

The relevance of the methodological problem of improving the theoretical and methodological foundations of tourism as a complex of the national economy lies in the fact that this sector of the economy has every reason to become one of the priority and promising branches of the national economy of Ukraine. The grounds for this conclusion are good natural and climatic conditions and the presence of a wide variety of tourist resources, namely natural-recreational, historical-cultural and socio-economic. Ukraine is characterized not only by a large number of destinations, but also by itself, in general, it can be considered as a single large complex tourist destination.The purpose of the study is to improve the conceptual provisions and substantive characteristics of the tourist complex as an object of state policy.During the study, the methods of logical generalization (to determine the conceptual provisions of the tourism sector of the economy), grouping (to identify the environment of the tourism sector), analysis and synthesis (to ensure a systematic approach in the formation of the state policy for regulating the development of the tourism sector) were used.The applied value of the research results lies in the identification of the decomposition of the tourist complex of the national economy.

The scientific novelty of the research results lies in the further development of the methodological and applied principles of tourism as (1) an industry, (2) a type of economic activity, (3) a sector, (4) a complex of the national economy.
A Smart Ad Display System
Authors: Xiao Li , Wu D. J. , Ding Min
Published: February 2024

This paper proposes a smart ad display system to provide personalized delivery of video ads. The proposed system records consumers’ facial expression and eye gaze stream data as they watch an ad and analyzes data at the frame level. The recognized facial expression and detected eye gaze are matched to the corresponding frame of the video ad, thereby linking facial expressions to specific visual objects appearing in the ad. By tracking a consumer’s facial expressions in response to various visual objects in real time, the system learns the consumer’s individual preferences toward different ads, searches the ad pool, and selects and subsequently displays a new ad that is most likely to elicit positive attitudinal and behavioral responses. We demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed system with two empirical studies. The results show that by tracking a consumer’s facial responses to only one ad or even part of an ad, our proposed system is able to make reasonably accurate inferences about a consumer’s ad preferences, with or without using information about other consumers. These inferences are used to make personalized recommendations that help enhance consumers’ ad viewing experiences and elicit favorable responses.
Unifying Procedure-Dependent Preference Reversals: Theory and Experiments
Authors: Guo Liang
Published: February 2024

Revealed preferences between alternatives can be systematically reversed across a variety of elicitation procedures (e.g., choice, valuation, matching, joint/separate evaluation). These puzzling findings have been usually invoked to challenge the procedure invariance principle. Yet procedure-dependent preferences can be endogenous. This paper presents a unifying theory of contextual deliberation to account for seemingly disparate phenomena of preference reversals. When attribute importance is ex ante imperfectly known, people can engage in costly information retrieval/acquisition activities (i.e., deliberation) prior to making decisions. Elicitation procedures can influence revealed preferences through affecting the incentive for deliberation. Therefore, contextual deliberation can endogenously yield procedure-dependent preference reversals, offer a common microfoundation for extant psychological accounts (e.g., the prominence hypothesis, the evaluability hypothesis), and coherently organize apparently unrelated/inconsistent findings in the literature. We also run five experiments and document new findings that are inconsistent with extant hypotheses but can be reconciled by contextual deliberation.

This paper was accepted by Dmitri Kuksov, marketing.

Funding: This work was supported by the Hong Kong Research Grant Council (RGC) General Research Fund [Grant 16500614].

Supplemental Material: The data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2021.02640 .
Reliable Frequency Regulation Through Vehicle-to-Grid: Encoding Legislation with Robust Constraints
Authors: Lauinger Dirk , Vuille François , Kuhn Daniel
Published: February 2024

Problem definition: Vehicle-to-grid increases the low utilization rate of privately owned electric vehicles by making their batteries available to electricity grids. We formulate a robust optimization problem that maximizes a vehicle owner’s expected profit from selling primary frequency regulation to the grid and guarantees that market commitments are met at all times for all frequency deviation trajectories in a functional uncertainty set that encodes applicable legislation. Faithfully modeling the energy conversion losses during battery charging and discharging renders this optimization problem nonconvex. Methodology/results: By exploiting a total unimodularity property of the uncertainty set and an exact linear decision rule reformulation, we prove that this nonconvex robust optimization problem with functional uncertainties is equivalent to a tractable linear program. Through extensive numerical experiments using real-world data, we quantify the economic value of vehicle-to-grid and elucidate the financial incentives of vehicle owners, aggregators, equipment manufacturers, and regulators. Managerial implications: We find that the prevailing penalties for nondelivery of promised regulation power are too low to incentivize vehicle owners to honor the delivery guarantees given to grid operators.

Funding: This work was supported by the Institut Vedecom.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2022.0154 .
The importance of transformational leadership
Authors: Thomas Vinice
Published: February 2024

Transformational leadership is a leadership style that is often compared to and contrasted with transactional leadership. Where the latter tends to be more task-orientated and has a part to play in specific managerial contexts, transformational leadership focuses on the power of relationships to inspire others to achieve a shared vision, with longer lasting effects.

The benefits of transformational leadership place it as one of the most applied leadership styles in health care, with positive impacts seen on the workforce, organisational productivity, and patient outcomes. Developing transformational leaders across all levels of an organisation is strongly recommended, due to the benefits highlighted in the literature.

Any organisation wishing to grow its transformational leaders must first identify intrinsic and extrinsic factors within the organisation and its culture that could act as obstacles. Authors are in agreement that the skills, knowledge and behaviours of a transformational leader can be learnt, therefore investment in such development programmes is important.

This article explores the importance of transformational leadership and how staff can develop the competencies required to grow as a transformational leader in health and social care.
A multidisciplinary approach to managing lymphorroea in primary lymphoedema: a case study
Authors: Dai Misako , Yamashita Shuji , Yang Rui , Okazaki Mutsumi , Sugama Junko , Sanada Hiromi
Published: February 2024

This case study describes the successful management of a patient with primary lymphoedema, who was experiencing lymphorrhoea and epidermolysis, using a multidisciplinary approach. The patient had Klippel–Trenaunay syndrome. The multidisciplinary team, in an outpatient clinic in Japan, included a certified lymphoedema therapist, plastic surgeons, and a wound, ostomy and continence nurse. The team performed complex physical therapy and lymphaticovenular anastomosis, which promoted the resolution of the lymphorrhoea. This resulted in improvements in skin condition, the prevention of recurrent cellulitis, and no increase in limb circumferences during the 1-year follow-up period. This report highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to lymphoedema management, including lymphorrhoea control that fitted in with the patient's daily life. It is hoped that this article will contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of patients with lymphoedema.
Unmasking impostor phenomenon: a study of nurses in specialist roles
Authors: Ord Tracy , Metcalfe Dale , Greaves Jane , Hodgson Philip
Published: February 2024

This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the incidence of impostor phenomenon among 79 nurses in specialist roles in a single NHS trust in England, using an online anonymous questionnaire that included the Clance Imposter Phenomenon Scale and free-text responses. Results indicated a high prevalence of impostor phenomenon, with no specific variables predicting its occurrence. Four main themes emerged: self-doubt, role expectations, fear of exposure as an impostor, and factors leading to burnout. The study highlights the need for targeted support and training for this cohort, particularly as impostor phenomenon was found to be prevalent during career transitions and was not limited by gender. The findings have implications for nursing management and education, offering the opportunity to develop specific support mechanisms to alleviate impostor phenomenon and potentially reduce attrition rates in specialist nursing roles.
Taking a proactive approach to attracting and retaining the best staff
Authors: Gardner Emma
Published: February 2024

Emma Gardner, quality manager for Spring by Action for Children, shares more about the organisation's career and learning pathways for staff, ahead of National Careers Week 4-9 March.
Equiano's African Methodist Appetite: Feasting and Purification Rituals as Community and Resistance
Authors: Stewart Carole Lynn
Published: February 2024

Abstract: This article draws on food studies, religious history, and research on Equiano's religious orientation to argue that Equiano's Interesting Narrative describes a creolized African and Methodist asceticism in relation to food and ritual practice. His introduction to the Moravian-Methodist love feast before his conversion resonates with his earlier textual recollections of commensality and feasting practices in his eastern Nigerian homeland. Equiano's early textual descriptions of feasting rituals suggest that he was attracted to Methodism because of his experiences through the Middle Passage and his memories of feasting practices, purification rites, and sacrifices and offerings from his childhood in Igboland. Equiano's experiences of sacrifice and his portrayals of hunger and hunger strikes as a form of resistance on the slave ships mark his choice of religious and ascetic orientation. His reclamation of the ocean as a free Black sailor, an Atlantic Creole, contributes to his interest to a temperate Methodist orientation and inner-worldly asceticism.
New data on the Ben Levy anticline, with reverse reactivation on the Coolin Fault giving up-side-down Silurian rocks in Joyces Country, Connemara
Authors: Leake Bernard Elgey
Published: February 2024

Abstract: In Joyces Country in western Ireland, the ∼ E-W striking axial plane of the D7 Ben Levy anticline folded Dalradian and unconformable Silurian rocks. The north side of the fold is mostly coincident with the contemporaneous ESE-WNW striking steeply dipping Coolin Fault close to the Dalradian-basal Silurian contact. This fault was first initiated by sinistral strike-slip motion, probably of Ordovician age, and then secondly used by post-Wenlock down throw on the north side to form the D7 anticline. Later a newly recognised third motion of reverse reactivation on the fault uplifted the north limb of the fold and locally overturned the Silurian succession against irregularities in the SSW dip of the fault. Still later, but pre-374Ma (Devonian), NE-SW faulting exposed different previous levels of the Coolin Fault zone. The superb Dalradian rock exposure provides details not generally apparent on other reactivated faults in Connemara.
Reflections on Elizabeth Cook-Lynn's Anti-Indianism in Modern America : A Voice from Tatekeya's Earth and Her Influence on My Curatorial Librarianship
Authors: Manus Jolene Dezbah
Published: February 2024

Abstract: Elizabeth Cook-Lynn's Anti-Indianism in Modern America: A Voice from Tatekeya's Earth asks Native Americans in university positions to critically reflect on how their work shows responsibility toward Native Americans in the university. Libraries and archives are foundational places where Native American students access information across disciplines that include Native American collections. The job of the curator of Native American Collections for the University of New Mexico, University Libraries, is to document how the library and archive will respectfully shape collections and make active efforts to contact tribes regarding cultural content in archival collections. Influenced by the scholarship and activism of Cook-Lynn, this essay reflects on the words of Cook-Lynn in the area of transforming library and archival practices to build more trustworthy relationships with Native American people and nations.
Target intensity correction method based on incidence angle and distance for a pulsed Lidar system
Authors: Qi Baoling , Yang Guohui , Zhang Yu , Wang Chunhui
Published: February 2024

Pulsed light detecting and ranging (Lidar) is capable of acquiring comprehensive target information within a single pulse, including distance and intensity data. Intensity data reflects the target’s backscattered intensity and is commonly regarded as a crucial observational parameter associated with target reflectivity information. Multiple studies have indicated the potential of intensity data in various applications within pulsed Lidar contexts. However, the intensity data is influenced by the incident angle and distance; hence it cannot directly manifest target characteristics. Consequently, a prerequisite for its usage is the implementation of intensity calibration. This paper presents a target intensity correction method based on an improved tail model, designed for preprocessing intensity data. First, the pulse echo signal equation is derived by incorporating the improved tail model with the detected target. On this foundation, a target echo intensity correction model is established to correct the intensities at various incident angles to those at the normal direction. Lastly, the derived approach is validated through simulation analysis, and practical experiments are conducted on a constructed pulsed Lidar system. These experiments meticulously investigate the influences of incident angle and distance, two prominent factors, on echo intensity. In the context of incident angle correction experiments, the mean absolute errors (MAEs) in calibrated values for diverse targets all remain within 0.04 V. Prior to correction, the maximum MAE for the cystosepiment is 0.505 V; after the correction it is reduced to merely 0.02 V, indicating a 96% reduction in error. Furthermore, all discrepancies exhibit an error standard deviation (ESD) of 0.03 V or less, showcasing favorable stability. For distance correction, under normal incidence conditions, a diverse set of targets is measured at different distances to achieve corrected MAE and ESD within 0.05 V. Consequently, the proposed method effectively achieves intensity correction concerning incident angles and distances. To achieve this, a reflectivity lookup table for the relevant targets was established. Combining this with the corrected intensity information enabled target identification in the three-dimensional imaging of pulsed Lidar.
Shortcuts to adiabatic soliton compression in active nonlinear Kerr media
Authors: Li Yingjia , Paul Koushik , Novoa David , Chen Xi
Published: February 2024

We implement variational shortcuts to adiabaticity for optical pulse compression in an active nonlinear Kerr medium with distributed amplification and spatially varying dispersion and nonlinearity. Starting with the hyperbolic secant ansatz, we employ a variational approximation to systematically derive dynamical equations, establishing analytical relationships linking the amplitude, width, and chirp of the pulse. Through the inverse engineering approach, we manipulate the distributed gain/loss, nonlinearity and dispersion profiles to efficiently compress the optical pulse over a reduced distance with high fidelity. In addition, we explore the dynamical stability of the system to illustrate the advantage of our protocol over conventional adiabatic approaches. Finally, we analyze the impact of tailored higher-order dispersion on soliton self-compression and derive physical constraints on the final soliton width for the complementary case of soliton expansion. The broader implications of our findings extend beyond optical systems, encompassing areas such as cold-atom and magnetic systems highlighting the versatility and relevance of our approach in various physical contexts.
Ultracompact wavefront characterization of femtosecond 3D printed microlenses using double-frequency Ronchi interferometry
Authors: Imiolczyk Claudia , Pfau Teresa Klara , Thiele Simon , Karst Julian , Floess Moritz , Schmid Michael , Hentschel Mario , Giessen Harald
Published: February 2024

3D printed microoptics have become important tools for miniature endoscopy, novel CMOS-based on-chip sensors, OCT-fibers, among others. Until now, only image quality and spot diagrams were available for optical characterization. Here, we introduce Ronchi interferometry as ultracompact and quick quantitative analysis method for measuring the wavefront aberrations after propagating coherent light through the 3D printed miniature optics. We compare surface shapes by 3D confocal microscopy with optical characterizations by Ronchi interferograms. Phase retrieval gives us the transversal wave front aberration map, which indicates that the aberrations of our microlenses that have been printed with a Nanoscribe GT or Quantum X printer exhibit RMS wavefront aberrations as small as λ/20, Strehl ratios larger than 0.91, and near-diffraction limited modulation transfer functions. Our method will be crucial for future developments of 3D printed microoptics, as the method is ultracompact, ultra-stable, and very fast regarding measurement and evaluation. It could fit directly into a 3D printer and allows for in-situ measurements right after printing as well as fast iterations for improving the shape of the optical surface.
Crystal structural effects on up/down-conversion luminescence properties of GdInO3:Tm,Yb perovskite phosphors for effective dual-mode anti-counterfeit applications
Authors: Wang Xiao-min , Feng Kai , Shan Liang , Zou Jie , Lu Bin
Published: February 2024

Developing advanced luminescent materials that are recognizable under specified conditions provides better opportunity for reliable optical anti-counterfeiting techniques. In this work, to the best of our knowledge, novel GdInO3:Tm,Yb perovskite phosphors with ultrafine sizes and rounded morphologies were successfully synthesized by a facile chemical precipitation route. Two-type perovskites with orthorhombic and hexagonal structures could be obtained by calcining the precursor at 850 and 1100 °C, respectively. Under 980 nm excitation, the two phosphors exhibited cyan-bluish emission at ∼460−565 nm, red emission at 645−680 nm, and near-infrared emission at 770−825 nm arising from 1G4 + 1D2→3H5,6, 3F2,3→3H6, and 3H4→3H6 transitions of Tm3+, respectively, where the hexagonal perovskite phosphor had relatively strong and sharp red emission as well as red-shifted cyan-bluish emission via successive cross relaxations. The Yb3+ sensitizer enhanced the upconversion luminescence via effective Yb3+→Tm3+ energy transfer and the optimal Yb3+ concentrations were 10 at.% for orthorhombic perovskite and 5 at.% for hexagonal one. The upconversion mechanism mainly ascribed to two-photon processes while three-photon was also present. Upon excitation at 254 nm, their down-conversion spectra exhibited broad multibands in the wavelength range of 400−500 nm deriving from combined effects of the defect-induced emission of GdInO3 and the 1D2→3F4 + 4G4→3H6 emissions of Tm3+. The energy transfer from GdInO3 defect level to Tm3+ excitation state was observed for the first time. The unclonable security codes prepared by screen printing from those dual-mode emitting perovskite phosphors were almost invisible under natural light, which had promising potential for anti-counterfeiting application.
Dynamic monitoring of oxygen partial pressure in photodynamic therapy using pump-probe-based photoacoustic tomography
Authors: Xiao Jiaying , He Xiao , Xie Zhuojun , Wang Bo
Published: February 2024

Pump-probe-based photoacoustic tomography (PP-PAT) is an innovative and promising molecular imaging technique. In this study, we utilized PP-PAT for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, to monitor the dynamics of oxygen partial pressure (pO2) within murine tumors during photodynamic therapy (PDT) with methylene blue (MB). We developed, to our knowledge, a novel two-step fitting method to simultaneously map both the pO2 and the MB concentrations and implemented it with mexCuda to accelerate the pixel-wise-based calculation. The results demonstrated a penetration depth of up to 5 mm and revealed a significant decrease in pO2 during the PDT process, consistent with existing research findings. This study suggests that PP-PAT has the potential to become a valuable tool for intraoperative monitoring of PDT, thereby enhancing therapeutic efficacy.
Community based integrated wound care: Results of a pilot formative research conducted in Benin and Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa
Authors: Wadagni Anita Carolle Akpeedje , Yao Théodore Ange Kouakou , Diez Gabriel , Balle Flora Houndjrèbo , Koffi Aboa Paul , Aoulou Paulin , Zahiri Marie-Hélène , Djossou Parfait , Barogui Yves Thierry , Assé Henry , Houezo Jean-Gabin , Sopoh Ghislain Emmanuel , Nichter Mark , Johnson Roch Christian
Published: February 2024

Appropriate treatment of chronic wounds is priority in the management of Neglected Tropical Skin Diseases (NTSDs) and non-communicable diseases. We describe an integrated, community-based wound care pilot project carried out in Benin and Cote d’Ivoire that entailed both outreach education and evidence based wound care training for nurses staffing rural clinics. This research was carried out by a transdisciplinary research. Following the collection of baseline data on wound care at home and in clinics, an innovative pilot project was developed based on a critical assessment of baseline data in three parts: a pragmatic nurse training program; mass community cultural sensitive outreach programs and a mobile consultation. It came out from our investigation that several dangerous homecare and inappropriate wound treatment practices in clinics, gaps in knowledge about Neglected Tropical Skin Diseases (NTSDs), and little health staff communication with patients about appropriate wound care. Nurse training covered 11 modules including general principles of wound management and advice specific to endemic NTSDs. Nurse pre-post training knowledge scores increased substantially. Eight mass community outreach programs were conducted, followed by mobile clinics at which 850 people with skin conditions were screened. Three hundred and three (35.65%) of these people presented with wounds of which 64% were simple, 20% moderate, and 16% severe cases. Patients were followed for ten weeks to assess adherence with wound hygiene messages presented in outreach programs and repeated by nurses during screening. Over 90% of simple and moderate cases were managed appropriately at home and 98% of wounds were healed. Of the 47 cases referred to the health center, 87% came for and adhered to wound care advice. In 90% of cases, wounds healed. This pilot study provides a model for introducing integrated community based wound care in Africa.
Feedback dynamic control for exiting a debt-induced spiral in a deterministic Keen model
Authors: Perez Avellaneda Ivan , Rosales Francisco , Duffaut Espinosa Luis A.
Published: February 2024

The Keen model is designed to represent an economy as a dynamic system governed by the interactions between private debt, wage share, and employment rate. When certain conditions are met, the model can lead to a debt spiral, which accurately mimics the impact of a financial crisis on an economy. This manuscript presents a recipe for breaking this spiral by expressing Keen’s model as an affine nonlinear system that can be modified through policy interventions. We begin by considering critical initial conditions that resemble a financial crisis to achieve this goal. We then locate a desired point within the system’s vector field that leads to a desirable equilibrium and design a path towards it. This path is later followed using one-step-ahead optimal control. We illustrate our approach by presenting simulated control scenarios.
Enrichment of infection-associated bacteria in the low biomass brain bacteriota of Alzheimer’s disease patients
Authors: Ko Yeon Kyeong , Kim Eunbi , Lee Eun-Jae , Nam Soo Jeong , Kim Yeshin , Kim Seongheon , Choi Se-Young , Kim Hyun Young , Choi Youngnim
Published: February 2024

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease accompanied by neuroimmune inflammation in the frontal cortex and hippocampus. Recently, the presence of bacteria in AD-affected brains has been documented, prompting speculation about their potential role in AD-associated neuroinflammation. However, the characterization of bacteriota in human brains affected by AD remains inconclusive. This study aimed to investigate potential associations between specific bacteria and AD pathology by examining brain tissues from AD-associated neurodegenerative regions (frontal cortex and hippocampus) and the non-AD-associated hypothalamus. Employing 16S rRNA gene sequencing, 30 postmortem brain tissue samples from four individuals with normal brain histology (N) and four AD patients were analyzed, along with three blank controls. A remarkably low biomass characterized the brain bacteriota, with their overall structures delineated primarily by brain regions rather than the presence of AD. While most analyzed parameters exhibited no significant distinction in the brain bacteriota between the N and AD groups, the unique detection of Cloacibacterium normanense in the AD-associated neurodegenerative regions stood out. Additionally, infection-associated bacteria, as opposed to periodontal pathogens, were notably enriched in AD brains. This study’s findings provide valuable insights into potential link between bacterial infection and neuroinflammation in AD.
Prevalence of phenotypic multi-drug resistant Klebsiella species recovered from different human specimens in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Kijineh Biniyam , Alemeyhu Tsegaye , Mengistu Mulugeta , Ali Musa Mohammed
Published: February 2024

Background

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Klebsiella species are among public health important bacteria that cause infections difficult to treat with available antimicrobial agents. Infections with Klebsiella lead to high morbidity and mortality in developing countries particularly in patients admitted to the intensive care unit. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of MDR Klebsiella species from different human specimens using studies conducted in Ethiopia from 2018−2022.

Methods

We have systematically searched online databases such as PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar, Hinari, African journals online, Web of Science, Cochrane, and grey literature (Addis Ababa University and Hawassa University) to identify studies reporting the proportion of MDR Klebsiella species in Ethiopia. Published articles were selected based on the Preferred Reporting Item of Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA). R-Studio version 4.2.3 was used to conduct pooled prevalence, heterogeneity test, and publication bias. A binary random effect model was used to determine the pooled prevalence. Heterogeneity was checked with the inconsistency index (I2). Publication bias was checked with a funnel plot and Egger test. Sensitivity analysis was conducted with leave-one-out analysis. Joanna Briggs Institute’s critical appraisal tool for prevalence studies was used to check the quality of each article.

Results

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, 40 articles were included in which 12,239 human specimens were examined. Out of the total specimens examined, 721 Klebsiella species were isolated and 545 isolates were reported to be MDR Klebsiella species. The prevalence of MDR Klebsiella species ranged from 7.3%-100% whereas the pooled prevalence of MDR Klebsiella species was 72% (95% CI: 63 − 82%, I2 = 95%). Sub-group analysis based on region revealed the highest prevalence of MDR from Addis Ababa (97%) and the least from the Somali region (33%); whereas sub-group analysis based on the specimen type indicated the highest prevalence was from blood culture specimens 96% and the least was from other specimens (ear and vaginal discharge, and stool) (51%).

Conclusion

Our finding indicated a high prevalence of MDR Klebsiella species found in different human specimens. The prevalence of MDR Klebsiella varies across regions in Ethiopia, age, the type of specimens, source and site of infection. Therefore, integrated action should be taken to reduce the prevalence of MDR Klebsiella species in regional states and focus on clinical features. Effective infection and prevention control should be applied to reduce the transmission within and outside health care settings.
Mucormycosis in children with cancer and hematopoietic cell transplant—A single center cohort study
Authors: Marón Gabriela A. , Inagaki Kengo , Rodriguez Alicia , Knapp Katherine M. , Hayden Randall T. , Adderson Elisabeth E.
Published: February 2024

Although mucormycosis is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in children with cancer, our understanding of the typical characteristics of these infections is incomplete. We reviewed all cases of mucormycosis diagnosed at a single pediatric cancer center over 5 decades to identify the clinical features of mucormycosis in pediatric oncology patients and to identify risk factors for mortality. There were 44 cases of mucormycosis diagnosed between 1970–2019. Most patients (89%) had hematological malignancies and a history of prolonged and severe neutropenia (91%). In this series, hyperglycemia and exposure to corticosteroids were common. Pulmonary (36%) and disseminated infections (32%) were most common; rhino-orbital-cerebral infections were relatively infrequent (11%). Rhizopus spp. was the most common etiological agent (40%) followed by Mucor spp. (31%), and Cunninghamella spp. (19%). Overall mortality was 44% and 51% and attributable mortality was 39% and 41% at the end of antifungal therapy and end of follow up, respectively. Attributable mortality fell to 18% in 2010–2019, from 58–60% in previous decades; adjunctive surgery was associated with decreased mortality. Mortality remains unacceptably high despite aggressive antifungal therapy and adjunctive surgery, suggesting novel therapeutic strategies are needed.