bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A simple standardized protocol to evaluate the reliability of seed rain estimates
Authors: Arruda André J. , Silveira Fernando A.O. , Buisson Elise
Published: December 2020

Seed dispersal has key implications for community dynamics and restoration ecology. However, estimating seed rain (the number and diversity of seeds arriving in a given area) is challenging, and the lack of standardization in measurement prevents cross-site comparisons. Seed trap effectiveness and accuracy of seed sorting methods are key components of seed rain estimates in need of standardization. We propose and describe a standardized protocol for evaluating the effectiveness of two seed trap types (sticky and funnel traps) and the accuracy of a seed sorting method. We used widely available seeds (arugula, quinoa, sesame and sunflower) to produce a gradient of seed size, weight and colour. Proof-of-concept was tested in a tropical grassland, where traps were set for 30 days. Our results suggest that we underestimate dispersal of seeds with less than 2 mm width that can be easily mistaken for debris and soil particles or that fail to adhere to sticky traps. Seeds on sticky traps may be more vulnerable to removal by wind and rain, whereas seeds in funnel traps are more susceptible to decay. We found no evidence of observer bias on seed sorting for funnel trap samples. However, accuracy on seed sorting for funnel trap samples tended to decline for seeds with less than 2 mm width, suggesting a size-dependence in seed retrieval success. Our standardized protocol addressing trap effectiveness and seed sorting methods will increase the reliability of data obtained in seed rain studies and allow more reliable comparisons between datasets.
Dietary diversity and mental health in preschoolers in rural China
Authors: Li Shaoping , Chen Kevin , Liu Chengfang , Bi Jieying , He Zhenya , Luo Renfu , Yu Yanying , Wang Zimeiyi
Published: December 2020

Objective:

To investigate the prevalence of mental health problems among preschoolers in rural China and examine the relationship between dietary diversity and mental health.

Design:

A cross-sectional survey analysis was performed. Child mental health was assessed with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Child dietary diversity was assessed with the dietary diversity score (DDS), which was calculated based on nine food groups using a 24-h recall method. Data were analysed using unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models.

Setting:

Two nationally designated poverty counties in Hunan Province of China.

Participants:

Preschoolers (n1334) aged 3–5 years, preschools (n26).

Results:

Of 950 preschoolers with data on both dietary diversity and mental health, 663 (70 %) were classified as having at least one kind of mental health problem. The prevalences of emotional symptoms, conduct problems, symptoms of hyperactive/inattention, peer relationship problems and poor prosocial behaviour were 39, 27, 23, 12 and 26 %, respectively. Male preschoolers showed higher risks of having mental health problems than their female counterparts on each SDQ subscale except for conduct problems. Moreover, a higher DDS was significantly associated with a lower likelihood of having symptoms of hyperactivity/inattention, peer relationship problems and prosocial behaviour problems after adjustment for confounders (preschoolers’ age, gender, cognitive ability, parental migration status, primary caregiver’s education and household socio-economic status).

Conclusions:

The prevalence of mental health problems was high among preschoolers in rural China. Improving child dietary diversity might be an important strategy to consider in the design of interventions to improve child mental health.
Associations between perceived stress and BMI and waist circumference in Chinese adults: data from the 2015 China Health and Nutrition Survey
Authors: Tan Tian , Leung Cindy W
Published: December 2020

Objectives:

To assess the association between perceived stress and adiposity among Chinese adults.

Design:

Cross-sectional study. Perceived stress was assessed using the 14-item perceived stress scale. Associations between quintiles of perceived stress and BMI and waist circumference were assessed using linear regression models and multinomial regression models. Estimates were adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics.

Setting:

2015 China Health and Nutrition Survey: 12 provinces covering a variety of geographic, economic development and health indicator situations.

Participants:

A total of 8385 adults of both sexes, aged 18–99 years, were included.

Results:

Overall, the mean perceived stress score was 22·7 (6·2), mean BMI was 24·3 (3·6) kg/m2 and prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) was 6·0 %. There were inverse associations between perceived stress quintiles with continuous BMI (P < 0·001), BMI categories (P = 0·015) and waist circumference (P = 0·047). Compared to adults in the lowest quintile of perceived stress, adults in the highest quintile of perceived stress had 0·44 kg/m2 lower mean BMI (95 % CI: −0·67, −0·21), 0·72 times the prevalence of obesity (95 % CI: 0·55, 0·94) and 0·73 times the prevalence of abdominal obesity (95 % CI: 0·61, 0·88). Results were similar when using Chinese-specific cut-points.

Conclusion:

Our results showed inverse associations between perceived stress quintiles and adiposity among Chinese adults. Future studies should aim to better understand the directionality of the observed associations and the potential biological and behavioural mechanisms underlying these associations in the Chinese population.
Placental adaptations in a nonhuman primate model of gestational protein restriction
Authors: Roberts Victoria H.J. , Gaffney Jessica E. , Morgan Terry K. , Frias Antonio E.
Published: December 2020

We previously demonstrated decreased placental perfusion, reduced amniotic fluid protein content, and increased pregnancy loss in a nonhuman primate model of gestational protein restriction. Here, our objective was to link these detrimental findings with a functional placental assessment. As blood flow is critical to maternal-fetal exchange, we hypothesized that a protein-restricted diet would impair placental taurine uptake. Pregnant rhesus macaques were maintained on either control chow (CON, n = 5), a 33% protein-restricted diet (PR33, n = 5), or a 50% PR diet (PR50, n = 5) prior to and throughout pregnancy. Animals were delivered on gestational day 135 (G135; term is G168). Taurine activity was determined in fresh placental villous explants. Taurine transporter (TauT) protein expression, placental growth factor (PLGF), and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and IGF-2 protein concentrations were measured, and histological assessment was performed. Fetal body weights and placental weights were comparable between all three groups at G135. Placental taurine uptake was decreased in PR33- and PR50-fed animals compared to CON, yet TauT expression was unchanged across groups. PLGF was significantly increased in PR50 vs. CON, with no change in IGF-1 or IGF-2 expression in placental homogenate from PR-fed animals. Accelerated villous maturation was observed in all PR50 cases, three of five PR33, and was absent in CON. We demonstrate conserved fetal growth, despite a decrease in placental taurine uptake. Increased expression of PLGF and expansion of the syncytiotrophoblast surface area in the severely protein-restricted animals suggest a compensatory mechanism by the placenta to maintain fetal growth.
Suppression of weed occurrence in a five-year corn–earthworm coculture system
Authors: Li Tao , Fan Jiequn , Qian Zhenguan , Yuan Guohui , Meng Dandan , Guo Shuiliang , Lv Weiguang
Published: December 2020

The use of a corn–earthworm coculture (CE) system is an eco-agricultural technology that has been gradually extended due to its high economic output and diverse ecological benefits for urban agriculture in China. However, the effect of CE on weed occurrence has received little attention. A 5-yr successive experiment (2015 to 2019) was conducted to compare weed occurrence in CE and a corn (Zea maysL.) monoculture (CM). The results show that CE significantly decreased weed diversity, the dominance index, total weed density, and biomass, but increased the weed evenness index. The 5-yr mean number of weed species per plot was 8.4 in CE and 10.7 in CM. Compared with those in CM, the 5-yr mean density and biomass of total weeds in CE decreased by 59.2% and 66.6%, respectively. The effect of CE on weed occurrence was species specific. The mean density of large crabgrass [Digitaria sanguinalis(L.) Scop.], green foxtail [Setaria viridis(L.) P. Beauv.], goosegrass [Eleusine indica(L.) Gaertn.], and common purslane (Portulaca oleraceaL.) in CE decreased by 94.5%, 78.1%, 75.0%, and 45.8%, whereas the mean biomass decreased by 96.2%, 80.8%, 76.9%, and 41.4%, respectively. Our study suggests that the use of CE could suppress weed occurrence and reduce herbicide inputs in agriculture.
Pressure‐to‐Depth Conversion Models for Metamorphic Rocks: Derivation and Applications
Authors: Bauville Arthur , Yamato Philippe
Published: December 2020

Pressure‐to‐depth conversion is a crucial step toward geodynamic reconstruction. The most commonly used pressure‐to‐depth conversion method assumes that pressure corresponds to the lithostatic pressure. However, deviatoric stresses can cause pressure to deviate from the lithostatic case strongly, thus adding considerable uncertainty to pressure to‐depth conversion. First, we rederive formulas of pressure‐to‐depth conversion that take into account deviatoric stresses. Then, we estimate the range of possible depth independently for each point in a data set containing peak and retrograde metamorphic pressure data (one‐point method). In a second time, we use both the peak and retrograde pressure of a rock sample together, assuming that both pressures were recorded at the same depth (two‐point method). We explore different cases to explain the transition from peak to retrograde pressure by varying the direction and magnitude of stresses. This alternative model is consistent with all data points but for a more restricted range of stress state and depth than the one‐point model. Our results show that (1) even small deviatoric stresses have a significant impact on depth estimates, (2) the second principal stress component σ2 plays an essential role, (3) several models can explain the pressure evolution of the data but lead to different depth estimates, and (4) strain data offer a mean to falsify our proposed two‐point pressure‐to‐depth conversion. The maximum predicted depth at peak pressure is 170 km using the assumption that pressure is lithostatic, compared to <75 km for our two‐point model, which could correspond to the crustal root Moho's depth.
Reconstructing Magma Storage Depths for the 2018 Kı̄lauean Eruption From Melt Inclusion CO2 Contents: The Importance of Vapor Bubbles
Authors: Wieser Penny E. , Lamadrid Hector , Maclennan John , Edmonds Marie , Matthews Simon , Iacovino Kayla , Jenner Frances E. , Gansecki Cheryl , Trusdell Frank , Lee R.L. , Ilyinskaya Evgenia
Published: December 2020

The 2018 lower East Rift Zone (LERZ) eruption and the accompanying collapse of the summit caldera marked the most destructive episode of activity at Kı̄lauea Volcano in the last 200 years. The eruption was extremely well‐monitored, with extensive real‐time lava sampling as well as continuous geodetic data capturing the caldera collapse. This multiparameter data set provides an exceptional opportunity to determine the reservoir geometry and magma transport paths supplying Kı̄lauea’s LERZ. The forsterite contents of olivine crystals, together with the degree of major element disequilibrium with carrier melts, indicates that two distinct crystal populations were erupted from Fissure 8 (termed high‐ and low‐Fo). Melt inclusion entrapment pressures reveal that low‐Fo olivines (close to equilibrium with their carrier melts) crystallized within the Halema’uma’u reservoir (∼2‐km depth), while many high‐Fo olivines (>Fo81.5; far from equilibrium with their carrier melts) crystallized within the South Caldera reservoir (∼3–5‐km depth). Melt inclusions in high‐Fo olivines experienced extensive post‐entrapment crystallization following their incorporation into cooler, more evolved melts. This favored the growth of a CO2‐rich vapor bubble, containing up to 99% of the total melt inclusion CO2 budget (median = 93%). If this CO2‐rich bubble is not accounted for, entrapment depths are significantly underestimated. Conversely, reconstructions using equation of state methods rather than direct measurements of vapor bubbles overestimate entrapment depths. Overall, we show that direct measurements of melts and vapor bubbles by secondary‐ion mass spectrometry and Raman spectroscopy, combined with a suitable H2O‐CO2 solubility model, is a powerful tool to identify the magma storage reservoirs supplying volcanic eruptions.
Shifting Sediment Dynamics in the Coos Bay Estuary in Response to 150 Years of Modification
Authors: Eidam E. F. , Sutherland D. A. , Ralston D. K. , Conroy T. , Dye B.
Published: December 2020

Estuaries worldwide have experienced modifications including channel deepening and intertidal reclamation over several centuries, resulting in altered fine sediment routing. Estuaries respond differently based on preexisting geometries, freshwater and sediment supplies, and extents and types of modification. The Coos Bay Estuary in Oregon is a relatively small estuary with complex geometry that has been extensively modified since 1865. A sediment transport model calibrated to modern conditions is used to assess the corresponding changes in sediment dynamics. Over ∼150 years, channel deepening (from ∼6.7 to 11 m), a 12% increase in area, and a 21% increase in volume have led to greater tidal amplitudes, salinity intrusion, and estuarine exchange flow. These changes have reduced current magnitudes, reduced bed stresses, and increased stratification, especially during rainy periods. Historically, fluvially derived sediment was dispersed across broad, deltaic‐style flats and through small tidal channels. Now, river water and sediments are diverted into a dredged navigation channel where an estuarine turbidity maximum (ETM) forms, with modeled concentrations >50 mg/L and measured concentrations >100 mg/L during discharge events. This “new” ETM supplies sediment to proximal embayments in the middle estuary and the shallow flats. Overall, sediment trapping during winter (and high river discharges) has increased more than two‐fold, owing to increased accommodation space, altered pathways of supply, and altered bed stresses and tidal asymmetries. In contrast to funnel‐shaped estuaries with simpler geometries and river‐channel transitions, these results highlight the importance of channel routing together with dredging in enhancing sediment retention and shifting pathways of sediment delivery.
Direct Observation of the Depth of Active Groundwater Circulation in an Alpine Watershed
Authors: Manning Andrew H. , Ball Lyndsay B. , Wanty Richard B. , Williams Kenneth H.
Published: December 2020

The depth of active groundwater circulation is a fundamental control on stream flows and chemistry in mountain watersheds, yet it remains challenging to characterize and is rarely well constrained. We collected hydraulic conductivity, hydraulic head, temperature, chemical, noble gas, and 3H/3He groundwater age data from discrete levels in two boreholes 46 and 81 m deep in an alpine watershed, in combination with chemical and age data from shallow groundwater discharge, to discern groundwater flow rates at different depths and directly observe active and inactive groundwater. Vertical head gradients are steep (average of 0.4) and thermal profiles are consistent with typical linear conductive continental geotherms. Groundwater deeper than ∼20 m is distinct from shallow groundwater and creek water in its chemistry, noble gas signature, and age (dominantly >65 years compared to <9 years). Together these results suggest low vertical groundwater flow velocities and a relatively shallow active circulation depth of ∼20 m. This hypothesis is tested with a simple 2‐D numerical fluid flow and heat transport model representing a hillslope transect through the two boreholes. The modeling indicates that the subhorizontally bedded sedimentary rocks underlying the basin are highly anisotropic with low vertical hydraulic conductivity, and at most ∼10% of bedrock recharge (equivalent to <2% of stream baseflow) flows below a depth of 20 m. The study demonstrates the considerable value of discrete‐depth hydrogeologic, chemical, and age data for determining active circulation depth, and illustrates an approach for maximizing the utility of individual boreholes drilled for mountain bedrock aquifer characterization.
Harmonic information transitions of spatiotemporal metasurfaces
Authors: Wu Haotian , Gao Xin Xin , Zhang Lei , Bai Guo Dong , Cheng Qiang , Li Lianlin , Cui Tie Jun
Published: December 2020

Facilitated by ultrafast dynamic modulations, spatiotemporal metasurfaces have been identified as a pivotal platform for manipulating electromagnetic waves and creating exotic physical phenomena, such as dispersion cancellation, Lorentz reciprocity breakage, and Doppler illusions. Motivated by emerging information-oriented technologies, we hereby probe the information transition mechanisms induced by spatiotemporal variations and present a general model to characterize the information processing capabilities of the spatiotemporal metasurface. Group theory and abstract number theory are adopted through this investigation, by which the group extension and independent controls of multiple harmonics are proposed and demonstrated as two major tools for information transitions from the spatiotemporal domain to the spectra-wavevector domain. By incorporating Shannon’s entropy theory into the proposed model, we further discover the corresponding information transition efficiencies and the upper bound of the channel capacity of the spatiotemporal metasurface. The results of harmonic information transitions show great potential in achieving high-capacity versatile information processing systems with spatiotemporal metasurfaces.
How the harm of drugs and their availability affect brain reactions to drug cues: a meta-analysis of 64 neuroimaging activation studies
Authors: Devoto F. , Zapparoli L. , Spinelli G. , Scotti G. , Paulesu E.
Published: December 2020

Visual drug cues are powerful triggers of craving in drug abusers contributing to enduring addiction. According to previous qualitative reviews, the response of the orbitofrontal cortex to such cues is sensitive to whether subjects are seeking treatment. Here we re-evaluate this proposal and assessed whether the nature of the drug matters. To this end, we performed a quantitative meta-analysis of 64 neuroimaging studies on drug-cue reactivity across legal (nicotine, alcohol) or illegal substances (cocaine, heroin). We used the ALE algorithm and a hierarchical clustering analysis followed by a cluster composition statistical analysis to assess the association of brain clusters with the nature of the substance, treatment status, and their interaction. Visual drug cues activate the mesocorticolimbic system and more so in abusers of illegal substances, suggesting that the illegal substances considered induce a deeper sensitization of the reward circuitry. Treatment status had a different modulatory role for legal and illegal substance abusers in anterior cingulate and orbitofrontal areas involved in inter-temporal decision making. The class of the substance and the treatment status are crucial and interacting factors that modulate the neural reactivity to drug cues. The orbitofrontal cortex is not sensitive to the treatment status per se, rather to the interaction of these factors. We discuss that these varying effects might be mediated by internal predispositions such as the intention to quit from drugs and external contingencies such as the daily life environmental availability of the drugs, the ease of getting them and the time frame of potential reward through drug consumption.
Identifying mental health status using deep neural network trained by visual metrics
Authors: Shafiei Somayeh B. , Lone Zaeem , Elsayed Ahmed S. , Hussein Ahmed A. , Guru Khurshid A.
Published: December 2020

Mental health is an integral part of the quality of life of cancer patients. It has been found that mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, are more common in cancer patients. They may result in catastrophic consequences, including suicide. Therefore, monitoring mental health metrics (such as hope, anxiety, and mental well-being) is recommended. Currently, there is lack of objective method for mental health evaluation, and most of the available methods are limited to subjective face-to-face discussions between the patient and psychotherapist. In this study we introduced an objective method for mental health evaluation using a combination of convolutional neural network and long short-term memory (CNN-LSTM) algorithms learned and validated by visual metrics time-series. Data were recorded by the TobiiPro eyeglasses from 16 patients with cancer after major oncologic surgery and nine individuals without cancer while viewing18 artworks in an in-house art gallery. Pre-study and post-study questionnaires of Herth Hope Index (HHI; for evaluation of hope), anxiety State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adults (STAI; for evaluation of anxiety) and Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS; for evaluation of mental well-being) were completed by participants. Clinical psychotherapy and statistical suggestions for cutoff scores were used to assign an individual’s mental health metrics level during each session into low (class 0), intermediate (class 1), and high (class 2) levels. Our proposed model was used to objectify evaluation and categorize HHI, STAI, and WEMWBS status of individuals. Classification accuracy of the model was 93.81%, 94.76%, and 95.00% for HHI, STAI, and WEMWBS metrics, respectively. The proposed model can be integrated into applications for home-based mental health monitoring to be used by patients after oncologic surgery to identify patients at risk.
Tumour-free distance: a novel prognostic marker in patients with early-stage cervical cancer treated by primary surgery
Authors: Cibula David , Slama Jiri , Dostálek Lukáš , Fischerová Daniela , Germanova Anna , Frühauf Filip , Dundr Pavel , Nemejcova Kristyna , Jarkovsky Jiri , Sebestova Silvie , Burgetová Andrea , Borčinová Martina , Kocián Roman
Published: December 2020

Background

Models predicting recurrence risk (RR) of cervical cancer are used to tailor adjuvant treatment after radical surgery. The goal of our study was to compare available prognostic factors and to develop a prognostic model that would be easy to standardise and use in routine clinical practice.

Methods

All consecutive patients with early-stage cervical cancer treated by primary surgery in a single referral centre (01/2007–12/2016) were eligible if assessed by standardised protocols for pre-operative imaging and pathology. Fifteen prognostic markers were evaluated in 379 patients, out of which 320 lymph node (LN)-negative.

Results

The best predictive model for the whole cohort entailed a combination of tumour-free distance (TFD) ≤ 3.5 mm and LN positivity, which separated two subgroups with a substantially distinct RR 36% and 6.5%, respectively. In LN-negative patients, a combination of TFD ≤ 3.5 mm and adenosquamous tumour type separated a group of nine patients with RR 33% from the rest of the group with 6% RR.

Conclusions

A newly identified prognostic marker, TFD, surpassed all traditional tumour-related markers in the RR assessment. Predictive models combining TFD, which can be easily accessed on pre-operative imaging, with LN status or tumour type can be used in daily practice and can help to identify patients with the highest RR.
Effectiveness of transfer learning for enhancing tumor classification with a convolutional neural network on frozen sections
Authors: Kim Young-Gon , Kim Sungchul , Cho Cristina Eunbee , Song In Hye , Lee Hee Jin , Ahn Soomin , Park So Yeon , Gong Gyungyub , Kim Namkug
Published: December 2020

Fast and accurate confirmation of metastasis on the frozen tissue section of intraoperative sentinel lymph node biopsy is an essential tool for critical surgical decisions. However, accurate diagnosis by pathologists is difficult within the time limitations. Training a robust and accurate deep learning model is also difficult owing to the limited number of frozen datasets with high quality labels. To overcome these issues, we validated the effectiveness of transfer learning from CAMELYON16 to improve performance of the convolutional neural network (CNN)-based classification model on our frozen dataset (N = 297) from Asan Medical Center (AMC). Among the 297 whole slide images (WSIs), 157 and 40 WSIs were used to train deep learning models with different dataset ratios at 2, 4, 8, 20, 40, and 100%. The remaining, i.e., 100 WSIs, were used to validate model performance in terms of patch- and slide-level classification. An additional 228 WSIs from Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (SNUBH) were used as an external validation. Three initial weights, i.e., scratch-based (random initialization), ImageNet-based, and CAMELYON16-based models were used to validate their effectiveness in external validation. In the patch-level classification results on the AMC dataset, CAMELYON16-based models trained with a small dataset (up to 40%, i.e., 62 WSIs) showed a significantly higher area under the curve (AUC) of 0.929 than those of the scratch- and ImageNet-based models at 0.897 and 0.919, respectively, while CAMELYON16-based and ImageNet-based models trained with 100% of the training dataset showed comparable AUCs at 0.944 and 0.943, respectively. For the external validation, CAMELYON16-based models showed higher AUCs than those of the scratch- and ImageNet-based models. Model performance for slide feasibility of the transfer learning to enhance model performance was validated in the case of frozen section datasets with limited numbers.
A missing color area extraction approach from high-resolution statue images for cultural heritage documentation
Authors: Nasri Adel , Huang XianFeng
Published: December 2020

Ancient statues are usually fragile and have a tendency to deteriorate over time, developing cracks, corrosion, and losing color. Before any intervention on the object of art, a conservator must map degradation and take measurements. Deterioration mapping is an extremely long process, as the conservator or restorer must locate and digitize the damages manually and collect physical measurements from the artwork. Extracting and measuring the deterioration automatically from images is less expensive and aids the digital documentation process, thus reducing the time cost of manual deterioration mapping. In this paper, we propose an effective approach named Missing Color Area Extraction in order to extract and measure missing color areas from high-resolution imagery statues, using a thresholding technique. The conversion from RGB color space to HSV color space is applied, in addition to morphological operations to remove the dust and small objects.
Unequal chances: ex ante fairness and individual control
Authors: Micheli Leticia , Gagnon Nickolas
Published: December 2020

Unequal financial outcomes often originate from unequal chances. Yet, compared to outcomes, little is known about how individuals perceive unequal distributions of chances. We investigate empirically the role of different sources of unequal chances in shaping inequality perceptions. Importantly, we do so from an ex ante perspective—i.e., before the chances are realized—which has rarely been explored. In an online survey, we asked uninvolved respondents to evaluate ex ante the fairness of unequal allocations of chances. We varied the source of inequality of chances, using a comprehensive range of factors which resemble several real world situations. Respondents also evaluated how much control individuals hold over the distribution of chances. Results show that different sources generate different ex ante perception of fairness. That is, unequal chances based on socioeconomic and biological factors, such as gender, family income and ethnicity, are evaluated to be unfair relative to the same chances based on effort, knowledge, and benevolence. Results also show that, for most individuals, there is a positive correlation between perceived control of a factor and fairness of unequal chances based on that factor. Luck appears to be an exception to this correlation, ranking as high in fairness as effort, knowledge, and benevolence, but similarly low in individual control as ethnicity, family income, and gender.
Effects of intensity, attention and medication on auditory-evoked potentials in patients with fibromyalgia
Authors: Samartin-Veiga N. , González-Villar A. J. , Triñanes Y. , Gómez-Perretta C. , Carrillo-de-la-Peña M. T.
Published: December 2020

Fibromyalgia (FM) has been associated to an increased processing of somatosensory stimuli, but its generalization to other sensory modalities is under discussion. To clarify this, we studied auditory event-related potentials (AEPs) to stimuli of different intensity in patients with FM and healthy controls (HCs), considering the effects of attention mechanisms and medication. We performed two experiments: In study 1 (n = 50 FM, 60 HCs), the stimuli were presented randomly within the sequence; in study 2 (n = 28 FM, 30 HCs), they were presented in blocks of the same intensity. We analyzed intensity and group effects on N1-P2 amplitude and, only for the FM group, the effect of medication and the correlation between AEPs and clinical variables. Contrary to the expectation, the patients showed a trend of reduced AEPs to the loudest tones (study 1) or no significant differences with the HCs (study 2). Medication with central effects significantly reduced AEPs, while no significant relationships between the N1-P2 amplitude/intensity function and patients’ symptoms were observed. The findings do not provide evidence of augmented auditory processing in FM. Nevertheless, given the observed effect of medication, the role of sensory amplification as an underlying pathophysiological mechanism in fibromyalgia cannot be discarded.
Emergence of disconnected clusters in heterogeneous complex systems
Authors: Kovács István A. , Juhász Róbert
Published: December 2020

Percolation theory dictates an intuitive picture depicting correlated regions in complex systems as densely connected clusters. While this picture might be adequate at small scales and apart from criticality, we show that highly correlated sites in complex systems can be inherently disconnected. This finding indicates a counter-intuitive organization of dynamical correlations, where functional similarity decouples from physical connectivity. We illustrate the phenomenon on the example of the disordered contact process (DCP) of infection spreading in heterogeneous systems. We apply numerical simulations and an asymptotically exact renormalization group technique (SDRG) in 1, 2 and 3 dimensional systems as well as in two-dimensional lattices with long-ranged interactions. We conclude that the critical dynamics is well captured by mostly one, highly correlated, but spatially disconnected cluster. Our findings indicate that at criticality the relevant, simultaneously infected sites typically do not directly interact with each other. Due to the similarity of the SDRG equations, our results hold also for the critical behavior of the disordered quantum Ising model, leading to quantum correlated, yet spatially disconnected, magnetic domains.
Fully automatic wound segmentation with deep convolutional neural networks
Authors: Wang Chuanbo , Anisuzzaman D. M. , Williamson Victor , Dhar Mrinal Kanti , Rostami Behrouz , Niezgoda Jeffrey , Gopalakrishnan Sandeep , Yu Zeyun
Published: December 2020

Acute and chronic wounds have varying etiologies and are an economic burden to healthcare systems around the world. The advanced wound care market is expected to exceed $22 billion by 2024. Wound care professionals rely heavily on images and image documentation for proper diagnosis and treatment. Unfortunately lack of expertise can lead to improper diagnosis of wound etiology and inaccurate wound management and documentation. Fully automatic segmentation of wound areas in natural images is an important part of the diagnosis and care protocol since it is crucial to measure the area of the wound and provide quantitative parameters in the treatment. Various deep learning models have gained success in image analysis including semantic segmentation. This manuscript proposes a novel convolutional framework based on MobileNetV2 and connected component labelling to segment wound regions from natural images. The advantage of this model is its lightweight and less compute-intensive architecture. The performance is not compromised and is comparable to deeper neural networks. We build an annotated wound image dataset consisting of 1109 foot ulcer images from 889 patients to train and test the deep learning models. We demonstrate the effectiveness and mobility of our method by conducting comprehensive experiments and analyses on various segmentation neural networks. The full implementation is available at https://github.com/uwm-bigdata/wound-segmentation.
Autonomous control of ventilation through closed-loop adaptive respiratory pacing
Authors: Siu Ricardo , Abbas James J. , Fuller David D. , Gomes Jefferson , Renaud Sylvie , Jung Ranu
Published: December 2020

Mechanical ventilation is the standard treatment when volitional breathing is insufficient, but drawbacks include muscle atrophy, alveolar damage, and reduced mobility. Respiratory pacing is an alternative approach using electrical stimulation-induced diaphragm contraction to ventilate the lung. Oxygenation and acid–base homeostasis are maintained by matching ventilation to metabolic needs; however, current pacing technology requires manual tuning and does not respond to dynamic user-specific metabolic demand, thus requiring re-tuning of stimulation parameters as physiological changes occur. Here, we describe respiratory pacing using a closed-loop adaptive controller that can self-adjust in real-time to meet metabolic needs. The controller uses an adaptive Pattern Generator Pattern Shaper (PG/PS) architecture that autonomously generates a desired ventilatory pattern in response to dynamic changes in arterial CO2levels and, based on a learning algorithm, modulates stimulation intensity and respiratory cycle duration to evoke this ventilatory pattern. In vivo experiments in rats with respiratory depression and in those with a paralyzed hemidiaphragm confirmed that the controller can adapt and control ventilation to ameliorate hypoventilation and restore normocapnia regardless of the cause of respiratory dysfunction. This novel closed-loop bioelectronic controller advances the state-of-art in respiratory pacing by demonstrating the ability to automatically personalize stimulation patterns and adapt to achieve adequate ventilation.
Genome-wide correlation analysis to identify amplitude regulators of circadian transcriptome output
Authors: Littleton Evan S. , Childress Madison L. , Gosting Michaela L. , Jackson Ayana N. , Kojima Shihoko
Published: December 2020

Cell-autonomous circadian system, consisting of core clock genes, generates near 24-h rhythms and regulates the downstream rhythmic gene expression. While it has become clear that the percentage of rhythmic genes varies among mouse tissues, it remains unclear how this variation can be generated, particularly when the clock machinery is nearly identical in all tissues. In this study, we sought to characterize circadian transcriptome datasets that are publicly available and identify the critical component(s) involved in creating this variation. We found that the relative amplitude of 13 genes and the average level of 197 genes correlated with the percentage of cycling genes. Of those, the correlation of Rorc in both relative amplitude and the average level was one of the strongest. In addition, the level of Per2AS, a novel non-coding transcript that is expressed at the Period 2 locus, was also linearly correlated, although with a much lesser degree compared to Rorc. Overall, our study provides insight into how the variation in the percentage of clock-controlled genes can be generated in mouse tissues and suggests that Rorc and potentially Per2AS are involved in regulating the amplitude of circadian transcriptome output.
Reconfiguration of human evolving large-scale epileptic brain networks prior to seizures: an evaluation with node centralities
Authors: Fruengel Rieke , Bröhl Timo , Rings Thorsten , Lehnertz Klaus
Published: December 2020

Previous research has indicated that temporal changes of centrality of specific nodes in human evolving large-scale epileptic brain networks carry information predictive of impending seizures. Centrality is a fundamental network-theoretical concept that allows one to assess the role a node plays in a network. This concept allows for various interpretations, which is reflected in a number of centrality indices. Here we aim to achieve a more general understanding of local and global network reconfigurations during the pre-seizure period as indicated by changes of different node centrality indices. To this end, we investigate—in a time-resolved manner—evolving large-scale epileptic brain networks that we derived from multi-day, multi-electrode intracranial electroencephalograpic recordings from a large but inhomogeneous group of subjects with pharmacoresistant epilepsies with different anatomical origins. We estimate multiple centrality indices to assess the various roles the nodes play while the networks transit from the seizure-free to the pre-seizure period. Our findings allow us to formulate several major scenarios for the reconfiguration of an evolving epileptic brain network prior to seizures, which indicate that there is likely not a single network mechanism underlying seizure generation. Rather, local and global aspects of the pre-seizure network reconfiguration affect virtually all network constituents, from the various brain regions to the functional connections between them.
Calibrated scintigraphic imaging procedures improve quantitative assessment of the cardiac sympathetic nerve activity
Authors: Okuda Koichi , Nakajima Kenichi , Kitamura Chiemi , Kirihara Yumiko , Hashimoto Mitsumasa , Kinuya Seigo
Published: December 2020

The 123I-labeled meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) is an analogue of noradrenaline that can evaluate cardiac sympathetic activity in scintigraphy. Quantitative analysis of 123I-MIBG images has been verified in patients with heart failure and neurodegenerative diseases. However, quantitative results differ due to variations in scintigraphic imaging procedures. Here, we created and assessed the clinical feasibility of a calibration method for 123I-MIBG imaging. The characteristics of scintigraphic imaging systems were determined using an acrylic calibration phantom to generate a multicenter phantom imaging database. Calibration factors corresponding to the scintigraphic imaging procedures were calculated from the database and applied to a clinical study. The results of this study showed that the calibrated analysis eliminated inter-institutional differences among normal individuals. In summary, our standardization methodology for 123I-MIBG scintigraphy could provide the basis for improved diagnostic precision and better outcomes for patients.
Research on adsorption characteristics of H2S, CH4, N2 in coal based on Monte Carlo method
Authors: Wang Jiren , Ding Cong , Gao Dameng , Liu Hongpeng
Published: December 2020

In order to study the adsorption characteristics of H2S, CH4 and N2 by coal under different conditions, the new macromolecular structure model of Dongqu No. 2 was constructed, and the grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) method was used to simulate the adsorption process of three types of gases in coal. The dependence of adsorption capacity of coal on its temperature, pressure and moisture content was analyzed. The results show that with the increase of pressure and temperature, adsorption isotherms of all the three gases follow Langmuir model. For pressure greater than 2 MPa, the influence of temperature on adsorption capacity was greater than that of pressure. With rise in temperature, the decrease in rate of H2S adsorption was least and drops in the heat of adsorption of H2S most. This indicates that the adsorption of H2S on coal is more stable than those of CH4 and N2. As the water content of coal increased, its adsorption capacity for the present three gases decreased linearly, and the capacity for H2S (1.77 mmol/g) changed the most. The reduction of free volume linearly and preferential occupation of adsorption sites by water molecules are the main reasons for the highest change in the adsorbed amount of H2S gas.
Cytokine concentration across the stratum corneum in atopic dermatitis and healthy controls
Authors: Clausen Maja-Lisa , Kezic S. , Olesen C. M. , Agner T.
Published: December 2020

Tape stripping is a promising technique for assessment of epidermal biomarkers in inflammatory skin diseases. However, to facilitate its implementation in the clinical practice, a thorough validation regarding sampling strategy is needed. Knowledge of biomarkers variation in concentration across stratum corneum is scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the variability of cytokines across stratum corneum using tape stripping technique by consecutive application of 21 adhesive tapes (D-squame) to lesional and non-lesional skin from 15 patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) and 16 healthy controls. Concentration of cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1b, IL-5, IL-18, IFN-γ, CCL17, CCL22, CCL27, CXCL8, CXCL10, TNF-α, TSLP, VEGFA) was determined in five different depths, using multiplex immunoassay. Comparing tape 4 with tape 21, no cytokine changed significantly in concentration in AD lesional skin. In AD non-lesional skin a small decrease was found for CCL17, CXCL8 and CXCL10. For healthy controls, a decrease was found for IL-1a, IL-1b, VEGFA and an increase for IL-18. Differences were found between AD skin and healthy control skin. Concentration of cytokines was stable across stratum corneum, indicating that sampling of only one tape from the stratum corneum is reliable in reflecting the overall cytokine milieu. Differences between AD and healthy skin confirm robustness of tape stripping for measuring cytokine levels.
Prevalence, functional characteristics, and clinical significance of right ventricular involvement in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Seo Jiwon , Hong Yoo Jin , Kim Young Jin , Lkhagvasuren Purevjargal , Cho Iksung , Shim Chi Young , Ha Jong-Won , Hong Geu-Ru
Published: December 2020

We sought to investigate the prevalence, functional characteristics, and clinical significance of right ventricular (RV) involvement in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). A total of 256 patients with HCM who underwent both cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging and transthoracic echocardiography within 6 months of each other were retrospectively analysed. RV involvement was defined as an increased RV wall thickness ≥ 7 mm on CMR in the segments of the RV free wall. Primary outcomes were defined as the composite of all-cause death, heart transplantation, and unplanned cardiovascular admission. Thirty-seven (14.4%) patients showed RV involvement. Patients with RV involvement showed a significantly higher left ventricular (LV) maximal wall thickness and left atrial volume index. Multivariate Cox model revealed that RV involvement was independently associated with primary outcomes (HR: 2.30, p = 0.024). In a subgroup analysis of patients with speckle tracking echocardiography (n = 190), those with RV involvement had significantly more impaired RV strain, which was independently associated with primary outcomes. RV involvement in patients with HCM correlated with more advanced LV structure and biventricular dysfunction, suggesting an indicator of severe HCM. RV involvement and impaired RV strain have a prognostic value related to clinical adverse events in patients with HCM.
Efficient radiational outcoupling of electromagnetic energy from hyperbolic metamaterial resonators
Authors: Yusupov Ildar , Filonov Dmitry , Vosheva Tatyana , Podolskiy Viktor , Ginzburg Pavel
Published: December 2020

Hyperbolic metamaterials were initially proposed in optics to boost radiation efficiencies of quantum emitters. Adopting this concept for antenna design allows approaching long-standing contests in radio physics. For example, broadband impedance matching, accompanied with moderately high antenna gain, is among the existent challenges. Here we propose employing hyperbolic metamaterials for a broadband impedance matching, while a structured layer on top of a metamaterials slab ensures an efficient and directive energy outcoupling to a free space. In particular, a subwavelength loop antenna, placed underneath the matching layer, efficiently excites bulk metamaterial modes, which have well-resolved spatial–temporal separation owing to the hypebolicity of effective permeability tensor. Interplaying chromatic and modal dispersions enable to map different frequencies into non overlapping spatial locations within a compact subwavelength hyperbolic slab. The outcoupling of energy to the free space is obtained by patterning the slab with additional resonant elements, e.g. high index dielectric spheres. As the result, two-order of magnitude improvement in linear gain of the device is predicted. The proposed new architecture can find a use in applications, where multiband or broadband compact devices are required.
Time–frequency analysis of serum with proton nuclear magnetic resonance for diagnosis of pancreatic cancer
Authors: Sato Asahi , Masui Toshihiko , Yogo Akitada , Ito Takashi , Hirakawa Keiko , Kanawaku Yoshimasa , Koike Kaoru , Uemoto Shinji
Published: December 2020

Although serum markers such as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen (CA19-9) have been widely used in screening for pancreatic cancer (PC), their sensitivity and specificity are unsatisfactory. Recently, a novel tool of analyzing serum using the short-time Fourier transform (STFT) of free induction decays (FIDs) obtained by 1H-NMR has been introduced. We for the first time evaluated the utility of this technology as a diagnostic tool for PC. Serum was obtained from PC patients before starting any treatments. Samples taken from individuals with benign diseases or donors for liver transplantation were obtained as controls. Serum samples from both groups underwent 1H-NMR and STFT of FIDs. STFT data were analyzed by partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) to clarify whether differences were apparent between groups. As a result, PLS-DA score plots indicated that STFT of FIDs enabled effective classification of groups with and without PC. Additionally, in a subgroup of PC, long-term survivors (≥ 2 years) could be discriminated from short-term survivors (< 2 years), regardless of pathologic stage or CEA or CA19-9 levels. In conclusion, STFT of FIDs obtained from 1H-NMR have a potential to be a diagnostic and prognostic tool of PC.