bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimized spectral filter design enables more accurate estimation of oxygen saturation in spectral imaging
Authors: J. Waterhouse Dale , Stoyanov Danail
Published: February 2022

Oxygen saturation (SO2) in tissue is a crucially important physiological parameter with ubiquitous clinical utility in diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring, as well as widespread use as an invaluable preclinical research tool. Multispectral imaging can be used to visualize SO2 non-invasively, non-destructively and without contact in real-time using narrow spectral filter sets, but typically, these spectral filter sets are poorly suited to a specific clinical task, application, or tissue type. In this work, we demonstrate the merit of optimizing spectral filter sets for more accurate estimation of SO2. Using tissue modelling and simulated multispectral imaging, we demonstrate filter optimization reduces the root-mean-square-error (RMSE) in estimating SO2 by up to 37% compared with evenly spaced filters. Moreover, we demonstrate up to a 79% decrease in RMSE for optimized filter sets compared with filter sets chosen to minimize mutual information. Wider adoption of this approach will result in more effective multispectral imaging systems that can address specific clinical needs and consequently, more widespread adoption of multispectral imaging technologies in disease diagnosis and treatment.
Agile neighbor discovery in MEMS-based free space optical networks: a computer vision approach
Authors: Atakora Michael , Chenji Harsha
Published: February 2022

Highly directional laser-based wireless optical radios are able to spatially reuse several THz of spectrum but suffer from link setup delays. In delay averse and high-throughput self-configuring networks, agile neighbor discovery is of critical importance. Given an optical wireless network with microelectromechanical systems based receivers, we explore the use of adaptive combinatorial group testing and contour tracing to achieve very low neighbor discovery latency. We propose a pattern-based algorithm that leverages group testing and contour tracing techniques to significantly reduce latency. Evaluating our algorithms, we compare hierarchical group testing algorithms to state-of-the-art raster and Lissajous pattern-based scanning and report 99.92% and 87% reduction in latency, respectively, for an array of one million micromirrors. The proposed pattern-based algorithm, when compared to hierarchical group testing and the Moore-neighbor contour tracing algorithms, achieves 63.4% and 4.91% reduction in latency, respectively.
Evaluation of probabilistic constellation shaping performance in Flex Grid over multicore fiber dynamic optical backbone networks [Invited]
Authors: Perelló Jordi , Gené Joan M. , Spadaro Salvatore
Published: February 2022

In this paper, we present a worst-case methodology for estimating the attainable spectral efficiency over end-to-end paths across a Flex Grid over multicore fiber (MCF) optical network. This methodology accounts for physical link noise, as well as for the signal-to-noise ratio in the Add module (

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) of spatial-division-multiplexing-enabled reconfigurable optical add and drop multiplexers (SDM-ROADMs), introducing a dominant noise contribution over that of their Bypass and Drop modules. The proposed methodology is subsequently used to quantify the benefits that probabilistic constellation shaping (PCS) can bring to Flex-Grid/MCF dynamic optical backbone networks, compared to using traditional polarization-multiplexed modulation formats. In a first step, insight is provided into the spectral efficiency attainable along the precomputed end-to-end paths in two reference backbone networks, either using PCS or traditional modulation formats. Moreover, in each one of these networks, two

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values are identified: the

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yielding the maximum average paths’ spectral efficiency, as well as an

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that, although slightly degrading the average paths’ spectral efficiency (by 10%), would yet enable a cost-effective SDM-ROADM Add module implementation. Extensive simulations are conducted to analyze PCS offered load gains under 1% bandwidth blocking probability. Furthermore, the study lastly focuses on finding out whether lower fragmentation levels in Flex-Grid/MCF dynamic optical backbone networks can push PCS benefits even further.
Calibration method for misalignment angles of a fiber optic gyroscope in single-axis rotational inertial navigation systems
Authors: Ban Jingxuan , Chen Gang , Meng Yue , Shu Junfeng
Published: February 2022

In a fiber optic gyroscope rotational inertial navigation system
(RINS), attitude errors may change after vibration due to the change
of misalignment angles. There are two kinds of misalignment angles
which can cause the same attitude errors: the one is misalignment
angles of gyroscopes, and the other is misalignment angles between
input axis of gyroscope and rotating gimbal axis. Thus, it is
difficult to calibrate any kind of misalignment angles by attitude
errors alone. Self-calibration methods can separate and calibrate the
two kinds of misalignment angles. But single-axis RINSs rely on a
turntable to realize the rotation scheme. And misalignment angles may
change during repeated removal. Therefore, it is necessary to study an
efficient and convenient method to analyze which kind of misalignment
angles leads to the change of attitude errors and calibrate these
misalignment angles. According to the different influences of two
kinds of misalignment angles on navigation errors and fine alignment
errors, this paper proposes a calibration method based on fine
alignment algorithm to calibrate the gyroscopes’ misalignment
angles. Its accuracy is proven by simulations and experiments. From
experimental results, position errors have decreased at least
21.4% with the proposed method.
Multimodal imaging system combining optical coherence tomography and Brillouin microscopy for neural tube imaging
Authors: Ambekar Yogeshwari S. , Singh Manmohan , Schill Alexander W. , Zhang Jitao , Zevallos-Delgado Christian , Khajavi Behzad , Aglyamov Salavat R. , Finnell Richard H. , Scarcelli Giuliano , Larin Kirill V.
Published: February 2022

To understand the dynamics of tissue stiffness during neural tube formation and closure in a murine model, we have developed a multimodal, coaligned imaging system combining optical coherence tomography (OCT) and Brillouin microscopy. Brillouin microscopy can map the longitudinal modulus of tissue but cannot provide structural images. Thus, it is limited for imaging dynamic processes such as neural tube formation and closure. To overcome this limitation, we have combined Brillouin microscopy and OCT in one coaligned instrument. OCT provided depth-resolved structural imaging with a micrometer-scale spatial resolution to guide stiffness mapping by Brillouin modality. 2D structural and Brillouin frequency shift maps were acquired of mouse embryos at gestational day (GD) 8.5, 9.5, and 10.5 with the multimodal system. The results demonstrate the capability of the system to obtain structural and stiffness information simultaneously.
Design, simulation of XOR / XNOR and AND logic gates using the optical two-circle switch
Authors: Hashemi Babak , Keihani Maryam , Alizadeh Amir Hamid
Published: February 2022

In this paper, first, the optical two-circle switch (OTCS) and then, the XOR / XNOR and AND logic gates were designed, simulated, and optimized. The OTCS designed structure consisted of two rectangular waveguides and two optical circles between them. The light enters from one waveguide, and due to the coupling between the waveguide and the ring, it enters the circle in case of constructive interference, transmitted to the adjacent circle, and finally, transferred to another waveguide. If it is possible to change the properties of the circle in such a way that there is no constructive interference in it, the coupling of the light from the first waveguide to the circle will not occur, therefore the light will come out from the other side of the first waveguide. The continuity condition of electromagnetic fields at the boundary between rectangular and ring waveguides and the scattering condition has been used in all simulation boundaries to simulate this structure. By optimizing the size and type of material in the core and cladding the waveguides and circles, up to 90 percent of input waves were observed from the output of the second waveguide with the barium titanate core. This occurs as a result of coupling modes between waveguides and circles. In the second step, by applying transverse voltage and changing the refractive index, the conditions of constructive interference in the ring were eliminated, and the coupling between the rectangular waveguide and the circle did not occur. As a result, up to 85 percent of the light exited from the end of the first rectangular waveguide. This change of output power from the first to the second waveguide and vice versa can transform the designed structure into a two-state voltage-controlled optical switch; by putting two of these switches together in a row, optical logic gates of XOR / XNOR and AND are simulated and then optimized.
Do-it-yourself VIS/NIR pushbroom hyperspectral imager with C-mount optics
Authors: Henriksen Marie Bøe , Prentice Elizabeth Frances , van Hazendonk Charlotte Maartje , Sigernes Fred , Johansen Tor Arne
Published: February 2022

This paper describes a new optomechanical design based on a previously presented do-it-yourself pushbroom hyperspectral imager (HSI) using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components. The new design uses larger aperture C-mount at F/2.8 instead of S-mount optics at F/4 to increase the throughput, which allows imaging at lower light levels. This is especially useful for dark surfaces like the deep ocean. The improved throughput is 6.77 higher at the center wavelength of 600 nm, which is shown both by theoretical calculations and experimental data. The measured full width at half maximum (FWHM) at 546.1 nm is 3.69 nm, which is close to the theoretical value of 3.3 nm, and smile and keystone are shown to be reduced in the new design. A method to characterize and remove second order effects using a cut-off filter is also presented and discussed.
Modelling brain representations of abstract concepts
Authors: Kaiser Daniel , Jacobs Arthur M. , Cichy Radoslaw M.
Published: February 2022

Abstract conceptual representations are critical for human cognition. Despite their importance, key properties of these representations remain poorly understood. Here, we used computational models of distributional semantics to predict multivariate fMRI activity patterns during the activation and contextualization of abstract concepts. We devised a task in which participants had to embed abstract nouns into a story that they developed around a given background context. We found that representations in inferior parietal cortex were predicted by concept similarities emerging in models of distributional semantics. By constructing different model families, we reveal the models’ learning trajectories and delineate how abstract and concrete training materials contribute to the formation of brain-like representations. These results inform theories about the format and emergence of abstract conceptual representations in the human brain.
The properties of human disease mutations at protein interfaces
Authors: Livesey Benjamin J. , Marsh Joseph A.
Published: February 2022

The assembly of proteins into complexes and their interactions with other biomolecules are often vital for their biological function. While it is known that mutations at protein interfaces have a high potential to be damaging and cause human genetic disease, there has been relatively little consideration for how this varies between different types of interfaces. Here we investigate the properties of human pathogenic and putatively benign missense variants at homomeric (isologous and heterologous), heteromeric, DNA, RNA and other ligand interfaces, and at different regions in proteins with respect to those interfaces. We find that different types of interfaces vary greatly in their propensity to be associated with pathogenic mutations, with homomeric heterologous and DNA interfaces being particularly enriched in disease. We also find that residues that do not directly participate in an interface, but are close in three-dimensional space, show a significant disease enrichment. Finally, we observe that mutations at different types of interfaces tend to have distinct property changes when undergoing amino acid substitutions associated with disease, and that this is linked to substantial variability in their identification by computational variant effect predictors.
Current knowledge of vector-borne zoonotic pathogens in Zambia: A clarion call to scaling-up “One Health” research in the wake of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases
Authors: Mubemba Benjamin , Mburu Monicah M. , Changula Katendi , Muleya Walter , Moonga Lavel C. , Chambaro Herman M. , Kajihara Masahiro , Qiu Yongjin , Orba Yasuko , Hayashida Kyoko , Sutcliffe Catherine G. , Norris Douglas E. , Thuma Philip E. , Ndubani Phillimon , Chitanga Simbarashe , Sawa Hirofumi , Takada Ayato , Simulundu Edgar
Published: February 2022

Background

Although vector-borne zoonotic diseases are a major public health threat globally, they are usually neglected, especially among resource-constrained countries, including those in sub-Saharan Africa. This scoping review examined the current knowledge and identified research gaps of vector-borne zoonotic pathogens in Zambia.

Methods and findings

Major scientific databases (Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, CABI, Scientific Information Database (SID)) were searched for articles describing vector-borne (mosquitoes, ticks, fleas and tsetse flies) zoonotic pathogens in Zambia. Several mosquito-borne arboviruses have been reported including Yellow fever, Ntaya, Mayaro, Dengue, Zika, West Nile, Chikungunya, Sindbis, and Rift Valley fever viruses. Flea-borne zoonotic pathogens reported include Yersinia pestis and Rickettsia felis. Trypanosoma sp. was the only tsetse fly-borne pathogen identified. Further, tick-borne zoonotic pathogens reported included Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic fever virus, Rickettsia sp., Anaplasma sp., Ehrlichia sp., Borrelia sp., and Coxiella burnetii.

Conclusions

This study revealed the presence of many vector-borne zoonotic pathogens circulating in vectors and animals in Zambia. Though reports of human clinical cases were limited, several serological studies provided considerable evidence of zoonotic transmission of vector-borne pathogens in humans. However, the disease burden in humans attributable to vector-borne zoonotic infections could not be ascertained from the available reports and this precludes the formulation of national policies that could help in the control and mitigation of the impact of these diseases in Zambia. Therefore, there is an urgent need to scale-up “One Health” research in emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases to enable the country to prepare for future epidemics, including pandemics.
Lung and blood early biomarkers for host-directed tuberculosis therapies: Secondary outcome measures from a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Wallis Robert S. , Ginindza Sibuse , Beattie Trevor , Arjun Nishanee , Likoti Morongwe , Sebe Modulakgotla , Edward Vinodh A. , Rassool Mohammed , Ahmed Khatija , Fielding Katherine , Ahidjo Bintou A. , Vangu Mboyo D. T. , Churchyard Gavin
Published: February 2022

Background

Current tuberculosis treatments leave most patients with bronchiectasis and fibrosis, permanent conditions that impair lung function and increase all-cause post-TB mortality. Host-directed therapies (HDTs) may reduce lung inflammation and hasten eradication of infection. Biomarkers can accelerate tuberculosis regimen development, but no studies have yet examined early biomarkers of TB-HDTs.

Methods

Biomarkers of inflammation and microbicidal activity were evaluated as a part of a recent phase-2 randomized controlled trial of four HDTs in 200 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and baseline predictors of poor outcome, including CC-11050 (PDE4i), everolimus (mTORi), auranofin (oral gold salt), and ergocalciferol (vitamin D). Two of the 4 arms (CC-11050 and everolimus) showed superior recovery of lung function at day 180 compared to control; none showed accelerated eradication of MTB infection. Patients underwent 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) on entry and day 56. PET signals were analyzed according to total, maximal, and peak glycolytic activity; CT was analyzed according to total modified Hounsfield units to assess radiodensity. Mycobactericidal activity in ex vivo whole blood culture was measured on days 42, 84, and 140. C-reactive protein (CRP) was measured at multiple time points.

Results

All PET/CT parameters showed highly significant reductions from baseline to day 56; however, only maximal or peak glycolytic activity showed further experimental reduction compared to controls, and only in everolimus recipients. CRP dropped precipitously during early treatment, but did so equally in all arms; over the entire period of treatment, the rate of decline of CRP tended to be greater in CC-11050 recipients than in controls but this fell short of statistical significance. Whole blood mycobactericidal activity in ex-vivo culture was enhanced by auranofin compared to controls, but not by other HDTs.

Conclusions

None of these early biomarkers correctly predicted HDT effects on inflammation or infection across all four experimental arms. Instead, they each appear to show highly specific responses related to HDT mechanisms of action.
A novel pro-oxidant combination of resveratrol and copper reduces transplant related toxicities in patients receiving high dose melphalan for multiple myeloma (RESCU 001)
Authors: Agarwal Anshul , Khandelwal Aakanksha , Pal Kavita , Khare Naveen Kumar , Jadhav Vishal , Gurjar Murarilal , Punatar Sachin , Gokarn Anant , Bonda Avinash , Nayak Lingaraj , Kannan Sadhana , Gota Vikram , Khattry Navin , Mittra Indraneel
Published: February 2022

Background

Transplant related toxicity is a major therapeutic challenge. We have previously reported that the toxicity of chemotherapy is largely not directly because of the drugs themselves; rather it is mainly due to DNA damage, apoptosis and hyper-inflammation triggered by cell-free chromatin particles that are released because of drug-induced host cell death. Cell-free chromatin particles can be inactivated by free-radicals which are generated when the nutraceuticals resveratrol and copper are administered orally. We investigated if a combination of resveratrol and copper would reduce transplant related toxicities in an exploratory, prospective dose-escalation study.

Patients and methods

Twenty-five patients with multiple myeloma were enrolled between March 2017 to August 2019. Patients were divided into 3 groups: control (Group 1, N = 5) received vehicle alone; group 2 (N = 15) received resveratrol-copper at dose level I (resveratrol = 5.6 mg and copper = 560 ng); group 3 (N = 5) received resveratrol-copper at dose level II (resveratrol = 50 mg and copper = 5 μg). The dose was given twice daily with the first dose administered 48 hours before administering melphalan and continued until day +21 post-transplant. Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.02 was used to assess toxicities which included oral mucositis, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Measurement of inflammatory cytokines was done by ELISA.

Results

All patients (100%) in the control group developed grade 3/4 oral mucositis compared to 8/20 (40%) in both resveratrol-copper group 2 plus group 3 combined (P = 0.039). Reduction in inflammatory cytokines: salivary TNF - α (p = 0.012) and IL—1β (p = 0.009) in dose level I but not in dose level II was observed.

Conclusions

A combination of resveratrol-copper reduced transplant related toxicities in patients with multiple myeloma receiving high dose melphalan. We conclude that relatively inexpensive nutraceuticals may be useful as adjuncts to chemotherapy to reduce its toxicity.

Registration

The trial was registered under Clinical Trial Registry of India (no.CTRI/2018/02/011905).
The regulatory domains of the lipid exporter ABCA1 form domain swapped latches
Authors: Aller Stephen G. , Segrest Jere P.
Published: February 2022

ABCA1 and ABCA4 are enigmatic because they transport substrates in opposite directions yet share >50% amino acid identity. ABCA4 imports lipid conjugates but ABCA1 exports lipids. Both hydrolyze ATP to drive transport, and both contain cytoplasmic regulatory domains (RDs) following nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs) in the primary structure. The tertiary structures of several ABC importers, including ABCA4, show that each RD forms a domain-swapped latch that locks onto the opposing RD and holds the NBDs close together. Crucially, sequences encoding the RDs and their bridges are among the most conserved in the entire ABC-A subfamily. In the original cryo-EM structure of ABCA1, the RDs were modeled without crossover. After close inspection of that cryo-EM density map and the recent structure of ABCA4, we propose that the RDs of ABCA1 also form a domain-swapped latch. A refined ABCA1 model containing latches exhibited significantly improved overall protein geometry. Critically, the conserved crossover sequence leading to the RD-domain swap is directly supported by the original cryo-EM density map of ABCA1 and appears to have been overlooked. Our refined ABCA1 model suggests the possibility that ABCA1, despite being an exporter, has highly restrained NBDs that suggest a transport mechanism that is distinct from ‘alternating access’.
Goal-oriented care for patients with chronic conditions or multimorbidity in primary care: A scoping review and concept analysis
Authors: Boeykens Dagje , Boeckxstaens Pauline , De Sutter An , Lahousse Lies , Pype Peter , De Vriendt Patricia , Van de Velde Dominique ,   on behalf of the Primary Care Academy
Published: February 2022

Background

The healthcare system is faced by an ageing population, increase in chronic conditions and multimorbidity. Multimorbid patients are faced with multiple parallel care processes leading to a risk of fragmented care. These problems relate to the disease-oriented paradigm. In this paradigm the treatment goals can be in contrast with what patients value.

The concept of goal-oriented care is proposed as an alternative way of providing care as meeting patients’ goals could have potential benefits. Though, there is a need to translate this concept into tangible knowledge so providers can better understand and use the concept in clinical practice. The aim of this study is to address this need by means of a concept analysis.

Method

This concept analysis using the method of Walker and Avant is based on a literature search in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, PsychInfo, CINAHL, OTSeeker and Web of Science. The method provides eight iterative steps: select a concept, determine purpose, determine defining attributes, identify model case, identify additional case, identify antecedents and consequences and define empirical referents.

Results

The analysis of 37 articles revealed that goal-oriented care is a dynamic and iterative process of three stages: goal-elicitation, goal-setting, and goal-evaluation. The process is underpinned by the patient’s context and values. Provider and patient preparedness are required to provide goal-oriented care. Goal-oriented care has the potential to improve patients’ experiences and providers’ well-being, to reduce costs, and improve the overall population health. The challenge is to identify empirical referents to evaluate the process of goal-oriented care.

Conclusion

A common understanding of goal-oriented care is presented. Further research should focus on how and what goals are set by the patient, how this knowledge could be translated into a tangible workflow and should support the development of a strategy to evaluate the goal-oriented process of care.
Drought tolerance induction and growth promotion by indole acetic acid producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Vigna radiata
Authors: Uzma Malika , Iqbal Atia , Hasnain Shahida
Published: February 2022

Drought accompanied with reduced precipitation is one of the key manacles to global agricultural throughput and is expected to escalate further hence posing major challenges to future food safety. For a sustainable agricultural environment, drought resistant plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are new encouraging prospect, which are inexpensive and have no side effects, as those of synthetic fertilizers. In the present study, five strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the strain MK513745, strain MK513746, strain MK513747, strain MK513748, and strain MK513749 were used as drought tolerant PGPR with multiple traits of IAA production, N fixation, P solubilization, siderophore producing capabilities. The strain MK513745 and strain MK513749 produced higher quantities of indole acetic acid (116±0.13 and 108±0.26 μg ml-1). MK513749 yielded 12 different indole compounds in GCMS analysis. The strain MK513748 yielded maximum S.I. (3.33mm) for phosphate solubilizing test. Maximum nitrogen concentration was produced (0.18 μg ml-1) by strain MK513746. Percent siderophore units ranged from 2.65% to 2.83% as all five pseudomonas strains were siderophore positive. In all growth experiments of plant microbe interaction two varieties of Vigna radiata (AZRI-06, NM-11) plants inoculated with P. aeruginosa strains under drought stress responded significantly (P<0.05) better than control stressed plants. Maximum shoot length was enhanced up-to 125%, pod/plant 172%, number of grains 65%, 100 seed weight 95%, 100 seed straw weight 124% and total yield 293% were recorded in plants inoculated with drought stress tolerant PGPR in both varieties as compared to respective stressed control plants. Photosynthetic activity, membrane stability (45%), water content (68%) and antioxidant efficacy (19%) were improved with PGPR inoculations. The variety NM-11 (V2) was more tolerant to drought stress with inoculations of Pseudomonas strains than AZRI-06 (V1). Inoculations with these indole acetic acid producing strains would be suitable for plant growth promotion in areas facing water deficiency.
Conversion effects of farmland to Zanthoxylum bungeanum plantations on soil organic carbon mineralization in the arid valley of the upper reaches of Yangtze River, China
Authors: Lv Chen , Saba Tahseen , Wang Jingyan , Hui Wenkai , Liu Wanlin , Fan Jiangtao , Wu Jiahui , Liu Xianzhi , Gong Wei
Published: February 2022

Farmland conversion to forest is considered to be one of the effective measures to mitigate climate change. However, the impact of farmland conversion to forest land or grassland on soil CO2 emission in arid areas is unclear due to the lack of comparative information on soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralization of different conversion types. The SOC mineralization in 0–100 cm soil layer in farmland (FL), abandoned land (AL) and different ages (including 8, 15, 20 and 28 years) of Zanthoxylum bungeanum plantations were measured by laboratory incubation. The size and decomposition rate of fast pool (Cf) and slow pool (Cs) in different land-use types and soil layers were estimated by double exponential model. The results showed that: 1) Farmland conversion increased the cumulative CO2-C release (Cmin) and SOC mineralization efficiency, and those indexes in AL were higher than that in Z. bungeanum plantations. The Cmin and SOC mineralization efficiency of 0–100 cm soil increased with the ages of Z. bungeanum plantation. Both Cmin and SOC mineralization efficiency decreased with the increase of soil depth; 2) Both soil Cf and Cs increased after farmland converted to Z. bungeanum plantations and AL. The Cs in the same soil layer increased with the ages of Z. bungeanum plantation, and the Cf showed a “V” type with the increased ages of Z. bungeanum plantation. The Cf and Cs decreased with the increase of soil depth in all land-use types; 3) Farmland conversion increased the decomposition rate of Cf (k1) in all soil layer by 0.008–0.143 d−1 and 0.082–0.148 d−1 in Z. bungeanum plantations and AL, respectively. The k1 was obviously higher in the 0−20 cm soil layer than that in other soil layers, while the decomposition rate of Cs (k2) was not affected by FL conversion and soil depth; and 4) The initial soil chemical properties and enzyme activity affected SOC mineralization, especially the concentrations of total organic nitrogen (TON), SOC, easily oxidizable organic carbon (EOC) and microbial biomass carbon (MBC). It indicated that the conversion of farmland to Z. bungeanum plantations and AL increases SOC mineralization, especially in deeper soils, and it increased with the ages. The conversion of farmland to Z. bungeanum plantation is the optimal measure when the potential C sequestration of plant-soil system were taken in consideration.
Effects of age, gender, and hemisphere on cerebrovascular hemodynamics in children and young adults: Developmental scores and machine learning classifiers
Authors: Arsalidou Marie , Skuratov Nikolay , Khalezov Evgeny , Bernstein Alexander , Burnaev Evgeny , Sharaev Maxim
Published: February 2022

A constant blood supply to the brain is required for mental function. Research with Doppler ultrasonography has important clinical value and burgeoning potential with machine learning applications in studies predicting gestational age and vascular aging. Critically, studies on ultrasound metrics in school-age children are sparse and no machine learning study to date has used color duplex ultrasonography to predict age and classify age-group. The purpose of our study is two-fold: first to document cerebrovascular hemodynamics considering age, gender, and hemisphere in three arteries; and second to construct machine learning models that can predict and classify the age and age-group of a participant using ultrasonography metrics. We record peak systolic, end-diastolic, and time-averaged maximum velocities bilaterally in internal carotid, vertebral, and middle cerebral arteries from 821 participants. Results confirm that ultrasonography values decrease with age and reveal that gender and hemispheres show more similarities than differences, which depend on age, artery, and metric. Machine learning algorithms predict age and classifier models distinguish cerebrovascular hemodynamics between children and adults. Blood velocities, rather than blood vessel diameters, are more important for classifier models, and common and distinct variables contribute to age classification models for males and females.
Randomized controlled trial of early, small-volume formula supplementation among newborns: A study protocol
Authors: Ginsburg Amy Sarah , Braima de Sa Augusto , Nankabirwa Victoria , Co Raimundo , Murungi Joanitta , Kim Mi-Ok , Brim Rachel , Namiiro Flavia , Namugga Olive , Hartigan-O’Connor Dennis J. , Roberts Susan B. , Flaherman Valerie
Published: February 2022

Childhood undernutrition is a major health burden worldwide that increases childhood morbidity and mortality and causes impairment in infant growth and developmental delays that can persist into adulthood. The first weeks and months after birth are critical to the establishment of healthy growth and development during childhood. The World Health Organization recommends immediate and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF). In infants for whom EBF may not meet nutritional and caloric demands, early, daily, small-volume formula supplementation along with breastfeeding may more effectively avoid underweight wasting and stunting in early infancy than breastfeeding alone. The primary objective of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the efficacy of formula for 30 days among low birth weight (LBW) infants <6 hours of age and those not LBW with weights <2600 grams at 4 days of age. We will compare breastfeeding and formula (up to 59 milliliters administered daily) through 30 days of infant age vs recommendations for frequent EBF without supplementation, and test the hypothesis that formula increases weight-for-age z-score at 30 days of infant age. The trial will enroll and randomize 324 mother-infant pairs in Guinea-Bissau and Uganda, and follow them for 6 months for outcomes including growth, intestinal microbiota, breastfeeding duration, infant dietary intake, and adverse events. Conservatively estimating 20% loss to follow up, this sample size provides ≥80% power per weight stratum for intervention group comparison to detect a difference of 0.20 with respect to the outcome of WAZ at day 30. This trial was approved by the University of California, San Francisco Institutional Review Board (19–29405); the Guinea-Bissau National Committee on Ethics in Health (Comite Nacional de Etica na Saude, 075/CNES/INASA/2020); the Higher Degrees, Research and Ethics Committee of Makerere University (871); and the Uganda National Council of Science and Technology (HS1226ES). We plan to disseminate study results in peer-reviewed journals and international conferences.

Trial registration number: NCT04704076.
Importance of weightlifting performance analysis in anti-doping
Authors: Ryoo Hyunji , Ryu Seok , Kim Daejung , Jeong Hayun , Eun Denny , Suh Sang-Hoon
Published: February 2022

We examined the potential roles of the athlete’s performance passport (APP) for doping detection by analyzing the relationship between weightlifting performance and sanction status. For the present study, performance data of ‘not-sanctioned’ (26740 datasets) and ‘sanctioned’ (289 datasets) male athletes were acquired from the website of the International Weightlifting Federation (www.iwf.net). One-way ANOVA, correlation analysis, and t-tests were used to analyze the relationship between athletes’ use of doping and their performances across age and body weight. Athletic performance was significantly greater for athletes in the sanctioned group than those of the same age group who were not sanctioned, and this performance difference between the two groups was the greatest in their late thirties at 20.6% (not-sanctioned 292.0kg vs. sanctioned 352.3kg) (p < 0.05). From the age group analysis, out of 289 sanctioned cases, 84 cases, which was the largest proportion, were found within the top 10–25% of their performances. When stratified by body weight, athletic performance was significantly greater for the sanctioned group than the not-sanctioned group, and this performance gap was the greatest in the bodyweight category of 96 at 18.6% (not-sanctioned 310.1kg vs. sanctioned 367.8kg) (p < 0.05). From the body weight category analysis, out of 289 sanctioned cases, 75 cases, which was the largest proportion, were found within the top 10–25% of their performances. Additionally, the mean difference in performance between not-sanctioned and sanctioned groups was the largest in the body weight category of 67kg in the ages of 15–19 at 20% (not-sanctioned 234.6kg vs. sanctioned 281.5kg). These results are interpreted to mean that in male weightlifters 1) sanctioned athletes were detected in all ranges of performances regardless of age and body weight, 2) there were even higher rates of sanctioned athletes who performed within the top 10–25% of each age group and body weight category, 3) there were significant differences in performance between not-sanctioned and sanctioned group for all body weight categories, excluding +109, in the ages of 15–19 and 20–24, 4) therefore, performance data can be effectively used to better target suspected athletes for doping testing.
Blood-derived miRNA levels are not correlated with metabolic or anthropometric parameters in obese pre-diabetic subjects but with systemic inflammation
Authors: Paramasivam Prabu , Meugnier Emmanuelle , Gokulakrishnan Kuppan , Ranjini Harish , Staimez Lisa R. , Weber Mary Beth , Narayan K. M. Venkat , Vidal Hubert , Tandon Nikhil , Prabhakaran Dorairaj , Mohan Anjana Ranjit , Mohan Viswanathan , Rome Sophie , Balasubramanyam Muthuswamy
Published: February 2022

As blood-derived miRNAs (c-miRNAs) are modulated by exercise and nutrition, we postulated that they might be used to monitor the effects of a lifestyle intervention (LI) to prevent diabetes development. To challenge this hypothesis, obese Asian Indian pre-diabetic patients were submitted to diet modifications and physical activity for 4 months (LI group) and compared to a control group which was given recommendations only. We have considered 2 periods of time to analyze the data, i.e.; a first one to study the response to the intervention (4 months), and a second one post-intervention (8 months). At basal, 4 months and 8 months post-intervention the levels of 17 c-miRNAs were quantified, selected either for their relevance to the pathology or because they are known to be modulated by physical activity or diet. Their variations were correlated with variations of 25 metabolic and anthropometric parameters and cytokines. As expected, fasting-glycaemia, insulin-sensitivity, levels of exercise- and obesity-induced cytokines were ameliorated after 4 months. In addition, the levels of 4 miRNAs (i.e.; miR-128-3p, miR-374a-5p, miR-221-3p, and miR-133a-3p) were changed only in the LI group and were correlated with metabolic improvement (insulin sensitivity, cytokine levels, waist circumference and systolic blood pressure). However, 8 months post-intervention almost all ameliorated metabolic parameters declined indicating that the volunteers did not continue the protocol on their own. Surprisingly, the LI positive effects on c-miRNA levels were still detected, and were even more pronounced 8 months post-intervention. In parallel, MCP-1, involved in tissue infiltration by immune cells, and Il-6, adiponectin and irisin, which have anti-inflammatory effects, continued to be significantly and positively modified, 8 months post-intervention. These data demonstrated for the first time, that c-miRNA correlations with metabolic parameters and insulin sensitivity are in fact only indirect and likely associated with the level systemic inflammation. More generally speaking, this important result explains the high variability between the previous studies designed to identify specific c-miRNAs associated with the severity of insulin-resistance. The results of all these studies should take into account the level of inflammation of the patients. In addition, this finding could also explain why, whatever the pathology considered (i.e.; cancers, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders, inflammatory diseases) the same subset of miRNAs is always found altered in the blood of patients vs healthy subjects, as these pathologies are all associated with the development of inflammation.
Robust and bias-free localization of individual fixed dipole emitters achieving the Cramér Rao bound for applications in cryo-single molecule localization microscopy
Authors: Hinterer Fabian , Schneider Magdalena C. , Hubmer Simon , López-Martinez Montserrat , Zelger Philipp , Jesacher Alexander , Ramlau Ronny , Schütz Gerhard J.
Published: February 2022

Single molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) has the potential to resolve structural details of biological samples at the nanometer length scale. Compared to room temperature experiments, SMLM performed under cryogenic temperature achieves higher photon yields and, hence, higher localization precision. However, to fully exploit the resolution it is crucial to account for the anisotropic emission characteristics of fluorescence dipole emitters with fixed orientation. In case of slight residual defocus, localization estimates may well be biased by tens of nanometers. We show here that astigmatic imaging in combination with information about the dipole orientation allows to extract the position of the dipole emitters without localization bias and down to a precision of 1 nm, thereby reaching the corresponding Cramér Rao bound. The approach is showcased with simulated data for various dipole orientations, and parameter settings realistic for real life experiments.
Quantitative analysis of visual codewords of a protein distance matrix
Authors: Pražnikar Jure , Attygalle Nuwan Tharanga
Published: February 2022

3D protein structures can be analyzed using a distance matrix calculated as the pairwise distance between all Cα atoms in the protein model. Although researchers have efficiently used distance matrices to classify proteins and find homologous proteins, much less work has been done on quantitative analysis of distance matrix features. Therefore, the distance matrix was analyzed as gray scale image using KAZE feature extractor algorithm with Bag of Visual Words model. In this study, each protein was represented as a histogram of visual codewords. The analysis showed that a very small number of codewords (~1%) have a high relative frequency (> 0.25) and that the majority of codewords have a relative frequency around 0.05. We have also shown that there is a relationship between the frequency of codewords and the position of the features in a distance matrix. The codewords that are more frequent are located closer to the main diagonal. Less frequent codewords, on the other hand, are located in the corners of the distance matrix, far from the main diagonal. Moreover, the analysis showed a correlation between the number of unique codewords and the 3D repeats in the protein structure. The solenoid and tandem repeats proteins have a significantly lower number of unique codewords than the globular proteins. Finally, the codeword histograms and Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier were used to classify solenoid and globular proteins. The result showed that the SVM classifier fed with codeword histograms correctly classified 352 out of 354 proteins.
How to choose the size of facial areas of interest in interactive eye tracking
Authors: Vehlen Antonia , Standard William , Domes Gregor
Published: February 2022

Advances in eye tracking technology have enabled the development of interactive experimental setups to study social attention. Since these setups differ substantially from the eye tracker manufacturer’s test conditions, validation is essential with regard to the quality of gaze data and other factors potentially threatening the validity of this signal. In this study, we evaluated the impact of accuracy and areas of interest (AOIs) size on the classification of simulated gaze (fixation) data. We defined AOIs of different sizes using the Limited-Radius Voronoi-Tessellation (LRVT) method, and simulated gaze data for facial target points with varying accuracy. As hypothesized, we found that accuracy and AOI size had strong effects on gaze classification. In addition, these effects were not independent and differed in falsely classified gaze inside AOIs (Type I errors; false alarms) and falsely classified gaze outside the predefined AOIs (Type II errors; misses). Our results indicate that smaller AOIs generally minimize false classifications as long as accuracy is good enough. For studies with lower accuracy, Type II errors can still be compensated to some extent by using larger AOIs, but at the cost of more probable Type I errors. Proper estimation of accuracy is therefore essential for making informed decisions regarding the size of AOIs in eye tracking research.
Neumann problems of superlinear elliptic systems at resonance
Authors: Ma Ruyun , Zhao Zhongzi , Ma Mantang
Published: February 2022

We prove existence of weak solutions of Neumann problem of nonhomogeneous elliptic system with asymmetric nonlinearities that may resonant at
−
∞
and superlinear at
+
∞
. The proof is based on Mawhin's coincidence theory and the product formula of Brouwer degree.
The Hypothetical Witness in Gorgias and Antiphon
Authors: Gatt Jurgen R.
Published: February 2022

The paper below focuses on the shadowy figure of the hypothetical witness found in two mock-forensic works of the late 5th century: Gorgias’ Defence of Palamedes and Antiphon’s First Tetralogy. I argue that these witnesses, who only exist within the εἰκός arguments found in these speeches, are consistently characterized in impersonal ways, as individuals with knowledge pertinent to the resolution of the case. The issue of their will is also broached, particularly in last rebuttal speech of the First Tetralogy. Though such witnesses, being logical figments, could never appear in court, their characterization sheds important light on the ancient Greek notion of ‘witnessing’. Indeed, the very ability of Gorgias and Antiphon to deploy such arguments shows that witnessing was, at least in this cases, not thought to be tied to the witness’s prestige or character which remain entirely undefined. Rather, their characterization of a ‘witness’ as an individual who knows and who is motivated to testify implies that these were the features thought to fundamental to witnesses, whether real or fictive.
Talus: Etymology of a Ludonym and how the Names of an Ancient Gaming Practice could be Indicative of Processes of Cultural Transmission and Stratification
Authors: Tibaldini Marco
Published: February 2022

This paper presents the complex history of the names given to knucklebones by different ancient civilizations. During the whole of antiquity these particular gaming tools had precise cultural and symbolical connotations, which influenced their gaming use and crossed many social, chronological, geographical and cultural boundaries.The peculiar role played by knucklebones within human gaming practices stretches across several millennia. In western Europe during the early Middle Ages, their use went into decline in favour of cubic dice. Over the centuries scholarship has overlapped and confounded the terminology relating to these two different gaming traditions, causing many misunderstandings and translation issues.However, thanks to advances in the field of game studies and through the examination of literary, iconographic and archaeological data, it is possible to establish the original names given to games using astragals and also the complex signifiers and implications that they had for classical culture.
Praise Poetry in Distress?
Authors: Friedrich Enno
Published: February 2022

I am revisiting the old interpretation of Isthmian 7 by A. Boeckh as a melancholy piece and its refutation by D. C. Young. Three passages of Isthmian 7 are analysed and it is found that there is good reason to hold on to Boeckh’s idea of melancholy. In the following, I am asking what premises could give a unified picture of the ode that we have, and I offer two possibilities: either the ode was presented under conditions of crisis for a victory in sports – a personal crisis of Strepsiades and his family or of the nation of Thebes – and therefore had to be a vindication of the victor rather than praise, or the role of the victor’s uncle has been misunderstood in the past and he is not only a fallen warrior but also a cult hero, like B. Currie has suggested, changing our understanding of the ode gravely.