bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“Shadowtime”
Authors: Lambert Shannon
Published: June 2023

This paper explores “shadowtime”, or the co-existence of multiple temporalities, in Michelle Paver’s novelDark Matter: A Ghost Story(2010).Dark Matteris filled with temporally strange figures that evade human vision and understanding. Central among these is the spectral presence of agengånger, or ghost, which haunts the Arctic research station where the novel is largely set. After tracking some of the metaphorical and material dimensions of the spectral, this essay investigates “shadowtime” in the context of the novel’s various ‘archives’. It then looks at how the incorporeal or immaterial concepts of value and choice frame the novel’s ‘dark matters’. ‘Possibility’, or the question of ‘what if?’ pervades the novel’s pages, encouraging readers to imagine multiple realities simultaneously. This essay argues that, although set in a period predating wide awareness of climate change,Dark Matter’s “shadowtimes” create forms of temporal and ontological instability that resonate with the existential uncertainties of the Anthropocene.
Series reversion for electrical impedance tomography with modeling errors
*
Authors: Garde H , Hyvönen N , Kuutela T
Published: June 2023

This work extends the results of Garde and Hyvönen (2022 Math. Comput.
91 1925–1953) on series reversion for Calderón’s problem to the case of realistic electrode measurements, with both the internal admittivity of the investigated body and the contact admittivity at the electrode-object interfaces treated as unknowns. The forward operator, sending the internal and contact admittivities to the linear electrode current-to-potential map, is first proven to be analytic. A reversion of the corresponding Taylor series yields a family of numerical methods of different orders for solving the inverse problem of electrical impedance tomography, with the possibility to employ different parametrizations for the unknown internal and boundary admittivities. The functionality and convergence of the methods is established only if the employed finite-dimensional parametrization of the unknowns allows the Fréchet derivative of the forward map to be injective, but we also heuristically extend the methods to more general settings by resorting to regularization motivated by Bayesian inversion. The performance of this regularized approach is tested via three-dimensional numerical examples based on simulated data. The effect of modeling errors related to electrode shapes and contact admittances is a focal point of the numerical studies.
Well-posedness of the stochastic time-fractional diffusion and wave equations and inverse random source problems
Authors: Lassas Matti , Li Zhiyuan , Zhang Zhidong
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we are concerned with the stochastic time-fractional diffusion-wave equations in a Hilbert space. The main objective of this paper is to establish properties of the stochastic weak solutions of the initial-boundary value problem, such as the existence, uniqueness and regularity estimates. Moreover, we apply the obtained theories to an inverse source problem. The uniqueness of this inverse problem under the boundary measurements is proved.
Measurement method for electromagnetic radiation generated during a high-capacity warhead explosion
Authors: Cui Yuanbo , Kong Deren , Jiang Jian
Published: June 2023

To study the impact of explosion electromagnetic radiation on electronic equipment and to improve the anti-interference ability of electronic equipment in an explosion electromagnetic environment, it is necessary to understand the characteristics and laws of explosion electromagnetic radiation. An explosive electromagnetic measurement test is necessary to study this problem. In view of the measurement conditions of the explosive field and the interference factors in the process of a warhead explosion, protection and improvement measures have been proposed. It designs a repeater to compensate for excessive transmission loss of explosive electromagnetic signal. It enhances the anti-interference ability of the measurement system by adopting electromagnetic shielding methods for signal transmission cables. The closed aperture method was used to solve the field line coupling problem in the measurement system. By analyzing the law of seismic wave propagation, equivalent simulation test of instrument vibration and optimization of test point layout, which are conducted to deal with adverse effects such as explosive seismic wave and fragment strike. Finally, an electromagnetic radiation measurement method suitable for the environment of a high-capacity warhead explosive field has been formed.
Miniaturization and modeling of a folded beam-based microelectromechanical intraocular pressure sensor
Authors: Taherian Sina , Taherian Nima , Gholinataj-Jelodar Ehsan
Published: June 2023

This paper describes the design and detailed analysis of a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) capacitive pressure sensor consisting of nested folded beam suspensions and variously shaped diaphragms that can be used as a part of an LC tank implant circuit for biomedical pressure sensing applications, designed specifically for continuous intraocular pressure (IOP) monitoring in glaucoma patients. The pressure sensor has been designed to measure pressures within the IOP sensor range of 0–8000 Pa. This paper aims to reduce the size of the sensor in comparison to previous research. Significant benefits of miniaturization include requiring less energy, being lightweight, being inexpensive, and having minimal impact on the objects being detected. The MEMS implantable pressure sensor for continuous monitoring of IOP would prevent the progression of the disease, and these tiny devices could alleviate patients’ suffering. Microbeams are likely the most widely utilized structural element in MEMS. This design adds nested folded beam suspensions to the diaphragm, which reduces the diaphragm’s residual tension and rigidity; as a result, the device’s dimension is smaller than the diaphragm without flexible beams (previous work). Due to the reduced rigidity, nested folded beam suspensions can also enhance sensitivity. Finally, the central deflection of the diaphragm will be determined under uniform external pressure. Using COMSOL/Multiphysics and SolidWorks, the design and simulation of pressure sensors have been accomplished. The outcomes reveal that the capacitive pressure sensor with nested folded beam suspensions and the rectangular diaphragm is better suited for measuring IOP, and its dimensions are also smaller than those of previous works (

230

×
41
×
2

.8

(
μ

m

)

3

).
Multi-pulse dynamic patterns in a mode-locked erbium-doped fiber laser based on an Sb2S3-PVA saturable absorber
Authors: Hu Qiongyu , Yang Kejian , Li Ming , Li Ping , Zhao Haoxu , Zhang Bin , Liu Jing , Yang Yongming , Chen Xiaohan
Published: June 2023

Multi-pulse dynamic patterns have been experimentally documented in a passively mode-locked (PML) erbium-doped fiber (EDF) laser using an Sb2S3-PVA saturable absorber (SA). The fundamental mode-locking operation, with a repetition rate of ∼3.22 MHz, a pulse width of ∼2.5 ps, a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of ∼50 dB and a peak power over 200 W, was achieved under a pump power from 280 to 360 mW with appropriate polarization states introduced by the polarization controllers (PCs). By rotating the orientation of the intra-cavity PCs carefully and slowly at a pump power of 350 mW, it was found that a multi-pulse bunch was transformed gradually from a single-pulse to a twelve-pulse bunch, with several intermediate transition states of multi-pulse bunches being observed. In addition, other characteristic modes including disordered multi-pulses and soliton rains have been experimentally observed by meticulously adjusting the polarization states of PCs at a pump power of 350 mW. Our systematic study clearly demonstrates that Sb2S3 has potential as an effective SA for generating different operation states of multi-pulses in PML anomalous-dispersion EDF lasers.
Foundations of plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition of functional coatings
Authors: Snyders R , Hegemann D , Thiry D , Zabeida O , Klemberg-Sapieha J , Martinu L
Published: June 2023

Since decades, the PECVD (‘plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition’) processes have emerged as one of the most convenient and versatile approaches to synthesize either organic or inorganic thin films on many types of substrates, including complex shapes. As a consequence, PECVD is today utilized in many fields of application ranging from microelectronic circuit fabrication to optics/photonics, biotechnology, energy, smart textiles, and many others. Nevertheless, owing to the complexity of the process including numerous gas phase and surface reactions, the fabrication of tailor-made materials for a given application is still a major challenge in the field making it obvious that mastery of the technique can only be achieved through the fundamental understanding of the chemical and physical phenomena involved in the film formation. In this context, the aim of this foundation paper is to share with the readers our perception and understanding of the basic principles behind the formation of PECVD layers considering the co-existence of different reaction pathways that can be tailored by controlling the energy dissipated in the gas phase and/or at the growing surface. We demonstrate that the key parameters controlling the functional properties of the PECVD films are similar whether they are inorganic- or organic-like (plasma polymers) in nature, thus supporting a unified description of the PECVD process. Several concrete examples of the gas phase processes and the film behavior illustrate our vision. To complete the document, we also discuss the present and future trends in the development of the PECVD processes and provide examples of important industrial applications using this powerful and versatile technology.
The Stability Analysis of the Bored Pile Foundation as Liquefaction Hazard Mitigation at the University of Tadulako Reconstruction Project
Authors: Pasin H R , Ismanti S , Hardiyatmo H C
Published: June 2023

A Pile foundation is one of the most important structural elements. Pile foundations are used to support buildings when the hard soil layer is located very deep to keep the structure stable and standing when loaded by internal and external forces. The University of Tadulako is located in a moderate liquefaction-prone zone. In planning for rebuilding post-earthquake, where this area suffered massive damage, it was built on loose sandy soil with shallow groundwater levels. As a result, it has a possibility of liquefaction hazards in this area. This study aims to analyze the stability of the bored pile foundation as liquefaction hazard mitigation under service and extreme conditions. The analysis is carried out using two approaches, analytical method and computer-aided numerical simulation using RSPile and GEO5 2019. The type of foundation plan that will be used is the bored pile foundation with a diameter of 0.6 meters with a depth of 10 to 13 meters. The result shows the foundation remains stable under service conditions, but under extreme conditions, the foundation collapsed for type P1.B, and recommended redesign becomes type P1.A. However, after redesigning, the foundation becomes inefficient, and further research is needed on efficient foundation design.
Relationship Between Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Rice Growth Phases in Danda Jaya Swamp Irrigation Area Regency Barito Kuala
Authors: Nafarin Naufal Adlie , Novitasari Novitasari
Published: June 2023

One of the factors that influence the success of rice productivity is rice growth, from land preparation to harvesting. With remote sensing technology, the phase of rice growth can be known more quickly. The purpose of this study was to analyze the NDVI value as a representation of vegetation density characteristics and analyze cluster data grouping based on the results of the identification of the rice growth phase using Sentinel-2 Imagery in the 2019 planting season cycle in Danda Jaya Swamp Irrigation Area. The method used in this study is a quantitative descriptive method with the interpretation of Sentinel-2 Image. Image data were collected in the form of time series in 2019 and downloaded via the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. Rice productivity was calculated using NDVI to identify plant vegetation density. Then calculate the statistical zone using a GIS application to get the average NDVI value per rice field plot. NDVI values were analyzed using the K-means Cluster method for class determination. These results support the hypothesis that the time series NDVI value in the sentinel-2 image with a high spatial resolution (10 m) computed from the Google Earth Engine produces a strong correlation with the rice growth phase. The next research development is to analyze the estimation model of rice productivity on Sentinel-2 Image by utilizing the relationship between rice productivity and NDVI.
The role of peatland degradation, protection and restoration for climate change mitigation in the SSP scenarios
Authors: Doelman J C , Verhagen W , Stehfest E , van Vuuren D P
Published: June 2023

Peatlands only cover a small fraction of the global land surface (∼3%) but store large amounts of carbon (∼600 GtC). Drainage of peatlands for agriculture results in the decomposition of organic matter, leading to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As a result, degraded peatlands are currently responsible for 2%–3% of global anthropogenic emissions. Preventing further degradation of peatlands and restoration (i.e. rewetting) are therefore important for climate change mitigation. In this study, we show that land-use change in three SSP scenarios with optimistic, recent trends, and pessimistic assumptions leads to peatland degradation between 2020 and 2100 ranging from −7 to +10 Mha (−23% to +32%), and a continuation or even an increase in annual GHG emissions (−0.1 to +0.4 GtCO2-eq yr−1). In default mitigation scenarios without a specific focus on peatlands, peatland degradation is reduced due to synergies with forest protection and afforestation policies. However, this still leaves large amounts of GHG emissions from degraded peatlands unabated, causing cumulative CO2 emissions from 2020 to 2100 in an SSP2-1.5 °C scenario of 73 GtCO2. In a mitigation scenario with dedicated peatland restoration policy, GHG emissions from degraded peatlands can be reduced to nearly zero without major effects on projected land-use dynamics. This underlines the opportunity of peatland protection and restoration for climate change mitigation and the need to synergistically combine different land-based mitigation measures. Peatland location and extent estimates vary widely in the literature; a sensitivity analysis implementing various spatial estimates shows that especially in tropical regions degraded peatland area and peatland emissions are highly uncertain. The required protection and mitigation efforts are geographically unequally distributed, with large concentrations of peatlands in Russia, Europe, North America and Indonesia (33% of emission reductions are located in Indonesia). This indicates an important role for only a few countries that have the opportunity to protect and restore peatlands with global benefits for climate change mitigation.
Including older people in health and social care research: best practice recommendations based on the INCLUDE framework
Authors: Goodwin Victoria A , Low Mikaela S A , Quinn Terence J , Cockcroft Emma J , Shepherd Victoria , Evans Philip H , Henderson Emily J , Mahmood Farhat , Ni Lochlainn Mary , Needham Catherine , Underwood Benjamin R , Arora Amit , Witham Miles D
Published: June 2023

Background

Older people are often explicitly or implicitly excluded from research, in particular clinical trials. This means that study findings may not be applicable to them, or that older people may not be offered treatments due to an absence of evidence.

Aims

The aim of this work was to develop recommendations to guide all research relevant to older people.

Methods

A diverse stakeholder group identified barriers and solutions to including older people in research. In parallel, a rapid literature review of published papers was undertaken to identify existing papers on the inclusion of older people in research. The findings were synthesised and mapped onto a socio-ecological model. From the synthesis we identified themes that were developed into initial recommendations that were iteratively refined with the stakeholder group.

Results

A range of individual, interpersonal, organisational, community and policy factors impact on the inclusion of older people in research. A total of 14 recommendations were developed such as removing upper age limits and comorbidity exclusions, involving older people, advocates and health and social care professionals with expertise in ageing in designing the research, and considering flexible or alternative approaches to data collection to maximise opportunities for participation. We also developed four questions that may guide those developing, reviewing and funding research that is inclusive of older people.

Conclusion

Our recommendations provide up to date, practical advice on ways to improve the inclusion of older people in health and care research.
Computerized Cognitive Test Batteries for Children and Adolescents—A Scoping Review of Tools For Lab- and Web-Based Settings From 2000 to 2021
Authors: Tuerk Carola , Saha Trisha , Bouchard Maryse F , Booij Linda
Published: June 2023

Objective

Cognitive functioning is essential to well-being. Since cognitive difficulties are common in many disorders, their early identification is critical, notably during childhood and adolescence. This scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive literature overview of computerized cognitive test batteries (CCTB) that have been developed and used in children and adolescents over the past 22 years and to evaluate their psychometric properties.

Method

Among 3192 records identified from three databases (PubMed, PsycNET, and Web of Science) between 2000 and 2021, 564 peer-reviewed articles conducted in children and adolescents aged 3 to 18 years met inclusion criteria. Twenty main CCTBs were identified and further reviewed following PRISMA guidelines. Relevant study details (sample information, topic, location, setting, norms, and psychometrics) were extracted, as well as administration and instrument characteristics for the main CCTBs.

Results

Findings suggest that CCTB use varies according to age, location, and topic, with eight tools accounting for 85% of studies, and the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) being most frequently used. Few instruments were applied in web-based settings or include social cognition tasks. Only 13% of studies reported psychometric properties.

Conclusions

Over the past two decades, a high number of computerized cognitive batteries have been developed. Among these, more validation studies are needed, particularly across diverse cultural contexts. This review offers a comprehensive synthesis of CCTBs to aid both researchers and clinicians to conduct cognitive assessments in children in either a lab- or web-based setting.
Optimization-based decoding of Imaging Spatial Transcriptomics data
Authors: Bryan John P , Binan Loïc , McCann Cai , Eldar Yonina C , Farhi Samouil L , Cleary Brian
Published: June 2023

Motivation

Imaging Spatial Transcriptomics techniques characterize gene expression in cells in their native context by imaging barcoded probes for mRNA with single molecule resolution. However, the need to acquire many rounds of high-magnification imaging data limits the throughput and impact of existing methods.

Results

We describe the Joint Sparse method for Imaging Transcriptomics, an algorithm for decoding lower magnification Imaging Spatial Transcriptomics data than that used in standard experimental workflows. Joint Sparse method for Imaging Transcriptomics incorporates codebook knowledge and sparsity assumptions into an optimization problem, which is less reliant on well separated optical signals than current pipelines. Using experimental data obtained by performing Multiplexed Error-Robust Fluorescence in situ Hybridization on tissue from mouse brain, we demonstrate that Joint Sparse method for Imaging Transcriptomics enables improved throughput and recovery performance over standard decoding methods.

Availability and implementation

Software implementation of JSIT, together with example files, is available at https://github.com/jpbryan13/JSIT.
Chest wall perforator flaps for breast reconstruction: international survey on attitudes and training needs
Authors: Karakatsanis Andreas , Sund Malin , Rocco Nicola , Dietz Jill R , Kothari Ashutosh , Hamdi Mustapha , Masannat Yazan A , Barry Peter A
Published: June 2023

Background

Volume replacement using chest wall perforator flaps (CWPFs) is a promising technique to reduce mastectomy rates without sacrificing function or aesthetics. Owing to limited availability of the technique, only a minority of patients currently have access to CWPF procedures.

Methods

An international web-based survey was disseminated through social media, dedicated webpages, and national and international societies for breast surgery. The survey explored surgeons’ attitudes towards CWPFs and their perceived training needs.

Results

Of 619 respondents, 88.4 per cent agreed that CWPF surgery was desirable, with one-third offering it and performing a median of 10 (i.q.r. 5–15) procedures annually. They were more likely to be senior (OR 1.35, 95 per cent c.i. 1.18 to 1.55; P < 0.001), with formal oncoplastic training (OR 4.80, 3.09 to 7.48; P < 0.001), and working in larger units (OR 1.18, 1.03 to 1.35; P = 0.018) with a free-flap (OR 1.62, 1.06 to 2.48; P = 0.025) or CWPF (OR 3.02, 1.87 to 4.89; P < 0.001) service available. In cluster and latent class analysis, none showed high cohesion with performance of CWPF surgery.

Conclusion

There is a discrepancy between perceived importance and availability of CWPF surgery, indicating that optimal training is needed.
Early retinal deprivation crossmodally alters nascent subplate circuits and activity in the auditory cortex during the precritical period
Authors: Mukherjee Didhiti , Xue Binghan , Chen Chih-Ting , Chang Minzi , Kao Joseph P Y , Kanold Patrick O
Published: June 2023

Sensory perturbation in one modality results in the adaptive reorganization of neural pathways within the spared modalities, a phenomenon known as “crossmodal plasticity,” which has been examined during or after the classic “critical period.” Because peripheral perturbations can alter the auditory cortex (ACX) activity and functional connectivity of the ACX subplate neurons (SPNs) even before the critical period, called the precritical period, we investigated if retinal deprivation at birth crossmodally alters the ACX activity and SPN circuits during the precritical period. We deprived newborn mice of visual inputs after birth by performing bilateral enucleation. We performed in vivo widefield imaging in the ACX of awake pups during the first two postnatal weeks to investigate cortical activity. We found that enucleation alters spontaneous and sound-evoked activities in the ACX in an age-dependent manner. Next, we performed whole-cell patch clamp recording combined with laser scanning photostimulation in ACX slices to investigate circuit changes in SPNs. We found that enucleation alters the intracortical inhibitory circuits impinging on SPNs, shifting the excitation-inhibition balance toward excitation and this shift persists after ear opening. Together, our results indicate that crossmodal functional changes exist in the developing sensory cortices at early ages before the onset of the classic critical period.
Three-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography: how to use and when to use—a clinical consensus statement from the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging of the European Society of Cardiology
Authors: Faletra Francesco F , Agricola Eustachio , Flachskampf Frank A , Hahn Rebecca , Pepi Mauro , Ajmone Marsan Nina , Wunderlich Nina , Elif Sade Leyla , Donal Erwan , Zamorano Jose-Luis , Cosyns Bernard , Vannan Mani , Edvardsen Thor , Berrebi Alain , Popescu Bogdan A , Lancellotti Patrizio , Lang Roberto , Bäck Magnus , Bertrand Philippe B , Dweck Marc , Keenan Niall , Stankovic Ivan
Published: June 2023

Three-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography (3D TOE) has been rapidly developed in the last 15 years. Currently, 3D TOE is particularly useful as an additional imaging modality for the cardiac echocardiographers in the echo-lab, for cardiac interventionalists as a tool to guide complex catheter-based procedures cardiac, for surgeons to plan surgical strategies, and for cardiac anaesthesiologists and/or cardiologists, to assess intra-operative results. The authors of this document believe that acquiring 3D data set should become a ‘standard part’ of the TOE examination. This document provides (i) a basic understanding of the physic of 3D TOE technology which enables the echocardiographer to obtain new skills necessary to acquire, manipulate, and interpret 3D data sets, (ii) a description of valvular pathologies, and (iii) a description of non-valvular pathologies in which 3D TOE has shown to be a diagnostic tool particularly valuable. This document has a new format: instead of figures randomly positioned through the text, it has been organized in tables which include figures. We believe that this arrangement makes easier the lecture by clinical cardiologists and practising echocardiographers.
Genomic Architecture of Hybrid Male Sterility in a Species Without Sex Chromosomes (Tigriopus californicus, Copepoda: Harpacticoida)
Authors: Olsen Kevin C , Lima Thiago G , Barreto Felipe S , Burton Ronald S
Published: June 2023

Sterility among hybrids is one of the most prevalent forms of reproductive isolation delineating species boundaries and is expressed disproportionately in heterogametic XY males. While hybrid male sterility (HMS) due to the “large X effect” is a well-recognized mechanism of reproductive isolation, it is less clear how HMS manifests in species that lack heteromorphic sex chromosomes. We evaluated differences in allele frequencies at approximately 460,000 SNPs between fertile and sterile F2 interpopulation male hybrids to characterize the genomic architecture of HMS in a species without sex chromosomes (Tigriopus californicus). We tested associations between HMS and mitochondrial-nuclear and/or nuclear-nuclear signatures of incompatibility. Genomic regions associated with HMS were concentrated on a single chromosome with the same primary 2-Mbp regions identified in one pair of reciprocal crosses. Gene Ontology analysis revealed that annotations associated with spermatogenesis were the most overrepresented within the implicated region, with nine protein-coding genes connected with this process found in the quantitative trait locus of chromosome 2. Our results indicate that a narrow genomic region was associated with the sterility of male hybrids in T. californicus and suggest that incompatibilities among select nuclear loci may replace the large X effect when sex chromosomes are absent.
Continuous, but not intermittent, regimens of hypoxia prevent and reverse ataxia in a murine model of Friedreich’s ataxia
Authors: Ast Tslil , Wang Hong , Marutani Eizo , Nagashima Fumiaki , Malhotra Rajeev , Ichinose Fumito , Mootha Vamsi K
Published: June 2023

Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) is a devastating, multi-systemic neurodegenerative disease affecting thousands of people worldwide. We previously reported that oxygen is a key environmental variable that can modify FA pathogenesis. In particular, we showed that chronic, continuous normobaric hypoxia (11% FIO2) prevents ataxia and neurological disease in a murine model of FA, although it did not improve cardiovascular pathology or lifespan. Here, we report the pre-clinical evaluation of seven ‘hypoxia-inspired’ regimens in the shFxn mouse model of FA, with the long-term goal of designing a safe, practical and effective regimen for clinical translation. We report three chief results. First, a daily, intermittent hypoxia regimen (16 h 11% O2/8 h 21% O2) conferred no benefit and was in fact harmful, resulting in elevated cardiac stress and accelerated mortality. The detrimental effect of this regimen is likely owing to transient tissue hyperoxia that results when daily exposure to 21% O2 combines with chronic polycythemia, as we could blunt this toxicity by pharmacologically inhibiting polycythemia. Second, we report that more mild regimens of chronic hypoxia (17% O2) confer a modest benefit by delaying the onset of ataxia. Third, excitingly, we show that initiating chronic, continuous 11% O2 breathing once advanced neurological disease has already started can rapidly reverse ataxia. Our studies showcase both the promise and limitations of candidate hypoxia-inspired regimens for FA and underscore the need for additional pre-clinical optimization before future translation into humans.
Framing Positive Obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights Law: Mediating between the Abstract and the Concrete
Authors: Stoyanova Vladislava
Published: June 2023

Positive obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights can be framed with different levels of concreteness. The level chosen is essential for understanding the analytical distinction between the existence of an obligation and its breach. The level of concreteness is an important conceptual framework because it has an impact even on the possibility of making an assessment as to whether the State has breached the obligation, and on how this assessment is performed in the reasoning. Kurt v Austria is used to illustrate how positive obligations can be framed both in more abstract and concrete terms, and how the reasoning mediates between the two. The more it tilts towards a concrete formulation of the obligation, the more the Court appears to assume the role of a rule-maker, which is in tension with the principle that States have discretion as to the concrete measures to fulfill their positive obligations.
Minimum Wages Directive and Beyond: Workers’ Dignity Taken (Almost) Seriously
Authors: Di Marco Antonio
Published: June 2023

This study argues that the Minimum Wages Directive reveals a shift in the Union’s political-economic approach to the social competition in the Single Market, which introduces a creeping extension of the Treaty’s scope and a potential enlargement of the Union’s competences on social matters. While representing a timid starting point for the right to a minimum wage protection, it recognises that the dumping wages phenomena are partly triggered by an (unresolved) structural legal vacuum. By analysing the instrumental function of the fair remuneration towards human dignity, the idea of the right to fair and just working conditions as an open scoped right is advanced; the thesis of a general Union competence on working conditions is finally proposed. The aim is to illustrate what limits and perspectives the European upward social convergence is currently facing, and to what extent the Union is not necessarily a mere reflection of market completion interests.
Judicial Activism and Judge-Made Law at the ECtHR
Authors: Bošnjak Marko , Zajac Kacper
Published: June 2023

This paper contributes to an ongoing debate concerning the perceived judicial activism of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). It argues that the output of the Court should be better viewed as the phenomenon of judicial law-making, not unlike in domestic jurisdictions. However, unlike many domestic legal systems, the European Convention on Human Rights framework promotes large quantities of judge-made law. This outcome results from a combination of objective factors that, taken together, enhance the process of judicial law-making by the ECtHR. Those factors include the applied mode of interpretation of the Convention, the approach to its construction, the weak textual basis, the existence of positive obligations, the lack of the doctrine of precedent, the extremely high case law and judicial turnovers, the concurrent legislative inactivity, the existence of the inter-state jurisdiction and the doctrine of autonomous meaning. At the same time, the judicial law-making is only hindered by the doctrine of subsidiarity, the principle of margin of appreciation and the Fourth Instance doctrine. As a consequence of this overwhelming dominance of the factors enhancing the process of judicial law-making over those that hinder it, the ECtHR produces large quantities of judge-made law.
Developing electronic clinical quality measures to assess the cancer diagnostic process
Authors: Murphy Daniel R , Zimolzak Andrew J , Upadhyay Divvy K , Wei Li , Jolly Preeti , Offner Alexis , Sittig Dean F , Korukonda Saritha , Rekha Riyaa Murugaesh , Singh Hardeep
Published: June 2023

Objective

Measures of diagnostic performance in cancer are underdeveloped. Electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs) to assess quality of cancer diagnosis could help quantify and improve diagnostic performance.

Materials and Methods

We developed 2 eCQMs to assess diagnostic evaluation of red-flag clinical findings for colorectal (CRC; based on abnormal stool-based cancer screening tests or labs suggestive of iron deficiency anemia) and lung (abnormal chest imaging) cancer. The 2 eCQMs quantified rates of red-flag follow-up in CRC and lung cancer using electronic health record data repositories at 2 large healthcare systems. Each measure used clinical data to identify abnormal results, evidence of appropriate follow-up, and exclusions that signified follow-up was unnecessary. Clinicians reviewed 100 positive and 20 negative randomly selected records for each eCQM at each site to validate accuracy and categorized missed opportunities related to system, provider, or patient factors.

Results

We implemented the CRC eCQM at both sites, while the lung cancer eCQM was only implemented at the VA due to lack of structured data indicating level of cancer suspicion on most chest imaging results at Geisinger. For the CRC eCQM, the rate of appropriate follow-up was 36.0% (26 746/74 314 patients) in the VA after removing clinical exclusions and 41.1% at Geisinger (1009/2461 patients; P < .001). Similarly, the rate of appropriate evaluation for lung cancer in the VA was 61.5% (25 166/40 924 patients). Reviewers most frequently attributed missed opportunities at both sites to provider factors (84 of 157).

Conclusions

We implemented 2 eCQMs to evaluate the diagnostic process in cancer at 2 large health systems. Health care organizations can use these eCQMs to monitor diagnostic performance related to cancer.
Lung cancer risk discrimination of prediagnostic proteomics measurements compared with existing prediction tools
Authors: Feng Xiaoshuang , Wu Wendy Yi-Ying , Onwuka Justina Ucheojor , Haider Zahra , Alcala Karine , Smith-Byrne Karl , Zahed Hana , Guida Florence , Wang Renwei , Bassett Julie K , Stevens Victoria , Wang Ying , Weinstein Stephanie , Freedman Neal D , Chen Chu , Tinker Lesley , Nøst Therese Haugdahl , Koh Woon-Puay , Muller David , Colorado-Yohar Sandra M , Tumino Rosario , Hung Rayjean J , Amos Christopher I , Lin Xihong , Zhang Xuehong , Arslan Alan A , Sánchez Maria-Jose , Sørgjerd Elin Pettersen , Severi Gianluca , Hveem Kristian , Brennan Paul , Langhammer Arnulf , Milne Roger L , Yuan Jian-Min , Melin Beatrice , Johansson Mikael , Robbins Hilary A , Johansson Mattias
Published: June 2023

Background

We sought to develop a proteomics-based risk model for lung cancer and evaluate its risk-discriminatory performance in comparison with a smoking-based risk model (PLCOm2012) and a commercially available autoantibody biomarker test.

Methods

We designed a case-control study nested in 6 prospective cohorts, including 624 lung cancer participants who donated blood samples at most 3 years prior to lung cancer diagnosis and 624 smoking-matched cancer free participants who were assayed for 302 proteins. We used 470 case-control pairs from 4 cohorts to select proteins and train a protein-based risk model. We subsequently used 154 case-control pairs from 2 cohorts to compare the risk-discriminatory performance of the protein-based model with that of the Early Cancer Detection Test (EarlyCDT)-Lung and the PLCOm2012 model using receiver operating characteristics analysis and by estimating models’ sensitivity. All tests were 2-sided.

Results

The area under the curve for the protein-based risk model in the validation sample was 0.75 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.70 to 0.81) compared with 0.64 (95% CI = 0.57 to 0.70) for the PLCOm2012 model (Pdifference = .001). The EarlyCDT-Lung had a sensitivity of 14% (95% CI = 8.2% to 19%) and a specificity of 86% (95% CI = 81% to 92%) for incident lung cancer. At the same specificity of 86%, the sensitivity for the protein-based risk model was estimated at 49% (95% CI = 41% to 57%) and 30% (95% CI = 23% to 37%) for the PLCOm2012 model.

Conclusion

Circulating proteins showed promise in predicting incident lung cancer and outperformed a standard risk prediction model and the commercialized EarlyCDT-Lung.
Disparities in parental distress in a multicenter clinical trial for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Umaretiya Puja J , Koch Victoria B , Flamand Yael , Aziz-Bose Rahela , Ilcisin Lenka , Valenzuela Ariana , Cole Peter D , Gennarini Lisa M , Kahn Justine M , Kelly Kara M , Tran Thai Hoa , Michon Bruno , Welch Jennifer J G , Wolfe Joanne , Silverman Lewis B , Bona Kira
Published: June 2023

Background

Parent psychological distress during childhood cancer treatment has short- and long-term implications for parent, child, and family well-being. Identifying targetable predictors of parental distress is essential to inform interventions. We investigated the association between household material hardship (HMH), a modifiable poverty-exposure defined as housing, food, or utility insecurity, and severe psychological distress among parents of children aged 1-17 years with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) enrolled on the multicenter Dana-Farber ALL Consortium Trial 16-001.

Methods

This was a secondary analysis of parent-reported data. Parents completed an HMH survey within 32 days of clinical trial enrollment (T0) and again at 6 months into therapy (T1). The primary exposure was HMH at T0 and primary outcome was severe parental distress at T0 and T1, defined as a score greater than or equal to 13 on the Kessler-6 Psychological Distress Scale. Multivariable models were adjusted for ALL risk group and single parent status.

Results

Among 375 evaluable parents, one-third (32%; n = 120/375) reported HMH at T0. In multivariable analyses, T0 HMH was associated with over twice the odds of severe psychological distress at T0 and T1 HMH was associated with over 5 times the odds of severe distress at T1.

Conclusions

Despite uniform clinical trial treatment of their children at well-resourced pediatric centers, HMH-exposed parents—compared with unexposed parents—experienced statistically significantly increased odds of severe psychological distress at the time of their child’s leukemia diagnosis, which worsened 6 months into therapy. These data identify a high-risk parental population who may benefit from early psychosocial and HMH-targeted interventions to mitigate disparities in well-being.
Recapture Results and Classical Logic
Authors: Fiore Camillo , Rosenblatt Lucas
Published: June 2023

An old and well-known objection to non-classical logics is that they are too weak; in particular, they cannot prove a number of important mathematical results. A promising strategy to deal with this objection consists in proving so-called recapture results. Roughly, these results show that classical logic can be used in mathematics and other unproblematic contexts. However, the strategy faces some potential problems. First, typical recapture results are formulated in a purely logical language, and do not generalize nicely to languages containing the kind of vocabulary that usually motivates non-classical theories—for example, a language containing a naive truth predicate. Second, proofs of recapture results typically employ classical principles that are not valid in the targeted non-classical system; hence non-classical theorists do not seem entitled to those results. In this paper we analyse these problems and provide solutions on behalf of non-classical theorists. To address the first problem, we provide a novel kind of recapture result, which generalizes nicely to a truth-theoretic language. As for the second problem, we argue that it relies on an ambiguity, and that once the ambiguity is removed there are no reasons to think that non-classical logicians are not entitled to their recapture results.
Minute-cadence observations of the LAMOST fields with the TMTS – III. Statistical study of the flare stars from the first two years
Authors: Liu Qichun , Lin Jie , Wang Xiaofeng , Gu Shenghong , Shi Jianrong , Zhang Liyun , Xi Gaobo , Mo Jun , Cai Yongzhi , Chen Liyang , Chen Zhihao , Guo Fangzhou , Jiang Xiaojun , Li Gaici , Li Wenxiong , Lin Han , Lin Weili , Liu Jialian , Miao Cheng , Ma Xiaoran , Peng Haowei , Xiang Danfeng , Yan Shengyu , Zhang Jicheng , Zhang Xinhan
Published: June 2023

Tsinghua University-Ma Huateng Telescopes for Survey (TMTS) aims to detect fast-evolving transients in the Universe, which has led to the discovery of thousands of short-period variables and eclipsing binaries since 2020. In this paper, we present the observed properties of 125 flare stars identified by TMTS within the first two years, with an attempt to constrain their eruption physics. As expected, most of these flares were recorded in late-type red stars with GBP − GRP >2.0 mag; however, the flares associated with bluer stars tend to be on average more energetic and have broader profiles. The peak flux (Fpeak) of the flare is found to depend strongly on the equivalent duration (ED) of the energy release, i.e. Fpeak∝ED0.72 ± 0.04, which is consistent with results derived from the Kepler and Evryscope samples. This relation is likely to be related to the magnetic loop emission, while, for the more popular non-thermal electron heating model, a specific time evolution may be required to generate this relation. We notice that flares produced by hotter stars have a flatter Fpeak - ED relation compared to that from cooler stars. This is related to the statistical discrepancy in light-curve shape of flare events with different colours. In spectra from LAMOST, we find that flare stars have apparently stronger H α emission than inactive stars, especially at the low-temperature end, suggesting that chromospheric activity plays an important role in producing flares. On the other hand, the subclass with frequent flares is found to show H α emission of similar strength in its spectra to that recorded with only a single flare but similar effective temperature, implying that chromospheric activity may not be the only trigger for eruptions.
ARMADiLLO: a web server for analyzing antibody mutation probabilities
Authors: Martin Beem Joshua S , Venkatayogi Sravani , Haynes Barton F , Wiehe Kevin
Published: June 2023

Antibodies are generated by B cells that evolve receptor specificity to pathogens through rounds of mutation and selection in a process called affinity maturation. Somatic hypermutation is mediated by an enzyme with DNA sequence context-dependent targeting and substitution resulting in variable probabilities of amino acid substitutions during affinity maturation. We have previously developed a program called Antigen Receptor Mutation Analyzer for the Detection of Low Likelihood Occurrences (ARMADiLLO) that performs simulations of the somatic hypermutation process to estimate the probabilities of observed antibody mutations. Here we describe the ARMADiLLO web server (https://armadillo.dhvi.duke.edu), an easy-to-use web interface that analyzes input antibody sequences and displays the probability estimates for all possible amino acid changes over the full length of an antibody sequence. The probability of antibody mutations can be used by immunologists studying B cell ontogenies and by vaccine designers that are pursuing strategies to elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies which are enriched with developmentally rate-limiting improbable mutations. The ARMADiLLO web server also contains precomputed results reporting the probability of amino acid substitutions in all human V gene segments and in a collection of HIV broadly neutralizing antibodies.
A method to generate capture baits for targeted sequencing
Authors: Sundararaman Balaji , Vershinina Alisa O , Hershauer Samantha , Kapp Joshua D , Dunn Shelby , Shapiro Beth , Green Richard E
Published: June 2023

Hybridization capture approaches allow targeted high-throughput sequencing analysis at reduced costs compared to shotgun sequencing. Hybridization capture is particularly useful in analyses of genomic data from ancient, environmental, and forensic samples, where target content is low, DNA is fragmented and multiplex PCR or other targeted approaches often fail. Here, we describe a DNA bait synthesis approach for hybridization capture that we call Circular Nucleic acid Enrichment Reagent, or CNER (pronounced ‘snare’). The CNER method uses rolling-circle amplification followed by restriction digestion to discretize microgram quantities of hybridization probes. We demonstrate the utility of the CNER method by generating probes for a panel of 23 771 known sites of single nucleotide polymorphism in the horse genome. Using these probes, we capture and sequence from a panel of ten ancient horse DNA libraries, comparing CNER capture efficiency to a commercially available approach. With about one million read pairs per sample, CNERs captured more targets (90.5% versus 66.5%) at greater mean depth than an alternative commercial approach.
Reserved gait capacity and mortality among patients undergoing hemodialysis
Authors: Yoshikoshi Shun , Yamamoto Shohei , Suzuki Yuta , Imamura Keigo , Harada Manae , Kamiya Kentaro , Matsunaga Atsuhiko
Published: June 2023

Background

Patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) have difficulty increasing their gait speed in daily life. The extent of the increase from the usual gait speed (UGS) to the maximum gait speed (MGS) is considered the reserved gait capacity (RGC). Little is known regarding the implications of RGC. This study aimed to investigate the association between RGC and all-cause mortality in patients undergoing HD.

Methods

In this retrospective study, we assessed the usual and maximum 10-m walking speed of outpatients who underwent HD between October 2002 and August 2021. RGC was defined as the ratio of MGS to UGS. Patients were divided into three groups according to the tertiles of RGC (low, moderate and high). A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to examine the association between RGC and all-cause mortality.

Results

Of the 496 (median age 66.0 years; men 59%) participants, 186 patients died during the follow-up (incident ratio of 62.0 per 1000 person-years). The patients with moderate [hazard ratio (HR) 0.66, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.46–0.94] and high (HR 0.44, 95% CI 0.30–0.65) RGC had a lower risk of mortality than the low RGC group. Furthermore, even when restricted to a population with only UGS <1.0 m/s, the group with high RGC still had a lower risk of mortality than those with low RGC (HR 0.55, 95% CI 0.33–0.94).

Conclusions

Lower RGC was independently associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality among patients on HD; high RGC had a survival advantage even with a slow UGS.