bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative study of left atrium epicardial fat tissue pattern using persistent homology approach
Authors: Deepa Deepa , Singh Yashbir , Mansoor Wathiq , Hu Weichih , Paul Rahul , Carlsson Gunnar E.
Published: September 2022

Objective

Atrial Fibrillation (A-fib) is an abnormal heartbeat condition in which the heart races and beats in an uncontrollable way. It is observed that the presence of increased epicardial fat/fatty tissue in the atrium can lead to A-fib. Persistent homology using topological features can be used to recapitulate enormous amounts of spatially complicated medical data into a visual code to identify a specific pattern of epicardial fat tissue with non-fat tissue. Our aim is to evaluate the topological pattern of left atrium epicardial fat tissue with non-fat tissue.

Results

A topological data analysis approach was acquired to study the imaging pattern between the left atrium epicardial fat tissue and non-fat tissue patches. The patches of eight patients from CT images of the left atrium heart were used and categorized into “left atrium epicardial fat tissue” and “non-fat tissue” groups. The features that distinguish the “epicardial fat tissue” and “non-fat tissue” groups are extracted using persistent homology (PH). Our result reveals that our proposed research can discriminate between left atrium epicardial fat tissue and non-fat tissue. Specifically, the range of Betti numbers in the epicardial tissue is smaller (0–30) than the non-fat tissue (0–100), indicating that non-fat tissue has good topology.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Second-order impulsive differential systems of mixed type: oscillation theorems
Authors: Santra Shyam Sundar , Scapellato Andrea , Moaaz Osama
Published: September 2022

In this paper, we obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for the oscillation of solutions to a second-order neutral differential equation with impulses. Two examples are provided to show the effectiveness and feasibility of the main results. Our main tool is Lebesgue’s dominated convergence theorem.
Exclusion of tourist species from assemblages in ecological studies: a methodological approach using spiders
Authors: Nadal María Florencia , González Alda , Avalos Gilberto
Published: September 2022

Background

The exclusion of tourist species from samples is important to avoid bias in community analyses. However, in practice, this is a very difficult task. The commonly used methods by researchers, when the habitat of the species is not known, have several shortcomings: first, they exclude not only pseudo-rare species but also genuinely rare species; second, the results obtained with those methods depend on the abundance of the sampling; and third, they follow very subjective rules. The aims of this study were: (i) to propose a methodology to detect and exclude habitat-tourist species from the database used to carry out analyses in community ecology studies, (ii) to evaluate how the presence of habitat-tourist species affects the richness estimates, and (iii) to assess the effect of including juvenile spiders in the detection of tourist species and the effect of removing them from the richness estimates.

Results

When the adult + juvenile dataset was considered, twenty-one habitat-tourist species were detected: 8 in forest foliage, 11 in forest leaf litter, and 2 in grassland. When habitat-tourist species were considered with this dataset, richness overestimation was significant in foliage and in leaf litter, and the final slopes of the richness estimation curves were significantly steeper in leaf litter. When only the adult dataset was considered, eight habitat-tourist species were detected: 3 in forest foliage, 4 in forest leaf litter, and just one in grassland. The inclusion of habitat-tourist species in this dataset showed an overestimation of richness, but this was not significant.

Conclusions

The proposed methodology contributes to solving the problem of tourist species, which was recognized as one of the great problems in biodiversity studies. This study showed that common estimators overestimate species richness when habitat-tourist species are included, leading to erroneous conclusions. Besides, this research showed that the inclusion of juveniles (e.g. spiders) could improve the analysis outputs because it allowed the detection of more habitat-tourist species.
A review of brain imaging biomarker genomics in Alzheimer’s disease: implementation and perspectives
Authors: Li Lanlan , Yu Xianfeng , Sheng Can , Jiang Xueyan , Zhang Qi , Han Ying , Jiang Jiehui
Published: September 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with phenotypic changes closely associated with both genetic variants and imaging pathology. Brain imaging biomarker genomics has been developed in recent years to reveal potential AD pathological mechanisms and provide early diagnoses. This technique integrates multimodal imaging phenotypes with genetic data in a noninvasive and high-throughput manner. In this review, we summarize the basic analytical framework of brain imaging biomarker genomics and elucidate two main implementation scenarios of this technique in AD studies: (1) exploring novel biomarkers and seeking mutual interpretability and (2) providing a diagnosis and prognosis for AD with combined use of machine learning methods and brain imaging biomarker genomics. Importantly, we highlight the necessity of brain imaging biomarker genomics, discuss the strengths and limitations of current methods, and propose directions for development of this research field.
Principal component analysis of texture features derived from FDG PET images of melanoma lesions
Authors: Anne-Leen DeLeu , Machaba Sathekge , Alex Maes , Bart De Spiegeleer , Laurence Beels , Mike Sathekge , Hans Pottel , Van de Wiele Christophe
Published: September 2022

Background

The clinical utility of radiomics is hampered by a high correlation between the large number of features analysed which may result in the “bouncing beta” phenomenon which could in part explain why in a similar patient population texture features identified and/or cut-off values of prognostic significance differ from one study to another. Principal component analysis (PCA) is a technique for reducing the dimensionality of large datasets containing highly correlated variables, such as texture feature datasets derived from FDG PET images, increasing data interpretability whilst at the same time minimizing information loss by creating new uncorrelated variables that successively maximize variance. Here, we report on PCA of a texture feature dataset derived from 123 malignant melanoma lesions with a significant range in lesion size using the freely available LIFEx software.

Results

Thirty-eight features were derived from all lesions. All features were standardized. The statistical assumptions for carrying out PCA analysis were met. Seven principal components with an eigenvalue > 1 were identified. Based on the “elbow sign” of the Scree plot, only the first five were retained. The contribution to the total variance of these components derived using Varimax rotation was, respectively, 30.6%, 23.6%, 16.1%, 7.4% and 4.1%. The components provided summarized information on the locoregional FDG distribution with an emphasis on high FDG uptake regions, contrast in FDG uptake values (steepness), tumour volume, locoregional FDG distribution with an emphasis on low FDG uptake regions and on the rapidity of changes in SUV intensity between different regions.

Conclusions

PCA allowed to reduce the dataset of 38 features to a set of 5 uncorrelated new variables explaining approximately 82% of the total variance contained within the dataset. These principal components may prove more useful for multiple regression analysis considering the relatively low numbers of patients usually included in clinical trials on FDG PET texture analysis. Studies assessing the superior differential diagnostic, predictive or prognostic value of principal components derived using PCA as opposed to the initial texture features in clinical relevant settings are warranted.
Consumer choices under new payment methods
Authors: Son Jaemin , Bilgin Mehmet Huseyin , Ryu Doojin
Published: September 2022

This study suggests a payment portfolio model that includes new payment methods that have emerged from the development of cryptocurrency markets and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). Our model analyzes the optimal payment choice for consumers under various macroeconomic conditions. We determine that an individual economic agent chooses payment methods under specific conditions by incorporating policy interest rates on CBDCs and stablecoins used on cryptocurrency exchanges. We analyze the impacts of CBDCs and stablecoins on the choice of whether to use cash or deposits. We also examine how the agent changes her portfolio compositions in response to exogenous macroeconomic policies. If a government replaces cash with a CBDC, the convenience of digital currency would not affect consumer choices. The higher the government’s interest rate on CBDCs, the more consumers will use CBDCs than deposits.
Immediate pressor response to oral salt and its assessment in the clinic: a time series clinical trial
Authors: Masenga Sepiso K. , Pilic Leta , Hamooya Benson M. , Nzala Selestine , Heimburger Douglas C. , Mutale Wilbroad , Koethe John R. , Kirabo Annet , Munsaka Sody M. , Elijovich Fernando
Published: September 2022

Background

High blood pressure (BP) is associated with high-salt consumption especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Although the pressor effect of salt is viewed as a chronic effect, some studies suggest that a salty meal may increase BP immediately in some individuals, and that this effect may cause endothelial dysfunction. Therefore, the aim of our research was to study the immediate pressor response to oral salt (IPROS) and its determinants, with the expectation that a simple methodology may be devised to diagnose it in the clinic or in low-resource environments.

Methods

We conducted a time series trial at Livingstone Central Hospital. We present data in 127 normotensive participants who ingested 2 g of sodium chloride; their BP was monitored for 120 minutes in intervals of 10 minutes. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for analyses of data.

Results

Median age was 30 years (interquartile range, 22–46 years) and 52% were female patients. An increase of ≥10 mmHg in mean arterial pressure (MAP), considered a clinically significant IPROS, was present in 62% of participants. Systolic BP 30 minutes after the salt load was a significant predictor of IPROS, avoiding the need to calculate MAP in the clinic setting.

Conclusions

We confirm the presence of an IPROS in a high proportion (62%) of otherwise normotensive participants. The average time course for this response was 30 minutes and its duration was sustained for the 120-minutes period of study in most of the participants. Prediction of IPROS by ∆SBP (change in systolic blood pressure) at 30 minutes allows for easy assessment of possible responder status in the clinic. Our data indicate that the IPROS to oral salt-loads in the range currently consumed by the Western world and African populations in single meals may increase the 24-hour BP load, which is a risk factor for hypertension and target organ damage. The relevance of our findings indicates the need to include dietary sodium assessment in the diagnosis, prevention, and management of high BP.
Anatomical and functional outcomes of retinal detachment associated with nontraumatic giant retinal tears compared to simple rhegmatogenous retinal detachment
Authors: Garneau Jérôme , Hébert Mélanie , You Eunice , Bourgault Serge , Caissie Mathieu , Tourville Éric , Dirani Ali
Published: September 2022

Background

To compare the functional and anatomical outcomes of primary surgery in patients with giant retinal tear (GRT)-associated retinal detachment (GRT-RD) to patients with simple rhegmatogenous RD (RRD).

Methods

This is a retrospective study at the CHU de Québec - Université Laval. Medical records of all consecutive patients operated for RD between 2014 and 2018 were reviewed. Patients with GRT-RD and RRD were included. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative data were compared between both groups, including extension of giant tears, number of RD quadrants, preoperative macula and lens status, type of surgery, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) preoperatively and at follow-up, and single surgery anatomical success (SASS).

Results

There were 39 patients (1.7%) with GRT-RD and 1661 patients (74%) with RRD. Median [Q1, Q3] ages were 59 [52, 62] years and 62 [56, 69] years (p = 0.003), while number of affected quadrants were 2 [2, 3] and 2 [2, 3] (p = 0.96) in GRT-RD and RRD patients, respectively. In GRT-RD patients, GRT size was 120 [90, 150] degrees. Final BCVA was 0.30 [0.10, 0.30] and 0.30 [0.10, 0.40] (p = 0.76) in GRT and RRD patients, respectively. SSAS was 82% (32/39) in the GRT-associated-RD group and 90% (1495/1661) in the RRD group (p = 0.10). After correcting for other preoperative factors, GRT was a risk factor for worse SSAS (odds ratio: 0.422, p = 0.047).

Conclusions

GRT-RD is still challenging to treat, and our results suggest that it is a risk factor for poorer SSAS.
Chinese translation and validation of the adolescent sleep wake scale
Authors: Yang Ya-Ting Carolyn , Chang Han-Yun , Hsu Chung-Yao , Lin Cheng-Yu , Zeitzer Jamie M
Published: September 2022

Background

Inadequate sleep is a problem for teens world-wide. Identifying the biological and cultural factors that underlie this phenomenon is dependent on tools that can accurately query sleep-related behaviors. While there are many sleep-related questionnaires available in English, there are a paucity of validated Chinese language versions. As such, it was the purpose of this study to translate the Adolescent Sleep Wake Scale into Chinese and to provide a preliminary validation of this questionnaire.

Methods

We used a dual forward translation-back translation approach to translate the Adolescent Sleep Wake Scale into Chinese. We then tested the sensitivity, specificity, and internal consistency of the translated questionnaire using 517 adolescents from Taiwan. Preliminary criterion validity was examined through comparison with a measure of chronotype, with the a priori assumption that evening chronotypes would have worse sleep-related behavior.

Results

Internal consistency for both the overall scale (α = .86) and five subscales (α’s > .81) were good. These five subscales explained 62.6% of the total variance. Confirmatory Factory Analysis indicated a good fit of the data. The overall scale and each of the subscales also showed the expected relationship with chronotype, with worse sleep-related behavior in evening-types.

Conclusion

Our Chinese translation of the Adolescent Sleep Wake Scale is valid and has preliminary criterion validity. This can be a useful tool to explore sleep quality among Chinese-speaking adolescents as well as cross-cultural aspects of sleep behavior between Chinese- and English-speaking adolescents.
In silico analysis and the pathogenicity classification of PTS gene variants among Iranian population
Authors: Khamooshian Sahand , Kazeminia Mohsen , Moradi Keivan
Published: September 2022

Background

6-Pyruvoyl-tetrahydropterin synthase (PTPS) deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by PTS gene mutations. The aim of this study was to collect all PTS gene variants detected among Iranian patients with PTPS deficiency as well as in the Iranome project and classify them based on American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG-AMP) guidelines.

Results

The number of PTS gene variants reported among Iranian PTPS patients and in the Iranome project were 19 and 36, respectively. Given that one variant was reported in both of our sources, the total number of variants was 54. These variants were classified as pathogenic (n = 11), likely pathogenic (n = 7), VUS (n = 23), likely benign (n = 1), and benign (n = 12). Out of 19 variants reported among Iranian PTPS patients, c.155A>G (p.Asn52Ser, rs104894275) and c.317C>T (p.Thr106Met, rs200712908) were the most frequent ones, each with a frequency of 10%. c.84-3C>G (rs1230781262) (7.5%) and c.281A>T (p.Asp94Val) (5%) were in the next ranks of the list of variants.

Conclusions

The ACMG-AMP criteria need to be updated depending on the type of disease. In addition, to the best of our knowledge, no template has been described for classifying the variants identified in PTPS deficiency. Therefore, this study can be a good reference for future studies in this subject.
Loan repayment among group borrowers in Tanzania: the role of relationship quality
Authors: Tegambwage Amani Gration , Kasoga Pendo Shukrani
Published: September 2022

Although the social capital, in terms of stronger interpersonal relationships between group borrowers, has been found to exert a positive impact on group loan repayment, there is no existing research that has endeavored to study the influence of relationship quality between individual group borrowers on group loan repayment. Therefore, this study seeks to understand the impact of relationship quality and its dimensions on group loan repayment using data gathered from a survey of 450 joint liability borrowers. The data was analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Findings indicate that relationship quality and its dimensions do not influence group loan repayment, suggesting that follow-up loans provide incentives to repay. Commitment, trust, and satisfaction are affirmed as dimensions of relationship quality between individual group members, with trust exerting the strongest influence. Potential group borrowers need to self-select and screen each other based on relationship quality factors, particularly trust, to reduce opportunistic behavior.
Transcriptomics in Tumor and Normal Lung Tissues Identify Patients With Early-Stage Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer With High Risk of Postsurgery Recurrence Who May Benefit From Adjuvant Therapies
Authors: Lazar Vladimir , Girard Nicolas , Raymond Eric , Martini Jean-François , Galbraith Susan , Raynaud Jacques , Bresson Catherine , Solomon Benjamin , Magidi Shai , Nechushtan Hovav , Onn Amir , Berger Raanan , Chen Haiquan , Al-Omari Amal , Ikeda Sadakatsu , Lassen Ulrik , Sekacheva Marina , Felip Enriqueta , Tabernero Josep , Batist Gerald , Spatz Alan , Pramesh C.S. , Girard Philippe , Blay Jean-Yves , Philip Thierry , Berindan-Neagoe Ioana , Porgador Angel , Rubin Eitan , Kurzrock Razelle , Schilsky Richard L.
Published: September 2022

PURPOSE

The prognosis of patients with non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), traditionally determined by anatomic histology and TNM staging, neglects the biological features of the tumor that may be important in determining patient outcome and guiding therapeutic interventions. Identifying patients with NSCLC at increased risk of recurrence after curative-intent surgery remains an important unmet need so that known effective adjuvant treatments can be offered to those at highest risk of recurrence.

METHODS

Relative gene expression level in the primary tumor and normal bronchial tissues was used to retrospectively assess their association with disease-free survival (DFS) in a cohort of 120 patients with NSCLC who underwent curative-intent surgery.

RESULTS

Low versus high Digital Display Precision Predictor (DDPP) score (a measure of relative gene expression) was significantly associated with shorter DFS (highest recurrence risk; P = .006) in all patients and in patients with TNM stages 1-2 ( P = .00051; n = 83). For patients with stages 1-2 and low DDPP score (n = 29), adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with improved DFS ( P = .0041). High co-overexpression of CTLA-4, PD-L1, and ICOS in normal lung (28 of 120 patients) was also significantly associated with decreased DFS ( P = .0013), suggesting an immune tolerance to tumor neoantigens in some patients. Patients with DDPP low and immunotolerant normal tissue had the shortest DFS ( P = 2.12E–11).

CONCLUSION

TNM stage, DDPP score, and immune competence status of normal lung are independent prognostic factors in multivariate analysis. Our findings open new avenues for prospective prognostic assessment and treatment assignment on the basis of transcriptomic profiling of tumor and normal lung tissue in patients with NSCLC.
Muscle Performance during the Menstrual Cycle Correlates with Psychological Well-Being, but Not Fluctuations in Sex Hormones
Authors: DAM TINE VRIST , DALGAARD LINE BARNER , SEVDALIS VASSILIS , BIBBY BO MARTIN , JANSE DE JONGE XANNE , GRAVHOLT CLAUS H. , HANSEN METTE
Published: September 2022

Purpose

We aimed to study variations in strength and power performance during the menstrual cycle (MC) in eumenorrheic young women and during the pill cycle in oral contraceptives (OC) users.

Methods

Forty healthy, normal-weight women between 18 and 35 yr (n = 30 eumenorrheic women; n = 10 OC users) completed this prospective cohort study. Seven to nine times during the MC/pill-cycle, the participants completed a physical performance test series, a questionnaire about psychological well-being, blood sampling, and determination of body mass. The physical tests included isometric handgrip strength, elbow flexor strength, countermovement jump (CMJ) height, and a 10-s Wingate bike test.

Results

No direct correlation was observed between the variations in sex hormones and physical performance parameters. However, positive correlations were observed between physical performance outcomes and self-reported motivation, perception of own physical performance level, pleasure level, and arousal level. CMJ was 6% lower in the late luteal phase (LL) compared with the midluteal phase (ML) (P = 0.04). Wingate peak power was 3% lower in early follicular (EF) compared with the ML (P = 0.04). Furthermore, Wingate average power was 2%–5% lower in LL compared with all other MC phases. In line with these observations, physical pain was higher in EF and LL, and the pleasure level was lower in EF compared with the other MC phases. In OC users, we observed no variation in performance and self-reported parameters between the placebo-pill phase and the OC-pill phase.

Conclusions

Impairments in CMJ and Wingate performance were observed at the end and start of MC compared with other MC phases, which were associated with lower psychological well-being, but not the sex hormone fluctuations.
The impact of spinal fusion of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in Salah (Islamic Prayer) movement: a case-control study
Authors: Irianto Komang Agung , Firas Naufal Ranadi , Binti Carlos Gracia Supriantono , Tinduh Damayanti , Sakti Yudha Mathan , De Vega Brigita
Published: September 2022

Background: Corrective spine surgery is widely accepted for treating severe adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Postoperative spinal range of motion (ROM) could be affected after such surgery. In certain populations, such as Muslims, this ROM change can impact daily life, as it may affect the five-times-a-day prayer (Salah). This study aims to assess the influence of spinal fusion (SF) in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) during the daily Islamic prayer (Salah).

Methods: SF-AIS patients were videoed while performing Salah prayer. The kinematic documentation was assessed and compared to Salah movements of a control group of age-matched Muslim AIS patients, who had not had surgery. The prayer quality changes were subjectively classified into improved, no change/remained, and worsened, according to the Global Perceived Effect (GPE). Functional outcome and pain were assessed by the Scoliosis Research Society Questionnaire Version 30 (SRS-30).

Results: Thirty-nine women and five men (mean age±SD: 14.8±2.3 years) met the inclusion criteria, and unoperated AIS patients were used as control (twenty-two women, mean age±SD: 15.32±1.43 years). The prostrations ROM of the SF-AIS group differed significantly from the control group (p<0.05). The GPE of the prayer movement showed improvement in 36.4%, no change in 59.1%, and worsening in 4.5% of the SF-AIS patients. The worsened group had a significantly lower bowing ROM and higher prostrations ROM compared to all groups of prayer quality changes (p<0.05). SRS-30 scores showed good outcomes (function 4.0±0.2, pain 4.2±0.5), along with the overall bowing ROM and prostrations ROM (84.2±12.0o and 53.4±9.6o, respectively). Moreover, a significant moderate positive correlation between the bowing ROM and pain (r=0.417, p=0.007) was also found.

Conclusion: Spinal fusion positively affects AIS Islamic patients in maintaining their daily Salah movement, ROM and prayer quality. Prayer quality assessment should be given extra attention as an adjuvant of the SRS-30 questionnaire to evaluate Muslim patients.
Stage 1 Registered Report: Refinement of tickling protocols to improve positive animal welfare in laboratory rats
Authors: Bombail Vincent , Brown Sarah M. , Martin Jessica E. , Meddle Simone L. , Mendl Michael , Robinson Emma S.J. , Hammond Tayla J. , Nielsen Birte L. , LaFollette Megan R. , Vinuela-Fernandez Ignacio , Tivey Emma K.L. , Lawrence Alistair B.
Published: September 2022

Rat tickling is a heterospecific interaction for experimenters to mimic the interactions of rat play, where they produce 50 kHz ultrasonic vocalisations (USV), symptoms of positive affect; tickling can improve laboratory rat welfare. The standard rat tickling protocol involves gently pinning the rat in a supine position. However, individual response to this protocol varies. This suggests there is a risk that some rats may perceive tickling as only a neutral experience, while others as a positive one, depending on how tickling is performed. Based on our research experiences of the standard tickling protocol we have developed a playful handling (PH) protocol, with reduced emphasis on pinning, intended to mimic more closely the dynamic nature of play.

We will test whether our PH protocol gives rise to more uniform increases in positive affect across individuals relative to protocols involving pinning. We will compare the response of juvenile male and female Wistar rats as: Control (hand remains still against the side of the test arena), P0 (PH with no pinning), P1 (PH with one pin), P4 (PH with four pins). P1 and P4 consist of a background of PH, with treatments involving administration of an increasing dosage of pinning per PH session.

We hypothesise that rats exposed to handling protocols that maximise playful interactions (where pinning number per session decreases) will show an overall increase in total 50 kHz USV as an indicator of positive affect, with less variability. We will explore whether behavioural and physiological changes associated with alterations in PH experience are less variable.

We propose that maximising the numbers of rats experiencing tickling as a positive experience will reduce the variation in response variables affected by tickling and increase the repeatability of research where tickling is applied either as a social enrichment or as a treatment.
Chromatin structure can introduce systematic biases in genome-wide analyses of Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: Baumgarten Sebastian , Bryant Jessica
Published: September 2022

Background: The maintenance, regulation, and dynamics of heterochromatin in the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, has drawn increasing attention due to its regulatory role in mutually exclusive virulence gene expression and the silencing of key developmental regulators. The advent of genome-wide analyses such as chromatin-immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq) has been instrumental in understanding chromatin composition; however, even in model organisms, ChIP-seq experiments are susceptible to intrinsic experimental biases arising from underlying chromatin structure.

Methods: We performed a control ChIP-seq experiment, re-analyzed previously published ChIP-seq datasets and compared different analysis approaches to characterize biases of genome-wide analyses in P. falciparum.

Results: We found that heterochromatic regions in input control samples used for ChIP-seq normalization are systematically underrepresented in regard to sequencing coverage across the P. falciparum genome. This underrepresentation, in combination with a non-specific or inefficient immunoprecipitation, can lead to the identification of false enrichment and peaks across these regions. We observed that such biases can also be seen at background levels in specific and efficient ChIP-seq experiments. We further report on how different read mapping approaches can also skew sequencing coverage within highly similar subtelomeric regions and virulence gene families. To ameliorate these issues, we discuss orthogonal methods that can be used to characterize bona fide chromatin-associated proteins.

Conclusions: Our results highlight the impact of chromatin structure on genome-wide analyses in the parasite and the need for caution when characterizing chromatin-associated proteins and features.
Nieludzie: donosy ze sztucznych natur
Authors: Sugiera Małgorzata
Published: September 2022

Określenie „sztuczne natury" to przecież nie tylko demaskatorski w intencji paradoks. Dwuznaczność przymiotnika „sztuczny" (przywołującego tyleż „sztukę", co „sztuczność") sprawia bowiem, że to określenie łączy w sobie i to, co technologiczne, i to, co organiczne, i to, co kulturowe. Dlatego też moje donosy ze sztucznych natur to również wyprawy w przeszłość (aż do rewolucji naukowej i czasem dalej) i w przyszłość (projektowaną tak przez artystów, jak przez naukowców), zwykle rozpoczynane od jakiegoś aktualnego wydarzenia i prowadzone metodą jeża i lisa. Fragment * * *
Fontes historiae examinare: Studia ofiarowane Profesorowi Rościsławowi Żerelikowi w sześćdziesięciopięciolecie urodzin
Authors: Harc Lucyna , Wolański Filip
Published: September 2022

Niniejsza książka stanowi zbiór studiów poświęconych profesorowi Rościsławowi Żerelikowi. Nawiązuje do znakomitej tradycji, obecnej w polskiej historiografii od XIX wieku, przygotowywania ksiąg pamiątkowych – zawierających prace ofiarowane przez uczniów, współpracowników i kolegów – dla uczczenia rocznicy urodzin czy jubileuszu pracy naukowej wybitnych badaczy. Profesor Rościsław Żerelik, znakomity historyk i archiwista wrocławski, jest osobą, która bezdyskusyjnie zasłużyła sobie na taką formę uhonorowania przez swoich kolegów. Otrzymaliśmy dzięki temu publikację będącą zbiorem mistrzowskich miniatur sporządzonych przez historyków z całej niemal Polski, które tematyką nawiązują do prac profesora. Na książkę złożyło się dziewiętnaście studiów. Redaktorzy podzielili je na cztery części, które zostały poświęcone dziejom Śląska i Polski w średniowieczu, naukom pomocniczymi historii, refleksji źródłoznawczej, wreszcie losom Ukrainy i Ukraińców. Wszystkie studia łączą się z polami badawczymi eksploatowanymi przez Jubilata.
Pocztówkowy herb Polkowic
Authors: Strzyżewski Wojciech
Published: September 2022

POSTCARD COAT OF ARMS OF POLKOWICE Since the 19th century, postcards have become extremely popular due to the ease of transmitting short messages they afforded, and also thanks to their attractive layout. At the end of the 19th century, the interest in postcards grew rapidly because of the images they contained. At the turn of 20th century, a Charlottenburg merchant, Oscar Herbst, began issuing postcards with the coats of arms of various towns. Among the cards issued mostly in 1901-03, there was one with the coat of arms of Polkowice, with an erroneous inscription that it comes from 1251. As in the case of other towns, the author of the chromolithography of the coat of arms of Polkowice used the same depiction model with a Renaissance shield. The text analyzes the seals of Polkowice, preserved and described by researchers, that document the process of shaping the coat of arms from the 19th century up to the present day.
O CANTO TERAPÊUTICO COMO ESTRATÉGIA DE COMUNICAÇÃO E PROMOÇÃO DA SAÚDE: relato de experiência
Authors: Rocha Bianca Nunes Guedes do Amaral , Santos Araújo Verbena , Câmara Viana Venâncio Aguiar Andrea , Medeiros Costa Diniz Nathália Priscilla , Alves Viana Venicius
Published: September 2022

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Cuban stingless bee livestock exhibit specialized floral resource use: a palynological study on honey samples from Matanzas and Mayabeque provinces
Authors: Fonte Carballo Leydi , Rodríguez de la Cruz David , Sánchez Sánchez José , Sánchez Reyes Estefanía , Lóriga Peña Walberto , Demedio Lorenzo Jorge , Díaz Solares Maykelis , Morales Querol Dariel
Published: September 2022

The knowledge of the different plant species that make up the feeding diet of animals is highly important to develop more efficient strategies. This research aimed to characterize the food potential available for the Cuban stingless bee livestock of the Matanzas and Mayabeque provinces. Palynological analysis was done using 60 g of pollen from sealed pots and 80 mL of honey from the ten randomly selected beehives (five in each province). The results showed that in the honey collected in Matanzas province, the most represented family was Amaranthaceae, followed by Myrtaceae and Fabaceae. Meanwhile, for Mayabeque, the most represented ones were the families Fabaceae and Myrtaceae. Regarding the stingless bee pollen of Matanzas provenance, the family Fabaceae prevailed, followed by Burseraceae and Myrtaceae. The pollen corresponding to Mayabeque coincided in showing Fabaceae as the most representative. In addition, pollen grains of small size (from 10 to 25 µm) were collected, with a marked representation of the pollen type of Mimosa pudica in the Mayabeque honey. It was concluded that the Cuban stingless bee livestock of the Matanzas and Mayabeque provinces had a specialist feeding behavior because a low number of plant taxa made up its diet.
More stress, less voice? The gender gap in political participation during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Burciu Roxana , Hutter Swen
Published: September 2022

Initial fears of a standstill in political participation during the COVID-19 pandemic have not come true. Nevertheless, the voices heard in politics may have changed in such a radically altered social and political context. Specifically, the current article examines whether the gender gap in political participation has widened during the pandemic, reinforcing the gendered impact of the pandemic and state measures to cope with it. To empirically assess the development and drivers of the gender gap in political participation, we rely on original survey data for Germany collected in autumn 2020 and spring 2021. Based on retrospective questions about pre-pandemic behaviour and a within-pandemic panel, our results indicate three points: (1) the COVID-19 crisis has slightly increased the gender gap in participation; (2) COVID-19-related burdens (such as increasing care obligations) have not restrained, but fostered, participation; and (3) this mobilising effect is, however, stronger among men than women.
Ultra-sensitive micro-displacement sensor based on a U-shaped bent
SMF
Authors: Li Shuying , Wu Feng , Liu Yu , Li Kun , Sun Shishuai , Li Xiaolan , Miao Yinping
Published: September 2022

Sensors based on irregularly shaped bent optical fiber devices have
attracted considerable interest in many applications. However, the
effective interference length and bent radius of the irregular shape
fiber have not been given accurately. Here an equivalent arc model is
proposed to define the effective interference length and bent radius
of the U-shaped fiber device: the U-shaped optical fiber is equivalent
to a regular arc. We found that the effective interference length of
devices varies greatly with the structure’s height changes in some
special structure sizes, which is highly useful for micro-displacement
measurement. In terms of this model, an ultra-sensitive
micro-displacement sensor of

−

1

.

2838

n
m

/

µ

m

in a measurement range of 0–60 µm has
been realized. The sensitivity of this device is one order of
magnitude higher than that in any previously reported bent optical
fiber work. More importantly, the analysis strategy of the equivalent
arc model can be generalized to various irregular bent fiber
micro-displacement sensors and other sensing fields.
Prospects and challenges of optical switching technologies for intra data center networks
Authors: Sato Ken-Ichi , Matsuura Hiroyuki , Konoike Ryotaro , Suzuki Keijiro , Ikeda Kazuhiro , Namiki Shu
Published: September 2022

This paper explores how optical switching technologies can innovate future intra data center networks. The effectiveness of applying large-port-count optical switches is clarified by comparing the available scales and performances of electrical and optical switching networks. The two core technologies needed to make it happen are presented: large-port-count optical switches that have pay-as-you-grow scalability and a simple and fast switch control procedure. Different from the present multi-tier electrical switch network, single-tier large-port-count optical switches and their parallel configurations are shown to greatly simplify the network. Their combination offers low blocking rates and low latency even though the connection set-up is performed in a completely distributed and asynchronous manner where network wide synchronization and routing control are unneeded. The design and performance verification of our control network are detailed, and experiments on a control network emulation based on field programmable gate arrays are presented. The connection set-up latency of around 20 µs is verified within a floor (200 m) using our recently developed silicon photonic switch and tunable filter devices. The devices rely on the thermo-optic effect, but if we apply the electro-optic effect and adopt a simplified connection set-up procedure, the set-up latency is reduced to around 7 µs. The direction discussed here will pave the way for achieving bandwidth abundant and energy efficient data center networks in the future.
On-chip ultracompact multimode vortex beam emitter based on vertical modes
Authors: Wei Zeyong , Li Shuqiao , Xie Lingyun , Deng Xiao , Wang Zhanshan , Cheng Xinbin
Published: September 2022

Free-space orbital angular momentum (OAM) communication is considered as one of the potential alternative on-chip optical interconnect solutions. The number of OAM modes determines the capacity of high-speed communication. However, existing integrated vortex beam emitters have a constraint relationship between the number of OAM modes and the emitter size, rendering it difficult to emit more OAM modes with a small-sized emitter. In view of the above, this study proposes an on-chip ultracompact multimode vortex beam emitter based on vertical modes, which permits more OAM modes without requiring an increase in the size of the emitter. Vertical modes in large-aspect-ratio waveguides are pointed out to enable multimode microrings with small radii because high-order vertical modes can maintain almost the same horizontal wave vector as that of the fundamental mode. Four-mode and five-mode vortex beam emitters with the same radius of 1.5 µm are designed and the effectiveness of these emitters is verified through simulation. Furthermore, a high-efficiency and low-crosstalk approach for high-order vertical mode coupling by varying the waveguide height is presented. This research not only promotes further integration of on-chip optical interconnection, but also provides a new strategy for optical waveguide mode selection in photonic integrated circuits design.
Transmission matrix-based phase correction for optical systems
Authors: Liu Kaige , Zhang Hengkang , Liu Zeqi , Zhang Bin , Fu Xing , Liu Qiang
Published: September 2022

The demands in fields such as biology and communications are driving the development of structured light. However, the optical modulation devices which play an important role in generating structured light, often introduce phase distortion. Additional phase correction is required to obtain more precise modulation capabilities. In this Letter, we propose a transmission matrix (TM)-based phase correction method. With the measured TM, which establishes a link between the spatial light modulator (SLM) panel and the far-field distribution of the output, we can obtain the phase modulation achieving the ideal focus. The spatial distribution of the phase distortion can be extracted from the conjugate of this phase distribution. In our experiment, the sharpness metric of the focus dropped to about half. We further verified the availability of this method by correcting the phase distortion of Laguerre–Gaussian (LG) fields. We believe our method provides a simple way to achieve precise phase correction, which will be of interest in aspects of wavefront shaping and optical tweezers.
Cylindrical partially coherent scalar sources
Authors: Martínez-Herrero R. , Korotkova O. , Santarsiero M. , Piquero G. , de Sande J. C. G. , Failla A. V. , Gori F.
Published: September 2022

Partially coherent scalar sources with cylindrical symmetry radiating outwards are introduced. Homogeneous cross-spectral densities are shown to possess angularly modulated Hankel modes, whose amplitudes are subject to a filtering process during propagation. Simple criteria for treating such sources are given. For the case of an incoherent cylinder, the number of effective modes is found and spatial coherence is shown to appear in the radiated light. The radial coherence of the radiated field is then examined. Non-homogeneous cylindrical sources are also introduced.
Oxygen vacancies in LiB3O5 crystals and their role in nonlinear absorption
Authors: Holloway B. C. , Lenyk C. A. , Gustafson T. D. , Giles N. C. , Perlov D. , Halliburton L. E.
Published: September 2022

LiB3O5 (LBO) crystals are used to generate the second, third, and fourth harmonics of near-infrared solid-state lasers. At high power levels, the material’s performance is adversely affected by nonlinear absorption. We show that as-grown crystals contain oxygen and lithium vacancies. Transient absorption bands are formed when these intrinsic defects serve as traps for “free” electrons and holes created by x rays or by three- and four-photon absorption processes. Trapped electrons introduce a band near 300 nm and trapped holes produce bands in the 500-600 nm region. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) is used to identify and characterize the electrons trapped at oxygen vacancies (the unpaired electron is localized on one neighboring boron). Self-trapped holes and lithium vacancies with the hole trapped on an adjacent oxygen are also observed with EPR. At room temperature, we predict that most of the unwanted defect-related ultraviolet absorption created by a short laser pulse will decay with a half-life of 29 µs.
Nonlocal subpicosecond delay metrology using spectral quantum interference
Authors: Seshadri Suparna , Lingaraju Navin , Lu Hsuan-Hao , Imany Poolad , Leaird Daniel E. , Weiner Andrew M.
Published: September 2022

Precise knowledge of position and timing information is critical to support elementary protocols such as entanglement swapping on quantum networks. While approaches have been devised to use quantum light for such metrology, they largely rely on time-of-flight (ToF) measurements with single-photon detectors and, therefore, are limited to picosecond-scale resolution owing to detector jitter. In this work, we demonstrate an approach to distributed sensing that leverages phase modulation to map changes in the spectral phase to coincidence probability, thereby overcoming the limits imposed by single-photon detection. By extracting information about the joint biphoton phase, we measure a generalized delay—the difference in signal–idler arrival, relative to local radio frequency (RF) phase modulation. For nonlocal ranging measurements, we achieve (2σ) precision of±0.04psand for measurements of the relative RF phase, (2σ) precision of±0.7∘. We complement this fine timing information with ToF data from single-photon time-tagging to demonstrate absolute measurement of time delay. By relying on off-the-shelf telecommunications equipment and standard quantum resources, this approach has the potential to reduce overhead in practical quantum networks.
Study of pulsed electrostatic field (PESF) in the perfusion of peripheral tissues: Microangiopathy, nutrition and quality of perceiver life
Authors: Liani Rossella , La Torre Sara , Liani Valentina , Melchiorre Angela , D’Ettorre Danilo , Tripaldi Romina , Lattanzio Stefano , Di Luzio Rossano , Coli Mauro , Velussi Carlo
Published: September 2022

Microangiopathy compromises the structural and functional integrity of organs and tissues in patients with type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) negatively affecting the perceived quality of life. Nitric oxide (NO) is a multifunctional signalling molecule, acting as a vasodilator, neurotransmitter, and modulator of inflammatory processes. Patients with type II diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease, controlled from glycaemic status, were treated or not with pulsed electrostatic field (PESF) cycles to evaluate effect on the perfusion of peripheral tissues. Everyone was monitored for the metabolic profile, and we tested circulating NO with a commercial enzyme immunoassay kit. In addition, we tested the perceived quality of life of patients before/after a PESF cycle using a questionnaire. Patients treated with PESF were improved circulating NO levels, significant changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and were more homogeneous for their metabolic profile. The questionnaire showed also a marked improvement in the perceived quality of life. The use of pulsed electrostatic fields has allowed us to observe an improvement in the metabolic, psychological, and clinical profile in patients with T2DM and chronic kidney disease whose pathological profile is strongly compromised.
The effect of temperature, humidity, precipitation and cloud coverage on the risk of COVID-19 infection in temperate regions of the USA—A case-crossover study
Authors: Jansson Moritz K. , Yamamoto Shelby
Published: September 2022

Background

Observations based on the spread of SARS-CoV-2 early into the COVID-19 pandemic have suggested a reduced burden in tropical regions leading to the assumption of a dichotomy between cold and dry and wet and warm climates.

Objectives

Analyzing more than a whole year of COVID-19 infection data, this study intents to refine the understanding of meteorological variables (temperature, humidity, precipitation and cloud coverage) on COVID-19 transmission in settings that experience distinct seasonal changes.

Methods and findings

A time stratified case-crossover design was adopted with a conditional Poisson model in combination with a distributed lag nonlinear model to assess the short-term impact of mentioned meteorological factors on COVID-19 infections in five US study sites (New York City (NYC); Marion County, Indiana (MCI); Baltimore and Baltimore County, Maryland (BCM); Franklin County, Ohio (FCO); King County, Washington (KCW)). Higher-than-average temperatures were consistently associated with a decreased relative risk (RR) of COVID-19 infection in four study sites. At 20 degrees Celsius COVID-19 infection was associated with a relative risk of 0.35 (95%CI: 0.20–0.60) in NYC, 1.03 (95%CI:0.57–1.84) in MCI, 0.34 (95%CI: 0.20–0.57) in BCM, 0.52 (95%CI: 0.31–0.87) in FCO and 0.21 (95%CI: 0.10–0.44) in KCW. Higher-than-average humidity levels were associated with an increased relative risk of COVID-19 infection in four study sites. Relative to their respective means, at a humidity level of 15 g/kg (specific humidity) the RR was 5.83 (95%CI: 2.05–16.58) in BCM, at a humidity level of 10 g/kg the RR was 3.44 (95%CI: 1.95–6.01) in KCW.

Conclusions

The results of this study suggest opposed effects for higher-than-average temperature and humidity concerning the risk of COVID-19 infection. While a distinct seasonal pattern of COVID-19 has not yet emerged, warm and humid weather should not be generally regarded as a time of reduced risk of COVID-19 infections.