bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electro-oculography in bilateral optic neuropathy
Authors: Dahanayake Padmini , Dassanayake Tharaka L. , Pathirage Manoji , Senanayake Saman , Sedgwick Mike , Weerasinghe Vajira
Published: June 2020

Objective

Effect of bilateral, optic neuropathy on the function of retinal pigment epithelium has not been investigated extensively to date. This study aimed to determine the effect of bilateral, optic neuropathy on light peak:dark trough ratio, light peak and dark trough values of electro-oculography. Thirty-seven patients with a clinical diagnosis of bilateral optic neuropathy and 40 control subjects were recruited in this observational, cross-sectional study, carried out at the Neurophysiology unit, Teaching Hospital, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Pattern reversal visual evoked potentials, pattern electroretinography and electro-oculography were recorded in all of them.

Results

Twenty-four patients (64.9%) had reduced light peak:dark trough ratio values. The median light peak:dark trough ratio ± inter quartile range of the patient group (1.50 ± 0.4) was significantly lower than that of the controls (1.80 ± 0.2), (p < 0.001). Median dark trough value was significantly higher in patients compared to the control value. These changes may be due to higher conductance of ion channels in the retinal pigment epithelium, sub retinal space creation, changes in choroidal circulation or secondary to photoreceptor abnormalities in the macular region. These results indicate that retinal pigment epithelium might be affected in bilateral optic neuropathy.
Plant and mouse EB1 proteins have opposite intrinsic properties on the dynamic instability of microtubules
Authors: Molines Arthur T. , Stoppin-Mellet Virginie , Arnal Isabelle , Coquelle Frédéric M.
Published: June 2020

Objective

Most eukaryotic cells contain microtubule filaments, which play central roles in intra-cellular organization. However, microtubule networks have a wide variety of architectures from one cell type and organism to another. Nonetheless, the sequences of tubulins, of Microtubule Associated proteins (MAPs) and the structure of microtubules are usually well conserved throughout the evolution. MAPs being known to be responsible for regulating microtubule organization and dynamics, this raises the question of the conservation of their intrinsic properties. Indeed, knowing how the intrinsic properties of individual MAPs differ between organisms might enlighten our understanding of how distinct microtubule networks are built. End-Binding protein 1 (EB1), first described as a MAP in yeast, is conserved in plants and mammals. The intrinsic properties of the mammalian and the yeast EB1 proteins have been well described in the literature but, to our knowledge, the intrinsic properties of EB1 from plant and mammals have not been compared thus far.

Results

Here, using an in vitro assay, we discovered that plant and mammalian EB1 purified proteins have different intrinsic properties on microtubule dynamics. Indeed, the mammalian EB1 protein increases microtubules dynamic while the plant EB1 protein stabilizes them.
A pilot study on a potential relationship between leg bone length and sprint performance in sprinters; are there any event-related differences in 100-m and 400-m sprints?
Authors: Tomita Daichi , Suga Tadashi , Terada Masafumi , Tanaka Takahiro , Miyake Yuto , Ueno Hiromasa , Otsuka Mitsuo , Nagano Akinori , Isaka Tadao
Published: June 2020

Objective

This study examined the relationship between leg bone length and sprint performance in sprinters. The leg bone lengths in 28 100-m specialized sprinters and 28 400-m specialized sprinters were measured using magnetic resonance imaging. The lengths of the upper and lower leg bones were assessed by calculating the lengths of the femur and tibia, respectively. To minimize differences in body size among participants, both bone lengths were normalized to body height. The ratio of the tibial length to femoral length was calculated to evaluate the interaction between the lengths of the upper and lower leg bones. International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) scores, based on the personal best times of the sprinters in each group were used as parameters for sprint performance.

Results

There were no significant correlations between absolute and relative lengths of the femur and tibia and IAAF scores in both 100-m and 400-m sprinters. By contrast, the ratio of the tibial length to femoral length correlated significantly with IAAF score in 400-m sprinters (r = 0.445, P = 0.018), but not 100-m sprinters. These findings suggest that the leg bone lengths may play an important role in achieving superior long sprint performance in 400-m specialized sprinters.
Effects of continuous cropping of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) on its endophytic and soil bacterial community by high-throughput sequencing
Authors: Li Miao , Yang Fuzhen , Wu Xianyu , Yan Hai , Liu Yang
Published: June 2020

Purpose

As a major sugar crop, sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) plays an important role in both sugar industry and feed products. Soil, acts as the substrate for plant growth, provides not only nutrients to plants but also a habitat for soil microorganisms. High soil fertility and good micro-ecological environment are basic requirements for obtaining high-yield and high-sugar sugar beets. This study aimed at exploring the effects of continuous cropping of sugar beet on its endophytic, soil bacterial community structures, and diversity.

Methods

Using high-throughput sequencing technology which is based on Illumina Hiseq 2500 platform, the seeds of sugar beet (sample S), non-continuous cropping sugar beet (sample Bn) with its rhizosphere soil (sample Sr), and planting soil (sample Sn), continuous cropping sugar beet (sample Bc) with its planting soil (sample Sc), were collected as research materials.

Result

The results showed that the bacterial communities and diversity in each sample exhibited different OTU richness; 67.9% and 63.8% of total endophytic OTUs from samples Bc and Bn shared with their planting soil samples Sc and Sn, while sharing 36.4% and 31.8% of total OTUs with their seed sample S. Pseudarthrobacter and Bacillus as the two major groups coexisted among all samples, and other shared groups belonged to Achromobacter, Sphingomonas, Novosphingobium, Terribacillus, Planococcus, Paracoccus, Nesterenkonia, Halomonas, and Nocardioides. Genera, including Pantoea, Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas, Weissella, Leuconostoc, and Acinetobacter, were detected in each sugar beet sample but not in their corresponding soil sample. In this study, the bacterial community structures and soil compositions have significantly changed before and after continuous cropping; however, the effects of continuous cropping on endophytic bacteria of sugar beet were not statistically significant.

Conclusion

This study would provide a scientific basis and reference information for in-depth research on correlations between continuous cropping and micro-ecological environment of sugar beet plant.
The initial-boundary value problem for a class of third order pseudoparabolic equations
Authors: Feng Yanqing , Guo Limin , Wang Zhongying
Published: June 2020

In this paper, a priori estimate for a linear third pseudoparabolic operator with bound is established, and applying the above result, the existence and uniqueness theorem of solutions for a class of nonlinear pseudoparabolic equations is obtained with the help of the homeomorphism method and the initial value method. Furthermore, an existence and uniqueness theorem of the semilinear equation is obtained as a corollary.
Very high baseline HIV viremia impairs efficacy of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-based ART: a long-term observation in treatment-naïve patients
Authors: Chen Shuai , Han Yang , Song Xiao-Jing , Li Yan-ling , Zhu Ting , Lu Hong-Zhou , Tang Xiao-Ping , Zhang Tong , Zhao Min , He Yun , He Sheng-Hua , Wang Min , Li Yong-Zhen , Huang Shao-Biao , Li Yong , Liu Jing , Cao Wei , Li Tai-Sheng
Published: June 2020

Background

It is not completely clear whether a very high pre-therapy viral load (≥ 500 000 copies/ml) can impair the virological response. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of very high baseline HIV-RNA levels on long-term virological responses under one type of regimen.

Methods

A retrospective study was performed based on data from two multicenter cohorts in China from January to November 2009, and from May 2013 to December 2015. Untreated HIV infected adults between 18 and 65 years old were recruited before receiving non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-based regimen. All patients had baseline HIV-RNA levels over 500 copies/ml, good adherence, and were followed for at least 24 weeks. Virological suppression was defined as the first HIV-RNA < 50 copies/ml. Virological failure was defined as any of incomplete viral suppression (HIV-RNA ≥ 200 copies/ml without virological suppression within 24 weeks of treatment) and viral rebound (confirmed HIV-RNA level ≥ 50 copies/ml after virological suppression). Chi-square test, Kaplan–Meier analysis, Cox proportional hazards model and Logistic regression were used to compare virological response between each pretreated viral load stratum.

Results

A total of 758 treatment-naïve HIV patients in China were enlisted. Median follow-up time (IQR) was 144 (108–276) weeks. By week 48, rates of virological suppression in three groups (< 100 000, 100 000–500 000 and ≥ 500 000 copies/ml) were 94.1, 85.0, and 63.8%, respectively (P < 0.001). Very high baseline HIV viremia over 500 000 copies/ml were found to be associated with delayed virological suppression (≥ 500 000 vs <  100 000, adjusted relative hazard = 0.455, 95%CI: 0.32–0.65;P < 0.001) as well as incomplete viral suppression (≥ 500 000 vs < 100 000, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 6.084, 95%CI: 2.761–13.407;P < 0.001) and viral rebound (≥ 50 000 vs < 100 000, aOR = 3.671, 95%CI: 1.009–13.355,P = 0.048).

Conclusions

Very high levels of pre-treatment HIV-RNA were related with delayed efficacy of NNRTI-based ART and increased risk of treatment failure. More potent initial regimens should be considered for those with this clinical character.
Endoscopic myringoplasty: Comparison of double layer cartilage-perichondrium graft and single fascia grafting
Authors: Lou Zheng cai
Published: June 2020

Objective

To compare surgical results of endoscopic myringoplasty using double layer cartilage-perichondrium grafts versus single fascia grafts.

Study design

Prospective, randomized, controlled.

Setting

University-affiliated teaching hospital.

Subjects and methods

In total,134 patients who underwent endoscopic myringoplasty were included in this study. Patients in group A received a double layer tragal cartilage-perichondrium graft and those in group B received a temporal muscle fascia graft. The groups were compared with respect to the pre- and postoperative air-bone gap (ABG) and the graft success rate.

Results

The graft success rate was 98.5% (66/67) in the Group A and 94.0% (63/67) in the Group B at 6 months, the difference wasn't statistically significant ( p = 0.362). However, the graft success rate was 97.0% (65/67) in the Group A and 85.1% (57/67) in the Group B at 12 months, the difference was statistically significant ( p = 0.034). In addition, only one patient (1.49%) had small keratin pearls in the Group A, no patients developed cholesteatoma of middle ear in either group.

Conclusions

The endoscopic double layer perichondrium-cartilage graft technique is feasible for repairing medium or larger perforations, it has a better long-term graft success rate and less operative time compared with the single layer fascia graft technique. However, long-term hearing outcomes were the same for the single and double layer closure techniques.
Pseudosarcomatous myofibroblastic proliferation of the appendix with an abdominal abscess due to diverticulum perforation: a case report
Authors: Tanaka Tetsuya , Ueda Takeshi , Yokoyama Takashi , Harada Suzuka , Hatakeyama Kinta , Yoshimura Atsushi
Published: June 2020

Background

Pseudosarcomatous myofibroblastic proliferation is a rare proliferative lesion of the submucosal stroma characterized by myofibroblast proliferation and inflammatory cell infiltration, and is mainly reported in the urinary system.

Case presentation

We report a 65-year-old male who was referred to our emergency room with right-side iliac fossa pain. The pain gradually worsened for approximately 2 months, and rebound tenderness was positive. Blood examination showed severe inflammatory findings, and enhanced computed tomography revealed a heterogeneous contrast-enhancing mass lesion measured to be 55 × 50 mm in size at the lower right abdomen. Based on these results, the patient was diagnosed with appendicitis with an abdominal abscess. As the inflammation was severe, we drained the abscess before performing surgery. Approximately 1 month after the abscess diminished, interval appendectomy was performed. Macroscopic findings of the resected specimen showed a perforated diverticulum of the appendix and a small adjacent nodule measured to be 14 mm in size. Histopathological examination with hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed that the nodule consisted of fibroblast proliferation and inflammatory cell infiltration. Furthermore, immunohistochemical examination showed positive for smooth muscle actin and desmin and negative for S-100, c-kit, and anaplastic lymphoma kinase. Based on these histopathological results, we diagnosed the nodule as an unusual case of a pseudosarcomatous myofibroblastic proliferation associated with perforation of the diverticulum of the appendix.

Conclusion

Herein, we report a rare case of a pseudosarcomatous myofibroblastic proliferation that occurred in the appendix with diverticulitis.
Response of a rice insect pest, Scirpophaga incertulas (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in warmer world
Authors: Ali M. P. , Bari M. N. , Haque S. S. , Kabir M. M. M. , Nowrin F. , Choudhury T. R. , Mankin R. W. , Ahmed N.
Published: June 2020

Background

Increases in global mean temperature, changes in rainfall patterns, and extreme climatic events are expected results of climate change. The individual effects of elevated temperature and precipitation on insect pests due to the impact of climate change have been widely modeled individually but their combined effects are poorly understood.

Results

Ten years of monthly abundance of an important economic rice insect pest, the rice yellow stem borer (YSB), Scirpophaga incertulas Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), was modeled in relation to temperature and rainfall using cross-correlation functions, general linear models, ARIMA models and simple linear regressions. The results suggested that increasing temperature and rainfall separately had a positive effect on growth rate of YSB. However, the combined effect of high temperature and rainfall was negative Temperature affected abundance of YSB negatively at high rainfall, but positively at intermediate to low rainfall level. The growth rate of YSB was found to be high at relatively low temperature and abundant rainfall.

Conclusion

The combined effects of temperature and rainfall showed a quadratic response of YSB abundance, which indicated that outbreak risk of YSB may be reduced if climate change results in increasing temperature and rainfall. It should be noted that we could address only a few of the important factors which could influence our model prediction.
Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with suspected COVID-19 admitted in Metro Manila, Philippines
Authors: Salva Eumelia P. , Villarama Jose Benito , Lopez Edmundo B. , Sayo Ana Ria , Villanueva Annavi Marie G. , Edwards Tansy , Han Su Myat , Suzuki Shuichi , Seposo Xerxes , Ariyoshi Koya , Smith Chris
Published: June 2020

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread to almost every region and country in the world, leading to widespread travel restrictions and national lockdowns. Currently, there are limited epidemiological and clinical data on COVID-19 patients from low and middle-income countries. We conducted a retrospective single-center study of the first 100 individuals with suspected COVID-19 (between Jan. 25 and Mar. 29, 2020) admitted to San Lazaro Hospital (SLH), the national infectious diseases referral hospital in Manila, Philippines.

Results

Demographic data, travel history, clinical features, and outcomes were summarized and compared between COVID-19 confirmed and non-confirmed cases. The first two confirmed cases were Chinese nationals, admitted on Jan. 25. The third confirmed case was a Filipino, admitted on Mar. 8. Trends toward confirmed COVID-19 cases not reporting international travel and being admitted to SLH from the densely populated area of Manila city were observed during Mar. 8-29. All 42 of the 100 confirmed COVID-19 cases were adults, 40% were aged 60 years and above and 55% were male. Three were health workers. Among individuals with suspected COVID-19, confirmed cases were more likely to be older, Filipino, not report international travel history and have at least one underlying disease, particularly diabetes, report difficulty in breathing, and a longer duration of symptoms. In over 90% of non-COVID-19 cases, the alternative diagnosis was respiratory. Nine (21%) confirmed cases died. The median duration from symptoms onset to death was 11.5 (range: 8–18) days.

Conclusions

Imported COVID-19 cases have reduced but local transmission persists and there is a trend toward cases being admitted to SLH from densely populated areas. This study highlights the difficulty in diagnosing COVID-19 on clinical grounds and the importance of diagnostic capacity in all settings. Difficulty of breathing was the only symptom associated with COVID-19 infection and should alert clinicians to the possibility of COVID-19. Clinical characteristics of confirmed COVID-19 cases and a hospital case fatality rate of 21% are comparable with other settings.
Development of a Data Model and Data Commons for Germ Cell Tumors
Authors: Ci Bo , Yang Donghan M. , Krailo Mark , Xia Caihong , Yao Bo , Luo Danni , Zhou Qinbo , Xiao Guanghua , Xu Lin , Skapek Stephen X. , Murray Matthew J. , Amatruda James F. , Klosterkemper Lindsay , Shaikh Furqan , Faure-Conter Cecile , Fresneau Brice , Volchenboum Samuel L. , Stoneham Sara , Lopes Luiz Fernando , Nicholson James , Frazier A. Lindsay , Xie Yang
Published: June 2020

Germ cell tumors (GCTs) are considered a rare disease but are the most common solid tumors in adolescents and young adults, accounting for 15% of all malignancies in this age group. The rarity of GCTs in some groups, particularly children, has impeded progress in treatment and biologic understanding. The most effective GCT research will result from the interrogation of data sets from historical and prospective trials across institutions. However, inconsistent use of terminology among groups, different sample-labeling rules, and lack of data standards have hampered researchers’ efforts in data sharing and across-study validation. To overcome the low interoperability of data and facilitate future clinical trials, we worked with the Malignant Germ Cell International Consortium (MaGIC) and developed a GCT clinical data model as a uniform standard to curate and harmonize GCT data sets. This data model will also be the standard for prospective data collection in future trials. Using the GCT data model, we developed a GCT data commons with data sets from both MaGIC and public domains as an integrated research platform. The commons supports functions, such as data query, management, sharing, visualization, and analysis of the harmonized data, as well as patient cohort discovery. This GCT data commons will facilitate future collaborative research to advance the biologic understanding and treatment of GCTs. Moreover, the framework of the GCT data model and data commons will provide insights for other rare disease research communities into developing similar collaborative research platforms.
Treatment of Locally Advanced Esophageal Carcinoma: ASCO Guideline
Authors: Shah Manish A. , Kennedy Erin B. , Catenacci Daniel V. , Deighton Dana C. , Goodman Karyn A. , Malhotra Narinder K. , Willett Christopher , Stiles Brendon , Sharma Prateek , Tang Laura , Wijnhoven Bas P. L. , Hofstetter Wayne L.
Published: June 2020

PURPOSE

To develop an evidence-based clinical practice guideline to assist in clinical decision making for patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer.

METHODS

ASCO convened an Expert Panel to conduct a systematic review of the more recently published literature (1999-2019) on therapy options for patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer and provide recommended care options for this patient population.

RESULTS

Seventeen randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria. Where possible, data were extracted separately for squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Multimodality therapy for patients with locally advanced esophageal carcinoma is recommended. For the subgroup of patients with adenocarcinoma, preoperative chemoradiotherapy or perioperative chemotherapy should be offered. For the subgroup of patients with squamous cell carcinoma, preoperative chemoradiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy without surgery should be offered. Additional subgroup considerations are provided to assist with implementation of these recommendations. Additional information is available at www.asco.org/gastrointestinal-cancer-guidelines .
A lineage-tracing tool to map the fate of hypoxic tumour cells
Authors: Vermeer Jenny A. F. , Ient Jonathan , Markelc Bostjan , Kaeppler Jakob , Barbeau Lydie M. O. , Groot Arjan J. , Muschel Ruth J. , Vooijs Marc A.
Published: June 2020

Intratumoural hypoxia is a common characteristic of malignant treatment-resistant cancers. However, hypoxia-modification strategies for the clinic remain elusive. To date, little is known on the behaviour of individual hypoxic tumour cells in their microenvironment. To explore this issue in a spatial and temporally controlled manner, we developed a genetically encoded sensor by fusing the O2-labile hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) protein to eGFP and a tamoxifen-regulated Cre recombinase. Under normoxic conditions, HIF-1α is degraded but, under hypoxia, the HIF-1α-GFP-Cre-ERT2 fusion protein is stabilised and in the presence of tamoxifen activates a tdTomato reporter gene that is constitutively expressed in hypoxic progeny. We visualise the random distribution of hypoxic tumour cells from hypoxic or necrotic regions and vascularised areas using immunofluorescence and intravital microscopy. Once tdTomato expression is induced, it is stable for at least 4 weeks. Using this system, we could show in vivo that the post-hypoxic cells were more proliferative than non-labelled cells. Our results demonstrate that single-cell lineage tracing of hypoxic tumour cells can allow visualisation of their behaviour in living tumours using intravital microscopy. This tool should prove valuable for the study of dissemination and treatment response of post-hypoxic tumour cells in vivo at single-cell resolution.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the joint first authors of the paper.
Three-Dimensionally Printed Patient-Specific Surgical Plates Increase Accuracy of Oncologic Head and Neck Reconstruction Versus Conventional Surgical Plates: A Comparative Study
Authors: Yang Wei-fa , Choi Wing Shan , Wong May Chun-Mei , Powcharoen Warit , Zhu Wang-yong , Tsoi James Kit-Hon , Chow Marco , Kwok Ka-Wai , Su Yu-xiong
Published: June 2020

Background

Surgeons are pursuing accurate head and neck reconstruction to enhance aesthetic and functional outcomes after oncologic resection. This study aimed to investigate whether accuracy of head and neck reconstruction is improved with the use of three-dimensionally (3D)-printed patient-specific surgical plates compared with conventional plates.

Methods

In this comparative study, patients were prospectively recruited into the study group (3DJP16) with 3D-printed patient-specific surgical plates. The patients in control group with conventional surgical plates were from a historic cohort in the same unit. The primary end point of the study was the accuracy of head and neck reconstruction. The secondary end points were accuracy of osteotomy, intraoperative blood loss, total operative time, and length of hospital stay.

Results

The study recruited of 33 patients, including 17 in the study group and 16 in the control group. The patients’ baseline characteristics were similar between the two groups. The absolute distance deviation of the maxilla or mandible was 1.5 ± 0.5 mm in the study group and 2.1 ± 0.7 mm in the control group [mean difference, − 0.7 mm; 95% confidence interval (CI) − 1.1 to − 0.3; p = 0.003], showing superior accuracy of reconstruction for the patients with 3D-printed patient-specific surgical plates. Improved accuracy of reconstruction also was detected in terms of bilateral mandibular angles and bone grafts. Concerning the secondary end points, the accuracy of the osteotomy was similar in the two groups. No difference was found regarding intraoperative blood loss, total operative time, or length of hospital stay.

Conclusions

This is the first study to prove that compared with conventional plates, 3D-printed patient-specific surgical plates improve the accuracy of oncologic head and neck reconstruction.
Evolution in Education: Chatbots
Authors: Dimitriadis George
Published: June 2020

Artificial intelligence (AI) programs that simulate interactive human conversation, known as Chatbots, are one of the ongoing trends in the global market. Companies adopt Chatbots in order to offer better services to their customers. Businesses have realized that they are able to enhance the process of customer engagement and operational efficiency through Chatbot technology. Furthermore, most of us have experienced communication of this form in many aspects of our everyday life. This paper examines how Chatbots have evolved over the years, what the advantages and disadvantages of using them are and tries to explain the rise taking place nowadays. Subsequently, it explores the potential of applying this technology in educational settings. Personalized and adaptive learning seems to be imperative today and Chatbot technology can offer invaluable services towards that direction. Finally, it investigates the possibility of using them as virtual teaching assistants relieving teachers from the burden of repetitive tasks and helping them focus more on providing quality education to their students.
The Serbian Socialist Party Attitudes towards the EU through the Lens of Party Programmes
Authors: Jovanović Ajzenhamer Nataša , Dajč Haris
Published: June 2020

In this paper, we will analyse the attitudes of the oldest political party in Serbia (the Socialist Party of Serbia – SPS) towards the European Union from the party’s establishment to the present day. We have chosen this party for two important theoretical and methodological reasons. First, it is the only party in Serbia to inherit the continuity of socialist heritage, i.e. the only one to retain the socialist nomenclature when, at least nominally, party pluralism, an electoral regime and the transformation to capitalism began. The second reason is that the SPS is the largest left-wing party in Serbia, and one of the largest parties in Serbia in general. In this paper, we will apply a narrative analysis of the party’s most important legal documents. The focus of our analysis will be on documents from 2010 and 2014, but to be able to follow the historical development of the attitudes of the SPS towards the EU, we have also included a document from 1990 in the analysis.
Mythology of the Law and Justice Party’s Migration Discourse
Authors: Yermakova Olena
Published: June 2020

The aim of this paper is to contribute to the deconstruction of the migration discourse of the Law and Justice Party (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość, PiS), looking for mythical structures in it and trying to decode them using discourse analysis. When it comes to migration politics, Poland is one of the most curious andambiguous contemporary cases. Previously predominantly a sending country, asits economy grows Poland is becoming a receiving country, faced with millions of incoming labour migrants. The Polish government lets them in, despite being anti-migrant in its rhetoric, especially when it comes to relocation of refugees within the European Union (EU). Some surveys reveal that countrywide anti-migrant sentiment is a rather new development: Polish attitudes towards immigrants have worsened since mid-2015, that is since the so-called European migration crisis was utilized by Law and Justice in their campaign at the 2015 Polish parliamentary election in order to gain fear-induced support. Therefore, Law and Justice’s migration discourse is fundamental to the study of contemporary Polish migration politics. I have analysed the news, interviews and othe rpublications from the official website of the Law and Justice party (pis.org.pl) over a period between June 2015 and July 2018. Based upon E. Cassirer’s, M. Eliade’s and H. Tudor’s understanding of political myth, I have identified a number of repetitive mythical structures and characteristics of political myths in the Law and Justice’s discourse on migration that can help to better understand Law and Justice’s political and ideological stances.
Computing Feasible Points of Bilevel Problems with a Penalty Alternating Direction Method
Authors: Kleinert Thomas , Schmidt Martin
Published: June 2020

Bilevel problems are highly challenging optimization problems that appear in many applications of energy market design, critical infrastructure defense, transportation, pricing, and so on. Often these bilevel models are equipped with integer decisions, which makes the problems even harder to solve. Typically, in such a setting in mathematical optimization, one develops primal heuristics in order to obtain feasible points of good quality quickly or to enhance the search process of exact global methods. However, there are comparably few heuristics for bilevel problems. In this paper, we develop such a primal heuristic for bilevel problems with a mixed-integer linear or quadratic upper level and a linear or quadratic lower level. The heuristic is based on a penalty alternating direction method, which allows for a theoretical analysis. We derive a convergence theory stating that the method converges to a stationary point of an equivalent single-level reformulation of the bilevel problem and extensively test the method on a test set of more than 2,800 instances—which is one of the largest computational test sets ever used in bilevel programming. The study illustrates the very good performance of the proposed method in terms of both running times and solution quality. This renders the method a suitable subroutine in global bilevel solvers as well as a reasonable standalone approach.Summary of Contribution: Bilevel optimization problems form a very important class of optimization problems in the field of operations research, which is mainly due to their capability of modeling hierarchical decision processes. However, real-world bilevel problems are usually very hard to solve—especially in the case in which additional mixed-integer aspects are included in the modeling. Hence, the development of fast and reliable primal heuristics for this class of problems is very important. This paper presents such a method.
A Computational Approach to First Passage Problems of Reflected Hyperexponential Jump Diffusion Processes
Authors: Cai Ning , Yang Xuewei
Published: June 2020

Statement of Scope and Mission
Utility Maximization with Proportional Transaction Costs Under Model Uncertainty
Authors: Deng Shuoqing , Tan Xiaolu , Yu Xiang
Published: June 2020

We consider a discrete time financial market with proportional transaction costs under model uncertainty and study a numéraire-based semistatic utility maximization problem with an exponential utility preference. The randomization techniques recently developed in Bouchard, Deng, and Tan [Bouchard B, Deng S, Tan X (2019) Super-replication with proportional transaction cost under model uncertainty. Math. Finance 29(3):837–860.], allow us to transform the original problem into a frictionless counterpart on an enlarged space. By suggesting a different dynamic programming argument than in Bartl [Bartl D (2019) Exponential utility maximization under model uncertainty for unbounded endowments. Ann. Appl. Probab. 29(1):577–612.], we are able to prove the existence of the optimal strategy and the convex duality theorem in our context with transaction costs. In the frictionless framework, this alternative dynamic programming argument also allows us to generalize the main results in Bartl [Bartl D (2019) Exponential utility maximization under model uncertainty for unbounded endowments. Ann. Appl. Probab. 29(1):577–612.] to a weaker market condition. Moreover, as an application of the duality representation, some basic features of utility indifference prices are investigated in our robust setting with transaction costs.
Immunosuppression drug advice and COVID-19: are we doing more harm than good?
Authors: Warraich Rabia , Amani Lisa , Mediwake Rapti , Tahir Hasan
Published: June 2020

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines advise stopping immunosuppressive drugs for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients with autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. This may not be in the patient's best interest, given the potential long-term consequences of not managing chronic conditions, and immunosuppression may even be protective in those affected with COVID-19.
How to manage the practice dispensary
Authors: Ackerman Nicola
Published: June 2020

Dispensary management is made of different elements: the stock (what you stock, the amount you stock, rotation of old and new); the personnel within the dispensary; and the protocols that they are required to adhere to. Some of these elements you will be in control of and some will be set out by the practice. Monitoring of stock usage helps to set overall quantities of what is kept in. Monitoring of any dispensing errors can help identify how to improve protocols, placement of items on shelves and look at the type and quantity of items that are held in stock.
Comparative Evaluation on Performance Characteristics of an Impact Sprinkler with Nozzle-Dispersion Devicesand Rotary Plate Sprinkler
Authors: Hong Hong - , Jiang Yue - , Tang Pan - , Chao Chao - , Fordjour Alexander -
Published: June 2020

Abstract.

A set of nozzle and water dispersion devices were designed to obtain a desirable jet breakup and save water from an impact sprinkler (IS) at low pressure conditions. Comparative performance indicators were obtained for the commercial LP and IS sprinkler heads. Results show that under the same working conditions, the IS produced a large spray range and the water distribution in the middle of the spray range (R) was better than the LP. The best simulated uniformity from the IS was obtained for the combined spacing factor of 1.4*R and the combined uniformity was 4% larger than the LP. Considering the middle position of the spray range, the number and diameter of the droplets from the IS were larger than the droplets from the LP. However, in the end position of the spray range, the droplet diameters from the IS were quite smaller than the LP. Velocities from IS ranged between 0.2 and 6.4 m/s, while that from LP sprinkler were slightly higher ranging from 0.15 to 7.7 m/s at 150 kPa. Overall, introduction of the fixed dispersion device with a pointed tip profile combined with the 6 mm nozzle offered some advantages for the IS over the LP sprinkler at low-pressure conditions. Keywords: Dispersion device, Droplet distribution, Impact sprinkler, Low pressure sprinkler, Nozzle, Spray range, Uniformity.
Plasmonic-based impedance microspectroscopy of optically heterogeneous samples
Authors: Abayzeed Sidahmed A.
Published: June 2020

A robust impedance microscopy technique is presented. This optical tool enables high resolution imaging of electrical properties with promising biophysical applications. The underlying principle is that surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors are able to measure perturbations of surface charge density and therefore can be used to compute the impedance of surface-adhered cells. However, the ability to perform reliable quantitative impedance imaging is affected by the optical heterogeneity of the cell-sensor interface. To address this issue, a novel method for quantitative time-resolved resonance angle tracking is developed and applied to correct for the effect of the optical properties. To demonstrate the capability of this technique, impedance microspectroscopy of bovine serum albumin (BSA) patterns was performed enabling measurements of capacitance with submicroscopic resolution. The work presented offers an impedance microspectroscopy method that will create new avenues in studying the electrical properties of single cells and biomolecules as well as bio-electrical currents.
Depth-selective data analysis for time-domain fNIRS: moments vs. time windows
Authors: Wabnitz Heidrun , Contini Davide , Spinelli Lorenzo , Torricelli Alessandro , Liebert Adam
Published: June 2020

Time-domain measurements facilitate the elimination of the influence of extracerebral, systemic effects, a key problem in functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) of the adult human brain. The analysis of measured time-of-flight distributions of photons often relies on moments or time windows. However, a systematic and quantitative characterization of the performance of these measurands is still lacking. Based on perturbation simulations for small localized absorption changes, we compared spatial sensitivity profiles and depth selectivity for moments (integral, mean time of flight and variance), photon counts in time windows and their ratios for different time windows. The influence of the instrument response function (IRF) was investigated for all measurands and for various source-detector separations. Variance exhibits the highest depth selectivity among the moments. Ratios of photon counts in different late time windows can achieve even higher selectivity. An advantage of moments is their robustness against the shape of the IRF and instrumental drifts.
Coherent Fourier scatterometry reveals nerve fiber crossings in the brain
Authors: Menzel Miriam , Pereira Silvania F.
Published: June 2020

Previous simulation studies by Menzel et al. [Phys. Rev. X 10, 021002 (2020)] have shown that scattering
patterns of light transmitted through artificial nerve fiber
constellations contain valuable information about the tissue
substructure such as the individual fiber orientations in regions with
crossing nerve fibers. Here, we present a method that measures these
scattering patterns in monkey and human brain tissue using coherent
Fourier scatterometry with normally incident light. By transmitting a
non-focused laser beam
(λ = 633 nm)
through unstained histological brain sections, we measure the
scattering patterns for small tissue regions (with diameters of
0.1–1 mm), and show that they are in accordance with the
simulated scattering patterns. We reveal the individual fiber
orientations for up to three crossing nerve fiber bundles, with
crossing angles down to 25°.
Compact and contactless reflectance confocal microscope for neurosurgery
Authors: Cui Jiahe , Turcotte Raphaël , Hampson Karen M. , Wincott Matthew , Schmidt Carla C. , Emptage Nigel J. , Charalampaki Patra , Booth Martin J.
Published: June 2020

Visual guidance at the cellular level during neurosurgical procedures is essential for complete tumour resection. We present a compact reflectance confocal microscope with a 20 mm working distance that provided <1.2 µm spatial resolution over a 600 µm × 600 µm field of view in the near-infrared region. A physical footprint of 200 mm × 550 mm was achieved using only standard off-the-shelf components. Theoretical performance of the optical design was first evaluated via commercial Zemax software. Then three specimens from rodents: fixed brain, frozen calvaria and live hippocampal slices, were used to experimentally assess system capability and robustness. Results show great potential for the proposed system to be translated into use as a next generation label-free and contactless neurosurgical microscope.
Side-coupled liquid sensor and its array with magneto-optical photonic crystal
Authors: Shi Aoqian , Ge Rui , Liu Jianjun
Published: June 2020

In this paper, a side-coupled liquid sensor and its array based on magneto-optical photonic crystal are proposed. The sensitivity and quality factor of a single magneto-optical photonic crystal sensor are 0.492 mm/RIU and 181,760, respectively. After arraying, the sensitivity of the single microcavity sensor can reach from 0.1 to 0.35 mm/RIU, and the corresponding quality factor can reach from

5

×

1

0

4

to

7

×

1

0

4

. Moreover, the structure has good robustness. This work will provide reference for the design of high-performance photonic crystal microcavity sensor arrays.
Comparison of sensitivity to beam collimation of the holographic shearing interferometer with the wedge plate shearing interferometer and the Talbot shearing interferometer
Authors: Dubey Rajiv , Kumar Raj
Published: June 2020

High sensitivity of collimation testing equipment is desirable where collimated beams are used for precise and accurate measurements. Precision in the setting of collimation depends on the sensitivity of the testing equipment. In the present work, sensitivity to beam collimation of the recently reported holographic shearing interferometer (HSI) [J. Opt. 20, 055603 (2018)JOOPDB0150-536X10.1088/2040-8986/aab6dc] is measured and compared with sensitivities of other collimation testing techniques based on the wedge plate shearing interferometer and the Talbot shearing interferometer. For a test beam of diameter 25 mm from an He–Ne laser and displacement of the collimating lens by 1 mm from the collimation position, the Talbot shearing interferometer shows a rotation of interference fringes from the horizontal direction by 2°, the wedge plate shearing interferometer shows 20°, and the HSI shows 25°. Sensitivity is also presented in terms of measured slopes of phase maps of the recorded interferograms for a 1 mm displacement of the collimating lens and is obtained as 0.98 mrad, 15 mrad, and 19 mrad corresponding to the Talbot shearing interferometer, the wedge plate shearing interferometer, and HSI, respectively. The effect of decollimation of the laser beam on the interference fringes of diffraction of the Lloyd mirror interferometer is also demonstrated. Theoretical concepts and experimental results are presented and discussed for the above-mentioned beam collimation testing techniques.
Exceptional point of sixth-order degeneracy in a modified coupled-resonator optical waveguide
Authors: Nada Mohamed Y. , Capolino Filippo
Published: June 2020

We demonstrate for the first time, to our knowledge, the occurrence of
a sixth-order exceptional point of
degeneracy (EPD) in a realistic multimode optical photonic structure
by using a modified periodic coupled-resonator optical waveguide
(CROW) at the optical wavelength

λ
e

=
1550

nm

. The sixth-order EPD is obtained in a
CROW without the need of loss or gain, and such an EPD corresponds to
a very special band edge of the periodic photonic structure where six
eigenmodes coalesce, so we refer to it as the sixth-order degenerate
band edge (6DBE). Moreover, we report a new scaling law of the quality
factor

Q

of an optical cavity made of such a
periodic 6DBE-CROW with cavity length as

Q
∝

N
7

, when operating near the 6DBE with

N

being the number of unit cells in the
periodic finite-length CROW. Furthermore, we elaborate on the
application of the 6DBE to ultralow-threshold lasers. We present a
novel scaling law of the lasing threshold that scales as

N

−
7

when operating near the 6DBE. Also,
we show the superiority of the threshold scaling of the 6DBE-CROW to
the scaling of another CROW with the same size operating near a
fourth-order EPD that is often referred to as the degenerate band edge
(DBE). The lasing threshold scaling of the DBE-CROW laser is shown
here for the first time to our knowledge. We also discuss the high
sensitivity of the proposed 6DBE-CROW to perturbations, which may find
applications in sensors, modulators, optical switches, nonlinear
devices, and

Q

-switching cavities.
Optimal quantum phase estimation with generalized multi-component Schrödinger cat states
Authors: Lee Seung-Woo , Lee Su-Yong , Kim Jaewan
Published: June 2020

In this paper, we are interested in detecting the presence of a nearby phase-sensitive object, where traveling light works out under a low-photon loss rate. Here we investigate the optimal quantum phase estimation with generalized multi-component Schrödinger cat states. In addition, we show the optimal conditions of the generalized multi-component cat states for the phase estimation in a lossless scenario. We then demonstrate that the generalized multi-component cat states can beat the performances of the NOON and two-mode squeezed vacuum states in the presence of small loss, while maintaining the quantum advantage over the standard quantum limit, attainable by coherent states. Finally, we propose a generation scheme of the entangled multi-component cat states with current or near-term optical technologies.
Influence of He mixture on the pulse amplitude and spatial distribution of an Ne-like Ar 46.9  nm laser under gain saturation
Authors: Zhao Yongpeng , Zhao Dongdi , Yu Qi , Khan Muhammad Usman , Lu Haiqiang , Li Jingjun , Cui Huaiyu
Published: June 2020

In the experiment of an Ne-like Ar 46.9 nm laser produced by capillary discharge, the effects of the addition of He into Ar on an Ne-like Ar 46.9 nm laser pulse and laser spot were studied. It was found that the laser pulse amplitude increased first and then decreased with pressure increase of He. In comparison with the laser pulse amplitude with pure Ar, the maximum amplitude with Ar–He mixture increased by approximately 34%. Under the condition of gain saturation of a 46.9 nm laser, the laser spatial distribution changed gradually with the addition of He into pure Ar. To analyze the influence of the addition of He into Ar on the laser spot, a theoretical simulation was performed.
Plasmon-exciton coupling for nanophotonic sensing on chip
Authors: Dong Jun , Cao Yi , Han Qingyan , Wang Yongkai , Qi Minghan , Zhang Wenwen , Qiao Lin , Qi Jianxia , Gao Wei
Published: June 2020

The monolayer graphene-noble metallic nanostructure hybrid system with excellent optical characteristic, which is deserved pay attentions in the study of surface-enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy. In this work, a hybrid sandwich structure is designed to transfer single-layer graphene to the surface of discs substrate covered by silver film and assembly of the dense Au nanoparticles (AuNPs). Blu-ray disc has a cycle density of approximately 5.7 times that of DVD-R due to the different storage capacities of these optical discs. In the research, enhancement effects have been explored for two different periodic grating structures. Compared to spectra of Si/G structure, Graphene Raman spectra from Blu-grating/AuNPs/G structure and Blu-grating/G/AuNPs enhancement multiples at the 2D peak position possesses different Raman responses of 1.09 and 2.51 times, respectively. The sandwich hybrid structure of Ag grating/graphene/AuNPs obtains a Raman enhancement factor (EF) of 6.2×108 for Rhodamine 6G and surface-enhanced Raman Scattering(SERS) detection limit of 0.1 nM. These findings can be attributed to the electric field enhancement of the hybrid structure and the chemical enhancement of graphene. This study provides a new approach for SERS detection and offers a new technique for designing SERS sensors with grapheme-plasmon hybrid structures.