bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Prototype Orthogonal Vertical Beamforming for Indoor Wireless Communications
Authors:   Department of Electronics Engineering Technology, College of Industrial Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, Thailand, Wongchampa Paleerat
Published: October 2021

The concept of Orthogonal Vertical Beamforming (OVB) is proposed in this paper to eliminate interference when users remain at the same angle in the horizontal plane but are positioned at different distances. This orthogonal property helps systems avoid interference in the vertical direction of the mainbeam. A fully constructed prototype tested in a real indoor environment validates the proposed concept, revealing that the proposed OVB provides higher Signal Interference plus Noise Ratio (SINR) and Packet Error Rate (PER) in the vertical plane than conventional vertical beamforming and Orthogonal Beamforming.
An Architecture Design of Auto Channel Switching Unit for Hybrid Visible Light Communication System
Authors:   Center to Advance Level Research and Development (SMC-PVT) Ltd, Pakistan, Kashif Rao , Lin Fujiang , Famoriji Oluwole John , Haider Shahzad
Published: October 2021

The revolution in multimedia devices has promoted indoor wireless communication in the last decades. Wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) connections have expanded rapidly, and more than 5 billion devices have been connected to Wi-Fi each day since 2013, which causes system overloading. This bountiful usage of wireless devices has consumed an excessive amount of the radio spectrum, and the current standard for wireless communication is not able to provide enough capacity for indoor wireless traffic in the next decade. Wi-Fi currently holds 60% of the global traffic; however, secure communication for the internet of things (IoT) and spectrum congestion are two significant challenges for future communication development. Therefore, an affordable, secure, and fast medium for wireless communication is in urgent demand. It should be noted that the spectrum provided by visible light communication (VLC) can be thousands of times wider than the radio frequency (RF) spectrum. The challenge of spectrum congestion and the urgent demand for a high-speed medium can be solved through the application of visible light for indoor communication. It has been proved that each user can achieve a data rate of hundreds of Mbps in the congestion scenario through the application of VLC. But beside these advantages Li-Fi also have some limitations like unavailability in excess and in low light and also limited coverage due to walls and etc. To overcome these limitations the Wi-Fi and VLC hybrid network can be a good solution to continue using privileges of both technologies. A lot of research has been done to introduce a numerous techniques for such hybrid network but we are proposing Auto channel switching unit in this system which will be responsible for shifting and sharing data traffic on both Li-Fi and Wi-Fi channel.
Organizacja funkcjonowania mostów i grobli w Wielkim Księstwie Litewskim od drugiej połowy XV do końca XVI wieku – zarys problematyki
Authors: Kunigielis Joanna
Published: October 2021

W artykule przybliżono prawne i organizacyjne zasady funkcjonowania mostów i grobli w Wielkim Księstwie Litewskim m.in. w świetle regulacji prawnych wczesnej epoki nowożytnej. Podstawą badań były obowiązujące ogólnopaństwowe akty normatywne oraz przywileje nadawane przez władcę. Problemy te są rozpatrywane w dwóch aspektach: przestrzennym i gospodarczym.
Online Learning and Optimization of (Some) Cyclic Pricing Policies in the Presence of Patient Customers
Authors: Zhang Huanan , Jasin Stefanus
Published: October 2021

Problem definition: We consider the problem of joint learning and optimization of cyclic pricing policies in the presence of patient customers. In our problem, some customers are patient, and they are willing to wait in the system for several periods to make a purchase until the price is lower than their valuation. The seller does not know the joint distribution of customers’ valuation and patience level a priori and can only learn this from the realized total sales in every period. Academic/practical relevance: The revenue management problem with patient customers has been studied in the literature as an optimization problem, and cyclic policy has been shown to be optimal in some cases. We contribute to the literature by studying this problem from the joint learning and optimization perspective. Indeed, to the best of our knowledge, our paper is the first work that studies online learning and optimization for multiperiod pricing with patient customers. Methodology: We introduce new dynamic programming formulations for this problem, and we develop two nontrivial upper confidence bound–based learning algorithms. Results: We analyze both decreasing cyclic policies and so-called threshold-regulated policies, which contain both the decreasing cyclic policies and the nested decreasing cyclic policies. We show that our learning algorithms for these policies converge to the optimal clairvoyant decreasing cyclic policy and threshold-regulated policy at a near-optimal rate. Managerial implications: Our proposed algorithms perform significantly better than benchmark algorithms that either ignore the patient customer characteristic or simply use the standard estimate-then-optimize framework, which does not encourage enough exploration; this highlights the importance of “smart learning” in the context of data-driven decision making. In addition, our numerical results also show that combining our algorithms with smart estimation methods, such as linear interpolation or least square estimation, can significantly improve their empirical performance; this highlights the benefit of combining smart learning with smart estimation, which further increases the practical viability of the algorithms.
Traditional Thai exercise (Ruesi Dadton) for improving motor and cognitive functions in mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Khanthong Phaksachiphon , Sriyakul Kusuma , Dechakhamphu Ananya , Krajarng Aungkana , Kamalashiran Chuntida , Tungsukruthai Parunkul
Published: October 2021

This study determined the effectiveness of a 12-week cycle of Ruesi Dadton (RSD) among older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), for improving cognitive and physical performance. Seventy-six participants were included and were divided equally into two groups. A group performed RSD exercise for 60 min, 3 times/wk for 12 weeks, and the control group did not perform RSD exercise. The primary endpoint was cognitive function, as assessed by the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), Mini-Mental State Examination, verbal fluency (VF) test, and trail making test parts A and B (TMT-A and TMT-B). The secondary endpoints were the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, handgrip, and gait speed results, which were used to evaluate the physical function. There were significant differences in the TMT-B and handgrip scores (P< 0.05) between the two groups. Both groups had improved MoCA scores (P< 0.05) and normal walking speeds (P< 0.01). Additionally, the RSD group showed improved VF test (P< 0.01), TMT-B (P< 0.01), and TUG test (P< 0.05); a negative correlation was found between MoCA and TUG test (P< 0.05). However, high walking speed and handgrip (P< 0.05) worsened in the control group. RSD exercise resulted in relevant improvements in the cognitive and physical functions in MCI.
Das laienlinguistische Konzept von Variation.
Authors: Hoffmeister Toke
Published: October 2021

The following article consists of three parts: First, the context in which speakers live is sketched phenomenologically. These life-worlds are described as language-worlds, since language, according to the premise, is apriori and thus directly relevant. Subsequently, the focus is on the speakers as actors within the language-worlds. A cognitive-realistic model is presented to describe their lay-linguistic knowledge, the center of what is called epistemicon. Based on this, the third part of the article outlines an empirical study that surveys the linguistic laypersons’ knowledge on variation. It can be shown that although knowledge of regional variation is most abundant, aspects of functional and social variation also play a role. The final diagnosis is that the conceptualization of variation is fundamental to the linguistic worlds of linguistic laypersons.
„Vor allem – da erste Gedanke is ja oft auch gar nicht so gmeint“ Operatoren zur Charakterisierung des kommunikativen und mentalen Status von Äußerungen im sozialen Raum
Authors: Fischer Ann Kathrin , Herbert Kristina
Published: October 2021

This paper investigates discursive structures of spoken language in formal and informal communication settings (almost 62 hours of recorded time) of urban speakers in Austria’s two biggest cities Vienna and Graz and their surroundings. We focus on so-called bipartite “Operator-Skopus-Strukturen” (‘operator-scope-structures’), examining their pragmatic and discourse organising function within specific conversational situations. Our main aim is to offer in-depth analyses of these structures by characterising the mental and communicative status of such utterances. Starting out with a discussion of characteristics of spoken language research, especially by arguing for the replacement of the grammatical concept of sentences with the interactional concept of turn-constructional units, we address the phenomenon of discourse markers and Operator-Skopus-Strukturen in particular. This is followed by the description of our data set and the subsequent analyses and discussion of the selected examples. According to our findings, Operator-Skopus-Strukturen appear in both conversational settings and among all groups of speakers. We demonstrate that all speakers use the structures with the same pragmatic function of giving information to their conversation partner on how to interpret and understand the message behind the utterance. Within this scope, the speaker’s intention can vary depending on the conversation partner, the topic of the conversation or the situation.
Broadband optical power-limiter metalens
Authors: Hsu Liyi , Ndao Abdoulaye
Published: October 2021

We report a hybrid system that synergically combines a broadband optical power limiter with a transmittance difference between on-state (70°C) and off-state (25°C) about 62.5%, and a diffraction-limited broadband metalens from 1534 nm to 1664 nm.
Broadband, High-Efficiency, Large-Aperture Metalenses in the Visible
Authors: Woolf David , Ovcharenko Anton , Goodwin Joe , Chen Mingkun , Phan Thaibao , Hensley Joel , Fan Jonathan A.
Published: October 2021

We designed and fabricated a broadband, high-efficiency, polarization-independent metalens in the visible that can reduce the size and weight of optical systems when paired with refractive optics.
Soliton shedding from Airy pulses in a highly dispersive and nonlinear medium
Authors: Gaur Deependra Singh , Purohit Ankit , Mishra Akhilesh Kumar
Published: October 2021

We present a numerical investigation of the propagation dynamics of a truncated Airy pulse in a highly dispersive and nonlinear medium by employing the split-step Fourier transform method and look, in particular, into the effects of fourth-order dispersion (FOD) and cubic-quintic-septic nonlinearity on pulse evolution. Presence of FOD cancels the Airy pulse’s self-acceleration along with eclipsing the oscillatory tail during propagation in the linear regime. Further, we observe soliton shedding at low input pulse power in the presence of cubic and quintic nonlinearity and negative FOD. The emergent soliton exhibits temporal shift, and the direction and the extent of the shift depend upon the strengths of cubic and quintic nonlinearities. In the presence of anomalous group-velocity dispersion (GVD) with negative FOD, soliton shedding is observed at relatively high input pulse power. The strengths of GVD and nonlinearity play a vital role in the temporal shifting of the emergent soliton. Furthermore, we have explored the effects of septic nonlinearity on soliton shedding in different scenarios of nonlinearity and dispersion.
Geometry-dependent two-photon absorption followed by free-carrier absorption in AlGaAs waveguides
Authors: Espinosa Daniel H. G. , Harrigan Stephen R. , Awan Kashif M. , Rasekh Payman , Dolgaleva Ksenia
Published: October 2021

Nonlinear absorption can limit the efficiency of nonlinear optical devices. However, it can also be exploited for optical limiting or switching applications. Thus, characterization of nonlinear absorption in photonic devices is imperative for designing useful devices. This work uses the nonlinear transmittance technique to measure the two-photon absorption coefficients (

α
2

) of AlGaAs waveguides in strip-loaded, nanowire, and half-core geometries in the wavelength range from 1480 to 1560 nm. The highest

α
2

values of 2.4, 2.3, and

1.1

c
m

/

G
W

were measured at 1480 nm for 0.8-µm-wide half-core, 0.6-µm-wide nanowire, and 0.9-µm-wide strip-loaded waveguides, respectively, with

α
2

decreasing with increasing wavelength. The free-carrier absorption cross section was also estimated from the nonlinear transmittance data to be around

2.2
×

10

−
16

c
m

2

for all three geometries. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the nonlinear absorption in heterostructure waveguides of different cross-sectional geometries. We discuss how the electric field distribution in the different layers of a heterostructure can lead to geometry-dependent effective two-photon absorption coefficients. More specifically, we pinpoint the third-order nonlinear confinement factor as a design parameter to estimate the strength of the effective nonlinear absorption, in addition to tailoring the bandgap energy by varying the material composition.
Secret key rate of multi-ring M-APSK continuous variable quantum key distribution
Authors: Almeida Margarida , Pereira Daniel , Muga Nelson J. , Facão Margarida , Pinto Armando N. , Silva Nuno A.
Published: October 2021

Discrete modulation continuous variable quantum key distribution (DM-CV-QKD) is highly considered in real implementations to avoid the complexity of Gaussian modulation (GM), which is optimum in terms of the key rate. DM-CV-QKD systems usually consider M-symbol phase shift keying (M-PSK) constellations. However, this type of constellation cannot reach transmission distances and key rates as high as GM, limiting the practical implementation of CV-QKD systems. Here, by considering M-symbol amplitude and phase shift keying (M-APSK) constellations, we can approximate GM. Indeed, considering finite-size effects, 4 ring 64-APSK can reach 52.0 km, only 7.2 km less than GM and 282% the maximum achievable transmission distance for 8-PSK.
Algorithm of Doppler error suppression in frequency-swept interferometry for the dynamic axial clearance measurement of high-speed rotating machinery
Authors: Liu Hao , Zhang Wei , Shao Bin , Zhang Peng , Chen Weimin
Published: October 2021

To realize accurate dynamic axial clearance measurement in high-speed rotating machinery using basic Frequency-swept interferometry (FSI), a novel algorithm of Doppler error suppression is proposed. In this algorithm, we first extract the incremental phase of the FSI signal by Hilbert transform and use it to construct a virtual clearance variation. Then, using the periodic characteristics of rotor rotation, optimized initial clearance can be obtained. Eventually, the dynamic axial clearance at each sampling point can be recovered with the optimized initial clearance and the Doppler error is greatly suppressed. The feasibility of this method is tested and verified by both simulation and experiment. For a 4 kHz rotation simulating target located at 5 mm away, the experimental results show that the dynamic clearance measurement error is less than 2.057 µm, which meets the measurement accuracy required for most high-speed rotating machinery.
EDoF-ToF: extended depth of field time-of-flight imaging
Authors: Tan Jasper , Boominathan Vivek , Baraniuk Richard , Veeraraghavan Ashok
Published: October 2021

Conventional continuous-wave amplitude-modulated time-of-flight (CWAM ToF) cameras suffer from a fundamental trade-off between light throughput and depth of field (DoF): a larger lens aperture allows more light collection but suffers from significantly lower DoF. However, both high light throughput, which increases signal-to-noise ratio, and a wide DoF, which enlarges the system’s applicable depth range, are valuable for CWAM ToF applications. In this work, we propose EDoF-ToF, an algorithmic method to extend the DoF of large-aperture CWAM ToF cameras by using a neural network to deblur objects outside of the lens’s narrow focal region and thus produce an all-in-focus measurement. A key component of our work is the proposed large-aperture ToF training data simulator, which models the depth-dependent blurs and partial occlusions caused by such apertures. Contrary to conventional image deblurring where the blur model is typically linear, ToF depth maps are nonlinear functions of scene intensities, resulting in a nonlinear blur model that we also derive for our simulator. Unlike extended DoF for conventional photography where depth information needs to be encoded (or made depth-invariant) using additional hardware (phase masks, focal sweeping, etc.), ToF sensor measurements naturally encode depth information, allowing a completely software solution to extended DoF. We experimentally demonstrate EDoF-ToF increasing the DoF of a conventional ToF system by 3.6 ×, effectively achieving the DoF of a smaller lens aperture that allows 22.1 × less light. Ultimately, EDoF-ToF enables CWAM ToF cameras to enjoy the benefits of both high light throughput and a wide DoF.
Image quality improvement for optical imaging interferometric microscopy
Authors: Dey P. , Neumann A. , Brueck S. R. J.
Published: October 2021

Imaging interferometric microscopy (IIM) is an optical microscopy resolution enhancement technique involving combining multiple sub-images to increase resolution. Several image reconstruction challenges can degrade the image quality including the frequency, phase deviations between sub-images, and maintenance of a uniform frequency response across the entire space. This work proposes methods to address these issues. The methods are first compared in simulation using a Manhattan structure of 260-nm critical dimension with 2-µm-pitch calibration grating on the sides. The proposed correction methods are then applied to the experimental results and found to be effective in improving the image quality of IIM.
Omnidirectional ghost imaging system and unwrapping-free panoramic ghost imaging
Authors: Cui Huan , Cao Jie , Hao Qun , Zhou Dong , Tang Mingyuan , Zhang Kaiyu , Zhang Yingqiang
Published: October 2021

Ghost imaging (GI) is an unconventional imaging method that reconstructs the object information via light-intensity correlation measurements. However, at present, the field of view (FOV) of this method is limited to the illumination range of light patterns. To enlarge the FOV of GI efficiently, we propose an omnidirectional GI system (OGIS) that can achieve a 360° omnidirectional FOV only via the addition of a curved mirror. The OGIS features retina-like annular patterns designed as a log-polar structure and can obtain the undistorted unwrapping-free panoramic images with uniform resolution. This research presents a new, to the best of our knowledge, perspective for the applications of GI, such as pipeline detection, a panoramic situation awareness for autonomous vehicles.
PVA-SM microstructure enhanced ratiometric fluorescence probe for formaldehyde detection in solution and gas
Authors: Wang Tianci , Wang Haiyan , Xia Pengfei , Xue Sheng , Yang Guanjie , Li Heng , Li Zongbao , Jiang Xiaofang , Xing Xiaobo
Published: October 2021

Formaldehyde (FA) is one of the most common pollutants, which has tremendous harm to humans and environment. In this work, 4-amino-3-pentene-2-one (Fluoral-p) and

S
i
O

2

coated quantum dot (

Q
D

@

S
i
O

2

) were combined to implement a new ratiometric fluorescence probe

Q
D

@

S
i
O

2

-Fluoral-p for FA detection. In addition, by utilization of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and

S
i
O

2

microsphere (SM), a kind of PVA-SM microstructure was assembled with

Q
D

@

S
i
O

2

-Fluoral-p to composite a signal enhanced sensing film. The

Q
D

@

S
i
O

2

-Fluoral-p exhibited good response to 0-400 mg/L FA solution and an enhancement around 15 folds was realized after introducing PVA-SM. In both situations, the probe showed linear relationship to FA concentration (

C

F
A

), with detection limits of 14 and 0.5 mg/L, respectively. Also, the sensing film showed a good linear response to FA gas in the range of 0 to 2 ppm, with a detection limit 0.03 ppm. As a result, the PVA-SM enhanced ratiometric fluorescence probe features high sensitivity, low detection limit, good selectivity, as well as portable, which can serve as a useful tool for investigating FA in solution and gas at room temperature.
Non-invasive photoacoustic screening of blood vasculature during anti-angiogenesis using CAM assay
Authors: Khan Suhel , Pathak Priyanka , Vasudevan Srivathsan , Nayak Debasis
Published: October 2021

There is a strong need for non-invasive detection of normal tissue from diseased one and a better understanding of the factors involved in the infection’s growth. Continuous monitoring of tissue samples at different time points is highly desirable. We demonstrate using the photoacoustic spectral response technique (PASR) for in situ analysis in a developing chicken embryo as a model (CAM) for anti-angiogenesis and vascular development. The photoacoustic technique is an emerging modality that is based on the acoustic detection of optical absorption of biological samples. The detected PA signals and their spectral response were used as a signature to determine the vasculature development pathology. Continuous monitoring of vascular growth and an anti-drug (Cisplatin) effect on vasculature has been done. PASR was investigated for the 10th day, 11th day, and 12th day control and inoculated egg samples. It shows that the dominant frequency of the PA spectral response for 10th day control and inoculated eggs lies between 0.45–0.52 MHz, whereas for 11th day and 12th day control eggs lie at 0.61 ± 0.152 MHz and 0.67 ± 0.001 MHz, respectively. The inoculated 11th and 12th day eggs lie at 0.35 ± 0.156 MHz and 0.16 ± 0.004 MHz, respectively. PASR could monitor the change in growth within a span of one day, which was not possible through the conventional imaging approach. This would open up a potential diagnostic technique for continuous monitoring of CAM assays.
Ultralow-loss compact silicon photonic waveguide spirals and delay lines
Authors: Hong Shihan , Zhang Long , Wang Yi , Zhang Ming , Xie Yiwei , Dai Daoxin
Published: October 2021

Low-loss and compact optical waveguides are key for realizing various photonic integrated circuits with long on-chip delay lines, such as tunable optical delay lines, optical coherence tomography, and optical gyroscopes. In this paper, a low-loss and compact silicon photonic waveguide spiral is proposed by introducing broadened Archimedean spiral waveguides with a tapered Euler S-bend. A 100-cm-long waveguide spiral is realized with a minimal bending radius as small as 10 μm by using a standard 220-nm-thick silicon-on-insulator foundry process, and the measured propagation loss is as low as 0.28 dB/cm. Furthermore, the present waveguide spirals are used to realize a 10-bit tunable optical delay line, which has a footprint as small as

2.2
 
mm
×
5.9
  
mm

and a dynamic range of 5120 ps with a fine resolution of 10 ps.
Prevalence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PDd), CareStart qualitative rapid diagnostic test performance, and genetic variants in two malaria-endemic areas in Sudan
Authors: Ali Albsheer Musab M. , Lover Andrew A. , Eltom Sara B. , Omereltinai Leena , Mohamed Nouh , Muneer Mohamed S. , Mohamad Abdelrahim O. , Abdel Hamid Muzamil Mahdi
Published: October 2021

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PDd) is the most common enzymopathy globally, and deficient individuals may experience severe hemolysis following treatment with 8-aminoquinolines. With increasing evidence of Plasmodium vivax infections throughout sub-Saharan Africa, there is a pressing need for population-level data at on the prevalence of G6PDd. Such evidence-based data will guide the expansion of primaquine and potentially tafenoquine for radical cure of P. vivax infections. This study aimed to quantify G6PDd prevalence in two geographically distinct areas in Sudan, and evaluating the performance of a qualitative CareStart rapid diagnostic test as a point-of-care test. Blood samples were analyzed from 491 unrelated healthy persons in two malaria-endemic sites in eastern and central Sudan. A pre-structured questionnaire was used which included demographic data, risk factors and treatment history. G6PD levels were measured using spectrophotometry (SPINREACT) and first-generation qualitative CareStart rapid tests. G6PD variants (202 G>A; 376 A>G) were determined by PCR/RFLP, with a subset confirmed by Sanger sequencing. The prevalence of G6PDd by spectrophotometry was 5.5% (27/491; at 30% of adjusted male median, AMM); 27.3% (134/491; at 70% of AMM); and 13.1% (64/490) by qualitative CareStart rapid diagnostic test. The first-generation CareStart rapid diagnostic test had an overall sensitivity of 81.5% (95%CI: 61.9 to 93.7) and negative predictive value of 98.8% (97.3 to 99.6). All persons genotyped across both study sites were wild type for the G6PD G202 variant. For G6PD A376G all participants in New Halfa had wild type AA (100%), while in Khartoum the AA polymorphism was found in 90.7%; AG in 2.5%; and GG in 6.8%. Phenotypic G6PD B was detected in 100% of tested participants in New Halfa while in Khartoum, the phenotypes observed were B (96.2%), A (2.8%), and AB (1%). The African A- phenotype was not detected in this study population. Overall, G6PDd prevalence in Sudan is low-to-moderate but highly heterogeneous. Point-of-care testing with the qualitative CareStart rapid diagnostic test demonstrated moderate performance with moderate sensitivity and specificity but high negative predicative value. The two sites harbored primarily the African B phenotype. A country-wide survey is recommended to understand GP6PD deficiencies more comprehensively in Sudan.
The psychological distress of parents is associated with reduced linear growth of children: Evidence from a nationwide population survey
Authors: Susiloretni Kun A. , Smith Emily R. , Suparmi  , Marsum  , Agustina Rina , Shankar Anuraj H.
Published: October 2021

Background

Stunting, an indicator of restricted linear growth, has become a primary measure of childhood undernutrition due to its persistent high prevalence globally, and importance for health and development. Although the etiology is recognized as complex, most analyses have focused on social and biomedical determinants, with limited attention on psychological factors affecting care and nurturing in the home. We assessed whether the psychological distress of parents is related to child linear growth and stunting, and documented the associated risk factors, and examined the relationship between parental distress and behavioral and other risk factors for stunting.

Methods

We used data from the Indonesia National Health Survey 2013, including 46,315 children 6–59 months of age. Multivariate linear, logistic, and multilevel multinomial logistic regression, using survey weights, were used to assess the relationship between parental distress, as assessed by the WHO Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ20), with height-for-age z score (HAZ), stunting, and behavioral and other risk factors for stunting.

Results

Maternal, paternal and parental distress (i.e. both maternal and paternal distress) were associated with reduced linear growth of the children by 0.086 (95% CI -0.17, -0.00), 0.11 (95% CI -0.24, -0.02) and 0.19 (95% CI -0.37, -0.00) HAZ-scores, respectively. Maternal and paternal distress increased the risk of mild stunting (HAZ <-1) by 33% (95% CI 1.17,1.50) and 37% (95% CI 1.18,1.60), and the risk of moderate stunting (HAZ <-2) by 25% (95% CI 1.10,1.43) and 28% (95% CI 1.08,1.51]), respectively. Parental stress increased the risk of moderate stunting by 40% (95% CI 1.06,1.85). Amongst specific groups of risk factors, the proportion of HAZ-score lost was associated with socioeconomic factors (30.3%) including, low wealth, low maternal occupational status, low maternal education, rural residence, and low paternal occupational status; physiological factors (15.5%) including low maternal height, low maternal mid-upper arm circumference, being male, low paternal height; behavioral factors (8.9%) including open garbage disposal, paternal smoking, not using iodized salt; and experiencing at least one infectious diseases episode (1.1%).

Conclusions

Maternal, paternal and parental stress were associated with reduced linear growth of children. These findings highlight the complex etiology of stunting and suggest nutritional and other biomedical interventions are insufficient, and that promotion of mental and behavioral health programs for parents must be pursued as part of a comprehensive strategy to enhance child growth and development, i.e. improved caretaker capacity, integrated community development, improved parenting skills, as well as reduced gender discrimination, and domestic violence.
Early administration of remdesivir to COVID-19 patients associates with higher recovery rate and lower need for ICU admission: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Hussain Alsayed Hawra Ali , Saheb Sharif-Askari Fatemeh , Saheb Sharif-Askari Narjes , Hussain Ali Al Sayed , Hamid Qutayba , Halwani Rabih
Published: October 2021

Objectives

Remdesivir is one of the most widely recommended and used medications for COVID-19 treatment. However, different outcomes have been reported for hospitalized patients with COVID-19 treated with remdesivir. Specifically, the effect of the timing of remdesivir initiation (from patient’s symptom onset) on clinical outcomes in COVID-19 patients has not been investigated.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and treated with or without remdisivir. The primary outcome was patient’s recovery rate, defined as clinical improvement and patient’s discharge by day 14 of symptom onset. The secondary outcome was the need for intensive care unit (ICU) admission, mechanical ventilation, and mortality within 28 days of patient’s symptom onset.

Results

Out of 323 hospitalized adults with COVID-19, 107 (33.1%) received no remdesivir during their hospital stay, 107 (33.1%) received remdesivir early within 7 days of the symptom onset, and 109 (33.7%) received it at 8 days or later of symptom onset. At day 14 following symptom onset, higher proportion of patients recovered in the early remdesivir compared to the late remdesivir cohort, or patients who did not receive remdesivir (adjusted odds ratio, aOR, 2.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31 to 5.35). Moreover, early administration of remdesivir was associated with lower admission to intensive care unit (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.31; 95% CI, 0.15 to 0.64), less need for mechanical ventilation (aHR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.10 to 0.51), and lower mortality at 28 days (aHR, 0.15; 95% CI, 0.04 to 0.53), as compared to the late remdesivir cohort or patients who did not receive remdesivir.

Conclusion

Early administration of remdesivir within 7 days of symptom onset is associated with less need for mechanical ventilation and lower 28-days mortality.
Dpp/TGFβ-superfamily play a dual conserved role in mediating the damage response in the retina
Authors: Kramer Joshua , Neves Joana , Koniikusic Mia , Jasper Heinrich , Lamba Deepak A.
Published: October 2021

Retinal homeostasis relies on intricate coordination of cell death and survival in response to stress and damage. Signaling mechanisms that coordinate this process in the adult retina remain poorly understood. Here we identify Decapentaplegic (Dpp) signaling inDrosophilaand its mammalian homologue Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGFβ) superfamily, that includes TGFβ and Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) signaling arms, as central mediators of retinal neuronal death and tissue survival following acute damage. Using aDrosophilamodel for UV-induced retinal damage, we show that Dpp released from immune cells promotes tissue loss after UV-induced retinal damage. Interestingly, we find a dynamic response of retinal cells to this signal: in an early phase, Dpp-mediated stimulation of Saxophone/Smox signaling promotes apoptosis, while at a later stage, stimulation of the Thickveins/Mad axis promotes tissue repair and survival. This dual role is conserved in the mammalian retina through the TGFβ/BMP signaling, as supplementation of BMP4 or inhibition of TGFβ using small molecules promotes retinal cell survival, while inhibition of BMP negatively affects cell survival after light-induced photoreceptor damage and NMDA induced inner retinal neuronal damage. Our data identify key evolutionarily conserved mechanisms by which retinal homeostasis is maintained.
Ketogenic diet reduces early mortality following traumatic brain injury in Drosophila via the PPARγ ortholog Eip75B
Authors: Blommer Joseph , Fischer Megan C. , Olszewski Athena R. , Katzenberger Rebeccah J. , Ganetzky Barry , Wassarman David A.
Published: October 2021

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common neurological disorder whose outcomes vary widely depending on a variety of environmental factors, including diet. Using a Drosophila melanogaster TBI model that reproduces key aspects of TBI in humans, we previously found that the diet consumed immediately following a primary brain injury has a substantial effect on the incidence of mortality within 24 h (early mortality). Flies that receive equivalent primary injuries have a higher incidence of early mortality when fed high-carbohydrate diets versus water. Here, we report that flies fed high-fat ketogenic diet (KD) following TBI exhibited early mortality that was equivalent to that of flies fed water and that flies protected from early mortality by KD continued to show survival benefits weeks later. KD also has beneficial effects in mammalian TBI models, indicating that the mechanism of action of KD is evolutionarily conserved. To probe the mechanism, we examined the effect of KD in flies mutant for Eip75B, an ortholog of the transcription factor PPARγ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma) that contributes to the mechanism of action of KD and has neuroprotective effects in mammalian TBI models. We found that the incidence of early mortality of Eip75B mutant flies was higher when they were fed KD than when they were fed water following TBI. These data indicate that Eip75B/PPARγ is necessary for the beneficial effects of KD following TBI. In summary, this work provides the first evidence that KD activates PPARγ to reduce deleterious outcomes of TBI and it demonstrates the utility of the fly TBI model for dissecting molecular pathways that contribute to heterogeneity in TBI outcomes.
Behavioural synchronization in a multilevel society of feral horses
Authors: Maeda Tamao , Sueur Cédric , Hirata Satoshi , Yamamoto Shinya
Published: October 2021

Behavioural synchrony among individuals is essential for group-living organisms. The functioning of synchronization in a multilevel society, which is a nested assemblage of multiple social levels between many individuals, remains largely unknown. The aim of the present study was to build a model that explained the synchronization of activity in a multilevel society of feral horses. Multi-agent-based models were used based on four hypotheses: A) horses do not synchronize, B) horses synchronize with any individual in any unit, C) horses synchronize only within units, and D) horses synchronize across and within units, but internal synchronization is stronger. The empirical data obtained from drone observations best supported hypothesis D. This result suggests that animals in a multilevel society coordinate with other conspecifics not only within a unit but also at an inter-unit level. In this case, inter-individual distances are much longer than those in most previous models which only considered local interaction within a few body lengths.
Multiparametric MRI for assessment of early response to neoadjuvant sunitinib in renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Ursprung Stephan , Priest Andrew N. , Zaccagna Fulvio , Qian Wendi , Machin Andrea , Stewart Grant D. , Warren Anne Y. , Eisen Timothy , Welsh Sarah J. , Gallagher Ferdia A. , Barrett Tristan
Published: October 2021

Purpose

To detect early response to sunitinib treatment in metastatic clear cell renal cancer (mRCC) using multiparametric MRI.

Method

Participants with mRCC undergoing pre-surgical sunitinib therapy in the prospective NeoSun clinical trial (EudraCtNo: 2005-004502-82) were imaged before starting treatment, and after 12 days of sunitinib therapy using morphological MRI sequences, advanced diffusion-weighted imaging, measurements of R2* (related to hypoxia) and dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging. Following nephrectomy, participants continued treatment and were followed-up with contrast-enhanced CT. Changes in imaging parameters before and after sunitinib were assessed with the non-parametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the log-rank test was used to assess effects on survival.

Results

12 participants fulfilled the inclusion criteria. After 12 days, the solid and necrotic tumor volumes decreased by 28% and 17%, respectively (p = 0.04). However, tumor-volume reduction did not correlate with progression-free or overall survival (PFS/OS). Sunitinib therapy resulted in a reduction in median solid tumor diffusivity D from 1298x10-6 to 1200x10-6mm2/s (p = 0.03); a larger decrease was associated with a better RECIST response (p = 0.02) and longer PFS (p = 0.03) on the log-rank test. An increase in R2* from 19 to 28s-1 (p = 0.001) was observed, paralleled by a decrease in Ktrans from 0.415 to 0.305min-1 (p = 0.01) and a decrease in perfusion fraction from 0.34 to 0.19 (p<0.001).

Conclusions

Physiological imaging confirmed efficacy of the anti-angiogenic agent 12 days after initiating therapy and demonstrated response to treatment. The change in diffusivity shortly after starting pre-surgical sunitinib correlated to PFS in mRCC undergoing nephrectomy, however, no parameter predicted OS.

Trial registration

EudraCtNo: 2005-004502-82.
Nest survival of Seaside Sparrows (Ammospiza maritima) in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Authors: Hart Megan E. , Perez-Umphrey Anna , Stouffer Philip C. , Burns Christine Bergeon , Bonisoli-Alquati Andrea , Taylor Sabrina S. , Woltmann Stefan
Published: October 2021

In 2010, theDeepwater Horizonoil spill released an estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, damaging coastal ecosystems. Seaside Sparrows (Ammospiza maritima)—a year-round resident of Gulf Coast salt marshes—were exposed to oil, as shown by published isotopic and molecular analyses, but fitness consequences have not been clarified. We monitored nests around two bays in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, USA from 2012–2017 to assess possible impacts on the nesting biology of Seaside Sparrows. A majority of nests failed (76% of known-fate nests,N= 252 nests, 3521 exposure-days) during our study, and predation was the main cause of nest failure (~91% of failed nests). Logistic exposure analysis revealed that daily nest survival rate: (1) was greater at nests with denser vegetation at nest height, (2) was higher in the more sheltered bay we studied, (3) decreased over the course of the breeding season in each year, and (4) was not correlated with either sediment polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations or estimated predator abundance during the years for which we had those data. Although theDeepwater Horizonspill impacted other aspects of Seaside Sparrow ecology, we found no definitive effect of initial oiling or oiled sediment on nest survival during 2012–2017. Because predation was the overwhelming cause of nest failure in our study, additional work on these communities is needed to fully understand demographic and ecological impacts of storms, oil spills, other pollutants, and sea-level rise on Seaside Sparrows and their predators.
In vitro larvicidal activity of ivermectin and povidone-iodine against Oestrus ovis
Authors: Ricci Giuseppe D’Amico , Garippa Giovanni , Cortese Stefano , Serra Rita , Boscia Francesco , Dore Stefano , Pinna Antonio
Published: October 2021

Purpose

To assess thein vitrolarvicidal activity of ivermectin and povidone-iodine (PVP-I) againstOestrus ovis, the most frequent cause of external ophthalmomyiasis.

Methods

L1O.ovislarvae were collected from the nasal boots of sheep slaughtered in local abattoirs and transferred onto Petri dishes containing mucosal tissue (25 larvae/dish). The larvicidal activity of the following formulations was tested: 1% ivermectin suspension in balanced sterile saline solution (BSSS), 1% ivermectin solution in propylene glycol, propylene glycol, 0.6% PVP-I in hyaluronic acid vehicle (IODIM®), and combination of ivermectin 1% solution and 0.6% PVP-I. One mL of each formulation was added to different Petri dishes containing the larvae. The time needed to kill the larvae was recorded.

Results

893 larvae were tested. The median time needed to kill the larvae was 46, 44, 11, 6, and 10 minutes for Iodim®, ivermectin 1% suspension, propylene glycol, ivermectin 1% solution, and a combination of ivermectin 1% solution with 0.6% PVP-I, respectively. Kaplan-Meyer analysis disclosed that the survival curves were significantly lower in samples treated with ivermectin 1% solution, ivermectin 1% solution + 0.6% PVP-I, and propylene glycol than in samples receiving other treatments or BSSS.

Conclusion

In thisin vitrostudy, ivermectin 1% solution in propylene glycol, ivermectin 1% solution + 0.6% PVP-I, and propylene glycol alone showed a good, relatively rapid larvicidal activity againstO.ovislarvae. Further experimental and clinical studies are necessary to establish whether, or not, these formulations may be considered as potential candidates for the topical treatment for external ophthalmomyiasis caused byO.ovis.
Plutonium in Manhattan Project workers: Using autopsy data to evaluate organ content and dose estimates based on urine bioassay with implications for radiation epidemiology
Authors: Šefl Martin , Zhou Joey Y. , Avtandilashvili Maia , McComish Stacey L. , Tolmachev Sergei Y.
Published: October 2021

Purpose

Radiation dose estimates in epidemiology typically rely on intake predictions based on urine bioassay measurements. The purpose of this article is to compare the conventional dosimetric estimates for radiation epidemiology with the estimates based on additional post-mortem tissue radiochemical analysis results.

Methods

The comparison was performed on a unique group of 11 former Manhattan Project nuclear workers, who worked with plutonium in the 1940s, and voluntarily donated their bodies to the United States Transuranium and Uranium Registries.

Results

Post-mortem organ activities were predicted using different sets of urine data and compared to measured activities. Use of urinalysis data collected during the exposure periods overestimated the systemic (liver+skeleton) deposition of 239Pu by 155±134%, while the average bias from using post-exposure urinalyses was –4±50%. Committed effective doses estimated using early urine data differed from the best estimate by, on average, 196±193%; inclusion of follow-up urine measurements in analyses decreased the mean bias to 0.6±36.3%. Cumulative absorbed doses for the liver, red marrow, bone surface, and brain were calculated for the actual commitment period.

Conclusion

On average, post-exposure urine bioassay results were in good agreement with post-mortem tissue analyses and were more reliable than results of urine bioassays collected during the exposure.
Heavy khat (Catha edulis) chewing and dyslipidemia as modifiable hypertensive risk factors among patients in Southwest, Ethiopia: Unmatched case-control study
Authors: Gebremedhin Meron Hadis , Lake Eyasu Alem , Gebrekirstos Lielt Gebreselassie
Published: October 2021

Background

The burden of hypertension is more devastating in low-and middle-income countries, including sub-Saharan Africa than in high-income countries. Among the modifiable risk factors, dyslipidemia and khat chewing were expanding at an alarming rate in Ethiopia but were still underestimated. Thus, this study aimed to assess heavy khat (Catha edulis) chewing and dyslipidemia as modifiable hypertensive risk factors among patients in the southwest, Ethiopia.

Methods

A facility-based case-control study was conducted among 136 cases and 270 controls from May 15 to July 30, 2017. A consecutive sampling technique was used in this study. Epi data version 3.1.1 and SPSS version 21 were used for data entry and analysis. Descriptive statistics and bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Both crude and adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were reported.

Results

The majority of the cases had a total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein ratio of >5 (72.1%). The odds of hypertension increased among participants who had attended no formal education [AOR = 2.25, 95% CI: (1.05–4.82)], history of alcohol consumption [AOR = 5.93,95% CI:(3.11–11.30)], moderate khat chewing [AOR = 3.68, 95% CI:(1.69,8.01)], heavy khat chewing [AOR = 18.18, 95% CI: (3.56–92.89)], mild intensity physical activity [AOR = 3.01, 95% CI: (1.66–5.47)], type of oil used for food preparation [AOR = 2.81, 95% CI: (1.49–5.28)], and dyslipidemia [AOR = 6.68, 95% CI: (2.93–15.23)].

Conclusion

The study showed that modifiable risk factors were the major factors associated with the development of hypertension. The findings of this study highlighted that health education is needed to focus on physical exercise, quitting excess alcohol consumption, quitting khat chewing by giving special emphasis to those who had no formal education. In addition, consideration should be given to a healthy diet free of cholesterol and unhealthy behavior.
Arabidopsis assemble distinct root-associated microbiomes through the synthesis of an array of defense metabolites
Authors: Kudjordjie Enoch Narh , Sapkota Rumakanta , Nicolaisen Mogens
Published: October 2021

Plant associated microbiomes are known to confer fitness advantages to the host. Understanding how plant factors including biochemical traits influence host associated microbiome assembly could facilitate the development of microbiome-mediated solutions for sustainable plant production. Here, we examined microbial community structures of a set of well-characterized Arabidopsis thaliana mutants disrupted in metabolic pathways for the production of glucosinolates, flavonoids, or a number of defense signalling molecules. A. thaliana lines were grown in a natural soil and maintained under greenhouse conditions for 4 weeks before collection of roots for bacterial and fungal community profiling. We found distinct relative abundances and diversities of bacterial and fungal communities assembled in the individual A. thaliana mutants compared to their parental lines. Bacterial and fungal genera were mostly enriched than depleted in secondary metabolite and defense signaling mutants, except for flavonoid mutations on fungi communities. Bacterial genera Azospirillum and Flavobacterium were significantly enriched in most of the glucosinolate, flavonoid and signalling mutants while the fungal taxa Sporobolomyces and Emericellopsis were enriched in several glucosinolates and signalling mutants. Whilst the present study revealed marked differences in microbiomes of Arabidopsis mutants and their parental lines, it is suggestive that unknown enzymatic and pleiotropic activities of the mutated genes could contribute to the identified host-associated microbiomes. Notwithstanding, this study revealed interesting gene-microbiota links, and thus represents valuable resource data for selecting candidate A. thaliana mutants for analyzing the links between host genetics and the associated microbiome.