bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Local linear model and restoration method of underwater images
Authors: Zhuang Zijie , Fan Zhiguo , Jin Haihong , Gong Kaiqiang , Peng Jin
Published: June 2022

When light transports in water, it will be scattered and absorbed by the water body and water particles, resulting in blurred images and color distortion. In order to improve the quality of underwater imaging, the local linear model and restoration method of underwater images are proposed in this paper. Based on the distance-invariant feature in the local region, the local linear model is established, and the slope and intercept of the model represent the transmission rate and the backscattered light of the local region of the image, respectively. Utilizing this model, the problem of underwater image restoration has been transformed into the problem of solving the slope and intercept of linear equations. To solve the linear imaging model, the concept of local special-value is defined in this paper, and several fitting points can be obtained through the special-value. Then the linear model is solved by the fitting method, and the restoration of underwater images is completed. The restoration results of different underwater scene images verify that the linear model has a good effect in improving the image clarity and removing the color distortion.
Low-complexity and blind receiver in-phase/quadrature imbalances compensation and estimation in the frequency domain for high-order modulation formats
Authors: Chai Jia , Liang Junpeng , Chen Xue , Yang Tao , You Jialin , Wang Weiming
Published: June 2022

A frequency domain (FD) 4×2 multi-input and multi-output (MIMO) equalizer based on radially directed equalizer is proposed to compensate receiver in-phase/quadrature (IQ) imbalances of M-ary quadrature amplitude modulation signals. This algorithm has a significantly lower complexity compared with a conventional time-domain 4×2 MIMO equalizer. Furthermore, each of imperfection estimations is derived from the converged discrete frequency response of the FD 4×2 MIMO equalizer. The simulation and experimental results indicated that the receiver (Rx) IQ imbalances were fully compensated by the proposed equalizer and precisely estimated by estimators, even for long-haul transmission with Rx IQ imbalances varying over a wide range.
Using electrical resistance asymmetries to infer the geometric shapes of foundry patterned nanophotonic structures
Authors: Mittal Vinita , Balram Krishna C.
Published: June 2022

While silicon photonics has leveraged the nanofabrication tools and techniques from the microelectronics industry, it has also inherited the metrological methods from the same. Photonics fabrication is inherently different from microelectronics in its intrinsic sensitivity to 3D shape and geometry, especially in a high-index contrast platform like silicon-on-insulator. In this work, we show that electrical resistance measurements can in principle be used to infer the geometry of such nanophotonic structures and reconstruct the micro-loading curves of foundry etch processes. We implement our ideas to infer 3D geometries from a standard silicon photonics foundry and discuss some of the potential sources of error that need to be calibrated out. By using electrical measurements, pre-designed structures can be rapidly tested at wafer-scale, without the added complexity of optical alignment and spectral measurement and analysis, providing both a route towards predictive optical device performance and a means to control the geometry variation.
Wavelength-tunable spiral-phase-contrast imaging
Authors: Lee Dong-Ho , Lee Sunwoo , Yeo Woo-Jong , Jeong Seok Kyung , Jeon Minwoo , Choi Hwan-Jin , Kim Hong Seung , Bae Ji Yong , Kim Dong Uk , Hur Hwan , Hyun Sangwon , Lee Kye-Sung , Chang Ki Soo , Lee Wonkyun , Pak Soojong , Kim Geon Hee , Kim I Jong
Published: June 2022

Wavelength-tunable spiral-phase-contrast (SPC) imaging was experimentally accomplished in the visible wavelengths spanning a broad bandwidth of ∼200 nm based on a single off-axis spiral phase mirror (OSPM). By the rotation of an OSPM, which was designed with an integer orbital angular momentum (OAM) of l = 1 at a wavelength of 561 nm and incidence angle of 45°, high-quality SPC imaging was obtained at different wavelengths. For the comparison with wavelength-tunable SPC imaging using an OSPM, SPC imaging using a spiral phase plate (manufactured to generate an OAM of l = 1 at 561 nm) was performed at three wavelengths (473, 561, and 660 nm), resulting in clear differences. Theoretically, based on field tracing simulations, high-quality wavelength-tunable SPC imaging could be demonstrated in a very broad bandwidth of ∼400 nm, which is beyond the bandwidth of ∼200 nm obtained experimentally. This technique contribute to developing high-performance wavelength-tunable SPC imaging by simply integrating an OSPM into the current optical imaging technologies.
Polarization-insensitive local-oscillator-carrier loopback modulation for a cost-effective and high-port-count wavelength-routing optical switch
Authors: Matsumoto Ryosuke , Konoike Ryotaro , Matsuura Hiroyuki , Suzuki Keijiro , Inoue Takashi , Ikeda Kazuhiro , Namiki Shu , Sato Ken-ichi
Published: June 2022

A wavelength-routing optical switch uses a wavelength-tunable laser at each input port, and this transmitter implements output port selection by tuning the wavelength that is associated with each output port. With coherent transmission, loopback modulation of a local oscillator (LO) carrier generated at the output port can eliminate the need for a wavelength-tunable laser. However, loopback modulation can be unstable since the power fluctuates because fiber traversal by the light creates polarization rotation. Here, we propose a simple polarization-alignment circuit and verify its effectiveness in creating a high-port-count optical switch system. The proposed circuit consists of passive components and aligns the polarization state of the supplied LO carrier to be linearly polarized along the x-direction of a TE-input dual-polarization (DP) IQ modulator. The circuit is shown to yield stable modulation with Q-variation of less than 0.8 dB, regardless of any birefringence along the transmission path. The proposal’s effectiveness is verified in optical switch system experiments with DP-QPSK signals; 1,856 × 1,856 switch scale is achieved with loopback modulation.
Scalable and highly efficient approach for an on-chip single-photon source
Authors: Chen Xingyu , Su Rongbin , Liu Jin , Li Juntao , Wang Xue-Hua
Published: June 2022

Integrated photonic circuits with quantum dots provide a promising route for scalable quantum chips with highly efficient photonic sources. However, unpolarized emission photons in general sacrifice half efficiency when coupling to the waveguide fundamental mode by a cross polarization technique for suppressing the excitation laser, while suspended waveguide photonics sources without polarization filters have poor scalability due to their mechanical fragility. Here, we propose a strategy for overcoming the challenge by coupling an elliptical Bragg resonator with waveguides on a solid-state base, featuring near-unity polarization efficiency and enabling on-chip pulsed resonant excitation without any polarization filters. We theoretically demonstrate that the proposed devices have outstanding performance of a single-photon source with 80% coupling efficiency into on-chip planar waveguides and an ultra-small extinction ratio of

10

−
11

, as well as robustness against quantum dot position deviation. Our design provides a promising method for scalable quantum chips with a filter-free high-efficiency single-photon source.
A versatile new tool derived from a bacterial deubiquitylase to detect and purify ubiquitylated substrates and their interacting proteins
Authors: Zhang Mengwen , Berk Jason M. , Mehrtash Adrian B. , Kanyo Jean , Hochstrasser Mark
Published: June 2022

Protein ubiquitylation is an important posttranslational modification affecting a wide range of cellular processes. Due to the low abundance of ubiquitylated species in biological samples, considerable effort has been spent on methods to purify and detect ubiquitylated proteins. We have developed and characterized a novel tool for ubiquitin detection and purification based on OtUBD, a high-affinity ubiquitin-binding domain (UBD) derived from anOrientia tsutsugamushideubiquitylase (DUB). We demonstrate that OtUBD can be used to purify both monoubiquitylated and polyubiquitylated substrates from yeast and human tissue culture samples and compare their performance with existing methods. Importantly, we found conditions for either selective purification of covalently ubiquitylated proteins or co-isolation of both ubiquitylated proteins and their interacting proteins. As proof of principle for these newly developed methods, we profiled the ubiquitylome and ubiquitin-associated proteome of the budding yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiae. Combining OtUBD affinity purification with quantitative proteomics, we identified potential substrates for the E3 ligases Bre1 and Pib1. OtUBD provides a versatile, efficient, and economical tool for ubiquitin research with specific advantages over certain other methods, such as in efficiently detecting monoubiquitylation or ubiquitin linkages to noncanonical sites.
Integration of multidimensional splicing data and GWAS summary statistics for risk gene discovery
Authors: Ji Ying , Wei Qiang , Chen Rui , Wang Quan , Tao Ran , Li Bingshan
Published: June 2022

A common strategy for the functional interpretation of genome-wide association study (GWAS) findings has been the integrative analysis of GWAS and expression data. Using this strategy, many association methods (e.g., PrediXcan and FUSION) have been successful in identifying trait-associated genes via mediating effects on RNA expression. However, these approaches often ignore the effects of splicing, which can carry as much disease risk as expression. Compared to expression data, one challenge to detect associations using splicing data is the large multiple testing burden due to multidimensional splicing events within genes. Here, we introduce a multidimensional splicing gene (MSG) approach, which consists of two stages: 1) we use sparse canonical correlation analysis (sCCA) to construct latent canonical vectors (CVs) by identifying sparse linear combinations of genetic variants and splicing events that are maximally correlated with each other; and 2) we test for the association between the genetically regulated splicing CVs and the trait of interest using GWAS summary statistics. Simulations show that MSG has proper type I error control and substantial power gains over existing multidimensional expression analysis methods (i.e., S-MultiXcan, UTMOST, and sCCA+ACAT) under diverse scenarios. When applied to the Genotype-Tissue Expression Project data and GWAS summary statistics of 14 complex human traits, MSG identified on average 83%, 115%, and 223% more significant genes than sCCA+ACAT, S-MultiXcan, and UTMOST, respectively. We highlight MSG’s applications to Alzheimer’s disease, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and schizophrenia, and found that the majority of MSG-identified genes would have been missed from expression-based analyses. Our results demonstrate that aggregating splicing data through MSG can improve power in identifying gene-trait associations and help better understand the genetic risk of complex traits.
Differential effects of obstructive sleep apnea on the corneal subbasal nerve plexus and retinal nerve fiber layer
Authors: Bussan Katherine A. , Stuard Whitney L. , Mussi Natalia , Lee Won , Whitson Jess T. , Issioui Yacine , Rowe Ashley A. , Wert Katherine J. , Robertson Danielle M.
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an established independent risk factor for peripheral neuropathy. Macro and microvascular changes have been documented in OSA, including high levels of potent vasoconstrictors. In diabetes, vasoconstriction has been identified as an underlying risk factor for corneal neuropathy. This study sought to establish a potential relationship between OSA and corneal nerve morphology and sensitivity, and to determine whether changes in corneal nerves may be reflective of OSA severity.

Design

Single center cross-sectional study.

Methods

Sixty-seven patients were stratified into two groups: those with OSA and healthy controls. Groups were matched for age, sex, race, smoking, and dry eye status. Outcome measures included serologies, a dilated fundus exam, dry eye testing, anthropometric parameters, corneal sensitivity, subbasal nerve plexus morphology, retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, and the use of questionnaires to assess symptoms of dry eye disease, risk of OSA, and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) compliance.

Results

No significant differences were observed in corneal nerve morphology, sensitivity, or the number of dendritic cells. In the OSA test group, RNFL thinning was noted in the superior and inferior regions of the optic disc and peripapillary region. A greater proportion of participants in the OSA group required a subsequent evaluation for glaucoma than in the control. In those with OSA, an increase in the apnea hypopnea index was associated with an increase in optic nerve cupping.

Conclusions

OSA does not exert a robust effect on corneal nerves. OSA is however, associated with thinning of the RNFL. Participants with glaucomatous optic nerve changes and risk factors for OSA should be examined as uncontrolled OSA may exacerbate glaucoma progression.
Identification of repurposing therapeutics toward SARS-CoV-2 main protease by virtual screening
Authors: Sanachai Kamonpan , Somboon Tuanjai , Wilasluck Patcharin , Deetanya Peerapon , Wolschann Peter , Langer Thierry , Lee Vannajan Sanghiran , Wangkanont Kittikhun , Rungrotmongkol Thanyada , Hannongbua Supot
Published: June 2022

SARS-CoV-2 causes the current global pandemic coronavirus disease 2019. Widely-available effective drugs could be a critical factor in halting the pandemic. The main protease (3CLpro) plays a vital role in viral replication; therefore, it is of great interest to find inhibitors for this enzyme. We applied the combination of virtual screening based on molecular docking derived from the crystal structure of the peptidomimetic inhibitors (N3, 13b, and 11a), and experimental verification revealed FDA-approved drugs that could inhibit the 3CLpro of SARS-CoV-2. Three drugs were selected using the binding energy criteria and subsequently performed the 3CLpro inhibition by enzyme-based assay. In addition, six common drugs were also chosen to study the 3CLpro inhibition. Among these compounds, lapatinib showed high efficiency of 3CLpro inhibition (IC50 value of 35 ± 1 μM and Ki of 23 ± 1 μM). The binding behavior of lapatinib against 3CLpro was elucidated by molecular dynamics simulations. This drug could well bind with 3CLpro residues in the five subsites S1’, S1, S2, S3, and S4. Moreover, lapatinib’s key chemical pharmacophore features toward SAR-CoV-2 3CLpro shared important HBD and HBA with potent peptidomimetic inhibitors. The rational design of lapatinib was subsequently carried out using the obtained results. Our discovery provides an effective repurposed drug and its newly designed analogs to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro.
Similarity of eyes in a cataractous population—How reliable is the biometry of the fellow eye for lens power calculation?
Authors: Langenbucher Achim , Szentmáry Nóra , Cayless Alan , Röggla Veronika , Leydolt Christina , Wendelstein Jascha , Hoffmann Peter
Published: June 2022

Background

In some situations it is necessary to use biometry from the fellow eye for lens power calculation prior to cataract surgery. The purpose of this study was to analyse the lateral differences in biometric measurements and their impact on the lens power calculation.

Methods

The analysis was based on a large dataset of 19,472 measurements of 9736 patients prior to cataract surgery with complete biometric data of both left and right eyes extracted from the IOLMaster 700. After randomly indexing the left or right eye as primary (P) and secondary (S), the differences between S and P eye were recorded and analysed (Keratometry (RSEQ), total keratometry (TRSEQ) and back surface power (BRSEQ)), axial length AL, corneal thickness CCT, anterior chamber depth ACD, lens thickness LT). Lens power was calculated with the Castrop formula for all P and S eyes, and the refraction was predicted using both the P and S eye biometry for the lens power calculation.

Results

Lateral differences (S-P, 90% confidence interval) ranged between -0.64 to 0.63 dpt / -0.67 to 0.66 dpt / -0.12 to 0.12 dpt for RSEQ / TRSEQ / BRSEQ. The respective difference in AL / CCT / ACD / LT ranged between -0.46 to 0.43 mm / -0.01 to 0.01 mm / -0.20 to 0.20 mm / -0.13 to 0.14 mm. The resulting difference in lens power and predicted refraction ranged between -2.02 to 2.00 dpt and -1.36 to 1.30 dpt where the biometry of the S eye is used instead of the P eye. The AL and RSEQ were identified as the most critical parameters where the biometry of the fellow eye is used.

Conclusion

Despite a strong similarity of both eyes, intraocular lens power calculation with fellow eye biometry could yield different results for the lens power and finally for the predicted refraction. In 10% of cases, the lens power derived from the S eye deviates by 2 dpt or more, resulting in a refraction deviation of 1.36 dpt or more.
Clinical outcome of Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) with imported donor corneas in eyes of Asian patients; endothelium‐in versus endothelium‐out method
Authors: Jung Young-ho , Yoon Chang Ho , Kim Mee Kum
Published: June 2022

Objective

We investigated whether (1) imported pre-cut tissue is feasible for Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) in eyes of Asian patients, (2) the clinical outcome is comparable between the endothelium‐in and endothelium‐out methods, and (3) the corneal edema-induced anterior curvature changes may have an effect on the refractive error.

Methods

The medical records of 32 DMEK patients who underwent either the endothelium-out or endothelium-in method using imported pre-cut grafts with a 3-day pre-cut-to-use time were retrospectively analyzed. Fuchs’ endothelial dystrophy (37.5%) and bullous keratopathy (62.5%) cases were included. The main clinical outcome measures were graft survival, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), endothelial cell density (ECD), corneal thickness (CT), and complications. Correlation of the anterior curvature changes with refractive error was analyzed in the DMEK with cataract surgery group.

Results

The overall survival rate was 71.9%. Final graft failures were caused by rejection, glaucoma, and infection. Visual acuities improved by 89.3%. BCVA better than 20/40 and 20/20 was found in 75% and 28.6% of patients, respectively. The ECDs at 3 months and 1 year were 1400 and 1083 cells/mm2, respectively. The mean survival time, ECD, BCVA, CT, and complication rates were not different between the endothelium-in and endothelium-out methods. A hyperopic shift by +0.42 D was not related to the anterior curvature changes.

Conclusion

Imported pre-cut tissues with a ≤ 3-day pre-cut-to-use time are feasible for DMEK in the treatment of corneal endothelial edema in eyes of Asian patients, and both endothelium-in and endothelium-out methods appear to be comparatively effective. Edema-induced anterior curvature change may not affect the refractive shift.
The architecture of partisan debates: The online controversy on the no-deal Brexit
Authors: Santagiustina Carlo Romano Marcello Alessandro , Warglien Massimo
Published: June 2022

We propose a framework to analyse partisan debates that involves extracting, classifying and exploring the latent argumentation structure and dynamics of online societal controversies. In this paper, the focus is placed on causal arguments, and the proposed framework is applied to the Twitter debate on the consequences of a hard Brexit scenario. Regular expressions based on causative verbs, structural topic modelling, and dynamic time warping techniques were used to identify partisan faction arguments, as well as their relations, and to infer agenda-setting dynamics. The results highlight that the arguments employed by partisan factions are mostly constructed around constellations of effect-classes based on polarised verb groups. These constellations show that the no-deal debate hinges on structurally balanced building blocks. Brexiteers focus more on arguments related to greenfield trading opportunities and increased autonomy, whereas Remainers argue more about what a no-deal Brexit could destroy, focusing on hard border issues, social tensions in Ireland and Scotland and other economy- and healthcare-related problems. More notably, inferred debate leadership dynamics show that, despite their different usage of terms and arguments, the two factions’ argumentation dynamics are strongly intertwined. Moreover, the identified periods in which agenda-setting roles change are linked to major events, such as extensions, elections and the Yellowhammer plan leak, and to new issues that emerged in relation to these events.
Racial/Ethnic disparities in drug use during the COVID 19 pandemic: Moderating effects of non-profit substance use disorder service expenditures
Authors: Ji Hyunjung , Shin Su Hyun , Rogers Annah , Neese Jessica , Lee Hee Yun
Published: June 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic influenced individuals’ anxiety and depression across the United States over a short period, and some Americans relied on drugs for coping. This study examines American adults’ drug use trajectories in response to changing anxiety and depression levels during the COVID-19 pandemic and the moderating role of substance use disorder (SUD) services provided by non-profit facilities in anxiety/depression-induced drug use. Heterogeneity in such relationships is further explored based on race/ethnicity. This study used a nationally representative sample of 1,176 American adults who reported drug use between May 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021. Using individual-fixed effects Poisson estimators, the current study empirically modeled drug use changes according to changing anxiety/depression levels. Interaction terms between anxiety/depression levels and per capita spending by non-profit SUD facilities were used to explore the moderating effect of SUD service expenditures. Racial/ethnic disparities were explored in subgroup analyses on non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic Asian samples. We found more frequent drug use in response to elevated anxiety and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. Greater spending on SUD service by non-profit facilities at the county level was associated with reduced drug consumption associated with anxiety and depression, with greater benefits for racial/ethnic minorities. Findings provide important policy implications for distributing public funds for non-profit SUD facilities for mitigating SUD risks, especially among racial/ethnic minorities.
Pedigree-based Bayesian modelling of radiocarbon dates
Authors: Massy Ken , Friedrich Ronny , Mittnik Alissa , Stockhammer Philipp W.
Published: June 2022

Within the last decade, archaeogenetic analysis has revolutionized archaeological research and enabled novel insights into mobility, relatedness and health of past societies. Now, it is possible to develop these results further and integrate archaeogenetic insights into biological relatedness with radiocarbon dates as means of chronologically sequenced information. In our article, we demonstrate the potential of combining relative chronological information with absolute radiocarbon dates by Bayesian interpretation in order to improve age determinations. Using artificial pedigrees with four sets of simulated radiocarbon dates we show that the combination of relationship information with radiocarbon dates improves the age determination in many cases at least between 20 to 50%. Calibrated age ranges are more constrained than simply calibrating radiocarbon ages independently from each other. Thereby, the precision of modelled ages depends on the precision of the single radiocarbon dates, the number of modelled generations, the shape of the calibration curve and the availability of samples that can be precisely fixed in time due to specific patterns in the calibration curve (“anchor points”). Ambiguous calibrated radiocarbon dates, which are caused by inversions of the calibration curve, can be partly or almost entirely resolved through Bayesian modelling based upon information from pedigrees. Finally, we discuss selected case studies of biological pedigrees achieved for Early Bronze Age Southern Germany by recent archaeogenetic analysis, whereby the sites and pedigrees differ with regard to the quality of information, which can be used for a Bayesian model of the radiocarbon dates. In accordance with the abstract models, radiocarbon dates can again be better constrained and are therefore more applicable for archaeological interpretation and chronological placement of the dated individuals.
The ability of energy recovery in professional soccer players is increased by individualized low-intensity exercise
Authors: Hwang Jihwan , Moon Na-Ram , Heine Oliver , Yang Woo-Hwi
Published: June 2022

The aim of this study was to investigate whether individualized low-intensity exercise (ILIE) within the recovery domain before lactate threshold 1 (LT 1) improves energetic recovery and general endurance capacity in professional soccer players. Twenty-four professional soccer players (age: 24.53 ± 4.85 years, height: 180 ± 6.30 cm, body mass: 75.86 ± 8.01 kg, body fat: 12.19 ± 2.69%) participated in the study (n = 24). The 1-h ILIE intervention involved 27 jogging sessions spanning nine weeks and jogging speed corresponding to 72% of LT 1 (7.15 ± 0.95 km∙h−1). Pre-ILIE and post-ILIE LT testing variables measured within 9 weeks included blood lactate concentrations (La−) and heart rate (HR) at specific exercise intensities during ILIE LT test. The jogging/running speeds (S), delta (Δ) S, HR, and ΔHR were measured at 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 mmol∙L−1 La−, respectively. Values of La− and HR at the same exercise intensities (5.4–16.2 km∙h−1) in the post-ILIE LT test compared with pre-ILIE LT test were significantly decreased (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Furthermore, S at all specific La− levels (1.5, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0) were significantly increased, while HR at 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 La− decreased significantly (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Low to moderate positive correlations were observed between ΔS and ΔHR at 1.5 and 2.0 La− (r = 0.52 and r = 0.40, respectively). The nine-week ILIE improved energy recovery and general endurance of professional soccer players. This relates to repeated high-intensity intermittent sprints during the 90-min soccer game.
COVID-19 lockdown policy and heterogeneous responses of urban mobility: Evidence from the Philippines
Authors: Jiang Yi , Laranjo Jade R. , Thomas Milan
Published: June 2022

Throughout 2020, national and subnational governments worldwide implemented nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to contain the spread of COVID-19. These included community quarantines, also known as lockdowns, of varying length, scope, and stringency that restricted mobility. To assess the effect of community quarantines on urban mobility in the Philippines, we analyze a new source of data: cellphone-based origin-destination flows made available by a major telecommunication company. First, we demonstrate that mobility dropped to 26% of the pre-lockdown level in the first month of lockdown and recovered and stabilized at 70% in August and September of 2020. Then we quantify the heterogeneous effects of lockdowns by city’s employment composition. A city with 10 percentage points more employment share in work-from-home friendly sectors is found to have experienced an additional 2.8% decrease in mobility under the most stringent lockdown policy. Similarly, an increase of 10 percentage points in employment share in large and medium-sized firms was associated with a1.9% decrease in mobility on top of the benchmark reduction. We compare our findings with cross-country evidence on lockdowns and mobility, discuss the economic implications for containment policies in the Philippines, and suggest additional research that can be based on this novel dataset.
Predicting terrorist attacks in the United States using localized news data
Authors: Krieg Steven J. , Smith Christian W. , Chatterjee Rusha , Chawla Nitesh V.
Published: June 2022

Terrorism is a major problem worldwide, causing thousands of fatalities and billions of dollars in damage every year. To address this threat, we propose a novel feature representation method and evaluate machine learning models that learn from localized news data in order to predict whether a terrorist attack will occur on a given calendar date and in a given state. The best model (a Random Forest aided by a novel variable-length moving average method) achieved area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) of ≥ 0.667 (statistically significant w.r.t. random guessing with p ≤ .0001) on four of the five states that were impacted most by terrorism between 2015 and 2018. These results demonstrate that treating terrorism as a set of independent events, rather than as a continuous process, is a fruitful approach—especially when historical events are sparse and dissimilar—and that large-scale news data contains information that is useful for terrorism prediction. Our analysis also suggests that predictive models should be localized (i.e., state models should be independently designed, trained, and evaluated) and that the characteristics of individual attacks (e.g., responsible group or weapon type) were not correlated with prediction success. These contributions provide a foundation for the use of machine learning in efforts against terrorism in the United States and beyond.
Patient experience and healthcare utilization for a COVID-19 telemedicine home monitoring program offered in English and Spanish
Authors: Vartanian Keri B. , Holtorf Megan , Cox Emily J. , Diaz George , Khurana Hargobind , Schlegel Sherene , Raganit Caroline , Ong Brandon , Czartoski Todd
Published: June 2022

Background

Telemedicine is a vital component of the healthcare system’s response to COVID-19. In March of 2020, Providence health system rapidly implemented a telemedicine home monitoring program (HMP) for COVID-19 patients that included use of at-home pulse oximeters and thermometers and text-based surveys to monitor symptoms. By June 2020, Providence updated the HMP to be offered in Spanish. This program was implemented before COVID-19 testing was readily available and therefore was offered to all patients suspected of having COVID-19. This study examines engagement, experience, and utilization patterns for English and Spanish-speaking patients engaged in the COVID-19 HMP.

Methods

A retrospective review of program data was used to understand HMP patient engagement (responsiveness to three daily text to monitor symptoms), satisfaction with the program (likelihood to recommend the program) as well as comfort using home monitoring devices and comfort recovering from home. To understand impact on care for COVID-19 confirmed cases, we used electronic health records to measure patterns in healthcare use for COVID-19 positive HMP participants and non-HMP propensity weighted controls. All patients enrolled in the COVID-19 HMP from March–October 2020 were included in the study. Patients tested for COVID-19 during the time window and not enrolled in HMP were included in the propensity-weighted comparison group. Descriptive and regression analyses were performed overall and stratified by English and Spanish speakers.

Results

Of the 4,358 HMP participants, 75.5% identified as English speakers and 18.2% identified as Spanish speakers. There was high level of responsiveness to three daily text-based surveys monitoring symptoms engagement (>80%) and a high level of comfort using the home monitoring devices (thermometers and pulse oximeters) for English- and Spanish-speaking participants (97.3% and 99.6%, respectively). The majority of English (95.7%) and Spanish-speaking (100%) patients felt safe monitoring their condition from home and had high satisfaction with the HMP (76.5% and 83.6%, respectively). English and Spanish-speaking COVID-19 positive HMP participants had more outpatient and emergency departments (ED) encounters than non-participants 7 and 30 days after their positive test.

Conclusion

This widely implemented HMP provided participants with a sense of safety and satisfaction and its use was associated with more outpatient care and ED encounters. These outcomes were comparable across English and Spanish-speakers, highlighting the importance and potential impact of language-concordant telemedicine.
How and when doula support increases confidence in women experiencing socioeconomic adversity: Findings from a realist evaluation of an Australian volunteer doula program
Authors: O’Rourke Kerryn , Yelland Jane , Newton Michelle , Shafiei Touran
Published: June 2022

How women are cared for while having a baby can have lasting effects on their lives. Women value relational care with continuity—when caregivers get to know them as individuals. Despite evidence of benefit and global policy support, few maternity care systems across the world routinely offer relational continuity. Women experiencing socioeconomic adversity have least access to good quality maternity care. Community-based doula support programs offer complementary care for these women and are known to, on average, have positive outcomes. Less understood is how, when, and why these programs work. A realist evaluation of an Australian volunteer doula program explored these questions. The program provides free social, emotional, and practical support by trained doulas during pregnancy, birth, and early parenting. This paper reports the testing and refinement of one program theory from the larger study. The theory, previously developed from key informant interviews and rapid realist review of literature, hypothesised that support increased a woman’s confidence via two possible pathways—by being with her and enabling her to see her own strength and value; and by praising her, and her feeling validated as a mother. This study aimed to test the theory in realist interviews with clients, focus groups with doulas, and with routinely collected pre-post data. Seven English-speaking and six Arabic-speaking clients were interviewed, and two focus groups with a total of eight doulas were conducted, in January-February 2020. Qualitative data were analysed in relation to the hypothesised program theory. Quantitative data were analysed for differential outcomes. Formal theories of Recognition and Relational reflexivity supported explanatory understanding. The refined program theory, Recognition, explains how and when a doula’s recognition of a woman, increases confidence, or not. Five context-mechanism-outcome configurations lead to five outcomes that differ by nature and longevity, including absence of felt confidence.
Current Trends in the Surgical Management of Intramedullary Tumors: A Multicenter Study of 1,033 Patients by the Neurospinal Society of Japan
Authors: Endo Toshiki , Inoue Tomoo , Mizuno Masaki , Kurokawa Ryu , Ito Kiyoshi , Ueda Shigeo , Takami Toshihiro , Hida Kazutoshi , Hoshimaru Minoru ,   Investigators of intramedullary spinal cord tumors in the Neurospinal Society of Japan
Published: June 2022

Objective: We performed a retrospective observational study to demonstrate the surgical risks and long-term prognoses of intramedullary tumors in Japan using a multicenter registry authorized by the Neurospinal Society of Japan.Methods: Data from 1,033 consecutive patients with intramedullary tumors, treated between 2009 and 2020, were collected from 58 centers. Patients with spinal lipomas or myxopapillary ependymomas were excluded. Patient characteristics, clinical presentations, imaging characteristics, treatments, and outcomes were analyzed. The modified McCormick scale was used to classify functional status. Survival was described using Kaplan-Meier curves, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed.Results: The mean age of the patients was 48.4 years. Data of 361 ependymomas, 196 hemangioblastomas, 168 astrocytic tumors, 160 cavernous malformations, and the remaining 126 cases including subependymomas, metastases, schwannomas, capillary hemangiomas, and intravascular B-cell lymphomas were analyzed. Twenty-two patients were undiagnosed. The mean follow-up duration was 46.1 ± 38.5 months. Gross total tumor removal was achieved in 672 tumors (65.1%). On the modified McCormick scale, 234 patients (22.7%) had worse postoperative grades at the time of discharge. However, neurological status gradually improved. At 6 months postoperatively, 251 (27.5%), 500 (54.9%), and 160 patients (17.6%) had improved, unchanged, and worsened grades, respectively. Preoperative functional status, gross total tumor removal, and histopathological type were significantly associated with mortality and functional outcomes.Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate better postoperative functional outcomes in patients with fewer preoperative neurological deficits. Degree of resection, postoperative treatments, and prognoses are closely related to the histology of intramedullary tumors.
Odontoid Incidence: A Novel Cervical Parameter Influencing Cervical Alignment From Top to Bottom
Authors: Lee Jae-Koo , Hyun Seung-Jae , Kim Ki-Jeong
Published: June 2022

Objective: By using angulation of the axis itself, this study aims to define and analyze odontoid incidence (OI) and odontoid tilt (OT) as novel cervical alignment parameters and investigate their correlations with cervical alignment.Methods: Novel and existing parameters were measured with whole-spine lateral plain radiographs and EOS images of 42 adults without cervical symptoms. The correlations of OI, OT, C2 slope (C2S), and T1 slope (T1S) were calculated.Results: The OI, OT, and C2S showed significant correlations with C2–7 angle (r = 0.43, r = -0.42, r = 0.62, respectively) and C0–2 angle (r = -0.33, r = 0.48, r = -0.61, respectively). OI, OT, T1S were independent predictors of the C2–7 angle in univariate regression analysis (adjusted-R2 = 0.17, R2 = 0.15, R2 = 0.28, respectively). OI, OT, and T1S were independent predictors in the multivariable regression analysis with estimated standardized coefficients of 0.36, -0.67, -0.69, respectively (adjusted- R2 = 0.80, p < 0.001). Regarding the C0–2 angle, OI and OT were independent predictors in the univariate regression analysis (adjusted-R2 = 0.08, R2 = 0.21, respectively).Conclusion: OI, OT, and C2S had significant correlations with cervical alignment. As the pelvic incidence, the OI is the only anatomical and constant parameter that could be used as a reference point related to the cervical spine from the rostral end. The study results may serve as baseline data for further studies on the alignment and balance of the cervical spine.
Emerging Roles of Plant Circular RNAs
Authors: Chu Qinjie , Shen Enhui , Ye Chu-Yu , Fan Longjiang , Zhu Qian-Hao
Published: June 2022

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are covalently closed single-stranded loop RNA molecules with or without protein coding capability. CircRNAs were previously considered to be splicing intermediates or artifacts but are now found to be pervasively expressed in all eukaryotes studied with some demonstrated to have important molecular functions in various biological processes. CircRNA is now a hot study topic of molecular biology. In this review, we summarize the progress achieved so far on plant circRNAs, including identification and functional characterization, compare the similarities and differences of circRNAs between plants and animals, and discuss the challenges for confident detection and functional investigation of plant circRNAs. Similar to what have been found in animals, plant genomes contain a large number of circRNAs that potentially regulate a wide range of biological progresses related to plant development and biotic/abiotic responses. Despite only a few plant circRNAs have been functionally characterized, novel function/mechanism that has not been reported in animals was revealed, implying more exciting findings about plant circRNAs are expected in future studies.
Implementation of Patient Experience Assessment and Subsequent Changes at the Ground Level in Health Care: Patient Experience Employees’ Perspective
Authors: Song Yeong-Chae , Yoon Eun-Sil , Han Se-Young , Tae Ji-Yeon , You Soo-Kyeong , Do Young-Kyung
Published: June 2022

Purpose: To examine whether the Patient Experience Assessment (PEA) has led to perceptible changes at the ground level of health care, as a way of evaluating PEA as a policy intervention for quality improvement.Methods: Four focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted, each comprising six to eight participants who were employees responsible for patient experience at their respective hospitals. The primary focus of the FGDs was on questions such as: 1) How do hospitals respond to PEA? 2) What significant changes were observed after the implementation of PEA? 3) What were the unintended consequences of implementing PEA, if any? 4) What areas of improvement have been identified for maximizing the potential of PEA?Results: Two broad themes emerged out of the FGDs: changes observed post implementation of PEA, and areas for improvement of PEA. Four significant changes were reported by participants: changes in perception and attitude regarding patient experience in hospital employees, increased active involvement by the hospital leadership, enhanced efforts to improve patient experience, and increased cooperation between such activities. Furthermore, eight areas of improvement were identified, which have been grouped in three categories: improving the process of data collection for PEA, introducing additional catalysts to facilitate further changes, and paying attention to structure- and patient-level constraints that must be addressed in parallel.Conclusion: The implementation of PEA led to perceptible changes within hospitals, which implies that it can serve as an effective catalyst for improving patient experience. A number of areas of improvement that would aid in maximizing the potential of PEA were also identified.
POTRET PERJUANGAN PEREMPUAN OLEH ISRA HADID DAN DEYA RA’AD DALAM A WOMAN IS NO MAN KARYA ETAF RUM
Authors: Mubarokati Rihaadatul 'Aisyil
Published: June 2022

A Women Is No Man presents the struggle of Isra Hadid and Deya Ra’ad to break the gender hierarchy in the family wrapped in religious dogma and try to regain their rights and freedoms as human women. Religion in this story becomes a legitimator for those main characters’ families to justify the practice of patriarchy in their traditions. Thus, the same oppression experienced by those two main female characters from different generations and growing up in different countries continues. By using the theory of Islamic feminism proposed by Wadud, the struggles experienced by Isra Hadid and Deya Ra’ad show the injustice between men’s and women’s positions in their tradition marginalizing and exploiting women, which does not exist in the understanding of Islam. This study applies the Narratology method to reveal the struggles of the two female characters by re-reading religious texts in reproducing meaning through Amina Wadud’s Islamic feminism. Islamic feminism theory is a theory that focuses on equality between men and women in Islam. Islamic feminism by Wadud tries to explain misconceptions about the status and role of women in Islam through re-reading the Qur’an and Hadith from a woman’s perspective. The results obtained from the study conclude that the inequality in the status and role of women in the Isra and Deya’s family traditions still continues to the next generation, although the intensity is reduced.
Elite in Sub-national Politics: Structure and Continuation in Post-authoritarian East Java, Indonesia
Authors: Aminuddin M. Faishal , Ramadlan M. Fajar Shodiq
Published: June 2022

Study on political elites in sub-national politics in post-1998 Indonesia did not pay much attention to identify the shifting or continuation of structural change in the post-New Order authoritarianism. From a case study in East Java, this article shows the change and continuation of political elite structure. Democratization does not necessarily produce significant changes that shift the position and privilege of the old political elites. Their organizational power might have declined, but their control over patron-client relationship remains strong. This is also finds that the political changes were, institutionally, not strong enough to cause the significant damage to the patron-client relationship developed during the New Order era. The democratization pressure has only caused the partial diversification of elites’ political affiliation while the inter-intra elite power relations model has not changed much. This explanation provides a new contribution to the understandings on the dynamics and changes in the structure of political elites in sub-national politics in the era of democratization in Indonesia.
A więc wojna! Pierwsze reakcje polskich tygodników opinii na rosyjską inwazję na Ukrainę
Authors: Demel Grzegorz
Published: June 2022

Celem artykułu jest zbadanie pierwszych reakcji polskich tygodników opinii na rosyjską inwazję na Ukrainę. Wybór obejmuje tytuły konserwatywne, centrowe i liberalne. Opierając się na konstruktywistycznym pojmowaniu rzeczywistości jako dyskursywnie konstruowanej, autor, stosując jakościową, nieustrukturyzowaną analizę treści, stara się odpowiedzieć na następujące główne pytania badawcze: jak w materiałach prasowych przedstawiane jest polskie i ukraińskie społeczeństwo? jakie wartości przedstawiane są jako fundamentalne dla Polaków pomagających ukraińskim uchodźcom, dla polskich, ukraińskich i europejskich elit oraz dla społeczeństwa ukraińskiego? które z nich są zagrożone przez wrogów wewnętrznych i zewnętrznych? Autor konkluduje, że pomimo wszystkich różnic ideologicznych między badanymi tygodnikami, ogólne ramy tematyczne, a nawet interpretacyjne, są bardzo zbliżone. Wśród nich: „Polska pomaga Ukrainie i czyni to skutecznie”, „Uchodźcy z Ukrainy zasługują na naszą pomoc i współczucie”, „społeczeństwo ukraińskie jest niezwykle zjednoczone i patriotyczne”, „wśród polskich i ukraińskich elit znajdują się »sojusznicy Putina« i powinni oni zostać ujawnieni i unieszkodliwieni”, Polska (i/lub Europa) muszą się zmienić, by przetrwać. Główne różnice dotyczą tego, kto jest „sprzymierzeńcem Putina” i jakimi wartościami należy się kierować, aby przetrwać zagrożenie.
О интерсемиотической передаче комического в аудиодескрипции к советским кинокомедиям
Authors: Mocarz-Kleindienst Maria
Published: June 2022

Audio description (AD) is an additional soundtrack in a film containing concise, verbal information about what is happening on the screen. The language of the AD should be appropriate to the genre of the film lexically and stylistically. This means that the language of AD in film comedies should contain some verbal ‘signals’ of the comic as an aesthetic category. The author of the presented research has attempted to analyse lexical and stylistic means of conveying situational comic and character comic as the two main types of comic, apart from the verbal one expressed directly in the characters’ speech. The material for the research included the following Soviet film comedies: We are from jazz (directed by K. Shakhnazarov, 1983), Autumn marathon (directed by G. Daneliya, 1979), and The twelve chairs (directed by L. Gaidai, 1971). The analysis proved that the verbal track of the AD reflects the most important peripeteia of the characters, and together with them the features of the characters (appearance, character traits), the manner of their behaviour. The set of llinguistic and stylistic means is determined by the type of the comedy.