bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fundamentals of pathology
Authors: Tyukavin Aleksandr
Published: September 2021

The textbook reveals the concepts of health and disease, presents modern ideas about the causes and conditions of the occurrence of actual types of pathology. The importance of molecular genetic factors of heredity and reactivity in the formation of typical pathological processes is shown. The main regularities and features of manifestations of organ and system dysfunction in various types of pathology are described. Special attention is paid to the causes and mechanisms of development of socially significant diseases of the heart and blood vessels, brain, respiratory organs and other vital systems of the body. A separate section of the textbook provides up-to-date information on first aid. The criteria of safe conditions for first aid are described; the main clinical manifestations of emergency conditions in accidents, injuries, poisoning and diseases are described. A list of first aid measures for life-threatening conditions is presented.
The cloud service contains a video of the basic algorithm for conducting cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a pharmacy or office.
It is written in accordance with the program of the academic discipline "Fundamentals of Pathology" in the specialty 33.02.01 "Pharmacy" and refers to the educational and methodological publications of the cycle of general professional disciplines for students of pharmaceutical technical schools.
Mikhail Prishvin and Russian culture of the XIX-XX centuries: dialogues with the epoch
Authors: Podoksenov Aleksandr
Published: September 2021

The monograph examines the problem of M. M. Prishvin's creative dialogue with outstanding figures of Russian culture: V. V. Rozanov, D. S. Merezhkovsky, G. V. Plekhanov, I. A. Bunin, A. A. Blok, M. Gorky, N. O. Lossky, A. F. Losev. The influence of their philosophical and ideological ideas on the writer's art is analyzed.
It is addressed to cultural scientists, philosophers, philologists and anyone interested in Russian literature.
Criminal law. General part
Authors: Dvoryanskov Ivan , Antonyan Elena , Borovikov Sergey , Bugera Natal'ya , Grishko Aleksandr , Efremova Irina , Zhitkov Aleksey , Kanubrikov Vitaliy , Kiryushina Lyubov' , Kruglikov Lev , Liholetov Aleksandr , Namnyaseva Viktoriya , Pavlov Al'bert , Petrova Irina , Seredin Aleksey , Sokolov Nikolay , Tihonova Svetlana , Har'kovskiy Evgeniy
Published: September 2021

The textbook is prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, federal laws, international legal acts. The concepts, categories and institutions of the General Part of criminal Law are considered in detail. All changes in the criminal legislation have been taken into account, and the latest scientific, educational and methodological literature on criminal law has been used. The material is presented in an accessible form for effective assimilation of the training course.
The publication contains regulatory legal material as of May 1, 2021.
Meets the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation in the areas of training 40.03.01 "Jurisprudence", 40.05.01 "Legal support of national security", 40.05.02 "Law enforcement", 40.05.03 "Forensic examination", 40.05.04 "Judicial and prosecutorial activities".
For students, cadets, trainees studying in these areas of training, judges, law enforcement officers, as well as for anyone interested in criminal law issues.
The Caucasus in the History of Russia
Authors: Bocharnikov Igor'
Published: September 2021

The monograph defines the origins, essence and content of the Caucasian policy of Russia, its main stages, its significance for the development of Russian statehood and the peoples of the region.
The monograph pays special attention to the Caucasian wars of Russia, the experience of suppressing anti-Russian and anti-Soviet armed demonstrations in the region. The historical and modern experience of the development of the Caucasus region shows that the weakening of Russia's position in the region naturally leads to an escalation of tension and conflict, aggravation of inter-ethnic contradictions, manifestations of extremism and other forms of destructive activities that threaten the life of citizens and peoples of the Caucasus. As a result, the strength of Russia's position in the Caucasus is a guarantee of the safe and free development of the peoples of the region.
The author's conclusions and suggestions presented in the monograph can be used in the process of implementing a balanced and verified policy in order to ensure the national security and interests of the Russian Federation in the North Caucasus, building relations with neighboring states in the region, as well as other international actors positioning their involvement in the political processes of the South Caucasus.
It is addressed to researchers, teachers, students, a wide range of readers.
Clifford Geometric Algebra
Authors: Kondrat'ev Gennadiy
Published: September 2021

The monograph is devoted to the fundamental aspects of geometric algebra and closely related issues. The category of Clifford algebras is considered as the conjugate category of vector spaces with a quadratic form. Possible constructions in this category and internal algebraic operations of an algebra with a geometric interpretation are studied. An application to the differential geometry of a Euclidean manifold based on a shape tensor is included.
We consider products, coproducts and tensor products in the category of associative algebras with application to the decomposition of Clifford algebras into simple components. Spinors are introduced. Methods of matrix representation of the Clifford algebra are studied.
It may be of interest to students, postgraduates and specialists in the field of mathematics, physics and cybernetics.
POETISAS LIBERTINAS DE AL-ÁNDALUS.
Authors: Félix Bellido Juan
Published: September 2021

Mientras la Península Ibérica estaba bajo el poder musulmán, en Al-Ándalus se levantaron una serie de mujeres que, con sus poemas, rompieron los moldes de la sociedad de la época. Este trabajo trata de analizar las figuras de estas “poetas libertinas” a través de sus textos que muestran la libertad que gozaban y cómo fueron representadas dentro su propia sociedad.
EL SUR, ESPACIO DEL RECUERDO, EN LA OBRA DE CONCHA LAGOS.
Authors: Soler Arteaga María Jesús
Published: September 2021

El tratamiento del espacio y del tiempo son vitales en la literatura, independientemente del género literario, la amplia producción de Concha Lagos es testigo de ello, sobre todo en sus reflexiones sobre el sur. El objetivo de este estudio es analizar el papel del espacio en el poemario de Concha Lagos recogido en la antología preparada por Emilio Miró en 1976y su importancia a lo largo de los textos.
INMIGRANTES DELINCUENTES EN PRENSA: UN PASO MÁS ALLA´DEL DISCURSO DE LA INMIGRACIÓN COMO PROBLEMA.
Authors: Villalobos Cristina
Published: September 2021

Los inmigrantes suelen ser considerados ilegales o incluso delincuentes por los medios de comunicación, cuyos discursos son cada vez más duros y, además, los responsabiliza de un aumento en la delincuencia. En este trabajo, analizaremos cómo estos discursos han aumentado la xenofobia y el racismo en la sociedad y la importancia de la prensa ante este problema.
Chasing Diamonds and Crowns: Consumer Limited Attention and Seller Response
Authors: Zhong Zemin (Zachary)
Published: September 2021

Online platforms often assign sellers summary symbols based on whether their ratings pass certain thresholds. Consumers may focus on the symbols and pay limited attention to the ratings. This bias leads to discontinuously increased demand at the thresholds. I use a theoretical model to illustrate that sellers will lower the prices before their ratings reach the thresholds and increase their prices afterward due to the positive demand shock. I collect data from Taobao to test the theoretical predictions. Using regression discontinuity, I find that on the demand side, the hourly sales increase significantly when a seller passes the threshold, even conditional on the same item. On the supply side, the prices indeed exhibit a V-shaped pattern with respect to the ratings. Furthermore, sellers preemptively increase prices shortly before reaching thresholds, supporting the theoretical predictions.

This paper was accepted by Juanjuan Zhang, marketing.
Investigation of Faculty Members’ Emotional Intelligence
Authors: Tasci Gulsah , Titrek Osman
Published: September 2021

The main aim of the present study is to investigate the emotional intelligence of faculty members based on their career stage and gender. In the study, a mixed method was employed to determine the emotional intelligence of faculty members and to reach generalizable findings. The convenience sampling method was used in the quantitative study, while the quota sampling method was used in the qualitative section. The quantitative section sample included faculty members in various stages in their careers. In the qualitative dimension, the sample included faculty members who participated in the quantitative application. The quantitative study findings demonstrated that there were significant differences between the emotional intelligence competencies of female and male faculty members in the workplace based on the empathy and self-awareness dimensions. The qualitative study findings revealed that there were differences between the emotional intelligence dimensions, especially based on the career stage and gender. Recommendations are presented based on the study findings.
Applying the Lesson Study Model in Developing Teaching Capability for Young Teachers in Vietnam
Authors: Huong Le Thi Thu , Quynh Nguyen Thi Thuy , Ngoc Nguyen Thi , Duc Nguyen Mau
Published: September 2021

The initial period of young teachers' careers is always significant in developing their professional capability. This is when teachers start coming into contact with practical teaching, which is more diversified than the theoretical training at the University. In this research, the authors propose a process of combining the Lesson Study model with the micro-lesson teaching method. This process helps young teachers, especially those working in the Northern of Vietnam, improve their planning and implementation of a lesson plan following the Lesson Study model. It has four steps: (1). Plan a Lesson Study; (2). Organize demo teaching and attend lessons; (3): Self-evaluate and discuss lessons; (4): Apply for practical teaching. The methodology research is carried out on 62 young teachers in Vietnam to measure the pre-impact and post-impact results. The results reveal that the researched group has made significant progress on their teaching performances (the average points for their capability of planning lessons have increased from 2.54 to 3.28 and the average points for their capability of implementing lesson plans have increased from 2.48 to 3.18). This development can be considered as an excellent experience to bring the Lesson Study model into Vietnamese schools to improve teaching sustainably.
Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric validation of the Indonesian version of the Oxford Hip Score
Authors: Silitonga Jamot , Djaja Yoshi Pratama , Dilogo Ismail Hadisoebroto , Pontoh Ludwig Andribert Powantia
Published: September 2021

Aims

The aim of this study was to perform a cross-cultural adaptation of Oxford Hip Score (OHS) to Indonesian, and to evaluate its psychometric properties.

Methods

We performed a cross-cultural adaptation of Oxford Hip Score into Indonesian language (OHS-ID) and determined its internal consistency, test-retest reliability, measurement error, floor-ceiling effect, responsiveness, and construct validity by hypotheses testing of its correlation with Harris Hip Score (HHS), vsual analogue scale (VAS), and Short Form-36 (SF-36). Adults (> 17 years old) with chronic hip pain (osteoarthritis or osteonecrosis) were included.

Results

A total of 125 patients were included, including 50 total hip arthroplasty (THA) patients with six months follow-up. The OHS questionnaire was translated into Indonesian and showed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.89) and good reliability (intraclass correlation = 0.98). The standard error of measurement value of 2.11 resulted in minimal detectable change score of 5.8. Ten out of ten (100%) a priori hypotheses were met, confirming the construct validity. A strong correlation was found with two subscales of SF-36 (pain and physical function), HHS (0.94), and VAS (-0.83). OHS-ID also showed good responsiveness for post-THA series. Floor and ceiling effect was not found.

Conclusion

The Indonesian version of OHS showed similar reliability and validity with the original OHS. This questionnaire will be suitable to assess chronic hip pain in Indonesian-speaking patients. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2(9):765–772.
In Memoriam: Jane M. Simmons, 1963–2021
Authors: Saleh Adel A. M. , Iannone Patrick P. , Chan Vincent W. S.
Published: September 2021

Colleagues pay tribute to Jane M. Simmons, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Optical Communications and Networking, who passed unexpectedly on 25 August 2021.
Airy–Gaussian vortex beams in the fractional nonlinear-Schrödinger medium
Authors: He Shangling , Zhou Kangzhu , Malomed Boris A. , Mihalache Dumitru , Zhang Liping , Tu Jialong , Wu You , Zhao Jiajia , Peng Xi , He Yingji , Zhou Xiang , Deng Dongmei
Published: September 2021

We address the propagation of vortex beams with the circular Airy–Gaussian shape in a (

2

+

1

)-dimensional optical waveguide modeled by the fractional nonlinear Schrödinger equation. Systematic analysis of autofocusing of the beams reveals a strongly non-monotonous dependence of peak intensity in the focal plane on the corresponding Lévy index

α

, with a strong maximum at

α
∼
1.4

. Effects of the nonlinearity strength, the ratio of widths of the Airy and Gaussian factors in the input, as well as the beams’ vorticity on the autofocusing dynamics are explored. In particular, multiple autofocusing events occur if the nonlinearity is strong enough. Under the action of azimuthal modulational instability, an axisymmetric beam may split into a set of separating bright spots. In the case of strong fractality (for

α

close to one), the nonlinear beams self-trap, after the first instance of autofocusing, into a breathing vortical quasi-soliton. Radiation forces induced by the beams’ field are considered too, and a capture position for a probe nanoparticle is thus identified.
Lateral confinement enhanced membrane laser on Si with a buried-ridge-waveguide structure
Authors: Takahashi Naoki , Fang Weicheng , Ohiso Yoshitaka , Amemiya Tomohiro , Nishiyama Nobuhiko
Published: September 2021

The energy consumption of light sources must be reduced to realize on-chip optical interconnects. This study proposes a buried-ridge-waveguide (BRW) structure to enhance the lateral optical confinement. An increase in the lateral optical confinement induces the reduction in the threshold current, and it also provides a differential resistance due to a reduction in the distance between the electrode and active region. The stripe width and ridge height are designed considering the internal loss and differential resistance. A comparison between the BRW and conventional flat structures demonstrates a 20% and 35% reduction in the threshold current and differential resistance, respectively.
Dispersion curves of a slab waveguide with a nonlinear covering medium and an exponential graded-index thin film (transverse magnetic case)
Authors: Taya Sofyan A. , Hussein Aya J. , Ramahi Omar M. , Colak Ilhami , Chaouche Youcef Braham
Published: September 2021

A slab waveguide that comprises a linear substrate, an exponentially graded-index guiding layer, and a power-dependent refractive index covering medium is investigated. All layers are assumed dielectric. The guiding film index is described by a function

n
(
x
)

, which changes exponentially from the cover-film interface to the substrate. The solution of the Helmholtz equation in the guiding layer is found as Bessel’s functions of the first and second kinds, the order of which is

V

b

, where

V

and

b

are two asymmetry parameters called normalized film thickness and normalized guide index, respectively. The dispersion relation is obtained, and the dispersion properties are investigated. We found that there is no cutoff thickness for small asymmetry coefficient (

a

) values due to the nonlinear covering medium. The properties of the waveguide structure are determined by the graded-index function, and the effect of the cover layer nonlinearity is highly reduced and contributes almost nothing to the dispersion properties for large values of

a

. The

b

-values do not exceed unity, which means that the modes carried by the waveguide structure are guided modes.
Transmission rate Optimization by dynamic resource allocation algorithm for RF/VLC heterogeneous networks
Authors: Gao Ruimin , Wang Ping , Wang Jingyu , Yang Ting , Shi Huili , Wang Zhao , Chi Sihui , Che Hui , Guo Lixin
Published: September 2021

In this work, a dynamic resource allocation (DRA) algorithm is proposed to optimize the transmission rate subject to the access point assignment, bandwidth and transmit power allocation in RF/VLC heterogeneous networks, which combines the visible light communication (VLC) access point (AP) and radio frequency (RF) AP. To optimize the allocation among resource block (RB), subchannel and power, the time-average transmission rate is maximized under time-average transmit power budget. Specifically, the time-average optimization problem is converted into series of single timeslot online problem by Lyapunov optimization technique. Because of its complexity and non-convexity, the problem is decomposed into three independent subproblems for which a non-iterative solution is presented on the basis of Lagrange relaxation and convex optimization theory. Numerical simulations are conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed DRA algorithm. And the comparisons with two classical algorithms are also given in terms of transmission rate and system stability. This work will benefit the design and development of hybrid RF/VLC system.
Fringe-width encoded patterns for 3D surface profilometry
Authors: Li Wenbo , Fan Naiji , Wu Yanxue , Wu Gaoxu , Yang Shichao , Huang Hanlin , Yang Yang , Yang Tian , Liu Fei
Published: September 2021

This paper presents a new fringe projection method for surface-shape measurement that uses novel fringe-width encoded fringe patterns. Specifically, the projection patterns are adjusted with the width of the fringe as the codeword. The wrapped phase with coding information is obtained by using the conventional wrapped phase calculation method, and the fringe order can be identified from the wrapped phase. After the fringe order is corrected based on the region growing algorithm, the fringe order and the wrapped phase can be directly used to reconstruct the surface. Static and dynamic measurements demonstrated the ability of the method to perform 3D shape measurement with only three projected patterns, single camera and projector in the least case.
Broadband and wide-angle metamaterial absorber based on the hybrid of spoof surface plasmonic polariton structure and resistive metasurface
Authors: Zhou Fangkun , Fu Yufeng , Tan Ruiyang , Zhou Jintang , Chen Ping
Published: September 2021

Electromagnetic (EM) wave absorber with broad and robust absorption performance over wide incident angle range is persistently desired in specific applications. In this work, we propose and demonstrate a broadband and wide-angle metamaterial absorber (MA) based on a hybrid of stereo spoof surface plasmonic polariton (SSPP) structure and planar resistive metasurface. At first, we design a broadband SSPP absorber by adjusting the dispersion and loss of the artificial plasmonic structure (PS) simultaneously. Furthermore, owing to utilize its spatial phase manipulation ability, we integrate a resistive metasurface on top of the PS to construct a modified circuit analog (CA) absorber with a dispersive metamaterial spacer. The absorption mechanism of the hybrid structure is analyzed theoretically. The results indicate that the hybrid MA is equipped with broad and robust absorption performance over a wide incident angle range due to the synergistic absorption of the PS and metasurface. Finally, a prototype of the hybrid MA is fabricated by silk-printing technic and its absorption performances are measured. The experimental results can verify the theoretic ones and indicate that proposed hybrid MA can achieve 90% absorptivity from 3.9 GHz to 10.6 GHz with thickness of 7.0 mm, which is only 106% times of the ultimate thickness corresponding to the absorption performance of MA. In general, the concept and design offer a distinct approach of utilizing SSPP to design absorbers with excellent performances from radio frequency to optic band, which are promising for extensive applications.
Error performance optimization utilizing the dynamic detection cycle in a SPAD-based free space optical communication system
Authors: Wang Chen , Xu Zhiyong , Wang Jingyuan , Li Jianhua
Published: September 2021

Afterpulsing is a critical non-ideal factor of the single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) at telecommunication wavelength, which limits the performance of a SPAD-based free space optical communication (FSO) system. Afterpulsing probability (AP) is highly dependent on the SPAD detection cycle. In a conventional SPAD-based system, the detection cycle is set to a relatively large constant time length to mitigate afterpulsing. However, it will limit the SPAD counting rate and degrade system performance. In order to improve system performance, a new scheme of the dynamic detection cycle is proposed to adapt to different operation conditions. Then, a multi-exponential model of AP is built and fitted with the test data of the single photon detector QCD-300. Furthermore, based on the joint model of the multi-exponential model of AP and bit error rate (BER) model of the SPAD-based FSO system, a simple and effective optimization algorithm is developed to optimize the detection cycle. And the optimization of the detection cycle under different operation conditions is also investigated. The results indicate that optimal detection cycle is dominated by signal light, background radiation, and SPAD gate length. Compared with a conventional scheme with a constant detection cycle, the proposed scheme with the dynamic detection cycle can improve system error performance effectively.
2-MW peak-power pulses from a dispersion-managed fluoride fiber amplifier at 2.8  µm
Authors: Zhou Yicheng , Qin Zhipeng , Yuan Peng , Ma Jingui , Xie Guoqiang
Published: September 2021

We report on a scheme of pulse amplification and simultaneous self-compression in fluoride fiber for generating a high-peak-power pulse at 2.8-µm wavelength. We find dispersion management plays a key role for the amplification and self-compression process. Through dispersion management with a Ge rod, pulse amplification and simultaneous pulse self-compression were realized in the small anomalous dispersion region. A 2-MW peak-power pulse was achieved through amplification and self-compression in Er:ZBLAN fiber, with pulse energy of 101 nJ and pulse duration of 49 fs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest peak power obtained from fluoride fiber at 2.8 µm, and will benefit a series of applications.
Optimal generation and isolation of attosecond pulses in an overdriven ionized medium
Authors: Tang Xiangyu , Wang Kan , Li Baochang , Chen Yanbo , Lin C. D. , Jin Cheng
Published: September 2021

We identify optimal conditions for the generation and isolation of attosecond pulses in an overdriven ionized medium. In a high-pressure and highly ionized gas, the spatiotemporal wavefront rotation of a driving laser can be optimized, leading to complete spatial separation of successive attosecond bursts in the far field. The resulting isolated attosecond pulses (IAPs) are much more divergent such that they are spatially separated from the driving laser in the far field. We show that the time delay of near-field harmonic emission along the radial distance determines the divergence of the attosecond burst in the far field. The generated IAPs are phase matched upon propagation in the second half of the gas medium. Validity of the generation scheme is tested at different carrier–envelope phases for a few-cycle laser pulse and by synthesizing the fundamental and its second harmonic field for a long-duration pulse.
Multispectral photoacoustic holography of elastomers from a bright background
Authors: Yang Haohui , Zhang Tao , Tao Chao , Liu Xiaojun
Published: September 2021

Photoacoustic imaging of elastomers has important biomedical value. However, a bright background, e.g., blood vessels in living tissue, brings a challenge for photoacoustic elastography. In this study, we predicted that the spectrum of photoacoustic signals from elastomers with high elasticity could appear as narrow peaks at the eigen-frequencies of elastomers, but the signals from a bright background, e.g., blood vessel, show flat broadband spectrum for their low-quality factor. Even when the two kinds of signals are mixed together, the signals from elastomers can be identified from the spectrum since they present as convex narrow peaks on a wide base. Based on this factor, we propose a multispectral photoacoustic holography to realize selective imaging of tiny elastomers. This method recovers the image only using several frequency components in photoacoustic signals, instead of the whole-band signal. Since these narrow peaks in the spectrum correspond to the eigen-vibration of elastomers, the proposed method can highlight the elastomers with high elasticity from a bright background with low elasticity. The method was validated by experiments. This study might be helpful to localize elastic anomalous areas in the tissue, such as calcification in the vascular network, microcalcification in a tumor, and implants.
10-W power light co-transmission with optically carried 5G NR signal over standard single-mode fiber
Authors: Yang Hailin , Peng Di , Qin Yuwen , Li Jianping , Xiang Meng , Xu Ou , Fu Songnian
Published: September 2021

Efficient co-transmission of 10-W power light and optically carried 5G new radio (NR) signal over standard single-mode fiber (SSMF) is experimentally demonstrated, with an optical power transmission efficiency (OPTE) of power light up to 71.8%. This efficiency record is enabled by carefully manipulating the linewidth of the power light and appropriately adjusting the wavelength spacing between the power light and 5G NR optical signal to effectively mitigate the nonlinear effect arising in the SSMF. In the experiment, the optically carried 5G NR 64-level quadrature amplitude modulation orthogonal frequency division multiplexing signal at 1550 nm, with a data rate of 1.5 Gbit/s, is successfully co-propagated with 10-W power light at 1064 nm over 1-km SSMF. The error-vector magnitude (EVM) is 0.48% under a received electrical power of

−

25

d
B
m

. In comparison with back-to-back transmission, only slight EVM degradation of 0.02% is observed, showing that the 5G NR optical signal is almost unaffected by the existence of power light. Moreover, the power fluctuation of the collected power light is less than 0.2% over 6 h, while the EVM fluctuation is smaller than 0.01% within 30 min. Our scheme is promising to realize an optically powered remote antenna unit through the existing 5G fronthaul SSMF link.
All-optical switching in azo dye doped liquid crystals based on spatial cross-phase modulation
Authors: Pan Yujia , Lyu Ziyao , Wang Changshun
Published: September 2021

Two-color all-optical switching is demonstrated in azo dye doped nematic liquid crystals by means of the spatial cross-phase modulation (SXPM) method. A 633 nm light with the power below the diffraction excitation threshold diffracts into concentric rings under the irradiation of a 532 nm light. The ring number and size of the diffraction pattern of the 633 nm light increases with the power of the 532 nm light rising. Taking advantages of the unique physical and optical properties of the liquid crystals, the circular symmetry of the diffraction pattern of the 633 nm is well preserved. It indicates that the irregular and unpredictable distortion of the diffraction pattern caused by the light induced thermal convection could be eliminated, providing potential applications prospect in designing advanced optical devices for all-optical information conversion. In addition, it is found that the SXPM phenomenon between the two lights only happens when the two beams are merged together. Even a small intersection angle between the two lights could change the obtained pattern of the 633 nm light completely.
Regulation of integrin and extracellular matrix genes by HNRNPL is necessary for epidermal renewal
Authors: Li Jingting , Chen Yifang , Tiwari Manisha , Bansal Varun , Sen George L.
Published: September 2021

Stratified epithelia such as the epidermis require coordinated regulation of stem and progenitor cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation to maintain homeostasis. Integrin-mediated anchorage of the basal layer stem cells of the epidermis to the underlying dermis through extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins is crucial for this process. It is currently unknown how the expression of these integrins and ECM genes are regulated. Here, we show that the RNA-binding protein (RBP) heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L (HNRNPL) binds to these genes on chromatin to promote their expression. HNRNPL recruits RNA polymerase II (Pol II) to integrin/ECM genes and is required for stabilizing Pol II transcription through those genes. In the absence of HNRNPL, the basal layer of the epidermis where the stem cells reside prematurely differentiates and detaches from the underlying dermis due to diminished integrin/ECM expression. Our results demonstrate a critical role for RBPs on chromatin to maintain stem and progenitor cell fate by dictating the expression of specific classes of genes.
Differences in olfactory bulb mitral cell spiking with ortho- and retronasal stimulation revealed by data-driven models
Authors: Craft Michelle F. , Barreiro Andrea K. , Gautam Shree Hari , Shew Woodrow L. , Ly Cheng
Published: September 2021

The majority of olfaction studies focus on orthonasal stimulation where odors enter via the front nasal cavity, while retronasal olfaction, where odors enter the rear of the nasal cavity during feeding, is understudied. The coding of retronasal odors via coordinated spiking of neurons in the olfactory bulb (OB) is largely unknown despite evidence that higher level processing is different than orthonasal. To this end, we use multi-electrode array in vivo recordings of rat OB mitral cells (MC) in response to a food odor with both modes of stimulation, and find significant differences in evoked firing rates and spike count covariances (i.e., noise correlations). Differences in spiking activity often have implications for sensory coding, thus we develop a single-compartment biophysical OB model that is able to reproduce key properties of important OB cell types. Prior experiments in olfactory receptor neurons (ORN) showed retro stimulation yields slower and spatially smaller ORN inputs than with ortho, yet whether this is consequential for OB activity remains unknown. Indeed with these specifications for ORN inputs, our OB model captures the salient trends in our OB data. We also analyze how first and second order ORN input statistics dynamically transfer to MC spiking statistics with a phenomenological linear-nonlinear filter model, and find that retro inputs result in larger linear filters than ortho inputs. Finally, our models show that the temporal profile of ORN is crucial for capturing our data and is thus a distinguishing feature between ortho and retro stimulation, even at the OB. Using data-driven modeling, we detail how ORN inputs result in differences in OB dynamics and MC spiking statistics. These differences may ultimately shape how ortho and retro odors are coded.
Biomedical Data Commons (BMDC) prioritizes B-lymphocyte non-coding genetic variants in Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Piekos Samantha N. , Gaddam Sadhana , Bhardwaj Pranav , Radhakrishnan Prashanth , Guha Ramanathan V. , Oro Anthony E.
Published: September 2021

The repurposing of biomedical data is inhibited by its fragmented and multi-formatted nature that requires redundant investment of time and resources by data scientists. This is particularly true for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), one of the most intensely studied common childhood diseases. Intense investigation of the contribution of pancreatic β-islet and T-lymphocytes in T1D has been made. However, genetic contributions from B-lymphocytes, which are known to play a role in a subset of T1D patients, remain relatively understudied. We have addressed this issue through the creation of Biomedical Data Commons (BMDC), a knowledge graph that integrates data from multiple sources into a single queryable format. This increases the speed of analysis by multiple orders of magnitude. We develop a pipeline using B-lymphocyte multi-dimensional epigenome and connectome data and deploy BMDC to assess genetic variants in the context of Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). Pipeline-identified variants are primarily common, non-coding, poorly conserved, and are of unknown clinical significance. While variants and their chromatin connectivity are cell-type specific, they are associated with well-studied disease genes in T-lymphocytes. Candidates include established variants in the HLA-DQB1 and HLA-DRB1 and IL2RA loci that have previously been demonstrated to protect against T1D in humans and mice providing validation for this method. Others are included in the well-established T1D GRS2 genetic risk scoring method. More intriguingly, other prioritized variants are completely novel and form the basis for future mechanistic and clinical validation studies The BMDC community-based platform can be expanded and repurposed to increase the accessibility, reproducibility, and productivity of biomedical information for diverse applications including the prioritization of cell type-specific disease alleles from complex phenotypes.
Levels of SARS-CoV-2 population exposure are considerably higher than suggested by seroprevalence surveys
Authors: Chen Siyu , Flegg Jennifer A. , White Lisa J. , Aguas Ricardo
Published: September 2021

Accurate knowledge of prior population exposure has critical ramifications for preparedness plans for future SARS-CoV-2 epidemic waves and vaccine prioritization strategies. Serological studies can be used to estimate levels of past exposure and thus position populations in their epidemic timeline. To circumvent biases introduced by the decay in antibody titers over time, methods for estimating population exposure should account for seroreversion, to reflect that changes in seroprevalence measures over time are the net effect of increases due to recent transmission and decreases due to antibody waning. Here, we present a new method that combines multiple datasets (serology, mortality, and virus positivity ratios) to estimate seroreversion time and infection fatality ratios (IFR) and simultaneously infer population exposure levels. The results indicate that the average time to seroreversion is around six months, IFR is 0.54% to 1.3%, and true exposure may be more than double the current seroprevalence levels reported for several regions of England.
An improved deep forest model for prediction of e-commerce consumers’ repurchase behavior
Authors: Zhang Weiwei , Wang Mingyan
Published: September 2021

As the Internet retail industry continues to rise, more and more consumers choose to shop online, especially Chinese consumers. Using consumer behavior data left on the Internet to predict repurchase behavior is of great significance for companies to achieve precision marketing. This paper proposes an improved deep forest model, and the interactive behavior characteristics of users and goods are added into the original feature model to predict the repurchase behavior of e-commerce consumers. Based on the Alibaba mobile e-commerce platform data set, first construct a feature engineering that includes user characteristics, product characteristics, and interactive behavior characteristics. And then use our proposed model to make predictions. Experiments show that the model’s overall performance with increased interactive behavior features is better and has higher accuracy. Compared with the existing prediction models, the improved deep forest model has certain advantages, which not only improves the prediction accuracy but also reduces the cost of training time.
Distribution of spontaneous combustion three zones and optimization of nitrogen injection location in the goaf of a fully mechanized top coal caving face
Authors: Qi Yun , Wang Wei , Qi Qingjie , Ning Zhangxuan , Yao Youli
Published: September 2021

In order to effectively prevent and control spontaneous combustion of residual coal in the goaf and reduce the waste of nitrogen caused by setting the position of nitrogen injection, 1303 fully mechanized coal caving faces of the Jinniu Mine are studied. By deploying a bundle tube monitoring system in the inlet air side and return air side of the goaf, changes in gas concentration in the goaf are continuously monitored. In addition, the distribution area for spontaneous combustion three-zone in the goaf is divided into heat dissipation zone, oxidized spontaneous combustion zone, and suffocation zone. Simulations from the COMSOL Multiphysics 5.3 software provide insight based on the three zones division standard of spontaneous combustion in the goaf. The gradual deepening of the nitrogen injection position into the goaf affects the lower limit of the oxidized spontaneous combustion zone significantly, but the impact on the upper limit of the oxidized spontaneous combustion zone is not obvious and is negligible. With regard to the width of the oxidized spontaneous combustion zone, it initially decreases followed by a gradual increase. Numerical calculations suggest the optimal nitrogen injection position is 40 m from the roof cutting line, with an oxidized spontaneous combustion zone width of 28 m. Based on the simulation analysis results, nitrogen injection controlling measures have been adopted for spontaneous combustion of residual coal in the goaf of the 1303 fully mechanized coal caving faces, and coal self-ignition in the goaf has been successfully extinguished.
Getting along to get ahead: The role of social context in tournament promotion and reward systems
Authors: Banks George C. , Whelpley Christopher E. , Crawford Eean R. , O’Boyle Ernest H. , Kepes Sven
Published: September 2021

Tournament theory posits that some organizations are modeled after sports tournaments whereby individuals are incentivized to compete and win against other members of the organization. A persistent criticism of tournament theory is that rank-order success of employees is entirely dependent onnon-interactingor at least non-cooperating entities. To address what part, if any, cooperation plays in competitive tournaments, this study examines the role of social networks in tournament-style promotion and reward systems. Specifically, we seek to identify the importance of social relationships, such as group dissimilarity, initial tie formation, and tie strength in predicting tournament success. Bringing two largely independent research streams together (one focused on cooperation and one framed around competition), we examine how individuals’ performance interacts with their social relationships—their social networks—to influence their chances of winning a tournament. Using the Survivor television series, we analyze the behaviors of 535 interacting contestants across 30 tournaments. In general, the findings help to illustrate how performance and social networks predict tournament advancement. Interestingly, we find that group dissimilarity based on gender, race, and age, largely does not play a role in advancement in the tournaments. Further, the strength of ties fails to mediate between variables such as group dissimilarity and initial tie formation. We conclude by discussing future directions for theoretical and practical exploration of tournament-style promotion systems. Recommendations include continuing to explore and test the role of social dynamics in compensation and promotion systems.
Changing lives, dynamic plans: Prospective assessment of 12-month changes in pregnancy timing intentions and personal circumstances using data from HER Salt Lake
Authors: Geist C. , Everett B. G. , Simmons R. G. , Sanders J. N. , Gawron L. M. , Myers K. , Turok D. K.
Published: September 2021

Objectives

To explore the association between changes in personal circumstances and shifts in pregnancy intentions.

Study design

New start contraceptive clients, who desired to prevent pregnancy for at least one year enrolled in the survey arm of the HER Salt Lake Contraceptive Initiative (September 2015 –March 2017) and responded to the question “What are your future pregnancy plans?” at enrollment and 12-month follow-up. We estimated multivariable binary logistic fixed-effects regressions to examine the association between changes in personal circumstances and a change from never desiring a pregnancy at enrollment to considering one in the future at 12-month follow-up.

Results

The majority of the 2825 participants (2246, 79%) maintained their pregnancy timing intention over the 12-month study period. Multivariable analyses of the 208 participants who changed from never desiring a pregnancy to considering pregnancy in the future at 12-month follow-up indicated that entering cohabitation (aOR 3.14, 95% CI 1.30–7.58), increased household income (aOR 1.06, 95% CI 1.00–1.13), and changes from unemployment to full-time employment (aOR 5.94, 95% CI 1.29–27.36) are associated with increased the odds of desiring a future pregnancy after never wanting one a year prior.

Conclusions

Pregnancy intentions are dynamic over twelve months and covary with partner status, household income, and employment status. Pregnancy intentions are linked to changes in life circumstances. Health care providers need to frequently assess pregnancy intentions and resulting contraceptive or preconception needs.
Resilience against the pandemic: The impact of COVID-19 on migration and household welfare in Tajikistan
Authors: Shimizutani Satoshi , Yamada Eiji
Published: September 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to have adverse effects on the economy through damage to migration and remittances. We use a unique monthly household panel dataset that covers the period both before and after the outbreak to examine the impacts of COVID-19 on a variety of household welfare outcomes in Tajikistan, where remittance inflows in recent years have exceeded a quarter of annual GDP. We provide several findings. First, after April 2020, the adverse effects of the pandemic on household welfare were significantly observed and were particularly pronounced in the second quarter of 2020. Second, in contrast to expectation, the pandemic had a sharp but only transitory effect on the stock of migrants working abroad in the spring. Some expected migrants were forced to remain in their home country during the border closures, while some incumbent migrants expecting to return were unable to do so and remained employed in their destination countries. Both departures and returns started to increase again from summer. Employment and remittances of the migrants quickly recovered to levels seen in previous years after a sharp decline in April and May. Third, regression analyses reveal that both migration and remittances have helped to mitigate the adverse economic outcomes at home during the “with-COVID-19” period, suggesting that they served as a form of insurance. Overall, the unfavorable effects of the COVID-19 pandemic were severe and temporary right after the outbreak, but households with migrants were more resilient against the pandemic.
Factors associated with severe sepsis in diarrheal adults and their outcome at an urban hospital, Bangladesh: A retrospective analysis
Authors: Sarmin Monira , Begum Monjory , Islam Farhana , Afroze Farzana , Shahrin Lubaba , Sharifuzzaman  , Alam Tahmina , Shahid Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayeem Bin , Ahmed Tahmeed , Chisti Mohammod Jobayer
Published: September 2021

Background

To describe factors associated with severe sepsis in diarrheal adults and their outcomes and offender in blood and stool to understand their interplay as clinical features of sepsis and severe diarrhea often overlap.

Methods and results

We used this retrospective chart analysis employing an unmatched case-control design to study critically ill diarrheal adults aged ≥18 years treated in ICU of Dhaka hospital, icddr,b between January 2011 to December 2015. Of 8,863 in-patient diarrheal adults, 350 having severe sepsis were cases and an equal number of randomly selected non-septic patients were the controls. Cases died significantly more (14.9% vs 4.6%, p = <0.001) than controls. 69% of the cases progressed to septic shock. In logistic regression analysis, steroid intake, ileus, acute kidney injury (AKI), metabolic acidosis, and hypocalcemia were significantly associated with severe sepsis in diarrheal adults (all, p<0.05). 12% of cases (40/335) had bacteremia.Streptococcus pneumoniae[9 (22.5%)] was the single most common pathogen and gram-negatives [27 (67.5%)] were prevailing as a group.

Conclusion

Diarrheal adults who had ileus, AKI, metabolic acidosis, hypocalcemia, and also took steroids were found to have an association with severe sepsis. Strikingly, gram-negative were the predominant bacteria among the diarrheal adults having severe sepsis.
Knowledge, attitude, and practice of the National Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Malaria among medical doctors in Ebonyi state, Nigeria: A cross-sectional survey
Authors: Omale Ugwu I.
Published: September 2021

Background

The Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Malaria are meant to guide medical practitioners to enhance optimal management of patients suspected of having malaria which is vital to malarial control and elimination. Medical doctors have the main responsibility for treating patients with malaria so there was need to evaluate the extent to which the medical doctors in Ebonyi state, Nigeria, knew, viewed, and practiced the 2015 National Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Malaria.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was carried out in May, 2019 among medical doctors who were involved in the management of malaria patients and selected via convenience sampling. Data was collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire. Each respondent was categorized as having poor, fair, or good knowledge, attitude, and practice respectively based on knowledge, attitude, and practice scores of <50%, 50–75%, and >75%. Associated factors were evaluated through bivariate and multivariate binomial logistic regressions at 5% probability of type one error and the overall test for the effect of each independent factor on practice level was done using the “postestimation test” command in Stata.

Results

A total of 156 medical doctors were surveyed. Most, 138 (88.5%) were aware there was a national guideline for diagnosis and treatment of malaria. Among the medical doctors, 19 (12.2%) had good knowledge, 110 (70.5%) had fair knowledge, and 27 (17.3%) had poor knowledge; 38 (24.4%) had good attitude, 74 (47.4%) had fair attitude, and 44 (28.2%) had poor attitude; and 59 (37.8%) had good practice, 90 (57.7%) had fair practice, and 7 (4.5%) had poor practice. The attitude level of the medical doctors toward the 2015 National Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Malaria was a predictor of good practice (adjusted p-value of overall effect = 0.0003).

Conclusions

Although most of the medical doctors in Ebonyi state, Nigeria, were aware of the existence of a national guideline, only just over a third of them had good practice of the 2015 National Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Malaria. Policy interventions should focus on improving the attitude of the medical doctors toward the National Guidelines through training and re-training.