bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Emergence of highly infectious SARS-CoV-2 variants in Bangladesh: the need for systematic genetic surveillance as a public health strategy
Authors: Hasan Mohammad Mehedi , Rocha Ian Christopher N. , Ramos Kimberly G. , Cedeño Trisha Denise D. , dos Santos Costa Ana Carla , Tsagkaris Christos , Billah Md. Masum , Ahmad Shoaib , Essar Mohammad Yasir 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBangladesh, a low-middle-income country in South Asia is facing one of its worst public health emergencies due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The increase in the number of cases from the disease, since the second half of March 2021, can potentially cause the health system overload, and has, as one of the main reasons, the non-compliance with measures of social distance and the emergence of the variants of concern in the country. This increase in the contagion curve can also provide a favorable environment for the occurrence of more mutations in the structure and genome of the virus. Therefore, there is an urge to carry out genomic surveillance programs in order to identify, monitor and characterize these variants, and understand whether the vaccines currently used are effective against them.
Comparison of different calibration techniques of laser induced breakdown spectroscopy in bakery products: on NaCl measurement
Authors: Bilge Gonca , Eseller Kemal Efe , Berberoglu Halil , Sezer Banu , Tamer Ugur , Boyaci Ismail Hakki 
Published: September 2021

AbstractLaser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a rapid optical spectroscopy technique for elemental determination, which has been used for quantitative analysis in many fields. However, the calibration involving atomic emission intensity and sample concentration, is still a challenge due to physical-chemical matrix effect of samples and fluctuations of experimental parameters. To overcome these problems, various chemometric data analysis techniques have been combined with LIBS technique. In this study, LIBS was used to show its potential as a routine analysis for Na measurements in bakery products. A series of standard bread samples containing various concentrations of NaCl (0.025%–3.5%) was prepared to compare different calibration techniques. Standard calibration curve (SCC), artificial neural network (ANN) and partial least square (PLS) techniques were used as calibration strategies. Among them, PLS was found to be more efficient for predicting the Na concentrations in bakery products with an increase in coefficient of determination value from 0.961 to 0.999 for standard bread samples and from 0.788 to 0.943 for commercial products.
Recurrent atelectasis and brain infarction in a patient with anti-neutrophil antibody negative eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis: a case report
Authors: Sada Ken-ei , Miyauchi Atsushi , Hashimoto Daisuke , Ino Riku , Nojima Shigeru , Yamanaka Shingo , Kawamura Masafumi 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Background
Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is an anti-neutrophil antibody (ANCA)-associated necrotizing vasculitis, which predominantly affects small to medium vessels, and is associated with asthma and eosinophilia. EGPA has two different pathogenic aspects: eosinophilic granulomatous inflammation and ANCA-associated inflammation. A recent histological study of peripheral nerves showed that not only ANCA-associated inflammation but also eosinophil-associated vascular occlusion leads to ischemia. Endobronchial involvement is relatively common especially in the patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis but rare in patients with EGPA. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is also rare in patients with EGPA, the pathogenesis and relationship between these two rare conditions have not been elucidated.

Case presentation
A 62-year-old woman was admitted with numbness, purpura, and eosinophilia. She had a 3-year-history of bronchial asthma. Chest computed tomography showed left lower lobe collapse, and brain magnetic resonance imaging indicated occipital lobe infarction. Skin biopsy findings led to the diagnosis of EGPA. ANCA test results were negative. All symptoms improved after initiating glucocorticoids. However, atelectasis and brain infarction relapsed with increasing eosinophil counts. Atelectasis quickly disappeared with increasing glucocorticoid dose, and glucocorticoid could be reduced to a maintenance dose after the initiation of mepolizumab.

Conclusion
Both atelectasis and brain infarction might develop not only via ANCA-associated inflammation but also via eosinophilic inflammation.
Bayesian network model to distinguish between intentional attacks and accidental technical failures: a case study of floodgates
Authors: Chockalingam Sabarathinam , Pieters Wolter , Teixeira André , van Gelder Pieter 
Published: September 2021

AbstractWater management infrastructures such as floodgates are critical and increasingly operated by Industrial Control Systems (ICS). These systems are becoming more connected to the internet, either directly or through the corporate networks. This makes them vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Abnormal behaviour in floodgates operated by ICS could be caused by both (intentional) attacks and (accidental) technical failures. When operators notice abnormal behaviour, they should be able to distinguish between those two causes to take appropriate measures, because for example replacing a sensor in case of intentional incorrect sensor measurements would be ineffective and would not block corresponding the attack vector. In the previous work, we developed the attack-failure distinguisher framework for constructing Bayesian Network (BN) models to enable operators to distinguish between those two causes, including the knowledge elicitation method to construct the directed acyclic graph and conditional probability tables of BN models. As a full case study of the attack-failure distinguisher framework, this paper presents a BN model constructed to distinguish between attacks and technical failures for the problem of incorrect sensor measurements in floodgates, addressing the problem of floodgate operators. We utilised experts who associate themselves with the safety and/or security community to construct the BN model and validate the qualitative part of constructed BN model. The constructed BN model is usable in water management infrastructures to distinguish between intentional attacks and accidental technical failures in case of incorrect sensor measurements. This could help to decide on appropriate response strategies and avoid further complications in case of incorrect sensor measurements.
Confidential machine learning on untrusted platforms: a survey
Authors: Sagar Sharma , Keke Chen 
Published: September 2021

AbstractWith the ever-growing data and the need for developing powerful machine learning models, data owners increasingly depend on various untrusted platforms (e.g., public clouds, edges, and machine learning service providers) for scalable processing or collaborative learning. Thus, sensitive data and models are in danger of unauthorized access, misuse, and privacy compromises. A relatively new body of research confidentially trains machine learning models on protected data to address these concerns. In this survey, we summarize notable studies in this emerging area of research. With a unified framework, we highlight the critical challenges and innovations in outsourcing machine learning confidentially. We focus on the cryptographic approaches for confidential machine learning (CML), primarily on model training, while also covering other directions such as perturbation-based approaches and CML in the hardware-assisted computing environment. The discussion will take a holistic way to consider a rich context of the related threat models, security assumptions, design principles, and associated trade-offs amongst data utility, cost, and confidentiality.
A low-boom and low-drag design method for supersonic aircraft and its applications on airfoils
Authors: Ye Liu-qing , Ye Zheng-yin , Ye Kun , Wu Jie , Miao Sheng-jie 
Published: September 2021

AbstractSonic boom reduction has been an urgent need for the development of future supersonic transport, because of the heavy damage of noise pollution. This paper provides a novel concept for supersonic aircraft to reduce the sonic boom and drag coefficient, wherein a suction slot near the leading edge and an injection slot near the trailing edge on the airfoil suction surface are opened. To make sure of a zero net mass flux flow control, the mass flow sucked in near the leading edge is equal to the mass flow injected near the trailing edge. The diamond and NACA0008 airfoils are adopted as the baseline airfoil to verify the capability of the proposed design method. The effects of the suction and injection location, the suction and injection slot size, the mass flow rate and the attack angle on the ground boom signature and drag coefficient are studied in detail. The results show that the optimized airfoils with the suction and injection have benefits in both sonic boom reduction and wave drag reduction. And the reduction of the sonic boom intensity is more sensitive to the injection near the trailing edge than the suction near the leading edge. From the viewpoint of aerodynamics, opening the suction and injection slots will have no adverse effect on the aerodynamic performances of the supersonic aircraft and even increase the lift-drag ratio under some circumstances. For energy saving, the suction and injection slots can be selectively opened, which are opened when the supersonic aircraft flies over the city but are closed when the aircraft flies over the sea.
An impact echo method to detect cavities between railway track slabs and soil foundation
Authors: Bahati Pierre Anthyme , Le Viet Dinh , Lim Yujin 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe impact echo technique is one of the most useful non-destructive test methods for determining the thickness of concrete or detecting possible cracks or cavities in the internal parts of a concrete structure without damaging the surface. Many types of unstable conditions in railway tracks, including various modes of irregularities, may occur when cavities are generated directly under a concrete slab track or when a slight open space is made under a loose sleeper. In this study, we developed a nondestructive testing (NDT) system for detecting abnormalities in concrete tracks and performed 3D numerical simulations using the ABAQUS finite element analysis (FEA) program to investigate the impact echo response from a concrete track slab with different sizes of cavities. Sections of concrete slab were simulated as solid body masses under the railway tracks with gaps in the bodies themselves or with cavities existing between the track concrete layer (TCL) and the hydraulically stabilized base (HSB). We investigated the locations and depths of the cavities and gaps in the model concrete slab using the acoustic impact echo response based on the frequency response of the elastic waves generated in the slab. In addition, a Short-time Fourier Transform (STFT) and a wavelet technique were adopted for a time frequency analysis. Our study demonstrated that the impact echo technique developed in this study by FEA and NDT can measure and confirm the location and depth of cavities in concrete slabs.
Cyclodextrin Complex Formation with Water-Soluble Drugs: Conclusions from Isothermal Titration Calorimetry and Molecular Modeling
Authors: Shalaby Karim S. , Ismail Muhammad I. , Lamprecht Alf 
Published: September 2021

AbstractCyclodextrin (CD) complexes are frequently used for enhancing the solubility or absorption of poorly water-soluble drugs. On the contrary, little is known about their complex formation with water-soluble drugs. Here, we have studied the interaction between 2-hydroxypropyl β-CD (HPβCD) and three water-soluble drugs, namely naloxone (NX), oxycodone (OC), and tramadol (TR), by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) combined with molecular modeling in view of the potential impact on drug release. The results showed that the complex formation of HPβCD with all three drugs occurs spontaneously. The complexes formed with NX and OC were found to be 2NX:1HPβCD and 3OC:2HPβCD, respectively. TR was found to form 2 complexes with HPβCD; of 1:2 and 1:1 complexation ratios. The binding of HPβCD to NX was greater than to OC due to the higher hydrophobicity of the structure of the former. Moreover, the binding affinity of HPβCD to TR was higher than to OC, which indicated the effect of the higher flexibility of the guest in increasing the binding affinity.In vitrodrug release experiments from the various complexes revealed a significant impact of the stoichiometry of the complex on the release profiles. Accordingly, the co-administration of cyclodextrins with water-soluble drugs should be closely monitored, as it may result in unintentional complex formation that can potentially impact the drugs’ gastrointestinal absorption.
Infections of the Peripheral Nervous System
Authors: LoRusso Samantha 
Published: September 2021

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE OF REVIEW
This article describes infections that affect the peripheral nervous system, including their clinical features, differential diagnoses, and treatments.

RECENT FINDINGS
Rates of pyomyositis have increased recently in the United States, possibly because of an increase in risk factors such as IV drug use, obesity, and diabetes. Other peripheral nervous system infections, such as diphtheria, have become more common in older patients secondary to a lack of revaccination or waning immunity. Although recommended treatment regimens for most infections remain unchanged over recent years, debate over the ideal dosing and route of administration continues for some infections such as tetanus and leprosy (Hansen disease).

SUMMARY
Infections of the peripheral nervous system are varied in terms of the type of infection, localization, and potential treatment. Nerve conduction studies and EMG can help determine localization, which is key to determining an initial differential diagnosis. It is important to recognize infections quickly to minimize diagnostic delays that could lead to patient morbidity and mortality.
Neurosyphilis
Authors: Chow Felicia 
Published: September 2021

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE OF REVIEW
This article focuses on the epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of neurosyphilis, with an emphasis on clinically relevant issues faced by the practicing neurologist.

RECENT FINDINGS
The incidence of primary and secondary syphilis, the sexually transmissible stages of infection, has been on the rise for the past 2 decades. A concerning recent trend is the surge in cases of syphilis in women and of congenital syphilis. Neurosyphilis remains a relatively common complication that can occur at any stage of syphilis. Along with meningitis, meningovascular syphilis, which has been historically described as a late presentation of neurosyphilis, now frequently occurs as a manifestation of early infection. Late forms of neurosyphilis, including tabes dorsalis and general paresis, are less prevalent in the era of widespread penicillin use. As more laboratories adopt the reverse-sequence algorithm for syphilis testing, patients with serodiscordant results (ie, a reactive serum treponemal test with a nonreactive nontreponemal test) may present an increasingly encountered diagnostic challenge for neurologists. Although the CSF Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) remains a mainstay of diagnostic testing for neurosyphilis, using a higher titer cutoff (greater than 1:320) for the Treponema pallidum particle agglutination assay (TPPA) from the CSF may improve the utility of the TPPA as a supporting criterion for the diagnosis of neurosyphilis. Penicillin G is the treatment of choice for neurosyphilis, although ceftriaxone may be a reasonable alternative therapy.

SUMMARY
A high index of suspicion and awareness of the variable clinical presentations of neurosyphilis are essential to the approach to this treatable infection. Neurologists should be mindful of the limitations of serologic testing in the diagnosis of neurosyphilis and exercise clinical judgment to determine the likelihood of the diagnosis.
Neurologic Infections in Patients on Immunomodulatory and Immunosuppressive Therapies
Authors: Anand Pria 
Published: September 2021

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Both broadly immunosuppressive medications and selective immunomodulatory agents that act on particular components of the immune system are increasingly used in the treatment of neurologic and non-neurologic diseases. These therapies predispose patients to particular infections, some of which may affect the nervous system. Therefore, familiarity with the clinical and radiologic features of neurologic infections associated with specific immunomodulatory therapies is of importance for the practicing neurologist. This article reviews these neuroinfectious conditions, as well as other neurologic complications unique to transplant recipients and other patients who are immunocompromised.

RECENT FINDINGS
Diagnosis of infectious pathogens in patients who are immunocompromised may be particularly challenging because a decreased immune response can lead to atypical imaging or laboratory findings. Next-generation sequencing and other novel diagnostic modalities may improve the rate of early identification of neurologic infections in patients who are immunocompromised and ultimately ameliorate outcomes in this vulnerable population.

SUMMARY
A broad range of bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections of the nervous system can complicate solid organ and hematopoietic cell transplantation as well as other forms of immunocompromise. In addition to neurologic infections, such patients are at risk of neurotoxic and neuroinflammatory complications related to immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive therapies. Early recognition of infectious and noninfectious complications of immunocompromise is essential to guide appropriate treatment, which can include antimicrobial therapy and, in some cases, withdrawal of the predisposing medication with a transition to an alternative regimen.
Neurologic Manifestations of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection
Authors: Nath Avindra 
Published: September 2021

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE OF REVIEW
This article describes the spectrum of neurologic complications associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, their underlying pathology and pathogenic mechanisms, gaps in knowledge, and current therapeutic strategies.

RECENT FINDINGS
COVID-19 is the clinical syndrome caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. It can affect the entire neuraxis, and presentations in the acute phase are variable, although anosmia is a common manifestation. Encephalopathy is common in patients who are hospitalized and is often associated with multiorgan involvement. Immune-mediated encephalitis is probably underrecognized; however, viral encephalitis is rare. Other manifestations include stroke, seizures, myelitis, and peripheral neuropathies, including Guillain-Barré syndrome, which sometimes has atypical manifestations. Treatment is symptomatic, and immunotherapies have been used successfully in some patients. Long-term complications include dysautonomia, exercise intolerance, malaise, sleep disturbances, cognitive impairment, and mood disorders.

SUMMARY
Neurologic manifestations of COVID-19 may occur in the acute setting and may be independent of respiratory manifestations. Immune-mediated syndromes and cerebrovascular complications are common. Large populations of patients are expected to have long-term neurologic complications of COVID-19, many of which may emerge only after recovery from the acute illness.
Encephalitis and Brain Abscess
Authors: Venkatesan Arun 
Published: September 2021

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE OF REVIEW
This article reviews infections of the brain parenchyma and includes an overview of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnostic approach, and management of infectious encephalitis and brain abscess.

RECENT FINDINGS
The epidemiology of infectious encephalitis and brain abscess has changed in recent years. Vaccination has reduced the incidence of certain viruses associated with encephalitis, while a decrease in fulminant otogenic infections has led to fewer brain abscesses associated with otitis media. However, changes in climate and human population density and distribution have enabled the emergence of newer pathogens and expanded the geographic range of others, and greater adoption of intensive immunosuppressive regimens for autoimmune conditions has increased the risk of opportunistic infections of the brain. The widespread use of early neuroimaging, along with improved diagnostic methodologies for pathogen detection, newer antimicrobial therapies with better brain penetration, and less invasive neurosurgical techniques, has resulted in better outcomes for patients with infectious encephalitis and brain abscess. Novel technologies including metagenomic next-generation sequencing are increasingly being applied to these conditions in an effort to improve diagnosis. Nevertheless, both infectious encephalitis and brain abscess continue to be associated with substantial mortality.

SUMMARY
Infectious encephalitis and brain abscess can present as neurologic emergencies and require rapid assessment, thorough and appropriate diagnostic testing, and early initiation of empiric therapies directed against infectious agents. Close clinical follow-up, proper interpretation of diagnostic results, and appropriate tailoring of therapeutic agents are essential to optimizing outcomes. Diagnosis and management of parenchymal brain infections are complex and often best achieved with a multidisciplinary care team involving neurologists, neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, infectious disease physicians, and pathologists.