cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
Non-colliding Brownian bridges and the asymmetric tacnode process
Creators: name: Ferrari, Patrik L.
name: Veto, Balint
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2011
Subjects: subject: Probability (math.PR)
subject: Mathematical Physics (math-ph)
subject: FOS: Mathematics
subject: FOS: Physical sciences
subject: 60B20, 60G55 (Primary) 60J65, 60J10 (Secondary)

description: We consider non-colliding Brownian bridges starting from two points and returning to the same position. These positions are chosen such that, in the limit of large number of bridges, the two families of bridges just touch each other forming a tacnode. We obtain the limiting process at the tacnode, the "asymmetric tacnode process". It is a determinantal point process with correlation kernel given by two parameters: (1) the curvature's ratio λ>0 of the limit shapes of the two families of bridges, (2) a parameter σcontrolling the interaction on the fluctuation scale. This generalizes the result for the symmetric tacnode process (λ=1 case).
description: 21 pages, 1 figure, LaTeX; Includes a further representation of the kernel
Shock subtypes by left ventricular ejection fraction following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest
Creators: name: Anderson, Ryan J.
name: Jinadasa, Sayuri P.
name: Hsu, Leeyen
name: Ghafouri, Tiffany B.
name: Tyagi, Sanjeev
name: Joshua, Jisha
name: Mueller, Ariel
name: Talmor, Daniel
name: Sell, Rebecca E.
name: Beitler, Jeremy R.
Publisher: name: Columbia University
Year: 2018
Subjects: Cardiac arrest
Cardiogenic shock
Shock
Reperfusion injury
Critical care medicine

description: Background
                Post-resuscitation hemodynamic instability following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) may occur from myocardial dysfunction underlying cardiogenic shock and/or inflammation-mediated distributive shock. Distinguishing the predominant shock subtype with widely available clinical metrics may have prognostic and therapeutic value.

                Methods
                A two-hospital cohort was assembled of patients in shock following OHCA. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was assessed via echocardiography or cardiac ventriculography within 1 day post arrest and used to delineate shock physiology. The study evaluated whether higher LVEF, indicating distributive-predominant shock physiology, was associated with neurocognitive outcome (primary endpoint), survival, and duration of multiple organ failures. The study also investigated whether volume resuscitation exhibited a subtype-specific association with outcome.

                Results
                Of 162 patients with post-resuscitation shock, 48% had normal LVEF (> 40%), consistent with distributive shock physiology. Higher LVEF was associated with less favorable neurocognitive outcome (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.58–0.94 per 10% increase in LVEF; p = 0.01). Higher LVEF also was associated with worse survival (OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.67–0.97; p = 0.02) and fewer organ failure-free days (β = – 0.67, 95% CI – 1.28 to − 0.06; p = 0.03). Only 51% of patients received a volume challenge of at least 30 ml/kg body weight in the first 6 h post arrest, and the volume received did not differ by LVEF. Greater volume resuscitation in the first 6 h post arrest was associated with favorable neurocognitive outcome (OR 1.59, 95% CI 0.99–2.55 per liter; p = 0.03) and survival (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.02–2.04; p = 0.02) among patients with normal LVEF but not low LVEF.

                Conclusions
                In post-resuscitation shock, higher LVEF—indicating distributive shock physiology—was associated with less favorable neurocognitive outcome, fewer days without organ failure, and higher mortality. Greater early volume resuscitation was associated with more favorable neurocognitive outcome and survival in patients with this shock subtype. Additional studies with repeated measures of complementary hemodynamic parameters are warranted to validate the clinical utility for subtyping post-resuscitation shock.
title: Towards Robust Treatment Planning in Permanent Breast Seed Implant Brachytherapy
Creators: name: Guebert, Alexandra
Publisher: name: Science
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Breast Cancer
subject: Monte Carlo
subject: Brachytherapy
subject: Permanent Breast Seed Implant
subject: Radiation Therapy
subject: Oncology
subject: Physics--Radiation
subject: Biophysics--Medical

description: In permanent breast seed implant brachytherapy, radioactive palladium-103 seeds are implanted into the breast to treat early-stage breast cancer. Despite promising outcomes, adoption of this technique is limited by the resources and expertise required. Clinically, treatment planning requires manual optimization, and specialized skills. This thesis endeavours to improve this process by investigating the impact of delivery uncertainties on dosimetry and providing recommendations for constructing PBSI treatment plans that are robust to uncertainty. We developed a Monte Carlo algorithm to simulate PBSI delivery uncertainty. Using this simulator, we quantified the impact of random and systematic needle placement uncertainty for three idealized spherical clinical target volumes (CTVs) of varied volume. At clinically anticipated levels of uncertainty, introducing systematic errors less than 10 mm results in changes to target coverage of less than 5%, indicating that the planning target volume (PTV) margin is sufficient to account for systematic errors. Additionally, we present expressions that can be used to estimate the expected coverage based on a given institutional seed placement uncertainty. The simulation algorithm was used to produce 3000 simulated post-implant dose volume histograms for 109 patients who had received PBSI at one of two treatment centres. The simulated target coverage was used to quantify the robustness of each treatment plan. We analyzed correlations between planned PTV and ETV (evaluation target volume) DVH indices, and the simulated ETV coverage. The planned ETV D90% was found to exhibit the strongest correlations to median target coverage leading us to recommend that the ETV D90% be assessed at treatment planning. Correlations between geometric characteristics related to the implant volume, and simulated target coverage were assessed, finding that smaller ETV volumes exhibited more variability in simulated target coverage. A strong correlation was observed between the mean ETV-PTV margin and simulated target coverage. For 90% probability of delivering at least 90% of the prescription dose to at least 90% of the target volume, a planned ETV D90% of 124 Gy and a mean ETV-PTV margin of at least 6 mm are recommended.
Quantum anomalous Hall effect on star lattice with spin-orbit coupling and exchange field
Creators: name: Chen, Mengsu
name: Wan, Shaolong
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2012
Subjects: subject: Strongly Correlated Electrons (cond-mat.str-el)
subject: Other Condensed Matter (cond-mat.other)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We study the star lattice with Rashba spin-orbit coupling and exchange field and find that there exists the quantum anomalous Hall effect in this system and there are five energy gaps at Dirac points and quadratic band crossing points. We calculate the Berry curvature distribution and obtain the Hall conductivity (Chern number $ν$) quantized as integers, and find that $ν=-1,2,1,1,2$, respectively, when the Fermi level lies in these five gaps. Our model can be view as a general quantum anomalous Hall system and, in limit cases, can give what the honeycomb lattice and kagome lattice gave. We also find there exists a nearly flat band with $ν=1$ which may provide an opportunity to realize the fractional quantum anomalous Hall effect. Finally, the chiral edge states on a zigzag star lattice are given numerically to confirm the topological property of this system.
description: 6 pages, 7 figures
Pre-Supernova Evolution of Massive Single and Binary Stars
Creators: name: Langer, N.
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2012
Subjects: subject: Solar and Stellar Astrophysics (astro-ph.SR)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: Massive stars are essential to understand a variety of branches of astronomy including galaxy and star cluster evolution, nucleosynthesis and supernovae, pulsars and black holes. It has become evident that massive star evolution is very diverse, being sensitive to metallicity, binarity, rotation, and possibly magnetic fields. While the problem to obtain a good statistical observational database is alleviated by current large spectroscopic surveys, it remains a challenge to model these diverse paths of massive stars towards their violent end stage. We show that the main sequence stage offers the best opportunity to gauge the relevance of the various possible evolutionary scenarios. This also allows to sketch the post-main sequence evolution of massive stars, for which observations of Wolf-Rayet stars give essential clues. Recent supernova discoveries due to the current boost in transient searches allow tentative mappings of progenitor models with supernova types, including pair instability supernovae and gamma-ray bursts.
description: 57 pages, 10 figures; free link to complete published paper: http://www.annualreviews.org/eprint/kf2CFBEBKi93fbcGJCBW/full/10.1146/annurev-astro-081811-125534
Access to abortion under the heath exception: a comparative analysis in three countries
Creators: name: Küng, Stephanie A.
name: Darney, Blair G.
name: Saavedra-Avendaño, Biani
name: Lohr, Patricia A.
name: Gil, Laura
Publisher: name: Columbia University
Year: 2018
Subjects: Abortion--Law and legislation
Family planning
Reproductive health

description: Background
                Despite Britain, Colombia, and some Mexican states sharing a health exception within their abortion laws, access to abortion under the health exception varies widely. This study examines factors that result in heterogeneous application of similar health exception laws and consequences for access to legal abortion. Our research adds to previous literature by comparing implementation of similar abortion laws across countries to identify strategies for full implementation of the health exception.

                Methods
                We conducted a cross-country comparative descriptive study synthesizing data from document and literature review, official abortion statistics, and interviews with key informants. We gathered information on the use and interpretation of the health exception in the three countries from peer-reviewed literature, court documents, and grey literature. We next extracted public and private abortion statistics to understand the application of the law in each setting. We used a matrix to synthesize information and identify key factors in the use of the law. We conducted in-depth interviews with doctors and experts familiar with the health exception laws in each country and analyzed the qualitative data based on the previously identified factors.

                Results
                The health exception is used broadly in Britain, somewhat in Colombia, and very rarely in Mexican states. We identified five factors as particularly salient to application of the health exception in each setting: 1) comprehensiveness of the law including explicit mention of mental health, 2) a strong public health sector that funds abortion, 3) knowledge of and attitudes toward the health exception law, including guidelines for physicians in providing abortion, 4) dissemination of information about the health exception law, and 5) a history of court cases that protect women and clarify the health exception law.

                Conclusions
                The health exception is a valuable tool for expanding access to legal abortion. Differences in the use of the health exception as an indication for legal abortion result in wide access for women in Britain to nearly no access in Mexican states. Our findings highlight the difference between theoretical and real access to legal abortion. The interpretation and application of the health exception law are pivotal to expanding real access to abortion.
Origins of the Isospin Violation of Dark Matter Interactions
Creators: name: Gao, Xin
name: Kang, Zhaofeng
name: Li, Tianjun
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2011
Subjects: subject: High Energy Physics - Phenomenology (hep-ph)
subject: Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics (astro-ph.CO)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: Light dark matter (DM) with a large DM-nucleon spin-independent cross section and furthermore proper isospin violation (ISV) $f_n/f_p\approx-0.7$ may provide a way to understand the confusing DM direct detection results. Combing with the stringent astrophysical and collider constraints, we systematically investigate the origin of ISV first via general operator analyses and further via specifying three kinds of (single) mediators: A light $Z'$ from chiral $U(1)_X$, an approximate spectator Higgs doublet (It can explain the $W+jj$ anomaly simultaneously) and color triplets. In addition, although $Z'$ from an exotic $U(1)_X$ mixing with $U(1)_Y$ generating $f_n=0$, we can combine it with the conventional Higgs to achieve proper ISV. As a concrete example, we propose the $U(1)_X$ model where the $U(1)_X$ charged light sneutrino is the inelastic DM, which dominantly annihilates to light dark states such as $Z'$ with sub-GeV mass. This model can address the recent GoGeNT annual modulation consistent with other DM direct detection results and free of exclusions.
description: References added and English greatly improved
Additional file 1 of Specific lysophosphatidylcholine and acylcarnitine related to sarcopenia and its components in older men
Creators: name: Meng, Li
name: Yang, Ruiyue
name: Wang, Daguang
name: Wu, Wenbin
name: Shi, Jing
name: Shen, Ji
name: Dang, Yamin
name: Fan, Guoqing
name: Shi, Hong
name: Dong, Jun
name: Xi, Huan
name: Yu, Pulin
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2022
Subjects: subject: Biochemistry
subject: Medicine
subject: Genetics
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Physiology
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Mathematical Sciences not elsewhere classified

description: Additional file 1. Suppl.Table 1. Liner regression analysis for associations of serum metabolites with gait speed. Suppl.Table 2. Liner regression analysis for associations of serum metabolites with handgrip strength. Suppl.Table 3. Liner regression analysis for associations of serum metabolites with SMI. Figure 1. Validation of OPLS-DA analysis. (A) Permutation tests of OPLS-DA model analysis for sarcopenia versus nonsarcopenia groups. (B) The area under the curve (AUC) for separation of sarcopenia and nonsarcopenia groups.
Diffusion-mediated HEI10 coarsening can explain meiotic crossover positioning in Arabidopsis.
Creators: name: Morgan, Chris
name: Fozard, John A
name: Hartley, Matthew
name: Henderson, Ian R
name: Bomblies, Kirsten
name: Howard, Martin
Publisher: name: Apollo - University of Cambridge Repository
Year: 2021
Subjects: Chromosomes, Plant
Synaptonemal Complex
Arabidopsis
Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
Arabidopsis Proteins
Pachytene Stage
Meiosis
Crossing Over, Genetic
Gene Dosage
Computer Simulation

description: In most organisms, the number and distribution of crossovers that occur during meiosis are tightly controlled. All chromosomes must receive at least one 'obligatory crossover' and crossovers are prevented from occurring near one another by 'crossover interference'. However, the mechanistic basis of this phenomenon of crossover interference has remained mostly mysterious. Using quantitative super-resolution cytogenetics and mathematical modelling, we investigate crossover positioning in the Arabidopsis thaliana wild-type, an over-expressor of the conserved E3 ligase HEI10, and a hei10 heterozygous line. We show that crossover positions can be explained by a predictive, diffusion-mediated coarsening model, in which large, approximately evenly-spaced HEI10 foci grow at the expense of smaller, closely-spaced clusters. We propose this coarsening process explains many aspects of Arabidopsis crossover positioning, including crossover interference. Consistent with this model, we also demonstrate that crossover positioning can be predictably modified in vivo simply by altering HEI10 dosage, with higher and lower dosage leading to weaker and stronger crossover interference, respectively. As HEI10 is a conserved member of the RING finger protein family that functions in the interference-sensitive pathway for crossover formation, we anticipate that similar mechanisms may regulate crossover positioning in diverse eukaryotes.
Balance in everyday life : conceptions of men and women in dual-income couples with young children
Creators: name: Wada, Mineko
Publisher: name: University of British Columbia
Year: 2012

description: BACKGROUND: As the social justice movement has lessened the gender gap in occupational participation, the subject of balance in life is receiving enormous attention. A growing body of literature suggests that imbalance can increase individual’s health risks. Although various theories about balance have been developed, it remains elusive as a concept. Understanding how people experience and perceive balance is essential to conceptualizing balance and promoting individual and societal health. OBJECTIVE: To better understand the ways in which men and women in dual-income couples with at least one preschool-aged child perceive and experience balance in everyday life. METHODS: The study was primarily informed by a phenomenographic approach. Fifteen heterosexual, dual-income couples living with at least one child under six years old were recruited from a metropolitan area. Each partner in each couple individually participated in two semi-structured interviews. The first interview was designed to explore participants’ overall experiences of daily life, while the second interview aimed to elicit their experiences and perceptions of balance. Phenomenographic and critical discourse analyses were applied to the interview data. The quality of the findings was assured by peer-debriefing, reflexivity, and the verification of transferability. RESULTS: Two key conceptions of balance were identified: managing life and participating in a mix of occupations. In elucidating these conceptions, parents associated the former with meeting collective needs and the latter with meeting individual needs. Trying to simultaneously satisfy these two conceptions/constructions of balance created tension. Managing life reinforced parents’ intensive commitment to parenting and led to balance, but it limited their engagement in personal occupations, which led to imbalance. Conversely, participating in a mix of occupations allowed parents to meet their own needs and was associated with balance, but as it reduced the time they spent with their families, it led to imbalance. CONCLUSION: Employed parents with young children live with two competing conceptions/constructions of balance, which can create tension and affect health. Developing health care and employment policies that help parents to attain a greater sense of balance by harmonizing collective needs of the family and their personal needs may mediate this tension.
Tadpole cancellation in top-quark condensation
Creators: name: Das, Diganta
name: Odagiri, Kosuke
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2012
Subjects: subject: High Energy Physics - Phenomenology (hep-ph)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We show that quadratic divergences in top-quark condensation are cancelled when the tadpoles cancel. This latter cancellation is naturally implemented as the cancellation among the top-quark, Goldstone and Higgs contributions. We also calculate the bosonic correction terms to Gribov's mass formula for the Higgs boson. These reduce the prediction for M_H from 167 GeV to 132 GeV. The tadpole cancellation condition by itself is an independent condition on the mass of the Higgs boson which, in Gribov's U(1)_Y scenario, yields M_H \approx 117 GeV with large theoretical uncertainty. More generally, we are able to obtain all three masses, M_W, m_t and M_H, in 100 MeV to 10 TeV energy range as a function of the cut-off scale and the gauge couplings only.
description: 7 pages, 20 eps figures. Added error estimates and a new plot (v3). To be published in Phys. Rev. D
title: Academic integrity through knowledge equity lens: A global South perspective
Creators: name: Dahal, Bibek
Publisher: name: Werklund School of Education
Year: 2023

description: This presentation explores knowledge equity in the practice of academic integrity from Global South perspectives to provide a foundation for inclusive academic integrity in higher education. By reviewing the existing literature and reflecting on experiences as a graduate student with diverse cultural, linguistic, institutional, and educational backgrounds, I outline where an equity lens is significant in the practice of academic integrity in higher education. Cite as: Dahal, B. (2023, May 2). Academic integrity through knowledge equity lens: A global South perspective [invited talk]. Alberta Council on Academic Integrity Provincial Meeting 2023, Red Deer, Canada.
Staff aging and turnover in African agricultural R&D: lessons from five national agricultural research institutes
Creators: name: Sène, Louis
name: Frikkie Liebenberg
name: Mwala, Mick
name: Murithi, Festus
name: Kaboré, Séraphine S.
name: Beintema, Nienke
Publisher: name: Gates Open Research
Year: 2019

description: Staff aging and turnover in African agricultural R&D: lessons from five national agricultural research institutes
Oxidative Degradation of Tetracycline by Magnetite and Persulfate: Performance, Water Matrix Effect, and Reaction Mechanism
Creators: name: Lee, Deokhui
name: Kim, Soyeon
name: Tang, Kai
name: De Volder, Michael
name: Hwang, Yuhoon
Publisher: name: Apollo - University of Cambridge Repository
Year: 2021
Subjects: magnetite
sulfate radicals
tetracycline
heterogeneous fenton reaction
micropollutants

description: This study presents a strategy to remove tetracycline by using magnetite-activated persulfate. Magnetite (Fe3O4) was synthesized at high purity levels—as established via X-ray diffractometry, transmission electron microscopy, and N2 sorption analyses—and tetracycline was degraded within 60 min in the presence of both magnetite and persulfate (K2S2O8), while the use of either substance yielded limited degradation efficiency. The effects of magnetite and persulfate dosage, the initial concentration of tetracycline, and the initial pH on the oxidative degradation of tetracycline were interrogated. The results demonstrate that the efficiency of tetracycline removal increased in line with magnetite and persulfate dosage. However, the reaction rate increased only when increasing the magnetite dosage, not the persulfate dosage. This finding indicates that magnetite serves as a catalyst in converting persulfate species into sulfate radicals. Acidic conditions were favorable for tetracycline degradation. Moreover, the effects of using a water matrix were investigated by using wastewater treatment plant effluent. Comparably lower removal efficiencies were obtained in the effluent than in ultrapure water, most likely due to competitive reactions among the organic and inorganic species in the effluent. Increased concentrations of persulfate also enhanced removal efficiency in the effluent. The tetracycline degradation pathway through the magnetite/persulfate system was identified by using a liquid chromatograph-tandem mass spectrometer. Overall, this study demonstrates that heterogeneous Fenton reactions when using a mixture of magnetite and persulfate have a high potential to control micropollutants in wastewater.
Exponential chi squared distributions in infinite ergodic theory
Creators: name: Aaronson, Jon
name: Sarig, Omri
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2012
Subjects: subject: Dynamical Systems (math.DS)
subject: Probability (math.PR)
subject: FOS: Mathematics
subject: 37A40, 60F05 (Primary) 37A05, 37A20, 37A30, 37B10, 37D35 (Secondary)

description: We prove distributional limit theorems for random walk adic transformations obtaining ergodic distributional limits of exponential chi squared form.
description: Keywords: Infinite ergodic theory, distributional convergence, random walk adic transformation
Avoidable waste of research related to outcome planning and reporting in clinical trials
Creators: name: Yordanov, Youri
name: Dechartres, Agnes
name: Atal, Ignacio
name: Tran, Viet-Thi
name: Boutron, Isabelle
name: Crequit, Perrine
name: Ravaud, Philippe
Publisher: name: Columbia University
Year: 2018
Subjects: Clinical trials
Research--Methodology
Research--Evaluation
Outcome assessment (Medical care)

description: Background
                Inadequate planning, selective reporting, and incomplete reporting of outcomes in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) contribute to the problem of waste of research. We aimed to describe such a waste and to examine to what extent this waste could be avoided.

                Methods
                This research-on-research study was based on RCTs included in Cochrane reviews with a summary of findings (SoF) table. We considered the outcomes reported in the SoF tables as surrogates for important outcomes for patients and other decision makers. We used a three-step approach. (1) First, in each review, we identified, for each important outcome, RCTs that were excluded from the corresponding meta-analysis. (2) Then, for these RCTs, we systematically searched for registrations and protocols to distinguish between inadequate planning (an important outcome was not reported in registries or protocols), selective reporting (an important outcome was reported in registries or protocols but not in publications), and incomplete reporting (an important outcome was incompletely reported in publications). (3) Finally, we assessed, with the consensus of five experts, the feasibility and cost of measuring the important outcomes that were not planned. We considered inadequately planned or selectively or incompletely reported important outcomes as avoidable waste if the outcome could have been easily measured at no additional cost based on expert evaluation.

                Results
                Of the 2711 RCTs included in the main comparison of 290 reviews, 2115 (78%) were excluded from at least one meta-analysis of important outcomes. Every trial contributed to 55%, on average, of the meta-analyses of important outcomes. Of the 310 RCTs published in 2010 or later, 156 were registered. Inadequate planning affected 79% of these RCTs, whereas incomplete and selective reporting affected 41% and 15%, respectively. For 63% of RCTs, we found at least one missing important outcome for which the waste was avoidable and for 30%, the waste was avoidable for all important outcomes.

                Conclusions
                Most of the RCTs included in our sample did not contribute to all the important outcomes in meta-analyses, mostly because of inadequate planning or incomplete reporting. A large part of this waste of research seemed to be avoidable.
Minimal model of associative learning for cross-situational lexicon acquisition
Creators: name: Tilles, Paulo F. C.
name: Fontanari, Jose F.
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2012
Subjects: subject: Neurons and Cognition (q-bio.NC)
subject: Machine Learning (cs.LG)
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: FOS: Computer and information sciences

description: An explanation for the acquisition of word-object mappings is the associative learning in a cross-situational scenario. Here we present analytical results of the performance of a simple associative learning algorithm for acquiring a one-to-one mapping between $N$ objects and $N$ words based solely on the co-occurrence between objects and words. In particular, a learning trial in our learning scenario consists of the presentation of $C + 1 < N$ objects together with a target word, which refers to one of the objects in the context. We find that the learning times are distributed exponentially and the learning rates are given by $\ln{[\frac{N(N-1)}{C + (N-1)^{2}}]}$ in the case the $N$ target words are sampled randomly and by $\frac{1}{N} \ln [\frac{N-1}{C}] $ in the case they follow a deterministic presentation sequence. This learning performance is much superior to those exhibited by humans and more realistic learning algorithms in cross-situational experiments. We show that introduction of discrimination limitations using Weber's law and forgetting reduce the performance of the associative algorithm to the human level.
Analysis of a Fragmenting Sunspot using Hinode Observations
Creators: name: Louis, Rohan E.
name: Ravindra, B.
name: Mathew, Shibu K.
name: Rubio, Luis R. Bellot
name: Bayanna, A. Raja
name: Venkatakrishnan, P.
Publisher: name: arXiv
Year: 2012
Subjects: subject: Solar and Stellar Astrophysics (astro-ph.SR)
subject: FOS: Physical sciences

description: We employ high resolution filtergrams and polarimetric measurements from Hinode to follow the evolution of a sunspot for eight days starting on June 28, 2007. The imaging data were corrected for intensity gradients, projection effects, and instrumental stray light prior to the analysis. The observations show the formation of a light bridge at one corner of the sunspot by a slow intrusion of neighbouring penumbral filaments. This divided the umbra into two individual umbral cores. During the light bridge formation, there was a steep increase in its intensity from 0.28 to 0.7 I_QS in nearly 4 hr, followed by a gradual increase to quiet Sun (QS) values in 13 hr. This increase in intensity was accompanied by a large reduction in the field strength from 1800 G to 300 G. The smaller umbral core gradually broke away from the parent sunspot nearly 2 days after the formation of the light bridge rendering the parent spot without a penumbra at the location of fragmentation. The penumbra in the fragment disappeared first within 34 hr, followed by the fragment whose area decayed exponentially with a time constant of 22 hr. The depleted penumbra in the parent sunspot regenerated when the inclination of the magnetic field at the penumbra-QS boundary became within 40 deg. from being completely horizontal and this occurred near the end of the fragment's lifetime. After the disappearance of the fragment, another light bridge formed in the parent which had similar properties as the fragmenting one, but did not divide the sunspot. The significant weakening in field strength in the light bridge along with the presence of granulation is suggestive of strong convection in the sunspot which might have triggered the expulsion and fragmentation of the smaller spot. Although the presence of QS photospheric conditions in sunspot umbrae could be a necessary condition for fragmentation, it is not a sufficient one.
description: Accepted for publication in ApJ; 15 pages, 15 figures, 1 table
Additional file 1 of Reprogramming of arachidonate metabolism confers temozolomide resistance to glioblastoma through enhancing mitochondrial activity in fatty acid oxidation
Creators: name: Tsai, Yu-Ting
name: Lo, Wei-Lun
name: Chen, Pin-Yuan
name: Ko, Chiung-Yuan
name: Chuang, Jian-Ying
name: Kao, Tzu-Jen
name: Yang, Wen-Bing
name: Chang, Kwang-Yu
name: Hung, Chia-Yang
name: Kikkawa, Ushio
name: Chang, Wen-Chang
name: Hsu, Tsung-I.
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2022
Subjects: subject: Biophysics
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Microbiology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Neuroscience
subject: Pharmacology
subject: Ecology
subject: Cancer
subject: Hematology

description: Additional file 1. Additional figures and tables.
Anticoagulation trends in adults aged 65 years and over with atrial fibrillation: a cohort study.
Creators: name: Lund, Jenny
name: Saunders, Catherine L
name: Edwards, Duncan
name: Mant, Jonathan
Publisher: name: Apollo - University of Cambridge Repository
Year: 2021
Subjects: Anticoagulation
Atrial fibrillation
epidemiology

description: Funder: Wellcome Trust
description: ObjectiveTo describe patterns of anticoagulation prescription and persistence for those aged ≥65 years with atrial fibrillation (AF).MethodsDescriptive cohort study using electronic general practice records of patients in England, who attended an influenza vaccination aged ≥65 years and were diagnosed with AF between 2008 and 2018. Patients were stratified by 10-year age group and year of diagnosis. Proportion anticoagulated, type of anticoagulation (direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) or warfarin) initiated at diagnosis and persistence with anticoagulation over time are reported.Results42 290 patients (49% female), aged 65-74 (n=11 722), 75-84 (n=19 055) and 85+ (n=11 513) years at AF diagnosis are included. Prescription of anticoagulation at diagnosis increased over the time period from 55% to 86% in people aged 65-74 years, from 54% to 86% in people aged 75-84 years and from 27% to 75% in people aged 85 years and over. By 2018, 92% of patients with newly diagnosed AF were started on a DOAC. Survivor function for 5-year persistence in patients prescribed DOAC was 0.80 (95% CI 0.77 to 0.82) and for warfarin 0.71 (95% CI 0.70 to 0.72). Survivor function for any anticoagulation at 5 years was 0.79 (95% CI 0.78 to 0.81), 0.73 (95% CI 0.72 to 0.75) and 0.58 (95% CI 0.59 to 0.64) for people aged 65-74, 75-84 and 85+ years, respectively.ConclusionsRates of anticoagulation in AF in those aged ≥65 years have increased from 2008 to 2018, over which time period there has been a shift from initiating anticoagulation with warfarin to DOAC. Persistence with anticoagulation is higher in people on DOACs than on warfarin and in people aged <85 years.
title: Atlas of Normal Articular Cartilage: Structural and Functional Comparison Across Species
Creators: name: Oduba, Oyindamola Oladunni
Publisher: name: Graduate Studies
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Osteoarthritis
subject: Articular cartilage
subject: Biomechanical properties
subject: Education--Health
subject: Engineering--Biomedical

description: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a joint disease and the most common form of arthritis in older populations. Articular cartilage (AC) is one of the predominant tissues affected in OA. This tissue is crucial in joint function and essential for the maintenance of joint mobility and stability. The development of novel treatments for OA typically begins with pre-clinical studies involving any one of a number of species; therefore, it is important to select species with similar cartilage structure-function properties to humans. Most studies that have characterized AC properties typically include few species or use different test techniques to obtain the properties. In this study, a universal test method was utilized across eight different species to characterize AC properties, thereby potentially eliminating variability in results. Testing involved biomechanical testing to evaluate functional characteristics of cartilage and histology to assess structure across species. The results show that AC properties vary independently across species; however, several patterns observed across the species suggest inter-species similarities. Histological analysis further confirmed the similarities and differences in AC morphology and structure across the species. Characterizing these structure-function relationships in AC across species is critical to understanding how different pre-clinical species compare to human cartilage. Ultimately, this study provides an atlas of reference data for researchers to use when determining which pre-clinical species is most appropriate for their studies.
Autonomous vehicles are cost-effective when used as taxis
Creators: name: Freedman, Isaac G.
name: Kim, Ellen
name: Muennig, Peter A.
Publisher: name: Columbia University
Year: 2018
Subjects: Autonomous vehicles
Taxicabs
Epidemiology
Cost effectiveness--Mathematical models

description: Background
                Autonomous vehicles (AVs) will radically re-shape the health and well-being of people in the United States in good ways and bad. We set out to estimate a reasonable time-to-adoption using cost-effectivenessmodels to estimate the point at which AVs become reasonably safe and affordable for widespread adoption.

                Methods
                We used Waymo data (previously, Google Self-Driving Car Project) and a microsimulation model to explore projected costs and safety issues today and five years from today to get a sense of the speed of consumer adoption were AVs brought to the market.

                Results
                The adoption of AVs for private use was associated with an ICER of 1,396,110/QALY gained today, a figure that would decline to 173,890/QALY gained 5-years in the future. However, AV taxis are both less expensive and potentially already safer than human-piloted taxis.

                Conclusions
                While AVs are not unlikely to be used a family vehicles any time soon, it would make economic sense to adopt them as taxis today. Legislation enhancing the benefits while mitigating the potential harmful health impacts of AV taxis is needed with some urgency.
Technical note: Analysis of price incentives and disincentives for rice in Kenya over the period 2005-2013
Creators: name: W. M. Mulinge
name: A. Mwaniki
name: F. M. Murithi
name: S. Croce
Publisher: name: Gates Open Research
Year: 2019

description: Technical note: Analysis of price incentives and disincentives for rice in Kenya over the period 2005-2013
title: Investigating the Polymicrobial Nature of Bovine Digital Dermatitis in Natural Infections and Animal Models
Creators: name: Petersen Dias, Angelica
Publisher: name: Graduate Studies
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Dairy cattle
subject: Hoof infectious disease
subject: Lameness
subject: Treponema
subject: Porphyromonas
subject: Fusobacterium
subject: Real-time qPCR
subject: Veterinary Science
subject: Microbiology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences

description: Digital Dermatitis (DD) is a multifactorial, polymicrobial skin disease on cattle’s feet and is the leading cause of lameness in Canadian dairy cattle, with an etiology that remains unclear. This thesis aimed to investigate the polymicrobial nature of DD by identifying potential bacterial reservoirs and investigating the roles of specific bacteria in lesion initiation in natural infections. Additionally, efforts were made to optimize a bovine infection model. Four studies were conducted, three field studies in commercial dairy farms and an experimental infection study. We relied on quantitative molecular techniques, real-time qPCR, targeting three DD-associated Treponema spp. and four other anaerobes. First, we validated swabs as an alternative to invasive skin biopsies in detecting and quantifying DD bacteria. We then mapped and quantified DD bacteria in potential reservoirs in dairy cows from herds with or without DD. Next, we assessed the temporal changes in bacterial counts preceding lesions and determined whether bacterial presence in reservoirs was persistent or transient in a longitudinal study. Finally, we explored a novel tattoo-based inoculation method to optimize DD bovine models. DD-Treponema spp. were detected only in DD-affected herds, while non-treponemal anaerobes were widespread in both affected and DD-negative herds. Although all target bacterial species were occasionally detected on healthy skin and in saliva, only Porphyromonas levii and Fusobacterium necrophorum seem to persist in these sites. Despite their detection in environmental samples, we did not detect any of the target species in feces. All target species increased in numbers before lesion onset, with sequential colonization starting with non-treponemes two weeks before DD occurred, followed by DD-Treponema spp. Lastly, the tattooing method showed potential for future use in experimental induction of DD by depositing Treponema spp. at the epidermis-dermis junction; however, we were unable to induce lesions in dairy calves likely due to factors missing in our model. While DD etiology remains undetermined, this thesis supports the key role of Treponema spp. in the disease, offers a change in perspective on the involvement of non-treponemes in lesion initiation, discusses the challenges in reproducing this disease experimentally, and proposes a hypothetical scheme of pathogenesis for this complex disease.
title: In-vitro Characterizing of Thebaine Inhibition on Salutaridinol-7-O-acetyltransferase in Morphine Biosynthesis
Creators: name: Kapasi, Moiz Shabbir
Publisher: name: Graduate Studies
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Secondary Metabolism
subject: Biosynthesis
subject: Synthetic Biology
subject: Inhibition
subject: Education--Sciences
subject: Biochemistry
subject: Botany

description: Opiates, such as morphine, have been used for medicinal purposes throughout human history. These bioactive compounds are produced in the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) through complex biosynthetic pathways. This study aimed to characterize the in-vitro enzyme kinetics and inhibition of salutaridine reductase (SalR) and the coupled enzymes salutaridinol-7O-acetyltransferase (SalAT) and thebaine synthase (THS2). It was found that SalR exhibits substrate inhibition to salutaridine, while the coupled system of SalAT/THS2 demonstrated mixed model inhibition by the product thebaine. This inhibition was characterized using deuterated thebaine-d3. These findings could significantly enhance the potential for synthetic engineering of the alkaloid pathway and remove bottlenecks in production, offering a more adaptable approach to medicinal production via bacterial or yeast fermentation. This research provides valuable insights into the regulatory mechanisms of the morphine biosynthetic pathway and opens new avenues for the synthetic production of medicinal opiates.
Enhancing LPG adoption in Ghana (ELAG): a factorial cluster-randomized controlled trial to Enhance LPG Adoption & Sustained use
Creators: name: Carrión, Daniel
name: Dwommoh, Rebecca
name: Tawiah, Theresa
name: Agyei, Oscar
name: Agbokey, Francis
name: Twumasi, Miecks
name: Mujtaba, Mohammed
name: Jack, Darby W.
name: Asante, Kwaku P.
Publisher: name: Columbia University
Year: 2018
Subjects: Environmental health
Indoor air pollution
Liquefied petroleum gas
Biomass stoves
Intervention

description: Background
                Three billion individuals worldwide rely on biomass fuel [dung, wood, crops] for cooking and heating. Further, health conditions resulting from household air pollution (HAP) are responsible for approximately 3.9 million premature deaths each year. Though transition away from traditional biomass stoves is projected curb the health effects of HAP by mitigating exposure, the benefits of newer clean cookstove technologies can only be fully realized if use of these new stoves is exclusive and sustained. However, the conditions under which individuals adopt and sustain use of clean cookstoves is not well understood.

                Methods
                The Enhancing LPG Adoption in Ghana (ELAG) study is a cluster-randomized controlled trial employing a factorial intervention design. The first component is a behavior change intervention based on the Risks, Attitudes, Norms, Abilities, and Self-regulation (RANAS) model. This intervention seeks to align these five behavioral factors with clean cookstove adoption and sustained use. A second intervention is access-related and will improve LPG availability by offering a direct-delivery refueling service. These two interventions will be integrated via a factorial design whereby 27 communities are assigned to one of the following: the control arm, the educational intervention, the delivery, or a combined intervention. Intervention allocation is determined by a covariate-constrained randomization approach. After intervention, approximately 900 households’ individual fuel use is tracked for 12 months via iButton stove use monitors. Analysis will include hierarchical linear models used to compare intervention households’ fuel use to control households.

                Discussion
                Literature to-date demonstrates that recipients of improved cookstoves rarely completely adopt the new technology. Instead, they often practice partial adoption (fuel stacking). Consequently, interventions are needed to influence adoption patterns and simultaneously to understand drivers of fuel adoption. Ensuring uptake, adoption, and sustained use of improved cookstove technologies can then lead to HAP-reductions and consequent improvements in public health.

                Trial registration

                    NCT03352830

                   (November 24, 2017).
Additional file 1 of Morphological, transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of Sophora davidii mutants for plant height
Creators: name: Zhao, Xin
name: Sun, Xiao-Fu
name: Zhao, Li-Li
name: Huang, Li-Juan
name: Wang, Pu-Chang
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2022
Subjects: subject: Plant Biology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences

description: Additional file 1: Fig. S1. Principal component analysis (PCA) of metabolites
The endoscope-assisted supraorbital “keyhole” approach for anterior skull base meningiomas: an updated meta-analysis
Creators: name: Khan, Danyal Z.
name: Muskens, Ivo S.
name: Mekary, Rania A.
name: Zamanipoor Najafabadi, Amir H.
name: Helmy, Adel E.
name: Reisch, Robert
name: Broekman, Marike L. D.
name: Marcus, Hani J.
Publisher: name: Apollo - University of Cambridge Repository
Year: 2020
Subjects: Original Article - Tumor - Meningioma
Tumor – Meningioma
Endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery
Microscopic transcranial surgery
Supraorbital keyhole
Skull base surgery
Tuberculum Sellae Meningioma
Olfactory groove meningioma

description: Abstract: Introduction: The gold-standard treatment for symptomatic anterior skull base meningiomas is surgical resection. The endoscope-assisted supraorbital “keyhole” approach (eSKA) is a promising technique for surgical resection of olfactory groove (OGM) and tuberculum sellae meningioma (TSM) but has yet to be compared with the microscopic transcranial (mTCA) and the expanded endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) in the context of existing literature. Methods: An updated study-level meta-analysis on surgical outcomes and complications of OGM and TSM operated with the eSKA, mTCA, and EEA was conducted using random-effect models. Results: A total of 2285 articles were screened, yielding 96 studies (2191 TSM and 1510 OGM patients). In terms of effectiveness, gross total resection incidence was highest in mTCA (89.6% TSM, 91.1% OGM), followed by eSKA (85.2% TSM, 84.9% OGM) and EEA (83.9% TSM, 82.8% OGM). Additionally, the EEA group had the highest incidence of visual improvement (81.9% TSM, 54.6% OGM), followed by eSKA (65.9% TSM, 52.9% OGM) and mTCA (63.9% TSM, 45.7% OGM). However, in terms of safety, the EEA possessed the highest cerebrospinal fluid leak incidence (9.2% TSM, 14.5% OGM), compared with eSKA (2.1% TSM, 1.6% OGM) and mTCA (1.6% TSM, 6.5% OGM). Finally, mortality and intraoperative arterial injury were 1% or lower across all subgroups. Conclusions: In the context of diverse study populations, the eSKA appeared not to be associated with increased adverse outcomes when compared with mTCA and EEA and offered comparable effectiveness. Case-selection is paramount in establishing a role for the eSKA in anterior skull base tumours.