bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fidelity of BMI, Waist, and Waist-to-Height Ratio as Adiposity Measures in Normoglycemic Black vs White American Adults
Authors: Liu Zhao , Asuzu Peace , Patel Avnisha , Wan Jim , Dagogo-Jack Samuel
Published: November 2024

Objective

To assess ethnic disparities in the association between indirect and direct measures of adiposity in African American (AA) and European American (EA) adults.

Methods

We analyzed the indirect [weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR)] and direct [total fat, trunk fat, fat-free mass (FFM)] adiposity measures in healthy AA and EA adults. Assessments included anthropometry, oral glucose tolerance test, body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and calculation of direct-to-indirect adiposity ratios (total fat/BMI, trunk fat/WC, trunk fat/WHtR, and FFM/weight).

Results

A total of 314 subjects (167 AA, 147 EA) underwent DXA. All participants (mean age 44.2 ± 10.6 years) had normal fasting and 2-hour glucose values. The BMI (AA vs EA) was 31.2 ± 7.42 kg/m2 vs28.8 ± 6.78 kg/m2 (P = .0014); WC 95.3 ± 16.0 cm vs 92.9 ± 15.0 cm (P = .15). Significant correlations (P < .0001) were observed between BMI and total fat (r = 0.68), WC, and trunk fat (r = 0.61) and WHtR vs trunk fat (r = 0.77) for the combined cohort, with heterogeneity in the strength of association by sex and ethnicity. Fat-free mass was higher in AA vs EA participants (P = .03). Total fat/BMI was lower in AA vs EA participants (P = .0047); trunk fat/WC (P = .004) and trunk fat/WHtR (P = .0026) were lower in AA men vs EA men.

Conclusion

The BMI overestimated body fat in AA participants vs EA participants, and WC overestimated trunk fat in AA men vs EA men. These data indicate ethnic disparities in the fidelity of indirect measures of adiposity and argue for ethnic-specific BMI thresholds for determination of overweight/obesity.
Termites and other social insects as emerging model organisms of ageing research: how to achieve a long lifespan and a high fecundity
Authors: Korb Judith
Published: November 2024

Social insects (termites, ants and some bees and wasps) are emerging model organisms of ageing research. In this Commentary, I outline which advantages they offer compared with other organisms. These include the co-occurrence of extraordinarily long-lived, highly fecund queens together with short-lived workers within colonies that share the same genetic background. I then summarize which new insights have been gained so far from social insect studies. Research on social insects has led to the development of a universal mechanistic framework underlying the regulation of ageing and other life-history trade-offs in insects: the TI-J-LiFe network (short for TOR/IIS–juvenile hormone–lifespan/fecundity). Because of its conservative nature, this network can be extended to also incorporate vertebrates. Current data for social insect models suggest that molecular re-wirings along the I-J-Fe (IIS–juvenile hormone–fecundity) axis of the network can explain the concurrent long lifespans and high fecundity of queens. During social evolution, pathways that foster a high fecundity have apparently been uncoupled from mechanisms that shorten lifespan in solitary insects. Thus, fecundity-related vitellogenesis is uncoupled from life-shortening high juvenile hormone (JH)-titres in the honeybee and from insulin/insulin-like growth factor signalling (IIS) activity in ants. In termites, similarly, vitellogenesis seems tissue-specifically unlinked from JH signalling and IIS activity might have lost life-shortening consequences. However, as in solitary animals, the downstream processes (Li of the TI-J-LiFe network) that cause actual ageing (e.g. oxidative stress, transposable element activity, telomere attrition) seem to differ between species and environments. These results show how apparently hard-wired mechanisms underlying life-history trade-offs can be overcome during evolution.
Bridging the divide in organismal physiology: a case for the integration of behaviour as a physiological process
Authors: Debaere Shamil F. , Opinion April Grace R. , Allan Bridie J. M. , Rummer Jodie L. , De Boeck Gudrun
Published: November 2024

The role of behaviour in animal physiology is much debated, with researchers divided between the traditional view that separates physiology and behaviour, and a progressive perspective that sees behaviour as a physiological effector. We advocate for the latter, and in this Commentary, we argue that behaviour is inherently a physiological process. To do so, we outline the physiological basis for behaviour and draw parallels with recognised physiological processes. We also emphasise the importance of precise language that is shared across biological disciplines, as clear communication is foundational in integrating behaviour into physiology. Our goal with this Commentary is to set the stage for a debate and persuade readers of the merits of including behaviour within the domain of animal physiology. We argue that recognising behaviour as a physiological process is crucial for advancing a unified understanding of physiology, especially in the context of anthropogenic impacts.
Molecular docking and dynamics studies to identify novel active compounds targeting potential breast cancer receptor proteins from an indigenous herb Euphorbia thymifolia Linn
Authors: Kumblekar Vasavi , Kumarchandra Reshma , Ranganath Pai K Sreedhara , K ShamaPrasada , Manandhar Suman , Shastry Rajeshwari , Rai Sharada
Published: November 2024

Background Breast cancer has become the most prevalent disease and its incidence has almost doubled in the Indian population. This increased burden demands new targeted therapies with novel compounds either synthetically produced or derived from indigenous plants, which could be a promising approach for the development of drugs. Euphorbia thymifolia L is a widely growing tropical herb that has been reported to have various ethnopharmacological properties. Although Euphorbia genus is reported to have anticancer properties, E. thymifolia is not reported to have anticancer properties to date. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to screen the phytoconstituents and identify the active compounds present in the methanolic extract of E. thymifolia (ME.ET) as ligands to inhibit human cancer cell lines with special reference to potential protein targets implicated in breast cancer using an In-silico approach. Methods ME.ET was subjected to GC-MS analysis to screen the phytoconstituents, and the identified compounds were docked with protein targets such as extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1), a serine/threonine kinase-1(AKT1), human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2), estrogen receptor (ER), maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK), polo-like kinase-1(PLK1), and protein tyrosine kinase (PTK6). Compounds with good docking scores were further subjected to dynamic studies to understand the protein ligand binding stability, ligand pathway calculation, and molecular mechanics energies combined with Poisson-Boltzmann (MM/PBSA) calculations using the Schrodinger suite. Results GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 245 phytoconstituents, 219 of which were unique. When subjected to docking, these phytocompounds, namely 3,6,9,12-tetraoxatetradecane-1,14-diyl dibenzoate (TTDB) and succinic acid, 2-(dimethylamino) ethyl 4-isopropylphenyl ester (SADPE), showed good docking scores. Molecular dynamics studies showed a high affinity and low binding energy for TTDB with HER2, ERK1, and SADPE with ER. Conclusions Hence, in this study, we identified two lead compounds in E.thymifolia linn. Further invitro and invivo anticancer studies can be performed to confirm these results and to understand the molecular mechanism by which they exhibit anticancer activity against breast cancer.
Analysis of Circulating Plasma MicroRNA Profile in Low-Grade and High-Grade Glioma – A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Dwianingsih Ery Kus , Hartanto Rachmat Andi , Safitri Sekar , Krisnugraha Yeshua Putra , Sianipar Christina Megawimanti , Basuki Endro , Dananjoyo Kusumo , Asmedi Ahmad , Sun Bo , Malueka Rusdy Ghazali
Published: November 2024

Background Glioma is the second most common type of brain tumor, accounting for 24% of all brain tumor cases. The current diagnostic procedure is through an invasive tissue sampling to obtain histopathological analysis, however, not all patients are able to undergo a high-risk procedure. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are considered as promising biomarkers for glioma due to their sensitivity, specificity, and non-invasive properties. There is currently no defined miRNA profile that contributes to determining the grade of glioma. This study aims to find the answer for “Is there any significant miRNA that able to distinguish different grades of glioma?”. Methods This study was conducted to compare the expression of miRNAs between low-grade glioma (LGG) and high-grade glioma (HGG). Eighteen blood plasma samples from glioma patients and 6 healthy controls were analyzed for 798 human miRNA profiles using NanoString nCounter Human v3 miRNA Expression Assay. The differential expressions of miRNAs were then analyzed to identify the differences in miRNA expression between LGG and HGG. Results Analyses showed significant expressions in 12 miRNAs between LGG and HGG, where all of them were downregulated. Out of these significant miRNAs, miR-518b, miR-1271-3p, and miR-598-3p showed the highest potential for distinguishing HGG from LGG, with area under curve (AUC) values of 0.912, 0.889, and 0.991, respectively. Conclusion miR-518b, miR-1271-3p, and miR-598-3p demonstrate significant potentials in distinguishing LGG and HGG.
Identifying and Assessing Physiological Biomarkers for Food and Energy Intake: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis Protocol
Authors: Zhou Jiaying , Shi Mayue , Cai Mingzhu
Published: November 2024

Background Traditional dietary assessments are often inaccurate and prone to self-reporting biases. Tracking the physiological responses associated with eating and digestion events via wearable technologies may provide an effective approach for continuously monitoring food intake and estimating energy consumption. Eating and digestion are accompanied by a series of changes in the heart rate, skin temperature, blood oxygen saturation, and blood pressure. These changes can be tracked by wearable devices, such as smartwatches, which have been widely accepted in the market. This systematic review is the first to evaluate the effectiveness of tracking such physiological biomarkers in differentiating between high- and low-calorie meals, potentially paving the way for more accurate dietary monitoring. Methods Following the PRISMA-P guidelines, we will conduct a systematic literature search through MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PubMed for clinical trials that investigated physiological responses following meal intake in healthy subjects. Two independent reviewers will screen and select articles based on pre-defined eligibility criteria, with a third review to resolve any discrepancies. This will be followed by data extraction and quality assessment of the included studies. Statistical analyses, including meta-analyses, will be performed using R Studio software. Our primary outcome will be the comparison of physiological biomarkers before and after meal intake, while secondary outcomes will include comparisons of physiological biomarkers between high- and low-calorie meal consumption and the correlation between the caloric content of consumed meals and postprandial physiological changes. Discussion This systematic review and meta-analysis will identify physiological indicators for eating events and inform the design of wearable sensors that estimate food intake in healthy subjects. Systematic Review Registration PROSPERO Registration ID: CRD42024544353
Clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of
scabies in Korea: Part 2. Treatment and prevention — a secondary
publication
Authors: Park Jin , Kwon Soon-Hyo , Lee Young Bok , Kim Hei Sung , Jeon Jie Hyun , Choi Gwang Seong
Published: November 2024

Treatment should be initiated for all suspected, clinical, or confirmed cases of
scabies. Patients affected should be adequately isolated, and high-risk groups
with close contact histories should be treated regardless of their symptoms.
Optimal treatment strategies can be selected based on age, clinical subtype, and
the patient's health status. In Korea, commercially available
preparations for scabies treatment include topical 5% permethrin, topical 10%
crotamiton, and oral ivermectin. Topical 5% permethrin is the first-line
selective treatment for both classic and crusted scabies. Alternative treatments
include topical 10% crotamiton and oral ivermectin. After completing treatment,
follow-up visits at 2 and 4 weeks are recommended to monitor the therapeutic
response. Treatment is considered to have failed if scabies mites or burrows are
detected, new clinical characteristics develop, or there is an aggravation of
pruritus. Scabies itch should be adequately managed with emollients, oral
antihistamines, and topical corticosteroids. Preventive measures, including
personal hygiene, patient education, and environmental control, should besd
implemented to reduce the transmission of scabies.
Canteens or Ampoules. A Few Words About the Equipment of Medieval Pilgrims
Authors: Marciniak-Kajzer Anna
Published: November 2024

W zbiorach zabytków archeologicznych odnaleźć można takie, które opisano jako manierki czy flasze podróżne lub pielgrzymie. Są to naczynia wykonane z ceramiki i występują w dwóch podstawowych formach. Pierwsza to naczynie z walcowatym brzuścem i lejkowatą szyjką umieszczoną pośrodku górnej części naczynia, po bokach której znajdują się dwa uszka. Drugi typ ma okrągły lub owalny, lekko spłaszczony brzusiec, również z rurkowatym wylewem i dwoma uszkami po bokach w górnej, lub środkowej części brzuśca. Inną grupą zabytków są ampułki na święte oleje lub wodę. Te zazwyczaj wykonane są ze stopów ołowiu. W artykule przedstawiono analizę porównawczą, biorąc pod uwagę podobne przedmioty ukazane w średniowiecznej ikonografii, a także zabytki, które znajdują się muzeach. Dotychczas badacze zazwyczaj zajmowali się proweniencją takich zabytków. W tej pracy przeprowadzono analizę wielkościową, z której wynika, że zdecydowana większość tego typu zabytków z terenu Polaki, dotychczas interpretowanych jako manierki podróżne, najprawdopodobniej była ampułkami. To sprawia, że w zbiorach zabytków archeologicznych z terenów Polski przedmioty, które opisać można jako manierki czy flasze podróżne wydają się być unikatowe. Pytanie, czy jest to stan faktyczny, czy wynik kłopotów interpretacyjnych wynikających z fragmentarycznego zachowania ceramicznych naczyń.
A Paradox of ZF-Class Nominalism
Authors: Luo Guanglong
Published: November 2024

In a recent article in this journal, Calemi challenges the Küng-Armstrong trilemma, a well-known objection to traditional class nominalism, by proposing a fusion of class nominalism with Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory (ZF). In this note, we argue that ZF-class nominalism faces significant challenges in the form of incompleteness and potential paradoxes stemming from Gödel’s incompleteness theorem. We will explore these issues in detail, highlighting the key implications for the viability of ZF-class nominalism as a philosophical position.
Succession planning
Authors: Poole Katy
Published: November 2024

Katy Poole explains what happens in the event of the death of a sole director shareholder
CPD: Sustainability interactive 2
Authors: Harvey Bill
Published: November 2024

Bill Harvey introduces a new interactive CPD exercise which is aimed at stimulating a discussion about sustainability and an opportunity to air your views as to its relevance to eyecare. (C104835, suitable for logging as one interactive CPD point for optometrists, contact lens opticians and dispensing opticians)
Unsung hero
Authors: White Emma
Published: November 2024

Contact lens manufacturer Menicon won the Contact Lens Award at the Optician Awards 2022 for its treatment plan for childhood myopia. Emma White reports
Review of Electrical Parameters Influence on Characteristics of Plasma Electrolytic Oxide Coating on Zircaloy
Authors: Al Afghani Fajar , Anawati Anawati
Published: November 2024

Zircaloy-4 (Zr-4) is used as a fuel cladding material in Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR). Zr-4 as a cladding material works in extreme conditions in pressurized water up to 150 atm at 325 ˚C. In addition, the refuelling process in the reactor requires surface protection of the clay material to minimize corrosion and wear. One of the raising methods to enhance the corrosion resistance of the Zr-4 is by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO). Characteristics of the ceramic oxide layer produced by PEO are influenced by current density, type and composition of the electrolyte, and voltage mode. One of the challenges in the PEO development on the Zr-4 substrate is a high porosity with a range of 5%-20% and the low number (below 6%) of t-ZrO2 phases in the inner and outer layers. Optimizing the electrical parameters is necessary to overcome this problem. The results of the literature study show that the cathodic current at the AC voltage plays an important role in determining the resulting plasma characteristics. Low duty cycle (cathodic current> 50%) produce plasma with high density, resulting in a low porosity layer. Oppositely, high duty cycle (cathodic current <50%) produced high content of t-ZrO2 increase the mechanical resistance. Two-step PEO is beneficial in combining the low and high duty cycle to obtain the benefit of each step. 
Literature Review−Effect of Additives and Post-Treatments on Corrosion Resistance and Mechanical Properties of Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation Products in Magnesium and Titanium
Authors: Rahmadani Sri , Anawati Anawati
Published: November 2024

Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation (PEO) is a method of converting metal surfaces into an oxide layer with the help of plasma to improve the surface mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of metals. A PEO layer of about 10-50 μm is obtained quickly from 1 second-10 minutes at a voltage range of 150-500 V with AC or DC mode. Characteristics of the outer layer of PEO have pores and cracks, while the inner layer is relatively denser. Cracks and pores reduce the corrosion resistance and mechanical properties of the coating. In this study, a literature search was carried out on the effect of adding additives and post-treatment on the characteristics of PEO coatings grown on magnesium (Mg) and titanium (Ti) metals for biomedical applications. Mg and Ti metals have opposite chemical properties; Mg is a reactive metal, while Ti is an inert metal. Comparing the behavior of the PEO process and the coating produced by the two different metals is absorbing and necessary to understand the fundamentals of the PEO process. The results of a literature search show that the addition of additives increases the growth rate of the coating so that the coating is thicker and more wear resistant. The hardness of the coating also increases due to the additive particles trapped in the oxide layer filling the micro pores so that the surface becomes denser and more homogeneous. Therefore, corrosion resistance also increases, as indicated by a decrease in corrosion current as measured by the polarization test and an increase in the impedance modulus as measured by the electrochemical impedance test (EIS). The post-alkali treatment allows for increased surface bioactivity, as indicated by the rise in the Ca/P ratio after immersion in a physiological solution.
Estimate Mass Density Value as A Priori Information for Gravity by using Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC)
Authors: Palupi Indriati Retno , Raharjo Wiji
Published: November 2024

In the gravity method, information about mass density value is very important because it will influence the characteristic of the 1-D gravity acceleration graph. However, it is quite difficult to guess the mass density value so that is suitable to the 1-D acceleration graph. This is called “a priori” information. Trial and error way is one way to solve this problem. It is a very random value guess also. To make sure that the initial guess of mass density is a good parameter, Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) can be used. It generates many possibilities from the guess value and then these possibilities will be selected to the best one by likelihood way. The validation is expressed by the random graph as a consequence of the iteration number step of the possibilities. This research is started by using certain values of mass density to create a synthetic model for the field data in Banggai Sula because the area has a complex geology. The synthetic model is used because the gravity forward modelling equation has the sinusoidal form. After Bayesian MCMC is applied to the initial mass density value, it will produce a new mass density value or the estimation value with its response to the 1-D gravity acceleration synthetic graph. Finally, this information will be very useful to create the 2D or 3D inverse modelling in Gravity.
Reduced Graphene Oxide/Silica Based Electrode Material: Synthesis and Characterization
Authors: Rafiq Sinta Nur Mazida , Rahmawati Dina , Effendi Mukhtar , Ghoshal Sib Krishna , Kurniawan Candra , Widanarto Wahyu
Published: November 2024

Developing a Reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO) synthesis method based on rice husk as a composite electrode material with silica has garnered particular attention for designing high-quality electrode materials. This research successfully synthesized rGO-Si material from rice husk-derived activated carbon through a one-step thermal reduction process at 200 °C. This method offers a simple, efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly synthesis approach. The resulting samples' morphology, surface composition, crystal structure, surface area, and pore diameter size were characterized using FE-SEM, EDX, XRD, and SAA-BET. EDX characterization results confirmed the predominance of carbon content in the samples. At the same time, the natural emergence of Si without external addition due to thermal reduction at 200 °C was an intriguing initial finding. The spherical crystal structure of silica between the wrinkled rGO layers was confirmed through FE-SEM and XRD analysis. The synergistic effect between Si and rGO significantly increased the sample's surface area, with a value of 34.17 m2/g for the rGO sample before thermal reduction, which increased to 121.24 m2/g after the thermal reduction process at 200 °C. This process also positively impacted the reduction in pore size of rGO-Si, with a value decreasing from 9.33 nm before thermal reduction to 4.89 nm after the thermal reduction process. The results of this study demonstrate that rGO-Si synthesized from rice husk-derived activated carbon holds great potential as a high-performance electrode material, combining the advantages of thermal reduction, natural Si content, and increased surface area for diverse applications.
Monte Carlo Simulation As Precision Predictive Tools to Find Isodose Curve of Gamma Irradiator: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Saputro Bimo , Saputro Adhi Harmoko , Nuraeni Nunung , Prasetio Heru , Firmansyah Okky Agassy , Nugroho Fendi , Mayditia Hasan
Published: November 2024

Dose distribution mapping is critical for guaranteeing correct sample irradiation, with both experimental and simulation methods playing important roles. Simulations are an effective way to forecast dose distribution patterns, lowering costs and increasing resource utilization. The geometry, source configuration, and measurement locations are fundamental to determine. The gamma irradiator has 48 source areas, each containing two cobalt-60 pencils measuring 8.15 cm, as well as a 4.7 cm stainless steel dummy. Alanine dosimeters were used for dose assessments, and stability varied by less than 1% over six months at 6°C and up to 5% at 50°C. The study's findings revealed a 2.25% disparity in relative dosage between experimental measurements and PHITS models. This result is a major improvement over prior research that found a 10% difference. Furthermore, dosage mapping along the XY and Z axes revealed the most uniform zone on the Z-axis, measuring 7.5 cm to 12.5 cm and with a radius of no more than 5 cm. These findings contribute to our understanding of dose distribution in gamma irradiation and highlight the utility of Monte Carlo simulations for optimizing irradiation operations. The study implies that this model can be used to improve the arrangement of cobalt-60 pencils in the irradiator, improving homogeneity and radiation outcomes.
Neurogenic stuttering in children
Authors: Sardelić S. , Šikić N.
Published: November 2024

Introduction: Neurogenic stuttering is a fluency disorder caused by the coordination inability of all articulation muscles involved in speech production. It can be present in adults and also in children. Present research shows that it is caused by lesions in the frontal, parietal and temporal lobe, by damage to the brain steam, basal ganglia, and cerebellum and because of white matter damage of the frontal lobe tract in both hemispheres. Compared to developmental stuttering, neurogenic stuttering is characterized by specific speech symptomatology, further difficulties and neurologic pathology. Aim: Distinguishing neurogenic stuttering from developmental stuttering using logopedic and neurological diagnostic methods. Methods: a/ initial logopedic diagnostics in relation to specific symptomatology; b/ acoustical voice and speech analysis (phonation and diadohocinetic); c/ psychological assessment; d/ neurological assessment Results: A multiannual team work of logopedists and neurologists resulted in the recognition of children with atypical speech dysfluency and confirmed neurological pathology, accompanied by difficulties that need different therapeutic procedures. In contrast to developmental stuttering, in neurogenic stuttering there is no consistency in the occurrence of dysfluency. Dysfluency can appear in every position in a word, in all word categories including spontaneous speech, automatic speech and singing. Acoustical analysis indicates varying laryngeal muscle enervation. Neurologocical diagnostics indicate cortical, subcortical, pyramidal and extrapyramidal pathology. Conclusion: The results of this paper confirmed the necessity of a team approach in the diagnostics and therapy of early childhood dysfluency in speech. Not all dysfluency in speech is stuttering. There is no need to wait until the age of four or five years for speech to become fluent without any intervention. In early childhood 5% of children stutter, and in about 3% of cases it disappears spontaneously. In the remaining 2% there are many children whose stuttering is a symptom of some other pathology.
Cutaneous – osseous tuberculosis: case report
Authors: Raos M. , Đapić T. , Tješić-Drinković D. , Marković J.
Published: November 2024

A 2 years 8 month-old girl with a cutaneous – osseous manifestation of tuberculosis is presented. The disease started with a painless red swelling accompanied with ulceration on the inner side of left distal tibia. The appearance of both, inguinal lymphadenopathy and osteomyelitis of the left distal tibia, respectively, occurred 11 months after the disease started. Pathohystologic examination of the skin, lymph nodes and necrotic bone tissue showed granulomatous inflammation. Microbiological culture examination of bone tissue confirmed Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Cutaneous - osseous lesions were successfully treated using multidrug antitubercular chemotherapy over 14 months.
Wireless UV collaborative RSSI and the AOA hybrid localization method for UAV swarms
Authors: Zhao Taifei , Li Mina , Liu Jiachen , Wang Yunpeng , Li Hui
Published: November 2024

Wireless ultraviolet (UV) light can guarantee the inter-copter positioning accuracy of cluster-flying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in an electromagnetic confrontation environment. By combining wireless UV received signal strength indication (RSSI) localization and the angle of arrival (AOA) localization algorithm, a UV-hybrid localization method is proposed for UV communication collaboration between UAV swarms. The method collects the UV signal strength between the anchor UAV node and the unknown UAV node to obtain the inter-aircraft distance information, establishes a Gaussian hybrid noise model based on semi-definite relaxation, and uses the UV angle of the arrival estimation to solve the angle between the UAVs to achieve the maximum likelihood estimation of node positions in UAV swarms. A simulation comparison of the UV-hybrid localization algorithm, weighted least squares, and the Gaussian hybrid semi-definite planning localization algorithm is carried out. The results show that the performance of the UV-hybrid localization algorithm is close to the Cramer–Rao lower bound, and the average localization error is reduced by 32.9% and 15.6% compared to weighted least squares and Gaussian hybrid semi-definite planning algorithms; the algorithm of this paper achieves the node localization with fewer iterations, and it has a higher accuracy and efficiency of localization than the other algorithms.
Hardware simulation of real-time wavelength corrected phase projection
Authors: Sibley Paul G. , Baldwin Noah , Ireland Michael J. , Bandutunga Chathura P.
Published: November 2024

We demonstrate the real-time signal processing operation of a
dispersion-free phase projection algorithm intended for atmospheric
correction of multi-aperture optical phased arrays. It uses
interferometric phase measurements at multiple sensing wavelengths,
offset by 50 GHz, to compute a phase correction at a third, remote
wavelength. This is useful where phase sensing cannot be implemented
at the wavelength of interest, enabling interferometric level control
from wavelength offset targeting beacons or guidestars. The digital
signal processing implementation we demonstrate has a residual
temporal phase error of while being capable of 100 MHz
throughput with 0.53 µs latency, making it a viable approach for
either feedback or feed-forward atmospheric correction in segmented
piston-phase control systems.
Verification of single-photon path entanglement using a nitrogen vacancy center
Authors: Smith A. I. , Steenkamp C. M. , Tame M. S.
Published: November 2024

Path entanglement is an essential resource for photonic quantum information processing, including in quantum computing, quantum communication, and quantum sensing. In this work, we experimentally study the generation and verification of bipartite path-entangled states using single photons produced by a nitrogen vacancy center within a nanodiamond. We perform a range of measurements to characterize the photons being generated and verify the presence of path entanglement. The experiment is performed using continuous-wave laser excitation and a novel, to our knowledge, state-generation ‘time-window’ method. This approach to path entanglement verification is different from previous work as it does not make use of a pulsed laser excitation source.
DL-CSPF: deep-learning-based cell segmentation with a physical framework for digital holographic microscopy
Authors: Li Zhuoshi , Gu Haojie , Lu Linpeng , Shen Qian , Sun Jiasong , Chen Qian , Zuo Chao
Published: November 2024

Digital holographic microscopy
(DHM) offers label-free, full-field imaging of live-cell samples by
capturing optical path differences to produce quantitative phase
images. Accurate cell segmentation from phase images is crucial for
long-term quantitative analysis. However, complicated cellular states
(e.g., cell adhesion, proliferation, and apoptosis) and imaging
conditions (e.g., noise and magnification) pose significant
challenge to the accuracy of cell segmentation. Here, we introduce
DL-CSPF, a deep-learning-based cell segmentation method with a
physical framework designed for high-precision live-cell analysis.
DL-CSPF utilizes two neural networks for foreground-background
segmentation and cell detection, generating foreground edges and “seed
points.” These features serve as input for a marker-controlled
watershed algorithm to segment cells. By focusing on foreground edges
and “seed points”, which have lower information entropy than complete
cell contours, DL-CSPF achieves accurate segmentation with a reduced
dataset and without manual parameter tuning. We validated the
feasibility and generalization of DL-CSPF using various open-source
and DHM-collected datasets, including HeLa, pollen, and COS-7 cells.
Long-term live-cell imaging results further demonstrate that DL-CSPF
reliably characterized and quantitatively analyzed the morphological
metrics across the cellular lifecycle, rendering it a promising tool
for biomedical research.
Integrated photonic MEMS switch for visible light
Authors: Govdeli Alperen , Chen Hong , Azadeh Saeed S. , Straguzzi John N. , Chua Hongyao , Lo Guo-Qiang , Poon Joyce K. S. , Sacher Wesley D.
Published: November 2024

Visible-light integrated photonics serve applications inaccessible to conventional (C- and O-band) silicon photonics, including trapped-ion and neutral atom quantum experiments, biophotonics, and displays. Despite demonstrations of increasingly advanced functionalities and levels of integration, the development of low-power, monolithically integrated, visible-light switches and phase shifters remains an outstanding challenge. Here, we demonstrate an integrated photonic, electrostatic MEMS-actuated Mach-Zehnder interferometer optical switch for the visible spectrum. The device operated with an extinction ratio of 7.2 dB and optical loss of 2.5 dB at a wavelength of 540 nm. The measured 10-90% rise (fall) times were 5 (28) µs, and a low static power dissipation of about 0.5 nW was achieved. The dynamic power dissipation at a 30 kHz switching frequency was estimated to be < 70 µW.
NP-doped optical fibers for all-fiber integrated optical sources, sensors, and actuators with self-sensing capabilities
Authors: Leal-Junior Arnaldo , Pedruzzi Eduarda , Macedo Leandro , Blanc Wilfried
Published: November 2024

This paper presents the development and characterization of the first fiber-integrated optical device with multifunctional capabilities of optical source, actuation, and sensing. The main component of the proposed device is a specially engineered nanoparticle (NP)-doped optical fiber with high backscattering and optical amplification features. In this case, the proposed device is based on NP-doped fiber with inscribed fiber Bragg grating (FBG) and a tapered tip subjected to a 978-nm pump. The tapered tip of the optical fiber (in conjunction with the pump below the cutoff wavelength of the optical fiber) resulted in an optical fiber tweezer for particle manipulation. In addition, the NP-doped fiber has erbium ions for optical amplification, which, in conjunction with the high scattering of such fiber, resulted in the generation of a random laser at the 1550 nm wavelength window. Such random fiber laser functionality is used in conjunction with the inscribed FBG for the sensing (and self-sensing) characteristics of the device, where the FBG acts as an edge-filter for the wavelength shift conversion to optical power variation, which enables continuous monitoring of the particle movement as a function of the tapered tip. Results show an optimal pump laser between 200 mW and 250 mW for the generation of 17 spike lines, where such a higher number of lines can enhance the sensitivity of the self-sensing functionality due to higher optical power variation. Furthermore, the optical actuation functionality demonstrated the feasibility of trapping and manipulating particles as high as 21 μm size. Finally, the self-sensing characteristics of the proposed multifunctional NP-doped optical fiber tweezer demonstrated the possibility of non-contact monitoring of particle movement with relative errors of around 2.28 μm. Therefore, the proposed approach is an unique all-in-one optical fiber device that can be readily employed not only in particles manipulation, but also in the possibility of non-contact monitoring of different dynamic structures.
Segment and support: a dual-purpose deep learning solution for limited angle holographic tomography
Authors: Gontarz Michał , Krauze Wojciech , Dutta Vibekananda , Kujawińska Małgorzata
Published: November 2024

Holographic tomography (HT) enables volumetric investigation of biological and morphological properties of cells and tissues. In its most popular limited-angle implementation, the calculated tomographic reconstructions of investigated samples suffer from missing cone artifacts. Conventional approaches to this problem proved to be time inefficient and prone to noise and artifacts in the source holograms. In this paper, we propose the Segment and Support (SnSNet) method, which corrects the missing cone problem by a priori generation of volumetric object support, free from the missing cone artifacts. We have shown that such object support allows for the very precise calculation of the samples’ volume. Additionally, it allows for the retrieval of high-quality refractive index distribution while used in an iterative HT reconstruction algorithm as a strong regularization term. SnSNet is an advanced deep-learning-based solution capable of facilitating quantitative analysis and object support generation for biological specimens with HT.
Design of topological micropillar cavities for Purcell enhanced single photon emission from semiconductor quantum dots
Authors: Li Rusong , Zhang Jianjun , Lu Quanyong
Published: November 2024

Semiconductor self-assembled quantum dots offer distinct advantages in generating near-optimal single photons, which have important applications in quantum communication and linear optical quantum computation. Semiconductor quantum dot single-photon sources in the telecommunication band are garnering significant attention due to their considerable advantages in low-loss long-distance fiber transmission. In this paper, we propose and design a topological micropillar cavity based on the interface states between two one-dimensional photonic crystals with distinct Zak phases, achieving a high-quality factor exceeding 15,000 and a significant Purcell factor of up to 606 in the 1.31-µm band. We have computed the emission efficiency by an InAs/GaAs quantum dot coupled to an arbitrarily detuned single-mode topological micropillar cavity, taking into account pure dephasing processes and the ratio of external-to-internal cavity losses. Our results demonstrate that the designed topologically protected micropillar single-photon sources exhibit robust single-photon emission with high efficiency of over 90% even in the highly dephasing and detuning conditions, which is in striking contrast to the conventional micropillar single-photon sources. Our study provides theoretical guidance for the development of a new type of surface-emitting single-photon source with high performance.
Investigation of symmetrical long-range surface plasmon resonance structure using induced transmission model
Authors: Zhang Zongyan , Sun Qihao , Ye Yonghong , Yang Songlin , Lu Changgui , Zhang Jiayu
Published: November 2024

Symmetrical long-range surface plasmon resonance (Symm-LRSPR) is realized through the structure of "Prism/UpperDML/Metal/LowerDML/Analyte", showing sensitivity and penetration depth comparable to LRSPR. In this paper, simulation, and experiment are done on the penetration depth and sensitivity performance of this structure under different configurations of UpperDML/LowerDML layers. It is found that using medium and high refractive index materials for the UpperDML and LowerDML layer can achieve sensitivity performance similar to that of the Teflon/Cytop-based LRSPR. The performance of this structure is also very sensitive to the thickness of the LowerDML layer. Furthermore, the induced transmission model is introduced to explain the experimental phenomena and design results, and the results of the admittance diagram prove to be in good agreement with the experimental results. Our work shows that by adjusting the medium refractive index and the thickness of the LowerDML layer of this structure, we can achieve high-performance SPR at almost any refractive index of DML layer. Our findings significantly broaden the range of the DML materials that can be effectively used in the Symm-LRSPR structure.
Precision measurement of the topological charge of a fractional vortex beam based on angular-grating-diffraction OAM spectrum
Authors: Zheng Yukang , Li Yan , Wang Fei , Liu Rui , Deng Duo , Cai Yangjian , Zhao Yuefeng
Published: November 2024

Vortex light beams carrying fractional vortices have shown promising applications in many fields such as optical communications, optical encryption, and quantum information processing. Accurate detection of the topological charge of a fractional vortex phase is essential for these applications. In this paper, a simple yet effective method for measuring the fractional topological charge is proposed, which is based on the detection of the orbital angular momentum (OAM) spectrum of a fractional vortex beam diffracted by an angular grating. When the fractional vortex beam passes through an angular grating, the OAM spectrum broadens, increasing the number of detectable OAM components. By applying nonlinear least squares fitting to the broadened spectrum, the topological charge can be detected with high precision. Experimental results demonstrate the detection range for fractional topological charges is from −6 to 6, with a resolution of 0.01 and an error of less than 0.005. Our protocol offers significant potential for high-capacity information transfer.
High-peak-power short-pulse operation of modulated PCSELs emitting structured light by introducing saturable absorber
Authors: Sakata Ryoichi , Ishizaki Kenji , Yagi Yuta , Inoue Takuya , Morita Ryohei , Tanaka Souki , Zoysa Menaka De , Noda Susumu
Published: November 2024

Compact, high-peak-power light sources emitting structured light such as multi-dot patterns are desired for face recognition and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) applications, especially in the field of mobile technology. Conventionally, such light sources are composed of VCSEL arrays, lenses, and diffractive optical elements (DOEs), resulting in large and complex systems. To address these issues, we propose and introduce double-lattice structures and saturable absorbers to modulated photonic-crystal surface-emitting lasers (M-PCSELs) capable of emitting arbitrary beam pattens (including structured light) to achieve high-peak-power operation at a low injection current via the Q-switching effect. Considering mobile applications, we experimentally demonstrate short, sub-100-ps pulsed emission of a 28-dot pattern with a total peak power of >5W and narrow divergence angles of <0.5° per dot at an injection of 1A. In addition, by adjusting the carrier lifetime in the saturable absorber, we realize short-pulse operation with a high total peak power of ∼20W at an injection current of 6A.
Individual color matches and cone spectral sensitivities in 100 observers of varying age
Authors: Shi Keyu , Luo Ming Ronnier , Rider Andrew T , Song Siyuan , Huang Tingwei , Stockman Andrew
Published: November 2024

Previously we reported color matches measured in young adults using a newly developed multi-wavelength LED-based visual trichromator with which we estimated their individual L-, M- and S-cone spectral sensitivities. Here, we extend those measurements to include 70 additional observers aged between 8 to 80 years. As in our previous work, a series of color matching measurements were made to a reference white. Since the spectral power distributions (SPDs) of the matches should produce identical L-, M- and S-cone excitations, we can use them to estimate individual cone spectral sensitivities by fitting an extended version of the CIE physiological observer model (CIEPO06) in which the lens and macular pigment densities, the photopigment optical densities and the L- and M-cone spectral positions can be varied. Overall, the fits were found to be broadly consistent with the CIEPO06 mean standard, but with small spectral shifts of the M- and L-cone photopigments and a denser macular pigment. Older observers exhibited greater inter-, but not intra-observer, variability in their matches.
Low-profile dual-polarized ultra-wideband phased antenna array based on metasurface
Authors: Liu Shengying , Meng Chunkao , Li Zonghui , Fu Jiahui , Wu Qun , Gao Ju
Published: November 2024

This paper presents what we believe to be a novel design for tightly coupled antenna arrays aimed at addressing the challenges associated with low-profile designs and dual polarization in ultra-wideband applications. The design features an innovative dual-polarized dipole arrangement and employs a cross-arranged methodology to construct the tightly coupled broadband antenna array. This approach achieves a working bandwidth ranging from the C-band to the Ku-band while maintaining a low-profile design. By incorporating a metasurface onto the tightly coupled array, this design significantly extends the effective working bandwidth while enhancing radiation performance throughout the beam coverage range. A 400-element dual-polarized array with an integrated phased array system is designed, fabricated, and measured. The antenna array is capable of ±60∘ beam scanning, with a relative bandwidth of 100% and a profile height of 0.38 wavelengths (at 18 GHz). This dual-polarized shared-aperture broadband phased array antenna not only facilitates flexible polarization synthesis but also offers a working bandwidth suitable for diverse application scenarios. Additionally, the implementation of an aperture reuse design minimizes the required aperture area. Collectively, these advancements enhance the overall performance of contemporary communication and radar systems, highlighting substantial application potential.
Low-complexity coherent DSCM system with precise transceiver IQ skew calibration and simplified equalization embedding phase tracking
Authors: Wang Wei , Zou Dongdong , Yin Mingzhu , Huang Dongmei , Li Fan
Published: November 2024

The digital subcarrier multiplexing (DSCM) technique has emerged as an appealing solution for coherent systems. However, it is more sensitive to the transceiver IQ skew, which introduces conjugate interference to the symmetric frequency subcarriers (SC). In this Letter, a low-complexity transceiver IQ skew calibration method is adopted for coherent DSCM systems based on a specially designed training signal, avoiding the power-hungry multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) operation between two symmetric SCs. To further reduce the computational complexity for each SC, a simplified equalizer with embedded phase tracking (SEQPT) is proposed, achieving polarization de-multiplexing, channel equalization, and phase noise compensation simultaneously. The proposed methods are validated experimentally in a 16-channel wavelength division multiplexing system with 50 GBd 4SC-16QAM DSCM signals. The results indicate that after skew calibration by implementing the proposed method, performance is comparable to that of applying the 8 × 8 real-valued MIMO equalizer. Besides, using the proposed SEQPT incurs almost no performance penalty compared to the N-tap 2 × 2 CMMA equalizer followed by blind phase search while operating in a low-complexity manner.
All-optical, computation-free time-multiplexing super-resolved imaging based on speckle illumination
Authors: Ashkenazy Ariel , Shabairou Nadav , Stefanov André , Gao Peng , Fixler Dror , Cohen Eliahu , Zalevsky Zeev
Published: November 2024

The time-multiplexing super-resolution concept requires post-processing for extracting the super-resolved image. Moreover, to perform the post-processing image restoration, one needs to know the exact high-resolution encoding pattern. Both of these limiting conditions are overcome by the method and experiment reported in this letter.