bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Validation of a Bluetooth Self-Fitting Device for People With Mild-to-Moderate Hearing Loss in Quiet or Noisy Environments
Authors: Chang Hung-Yue , Lo Tun-Shin
Published: July 2024

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the benefits of a Bluetooth self-fitting device using an in situ hearing screening test and self-fitting processes.

Method:

Thirty Mandarin-speaking individuals (16 men and 14 women) with mild-to-moderate hearing loss participated in this study. The hearing screening test was conducted using neckband earphones of a Bluetooth self-fitting device controlled by a smartphone app. The hearing screening tests were compared with the pure-tone audiometry in an audiometric booth. The amplification benefits of the self-fitting program-aided condition were evaluated and compared with those of unaided and preset program-aided conditions using the Mandarin Hearing in Noise Test (MHINT) and questionnaires.

Results:

The pure-tone audiometry and hearing screening test results exhibited strong positive correlations at all test frequencies. In the environment with 90° noise, the sentence reception thresholds (SRTs) obtained for the self-fitting program-aided condition were significantly lower (
p
= .032) than those obtained for the unaided condition, whereas no significant difference was observed between the preset program-aided and the unaided conditions. Moreover, the participants' satisfaction ratings for the devices were consistent with their MHINT results, with a strong positive correlation observed between satisfaction with self-fitting and user satisfaction in smartphone app's control, functionality, and learning. Younger participants were significantly more satisfied in learning to use the app.

Conclusions:

Bluetooth self-fitting devices can be used for simplified in situ hearing screenings with a sensitivity of 90.4%. The satisfaction ratings and improvements in SRTs indicate significant clinical benefits of the self-fitting program compared with the preset program, particularly in the 90°-noise environments.
Les sociétés humaines face aux changements environnementaux : le passé pour éclairer le futur. Bilan et perspectives des recherches financées par l’Agence nationale de la recherche pour la période 2005-2022
Authors: Ghilardi Matthieu , Pateau Mélanie , Prieur-Richard Anne-Hélène
Published: July 2024

Les recherches interdisciplinaires associant des spécialistes de la reconstitution des environnements et des sciences humaines et sociales montrent un fort intérêt pour évaluer, sur le temps long du Quaternaire, les conséquences des activités humaines sur leurs environnements. Un colloque reprenant cette thématique a été organisé par l’Agence nationale de la recherche (ANR) le 23 mai 2023 à Paris, réunissant près de 300 personnes. Cet évènement, s’appuyant sur la publication préalable d’un cahier thématique par l’ANR, a permis de livrer une synthèse des projets financés par l’agence, dans le cadre de son Plan d’action et de France 2030, depuis sa création en 2005. Cinq thématiques majeures ont ainsi émergé de ces travaux qui ont bénéficié d’un financement total d’environ 40 millions d’euros. Après avoir présenté le contexte et les enjeux scientifiques, les apports de différents champs de recherche associés à des exemples de projets financés ont été exposés. Cet évènement incluait également des tables rondes où chercheurs, parlementaires et représentants de différentes institutions publiques françaises ont pu souligner l’apport majeur de la recherche fondamentale interdisciplinaire tournée vers le passé en direction des préoccupations citoyennes actuelles et futures afin de développer des stratégies de préservation des environnements affectés par les activités humaines.
Dossier : « La recherche au défi de la crise des temporalités » : L’anticipation urbaine face aux enjeux de conservation de la biodiversité : les temporalités socioécologiques dans la gouvernance métropolitaine
Authors: de Godoy Leski Charles , Sahraoui Yohan
Published: July 2024

Dans un contexte d’écologisation de l’action publique, la gouvernance des métropoles fait aujourd’hui l’objet de tensions entre des politiques et des savoirs contradictoires relatifs aux enjeux de développement urbain et de conservation de la biodiversité. À partir d’une démarche de prospective participative menée à Bordeaux Métropole, cet article traite du rôle de la transdisciplinarité dans l’exploration de trajectoires socioécologiques métropolitaines futures pour tenter de concilier ces deux enjeux. C’est de l’articulation de savoirs hétérogènes venant des sciences et des sociétés que peuvent émerger les instruments d’une gouvernance anticipative cohérente et d’un investissement écologique des futurs urbains. La réflexivité de cette démarche permet également d’interroger la confrontation des temporalités propres à la science, celles de l’action publique et celles de la nature.
Evaluating the Clinical Reliability and Reference Values of the International Outcome Inventory for Cochlear Implants in the Department of Defense Population
Authors: Davidson Alyssa , Boudin-George Amy , Pillion Elicia , Larionova Nicole
Published: July 2024

Background Hearing loss significantly affects an individual's well-being, communication, social interaction, and quality of life. Cochlear implants serve as a viable management option. Given the variability in the impact of impairment, self-report measures are crucial for evaluating the perceived benefits of management options.

Purpose The study aims to assess the reliability of the International Outcome Inventory for Cochlear Implants (IOI-CI) and establish evaluative cutoffs. This questionnaire evaluates patient's satisfaction with cochlear implants and contributes to the understanding of their experiences, addressing the increasing interest among cochlear implant clinicians.

Research Design The design relies on electronic medical databases within the Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense systems. After identification of eligibility, recruitment was based on participants responding to mailed study documents. This research adopts a descriptive approach of the analysis of questionnaire responses as well as quantitatively evaluating the reliability.

Study Sample Forty-nine service members, Veterans, and their dependents, including 32 men and 17 women, participated in the study. The participants had a mean age of 68.0 years, with cochlear implants ranging from 6 months to 2 years postinitial stimulation. The majority had a unilateral cochlear implant with a hearing aid on the contralateral ear.

Data Collection and Analysis Data collected involved mailing baseline study packets, including the IOI-CI questionnaire, to potential participants identified through medical databases. Participants indicated consent by returning the study packet. Follow-up packets were sent at a later time. Intraclass correlation coefficients were utilized for test–retest reliability and generalized linear models (GLM) for exploring the impact of clinical and demographic factors. Data were analyzed using R.

Results The ICC revealed a good level of agreement (ICC = 0.84) between baseline and follow-up assessments for the IOI-CI total score. The GLM did not identify significant factors influencing IOI-CI scores. Evaluative values were established, indicating total scores between 18 and 35 as within the range of general satisfaction with a cochlear implant for this questionnaire.

Conclusion The study contributes valuable insights into the reliability of the IOI-CI and establishes evaluative cutoffs, aiding clinicians in assessing cochlear implant users' experiences and satisfaction.
Bioethical and Human Right Considerations during COVID-19 Pandemic Period: Reflections of Integrated Oncology Clinical Services from India
Authors: Madathil Lal P. , Palatty Princy Louis , Sacheendran Dhanya , Jayachander Mamatha , George Thomas , Gur Arpita , Krishna Abhishek , D'souza Russell Franco , Baliga Manjeshwar Shrinath
Published: July 2024

Ever since the outbreak of COVID-19, the global health care systems are overwhelmed to cope up with the rapidly evolving disease paradigm through implementation of action plans at societal and medical domains. As per the directives from the World Health Organization and learned professional organizations, the international governments and states have formulated different protocols to prevent disease spread, for diagnosis and treatment of the disease and associated comorbidities, and to educate citizens during this crisis phase. Health care services across the world followed a “prioritizing strategy” for hospital population wherein the non-COVID cases were given less focus. Many hospitals opted for a conscious staff-sparing strategy to minimize exposure and protection of clinically valuable staff. Oncology services across the world reported a decline in the provision of clinical services to patients. There were medical concerns such as missed diagnosis, delayed diagnosis, delayed treatment, stoppage of screening programs, and differed follow-ups during the last 2 years of pandemic. The multidisciplinary oncology teams aim to ensure that cancer patients in the continuum of integrated cancer care pathway get globally accepted standards of optimum care. However, Beauchamp's ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and distributive justice were arguably compromised during the pandemic period. The articles of UNESCO Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights (UDBHR) declaration were possibly violated in cancer patients as a vulnerable population. This article analyses the bioethical and human right concerns with respect to medical and societal domains in oncology during the COVID-19 pandemic period.
Long-COVID olfactory dysfunction: allele E4 of apolipoprotein E as a possible protective factor
Authors: Oliveira Danilo Nunes , Tavares-Júnior José Wagner Leonel , Feitosa Werbety Lucas Queiroz , Cunha Letícia Chaves Vieira , Gomes Carmem Meyve Pereira , Moreira-Nunes Caroline Aquino , Silva Jean Breno Silveira da , Sousa Artur Victor Menezes , Gaspar Safira de Brito , Sobreira Emmanuelle Silva Tavares , Oliveira Laís Lacerda Brasil de , Montenegro Raquel Carvalho , Moraes Maria Elisabete Amaral de , Sobreira-Neto Manoel Alves , Braga-Neto Pedro
Published: July 2024

Background Olfactory dysfunction (OD) represents a frequent manifestation of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Apolipoprotein E (APOE) is a protein that interacts with the angiotensin-converting enzyme receptor, essential for viral entry into the cell. Previous publications have suggested a possible role of APOE in COVID-19 severity. As far as we know, no publications found significant associations between this disease's severity, OD, and APOE polymorphisms (E2, E3, and E4).

Objective To analyze the epidemiology of OD and its relationship with APOE polymorphisms in a cohort of Long-COVID patients.

Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study with patients followed in a post-COVID neurological outpatient clinic, with OD being defined as a subjective reduction of olfactory function after infection, and persistent OD being defined when the complaint lasted more than 3 months after the COVID-19 infection resolution. This cross-sectional study is part of a large research with previously reported data focusing on the cognitive performance of our sample.

Results The final sample comprised 221 patients, among whom 186 collected blood samples for APOE genotyping. The persistent OD group was younger and had a lower hospitalization rate during the acute phase of the disease (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the APOE variant E4 allele frequency was lower in this group (p = 0.035). This study evaluated OD in an outpatient population with COVID-19. In the current literature on this disease, anosmia is associated with better clinical outcomes and the E4 allele is associated with worse outcomes.

Conclusion Our study provides new information to these correlations, suggesting APOE E4 as a protective factor for OD.
Successful Rectification of Cervical Nerve Root Irritation with Sequential Surgical Maneuvers during Posterior Cervical Instrumentation
Authors: Vaithialingam Balaji , Govindasamy Ramachandran , Gopal Swaroop , Rudrappa Satish
Published: July 2024

Posterior cervical instrumentation is used to treat a variety of cervical pathologies, including cervical spondylotic myelopathy, severe canal stenosis, and degenerative diseases. A 55-year-old man with severe cervical canal stenosis underwent a C3–C6 laminectomy and lateral mass screw fixation under general anesthesia. After lateral mass screw fixation and rod placement on the right side, raw electromyography (EMG) revealed irritative discharges in the right biceps brachii muscle. Following a suspicion of irritation/mechanical stretching of the C5–C6 nerve root, a posterior foraminotomy was performed on the right side as a rescue measure. The amplitude of raw EMG irritative discharges in the right biceps brachii muscle decreased significantly after posterior foraminotomy. Following rod reapplication with decreased rod lordosis, the irritative EMG discharges were eliminated. Before implementing further measures, posterior foraminotomy can be a crucial initial intervention for minimizing nerve root irritation due to mechanical factors after cervical lateral mass screw fixation.
Analysis of impact properties of cemented carbide by electromagnetic coupled cryogenic treatment
Authors: Tang Liang , Chen Zhi , Yan Xianguo
Published: July 2024

Cemented carbide is often used as the pick-tip material for conical picks. The pick-tip often experiences premature failure due to insufficient toughness. This paper aims to improve the impact toughness of cemented carbide through electromagnetic coupled cryogenic treatment. A theoretical model between process parameters and impact toughness is established. The optimal parameters are determined as follows: a cryogenic temperature of −190 °C, cryogenic time of 24 h, magnetization intensity of 1.5 T, and magnetization time of 15 s. The treatment improves the impact toughness by 11.39% compared with the heat treatment. Microstructure analysis indicates a notable increase in dislocations and grain refinement within the Co phase, attributing to the enhanced toughness.
Efficient colorimetric point-of-care detection and imaging of multiple biomolecules utilizing photonic liquid crystal composite on gold nanoisland thin films for label-free sensing
Authors: Luh Hui-Tzung , Hsu Chuan-Chih , Chene Fu-Lun , Chang Huan-Chi , Hsieh Sung-Tsang , Lai Dar-Ming , Hsiao Yu-Cheng
Published: July 2024

Accurate and timely identification of infections is crucial for effective treatment and controlling disease spread. While single biomarkers have traditionally served diagnostic purposes, their sensitivity and specificity limitations call for a more comprehensive approach. Simultaneous detection of multiple biomolecules shows promise in improving accuracy, expediting analysis, and enhancing pathology screening. Therefore, there is a pressing need to develop a noninvasive biosensor capable of quantifying various infection-associated biomarkers concurrently, such as albumin proteins and bacterial molecules. In this endeavor, a novel biosensor has been developed, leveraging a color-indicating optical platform that utilizes gold nanoisland films (AuNIFs) enveloped by cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs). The integration of CLCs and AuNIFs capitalizes on their sensitive interfacial interactions, highlighting the potential for robust biosensing. Changes in biomolecule concentrations induce discernible alterations in the CLCs–AuNIFs interface alignment, profoundly impacting the hybrid plasmonic–photonic behavior of AuNIFs. The resulting CLCs–AuNIFs biosensor demonstrates exceptional sensitivity and precision in detecting E. coli concentrations and albumin levels. Notably, the biosensor achieves a label-free limit of detection, with an impressive sensitivity of 1 × 106 CFU/ml for E. coli and 10 ng/ml for bovine serum albumin (BSA). This innovative biosensor offers rapid detection, visual clarity, label-free operation, and the ability to detect multiple concentrations of both microbial agents and albumin. Changes in biomolecule concentrations induce noticeable shifts in interface alignment, thereby modulating the hybrid plasmonic–photonic dynamics of AuNIFs. The potential applications of this advancement span biomedical, microbial, and industrial sectors. This unified biosensor has the potential to revolutionize infection-related diagnostics and containment measures, serving as an ideal point-of-care solution. This ground-breaking development leads the way in multi-biomarker detection in infection diagnosis, with profound implications for future of infection diagnostics and therapeutic interventions.
Effective removal of mercury from flue gas using flower-like MoS2 doped with rod-shaped MnO2
Authors: Zhao Xinyi , Liu Zhongxuan , He Ping , Ning Xinyu , Wu Jiang
Published: July 2024

Generally, injecting activated carbon in front of an air preheater is a common method for removing mercury in coal-fired power plants. However, high cost and low efficiency limit the practical application of this procedure. As one of the transition metal dihalides, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) has attracted much attention. Herein, density functional theory calculation was applied to explore the mercury removal properties of MoS2 due to its good affinity for mercury. MoS2 was prepared using hydrothermal methods, while MoS2 doped with MnO2 (Mm adsorbent) was prepared using an ultrasonic mixing method. The prepared Mm adsorbent was characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM),and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Rod-shaped MnO2 successfully appeared on the surface of flower-shaped MoS2. The adsorption of mercury (Hg0) on the MoS2/MnO2 (Mm) surface matched the Mars–van Krevelen reaction mechanism, indicating the consumption of lattice oxygen in the adsorbent. Additionally, the mercury removal efficiency of 3-Mm (MoS2 doped with 30 wt. % MnO2) adsorbent can still reach 90% under N2 + 200 ppm SO2.
Persistence of social structuring in an arid zone mammal following reintroduction
Authors: Cooke Alexander James , Lohr Cheryl , Kennington W. Jason , Ottewell Kym
Published: July 2024

Animal social relationships affect animal survival, reproduction, and resource exploitation, and are important to translocation success, but little is known on how they are impacted in reintroduced populations. Here, we investigate the social genetic structure in a reintroduced population of boodies (Bettongia lesueur), one of few social burrowing marsupial species in Australia. Pairwise relatedness of male and female individuals located within seven warrens was determined using 12 microsatellite markers, while mitochondrial DNA was used to identify maternal ancestral lineage. Females were significantly more related within warrens than between warrens, while the difference among males was not significant. We also found evidence of fine-scale genetic structure up to distances of 2 km in females consistent with patterns found in natural populations. Although mean relatedness values were low, our results support the hypothesis that boodies exhibit a female social structure. Multiple maternal lineages were present within all warrens with one exception, suggesting boodies appear to be non-selective when living with individuals from different ancestral backgrounds. We found a significant positive relationship between female sex bias and the number of active entrances in each warren. Together, these results suggest that social structuring should be a key consideration in future reintroductions of boodies.
Rural hospital contributions to community health: community perspectives from a New Zealand rural hospital
Authors: Ram Stephen , Carlisle Karen , Larkins Sarah , Blattner Katharina
Published: July 2024

Introduction Rural hospitals provide secondary care for much of the rural New Zealand population. Little is known about community perspectives of the health and social contribution. Aim This descriptive qualitative study aimed to explore community views on the role of their rural hospital in a low socioeconomic rural district with a high Māori and Pacific population. Methods Semi-structured individual and focus group interviews were conducted with rural community members about the perceived role of their rural hospital. Iterative thematic analysis was undertaken. Results In total, 22 participants were interviewed. Thematic analysis yielded four themes: (i) rural hospitals as a safety net – providing access to emergency care and mitigating limited primary care access; (ii) providing personalised, culturally aware care; (iii) facilitating family/whanau support; and (iv) doing the best with limited resources. The latter included pragmatism about resource constraints, but a preference for the hospital to remain open. Discussion Rural hospitals contribute to community safety by enhancing access to emergency care and mitigating difficulties in access to primary care. The local contextual knowledge of rural hospital providers allows personalised, family-centred and culturally-responsive care. Despite service centralisation, rural hospitals are wanted by their communities. Rural health planners should consider how to maximise the breadth of locally-provided services to reduce the impacts of travel and transfer for care.
APC/C prevents a noncanonical order of cyclin/CDK activity to maintain CDK4/6 inhibitor–induced arrest
Authors: Mouery Brandon L. , Baker Eliyambuya M. , Mei Liu , Wolff Samuel C. , Mills Christine A. , Fleifel Dalia , Mulugeta Nebyou , Herring Laura E. , Cook Jeanette Gowen
Published: July 2024

Regulated cell cycle progression ensures homeostasis and prevents cancer. In proliferating cells, premature S phase entry is avoided by the E3 ubiquitin ligase anaphasepromoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), although the APC/C substrates whose degradation restrains G1-S progression are not fully known. The APC/C is also active in arrested cells that exited the cell cycle, but it is not clear whether APC/C maintains all types of arrest. Here, by expressing the APC/C inhibitor, EMI1, we show that APC/C activity is essential to prevent S phase entry in cells arrested by pharmacological cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) inhibition (Palbociclib). Thus, active protein degradation is required for arrest alongside repressed cell cycle gene expression. The mechanism of rapid and robust arrest bypass from inhibiting APC/C involves CDKs acting in an atypical order to inactivate retinoblastoma-mediated E2F repression. Inactivating APC/C first causes mitotic cyclin B accumulation which then promotes cyclin A expression. We propose that cyclin A is the key substrate for maintaining arrest because APC/C-resistant cyclin A, but not cyclin B, is sufficient to induce S phase entry. Cells bypassing arrest from CDK4/6 inhibition initiate DNA replication with severely reduced origin licensing. The simultaneous accumulation of S phase licensing inhibitors, such as cyclin A and geminin, with G1 licensing activators disrupts the normal order of G1-S progression. As a result, DNA synthesis and cell proliferation are profoundly impaired. Our findings predict that cancers with elevated EMI1 expression will tend to escape CDK4/6 inhibition into a premature, underlicensed S phase and suffer enhanced genome instability.
The mechanisms of melatonin action in shielding photosynthesis during heat stress
Authors: Khan Sheen , Saify Sadaf , Sofo Adriano , Khan Nafees A.
Published: July 2024

The escalating global climate shifts lead to several negative impacts, including a continuous increase in average temperatures, imposing significant consequences on plant physiology, biochemical dynamics, and molecular processes. Central to these ramifications is the process of photosynthesis, pivotal for carbohydrate synthesis and essential for sustaining growth amidst normal or stressful environmental conditions. Exposure to heat stress (HS) negatively affects the photosynthetic potential, primarily due to the increased synthesis of reactive oxygen species, disrupting the optimal functionality of the photosynthetic apparatus. Melatonin (MLT) has emerged as a multifaceted signaling molecule exhibiting promising capabilities in mitigating the adverse effects of abiotic stress including HS on plants. While a substantial body of literature addresses the enhancement of plant resilience to various environmental stresses using MLT, the present review specifically focuses on the impact of MLT on photosynthesis during HS. It emphasizes MLT’s role in regulating chlorophyll synthesis and degradation, regulating stomatal movement, safeguarding photosynthetic proteins, and sustaining the photosynthetic process under HS. This could be achieved by various mechanisms including enhancing the transcription of photosystem genes, activating antioxidant defenses, promoting the xanthophyll cycle, and modulating enzymes involved in photosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism. Consequently, this review aims to enhance our understanding of how MLT mediates the protection of the photosynthesis process under HS, offering insights for the development of heat-tolerant crops.
The SZ effect with anisotropic distributions and high energy electrons
Authors: Lee Elizabeth , Chluba Jens
Published: July 2024

Future observations of the Sunyaev-Zeldovich (SZ) effect promise ever improving measurements in terms of both sensitivity and angular resolution. As such, it is increasingly relevant to model `higher-order' contributions to the SZ effect. This work examines the effects of high-energy non-thermal electron distributions and those of anisotropic electron and photon distributions on the SZ signals. Analytic forms of the anisotropic scattering kernels for photons and electrons have been derived and investigated. We present a method for determining the anisotropic contributions through a spherical harmonic decomposition to arbitrary angular multipoles, and discuss the behaviour of these scattering kernels. We then carry out an exploration of various simplistic models of high energy non-thermal electron distributions, and examine their anisotropic behaviour. The kinematic SZ in the relativistic regime is studied using the kernel formulation allowing us to clarifying the role of kinematic corrections to the scattering optical depth. We finally present a release of an updated and refined version ofSZpackincluding a new integratedPythoninterface and new modules for the calculation of various SZ signals, including those described in this paper.
The one-loop bispectrum of galaxies in redshift space from the Effective Field Theory of Large-Scale Structure
Authors: D'Amico Guido , Donath Yaniv , Lewandowski Matthew , Senatore Leonardo , Zhang Pierre
Published: July 2024

We derive the Effective Field Theory of Large-Scale Structure kernels and counterterms
for the one-loop bispectrum of dark matter and of biased tracers in real and redshift space. This
requires the expansion of biased tracers up to fourth order in fluctuations. In the process, we
encounter several subtleties related to renormalization. One is the fact that, in renormalizing
the momentum, a local counterterm contributes non-locally. A second subtlety is related to the
renormalization of local products of the velocity fields, which need to be expressed in terms of
the renormalized velocity in order to preserve Galilean symmetry. We check that the counterterms
we identify are necessary and sufficient to renormalize the one-loop bispectrum at leading and
subleading order in the derivative expansion. The kernels that we originally present here have
already been used for the first analyses of the one-loop bispectrum in BOSS
data [1,2].
Inflationary initial conditions for the cosmological gravitational wave background
Authors: Valbusa Dall'Armi Lorenzo , Mierna Alina , Matarrese Sabino , Ricciardone Angelo
Published: July 2024

The initial conditions on the anisotropies of the stochastic gravitational-wave background
of cosmological origin (CGWB) largely depend on the mechanism that generates the gravitational
waves. Since the CGWB is expected to be non-thermal, the computation of the initial conditions
could be more challenging w.r.t. the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), whose interactions with
other particles in the early Universe lead to a blackbody spectrum. In this paper, we show that
the initial conditions for the cosmological background generated by quantum fluctuations of the
metric during inflation deviate from adiabaticity. These primordial gravitational waves are indeed
generated by quantum fluctuations of two independent degrees of freedom (the two polarization
states of the gravitons). Furthermore, the CGWB plays a negligible role in the Einstein's
equations, because its energy density is subdominant w.r.t. ordinary matter. Therefore, the only
possible way to compute the initial conditions for inflationary gravitons is to perturb the
energy-momentum tensor of the gravitational field defined in term of the small-scale tensor
perturbation of the metric. This new and self-consistent approach shows that a large,
non-adiabatic initial condition is present even during the single-field inflation. Such a
contribution enhances the total angular power spectrum of the CGWB compared to the standard
adiabatic case, increasing also the sensitivity of the anisotropies to the presence of
relativistic and decoupled particles in the early Universe. In this work we have also proved that
our findings are quite general and apply to both single-field inflation and other scenarios in
which the CGWB is generated by the quantum fluctuations of the metric, like the curvaton.
Multiphase 3D dosimeters for radiotherapy
Authors: Kozicki Marek , Maras Piotr , Jaszczak-Kuligowska Malwina
Published: July 2024

3D dosimeters are mainly manufactured as single-phase chemical compositions in a container. In most cases, they imitate a single soft tissue, such as muscle or the brain. Research on dosimeters imitating lungs and bones is very rare. In turn, in this work we report the first experiments aimed at producing multiphase 3D dosimeters imitating different tissues in one container.
Clinical Applications and Monte Carlo Validation of a fully integrated 3D dosimetry system
Authors: Lakrad Kawtar , Quinn Benjamin , Oldham Mark , Adamson Justus
Published: July 2024

A comprehensive 3D dosimetry system consisting of the ClearView™ 3D dosimeter, VistaScan™ optical CT scanner, and VistaAce™ analysis software is commercially available and has the potential to be a strong verification tool with widespread applications. The clinical utility of this system (termed ClearView/Vista) has yet to be determined, and this work presents our first investigation. Clinical utility was evaluated using real patients’ treatment plans: spine, head and neck, Single Isocenter Multi-Targets SRS (SIMT-SRS), and prostate cases. Independent validation was performed with a Monte Carlo-based dose calculation algorithm that was previously commissioned for clinical independent dose calculation. The analysis included line profile comparison (1D), isodose line comparison (2D), and global gamma analysis (3D). Results indicated a remarkable agreement between ClearView/Vista, the treatment planning system, and Monte Carlo, where gamma pass rates for all cases exceeded 94% even while using 2%2mm and a dose threshold of 10%. The ClearView/Vista 3D dosimetry system showed clinically acceptable accuracy and robust measurement and analysis in clinical settings.
Development of diamond detector as fast neutron spectroscopy in the EAST tokamak
Authors: Lin S.Y. , Zhou R.J. , Artemev K.K. , Zhang J.Z. , Zhao J.L. , Zhong G.Q.
Published: July 2024

We report in this paper the development of the single
crystal diamond detector as a fast neutron spectroscopy in the EAST
tokamak. The diamond detector is used to detect the fast neutron
directly without any neutron converter during the
deuterium-deuterium fusion experiment, then the neutron energy
spectrum is reconstructed from the recorded continuous scattered
spectrum by using a deconvolution algorithm. The results indicate
the capability of the diamond spectroscopy which can be used
directly to monitor the fast neutron flux and energy spectrum in the
EAST tokamak.
Learning obstacle avoidance and predation in complex reef environments with deep reinforcement learning
Authors: Hou Ji , He Changling , Li Tao , Zhang Chunze , Zhou Qin
Published: July 2024

The reef ecosystem plays a vital role as a habitat for fish species with limited swimming capabilities, serving not only as a sanctuary and food source but also influencing their behavioral tendencies. Understanding the intricate mechanism through which fish adeptly navigate the moving targets within reef environments within complex water flow, all while evading obstacles and maintaining stable postures, has remained a challenging and prominent subject in the realms of fish behavior, ecology, and biomimetics alike. An integrated simulation framework is used to investigate fish predation problems within intricate environments, combining deep reinforcement learning algorithms (DRL) with high-precision fluid-structure interaction numerical methods-immersed boundary lattice Boltzmann method (lB-LBM). The Soft Actor-Critic (SAC) algorithm is used to improve the intelligent fish’s capacity for random exploration, tackling the multi-objective sparse reward challenge inherent in real-world scenarios. Additionally, a reward shaping method tailored to its action purposes has been developed, capable of capturing outcomes and trend characteristics effectively. The convergence and robustness advantages of the method elucidated in this paper are showcased through two case studies: one addressing fish capturing randomly moving targets in hydrostatic flow field, and the other focusing on fish counter-current foraging in reef environments to capture drifting food. A comprehensive analysis was conducted of the influence and significance of various reward types on the decision-making processes of intelligent fish within intricate environments.
Fe-doped 45S5 bioactive glass compositions impair the metabolic activity and proliferation of metastatic human breast cancer cells in vitro
Authors: Hildenbrand Nina , Thiele Wilko , Tripel Elena , Renkawitz Tobias , Kermani Farzad , El-Fiqi Ahmed , Westhauser Fabian
Published: July 2024

Many kinds of human tumors, including breast carcinomas, frequently metastasize to the bone, making it prone to pathologic fractures. Surgical management of bone metastases ranges from the resection of metastases to bone repair. Current surgical methods for the repair of bone defects include the use of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)-based bone cements. A promising alternative material are bioactive glass (BG) particles that in addition to providing physical stability can also induce bone regeneration. Moreover, BGs doped with Fe2O3 may also have a negative impact on tumor cells. Here, we tested the hypothesis that BGs can affect metastatic human breast cancer cells. To this end, we assessed the effects of different BG compositions with and without Fe2O3 on metastatic human MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells in vitro. We found that all BGs tested impaired the viability and proliferation of breast cancer cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The anti-proliferative effects inversely correlated with BG particle size, and were in general less pronounced in mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) that served as a control. Moreover, Fe2O3-doped BGs were more potent inhibitors of tumor cell proliferation and metabolic activity than Fe2O3-free BG. Our data therefore indicate that BGs can affect human breast cancer cells more strongly than MSCs, and suggest that the presence of Fe2O3 can potentiate anti-proliferative and anti-metabolic effects of BGs. Fe2O3-doped BGs thus have the potential to be used for the surgical management of metastatic bone lesions, and may in addition to their regenerative properties also allow the local control of bone metastases.
Electrospun collagen/chitosan composite fibrous membranes for accelerating wound healing
Authors: Zhang Zhan , Zhao Xinzhe , Song Ziyu , Wang Lu , Gao Jing
Published: July 2024

The protein-polysaccharide nanofibers have attracted intensive attention in promoting wound healing, due to their components and nanoscale fibrous structure that mimics the native extracellular matrix (ECM). For the full-thickness wounds, in addition to promoting healing, hemostatic property and antibacterial activity are also of critical importance. However, currently, protein-polysaccharide-based nanofiber membranes exhibit poor mechanical properties, lack inherent hemostatic and antibacterial capabilities, as well as the ability to promote tissue repair. In this study, we developed composited membranes, which were composed of collagen (Col) and chitosan (Chs), through solvent alteration and post-processing, the membranes showed enhanced stability under physiological conditions, proper hydrophilic performance and improved mechanical property. Appropriated porosity and water vapor transmission rate, which benefit to wound healing, were detected among all the membranes except for Col membrane. Aimed at wound dressing, hemocompatibility, antibacterial activity and cell proliferation of the electrospun membranes were evaluated. The results indicated that the Col/Chs composited membranes exhibited superior blood clotting capacity, and the membranes with Chs exceeding 60% possessed sufficient antibacterial activity. Moreover, compared with Chs nanofibers, significant increase in cell grow was detected in Col/Chs (1:3) membrane. Taken together, the electrospun membrane with multiple properties favorable to wound healing, superior blood coagulation, sufficient antibacterial performance and promoting cell proliferation property make it favorable candidate for full-thickness skin wound healing.
A pilot study on endoscopic delivery of injectable bioadhesive for esophageal repair in a porcine model
Authors: Xia Jie , Wang Wenxin , Guo Jinghui , Wu Jinglei , Wan Xinjian
Published: July 2024

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is the gold-standard surgical procedure for superficial esophageal cancer. A significant and challenging complication of this technique is post-ESD esophageal stricture. In this study, the feasibility of endoscopic catheter delivery of bioadhesive to esophageal lesions in a porcine model was tested. Injectable bioadhesive was composed of oxidized dextran (ODA) and chitosan hydrochloride (CS), its physicochemical properties, injectability, antibacterial activity, and cytocompatibility were investigated before in vivo test. ODA-CS bioadhesive was delivered to the wound bed of the esophageal tissue using a custom-made catheter device after ESD in a porcine model. Our results show that the ODA-CS bioadhesive is of good injectability, tissue adhesive strength, antibacterial capacity, and blood compatibility. In vivo delivery was achieved by endoscopic spraying of ODA and CS in separate catheters fixed on the endoscopic probe. ODA and CS can be mixed well to allow in situ bioadhesive formation and firmly adhere to the esophageal wound surface. After two weeks, the bioadhesive maintained structural integrity and adhered to the surface of esophageal wounds. However, histological analysis reveals that the ODA-CS bioadhesive did not show improvement in attenuating inflammatory response after ESD. This pilot study demonstrates the feasibility of ODA-CS bioadhesive for shielding esophageal wounds after ESD, whereas efforts need to improve its anti-inflammatory activity to reduce fibrosis for stricture prevention.
Assessing GEDI data fusions to map woodpecker distributions and biodiversity hotspots
Authors: Elliott Lisa H , Vogeler Jody C , Holbrook Joseph D , Barry Brent R , Vierling Kerri T
Published: July 2024

In forested systems, woodpecker species richness has been linked with songbird diversity, and identifying woodpecker biodiversity hotspots may contribute important information for conservation planning. The availability of global forest structure data via the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) instrument provides a new tool for examining broad extent relationships amongst environmental variables, forest structure, and woodpecker diversity hotspots. Within the Marine West Coast Forest ecoregion, USA, we used eBird data for 7 woodpecker species to model encounter rates based on bioclimatic variables, process data (e.g. duration and timing of survey), MODIS forest land cover data, and GEDI-fusion metrics. The GEDI-fusion metrics included foliage height diversity (fhd), rh98 (a representation of canopy height), and canopy cover, which were created by combining GEDI data with Landsat, Sentinel-1, topographic, and climatic information within a random forest modeling framework. AUCs for the species-specific models ranged from 0.77–0.98, where bioclimatic and process predictors were amongst the most important variables for all species. GEDI-fusion forest structure metrics were highly ranked for all species, with fhd included as a highly ranked predictor for all species. The structural metrics included as top predictors for each species were reflective of known species-specific habitat associations. Hotspots in this ecoregion tended to be inland and occurred most often on privately-owned lands. Identification of hotspots is the first step towards management plans focused on biodiversity, and understanding ownership patterns is important for future conservation efforts. The near-global extent of GEDI data, along with recent studies that recommend woodpeckers as indicators of biodiversity across multiple forest types at local and global scales, suggest that synthesis of GEDI-derived data applied to woodpecker detection information might be a powerful approach to identifying biodiversity hotspots.
Computing distances on Riemann surfaces
Authors: Stepanyants Huck , Beardon Alan , Paton Jeremy , Krioukov Dmitri
Published: July 2024

Riemann surfaces are among the simplest and most basic geometric objects. They appear as key players in many branches of physics, mathematics, and other sciences. Despite their widespread significance, how to compute distances between pairs of points on compact Riemann surfaces is surprisingly unknown, unless the surface is a sphere or a torus. This is because on higher-genus surfaces, the distance formula involves an infimum over infinitely many terms, so it cannot be evaluated in practice. Here we derive a computable distance formula for a broad class of Riemann surfaces. The formula reduces the infimum to a minimum over an explicit set consisting of finitely many terms. We also develop a distance computation algorithm, which cannot be expressed as a formula, but which is more computationally efficient on surfaces with high genuses. We illustrate both the formula and the algorithm in application to generalized Bolza surfaces, which are a particular class of highly symmetric compact Riemann surfaces of any genus greater than 1.
Membrane-in-the-middle optomechanical system and structural frequencies
Authors: Pedro Lara Luis , Weder Ricardo , Octavio Castaños-Cervantes Luis
Published: July 2024

We consider a one-dimensional membrane-in-the-middle model for a cavity that consists of two fixed, perfect mirrors and a mobile dielectric membrane between them that has a constant electric susceptibility. We present a sequence of exact cavity angular frequencies that we call structural angular frequencies and that have the remarkable property that they are independent of the position of the membrane inside the cavity. Furthermore, the case of a thin membrane is considered and simple, approximate formulae for the angular frequencies and for the modes of the cavity are obtained. Finally, the cavity electromagnetic potential is numerically calculated and it is found that the potential is accurately described by a multiple scales solution.
Enhancing machining efficiency in hybrid metal matrix composites through EDM parameter optimization via grey relational analysis
Authors: Khare Manu , Sharma Ankit , Goyal Ashish , Jhamb Sandeep
Published: July 2024

In summary, this study utilized stir casting to develop three distinct aluminium hybrid composites incorporating boron carbide and alumina. These composites were identified as Al7075 + 12%B4C + 6%Al2O3, Al7075 + 6%B4C + 6%Al2O3, and Al7075 + 6%B4C + 12%Al2O3. The novelty of this research lies in the unique combination of materials and their proportions, offering enhanced properties yet unexplored in this specific configuration. The research focused on machining these composite materials using EDM and employed a Taguchi L27 orthogonal array design to plan the machining tests. Key process parameters considered were gap voltage (V), duty cycle (%), current (A), and different percentages of reinforcement content. This aspect adds a significant novel dimension to the study, as the impact of EDM machining parameters on hybrid composites with this particular composition has not been extensively explored previously. The study applied Grey Relational Analysis to evaluate the impact of EDM machining process parameters on critical output responses, specifically material removal rate (MRR) and tool wear rate (TWR). SEM images revealed redeposited molten material, craters, and surface cracks, emphasizing the importance of controlling discharge energy and current levels for desired surface quality. An optimal configuration was identified peak current 2 A, pulse duration 100 μs, duty factor 20%, Composition 2 for improved surface attributes. These qualitative and quantitative insights inform process optimization strategies for EDM machining of aluminium hybrid composites.
Anti-Scientific Americans
Authors: Motta Matthew
Published: July 2024

Anti-Scientific Americans offers new insights into the prevalence, origins, and policy consequences of anti-intellectualism in the U.S. It begins by conceptualizing anti-intellectualism as the dislike and distrust of scientists, academics, and other experts. It then brings together “micro-level” survey data spanning six decades, and aggregated “macro-level” data from hundreds of opinion polls dating back to the 1940s, to show that approximately one third of Americans hold anti-intellectual attitudes at any given time; which have become increasingly politicized following the rise of the Tea Party. Reviving often-overlooked insights from Richard Hofstadter’s pioneering (1963) work, it shows that anti-intellectualism both shapes and is shaped by Americans’ aversion to the role that experts play in the policymaking process. Correspondingly, anti-intellectualism motivates opposition to evidence-based policies on issues related to climate change, economic policy, and public health.. Still, Anti-Scientific Americans concludes on an optimistic note by discussing how we might restore Americans’ faith in experts.
The Prevalence of Anti-Intellectual Attitudes
Authors: Motta Matthew
Published: July 2024

Chapter 4 provides a data-driven overview of the prevalence of anti-intellectual attitude endorsement in American public life. It begins by discussing how the book uses public-opinion data to devise an aggregated measure of public anti-intellectual sentiments spanning the majority of the past century. This measure summarizes responses to hundreds of aggregated cross-sectional surveys ranging from 1944 to 2021 and incorporates a wide range of measurement and sampling strategies. The chapter then shows that although anti-intellectualism tends to fluctuate over the years, approximately one-third of Americans express anti-intellectual sentiments at any given time. The chapter concludes by offering new evidence of an uptick in public anti-intellectual attitude endorsement on the eve of the candidacies of George Wallace and Donald Trump, two prominent presidential candidates who frequently invoked anti-intellectual rhetoric on the campaign trail and (as described throughout the chapter) often did so in surprisingly similar ways.