bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimization method of the cam curve for a continuous zoom optical system
Authors: Yang Zengpeng , Li Xiaolin , Yang Wenyu , Yan Tingyu , Pu Enchang , Li Ping , Yin Lu
Published: December 2023

To make the driving force of a zoom cam cylinder stable and easy to control, the correlation between the cam curves of the zoom group and the compensation group is established effectively by reasonably selecting and arranging the coordinate system. Two optimization methods of cam curve are proposed. First, the original data are processed directly by the function of the target cam curve, and then the dynamic parameter such as the pressure angle is verified again to obtain the expected cam curve. This optimization method is simple and convenient, and a variety of optimization results can be constructed. Second, a physical model of multiple cam curves and the driving force with only one variable is constructed. The step search optimization method is used to process the original data point by point, and the best cam curve matching the model is obtained. Through dynamic simulation, it is determined that the cam curves designed by this optimization method can drive the zoom group and compensation group to complete the whole continuous zoom movement with a stable torque.
Optical properties of particle dispersed coatings with gradient distribution
Authors: Zhai Jinan , Zhang Shangyu , Zheng Chong , Liu Linhua
Published: December 2023

Particle dispersed coatings with gradient distributions, resulting from either gravity or artificial control, are frequently encountered in practical applications. However, most current studies investigating the optical properties of coatings use the uniform model (uniform single layer assumption), overlooking the gradient distribution effects. Given the pervasiveness of gradient distributions and the widespread use of the uniform model, it is imperative to evaluate applicability conditions of the uniform model in practical applications. In this work, we comprehensively investigate the quantitative performance of the uniform model in predicting the infrared optical properties of coatings with gradient distributions of particle volume fraction using the superposition T-matrix method. The results show that the gradient distribution of particle volume fraction has a limited impact on the emissivity properties of TiO2-PDMS coatings in the midwavelength-infrared (MWIR) and long-wavelength-infrared (LWIR) bands, which validates the uniform model for the gradient coatings with weakly scattering dielectric particles. However, the uniform model can yield significant inaccuracies in estimating the emissivity properties of Al-PDMS coatings with gradient distributions in the MWIR and LWIR bands. To accurately estimate the emissivity of such gradient coatings with the scattering metallic particles, meticulous modeling of the particle volume fraction distribution is essential.
Improved Shi–Tomasi sub-pixel corner detection based on super-wide field of view infrared images
Authors: Shi Dongdong , Huang Fuyu , Yang Jun , Jia Leilei , Niu Yuandong , Liu Limin
Published: December 2023

In this work, we propose a new, to the best of our knowledge, corner
point detection method for a super-wide field of view infrared imaging
system. First, the edge of the checkerboard calibration board is
detected at the pixel level by morphological operation. Second, the
interpolation technique is used to refine the edge so that the edge
has sub-pixel accuracy. We
obtain the four checkerboard unit corners near the real corner point
and average the coordinates of the four corners to indirectly obtain
the coordinates of the real corner point. Meanwhile, we take pictures
of the same calibration board at different angles for repeatability
verification. It is proved that the improvement of our algorithm for
the detection of corners of super-wide field of view infrared images
is more feasible compared to the traditional algorithms.
Holographic multiplane augmented reality head-up display with switchable display modes based on polymer dispersed liquid crystal
Authors: Wang Zi , Pang Yujian , Su Yumeng , Feng Qibin , Lv Guoqiang
Published: December 2023

The multiplane augmented reality (AR) head-up display (HUD) is important in improving
driving safety and comfort. In this paper, we propose an AR-HUD with
switchable display modes based on polymer dispersed liquid crystal
(PDLC) and lens holographic optical elements (HOEs), which can provide
two display modes: the dual-virtual-image mode and the
virtual-real-image mode. The dual-virtual-image mode can produce two
virtual images at different depths, which can provide a better sense
of reality integration for the driver to improve driving safety and
comfort. The virtual-real-image mode can produce one far virtual image
and one near real image at different depths, and it provides a larger
eye box (EB) for both driver and passengers in the car and a higher
image contrast. The two display modes can be switched by an
electronically controlled scattering module consisting of a pair of
PDLC films. The proposed AR-HUD system is compact and equipped with
multiplane display and mode-switching functions, and is expected to be
applied in the future.
Ameliorated 3 × 3 coupler-based demodulation algorithm using iteratively reweighted ellipse specific fitting
Authors: Gu Shaojie , Zhang Gang , Ge Qiang , Xu Linguang , Wu Xuqiang , Yu Benli
Published: December 2023

Passive demodulation scheme using 3 × 3 coupler has been widely used in phase-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometry (φ-OTDR), interrogation of fiber Bragg gratings or fiber optic interferometric sensors, and sensor multiplexing. However, the asymmetry of the 3 × 3 coupler in real applications affects the demodulation performance seriously. We proposed an ameliorated 3 × 3 coupler-based demodulation algorithm using iteratively reweighted ellipse specific fitting (IRESF) to overcome the drawback. IRESF combines iterative reweight technology with ellipse specific fitting, which decreases the weights of high noise points and always outputs ellipse solutions. Any two output signals from the 3 × 3 coupler-based interferometer are fitted by the IRESF and then corrected as a pair of quadrature signals. The stability of the fitting parameters is utilized to resolve the failures of IRESF under small signals. A real-time 1/4 ellipse arc judging module is designed, if the Lissajous figure is larger than 1/4 ellipse arc, IRESF is executed to offer ellipse correction parameters. Otherwise, the fixed parameters preset in the algorithm are used. The fixed parameters are mean values of the fitting parameters of IRESF under a large stimulus. The desired phase signal is finally extracted from the corrected quadrature signals. Experimental results show that the ameliorated algorithm does not require strict symmetry of the 3 × 3 coupler and can work under small signals. The noise floor of the proposed algorithm is −112 dB re rad/√Hz and the demodulated amplitude is 23.15 dB (14.37 rad) at 1 kHz when THD is 0.0488%. Moreover, the response linearity is as high as 99.999%. Compared to the algorithm using direct least squares, the proposed demodulation algorithm is more robust and precise, which has broad application prospects.
Full visible range two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy with high time resolution
Authors: Timmer Daniel , Lünemann Daniel C. , Riese Sebastian , Sio Antonietta De , Lienau Christoph
Published: December 2023

Two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy (2DES) is a powerful method to study coherent and incoherent interactions and dynamics in complex quantum systems by correlating excitation and detection energies in a nonlinear spectroscopy experiment. Such dynamics can be probed with a time resolution limited only by the duration of the employed laser pulses and in a spectral range defined by the pulse spectrum. In the blue spectral range (<500 nm), the generation of sufficiently broadband ultrashort pulses with pulse durations of 10 fs or less has been challenging so far. Here, we present a 2DES setup based on a hollow-core fiber supercontinuum covering the full visible range (400-700 nm). Pulse compression via custom-made chirped mirrors yields a time resolution of <10 fs. The broad spectral coverage, in particular the extension of the pulse spectra into the blue spectral range, unlocks new possibilities for coherent investigations of blue-light absorbing and multichromophoric compounds, as demonstrated by a 2DES measurement of chlorophyll a.
Trace gas sensor based on a multi-pass-retro-reflection-enhanced differential Helmholtz photoacoustic cell and a power amplified diode laser
Authors: Zhang Chu , Qiao Shunda , He Ying , Ma Yufei
Published: December 2023

A high-sensitive photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) sensor, which is based on a multi-pass-retro-reflection-enhanced differential Helmholtz photoacoustic cell (DHPAC) and a high power diode laser amplified by erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA), is presented in this work for the first time. In order to improve the interaction length between the light and target gas, the incident light was reflected four times through a multi-pass-retro-reflection-cell constructed by two right-angle prisms. A 1.53 µm distributed feedback (DFB) diode laser was selected to excite photoacoustic signal. Moreover, its power was amplified by an EDFA to 1000 mW to improve the amplitude of photoacoustic signal. Acetylene (C2H2) was chosen as the target analysis to verify the reported sensor performance. Compared to double channel without multiple reflections, the 2f signal of double channel with four reflections was improved by 3.71 times. In addition, when the output optical power of EDFA was 1000 mW, the 2f signal has a 70.57-fold improvement compared with the multi-pass-retro-reflection-cell without EDFA. An Allan deviation analysis was carried out to evaluate the long-term stability of such PAS sensor. When the averaging time was 400 s, the minimum detection limit (MDL) of such PAS sensor was 14 ppb.
Probing the electron motion in molecules using forward-scattering photoelectron holography
Authors: Min Yijing , Xu Xue , Lv Xiao , Zhang Yiming , Lu Yinuo , Hao Xiang , Tan Jia
Published: December 2023

Charge migration initiated by the coherent superposition of several electronic states is a basic process in intense laser-matter interactions. Observing this process on its intrinsic timescale is one of the central goals of attosecond science. Here, using forward-scattering photoelectron holography we theoretically demonstrate a scheme to probe the charge migration in molecules. In our scheme, by solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation, the photoelectron momentum distributions (PEMDs) for strong-field tunneling ionization of the molecule are obtained. For a superposition state, it is shown that an intriguing shift of the holographic interference appears in the PEMDs, when the molecule is aligned perpendicularly to the linearly polarized laser field. With the quantum-orbit analysis, we demonstrate that this shift of the interference fringes is caused by the time evolution of the non-stationary superposition state. By analyzing the dependence of the shift on the final parallel momentum of the electrons, the relative phase and the expansion coefficient ratio of the two electronic states involved in the superposition state are determined accurately. Our study provides an efficient method for probing the charge migration in molecules. It will facilitate the application of the forward-scattering photoelectron holography to survey the electronic dynamics in more complex molecules.
High-temperature strain sensor based on sapphire fiber Bragg grating
Authors: He Jun , Li Zhuoda , Xu Xizhen , Tan Qingming , Weng Xiaoyu , Liu Liwei , Qu Junle , Liao Changrui , Wang Yiping
Published: December 2023

Sapphire fiber Bragg grating (SFBG) is a promising high-temperature strain sensor due to its melting point of 2045°C. However, the study on the long-term stability of SFBG under high temperature with an applied strain is still missing. In this paper, we reported for the first time to our knowledge on the critical temperature point of plastic deformation of the SFBG and demonstrated that the SFBG strain sensor can operate stably below 1200°C. At first, we experimentally investigated the topography and the spectral characteristics of the SFBG at different temperatures (i.e., 25°C, 1180°C, and 1600°C) with applied 650 µε. The reflection peak of the SFBG exhibits a redshift of about 15 nm and broadens gradually within 8 h at 1600°C, and the tensile force value decreases by 0.60 N in this process. After the test, the diameter of the SFBG region decreases from 100 to 88.6 µm, and the grating period is extended from 1.76 to 1.79 µm. This indicates that the plastic deformation of the SFBG happened indeed, and it was elongated irreversibly. Moreover, the stability of the Bragg wavelength of the SFBG under high temperature with the applied strain was evaluated. The result demonstrates the SFBG can be used to measure strain reliably below 1200°C. Furthermore, the strain experiments of SFBG at 25°C, 800°C, and 1100°C have been carried out. A linear fitting curve with high fitness (R2 > 0.99) and a lower strain measurement error (<15 µε) can be obtained. The aforementioned results make SFBG promising for high-temperature strain sensing in many fields, such as, power plants, gas turbines, and aerospace vehicles.
Frequency-domain terahertz optoacoustics for non-contact quantitative detection of gas, liquid, and solid samples
Authors: Jiang Liwen , Zhang Ke , Yao Yixin , Liang Jiaxuan , Li Jiao , Tian Zhen
Published: December 2023

Terahertz optoacoustics (THz-OA) combines the advantages of abundant molecular characteristic absorptions in a terahertz band and the low attenuation through ultrasonic detection. Frequency-domain THz-OA, benefiting from the compact and the low cost of a continuous-wave THz source, has been used in gas detection and sensing. However, liquid and solid detections are hard to achieve due to the sensitivity limitation of existing technologies. Here we present a high-sensitivity frequency-domain THz-OA system with customized optoacoustic cells to accomplish non-contact quantitative detection of gas, liquid, and solid samples. The relationships between signal amplitudes and sample concentration, volume and temperature are discussed separately, revealing a potential application of this technology.
Investigation on the monolithically integrated chaotic optical transmitting chip based on parallel EAMs
Authors: Li Mi , Feng Yuan , Wang Yisi , Liu Yuan , Wu Zheng , Feng Zekun
Published: December 2023

Chaotic optical communication ensures information security at the physical layer. However, the monolithic integration of lasers and lithium niobate Mach–Zehnder modulators remains a challenge, limiting the progress of integrated chaotic optical communication systems based on an electro-optic feedback. Here, we propose the monolithically integrated chaotic optical transmitting chip based on the parallel EAMs and validate its performance from the perspectives of phase portraits, fast Fourier transform (FFT), probability density function (PDF), largest Lyapunov exponents, and bifurcation. The results demonstrate the feasibility of the chip, which is beneficial for the miniaturization and integration of the system.
Revealing of long-range soliton interaction induced time and phase dynamics in a mode-locked fiber laser
Authors: Xian Tianhao , Zhan Li
Published: December 2023

By means of the dispersive temporal interferometry technique, we carried out a real-time observation of the time separation and relative phase evolutions of two pulses toward harmonic mode-locking. During the separation stage of the buildup process, the time separation increases, while the relative phase decreases synchronously, and the largest change rates are 0.247 fs/r and −0.017 rad/r, respectively. Meanwhile, the two rates show a linear relation with the former 17.4 times larger than the latter. Moreover, a residual phase change rate of −3.89 × 10−4 rad/r is observed in a steady non-uniform dual-soliton state, while such phase change is absent in a uniform four-soliton state. This study unveils the soliton interaction dynamics in lasers, which not only help to reduce timing jitter in multi-soliton mode-locking, but also bring insight to a temporal tweezing of femtosecond pulse.
The community as an active part in the implementation of interventions for the prevention and care of tuberculosis: A scoping review
Authors: Chavez-Rimache Lesly , Ugarte-Gil César , Brunette Maria J.
Published: December 2023

Interventions involving direct community stakeholders include a variety of approaches in which members take an active role in improving their health. We evaluated studies in which the community has actively participated to strengthen tuberculosis prevention and care programs. A literature search was performed in Pubmed, Scopus, ERIC, Global Index Medicus, Scielo, Cochrane Library, LILACS, Google Scholar, speciality journals, and other bibliographic references. The primary question for this review was: ¿what is known about tuberculosis control interventions and programs in which the community has been an active part?. Two reviewers performed the search, screening, and selection of studies independently. In cases of discrepancies over the eligibility of an article, it was resolved by consensus. 130 studies were selected, of which 68.47% (n = 89/130) were published after 2010. The studies were conducted in Africa (44.62%), the Americas (22.31%) and Southeast Asia (19.23%). It was found that 20% (n = 26/130) of the studies evaluated the participation of the community in the detection/active search of cases, 20.77% (n = 27/130) in the promotion/prevention of tuberculosis; 23.07% (n = 30/130) in identifying barriers to treatment, 46.15% (n = 60/130) in supervision during treatment and 3.08% (n = 4/130) in social support for patient. Community participation not only strengthens the capacities of health systems for the prevention and care of tuberculosis, but also allows a better understanding of the disease from the perspective of the patient and the affected community by identifying barriers and difficulties through of the tuberculosis care cascade. Engaging key community stakeholders in co-creating solutions offers a critical pathway for local governments to eradicate TB.
Virus infections in honeybee colonies naturally surviving ectoparasitic mite vectors
Authors: Oddie Melissa A. Y. , Lanz Sandra , Dahle Bjørn , Yañez Orlando , Neumann Peter
Published: December 2023

Western honeybee populations, Apis mellifera, in Europe have been known to survive infestations of the ectoparasitic mite, Varroa destructor, by means of natural selection. Proposed mechanisms in literature have been focused on the management of this parasite, however literature remains scare on the differences in viral ecology between colonies that have adapted to V. destructor and those that are consistently treated for it. Samples were collected from both a mite-surviving and a sympatric mite-susceptible honeybee population in Norway. The prevalence and abundances of 10 viruses, vectored by the parasite or not, were investigated in adult host workers and pupae as well as in V. destructor mites. Here we show that the mite-vectored Deformed wing virus (DWV-A) is often lower in both abundance and prevalence in the mite-surviving population in tandem with lower phoretic mite infestations compared to the mite susceptible population. However, the non-mite-vectored Black queen cell virus (BQCV), had both a higher abundance and prevalence in the mite-surviving population compared to the susceptible population. The data therefore suggest that general adaptations to virus infections may be unlikely to explain colony survival. Instead, mechanisms suppressing mite reproduction and therefore the impact seem to be more important.
Factors affecting cervical cancer screening among Yemeni immigrant women in Klang Valley, Malaysia: A cross sectional study
Authors: Al-Oseely Sarah , Abdul Manaf Rosliza , Ismail Suriani
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Cervical cancer is a significant public health problem for women worldwide. It is the fourth most frequent cancer in women globally. While early detection of cancerous lesions through screening tests leads to a better prognosis and a better chance of being cured, the number of people who go for screening is still low, especially for groups that are marginalized, like immigrant women.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to identify cervical cancer screening practices and factors influencing screening status among Yemeni immigrant women living in the Klang Valley, Malaysia.

Method

A cross-sectional study among 355 randomly selected respondents between the ages of 20 and 65 was conducted through an online survey. A questionnaire was sent directly to the participants via WhatsApp. The analysis was conducted using SPSS 25 with a significance level of 0.05. It included descriptive analysis, chi-square and multiple logistic regression.

Results

The response rate was 59%, with the majority of the respondents being married and between the ages of 35 and 49. Screening was reported at 23.1% in the previous three years. The final model revealed that age group 50–65 years (AOR = 5.39, 95% CI: 1.53–18.93), insurance status (AOR 2.22, 95% CI = 1.15–4.3), knowledge (AOR = 6.67, 95% CI = 3.45–12.9), access to health care facilities (AOR = 4.64, 95% CI = 1.29–16.65), and perceived barriers (AOR = 2.5, 95% CI = 1.3–4.83) were significant predictors of cervical screening uptake among Yemeni immigrant women in Malaysia (p<0.05).

Conclusion

According to the results, cervical cancer screening was found to be low among Yemeni immigrant women. The predictors were age group 50–65 years, insurance status, knowledge, access to health care facilities and perceived barriers. Efforts to enhance immigrant women’s participation in cervical cancer screening must tackle barriers to access to healthcare services as well as expand cervical cancer screening education programs.
Liposomes and transferosomes in the delivery of papain for the treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars
Authors: Sapkota Rachana , Munt Daniel J. , Kincaid Anthony E. , Dash Alekha K.
Published: December 2023

Hypertrophic scars and keloids are characterized by an excessive collagen deposition. The available treatment options are invasive and can result in recurrence of scar formation. Using liposomes and transferosomes for the topical delivery of papain, a proteolytic enzyme, can be effective treatment. The objective of the study is to formulate papain-loaded liposomes and transferosomes, characterize the formulations, and study in vitro permeation using shed snake skin and Sprague-Dawley rat skin as models for stratum corneum and full thickness skin. Papain-loaded liposomes and transferosomes were formulated using the thin-film hydration method for the delivery of papain across the stratum corneum barrier. An in vitro permeation study carried out using shed-snake skin and Sprague-Dawley rat skin models showed that transferosomes were able to deliver papain across the stratum corneum barrier, while papain solution and papain liposomes were not able to cross the barrier. However, transferosomes were not able to deliver papain across the full thickness rat skin model suggesting the deposition of papain loaded transferosomes in the epidermal or dermal layer of skin. In addition, an ex-vivo model was used to analyze the effect of papain exposure on the morphology of the epidermis taken from rat skin exposed to papain solution, papain in transferosomes and papain in liposomes. Papain in solution resulted in a noticeable degradation of the epidermis, but when embedded in either transferosomes or liposomes there was no noticeable change when compared to control animals. The cytotoxicity study performed using HeLa cells showed that the cells were viable at papain concentrations lower than 0.01 mg/ml.
Eccentric force and electromyogram comparison between the eccentric phase of the Nordic hamstring exercise and the razor hamstring curl
Authors: Murakami Yuta , Nishida Satoru , Kasahara Kaziki , Yoshida Riku , Hayakawa Ryo , Nakamura Masatoshi
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) and razor hamstring curl (RHC) are usually performed to train hamstring eccentric contraction strength. However, it is unclear whether there are differences in the intensity of the two methods and the amount of loading on each muscle. Therefore, this study was conducted using peak eccentric force and each muscle surface electromyogram (s-EMG) to provide useful information to decide whether NHE or RHC should be prescribed for training and rehabilitation.

Methods

s-EMG electrodes were placed in the medial gastrocnemius, lateral gastrocnemius, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, gluteus maximus, and erector spinae of the dominant leg of the fifteen healthy male university students with exercise habits. Maximum voluntary isometric contractions of 3 seconds were performed on each muscle followed by NHE and RHC in random order. The outcome variables included peak eccentric force and s-EMG of each muscle calculated by means amplitude during the NHE and RHC.

Results

Peak eccentric force was significantly higher in RHC than in NHE (p = 0.001, r = 0.73). However, NHE was significantly higher in s-EMG of semitendinosus (p = 0.04, r = −0.52) than RHC. However, there were no significant differences in EMG of the medial gastrocnemius (p = 0.202, r = −0.34), lateral gastrocnemius (p = 0.496, r = 0.18), biceps femoris (p = 0.061, r = −0.48), gluteus maximus (p = 0.112, r = −0.41), erector spinae (p = 0.45, r = 0.20) between NHE and RHC.

Conclusions

For NHE and RHC, the peak eccentric force exerted during the exercise was significantly higher for RHC, and the s-EMG of semitendinosus was significantly higher for NHE.
Strengthening midwifery in the South-East Asian region: A scoping review of midwifery-related research
Authors: Griffin Georgia , Bradfield Zoe , Than Kyu Kyu , Smith Rachel , Tanimizu Ai , Raina Neena , Homer Caroline S. E.
Published: December 2023

Improving sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, and adolescent health outcomes necessitates greater commitment to, and investments in, midwifery. To identify future research priorities to advance and strengthen midwifery, we conducted a scoping review to synthesise and report areas of midwifery that have been explored in the previous 10 years in the 11 countries of the World Health Organization’s South-East Asia region. Electronic peer-reviewed databases were searched for primary peer-reviewed research published in any language, published between January 2012 and December 2022 inclusive. A total of 7086 citations were screened against the review inclusion criteria. After screening and full text review, 195 sources were included. There were 94 quantitative (48.2%), 67 qualitative (34.4%) and 31 mixed methods (15.9%) studies. The majority were from Indonesia (n = 93, 47.7%), India (n = 41, 21.0%) and Bangladesh (n = 26, 13.3%). There were no sources identified from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea or the Maldives. We mapped the findings against six priority areas adapted from the 2021 State of the World’s Midwifery Report and Regional Strategic Directions for Strengthening Midwifery in the South-East Asia region (2020–2024): practice or service delivery (n = 73, 37.4%), pre-service education (n = 60, 30.8%), in-service education or continuing professional development (n = 51, 26.2%), workforce management (n = 46, 23.6%), governance and regulation (n = 21, 10.8%) and leadership (n = 12, 6.2%). Most were published by authors with affiliations from the country where the research was conducted. The volume of published midwifery research reflects country-specific investment in developing a midwifery workforce, and the transition to midwifery-led care. There was variation between countries in how midwife was defined, education pathways, professional regulation, education accreditation, governance models and scope of practice. Further evaluation of the return on investment in midwifery education, regulation, deployment and retention to support strategic decision-making is recommended. Key elements of leadership requiring further exploration included career pathways, education and development needs and regulatory frameworks to support and embed effective midwifery leadership at all levels of health service governance.
Harm reduction strategies in acute care for people who use alcohol and/or drugs: A scoping review
Authors: Crowther Daniel , Curran Janet , Somerville Mari , Sinclair Doug , Wozney Lori , MacPhee Shannon , Rose Annette Elliott , Boulos Leah , Caudrella Alexander
Published: December 2023

Background

People who use alcohol and/or drugs (PWUAD) are at higher risk of infectious disease, experiencing stigma, and recurrent hospitalization. Further, they have a higher likelihood of death once hospitalized when compared to people who do not use drugs and/or alcohol. The use of harm reduction strategies within acute care settings has shown promise in alleviating some of the harms experienced by PWUAD. This review aimed to identify and synthesize evidence related to the implementation of harm reduction strategies in acute care settings.

Methods

A scoping review investigating harm reduction strategies implemented in acute care settings for PWUAD was conducted. A search strategy developed by a JBI-trained specialist was used to search five databases (Medline, Embase, CINAHL, PsychInfo and Scopus). Screening of titles, abstracts and full texts, and data extraction was done in duplicate by two independent reviewers. Discrepancies were resolved by consensus or with a third reviewer. Results were reported narratively and in tables. Both patients and healthcare decision makers contributing to the development of the protocol, article screening, synthesis and feedback of results, and the identification of gaps in the literature.

Findings

The database search identified 14,580 titles, with 59 studies included in this review. A variety of intervention modalities including pharmacological, decision support, safer consumption, early overdose detection and turning a blind eye were identified. Reported outcome measures related to safer use, managed use, and conditions of use. Reported barriers and enablers to implementation related to system and organizational factors, patient-provider communication, and patient and provider perspectives.

Conclusion

This review outlines the types of alcohol and/or drug harm reduction strategies, which have been evaluated and/or implemented in acute care settings, the type of outcome measures used in these evaluations and summarizes key barriers and enablers to implementation. This review has the potential to serve as a resource for future harm reduction evaluation and implementation efforts in the context of acute care settings.
Effects of iron concentration and DFB (Desferrioxamine-B) on transcriptional profiles of an ecologically relevant marine bacterium
Authors: LeCleir Gary R. , Bassett Jenna , Wilhelm Steven W.
Published: December 2023

Research into marine iron cycles and biogeochemistry has commonly relied on the use of chelators (including siderophores) to manipulate iron bioavailability. To test whether a commonly used chelator, desferrioxamine B (DFB) caused effects beyond changing the iron-status of cells, cultures of the environmentally relevant marine heterotrophic bacterium, Ruegeria pomeroyii, were grown in media with different concentrations of iron and/or DFB, resulting in a gradient of iron availability. To determine how cells responded, transcriptomes were generated for cells from the different treatments and analyzed to determine how cells reacted to these to perturbations. Analyses were also performed to look for cellular responses specific to the presence of DFB in the culture medium. As expected, cells experiencing different levels of iron availability had different transcriptomic profiles. While many genes related to iron acquisition were differentially expressed between treatments, there were many other genes that were also differentially expressed between different sample types, including those related to the uptake and metabolism of other metals as well as genes related to metabolism of other types of molecules like amino acids and carbohydrates. We conclude that while DFB certainly altered iron availability to cells, it also appears to have had a general effect on the homeostasis of other metals as well as influenced metabolic processes outside of metal acquisition.
A statistical method for removing unbalanced trials with multiple covariates in meta-analysis
Authors: Attanasio Massimo , Aiello Fabio , Tinè Fabio
Published: December 2023

In meta-analysis literature, there are several checklists describing the procedures necessary to evaluate studies from a qualitative point of view, whereas preliminary quantitative and statistical investigations on the “combinability” of trials have been neglected. Covariate balance is an important prerequisite to conduct meta-analysis. We propose a method to identify unbalanced trials with respect to a set of covariates, in presence of covariate imbalance, namely when the randomized controlled trials generate a meta-sample that cannot satisfy the requisite of randomization/combinability in meta-analysis. The method is able to identify the unbalanced trials, through four stages aimed at achieving combinability. The studies responsible for the imbalance are identified, and then they can be eliminated. The proposed procedure is simple and relies on the combined Anderson-Darling test applied to the Empirical Cumulative Distribution Functions of both experimental and control meta-arms. To illustrate the method in practice, two datasets from well-known meta-analyses in the literature are used.
A study of the impact of de-capacity policies on industry capacity utilization paths: Evidence from the Chinese steel industry
Authors: Shi Shixin , Li Hao , Tang Hongsong , Liu Yang
Published: December 2023

The issue of overcapacity has become an unavoidable challenge in the rapid development of nations, constraining economic progress, particularly within industries like steel, coal, and cement. This study, using the example of the Chinese steel industry in the context of supply-side structural reform, employs data envelopment analysis (DEA) models to measure capacity utilization, and ordinary least squares (OLS) models to investigate the impact of capacity reduction policies on the steel industry’s capacity utilization pathways. The research findings indicate that capacity reduction policies have a significantly positive impact on the capacity utilization in the steel industry. They enhance capacity utilization through four pathways: “equipment optimization and upgrade”, “enterprise mergers and restructuring”, “technology innovation-driven”, and “environmental protection regulations”. Among these, “technology innovation-driven” and “environmental protection regulations” play predominant roles, while the effect of “international market expansion” on increasing capacity utilization in the steel industry is not significant. To ensure the sustained effectiveness of capacity reduction policies, the nation should continue to strengthen the “technology innovation-driven” and “environmental protection regulations” pathways. Additionally, it should activate the “national market expansion” pathway, fully exploring the potential for international cooperation to achieve improved capacity utilization in the steel industry.
Research on rice disease recognition based on improved SPPFCSPC-G YOLOv5 network
Authors: Yang Bo , Zhang Lina , He Jinping
Published: December 2023

Spatial Pyramid Pooling (SPP) is important in capturing remote contextual information for pixel-level prediction tasks in scene-resolved detection of rice diseases. In this paper, the detection objects of the rice disease dataset used in this paper have almost the same target size and do not need to be passed through different filters to obtain different receptive fields of view. Therefore, this paper proposed a new pooling structure, SPPFCSPC-G, which split the feature vector into 2 channels for processing. One channel was processed using grouped 1×1 Conv, while the other channel mainly used multiple filters with the same parallel structure (5×5 MaxPool). Additionally, multiple 1×1 and 3×3 grouped convolutions were concatenated in series in that branch (Group-Conv) to extract more complex features in rice. Finally, the 2 parts were connected (Concat) together, with each convolutional layer Conv divided into 4 groups as a way to reduce the amount of computation in the model. The project team incorporated SPPFCSPC-G into the Backbone of YOLOv5 and trained it on NVIDIA Tesla T4 (GPU). The experimental results showed that the performance of the method used in this paper improved, including Precision, Recall, mAP, and training speed, while reducing the size of computational parameters (Parameters), computational volume (GFLOPs), and model size (Param.). The project team carried out the trained YOLOv5 model on Intel Core i5 (CPU) for inference detection of rice leaves in real scenarios, and the experiments showed that both pre-inference and actual inference were faster. Moreover, the consumption of computational resources was almost minimized, and the model effectively identified rice diseases.
Familias con Orgullo: Study protocol for an efficacy study of a family-based intervention for Hispanic sexual minority youth
Authors: Lozano Alyssa , Estrada Yannine , Scott Dalton , Tapia Maria I. , Santos Jr. Hudson P. , Carrico Adam W. , Zolobczuk Joseph , Manker Amber , Prado Guillermo
Published: December 2023

This manuscript describes the rationale and design of a family-based, Hispanic sexual minority youth (HSMY) specific preventive intervention, Familias con Orgullo (Families with Pride). HSMY (N = 306) and their primary caregivers will be recruited in South Florida and be randomized to Familias con Orgullo or prevention as usual. The intervention will be delivered by trained study facilitators. Outcomes will be measured at baseline and 6-, 18-, and 30-months post-baseline. The goals of this study are to evaluate whether the Familias con Orgullo intervention, compared to community practice, is effective in reducing drug use and depressive symptoms through the improvement of parent support for the youth, parent acceptance, family functioning, youth stress, and sexual minority stress. Additionally, we will explore whether gender and baseline levels of parent support for the youth, parent acceptance, family functioning, youth stress, and sexual minority stress moderate intervention effects on the youth outcomes.

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06057337, First posted September 28, 2023.
Dynamic phase-locking states and personality in sub-acute mild traumatic brain injury: An exploratory study
Authors: van der Horn Harm J. , de Koning Myrthe E. , Visser Koen , Kok Marius G. J. , Spikman Jacoba M. , Scheenen Myrthe E. , Renken Remco J. , Calhoun Vince D. , Vergara Victor M. , Cabral Joana , Mayer Andrew R. , van der Naalt Joukje
Published: December 2023

Research has shown that maladaptive personality characteristics, such as Neuroticism, are associated with poor outcome after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The current exploratory study investigated the neural underpinnings of this process using dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC) analyses of resting-state (rs) fMRI, and diffusion MRI (dMRI). Twenty-seven mTBI patients and 21 healthy controls (HC) were included. After measuring the Big Five personality dimensions, principal component analysis (PCA) was used to obtain a superordinate factor representing emotional instability, consisting of high Neuroticism, moderate Openness, and low Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness. Persistent symptoms were measured using the head injury symptom checklist at six months post-injury; symptom severity (i.e., sum of all items) was used for further analyses. For patients, brain MRI was performed in the sub-acute phase (~1 month) post-injury. Following parcellation of rs-fMRI using independent component analysis, leading eigenvector dynamic analysis (LEiDA) was performed to compute dynamic phase-locking brain states. Main patterns of brain diffusion were computed using tract-based spatial statistics followed by PCA. No differences in phase-locking state measures were found between patients and HC. Regarding dMRI, a trend significant decrease in fractional anisotropy was found in patients relative to HC, particularly in the fornix, genu of the corpus callosum, anterior and posterior corona radiata. Visiting one specific phase-locking state was associated with lower symptom severity after mTBI. This state was characterized by two clearly delineated communities (each community consisting of areas with synchronized phases): one representing an executive/saliency system, with a strong contribution of the insulae and basal ganglia; the other representing the canonical default mode network. In patients who scored high on emotional instability, this relationship was even more pronounced. Dynamic phase-locking states were not related to findings on dMRI. Altogether, our results provide preliminary evidence for the coupling between personality and dFNC in the development of long-term symptoms after mTBI.
A simple and highly accurate method for fuzzy edge-based 3D morphometry
Authors: Jin Li
Published: December 2023

As the level of engineering technology increases, the mechanical problems posed in the area of mechanics become complex and diverse. The traditional measurement methods and content of past measurements no longer meet the needs, so more advanced experimental methods are needed to accurately measure the three-dimensional shape of objects and their deformations. Nitrate ester plasticized polyether (NEPE) propellants, are the highest energy solid propellant that have been applied in public reports in the world. Due to the material properties of the material itself, its mechanical properties cannot be accurately measured by conventional methods. This paper proposes a simple and highly accurate optical measurement method to study the volume change rate, Poisson’s ratio and true stress-strain curves of NEPE at different displacement loading rates of NEPE. In this paper, the strain of solid propellant NEPE in three directions during unidirectional stretching was measured by defocusing method and digital image correlation(DIC) method and the volume change rate, Poisson’s ratio and true stress-strain curves of NEPE under different stretching rates were obtained. The measured damage initiation engineering strain of NEPE at different tensile strain rates is 0.4687.
Racismo e xenofobia contra imigrantes Japoneses – o poder legislativo Brasileiro como instrumento de exclusão
Authors: Florence Giesbrecht Daniel
Published: December 2023

O artigo tem como objetivo analisar as perspectivas da classe política brasileira em relação à imigração japonesa nos primeiros anos da década de 1930. O estudo faz uso de recursos bibliográficos e documentais, com ênfase nos Anais da Assembleia Nacional Constituinte e nos Diários do Poder Legislativo dos Estados Unidos do Brasil, ambos disponíveis em formato digital na Biblioteca Digital da Câmara dos Deputados. A pesquisa fornece exemplos específicos de como determinados membros do Poder Legislativo, influenciados por teorias de natureza racial e eugênica, desempenharam um papel na estigmatização de grupos específicos de indivíduos, qualificando-os de maneira negativa e, assim, fomentando o racismo e a xenofobia.
Migrantes e refugiados que dão à costa nas notícias. Um estudo a partir dos média ibero-americanos
Authors: Pimenta Susana , Ribeiro Fábio Fonseca
Published: December 2023

As migrações fazem parte das movimentações humanas desde que a Humanidade se reconhece como tal. Independentemente do grau de proximidade com a problemática das migrações, onde refugiados, migrantes e imigrantes lutam por condições dignas, parece ser consensual admitir que os meios de comunicação social oferecem visões que importa conhecer e problematizar. É este o propósito genérico deste artigo, que analisou a forma como, em 2022, os principais jornais online de Portugal, Espanha, Brasil e Argentina retrataram as migrações dos refugiados nos mais diversos espaços jornalísticos. A partir de uma amostra de 232 notícias, concluiu-se que a maioria dos conteúdos é perspetivada na editoria “Internacional” (54,7%), no entanto predominam abordagens sobre a integração dos refugiados na sociedade e a participação dos países no palco mediático sobre estes assuntos. Para além de não existirem diferenças significativas entre países, apenas nuances, os resultados globais indicam uma prevalência de notícias que abordam os refugiados de uma perspetiva negativa, em 40,09%.
Inter-group conflict and disintegration: the Portuguese immigrant community in Macao after the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Branco Inês
Published: December 2023

This study aims to investigate the impact of recent events on the Portuguese immigrant community residing in Macao, focusing on inter-group conflict, integration, and disintegration concepts. The research methodology employed includes a thorough literature review, statistical data analysis, in-depth interviews, and subsequent content analysis.
Findings reveal that the strict measures implemented by the local government to achieve zero COVID-19 cases, along with the repercussions of the Hong Kong Umbrella Movement, have given rise to an inter-group conflict and to the departure of Portuguese immigrants. However, there is no evidence to indicate a decline or disintegration of this community.
Maltese antiquarians of early-modern age and the cave church of Mellieha
Authors: Cecalupo Chiara
Published: December 2023

This article aims at presenting some unpublished documents about historiographical research on Maltese Christian Middle Ages written by a Discalced Carmelite friar in the 17th century and recently discovered in the Archives of the Generalate of the Discalced Carmelites in Rome. This is the occasion to report some accounts of Maltese and European scholars regarding one of the most important Medieval sites of Malta (the Church of Our Lady of Mellieha) and to underline how scholars and missionaries of the 17th century related with the historical and archaeological affected by close contacts with Islam. The paper wants therefore to contribute on describing how scholars of the 17th century approached the multicultural and often turbulent aspects of the main Mediterranean areas and how they contributed in assessing the nascent study of Arabic language and culture in terms of historiographic structuring of Mediterranean identity.
Producción y difusión del feminismo en la posdictadura chilena: Los casos de La Casa de la Mujer La Morada, la Editorial Cuarto Propio, la Revista de Crítica Cultural y la Radio Tierra, 1990-2007
Authors: Moyano B. Cristina , Pacheco Parra Valentina Paz
Published: December 2023

Este artículo analiza la formación de la red intelectual en la que se produjo, circuló y difundió un conjunto de saberes femenistas entre 1990 y 2007, período que cubre casi dos décadas de posdictadura en Chile. El principal objetivo es historizar el funcionamiento de la red, sus agentes y los conceptos que ayudaron a construir los marcos cognitivos del feminismo contemporáneo, como uno de los saberes que formó parte de las “narrativas del malestar” y que criticó con fuerza el tipo de democracia y los procesos de democratización posterior a 1990, a partir de un cruce metodológico entre historia política e historia intelectual
John Maynard Keynes and the ‘Scheme for the Rehabilitation of Europe’
Authors: De Nuzzo Carlo
Published: December 2023

This paper analyses the U.S. rejection of the Scheme for the Rehabilitation of Europe proposed by John Maynard Keynes, one of the British delegates at the Peace Conference in Paris 1919. The Scheme proposed by Keynes is an event that enables one to better understand the various processes involved in the U.S. hegemonic rise and the European decline. Furthermore, the idea of the Scheme carried a strong concept of European Union and solidarity, after the devastations of war, to be grown through economic links.