bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
IMMERSIVE JOURNALISM EXPERIENCE IN THE RUSSIAN MEDIA
Authors: Gavrilova Anna A. , Yakovleva Marina G.
Published: September 2023

The purpose of the article is to study the experience of the Russian media in the field of creating immersive content. The empirical basis of the study was 216 immersive materials of the Russia Today TV channel and 26 immersive materials of RIA Novosti. The study was implemented by the content analysis method. The technique of expert interviews was also used to collect information about the activities of the Directorate of New Media of MIA “Russia Today”.

Results. The article analyzes Russian media experience, i.e., Russia Today channel and RIA Novosti, in using of virtual reality and augmented reality tools and 360° video technology; number, timing, genre and theme specifics and their popularity among the audience are determined; primary issues of Russian media in immersive content production are identified.

The results obtained will be useful in researching trends in the development of journalism, and may also be useful for media editorial offices interested in developing new media product formats and attracting new audience groups.
Digital Simulation of Single Qubit Markovian Open Quantum Systems: A Tutorial
Authors: David Ian Joel , Sinayskiy Ilya , Petruccione Francesco
Published: September 2023

One of the first proposals for the use of quantum computers was the simulation of quantum systems. Over the past three decades, great strides have been made in the development of algorithms for simulating closed quantum systems and the more complex open quantum systems. In this tutorial, we introduce the methods used in the simulation of single qubit Markovian open quantum systems. It combines various existing notations into a common framework that can be extended to more complex open system simulation problems. The only currently available algorithm for the digital simulation of single qubit open quantum systems is discussed in detail. A modification to the implementation of the simpler channels is made that removes the need for classical random sampling, thus making the modified algorithm a strictly quantum algorithm. The modified algorithm makes use of quantum forking to implement the simpler channels that approximate the total channel. This circumvents the need for quantum circuits with a large number of CNOT gates.Quanta 2023; 12: 131–163.
Stabilized single-frequency sub-kHz linewidth Brillouin fiber laser cavity operating at 1  µm
Authors: Deroh Moise , Lucas Erwan , Hammani Kamal , Millot Guy , Kibler Bertrand
Published: September 2023

We experimentally demonstrate a stabilized single-frequency Brillouin fiber laser operating at 1.06 µm by means of a passive highly nonlinear fiber (HNLF) ring cavity combined with a phase-locking loop scheme. The stimulated Brillouin scattering efficiency is first investigated in distinct single-mode germanosilicate core fibers with increasing GeO2 content. The most suitable fiber, namely, 21 mol.% GeO2 core fiber, is used as the Brillouin gain medium in the laser cavity made with a 15-m-long segment. A Stokes lasing threshold of 140 mW is reported. We also show significant linewidth narrowing (below 1 kHz) as well as frequency noise reduction compared to that of the initial pump in our mode-hop free Brillouin fiber laser.
Three-dimensional super-resolution range-gated imaging based on Gaussian-range-intensity model
Authors: Wang Pengfei , Liu Hao , Qiu Shaoping , Liu Yu , Huang Feng
Published: September 2023

Current range-gated imaging methods based on triangular or trapezoidal models face significant limitations in terms of the accuracy and precision of three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction. Here, we establish a range-gated 3D super-resolution image reconstruction method based on a Gaussian-range-intensity model. A denoised optimization method for image preprocessing is established to improve the distance accuracy of the reconstruction. The experimental results show that the model can reduce the error of target distance by 64% and possess the reconstruction of multiple kinds of targets with a distance resolution of 1.5 cm and lower noise, realizing better reconstruction results compared with the existing range-gated 3D imaging techniques.
Six-telescope integrated optics beam combiner fabricated using ultrafast laser inscription for J- and H-band astronomy
Authors: Dinkelaker Aline N. , Smarzyk Sebastian , Nayak Abani S. , Piacentini Simone , Corrielli Giacomo , Osellame Roberto , Pedretti Ettore , Roth Martin M. , Madhav Kalaga
Published: September 2023

We have built and characterized, to our knowledge, the first six-telescope discrete
beam combiner (DBC) for stellar interferometry in the astronomical
J-band. It is the DBC with the largest number of beam combinations and
was manufactured using ultrafast laser inscription in borosilicate
glass, with a throughput of ≈56%. For calibration of the
visibility-to-pixel matrix, we use a two-input Michelson
interferometer and extract the complex visibility. A visibility
amplitude of 1.05 and relative precision of 2.9% and 3.8% are
extracted for 1328 nm and 1380 nm, respectively.
Broadband (≤40nm) characterization is affected by
dispersion but shows similar performance.
Multichannel measurements of C. elegans largest Lyapunov exponents using optical diffraction
Authors: Zanetti Raffaella F. , Canavan Katherine L. , Zhang Susannah G. , Magnes Jenny
Published: September 2023

Dynamic diffraction (DOD) is a form of microscopy that allows the dynamic tracking of changing shapes in a 1D time series. DOD can capture the locomotion of a nematode while swimming freely in a 3D space, allowing the locomotion of the worm to more closely mimic natural behavior than in some other laboratory environments. More importantly, we are able to see markers of chaos as DOD covers dynamics on multiple length scales. This work introduces a multichannel method to measure the dynamic complexity of microscopic organisms. We show that parameters associated with chaos, such as the largest Lyapunov exponent (LLE), the mean frequency, mutual information (MI), and the embedding dimension, are independent of the specific point sampled in the diffraction pattern, thus demonstrating experimentally the consistency of our dynamic parameters sampled at various locations (channels) in the associated optical far-field pattern.
Optimal calibration of optical tweezers with arbitrary integration time and sampling frequencies: a general framework [Invited]
Authors: Pérez-García Laura , Selin Martin , Ciarlo Antonio , Magazzù Alessandro , Pesce Giuseppe , Sasso Antonio , Volpe Giovanni , Pérez Castillo Isaac , Arzola Alejandro V.
Published: September 2023

Optical tweezers (OT) have become an essential technique in several fields of physics, chemistry, and biology as precise micromanipulation tools and microscopic force transducers. Quantitative measurements require the accurate calibration of the trap stiffness of the optical trap and the diffusion constant of the optically trapped particle. This is typically done by statistical estimators constructed from the position signal of the particle, which is recorded by a digital camera or a quadrant photodiode. The finite integration time and sampling frequency of the detector need to be properly taken into account. Here, we present a general approach based on the joint probability density function of the sampled trajectory that corrects exactly the biases due to the detector’s finite integration time and limited sampling frequency, providing theoretical formulas for the most widely employed calibration methods: equipartition, mean squared displacement, autocorrelation, power spectral density, and force reconstruction via maximum-likelihood-estimator analysis (FORMA). Our results, tested with experiments and Monte Carlo simulations, will permit users of OT to confidently estimate the trap stiffness and diffusion constant, extending their use to a broader set of experimental conditions.
Multipole couplings and resonance shifts in an array of dielectric particles at oblique incidence
Authors: Zhu Xiaosheng , Xin Yu , Zhang Chunxu , He Yingjun
Published: September 2023

In the present paper, we propose a coupled multipole model to treat the
mutual interactions between nanoparticles aligned in a periodic array,
which may be frequently encountered in designing metasurfaces and
other functional electromagnetic structures. Our model is
comprehensive in that it takes into account the electric and magnetic
multipoles both up to the quadrupole order. Working under Cartesian
coordinates, this model can readily give the multipole responses of
the particles in an infinite array at both normal and oblique
incidence. In particular, we work out the analytical expressions of
the cross-multipole coupling tensors, which are much more complicated
for oblique incidence than normal incidence. We invoke the Ewald
method to efficiently and accurately calculate the involved lattice
sum whose convergence is otherwise very slow. By quantifying the
contributions from the various couplings, we are able to analyze the
mechanisms of new resonances that emerge only at oblique incidence. As
a prototypical example, we use this method to give physically clear
explanations of and show flexible control on the resonance shifts of
the multipoles of an array of silicon spheres. The power of this model
makes it very promising for dealing with metasurfaces with extended
areas or working at large numerical apertures.
Optical pumping enhancement of a free-induction-decay magnetometer
Authors: Hunter Dominic , Mrozowski Marcin S. , McWilliam Allan , Ingleby Stuart J. , Dyer Terry E. , Griffin Paul F. , Riis Erling
Published: September 2023

Spin preparation prior to a free-induction-decay (FID) measurement can be adversely affected by transverse bias fields, particularly in the geophysical field range. A strategy that enhances the spin polarization accumulated before readout is demonstrated, by synchronizing optical pumping with a magnetic field pulse that supersedes any transverse fields by over two orders of magnitude. The pulsed magnetic field is generated along the optical pumping axis using a compact electromagnetic coil pair encompassing a micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) vapor cell. The coils also resistively heat the cesium vapor to the optimal atomic density without spurious magnetic field contributions as they are rapidly demagnetized to approximately zero field during spin readout. The demagnetization process is analyzed electronically, and directly with a FID measurement, to confirm that the residual magnetic field is minimal during detection. The sensitivity performance of this technique is compared to existing optical pumping modalities across a wide magnetic field range. A noise floor sensitivity of 238fT/Hz was achieved in a field of approximately 50 µT, in close agreement with the Cramér–Rao lower bound predicted noise density of 258fT/Hz.
Security enhancement through high-quality illumination enabled by wavelength-shuffled optical OFDM
Authors: Yu Minseok , Heo Chul-Joon , Oh Seoyeon , Chun Hyunchae , Park Kyung-Bae
Published: September 2023

This study presents a novel physical layer security technique that aims to increase the security level by reducing decryption attempts and improving the resistance to security attacks. To achieve this goal, the proposed approach generates signals that resemble Gaussian noise in both the time and frequency domains. This method utilizes a wavelength-shuffled optical orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) scheme, which is combined with the standard blue-excited phosphorus lighting approach. Experimental validation of the proposed system demonstrates a secure data rate of 880 Mb/s in the aggregate, followed by a real-time demonstration showing its practicality. Furthermore, the proposed system generates high-quality white light (with a color rendering index of 83 and correlated color temperature of 5040 K), which makes it suitable for practical illumination applications.
Design of low polarization off-axis three-mirror reflective optical systems
Authors: Luo Jing , Xu Tianxiao , You Chengxu , Liu Yichen , Li Chenghao , Zhang Xiaohui , Dong Jihong
Published: September 2023

Off-axis optical systems have several important advantages over on-axis ones. However, high polarization aberrations, which play important roles in many applications, become critical disadvantages of off-axis systems. Thanks to the seven free design parameters, three-mirror reflective systems have a good potential to achieve low polarization. A general method to design low polarization off-axis three-mirror reflective optical systems is proposed in this paper. Based on genetic algorithms, several off-axis three-mirror systems with both low polarization aberrations and good wave aberrations are designed. The method proposed in this paper is versatile and can be used to design other types of optical systems that demand low polarization aberrations.
Analysis of rotational Doppler shift with multi-ring vortex beams
Authors: Zhu Xiangyang , Ding You , Tang Ruoyu , Liu Tong , Chen Xiaocen , Qiu Song , Liu Zhengliang , Ren Yuan
Published: September 2023

Vortex beams (VBs) with orbital angular momentum have shown great potential in the detection of transverse rotational motion of spatial targets which is undetectable in the classical radar scheme. However, most of the reported rotational Doppler measurements based on VBs can only be realized under ideal experimental conditions. The long-range detection is still a challenge. The detection distance based on rotational Doppler effect (RDE) is mainly limited by the scattered signal's signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). In this work, we investigated the influence of multi-ring vortex beams (MVBs) on the rotational Doppler frequency spectrum of scattered light from an object based on RDE and proposed a method of SNR enhancement of RDE signal. Firstly, different types of MVBs composed of a set of single-ring VBs with the same topological charge and different radii are designed, including multi-ring Laguerre Gaussian beam (MLGB), multi-ring perfect vortex beams (MPVB), and high-order Laguerre Gaussian beam (HLGB). Then, the influence of the number of rings and radial radius interval on the intensity profiles of MVBs and rotational Doppler frequency spectra under aligned and misaligned conditions is studied in detail. And the reasons why different types of MVBs lead to different SNR enhancement effectiveness with the increase of rings are also analyzed theoretically. Finally, proof-of-concept experiments were conducted to verify the effectiveness of the SNR enhancement method for RDE signals. The results showed that the amplitudes of the Doppler spectra generated by the MLGB and MPVB are improved substantially with the increase of rings, but the enhancement effect caused by the former is superior to the latter. The gain of HLGB on the RDE signal is the lowest. This study provides a useful reference for the optimization of rotational Doppler detection systems and may be of great application value in telemetry, long-range communication and optical imaging.
Fiber-delivered heterodyne spectroscopy with a mid-infrared frequency comb
Authors: Castro-Marin Pablo , Johnson Kerr , Farrell Carl , Davidson Ian A. , Fu Qiang , Jasion Gregory T. , Wheeler Natalie V. , Poletti Francesco , Richardson David J. , Reid Derryck T.
Published: September 2023

By exploiting the excellent short-term phase stability between consecutive pulses from a free-running optical parametric oscillator frequency comb, we report the first example of hollow-core fiber-delivered heterodyne spectroscopy in the 3.1–3.8 µm wavelength range. The technique provides a means of spectroscopically interrogating a sample situated at the distal end of a fiber, with all electronics and light sources situated at the proximal end and with an inherent capability to suppress spectroscopically interfering features present in the free-space and in-fiber delivery path. Using a silica anti-resonant, hollow-core delivery fiber, we demonstrate high quality transmission and attenuated total reflectance spectroscopy of a plastic sample for fiber lengths of up to 40 m, significantly exceeding the few-meter lengths typically possible using solid-core fibers. The technique opens a route to implementing multi-species spectroscopic monitoring in remote and / or hostile industrial environments and medical applications.
Low-noise supercontinuum generation in chiral all-normal dispersion photonic crystal fibers
Authors: Lippl Markus , Frosz Michael H. , Joly Nicolas Y.
Published: September 2023

We present the advantages of supercontinuum generation in chiral, therefore circularly birefringent, all-normal dispersion fibers. Due to the absence of nonlinear power transfer between the polarization eigenstates of the fiber, chiral all-normal dispersion fibers do not exhibit any polarization instabilities and thus are an ideal platform for a low-noise supercontinuum generation. By pumping a chiral all-normal dispersion fiber at 802 nm, we obtained an octave-spanning, robustly circularly polarized supercontinuum with a low noise.
Macroscopic temporally and spectrally resolved fluorescence imaging enhanced by laser-wavelength multiplexing
Authors: Shcheslavskiy Vladislav I. , Yuzhakova Diana V. , Sachkova Daria A. , Shirmanova Marina V. , Becker Wolfgang
Published: September 2023

We present a laser scanning system for macroscopic samples that records fully resolved decay curves in individual pixels, resolves the images in 16 wavelength channels, and records simultaneously at several laser wavelengths. By using confocal detection, the system delivers images that are virtually free of lateral scattering and out-of-focus haze. Image formats can be up to 256 × 256 pixels and up to 1024 time channels. We demonstrate the performance of the system both on model experiments with fluorescent micro-beads and on the tumor model in the living mice.
Probe-type all-fiber tiny-displacement sensor based on orbital-angular-momentum interferometry
Authors: Zhao Hua , Guo Chenji , Xu Jiayang , Lu Huali , Hao Hui , Li Hongpu
Published: September 2023

In this study, a probe-type all-fiber tiny-displacement sensor is proposed and experimentally demonstrated, which is realized by using an all-fiber orbital-angular-momentum (OAM) interferometer, where a probe is especially adopted and inserted into the testing arm of the OAM interferometer. The proposed device takes full advantages of the OAM interferometer and the probe-type fiber sensor, making it completely available to the tiny-displacement measurement. As a result, changes in displacement (ranging from 0 nm to 750 nm) with a real resolution of ∼8.81 nm have been successfully measured. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of an all-fiber probe-type OAM interferometer, which may find potential application to high-precision tiny displacement in a small confined space.
On-chip multifunctional self-configurable quadrilateral MZI network
Authors: Zhao Mengyao , Wu Bo , Dong Jianji
Published: September 2023

Photonic integrated circuits have garnered significant attention in recent years. To enhance the functional versatility of these devices, researchers have introduced the concept of reconfiguration into photonic integrated circuits. Inspired by field programmable gate arrays in the electrical domain, programmable photonic chips employing various topologies have been developed. However, users still encounter challenges when utilizing these devices, as they need to understand the internal structure and principles of the chip and individually adjust the tunable basic units within the topology network. In this paper, we employ the quadrilateral topological network based on the on-chip Mach–Zehnder interferometer as a black box to realize a highly self-reconfigurable optical signal processor. By leveraging this approach, we achieve positive real-valued matrix computation, optical routing, and low-loss optical energy splitting. Our demonstration effectively showcases the immense potential of on-chip programmable photonic waveguide meshes.
Characterizing bubble interaction effects in synchronous-double-pulse laser ablation for enhanced nanoparticle synthesis
Authors: Riahi Farbod , Bußmann Alexander , Doñate-Buendia Carlos , Adami Stefan , Adams Nicolaus A. , Barcikowski Stephan , Gökce Bilal
Published: September 2023

To further advance nanomaterial applications and reduce waste production during synthesis, greener and sustainable production methods are necessary. Pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL) is a green technique that enables the synthesis of nanoparticles. This study uses synchronous-double-pulse PLAL to understand bubble interaction effects on the nanoparticle size. By adjusting the lateral separation of the pulses relative to the maximum bubble size, an inter-pulse separation is identified where the nanoparticle size is fourfold. The cavitation bubble pair interaction is recorded using a unique coaxial diffuse shadowgraphy system. This system allows us to record the bubble pair interaction from the top and side, enabling the identification of the bubble’s morphology, lifetime, volumetric, and displacement velocity. It is found that the collision and collapse of the bubbles generated at a certain inter-pulse separation results in a larger nanoparticle size. These results mark a significant advancement by controlling the abundance of larger nanoparticles in PLAL, where previous efforts were primarily focused on reducing the average nanoparticle size. The experimentally observed trends are confirmed by numerical simulations with high spatial and temporal resolution. This study serves as a starting point to bridge the gap between upscaled multi-bubble practices and fundamental knowledge concerning the determinants that define the final nanoparticle size.
Asymmetric connections with starburst amacrine cells underlie the upward motion selectivity of J-type retinal ganglion cells
Authors: Wang Bo , Zhang Yifeng
Published: September 2023

Motion is an important aspect of visual information. The directions of visual motion are encoded in the retina by direction-selective ganglion cells (DSGCs). ON-OFF DSGCs and ON DSGCs co-stratify with starburst amacrine cells (SACs) in the inner plexiform layer and depend on SACs for their direction selectivity. J-type retinal ganglion cells (J-RGCs), a type of OFF DSGCs in the mouse retina, on the other hand, do not co-stratify with SACs, and how direction selectivity in J-RGCs emerges has not been understood. Here, we report that both the excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs to J-RGCs are direction-selective (DS), with the inhibitory inputs playing a more important role for direction selectivity. The DS inhibitory inputs come from SACs, and the functional connections between J-RGCs and SACs are spatially asymmetric. Thus, J-RGCs and SACs form functionally important synaptic contacts even though their dendritic arbors show little overlap. These findings underscore the need to look beyond the neurons’ stratification patterns in retinal circuit studies. Our results also highlight the critical role of SACs for retinal direction selectivity.
Nowcasting the 2022 mpox outbreak in England
Authors: Overton Christopher E. , Abbott Sam , Christie Rachel , Cumming Fergus , Day Julie , Jones Owen , Paton Rob , Turner Charlie , Ward Thomas
Published: September 2023

In May 2022, a cluster of mpox cases were detected in the UK that could not be traced to recent travel history from an endemic region. Over the coming months, the outbreak grew, with over 3000 total cases reported in the UK, and similar outbreaks occurring worldwide. These outbreaks appeared linked to sexual contact networks between gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, local health systems were strained, and therefore effective surveillance for mpox was essential for managing public health policy. However, the mpox outbreak in the UK was characterised by substantial delays in the reporting of the symptom onset date and specimen collection date for confirmed positive cases. These delays led to substantial backfilling in the epidemic curve, making it challenging to interpret the epidemic trajectory in real-time. Many nowcasting models exist to tackle this challenge in epidemiological data, but these lacked sufficient flexibility. We have developed a nowcasting model using generalised additive models that makes novel use of individual-level patient data to correct the mpox epidemic curve in England. The aim of this model is to correct for backfilling in the epidemic curve and provide real-time characteristics of the state of the epidemic, including the real-time growth rate. This model benefited from close collaboration with individuals involved in collecting and processing the data, enabling temporal changes in the reporting structure to be built into the model, which improved the robustness of the nowcasts generated. The resulting model accurately captured the true shape of the epidemic curve in real time.
Review and further developments in statistical corrections for Winner’s Curse in genetic association studies
Authors: Forde Amanda , Hemani Gibran , Ferguson John
Published: September 2023

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are commonly used to identify genomic variants that are associated with complex traits, and estimate the magnitude of this association for each variant. However, it has been widely observed that the association estimates of variants tend to be lower in a replication study than in the study that discovered those associations. A phenomenon known as Winner’s Curse is responsible for this upward bias present in association estimates of significant variants in the discovery study. We review existing Winner’s Curse correction methods which require only GWAS summary statistics in order to make adjustments. In addition, we propose modifications to improve existing methods and propose a novel approach which uses the parametric bootstrap. We evaluate and compare methods, first using a wide variety of simulated data sets and then, using real data sets for three different traits. The metric, estimated mean squared error (MSE) over significant SNPs, was primarily used for method assessment. Our results indicate that widely used conditional likelihood based methods tend to perform poorly. The other considered methods behave much more similarly, with our proposed bootstrap method demonstrating very competitive performance. To complement this review, we have developed an R package, ‘winnerscurse’ which can be used to implement these various Winner’s Curse adjustment methods to GWAS summary statistics.
The proprotein convertase BLI-4 promotes collagen secretion prior to assembly of the Caenorhabditis elegans cuticle
Authors: Birnbaum Susanna K. , Cohen Jennifer D. , Belfi Alexandra , Murray John I. , Adams Jennifer R. G. , Chisholm Andrew D. , Sundaram Meera V.
Published: September 2023

Some types of collagens, including transmembrane MACIT collagens and C. elegans cuticle collagens, are N-terminally cleaved at a dibasic site that resembles the consensus for furin or other proprotein convertases of the subtilisin/kexin (PCSK) family. Such cleavage may release transmembrane collagens from the plasma membrane and affect extracellular matrix assembly or structure. However, the functional consequences of such cleavage are unclear and evidence for the role of specific PCSKs is lacking. Here, we used endogenous collagen fusions to fluorescent proteins to visualize the secretion and assembly of the first collagen-based cuticle in C. elegans and then tested the role of the PCSK BLI-4 in these processes. Unexpectedly, we found that cuticle collagens SQT-3 and DPY-17 are secreted into the extraembryonic space several hours before cuticle matrix assembly. Furthermore, this early secretion depends on BLI-4/PCSK; in bli-4 and cleavage-site mutants, SQT-3 and DPY-17 are not efficiently secreted and instead form large intracellular puncta. Their later assembly into cuticle matrix is reduced but not entirely blocked. These data reveal a role for collagen N-terminal processing in intracellular trafficking and the control of matrix assembly in vivo. Our observations also prompt a revision of the classic model for C. elegans cuticle matrix assembly and the pre-cuticle-to-cuticle transition, suggesting that cuticle layer assembly proceeds via a series of regulated steps and not simply by sequential secretion and deposition.
Safety and tolerability of moxidectin and ivermectin combination treatments for lymphatic filariasis in Côte d’Ivoire: A randomized controlled superiority study
Authors: Bjerum Catherine M. , Koudou Benjamin G. , Ouattara Allassane F. , Lew Daphne , Goss Charles W. , Gabo Pascal T. , King Christopher L. , Fischer Peter U. , Weil Gary J. , Budge Philip J.
Published: September 2023

Background

Moxidectin is a macrocyclic lactone registered for the treatment of human onchocerciasis. The drug has a good safety profile, large volume of distribution and a long elimination half-life. This paper reports tolerability data from the first use of moxidectin in persons with Wuchereria bancrofti infection.

Methods

In this randomized, open-label, masked-observer superiority trial, adults with Wuchereria bancrofti microfilaremia in Côte d’Ivoire were randomized to 1 of 4 treatment arms: ivermectin + albendazole (IA), moxidectin + albendazole (MoxA), ivermectin + diethylcarbamazine (DEC) + albendazole (IDA), or moxidectin + DEC + albendazole (MoxDA). As part of a larger efficacy trial, all participants were closely monitored for 7 days after treatment.

Results

One hundred sixty-four individuals were treated, and monitored for treatment emergent adverse events (TEAE). Eighty-seven participants (53%) experienced one or more mild (grade 1) or moderate (grade 2) TEAE. Four participants had transient Grade 3 hematuria after treatment (3 after IDA and 1 after IA). There were no serious adverse events. There were no significant differences in frequency or types of TEAE between treatment groups (IA = 22/41 (53%), MoxA = 24/40 (60%), IDA = 18/41 (44%), MoxDA = 15/42 (36%), p = 0.530). Fifty-nine participants (36%) had multiple TEAE, and 8.5% had a one or more grade 2 (moderate) TEAE. Grade 2 TEAE were more frequent after triple drug treatments (IDA, 14.6%; MoxDA, 9.5%) than after two-drug treatments (IA, 7.3%; MoxA, 2.5%). There was no difference in TEAEs based on baseline Mf counts (OR 0.69 (0.33, 1.43), p-value 0.319).

Conclusion

All treatment regimens were well tolerated. We observed no difference in safety parameters between regimens that contained ivermectin or moxidectin.

Trial registration

Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04410406.
Specific and sensitive loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method for Madurella strains, eumycetoma filamentous fungi causative agent
Authors: Yoshioka Isato , Mori Yugo , Fahal Ahmed Hassan , Siddig Emmanuel Edwar , Kaneko Satoshi , Yaguchi Takashi
Published: September 2023

Background

Filamentous fungi of the genus Madurella are the primary causative agents of mycetoma, a disease observed in tropical and subtropical regions. Since early diagnostics based on a morphological approach are difficult and have many shortcomings, a molecular diagnostic method suitable for rural settings is required. In this study, we developed the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method to present a foundational technique of the diagnosis of Madurella spp. (M. mycetomatis, M. pseudomycetomatis, M. tropicana, and M. fahalii), the common causative organisms of eumycetoma.

Principal findings

We successfully designed a primer pair targeting the rDNAs of three Madurella spp. excluding M. fahalii, and detected up to 100 fg of genomic DNA extracted from isolates of M. mycetomatis and 1 pg of M. pseudomycetomatis and M. tropicana, within one hour. Second, a primer pair specific to M. mycetomatis, the most common causative species, or M. fahalii, a drug-resistant species, was constructed, and the detection limit of both primer pairs was 1 pg. The designed primers accurately distinguished 16 strains of the genus Madurella from various fungal species known to cause mycetomas.

Conclusion

In summary, we established the first model of a LAMP detection method that rapidly and sensitively detects and identifies Madurella isolates for clinical diagnostics. Moreover, the combined designed primer sets could identify mycetoma-causing strains simultaneously.
Cutaneous disseminated sporotrichosis associated with diabetes: A case report and literature review
Authors: Xia Xiujiao , Zhi Huilin , Liu Zehu
Published: September 2023

Background

Cutaneous disseminated sporotrichosis (CDS), also called hematogenous sporotrichosis, is a rare condition that usually affects immunocompromised patients. The current work presents the case of a woman with diabetes mellitus associated with CDS.

Case presentation

A 59-year-old woman with diabetes mellitus presented with a two-year history of ulcerated rashes on the left ankle and both sides of the jaw. Physical examination revealed three annular areas of erythematous and raised plaque with an ulcer over the left ankle and both sides of the jaw. Based on laboratory findings, elevated blood glucose concentration and decreased white cell count were observed.Sporothrix globosawas identified in the mycological culture of biopsied tissue from the three lesions and this was confirmed by DNA sequencing. The skin lesions healed after two-month itraconazole therapy.

Conclusions

Diabetes is a risk factor for disseminated sporotrichosis, which may be induced by hematogeneous spread, repeated inoculation, or autoinoculation. This study raises awareness among clinicians, with regard to the notion that people with possibly altered immune function are potentially vulnerable to severe clinical forms of sporotrichosis.
Extensive genetic diversity of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus circulating in Hubei Province, China, 2018–2022
Authors: Ren Yu-ting , Tian Hong-pan , Xu Jia-le , Liu Man-qing , Cai Kun , Chen Shu-liang , Ni Xue-bing , Li Yi-rong , Hou Wei , Chen Liang-jun
Published: September 2023

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), an etiological agent causing febrile human disease was identified as an emerging tick-borne bunyavirus. The clinical disease characteristics and case fatality rates of SFTSV may vary across distinct regions and among different variant genotypes. From 2018 to 2022, we surveyed and recruited 202 severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) patients in Hubei Province, a high-incidence area of the epidemic, and conducted timely and systematic research on the disease characteristics, SFTSV diversity, and the correlation between virus genome variation and clinical diseases. Our study identified at least 6 genotypes of SFTSV prevalent in Hubei Province based on the analysis of the S, M, and L genome sequences of 88 virus strains. Strikingly, the dominant genotype of SFTSV was found to change during the years, indicating a dynamic shift in viral genetic diversity in the region. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the genetic exchange of Hubei SFTSV strains was relatively frequent, including 3 reassortment strains and 8 recombination strains. Despite the limited sample size, SFTSV C1 genotype may be associated with higher mortality compared to the other four genotypes, and the serum amyloid A (SAA) level, an inflammatory biomarker, was significantly elevated in these patients. Overall, our data summarize the disease characteristics of SFTSV in Hubei Province, highlight the profound changes in viral genetic diversity, and indicate the need for in-depth monitoring and exploration of the relationship between viral mutations and disease severity.
A proposal for ranking through selective computation of centrality measures
Authors: Bertaccini Daniele , Filippo Alessandro
Published: September 2023

In complex network analysis it is essential to investigate the alteration of network structures that results from the targeted removal of vertices or edges, ranked by centrality measures. Unfortunately, a sequential recalculation of centralities after each node elimination is often impractical for large networks, and computing rankings only at the beginning often does not accurately reflect the actual scenario. Here we propose a first result on the computational complexity of the sequential approach when nodes are removed from a network according to some centrality measures based on matrix functions. Moreover, we present two strategies that aim to reduce the computational impact of the sequential computation of centralities and provide theoretical results in support. Finally, we provide an application of our claims to the robustness of some synthetic and real-world networks.
FDNet: An end-to-end fusion decomposition network for infrared and visible images
Authors: Di Jing , Ren Li , Liu Jizhao , Guo Wenqing , Zhange Huaikun , Liu Qidong , Lian Jing
Published: September 2023

Infrared and visible image fusion can generate a fusion image with clear texture and prominent goals under extreme conditions. This capability is important for all-day climate detection and other tasks. However, most existing fusion methods for extracting features from infrared and visible images are based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs). These methods often fail to make full use of the salient objects and texture features in the raw image, leading to problems such as insufficient texture details and low contrast in the fused images. To this end, we propose an unsupervised end-to-end Fusion Decomposition Network (FDNet) for infrared and visible image fusion. Firstly, we construct a fusion network that extracts gradient and intensity information from raw images, using multi-scale layers, depthwise separable convolution, and improved convolution block attention module (I-CBAM). Secondly, as the FDNet network is based on the gradient and intensity information of the image for feature extraction, gradient and intensity loss are designed accordingly. Intensity loss adopts the improved Frobenius norm to adjust the weighing values between the fused image and the two raw to select more effective information. The gradient loss introduces an adaptive weight block that determines the optimized objective based on the richness of texture information at the pixel scale, ultimately guiding the fused image to generate more abundant texture information. Finally, we design a single and dual channel convolutional layer decomposition network, which keeps the decomposed image as possible with the input raw image, forcing the fused image to contain richer detail information. Compared with various other representative image fusion methods, our proposed method not only has good subjective vision, but also achieves advanced fusion performance in objective evaluation.
Estimation for running time and energy losses due to unproductive stops at bus stations in urban-rural traffic corridors
Authors: Li Xiuhai , Yu Zhan , Guo Peipei , Yu Shaowei
Published: September 2023

To provide data support for developing fixed-route DRT based on FRT to reduce operating costs inside base routes in urban-rural traffic corridors, this paper estimated running time and energy losses due to unproductive stops at bus stations in urban-rural traffic corridors. Firstly, 14 urban-rural bus routes without ticket sellers in Xi’an are selected to demonstrate the universality of unproductive stops at bus stations. Secondly, a model for estimating running time and energy losses based on the VT-CPFM model is developed. Finally, running time and energy losses due to unproductive stops in two representative urban-rural traffic corridors are estimated. Estimated results show that the average running time loss ratios of different rounds in Routes 332, 333, 335, 338 and G1 range from 8.30% to 17.52% and that average fuel loss ratios range from 9.16% to 13.30%. In addition, the monetary loss in energy consumption of Route G1 in 2019 is estimated to be up to 193213 yuan. This study proves that unproductive stops at bus stations generally exist in urban-rural bus routes and can result in significant running time and energy losses and that developing fixed-route DRT based on FRT leveraging V2I with mobile APP in representative urban-rural traffic corridors is very necessary, which is expected to reduce energy consumption and running time.
Daily replacement of very high-fat diet stabilizes food intake and improves mouse welfare by ensuring food quality
Authors: Cordeira Joshua
Published: September 2023

Researchers are obligated to ensure food quality and provide laboratory animals with a palatable diet. Factors influencing the quality and palatability of very high-fat diet (VHFD), a widely used rodent diet, however, are understudied. We conducted experiments to establish best practices for ensuring the quality of VHFD and to improve mouse welfare. We found that VHFD in the food hopper was vulnerable first to dehydration and then oxidation within 7-days, leading to dramatic changes in food intake and food preference behavior in mice. Mitigating dehydration and oxidation of VHFD by replacing food daily, rather than weekly, stabilized feeding behavior without effect on overall cardio-metabolic health. Importantly, daily replacement of VHFD also reduced measures of anxiety-like behavior in the open field test. Refining husbandry practices to include daily replacement of VHFD can therefore ensure VHFD quality and improve animal welfare. Standardizing the practice of daily VHFD replacement may also prevent experimental confound and improve experimental reproducibility and replicability.
Estimation of food portion sizes in women of childbearing age and young children in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) using a food photography atlas and salted replicas: Comparison with weighed records
Authors: Zoungrana Stéphanie , Somé Jérome W. , Martin-Prével Yves , Lanou Hermann B. , Kouanda Séni , Mouquet-Rivier Claire
Published: September 2023

Quantitative assessment of foods consumed when using 24-hour dietary recall requires accurate tools to estimate portion sizes. Therefore, we developed a food portion photography atlas with age-appropriate portion sizes for 11 foods frequently consumed by young children (sizes for 6-11-month- and for 12-23-month-old children) and women of childbearing age in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso capital. We then compared the accuracy and precision of portion estimation with this atlas and with salted replicas relative to weighed records (the reference). After weighing, we randomly assigned food portions to 67 women and their children. The next day, women estimated the served portions and leftovers by recall using the atlas and then salted replicas (n = 1156 measurements, ranging from 19 to 113 for each food). For most food types, the portions estimated with the atlas and salted replicas were positively correlated and showed good concordance with the weighed records. However, accuracy and precision varied in function of the estimation method, food type, and age group. The mean crude differences ranged from -28 to +12g (with errors in absolute values from 24 to 69%) for children, and from -32 to +44g (errors from 17 to 56%) for women. The atlas-based method showed the lowest Lin’s concordances (coefficients of 0.1 to 0.2) for the leafy vegetable dish, meat, and fish in 12-23-month-old children. Bland-Altman plots indicated that the salted replicas allowed estimating the consumed portions with fewer errors than the photographic atlas (56 to 91% vs 46 to 79% between the limits of ±50%). Our study highlights that mothers have difficulties in perceiving the quantities of food consumed by their children. Our findings also indicate that the food atlas could be used in food consumption surveys when salted replicas are not available for all food types.
A gender perspective on perceived causes of sick leave due to common mental disorders among young Swedish employees: A qualitative interview study
Authors: Olsson Caroline , Tinnerholm Ljungberg Helena , Björk Brämberg Elisabeth , Nybergh Lotta , Jensen Irene
Published: September 2023

Objective

Common mental disorder (CMD) is the most common reason for sick leave among young employees in Sweden, with young women having a higher prevalence. There is a lack of studies focusing on young employees’ own perceptions of sick leave. The aim was twofold: to investigate 1) perceived causes of sick leave due to CMD among young employees, and 2) differences and similarities among women and men.

Methods

Using a qualitative design with an applied gender perspective enabled us to capture young employees’ gendered experiences and consider cultural and social aspects of their situations. We interviewed 13 women and 12 men (aged 20–29) with experience of being on sick leave and applied a conventional inductive content analysis.

Results

Six categories were identified: a) Being new to the labour market and the workplace; b) Want to prove themselves; c) To be exposed to poor working conditions; d) Relations at work; e) Being vulnerable; and f) Additional private life burdens.

Conclusion

This study adds to the understanding of young employees’ perceived causes of sick leave due to CMD, by letting them share their experiences of events prior to sick leave connected to work and private life. Similarities and differences in women’s and men’s experiences were revealed. Overall, both young men and women describe a more pressured work situation for young women compared to their male counterparts, that young women take more social responsibility in private life and at work whereas men on the other hand find it harder to disclose mental health problems.
Endogenous expression of inactive lysine deacetylases reveals deacetylation-dependent cellular mechanisms
Authors: Toro Tasha B. , Skripnikova Elena V. , Bornes Kiara E. , Zhang Kun , Watt Terry J.
Published: September 2023

Acetylation of lysine residues is an important and common post-translational regulatory mechanism occurring on thousands of non-histone proteins. Lysine deacetylases (KDACs or HDACs) are a family of enzymes responsible for removing acetylation. To identify the biological mechanisms regulated by individual KDACs, we created HT1080 cell lines containing chromosomal point mutations, which endogenously express either KDAC6 or KDAC8 having single inactivated catalytic domain. Engineered HT1080 cells expressing inactive KDA6 or KDAC8 domains remained viable and exhibited enhanced acetylation on known substrate proteins. RNA-seq analysis revealed that many changes in gene expression were observed when KDACs were inactivated, and that these gene sets differed significantly from knockdown and knockout cell lines. Using GO ontology, we identified several critical biological processes associated specifically with catalytic activity and others attributable to non-catalytic interactions. Treatment of wild-type cells with KDAC-specific inhibitors Tubastatin A and PCI-34051 resulted in gene expression changes distinct from those of the engineered cell lines, validating this approach as a tool for evaluating in-cell inhibitor specificity and identifying off-target effects of KDAC inhibitors. Probing the functions of specific KDAC domains using these cell lines is not equivalent to doing so using previously existing methods and provides novel insight into the catalytic functions of individual KDACs by investigating the molecular and cellular changes upon genetic inactivation.