bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Repetitive head injuries in German American football players do not change blood-based biomarker candidates for CTE during a single season
Authors: Bastgen Theres , Evers Janis , Oedekoven Christiane , Weide Caroline , Herzog Lars , Ashton Nicholas , Zetterberg Henrik , Blennow Kaj , Albus Alexandra , Vidovic Natasha , Kraff Oliver , Deuschl Cornelius , Dodel Richard , Ross J. Alexander
Published: February 2024

Background

Repetitive traumatic brain injuries in American football players (AFPs) can lead to the neurodegenerative disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Clinical symptoms of CTE range from mood and behavioral changes to cognitive impairment, depression, and suicidality. So far, CTE cannot be diagnosed in vivo and thus specific diagnostic parameters for CTE need to be found, to observe and treat exposed athletes as early as possible. Promising blood-based biomarkers for CTE include total tau (tTau), hyperphosphorylated tau (pTau), neurofilament light protein (NF-L), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), amyloid-β40 (Aβ40), amyloid-β42 (Aβ42) and calcium-binding protein B (S100-B). Previous studies have found elevated levels of these biomarkers in subjects exposed to TBIs, whereas cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of Aβ40 and Aβ42 were decreased in CTE subjects. Here, we investigated whether young AFPs already exhibit changes of these biomarker candidates during the course of a single active season.

Methods

Blood samples were drawn from n = 18 American Football Players before and after a full season and n = 18 male age-matched control subjects. The plasma titers of tTau, pTau, NF-L, GFAP, Aβ40, Aβ42 and S100-B were determined. Additionally, Apathy, Depression, and Health status as well as the concussion history and medical care were assessed and analyzed for correlations.

Results

Here we show, that the selected biomarker candidates for CTE do not change significantly during the seven-month period of a single active season of American Football in blood samples of AFPs compared to healthy controls. But interestingly, they exhibit generally elevated pTau titers. Furthermore, we found correlations of depression, quality-of-life, career length, training participation and training continuation with headache after concussion with various titers.

Conclusion

Our data indicates, that changes of CTE marker candidates either occur slowly over several active seasons of American Football or are exclusively found in CSF. Nevertheless, our results underline the importance of a long-term assessment of these biomarker candidates, which might be possible through repeated blood biomarker monitoring in exposed athletes in the future.
Myelodysplastic Syndromes and Myelodysplastic Syndromes/Myeloproliferative Neoplasms: A Real-World Experience From a Developing Country
Authors: Awidi Abdalla , Alzu'bi Marah , Odeh Nada , Alrawabdeh Jawad , Al Zyoud Muntaser , Hamadneh Yazan , Bawa'neh Hisham , Magableh Ahmad , Alshorman Alaa , Al-Fararjeh Feras , Aladily Tariq , Zeidan Amer M.
Published: February 2024

PURPOSE

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) include a heterogeneous group of clonal bone marrow disorders characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis. They manifest as dysplasia in bone marrow hemopoietic elements associated with peripheral cytopenias with variable risk of AML transformation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We analyzed retrospectively registry data collected prospectively from patients with primary MDS and patients with MDS/myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) in the Jordan University Hospital between January 2007 and September 2021. The registry captured epidemiologic information such as date of diagnosis, age, gender, date of AML transformation, cytogenetics, MDS subtype, risk group according to Revised International Prognostic Scoring System, and survival. The registry also captured baseline ferritin, B12, and lactate dehydrogenase levels.

RESULTS

A total of 112 patients with MDS and MDS/MPN were included in the registry. Median age at diagnosis was 59 years. The male-to-female ratio was about 1.2. In a multivariate cox regression model, baseline serum ferritin significantly affected survival as patients with levels exceeding 1,000 μg/L had a risk of death three times higher compared with those with <1,000 μg/L levels ( P < .05).

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, our study is the first comprehensive study examining the epidemiology and prognostic factors in patients with MDS and patients with MDS/MPN in Jordan. Our results show that MDS and MDS/MPN epidemiology in Jordan is different compared with Western countries. Our results also show that baseline serum ferritin levels can be used as a prognostic marker for patients with MDS.
First Global Summit on War and Cancer: The Hidden Impact of War on Cancer—Urging Global Action for Change
Authors: Arakelyan Jemma , Margaryan Tatevik , Hovsepyan Shushan , Babak Maria , Baloyan Elen , Tamamyan Gevorg
Published: February 2024

The 1st Global Summit on War and Cancer (GSWC) united leaders, medical professionals, policymakers, and advocates to address cancer issues in conflict zones featuring speakers from around 50 countries.
Final Results From the Randomized Phase III ASCENT Clinical Trial in Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer and Association of Outcomes by Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 and Trophoblast Cell Surface Antigen 2 Expression
Authors: Bardia Aditya , Rugo Hope S. , Tolaney Sara M. , Loirat Delphine , Punie Kevin , Oliveira Mafalda , Brufsky Adam , Kalinsky Kevin , Cortés Javier , Shaughnessy Joyce O' , Diéras Véronique , Carey Lisa A. , Gianni Luca , Piccart-Gebhart Martine , Loibl Sibylle , Yoon Oh Kyu , Pan Yang , Hofsess Scott , Phan See-Chun , Hurvitz Sara A.
Published: February 2024

Clinical trials frequently include multiple end points that mature at different times. The initial report, typically based on the primary end point, may be published when key planned co-primary or secondary analyses are not yet available. Clinical Trial Updates provide an opportunity to disseminate additional results from studies, published in JCO or elsewhere, for which the primary end point has already been reported.

Sacituzumab govitecan (SG), a first-in-class anti–trophoblast cell surface antigen 2 (Trop-2) antibody-drug conjugate, demonstrated superior efficacy over single-agent chemotherapy (treatment of physician's choice [TPC]) in patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) in the international, multicenter, phase III ASCENT study.

Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive SG or TPC until unacceptable toxicity/progression. Final efficacy secondary end point analyses and post hoc analyses of outcomes stratified by Trop-2 expression and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 status are reported. Updated safety analyses are provided.

In this final analysis, SG (n = 267) improved median progression-free survival (PFS; 4.8 v 1.7 months; hazard ratio (HR), 0.41 [95% CI, 0.33 to 0.52]) and median overall survival (OS; 11.8 v 6.9 months; HR, 0.51 [95% CI, 0.42 to 0.63]) over TPC (n = 262). SG improved PFS over TPC in each Trop-2 expression quartile (n = 168); a trend was observed for improved OS across quartiles. Overall, SG had a manageable safety profile, with ≤5% of treatment-related discontinuations because of adverse events and no treatment-related deaths. The safety profile was consistent across all subgroups.

These data confirm the clinical benefit of SG over chemotherapy, reinforcing SG as an effective treatment option in patients with mTNBC in the second line or later.
Retrograde Flow of Fluid Through the Nasolacrimal Duct System Under General Anesthesia: A Case Report
Authors: Dhoon Taizoon Q. , Lam Isaac , Kwan Claire , Huang Jennifer , McIntyre Jon , Mehta Mitul
Published: February 2024

This case report describes a rare incident of fluid exhibiting retrograde flow from the nasopharynx through the nasolacrimal duct and accumulating within the eye guard while under general anesthesia. The patient was in a steep Trendelenburg position for several hours and received multiple liters of intravenous fluid. The patient did not have a history of sinusitis, sinus surgery, cocaine use, dacryostenosis and dacryocystitis, or nasolacrimal duct irrigation and probing. This case provides insight into the potential ophthalmic implications of surgical and anesthetic management. While the patient fortunately had no complications, this case also underscores the importance of intraoperative vigilance.
Plugged into the Good Life: Living Electrically through the Ages in Urban Vietnam
Authors: Endres Kirsten W.
Published: February 2024

With Vietnam's countrywide electrification rate approaching 100 percent, electricity has become ever more indispensable and essential to the quality of everyday life. The steady upsurge in household electricity consumption over the past years has been driven by a growing technification of the domestic sphere. Modern households are increasingly equipped with a variety of electric appliances that not only provide convenience and comfort but also serve as markers of social distinction. This essay explores the history of domestic electrification and people's aspirations to live electrically in urban Vietnam, from the colonial era until today. Inspired by recent advances in the anthropology of electricity, it investigates the meanings that people have attributed to electric home appliances through the ages and asks if, how, and why some of these have come to define what it means to live a good life. In the current era, however, living electrically has also come to reflect a global sense of “cruel optimism” in which people become increasingly attached to certain understandings of what constitutes a good life that are unsustainable in the long run, and detrimental to their well-being.
The Good Life as the Green Life: Digital Environmentalism and Ecological Consciousness in China
Authors: Bruckermann Charlotte
Published: February 2024

Faced with environmental degradation and atmospheric pollution, Chinese citizens increasingly envision the good life as a green life. Yet in cities and the countryside, understandings of environmental hardship and ecological redress diverge and at times even contradict each other. Nonetheless, promises of a greener future mobilize shared notions of cooperation in exchanges of work and support between urbanites and their rural counterparts. Situated between socialist sacrifice, market service, and digital technologies, these reciprocal environmental engagements challenge historical narratives of a smooth transition from the Maoist collective-oriented and public-spirited hero to the private and individualistic new subject of the Reform era. The mobilization of ecological labor instantiates a distinct formation of neosocialist desires and subjectivities oriented toward a greener future. Underlying this vision is a conception of shengtai yishi 生态意识 (ecological consciousness) that resonates with the government rhetoric of constructing a shengtai wenming 生态文明 (ecological civilization) in China and beyond.
Clinical and Operative Risk Factors Associated With Prolonged Length of Stay After Endoscopic Pituitary Adenoma Resection
Authors: Devarajan Alex , Vasan Vikram , Dullea Jonathan T. , Zhang Jack Y. , Vasa Devarshi , Schupper Alexander J. , Nichols Noah , Ranti Daniel , McCarthy Lily , Rao Manasa , Sudhir Sweta , Cho Logan , Rutland John W. , Post Kalmon D. , Bederson Joshua , Shrivastava Raj K.
Published: February 2024

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Pituitary adenomas (PAs) are the most common intrasellar tumor. Clinically relevant adenomas have a prevalence of 1 per 1000 in the general population. Transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) is the most common surgical treatment and is the first-line management for most PAs. Most patients fare well postoperatively, but a subset of patients experience a prolonged length of stay (PLOS). In this article, we aim to identify demographic and clinical factors associated with PLOS after TSS for PA.

METHODS:

Patients with sellar pathologies surgically treated at a single tertiary center from March 1, 2009, to May 31, 2020, were retrospectively reviewed. All patients older than 18 years receiving nonemergent endoscopic TSS for pituitary adenoma were included. Clinical and demographic characteristics were analyzed using χ2-tests and student t-tests. For those factors with a P-value less than .01, multivariate logistic regression and negative binomial regression models were constructed to estimate the adjusted odds of PLOS across predictive factors.

RESULTS:

A total of 301 patients were included in the study. This cohort had an average age of 54.65 ± 15.06 years and an average body mass index of 29.47 ± 6.69. The median length of stay was 54.9 hours [25th-75th percentiles: 43.5-72.9]. Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak (P < .01), postoperative diabetes insipidus (DI) (P < .01), increased surgery duration (P = .01), and elevated maximal tumor dimension (P = .01) were predictive of PLOS in logistic regression. Increased surgery duration, previous pituitary radiation, intraoperative complications, and postoperative DI (all P < .01) were associated with increased rate of PLOS in negative binomial regression.

CONCLUSION:

Patients undergoing endoscopic TSS for PA resection demonstrate prolonged lengths of stay if they have higher tumor burden, have lengthier surgeries with intraoperative complications, or develop postoperative complications such as cerebrospinal fluid leak or DI. Careful monitoring of these factors will allow for better resource optimization, reducing costs to both the hospital and the patient.
The Economics of the Public Option: Evidence from Local Pharmaceutical Markets
Authors: Atal Juan Pablo , Cuesta José Ignacio , González Felipe , Otero Cristóbal
Published: February 2024

We study the effects of competition by state-owned firms, leveraging the decentralized entry of public pharmacies to local markets in Chile. Public pharmacies sell the same drugs at a third of private pharmacy prices, because of stronger upstream bargaining and market power in the private sector, but are of lower quality. Public pharmacies induced market segmentation and price increases in the private sector, which benefited the switchers to the public option but harmed the stayers. The countrywide entry of public pharmacies would reduce yearly consumer drug expenditure by 1.6 percent. (JEL D22, I18, L32, L65, O14)
Could homocysteine represent a negative acute phase reactant in canine infections-a pilot study?
Authors: Ilic Bozovic A , Đoković P , Milanović Z , Janjić F , Spariosu K , Radonjić V , Radaković M , Magaš V , Filipović D , Stanković S , Kovačević Filipović M , Beletić A
Published: February 2024

Homocysteine (Hcy) was investigated as the biomarker of cardiac, renal, and gastrointestinal disorders in dogs. Data about low Hcy concentrations in the systemic inflammatory response syndrome raised a hypothesis that Hcy in dogs is a negative acute-phase reactant. This survey compared Hcy concentrations, serum amyloid A (SAA), and the routine laboratory parameters between healthy (HD, N=6) and dogs with inflammation of different extent: mild ( dirofilariosis (DIR), N=31), moderate (babesiosis (BAB), N=12), and severe (pyometra (PYO), N=8). The BAB and PYO groups had lower Hcy er than HD. Also, the levels in the PYO group were below those in the DIRO group. SAA had the inverse pattern. Across the groups, Hcy and SAA levels correlated negatively (ρ = -0.502, P<0.001). Hcy and SAA correlated with the erythrocyte count,  hematocrit, hemoglobin and mean cellular hemoglobin concentrations, and neutrophil count, with correlations being positive for Hcy and negative for SAA. Among all dogs, hemoglobin was the only independent predictor of Hcy concentration. Hcy levels in canine infections, decreased as acute-phase reaction (APR) intensified. Also, they were related with the hematology changes accompanying the APR. Further studies will establish the clinical potential of these alterations.
The genome sequence of the White-pinion Spotted, Lomographa bimaculata (Fabricius, 1775)
Authors: Boyes Douglas , Januszczak Inez , Lees David C. ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory team,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics team,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: February 2024

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Lomographa bimaculata (the White-pinion Spotted; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Geometridae). The genome sequence is 554.7 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.66 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 12,749 protein coding genes.
Frontiers in Operations: Does Physician’s Choice of When to Perform EHR Tasks Influence Total EHR Workload?
Authors: Celik Umit , Rath Sandeep , Kesavan Saravanan , Staats Bradley R.
Published: February 2024

Problem definition: Physicians spend more than five hours a day working on Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems and more than an hour doing EHR tasks after the end of the workday. Numerous studies have identified the detrimental effects of excessive EHR use and after-hours work, including physician burnout, physician attrition, and appointment delays. However, EHR time is not purely an exogenous factor because it depends on physician usage behavior that could have important operational consequences. Interestingly, prior literature has not considered this topic rigorously. In this paper, we investigate how physicians’ workflow decisions on when to perform EHR tasks affect: (1) total time on EHR and (2) time spent after work. Methodology/results: Our data comprise around 150,000 appointments from 74 physicians from a large Academic Medical Center Family Medicine unit. Our data set contains detailed, process-level time stamps of appointment progression and EHR use. We find that the effect of working on EHR systems depends on whether the work is done before or after an appointment. Pre-appointment EHR work reduces total EHR workload and after-work hours spent on EHR. Post-appointment EHR work reduces after-work hours on EHR but increases total EHR time. We find that increasing idle time between appointments can encourage both pre- and post-appointment EHR work. Managerial implications: Our results not only help us understand the timing and structure of work on secondary tasks more generally but also will help healthcare administrators create EHR workflows and appointment schedules to reduce physician burnout associated with excessive EHR use.

History: This paper has been accepted in the Manufacturing & Service Operations Management Frontiers in Operations Initiative.

Funding: The research conducted for this paper received partial funding from the Center of Business for Health at the Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2023.0028 .
Maternal and neonatal factors associated with neonatal jaundice in Jordan: a case-control study
Authors: Mohammad Khitam Ibrahem Shlash , Al–Shdefat Maram , Halasa Suhaila , Joseph Rachel , Alafi Mohammad , ALBashtawy Mohammed , Alkhawaldeh Abdullah , Abdalrahim Asem , Malak Malakeh , Creedy Debra , Gamble Jenny
Published: February 2024

Background/Aims

Neonatal jaundice is a common cause of hospitalisation. This study aimed to identify maternal and neonatal factors associated with neonatal jaundice among hospitalised neonates in north Jordan.

Methods

This was a case control study involving 312 mothers and their neonates (106 cases, 206 controls), recruited from two governmental hospitals in north Jordan. A structured interview was used to collect data. Neonatal medical records were accessed for clinical data.

Results

Maternal factors associated with higher risk of jaundice included having higher education, being employed and having had a caesarean section. Neonatal factors associated with higher risk of jaundice included being preterm, receiving <5 feeds per day and having ABO incompatibility.

Conclusions

Using evidence-based guidelines for the assessment and management of risk factors helps to reduce the prevalence of jaundice requiring hospitalisation among neonates. Raising mothers' awareness of neonatal jaundice through interventions and education sessions during antenatal care, in particular for high-risk mothers, is also likely to help reduce its prevalence.
LED light therapy: the evidence behind the efficacy
Authors: Ramadan Francesca
Published: February 2024

The plethora of modalities available to improve skin health and appearance is greater than ever, with one of these options being LED light therapy. Various LED-based devices for dermatological and cosmetic usage have become widely available, but the average consumer or aesthetic practitioner may not be confident in their efficacy or safety. Francesca Ramadan summarises the latest evidence-based applications of LED phototherapy and the research supporting its benefit to the aesthetic practitioner's toolkit.
Significant risk factors for intensive care unit-acquired weakness: A processing strategy based on repeated machine learning
Authors: Wang Ling , Long Deng-Yan
Published: February 2024

BACKGROUND

Intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) is a common complication that significantly impacts the patient's recovery process, even leading to adverse outcomes. Currently, there is a lack of effective preventive measures.

AIM

To identify significant risk factors for ICU-AW through iterative machine learning techniques and offer recommendations for its prevention and treatment.

METHODS

Patients were categorized into ICU-AW and non-ICU-AW groups on the 14th day post-ICU admission. Relevant data from the initial 14 d of ICU stay, such as age, comorbidities, sedative dosage, vasopressor dosage, duration of mechanical ventilation, length of ICU stay, and rehabilitation therapy, were gathered. The relationships between these variables and ICU-AW were examined. Utilizing iterative machine learning techniques, a multilayer perceptron neural network model was developed, and its predictive performance for ICU-AW was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic curve.

RESULTS

Within the ICU-AW group, age, duration of mechanical ventilation, lorazepam dosage, adrenaline dosage, and length of ICU stay were significantly higher than in the non-ICU-AW group. Additionally, sepsis, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, hypoalbuminemia, acute heart failure, respiratory failure, acute kidney injury, anemia, stress-related gastrointestinal bleeding, shock, hypertension, coronary artery disease, malignant tumors, and rehabilitation therapy ratios were significantly higher in the ICU-AW group, demonstrating statistical significance. The most influential factors contributing to ICU-AW were identified as the length of ICU stay (100.0%) and the duration of mechanical ventilation (54.9%). The neural network model predicted ICU-AW with an area under the curve of 0.941, sensitivity of 92.2%, and specificity of 82.7%.

CONCLUSION

The main factors influencing ICU-AW are the length of ICU stay and the duration of mechanical ventilation. A primary preventive strategy, when feasible, involves minimizing both ICU stay and mechanical ventilation duration.
Translocation of a fish spike from the pharynx to the thyroid gland: A case report
Authors: Li Deng , Zeng Wan-Ting , Jiang Jian-Guo , Chen Ji-Chuan
Published: February 2024

BACKGROUND

A fish spike stuck in the throat is a common ear, nose, and throat (ENT) emergency. However, it is very rare for a fish spike to reach the thyroid tissue through the throat, which is very dangerous and can lead to pharyngeal fistula, cervical abscess, mediastinal abscess, and thyroid abscess. Proper and timely management can help reduce complications, especially in elderly patients.

CASE SUMMARY

In the case presented here, the causative factor was dentures, but improper management aggravated the condition. In the case presented here, an elderly woman with a history of accidentally swallowing fish bones for 20 d had a sensation of foreign bodies in her throat. Eventually, computed tomography (CT) of the neck showed that the left side of the thyroid gland had a dense shadow in the form of a stripe.

CONCLUSION

If a fishbone foreign body is not visible during endoscopic examination but the patient has significant symptoms, the surgeon should be aware that the fishbone may be lodged in the thyroid. To avoid a misdiagnosis, ultrasound, CT, and other tests can be used to clarify the diagnosis. T The first step in treating a fish bone in the thyroid gland is to determine the position of the foreign body and the extent of the infection, and to develop a personalized surgical plan for its removal. At the same time, scientific information should be made available to the general public so that people know that if a fish bone is accidentally lodged, they should not force it to be swallowed or be spit out by inducing vomiting, which are incorrect methods and may aggravate the condition or even cause it to migrate outside the cavity, leading to serious complications, as in this reported case.
Rheological Models for Behavior of Sesame (Sesamum indicum) oil
Authors: Stanciu Ioana
Published: February 2024

Sesame (Sesamum indicum) oil is the fatty matter obtained from sesame seeds, by cold pressing or hot pressing, followed by refining. The seeds must have a maximum moisture content of 7% and must be free of foreign bodies. After pressing, the oil is decanted and then filtered, through a natural cotton filter, thus ensuring the superior quality of the obtained oil. Sesame oil is the most resistant oil to oxidation and is stable at room temperature. The burning point is 177 degrees for cold pressed sesame oil.
Upconversion-pumped femtosecond thulium laser at 2309 nm mode-locked by a GaSb-based SESAM
Authors: Tyazhev Aleksey , Bae Ji Eun , Gaulke Marco , Loiko Pavel , Heidrich Jonas , Golling Matthias , Idlahcen Said , Guillemot Lauren , Godin Thomas , Camy Patrice , Keller Ursula , Hideur Ammar
Published: February 2024

We report on a femtosecond thulium laser operating on the 3H4 → 3H5 transition with upconversion pumping around 1 µm and passively mode-locked by a GaSb-based SEmiconductor Saturable Absorber Mirror (SESAM). This laser employs a 6 at.% Tm:LiYF4 laser crystal and a polarization maintaining Yb-fiber master oscillator power amplifier at 1043 nm as a pump source addressing the 3F4 → 3F2,3 excited-state absorption transition of Tm3+ ions. In the continuous-wave regime, the Tm-laser generates 616 mW at ∼2313 nm with a slope efficiency of 10.0% (vs. the incident pump power) and a linear polarization (π). By implementing a type-I SESAM with a single ternary strained In0.33Ga0.67Sb quantum well embedded in GaSb for sustaining and stabilizing the soliton pulse shaping, the self-starting mode-locked Tm-laser generated pulses as short as 870 fs at a central wavelength of 2309.4 nm corresponding to an average output power of 208 mW at a pulse repetition rate of 105.08 MHz and excellent mode-locking stability. The output power was scaled to 450 mW at the expense of a longer pulse duration of 1.93 ps. The nonlinear parameters of the SESAM are also reported.
Research on ultrawideband photodetector module based on parasitic parameter regulation
Authors: Chen Man , Zhao Zeping , Shen Zheyuan , Feng Haolei , Wang Hanyu , Hu Zijian , Liu Jianguo
Published: February 2024

A four-channel ultrawideband photodetector (PD) module with a size of 26.1 mm ×33.2 mm × 8.5 mm has been demonstrated in our laboratory. We propose a method to improve the bandwidth of the PD module based on compensating parasitic parameters by dual resistance regulation on the P and N terminals of the PD chip. A small signal equivalent circuit model with package matching network is established for the PD module, and the effectiveness of the proposed method and the accuracy of the model are verified by experiments. A four-channel photodetector module with a −3 dB bandwidth of up to 67 GHz is fabricated by using photodetector chips with −3 dB bandwidths of 46 GHz, and the responsivity is up to 0.50A/W.
Highly sensitive mid-infrared methane remote sensor using a deep neural network filter
Authors: Wang Senyuan , Yang Shicheng , Zhu Shouzheng , Liu Shijie , He Xin , Tang Guoliang , Li Chunlai , Wang Jianyu
Published: February 2024

A novel mid-infrared methane remote sensor integrated on a movable platform based on a 3.291-µm interband cascade laser (ICL) and wavelength modulation spectroscopy (WMS) is proposed. A transmitting-receiving coaxial, visualized optical layout is employed to minimize laser energy loss. Using a hollow retro-reflector remotely deployed as a cooperative target, the atmospheric average methane concentration over a 100-meter optical range is measured with high sensitivity. A deep neural network (DNN) filter is used for second harmonic (2f) signal denoising to compensate for the performance shortcomings of conventional filtering. Allan deviation analysis indicated that after applying the DNN filter, the limit of detection (LOD) of methane was 86.62 ppb with an average time of 1 s, decreasing to 12.03 ppb with an average time of 229 s, which is a significant promotion compared to similar work reported. The high sensitivity and stability of the proposed sensor are shown through a 24-hour continuous monitoring experiment of atmospheric methane conducted outdoors, providing a new solution for high-sensitivity remote sensing of atmospheric methane.
ChatGPT als Unterstützung von Lehrkräften – Einordnung, Analyse und Anwendungsbeispiele
Authors: Hein Laura , Högemann Malte , Illgen Katharina-Maria , Stattkus Daniel , Kochon Enrico , Reibold Maja-Gwendoline , Eckle Jannick , Seiwert Lena , Beinke Jan Heinrich , Knopf Julia , Thomas Oliver
Published: February 2024

Seit seiner Veröffentlichung gewinnt das Large Language Model (Großes Sprachmodell) ChatGPT zunehmend an Bedeutung in der deutschen Bildungslandschaft. Während Schülerinnen und Schüler dieses Large Language Model bereits aktiv nutzen, herrscht unter Lehrkräften noch Uneinigkeit darüber, wie ChatGPT sie effektiv in ihrer alltäglichen Arbeit unterstützen kann. Mithilfe einer qualitativen Untersuchung werden verschiedene Aufgabenbereiche von Lehrkräften anhand konkreter Beispiele veranschaulicht und analysiert, wie ChatGPT in diesen Bereichen Unterstützung bieten kann – und in welchen der Einsatz von ChatGPT weniger geeignet ist. Durch das Large Language Model können Anregungen für alle identifizierten Aufgabenbereiche gegeben werden. Große Potenziale werden bei routinemäßigen Aufgaben, wie beispielsweise der schnellen Zusammenfassung von Informationen, gesehen. ChatGPT sollte eher nicht für pädagogische Aufgaben eingesetzt werden, wie z. B. die Arbeit mit herausforderndem Verhalten. Da Künstliche Intelligenz-basierte Tools wie ChatGPT in Zukunft voraussichtlich weiter an Bedeutung gewinnen werden, ist es notwendig, Lehrkräften eine konkrete Hilfestellung zur effektiven Nutzung dieser Tools zu geben. Dementsprechend wird in diesem Artikel ein Leitfaden hinsichtlich der Nutzung von ChatGPT im Unterricht durch Lehrkräfte bereitgestellt. Diese umfassen unter anderem die Bereiche Prompting, Interpretation, Reflexion und Datenschutz und liefern Lehrkräften so eine wertvolle Unterstützung bei dem Einsatz von ChatGPT.
Ultrastructural insights into the microsporidian infection apparatus reveal the kinetics and morphological transitions of polar tube and cargo during host cell invasion
Authors: Sharma Himanshu , Jespersen Nathan , Ehrenbolger Kai , Carlson Lars-Anders , Barandun Jonas
Published: February 2024

During host cell invasion, microsporidian spores translocate their entire cytoplasmic content through a thin, hollow superstructure known as the polar tube. To achieve this, the polar tube transitions from a compact spring-like state inside the environmental spore to a long needle-like tube capable of long-range sporoplasm delivery. The unique mechanical properties of the building blocks of the polar tube allow for an explosive transition from compact to extended state and support the rapid cargo translocation process. The molecular and structural factors enabling this ultrafast process and the structural changes during cargo delivery are unknown. Here, we employ light microscopy and in situ cryo-electron tomography to visualize multiple ultrastructural states of the Vairimorpha necatrix polar tube, allowing us to evaluate the kinetics of its germination and characterize the underlying morphological transitions. We describe a cargo-filled state with a unique ordered arrangement of microsporidian ribosomes, which cluster along the thin tube wall, and an empty post-translocation state with a reduced diameter but a thicker wall. Together with a proteomic analysis of endogenously affinity-purified polar tubes, our work provides comprehensive data on the infection apparatus of microsporidia and uncovers new aspects of ribosome regulation and transport.
COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and conspiracy beliefs in Togo: Findings from two cross-sectional surveys
Authors: Akinocho Herve , Brackstone Ken , Eastment Nia , Fantognon Jean-Paul , Head Michael G.
Published: February 2024

Togo is a low-income country in West Africa. Estimates from Our World in Data suggest that only 25% of the Togolese population have received at least one dose of any COVID-19 vaccine by June 2023. Whilst the early phase of the pandemic vaccine rollout across 2021 was dominated by higher-income countries taking much of the available supply, there have long been sufficient supplies for all nations. Thus, there remains a need to understand reasons for low uptake in countries such as Togo, here focusing on population confidence and trust, essentially characteristics that could potentially be addressed within health promotion strategies. Two cross-sectional telephone surveys of Togo residents were conducted in December 2020 and January 2022. These surveys asked questions around perceptions of COVID-19, trust in public health messaging, belief in conspiracy theories, and hesitancy around COVID-19 vaccination. Analyses here focus on unvaccinated respondents. Across Survey 1 (N = 1430) and Survey 2 (N = 212), 65% of respondents were men, and 47% lived in Lomé (capital city of Togo). Between Surveys 1 and 2, overall hesitancy (33.0% to 58.0% respectively) and beliefs in conspiracy theories (29% to 65%) significantly increased. Using logistics regression, governmental mistrust was the strongest significant predictor of hesitancy (OR: 2.90). Participants who indicated agreement or uncertainty with at least one conspiracy belief also predicted greater vaccine hesitancy (OR: 1.36). Proactive approaches to public health messaging, that better understand reasons for hesitancy across different demographics, can support uptake of COVID-19 vaccinations within Togo. This includes health promotion campaigns that use locally and nationally trusted knowledge providers (e.g. the health service or religious leaders) for greatest effectiveness at reducing impact of misinformation. Key future research should focus around knowledge gaps and areas of mistrust created by the pandemic, such as the impact of misinformation upon routine immunisation uptake.
‘There was a pivotal moment’. The dynamics, transitions, adaptations and trajectories of nursing at the front-line in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Conolly Anna Rachel , Maben Jill , Abrams Ruth , Harris Ruth , Kelly Daniel , Kent Bridie , Couper Keith , Rowland Emma
Published: February 2024

Using qualitative interview data (n = 142 interviews) generated with 50 nurses, over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, this paper traces the trajectories of nurses in the UK and attempts to unpick the interplay between structure and agency in their narratives. Interviews were inductively analysed for themes and an additional narrative analysis was undertaken to preserve the form of each participant’s narrative. We argue that nurses’ pandemic trajectories occurred within the ‘psychological vulnerability-stigma nexus’ which operates within health and social care providers in the UK and whilst constraining nurses’ agency at times it could also provide an impetus to act agentically. We found that the nurses’ COVID-19 trajectories were characterised by: getting by, getting out (job-hopping) getting needs met and getting organised. We call for more considered systemic support to be generated and consistently provided to nurses to ensure retention of nurses and the security of society to avoid exacerbating existing workforce shortages.
The application of production-oriented approach research teaching method in medical academic English course
Authors: Liu Zheng
Published: February 2024

The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficiency of the production-oriented approach research (POA-R) teaching approach on academic English courses. The six-week study involved thirty-nine postgraduate students from Guilin Medical University studying medical technology. These students were randomly divided into POA-R (19 participants) and non-POA-R (20 participants) groups. The process of study in the POA-R group was divided into three stages, motivating, enabling, and assisting. The instructor gave the class a task at the motivational stage that involved taking the academic IELTS exam, writing a review article and giving an oral presentation about their research topic. At this stage, students are challenged to find relevant information searching PubMed and other literature databases. The teacher served as a facilitator of learning and would not offer information related to the tasks. During the enabling phase, students were encouraged to ask their supervisor for help and guidance. Students ask questions in class, and the instructor discusses the questions with the students and guides them to solve the questions independently. During the assessment stage, students take the academic IELTS exam, finish the review article, given an oral presentation related their research project, and complete an instructional questionnaire. The non-POA-R group was instructed by the teacher lecture method, comprising six lectures and an oral presentation in addition to the completion of a review article. The final grades of course include a review article, an oral presentation, and an academic IELTS test. The results revealed that the students in the POA-R group outperformed the non-POA-R group in terms of mean scores on the IELTS exam, oral presentation, and review article. To further support and demonstrate the advantages of the POA-R teaching approach, an instructional questionnaire using Likert scales and the attitudes of their supervisors was employed. In conclusion, the POA-R teaching approach is a highly successful strategy for enhancing postgraduate students’ academic English proficiency. It greatly enhanced the participants’ academic knowledge, learning interest, and active learning.
The construction of competency training mechanism model for tourism undergraduates based on grounded theory
Authors: Sun Guoxia , Zhao Lan
Published: February 2024

The motivation of this paper is to solve the problem of tourism majors’ lack of theoretical knowledge and professional ability by building a capacity training mechanism model based on grounded theory. The goal of the study is to optimize the ability training strategies of tourism undergraduates and improve their professional quality and competitiveness. The paper adopts the ability training model based on grounded theory, and combines with Back Propagation (BP) neural network for optimization and evaluation. By comparing the performance of different ability training mechanisms, this paper explores the best training strategies to provide support and guidance for the training of tourism undergraduates. Firstly, the employment background of the current market is studied and analyzed. By sorting out the relevant documents of grounded theory and combining with the current training strategies of tourism majors, the students’ personality characteristics and the basic principles of establishing models are integrated. The Back Propagation (BP) neural network is combined with the grounded theory. The data input of the student ability model is re-optimized. The undergraduate competency training mechanism model is constructed. The results show that when the number of iterations of the network model is 500.00, the evaluation accuracy of the competency training model based on BP neural network can reach 70.00%. At this time, the evaluation accuracy of competency training model based on content analysis method is only 55.00%. In addition, the results show that with the increase of model iterations, the recognition accuracy of the ability model based on grounded theory and the ability training mechanism of content analysis method is continuously improved. However, the ability evaluation model based on grounded theory has higher accuracy, and the accuracy of ability evaluation even exceeds 78.52% when the number of iterations of the network model is 600. Secondly, through the statistics and comparison of the grading results of students of different majors, it is found that the ability training mechanism based on grounded theory can improve the overall ability level of students more significantly. The research has important reference value for promoting the optimization and perfection of students’ training strategies.
“Technology has allowed us to do a lot more but it’s not necessarily the panacea for everybody”: Family physician perspectives on virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond
Authors: Hedden Lindsay , Spencer Sarah , Mathews Maria , Gard Marshall Emily , Lukewich Julia , Asghari Shabnam , Gill Paul , McCracken Rita K. , Vaughan Crystal , Wong Eric , Buote Richard , Meredith Leslie , Moritz Lauren , Ryan Dana , Schacter Gordon
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian primary care practices rapidly adapted to provide care virtually. Most family physicians lacked prior training or expertise with virtual care. In the absence of formal guidance, they made individual decisions about in-person versus remote care based on clinical judgement, their longitudinal relationships with patients, and personal risk assessments. Our objective was to explore Canadian family physicians’ perspectives on the strengths and limitations of virtual care implementation for their patient populations during the COVID-19 pandemic and implications for the integration of virtual care into broader primary care practice.

Methods

We conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with family physicians working in four Canadian jurisdictions (Vancouver Coastal health region, British Columbia; Southwestern Ontario; the province of Nova Scotia; and Eastern Health region, Newfoundland and Labrador). We analyzed interview data using a structured applied thematic approach.

Results

We interviewed 68 family physicians and identified four distinct themes during our analysis related to experiences with and perspectives on virtual care: (1) changes in access to primary care; (2) quality and efficacy of care provided virtually; (3) patient and provider comfort with virtual modalities; and (4) necessary supports for virtual care moving forward.

Conclusions

The move to virtual care enhanced access to care for select patients and was helpful for family physicians to better manage their panels. However, virtual care also created access challenges for some patients (e.g., people who are underhoused or living in areas without good phone or internet access) and for some types of care (e.g., care that required access to medical devices). Family physicians are optimistic about the ongoing integration of virtual care into broader primary care delivery, but guidance, regulations, and infrastructure investments are needed to ensure equitable access and to maximize quality of care.
Allochthonous marsh subsidies enhances food web productivity in an estuary and its surrounding ecosystem mosaic
Authors: Davis Melanie J. , Woo Isa , De La Cruz Susan E. W. , Ellings Christopher S. , Hodgson Sayre , Nakai Glynnis
Published: February 2024

Terrestrial organic matter is believed to play an important role in promoting resilient estuarine food webs, but the inherent interconnectivity of estuarine systems often obscures the origins and importance of these terrestrial inputs. To determine the relative contributions of terrestrial (allochthonous) and aquatic (autochthonous) organic matter to the estuarine food web, we analyzed carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur stable isotopes from multiple trophic levels, environmental strata, and habitats throughout the estuarine habitat mosaic. We used a Bayesian stable isotope mixing model (SIMM) to parse out relationships among primary producers, invertebrates, and a pelagic and demersal fish species (juvenile Chinook salmon and sculpin, respectively). The study was carried out in the Nisqually River Delta (NRD), Washington, USA, a recently-restored, macrotidal estuary with a diverse habitat mosaic. Plant groupings of macroalgae, eelgrass, and tidal marsh plants served as the primary base components of the NRD food web. About 90% of demersal sculpin diets were comprised of benthic and pelagic crustaceans that were fed by autochthonous organic matter contributions from aquatic vegetation. Juvenile salmon, on the other hand, derived their energy from a mix of terrestrial, pelagic, and benthic prey, including insects, dipterans, and crustaceans. Consequently, allochthonous terrestrial contributions of organic matter were much greater for salmon, ranging between 26 and 43%. These findings demonstrate how connectivity among estuarine habitat types and environmental strata facilitates organic matter subsidies. This suggests that management actions that improve or restore lateral habitat connectivity as well as terrestrial-aquatic linkages may enhance allochthonous subsidies, promoting increased prey resources and ecosystem benefits in estuaries.
Environmental causality calibration: Advancing WLAN RF fingerprinting for precise indoor localization
Authors: Fan Yufeng , Sun Haotai
Published: February 2024

In recent years, considerable and valuable research progress has been made in indoor positioning technologies based on WLAN Radio Frequency (RF) fingerprinting, identifying it as one of the most promising positioning technologies with substantial potential for wider adoption. However, indoor environmental factors significantly influence the propagation of wireless RF signals, resulting in a considerable decrease in positioning accuracy as the indoor environmental conditions vary. Thus, effectively mitigating the impact of indoor environmental factors on WLAN RF fingerprinting-based positioning systems has become a crucial research problem. Currently, there is a dearth of comprehensive research on the influence of indoor climatic factors, particularly the variations in relative humidity, on the propagation of WLAN RF signals within indoor spaces and its consequential impact on positioning accuracy. To address the aforementioned issues, this paper proposes an Adaptive expansion fingerprint database (AeFd) model based on a regression learning algorithm. The AeFd, through the design of a relationship model describing the interaction between fingerprint databases under varying relative humidity, allows the fingerprint database expanded by AeFd to dynamically adapt to the changes in indoor relative humidity. Our experiments show that using the AeFd model with the KNN algorithm, a 5% performance improvement was observed over 10 days and an 8% improvement over 10 months. According to experimental test results, the fingerprint database expansion model AeFd proposed in this paper can effectively expand the fingerprint database under different relative humidity levels, thereby significantly enhancing the positioning performance of the system and improving its stability.