bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hospital-based interventional two-arm parallel comparative study on dydrogesterone vs combined oral contraceptive pills for functional ovarian cysts
Authors: Shaikh Muneeba , Acharya Neema
Published: January 2024

Background Functional ovarian cysts are common among women of reproductive age, often necessitating medical intervention. This hospital-based interventional study compares the efficacy and safety of combined oral contraceptive pills (COC) and dydrogesterone in managing functional ovarian cysts. Methods This randomized controlled trial will be conducted over two years at the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, AVBRH, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences. The study population consists of reproductive-age women seeking care at the outpatient unit of Obstetrics and Gynecology at AVBRH hospital. The sample size of 46 participants per group has been calculated based on a 95% confidence interval and the estimated prevalence of functional ovarian cysts. Group A will receive low-dose COC for three menstrual cycles. At the same time, Group B will be administered dydrogesterone (10 mg twice daily) for ten days during the luteal phase, repeated across three cycles. Expected outcomes The primary outcomes include evaluating the recession of cysts within three months, monitoring alterations in menstrual patterns (frequency, regularity, duration, and volume), assessing the necessary treatment duration, and observing potential side effects (e.g., nausea, vomiting, weight gain, and acne) and complications (e.g., thromboembolism, delayed menstrual cycles post-treatment, and interactions with other drugs). Data analysis will encompass descriptive statistics, comparative tests, and regression models to assess the primary outcomes. The significance level for hypothesis testing will be 0.05 with a two-tailed approach. Registration CTRI/2023/04/051811.
Images of a new reality: trends and prospects of historical development
Authors: Gryaznova Alla , Arakelyan Sergey , Artemenko Dmitriy , Bondarenko Valentina , Buzgalin Aleksandr , Gaysin Rafkat , Goncharenko Lyubov' , Gurnak Aleksandr , Kolganov Andrey , Lapshov Valeriy , Mahamatov Tair , Seleznev Pavel , Tolkachev Sergey , Huzmiev Izmail , Chekmarev Vasiliy , Shmanev Sergey
Published: January 2024

The modern world in new realities finds itself at the crossroads of the historical process. Post-industrialism with its inherent neo-capitalist content has already come into its own. There are permanent conflicts between the spontaneous attraction to the archaic nature of existence, the phenomena of degradation and derationalization of the system as a whole and the reviving theories of the development of society and man. The time for conceptual searches is already in the past. The time has come for the unconditional implementation of economic development strategies.
The monograph is dedicated to the memory of the Russian scientist-economist, Doctor of Economics, Professor, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Dmitry Evgenievich Sorokin.
It is recommended to students, postgraduates, researchers, teachers and anyone interested in current problems of modern economics.
The social capital of the organization
Authors: Beznosov Dmitriy , Volkova Natal'ya , Gurieva svetlana , Zaharova Mariya , Kazanceva Tat'yana , Kotenko Larisa , Kuznecova Irina , Mararica Larisa , Pochebut Lyudmila , Chiker Vera
Published: January 2024

The monograph is a continuation of the monograph by L.G. Pochebut, A.L. Sventsitsky, L.V. Mararitsa, T.V. Kazantseva, I.V. Kuznetsova "Social capital of personality" (Moscow: INFRA-M, 2014). It contains the theory, methodology and empirical studies of the social capital of organizations. The scientific literature on the problems of social capital of organizations is analyzed. The theory of social capital and research methodology developed by the authors are presented, and empirical research results are presented.
The main attention is paid to the socio-psychological approach describing social capital as a system of relationships between employees of an organization. Four aspects of the study of social capital are considered: resource, network, economic and socio-psychological. A methodology for studying social capital has been developed, a socio-psychological methodology "Components of an organization's social capital" and a questionnaire "Personality Networking strategies" have been created.
For sociologists, managers, heads of firms and corporations, teachers and researchers, all whose work is related to the management of employee relationships in organizations.
Patient-reported experiences of cardiac rehabilitation services and the Country Heart Attack Prevention model of care
Authors: Gebremichael Lemlem G , Beleigoli Alline , Foote Jonathon W , Bulamu Norma B , Ramos Joyce S , Clark Robyn A
Published: January 2024

Background/Aims

Patient-centred care is the delivery of a high-quality healthcare service that appropriately responds to the needs and preferences of patients. Addressing participants' needs and preferences in healthcare services is essential to improving patients' experiences and clinical outcomes. This article aimed to evaluate patient-reported experiences of standard cardiac rehabilitation programmes and the Country Heart Attack Prevention model of care, as well as design and standardise patient-reported experience measures.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study with a multi-method analysis. Participants (n=818) ≥18 years old with cardiovascular disease who attended cardiac rehabilitation programmes across all modes of delivery before (1 January 2017 to 30 June 2021), during (1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022) and after implementation of the Country Heart Attack Prevention model (1 July 2022 to 30 December 2022) responded to the patient satisfaction surveys. Participant data from before and after implementation of the model were categorised as ‘not exposed’, while those who received cardiac rehabilitation during this period were categorised as ‘exposed’. A total of 170 participants provided qualitative feedback. Summary t-test was used to compare the means of the quantitative responses, and thematic analysis was used to generate themes from the qualitative feedback.

Results

The overall patient-reported satisfaction scores for those not exposed (n=685) and exposed (n=133) to the Country Heart Attack Prevention model of care were 77.1% and 85.9%, respectively (mean difference=−8.8; 95% confidence interval=−10.2, −7.4; P≤0.05). Themes for positive feedback included education and information, communication and friendly advice. Themes for improvement included follow-up duration, more face-to-face contact and waiting time.

Conclusions

Overall patient-reported satisfaction scores were significantly higher for participants who were exposed to the Country Heart Attack Prevention model of care compared with those who were not exposed. Addressing feedback on areas for improvement in cardiac rehabilitation services can promote attendance, completion and improved health outcomes of patients.
Is barbotage in central neuraxial blockade a ritual habit or an evidence-based technique?
Authors: Daly Marie-Josée , Borg-Xuereb Keith , Mandour Yasser
Published: January 2024

Barbotage refers to the repeated aspiration and re-injection of CSF following injection of local anaesthetic into the intrathecal space, and its practice varies among anaesthetists. This article reviews the evidence for and against this practice to alter block dynamics following intrathecal injection reserved for spinal anaesthesia.
The analytical performance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Bacillus megaterium microbial consortium as recognition element in ethanol biosensor
Authors: NURDIANI NURDIANI , ISWANTINI DYAH , NURHIDAYAT NOVIK , WAHYUNI WULAN TRI , KARTONO AGUS
Published: January 2024

Abstract. Nurdiani, Iswantini D, Nurhidayat N, Wahyuni WT, Kartono A. 2023. The analytical performance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Bacillus megaterium microbial consortium as recognition element in ethanol biosensor. Biodiversitas 24: 5928-5936. Alcohol, particularly ethanol, is commonly found in human food and plays a significant role in degenerative diseases and disability. Accurate measurement of alcohol in food products is essential to ensure adherence to the Muslim halal rule. However, existing alcohol biosensor that relies on a single microbe has limitations in measuring a wide range of ethanol concentrations. To address this issue, a microbial consortium is needed to expand the measurable range. Therefore, this study aimed to develop an innovative biosensor to widen the range of measured ethanol concentrations based on the microbial consortium of Saccharomyces cerevisiae YSAPMI.2 and Bacillus megaterium BSAPMI.1. The performance of the biosensor was evaluated using the cyclic voltammetry method. The results showed that the linear range, linearity, coefficient of determination, sensitivity, and response time, were 0.02-6.0%, 0.9968, 0.9936, 83.157 µA (%)-1, and 11 seconds. The LoD ??and LoQ theoretical values ??of the method obtained in the ethanol oxidation reaction were 0.060% and 0.182%, respectively. The confirmatory test for the LoD value of 0.01% yielded a positive response, while the confirmed LoQ value of 0.02% showed good precision and accuracy. The biosensor had precise %RSD values of 0.568, 1.338, and 4.632% for the high, medium, and low ethanol concentrations, respectively. The accuracy reflected as the recovery percentage was in the range of 90.27-111.07%. The biosensor was relatively specific and had no interferences with common ethanol compounds including methanol, sodium chloride, formic acid, and glucose. The stability obtained with biofilm showed a better result reaching 88% in 70 days. Based on the result, this microbial consortium biosensor could widen the range of measured ethanol concentrations and should be further developed to create a prototype for an accurate and practical analysis.
Short communication: Traditional medicinal plants and their uses from Sembirai Village, Kota Belud District, Sabah State, Malaysia Borneo
Authors: MAHALI SAIDATUL NORNIS HJ. , DERAK ROSMAH , AZIZ ZALEHA A. , TOBI BERNADETTE
Published: January 2024

Abstract. Mahali SNH, Derak R, Aziz ZA, Tobi B. 2023. Short communication: Traditional medicinal plants and their uses from Sembirai Village, Kota Belud District, Sabah State, Malaysia Borneo. Biodiversitas 24: 5956-5961. The Sama-Bajau of the Kota Belud District in Sabah, Malaysia, uses traditional medicine as an alternative to conventional medicine. However, this knowledge is at risk of disappearing because it has not been scientifically documented. The aim of this study was to identify the various traditional medicinal plants used to treat various common diseases. The primary data for this qualitative study was collected through semi-structured interviews, pictures, and observations. Two practitioners of traditional Sama-Bajau medicine were selected based on their role as skilled healers and their importance to the villagers during times of emergency. They were also chosen based on their reputation in their community and their vast knowledge of traditional herbs. Based on their interviews, 30 plant species from 22 families were identified as traditional medicines. The Arecaceae, Moraceae, and Zingiberaceae families are among the different herb families used by the Sama-Bajau. The simple treatment methods used by the healers involve the use of leaves, rhizomes, tubers, stems, bark, and fruits. There are various methods of preparing medicines, such as boiling, simmering, brewing, and chewing. The use of plants as traditional medicine is an important part of the indigenous knowledge of the Sama-Bajau society and holds great potential for future development.
Duchamp, Sadomasochism, and the Psychoanalytic Field
Authors: Civitarese Giuseppe , Boffito Sara
Published: January 2024

Abstract: Some patients tediously describe depictions of their sexual perversions. These can bring the analyst to feel intense boredom and frustration. This "almost unavoidable monotony" can be interpreted in various ways. It can be seen as an expression of the patient's compulsion to repeat, whether one considers it a product of the death drive, or the need to give meaning to the traumatic experience that caused the perversion itself. On the other hand, it may be seen as an aspect of the unconscious emotional function that binds the couple together in the analysis. Monotony, then, is no longer intrinsic to "the patient's" perversion, but becomes the search for "mono-tony" or "at-one-ment" in the here and now of the session. At the root of this may be the fear of the tensions that arise from confrontation and difference, which may cause the pair to stay rigidly on the same wave. Then, analyst and patient maintain an adhesive identification with each other to prevent separation, and they pay the price of boredom and immobility. The field theory point of view is distinguished by two important aspects. As the analyst listens from the perspective of a "narrative We," this protects the pair from a judgmental attitude and, consequently, from a form of perversion of the analytic relationship. Second, it detects precise and distinct signs of how the process of mutual recognition unfolds on the level of the third, intersubjective or "common," unconscious. The fundamental postulate is that psychic suffering, including that which is expressed in sadomasochism, stems from important deficits in this same process in the primal relationship to the object. Consequently, it is important to privilege the level of being-with rather than that of knowing-about.
Debts of Honor, Narrative Authority, and Southern Manhood in “Knight’s Gambit”
Authors: Duvall John N.
Published: January 2024

Abstract: This essay considers how a particular trace of Faulkner’s 1942 short-story draft of “Knight’s Gambit,” which he failed to place in any mass-market magazine, clarifies the stakes of his final 1949 novella with the same title. In the draft, the key motive for Max Harriss’s attempted murder of Gualdes (Gualdres in the published version) involves the repayment of a gambling debt. In revising, Faulkner recognized the weakness of the original motive. But while the novella completely changes Max’s motive, it does not erase male gambling debts as much as it displaces them throughout the narrative. While chess is the central metaphor in “Knight’s Gambit,” poker is nevertheless a crucial element in Gavin Stevens’ mentoring of his nephew, Chick Mallison. Learning the complementary narrative structures of chess (gambits) and poker (gambling), Chick achieves something unusual in the Faulkner canon: a young white Southern male’s successful movement into manhood.
Narrative Order in William Faulkner
Authors: Nelles William , Williams Linda
Published: January 2024

Abstract: Faulkner scholars have assembled chronologies for several of his novels and short stories as guides for readers attempting to untangle their frequently convoluted temporal structures. The data underlying those chronologies may be repurposed to produce “time maps,” graphs that chart the disparity between the order of events as they occurred in the fictional world (story order) and the order in which they are related in the narrative discourse (text order). These maps reveal a distinctive series of recurring patterns in Faulkner’s handling of narrative order, allow for comparisons of Faulkner’s characteristic techniques with those of other authors, and suggest that this methodology could be extended to provide time maps for his entire Yoknapatawpha corpus.
Semi-supervised generative adversarial learning for denoising adaptive optics retinal images
Authors: Wang Shidan , Li Kaiwen , Yin Qi , Ren Ji , Zhang Jie
Published: January 2024

This study presents denoiseGAN, a novel semi-supervised generative adversarial network, for denoising adaptive optics (AO) retinal images. By leveraging both synthetic and real-world data, denoiseGAN effectively addresses various noise sources, including blur, motion artifacts, and electronic noise, commonly found in AO retinal imaging. Experimental results demonstrate that denoiseGAN outperforms traditional image denoising methods and the state-of-the-art conditional GAN model, preserving retinal cell structures and enhancing image contrast. Moreover, denoiseGAN aids downstream analysis, improving cell segmentation accuracy. Its 30% faster computational efficiency makes it a potential choice for real-time AO image processing in ophthalmology research and clinical practice.
Phasing segmented telescopes via deep learning methods: application to a deployable CubeSat
Authors: Dumont Maxime , Correia Carlos M. , Sauvage Jean-François , Schwartz Noah , Gray Morgan , Cardoso Jaime
Published: January 2024

Capturing high-resolution imagery of the Earth’s surface often calls for a telescope of considerable size, even from low Earth orbits (LEOs). A large aperture often requires large and expensive platforms. For instance, achieving a resolution of 1 m at visible wavelengths from LEO typically requires an aperture diameter of at least 30 cm. Additionally, ensuring high revisit times often prompts the use of multiple satellites. In light of these challenges, a small, segmented, deployable CubeSat telescope was recently proposed creating the additional need of phasing the telescope’s mirrors. Phasing methods on compact platforms are constrained by the limited volume and power available, excluding solutions that rely on dedicated hardware or demand substantial computational resources. Neural networks (NNs) are known for their computationally efficient inference and reduced onboard requirements. Therefore, we developed a NN-based method to measure co-phasing errors inherent to a deployable telescope. The proposed technique demonstrates its ability to detect phasing errors at the targeted performance level [typically a wavefront error (WFE) below 15 nm RMS for a visible imager operating at the diffraction limit] using a point source. The robustness of the NN method is verified in presence of high-order aberrations or noise and the results are compared against existing state-of-the-art techniques. The developed NN model ensures its feasibility and provides a realistic pathway towards achieving diffraction-limited images.
Rapid room temperature synthesis of Mn-doped perovskite quantum dots for white-light-emitting diodes
Authors: Yang Longwen , Du Aochen , Zheng Xingke , Ye Yun , Chen Enguo , Xu Sheng , Guo Tailiang
Published: January 2024

All-inorganic perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) have excellent photoelectric performance, such as high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY), narrow full width at half-maximum (FWHM), and emission spectra covering the visible light wavelength. The emission color can be tuned over the full visible spectral region making them promising for white-light-emitting diodes (WLEDs). Further control over the optical and magnetic properties of PQDs can be achieved through doping of transition metal ions such as Mn2+ ions. In this paper, a rapid doping method is employed at room temperature by using strong-acid cation-exchange resin during the metal ions doping process, which shortens the doping time, and Mn:CsPb(Cl/Br)3 QDs were obtained. By controlling the reaction time between strong-acid cation-exchange resin and PQDs, we achieve different levels of manganese doping, resulting in a new, to the best of our knowledge, fluorescence peak at 600 nm. The introduction of strong-acid cation-exchange resin preserves the integrity of the PQD structure, while completing the doping within 30 min. Due to the low cost and mild reaction conditions of resin, it is expected that the Mn:CsPb(Cl/Br)3 QDs can be mass-produced in large quantities. In addition, in order to provide high-quality white light emission, and prevent anion exchange reactions when mixed with CsPbBr3 QDs, the CsPbBr3 QDs are coated with silicon. Finally, by combining ultraviolet-light-emitting diodes (UVLEDs) with the aforementioned PQD mixture, this paper successfully fabricates WLEDs and demonstrates its excellent photoelectric performance. The constructed WLEDs produce warm white light with a high color rendering index (CRI) of 91 and a high correlated color temperature (CCT) of 5966 K, and the luminous efficacy (LE) of WLEDs is 41lmW−1.
Conditional recurrent neural networks for broad applications in nonlinear optics
Authors: Lauria Simone , Saleh Mohammed F.
Published: January 2024

We present a novel implementation of conditional long short-term memory recurrent neural networks that successfully predict the spectral evolution of a pulse in nonlinear periodically-poled waveguides. The developed networks offer large flexibility by allowing the propagation of optical pulses with ranges of energies and temporal widths in waveguides with different poling periods. The results show very high agreement with the traditional numerical models. Moreover, we are able to use a single network to calculate both the real and imaginary parts of the pulse complex envelope, allowing for successfully retrieving the pulse temporal and spectral evolution using the same network.
Additive manufacturing of double-sided centimeter-scale optics
Authors: Pekkarinen Markku , Karvinen Petri , Saarinen Jyrki
Published: January 2024

In this article we demonstrate rapid manufacturing of an illumination quality double-sided centimeter-scale optics without any post-processing. Two methods are presented: additive manufacturing (AM) using an optically transparent material with a water-soluble support material (support method), and alternatively, using only the optically transparent material but flipping the optics mid-process (flipping method). The main advantage of the flipping method is that only one material is needed. However, the use of support material is more straightforward, allows better alignment between the two sides of the lens and enables more complex lenses manufactured in the future. Both methods result in sufficient surface quality, i.e. surface roughness R
q
= 11.48 ±3.32 nm and form accuracy of ±10 μm, for the purposes of illumination optics.
Wide-field illumination diffuse optical tomography within a framework of single-pixel time-domain spatial frequency domain imaging
Authors: Bai Wenxing , Dong Yihan , Zhang Yaru , Wu Ye , Dan Mai , Liu Dongyuan , Gao Feng
Published: January 2024

We present a wide-field illumination time-domain (TD) diffusion optical tomography (DOT) for three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction within a shallow region under the illuminated surface of the turbid medium. The methodological foundation is laid on the single-pixel spatial frequency domain (SFD) imaging that facilitates the adoption of the well-established time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC)-based TD detection and generalized pulse spectrum techniques (GPST)-based reconstruction. To ameliorate the defects of the conventional diffusion equation (DE) in the forward modeling of TD-SFD-DOT, mainly the low accuracy in the near-field region and in profiling early-photon migration, we propose a modified model employing the time-dependent δ-P1 approximation and verify its improved accuracy in comparison with both the Monte Carlo and DE-based ones. For a simplified inversion process, a modified GPST approach is extended to TD-SFD-DOT that enables the effective separation of the absorption and scattering coefficients using a steady-state equivalent strategy. Furthermore, we set up a single-pixel TD-SFD-DOT system that employs the TCSPC-based TD detection in the SFD imaging framework. For assessments of the reconstruction approach and the system performance, phantom experiments are performed for a series of scenarios. The results show the effectiveness of the proposed methodology for rapid 3-D reconstruction of the absorption and scattering coefficients within a depth range of about 5 mean free pathlengths.
Two-photon rubidium clock detecting 776 nm fluorescence
Authors: Beard River , Martin Kyle W. , Elgin John D. , Kasch Brian L. , Krzyzewski Sean P.
Published: January 2024

The optical atomic clock based on the 5S1/2 → 5D5/2 two-photon transition in rubidium is a candidate for a next generation, manufacturable, portable clock that fits in a small size, weight, and power (SWaP) envelope. Here, we report the first two-photon rubidium clock stabilized by detecting 776 nm fluorescence. We also demonstrate the use of a multi-pixel photon counter as a low voltage substitute to a photomultiplier tube in the feedback loop to the clock laser.
Improvement of differential modal gain in a ring-core few-mode erbium-doped polymer optical waveguide amplifier
Authors: Yu Cheng , Wang Fei , Gao Lizhan , Shi Jiahui , Li Changlong , Zhao Dan , Zhang Meiling , Hu Guijun
Published: January 2024

A few-mode erbium-doped waveguide amplifier (FM-EDWA) with a confined Er3+ doped ring structure is proposed to equalize the differential modal gain (DMG). The FM-EDWA amplifying three spatial modes (LP01, LP11a and LP11b) is optimized by genetic algorithm and fabricated using precise lithography overlay alignment technology. We observe gain values of over 14 dB for all modes with DMG of 0.73 dB at 1529 nm pumped only with LP01 for the power of 200 mW. Furthermore, a flat gain of more than 10 dB is demonstrated across 1525-1565 nm, with a sufficiently low DMG of less than 1.3 dB.
Enhanced forward scattering of a cell in line optical tweezers with an astigmatic beam
Authors: Yu Lingyao , Liu Shuai , Yang Yi , Geng Sen , Tian Jiawei , Yan Kesong , Qin Zujun , Zhang Hai , Yin Jun
Published: January 2024

The line optical tweezers (LOT) has been proven to be an alternative technique to manipulating the biological cells because of the bigger potential compared with traditional optical tweezers with a highly focused spot. We deduce the 4 × 4 optical matrix of the astigmatic LOT to investigate the optical characteristics related to the systematic parameters. The comparison of the initial and scattered electric fields by the cell under the astigmatic and stigmatic LOT is implemented to illustrate that the forward scattered light from the astigmatic LOT is much stronger than that from the stigmatic LOT, so as to the cell deformations. It is demonstrated that the astigmatic LOT could provide a more efficient way to deform the cell not only in the focal plane, but also along the optical axis to screen large biomaterials in biomechanics.
High-frequency surface-micromachined optical ultrasound transducer array for 3D micro photoacoustic computed tomography
Authors: Yan Zhiyu , Zou Jun
Published: January 2024

This Letter reports a new, to the best of our knowledge, high-frequency surface-micromachined optical ultrasound transducer (HF-SMOUT) array for micro photoacoustic computed tomography (µPACT). An 11 × 11 mm2 2D array of 220 × 220 elements (35 µm in diameter) is designed, fabricated, and characterized. The optical resonance wavelength (ORW) of ≥90% of the elements falls within a 6-nm range. The acoustic center frequency and bandwidth of the elements are ∼14 MHz and ∼18 MHz (129%), respectively. The noise equivalent pressure (NEP) is 161 Pa (or 18 mPa/Hz) within a measurement bandwidth of 5–75 MHz. The standard deviation of the ORW drift is 0.45 nm and 0.93 nm within 25°C−55°C, respectively, and during a seven-day continuous water immersion. PACT experiments are conducted to evaluate the imaging performances of the HF-SMOUT array. The spatial resolution is estimated as 90 µm (axial) and 250–750 µm (lateral) within a 10 × 10 mm2 field of view (FoV) and the imaging depth of 16 mm. A 3D PA image of a knotted black hair target is also successfully acquired. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using the HF-SMOUT array for µPACT applications.
Surface recoil force on dielectric nanoparticle enhancement via graphene acoustic surface plasmon excitation: non-local effect consideration
Authors: Olivo Julieta , Ferrari Hernan , Cuevas Mauro
Published: January 2024

Controlling optomechanical interactions at sub-wavelength levels is of great importance in academic science and nanoparticle manipulation technologies. This Letter focuses on the improvement of the recoil force on nanoparticles placed close to a graphene–dielectric–metal structure. The momentum conservation involving the non-symmetric excitation of acoustic surface plasmons (ASPs), via near-field circularly polarized dipolar scattering, implies the occurrence of a huge momentum kick on the nanoparticle. Owing to the high wave vector values entailed in the near-field scattering process, it has been necessary to consider the non-locality of the graphene electrical conductivity to explore the influence of the scattering loss on this large wave vector region, which is neglected by the semiclassical model. Surprisingly, the contribution of ASPs to the recoil force is negligibly modified when the non-local effects are incorporated through the graphene conductivity. On the contrary, our results show that the contribution of the non-local scattering loss to this force becomes dominant when the particle is placed very close to the graphene sheet and that it is mostly independent of the dielectric thickness layer. Our work can be helpful for designing new and better performing large plasmon momentum optomechanical structures using scattering highly dependent on the polarization for moving dielectric nanoparticles.
Optimizing auxiliary laser heating for Kerr soliton microcomb generation
Authors: Xiao Yanlan , Qian Sirong , Bai Qingsong , Wen Huashun , Geng Yong , Wang Yan , Lai Hongan , Yao Baicheng , Qiu Kun , Xu Jing , Zhou Heng
Published: January 2024

Auxiliary laser heating has become a widely adopted method for Kerr soliton frequency comb generation in optical microcavities, thanks to its reliable and easy-to-achieve merits for solving the thermal instability during the formation of dissipative Kerr solitons. Here, we conduct optimization of auxiliary laser heating by leveraging the distinct loss and absorption characteristics of different longitudinal and polarization cavity modes. We show that even if the auxiliary and pump lasers enter orthogonal polarization modes, their mutual photothermal balance can be efficient enough to maintain a cavity thermal equilibrium as the pump laser enters the red-detuning soliton regime, and by choosing the most suitable resonance for the auxiliary and pump lasers, the auxiliary laser power can be reduced to 20% of the pump laser and still be capable of warranting soliton generation. Moreover, we demonstrate soliton comb generation using integrated laser modules with a few milliwatt on-chip pump and auxiliary powers, showcasing the potential for further chip integration of the auxiliary laser heating method.
Neural-network based high-speed volumetric dynamic optical coherence tomography
Authors: Yasuno Yoshiaki , Liu Yusong , El-Sadek Ibrahim Abd , Makita Shuichi , Mori Tomoko , Furukawa Atsuko , Matsusaka Satoshi
Published: January 2024

We demonstrate deep-learning neural network (NN)-based dynamic optical coherence tomography (DOCT), which generates high-quality logarithmic-intensity-variance (LIV) DOCT images from only four OCT frames. The NN model is trained for tumor spheroid samples using a customized loss function: the weighted mean absolute error. This loss function enables highly accurate LIV image generation. The fidelity of the generated LIV images to the ground truth LIV images generated using 32 OCT frames is examined via subjective image observation and statistical analysis of image-based metrics. Fast volumetric DOCT imaging with an acquisition time of 6.55 s/volume is demonstrated using this NN-based method.
Mutational signature dynamics indicate SARS-CoV-2’s evolutionary capacity is driven by host antiviral molecules
Authors: Lamb Kieran D. , Luka Martha M. , Saathoff Megan , Orton Richard J. , Phan My V. T. , Cotten Matthew , Yuan Ke , Robertson David L.
Published: January 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has been characterised by sequential variant-specific waves shaped by viral, individual human and population factors. SARS-CoV-2 variants are defined by their unique combinations of mutations and there has been a clear adaptation to more efficient human infection since the emergence of this new human coronavirus in late 2019. Here, we use machine learning models to identify shared signatures, i.e., common underlying mutational processes and link these to the subset of mutations that define the variants of concern (VOCs). First, we examined the global SARS-CoV-2 genomes and associated metadata to determine how viral properties and public health measures have influenced the magnitude of waves, as measured by the number of infection cases, in different geographic locations using regression models. This analysis showed that, as expected, both public health measures and virus properties were associated with the waves of regional SARS-CoV-2 reported infection numbers and this impact varies geographically. We attribute this to intrinsic differences such as vaccine coverage, testing and sequencing capacity and the effectiveness of government stringency. To assess underlying evolutionary change, we used non-negative matrix factorisation and observed three distinct mutational signatures, unique in their substitution patterns and exposures from the SARS-CoV-2 genomes. Signatures 1, 2 and 3 were biased to C→T, T→C/A→G and G→T point mutations. We hypothesise assignments of these mutational signatures to the host antiviral molecules APOBEC, ADAR and ROS respectively. We observe a shift amidst the pandemic in relative mutational signature activity from predominantly Signature 1 changes to an increasingly high proportion of changes consistent with Signature 2. This could represent changes in how the virus and the host immune response interact and indicates how SARS-CoV-2 may continue to generate variation in the future. Linkage of the detected mutational signatures to the VOC-defining amino acids substitutions indicates the majority of SARS-CoV-2’s evolutionary capacity is likely to be associated with the action of host antiviral molecules rather than virus replication errors.
Identifying critically ill children in Malawi: A modified qSOFA score for low-resource settings
Authors: Kumwenda Mercy , Assies Roxanne , Snik Ilse , Chatima Gloria , Langton Josephine , Chimalizeni Yamikani , Romaine Sam T. , van Woensel Job B.M. , Pallmann Philip , Carrol Enitan D. , Calis Job C.J.
Published: January 2024

In low-resource settings, a reliable bedside score for timely identification of children at risk of dying, could help focus resources and improve survival. The rapid bedside Liverpool quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (LqSOFA) uses clinical parameters only and performed well in United Kingdom cohorts. A similarly quick clinical assessment-only score has however not yet been developed for paediatric populations in sub-Saharan Africa. In a development cohort of critically ill children in Malawi, we calculated the LqSOFA scores using age-adjusted heart rate and respiratory rate, capillary refill time and Blantyre Coma Scale, and evaluated its prognostic performance for mortality. An improved score, the Blantyre qSOFA (BqSOFA), was developed (omitting heart rate, adjusting respiratory rate cut-off values and adding pallor), subsequently validated in a second cohort of Malawian children, and compared with an existing score (FEAST-PET). Prognostic performance for mortality was evaluated using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Mortality was 15.4% in the development (N = 493) and 22.0% in the validation cohort (N = 377). In the development cohort, discriminative ability (AUC) of the LqSOFA to predict mortality was 0.68 (95%-CI: 0.60–0.76). The BqSOFA and FEAST-PET yielded AUCs of 0.84 (95%-CI:0.79–0.89) and 0.83 (95%-CI:0.77–0.89) in the development cohort, and 0.74 (95%-CI:0.68–0.79) and 0.76 (95%-CI:0.70–0.82) in the validation cohort, respectively. We developed a simple prognostic score for Malawian children based on four clinical parameters which performed as well as a more complex score. The BqSOFA might be used to promptly identify critically ill children at risk of dying and prioritize hospital care in low-resource settings.
Using intervention mapping to develop an implementation strategy to improve timely uptake of streamlined birth-dose vaccines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Authors: Boisson-Walsh Alix , Fried Bruce , Shea Christopher M. , Ngimbi Patrick , Mbonze Nana , Tabala Martine , Kashamuka Melchior Mwandagalirwa , Babakazo Pélagie , Yotebieng Marcel , Thompson Peyton
Published: January 2024

Despite the policy recommendation and effectiveness of administering the hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine (HepB-BD) to newborns to prevent mother-to-child hepatitis B transmission, timely uptake remains an issue. Countries adopting the HepB-BD to their national immunization schedule report programmatic challenges to administering the vaccine within the recommended 24-hour window after delivery. Further, while the World Health Organization recommends streamlining three birth-dose vaccines (HepB-BD, BCG, and OPV0), scarce Sub-Saharan(SSA)-based literature reports on a streamlined and timely approach to birth-dose vaccines. As more SSA countries adopt the new birth-dose vaccine to their immunization schedules, a systematically developed implementation strategy—Vaccination of Newborns–Innovative Strategies to Hasten Birth-Dose vaccines’ delivery (VANISH-BD)—will facilitate the adoption and implementation of timely birth-dose vaccine uptake. In this paper, we describe the development of the implementation strategy using intervention mapping, an evidence-based and theory-driven approach. We report on the development of our intervention, beginning with the needs assessment based in Kinshasa Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), informing step 1 of intervention mapping. The intervention is contextually relevant, locally produced, sustainable, and designed to improve timely birth-dose vaccine uptake in the DRC. We intend to inform future implementers about improving timely and streamlined birth-dose vaccine uptake and for VANISH-BD to be adapted for similar contexts.
Agent-based vs. equation-based multi-scale modeling for macrophage polarization
Authors: Minucci Sarah B. , Heise Rebecca L. , Reynolds Angela M.
Published: January 2024

Macrophages show high plasticity and result in heterogenic subpopulations or polarized states identified by specific cellular markers. These immune cells are typically characterized as pro-inflammatory, or classically activated M1, and anti-inflammatory, or alternatively activated M2. However, a more precise definition places them along a spectrum of activation where they may exhibit a number of pro- or anti-inflammatory roles. To understand M1-M2 dynamics in the context of a localized response and explore the results of different mathematical modeling approaches based on the same biology, we utilized two different modeling techniques, ordinary differential equation (ODE) modeling and agent-based modeling (ABM), to simulate the spectrum of macrophage activation to general pro- and anti-inflammatory stimuli on an individual and multi-cell level. The ODE model includes two hallmark pro- and anti-inflammatory signaling pathways and the ABM incorporates similar M1-M2 dynamics but in a spatio-temporal platform. Both models link molecular signaling with cellular-level dynamics. We then performed simulations with various initial conditions to replicate different experimental setups. Similar results were observed in both models after tuning to a common calibrating experiment. Comparing the two models’ results sheds light on the important features of each modeling approach. When more data is available these features can be considered when choosing techniques to best fit the needs of the modeler and application.
Cross-sectional survey evaluating the psychological impact of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in patients with cancer: The VACCINATE study
Authors: Tregnago Daniela , Avancini Alice , Belluomini Lorenzo , Trestini Ilaria , Sposito Marco , Insolda Jessica , Bianchi Federica , Sava Teodoro , Gaiani Chiara , Del Piccolo Lidia , Guarnieri Valentina , Verlato Giuseppe , Tfaily Ahmad , Vesentini Roberta , Zuliani Serena , Pilotto Sara , Milella Michele
Published: January 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted on cancer patients’ psychological well-being and clinical status. We assessed the levels of anxiety, depression, and distress and the attitude towards COVID-19 vaccination in cancer patients, accepting vaccination at the Verona University Hospital and Camposampiero Hospital in the Veneto region. Self-reported questionnaires were administered to patients undergoing COVID-19 vaccination between March and May 2021 (first and second dose). Twenty-seven items were investigated: i) demographics/clinical characteristics; ii) anxiety, depression, and distress (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale—HADS—and Distress Thermometer—DT); iii) four specific items regarding awareness about infection risks, interference with anticancer treatments, and vaccine side effects. Sixty-two and 57% of the patients who accepted to be vaccinated responded to the survey in the two participating Hospitals, respectively. Mean age was 63 years (SD: 12 years; range 19–94 years), women were slightly more prevalent (57.6%), most participants were married (70%), and either worker or retired (60%). Borderline and clinical levels of anxiety were recorded in 14% and 10% of respondents; borderline and clinical levels of depression in 14% and 8%; and moderate and severe distress levels in 33% and 9%. Overall, there was high confidence that vaccination would reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 (70%), which would make patients feel less worried about contracting the infection (60%). Fear that vaccine-related side effects would interfere with anticancer treatment and/or global health status was low (10% and 9% for items 3 and 4, respectively) and significantly associated with baseline levels of anxiety, depression, and distress at multivariate analysis. Results did not differ between the Verona and Camposampiero cohorts. During the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, adult cancer patients demonstrated high levels of confidence towards vaccination; baseline levels of anxiety, depression, and distress were the only significant predictors of reduced confidence.
Somatic genome architecture and molecular evolution are decoupled in “young” linage-specific gene families in ciliates
Authors: Maurer-Alcalá Xyrus X. , Cote-L’Heureux Auden , Kosakovsky Pond Sergei L. , Katz Laura A.
Published: January 2024

The evolution of lineage-specific gene families remains poorly studied across the eukaryotic tree of life, with most analyses focusing on the recent evolution ofde novogenes in model species. Here we explore the origins of lineage-specific genes in ciliates, a ~1 billion year old clade of microeukaryotes that are defined by their division of somatic and germline functions into distinct nuclei. Previous analyses on conserved gene families have shown the effect of ciliates’ unusual genome architecture on gene family evolution: extensive genome processing–the generation of thousands of gene-sized somatic chromosomes from canonical germline chromosomes–is associated with larger and more diverse gene families. To further study the relationship between ciliate genome architecture and gene family evolution, we analyzed lineage specific gene families from a set of 46 transcriptomes and 12 genomes representing x species from eight ciliate classes. We assess how the evolution lineage-specific gene families occurs among four groups of ciliates: extensive fragmenters with gene-size somatic chromosomes, non-extensive fragmenters with “large’’ multi-gene somatic chromosomes, Heterotrichea with highly polyploid somatic genomes and Karyorelictea with ‘paradiploid’ somatic genomes. Our analyses demonstrate that: 1) most lineage-specific gene families are found at shallow taxonomic scales; 2) extensive genome processing (i.e., gene unscrambling) during development likely influences the size and number of young lineage-specific gene families; and 3) the influence of somatic genome architecture on molecular evolution is increasingly apparent in older gene families. Altogether, these data highlight the influences of genome architecture on the evolution of lineage-specific gene families in eukaryotes.
Swin-Transformer -YOLOv5 for lightweight hot-rolled steel strips surface defect detection algorithm
Authors: Wang Qiuyan , Dong Haibing , Huang Haoyue
Published: January 2024

An essential industrial application is the examination of surface flaws in hot-rolled steel strips. While automatic visual inspection tools must meet strict real-time performance criteria for inspecting hot-rolled steel strips, their capabilities are constrained by the accuracy and processing speed of the algorithm used to identify defects. To solve the problems of poor detection accuracy, low detection efficiency, and unsuitability of low computing power platforms of the hot-rolled strip surface defect detection algorithm The Swin-Transformer-YOLOv5 model based on the improved one-stage detector is proposed. By employing GhostNet, the model’s lightweight design, and guaranteed detection accuracy are both achieved. The C3 module introduces Swin-Transformer to address the issues of cluttered backdrops of defect photos and easily confused defect categories. With the addition of the CoordAttention module, the model’s capacity to extract defective features is improved, and its performance keeps getting better. The issue of huge differences in different scales and poor detection of small flaws is resolved by employing BiFPN for feature fusion, and the detector’s capacity to adapt to targets of different scales is improved. The experimental results demonstrate that the improved Swin-Transformer-Yolov5 model significantly outperforms the industry-standard target detection algorithms, and the model’s mAP value still improves by 8.39% over the original model while reducing the number of parameters, GFLOPs, and weight by 36.6%, 40.0%, and 34.7%, respectively. The model is better suited for use on low-arithmetic platforms as a result.