bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experiences of clinicians working in the inpatient and community mental health care pathway for young people in the UK
Authors: Shah Ashika , Holland Josephine , Briley Paul M , Majumder Pallab
Published: December 2024

Background/Aims

Increases in the complexity, severity and risk level of patients referred to child and adolescent mental health services has put considerable pressure on bed availability in adolescent psychiatric hospitals, resulting in lengthy admission processes. This study aimed to explore clinicians' experiences of the admission process and transition between community and inpatient care for adolescents, with a view to informing improvement, allowing appropriate, timely admission and discharge and achieving better outcomes.

Methods

Two questionnaires were developed by the authors to collect data on their experiences of the admissions and discharge process to and from psychiatric inpatient wards. One questionnaire was designed for community clinicians (14 items) and one for inpatient teams (nine items), all working under child and adolescent mental health services. The questionnaires were distributed, completed and returned by eligible staff across six NHS trusts. A combination of multiple-choice and open-ended questions were used. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse quantitative data from the multiple-choice questions, while thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data from the open-ended questions and generate themes.

Results

Quantitative analysis showed that over half (54.0%) of community clinicians who had been involved in requesting an admission for a young person had received no, minimal or sporadic updates about the progress of the referral. Delays to the bed finding process meant that over a third (35.5%) of these clinicians had felt forced to call for a Mental Health Act assessment for a young person. Five themes were generated from the qualitative data: communication; issues with the admissions process (particularly with Form 1); benefits and drawbacks of technology; bed finding processes; and the importance of Form 1 for inpatient teams.

Conclusions

There is scope for improvement in the admissions process. Measures may include modifications to Form 1, holding regular meetings between community and inpatient teams, creating clearer bed finding and management processes and developing strategies for better risk management in the community while a young person waits for an inpatient bed.
Medicines management activity of advanced practice dietitians and therapeutic radiographers
Authors: Carey Nicola , Edwards Judith , Babashahi Saeideh , Stenner Karen
Published: December 2024

Background:

Recent changes have allowed advanced level UK dietitians and therapeutic radiographers to prescribe medicines. To date, there has been no comprehensive review of this evidence.

Aim:

To undertake a rapid review of the role advanced practice dietitians and therapeutic radiographers have in relation to medicines management.

Method:

Searches of MEDLINE, CINAHL and economic databases were conducted for literature published from 1968–November 2023. Registered with Figshare, a narrative synthesis following PRISMA guidelines was undertaken.

Findings:

Twenty articles revealed a dearth of literature evaluating advanced practice or prescribing in either profession. A lack of clarity regarding advanced practice roles led to ambiguity and hindered implementation.

Conclusion:

There is a lack of evidence evaluating dietitian and therapeutic radiographer advance practice or prescribing. Urgent evaluation of dietitian and therapeutic radiography advanced practice, including prescribing, is required if their contribution to alleviating workforce shortages is to be better understood.
The acute management of Pilon fractures (ENFORCE) study: a national evaluation of practice
Authors: Hill DS , Davis JR ,   ENFORCE Collaborative
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Pilon fractures are potentially limb-threating injuries. Staged soft tissue damage control is described, but actual practices are unknown. We report a national trainee collaborative evaluating how tibial Pilon fractures are acutely managed.

Methods

ENFORCE was a multicentre retrospective observational study of the acute management of tibial Pilon fractures over a three-year period. Mechanism of injury, imaging, fracture classification, time to cast application, soft tissue damage control strategy and definitive management details were determined.

Results

A total of 656 patients (670 fractures) across 27 centres were reported. AO fracture classifications were: partial articular (n=294) and complete articular (n=376). Initial diagnostic imaging mobilities were plain radiographs (n=602) and a trauma computed tomography (CT) scan (n=54). A total of 526 fractures had a cast applied in the emergency department (91 before radiological diagnosis), with the times taken to obtain postcast imaging being: mean 2.7 hours, median 2.3 hours and range 28 minutes–14 hours. 35% (102/294) of partial articular and 57% (216/376) of complete articular fractures had a spanning external fixator applied, all of which underwent a planning CT scan. Definitive management consisted of open reduction internal fixation (n=495), fine wire frame (n=86), spanning external fixator (n=25), intramedullary nail (n=25) or other (n=18).

Conclusion

The management of tibial Pilon fractures is variable, with just over half of complete articular fractures managed with the gold standard ‘span, scan, plan’ staged soft tissue resuscitation. A national standard of care would increase the profile and standardise management of these potentially limb-threatening injuries, together with setting them apart from more straightforward ankle fractures.
'An Account of Burned Pepper': Yao Shilin and the Forging of Liao Dynasty History
Authors: Milburn Olivia
Published: December 2024

Article Abstract: Fen jiaolu 焚椒錄 ( An Account of Burned Pepper ) purports to be an eyewitness biographical account of the life and tragic death of the Liao dynasty empress Xiao Guanyin 蕭觀音 (1040–1075). It is explicitly attributed to the authorship of Wang Ding 王鼎 (d. 1106), a senior government official, and dated to the year 1089. Many scholars have used this text as an authoritative source for understanding Liao history, and the poems which it contains, attributed to the empress, have appeared frequently in anthologies and studies of women's writings. However, this text is a late Ming dynasty forgery, produced in around 1600. This article provides a detailed examination of the manifold anachronisms in the Fenjiao lu , its close relationship with the Liao shi 遼史 ( History of the Liao Dynasty ) which was only completed in 1343, and its connections with other works of Ming dynasty fiction.
The Song Rediscovery of Chang'an
Authors: Wen Xin
Published: December 2024

Article Abstract: As Chang'an transformed from the capital in the Tang to a much smaller provincial seat in the Song, many material and immaterial pieces of the city were forever lost; but some, because of the work of a tightly-knit group of literati-officials in the second half of the eleventh century, were eventually rediscovered, preserved, and reorganized. This article examines the intellectual agenda shared by their works aimed at rediscovering Chang'an, and argues that, instead of the monumental structures and imperial ideology of the early and high Tang, Song literati-officials were more interested in either pre-Tang objects and structures still extant in Chang'an or the literary relics in the south of the city from the post-An Lushan era.
Design and analysis of highly birefringent porous core photonic crystal fibers for terahertz applications
Authors: Bastida Gabriel C. , Castellani Carlos E. S. , Coelho Elizandra P. R. , Segatto Marcelo E. V.
Published: December 2024

Here, we propose and numerically analyze the performance of two different designs of porous core photonic crystal fibers (PC-PCFs) projected for terahertz (THz) wave transmission, exploring the design malleability property of PCFs with the purpose of comprehending how structural changes in fiber core affect its propagation parameters, namely, the birefringence, losses, nonlinearity, V-parameter, and dispersion over the propagation bandwidth. The propagation characteristics were investigated by using the finite difference eigenmode solver from Ansys Lumerical software. Our results shown a high dependence of the fiber birefringence and dispersion with respect to the core porosity, suggesting the simplicity in reshaping its curves just by adjusting the core hole radius. Total transmission losses also could be decreased to admissible values close to 0.40 dB/cm, at 1.02 THz, by changing core porosity. Furthermore, both fibers have easily manufactured designs based only in circular air holes, providing polarization-maintaining applications with one of the lowest reported dispersion and acceptable losses.
Characterization of highly focused vector fields using phase retrieval: a practical guide
Authors: Maluenda David , Aviñoá Marcos , Martínez-Herrero Rosario , Carnicer Artur
Published: December 2024

Experimentally measuring the longitudinal component of a highly focused
electromagnetic field is challenging, especially when using near-field
technology methods. We recently demonstrated that this component can
be estimated by combining optical and numerical techniques. This
method involves determining the complex amplitude of the transverse
field in the focal region using phase retrieval techniques.
Subsequently, the field is numerically propagated, and the
longitudinal component is estimated using Gauss’s theorem. This
Application Note discusses the experimental details and potential
sources of error that could affect the results. Additionally, we
introduce a graphical application that streamlines the process and
helps in selecting appropriate parameters to achieve satisfactory
outcomes.
Dual- and quad-FSF laser optical frequency comb application for time delay variation associated measurements
Authors: Mantsevich Sergey N. , Kostyleva Ekaterina I. , Danilin Andrei N. , Balakshy Vladimir I.
Published: December 2024

The frequency-shifted feedback (FSF) laser is an optoelectronic system
with an optical feedback
loop with a characteristic feature that consists of
a broadband optical emission
spectrum that does not contain modes. Nevertheless, this system may
operate in the so-called mode-locking regime, when the output optical
signal is a sequence of short optical pulses with a repetition
rate determined by the delay
time in the feedback loop. In the frequency domain such a sequence
forms the optical frequency comb with line spacing defined by time
delay magnitude. It was shown recently that the sequential frequency
down-conversion technique allows us to obtain tunable dual- and
quad-combs when the FSF laser is seeded only with optical amplifier
spontaneous emission. We propose to apply these combs to fulfill
measurements associated with time delay variation, such as distance
ranging and optical material refraction coefficient measurements.
Performance of focus-tunable presbyopia correction lenses operated using gaze-tracking and LIDAR
Authors: Agarwala Rajat , Severitt Björn R. , Reichel Felix F. , Hosp Benedikt W. , Wahl Siegfried
Published: December 2024

Presbyopia is an age-related loss of accommodation ability of the eye which affects an individual’s capacity to focus on closer objects. With the advent of tunable lens technologies, various algorithms have been developed to tune such lenses for presbyopia correction in older populations. In this study, we assessed a gaze and LIDAR-based feedback mechanism with electronically tunable lenses for their use as correction lenses for presbyopia. The tunable lens prototype was evaluated in 15 healthy young participants with their corrected sphero-cylindrical refraction by comparing their performance for a dynamic matching task under two conditions: (1) natural accommodation, and (2) emulating presbyopia using cycloplegic drops to paralyse accommodation while focussing using the developed visual demonstrator prototype. The participants performed the matching task on three screens placed at multiple distances. We have demonstrated that gaze can be used in conjunction with LIDAR to tune the lenses in the wearable visual demonstrator prototype, enabling participants to achieve a fast and accurate response for the matching task.
Photometrically optimized event-based stereo 3D measurements
Authors: Freitag Christoph , Heist Stefan , Stark Andreas , Kühmstedt Peter , Notni Gunther , Franke Christian
Published: December 2024

Event cameras only report changes in brightness when thresholds in individual pixels relative to previous levels are crossed. They output sparse streams of events that quantify these changes spatially and temporally. We have developed a measurement system using two event cameras in a stereo configuration with a specialized projector for 3D measurements of static objects. We show that optimal contrast in the structured illumination yields high-fidelity measurements, reaching 3D root-mean-square deviations of 0.6 mm (≈0.3% of the measurement volume’s diagonal). This work opens up the possibility of precise event-based, highly dynamic 4D measurements in the near future.
Multifrequency spherical cloak in microwave frequencies enabled by deep learning
Authors: Yang Zhiwei , Duan Junliang , Xu Hongbo , Li Xiaochao , Zhu Shan , Chen Huanyang
Published: December 2024

Designing invisibility devices for required frequency bands is important in anti-detection methods in various fields such as communications, construction, and others. However, traditional design methods are time-consuming, with manual adjustment of parameters and continuous trial and error. Fortunately, the data-driven approach based on deep learning has revolutionized the field. In this article, we demonstrate that utilizing a trained deep neural network can handle the problem efficiently. It can accurately predict the scattering cross section (SCS) of a multilayer sphere under given structural parameters and reversely design the structural parameters corresponding to the target spectrum. Using the predicted parameters, three-dimensional full-wave simulations are conducted, achieving perfect invisibility performance under transverse electric (TE), transverse magnetic (TM) waves, and point source illumination at multiple frequencies. Our results provide a compelling case for utilizing deep learning in cloaking design.
Discovering optical performance enhancers in perovskite materials through machine learning-based feature analysis
Authors: Song Yimo , Wu Xiangnong , Wang Kexin , Zhang Yiwen
Published: December 2024

Perovskites attract significant attention as a coating material in optical fiber sensing, but challenges remain due to the limited discovery of suitable materials and the high trial-and-error costs, resulting in only a few perovskites being used in optical sensing experiments. Addressing this issue, a novel systematic computational screening strategy for perovskites is established. This strategy is demonstrated to accelerate the discovery of perovskite coating materials that can enhance optical sensing sensitivity. These perovskites are defined in this study as optical fiber performance enhancers (POPEs). For the most accurate prediction results, 10 sampling methods combined with 10 classification algorithms are compared. Following 100 comparative experiments, the model using the SMOTE-ENN sampling methods and the label spreading (LS) algorithms shows 100% accuracy and precision in leaving-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV). However, this result should be supported with further experiments and numerical simulations. Finally, we feed 500 samples of photonic, piezoelectric, ferroelectric, magnetic, and other perovskite materials into the optimal model, resulting in 237 potential POPEs for the first time. Meanwhile, we predicted the probabilities of forming POPEs using 10 perovskites commonly used in the field of fluorescence sensing. The obtained values of probability of forming POPEs are all over 91%, which indirectly validates our screening strategy for perovskites is effective. These 237 POPEs show promising prospects for becoming the forefront materials in the next generation of fiber optic sensing technologies.
50.1 W narrow linewidth Nd:YVO4 Innoslab nanosecond amplifier at 1064 nm with high efficiency
Authors: Ma Chao , Yue Fangxin , Wang Mingjian , Yu Zhenzhen , Song Yue , Liu Jiqiao , Hou Xia , Chen Weibiao
Published: December 2024

A narrow linewidth nanosecond partially end-pumped slab (Innoslab) laser amplifier at 1064 nm has been demonstrated. A 6 W seed at a repetition rate of 10 kHz was amplified to 50.1 W with an absorbed pump power of 163 W, achieving a power stability of 0.49% over 10 min. The maximum extraction efficiency reached 28.3% at an absorbed pump power of 144 W. The beam quality factor M2 at the maximum output power was measured to be 1.31 and 1.26 in the horizontal and vertical directions, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first report of high-efficiency amplification of nanosecond narrow linewidth lasers using a wedge-shaped dual-pass Nd:YVO4 Innoslab amplifier at a repetition rate of 10 kHz.
Continuous phase modulation technology based on grating period interval for high grating coupling coefficient and precise wavelength control
Authors: Sun Yiming , Zhu Simeng , Yuan Bocheng , Fan Yizhe , Al-Rubaiee Mohanad , Sun Xiao , Marsh John H. , Sweeney Stephen J. , Hou Lianping
Published: December 2024

A novel, to the best of our knowledge, grating modulation technique for distributed feedback laser arrays is proposed and demonstrated. This method modifies the initial phase within each grating period, applying a total phase shift that increments in an arithmetic progression, realizing laser arrays with channel spacings of 0.493 nm, 0.949 nm, and 1.956 nm. This method maintains a coupling coefficient comparable to traditional uniform grating structures. Furthermore, the continuous phase modulation enhances the stability of the lasing wavelength of the primary mode, reducing sensitivity to fabrication errors. This improved tolerance to manufacturing inaccuracies represents a significant technological advancement, making this approach highly promising for applications requiring precise and stable wavelength control.
Direct object recovery from the Fraunhofer diffraction integral
Authors: Yu Zixi , Bao Keyu , Chen Jialing , Lei Jianglong , Wang Qi , Dou Jiantai , Liu Jun , Zhao Minglin , Hu Youyou , Jing Qingli , Wang Yuanxiang
Published: December 2024

In this Letter, we present a novel, to the best of our knowledge, approach for recovering objects directly from the Fraunhofer diffraction integral, where the diffraction field of an object is approximated by the Fourier transform of this object augmented by an additional phase factor. This phase factor at the observation plane is universal for the diffraction fields generated by objects located at the same plane and illuminated by the same monochromatic plane wave. It can be first extracted from dividing the Fraunhofer diffraction field by the Fourier transform of an object reference. Rapid recovery for unknown objects is then enabled after applying a two-dimensional inverse Fourier transform to the ratio of the Fraunhofer diffraction fields to the phase factor. This approach is verified experimentally by constructing a modified Mach–Zehnder interferometer, with a digital micromirror device (DMD) generating the objects of desired structures. To record the Fraunhofer diffraction and interference patterns on a finite-size CCD camera, a convex lens is introduced with the CCD sensing surface positioned at the focal plane of the lens. The strategy described in [Nat. Commun. 7, 10820 (2016)10.1038/ncomms10820] is applied to extract the phase of the diffraction field from the interference pattern. The results demonstrate the efficiency of our approach in swiftly and accurately recovering small objects with elimination of zero-order and conjugate images.
Effects of two-color femtosecond pulses irradiation of polymer surface through the monolayer of dielectric microspheres
Authors: Afanasiev Andrey , Sveshnikova Maria , Sapogova Natalia , Pikulin Alexander , Bityurin Nikita
Published: December 2024

We consider irradiation of a polymer surface covered by the monolayer of the polystyrene microspheres by two femtosecond pulses of different colors (fundamental frequency (FF) and second harmonic (SH)) with variable delay between them. The polymer is transparent at the wavelength of the third harmonic (FF+SH). We show that, when irradiating the surface, changing the order of the pulses succession results in dominating either ablation or swelling of the irradiated spots. We discuss the laser swelling in terms of hydrodynamic model that is the formalization of the relaxation mechanism of this phenomenon in glassy materials.
Chip-integrated versatile metasurface for simultaneous generation of orthogonal linearly- and circularly-polarized terahertz vortices
Authors: Wu Liang , Zhang Qianyun , Li Guibin , Yang Fan , Yue Zhen , Li Hui , Zheng Chenglong , Zhang Yan , Li Li , Yao Jian-Quan
Published: December 2024

Terahertz vortex beams, carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM), are quite desirable to enhance the data transmission capability in telecommunication. However, it faces fundamental and technical challenge in a single metasurface to simultaneously generate orthogonal basis vortices with linear polarization (x- and y-polarity) and circular polarization (left- and right-handed polarity). Here, we proposed a chip-integrated all-dielectric metasurface in terahertz regime, to demonstrate the simultaneous generation of four-channel orthogonal polarized vortex beams at various topological charges. The versatile metasurface was designed only with propagation phase strategy, consisting of polarization-maintaining and polarization-conversion meta-atoms. Simultaneous control of polarization and topological charges in vortex beams was realized by properly arranging birefringent meta-atom arrays to induce additional phases of x- and y-polarization as customized, showing more degrees of freedom for carrying information. The experimental results are in good agreement with the simulations. Such metasurface approach provides complete polarization bases for further synthesis of diverse polarization vortices required for huge-capacity communication.
High-quality endoscopic laser speckle contrast imaging with conical fiber illumination
Authors: Yan Junshuai , Han Qinxin , Meng Liangwei , Sun Tingyu , Yan Yan , Feng Shijie , Yuan Shaomin , Lu Jinling , Li Pengcheng
Published: December 2024

Blood flow is essential for maintaining normal physiological functions of the human body. Endoscopic laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) can achieve rapid, high-resolution, label-free, and long-term blood flow perfusion velocity monitoring in minimally invasive surgery. However, conventional endoscopic LSCI uses a low-coherence laser illumination scheme, leading to restricted angles of illumination, compromised laser coherence, uneven laser illumination distribution, and low coupling efficiency, all of which degrade the quality of LSCI in the endoscope. In this paper, we propose that conical fiber (CF)-coupled high-coherence laser can be used to achieve large-angle, high-coherence, high-uniformity, and high coupling efficiency laser illumination in the endoscope. Additionally, we establish an effective model for calculating the divergence angle of CFs. Through phantom and animal experiments, we reveal that laser illumination based on CF markedly enhances endoscopic LSCI performance. This technology broadens the imaging field of view, enhances the signal-to-noise ratio, enables more sensitive detection of minute blood flow changes, expands the detectable flow range, and improves signal-to-background ratio of endoscopic LSCI. Our findings suggest that CF-based laser illumination stands as a highly promising advancement in endoscopic LSCI.
Classification of periodontitis stage and grade using natural language processing techniques
Authors: Ameli Nazila , Firoozi Tahereh , Gibson Monica , Lai Hollis
Published: December 2024

Periodontitis is a complex and microbiome-related inflammatory condition impacting dental supporting tissues. Emphasizing the potential of Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS), this study aims to facilitate early diagnosis of periodontitis by extracting patients’ information collected as dental charts and notes. We developed a CDSS to predict the stage and grade of periodontitis using natural language processing (NLP) techniques including bidirectional encoder representation for transformers (BERT). We compared the performance of BERT with that of a baseline feature-engineered model. A secondary data analysis was conducted using 309 anonymized patient periodontal charts and corresponding clinician’s notes obtained from the university periodontal clinic. After data preprocessing, we added a classification layer on top of the pre-trained BERT model to classify the clinical notes into their corresponding stage and grades. Then, we fine-tuned the pre-trained BERT model on 70% of our data. The performance of the model was evaluated on 32 unseen new patients’ clinical notes. The results were compared with the output of a baseline feature-engineered algorithm coupled with MLP techniques to classify the stage and grade of periodontitis. Our proposed BERT model predicted the patients’ stage and grade with 77% and 75% accuracy, respectively. MLP model showed that the accuracy of correct classification of stage and grade of the periodontitis on a set of 32 new unseen data was 59.4% and 62.5%, respectively. The BERT model could predict the periodontitis stage and grade on the same new dataset with higher accuracy (66% and 72%, respectively). The utilization of BERT in this context represents a groundbreaking application in dentistry, particularly in CDSS. Our BERT model outperformed baseline models, even with reduced information, promising efficient review of patient notes. This integration of advanced NLP techniques with CDSS frameworks holds potential for timely interventions, preventing complications and reducing healthcare costs.
Buruli ulcer in Australia: Evidence for a new endemic focus at Batemans Bay, New South Wales
Authors: Hossain Mehrab E , Keighley Caitlin , Buultjens Andrew H. , Porter Jessica L. , Johnson Paul D. R. , Stinear Timothy P. , Globan Maria , Lavender Caroline J. , Lacey Jake A. , Sherry Norelle L. , Forsyth Anton , Formby Mark , Marr Ian
Published: December 2024

We describe two locally acquired cases of Mycobacterium ulcerans infection (Buruli ulcer) in the town of Batemans Bay on the east coast of New South Wales (NSW), Australia, 150 km north of Eden, the only other place in NSW where Buruli ulcer has likely been locally acquired. Genomic analysis showed that the bacterial isolates from the cases were identical but belonged to a phylogenetically distinct M. ulcerans clade that was most closely related to the isolate from the earlier case in Eden to the south. It is proposed that Batemans Bay is a new endemic focus of human Buruli ulcer transmission.
Presence of Trypanosoma cruzi (TcI) in different tissues of Didelphis virginiana from the metropolitan area of Merida, southeastern Mexico: Epidemiological relevance and implications for non-vector transmission routes
Authors: Martínez-Vega Pedro Pablo , Rivera-Pérez Marian , Pellegrin Gabrielle , Amblard-Rambert Antoine , Calderón-Quintal Jorge Andrés , Barnabé Christian , Teh-Poot Christian , Ruiz-Piña Hugo , Ortega-Pacheco Antonio , Waleckx Etienne
Published: December 2024

Background

Trypanosoma cruzi is mainly transmitted to mammals by vectors, but other transmission routes exist. For example, opossums can harbor the infectious form of the parasite in their anal glands, underscoring their potential role in non-vectorial transmission. T. cruzi has been detected in the anal gland secretions of various opossum species, and their infectivity has been confirmed in Didelphis marsupialis and D. albiventris. Vertical transmission has also been proposed in D. virginiana. However, if this occurs in opossums, it remains unclear whether it happens during pregnancy or lactation. In Mexico, Didelphis virginiana and D. marsupialis are the main opossum species. Our objective was to investigate the possible contribution of urban opossums to non-vectorial transmission of T. cruzi in the metropolitan area of Merida, Yucatan, in southeastern Mexico.

Methodology/principal findings

Blood, anal gland secretions, and milk were collected from opossums captured in Merida, Mexico, all identified as D. virginiana using taxonomic keys and Cytb sequencing. By PCR, T. cruzi was detected in 16/102 opossums (15.69%) in at least one type of sample. The prevalence was 14.71% (15/102) in blood and 0.98% (1/102) in anal gland secretions. 1/22 milk samples (4.55%) tested positive. Blood of 37 offspring from T. cruzi-positive mothers was collected and tested negative. qPCR revealed that females with offspring tended to have lower parasite load in blood compared to females without offspring and males. Genotyping of the parasite through multiplex PCR revealed only the DTU TcI.

Conclusions/significance

This study agrees with previous works where D. virginiana was the most abundant opossum species in urban areas in southeastern Mexico and confirms that it is associated with TcI. Detection of T. cruzi in a sample of anal gland secretions underscores the potential risk represented by D. virginiana in non-vectorial transmission in urban areas of southeastern Mexico. Detection in the milk of a lactating female, along with the observed tendency towards a lower parasite load in females with offspring, highlight the importance of further investigating vertical transmission in D. virginiana.
Longitudinal imaging of the taste bud in vivo with two-photon laser scanning microscopy
Authors: Walters Brittany N. , Whiddon Zachary D. , McGee Aaron W. , Krimm Robin F.
Published: December 2024

Taste bud cells in the tongue transduce taste information from chemicals in food and transmit this information to gustatory neurons in the geniculate ganglion that innervate taste buds. The peripheral taste system is a dynamic environment where taste bud cells are continuously replaced, but further understanding of this phenomenon has been limited by the inability to directly observe this process. To overcome this challenge, we combined chronic in vivo two-photon laser scanning microscopy with genetic labeling of gustatory neurons and taste buds to observe how cells within the taste bud change over time. This method expands the investigative possibilities beyond those offered by fixed-tissue methods. This method permits direct observation of taste bud cell entry, cell differentiation, cell loss, and arbor plasticity. We demonstrate that a few stains/dyes can be used to observe nuclei and organelles in the taste bud in vivo. We also describe a workflow for reconstructing composite z-stacks with grayscale data of both cells and arbors using ImageJ, Neurolucida 360, and Neurolucida Explorer software. Together, the methodology and software options for analyses presented here provide a novel approach for longitudinally observing taste bud cells and arbors in the taste bud in vivo.
Analyzing scRNA-seq data by CCP-assisted UMAP and tSNE
Authors: Hozumi Yuta , Wei Guo-Wei
Published: December 2024

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is widely used to reveal heterogeneity in cells, which has given us insights into cell-cell communication, cell differentiation, and differential gene expression. However, analyzing scRNA-seq data is a challenge due to sparsity and the large number of genes involved. Therefore, dimensionality reduction and feature selection are important for removing spurious signals and enhancing downstream analysis. Correlated clustering and projection (CCP) was recently introduced as an effective method for preprocessing scRNA-seq data. CCP utilizes gene-gene correlations to partition the genes and, based on the partition, employs cell-cell interactions to obtain super-genes. Because CCP is a data-domain approach that does not require matrix diagonalization, it can be used in many downstream machine learning tasks. In this work, we utilize CCP as an initialization tool for uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP) and t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (tSNE). By using 21 publicly available datasets, we have found that CCP significantly improves UMAP and tSNE visualization and dramatically improve their accuracy. More specifically, CCP improves UMAP by 22% in ARI, 14% in NMI and 15% in ECM, and improves tSNE by 11% in ARI, 9% in NMI and 8% in ECM.
Health-relevant personality traits are associated with measures of health, well-being, stress and psychosocial work environment over time
Authors: Villaume Karin , Tafvelin Susanne , Hasson Dan
Published: December 2024

Trends in health, well-being, stress and the psychosocial work environment were studied using repeated measurements over time. The role of health-relevant personality in predicting development over time and typical ratings was also assessed. 517 individuals were included. Health-relevant personality 5 inventory (HP5i) was used to assess personality: HW-11 was used for repeated assessment of outcome measures. There were clear seasonal variations over time. Multilevel growth curves demonstrated that some changes over time could partly be explained by higher levels of negative affectivity at baseline. Individuals’ typical ratings were predicted by health-relevant personality. Those with higher negative affectivity typically perceived worse health, well-being and psychosocial work environment. Health-relevant personality seems to be associated with changes in health, well-being, stress and the psychosocial work environment over time. The findings highlight the importance of regular assessments of these indicators as they clearly vary over time and the trends seem to follow seasonal patterns.
Pan-cancer analysis of B3GNT5 with potential implications for cancer immunotherapy and cancer stem cell stemness
Authors: Peng Feng , Feng Yechen , Yu Shuo , He Ruizhi , Wang Hebin , Xie Yu , Qin Renyi
Published: December 2024

B3GNT5, a critical member of the β-1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyl transferase gene family involved in lactose and glycosphingolipids biosynthesis, has been documented to promote tumor-infiltrating T-cell responses. Our research utilized the Pan-Cancer dataset from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to explore the functional role of B3GNT5. Our study demonstrated that the antibody-driven inhibition of B3GNT5 diminished T cell-mediated anti-tumor responses in both in vitro and in vivo settings. By analyzing RNA-seq data from Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) and TCGA databases, we observed differential expression levels of B3GNT5 across various tumor types accompanied by an unfavorable prognostic correlation. We further utilized integrated clinical survival data from TCGA and immune cell infiltration scoring patterns to identify significant associations between B3GNT5 expression and immune checkpoints, cancer stemness, chemokines, chemokine receptors, and immune-activating genes. B3GNT5’s expression was highly correlated with different immunoregulatory factors, including T cell infiltration, chemokine receptors, and activation genes. Subsequent experiments discovered that suppressing B3GNT5 expression in pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells significantly reduced their tumorigenicity by limiting sphere-forming ability and self-renewal capacity, thus underscoring B3GNT5’s vital role as a prognostic factor in immune regulation across pan-cancer. Our findings suggest that B3GNT5 presents a viable target for cancer immunotherapy by enabling effective communication between cancer stem cells and immune cells during tumor treatment.
PRIMARY HEPATIC LYMPHOMA IN A RVD POSITIVE PATIENT
Authors: Suranthiran Naidu Thaalitha Naidu
Published: December 2024

Primary hepatic lymphoma (PHL) is an exceptionally rare malignancy, comprising less than 1% of lymphomas and 0.1% of primary liver tumors. We report a case of a 24-year-old HIV-positive male presenting with abdominal distension, jaundice, fever, recurrent asymptomatic hypoglycemia, hypercalcemia, and persistent lactic acidosis, indicative of metabolic derangements such as the Warburg effect. Clinical evaluation revealed firm hepatomegaly, elevated liver enzymes, and hypoechoic liver lesions with intrahepatic duct dilations on imaging. A liver biopsy confirmed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Despite normal alpha-fetoprotein and tumor markers, the diagnosis was supported by histopathology showing CD20 positivity and a high Ki67 index (>90%). The patient was treated with intravenous dexamethasone, prophylactic antibiotics, and was initiated on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Pre-phase cyclophosphamide was started, with plans for combination chemotherapy using CHOP (cyclophosphamide, hydroxy-doxorubicin, vincristine sulfate, and prednisone) and Rituximab. This case underscores the importance of recognizing hypercalcemia, lactic acidosis, and hypoglycemia in PHL, especially in immunocompromised patients, to enable early diagnosis and prompt, targeted therapy. Early intervention and aggressive management are critical to achieving remission in this rare and challenging condition.
Cryptocurrency and Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) Opportunities and Threats to Traditional Banking
Authors: Chonnoo Rayaan
Published: December 2024

Cryptocurrencies and CBDCs offer innovation but face risks like volatility, cybersecurity, and regulation. They challenge traditional banking while providing opportunities for growth and inclusion.
Spotless: A Business Proposal for an AI-Driven Skincare App
Authors: Abruzzo Paul
Published: December 2024

With the business of Spotless, this idea would be a mobile application that can consider skincare desires and lifestyle choices, scan their face, and recommend products or changes in habits to achieve those desires. The product would implement AI, for fast and easy communication between the app and the user. The user can quickly describe how they want to look to the app, and after using AI to recognize blemishes on the skin, it can give feedback to the user on actions they should take to achieve their desired look. AI would also be used as a simple support system during this process. Any questions regarding feedback results that the app was given, the user can comment on with a chatbot that is implemented in the app. From there, the application can tweak the initial feedback to suit the user’s needs better. This app excels as a quick and simple solution for those who want to get into skincare or are unsure of where to go, and it provides plenty of information, teaching the user as they go, so that they can make their own decisions based on results. There will be some troubles, like difficulty with the scan being able to work for all skin tones, as fairness is indispensable, seeing as we want a product that can make everyone happy.
Tuberculous Meningoencephalitis Masking A Myxoedema Coma
Authors: Suranthiran Naidu Thaalitha Naidu
Published: December 2024

Myxoedema coma, a rare but life-threatening complication of extreme hypothyroidism, is often precipitated by acute stressors and presents a significant diagnostic challenge when coexisting conditions obscure its identification. We report a case of a 40-year-old male presenting with symptoms including shortness of breath, abnormal behavior, fever, and chronic back pain, later diagnosed with disseminated tuberculosis (TB) with meningoencephalitis. Initial findings included obstructive hydrocephalus, L3/L4 spondylitis, and a complex exudative pleural effusion with elevated ADA levels. Despite anti-TB therapy and dexamethasone, he deteriorated with hypotension, bradycardia, hypothermia, and recurrent hypoglycemia. Thyroid function tests revealed severe hypothyroidism (TSH >48.8 mIU/L, T4 <3.2 pmol/L), confirming myxoedema coma, compounded by adrenal insufficiency. Immediate treatment with intravenous hydrocortisone and thyroxine restored hemodynamic stability, with subsequent normalization of heart rate and temperature. Serial thyroid function tests demonstrated recovery. This case underscores the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for myxoedema coma in patients with altered mental status, bradycardia, hypotension, hypothermia, and hypoglycemia, particularly with coexisting TB meningoencephalitis. Early recognition and prompt intervention with stress-dose steroids and thyroxine replacement are critical to improving survival in this rare but critical condition.
Chitosan with the addition of zeolite and ZnO nanoparticles as a new antibacterial agent
Authors: Safaei Mohsen , Mobarakeh Mohammad Salmani , Mozaffari Hamid Reza , Wong Ling Shing , Fallahnia Nima
Published: December 2024

Chitosan/zeolite/ZnO nanocomposites with different contents of components were obtained using the Taguchi method. Based on the conducted studies, optimal conditions for the synthesis of the nanocomposite (7.5 mg/mL chitosan, 0.2 mg/mL zeolite and 9 mg/mL ZnO) with the best antibacterial properties (no growth of S. mutans) were established. Spectroscopic, microscopic, thermal, and antibacterial methods were used to characterize the nanocomposite and its components in relation to S. mutans biofilm. The chitosan/zeolite/ZnO nanocomposite can be used as an effective antibacterial compound in various applications due to its structural and antibacterial properties.
Effect of conventional and digital methods and aging on the shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets with temporary crowns based on aged PMMA
Authors: Alsarani Majed M. , Bangalore Durgesh , Alfrisany Najm , A. Alshamrani Abdullah , El-Bialy Tarek
Published: December 2024

Shear bond strength (SBS) of orthodontic brackets bonded to temporary crowns (TC) was investigated. TC were manufactured using conventional and digital methods (CAD/CAM milling, 3D printing) and then subjected to cyclic aging (5, 000 cycles). Surface roughness (Ra) and contact angle of polished and abrasive blasted TC were determined before and after aging. Data analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA and repeated measures, and LSD in post-hoc tests (α=0.05). After surface treat ment, there was a significant increase in Ra of conventional and milled TC (p<0.001), while 3D printed showed a slight increase in Ra (p=0.073). The contact angle of polished TC surfaces was significantly different (p>0.05), and after surface treatment the differences in contact angle were small (p<0.001). Aesthetic orthodontic brackets bonded to temporary crowns, regardless of the production method, have adequate bond strength before and after aging, with the exception of 3D printed TCs after aging.
Cut-resistant functional coated aramid knitted textiles
Authors: Kropidłowska Paulina , Irzmańska Emilia
Published: December 2024

The effect of SiO2 (0.5–2.5 wt%) with a particle size of 1–5 μm on the rheological and tensile properties as well as cut resistance of aramid fabrics coated with a thin layer of silica-containing latex was investigated. The rheological properties of the latex were assessed based on the dependence of viscosity on shear rate. The developed polymer coatings belong to the group of nonlinear, shear-thinning viscoelastic fluids, since their viscosity decreases with increasing shear rate. A 40% increase in cut resistance was obtained with increasing SiO2 content in the latex.
Effect of growth media and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on growth and flowering indices of China Aster
Authors: Mohammadi Sana , Arghavani Masoud , Aelaei Mitra , Farahani Elham , Sayyad-Amin Pegah , Esmaeili Somayeh
Published: December 2024

Our work focused on applying different growth media and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) treatments on growth parameters of China Aster as a worldwide ornamental plant. This plant has many uses such as medicinal plant, seasonal and cut flower and green spaces or landscaping. The treatments included four types of growth media (soil (S), soil+perlite (SP), soil+cocopeat (SC) and soil+cocopeat +perlite (SCP)) and three types of incubation status included incubation with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) of  Bacillus subtilis (B.subtilis) and Pseudomonas putida (P.putida), and no-bacterial incubation with three replicates. Regardless of growth media, P.putida had greater plant height than B.subtilis. SCP with or without bacterial incubation had the highest plant height and numbers of axillary shoots among the applied growth media. SCP with P.putida had the greatest chlorophyll content (1.29 mg.g-1 FW) and leaf area (1495.05 mm2). SCP with or without bacterial incubation had the highest number and diameters of flowers among other treatments. SCP plus P.putida  showed maximum leaf nitrogen (N), SC and SP plus  B.subtilis had highest leaf phosphorous (P) and  potassium (K), respectively. Our results demonstrated that applying SCP as a compound growth media, with or without bacterial incubation, had best effects on growth and flowering indices.
Mulching strategies and the significance of mulching in improving soil fertility and soil physical properties: A review
Authors: Yaseen Arshad , Abdulqadir Mardin Khdr
Published: December 2024

Approximately 50% of our planet is made up of arid and semi-arid areas. Due to the limited amount of rainfall in drylands, crop productivity and yields must be maximized through the optimization of agricultural field management techniques. However, because it necessitates intensive cultural techniques like irrigation, weeding, fertilizers, and prevent against biotic and abiotic stress is an expensive end favour. This review examined around 113 of the most recent published studies and examined the effects of various mulching materials and procedures on the soil and surrounding environment, which have an impact on crop productivity. Mulch can be a suitable substitute to reduce the amount of irrigation and chemical inputs for weed control. Taking sustainable agriculture measures is critical to effectively coping with the effect of the increasing population on food. Mulching can also regulates soil temperature, moisture content, organic matter content, soil microorganisms, pest and insect control, and plant yield. This review's objective is to conduct a comparative analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of mulches used in vegetable farming. Thus, it has been suggested that mulching techniques be used in vegetable production to reduce cultivation costs and improve soil properties as temperature regulation, moisture, weed suppression, and soil biological activities.
ATATÜRK'ÜN MİRASI: TÜRKİYE CUMHURİYET TARİHİ MERCEĞİNDEN KADIN GİRİŞİMCİLİĞİ
Authors: Dülger Taşkın Meral
Published: December 2024

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, öncelikle asker komutan ve devlet adamı olarak tanındığı için, geleneksel anlamda bir girişimci olarak nitelendirilmeyebilir. Bununla birlikte, girişimci ruhu, I. Dünya Savaşı’nın kaybından ve Osmanlı İmparatorluğu'nun çöküşünden yeni ve bağımsız bir devlet yaratmasında açıkça görülebilir. Ayrıca, yenilikçiliğini ve uz görüsünü yansıtan reformları sadece ülkenin sosyal, ekonomik ve siyasi yapısını kökten değiştirmekle kalmamış, aynı zamanda kadın girişimciler için daha uygun bir ortam yaratmıştır. Türkiye’de kadın girişimciliğini desteklemek açısından hala iyileştirme yapılabilecek alanlar vardır. Türkiye İstatistik Kurumu’nun güncel verileri, kadın girişimcilerin sayısının erkeklerin gerisinde kaldığını göstermektedir. Ayrıca, kadın girişimciler, sermaye erişimi, ayrımcılık ve sosyal ve kültürel normlar gibi zorluklarla karşılaşmaktadır. Dolayısıyla bu çalışma, Atatürk’ün mirasını ve reformlarını kadın girişimciliği penceresinden ele alarak Türkiye'deki kadın girişimcilerin mevcut durumunu kapsamlı bir şekilde değerlendirmektedir. Mevcut demografik veri ve istatistiklerle birlikte, kadın girişimciliğini arttırmaya yönelik olası iyileştirme yolları öneren bu makale, Türkiye’deki kadın girişimciliği yazınını tarihsel ve ekonomik bağlam açısından genişletmekte ve yazına katkı sağlamaktadır.