bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Probing the multitargeting potential of n-hexane fraction of Gongronema latifolium leaves in neurodegeneration via in vitro, GC–MS and in silico studies
Authors: Gyebi Gideon A. , Ejoh Joseph C. , Ogunyemi Oludare M. , Ibrahim Auza Moses , Ibrahim Ibrahim M. , Afolabi Saheed O. , Anyanwu Gabriel O. , Ojo Rotimi J. , Ogunro Olalekan B. , Alotaibi Badriyah S. , Batiha Gaber El-Saber
Published: October 2023

Background

Neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs) are associated with increased activities of brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and monoamine oxidase (MAO) as well as Aβ-amyloid (Aβ) neurotoxicity; therefore, they offer a therapeutic option for the treatment of NDDs such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This study was aimed at identifying multi-targeting neurotherapeutics from Gongronema latifolium leaves using in vitro analysis, GC–MS profiling and computational methods.

Results

The n-hexane solvent partition fraction of the methanol extract of Gongronema latifolium leaf (HF) exhibited concentration-dependent inhibitory activities against acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase but not against MOA in vitro. The GC–MS chemical profiling identified 17 phytochemicals from the HF; these were further screened against human AChE, BChE, β-secretase enzyme (BACE1) and amyloid-β (Aβ) fibrils using molecular docking, ensemble-based docking (EBD), molecular dynamics simulation (MDs) and binding free energy (BFG) coupled with predictive adsorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMET) analysis. The lead phytochemicals (LPs) (dihydroactinidiolide and 1H-Indole-3-ethanamine), with mean binding energies (− 6.525 ± 0.895 and 6.475 ± 0.985; − 6.833 ± 0.461 and − 6.466 ± 0.577; − 6.2 ± 0.845 and − 5.95 ± 0.353 kcal/mol) exhibited multi-target binding tendencies to the catalytic residues of hAChE, hBChE and hBACE1, in addition to hAβ fibril-disruptive tendencies (− 6.325 ± 0.545 and − 5.95 ± 0.353 kcal/mol), respectively. These results corroborated the initial molecular docking and BFG computations. The lead phytochemical–protein complexes were stable during the period of MDs. The LP presented favorable drug-likeness and ADMET properties coupled with the capacity to traverse the BBB.

Conclusion

Dihydroactinidiolide and 1H-Indole-3-ethanamine, in part or in synergy, are identified as neurotherapeutic constituents of Gongronema latifolium that may have been responsible for the ethnopharmacologically reported neurotherapeutic activities of the leaf, and hence they are suggested as potential drug candidates that can be useful for managing or treating neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease, subject to further investigation.
A fuzzy TOPSIS method for surface integrity criteria ranking using the wire electrical discharge machining process
Authors: Sawyerr Babatunde Alade , Fasina Ebun , Adedeji Wasiu Oyediran , Adeniran Mofoluso Kehinde , Oke Sunday Ayoola , Rajan John
Published: October 2023

The objective of this study is to propose a method called the fuzzy technique for order preference by similarity to the ideal solution (F-TOPSIS) to select parameters of the wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) process. Consequently, the parameters principally influencing the outputs of the WEDM process were identified and examined using the F-TOPSIS framework where the inputs of three decision makers, representing their opinions are incorporated into the analysis. The idea of parametric selection in a WEDM process is multicriteria-based when the production of nitinol-60 smart memory alloy (SMA) is critically considered. Current approaches of TOPSIS and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) evaluations to select the WEDM parameters fail because of the constraints of linguistic evaluations, but the use of F-TOPSIS crosses over the restriction to choose the best parameters in a WEDM process for nitinol-60 SMA. In this work, the experimental results obtained from published research were utilised to validate the proposed method. The validation of the suitability of F-TOPSIS, aided by the published work on the WEDM process, analysed the surface integrity of nitinol-60 SMA. From the five outputs, the closeness coefficients of the best and worst are found to be 0.7567 and 0.2838, respectively. This research aids the process engineer in optimising the outputs in the WEDM process, to select the best output. Hence, the research showcased how the WEDM process could select outputs efficiently, thus aiding process engineers to maintain the process to optimise parametric resource allocations and guarantee utmost productivity.
Gauss-Newton inversion with node-based basis functions: Application to imaging of seabed minerals in an area with rough bathymetry
Authors: Mittet Rune , Avdeeva Anna
Published: October 2023

The Gauss-Newton method has good convergence properties when used for the solution of seismic and electromagnetic inversion problems. One main issue is the high numerical cost. The numerical cost can be reduced if the optimization domain can be decoupled from the simulation domain such that the number of optimization parameters is much smaller than the number of grid nodes required for accurate simulation results. Overparameterization can be avoided. The decoupling can be achieved in a rigorous manner with the use of node-based basis functions. We provide a generic derivation of the method that is easily specialized for seismic and electromagnetic problems. The transformations between the optimization domain and the simulation domain are most effective if both domains can be described by rectilinear grids. A variable seabed depth causes difficulty. We introduce a transform from the true bathymetry to a flat seabed that solves this problem. The method is validated by application to synthetic and real electromagnetic data sets. The real data are acquired at the slow spreading Mohns Ridge located east of Greenland and southwest of Svalbard. We provide a discussion on the interpretation of these data for an inverse scheme using the transverse isotropy with a vertical symmetry axis approximation. We offer some insights on how to interpret inversion results in the case of exploration for marine minerals. The interpretation differs from a hydrocarbon exploration setting owing to the presence of vertical conductors due to the formation water circulation and vertical resistors due to volcanic intrusions.
Importance of Low- and Moderate-Grade Adverse Events in Patients' Treatment Experience and Treatment Discontinuation: An Analysis of the E1912 Trial
Authors: O'Connell Nathaniel S. , Zhao Fengmin , Lee Ju-Whei , Ip Edward H. , Peipert John Devin , Graham Noah , Smith Mary Lou , Gareen Ilana F. , Carlos Ruth C. , Obeng-Gyasi Samilia , Sparano Joseph A. , Shanafelt Tait D. , Thomas Mary L. , Cella David , Wagner Lynne I. , Gray Robert
Published: October 2023

PURPOSE

Despite defined grades of 1 to 5 for adverse events (AEs) on the basis of Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events criteria, mild (G1) and moderate (G2) AEs are often not reported in phase III trials. This under-reporting may inhibit our ability to understand patient toxicity burden. We analyze the relationship between the grades of AEs experienced with patient side-effect bother and treatment discontinuation
.

METHODS

We analyzed a phase III Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-American College of Radiology Imaging Network trial with comprehensive AE data. The Likert response Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-GP5 item, “I am bothered by side effects of treatment” was used to define side-effect bother. Bayesian mixed models were used to assess the impact of G1 and G2 AE counts on patient side-effect bother and treatment discontinuation. AEs were further analyzed on the basis of symptomatology (symptomatic or asymptomatic). The results are given as odds ratios (ORs) and 95% credible interval (CrI).

RESULTS

Each additional G1 and G2 AEs experienced during a treatment cycle increased the odds of increased self-reported patient side-effect bother by 13% (95% CrI, 1.06 to 1.21) and 35% (95% CrI, 1.19 to 1.54), respectively. Furthermore, only AEs defined as symptomatic were associated with increased side-effect bother, with asymptomatic AEs showing no association regardless of grade. Count of G2 AEs increased the odds of treatment discontinuation by 59% (95% CrI, 1.32 to 1.95), with symptomatic G2 AEs showing a stronger association (OR, 1.75; 95% CrI, 1.28 to 2.39) relative to asymptomatic G2 AEs (OR, 1.45; 95% CrI, 1.12 to 1.89).

CONCLUSION

Low- and moderate-grade AEs are related to increased odds of increased patient side-effect bother and treatment discontinuation, with symptomatic AEs demonstrating greater magnitude of association than asymptomatic. Our findings suggest that limiting AE capture to grade 3+ misses important contributors to treatment side-effect bother and discontinuation.
Ethical Principles Do Not Support Mandatory Preanesthesia Pregnancy Screening Tests: A Narrative Review
Authors: Jackson Stephen , Hunter James , Van Norman Gail A.
Published: October 2023

Respect for patient autonomy is a pillar of medical ethics, manifested predominantly through informed consent. Mandatory (routine) nonconsented preoperative urine pregnancy testing does not adequately respect patient autonomy, is potentially coercive, and has the potential to cause harm medically, psychologically, socially, and financially. Inaccuracies in pregnancy testing can result in false-positive and false-negative results, especially in early pregnancy. There is substantial scientific evidence that anesthesia is not harmful to the fetus, raising the question of whether pregnancy testing provides substantial benefit to the patient. Not performing a preanesthesia pregnancy test has not been associated with significant medicolegal consequences. We review the ethical implications of mandatory preanesthesia pregnancy testing in light of these facts.
Universal Germline-Genetic Testing for Breast Cancer: Implementation in a Rural Practice and Impact on Shared Decision-Making
Authors: Shelton Charles , Ruiz Antonio , Shelton Lauren , Montgomery Hannah , Freas Karen , Ellsworth Rachel E. , Poll Sarah , Pineda-Alvarez Daniel , Heald Brandie , Esplin Edward D. , Nielsen Sarah M.
Published: October 2023

Background

Whereas the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) criteria restrict germline-genetic testing (GGT) to a subset of breast cancer (BC) patients, the American Society of Breast Surgeons recommends universal GGT. Although the yield of pathogenic germline variants (PGV) in unselected BC patients has been studied, the practicality and utility of incorporating universal GGT into routine cancer care in community and rural settings is understudied. This study reports real-world implementation of universal GGT for patients with breast cancer and genetics-informed, treatment decision-making in a rural, community practice with limited resources.

Methods

From 2019 to 2022, all patients with breast cancer at a small, rural hospital were offered GGT, using a genetics-extender model. Statistical analyses included Fisher’s exact test, t-tests, and calculation of odds ratios. Significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results

Of 210 patients with breast cancer who were offered GGT, 192 (91.4%) underwent testing with 104 (54.2%) in-criteria (IC) and 88 (45.8%) out-of-criteria (OOC) with NCCN guidelines. Pathogenic germline variants were identified in 25 patients (13.0%), with PGV frequencies of 15 of 104 (14.4%) in IC and ten of 88 (11.4%) in OOC patients (p = 0.495). GGT informed treatment for 129 of 185 (69.7%) patients.

Conclusions

Universal GGT was successfully implemented in a rural, community practice with > 90% uptake. Treatment was enhanced or de-escalated in those with and without clinically actionable PGVs, respectively. Universal GGT for patients with breast cancer is feasible within rural populations, enabling optimization of clinical care to patients’ genetic profile, and may reduce unnecessary healthcare, resource utilization.
Editorial
Authors: Shibao Fábio Ytoshi , Coelho Arnaldo Fernandes Matos , Weersma Laodicéia Amorim
Published: October 2023

Na jornada humana ao longo da história, os números comprovam a extensão da vida humana por meio do aprimoramento da ciência médica e da melhor alimentação e nutrição, devido ao avanço da ciência agrícola. Para sobreviver neste ambiente de ambiguidades, é importante aumentar a produção de alimentos com eficiência e segurança. Por um lado, a qualidade de vida proporciona conforto; por outro, gera incertezas sobre como alimentar uma população em crescimento ou como aumentar a renda e acelerar a urbanização. Para tanto, a palavra de ordem é sustentabilidade. [...]
Editorial
Authors: Gimenez Fernando Antonio Prado , Coelho Arnaldo Fernandes Matos , Weersma Laodicéia Amorim
Published: October 2023

EDITORIAL: EMPREENDEDORISMO, CIÊNCIA, INOVAÇÃO, TECNOLOGIA E DESENVOLVIMENTO SUSTENTÁVEL Desde que Schumpeter apresentou suas ideias seminais sobre empreendedorismo enquanto manifestação de novas combinações de recursos e forças, concretizando alterações na produção, a inovação tem sido considerada central a esse fenômeno. Assim, por meio da concepção Schumpeteriana do indivíduo empreendedor, tornaram-se clássicas as cinco possíveis formas de inovação presentes na ação empreendedora: (i) introdução de novos produtos; (ii) criação de novos métodos de produção; (iii) abertura de um mercado novo; (iv) identificação de novas fontes de suprimento; e (v) criação de novas organizações. [...]
Role of maternal serum c-reactive protein levels in early second trimester as a marker of preterm labour: A study protocol
Authors: Gudapati Sravya , Chaudhari Kamlesh
Published: October 2023

Preterm labour is a birth that occurs between 22 and 37 weeks after conception. The primary cause of infant death is preterm birth (PTD), which is linked to long-term neurodevelopmental and behavioural effects for preterm survivors. A maternal vascular disease pathway and an inflammation/infection pathway are two suggested pathways that have collected sufficient evidence. The identification of women who are more likely to develop PTD and the understanding of the underlying physiological mechanisms would be made possible by reliable biomarkers for these pathways.

Systemic maternal infections cause elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines, which then drive the creation of prostaglandins, which can cause cervical ripening and uterine contractions that result in preterm birth. Women with signs of preterm labour have been found to have high serum levels of proinflammatory which have been prospectively linked to preterm birth.

A non-specific biomarker of inflammation, C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase reactant in the innate immune response. The production of C-reactive protein, a serological marker that is readily identifiable, occurs largely in the hepatocytes in response to cytokine releases from the inflammatory site. Cytokines released, by an intrauterine infection go through the maternal bloodstream to the liver, where they activate the production of CRP. Forty-eight hours after stimulation the acute-phase response has reached its maximum and a meaningful measurement can be made from a blood sample. Although the exact cause of inflammation is unknown, modest and long-lasting elevations of CRP have been linked to a range of illnesses, including normal pregnancy. Elevated CRP levels in the peripheral circulation have been connected to the presence of intrauterine infection.

It has been investigated to diagnose subclinical infections using the maternal CRP concentration. The purpose of this study is to determine the link between maternal serum CRP and subsequent preterm birth in single pregnant women.
Heterogenous transmission and seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in two demographically diverse populations with low vaccination uptake in Kenya, March and June 2021
Authors: Munywoki Patrick K. , Bigogo Godfrey , Nasimiyu Carolyne , Ouma Alice , Aol George , Oduor Clifford O. , Rono Samuel , Auko Joshua , Agogo George O. , Njoroge Ruth , Oketch Dismas , Odhiambo Dennis , Odeyo Victor W. , Kikwai Gilbert , Onyango Clayton , Juma Bonventure , Hunsperger Elizabeth , Lidechi Shirley , Ochieng Caroline Apondi , Lo Terrence Q. , Munyua Peninah , Herman-Roloff Amy
Published: October 2023

Background: SARS-CoV-2 has extensively spread in cities and rural communities, and studies are needed to quantify exposure in the population. We report seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in two well-characterized populations in Kenya at two time points. These data inform the design and delivery of public health mitigation measures.

Methods: Leveraging on existing population based infectious disease surveillance (PBIDS) in two demographically diverse settings, a rural site in western Kenya in Asembo, Siaya County, and an urban informal settlement in Kibera, Nairobi County, we set up a longitudinal cohort of randomly selected households with serial sampling of all consenting household members in March and June 2021. Both sites included 1,794 and 1,638 participants in March and June 2021, respectively. Individual seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was expressed as a percentage of the seropositive among the individuals tested, accounting for household clustering and weighted by the PBIDS age and sex distribution.

Results: Overall weighted individual seroprevalence increased from 56.2% (95%CI: 52.1, 60.2%) in March 2021 to 63.9% (95%CI: 59.5, 68.0%) in June 2021 in Kibera. For Asembo, the seroprevalence almost doubled from 26.0% (95%CI: 22.4, 30.0%) in March 2021 to 48.7% (95%CI: 44.3, 53.2%) in July 2021. Seroprevalence was highly heterogeneous by age and geography in these populations—higher seroprevalence was observed in the urban informal settlement (compared to the rural setting), and children aged <10 years had the lowest seroprevalence in both sites. Only 1.2% and 1.6% of the study participants reported receipt of at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by the second round of serosurvey—none by the first round.

Conclusions: In these two populations, SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence increased rapidly in the first 16 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya. It is important to prioritize additional mitigation measures, such as vaccine distribution, in crowded and low socioeconomic settings.
La Habana de los ingenieros Conflicto. Progreso e Identidad
Authors: López Hernández Ignacio J.
Published: October 2023

Este catálogo presenta una recopilación de textos y fotografías que exploran la historia de los modelos defensivos de La Habana a través de la labor que los ingenieros desarrollaron en la ciudad y que contribuyó decididamente a definir una de esas grandes capitales americanas que pautaron cruciales procesos históricos arquitectónicos a escala global. El volumen está conformado por tres capítulos y un catálogo de documentación gráfica que formó parte de la exposición conmemorativa del cuarenta aniversario de la declaración como Patrimonio Cultural de la Humanidad por la UNESCO del centro histórico de la Ciudad de La Habana y su sistema de fortificaciones.
LA REVISIÓN COMO DIÁLOGO. UNA PIEZA CLAVE PARA EL CRECIMIENTO COLECTIVO EN LA COMUNICACIÓN CIENTÍFICA
Authors: Montiel-Espinosa Gisela
Published: October 2023

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ENSEÑANZA INTERDISCIPLINARIA MÚSICA-MATEMÁTICA: LA GUITARRA Y SU ROL PROTAGÓNICO EN EL DESARROLLO HISTÓRICO DE LA MÚSICA OCCIDENTAL
Authors: Espinoza Ramírez Lianggi , Vergara Gómez Andrea
Published: October 2023

El temperamento igual es la afinación estándar de instrumentos en Occidente y ha delineado nuestra actual manera de concebir la música. El propósito de esta investigación es explorar cómo los conocimientos puestos en uso y significados asociados al surgimiento histórico del temperamento igual en instrumentos antecesores a la guitarra pueden contribuir a un enfoque interdisciplinario para el aprendizaje de la matemática y la música. Para esto se realizó un análisis interpretativo del contenido del libro Armonía universal de Mersenne de 1637, y se estudió el proceso de génesis y desarrollo en el siglo XVI de los saberes presentes en este libro. Los resultados revelan que es posible repensar la enseñanza de algunos contenidos geométricos a nivel  escolar, como el teorema de Euclides y la progresión geométrica, a partir del problema de la división proporcional del mástil de la guitarra. Se revela, además, que la noción de autosimilitud permitiría generar propuestas didácticas interdisciplinarias, que propicien una vinculación transversal entre la Matemática y la Música.
REVISIÓN CURRICULAR DE LOS TEMAS DE ESTADÍSTICA EN EDUCACIÓN PRIMARIA
Authors: López Camilo , Gómez Pedro
Published: October 2023

En este artículo realizamos una revisión curricular de los temas que se incluyen en estadística en primaria en Colombia y en los 56 países que participaron en TIMSS 2015. Organizamos los temas con base en los conceptos y procedimientos, las representaciones y  la fenomenología relacionados con la estadística en educación primaria. Identificamos diferencias y similitudes entre los temas  considerados en Colombia y los temas que se abordan en los países participantes en TIMSS 2015. Encontramos que la estadística se incluye en los currículos de la mayoría de estos países. Principalmente, los temas se centran en las representaciones gráfica y tabular, en el concepto de media y en la fenomenología se hace referencia a la estadística para organizar la información. Estos resultados pueden generar discusiones de carácter curricular y motivar a realizar estudios similares en otros países.
Evaluating a specialist palliative care service in a community setting
Authors: Cushen-Brewster Noreen , Malloy Ella , Black Jane , Strudwick Ruth , Driscoll-Evans Paul , Zeppetella Giovambattista , Bengtson Kelvin
Published: October 2023

Background/Aims

In the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care System, a community organisation and a hospice have collaborated to develop an innovative specialist palliative care service in a community hospital. The aim of this service evaluation was to review the specialist palliative care service 2 years after implementation began across the integrated care system.

Methods

A multi-method approach was used to evaluate this service. Data were collected from pre-existing datasets on referrals, discharge and service use and described using descriptive statistics to assess how the service was used during the evaluation period (1 April 2019–31 March 2021). Qualitative data were collected via semi-structured interviews with 25 patients, carers, staff and other stakeholders. Interview transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

During the 2-year evaluation period, the service recorded 1800 referrals, 189 admissions to specialist beds and 19 712 telephone calls to the 24-hour advice line. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts identified four themes: impact of the specialist palliative care beds, implementation of changes to practice, communication and coordination, and challenges related to providing the service. Overall, patients and carers had very positive views of the quality of care they received. Staff also identified benefits, including access to training and improved morale. Challenges included the limited number of beds and difficulties balancing the care needs of palliative care patients with other patients in the inpatient ward.

Conclusions

The specialist palliative care service promoted collaborative working, leading to enhanced knowledge and skills for staff supporting patients with specialist palliative care needs. The service was well-used and patients and their carers were generally very satisfied with the care they received.
Aligning subjective and objective ‘truth’ in nuclear waste management: on the new role of emotions in contemporary repository siting policy
Authors: Lagerlöf Hannes , Pettersson Jane
Published: October 2023

To site repositories for spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste, nuclear waste management (NWM) actors need public support. In the past, NWM actors have tried to build public support by conveying what they believe are the ‘objective facts’ of repository technologies, hence countering public prejudices and fears on the subject. Thus, while the public has been represented as emotional by implementers, implementers have portrayed themselves as guided by mere unemotional reason, facts and ‘truth’. Faced with continued public opposition, however, implementers have now adopted a different approach that explicitly addresses public emotions. In this article, we explore contemporary siting policy as a case of ‘discursive projection’ of public emotions – that is, not as a ‘true’ account of public emotions but rather as indicative of implementers’ understanding of public emotions, of that which is rational, and that which is not. In the analysis, we understand policy as an ‘emotion regime’ that establishes which feelings are compatible – and which are not – with the ‘truth’ of repositories for spent nuclear fuel. Understanding the relation between emotions and reason from an emotional-sociological perspective, we show how the emotion regime in policy has been transformed from being a clear-cut case of the conventional approach to an at-first-glance radical understanding of the relation between rationality and emotion. The analysis shows which emotions are described as a threat to reason and which are described as aiding implementers’ reason and rationality, hence which emotions are idealised – and which are rejected.
Specter(s) of Care: A Symposium on Midwifery, Relationality, and Reproductive Justice To-Come
Authors: van der Waal Rodante
Published: October 2023

Abstract: Nearly 2.5 thousand years ago, Plato wrote a symposium about love. This symposium was attended by Socrates, the founder of “maieutic” philosophy, a name owing to the comparison of his profession to that of his mother, a maia , meaning midwife in ancient Greek. By now, the kind of relational continuity of care that midwifery could have represented in ancient times, is something that we have long lost, if we ever had it. In most medical institutions, relational care is but a specter haunting us: something that we long for but is refused to us on account of it being a practical and material impossibility. The symposium below, written 2.5 thousand years later, is an attempt to reconceive of care for fertility, abortion, pregnancy, and parenthood. Through a combination of hauntology, critical fabulation, and decolonial empirical methodology (Rhee 2021; Gordon 2007; Hartman 2019), a specter of care is staged in the figure of midwife Phaenarete, Socrates’ mother, who is engaged in dialogue with current day midwives and mothers. Following Derrida (2006), there is only one reason to “talk” to a specter, namely if it is for a justice to-come . This notion of the “to-come” is taken seriously as the horizon of reproductive justice, invoking a direct poetics of opacity, receptivity, and creolization (Glissant 2010; 2020a; 2020b) in order to imagine relational care that can ensure reproductive justice for all .
Voting Against Autocracy
Authors: Svolik Milan W.
Published: October 2023

abstract: When and how do voters punish politicians for subverting democracy? To investigate the role of the public in democratic backsliding, I develop a conceptual framework that differentiates among three mechanisms: vote switching, backlash, and disengagement. The first mechanism entails defection by voters from a candidate who undermines democracy to one who does not; the latter two mechanisms entail transitions between voting and abstention. I estimate the magnitude of each mechanism by combining evidence from a series of original survey experiments, traditional surveys, and a quasi-experiment afforded by the rerun of the 2019 Istanbul mayoral election, in which the governing party, akp, attempted to overturn the result of an election that it had lost. I find that although vote switching and backlash contributed to the akp's eventual defeat the most, each of the three mechanisms served as a democratic check in some subset of the Istanbul electorate. Persuasion, mobilization, and even demobilization are all viable tools for curbing the authoritarian tendencies of elected politicians.
Super-resolution algorithm for the characterization of sweat glands in fingerprint OCT images
Authors: Song Zhiyu , Lin Yongping , Xiong Liu , Li Zhifang
Published: October 2023

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a noninvasive optical imaging technique that can be used to produce three-dimensional images of fingerprints. However, the low quality and poor resolution of the regions of interest (ROIs) in OCT images make it challenging to segment small tissues accurately. To address this issue, a super-resolution (SR) network called ESRNet has been developed to enhance the quality of OCT images, facilitating their applications in research. Firstly, the performance of the SR images produced by ESRNet is evaluated by comparing it to those generated by five other SR methods. Specifically, the SR performance is evaluated using three upscale factors (2×, 3×, and 4×) to assess the quality of the enhanced images. Based on the results obtained from the three datasets, it is evident that ESRNet outperforms current advanced networks in terms of SR performance. Furthermore, the segmentation accuracy of sweat glands has been significantly improved by the SR images. The number of sweat glands in the top view increased from 102 to 117, further substantiating the performance of the ESRNet network. The spiral structure of sweat glands is clear to human eyes and has been verified by showing similar left–right-handed spiral numbers. Finally, a sweat gland recognition method for the SR 3D images is proposed.
Two-quantum magnetic resonance driven by a periodic RF pulse train
Authors: Tsygankov Eugene A. , Vaskovskaya Maria I. , Chuchelov Dmitry S. , Sabakar Kirill M. , Vassiliev Vitali V. , Zibrov Sergei A.
Published: October 2023

We theoretically investigate two-quantum magnetic resonance at the end sublevels of the ground state with a total angular momentum F
g
=1 in application to 87Rb atoms. In this work, the effect of the elliptically polarized light on the shift of the resonance frequency is studied. Two schemes are compared: when the RF field is harmonic and when a periodic RF pulse train is used. We demonstrate that the latter approach provides a significantly smaller shift, which can be helpful in reducing the heading error in optically pumped magnetometers.
Single-mode interband cascade laser based on V-coupled cavity with 210 nm wavelength tuning range near 3 µm
Authors: Gong Jingli , Wang Zhanyi , He Jian-Jun , Li Lu , Yang Rui Q. , Gupta James A.
Published: October 2023

Interband cascade lasers (ICLs) are efficient and compact mid-infrared (3-5 µm) light sources with many applications. By enhancing the coupling coefficient and using a type-I ICL wafer, single-mode ICLs were demonstrated based on V-coupled cavity with significantly extended tuning range and with a side mode suppression ratio (SMSR) exceeding 35 dB in continuous wave operation near 3 µm. A V-coupled cavity ICL exhibited a wavelength tuning up to 67 nm at a fixed temperature, and the total tuning range exceeds 210 nm when the heat sink temperature is adjusted from 80 to 180 K. The realization of single-mode in such a wide temperature range with a tuning range exceeding 210 nm verified the advantage of V-coupled cavity ICLs for effective detection of multiple gas species. This is very different from the conventional distributed feedback (DFB) laser where the single-mode operation is restricted to a narrow temperature range, in which the match between the gain peak and the DFB grating period determined wavelength is required. Another V-coupled cavity ICL is tuned over 120 nm from 2997.56 nm to 3117.50 nm with the heat-sink temperature varied from 210 K to 240 K, over 100 K higher than the previously reported maximum operating temperature for V-coupled cavity ICLs.
Simultaneously enhancing the resolution and signal-to-background ratio in STED optical nanoscopy via differential depletion
Authors: Jeong Sejoo , Kim Jaeyong , Koh Dongbin , Lee Jong-Chan
Published: October 2023

STED (stimulated emission depletion) far-field optical nanoscopy achieves resolution beyond the diffraction limit by depleting fluorescence at the periphery of excitation with a donut-shaped depletion laser. What is traded off with the superior resolution of STED nanoscopy is the unwanted elevation of structured background noise which hampers the quality of STED images. Here, we alleviate the background noise problem by adopting the differential stimulated emission depletion (diffSTED) approach. In diffSTED nanoscopy, signals obtained with different depletion strengths are compared and properly subtracted to remove two major background noise sources in STED nanoscopy. We show via simulations that by using diffSTED nanoscopy, background noise is significantly decreased, and the image contrast is improved. In addition, we show by simulation and analytical calculation that diffSTED improves resolution simultaneously. We assess the effect of different parameters, such as the STED beam intensity, depletion intensity ratio of two STED beams, and the subtraction factor, on the signal-to-background ratio (SBR) and the resolution of diffSTED nanoscopy. We introduce a logical algorithm to determine the optimal subtraction factor and the depletion intensity ratio. DiffSTED nanoscopy is a versatile technique that can be readily applied to any STED system without requiring any hardware modifications. We predict the wide applicability of diffSTED for its enhanced resolution, improved SBR, and easiness of implementation.
Programmable MZI based on a silicon photonic MEMS-tunable delay line
Authors: Hong Myung S. , Lim Min G. , Kim Dong U. , Her Man J. , Park Young J. , Choi Dong J. , Jeong Youngjae , Park Jongwoo , Han Seungjun , Chun Young-Hoon , Eom Seok Chan , Oh Sangyeol , Yu Kyoungsik , Han Sangyoon
Published: October 2023

We report on a scalable and programmable integrated Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) with a tunable free spectral range (FSR) and extinction ratio (ER). For the tunable path of the MZI, we designed and utilized a tunable delay line having high flexibility based on silicon photonic microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). By utilizing MEMS, the length of the delay line can be geometrically modified. In this way, there is no optical loss penalty other than the waveguide propagation loss as the number of tunable steps increases. Therefore, our device is more scalable in terms of optical loss than the previous approaches based on cascaded MZIs. In addition, the tuning energy required to reconfigure the length is only 8.46 pJ.
Polarization-multiplexed metasurface enabled tri-functional imaging
Authors: Ge Suyang , Li Xingyi , Liu Zilei , Zhao Jiaqi , Wang Wanjun , Li Siqi , Zhang Wenfu
Published: October 2023

Diffraction-limited focusing imaging, edge-enhanced imaging, and long depth of focus imaging offer crucial technical capabilities for applications such as biological microscopy and surface topography detection. To conveniently and quickly realize the microscopy imaging of different functions, the multifunctional integrated system of microscopy imaging has become an increasingly important research direction. However, conventional microscopes necessitate bulky optical components to switch between these functionalities, suffering from the system’s complexity and unstability. Hence, solving the problem of integrating multiple functions within an optical system is a pressing need. In this work, we present an approach using a polarization-multiplexed tri-functional metasurface, capable of realizing the aforementioned imaging functions simply by changing the polarization state of the input and output light, enhancing the system structure’s compactness and flexibility. This work offers a new avenue for multifunctional imaging, with potential applications in biomedicine and microscopy imaging.
Origin of thermally activated Er3+ emission in GeGaSe films and waveguides
Authors: Wang Wei , Wei Tengxiu , Zhang Zheng , Yang Zhen , Liu Ruixue , Yan Kunlun , Cai Dong , Yang Xinyu , Xu Peipeng , Wang Xunsi , Wang Rongping
Published: October 2023

The origin of the dead or active emission from Er in various Er-doped films has been unclear. Here we took Er-doped GeGaSe as examples and investigated the correlation between the intensity of the photoluminescence (PL) spectra, the content of the activated Er ions, and the intensity of the absorption spectra in the waveguides. We found the linear correlation between the content of Er ions, photoluminescence, and absorption intensity. This provides clear evidence that thermal annealing can promote the conversion of Er metals into Er ions, and such a conversion is essential for practical applications, in which the number of the activated Er ions rather than the nominal Er contents in the materials plays an important role in achieving emission and thus effective optical amplification and lasing.
PDMS-assisted GaN optical hardness sensors
Authors: Zhu Ling , He ZhiLiang , Zhan Jianhao , Chen Jian , Li Kwai Hei
Published: October 2023

In this Letter, an optical hardness sensor is fabricated based on a GaN-based device combined with finger-shaped PDMS. The chip-scale 1 mm × 1 mm GaN-based device is monolithically integrated with a light emitter and receiver responsible for light emission and photodetection, respectively. The micropatterned PDMS layer can effectively convert the hardness information of the measured object into an optical change detected by the receiver. Verified by experiment measurements, the sensor exhibits a linear response in a hardness range of 1–84 HA, a sensitivity of 0.24 µA/HA, a fast response time of 1.2 ms, and a high degree of repeatability and stability. The optical sensor has the characteristics of tiny size, high compactness, inexpensive fabrication cost, wide measurement range, and high stability, making it suitable for hardness measurement in practical applications.
Enhanced-resolution Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensing for extended objects
Authors: Wu Xiaosong , Huang Linhai , Gu Naiting
Published: October 2023

Adaptive optics systems for large-aperture solar telescopes, especially multiconjugate adaptive optics systems, suffer from a fundamental trade-off between wavefront sampling rate and sub-aperture resolution. We introduce an enhanced-resolution Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensing method that decouples sub-aperture resolution from the desired wavefront sampling rate. We experimentally verified the validity of this method. Results show that by synthesizing multiple low-spatial samplings, this method is capable to sense higher-frequency aberrations beyond any low-spatial sampling involved in the synthesis, and it allows higher sub-aperture resolution and higher operating bandwidths, which can better fulfill the needs of solar adaptive optics.
Space–time wave packets with reduced divergence and tunable group velocity generated in free space after multi-mode fiber propagation
Authors: Zou Kaiheng , Pang Kai , Song Hao , Karpov Maxim , Su Xinzhou , Zhang Runzhou , Song Haoqian , Zhou Huibin , Kippenberg Tobias J. , Tur Moshe , Willner Alan E.
Published: October 2023

Previously, space–time wave packets (STWPs) have been generated in free space with reduced diffraction and a tunable group velocity by combining multiple frequency comb lines each carrying a single Bessel mode with a unique wave number. It might be potentially desirable to propagate the STWP through fiber for reconfigurable positioning. However, fiber mode coupling might degrade the output STWP and distort its propagation characteristics. In this Letter, we experimentally demonstrate STWP generation and propagation over 1-m graded-index multi-mode fiber. Fiber mode coupling is mitigated by pre-distortion according to the inverse matrix of the fiber mode coupling matrix. Measurement of the STWP at the fiber output shows that its group velocity can vary from 1.0042c to 0.9967c by tuning the wave number of the Bessel mode on each frequency. The measured time-averaged intensity profiles show that the beam radius remains similar after 150-mm free-space propagation after exiting the fiber.
Super-long-range distributed vibration sensor based on the polarimetric forward-transmission of light
Authors: Chen George Y. , Rao Xing , Liu Kuan , Wang Yuhang , Broderick Neil G. R. , Brambilla Gilberto , Wang Yiping
Published: October 2023

Undersea earthquake-triggered giant tsunamis pose significant threats to coastal areas, spanning thousands of kilometers and affecting populations, ecosystems, and infrastructure. To mitigate their impact, monitoring seismic activity in underwater environments is crucial. In this study, we propose a new, to the best of our knowledge, approach for monitoring vibrations in submarine optical cables. By detecting vibration-induced polarization rotation, our dual-wavelength fiber-optic sensing system enables precise measurement of acoustic/vibration amplitude, frequency, and position. As a proof of concept, a double-ended forward-transmission distributed fiber-optic vibration sensor was demonstrated with a single vibration source with a sensitivity of 3.4 mrad/µε at 100 Hz (20 m fiber on PZT), limit of detection of 1.7 pε/Hz1/2 at 100 Hz, sensing range of 121.5 km without an optical amplifier, spatial resolution of 5 m, and position error as small as 34 m. The vibration frequency range tested is from 0.01 to 100 Hz. The sensing system has several advantages, including elegant setup, noise mitigation, and super-long sensing distance.
Tracking bacteria at high density with FAST, the Feature-Assisted Segmenter/Tracker
Authors: Meacock Oliver J. , Durham William M.
Published: October 2023

Most bacteria live attached to surfaces in densely-packed communities. While new experimental and imaging techniques are beginning to provide a window on the complex processes that play out in these communities, resolving the behaviour of individual cells through time and space remains a major challenge. Although a number of different software solutions have been developed to track microorganisms, these typically require users either to tune a large number of parameters or to groundtruth a large volume of imaging data to train a deep learning model—both manual processes which can be very time consuming for novel experiments. To overcome these limitations, we have developed FAST, the Feature-Assisted Segmenter/Tracker, which uses unsupervised machine learning to optimise tracking while maintaining ease of use. Our approach, rooted in information theory, largely eliminates the need for users to iteratively adjust parameters manually and make qualitative assessments of the resulting cell trajectories. Instead, FAST measures multiple distinguishing ‘features’ for each cell and then autonomously quantifies the amount of unique information each feature provides. We then use these measurements to determine how data from different features should be combined to minimize tracking errors. Comparing our algorithm with a naïve approach that uses cell position alone revealed that FAST produced 4 to 10 fold fewer tracking errors. The modular design of FAST combines our novel tracking method with tools for segmentation, extensive data visualisation, lineage assignment, and manual track correction. It is also highly extensible, allowing users to extract custom information from images and seamlessly integrate it into downstream analyses. FAST therefore enables high-throughput, data-rich analyses with minimal user input. It has been released for use either in Matlab or as a compiled stand-alone application, and is available at https://bit.ly/3vovDHn, along with extensive tutorials and detailed documentation.
The selfish yeast plasmid exploits a SWI/SNF-type chromatin remodeling complex for hitchhiking on chromosomes and ensuring high-fidelity propagation
Authors: Ma Chien-Hui , Kumar Deepanshu , Jayaram Makkuni , Ghosh Santanu K. , Iyer Vishwanath R.
Published: October 2023

Extra-chromosomal selfish DNA elements can evade the risk of being lost at every generation by behaving as chromosome appendages, thereby ensuring high fidelity segregation and stable persistence in host cell populations. The yeast 2-micron plasmid and episomes of the mammalian gammaherpes and papilloma viruses that tether to chromosomes and segregate by hitchhiking on them exemplify this strategy. We document for the first time the utilization of a SWI/SNF-type chromatin remodeling complex as a conduit for chromosome association by a selfish element. One principal mechanism for chromosome tethering by the 2-micron plasmid is the bridging interaction of the plasmid partitioning proteins (Rep1 and Rep2) with the yeast RSC2 complex and the plasmid partitioning locusSTB. We substantiate this model by multiple lines of evidence derived from genomics, cell biology and interaction analyses. We describe a Rep-STBbypass system in which a plasmid engineered to non-covalently associate with the RSC complex mimics segregation by chromosome hitchhiking. Given the ubiquitous prevalence of SWI/SNF family chromatin remodeling complexes among eukaryotes, it is likely that the 2-micron plasmid paradigm or analogous ones will be encountered among other eukaryotic selfish elements.
Therapeutic and antioxidant potential of bionanofactory Ochrobactrum sp.-mediated magnetite and zerovalent iron nanoparticles against acute experimental toxoplasmosis
Authors: Hezema Nehal Nassef , Eltarahony Marwa Moustafa , Abdel Salam Sara Ahmed
Published: October 2023

The control of toxoplasmosis, a rampant one health disease, has been focussed on conventional antitoxoplasmic agents with their adverse outcomes, including serious side effects, treatment failure and emergence of drug resistant strains. Nanobiotechnology may provide a strong impetus for versatile alternative therapies against toxoplasmosis. Bionanofactory Ochrobactrum sp. strain CNE2 was recruited for the biosynthesis of functionalized magnetite iron nanoparticles (MNPs) and nanozerovalent iron (nZVI) under aerobic and anaerobic conditions and their therapeutic efficacy was evaluated against acute toxoplasmosis in murine model. The formation of self-functionalized spherical nanoparticles varied in size, identity and surface properties were substantiated. Mice were orally administered 20 mg/kg of each formulation on the initial day of infection and continued for seven consecutive days post infection (PI). Parasitological, ultrastructural, immunological, and biochemical studies were performed for assessment of therapeutic activity of biogenic iron nanoparticles (INPs). Parasitologically, MNPs showed the highest antitoxoplasmic efficacy in terms of 96.82% and 91.87% reduction in mean tachyzoite count in peritoneal fluid and liver impression smears, respectively. Lesser percentage reductions were recorded in nZVI-treated infected subgroup (75.44% and 69.04%). In addition, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination revealed remarkable reduction in size and extensive damage to the surface of MNPs-treated tachyzoites. MNPs-treated infected mice revealed a statistically significant increase in the serum levels of both interferon gamma (IFN-γ) to 346.2 ± 4.6 pg/ml and reduced glutathione (GSH) to 8.83 ± 0.30 mg/dl that subsequently exerted malondialdehyde (MDA) quenching action. MNPs showed a superior promising antitoxoplasmic activity with respect to both spiramycin (SPI) and nZVI. To best of our knowledge, this is the first study of a bio-safe oral iron nanotherapeutic agent fabricated via an eco-friendly approach that offers promising potential against acute experimental toxoplasmosis.