bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
GP’s perspectives on laboratory test use for monitoring long-term conditions: an audit of current testing practice
Authors: Elwenspoek Martha M. C. , Mann Ed , Alsop Katharine , Clark Hannah , Patel Rita , Watson Jessica C. , Whiting Penny
Published: December 2020

Background

We have shown previously that current recommendations in UK guidelines for monitoring long-term conditions are largely based on expert opinion. Due to a lack of robust evidence on optimal monitoring strategies and testing intervals, the guidelines are unclear and incomplete. This uncertainty may underly variation in testing that has been observed across the UK between GP practices and regions.

Methods

Our objective was to audit current testing practices of GPs in the UK; in particular, perspectives on laboratory tests for monitoring long-term conditions, the workload, and how confident GPs are in ordering and interpreting these tests. We designed an online survey consisting of multiple-choice and open-ended questions that was promoted on social media and in newsletters targeting GPs practicing in UK. The survey was live between October–November 2019. The results were analysed using a mixed-methods approach.

Results

The survey was completed by 550 GPs, of whom 69% had more than 10 years of experience. The majority spent more than 30 min per day on testing (78%), but only half of the respondents felt confident in dealing with abnormal results (53%). There was a high level of disagreement for whether liver function tests and full blood counts should be done ‘routinely’, ‘sometimes’, or ‘never’ in patients with a certain long-term condition.

The free text comments revealed three common themes: (1) pressures that promote over-testing, i.e. guidelines or protocols, workload from secondary care, fear of missing something, patient expectations; (2) negative consequences of over-testing, i.e. increased workload and patient harm; and (3) uncertainties due to lack of evidence and unclear guidelines.

Conclusion

These results confirm the variation that has been observed in test ordering data. The results also show that most GPs spent a significant part of their day ordering and interpreting monitoring tests. The lack of confidence in knowing how to act on abnormal test results underlines the urgent need for robust evidence on optimal testing and the development of clear and unambiguous testing recommendations. Uncertainties surrounding optimal testing has resulted in an over-use of tests, which leads to a waste of resources, increased GP workload and potential patient harm.
Severe hypercalcemia and a pelvic brown tumor in an adolescent with primary hyperparathyroidism: a case report
Authors: Legault O. , Inman M. , Moolman N. , Wiebe S. , Poulin A. , Nour M. A.
Published: December 2020

Background

Primary hyperparathyroidism may present in a myriad of manners, varying from an incidental asymptomatic biochemical finding to gastrointestinal, psychiatric, renal, and bone manifestations. While hyperparathyroidism remains a rare diagnosis in the pediatric population, the initial approach to diagnosis and management of hypercalcemia in children is imperative for the general pediatrician. Herein, we describe an adolescent who presented with a lytic bone lesion and severe, symptomatic hypercalcemia due to primary hyperparathyroidism.

Case presentation

A 14-year-old male presented with vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, and lethargy. He had an elevated total corrected calcium of 4.3 mmol/L. He was found to have a large pelvic lytic tumor consistent with a brown tumor due to primary hyperparathyroidism. He received pharmacologic therapy for stabilization of his hypercalcemia, including intravenous saline, intravenous bisphosphonates, and calcitonin. He subsequently received definitive therapy via parathyroidectomy and his post-operative course was complicated by hungry bone syndrome. Long-term follow-up has found full resolution of the lytic lesion and restored calcium homeostasis.

Conclusions

We present this case to highlight the possible presentations of hypercalcemia and hyperparathyroidism that are essential for a general pediatrician to recognize to ensure prompt diagnosis and management. Evaluation for hypercalcemia should be considered in patients with suggestive symptoms and physical exam findings. To our knowledge, this patient represents the first reported pediatric case of a pelvic brown tumor in an adolescent. While the multi-systemic complications of hyperparathyroidism may be quite severe, swift and appropriate management may mitigate these clinical outcomes.
Instrumented Posterolateral fusion versus instrumented Interbody fusion for degenerative lumbar diseases in uremic patients under hemodialysis
Authors: Ho Chia-Ning , Liao Jen-Chung , Chen Wen-Jer
Published: December 2020

Background

Advances in hemodialysis have facilitated longer lifespan and better quality of life for patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). Symptomatic degenerative lumbar diseases (DLD) becomes more common in patients with ESRD. Posterior instrumented fusion remains popular for spinal stenosis combining instability. Only a few sporadic studies mentioned about surgical outcomes in patients with ESRD underwent spine surgeries, but no one discussed about which fusion method was optimal for this kind of patients. In this study, we compared the differences between lumbar posterolateral fusion (PLF) and lumbar interbody fusion (IBF) in uremic patients underwent instrumented lumbar surgeries.

Methods

Between January 2005 and December 2017, ESRD patients under maintenance hemodialysis underwent posterior instrumented fusion for DLD were reviewed. A PLF group and an IBF group were identified. The demographic data was collected using their medical records. Clinical outcomes were evaluated by Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the visual analogue scale (VAS); radiographic results were assessed using final fusion rates. Any surgical or implant-related complication was documented.

Results

A total of 34 patients (22 women and 12 men, mean age of 65.4 years) in PLF group and 45 patients (26 women and 19 men, mean age of 65.1 years) in IBF group were enrolled. Both groups had similar surgical levels. The operation time was longer (200.9 vs 178.3 min, p = 0.029) and the amount of blood loss was higher (780.0 vs 428.4 ml, p = 0.001) in the IBF group. The radiographic fusion rate was better in the PLF group but without significant difference (65.2% vs 58.8%, p = 0.356). Seven in the PLF group and ten in the IBF group developed surgical complications (20.5% vs. 22.2%, p = 0.788); three patients in the PLF group (8.8%) and five patients in the IBF group (11.1%) received revision surgeries because of implant-related or wound complications. Comparing to preoperative ODI and VAS, postoperative ODI and VAS obtained significant improvement in both groups.

Conclusions

Successful fusion rates and clinical improvement (VAS, ODI) were similar in IBF and PLF group. Uremic patients underwent IBF for DLD had longer length of operation and higher operative blood loss than underwent PLF.
Comparison of oral glucose tolerance test and HbA1c in detection of disorders of glucose metabolism in patients with acute stroke
Authors: Matz Karl , Tuomilehto Jaakko , Teuschl Yvonne , Dachenhausen Alexandra , Brainin Michael
Published: December 2020

Background

Diabetes is an increasingly important risk factor for ischemic stroke and worsens stroke prognosis. Yet a large proportion of stroke patients who are eventually diabetic are undiagnosed. Therefore, it is important to have sensitive assessment of unrecognized hyperglycaemia in stroke patients.

Design

Secondary outcome analysis of a randomized controlled trial focussing on parameters of glucose metabolism and detection of diabetes and prediabetes in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).

Methods

A total of 130 consecutively admitted patients with AIS without previously known type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were screened for diabetes or prediabetes as part of secondary outcome analysis of a randomized controlled trial that tested lifestyle intervention to prevent post-stroke cognitive decline. Patients had the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) measurements in the second week after stroke onset and after 1 year. The detection rates of diabetes and prediabetes based on the OGTT or HbA1c values were compared.

Results

By any of the applied tests at the second week after stroke onset 62 of 130 patients (48%) had prediabetes or T2DM. Seventy-five patients had results from both tests available, the OGTT and HbA1c; according to the OGTT 40 (53.3%) patients had normal glucose metabolism, 33 (44%) had prediabetes, two (2.7%) T2DM. In 50 (66.7%) patients the HbA1c results were normal, 24 (32%) in the prediabetic and one (1.3%) in the diabetic range. The detection rate for disorders of glucose metabolism was 10% higher (absolute difference; relative difference 29%) with the OGTT compared with HbA1c. After 1 year the detection rate for prediabetes or T2DM was 7% higher with the OGTT (26% relative difference).

The study intervention led to a more favourable evolution of glycemic status after 1 year.

Conclusion

The OGTT is a more sensitive screening tool than HbA1c for the detection of previously unrecognized glycemic disorders in patients with acute stroke with an at least a 25% relative difference in detection rate. Therefore, an OGTT should be performed in all patients with stroke with no history of diabetes.

Trial registrationhttp://clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01109836.
Diabetes and Covid-19 among hospitalized patients in Saudi Arabia: a single-centre retrospective study
Authors: Alguwaihes Abdullah M. , Al-Sofiani Mohammed E. , Megdad Maram , Albader Sakhar S. , Alsari Mohammad H. , Alelayan Ali , Alzahrani Saad H. , Sabico Shaun , Al-Daghri Nasser M. , Jammah Anwar A.
Published: December 2020

Background

Information on the clinical characteristics and outcomes of hospitalized Covid-19 patients with or without diabetes mellitus (DM) is limited in the Arab region. This study aims to fill this gap.

Methods

In this single-center retrospective study, medical records of hospitalized adults with confirmed Covid-19 [RT-PCR positive for SARS-CoV2] at King Saud University Medical City (KSUMC)-King Khaled University Hospital (KKUH), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from May to July 2020 were analyzed. Clinical, radiological and serological information, as well as outcomes were recorded and analyzed.

Results

A total of 439 patients were included (median age 55 years; 68.3% men). The most prevalent comorbidities were vitamin D deficiency (74.7%), DM (68.3%), hypertension (42.6%) and obesity (42.2%). During hospitalization, 77 out of the 439 patients (17.5%) died. DM patients have a significantly higher death rate (20.5% versus 12.3%; p = 0.04) and lower survival time (p = 0.016) than non-DM. Multivariate cox proportional hazards regression model revealed that age [Hazards ratio, HR 3.0 (95% confidence interval, CI 1.7–5.3); p < 0.001], congestive heart failure [adjusted HR 3.5 (CI 1.4–8.3); p = 0.006], smoking [adjusted HR 5.8 (CI 2.0–17.2); p < 0.001], β-blocker use [adjusted HR 1.7 (CI 1.0–2.9); p = 0.04], bilateral lung infiltrates [adjusted HR 1.9 (CI 1.1–3.3); p = 0.02], creatinine > 90 µmol/l [adjusted HR 2.1 (CI 1.3–3.5); p = 0.004] and 25(OH)D < 12.5 nmol/l [adjusted HR 7.0 (CI 1.7–28.2); p = 0.007] were significant predictors of mortality among hospitalized Covid-19 patients. Random blood glucose ≥ 11.1 mmol/l was significantly associated with intensive care admission [adjusted HR 1.5 (CI 1.0–2.2); p = 0.04], as well as smoking, β-blocker use, neutrophil > 7.5, creatinine > 90 µmol/l and alanine aminotransferase > 65U/l.

Conclusion

The prevalence of DM is high among hospitalized Covid-19 patients in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. While DM patients have a higher mortality rate than their non-DM counterparts, other factors such as old age, congestive heart failure, smoking, β-blocker use, presence of bilateral lung infiltrates, elevated creatinine and severe vitamin D deficiency, appear to be more significant predictors of fatal outcome. Patients with acute metabolic dysfunctions, including hyperglycemia on admission are more likely to receive intensive care.
Characterization of novel neutralizing mouse monoclonal antibody JM1-24-3 developed against MUC18 in metastatic melanoma
Authors: Feng Runhua , Wang Yuling , Ramachandran Vijaya , Ma Qinhong , May Matthew M. , Li Ming , Zhou Joe X. , Xu Xiang , Xu Kejing , Fang Shenying , Xia Weiya , Sui Dawen , Liu Huey , Gao Xiaolian , Prieto Victor , Blacklow Stephen C. , Lu Mason , Lee Jeffrey E.
Published: December 2020

Background

MUC18 is a glycoprotein highly expressed on the surface of melanoma and other cancers which promotes tumor progression and metastasis. However, its mechanism of action and suitability as a therapeutic target are unknown.

Methods

A monoclonal antibody (mAb) (JM1-24-3) was generated from metastatic melanoma tumor live cell immunization, and high-throughput screening identified MUC18 as the target.

Results

Analysis of molecular interactions between MUC18 and JM1-24-3 revealed that the downstream signaling events depended on binding of the mAb to a conformational epitope on the extracellular domain of MUC18. JM1-24-3 inhibited melanoma cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro and reduced tumor growth and metastasis in vivo.

Conclusion

These results confirm that MUC18 is mechanistically important in melanoma growth and metastasis, suggest that the MUC18 epitope identified is a promising therapeutic target, and that the JM1-24-3 mAb may serve as the basis for a potential therapeutic agent.
Teaching professionalism in medical residency programs: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Ghaffarifar Saeideh , Asghari-Khatooni Azam , Akbarzadeh Amirhossein , Pourabbas Ahmad , Farshad Mehran Seif , Masoomi Rasoul , Akbarzadeh Fariborz
Published: December 2020

Background

Professionalism is a core competency of medical residents in residency programs. Unprofessional behavior has a negative influence on patient safety, quality of care, and interpersonal relationships. The objective of this scoping review is to map the range of teaching methods of professionalism in medical residency programs (in all specialties and in any setting, whether in secondary, primary, or community care settings). For doing so, all articles which are written in English in any country, regardless of their research design and regardless of the residents’ gender, year of study, and ethnic group will be reviewed.

Methods

This proposed scoping review will be directed in agreement with the methodology of the Joanna Briggs Institute for scoping reviews. The six steps of Arksey and O’Malley methodological framework for conducting scoping reviews, updated by Levac et al. (Implement. Sci. 5(1): 69, 2010) will be followed. The findings from this study will be merged with those of the previous Best Evidence Medical Education (BEME) systematic review. All published and unpublished studies from 1980 until the end of 2019 will be reviewed, and the previous BEME review will be updated by the findings of the articles from the beginning of 2010 until the end of 2019. All research designs and all credible evidence will be included in this review.

Conclusions

Conducting this scoping review will map the teaching methods of professionalism and will provide an inclusive evidence base to help the medical teachers in the choosing for proper teaching methods for use in their teaching practice.

Systematic review registration

Not registered.
Models of care for frail older persons who present to the emergency department: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Huang Ya-Ling , McGonagle Megan , Shaw Rebecca , Eastham Julie , Alsaba Nemat , Crilly Julia
Published: December 2020

Background

People aged ≥ 65 years comprise around 1 in 5 emergency department (ED) presentations. Many of these presentations occur due to complications associated with chronic diseases and frailty. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of available research regarding models of care for frail older people presenting to the ED.

Methods

The Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review framework will be used to guide this review. Literature searches will be conducted in the following electronic databases (from January 2009 onwards): CINAHL via EBSCOhost, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, SocINDEX. Grey literature will be identified through searching Google Scholar. This review will consider primary research studies (including observational and interventional studies) published in English on models of care for frail older people (aged ≥ 65) presenting to the ED. Two researchers will independently screen all citations, full-text articles, and abstract data. Potential disagreements will be resolved through discussion with a third researcher. Data extracted from included studies will include the following: author(s), year of publication, country, research design and aim, time frame of the study, study population and sample size, data collection methods, definition of frailty, model of care, and key findings that pertain to the ability to inform this review. The strength of the body of evidence will be assessed using the National Health and Medical Research Council level of evidence hierarchy body of evidence matrix. Data will be presented in a tabular format and accompanied by a narrative that describes the characteristics of the body of literature.

Discussion

Despite the increased number of ED presentations for frail older people, there has been no synthesis of the sources of evidence of model of care for frail older people in the setting of emergency care. The results of this scoping review will provide an overview of different models of care and help inform future research in the development of models of care for frail older persons, tailored to the healthcare system in the emergency context.

Systematic review registration

This scoping review has been registered in the Open Science Framework (osf.io/h2t94).
An efficient attribute-based hierarchical data access control scheme in cloud computing
Authors: He Heng , Zheng Liang-han , Li Peng , Deng Li , Huang Li , Chen Xiang
Published: December 2020

Security issues in cloud computing have become a hot topic in academia and industry, and CP-ABE is an effective solution for managing and protecting data. When data is shared in cloud computing, they usually have multiple access structures that have hierarchical relationships. However, existing CP-ABE algorithms do not consider such relationships and just require data owners to generate multiple ciphertexts to meet the hierarchical access requirement, which would incur substantial computation overheads. To achieve fine-grained access control of multiple hierarchical files effectively, first we propose an efficient hierarchical CP-ABE algorithm whose access structure is linear secret sharing scheme. Moreover, we construct an attribute-based hierarchical access control scheme, namely AHAC. In our scheme, when a data visitor’s attributes match a part of the access control structure, he can decrypt the data that associate with this part. The experiments show that AHAC has good security and high performance. Furthermore, when the quantity of encrypted data files increases, the superiority of AHAC will be more significant.
Quality control and evaluation of Inonotus obliquus using HPLC method with novel marker compounds
Authors: Kim Jin Hyeok , Park Seol Kyu , Cho Chong Woon , Le Ba Vinh , Kim Young Ho , Bao Haiying , Kim Kyung Tae , Kang Jong Seong
Published: December 2020

Current quality control ofInonotus obliquusrequires chromogen complex content limit of 10% in accordance with the State Pharmacopoeia of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. However, this causes ambiguous results, impeding precise quality control. To improve ambiguous quality control criteria, this study developed a new HPLC method using two novel marker compounds (inotodiol and 3β-hydroxylanosta-8,24-dien-21-al) to control the quality control ofI. obliquus. The HPLC analysis was carried out in a C18 column with an isocratic elution of 95% acetonitrile at 210 nm. The developed method validated in terms of linearity, precision, accuracy, and recovery. The content criteria were established by the linear regression method and relative standard deviation method. As the results of the quantitative monitoring, 1.165 mg/g of inotodiol and 1.717 mg/g of 3β-hydroxylanosta-8,24-dien-21-al, calculated by the relative standard deviation method, were suggested new quality criteria. A new HPLC method was developed to improve current quality control ofI. obliquusand new lower content criteria were proposed as a result of quantitative monitoring.

Graphical abstract
Developing a diagnostic method for latent tuberculosis infection using circulating miRNA
Authors: Hashimoto Shoji , Zhao Hong , Hayakawa Michiyo , Nakajima Koichi , Taguchi Y-h , Murakami Yoshiki
Published: December 2020

Background

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is known to cause latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in 25–50% of the cases, of whom 10–20% develop active tuberculosis (TB). Notably, no marker currently exists for judging the therapeutic effect of TB; it is currently judged by chest X-ray and clinical symptoms. We attempted to establish a marker for distinguishing LTBI from active TB and to identify the probability of recurrence after TB treatment, using information on circulating miRNA expression.

Methods

In total, 32 patients were enrolled in this study: 16 with an onset or recurrence of active TB, and 16 with LTBI showing positive interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA) test and chest X-ray. Total RNA from serum in an exosome-rich fraction was first extracted, followed by miRNA expression analysis using a next-generation sequencer, then, this data were analyzed using miRDeep2.

Results

Using the expression information of eight miRNAs, LTBI and TB could be diagnosed with an accuracy of 71.8% (odds ratio: 6.16, p value = 3.20e-02).

Conclusions

A novel method for efficiently differentiating between LTBI and active TB was established. This method appears to be promising for evaluating the therapeutic effect of TB, as it can be performed in a minimally invasive manner.
The accuracy of age estimation from pulp chamber/crown volume ratio of canines obtained by cone beam computed tomography images: an Egyptian study
Authors: Elgazzar Fatma M. , Elboraey Mohamed Omar , El-Sarnagawy Ghada N.
Published: December 2020

Background

Globally, the need for an accurate and valid method for age estimation in adults still exists. The aging process is associated with secondary dentine deposition that reduces the volume of teeth pulp. Therefore, dental age could be recognized from the volume of pulp cavity. The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy and validity of pulp chamber/crown volume ratio of maxillary and mandibular canines in estimating age using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images in a sample of the Egyptian population.

Results

There were significant strong negative correlations between age and each of the maxillary pulp chamber volume (PCV), mandibular PCV, maxillary pulp chamber/crown volume (PCV/CV) ratio, and mandibular PCV/CV ratio (p < 0.001). Furthermore, no significant differences were detected between both sexes regarding the mean maxillary and mandibular PCV and PCV/CV ratios (p > 0.05). The best fit regression model for age prediction was as follows: age (years) = 70.21 − 784.0x maxillary PCV/CV ratio − 1.66x maxillary PCV. The proposed model showed good power of prediction (R2 adjusted = 0.951). Additionally, the model was validated on an independent sample of 100 CBCT images with a root mean squared error (RMSE) of 2.86 years.

Conclusion

The obtained valid regression formula in this study can serve as a reliable tool for age estimation in Egyptians. This formula should be further validated on a larger sample size of the Egyptian population that considers more steady age distribution.
Case report: Pitt-Hopkins like syndrome with CNTNAP2 mutation
Authors: AlBaazi Sawsan , Shareef Hula
Published: December 2020

Background

Pitt-Hopkins syndrome (PHS) is a rare cause of severe intellectual disability, seizures, language impairment, and peculiar facial dysmorphism. It is caused by a mutation in transcription factor 4 (TCF4). Through molecular karyotyping and mutational analysis, a study identified recessive defects in two genes, contactin associated protein like 2 (CNTNAP2) and Neurexin I (NRXN1), in patients with similar presentations of Pitt-Hopkins syndrome and called Pitt-Hopkins-like syndrome (Zweier et al., J Med Genet 80: 994-1001, 2007).

We present the first case report of a child in Iraq with Pitt-Hopkins-like syndrome that was referred to the Welfare Children’s Hospital/Medical City of Baghdad because of her intellectual disability.

Case presentation

The patient was 4-year-old female child who presented with psychomotor delay and language impairment. She had frequent attacks of the respiratory tract and eye infections. Ophthalmologic examination revealed left-sided esotropia and severe myopia. Routine hematologic, serologic, and chemistry tests were within normal ranges. EEG revealed diffuse theta slowing and diffuse beta activity. The audiological test was normal. NCS and EMG showed normal results. Echo study, chest X-ray, and abdominal/pelvic ultrasound revealed normal findings. Brain MRI showed mild bilateral frontal-temporal atrophy. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) revealed a homozygous stop mutation in CNTNAP2 with a heterozygous state in both parents.

Conclusion

Intellectual disability may result from different types of abnormal cellular processes and with widening the use of molecular gene analysis in cases of intellectual disability, underdiagnosed cases of Pitt-Hopkins and Pitt-Hopkins-like syndromes may be uncovered.
The scope of operative general paediatric surgical diseases in South Africa—the Chris Hani Baragwanath experience
Authors: Botchway Maame Tekyiwa , Kruger Deirdre , Manful Charles Adjei , Grieve Andrew
Published: December 2020

Background

Infectious diseases have always been the lime light of global health with very little focus on childhood surgical conditions despite the fact that children constitute about half of the population in LMICs. A significant proportion of the burden of global disease can be reduced by surgical intervention. South Africa is one of the pioneers of the practice of paediatric surgery in Africa with a great burden of paediatric surgical conditions.

Few studies, if any, have investigated the burden of operative paediatric surgical procedures in South Africa. Therefore, this retrospective study aimed to look at the scope of operative paediatric surgical procedures at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH) based in Johannesburg, South Africa, and reports on the numbers of elective and emergency procedures over a 12-month study period.

Results

There were 1699 operative general paediatric surgical procedures of which 61.7% were electives and 38.3% were emergencies. The scope of general paediatric surgical conditions operated on fell under the categories of congenital anomalies, infections and tumours. Of these, surgeries for congenital anomalies were performed in almost all the subspecialties.

Conclusion

There is a high operative paediatric surgical burden at the CHBAH. The role of paediatric surgical care as an essential component of global health cannot be underrated.
High-Q titanium dioxide micro-ring resonators for integrated nonlinear photonics
Authors: Fu Meicheng , Zheng Yi , Li Gaoyuan , Hu Hao , Pu Minhao , Oxenløwe Leif Katsuo , Frandsen Lars Hagedorn , Li Xiujian , Guan Xiaowei
Published: December 2020

We report on the nonlinear characterizations of the titanium dioxide micro-ring resonators (TiO2 MRRs). By utilizing optimized fabrication processes, high quality factors (Q∼1.4 × 105) doubling that of the previous work are achieved here for TiO2 MRRs with high-confinement TiO2 waveguides. The four-wave mixing (FWM) experiment results with low and high signal power demonstrate that, the fabricated TiO2 MRRs can perform broadband (∼40 nm) wavelength conversion and cascaded FWMs. These achievements pave the way for key nonlinear photonic applications with TiO2 waveguides and provide an efficient platform for various integrated photonic devices.
Curvature sensing using a hybrid polycarbonate-silica multicore fiber
Authors: Boilard Tommy , Bilodeau Guillaume , Morency Steeve , Messaddeq Younès , Fortier Richard , Trépanier François , Bernier Martin
Published: December 2020

We report on the development of a novel hybrid glass-polymer multicore fiber integrating three 80 µm polyimide-coated silica fibers inside a 750 µm polycarbonate cladding. By inscribing an array of distributed FBGs along each segment of silica fiber prior to the hybrid fiber drawing, we demonstrate a curvature sensor with an unprecedented precision of 296 pm/m−1 around 1550 nm, about 7 times more sensitive than sensors based on standard 125 µm multicore fibers. As predicted by theory, we show experimentally that the measured curvature is insensitive to temperature and strain. Also, a more precise equation to describe the curvature on a simple bending setup is presented. This new hybrid multicore fiber technology has the potential to be extended over several kilometers and can find high-end applications in 3D shape sensing and structural health monitoring.
Fabrication of microlenses with continuously variable numerical aperture through a temporally shaped femtosecond laser
Authors: Qin Bin , Li Xiaowei , Yao Zhulin , Huang Ji , Liu Yang , Wang Andong , Gao Shuai , Zhou Shipeng , Wang Zhi
Published: December 2020

We developed a novel method for fabricating microlenses and microlens arrays by controlling numerical aperture (NA) through temporally shaped femtosecond laser on fused silica. The modification area was controlled through the pulse delay of temporally shaped femtosecond laser. The final radius and sag height were obtained through subsequent hydrofluoric acid etching. Electron density was controlled by the temporally shaped femtosecond laser, and the maximum NA value (0.65) of a microlens was obtained in the relevant studies with femtosecond laser fabrication. Furthermore, the NA can be continuously adjusted from 0.1 to 0.65 by this method. Compared with the traditional methods, this method exhibited high flexibility and yielded microlenses with various NAs and microlens arrays to meet the different demands for microlens applications.
Quantum-correlated photon-pair generation via cascaded nonlinearity in an ultra-compact lithium-niobate nano-waveguide
Authors: Elkus Bradley S. , Abdelsalam Kamal , Fathpour Sasan , Kumar Prem , Kanter Gregory S.
Published: December 2020

We generate quantum-correlated photon pairs using cascaded

χ

(
2
)

:

χ

(
2
)

traveling-wave interactions for
second-harmonic generation (SHG) and spontaneous parametric
down-conversion (SPDC) in a single periodically-poled thin-film
lithium-niobate (TFLN) waveguide. When pulse-pumped at 50 MHz,
a 4-mm-long poled region with nearly 300%/Wcm2 SHG
peak efficiency yields a generated photon-pair probability of
7±0.2 × 10−4 with
corresponding coincidence-to-accidental ratio (CAR) of
13.6±0.7. The CAR is found to be limited by Stokes/anti-Stokes
Raman-scattering noise generated primarily in the waveguide. A Raman
peak of photon counts at 250 cm−1 Stokes
shift from the fundamental-pump wavenumber suggests most of the noise
that limits the CAR originates within the lithium niobate material of
the waveguide.
Block-wise focal stack image representation for end-to-end applications
Authors: Wu Kejun , Yang You , Yu Mei , Liu Qiong
Published: December 2020

In optical imaging systems, the depth of field (DoF) is generally constricted due to the nature of optical lens. The limited DoF produces partially focused images of the scene. Focal stack images (FoSIs) are a sequence of images that focused on serial depths of a scene. FoSIs are capable of extending DoF of optical systems and provide practical solutions for computational photography, macroscopic and microscopic imaging, interactive and immersive media. However, high volumes of data remains one of the biggest obstacles to the development of end-to-end applications. In order to solve this challenge, we propose a block-wise Gaussian based representation model for FoSIs and utilize this model to solve the problem of coding, reconstruction and rendering for end-to-end applications. Experimental results demonstrate the high efficiency of proposed representation model and the superior performance of proposed schemes.
Angular study of laser induced fluorescence emission of hybrid media based on Stern-Volmer formalism
Authors: Mardani Khadijeh , Parvin Parviz , Bavali Ali , Ehtesham Alireza , Moafi Ali
Published: December 2020

Here, the quenching process of Rhodamine B fluorophores coupled with Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) and Graphene oxide (GO) nano structures is empirically investigated during the laser induced fluorescence (LIF) events in various detection angles. According to Stern-Volmer formalism, the slope of Stern-Volmer graph is strongly dependent on the angular orientation of the detector, mainly because of the alteration in active volume. The corresponding spectral shift lucidly changes due to the anisotropy of the re-absorption events while the single and multiple scattering simultaneously take place, particularly at dense suspensions. The fluorescence Stokes shift of RdB molecules, as well as the effect of non-homogeneous population of the exited/unexcited molecules are taken into account as dominant factors during the measurements. However, the fluorescence trapping becomes more effective in dense suspension and larger detection angles.
Literati Lenses: Wenren Landscape in Chinese Cinema of the Mao Era, Mia Yinxing Liu (2019)
Authors: Lee Young Ji
Published: December 2020

Review of: Literati Lenses: Wenren Landscape in Chinese Cinema of the Mao Era, Mia Yinxing Liu (2019)

Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 242 pp.,

ISBN-13: 978-0-82485-983-1, h/bk, $75.00
High prevalence of Coxiella burnetii infection in humans and livestock in Assiut, Egypt: A serological and molecular survey
Authors: Abbass Hypy , Selim Salah Abdel Kareem , Sobhy Mona M. , El-Mokhtar Mohamed A. , Elhariri Mahmoud , Abd-Elhafeez Hanan H.
Published: December 2020

Background and Aim: Q fever is considered a neglected zoonotic disease and is caused by Coxiella burnetii. Very little information is available on C. burnetii infections in cattle, sheep, and goat populations in Egypt. The aim of this study was to identify the seroprevalence of C. burnetii in humans and livestock and to test for the presence of C. burnetii DNA in sera from seropositive animals and humans.

Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from 160 apparently healthy farm animals and 120 patients from three hospitals of the Assiut Governorate throughout 2017/2018. These populations were tested for antibodies against C. burnetii phase II antigen by immunofluorescence assay [IFA]) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Seropositive samples were subjected to real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).

Results: The results of the IFA revealed C. burnetii seroprevalence rates of 45.3%, 56.0%, 45.7%, and 53.3% in cattle, sheep, goats, and humans, respectively. In humans, the seroprevalence rates were 52.1%, 30.4%, 37.5%, 74.1%, and 62.5% in patients with fever of unknown origin, influenza, kidney dialysis, hepatitis C virus, and hepatitis B virus, respectively. Likewise, by ELISA, the seroprevalence in bovine was 50.7%; sheep, 60.0%; goats, 51.4%; and humans, 55.0% (54.3%, 30.4%, 37.5%, 77.8%, and 62.5% in patients with fever of unknown origin, influenza, kidney dialysis, hepatitis C virus, and hepatitis B virus, respectively). RT-qPCR targeting the repetitive element IS1111 confirmed the presence of C. burnetii DNA.

Conclusion: These results proved that apparently healthy cattle, sheep, and goats may be very important reservoirs of C. burnetii infection. In light of these data, the effect of Q fever on the replication of hepatitis virus remains unclear. Although hepatitis is one of the main aspects of acute Q fever, the influence of hepatitis on Q fever remains to be investigated. Q fever is not a reportable disease in Egypt, and clinical cases may rarely be recognized by the health-care system. Additional information on the epidemiology of C. burnetii in Egypt is warranted, including other associated problems such as the distribution of infections, pathologic hallmarks, and molecular typing.
This article has been taken down
Authors: ABI ROLAND , Fagbamigbe A.F , Akinwande A.M
Published: December 2020

This article has been taken down
¿Se favorece el desarrollo competencial del alumnado desde los libros de texto de Ciencias de la Naturaleza? Análisis del pensamiento de los profesores y de los manuales de 1º y 2º de ESO
Authors: Romero Fernández Raquel , De las Heras Pérez Mª Ángeles , Travé González Gabriel
Published: December 2020

Desde su implantación en el sistema educativo español, las competencias ocupan un lugar relevante, ya que son el eje en torno al cual giran el resto de elementos del currículo. Sin embargo, el desarrollo competencial del alumnado de Secundaria no parece ser el más deseable. En consecuencia, es primordial el estudio de los elementos involucrados en esta problemática como primer paso para invertir dicha situación. Entre estas variables, consideramos que el libro de texto es un elemento especialmente relevante debido a su importante presencia en las aulas y su, en principio obligado, carácter competencial. Por ello, el objetivo ha sido analizar si el desarrollo competencial del alumnado del primer ciclo de Secundaria se encuentra favorecido por los libros de texto de Ciencias de la Naturaleza. Para ello, se ha optado por una metodología con enfoque cualitativo-cuantitativo, ya que por un lado, se examinan las actividades de los manuales escolares de tres editoriales con gran presencia en las aulas y, por otro, las opiniones de un grupo de profesores como principales responsables de su uso. Los resultados muestran que la secuencia didáctica es inadecuada, falta de diversidad de recursos y el desarrollo cognitivo promovido por las actividades es bajo. Asimismo, los docentes manifiestan que no se favorecen las competencias debido entre otros factores, al aprendizaje memorístico promovido por dichos manuales, pese a lo cual continúa siendo un recurso de gran relevancia en sus clases. En consecuencia, sería necesario una revisión de éstos desde un enfoque competencial y de su uso en el aula, así como una reflexión acerca de los requisitos necesarios para que un cambio en la política educativa, como es la introducción de las competencias, revierta en el aula de forma adecuada.
What’s hot and what’s not on the current CLIL research agenda: Weeding out the non-issues from the real issues. A response to Bruton (2019)
Authors: Pérez Cañado María Luisa
Published: December 2020

This article aims to provide an updated, empirically solid overview of what’s hot and what’s not on the current CLIL research agenda in order to weed out the non-issues which we should no longer figure on the CLIL agenda from the real issues which will continue to shape the future of the field. This objective will hopefully be attained while concomitantly answering Bruton (2019), as, unfortunately, his most recent arguments are still not rooted in any research he himself has conducted, are not grounded on the latest empirical evidence, and limit themselves to re-interpreting studies conducted over a decade ago or which present a lack of empirical robustness. Only stalwart empirical evidence from the last few years is used here to provide a recent, research-driven overview of where we stand and where we need to go in the CLIL research arena, dismantling the assumptions put forward by Bruton (2019) as regards egalitarianism, the CLIL-EFL divide, and research into the effects of CLIL, and mapping out future pathways for progression which affect attention to diversity in bilingual education, incorporating a pluriliteracies approach, and replicating, extending, and meta-analyzing existing research.
Überlegungen zu einigen griechischen Wetterritualen
Authors: Pilz Oliver
Published: December 2020

Historische und ethnographische Parallelen belegen, dass bei rituellen Handlungen, die einen Umschwung der herrschenden Witterungsverhältnisse bewirken sollen, häufig das Schema der Umkehrung zur Anwendung kommt, um die gewünschte Veränderung symbolisch zu befördern. Vor diesem Hintergrund werden Prozessionen und Bittgänge untersucht, die im antiken Griechenland im Bestreben abgehalten wurden, das Wettergeschehen zu beeinflussen. Mit dem Zug der angesehensten Bürger von Demetrias zum Heiligtum des Zeus Akraios auf dem Gipfel des Pelion steht dabei ein ritueller Komplex im Mittelpunkt, dessen Interpretation umstritten ist. Die Analyse macht deutlich, dass bei diesem Ritual nicht nur eine Inversion der für das Tieropfer üblichen Abfolge vonpompe, Tötung des Tieres und Opfermahlzeit zu verzeichnen ist, sondern auch eine Umkehrung der herrschenden sozialen Verhältnisse vorliegt. Auf dieser Grundlage kann die Deutung des Prozessionszuges als Wetterritual bekräftigt werden. Abschließend wird am Beispiel des athenischen Prozessionsrituals der Pompeia der vielfach übersehene Zusammenhang zwischen der Reinheit der Gemeinschaft und der Fruchtbarkeit der Felder herausgearbeitet.
Lawsuits with Headless Foes: A Greek Incantation Motif
Authors: Zellmann-Rohrer Michael
Published: December 2020

This study proposes a new interpretation of the texts of two late ancient or early Byzantine papyrus amulets that refer to conflict with “headless” entities (PGMP 5a–b). Based on the identification of parallels in the Byzantine and later Greek tradition, a traditional incantation motif can be identified, targeting fever, which is analogized as a judicial crisis. An appendix publishes or republishes the relevant texts with translations. The complex career of the motif attested by the papyri and the Byzantine texts is also applied to illustrate the workings of the Greek tradition of incantations, in particular the mechanism by which elements of a received repertoire are re-combined, modified, and augmented for changing contexts, a process comparable to folkloric composition. The judicial motif can further be contextualized among beliefs about the supernatural, including the divinization of fever itself and the crediting of a broad cast of powers, including John the Baptist along with other holies, angels, and demons, with its infliction and relief.
A Syntactic Approach to the Orphic Gold Leaves
Authors: Egyed Attila
Published: December 2020

The present paper provides a plausible interpretation of how a variety of literary elements and religious practices can augment our current understanding of ancient Orphism, although all of the sources seem to reflect a common religious function. The analysis is primarily based on close readings and deals with textual interpretation only as much as is necessary in order to highlight the intrinsic relations of textual constructions on the compositional, syntactical, and grammatical level. By focusing on structural relations, this syntactic approach enables us to integrate all the diverse emic interpretations on the basis of functional rules, while restraining us from the problem of interpreting surface meanings. The primary sources of the paper are specifically the A and D type Orphic gold leaves, because the structuring of these texts follows a common compositional pattern that seems to allude to a “model experience.” Using this “model experience” paradigm, this paper also aims to exceed the contemporary neo-ritualist interpretations of these texts as mere “ritual representations” and to propose a more holistic approach based on functionality. This is accomplished by separating formulaic components and treating them as contextualization cues which refer to the different stages that the initiate embodies, in an interdiscursive textual composition.
Typhoeus or Cosmic Regression (Theogony821 – 880)
Authors: Clay Jenny Strauss
Published: December 2020

The Typhonomachy (Theogony821 – 880) has long been deemed an anomalous and inorganic intrusion into the Hesiodic text. The main reason for such a judgment is that the Typhoeus episode is an unnecessary and redundant doublet of the Titanomachy that precedes. In addition, Gaia’s role in giving birth to the monster seems to contradict her benign role both before (624 – 628) and after the Typhoeus episode (883 – 885). Looking afresh at the passage through the wider lens of the cosmogonic program of theTheogonyallows us to grasp its function within the overall economy of the poem. Typhoeus, offspring of Gaia and Tartarus, takes us back to the very origins of cosmogony. The Typhonomachy brings us to a critical temporal crossroad where a recrudescence of the primeval irrupts into and threatens the evolved universe. If at issue in the Titanomachy was the kingship in Heaven, at stake in the Typhonomachy is the very existence of the cosmos itself.
Herakles and the Order of Zeus in Hesiod’sTheogony
Authors: Huard Warren
Published: December 2020

Most of Herakles’ accomplishments as portrayed in Hesiod’sTheogonyconcern his defeat of various monstrous entities, such as the Nemean lion. By overcoming this “bane to human beings” (πῆμ’ ἀνθρώποις, line 329) and other creatures like it, Herakles does more than make the world safer for human habitation. Significantly, many of these creatures are among the offspring of Echidna and Typhaon/Typhoeus. Zeus must defeat this Typhoeus in order to establish his dominion over the cosmos. It falls to Zeus’ son Herakles to uphold Zeus’ new cosmic order by overcoming the offspring of Typhaon remaining among mortals. Herakles’ role within theTheogonyis thus coherent in its cosmogonic dimensions, with Herakles acting both on behalf of Zeus’ order and in opposition to the would-be order of Typhaon/Typhoeus and (perhaps) a Hera not yet aligned with Zeus. Furthermore, through his actions among mortals, Herakles effectively brings this grand cosmogonic conflict down to earth, which serves narratively to better ground the events of theTheogonyin the lives of Hesiod’s hearers and readers.
The Politics of Beginnings: Hesiod and the Assyrian Ideological Appropriation ofEnuma Eliš
Authors: Ziemann Marcus
Published: December 2020

This article proposes a new way to understand Near Eastern literary and mythological parallels in Hesiod’sTheogonyby focusing on the meaning of these parallels for a contemporary Greek audience. In particular, a case study analyzing a parallel shared by theTheogonyandEnuma elišis pursued here to illustrate this approach’s utility. This new approach draws partly on methodologies borrowed from the study of globalization and combines these methodologies with recent insights into the ideological motivations for Greeks’ deployment of Oriental(izing) art in the Orientalizing Period (ca. 750 – 650 BCE). Rather than focusing on individual parallels out of context or on diachronically stable elements that creation stories around the eastern Mediterranean shared, this article instead reconstructs a contemporary ideological background with the Neo-Assyrian Empire at the center of a globalizing Mediterranean. Because the Assyrians investedEnuma elišwith new ideological meaning at this time and broadcast this through their propaganda, the Akkadian creation epic could take on new meaning in an international context. It is consequently possible that specific correspondencesEnuma elišand theTheogonyshare show Hesiod subverting Assyrian ideological discourses. The subjects discussed here have implications for our broader understanding of Greek-Near Eastern interactions of the Orientalizing Period.