bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Self-Supervised Machine Learning to Characterize Step Counts from Wrist-Worn Accelerometers in the UK Biobank
Authors: SMALL SCOTT R. , CHAN SHING , WALMSLEY ROSEMARY , VON FRITSCH LENNART , ACQUAH AIDAN , MERTES GERT , FEAKINS BENJAMIN G. , CREAGH ANDREW , STRANGE ADAM , MATTHEWS CHARLES E. , CLIFTON DAVID A. , PRICE ANDREW J. , KHALID SARA , BENNETT DERRICK , DOHERTY AIDEN
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Step count is an intuitive measure of physical activity frequently quantified in health-related studies; however, accurate step counting is difficult in the free-living environment, with error routinely above 20% in wrist-worn devices against camera-annotated ground truth. This study aimed to describe the development and validation of step count derived from a wrist-worn accelerometer and assess its association with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in a large prospective cohort.

Methods

We developed and externally validated a self-supervised machine learning step detection model, trained on an open-source and step-annotated free-living dataset. Thirty-nine individuals will free-living ground-truth annotated step counts were used for model development. An open-source dataset with 30 individuals was used for external validation. Epidemiological analysis was performed using 75,263 UK Biobank participants without prevalent cardiovascular disease (CVD) or cancer. Cox regression was used to test the association of daily step count with fatal CVD and all-cause mortality after adjustment for potential confounders.

Results

The algorithm substantially outperformed reference models (free-living mean absolute percent error of 12.5% vs 65%–231%). Our data indicate an inverse dose–response association, where taking 6430–8277 daily steps was associated with 37% (25%–48%) and 28% (20%–35%) lower risk of fatal CVD and all-cause mortality up to 7 yr later, compared with those taking fewer steps each day.

Conclusions

We have developed an open and transparent method that markedly improves the measurement of steps in large-scale wrist-worn accelerometer datasets. The application of this method demonstrated expected associations with CVD and all-cause mortality, indicating excellent face validity. This reinforces public health messaging for increasing physical activity and can help lay the groundwork for the inclusion of target step counts in future public health guidelines.
Effects of Obesity and Sex on Ventilatory Constraints during a Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test in Children
Authors: BHAMMAR DHARINI M. , NUSEKABEL CELIA W. , WILHITE DANIEL P. , DAULAT SHILPA , LIU YULUN , GLOVER RAE I. S. , BABB TONY G.
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Ventilatory constraints are common during exercise in children, but the effects of obesity and sex are unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of obesity and sex on ventilatory constraints (i.e., expiratory flow limitation (EFL) and dynamic hyperinflation) during a maximal exercise test in children.

Methods

Thirty-four 8- to 12-yr-old children without obesity (18 females) and 54 with obesity (23 females) completed pulmonary function testing and maximal cardiopulmonary exercise tests. EFL was calculated as the overlap between tidal flow–volume loops during exercise and maximal expiratory flow–volume loops. Dynamic hyperinflation was calculated as the change in inspiratory capacity from rest to exercise.

Results

Maximal minute ventilation was not different between children with and without obesity. Average end-inspiratory lung volumes (EILV) and end-expiratory lung volumes (EELV) were significantly lower during exercise in children with obesity (EILV: 68.8% ± 0.7% TLC; EELV: 41.2% ± 0.5% TLC) compared with children without obesity (EILV: 73.7% ± 0.8% TLC; EELV: 44.8% ± 0.6% TLC; P < 0.001). Throughout exercise, children with obesity experienced more EFL and dynamic hyperinflation compared with those without obesity (P < 0.001). Also, males experienced more EFL and dynamic hyperinflation throughout exercise compared with females (P < 0.001). At maximal exercise, the prevalence of EFL was similar in males with and without obesity; however, the prevalence of EFL in females was significantly different, with 57% of females with obesity experiencing EFL compared with 17% of females without obesity (P < 0.05). At maximal exercise, 44% of children with obesity experienced dynamic hyperinflation compared with 12% of children without obesity (P = 0.002).

Conclusions

Obesity in children increases the risk of developing mechanical ventilatory constraints such as dynamic hyperinflation and EFL. Sex differences were apparent with males experiencing more ventilatory constraints compared with females.
Respiratory and Metabolic Responses of CD4+ T Cells to Acute Exercise and Their Association with Cardiorespiratory Fitness
Authors: GEBHARDT KRISTINA , HEBECKER ANNE , HONEKAMP CELINE , NOLTE SVENJA , BARTHKUHN MAREK , WILHELM JOCHEN , KLATT STEPHAN , WEYH CHRISTOPHER , SOMMER NATASCHA , KRÜGER KARSTEN
Published: May 2024

Introduction

The study aimed to investigate to what extent acute endurance exercise, especially eccentric exercise and cardiorespiratory fitness, affects the metabolic profile of CD4+ cells.

Methods

Fifteen male, healthy adults aged between 20 and 33 yr with a maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2max) between 44 and 63 mL·kg−1·min−1 performed a downhill run (DR) and a level run (LR) for 45 min at 70% of their V̇O2max on a treadmill in a crossover design. Blood samples were taken before (T0), directly after (T1), 3 h after (T3), and 24 h (T24) after each exercise for analyzing leukocyte numbers and cytokine levels. Isolated CD4+ cells were incubated for 4 h in autologous resting versus 3 h after exercise serum (T3 DR and T3 LR), and subsequently, cellular respiration, transcriptomic, and metabolomics profiles were measured.

Results

The systemic immune inflammation index increased significantly after DR and LR at T1 and T3 (P < 0.001). In contrast, the transcriptomic and metabolic profile of CD4+ cells showed no significant alterations after incubation in T3 exercise serum. However, cardiorespiratory fitness positively correlated with the maximal mitochondrial respiration in CD4+ cells after incubation with T3 LR serum (r = 0.617, P = 0.033) and with gene expression of oxidative phosphorylation and levels of different metabolites. Similarly, V̇O2max was associated with an anti-inflammatory profile on RNA level. Lower lactate, methylmalonic acid, and d-gluconic acid levels were found in CD4+ cells of participants with a high V̇O2max (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Acute exercise leads to a mild proinflammatory milieu with only small changes in the metabolic homeostasis of CD4+ cells. High cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with a metabolic shift to oxidative phosphorylation in CD4+ cells. Functional relevance of this metabolic shift needs to be further investigated.
Repeated Sprint Training in Hypoxia Improves Repeated Sprint Ability to Exhaustion Similarly in Active Males and Females
Authors: PIPERI ANNA , WARNIER GEOFFREY , VAN DOORSLAER DE TEN RYEN SOPHIE , BENOIT NICOLAS , ANTOINE NANCY , COPINE SYLVIE , FRANCAUX MARC , DELDICQUE LOUISE
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The aim of this study was to compare the physiological adaptations of males and females to repeated sprint training in hypoxia (RSH).

Methods

Active males and females completed 7 wk of repeated sprint training in normoxia (RSN; FiO2 = 0.209, males: n = 11, females: n = 8) or RSH (FiO2 = 0.146, males: n = 12, females: n = 10). Before (Pre-) and after (Post-) training, a repeated sprint ability (RSA) test was performed (10-s cycle sprints with 20-s recovery between sprints, until exhaustion), and aerobic and anaerobic qualities were evaluated in normoxia.

Results

The number of sprints during RSA increased after training in HYP from 11 to 21 in males and from 8 to 14 in females (P < 0.001, 95% confidence interval = 5–11), without significant changes after RSN (10 vs 14 and 8 vs 10 in males and females, respectively). No improvements in mean or peak power output were found in either group. Total work during RSA improved after training in all groups (+9 ± 2 kJ, P < 0.001). Tissue saturation index during the repeated sprints was higher in females than males (+10% ± 2%, P < 0.001). The difference in tissue saturation index between the recovery and sprint phases remained unchanged after training.

O2peak during an incremental exercise test increased in all groups (+3 ± 1 mL·kg−1·min−1, P = 0.039). Mean power output during a Wingate test also increased in both males and females in RSN and RSH (+0.38 ± 0.18 W·kg−1, P = 0.036). No changes were observed in hematological parameters after training.

Conclusions

Seven weeks of RSH further increased the number of repeated sprints performed to exhaustion compared with RSN in females, in the same order of magnitude as in males.
Effects of Heat Exposure and Ice Slurry Ingestion on Risk-Taking Behavior in Healthcare Workers
Authors: ALHADAD SHARIFAH BADRIYAH , PONAMPALAM R , LIM LOUISA SI XIAN , LOW IVAN CHERH CHIET , KSHITIJ RAHALKAR , ABDUL KARIM AZIZ BIN , SALAMOON ZAMSHEK BIN , MARIMUTHU YOGARAJAH S/O , LEE JASON KAI WEI
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Healthcare workers (HCWs) wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) experience physiological strain that can impair motor and psychological functions, potentially affecting patient care. We assessed the effects of heat exposure on maximal strength and risk-taking behavior among PPE-wearing HCWs and the efficacy of ice slurry to alleviate adverse effects.

Methods

Seventeen HCWS completed two experimental trials in a crossover design, consuming 5 g·kg−1 of body mass of ambient drink (AMB) or ice slurry (ICE) before donning PPE and undergoing 2 h of simulated decontamination exercise (wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT): 25.9°C ± 0.8°C, PPE microenvironment WBGT: 29.1°C ± 2.1°C). Body core temperature (T
c), heart rate (HR), chest skin temperature (T
sk), ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), thermal sensation (RTS), maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), risk-taking behavior (balloon analogue risk-taking task (BART)), and salivary cortisol were assessed.

Results

Predrinking to postdrinking ∆T
c was greater in ICE (−0.2°C ± 0.1°C) than AMB (−0.0°C ± 0.1°C, P = 0.003). Post-drinking RTS was lower in ICE (2.7 ± 1.2) than AMB (4.1 ± 0.4, P < 0.001). ICE and AMB had similar T
c and HR (both P > 0.05), but T
sk was lower in ICE than AMB (P = 0.049). A lower MVC (30.3 ± 6.7 vs 27.4 ± 4.9 kg, P = 0.001) and higher BART-adjusted total pump count (472 ± 170 vs 615 ± 174 pumps, P = 0.017) was observed pretrial to posttrial in AMB but absent in ICE (both P > 0.05). Salivary cortisol was similar between trials (P = 0.42).

Conclusions

Heat-exposed PPE-wearing HCWs had impaired maximal strength and elevated risk-taking behavior. This may increase the risk of avoidable workplace accidents that can jeopardize HCWs and patient care. Ice slurry ingestion alleviated these heat-related impairments, suggesting its potential as an ergogenic aid.
Effects of Breaking Up Sitting on Gut Hormone Responses and Subsequent Compensatory Behaviors in Physically Inactive Adults
Authors: CHEN YUNG-CHIH , TSENG CHIEH-SHENG , HSU CHE-WEI
Published: May 2024

Introduction

The effects of breaking up sitting on gut hormone responses and free-living energy compensatory behaviors are still unclear in people of Asian ethnicity.

Methods

Twenty-six Asians including 13 lean individuals (Lean) and 13 individuals with centrally overweight/obesity (OW), aged between 20 and 45 yr, completed a randomized crossover study with either 5.5-h uninterrupted sitting (SIT) or 5.5-h sitting with 2-min walking at 6.4 km·h−1 every 20 min (ACTIVE) in the laboratory. Blood samples were collected at regular time points to examine postprandial glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), peptide YY (PYY), and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) concentrations. Free-living physical activity and energy intake were recorded using wearable devices and weighed food diaries outside the laboratory until midnight. Paired t-tests were conducted to compare responses between trials.

Results

Postprandial GLP-1 and PYY incremental area under the curve values were higher in the ACTIVE trial versus SIT in both Lean and OW groups (all, P < 0.05), but there was no difference in GIP in either group (both, P > 0.05). There were no differences in free-living physical activity (volume and intensity) or energy intake (total and macronutrients) between trials in either group (all, P > 0.05), resulting in greater total physical activity over the 24-h monitoring period in ACTIVE trial versus SIT trial (both, P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Breaking up sitting increases postprandial GLP-1 and PYY concentrations in Asians, but does not induce subsequent behavioral compensation, resulting in greater 24-h physical activity levels and lower relative energy intake, in inactive individuals irrespective of bodyweight status.
Πρωτοβυζαντινή Ρόδος
Authors: Καραγιάννη Ελένη
Published: May 2024

Η Ρόδος, το μεγαλύτερο νησί του Αρχιπελάγους, βρίσκεται στο νοτιοανατολικό άκρο του Αιγαίου. Η σημαντική γεωγραφική θέση του νησιού συνέβαλε στην καλλιτεχνική και πνευματική άνθηση του. Με βάση τoν μεγάλο αριθμό των ευρημάτων αποτέλεσε σημαντικό κέντρο της πρωτοβυζαντινής περιόδου, όπως φαίνεται και από το μέγεθος των πρωτοβυζαντινών βασιλικών και το πλήθος των οικισμών που εντοπίστηκαν. Στην παρούσα διατριβή εξετάζεται η ιστορία και η τοπογραφία του κέντρου και της περιφέρειας της Ρόδου κατά την πρωτοβυζαντινή περίοδο. Έχει ως αντικείμενο τη συστηματική καταγραφή και την κριτική μελέτη των υλικών καταλοίπων και των γραπτών πηγών των μνημείων της πόλεως της Ρόδου κατά την υπό μελέτη περίοδο. Επίσης, δίνεται έμφαση στα μνημεία της υπαίθρου, τα οποία χρονολογούνται συγκεκριμένα από τον 5ο έως τον 7ο αιώνα μ.Χ. Κύριος στόχος της εργασίας είναι η παρουσίαση αυτών των μνημείων (βασιλικές, λουτρά, εργαστήρια, ταφικά μνημεία) μέσω της περιγραφής των καταλοίπων τους και της κατάστασης διατήρησης τους. Παράλληλα, γίνεται τοπογραφικός προσδιορισμός και μελέτη των γραπτών πηγών του εκάστοτε μνημείου μέσα στα γεωγραφικά όρια του νησιού της Ρόδου. Για την εκπόνηση της παρούσας έρευνας χρησιμοποιούνται σύγχρονες μέθοδοι καταγραφής συντεταγμένων, τοπογραφικοί, δορυφορικοί και γεωφυσικοί χάρτες. Επιπρόσθετα, παρουσιάζεται αδημοσίευτο φωτογραφικό υλικό των διαφόρων ευρημάτων αλλά και των μνημείων στη σημερινή τους μορφή. Τέλος, εξετάζεται το θέμα της πυκνότητας των μνημείων της υπαίθρου σε σχέση με τους παράκτιους και μεσόγειους οικισμούς και τους οικισμούς στη θέση αρχαίων ακροπόλεων της Ρόδου.
Αποτελεσματικότητα εκπαιδευτικής παρέμβασης στη σπιρομέτρηση σε παιδιά προσχολικής ηλικίας
Authors: Ανδρεοπούλου Κωνσταντίνα
Published: May 2024

Εισαγωγή: Η διάγνωση του άσθματος σε παιδιά προσχολικής ηλικίας αποτελεί πρόκληση για την ιατρική κοινότητα. To 2019 αναθεωρήθηκαν οι κατευθυντήριες οδηγίες με στόχο τη προτυποποίηση της σπιρομετρίας στη προσχολική ηλικία. Σκοπός: Η διερεύνηση της δυνατότητας εκτέλεσης σπιρομέτρησης χωρίς τεχνικά σφάλματα σε παιδιά ηλικίας 3 έως 6 ετών και η επίδραση της εκπαιδευτικής παρέμβασης στην έκβαση της εξέτασης. Επιμέρους στόχοι ήταν η σύγκριση με την παλμική ταλαντωσιμετρία και η διερεύνηση των παραγόντων του παιδιού και της οικογένειας που επιδρούν στην έκβασή τους. Μεθοδολογία: Συμμετείχαν 133 παιδιά που επισκέφτηκαν το παιδοπνευμονολογικό ιατρείο ενός δημόσιου νοσοκομείου και δεν είχαν σπιρομετρηθεί στο παρελθόν. Αρχικά πραγματοποιήθηκε παλμική ταλαντωσιμετρία και έπειτα η ομάδα ελέγχου έλαβε προφορική εκπαίδευση για την διαδικασία της σπιρομετρίας, ενώ η ομάδα παρέμβασης παρακολούθησε το εκπαιδευτικό βίντεο. Στη συνέχεια δόθηκε αναπτυσσόμενη σφυρίχτρα σε όλα τα παιδιά ώστε να εξοικειωθούν με τη τεχνική. Το χρονικό διάστημα διεξαγωγής της μελέτης είναι 08/05/2019 έως 11/03/2020 και από 21/03/2022 έως και 22/01/2024 λόγω της πανδημίας covid-19. Η στατιστική ανάλυση των δεδομένων έγινε με τη χρήση του λογισμικού IBM SPSS Statistics 26.0. Αποτελέσματα: Το συνολικό ποσοστό επιτυχίας για τη σπιρομέτρηση βρέθηκε 74,4% και για την ταλαντωσιμετρία 75,9%. Το φύλο, η ύπαρξη νοσήματος, το ιστορικό άσθματος και το μορφωτικό επίπεδο των γονέων δεν σχετίστηκαν με την έκβαση της εξέτασης. Η εκπαιδευτική παρέμβαση αύξησε την πιθανότητα επιτυχούς σπιρομετρίας κατά 3,85 φορές και τον αριθμό των αποδεκτών προσπαθειών, ενώ μείωσε τον συνολικό χρόνο διεξαγωγής της εξέτασης. Ο διάμεσος αριθμός προσπαθειών βρέθηκε 9. Τα παιδιά με μεγαλύτερη κοινωνικότητα βρέθηκε ότι ήταν πιο πιθανό να έχουν αποδεκτή προσπάθεια, ενώ παιδιά με υπερκινητικότητα και περισσότερες δυσκολίες σύμφωνα με το SDQ χρειάστηκαν περισσότερο αριθμό προσπαθειών. Συμπεράσματα: Τα παιδιά προσχολικής ηλικίας είναι εφικτό να πετύχουν τεχνικά άρτια σπιρομετρία. Η εκπαιδευτική παρέμβαση επιδρά θετικά στην διεξαγωγή επιτυχούς σπιρομετρίας.
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemical analysis of mast cell related biochemicals in oral submucous fibrosis
Authors: Gharote Harshkant , Bhowate Rahul , Dangore-Khasbage Suwarna
Published: May 2024

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), a potentially malignant disorder, is developed by progressive fibrous tissue deposition in connective tissue along with atrophy of oral mucosa. Histological sections also show the mast cell infiltration in submucosa which may indicate their possible role in this entity. Abundant availability of biochemicals in mast cells like histamine and serine proteases like chymase may be released and play specific pathways in the disease pathophysiology. Possibly, if the histamine release has some part to play, diamine oxidase may also be found to have a relationship as it metabolizes histamine. The present study is proposed to identify the presence of chymase, histamine, and diamine oxidase in both, serum as well as tissue by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) respectively. This study may provide probable insight into the mast cell-related chemicals and their association with OSMF.
Retinopathy of Prematurity in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at King Fahd University Hospital, Eastern Province: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and pattern of severity Seven years’ experience.
Authors: AlGhamdi Mohammad A , AlZahrani Anas J , AlGarni Shahad M , Albalawi Salem K , Alnaim Abdulrahman A , AlGhadeer Hussain A
Published: May 2024

Background Premature newborns are susceptible to retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a vasoproliferative disease of the developing retinal vessels, which is a major cause of potentially avoidable blindness. Due to geographical variations in newborn care, geographic variations in the epidemiology of ROP have been observed internationally during the last several decades. There was a correlation between the severity of the condition and the number of prenatal, postnatal, and other risk factors. This study aimed to examine the incidence and risk factors associated with retinopathy of prematurity in preterm infants. Methods A retrospective review of preterm newborns evaluated for retinopathy of prematurity between January 2016 and December 2022 was carried out at King Fahd Hospital of the University (KFHU), Khobar, Saudi Arabia. Infants who fulfilled the screening criteria (GA < 34 or Birth Weight (WT) ≤ 1500 g) underwent the screening test, and the International Classification of Retinopathy of Prematurity was used to classify retinopathy of prematurity. Risk factors and demographic information regarding ROP were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (version 20) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results Among the 200 preterm neonates that were evaluated and admitted to neonatal critical care units, 37% exhibited premature retinopathy, with 46.7% of those cases being in stage 1. The development of ROP was linked to gestational age, length of mechanical ventilation, septicemia, intraventricular hemorrhage, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, respiratory distress syndrome, and septicemia, according to univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Conclusion The incidence of total retinopathy in premature infants in this population was 37%. Evaluating these risk factors during the screening of high-risk premature infants will help determine the appropriate timing of examinations and treatment.
An observational prospective cross-sectional study on extravascular lung water by lung ultrasound as a guide to fluid resuscitation therapy in adult septic shock in tertiary care hospital in central India
Authors: Jain Abhishek , Singam Amol , Chiwhane Anjalee , Srinivas Mudiganti V N K
Published: May 2024

Background Septic shock is a life-threatening condition characterized by systemic inflammation and organ dysfunction, with fluid resuscitation being a cornerstone of management. However, indiscriminate fluid administration can lead to fluid overload and worsen outcomes. Extravascular lung water (EVLW) estimation by lung ultrasound has emerged as a promising tool for guiding fluid therapy in septic shock, allowing clinicians to assess pulmonary edema and tailor resuscitation strategies accordingly. Methods This prospective observational study aims to evaluate the utility of EVLW estimation by lung ultrasound in guiding fluid resuscitation therapy in adult patients with septic shock admitted to a rural tertiary care teaching hospital. Eligible patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) will undergo baseline demographic and clinical assessments, including lung ultrasound, to quantify EVLW using B-line analysis. Fluid resuscitation therapy will be initiated based on EVLW findings, with subsequent adjustments guided by repeat lung ultrasound examinations at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours post-initiation. Outcome measures include changes in mean PaO2/FiO2 ratios, respiratory parameters, renal function, fluid balance, and mortality rates. Expected Outcome We anticipate that EVLW-guided fluid resuscitation therapy will lead to more precise and tailored management of septic shock, potentially reducing the incidence of fluid overload, ARDS, and renal dysfunction. By optimizing fluid management strategies based on individual patient characteristics and responses, we aim to improve clinical outcomes and enhance the delivery of care for patients with septic shock.
Quantification of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in dried blood spots as compared to plasma among Indian adults
Authors: Shete Ashwini V , Sawant Jyoti , Bagul Rajani , Ghule Ujjwala , Saluke Sarang S. , Sudfeld Christopher R.
Published: May 2024

Background Vitamin D may play an important role in later-life physical and cognitive health. Vitamin D status is standardly assessed in serum and plasma; however, collection, transport, and storage costs make large epidemiologic studies challenging. We assessed the agreement of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) quantification from dried blood spots (DBS) as compared to standard plasma assessment among older Indian adults. Methods A total of 58 adults over 45 years of age who resided in Pune, India were enrolled in the study from July 2020 to June 2021. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to assess 25(OH)D3 concentrations in paired plasma and DBS samples. Results Plasma and DBS 25(OH)D3 concentrations were highly correlated (Pearson’s correlation = 0.976). The median 25(OH)D3 concentration of the study population assessed by plasma was 14.6 ng/mL (Q1=12.0, Q3= 18.1) while the median concentration assessed in DBS was 12.8 ng/mL (Q1=11.0, Q3= 16.6). 25(OH)D3 concentrations measured from DBS were on average 6% (95% CI: 2-13%) lower than concentrations assessed by plasma across the observed 25(OH)D3 distribution. Conclusions We found good agreement between 25(OH)D3 quantification between DBS and plasma and our findings indicate that DBS can be used in epidemiologic studies of vitamin D among Indian adults.
Memory-making interventions for children and their families receiving pediatric palliative or bereavement care: A systematic review protocol
Authors: Safarifard Razieh , Kiernan Gemma , Corcoran Yvonne , Courtney Eileen , Mitchell John , Akard Terrah , Lambert Veronica
Published: May 2024

Background In paediatric palliative and bereavement care, providing comprehensive support that extends beyond medical treatment to address the emotional and psychosocial needs of children and their families is essential. Memory-making interventions play a critical role in capturing cherished moments and fostering emotional resilience. However, widespread consensus on the foundation and scope of memory-making interventions in paediatric contexts remains sparse. This review aims to identify, appraise, and synthesise the evidence on memory-making interventions for children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions and their family members receiving palliative or bereavement care. Methods This systematic review will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). A systematic search will be undertaken from January 1, 1985, to February 27, 2024, across the following databases: PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL (EBSCO), PsycINFO (EBSCO), Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and Scopus. Studies across diverse research designs that examine children (0-19 years) with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions undergoing memory-making interventions with psychosocial or other outcomes will be included. Screening, data extraction, and quality appraisal will be performed by two independent reviewers, with a third reviewer resolving discrepancies. Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines for conducting mixed methods systematic reviews will be used to inform the data analysis and synthesis process. Conclusions This review will provide critical insights into the existing evidence base on memory-making interventions in paediatric palliative and bereavement care, highlighting psychosocial and other impacts, implementation factors, and evidence quality. By identifying best practices and gaps in knowledge, this evidence review may inform future research and intervention design, or adaptation, and contribute to the enhancement of healthcare for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions and their families. Registration This review was registered in PROSPERO, the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42024521388; 18/03/2024).
The genome sequence of the Ruddy Streak moth, Tachystola acroxantha (Meyrick, 1885)
Authors: Crowley Liam M. , Holland Peter W.H. ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory team,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics team,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: May 2024

We present a genome assembly from a female Tachystola acroxantha (the Ruddy Streak; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Oecophoridae). The genome sequence is 388.1 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z and W sex chromosomes. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.45 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 12,656 protein coding genes.
Difficult pediatric airway in anesthesia practice and future sport performance
Authors: Łepik Michał , Uszok Zofia , Rosiak Krzysztof , Płeska Kacper , Reguła Kacper , Waloch Kamil , Wojtania Joanna , Piaszczyński Szymon , Czajka Andrzej , Szymański Bartłomiej
Published: May 2024

Difficult pediatric airways can present significant challenges in clinical practice and cause consequences for sport performance. Etiologies of difficult pediatric airways can range from congenital abnormalities, acquired conditions such as trauma or inflammation, systemic diseases such as neuromuscular disorders and craniofacial abnormalities to iatrogenic causes including complications of airway interventions and anesthetic complications. Proper assessment of difficult airways risk requires a thorough understanding of the anatomical and physiological differences in pediatric patients. Assessment of Management strategies may include adequate non-invasive techniques, advanced airway devices, pharmacological interventions, surgical interventions, continuous monitoring with extensive postoperative care provided by a multidisciplinary team, involving pediatric anesthesiologists, otolaryngologists, pediatricians, and critical care specialists. Difficult airway in anesthesia practice may lead to mild to life-threatening complications such as difficult mask ventilation, failed intubation, esophageal intubation, airway trauma, hypoxia, hypercarbia, aspiration, barotrauma, difficult extubation, unoptimal sedation or anesthesia, postoperative complications and other consequences. All of this can be a predictor of decreased respiratory efficiency, and thus a predictor of low future athletic performance in children and may have a negative impact on future career choices. This comprehensive overview aims to provide insights into the etiologies, assessment, and management strategies for difficult pediatric airways, with a focus on optimizing patient outcomes and safety and to help understand potential influence on future sport performance.
Religious sects as a threat to social security in the Republic of Armenia
Authors: Król-Mazur Renata
Published: May 2024

The article presents the contemporary religious situation in Armenia. It explains why the Armenian society perceives members of minority churches and various religious associations as enemies of their country and national unity. It contributes to research on internal security, especially on social and cultural security. The internal security of the Republic of Armenia rests on two central pillars: national culture and related Christian religion, tradition and spiritual inheritance – all of which are equated with the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church (AAC). Therefore, AAC is the primary entity fighting cultural threats and opposing secularisation. The text will show what threats to the Republic of Armenia are posed by the quick growth of religious “sects”. One thing that should be clarified at the very beginning is that AAC uses the term “sect” with reference to other churches and religious associations. Particular emphasis will be placed on investigating the relationships between religious “sects” and the world of politics and business. The author will also outline the involvement of religious “sects” in the political events in Armenia and attempt to present their perception by the society and state authorities. The author wants to demonstrate how religious “sects” and AAC – which fights against them using nationalistic slogans – may contribute to social unrest. Although the Armenian Apostolic Church exposes the problem caused by the presence of religious sects and the threat they pose to Armenian culture and nation, the author was unable to find a sufficient number of respondents to conduct a questionnaire survey on the presence of religious sects in the life of the Armenian society. Usually, respondents claim that these are marginal groups that we should not worry about. That is why the activity of religious “sects” was analysed based on the materials provided by the Armenian media (including independent media) and the information service of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
The United States against Russian aggression in Ukraine in 2022
Authors: Jureńczyk Łukasz
Published: May 2024

The paper analyzes the US response to the Russian aggression against Ukraine in 2022. It discusses the American perception of the war in Ukraine, the military support provided to the Ukrainian army by the US, the economic and humanitarian aspects of the American response to the war, the prospect of further US aid, and the perception of the possibility of ending the conflict in Ukraine.
The impact of processes of long duration on the cultural potential for economic development in the peripheries of the European Union
Authors: Hryniewicz Janusz T.
Published: May 2024

The factors of cultural potential for economic development are: elite exclusion, management style, confidence, and conservatism. This study focuses on two research questions: (1) Do cultural factors affect economic development?; (2) Do cultural factors of significance to economic development derive from long-duration processes or from current adaptations within an international distribution of labour? The study compares countries where capitalism originated (United Kingdom, Netherlands) and historical manorial economies (Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary). A country’s position in the international distribution of labour is indicated by its business service sector, industry, and agriculture. Economic development is measured based on productivity and GDP per capita. The study is based on data from the European Social Survey (ESS Round 6–8), OECD, and Eurostat. Cultural factors correlate with economic development; a regression analysis demonstrates that in terms of development, history matters more for cultural potential than does the current position in the international distribution of labour. Survey results indicate that the core-periphery model is one-sided, overemphasising the influence the core has on the underdevelopment of the peripheries.
PROYECTO EASE - EL ESTRÉS ESCOLAR EN EL ALUMNADO DE SECUNDARIA EN ESPAÑA INFORME FINAL
Authors: García Moya Irene , Jiménez Iglesias Antonia , Paniagua Carmen , Díez Marta , 0000-0001-8469-1627 Lydia Nacimiento , Tirado María José
Published: May 2024

El proyecto EASE, acrónimo del proyecto de investigación “El estrés escolar en el alumnado de secundaria en España. Un estudio mixto orientado al desarrollo de claves de actuación en el contexto familiar y escolar” (PID2019-105463RA-I00), se ha dedicado durante sus cuatro años de duración a recabar y analizar evidencias sobre el estrés escolar en educación secundaria, gracias a la financiación de MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033. Como resume la figura bajo estas líneas, el proyecto EASE empleó un diseño mixto, con una primera fase cuantitativa en la que, durante el curso 2020-2021, se recabaron datos de 4768 estudiantes de secundaria, procedentes de 54 centros educativos públicos y privados, mediante un cuestionario online organizado por bloques temáticos que evaluaba su estrés escolar, así como un conjunto amplio de factores familiares, escolares e individuales que pueden asociarse al mismo. Tras un primer análisis de esos datos que permitió identificar centros que se caracterizaban por niveles altos y bajos de estrés escolar, se seleccionaron tres centros educativos de cada tipo a los que se regresó el curso siguiente. De esta manera, en la fase 2, se llevaron a cabo grupos de discusión con chicos y chicas de 2º y 4º de ESO de dichos centros, que fueron analizados mediante análisis temático. La integración de ambas fases permite alcanzar el objetivo final de sintetizar las evidencias fundamentales y traducirlas en recomendaciones para docentes y familias sobre cómo abordar el estrés escolar en nuestro país. Este informe presenta una síntesis de los principales aspectos del trabajo realizado.
Erdafitinib-induced bilateral multifocal serous retinal detachments and severe dry eye related unilateral peripheral ulcerative keratitis in a patient with metastatic urothelial carcinoma
Authors: Kayabaşı Mustafa , Bilkay Görken İlknur , Durak İsmet , Karaoğlu Aziz , Saatci Ali Osman
Published: May 2024

Background: A case of bilateral multifocal serous retinal detachments and dry eye complicated with unilateral peripheral ulcerative keratitis (PUK) during erdafitinib therapy is described. Case description: A 76-year-old male underwent a baseline examination two months after initiating 8 mg erdafitinib therapy (April 2023) due to metastatic urothelial carcinoma. Left subfoveal serous retinal detachment was observed initially but the treatment was resumed as he was asymptomatic. In May 2023, bilateral multifocal subretinal fluid pockets were identified, and the patient was still asymptomatic. However, in June 2023 he complained of bilateral redness and a stinging sensation in his right eye. Bilateral severe dry eye and right PUK were diagnosed. He was prescribed dexamethasone eye drops and sodium hyaluronate artificial tears for both eyes. One week later corneal staining decreased, and progression of PUK ceased. Erdafitinib therapy was discontinued in June 2023 due to the planned transurethral prostatectomy. By July 2023, after discontinuation of the drug and administration of the topical treatment, the dry eye improved and the PUK became inactive. There was also resolution of subretinal fluid pockets in the right eye and a reduction of subretinal fluid pockets in the left eye. After the reinitiation of erdafitinib therapy, serous retinal detachments recurred in both eyes in September 2023, but both corneas remained stable with topical low-dose dexamethasone, cyclosporine-A and artificial tear usage. Conclusion: Erdafitinib therapy may lead to concurrent anterior and posterior segment complications. Multidisciplinary monitoring is crucial for patients undergoing erdafitinib therapy to prevent possible visual disturbances.
Decoding IELTS writing performance: Grammatical Clauses mastery by Universitas Ahmad Dahlan students
Authors: Pratama Muhammad Adi , Munandar Aris
Published: May 2024

Indonesian learners of English produced ungrammaticalities in their writing for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and faced complicated writing score descriptors for self-evaluations and improvements. These problems were observed among students at Universitas Ahmad Dahlan during their preparatory course for IELT. To address this issue, this study focused on identifying some rules in grammar, the grammatical and ungrammatical clauses based on subject-verb (S + V) structures in their writing performances and measuring the proportions of the two clause types in accordance with the performance’s score variation. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were employed. To do so, the study conducted archival research by retrieving data from the teacher's course documents. The archived handwritten writing performances were transcribed manually into digital texts. It employed syntactic analysis to classify the clauses as either grammatical or ungrammatical. It converted the numbers of each clause type per performance into percentages for comparison, and  grouped them according to the different scores as the variable. The results showed that the participants produced predominantly simple grammatical clauses to minimize failures when generating more complex structures. To achieve the minimum score of 6 in the writing section, the proportion of grammatically correct and incorrect clauses should be above 47% and below 53%, respectively. These findings offer valuable insights into predicting scores, especially concerning the dimension of 'grammatical range and accuracy in the writing assessment, which benefit both learners and educators.
First Record of the Exotic Ant Hypoponera ergatandria in Italy: Indoor Alate Swarms and Stinging Queens
Authors: Schifani Enrico , Pezzin Alex , Castracani Cristina , Grasso Donato A.
Published: May 2024

Until recently, Hypoponera ergatandria was commonly misidentified as H. punctatissima, both of which are widespread tramp ant species. Today, H. ergatandria has been recorded in eleven European countries, while most existing H. punctatissima records are doubtful. Its geographic origins, like in the case of H. punctatissima, remain unclear. Here, we present the first record of H. ergatandria in Italy, which also hosts H. punctatissima. We report on a large swarm of alate queens from the basement of a building in the city of Teramo, Central Italy. As reported in Florida under the name H. punctatissima, the species seems capable of producing surprisingly large alate swarms, and alate queens can become a nuisance due to their stinging ability against humans. However, Hypoponera stings are not known to pose any public health threat. Furthermore, H. ergatandria and H. punctatissima are not known to have any ecological impact and are usually confined to a very scattered distribution in Europe.
Design of a zoom head-up display optical system based on a nodal aberration theory
Authors: Tian Manli , Xue Changxi
Published: May 2024

We propose a zoom dual-path augmented reality head-up display optical system. The
system uses two image generation units to display the basic and
interactive information. Based on the node aberration theory, the
aberration evaluation function was constructed. By solving the optimal
solution of the aberration evaluation function, the initial structure
of the interactive information display optical path was obtained. In
order to solve the vergence-accommodation conflict in the process of
vehicle speed change, the interactive information optical path was
designed as a zoom optical path. The zoom distance is 10–20 m,
and the basic information optical path will not be interfered with in
the process. In addition, the tolerance analysis of the system was
carried out to prove the machinability and stability of the system.
This study makes the imaging of the augmented reality head-up display
system more in line with the characteristics of the human eye and
improves driving comfort.
Real-imaginary spectrum decomposition of the transparency spectra in microwave dressed Rydberg systems
Authors: Niu Wenyu , Qin Lu , Shi Zeyun , Zhang Yingying , Xia Shiqiang , Feng Xuejing , Wang Qi , Liu Jingxue , Zhao Zhijun , Zhu Zunlue , Li Weibin , Zhao Xingdong
Published: May 2024

To distinguish the contributions of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) and Autler-Townes splitting (ATS) in their applications in precision laser spectroscopy, we propose a real-imaginary spectrum decomposition method to investigate the transparency spectra in a four-level microwave (MW) dressed Rydberg system. We show that the opening transparency windows in the absorption spectra of probe field is a prominent character by EIT, EIT-ATS crossover, and ATS when the MW field is turned off and the intensity of the control field is adjusted. When the MW field is turned on and gradually increased, the EIT is destroyed and disappears. In addition, the most prominent characters that open a transparency window are the EIT-ATS crossover and the ATS. Then, if we further increase the intensity of the MW field, we find that the transparency windows open mainly due to the ATS. Compared to the previous considerations of this issue, which were limited to three-level systems, our four-level scheme reported here is useful for understanding the features of quantum interference in multilevel atomic systems, and has potential applications to study enhanced sensitivity, measurement spectroscopic, quantum processing, quantum communication, and transmission.
Realization of photonic time crystals via spin bifurcations of exciton-polariton condensates
Authors: Cheng Szu-Cheng , Jheng Shih-Da , Chen Ting-Wei
Published: May 2024

We have theoretically realized a photonic time crystal in a homogeneous spinor exciton-polariton condensate subject to a cavity strain induced energy splitting between the x- and y-polarized polaritons with distinct loss rates. Numerical modeling based on the time-dependent open dissipative Gross-Pitaevskii equation results in the phase transition from linearly-polarized spinor condensate at low pump powers into a circularly-polarized one and then a photonic time crystal at higher pump powers. This phenomenon occurs only under the condition that the lower-energy x-polarized condensate has a higher loss rate than the y-polaried condensate, which can exist intrinsically in the semiconductor microcavities.
CPA-ready femtosecond pulses at 1 MHz from a custom recycled output Mamyshev oscillator
Authors: Boulanger Vincent , Olivier Michel , Chevrette Alexandre , Trépanier François , Piché Michel
Published: May 2024

A cost-effective fiber laser architecture is introduced in which the output seed pulse is stretched and then returned in the oscillator for an additional single-pass amplification without spectral broadening. It is implemented in an all-PM-fiber configuration based on a Mamyshev oscillator with a low repetition rate of 1 MHz. It features a linear oscillator bounded by two offset chirped fiber Bragg gratings accompanied by a third one acting as a pulse recycling filter. The latter tailors the pulse profile in amplitude and phase to seed femtosecond chirped-pulse amplification systems without additional pre-amplification nor pulse stretching. A single-pump prototype generating 200-nJ, 100-ps pulses compressible to 290 fs at 1030 nm and at 960 kHz is demonstrated. Furthermore, simulations show how this new oscillator architecture can provide tailored seed pulses with high enough spectral energy density and low enough nonlinear phase to generate sub-200 fs, 40 µJ, > 180 MW pulses from an all-fiber setup involving a single tapered-fiber power amplifier, without pulse picking.
Deep learning decryption approach for asymmetric computer-generated holography (CGH) cryptosystem
Authors: Han Xingjiang , Zhang Kehua , Jin Weimin , Zhu Weigang , Li Yong , Ma Lihong
Published: May 2024

Deep-learning-based optical image decryption has attracted attention due to its remarkable advantages of keyless managements. Here, a high-fidelity deep learning (DL) decryption strategy is proposed, aiming for the asymmetric DRPE-based CGH cryptosystem, which is combined with phase truncation technique and chaotic iris phase masks. First, a mass of ciphertext and plaintext image pairs are generated to create a dataset. Then, a deep neural network, namely ACGHC-Net (network for the asymmetric DRPE-based CGH cryptosystem), is designed and trained in a supervised learning manner. After the model training and tuning, the ACGHC-Net can quickly and accurately decrypt the ciphertext images. The average cross-correlation coefficient (CC) of the decrypted images achieves 0.998, the average structural similarity (SSIM) 0.895, and the average peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) 31.090 dB. Furthermore, we conducted anti-noise and anti-clipping analysis on the ACGHC-Net. The results prove that the proposed ACGHC-Net can successfully decrypt the encrypted complex grayscale images, and has good anti-noise and anti-cropping robustness for the asymmetric DRPE-based CGH cryptosystem. The proposed method will be expected to further boost keyless decryption in image encryption systems.
Transverse mode switchable mode-locked laser with narrow bandwidth
Authors: Dong Jiangli , Wang Shan , Zeng Yan , Luo Weijia , Xu Ou , Fu Songnian , Qin Yuwen
Published: May 2024

Transverse mode switchable ultrashort optical pulses with narrow bandwidths can create potential for exploring what we believe are new physical effects. We demonstrate the generation of transverse mode switchable ultrashort pulses with narrow bandwidths in an all-fiber mode-locked laser by exploring a mode-selective photonic lantern (MSPL). The laser cavity serves not only as a ring resonator but also as an intrinsic spectral filter. For mode-locking with the LP01, LP11a, and LP11b modes, the bandwidths are 3.0 nm, 86.7 pm and 101.7 pm, respectively. The narrowband pulses with higher-order modes are generated by an intrinsic spectral filter due to the spectral-domain intermodal interference. Mode-locked pulses with a signal-to-noise ratio better than 60 dB for LP01, LP11a, and LP11b modes are independently generated, i.e., transverse mode switchable by changing the input port of the MSPL. The mode-locked wavelength can be tuned for the LP11a mode and LP11b mode by adjusting the state of polarization. Furthermore, our experimental results also show that, the slope efficiency of LP11a and LP11b modes can be improved, by the use of LP11 mode pump scheme. We anticipate that, narrowband pulses with complex mode profiles can be generated by simultaneously phase-locked transverse and longitudinal modes.