bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scaling hypertension treatment in 24 low-income and middle-income
countries: economic evaluation of treatment decisions at three blood
pressure cut-points
Authors: Hutchinson Brian , Walter Adam , Campbell Norm , Whelton Paul K , Varghese Cherian , Husain Muhammad Jami , Nugent Rachel , Kostova Deliana , Honeycutt Amanda
Published: May 2024

Objective

Estimate the incremental costs and benefits of scaling up
hypertension care in adults in 24 select countries, using three
different systolic blood pressure (SBP) treatment cut-off points—≥140,
≥150 and ≥160 mm Hg.

Intervention

Strengthening the hypertension care cascade compared with status quo
levels, with pharmacological treatment administered at different
cut-points depending on the scenario.

Target population

Adults aged 30+ in 24 low-income and middle-income countries
spanning all world regions.

Perspective

Societal.

Time horizon

30 years.

Discount rate

4%.

Costing year

2020 USD.

Study design

Data sources

Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation’s Epi Visualisations
database—country-specific cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence,
prevalence and death rates. Mean SBP and prevalence—National surveys and
NCD-RisC. Treatment protocols—WHO HEARTS. Treatment impact—academic
literature. Costs—national and international databases.

Outcome measures

Health outcomes—averted stroke and myocardial infarction events,
deaths and disability-adjusted life-years; economic outcomes—averted
health expenditures, value of averted mortality and workplace
productivity losses.

Results of analysis

Across 24 countries, over 30 years, incremental scale-up of
hypertension care for adults with SBP≥140 mm Hg led to 2.6 million
averted CVD events and 1.2 million averted deaths (7% of expected CVD
deaths). 68% of benefits resulted from treating those with very high SBP
(≥160 mm Hg). 10 of the 12 highest-income countries projected positive
net benefits at one or more treatment cut-points, compared with 3 of the
12 lowest-income countries. Treating hypertension at SBP≥160 mm Hg
maximised the net economic benefit in the lowest-income
countries.

Limitations

The model only included a few hypertension-attributable diseases and
did not account for comorbid risk factors. Modelled scenarios assumed
ambitious progress on strengthening the care cascade.

Conclusions

In areas where economic considerations might play an outsized role,
such as very low-income countries, prioritising treatment to populations
with severe hypertension can maximise benefits net of economic
costs.
‘It’s just my knee’: a qualitative study investigating the process of reframing and young athletes’ perceived quality of life between anterior cruciate ligament injury and surgery
Authors: Marmura Hana , Bryant Dianne , Getgood Alan , Webster Fiona
Published: May 2024

Objectives

To understand the factors influencing young athletes’ perceptions of quality of life (QOL) following an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture, prior to reconstructive surgery.

Design

Qualitative descriptive study using semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis of data.

Setting

Tertiary sports medicine clinic with patients recruited from the practices of three specialist orthopaedic surgeons.

Participants

Twenty athletes aged 14–25 provided consent to participate in the study and completed interviews prior to their ACL reconstruction surgery. Participants were eligible to participate if they were scheduled to undergo ACL reconstruction, were 25 years of age or younger, identified as athletes (participated in any level of organised sport), could communicate in English and agreed to be audio recorded. Participants were not eligible if they had experienced a multiligament injury or fracture.

Results

Young athletes shared common factors that made up their QOL; social connections and support, sport, health, and independence. However, participants’ perceptions of their current QOL were quite variable (13–95/100 on a Visual Analogue Scale). Participants who were able to reframe their injury experience by shifting focus to the positive or unaffected aspects of their lives tended to have more favourable perceptions of their QOL than participants who shifted focus to the losses associated with injury.

Conclusions

Young athletes who have experienced an ACL injury define their QOL based on social support, sport, health and independence. Individual processes of adaptation and cognitive reframing in response to an ACL injury may exert a greater influence on postinjury QOL than the physical ramifications of the injury itself. Understanding individual perceptions may help target potential interventions or supports to enhance athletes’ adaptation to injury.
Understanding associations between the COVID-19 pandemic and menstrual hygiene management among adolescent girls in Ethiopia: findings from a mixed-methods longitudinal study
Authors: Murphy Maureen , Dutton Rebecca , Gezahegne Kiya , Jones Nicola , Seager Jennifer , Baird Sarah
Published: May 2024

Objective

To understand the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and menstrual hygiene management (MHM) among adolescent girls in Ethiopia and to explore which girls were most affected by pandemic disruptions.

Design

Two rounds of data from surveys and interviews were collected with adolescent girls immediately prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary analysis is cross-sectional, controlling for pre-COVID-19 covariates.

Setting

The setting was three zones in two regions of Ethiopia: East Hararghe and East Shewa Zones in Oromia and South Gondar Zone in Amhara. Data were collected in December 2019–March 2020 and September 2020–February 2021.

Participants

742 adolescent girls, ages 11–25 years.

Outcome measures

Four primary outcomes were explored (1) the number of challenges girls experienced; (2) adolescent-identified challenges managing menstrual hygiene; (3) adolescent-identified difficulties accessing MHM products and (4) adolescent-identified difficulties accessing soap or water.

Results

Girls who were more vulnerable to COVID-19 were more likely to have worse MHM outcomes. An SD increase in household vulnerability to COVID-19 was associated with an 8.7 percentage point increase in the likelihood that the respondent had difficulty getting MHM products (p<0.001), a 6 percentage point increase in the likelihood that she reported facing a challenge managing her menstruation (p=0.003) and a 5.2 percentage point increase in the likelihood she lacked soap or water (p=0.001). Qualitative themes, used to triangulate the quantitative findings, suggest that mobility restrictions, shutdowns of the local market, disruptions in supply chains, poverty, stigma and fear about contracting COVID-19 affected girls’ access to MHM supplies.

Conclusions

The results of this study suggest that MHM was left behind in the COVID-19 response. New programming and policy interventions need to address financial hardship and disruptions to supplies to manage menstruation as well as tackle the inequitable gender norms that stigmatise menstruation during emergencies.
Interventions to promote medical student well-being: an overview of systematic reviews
Authors: Bennett-Weston Amber , Keshtkar Leila , Jones Max , Sanders Christopher , Lewis Cara , Nockels Keith , Solomon Josie , Howick Jeremy
Published: May 2024

Objective

To conduct an overview of systematic reviews that explore the effectiveness of interventions to enhance medical student well-being.

Design

Overview of systematic reviews.

Data sources

The Cochrane Library of Systematic Reviews, MEDLINE, APA PsychInfo, CINAHL and Scopus were searched from database inception until 31 May 2023 to identify systematic reviews of interventions to enhance medical student well-being. Ancestry searching and citation chasing were also conducted.

Data extraction and synthesis

The Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews V.2 tool was used to appraise the quality of the included reviews. A narrative synthesis was conducted, and the evidence of effectiveness for each intervention was rated.

Results

13 reviews (with 94 independent studies and 17 616 students) were included. The reviews covered individual-level and curriculum-level interventions. Individual interventions included mindfulness (n=12), hypnosis (n=6), mental health programmes (n=7), yoga (n=4), cognitive and behavioural interventions (n=1), mind-sound technology (n=1), music-based interventions (n=1), omega-3 supplementation (n=1), electroacupuncture (n=1) and osteopathic manipulative treatment (n=1). The curriculum-level interventions included pass/fail grading (n=4), problem-based curriculum (n=2) and multicomponent curriculum reform (n=2). Most interventions were not supported by sufficient evidence to establish effectiveness. Eleven reviews were rated as having ‘critically low’ quality, and two reviews were rated as having ‘low’ quality.

Conclusions

Individual-level interventions (mindfulness and mental health programmes) and curriculum-level interventions (pass/fail grading) can improve medical student well-being. These conclusions should be tempered by the low quality of the evidence. Further high-quality research is required to explore additional effective interventions to enhance medical student well-being and the most efficient ways to implement and combine these for maximum benefit.
Influence of external assessment on quality and safety in surgery: a qualitative study of surgeons’ perspectives
Authors: Øyri Sina Furnes , Wiig Siri , Tjomsland Ole
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Transparency about the occurrence of adverse events has been a decades-long governmental priority, defining external feedback to healthcare providers as a key measure to improve the services and reduce the number of adverse events. This study aimed to explore surgeons’ experiences of assessment by external bodies, with a focus on its impact on transparency, reporting and learning from serious adverse events. External bodies were defined as external inspection, police internal investigation, systems of patient injury compensation and media.

Methods

Based on a qualitative study design, 15 surgeons were recruited from four Norwegian university hospitals and examined with individual semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed by deductive content analysis.

Results

Four overarching themes were identified, related to influence of external inspection, police investigation, patient injury compensation and media publicity, (re)presented by three categories: (1) sense of criminalisation and reinforcement of guilt, being treated as suspects, (2) lack of knowledge and competence among external bodies causing and reinforcing a sense of clashing cultures between the ‘medical and the outside world’ with minor influence on quality improvement and (3) involving external bodies could stimulate awareness about internal issues of quality and safety, depending on relevant competence, knowledge and communication skills.

Conclusions and implications

This study found that external assessment might generate criminalisation and scapegoating, reinforcing the sense of having medical perspectives on one hand and external regulatory perspectives on the other, which might hinder efforts to improve quality and safety. External bodies could, however, inspire useful adjustment of internal routines and procedures. The study implies that the variety and interconnections between external bodies may expose the surgeons to challenging pressure. Further studies are required to investigate these challenges to quality and safety in surgery.
Paediatric laceration repair in the emergency department: post-discharge pain and maladaptive behavioural changes
Authors: Martin Sarah R , Heyming Theodore W , Fortier Michelle A , Kain Zeev N
Published: May 2024

Background

Paediatric laceration repair procedures are common in the ED; however, post-discharge recovery remains understudied. Perioperative research demonstrates that children exhibit maladaptive behavioural changes following stressful and painful medical procedures. This study examined post-discharge recovery following paediatric laceration repair in the ED.

Methods

This prospective observational study included a convenience sample of 173 children 2–12 years old undergoing laceration repair in a paediatric ED in Orange, California, USA between April 2022 and August 2023. Demographics, laceration and treatment data (eg, anxiolytic medication), and caregiver-reported child pre-procedural and procedural pain (Numerical Rating Scale (NRS)) were collected. On days 1, 3, 7 and 14 post-discharge, caregivers reported children’s pain and new-onset maladaptive behavioural changes (eg, separation anxiety) via the Post Hospitalization Behavior Questionnaire for Ambulatory Surgery. Univariate and logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify variables associated with the incidence of post-discharge maladaptive behavioural change.

Results

Post-discharge maladaptive behavioural changes were reported in 43.9% (n=69) of children. At 1 week post-discharge, approximately 20% (n=27) of children exhibited maladaptive behavioural changes and 10% (n=13) displayed behavioural changes 2 weeks post-discharge. Mild levels of pain (NRS ≥2) were reported in 46.7% (n=70) of children on post-discharge day 1, 10.3% (n=14) on day 7 and 3.1% (n=4) on day 14. An extremity laceration (p=0.029), pre-procedural midazolam (p=0.020), longer length of stay (p=0.043) and post-discharge pain on day 1 (p<0.001) were associated with incidence of maladaptive behavioural changes. Higher pain on post-discharge day 1 was the only variable independently associated with an increased likelihood of maladaptive behavioural change (OR=1.32 (95% CI 1.08 to 1.61), p=0.001).

Conclusion

Over 40% of children exhibited maladaptive behavioural changes after ED discharge. Although the incidence declined over time, 10% of children continued to exhibit behavioural changes 2 weeks post-discharge. Pain on the day following discharge emerged as a key predictor, highlighting the potential critical role of proactive post-procedural pain management in mitigating adverse behavioural changes.
POT1and multiple primary melanomas: the dermatological phenotype
Authors: Maas Ellie J , DeBortoli Emily , Nathan Vaishnavi , Freeman Ned P , Mothershaw Adam , Smit Darren J , Betz-Stablein Brigid , Aoude Lauren G , Stark Mitchell S , Sturm Richard A , Soyer H Peter , McInerney-Leo Aideen M
Published: May 2024

POT1is the second most frequently reported gene (afterCDKN2A) in familial melanoma. Pathogenic variants are associated with earlier onset and/or multiple primary melanomas (MPMs). To date,POT1phenotypical reports have been largely restricted to associated malignancies, and description of the dermatological landscape has been limited. We identified 10 variants in n=18 of 384 (4.7%) unrelated individuals (n=13 MPMs; n=5 single primary melanomas) of European ancestry. Five variants were rare (minor allele frequency <0.001) or novel (two loss-of-function (LOF), one splice acceptor and two missense) and were predicted to be functionally significant, in five unrelated probands with MPMs (≥3 melanomas). We performed three-dimensional total body photography on both individuals with confirmed pathogenic LOF variants to characterise the dermatological phenotype. Total body naevus counts (≥2 mm diameter) were significantly higher (p=7.72×10–12) in carriers compared with a control population. Majority of naevi were on the probands’ back and lower limb regions, where only mild to moderate ultraviolet (UV) damage was observed. Conversely, the head/neck region, where both probands exhibited severe UV damage, had comparably fewer naevi. We hypothesise that carriage of functionally significantPOT1variants is associated with increased naevus counts generally, and naevi >5 mm in diameter specifically and the location of these are independent of UV damage.
Neurophysiological features of STN LFP underlying sleep fragmentation in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Zhang Guokun , Yu Huiling , Chen Yue , Gong Chen , Hao Hongwei , Guo Yi , Xu Shujun , Zhang Yuhuan , Yuan Xuemei , Yin Guoping , Zhang Jian-guo , Tan Huiling , Li Luming
Published: May 2024

Background

Sleep fragmentation is a persistent problem throughout the course of Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the related neurophysiological patterns and the underlying mechanisms remained unclear.

Method

We recorded subthalamic nucleus (STN) local field potentials (LFPs) using deep brain stimulation (DBS) with real-time wireless recording capacity from 13 patients with PD undergoing a one-night polysomnography recording, 1 month after DBS surgery before initial programming and when the patients were off-medication. The STN LFP features that characterised different sleep stages, correlated with arousal and sleep fragmentation index, and preceded stage transitions during N2 and REM sleep were analysed.

Results

Both beta and low gamma oscillations in non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep increased with the severity of sleep disturbance (arousal index (ArI)-betaNREM: r=0.9, p=0.0001, sleep fragmentation index (SFI)-betaNREM: r=0.6, p=0.0301; SFI-gammaNREM: r=0.6, p=0.0324). We next examined the low-to-high power ratio (LHPR), which was the power ratio of theta oscillations to beta and low gamma oscillations, and found it to be an indicator of sleep fragmentation (ArI-LHPRNREM: r=−0.8, p=0.0053; ArI-LHPRREM: r=−0.6, p=0.0373; SFI-LHPRNREM: r=−0.7, p=0.0204; SFI-LHPRREM: r=−0.6, p=0.0428). In addition, long beta bursts (>0.25 s) during NREM stage 2 were found preceding the completion of transition to stages with more cortical activities (towards Wake/N1/REM compared with towards N3 (p<0.01)) and negatively correlated with STN spindles, which were detected in STN LFPs with peak frequency distinguishable from long beta bursts (STN spindle: 11.5 Hz, STN long beta bursts: 23.8 Hz), in occupation during NREM sleep (β=−0.24, p<0.001).

Conclusion

Features of STN LFPs help explain neurophysiological mechanisms underlying sleep fragmentations in PD, which can inform new intervention for sleep dysfunction.

Trial registration number

NCT02937727.
Opportunistic atrial fibrillation screening in primary care in Ireland: results of a pilot screening programme
Authors: Callanan Aileen , Quinlan Diarmuid , Kearney Patricia M , O’Sullivan Susanne , Zhi Gerald Tan Ying , Crichton Alyssa , Howell Mackenzie Wynn , Bradley Colin , Buckley Claire
Published: May 2024

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF), a common, frequently asymptomatic cardiac arrhythmia, is a major risk factor for stroke. Identification of AF enables effective preventive treatment to be offered, potentially reducing stroke risk by up to two-thirds. There is international consensus that opportunistic AF screening is valuable though uncertainty remains about the optimum screening location and method. Primary care has been identified as a potential location for AF screening using one-lead ECG devices.

Methods

A pilot AF screening programme is in primary care in the south of Ireland. General practitioners (GPs) were recruited from Cork and Kerry. GPs invited patients ≥65 years to undergo AF screening. The screening comprised a one-lead ECG device, Kardia Mobile, blood pressure check and ascertainment of smoking status. Possible AF on one-lead ECG was confirmed with a 12-lead ECG. GPs also recorded information including medical history, current medication and onward referral. The Keele Decision Support tool was used to assess patients for oral anticoagulation (OAC).

Results

3555 eligible patients, attending 52 GPs across 34 GP practices, agreed to undergo screening. 1720 (48%) were female, 1780 (50%) were hypertensive and 285 (8%) were current smokers. On the one-lead ECG, 3282 (92%) were in normal sinus rhythm, 101 (3%) had possible AF and among 124 (4%) the one-lead ECG was unreadable or unclassified. Of the 101 patients with possible AF, 45 (45%) had AF confirmed with 12-lead ECG, an incidence rate of AF of 1.3%. Among the 45 confirmed AF cases, 27 (60%) were commenced on OAC therapy by their GP.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that AF screening in primary care may prove useful for early detection of AF cases that can be assessed for treatment. One-lead ECG devices may be useful in the detection of paroxysmal AF in this population and setting. Current OAC of AF may be suboptimal.
Prolonged administration of intrathecal baclofen in a patient with generalized grade 4 tetanus
Authors: Aiello Michael , Roy Sounak , Chitty Lyndsey , Johnson Brittany , Warrick Matthew
Published: May 2024

Introduction

This case report presents the management of a 62-year-old woman with generalized grade 4 tetanus, focusing on the innovative use of intrathecal baclofen (ITB) therapy. The patient initially presented with a laceration and subsequently developed severe tetanic spasms, necessitating interventions beyond standard tetanus immunoglobulin and antibiotics due to the condition’s progressive and life-threatening nature. The preference for ITB over oral baclofen is highlighted, considering ITB’s enhanced bioavailability in the central nervous system and its efficacy in reducing spinal cord reflexes, which is critical for managing severe spasticity.

On her return to the emergency department with symptoms of tetanus, the patient received ITB following the failure of oral baclofen to control the spasms. ITB administration necessitated a lumbar drain, which was later substituted with a tunneled intrathecal catheter due to the extended requirement for baclofen infusion and the unavailability of suitable infusion pumps. This scenario represented a significant application of a CADD-Solis external pump for continuous ITB infusion.

Transitioning the patient from ITB to oral baclofen was a crucial management step to facilitate discharge and recovery, underscoring the importance of a careful approach to prevent withdrawal symptoms and maintain care continuity. Despite initial complications, including an infection signaled by leucocytosis and confirmed through cerebrospinal fluid culture, the patient was effectively treated and discharged.

Conclusion

This report contributes to the sparse literature on prolonged ITB use for generalized grade 4 tetanus treatment, underlining the need for interdisciplinary collaboration for the best patient outcomes. It showcases the potential of ITB in spasticity management, in reducing the need for sedation, and in shortening the duration of mechanical ventilation, advocating for a tailored approach that utilizes a full spectrum of pharmacological and supportive therapies.
Comparative anatomical study of digital block with the WALANT, interdigital, and transthecal techniques
Authors: Morales Lorena , Goffin Pierre , Jorcano Enrique , Reina Miguel Angel , Sala-Blanch Xavier
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Interdigital block and transthecal block through the flexor sheath are commonly used techniques for the anesthesia of isolated fingers. The wide-awake local anesthetic no-tourniquet technique is a relatively new approach for local anesthesia during finger procedures. The anatomical spread of local anesthetics with the wide-awake local anesthetic no tourniquet technique has not been described adequately.

This anatomical study aimed to assess the distribution of a local anesthetic dye solution to the digital nerves. The study was designed to compare the nerve staining effect using the wide-awake local anesthetic no tourniquet and the transthecal and interdigital techniques in cadavers. We hypothesized that the wide-awake local anesthetic no tourniquet technique stains digital nerves more effectively than the interdigital and transthecal digital injection techniques.

Methods

14 blocks were performed using anatomical landmarks. 2 mL of a mixture of local anesthetic, methylene blue, and contrast medium were injected. Before dissection, the specimens were passed through an X-ray scanner to assess the spread of the mixture. Finally, anatomical dissections were performed to evaluate the specific hand nerve implications.

Results

In the wide-awake local anesthetic no tourniquet group, the local anesthetics spread to the nerves of each finger but not the common nerve. In the transthecal and interdigital groups, the spread extended from the common nerve to the lateral aspect of the adjacent fingers.

Conclusion

The wide-awake local anesthetic no tourniquet technique was as effective as conventional techniques in the digital blockade, achieving specific spread on the targeted nerves.
Financial toxicity and health-related quality of life in long-term survivors of acute promyelocytic leukaemia
Authors: Sparano Francesco , Voso Maria Teresa , Venditti Adriano , Giesinger Johannes M , Baldi Thomas , Breccia Massimo , Fazi Paola , Vignetti Marco , Efficace Fabio
Published: May 2024

Objectives

We aimed to investigate the association between financial toxicity (FT) and the health-related quality of life profile of long-term survivors of acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) treated within a universal healthcare system.

Methods

We evaluated FT using the financial difficulties item of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30). We also compared the prevalence of clinically important problems and symptoms between the survivors of APL with or without FT, using evidence-based thresholds for the EORTC QLQ-C30. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to explore potential risk factors associated with FT.

Results

Overall, 352 long-term survivors of APL, with a median age of 53.9 years and a median time since diagnosis of 12.2 years, were analysed. Of these, 71 (20.2%) reported having FT. The prevalence of clinically important problems and symptoms was generally higher across most EORTC QLQ-C30 scales for those survivors who reported FT. The three largest differences between patients with and without FT were observed for emotional functioning (+35.4 percentage points), dyspnoea (+33.1 percentage points) and physical functioning (+27.0 percentage points). The presence of FT was independently associated with having comorbidities and not receiving a salary/pension.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that even many years after being diagnosed, one-fifth of long-term survivors of APL experience FT. Interventions to assist with employment may be critical to minimise the risk of FT in the most vulnerable survivors.
New Tsallis holographic dark energy with Granda–Oliveros as IR-cutoff
Authors: Sharma Umesh Kumar , Pankaj  , Muttathazhathu Ali Nisha , Mishra Krishna Kant
Published: May 2024

In the current study, a theoretical model for non-interacting new Tsallis holographic dark energy is constructed using the Granda–Oliveros as the IR cutoff with specified scale factor [Formula: see text]. The time-dependent deceleration parameter, with appropriate assumptions, yields this scale factor. The features of the deceleration parameter, equation of state parameter, density parameter, and jerk parameter are then investigated for this model. According to our findings, the cosmos has a normal thermal history, dark matter and dark energy eras occurring one after the other until dark energy eventually takes over entirely in the far future. Additionally, the evolution of the potential and pressure to indicate the universe’s accelerated expansion by using our model are studied. We investigate the evolution trajectory of statefinder parameters, which is consistent with ΛCDM model.
Pulse shape discrimination technique for diffuse supernova neutrino background search with JUNO
Authors: Cheng Jie , Luo Xiao-Jie , Li Gao-Song , Li Yu-Feng , Li Ze-Peng , Lu Hao-Qi , Wen Liang-Jian , Wurm Michael , Zhang Yi-Yu
Published: May 2024

Pulse shape discrimination (PSD) is widely used in particle and nuclear physics. Specifically in liquid scintillator detectors, PSD facilitates the classification of different particle types based on their energy deposition patterns. This technique is particularly valuable for studies of the diffuse supernova neutrino background (DSNB), nucleon decay, and dark matter searches. This paper presents a detailed investigation of the PSD technique, applied in the DSNB search performed with the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO). Instead of using conventional cut-and-count methods, we employ methods based on boosted decision trees and neural networks and compare their capability to distinguish the DSNB signals from the atmospheric neutrino neutral-current background events. The two methods demonstrate comparable performance, resulting in a 50–80% improvement in signal efficiency compared to a previous study performed for JUNO (An et al. [JUNO] in J Phys G 43(3):030401, 2016). Moreover, we study the dependence of the PSD performance on the visible energy and final state composition of the events and find a significant dependence on the presence/absence of $$^{11}$$

11

C. Finally, we evaluate the impact of the detector effects (photon propagation, PMT dark noise, and waveform reconstruction) on the PSD performance.
Simulations of galaxies in an expanding Universe with modified Newtonian dynamics (MOND) and with modified gravitational attractions (MOGA)
Authors: Toxvaerd Søren
Published: May 2024

The stability of galaxies is either explained by the existence of dark matter or caused by a modification of Newtonian acceleration (MOND). Here, we show that the modification of the Newtonian dynamics can equally well be obtained by a modification of Newton’s law of universal gravitational attraction (MOGA) when Newton’s inverse square attraction from a distant object is replaced with an inverse attraction. This modification is often proposed in the standard model, and with the modification of the attraction caused by dark matter. The recently derived algorithm, Eur Phys J Plus, 137:99, 2022; Class Quantum Grav, 39:225006, 2022, for classical celestial dynamics is used to simulate models of the Milky Way in an expanding universe and with either MOND or MOGA. The simulations show that the galaxies with MOND dynamics are unstable, whereas MOGA stabilizes the galaxies. The rotation velocities for objects in galaxies with classical Newtonian dynamics decline inversely proportional to the square root of the distance r to the center of the galaxy. But the rotation velocities is relatively independent of r for MOGA and qualitatively in agreement with experimentally determined rotation curves for galaxies in the Universe. The modification of the attractions may be caused by the masses of the objects in the central part of the galaxy by the lensing of gravitational waves from far-away objects in the galaxy.
The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna mission in Greece White Paper
Authors: Karnesis Nikolaos , Stergioulas Nikolaos , Pappas George , Anastopoulos Charis , Antoniadis John , Apostolatos Theocharis , Basilakos Spyros , Destounis Kyriakos , Areti Eleni , Lukes-Gerakopoulos Georgios , Gourgouliatos Konstantinos N. , Kokkotas Kostas D. , Kottaras George , Oikonomou V. K. , Papanikolaou Theodoros , Perivolaropoulos Leandros , Plionis Manolis , Saridakis Emmanuel N. , Sarris Theodoros , Vagenas Elias C. , von Klitzing Wolf
Published: May 2024

The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) mission, scheduled for launch in the mid-2030s, is a gravitational wave space observatory designed to detect sources emitting in the millihertz band. LISA is an European Space Agency flagship mission, currently entering the Phase-B development phase. It is expected to help us improve our understanding of our Universe by measuring gravitational wave sources of different types, with some of the sources being at very high redshifts ([Formula: see text]). On February 23, 2022, we organized the first LISA in Greece Workshop. This Workshop aimed to inform the Greek scientific and tech industry communities about the possibilities of participating in LISA science and the LISA mission, with the support of the Hellenic Space Center. In this White Paper, we summarize the outcomes of the Workshop, the most important aspect of it being the inclusion of [Formula: see text] Greek researchers to the LISA Consortium, raising our total number to [Formula: see text]. At the same time, we present a road map with the future steps and actions of the Greek Gravitational Wave community with respect to the LISA mission.
Different TBS and Grain Numbers on Mechanical Behavior of FeNiCrCoCu High-Entropy Alloys: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation
Authors: Li Guo , Zhao Yanpeng , Zhang Feng , Tang Qiaoyun , Wang Ruipeng , Ma Jun , Wang Deyong
Published: May 2024

High-entropy alloy (HEA) is a type of alloy that exhibits high hardness, strength, good wear resistance, corrosion resistance, and versatility. Molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to illustrate the microscopic evolution of FeNiCrCoCu HEAs under varying twin boundary spacing (TBS). Compression revealed dislocation migration, variations in the quantity and radius of nanovoids, as well as grain boundary diffusion. With increasing strain, high-energy regions expand on the surface of the crystal, transitioning from an initially smooth state to uniform deformation accompanied by grain boundary diffusion, while dislocations occur within the crystal. The number and radius of observed nanovoids within the crystal increase. The mechanical characteristics of FeNiCrCoCu HEAs are influenced by the TBS size. The alloy demonstrates better mechanical properties when the TBS is 1.22[Formula: see text]nm. FeNiCrCoCu HEAs with a constant TBS showed improved mechanical characteristics when a greater number of grains ([Formula: see text]) were present.
Improved NO2 Sensing Performance of Ternary Nanocomposites Based on Au-doped Co3O4/CuO
Authors: Fang Zhitao , Zhang Teng , Ying Zhihua , Sheng Weiqin
Published: May 2024

To enhance the poor sensing capabilities of traditional p-type metal oxide semiconductor sensors, a novel gas sensor was designed with Co3O4/CuO heterostructure modified by glutathione (GSH)-reduced gold (Au), which was characterized by different analyses. The experiments showed that the 0.5[Formula: see text]wt.% Au–Co3O4/CuO gas sensor exhibited excellent sensing performance with a response value of up to 28.3 for 3[Formula: see text]ppm NO2 at a relatively low operating temperature ([Formula: see text]C). Besides, it demonstrated a linear relationship between detection concentration and response value, displayed good selectivity for NO2, showcased stability and exhibited repeatability. Moreover, the sensor revealed the ability to resist humidity at the optimal temperature. Finally, we proposed a gas sensing mechanism to explain the enhanced NO2 detection performance of the sensor, attributed to the heterojunction structure between Co3O4/CuO and the catalytic properties of Au. This led to an increase in adsorbed oxygen, as confirmed by XPS characterization. Therefore, the 0.5[Formula: see text]wt.% Au–Co3O4/CuO ternary nanocomposite gas sensor is deemed to be a highly effective sensing material that can be utilized to detect NO2 gas in real-life applications.
Synthesis and Characterization of Nanoporous Carbon Mg-MOF-C and Carbon Dioxide Adsorption Performance
Authors: Lin Xiaoying , Fan Xiuchun , Xu Lifang , Lin Hao , Zhong Qinhua
Published: May 2024

A porous carbon material (Mg-MOF-C) was prepared by carbonization in the N2 atmosphere using Mg-MOF-74 as the precursor. Physicochemical properties of Mg-MOF-C materials were well characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FIRT), Thermogravimetric analyzer (TG), transmission electron microscope (TEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms (BET) and EDS. The adsorption properties of the products were studied Mg-MOF-C has a high specific surface area of up to 1739.29[Formula: see text]m2/g, and the pore volume of micropores was 0.98[Formula: see text]m3/g. Besides, 95% of the first adsorption is retained after five cycles. The adsorption processes agreed well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model.
Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B Using ZnO Microspheres Decorated with Ag Nanoparticles
Authors: Deng Lihan , Li Zhi , Li Jin
Published: May 2024

Zinc oxide (ZnO) has demonstrated significant potential as a photocatalyst for the wastewater treatment. However, its wide bandgap leads to inefficient light utilization and rapid carrier recombination, which inhibits its photocatalytic activity. To overcome these limitations, we employed a hydrothermal method to synthesize Ag/ZnO composite microspheres with different concentrations of Ag nanoparticles. By utilizing Ag complexed with ZnO, the Ag/ZnO composite photocatalysts were made to have a narrower bandgap and a broadened light response range, as well as the red-shift phenomenon at the absorption edge. In addition, Ag nanoparticles can act as electron traps to efficiently capture electrons and minimize the recombination of photoexcited carriers for improved photocatalytic performance. Compared with other concentrations of ZnO microspheres and pure ZnO microspheres, the 5% Ag/ZnO composite microspheres exhibited excellent degradation performance when exposed to a xenon lamp, with 90.1% degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) solution in 100[Formula: see text]min. Incorporating trapping agents in experimental studies has indicated that the RhB degradation process is significantly influenced by •O[Formula: see text], while the impact of •OH and h[Formula: see text] were relatively weak. Thus, Ag/ZnO nanocomposites hold great promise as materials for use in wastewater treatment.
Numerical Approach of NiZnFe2O4 (Nickel–Zinc Ferrite) — Ethylene Glycol Magneto Nanofluid Flow Over a Porous Shrinking Sheet with Chemical Reaction and Radiation
Authors: Goud B. Shankar , Reddy Y. Dharmendar , Duraihem Faisal Z.
Published: May 2024

The objective of this study is to conduct a numerical examination of the influence of nonlinear chemical reaction and heat source or sink on magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) heat and mass transmission nanofluid flow through a shrinking permeable surface. In addition, the investigation considers thermal radiation and the occurrence of viscous dissipation. Ethylene glycol (EG) is used as the primary fluid medium, whilst the nanoparticles consist of nickel–zinc ferrite. The use of nanofluid flow has garnered significant interest as a result of its potential applications across several sectors. Nanofluids possess a notable benefit in comparison to traditional fluids as a consequence of their enhanced heat transfer capabilities. This advantage may be ascribed to the inclusion of nanoparticles, which augment thermal conductivity and therefore lead to enhanced heat dissipation and efficiency. The mathematical flow model, which is formulated using nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs), may be transformed into a set of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) by the application of suitable similarity conversions. In order to address the complexities of the nonlinear system, the bvp4c and shooting techniques are used inside the MATLAB program, a widely utilized commercial platform, to effectively solve the associated ODEs by numerical means. This study presents a graphical analysis of the effects of flow parameters on several variables of interest.
Asynchronous Memory Access Unit: Exploiting Massive Parallelism for Far Memory Access
Authors: Wang Luming , Zhang Xu , Wang Songyue , Jiang Zhuolun , Lu Tianyue , Chen Mingyu , Luo Siwei , Huang Keji
Published: May 2024

The growing memory demands of modern applications have driven the adoption of far memory technologies in data centers to provide cost-effective, high-capacity memory solutions. However, far memory presents new performance challenges because its access latencies are significantly longer and more variable than local DRAM. For applications to achieve acceptable performance on far memory, a high degree of memory-level parallelism (MLP) is needed to tolerate the long access latency.

While modern out-of-order processors are capable of exploiting a certain degree of MLP, they are constrained by resource limitations and hardware complexity. The key obstacle is the synchronous memory access semantics of traditional load/store instructions, which occupy critical hardware resources for a long time. The longer far memory latencies exacerbate this limitation.

This article proposes a set of Asynchronous Memory Access Instructions (AMI) and its supporting function unit, Asynchronous Memory Access Unit (AMU), inside contemporary Out-of-Order Core. AMI separates memory request issuing from response handling to reduce resource occupation. Additionally, AMU architecture supports up to several hundreds of asynchronous memory requests through re-purposing a portion of L2 Cache as scratchpad memory (SPM) to provide sufficient temporal storage. Together with a coroutine-based programming framework, this scheme can achieve significantly higher MLP for hiding far memory latencies.

Evaluation with a cycle-accurate simulation shows AMI achieves 2.42× speedup on average for memory-bound benchmarks with 1μs additional far memory latency. Over 130 outstanding requests are supported with 26.86× speedup for GUPS (random access) with 5 μs latency. These demonstrate how the techniques tackle far memory performance impacts through explicit MLP expression and latency adaptation.
Wearable Technology Insights: Unveiling Physiological Responses During Three Different Socially Anxious Activities
Authors: Sahu Nilesh Kumar , Gupta Snehil , Lone Haroon
Published: May 2024

Wearable technology holds promise for monitoring and managing Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), yet the absence of clear biomarkers specific to SAD hampers its effectiveness. This article explores this issue by presenting a study investigating variances in heart rate, heart rate variability, and skin conductance between socially anxious and non-anxious individuals. One hundred eleven non-clinical student participants participated in groups of three in three anxiety-provoking activities (i.e., speech, group discussion, and interview) in a controlled lab-based study. During the study, electrocardiogram (ECG) and electrodermal activity (EDA) signals were captured via on-body electrodes. During data analysis, participants were divided into four groups based on their self-reported anxiety level (“none,” “mild,” “moderate,” and “severe”). Between-group analysis shows that discriminating ECG features (i.e., heart rate and MeanNN) could identify anxious individuals during anxiety-provoking activities, while EDA could not. Moreover, the discriminating ECG features improved the classification accuracy of anxious and non-anxious individuals in different machine-learning techniques. The findings need to be further scrutinized in real-world settings for the generalizability of the results.
Why Survey-Based Subjective Expectations Are Meaningful and Important
Authors: D'Acunto Francesco , Weber Michael
Published: May 2024

For decades, households’ subjective expectations elicited via surveys have been considered meaningless because they often differ substantially from the forecasts of professionals and ex-post realizations. In sharp contrast, the literature we review shows that household characteristics and the ways in which households collect and process economic information help us understand previously considered puzzling facts about their subjective expectations. In turn, subjective expectations contribute to explain heterogeneous consumption, saving, investment, and debt choices as well as different reactions by similar households to the same monetary and fiscal policy measures. Matching microdata on households’ characteristics with the price signals the same households observe, their subjective expectations, and their real-world economic decisions is crucial to establishing these facts. Our growing understanding of households’ subjective expectations inspires several theoretical and empirical research directions and begets the design of innovative and more effective policy instruments.
Neural Control of Naturalistic Behavior Choices
Authors: Asinof Samuel K. , Card Gwyneth M.
Published: May 2024

In the natural world, animals make decisions on an ongoing basis, continuously selecting which action to undertake next. In the lab, however, the neural bases of decision processes have mostly been studied using artificial trial structures. New experimental tools based on the genetic toolkit of model organisms now make it experimentally feasible to monitor and manipulate neural activity in small subsets of neurons during naturalistic behaviors. We thus propose a new approach to investigating decision processes, termed reverse neuroethology. In this approach, experimenters select animal models based on experimental accessibility and then utilize cutting-edge tools such as connectomes and genetically encoded reagents to analyze the flow of information through an animal's nervous system during naturalistic choice behaviors. We describe how the reverse neuroethology strategy has been applied to understand the neural underpinnings of innate, rapid decision making, with a focus on defensive behavioral choices in the vinegar fly Drosophila melanogaster.
Helminth Infections and Diabetes: Mechanisms Accounting for Risk Amelioration
Authors: Rajamanickam Anuradha , Babu Subash
Published: May 2024

The global prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is increasing rapidly, with an anticipated 600 million cases by 2035. While infectious diseases such as helminth infections have decreased due to improved sanitation and health care, recent research suggests a link between helminth infections and T2D, with helminths such as Schistosoma, Nippostrongylus, Strongyloides, and Heligmosomoides potentially mitigating or slowing down T2D progression in human and animal models. Helminth infections enhance host immunity by promoting interactions between innate and adaptive immune systems. In T2D, type 1 immune responses are suppressed and type 2 responses are augmented, expanding regulatory T cells and innate immune cells, particularly type 2 immune cells and macrophages. This article reviews recent research shedding light on the favorable effects of helminth infections on T2D. The potential defense mechanisms identified include heightened insulin sensitivity and reduced inflammation. The synthesis of findings from studies investigating parasitic helminths and their derivatives underscores promising avenues for defense against T2D.
Does Maternal Diet Influence Future Infant Taste and Odor Preferences? A Critical Analysis
Authors: Forestell Catherine A.
Published: May 2024

The dietary choices a mother makes during pregnancy offer her developing fetus its earliest exposure to the family's culinary preferences. This comprehensive literature review synthesizes five decades of research, which has provided valuable insights into fetal flavor learning. Converging evidence across various species supports the functionality of fetal chemoreceptive systems by the end of gestation, enabling the detection of an extensive array of chemosensory cues derived from the maternal diet and transmitted to the amniotic fluid. The fetus effectively encodes these flavors, resulting in their enhanced acceptance after birth. While existing studies predominantly concentrate on fetal learning about odor volatiles, limited evidence suggests a capacity for learning about gustatory (i.e., taste) properties. Examining whether these prenatal odor, taste, and flavor experiences translate into enduring shifts in dietary behaviors beyond weaning remains a crucial avenue for further investigation.