bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Self-driven directional dehydration enabled eco-friendly manufacture of chrome-free leather
Authors: Huang Yawen , Xiao Hanzhong , Pu Haoliang , Xue Ni , Hao Baicun , Huang Xin , Shi Bi
Published: May 2022

Manufacture of eco-friendly chrome-free leather is of great significance for realizing sustainable development of leather industry. Conventional tanning theory believes that it is impossible to convert raw hide to leather without the utilization of cross-linking agent (e.g., chrome salts) among collagen fibers in raw hide. Here, we developed a brand-new leather manufacture strategy that relied on the composite dehydration media enabled self-driven directional dehydration mechanism to accomplish chrome-free leather manufacture for the first time, rather than followed the classic cross-linking mechanism that has been obeyed for more than one century in leather industry. We demonstrated that the essence of leather making is to regulate the water content in raw hide rather than to form cross-linkage among collagen fibers. The composite dehydration media comprised of anhydrous ethanol and molecular sieves (3A activated zeolite powder) successfully guaranteed continuous self-driven directional dehydration of raw hide by establishing stable water concentration gradient between raw hide and ethanol, which significantly increased the dispersity of collagen fibers in raw hide (with the water content reduced from 56.07% to 5.20%), thus obtaining chrome-free leather that is more ecological than chrome-tanned leather due to the elimination of any tanning agent. The as-prepared chrome-free leather exhibited outstanding tear force (174.86 N), tensile strength (24.56 N mm−2), elongation at break (53.28%) and dry-thermal stability, superior to chrome-tanned leather. Notably, the used composite dehydration media was recyclable for chrome-free leather manufacture, therefore facilitating an environmentally benign leather manufacture process. Our investigations are expected to open up a new conceptual leather making strategy that is applicable for realizing substantial manufacture of eco-friendly leather.

Graphical abstract
Suicidal ideation and behavior among subjects with substance abuse disorder related to pregabalin
Authors: Ibrahim Abdallah Saad , Bayomy Reem Hassan , Hussein Ramadan Abdelbr , Yousef Usama Mahmoud , Elazab Waleed Eleraky
Published: May 2022

Background

Although pregabalin abuse is increasing worldwide and may be associated with increased suicidal ideation and behavior, few studies were done in Egypt searching for the effect of pregabalin on suicide. Eighty-three patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for substance abuse disorders related to pregabalin were identified from the addiction clinic of EL Khanka Psychiatric Hospital in Egypt for this observational cross–sectional study. We intended to assess suicidal ideation and behavior in patients with substance abuse disorder related to pregabalin and to identify the effects of other comorbid substances of abuse. All participants were subjected to semi-structured interview designed to collect and identify the socio-demographic data and patterns of substances 'use ,The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders to diagnose patients with substance abuse disorder “related to pregabalin,” Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation for assessment of suicidal ideation and behavior and urine screening test for pregabalin and other substances of abuse.

Results

Most of participants used pregabalin continuously {86.7%}. More than seventy nine percent of the patients abused both pregabalin and other substances, tramadol 67.4%, heroin 66.3%, cannabis 65.1%, other drugs 44.6%, and benzodiazepines 27.7%. Screening urine test was positive in 62.7% of participants most frequently was heroin 41% and cannabis 34.9%. No suicidal ideation was found in 67.4%, 19.3% had low risk of suicide, and 13.3% had high risk of suicide so total participants who had suicidal ideation were 32.6%. There was statistical significant increase in risk of suicide among patients who were continuously abusing pregabalin and who had positive pregabalin urine test. There was significant positive correlation between Beck Suicidal Ideation score and duration of abusing pregabalin, maximum and daily dose of pregabalin. Also, there was a statistical significant relation between suicidal ideation and associated tramadol abuse and this was positively correlated with dose and duration of tramadol abuse.

Conclusions

About one third of patients abusing pregabalin had a risk of suicide and this risk increased with associated tramadol abuse so pregabalin abuse is dangerous like other substances of abuse and must be used with caution under strict medical supervision
The limited use of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant for fit older patients with multiple myeloma in India: a retrospective analysis
Authors: Revannasiddaiah Swaroop , Nagaraju Prathap Raja Varma Muppalla Ayalgar , Palassery Rasmi , Jagadish Apoorva , Maka Vinayak V. , Kilara Nalini , Rondelli Damiano , Devadas Santhosh Kumar
Published: May 2022

Background

Multiple myeloma (MM) predominantly affects older patients; many of whom do not undergo autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (AHSCT) despite the associated survival benefits. This study was conceived to investigate the patterns of AHSCT among MM patients with due regard to their age and standardized fitness assessments.

Methods

Fitness scores as per the hematopoietic stem cell transplant-comorbidity index (HSCT-CI) and risk scores as per the revised-myeloma comorbidity index (R-MCI) of MM patients treated between January 2017 and December 2019 were analyzed to assess fitness for AHSCT. Proportions of patients who underwent AHSCT were calculated with regard to age and fitness for AHSCT.

Results

Of the 81 eligible patient records with a median age of 62 years, the HSCT-CI classified 79.6% and 77.8% of patients aged ≤65 years and >65 years as AHSCT eligible (p 1). Using the R-MCI, 96.3% and 81.5% of patients aged ≤65 years and >65 years, respectively, were classified as eligible for AHSCT (p 0.0381). Overall, patients aged ≤65 years underwent AHSCT with a greater frequency compared to those aged >65years (38.9 vs. 14.8%, p 0.0402). Irrespective of the age group, there was a statistically significant difference (p 0.0167) in terms of survival which favored those who underwent AHSCT.

Conclusions

Both the HSCT-CI and the R-MCI revealed that nearly 80% of patients aged >65 years were fit enough to receive AHSCT. However, far fewer patients of this age group underwent AHSCT. We propose that the routine inclusion of objective fitness assessment could ensure that fit older patients undergo AHSCT and thus do not miss out on the benefits of the same.
Thymus CT-grading and rebound hyperplasia during COVID-19 infection: a CT volumetric study with multivariate linear regression analysis
Authors: Samir Ahmed , Bastawi Rim Aly , Baess Ayman Ibrahim , Sweed Rania Ahmed , Eldin Omnia Ezz
Published: May 2022

Background

The importance of thymic CT-grading and presence of thymic rebound hyperplasia during COVID-19 infection were only investigated in a few studies. This multivariate study aims to evaluate the relation between thymus CT-grading and rebound during COVID-19 infection and the following: (1) the patients' age, (2) the patients' blood lymphocytic count, (3) the CT-volumetry of the diseased lung parenchyma, (4) the patient's clinical course and prognosis, and finally (5) the final radiological diagnosis.

Results

Multicenter retrospective analyses were conducted between March and June 2021 on 325 adult COVID-19 patients with positive PCR results and negative history of malignant or autoimmune diseases. They included 186 males and 139 females (57.2%:42.8%). Their mean age was 40.42 years ± 14.531 SD. Three consulting radiologists performed CT-grading of the thymus gland (grade 0–3) and CT-severity scoring (CT-SS) of the pathological lung changes in consensus. Two consulting pulmonologists correlated the clinical severity and blood lymphocytic count. Pearson correlation coefficient (r) and linear regression analyses were statistically utilized. Sub-involuted thymus (with CT-grade 0:2) was detected in 42/325 patients (12.9%); all of them had a mild clinical course and low CT-SS (0–1). Thymic rebound hyperplasia was the only positive CT-finding in 15/325 patients (4.6%) without pathological lung changes. A weak positive significant correlation was proved between thymic grade and patient's age, clinical course, and CT-SS (r = 0.217, 0.163, and 0.352 with p ≤ 0.0001, < 0.0001, and 0.002, respectively). A weak negative significant correlation was found between thymic grade and lymphocytic count (r = − 0.343 and p ≤ 0.0001). A strong positive significant correlation was encountered between clinical severity against patients' age and CT-SS (r = 0.616 and 0.803 with p ≤ 0.0001).

Conclusions

The presence of sub-involuted thymus or thymic rebound should not be radiologically overlooked in COVID-19 patients. During COVID-19 infection, the presence of sub-involuted thymus with low CT-grading (0–2) was correlated with young age groups, low CT-severity scoring, mild clinical course, and better prognosis (good prognostic factor). It was seldom seen in old hospitalized patients. Atypically, it was also correlated with normal lymphocytic count or even lymphocytosis. The thymic rebound could be the only positive CT-finding even during the absence of lung involvement.
Revisiting Cantillon's Admirable Theory of Distribution and Value: A Misinterpretation Corrected
Authors: Grieve Roy H.
Published: May 2022

The question at issue in this article is whether Richard Cantillon, notwithstanding his high reputation as an analyst of economic phenomena, failed to construct a tenable theory of value. That is a not uncommon allegation or implication found in the current literature. Several assessments of Cantillon's work do him a disservice by saddling him with a crude and unsatisfactory theory of value—specifically a “land-embodied” explanation of relative commodity values. That may at present be described as the dominant reading. While it is true that not all interpreters of Cantillon take the land-embodied line, it is nevertheless high time that the misrepresentation of Cantillon as the proponent of a land theory of value be called into question. This serious error needs to be highlighted and a proper understanding of Richard Cantillon's remarkably insightful analysis of distribution and value brought more firmly into mainstream thinking. This article wishes to establish that Cantillon was offering not—as alleged—a crude land-embodied explanation of relative values but, on the contrary, a viable cost-of-production treatment, set firmly in the contemporary social context (an approach that would be further developed by Smith and Marx as appropriate to later economic and social conditions).
How the Phillips Curve Shaped Full Employment Policy in the 1970s: The Debates on the Humphrey-Hawkins Act
Authors: Goutsmedt Aurélien
Published: May 2022

This article relates the history of economists' influence in shaping the content of the Humphrey-Hawkins Act (1978) and its immediate consequences. The act committed the federal government to reducing unemployment to 4 percent and inflation to 3 percent as soon as 1983. Initially, the Humphrey-Hawkins bill was conceived as a project to favor the economic integration of African Americans and economic planning and targeted only the unemployment rate. Republican senators successfully pushed for adding a numerical inflation target during the debates in Congress. The act eventually put on equal footing inflation and unemployment. This article argues that the economists in the Carter administration, and notably the Council of Economic Advisers, were instrumental, even if unintentionally, in favoring the integration of an inflation target and such an interpretation of the bill. In the negotiations that opposed them to the supporters of the bill, as well as in the analysis of the bill they produced, they insisted on the existence of a trade-off between inflation and unemployment and referred frequently to the famous Phillips curve. They endeavored to anchor their expertise on academic publications, which strengthened the role of the Phillips curve in shaping the debates. Business organizations and senators used references to the trade-off to undermine the bill and favor the integration of an inflation target.
Ni-MOF with Dual Organic Ligands Derived Pt-Ni Alloy Catalyst for Highly Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Zhang Zewu , Dai Yifan , He Zhaohui , Wang Zhizhi , Ji Hongjin , Lu Linhan , Wu Yin , Bu Xiaohai
Published: May 2022

N-doped carbon-modified carbon nanotube/Pt-Ni alloy catalysts were prepared via a thermal decomposition of Ni-MOF with dual organic ligands (triethylene diamine and terephthalic acid). Different from the individual Pt and Ni nanoparticles derived from Ni-MOF with a single organic ligand, the dual organic ligands bestow the obtained Pt-Ni nanoparticles with alloy structure. The fabricated catalyst exhibits significant hydrogen evolution reaction activity and stability in the alkaline solution, with an overpotential of −196 mV to achieve 10 mA cm−2. Moreover, the TOF value of CNT/Pt-Ni catalyst is 2.1 times greater than the incumbent commercial Pt/C catalyst (at the overpotential of −300 mV), demonstrating it as a promising electrocatalyst for water splitting reaction.
Mental health, suicide attempt, and family function for adolescents’ primary health care during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Rojas-Torres Indiana-Luz , Ahmad Mostapha , Martín Álvarez Juan Manuel , Golpe Antonio A , Gil Herrera Richard de Jesús
Published: May 2022

Background: The study’s purpose was to identify associations between mental health risk, suicide attempts, and family function.  

Methods: A correlational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was carried out in a group of adolescents in the last grade of secondary school to establish the association between mental health risk, suicide attempt, and family functionality. The instruments used were the self-report questionnaire, the suicide risk assessment scale, and the family APGAR. Data analysis was performed using the artificial intelligence algorithm (gower clustering). 

Results: 246 adolescents responded to the three instruments, which made it possible to select those with correlations of sensitive interest and, based on these, an intervention plan. Psychological distress was found in 28%, psychotic symptoms in 85%, and problematic alcohol use in 9%. Good family functioning was identified in 34% and some type of family dysfunction in 66%. In terms of suicide risk, there was a low suicide risk of 74%, 24% medium risk, and 2% high risk. It could be shown that there is a correlation in a group of 15% of the respondents. 

Conclusions: The risk of suffering mental health deterioration and the suicide risk, during this pandemic period, seems to be related to family functionality.
The third international hackathon for applying insights into large-scale genomic composition to use cases in a wide range of organisms
Authors: Walker Kimberly , Kalra Divya , Lowdon Rebecca , Chen Guangyi , Molik David , Soto Daniela C. , Dabbaghie Fawaz , Khleifat Ahmad Al , Mahmoud Medhat , Paulin Luis F , Raza Muhammad Sohail , Pfeifer Susanne P. , Agustinho Daniel Paiva , Aliyev Elbay , Avdeyev Pavel , Barrozo Enrico R. , Behera Sairam , Billingsley Kimberley , Chong Li Chuin , Choubey Deepak , De Coster Wouter , Fu Yilei , Gener Alejandro R. , Hefferon Timothy , Henke David Morgan , Höps Wolfram , Illarionova Anastasia , Jochum Michael D. , Jose Maria , Kesharwani Rupesh K. , Kolora Sree Rohit Raj , Kubica Jędrzej , Lakra Priya , Lattimer Damaris , Liew Chia-Sin , Lo Bai-Wei , Lo Chunhsuan , Lötter Anneri , Majidian Sina , Mendem Suresh Kumar , Mondal Rajarshi , Ohmiya Hiroko , Parvin Nasrin , Peralta Carolina , Poon Chi-Lam , Prabhakaran Ramanandan , Saitou Marie , Sammi Aditi , Sanio Philippe , Sapoval Nicolae , Syed Najeeb , Treangen Todd , Wang Gaojianyong , Xu Tiancheng , Yang Jianzhi , Zhang Shangzhe , Zhou Weiyu , Sedlazeck Fritz J , Busby Ben
Published: May 2022

In October 2021, 59 scientists from 14 countries and 13 U.S. states collaborated virtually in the Third Annual Baylor College of Medicine & DNANexus Structural Variation hackathon. The goal of the hackathon was to advance research on structural variants (SVs) by prototyping and iterating on open-source software. This led to nine hackathon projects focused on diverse genomics research interests, including various SV discovery and genotyping methods, SV sequence reconstruction, and clinically relevant structural variation, including SARS-CoV-2 variants. Repositories for the projects that participated in the hackathon are available at https://github.com/collaborativebioinformatics.
Antiproliferative activity of standardized herbal phytopreparation from Asclepias subulata
Authors: González Gutiérrez Francisco Humberto , Rascón Valenzuela Luisa Alondra , Meneses Sagrero Salvador Enrique , Dias-Silva Marcelo J. , Valenzuela Antelo Olivia , Velazquez Carlos , Vilegas Wagner , Robles Zepeda Ramón Enrique
Published: May 2022

Background: Several studies have shown that active compounds of Asclepias subulata (cardenolides) have antiproliferative effect on human cancer cells. Cardenolides isolated from A. subulata can be used as active chemical markers to elaborate phytopharmaceutical preparations. To evaluate the antiproliferative effect of a standardized extract of the aerial parts, based on Asclepias subulata cardenolides.

Methods: Four standardized extracts were prepared by HPLC-DAD depending on the concentration of calotropin and the antiproliferative activity was measured for the MTT assay, on the A549, MCF-7, HeLa, PC3 and ARPE cell lines. The concentrations of calotropin used for the standardization of the extracts were 10, 7.6, 5 and 1 mg/dL.

Results: Standardization of the A. subulata extract based on calotropin at 7.6 mg/g dry weight was achieved and the antiproliferative activity was evaluated over A549, HeLa and MCF-7 cell lines, obtaining proliferation percentages of 3.8 to 13.4%.

Conclusions: The standardized extracts of A. subulata at different concentrations of calotropin showed antiproliferative activity against all the cell lines evaluated. The greatest effect was observed against the HeLa cell line.
Marine plant mediated green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using mangrove Rhizophora stylosa: Effect of variable process and their antibacterial activity
Authors: Willian Nancy , Syukri Syukri , Zulhadjri Zulhadjri , Pardi Hilfi , Arief Syukri
Published: May 2022

Background: Most natural plants used in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles are limited to marine plants. To carry out applications, colloidal silver nanoparticles (AgNps) should have appropriate properties such as homogeneous shapes, small and narrow particle size distribution, and long time stability. This study aims to determine the effects of a variable process of AgNps mediated mangrove Rhizophora stylosa (RS) leaf extract, and antibacterial activity. 

Methods: Synthesis of AgNps was carried out by stirring silver nitrate solution with aqueous extract. The characterization of AgNps was carried out using UV-Vis spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) zetasizer and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Evaluation of antibacterial activity was carried out on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Reaction conditions such as the concentration of metal ions (0.001 M, 0.005 M, and 0.01 M), extracts (1%, 3%, and 5% v/v), and the reaction time on the size and stability of nanoparticles were also explored.

Results: The UV-Vis spectroscopy showed an absorption of colloidal AgNps in a wavelength range of 403–443 nm.  TEM analysis showed that as-synthesized AgNps were spherical in shape with a size range of 5–87 nm. The use of 0.001 M and 0.005 M of Ag+ resulted in a smaller diameter than the synthesized AgNps, using 0.01 M Ag+, in the same extract concentration. The range of zeta potential was -24.9 mV to -27.7 mV. The as-synthesized AgNps were stable for more than one month. The XRD analysis showed four peaks, which were attributed to the face centered cubic crystal structure of metallic silver. The results of the silver nanoparticles synthesis showed good activity on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, with an inhibition zone between 4.1–7.2 mm.

Conclusions: The AgNps synthesized with RS leaf extract, which is a reducing agent, showed good potential as an antibacterial component.
Pipeline Interventions
Authors: Arunachaleswaran Eshwar Ram , Kannan Sampath , Roth Aaron , Ziani Juba
Published: May 2022

We introduce the pipeline intervention problem, defined by a layered directed acyclic graph and a set of stochastic matrices governing transitions between successive layers. The graph is a stylized model for how people from different populations are presented opportunities, eventually leading to some reward. In our model, individuals are born into an initial position (i.e., some node in the first layer of the graph) according to a fixed probability distribution and then stochastically progress through the graph according to the transition matrices until they reach a node in the final layer of the graph; each node in the final layer has a reward associated with it. The pipeline intervention problem asks how to best make costly changes to the transition matrices governing people’s stochastic transitions through the graph subject to a budget constraint. We consider two objectives: social welfare maximization and a fairness-motivated maximin objective that seeks to maximize the value to the population (starting node) with the least expected value. We consider two variants of the maximin objective that turn out to be distinct, depending on whether we demand a deterministic solution or allow randomization. For each objective, we give an efficient approximation algorithm (an additive fully polynomial-time approximation scheme) for constant-width networks. We also tightly characterize the “price of fairness” in our setting: the ratio between the highest achievable social welfare and the social welfare consistent with a maximin optimal solution. Finally, we show that, for polynomial-width networks, even approximating the maximin objective to any constant factor is NP hard even for networks with constant depth. This shows that the restriction on the width in our positive results is essential.
Comparative Evaluation and Environmental Importance of Removal of Methyl Orange by Photocatalysis and Mgo Nanoparticle
Authors: Shivaprasad H Shivaprasad H , D. P. Nagarajappa D. P. Nagarajappa
Published: May 2022

The treatment of the coloured effluents is gaining huge attention in recent years. Use of nanomaterials to treat wastewaters have been the subject of active research and development worldwide in recent years. To outcome of experimental findings on degradation of methyl orange by MgO nanoparticle through adsorption and nano photocatalysis are presented in this paper. The effects of pH, stirring/contact/irradiation time, dye concentration, adsorbent dosage is investigated. At the optimum conditions of experimentation, 63.9% and 72.3% of methyl orange removal by nano photocatalytic and adsorption process are recorded. The analysis of adsorption isotherms indicated that the experimental data fitted very will built both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms.
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Ado-Ekiti Roadside Soil, Nigeria: Distribution, Source Identification, Composition Profiles, and Toxic Potential
Authors: Ibigbami Olayinka Abidemi
Published: May 2022

The study considered the level, origin with toxic potentials of PAHs in soil roadside of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. Gas chromatographic technique was employed for the identification of PAHs after extraction and silica gel cleanup. Average concentration of the PAHs ranged from ND – 51.6 ± 46.7µg/kg, while total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (TPAHs) ranged of 61.8±32.3 - 204±28.0 µg/kg with contamination pattern of ADY ? AJI ? EKSU ? NNPC. The percentage distribution of LMW ranged from 17.3 – 54.2%, while the HMW-PAHs showed 46.0 - 82.7%. The PAHs pattern was dominated majorly by 5- and 6- ring with distribution range of 15.1 and 43.2%. The overall diagnostic ratios of the soils suggested pyrogenic, coal/wood/grass/vehicular combustion in most cases. To evaluate the toxicity of the PAHs in the samples, PAHs toxic equivalence factors (TEFs) revealed that carcinogenic PAHs contributed majorly (over 95%) to toxicity of the soil.
Climate Change and the Indian Economy – A Review
Authors: Sharma Manisha , Singh Rasal , Kathuria Abha
Published: May 2022

India occupies an intriguing position in the context of climate change and economic development. Blessed with enormous resources (Forests, solar energy, etc.), but short of the capital and technical know-how, India’s journey to a net-zero carbon economy is a marathon. Immediate climate change policies like COP26 often meet reluctance and stress the economy. Climate change has inevitably started altering the climatic dimensions and is now causing substantial damage to the Indian economy. Yet, not aspiring an emission-less economy will hamper the development of the future. The energy demands often clash with climate-change policies. Agriculture too is affected by climate change, making half of the Indian population vulnerable. This paper presents an empirical study on the above-mentioned issues. The material and methods involve theoretical data extracted from the “Assessment of Climate Change over the Indian Region report 2020” issued by the Indian government and several other esteemed research papers. The objective of this paper is to highlight the climatic variations and how they leave an impact on the economy. At the same time, it presents suggestions to channel the climatic adversities and boost the economy. Adopting green goals and gradually shifting to a clean and green economy will hold the key with respect to India.
An Appraisal of Legal Framework for Groundwater Governance in Punjab
Authors: Sidhu Jasleen Kaur , Chopra Meenu
Published: May 2022

Groundwater (GW) in India is emerging as the major source of water which contributes about 85% to drinking water supply in rural areas and 62% to irrigation. In Punjab, GW provides irrigation to more than 72% of the area under the rice-wheat cropping system and it has played a key role in its emergence as 'granary of India’. But the area under rice, a water-guzzling crop grown in the state during summer, has increased tremendously, i.e., from 3.90 lac hectares in 1970-71 to 31.03 lac hectares in 2018-19. The runaway growth of GW irrigation has also contributed to the depletion of the water table and thereby posing a huge environmental challenge. In this paper, an attempt has been made to review the development of the legal framework for GW governance and its effect on the groundwater situation in the state. However, the increasing stress on aquifers due to GW irrigation has been reduced to an acceptable degree by strengthening and enforcement of legal framework coupled with a set of incentives and disincentives for improving its efficiency. The Punjab Preservation of Sub-soil Water Act 2009 coupled with some minor technical interventions have contributed to a reduction in the consumption of irrigation water by 413liters per kg of production of rice due to a change in the crop calendar of rice and following the wheat. It is being increasingly acknowledged that for effective GW governance in Punjab, science and policy for GW use need to ?ank and complementsthe legal frameworks.
Agroforestry as an Agro-Ecological Pathway to phase-out chemical Fertilizer Application in Smallholder Farms in Cameroon: State-of-the-Art and Policy Implications
Authors: Tsufac Azembouh Roshinus , Awazi Nyong Princely , Tchamba Martin Ngankam
Published: May 2022

Man and ecosystems are highly threatened by the abusive application of chemical fertilizers in a bid to enhance soil fertility and improve crop productivity. These chemical fertilizers pose serious health risks to farmers and the population at large and contribute to short and long-term soil degradation. Thus, this study was initiated to examine how agroforestry can contribute towards phasing out chemical fertilizers application in smallholder farms in the south west region of Cameroon. Data collection was done from secondary and primary sources and analyzed using inferential and descriptive statistics. Microsoft Excel 2013 and SPSS version 17 were used to run the descriptive and inferential statistics. It was found that silvopastoral, agrosilvopastoral and agrosilvicultural systems were the most dominant agroforestry systems, with different agroforestry practices like coffee-based agroforestry plantations, cut and carry fodder, home gardens, trees/shrubs on farmlands, cocoa-based agroforestry plantations, live fences, improved fallows and home gardens with livestock characterizing these three agroforestry systems. These agroforestry systems provided different ecosystem services to agroforestry practitioners with the most common being food, fuelwood, finance/income, and climate moderation. Besides food and soil fertility enhancement, very limited or no chemical fertilizer was used to obtain the other ecosystem services. There was an inverse relationship (p<0.05) between ecosystem services of agroforestry systems and chemical fertilizer application, demonstrating that chemical fertilizers are not needed to enhance the ecosystem services of agroforestry systems. There was equally an inverse relationship (p<0.05) between agroforestry systems and chemical fertilizer application, indicating that farmers’ practice of agroforestry reduces chemical fertilizer application on farms. Agroforestry is therefore recommended as a sustainable pathway to limit and/or eradicate farmers’ application of chemical fertilizers.
The role of macronutrients and micronutrients in wound healing: a narrative review
Authors: Penny Harry , Flores Regino , Pennington Elisabeth , Pedersen Anthony , Tran Son
Published: May 2022

There is an extensive amount of research and literature discussing the role of various nutrients throughout the wound healing process. Despite the importance of nutrition in wound healing, dietary protocols often remain absent from wound care standards. This may be due to a lack of comprehensive literature that summarises the complexities and considerations associated with nutrient deficiency and supplementation into an easily accessible and inclusive reference tool. The purpose of this review is to assess the nutrients with key roles in the wound healing process, and subsequently provide information that enables optimisation of nutrition in wound healing. The goal is to consolidate the complexities associated with this topic into a simple, easy-to-use reference tool. We have identified the most important nutrients required for optimal wound healing and condensed the findings into an inclusive chart to be utilised in a clinical setting. This reference tool will include patient populations at risk of deficiency, the stage of wound healing in which each nutrient is required, delivery method and recommended daily intake, outpatient recommendations for rich food sources of each nutrient, and considerations associated with each nutrient.
Physician wound certification: a much-needed reality too long denied
Authors: Simman Richard , McNevin Anthony
Published: May 2022

Over the past 20 years, the number of physicians who focus their practice on wounds and wound care has grown slowly but significantly. It is estimated that there are >13,000 physicians who practice wound care but who have no ‘home’ to nurture their discipline and ensure, through standards and best practices, quality in the care they deliver. Unlike most others, these physicians pursue patient care without a certifying medical board to confirm the quality of their care and the scope of their practice. Because organised medicine correctly insists on quality in the care physicians deliver, it is time to establish a subspecialty in wound care. However, establishing a new subspecialty is a very challenging task. It raises questions of overlapping jurisdiction with other medical boards, about the multiplicity of subspecialties and the challenge of ensuring that enough physicians will seek certification to cover the costs of examinations, etc. All of these issues can be met with satisfactory responses. The time for action is now.
Management of splint bone fractures
Authors: Mathee Nicoli , Stack John David
Published: May 2022

Owing to their superficial position on the lower limb, close approximation to the suspensory ligament and rather insubstantial nature, it is unsurprising that splint bone fractures are commonly encountered in practice. These fractures can be caused by either external or internal trauma, and can take a number of configurations. Treatment and prognoses differ depending on the location, configuration and age of the fracture, as well as involvement of adjacent soft tissue structures, the third metacarpal or metatarsal bone, or the carpometacarpal or tarsometatarsal joints. However, despite the frequency of splint bone fractures, there is no consensus regarding appropriate treatment. Management consists of conservative or surgical strategies, both of which have distinct advantages and disadvantages. Most reports consist of small case series and clinical experience. This review article presents current information and guidance for managing splint bone fractures.
Uterine diagnostics: what is the best sample?
Authors: Chedgey Emma
Published: May 2022

Uterine disease, particularly endometritis, is commonly encountered in equine reproduction and has major implications for mare fertility and breeding economics. A thorough reproductive examination, combined with selection of appropriate uterine diagnostics and interpretation of those findings, is essential in the work up of cases of mare infertility. Addition of endometrial cytology and alternative culture methods, such as the low-volume lavage and uterine biopsy, will increase the clinician's diagnostic sensitivity and specificity.

The practitioner's approach to the investigation of uterine disease in the field and required techniques are described in this review article.
Avoiding pitfalls in today's pre-purchase examinations
Authors: Burrows Imogen
Published: May 2022

The pre-purchase examination is a complex procedure, providing not only clinical, but logistical and communication challenges to surmount. Practitioners should aspire to deliver an excellent level of client service and fairly interpret whether any condition identified prejudices the suitability of the horse for a specific use, dispelling the perception that clinicians practise defensive medicine. In recent times, an unprecedented number of horses are being bought unseen and the technology used to enable this presents a new array of potential pitfalls. A plethora of literature is available discussing clinical diligence during the examination itself, including how to assess individual body systems in the most effective manner. This article focuses on how pitfalls can be identified and avoided with good preparation, as well as the impact of how the pre-purchase examination is evolving in the digital era.
Pre-Service Primary Teachers’ Mathematics Teaching Efficacy on Entry to Initial Teacher Education
Authors: Hourigan Mairéad , Leavy Aisling M.
Published: May 2022

Mathematics teaching efficacy is an important construct as confidence in one’s ability to teach influences teaching practices. This paper explores pre-service primary teachers’ mathematics teaching efficacy on entry to initial teacher education and the extent that pre-tertiary mathematics experiences and resultant beliefs affected their mathematics teaching efficacy. A mixed-methods approach combined the Mathematics Teaching Efficacy Beliefs Instrument (N=420) and qualitative interviews (N=30). The findings suggest medium personal mathematics teaching efficacy among participants with limited conceptions of what mathematics teaching involves. While uncertain regarding their immediate teaching ability, participants reported confidence regarding their potential. Mathematics teaching outcome expectancy was high; however, an undercurrent of conviction exists that external factors, most notably learners’ natural mathematical ability, are critical to student learning.
Quantifying the quality of optical vortices by evaluating their intensity distributions
Authors: Szatkowski Mateusz , Norton Brandon , Masajada Jan , Porras-Aguilar Rosario
Published: May 2022

Optical vortices are widely used in optics and photonics, impacting the measurements and conclusions derived from their use. Thus, it is crucial to evaluate optical vortices efficiently. This work aims to establish metrics for evaluating optical vortex quality to support the implementation procedure and, hence, provide a tool supporting research purposes and technological developments. We propose to assess vortex quality using the following intensity parameters: eccentricity, cross-sectional peak-to-valley, cross-sectional peak difference, and the doughnut ratio. This methodology provides a low-cost, robust, and quantitative approach to evaluating optical vortices for each specific optical technology.
All-fiber surface-enhanced Raman scattering detection system combining an integrated microfluidic chip and micro-lensed fiber
Authors: Zheng Dongqiao , Li Wei , Zhao Benyang , Yang Zhao , Xia Li
Published: May 2022

It is a challenge to perform simple and rapid detection of substances due to their complex structure. Biochemical molecules play a vital role in human health and environmental testing. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection has the characteristics of strong specificity and real-time performance. At present, most SERS systems are expensive and not portable. Here, we demonstrate a SERS detection system with all-fiber connection, combined with a microfluidic chip and micro-lenses. Compared with the conventional SERS system that uses the spatial optical path, the devices in our system are connected by optical fibers, making the system more stable and operable. Besides, the microfluidic chips are introduced to further improve the system integration and stability. Owing to the micro-lensed fiber probe, the detected Raman signal intensity is increased by 2–3 times. We anticipate that the presented work will lead toward a rapid and portable SERS system and corresponding detection system. It also lays the foundation for real-time recognition in various complex environments in the design of a future optical fiber system.
Non-interferometric volumetric imaging in living human retina by confocal oblique scanning laser ophthalmoscopy
Authors: Shao Wenjun , Yi Ji
Published: May 2022

Three-dimensional (3D) imaging of the human retina is instrumental in vision science and ophthalmology. While interferometric retinal imaging is well established by optical coherence tomography (OCT), non-interferometric volumetric imaging in the human retina has been challenging up to date. Here, we report confocal oblique scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (CoSLO) to fill that void and harness non-interferometric optical contrast in 3D. CoSLO decouples the illumination and detection by utilizing oblique laser scanning and oblique imaging to achieve ∼4x better axial resolution than conventional SLO. By combining remote focusing, CoSLO permits the acquisition of depth signals in parallel and over a large field of view. Confocal gating is introduced by a linear sensor array to improve the contrast and resolution. For the first time, we reported non-interferometric 3D human retinal imaging with >20° viewing angle, and revealed detailed features in the inner, outer retina, and choroid. CoSLO shows potential to be another useful technique by offering 3D non-interferometric contrasts.
Low-cost high-resolution photoacoustic microscopy of blood oxygenation with two laser diodes
Authors: Li Xiufeng , Yeung Kylie , Tsang Victor T. C. , Huang Bingxin , Lo Claudia T. K. , Wong Terence T. W.
Published: May 2022

Optical-resolution photoacoustic microscopy (OR-PAM) has been widely used for imaging blood vessel and oxygen saturation of hemoglobin (sO2), providing high-resolution functional images of living animals in vivo. However, most of them require one or multiple bulky and costly pulsed lasers, hindering their applicability in preclinical and clinical settings. In this paper, we demonstrate a reflection-mode low-cost high-resolution OR-PAM system by using two cost-effective and compact laser diodes (LDs), achieving microvasculature and sO2 imaging with a high lateral resolution of ∼6 µm. The cost of the excitation sources has dramatically reduced by ∼20–40 times compared to that of the pulsed lasers used in state-of-the-art OR-PAM systems. A blood phantom study was performed to show a determination coefficient R2 of 0.96 in linear regression analysis. Experimental results of in vivo mouse ear imaging show that the proposed dual-wavelength LD-based PAM system can provide high-resolution functional images at a low cost.
Skin tissue perfusion mapping triggered by an audio-(de)modulated reference signal
Authors: Borik Stefan , Procka Patrik , Kubicek Jakub , Hoog Antink Christoph
Published: May 2022

Spatial mapping of skin perfusion provides essential information about physiological processes that are often hidden from the eyes of the examining physician. The perfusion map quality depends on several key factors, such as the camera system type, frame rate, sensitivity, or signal-to-noise ratio. When investigating physiological parameters, the reference signal allows for increasing the spatial resolution of the photoplethysmography imaging (PPGI) system. On the other hand, it increases the system complexity and the synchronization prerequisites. Our solution is a hardware device that modulates the reference biosignal into the audio frequency band. This signal is connected to the mic input of a digital camera or a smartphone, enabling the transformation of such a device into a PPGI measurement system even in the case of compressed video recording using lock-in amplification technique. It also brings the possibility of synchronous recording of PPGI and another reference signal such as conventional photoplethysmogram or electrocardiogram.
Vivid reflective color generation mechanism in Al/AAO/Al configuration
Authors: Wang Huimin , Huang Liqing , Zhang Yu , Cai Yakun , Cheng Lin , Zhai Lipeng , Liu You , Zhang Xiangzhe , Zhu Jingping
Published: May 2022

Lithography-free metal-dielectric-metal (M/D/M) configuration has attracted tremendous interest for vivid reflective color generation, especially the M/anodic aluminum oxide (AAO)/Al configuration due to its simple, cost-effective and flexible preparation processes. However, the physical mechanism of structural color generation in M/AAO/Al configuration has not been sufficiently discussed. Here, the Al/AAO/Al configurations with distinct vivid reflective colors were prepared. To reveal the color generation mechanism, the bumpy nanopore Al island film (BAlIpore) was proposed as the top meal layer. The optical properties of BAlIpore and BAlIpore/AAO/Al configurations are investigated by both experimental and finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The results indicate that BAlIpore/AAO/Al configuration can generate vivid reflective colors due to the large enhancement and widening of the absorptive band in the reflective spectrum, which is the result of the strong coupling between the broadband local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and destructive interference (thin-film interference) supported by BAlIpore and BAlIpore/AAO/Al, respectively. Furthermore, the optical properties of the Al/AAO/Al configuration with a planar nanopore Al film (PAlpore) as the top metal layer are investigated by FDTD method and the results indicate that the PAlpore/AAO/Al configuration can’t result in vivid reflective colors because of the limit enhancement and widening of the absorptive band in the reflective spectrum, which resulted in the weak coupling between weak broadband non-resonance scattering and F-P resonance supported by the PAlpore and PAlpore/AAO/Al, respectively. The results contribute to our understanding of the vivid reflective color generation mechanism in the M/AAO/Al configuration and can be used to develop a reflective filter, color display, etc.
1D quasi-bound states in the continuum with large operation bandwidth in the ω∼k space for nonlinear optical applications
Authors: Sun Kaili , Jiang Hui , Bykov Dmitry A. , Van Vien , Levy Uriel , Cai Yangjian , Han Zhanghua
Published: May 2022

The phenomenon of bound state in the continuum (BIC) with an infinite quality factor and lifetime has emerged in recent years in photonics as a new tool to manipulate light–matter interactions. However, most of the investigated structures only support BIC resonances at very few discrete points in the

ω
∼
k

space. Even when the BIC is switched to a quasi-BIC (QBIC) resonance through perturbation, its frequency will still be located within a narrow spectral band close to that of the original BIC, restricting their applications in many fields where random or multiple input frequencies beyond the narrow band are required. In this work, we demonstrate that a new set of QBIC resonances can be supported by using a special binary grating consisting of two alternatingly aligned ridge arrays with the same period and zero-approaching ridge width difference on a slab waveguide. These QBIC resonances are distributed continuously over a broad band along a line in the

ω
∼
k

space and can thus be considered as 1D QBICs. With the

Q

factors generally affected by the ridge difference, it is now possible to arbitrarily choose any frequencies on the dispersion line to achieve significantly enhanced light–matter interactions, facilitating many applications where multiple input wavelengths are required; e.g., sum or difference frequency generations in nonlinear optics.
Experimental demonstration of robust nanophotonic devices optimized by topological inverse design with energy constraint
Authors: Zhang Guowu , Xu Dan-Xia , Grinberg Yuri , Liboiron-Ladouceur Odile
Published: May 2022

In this paper, we present the experimental results for integrated photonic devices optimized with an energy-constrained inverse design method. When this constraint is applied, optimizations are directed to solutions that contain the optical field inside the waveguide core medium, leading to more robust designs with relatively larger minimum feature size. We optimize three components: a mode converter (MC), a 1310 nm/1550 nm wavelength duplexer, and a three-channel C-band wavelength demultiplexer for coarse wavelength division multiplexing (CWDM) application with 50 nm channel spacing. The energy constraint leads to nearly binarized structures without applying independent binarization stage. It also reduces the appearance of small features. In the MC, well-binarized design, improved insertion loss, and cross talk are obtained as a result. Furthermore, the proposed constraint improves the robustness to fabrication imperfections as shown in the duplexer design. With energy constraint optimization, the corresponding spectrum shifts for the duplexer under

±
10
  
nm

dimensional variations are reduced from 105 nm to 55 nm and from 72 nm to 60 nm for the 1310 nm and 1550 nm channel, respectively. In the CWDM demultiplexer, robustness toward

±
10
  
nm

fabrication error is improved by a factor of 2. The introduction of the energy constraint into topological optimization demonstrates computational gain with better-performing designs.