bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diapause characterization in the invasive alien mosquito species Aedes koreicus: a laboratory experiment
Authors: Marini Giovanni , Arnoldi Daniele , Inama Enrico , Rizzoli Annapaola
Published: September 2022

Aedes koreicus is an invasive alien mosquito species native to Asia now introduced in several European countries, including northern Italy. In this temperate region, mosquito populations survive cold winter temperatures thanks to diapausing eggs or adults, depending on the species. In its native area, Ae. koreicus was reported to overwinter in the egg stage, but to the best of our knowledge, it is not confirmed whether overwintering eggs are actually diapausing or only in a quiescence stage, i.e., they might hatch as soon as external conditions are favorable. Based on previous laboratory studies, we established a diapausing Ae. koreicus colony, maintained at 21 °C with a photoperiod of 12L:12D. Females were allowed to lay eggs, which were consequently placed in water at different time intervals after oviposition, from 30 days to 5 months. We found that diapausing eggs younger than 3 months have a poor hatching rate, while after about 100 days we observed that almost all eggs hatched. Our findings highlight that water immersion alone did not lead to the hatching of eggs, as age was found to be a significantly important factor. We thus confirm effective diapause, occurring at the egg stage, for Ae. koreicus in a recently invaded area. Moreover, our quantification of diapause duration and hatching success might help in better designing future experiments and improving modeling efforts.

Graphical Abstract
CircPRKCH modulates extracellular matrix formation and metabolism by regulating the miR-145/HGF axis in osteoarthritis
Authors: Que Wenzhong , Liu Huili , Yang Qinqin
Published: September 2022

Background

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease. Extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation is essential for OA progression. Previous studies have shown that circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in the pathological process of OA. CircPRKCH has been shown to be upregulated in OA chondrocytes. The present study was aimed to explore the roles of circPRKCH in vivo and in vitro models of OA and its underlying molecular mechanisms.

Methods

IL-1β-induced chondrocytes and mice injected with monosodium iodoacetate were used as OA models in vitro and in vivo, respectively. RT-qPCR was performed to measure the expression of circPRKCH, miR-145, and HGF in cartilage tissues and chondrocytes. The interaction between miR-145 and circPRKCH or HGF was verified by a dual-luciferase reporter assay. Chondrocyte apoptosis, viability, and ECM-related proteins were examined by flow cytometry, MTT assay, and Western blotting, respectively. Histopathological changes were detected by HE and Safranin O-fast green staining.

Results

The expression of circPRKCH and HGF was increased in OA cartilage tissues and IL-1β-treated chondrocytes, while miR-145 expression was decreased. IL-1β induced chondrocyte apoptosis and ECM degradation in chondrocytes. Moreover, circPRKCH promoted HGF expression and activated HGF/c-MET by directly binding to miR-145. miR-145 knockdown or HGF overexpression significantly reversed circPRKCH knockdown-mediated inhibition of apoptosis and ECM degradation in IL-1β-induced chondrocytes. Besides, miR-145 overexpression alleviated IL-1β-induced chondrocyte apoptosis and ECM degradation by inhibiting HGF/c-MET. Finally, circPRKCH knockdown reduced ECM degradation by regulating the miR-145/HGF axis in an experimental OA model in mice.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated that circPRKCH promoted chondrocyte apoptosis and ECM degradation via the miR-145/HGF axis in OA, which may provide a novel target for OA treatment.
Prognostic factors for the development of systemic lupus erythematosus in patients with immune thrombocytopenia
Authors: Ahn Soo Min , Choi Eun-Ji , Oh Ji Seon , Kim Yong-Gil , Lee Chang-Keun , Yoo Bin , Hong Seokchan
Published: September 2022

Background

Patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) have a risk of developing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We sought to examine the clinical characteristics of patients with primary ITP who later developed SLE and identified the risk factors for the development of SLE.

Methods

We retrospectively examined patients who were diagnosed with primary ITP at a tertiary hospital between August 2001 and November 2019. We compared the clinical characteristics according to the development of SLE. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the factors associated with the development of SLE.

Results

Of 130 patients with primary ITP, 10 (7.7%) were later diagnosed with SLE during follow-up (median, 30 months [IQR, 15.5–105]). The presence of skin bleeding, organ bleeding, lymphocytopenia, anemia, and antinuclear antibody (ANA) positivity (≥ 1:160) were more common among patients who later developed SLE than did those who did not develop SLE. Multivariate analysis showed that young age (< 40 years; odds ratio [OR], 6.307 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.114–34.908];P = 0.035), organ bleeding (OR, 13.672 [95% CI, 2.437–76.689];P = 0.003), and ANA positivity (1:160; OR, 6.638 [95% CI, 1.399–31.504];P = 0.017) were significantly associated with the development of SLE.

Conclusions

Young age (< 40 years), organ bleeding, and ANA positivity (≥ 1:160) were risk factors for the development of SLE in patients with primary ITP. Close follow-up is needed to detect the development of SLE in patients with ITP and the abovementioned risk factors.
Connective tissue growth factor promotes cementogenesis and cementum repair via Cx43/β-catenin axis
Authors: Wu Zuping , He Yuying , Chen Sirui , Zhu Li , Wang Jiahe , Zhang Demao , Xie Jing , Zou Shujuan , Zhou Chenchen
Published: September 2022

Background

Orthodontic tooth movement inevitably induces cementum resorption, which is an urgent problem for orthodontists to confront. Human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) exert an important role in the orthodontic tooth movement and exhibit multidirectional differentiation ability in cementum regeneration. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is an important extracellular matrix protein for bone homeostasis and cell differentiation. The purpose of our study was to explore the role of CTGF in cementum repair and cementogenesis and to elucidate its underlying mechanism.

Methods

A cementum defect model was established by tooth movement with heavy forces, and the cementum repair effect of CTGF was observed via micro-CT, HE staining and immunohistochemical staining. RT‒qPCR, western blotting (WB), alizarin red staining and ALP activity experiments verified the mineralization ability of hPDLSCs stimulated with CTGF. The expression of Cx43 in periodontal ligament cells was detected by WB and immunofluorescence (IF) experiments after CTGF stimulation in vivo and in vitro. Subsequently, the mineralization ability of hPDLSCs was observed after application of CTGF and the small interfering RNA Si-Cx43. Additionally, co-intervention via application of the small interfering RNA Si-CTGF and the Cx43 agonist ATRA in hPDLSCs was performed to deepen the mechanistic study. Next, WB, IF experiments and co-immunoprecipitation were conducted to confirm whether CTGF triggers the Cx43/β-catenin axis to regulate cementoblast differentiation of hPDLSCs.

Results

Local oral administration of CTGF to the cementum defects in vivo facilitated cementum repair. CTGF facilitated the cementogenesis of hPDLSCs in a concentration-dependent manner. Cx43 acted as a downstream effector of CTGF to regulate cementoblast differentiation. Si-Cx43 reduced CTGF-induced cementoblast differentiation. The Cx43 agonist ATRA restored the low differentiation capacity induced by Si-CTGF. Further mechanistic studies showed that CTGF triggered the activation of β-catenin in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, co-localization IF analysis and co-immunoprecipitation demonstrated that Cx43 interacted with β-catenin at cell‒cell connections. Si-Cx43 attenuated the substantial expression of β-catenin induced by CTGF. The Cx43 agonist reversed the inhibition of β-catenin induced by Si-CTGF. IF demonstrated that the nuclear importation of β-catenin was related to the immense expression of Cx43 at cell‒cell junctions.

Conclusions

Taken together, these data demonstrate that CTGF promotes cementum repair and cementogenesis through activation of the Cx43/β-catenin signalling axis.
Silent witnesses: the experience of having a sibling with anorexia nervosa
Authors: Hutchison Suzanne , House Jennifer , McDermott Beth , Simic Mima , Baudinet Julian , Eisler Ivan
Published: September 2022

Background

This study explored the experience of having a sibling with anorexia nervosa and the sibling perspectives on service provision.

Method

Four focus groups were conducted with 14 siblings (8 female, 6 male, age 11–19 years) of adolescents with anorexia nervosa or related restrictive eating disorders. Group discussions were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Four themes and eight sub-themes were generated. These illustrated siblings feel greatly affected by the way the family needs to change to support someone with anorexia nervosa. Feelings of ambivalence and acceptance were also evident. They described silencing their own emotions and needs so as not to trouble others, and distancing themselves from their families in order to cope. Some female (but no male) siblings identified an impact on their own perceptions of eating and body image. Siblings generally felt that services had not attended to their needs, and that they had not been appropriately included in treatment.

Conclusions

Data from this study suggest the sibling experience needs to be more carefully considered and included in treatment. This may include a more explicit invitation to sessions and a more active discussion about their own needs and useful involvement in treatment sessions. Findings point to ways siblings may be better supported, such as peer support groups.
Prediction of mortality and morbidity following paraquat poisoning based on trend of liver and kidney injury
Authors: Gheshlaghi Farzad , Haghirzavareh Jamileh , Wong Anselm , Golshiri Parastoo , Gheshlaghi Shayan , Eizadi-Mood Nastaran
Published: September 2022

Background

Paraquat is a non-selective herbicide that causes severe tissue damage in various organs including the liver and kidney. The aim of this study was to determine the trend of the liver and kidney injury in patients with paraquat poisoning.

Methods

This retrospective cross-sectional study was performed at the Khorshid Hospital referral poisoning emergency center. The medical records of all patients with acute paraquat poisoning admitted from March 2017 to October 2020 were reviewed. Demographic factors, liver and kidney function tests and outcomes were recorded. Patients were divided into two groups based on the outcome of mortality (death or survived). The two groups were compared in terms of changes in creatinine and liver enzymes during hospitalization.

Results

A significant difference in mean creatinine levels between the two groups was observed from the third day after admission. The peak median Cr was 3.5 mg/dl for deceased patients in day 6 and 1.47 mg/dl for survived patients on 4th day. Minor elevations of ALT and AST were present in those who died. Logistic regression analysis shows patients who had level of creatinine higher than normal from the 2nd to 6th day post overdose, the risk of mortality was 4.83 to 7.44 times more than patients with normal creatinine level. The mean (SD) area under the curve for outcome prediction was reported to be excellent for creatinine on the 8th day post overdose (85.7 ± 13.2). Creatinine was higher than 2 on the 8th day post ingestion and had a sensitivity 100% and specificity 85.7% for mortality prediction (P value, 0.05).

Conclusions

The risk of mortality secondary to paraquat ingestion was highly associated with a rise in creatinine. Minor elevations of ALT and AST were also present in those who died. The creatinine concentration on different days post overdose can be helpful in predicting the severity of poisoning especially when the serum paraquat levels are not available.
Needs assessment and planning for a clinic-community-based implementation program for hypertension control among blacks in New York City: a protocol paper
Authors: Gyamfi Joyce , Cooper Claire , Barber Aigna , Onakomaiya Deborah , Lee Wen-Yu , Zanowiak Jennifer , Mansu Moses , Diaz Laura , Thompson Linda , Abrams Roger , Schoenthaler Antoinette , Islam Nadia , Ogedegbe Gbenga
Published: September 2022

Background

Hypertension (HTN) control among Blacks in the USA has become a major public health challenge. Barriers to HTN control exist at multiple levels including patient, physician, and the health system. Patients also encounter significant community-level barriers, such as poor linkage to social services that impact health (unstable housing, food access, transportation). We describe a multi-component needs assessment to inform the development, implementation, and evaluation of a program to improve HTN management within a large healthcare system in New York City (NYC).

Methods

Guided by the Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) frameworks, data will be collected from four main sources: (1) quantitative surveys with health systems leadership, providers, and staff and with community-based organizations (CBOs) and faith-based organizations (FBOs); (2) qualitative interviews and focus groups with health systems leadership, providers, and staff and with CBOs and FBOs; (3) NYC Community Health Survey (CHS); and (4) New York University (NYU) Health system Epic Electronic Health Record (EHR) system. The data sources will allow for triangulation and synthesis of findings.

Discussion

Findings from this comprehensive needs assessment will inform the development of a clinic-community-based practice facilitation program utilizing three multi-level evidence-based interventions (nurse case management, remote blood pressure (BP) monitoring, and social determinants of health (SDoH) support) integrated as a community-clinic linkage model for improved HTN control in Black patients. Integration of stakeholders’ priorities, perspectives, and practices into the development of the program will improve adoption, sustainability, and the potential for scale-up.

Trial registration

NCT05208450; registered on January 26, 2022
From compressive sampling to compressive tasking: retrieving semantics in compressed domain with low bandwidth
Authors: Zhang Zhihong , Zhang Bo , Yuan Xin , Zheng Siming , Su Xiongfei , Suo Jinli , Brady David J. , Dai Qionghai
Published: September 2022

High-throughput imaging is highly desirable in intelligent analysis of computer vision tasks. In conventional design, throughput is limited by the separation between physical image capture and digital post processing. Computational imaging increases throughput by mixing analog and digital processing through the image capture pipeline. Yet, recent advances of computational imaging focus on the “compressive sampling”, this precludes the wide applications in practical tasks. This paper presents a systematic analysis of the next step for computational imaging built on snapshot compressive imaging (SCI) and semantic computer vision (SCV) tasks, which have independently emerged over the past decade as basic computational imaging platforms.

SCI is a physical layer process that maximizes information capacity per sample while minimizing system size, power and cost. SCV is an abstraction layer process that analyzes image data as objects and features, rather than simple pixel maps. In current practice, SCI and SCV are independent and sequential. This concatenated pipeline results in the following problems:i) a large amount of resources are spent on task-irrelevant computation and transmission,ii) the sampling and design efficiency of SCI is attenuated, andiii) the final performance of SCV is limited by the reconstruction errors of SCI. Bearing these concerns in mind, this paper takes one step further aiming to bridge the gap between SCI and SCV to take full advantage of both approaches.

After reviewing the current status of SCI, we propose a novel joint framework by conducting SCV on raw measurements captured by SCI to select the region of interest, and then perform reconstruction on these regions to speed up processing time. We use our recently built SCI prototype to verify the framework. Preliminary results are presented and the prospects for a joint SCI and SCV regime are discussed. By conducting computer vision tasks in the compressed domain, we envision that a new era of snapshot compressive imaging with limited end-to-end bandwidth is coming.
R2 gravity effects on the kinetic axion phase space
Authors: Oikonomou V. K.
Published: September 2022

In this work we consider the effect of an R
2 term on the kinetic misalignment axion theory. By using the slow-roll assumptions during inflation and the field equations, we construct an autonomous dynamical system for the kinetic axion, including the effects of the R
2 term and we solve numerically the dynamical system. As we demonstrate, the pure kinetic axion attractor is transposed to the right in the field phase space, and it is no longer

, but it is

, with

some non-zero value of the scalar field with

. This feature indicates that the kinetic axion mechanism is enhanced, and the axion oscillations are further delayed, compared with the pure kinetic axion case. The phenomenological implications on the duration of the inflationary era, on the commencing of the reheating era and the reheating temperature, are also discussed.
Long-Term Exposure to Neighborhood Policing and the Racial/Ethnic Gap in High School Graduation
Authors: Legewie Joscha , Cricco Nino José
Published: September 2022

Researchers are increasingly exploring the consequences of policing for the educational outcomes of minority youth. This study contributes to this literature by asking three questions. First, what are racial/ethnic disparities in long-term exposure to neighborhood policing? Second, how does this exposure affect high school graduation? Third, how much of the ethnoracial gap in high school graduation would remain if neighborhood policing was equalized? To address these questions, we use data from the New York City Department of Education and follow five cohorts of NYC public school students from middle to high school. Our findings reveal starkly different experiences with neighborhood policing across racial/ethnic groups. Using novel methods for time-varying treatment effects, we find that long-term exposure to neighborhood policing has negative effects on high school graduation, with important differences across racial/ethnic groups. Using gap-closing estimands, we show that assigning a sample of Black and Latino students to the same level of neighborhood policing as White students would close the Black–White gap in high school graduation by more than one quarter and the Latino–White gap by almost one fifth. Alternatively, we explore interventions where policing is solely a function of violent crime, which close the Black–White gap by as much as one tenth. Our study advances previous research by focusing on cumulative, long-term exposure to neighborhood policing and by assessing various counterfactual scenarios that inform research and policy.
The patent landscape in the field of stem cell therapy: closing the gap between research and clinic
Authors: Hernandez-Melchor Dinorah , Lopez-Bayghen Esther , Padilla-Viveros America
Published: September 2022

Stem cell technology is a powerful tool ready to respond to the needs of modern medicine that is experiencing rapid technological development. Given its potential in therapeutic applications, intellectual property rights (IPR) as a protection resource of knowledge are a relevant topic. Patent eligibility of stem cells has been controversial as restrictions to access the fundamental technologies open a gap between research and clinic. Therefore, we depicted the current patent landscape in the field to discuss if this approach moves forward in closing this breach by examining patent activity over the last decade from a transdisciplinary perspective. Stem cell therapeutic applications is an area of continuous growth where patent filing through the PCT is the preferred strategy. Patenting activity is concentrated in the USA, European Union, and Australia; this accumulation in a few key players leads to governance, regulation, and inequality concerns. To boost wealthiness and welfare in society - stem cell therapies' ultimate goal - while at post-pandemic recovery, critical elements in the field of IPR rise to overcome current limitations: to promote bridge builders able to connect the research and business worlds, regulatory updates, novel financing models, new vehicles (startups, spinouts, and spin-offs), and alternative figures of intellectual property.
Desirable attributes of theories, models, and frameworks for implementation strategy design in healthcare: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Porat-Dahlerbruch Joshua , Fontaine Guillaume , Bourbeau-Allard Ève , Spinewine Anne , Grimshaw Jeremy M. , Ellen Moriah E.
Published: September 2022

Background: Implementation strategies can facilitate the adoption of evidence-based practices and policies. A wide range of theoretical approaches—theories, models, and frameworks—can be used to inform implementation strategy design in different ways (e.g., guiding barrier and enabler assessment to implementing evidence-based interventions). While selection criteria and attributes of theoretical approaches for use in implementation strategy design have been studied, they have never been synthesized. Furthermore, theoretical approaches have never been classified according to desirable criteria and attributes for use in implementation strategy design. This scoping review aims to a) identify the literature reporting on the selection of theoretical approaches for informing implementation strategy design in healthcare and b) understand the suggested use of these approaches in implementation strategy design.

Methods: The Joanna Briggs Institute methodological guidelines will be used to conduct this scoping review. A search of three bibliographical databases (MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL) will be conducted for peer-reviewed discussion, methods, protocol, or review papers. Data will be managed using the Covidence software. Two review team members will independently perform screening, full text review and data extraction.

Results: Results will include a list of selection criteria and attributes of theoretical approaches for use in research on implementation strategy design. Descriptive data regarding selection criteria and attributes will be synthesized graphically and in table format. Data regarding the suggested use of theoretical approaches in implementation strategy design will be presented narratively.

Conclusions: Results will be used to classify existing theoretical approaches according to the attributes and selection criteria identified in this scoping review. Envisioned next steps include an online tool that will be created to assist researchers in selecting theories, models, and frameworks for implementation strategy design.
Innovation management involvement among persons with disabilities in Malaysia
Authors: Yee Yen Yuen , Wu Jian Yong Eddie , Teoh Ming Yen Wendy
Published: September 2022

Background: As Malaysia struggles with the battle to retain talented workers, the retention of persons with disabilities (PWDs) remains a major challenge in innovation management. Malaysia currently has the lowest retention of PWDs in innovation management in The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The purpose of this study is to develop a unique framework to enhance the inclusion of PWDs in Malaysia. 

Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to 200 PWDs in the central region of Malaysia.  

Results: Based on the results of this research, four crucial variables (salary, compensation, career advancement and reward management) contributed to the lack of involvement in innovation management among PWDs in Malaysia. 

Conclusions: This study focuses on 200 PWDs in Malaysia. Despite the fact that PWDs’ involvement in innovation management is the lowest, there is a lack of research initiative and practitioner commitment to address this issue. Serving as preliminary research in Malaysia, this study develops a unique framework to fill the gap.
Effects of exercise training and dietary supplement on fat free mass and bone mass density during weight loss – a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Authors: Roth Anja , Sattelmayer Martin , Schorderet Chloé , Gafner Simone , Allet Lara
Published: September 2022

Background: After a diet- or surgery induced weight loss almost 1/3 of lost weight consists of fat free mass (FFM) if carried out without additional therapy. Exercise training and a sufficient supply of protein, calcium and vitamin D is recommended to reduce the loss of FFM.

Objective: To investigate the effect of exercise training, protein, calcium, and vitamin D supplementation on the preservation of FFM during non-surgical and surgical weight loss and of the combination of all interventions together in adults with obesity.

Methods: A systematic review was performed with a pairwise meta-analysis and an exploratory network meta-analysis according to the PRISMA statement.

Results: Thirty studies were included in the quantitative analysis. The pairwise meta-analysis showed for Exercise Training + High Protein vs. High Protein a moderate and statistically significant effect size (SMD 0.45; 95% CI 0.04 to 0.86), for Exercise Training + High Protein vs. Exercise Training a high but statistically not significant effect size (SMD 0.91; 95% CI -0.59 to 2.41) and for Exercise Training alone vs. Control a moderate but statistically not significant effect size (SMD 0.67; 95% CI -0.25 to 1.60). In the exploratory network meta-analysis three interventions showed statistically significant effect sizes compared to Control and all of them included the treatment Exercise Training.

Conclusions: Results underline the importance of exercise training and a sufficient protein intake to preserve FFM during weight loss in adults with obesity. The effect of calcium and vitamin D supplementation remains controversial and further research are needed.
Katılma Nöbeti Olan Hastalarda B12 Vitamini ve Folik Asit Düzeyleri
Authors: AYDIN Hilal , BUCAK İbrahim , ERDOĞAN Sümeyye
Published: September 2022

Amaç: Katılma nöbetleri, çocukluk çağında görülen iyi huylu, paroksismal olmayan bir hastalıktır. Katılma nöbetlerinin patogenezi çok açık değildir. Patogenezde otonom sinir sistemi disfonksiyonu, demir eksikliği, genetik yatkınlık, interlökin 1, nitrik oksit ve serebral eritropoietinin sorumlu olabileceği ileri sürülmektedir. Bu çalışmada katılma nöbeti olan hastalar ile sağlıklı grup arasında B12 vitamini ve folik asit düzeylerinin karşılaştırılması amaçlandı.
Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çocuk nörolojisi kliniğinde katılma nöbeti tanısı konulan 51 olgu çalışma grubuna (Grup 1), genel pediatri kliniğine başvuran 78 sağlıklı hasta kontrol grubuna (Grup 2) alındı. Çalışma ve kontrol gruplarında hemoglobin, hematokrit, ortalama eritrosit hacmi, vitamin B12, folik asit, ferritin, demir ve demir bağlama kapasiteleri karşılaştırıldı.Bulgular: Çalışma grubunda ortalama folat düzeyi 18.92±12.83 (5.27-91) ng/mL, kontrol grubunda ortalama folat düzeyi 9.95±8.92 (2-37) ng/mL, ortalama B12 düzeyi çalışma grubu 274.13±214.37 (75-1201) pg/mL, kontrol grubunda ortalama B12 düzeyi 408.82±194.18 (120-959) pg/mL’di. Gruplar arasında B12 vitamini ve folik asit düzeylerinde istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark bulundu (p=0.000, p=0.002). Atak gruplarının (<15/ay, >15/ay) B12 vitamini (p=0.570) ve folik asit (p=0.643) düzeyleri arasında anlamlı fark saptanmadı.
Sonuç: Bu çalışma sonucunda katılma nöbeti olan hastalarda B12 vitamini ve folik asit düzeylerinin rutin olarak değerlendirilmesi gerektiği kanaatine varıldı.
MİLLÎ VE KÜLTÜREL KİMLİK SEMBOLİZMİ BAĞLAMINDA XARIBÜLBÜL
Authors: KESKİN Ahmet
Published: September 2022

Xarıbülbül, Azerbaycan’da başta Şuşa olmak üzere Karabağ bölgesinde yetişen ve toplum tarafından “dünyanın başka hiçbir yerinde yetişmediğine” inanılan, bu doğrultuda hakkında türlü inanç ve anlatılar bulunan çok renkli ve çiçekli bir bitkidir. Bülbül, gül ve dikenin bir arada bulunduğu ilginç bir fiziki yapıya sahip olduğu için “dikenli bülbül” anlamına geldiği kabul edilen “Xarıbülbül” sözcüğüyle ifade edilen bu bitkinin Azerbaycan tarihinde, kültüründe, folklorunda, sanatında kendine özel bir yer edindiği anlaşılmaktadır. Nitekim Hanlıklar döneminden itibaren başta şaire Ağabegüm/Ağabeyim Ağa (Ağabacı) Cevanşir ile ilişkilendirilmek üzere hakkında çok sayıda inanç, anlatı ve manzume oluşturulan bu bitkinin Azerbaycan halk kültürünün çeşitli alanlarında zengin ve dikkat çekici görünümleri belirginleşmiştir. Öte yandan Xarıbülbülün, 1990larda başlayan çatışmalar ve 2020 yılında gerçekleşen 44 günlük bir mücadelenin ardından Azerbaycan ordusunun zaferiyle sonuçlanan Vatan Muharebeleri sürecinde ve hemen sonrasında oldukça dikkat çekici bir şekilde Karabağ Zaferi’nin, bu mücadelenin ve zaferin tarihinin, bu mücadele sırasında şehit olan Azerbaycan askerlerinin ve genel olarak da Azerbaycan’ın özgürlüğünün ve bağımsızlığının sembolü haline dönüştüğü görülmektedir. Bu çalışmada, Xarıbülbülün Azerbaycan tarihinde ve kültüründe, sanatında, edebiyatında, folklorunda tuttuğu yer üzerinde ana hatlarıyla durularak onun Karabağ Savaşı ve Zaferi (Vatan Muharebesi) sürecinde nasıl yeniden millî ve kültürel bir kimlik sembolü haline dönüştüğü konusu ele alınmıştır.
Entropy loading for capacity maximization of RGB-based visible light communications
Authors: Loureiro Pedro A. , Silva Vinicius N. H. , Medeiros Maria C. R. , Guiomar Fernando P. , Monteiro Paulo P.
Published: September 2022

In this work, we propose and experimentally demonstrate an entropy loading technique based on probabilistic constellation shaping for a visible light communication (VLC) system. The aggregated achievable bit rate of a multi-carrier signal is maximized, considering a given pre-estimated signal-to-noise ratio. A study of the ideal number of subcarriers and signal bandwidth was performed using multiplexed red, green and blue lasers diodes with a bandwidth of 1 GHz. With a 20 degree optical diffuser, the communication system is able to cover a wide area at a free-space distance of 0.90 m, while achieving a record aggregate bit rate of 31.2 Gbit/s for single-polarization RGB-VLC systems.
Al/Mo/SiC multilayer diffraction gratings with broadband efficiency in the extreme ultraviolet
Authors: Mahmoud Amr Hisham K. , de Rossi Sébastien , Meltchakov Evgueni , Capitanio Blandine , Thomasset Muriel , Vallet Maxime , Héripré Eva , Delmotte Franck
Published: September 2022

Al/Mo/SiC periodic and aperiodic multilayers were optimized and deposited on high groove density gratings to achieve broadband efficiency in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV). Grating efficiencies were measured by monochromatic synchrotron radiation under 5° and 45° incident angles in the wavelength ranges 17-25 nm and 22-31 nm, respectively. We study the influence of the number of deposited periods on the initial trapezoidal profile and the EUV diffraction efficiency. We propose models of periodic and aperiodic coatings based on a combination of characterizations and compare rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA) simulations with experimental data. We demonstrate the possibility to select the optimal balance between peak efficiency and bandwidth by adjusting the number of periods in the case of periodic multilayer grating. We also report unprecedented broadband diffraction efficiency with an Al/Mo/SiC aperiodic multilayer grating.
Graphene-enhanced hybrid terahertz metasurface sensor for ultrasensitive nortriptyline sensing and detection
Authors: Sun Kai , Li Jining , Ge Liang , Zhong Kai , Wang Yuye , Xu Degang , Yang Xiang , Fu Weiling , Yao Jianquan
Published: September 2022

Graphene is a two-dimensional material with unique physical and chemical properties, whose excellent biocompatibility has also attracted widespread attention in the field of biosensing and medical detection. Graphene provides a novel solution for dramatically improving the sensitivity of terahertz metasurface sensors, since the electrical conductivity can be modified by contact with biomolecules. In this paper, a metal-graphene hybrid metasurface is proposed and demonstrated for high-sensitive nortriptyline sensing based on the plasmon-induced transparency (PIT) resonances. The π-π stacks between nortriptyline and graphene lead to an increase in the Fermi level of graphene and a decrease in the conductivity, thus enhancing the PIT resonance. Experimental results show that the peak-to-peak amplitude magnitude of the PIT window is enhanced up to 3.4-fold with 1 ng nortriptyline analyte, and the minimum detection limit is extended down to 0.1 ng. But no significant change is observed from the samples without graphene as a comparative experiment, which demonstrates that the presence of graphene greatly enhances the bonding to the drug molecules and improves the sensing sensitivity. This metasurface sensor has the advantages of high sensitivity, fast detection speed, label-free and steady properties, which has potential applications in the fields of trace molecular sensing and disease diagnosis.
Virtual grating approach for Monte Carlo simulations of edge illumination-based x-ray phase contrast imaging
Authors: Sanctorum Jonathan , Sijbers Jan , De Beenhouwer Jan
Published: September 2022

The design of new x-ray phase contrast imaging setups often relies on Monte Carlo simulations for prospective parameter studies. Monte Carlo simulations are known to be accurate but time consuming, leading to long simulation times, especially when many parameter variations are required. This is certainly the case for imaging methods relying on absorbing masks or gratings, with various tunable properties, such as pitch, aperture size, and thickness. In this work, we present the virtual grating approach to overcome this limitation. By replacing the gratings in the simulation with virtual gratings, the parameters of the gratings can be changed after the simulation, thereby significantly reducing the overall simulation time. The method is validated by comparison to explicit grating simulations, followed by representative demonstration cases.
Ultrafast dynamic switching of optical response based on nonlinear hyperbolic metamaterial platform: erratum
Authors: Xie Ze Tao , Sha Yanhua , Wu Jiaye , Fu H. Y. , Li Qian
Published: September 2022

We present an erratum to our previously published work [“Ultrafast dynamic switching of optical response based on nonlinear hyperbolic metamaterial platform,” Opt. Express 30(12), 21634 (2022).10.1364/OE.457875]. The corrections do not affect the results and conclusion of the original paper.
Femtosecond inscription of large-area fiber Bragg gratings for high-power cladding pump reflection
Authors: Pelletier-Ouellet Samantha , Talbot Lauris , Mailloux Alain , Trépanier François , Bernier Martin
Published: September 2022

A new, to the best of our knowledge, method for inscribing fiber Bragg gratings inside a fiber’s cladding based on the motorized rotation of the fiber is reported. By minimizing the aberrations induced by the fiber curvature on the femtosecond writing beam, this technique based on a phase mask allows to cover large transverse areas of a standard high-power fiber’s cladding. With this approach, a first-order Bragg grating was inscribed in the pure-silica inner cladding of a 20/400-µm fiber. It was then implemented as a pump reflector at the end of a 36-m-long Yb-doped fiber laser reaching 600 W of output power, confirming the power handling capabilities of such a component. Comparison of the laser performances with and without the pump reflector showcases its great potential for increasing pump absorption inside cladding-pumped fiber lasers, which paves the way for significantly reducing their active fiber length.
Highly sensitive thermometry based on thermal quenching and negative thermal quenching materials
Authors: Lu Hongyu , Zhu Jiang , Lu Yang , Li Jinxin , Wang Jiayu , Zou Hua
Published: September 2022

Suppose that the opposite changes of two emissions with temperature variation may result in a high sensitivity for a ratiometric thermometer; therefore, we design such a thermometer based on thermal quenching and negative thermal quenching materials. Herein, the Sc2Mo3O12:Yb3+/Er3+ and Bi2MoO6:Yb3+/Tm3+ crystals are synthesized via the solid-state reaction, respectively, which have the properties of negative thermal expansion (NTE) and positive thermal expansion (PTE). The composite is obtained through simple mechanical mixing between NTE and PTE crystals, in which the Er3+ and Tm3+ luminescence exhibit enhancement and quenching with increasing temperature, respectively. Based on the fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) technique, the maximum relative sensitivity of the thermometer is 3.80% K−1 in the temperature range of 305–425 K. More importantly, the δT ≈ 0.24 K is relatively small meaning excellent accuracy. These findings indicate that the lanthanide-doped NTE and PTE composites may be good candidates for high sensitivity and accuracy thermometry.
Rapid full-color Fourier ptychographic microscopy via spatially filtered color transfer
Authors: Chen Jiurun , Wang Aiye , Pan An , Zheng Guoan , Ma Caiwen , Yao Baoli
Published: September 2022

Full-color imaging is of critical importance in digital pathology for analyzing labeled tissue sections. In our previous cover story [Sci. China: Phys., Mech. Astron. 64, 114211 (2021)SCPMCL1674-734810.1007/s11433-021-1730-x], a color transfer approach was implemented on Fourier ptychographic microscopy (FPM) for achieving high-throughput full-color whole slide imaging without mechanical scanning. The approach was able to reduce both acquisition and reconstruction time of FPM by three-fold with negligible trade-off on color accuracy. However, the method cannot properly stain samples with two or more dyes due to the lack of spatial constraints in the color transfer process. It also requires a high computation cost in histogram matching of individual patches. Here we report a modified full-color imaging algorithm for FPM, termed color-transfer filtering FPM (CFFPM). In CFFPM, we replace the original histogram matching process with a combination of block processing and trilateral spatial filtering. The former step reduces the search of the solution space for colorization, and the latter introduces spatial constraints that match the low-resolution measurement. We further adopt an iterative process to refine the results. We show that this method can perform accurate and fast color transfer for various specimens, including those with multiple stains. The statistical results of 26 samples show that the average root mean square error is only 1.26% higher than that of the red-green-blue sequential acquisition method. For some cases, CFFPM outperforms the sequential method because of the coherent artifacts introduced by dust particles. The reported CFFPM strategy provides a turnkey solution for digital pathology via computational optical imaging.
Stress-dependent cell stiffening by tardigrade tolerance proteins that reversibly form a filamentous network and gel
Authors: Tanaka Akihiro , Nakano Tomomi , Watanabe Kento , Masuda Kazutoshi , Honda Gen , Kamata Shuichi , Yasui Reitaro , Kozuka-Hata Hiroko , Watanabe Chiho , Chinen Takumi , Kitagawa Daiju , Sawai Satoshi , Oyama Masaaki , Yanagisawa Miho , Kunieda Takekazu
Published: September 2022

Tardigrades are able to tolerate almost complete dehydration by entering a reversible ametabolic state called anhydrobiosis and resume their animation upon rehydration. Dehydrated tardigrades are exceptionally stable and withstand various physical extremes. Although trehalose and late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins have been extensively studied as potent protectants against dehydration in other anhydrobiotic organisms, tardigrades produce high amounts of tardigrade-unique protective proteins. Cytoplasmic-abundant heat-soluble (CAHS) proteins are uniquely invented in the lineage of eutardigrades, a major class of the phylum Tardigrada and are essential for their anhydrobiotic survival. However, the precise mechanisms of their action in this protective role are not fully understood. In the present study, we first postulated the presence of tolerance proteins that form protective condensates via phase separation in a stress-dependent manner and searched for tardigrade proteins that reversibly form condensates upon dehydration-like stress. Through a comprehensive search using a desolvating agent, trifluoroethanol (TFE), we identified 336 proteins, collectively dubbed “TFE-Dependent ReversiblY condensing Proteins (T-DRYPs).” Unexpectedly, we rediscovered CAHS proteins as highly enriched in T-DRYPs, 3 of which were major components of T-DRYPs. We revealed that these CAHS proteins reversibly polymerize into many cytoskeleton-like filaments depending on hyperosmotic stress in cultured cells and undergo reversible gel-transition in vitro. Furthermore, CAHS proteins increased cell stiffness in a hyperosmotic stress-dependent manner and counteract the cell shrinkage caused by osmotic pressure, and even improved the survival against hyperosmotic stress. The conserved putative helical C-terminal region is necessary and sufficient for filament formation by CAHS proteins, and mutations disrupting the secondary structure of this region impaired both the filament formation and the gel transition. On the basis of these results, we propose that CAHS proteins are novel cytoskeleton-like proteins that form filamentous networks and undergo gel-transition in a stress-dependent manner to provide on-demand physical stabilization of cell integrity against deformative forces during dehydration and could contribute to the exceptional physical stability in a dehydrated state.
Optimizing global COVID-19 vaccine allocation: An agent-based computational model of 148 countries
Authors: Li Qingfeng , Huang Yajing
Published: September 2022

Background

Based on the principles of equity and effectiveness, the World Health Organization and COVAX formulate vaccine allocation as a mathematical optimization problem. This study aims to solve the optimization problem using agent-based simulations.

Methods

We built open-sourced agent-based models to simulate virus transition among a demographically representative sample of 198 million people in 148 countries using advanced computational services. All countries continuing their current vaccine progress is defined as the baseline scenario. Comparison scenarios include achieving minimum vaccination rates and allocating vaccines based on pandemic levels.

Findings

The simulations are fitted using the pandemic data from 148 countries from January 2020 to June 2021. Under the baseline scenario, the world will add 24.36 million cases and 468,945 deaths during the projection period of three months. Inoculating at least 10%, 20%, and 26% of populations in all countries requires 1.12, 3.31, and 5.00 million additional vaccine doses every day, respectively. Achieving these benchmarks reduces new cases by 0.56, 2.74, and 3.32 million, respectively. If allocated by the current global distribution, 5.00 million additional vaccine doses will only avert 1.45 million new cases. If those 5.00 million vaccines are allocated based on projected cases in each country, the averted cases will increase more than six-fold to 9.20 million. Similar differences between allocation methods are observed in averted deaths.

Conclusion

The global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines can be optimized to achieve better outcomes in terms of both equity and effectiveness. Alternative vaccine allocation methods may avert several times more cases and deaths than the current global distribution. With reasonable requirements on additional vaccines, COVAX could adopt alternative allocation strategies that reduce cross-country inequity and save more lives.
Dynamic Global Vegetation Models: Searching for the balance between demographic process representation and computational tractability
Authors: Argles Arthur P. K. , Moore Jonathan R. , Cox Peter M.
Published: September 2022

Vegetation is subject to multiple pressures in the 21st century, including changes in climate, atmospheric composition and human land-use. Changes in vegetation type, structure, and function also feed back to the climate through their impact on the surface-atmosphere fluxes of carbon and water. Dynamic Global Vegetation Models (DGVMs), are therefore key component of the latest Earth System Models (ESMs). Model projections for the future land carbon sink still span a wide range, in part due to the difficulty of representing complex ecosystem and biogeochemical processes at large scales (i.e. grid lengths ≈ 100km). The challenge for developers of DGVMs is therefore to find an optimal balance between detailed process representation and the ability to scale-up. We categorise DGVMs into four groups; Individual, Average Area, Two Dimensional Cohort and One Dimensional Cohort models. From this we review popular methods used to represent dynamic vegetation within the context of Earth System modelling. We argue that the minimum level of complexity required to effectively model changes in carbon storage under changing climate and disturbance regimes, requires a representation of tree size distributions within forests. Furthermore, we find that observed size distributions are consistent with Demographic Equilibrium Theory, suggesting that One Dimensional Cohort models with a focus on tree size, offer the best balance between computational tractability and realism for ESM applications.