bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Calcification in sea urchin larvae is associated with low metabolic costs
Authors: Hu Marian Y. , Bassarab Tina M. , Chang William W. J. , Tetzlaff Smilla L. , Strohbach Feli , Dupont Sam , Stumpp Meike
Published: October 2024

The energetic costs of generating calcium carbonate skeletons and shells in marine organisms remain largely speculative because of the scarcity of empirical data. However, this information is critical for estimating energetic limitations of marine calcifiers that can explain their sensitivity to changes in sea water carbonate chemistry in past, present and future marine systems. Here, the cost of calcification was evaluated using larval stages of the purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. We developed a skeleton re-mineralization assay, in which the skeleton was dissolved in live larvae followed by a re-mineralization over a few days. During skeleton re-mineralization, energetic costs were estimated through the measurement of key metabolic parameters including whole-animal metabolic rate, citrate synthase (CS) enzyme activity and mRNA expression as well as mitochondrial density in the calcifying primary mesenchyme cells (PMCs). Minor increases in CS activity and a 10–15% increase in mitochondrial density in PMCs were observed in re-mineralizing larvae as compared with control larvae. Re-mineralization under three different pH conditions (pH 8.1, pH 7.6 and pH 7.1) decreased with decreasing pH, accompanied by pronounced increases in CS expression levels and increased mitochondrial density in PMCs at pH 7.6. Despite a prominent increase in mitochondrial density of primary mesenchyme cells, particularly in the calcifying cohort of this cell type, this work demonstrated a low overall metabolic response to increased mineralization rates at the whole-animal level under both high and low pH conditions. We conclude that calcification in sea urchin larvae is compromised under low pH conditions, associated with low energetic efforts to fuel compensatory processes.
BEpipeR: a user-friendly, flexible, and scalable data synthesis pipeline for the Biodiversity Exploratories and other research consortia
Authors: Glück Marcel , Bossdorf Oliver , Thomassen Henri A.
Published: October 2024

Background Large research consortia can generate tremendous amounts of biological information, including high-resolution soil, vegetation, and climate data. While this knowledge stock holds invaluable potential for answering evolutionary and ecological questions, making these data exploitable for modelling remains a daunting task due to the many processing steps required for synthesis. This might result in many researchers to fall back to a handful of ready-to-use data sets, potentially at the expense of statistical power and scientific rigour. In a push for a more stringent approach, we introduce BEpipeR, an R pipeline that allows for the streamlined synthesis of plot-based Biodiversity Exploratories data. Methods BEpipeR was designed with flexibility and ease of use in mind. For instance, users simply choose between aggregating forest or grassland data, or a combination thereof, effectively allowing them to process any experimental plot data of this research consortium. Additionally, instead of coding, they parse most processing information in a user-friendly way through parameter sheets. Processing includes, among others, the creation of a spatially explicit plot-ID template, data wrangling, quality control, plot-wise aggregations, the calculation of derived metrics, data joining to a large composite data set, and metadata compilation. Results With BEpipeR, we provide a feature-rich pipeline that allows users to process Biodiversity Exploratories data in a flexible and reproducible way. This pipeline might serve as a starting point for aggregating the numerous data sets of this and potentially similar research consortia. In this way, it might be a primer for the construction of consortia-wide composite data sets that take full advantage of the consortia’s rich information stocks, ultimately boosting the visibility and participation of individual research projects. Conclusions The BEpipeR pipeline permits the user-friendly processing and plot-wise aggregation of Biodiversity Exploratories data. With modifications, this framework may be easily adopted by other research consortia.
Global trends in research on Artificial Intelligence use in cariology: a bibliometric and altimetric review
Authors: Alves Rigo Danielle Cristina , de Oliveira Rocha Aurelio , Menezes dos Anjos Lucas , Maldonado Garcia Julia , Ramos Isabela , Cristina Goebel Michely , Silveira Santos Pablo , Miranda Santana Carla , Cardoso Mariane
Published: October 2024

Background Artificial Intelligence (AI) has gained significant importance in dentistry, particularly in the field of cariology. The aim of this study was to perform a comprehensive bibliometric and altimetric analysis of research on the application of AI in cariology. Methods The Web of Science database was selected for the search conducted in February 2024, and selection and data extraction were performed independently by two researchers. Collaborative networks were generated using VOSviewer software, while altimetric data were analysed using Dimensions. The relationship between the bibliometric and altimetric data was examined using Spearman correlation. Results The search yielded 355 articles, of which 175 were included, published between 2008 and 2024. The most cited article reached 324 citations. Proof of concept was the most common study design (n=135), and the majority of studies used AI to detect and diagnose dental caries (n=122), with radiography being the most commonly used diagnostic method (n=99). The author with the highest number of articles was Schwendicke F (n=15), and the leading institution was Charite University, Berlin (n=13). China was the leading country in terms of research output (n=28) and Asia was the leading continent (n=54). The use of AI in cariology has been shown to improve diagnostic accuracy, reduce unnecessary interventions and optimise patient outcomes. Research interest in AI for cariology has increased significantly over the past five years, particularly in Asia. Conclusion These findings suggest significant clinical benefits and highlight the need for further research, particularly clinical trials, to validate these applications in practice.
Autoimmune liver disease revealed by Tuberculosis treatment: report of two cases and literature review
Authors: Tababi Ramzi , Kchir Hela , Debbabi Habiba , Nefzi Ahmed , Yacoub Haythem , Cherif Dhouha , Hassine Hajer , Bellil Khadija , Haouet Slim , Maamouri Nadia
Published: October 2024

Abstract This article presents two patients who were diagnosed with autoimmune liver disease (autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary cholangitis overlap syndrome) during anti-tuberculosis therapy, which is a rarely reported occurrence. It highlights the challenges in distinguishing drug-induced liver injury from authentic autoimmune liver disease. It also points out the importance of considering autoimmune liver disease as a potential diagnosis revealed by the setting of drug-induced liver injury.
A retrospective feedback analysis of objective structured clinical examination performance of undergraduate medical students
Authors: Alsahafi Akram , Newell Micheál , Kropmans Thomas
Published: October 2024

Introduction Feedback is an essential component of medical education, enhancing the quality of students' knowledge and skills. However, providing effective feedback, particularly in clinical skills assessments like Objective Structured Clinical Examinations [OSCEs], often poses challenges. This study aimed to evaluate the content of OSCE feedback given to undergraduate medical students over five years. Methods A retrospective analysis of 1034 anonymised medical students' OSCE performance was conducted, focusing on written feedback. The written feedback data were randomly selected from OSCE sessions, collected from university assessment records and anonymised for ethical considerations. R software was used to identify the most frequently repeated words in the examiners’ feedback text, and word cloud charts were created to visualise the responses. Results Word clouds generated from the top 200 most frequently used terms provided visual insights into common descriptive words in feedback comments. The most frequently repeated word over five years was "good," indicative of potentially non-specific feedback. Discussion The high frequency of non-specific terms like "good" suggests a need for more specific, constructive feedback. However, such generic terms can offer some positive reinforcement, more than they may be needed to foster significant improvement. As previously proposed in the literature, adopting structured feedback forms may facilitate the delivery of more specific, actionable feedback. Conclusion This study emphasises the importance of providing specific, actionable feedback in medical education to facilitate meaningful student development. As medical education continues to evolve, refining feedback processes is crucial for effectively guiding students' growth and skill enhancement. Using structured feedback forms can be a beneficial strategy for improving feedback quality.
A PRODUÇÃO CINEMATOGRÁFICA ENQUANTO ESPAÇO POLÍTICO E EDUCACIONAL: Uma análise do filme “o clube do imperador”
Authors: Harmony da Silva Denis
Published: October 2024

O cinema na sociedade moderna possui, dentre tantos outros aspectos, o poder de influenciar o comportamento do indivíduo em coletividade, além de fornecer um conjunto de possibilidades didático-pedagógicas para o ensino formal (a escolarização), pois, o filme exibido em sala de aula provoca, a partir da sensibilidade semiótica, a criação e/ou recriação de novos sentidos, ‘sabores’ e olhares; ou seja, uma leitura ou releitura crítica do mundo concebido, percebido e vivido pelo(s) estudante(s) no processo de aprendizagem, a partir da produção cinematográfica inserida no ambiente escolar. Dessa forma, o presente artigo expõe dois objetivos centrais: primeiro, compreender o cinema enquanto espaço político e cultural concebido socialmente, e, conjuntamente, analisar as produções cinematográficas na qualidade de recursos didáticos e formativos; sendo, portanto, elemento canalizador na potencialidade de uma (nova) consciência humana. Contudo, restringe-se a este estudo, uma análise, do filme The Emperor´s Club (O Clube do Imperador), lançado em 2002, nos Estados Unidos da América.
A QUEBRADA É QUENTE: Gênero e infância na periferia de São Paulo
Authors: Vedovato Martins João Rodrigo
Published: October 2024

Pensar os marcadores de gênero e infância na periferia é um desafio múltiplo. Há uma relativa ausência nos debates de gênero o recorte de infância e nos estudos de infância há um distanciamento de se considerar o marcador social de gênero. Essa inquietação e curiosidade teórica e analítica suscitou a realização de uma etnografia em uma Escola Municipal de Educação Infantil no extremo norte da cidade de São Paulo. A intersecção dos marcadores de gênero, infância e periferia foram pensados a partir da performatividade de gênero das crianças no território, ou de uma cartografia social do gênero naquele contexto. Desta forma, tornou-se possível analisar as relações e sociabilidades das crianças com os demais atores sociais, as quais apontaram para alguns qualificadores e referenciais de gênero na periferia – o funk e o universo do crime. As expressões das crianças estavam atravessadas por representações e uma estilística de gênero socialmente valorizada e comumente compartilhada.
Interband cascade laser absorption sensor for sensitive measurement of hydrogen chloride in smoke-laden gases using wavelength modulation spectroscopy
Authors: Fetter Kyle L. , Munera Laura , Watts Makayla A. , Pineda Daniel I.
Published: October 2024

A tunable interband cascade laser sensor, based on wavelength
modulation absorption spectroscopy near 3.73 µm, was
developed to measure hydrogen chloride gas concentration in
smoke-laden environments associated with the overhaul stages of
firefighting. Wavelength selection near 2678cm−1 targets the P(0,9) transition within
the fundamental vibrational band of HCl, chosen for its absorption
strength and isolation from CO2, H2O, and CH4, as well as proximity to absorption
features of other toxicant gases of interest in firefighting
applications. Both scanned-wavelength direct absorption with a Voigt
lineshape-fitting routine and a wavelength modulation spectroscopy
absorption method are employed to recover species concentration. The
laser sensor is paired with a compact commercial off-the-shelf
1 m multipass optical gas cell modified to use polished Alloy
20 steel mirrors for increased corrosion resistance against humid and
acidic gases, and it is tested by sampling effluent gases from
pyrolyzing and burning solid samples of polyvinyl chloride under a
radiant heating apparatus in a laboratory fume hood. The wavelength
modulation spectroscopy method is demonstrated to enable measurement
at the near-ppm-level within a compact form-factor and to provide
insights into the thermochemical pyrolysis processes that lead to the
formation of hydrogen chloride when polyvinyl chloride is exposed to
radiant heating.
Scalable SOA-based Banyan optical space switch on InP membrane on silicon (IMOS)
Authors: Feyisa Desalegn Wolde , Abdi Salim , Jiao Yuqing , Calabretta Nicola , Stabile Ripalta
Published: October 2024

Optical switches (OS) are vital for meeting modern data centers’ capacity and latency needs, overcoming the bandwidth and speed limitations that electronic switches encounter. To this end, this work proposes a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA)-based OS on the IMOS, a unique platform with a combination of high refractive index contrast for compactness and monolithic active-passive integration for active functionalities, thereby enabling the creation of compact SOA-based OSes. An 8 × 8 Banyan SOA-based OS is integrated on a 4 × 4 mm2 area on the standard 4 × 6 mm2 IMOS cell. This marks the first application of the IMOS technology platform for SOA-based OSes and sets the stage for compact and large-scale monolithic photonic integrated OS circuits. The basic 2 × 2 switch module delivers a high optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) and an extinction ratio (ER) above 45 dB. Employing NRZ-OOK routing on the 2 × 2 basic OS module, a 15 dB input power dynamic range (IPDR) is achieved within a 1 dB power penalty at 12.5 Gb/s. Data routing at higher data rates of 25 Gb/s and 40 Gb/s incurs power penalties of 0.8 and 1.4 dB, respectively. Furthermore, data routing for a 3-stage 8 × 8 switch operating at 25 Gb/s results in a power penalty of 1.2 dB. Compared to the 1-stage 2 × 2 switch, only a 0.4 dB additional penalty is observed despite incorporating 2 additional SOAs in the cascade. This indicates that the switch can scale to higher radix to accommodate multi-stage switches with numerous ports, large bandwidth, and fast speed, which is essential in modern large-scale data centers.
Limitations of beam-control compensation
Authors: Kalensky Matthew , Getts Darren , Banet Matthias T. , Burrell Derek J. , Hyde Milo W. , Spencer Mark F.
Published: October 2024

In this paper, we use wave-optics simulations to explore the limitations of beam-control compensation. We evaluate performance in terms of the normalized power in a diffraction-limited bucket for the cases of no beam-control compensation, perfect phase compensation, and perfect full-field compensation. From these results, we are able to arrive at the following conclusions: (1) without any form of beam-control compensation, performance begins to degrade when D/r0 > 1; (2) with perfect phase compensation, performance begins to degrade when D/r0 > 1 and (λ/r0)/θ0 > 1; and (3) with perfect full-field compensation, performance begins to degrade when D/r0 > 1 and (λ/D)/θ0 > 1. Here, D is the aperture diameter, r0 is the Fried parameter, λ is the wavelength, and θ0 is the isoplanatic angle. We show (1)–(3) to be true for varying aperture diameters, uniformly distributed turbulence, and varying turbulence profiles. These findings will inform the development of future laser systems that need to sense and correct for the effects of atmospheric turbulence.
Aperture partitioning holographic metasurface for the generation of a directional vortex beam
Authors: Li Sihao , Feng Qiang , Liu Haixia , Han Jiaqi , Shi Yan , Li Long
Published: October 2024

In this paper, what we believe to be a new aperture partitioning holographic metasurface is designed to effectively generate a directional vortex beam with mixed orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes. The proposed holographic metasurface consists of four adjacent doughnut-shaped regions, and a monopole probe is set in the center for feeding. These four well-designed regions generate four different OAM mode numbers of -1, -2, -3, and -4 respectively, and thus realize a directional vortex beam with mixed OAM modes. The proposed holographic metasurface operating at 10 GHz is simulated, fabricated, and measured. The measurement results agree well with the simulation results. The realized directional vortex beam contains both beam directionality and rich vortex phase vibrations property, which makes it useful in improving vortex beam transmission distance and applications in Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) communication systems.
Autofluorescence imaging guided needle-type Raman spectroscopy system for breast tumor margin assessment
Authors: Chen Shuyu , Chen Qian , Zhang Ruoyu , Yang Houpu , Xie Fei , Wang Shu , Liu Lihui , Schmitt Michael , Popp Jürgen , Wang Jianfeng
Published: October 2024

A trajectory-tracked, near-infrared autofluorescence imaging guided, biochemical signature-projected needle-type Raman spectroscopy (TNBN-RS) system integrated on a medical cart was developed for rapid wide-field breast tissue stratification. A wide-field (10 × 10 cm2) near-infrared autofluorescence (NIRAF) imaging subsystem was developed for gross stratification of breast tissue types based on higher NIRAF intensity associated with breast cancer, followed by projection of NIRAF-identified breast tumor margins onto the tissue of interest with a compact projector. Raman spectra were further acquired from the NIRAF projected regions for confirmed margin assessment using a needle-type Raman probe equipped with color camera-based probe trajectory tracking. The trajectory of the Raman probe and the accompanying RS biochemical signature-based margin assessment were instantly projected. A unique field of view (FOV) calibration method was proposed to calibrate the TNBN-RS FOVs, resulting in a projection accuracy of <2 mm. A graphical user interface (GUI) was developed in C# for system control, real-time processing and display of NIRAF images, Raman spectra, and projection of their results. The performance of the TNBN-RS system was validated on an ex vivo breast tissue, demonstrating its potential for rapid intraoperative breast tumor margin assessment.
Motion-induced phase shift for dynamic structured light measurement
Authors: Kang Li , Liu Huazhen , Zhang Yijia , Chui Hsiang-Chen , Yang Jiamiao
Published: October 2024

Structured light 3D shape measurement is extensively utilized in semiconductor inspection, smart manufacturing, and biomedical imaging due to its rapid measurement speed, high precision, and versatile applicability to different objects. However, the traditional implementations of this method often require that the object remains static while recording the phase-shifting structured light images, which limits the adaptability of dynamic measurement. Here, we propose a dynamic 3D shape measurement using structured light based on a motion-induced phase shift (MIPS). As the object moves, the surface features distort the fringe pattern, resulting in a phase-shifting effect. By employing the MIPS method, we can determine the phase even in the situations where the knowledge of phase-shifting conditions is not accurate. This enables the acquisition of the 3D topography of the object surface with a high level of precision. Experimental results demonstrate that the MIPS method can accurately measure the 3D shape of objects moving as fast as 100 mm/s, with a relative discrepancy of less than 0.23%.
Four-wave mixing in a laser diode gain medium induced by the feedback from a high-Q microring resonator
Authors: Sokol Daria M. , Dmitriev Nikita Yu , Chermoshentsev Dmitry A. , Koptyaev Sergey N. , Masalov Anatoly V. , Lobanov Valery E. , Bilenko Igor A. , Shitikov Artem E.
Published: October 2024

Laser diodes are widely used and play a crucial role in myriad modern applications including nonlinear optics and photonics. Here, we explore the four-wave mixing effect in a laser diode gain medium induced by the feedback from the high-Q microring resonator. This phenomenon can be observed at a laser frequency scan close to the microresonator eigenfrequency, prior to the transition of the laser diode from a free-running to a self-injection locking regime. The effect opens up the possibility for generation of remarkably low-noise, stable, and adjustable microwave signals. We provide a detailed numerical study of this phenomenon proven with experimental results and demonstrate the generation of the signals in the GHz range. The obtained results reveal the stability of such regime and disclose the parameter ranges enabling to achieve it. Cumulatively, our findings uncover, to our knowledge, a novel laser diode operation regime and pave the way for the creation of new types of chip-scale, low-noise microwave sources, which are highly demanded for diverse applications, including telecommunication, metrology, and sensing.
Bispectral camouflage metasurfaces compatible with microwave diffuse emission and tunable infrared emissivity
Authors: Wang Lei , Xu Cuilian , Jiang Jinming , Yan Mingbao , Chu Zuntian , Sun Huiting , Wang Jun , Sui Sai , Wang Jiafu , Fan Qi , Han Yajuan
Published: October 2024

With the rapid development of detection technology and artificial intelligence, the widespread use of multispectral detectors has increased challenges to stealth capabilities. This paper presents a bispectral camouflage metasurface with microwave diffuse emission and tunable infrared (IR) emissivity, achieving an integrated design for radar cross-section (RCS) reduction and tunable IR emissivity. The structure consists of layers from bottom to top: aerogel felt, indium-tin-oxide (ITO), air, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and ITO. It reduces RCS through microwave diffuse reflection and adjusts IR emissivity by controlling the ITO fill ratio. Both simulations and experiments demonstrate effective suppression of electromagnetic (EM) wave backscattering within 4.5–10.3 GHz, achieving radar invisibility. The tunable IR emissivity ranges from 0.2 to 0.7 with good thermal insulation. This design alleviates issues related to structural thickness and processing complexity and avoids increased thermal load from microwave absorption, offering better tunable IR emissivity for various thermal camouflage environments. This metasurface holds significant promise for multispectral stealth and IR camouflage applications.
Exploring novel North Water Polynya ecosystems under climate change
Authors: Gillie Elizabeth R. , Bryndum-Buchholz Andrea , Willis Stephen G. , Eddy Tyler D.
Published: October 2024

Climate change is rapidly reshaping species distributions in the Arctic, which could profoundly impact ecosystem structure and function. While considerable effort has focused on projecting future species distributions, assessing the impacts of range-shifting species on recipient communities and subsequent disruptions to food webs remains largely unstudied. Here, we address this gap by combining species distribution models and ecosystem models to explore the emergence of novel ecosystems in the North Water Polynya. The North Water Polynya is an open-water area between Greenland and Canada, surrounded by sea ice and one of the world’s most productive ocean ecosystems. Using existing literature and projections from species distribution models of four marine species, we develop six plausible future ecosystem scenarios for the North Water Polynya. These scenarios include changing biomass of primary producers, changing biomass and size structure of copepods, shifting abundances of forage fish species, and the establishment of killer whales. We find that the biomass of higher trophic levels show pronounced decreases in response to the decrease in pelagic primary producers, with polar bear biomass halving compared to present conditions. Changes in the copepod size structure has the largest impact on the entire ecosystem compared to the other novel ecosystem scenarios, suggesting a strong reliance of higher trophic levels on large, lipid-rich copepods. We further show that increasing capelin with a simultaneous decrease in Arctic cod biomass causes large decreases in the biomass of marine mammals such as polar bear, beluga and ringed seal. Finally, we show the establishment of killer whales as a key novel predator could have cascading top-down effects on the North Water Polynya ecosystem. The framework presented here provides an approach for exploring the emergence of novel ecosystems and highlights how climate change could disrupt a high Arctic ecosystem.
Use of a continuous single lead electrocardiogram analytic to predict patient deterioration requiring rapid response team activation
Authors: Lee Sooin , Benson Bryce , Belle Ashwin , Medlin Richard P. , Jerkins David , Goss Foster , Khanna Ashish K. , DeVita Michael A. , Ward Kevin R.
Published: October 2024

Identifying the onset of patient deterioration is challenging despite the potential to respond to patients earlier with better vital sign monitoring and rapid response team (RRT) activation. In this study an ECG based software as a medical device, the Analytic for Hemodynamic Instability Predictive Index (AHI-PI), was compared to the vital signs of heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate, evaluating how early it indicated risk before an RRT activation. A higher proportion of the events had risk indication by AHI-PI (92.71%) than by vital signs (41.67%). AHI-PI indicated risk early, with an average of over a day before RRT events. In events whose risks were indicated by both AHI-PI and vital signs, AHI-PI demonstrated earlier recognition of deterioration compared to vital signs. A case-control study showed that situations requiring RRTs were more likely to have AHI-PI risk indication than those that did not. The study derived several insights in support of AHI-PI’s efficacy as a clinical decision support system. The findings demonstrated AHI-PI’s potential to serve as a reliable predictor of future RRT events. It could potentially help clinicians recognize early clinical deterioration and respond to those unnoticed by vital signs, thereby helping clinicians improve clinical outcomes.
Exposure to benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) leads to increased double-strand break formation and germline dysfunction in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Henderson Ayana L. , Karthikraj Rajendiran , Berdan Emma L. , Sui Shannan Ho , Kannan Kurunthachalam , Colaiácovo Monica P.
Published: October 2024

Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), a plasticizer found in a wide range of consumer products including vinyl flooring, carpet backing, food packaging, personal care products, and children’s toys, is an endocrine-disrupting chemical linked to impaired reproduction and development in humans. Despite evidence that BBP exposure perturbs the integrity of male and female gametes, its direct effect on early meiotic events is understudied. Here, using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, we show that BBP exposure elicits a non-monotonic dose response on the rate of X-chromosome nondisjunction measured using a high-throughput screening platform. From among the range of doses tested (1, 10, 100 and 500 μM BBP), we found that 10 μM BBP elicited the strongest effect on the germline, resulting in increased germ cell apoptosis and chromosome organization defects. Mass spectrometry analysis shows that C. elegans efficiently metabolizes BBP into its primary metabolites, monobutyl phthalate (MBP) and monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP), and that the levels of BBP, MBP, and MBzP detected in the worm are within the range detected in human biological samples. Exposure to 10 μM BBP leads to germlines with enlarged mitotic nuclei, altered meiotic progression, activation of a p53/CEP-1-dependent DNA damage checkpoint, increased double-strand break levels throughout the germline, chromosome morphology defects in oocytes at diakinesis, and increased oxidative stress. RNA sequencing analysis indicates that BBP exposure results in the altered expression of genes involved in xenobiotic metabolic processes, extracellular matrix organization, oocyte morphogenesis, meiotic cell cycle, and oxidoreduction. Taken together, we propose that C. elegans exposure to BBP leads to increased oxidative stress and double-strand break formation, thereby compromising germline genomic integrity and chromosome segregation.
Prevalence of caregiver hesitancy for vaccinations in children and its associated factors: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Maamor Nur Hasnah , Muhamad Nor Asiah , Mohd Dali Nor Soleha , Leman Fatin Norhasny , Rosli Izzah Athirah , Tengku Bahrudin Shah Tengku Puteri Nadiah , Jamalluddin Nurul Hidayah , Misnan Nurul Syazwani , Mohamad Zuraifah Asrah , Bakon Sophia Karen , Mutalip Mohd Hatta Abdul , Hassan Muhammad Radzi Abu , Lai Nai Ming
Published: October 2024

This review aimed to systematically compare and pool the prevalence of all the known evidence on caregiver hesitancy and to describe the factors influencing vaccine hesitancy among caregiver worldwide such as COVID-19, MMR, Influenza, HPV and others. We searched article from few electronic databases (PubMed, CENTRAL, ProQuest, and Web of Science) from inception to August 2023 using specific keywords for example caregiver, parents, prevalence, factor, hesitancy, and others. We included population-based studies that reported the prevalence of caregiver hesitancy. We used random-effects meta-analyses for pool prevalence estimates of caregiver hesitancy. A total of 765 studies met our inclusion criteria, containing data on 38,210,589 caregivers from seven regions across the globe. Overall or pool prevalence of vaccine hesitancy among caregiver is 25.0% (95% CI: 0.22–0.27, I2 = 99.91%, p = 0.001). Based on the evidence gathered, vaccine hesitancy was found to be religious sentiments, personal beliefs, perceived safety concerns, and a desire for more information from healthcare providers, along with factors related to availability, accessibility, affordability, and acceptability of vaccinations. Vaccine safety and efficiency have been identified as the main factor for caregiver vaccine hesitancy globally with a prevalence of 91.4%.

Trial registration

PROSPERO registration number: CRD42022331629. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022331629.
Wearable neurofeedback acceptance model for students’ stress and anxiety management in academic settings
Authors: Dias Sofia B. , Jelinek Herbert F. , Hadjileontiadis Leontios J.
Published: October 2024

This study investigates the technology acceptance of a proposed multimodal wearable sensing framework, named mSense, within the context of non-invasive real-time neurofeedback for student stress and anxiety management. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified mental health challenges, particularly for students. Non-invasive techniques, such as wearable biofeedback and neurofeedback devices, are suggested as potential solutions. To explore the acceptance and intention to use such innovative devices, this research applies the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), based on the co-creation approach. An online survey was conducted with 106 participants, including higher education students, health researchers, medical professionals, and software developers. The TAM key constructs (usage attitude, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and intention to use) were validated through statistical analysis, including Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling. Additionally, qualitative analysis of open-ended survey responses was performed. Results confirm the acceptance of the mSense framework for neurofeedback-based stress and anxiety management. The study contributes valuable insights into factors influencing user intention to use multimodal wearable devices in educational settings. The findings have theoretical implications for technology acceptance and practical implications for extending the usage of innovative sensors in clinical and educational environments, thereby supporting both physical and mental health.
Association of self-reported musculoskeletal pain with school furniture suitability and daily activities among primary school and university students
Authors: Loredan Nastja Podrekar , Lipovac Dean , Kastelic Kaja , Šarabon Nejc
Published: October 2024

Students spend a considerable amount of time in school. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and the association between the pain and suitability of school furniture and daily activities among primary school and university students. A total of 238 primary and university students participated in the study. The adapted Nordic questionnaire was used to assess pain prevalence, the BackPEI questionnaire was used to assess school-related factors, and student furniture mismatch calculations were performed to determine the anthropometric suitability of school furniture. Most students did not have a proper body posture while sitting, did not lift objects properly, and used TV and computer frequently. A high student-furniture mismatch was found for seat and desk height. The neck, lower back, shoulders, and upper back were the most affected body parts. Our study confirmed that musculoskeletal pain occurs in primary school students and increases with age, especially lower back pain. Proper backpack wearing was found to be an important factor in alleviating neck pain. Students who sat or lifted objects properly were more likely to report upper back pain, and students whose backrest height was appropriate were more likely to report lower back pain. Further efforts should be made to establish a comparable study protocol using objective methods to obtain more valid and reliable data to study school-related risk factors for musculoskeletal pain in students using prospective study protocols.
Detecting the functional interaction structure of software development teams
Authors: Zingg Christian , von Gernler Alexander , Arzig Carsten , Schweitzer Frank , Gote Christoph
Published: October 2024

The functional interaction structure of a team captures the preferences with which members of different roles interact. This paper presents a data-driven approach to detect the functional interaction structure for software development teams from traces team members leave on development platforms during their daily work. Our approach considers differences in the activity levels of team members and uses a block-constrained configuration model to compute interaction preferences between members of different roles. We apply our approach in a case study to extract the functional interaction structure of a product team at the German IT security company genua GmbH. We validate the accuracy of the detected interaction structure in interviews with five team members. Finally, we show how our approach enables teams to compare their functional interaction structure against synthetically created benchmark scenarios. Specifically, we evaluate the level of knowledge diffusion in the team and identify areas where the team can further improve. Our approach is computationally efficient and can be applied in real-time to manage a team’s interaction structure. In summary, our approach provides a novel way to quantify and evaluate the functional interaction structure of software development teams that aids in understanding and improving team performance.
Sprayable RNAi for silencing of important genes to manage red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
Authors: Sattar Muhammad Naeem , Naqqash Muhammad Nadir , Rezk Adel A. , Mehmood Khalid , Bakhsh Allah , Elshafie Hamadttu , Al-Khayri Jameel M.
Published: October 2024

The red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Oliver, 1970) (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae) is the most devastating insect-pest of palm trees worldwide. Synthetic insecticides are the most preferred tool for the management of RPW. Alternatively, RNA interference (RNAi) mediated silencing of crucial genes provides reasonable control of insect pests. Recently, we have targeted four important genes; ecdysone receptor (EcR), serine carboxypeptidase (SCP), actin and chitin-binding peritrophin (CBP) in the 3rd and 5th instar larvae RPW. The results from 20 days trial showed that the survival rate of 3rd instar larvae fed on SCP and actin dsRNAs exhibited the lowest survival (12–68%). While, in the 5th instar larvae, the lowest survival rate (24%) was recorded for SCP after 20 days of incubation. Similarly, the weight of the 3rd and 5th instar larvae treated with SCP and actin was significantly reduced to 2.30–2.36 g and 4.64–4.78 g after 6 days of dsRNA exposure. The larval duration was also decreased significantly in the larvae treated with all the dsRNA treatments. The qRT-PCR results confirmed a significant suppression of the targeted genes as 90–97% and 85–93% in the 3rd and 5th instar larvae, respectively. The results suggest that the SCP and the actin genes can be promising targets to mediate RNAi-based control of RPW.
Six3 and Six6 jointly control diverse target genes in multiple cell populations over developmental trajectories of mouse embryonic retinal progenitor cells
Authors: Ferrena Alexander , Zhang Xusheng , Shrestha Rupendra , Zheng Deyou , Liu Wei
Published: October 2024

How tissue-specific progenitor cells generate adult tissues is a puzzle in organogenesis. Using single-cell RNA sequencing of control and Six3 and Six6 compound-mutant mouse embryonic eyecups, we demonstrated that these two closely related transcription factors jointly control diverse target genes in multiple cell populations over the developmental trajectories of mouse embryonic retinal progenitor cells. In the Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection for Dimension Reduction (UMAP) graph of control retinas, naïve retinal progenitor cells had two major trajectories leading to ciliary margin cells and retinal neurons, respectively. The ciliary margin trajectory was from naïve retinal progenitor cells in the G1 phase directly to ciliary margin cells, whereas the neuronal trajectory went through an intermediate neurogenic state marked by Atoh7 expression. Neurogenic retinal progenitor cells (Atoh7+) were still proliferative; early retinal neurons branched out from Atoh7+ retina progenitor cells in the G1 phase. Upon Six3 and Six6 dual deficiency, both naïve and neurogenic retinal progenitor cells were defective, ciliary margin differentiation was enhanced, and multi-lineage neuronal differentiation was disrupted. An ectopic neuronal trajectory lacking the Atoh7+ state led to ectopic neurons. Additionally, Wnt signaling was upregulated, whereas FGF signaling was downregulated. Notably, Six3 and Six6 proteins occupied the loci of diverse genes that were differentially expressed in distinct cell populations, and expression of these genes was significantly altered upon Six3 and Six6 dual deficiency. Our findings provide deeper insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying early retinal differentiation in mammals.
Cost-utility analysis of home blood pressure measurement for screening and diagnosis of hypertension through village health volunteer mechanism in Thailand
Authors: Karnjanapiboonwong Auttakiat , Chaikledkaew Usa , Anothaisintawee Thunyarat , Praditsitthikorn Naiyana , Dejthevaporn Charungthai , Thakkinstian Ammarin
Published: October 2024

This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of blood pressure (BP) screening strategies, including 1) home blood pressure measurement (HBPM), (2) serial screening by CBPM followed by HBPM among individuals with high BP i.e., clinic BP ≥140/90 mmHg (Serial1), (3) serial screening by CBPM followed by HBPM among individuals without high BP i.e., clinic blood pressure <140/90 mmHg (Serial2) compared to CBPM alone. A Markov model was applied among Thai population aged 35 years who had not been previously diagnosed with hypertension (HT) during a lifetime horizon with one-year cycle length from a societal perspective. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses using Monte Carlo simulation with 1,000 replications were performed. The total cost of Serial2 (118,283 baht) was the highest and followed by HBPM (110,767 baht), CBPM (110,588 baht) and Serial1 (78,310 baht). The total quality adjusted life years (QALYs) for the population undergoing BP screening with CBPM, HBPM, Serial1, and Serial2 were 22.1557, 22.1511, 22.1286, and 22.1564, respectively. Compared to CBPM, Serial1 was associated with an incremental cost saving of 32,278 and an incremental QALY loss of 0.0271, whereas HBPM was dominated by CBPM due to higher cost (179 baht) and fewer QALY (-0.0046). Additionally, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of Serial2 was the highest (10,992,000 baht per QALY gained). Moreover, the incidence rate of HT among individuals at age 40–49 years was the most sensitive factor influencing the ICER of HBPM, Serial1 and Serial2. At the Thai societal willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of 160,000 baht per QALY gained, the cost saving associated with Serial1 outweighed the QALY loss. Therefore, it is recommended that Serial1 be implemented as a BP screening option in Thailand. This evidence informed policy information could be invaluable for policymakers in making decision regarding BP screening through village health volunteer mechanism in Thailand and similar settings.
‘Age specific variations in ovarian reserves in healthy fertile and infertile women: A cross sectional study
Authors: Malhotra Neena , Gupta Pankush , Kamboj Saloni , Chaturvedi Pradeep , Kutum Rintu
Published: October 2024

Ovarian reserve tests are valuable for evaluation of female fertility, and to formulate appropriate treatment strategies for infertile women. Antral follicle count (AFC) and Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) are most reliable markers of ovarian reserve which are related inversely to age. There are many factors that affect ovarian reserve like race, ethnicity, fertility status, BMI or any chronic illness. We conducted this study to find outage specific nomograms for AMH and AFC among fertile and Infertile Indian women, to find out any variations between fertile and Infertile ovarian reserves at various centiles, to define the age cut-off of decline in AMH and AFC among fertile and Infertile Indian women and to find correlation between AMH and AFC. It was a prospective cross sectional single centre study conducted at a tertiary hospital of northern India from March 2017 to February 2022. Fertile healthy women were recruited from family planning clinic, oocyte donors and subfertile women from Gynaecology and ART clinic. AMH was done using ELISA, Beckmann Coulter Gen II assay and AFC was done using TVS with high frequency probe (9.0 MHZ, Voluson,S-6, GE Healthcare, USA) by trained personnel. R Statistical Programming Language was used for statistical modelling and visualization. Age-specific AFC centile chart and AMH centile chart were generated using GAMLSS (Generalized Additive Models for Location Scale and Shape) package available in R Statistical Computing Language. A Non-linear decline in ovarian reserves among fertile, while linear among infertile women was seen. Centiles defined for both groups with a faster decline in infertile women. Age cut off for decline in AMH and AFC in fertile women approximately 31 years using ROC analysis and Age cut off for decline in AMH and AFC in infertile women is approximately 34 years. There seems to be a good correlation between AFC and AMH. We need to counsel women to consider child bearing well before ovarian reserves decline (31–34 years).
Factors affecting school enrolment and attendance for children with disabilities in Bangladesh: Evidence from a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Saha Shilpi Rani , Saha Soumik
Published: October 2024

In Bangladesh, many disabled children are not attending school. Despite the country’s special policies, laws, and services, most disabled children face a barrier to enrollment in school. To increase the school attendance of children, particularly disabled children, research on barriers to school attendance is essential. It will help to ensure that all children, including those with disabilities, receive an education. This paper will investigate the factors associated with children with disabilities missing school. This study will utilize data from a large sample based on Nationally representative multiple indicator cluster survey 2019 in Bangladesh. The study group included 5024 disabled children ranging in age from 6 to 17 years. To determine the significant covariates for the multivariate analysis, a bivariate analysis was performed. The findings indicate that age of the child, gender, household head sex, education of the household head, area (urban/rural), husband age, whether the husband has more wives, and disability types are all associated with disabled children being absent from school. Using these findings, the government of Bangladesh and other stakeholders should advocate for policies and programs that reduce barriers to education and ensure that all disabled children attend school.
A Multi-level ensemble approach for skin lesion classification using Customized Transfer Learning with Triple Attention
Authors: Efat Anwar Hossain , Hasan S. M. Mahedy , Uddin Md. Palash , Mamun Md. Al
Published: October 2024

Skin lesions encompass a variety of skin abnormalities, including skin diseases that affect structure and function, and skin cancer, which can be fatal and arise from abnormal cell growth. Early detection of lesions and automated prediction is crucial, yet accurately identifying responsible regions post-dominance dispersion remains a challenge in current studies. Thus, we propose a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN)-based approach employing a Customized Transfer Learning (CTL) model and Triple Attention (TA) modules in conjunction with Ensemble Learning (EL). While Ensemble Learning has become an integral component of both Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) methodologies, a specific technique ensuring optimal allocation of weights for each model’s prediction is currently lacking. Consequently, the primary objective of this study is to introduce a novel method for determining optimal weights to aggregate the contributions of models for achieving desired outcomes. We term this approach “Information Gain Proportioned Averaging (IGPA),” further refining it to “Multi-Level Information Gain Proportioned Averaging (ML-IGPA),” which specifically involves the utilization of IGPA at multiple levels. Empirical evaluation of the HAM1000 dataset demonstrates that our approach achieves 94.93% accuracy with ML-IGPA, surpassing state-of-the-art methods. Given previous studies’ failure to elucidate the exact focus of black-box models on specific regions, we utilize the Gradient Class Activation Map (GradCAM) to identify responsible regions and enhance explainability. Our study enhances both accuracy and interpretability, facilitating early diagnosis and preventing the consequences of neglecting skin lesion detection, thereby addressing issues related to time, accessibility, and costs.