bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transmittance-invariant phase modulator for chip-based quantum key distribution
Authors: Ye Peng , Chen Wei , Wang Ze-Hao , Zhang Guo-Wei , Ding Yu-Yang , Huang Guan-Zhong , Yin Zhen-Qiang , Wang Shuang , He De-Yong , Liu Wen , Guo Guang-Can , Han Zheng-Fu
Published: October 2022

In chip-based quantum key distribution (QKD) systems, the non-ideal quantum state preparation due to the imperfect electro-optic phase modulators (EOPM) decreases the secret key rate and introduces potential vulnerabilities. We propose and implement an on-chip transmittance-invariant phase modulator (TIPM) to solve this problem. Simulated and experimental results show that TIPM can eliminate the correlation between phase, intensity, and polarization of quantum states caused by phase-dependent loss. The design can tolerate a significant fabrication mismatch and is universal to multi-material platforms. Furthermore, TIPM increases the modulation depth achievable by EOPMs in standard process design kit (PDK). The proposal of TIPM can improve the practical security and performance of the chip-based QKD systems.
MicroLED neural probe for effective in vivo optogenetic stimulation
Authors: Yasunaga Hiroki , Takeuchi Hibiki , Mizuguchi Koyo , Nishikawa Atsushi , Loesing Alexander , Ishikawa Mikiko , Kamiyoshihara Chikako , Setogawa Susumu , Ohkawa Noriaki , Sekiguchi Hiroto
Published: October 2022

The MicroLED probe enables optogenetic control of neural activity in spatially separated brain regions. Understanding its heat generation characteristics is important. In this study, we investigated the temperature rise (ΔT) characteristics in the brain tissue using a MicroLED probe. The ΔT strongly depended on the surrounding environment of the probe, including the differences between the air and the brain, and the area touching the brain tissue. Through animal experiments, we suggest an in situ temperature monitoring method using temperature dependence on electrical characteristics of the MicroLED. Finally, optical stimulation by MicroLEDs proved effective in controlling optogenetic neural activity in animal models.
Highly linear lithium niobate Michelson interferometer modulators assisted by spiral Bragg grating reflectors
Authors: Ghoname Amr O. , Hassanien Ahmed E. , Chow Edmond , Goddard Lynford L. , Gong Songbin
Published: October 2022

Highly linear electro-optic modulators are key components in analog microwave photonic links, offering on-chip direct mixing of optical and RF fields. In this work, we demonstrate a monolithic integrated Michelson interferometer modulator on thin-film lithium niobate (LN), that achieves linearized performance by modulating Bragg grating reflectors placed at the end of Michelson arms. The modulator utilizes spiral-shaped waveguide Bragg gratings on Z-cut LN with top and bottom electrodes to realize extensive reflectors, essential for linearized performance, in a highly integrated form. Optical waveguides are realized using rib etching of LN with precisely engineered bottom and top cladding layers made of silicon dioxide and SU-8 polymer, respectively. The compact design fits a 3 mm long grating in an 80 µm × 80 µm area, achieving a broad operating bandwidth up to 18 GHz. A spurious free dynamic range (SFDR) of 101.2 dB·Hz2/3 is demonstrated at 1 GHz, compared to 91.5 dB·Hz2/3 for a reference Mach-Zehnder modulator fabricated on the same chip. Further enhancement in SFDR could be achieved by reducing fiber-to-chip coupling loss. The proposed demonstration could significantly improve the linearity of analog modulator-based integrated optical links.
Comb-based multispectral LiDAR providing reflectance and distance spectra
Authors: Han Yu , Salido-Monzú David , Wieser Andreas
Published: October 2022

Multispectral LiDAR enables joint observations of the 3D geometry and material properties of natural targets by combining ToF-based distance measurements with remote spectroscopy. Established multispectral LiDAR solutions provide mm-level range resolution and reflectance estimates of the target material over some tens of spectral channels. We propose a novel multispectral LiDAR approach based on an ultra-broadband frequency comb that enables enhanced remote spectroscopy by resolving relative delays in addition to reflectance. The spectrally-resolved delay and power measurements are transformed into distance and reflectance spectra by differential observations to a common reference object and adequate system calibration. These distance and reflectance spectra encode material information related to the surface and sub-surface composition and small-scale geometry. We develop the proposed comb-based multispectral LiDAR on an implementation covering the spectral range between 580 nm and 900 nm on 2 different spectral configurations with 7 and 33 channels of different spectral width. The performance assessment of the implemented system demonstrates a distance measurement precision better than 0.1 mm on most channels. Table-top probing results on five material specimens show that both the distance and the reflectance spectra alone enable discrimination of material specimens, while the novel distance signature particularly complements reflectance and increases classification accuracy when the material surface exhibits significant reflectance inhomogeneity. Material classification results using a support vector machine with radial basis function kernel demonstrate the potential of this approach for enhanced material classification by combining both signature dimensions.
Real-time realistic computer-generated hologram with accurate depth precision and a large depth range
Authors: Zhong Chongli , Sang Xinzhu , Yan Binbin , Li Hui , Chen Duo , Qin Xiujuan
Published: October 2022

Holographic display is an ideal technology for near-eye display to realize virtual and augmented reality applications, because it can provide all depth perception cues. However, depth performance is sacrificed by exiting computer-generated hologram (CGH) methods for real-time calculation. In this paper, volume representation and improved ray tracing algorithm are proposed for real-time CGH generation with enhanced depth performance. Using the single fast Fourier transform (S-FFT) method, the volume representation enables a low calculation burden and is efficient for Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) to implement diffraction calculation. The improved ray tracing algorithm accounts for accurate depth cues in complex 3D scenes with reflection and refraction, which is represented by adding extra shapes in the volume. Numerical evaluation is used to verify the depth precision. And experiments show that the proposed method can provide a real-time interactive holographic display with accurate depth precision and a large depth range. CGH of a 3D scene with 256 depth values is calculated at 30fps, and the depth range can be hundreds of millimeters. Depth cues of reflection and refraction images can also be reconstructed correctly. The proposed method significantly outperforms existing fast methods by achieving a more realistic 3D holographic display with ideal depth performance and real-time calculation at the same time.
Measuring impact of vaccination among wildlife: The case of bait vaccine campaigns for classical swine fever epidemic among wild boar in Japan
Authors: Matsuyama Ryota , Yamamoto Takehisa , Hayama Yoko , Omori Ryosuke
Published: October 2022

Understanding the impact of vaccination in a host population is essential to control infectious diseases. However, the impact of bait vaccination against wildlife diseases is difficult to evaluate. The vaccination history of host animals is generally not observable in wildlife, and it is difficult to distinguish immunity by vaccination from that caused by disease infection. For these reasons, the impact of bait vaccination against classical swine fever (CSF) in wild boar inhabiting Japan has not been evaluated accurately. In this study, we aimed to estimate the impact of the bait vaccination campaign by modelling the dynamics of CSF and the vaccination process among a Japanese wild boar population. The model was designed to estimate the impact of bait vaccination despite lack of data regarding the demography and movement of wild boar. Using our model, we solved the theoretical relationship between the impact of vaccination, the time-series change in the proportion of infected wild boar, and that of immunised wild boar. Using this derived relationship, the increase in antibody prevalence against CSF because of vaccine campaigns in 2019 was estimated to be 12.1 percentage points (95% confidence interval: 7.8–16.5). Referring to previous reports on the basic reproduction number (R0) of CSF in wild boar living outside Japan, the amount of vaccine distribution required for CSF elimination by reducing the effective reproduction number under unity was also estimated. An approximate 1.6 (when R0 = 1.5, target vaccination coverage is 33.3% of total population) to 2.9 (when R0 = 2.5, target vaccination coverage is 60.0% of total population) times larger amount of vaccine distribution would be required than the total amount of vaccine distribution in four vaccination campaigns in 2019.
Identifying the genes impacted by cell proliferation in proteomics and transcriptomics studies
Authors: Locard-Paulet Marie , Palasca Oana , Jensen Lars Juhl
Published: October 2022

Hypothesis-free high-throughput profiling allows relative quantification of thousands of proteins or transcripts across samples and thereby identification of differentially expressed genes. It is used in many biological contexts to characterize differences between cell lines and tissues, identify drug mode of action or drivers of drug resistance, among others. Changes in gene expression can also be due to confounding factors that were not accounted for in the experimental plan, such as change in cell proliferation. We combined the analysis of 1,076 and 1,040 cell lines in five proteomics and three transcriptomics data sets to identify 157 genes that correlate with cell proliferation rates. These include actors in DNA replication and mitosis, and genes periodically expressed during the cell cycle. This signature of cell proliferation is a valuable resource when analyzing high-throughput data showing changes in proliferation across conditions. We show how to use this resource to help in interpretation of in vitro drug screens and tumor samples. It informs on differences of cell proliferation rates between conditions where such information is not directly available. The signature genes also highlight which hits in a screen may be due to proliferation changes; this can either contribute to biological interpretation or help focus on experiment-specific regulation events otherwise buried in the statistical analysis.
Global healthcare fairness: We should be sharing more, not less, data
Authors: Seastedt Kenneth P. , Schwab Patrick , O’Brien Zach , Wakida Edith , Herrera Karen , Marcelo Portia Grace F. , Agha-Mir-Salim Louis , Frigola Xavier Borrat , Ndulue Emily Boardman , Marcelo Alvin , Celi Leo Anthony
Published: October 2022

The availability of large, deidentified health datasets has enabled significant innovation in using machine learning (ML) to better understand patients and their diseases. However, questions remain regarding the true privacy of this data, patient control over their data, and how we regulate data sharing in a way that that does not encumber progress or further potentiate biases for underrepresented populations. After reviewing the literature on potential reidentifications of patients in publicly available datasets, we argue that the cost—measured in terms of access to future medical innovations and clinical software—of slowing ML progress is too great to limit sharing data through large publicly available databases for concerns of imperfect data anonymization. This cost is especially great for developing countries where the barriers preventing inclusion in such databases will continue to rise, further excluding these populations and increasing existing biases that favor high-income countries. Preventing artificial intelligence’s progress towards precision medicine and sliding back to clinical practice dogma may pose a larger threat than concerns ofpotentialpatient reidentification within publicly available datasets. While the risk to patient privacy should be minimized, we believe this risk will never be zero, and society has to determine an acceptable risk threshold below which data sharing can occur—for the benefit of a global medical knowledge system.
Regulation of Jacobaea vulgaris by varied cutting and restoration measures
Authors: Wiggering Henrike , Diekötter Tim , Donath Tobias W.
Published: October 2022

The growth of the noxious grassland weed Jacobaea vulgaris Gaertn. in pastures is a threat to grazing animals. This is especially true when it dominates vegetation cover, which often occurs on non-intensively used pastures that are managed for nature-conservation, to maintain and promote biodiversity. Thus, we wanted to find management techniques to reduce J. vulgaris without harming the floral biodiversity on the pastures. We tested six different mechanical and cultural methods to reduce the presence and spread of J. vulgaris. Seven study sites in Northern Germany (Schleswig-Holstein) were treated with tilling and seeding (1), tilling and hay transfer (2), mowing twice within bloom (3), mowing before seed set and combinations of mowing and seeding with a slit drill (5) or by hand (6). Our results show that cutting within the bloom of the plant at the end of June and again four weeks later, when the plant is in its second bloom was the only treatment leading to a significant reduction in population growth rate without reducing surrounding plant species richness. The study reveals that management of J. vulgaris in non-intensively used pastures is possible, while preserving species-rich grasslands.
Development of postbiotics by bioconverting whey using Lactobacillus plantarum SMFM2017-YK1 and Limosilactobacillus fermentum SMFM2017-NK1 to alleviate periodontitis
Authors: Choi Yuna , Park Eunyoung , Yoon Yohan , Ha Jimyeong
Published: October 2022

This study investigated the effects of whey bioconversion products (WBPs) produced by lactic acid bacteria on periodontal disease. WBPs were prepared by fermenting whey with seven lactic acid bacteria, Limosilactobacillus fermentum SMFM2017-CK1 (LF-CK1), L. plantarum SMFM2017-NK2 (LP-NK2), Pediococcus pentosaceus SMFM2017-NK1 (PP-NK1), L. plantarum SMFM2017-NK1 (LP-NK1), L. paraplantarum SMFM2017-YK1 (LPP-YK1), L. plantarum SMFM2017-YK1 (LP-YK1), and L. fermentum SMFM2017-NK1 (LF-NK1)]; the pH of the fermented whey was adjusted to 6.5, followed by centrifugation. WBPs were examined for their effect on cell viability and antimicrobial activity against periodontal pathogens. The selected WBPs were used in animal experiments. After inducing periodontitis through right mandibular first molar ligation, WBPs were administered orally for 8 weeks. After sacrifice, gene and protein expression analyses of genes related to inflammatory and oxidative stress were performed, and histopathological analysis of gingival tissue was conducted. Our results showed that LP-YK1 WBP (WBP produced by LP-YK1) and LF-NK1 WBP (WBP produced by LF-NK1) groups exerted higher anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Histopathological analysis revealed that infiltration of inflammatory cells and epithelial cell proliferation were reduced in the LP-YK1 WBP group. These results indicate that WBPs prepared with LP-YK1 can be used as a postbiotic to alleviate periodontitis.
Correlations between B-mode ultrasound image texture features and tissue temperatures in hyperthermia
Authors: Wang Xuelin , Sheng Lei
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The noninvasive monitoring of mild hyperthermia or thermal ablation is important to guarantee therapeutic safety and efficacy. The potential of ultrasound B-mode image texture features in monitoring temperature or coagulation zones studied in this article.

Materials and methods

The experiments carried out on eighteen in vitro porcine liver samples heated from 20°C to 60°C in the water bath. The ultrasound radiofrequency signal at different temperature collected to reconstruct B-mode ultrasound images. The texture features based on gray level histogram (GLH), gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM), and gray level-gradient co-occurrence matrix (GGCM) extracted, respectively. Accordingly, we analyze the correlations between these texture features and temperature based on the experiment results.

Results

The results showed that five texture feature parameters closely related to temperature, including mean gray scale of GLH, homogeneity of GLCM, hybrid entropy, inverse difference moment, and correlation of GGCM. Some of these feature parameters have correlation coefficients larger than 0.9 within the temperature range of 20°C to 60°C.

Conclusions

The above-mentioned five feature parameters expected to apply for noninvasive monitoring of MH or TA.
Prediction of odds for emergency cesarean section: A secondary analysis of the CHILD term birth cohort study
Authors: Tun Mon H. , Chari Radha , Kaul Padma , Mamede Fabiana V. , Paulden Mike , Lefebvre Diana L. , Turvey Stuart E. , Moraes Theo J. , Sears Malcolm R. , Subbarao Padmaja , Mandhane Piush J.
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Previously developed cesarean section (CS) and emergency CS prediction tools use antenatal and intrapartum risk factors. We aimed to develop a predictive model for the risk of emergency CS before the onset of labour utilizing antenatal obstetric and non-obstetric factors.

Methods

We completed a secondary analysis of data collected from the CHILD Cohort Study. The analysis was limited to term (≥37 weeks), singleton pregnant women with cephalic presentation. The sample was divided into a training and validation dataset. The emergency CS prediction model was developed in the training dataset and the performance accuracy was assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic analysis (ROC). Our final model was subsequently evaluated in the validation dataset.

Results

The participant sample consisted of 2,836 pregnant women. Mean age of participants was 32 years, mean BMI of 25.4 kg/m2 and 39% were nulliparous. 14% had emergency CS delivery. Each year of increasing maternal age increased the odds of emergency CS by 6% (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR 1.06,1.02–1.08). Likewise, there was a 4% increase odds of emergency CS for each unit increase in BMI (aOR 1.04,1.02–1.06). In contrast, increase in maternal height has a negative association with emergency CS. The final emergency CS delivery predictive model included six variables (hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, antenatal depression, previous vaginal delivery, age, height, BMI). The AUC for our final prediction model was 0.74 (0.72–0.77) in the training set with a similar AUC in the validation dataset (0.77; 0.71–0.82).

Conclusion

The developed and validated emergency CS delivery prediction model can be used in counselling prospective parents around their CS risk and healthcare resource planning. Further validation of the tool is suggested.
Assessment of oxidative stress markers in elderly patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and potential prognostic implications in the medium and long term
Authors: Vazquez-Agra Nestor , Marques-Afonso Ana-Teresa , Cruces-Sande Anton , Novo-Veleiro Ignacio , Pose-Reino Antonio , Mendez-Alvarez Estefania , Soto-Otero Ramon , Hermida-Ameijeiras Alvaro
Published: October 2022

We aimed to evaluate the correlation of plasma levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and reduced thiols with morbidity, mortality and immune response during and after SARS-CoV-2 infection. This was an observational study that included inpatients with SARS-CoV-2 infection older than 65 years. The individuals were followed up to the twelfth month post-discharge. Plasma levels of TBARS and reduced thiols were quantified as a measure of lipid and protein oxidation, respectively. Fatal and non-fatal events were evaluated during admission and at the third, sixth and twelfth month post-discharge. Differences in oxidative stress markers between the groups of interest, time to a negative RT-qPCR and time to significant anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM titers were assessed. We included 61 patients (57% women) with a mean age of 83 years old. After multivariate analysis, we found differences in TBARS and reduced thiol levels between the comparison groups in fatal and non-fatal events during hospital admission. TBARS levels were also correlated with fatal events at the 6th and 12th months post-discharge. One year after hospital discharge, other predictors rather than oxidative stress markers were relevant in the models. The median time to reach significant anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM titers was lower in patients with low levels of reduced thiols. Assessment of some parameters related to oxidative stress may help identify groups of patients with a higher risk of morbidity, mortality and delayed immune response during and after SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Hydrothermal assisted biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles: A potential study on virulent candida isolates from COVID-19 patients
Authors: Khalil Fatma O. , Taj Muhammad B. , Ghonaim Enas M. , Abed El-Sattar Shimaa , Elkhadry Sally W. , El-Refai Hala , Ali Omar M. , Elgawad Ahmed Salah A. , Alshater Heba
Published: October 2022

Till now the exact mechanism and effect of biogenic silver nanoparticles on fungus is an indefinable question. To focus on this issue, the first time we prepared hydrothermal assisted thyme coated silver nanoparticles (T/AgNPs) and their toxic effect on Candida isolates were determined. The role of thyme (Thymus Vulgaris) in the reduction of silver ions and stabilization of T/AgNPs was estimated by Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, structure and size of present silver nanoparticles were detected via atomic force microscopy as well as high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The biological activity of T/AgNPs was observed against Candida isolates from COVID-19 Patients. Testing of virulence of Candida species using Multiplex PCR. T/AgNPs proved highly effective against Candida albicans, Candida kruzei, Candida glabrata and MIC values ranging from 156.25 to 1,250 μg/mL and MFC values ranging from 312.5 to 5,000 μg/mL. The structural and morphological modifications due to T/AgNPs on Candida albicans were detected by TEM. It was highly observed that when Candida albicans cells were subjected to 50 and 100 μg/mL T/AgNPs, a remarkable change in the cell wall and cell membrane was observed.
The impact of social drivers, conditional cash transfers and their mechanisms on the mental health of the young; an integrated retrospective and forecasting approach using the 100 million Brazilian Cohort: A study protocol
Authors: Machado Daiane Borges , Azevedo Paiva de Araujo Jacyra , Alves Flávia Jôse Oliveira , Fernando Silva Castro-de-Araujo Luis , da Silva Rodrigues Elisângela , Fialho Morais Xavier Erika , Lins Rodrigues Rodrigo , Rasella Davide , Naslund John , Patel Vikram , L. Barreto Mauricio
Published: October 2022

Background

Physical, emotional, and social changes, including exposure to poverty, abuse, or violence, increases youth vulnerability to mental illness. These factors interfere with development, limit opportunities, and hamper achievement of a fulfilling life as adults. Addressing these issues can lead to improved outcomes at the population level and better cost-effectiveness for health services. Cash transfer programs have been a promising way to address social drivers for poor mental health. However, it is still unclear which pathways and mechanisms explain the association between socioeconomic support and lower mental illness among youth. Therefore, we will evaluate the effect of social drivers on youth mental health-related hospitalizations and suicide, test mechanisms and pathways of a countrywide socioeconomic intervention, and examine the timing of the intervention during the life course.

Methods

We will combine individual-level data from youth national hospitalization, mental health disorders and attempted suicide, suicide registries and notifications of violence, with large-scale databases, including “The 100 Million Brazilian Cohort”, over an 18-year period (2001–2018). Several approaches will be used for the retrospective quasi-experimental impact evaluations, such as Regression Discontinuity Designs, Propensity Score Matching and difference-in-differences, combined with multivariable regressions for cohort analyses. We will run multivariate regressions based on hierarchical analysis approach to evaluate the association between important social drivers (mental health care, demographic and economic aspects) on mental health-related hospitalizations and suicide among youth. Furthermore, we will perform microsimulations to generate projections regarding how mental health-related hospitalizations and suicide trends will be in the future based on the current state, and how BFP implementation scenarios will affect these trends.

Discussion

The results of this project will be of vital importance to guide policies and programs to improve mental health and reduce mental health-related hospitalizations and suicide in youth. It will provide information to improve the effectiveness of these programs worldwide. If cash transfers can decrease mental health problems among youth and reduce suicide.
Glaucoma and Alzheimer: Neurodegenerative disorders show an adrenergic dysbalance
Authors: Hohberger Bettina , Prüss Harald , Mardin Christian , Lämmer Robert , Müller Johannes , Wallukat Gerd
Published: October 2022

Glaucoma disease is characterized by an increased intraocular pressure (IOP), glaucomatous alterations of the optic disc and corresponding visual field defects. Even lowering the main risk factor IOP until an individual target level does not prevent this neurodegenerative disorder from proceeding. Several autoimmune mechanisms were discovered, partly showing a functionality. One of these autoimmune phenomena targets the ß2-adrenergic receptor (ß2-AR; i.e. agonistic autoantibodies; ß2-agAAb) and is linked to an elevated IOP and an impaired retinal microcirculation. As neurodegenerative disorder, Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is postulated to share a common molecular mechanism with glaucoma. In the present study we investigated autoimmune phenomena targeting the ß2-AR in patients with AD. Sera of the patients were analyzed in a rat cardiomyocyte bioassay for the presence of functional autoantibodies against ß2-AR. In addition, different species of amyloid beta (Aß) monomers were tested (Aß1-14, Aß10-25, Aβ10–37 Aß1-40, Aß1-42, Aβ28–40, and Aß-[Pyr]3–43). Our results demonstrate that none of the short-chain Aß (Aß1-14, Aß10-25, or Aβ28–40) showed any agonistic or inhibitory effect on ß2-AR. Contrary, long-chain Aß-[Pyr]3–43, representing a major neurogenic plaque component, exerted an activation that after blocking by the ß2-AR antagonist ICI118.551, could be identified as that the effect was realized via the ß2-AR. Moreover, the long chain Aß1-40, Aβ1–42, and Aβ10–37, yet not the short-chain Aß peptides prevented the clenbuterol induced desensitization of the ß2-AR. In addition, we identified functional autoantibodies in the sera of AD patients, activating the ß2-AR, like the ß2-agAAb found in patients with glaucoma. As autoimmune mechanisms were reportedly involved in the pathogenesis of glaucoma and Alzheimer’s Disease, we postulate that overstimulation of the ß2-AR pathway can induce an adrenergic overdrive, that may play an important role in the multifactorial interplay of neurodegenerative disorders.
Does political participation help improve the life satisfaction of urban residents: Empirical evidence from China
Authors: He Li , Wang Kun , Liu Tianlan , Li Tianyang , Zhu Baolin
Published: October 2022

Studies have shown that political participation does not only affect the flow of public resources but also creates positive feedback on participants’ subjective perceptions. However, research on the relationship between political participation and the life satisfaction of Chinese urban residents is relatively scarce. Thus, this study investigates whether political participation helps improve the life satisfaction of Chinese urban residents. Based on 2577 samples of the 2015 Chinese Social Survey this study used the Ordinary least squares model, instrumental variable model, and propensity score matching model to explore the relationship between political participation and the life satisfaction of Chinese urban residents. The empirical results show that political participation can significantly improve the life satisfaction of urban residents. Compared with urban residents without political participation, the life satisfaction of the political participants was 0.145 units higher at a 0.05 level of significance. In addition, this improved effect varied in degree among different groups of urban residents and was more significant for females, members of the Communist Party of China, highly educated, and employed urban residents. In China, there is a significant relationship between political participation and the life satisfaction of urban residents, with the life satisfaction of urban residents improving significantly through political participation. There are differences in the level of this improved effect among different urban residents, and it is more significant for females, highly educated, members of the Communist Party, and employed urban residents. To improve the life satisfaction of Chinese urban residents, it is necessary to further broaden their political participation channels.
The effect of mother-infant group music classes on postnatal depression—A systematic review protocol
Authors: Colella Corinna , McNeill Jenny , Lynn Fiona
Published: October 2022

Background

Postnatal mental health problems affect 10–15% of women and can adversely impact on mother-infant interactions and bonding, the mother’s mood, and feelings of competence. There is evidence that attending performing arts activities, such as singing, dancing, and listening to music, may improve maternal mental health with potential for an effect on postnatal depression.

Methods

A systematic review will be conducted to assess the effect of mother-infant group music classes on postnatal depression compared to standard care, no control or wait list control. Studies will be included that report on postnatal depression. Further outcomes of interest include anxiety, stress, parenting competence, confidence and self-efficacy, perceived social support and mother-infant bonding. Infant and child outcomes measuring cognitive development, behaviour and social and emotional development will be included.

Search databases to be used will be Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, CENTRAL, Web of Science, Maternity and Infant Care and discipline-specific journals for music.

The Cochrane’s Template for Intervention description and replication (TIDieR) checklist and guide will be utilised to aid a detailed description, standardised assessment and quality assurance. Risk of bias will be assessed by the authors using the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions risk of bias tool.

If sufficient studies are available, meta-analyses will be conducted to combine, compare and summarise the results of the studies for more precise estimates of effects. Where meta-analysis is not possible, results for each individual study will be reported through qualitative narrative data synthesis.

Discussion

This systematic review will identify and synthesise evidence of the measured effect of postnatal mother-infant interventions involving music on maternal psychological and psychosocial outcomes and infant/child outcomes.

Systematic review registration

This protocol was registered with Prospero on 18 October 2021 (registration number CRD42021283691). https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021283691.
Efficacy and acceptability of blue-wavelength light therapy for post-TBI behavioral symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Srisurapanont Karan , Samakarn Yanisa , Kamklong Boonyasit , Siratrairat Phichayakan , Bumiputra Arina , Jaikwang Montita , Srisurapanont Manit
Published: October 2022

Objective

Behavioral symptoms are common after traumatic brain injury (TBI), but their treatments remain unsatisfactory. This systematic review and meta-analysis compared the efficacy and acceptability between blue-wavelength light therapy (BWLT) and long-wavelength/no light therapy (LW/NLT) for post-TBI sleepiness, sleep disturbance, depressive symptoms, and fatigue.

Methods

This study included randomized controlled trials comparing the effects of BWLT and LW/NLT on post-TBI sleepiness, sleep disturbance, depression, or fatigue. We searched Pubmed, Embase, CINAHL, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled of Trials on April 13, 2022. The revised tool for assessing the risk of bias in randomized trials was applied. We performed a frequentist pairwise meta-analysis using a random-effects model.

Results

Of 233 retrieved records, six trials (N = 278) were included in this meta-analysis. TBIs ranged from mild to severe, and the interventions were administered for a median of 35 days. Most trials delivered light therapy via lightboxes. Three trials had a high risk of bias. BWLT was significantly superior to LW/NLT in reducing sleep disturbance (5 trials; SMD = -0.63; 95% CI = -1.21 to -0.05; p = 0.03; I2 = 61%) and depressive symptoms (4 trials; SMD = -1.00; 95% CI = -1.62 to -0.38; p < 0.01; I2 = 56%). There were trends that BWLT was superior to LW/NLT in reducing sleepiness (6 trials; SMD = -0.92; 95% CI = -1.84 to 0.00; p = 0.05; I2 = 88%) and fatigue (4 trials; SMD = -1.44; 95% CI = -2.95 to 0.08; p = 0.06; I2 = 91%). All-cause dropout rates were not significantly different between groups.

Conclusion

Limited and heterogenous evidence suggests that short-term BWLT is well accepted, has a large treatment effect on post-TBI depressive symptoms, and may have a moderate treatment effect on post-TBI sleep disturbance.
Deep learning models for COVID-19 chest x-ray classification: Preventing shortcut learning using feature disentanglement
Authors: Trivedi Anusua , Robinson Caleb , Blazes Marian , Ortiz Anthony , Desbiens Jocelyn , Gupta Sunil , Dodhia Rahul , Bhatraju Pavan K. , Liles W. Conrad , Kalpathy-Cramer Jayashree , Lee Aaron Y. , Lavista Ferres Juan M.
Published: October 2022

In response to the COVID-19 global pandemic, recent research has proposed creating deep learning based models that use chest radiographs (CXRs) in a variety of clinical tasks to help manage the crisis. However, the size of existing datasets of CXRs from COVID-19+ patients are relatively small, and researchers often pool CXR data from multiple sources, for example, using different x-ray machines in various patient populations under different clinical scenarios. Deep learning models trained on such datasets have been shown to overfit to erroneous features instead of learning pulmonary characteristics in a phenomenon known as shortcut learning. We propose adding feature disentanglement to the training process. This technique forces the models to identify pulmonary features from the images and penalizes them for learning features that can discriminate between the original datasets that the images come from. We find that models trained in this way indeed have better generalization performance on unseen data; in the best case we found that it improved AUC by 0.13 on held out data. We further find that this outperforms masking out non-lung parts of the CXRs and performing histogram equalization, both of which are recently proposed methods for removing biases in CXR datasets.
Relationship between physical activity and musculoskeletal disorders among low income housewives in Kuala Lumpur: A cross sectional study
Authors: Saat N. Z. M. , Hanawi Siti Aishah , Farah Nor M. F. , Hanafiah Hazlenah , Zuha Anis Afiqah
Published: October 2022

Housewives play a crucial role in their families’ and communities’ quality of life. However, musculoskeletal disorders are common among housewives due to housework and lack of physical activity. These musculoskeletal problems have been associated to leisure physical activity. As a result, the goal of this study was to determine the incidence of musculoskeletal problems and their association to physical activity among low-income women in Kuala Lumpur. A cross-sectional research was done among 82 housewives in Kuala Lumpur’s low-income housing area. Housewives were asked to fill out a sociodemographic questionnaire, a short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), and body mass index were measured by researcher. The total prevalence of musculoskeletal problems was found to be 89.0%, with the lowest frequency in the lower back (35%), followed by the knee (31%), ankle or foot (31%), and elbow (1% %). The subjects spent an average of 117.6 + 474.8 minutes per week on MVPA and 524 + 810.3 MET minutes per week on physical activity. A total of 88% of the participants had a low level of physical activity, 8.5 percent had a moderate level of activity, and 3.7% had a high level of activity. In a Chi-square test, there was no significant association between musculoskeletal problems and physical activity. The primary sociodemographic factors impacting musculoskeletal diseases were body mass index and household income, while the primary variables influencing physical activity were household income and education level, according to a logistic regression test. In a Poisson regression test, only body mass index had a significant relationship with number of musculoskeletal disorders. In conclusion, housewives are likely to suffer from musculoskeletal problems, with a high incidence in the lower back, knees, ankles, and feet, and the majority of them engage in little physical activity. Furthermore, the high percentage of musculoskeletal problems in this study varies with the findings of other research based on the type of housework done by housewives in low-cost housing areas. Future research should look at identifying the sorts of household tasks and positions employed, as well as the amount of hours spent on housework each week.
Therapeutic efficacy of rifalazil (KRM-1648) in a M. ulcerans-induced Buruli ulcer mouse model
Authors: Fukano Hanako , Nakanaga Kazue , Goto Masamichi , Yoshida Mitsunori , Ishii Norihisa , Hoshino Yoshihiko
Published: October 2022

Buruli ulcer (BU) is a skin disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans infection that requires long-term antibiotic treatment and/or surgical excision. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic efficacy of the rifamycin derivative, rifalazil (RLZ) (also known as KRM-1648), in an advanced M. ulcerans infection model. Six-week-old female BALB/c mice were infected with 3.25 x 104 colony-forming units (CFU) of M. ulcerans subcutaneously into the bilateral hind footpads. At 33 days post-infection, when the footpads exhibited significant redness and swelling, mice were treated orally with 5 or 10 mg/kg of RLZ for up to 15 weeks. Mice were followed for an additional 15 weeks following treatment cessation. Untreated mice exhibited a progressive increase in footpad redness, swelling, and erosion over time, and all untreated mice reached to endpoint within 5–8 weeks post-bacterial injection. In the RLZ-treated mice, footpad redness and swelling and general condition improved or completely healed, and no recurrence occurred following treatment cessation. After 3 weeks of treatment, the CFU counts from the footpads of recovered RLZ-treated mice showed a 104 decrease compared with those of untreated mice. We observed a further reduction in CFU counts to the detection limit following 6 to 15 weeks of treatment, which did not increase 15 weeks after discontinuing the treatment. Histopathologically, bacteria in the treated mice became fragmented one week after RLZ-treatment. At the final point of the experiment, all the treated mice (5mg/kg/day; n = 6, 10mg/kg/day; n = 7) survived and had no signs of M. ulcerans infection. These results indicate that the rifamycin analogue, RLZ, is efficacious in the treatment of an advanced M. ulcerans infection mouse model.
Goal-oriented possibilistic fuzzy C-Medoid clustering of human mobility patterns—Illustrative application for the Taxicab trips-based enrichment of public transport services
Authors: Mezei Miklós , Felde Imre , Eigner György , Dörgő Gyula , Ruppert Tamás , Abonyi János
Published: October 2022

The discovery of human mobility patterns of cities provides invaluable information for decision-makers who are responsible for redesign of community spaces, traffic, and public transportation systems and building more sustainable cities. The present article proposes a possibilistic fuzzy c-medoid clustering algorithm to study human mobility. The proposed medoid-based clustering approach groups the typical mobility patterns within walking distance to the stations of the public transportation system. The departure times of the clustered trips are also taken into account to obtain recommendations for the scheduling of the designed public transportation lines. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology is revealed in an illustrative case study based on the analysis of the GPS data of Taxicabs recorded during nights over a one-year-long period in Budapest.
Manual and semi-automatic determination of elbow angle-independent parameters for a model of the biceps brachii distal tendon based on ultrasonic imaging
Authors: Mechtenberg Malte , Grimmelsmann Nils , Meyer Hanno Gerd , Schneider Axel
Published: October 2022

Tendons consist of passive soft tissue with non linear material properties. They play a key role in force transmission from muscle to skeletal structure. The properties of tendons have been extensively examined in vitro. In this work, a non linear model of the distal biceps brachii tendon was parameterized based on measurements of myotendinous junction displacements in vivo at different load forces and elbow angles. The myotendinous junction displacement was extracted from ultrasound B-mode images within an experimental setup which also allowed for the retrieval of the exerted load forces as well as the elbow joint angles. To quantify the myotendinous junction movement based on visual features from ultrasound images, a manual and an automatic method were developed. The performance of both methods was compared. By means of exemplary data from three subjects, reliable fits of the tendon model were achieved. Further, different aspects of the non linear tendon model generated in this way could be reconciled with individual experiments from literature.
Removal of dyes (BG, MG, and SA) from aqueous solution using a novel adsorbent macrocyclic compound
Authors: Jalal Aveen F. , Fakhre Nabil A.
Published: October 2022

The use of macrocyclic compounds to remove organic dyes is fascinating because they have a wide surface area range and can be used for different things. new (14E, 34E)-7-Hydroxy-7, 8, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27-Octahydro-6H, 16H, 33H Tetrabenzo[f,k,u,z][1,5,13,20]Tetraoxacycloheptacosine-16,33-Dione (HOTTD) was obtained by a simple high-dilution method, and characterized by FTIR, 1H-NMR, FESEM, EDX, and XRD. It worked well in removing organic dyes from aqueous solutions. Contact time, pH, dosage, initial concentration and temperature were studied. The optimum conditions were achieved by using 20 mg/L dye concentration, 50 mg dose of adsorbent and pH 9.0 at room temperature. The adsorption process was remarkably fast and reached equilibrium within 10 min for both Brilliant Green and Malachite Green while 70 min for Safranin. The batch adsorption experiments followed a pseudo 2nd order and Langmuir model with maximum adsorption capacity 19.26 mg/g, 18.28 mg/g, and 14.35 mg/g for Brilliant Green, Malachite green and Safranin respectively. The process was endothermic and spontaneous in nature. Adsorbent regeneration test provides an excellent value 5 times.
Application of the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability to assess a telephone-facilitated health coaching intervention for the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes
Authors: Timm Linda , Annerstedt Kristi Sidney , Ahlgren Jhon Álvarez , Absetz Pilvikki , Alvesson Helle Mølsted , Forsberg Birger C. , Daivadanam Meena
Published: October 2022

Background

Lifestyle interventions focusing on diet and physical activity for the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes have been found effective. Acceptance of the intervention is crucial. The Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA) developed by Sekhon et al. (2017) describes the multiple facets of acceptance: Affective attitude, burden, perceived effectiveness, ethicality, intervention coherence, opportunity costs and self-efficacy. The aims of this study were to develop and assess the psychometric properties of a measurement scale for acceptance of a telephone-facilitated health coaching intervention, based on the TFA; and to determine the acceptability of the intervention among participants living with diabetes or having a high risk of diabetes in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas in Stockholm.

Methods

This study was nested in the implementation trial SMART2D (Self-management approach and reciprocal learning for type 2 diabetes). The intervention consisted of nine telephone-facilitated health coaching sessions delivered individually over a 6-month period. The acceptability of the intervention was assessed using a questionnaire consisting of 19 Likert scale questions developed using Sekhon’s TFA. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed.

Results

Ratings from 49 participants (19 with type 2 diabetes and 30 at high risk of developing diabetes) in ages 38–65 were analyzed. The EFA on the acceptability scale revealed three factors with acceptable reliabilities: affective attitude (alpha 0.90), coherence and understanding (alpha 0.77), perceived burden (alpha 0.85), explaining 82% of the variance. Positive affect and coherence had high median scores and small variance. Median score for perceived burden was low, but with significant variance due to younger individuals and those at high risk reporting higher burden.

Conclusions

The telephone-facilitated health coaching intervention was perceived as acceptable by the study population using a questionnaire based on Sekhon’s TFA, with a wider variation in perceived burden seen among high risk and younger participants.