bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of dysregulated glucose metabolism on the occurrence and ART outcome of endometriosis
Authors: Chen Jian-Peng , Zhang Yan-Ye , Jin Jia-Ni , Ying Yue , Song Zhi-Min , Xu Qi-Qi , Tu Mi-Xue , Ye Xiao-Hang , Tang Huan-Na , Ni Fei-Da , Ying Yan-Yun , Li Jing-Yi , Zhang Dan
Published: August 2023

Background

Endometriosis is associated with systemic metabolic indicators, including body mass index (BMI), glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism, while the association between metabolic indexes and the occurrence and assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcome of endometriosis is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the characteristics of systemic metabolic indexes of endometriosis patients with infertility and their effects on pregnancy outcome after ART treatment.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study involve 412 endometriosis patients and 1551 controls was conducted. Primary outcome was metabolic indexes, and secondary measures consisted of the influence of metabolic indexes on the number of retrieved oocytes and ART outcomes.

Results

Endometriosis patients had higher insulin (INS) [6.90(5.10–9.50) vs 6.50(4.80–8.90) μU/mL, P = 0.005]. A prediction model for endometriosis combining the number of previous pregnancies, CA125, fasting blood glucose (Glu) and INS, had a sensitivity of 73.9%, specificity of 67.8% and area under curve (AUC) of 0.77. There were no significant differences in ART outcomes and complications during pregnancy. The serum levels of Glu before pregnancy were associated with GDM both in endometriosis group (aOR 12.95, 95% CI 1.69–99.42, P = 0.014) and in control group (aOR 4.15, 95% CI 1.50–11.53, P = 0.006).

Conclusions

We found serum Glu is related to the number of retrieved oocytes in control group, serum INS is related to the number of retrieved oocytes in endometriosis group, while serum Glu and INS before pregnancy are related to the occurrence of GDM in two groups. A prediction model based on metabolic indexes was established, representing a promising non-invasive method to predict endometriosis patients with known pregnancy history.
Evaluation of the clinical utility of extended non-invasive prenatal testing in the detection of chromosomal aneuploidy and microdeletion/microduplication
Authors: Tian Weifang , Yuan Yangyang , Yuan Erfeng , Zhang Linlin , Liu Ling , Li Ying , Guo Jing , Cui Xueyin , Li Pengyun , Cui Shihong
Published: August 2023

Background

With the development of whole-genome sequencing technology, non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) has been applied gradually to screen chromosomal microdeletions and microduplications that cannot be detected by traditional karyotyping. However, in NIPT, some false positives and false negatives occur. This study aimed to investigate the applicability of extended NIPT (NIPT-PLUS) in the detection of chromosomal aneuploidy and microdeletion/microduplication syndrome (MMS).

Methods

A total of 452 pregnancies that underwent prenatal diagnostic testing (amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling) by chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA), were screened by NIPT-PLUS from the peripheral blood sample of the pregnant women. The results of the two tested items were compared and analysed.

Results

Of the 452 cases, 335 (74.12%) had positive CMA results, and 117 (25.88%) had no abnormal results. A total of 86 cases of trisomy 21, 18 and 13 and sex chromosome aneuploidy (SCA) were detected by CMA and NIPT-PLUS, with a detection rate of 96.51% (83/86). Among them, the detection rates of T18, T13; 47, XXY; 47, XXX and 47 XYY were 100%, and the detection rates of T21 and 45 XO were 96.55% and 90%, respectively. The detection sensitivity of rare chromosomal trisomy (RAT) was 80% (4/5). The positive predictive values of NIPT-PLUS for chromosome aneuploidy T21, T18 and T13 and for SCA and RAT were 90.32%, 87.50%, 25.00%, 88.89% and 50%, respectively. A total of 249 cases (74.32%) of chromosomal MMS were detected by CMA. The detection rate of NIPT-PLUS was 63.86% (159/249), and 90 cases (36.14%) were missed. The larger the MMS fragment, the higher the NIPT-PLUS detection sensitivity. In addition, most small fragments were of maternal origin.

Conclusion

The comparison between the CMA and NIPT-PLUS techniques shows that NIPT-PLUS has high sensitivity for detecting chromosomal aneuploidy and chromosomal copy number variations (CNVs) with fragments > 5 M. However, the sensitivity of CNV for fragments < 5 M is low, and the missed detection rate is high. Additionally, confined placental mosaicism and foetal mosaicism are the key factors causing false negatives in NIPT-PLUS, while maternal chromosomal abnormalities and confined placental mosaicism are key contributors to false positives, so appropriate genetic counselling is especially important for pregnant women before and after NIPT-PLUS testing.
Unveiling the mechanism of remote epitaxy of crystalline semiconductors on 2D materials-coated substrates
Authors: Wang Xuejing , Choi Joonghoon , Yoo Jinkyoung , Hong Young Joon
Published: August 2023

Remote epitaxy has opened novel opportunities for advanced manufacturing and heterogeneous integration of two-dimensional (2D) materials and conventional (3D) materials. The lattice transparency as the fundamental principle of remote epitaxy has been studied and challenged by recent observations defying the concept. Understanding remote epitaxy requires an integrated approach of theoretical modeling and experimental validation at multi-scales because the phenomenon includes remote interactions of atoms across an atomically thin material and a few van der Waals gaps. The roles of atomically thin 2D material for the nucleation and growth of a 3D material have not been integrated into a framework of remote epitaxy research. Here, we summarize studies of remote epitaxy mechanisms with a comparison to other epitaxy techniques. In the end, we suggest the crucial topics of remote epitaxy research for basic science and applications.

Graphical Abstract
Patient and public involvement in Nordic healthcare research: a scoping review of contemporary practice
Authors: Dengsø Kristine Elberg , Lindholm Sofie Tscherning , Herling Suzanne Forsyth , Pedersen Maja , Nørskov Kristina Holmegaard , Collet Marie Oxenbøll , Nielsen Iben Husted , Christiansen Mille Guldager , Engedal Mette Schaufuss , Moen Helga Wallin , Piil Karin , Egerod Ingrid , Hørder Mogens , Jarden Mary
Published: August 2023

Background

Over the past decades, there has been a growing international interest in user involvement in healthcare research. However, evidence on the management and impact of patient and public involvement in Nordic healthcare research remains limited.

Objective

The aim was to explore and delineate the current state, practice, and impact of patient and public involvement in healthcare research across different areas of healthcare and patient populations in the Nordic countries.

Methods

We conducted a scoping review using nine scientific databases and gray literature from 1992–2023. Sources were categorized as empirical or non-empirical. We used the Guidance for Reporting Involvement of Patients and the Public Short Form 2 checklist for reporting of patient and public involvement in healthcare research and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews.

Results

A total of 56 publications were included, consisting of 39 empirical and 17 non-empirical sources. Gray literature varied among countries and institutions encompassing different types of documents. We found an increase in the number of publications on patient and public involvement in Nordic healthcare research. This was evidenced by the growing number of references and institutional initiatives intended at involving the public, indicating the increasing emphasis on patient and public involvement in Nordic healthcare research. The terminology used to describe patient and public involvement varied over time. However, there has been a gradual narrowing down of terms as the concept of PPI has become more integrated into research practices, particularly with the involvement of funding agencies.

Conclusion

The utilization of patient and public involvement in Nordic healthcare research has substantially increased, proliferated, and gained widespread acceptance across diverse healthcare domains. The variety of approaches challenged our scoping review in terms of systematic description and impact. Patient and public involvement was applied in one or more research stages using different methodologies and terms. International agreement on terms and definitions is needed for reliable interpretation of the use of patient and public involvement in Nordic healthcare research.
Feasibility analysis of bone density evaluation with Hounsfield unit value after fibula flap reconstruction of jaw defect
Authors: Yang Yihui , Kang Yifan , Yang Yifan , Ding Mengkun , Shan Xiaofeng , Cai Zhigang
Published: August 2023

Background

Implant-supported dentures have become an essential means of restoring occlusal function after jaw reconstruction. Bone mineral density (BMD) may influence the success rate of implant denture restorations. This study aimed to explore whether the Hounsfield unit (HU) value can be used to monitor the changing trend of fibular BMD after jaw reconstruction.

Results

A total of 54 patients who underwent maxillar/mandibular reconstruction with a fibula flap were included in this study. There was a significant correlation between the HU value and BMD at 1 week, 3 months, and 6 months after surgery, and both were significantly correlated with follow-up time. The difference between each pair of absorption rates (DAR) was less than 10% in 66.7% and 75.9% of patients at 3 and 6 months; however, the DAR was more than 20% in 12% and 13.8% of patients at 3 and 6 months, respectively.

Conclusions

There is a significant correlation between HU value and BMD. The HU value can be used to roughly reflect the fibular BMD changing trend in a group of patients as opposed to an individual, and the HU value is not equivalent to BMD.

Trial registration

ChiCTR, ChiCTR2300069661, retrospectively registered on 22 March 2023. Retrospectively registered, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=188953.
Ethnomedicinal plants used for malaria treatment in Rukungiri District, Western Uganda
Authors: Gumisiriza Hannington , Olet Eunice Apio , Mukasa Paul , Lejju Julius B. , Omara Timothy
Published: August 2023

Background

Malaria remains a major global health challenge and a serious cause of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. In Uganda, limited access to medical facilities has perpetuated the reliance of indigenous communities on herbal medicine for the prevention and management of malaria. This study was undertaken to document ethnobotanical knowledge on medicinal plants prescribed for managing malaria in Rukungiri District, a meso-endemic malaria region of Western Uganda.

Methods

An ethnobotanical survey was carried out between May 2022 and December 2022 in Bwambara Sub-County, Rukungiri District, Western Uganda using semi-structured questionnaire. A total of 125 respondents (81 females and 44 males) were randomly selected and seven (7) key informants were engaged in open interviews. In all cases, awareness of herbalists on malaria, treatment-seeking behaviour and herbal treatment practices were obtained. The ethnobotanical data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, informant consensus factor and preference ranking.

Results

The study identified 48 medicinal plants belonging to 47 genera and 23 families used in the treatment of malaria and its symptoms in the study area. The most frequently cited species were Vernoniaamygdalina, Aloevera and Azadirachtaindica. Leaves (74%) was the most used plant organ, mostly for preparation of decoctions (41.8%) and infusions (23.6%) which are administered orally (89.6%) or used for bathing (10.4%).

Conclusions

Indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants used as prophylaxis and for treatment of malaria still exist among the local communities of Bwambara Sub-County. However, there is a need to investigate the antimalarial efficacy, phytochemical composition and safety of species (such as Digitariaabyssinica and Berkheyabarbata) with high percentage use values to validate their use.
Cognitive perspectives on maintaining physicians’ medical expertise: III. Strengths and weaknesses of self-assessment
Authors: Fraundorf Scott H. , Caddick Zachary A. , Nokes-Malach Timothy J. , Rottman Benjamin M.
Published: August 2023

Is self-assessment enough to keep physicians’ cognitive skills—such as diagnosis, treatment, basic biological knowledge, and communicative skills—current? We review the cognitive strengths and weaknesses of self-assessment in the context of maintaining medical expertise. Cognitive science supports the importance of accurately self-assessing one’s own skills and abilities, and we review several ways such accuracy can be quantified. However, our review also indicates a broad challenge in self-assessment is that individuals do not have direct access to the strength or quality of their knowledge and instead must infer this from heuristic strategies. These heuristics are reasonably accurate in many circumstances, but they also suffer from systematic biases. For example, information that feels easy to process in the moment can lead individuals to overconfidence in their ability to remember it in the future. Another notable phenomenon is the Dunning–Kruger effect: the poorest performers in a domain are also the least accurate in self-assessment. Further, explicit instruction is not always sufficient to remove these biases. We discuss what these findings imply about when physicians’ self-assessment can be useful and when it may be valuable to supplement with outside sources.
Site-directed mutagenesis in Cry proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis to demonstrate the role of domain II and domain III in toxicity enhancement toward Spodoptera litura
Authors: Khurshid Huma , Zaheer Hafsa , Yunus Fakhar-un-Nisa , Manzoor Farkhanda , Latif Aasma Abdul , Rashid Farzana
Published: August 2023

Background

Bacillusthuringiensis (Bt) is a gram-positive bacterium responsible for the production of a wide variety of insecticidal Cry, Cyt, and Vip proteins with distinct insect specificities. The bioinsecticides derived from Bt Cry proteins account for > 95% of the microbial biopesticide market to combat a variety of pest species belonging to the order Lepidoptera (including Spodoptera spp.), Coleoptera, Diptera, etc. Cry proteins are engineered by using different molecular techniques to control the development of multiple insecticide resistance problems in major insect pests using bio-toxicity assays.

Main body

It is common knowledge that the Cry proteins domain II and III are involved in pore formation or interaction between several insect larval receptors and the membranes of epithelial cells. In the present research, the PCR site-directed mutagenesis technique was used to introduce a total of four mutations into the cry genes (cry1 and cry2) near key regions of active proteins. The diet overlay bioassay was used to test the efficacy of expressed mutant Cry proteins against Spodopteralitura (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), one of the most damaging bollworms to cotton, causing severe output losses.

Results

Two amino acid replacements in the receptor binding domain of Cry1Ac toxins (S573, L588) showed decrease in activity for Cry1Ac mutants. However, amino acid substitutions in the receptor binding/pore formation domain of Cry2Aa (T325, S445) were to some extent proved more toxic than wild-type recombinant Cry2Aa protein, with an increase in mortality percentage from 3.33 to 6.66% after 24 to 72 h of treatment, respectively, against 2nd instar larvae of S.litura.

Conclusion

A comparison of activity demonstrated that larvae of S.litura were more susceptible to Cry2Aa toxins than those of Cry1Ac toxins after being treated with Bt toxins. The LC50 values of Cry2Aa mutants were slightly reduced for S.litura larvae than those of Cry1Ac mutants.
Otoplasty in patients with helix valgus: quality of life and satisfaction
Authors: Gómez Sánchez Alicia , Redondo Sedano Jesús Vicente , Martí Carrera María Eunate , Caro Teller Jose Manuel , Gómez Fraile Andrés , Delgado Muñoz María Dolores
Published: August 2023

Background

Importance of helix valgus lies in the psychological and social effect it could have on the patient. Our objective was to assess the impact of otoplasty on the quality of life of children with prominent ears and to establish possible predictors of post-surgical outcomes.

Material and methods

A retrospective review of children with prominent ears who underwent otoplasty between 2016 and 2018 was conducted. Demographical information, medical history, characteristics of helix valgus, motivations for surgery, complications, and post-surgical satisfaction were collected. To assess changes in parent-reported quality of life and patient satisfaction following surgery, the validated Glasgow Children’s Benefit Inventory (GCBI) and Patient Outcomes of Surgery-Head/Neck (POS-Head/Neck) surveys were used, respectively.

Results

Fifty-three patients responded to the survey (64.6%). From those, 90.6% of parents reported an improvement in health-related quality of life after otoplasty, with a 24.6 ± 20.6 average score on the global GCBI scale. The post-surgical score on the POS-Head/Neck surveys was significantly higher than the pre-surgical score (p < 0.0001), suggesting an improvement in patient-reported aesthetic appearance. Analysis of possible predictive factors showed significant differences regarding age. Children over 10 years of age obtained significantly higher scores in both questionnaires.

Conclusions

Otoplasty has a clear positive impact on the quality of life of children with prominent ears. Age at the time of surgery appears to be a predictor of post-surgical outcomes. Our results would justify delaying surgery until 10 years old.
Displacement-based seismic performance of RC bridge pier
Authors: Taipe Javier F. , Fernandez-Davila Victor I.
Published: August 2023

To correctly manage the road infrastructure before and after an earthquake, it is necessary to estimate and even predict the seismic performance of the bridge. The quantification of the bridge's seismic performance response was present in terms of displacement and also based on previous research of reinforced concrete bridge pier models. The displacement did define from a force lateral-displacement response diagram corresponding to the capacity curve, calculated through a non-linear static pushover analysis of the reinforced concrete bridge pier model for each limit state, from intact state to collapse. Thus, six defined displacements correspond to the cracking displacement, the yielding displacement, the spalling displacement, the crushing displacement, the buckling displacement, and the fracturing displacement. The six defined limit states correspond to the cracking limit state, the yielding limit state, the spalling limit state, the crushing limit state, the buckling limit state, and the fracturing limit state. Also, parametric analysis did carry out to evaluate the influence, relative importance, and trend of the input parameters in response to the seismic performance of the reinforced concrete bridge pier model. Eleven input parameters did analyze as the concrete compressive strength, the yield stress of reinforcing steel, the concrete cover thickness, the pier aspect ratio, the configuration of the transverse reinforcement, the spacing of the transverse reinforcing steel, the transversal diameter of the transverse reinforcing steel, the longitudinal reinforcement ratio, the transversal diameter of the longitudinal reinforcing steel, the axial load ratio, and coefficient of subgrade reaction.
Sex Hormones, the Stool Microbiome, and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Women With and Without HIV
Authors: Peters Brandilyn A , Hanna David B , Wang Yi , Weber Kathleen M , Topper Elizabeth , Appleton Allison A , Sharma Anjali , Hodis Howard N , Santoro Nanette , Guillemette Chantal , Caron Patrick , Knight Rob , Burk Robert D , Kaplan Robert C , Qi Qibin
Published: August 2023

Context

Cardioprotective roles of endogenous estrogens may be particularly important in women with HIV, who have reduced estrogen exposure and elevated cardiovascular disease risk. The gut microbiome metabolically interacts with sex hormones, but little is known regarding possible impact on cardiovascular risk.

Objective

To analyze potential interplay of sex hormones and gut microbiome in cardiovascular risk.

Methods

Among 197 postmenopausal women in the Women's Interagency HIV Study, we measured 15 sex hormones in serum and assessed the gut microbiome in stool. Presence of carotid artery plaque was determined (B-mode ultrasound) in a subset (n = 134). We examined associations of (i) sex hormones and stool microbiome, (ii) sex hormones and plaque, and (iii) sex hormone–related stool microbiota and plaque, adjusting for potential confounders.

Results

Participant median age was 58 years and the majority were living with HIV (81%). Sex hormones (estrogens, androgens, and adrenal precursors) were associated with stool microbiome diversity and specific species, similarly in women with and without HIV. Estrogens were associated with higher diversity, higher abundance of species from Alistipes, Collinsella, Erysipelotrichia, and Clostridia, and higher abundance of microbial β-glucuronidase and aryl-sulfatase orthologs, which are involved in hormone metabolism. Several hormones were associated with lower odds of carotid artery plaque, including dihydrotestosterone, 3α-diol-17G, estradiol, and estrone. Exploratory mediation analysis suggested that estrone-related species, particularly from Collinsella, may mediate the protective association of estrone with plaque.

Conclusion

Serum sex hormones are significant predictors of stool microbiome diversity and composition. The gut microbiome may play a role in estrogen-related cardiovascular protection.
Hogarth's Networks and the Eighteenth-Century “Graphic” Novel
Authors: Silver Sean
Published: August 2023

This article positions the eighteenth-century novel alongside contemporary developments in the modeling of complex systems, including Leonhard Euler's solution to the Königsberg bridge problem and William Hogarth's serial engravings. Unlike studies that apply network theory to literary forms like the early novel, it instead identifies a strain of network thinking in the arts characteristic of the British eighteenth century. At this junction between network-style thinking and the rise of complex forms of affiliation in the emerging middle classes, art forms appear that this article risks calling the “graphic” novel. While we generally think of the novel's rise as paralleling the development of depth psychology or modern individualism, this account of the novel instead forges an argument for its development as a means of cataloging the complex systems of relationships characteristic of the “middling sort.” Its exemplary author is William Hogarth, whose Marriage A-la-Mode offers a signal instance of the forms of network-style visualization seeking to make sense of the urban everyday, and whose Analysis of Beauty includes a surprisingly thorough account of the network-like aesthetics that characterize midcentury literary form.
Construction of Silver Nanoparticles inside Microtubules Using Tau-Derived Peptide Ligated with Silver-Binding Peptide
Authors: Inaba Hiroshi , Hori Yuma , Kabir Arif Md Rashedul , Kakugo Akira , Sada Kazuki , Matsuura Kazunori
Published: August 2023

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and silver nanowires (AgNWs) are interesting nanomaterials that attract significant research attention. The use of peptides/proteins as templates is a promising strategy for constructing uniform metal nanoparticles and nanowires, including AgNPs and AgNWs. In this study, the inner space of microtubules was used to grow AgNPs and AgNWs (or nanowire-like one-dimensional nanoparticle assemblies) using a tandem peptide consisting of our developed Tau-derived peptide that binds to the inner surface of microtubules, and a silver-binding peptide. The incorporation of the peptide into microtubules, stabilization by crosslinking using glutaraldehyde, and subsequent incubation with a silver ion source and reductant, resulted in the formation of uniform AgNPs inside microtubules. The density and morphology of the AgNPs were varied by altering the incubation times and concentrations of the silver ion source and reductant. The developed AgNP-containing microtubules could be useful for future nanotechnological applications, particularly in nanoelectronics and dynamic nanomaterials.
To study the utility of COX-2 as immunohistochemical prognostic marker in comparison to various histopathological parameters and TNM staging in breast carcinoma: an observational, cross-sectional study protocol
Authors: Bhawani Jayashree , Shukla Samarth , Acharya Sourya , Vagha Sunita , Jagtap Miheer
Published: August 2023

Background: Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women worldwide and is a well-known cause for cancer mortality in females. COX-2 (cyclooxygenase) plays a vital role in development of some human cancers such as lung, colon and breast. It is a potent enzyme that is important for the conversion of arachidonic acid into prostaglandins. These prostaglandins mediate cellular proliferation, apoptosis and angiogenesis which contributes to carcinogenesis. Overexpression of COX-2 has been detected in several malignancies including breast cancer. COX-2 overexpression is regarded as a poor prognostic marker of breast cancer. 

The present study will aim to study the immunohistochemical expression of COX-2 in breast cancer and compare it with known histopathological parameters thus assessing its prognostic value.

Methods:  This will be an observational study conducted in the Department of Pathology, JNMC, Wardha (Sawangi). Radical mastectomy specimens will be studied for COX-2 expression by immunohistochemistry in patients diagnosed with breast carcinoma. COX-2 expression will be quantified as immunohistochemical score and results will be correlated with various histopathological parameters.

Results: The expected result of our study will suggest an association of COX-2 expression to the factors associated with poor prognosis in breast carcinoma. A positive correlation is expected between larger tumor size, positive lymph node status, higher T stage and N stage and lymphovascular invasion.

Conclusions: Conclusions will be drawn from the obtained results of the immunohistochemical study by using COX-2- for detection of overexpression of COX-2 when evaluated with TNM staging,  histological grading and molecular types of breast cancer.
The genome sequence of the Dingy Skipper, Erynnis tages (Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: Vila Roger , Lohse Konrad , Hayward Alex , Laetsch Dominik R. , Toro-Delgado Eric ,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: August 2023

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Erynnis tages (the Dingy Skipper; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Hesperiidae). The genome sequence is 329.3 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.51 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 15,237 protein coding genes.
Congruency-Constrained TU Problems Beyond the Bimodular Case
Authors: Nägele Martin , Santiago Richard , Zenklusen Rico
Published: August 2023

A long-standing open question in integer programming is whether integer programs with constraint matrices with bounded subdeterminants are efficiently solvable. An important special case thereof are congruency-constrained integer programs [Formula: see text] with a totally unimodular constraint matrix T. Such problems are shown to be polynomial-time solvable for m = 2, which led to an efficient algorithm for integer programs with bimodular constraint matrices, that is, full-rank matrices whose n × n subdeterminants are bounded by two in absolute value. Whereas these advances heavily rely on existing results on well-known combinatorial problems with parity constraints, new approaches are needed beyond the bimodular case, that is, for m > 2. We make first progress in this direction through several new techniques. In particular, we show how to efficiently decide feasibility of congruency-constrained integer programs with a totally unimodular constraint matrix for m = 3 using a randomized algorithm. Furthermore, for general m, our techniques also allow for identifying flat directions of infeasible problems and deducing bounds on the proximity between solutions of the problem and its relaxation.

Funding: This project received funding from the Swiss National Science Foundation [Grants 200021_184622 and P500PT_206742], the European Research Council under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program [Grant 817750], and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation) under Germany’s Excellence Strategy–GZ 2047/1 [Grant 390685813].
ULTRA: Unlimited Transfers for Efficient Multimodal Journey Planning
Authors: Baum Moritz , Buchhold Valentin , Sauer Jonas , Wagner Dorothea , Zündorf Tobias
Published: August 2023

We study a multimodal journey planning scenario consisting of a public transit network and a transfer graph that represents a secondary transportation mode (e.g., walking, cycling, e-scooter). The objective is to compute Pareto-optimal journeys with respect to arrival time and the number of used public transit trips. Whereas various existing algorithms can efficiently compute optimal journeys in either a pure public transit network or a pure transfer graph, combining the two increases running times significantly. Existing approaches, therefore, typically only support limited walking between stops by either imposing a maximum transfer distance or requiring the transfer graph to be transitively closed. To overcome these shortcomings, we propose a novel preprocessing technique called unlimited transfers (ULTRA): given an unlimited transfer graph, which may represent any non–schedule based transportation mode, ULTRA computes a small number of transfer shortcuts that are provably sufficient for computing a Pareto set of optimal journeys. These transfer shortcuts can be integrated into a variety of state-of-the-art public transit algorithms, establishing the ULTRA-query algorithm family. Our extensive experimental evaluation shows that ULTRA improves these algorithms from limited to unlimited transfers without sacrificing query speed. This is true not just for walking, but also for faster transfer modes, such as bicycle or car. Compared with the state of the art for multimodal journey planning, the fastest ULTRA-based algorithm achieves a speedup of an order of magnitude.

Funding: This work was supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft [Grant WA 654/23-2].

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2022.0198 .
State, public policy and care: a methodology for the analysis of state policy on care
Authors: Garciamarín Hernández Hugo A. , Heatley Tejada Ana
Published: August 2023

In this article, a methodological proposal for the analysis of the state’s actions on care is developed. We consider care as a way of inhabiting the world, and from this conception, we further argue it is a way of governing. Then, we elaborate on some considerations on the state’s field of action in care matters. Next, we propose a methodology to identify and classify those state actions that can be considered care actions. Finally, we exemplify its use with the Mexican federal budget of 2022. We find that care policies receive only 0.4 per cent of the total budget.
Feminist Politics in Neoconservative Russia
Authors: Perheentupa Inna
Published: August 2023

In this book, the author provides an ethnographic account of feminist activism and politics at the grassroots level in neoconservative and increasingly authoritarian Russia in the 2010s. Feminist politics is interrogated from a broad perspective, encompassing both overt and covert forms of resistance, and local and global influences behind feminist action. The author analyses how a new feminist generation that emerged in the early 2010s chose feminism as its political beacon. Drawing on rich ethnographic material from interviews, observation and online ethnography, the author walks the reader through different feminist practices and cases, revealing their historical and contemporary political echoes. She illustrates how political limitations led activism to shift from more traditional spaces of resistance, such as the streets, to the arenas of theatre, art and the internet. Both camouflaged and highly visible feminist actions are discussed, as well as some of the struggles within the movement. The feminist movement and its actions are also uncovered from the perspective of resources. Indeed, the author suggests that while feminism has been an immense therapeutic resource for individual activists, the movement itself lacks resources, intensifying struggles between feminists. Four key dimensions of feminism are explored: reparative politics, politics of sheltering, politics of expertise and politics of appearances.
"Nearest Approach to Fairyland": Mythologising Scotland in Nineteenth-Century Edinburgh Periodical Travel-Writing and Tourism Advertisements
Authors: Lago Sofia
Published: August 2023

Abstract: This article investigates descriptions of the Scottish landscape in travel writing and tourism advertisements published in Tait's Edinburgh Magazine and Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine from 1800 to 1900. Its main objective is to analyze the ways in which periodical nature writing simultaneously created a vicarious interaction with the countryside for the reader and revealed the effects that increased human presence had on the land. The essay shows how the creation of landscape narratives without a distinct narrator came to contribute to the interplay between the mythologized, untouched Scottish countryside and the physical land that was steadily changing as a result of human interference.
Phase drift and noise suppression method based on SEE-SGMD-PCC in a distributed acoustic sensor
Authors: Bai Xingye , Zhang Fudong , Lin Jun , Li Tianxiong , Liu Haozhuang
Published: August 2023

The problems of laser source frequency drift (LSFD) and phase noise in distributed acoustic sensor (DAS) make it difficult to recover the true vibration phase curve, which limits its application scope in the field of seismic exploration. In order to suppress the influence of phase noise and phase drift on the phase signal and improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the phase curve, this paper proposes a method based on symmetric extreme value expansion, symplectic geometry mode decomposition and Pearson correlation coefficient (SEE-SGMD-PCC). Firstly, the mathematical principles and processing flow of the SEE-SGMD-PCC algorithm were introduced, and the effectiveness of this method was verified through multiple sets of simulation experiments. Secondly, The DAS system implemented using digital heterodyne coherent detection technology was used as the experimental platform, and the phase drift and phase noise sources of the phase signal were analyzed in detail. Next, in single frequency and multi frequency vibration signal experiments, compared with other methods, the SNR of the phase signal is significantly improved, and the phase information is effectively restored. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed method was demonstrated through two on-site experiments. The proposal of this method further promotes the application process of DAS in complex seismic exploration environments.
Ultra-high Q lithium niobate microring monolithically fabricated by photolithography assisted chemo-mechanical etching
Authors: Li Chuntao , Guan Jianglin , Lin Jintian , Gao Renhong , Wang Min , Qiao Lingling , Deng Li , Cheng Ya
Published: August 2023

As one of the element photonic structures, the state-of-the-art thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) microrings reach an intrinsic quality (Q) factor higher than 107. However, it is difficult to maintain such high-Q factors when monolithically integrated with bus waveguides. Here, a relatively narrow gap of an ultra-high Q monolithically integrated microring is achieved with 3.8 µm, and a high temperature annealing is carried out to improve the loaded (intrinsic) Q factor with 4.29 × 106 (4.04 × 107), leading to an ultra-low propagation loss of less than 1 dB/m, which is approximately 3 times better than the best values previously reported in ion-slicing TFLN platform.
High-capacity and multi-dimensional orbital angular momentum multiplexing holography
Authors: Zhang Nian , Xiong Baoxing , Zhang Xiang , Yuan Xiao
Published: August 2023

Optical holography has been investigated for enhancing information capacity and encryption. Here, the multi-vortex geometric orbital angular momentum (MVG-OAM) multiplexing holography is proposed and experimentally implemented, which encodes information into MVG beams with different central OAM, sub-beam OAM, and coherent-state phase. The orthogonality of the above three parameters are analyzed, respectively, which point out the feasibility of using them for holographic multiplexing. A three-dimensional multiplexing holography is realized by combining these three parameters, which offers potential applications for information storage, optical encryption, and display.
Extremely wideband low-RCS polarization conversion metasurface based on multivariate phase destructive interference
Authors: Wang Yajin , Fan Qiling , Yu Hang , Su Jianxun , Yin Hongcheng , Li Zengrui
Published: August 2023

In this paper, a polarization modulated metasurface to improve the magnitude and expand the bandwidth of radar cross section (RCS) reduction is presented. Two physical mechanisms are responsible for the reflection diffusion of the proposed metasurface. One is the functionality of controlling the spatial distribution of polarization response, and the other is the capability of spanning the entire 2π phase range by making full use of the variable sizes and height difference of unit cells to achieve superwideband phase cancellation. A 10 dB monostatic RCS reduction is obtained from 3.87 to 92.89 GHz (a ratio bandwidth of 24:1) for both polarizations under normal incidence by simulation, which is identical to experimental results and theoretical analysis. The proposed method for suppressing vector fields in an extremely wide band may hold promising potentials for suppression of acoustic, electromagnetic, optical and other elastic waves.
Pseudo-spin-orbit-coupling-based manipulation of vector beams using electromagnetically induced transparency
Authors: Zhao Lu
Published: August 2023

Based on the electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) model and the higher-order Poincaré sphere (HOPS) framework, we establish a general paradigm to investigate the paraxial evolution of a vector beam in a tripod EIT system. By quantum-optical analogy, we introduce a formalism with a generalized Pauli-like equation under rotational invariance, in which the pseudo-spin-orbit coupling (PSOC) and the spin-orbit nonseparability of light can coexist. More importantly, we find that both the PSOC-based real and imaginary potentials play a key role in controlling and modulating the nonseparable state of the vector beam to traverse the entire HOPS, where the orientation and ellipticity of the transmitted polarization can be modified by varying the PSOC coefficients. Therefore, an all-optical scheme can be proposed to improve the flexibility for tailoring the space-variant polarization of light in coherent media, where the tunable spatial-polarization multiplexing may be useful in conventional and quantum information processing.
Fabricable concentric-ring metalens with high focusing efficiency based on two-dimensional subwavelength unit splicing
Authors: Wang Chengmiao , Lin Yu , Han Yeming , Wei Yupei , Wang Bin , Jin Zhao , Deng Yongbo
Published: August 2023

To address the challenges posed by computational resource consumption and data volume in the development of large-aperture metalenses, a design method for concentric-ring metalens based on two-dimensional unit splicing is proposed in this paper. In the method, the unit structure library is constructed through global traversal under the machining process constraints. The phase matching is performed for two polarization states with specific weights and the design of binary-height, concentric-ring structures with arbitrary polarization sensitivity is realized, whose focusing efficiency (the encircled power within 3×FWHM of the focal spot divided by the near-field outgoing power) is up to 90%. Based on this method, a polarization-insensitive metalens with a design wavelength of 10µm, diameter of 2 cm, and numerical aperture of 0.447 is obtained. The method combines the advantages of lower computation requirements for a building block array of a metalens and lower structure data for a concentric-ring metalens. Consequently, it becomes possible to reduce calculation and processing costs by several orders of magnitude during the development process of metalenses with diameters ranging from 103 to 105 wavelengths. The resulting focusing efficiency can approach the upper limit achievable through global structural optimization and significantly surpass that of binary-height Fresnel lenses.
Simulated annealing algorithm with neural network for designing topological photonic crystals
Authors: Liao Yaodong , Yu Tianen , Wang Yueke , Dong Boxuan , Yang Guofeng
Published: August 2023

In this work, we utilize simulated annealing algorithm with neural network, to achieve rapid design of topological photonic crystals. We firstly train a high-accuracy neural network that predicts the band structure of hexagonal lattice photonic crystals. Subsequently, we embed the neural network into the simulated annealing algorithm, and choose the on-demand evaluation functions for optimizing topological band gaps. As examples, designing from the Dirac crystal of hexagonal lattice, two types of valley photonic crystals with the relative bandwidth of bandgap 26.8% and 47.6%, and one type of pseudospin photonic crystal with the relative bandwidth of bandgap 28.8% are obtained. In a further way, domain walls composed of valley photonic crystals (pseudospin photonic crystals) are also proposed, and full-wave simulations are conducted to verify the valley-locked (pseudospin-locked) edge states unidirectionally propagates under the excitation of circularly polarized source. Our proposed method demonstrates the efficiency and flexibility of neural network with simulated annealing algorithm in designing topological photonic crystals.
Vortex rings in paraxial laser beams
Authors: Desyatnikov Anton S.
Published: August 2023

Interference of a fundamental vortex-free Gaussian beam with a co-propagating plane wave leads to nucleation of a series of vortex rings in the planes transverse to the optical axis; the number of rings grows with vanishing amplitude of the plane wave. In contrast, such interference with a beam carrying on-axis vortex with winding number l results in the formation of |l| rings elongated and gently twisted in propagation direction. The twist handedness of the vortex lines is determined by the interplay between dynamic and geometric phases of the Gaussian beam and the twist angle grows with vanishing amplitude of the plane wave. In the counter-propagating geometry the vortex rings nucleate and twist with half-wavelength period dominated by the interference grating in propagation direction.
Development of an intraoral handheld optical coherence tomography-based angiography probe for multi-site oral imaging
Authors: Zhang Tianyu , Shepherd Simon , Huang Zhihong , Macluskey Michaelina , Li Chunhui
Published: August 2023

Oral cancer, primarily oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC), is a major health concern worldwide. The current gold standard for the diagnosis of OSCC is biopsy and histopathological analysis, which is invasive and can place a huge financial burden on the healthcare system. Optical coherence tomography-based angiography (OCTA) is a non-invasive imaging technique that shows promise as an imaging modality to aid the diagnosis of OSCC. This Letter outlines the development of a handheld intraoral OCT probe applied to a swept-source OCT system with an angiography function for oral applications. The probe has a thin body with a diameter of 17.8 mm and a two-lens system with a working distance that is adjustable from 20.92 mm to 24.08 mm, a field of view 9 mm in diameter, an imaging depth of ∼1.7 mm, and resolutions of 39.38 µm (laterally) and 33.37 µm (axially). This probe was used to scan 14 oral sites to evaluate its ability to scan various sites in the oral cavity. This system has the potential to reduce invasive procedures and aid early OSCC diagnosis.
High-performance and compact integrated photonic dichroic filters and triplexer realized by an efficient inverse design
Authors: Zhao Yuqi , Guo Jingshu , Yang Guojiang , Yu Laiwen , Qian Shengyao , Xiang Hengtai , Cao Tianyu , Zhou Chenxu , Dai Daoxin
Published: August 2023

Integrated optical filters are key components in various photonic integrated circuits for applications of communication, spectroscopy, etc. The dichroic filters can be flexibly cascaded to construct filters with various channel numbers and bandwidths. Therefore, the development of high-performance and compact dichroic filters is crucial. In this work, we develop the dichroic filters with 1.49/1.55-µm channels by an inverse design. Benefiting from a search-space-dimension control strategy and advanced optimization algorithm, our efficient design method results in two high-performance dichroic filters without and with subwavelength gratings (SWGs). The comparison suggests that SWGs in filters can be useful for loss reduction and footprint compression by dispersion engineering. The developed dichroic filter with SWGs exhibits measured bandwidths of 26/29 nm, excess losses of < 0.5 dB, and crosstalks of <−10 dB with a compact footprint of 2.5 × 22.0 µm2. It has advantages in performance or compactness compared to the previously reported counterparts. A triplexer with a footprint of 10.5 × 117 µm2 is developed based on the dichroic filters, also showing decent overall performance and compactness.
TWDM-assisted passive quadrature phase demodulation for a Fabry–Perot-based ultrasound localization detection
Authors: Zhao Ying , Liu Qiang , Cheung Yang , Jing Zhenguo , Peng Wei
Published: August 2023

We propose a time and wavelength division multiplexing (TWDM)-assisted passive quadrature phase demodulation mechanism in this Letter. Combining wavelength division multiplexers (WDMs) with a programmable modulated grating Y-branch (MG-Y) laser, this method realizes both fast switching of discrete wavelengths and fast activation of multiple sensing paths simultaneously. Deploying it on a fiber-optic dual-cavity Fabry–Perot (F-P) ultrasound sensor array, we achieve high-precision localization of partial discharge (PD) signal sources in a two-dimensional (2D) plane with a maximum distance error of 1.53 cm and a maximum angle error of about 3.02°. This demodulation scheme can balance the relationship between sensitivity, sampling rate, and time-delay-induced errors, and provides an innovative solution for high-frequency phase demodulation applications of sensor arrays, which is especially significant for high-frequency detection in specific environments like partial discharges, industrial nondestructive testing, and so on.