bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Blood Lymphocyte Subsets and Proinflammatory Cytokine Profile in ROHHAD(NET) and non-ROHHAD(NET) Obese Individuals
Authors: Fava Daniela , Morandi Fabio , Prigione Ignazia , Angelelli Alessia , Bocca Paola , Pistorio Angela , Volpi Stefano , Patti Giuseppa , Pepino Carlotta , Casalini Emilio , Allegri Anna Elsa Maria , Di Iorgi Natascia , d’Annunzio Giuseppe , Napoli Flavia , Maghnie Mohamad
Published: August 2023

Context

Rapid-onset obesity with central hypoventilation, hypothalamic dysfunction, and autonomic dysregulation with neural crest tumors (ROHHAD-NET) syndrome pathophysiology remains elusive. Acquired neuroimmunological dysfunction has been proposed as a possible pathogenetic pathway.

Objective

The aim of our study was to characterize lymphocyte subpopulations subsets in peripheral blood (PB) and to evaluate a panel of proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines in ROHHAD(NET) patients vs controls.

Methods

We included 11 ROHHAD(NET) patients, 7 ROHHAD and 4 ROHHAD-NET, selected by clinical criteria. Controls were 11 simple obese children, matched for age and sex. Flow cytometric analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were performed on PB and serum samples of the 2 groups.

Results

Analysis revealed that T lymphocytes are significantly increased in ROHHAD(NET) patients (P = .04) with a prevalence of CD4-T cells (P = .03) and a lower number of activated CD8-T cells (P = .02). With regard to regulatory subset, patients displayed increased regulatory B cells (P = .05) and type-1 regulatory T cells (P = .03). With regard to CD8-T cells, a lower number of T effector memory was observed (P = .02). In contrast, among CD4-T cells, we found a higher number of T naive (P = .04) and T effector (P = .0008). Interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 were increased in patients vs controls (P = .008 and P = .01, respectively). Furthermore, IL-8 levels were higher in the subgroup with neural tumor (P = .0058) (ROHHAD-NET) than in patients without neural tumor (ROHHAD). Soluble HLA-G was significantly lower in patients vs controls (P = .03).

Conclusion

Our findings contribute to support the hypothesis of immune dysregulation, which may underlie this complex, often fatal disease. Because ROHHAD(NET) syndrome is an ultra-rare disease, multicentric studies are needed to improve the effect of our data in the management of this condition.
Manduca sextacaterpillars parasitized by the waspCotesia congregatastop chewing despite an intact motor system
Authors: Miles Carol I. , Chen Wei Ping , Adamo Shelley A. , Kester Karen M. , Miller Dylan W.
Published: August 2023

The parasitic wasp Cotesia congregata suppresses feeding in its host, the caterpillar Manduca sexta, during specific periods of wasp development. We examined both feeding behaviour and the neurophysiology of the mandibular closer muscle in parasitized and unparasitized control M. sexta to determine how the wasp may accomplish this. To test whether the wasps activated a pre-existing host mechanism for feeding cessation, we examined the microstructure of feeding behaviour in caterpillars that stopped feeding due to illness-induced anorexia or an impending moult. These microstructures were compared with that shown by parasitized caterpillars. While there were overall differences between parasitized and unparasitized caterpillars, the groups showed similar progression in feeding microstructure as feeding ended, suggesting a common pattern for terminating a meal. Parasitized caterpillars also consumed less leaf area in 100 bites than control caterpillars at around the same time their feeding microstructure changed. The decline in food consumption was accompanied by fewer spikes per burst and shorter burst durations in chewing muscle electromyograms. Similar extracellular results were obtained from the motorneuron of the mandibular closer muscle. However, chewing was dramatically re-activated in non-feeding parasitized caterpillars if the connectives posterior to the suboesophageal ganglion were severed. The same result was observed in unparasitized caterpillars given the same treatment. Our results suggest that the reduced feeding in parasitized caterpillars is not due to damage to the central pattern generator (CPG) for chewing, motor nerves or chewing muscles, but is more likely to be due to a suppression of chewing CPG activity by ascending or descending inputs.
Migratory songbirds exhibit seasonal modulation of the oxygen cascade
Authors: Ivy Catherine M. , Guglielmo Christopher G.
Published: August 2023

Migratory flight requires birds to maintain intensive aerobic exercise for many hours or days. Maintaining O2 supply to flight muscles is therefore important during migration, especially since migratory songbirds have been documented flying at altitudes greater than 5000 m above sea level, where O2 is limited. Whether songbirds exhibit seasonal plasticity of the O2 cascade to maintain O2 uptake and transport during migratory flight is not well understood. We investigated changes in the hypoxic ventilatory response, haematology and pectoralis (flight) muscle phenotype of 6 songbird species from 3 families during migratory and non-migratory conditions. Songbirds were captured during southbound migration in southern Ontario, Canada. Half of the birds were assessed during migration, and the rest were transitioned onto a winter photoperiod to induce a non-migratory phenotype and measured. All species exhibited seasonal plasticity at various stages along the O2 cascade, but not all species exhibited the same responses. Songbirds tended to be more hypoxia tolerant during migration, withstanding 5 kPa O2 and breathed more effectively through slower, deeper breaths. Warblers had a stronger haemoglobin–O2 affinity during autumn migration (decrease of ∼4.7 Torr), while the opposite was observed in thrushes (increase of ∼2.6 Torr). In the flight muscle there was an ∼1.2-fold increase in the abundance of muscle fibres with smaller fibre transverse areas during autumn migration, but no changes in capillary:fibre ratio. These adjustments would enhance O2 uptake and transport to the flight muscle. Our findings demonstrate that in the O2 cascade there is no ideal migratory phenotype for all songbirds.
Extreme Ultraviolet Laser Photoelectron Spectroscopy of Flat Liquid Jet Generated Using Microfluidic Device
Authors: Yamamoto Yo-ichi , Yano Hiroto , Karashima Shutaro , Uenishi Ryuta , Orimo Natsumi , Nishitani Junichi , Suzuki Toshinori
Published: August 2023

We present photoelectron spectroscopy of liquid films generated in a vacuum with microfluidic devices based on liquid-liquid or gas-liquid collisions. The results are compared to those for a standard liquid microjet technique.
Quantifying the Association between Objectively Measured Physical Activity and Multiple Sclerosis in the UK Biobank
Authors: MENG QIER , CUI ERJIA , LEROUX ANDREW , MOWRY ELLEN M. , LINDQUIST MARTIN A. , CRAINICEANU CIPRIAN M.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Objectively measured physical activity (PA) data were collected in the accelerometry substudy of the UK Biobank. UK Biobank also contains information about multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis at the time of and after PA collection. This study aimed to 1) quantify the difference in PA between prevalent MS cases and matched healthy controls, and 2) evaluate the predictive performance of objective PA measures for incident MS cases.

Methods

The first analysis compared eight accelerometer-derived PA summaries between MS patients (N = 316) and matched controls (30 controls for each MS case). The second analysis focused on predicting time to MS diagnosis among participants who were not diagnosed with MS. A total of 19 predictors including eight measures of objective PA were compared using Cox proportional hazards models (number of events = 47; 585,900 person-years of follow-up).

Results

In the prevalent MS study, the difference between MS cases and matched controls was statistically significant for all PA summaries (P < 0.001). In the incident MS study, the most predictive variable of progression to MS in univariate Cox regression models was lower age (C = 0.604), and the most predictive PA variable was lower relative amplitude (RA, C = 0.594). A two-stage forward selection using Cox regression resulted in a model with concordance C = 0.693 and four predictors: age (P = 0.015), stroke (P = 0.009), Townsend deprivation index (P = 0.874), and RA (P = 0.004). A model including age, stroke, and RA had a concordance of C = 0.691.

Conclusions

Objective PA summaries were significantly different and consistent with lower activity among study participants who had MS at the time of the accelerometry study. Among individuals who did not have MS, younger age, stroke history, and lower RA were significantly associated with a higher risk of a future MS diagnosis.
Carbohydrate Ingestion during Prolonged Cycling Improves Next-Day Time Trial Performance and Alters Amino Acid Concentrations
Authors: CLAUSS MATTHIEU , SKATTEBO ØYVIND , RASEN DÆHLI MALIN , DITTA VALSDOTTIR THORHILDUR , EZZATKHAH BASTANI NASSER , IVAR JOHANSEN EGIL , JENSEN KOLNES KRISTOFFER , STEEN SKÅLHEGG BJØRN , JENSEN JØRGEN
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Exercise with low carbohydrate availability increases protein degradation, which may reduce subsequent performance considerably. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of carbohydrate ingestion during standardized exercise with and without exhaustion on protein degradation and next-day performance.

Methods

Seven trained male cyclists (V̇O2max 66.8 ± 1.9 mL·kg−1·min−1; mean ± SEM) cycled to exhaustion (~2.5 h) at a power output eliciting 68% of V̇O2max (W68%). This was followed by repeating 1-min work/1-min recovery intervals at 90% of V̇O2max (W90%) until exhaustion. During W68%, cyclists consumed a placebo water drink (PLA) the first time and a carbohydrate drink (CHO), 1 g carbohydrate·kg−1·h−1, the second time. The participants performed the same amount of work under the two conditions, separated by at least 1 wk. A standardized diet was provided to the participants so that the two conditions were isoenergetic. To test the impact of carbohydrates on recovery, participants completed a time trial (TT) the next day.

Results

Carbohydrate ingestion maintained carbohydrate availability during W68% and W90%: total carbohydrate oxidation was significantly higher in CHO (P = 0.022), and plasma glucose concentration was maintained compared with PLA (P = 0.025). Next-day performance during TT was better after CHO ingestion (CHO, 41:49 ± 1:38 min; PLA, 42:50 ± 1:46 min; P = 0.020; effect size d = 0.23, small), as was gross efficiency (CHO, 18.6% ± 0.3%; PLA, 17.9% ± 0.3%; P = 0.019). Urinary nitrogen excretion (P = 0.897) and urinary 3-methylhistidine excretion (P = 0.673) did not significantly differ during the study period. Finally, tyrosine and phenylalanine plasma concentrations increased in PLA but not in CHO (P = 0.018).

Conclusions

Carbohydrate ingestion during exhaustive exercise reduced deterioration in next-day performance through reduced metabolic stress and development of fatigue. In addition, some parameters point toward less protein degradation, which would preserve muscle function.
The Impact of Exercise Training and Supplemental Oxygen on Peripheral Muscles in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: NEUNHÄUSERER DANIEL , HUDELMAIER MARTIN , NIEDERSEER DAVID , VECCHIATO MARCO , WIRTH WOLFGANG , STEIDLE-KLOC EVA , KAISER BERNHARD , LAMPRECHT BERND , ERMOLAO ANDREA , STUDNICKA MICHAEL , NIEBAUER JOSEF
Published: August 2023

Objective

Exercise training is a cornerstone of the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, whereas the related interindividual heterogeneity in skeletal muscle dysfunction and adaptations are not yet fully understood. We set out to investigate the effects of exercise training and supplemental oxygen on functional and structural peripheral muscle adaptation.

Methods

In this prospective, randomized, controlled, double-blind study, 28 patients with nonhypoxemic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (forced expiratory volume in 1 second, 45.92% ± 9.06%) performed 6 wk of combined endurance and strength training, three times a week while breathing either supplemental oxygen or medical air. The impact on exercise capacity, muscle strength, and quadriceps femoris muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) was assessed by maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing, 10-repetition maximum strength test of knee extension, and magnetic resonance imaging, respectively.

Results

After exercise training, patients demonstrated a significant increase in functional capacity, aerobic capacity, exercise tolerance, quadriceps muscle strength, and bilateral CSA. Supplemental oxygen affected significantly the training impact on peak work rate when compared with medical air (+0.20 ± 0.03 vs +0.12 ± 0.03 W·kg−1, P = 0.047); a significant increase in CSA (+3.9 ± 1.3 cm2, P = 0.013) was only observed in the training group using oxygen. Supplemental oxygen and exercise-induced peripheral desaturation were identified as significant opposing determinants of muscle gain during this exercise training intervention, which led to different adaptations of CSA between the respective subgroups.

Conclusions

The heterogenous functional and structural muscle adaptations seem determined by supplemental oxygen and exercise-induced hypoxia. Indeed, supplemental oxygen may facilitate muscular training adaptations, particularly in limb muscle dysfunction, thereby contributing to the enhanced training responses on maximal aerobic and functional capacity.
Online Circuit Training Increases Adherence to Physical Activity: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Men with Obesity
Authors: KESHAVARZ MOHAMMAD , SÉNÉCHAL MARTIN , BOUCHARD DANIELLE R.
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This study aimed to examine adherence to the weekly physical activity guidelines (≥150 min of aerobic activities at moderate-to-vigorous intensity and two or more sessions of strength training (yes or no)) and health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic for men living with obesity, 46 wk after being offered an online muscle-strengthening circuit program for 12 wk.

Methods

Sixty men (age ≥19 yr) living with obesity (body fat percentage ≥25%) were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 30) or the control condition (n = 30) for 12 wk. The intervention group was offered an online circuit training, three sessions per week, whereas the control group received a website helping them to reach the physical activity guidelines. Adherence to the weekly physical activity guidelines was evaluated 46 wk after enrolling in the program using a heart rate tracker (Fitbit Charge 3) and an exercise log. Health outcomes (e.g., anthropometrics, body composition) were measured at baseline and after 12, 24, and 46 wk.

Results

The intervention group had higher adherence to physical activity guidelines at 46 wk (36.8%) than the control group (5.3%; P = 0.02). However, no difference in health outcomes was observed between participants in the intervention group compared with the control group after 12, 24, and 46 wk.

Conclusions

Increasing adherence to exercise in men living with obesity is challenging. The proposed program increased adherence to the physical activity guidelines after about a year for men living with obesity; however, more studies are needed to understand how to improve health outcomes when following an online delivery exercise program in this population.
Free-Weight and Machine-Based Training Are Equally Effective on Strength and Hypertrophy: Challenging a Traditional Myth
Authors: HERNÁNDEZ-BELMONTE ALEJANDRO , MARTÍNEZ-CAVA ALEJANDRO , BUENDÍA-ROMERO ÁNGEL , FRANCO-LÓPEZ FRANCISCO , PALLARÉS JESÚS G.
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This study aimed to compare the effects of free-weight and machine-based resistance training on strength, hypertrophy, and joint discomfort.

Methods

Thirty-eight resistance-trained men participated in an 8-wk resistance program allocated into free-weight (n = 19) or machine-based (n = 19) groups. Training variables were identical for both modalities, so they only differed in the use of barbells or machines to execute the full squat, bench press, prone bench pull, and shoulder press exercises. The velocity-based method was implemented to accurately adjust the intensity throughout the program. Strength changes were evaluated using eight velocity-monitored loading tests (four exercises × two modalities) and included the relative one-repetition maximum (1RMRel), as well as the mean propulsive velocity against low (MPVLow) and high (MPVHigh) loads. Ultrasound-derived cross-sectional area of quadriceps (proximal and distal regions), pectoralis major, and rectus abdominis was measured to examine hypertrophy. Complementarily, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaires were administrated to assess changes in lower- and upper-limb joint discomfort. Outcomes were compared using ANCOVA and percentage of change (∆) statistics.

Results

Each group significantly (P < 0.001) increased 1RMRel, MPVLow, and MPVHigh for both modalities tested, but especially in the one they trained. When considering together the eight exercises tested, strength changes for both modalities were similar (∆ differences ≤1.8%, P ≥ 0.216). Likewise, the cross-sectional area of all the muscles evaluated was significantly increased by both modalities, with no significant differences between them (∆ difference ≤2.0%, P ≥ 0.208). No between-group differences (P ≥ 0.144) were found for changes in stiffness, pain, and functional disability levels, which were reduced by both modalities.

Conclusions

Free-weight and machine-based modalities are similarly effective to promote strength and hypertrophy without increasing joint discomfort.
Global Transportation Decarbonization
Authors: Rapson David , Muehlegger Erich
Published: August 2023

Replacing fossil fuels in the name of decarbonization is necessary but will be particularly difficult due to their as-yet unrivaled bundle of attributes: abundance, ubiquity, energy density, transportability and cost. There is a growing commitment to electrification as the dominant decarbonization pathway. While deep electrification is promising for road transportation in wealthy countries, it will face steep obstacles. In other sectors and in the developing world, it’s not even in pole position. Global transportation decarbonization will require decoupling emissions from economic growth, and decoupling emissions from growth will require not only new technologies, but cooperation in governance. The menu of policy options is replete with grim tradeoffs, particularly as the primacy of energy security and reliability (over emissions abatement) has once again been demonstrated in Europe and elsewhere.
Compensating Wage Differentials in Labor Markets: Empirical Challenges and Applications
Authors: Lavetti Kurt
Published: August 2023

The model of compensating wage differentials is among the cornerstone models of equilibrium wage determination in labor economics. However, empirical estimates of compensating differentials have faced persistent credibility challenges. This article summarizes the Rosen model of compensating differentials and chronicles the advances, setbacks, and lessons learned from empirical studies. The progression from cross-sectional to panel models alleviated biases caused by unobserved human capital but yielded new insights into the importance of other biases, including those caused by labor market frictions and endogenous job mobility. I discuss recent approaches that use matched employer-employee data and quasi-random variation in job amenities to address some of these challenges. I then present two examples of applications of compensating differentials: the evaluation public health and safety policies that rely on the value of statistical life, and the measurement and interpretation of earnings inequality.
How Far Goods Travel: Global Transport and Supply Chains from 1965–2020
Authors: Ganapati Sharat , Wong Woan Foong
Published: August 2023

This paper considers the evolution of global transportation usage over the past half century and its implications for supply chains. Transportation usage has more than doubled as costs decreased by a third. Participation of emerging economies in world trade and longer-distance trade between countries contribute to this usage increase, thereby encouraging longer supply chains. We discuss technological advances over this period, and their interactions with endogenous responses from transportation costs and supply chain linkages. Supply chains involving more countries and longer distances are reflective of reliable and efficient transportat ion, but are also more exposed to disruptions, highlighting the importance of considering the interconnectedness of transportation and supply chains in policymaking and future work.
Seek and Ye Shall Find: An Empirical Examination of the Effects of Seeking Real-Time Feedback on Employee Performance Evaluations
Authors: Rivera Michael , Jiang Cheng , Kumar Subodha
Published: August 2023

This research delves into the impact of real-time feedback applications on the engagement of employees with performance evaluation programs. The study focuses on feedback-seeking behavior and rating, which have been neglected in previous literature. The research analyzes nearly 11,000 feedback instances from employees at four major organizations to examine how seeking and rating feedback affects in-kind evaluations. The results indicate that seeking feedback can enhance constructive communication among colleagues. Feedback seekers receive lower feedback scores but are more likely to receive longer and more subjective comments. Feedback givers who choose to remain anonymous provide shorter comments or no comments to feedback seekers. The study also reveals that feedback seekers prioritize longer comments over high feedback scores when rating feedback. The study recommends that managers and organizations encourage feedback-seeking behavior to promote a culture of constructive feedback. When implementing feedback applications, it is important to prioritize creating an environment that fosters constructive feedback.
Dynamic Project Expediting: A Stochastic Shortest-Path Approach
Authors: Bertazzi Luca , Mogre Riccardo , Trichakis Nikolaos
Published: August 2023

We deal with the problem of managing a project or a complex operational process by controlling the execution pace of the activities it comprises. We consider a setting in which these activities are clearly defined, are subject to precedence constraints, and progress randomly. We formulate a discrete-time, infinite-horizon Markov decision process in which the manager reviews progress in each period and decides which activities to expedite to balance expediting costs with delay costs. We derive structural properties for this dynamic project expediting problem. These enable us then to devise exact solution methods that we show to reduce computational burden significantly. We illustrate how our method generalizes and can be used to tackle a wide range of so-called stochastic shortest-path problems that are characterized by an intuitive property and can capture other applications, including medical decision-making and disease-modeling problems. Moreover, we also deal with the state identification issue for our problem, which is a challenging task in and of itself, owing to precedence constraints. We complement our analytical results with numerical experiments, demonstrating that both our solution and state identification methods significantly outperform extant methods for a supply chain example and for various randomly generated instances.

This paper was accepted by Chung Piaw Teo, optimization.

Funding: R. Mogre acknowledges support from the U.S.-UK Fulbright Commission and the Lloyd’s Tercentenary Research Foundation through the Fulbright-Lloyd’s Scholar Award, which allowed him to spend an extended period of time at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Supplemental Material: The data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4876 .
Inventory Commitment and Monetary Compensation Under Competition
Authors: Lei Junfei , Zhang Fuqiang , Zhang Renyu , Yu Yugang
Published: August 2023

Problem definition: Inventory commitment and monetary compensation are widely recognized as effective strategies in monopoly settings when customers are concerned about stockouts. To attract more customer traffic, a firm reveals its inventory availability information to customers before the sales season or offers monetary compensation to placate customers if the product is out of stock. This paper investigates these two strategies when retailers compete on both price and inventory availability. Methodology/results: We develop a game-theoretic framework to analyze the strategic interactions among the retailers and customers and draw the following insights. First, both inventory commitment and monetary compensation may lead to a prisoner’s dilemma. Although these strategies are preferred regardless of the competitor’s price and inventory decisions, the equilibrium profit of each retailer could be lower in the presence of inventory commitment or monetary compensation because they intensify the competition between the retailers. Second, we find that market competition may hurt social welfare compared with a centralized setting by reducing the product availability in equilibrium. The inventory commitment and monetary compensation strategies further intensify the competition between the retailers, therefore causing an even lower social welfare. Managerial implications: Our study shows that, although inventory commitment and monetary compensation improve retailers’ profit and social welfare under monopoly, these strategies should be used with caution under competition.

Funding: F. Zhang is grateful for the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grants 71929201, 72131004]. R. Zhang is grateful for the financial support from the Hong Kong Research Grants Council General Research Fund [Grant 14502722] and the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant 72293560/72293565]. Y. Yu is grateful for the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant 71921001].

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2021.0411 .
Post COVID-19: A Comparative Assessment of In-person and Virtual Academic Advising
Authors: Peters Brian , Burton Donna , Rich Samantha
Published: August 2023

During the COVID-19 pandemic, academic advisors worked remotely and conducted virtual appointments. One higher education advising unit in the Southeast United States resumed in-person appointments while maintaining virtual appointments in Fall 2021. To address whether significant differences occur in appointment modalities, this study conducted dual surveys to students and advisors and assessed a quantitative comparison between virtual and in-person advising. Students preferred virtual appointments and found them convenient for scheduling. The study observed no meaningful differences in quality between the modalities, but statistically significant differences in the virtual developmental advising approach. Implications from this study inform the advising field as advisors navigate in-person and virtual appointments in advising models post COVID-19.
Diabetic neuropathy results in vasomotor dysfunction of medium sized peripheral arteries
Authors: Ege Fahrettin , Kazci Ömer , Aydin Sonay
Published: August 2023

In recent years, because of the growing desire to improve the noninvasiveness and safety of tumor treatments, sonodynamic therapy has gradually become a popular research topic. However, due to the complexity of the therapeutic process, the relevant mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. One of the widely accepted possibilities involves the effect of reactive oxygen species. In this review, the mechanism of reactive oxygen species production by sonodynamic therapy (SDT) and ways to enhance the sonodynamic production of reactive oxygen species are reviewed. Then, the clinical application and limitations of SDT are discussed. In conclusion, current research on sonodynamic therapy should focus on the development of sonosensitizers that efficiently produce active oxygen, exhibit biological safety, and promote the clinical transformation of sonodynamic therapy.
Treatment of refractory anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 anbibody-positive dermatomyositis complicated by rapidly progressing interstitial pulmonary disease: Two case reports
Authors: Wang Qiao-Hong , Chen Li-Heng
Published: August 2023

In recent years, because of the growing desire to improve the noninvasiveness and safety of tumor treatments, sonodynamic therapy has gradually become a popular research topic. However, due to the complexity of the therapeutic process, the relevant mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. One of the widely accepted possibilities involves the effect of reactive oxygen species. In this review, the mechanism of reactive oxygen species production by sonodynamic therapy (SDT) and ways to enhance the sonodynamic production of reactive oxygen species are reviewed. Then, the clinical application and limitations of SDT are discussed. In conclusion, current research on sonodynamic therapy should focus on the development of sonosensitizers that efficiently produce active oxygen, exhibit biological safety, and promote the clinical transformation of sonodynamic therapy.
Long-term rare giant sialolithiasis for 30 years: A case report and review of literature
Authors: Mao Jit-Swen , Lee Yu-Chien , Chi Jessie Chao-Yun , Yi Wan-Ling , Tsou Yung-An , Lin Chia-Der , Tai Chih-Jaan , Shih Liang-Chun
Published: August 2023

In recent years, because of the growing desire to improve the noninvasiveness and safety of tumor treatments, sonodynamic therapy has gradually become a popular research topic. However, due to the complexity of the therapeutic process, the relevant mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. One of the widely accepted possibilities involves the effect of reactive oxygen species. In this review, the mechanism of reactive oxygen species production by sonodynamic therapy (SDT) and ways to enhance the sonodynamic production of reactive oxygen species are reviewed. Then, the clinical application and limitations of SDT are discussed. In conclusion, current research on sonodynamic therapy should focus on the development of sonosensitizers that efficiently produce active oxygen, exhibit biological safety, and promote the clinical transformation of sonodynamic therapy.
Treatment of a patient with severe lactic acidosis and multiple organ failure due to mitochondrial myopathy: A case report
Authors: Chen Ling , Shuai Tian-Kui , Gao Yu-Wei , Li Min , Fang Peng-Zhong , Christian Waydhas , Liu Li-Ping
Published: August 2023

In recent years, because of the growing desire to improve the noninvasiveness and safety of tumor treatments, sonodynamic therapy has gradually become a popular research topic. However, due to the complexity of the therapeutic process, the relevant mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. One of the widely accepted possibilities involves the effect of reactive oxygen species. In this review, the mechanism of reactive oxygen species production by sonodynamic therapy (SDT) and ways to enhance the sonodynamic production of reactive oxygen species are reviewed. Then, the clinical application and limitations of SDT are discussed. In conclusion, current research on sonodynamic therapy should focus on the development of sonosensitizers that efficiently produce active oxygen, exhibit biological safety, and promote the clinical transformation of sonodynamic therapy.
The Romantic Intersection of Anna Seward, the Ladies of Llangollen, and Mary Tighe
Authors: Linkin Harriet Kramer
Published: August 2023

Abstract: Anna Seward commended Mary Tighe's 1795 sonnet for the Ladies of Llangollen shortly before she composed her own poem for Lady Eleanor Butler and Sarah Ponsonby, "Llangollen Vale" (1796). When Tighe revised her "Addressed to the Ladies of Langollen Vale" for her 1805 collection Verses, she positioned it within a sonnet sequence that critiques Seward's poem and Seward's sonnet theories. Tighe's critique highlights the different aesthetic values she and Seward espoused as private and public poets.
Awakening Buffalo Consciousness: Lessons, Theory, and Practice from the Buffalo Treaty
Authors: Crosschild Ryan , Starblanket Gina , Voth Daniel , Hubbard Tasha , Bear Leroy Little
Published: August 2023

Abstract: This study examines the development and implications of the international Buffalo Treaty, the first inter-Indigenous treaty of its kind in over 200 years. The research brings together scholars from different plains Indigenous peoples to learn from and share with renowned Blackfoot scholar and Buffalo Treaty Emissary Dr. Leroy Little Bear. The research details the movement to bring Indigenous nations on either side of the 49th parallel together in common cause to return buffalo to Indigenous landscapes and territories, a task necessitated by the buffalo genocide in the 19th century. In addition, we argue that the Buffalo Treaty is part of a much larger effort to reinvigorate Indigenous modes of relating between people, non-human animals, and lands and waters. We draw from Dr. Little Bear to enunciate meaning of buffalo consciousness , and show how the Buffalo Treaty movement was transformed from an originally Blackfoot-driven initiative into an Indigenous international treaty between multiple peoples and the buffalo. By learning from the buffalo in their role as a keystone species, we are able develop new orientations to improving relationships among Indigenous peoples and non-human relations. The work concludes with new interventions on using treaty making to decolonize Indigenous peoples' modes of governance in service of facilitating the resurgence of relational forms of politics.
“I want…to serve those communities…[but] my price tag is…not what they can afford”: The community‐engaged Georgia doula study
Authors: Mosley Elizabeth A. , Lindsey Alyssa , Turner Daria , Shah Priya , Sayyad Ayeesha , Mack Amber , Lindberg Ky
Published: August 2023

Introduction

In Georgia, maternal mortality is relatively high, and Black women are three times as likely to die from pregnancy‐related causes as white women. Doulas can improve perinatal health and reduce disparities, but doula accessibility in Georgia is unclear.

Methods

This community‐engaged mixed methods study surveyed and interviewed 17 doulas in Georgia. Surveys included structured questions on demographics, businesses, clientele, training, and challenges; we analyzed them using descriptive statistics. In‐depth interviews included open‐ended questions on doula care benefits, building their businesses, and improving access to doula care. We analyzed the content of transcripts using coding and memoing.

Results

Our diverse doula participants described providing life‐saving services including education, referral to care, and patient advocacy. Yet they described numerous challenges to providing care and building their businesses. Almost all participants reported having fewer than their ideal number of clients and all reported being insufficiently paid for their services. Although training, mentoring, and networking help build their businesses, many doulas want to serve Black women, transgender men, gender non‐binary individuals, and families living on lower incomes. Participants suggested Medicaid reimbursement and community health worker models as potential interventions for increasing equitable doula care access.

Discussion

Doulas can improve perinatal health outcomes and are urgently needed. Yet they face challenges in building businesses and finding clientele, especially from communities and groups at highest risk of negative outcomes during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Identifying avenues for supporting publicly‐funded reimbursement, expanding equity‐focused doula training, and fostering stronger doula networks with mentorship appears warranted.
Artificial neural networks for photonic applications—from algorithms to implementation: tutorial
Authors: Freire Pedro , Manuylovich Egor , Prilepsky Jaroslaw E. , Turitsyn Sergei K.
Published: August 2023

This tutorial–review on applications of artificial neural networks in photonics targets a broad audience, ranging from optical research and engineering communities to computer science and applied mathematics. We focus here on the research areas at the interface between these disciplines, attempting to find the right balance between technical details specific to each domain and overall clarity. First, we briefly recall key properties and peculiarities of some core neural network types, which we believe are the most relevant to photonics, also linking the layer’s theoretical design to some photonics hardware realizations. After that, we elucidate the question of how to fine-tune the selected model’s design to perform the required task with optimized accuracy. Then, in the review part, we discuss recent developments and progress for several selected applications of neural networks in photonics, including multiple aspects relevant to optical communications, imaging, sensing, and the design of new materials and lasers. In the following section, we put a special emphasis on how to accurately evaluate the complexity of neural networks in the context of the transition from algorithms to hardware implementation. The introduced complexity characteristics are used to analyze the applications of neural networks in optical communications, as a specific, albeit highly important example, comparing those with some benchmark signal-processing methods. We combine the description of the well-known model compression strategies used in machine learning, with some novel techniques introduced recently in optical applications of neural networks. It is important to stress that although our focus in this tutorial–review is on photonics, we believe that the methods and techniques presented here can be handy in a much wider range of scientific and engineering applications.
Nanolaminate-based antireflection coatings for enhanced scratch and tribological performance
Authors: Wang Yusi , Yang Chenying , Yuan Wenjia , Zheng Tingting , Liu Yujie , Chen Xiao , Zhang Yueguang , Shen Weidong
Published: August 2023

Developing durable antireflection (AR) coatings with sapphire-like hardness and high transparency faces a significant challenge. Conventionally, achieving these requirements involves depositing thick, high-hardness nitride films. Here, we proposed an alternative approach that combines nanolaminate materials with optical design, overcoming the brittleness of thick nitride films. We selected Ta2O5/Si3N4 nanolaminates with similar refractive indices, improving tribological and optical performance through a unique optomechanical method. Our proposed AR coating exhibited a low reflectance of 0.8% (420-780 nm) and remarkable hardness of 22.8 GPa, and demonstrated the ability to withstand abrasion from steel wool up to 3,000 times on a glass substrate. This work successfully achieves a balance between hardness and toughness, opening new avenues for the development of highly durable coatings.
Giant nonlocal Kerr nonlinearity and polaritonic solitons in a Rydberg-dressed Bose-Einstein condensate
Authors: Chen Yuxi , Bai Zhengyang , Hang Chao , Huang Guoxiang
Published: August 2023

We present a scheme to generate nonlocal optical Kerr nonlinearity and polaritonic solitons via matter-wave superradiance in a Rydberg-dressed Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC). We show that the polariton spectrum of the scattered field generated by the superradiance is changed significantly due to the existence of the long-range Rydberg-Rydberg interaction between atoms, i.e. it has a roton-maxon form; moreover, the BEC structure factor displays a strong dependence on the Rydberg-dressing, which can be tuned in a controllable way. We also show that such a Rydberg-dressed BEC system can support a giant nonlocal optical Kerr nonlinearity, and hence allow the formation and stable propagation of polaritonic solitons, which have ultraslow propagation velocity and ultralow generation power. The results reported here are useful to understand the unique properties of Rydberg-dressing in BECs and have potential applications in optical information processing and transmission.
Compressed sensing framework for BCG signals based on the optical fiber sensor
Authors: Chen Shuyang , Luo Huaijian , Lyu Weimin , Yu Jianxun , Qin Jing , Yu Changyuan
Published: August 2023

A compressed sensing (CS) framework is built for ballistocardiography (BCG) signals, which contains two parts of an optical fiber sensor-based heart monitoring system with a CS module and an end-to-end deep learning-based reconstruction algorithm. The heart monitoring system collects BCG data, and then compresses and transmits the data through the CS module at the sensing end. The deep learning-based algorithm reconstructs compressed data at the received end. To evaluate results, three traditional CS reconstruction algorithms and a deep learning method are adopted as references to reconstruct the compressed BCG data with different compression ratios (CRs). Results show that our framework can reconstruct signals successfully when the CR grows from 50% to 95% and outperforms other methods at high CRs. The mean absolute error (MAE) of the estimated heartbeat rate (HR) is lower than 1 bpm when the CR is below 95%. The proposed CS framework for BCG signals can be integrated into the IoMT system, which has great potential in health care for both medical and home use.
High-performance optical phased array for LiDARs demonstrated by monolithic integration of polymer and SiN waveguides
Authors: Lee Eun-Su , Jin Jinung , Chun Kwon-Wook , Lee Sang-Shin , Oh Min-Cheol
Published: August 2023

Optical phased array (OPA) beam scanners for light detection and ranging (LiDAR) are proposed by integrating polymer waveguides with superior thermo-optic effect and silicon nitride (SiN) waveguides exhibiting strong modal confinement along with high optical power capacity. A low connection loss of only 0.15 dB between the polymer and SiN waveguides was achieved in this work, enabling a low-loss OPA device. The polymer-SiN monolithic OPA demonstrates not only high optical throughput but also efficient beamforming and stable beam scanning. This novel integrative approach highlights the potential of leveraging heterogeneous photonic materials to develop advanced photonic integrated circuits with superior performance.
Liquid-crystal-based fiber laser sensor for non-invasive gas detection
Authors: Zhou Dong , Wang Qingxiu , Lan Zeqing , Chen Yuzhou , Peng Zenghui , Zhang Lingli , Liu Yongjun
Published: August 2023

This Letter reports a new optical fiber gas sensor for measuring breath acetone. The sensor is based on photonic bandgap (PBG) mode laser emission sensing technology using liquid crystal (LC), which is combined with silica fiber and chiral nematic liquid crystal (CNLC), thus providing an ultra-compact, fast-response and simple-to-produce sensing system with a fast response that can accurately and quantitatively determine the concentration of respiratory acetone within the normal oral temperature range (35–38°C). Since LCs are affected by temperature, we propose a method that eliminates the influence of the temperature to solve the problem of the temperature influence when measuring gas. The detection of acetone leads to splitting of the dual laser peaks, with a linear correlation of 0.99. The sensor has a limit of detection of 65 ppm for acetone vapor and thus is suitable for breath acetone detection in diabetic patients.
Contactless 3D surface characterization of additive manufactured metallic components using terahertz time-domain spectroscopy
Authors: Lu Yuezhen , Zhu Haitao , Zaman Abdullah M. , Rennie Allan E. W. , Lin Hungyen , Tian Yingtao , Degl’Innocenti Riccardo
Published: August 2023

Terahertz time-domain spectroscopy has experienced significant progress
in imaging, spectroscopy, and quality inspection, e.g., for
semiconductor packaging or the automotive industry. Additive
manufacturing alloys (also known as alloys for use in 3D printing)
have risen in popularity in aerospace and biomedical industries due to
the ability to fabricate intricate designs and shapes with high
precision using materials with customized mechanical properties.
However, these 3D-printed elements need to be polished thereafter,
where the surface roughness is inspected using techniques such as the
laser scanning microscope. In this study, we demonstrate the use of
terahertz time-domain spectroscopy to assess the average roughness
profile and height leveling of stainless steel for comparisons against
the same parameters acquired using laser scanning microscopy. Our
results highlight the potential of the proposed technique to rapidly
inspect 3D-printed alloys over large areas, thus providing an
attractive modality for assessing surface profiles of AM-manufactured
terahertz components in the future.
Thermally reliable compact thermo and electro-optic modulators with a low half-wave voltage
Authors: Afsary Noor , Rasel MD Omar Faruk , Ishigure Takaaki
Published: August 2023

This article introduces the progress made in high-performance integrated electro-optic (EO) modulators, crucial components of modern optical communication systems that efficiently convert electrical signals into optical signals. The EO modulators with tighter mode confinement, a small physical footprint, and low modulating voltages have been made possible by recent developments in thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN). In this paper, we demonstrate a Mach-Zehnder (MZ) modulator realized with a silicon nitride-loaded lithium niobate (LNOI) platform, leveraging the exceptional TO and EO effect of LiNbO3, and we develop this MZ modulator realized with multilayer structures by using the RSoft BeamPROP solver. The MZ modulator is 3.94 mm long, and we evaluate the Vπ of the modulator as 0.96 V, and a transition temperature of Tg is 80 °C at 1550 nm. The proposed modulator has a crosstalk of almost -42 dB, an extinction ratio of ≈24 dB, and a maximum transmission of -28 dB for the first-order phase shifter.
Thermally reliable compact electro-thermo-optic Mach Zehnder Interferometer-based modulator with low half-wave voltage
Authors: Afsary Noor , Rasel MD Omar Faruk , Ishigure Takaaki
Published: August 2023

This article explores the progress made in high-performance integrated electro-optic (EO) modulators, crucial components of modern optical communication systems that efficiently convert electrical signals into optical signals. For attaining high-speed operation in telecommunications networks, wireless communications, and RF-photonic applications, lithium niobate on insulation (LNOI) technology is a viable option. The creation of a new class of EO modulators with tighter mode confinement, a small physical footprint, and low modulating voltages has been made possible by recent developments in Thin-Film Lithium Niobate (TFLN). A hybrid material system that combines silicon nitride's ultra-low propagation loss with TFLN's EO characteristics has been created to address the issue of microstructure. In this study, a Mach-Zehnder interferometer-based modulator on a silicon nitride-loaded LNOI platform is proposed and thoroughly examined, leveraging the exceptional EO effect of LiNbO3. The modulator is 3.49 mm long, with a demonstrated Vπ of 0.96 V and a transition temperature of Tg = 80 °C at 1550 nm. The proposed modulator has a crosstalk level of almost -42 dB, an extinction ratio of ≈24 dB, and a maximum transmission of -28 dB for the first-order phase shift.