bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Contextual Ranking and Selection Method for Personalized Medicine
Authors: Du Jianzhong , Gao Siyang , Chen Chun-Hung
Published: August 2023

Problem definition: Personalized medicine (PM) seeks the best treatment for each patient among a set of available treatment methods. Because a specific treatment does not work well on all patients, traditionally, the best treatment was selected based on the doctor’s personal experience and expertise, which is subject to human errors. In the meantime, stochastic models have been well developed in the literature for a lot of major diseases. This gives rise to a simulation-based solution for PM, which uses the simulation tool to evaluate the performance for pairs of treatment and patient biometric characteristics and, based on that, selects the best treatment for each patient characteristic. Methodology/results: In this research, we extend the ranking and selection (R&S) model in simulation-based decision making to solving PM. The biometric characteristics of a patient are treated as a context for R&S, and we call it contextual ranking and selection (CR&S). We consider two formulations of CR&S with small and large context spaces, respectively, and develop new techniques for solving them and identifying the rate-optimal budget allocation rules. Based on them, two selection algorithms are proposed, which can be shown to be numerically superior via a set of tests on abstract and real-world examples. Managerial implications: This research provides a systematic way of conducting simulation-based decision-making for PM. To improve the overall decision quality for the possible contexts, more simulation efforts should be devoted to contexts in which it is difficult to distinguish between the best treatment and non-best treatments, and our results quantify the optimal trade-off of the simulation efforts between the pairs of contexts and treatments.

Funding: J. Du is partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant 72091211]. C.-H. Chen is partially supported by the National Science Foundation under Awards FAIN212368.

Supplemental Material: The e-companion is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2022.0232 .
Adversarial Robustness for Latent Models: Revisiting the Robust-Standard Accuracies Tradeoff
Authors: Javanmard Adel , Mehrabi Mohammad
Published: August 2023

Low-dimensional structure of data can solve the adversarial robustness-accuracy conflict for machine learning systems.

Modern machine learning systems have demonstrated breakthrough performance in a multitude of applications. However, they are known to be highly vulnerable to small perturbations to the input data, known as adversarial attacks. There are many well-documented examples of such behavior, for example small perturbations of an image, which is imperceptible to a human, can significantly degrade performance of modern classifiers. Adversarial training has been put forward as a way to improve robustness of learning algorithms to adversarial attacks. However, this benefit often comes at the cost of decreasing accuracy on natural unperturbed inputs, pointing to a potential conflict between adversarial robustness and standard accuracy. In “Adversarial robustness for latent models: Revisiting the robust-standard accuracies tradeoff,” Adel Javanmard and Mohammad Mehrabi develop a theory to show that when the data enjoys low-dimensional structure, then it is possible to train models that are nearly optimal with respect to both, the standard and robust accuracies.
Wheelchair basketball, health, competitive analysis, and performance advantage: a review of theory and evidence
Authors: Najafabadi Mahboubeh Ghayour , Shariat Ardalan , Anastasio Albert Thomas , Khah Amir Sobhrakhshan , Shaw Ina , Kavianpour Mohadeseh
Published: August 2023

The purpose of this study was to review the various risks and benefits of wheelchair basketball (WB) and explore some of the research which outlines factors that influence WB player performance and conditioning. WB offers several physical and psychological advantages. Physically, it can improve muscle strength, endurance, and cardiovascular fitness while decreasing the prevalence of chronic physical disorders. From a psychological standpoint, WB has been shown to alleviate anxiety and feelings of depression while also creating and improving social relationships. Despite the many benefits, WB can cause injuries, particularly in the upper extremities, and preventative measures should be employed. WB necessitates intense intermittent efforts and athletes must maintain excellent cardiovascular fitness, strength, and muscular endurance. Healthy sleeping patterns have also been shown to improve performance in WB players. Wheelchair mobility and biomechanical variables as well as wheelchair size and weight appear to be critical success elements in WB. WB can be a powerful tool for coaches and therapists to boost the physical and emotional health of individuals with disabilities and motivate them to participate in team-based sport.
Effectiveness of treating menorrhagia using microwave endometrial ablation at a frequency of 2.45 GHz
Authors: Kakinuma Toshiyuki , Kaneko Ayaka , Kakinuma Kaoru , Matsuda Yoshio , Yanagida Kaoru , Takeshima Nobuhiro , Ohwada Michitaka
Published: August 2023

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive and neurodegenerative illness which results in alterations in cognitive development. It is characterized by loss/dysfunction of cholinergic neurons, and formation of amyloid plaques, and formation of neurofibrillary tangles, among other changes, due to hyperphosphorylation of tau-protein. Exposure to pesticides in humans occurs frequently due to contact with contaminated food, water, or particles. Organochlorines, organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids and neonicotinoids are associated with the most diagnosed incidents of severe cognitive impairment. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of these pesticides on the phosphorylation of tau protein, and its cognitive implications in the development of AD. It was found that exposure to pesticides increased the phosphorylation of tau protein at sites Ser198, Ser199, Ser202, Thr205, Ser396 and Ser404. Contact with these chemicals altered the enzymatic activities of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 and glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta, and protein phosphatase-2A. Moreover, it altered the expression of the microtubule associated protein tau gene, and changed levels of intracellular calcium. These changes affected tau protein phosphorylation and neuroinflammation, and also increased oxidative stress. In addition, the exposed subjects had poor level of performance in tests that involved evaluation of novelty, as test on verbal, non-verbal, spatial memory, attention, and problem-solving skills.
Analysis of Future Prospects and Opportunities for Wood Adhesives: A Review*
Authors: Hunt Christopher G. , Dunky Manfred
Published: August 2023

This paper addresses strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the wood adhesives industry as discussed at the International Conference on Wood Adhesives in May 2022. The authors have organized the points made during the discussion and added further facts, assumptions, and conclusions to provide context and perspective, even surpassing the outcome of the discussion. The biggest themes of the discussion were the unprecedented opportunity for adhesives to enable forest products to supply society's surging demand for renewable materials and the challenges in meeting those demands. We see excellent opportunities for wood-based panels and with this, for wood adhesives. The abundant challenges to bio-based adhesives for wood products are highlighted by the large amount of research and commercial effort compared with the small volumes of bio-based adhesives in use. Other threats to the adhesive and bonded products industries include aversion to any chemicals (even stable adhesives), and lack of experienced work force. Wood adhesives underwent significant changes in the past decades, mainly focused on reducing emissions during panel use. Wood use in construction will be boosted by efforts to fulfil the European Green Deal, as implemented in the New European Bauhaus and European Renovation Wave.
Sodium carbonate modulated ultrashort mode-locked stretched pulses in an erbium-doped fiber laser
Authors: Najm Mustafa Mohammed , Zhang Pei , Al-Azzawi Alabbas A. , Abdullah Mohammed Najm , Yasin Moh , Harun Sulaiman Wadi
Published: August 2023

In this paper, we propose a new, to the best of our knowledge, saturable absorber (SA)
based on sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) for producing an ultrafast
mode-locked stretched pulse in a passively erbium-doped fiber laser at
near-zero dispersion. The solid film of a Na2CO3-SA was fabricated by the drop-casting
method using polyvinyl alcohol as a host polymer. The modulation depth
of the proposed SA, which was measured by a balanced twin detector
technique, was 2.3% with saturation intensity of 181MW/cm2. The mode-locking operation of the
EDFL-based Na2CO3-SA was observed at a pump power of
117 mW. A stable stretched pulse was generated by using the
proposed Na2CO3-SA. The laser can generate pulses
with a repetition rate and duration of 1.87 MHz and
820 fs, respectively, within a bandwidth of 6.6 nm. The
single pulse energy reaches up to 5 nJ, which is equivalent to
the average output power of 9.3 mW. Finally, to the best of our
knowledge, this is the first report on using the Na2CO3-SA for generating a stretched-pulse
mode-locked fiber laser.
Introduction to the Future Optical Networks and Communications Symposium Special Issue
Authors: Kilper Daniel , Wosinska Lena , Zhu Zuqing
Published: August 2023

This special issue contains a collection of invitation-only extensions based on papers presented at the Future Optical Networks and Communications Symposium in the IEEE Future Network World Forum held 12–14 October 2022 in Montreal, Canada. We present a brief introduction followed by an overview of the topics covered in the papers.
Noise robust Zernike phase retrieval via learning based algorithm only with 2-step phase shift measurements
Authors: Kim Hansol , Jeong Youngmo , Lee Kyoungjae , Jeong Yoonchan
Published: August 2023

We present a noise robust deep learning based aberration analysis method using 2-step phase shift measurement data. We first propose a realistic aberration pattern generation method to synthesize a sufficient amount of real-world-like aberration patterns for training a deep neural network by exploiting the asymptotic statistical distribution parameters of the real-world Zernike coefficients extracted from a finite number of experimentally measured real-world aberration patterns. As a result, we generate a real-world-like synthetic dataset of 200,000 different aberrations from 15 sets of real-world aberration patterns obtained by a Michelson interferometer under a variety of measurement conditions using the 4-step derivative fitting method together with the exploitation of the Gaussian density estimation. We then train the deep neural network with the real-world-like synthetic dataset, using two types of network architectures, GoogLeNet and ResNet101. By applying the proposed learning based 2-step aberration analysis method to the analysis of numerically generated aberrations formed under 100 different conditions, we verify that the proposed 2-step method can clearly outperform the existing 4-step iterative methods based on 4-step measurements, including the derivative fitting, transport of intensity equation (TIE), and robust TIE methods, in terms of noise robustness, root mean square error (RMSE), and inference time. By applying the proposed 2-step method to the analysis of the real-world aberrations experimentally obtained under a variety of measurement conditions, we also verify that the proposed 2-step method achieves compatible performance in terms of the RMSE between the reconstructed and measured aberration patterns, and also exhibits qualitative superiority in terms of reconstructing more realistic fringe patterns and phase distributions compared to the existing 4-step iterative methods. Since the proposed 2-step method can be extended to an even more general analysis of aberrations of any higher order, we expect that it will be able to provide a practical way for comprehensive aberration analysis and that further studies will extend its usefulness and improve its operational performance in terms of algorithm compactness, noise robustness, and computational speed.
Ultra-thick inkjet-printed quantum dots layer for full-color micro-LED displays
Authors: Lin Yonghong , Huang Wenjun , Zhanghu Mengyuan , Liu Zhaojun
Published: August 2023

Micro-LEDs have promising development potential in display applications because of their outstanding performance. Achieving a full-color display based on micro-LEDs is one of the most important issues in commercial applications. In this paper, an effective method based on quantum dots and blue micro-LEDs was developed. Using an etching method, a thick black matrix was fabricated to reduce crosstalk and form a thick bank for quantum dots. Quantum dots were deposited in a thick black matrix using inkjet printing technology. With blue micro-LEDs, inkjet-printed quantum dot films can realize effective color conversion. The integrated blue micro-LEDs and red/green quantum dot films can achieve full-color displays without color filters, because the blue light leakage in the color conversion film can be reduced by the quantum dots themselves. The results suggest that inkjet-printed quantum dots are a promising way to achieve full-color micro-LED displays.
Analytical investigation of unidirectional reflectionless phenomenon near the exceptional points in graphene plasmonic system
Authors: Li Ze-Tong , Li Xin , Liu Gui-Dong , Wang Ling-Ling , Lin Qi
Published: August 2023

We propose a two-dimensional array made of a double-layer of vertically separated graphene nanoribbons. The transfer matrix method and coupled mode theory are utilized to quantitatively depict the transfer properties of the system. We present a way to calculate the radiative and the intrinsic loss factors, combined with finite-difference time-domain simulation, conducting the complete analytical analysis of the unidirectional reflectionless phenomenon. By adjusting the Fermi energy and the vertical distance between two graphene nanoribbons, the plasmonic resonances are successfully excited, and the unique phenomena can be realized at the exceptional points. Our research presents the potential in the field of optics and innovative technologies to create advanced optical devices that operate in the mid-infrared range, such as terahertz antennas and reflectors.
Distributed curvature sensing using long period fiber grating and machine learning numerical analysis
Authors: Deleau Clement , Seat Han Cheng , Bernal Olivier , Surre Frederic
Published: August 2023

In this numerical study, we propose a fiber distributed curvature sensor based on the analysis of the spectral transmission of a long period fiber grating (LPG) with a neural network. A simulation of the optical transmissions of a proposed 6-cm LPG structure for different curvature profiles is first performed using EigenMode Expansion and a coupled-mode theory algorithm. Both fiber curvature profiles and their corresponding optical transmission spectra are then injected into a four dense layer neural network which, after training, leads to a 0.40% relative median estimation error in the bending profiles. This paper demonstrates the efficiency of neural network-based optical sensors to analyze non-uniform perturbations, while also revealing long-period gratings to be promising candidates for such systems.
Pol2Pol: self-supervised polarimetric image denoising
Authors: Liu Hedong , Li Xiaobo , Cheng Zhenzhou , Liu Tiegen , Zhai Jingsheng , Hu Haofeng
Published: August 2023

In this Letter, we present a self-supervised method, polarization to polarization (Pol2Pol), for polarimetric image denoising with only one-shot noisy images. First, a polarization generator is proposed to generate training image pairs, which are synthesized from one-shot noisy images by exploiting polarization relationships. Second, the Pol2Pol method is extensible and compatible, and any network that performs well in supervised image denoising tasks can be deployed to Pol2Pol after proper modifications. Experimental results show Pol2Pol outperforms other self-supervised methods and achieves comparable performance to supervised methods.
Self-powered MSM solar-blind AlGaN photodetector realized by in-plane polarization modulation
Authors: Guo Chenyu , Zhang Jiaxin , Xia Shihong , Deng Liqiong , Liu Kunzi , Yang Zhenhai , Cheng Bin , Sarkar Biplab , Guo Wei , Ye Jichun
Published: August 2023

Solid-state self-powered UV detection is strongly required in various application fields to enable long-term operation. However, this requirement is incompatible with conventionally used metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) UV photodetectors (PDs) due to the symmetric design of Schottky contacts. In this work, a self-powered MSM solar-blind UV-PD was realized using a lateral pn junction architecture. A large built-in electric field was obtained in the MSM-type UV-PD without impurity doping, leading to efficiency carrier separation and enhanced photoresponsivity at zero external bias. The solar-blind UV-PD exhibits a cutoff wavelength of 280 nm, a photo/dark current ratio of over 105, and a responsivity of 425.13 mA/W at −10 V. The mechanism of self-powered UV photodetection was further investigated by TCAD simulation of the internal electric field and carrier distributions.
Mensch-Roboter-Zusammenarbeit in der Intralogistik: Vorteile und Auswirkungen auf die Beschäftigten
Authors: Zhang Minqi , Ludwig Michael G. , Grosse Eric H.
Published: August 2023

Die Kommissionierung ist eine besonders zeit- und kostenintensive Tätigkeit in der Intralogistik, vor allem wenn diese manuell ausgeführt wird. Deswegen kann es für Unternehmen wirtschaftlich interessant sein, autonome Kommissionierroboter, die mit Menschen zusammenarbeiten, in einem hybriden System einzusetzen. Dieser Artikel gibt einen Überblick über die Vorteile der Mensch-Roboter-Zusammenarbeit in der Intralogistik und quantifiziert diese exemplarisch mit Hilfe eines Simulationsmodells. Daneben werden praxisnahe Herausforderungen bei der Implementierung derartiger hybrider Systeme in Bezug auf Menschenzentrierung, Ergonomie, Technologie-Akzeptanz und wirtschaftliche Arbeitsleistung im Sinne der Industrie 5.0 beleuchtet.
Analyse der Rolle Künstlicher Intelligenz für eine menschenzentrierte Industrie 5.0
Authors: Schmalzried Dirk , Hurst Marco , Wentzien Marcel , Gräser Max
Published: August 2023

Die Künstliche Intelligenz ist eine bedeutende Technologie für Industrie 4.0. Sie trägt in vielen Bereichen zu Disruptionen bei. Die Nummerierung der „Industrie x.0“-Begriffe bezeichnete in der Vergangenheit disruptive Sprünge (sog. „Revolutionen“). Die aktuell für „Industrie 5.0“ vorgeschlagenen Kernelemente Menschenzentrierung, Resilienz und Nachhaltigkeit sind für sich genommen bereits im „Industrie‑4.0‑Kontext“ zentral und bezüglich ihrer Disruption diskutabel. Dieser Artikel erörtert, welche Rolle die Künstliche Intelligenz voraussichtlich in Industrie 5.0 spielen wird, insbesondere in Bezug auf das Kernelement „Menschenzentrierung“. Dazu wird der Stand der Technik zur Anwendung von künstlicher Intelligenz in Industrie 4.0 systematisiert und vorgestellt. Zu erwartende Veränderungen werden ausgehend von absehbar verfügbaren Technologien beschrieben. Die betrachteten Technologien sind Edge-AI, Metaversum, Robotik sowie erklärbare und vertrauenswürdige künstliche Intelligenz. Insgesamt kommen die Autoren zu dem Schluss, dass der Einfluss der künstlichen Intelligenz tatsächlich einen ganzen Nummernsprung rechtfertigen kann.
Biodiversity indices and Random Forests reveal the potential for striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) fecal microbial communities to function as a biomarker for oral rabies vaccination
Authors: Hopken Matthew W. , Gilfillan Darby , Gilbert Amy T. , Piaggio Antoinette J. , Hilton Mikaela Samsel , Pierce James , Kimball Bruce , Abdo Zaid
Published: August 2023

Wildlife disease surveillance and monitoring poses unique challenges when assessing rates of population vaccination, immunity, or infection prevalence. Non-invasively detected biomarkers can help reduce risk to both animal and field personnel during wildlife disease management activities. In this study, we investigated the utility of fecal microbiome data collected from captive striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) in predicting rabies virus vaccination and infection status. We sequenced the hypervariable region 4 (V4) of the bacterial 16S gene and estimated alpha and beta diversity across timepoints in three groups of skunks: vaccination then rabies virus infection, sham vaccination then rabies virus infection, and rabies virus infected without vaccination. Alpha diversity did not differ among treatment groups but beta diversity between treatments was statistically significant. The phyla Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were dominant among all samples. Using Random Forests, we identified operational taxonomic units (OTUs) that greatly influenced classification of fecal samples into treatment groups. Each of these OTUs was correlated with fecal volatile organic compounds detected from the samples for companion treatment groups in another study. This research is the first to highlight striped skunk microbiome biodiversity as a vaccination biomarker which pushes the frontier on alternative methods for surveillance and monitoring of vaccination and disease in wildlife populations.
Characterization of 14 Triticum species for the NAM-B1 gene and its associated traits
Authors: Shoormij Fatemeh , Mirlohi Aghafakhr , Chan-Rodriguez David , Bolibok-Brągoszewska Hanna , Saeidi Ghodratollah
Published: August 2023

Background

Wheat grain protein, zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe) content are important wheat qualities crucial for human nutrition and health worldwide. Increasing these three components simultaneously in wheat grains by a single gene came into the picture through NAM-B1 cloning. NAM-B1 gene and its association with the mentioned grain quality traits have been primarily studied in common and durum wheat and their progenitors T. dicoccum and T. dicoccoides.

Method

In the present study, for the first time, 38 wheat accessions comprising ten hexaploids from five species and 28 tetraploids from nine species were evaluated in the field for two consecutive years. Additionally, the 582 first nucleotides of the NAM-B1 gene were examined.

Result

The NAM-B1 gene was present in 21 tetraploids and five hexaploid accessions. Seven tetraploid accessions contained the wild-type allele (five T. dicoccum, one T. dicoccoides, and one T. ispahanicum) and fourteen the mutated allele with a ‘T’ insertion at position 11 in the open reading frame, causing a frameshift. In hexaploid wheat comprising the gene, only one accession of T. spelta contained the wild-type allele, and the rest resembled the insertion mutated type. In the two-year field experiment, eight accessions with the wild-type NAM-B1 allele had significantly higher protein, Zn and Fe grain content when compared to indel-type accessions. Additionally, these accessions exhibited a lower mean for seed-filling duration than all other accessions containing indel-type alleles. In terms of grain yield, 1,000-kernel weight, kernel diameter, and kernel length, T. dicoccum accessions having wild-type alleles were similar to the indel-type accessions over two years of evaluation.

Conclusion

These findings further support the possibility of simultaneous improvement of wheat grain protein, Zn, and Fe content by a single gene crucial for human nutrition and health worldwide.
Factors related to subjective well-being among community-dwelling older adults living alone: A stratified analysis by sex and marital status from the JAGES
Authors: Abe Nana , Oe Nanami , Tadaka Etsuko , Ojima Toshiyuki
Published: August 2023

Background

Previous cross-sectional studies suggest that negative health outcomes such as mortality, social isolation, loneliness, and depression among older adults living alone vary by sex and marital status, with men often worse off than women and unmarried people worse off than married people. However, limited evidence exists from longitudinal studies regarding whether positive health outcomes such as subjective well-being (SWB) also vary by sex and marital status. The focus by sex and marital status on the positive health outcomes and diverse profiles of older adults living alone is important for public health in the near future. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify changes in SWB over time and its associated factors by sex and marital status among older adults living alone in the community using a longitudinal study in a representative population.

Methods

This was a longitudinal study using data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study. This study is the first to reveal differences in SWB and related factors over 3 years among older adults living alone in the community (n = 8,579) who were stratified by sex and marital status (married men, non-married men, married women, and non-married women).

Results

Women moved to higher levels of SWB than did men, and married individuals moved to higher levels of SWB than did unmarried individuals. Independent functioning factors and interpersonal factors were significantly associated with SWB for married men and married women, but for unmarried women, the association by interpersonal factors was more pronounced, and for unmarried men, only limited emotional support and health promotion activities were significant among the interpersonal factors.

Conclusions

This study revealed that among older adults living alone, changes in SWB over time and the independent functioning factors and interpersonal factors associated with this change varied by sex and marital status among older people living alone. These findings are useful for policy-making and guiding intervention activities to promote SWB in a society in which the environment for older adults living alone is changing dramatically.
Nanograms of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein delivered by exosomes induce potent neutralization of both delta and omicron variants
Authors: Cacciottolo Mafalda , Li Yujia , Nice Justin B. , LeClaire Michael J. , Twaddle Ryan , Mora Ciana L. , Adachi Stephanie Y. , Young Meredith , Angeles Jenna , Elliott Kristi , Sun Minghao
Published: August 2023

Exosomes are emerging as potent and safe delivery carriers for use in vaccinology and therapeutics. A better vaccine for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is needed to provide improved, broader, longer lasting neutralization of SARS-CoV-2, a more robust T cell response, enable widespread global usage, and further enhance the safety profile of vaccines given the likelihood of repeated booster vaccinations. Here, we use Capricor’s StealthXTM platform to engineer exosomes to express native SARS-CoV-2 spike Delta variant (STX-S) protein on the surface for the delivery of a protein-based vaccine for immunization against SARS-CoV-2 infection. The STX-S vaccine induced a strong immunization with the production of a potent humoral immune response as demonstrated by high levels of neutralizing antibody not only against the delta SARS-CoV-2 virus but also two Omicron variants (BA.1 and BA.5), providing broader protection than current mRNA vaccines. Additionally, both CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses were increased significantly after treatment. Quantification of spike protein by ELISA showed that only nanograms of protein were needed to induce a potent immune response. This is a significantly lower dose than traditional recombinant protein vaccines with no adjuvant required, which makes the StealthXTM exosome platform ideal for the development of multivalent vaccines with a better safety profile. Importantly, our exosome platform allows novel proteins, or variants in the case of SARS-CoV-2, to be engineered onto the surface of exosomes in a matter of weeks, comparable with mRNA vaccine technology, but without the cold storage requirements necessary for mRNA vaccines. The ability to utilize exosomes for cellular delivery of proteins, as demonstrated by STX-S, has enormous potential to revolutionize vaccinology by rapidly facilitating antigen presentation at an extremely low dose resulting in a potent, broad antibody response.
Ways into physical (in)activity: The role of critical life events and transitions in the reconstructions of young adults
Authors: Gropper Hannes , John Jannika M. , Thiel Ansgar
Published: August 2023

Background

Physical activity (PA), sport, and exercise levels generally tend to fluctuate or decline from childhood to adulthood. Life events and transitions may have a positive or negative impact on these behaviors. However, most research in this regard is quantitatively framed and we know little about why and how life events and transitions affect PA-related behaviors.

Objectives

The aim of this study is to understand when, why, and how individuals change their daily PA, sport, and exercise behaviors and related attitudes in the context of life events and transitions and what underlying dynamics promote these changes from a subjective perspective.

Methods

Forty-six young inactive adults (33 women) aged between 20 and 40 years from the iReAct study participated in a mixed-method biographical mapping, which combines a semi-structured interview with a drawing activity to explore subjective experiences of life events, transitions, and PA-related behaviors across the life span. To analyze data, we conducted a reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

We developed three overarching themes that reflect the underlying dynamics which are associated with the occurrence of critical life events and transitions and lead to subsequent changes in daily PA and sport and exercise behavior: (1) The finitude of temporal resources; (2) The plasticity of priorities and motives; and (3) The (in)conveniences of context.

Conclusion

Our results illustrate that there is not a straight causal link between life events and behavior. Rather, critical life events and transitions can have a tremendous impact on temporal resources, individual priorities and motives, and contextual factors, such as the physical and infrastructural environment and social settings and relationships. Consequently, more or less extensive changes in those circumstances can lead to individual adaptations in daily PA or sport and exercise and related attitudes, as they require individuals to re-balance behavioral patterns.
The experiences of medical students with ADHD: A phenomenological study
Authors: Godfrey-Harris Megan , Shaw Sebastian Charles Keith
Published: August 2023

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity ‘Disorder’ (ADHD) is a form of neurodivergence, characterised by lifelong differences in attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. University students with ADHD underachieve academically and tend to have lower levels of self-esteem. Medical schools have an obligation to minimise barriers for students with ADHD. Understanding the experiences of medical students with ADHD is vital to promote inclusive approaches. Our exploratory research question was: “What are the experiences of medical students with ADHD?” This was an interpretive phenomenological study. Loosely structured interviews were conducted with participants (medical students with ADHD) over Zoom. Subsequent transcripts were analysed using interpretive phenomenological analysis. Six people participated. Our analysis identified the following themes: Identity and diagnosis; ADHD profile; system issues; conflict, competition and compensation; improving the experience. Participants reported experiences of bullying and isolation at medical school, perpetrated by doctors and peers, as well as feelings of alienation when unable to conform on placement and in exams. From this, participants adopted survival strategies, such as masking, to avoid being ostracised. All recognised their ADHD status when their mental health deteriorated during their medical studies. Of those who disclosed their diagnosis, none were offered personalised support. Participants feared disclosure, largely due to weaponised professionalism and the effects of toxic competitiveness in medicine. They yearned for a sense of belonging. Participants reported strengths associated with ADHD such as empathy and working well under pressure, which are highly desirable aptitudes for doctors. This study has highlighted areas where medical schools can be instrumental in cultivating an environment where medical students with ADHD can thrive, not just survive. This may take the form of peer support groups, alongside reasonable adjustments throughout medical school–particularly for Objective Structured Clinical Examinations, for example. Enabling these students to thrive may help to prevent early burnout and subsequent attrition from medicine.
The reworking of Shakespeare’s Hamlet in the arab political theatre after 1970
Authors: Abushalha Ziad
Published: August 2023

A disszertáció célja, hogy megvizsgálja, miért és hogyan adaptálták 1970 után Shakespare Hamlet jét az arab politikai színházban. A disszertáció abból a felvetésből indul ki, és azt igyekszik bizonyítani, hogy a Hamletnek politikai jelentősége van az Észak-Afrikától a Közel-Keletig terjedő térségben. Az arab Hamletek két korszakban olvashatók a fő politikai események tükrében, nevezetesen a poszt-nasszerizmus (1970-2009) és az arab tavasz (2010-től napjainkig) időszakában. A disszertáció azokat a főbb kérdéseket próbálja megválaszolni, hogy 1970 után miért fordítanak az arab drámaírók és színpadi rendezők ekkora figyelmet a Hamletre, hogyan hatott erre a két időszakban a fennálló politikai helyzet, illetve melyek a főbb hasonlóságok és különbségek a Hamlet két időszakban történő átdolgozásában? A céljai elérésének érdekében, a tanulmány a Hamlet arab világban megtett útjának a felfejtésével kezdődik, majd a politikai aspektusokat elemzi arab drámaírók és színpadi rendezők tizenegy feldolgozásában: négy jelentős feldolgozás a poszt-nasszerizmus, hét pedig az arab tavasz időszakában készült. Végül a tanulmány az adaptációk tartalmi és formai összehasonlításásaival, ellentétbe állításaival zárul. A disszertáció jelentősége abból a szükségből fakad, hogy kiritikai alapot határozzon meg az arab Hamleteknek. Úgy vélem, hogy az arab drámaírók és színpadi rendezők 1970 utáni nagy számú újraírásai és adaptációi, valamint a részletes kritikai és analitikus keretek hiánya szükségessé teszik ezt a kutatást. Mindennek érdekében a tanulmány különböző elméleteket használ fel annak érdekében, hogy alátámassza az érvelését. Hivatkozik Julie Sanders és Linda Hutcheon adaptációelméletére, Freud és Lacan pszichoanalízisére, Edward Said posztkolonializmusára, Bertolt Brecht politikai színház víziójára, Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak feminizmus elméletére, de a sort még hosszasan lehetne folytatni. Más nyugati filozófusokra és kritikusokra, mint Platón, Arisztotelész, Foucault, Nietzsche, és Coleridge is található számos utalás. A disszertáció eredményeit a konklúzió tárgyalja, amely újból felveti a kutatás bevezetőben feltett kérdéseit. Megállapítható, hogy Shakespeare Hameltjének hangsúlyos jelenléte van az 1970 utáni, arab politikai színházban. Továbbá, a színdarab újraírásaira és adaptációira minden időszakban hatással volt a fennálló politikai helyzet és főleg a térségben bekövetkezett politikai incidensekre reflektálnak. Végezetül, a disszertáció arra a következtetésre jut, hogy a színházi újraírások a két időszakban eltérőek. Hasonlóságokat hordoznak és vannak tartalmi és formai különbségek. Kulcsszavak: Shakespeare Hamletje, arab világ, adaptáció, újraírás, politikai színház.
Effect of Behavioral Interventions on the Uptake of Colonoscopy for Colorectal Cancer Screening: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Yakoubovitch Stephanie , Zaki Timothy , Anand Sanya , Pecoriello Jillian , Liang Peter S.
Published: August 2023

INTRODUCTION:

Screening decreases colorectal cancer incidence and mortality, but uptake in the United States remains suboptimal. Prior studies have investigated the effect of various interventions on overall colorectal cancer screening and stool-based testing, but the effect on colonoscopy—the predominant screening test in the United States—has not been fully examined. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effect of behavioral interventions on screening colonoscopy uptake.

METHODS:

We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases through January 2022 for controlled trials that assessed the effect of behavioral interventions on screening colonoscopy uptake. All titles, abstracts, and articles were screened by at least 2 independent reviewers. Odds ratios were extracted from the original article or calculated from the raw data. The primary outcome was the relative increase in screening colonoscopy completion with any behavioral intervention. We performed random-effects meta-analysis, with subgroup analysis by type of intervention.

RESULTS:

A total of 25 studies with 30 behavioral interventions were analyzed. The most common interventions were patient navigation (n = 11) and multicomponent interventions (n = 6). Overall, behavioral interventions increased colonoscopy completion by 54% compared with controls (odds ratio [OR] 1.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26–1.88). Patient navigation (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.35–2.34) and multicomponent interventions (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.17–2.89) had the strongest effect on colonoscopy completion among interventions examined in multiple studies. Significant heterogeneity was observed both overall and by intervention type. There was no evidence of publication bias.

DISCUSSION:

Behavioral interventions increase screening colonoscopy completion and should be adopted in clinical practice. In particular, patient navigation and multicomponent interventions are the best-studied and most effective interventions.
Features of multiple sclerosis in childhood in the Republic of Tatarstan
Authors: Khaibullina A. R. , Khabirov F. A. , Khaibullin T. I.
Published: August 2023

Multiple sclerosis (MS) in children and adolescents is a genuine concern of pediatric neurology that specialists in all countries are dealing with. To date, neither the causes of onset nor the individual components of the pathogenesis of the disease have been reliably clarified, and the modern, changing picture of the clinical manifestation of the disease sometimes complicates timely diagnosis even in adult patients. There are more such questions in pediatric MS.Objective: to study the prevalence and clinical features of MS in children in the Republic of Tatarstan.Material and methods. We conducted a survey and data analysis of 128 children and adolescents aged 0 to 18 years inclusive. The examination of patients included neurological examination according to the classical scheme, neuroimaging examination, neurophysiological examination and cerebrospinal fluid examination. The diagnosis was based on the current (as of the time of diagnosis) criteria of McDonald and the International Pediatrics MS Study Group criteria. The severity of the patients' clinical condition was assessed using the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS).Results. MS was diagnosed in 99 cases (77.3%), clinically isolated syndrome – in 10 (7.8%), acute disseminated encephalomyelitis – in 5 (3.9%), bilateral optic neuritis – in two patients (1.6%), disseminated encephalomyelitis – in one case (0.8%); other central nervous system diseases were diagnosed in 11 (8.6%) patients. After a detailed examination, the group “other diseases of the central nervous system” included such conditions as cerebral angiopathy, neurofibromatosis, brain mass, structural focal epilepsy, sequelae of viral encephalitis, and hereditary leukodystrophy. Among the patients, girls aged 15–17 years predominated. Monofocal manifestations were more frequently observed at debut. Moreover, the absolute predominance of the remitting type of course was also noted.Conclusion. The data obtained suggest a predominance of the predominantly remitting course type of MS with a monofocal onset, which is consistent with data from other studies of MS in pediatric practice.
Distinctive parameters of gait in patients with multiple sclerosis, depending on the profile of its dysfunction
Authors: Ryabov S. A. , Boyko A. N.
Published: August 2023

Objective: to identify characteristic gait parameters by video analysis in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) that allow the most reliable discrimination of the dominant profile in functional systems.Material and methods. We examined 45 patients (37 women, 8 men) with relapsing-remitting (n=38) and secondary progressive MS before and after a course of medical rehabilitation. Gait parameters were recorded with the Physiomed Smart video analysis system Physiomed Smart («Physiomed», Germany, Davis protocol).Results. Only one indicator allowed reliable differentiation between ataxic and spastic-paretic gait patterns in MS in the EDSS range up to 5.5 points – the step width, the value of which is greater in patients with ataxia dominance. A significant difference in gait pattern asymmetry was also found in the mild disability group, namely, a greater value in the spastic-paretic pattern.Conclusion. Comprehensive profiling of gait impairment, primarily through objective analysis of locomotor patterns, may be helpful in monitoring therapy and may reveal sensitive end points for further study in MS.
MicroRNAs as biomarkers of multiple sclerosis progression
Authors: Baulina N. M. , Kiselev I. S. , Kulakova O. G. , Popova E. V. , Favorova O. O. , Boyko A. N.
Published: August 2023

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune inflammatory neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system. The disease is characterized by a heterogeneous clinical course, which is reflected in the fact that there are various types, such as relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), primary and secondary progressive MS (PPMS and SPMS, respectively). Currently, there is an active search for MS biomarkers capable of predicting and assessing disease progression with high sensitivity and specificity, which would be of great benefit in determining treatment tactics and evaluating their efficacy. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short (21–25 nucleotides) non-coding RNA molecules that are primarily involved in post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. miRNAs play an essential role in tissue development, homeostasis, immune system regulation, and immune cell maturation; they are also involved in the pathophysiology of MS. In addition, high hopes are pinned on miRNAs as disease biomarkers, mainly due to their stability and ability to be released from cells into the extracellular space and circulate there for a long time. The review considers published data on miRNAs in different types of MS. In the future, changes in their levels may be used to create a panel of prognostic markers for disease progression. Studies of miRNAs levels in both circulating fluids (plasma, serum, cerebrospinal fluid) and brain tissue of MS patients were reviewed. Based on the aggregated data from the studies reviewed, it can be confirmed that the accumulated data are quite sufficient to recognize that regulatory miRNAs molecules are involved in the pathophysiological mechanisms of MS progression. However, there is still a long way to go to establish a panel of circulating miRNAs that predict the rate of progression of MS.
Prospects for the use of curcumin as an additional treatment for multiple sclerosis
Authors: Rogovskii V. S. , Kukushkina A. D. , Boyko A. N.
Published: August 2023

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating autoimmune disease. MS therapy does not always allow slowing of disease progression and also has significant side effects, such as immunosuppressive effects (especially when second-line disease-modifying therapies (DMT) are used). In this context, it is important to explore novel approaches to MS therapy that may improve the therapeutic potential of first line DMTs and reduce the likelihood of switching to switch to second line DMTs. Curcumin is one of the promising candidates for such application. Several anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects of curcumin have been reported in the literature, which could be considered for such applications. The favorable safety profile of this compound is also important. Over the past decade, encouraging clinical data have been obtained on the use of curcumin as part of adjunctive therapy for MS. However, to date, there are inadequate clinical studies on the use of curcumin in the therapy of MS. This may be due to the fact that curcumin, like other polyphenols, has low bioavailability, which limits its therapeutic potential. Recently, new highly bioavailable forms of curcumin have been developed (e.g., nanoemulsions). In this regard, it is promising to conduct new clinical trials of curcumin as an adjunctive therapy in MS, especially using its forms with increased bioavailability.
Diagnostic criteria and treatment of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD)
Authors: Simaniv T. O. , Bakhtiyarova K. Z. , Belova A. N. , Goncharova Z. A. , Sivertseva S. A. , Spirin N. N. , Totolyan N. A. , Trushnikova T. N. , Turova E. L. , Khaibullin T. I. , Sherman M. A. , Boyko A. N.
Published: August 2023

Neuromyelitis optic spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are rare, severely disabling diseases of the central nervous system. They are characterized by periodic, unpredictable exacerbations that lead to an accumulation of irreversible neurologic damage. Despite existing possibilities for diagnosing NMOSD, it can be difficult to make the correct diagnosis in clinical practice. Current treatment options for NMOSD include drugs that affect the pathogenesis of the disease, including complement C5 inhibitors, with which experience is still limited, but published data from clinical trials demonstrate high efficacy of these drugs with an acceptable safety profile. The article reviews the main current approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of NMOSD.
Digital Content Platform For Education In The Next Normal
Authors:   Institute for Technical Education Development, King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok., Srimanechai Chaipiput
Published: August 2023

The objective of this research is 1) To analyze the general characteristics of digital content platform users. 2) To analyze usage conditions and the level of demand for digital content platforms in the education sector. And 3) To compare with the differences between current usage levels and the future usage levels of digital content platforms for education in the next normal. The research steps are as follows: collecting secondary data, Preparing questionnaires, assess IOC and submit questionnaires to sample groups by online channels. There were 638 samples be processed by a program and reported as a percentage, mean, standard deviation statistic. The mean was analyzed by T-Test method at a statistical confidence level of 95 percentage. The results of the analysis were mostly students. Were studying for a bachelor's degree In public education institutions, age of 18-24 years and the period of using the digital content platform in 1-2 years. The device were used for mobile phones and computers at the most level. It was found that at present, the level of platform usage is at a high level. The top three are mobile learning, social learning and video learning. The content of the learning media was at a high level. The top three are the infographics, short videos and e-books. In the future, there will be a high level of demand for teaching and learning platforms. The top three are Learning Experience Platform (LXP), immersive learning and Social Learning. In terms of learning media, there is a high level of demand. The top three are infographics, short videos and case studies. Overall, digital content platforms have higher demands in the future.