bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Personalised learning in higher education for health sciences: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Ali Majid , Wahab Izyan Binti A. , Huri Hasniza Zaman , Yusoff Muhamad Saiful
Published: April 2024

Background

Personalised learning, an educational approach that tailors teaching and learning to individual needs and preferences, has gained attention in recent years, particularly in higher education. Advances in educational technology have facilitated the implementation of personalised learning in various contexts. Despite its potential benefits, the literature on personalised learning in health sciences higher education remains scattered and heterogeneous. This scoping review aims to identify and map the current literature on personalised learning in health sciences higher education and its definition, implementation strategies, benefits, and limitations.

Methods

A comprehensive search of electronic databases, PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Educational Research Complete, and Journal Storage (JSTOR), will be conducted to identify relevant articles. The search will be limited to articles published in the English language between 2000 and 2023. The search strategy will be designed and adapted for each database using a combination of keywords and subject headings related to personalised learning and health sciences higher education. Eligibility criteria will be applied to screen and select articles. Data extraction and quality assessment will be performed, and thematic synthesis will be used to analyse the extracted data.

Discussion

The results of the scoping review will present a comprehensive and coherent overview of the literature on personalised learning in health sciences higher education. Key themes and topics related to personalised learning, its definitions, models, implementation strategies, benefits, and limitations, will be identified. The geographical and temporal distribution of research on personalised learning in health sciences higher education will also be described. This scoping review will provide a structured synthesis of the available evidence on personalised learning in health sciences higher education, highlighting potential gaps and areas for future research. The findings will contribute to ongoing scholarly and policy debates on personalised learning in higher education, informing the development of best practices, guidelines, and future research agendas.
Bullen-type inequalities for twice-differentiable functions by using conformable fractional integrals
Authors: Hezenci Fatih , Budak Hüseyin
Published: April 2024

In this paper, we prove an equality for twice-differentiable convex functions involving the conformable fractional integrals. Moreover, several Bullen-type inequalities are established for twice-differentiable functions. More precisely, conformable fractional integrals are used to derive such inequalities. Furthermore, sundry significant inequalities are obtained by taking advantage of the convexity, Hölder inequality, and power-mean inequality. Finally, we provide our results by using special cases of obtained theorems.
Profiling the role of m6A effectors in the regulation of pluripotent reprogramming
Authors: Wang Wenjun , Zhou Lei , Li Hui , Sun Tingge , Wen Xue , Li Wei , Esteban Miguel A. , Hoffman Andrew R. , Hu Ji-Fan , Cui Jiuwei
Published: April 2024

The N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification plays essential roles in multiple biological processes, including stem cell fate determination. To explore the role of the m6A modification in pluripotent reprogramming, we used RNA-seq to map m6A effectors in human iPSCs, fibroblasts, and H9 ESCs, as well as in mouse ESCs and fibroblasts. By integrating the human and mouse RNA-seq data, we found that 19 m6A effectors were significantly upregulated in reprogramming. Notably, IGF2BPs, particularly IGF2BP1, were among the most upregulated genes in pluripotent cells, while YTHDF3 had high levels of expression in fibroblasts. Using quantitative PCR and Western blot, we validated the pluripotency-associated elevation of IGF2BPs. Knockdown of IGF2BP1 induced the downregulation of stemness genes and exit from pluripotency. Proteome analysis of cells collected at both the beginning and terminal states of the reprogramming process revealed that the IGF2BP1 protein was positively correlated with stemness markers SOX2 and OCT4. The eCLIP-seq target analysis showed that IGF2BP1 interacted with the coding sequence (CDS) and 3’UTR regions of the SOX2 transcripts, in agreement with the location of m6A modifications. This study identifies IGF2BP1 as a vital pluripotency-associated m6A effector, providing new insight into the interplay between m6A epigenetic modifications and pluripotent reprogramming.
Understanding the impact of essential oils on grape metabolism and pathogen resistance: a study with a focus on Botrytis cinerea
Authors: Kaya Ozkan , Karakus Sinem , Bozkurt Abdurrahim , Yilmaz Turhan , Hajizadeh Hanifeh Seyed , Turan Metin
Published: April 2024

Background

The exploration of EOs and their impact on primary metabolites in agricultural products, such as grapes, holds significant importance in the post-harvest preservation and enhancement of berry quality. Therefore, our research aimed to dissect the effects of various EO treatments on the biochemical composition of grapes, specifically examining alterations in sugar, organic acid, and amino acid levels.

Results

Our findings highlighted that the OF treatment, a combination of Eugenol and Botrytis cinerea, significantly escalated sugar content, with remarkable increases in sucrose, glucose, and fructose compared to the control group. The SF treatment led to the highest levels of certain organic acids, including tartaric, butyric, and malonic acids, whereas the TO treatment prominently augmented amino acids such as tyrosine and phenylalanine. Utilizing PCA, our study effectively captured the variability within the treatment dataset, revealing distinct clusters of treatments and their correlations with specific metabolites. The PCA biplot underscored the influence of treatments on metabolic profile of grape berries, with treatments like OSF, TO, and TOSF demonstrating close associations with specific amino acids, suggesting positive correlations.

Conclusion

Our current results indicate that EOs substantial influence on the metabolic profile of grapes, resulting in enhanced fruit quality and extended shelf life. Variations in sugar, organic acid, and amino acid levels among different EO treatments highlight their potential for improving post-harvest characteristics. To sum up, these findings are valuable for the agricultural and food industries, showcasing the utility of EOs as natural preservatives and enhancers in fruit cultivation and storage.

Graphical Abstract
Energy sustainability and carbon dioxide emissions mitigation options for South Africa’s road transport sector
Authors: Ntuli Menzi Nazi , Eloka-Eboka Andrew C. , Mwangi Festus Maina , Ewim Daniel Raphael Ejike , Dioha Michael O.
Published: April 2024

Background

The transport sector in South Africa is responsible for around 11% of the country's carbon dioxide emissions, with road transport contributing an overwhelming 90% of this total, as noted by the South African Green Transport Energy of South Africa. As part of its commitment to global climate pacts, South Africa aims to reduce emissions from its road transport sector. Yet, studies focused on reducing energy consumption and related emissions in this sector have been sparse.

Results

Utilizing a bottom-up accounting modelling framework Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP), this research investigated five low-carbon transition scenarios alongside a business-as-usual (BAU) scenario for road transport. These scenarios comprised Fuel and Technology Switching (FTS), Modal Shift (MS), Logistics Improvement (LI), Energy Efficient (EEF), and a Combined Mitigation (CMT). The BAU scenario was established as a benchmark to demonstrate energy demand and emissions in the absence of changes to current practices or policies. According to our model, under the BAU scenario, there will be a 61% surge in final energy demand, from 769 petajoules (PJ) in 2020 to 1240 PJ by 2050, accompanied by a proportional increase in emissions. The study revealed that the implementation of any of the alternative low-carbon scenarios could yield a reduced energy demand by 2050. LI 21%, MS 33%, FTS 40%, EEF 48%, CMT 77%, Significantly, a combined approach, integrating multiple low-carbon policies, can achieve more substantial reductions in energy demand and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions than applying single policies separately.

Conclusions

This study emphasizes the importance of crafting province-specific solutions, acknowledging that challenges and contexts vary between provinces. Furthermore, lessening energy reliance not only diminishes the nation's fuel import bills but also improves air quality and aids in achieving low emission targets.
Dietary phytonutrients in common green leafy vegetables and the significant role of processing techniques on spinach: a review
Authors: Sarma Upasana , TR Bhavya
Published: April 2024

Leafy vegetables comprises of the majority of food intake around the world. A nuanced understanding of their phytonutrients, bioavailability and post-harvest processing will aid in understanding their utility in human health better. Plant foods have a variety of dietary phytonutrients beneficial to us. With a lot of diversity in the variety of these leafy vegetables, it is of utmost importance as consumers to understand their benefits, functional properties, post processing changes that occurs until it reaches us. Some of the most popular green leafy vegetables include spinach, cabbage, lettuce and mustard greens. In this review, we provide a summary of the phytonutrients in such leafy greens with a detailed description of its bioavailability of nutrients, role of bio fortification, changes during harvest and post-harvest processing. As a low calorie food item, green leafy vegetables are ideal candidates to add valuable nutrients into our daily diets, and spinach especially is known to have multiple therapeutic implications in human health. Post-harvest processing may include addition of nutrients, increasing bio availability of important constituents, assessing effect of fertilizers and growth promoting factors on their nutrient content. All of these parameters need to be studied in depth to improve their beneficial effect in human nutrition and diet.

Graphical Abstract
Diet in Food Insecurity: A Mediator of Metabolic Health?
Authors: Morselli Lisa L , Amjad Rabia , James Roland , Kindel Tammy L , Kwitek Anne E , Williams Joni S , Grobe Justin L , Kidambi Srividya
Published: April 2024

Objective

Food insecurity (FI) is associated with poor metabolic health. It is assumed that energy intake and diet quality underlie this association. We tested the hypothesis that dietary factors (quantity and quality) mediate the association of FI with excess weight, waist circumference and glycemic control [glycohemoglobin (A1C)].

Methods

A mediation analysis was performed on data from the National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey using FI as an independent variable; body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and A1C as metabolic outcome variables and total energy intake, macronutrients, and diet quality measured by the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) as potential mediators.

Results

Despite a greater prevalence of obesity in participants experiencing FI, daily reported energy intake was similar in food-secure and -insecure subjects. In adjusted analyses of the overall cohort, none of the examined dietary factors mediated associations between FI and metabolic outcomes. In race-stratified analyses, total sugar consumption was a partial mediator of BMI in non-Hispanic Whites, while diet quality measures (HEI-2015 total score and added sugar subscore) were partial mediators of waist circumference and BMI, respectively, for those in the “other” ethnic group.

Conclusion

Dietary factors are not the main factors underlying the association of FI with metabolic health. Future studies should investigate whether other social determinants of health commonly present in the context of FI play a role in this association.
Purkinje cell dysfunction causes disrupted sleep in ataxic mice
Authors: Salazar Leon Luis E. , Brown Amanda M. , Kaku Heet , Sillitoe Roy V.
Published: April 2024

Purkinje cell dysfunction disrupts movement and causes disorders such as ataxia. Recent evidence suggests that Purkinje cell dysfunction may also alter sleep regulation. Here, we used an ataxic mouse model generated by silencing Purkinje cell neurotransmission (L7Cre;Vgatfx/fx) to better understand how cerebellar dysfunction impacts sleep physiology. We focused our analysis on sleep architecture and electrocorticography (ECoG) patterns based on their relevance to extracting physiological measurements during sleep. We found that circadian activity was unaltered in the mutant mice, although their sleep parameters and ECoG patterns were modified. The L7Cre;Vgatfx/fx mutant mice had decreased wakefulness and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, whereas non-REM sleep was increased. The mutants had an extended latency to REM sleep, which is also observed in human patients with ataxia. Spectral analysis of ECoG signals revealed alterations in the power distribution across different frequency bands defining sleep. Therefore, Purkinje cell dysfunction may influence wakefulness and equilibrium of distinct sleep stages in ataxia. Our findings posit a connection between cerebellar dysfunction and disrupted sleep and underscore the importance of examining cerebellar circuit function in sleep disorders.
Addressing post-COVID-19 musculoskeletal symptoms through pulmonary rehabilitation and telemedicine: A study protocol
Authors: Sánchez Romero Eleuterio A. , Fernández Carnero Josué , Alonso Pérez José Luis , Martínez Rolando Lidia , Villafañe Jorge Hugo
Published: April 2024

Objective The purpose of the study will be to evaluate the effect of pulmonary rehabilitation on the improvement of patients with post-COVID-19 musculoskeletal symptoms, as well as to quantify the impact of telemedicine that evaluates the evolution of pain, functionality, and quality of life. Methods We will carry out a case-control study in post-COVID-19 musculoskeletal symptoms patients who will undergo pulmonary rehabilitation, together with an intervention and a follow-up using programmed telemedicine sessions. Data will be collected on the improvement of functional capacity and quality of life, in addition to assessing the evolution of musculoskeletal symptomatology, as well as pain and psychological variables. The approaches of face-to-face rehabilitation and telerehabilitation will also be compared. The telemedicine sessions will improve user adherence and follow-up, and the results are expected to be disseminated to the scientific community during and after the end of the study.
Synthesis, characterization and preliminary antimicrobial study of some new phthalimide phenyl hydrazide derivatives
Authors: Alassadi Nisreen Mahdi , Hadi Mohammed Kamil
Published: April 2024

Background: The synthesis and antibacterial efficacy of phthalimide Schiff bases derivatives (3a-f) derived from phthalic anhydride were investigated. The aim of this study was to assess the antibacterial activity of the synthesized Schiff bases against five different types of microbes in vitro.

Methods: The Schiff bases were synthesized by reacting various aldehydes with the hydrazine of phthalimidobenzoic acid. The compounds were identified using FTIR and 1HNMR spectroscopy studies, and their antibacterial efficacy against four bacterial species (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyrogens, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and one fungal species (Candida albicans) was assessed in vitro using a 100 µg/mL concentration of derivatives in dimethyl sulfoxide.

Results: The antimicrobial activity of each compound towards the isolates was variable. Most of the compounds exhibited a slight inhibition rate towards Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, particularly S. aureus, which was shown to be highly resistant to all derivatives used. However, there was moderate to high killing activity towards S. pyogenes.

Conclusions: The synthesized phthalimide Schiff bases derivatives exhibited variable antibacterial activity against the tested microbes. The results suggest that further studies are required to optimize the efficacy of these compounds against harmful microorganisms.
Analytical approach to piezoelectric model synthesis with the use of Cauer’s method for system design
Authors: Harazin Jacek , Wróbel Andrzej
Published: April 2024

Background Piezoceramic materials have unique property which enables direct and bilateral conversion between mechanical and electrical energy. This ability facilitates significant miniaturisation of technology and opens many opportunities in design of new actuators and energy harvesters. Mathematical modelling of piezoelectric modules is notoriously hard due to complex constitutive equations defining mechanical and electrical energy conversion. Methods The article presents research on a new synthesis method based on the Cauer’s method. Mechanical damping is introduced with the use of Rayleigh’s approximation. A discrete electromechanical model is formed based on the Mason’s piezoelectric model. The proposed approach allows modelling of piezoelectric systems based on a set of characteristic frequencies. The method allows a more general approach to the problem of modelling new systems, as opposed to application-oriented methods seen in literature. A non-standard model analysis method using edge graphs and structural numbers is also verified as a potential alternative for matrix-based method. The authors compare their precision and computation requirements. Results The structural method of mechanical model analysis gave identical results as the reference matrix method. However, the non-classical algorithm took much longer to calculate and was using more memory. The electromechanical model analysis has shown an error of 5% in comparison to resonance frequencies taken from a reference plate specification. The calculated magnitude of displacement was well above the capability of a 3.5mm thick piezoelectric plate. Conclusions The synthesis method presented in this paper allows synthesizing piezoelectric cascade models based on limited information in form of characteristic frequencies. Currently this method allows a coarse approximation of the real piezoelectric parameters with limited number of inputs. The additional method of analysis based on structural numbers offers a promising alternative to matrix calculations but requires a more thorough investigation of the computational power required to determine whether it can compete with existing algorithms.
Environmental exposure to multiple chemical elements in Peruvian populations: a review of selected studies
Authors: Sanchez Carlos A. , Lozada-Urbano Michelle , Ospina Estela E.
Published: April 2024

Background Population-based exposure assessments for heavy metals and metalloids (by governmental and private institutions) are common in Peru, but most studies generally focus on the analysis of a single chemical element, like lead or mercury, and lack an appropriate reference regarding the health impact on the exposed population. The complex/mixed chemical interactions within the human body have not yet been studied for all long-term health effects. Methods We reviewed laboratory results from five studies, between 2005-2013, that analysed multiple elements (between 13 and 17 chemical elements in each study) in spot urine samples from Peruvian communities considered exposed and not exposed. All laboratory analysis were performed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) at the Environmental Health Laboratory Division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States. Results Six chemical elements (total arsenic, caesium, cobalt, lead, molybdenum, and thallium) were present in almost all spot urine samples (>98% of participants), evidencing exposure (qualitative assessment). Exposure to other chemical elements like barium, cadmium, tungsten, antimony and uranium, varied among localities, while chemical elements like beryllium and platinum were rarely detected (<3% and <10% of participants, respectively) in spot urine samples. Most geometric means of urine concentration for total arsenic, lead, cadmium and mercury are higher for the Peruvian locations than for national estimates in Canada and the United States, but not in all locations. Conclusion Comparing averages across different populations can be misleading but comparing periodic values from the same population in the future could evidence an exposure trend. Future studies are needed to develop reference levels for exposed Peruvian populations. This study highlights potential health risks from exposure to environmental chemical elements and can be the first step towards understanding and mitigating human exposure to heavy metals and metalloids for known exposed populations in Peru.
Case Series: Pleomorphic adenoma in minor salivary gland
Authors: Samia Meherzi , Amin Khbou , Rihab Omri , Afifa Charfi
Published: April 2024

Abstract* Pleomorphic adenomas (PA) are the most prevalent benign salivary gland neoplasms. They may occur at any age, with a peak incidence between 40 and 60 years of age. They are more commonly observed in females (60%). These tumors can arise in both the major and minor salivary glands. Approximately 80% of these tumors are diagnosed in the parotid gland, whereas 10% arise in the minor salivary glands, mainly affecting the palates, followed by the lips and cheeks. This report describes two cases of unusual lesions that were diagnosed as (PA) in the minor salivary glands in our department via a review of the relevant literature. The first case involved an 83-year-old man who presented with a slow-growing swelling on the right side of the upper lip, and the second case involved a 45-year-old woman who presented with a slow-growing lesion on the palate. The presence of PA was confirmed histopathologically after surgical resection. Although relatively rare, PA is a benign lesion, the diagnosis of which must be known for appropriate therapeutic management.
Using Text Analysis in Parallel Mediation Analysis
Authors: Zhang Judy (Zijing) , Li H. Alice , Allenby Greg M.
Published: April 2024

In this paper, the authors propose a model that uses text data to identify multiple mediators in a parallel mediation analysis.
Evaluation of community nurse-led traumatic tube displacements
Authors: Stenson Sophie , Capener Rebecca , Barker Julie , Hynes Helen , Barron Edmund , Shakespeare Catherine , Brampton-Mortley Su , Skelton Jill , Cowell Laurie , Hubbard Gary P
Published: April 2024

Home enteral tube feeding (HEF) has many benefits and is largely safe practice. Some complications have historically required intervention in the acute setting, including traumatic displacement of feeding tubes (i.e. internal bumper/balloon removed intact), and evidence to support the safe replacement of these tubes in the community is lacking. To address this, a service enabling community homecare nurses (CHN) to replace traumatically displaced feeding tubes was designed and evaluated. Adult patients presenting with a traumatically displaced feeding tube over 29 months were included in the service evaluation. Baseline characteristics and outcomes at day 1, 7 and 6 months post-replacement were recorded. A total of 71 tube replacements were performed by CHNs in 60 patients. No clinical complications were recorded at any follow-up points. A simple cost analysis estimated savings of £235 754.40. These results suggest that nurse-led replacement of traumatically displaced feeding tubes in adults in the community is low-risk and offers potential cost savings.
Isolation and identification of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from houseflies (Musca domestica L) at cattle barns in Al-Qadisiyah Province, Iraq
Authors:   Deptartment of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Al-Diwaniyah, Iraq, Sadeq Jenan Nadhim , Al-Husseiny Saad Hashim ,   Deptartment of Internal and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Al-Diwaniyah, Iraq, Al Muhana Balsam Miri Mizher ,   Deptartment of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Al-Diwaniyah, Iraq, Kshash Qassim Haleem ,   Deptartment of Internal and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Al-Diwaniyah, Iraq, Jasim Assad ,   Deptartment of Internal and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Al-Diwaniyah, Iraq
Published: April 2024

Recent studies identified that Escherichia coli O157:H7 (ECO157H7) causes hemorrhagic colitis in humans, a rare spectrum of diarrheal illness. According to the findings of epidemiological investigations, cattle serve as the principal reservoirs for this bacterium. This study was conducted to understand the incidence of ECO157H7 in houseflies (HFs), a key disease vector. HFs (n = 40) were collected from cattle barns. The HFs were cultured on MacConkey (MC) agars, and any suspected colonies were grown on Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) agar. EMB-based metallic sheen colonies were grown on specific media, such as sorbitol Chromagar (SCA) and cefixime tellurite sorbitol-MacConkey (CT–SMAC) agar. Sorbitol non-fermenting (SNF) isolates were subjected to a commercial latex agglutination kit to identify the existence of O157 group. The results recorded 31/40 (77.5%) E. coli isolates identified from HF samples. The findings revealed that only 18/31 (58%) were from the SNF isolates. The identities of the isolates were further examined by targeting the rfbO157 and fliCH7 genes, as genetic markers in a PCR method. The PCR results reported 10/18 (55.5%) and 12/18 (66.6%) isolates that carried the rfbO157 and fliCH7 genes, respectively. Our research revealed that HFs represent a harbor for the pathogenic E. coli. The ecology and way this bacterium spreads among animals and across the environment may depend heavily on the presence of ECO157H7 in agricultural environments.
Antibacterial activity of Streptomyces spp. against Aeromonas hydrophila causing hemorrhagic disease in intensively cultured pangasius catfish
Authors:   Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Vinh Long University of Technology Education, Vinh Long City 89000, Vietnam, Văn Cao Thi Quach , Tran Quoc Dung ,   Party Committee of Agencies and Enterprises of Vinh Long province, Vinh Long City 89000, Vietnam, Hien Ha Ngoc ,   Office of Vinh Long Provincial the People's Committee, Vinh Long City 89000, Vietnam, Nguyen Bao Trung ,   College of Aquaculture and Fisheries, Can Tho University, Can Tho City 90000, Vietnam, Dung Tu Thanh ,   College of Aquaculture and Fisheries, Can Tho University, Can Tho City 90000, Vietnam, Nguyen Phuong Thuy ,   School of Agriculture and Aquaculture, Tra Vinh University, Tra Vinh City 87000, Vietnam
Published: April 2024

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are becoming more common due to the overuse of antibiotics in aquaculture. Alternative antibiotic solutions are fascinating and under the consideration in many countries. This study's objective was to isolate and identify certain actinomycete isolates with inhibitory action against the hemorrhagic disease-causing Aeromonas hydrophila in intensively cultivated catfish. This investigation isolated ten actinomycete isolates from sediment and water samples of catfish ponds in Vinh Long province. Using the diffusion well method, the study identified all isolates with antogonisttic activity against A. hydrophila. In particular, two isolates, BCA1.2 and BCA1.5, presented the highest inhibitory activity with inhibitory diameter zones of 11±1.0 mm and 10±1.0 mm, respectively. Two actinomycete isolates, BCA1.2 and BCA1.5, had their growth affected by pH, temperature, and NaCl. The findings revealed that two of these isolates showed optimum growth in a pH range of 7.0–8.0 and at 37°C. Two isolates, BCA1.2 and BCA1.5, survived well on medium containing a high salt concentration of NaCl ranging from 3% to 7% and were able to utilize different sources of carbon. They produced a wide range of hydrolytic extracellular enzymes, such as cellulase, amylase, protease, lipase, and chitinase. Isolates BCA1.2 and BCA1.5 were identified as Streptomyces based on morphological, cultural, physiological, and biochemical characteristics and 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
Impact of transcranial electrical stimulation on serum neurotrophic factors and language function in patients with speech disorders
Authors: Sun Li , Xiao Kai , Shen Xiao-Yan , Wang Shu
Published: April 2024

BACKGROUND

Speech disorders have a substantial impact on communication abilities and quality of life. Traditional treatments such as speech and psychological therapies frequently demonstrate limited effectiveness and patient compliance. Transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) has emerged as a promising non-invasive treatment to improve neurological functions. However, its effectiveness in enhancing language functions and serum neurofactor levels in individuals with speech disorders requires further investigation.

AIM

To investigate the impact of TES in conjunction with standard therapies on serum neurotrophic factor levels and language function in patients with speech disorders.

METHODS

In a controlled study spanning from March 2019 to November 2021, 81 patients with speech disorders were divided into a control group (n = 40) receiving standard speech stimulation and psychological intervention, and an observation group (n = 41) receiving additional TES. The study assessed serum levels of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and nerve growth factor (NGF), as well as evaluations of motor function, language function, and development quotient scores.

RESULTS

After 3 wk of intervention, the observation group exhibited significantly higher serum levels of CNTF, GDNF, BDNF, and NGF compared to the control group. Moreover, improvements were noted in motor function, cognitive function, language skills, physical abilities, and overall development quotient scores. It is worth mentioning that the observation group also displayed superior performance in language-specific tasks such as writing, reading comprehension, retelling, and fluency.

CONCLUSION

This retrospective study concluded that TES combined with traditional speech and psychotherapy can effectively increase the levels of neurokines in the blood and enhance language function in patients with speech disorders. These results provide a promising avenue for integrating TES into standard treatment methods for speech disorders.
Growth and Health Response to Dietary Supplementation of Pineapple Peel Extract in Labeo Rohita (Hamilton, 1822) Fingerlings
Authors: Gopalraaj Jhanani , Velayudhannair Krishnakumar
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT: The introduction of protease enzyme supplementation in the early stages of fish can address protease deficiency, thereby promoting increased protein digestion and overall organismal well-being. This study focuses on evaluating the influence of Ananas comosus peel extract (AcPE) on the growth, biochemical profile, and haematological characteristics of Labeo rohita fingerlings. Over a 45 day period, L. rohita fingerlings were fed a basal diet enriched with AcPE (at a ratio of 1:2 extract to feed), with observations taken at 15-day intervals. The control group received the basal diet without AcPE. The findings highlight an overall enhancement in growth parameters among the experimental group fingerlings that were fed the AcPE-supplemented diet, with the exception of length gain, when compared to the control group. Examination of the fingerlings' biochemical profiles revealed a significantly higher protein and amino acid content, while carbohydrate and lipid content remained relatively stable within the two groups. In terms of haematological profiles, a noteworthy increase in total red blood cell count and haematocrit value was observed, while white blood cell count and haemoglobin concentration did not exhibit significant variations. This study underscores the potential benefits of incorporating AcPE into the basal diet as an eco-friendly approach for waste management, while simultaneously enhancing the growth and health of L. rohita fingerlings.
Transparency of inflectionless modifiers for Bulgarian definite marker placement
Authors: Adamson Luke James
Published: April 2024

abstract: The current work offers an analysis of definite marker placement in Bulgarian, deriving it through postsyntactic movement of D to a head bearing nominal features, with locality defined in terms of feature-relativized closest c-command. In addition to capturing previous observations about the distribution of the definite marker, the analysis is supported by novel evidence from exceptionally inflectionless modifiers in the language. The account is in line with a more general formulation of postsyntactic movement in terms of c-command, and highlights the relevance of exceptionally inflectionless elements to morphosyntactic theory.
Impact of thermal lensing on the TMI threshold powers in rod-type Yb-doped fiber amplifiers
Authors: Mermelstein Marc D.
Published: April 2024

The impact of thermal lensing (TL) on the transverse mode instability (TMI) threshold power in rod-type fiber amplifiers is investigated. Simulations are conducted with a 3D coupled mode analysis on a set of five scaled large pitch fiber (LPF) amplifiers. The LPF fibers are represented by surrogate step-index fibers (SIFs) with scaled cladding diameters, core diameters, and numerical apertures for a fixed normalized frequency V equal to 3.0 and scaled modal field overlap integrals with the core and cladding. It is found that thermal lensing decreases the TMI threshold powers due to increases in the TMI nonlinear gain. This gain increase is attributed to an increase in the nonlinear gain overlap integrals that occurs with the reduction in the fundamental mode effective area. Estimates for the TMI threshold power are in good agreement with measurements; however, the simulations overestimate the mode shrinkage factor. This discrepancy is tentatively attributed to the representation of the LPF by an effective SIF. These results may offer opportunities for fiber designs that increase the TMI threshold powers.
Thermal active optical technology to achieve in-orbit wavefront aberration correction for optical remote sensing satellites
Authors: Zheng Xiaoyi , Zan Shikai , Lv Xueying , Zhang Fan , Zhang Liu
Published: April 2024

Image quality and resolution are important factors affecting the application value of remote sensing images. Although increasing the optical aperture of space optical remote sensors (SORSs) improves image resolution, it exacerbates the effects of the space environment on imaging quality. Thus, this study proposes thermal active optical technology (TAO) to enhance image quality while increasing the optical aperture of SORSs by actively correcting in-orbit wavefront aberrations. Replacing traditional wavefront detection and reconstruction with numerical calculation and simulation analysis, more realistic in-orbit SORS wavefront aberrations are obtained. Numerical and finite element analyses demonstrate that nonlinearities in TAO control lead to the failure of traditional wavefront correction algorithms. To address this, we use a neural network algorithm combining CNN and ResNet. Simulation results show that the residual of the systematic wavefront RMS error for SORS reduces to 1/100λ. The static and dynamic modular transfer functions are improved, and the structural similarity index is recovered by over 23%, highlighting the effectiveness of TAO in image quality enhancement. The static and thermal vacuum experiments demonstrate the wide applicability and engineering prospects of TAO.
Fast and high-accuracy collinear reflection Mueller imaging polarimeter implemented with the compound calibration method
Authors: Ma Xiang , Wu Jinxian , Hu Yujie , Li Yanqiu
Published: April 2024

The collinear reflection Mueller matrix imaging polarimeter is suitable for characterizing thick samples with high-scattering depolarization such as biological tissues or in-situ living organs. Achieving fast detection and high measurement accuracy is vital to prevent artifacts and accurately assess polarization characteristics in these applications. This paper demonstrates a fast collinear reflection imaging polarimeter based on liquid crystal variable retarders (LCVRs-CRMMIP). We propose a novel compound calibration method (CCM), to the best of our knowledge, which enhances measurement accuracy through light intensity correction and an improved equivalent calibration sample model. This method surpasses the double-pass eigenvalue calibration method (dp-ECM), enhancing accuracy by over 23 times. Performance evaluations with standard samples, including mirrors, linear polarizers, and wave plates, reveal that the LCVRs-CRMMIP achieves rapid measurements (about 3 s) and high accuracy with an error of less than 0.0017.
NeuroSeg-III: efficient neuron segmentation in two-photon Ca2+ imaging data using self-supervised learning
Authors: Wu Yukun , Xu Zhehao , Liang Shanshan , Wang Lukang , Wang Meng , Jia Hongbo , Chen Xiaowei , Zhao Zhikai , Liao Xiang
Published: April 2024

Two-photon Ca2+ imaging technology increasingly plays an essential role in neuroscience research. However, the requirement for extensive professional annotation poses a significant challenge to improving the performance of neuron segmentation models. Here, we present NeuroSeg-III, an innovative self-supervised learning approach specifically designed to achieve fast and precise segmentation of neurons in imaging data. This approach consists of two modules: a self-supervised pre-training network and a segmentation network. After pre-training the encoder of the segmentation network via a self-supervised learning method without any annotated data, we only need to fine-tune the segmentation network with a small amount of annotated data. The segmentation network is designed with YOLOv8s, FasterNet, efficient multi-scale attention mechanism (EMA), and bi-directional feature pyramid network (BiFPN), which enhanced the model's segmentation accuracy while reducing the computational cost and parameters. The generalization of our approach was validated across different Ca2+ indicators and scales of imaging data. Significantly, the proposed neuron segmentation approach exhibits exceptional speed and accuracy, surpassing the current state-of-the-art benchmarks when evaluated using a publicly available dataset. The results underscore the effectiveness of NeuroSeg-III, with employing an efficient training strategy tailored for two-photon Ca2+ imaging data and delivering remarkable precision in neuron segmentation.
Long-range, high-precision optical calibration path based on an optoelectronic oscillator
Authors: Wang Ju , Su Xuemin , Yu Jinlong , Luo Hao , Ma Chuang , Liu Lingchao
Published: April 2024

We propose a laser ranging calibration optical path system using multiple optoelectronic oscillators (OEOs) that provides long range, high precision, low cost and high stability. A phase locked loop is used to control the length of the calibration optical path, which is measured with high precision by alternating the oscillations between the measurement loop and the reference loop. The calibration optical path length exceeds 9000 m with the stability of 6.8 µm during 3 minutes, and the relative measurement accuracy of the calibration optical path reaches 6.9 × 10−10.
Optical chaotic communication system based on time-delayed shift keying and common-signal-induced synchronization
Authors: Li Minjun , Zhou Xuefang , Wang Fei , Yang Guowei , Bi Meihua , Xu Mengmeng , Hu Miao , Li Haozhen
Published: April 2024

Aiming at the difficulty of traditional chaotic-shift-keying (CSK) systems in resisting return map attacks, we propose an optical chaotic communication system based on time-delayed shift keying and common-signal-induced synchronization. This scheme combines amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise, phase modulator (PM), and fiber Bragg grating (FBG) to achieve dual masking in both intensity and phase fields, achieving 10Gb/s information transmission. A common-signal-induced method is used to achieve the synchronization of the system. Moreover, by shifting the time delay as the message-feeding method, the return map attack is effectively resisted, to prevent the amplitude and frequency information of the chaotic attractor from being exposed. In terms of confidentiality and communication performance, this scheme demonstrates good performance of time delay signatures (TDSs) concealment and long-distance transmission capability. In addition, this scheme maintains high sensitivity to key parameters and achieves better confidentiality while increasing the key space.
Nonvolatile multilevel adjustable optical switch based on plasmonic slot waveguide and GST segmented structure
Authors: Zhang Yiqun , Duan Qiong , Yan Xu , Zhang Qi , Lu Yegang
Published: April 2024

Optical computing has gradually demonstrated its efficiency in handling increasingly complex computational demands, attracting widespread attention. Optical switches can effectively control and modulate optical signals, providing flexibility and efficiency for optical computing systems. However, traditional optical switches face performance issues such as power consumption, switching speed, and compactness, severely limiting the implementation of large-scale photonic integrated circuits and optical neural networks. This paper proposes an innovative design structure for a non-volatile multi-level adjustable optical switch by combining a plasmonic slot waveguide with segmented phase-change materials. Modulation of waveguide light transmission is achieved by adjusting the phase state of Ge2Sb2Te5(GST). At a wavelength of 1550 nm, a low insertion loss of 0.5dB has been achieved, with approximately an 85% difference in optical transmittance between amorphous state (aGST) and crystalline state (cGST). The high transmittance difference contributes to achieving a wide range of weight variations and supports precise weight updates. Based on this design, we successfully implemented a handwritten digit recognition task with an accuracy of 95%, laying the foundation for future more efficient memory computing neural morphic networks.
Continuous optical zoom telescopic system based on liquid lenses
Authors: Jiang Zhao , Zheng Yi , Wang Xin , Zhao You-Ran , Yuan Rong-Ying , Liu Chao , Wang Qiong-Hua
Published: April 2024

Telescopes play an essential important role in the fields of astronomical observation, emergency rescue, etc. The traditional telescopes achieve zoom function through the mechanical movement of the solid lenses, usually requiring refocusing after magnification adjustment. Therefore, the traditional telescopes lack adaptability, port-ability and real-time capability. In this paper, a continuous optical zoom telescopic system based on liquid lenses is proposed. The main components of the system consist of an objective lens, an eyepiece, and a zoom group composed of six pieces of liquid lenses. By adjusting the external voltages on the liquid lenses, the zoom telescopic system can achieve continuous optical zoom from ∼1.0× to ∼4.0× operating with an angular resolution from 28.648" to 19.098", and the magnification switching time is ∼50ms. The optical structure of the zoom telescopic system with excellent performance is given, and its feasibility is demonstrated by simulations and experiments. The proposed system with fast response, portability and high adaptability is expected to be applied to astronomical observation, emergency rescue and so on.
Ultrafast nonlinear optical response of layered violet phosphorus for femtosecond noise-like pulse generation
Authors: Wang Zishu , Pan Han , Chu Hongwei , Pan Zhongben , Li Ying , Zhao Shengzhi , Li Dechun
Published: April 2024

As a new member of two-dimensional (2D) phosphorene, 2D layered violet phosphorus (VP) has unique optoelectronic properties and good environmental stability, showing its huge advantages in optoelectronic applications. In this paper, the ultrafast nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of layered VP nanosheets at 1 µm band were explored, which exhibit an obvious saturable absorption response with a modulation depth of ∼1.97%. Meanwhile, the fast and slow carrier lifetimes of VP nanosheets at 1µm band were also determined as 295.9 fs and 2.36 ps, respectively, which are much shorter than that of most reported 2D materials. The excellent saturable absorption response combined with ultrashort carrier lifetimes indicate the prospect of layered VP nanosheets as a fast saturable absorber (SA) for ultrafast laser modulation. Then we demonstrated a Yb-doped fiber laser based on the VP-deposited taper-shaped fiber (TSF) SA, which delivers stable Q-switched mode-locked (QSML) pulses, dual-wavelength mode-locked pulses and 404-fs noise-like pulses. This work fully demonstrates the great potential of 2D VP materials for 1 µm ultrashort laser pulse generation.
Charge-transfer-driven ultrasensitive SERS sensing in a two-dimensional titanium carbonitride MXene
Authors: Lan Leilei , Zhao Caiye , Tang Xiao , Gao Juan , Li Guoqun , Cai Hanyong , Yang Sen , Liu Jin , Qu Zhongwei , Fan Xingce , Qiu Teng
Published: April 2024

Two-dimensional (2D) MXenes stand out as promising platforms for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensing owing to their metallic feature, various compositions, high surface area, compatibility with functionalization, and ease of fabrication. In this work, we report a high-performance 2D titanium carbonitride (Ti3CN) MXene SERS substrate. We reveal that the abundant electronic density of states near the Fermi level of Ti3CN MXene boosts the efficiency of photo-induced charge transfer at the interface of Ti3CN/molecule, resulting in significant Raman enhancement. The SERS sensitivity of Ti3CN MXene is further promoted through a 2D morphology regulation and molecular enrichment strategies. Moreover, prohibited drugs are detectable on this substrate, presenting the potential of trace-amount analysis on Ti3CN MXene. This work provides a deep insight of the SERS mechanisms of Ti3CN MXene and broadens the practical application of transition metal carbonitride MXene SERS substrates.
Observation of non-trivial phase difference between the two complementary output interference waves in Mach-Zehnder interferometer
Authors: wen muqian
Published: April 2024

Fourier transform spectrometers with Mach-Zehnder interferometer designs will have two
interference signal outputs. Ideally the two output interference wave signals should have
exactly opposite sign due to the principle of conservation of energy under the assumption of
ideal lossless beam splitter. This paper will conduct an experiment to measure this phase
difference between the balanced and unbalanced Fourier transform interferometer outputs
of a helium neon laser light by a dielectric coated cube beam splitter and an uncoated glass
surface. It was found that there is nontrivial phase difference by the cube beam splitter. We
think that this phenomenon can be potentially useful as a novel way to study the properties
thin film structures.