bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Generalized pulp canal obliteration in a patient on long-term glucocorticoids: a case report and literature review
Authors: Jiandong Ban , Yunxiao Zhang , Zuhua Wang , Yan Hou , Shuangshuang Geng , Junke Li , Hongwei Wang , Hua Xu
Published: August 2022

Background

The calcification of the tooth pulp is a pathological condition that occurs in response to various factors. A uncommon haematological condition known as paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) is characterized by bouts of haemolysis, and it requires long-term use of glucocorticoids (GCs).

Case presentation

A female patient who was diagnosed with PNH and had a history of long-term use of GCs came to our department for root canal therapy (RCT) for teeth 25, 26, and 27. The radiographs showed generalized pulp canal obliteration (PCO) in most of the patients. None of these teeth (25, 26, or 27) were sensitive to percussion, and they did not respond to thermal or electrical sensitivity tests. A diagnose of pulp necrosis was made for these teeth. RCT was carried out with the help of an oral microscope, and then a prosthodontic procedure was created for the teeth.

Conclusions

Based on the patient’s long history use of GCs and a series of related studies, we conclude that the long-term usage of GCs contributes significantly to the onset of PCO.
Effectiveness of a targeted telephone-based case management service on activity in an Emergency Department in the UK: a pragmatic difference-in-differences evaluation
Authors: Elston Julian , Gradinger Felix P. , Streeter Adam J. , Macey Stephen , Martin Susan
Published: August 2022

Background

This study evaluates the effectiveness of a targeted telephone-based case management service that aimed to reduce ED attendance amongst frequent attenders, known to disproportionately contribute to demand. Evidence on the effectiveness of these services varies.

Methods

A 24-month controlled before-and-after study, following 808 patients (128 cases and 680 controls (41 were non-compliant)) who were offered the service in the first four months of operation within a UK ED department. Patients stratified as high-risk of reattending ED within 6 months by a predictive model were manually screened. Those positively reviewed were offered a non-clinical, nurse-led, telephone-based health coaching, consisting of care planning, coordination and goal setting for up to 9 months. Service effectiveness was estimated using a difference-in-differences (DiD) analysis. Incident rate of ED and Minor Injury Unit (MIU) attendances and average length of stay in intervention recipients and controls over 12 months after receiving their service offer following ED attendance were compared, adjusting for the prior 12-month period, sex and age, to give an incidence rate ratio (IRR).

Results

Intervention recipients were more likely to be female (63.3% versus 55.4%), younger (mean of 69 years versus 76 years), and have higher levels of ED activity (except for MIU) than controls. Mean rates fell between periods for all outcomes (except for MIU attendance). The Intention-to-Treat analysis indicated non-statistically significant effect of the intervention in reducing all outcomes, except for MIU attendances, with IRRs: ED attendances, 0.856 (95% CI: 0.631, 1.160); ED admissions, 0.871 (95% CI: 0.628, 1.208); length of stay for emergency and elective admissions: 0.844 (95% CI: 0.619, 1.151) and 0.781 (95% CI: 0.420, 1.454). MIU attendance increased with an IRR: 2.638 (95% CI: 1.041, 6.680).

Conclusions

Telephone-based health coaching appears to be effective in reducing ED attendances and admissions, with shorter lengths of stay, in intervention recipients over controls. Future studies need to capture outcomes beyond acute activity, and better understand how services like this provide added value.
Lineage tracing shows that cell size asymmetries predict the dorsoventral axis in the sea star embryo
Authors: Barone Vanessa , Byrne Maria , Lyons Deirdre C.
Published: August 2022

Background

Cell size asymmetries are often linked to cell fate decisions, due to cell volumes and cell fate determinants being unequally partitioned during asymmetric cell divisions. A clear example is found in the sea urchin embryo, where a characteristic and obvious unequal 4th cleavage generates micromeres, which are necessary for mesendoderm cell fate specification. Unlike sea urchin development, sea star development is generally thought to have only equal cleavage. However, subtle cell size asymmetries can be observed in sea star embryos; whether those cell size asymmetries are consistently produced during sea star development and if they are involved in cell fate decisions remains unknown.

Results

Using confocal live imaging of early embryos we quantified cell size asymmetries in 16-cell stage embryos of two sea star species, Patiria miniata and Patiriella regularis. Using photoconversion to perform lineage tracing, we find that the position of the smallest cells of P. miniata embryos is biased toward anterior ventral tissues. However, both blastomere dissociation and mechanical removal of one small cell do not prevent dorsoventral (DV) axis formation, suggesting that embryos compensate for the loss of those cells and that asymmetrical partitioning of maternal determinants is not strictly necessary for DV patterning. Finally, we show that manipulating cell size to introduce artificial cell size asymmetries is not sufficient to direct the positioning of the future DV axis in P. miniata embryos.

Conclusions

Our results show that although cell size asymmetries are consistently produced during sea star early cleavage and are predictive of the DV axis, they are not necessary to instruct DV axis formation.
Early versus delayed enteral nutrition for neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy undergoing therapeutic hypothermia: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Hu Ya , Chen Feng , Xiang Xinyu , Wang Fang , Hua Ziyu , Wei Hong
Published: August 2022

Background

The practice of therapeutic hypothermia (TH) is widely used for neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) despite its corresponding feeding strategies are still controversial. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) demonstrated to evaluate the effect of early vs. delayed enteral nutrition on the incidence of feeding intolerance (FI) and other association during TH.

Methods

This single center, parallel-group, and no-blinded RCT was processed in a level III, and academic neonatal intensive care unit. Infants who were diagnosed with HIE and undertaken TH from September 2020 to August 2021 were enrolled. Participants were randomized to receive enteral nutrition either during TH/rewarming (early enteral nutrition, EEN) or after TH (delayed enteral nutrition, DEN) according to a recommend enteral feeding protocol. All data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 software with a p-value< 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Ninety-two infants were enrolled after randomization, but 12 (13.04%) cases including 3 (3.26%) deaths were excluded from eventually analyzed, who did not initiate or discontinue the intervention. 80 cases (42 and 38 in the EEN and DEN group, respectively) who completed the interventions were eventually analyzed. Besides initial time of enteral feeds, two groups had processed the same feeding method. Total 23 (25.0%) cases developed FI, and no difference of morbidity was found between two groups (23.4% vs 26.7%, p = 0.595; Log Rank, p = 0.803). There was no case died or developed late-onset bloodstream and no difference of the incidence of hypoglycemia or weight gain was found (p > 0.05). The percentage of infants who had not reaching the goal of full enteral feeding volume between the two groups was similar (21.43% vs 23.68%, p = 0.809). The average time of parenteral nutrition, reaching full enteral feeds and hospital stay were shorter in the EEN group compared with the DEN group with significant differences (8.81 ± 1.67 vs 10.61 ± 2.06 days, p < 0.001; 9.91 ± 1.88 vs 12.24 ± 2.50 days, p < 0.001; 12.55 ± 4.57 vs 16.47 ± 5.27 days, p = 0.001 respectively).

Conclusions

Compared with delayed enteral nutrition, introduction of early enteral nutrition according to a recommend feeding strategy for neonatal HIE undergoing TH may be feasible and safe.FI is frequent in this high-risk group of infants which should not be ignored during feeding process.

Trial registration

The Chinese Clinical Trial Registry,ChiCTR2000038193, 2020-9-13, https://www.chictr.org.cn.
The effect of opioid-sparing anesthesia regimen on short-term cognitive function after thoracoscopic surgery: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Zhao Hong , Han Qiaoyu , Shi Chuan , Feng Yi
Published: August 2022

Background

As type of surgery and opioids are suggested risk factors for the development of cognitive decline after surgery, we evaluated the effect of an opioid-sparing anesthesia regimen involving preoperative erector spinae block and continuous infusion of flurbiprofen on the incidence of cognitive decline after video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

Methods

In this observational study, patients over 18 years old presenting for elective video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery were divided into two groups, the erector spinae plane block group (ESPB group, who received preoperative single shot of bi-level ESPB at T4 and T6 levels) and the control group who received intercostal nerve blocks through T5 to T7 intercostal spaces along mid-axillary line after surgery. Continuous infusion of flurbiprofen (8 mg/h) and intravenous oxycodone rescue (1 mg/bolus, lockout time 10 minutes) were provided as postoperative analgesics. Cognitive function was measured one day before and 48 h after surgery with brief Cogstate computerized battery (CCB).

Results

There were 60 patients included with 30 in each group. Perioperative sufentanil dose was significantly reduced in ESPB group. Nine (30%) and 15 (50%) patients had delayed neurocognitive recovery in the ESPB group and the control group respectively. Psychomotor speed and visual attention tests were the two tests that patients showed cognitive decline. The results of multivariate regression revealed that patients who were more than 53.5 years of age (OR 9.213, 95% CI 1.789, 47.437, P = 0.008) and low levels of education (less than 9 years of complimentary education) (OR 6.829, 95% CI 1.068, 43.677, P = 0.042) were independent risk factors for postoperative delayed neurocognitive recovery. For subgroup analysis, ESPB could reduce the occurrence of delayed neurocognitive recovery in patients with both risk factors (6/10 (60%) vs. 11/11 (100%), P = 0.004) compared to the control group.

Conclusions

Middle-aged people and low levels of education are independent risk factors for delayed neurocognitive recovery after thoracoscopic surgery. ESPB has the potential to prevent cognitive decline in high-risk patients.

Trial registration

ChiCTR1800014508 (www.chictr.org.cn, January 17, 2018; Hong Zhao, M.D.). URL: http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=24778. The date of the enrolment of the first participant to the trial was January 22, 2018.
Importance of Candida infection and fluconazole resistance in women with vaginal discharge syndrome in Namibia
Authors: Dunaiski Cara M. , Kock Marleen M. , Jung Hyunsul , Peters Remco P. H.
Published: August 2022

Background

Vaginal discharge syndrome (VDS) is a common condition. Clinical management targets sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and bacterial vaginosis (BV); there is limited focus onCandidainfection as cause of VDS. Lack ofCandidatreatment coverage and, if present, antifungal resistance may result in VDS treatment failure. This study aimed to determine the prevalence ofCandidainfection, antifungal resistance, and coinfections in Namibian women with VDS.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was performed using 253 vaginal swabs from women with VDS in Namibia. Demographic data was collected, and phenotypic and molecular detection ofCandidaspecies was performed followed by fluconazole susceptibility testing ofCandidaisolates. BV was diagnosed using Nugent score microscopy; molecular detection ofChlamydia trachomatis,Neisseria gonorrhoeaeandTrichomonas vaginaliswas performed.

Results

Candidaspecies was detected in 110/253 women (43%). Ninety women (36%) hadCandida albicansand 24 (9.5%) had non-albicansCandidaspecies. The non-albicans species detected were 19 (17%)Candida glabrata, 4.0 (3.5%)Candida krusei, and 1.0 (0.9%)Candida parapsilosis.Candida albicanswere more frequently isolated in younger (p = 0.004) and pregnant women (p = 0.04) compared to non-albicansCandidaspecies. Almost all (98%)Candida albicansisolates were susceptible to fluconazole while all non-albicansCandidaspecies were fluconazole resistant. STIs were diagnosed in 92 women (36%): 30 (12%) withC. trachomatis, 11 (4.3%)N. gonorrhoeae, and 70 (28%)T. vaginalis; 98 (39%) women had BV.Candidainfection alone was diagnosed in 30 women (12%), combined with STIs in 42 women (17%) and was concurrent with BV in 38 women (15%).Candidainfection was more often detected in swabs from women withoutC. trachomatisdetected (6.4% vs. 16%; OR 0.30; 95% CI 0.10–0.77,p = 0.006).

Conclusions

The high prevalence ofCandidainfection, especially those due to non-albicansCandidaspecies that are resistant to fluconazole, is a great concern in our setting and may lead to poor treatment outcomes. Access to microbiological testing forCandidaspecies in the context of syndromic management is warranted.
The influence of demography and referral medical specialty on the detection of autoantibodies to HEP-2 cells in a large sample of patients
Authors: Santos Wilton Ferreira Silva , Cantuária Ana Paula de Castro , Félix Daniele de Castro , Nardes Leandro Kegler , de Melo Igor Cabral Santos
Published: August 2022

Background

The prevalence of anti-cell autoantibodies detected by indirect immunofluorescence assay on HEp-2 cells (HEp-2-IIFA) increases with age and is higher in female sex. The number of medical specialties that use HEp-2-IIFA in the investigation of autoimmune diseases has increased lately. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and patterns of autoantibodies on HEp-2-IIFA according to demographics variables and referring medical specialties.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of the HEp-2-IIFA carried out between January and June of 2017 was performed. The International Consensus on Antinuclear Antibodies Patterns (ICAP) and the Brazilian Consensus on Autoantibodies were used for patterns definition on visual reading of the slides. Anti-cell (AC) codes from ICAP and Brazilian AC codes (BAC) were used for patterns classification.

Results

From 54,990 samples referred for HEp-2-IIF testing, 20.9% were positive at titer ≥ 1/80. HEp-2-IIFA positivity in females and males was 24% and 12%, respectively (p < 0.0001). The proportion of positive results in the 4 age groups analyzed: 0–19, 20–39, 40–59, and ≥ 60 years was 23.3, 20.2, 20.1, and 22.8%, respectively (p < 0.0001). Considering all positive sera (n = 11,478), AC-4 nuclear fine speckled (37.7%), AC-2 nuclear dense fine speckled (21.3%), BAC-3 nuclear quasi-homogeneous (10%) and mixed/composite patterns (8.8%) were the most prevalent patterns. The specialties that most requested HEp-2-IIFA were general practitioner (20.1%), dermatology (15%), gynecology (9.9%), rheumatology (8.5%), and cardiology (5.8%). HEp-2-IIFA positivity was higher in patients referred by rheumatologists (35.7% vs. 19.6%) (p < 0.0001). Moderate (46.4%) and high (10.8%) titers were more observed in patients referred by rheumatologists (p < 0.0001). We observed a high proportion of mixed and cytoplasmic patterns in samples referred by oncologists and a high proportion of BAC-3 (nuclear quasi-homogeneous) pattern in samples referred by pneumologists.

Conclusions

One-fifth of the patients studied were HEp-2-IIFA-positive. The age groups with more positive results were 0–19 and ≥ 60 years. AC-4, AC-2, BAC-3 and mixed/composite patterns were the most frequent patterns observed. Rheumatologists requested only 8.5% of HEp-2-IIFA. Positive results and moderate to high titers of autoantibodies were more frequent in patients referred by rheumatologists.
ADCY5-related dyskinesia: a case report
Authors: Chen Shih-Ying , Ho Chen-Jui , Lu Yan-Ting , Lin Chih-Hsiang , Tsai Meng-Han
Published: August 2022

Adenylyl cyclase 5 (ADCY5) related dyskinesia is a rare disorder characterized by early-onset paroxysmal choreoathetosis, dystonia, myoclonus, or a combination of the above, which primarily involved the limbs, face, and neck. Other common clinical features are axial hypotonia and episodic exacerbation of dyskinesia. Both sporadic and inherited cases have been reported and the predomiant mode of inheritance is autosomal dominant. Herein, we describe the first ADCY5-related dyskinesia patient in Taiwan.
MIC17A is a novel diagnostic marker for feline toxoplasmosis
Authors: Chen Jinling , Xue Lilan , Hu Hongxia , Yin Xiaoyan , Cao Hui , Shen Bang
Published: August 2022

Toxoplasma gondiiis a widespread parasitic pathogen that infect humans and all warm-blooded animals, causing abortion and stillbirth in pregnant women and animals, as well as life threatening toxoplasmosis in immune compromised individuals. Felines are the only definitive hosts ofToxoplasmaand oocysts shed by infected felines are the major source of infection for humans and other animals. Given the critical role of felines forT. gondiitransmission, control of feline toxoplasmosis has significant impacts on reducing the overall prevalence of animal and human toxoplasmosis. However, reliable diagnosis of feline toxoplasmosis is still challenging. In this study, we found that the putative micronemal protein 17A (MIC17A) that was abundantly expressed inToxoplasmamerozoites is a good diagnostic marker for serological diagnosis ofToxoplasmainfection in felines.T. gondiiencodes four paralogs of MIC17A in total and the expression of three of them is drastically upregulated in merozoites than in tachyzoites. In contrast, when proteins like GRA1 and MIC3 that are more abundantly expressed in tachyzoites than in merozoites were used as diagnostic antigens to test feline toxoplasmosis, they reacted withToxoplasmaspecific IgG antibodies poorly. Taken together, these results suggest that merozoite antigens are better suited for the diagnosis of feline toxoplasmosis than antigens that are highly expressed at tachyzoite or bradyzoite stages.
Serum Levels of Myo-inositol Predicts Clinical Outcome 1 Year After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Johansson Conny , Koskinen Lars-Owe D. , Sjöberg Rickard L. , Lindvall Peter
Published: August 2022

BACKGROUND:

Early prognostication of long-term outcome in patients suffering from spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) remains a challenge. No biomarkers are routinely used for prognostication. A previous study has indicated that the metabolite myo-inositol (MI) may be used to predict long-term outcome.

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate if MI measured in serum correlates with long-term clinical outcome in patients suffering from SAH.

METHODS:

We conducted an observational cohort study including 88 patients treated for SAH at Umeå University Hospital. Serum samples were collected in the hospital, and a gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy method was used to quantitatively measure MI. Patients were assessed after 1 year using the Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended and dichotomized to favorable or unfavorable outcome. Differences in MI levels between the 2 groups were analyzed.

RESULTS:

There was no difference in MI levels between the groups upon admission. Myo-inositol levels decreased over time in the entire study population. The decrease was significantly larger in the unfavorable outcome group. A receiver operating characteristics analysis yielded an area under the curve of 0.903 (CI 0.8-1.0, P < .001) for the MI value on day 7 to predict favorable outcome after 1 year.

CONCLUSION:

Myo-inositol measured in serum may aid prognostication of outcome in patients with SAH. The mechanism behind this remains unclear, although it can be theorized to reflect processes leading to delayed cerebral ischemia, which affects long-term outcome. This is the first study to quantitively measure MI in serum for prognostication of outcome in patients with SAH.
Enhancement of the activity of the antimicrobial peptides HNP1 and LL-37 by bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A
Authors: Ericksen Bryan
Published: August 2022

Background: HNP1, LL-37, and HBD1 are antimicrobial against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 at the standard inoculum but less active at higher inocula.  

Methods: The virtual colony count (VCC) microbiological assay was adapted for high inocula and the addition of yeast tRNA and bovine pancreatic ribonuclease A (RNase).  96-well plates were read for 12 hours in a Tecan Infinite M1000 plate reader and photographed under 10x magnification.   

Results: Adding tRNA 1:1 to HNP1 at the standard inoculum almost completely abrogated activity.  Adding RNase 1:1 to HNP1 at the standard inoculum of 5x105 CFU/mL did not enhance activity.  Increasing the inoculum to 6.25x107 CFU/mL almost abrogated HNP1 activity.  However, adding RNase 25:1 to HNP1 enhanced activity.  Adding both tRNA and RNase resulted in enhanced activity, indicating that the enhancement effect of RNase overwhelms the inhibiting effect of tRNA when both are present.  HBD1 activity at the standard inoculum was almost completely abrogated by the addition of tRNA, but LL-37 activity was only slightly inhibited by tRNA.  At the high inoculum, LL-37 activity was enhanced by RNase.  HBD1 activity was not enhanced by RNase.  RNase was not antimicrobial in the absence of antimicrobial peptides.  Cell clumps were observed at the high inoculum in the presence of all three antimicrobial peptides and at the standard inoculum in the presence of HNP1+tRNA.   

Conclusions: Antimicrobial peptide-ribonuclease combinations have the potential to be active against high cell concentrations and biofilms, conditions where the antimicrobial agent alone is relatively ineffective.
Inclusive pedagogy in online simulation-based learning in undergraduate nursing education: A scoping review protocol
Authors: Langan Lisa , Halligan Phil , Frazer Kate , Darley Andrew , Goodman Lizbeth , Redmond Catherine
Published: August 2022

Background: Education is recognised as a constitutional right, however, access to and participation in higher education can be challenging for some students. This has led to the development of various international and local initiatives promoting inclusion, which has increased student representation from marginalised groups. In order to support growing student diversity, teaching and learning (T&L) strategies must encompass inclusive pedagogical principles. Technological advancements have improved opportunities for online T&L strategies and these are becoming an integral component of curricula in undergraduate nursing programmes. Online simulation-based learning (SBL) has gathered momentum in nursing education over the past twenty years. However, it is unclear from the evidence-base how inclusive this educational approach is, and how it can best support the growing diversity among nursing students. This paper outlines the protocol for a scoping review that aims to systematically and comprehensively map the available published and unpublished literature on inclusive pedagogy in online SBL in undergraduate nursing education. 

Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses Extension for systematic review protocols (PRISMA-P) guided this protocol. Arksey and O'Malley (2005) six-stage methodology framework, the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines (Peters et al., 2020) and the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) will guide the proposed scoping review (Tricco et al., 2018).

Conclusion: It is envisaged that this scoping review will give a broad overview of the evidence for inclusive pedagogy in online SBL at this point. The findings of this review will be used to inform future policy and the pedagogical and technological design of online SBL activities and assist nurse educators to meet the current requirement of inclusive practice.
Impact of daily, oral pre-exposure prophylaxis on the risk of bacterial sexually transmitted infections among cisgender women: a systematic review and narrative synthesis
Authors: Papageorgiou Vasiliki , Crittendon Erica , Coukan Flavien , Davies Bethan , Ward Helen
Published: August 2022

Background: There are concerns that the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) may result in an increased incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Evidence for this is mixed and has mostly been based on reviews focussed on gay and bisexual men and transgender women, while none have summarised evidence in cisgender women.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review to explore whether daily, oral PrEP use is associated with changes in bacterial STI occurrence (diagnoses or self-reported) and/or risk among HIV seronegative cisgender women (ciswomen). The quality of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) tool.

Results: We included 11 full text articles in a narrative synthesis, with the studies published between 2012 and 2021. The studies were mostly based in Africa (n=7, 63.6%) and reported on 3168 ciswomen using PrEP aged 16–56 years. Studies had marked differences in variables, including measurements and definitions (e.g., STI type) and limited data available looking specifically at ciswomen, principally in studies with both male and female participants. The limited evidence suggests that PrEP use is not associated with increased STI rates in ciswomen generally; however, adolescent girls and young women in Sub Saharan Africa have a higher prevalence of bacterial STIs prior to PrEP initiation, compared to adult ciswomen and female sex workers.

Conclusions: We suggest future PrEP research make efforts to include ciswomen as study participants and report stratified results by gender identity to provide adequate data to inform guidelines for PrEP implementation.

PROSPERO registration: CRD42019130438
Peculiarities of Mathematical Training of Sociologist in the Process of Training
Authors: Ashurbekov R. , Chernikova Ya.
Published: August 2022

The article deals with the problem and directions of improving the professional education of social specialists in the aspect of mathematical training. The author notes that mathematical training in the process of teaching a sociologist is important, first of all, for understanding the directions of scientific and professional activity. The author marked the directions of scientific and professional activity. The author points out that one of the most important functions is to conduct predictive studies in the field of pedagogy and build models based on them. The author noted the priority areas of the mathematics course for specialties of the social profile. The author identified the problems of organizing the training of future sociologists, which are factors that reduce the effectiveness of training future sociologists. The author noted further directions of scientific research in this matter.
Country Risk and Wooden Furniture Export Trade: Evidence from China
Authors: Cai Yingli , Zhu Hongge , Chen Zhenhuan , Geng Yuan
Published: August 2022

Wooden furniture is the main product of the forest products trade, and activities associated with its international trade currently face many risks, representing a degree of uncertainty in the wooden furniture export trade. To explore the impact of country risk on China's wooden furniture export trade, panel data from 1995 to 2020 are used as a basis for this study, in which the impact of the country risk of trading partners on China's wooden furniture export trade is empirically analyzed using a stochastic frontier gravity model. The research shows that the economic scale and population scale of the trading partners and China, forest resource endowment, and exchange rate fluctuation all have a significant impact on the export trade of Chinese wooden furniture. The economic and financial risks of trading partners have a notable negative influence on China's wooden furniture export trade, but political risk has a positive effect. The export efficiency of China's wooden furniture is at a moderate level, and there is a huge imbalance between different trading partners.
Waveguide scattering antennas made by direct laser writing in bulk glass for spectrometry applications in the short-wave IR
Authors: Callejo M. , Bonduelle M. , Morand A. , Zhang G. , Lv J. , Cheng G. , D’Amico C. , Stoian R. , Martin G.
Published: August 2022

A buried straight waveguide perturbed periodically by six antennas composed of submicronic cylinder voids is entirely fabricated using ultrafast laser photoinscription. The light scattered from each antenna is oriented vertically and is detected by a short-wave IR camera bonded to the surface of the glass with no relay optics. The response of each antenna is analyzed using a wavelength tunable laser source and compared to simulated responses verifying the behavior of the antenna. These results show the good potential of the direct laser writing technique to realize monolithic embedded detectors by combining complex optical functions within a 3D design. A wavelength meter application with a spectral resolution of 150 pm is proposed to demonstrate this combination.
Optimized design of an ultrasensitive tapered dual-hole fiber gas pressure sensor operating near the dispersion turning point
Authors: Wang Xinyu , Ling Qiang , Luo Si , Tao Jihong , Cai Mingda , Yu Zhangwei , Chen Daru
Published: August 2022

An ultrasensitive gas pressure sensor based on a tapered dual-hole fiber working near the dispersion turning point is proposed. The gas pressure sensing characteristics and optimization method are investigated. The fiber structural parameters have been optimized to obtain the maximal sensitivity of the dual-peak interval up to 251.72 nm/MPa with a linearity of 98.3% in the pressure range from 0.1 to 0.6 MPa. The sensitivity is at least 1 order of magnitude higher than that of the Mach–Zehnder-interference-based gas pressure sensor. Therefore, the high sensitivity, good linearity, and the compact size make the proposed sensor more competitive in the field of gas pressure monitoring.
Asymmetric point-to-multipoint coherent architecture with a frequency aliasing recovery algorithm for cost-constraint short-reach access networks
Authors: Fan Yunyun , Liu Xiaomin , Fu Mengfan , Xu Yicheng , Liu Qiaoya , Zeng Xiaobo , Yi Lilin , Hu Weisheng , Zhuge Qunbi
Published: August 2022

An asymmetric point-to-multipoint (PTMP) coherent architecture combined with a frequency aliasing recovery (FAR) algorithm is proposed for cost-constraint short-reach access networks. In this architecture, the uplink transmitters are simplified significantly with the uplink dual-polarization four-level pulse amplitude modulation (DP-PAM4) and downlink DP quadrature phase shift keying (DP-QPSK) asymmetric transmission design. Digital to analog converters (DACs) and radio frequency (RF) drivers are reduced by half, and in-phase and quadrature modulators (IQMs) are replaced by Mach-Zehnder modulators (MZMs), saving four MZ interferometers (MZIs). Furthermore, based on the asymmetric architecture, the FAR algorithm can recover signals from frequency aliasing caused by frequency offset (FO), even when half of the signal spectrum is aliased. This algorithm enables the asymmetric architecture to narrow down guard bands between subcarriers or even overlap the subcarriers, saving the receiver bandwidth at the aggregation/hub side. The performance of the asymmetric uplink DP-PAM4 transmission with the FAR algorithm is evaluated in both simualations and experiments. The effects of laser linewidths and IQ skew on the performance of the FAR algorithm are also analyzed. Simulation results show the algorithm can recover 16 Gbaud and 32 Gbaud signal from 8 GHz and 16 GHz aliasing, respectively. In the experiments with 10 km fiber transmissions, the FAR algorithm can recover 10 Gbaud signals from 5 GHz frequency aliasing, saving about 20.83% of the total receiver bandwidth in a 2-subcarrier system.
On-chip simultaneous measurement of humidity and temperature using cascaded photonic crystal microring resonators with error correction
Authors: Wang Jianfu , Chew Suen Xin , Song Shijie , Li Liwei , Nguyen Linh , Yi Xiaoke
Published: August 2022

We present the design, fabrication, and characterization of cascaded silicon-on-insulator photonic crystal microring resonators (PhCMRRs) for dual-parameter sensing based on a multiple resonances multiple modes (MRMM) technique. Benefitting from the slow-light effect, the engineered PhCMRRs exhibit unique optical field distributions with different sensitivities via the excitation of dielectric and air modes. The multiple resonances of two distinct modes offer new possibilities for enriching the sensing receptors with additional information about environmental changes while preserving all essential properties of traditional microring resonator based sensors. As a proof of concept, we demonstrate the feasibility of extracting humidity and temperature responses simultaneously with a single spectrum measurement by employing polymethyl methacrylate as the hydrophilic coating, obtaining a relative humidity (RH) sensitivity of 3.36 pm/%RH, 5.57 pm/%RH and a temperature sensitivity of 85.9 pm/°C, 67.1 pm/°C for selected dielectric mode and air mode, respectively. Moreover, the MRMM enriched data further forges the capability to perform mutual cancellation of the measurement error, which improves the sensing performance reflected by the coefficient of determination (R2-value), calculated as 0.97 and 0.99 for RH and temperature sensing results, respectively.
Mode-locking fiber laser with dual wavelength continuous-waves-induced resonant spectral sidebands
Authors: Li Wenxue , Qian Kai , Zhang Nan , He Fuzhen , Zhang Li , Qiu Da , Liu Song , Chen Shiqiang , Liu Changjin
Published: August 2022

The optical spectrum of mode-locked lasers can exhibit multiple peaks resulting from different mechanisms such as modulation instability, dispersive waves (DWs), and coupling between continuous waves (CWs) and DWs. The latter was recently reported in a mode-locked fiber laser. Here we show that besides the coupling between single-wavelength CW and DWs, dual-wavelength CWs can also couple with DWs giving rise to quite different spectral peaks in a mode-locked fiber laser. In particular, we find that the sidebands of one CW can couple with the other CW, leading to an enhancement of the CWs.
Shortwave infrared single-pixel spectral imaging based on a GSST phase-change metasurface
Authors: Tao Chenning , Zhu Huanzheng , Zhang Yusheng , Luo Si , Ling Qiang , Zhang Bin , Yu Zhangwei , Tao Xiao , Chen Daru , Li Qiang , Zheng Zhenrong
Published: August 2022

Shortwave infrared (SWIR) spectral imaging obtains spectral fingerprints corresponding to overtones of molecular vibrations invisible to conventional silicon-based imagers. However, SWIR imaging is challenged by the excessive cost of detectors. Single-pixel imaging based on compressive sensing can alleviate the problem but meanwhile presents new difficulties in spectral modulations, which are prerequisite in compressive sampling. In this work, we theoretically propose a SWIR single-pixel spectral imaging system with spectral modulations based on a Ge2Sb2Se4Te1 (GSST) phase-change metasurface. The transmittance spectra of the phase-change metasurface are tuned through wavelength shifts of multipole resonances by varying crystallinities of GSST, validated by the multipole decompositions and electromagnetic field distributions. The spectral modulations constituted by the transmittance spectra corresponding to the 11 phases of GSST are sufficient for the compressive sampling on the spectral domain of SWIR hyperspectral images, indicated by the reconstruction in false color and point spectra. Moreover, the feasibility of optimization on phase-change metasurface via coherence minimization is demonstrated through the designing of the GSST pillar height. The concept of spectral modulation with phase-change metasurface overcomes the static limitation in conventional modulators, whose integratable and reconfigurable features may pave the way for high-efficient, low-cost, and miniaturized computational imaging based on nanophotonics.
Two-dimensional displacement (bending) sensor based on cascaded Fabry–Perot interferometers fabricated in a seven-core fiber
Authors: Yang Aoao , Bao Weijia , Chen Fengyi , Li Xingyong , Wang Ruohui , Wang Yiping , Qiao Xueguang
Published: August 2022

We demonstrated a two-dimensional vector displacement (bending) sensor with high angular resolution based on Vernier effect generated by two cascaded Fabry–Perot interferometers (FPI) in a seven-core fiber (SCF). To form the FPI, plane-shaped refractive index modulations are fabricated as the reflection mirrors in the SCF using slit-beam shaping and femtosecond laser direct writing. Three pairs of cascaded FPIs are fabricated in the center core and the two non-diagonal edge cores of the SCF and applied to the vector displacement measurement. The proposed sensor exhibits high displacement sensitivity with significant direction dependence. The magnitude and direction of the fiber displacement can be obtained via monitoring the wavelength shifts. Moreover, the source fluctuations and the temperature cross-sensitivity can be referenced out by monitoring the bending-insensitive FPI of the center core.
Rare disease patients in India are rarely involved in international orphan drug trials
Authors: Chakraborty Monoswi , Choudhury Mohua Chakraborty , Chakraborty Indraneel , Saberwal Gayatri
Published: August 2022

We wished to determine whether rare diseases patients from India had been enrolled in international trials to develop novel orphan drugs. There are two reasons to be interested in this. (a) Different ethnic or racial groups may respond differently to a particular drug. India has huge ethnic diversity, and to exclude such participants is to severely limit the diversity of any trial; (b) Even if a suitable drug for a rare disease is available in India, it may be astronomically priced, in a country where most healthcare expenditure is out-of-pocket. We identified 63 orphan drugs, approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after 2008, for which there were 202 trials in the US government’s clinical trial registry, ClinicalTrials.gov. Only nine of these trials had run in India. These trials pertained to six drugs. The drugs were for the conditions B-cell Lymphoma, Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, Gaucher disease Type 1, Malaria, Myeloma and Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Further research is required as to why patients from India are not part of foreign drug development programmes for rare diseases. We then asked how many of the remaining 193 trials had recruited people of Indian origin, residing in other countries, and found that not more than 1% of these trials had done so. Also, only 11 of the 193 trials had recruited from other lower income countries. Participation from low-income countries in trials for orphan drugs is poor.
Breastfeeding outcomes in late preterm infants: A multi-centre prospective cohort study
Authors: Keir Amy , Rumbold Alice , Collins Carmel T. , McPhee Andrew J. , Varghese Jojy , Morris Scott , Sullivan Thomas R. , Leemaqz Shalem , Middleton Philippa , Makrides Maria , Best Karen P.
Published: August 2022

Objectives

To describe (1) infant feeding practices during initial hospitalisation and up to 6 months corrected age (CA) in infants born late preterm with mothers intending to breastfeed, (2) the impact of early feeding practices on hospital length of stay and (3) maternal and infant factors associated with duration of breastfeeding.

Methods

We conducted a prospective cohort study of infants born at 34+0 to 36+6 weeks gestational age during 2018–2020. Families were followed up until the infant reached 6 months of age (corrected for prematurity). Feeding practices during the birth hospitalisation, length of initial hospital stay, and the prevalence of exclusive or any breastfeeding at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months CA were examined. Associations between maternal and infant characteristics and breastfeeding at 6 weeks, 3 months and 6 months CA were assessed using multivariable logistic regression models.

Results

270 infants were enrolled, of these, 30% were multiple births. Overall, 78% of infants received only breastmilk as their first feed, and 83% received formula during the hospitalisation. Seventy-four per cent of infants were exclusively breastfed at discharge, 41% at 6 weeks CA, 35% at 3 months CA, and 29% at 6 months CA. The corresponding combined exclusive and partial breastfeeding rates (any breastfeeding) were 72%, 64%, and 53% of babies at 6 weeks CA, 3 months CA, and 6 months CA, respectively. The mean duration of hospitalisation was 2.9 days longer (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.31, 5.43 days) in infants who received any formula compared with those receiving only breastmilk (adjusted for GA, maternal age, multiple birth, site, and neonatal intensive care unit admission). In multivariable models, receipt of formula as the first milk feed was associated with a reduction in exclusive breastfeeding at 6 weeks CA (odds ratio = 0.22; 95% CI 0.09 to 0.53) and intention to breastfeed >6 months with an increase (odds ratio = 4.98; 95% CI 2.39 to 10.40). Intention to breastfeed >6 months remained an important predictor of exclusive breastfeeding at 3 and 6 months CA.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrates that long-term exclusive breastfeeding rates were low in a cohort of women intending to provide breastmilk to their late preterm infants, with approximately half providing any breastmilk at 6 months CA. Formula as the first milk feed and intention to breastfeed >6 months were significant predictors of breastfeeding duration. Improving breastfeeding outcomes may require strategies to support early lactation and a better understanding of the ongoing support needs of this population.
How can school help victims of violence? Evaluation of online training for European schools’ staff from a multidisciplinary approach
Authors: Greco Ana M. , González-Pío Carla , Bartolomé Marina , Pereda Noemí ,   on behalf of SAVE Project Team
Published: August 2022

The interventions used to prevent or treat violence against children, particularly sexual abuse, tend to only consider the target audience as their main source of data. We tested the effect of an online training for school staff members in Europe through three studies. In Study I, we interviewed 5 adult women (Mage = 49.2, SD = 5.81) who were victims of sexual abuse during childhood to assess what school could have done during that time to protect them. Through Study II, we collected data on 66 school staff members to assess feasibility (based on quantitative indicators) and to explore the changes they would make to their everyday practice due to the training course (using qualitative analysis). In Study III, we used network analysis to assess to what extent the actions described by school staff in Study II met the needs expressed by the victims in Study I. Findings of Study I revealed new proposals from the victims’ perspective, such as working with the perpetrators. Study II showed the feasibility of training and identified five types of action that school staff members will include in their everyday working dynamics due to the training: detection (e.g., Greater attention to relationships with peers), reporting (e.g., Now I know that suspecting a case of child abuse is enough to report), everyday practices (e.g., Introducing a calming space), changes at school level (e.g., Propose the training course to the school management team) or practices that could belong to more than one category (e.g., Greater awareness of the activities undertaken by the school). Study III provided evidence that some of these changes (e.g., reporting without looking for proof) were in line with some of the victims’ expectations (e.g., listen to the children). We also identified gaps that need to be further developed.
Learning Curve and Complications of Unilateral Biportal Endoscopy: Cumulative Sum and Risk-Adjusted Cumulative Sum Analysis
Authors: Xu Jinchao , Wang Dong , Liu Jidan , Zhu Chengyue , Bao Jianhang , Gao Wenshuo , Zhang Wei , Pan Hao
Published: August 2022

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the learning curve and complications of unilateral biportal endoscopy (UBE) in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) and lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS).Methods: This was a retrospective cohort analysis of 197 consecutive patients who received UBE unilateral laminotomy bilateral decompression (UBE-ULBD) or lumbar discectomy (UBE-LD) surgery, including 107 males and 90 females with an average age of 64.83 ± 14.29 years. Cumulative sum (CUSUM) and risk-adjusted cumulative sum analysis (RA-CUSUM) were used to evaluate the learning curve, with the occurrence of complications defined as surgical failure, and variables of different phase of the learning curve were compared.Results: The cutoff point of learning curve of UBE surgery was 54 cases according to CUSUM analysis. The learning curve of UBE-ULBD and UBE-LD were divided into 3 phases. The first cutoff points were 31 and 12 cases, and the second cutoff point were 67 and 32 cases respectively. With the progress of the learning curve, the operation time and postoperative hospital stays decreased. The visual analogue scale and Oswestry Disability Index at the last follow-up were significantly lower than that before surgery. The incidence of surgical failure was 6.11% and began to decrease after the 89th case based on RA-CUSUM analysis. The surgical failure rate decreased from 10.11% to 2.78 after the 89th case with significant different.Conclusion: UBE surgery is effective in the treatment of LDH and LSS with low incidence of complications. But a learning curve of at least 54 cases still required for mastering UBE surgery.
Monetary Policy, Portfolio Heterogeneity, and the College Wealth Gap
Authors: Guarnieri Alessandro
Published: August 2022

This paper investigates the relationship between monetary policy and wealth inequality by college education. I first highlight the extent to which college education drives salient differences in the portfolio composition of U.S. households, and then study how this, in turn, affects households’ exposure to asset price changes following an expansionary monetary shock. This paper contributes to an evolving body of literature exploring the role of portfolio choices and, in particular, stock market participation, on the distribution of capital gains following policy shocks. I show that accommodative monetary policy substantially exacerbates the existing wealth gap between college-educated households and households without a college degree. Monetary policy is thus limited, as it cannot stimulate economic activity without widening wealth inequality. 