bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating Workforce Mental Health and Well-Being: A Review of Assessments
Authors: Imboden Mary T. , Wolfe Emily , Evers Kerry , Ferrão Arline , Mochari-Greenberger Heidi , Johnson Sara , Kirsten Wolf , Seaverson Erin L. D.
Published: December 2023

The disruption, trauma, and stressors brought by COVID-19 have increased recognition and normalization of workforce mental health needs.

Objective

Given the importance of mental health and well-being assessments to employers' efforts to optimize employee health and well-being, this paper reviews mental health assessments that have utility in the workplace.

Data Source

A review of publicly available mental health and well-being assessments was conducted with a primary focus on burnout, general mental health and well-being, loneliness, psychological safety, resilience, and stress.

Inclusion Criteria

Assessments had to be validated for adult populations; available in English as a stand-alone tool; have utility in an employer setting; and not have a primary purpose of diagnosing a mental health condition.

Data Extraction

All assessments were reviewed by a minimum of two expert reviewers to document number of questions, subscales, fee structure, international use, translations available, scoring/reporting, respondent (ie, employee or organization), and the target of the assessment (ie, mental health domain and organizational or individual level assessments.

Data Synthesis & Results

Sixty-six assessments across the six focus areas met inclusion criteria, enabling employers to select assessments that meet their self-identified measurement needs.

Conclusion

This review provides employers with resources that can help them understand their workforce’s mental health and well-being status across multiple domains, which can serve as a needs assessment, facilitate strategic planning of mental health and well-being initiatives, and optimize evaluation efforts.
Convective heat transfer of electrically conducting MHD power law fluid through annular sector duct
Authors: Ahmed Farhan , Iqbal Mazhar , Mahmood Khalid
Published: December 2023

This study deals with the effect of Lorentz force on forced convection flow of electrically conducting magneto-hydrodynamic, (MHD) power law fluid through the annular sector duct by using finite volume method. In existence literature, hydro-thermal flow of MHD power law fluid within an annular sector duct has not been reported. The effect of Lorentz force on hydro-thermal power law fluid flow makes it very much novel in its own right. Here the main objective is to explore the effect of Lorentz force on hydro-thermal flow characteristics. The influence of uniform magnetic field is taken parallel to the radial direction. The effects of Hartman parameter, [Formula: see text] and power law index, [Formula: see text], corresponding to Lorentz force and power law fluid respectively, on the quantities of interest such as velocity and temperature profiles, friction factor and average Nusselt number [Formula: see text] are discussed for different geometric configuration parameters’ values of the annular sector duct. Computer code is developed and validated by comparing the results of limiting cases with the available literature. It has been observed that [Formula: see text] increases with the increase in [Formula: see text]. This trend is prevalent in both pseudo-plastic and dilatant fluids. The impact of [Formula: see text] is pronounced in the later case.
Lakes cannot burn and buried charcoals cannot fly: Reconciling lake- versus soil-based reconstructions of past forest dynamics
Authors: Minchev Todor S , Lafontaine Guillaume de
Published: December 2023

Fundamental understanding of paleoecological proxies is necessary when attempting to compare, complement, or contrast two or more methods, and lack thereof may lead to erroneous conclusions. This comment addresses three such misunderstandings found in a recently published paper by Paillard et al. regarding soil macrofossil charcoal analysis (SMCA) and its relationship to lacustrine sediment analysis. The aim is to correct some misinformation associated with the following three assertions: (1) Broadleaved tree species produce fewer charcoal fragments than coniferous species. Although coniferous stands are more fire-prone, experimental burning shows that species with denser wood, that is, broadleaves, produce greater amounts of charcoal under similar fire conditions. (2) Preservation of charcoal particles is poor at the referenced study site. Once buried in the mineral soil compartment, charcoal particles remain quite stable. As such, SMCA has revealed Late Pleistocene marginal stands of broadleaved species. (3) Underestimating the importance of range-edge dynamics on the results of SMCA reconstructions. SMCA offers a stand-scale historical reconstruction that has proven well-suited to study peripheral stands and to reflect the heterogeneity of a landscape mosaic. By attempting to reconcile the SMCA (in situ) and lake sediments (ex situ) narratives, Paillard et al. missed one key aspect of comparing complementary proxies: they show different aspects of the past.
Psychiatry trainee experience of working in a child and adolescent eating disorder program
Authors: McDonnell Collin J. , Hopkins Liza , Cheah Danny
Published: December 2023

Objectives

Eating disorders are serious psychiatric conditions that affect people of all ages. Many psychiatry trainees' first and only experience with eating disorders during training is their Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) rotation. This study aimed to explore the learning experience of psychiatry trainees working within an Eating Disorder Program (EDP) during their CAP rotation.

Methods

Fifteen trainees who participated in the EDP were recruited to complete an online survey and focus groups; a thematic analysis design was used to identify themes emerging from their responses.

Results

Themes emerged from the trainee learning experience of working in the EDP around what they found they learnt, what aided that process, what was difficult, and recommendations for future improvement.

Conclusions

This study provided insight into the trainee experience in an EDP as one example of how trainees can learn about eating disorders and one way that could inform future workforce and training initiatives.
Associations between the spread of COVID-19 and end-of-life circumstances in the non-infected population of Sweden
Authors: Sennfält Stefan , Hedman Christel , Fürst Carl Johan
Published: December 2023

Aims:

Since its outbreak in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has directly caused the premature death of millions. However, indirect consequences, such as social restrictions, have affected a far greater number. We explored the association between the spread of COVID-19 and end-of-life circumstances in the infected and non-infected population in Sweden.

Methods:

In this descriptive, population-based, observational study, we primarily used data from the Swedish National Registry of Palliative Care, which covers about 60% of all deaths in Sweden. We explored the association between the spread of COVID-19 and place of death, people present at death and end-of-life symptoms using regression analyses.

Results:

The study included 190,291 individuals who died in any region of Sweden from 1 January 2019 to 30 June 2022, of which 10,646 were COVID-19 cases. Correlated to the temporal and geographical spread of COVID-19, there was a greater proportion of individuals dying without the presence of their next-of-kin, and consequently more people dying alone, both in those with and without COVID-19. There was a similar pattern of a greater proportion of deaths taking place in nursing homes and in the individual’s own home. However, we did not find substantial associations to reported symptoms, such as anxiety or confusion.

Conclusions:

This study shows the profound effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on end-of-life circumstances in both the infected and non-infected population in Sweden. As we prepare for future pandemics, there is a need to develop strategies to minimise the impact on non-infected individuals.
Scoping Review of the Definitions Used to Describe and Understand Harmful Sexual Behaviors in Children and Young People
Authors: Hunt Gabrielle R. , Higgins Daryl J. , Willis Megan L. , Harris Lottie
Published: December 2023

There is a growing body of evidence that adolescents, and other children, are responsible for a significant proportion of sexual abuse against children. However, there are substantial differences in how this phenomenon is defined and conceptualized between and within sectors. This scoping review explored the current definitions of harmful sexual behaviors (HSB), and other similar terms, used across a range of stakeholder groups. In all, 141 papers were reviewed from both empirical and gray literature sources, including key policy and practice documents. Included papers needed to list a clear definition for the behavior of interest. There was disagreement and inconsistency across the included papers in their conceptualization of harmful, abusive, or problematic sexual behavior (PSB) in children and adolescents. Although the term HSB has been adopted as an umbrella term or continuum in many policy, practice, and research settings, there is a large variance in behaviors, treatment needs, etiology, and harms present across different types of sexual behavior. Relying solely on one term to describe a wide range of sexual behaviors in children and young people may limit the understanding of this issue and imply similarities between groups that are not present. We suggest that clearly defined subsets of HSB, such as sexual abuse, technology-assisted HSB, and PSB, may give more context to the behavior of concern and may be helpful in informing further research, prevention, and best practice approaches.
Evaluation of the departmental inter-rater reliability when scoring thyroid nodules according to the British Thyroid Association Ultrasound-classification model: Is there significant disagreement?
Authors: Rtam Nabil
Published: December 2023

Introduction:

The British Thyroid Association Ultrasound-classification is a risk stratification model which grades thyroid nodules in U2–5 based on their sonographic appearance. Existence of variability between the ultrasound operators when U-scoring is reported in the literature with some evidence found in the author’s department. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is significant disagreement in the department and identify potential reasons for variability.

Methods:

Eight operators, radiologists and sonographers, were recruited to grade 33 TNs and answer a tick box questionnaire using the British Thyroid Association lexicon. The inter-operator variability for the U-categories, indication for fine-needle aspiration biopsy and ultrasound features was assessed using Fleiss’ kappa and Gwet-AC1. The operators’ accuracy was measured against the most experienced operator in the department using Cohen’s kappa and percentage agreement.

Results:

Fair agreement (Fleiss’ K = 0.21) was obtained between the participants when U-scoring (U2–5). Fair-to-moderate agreement was noted between sonographers ( K = 0.40). Significant variability was demonstrated between radiologists ( p > 0.05). Indication for fine-needle aspiration biopsy reached fair to almost substantial agreement (radiologists’ AC1 = 0.34, sonographers’ AC1 = 0.58, overall AC1 = 0.41). No significant variability measured for echogenicity ( K = 0.29), composition ( K = 0.33), shape ( K = 0.58), margin ( K = 0.45), halo ( K = 0.34) and vascularity ( K = 0.44). Accuracy reached fair agreement (mean Cohen’s K = 0.29) and moderate agreement (mean AC1 = 0.53) for the U-categories and fine-needle aspiration biopsy, respectively. Radiologists demonstrated lower accuracy.

Conclusion:

No significant inter-rater variability in U-scoring or recommending fine-needle aspiration biopsy was demonstrated between all the operators in the department. Radiologists showed significant variability in U-scoring and lower accuracy. Reliability and accuracy could be improved by addressing those problematic categories and features identified with this study.
Sonographic anatomy and technique to image the plantar digital nerves and aid identification of a Morton’s neuroma
Authors: Fenech Michelle
Published: December 2023

Introduction:

The anatomy of the forefoot is complex, and the sonographic assessment to image the plantar digital nerves and exclude, diagnose or discriminate between a Morton’s neuroma and intermetatarsal bursitis can be challenging.

Topic description and discussion:

A good appreciation of the sonographic anatomy, technique, normal and abnormal appearances is required to undertake a sonographic assessment of the forefoot and its interspaces, particularly the plantar digital nerves. This is unpacked in this paper with associated pictorial aids. Muscles, tendons, and ligaments of the interspaces and the nearby metatarsophalangeal joints and their associated soft-tissue structures are helpful sonographic landmarks to guide imaging and assessment of the common and proper plantar digital nerves and the intermetatarsal bursa. These need to be appreciated from both dorsal and plantar sonographic approaches, in both short- and long-axis imaging planes.

Conclusion:

Improved understanding of the anatomy and sonographic appearances of the interspace structures can enhance the sonographic assessment of the forefoot and improve diagnosis of a Morton’s neuroma and/or intermetatarsal bursitis when present to guide patient management.
Empathy Trends in American Youth Between 1979 and 2018: An Update
Authors: Konrath Sara , Martingano Alison Jane , Davis Mark , Breithaupt Fritz
Published: December 2023

Previous research has found declining dispositional empathy among American youth from 1979 to 2009. We update these trends until 2018, using three datasets. Study 1 presents a cross-temporal meta-analysis of undergraduates’ empathy (Interpersonal Reactivity Index), finding significant cubic trends over time: perspective taking (PT) and empathic concern (EC) both increased since 2009. Study 2 conceptually replicated these findings using nationally representative datasets, also showing increasing PT (Study 2a: American Freshman Survey) and EC (Study 2b: Monitoring the Future Survey) since 2009. We include economic, interpersonal, and worldview covariates to test for potential explanations, finding evidence that empathy trends may be related to recent changes in interpersonal dynamics.
Association between vertebral artery dominance and basilar artery curvature in migraineurs: an anatomical magnetic resonance imaging study
Authors: Otu Ebru , Şen Selva , Örmeci Tuğrul , Yüzbaşıoğlu Neslihan
Published: December 2023

Background and Purposes

Numerous studies demonstrate a link between cerebrovascular alterations and migraine pathogenesis. We investigated the association between migraine and vertebral artery dominance (VAD), basilar artery (BA) curvature, and elongation.

Materials and Methods

This cross-sectional MRI study included 74 migraine patients and 74 control subjects aged between 18 and 55 years. Diameters of the intracranial part of the vertebral artery (VA) and BA, height of the BA bifurcation, and total lateral displacement of the BA were measured. In addition, we investigated the directional relationship between VAD and BA curvature.

Results

There were no statistically significant differences between the groups regarding VA and BA diameters and total lateral displacement of the BA. The height of the BA bifurcation was found to be significantly higher in migraine patients compared to controls ( p = 0.002). The left-side VAD was more frequent in migraine patients compared to control subjects (60.8% (45/74) vs 41.9% (31/74), p = 0.001). In migraine patients, particularly those with aura (MwA) patients, with left-side VAD, the rate of BA displacement to the right side is significantly higher than those with right-side VAD or non-VAD ( p = 0.022). Also, we found that total lateral displacement of the BA is correlated with VA asymmetry in patients with MwA (r = 0.538, p = 0.007).

Conclusion

VAD and its opposite-directional relationship with the lateral displacement of the BA may be associated with migraine pathophysiology. Together with aging, this association may contribute to changes in the vertebrobasilar system (VBS) geometry which may result in increased risk for posterior circulation infarction (PCI) in migraineurs.
Gendered Organizations as Heterosexualized Organizations: The Case of Housing, Roommate, and Visitation Policies at Christian Colleges and Universities
Authors: Coley Jonathan S. , Morrison Daniel R. , Taylor Lexie L. , Schachle-Gordon Jessica L. , Gomez Gabby
Published: December 2023

Gendered organization theory highlights the gendered character of organizations. Recent extensions of gendered organization theory show that gendered organizations are simultaneously racialized, cisgendered, and classed. However, prominent studies in this literature downplay the importance of sexuality to gendered organizations. Building on recent critiques of gendered organization theory, and innovating with the concept of heterosexualized organizations, the authors assess whether some Christian colleges and universities’ heteronormative belief that all students are (or should be) heterosexual is linked to their decision to maintain gendered housing, roommate, and visitation policies. Through logistic regression analyses of residence life policies across 609 Christian colleges and universities, the authors find that schools that maintain bans on so-called homosexual behavior tend to also maintain gendered residence life policies. This suggests that many gendered organizations are also heterosexualized organizations. Our study holds important implications for theories of organizational inequalities, as well as for research on gender, sexuality, and higher education.
Assessment of stress in caregivers of acutely hospitalized elderly and its relation to hospital outcomes
Authors: Mohamed Enas R. , Abou-Hashim Rania M. , Shaltoot Heba
Published: December 2023

Background

It is important to understand and identify the physical and emotional strain among caregivers of the elderly as caregivers may have much more strain and burden than non-caregivers, which subsequently may affect their well-being and the clinical outcome of the elderly they are caring for.

Methods

To assess caregiver stress and its effect on hospital outcomes at the geriatric department in Ain Shams University Hospitals, a cross-sectional study was done that included adults, aged ≥ 60 years, hospitalized for treatment of acute medical conditions and their accompanied caregivers where the patients were subjected to complete comprehensive geriatric assessment while cares givers’ stress was assessed using Caregiver Self-Assessment Questionnaire.

Results

Many elderly were found to need caregivers and the need increased with age as well as multiple comorbidities especially dementia, delirium, and urinary incontinence. Stress prevalence among caregivers is high (85%) and it increases with the age of the patients and the patient having several comorbidities such as cancer, neurological diseases, and sleep problems. Stress was also associated with high mortality of patients.

Conclusion

As there is an increase in the elderly population with a subsequent increase in the need for caregivers who suffer from caregiver stress, more studies are needed in the future to highlight this problem and find ways to relieve caregivers’ stress.
Pox and Proximities
Authors: Farhan Sara
Published: December 2023

This article conceptualizes Iraq's medical diplomatic missions as inter-Asian linkages that rested on solidarity movements, professional networks, and the commitments of medical experts. It traces the machinations of Iraq's medical diplomacy, specifically the agendas and processes of advancing health care as humanitarian aid at a time when social unrest and outbreaks of infectious diseases led to mass inoculation and biosurveillance programs supported by regional and international medical missions. The emergence of semi-trained inoculators coupled with efforts to expand medical education faculties prompted the increase of medical labor production for both domestic and diplomatic purposes. Iraq's Cold War medical diplomacy was prismatic, multilateral and multidirectional. The dispensation and reception of biological protection, scientific technologies, and medical labor transformed Iraq into a site of biomedical knowledge production.
Retirement Consumption and Pension Design
Authors: Kolsrud Jonas , Landais Camille , Reck Daniel , Spinnewijn Johannes
Published: December 2023

This paper analyzes consumption to evaluate the distributional effects of pension reforms. Using Swedish administrative data, we show that on average, workers who retire earlier consume less while retired and experience larger drops in consumption around retirement. Interpreted via a theoretical model, these findings imply that reforms incentivizing later retirement incur a substantial consumption smoothing cost. Turning to other features of pension policy, we find that reforms that redistribute based on early-career labor supply would have opposite-signed redistributive effects, while differentiating on wealth may help to target pension benefits toward those who are vulnerable to larger drops in consumption around retirement. (JEL E21, G51, H23, H55, J22, J26)
Morphometric study of the lumbar vertebrae in dried anatomical collections
Authors: Ashish Sharad , Kalluraya P. , Pai Mangala , Murlimanju B.V. , Rao Y. , Prabhu Latha , Agrawal Amit
Published: December 2023

Background The objective of this anatomical study was to perform the morphometry of dried lumbar vertebrae in human cadavers. Methods This study utilized 200 adult human cadaveric dried lumbar vertebrae. The digital Vernier calipers was used to perform the measurements. The height, antero-posterior length, transverse length of the body of the vertebrae, interpedicular distance at the lateral ends, lamina length, height and thickness, superior and inferior articular facet height and width, mid sagittal and transverse diameter of vertebral foramen, height, width and thickness of the pars inter-articularis were measured. Results The vertebral body’s anteroposterior length was more at the lower border than at the superior border (p < 0.01). The length of lamina was higher over the right in comparison to the left (p < 0.001). The height of lamina, width of inferior articular facet, diameter of lateral recess and thickness of pars inter-articularis were greater for the left sided specimens (p < 0.01). The statistical significance was not observed for the comparison of the remaining parameters (p > 0.05). Conclusion This anatomical study offered several dimensions of lumbar vertebrae, which are essential in the surgical practice. The implants at the lumbar vertebrae need to be manufactured based on the anatomical dimensions of that particular sample population.
Advanced materials foresight: research and innovation indicators related to advanced and smart nanomaterials
Authors: Farcal Lucian , Munoz Pineiro Amalia , Riego Sintes Juan , Rauscher Hubert , Rasmussen Kirsten
Published: December 2023

Background: Advanced materials are most likely to bring future economic, environmental and social benefits. At the same time, they may pose challenges regarding their safety and sustainability along the entire lifecycle. This needs to be timely addressed by the stakeholders (industry, research, policy, funding and regulatory bodies). As part of a larger foresight project, this study aimed to identify areas of scientific research and technological development related to advanced materials, in particular advanced nanomaterials and the sub-group of smart nanomaterials. The study identified and collected data to build relevant research and innovation indicators and analyse trends, impact and other implications. Methods: This study consisted of an iterative process including a documentation phase followed by the identification, description and development of a set of core research and innovation indicators regarding scientific publications, EU projects and patents. The data was extracted mainly from SCOPUS, CORDIS and PATSTAT databases using a predefined search string that included representative keywords. The trends, distributions and other aspects reflected in the final version of the indicators were analysed, e.g. the number of items in a period of time, geographical distribution, organisations involved, categories of journals, funding programmes, costs and technology areas. Results: Generally, for smart nanomaterials the data used represent around 3.5% of the advanced nanomaterials data, while for each field analysed, they represent 4.4% for publications, 13% for projects and 1.1% for patents. The study shows current trends for advanced nanomaterials at a top-level information that can be further extended with sub-indicators. Generally, the results indicated a significant growth in research into advanced nanomaterials, including smart nanomaterials, in the last decade, leading to an increased availability of information. Conclusion: These indicators identify trends regarding scientific and technological achievements and represent an important element when examining possible impacts on society and policy implications associated to these areas.
A systematic review of trends in photobiomodulation in dentistry between 2018 and 2022: advances and investigative agenda
Authors: Rodriguez Salazar David Yeret , Málaga Rivera Jimmy Alain , Laynes Effio José Edinson , Valencia-Arias Alejandro
Published: December 2023

Background Photobiomodulation (PBM) involves laser therapy utilized in medical sciences to modulate biological processes acting as a palliative and immune response-enhancing treatment. This study conducts a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to explore current trends in PBM-related scientific production, encompassing publications, citations, impact, keywords and clusters. Additionally, it aims to predict future research trends in this domain. Methods The data for this quantitative and qualitative bibliometric analysis were obtained from 608 scientific documents retrieved in November 2022, with 123 sourced from Web of Science and 485 from Scopus, Utilizing Excel, the data was processed in Excel to extract essencial information. Productivity and impact were evaluated for eligibility, and VOSviewer aided in determining associativity for the bibliometric analysis. Results The findings of this study demostrate that the scientific production related to PBM adheres to a growth power law, exhibiting characteristics of both exponential and linear phases. Notably, recent research trends emphasize critical concepts such as laser therapy, orthodontics, and dental pulp stem cells. Particularly significant is the burgeoning interest in utilizing PBM within dentistry as a complementary alternative to existing protocols. Conclusions PBM stands as a promising laser therapy within medical applications. Through a detailed bibliometric analysis, this study underscores the increasing significance of PBM, especially within the realm of dental treatments. These insights offer a glimpse into the evolving landscape of PBM research and provide valuable guidance for potential future directions of study.
Correlation analysis of solar flux absolute measurements at 161 and 245 MHz
Authors: Setov Artem , Kushnarev Dmitriy
Published: December 2023

Solar emission in meter waves originates from upper layers of the solar corona. We present absolute measurements of solar flux from Irkutsk Incoherent Scatter Radar (161 MHz frequency) and Learmonth Observatory (245 MHz frequency). We perform correlation analysis to investigate the relation between solar flux values at different frequencies. Background emission of the quiet Sun is within the expected limits. We examine the behavior of background and slowly-varying emission components during a solar cycle. By comparing the Pearson correlation coefficient with the Spearman rank correlation coefficient, we have found that the dependence of the meter flux on the F10.7 index is non-linear. The correlation between solar flux measurements at 161 and 245 MHz appeared to be lower than that with the F10.7 index. Analysis of daily correlation and autocorrelation shows a diurnal variation that introduces an error into the measurements.
Erratum on “Demonstrations and Price Competition in New Product Release”
Authors: Chen Zhiqiang , Xu Shengshuo , Zhou Fangkezi , Li Yongjun
Published: December 2023

This paper was accepted by Dmitri Kuksov, marketing.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.03030 .
Autogenous Dental Transplantation: Case Series
Authors: Dos Santos Mateus Veppo , Vieira Frujeri Maria de Lourdes , Oliveira Laura Fagundes , Oliveira Laura Melo , Paixão Mariana Guimarães , Santana Santos Rita De Cássia
Published: December 2023

Autogenous dental transplantation is defined as the transfer of a tooth to a recipient site of the same individual, whether it is a recently extracted site or surgically prepared bed. This procedure has proven to be a good and cost-effective alternative for replacing teeth with indications for extraction. Depending on the case, it is possible to maintain the vitality of the tooth and the periodontal ligament, ensuring proprioception and physiological dental mobility. The aim of the study is to describe a series of clinical case reports of autogenous dental transplants, in addition to discussing the results obtained based on current literature. The study features with a series of autogenous dental transplant cases conducted at Euro American University Center, where the indication for such a procedure was the extensive coronal destruction of the first molars in young patients. The surgeries were performed in atraumatic manner using a single-stage technique and semi-rigid splinting with occlusive sutures using 4-0 nylon thread. The results demonstrate significant success in the postoperative period, with the absence of symptoms and maintenance of pulp vitality and periodontal ligament. Based on the studies and case reports, it was observed that transplantation remains a safe and economically viable alternative for the replacement of prematurely lost teeth, within its indications and limitations.
Applications of Guar gum 6-amino Caproic acid (GACA) Resin for Extraction of Cobalt and Zinc Metal Ions from References Waste Water Using Batch Method
Authors: Bhati Punam Singh , Singh Ishwar , Singh Aresh Vikram
Published: December 2023

Natural Guar gum based resin which containing 6-amino caproic acid as a functional group has been synthesized. This modified ion exchange resin was used for removal of toxic metal ions from synthetic waste water using the principle of ion exchange mechanism. GACA resin was used for removal of Zn (II) and Co (II) metal ions from aqueous solution containing these metal ions. Zn (II) ion show maximum adsorption and Kd value at pH 5 while Co (II) show at pH 6. Zn (II) show maximum adsorption on GACA resin is 81.34% and for Co (II) is 73.3% which is good result.
Utilization of Granular Activated Carbon for Sustainable Environmental Contaminants Remediation
Authors: Meshram Yogita K. , Khope Ram U. , Deshmukh Reshal A.
Published: December 2023

An environment eco-friendly adsorbents such as filtrasorb-816 and filtrasorb-820 were used in this work. For the evaluation of the adsorption of manganese from the aqueous phase, granular activated carbons were used in conjunction with organic ligands such as 3,5-Dinitrobenzoic acid. The phenomenon of adsorption characteristics of manganese in an aqueous phase was studied at a constant temperature of 25 ±1℃ C and pH 5. Granular activated carbons were characterized by SEM analysis. Experimental data were tested by using Pseudo first and Pseudo second-order kinetic models. From the results, it was investigated that Pesudo second-order data is more favorable than the pseudo-first-order for this system. The Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherms models were used to describe the equilibrium characteristics of adsorption of Mn2+ onto activated carbon but the R2 value of the Langmuir isotherm model was higher than other isotherms and hence it is the best fit. From this study, it was found that F-820 has more adsorption capacity to scavenge Mn2+ than F-816 from aqueous phase
Evaluation of Performance Indicators for Foodservice Operations in Senior Welfare Centers: Application of the Balanced Scorecard
Authors: Gang Gyoungok
Published: December 2023

This research uses the Balanced Scorecard framework to create comprehensive performance indicators for foodservice programs in senior welfare centers. The study evaluates these programs in South Korean senior welfare centers from financial, customer, learning and growth, and internal business process perspectives. Thirty-five evaluation indicators were developed and validated through the Delphi study used for the survey study nationwide, and 115 were collected. Thirty elderly welfare centers participated in on-site evaluation by the expert. The results of the survey study, 81.4, indicate overall favorable performance, with social workers scoring slightly lower than dietitians and directors. On-site evaluations showed better performance, 84.4, compared to the survey study. The learning and growth perspective showed a significantly higher score on on-site evaluation, and the score was 20.9, which was 3.1 points higher than 17.8 from the survey study (p<0.001). However, there is room for improvement, including adopting nutrition management programs, defining roles for dietitians and cooks, enhancing food sanitation regulations, and providing financial support. Additional recommendations involve recruiting nutrition personnel, collaborating with local governments, and integrating centers for children’s foodservice management at the local level. This research provides valuable insights into enhancing the foodservice in elderly welfare centers to improve the nutrition and well-being of the elderly population.
Mutagenicity and Genotoxicity of Calcium from Jeju Lava Seawater
Authors: Kim Yeong Eun , Park Hee Jung
Published: December 2023

Volcanic seawater has been naturally filtered and purified by volcanic rock layers. It contains abundant minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and iron. This study investigated the genotoxicity of calcium from Jeju lava seawater (CJLS). We performed bacterial reverse mutation assay, chromosomal aberration assay, and mammalian micronucleus test at up to 5,000 mg/plate concentrations with or without metabolic activation to determine the CJLS genetic toxicity. None of these tests showed any mutagenic potential. The bacterial reverse mutation assay showed that the CJLS did not induce mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium TA98, TA100, TA1535, TA1537, and Escherichia coli WP2uvrA with or without metabolic activation of the S9 mixture. The oral administration of CJLS also did not significantly increase the number of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes or the mean ratio of polychromatic to total erythrocytes. Additionally, CJLS did not cause a significant chromosomal aberration in CHL cells in the presence or absence of S9 activation. Therefore, CJLS could be considered as a reliable and safe functional food ingredient.
Effect of Refrigerated Delivery Environment on Quality of Salmon
Authors: Lee Yu-Jin , Yi Hye-Yoon , Hyun Ji-Yong , Chun Ji-Yeon
Published: December 2023

This study was conducted to determine seafood product quality change in the fresh food cold chain logistics. Salmon was stored in three different simulated refrigerated distribution environments according to door opening time (0, 20, and 60 s) every 10 min before the samples’ qualities were evaluated. The temperature inside the refrigerator generally rose from the bottom to the top, and it was possible to confirm the rapid change in temperature in the order of A, B, and C as the door opening time increased. It was observed that the freshness of salmon decreased as the door opening time increased through the evaluation of various food qualities of salmon, such as its appearance, color, pH, VBN, moisture content, hardness, general bacteria, and E. coli bacteria. It was confirmed that fresh food quality is strongly associated with delivery temperature, while cold-chain delivery vehicles must reduce heat exposure time during delivery.
Effects of Storage Conditions on Shelf Stability of Freeze-dried Silkworm
Authors: Ye Sang-Jin , Jung Dong-Jin , Kim Min-Seok , Baik Moo-Yeol
Published: December 2023

Silkworms have been developed for food and medicinal purposes, and several silkworm products are commercially available. However, there has been no research on their shelf stability. This study investigated the shelf stability of freeze-dried silkworms during storage at various temperature and humidity conditions, using three lipid oxidation indicators: peroxide, acid, and TBA value. The higher the temperature and relative humidity are, the more significant the three lipid oxidation indicators increase. Among these indicators, the TBA and peroxide values show the highest temperature dependence and humidity dependence, respectively. This study could contribute to the standardization of the shelf life of products made from freeze-dried silkworms.
Application of Baromi 2 Rice Flour on Baguette and Its Physicochemical Analysis
Authors: Kim Ga Hyeon , Kim Sung Huo , Park Sung Hoon
Published: December 2023

This study aimed to apply rice flour Baromi 2 (B2) varieties developed by the Rural Development Administration in low-sugar baguette products. To achieve this, baguettes were produced using B2 at 10%, 20%, and 30% levels. As the content of B2 increased, the mixing time decreased, and the dough became sticky. Additionally, the dough fermentation ability was reduced. The finished products showed no significant difference in the external structure with varying B2 contents. However, the crust color containing B2 was darker than that of the control. In color value, the L* value decreased as the amount of added B2 increased, while the a* value and b* value increased. Furthermore, the sensory evaluation revealed that baguettes with a higher amount of B2 had a softer crumb and a crunchy crust, and with 20% substituted for B2, the sample obtained the highest score. From these results, it has been determined that B2 can substitute for up to 20% of wheat flour in bakery products.
Laser cooling ytterbium doped silica by 67 K from ambient temperature
Authors: Topper Brian , Kuhn Stefan , Neumann Alexander , Albrecht Alexander R. , Flores Angel S. , Hässner Denny , Hein Sigrun , Hupel Christian , Nold Johannes , Haarlammert Nicoletta , Schreiber Thomas , Sheik-Bahae Mansoor , Mafi Arash
Published: December 2023

Laser cooling of a 5 cm long, 1 mm diameter ytterbium doped (6.56×1025 ions/m3) silica rod by 67 K from room temperature was achieved. For the pump source, a 100 W level ytterbium fiber amplifier was constructed along with a 1032 nm fiber Bragg grating seed laser. Experiments were done in vacuum and monitored with the non-contact differential luminescence thermometry method. Direct measurements of the absorption spectrum as a function of temperature were made, to avoid any possible ambiguities from site-selectivity and deviations from McCumber theory at low temperature. This allowed direct computation of the cooling efficiency versus temperature at the pump wavelength, permitting an estimated heat lift of 1.42 W/m as the sample cooled from ambient temperature to an absolute temperature of 229 K.
Effective focal spot measurement method for X-ray source based on the dynamic translation of a light barrier
Authors: Yang Ping , Duan Jigang , Zhao Yunsong , Zhao Xing
Published: December 2023

The accuracy of measuring the effective focal spot of the X-ray source directly affects the spatial resolution of computed tomography (CT) reconstructed images. This study proposes what we believe to be a novel approach to measure the effective focal spot based on the dynamic translation of light barrier using an accessible measuring device. This method discretizes the effective focal spot of the X-ray source into multiple subfocal spots with varying intensities and establishes a nonlinear model between the effective focal spot and measurement data. Measurement data are obtained by moving the light barrier to different positions using the electric displacement stage. The shape, size, and intensity distribution of the effective focal spot are determined by calculating the normalized weighting coefficients for each subfocal spot from measurement data. The measurement device is simple and easy to operate. Additionally, the obtained effective focal spot exhibits high accuracy, and a higher spatial resolution can be realized by reconstructing the CT images using the measured focal spot information. Numerical and real experiments validate the proposed method.
Mechanism of noise-like pulse in all-normal dispersion all-fiber laser based on nonlinear polarization rotation
Authors: Lang Jiajing , Lv Chenyue , Lu Baole , Bai Jintao
Published: December 2023

We investigate the mechanism of changing the polarization state to generate noise-like pulses (NLPs) in the all-normal dispersion (ANDi) all-fiber laser based on nonlinear polarization rotation (NPR). Numerical simulations show that the intracavity positive and negative feedback states change with the polarization state, the peak power of the pulse will be clamped when the negative feedback comes into play, thus facilitating the transition from dissipative soliton (DS) to NLP. Experimentally, the observation of wavelength switching and transition between DS and NLP by simply adjusting the polarization state matches the numerical simulation results. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the mechanism for generating NLP by changing the intracavity polarization state in ANDi all-fiber lasers based on NPR and offers new possibilities for pulse-switchable light sources.
Effects of cavity nonlinearities and linear losses on silicon microring-based reservoir computing
Authors: Giron Castro Bernard J. , Peucheret Christophe , Zibar Darko , Da Ros Francesco
Published: December 2023

Microring resonators (MRRs) are promising devices for time-delay photonic reservoir computing, but the impact of the different physical effects taking place in the MRRs on the reservoir computing performance is yet to be fully understood. We numerically analyze the impact of linear losses as well as thermo-optic and free-carrier effects relaxation times on the prediction error of the time-series task NARMA-10. We demonstrate the existence of three regions, defined by the input power and the frequency detuning between the optical source and the microring resonance, that reveal the cavity transition from linear to nonlinear regimes. One of these regions offers very low error in time-series prediction under relatively low input power and number of nodes while the other regions either lack nonlinearity or become unstable. This study provides insight into the design of the MRR and the optimization of its physical properties for improving the prediction performance of time-delay reservoir computing.
Stability improvement of 40Ca+ optical clock by using a transportable ultra-stable cavity
Authors: Hao Yanmei , Hu Ruming , Zhang Baolin , Zeng Mengyan , Zhang Huaqing , Ma Zixiao , Huang Yao , Chen Qunfeng , Gao Kelin , Guan Hua
Published: December 2023

The instability of the clock laser is one of the primary factors limiting the instability of the optical clocks. We present an ultra-stable clock laser based on a 30-cm-long transportable cavity with an instability of ∼3 × 10−16 at 1 s–100 s. The cavity is fixed by invar poles in three orthogonal directions to restrict the displacement, meeting the requirements of transportability and low vibration sensitivity. By applying the ultra-stable laser to a transportable 40Ca+ optical clock with a systematic uncertainty of 4.8 × 10−18 and using the real-time feedback algorithm to compensate the linear shift of the clock laser, the short-term stability of the transportable 40Ca+ optical clock has been greatly improved from 4.0×10−15/τ/s to 1.16×10−15/τ/s, measured at ∼100 s–1000 s of averaging time, enriching its applications in metrology, optical frequency comparison, and time keeping.
Low-power laser image enhancement via deep feature recovery for HDR 3D measurement
Authors: Niu Xingman , Li Fuqian , Zuo Chenglin , Zhang Qican , Wang Yajun
Published: December 2023

Laser 3D measurement has gained widespread applications in industrial metrology . Still, it is usually limited by surfaces with high dynamic range (HDR) or the colorful surface texture of measured surfaces, such as metal and black industrial parts. Currently, conventional methods generally work with relatively strong-power laser intensities, which could potentially damage the sample or induce eye-safety concerns. For deep-learning-based methods, due to the different reflectivity of the measured surfaces, the HDR problem may require cumbersome adjustment of laser intensity in order to acquire enough training data. Even so, the problem of inaccurate ground truth may occur. To address these issues, this paper proposes the deep feature recovery (DFR) strategy to enhance low-light laser stripe images for achieving HDR 3D reconstruction with low cost, high robustness, and eye safety. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt to tackle the challenge of high measurement costs associated with measuring HDR surfaces in laser 3D measurement. In learning the features of low-power laser images, the proposed strategy has a superior generalization ability and is insensitive to different low laser powers and variant surface reflectivity. To verify this point, we specially design the experiments by training the network merely using the diffusely reflective masks (DRM951) and testing the performance using diffusely reflective masks, metal surfaces, black industrial parts (contained in the constructed datasets DRO690, MO191, and BO107) and their hybrid scenes. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed DFR strategy has good performances on robustness by testing different measurement scenes. For variously reflective surfaces, such as diffusely reflective surfaces, metal surfaces, and black parts surfaces, the reconstructed 3D shapes all have a similar quality to the reference method.
Single-image phase retrieval for off-the-shelf Zernike phase-contrast microscopes
Authors: Kurata Rikimaru , Toda Keiichiro , Ishigane Genki , Naruse Makoto , Horisaki Ryoichi , Ideguchi Takuro
Published: December 2023

Quantitative phase imaging (QPI), such as digital holography, is considered a promising tool in the field of life science due to its noninvasive and quantitative visualization capabilities without the need for fluorescence labeling. However, the popularity of QPI systems is limited due to the cost and complexity of their hardware. In contrast, Zernike phase-contrast microscopy (ZPM) has been widely used in practical scenarios but has not been categorized as QPI, owing to halo and shade-off artifacts and the weak phase condition. Here, we present a single-image phase retrieval method for ZPM that addresses these issues without requiring hardware modifications. By employing a rigorous physical model of ZPM and a gradient descent algorithm for its inversion, we achieve single-shot QPI with an off-the-shelf ZPM system. Our approach is validated in simulations and experiments, demonstrating QPI of a polymer microbead and biological cells. The quantitative nature of our method for single-cell imaging is confirmed through comparisons with observations from an established QPI technique conducted through digital holography. This study paves the way for transforming non-QPI ZPM systems into QPI systems.