bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative study of composite single crystal and polycrystalline YAG:Ce phosphors for laser-based lighting applications
Authors: Chakraborty M , Hasan Md Mahmudul , Jadwisienczak W M , Rahman F
Published: February 2024

YAG:Ce, a widely employed phosphor for LED wavelength conversion applications, comes in different forms, including polycrystal (powder), single crystal, and composite single crystal varieties. We investigated Epoch NeoTM, a composite single crystal incorporating Al2O3 as a heat distribution and optical guiding material embedded within its luminescent core. The properties of Epoch Neo were analyzed and compared with those of its polycrystal counterparts in this paper. Multiple characterization techniques like chromaticity points, color temperature, phosphor temperature, and speckle pattern were employed to study the effect of variable laser input power on both polycrystal powder and composite single crystal of YAG:Ce. It was found that under the influence of pumping blue laser high input optical power the composite single crystal phosphor’s performance was significantly better compared to that of the polycrystal.
Design and development of speckle-free high-power laser-driven phosphor converted compact automotive headlamp module
Authors: Kumar Virendra , Sharma Parag , Mehta Dalip Singh
Published: February 2024

The applicability of diode-lasers in automobile headlights is an advanced innovation for the automobile illumination industry due to the extraordinary properties of laser light over conventional light sources, such as high brightness, wide colour gamut, high directionality, low energy consumptions and long lifetime. Lasers are highly coherent in nature, so they encounter the problem of unwanted speckles and spurious fringes and always require a high level of opto-thermal engineering along with speckle reduction mechanisms for high lumen laser applications. Targeting such challenges, in this paper, we report an innovative design and development scheme for a high lumen laser-based automotive headlamp module. The headlamp prototype comprises a set of four cylindrical diffusers which distribute the high energy laser radiation via scattering along the length of the diffusers within a metallic mirro-based pyramidal cavity reflector. The scattered laser light from cylindrical diffusers interacts with a remote phosphor layer that prevents phosphor–resin burning. The pyramidal cavity reflector plays an important role in making the laser light uniform and speckle-free, via spatial and angular diversity, as light exits from the cavity after multiple internal reflections. This reflector redirects the highly concentrated white light over a long range without using any projection lens. The design and performance of the headlight system was studied using TracePro simulation software and tested experimentally in a photometric laboratory. The International Commission on Illumination (CIE) coordinates of the light generated by the headlamp was (0.3947, 0.4908) and the correlated colour temperature was 4240 K, which represents warm white light illumination.
Ultraviolet supercontinuum generation using a differentially-pumped integrated glass chip
Authors: Wanie Vincent , Barbato Pasquale , Hahne Josina , Ryabchuk Sergey , Wahid Ammar Bin , Amorim David , Månsson Erik P , Trabattoni Andrea , Osellame Roberto , Martínez Vázquez Rebeca , Calegari Francesca
Published: February 2024

We investigate the generation of ultrabroadband femtosecond ultraviolet (UV) radiation via third-order harmonic generation in highly confined gas media. A dual-stage differential-pumping scheme integrated into a glass microfluidic chip provides an exceptional gas confinement up to several bar and allows the apparatus to be operated under high-vacuum environment. UV pulses are generated both in argon and neon with up to ∼0.8 μJ energy and 0.2% conversion efficiency for spectra that cover the UVB and UVC regions between 200 and 325 nm. Numerical simulations based on the unidirectional pulse propagation equation reveal that ionization plays a critical role for extending the spectral bandwidth of the generated third-harmonic pulse beyond the tripled 800 nm driving laser pulse bandwidth. By delivering UV supercontinua supporting Fourier transform limits below 2 fs, as well as comparable pulse energies with respect to capillary-based techniques that typically provide high spectral tunability but produce narrower bandwidths, our compact device makes a step forward towards the production and application of sub-fs UV pulses for the investigation of electron dynamics in neutral molecules.
Influence of oleic acid coating on the magnetic susceptibility and Fenton reaction-mediated ROS generation by the iron oxide nanoparticles
Authors: Aadinath W , Muthuvijayan Vignesh
Published: February 2024

Fenton reaction-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by the iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) is responsible for its antibacterial activity. In general, IONPs are surface-coated to facilitate stability, control over size, biocompatibility, solubility, etc. We hypothesize that the extent of surface coating onto the IONPs might affect Fenton reaction-mediated ROS generation, which would eventually impact its antibacterial activity. In the present study, IONPs were prepared using the co-precipitation method, and different weights of oleic acid (OA) were loaded onto the IONPs. Pristine IONPs and oleic acid-coated iron oxide nanoparticles (OA-IONPs) were characterized using Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, vibrating sample magnetometry, goniometer, and thermogravimetric analysis. We found that magnetic susceptibilities of the IONPs were significantly enhanced with an increase in OA loading on the IONPs. The antibacterial study showed that the percentage inhibition was inversely related to the extent of oleic acid coating on the IONPs. The dependency of ROS generation on the extent of surface coating over IONPs was demonstrated using the 2’,7’-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA) assay. Although pristine IONPs showed the least ROS generation, they exhibited maximum percentage inhibition of bacteria. This might be due to mechanical damage to the bacterial cells because of their crystalline nature. In vitro biocompatibility study conducted on L929 fibroblast cell lines indicated that all the nanoparticle preparations were cytocompatible. This study concluded that the extent of surface coating influences the Fenton reaction-mediated ROS generation and also the magnetic susceptibilities of the IONPs.
One-step synthesis of highly fluorescent perovskite nanocrystals in antisolvent for bioimaging
Authors: Nath Peuli , Ray Aniruddha
Published: February 2024

All inorganic perovskite nanocrystals (CsPbX3 NCs) have excellent optical properties with high quantum yield, size tunable absorption and emission spectra which makes them popular for a wide variety of applications. All the commonly used synthesis techniques, such as hot injection and ligand assisted reprecipitation method (LARP), use ‘good’ solvent such as dimethyl formamide, dimethyl sulfoxide or octadecene to dissolve the precursor salts. The CsPbX3 NCs formation is triggered either by rapid injection of the dissolved precursor salt in hot mixture (hot injection) or by adding a ‘good’ solvent into a ‘poor’ solvent (LARP) that induces crystallization. Here, we present an alternative synthesis of CsPbX3 perovskite nanocrystals in an antisolvent system, instead of a ‘good’ solvent. Crystallization in the antisolvent is induced by adding a trace amount of water, leading to the formation of highly bright CsPbX3 nanocrystals. This method resulted in a maximum photoluminescent quantum yield of ∼91%. Furthermore, these CsPbBr3 NCs can be modified to create core–shell structures with polymers such as silica, in the same pot. Encapsulating the NCs within a protective silica shell resulted in vastly superior water stability compared to the bare NCs. The silica coated CsPbBr3 NCs showed strong fluorescence in water were used to label breast cancer cells, thereby demonstrating its potential as an optical contrast agent for advanced bioimaging applications. Overall, this synthesis approach requires minimal steps and time, and can be carried out in an ambient atmosphere, thereby increasing its versatility and practicality, which is particularly attractive in low-resource settings.
Biosynthesis of high antibacterial silver chloride nanoparticles against Ralstonia solanacearum using spent mushroom substrate extract
Authors: Mo Wenjing , Yao Chunmei , Chen Hongsen , Nassor Aisha Khalfan , Gui Fangze , Hong Ciqing , Huang Tianpei , Guan Xiong , Xu Lei , Pan Xiaohong
Published: February 2024

In this study, a green and highly efficient method was proposed to synthesize nano-silver chloride (nano-AgCl) using spent mushroom substrate (SMS) extract as a cheap reactant. Nanoparticles were characterized by a series of techniques like x-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), which showed the formation of near-spherical silver chloride nanoparticles with an average size of about 8.30 nm. Notably, the synthesized nano-silver chloride has a more prominent antibacterial effect against Ralstonia solanacearum (EC50 = 5.18 mg L−1) than non-nano-sized silver chloride particles, nano-silver chloride synthesized by chemical method, and commercial pesticides. In-depth, the study of the mechanism revealed that nano-silver chloride could cause cell membrane disruption, DNA damage and intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species (·OH, ·O2− and 1O2), leading to peroxidation damage in Ralstonia solanacearum (R. solanacearum). Moreover, the reaction between nano-silver chloride and bacteria could be driven by intermolecular forces instead of electrostatic interactions. Our study provides a new approach to synthesizing nano-silver chloride as a highly efficient antibacterial agent and broadens the utilization of agricultural waste spent mushroom substrate.
Global dynamics for the stochastic KdV equation with white noise as initial data
Authors: Oh Tadahiro , Quastel Jeremy , Sosoe Philippe
Published: February 2024

We study the stochastic Korteweg-de Vries equation (SKdV) with an additive space-time white noise forcing, posed on the one-dimensional torus. In particular, we construct global-in-time solutions to SKdV with spatial white noise initial data. Due to the lack of an invariant measure, Bourgain’s invariant measure argument is not applicable to this problem. In order to overcome this difficulty, we implement a variant of Bourgain’s argument in the context of an evolution system of measures and construct global-in-time dynamics. Moreover, we show that the white noise measure with variance

1
+
t

1+t

is an evolution system of measures for SKdV with the white noise initial data.
The structure of arbitrary Conze–Lesigne systems
Authors: Jamneshan Asgar , Shalom Or , Tao Terence
Published: February 2024

Let

Γ
\Gamma

be a countable abelian group. An (abstract)

Γ
\Gamma

-system

X

\mathrm {X}

- that is, an (abstract) probability space equipped with an (abstract) probability-preserving action of

Γ
\Gamma

- is said to be a Conze–Lesigne system if it is equal to its second Host–Kra–Ziegler factor

Z

2

(

X

)

\mathrm {Z}^2(\mathrm {X})

. The main result of this paper is a structural description of such Conze–Lesigne systems for arbitrary countable abelian

Γ
\Gamma

, namely that they are the inverse limit of translational systems

G
n

/

Λ
n

G_n/\Lambda _n

arising from locally compact nilpotent groups

G
n

G_n

of nilpotency class

2
2

, quotiented by a lattice

Λ
n

\Lambda _n

. Results of this type were previously known when

Γ
\Gamma

was finitely generated, or the product of cyclic groups of prime order. In a companion paper, two of us will apply this structure theorem to obtain an inverse theorem for the Gowers

U
3

(
G
)

U^3(G)

norm for arbitrary finite abelian groups

G
G

.
Geopolitical Shakespeare
Authors: Sheen Erica
Published: February 2024

Geopolitical Shakespeare examines the entanglement of Shakespearian culture in the geopolitical dynamics of the post-war West. Taking its cue from a speech given by Albert Einstein in London in 1933, in which Shakespeare is cited as an example of the Western value of personal freedom threatened by the rise of Nazi Germany, it explores a series of events across the timeline of 1945–55 featuring key historical figures—scientists, lawyers, diplomats and politicians, writers, actors, and film-makers—who experienced the international tensions of the early Cold War through Shakespeare, or called on him to articulate them. It discusses political, diplomatic, cultural, and economic interactions within ‘core’ Western power relations—the USA, UK, and Europe, with particular reference to Germany—in which Shakespeare, or the idea of Shakespeare, was entangled in the struggle for new ideas and structures of community and society within intersecting fields of international law and diplomacy, politics and economics, film, theatre, and literature. Its subjects include John Humphrey and the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; the Nuremberg Trials and the foundation of West Germany; Laurence Olivier, David Selznick and the Shakespeare film in post-war Hollywood; Noel Annan and the Berlin Airlift; an American Hamlet in Elsinore, Graham Greene, V. S. Pritichettand The Third Man; Carl Schmitt and Salvador de Madariaga on Hamlet in post-war Europe; W. H. Auden, Hannah Arendt and the problem of forgiveness.
Placing the House in Order
Authors: Sheen Erica
Published: February 2024

This chapter discusses international lawyer John Humphrey’s work on the first draft of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Before joining the UN, Humphrey’s academic writing revealed his commitment to the attempt to create the legal basis for an international society. From 1948 onwards, his personal diary recorded his frustrations at the UN’s failure to rise to this challenge. His notion of Shakespeare as an ‘international possession’ comes into focus when he uses a reference to Hamlet to express his outrage at the ideologically motivated obstructions he encounters from the USSR and the USA on key elements of the human rights agenda, and when he selects Shakespeare’s play for his daily reading at a time of intense personal and professional crisis. The chapter establishes frames of reference for the book as a whole in its discussion of concepts of community and society.
Economic Iron Curtains
Authors: Sheen Erica
Published: February 2024

This chapter presents an account of the confrontation between British actor Laurence Olivier and American producer David O. Selznick over what were effectively rights of property in films of Shakespeare plays. In April 1946, Selznick registered the titles of seven Shakespeare plays, including Hamlet, with the Title Registration Bureau of the Motion Picture Association of America. Following his refusal to allow Vivien Leigh to take the part of Katherine in Henry V, Selznick used this registration to try to frustrate Olivier’s plans for his celebrated production of Hamlet. The chapter discusses the importance of Shakespearean films in the internationalist milieu of the post-war American film industry, and tracks Selznick’s deployment of title registration as a form of industrial espionage into the anti-communist backlash of HUAC and the post-Marshall Plan stand-off between the British and American film industries in 1947–8.
Mighty Opposites
Authors: Sheen Erica
Published: February 2024

This chapter examines the political implications of Carl Schmitt’s brief reference to Salvador de Madariaga’s study On Hamlet (1948) in his essay Hamlet or Hecuba: The Intrusion of the Time into the Play. Beyond the occasional acknowledgement in a footnote, Madariaga’s presence in Hamlet or Hecuba has received almost no attention, but this chapter argues that it provides the key to an understanding of Schmitt’s controversial position in European intellectual life in the aftermath of World War II. It tracks their careers against each other across the 1920s and 1930s, juxtaposing Madariaga’s work on the European project in 1948–52 with Schmitt’s deployment of Hamlet as the vehicle for a renewed attack on European liberalism. The end of the chapter brings them together in late 1955, confronting Madariaga’s frustration with British and American failure to support European federation with Schmitt’s hopes for the renewal of a German-led politics of enmity.
Physiological functions of poorly absorbed polyphenols via the glucagon-like peptide-1
Authors: Yamashita Yoko
Published: February 2024

Polyphenols are compounds of plant origin with several documented bioactivities related to health promotion. Some polyphenols are hard to be absorbed into the body due to their structural characteristics. This review focuses on the health beneficial effects of polyphenols mediated by intestinal hormones, particularly related to the systemic functions through the secretion of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), an enteric hormone that stimulates postprandial insulin secretion. GLP-1 is secreted from L cells in the distal small intestine. Therefore, some poorly absorbed polyphenols are known to have the ability to act on the intestines and promote GLP-1 secretion. It has been reported that it not only reduces hyperglycemia but also prevents obesity by reduction of overeating and improves blood vessel function. This review discusses examples of health effects of polyphenols mediated by GLP-1 secretion.
New reports on the association between eggs and sclerotium-forming fungi in Neotropical termites with insights into this mutualistic interaction
Authors: Costa-Leonardo Ana Maria , Janei Vanelize , da Silva Iago Bueno
Published: February 2024

Over many years of co-evolution, termites and fungi have developed varied interactions. Sclerotia, termed termite balls, are fungal resting structures often mixed with termite eggs, with many reports in temperate areas. Here, we show that this interaction is more widespread than suggested, by reporting the occurrence of fungal sclerotia harboured in the nests of four Neotropical termitids: Cornitermes cumulans, Silvestritermes euamignathus (Syntermitinae), Velocitermes heteropterus, and Nasutitermes corniger (Nasutitermitinae). We performed termite–fungus recognition bioassays and carried out morphometrical, histological, and histochemical analyses on the sclerotia, assuming that they vary in their stored materials according to the maturation stage. Morphometrical and morphological features varied among the sclerotia associated with the different termite species. Moreover, workers preferentially carried related sclerotia, suggesting a species-specific interaction, and did not mistake them for eggs. Immature and mature sclerotia varied in the concentration of stored proteins, polysaccharides, and melanin. This facultative mutualism is advantageous for the sclerotia because they are kept in a competitor-free environment and, in turn, are likely to serve as an additional source of termite digestive enzymes. We provide new findings concerning the geographical distribution, termite species, and nesting habits related to this termite–fungus association, reinforcing its parallel evolution.
Impact of near-infrared fluorescence imaging plus indocyanine green fluorescence on postoperative hypoparathyroidism rates after total thyroidectomy and central neck lymph node dissection
Authors: Di Lorenzo Sofia , Carrillo Lizarazo Jose Luis , Dionigi Gianlorenzo , Kraimps Jean-Louis , Donatini Gianluca
Published: February 2024

Background

Patients with thyroid carcinoma often undergo cervical lymph node dissection, which is associated with high rates of both transient and permanent postoperative hypoparathyroidism. The impact of near-infrared fluorescence imaging + indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence on postoperative hypoparathyroidism rates after total thyroidectomy and central neck lymph node dissection was evaluated.

Methods

All patients undergoing surgery between January 2019 and March 2023 were included and divided into three groups: a control group (parathyroid glands identified visually), a near-infrared fluorescence imaging alone group, and a near-infrared fluorescence imaging + ICG fluorescence group. The primary outcome was the transient and permanent postoperative hypoparathyroidism rates. Secondary outcomes were: length of surgery and number of parathyroid glands identified, inadvertently resected, and autotransplanted.

Results

A total of 131 patients were included in the study (47 in the control group, 45 in the near-infrared fluorescence imaging alone group, and 39 in the near-infrared fluorescence imaging + ICG fluorescence group). The transient hypoparathyroidism rate was 48.9% in the control group, 37.8% in the near-infrared fluorescence imaging alone, and 5.1% in the near-infrared fluorescence imaging + ICG fluorescence group (P < 0.0001), while the permanent hypoparathyroidism rate was 8.5% in the control group, 2.2% in the near-infrared fluorescence imaging alone group, and 0% in the near-infrared fluorescence imaging + ICG fluorescence group (P = 0.096). The number of parathyroid glands identified was 159 of 188 in the control group, 165 of 180 in the near-infrared fluorescence imaging alone group, and 149 of 156 in the near-infrared fluorescence imaging + ICG fluorescence group (P = 0.002). Inadvertent resection of parathyroid glands occurred for 29 of 188 in the control group, 15 of 180 in the near-infrared fluorescence imaging alone group, and 7 of 156 in the near-infrared fluorescence imaging + ICG fluorescence group (P = 0.002), with subsequent parathyroid gland autotransplantation for 2 of 29 in the control group, 2 of 15 in the near-infrared fluorescence imaging alone group, and 3 of 7 in the near-infrared fluorescence imaging + ICG fluorescence group (P = 0.040). There was no difference in the median operating time between groups.

Conclusion

The use of near-infrared fluorescence imaging + ICG fluorescence decreased both transient and permanent hypoparathyroidism rates in patients undergoing total thyroidectomy and central neck lymph node dissection.
Resilience to summer bushfire in the threatened orchid, Caladenia tessellata, in terms of pollination success, herbivory, and mycorrhizal associations
Authors: Phillips Ryan D , Hatley Jude , Li Xia , Dimon Richard J , Reiter Noushka
Published: February 2024

In some biogeographic regions, many threatened plant species occur in habitats that periodically experience bushfire. However, we currently have relatively little information on how important plant–animal and plant–fungus interactions are affected by these fires. For the threatened sexually deceptive orchid Caladenia tessellata we test whether pollination rate, frequency of florivory, and the species of mycorrhizae the plant associates with differ between burnt and unburnt sites. Interestingly, pollination rates were unaffected by fire, demonstrating that populations of the thynnine wasp pollinator can persist post-fire. However, there was a significant negative relationship between number of flowers in a population and pollination success, which is likely a by-product of a deceptive pollination strategy. Despite the presence of vertebrate herbivores, florivory rates were low in both burnt and unburnt sites. Caladenia tessellata associated primarily with the mycorrhiza Serendiptia australiana, regardless of fire history. While our results suggest resilience to a one-off summer fire for the ecological interactions that we measured, it would be interesting to investigate the effects of fire frequency and time of year. High reproductive rates in small populations of C. tessellata suggest these populations may be viable and that retaining them is a high priority for conservation.
A bromeliad living in the city: a case of a native species resilient to urbanization in South Brazil
Authors: Ruas Renata de B , de Godoy Sara M , Feliciano Daniele C , Ruas Claudete de F , Bered Fernanda
Published: February 2024

In an era of increasing urbanization across the planet, understanding how urbanization affects biodiversity and whether or not species will be able to adapt quickly enough to urban environments is critical to conserving biodiversity. We studied the effects of urbanization on genetic diversity, genetic structure, and local adaptation in Tillandsia aeranthos, an epiphytic self-incompatible bromeliad with a high ability to colonize urban habitats. We sampled T. aeranthos along two transects comprising urbanization gradients in South Brazil. We used AFLP markers to genotype 200 individuals and we obtained 971 fragments, of which 100% were polymorphic. We found high levels of genetic diversity and a greater proportion of genetic variation found within populations. We did not find a decrease in genetic diversity with increasing urbanization, as expected if the effects of genetic drift were greater in those urbanized habitats. In each transect, the urban populations were genetically clustered with the non-urban populations, indicating that dispersion by pollen or seed may occur between urban and non-urban populations. The lack of correlation between the outlier loci detected and the index of urbanization found in our study corroborates with other indices of genetic diversity not being affected by urbanization. Our results suggest that gene flow via pollen and seed, combined with high rates of outcrossing, are major determinants of the maintenance of genetic diversity in urban populations of T. aeranthos.
Speciation of iodine on biogenic iron oxyhydroxides by I K-edge and LIII-edge XANES
Authors: Kikuchi Sakiko , Kashiwabara Teruhiko , Kurisu Minako , Wakaki Shigeyuki
Published: February 2024

The host phase of iodine (I) in biogenic iron oxyhydroxides (BIOS) was determined using X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES). I K-edge and LIII-edge XANES analyses of BIOS collected from deep-sea hydrothermal environments revealed that the primary form of I in the BIOS is an organic species. Furthermore, LIII-edge XANES fitting implied the dominance of aromatic-bound I among BIOS. Our first observation of organic–trace element association in natural BIOS can explain the enhanced adsorption of I on BIOS compared to synthetic ferrihydrite. This further suggests the importance of various chemistry on this organic–mineral composite for understanding the geochemical cycling of trace elements.
Detecting periodic time scales of changes in temporal networks
Authors: Andres Elsa , Barrat Alain , Karsai Márton
Published: February 2024

Temporal networks are commonly used to represent dynamical complex systems like social networks, simultaneous firing of neurons, human mobility or public transportation. Their dynamics may evolve on multiple time scales characterizing for instance periodic activity patterns or structural changes. The detection of these time scales can be challenging from the direct observation of simple dynamical network properties like the activity of nodes or the density of links. Here, we propose two new methods, which rely on already established static representations of temporal networks, namely supra-adjacency and temporal event graphs. We define dissimilarity metrics extracted from these representations and compute their power spectra from their Fourier transforms to effectively identify dominant periodic time scales characterizing the changes of the temporal network. We demonstrate our methods using synthetic and real-world data sets describing various kinds of temporal networks. We find that while in all cases the two methods outperform the reference measures, the supra-adjacency-based method identifies more easily periodic changes in network density, while the temporal event graph-based method is better suited to detect periodic changes in the group structure of the network. Our methodology may provide insights into different phenomena occurring at multiple time scales in systems represented by temporal networks.
The association of the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score at intensive care unit discharge with intensive care unit readmission in the cardiac intensive care unit
Authors: Shin Yonghoon , Jang Ji Hoon , Ko Ryoung-Eun , Na Soo Jin , Chung Chi Ryang , Choi Ki Hong , Park Taek Kyu , Lee Joo Myung , Yang Jeong Hoon
Published: February 2024

Aims

Unplanned intensive care unit (ICU) readmissions contribute to increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. The severity of patient illness at ICU discharge may predict early ICU readmission. Thus, in this study, we investigated the association of cardiac ICU (CICU) discharge Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score with unplanned CICU readmission in patients admitted to the CICU.

Methods and results

We retrospectively reviewed the hospital medical records of 4659 patients who were admitted to the CICU from 2012 to 18. Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores at CICU admission and discharge were obtained. The predictive performance of organ failure scoring was evaluated by using area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curves. The primary outcome was unplanned CICU readmission. Of the 3949 patients successfully discharged from the CICU, 184 (4.7%) had an unplanned CICU readmission or they experienced a deteriorated condition but died without being readmitted to the CICU (readmission group). The readmission group had significantly higher rates of organ failure in all organ systems at both CICU admission and discharge than the non-readmission group. The AUROC of the discharge SOFA score for CICU readmission was 0.731, showing good predictive performance. The AUROC of the discharge SOFA score was significantly greater than that of either the initial SOFA score (P = 0.020) or the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score (P < 0.001). In the multivariable regression analysis, SOFA score, overweight or obese status, history of heart failure, and acute heart failure as reasons for ICU admission were independent predictors of unplanned ICU readmission during the same hospital stay.

Conclusion

The discharge SOFA score may identify patients at a higher risk of unplanned CICU readmission, enabling targeted interventions to reduce readmission rates and improve patient outcomes.
Dual trajectories of short-term and long-term sickness absence and their social- and health-related determinants among women in the public sector
Authors: Suur-Uski Johanna , Fagerlund Pi , Granroth-Wilding Hanna , Salonsalmi Aino , Rahkonen Ossi , Lallukka Tea
Published: February 2024

Background

Short- and long-term sickness absence (SA) vary in their determinants. We examined short- and long-term SA contemporaneously as two interconnected phenomena to characterize their temporal development, and to identify employees with increasing SA at an early stage.

Methods

We extracted 46- to 55-year-old employed women from the Helsinki Health Study occupational cohort during 2000–17 (N = 3206) and examined the development of short- (1–14 days) and long-term (>14 days) SA using group-based dual trajectory modelling. In addition, we investigated the associations of social-, work- and health-related factors with trajectory group membership.

Results

For short-term SA, we selected a three-group solution: ‘no short-term SA’ (50%), ‘low frequency short-term SA’ (40%), and ‘high frequency short-term SA’ (10%) (7 spells/year). For long-term SA, we also selected three trajectory groups: ‘no long-term SA’ (65%), ‘low long-term SA’ (27%), and ‘high long-term SA’ (8%). No SA in the short-term SA model, indicated a high probability of no SA in the long-term model and vice versa. The developmental pattern was far less certain if participant was assigned to a trajectory of high SA in either one of the models (short- or long-term SA model). Low occupational class and poor health behaviours were associated with the trajectory groups with more SA.

Conclusion

SA does not increase with age among most employees. If either SA rate was high, the developmental patterns were heterogenous. Employers’ attention to health behaviours might aid in reducing both short- and long-term SA.
Telemedicine visits requiring follow-up in-person visits at an urban academic family medicine centre
Authors: Arsenault Mylène , Long Stephanie , D’Souza Vinita , Ilie Alexandru , Todd Keith J
Published: February 2024

Background

With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine was rapidly implemented in care settings globally. To understand what factors affect the successful completion of telemedicine visits in our urban, academic family medicine clinic setting, we analysed telemedicine visits carried out during the pandemic.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective chart review of telemedicine visits from 2 clinical units within a family medicine centre. To investigate the association between incomplete visits and various factors (age, gender, presenting complaints, physician level of training [resident or staff] and patient-physician relational continuity), we performed a multivariable logistic regression on data from August 2020, February 2021, and May 2021. An incomplete visit is one that requires a follow-up in-person visit with a physician within 3 days.

Results

Of the 2,138 telemedicine patient visits we investigated, 9.6% were incomplete. Patients presenting with lumps and bumps (OR: 3.84, 95% CI: 1.44, 10.5), as well as those seen by resident physicians (OR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.22, 2.56) had increased odds of incomplete visits. Telemedicine visits at the family medicine clinic (Site A) with registered patients had lower odds of incomplete visits (OR: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.15, 0.39) than those at the community clinic (Site B), which provides urgent/episodic care with no associated relational continuity between patients and physicians.

Conclusion

In our urban clinical setting, only a small minority of telemedicine visits required an in-person follow-up visit. This information may be useful in guiding approaches to triaging patients to telemedicine or standard in-person care.
The comparison between effects of heterogeneous and homogeneous half-spaces underlying homogeneous layer on solitary Love waves
Authors: Deliktas-Ozdemir Ekin
Published: February 2024

A comparative analysis is performed on the effects of heterogeneity in both linear and non-linear material characteristics of half-space on the propagation of bright and dark solitary Love waves in a non-linear layered half-space. The layer is assumed to be homogeneous, non-linear and elastic, while the half-space is vertically heterogeneous. The problem is formulated for two types of elastic materials, incompressible and generalized neo-Hookean materials, and the differences caused by the two materials in the formulation are revealed. For the media composed of generalized neo-Hookean materials, a non-linear Schrödinger equation describing the self interaction of Love waves is obtained using multiple scales method. The differences in the effects of linear and non-linear material properties of the half-space on both the existence and non-linear evolution of bright and dark solitary Love waves are compared graphically.
Association of white matter hyperintensities with BMD, incident fractures, and falls in the UK Biobank cohort
Authors: Cai Lishan , Lv Xingyu , Li Xiang , Wang Xuan , Ma Hao , Heianza Yoriko , Qi Lu , Zhou Tao
Published: February 2024

Osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease globally, which increases the healthcare service burden. Recent studies have linked higher white matter hyperintensities (WMH) to reduced BMD, increasing the risk of fractures and falls in older adults. However, limited evidence exists regarding the dose–response relationship between WMH and bone health in a larger and younger population. Our study aimed to examine the association of WMH volume with BMD, incident fractures and falls, focusing on dose–response relationship with varying levels of WMH volume. We included 26 410 participants from the UK Biobank. The association between WMH volume and BMD was analyzed using multiple linear regression. Cox regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratios of incident fractures and falls. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) fitted for linear and Cox regression models were employed to explore potential non-linearity. Over a mean follow-up time of 3.8 yr, we documented 59 hip fractures, 392 all fractures, and 375 fall incidents. When applying RCS, L-shaped relationships were identified between WMH volume and BMD across all 4 sites. Compared with those in the lowest fifth of WMH volume, individuals in the second to the highest fifths were associated with a reduction of 0.0102–0.0305 g/cm2 in femur neck BMD, 0.0075–0.0273 g/cm2 in femur troch BMD, 0.0173–0.0345 g/cm2 in LS BMD, and 0.0141–0.0339 g/cm2 in total body BMD. The association was more pronounced among women and younger participants under age 65 (Pinteraction < .05). Per 1 SD increment of WMH volume was associated with 36.9%, 20.1%, and 14.3% higher risks of incident hip fractures, all fractures, and falls. Genetically determined WMH or apolipoprotein E genotypes did not modify these associations. We demonstrated that a greater WMH was associated with BMD in an L-shaped dose–response manner, especially in women and those under 65 yr.
Genomic Analyses Capture the Human-Induced Demographic Collapse and Recovery in a Wide-Ranging Cervid
Authors: Kessler Camille , Shafer Aaron B A
Published: February 2024

The glacial cycles of the Quaternary heavily impacted species through successions of population contractions and expansions. Similarly, populations have been intensely shaped by human pressures such as unregulated hunting and land use changes. White-tailed and mule deer survived in different refugia through the Last Glacial Maximum, and their populations were severely reduced after the European colonization. Here, we analyzed 73 resequenced deer genomes from across their North American range to understand the consequences of climatic and anthropogenic pressures on deer demographic and adaptive history. We found strong signals of climate-induced vicariance and demographic decline; notably, multiple sequentially Markovian coalescent recovers a severe decline in mainland white-tailed deer effective population size (Ne) at the end of the Last Glacial Maximum. We found robust evidence for colonial overharvest in the form of a recent and dramatic drop in Ne in all analyzed populations. Historical census size and restocking data show a clear parallel to historical Ne estimates, and temporal Ne/Nc ratio shows patterns of conservation concern for mule deer. Signatures of selection highlight genes related to temperature, including a cold receptor previously highlighted in woolly mammoth. We also detected immune genes that we surmise reflect the changing land use patterns in North America. Our study provides a detailed picture of anthropogenic and climatic-induced decline in deer diversity and clues to understanding the conservation concerns of mule deer and the successful demographic recovery of white-tailed deer.
Dynamics of miRNA accumulation duringC. eleganslarval development
Authors: Nahar Smita , Morales Moya Lucas J , Brunner Jana , Hendriks Gert-Jan , Towbin Benjamin , Hauser Yannick P , Brancati Giovanna , Gaidatzis Dimos , Großhans Helge
Published: February 2024

Temporally and spatially controlled accumulation underlies the functions of microRNAs (miRNAs) in various developmental processes. In Caenorhabditis elegans, this is exemplified by the temporal patterning miRNAs lin-4 and let-7, but for most miRNAs, developmental expression patterns remain poorly resolved. Indeed, experimentally observed long half-lives may constrain possible dynamics. Here, we profile miRNA expression throughout C. elegans postembryonic development at high temporal resolution, which identifies dynamically expressed miRNAs. We use mathematical models to explore the underlying mechanisms. For let-7, we can explain, and experimentally confirm, a striking stepwise accumulation pattern through a combination of rhythmic transcription and stage-specific regulation of precursor processing by the RNA-binding protein LIN-28. By contrast, the dynamics of several other miRNAs cannot be explained by regulation of production rates alone. Specifically, we show that a combination of oscillatory transcription and rhythmic decay drive rhythmic accumulation of miR-235, orthologous to miR-92 in other animals. We demonstrate that decay of miR-235 and additional miRNAs depends on EBAX-1, previously implicated in target-directed miRNA degradation (TDMD). Taken together, our results provide insight into dynamic miRNA decay and establish a resource to studying both the developmental functions of, and the regulatory mechanisms acting on, miRNAs.
Pathogenic CANVAS (AAGGG)n repeats stall DNA replication due to the formation of alternative DNA structures
Authors: Hisey Julia A , Radchenko Elina A , Mandel Nicholas H , McGinty Ryan J , Matos-Rodrigues Gabriel , Rastokina Anastasia , Masnovo Chiara , Ceschi Silvia , Hernandez Alfredo , Nussenzweig André , Mirkin Sergei M
Published: February 2024

CANVAS is a recently characterized repeat expansion disease, most commonly caused by homozygous expansions of an intronic (A2G3)n repeat in the RFC1 gene. There are a multitude of repeat motifs found in the human population at this locus, some of which are pathogenic and others benign. In this study, we conducted structure-functional analyses of the pathogenic (A2G3)n and nonpathogenic (A4G)n repeats. We found that the pathogenic, but not the nonpathogenic, repeat presents a potent, orientation-dependent impediment to DNA polymerization in vitro. The pattern of the polymerization blockage is consistent with triplex or quadruplex formation in the presence of magnesium or potassium ions, respectively. Chemical probing of both repeats in vitro reveals triplex H-DNA formation by only the pathogenic repeat. Consistently, bioinformatic analysis of S1-END-seq data from human cell lines shows preferential H-DNA formation genome-wide by (A2G3)n motifs over (A4G)n motifs. Finally, the pathogenic, but not the nonpathogenic, repeat stalls replication fork progression in yeast and human cells. We hypothesize that the CANVAS-causing (A2G3)n repeat represents a challenge to genome stability by folding into alternative DNA structures that stall DNA replication.
EPR-Net: constructing a non-equilibrium potential landscape via a variational force projection formulation
Authors: Zhao Yue , Zhang Wei , Li Tiejun
Published: February 2024

We present EPR-Net, a novel and effective deep learning approach that tackles a crucial challenge in biophysics: constructing potential landscapes for high-dimensional non-equilibrium steady-state systems. EPR-Net leverages a nice mathematical fact that the desired negative potential gradient is simply the orthogonal projection of the driving force of the underlying dynamics in a weighted inner-product space. Remarkably, our loss function has an intimate connection with the steady entropy production rate (EPR), enabling simultaneous landscape construction and EPR estimation. We introduce an enhanced learning strategy for systems with small noise, and extend our framework to include dimensionality reduction and the state-dependent diffusion coefficient case in a unified fashion. Comparative evaluations on benchmark problems demonstrate the superior accuracy, effectiveness and robustness of EPR-Net compared to existing methods. We apply our approach to challenging biophysical problems, such as an eight-dimensional (8D) limit cycle and a 52D multi-stability problem, which provide accurate solutions and interesting insights on constructed landscapes. With its versatility and power, EPR-Net offers a promising solution for diverse landscape construction problems in biophysics.
Orthorexia nervosa in dietitians and dietetics students—prevalence, risk factors, and interventions: a scoping review using a systematic approach
Authors: Ephrem Chloe , Rizk Rana , Saadeh Danielle , Hallit Souheil , Obeid Sahar , Martijn Carolien
Published: February 2024

Context

Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is characterized by compulsive behaviors and increased concerns about healthful eating. Dietitians appear to be especially vulnerable to ON, and it is still debatable whether the disordered eating behaviors motivate individuals to enroll in nutrition programs, or whether these behaviors result from an exaggerated preoccupation with healthy eating triggered during their nutrition studies.

Objective

The aim was to provide an overview of the present state of knowledge about the prevalence, risk factors, and interventions addressing ON among dietitians and dietetics students. More specifically, it was examined whether dietitians and dietetics students differ from students attending different education programs or other health professionals with regard to the severity and risk factors of ON, and whether the extent of ON changes during the progression in the nutrition education years of study.

Data Sources

MEDLINE (Ovid), PubMed, EMBASE (Ovid), PsycInfo (EBSCO), CINAHL (EBSCO), Cochrane, ProQuest Central, CABI, ProQuest Dissertations, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and SpringerLink were searched on May 8, 2021, and updated on November 12, 2022.

Data Extraction

Records were screened for eligibility; study characteristics, methodology, and findings of included articles were extracted; and the methodological quality assessed using the AXIS tool. Each step was preceded by a calibration exercise and conducted independently and in duplicate by pairs of 2 reviewers. Any disagreements were resolved through discussions.

Data Analysis

A narrative synthesis was performed, whereby the characteristics, methodologies, and results of included studies were compared.

Conclusions

Results were inconclusive; yet, a general status of the relatively “high” prevalence of ON among dietitians and dietetics students was established, stressing the need for systematic research to understand and mitigate orthorexic tendencies in this group. It is still too early to answer questions pertaining to prevalence, risk factors, interventions, and differences between dietetics students and other majors when it comes to severity and progress of ON throughout the continuing years of study, or between dietitians and other professional groups.

Systematic review registration

Open Science Framework Identifier: DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/BY5KF.
Validity of submaximal aerobic capacity and strength tests in firefighters
Authors: Hart W , Taylor D , Bishop D C
Published: February 2024

Background

Typically, the fitness of UK firefighters is assessed via submaximal estimate methods due to the low demands on time, money, expertise and equipment. However, the firefighter-specific validity of such testing in relation to maximum aerobic capacity (V˙O2max) and particularly muscular strength is not well established.

Aims

To examine the validity of submaximal methods to estimate V˙O2max and maximal strength in operational firefighters.

Methods

Twenty-two full-time operational firefighters (3 female) completed same-day submaximal (Chester Step Test; CST) and maximal (treadmill) assessments of V˙O2max, with a sub-sample of 10 firefighters (1 female) also completing submaximal and maximal back-squat (i.e. one repetition maximum; 1RM) assessments. All participants then completed the Firefighter Simulation Test (FFST) within 2–4 days.

Results

CST underestimated actual V˙O2max by 1.4 ml·kg–1·min–1 (~3%), although V˙O2max values were positively correlated (r = 0.61, P < 0.01) and not significantly different. Estimated V˙O2max values negatively correlated with FFST performance (r = –0.42). Predicted 1RM underestimated actual 1RM by ~2%, although these values were significantly correlated (r = 0.99, P < 0.001) and did not significantly differ. The strongest predictive model of FFST performance included age, body mass index, and direct maximal measures of 1RM and V˙O2max.

Conclusions

Submaximal back-squat testing offers good validity in estimating maximum firefighter strength without exposure to the fatigue associated with maximal methods. The CST provides a reasonably valid and cost-effective V˙O2max estimate which translates to firefighting task performance, although the error observed means it should be used cautiously when making operational decisions related to V˙O2max benchmarks.