bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Promoting Healthy Reading Strategies as a Self-Care Alternative to Self-Medication among University Students in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review
Authors: Ogbodu Olubunmi Margaret , Adekola Ayobami Precious
Published: November 2024

Healthy reading habits can improve concentration, critical thinking, information retention, and educational success skills. However, the lack of it among university students often leads to immense academic demands and pressures, particularly during examinations. This could result in self-medication and nonmedical use of drugs to cope with pressure and could negatively affect their physical and mental health, well-being, as well as academic performance. There is also the risk of the long-term effects of medication dependence, addiction, and decreased cognitive function. Therefore, establishing healthy reading habits is essential to student self-care and holistic well-being. This study used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), guidelines, and protocols to review published data between 2010 and 2024 from Sage Journals, African Journal Online, ProQuest Dissertations, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Twelve selected articles were thematically analysed, and social cognitive theoretical lenses guided interpretation and analysis. The review revealed the prevalence of medication misuse among university students, risk factors for drug misuse, interventions to reduce medication misuse, and the role of policymaking in supporting drug misuse among university students. Based on the findings, recommendations were made to address self-medication and promote healthy reading habits and students’ well-being.
The genome sequence of a cranefly Tipula (Lunatipula) vernalis Meigen, 1804
Authors: Sivell Olga , Sivell Duncan ,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory team,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics team,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: November 2024

We present a genome assembly from an individual female cranefly Tipula vernalis (Arthropoda; Insecta; Diptera; Tipulidae). The genome sequence has a total length of 1,272.30 megabases. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 4 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.01 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 13,911 protein-coding genes.
The genome sequence of the Scalloped Hook-tip moth, Falcaria lacertinaria (Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: Griffiths Andy , Prescott Tom ,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory team,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics team,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: November 2024

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Falcaria lacertinaria (the Scalloped Hook-tip; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Drepanidae). The genome sequence has a total length of 300.20 megabases. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 32 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the W and Z sex chromosomes. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.07 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 11,709 protein-coding genes.
Siedemnastowieczne malarstwo holenderskie w literaturze polskiej po 1918 roku
Authors: Śniedziewska Magdalena
Published: November 2024

Książka stanowi próbę monograficznego ujęcia problemu recepcji siedemnastowiecznego malarstwa holenderskiego w polskiej literaturze powojennej. O skali powziętego przez autorkę zadania świadczy to, że przedmiotem jej badań są nie tylko siedemnastowieczne obrazy holenderskie i, odnoszące się do nich, polskie utwory literackie, ale również teksty dziewiętnastowiecznych pisarzy i krytyków (najczęściej francuskich), które ukształtowały tak zwany mit Holandii złotego wieku. Autorka zaznajamia czytelnika z historycznie uwarunkowanymi, zmieniającymi się modelami percepcji siedemnastowiecznego malarstwa holenderskiego. Oryginalnym osiągnięciem jest wypracowany przez badaczkę klucz genologiczny, będący konsekwencją historycznoliterackiej tezy na temat zapośredniczenia polskiej dziewiętnastowiecznej recepcji malarstwa holenderskiego złotego wieku z zachodnioeuropejskiej dziewiętnastowiecznej literaturze i krytyce artystycznej. Okazuje się, że pisarze, tacy jak Czapski, Herling-Grudziński, Miłosz, Herbert, Zagajewski, Wencel – by wymienić tylko niektórych bohaterów książki – podobnie jak niegdyś Fromentin, Thoré, Balzac, postrzegają pejzaże, sceny rodzajowe, martwe natury i portrety (w tym także portrety zbiorowe i autoportrety) jako gatunki „typowo holenderskie”; poddają rewizji pojęcia, takie jak realizm i rodzajowość, o Varmeerowskim Widoku Delft nie potrafią mówić bez odniesienia do Proustowskiego petit pan de mur jaune, martwe natury „czytają” poprzez Chardina i Cézanne’a czy wskrzeszają mit Rembrandta-autoportrecisty, dokonującego analizy własnego „ja”. Na uwagę zasługuje również rozbudowana, szczegółowa analiza nie ukończonego zbioru esejów Herberta o małych mistrzach holenderskich – Willemie Duysterze, Pieterze de Hoochu, Hendricku Avercampie, Herculesie Segersie i Pieterze Saenredamie. Autorka tropi niezlokalizowane przez Herberta cytaty, odkrywa źródła jego nawiązań, docierając do opracowań i katalogów, z których pisarz korzystał, przygotowując tom Mali mistrzowie. Jednak opracowane badania mają nie tylko dokumentalistyczny charakter, autorka stawia bowiem tezę na temat Herbertowego projektu małej , „skrajnie subiektywnej” historii sztuki, a także przybliża czytelnikowi mniej znanych w Polsce malarzy, których artystyczna ranga domaga się – co Herbert wielokrotnie podkreślał – docenienia.
Binary Quantum Control Optimization with Uncertain Hamiltonians
Authors: Fei Xinyu , Brady Lucas T. , Larson Jeffrey , Leyffer Sven , Shen Siqian
Published: November 2024

Optimizing the controls of quantum systems plays a crucial role in advancing quantum technologies. The time-varying noises in quantum systems and the widespread use of inhomogeneous quantum ensembles raise the need for high-quality quantum controls under uncertainties. In this paper, we consider a stochastic discrete optimization formulation of a discretized binary optimal quantum control problem involving Hamiltonians with predictable uncertainties. We propose a sample-based reformulation that optimizes both risk-neutral and risk-averse measurements of control policies, and solve these with two gradient-based algorithms using sum-up-rounding approaches. Furthermore, we discuss the differentiability of the objective function and prove upper bounds of the gaps between the optimal solutions to binary control problems and their continuous relaxations. We conduct numerical simulations on various sized problem instances based on two applications of quantum pulse optimization; we evaluate different strategies to mitigate the impact of uncertainties in quantum systems. We demonstrate that the controls of our stochastic optimization model achieve significantly higher quality and robustness compared with the controls of a deterministic model.

History: Accepted by Giacomo Nannicini, Area Editor for Quantum Computing and Operations Research. Accepted for Special Issue.

Funding: This work was supported by the US Department of Energy, Advanced Scientific Computing Research [Grants DE-AC02-06CH11357, DE-SC0018018]; Defense Sciences Office, DARPA [Grant IAA-8839-annex-130]; the US National Science Foundation, Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation [Grant 2041745]; and the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research Center [Grant 80ARC020D0010].

Supplemental Material: The software that supports the findings of this study is available within the paper and its Supplemental Information ( https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/suppl/10.1287/ijoc.2024.0560 ) as well as from the IJOC GitHub software repository ( https://github.com/INFORMSJoC/2024.0560 ). The complete IJOC Software and Data Repository is available at https://informsjoc.github.io/ .
Looking to the future
Authors: Mallett Katherine
Published: November 2024

Katherine Mallett reports on this years BSPD's Annual Scientific Conference.
Choosing change
Authors: Janusek Eszter
Published: November 2024

Eszter Janusek reflects on why career progression is impossible without change.
“First, Do No Harm?”: Metaphysical Harm and the Need for Iconic Perception
Authors: Kornu Kimbell
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACT: “First, do no harm” has been cited so often as the fundamental principle of medical ethics that the entailed harm appears self-evident: intentional or unintentional physical harm. This article makes a case for a different kind of harm that physicians can commit against patients: metaphysically harming them by reducing them to mere objects to be fixed or manipulated, instead of persons to be known. Drawing on the history of medicine, theological reflection, and clinical practice, the author compares two ways of regarding the patient: (1) the medical dissective gaze, which knows the patient by mentally cutting her up and reducing her into parts; and (2) iconic perception, which encounters the patient as a living icon. While the medical dissective gaze describes an important dimension to scientific medicine, treating a patient purely as a medical object defaces her human personhood. To address and prevent these kinds of harms, the author proposes that regarding the patient with iconic perception fosters wonder and reaffirms the patient’s humanity.
Geospatial Insights into Consumer Behavior: Mapping the Post-Restriction Pandemic Retail Landscape in Alabama
Authors: Sciuchetti Mark J. , Huang Jianping "Coco" , Green Jennifer , Cunningham Brent J.
Published: November 2024

abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has irreversibly altered consumer shopping patterns, engendering a paradigm shift in business-consumer dynamics. Leveraging geospatial tools enables businesses to pinpoint customer travel patterns, forecast demand, and augment both efficiency and customer satisfaction. This study introduces innovative GIS and spatial marketing methodologies to amass and analyze geospatial data, thereby enhancing business operations and customer engagement in southern United States cities. We devised a heatmap detailing the travel and nocturnal locations of Walmart patrons during pandemic, utilizing geolocational data to assist businesses in refining market segmentation and identifying target demographics. Our research reveals significant shifts in consumer behavior due to the pandemic, underscoring an immediate necessity for businesses to acclimate to these evolutions. Providentially, geolocational data emerges as an indispensable asset for retailers, facilitating a competitive stance through meticulous customer base analysis—crucial for discerning consumer necessities and apprehending societal tendencies.
Design of a terahertz encoding metalens with adjustable focusing intensity
Authors: Lei Caihe , Fang Bo , Zhu Wentao , Guo Haixiang , Xi Yuhan , Li Yue
Published: November 2024

This paper presents a terahertz coded metalens with adjustable focusing efficiency. By integrating the phase change material GST-225 with the plasma metasurface and employing the transmission phase principle for phase modulation, flexible control of the single-focus focusing efficiency is achieved. Additionally, a dual-focus focusing metalens is devised. Leveraging the far-field scattering principle of the coded metasurface, the focal angle of the metalens can be adjusted, and it can be expanded to a dual-focus system through complex coding addition. In this system, by adjusting the crystallinity corresponding to different codes, the system can show different focusing efficiencies at each focus. The proposed dual-focus in this paper enables separate adjustment of focusing efficiency, offering a promising solution for on-chip and tunable devices in terahertz imaging and communication systems.
Method of calculation of paraxial design parameters of a hybrid catadioptric zoom system with focus tunable elements
Authors: Mikš Antonín , Novák Jiří
Published: November 2024

This paper introduces and analyzes a theory for a paraxial design of a hybrid catadioptric optical system with variable focal length, which uses focus tunable optical components. Compared to the conventional zoom lens system, the proposed hybrid optical system can be designed with a smaller length and weight than a lens system of similar characteristics. The hybrid system does not need the movement of individual elements for zooming. All necessary relations for the calculation of the paraxial parameters and the third-order spherical aberration of the hybrid optical system are derived. The presented theory helps to find out the optical power distribution of individual optical elements of the whole hybrid zoom system considering the requirement on the spherical aberration of the system. In addition, the procedure for the calculation of basic design parameters of such an optical system is shown by examples.
Three-point-supported 2-DOF large-area tilting mirror inspired by a playground facility
Authors: Chiang Ming-Te , Tsai Ming-Hsuan , Liu Guan-Yang , Tsai Jui-Che
Published: November 2024

In this paper, we demonstrate a three-point-supported 2D optical scanner designed to
enhance the field of view (FoV) and optical scanning angles, and
facilitate the development of large mirrors (>10cm). By integrating fused deposition
modeling (FDM) 3D printing with electromagnetic driving, we present a
cost-effective, large-sized scanning mirror with two-dimensional
scanning capabilities. The mirror has an area of 144cm2, enabling greater light capture for
enhanced scanning performance. Under DC driving, the maximum optical
scanning angles are 5.99° in the x direction and 12.61° in the y
direction. For AC driving, the resonant scanning frequencies are
18.2 Hz for the x scan and 19 Hz for the y scan, with
maximum scanning angles of 7.87° for the x scan and 7.19° for the
y scan.
Optomechanical microgear cavity
Authors: Zurita Roberto O. , Kersul Cauê M. , Schilder Nick J. , Wiederhecker Gustavo S. , Alegre Thiago P. Mayer
Published: November 2024

We introduce a novel optomechanical microgear cavity for both optical and mechanical isotropic materials, featuring a single-etch configuration. The design leverages a conjunction of phononic and photonic crystal-like structures to achieve remarkable confinement of both optical and mechanical fields. The microgear cavity we designed in amorphous silicon nitride exhibits a mechanical resonance at 4.8 GHz, and whispering gallery modes in the near-infrared, with scattering-limited quality factors above the reported material limit of up to 107. Notably, the optomechanical photoelastic overlap contribution reaches 75% of the ideal configuration seen in a floating ring structure.
Tunable narrow linewidth DFB laser diode with artificially enhanced Rayleigh scattering-based external distributed feedback
Authors: Li Jiali , Wei Da , Shi Leilei , Jin Liyang , Zhai Lei , Yang Shumin , Xu Minzhi , Li Yujia , Huang Ligang , Zhu Tao
Published: November 2024

We experimentally demonstrate a tunable narrow-linewidth distributed feedback (DFB) laser diode based on the artificially enhanced Rayleigh backscattering in a piece of high numerical aperture single-mode fiber. Taking advantage of femtosecond laser pulses induced randomly refractive index modulation in the core of the high numerical aperture single-mode fiber with a length of 15 m and a numerical aperture of 0.35, Rayleigh backscattering is artificially enhanced by 60 dB. By importing the external distributed feedback into the lasing cavity of the DFB laser diode, the frequency noise is suppressed from 1.2 × 105 Hz2/Hz to 5.6 Hz2/Hz, corresponding to a frequency noise suppression ratio of 43.31 dB. Moreover, the Lorentzian linewidth of the DFB laser diode measured by the delayed self-heterodyne interferometry is narrowed from 654 kHz to 1.24 kHz. It is kept at the same level in its full wavelength tuning range of ∼2 nm. The proposed method employing artificially enhanced Rayleigh scattering as the external feedback provides a method for compact integrated narrow linewidth fiber or semiconductor lasers, especially tunable lasers benefitting from the wavelength adaptivity of Rayleigh backscattering-based distributed feedback.
Analytical solution to the problem of polarization drift compensation in an all-fiber QKD system
Authors: Mayboroda Vladimir , Rudavin Nikita , Kupriyanov Pavel , Fat’yanov Oleg , Shakhovoy Roman
Published: November 2024

A method for simultaneous compensation of polarization drift in a fiber-optic quantum channel, and a fully fiber-optic receiver has been successfully developed, implemented, and tested using a commercial QKD system. The method is based on the exact analytical solution we derived, which gives the necessary corrective transformation for polarization. Noise and imperfections in any realistic system require iterative application of the computed corrections. In our case, polarization drift compensation was completed on average in 2-3 iterations. This is an improvement by a factor of 10-100 compared to the common methods based on hill-climbing algorithms.
Deep learning-driven automatic nuclei segmentation of live-cell chromatin-sensitive partial wave spectroscopic microscopy imaging
Authors: Alom Md Shahin , Daneshkhah Ali , Acosta Nicolas , Anthony Nick , Pujadas Liwag Emily , Backman Vadim , Gaire Sunil Kumar
Published: November 2024

Chromatin-sensitive partial wave spectroscopic (csPWS) microscopy offers a non-invasive glimpse into the mass density distribution of cellular structures at the nanoscale, leveraging the spectroscopic information. Such capability allows us to analyze the chromatin structure and organization and the global transcriptional state of the cell nuclei for the study of its role in carcinogenesis. Accurate segmentation of the nuclei in csPWS microscopy images is an essential step in isolating them for further analysis. However, manual segmentation is error-prone, biased, time-consuming, and laborious, resulting in disrupted nuclear boundaries with partial or over-segmentation. Here, we present an innovative deep-learning-driven approach to automate the accurate nuclei segmentation of label-free (without any exogenous fluorescent staining) live cell csPWS microscopy imaging data. Our approach, csPWS-seg, harnesses the convolutional neural networks-based U-Net model with an attention mechanism to automate the accurate cell nuclei segmentation of csPWS microscopy images. We leveraged the structural, physical, and biological differences between the cytoplasm, nucleus, and nuclear periphery to construct three distinct csPWS feature images for nucleus segmentation. Using these images of HCT116 cells, csPWS-seg achieved superior performance with a median intersection over union (IoU) of 0.80 and a Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) score of 0.89. The csPWS-seg outperformed the segmentation performance over several other commonly used deep learning-based segmentation models for biomedical imaging, such as U-Net, SE-U-Net, Mask R-CNN, and DeepLabV3+, marking a significant improvement in segmentation accuracy. Further, we analyzed the performance of our proposed model with four loss functions: binary cross-entropy loss, focal loss, Dice loss, and Jaccard loss separately, as well as a combination of all of these loss functions. The csPWS-seg with focal loss or a combination of these loss functions provided the same best results compared to other loss functions. The automatic and accurate nuclei segmentation offered by the csPWS-seg not only automates, accelerates, and streamlines csPWS data analysis but also enhances the reliability of subsequent chromatin analysis research, paving the way for more accurate diagnostics, treatment, and understanding of cellular mechanisms for carcinogenesis.
Ultra-compact broadband polarizing beam splitter a using tilted nano-grating-based bridge waveguide
Authors: Liu Haipeng , Jiang Xiaorui , Zhang Zihao , Ge Jinman , Sun Quancheng , Li Junhao , Yang Cunliang , Wang Jingjing , Feng Jijun
Published: November 2024

An ultra-compact broadband silicon polarizing beam splitter is demonstrated with the assistance of a tilted nano-grating-based bridge waveguide. By tilting the grating elements to gain polarization control over the anisotropy of the equivalent medium, a new design freedom to engineer the effective mode index and circumvent small variable duty cycles can be adopted to benefit the device fabrication. The transverse magnetic (TM) light can be resonantly coupled to the cross port, while the transverse-electric (TE) light can almost completely output from the through port. The length of the coupling region is only 13.6 µm, which can realize an extinction ratio of 30.57 dB for TM light or 31.15 dB for TE light at a 1550-nm wavelength theoretically. The fabricated device can achieve an extinction ratio of 29.35 dB for TM or 22.6 dB for TE light with a low excess loss, and an extinction ratio of more than 20 dB can be realized in the wavelength range from 1525 to 1610 nm for both polarizations. The presented device also shows a good fabrication tolerance, which would facilitate its practical applications in commercial photonic integrated circuits.
Transition from quantum-to-classical random walk distributions with spin–orbit modes
Authors: Lamego V. S. , Cruz G. T. C. , Lima D. R. A. B. , Al-Kuwari S. M. , Huguenin J. A. O.
Published: November 2024

Quantum walks (QW) offer a speed-up advantage over random walks in quantum search applications. We present an experimental study of the transition from quantum-to-classical random walk using an emulation of the decoherence process for polarization qubits that exploits maximally non-separable spin–orbit modes of an intense laser beam for the first, to the best of our knowledge, time. We are able to continuously control the input polarization mode in an all-optical quantum walk circuit to observe transitions associated with quantum, quantum stochastic, and classical random walk distributions. The results are in agreement with theoretical expectations.
The association of bearing surface materials with the risk of revision following primary total hip replacement: A cohort analysis of 1,026,481 hip replacements from the National Joint Registry
Authors: Whitehouse Michael R. , Patel Rita , French Jonathan M. R. , Beswick Andrew D. , Navvuga Patricia , Marques Elsa M. R. , Blom Ashley W. , Lenguerrand Erik
Published: November 2024

Background

The risk of re-operation, otherwise known as revision, following primary hip replacement depends in part on the prosthesis implant materials used. Current performance evidences are based on a broad categorisation grouping together different materials with potentially varying revision risks.

We investigated the revision rate of primary total hip replacement (THR) reported in the National Joint Registry by specific types of bearing surfaces used.

Methods and findings

We analysed THR procedures across all orthopaedic units in England and Wales. All patients who received a primary THR between 2003 and 2019 in the public and private sectors were included. We investigated the all-cause and indication-specific risks of revision using flexible parametric survival analyses to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs). We identified primary THRs with heads and monobloc cups or modular acetabular component THRs with head and shell/liner combinations.

A total of 1,026,481 primary THRs were analysed (Monobloc: n = 378,979 and Modular: n = 647,502) with 20,869 (2%) of these primary THRs subsequently undergoing a revision episode (Monobloc: n = 7,381 and Modular: n = 13,488).

For monobloc implants, compared to implants with a cobalt chrome head and highly crosslinked polyethylene (HCLPE) cup, the all-cause risk of revision for monobloc acetabular implant was higher for patients with cobalt chrome (hazard rate at 10 years after surgery: 1.28 95% confidence intervals [1.10, 1.48]) or stainless steel head (1.18 [1.02, 1.36]) and non-HCLPE cup. The risk of revision was lower for patients with a delta ceramic head and HCLPE cup implant, at any postoperative period (1.18 [1.02, 1.36]).

For modular implants, compared to patients with a cobalt chrome head and HCLPE liner primary THR, the all-cause risk of revision for modular acetabular implant varied non-constantly. THRs with a delta ceramic (0.79 [0.73, 0.85]) or oxidised zirconium (0.65 [0.55, 0.77]) head and HCLPE liner had a lower risk of revision throughout the entire postoperative period.

Similar results were found when investigating the indication-specific risks of revision for both the monobloc and modular acetabular implants.

While this large, nonselective analysis is the first to adjust for numerous characteristics collected in the registry, residual confounding cannot be rule out.

Conclusions

Prosthesis revision is influenced by the prosthesis materials used in the primary procedure with the lowest risk for implants with delta ceramic or oxidised zirconium head and an HCLPE liner/cup. Further work is required to determine the association of implant bearing materials with the risk of rehospitalisation, re-operation other than revision, mortality, and the cost-effectiveness of these materials.
Identifying key genes in COPD risk via multiple population data integration and gene prioritization
Authors: Zainab Afeefa , Anzawa Hayato , Kinoshita Kengo
Published: November 2024

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a highly prevalent disease, making it a leading cause of death worldwide. Several genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been conducted to identify loci associated with COPD. However, different ancestral genetic compositions for the same disease across various populations present challenges in studies involving multi-population data. In this study, we aimed to identify protein-coding genes associated with COPD by prioritizing genes for each population’s GWAS data, and then combining these results instead of performing a common meta-GWAS due to significant sample differences in different population cohorts. Lung function measurements are often used as indicators for COPD risk prediction; therefore, we used lung function GWAS data from two populations, Japanese and European, and re-evaluated them using a multi-population gene prioritization approach. This study identified significant single nucleotide variants (SNPs) in both Japanese and European populations. The Japanese GWAS revealed nine significant SNPs and four lead SNPs in three genomic risk loci. In comparison, the European population showed five lead SNPs and 17 independent significant SNPs in 21 genomic risk loci. A comparative analysis of the results found 28 similar genes in the prioritized gene lists of both populations. We also performed a standard meta-analysis for comparison and identified 18 common genes in both populations. Our approach demonstrated that trans-ethnic linkage disequilibrium (LD) could detect some significant novel associations and genes that have yet to be reported or were missed in previous analyses. The study suggests that a gene prioritization approach for multi-population analysis using GWAS data may be a feasible method to identify new associations in data with genetic diversity across different populations. It also highlights the possibility of identifying generalized and population-specific treatment and diagnostic options.
Evaluating male sexual function and reproductive health during Omicron outbreak in China
Authors: Xiao Jiatong , Liu Bolong , Matsika Juliet , Wu Ronghua , Tang Zheng , Xu Hui , Dai Xiaowei , Xie Guoou , Liu Fabang , Dun Jingeng , Zu Xiongbing , Chen Jinbo , Kuang Xiaogen , Guo Tao
Published: November 2024

There are currently no studies exploring omicron infection and male sexual function and semen quality. Our aim was to estimate changes in sexual function and semen quality in men recovering from infection since the COVID-19 Omicron pandemic started in China in late 2022. We collected 1540 questionnaires and assessed male function before infection and acute phase after infection by using International Index of Erectile Function-5, Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool, and Arizona Sexual Experience Scale. We also collected the before and after semen analysis results of 247 male patients. During the acute phase after infection, the proportion of erectile dysfunction was significantly higher than before infection, but ejaculatory function was not significantly altered; In addition, semen analysis showed significant difference in semen concentration, semen activity and PR a+b sperm forward movement after infection compared to pre-infection.: COVID-19 Omicron can affect erectile function as well as sexual experience in male patients in the acute phase. Decreased sexual function due to COVID-19 Omicron may be related to body temperature and anxiety during infection.
A qualitative study of perceived barriers and facilitators to point-of-care ultrasound use among Veterans Affairs Emergency Department providers
Authors: Theophanous Rebecca G. , Tupetz Anna , Ragsdale Luna , Krishnan Padmaja , Vigue Raelynn , Herman Carson , White Jaran , Staton Catherine A. , Eucker Stephanie A.
Published: November 2024

Consistent point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) use and retention is difficult to achieve, with prior studies citing a lack of provider training, credentialed ultrasound users, and image review as contributing factors. We aimed to assess user feedback on a POCUS implementation intervention by identifying and characterizing the perceived barriers and facilitators at a single Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital using the consolidated framework for implementation research (CFIR). We implemented a co-designed multifaceted training intervention at a VA emergency department (ED) to enhance POCUS usability and sustainability from November 2021-October 2022. We performed semi-structured interviews with 13 attending physicians and 1 Advanced Practice Provider (average of 15 years of clinical practice) in August-October 2022. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and double-coded using inductive content analysis and mapped to the CFIR, using deductive coding strategies. Through inductive analysis, five major themes emerged: 1) POCUS workflow convenience and efficiency, 2) ED environment and resources, 3) perceptions of high clinical utility of POCUS, 4) perceptions of high educational utility of POCUS, and 5) peer influences, feedback, and teaching. Within these major themes, POCUS facilitator subthemes include: machine availability, use in resident teaching, use in ED procedures, hands-on group training, colleagues’ contagiousness and enthusiasm, and support from ultrasound faculty, ED, and hospital leadership. POCUS barrier subthemes were: time constraints, alternative radiology imaging availability, cumbersome steps for image acquisition and documentation/storage, and limited POCUS knowledge and skills comfort. Additional needs identified through CFIR mapping (archiving software, image review process, and faculty credentialing), require development locally to strengthen provider skills and reduce duplicated radiology studies. Our model is a reproducible clinical tool to evaluate barriers and facilitators to POCUS program implementation at any site. Future work should tailor POCUS education to individuals, use momentum from positive peer feedback including “ED clinical champions”, and integrate ED/hospital leadership support for program sustainability.
Downscaling air temperatures for high-resolution niche modeling in a valley of the Amazon lowland forests: A case study on the microclima R package
Authors: Pohl M. J. , Lehnert L. , Thies B. , Seeger K. , Berdugo M. B. , Gradstein S. R. , Bader M. Y. , Bendix J.
Published: November 2024

The forests of the Amazon basin are threatened by climate and land use changes. Due to the transition towards a drier climate, moisture-dependent organisms such as canopy epiphytes are particularly affected. Even if the topography in the Amazon lowland is moderate, mesoscale nocturnal katabatic flows result from cold air production related to radiative cooling. From a certain level of mass the cold air starts to flow downslope towards the valley centers leading to temperature inversions. The resulting cooling in the valleys drives localized fog formation in the valleys at night. This correlates with high epiphyte abundance and diversity in the valleys, which is much less pronounced upslope. The underlying temperature dynamics are, however, not sufficiently included in coarse-resolution reanalysis models such as ERA5-Land. Since high resolution climate data are needed e.g. for proper niche modeling of locally distributed species such as canopy epiphytes, downscaling models such as microclima have been developed and include micro- and mesoscale effects. However, it is unclear how well the elevation-related diurnal course of air temperature can be simulated. Here, we test functions for downscaling coarse-resolution temperature data to high spatial resolution data implemented in the R-package microclima for the South American tropical lowland forests. To do so we compared microclima-downscaled ERA5-Land air temperature data with meteorological station data. We found that the microclima functions only properly detect 73 temperature inversions out of 412 nocturnal cold air drainage (CAD) events during the dry season study period and only 18 out of 400 during the wet season with default settings. By modifying default values such as the emissivity threshold and time frames of possible CAD condition detection, we found 345 of 412 CAD events during the dry season and 177 out of 400 during the wet season. Despite problems with the distinction between CAD and non-CAD events the microclima algorithms show difficulties in correctly modeling the diurnal course of the temperature data and the amplitudes of elevational temperature gradients. For future studies focusing on temperature downscaling approaches, the modules implemented in the microclima package have to be adjusted for their usage in tropical lowland forest studies and beyond.
Neutralizing antibodies and safety of a COVID-19 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 wild-type and Omicron variants in solid cancer patients
Authors: Chewaskulyong Busyamas , Satjaritanun Pattarapong , Ketpueak Thanika , Suksombooncharoen Thatthan , Charoentum Chaiyut , Nuchpong Nuttaphoom , Tantraworasin Apichat
Published: November 2024

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess the seroconversion rate and percent inhibition of neutralizing antibodies against the wild-type and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2 in patients with solid cancer who received two COVID-19 vaccine doses by comparing chemotherapy and nonchemotherapy groups.

Methods

This prospective cohort study enrolled 115 cancer patients from Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, Sriphat Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, and Chiang Mai Klaimor Hospital, Chiang Mai, Thailand, between August 2021 and February 2022, with data from 91 patients who received two COVID-19 vaccine doses analyzed. Participants received vaccines as part of their personal vaccination programs, including various mRNA and non-mRNA vaccine combinations. Blood samples were collected at baseline, on day 28, and at 6 months post-second dose to assess neutralizing antibodies. The primary outcome was the seroconversion rate against the wild-type and Omicron variants on day 28. Secondary outcomes included seroconversion at 6 months, factors associated with seroconversion, and safety.

Results

Among the participants, 45% were receiving chemotherapy. On day 28, seroconversion rates were 77% and 62% for the wild-type and Omicron variants, respectively. Chemotherapy did not significantly affect seroconversion rates (p = 0.789 for wild type, p = 0.597 for Omicron). The vaccine type administered was positively correlated with seroconversion, with an adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 25.86 (1.39–478.06) for the wild type and 17.38 (3.65–82.66) for the Omicron variant with the primary heterologous vaccine regimen. Grades 1 and 2 adverse events were observed in 34.0% and 19.7% of participants, respectively.

Conclusions

Despite the lower seroconversion rate against the Omicron variant, no significant difference was observed between the chemotherapy and nonchemotherapy groups. COVID-19 vaccinations demonstrated good tolerability in this cohort. These findings highlight the importance of vaccine safety and immunogenicity in cancer patients and can inform tailored vaccination strategies for this vulnerable population.
Fear of Missing Out’s (FoMO) relationship with moral judgment and behavior
Authors: McKee Paul C. , Senthilnathan Ithika , Budnick Christopher J. , Bind Marie-Abèle , Antonios Imad , Sinnott-Armstrong Walter
Published: November 2024

Across three online studies, we examined the relationship between the Fear of Missing Out (FoMO) and moral cognition and behavior. Study 1 (N = 283) examined whether FoMO influenced moral awareness, judgments, and recalled and predicted behavior of first-person moral violations in either higher or lower social settings. Study 2 (N = 821) examined these relationships in third-person judgments with varying agent identities in relation to the participant (agent = stranger, friend, or someone disliked). Study 3 (N = 604) examined the influence of recalling activities either engaged in or missed out on these relationships. Using the Rubin Causal Model, we created hypothetical randomized experiments from our real-world randomized experimental data with treatment conditions for lower or higher FoMO (median split), matched for relevant covariates, and compared differences in FoMO groups on moral awareness, judgments, and several other behavioral outcomes. Using a randomization-based approach, we examined these relationships with Fisher Tests and computed 95% Fisherian intervals for constant treatment effects consistent with the matched data and the hypothetical FoMO intervention. All three studies provide evidence that FoMO is robustly related to giving less severe judgments of moral violations. Moreover, those with higher FoMO were found to report a greater likelihood of committing moral violations in the past, knowing people who have committed moral violations in the past, being more likely to commit them in the future, and knowing people who are likely to commit moral violations in the future.
Effects of ageism on burnout among clinical nurses
Authors: Park Sukjae , Lee Hyunmin , Seo Minsook , Kim Hee Kyung , Shin Eunhee
Published: November 2024

Nurses, as healthcare professionals who frequently interact with older patients in clinical settings, play a crucial role in providing direct care and services to older patients. However, nurses caring for older patients often experience substantial physical and emotional exhaustion, which can trigger a loss of motivation, feelings of helplessness, and burnout. The current study, conducted in Korea, investigated the impact of ageism on burnout among clinical nurses. To determine whether ageism was a significant predictor of nurse burnout, a structured questionnaire was distributed to 332 nurses at two hospitals. Multiple regression analysis then showed that ageism (B = .066, p < .001), female sex (B = .530, p = .003), and lower preference for geriatric nursing (B = .357, p = .002) were significantly associated with burnout. Our findings confirmed that ageism was strongly associated with nurse burnout, suggesting the need to develop interventions or training programs that can change nurses’ perception of older people and facilitate emotional change.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on stress and coping in parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Knedlíková Lenka , Dědková Lenka , Kolář Senad , Česká Katarína , Vyhnalová Martina , Stroupková Lucie , Pejčochová Jana , Pavel Theiner , Lacko David , Horák Ondřej , Ošlejšková Hana , Danhofer Pavlína
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impairments in communication, social interaction, and repetitive behavior. The declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 resulted in significant changes in daily life due to restrictive measures. This period posed particular challenges for families with children living with autism, given the limitations in medical care and social services.

Objective

This study aimed to understand how families with autistic children perceive stress during the pandemic and the coping strategies employed in unexpected situations.

Method

A total of 44 families with children with ASD and 300 control families, including 44 control families in a matched subsample, were included in the study. To assess stress and parental coping with COVID-19-related stress, the Responses to Stress Questionnaire (Adult Self-Report RSQ–COVID-19) was utilized.

Results

Caregivers of autistic children experienced significantly higher stress levels (p = .027, d = 0.479) during the pandemic, with notable stressors such as limited access to medical care and challenges associated with remote work. Despite expectations, coping strategy differences were not statistically significant.

Conclusion

Families and supporters of children with autism naturally encounter various experiences and challenges stemming from their additional needs. Our study’s results highlight an accentuation of stress during challenging situations. As these situations may recur in the future, there is a need to design and implement support plans for these families, appropriate intervention programs, and preparations for the utilization of telemedicine tools.
A major role of class III HD-ZIPs in promoting sugar beet cyst nematode parasitism in Arabidopsis
Authors: Liu Xunliang , Mitchum Melissa G.
Published: November 2024

Cyst nematodes use a stylet to secrete CLE-like peptide effector mimics into selected root cells of their host plants to hijack endogenous plant CLE signaling pathways for feeding site (syncytium) formation. Here, we identified ATHB8, encoding a HD-ZIP III family transcription factor, as a downstream component of the CLE signaling pathway in syncytium formation. ATHB8 is expressed in the early stages of syncytium initiation, and then transitions to neighboring cells of the syncytium as it expands; an expression pattern coincident with auxin response at the infection site. Conversely, MIR165a, which expresses in endodermal cells and moves into the vasculature to suppress HD-ZIP III TFs, is down-regulated near the infection site. Knocking down HD-ZIP III TFs by inducible over-expression of MIR165a in Arabidopsis dramatically reduced female development of the sugar beet cyst nematode (Heterodera schachtii). HD-ZIP III TFs are known to function downstream of auxin to promote cellular quiescence and define stem cell organizer cells in vascular patterning. Taken together, our results suggest that HD-ZIP III TFs function together with a CLE and auxin signaling network to promote syncytium formation, possibly by inducing root cells into a quiescent status and priming them for initial syncytial cell establishment and/or subsequent cellular incorporation.
A viral p3a protein targets and inhibits TaDOF transcription factors to promote the expression of susceptibility genes and facilitate viral infection
Authors: Tian Shuyuan , Song Qingting , Cheng Yipeng , Zhou Wenmei , Wu Kuan , Zhao Yu , Wu Yunfeng , Zhao Lei
Published: November 2024

The interactions among viruses and host plants are complex and fascinating because these organisms interact with and adapt to each other continuously. Many plant transcription factors play important roles in plant growth and development and in the resistance to viral infection. To facilitate the infection of plants, some viral proteins typically target and inhibit the function of plant transcription factors. In this study, we found an interesting phenomenon wherein the p3a protein of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) can interact with the zinc finger domain of the TaDOF transcription factor in wheat; the zinc finger domain of TaDOF can interact with the promoter of TaHSP70 and inhibit the transcription of the TaHSP70 gene; and p3a interacts with the TaDOF zinc finger domain through competitive binding, alleviating TaDOF zinc finger domain-mediated inhibition of the TaHSP70 promoter, thereby promoting TaHSP70 expression and promoting infection by BYDV. This study demonstrates that BYDV p3a is an immunosuppressive factor and enriches our understanding of the pathogenesis of BYDV.
Exploring the challenges faced by elementary school students while learning socioscientific issues through comics
Authors: Abrori Fadhlan Muchlas , Lavicza Zsolt , Anđić Branko
Published: November 2024

The use of comics in education presents significant promise as a tool for enhancing comprehension of educational concepts and advancing scientific literacy. Our research is centred on the development of comics to introduce socioscientific issues (SSI) content to elementary school students, recognizing SSI as a complex societal concern intertwined with science, encompassing diverse scientific and social perspectives. This study adopts a case study approach and places a substantial focus on assessing the challenges faced by students in their utilization. We probed the obstacles experienced by elementary school students when engaging with SSI-laden comics through semi-structured interviews with ten participants. Thematic analysis was applied to scrutinize the collected data, leading to the identification of three primary challenge-related themes: technical complexities of reading comics, unfamiliarity with genre conventions and difficulties in grasping SSIs. Most of our findings were rooted in both the structural aspects of comics (including technical reading and genre) and the complexity of SSI content. These insights offer valuable guidance for our future endeavours and for researchers venturing into the creation of comics for similar educational content.
Educational futures
Authors: Winters Tara
Published: November 2024

Education is undergoing much change post a global pandemic in response to inequitable access, the pervasiveness of technology and in preparation for future challenges. Principal Editor Tara Winters observes how many of the pedagogies and practices present in art education and research align with future-oriented transformations of education. Articles in this issue reveal and envision pedagogical design and action that parallel many themes occurring in contemporary discourses on thinking differently about learning, teaching, knowing and being in the world.
Consensus statement of the Russian society of obstetricians and gynecologists and the Russian association of mammologists on the effect of combined oral contraceptives on breast tissue
Authors: Sukhikh G. T. , Serov V. N. , Rozhkova N. I. , Abashova E. I. , Aganezova N. V. , Andreeva E. N. , Baranov I. I. , Bezhenar V. F. , Dobrokhotova Yu. E. , Yenkova E. V. , Karakhalis L. Yu. , Katkova N. Yu. , Оbоskalova T. A. , Protasova A. E. , Sokolova T. M. , Sotnikova L. S. , Stenina M. B. , Tapilskaya N. I. , Khamoshina M. B. , Yureneva S. V. , Yarmolinskaya M. I.
Published: November 2024

The All-Russian Expert Concilium about the influence of combined oral contraceptives on breast tissue took place in the 18th of April 2024 in Moscow. It is necessary to study how to manage controlled risk factors of malign breast tumours. The influence of combined oral contraceptives on female breast tissue is widely discussed due to enlargement of possible estrogen components list. It is also actual to study if the combines oral contraceptives may act as potential enhancer/silencer for benign mammary dysplasia and breast cancer risk. The present article demonstrates. Consensus statement of the Russian society of obstetricians and gynecologists and the Russian association of mammologists on the effect of combined oral contraceptives on breast tissue.