bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experiments on seepage-triggered cliff landslides using cohesive wet sand
Authors: Shibuya Fumi , Sumita Ikuro
Published: August 2022

Unsaturated wet sand possesses capillary cohesion that is lost when it becomes saturated. Thus, it can form a cliff, but a slide may be triggered upon saturation. Here we conduct cliff landslide experiments using cohesive wet sand where the groundwater seeps in from the hydraulic head $$h_\mathrm{w}$$

h
w

located at the rear of a cliff (height H) and vary these parameters. Importantly, we measure both the total stress $$\sigma$$
σ
and pore water pressure u to obtain the effective stress $$\sigma ' = \sigma - u$$

σ
′

=
σ
-
u

. The experiments show that for a fixed H ($$\simeq 20$$

≃
20

cm), a slide is triggered when the $$h_\mathrm{w}$$

h
w

exceeds a critical level. The slide occurs nearly simultaneous or after the groundwater seeps out from the cliff toe and the vertical velocity increases approximately exponentially during the slide. As $$h_\mathrm{w}$$

h
w

rises, 2 slides are triggered that progress downslope, and for the highest $$h_\mathrm{w}$$

h
w

, the whole cliff is pushed forward after the first slide. On the other hand, when the H is high, the slide becomes deep seated. The time needed for the water to seep out from the cliff toe decreases with the $$h_\mathrm{w}$$

h
w

and increases with the H, as modeled by a permeable flow with a permeability that decreases with the $$\sigma '$$

σ
′

. The $$\sigma _\mathrm{z}$$

σ
z

(vertical) is initially uneven and deviates from the lithostatic value by arching. For tall cliffs, the $$\sigma _\mathrm{z}$$

σ
z

near the cliff toe falls precipitously soon after the seepage starts prior to the rise in u, indicating that a stress redistribution occurred as the wet sand loses cohesion and slip plane develops. This also indicates the efficacy of $$\sigma$$
σ
measurement because the changes are detected before the groundwater arrives. A stability analysis that models the drop in cohesion and a rise in u explains the cliff becoming unstable with $$h_\mathrm{w}$$

h
w

and the slide becoming deep seated with H. However, it overestimates the factor of safety $$F_\mathrm{s}$$

F
s

because it does not include the capillary rise and the fall in $$\sigma _\mathrm{z}$$

σ
z

.
Pegfilgrastim-induced vasculitis of the subclavian and basilar artery complicated by subarachnoid hemorrhage in a breast cancer patient: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Seto Yukiko , Kittaka Nobuyoshi , Taniguchi Azusa , Kanaoka Haruka , Nakajima Satomi , Oyama Yuri , Kusama Hiroki , Watanabe Noriyuki , Matsui Saki , Nishio Minako , Fujisawa Fumie , Takano Koji , Arita Hideyuki , Nakayama Takahiro
Published: August 2022

Background

Pegfilgrastim (PEG) is a sustained-duration pegylated form of filgrastim, a granulocyte-colony stimulating factor agent that is widely used as prophylaxis against febrile neutropenia during chemotherapy. We report the case of a breast cancer patient who developed PEG-induced vasculitis complicated by subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and review the relevant literature.

Case presentation

A 48-year-old woman had undergone surgery for breast cancer and was receiving docetaxel and cyclophosphamide as adjuvant chemotherapy (docetaxel 75 mg/m2, cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2); on day 4 of treatment, PEG had been administered. On day 14, she was admitted to hospital with fever, general malaise, and neck pain, and her C-reactive protein level was found to be high (12.65 mg/dL). Although infection was initially suspected, antimicrobial treatment was ineffective and other laboratory test results were negative for this. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography on day 22 showed thickened vessel walls in the left subclavian artery, the origin of the common carotid artery, and the thoracoabdominal aorta. On day 26, magnetic resonance imaging of the head to investigate possible causes of headache showed signs consistent with SAH, and magnetic resonance angiography images showed irregularity in the basilar artery wall; the findings of both studies were considered to be due to PEG-induced vasculitis. Once treatment with prednisolone 40 mg/day had started, the wall thickening and irregularity improved.

Conclusion

Although an uncommon adverse effect, vasculitis affecting vessels of various sizes may be caused by PEG. To the best of our knowledge, this report is the first to describe a case of G-CSF-induced vasculitis complicated by SAH. In cases of persistent high fever and elevated inflammatory response after PEG administration and in the absence of infection, clinicians should consider the possibility of drug-induced vasculitis.
Malnutrition among hospitalized children 12–59 months of age in Abyan and Lahj Governorates / Yemen
Authors: Al-Waleedi Ali Ahmed , Bin-Ghouth Abdulla Salem
Published: August 2022

Background

The analysis of acute malnutrition in 2018 for the Integrated Phase Classification of Food Security in Yemen shows that high malnutrition rates are present in Abyan governorate (23%) and Lahj governorate (21%). This analysis was community based addressed all children and mostly due to problems related to food intake. The role of diseases was not yet addressed in Yemen. The aim of this study is to assess acute and chronic malnutrition among hospitalized children at 12–59 months of age in Lahj and Abyan governorates in Yemen.

Methodology

A cross-sectional, multi-center study is designed. The assessment of the nutritional status was measured by standardized anthropometry of 951 sick children at 12–59 months of age.

Results

The prevalence of Global acute malnutrition (GAM) among the sick children seeking care in health facilities in Lahj and Abyan is 21%. More specifically; the prevalence of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) is 15.1% while the prevalence of severe acute malnutrition (SAM) is 6.2%. The prevalence of acute malnutrition (wasting) among the studied sick children in lahj is 23.4% while in Abyan is 19.3%. The prevalence of MAM in Lahj is 17.7% and the prevalence of SAM is 5.7%. The prevalence of acute malnutrition (wasting) in Abyan is 12.6% while the prevalence of SAM in Abyan is 6.7%. The prevalence of acute malnutrition among male children (25.2%) is significantly higher than among female children (17.5%). The prevalence of the chronic malnutrition (Stunting) in the studied sick children is 41.3%; the prevalence of stunting in Lahj is 41% while in Abyan is 41.7%.

Conclusions

High acute and chronic malnutrition rates were identified among sick children seeking care in health facilities in lahj and Abyan, and higher than the SPHERE indicators of malnutrition. Boys are more exposed than girls to acute and chronic malnutrition.
Safety of psychological interventions for adult post-traumatic stress disorder: meta-analysis on the incidence and relative risk of deterioration, adverse events and serious adverse events
Authors: Hoppen Thole H. , Lindemann Anna S. , Morina Nexhmedin
Published: August 2022

Background

Attention on harmful effects of psychological interventions for adult post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has increased, yet a comprehensive meta-analysis is lacking.

Aims

To summarise incidences and relative risks of deterioration, adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs) in trials of psychological interventions for adult PTSD.

Method

We searched MEDLINE, PsycInfo, Web of Science and PTSDpubs from inception to 21 April 2022 for sufficiently large (n ≥ 20) randomised controlled trials (RCTs) reporting on the incidence of harms.

Results

We included 56 RCTs (4230 patients). Incidences of harms were generally low (0–5%). Psychological interventions were associated with decreased risk of deterioration relative to passive (RR = 0.21, 95% CI 0.15–0.28) and active control conditions (RR = 0.36, 95% CI 0.14–0.92). Decreased risk was even more pronounced in sensitivity analyses on trials exclusively delivering treatments face to face. When compared with other psychological interventions, trauma-focused cognitive–behavioural therapy (TF-CBT) was associated with decreased risk of SAEs (RR = 0.54, 95% CI 0.31–0.95) and with no differential risk of deterioration and AEs.

Conclusions

The current evidence base suggests that psychological interventions are safe for most adults with PTSD. In none of the analyses were psychological interventions associated with an increased risk of harm compared with control conditions. TF-CBT was found at least as safe as other psychological interventions. Individual face-to-face delivery might be the safest delivery format. However, more data are needed to draw firmer conclusions. We encourage research teams to routinely and thoroughly assess and report the incidence of harms and their causes.
Disruption of Growth Hormone Receptor in Adipocytes Improves Insulin Sensitivity and Lifespan in Mice
Authors: List Edward O , Berryman Darlene E , Slyby Julie , Duran-Ortiz Silvana , Funk Kevin , Bisset Elise S , Howlett Susan E , Kopchick John J
Published: August 2022

Growth hormone receptor knockout (GHRKO) mice have been used for 25 years to uncover some of the many actions of growth hormone (GH). Since they are extremely long-lived with enhanced insulin sensitivity and protected from multiple age-related diseases, they are often used to study healthy aging. To determine the effect that adipose tissue has on the GHRKO phenotype, our laboratory recently created and characterized adipocyte-specific GHRKO (AdGHRKO) mice, which have increased adiposity but appear healthy with enhanced insulin sensitivity. To test the hypothesis that removal of GH action in adipocytes might partially replicate the increased lifespan and healthspan observed in global GHRKO mice, we assessed adiposity, cytokines/adipokines, glucose homeostasis, frailty, and lifespan in aging AdGHRKO mice of both sexes. Our results show that disrupting the GH receptor gene in adipocytes improved insulin sensitivity at advanced age and increased lifespan in male AdGHRKO mice. AdGHRKO mice also exhibited increased fat mass, reduced circulating levels of insulin, c-peptide, adiponectin, resistin, and improved frailty scores with increased grip strength at advanced ages. Comparison of published mean lifespan data from GHRKO mice to that from AdGHRKO and muscle-specific GHRKO mice suggests that approximately 23% of lifespan extension in male GHRKO is due to GHR disruption in adipocytes vs approximately 19% in muscle. Females benefited less from GHR disruption in these 2 tissues with approximately 19% and approximately 0%, respectively. These data indicate that removal of GH’s action, even in a single tissue, is sufficient for observable health benefits that promote long-term health, reduce frailty, and increase longevity.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Presenting With Neurological Signs During Hysteroscopic Bipolar Surgery With Spinal Anesthesia: Two Case Reports
Authors: Oillic Pierre-Antoine , Trillaud Emma , Bornemann Yannis , Rigolot Raphaèle , Fernandez Hervé , Benhamou Dan
Published: August 2022

Loss of consciousness suddenly occurred in 2 healthy and nonsmoking patients undergoing bipolar resection for intramural myomas under spinal anesthesia. One patient had nystagmus and emesis. In both cases, neurological symptoms were of short duration. All other usual causes were excluded. Initial venous carboxyhemoglobin concentrations were 7% and 23%, respectively. These concentrations decreased within several hours with oxygen therapy. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a product of diathermic vaporization and may enter the blood and cause intraoperative cardiovascular symptoms. These are the first cases with neurological presentation. The CO poisoning was probably diagnosed early because the patients were awake.
Tu Er DaiPeasant Landlords and the Infrastructures of Accumulation in Guangzhou's Urban Villages
Authors: Chu Nellie
Published: August 2022

This article elaborates on the unmaking of the peasant classes among the tu er dai 土二代 (peasant landlords), with a particular focus on their claims to contested wealth through rent-seeking and other accumulative practices in Guangzhou's urban villages. E. P. Thompson's classic text, The Making of the English Working Class (1963), demonstrates the formation of class consciousness as historically embedded within cultural meanings, qualitative conditions of industrialization, and agency of the working people. The case of the tu er dai, however, lays bare how the historical unmaking of the Maoist peasant classes entails the emaciation of rural populations, as Yan Hairong has described, through the intensified extraction and exploitation of the migrant classes. The tu er dai is a place-based group of former peasants who have quickly elevated to the rentier class thanks to their collective possession of use rights to village land. By remaining suspended between the spatial and subjective designations of the rural and the urban, village members find themselves strategically stalling negotiations with the municipal government in the selling of their use rights via the corporate lineage. Meanwhile, they intensify the predatory extraction of rent and fees from migrant laborers so as to navigate the dilemmas associated with state-endorsed projects of displacement and development. The seemingly paradoxical identifications of the peasant landlords as both rural and urban citizens, though not wholly one or the other, cast light on their patchy, place-based strategies of accumulation, as they increasingly sever their sources of livelihood from their collective land and become incorporated into the urban core.
Adjuvant Use of PlasmaJet Device During Cytoreductive Surgery for Advanced-Stage Ovarian Cancer: Results of the PlaComOv-study, a Randomized Controlled Trial in The Netherlands
Authors: Nieuwenhuyzen-de Boer G. M. , Hofhuis W. , Reesink-Peters N. , Willemsen S. , Boere I. A. , Schoots I. G. , Piek J. M. J. , Hofman L. N. , Beltman J. J. , van Driel W. J. , Werner H. M. J. , Baalbergen A. , van Haaften-de Jong A. M. L. D. , Dorman M. , Haans L. , Nedelcu I. , Ewing-Graham P. C. , van Beekhuizen H. J.
Published: August 2022

Objective

Standard surgical treatment of advanced-stage ovarian carcinoma with electrosurgery cannot always result in complete cytoreductive surgery (CRS), especially when many small metastases are found on the mesentery and intestinal surface. We investigated whether adjuvant use of a neutral argon plasma device can help increase the complete cytoreduction rate.

Patients and Methods

327 patients with FIGO stage IIIB–IV epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) who underwent primary or interval CRS were randomized to either surgery with neutral argon plasma (PlasmaJet) (intervention) or without PlasmaJet (control group). The primary outcome was the percentage of complete CRS. The secondary outcomes were duration of surgery, blood loss, number of bowel resections and colostomies, hospitalization, 30-day morbidity, and quality of life (QoL).

Results

Complete CRS was achieved in 119 patients (75.8%) in the intervention group and 115 patients (67.6%) in the control group (risk difference (RD) 8.2%, 95% confidence interval (CI) –0.021 to 0.181; P = 0.131). In a per-protocol analysis excluding patients with unresectable disease, complete CRS was obtained in 85.6% in the intervention group and 71.5% in the control group (RD 14.1%, 95% CI 0.042 to 0.235; P = 0.005). Patient-reported QoL at 6 months after surgery differed between groups in favor of PlasmaJet surgery (95% CI 0.455–8.350; P = 0.029). Other secondary outcomes did not differ significantly.

Conclusions

Adjuvant use of PlasmaJet during CRS for advanced-stage ovarian cancer resulted in a significantly higher proportion of complete CRS in patients with resectable disease and higher QoL at 6 months after surgery. (Funded by ZonMw, Trial Register NL62035.078.17.)

Trial Registration

Approved by the Medical Ethics Review Board of the Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands, NL62035.078.17 on 20-11-2017. Recruitment started on 30-1-2018.
The System of State and Municipal Procurement in the Russian Federation
Authors: Kreneva A. , Popova T.
Published: August 2022

The article deals with issues related to the organization of municipal and public procurement, which meet all the criteria of legality, competence, transparency and literacy. It is precisely in the presence of such an effective and effective mechanism for the implementation of municipal and public procurement that the state will support the effective implementation of public procurement.
Urbanismo y revolución. Pintadas, murales y carteles de ETA (1969-2011)
Authors: Ajuriaguerra Escudero Miguel Angel , Azcona Pastor José Manuel
Published: August 2022

A lo largo de la historia el espacio público de pueblos y ciudades se ha caracterizado por acoger y favorecer tanto los encuentros e intercambios culturales como las revoluciones y cambios sociales. En el caso de Occidente, éstas han fomentado la expansión territorial de la democracia. Pero ¿qué ocurre cuando la reivindicación, lucha o incluso revolución de plazas y calles sirve para revertir todos los avances democráticos alcanzados? En este artículo se analizan las demandas independentistas en los entornos urbanos vascos durante los años de 1969-2011. Para ello, se emplea una metodología de revisión bibliográfica de las acciones realizadas los núcleos urbanos mediante las manifestaciones artísticas relativas al independentismo y terrorismo vasco. Hasta lograr así, mermar la neutralidad del espacio público hasta apropiarse de él. De esta forma, se expone la evolución del independentismo y terrorismo vasco mediante las perspectivas ciudadanas a través de sus pintadas, murales y carteles.
The Effect of Government Reference Bonds on Corporate Borrowing Costs: Evidence from a Natural Experiment
Authors: Flannery Mark J. , Hong Claire Yurong , Wang Baolian
Published: August 2022

Government bonds might provide reference entities that reduce corporate bond yields. We study China’s 2017 issuance of two U.S. dollar (USD)-denominated sovereign bonds when there were (effectively) no outstanding USD sovereigns. We find that Chinese corporate USD bonds experienced a four- to nine-basis-point decline in yield spreads, whereas corporate renminbi (RMB) bonds did not. The effect was stronger for corporate bonds with maturities similar to those of the USD sovereigns. Further consistent with the reference effect, USD-denominated corporate bonds experienced declines in bid-ask spreads and volatility; corporate bond yield spread changes became more sensitive to sovereign yield innovations; and the less-informed foreign mutual funds significantly increased their holdings of offshore USD Chinese corporate bonds. Limited evidence indicates that new corporate bond maturities shifted toward the sovereign bonds’ maturity after their issuance.

This paper was accepted by Lukas Schmid, finance.

Funding: B. Wang received financial support from Hong Kong Institute for Monetary Research. C. Y. Hong received financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant 72003125].

Supplemental Material: The internet appendix and data are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.4499 .
Attitudes of nurses towards home healthcare in a developing economy
Authors: Singh Ankit
Published: August 2022

Background/Aims

Various factors, including the ageing population, have led to an increasing demand for healthcare delivered in the patient's own home. This study explored perceptions of home care among nurses, including the potential benefits to patients and nursing careers.

Methods

A cross-sectional exploratory study was performed. A questionnaire was designed and distributed to 200 home healthcare nurses from one agency in India, of which 152 responded. The questionnaire asked respondents to rate their agreement to 12 items regarding their perceptions of home healthcare on a 5-point Likert scale. Factor analysis was carried out to identify themes. Mean scores were calculated for each questionnaire item to determine levels of agreement.

Results

Respondents generally had a positive view of home healthcare, with most agreeing that it allowed the nurse to carry out a holistic assessment of the patient (4.40/5) and provide preventative care (4.33/5). Many also agreed that home healthcare could prevent hospitalisation (4.15/5). However, respondents were less sure about the appropriateness of home healthcare for patients with terminal illnesses (3.96/5) and stated that home healthcare providers and hospitals needed to work together to ensure continuity of care (4.47/5).

Conclusions

Home healthcare is a promising field and nurses within this profession are generally aware of the potential benefits to patients. It is important to raise the profile of home healthcare in India to make it more accessible and ensure that other healthcare professionals are able to refer patients when appropriate.
Seeking recognition for people with severe disabilities on benefits
Authors: Hardwick Louise , Hardwick Molly , Worsley Aidan
Published: August 2022

This article examines how recent welfare reform in the UK has caused systemic violence to people with severe disabilities who are reliant on state benefits. It evaluates the underpinning discourse framings and changes in welfare policies, using concepts of debility and recognition to reveal the inherent contradictions in policies targeting people on the ‘wrong side of inequality’. To help contribute to a recognition of the impact of these changes, the article gives voice to six people with severe disabilities who, through their benefit stories, expose the impact of this violence. Despite these injustices, their stories reveal lives lived with great courage and resilience, and worthy of much greater recognition.
High-speed microgroove processing of glass by expanding the high-temperature region formed by transient and selective laser absorption
Authors: Wei Chaoran , Yoshizaki Reina , Ito Yusuke , Shibata Akihiro , Nagasawa Ikuo , Nagato Keisuke , Sugita Naohiko
Published: August 2022

Microgroove processing of glass is important in many fields, however, it is difficult to achieve the processing with a high speed. In this study, we developed a novel method for the high-speed microgroove processing of glass using two types of lasers, namely a femtosecond laser and a near-infrared continuous-wave (CW) laser. A single femtosecond laser pulse was initially focused on the surface of the material, enabling the area to absorb the CW laser, which is otherwise not absorbed by the glass. The CW laser was then scanned along the material surface, expanding the machined hole to form a groove. The resulting grooves, with a width of approximately 10 µm and depths of up to 350 µm, can be machined with a scanning speed of up to 200 mm/s, 25 times faster than conventional methods. This method exhibits the potential to improve the industrial application of fast laser microprocessing of glass.
Multi-modulation compatible miniaturization system for FSO communication assisted by chirp-managed laser
Authors: Gao Duorui , Li Tianlun , Bai Zhaofeng , Ma Rong , Xie Zhuang , Jia Shuaiwei , Wang Wei , Xie Xiaoping
Published: August 2022

In recent years, the thriving satellite laser communication industry has been severely hindered by the limitations of incompatible modulation formats and restricted Size Weight and Power (SWaP). A multi-modulation compatible method serving for free-space optical (FSO) communication has been proposed assisted by chirp-managed laser (CML). The corresponding demonstration system has been established for realizing free-switching between intensity (OOK) and phase modulation (RZ-DPSK). The feasibility and performance of system have been evaluated sufficiently when loading with 2.5 and 5 Gbps data streams, respectively. Additionally, a control-group system has been operated utilizing Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) for comparison between CML-based and MZM-based compatibility solutions. The OOK receiving sensitivities of CML-based system are −47.02 dBm@2.5 Gbps and −46.12 dBm@5 Gbps at BER of 1×10−3 which are 0.62 dB and 1.11 dB higher than that of MZM; the receiving sensitivities of RZ-DPSK are −50.12 dBm@2.5 Gbps and −47.03 dBm@5 Gbps which are 0.79 dB and 0.47 dB higher than that of MZM respectively. Meanwhile, CML-based transmitter abandoned the traditional modulator and its complicated supporting devices which can effectively contribute to the reduction of SWaP. The CML-based system has been proven to have the compatibility between intensity and phase modulation while also possesses a miniaturized design. It may provide fresh thinking to achieve a practical miniaturization system for satisfying the requirements of space optical network in future.
Threshold switching strategy for unambiguous state discrimination of quadrature phase-shift-keying coherent states under thermal noise
Authors: Guo Chang , Zhang Yani , Wu Tianyi , Li Kai , Ran Yang , Dong Chen
Published: August 2022

Quantum-enhanced measurement technologies can unambiguously discriminate coherent states with accuracy beyond the classical heterodyne measurement. However, typical quantum-enhanced measurement scheme is vulnerable to the thermal noise, which will change the photon counting statistics of the coherent state. This paper presents a threshold-switching strategy that can discriminate quadrature phase-shift-keying coherent states with performance surpassing the typical quantum-enhanced scheme. In our scheme, photon number resolving detectors are used to switch the value of the threshold, which can mitigate the influence of thermal noise and other imperfections. Simulation results show that our scheme unambiguously discriminates the signal states with higher correct probability and the same error ratio compared with the typical scheme. Besides, this scheme can reduce the error ratio simultaneously for thermal noise N ≤ 0.2. The paper demonstrations that quantum-enhanced measurement with the threshold-switching strategy can adapt to different thermal noises by switching the value of the threshold under situations of different thermal noises and signal states.
Long-range wireless optical power transfer system using an EDFA
Authors: Javed Nadeem , Nguyen Ngoc-Luu , Ali Naqvi Syed Farhan , Ha Jinyong
Published: August 2022

A wireless optical power transfer (WOPT) system using an erbium-doped fiber amplifier as an optical power source is proposed to achieve long range, high power, and hazard-free power delivery in the air. The transmitter generates a wide band of amplified spontaneous emission around the central wavelength of 1550 nm. A wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) filter (λ=1552.25 nm) is deployed to obtain a safe narrowband beam illuminating the receiver units. A ball lens retroreflector reflects a small portion of the incident beam back to the transmitter, establishing a closed ring resonance loop. An improved safety mechanism is proposed to terminate the resonance when an obstacle blocks the transmitter-receiver line of sight. The measured incident power of 1 W decreases to 0.79 mW after the WDM filter is deployed which is well within defined maximum permissible exposure standards. For the demonstration of free-space transmission, transmitter-receiver separation is extended to 30 m. The experimental results show that a single-channel WOPT system provides an optical power of 400 mW with a channel linewidth of 1.027 nm over 30 m and an electrical power of 85 mW is acquired using a gallium antimonide photovoltaic.
Robust enhancement of high-harmonic generation from all-dielectric metasurfaces enabled by polarization-insensitive bound states in the continuum
Authors: Xiao Shuyuan , Qin Meibao , Duan Junyi , Liu Tingting
Published: August 2022

The emerging all-dielectric platform exhibits high-quality (Q) resonances governed by the physics of bound states in the continuum (BIC) that drives highly efficient nonlinear optical processes. Here we demonstrate the robust enhancement of third-(THG) and fifth-harmonic generation (FHG) from all-dielectric metasurfaces composed of four silicon nanodisks. Through the symmetry breaking, the genuine BIC transforms into the high-Q quasi-BIC resonance with tight field confinement for record high THG efficiency of 3.9 × 10−4 W−2 and FHG efficiency of 4.8 × 10−10 W−4 using a moderate pump intensity of 1 GW/cm2. Moreover, the quasi-BIC and the resonantly enhanced harmonics exhibit polarization-insensitive characteristics due to the special C4 arrangement of meta-atoms. Our results suggest the way for smart design of efficient and robust nonlinear nanophotonic devices.
Broadband high-gain Tm3+/Ho3+ co-doped germanate glass multimaterial fiber for fiber lasers above 2 µm
Authors: Tang Guowu , Liang Zhaoheng , Huang Wenhua , Yang Dongliang , Tu Le , Lin Wei , Song Xiangyang , Chen Dongdan , Qian Qi , Wei Xiaoming , Yang Zhongmin
Published: August 2022

High-gain Tm3+/Ho3+ co-doped optical fibers are urgently desired for high-repetition-rate mode-locked fiber lasers at >2 µm. Here, Tm3+/Ho3+ co-doped germanate glass with low hydroxyl (OH-) content was prepared by the conventional melt-quenching method combined with the reaction atmosphere procedure (RAP) dehydration technique. The doping concentrations of Tm2O3 and Ho2O3 are 2.5 mol.% (7.1 wt.%) and 0.25 mol.% (0.7 wt.%), respectively. Thanks to the high Tm3+ doping (7.1 wt.%) and low energy transfer efficiency (19.8%) between Tm3+ and Ho3+ ions, it enables achieving broadband and high-gain performance in the 2 µm region. Then a silicate-clad Tm3+/Ho3+ co-doped germanate core multimaterial fiber was successfully drawn by using the rod-in-tube method, which has a broadband amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) with a full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of 247.8 nm at 2 µm. What is more, this new fiber has a high gain per unit length of 4.52 dB/cm at 1.95 µm. Finally, an all-fiber-integrated passively mode-locked fiber laser was built by using this broadband high-gain fiber. The mode-locked pulses operate at 2068.05 nm, and the fundamental repetition rate is up to 4.329 GHz. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest fundamental repetition rate for the all-fiber passively mode-locked fiber laser above 2 µm. These results suggest that the as-drawn multimaterial fibers with broadband high-gain characteristics are promising for high-repetition-rate ultrafast fiber lasers.
Full-duplex visible light communication system using a single channel
Authors: Fu Kang , Gao Xumin , Yin QingXi , Yan JiaBin , Ji XiangYang , Wang Yongjin
Published: August 2022

Multiple quantum well (MQW) III-nitride diodes can emit light and detect light at the same time. In particular, given the overlapping region between the emission spectrum and the detection spectrum, the III-nitride diode can absorb photons of shorter wavelengths generated from another III-nitride diode with the same MQW structure. In this study, a wireless visible light communication system was established using two pairs of identical III-nitride diodes with different wavelengths. In this system, two green light diode chips were used to transmit and receive green light signals on both sides. We have integrated two blue light chips with optical filtering in the middle of the optical link to carry out blue light communication, with one end transmitting and one end receiving. Simultaneously, green light was allowed to pass through two blue light chips for optical communication. Combined with a distributed Bragg reflection (DBR) coating, we proposed using four chips in one optical path to carry out optical communication between chips with the same wavelength and used the coating principle to gate the optical wavelength to filter the clutter of green light chips on both sides to make the channel purer and the symbols easier to demodulate. Based on this multifunctional equipment, advanced single-optical path, III-nitride, full-duplex optical communication links can be developed for the deployment of the Internet of Things.
Perceptions of Key Informant Health Professionals before implementing tighter glycaemic targets for women with gestational diabetes mellitus in New Zealand
Authors: Martis Ruth , Brown Julie , Crowther Caroline A.
Published: August 2022

Background

Tighter glycaemic targets may be of benefit for women with GDM and their infants. Barrier and enabler identification prior to implementation of tighter glycaemic targets for women with GDM may support a successful transition.

Methods

A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among Key Informant Health Professionals in ten hospitals in New Zealand. The survey assessed what was currently working using less tight glycaemic targets; what barriers and enablers were considered likely when introducing tighter glycaemic targets and whether these perceptions differed by health professional groups.

Results

Sixty Key Health Informant Health Professionals completed the survey. When using the lower glycaemic targets, participants considered that women with GDM found the targets easy to use and that collaborative collegial support was effective. No significant barriers were identified. Perceived enablers identified prior to implementation of tighter targets included receiving collegial support (40, 67%), attending education sessions (38, 63%), use of pocket prompt cards (31, 52%), availability of wall charts (25, 42%) and glycaemic target reminder stickers (24, 40%). For health professionals referring into the Diabetes in Pregnancy Service effective communication (50, 83%) was considered important. Perceived barriers were confusion over glycaemic targets use (27 (45%), not being informed of the glycaemic target change (31, 52%), non-involvement with multidisciplinary decisions (29, 48%) and increased difficulty of blood glucose control for women (48, 80%). Overall, barriers and enablers between Health Professional groups did not differ.

Discussion

Key Informant Health Professionals reported effective communication as a key perceived enabler and that woman would find it more difficult to control their blood glucose concentrations. Education sessions, multidisciplinary engagement, wall charts and stickers were considered effective to overcome the perceived barriers. Further research is needed to assess if the barriers perceived were realised and if the perceived enablers supported the implementation of the tighter glycaemic targets effectively.
Assessment of depth perception with a comprehensive disparity defined letter test: A pilot study
Authors: Lew Wei Hau , Coates Daniel R.
Published: August 2022

Current clinical tests mostly assess stereopsis with crossed disparity at near. These tests are designed with fine targets (high spatial frequency) and may fail to capture the “functional stereopsis” in real-world scenes, which consist of a range of spatial frequencies (SFs). We developed a stereo letter test that can assess crossed and uncrossed stereoacuity at near and far, at different SFs defined by the letter size. The test consists of disparity-defined letters embedded in random-dot stereograms. At each letter size, the letters are arranged in sets of trigrams like in the Pelli-Robson chart. The letter sizes correspond to SFs ranging from 0.3 to 2cpd. Within each triplet, all letters have the same disparity and the amount of disparity decreases after each set. Subjects report the letters verbally to determine the smallest disparity at each letter size. Twenty-four subjects were tested with eight different charts: crossed vs. uncrossed disparity at far and near, with two versions (different letter sequences). The disparity sensitivity function (DSF) had an inverted U-shape, with decreasing sensitivity for smaller stereo letters. The subjects had better stereopsis at far than near. All the subjects had lower stereo thresholds with crossed disparity than uncrossed, consistently at both distances. We found no effect of age or heterophoria on the DSF. The charts have good test-retest reliability (Pearson’s r = 0.89, p<0.001) and are easy to perform. Our results with stereo letters as stimuli are comparable to results from studies using depth corrugations. This stereo acuity letter test permits assessment of stereopsis at different testing distances, directionality of disparity, and across a range of SFs, which can help diagnose selective stereo losses in binocular vision anomalies and monovision. Assessment of stereopsis at different SFs may provide additional information for understanding daily stereovision demands than the conventional tests.
Vital sign predictors of severe influenza among children in an emergent care setting
Authors: Rao Suchitra , Moss Angela , Lamb Molly , Innis Bruce L. , Asturias Edwin J.
Published: August 2022

Background

Decisions regarding the evaluation of children with influenza infection rely on the likelihood of severe disease. The role of early vital signs as predictors of severe influenza infection in children is not well known. Our objectives were to determine the value of vital signs in predicting hospitalization/recurrent emergency department (ED) visits due to influenza infection in children.

Methods

We conducted a prospective study of children aged 6 months to 8 years of age with influenza like illness evaluated at an ED/UC from 2016–2018. All children underwent influenza testing by PCR. We collected heart rate, respiratory rate and temperature, and converted heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (RR) to z-scores by age. HR z scores were further adjusted for temperature. Our primary outcome was hospitalization/recurrent ED visits within 72 hours. Vital sign predictors with p< 0.2 and other clinical covariates were entered into a multivariable logistic regression model to determine odds ratios (OR) and 95% CI; model performance was assessed using the Brier score and discriminative ability with the C statistic.

Results

Among 1478 children, 411 (27.8%) were positive for influenza, of which 42 (10.2%) were hospitalized or had a recurrent ED visit. In multivariable analyses, adjusting for age, high-risk medical condition and school/daycare attendance, higher adjusted respiratory rate (OR 2.09, 95%CI 1.21–3.61, p = 0.0085) was a significant predictor of influenza hospitalization/recurrent ED visits.

Conclusions

Higher respiratory rate adjusted for age was the most useful vital sign predictor of severity among young children with PCR-confirmed influenza.
Low mean HbA1c does not increase all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with diabetes: Effect-modifications by anemia and chronic kidney disease stages
Authors: Ooi Seng-Wei , Yeh Shu-Tin , Chang Ya-Hui , Li Chung-Yi , Chen Hua-Fen
Published: August 2022

Background

Previous studies reported that low levels of glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) were associated with increased mortality. We investigated rates and risks of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in association with mean HbA1c levels with stratification of anemia and chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages, major causes of low HbA1c.

Methods

47,145 patients with prescription of antidiabetic agents >6 months in the outpatient visits (2003–2018) were linked to Taiwan’s National Death Registry to identify all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Poisson assumption was used to estimate the mortality rates, and the Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to evaluate the relative hazards of respective mortality in relation to mean HbA1c in different statuses of anemia and CKD stages.

Results

All-cause and cardiovascular mortality rates were the lowest in non-anemic stages 1–2 CKD patients, and the highest in anemic stages 3–5 CKD patients. In stages 1–2 CKD, excessive HRs observed in those with mean HbA1c <6.0% (Hazard Ratio [HR]) 1.58; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.18–2.12) became inconsequential after adjustment of medications and laboratory results (HR: 1.26; 95% CI 0.89–1.79). The similar patterns were observed in anemic stages 1–2 CKD, anemic or non-anemic stages 3–5 CKD. Low HbA1c was not related to cardiovascular mortality in any anemia status or CKD staging.

Conclusions

Higher risks associated with low mean HbA1c and all-cause mortality were attenuated by adjustment of medications and comorbidities. It is imperative for the diabetologists to consider confounding effects of underlying illness before concluding low HbA1c associated higher mortality.
Risk stratification and prognostic value of prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time among COVID-19 patients
Authors: Tekle Esayas , Gelaw Yemataw , Dagnew Mulat , Gelaw Aschalew , Negash Markos , Kassa Eyuel , Bizuneh Segenet , Wudineh Dessalew , Asrie Fikir
Published: August 2022

Background

COVID-19 is a viral disease caused by a new strain of corona virus. Currently, prognosis and risk stratification of COVID-19 patients is done by the disease’s clinical presentation. Therefore, identifying laboratory biomarkers for disease prognosis and risk stratification of COVID-19 patients is critical for prompt treatment. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to assess the risk stratification and prognostic value of basic coagulation parameters and factors associated with disease severity among COVID-19 patients at the Tibebe Ghion Specialized Hospital, COVID-19 treatment center, Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

A follow-up study was conducted among conveniently recruited COVID-19 patients attended from March to June 2021. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected using a structured questionnaire and checklist, respectively. Prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) were analyzed by the HUMACLOT DUE PLUS® machine. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of study participants. Kruskal Wallis tests were used to compare the difference between parametric and non-parametric continuous variables, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the value of PT and APTT in the risk stratification and disease prognosis of COVID-19 patients. Ordinal logistic regression was used to identify the factors associated with disease severity and prognosis. A P-value < 0.05 was defined as statistically significant for all results.

Result

Baseline PT at a cut-off value ≥ 16.25 seconds differentiated severe COVID-19 patients from mild and moderate patients (AUC: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.83–0.95). PT also differentiated mild COVID-19 patients from moderate and severe patients at a cut-off value ≤ 15.35 seconds (AUC: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.84–0.96). Moreover, alcohol drinkers were a 3.52 times more likely chance of having severe disease than non-drinkers (95% CI: 1.41–8.81). A one-year increment in age also increased the odds of disease severity by 6% (95% CI: 3–9%). An increment of ≥ 0.65 seconds from the baseline PT predicted poor prognosis (AUC: 0.93, 0.87–0.99).

Conclusions and recommendations

Prolonged baseline PT was observed in severe COVID-19 patients. Prolonged baseline PT was also predicted to worsen prognosis. An increase from the baseline PT was associated with worsen prognosis. Therefore, PT can be used as a risk stratification and prognostic marker in COVID-19 patients.
The low prevalence effect in fingerprint comparison amongst forensic science trainees and novices
Authors: Growns Bethany , Dunn James D. , Helm Rebecca K. , Towler Alice , Kukucka Jeff
Published: August 2022

The low prevalence effect is a phenomenon whereby target prevalence affects performance in visual search (e.g., baggage screening) and comparison (e.g., fingerprint examination) tasks, such that people more often fail to detect infrequent target stimuli. For example, when exposed to higher base-rates of ‘matching’ (i.e., from the same person) than ‘non-matching’ (i.e., from different people) fingerprint pairs, people more often misjudge ‘non-matching’ pairs as ‘matches’–an error that can falsely implicate an innocent person for a crime they did not commit. In this paper, we investigated whether forensic science training may mitigate the low prevalence effect in fingerprint comparison. Forensic science trainees (n = 111) and untrained novices (n = 114) judged 100 fingerprint pairs as ‘matches’ or ‘non-matches’ where the matching pair occurrence was either high (90%) or equal (50%). Some participants were also asked to use a novel feature-comparison strategy as a potential attenuation technique for the low prevalence effect. Regardless of strategy, both trainees and novices were susceptible to the effect, such that they more often misjudged non-matching pairs as matches when non-matches were rare. These results support the robust nature of the low prevalence effect in visual comparison and have important applied implications for forensic decision-making in the criminal justice system.
Metabolic scope, performance and tolerance of juvenile European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax upon acclimation to high temperatures
Authors: Stavrakidis-Zachou Orestis , Lika Konstadia , Pavlidis Michail , Asaad Mohamed H. , Papandroulakis Nikos
Published: August 2022

European sea bass is a species of great commercial value for fisheries and aquaculture. Rising temperatures may jeopardize the performance and survival of the species across its distribution and farming range, making the investigation of its thermal responses highly relevant. In this article, the metabolic scope, performance, and tolerance of juvenile E. sea bass reared under three high water temperatures (24, 28, 33°C), for a period of three months was evaluatedviaanalysis of selected growth performance and physiological indicators. Effects on molecular, hormonal, and biochemical variables were analyzed along with effects of acclimation temperature on the metabolic rate and Critical Thermal maximum (CTmax). Despite signs of thermal stress at 28°C indicated by high plasma cortisol and lactate levels as well as the upregulation of genes coding for Heat Shock Proteins (HSP), E. sea bass can maintain high performance at that temperature which is encouraging for the species culture in the context of a warming ocean. Critical survivability thresholds appear sharply close to 33°C, where the aerobic capacity declines and the overall performance diminishes. European sea bass demonstrates appreciable capacity to cope with acute thermal stress exhibiting CTmaxas high as 40°C for fish acclimated at high temperatures, which may indicate resilience to future heatwaves events.