bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reverse time migration of mobile marine vibrator data
Authors: Almuteri Khalid , Sava Paul , Shragge Jeffrey
Published: December 2024

Marine vibrators are viable alternatives to seismic air guns in ocean-bottom acquisition due to their less adverse impact on the environment, their ability to generate lower frequency content, and their suitability for simultaneous acquisition. However, mobile marine vibrators introduce a unique set of processing and imaging challenges for ocean-bottom acquisition, the main examples of which are the Doppler effect and the time-dependent source-receiver offsets, which are not features of conventional marine acquisitions. Standard seismic data processing and imaging techniques assume stationary sources and are not fully suitable for mobile marine vibrator data without modifications. Not accounting for source motion in seismic imaging introduces a phase change and a mispositioning of imaged structures. Further, ignoring source-motion effects in the imaging workflow may lead to the estimation of inaccurate migration velocity models or imply the use of incorrect migration velocity (e.g., in seismic-to-well ties). We develop a reverse time migration (RTM) approach that accounts for the source-motion effects and is capable of producing accurate subsurface images, closely matching stationary acquisition and imaging results. Synthetic examples show the ability of our method to construct accurate subsurface RTM images even for source velocities higher than those commonly used in typical marine acquisitions. Our approach is not limited to imaging mobile marine vibrator data in ocean-bottom acquisition but is also applicable to mobile streamer data using marine vibrators or seismic air-gun sources.
Cancer-Related Coagulopathy and Perioperative Considerations
Authors: Deshpande Seema P. , Henderson Reney A. , Ajith Aniruddh U. , Zimrin Ann B. , Williams Brittney
Published: December 2024

Cancer-related coagulation abnormalities are characterized by complex dysregulation of the hemostatic system, predisposing patients to increased risk of thrombotic and hemorrhagic complications and associated increased morbidity and mortality. Advances in anticancer therapies with improved outcomes have led to better survival and older age of patients living with or having survived cancer. There is also a significant increase in the number of patients diagnosed with cancer. All these factors will increase the number of patients presenting for surgical procedures, both cancer-related and noncancer related. It is important for the anesthesiologist to understand the magnitude of cancer-related coagulation derangement, its types, pathophysiology, and clinical presentation, to optimize the perioperative management of this high-risk rapidly growing patient population.
Association of General Anesthesia for Cesarean Delivery with Postpartum Depression and Suicidality
Authors: Guglielminotti Jean , Monk Catherine , Russell Matthew T. , Li Guohua
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND:

Compared to neuraxial anesthesia, general anesthesia (GA) for cesarean delivery is associated with an increased risk of postpartum depression (PPD) requiring hospitalization. However, obstetric complications occurring during childbirth (eg, stillbirth) are associated with both increased use of GA and increased risk of PPD, and may account for the reported association between GA and PPD. This study assessed the association of GA for cesarean delivery with PPD requiring hospitalization, outpatient visit, or emergency department (ED) visit, accounting for obstetric complications.

METHODS:

This retrospective cohort study included women who underwent a cesarean delivery in New York State between January 2009 and December 2017. Women were followed for 1 year after discharge for readmission, outpatient visit, or ED visit. The primary outcome was PPD requiring readmission, outpatient visit, or ED visit. The 2 secondary outcomes were (1) PPD requiring readmission, and (2) suicidality. Obstetric complications included severe maternal morbidity, blood transfusion, postpartum hemorrhage, preterm birth, and stillbirth. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of PPD, PPD requiring readmission, and suicidality associated with GA were estimated using the propensity score matching and the overlap propensity score weighting methods.

RESULTS:

Of the 325,840 women included, 19,513 received GA (6.0%; 95% CI, 5.9–6.1). Complications occurred in 43,432 women (13.3%) and the GA rate for these women was 9.7% (95% CI, 9.4–10.0). The incidence rate of PPD was 12.8 per 1000 person-years, with 24.5% requiring hospital readmission, and was higher when an obstetric complication occurred (17.1 per 1000 person-years). After matching, the incidence rate of PPD was 15.5 per 1000 person-years for women who received neuraxial anesthesia and 17.5 per 1000 person-years for women who received GA, yielding an aHR of 1.12 (95% CI, 0.97–1.30). Use of GA was associated with a 38% increased risk of PPD requiring hospitalization (aHR: 1.38; 95% CI, 1.07–1.77) and with a 45% increased risk of suicidality (aHR 1.45; 95% CI, 1.02–2.05). Results were consistent when using the overlap propensity score weighting.

CONCLUSIONS:

Use of GA for cesarean delivery is independently associated with a significantly increased risk of PPD requiring hospitalization and suicidality. It underscores the need to avoid using GA whenever appropriate and to address the potential mental health issues of patients after GA use, specifically by screening for PPD and providing referrals to accessible mental health providers as needed.
Innovative Application of Point of Care Ultrasound in Assessing Ventriculo-Peritoneal Shunt Patency
Authors: Thapa Amit , Adil Mohamed Zaidan
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Current techniques to detect obstruction of ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunts are costly, invasive, and time-consuming. This study examines the efficacy of using point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to identify shunt nonpatency.

METHODS:

We conducted a single-center observational cohort study on patients with medium-pressure VP shunts for hydrocephalus. POCUS was used to evaluate shunt patency, and the results were compared with computed tomography/MRI/trans-fontanelle ultrasound evaluations for hydrocephalus.

RESULTS:

Among the 39 patients studied, 17.9% had shunt obstructions. Patients with obstructed shunts, on comparison with patent shunts, had higher optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD): 4.3 ± 0.2 mm vs 4.1 ± 0.2 mm (P = .014), with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.750 (95% CI 0.531-0.969), lower cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow velocity: distal to the chamber: 3.1 ± 2.9 cm/s vs 9.8 ± 3.1 cm/s (P = .000), with an AUC of 0.915 (95% CI 0.825-1.000) and proximal to the chamber: 3.3 ± 3.1 cm/s vs 8.9 ± 2.7 cm/s (P = .000), with an AUC of 0.906 (95% CI 0.810-1.000), and absence of free fluid in the peritoneal space (P = .000). Using the cutoff values obtained from the AUC analysis, raised ONSD ≥4.25 mm, CSF flow distal to the chamber ≤6.15 cm/s, CSF flow proximal ≤6.85 cm/s, and absence of free fluid in the peritoneal cavity predicted shunt nonpatency with 100% sensitivity and 100% negative predictive value (NPV, odds ratio 1.583 [95% CI 1.123-2.232, P = .003]). Even when excluding raised ONSD, the sensitivity and NPV remained 100% (odds ratio 1.875 [95% CI 1.168-3.010, P = .000]).

CONCLUSION:

Our study supports the novel use of POCUS for detecting sonological signs of VP shunt nonfunction with very high sensitivity and NPV. This technique is quick, safe, and cost-effective, making it an excellent option for outpatient surveillance of VP shunt obstruction.
The Barriers to Neurosurgical Care in The Gambia
Authors: Ceesay Omar I. , Vaca Silvia , Gephart Melanie H. , Park Jay J. , Ramayya Ashwin G.
Published: December 2024

Neurosurgery has experienced significant growth over the past century, but much of that development has been centralized in Europe and North America. Despite their high burden of neurosurgical conditions, African countries like The Gambia continue to face barriers in accessing neurosurgical care. We intend to accentuate the barriers to neurosurgical care in The Gambia, elucidate pragmatic ways of improving this issue, and highlight models of sustainable neurosurgical development that have been used in similar lower- and middle-income countries. Our study analyzed the limited literature available on The Gambia's neurosurgical capabilities, disease burden, and outcomes. The keywords “Gambia” and “Neurosurgery” were searched on PubMed, from inception to July 1, 2024. Then, a complementary search was performed on Google using the keywords “The Gambia,” “Healthcare,” “Neurosurgery,” and “Africa.” The pertinent data from our search were collected and composed into a review. Neurosurgery in The Gambia is still in its infancy. Although several domestic general surgeons and a few visiting neurosurgeons have performed neurosurgical procedures in the past, the country did not have a designated neurosurgical department until 2018. Although neurosurgical activity has ramped up in The Gambia recently, the country continues to trail behind both regionally and internationally in neurosurgical care capacity. While the shortage of a neurosurgical workforce is the core of this issue, paucity of neurosurgical research and training and the limited availability of neuroimaging also amplify this problem. Neurosurgery in The Gambia is plodding because of workforce shortage, paucity of research, and inadequate neuroimaging. Eradicating these barriers would be salient in attaining sustainable neurosurgical development. With the devotion of the local team and the philanthropic efforts of international partners, The Gambia can experience similar advances seen in other lower- and middle-income countries.
Evaluation of the Accuracy of 4 Conventional Freehand Frontal Ventriculostomy Methods in the Chinese Population
Authors: Chen Xiaohai , Chen Tengda , Xie Zhangkun , Xu Lunshan , Qi Zhen , Guo Xieli
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

In conventional freehand frontal ventriculostomy, the Kocher point is the entry point, the external auditory canal is the sagittal target, and the coronal targets include the ipsilateral medial canthus (IMC), the midpoint between the bilateral external auditory meatus (MAM), the contralateral medial canthus (CMC), and the region perpendicular to the skull (P). The aim of this study was to calculate puncture accuracy of the 4 conventional methods to guide clinical selection.

METHODS:

Patient data from thin-slice computed tomography scans were imported, and a 3-dimensional model was reconstructed using software to simulate puncture. The accuracy and puncture depth of the 4 freehand frontal ventriculostomy methods were analyzed.

RESULTS:

From January 1, 2022, to December 30, 2023, 520 patients were screened and 206 were enrolled; 137 (66.5%) participants were males, and 69 (33.5%) were females. The median age of the patients was 64 years (IQR 53-73). The maximal frontal horn width was 21.7-53.7 mm (IQR 34.4-40.0), and the intercanthal distance was 26.0-43.2 mm (IQR 30.7-34.9). Simulating bilateral ventricular puncture, for the IMC trajectory, the puncture accuracy was 13.3% (55/412) [95% CI 10.4-17.0] and the puncture depth was 41.8 ± 4.6 mm. For the MAM trajectory, the puncture accuracy was 74.5% (307/412) [95% CI 70.1-78.5] and the puncture depth was 43.6 ± 4.3 mm. For the P trajectory, the puncture accuracy was 90.5% (373/412) [95% CI 87.3-93.0] and the puncture depth was 49.4 ± 5.9 mm. For the CMC trajectory, the puncture accuracy was 100.0% (412/412) [95% CI 99.1-100.0] and the puncture depth was 47.2 ± 5.2 mm.

CONCLUSION:

Compared with the MAM trajectory, the CMC and P trajectories were more reliable in frontal ventriculostomy, but the P trajectory may enter the contralateral ventricle. The IMC trajectory is not recommended unless the frontal horn is wider than 45 mm or the Kocher point is moved inward.
Μετασχηματίζουσα Μάθηση μέσα από την Αισθητική Εμπειρία: Προσπάθεια εφαρμογής της μεθόδου σε μαθητές Πρωτοβάθμιας Εκπαίδευσης με στόχο την πρόληψη εξαρτητικών συμπεριφορών
Authors: Παππά Ελευθερία
Published: December 2024

Η επαφή με όλες τις μορφές τέχνης μπορεί να αποτελέσει αποτελεσματικό εργαλείο στην προσπάθεια ενίσχυσης της προσωπικής ανάπτυξης και της διαμόρφωσης υγιών αξιών και στάσεων για τη ζωή του ατόμου. Στόχο της παρούσας εργασίας αποτέλεσε η υλοποίηση και η αξιολόγηση  της αποτελεσματικότητας ενός προγράμματος πρόληψης εξαρτητικών συμπεριφορών στο Δημοτικό Σχολείο, το οποίο αξιοποίησε τη μέθοδο «Μετασχηματίζουσα Μάθηση μέσα από την Αισθητική Εμπειρία» ως εργαλείο ενίσχυσης της ψυχικής ανθεκτικότητας και των δεξιοτήτων ζωής των μαθητών. Στην έρευνα συμμετείχαν 109 μαθητές που φοιτούσαν στις δύο τελευταίες τάξεις του Δημοτικού σε Σχολεία της Πάτρας. Στους μαθητές που συμμετείχαν στην εφαρμογή του προγράμματος χορηγήθηκε ερωτηματολόγιο αντιλαμβανόμενης αποτελεσματικότητας του προγράμματος. Η αποτελεσματικότητα του προγράμματος είναι υψηλή στους παράγοντες που αφορούν στις κοινωνικές δεξιότητες, στο ρόλο της τέχνης στην ψυχοκοινωνική υποστήριξη των μαθητών, στην ενημέρωση για εξαρτητικές συμπεριφορές και την πρόληψη, καθώς και στις νέες πληροφορίες και γνώσεις που αποκόμισαν οι μαθητές. Από τα ευρήματα της έρευνας αναδεικνύεται η ανάγκη για το σχεδιασμό συγκεκριμένης εκπαιδευτικής πολιτικής που αφορά στην πρόληψη, μέσα από την εφαρμογή καινοτόμων προγραμμάτων που χρησιμοποιούν εργαλεία όπως η μέθοδος «Μετασχηματίζουσα Μάθηση μέσα από την Αισθητική Εμπειρία», αναγνωρίζοντας με αυτό τον τρόπο το σημαντικό ρόλο που διαδραματίζει το σχολικό περιβάλλον ως ένας  προστατευτικός παράγοντας για την πρόληψη της εκδήλωσης εξαρτητικών συμπεριφορών.
Correlation between plasma homocysteine and ischemic heart disease in young Adults
Authors: Hassan Muslem Zainab , M.Ali Samara , Al Marayati Amal Noori
Published: December 2024

Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death worldwide. Ischemic heart disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Lack of blood supply to the brain can cause tissue death if any of the cerebral veins, carotid arteries, or vertebral arteries are blocked. An ischemic stroke describes this type of event. One of the byproducts of methionine metabolism, the demethylation of methionine, is homocysteine, an amino acid that contains sulfur. During myocardial ischemia, the plasma level of homocysteine (Hcy) increases and plays a role in many methylation processes. Hyperhomocysteinemia has only recently been recognized as a major contributor to the increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) owing to its effects on atherothrombosis and improvement of oxidative stress-induced endothelial dysfunction, joining the ranks of other known risk factors such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, and advanced age. Objective The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a relationship between elevated serum total homocysteine (tHcy) levels and an increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in an Iraqi population of patients with ischemic heart disease. Methods This study was conducted at Madinat al-Imamain Al Kadhmain Hospital’s Cardiology Department in Baghdad, Iraq. The study lasted for six months and was designed as an observational case-control study from November 1, 2023, to April 1, 2024. Results Cases and controls had similar characteristics but differed significantly in serum homocysteine concentration. The mean homocysteine level in case group was 40.21±14.47 mmol/L and 9.23±2.41 mmol/L in control group with p value <0.001. Conclusion In young individuals, hyperhomocysteinemia is positively associated with coronary artery, even when other traditional risk factors are not present.
On elastic deformations of cylindrical bodies under the influence of the gravitational field
Authors: Barzegar Hamed , Chruściel Piotr T. , Steininger Elisabeth
Published: December 2024

Background Elastic deformations of gravitating cylindrical bodies are relevant for state-of-the-art photonic experiments, as they affect the physical properties of materials under consideration, impacting wave propagation. This is of key importance for a recently planned experiment to explore the influence of the gravitational field on entangled photons propagating in waveguides. The purpose of this work is to determine these elastic deformations as functions of temperature, pressure, and of the gravitational field. We thus determine the deformations of the body due to changes of the gravitational field, and obtain stringent bounds on the control of temperature and pressure so that the effects of the associated elastic deformations on the photons propagating in a waveguide are smaller than the phase shifts associated with the change of the gravitational field. Methods We use the methods of linear elasticity, including thermoelasticity, to determine the stresses and strains of the medium. For this, the symmetry of the cylinder allows us to solve the problem by using Mitchell’s solutions of the equations satisfied by the Airy functions. The boundary conditions are implemented by an approximation of the Hertz contact method. Results We calculate the displacements, the stresses and strains for several classes of boundary conditions, and give explicit solutions for a number of physically motivated configurations. The influence of the resulting deformations on the planned GRAVITES experiment is determined. Conclusions The results are relevant for fiber interferometry experiments sensitive to the effects of the gravitational field on photon propagation. Our calculations give stringent bounds on the environmental variables, which need to be controlled in such experiments.
Dimensión Espiritual en Materia de Reparación en el Marco del Conflicto Armado Interno Colombiano
Authors: Trujillo Ospina Valeria Isabel
Published: December 2024

El presente ensayo  aborda una propuesta a partir de la hermenéutica jurídica con el fin de explorar la dimensión espiritual, como elemento determinante, en el proceso de reparación integral a las víctimas del conflicto armado interno colombiano. Se plantean cuatro puntos: i. Aproximación del concepto de reparación integral en el ámbito nacional e internacional, con un enfásis especial, en la reparación a través de la indemnidad de la víctima y los estándaresde la jurisprudencia del Sistema Interamericano de Derechos Humanos, como de las cortes locales. ii. Acercamiento al Contexto colombiano, con énfasis en el conflicto y la multiculturalidad.. iii. Explicación de la espiritualidad como dimensión fundamental de la reparación, aunado al  hecho que las prácticas sociales y religiosas desempeñan un papel determinante en el manejo del duelo y del perdón como elemento liberador y restaurador de la víctima. Finalmente, se retoma lo analizado, para determinar la importancia de la dimensión espiritual en materia de reparación integral dentro del conflicto interno armado en Colombia.
Commentary on “Pricing Prototypical Products”
Authors: Li Shichang , Pu Jingchuan , Zheng Quan
Published: December 2024

This work corrects errors in a paper by Amaldoss and He in Marketing Science, and reveals the important impact of prototypicality on multiproduct competition.
The Good, the Bad and the Picky: Consumer Heterogeneity and the Reversal of Product Ratings
Authors: Bondi Tommaso , Rossi Michelangelo , Stevens Ryan L.
Published: December 2024

We study the impact of consumer heterogeneity on online ratings. Consumers differ in their experience, which can affect both their choices and ratings. Thus, biases in average ratings can arise when the opinions of experienced and novice users are aggregated. We first build a two-period model to characterize the biases’ drivers and consequences. We test our theory combining data from IMDb and MovieLens, two well-known movie ratings platforms. We proxy users’ experience with the total number of ratings posted on the platforms. First, using external measures of quality, such as the Academy awards and nominations, we show that, on both platforms, experienced users, on average, rate movies of higher quality compared with novices. Moreover, they post more stringent ratings than novices for more than 98% of movies. Combined, these imply a compression in aggregate ratings, and thus a bias against high quality movies. We then propose a simple, fixed-point algorithm to debias ratings. Our debiased ratings demonstrate the presence of ranking reversals for more than 8% of comparisons in our sample. As a result, our debiased ratings better correlate with external measures of quality.

This paper was accepted by Eric Anderson, marketing.

Supplemental Material: The online appendices and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.03281 .
Use of a bioactive matrix glove in the treatment of paediatric hand burns: a case series
Authors: Julian Olivia , Agafonoff Slava , Glat Paul M
Published: December 2024

Objective:

Burns to the hand are a common injury in paediatrics and can be traumatic to children, both physically and psychologically. Timely conservative or operative management is critical to maximise healing and minimise long-term complications in these young patients. Here, we present the cases of patients treated with a novel skin substitute formed into a prefabricated glove. The glove (PermeaDerm, Inc., US) is a bioactive matrix composed of a silicone composite membrane embedded with collagen and aloe extract with variable porosity that allows moisture to pass to a secondary dressing. To our knowledge, our group was the first to treat a small set of paediatric patients with hand burns with the glove.

Method:

A chart review was conducted to analyse hospital course, treatment length, complications and outcomes for each patient.

Results:

The age range of the five patients included in this case series was seven months to three years. All five patients had scald burns to the hand. Overall, healing with the glove was successful, with little scarring or altered skin pigmentation, and a full range of motion at the affected joints.

Conclusion:

Hand burns in paediatric patients are traumatic and cumbersome to the patient and their families. This bioactive matrix glove allows for a one-time application, decreases operating room time and need, and reduces the demand for multiple dressing changes. In our set of five patients, the glove showed promising results as a safe and effective noninvasive treatment option for hand burns in paediatric patients.
More-than-human conservation, models from the pluriverse: the example of biocultural diversity conservation from knowledge systems of the Maya Ixil in the Maya Ixil Territory
Authors: D’Alesandro Gina
Published: December 2024

Central to the more-than-human form of biocultural diversity conservation linked to Maya Ixil practising and living tiichajil and its txaa norms is a more-than-human identity that animates agency beyond the human. Drawing these terms and concepts together, the biodiversity conservation models that they create in their application to the land is an everyday performance and interaction of caretaking with and of diversities of life. This article explores the biocultural, spiritual and cosmological relationships of caretaking in the milpa according to one Indigenous knowledge system that manages the land from embodied, multispecies, networks of reciprocity, that are practised in a peopled, bottom-up model, built in equality, for biocultural diversity’s transmission to next generations.

Emphasised in the analysis of data collected from multispecies ethnography with the Maya Ixil, I argue that expression of these embodied and more-than-human Maya Ixil knowledge systems not only ‘decolonises’ the Ixil from historical and globalised systems of oppression, thereby addressing historical inequalities, but that the other-than-human agencies implicit within them demonstrate a model of relationality articulated through local languages and transgenerational and multispecies biocultural expression in the very real local expressions of the global buen vivir, decolonial and rematriation movement. The Maya Ixil demonstrate not only the theoretical plausibility of forms of community beyond globalised anthropocentric society rooted in colonial structures of inequality, but that the living networks that tiichajil speaks to and txaa guides the human right relation within, provide an alternative model for human behaviour to preserve biodiversity from food systems generating food sovereignties.
Entanglement assisted free-space optical communication with two-pump-based entanglement generation outperforming classical laser communication in strong turbulence regime at 10 Gb/s
Authors: Nafria Vijay , Djordjevic Ivan B.
Published: December 2024

A high-speed entanglement assisted communication that operates at 10 Gb/s is proposed, which performs a highly efficient, PPLN-waveguide-based, entanglement generation by making the simultaneous use of S- and L-band pumps. The two-pump-based entanglement generation source satisfies the quasi-phase-matching-condition over the entire C-band. To improve the system reliability, our system performs the phase-conjugation on idler photons in contrast to conventional ways of performing the phase-conjugation on signal photons. To study the performance of the proposed entanglement-assisted system we have developed the 1.5 km long outdoor free-space optical (FSO) link at the University of Arizona campus. Experimental results indicate that the proposed entanglement-assisted system significantly outperforms the classical counterpart at 10 Gb/s, operated in strong turbulence regime. We also demonstrate that the traditional entanglement-assisted system performing the optical phase conjugation on signal photons at the receiver side is not operational at all in strong turbulence regime given that it is extremely difficult to perform the phase-conjugation on weak signal photons when the number of received photons is low. To improve the system performance the adaptive optics is performed on signal photons.
Mid-infrared surface plasmon resonance fiber optic sensors
Authors: Lin Wenwei , Bang Ole , Woyessa Getinet
Published: December 2024

We propose and experimentally demonstrate what we believe to be the first mid-infrared surface plasmon resonance (SPR) fiber optic sensor using a D-shaped multimode silica optical fiber coated with a 105 nm indium tin oxide (ITO) layer. The sensor shows resonance around 2700 nm, with a refractive index sensitivity of 1065.70 nm per refractive index unit (nm/RIU) for refractive indices ranging from 1.33 to 1.42. Since the evanescent wave outside the fiber decays within approximately 1/3 of its wavelength, the use of mid-infrared wavelengths can significantly increase the probing depth of SPR sensors compared to what is obtained when using visible light. This would allow SPR sensors to probe a larger volume, potentially improving sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio. In addition, the mid-infrared region aligns with the molecular fingerprint region, which can unlock the potential for gas detection.
Spontaneous symmetry breaking of an optical polarization state in a polarization-selective nonlinear resonator
Authors: Manannikov K. S. , Mironova E. I. , Poliakov A. S. , Mikhaylov A. , Ulanov A. E. , Lvovsky A. I.
Published: December 2024

We exploit polarization self-rotation (PSR) in atomic rubidium vapor to observe spontaneous symmetry breaking and bistability of polarization patterns. We pump the vapor cell with horizontally polarized light while the vertical polarization, which is initially in the vacuum state, is resonated in a ring cavity. Microscopic field fluctuations in this mode experience cumulative gain due to the compound action of amplification due to the self-rotation and feedback through the resonator, eventually acquiring a macroscopic magnitude akin to an optical parametric oscillator. The randomness of these fluctuations results in a bistable, random macroscopic polarization pattern at the output. We propose utilizing this mechanism to simulate an Ising-like interaction between multiple spatial modes and as a basis for a fully optical coherent Ising machine (CIM).
OCT as both a shape sensor and a tomographic imager for large-scale freeform robotic scanning
Authors: Lan Qi , Zhang Haoran , Zhang Weiyi , Gu Chengfu , Yang Jianlong
Published: December 2024

To overcome the limitations of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in imaging large-scale freeform objects, we propose a methodological framework that utilizes OCT as both a shape sensor and a tomographic imager in robotic scanning. Our approach integrates a deep-learning-based surface detection algorithm to counter OCT artifacts and an adaptive robotic arm pose adjustment algorithm for sensing and imaging uneven objects. We demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of our method on various objects, achieving high-resolution, large-scale tomographic imaging that adeptly manages OCT artifacts and surface irregularities. We think this work may contribute to expanding the applicability of OCT in both medical and industrial scenarios.
Reexamining the anomalous spin–orbit interactions of light around Fresnel coefficient singularities
Authors: Wang Rong , Tan Yawei , Chen Jie , Zhou Qiang , Zheng Zhiwei , Ling Xiaohui
Published: December 2024

Using a full-wave theory to analyze the light beam scattering at sharp interfaces, we reexamine the anomalous spin–orbit interaction (SOI) around the Fresnel coefficient (FC) singularities. We evaluate the spin-dependent beam shifts near the singularity for three typical optical interfaces, comparing our results with existing ones. Existing theories neglect the contribution of the wave vector component k
y

i
near the FC singularities, potentially leading to erroneous results. In contrast, our approach comprehensively considers k
x

i
and k
y

i
contributions in the FC without any approximation. Our analysis reveals significant deformations in scattered light intensity patterns near the FC singularities, causing both out-of-plane and in-plane spin-Hall shifts, uncaptured by prior theories. These findings offer a comprehensive understanding on the spin–orbit interactions at generic optical interfaces.
Composite phase-based metasurfaces for the generation of spin-decoupling orbital angular momentum single-photon sources
Authors: Huang Hongxin , Liu Xiaodi , Zhou Yongle , Li He , Li Juntao
Published: December 2024

Solid-state quantum emitters, such as semiconductor quantum dots (QDs), have numerous significant applications in quantum information science. While there has been some success in controlling structured light from kinds of single-photon sources, the simultaneous on-demand, high-quality, and integrated generation of single-photon sources with various degrees of freedom remains a challenge. Here, we utilize composite phase-based metasurfaces, comprising transmission phase and geometric phase elements, to modulate the semiconductor QD emission through a simplified fabrication process. This approach enables to decouple the emission into left and right circularly polarized (LCP/RCP) beams in arbitrary directions (e.g., with zenith angles of 10° and 30°), producing collimated beams with divergence angles less than 6.0° and carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes with different topological charges. Furthermore, we examine the polarization relationship between the output beams and QD emission to validate the performance of our designed devices. Additionally, we achieve eight channels of single-photon emissions, each with well-defined states of spin angular momentum (SAM), OAM, and specific emission directions. Our work not only demonstrates an effective integrated quantum device for the on-demand manipulation of precise direction, collimation, SAM, and various OAM modes, but also significantly advances research efforts in the quantum field related to the generation of multi-OAM single photons.
From theoretical models to practical deployment: A perspective and case study of opportunities and challenges in AI-driven cardiac auscultation research for low-income settings
Authors: Krones Felix , Walker Benjamin
Published: December 2024

This article includes a literature review and a case study of artificial intelligence (AI) heart murmur detection models to analyse the opportunities and challenges in deploying AI in cardiovascular healthcare in low- or medium-income countries (LMICs). This study has two parallel components: (1) The literature review assesses the capacity of AI to aid in addressing the observed disparity in healthcare between high- and low-income countries. Reasons for the limited deployment of machine learning models are discussed, as well as model generalisation. Moreover, the literature review discusses how emerging human-centred deployment research is a promising avenue for overcoming deployment barriers. (2) A predictive AI screening model is developed and tested in a case study on heart murmur detection in rural Brazil. Our binary Bayesian ResNet model leverages overlapping log mel spectrograms of patient heart sound recordings and integrates demographic data and signal features via XGBoost to optimise performance. This is followed by a discussion of the model’s limitations, its robustness, and the obstacles preventing its practical application. The difficulty with which this model, and other state-of-the-art models, generalise to out-of-distribution data is also discussed. By integrating the results of the case study with those of the literature review, the NASSS framework was applied to evaluate the key challenges in deploying AI-supported heart murmur detection in low-income settings. The research accentuates the transformative potential of AI-enabled healthcare, particularly for affordable point-of-care screening systems in low-income settings. It also emphasises the necessity of effective implementation and integration strategies to guarantee the successful deployment of these technologies.
Relationship between frequency of yogurt consumption at 1 year of age and development at 3 years of age: The Japan Environment and Children’s Study
Authors: Hirai Hiroko , Tanaka Tomomi , Matsumura Kenta , Tsuchida Akiko , Adachi Yuichi , Imai Chihaya , Inadera Hidekuni ,   and the Japan Environment and Children’s Study Group
Published: December 2024

Background

Multiple observational studies have demonstrated the health benefits of yogurt, which are considered due to yogurt’s positive effects on the gut microbiota. It is also known that the intestinal microbiota is associated with cognitive and emotional functions. Although the intake of probiotics has been reported to improve neurodevelopmental symptoms in children, no large-scale studies have examined the association of yogurt consumption in early childhood with later neurodevelopmental status. In this study, we examined the association between frequency of such consumption at 1 year of age and the children’s subsequent neurodevelopmental status.

Methods

We studied children’s dietary consumption of yogurt at age 1 year and their neurodevelopment at age 3 years from data gathered from70,276 mother–child pairs enrolled in the Japan Environment and Children’s Study. We collected data from pregnant women whose consent was obtained after the study was explained to them at participating facilities in the target area. Frequency of yogurt consumption was categorized into 0, 1–2, 3–4, and ≥ 5 times/week based on a questionnaire about the child’s diet completed by the mother. Developmental delay was assessed using the Ages and Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition (ASQ-3™) in five domains: communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem solving, and personal-social. Using the results of the group that did not consume yogurt as a reference, multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to compare the neurodevelopment of children according to frequency of yogurt consumption. For the covariates, items related to the socio-economic background and children’s neurodevelopment were selected with reference to previous studies.

Results

Consumption of yogurt 1–4 times/week was associated with a reduced risk of developmental delay in all ASQ-3 categories(adjusted odds ratios, 0.71–0.87). However, the risk of developmental delay was not necessarily reduced with yogurt consumption ≥5 times/week (adjusted odds ratios, 0.84–0.96).

Conclusion

Yogurt consumption habits at 1 year of age were associated with a lower risk of developmental delay at 3 years of age. However, the association was less apparent when yogurt was consumed more frequently.

Possible mechanisms by which yogurt intake affects neurodevelopment include neurotransmitters produced by intestinal bacteria as well as the suppression of intestinal inflammation through improvements in the intestinal environment. Regular intake of yogurt in early childhood may have a positive association with neurodevelopment, but it is hoped that clearer links will be found in the future through intervention studies.
Understanding collaborative consumption in the technology-driven sharing economy: A cost-benefit analysis perspective
Authors: Sun Ke
Published: December 2024

Driven by the extensive implementation of information communication technology, collaborative consumption has become more popular. Historically, people have always thought that the best way to get something is to obtain the ownership of it. However, collaborative consumption has recently seen a meteoric rise in popularity due to that obtaining the right to use rather than own. More research into this emerging phenomenon is necessary, notwithstanding the huge impact that collaborative consumption activities have had on companies and individuals. Existing research indicates a lack of knowledge on the factors that motivate or impede user engagement in collaborative consumption. Building on the cost and benefit framework, this research presents a model that examines the effects of perceived benefits (enjoyment and economic reward), perceived costs (privacy risk and security risk) and perceived platform quality (system quality, service quality and information quality) on the intention to engage in the collaborative economy. Using a structural equation modelling approach, 524 active users with experience in car sharing evaluated the research model.The results show that perceived benefits and platform quality positively influence CC participation, the perceived cost reveals a partial support relationship to participate in CC, where security risks are supported but privacy risks are not. This research results will contribute to the research and practice on sharing economy.
Effect of vegetable oil on ovarian steroidogenesis- A transcriptome approach to understand molecular mechanisms of hypothalamus pituitary and gonad axis (HPG) in Ompok bimaculatus
Authors: Mandal Sagar Chandra , Tripathy Partha Sarathi , Khatei Ananya , Devi Ningthoujam Chaoba , Biswas Pradyut , Sundaray Jitendra Kumar , Hoque Farhana , Parhi Janmejay
Published: December 2024

Ompok bimaculatus is a commercially important food fish of Northeast India. For higher production of this species, the molecular mechanisms underlying its reproductive physiology is an important aspect to study. Vegetable oils are rich in ω3 and ω6 fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins, that enhance reproductive performances. In the present study, O. bimaculatus were first fed with vegetable oil at 3, 5, 7 and 9% in the diet. The best treatment was determined by the analysis of relative fecundity, fertilisation rate, Gonadosomatic Index (GSI) and Hepatosomatic Index (HIS). Comparative transcriptomics analysis of gonadal tissues between control and best treatment was done using Illumina NextSeq500. The bioinformatics analysis by Trinity v2.11.0 and edgeR v3.32.1 identified 36 DEGs related to reproduction, those were later validated by qPCR analysis. The Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) revealed, regulation of Hypothalamic—pituitary—gonadal axis (HPG) axis through retinoid signalling pathway, IGF pathway and folliculogenesis pathway, including inhibitory effects of dietary vegetable oil on fish gonadal maturation.
Techno-economic assessment and innovative production of nutrient-rich jam, jelly, and pickle from Sonneratia apetala fruit
Authors: Uddin Md. Ripaj , Siddique Md. Abu Bakar , Sultana Shahnaz , Bithi Umme Hafsa , Akter Nahida , Idris Abubakr M. , Al Mansur Muhammad Abdullah , Jamal AHM Shofiul Islam Molla , Khandaker Mayeen Uddin
Published: December 2024

Sonneratia apetala, a nutrient-rich mangrove fruit, presents an opportunity for innovative food product development, offering potential health benefits and economic value through the creation of jam, jelly, and pickle. This innovative invention reveals the nutritional content including vitamins and minerals of Sonneratia apetala jam, jelly, and pickles from Nijhum Dwip in Hatiya Upazila, Noakhali District. These products contain Na, Mg, K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn, which are essential for human nutrition. The texture and sensory qualities of the products depend on their Total Soluble Solids (TSS), acidity, moisture, pH, and total sugar content, with each parameter receiving an average score of 7 to 8 out of 9 (hedonic scale). Trace amounts of Cd, Cr, Pb, and Hg were found to be significantly below the safe consumption limits. F-, Cl-, SO42-, soluble and total PO43- concentrations were also below safety thresholds. The moisture, ash, protein, fat, fiber, pectin, sugar, carbohydrate, and caloric values highlight the dietary benefits and energy content of these products. The products exhibited higher levels of vitamin C and minerals compared to other citrus fruits. All tested parameters met safe consumption standards, ensuring product safety. These products underwent testing for Heterotrophic Bacterial Count to guarantee their safety. A one-year shelf life is ensured by conducting quarterly storage data checks and organoleptic tests by a 10-member jury panel. The one-way ANOVA test for sensory analysis and shelf life detection indicates statistically significant results. These products help mitigate nutrient deficiencies and promote health by regulating the diet. Applying this technology in grassroots jam, jelly, and pickle production could potentially boost the local economy by approximately $10,000 annually through the creation of small industries among the coastal population.
Optimizing learning outcomes in physical education: A comprehensive systematic review of hybrid pedagogical models integrated with the Sport Education Model
Authors: Zhang Junlong , Geok Soh Kim , Bai Xiaorong , Mohd Anuar Mohd Ashraff , Xiao Wensheng
Published: December 2024

Background

There is a notable gap in systematic reviews concerning hybrid pedagogical models (PMs) integrated with the Sport Education Model (SEM) and their impact on students’ outcomes.

Purpose

Which hybrid PMs incorporating SEM are currently the mainstream choices in research, and what are the main factors supporting their integration? How does SEM function as a foundational model in these hybrid teaching approaches? What learning outcomes are optimized through the hybrid models that combine SEM with other PMs?

Methods

A systematic search was conducted in major databases in December 2023 following PRISMA guidelines. Out of the identified 1342 studies, 30 met the eligibility criteria, all of which were deemed to be of high quality.

Results

Seven hybrid types were identified, primarily composed of two PMs, among which the blend of SEM and Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) emerges as the mainstream in current research. SEM, serving as the foundational structure, provides a stable framework for the hybrid, termed the "SEM + 1 model," yielding positive effects on enhancing students’ learning outcomes.

Conclusions

Pedagogical models align with PMs’ motivational aspects, thus enhancing learning outcomes. However, evidence for partial hybrids is lacking. Future research should explore diverse interventions, addressing coherence and teacher competence, while maintaining fidelity.
Association between cardiometabolic index and female infertility: A population-based study
Authors: Kong Lingxia , Ding Xian , Wang Qian , Xie Ruijie , Sun Fei , Zhou Ningying , Li Chunting , Chen Xiao , Qian Hong
Published: December 2024

Background

One of the risk indicators of infertility is obesity. The cardiometabolic index (CMI) comprises obesity and blood lipids and is regarded as a novel indicator for evaluating obesity. Nevertheless, it is unclear whether it has any connection to infertility. This study set out to investigate the association between infertility and CMI.

Methods

Based on cross-sectional data from the 2013–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), infertility and CMI statistics with complete information were selected. This study investigated the correlation between CMI and infertility using multivariate logistic regression analyses and subgroups. Use fitted smooth curves and threshold effect analysis to describe the nonlinear association between CMI and infertility.

Results

202 (13.31%) among the 1720 participants that got involved in the investigation were female infertile. Among the three models, the outcomes confirmed a positive correlation between CMI levels and the incidence of infertility (OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.01–1.24). Additionally, significant relationships were maintained in subgroup analysis (p > 0.05). Smooth curve fitting indicated a nonlinear positive connection between CMI and infertility, and an inflection point of 0.93 (log-likelihood ratio P < 0.05) was shown by threshold effect analysis.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest a significant relationship between CMI and infertility in American females. This helps identify high-risk groups for infertility, informing clinical practice and public health policy to improve metabolic and reproductive health.
Metabolic syndrome patterns by gender in major depressive disorder
Authors: Li Lu , Xiong Ling , Liu Zhihua , Zhang Lin
Published: December 2024

Major depressive disorder (MDD) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are significant health challenges, with distinct gender-specific manifestations. This suggests that the clinical presentation of MetS within the MDD cohort may also vary by gender. The objective of this study is to explore these gender-specific clinical patterns in the co-occurrence of MetS among hospitalized MDD patients, thereby offering insights and guidance for targeted interventions aimed at managing MetS in this demographic. The study included 1,281 first hospitalization MDD patients. Data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics and general clinical profiles. Metabolic parameters, routine biochemical markers, and psychological symptoms were measured and analyzed. The prevalence of MetS was 8.21% in male patients and 10.34% in female patients, with no significant difference between genders. Gender-specific risk factors were identified: in males, age and anxiety symptoms were significant predictors of MetS, while in females, age at onset and married were linked to the development of MetS. Additionally, MetS severity was influenced by age at onset in males and by both age at onset and married in females. This study found no gender-specific prevalence of MetS in hospitalized MDD patients. However, gender-specific factors influencing MetS development and severity highlight the need for focused management in older, married females and older males with high anxiety symptoms.