bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychosocial and personal predisposing factors of frostbite injury and associated amputation: a systematic review
Authors: Essien Samuel Kwaku , Chireh Batholomew , Steinberg Chantee , Omondi Phinehas , Zucker-Levin Audrey
Published: November 2024

Objective

To date, systematic reviews of frostbite injuries predominantly focus on the treatment of frostbite, which narrows the scope of prevention and disregards the impact of frostbite-related predisposing factors. Comprehensively synthesizing relevant evidence to understand the psychosocial and personal predisposing factors to frostbite injury and related amputation would provide new insight into frostbite injury prevention. This review investigated the psychosocial and personal predisposing factors of frostbite injury and associated amputation.

Methods

Databases, including Embase, PubMed, and PsycINFO, were systematically searched for relevant studies. Two independent reviewers performed the screening, data extraction, and quality assessment. Inclusion criteria were studies that reported cold injury, predisposing factors for frostbite injury or related amputations, and assessed the relationship between a predisposing factor and the frostbite injury or amputation outcome based on a descriptive or inferential test.

Results

Thirty-six (36) studies met the inclusion criteria; 29 reported on both frostbite injury and amputations, and seven reported on only frostbite injury. Six psychosocial predisposing factors were observed in 28 out of the 36 studies reviewed, which included people experiencing homelessness, low socioeconomic status, alcohol intoxication/abuse, smoking, psychiatric disorders, and substance use. Personal predisposing factors identified included inadequate/improper winter clothing, delay in seeking medical care, and lack of knowledge of how to deal with the cold.

Conclusions

While it is crucial to allocate additional resources and research toward improving the treatment of individuals affected by frostbite injuries and associated limb loss, it is equally important to direct efforts toward addressing the psychosocial and personal predisposing factors that predispose individuals to these injuries and amputations.
GLUT1 and prorenin receptor mediate differential regulation of TGF-β and CTGF in renal inner medullary collecting duct cells during high glucose conditions
Authors: Larenas Paulina E. , Cárdenas Pilar , Aguirre-Delgadillo Monserrat , Moris Carlos , Casarini Dulce E. , Vallotton Zoe , Prieto Minolfa C. , Gonzalez Alexis A.
Published: November 2024

Background

During diabetes, prorenin is highly produced by the renal collecting ducts. The binding of prorenin to (pro)renin receptor (PRR) on the apical plasma membrane triggers intracellular profibrotic genes, including TGF-β and CTGF. However, the underlying mechanisms contributing to the stimulation of these pathways remain unclear. Hence, we hypothesize that the glucose transporter-1 (GLUT1) favors the PRR-dependent stimulation of TGF-β and CTGF in the distal nephron segments during high glucose (HG) conditions.

Methods

To test this hypothesis, primary cultured renal inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells were treated with normal glucose (NG, 5 mM) or high glucose (HG, 25 mM) for 48 h in the presence or absence of the GLUT1-specific inhibitor BAY 876 (2 nM). Additionally, IMCD cells were treated with the PRR antagonist PRO20. The expression of TGF-β and CTGF was quantified by immunoblot and qRT-PCR.

Results

HG increased GLUT1 mRNA and protein abundance, while BAY 876 inhibited these responses. HG treatment upregulated PRR, but the concomitant treatment with BAY 876 partially prevented this effect. TGF-β and CTGF expressions were augmented in IMCD cells treated with HG. However, PRO20 prevented the increases in TGF-β but not those of CTGF. GLUT1 inhibition partially prevented the increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS) during HG while PRO20 did not. ROS scavenging impaired CTGF upregulation during HG conditions. Additionally, long-term exposure to HG increases lipid peroxidation and reduced cell viability.

Conclusions

The data indicate that glucose transportation via GLUT1 is implicated in the PRR-dependent upregulation of TGF-β while CTGF is mediated mainly via a mechanism depending on ROS formation in renal medullary collecting duct cells.
Phenotyping of a new yeast mapping population reveals differences in the activation of the TORC1 signalling pathway between wild and domesticated yeast strains
Authors: Rocha Guilherme , Gómez Melissa , Baeza Camila , Salinas Francisco , Martínez Claudio , Kessi-Pérez Eduardo I.
Published: November 2024

Domestication can be understood as a symbiotic relationship that benefits both domesticator and domesticated species, involving multiple genetic changes that configure the phenotype of the domesticated species. One of the most important domesticated species is the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, with both domesticated strains used for different fermentations processes for thousands of years and wild strains existing only in environments without human intervention; however, little is known about the phenotypic effects associated with its domestication. In the present work, we studied the effect of domestication on yeast TORC1 activation, a pleiotropic signalling pathway conserved across the eukaryotic domain. To achieve this goal, we improved a previously generated methodology to assess TORC1 activation, which turned out to be as effective as the original one but also presents several practical advantages for its application (such as facilitating confirmation of transformants and putting the Luc reporter gene under the control of the same PRPL26A promoter for each transformed strain). We then generated a mapping population, the so-called TOMAN-G population, derived from the “1002 Yeast Genomes Project” population, the most comprehensive catalogue of the genetic variation in yeasts. Finally, strains belonging to the TOMAN-G population were phenotyped for TORC1 activation, and then we compared the results obtained between yeast strains with different ecological origins, finding differences in TORC1 activation between wild and domesticated strains, particularly wine strains. These results are indicative of the effect of domestication on TORC1 activation, specifically that the different evolutionary trajectories of wild and domesticated strains have in fact caused differences in the activation of this pathway; furthermore, the phenotypic data obtained in this work could be used to continue underlying the genetic bases of TORC1 activation, a process that is still not fully understood, using techniques such as GWAS to search for specific genetic variants underlying the observed phenotypic variability and phylogenetic tree inferences to gain insight into the evolutionary relationships between these genetic variants.
Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry for rapid analysis of eight Gelsemium elegans Benth alkaloids in human plasma and urine
Authors: Zeng Xi , Wang Yu , Luo Lin , Lu Yina , Xu Zhenlin
Published: November 2024

Gelsemium elegans Benth alkaloids are the main components of G. elegans and can cause acute toxicosis or even death. Although several studies have reported methods for detecting G. elegans alkaloids, a high-throughput and environmental-friendly strategy for detection of multiple G. elegans alkaloids has not been realized. In this work, a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry method was developed for rapid detection of G. elegans alkaloids in human plasma and urine for diagnosis of poisoning. Multiple matrices and crystal spotting methods were evaluated to obtain stable and high peak intensities without “sweet spot”. We verified the methodology and obtained excellent results. The matrix effects with different dilutions were compared and good recoveries and a low relative standard deviation were obtained with a 40-fold dilution. This method could shorten the analysis time and greatly reduce the consumption of chemical solvents. Furthermore, it could be applied to quantitative assessment of G. elegans alkaloid poisoning incidents.
Rhythms in insect olfactory systems: underlying mechanisms and outstanding questions
Authors: Lou Lan , Tu Zhijian Jake , Lahondère Chloé , Vinauger Clément
Published: November 2024

Olfaction is a critical sensory modality for invertebrates, and it mediates a wide range of behaviors and physiological processes. Like most living organisms, insects live in rhythmic environments: the succession of nights and days is accompanied by cyclic variations in light intensity and temperature, as well as in the availability of resources and the activity of predators. Responding to olfactory cues in the proper temporal context is thus highly adaptive and allows for the efficient allocation of energy resources. Given the agricultural or epidemiological importance of some insect species, understanding olfactory rhythms is critical for the development of effective control strategies. Although the vinegar fly Drosophila melanogaster has been a classical model for the study of olfaction and circadian rhythms, recent studies focusing on non-model species have expanded our understanding of insect olfactory rhythms. Additionally, recent evidence revealing receptor co-expression by sensory neurons has brought about an ongoing paradigm shift in our understanding of insect olfaction, making it timely to review the state of our knowledge on olfactory rhythms and identify critical future directions for the field. In this Review, we discuss the multiple biological scales at which insect olfactory rhythms are being analyzed, and identify outstanding questions.
Ukrzyżowani. Współczesne misteria męki Pańskiej w Polsce
Authors: Baraniecka-Olszewska Kamila
Published: November 2024

Książka Ukrzyżowani. Współczesne misteria męki Pańskiej ma dwóch głównych bohaterów: tytułowe misteria oraz teorię performance jako propozycję koncepcji interpretacyjnej w badaniach antropologicznych and współczesną religijnością. Dzięki takiemu podejściu udaje się uchwycić polskie misteria wielkanocne jako zjawisko niezwykle różnorodne. Obejmuje ono bowiem zarówno przedstawienia kameralne, jak i widowiskowe, profesjonalne inscenizacje religijne. Różne są także scenariusze misteriów męki Pańskiej. Wspólny jest jednak cel przyświecający ich organizatorom – chcą oni przybliżyć ludziom wagę ofiary Chrystusa i tym samym przygotować ich do przezywania Wielkanocy. Misteria te są wystawiane w bardzo różnych miejscach – od wnętrz kościołów, kalwaryjskich dróżek, przez miejsca kaźni, miejsce place, do parków sanatoryjnych i torów wyścigów konnych. Przestrzeń, w której jest prezentowana męka Pańska, wpływa na odbiór wydarzenia nie tylko przez możliwość wprowadzenia mniej lub bardziej atrakcyjnego sposobu wystawiania Pasji, ale przede wszystkim przez obecność często ogromnego bagażu symbolicznego, który nakłada się w danym miejscu na konkretne przedstawienia wielkanocne. Książka prezentuje misteria męki Pańskiej jako wydarzenia szczególnie trafnie odpowiadające na potrzeby dzisiejszych wiernych. Doświadczenia wywołane uczestnictwem w tego typu przedsięwzięciach wykraczają poza doznania związane z liturgią czy innymi wielkimi wydarzeniami religijnymi. Wykorzystując siłę wizualizacji, a często też nowoczesne techniki, środki wyrazu rodem z imprez masowych, misteria przedstawiają kluczową dla chrześcijaństwa historię, spełniając historię, spełniając oczekiwania odbiorców przyzwyczajonych do poetyki oferowanej przez kulturze popularną. Znajdując się na przecięciu tego, co popularne, podniosłe i ludyczne, tworzą w polskiej religijności zjawisko wyjątkowe w kalendarzu liturgicznym.
Mieszko Pierwszy Tajemniczy
Authors: Urbańczyk Przemysław
Published: November 2024

Ambicją autora nie było stworzenie monumentu wyczerpującego wszystkie kwestie, których rozpatrzenie umożliwiają źródła historyczne i świadectwa archeologiczne, lecz raczej krytyczna analiza dostępnych informacji, pozostawiająca wciąż spore pole do manewrów interpretacyjnych. Osią rozważań nie jest chronologia wydarzeń politycznych, lecz wybrane problemy badawcze, które albo nie wzbudziły dotąd szerokiego zainteresowania, albo pozwalają na wzbogacenie dotychczasowych interpretacji. Według standardowej wiedzy Mieszko od szóstej dekady X wieku był samodzielnym władcą o niekwestionowanym autorytecie wewnątrz swojego rodowego terytorium, wzbudzającym respekt sąsiadów i przyciągającym uwagę kronikarzy. Nie wiemy jednak, choć chcielibyśmy się dowiedzieć: Dlaczego właśnie on? Dlaczego właśnie wtedy? Dlaczego właśnie tam? Jak do tego doszło? Autor próbuje wykazać, że można znacznie poszerzyć zakres rozważań i zakwestionować niektóre mocno ugruntowane przekonania. Nie jest to zatem kolejna biografia pierwszego władcy piastowskiego, lecz rozważania nad wybranymi problemami, które wymagają ponownego przemyślenia. Autor podejmuje próbę „zrozumienia” kwestii najtrudniejszych: Kim byli przodkowie Mieszka? Skąd wzięła się ich wiedza o tym, jak zbudować podstawy państwa terytorialnego? Jak brzmiało oryginalne imię Mieszka? Czy gorliwie szerzył chrześcijaństwo? Jaką miał strategię geopolityczną? Jaki był terytorialny zasięg jego władzy? Jakie były polityczne okoliczności jego śmierci? Gdzie został pochowany? Brak solidnych podstaw informacyjnych sprawia, że zaproponowane odpowiedzi to raczej sugestie historiograficzne niż konkluzywne stwierdzenia. Tylko na tyle pozwala bowiem dzisiejszy stan naszej wiedzy. Mimo to autor świadomie podejmuje ryzyko sformułowania dość kontrowersyjnych propozycji, które sprowokują zapewne krytyczną dyskusję.
Hopper wirtualny. Obrazy w pamiętającym spojrzeniu
Authors: Lipiński Filip
Published: November 2024

Książka Hopper wirtualny. Obrazy w pamiętającym spojrzeniu to wnikliwa analiza współczesnego odbioru i funkcjonowania malarstwa Edwarda Hoppera w sztuce i kulturze wizualnej zarówno na polu oglądowego doświadczenia, jak i dyskursu krytycznego. Określenie „wirtualny” odnosi się do poszerzonego pola oddziaływania dzieł, w którym kluczową rolę odgrywają praca pamięci, generowane przez percypowane obrazy wizualne skojarzenia i wyobrażeniowe projekcje widza (interpretatora). Niezbędne dla określenia specyfiki twórczości amerykańskiego artysty problemy, wiążące się z rozproszoną obecnością i odbiorem tego malarstwa w kontekście innych obrazów, dotyczą ontologicznego statusu obrazu, pamięci, medium, fotografii, filmu, tzw. nowych mediów i kultury popularnej. Przyjęta w książce perspektywa współczesnego doświadczenia widzącego i piszącego podmiotu pozwala stworzyć krytyczną alternatywę dla tradycyjnego modelu monografii artystycznej „życie i twórczość”. Z kolei splot metodologicznych inspiracji intertekstualnością, hermeneutyką obrazu czy psychoanalizą umożliwił wypracowania pojęć nowych (takich jak „percytowanie) i analityczne zastosowanie, wydawałoby się, dobrze już znanych (takich jak „wirtualność”).
Wybrane problemy językoznawstwa sądowego w Polsce
Authors: Gębka-Wolak Małgorzata , Moroz Andrzej , Szczyszek Michał
Published: November 2024

Przedmiotem opisu stanowiącym trzon rozważań w niniejszej monografii jest zespół zagadnień związanych z językoznawstwem sądowym. Tak określona subdyscyplina językoznawstwa praktycznego jest obecnie na etapie tworzenia swoich podwalin. […] Przedstawiona publikacja jest kształtowana na dwóch zasadniczych podstawach – propozycji założeń teoretycznych dotyczących językoznawstwa sądowego oraz rozwiązań praktycznych. Autorzy stoją bowiem na stanowisku, że elementem najistotniejszym w procedurach prawnych z punktu widzenia biegłego językoznawcy jest informacja na temat praktycznego dochodzenia do konkluzji na podstawie analizy materiału dowodowego. Działanie takie jest jednak skuteczne i powtarzalne jedynie wówczas, gdy jest osadzone w jasno sformułowanych metodach i procedurach działania oraz wykorzystuje konkretne narzędzia analityczne. Fragment książki
Neoliberalizm i społeczeństwo obywatelskie
Authors: Załęski Paweł Stefan
Published: November 2024

Książka łączy krytyczną analizę socjogenenezy dwóch fenomenów ponowoczesności - dyskursu o społeczeństwie obywatelskim oraz zjawiska zwanego potocznie trzecim sektorem. Weryfikacja popularnych opinii na temat narodzin koncepcji społeczeństwa obywatelskiego doprowadziła do wykazania na podstawie analizy materiałów źródłowych, że antykomunistyczna opozycja nie znała tej koncepcji, wypracowując w czasach pierwszej Solidarności ideę samorządnej Rzeczpospolitej. Badania prasowe ujawniły, że to komunistyczna propaganda winna być uznana za głównego sprawcę w procesie stworzenia i rozpropagowania tej koncepcji - w celu legitymizacji neoliberalnej trans-formacji systemu społeczno-politycznego w Polsce w 1989 roku. Od samych początków przemian społeczeństwo obywatelskie miało stanowić ekwiwalent dla pełnej demokratyzacji systemu politycznego i powstania dojrzałego społeczeństwa politycznego. Historyczna analiza powstania trzeciego sektora została osadzona w socjologii organizacji i administracji publicznej. Proces neoliberalnej restrukturyzacji państwa opiekuńczego zidentyfikowano jako główny czynnik rozwoju i ekspansji trzeciego sektora zdefiniowanego w związku z tym jako społeczeństwo opiekuńcze. Finansowane w większości ze źródeł publicznych organizacje opiekuńcze zaczęły stanowić złożony i elastyczny system administracyjny, który przejmuje część funkcji państwa opiekuńczego. System opiekuńczy zmienił sposób swojego funkcjonowania z uniformizacji, równości i spójności działań na rzecz ich indywidualizacji i kontroli różnic. Po upadku systemu zimnowojennego proces ten został zglobalizowany przez politykę strukturalnego dostosowania wyznaczającą zachodnim organizacjom opiekuńczym funkcję redystrybucji zasobów do państw biedniejszych.
Gry sztuki z architekturą. Nowoczesne powinowactwa i współczesne integracje
Authors: Świtek Gabriela
Published: November 2024

Książka, wpisująca się we wciąż aktualne w dobie „postmedializmu” dyskusje o rozmywaniu się granic sztuk, stawia pytanie o miejsce architektury w nowoczesnych systemach sztuk pięknych i we współczesnych definicjach sztuk wizualnych. Inspiracją do podjęcia tych rozważań stały się współczesne praktyki artystyczne, w których wyłania się wyraźnie nurt zainteresowania architekturą oraz sposobami architektonicznej reprezentacji. Współczesne integracje są ukazane na tle dawnych powinowactw, a zwłaszcza na tle osiemnastowiecznej krytyki doktryny ut pictura poesis, nowoczesnych systemów sztuk pięknych, często marginalizujących architekturę, dziewiętnastowiecznego postulatu syntezy sztuk (Gesamtkunswerk) czy koncepcji integracji sztuk z lat pięćdziesiątych i sześćdziesiątych XX wieku. Zwrot ku architekturze, zauważalny w praktykach artystycznych, zostaje przedstawiony również w odniesieniu do przemieszczeń perspektyw badawczych współczesnej humanistyki. Omówione w książce zagadnienia są analizowane z perspektywy badawczej dyscypliny historii sztuki, która – w ciągu kilku ostatnich dekad – uległa wielu metodologicznym „zwrotom”. Rozważania o współczesnych powinowactwach architektury i sztuk wizualnych, zawarte w prezentowanej książce, stanowią propozycję odnowienia historii sztuki – nie tylko jako współczesnej nauki o obrazie, ale i współczesnej nauki o przestrzeni, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem architektury jako „sztuki kształtowania przestrzeni”.
Wola powszechna w filozofii politycznej
Authors: Grygieńć Janusz
Published: November 2024

Książka jest poświęcona kategorii woli powszechnej oraz roli, jaką można przypisać jej niektórym odczytaniom w kontekście współczesnej filozofii politycznej. Autor śledzi narodziny i rozwój tej idei w czasach antycznych, średniowiecznych, nowożytnych i współczesnych, najwięcej miejsca poświęcając w tym kontekście myśli Jeana Jacquesa Rousseau – niekwestionowanego pioniera upolitycznienia volonté générale – oraz dziewiętnasto- i dwudziestowiecznych idealistów brytyjskich (Thomas Hill Green, Francis Herbert Bradley, Bernard Bosanquet). Okazuje się, że prace tych ostatnich, właśnie dzięki przewartościowaniu koncepcji Rousseau, niosą pokaźny potencjał heurystyczny. Pozwalają złagodzić napięcia leżące u podstaw wielu współczesnych sporów filozoficzno-politycznych, zwłaszcza debaty między liberalną i komunitarystyczną wizją miejsca jednostki we wspólnocie.
Using the ReSPECT emergency care and treatment plan in a community hospital: a quality improvement initiative
Authors: Penhale Christine , Evans Catherine , O'Hara Lisa , Arnold Lorraine
Published: November 2024

Background:

The Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment (ReSPECT) is a care plan to guide emergency treatment when the person cannot contribute. ReSPECT is important in supporting adults at risk of decline.

Aim:

To implement, evaluate and embed ReSPECT conversations to improve patient safety out of hours and support involvement of patients and their families.

Methods:

A quality improvement design underpinned by normalisation process theory (NPT) undertaken in a 35-bed community hospital ward between May 2022 and September 2023. Organisational prioritisation, facilitators, and champions supported the plan. Evaluation analysed ReSPECT plans, observations and a follow-up focus group.

Results:

ReSPECT conversations increased by 43% over 1 year (23 to 32 patients), and in quality (from 15/23 patients with a do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation decision recorded and no ReSPECT plan to 32/35 with an individualised ReSPECT plan).

Conclusions:

ReSPECT could be implemented in community hospitals with facilitators and champions to deliver and embed change. The implementation plan is informing wider rollout across community hospital wards for adults with frailty and multiple conditions.
The use of simulation in student learning
Authors: Foster Sam
Published: November 2024

Sam Foster, Executive Director of Professional Practice, Nursing and Midwifery Council, discusses the work that is progressing on nursing and midwifery student education, including simulated practice learning
Developing the emergency response for mental health patients
Authors: Lynch Carly
Published: November 2024

Carly Lynch, Consultant Nurse for Mental Health, London Ambulance Service ( carly.lynch@nhs.net ), was the winner of the Gold Award in the Mental Health Nurse of the Year category of the BJN Awards 2024
The antimicrobial properties of exogenous copper in human synovial fluid against Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Diaz Dilernia Fernando , Watson David , Heinrichs David , Vasarhelyi Edward
Published: November 2024

Aims

The mechanism by which synovial fluid (SF) kills bacteria has not yet been elucidated, and a better understanding is needed. We sought to analyze the antimicrobial properties of exogenous copper in human SF against Staphylococcus aureus.

Methods

We performed in vitro growth and viability assays to determine the capability of S. aureus to survive in SF with the addition of 10 µM of copper. We determined the minimum bactericidal concentration of copper (MBC-Cu) and evaluated its sensitivity to killing, comparing wild type (WT) and CopAZB-deficient USA300 strains.

Results

UAMS-1 demonstrated a greater sensitivity to SF compared to USA300 WT at 12 hours (p = 0.001) and 24 hours (p = 0.027). UAMS-1 died in statistically significant quantities at 24 hours (p = 0.017), and USA300 WT survived at 24 hours. UAMS-1 was more susceptible to the addition of copper at four (p = 0.001), 12 (p = 0.005), and 24 hours (p = 0.006). We confirmed a high sensitivity to killing with the addition of exogenous copper on both strains at four (p = 0.011), 12 (p = 0.011), and 24 hours (p = 0.011). WT and CopAZB-deficient USA300 strains significantly died in SF, demonstrating a MBC-Cu of 50 µM against USA300 WT (p = 0.011).

Conclusion

SF has antimicrobial properties against S. aureus, and UAMS-1 was more sensitive than USA300 WT. Adding 10 µM of copper was highly toxic, confirming its bactericidal effect. We found CopAZB proteins to be involved in copper effluxion by demonstrating the high sensitivity of mutant strains to lower copper concentrations. Thus, we propose CopAZB proteins as potential targets and use exogenous copper as a treatment alternative against S. aureus.
Improvement of Physical and Mechanical properties of High-performance Sand Concrete with different Silica Fume content
Authors:   National Center of Studies and Integrated Research on Building Engineering (CNERIB), 16097, Souidania-Algiers, Algeria, Chalah Kaci , Hammas Aghiles ,   National Center of Studies and Integrated Research on Building Engineering (CNERIB), 16097, Souidania-Algiers, Algeria, Benmounah Abdelbaki ,   Research Unit, Materials, Processes and Environment (UR/MPE), University of M’hamed Bougara, Boumerdes, 35000, Boumerdes, Algeria
Published: November 2024

Silica fume (SF) is widely used for the improvement of several properties of cementitious materials. For this purpose, this study investigated the effect of SF content on the mechanical and durability properties of high-performance sand concrete (HPSC). The experiment work consists of the preparation of HPSC by adding different amounts of SF (0 %, 4 %, 6 %, and 8 %) as a replacement for ordinary Portland cement at a constant water-to-cement ratio of 0,35. The compressive and flexural strengths were performed on the HPSC samples with two standardised sizes of 40 mm × 40 mm × 40 mm and 40 × 40 × 160 mm, which cured during 3, 7, and 28 d. In contrast, both water absorption and water capillary absorption analyses were conducted under a prismatic size of 40 × 40 × 160 mm and cured for 28 d. Based on the test results, the optimal amount of SF was obtained using mechanical strength analysis (6 %). The results showed that at this content of SF, the compressive strength and flexural strength increased by 6,19 and 10,03 %, respectively. In contrast, the addition of SF above this concentration slightly increased the mechanical properties. However, the lowest value of water absorption was obtained for the sample with 6 % SF content. Indeed, at this concentration of SF, the water absorption and the capillarity values of HPSC samples decreased by 8,80 and 8,57 %, respectively.
The Isenheim Altarpiece and the Virtue(s) of Wonder
Authors: Dugdale Lydia S.
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACT: With reference to imagery from Matthias Grünewald’s masterpiece, the Isenheim Altarpiece , this essay considers how health-care practitioners especially— but all of us in practice—can learn to wonder in a way that does not objectify the differently abled but instead honors them. Wondering at the images in Grünewald’s work requires humility, curiosity, patience, compassion, and grit—virtues that all health-care professionals would do well to cultivate.
Dynamic control of population inversion and high harmonic generation in semiconductors using chirped laser pulses
Authors: Liu Lu , Huang Yindong , Jin Facheng , Zhao Jing
Published: November 2024

Population inversion is essential for efficient laser generation. Traditional methods for semiconductor lasers, such as direct current injection and optical pumping, face challenges in achieving precise control. In this study, we introduce an approach using chirped laser fields to dynamically realize population inversions between semiconductor energy bands. By adjusting both the phase of the laser fields and the chirp parameters, we can achieve and control stable electron population inversion. Our results show that different chirp parameters lead to specific resonant peaks in high-harmonic generation, which serve as a probe for characterizing and tracking population inversion dynamics. We also explore the impact of decoherence on the duration of population inversion. This method provides a precise way to control electronic states, opening new possibilities for advancements in semiconductor laser technology.
Optical anisotropy in a two-dimensional C60 network
Authors: Wei Yi-Yue , Qian Tian-Xiang , Zhou Ju , Ding Yun , Cai Tian-Yi , Ju Sheng
Published: November 2024

The buckyball (C60) is generally considered an isotropic identity. However, when forming a two-dimensional (2D) network, these identical C60 balls covalently bound with each other could have two kinds of choices of orientations. In this paper, we have studied quasiparticle electronic structure, electron-hole excitation, and optical properties in these 2D C60 networks. For such a mixed-dimensional system consisting of C60 molecules embedded in a 2D graphene-like network, the optical response is dominated by bound excitons where the binding energy is much larger than that in atomically thin 2D materials of similar band gap. Furthermore, the optical absorption exhibits an obvious contrast between incident lights linearly polarized along the in-plane two orthogonal directions and, consequently, significant optical anisotropy. In accordance with a typical and realistic experimental setup, we find that the rotation angle of transmitted light could be close to 1∘ for incident near-ultraviolet light. In the meantime, by modifying the microstructures of 2D C60 networks, we could further modify the absorption edge by about 0.2 eV and even double the rotation angle. Our study provides a deep understanding of the optical responses in 2D C60 networks and shows the microstructure-dependent optical anisotropy for applications of 2D optoelectronics and optics.
Preparation and characterization of temperature-induced ultrasensitive SERS large-scale vertical Au nanosphere dimers
Authors: Qi Jianxia , Ren Yuchong , Zhao Kangzhe , Li Xinyue , Chang Wanxuan , Zhang Chengyun , Han Qingyan , Gao Wei , Wang Yongkai , Dong Jun
Published: November 2024

Plasmonic dimers have a very wide range of applications as a unique platform for studying the fundamental effects of plasmonics. Most dimer structures are prepared by chemical methods and direct-writing methods, such as coupling agents and lithography. These methods are often complex and expensive. Here, we prepared Au nanospheres (AuNSs) by layer-by-layer (LBL) deposition, used polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) as a spacer layer, and then annealed the deposited AuNSs to orient the assembly and integrate them together. In this paper, suitable PMMA spin coating conditions and optimal annealing temperatures were explored, and large-scale AuNSs-PMMA-AuNSs(NSs-P-NSs) composed of vertical Au nanosphere dimers were prepared successfully. The detection limits of this substrate can reach 4 × 10−12 M/L and 4 × 10−10 M/L for Rhodamine 6 G (R6G) and Crystal Violet (CV), respectively, demonstrating excellent Raman activity. In addition, the sensitivity of detecting aspartame (APM) is 0.015625 g/L. This method is not only simple to operate but also allows the preparation of a large-scale uniform substrate with excellent detection capabilities.
Characteristics of 1D CRL position sensitive SiPM and its performance in acquiring 2D radiation imaging
Authors: Shao Yang , Zhang Huixia , Liu Liangliang , Zhang Xingan , Zhu Jiaying , Yang Ru , Liang Kun , Han Dejun
Published: November 2024

The characteristics of one-dimensional (1D) position sensitive SiPM with an intrinsic continuous cap resistive layer (CRL) and its performance in acquiring two-dimensional (2D) radiation imaging are reported in this paper. The device, with an active size of 6.14 mm × 6.14 mm, demonstrated the position measurement error of 32.0 ± 24.0 µm without correction, which accounted for 0.5% of the length of the SiPM at a mean response photoelectron number around 230 and the reverse bias voltage of 40 V. Under the same condition, it demonstrated a position resolution of 128.7 ± 20.1 µm and a time resolution of 96.0 ± 33.2 ps. A 3D scintillation detector for acquiring 2D radiation imaging with depth information of interaction (DOI) is proposed by implementing two 1D CRL SiPMs in a perpendicular orientation on the two ends of a scintillator. Using this configuration, the 2D imaging of a pixelated 10 × 10 lutetium yttrium orthosilicate (LYSO) array, with each element having a volume of 0.52 mm × 0.52 mm × 20 mm, was successfully resolved by utilizing the natural radioactive radiation of lutetium element in LYSO without distortions at the edges and corners.
Stabilizing nanoparticles in the intensity minimum: feedback levitation on an inverted potential
Authors: Dago Salambô , Rieser J. , Ciampini M. A. , Mlynář V. , Kugi A. , Aspelmeyer M. , Deutschmann-Olek A. , Kiesel N.
Published: November 2024

We demonstrate the stable trapping of a levitated nanoparticle at the apex of an inverted potential using a combination of optical readout and electrostatic control. The feedback levitation on an inverted potential (FLIP) method stabilizes the particle at an intensity minimum. By using a Kalman-filter-based linear-quadratic-Gaussian (LQG) control method, we confine a particle to within σ
x
=9±0.5nm of the potential maximum at an effective temperature of 16(1) K in a room-temperature environment. Despite drifts in the absolute position of the potential maximum, we can keep the nanoparticle at the apex by estimating the drift from the particle dynamics using the Kalman filter. Our approach may enable new levitation-based sensing schemes with enhanced bandwidth. It also paves the way for optical levitation at zero intensity of an optical potential, which alleviates decoherence effects due to material-dependent absorption and is hence relevant for macroscopic quantum experiments.
Differentiable design of compact imaging systems with curved Fresnel optics
Authors: Cerpentier Jeroen , Meuret Youri
Published: November 2024

Phase elements can improve the performance and reduce the size of imaging systems, thanks to the additional degrees of freedom that are offered by the independent phase gradient on top of a refractive/reflective surface. Possible implementations include diffractive elements or metasurfaces, but these suffer from diffractive dispersion. Similar optical functionality however can be provided by thin, curved Fresnel optics, which solely rely on refraction. In this study, a differentiable raytracing framework is presented that offers precise and rapid optimization of curved Fresnel surfaces, by modeling them as a combination of a distinct geometrical and refractive surface, both differentiable with respect to the imaging merit function. The method is demonstrated by designing a compact imaging and projection lens, both with high numerical aperture. The paper analyzes the impact of Fresnelizing the optimized "theoretical" surfaces on both the imaging performance and transmission efficiency. It furthermore shows how the system performance can be enhanced through dedicated post-processing steps, emphasizing the practical relevance of compact Fresnel optics.
Two-dimensional adaptive-bandwidth bit and power loading for MIMO-OFDM VLC communications
Authors: Dong Yixian , Cao Xi , Sun Zhinan , Huang Yeping , Deng Xiong
Published: November 2024

The combination of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) and orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) can effectively increase the achievable rate and reliability of visible light communications (VLC). The low-pass characteristic in frequency domain and power diversity in spatial domain leaves the possibility to further enhance the channel capacity of the MIMO-OFDM VLC systems. In this paper, a two-dimensional water-filling (2D-WF) strategy that can fully explore the properties in both frequency and spatial domain, is investigated to maximize the achievable rate. The theoretical water-filling strategy assumes infinite granularity of the information bit, while in practice the number of bits can only be an integer and thus greedy algorithms such as Hughes-Hartogs (HH) algorithm are used for discrete bit and power loading within a fixed frequency band. Toward the practical implementation of the 2D-WF strategy, we further propose adaptive two-dimensional bit-power loading algorithms that optimally utilize the spectrum resources based on the channel state information (CSI). We analyze the energy tightness of the proposed algorithms based on the least incremental energy for the last information bit. Compared to the fixed-bandwidth algorithm, the adaptive-bandwidth bit-power loading algorithm can further enhance the achievable data rate of MIMO-OFDM VLC systems due to its capability to optimally leverage the abundant spectrum resources, which is verified through both simulations and experiments. The proposed algorithms can be directly implemented for high-speed VLC systems.
AlN-based vacuum ultraviolet Schottky barrier photodetector
Authors: Sun Zhaolan , Yang Jing , Zhang Yuheng , Liu Zongshun , Liang Feng , Chen Ping , Fu Yuting , Liu Bing , Zheng Fu , Liu Xuefeng , Zhao Degang
Published: November 2024

Vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photodetectors are essential for applications in space science, semiconductor lithography, and life science. In this study, we present what we believe to be a novel AlN-based VUV Pt-AlN Schottky barrier photodetector fabricated on a sapphire substrate. This device comprises an i-AlN/n-AlGaN layer structure and ingeniously utilizes an n-AlGaN layer and metal to establish an ohmic contact, addressing the challenge of n-type doping in AlN. Experimental results demonstrate a peak response of 0.06A/W at 194 nm under 0 V bias and clear rectification characteristics. The specific detectivity D* is 4.8 × 1012cm · Hz0.5 · W−1 at 0V bias for the device, indicating the device’s excellent detection performance. The realization of this device opens up possibilities for developing chip-level integrated detectors suitable for VUV detection.
Robust and fast coarse frequency offset estimation based on frequency-domain skewness for coherent DSCM systems under severe bandwidth limitations
Authors: Gong Siyu , Yang Yanfu , Xiang Qian , Jin Yongchao , Fan Linsheng , Cheng Chen , Zhang Qun , Zuo Tianjian
Published: November 2024

A novel, to the best of our knowledge, frequency offset estimation (FOE) scheme is proposed and demonstrated for coherent digital subcarrier multiplexing (DSCM) systems, where frequency offset (FO) leads to severe filtering damage of subcarriers due to bandwidth limitations. The scheme exploits the symmetry of the signal spectrum, which naturally arises from the transmitter’s frequency response and introduces frequency skewness as a cost function to search for FO. To achieve fast FOE, the false position (FP) method is employed to iteratively compute frequency shifts. Experimental results show that within 80% of the cumulative distribution function (CDF), the proposed scheme (with an FFT size of 2048) achieves FOE in just three iterations. In the 4-subcarrier system, the maximum error is less than 250 MHz, while in the 6- and 8-subcarrier systems, the maximum error is less than 80 MHz. In a 6-subcarrier system, the proposed scheme exhibits stable performance under different FO values and received optical power (ROP), even under severe filtering conditions where existing schemes tend to degrade or fail. Therefore, the proposed scheme provides a robust FOE solution for coherent digital subcarrier multiplexing systems with strong filtering impairments.
Microbial occurrence and symbiont detection in a global sample of lichen metagenomes
Authors: Tagirdzhanova Gulnara , Saary Paul , Cameron Ellen S. , Allen Carmen C. G. , Garber Arkadiy I. , Escandón David Díaz , Cook Andrew T. , Goyette Spencer , Nogerius Veera Tuovinen , Passo Alfredo , Mayrhofer Helmut , Holien Håkon , Tønsberg Tor , Stein Lisa Y. , Finn Robert D. , Spribille Toby
Published: November 2024

In lichen research, metagenomes are increasingly being used for evaluating symbiont composition and metabolic potential, but the overall content and limitations of these metagenomes have not been assessed. We reassembled over 400 publicly available metagenomes, generated metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), constructed phylogenomic trees, and mapped MAG occurrence and frequency across the data set. Ninety-seven percent of the 1,000 recovered MAGs were bacterial or the fungal symbiont that provides most cellular mass. Our mapping of recovered MAGs provides the most detailed survey to date of bacteria in lichens and shows that 4 family-level lineages from 2 phyla accounted for as many bacterial occurrences in lichens as all other 71 families from 16 phyla combined. Annotation of highly complete bacterial, fungal, and algal MAGs reveals functional profiles that suggest interdigitated vitamin prototrophies and auxotrophies, with most lichen fungi auxotrophic for biotin, most bacteria auxotrophic for thiamine and the few annotated algae with partial or complete pathways for both, suggesting a novel dimension of microbial cross-feeding in lichen symbioses. Contrary to longstanding hypotheses, we found no annotations consistent with nitrogen fixation in bacteria other than known cyanobacterial symbionts. Core lichen symbionts such as algae were recovered as MAGs in only a fraction of the lichen symbioses in which they are known to occur. However, the presence of these and other microbes could be detected at high frequency using small subunit rRNA analysis, including in many lichens in which they are not otherwise recognized to occur. The rate of MAG recovery correlates with sequencing depth, but is almost certainly influenced by biological attributes of organisms that affect the likelihood of DNA extraction, sequencing and successful assembly, including cellular abundance, ploidy and strain co-occurrence. Our results suggest that, though metagenomes are a powerful tool for surveying microbial occurrence, they are of limited use in assessing absence, and their interpretation should be guided by an awareness of the interacting effects of microbial community complexity and sequencing depth.
Bias in medical AI: Implications for clinical decision-making
Authors: Cross James L. , Choma Michael A. , Onofrey John A.
Published: November 2024

Biases in medical artificial intelligence (AI) arise and compound throughout the AI lifecycle. These biases can have significant clinical consequences, especially in applications that involve clinical decision-making. Left unaddressed, biased medical AI can lead to substandard clinical decisions and the perpetuation and exacerbation of longstanding healthcare disparities. We discuss potential biases that can arise at different stages in the AI development pipeline and how they can affect AI algorithms and clinical decision-making. Bias can occur in data features and labels, model development and evaluation, deployment, and publication. Insufficient sample sizes for certain patient groups can result in suboptimal performance, algorithm underestimation, and clinically unmeaningful predictions. Missing patient findings can also produce biased model behavior, including capturable but nonrandomly missing data, such as diagnosis codes, and data that is not usually or not easily captured, such as social determinants of health. Expertly annotated labels used to train supervised learning models may reflect implicit cognitive biases or substandard care practices. Overreliance on performance metrics during model development may obscure bias and diminish a model’s clinical utility. When applied to data outside the training cohort, model performance can deteriorate from previous validation and can do so differentially across subgroups. How end users interact with deployed solutions can introduce bias. Finally, where models are developed and published, and by whom, impacts the trajectories and priorities of future medical AI development. Solutions to mitigate bias must be implemented with care, which include the collection of large and diverse data sets, statistical debiasing methods, thorough model evaluation, emphasis on model interpretability, and standardized bias reporting and transparency requirements. Prior to real-world implementation in clinical settings, rigorous validation through clinical trials is critical to demonstrate unbiased application. Addressing biases across model development stages is crucial for ensuring all patients benefit equitably from the future of medical AI.
Design of agricultural wireless sensor network node optimization method based on improved data fusion algorithm
Authors: Ruipeng Tang , Jianbu Yang , Jianrui Tang , Aridas Narendra Kumar , Talip Mohamad Sofian Abu
Published: November 2024

The agricultural WSN (wireless sensor network) has the characteristics of long operation cycle and wide coverage area. In order to cover as much area as possible, farms usually deploy multiple monitoring devices in different locations of the same area. Due to different types of equipment, monitoring data will vary greatly, and too many monitoring nodes also reduce the efficiency of the network. Although there have been some studies on data fusion algorithms, they have problems such as ignoring the dynamic changes of time series, weak anti-interference ability, and poor processing of data fluctuations. So in this study, a data fusion algorithm for optimal node tracking in agricultural wireless sensor networks is designed. By introducing the dynamic bending distance in the dynamic time warping algorithm to replace the absolute distance in the fuzzy association algorithm and combine the sensor’s own reliability and association degree as the weighted fusion weight, which improved the fuzzy association algorithm. Finally, another three algorithm were tested for multi-temperature sensor data fusion. Compare with the kalman filter, arithmetic mean and fuzzy association algorithm, the average value of the improved data fusion algorithm is 29.5703, which is close to the average value of the other three algorithms, indicating that the data distribution is more even. Its extremely bad value is 8.9767, which is 10.04%, 1.14% and 9.85% smaller than the other three algorithms, indicating that it is more robust when dealing with outliers. Its variance is 2.6438, which is 2.82%, 0.65% and 0.27% smaller than the other three algorithms, indicating that it is more stable and has less data volatility. The results show that the algorithm proposed in this study has higher fusion accuracy and better robustness, which can obtain the fusion value that truly feedbacks the agricultural environment conditions. It reduces production costs by reducing redundant monitoring devices, the energy consumption and improves the data collection efficiency in wireless sensor networks.
Narrative competence disparities between Children’s hospital and General hospital in China: A comparative survey
Authors: Jia Junjun , Zhang Rong , Jin Qi , Zhou Qinghua , Xu Yun
Published: November 2024

Background

Narrative medicine was introduced in China in 2011 and has been applied as a tool for humane medical practice. The prominent problem in the narrative medicine is the lack of adequate attention and devotion. This study aimed to investigate Chinese medical staffs’ narrative competence and the influencing factors, confirming whether the level of narrative competence is different in different hospital settings.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1003 medical staffs, including 201 from Children’s hospital and 802 from the General hospital. The participants were scored based on the Chinese narrative competence scale, a brief Chinese version of the resilience scale, and a Chinese version of the self-efficacy scale. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25.0.

Results

A total of 1003 medical staff from Children’s hospital and General hospital participated in the survey, with a response rate of 94.36%. Our results showed that the score of narrative competence of General hospital and Children’s hospital was 149.45±26.22 and 147.10±18.87, respectively, both of which were in intermediate level. Resilience, familiarity with narrative medicine were influencing factors of narrative competence in 2 kinds of hospitals, and whether having written parallel charts before were the influencing factors of narrative competence in General hospital. Besides, our study found that the level of narrative competence (χ2 = 13.672, p≤0.001), resilience score (personal ability dimension, t = 3.439, p≤0.001) and self-efficacy (t = 1.976, p<0.005) are different between General and Children’s hospital.

Conclusions

Narrative competence is different between General hospital and Children’s hospital. Medical staff in General hospital are more familiar with narrative medicine. The competence of medical staff in China needs to be improved.