bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for post-stroke epilepsy: a mini-review
Authors: Aderinto Nicholas , Olatunji Gbolahan , Kokori Emmanuel , Ogieuhi Ikponmwosa Jude , Moradeyo Abdulrahmon , Samuel Owolabi , Babalola Adetola Emmanuel , Napoleon Tejiri , Awosan Wuraola , Oyewo Oluwaseun , Udojike Chidinma , Omoworare Oluwatobi , Adebayo Yewande Abigail
Published: December 2024

Post-stroke epilepsy (PSE) is a common complication of stroke, significantly impacting patient’s quality of life. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an emerging potential non-invasive treatment for PSE. This review explores current evidence for rTMS in PSE, highlighting its potential benefits and limitations. Initial studies suggested that rTMS may reduce the seizure burden. Some studies observed a trend towards fewer seizures within two weeks of treatment initiation, indicating a relatively rapid response. Additionally, rTMS may be more effective when used in combination with medication, particularly for patients with specific lesion locations (frontal/temporal lobes) and seizure types (complex partial seizures). This points towards the potential of personalized treatment protocols. However, current evidence has limitations. Studies often involve small sample sizes and methodological variations, necessitating larger, well-designed trials with standardized protocols to confirm the efficacy and safety of rTMS in PSE. Future research should also focus on the optimization of treatment parameters, including stimulation frequency, duration, coil placement, and treatment course. Long-term studies are needed to evaluate the persistence of treatment effects on seizure control, cognitive function, and overall patient outcomes. Refining patient selection criteria and investigating the underlying mechanisms of therapeutic effects of rTMS in PSE are also crucial areas for future exploration.
Long-term segregation and seclusion for people with an intellectual disability and/or autism in hospitals: critique of the current state of affairs
Authors: Tromans Samuel J. , Sawhney Indermeet , Odiyoor Mahesh , de Villiers Jana , McCarthy Jane , Boer Harm , Alexander Regi , Courtenay Ken , Wallace Stuart , Gangadharan Satheesh , Roy Ashok , Blake Amy , Purandare Kiran , Iyer Anupama , Laugharne Richard , Weisner Vivien , Shankar Rohit
Published: December 2024

In November 2023, the Department of Health and Social Care published guidance, entitled ‘Baroness Hollins’ Final Report: My Heart Breaks – Solitary Confinement in Hospital Has no Therapeutic Benefit for People with a Learning Disability and Autistic People’. The report's commendable analysis of the problems and identification of the areas where practice should be improved is unfortunately not matched by many of its recommendations, which appear to be contrary to evidence-based approaches. The concerns are wide-ranging, from the use of the term ‘solitary confinement’ for current long-term segregation (LTS) and seclusion, to presumption that all LTS and seclusion is bad, to holding clinicians (mainly psychiatrists) responsible for events beyond their locus of control. Importantly, there is a no guidance on how to practically deliver the recommendations in an evidence-based manner. This Feature critically appraises the report, to provide a comprehensive summary outlining potential positive impacts, identifying specific concerns and reflecting on best practice going forward.
How We Make Each Other
Authors: Zurn Perry
Published: December 2024

Trans people have always lived in the cracks of institutions—and the university is no exception. In How We Make Each Other, Perry Zurn tells the stories of how trans people make and live their lives at the edges of the university in ways that sometimes lead to policy change but always leave participants and institutions different than they were before. Using the Five Colleges in Massachusetts as a case study, Zurn notes that Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, have been at the forefront of developing trans-inclusive policies in higher education, often in response to student organizing. Zurn focuses on the stories of trans students, staff, faculty, and community members within and alongside these institutions, exploring how they have built themselves and each other. Drawing on official archives as well as over 100 interviews, Zurn shows how trans people in the Five Colleges have made history, forged resistance habits, and cultivated hope.
Directional web strikes are performed by ray spiders in response to airborne prey vibrations
Authors: Han Sarah I. , Blackledge Todd A.
Published: December 2024

Most orb-weaving spiders use static webs that deform only after flying prey hit the webs. However, ray spiders (Theridiosoma gemmosum) pull orb webs into cones that are loaded with enough elastic energy to snap back like slingshots at accelerations of up to 504 m s−2 once released. We test the hypothesis that ray spiders sense vibrations from flying insects to release their webs and capture prey in mid-flight. We show that spiders release webs in response to live tethered mosquitoes that are not touching silk. Web release is most likely when mosquitoes are in front of the web and within the ‘capture cone’ where the capture spiral moves directly into the insects’ flight. In summary, ray spiders use airborne stimuli to determine both the direction and distance of flying prey. Perception of airborne cues from flying insects may be an under-appreciated source of information for other web-building spider species about the approach, size and/or behaviors of insects prior to contact with webs.
Running Distance and Biomechanical Risk Factors for Plantar Fasciitis: A One-Year Prospective 4HAIE Cohort Study
Authors: Plesek Jan , Hamill Joseph , Burda Michal , Elavsky Steriani , Skypala Jiri , Urbaczka Jan , Silvernail Julia Freedman , Zahradnik David , Uchytil Jaroslav , Daniel Jandacka
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Plantar fasciitis (PF) is one of the most common running-related injuries.

Purpose

The aim of this prospective study was to determine the incidence of PF and identify potential risk or protective factors for PF in runners and non-runners.

Methods

Data from 1206 participants from the 4HAIE cohort study (563 females/643 males; 715 runners/491 non-runners; 18-65 years of age) were included in the analysis. We collected biomechanical data during overground running using a 3-D motion capture system at the baseline and running distance data via retrospective questionnaires and followed the participants for 12 months following the baseline data collection. Participants were asked weekly about any sports-related injury (including PF). A binary logistic regression was performed to reveal potential associations between running distance and biomechanical risk factors and PF while controlling for running distance, sex, and age.

Results

The total incidence of PF was 2.3% (28 PF from 1206 participants), 2.5% in runners and 2.0% in non-runners (P = 0.248). Runners who ran more than 40 km per week had six times higher odds of suffering PF than individuals who ran 6-20 km/week (P = 0.009). There was a significant association between maximal ankle adduction and PF, that is, runners with a lower abduction angle during the stance period had higher risk of PF (P = 0.024). No other biomechanical variables indicated significant associations with PF.

Conclusions

Regular running with a moderate weekly volume and more toeing out of the foot relative to the shank may reduce the risk against PF in runners which may be useful for researchers, runners, coaches, and health professionals to minimize PF injury risk.
Três formas de entender a liberdade?
Authors: Coletto Bruno Irion
Published: December 2024

Contextualização: Há farto debate acerca do republicanismo na teoria política contemporânea, sendo uma das mais fortes tradições de pensamento político do Ocidente. Tal tradição foi reavivada como autônoma em relação ao liberalismo por pensadores, como Quentin Skinner, Philip Pettit e Maurizio Viroli, inseridos em uma tradição de pensamento político que se convencionou chamar de neorrepublicanismo. Ponto central do argumento neorrepublicano é a crítica ao conceito liberal de liberdade.
Objetivo: Busca-se retomar o argumento liberal acerca do conceito de liberdade para cotejá-lo com o conceito neorrepublicano. Assim, ao final, articula-se uma crítica alegadamente republicana ao argumento neorrepublicano.
Metodologia: Fazendo um apanhado da ideia de liberdade em pensadores liberais, bem como articulando este conceito na tradição republicana, desenvolveu-se um argumento filosófico demonstrando supostas fraquezas da crítica neorrepublicana.
Contribuições: Resgatando a tradição republicana desde suas origens clássicas, busca-se demonstrar que o argumento crítico ao liberalismo, presente no neorrepublicanismo, acaba por afastar este pensamento das bases clássicas da tradição republicana.
A revised inventory of Annelida in the Lebanese coastal waters with ten new aliens for the Mediterranean Sea
Authors: TOSO ANDREA , PUTIGNANO MATTEO , FUMAROLA LARA M. , BARICHE MICHEL , GIANGRANDE ADRIANA , MUSCO LUIGI , PIRAINO STEFANO , LANGENECK JOACHIM
Published: December 2024

Sampling activities conducted in the Tyre Coast Nature Reserve, southern Lebanon, to study the marine annelid fauna of the area, allowed for the revision of the diversity of this group in Lebanon. We particularly focused on non-indigenous species (NIS), which were characterised from morphological and molecular points of view. A total of 116 taxa were collected; 10 species are reported here for the first time in the Mediterranean Sea, while 6 species with presumable Indo-Pacific affinity are likely new to science. Seventy-three taxa were native, while 43 taxa were NIS; among the latter, 24 species are reported for the first time in Lebanon. Molecular data were obtained for 28 NIS, representing the first data from the Mediterranean Sea for 23 of them. Non-indigenous annelids occurring along the coast of Lebanon mainly have Indo-Pacific affinity. However, molecular data highlighted inconsistencies between the sampled material and the sequences available in public repositories, suggesting the widespread occurrence of species complexes in these taxa. These results suggest that further research on Indo-Pacific annelids is needed to understand their diversity patterns and invasion pathways. Additionally, the large number of new records of annelids in Lebanese waters indicate that further studies are needed to explore their diversity in comparison with neighbouring Mediterranean regions.
Risk Assessment of Ancient Columns and Colonnades
Authors: Diamantopoulos Spyridon , Fragiadakis Michalis
Published: December 2024

The paper presents a novel methodology for the fragility assessment of ancient freestanding colonnades. The seismic response and the stability of these colonnades is compared with those of freestanding columns. The modelling of the structures is based on a simplified approach that can be implemented in a general-purpose seismic design software. Thus, time-consuming and/or complicated simulations are avoided. For the fragility assessment, the performance criteria and the methodology adopted are discussed in detail. The examples studied show the capacity of the proposed modelling to simulate ancient structures and to quickly provide accurately the fragility curves. The Engineering Demand Parameter is always the rotation of the column over its slenderness while different Intensity Measures are examined.
Macrophage activation syndrome in a patient with systemic lupus erythematous triggered by tuberculous meningitis
Authors: Alowais Noura , Zamani Noura , Elbadawi Faisal , Ahmed Hassan , Dutta Pankhi , Sharif Aesha
Published: December 2024

Background: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), is characterized by systemic uncontrolled inflammation resulting from immune dysregulation secondary to various triggers, including genetics, infections, autoimmune diseases, and malignancies. Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is an immune dysregulation phenomenon, in which an underlying rheumatological disease is present. We report a rare, interesting case of a middle-aged female, with a systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) flare complicated by macrophage activation syndrome (MAS), in which tuberculous meningitis (TBM) was the identified trigger. Case report: A 48-year-old female with an African ethnic background, diagnosed with SLE, presented with a 2-week history of high-grade fever, cough, and worsening arthralgia. She was initially admitted with suspected SLE flare secondary to community acquired pneumonia and was started on broad-spectrum antibiotics. Later during her hospital stay, she underwent extensive workup because of her clinical condition, as she had continuous spikes of fever, progressive cytopenia, accompanied with acute confusion state despite treatment. She was ultimately diagnosed with SLE flare complicated by MAS secondary to TBM in view of persistent fever, neuropsychiatric symptoms, hyperferritinemia and hypertriglyceridemia, supported by bone marrow aspiration findings, a tuberculosis (TB) positive contact and supporting cerebrospinal fluid analysis suggestive of TBM. She was immediately started on pulse doses of steroids and anti-tuberculosis medications in which significant clinical improvement was observed. She was discharged home, with continuity of care done at the outpatient department in addition to continuity of physical rehabilitation. Conclusion: Given the wide range of clinical presentations and similarities between SLE and the life-threatening MAS, it is essential to maintain a high level of suspicion to establish the diagnosis and promptly start the necessary treatment to ensure better clinical and survival outcomes.
Atypical presentation of Andersen-Tawil syndrome: heart failure with reduced ejection without periodic paralysis or dysmorphic features
Authors: Shehzad Mustafa , Shehzad Dawood , Ahmad Muhammad , Huma Sundus , Minhas Shaheer , Wassey Abdul
Published: December 2024

Background: Andersen-Tawil syndrome (ATS) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder caused by variants in the KCNJ2 gene. It is associated with periodic paralysis, dysmorphic features and cardiac arrhythmias. The syndrome exhibits incomplete penetrance, leading to a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, making diagnosis challenging. Case description: A male in his mid-20s with class 3 obesity presented to the emergency department with a week-long history of worsening chest pain, orthopnoea and fatigue. His family history was significant for sudden cardiac death affecting both his mother and brother, with his father having died from complications of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Cardiovascular examination revealed an S3 heart sound and elevated brain natriuretic peptide levels at 875 pg/ml, with undetectable troponins; potassium level on admission was 3.6 mEq/l. An electrocardiogram showed normal sinus rhythm, first-degree heart block, left atrial enlargement, left bundle branch block and a prolonged QTc of 486 ms. A transthoracic echocardiogram demonstrated a 15-20% reduction in ejection fraction with global left ventricular hypokinesis and left atrial enlargement. Ultimately, he was diagnosed with non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy and referred for genetic testing, which revealed a KCNJ2 variant. Shortly after discharge, he experienced a 55-second run of ventricular tachycardia, necessitating the placement of a single-chamber ICD. Currently, the patient remains on guideline-directed medical therapy and is listed for a heart transplant. Conclusions: Dilated cardiomyopathy, although a rare manifestation in ATS, can profoundly increase the risk of fatal arrythmias, necessitating the need for a low threshold of suspicion, to ensure timely diagnosis and management.
Meeting paediatric needs through surgical hubs: experiences and insights from two NHS centres
Authors: Rivers Clare , Smyth Emma , Jolly Julie , Oliver Kieran , Canty Steve , Clough Isobel
Published: December 2024

This report highlights the need for action and discusses key considerations for paediatric elective care, using examples from two surgical hubs in Greater Manchester that have taken different approaches to incorporate children into their model.
A cross-sectional study of paramedic management of out-of-hospital obstetric emergencies
Authors: Flanagan Belinda , Fitzpatrick David , Andreis Federico , Jackson Rory
Published: December 2024

Background/Aims

Most birth-related ambulance calls occur without difficulty, but in some cases, complications can arise. Paramedics’ involvement in birth is infrequent; therefore, the knowledge and skills required to manage complications can atrophy over time, particularly without educational interventions. This may impact outcomes. The study's aims were to measure the knowledge, attitude, and practice of paramedics in managing obstetric cases.

Methods

This cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was carried out with 264 paramedics. Spearman's measure of correlation was used to observe linear correlations between ranks of the observations.

Results

The majority of participants were advanced care paramedics (81.1%). Participants reported infrequently attending births in the community, with under half feeling confident in managing these (44%). Antenatal complications and trauma in pregnancy were self-reported areas of weakness; this was consistent with assessed knowledge.

Conclusions

Paramedics self-reported infrequently responding to obstetric calls and the majority lacked confidence in managing these. Few indicated an excellent level of obstetric knowledge, reporting a desire to receive more education in this area.

Implications for practice

When paramedics lack confidence in managing obstetric emergencies, it can lead to delayed decision making, inadequate assessment, increased error rates and adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes.
Sources of breastfeeding knowledge and support skills among midwives and students: a scoping review
Authors: Pangerl Sabine , Ross-Adije Gail , Geraghty Sadie , Monterosso Leanne
Published: December 2024

Background/Aims

Early discontinuation of exclusive breastfeeding often occurs as a result of conflicting advice provided by midwives and other healthcare professionals. The aim of this study was to explore sources of breastfeeding knowledge and acquisition of support skills among midwives and midwifery students.

Methods

This scoping review explored peer-reviewed and grey literature, identifying and synthesising seven studies and one conference abstract published between 2014 and 2024, after screening 27 full-text articles based on eligibility criteria.

Results

Only one study focused on breastfeeding knowledge sources, revealing that on-the-job training was the primary source (64.4%) for midwives and nurses. Seven papers detailed educational programmes, including simulation workshops, animation videos and web resources. Grey literature highlighted relevant organisations, websites and social media platforms.

Conclusions

Despite the widespread availability of breastfeeding education resources, this review identified a significant gap in understanding how midwives and students use these resources.

Implications for practice

Enhancing training and support for midwives and students is important to ensure effective use of existing resources for breastfeeding education. Expanding the available digital resources would also provide vital support.
Future of telerobotic surgery
Authors: Hamid Agus Rizal Ardy Hariandy
Published: December 2024

[No abstract available]
“Behind the Veil”: Unmasking Anti-blackness in Presidential Discourse and Responses to Racialized Incidents
Authors: Briscoe Kaleb L. , Jones Veronica A. , Whitehead Melvin A.
Published: December 2024

Discourses by university presidents in the wake of racialized incidents continues to be a pressing issue for higher education. Presidential rhetoric can harm those who experience racialized incidents, such as Black students. Using critical discourse analysis, we examined the variations of discourse that a president uses to respond to racialized incidents. Explicitly, as issues of anti-blackness continue to be prevalent within colleges and universities, we sought to highlight how the president’s discourse reinforces anti-blackness narratives perpetuating systemic racism. We center Critical Race Theory and BlackCrit to name how university presidents wrestle with acknowledging anti-blackness. Through a Black liberatory fantasy stance, we offer a framework to engage in radical hope that reimagines what presidential rhetoric should look like, including how university presidents, administrators, and other campus leaders should respond to racialized incidents in meaningful ways that support Black communities and establish equitable policies and practices.
Memoria vegetal: Articulaciones de la memoria subalterna en la poesía latinoamericana contemporánea
Authors: Meiller Valeria , Naoun Stefanie
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT: En las últimas décadas, los estudios críticos sobre las plantas han proliferado como parte de los esfuerzos teóricos por repensar la invisibilización de la vida vegetal en la filosofía occidental y señalar el rol fundamental de las plantas para ayudar a combatir la crisis climática actual. Esta revitalización ha dado lugar a expresiones poéticas latinoamericanas que articulan formas antropodescéntricas de la memoria histórica a través de estrategias discursivas relacionadas a la vida vegetal. A través del concepto de 'memoria vegetal', este artículo analiza estas estrategias estéticas y políticas en dos libros contemporáneos de poesía latinoamericana, La mata (Laguna Libros, 2020) de Eliana Hernández Pachón y El sueño de toda célula (Ediciones Antílope, 2018) de Maricela Guerrero. Estas expresiones poéticas socavan las historias oficiales para ofrecer historias subalternas que subrayan voces históricas marginadas en América Latina a través de estrategias discursivas relacionadas a las plantas.
Reading Colette’s Claudine À L’École Through Bergson’s Comic Lens
Authors: Sachs Leon
Published: December 2024

Abstract: This essay reads Colette’s Claudine à l’école through the lens of Henri Bergson’s theory of the comic. Though usually remembered as a titillating but jejune fictionalization of the author’s experience at a girls’ school in the early Third Republic, the novel is endowed with more literary and philosophical complexity than is typically acknowledged. The narrator’s dispassionate mocking of the inflexible educational practices and the habitual libidinous behavior of the Republic’s unthinking votaries contains a deeper meditation on institutional and ideological rigidities of all kinds. More than a mere satire of institutional foibles, the work serves as a cautionary tale about a universal human tendency to be lulled into simple binary oppositions and dichotomous modes of thinking.
Les modalités de l’humour explosif dans les récits automatiques de Gisèle Prassinos
Authors: Spiridopoulou Maria
Published: December 2024

Abstract: Dans tout acte humoristique réside une mise en cause sous-jacente des normes sociales, et à plus forte raison, dans l’oeuvre de Gisèle Prassinos, la femme-enfant du Surréalisme, qui se plaît à jouer de façon irrévérencieuse avec les valeurs traditionnelles et à désacraliser les thèmes de base chers aux hommes du groupe surréaliste. Notre article analyse la rhétorique de son humour dans ses contes automatiques ( Trouver sans chercher , 1934–44) au niveau microscopique des mots (paradoxismes, paralogismes, illogismes) ainsi qu’au niveau sémantique/macroscopique où le surgissement abrupt d’un signifiant incongru nous oblige à une double traduction/signification : l’une littérale et manifeste, l’autre symbolique et latente. La manière singulière dont l’humour se présente dans les textes de Prassinos d’un côté se rattache au rire tragique et au macabrisme de ses images et de l’autre côté manifeste une dispersion du sens : a) par l’attaque aux valeurs sacrées de la société (religion, éducation des enfants, amour idéalisé, morale, mariage, famille), b) par la déformation ou dérision des signes consacrés du Surréalisme (beauté de la femme, éloge du corps féminin, le mythème de la femme-enfant, l’amour fou, etc.).
Queens of comedy? Variations sur le comique féminin dans le cinéma français populaire des débuts du XXIe Siècle
Authors: Rollet Brigitte
Published: December 2024

Abstract: Avec plus de 20 millions d’entrées en 2008, Bienvenus chez les Ch’tis (Danny Boon) a détrôné le précédent record absolu du cinéma français de La grande vadrouille (Gérard Oury co-écrit avec sa fille Danielle Thompson) qui avait rassemblé plus de 17 millions de Français·e·s dans les salles en 1966. Deux comédies, genre dont la popularité en France ne se dément pas depuis les origines du cinéma. Emblématique de l’engouement hexagonal pour de tels films, ce dernier succès est aussi un indicateur de certaines tendances du cinéma français populaire à vocation comique, qui repose souvent sur l’opposition de deux hommes, séparés là par des questions de classe sociale, ici par l’éternel contraste entre le Nord et le Sud (entre autres contraires). Le rôle relativement mineur des femmes dans ce cinéma, est aussi un indice de la dimension très genrée du genre. Pourtant, les réalisatrices se sont réapproprié la comédie depuis presque trente ans, même si leurs films ne suivent pas tout à fait la même trajectoire ni les mêmes « recettes » que leurs équivalents masculins. En outre, bien que le genre reste le seul permettant aux cinéastes femmes de toucher un public large, voire très large, rares sont celles qui atteignent de tels sommets malgré le succès de Trois hommes et un couffin (Coline Serreau, 1985 ; 10 millions d’entrées) ou de Gazon Maudit (Josiane Balasko, 1995 ; 5 millions). A partir des films d’Agnès Jaoui, de Valérie Lemercier et de Danielle Thompson ayant dépassé le million d’entrées depuis dix ans, cet article abordera les caractéristiques du comique au féminin dans le cinéma contemporain et s’interrogera sur les possibles variations, ressemblances et dissemblances de réalisatrices aux parcours riches et variés, dont les films contredisent la vision souvent monolithique que les critiques auteuristes se font de la comédie populaire.
Unveiling stereotypes: Franco-Maghrebi Comediennes and the Islamic Headscarf on Stage
Authors: Ice Christopher D.
Published: December 2024

Abstract: The affaire du voile , the French national debate over the wearing of the Islamic headscarf in the public sphere, has raged on for over thirty years and has placed anxieties surrounding immigration, integration, and national identity on the bodies and clothing of Muslim girls and women. Several sociologists have suggested that this debate—as well as similar discourses on the “integration” and “assimilability” of Muslims in French society—serves primarily to propagate stereotypes and to mask the pressing need for discussions regarding equal rights and opportunities for ethnic minorities. Furthermore, the voices of women who wear the hijab in France and who are ostensibly at the heart of the issue have far too often been minimalized if not absent in the national debate. Ice therefore looks to a less official platform, that of the comic stage, to see how Franco-Maghrebi comediennes are making their voices heard through their portrayals of veiled female characters. In particular, this article explores Rachida Khalil’s one-woman show of the early 2000s, La vie rêvée de Fatna ; Nadia Roz’s 2015 appearance at the Marrakech du rire stand-up comedy festival; and a 2020 filmed performance of Samia Orosemane’s humoristic show, Femme de couleurs . In analyzing their work, Ice examines how the comic stage creates a privileged space for these performers to dispel stereotypes and preconceived notions of veiled women—for example, received ideas concerning voice and agency, integration into Western societies, and associations with terror and fear—, and to speak out against social injustices against women and minorities.
Under-display face-recognition system with neural network-based feature extraction from lensless encrypted images
Authors: Wu Jia-Lun , Chen Sih-Wei , Lee Chieh-En , Tien Chung-Hao
Published: December 2024

In this work, we present a novel under-display lensless facial-recognition system, to the best of our knowledge, which consists of a transparent micro-LED display, a specially designed mask for amplitude modulation, a CMOS sensor, and a deep learning model. By utilizing this kind of lensless optical component, the system can optically encrypt input facial information, ensuring that the light field information at the imaging plane is incomprehensible to humans. Compared to current technologies that encrypt facial images, the advantage of this approach is that the system never captures any clear facial features, fundamentally protecting user privacy. To extract effective and generalizable features from these human-incomprehensible images, a recognition algorithm based on deep learning model is proposed. However, the conventional deep learning models used for recognition systems have a fixed number of classes, necessitating retraining of the model during user registration or removal. To address this issue, we removed the output layer of the well-trained model and transformed the deep learning model into a feature extractor for lensless images. By comparing the distance between each lensless image and the registered facial templates in the latent space, the system performs the recognition task. This allows the system to successfully register and recognize new users without the need to retrain the deep learning model. Our experimental results show that this system can provide stable recognition performance while preserving user privacy, with 93.02% accuracy, 97.51% precision, and 97.74% specificity.
Time-dependent 3-D caustic beams over arbitrary trajectories
Authors: Melamed Timor
Published: December 2024

In this study, we introduce a method for synthesizing a time-dependent caustic beam along a generic beam-axis trajectory with arbitrary curvature and torsion. Our approach evaluates the pulsed aperture field that radiates the beam along a predefined trajectory by constructing a time-dependent caustic surface around the beam-axis skeleton. Initially, we derive the aperture field delay to form a caustic of rays along the beam-axis, extending this to other points over the aperture to construct a smooth caustic surface for points near the beam-axis. The amplitude is selected to confine the transverse (off-axis) beam. We also provide a theoretical analysis of the pulsed caustic beam propagation speed along the curved beam-axis. Finally, we present several numerical examples demonstrating the method’s ability to synthesize aperture field distributions that generate pulsed beams propagating along trajectories with various curvatures and torsions.
Physics-informed deep learning for 3D modeling of light diffraction from optical metasurfaces
Authors: Medvedev Vlad , Erdmann Andreas , Rosskopf Andreas
Published: December 2024

We propose an alternative data-free deep learning method using a physics-informed neural network (PINN) to enable more efficient computation of light diffraction from 3D optical metasurfaces, modeling of corresponding polarization effects, and wavefront manipulation. Our model learns only from the governing physics represented by vector Maxwell’s equations, Floquet-Bloch boundary conditions, and perfectly matched layers (PML). PINN accurately simulates near-field and far-field responses, and the impact of polarization, meta-atom geometry, and illumination settings on the transmitted light. Once trained, the PINN-based electromagnetic field (EMF) solver simulates light scattering response for multiple inputs within a single inference pass of several milliseconds. This approach offers a significant speed-up compared to traditional numerical solvers, along with improved accuracy and data independence over data-driven networks.
Etching properties of PIN-PMN-PT and its integration in electro-optic phase modulators
Authors: Poveda-Hospital Salvador , Quesada Nicolás , Peter Yves-Alain
Published: December 2024

We investigate the etching characteristics of PIN-PMN-PT crystals, exploring various wet etching solutions, reactive ion etching gases, and ion beam etching. The etch rate and surface roughness are systematically measured for each method. A process flow to obtain PIN-PMN-PT thin films is described and performed to later build a single-mode rib waveguide. An integrated electro-optic phase modulator is fabricated by depositing electrodes on the sides of the waveguides. The electro-optic coefficient implied in our phase modulators is r51/r42. The performances are tested achieving a V
π
L of 19.2 V·cm.
Predicting proprioceptive cortical anatomy and neural coding with topographic autoencoders
Authors: Grogan Max , Blum Kyle P. , Wu Yufei , Harston J. Alex , Miller Lee E. , Faisal A. Aldo
Published: December 2024

Proprioception is one of the least understood senses, yet fundamental for the control of movement. Even basic questions of how limb pose is represented in the somatosensory cortex are unclear. We developed a topographic variational autoencoder with lateral connectivity (topo-VAE) to compute a putative cortical map from a large set of natural movement data. Although not fitted to neural data, our model reproduces two sets of observations from monkey centre-out reaching: 1. The shape and velocity dependence of proprioceptive receptive fields in hand-centered coordinates despite the model having no knowledge of arm kinematics or hand coordinate systems. 2. The distribution of neuronal preferred directions (PDs) recorded from multi-electrode arrays. The model makes several testable predictions: 1. Encoding across the cortex has a blob-and-pinwheel-type geometry of PDs. 2. Few neurons will encode just a single joint. Our model provides a principled basis for understanding of sensorimotor representations, and the theoretical basis of neural manifolds, with applications to the restoration of sensory feedback in brain-computer interfaces and the control of humanoid robots.
Effectiveness of ongoing single dose rifampicin post-exposure prophylaxis (SDR-PEP) implementation under routine programme conditions—An observational study in Nepal
Authors: Banstola Nand Lal , Hasker Epco , Mieras Liesbeth , Gurung Dambar , Baral Bhuwan , Mehata Suresh , Prasai Sagar , Ghimire Yograj , Das Brij Kumar , Napit Prashnna , van Brakel Wim
Published: December 2024

Background/Introduction

Leprosy control remains a challenge in Nepal. Single-dose rifampicin post-exposure prophylaxis (SDR-PEP) shows promise in reducing leprosy incidence among contacts of index cases, contributing to reducing the transmission of Mycobacterium (M.) leprae. This study evaluates the effectiveness of routine SDR-PEP implementation in Nepal in addition to contact screening, focusing on its impact on reducing leprosy risk among contacts and potential population-level effects.

Methodology

We conducted a retrospective cohort study to compare leprosy case notification rates and leprosy risk among close contacts. We compared two districts implementing SDR-PEP (the intervention group) and two without (the comparator group). Data from 2015 onwards included demographics, index case types, and contact relationships. Statistical analyses, including Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier survival curves, assessed the impact of SDR-PEP implementation.

Findings

All four districts showed a decrease in case notification rates since 2015, with the steepest decline in the intervention districts. The risk of developing leprosy among contacts was significantly lower in the intervention districts (HR 0.28, 95% CI 0.18–0.44). SDR-PEP offered 72% protection, consistent over time, as shown in Kaplan-Meier plots. The protective effect was equally strong in blood-related contacts (HR 0.29 versus 0.27 in others, p = 0.32), and the proportion of MB cases among incident cases was not significantly different post-PEP (51.4% vs. 53.6%, p = 0.82).

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the substantial protective effect of integrating SDR-PEP in routine leprosy control programs with contact screening, significantly lowering leprosy risk among contacts. SDR-PEP is equally effective for blood-related contacts and does not preferentially prevent PB cases. While suggesting potential population-level impact, the study design does not allow for firm conclusions at this level. Further research is needed to fully assess SDR-PEP’s effectiveness in diverse contexts and optimize its implementation. Integrating SDR-PEP within well-organized contact screening programs is effective and is expected to reduce leprosy transmission when applied as a rolling intervention.
Stigma and efficacy beliefs regarding opioid use disorder treatment and naloxone in communities participating in the HEALing Communities Study intervention
Authors: Lewis Nicky , Eggleston Barry , Chandler Redonna K. , Goddard-Eckrich Dawn , Luster Jamie E. , Beard Dacia D. , Rodgers Emma , Chahine Rouba , Westgate Philip M. , Benjamin Shoshana N. , Holloway JaNae , Clarke Thomas , Lefebvre R. Craig , Stein Michael D. , Helme Donald W. , Reynolds Jennifer , Walsh Sharon L. , Freedman Darcy , El-Bassel Nabila , Stephens Kara , Silwal Anita , Lofwall Michelle , Childerhose Janet E. , Surratt Hilary L. , Crockett Brooke N. , Farmer Amy L. , David James L. , Fanucchi Laura , Harness Judy , Wilburn Ben , Bursey Kelli , Mattson Kristin , Mann Sarah , Jackson Rebecca D. , Shadwick Aimee , Calver Katherine , Chassler Deborah , Kimball Jennifer , Regan Nancy , Samet Jeffrey H. , Sword-Cruz Rachel , Slater Michael D.
Published: December 2024

Background

The HEALing Communities Study (HCS) included health campaigns as part of a community-engaged intervention to reduce opioid-related overdose deaths in 67 highly impacted communities across Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio. Five campaigns were developed with community input to provide information on opioid use disorder (OUD) and overdose prevention, reduce stigma, and build demand for evidence-based practices (EBPs). An evaluation examined the recognition of campaign messages about naloxone and whether stigma and efficacy beliefs regarding OUD treatment and naloxone changed in HCS intervention communities.

Methods

Data were collected through surveys offered on Facebook/Instagram to members of communities participating in the HCS intervention and wait-list control communities.

Results

Participants in HCS intervention communities reported a reduction in stigma regarding OUD and increased efficacy beliefs regarding naloxone associated with recognition of campaign messages. However, this finding is cautiously interpreted as there was no clear evidence for recognition differences between the treatment/control conditions.

Conclusion

Study findings indicate associations between campaign message recognition and positive outcomes. Results also highlight possible challenges concerning evaluations of social media campaigns using conventional evaluation techniques.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04111939.
Anesthetic technique and postoperative pulmonary complications (PPC) after Video Assisted Thoracic (VATS) lobectomy: A retrospective observational cohort study
Authors: Singla Priyanka , Brenner Brian , Tsang Siny , Elkassabany Nabil , Martin Linda W. , Carrott Phillip , Scott Christopher , Mazzeffi Michael
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Thoracic surgery is associated with an 8–10% incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs). Introduction of minimally invasive Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) aimed to reduce pain related and pulmonary complications. However, PPCs remain a common cause of morbidity after VATS.

Methods

The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was searched for VATS lobectomy cases from 2017 to 2021 with General Anesthesia (GA) as the primary anesthetic technique. Cases were stratified into four groups—GA alone, GA+local, GA+Regional and GA+Epidural. Generalized linear regression models were used to examine whether PPCs differ by anesthetic technique, controlling for morbidity risk factors. The study’s primary outcome was the occurrence of any PPC (pneumonia, reintubation or prolonged mechanical ventilation). The secondary outcome was length of hospital stay (LOS).

Results

A total of 15,084 VATS lobectomy cases were identified and 14,477 cases met inclusion criteria. The PPC rate was between 3.5–5.2%. There was no statistically significant difference in the odds of PPCs across the groups. Compared to the GA alone group, the regional and local group had significantly shorter LOS (9.1% and 5.5%, respectively, both ps < .001), whereas the epidural group had significantly longer LOS (18%, p < .001).

Conclusion

Our analysis suggests that the addition of regional or local anesthesia is associated with shorter LOS after VATS lobectomy. However, these techniques were not associated with lower PPC incidence. Future randomized controlled trials could help to elucidate the best anesthetic technique to reduce pain and enhance recovery.
Effectiveness of manual dexterity assessment methods for preclinical training in Dentistry
Authors: Genaro Luis Eduardo , da Costa Neves Tamíris , Pazos Júlia Margato , Dovigo Lívia Nordi , Garcia Patrícia P. N. S.
Published: December 2024

Objective

This study aimed to verify the predictive capacity of manual dexterity assessment methods for pre-clinical training in Dentistry.

Method

Students from the fifth year of the undergraduate course in Dentistry (N = 95) participated in this study. Manual dexterity was investigated as a variable of interest, measured by the O’Connor Finger Dexterity Test methods—Model 32021, Purdue Pegboard Test—Model 32020A, Dental Manual Dexterity Assessment—DMDA, Class One Cavity Preparation Assessent—COCA and Class One Composite Resin Restoration Assessment—COCRA. The average score obtained in the evaluation of the quality of the cavity preparations and restorations was considered as gold standard, and from these data the sensitivity and specificity of the tests were estimated. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to assess the diagnostic performance of each dexterity test. The analysis included calculating the Area Under the Curve (AUROC) to evaluate their discriminative power, and cutoff points were determined that optimize the balance between sensitivity and specificity.

Results

The DMDA test showed better performance, with statistical significance (p <0.001) and acceptable predictive ability (AUROC = 0.775), while the O’Connor test (AUROC = 0.644, p = 0.050) and Purdue Pegboard test (Purdue 1: AUROC = 0.542, p = 0.560; Purdue 2: AUROC = 0.564, p = 0.423; Purdue 3: AUROC = 0.517, p = 0.828; Purdue 4: AUROC = 0.608, p = 0.083) were not statistically significant.

Conclusion

The DMDA test presented the best performance, with statistical significance and acceptable discrimination, showing greater effectiveness for assessing students’ manual dexterity. Therefore, the implementation of the DMDA test can significantly contribute to the early identification of motor dexterity difficulties in dental students, enabling more effective and targeted interventions.
Too much to process? Exploring the relationships between communication and information overload and videoconference fatigue
Authors: Li Benjamin J. , Zhang Heng , Montag Christian
Published: December 2024

The adoption of videoconferencing has brought significant convenience to people’s lives. However, as videoconferencing usage has skyrocketed, it has unveiled a range of side effects, most notably videoconference fatigue (VF). In response, this paper employed the Limited Capacity Model of Motivated Mediated Message Processing (LC4MP) as a theoretical framework to conduct two comprehensive investigations, centering on the impact of verbal communication overload on users’ information overload and VF. We conducted two studies to test our propositions and conceptual model. Study One focused on the educational context and comprised a survey with 489 students. In Study Two, we expanded our exploration to the professional use of videoconferencing in two populations: Singapore and Germany. A total of 610 responses were collected in Singapore, with the German sample constituting a total of 948 participants. Results from both studies consistently demonstrated a positive relationship between videoconference frequency and communication overload. Additionally, perceived communication overload was positively associated with information overload and VF. Based on the findings of the two studies, we discuss the theoretical and practical implications and suggest new directions for videoconferencing research.
Conflict reducing practices in evolution education are associated with increases in evolution acceptance in a large naturalistic study
Authors: Aini Rahmi Qurota , Supriya K. , Dunlop Hayley , Edwards Baylee , Maas Samantha , Roberts Julie , Summersill Alexa , Zheng Yi , Brownell Sara , Barnes M. Elizabeth
Published: December 2024

Evolution is an important part of biology education, but many college biology students do not accept important components of evolution, like the evolution of humans. Practices that reduce perceived conflict between religion and evolution have been proposed to increase student evolution acceptance. This study investigates college student experiences of conflict reducing practices in evolution education and how these experiences are related to their gains in acceptance of human evolution during evolution instruction. We measured the natural variation in student experiences of conflict reducing practices among 6,719 college biology students in 55 courses and 14 states including (1) their experiences of an instructor demonstrating religion-evolution compatibility by presenting examples of religious leaders and scientists who accept evolution and (2) their experiences of an instructor emphasizing students’ autonomy in their own decision to accept evolution or not. We also measured student acceptance of human evolution before and after instruction so that we could test whether any changes in evolution acceptance were associated with student experiences of the conflict reducing practices. Linear mixed models showed that highly religious Christian students accepted evolution more when they perceived more compatibility practices. Further, students from all religious and non-religious affiliations accepted human evolution more after instruction when they perceived more autonomy practices. These results indicate that integrating examples of religion compatibility in evolution education will positively impact Christian students’ views on evolution and that emphasizing students’ autonomy over their decision to accept evolution may be important for students more broadly. If instructors incorporate practices that emphasize compatibility and one’s personal choice to accept or not accept evolution, then these results suggest that students will leave their college biology classes accepting evolution more. Perhaps by using more conflict reducing practices, instructors can help increase evolution acceptance levels that have remained low in the United States for decades.