bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using a Kirschner Wire as a Stylet for the Management of a Difficult Neonatal Airway: A Case Report
Authors: Lopes Luciana B. , Afonso José P. , Tarroso Maria J. , Cardoso Helder J.
Published: April 2023

We report the successful management of a difficult airway in an extremely low birth weight neonate (700 g) using a Kirschner wire as a substitute for an endotracheal tube stylet. Several intubation attempts were unsuccessful because of the difficulty in guiding a very small and malleable tube under the epiglottis. This study highlights that every maternity hospital should be prepared to manage airways in unexpected extremely low birth weight neonates. Appropriate size equipment and protocols should be readily available.
Sensorimotor control of swimming Polypterus senegalus is preserved during sensory deprivation conditions across altered environments
Authors: Hainer Jeffrey , Lutek Keegan , Maki Hailey , Standen Emily M.
Published: April 2023

Control of locomotion involves the interplay of sensory signals and motor commands. Sensory information is essential for adjusting locomotion in response to environmental changes. A previous study using mathematical modelling of lamprey swimming has shown that, in the absence of sensory feedback, increasing fluid viscosity constrains swimming kinematics, limiting tail amplitude and body wavelength, resulting in decreased swimming speed. In contrast, previous experiments with Polypterus senegalus reported increased magnitude swimming kinematics (increased body curvature, body wave speed and frequency, and pectoral fin frequency) in high viscosity water suggesting that sensory information is used to adjust swimming form. It is not known what sensory systems are providing the necessary information to respond to these environmental changes. We tested the hypothesis that lateral line and visual input are responsible for the sensory-driven increase in swimming kinematics in response to experimentally increased fluid viscosity. The kinematics of five P. senegalus were recorded in two different viscosities of water while removing lateral line and visual sensory feedback. Unlike the mathematical model devoid of sensory feedback, P. senegalus with lateral line and/or visual senses removed did not reduce the magnitude of swimming kinematic variables, suggesting that additional sensory feedback mechanisms are present in these fish to help overcome increased fluid viscosity. Increases in swimming speed when both lateral line and visual sensory feedback were removed suggest that lateral line and visual information may be used to regulate swimming speed in P. senegalus, possibly using an internal model of predictions to adjust swimming form.
Interprofessional collaboration and organizational culture in healthcare organizations
Authors: Rovithis Michael
Published: April 2023

No abstract available
The Intertwined Effects of Hydrographic Barriers, Palaeoclimate and Life History on Genetic Structure of Marine Populations: A Case Study of Two Marine Invertebrates
Authors: KALKAN TEZCAN Evrim , HEMOND ELIZABETH MATHER , KARHAN SELAHATTIN ÜNSAL , BILGIN RAŞIT
Published: April 2023

Marine organisms with pelagic planktonic larval stages have high dispersal potential, yet their ranges are restricted by present and historical geographic and oceanographic features. Hydrogeographic features, such as straits and water current patterns, as well as paleoclimate can affect population connectivity, genetic differentiation, and ultimately speciation, but species distributions are also affected by life history characteristics. This study evaluates the effect of the Turkish Straits System (TSS) on the genetic differentiation of two benthic invertebrates with pelagic larvae, the Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis, and the rockpool prawn, Palaemon elegans, using mitochondrial and nuclear markers (microsatellites for M. galloprovincialis and Histone H3 gene for P. elegans). For both species, the mitochondrial DNA analyses separated the Black Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean (Aegean and Levantine seas) populations into two clusters. In contrast, in both species the nuclear data indicated no differentiation between Black Sea and Eastern Mediterranean populations. The results suggest that for both species, some individuals of Black Sea origin moved south, most likely through the transport of their pelagic larvae via the surface currents of the TSS. However, for the most part, individuals of Mediterranean origin (from Aegean and Levantine seas) were not able to successfully migrate in the opposite direction, though the small differences in the frequencies of migration in this direction indicate the effects of the life history characteristics of the two species on genetic structure.
Comment on “4.4 First record of the goblin shark Mitsukurina owstoni Jordan, 1898 (Lamniformes: Mitsukurinidae) in the Mediterranean Sea” by Athanasios Anastasiadis, Evangelos Papadimitriou and Frithjof C. Küpper in: Kousteni, V., Anastasiadis, A., Bariche, M., Battaglia, P., Bonifazi, A. et al. (2022). New records of rare species in the Mediterranean Sea (May 2022). Mediterranean Marine Science, 23 (3), 417-446
Authors: POLLERSPÖCK JÜRGEN , WEIGMANN SIMON , SERET BERNARD , STRAUBE NICOLAS
Published: April 2023

no abstract
New records of introduced species in the Mediterranean Sea (April 2023)
Authors: FORTIČ ANA , AL-SHEIKH RASHEED REEM , ALMAJID ZOUHAIR , BADREDDINE ALI , BÁEZ JOSÉ CARLOS , BELMONTE-GALLEGOS ANGEL , BETTOSO NICOLA , BORME DIEGO , CAMISA FEDERICA , CARACCIOLO DANIELA , ÇINAR MELIH ERTAN , CROCETTA FABIO , ĆETKOVIĆ ILIJA , DOĞAN ALPER , GALIYA MOHAMAD , GARCÍA DE LOS RÍOS Y LOS HUERTOS ÁLVARO , GRECH DANIELE , GUALLART JAVIER , GÜNDEĞER GIZEM , KAHRIĆ ADLA , KARACHLE PARASKEVI K. , KULIJER DEJAN , LOMBARTE ANTONI , MARKOVIĆ OLIVERA , MARTÍNEZ JIMÉNEZ ELSA , SUKRAN OKUDAN EMINE , ORLANDO-BONACA MARTINA , SARTORETTO STÉPHANE , SPINELLI ANDREA , TUNEY KIZILKAYA INCI , VIRGILI RICCARDO
Published: April 2023

This Collective article reports 17 introduced species and 22 new locations for these species in the Mediterranean Sea. The reports are from three different Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) subregions (Aegean-Levantine Sea, Adriatic Sea and Western Mediterranean Sea) and the Sea of Marmara and cover ten different countries. The goal of consistent and detailed reporting of introduced species is to complement the existing species inventories and serve as a basis for establishing monitoring strategies and other conservation measures. Some of the reports from this article are the first species records for the Mediterranean Sea, namely the green alga Udotea flabellum from the Aegean Sea (Turkey) and the deepbody boarfish Antigonia capros from the Balearic Sea (Spain). In addition, new records of introduced species are included for different seas, namely the moon crab Matuta victor for the Aegean Sea (Greece), the whale shark Rhincodon typus and the lionfish Pterois miles for the Alboran Sea (Spain), the almaco jack Seriola rivoliana for the Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy), and the hound needlefish Tylosurus crocodilus for the Adriatic Sea (Italy). Furthermore, reports on first country records are included: the red alga Colaconema codicola from Slovenia, the nudibranch Melibe viridis from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the lionfish Pterois miles from Montenegro, and the goldstripe sardinella Sardinella gibbosa from Syria, which also represents a second record for the Mediterranean Sea. Furthermore, the occurrence of the scleractinian coral Oculina patagonica was noted in Gulf of Lion (France). Four polychaete species, namely Leodice antennata, Timarete punctata and Branchiomma bairdi, are reported from the vermetid reef habitat and two of them (L. antennata and B. bairdi) are also recorded for the first time in Lebanon. Evidence for established populations of the Asian date mussel Arcuatula senhousia in the Sea of Marmara (Turkey) and the rayed pearl oyster Pinctada radiata around the island of Sardinia (Italy) is provided.
The genome sequence of the Sycamore Piercer, Pammene aurita (Razowski, 1991)
Authors: Boyes Douglas , Hammond James ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: April 2023

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Pammene aurita (the Sycamore Piercer; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Tortricidae). The genome sequence is 1,041.8 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 28 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the assembled Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.7 kilobases in length.
Features of intrapersonal conflicts among employees of the internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation
Authors: Teregulova Oxana , Dushkin Anton , Grishmanovskii Denis , Butan Andrey
Published: April 2023

The article is devoted to the peculiarities of the intrapersonal conflict of an employee of the internal affairs bodies, which can unfold not only with oneself, but also be extrapolated to the social environment. Thanks to the generalization of concepts created by domestic scientists, it was revealed that the intrapersonal conflict state of an employee of the internal affairs bodies is characterized by the presence of mutually exclusive and incompatible motivational and value bases and goal aspirations, the contradictory force of which a person cannot overcome in his activity. The conclusion is made about the difficulties in adaptation, which provoke intrapersonal conflicts, negatively affect motivation and reduce the effectiveness of the performance of official duties by police officers. Successful performance of official tasks by a police officer accelerates positive change and promotes personal and professional development. Useful life experience is a source of self-knowledge and strengthening of mental integrity. From a certain point in time, a person himself begins to purposefully plan his own life and manage it.
Therapeutic work with transgenerational trauma.
Authors: Prot- Klinger Katarzyna , Smoleń Elzbieta
Published: April 2023

Praca opisuje, na przykładach klinicznych, jak praca z diadą matka–dziecko, czy też z parą rodzicielską i dzieckiem pozwala na zatrzymanie negatywnego czy traumatycznego przekazu międzygeneracyjnego. Wychodząc od teorii holdingu Winnicotta, przywiązania Bowlby’ego i „martwej matki” Greena opisujemy tworzenie się przekazu transgeneracyjnego. Zajmujemy się przekazem traumy relacyjnej, polegającej na takiej interakcji między rodzicami a dzieckiem, w których figura przywiązania staje się źródłem zagrożenia. Ponieważ trauma transgeneracyjna dotyczy nie tylko pojedynczych osób, ale przede wszystkim relacji między nimi, możemy zaobserwować ją i leczyć też w relacji. Pomocny jest tutaj szczególny rodzaj psychoterapii, określany jako psychoterapia rodzic–niemowlę (ang. parent–infant psychotherapy). Im wcześniej po narodzinach nowego członka rodziny podejmie się taką psychoterapię, tym większa szansa, że uchronimy przed przekazem traumy kolejne pokolenie. Praca nad przerwaniem transgeneracyjnego przekazu traumy poprzez psychoterapię dla rodziców z niemowlętami to praca nad więzią. Ważnymi elementami tej pracy są: wywiad rodzinny i obserwacja. Terapeuta obserwuje zachowanie dziecka, zachowanie rodziców, interakcje pomiędzy dzieckiem i rodzicami, dzieckiem i terapeutą, matką i ojcem, rodzicami i terapeutą. Obserwacji towarzyszy komentarz, dzięki któremu terapeuta pomaga rodzinie znajdować połączenia pomiędzy wnioskami z obserwacji, informacjami z wywiadu rodzinnego, zgłaszanym problemem oraz bieżącymi i przeszłymi wydarzeniami w rodzinie.
W ten sposób członkowie rodziny mogą stworzyć nową, nie obarczoną traumą więź.
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis – classification and methods of treatment
Authors: Pawłocik Weronika , Wojtala Laura , Pawlak Weronika , Szymańska Julia , Możdżyńska Agnieszka , Musiał Lena , Grabowska Ewa , Kapłon Kamil , Pacek Katarzyna , Kamińska Izabela
Published: April 2023

Introduction Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common chronic rheumatic disease of unknown etiology that affect children. According to the definition of JIA, the disease begins before the age of 16 and lasts more than 6 weeks. The International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR) has divided juvenile idiopathic arthritis into seven categories: systemic, oligoarticular, polyarticular RF (-), polyarticular RF (+), psoriatic, enthesitis-related and undifferentiated arthritis.   Purpose  The aim of this review is to present the classification, etiopathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and complications of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Methods  Literature searches in PubMed, Google Scholarship, and open source books were used to gather information. Results  Complex interactions between cells of the immune system are responsible for the pathophysiology of JIA and indicate the need to divide the disease into clinical subtypes, the heterogeneity of which requires different therapeutic actions. There are many groups of drugs with different mechanisms of action used in the treatment of JIA, including: T lymphocyte inhibitors, anti-TNFα, JAK inhibitors, IL-1 and IL-6 blockers. Despite the great progress and the commitment of scientists, there is still no treatment strategy to completely stop the development of the disease.   Conclusions   Scientific research conducted around the world has led to the recognition of numerous pathways leading to the formation of the inflammatory process and the symptoms of JIA. Knowledge of these mechanisms allows scientists to conduct research on further drugs, the aim of which is to find a treatment strategy that prevents permanent joint damage, improves treatment results, and enables sustainable remission. It is necessary to expand knowledge about the pathways responsible for the formation of the inflammatory process, the interruption of which would allow complete inhibition of the development of the disease.
A very brief guide on how to read a report of an orthodontic clinical trial
Authors: O'Brien Kevin , Fleming Padhraig S
Published: April 2023

Clinical trials are the accepted benchmark in the assessment of comparative effectiveness of clinical interventions. They should represent a ‘fair test’, being less exposed to the effects of bias and confounding, which risk blurring the effects of an intervention or, indeed, in prompting misleading inferences. In this short article, we summarize some of the key considerations to assist with the appraisal of clinical trial reports. In particular, we focus on aspects relating both to the conduct and reporting of orthodontic clinical trials.

CPD/Clinical Relevance: Clinical trials are pivotal in informing evidence-based practice. We highlight key features that should be considered in relation to the interpretation of orthodontic trial reports.
Orthodontics improves oral health-related quality of life: fad, fact or fallacy?
Authors: Javidi Hanieh , Trill Benjamin James
Published: April 2023

This article explores the impact of malocclusion, orthodontic appliances and orthodontic treatment on oral health-related quality of life. Additionally, it highlights some of the challenges associated with conducting and interpreting research in this field.

CPD/Clinical Relevance: It is important for clinicians to appreciate the impact that orthodontic appliances may have on the oral health-related quality of life of patients, as well as the potential benefits that completion of treatment may provide.
Infra-occluded primary molars: diagnosis and management
Authors: Patel Trishna , Trainor Jenna , Flavell Thomas , Brierley Catherine A
Published: April 2023

Infra-occluded primary molars can be challenging in terms of their surgical management and potential sequelae. The prognosis of these teeth needs to considered allowing treatment planning for a stable long-term outcome for the patient. This article outlines the key principles to consider following a diagnosis of an infra-occluded primary molar, and it provides a management tool to aid decision making.

CPD/Clinical Relevance: Timely diagnosis and management of infra-occluded primary molars is vital within the overall care pathway for these patients.
PESQUISA-AÇÃO E SEUS ASPECTOS METODOLÓGICOS NOS MESTRADOS PROFISSIONAIS EM EDUCAÇÃO
Authors: Rodrigues Ellen Nogueira , Lopes Silva Gildene do Ouro
Published: April 2023

A pesquisa no Mestrado Profissional tem evidenciado sua proximidade com a realidade para propor alternativas e soluções. Ainda são pouco explorados como se configuram as metodologias de pesquisa adotadas em Mestrados Profissionais. Por isso, o artigo objetiva analisar como a pesquisa-ação foi utilizada em relação aos instrumentos, processos metodológicos e a abordagem teórica em dissertações dos Mestrados Profissionais na área da Educação. A natureza da pesquisa foi qualitativa do tipo descritiva e exploratória, de abordagem teórica fundamentada por meio da pesquisa bibliográfica e documental. Os dados foram coletados nos sites de 24 programas ou no repositório institucional. Os resultados evidenciam que os instrumentos utilizados favoreceram o registro coletivo. Quanto às abordagens teóricas e os procedimentos metodológicos, observou-se a necessidade deles serem descritos de forma mais fundamentada. Conclui-se que a dinâmica criada na pesquisa-ação mobilizou outras ações referentes à formação de grupos de estudo, e projetos integrados entre os professores.
BNCC E MULTILETRAMENTOS: CAMPOS DE ATUAÇÃO SOCIAL E PRÁTICAS DE LINGUAGEM NO ENSINO MÉDIO
Authors: Raiol Pinheiro Adalberto Vitor
Published: April 2023

O artigo apresenta uma reflexão sobre a relação BNCC e Multiletramentos na perspectiva dos campos de atuação social e práticas de linguagem no Ensino Médio. Por meio de uma revisão bibliográfica e documental, a pesquisa tem como objetivo discutir os componentes ‘atuação social’ e ‘práticas de linguagem’, trazidos pela BNCC para estudantes da etapa final da educação básica; além de vislumbrar as novas produções multissemióticas inerentes à cultura digital, às juventudes e à sociedade contemporânea. A partir dos apontamentos e reflexões, pretende-se contribuir para ampliar compreensões sobre a importância desses construtos e suaarticulação com os multiletramentos em sala de aula.
Palavras-Chave: Multiletramentos; BNCC; Ensino Médio
Datafication and algorithmic contingency – how agile organisations deal with technical systems
Authors: Baumgart Lene , Boos Pauline , Eckstein Bernd
Published: April 2023

In the context of persistent images of self-perpetuated technologies, we discuss the interplay of digital technologies and organisational dynamics against the backdrop of systems theory. Building on the case of an international corporation that, during an agile reorganisation, introduced an AI-based personnel management platform, we show how technical systems produce a form of algorithmic contingency that subsequently leads to the emergence of formal and informal interaction systems. Using the concept of datafication, we explain how these interactions are barriers to the self-perpetuation of data-based decision-making, making it possible to take into consideration further decision factors and complementing the output of the platform. The research was carried out within the scope of the research project ‘Organisational Implications of Digitalisation: The Development of (Post-)Bureaucratic Organisational Structures in the Context of Digital Transformation’ funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG).
From ‘home work’ to ‘home office work’?
Authors: Homberg Michael , Lükemann Laura , Abendroth Anja-Kristin
Published: April 2023

In contemporary debates, it is regularly overlooked that working from home already has a long history, while the phenomenon of ‘tele(home) working’ has even gained momentum since the 1970s, being increasingly technologically enabled and socially prepared. This article aims to identify the self-perpetuation of work from home by investigating phases, turning points and diverging temporalities of gender- and parenthood-specific discourses and use patterns of tele(home)work in Germany and the United Kingdom from an interdisciplinary perspective, combining historical and comparative social analysis.
Tika technology
Authors: Munn Luke
Published: April 2023

Digitalisation has the capacity to radically transform the nature of work, redefining tasks, requirements and remuneration. Yet technologies have often been used to reduce worker autonomy, exacerbate racial and gendered inequality and intensify labour precarity. How can digitalisation instead support emancipatory labour conditions? This article introduces the concept of ‘tika technology’, drawing together scholarship on convivial tools, appropriate technology and calm computing to theorise its purposes and principles. To illustrate what these look like in practice, the article provides two real-world examples of tika technology. It concludes by exploring potential benefits at the individual, societal and environmental levels.
Imaging system aberrations through optical windows with nonuniform laser heating
Authors: Jackson Stuart A. , Sova Raymond M.
Published: April 2023

An optical window is a critical component of an imaging system. When operating in harsh
environments with extreme heating, nonuniform temperature changes
occur throughout the window and cause nonuniform refractive index
changes and mechanical deformations due to thermal expansion, which
can degrade the imaging system’s performance. In this paper, we
present results collected from an experimental setup developed to
characterize these aberrations. This setup includes a CO2 laser for sample heating, an infrared
camera for measuring front and back surface temperatures, and a
visible imaging system and a wavefront sensor for measuring
degradations of a collimated beam from a point source transmitted
through the heated window. Sapphire samples are laser heated with a
Gaussian profile to temperatures in excess of 500 K with
surface temperature gradients in excess of 15 K/mm. These
measurements are compared with first principles models, which show
quantitative agreement for window temperatures and qualitative
agreement with the transmitted wavefront and imaged point source.
Digital coding Fano resonance based on active plasmonic metamaterials
Authors: Xu Jian , Li Qiao Yu , Dai Li Hui , Zhou Yong Jin
Published: April 2023

A novel approach that employs active plasmonic metamaterials to create a digital coding Fano resonator is proposed, to the best of our knowledge. The meta-device consists of three concentric spoof localized surface plasmon (LSP) resonators and three positive-intrinsic-negative (PIN) diodes positioned at three slits located in the middle and inner LSP resonators. Four Fano resonant modes can be independently switched by controlling the biased voltage applied to the three diodes. This provides a means for encoded modulation of multiple Fano resonances in metamaterials, which could have broad applications in fields such as multiway sensing, plasmonic circuits, and switching. We experimentally demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, which offers promising potential for practical implementation.
Displacement extraction of background-oriented schlieren images using Swin Transformer
Authors: Cai Huajun , Song Yang , Ji Yunjing , Li Zhenhua , He Anzhi
Published: April 2023

Displacement extraction of background-oriented schlieren (BOS) is an essential step in BOS reconstruction, which directly determines the accuracy of the results. Typically, the displacement is calculated from the background images with and without inhomogeneous flow using the cross-correlation (CC) or optical flow (OF) method. This paper discusses the disadvantages of the CC and OF methods, and an end-to-end deep neural network was designed to estimate the BOS displacement. The proposed network is based on a Swin Transformer, which can build long-range correlations. A synthetic dataset used for training was generated using the simulated flow field by computational fluid dynamics. After training, the displacement can be obtained using the BOS image pair without additional parameters. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed network was verified through experiments. The experiments illustrate that the proposed method performs stably on synthetic and real experimental images and outperforms conventional CC or OF methods and classic convolutional neural networks for OF tasks.
Transport model for the propagation of partially coherent, partially polarized, polarization-gradient vector beams
Authors: Nichols J. M. , Nickel D. V. , Rohde G. K. , Bucholtz F.
Published: April 2023

Recently we predicted and experimentally validated a new physical
mechanism for altering the propagation path of a monochromatic beam
[Opt.
Express 30, 38907
(2022)OPEXFF1094-408710.1364/OE.467678]. Specifically, we showed
that by properly tailoring the spatial distribution of the linear
state of polarization transverse to the direction of propagation, the
beam followed a curved trajectory in free space. Here we extend the
model to the partially coherent and partially polarized polychromatic
case by redefining the beam amplitude, phase, and polarization angle
as appropriate statistical quantities. In particular, the definition
of polarization angle represents a fundamentally new quantity in
modeling beam propagation and is shown to be consistent with recent
works on energy and momentum flow. In the new model, the beam
curvature matches that of our previous work in the fully coherent case
but is predicted to vanish for an unpolarized, spatially incoherent
beam. Simulated beam trajectories are shown for varying levels of
initial partial coherence and for different polarization profiles. A
new class of non-diffracting beams is also suggested by way
of example.
976 nm all-polarization-maintaining mode-locked fiber laser based on nonlinear polarization evolution
Authors: Jiang Yu , Zheng Shukai , Du Geguo , Yu Linpeng , Wang Jiachen , Chen Hongyi , Dong Fanlong , Luo Xing , Wang Jinzhang , Yan Peiguang , Lue Qitao , Guo Chunyu , Ruan Shuangchen
Published: April 2023

An all-polarization-maintaining (PM) mode-locked fiber laser based upon nonlinear polarization evolution (NPE) that operates around 976 nm is presented. The NPE-based mode-locking is realized using a special section of the laser which comprises three pieces of PM fibers with specific deviation angles between the polarization axes and a polarization-dependent isolator. By optimizing the NPE section and adjusting the pump power, dissipative soliton (DS) pulses with a pulse duration of ∼6 ps, a spectral bandwidth of >10 nm and a maximum pulse energy of 0.54 nJ are generated. Self-starting, steady mode-locking operation is achievable within a pump power range of ∼2 W. Moreover, by incorporating a segment of passive fiber into the appropriate location in the laser resonator, an intermediate regime between stable single-pulse mode-locking and noise-like pulse (NLP) is realized in the laser. Our work expands the dimension of the research on the mode-locked Yb-doped fiber laser operating around 976 nm.
Effect of fixational eye movements in corneal topography measurements with optical coherence tomography
Authors: de Castro Alberto , Martinez-Enriquez Eduardo , Marcos Susana
Published: April 2023

There is an increasing interest in applying Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) to quantify the topography of the ocular structures. However, in its most usual configuration, OCT data is acquired sequentially while a beam is scanned through the region of interest, and the presence of fixational eye movements can affect the accuracy of the technique. Several scan patterns and motion correction algorithms have been proposed to minimize this effect but there is no consensus on the ideal parameters to obtain a correct topography. We have acquired corneal OCT images, with raster and radial patterns, and modeled the data acquisition in the presence of eye movements. The simulations replicate the experimental variability in shape (radius of curvature and Zernike polynomials), corneal power, astigmatism, and calculated wavefront aberrations. The variability of the Zernike modes is highly dependent on the scan pattern, with higher variability in the direction of the slow scan axis. The model can be a useful tool to design motion correction algorithms and to determine the variability with different scan patterns.
Complex spatiotemporal oscillations emerge from transverse instabilities in large-scale brain networks
Authors: Clusella Pau , Deco Gustavo , Kringelbach Morten L. , Ruffini Giulio , Garcia-Ojalvo Jordi
Published: April 2023

Spatiotemporal oscillations underlie all cognitive brain functions. Large-scale brain models, constrained by neuroimaging data, aim to trace the principles underlying such macroscopic neural activity from the intricate and multi-scale structure of the brain. Despite substantial progress in the field, many aspects about the mechanisms behind the onset of spatiotemporal neural dynamics are still unknown. In this work we establish a simple framework for the emergence of complex brain dynamics, including high-dimensional chaos and travelling waves. The model consists of a complex network of 90 brain regions, whose structural connectivity is obtained from tractography data. The activity of each brain area is governed by a Jansen neural mass model and we normalize the total input received by each node so it amounts the same across all brain areas. This assumption allows for the existence of an homogeneous invariant manifold, i.e., a set of different stationary and oscillatory states in which all nodes behave identically. Stability analysis of these homogeneous solutions unveils a transverse instability of the synchronized state, which gives rise to different types of spatiotemporal dynamics, such as chaotic alpha activity. Additionally, we illustrate the ubiquity of this route towards complex spatiotemporal activity in a network of next generation neural mass models. Altogehter, our results unveil the bifurcation landscape that underlies the emergence of function from structure in the brain.
Purely STDP-based assembly dynamics: Stability, learning, overlaps, drift and aging
Authors: Manz Paul , Memmesheimer Raoul-Martin
Published: April 2023

Memories may be encoded in the brain via strongly interconnected groups of neurons, called assemblies. The concept of Hebbian plasticity suggests that these assemblies are generated through synaptic plasticity, strengthening the recurrent connections within select groups of neurons that receive correlated stimulation. To remain stable in absence of such stimulation, the assemblies need to be self-reinforcing under the plasticity rule. Previous models of such assembly maintenance require additional mechanisms of fast homeostatic plasticity often with biologically implausible timescales. Here we provide a model of neuronal assembly generation and maintenance purely based on spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) between excitatory neurons. It uses irregularly and stochastically spiking neurons and STDP that depresses connections of uncorrelated neurons. We find that assemblies do not grow beyond a certain size, because temporally imprecisely correlated spikes dominate the plasticity in large assemblies. Assemblies in the model can be learned or spontaneously emerge. The model allows for prominent, stable overlap structures between static assemblies. Further, assemblies can drift, particularly according to a novel, transient overlap-based mechanism. Finally the model indicates that assemblies grow in the aging brain, where connectivity decreases.
Identifying the engagement of a brain network during a targeted tDCS-fMRI experiment using a machine learning approach
Authors: Shinde Anant , Mohapatra Sovesh , Schlaug Gottfried
Published: April 2023

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can noninvasively modulate behavior, cognition, and physiologic brain functions depending on polarity and dose of stimulation as well as montage of electrodes. Concurrent tDCS-fMRI presents a novel way to explore the parameter space of non-invasive brain stimulation and to inform the experimenter as well as the participant if a targeted brain region or a network of spatially separate brain regions has been engaged and modulated. We compared a multi-electrode (ME) with a single electrode (SE) montage and both active conditions with a no-stimulation (NS) control condition to assess the engagement of a brain network and the ability of different electrode montages to modulate network activity. The multi-electrode montage targeted nodal regions of the right Arcuate Fasciculus Network (AFN) with anodal electrodes placed over the skull position of the posterior superior temporal/middle temporal gyrus (STG/MTG), supramarginal gyrus (SMG), posterior inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and a return cathodal electrode over the left supraorbital region. In comparison, the single electrode montage used only one anodal electrode over a nodal brain region of the AFN, but varied the location between STG/MTG, SMG, and posterior IFG for different participants. Whole-brain rs-fMRI was obtained approximately every three seconds. The tDCS-stimulator was turned on at 3 minutes after the scanning started. A 4D rs-fMRI data set was converted to dynamic functional connectivity (DFC) matrices using a set of ROI pairs belonging to the AFN as well as other unrelated brain networks. In this study, we evaluated the performance of five algorithms to classify the DFC matrices from the three conditions (ME, SE, NS) into three different categories. The highest accuracy of 0.92 was obtained for the classification of the ME condition using the K Nearest Neighbor (KNN) algorithm. In other words, applying the classification algorithm allowed us to identify the engagement of the AFN and the ME condition was the best montage to achieve such an engagement. The top 5 ROI pairs that made a major contribution to the classification of participant’s rs-fMRI data were identified using model performance parameters; ROI pairs were mainly located within the right AFN. This proof-of-concept study using a classification algorithm approach can be expanded to create a near real-time feedback system at a participant level to detect the engagement and modulation of a brain network that spans multiple brain lobes.
Patterns of risk for diabetic retinopathy in the Mumbai slums: The Aditya Jyot Diabetic Retinopathy in Urban Mumbai Slums Study (AJ-DRUMSS) Report 3
Authors: Krishnan Radhika , Jain Astha , Nare Siddhita , Sankaranarayanan Rajkumar , Bartlett Jacquelaine , Iyengar Sudha K. , Williams Scott M. , Sundaram Natarajan
Published: April 2023

Diabetes onset precedes diabetic retinopathy (DR) by 5–10 years, but many people with diabetes remain free of this microvascular complication. Our aim was to identify risk factors for DR progression in a unique and diverse population, the slums of Mumbai. We performed a nested case-control study of 1163 diabetics over 40 years of age from slums in 18 wards of Mumbai. Data was collected on 33 variables and assessed for association with DR using both univariate and multivariate analyses. Stratified analyses were also performed on males and females, separately. Among hypertensive individuals we also assessed whether duration of hypertension associated with DR. Of 31 non-correlated variables analysed as risk factors for DR, 15 showed evidence of significant association. The most prominent included sex, where being a female associated with decreased odds of DR, while longer duration of diabetes and poor glycaemic control associated with increased odds. The duration of diabetes effect was partially, but significantly, mediated by age of diabetes diagnoses (8.6% of variance explained, p = 0.012). Obesity as measured by several measures, including body mass index (BMI) and measures of central obesity had a negative association with DR; increased measures of obesity consistently reduced odds of DR. As in most earlier studies, DR was associated with the duration of diabetes and glycaemic control. However, other factors, especially obesity related measures were associated with DR, in ways that contrast with most prior studies. These results indicated that the overall pattern of association in the Mumbai slums was novel. Thus, in previously uncharacterized populations, such as the slums that we examined, it is important to evaluate all risk factors de novo to appropriately assess patterns of association as the patterns of association with DR can be complex and population specific.
Population genetic structure of the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais, in southern Mexico
Authors: Baltzegar Jennifer , Jones Michael S. , Willcox Martha , Ramsey Janine M. , Gould Fred
Published: April 2023

The maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais, is a ubiquitous pest of maize and other cereal crops worldwide and remains a threat to food security in subsistence communities. Few population genetic studies have been conducted on the maize weevil, but those that exist have shown that there is very little genetic differentiation between geographically dispersed populations and that it is likely the species has experienced a recent range expansion within the last few hundred years. While the previous studies found little genetic structure, they relied primarily on mitochondrial and nuclear microsatellite markers for their analyses. It is possible that more fine-scaled population genetic structure exists due to local adaptation, the biological limits of natural species dispersal, and the isolated nature of subsistence farming communities. In contrast to previous studies, here, we utilized genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism data to evaluate the genetic population structure of the maize weevil from the southern and coastal Mexican states of Oaxaca and Chiapas. We employed strict SNP filtering to manage large next generation sequencing lane effects and this study is the first to find fine-scale genetic population structure in the maize weevil. Here, we show that although there continues to be gene flow between populations of maize weevil, that fine-scale genetic structure exists. It is possible that this structure is shaped by local adaptation of the insects, the movement and trade of maize by humans in the region, geographic barriers to gene flow, or a combination of these factors.
Pelvis perturbations in various directions while standing in staggered stance elicit concurrent responses in both the sagittal and frontal plane
Authors: van Mierlo Michelle , Ormiston Jean A. , Vlutters Mark , van Asseldonk Edwin H. F. , van der Kooij Herman
Published: April 2023

Increasing knowledge on human balance recovery strategies is important for the development of balance assistance strategies using assistive devices like a powered lower-limb exoskeleton. One of the postures which is relevant for this scenario, but underexposed in research, is staggered stance, a posture with one foot in front. We therefore aimed to gain a better understanding of balance recovery in staggered stance. We studied balance responses at joint- and muscle levels to pelvis perturbations in various directions while standing in this posture. Ten healthy individuals participated in this study. We used one actuator beside and one behind the participant to apply 150 ms perturbations in mediolateral (ML), anteroposterior (AP) and diagonal directions, with a magnitude of 3, 6, 9 and 12% of the participant’s body weight (BW). Meanwhile, motion capture, ground reaction forces and moments, and electromyography of the muscles around the ankles and hips were recorded. The perturbations caused movements of the centre of mass (CoM) and centre of pressure (CoP) in the direction of the perturbation. These were often accompanied by motions in a direction different from the perturbation direction. After perturbations perpendicular to the line between both feet, large and significant AP deviations were present of the CoM (-0.27 till 0.40 cm/%BW, p < 0.029) and CoP (-0.99 till 0.80 cm/%BW, p < 0.001). Also, stronger responses on joint and muscle level were present after these perturbations, compared to AP and diagonal perturbations collinear with the line between both feet. The hip, knee and ankle joints contributed differently to the balance responses after the different perturbation directions. To conclude, standing in a staggered stance posture makes individuals more vulnerable to perturbations perpendicular to the line between both feet, requiring larger responses on joint level as well as contributions in the sagittal plane.
Impact of integrated community-facility interventions model on neonatal mortality in rural Bangladesh- a quasi-experimental study
Authors: Huda Tanvir M. , Chowdhury Suman Kanti , Bhowmick Jatan , Priyanka Sabrina Sharmin , Shomik Mohammad Sohel , Rahman Qazi Sadeq-ur , Rahman Mizanur , Mannan Ishtiaq , Arifeen Shams El
Published: April 2023

Background

Neonatal mortality remains unacceptably high in many countries. WHO recommends that all newborns be assessed during the postnatal period and should seek prompt medical care if there is any danger sign. However, in many developing countries, only a small proportion of women receive postnatal care. Also, the quality of care in public health facilities is sub-optimal.

Methods

We designed an intervention package that included community health worker-assisted pregnancy and birth surveillance, post-natal visits to assess newborns on the first, third, seventh and twenty-eighth days of birth, referral for facility-based care, and establishing a newborn stabilization unit at the first level referral health facility. We did a quasi-experimental, propensity-score matched, controlled study in the Sylhet region of Bangladesh. We used a cross-sectional survey method at baseline and endline to measure the effect of our intervention. We considered two indicators for the primary outcome–(a) all-cause neonatal mortality rate and (b) case fatality of severe illness. Secondary outcomes were the proportion of neonates with signs and symptoms of severe illness who sought care in a hospital or a medically qualified provider.

Results

Our sample size was 9,940 live births (4,257 at baseline, 5,683 at end line). Our intervention was significantly associated with a 39% reduction (aRR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.40–0.93; p = 0.046) in the risk of neonatal mortality and 45% reduction (aRR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.35–0.86; p = 0.001) in the risk of case fatality of severe illness among newborns in rural Bangladesh. The intervention significantly increased the care-seeking for severe illness at the first-level referral facility (DID 36.6%; 95% CI % 27.98 to 45.22; p<0.001).

Interpretation

Our integrated community-facility interventions model resulted in early identification of severely sick neonates, early care seeking and improved treatment. The interventions led to a significant reduction in all-cause neonatal mortality and case fatality from severe illness.
Evaluating diagnostic content of AI-generated chest radiography: A multi-center visual Turing test
Authors: Myong Youho , Yoon Dan , Kim Byeong Soo , Kim Young Gyun , Sim Yongsik , Lee Suji , Yoon Jiyoung , Cho Minwoo , Kim Sungwan
Published: April 2023

Background

Accurate interpretation of chest radiographs requires years of medical training, and many countries face a shortage of medical professionals to meet such requirements. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have aided diagnoses; however, their performance is often limited due to data imbalance. The aim of this study was to augment imbalanced medical data using generative adversarial networks (GANs) and evaluate the clinical quality of the generated images via a multi-center visual Turing test.

Methods

Using six chest radiograph datasets, (MIMIC, CheXPert, CXR8, JSRT, VBD, and OpenI), starGAN v2 generated chest radiographs with specific pathologies. Five board-certified radiologists from three university hospitals, each with at least five years of clinical experience, evaluated the image quality through a visual Turing test. Further evaluations were performed to investigate whether GAN augmentation enhanced the convolutional neural network (CNN) classifier performances.

Results

In terms of identifying GAN images as artificial, there was no significant difference in the sensitivity between radiologists and random guessing (result of radiologists: 147/275 (53.5%) vs result of random guessing: 137.5/275, (50%); p = .284). GAN augmentation enhanced CNN classifier performance by 11.7%.

Conclusion

Radiologists effectively classified chest pathologies with synthesized radiographs, suggesting that the images contained adequate clinical information. Furthermore, GAN augmentation enhanced CNN performance, providing a bypass to overcome data imbalance in medical AI training. CNN based methods rely on the amount and quality of training data; the present study showed that GAN augmentation could effectively augment training data for medical AI.
Understanding the barriers and facilitators of vaccine hesitancy towards the COVID-19 vaccine in healthcare workers and healthcare students worldwide: An Umbrella Review
Authors: McCready Jemma Louise , Nichol Bethany , Steen Mary , Unsworth John , Comparcini Dania , Tomietto Marco
Published: April 2023

Background

Healthcare workers (HCWs) and healthcare students display high levels of vaccine hesitancy with impact on healthcare provision, patient safety, and health promotion. The factors related to vaccine hesitancy have been reported in several systematic reviews. However, this evidence needs to be synthesised, as interventions to reduce vaccination hesitancy in this population are needed.

Methods

This Umbrella Review aimed to explore the barriers and facilitators of vaccine hesitancy toward the COVID-19 vaccine for HCWs and healthcare students. The review was performed and reported in accordance with Joanna Briggs Institutes guidelines and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. A protocol was preregistered on PROSPERO (CRD42022327354). Eight databases were searched from November 2019 to 23rd May 2022 to identify any systematic reviews that explored factors associated with hesitancy towards the COVID-19 vaccine for HCWs or healthcare students.

Results

A total of 31 studies were included in the review. The majority of studies (71%) were appraised as strong or moderate quality and there was a slight degree of overlap (<5%) of primary studies between the reviews. Vaccine hesitancy was more common among HCWs and healthcare students in specific occupational roles (e.g. nurses) than others (e.g. physicians). Frequent reasons for hesitancy were related to sociodemographic factors (gender, age, ethnicity), occupational factors (COVID-19 exposure, perceived risk, mandatory vaccination), health factors (vaccination history), vaccine-related factors (concerns about safety, efficacy, side-effects, rapid development, testing, approval and distribution of the vaccine), social factors (social pressure, altruism and collective responsibility), distrust factors (key social actors, pandemic management), information factors (inadequate information and sources, exposure to misinformation).

Conclusion

The results from this Umbrella Review have wide-reaching implications for the research area, healthcare systems and institutions and governments worldwide. Designing tailored strategies for specific occupational groups is pivotal to increasing vaccine uptake and securing a safe healthcare provision worldwide.