bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Upaya Meningkatkan Hasil Belajar Melalui Model PBL Terintegrasi Pendekatan TaRL Materi Penjumlahan Kelas IVD SD Muhammadiyah Sokonandi
Authors: Latifah Anita Nur , Handayani Trikinasih , Alpendi Alpendi , Kadarwati Kadarwati
Published: January 2025

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan hasil belajar peserta didik pada materi penjumlahan di kelas IVD SD Muhammadiyah Sokonandi melalui penerapan model Problem Based Learning (PBL) yang terintegrasi pendekatan Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL). Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian tindakan kelas (PTK) dengan menggunakan desain penelitian yang dikembangkan oleh Kemmis dan Mc taggart yang terdiri dari 4 langkah (perencanaan, tindakan, pengamatan, refleksi,). Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa penerapan model PBL yang terintegrasi pendekatan TaRL mampu meningkatkan hasil belajar peserta didik secara signifikan. Hal tersebut dibuktikan pada siklus pertama mendapatkan hasil persentase ketuntasan klasikal sebesar 68%, sementara pada siklus kedua meningkat sebesar 90%. Berdasarkan uraian tersebut penerapan model PBL yang terintegrasi pendekatan TaRL terbukti efektif dalam meningkatkan hasil belajar peserta didik pada materi penjumlahan.
Analisis Keris dan Proses Pembuatannya sebagai Tema Ajar berbasis Kebudayaan Kota Surakarta dalam Pembelajaran Sains SMP
Authors: Solikah Anisa Ayu , Saputro Sulistyo , Yamtinah Sri
Published: January 2025

Pembelajaran IPA mengkaji tentang fenomena alam disekitar manusia, termasuk kebudayaan dan masyarakat. Kota Surakarta termasuk kota Budaya yang kaya akan sejarah dan budayanya, salah satunya keris. Untuk dapat mengintegrasikan keris dalam pembelajaran sains, maka perlu dilakukan kajian terkait a) bahan dan bagian-bagian keris b) Proses pembuatan keris, c) Analisis keris dan proses pembuatanya sebagai tema ajar berbasis kebudayaan dalam pembelajaran sains SMP. Metode penelitian ini adalah deskriptif kualitatif. Hasil penelitian menunjukan : a) bagian-bagian keris terdiri dari jejeran yang jenisnya meliputi jejeran, pandhok, warangka, medak dan sulut, dan bilah keris. b) Proses pembuatan keris sendiri melibatkan tahap masuh, mecah perabot, jamasan, meranggi, dan pembuatan pendhok keris. c) Tema keris dan proses pembuatannya dapat dijadikan sebagai tema ajar berbasis kebudayaan dalam pembelajaran sains SMP, dengan materi tekanan zat padat; klasifikasi makhluk hidup; serta unsur, senyawa, dan campuran. Hasil analisis keris dan proses pembuatannya ini diharapkan dapat digunakan sebagai tema ajar berbasis kebudayaan kota Surakarta dalam pembelajaran sains SMP pada penelitian selanjutnya.
Membangun Profesionalisme: Kajian tentang Praktik Pedagogis Guru
Authors: Chotijah Hindun Yafa , Sulisworo Dwi
Published: January 2025

Profesionalisme guru dan praktik pedagogis yang efektif sangat penting untuk meningkatkan kemampuan literasi dan numerasi siswa. Artikel ini mengeksplorasi bagaimana guru profesional, yang memiliki pengetahuan mendalam tentang mata pelajaran dan strategi pengajaran yang efektif, memotivasi siswa melalui metode yang menarik dan integrasi teknologi. Studi ini menekankan pentingnya pengembangan profesional berkelanjutan dan kolaborasi antar pendidik, sambil mengakui tantangan seperti keterbatasan akses teknologi, kurangnya waktu, dan sumber daya. Artikel ini juga membahas isu-isu terkini pasca pandemi COVID-19, seperti ketimpangan akses teknologi dan kolaborasi daring. Melalui analisis kualitatif terhadap literatur, artikel ini meninjau tema-tema utama: perancangan dan penyampaian pengajaran, strategi penilaian dan umpan balik, manajemen kelas, komunitas pembelajaran profesional, dan integrasi teknologi. Temuan menunjukkan bahwa perencanaan pelajaran yang terstruktur dengan baik, metode pengajaran yang dinamis, dan penilaian berbasis data oleh guru menciptakan lingkungan belajar yang positif yang mendorong keterlibatan siswa dan kesuksesan akademik. Pada akhirnya, artikel ini menekankan perlunya strategi berbasis bukti untuk mendukung guru dalam mempromosikan kesetaraan dan meningkatkan hasil pendidikan.Abstrak berbahasa Indonesia, maksimal 150 kata, terdiri dari Tujuan, Metode, Hasil, Implikasi Penelitian.
The influence of sociodemographic characteristics and hospital type on patient satisfaction: an online survey
Authors: Smadi Audai Naji Al , Abugabah Ahed
Published: January 2025

Background/Aims

Patient satisfaction has received much attention from healthcare organisations as a key quality indicator and as part of a global trend towards patient‑centred care. Despite this, there has been a lack of research on the influence of sociodemographic factors and type of hospital on patient satisfaction, particularly in developing countries. This study aimed to assess the impact of sociodemographic factors and hospital type on patient satisfaction in Jordan.

Methods

A cross‑sectional study using an online, structured survey was conducted in Jordan between 15 February 2023 and 20 April 2023. All adults living in Jordan who had accessed healthcare services within the previous 2 weeks, either as a patient or caregiver, were eligible to participate. The standard Patient Satisfaction Questionnaires‑18 was used to measure patient satisfaction, with patients rating their satisfaction with items across seven domains. Descriptive statistics, Cronbach's alpha, one‑way analysis of variance and multiple regression analysis were used to analyse the data.

Results

A total of 653 responses were obtained. The mean overall patient satisfaction score was 2.97 (±0.76), which was classified as neutral (neither satisfied nor dissatisfied). Significant differences were found between participants according to education level, area of residence, monthly salary, health insurance and age group. Significant differences were also found between participants who had attended a public vs private hospital. Multiple regression analysis indicated that area of residence, education level and hospital type were found to significantly influence patient satisfaction.

Conclusions

To improve patient satisfaction and the quality of healthcare services, organisations must pay more attention to sociodemographic factors such as age, education level, local area, monthly salary, hospital type and health insurance.
Management of SGLT-2 Inhibitors in the Perioperative Period: Withhold or Continue?
Authors: Pittack Zack
Published: January 2025

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors are commonly prescribed in diabetes mellitus and increasingly for cardiorenal protection. They carry the risk of euglycaemic diabetic ketoacidosis (eDKA). Guidelines around the perioperative handling of these medications are limited and some evidence suggests that withholding them can lead to more surgical complications and poorer glycaemic control. This article gives an overview of arguments for and against withholding SGLT-2 inhibitors in the perioperative period.
Once-Weekly Insulin: A Breakthrough in Diabetes Management or an Unresolved Challenge?
Authors: Ahmed Raheel , Shafiq Aimen , Ahmed Mushood
Published: January 2025

The advent of once-weekly insulin icodec is a promising development in the care of individuals with diabetes. These once-weekly formulations aimed to improve patient adherence and quality of life for patients who find daily injection administration challenging. Insulin icodec has demonstrated comparable glycemic control to conventionally used daily basal insulins, such as insulin glargine and degludec, in the ONWARDS clinical trials. This approach is aligned with patient-centred guidelines, offers better convenience, and can potentially improve adherence, particularly among older adults with type 2 diabetes and those experiencing distress related to frequent injection administration. However, several challenges persist before widespread adoption is feasible. One main concern is ensuring consistent insulin levels over a full week as fluctuations can lead to an increased risk of hypo- or hyperglycemia. Education, precise dosing, and further research are required to ensure long-term efficacy and safety. Moreover, logistical hurdles, including production costs and supply chain complexities need to be addressed especially in low-resource settings. Future studies should evaluate the broader health impacts of weekly insulin, including cardiovascular outcomes, quality of life, and personalized dosing strategies. Making weekly insulin safe, affordable, and widely available is important to fully realize its potential in diabetes management.
Addressing the Environmental Impact of Pharmaceuticals: A Call to Action
Authors: Booth Amy , Shaw Sara Elizabeth
Published: January 2025

The contribution of health care to environmental and climate crises is significant, under-addressed, and with consequences for human health. This editorial is a call to action. Focusing on pharmaceuticals as a major environmental threat, we examine pharmaceutical impacts across their lifecycle, summarising greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, and biodiversity loss, and outlining challenges and opportunities to reduce this impact. We urge health care decision-makers and providers to urgently consider environmental factors in their decision-making relating to both policy, and practice, promoting actions such as rational prescribing, non-pharmaceutical interventions, and research and advocacy for sustainable production, procurement, and use.
Intuitionistic fuzzy RFE-based prognostic model for liver transplantation
Authors:   Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India., Raju Juby , Ranjana P. ,   Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Chennai, Tamil Nadu,603103 India.
Published: January 2025

Background: Survival prediction after liver transplantation is a very challenging but complex task. LT is often the best treatment for advanced liver disease, provided no other medical conditions contraindicate it. This article explores clinical predictors, such as MELD scores and hormone levels, along with computational algorithms for forecasting post-transplant survival.

Objective: This study evaluates the performance of machine learning models for predicting survival outcomes in liver transplant recipients using UNOS data. It develops and validates a donor and recipient-based prognostic model.

Materials and methods: The UNOS database contains 65,535 donor-recipient pairs in transplants conducted in the U.S. between October 1987 and June 2021, with 421 attributes. The top 24 features, including logistic regression, random forest, artificial neural networks, XGBoost, CART, and K-nearest neighbors, were used to train the models upon feature selection. Models were compared using AUROC, accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, and precision.

Results: ANN outperformed other models for the UNOS dataset, with an AUROC of 0.98–0.99. Validated results in the KCH dataset are robust at AUROC: 0.94–0.95.

Conclusion: The model offered exceptional generalizability performance to guide clinical decisions in transplantation support, yet variability in patients’ characteristics may differ significantly among the cohorts and impact the results.
Evaluation of the modified-indirect hemagglutinin assay using chicken red blood cells as a routine melioidosis detection in Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital
Authors:   Immunology Laboratory, Diagnostic Laboratory, Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand., Dankai Dararat , Khamnoi Phadungkiat ,   Microbiology Laboratory, Diagnostic Laboratory, Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand., Kongkaew Aphisek ,   Research Administration Section, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand., Phinyo Phichayut ,   Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Clinical Statistics, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand., Department of Biomedical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology (BioCE), Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand., Lekawanvijit Suree ,   Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand., Dankai Wiyada ,   Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand.
Published: January 2025

Background: Melioidosis is a life-threatening illness caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei, which is endemic throughout Thailand. The indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA), a serological test, is widely used to diagnose melioidosis. However, the conventional IHA available in Thailand still requires more than 4 hours for measurement time, limiting its efficiency in clinical settings. This study addresses the need for a quicker and more efficient diagnostic method for melioidosis.

Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the agreement between a modified indirect hemagglutination (modified IHA) assay and the commercially available IHA kit for routine melioidosis diagnosis at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital. Chicken red blood cells were used instead of sheep red blood cells to reduce diagnostic time and costs while maintaining high accuracy and reliability.

Materials and methods: A total of 368 serum samples were tested using the modified IHA assay, which utilized chicken red blood cells instead of sheep red blood cells used in the commercial IHA kit. The results were compared with those of the commercial IHA kit for melioidosis detection.

Results: The modified IHA assay showed 99.46% agreement, with an excellent kappa value of 0.98, compared to the commercial kit. In the validation step, the modified IHA assay correctly identified 100% (54 out of 54) of positive samples and 100% (54 out of 54) of negative samples. However, 0.63% (2 out of 320) false positives were observed in the diagnostic samples with the modified IHA assay.

Conclusion: The modified IHA assay may serve as a valuable alternative for the routine diagnosis of melioidosis because it is less time-consuming and more cost-effective than the commercial IHA kit. However, further studies with more clinical samples are warranted to confirm its utility.
Metadata matching: beyond correctness
Authors: Tkaczyk Dominika , Buttrick Adam
Published: January 2025

In our previous entry, we explained that thorough evaluation is key to understanding a matching strategy’s performance. While evaluation is what allows us to assess the correctness of matching, choosing the best matching strategy is, unfortunately, not as simple as selecting the one that yields the best matches. Instead, these decisions usually depend on weighing multiple factors based on your particular circumstances. This is true not only for metadata matching, but for many technical choices that require navigating trade-offs. In this blog post, the last one in the metadata matching series, we outline a subjective set of criteria we would recommend you consider when making decisions about matching.
Transformation Optics-based Antenna for Focusing OAM Beams
Authors: Jing Jia-Tong , Song Wei , Sheng Xin-Qing
Published: January 2025

In this article, a metamaterial horn antenna based on transformation optics (TO) is presented to generate a focused orbital angular momentum (OAM) beam. By applying the coordinate transformation, a metamaterial insertion inside the horn is designed to concentrate the radiated OAM beam. The TO-based insertion is further realized by using split ring resonators (SRRs). The metamaterial antenna is fabricated and measured to verify the design. A 13o reduction in the main lobe angle is realized in measurement by SRRs.
Unveiling the Evolution: Multi-Patch Multi-Release Software Reliability Growth Model with Testing Effort
Authors: Singh Veenu , Kumar Vijay , Singh V. B. , Agrawal Arun Prakash
Published: January 2025

Reliance on software has increased expectations for software organizations to deliver high-quality software to meet the increasing demand from end-users. Continuous testing is imperative to ensure software quality, yet prolonged testing can lead to increased market opportunity costs. Consequently, organizations often opt to release software early and subsequently conduct testing during the operational phase, addressing existing bugs through patch deployment. These patches, small programs aimed at fixing, improving, or updating software, serve to rectify security vulnerabilities or bugs efficiently. For minor changes, patch releases prove more practical and cost-effective than launching entirely new software versions. The adoption of multi-release software endows developers with a competitive advantage, catering to the diverse needs of end-users. This paper introduces a testing effort-based software reliability growth model, evaluating the impact of multi-patching on multi-release software. The model operates under the assumption of continuous fault removal post-release, using different distribution functions to construct three framework variations. Parameter estimation employs the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, with a real dataset serving as a basis for a numerical example illustrating the model’s practical application. Additionally, a comparative analysis of model performance, based on different distribution functions, is conducted through multi-criteria decision-makingtechniques.
Chronic Rupture of the Pectoralis Major: Current Concepts and Various Surgical Repair Techniques – A Mini Review
Authors:   Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland,, Zhiti Coraline , Gossuin Igor ,   Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland,, Durand Yoann ,   Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland,, Müller Jonas ,   University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland,, Daulouède Pierre-Xavier ,   Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland,, Mazreku Sadat ,   ]Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, Western Léman Hospital Group, Nyon, Switzerland.
Published: January 2025

Introduction: Various surgical repair techniques, including autograft and allograft reconstructions, have been reported for the management of chronic pectoralis major ruptures, but outcome reporting remains highly heterogeneous. This narrative review aimed to provide a deeper understanding of these techniques, emphasizing the need for larger-scale prospective trials to support evidence-based recommendations for surgeons.

Materials and Methods: We conducted a search of PubMed/Medline, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Google Scholar for English-language articles published between 1822 and 2023, using the following keywords: “chronic pectoralis major ruptures,” “chronic pectoralis major tears,” and “patient outcomes.”

Results: Overall, more than 60 reported cases were retrieved, along with a few prospective studies and review articles. Based on the compiled literature, most pectoralis major tears tend to arise at the tendo-osseus junction. In the absence of contra-indications such as old age and multiple comorbidities, surgical intervention is considered the golden care standard. The most commonly performed repair techniques include suture anchor fixation, transosseous fixation (TOS), and cortical bone fixation. Among the three techniques, no significant differences in cyclic loading or load-to-failure properties of the constructs were recorded. In chronic cases, in which direct repair is not possible, various autograft and allograft reconstructions were described, with quite heterogeneous outcome reporting, rendering comparative analyses difficult.

Conclusion: Currently, no single technique has been established as the gold standard for the treatment of chronic pectoralis major ruptures. The most commonly performed repair techniques include suture anchor fixation, TOS, and cortical bone fixation. In chronic cases where direct repair is not feasible, various autograft and allograft reconstructions are employed. There is a need for larger-scale prospective trials with standardized outcome reporting to develop evidence-based recommendations, providing surgeons with safe and effective guidelines for treatment.

Keywords: Pectoralis major, chronic ruptures, chronic tears, shoulder, therapeutic options, repair techniques, reconstruction techniques.
Plundering the Skilled Workforce: Depriving Developing Nations of Their Most Valuable Assets
Authors: Gürak Hasan
Published: January 2025

Whether developed or less developed, all countries need skilled mental labor (SML) to use technologies effectively and to attain economic growth and development. Without appropriate SML, no country can make the best use of its firms and institutions. Time and investment are required for an individual to become a skilled mental laborer, but these are not sufficient. The training must be at a level where contemporary technologies can be used effectively, so that the highest benefit can be given to society and companies. The most disturbing aspect of the issue is that although there are very few skilled mental laborers who are educated and equipped with modern qualifications, they generally migrate to more developed and richer countries to achieve better living conditions. Developed countries have found an excuse for this kind of migration by saying “We need skilled mental laborers.” The pertinent critical questions are as follows. While it is acknowledged that developed countries require SML, what about less developed countries? Do they not also have a need for SML? The crucial and vital question is which countries have a greater need for SML, developed countries or less developed countries?
Chinese Modernization and the Prospects of World Modernization: A Review of the 16th Forum of the World Association for Political Economy
Authors: Luo Zhihong , Ding Xiaoqin
Published: January 2025

The 16th forum of the World Association for Political Economy took place in Pingtan, Fujian province, China, on September 25–27, 2023. The theme was “Chinese Modernization and the Prospects of World Modernization.” Experts and scholars from over 20 countries and regions focused on the theme, discussing methods of political economy and theories of modernization research, Chinese modernization and global political and economic structures, the practice of Chinese modernization and the innovation and development of mesoeconomics, research on the political economy of socialism with Chinese characteristics, comparisons of Chinese modernization and capitalist modernization, ecological civilization and the practical path of Chinese modernization, the basic principles of Marxist economics, and the special characteristics of Chinese modernization. The forum has deepened the knowledge and understanding of scholars about Chinese modernization and global modernization, while also contributing wisdom to support people all over the world in pursuing an independent modernization path and promoting the modernization process.
Parenting in refugee families: established-outsider dynamics from a transnational perspective
Authors: Westphal Manuela , Korn Franziska , Aden Samia , Li-Gottwald Jiayin
Published: January 2025

This empirical analysis delves into the complexities of transnational family relations and experiences of growing up in Somali refugee families in Germany from the parents’ perspective. By employing the theoretical framework of figurational analysis with a focus on established-outsider relations (Elias and Scotson, 1994), we gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics of power and recognition. Using the documentary method and ethnography, our interpretations of three families reveal their simultaneous local and transnational establishment efforts. The figuration of ‘arrival families’ emerges from these efforts highlighting the shared intergenerational practices and orientations of refugees.
Gaulish * uidlu ( i ) a 'sorceress'
Authors: Joseph Lionel S. , Weiss Michael L.
Published: January 2025

Abstract: It has long been recognised that the Gaulish feminine genitive singular uidluias in the Larzac inscription belongs to the semantic sphere of magical knowledge. We propose a derivational history for * uidlu ( i ) a that is consistent with Indo-European noun formation, and we identify a close comparandum in an Old Irish poem that contrasts magic and war.
The legend of the Women of Lemnos in Togail Troí
Authors: Clarke Michael
Published: January 2025

Abstract: This article addresses a self-contained episode in the Third Recension of Togail Troí ( c . 1150–1250?), concerned with the story of the man-slaying Women of Lemnos. It is shown that the author of that recension began with a passage of Togail na Tebe , the Middle Irish version of Statius's Thebaid , consisting of a long, autobiographical speech by Hypsipyle, foremost of the Women. He rewrote this speech as a third-person narrative and inserted it at the appropriate point in Togail Troí' s account of the preliminaries to the Trojan Wars. The episode has hitherto remained unpublished and little studied. A critical edition is presented here, based chiefly on the two well-known manuscripts of the Third Recension of Togail Troí (D, K), but also examining a variant version found in a little-known fragment of the fifteenth or sixteenth century (N). The Edition and Translation are followed by a Discussion of the adaptation of the Togail na Tebe material for its new narrative context, and a commentary tracing the process of rewriting and adaptation that underlies the text. It is argued that the opening section of the source passage from Togail na Tebe was at first imperfectly adapted for its new context, producing the text witnessed by N, and that this was then revised to produce the more smoothly flowing version seen in D and K. In the Commentary, changes, improvements and occasional errors in transmission and rewriting are examined, and the Togail Troí versions are compared with that in Togail na Tebe and its ultimate source in Statius. Additionally, it is shown that at certain points Togail Troí manuscripts contain readings that preserve the original Irish translation of Statius more accurately than do the surviving manuscripts of Togail na Tebe itself.
When the Synagogue Is Turned into a Delivery Room: Embracing Gender and Sexual Bodily Experiences through a Kabbalistic Renewal Custom
Authors: Ben-Lulu Elazar
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACT: The Reform Jewish community is known today as one of the leading Jewish denominations that promotes a liberal religious discourse and praxis, particularly advancing gender equality. As a non-Orthodox movement advocating this egalitarian ideology, Reform communities face exclusion and condemnation, especially in Israel where the Orthodox establishment dominates. In this article, based on fieldwork in Israeli Reform congregations, I examine how female congregants participating in the Tikkun Shavuot , a traditional Kabbalistic holiday custom, create a variety of interpretations of embodiment attributed to gender and sexual experiences. The tikkun , which experienced a renaissance during the last decades among Jewish liberal communities, is informed by Torah study, bodily New Age gestures, and artistic performances. I argue that framing the performance of the renewal holiday custom as a dialog with the body, engagement with sacred texts, and the communal discourse created around it, allowed women to connect to painful bodily experiences from the past and voice objections regarding heteronormative social perceptions. Thus, I suggest that religious-feminine performance may contribute to reconnecting to bodily memories, as well as legitimizing, validating, and affirming feelings of regret, guilt, and self-acceptance.
Assessment of the general clinical condition and functional properties of the eyes of rabbits after THz irradiation
Authors: Butikova Ekaterina , Krasner Kristina , Kanygin Nikolay , Drobot Elena , Levchenko Irina , Kichigin Aleksandr , Popik Vasiliy , Kolomeyets Daria , Solovieva Olga , Tolstikova Tatyana , Alshevskaya Alina , Zavyalov Evgeniy , Chernykh Valeriy , Poveshenko Olga , Kanygin Vladimir
Published: January 2025

THz radiation is increasingly used for diagnostics in medicine. As technology utilizing THz radiation continues to develop rapidly, it is becoming increasingly important to consider its biological effects and establish safe exposure standards and parameters. The paper presents data on the clinical status and functional properties of the anterior and posterior structures of the eyes of rabbits after THz irradiation at the frequency of 2.3 THz. Terahertz radiation was generated at Novosibirsk Free Electron Laser (NovoFEL) at “Siberian Synchrotron and Terahertz Radiation Centre” (Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia). The exposure durations used were 15 and 30 minutes. Intensity ranges were I1=0.012 mW/cm2, I2=0.018 mW/cm2, and I3=0.024 mW/cm2. The study investigated the effects of various time and power irradiation protocols on the California rabbit’s eyes and after a period of one month, but no significant clinical or functional alterations were observed in response to the established intensity protocols. However, the study identified statistically significant changes in corneal hydration and endothelial cell density over time, particularly under protocols with 15- and 30-minute exposures. A negative correlation was found between endothelial cell density and corneal thickness (r=-0.36, p=0.042), suggesting that a reduction in the endothelial cell pool may be associated with increased corneal thickness. These changes were subclinical and did not lead to clinically significant pathological changes in the cornea. There were no signs of ASOCT (anterior segment-optical coherence tomography) hyperreflectivity. THz radiation with parameters listed above of 2.3 THz and an intensities of 0.012-0.024 mW/cm2 for 30 minutes has been shown to be conditionally safe for the structures of the rabbit eye. However, the detected subclinical corneal changes require further study to determine safe exposure limits.
Saturable absorption of few-layer WS2 and WSe2 at exciton resonance
Authors: Liang Shuang , Lu Yuze , Liu Haimu , Shang Xiaohe , Du Rongguang , Ji Jiamin , Yu Yiling , Zhang Shunping
Published: January 2025

Layered materials such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are excellent candidates as saturable absorbers. However, the saturable absorption of few-layer TMDs is usually measured at the typical wavelengths of lasers, away from the exciton resonances. In this work, we study the saturable absorption effects in one, two, and three-layer WS2 and WSe2, around the A-exciton resonance, using a tunable pulsed laser. Power-dependent reflectance contrast indicates that the saturation power density thresholds are around 5.5 × 106 W/cm2 (3.8 × 106 W/cm2) for monolayer WS2 (WSe2), showing an order of magnitude reduction at the exciton peak. The saturation power density threshold increases with the number of layers. The analytical solution to the dynamics equation illustrates how the laser parameters influence the experimentally measured threshold, highlighting the importance of pulse duration in saturable absorption. This result reveals the effect of exciton decay and exciton-exciton interactions on the nonlinear optical properties of TMDs and benefits the design of TMD-based active optical devices.
Morphology effect of metal-insulator-metal nanopatch antennas in strong coupling with monolayer WSe2
Authors: Hu Zhiwei , Kan Si , Han Xiaobo , Hu Huatian , Guan Chao , Wang Kai
Published: January 2025

Serving as cavity quantum electrodynamic testbeds at the nanoscale, the past decade has seen a prosperous rise in strong coupling between metallic nanostructures and semiconductor excitons. Within the iteration of the delicate plasmonic nanostructures, metal-insulator-metal (e.g., various nanoparticles-on-mirror) planar structures with highly confined fields and decent quality factors, come to prominence. Excitons in transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) emerge as a favored choice of quantum emitters due to their room-temperature performance and potential integration into optoelectronic devices. In this paper, strong coupling with a Rabi splitting of 137 meV was achieved by coupling radial breathing mode from a nanoplate-on-mirror planar nanoantenna with neutral excitons in monolayer WSe2. More importantly, we investigated the morphology dependence of the coupling in planar nanopatch antennas. It showed that the efforts taken to change the shapes and sizes of the nanopatch structures (e.g., hexagonal, triangular, round plates, etc.) can not effectively optimize the coupling. This is because only the excitons at the edges could contribute to the coupling strength. It is double-edged that, on the one hand, it sets a limitation for tuning the coupling strength, on the other hand, it prevents involving more excitons which may degrade the plexcitonic nonlinearity.
Figure-9 mode-locked fiber laser using liquid crystal variable retarders
Authors: Lu Qiao , Ma Xinyu , Zhang Feng , Wu Qianchao , Liu Haowei
Published: January 2025

We propose a scheme for a Figure-9 mode-locked fiber laser that utilizes liquid crystal variable retarders (LCs) with tunable splitting ratios and non-reciprocal phase shifts. Simulation results demonstrate that the parameter space can be effectively explored through full-wave scanning of the two LCs, while fast axes of both LCs are oriented at an angle of -1/4π to the horizontal plane. Under quasi-symmetric conditions, experimental results confirm the scheme's capability to control the mode-locking state. By varying the retardance of the LCs, we map the distribution of mode-locking states in the parameter space. Our findings reveal that, due to the difference in nonlinear transmission from the conventional scheme, this scheme has a similar distribution of mode-locking states but is more conservative. This innovative scheme offers a fast-response laser platform without moving parts, making it suitable for research in laser technology, intelligent mode locking, and ultrafast dynamics.
Ultra-flat electro-optic frequency comb based on a chirp-modulated lithium niobate resonator
Authors: Zhang Yujie , Jia Tao , Rong Jiamin , Xing Enbo , Li Jianglong , Yang Xinrong , Yue Hongbo , Zhou Yanru , Liu Wenyao , Tang Jun , Liu Jun
Published: January 2025

Chirp modulation can generate a relatively flat electro-optic frequency comb (EO comb) and offers the advantage of frequency reconfigurability, demonstrating significant potential in high-precision sensing and absorption spectroscopy measurements. However, nonresonant devices such as waveguides are susceptible to limitations in modulation efficiency and bandwidth during electro-optic modulation. In this paper, by utilizing chirp modulation resonance mode, we have realized an EO comb based on a lithium niobate resonator with small tooth spacing and high flatness. Theoretically, the chirp modulation of phase is achieved by modulating the dispersion coupling term in the resonant mode transmission equation. Compared with conventional waveguide-based EO combs, the resonant mode chirp modulation is capable of generating a multistage flat comb, and thus the bandwidth of the comb is significantly expanded. In the experiment, with a repetition rate as low as 20 kHz and a bias voltage of 1 V, the comb bandwidth extended to over 150 MHz, where the number of 3 dB flat comb teeth for a single stage exceeds 2,000. Finally, we evaluated the measurement capability of the frequency comb at different temperatures by utilizing the transmission spectrum of the germanium-doped silica waveguide cavity as the absorption spectrum, measuring a temperature sensitivity of 1505.00 MHz/K and a temperature instability of 1.13 mK/Hz1/2.
Single-shot up-conversion terahertz spectrometer with high-frequency resolution
Authors: Mine S. , Nkeck J. E. , Lafrenière-Greig J. , Gandubert G. , Murate K. , Blanchard F.
Published: January 2025

We have conducted spectroscopy of broadband terahertz (THz) pulses produced by femtosecond lasers via THz parametric detection. Conventional techniques for detecting broadband THz-waves have predominantly relied on time-domain waveform sampling through THz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS), where challenges persist in achieving real-time performance and optimal frequency resolution. To address these issues, we have implemented THz parametric detection, wherein THz-waves are converted to near-infrared light, facilitating one-shot spectroscopy of broadband THz-waves. In addition, the frequency resolution of this method has been improved by adopting a non-collinear phase matching condition.
Refining fine-mapping: Effect sizes and regional heritability
Authors: Benner Christian , Mahajan Anubha , Pirinen Matti
Published: January 2025

Recent statistical approaches have shown that the set of all available genetic variants explains considerably more phenotypic variance of complex traits and diseases than the individual variants that are robustly associated with these phenotypes. However, rapidly increasing sample sizes constantly improve detection and prioritization of individual variants driving the associations between genomic regions and phenotypes. Therefore, it is useful to routinely estimate how much phenotypic variance the detected variants explain for each region by taking into account the correlation structure of variants and the uncertainty in their causal status. Here we extend the FINEMAP software to estimate the effect sizes and regional heritability under the probabilistic model that assumes a handful of causal variants per region. Using the UK Biobank (UKB) data to simulate genomic regions, we demonstrate that FINEMAP provides higher precision and enables more detailed decomposition of regional heritability into individual variants than the variance component model implemented in BOLT or the fixed-effect model implemented in HESS, particularly when there are only a few causal variants in the fine-mapped region. Using data from 2,940 plasma proteins from the UKB study, we observed that on average FINEMAP identified 2.5 causal variants at an association signal and captured 36% more regional heritability than the variant with the lowest P-value. We estimate that in genomic regions with notable contribution to the total heritability, FINEMAP captures on average 13% and 40% more heritability than BOLT and HESS respectively. Our analysis shows how FINEMAP, BOLT and HESS relate to each other in cases where inference of a variant-level picture of the regional genetic architecture is possible.
Moving toward universal health coverage with a national health insurance program: A scoping review and narrative synthesis of experiences in eleven low- and lower-middle income countries
Authors: Flourence Marine , Jarawan Eva , Boiangiu Mara , El Yamani Fatima El Kadiri
Published: January 2025

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) aims to provide access to quality health services to all while avoiding financial hardship. Strategies can include establishing a national health insurance scheme (NHIS). However, variations in the progress exist among countries with an NHIS. This study assesses strategies adopted in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs) with an NHIS to expand UHC. The research entailed a descriptive, qualitative review of the literature on LLMICs that have implemented an NHIS. PRISMA guidelines were used to identify studies and reports. A total of 569 texts were identified from 4 databases. A total of 78 texts were included, spanning 7 countries from Sub-Saharan Africa and 4 from Asia. The search was conducted in March 2023 and updated in April 2024. An analytical framework was used to systematically collect, analyze, and synthesize key features to review healthcare financing mechanisms and coverage dimensions. Countries generate revenue through various public and private means, including taxes, premiums, and out-of-pocket payments. Some have consolidated revenue streams into a single pool for efficiency, while others maintain separate pools. Healthcare services are procured from public and private providers, differing by country. Fee-for-service is the prevalent payment method, but capitation systems have been attempted to control expenses. Population coverage depends on whether enrollment in an NHIS is mandatory or voluntary and on its enforcement. Service provision can be comprehensive and universal or can vary with specific schemes. Mechanisms to avoid financial hardship can involve premium exemptions or subsidies. Progressing toward UHC requires addressing issues of financial sustainability, cost-containment, enrollment expansion, financial protection, and health equity. While policy options are context-specific, this review showcased experiences for other LLMICs committed to UHC with an NHIS. Recommendations on health financing include increasing the allocation of tax revenues to the insurance scheme, merging risk pools, and adopting strategic purchasing.
Knowledge, attitude, and practice of One Health and zoonotic diseases among multisectoral collaborators in Bhutan: Results from a nationwide survey
Authors: Rai Bir Doj , Tenzin Tenzin , Tshering Dorji , Dahal Narapati , Tessema Gizachew A. , Fritschi Lin , Dodzi Sylvester Nyadanu , Pereira Gavin
Published: January 2025

The One Health concept is increasingly employed to combat zoonotic diseases. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding One Health and zoonotic diseases among key sector professionals to identify gaps and opportunities for enhancing One Health strategies in Bhutan. A cross-sectional, facility-based study was used to conduct a nationwide online questionnaire survey using a validated and pre-tested questionnaire among professionals from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, and universities. Descriptive and summary statistics were calculated. Respondents were categorised into binary groups based on their knowledge, attitude, and practice scores relative to the mean. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the demographic factors associated with knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding One Health and zoonotic diseases. The survey achieved a 35% response rate, with 964 responses. The majority of respondents demonstrated above-average knowledge (63%), attitudes (50%), and practices (66%) regarding One Health. Professionals with master’s degree or higher (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 2.39; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 1.16–5.12) were more likely to have above-average knowledge. Regarding zoonotic diseases, approximately half of the respondents had above-average knowledge (51%), attitudes (52%), and two-thirds (66%) had above-average practices. Professionals with mid-level job experience (6–10 years; AOR = 2.13; 95% CI = 1.37–3.30 and 11 to 15 years; AOR = 2.11; 95% CI = 1.31–3.40) were more likely to possess above-average knowledge. Gaps in training, communication, funding, research, and collaborations were identified. Targeted educational interventions, enhanced communication, strengthened collaboration, expanded research, and improved funding are essential for improving One Health approaches and zoonotic disease prevention and control in Bhutan. Our study findings provide valuable insights that can inform global efforts to enhance One Health systems, particularly in regions where resources are limited but disease risks are significant.
A META analysis and systematic review of the effects of exercise interventions on middle-aged and elderly patients with depression
Authors: Zhang Zheng , Liu Jia-Yun , Zhu Kai-Tuo , Huo Gui-Quan
Published: January 2025

Objective

This study sought to conduct a meticulous systematic review, delving into the efficacy of exercise interventions on depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults. Additionally, we aimed to scrutinize the nuanced influence of various intervention factors on the intricate relationship between exercise and depressive symptoms within this demographic.

Methods

Our investigation involved an extensive search across multiple databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, spanning from the inception of these repositories to December 2023. Following a rigorous screening process, we identified and included 12 papers, encompassing a total of 994 subjects.

Results

The meta-analysis unveiled a compelling overall effect size of exercise interventions on depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older individuals, represented by SMD = -0.41, with a 95% confidence interval of [-0.60, -0.22], and P < 0.0001. This statistical evidence underscores the significant and positive impact of exercise interventions on ameliorating depressive symptoms in this demographic. However, a degree of heterogeneity among studies was observed, with I2 = 48% and P = 0.03.

Conclusion

The comprehensive synthesis of outcomes elucidates the pronounced positive effect of exercise interventions in enhancing depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older adults. Specifically, the gentle and balanced exercise series emerges as particularly efficacious in mitigating depression. Furthermore, individual exercises stand out as more effective, with optimal results noted for moderate exercise sessions lasting 30 to 60 minutes. Our findings also highlight the superiority of short-term interventions, followed by medium- and long-term exercise interventions, in terms of efficacy. Nevertheless, recognizing the inherent heterogeneity and potential limitations of our study, we advocate for future large-scale, comprehensive investigations to validate these findings. Additionally, optimizing exercise intervention protocols necessitates a more nuanced understanding, urging further research endeavors to refine strategies aimed at improving depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults.