bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Displacement sensing through deformation of Fano spectral lines from bilayer-grating compound structure
Authors: Qin Xielin , Fang Yun-Tuan
Published: January 2025

In order to achieve the reversal of Fano spectral lines and a new displacement sensing, we construct a compound structure composed of two periodic gratings fixed on two sides of a waveguide layer. Through the analysis on guided mode resonance mechanism and the eigen modes, and the calculation of transport spectra, we have found a deformation and reversal of Fano spectral lines dependent on the translational displacement between the two gratings. We combine deep learning with the deformation of Fano spectral line to design displacement sensors with a nanometer resolution.
Design, implementation of six-dimensional chaotic system and its application in color image encryption
Authors: Lv Jiliang , Xie Qinggang , Zhang Jie
Published: January 2025

A six-dimensional chaotic system is constructed by introducing nonlinear functions. Additionally, the system proposed is confirmed through analog circuits and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA) digital circuits. A double-block encryption algorithm is proposed that combines the improved 2D Logistic mapping with the six-dimensional chaotic system proposed to perform DNA computation on image pixels, achieving a ‘one image, one key’ effect for secure and efficient encryption of images.
Theoretical study of a novel optical biosensor using a structurally chiral medium based on the Kretschmann configuration for the detection of cancer cells
Authors: Ghorani Nadia , Madani Amir , Entezar Samad Roshan
Published: January 2025

In this study, a high-precision optical biosensor composed of a structurally chiral medium (SCM) with

4
¯

2
m

point group symmetry and an aluminum metallic layer has been theoretically investigated using the Kretschmann configuration for cancer cell detection. For numerical analysis, the

4
×
4

transfer matrix method was employed to derive the absorption spectrum of the structure when subjected to p-polarized incident waves. The results indicate that two modes, surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) and waveguide modes, can be excited at the metal-SCM interface. Our findings suggest that due to the minimal penetration of SPPs as an evanescent wave into the biosample region, waveguide modes are more advantageous for sensor applications. Furthermore, the resonance angle of the waveguide modes exhibits high sensitivity to the biosample’s refractive index, enhancing the biosensor’s functionality. Additionally, How the SCM layer tilt angle has been investigated, denoted as

χ

, affects the absorption peaks and the biosensor’s efficiency. Optimal performance was achieved

χ
=

30

°

, although optimal sensor parameters vary across different biosample types.
Application of a random forest algorithm that considers barometric pressure in GNSS-R sea surface wind speed retrieval
Authors: Ma Yi , Wang Yifan , Wang Guofang , Geng Hao , Chen Yuan
Published: January 2025

This paper aims to rely on CYGNSS data to propose a random forest-based wind speed retrieval method that considers barometric pressure as a pivotal factor. Taking the Hawaiian Islands and the peripheral waters as the subject, the research conducts a systematic analysis of the spatial-temporal variation characteristics of wind speeds. In this case, an innovative random forest (RF) model that considers barometric pressure is built and trained, with the longitude, latitude, time, normalized bistatic radar scattering cross section (NBRCS), leading-edge slope (LES), and barometric pressure data as the input features, and the measured buoy wind speeds as the target variable. The results show that the introduction of barometric pressure can significantly improve the accuracy of wind speed retrieval, raising the correlation to above 0.8 and reducing the root mean square error (RMS) by more than 40%. The RF (pressure) method performs best when the pressure system changes dynamically, such as in winter. In the Hawaiian Islands, moreover, the wind speeds exhibit notable spatial variations across seasons. The wind speeds are generally stable and moderate in spring and autumn. In winter, the wind speeds in the northern and northwestern regions can reach the highest level. In summer, the wind speeds in the southeastern region come to a significant decrease. These findings reveal the complex influences of barometric gradients like the subtropical high and the Aleutian Low, as well as topography and ocean currents, on wind speeds, providing a scientific basis for understanding regional climatic dynamics and wind energy resource development.
Contact value theorem for electric double layers with modulated surface charge density
Authors: Šamaj Ladislav
Published: January 2025

The contact value theorem was originally derived for Coulomb fluids of mobile charged particles in thermal equilibrium, in the presence of interfaces carrying a uniform surface charge density and in the absence of dielectric discontinuities. It relates the pressure (the effective force) between two parallel electric double layers (EDLs) to the particle number density and the surface charge density at the interface, separately for each of the two EDLs. In this paper, we generalise the contact value theorem to EDLs with interfaces carrying a modulated surface charge density. The derivation is based on balance of forces exerted on interfaces. The relevance of particular terms of the contact value theorem is tested on an exactly solvable two-dimensional Coulomb system with counterions only at the coupling constant

Γ
=
2

.
Sensitivity of radiometric results for a Lambertian source to simple changes of geometry
Authors: Shirley Eric L
Published: January 2025

This work considers the effects of changes in distance, centering and tilting of optical elements on radiometric throughput. Analytical formulas for leading-order effects are compared to numerical calculations for validation purposes.
Automated classification of cardiac arrhythmia using short-duration ECG signals and machine learning
Authors: Biswakarma Amar Bahadur , Rahul Jagdeep , Kurmendra
Published: January 2025

Accurate detection of cardiac arrhythmias is crucial for preventing premature deaths. The current study employs a dual-stage Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) and a median filter to eliminate noise from ECG signals. Subsequently, ECG signals are segmented, and QRS regions are extracted for further preprocessing. The study considers five cardiac arrhythmias: normal beats, Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVC), Premature Atrial Contractions (PAC), Right Bundle Branch Block (R-BBB), and Left Bundle Branch Block (L-BBB) for classification. Nine distinct temporal features are extracted from the segmented QRS complex. These features are then applied to six different classifiers for arrhythmia classification. The classifiers’ performance is evaluated using the MIT-BIH Arrhythmia Database (MIT-BIH AD). Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Ensemble Tree classifiers demonstrate superior performance in classifying the five different classes. Particularly, the Support Vector Machine classifier achieves high sensitivity (97.44%), specificity (99.36%), positive predictive value (97.44%), and accuracy (98.97%) with a Gaussian kernel. This comprehensive approach, integrating preprocessing, and feature extraction, holds promise for improving automatic cardiac arrhythmia classification in clinical trials.
Quantum integration of decay rates at second order in perturbation theory
Authors: Martínez de Lejarza Jorge J , Rentería-Estrada David F , Grossi Michele , Rodrigo Germán
Published: January 2025

We present the first quantum computation of a total decay rate in high-energy physics at second order in perturbative quantum field theory. This work underscores the confluence of two recent cutting-edge advances. On the one hand, the quantum integration algorithm quantum Fourier iterative amplitude estimation, which efficiently decomposes the target function into its Fourier series through a quantum neural network before quantumly integrating the corresponding Fourier components. On the other hand, causal unitary in the loop-tree duality (LTD), which exploits the causal properties of vacuum amplitudes in LTD to coherently generate all contributions with different numbers of final-state particles to a scattering or decay process, leading to singularity-free integrands that are well suited for Fourier decomposition. We test the performance of the quantum algorithm with benchmark decay rates in a quantum simulator and in quantum hardware, and find accurate theoretical predictions in both settings.
Understanding the influence of hydrogen on BCC iron grain boundaries using the kinetic activation relaxation technique (k-ART)
Authors: Khosravi Aynour , Song Jun , Mousseau Normand
Published: January 2025

Hydrogen embrittlement (HE) poses a significant challenge to the mechanical integrity of iron and its alloys. This study explores the influence of hydrogen atoms on two distinct grain boundaries (GBs),

Σ
37

and

Σ
3

, in body-centered-cubic (BCC) iron. Using the kinetic activation relaxation technique , an off-lattice kinetic Monte Carlo approach with an EAM-based potential, extensive catalogs of activated events for atoms in both H-free and H-saturated GBs were generated. Studying the diffusion of H, we find that, for these systems, while GB is energetically favorable for H, this element diffuses more slowly at the GBs than in the bulk. The results further indicate that the

Σ
3

GB exhibits higher stability in its pure form compared to the

Σ
37

GB, with notable differences in energy barriers and diffusion behaviors. Moreover, with detailed information about the evolution landscape around the GB, we find that the saturation of a GB with hydrogen both stabilizes the GB by shifting barriers associated with Fe diffusion to higher energies and reducing the number of diffusion events. For the

Σ
37

GB, the presence of hydrogen causes elastic deformation, affecting the diffusion of Fe atoms both at the GB and in adjacent positions. This results in new diffusion pathways but with higher diffusion barriers, unlike for the

Σ
3

GB. These results indicate that the presence of hydrogen rigidifies the direct GB interface layers while allowing more atoms to be active for the

Σ
37

GB. This provides a microscopic basis to support the existence of competing mechanisms compatible with either plasticity (such as hydrogen enhanced localized plasticity—HELP) or energy-dominated (hydrogen enhanced decohesion mechanism—HEDE) embrittlement, with the relative importance of these mechanisms determined by the local geometry of the GBs.
Evaluation of safe exposure time for two-photon microscopy imaging of acrylic-painted mock-ups
Authors: Mattana Sara , Dal Fovo Alice , Baria Enrico , Fontana Raffaella , Cicchi Riccardo
Published: January 2025

Nonlinear optical microscopies are widely used in the biological and biomedical fields, as they are non-invasive techniques that permit the safe structural and morphological characterisation of cells and tissues. They are increasingly being used in the Cultural Heritage field because of their ability to overcome some limits of the well-established optical techniques. However, since nonlinear optical microscopies use pulsed laser sources with high peak power, their application in Cultural Heritage raises concerns due to artworks’ unique, priceless, and delicate nature. In this paper, we present a new method for evaluating the photo-induced damage when using a near-infrared femtosecond pulsed laser to perform two-photon excited fluorescence imaging of acrylic-painted mock-ups. In particular, we explore herein several irradiation conditions, varying the exposure time and excitation power, in order to provide useful experimental indications for safely imaging acrylic paints with two-photon microscopy.
Interface characterization of additively manufactured Inconel 718 heterogeneous products: microstructural and surface characteristics
Authors: Shrivastava Abhishek , Kumar S Anand , Rao Samrat
Published: January 2025

The present work analyses the effect of laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) remanufacturing of wrought Inconel 718 on the metallurgical and surface characteristics of the part. The remanufactured part experienced geometrical mismatch due to computer-aided design (CAD) misalignment with the substrate. As a result, a ∼200 μm shift in a material deposition is observed, leading to a material deposition without support from the substrate on one edge. The microstructural analysis of the remanufactured part showed an interface between the wrought substrate and LPBF processed layers. The substrate showed an equiaxed grain structure. However, a strongly textured columnar grain structure was observed in the remanufactured region. The remanufactured Inconel 718 showed lower micro-hardness, inhibiting the precipitation of strengthening precipitates during the LPBF process. The surface characterization showed a higher surface roughness and anisotropy in material distribution for overhanging edges due to layer deformation and lack of support from the substrate. It was observed that due to geometry mismatch, the overhanging side experienced layer deformation, thus leading to the formation of large undulations on the surface. A higher area fraction of fused powder particles on the overhanging side shows ineffective heat transfer due to the region’s lack of efficient support.
A method for mitigating NLOS error for UWB based on CNN-stacked-LSTM model
Authors: Zhang Lieping , Liu Jinming , Zheng Xinpeng , Zou Jianchu
Published: January 2025

To address the shortcomings of traditional Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network in Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) mitigation, such as the large amount of training data required and the lengthy training times, in order to enhance the model’s ability to process spatial features and multi-level features, this paper proposes an NLOS mitigation method based on Stacked Long Short-Term Memory (Stacked-LSTM) network and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). This method combines CNN and Stacked-LSTM models to efficiently extract spatial and higher-level temporal features from the Channel Impulse Response (CIR) signal, reducing the input dimension and improving the performance of the model. The constructed CNN-Stacked-LSTM model is used to mitigate NLOS errors and reduce the impact of NLOS in the original ranging data. In the model performance validation experiment, the accuracy of the CNN-Stacked-LSTM model was improved by 4%–14% compared with the CNN-LSTM, Transformer, Attention-LSTM and LSTM models, and the training time was reduced by 0.07h compared with the traditional LSTM model. The experimental results in the two actual Ultra-WideBand (UWB) environments show that compared with the other four models, the RMSE value of the CNN-Stacked-LSTM model proposed in this paper is reduced by 19.55%–58.96% and 8.64%–45.52%, respectively. It has the best mitigation effect on NLOS and the highest positioning accuracy.
Enhancing solar energy collection with the implementation of a dual-axis tracking system
Authors: Singh Rajendra , Gupta Sunil Kumar , Tiwari Neeraj
Published: January 2025

This paper describes the design and control of a two-axis solar tracking system that is unique in integration and uncomplicated in structure. Concerning the accumulation of solar energy, the system adopts a Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) power plant model. Theoretical analysis of the output of the system including the impact of the solar radiation was also done and a comparison was made with a fixed axis SPV station provided with fixed stand tilt at 30° south. As shown in the outcomes, the efficiency of the proposed dual-axis tracking system is much higher than that of the keeper-stationary positioning scheme. These results proved the hypothesis of the effectiveness of the proposed SPV system from both experimental and theoretical positions. A comparison of data indicated that the tracking system tapped much more solar energy than the fixed system. Consequently, this research aims at transforming and investigating the feasibility of small and medium scale SPV power uses employing dual-axis solar tracking systems.
A microcantilever-based viscometer for inline determination of liquid viscosity
Authors: Esmaeili Sahar , Rahbar Shahrouzi Javad
Published: January 2025

Inline viscosity monitoring is crucial for process control in many industrial plants. In this study, a viscometer was designed and fabricated based on microfluidic technology, and the influence of effective parameters on its performance was investigated. The construction of the viscometer involved the fabrication of two microcantilevers using polydimethylsiloxane. One microcantilever was designed with a circular cross-section featuring a diameter of 300 μm, while the other was crafted with a triangular cross-section, characterized by a base of 270 μm and a height of 250 μm. Both microcantilevers measured 3 mm in height and were meticulously positioned within separate millichannels; each dimensioned at 2 × 5 × 30 mm3. The precision required for the millichannels and additional components was achieved using a mini-CNC milling machine. To evaluate the performance of the viscometer, a series of water-glycerol solutions comprising 50%, 60%, 65%, 70%, 75%, and 80% glycerol were injected into a microchannel. The flow rate was systematically varied between 3 and 18 ml min−1 in increments of 3 ml min−1, utilizing a syringe pump for precise control. The resultant displacement of the microcantilever, attributed to the fluid flow, was meticulously recorded using a digital camera. According to the experimental results, the displacement curves of circular and triangular microcantilevers are linear with viscosity; increasing the viscosity and flow rate of the fluid passing through the millichannel increases the microcantilever displacement rate. The response time of the microcantilever with a circular cross-section is 3 to 9 s, and that of the microcantilever with a triangular cross-section is 2 to 12 s. Also, the results of multiple tests in the same conditions showed that the system has a repeatability error of 4%. Finally, it can be concluded that the proposed device can be used to measure the viscosity of liquids within a specific range.
Performance of a novel gating excitation circuit for an addressing ultrasonic sensor array
Authors: Shoupeng Song , Qichao Shen
Published: January 2025

This study designed a gating excitation circuit for an addressing ultrasonic sensor array. The designed circuit comprises block-shaped lead zirconate titanate elements and has a modular design, maximizing the addressing excitation scale to 1024 (32 × 32) elements. A microcontroller generates a 32-bit addressing gating code sequence, which is then decoded by a shift register to generate a gating code signal. The rising and falling edges of this signal trigger the switching circuit to gate or isolate specific elements, thus achieving the addressing excitation of different array elements. The developed gating excitation circuit meets the excitation requirements of addressing ultrasonic sensor arrays with a central frequency range of 1–5 MHz. Within this frequency range, excitation pulses exhibit excellent gating and isolation performance, thereby ensuring the effective transmission and blocking of unipolar and bipolar pulses. Experimental results indicated that the designed circuit realized coded gating excitation for various elements in an addressing ultrasonic sensor array, thus effectively isolating pulse signal interference from other elements. The maximum on-state attenuation and off-state attenuation were 0.09 and 68.52 dB, respectively. Moreover, the designed circuit considerably reduces the circuit scale, minimizes the number of control signals, and exhibits high scalability. Overall, this design can serve as a valuable reference for the development of large-scale addressing ultrasonic sensor arrays.
Predicting nonequilibrium Green’s function dynamics and photoemission spectra via nonlinear integral operator learning
Authors: Zhu Yuanran , Yin Jia , Reeves Cian C , Yang Chao , Vlček Vojtěch
Published: January 2025

Understanding the dynamics of nonequilibrium quantum many-body systems is an important research topic in a wide range of fields across condensed matter physics, quantum optics, and high-energy physics. However, numerical studies of large-scale nonequilibrium phenomena in realistic materials face serious challenges due to intrinsic high-dimensionality of quantum many-body problems and the absence of time-invariance. The nonequilibrium properties of many-body systems can be described by the dynamics of the correlator, or the Green’s function of the system, whose time evolution is given by a high-dimensional system of integro-differential equations, known as the Kadanoff–Baym equations (KBEs). The time-convolution term in KBEs, which needs to be recalculated at each time step, makes it difficult to perform long-time numerical simulation. In this paper, we develop an operator-learning framework based on recurrent neural networks (RNNs) to address this challenge. We utilize RNNs to learn the nonlinear mapping between Green’s functions and convolution integrals in KBEs. By using the learned operators as a surrogate model in the KBE solver, we obtain a general machine-learning scheme for predicting the dynamics of nonequilibrium Green’s functions. Besides significant savings per each time step, the new methodology reduces the temporal computational complexity from

O
(

N
t
3

)

to

O
(

N
t

)

where Nt
is the number of steps taken in a simulation, thereby making it possible to study large many-body problems which are currently infeasible with conventional KBE solvers. Through various numerical examples, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the operator-learning based approach in providing accurate predictions of physical observables such as the reduced density matrix and time-resolved photoemission spectra. Moreover, our framework exhibits clear numerical convergence and can be easily parallelized, thereby facilitating many possible further developments and applications.
Slax: a composable JAX library for rapid and flexible prototyping of spiking neural networks
Authors: Summe Thomas M , Joshi Siddharth
Published: January 2025

Spiking neural networks (SNNs) offer rich temporal dynamics and unique capabilities, but their training presents challenges. While backpropagation through time with surrogate gradients is the defacto standard for training SNNs, it scales poorly with long time sequences. Alternative learning rules and algorithms could help further develop models and systems across the spectrum of performance, bio-plausibility, and complexity. However, these alternatives are not consistently implemented with the same, if any, SNN framework, often complicating their comparison and use. To address this, we introduce Slax, a JAX-based library designed to accelerate SNN algorithm design and evaluation. Slax is compatible with the broader JAX and Flax ecosystem and provides optimized implementations of diverse training algorithms, enabling direct performance comparisons. Its toolkit includes methods to visualize and debug algorithms through loss landscapes, gradient similarities, and other metrics of model behavior during training. By streamlining the implementation and evaluation of novel SNN learning algorithms, Slax aims to facilitate research and development in this promising field.
Are the ways women cope with stressors related to their health behaviors over time?
Authors: Trudel-Fitzgerald Claudia , Smith Scott G , Kubzansky Laura D
Published: January 2025

Objective

Emerging research suggests the use of certain strategies to cope with stressors relate to disease and mortality risk, and lifestyle habits may be underlying mechanisms. Studies show psychological symptoms (eg, anxiety) and states (eg, happiness) predict the likelihood of adopting an integrated lifestyle that encompasses key health-related behaviors, like smoking. Yet, whether psychological processes, including stress-related coping, influence the adoption of a healthy lifestyle is unknown. We investigated whether coping strategies typically deemed adaptive (eg, seeking emotional support) and maladaptive (eg, denial) relate to sustaining a healthy lifestyle over a 16-year follow-up. We also explored whether variability in the use of these strategies, reflecting attempts to find the best strategy for a given stressor, subsequently relates to lifestyle.

Methods

Women (N = 46 067) from the Nurses’ Health Study II cohort reported their use of 8 coping strategies in 2001, from which we also derived coping variability levels (lower, moderate, greater). Health behaviors (eg, physical activity, smoking, sleep), self-reported every 4 years from baseline until 2017, were combined into a lifestyle score. Generalized estimating equations, controlling for baseline demographics and health-related factors, were performed.

Results

Most adaptive strategies and greater variability levels were associated with a higher likelihood of sustaining a healthy lifestyle (eg, active coping, relative risk [RR] = 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-1.11), with the reverse evident with maladaptive strategies (eg, behavioral disengagement, RR = 0.94, CI, 0.93-0.95), but some unexpected results also emerged.

Conclusions

Findings highlight the importance of going beyond the usual (mal)adaptive categorization of coping strategies when investigating their predictive value with behavioral outcomes.
Morphology and development of immature stages of Microplitis manilae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), an important endoparasitoid of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Authors: Lu Jia-Yan , Luo Xi , Chai Jing , Li Zhen-Xiao , Shu Xiao-Han , Ye Xi-Qian , Li Hong-Ming , Zhang Han , Zhan You-Guo , Tang Pu , Chen Xue-Xin
Published: January 2025

Microplitis manilae (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a solitary endoparasitic wasp of Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), a significant agricultural pest. We compared the parasitism of M. manilae on the first-, second-, and third-instar larvae of S. frugiperda and found that M. manilae prefered the second instar. We investigated the effect of 5 temperatures (18, 22, 26, 30, and 34 °C) on the development period in the immature stage of M. manilae and found that moderately high temperatures shortened the development time. Considering the development period, cocooning rate, and emergence rate, 26 °C was the optimal temperature for the highest value of females’ fecundity. We also examined the development of the immature stage of M. manilae by dissecting parasitized hosts and cocoons in the laboratory. Our results revealed that the eggs matured within 2 d, and the larvae progressed through 3 instars, culminating in a total developmental period of about 9 d. The prepupal stage retained the larval form, and the pupa pigment gradually precipitated after molting. All stages were documented in detailed micrographs. Our study lays a robust foundation for further studies on the physiological interactions between M. manilae and S. frugiperda.
Regulation of eumelanogenesis-related genes by ethanol extract of Melaleuca leucadendron leaves
Authors: Park Myungsam , Nho Younhwa , Muhamad Insanu , Defri Rizaldy , Hwang Jae Sung
Published: January 2025

Eumelanin, a type of skin melanin pigment, possesses the ability to absorb a wide range of wavelengths, providing protection to the skin from ultraviolet radiation. However, excessive production of eumelanin may result in hyperpigmentation. Consequently, the development of skin-brightening products that suppress eumelanin synthesis to achieve a lighter and more even skin tone is necessary. The present study investigated the potential application of Melaleuca leucadendron as a natural skin-brightening agent. We investigated the effects of the ethanol leaf extract of M. leucadendron on α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-induced melanogenesis in B16F10 cells and identified the key factors involved in melanogenesis. This leaf extract significantly inhibited melanin production by downregulating the expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, tyrosinase, tyrosinase-related protein 1, and dopachrome tautomerase without causing cytotoxicity. Furthermore, it substantially reduced melanin content in a 3D skin model. These results suggest that the extract of M. leucadendron is a promising, safe, and effective skin-brightening agent.
Personal, professional, and social benefits from leisure engagement among social workers: A qualitative exploration
Authors: Wu Yaojian , Chen Anna
Published: January 2025

Despite the increasing attention to social workers’ self-care and their provision of leisure-related services, the interplay of leisure and work among social workers remains underexplored. Informed by the Serious Leisure Perspective, this study investigated the experience of social workers engaging in leisure and integrating it into their professional lives. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty-four Chinese social workers. Using thematic analysis, this study revealed three major themes. First, social workers gained personal benefits from coping with challenging professional work through leisure engagement. Second, they derived professional benefits from leveraging leisure skills to enhance professional practice. Third, they fostered social benefits from facilitating community and social connections through social leisure. The findings provided evidence for the common ground between social work and leisure, contributing to unpacking the ways in which social workers leveraged leisure to enhance self-care and professional competence. Future studies need to advance leisure studies of social workers and focus on their leisure careers to achieve self-fulfilment in promoting personal and social well-being.
Genetic analyses identify brain functional networks associated with the risk of Parkinson’s disease and drug-induced parkinsonism
Authors: Chen Lin , Fang Ming-juan , Yu Xu-en , Xu Yin
Published: January 2025

Brain functional networks are associated with parkinsonism in observational studies. However, the causal effects between brain functional networks and parkinsonism remain unclear. We aimed to assess the potential bidirectional causal associations between 191 brain resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) phenotypes and parkinsonism including Parkinson’s disease (PD) and drug-induced parkinsonism (DIP). We used Mendelian randomization (MR) to assess the bidirectional associations between brain rsfMRI phenotypes and parkinsonism, followed by several sensitivity analyses for robustness validation. In the forward MR analyses, we found that three rsfMRI phenotypes genetically determined the risk of parkinsonism. The connectivity in the visual network decreased the risk of PD (OR = 0.391, 95% CI = 0.235 ~ 0.649, P = 2.83 × 10−4, P_FDR = 0.039). The connectivity of salience and motor networks increased the risk of DIP (OR = 4.102, 95% CI = 1.903 ~ 8.845, P = 3.17 × 10−4, P_FDR = 0.044). The connectivity of limbic and default mode networks increased the risk of DIP (OR = 14.526, 95% CI = 3.130 ~ 67.408, P = 6.32 × 10−4, P_FDR = 0.0437). The reverse MR analysis indicated that PD and DIP had no effect on brain rsfMRI phenotypes. Our findings reveal causal relationships between brain functional networks and parkinsonism, providing important interventional and therapeutic targets for different parkinsonism.
Modulation by serotonin reveals preferred recurrent excitatory connectivity in layer II of rat neocortex
Authors: Agahari Fransiscus Adrian , Stricker Christian
Published: January 2025

We reported that in layer II pyramidal cells of rat somatosensory cortex, 10 μM serotonin (5-HT) alters miniature excitatory postsynaptic current frequency in a subset of cells (47%, “responders”, RC; “non-responders”, NC otherwise) via 5-HT2 receptors (5-HT2R) but in all pairs reduced evoked excitatory postsynaptic current amplitude by ~50% (Agahari FA, Stricker C. 2021. Serotonergic modulation of spontaneous and evoked transmitter release in layer II pyramidal cells of rat somatosensory cortex. Cereb Cortex. 31:1182–1200. https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhaa285.) suggestive of preferential connectivity. We provide different lines of evidence that distinguish these subsets. First, after 5-HT exposure, changes in miniature excitatory postsynaptic current, spontaneous EPSC frequency, or whole-cell noise (σw) were restricted to postsynaptic cells in pairs (PO) and RC but absent in presynaptic (PR) and NC. Second, exposure caused a large change in holding current with a small variability in NC, but a small one with a large variability in PO/RC. In addition, ΔRin in PO/RC was larger than in PR/NC, with a negative correlation between ΔIhold and ΔRin in NC, a positive in PO, but none in RC. Third, an unbiased classifier identified most PO as RC and all PR as NC. Our data establish two distinct sets of pyramidal cells having a preferred connectivity from NC → RC. 5-HT2R-mediated modulation of transmitter release may likely reduce the signal-to-noise ratio in the ipsilateral but leave the output to the contralateral side unaffected.
Concordance of Noninvasive Plasma Cell-free DNA With Invasive Diagnostics for Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Disease
Authors: Lieu Anthony , Zimmet Alex N , Pozdol Joseph , Kushner Lauren E , Ho Dora , Banaei Niaz
Published: January 2025

Background

Mold plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a promising noninvasive diagnostic modality for early diagnosis of invasive mold disease (IMD) in immunocompromised patients. Although mold cfDNA PCR has been shown to be highly accurate, the value of invasive procedures to collect specimens for conventional fungal diagnostics following plasma cfDNA testing remains unclear.

Methods

This retrospective single-center cohort study included patients with mold plasma cfDNA PCR performed 7 days before or 2 days after invasive specimen collection. Mold PCR detected Aspergillus species, Mucorales agents, Fusarium species, and Scedosporium species. Invasive procedures included tissue biopsy and bronchoscopy. The primary endpoint was the concordance of mold plasma cfDNA PCR results with results of conventional fungal tests performed on tissue and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.

Results

Five hundred and six patients with mold plasma cfDNA PCR resulting ahead of invasive specimen (123 tissue and 426 bronchoalveolar lavage fluid) results were included, and 437 (86.4%) were immunocompromised. After adjudicating discordant results based on the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and Mycoses Study Group Education and Research Consortium definitions for IMD, mold plasma cfDNA PCR and invasive test results were 88.5% (448/506) concordant. In proven cases, 64.7% (11/17) of negative mold plasma cfDNA PCR results occurred in patients with fungal sinusitis (8) and limb infection (3). Nonhematologic malignancy and nonneutropenic state were statistically associated with negative mold plasma cfDNA PCR in patients with proven or probable IMD.

Conclusions

Noninvasive mold plasma cfDNA PCR results were highly concordant with invasive specimen fungal test results, indicating risk-prone invasive specimen collection can be safely curtailed in immunocompromised patients with suspected IMD.
Telling stories about vendors: narrative practices to negotiate risk and establish an organizational cybersecurity culture
Authors: Osburn Laura D
Published: January 2025

While many cybersecurity culture studies have focused on identifying and measuring an organization's cybersecurity culture—assumptions, values, behaviors, and artifacts—less research has focused on how cybersecurity culture is enacted in the daily workplace in ways that lead to cultural change. In this paper, I approach cybersecurity culture as a meaning-making activity, or practice within an organization. Organizational theory on narrative practices—including storytelling, sensemaking, and sensegiving—provide a conceptual framework to better understand cultural meaning-making practices, as well as how those practices shape decision-making and organizational actions. Using ethnographic observation and interview data, I conducted a narrative analysis of interdisciplinary communication between IT and Facilities professionals working with Internet of Things vendors and their associated risks. The findings demonstrate that storytelling, sensegiving, and sensemaking practices were key to developing an emerging narrative that shaped professional and organizational decision-making to improve cybersecurity. The results of this study suggest that a narrative approach to cybersecurity culture can illuminate practices of cultural meaning-making and organizational decision-making, and suggests that organizations should provide resources for IT and Facilities professionals to engage in interdisciplinary work to create a more robust cybersecurity culture in Facilities departments.
Assessment of the quality of root canal fillings—an ex vivo comparison of CBCT scans, conventional intraoral sensors, and a novel photon-counting sensor
Authors: Jervis Matt , Waid Erin , Melo da Fonte Juliana B , Pita de Melo Daniela , Replogle Karan J , Sousa Melo Saulo L
Published: January 2025

Objectives

To compare a novel photon-counting sensor, 2 CBCT protocols and 2 CMOS sensors on the detection of gaps between a gutta-percha cone and root canal walls.

Methods

Twenty-five mandibular incisors were prepared to 45/0.04 (size/taper) at working length. Teeth were placed in a partially dentate mandible and single gutta-percha cones of 7 sizes were placed at length, one at a time, for image acquisition with a photon-counting sensor, 2 CBCT protocols (90 µm3, 120 µm3) and 2 CMOS sensors. Three calibrated observers assessed images for gap presence. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, AUC, and agreement with gold standard were determined using ANOVA and Tukey test (P ≤ .05).

Results

Photon-counting sensor showed superior sensitivity and accuracy (88.47%, 81.57%), significantly higher than the CBCT protocols (50.70%-56.33%, 45.87%-53.17%). Contrarily, the photon-counting sensor showed the lowest specificity (40.27%), significantly lower than the CBCT protocols (90.27%, 97.23%). CMOS sensors showed sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy between 72.23%-74.53%, not differing from other modalities. All intraoral sensors showed AUC around 82.87%-84.03%, significantly higher than CBCT protocol 120 µm3 (74.07%). The file size was inversely related to gap size and percentual agreement with gold standard.

Conclusions

CMOS sensors showed consistent results, while the photon-counting sensor had the highest sensitivity but lacked specificity. CBCT protocols excelled in specificity but had lower sensitivity.

Advances in knowledge

Novel photon-counting sensors and CBCT imaging provided no significant advantage over conventional sensors in assessing gaps as an indicator of quality of root canal filling. Furthermore, smaller gaps were more difficult to detect, regardless of the imaging technique used.
Repeat Procedures After Pulsed Field Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: MANIFEST-REDO Study
Authors: Scherr Daniel , Turagam Mohit K , Maury Philippe , Blaauw Yuri , van der Voort Pepijn , Neuzil Petr , Reichlin Tobias , Metzner Andreas , Vijgen Johan , Kautzner Josef , Boveda Serge , Anic Ante , Hansen Jim , Manninger Martin , Sommer Philipp , Anselme Frederic , Willems Stephan , Deneke Thomas , Tilz Roland , Steven Daniel , Wakili Reza , Jais Pierre , Funasako Moritoshi , Arentz Thomas , Rollin Anne , Mulder Bart A , Ouss Alexandre , Petru Jan , Kueffer Thomas , Lemoine Marc D , Koopman Pieter , Peichl Petr , Adelino Raquel , Jurisic Zrinka , Ruwald Martin , Eberl Anna-Sophie , Sohns Christian , Savoure Arnaud , Nentwich Karin , Gunawardene Melanie , Heeger Christian-Hendrik , Sultan Arian , Bohnen Jan-Eric , Kupusovic Jana , Derval Nicolas , Lehrmann Heiko , Ekanem Emmanuel , Reddy Vivek Y
Published: January 2025

Background

Initial clinical studies of pulsed field ablation (PFA) to treat atrial fibrillation (AF) indicated a >90% durability rate of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). However, these studies were largely conducted in single centers and involved a limited number of operators. The electrophysiological findings and outcomes in patients undergoing repeat ablation after an initial PF ablation for AF are incompletely understood.

Methods

In the MANIFEST-REDO study, we investigated patients who underwent repeat ablation due to clinical recurrence – AF or atrial tachycardia (AT) – following first-ever PVI with a pentaspline PFA catheter (Farawave; Boston Scientific Inc).

Results

At 22 centers, 427 patients (age 64±11 years; 37% female) were included. Of note, the recurrent arrhythmia leading to the repeat ablation was paroxysmal AF (51%), persistent AF (30%), or AT (19%). At the repeat procedure, the PV reconnection rates were: 30% (LSPV), 28% (LIPV), 33% (RSPV) and 32% (RIPV). In 45% of patients all PVs were durably isolated at the beginning of the repeat procedure, with the previous use of any imaging or mapping modality being univariately associated with durable PVI. After a post-redo follow-up period of 284 [90-366] days, the primary effectiveness endpoint (freedom from documented AF/AT lasting ≥30s after 3-month blanking without class I/III antiarrhythmic drugs or symptoms) was achieved in 65% of patients, with significant differences between groups (PAF 65% vs. PersAF 56% vs. AT 76%; p=0.04). Persistent AF as recurrent arrhythmia after the initial PFA ablation predicted AT/AF recurrence after repeat ablation (HR 1.241 (95% CI 1.534-1.005 CI); p=0.045). The procedural complication rate was 2.8%.

Conclusion

In repeat procedures for AF/AT performed after an index procedure with PFA for AF, PV reconnections are not uncommon. Repeat procedures can be performed safely and with an acceptable subsequent success rate.
Improving atrial fibrillation or flutter detection and management by smartphone-based photoplethysmography rhythm monitoring following cardiac surgery: a pragmatic randomized trial
Authors: Gruwez Henri , De Melio Nicolas , Vermunicht Paulien , Van Langenhoven Leen , Desteghe Lien , Lamberigts Marie , Nuyens Dieter , Van Herendael Hugo , Rodrigus Inez , Van Kerrebroeck Christiaan , Vandervoort Pieter , Heidbuchel Hein , Pison Laurent , Rega Filip , Haemers Peter
Published: January 2025

Aims

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL) after cardiac surgery are common and associated with adverse outcomes. The increased risk related to AF or AFL may extend beyond discharge. This study aims to determine whether photoplethysmography (PPG)-based smartphone monitoring to detect AF or AFL after hospital discharge following cardiac surgery improves AF management.

Methods and results

The intervention group performed 1 min rhythm checks three times daily using a smartphone-based PPG application during 6 weeks after hospitalization for cardiac surgery. The primary outcome involved AF management interventions by independent physicians, including initiation of oral anticoagulation (OAC), direct cardioversion, and up-titration or initiation of antiarrhythmic drugs. The study included 450 patients [mean (SD) age, 64.1 (9.2) years; 96 women (21.3%); 130 patients with AF history (28.9%); median (IQR) CHA2DS2-VASc score, 2 (1–3)], of whom 238 were randomized to PPG-based monitoring and 212 to usual care. AF/AFL was detected with PPG or electrocardiography in 44 patients (18.5%) in the monitoring group and 4 patients (1.9%) in the usual care group (OR 11.8; 95% CI, 4.2–33.3; P < 0.001); these were new detections in, respectively, 22 patients (9.2%) and 1 patient (0.5%) (OR 21.3; 95% CI, 2.9–166.7; P = 0.003). AF management interventions occurred in 24 patients (10.1%) in the monitoring group compared to 5 patients (2.4%) in the usual care group [odds ratio (OR), 5.1; 95% CI, 1.8–14.4; P = 0.002].

Conclusion

In unselected patients discharged home following cardiac surgery, PPG-based smartphone monitoring revealed significantly more AF/AFL which led to significantly more optimization of AF management.
Using Rasch analysis to assess the latent construct of the Capacity to Work Index in a Swedish working population sample
Authors: Blomberg Agneta , Hensing Gunnel , Bertilsson Monica , Hadžibajramović Emina
Published: January 2025

Measurements of capacity to work (CTW) in relation to common mental disorders (CMD) are needed to improve research on determinants for maintained work participation (WP). The aim of this study was to assess the construct validity of the Capacity to Work Index (C2WI) in a heterogenous sample of the Swedish working population. Cross-sectional web survey data among Swedish employees (n = 8201) was used. The construct validity was assessed in terms of the unidimensionality of the scale, response categories appropriateness, and the differential item functioning with respect to gender and age. Rasch analysis was used in both the full sample and randomly selected subsets. The Rasch model (RM) was fitted using two versions of the C2WI construct: the original 17-item scale and a 7-item scale. The 17-item scale did not discriminate as required, whereas the 7-item scale demonstrated a better fit to the RM. However, statistically significant χ2 statistics indicated non-invariant item performance across the latent continuum. A third attempt assessed both scales on a subgroup, yielding improved results, but an overall fit to the RM was not achieved. CTW in relation to CMD assessed by the C2WI did not fulfil the requirements for construct validity outlined by the RM. Real-world experiences of CTW are complex and reflect expressions of mental health in diverse work environments. Further studies are required to determine the predictive capacity of C2WI and its individual items in relation to relevant outcomes, such as maintained WP in the working population.
Predators drive selection for adaptive plasticity in prey defense behavior
Authors: Boys Wade A , Lanzer Tara L , Ping Taylor S , Siepielski Adam M
Published: January 2025

Plasticity to reduce activity is a common way prey evade predators. However, by reducing activity prey often experience lower individual growth rates because they encounter their own prey less often. To overcome this cost, natural selection should not simply favor individuals generating stronger plasticity to reduce activity rates but also selection to resume activity once the threat of predation subsides. If such plasticity is adaptive, it should vary under environmental conditions that generate stronger selection for greater plasticity, such as predator density. Using a mesocosm experiment and observational study with a damselfly-prey/fish-predator system, we show that fish predation exerts selection for greater plasticity in activity rates of damselflies. Such selection allows damselfly activity levels to initially decrease and then rebound when the threat of predation dissipates, potentially helping to ameliorate a hypothesized growth penalty from activity reductions. We also find that the extent of plasticity in activity to the threat of fish predation increases, albeit slightly (r2 = 0.04%–0.063%), as fish densities increase across natural lakes, consistent with the idea that the magnitude of plasticity is shaped by environmental conditions underlying selection. Collectively, these results demonstrate how selection acts to drive adaptive plasticity in a common predator avoidance strategy.