bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness and safety of secukinumab in ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis: a 52-week real-life study in an Italian cohort
Authors: Molica Colella Francesco , Zizzo Gaetano , Parrino Vincenzo , Filosa Maria Teresa , Cavaliere Riccardo , Fazio Francesco , Molica Colella Aldo Biagio , Mazzone Antonino
Published: March 2023

Background

Secukinumab has shown high efficacy in randomized controlled trials in both ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Here, we investigated its real-life effectiveness and tolerability in a cohort of AS and PsA patients.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed medical records of outpatients with AS or PsA treated with secukinumab between December 2017 and December 2019. ASDAS-CRP and DAS28-CRP scores were used to measure axial and peripheral disease activity in AS and PsA, respectively. Data were collected at baseline and after 8, 24, and 52 weeks of treatment.

Results

Eighty-five adult patients with active disease (29 with AS and 56 with PsA; 23 males and 62 females) were treated. Overall, mean disease duration was 6.7 years and biologic-naïve patients were 85%. Significant reductions in ASDAS-CRP and DAS28-CRP were observed at all time-points. Body weight (in AS) and disease activity status at baseline (particularly in PsA) significantly affected disease activity changes. ASDAS-defined inactive disease and DAS28-defined remission were achieved in comparable proportions between AS and PsA patients, at both 24 weeks (45% and 46%) and 52 weeks (65.5% and 68%, respectively); male sex was found an independent predictor of positive response (OR 5.16, P = 0.027). After 52 weeks, achievement of at least low disease activity and drug retention were observed in 75% of patients. Secukinumab was well-tolerated and only mild injection-site reactions were recorded in 4 patients.

Conclusion

In a real-world setting, secukinumab confirmed great effectiveness and safety in both AS and PsA patients. The influence of gender on treatment response deserves further attention.
Long-term outcome of interventional approaches for treatment of coronary artery fistulas: a retrospective cohort study in a great referral center
Authors: Tabib Avisa , Mortezaeian Hojjat , Mahdavi Mohammad , Khalili Yasaman , Haas Nikolaus A. , Mohammadhoseini Sepideh
Published: March 2023

Background

Despite the spontaneous regression of many cases of coronary artery fistulas (CAFs), symptomatic patients or cases with severe shunting may require therapeutic interventions. In the present study, we aimed to assess the outcome of treatment of CAFs using interventional approaches.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study was performed on 29 patients with CAFs that were referred to our tertiary center between 2009 and 2019. Baseline characteristics were collected by reviewing the hospital files, and the patients were followed up to assess long-term outcomes with a mean follow-up of 3.3 years.

Results

Overall, in 29 patients in our cohort study, 82.9% suffered from isolated CAFs and in the remaining cases, concurrent congenital abnormalities did exist. For treatment, coils (Cook, Pfm, Ev3) were used in 79.3%, ADO II(AGA) in 18.3%, vascular plug (AGA) in 3.4%, and a combination of coil/ vascular plug/amplatzer in 3.4%. Postoperative complications were reported in 4 patients as external iliac artery thrombosis, transient PSVT, ST-T wave changes and mild pericardial effusion that were all managed successfully with no adverse sequels. No coronary artery injury, device dislocation, dissection, ischemia or coronary dilatation occurred, and there was no death. As larger fistulas were treated by a retrograde approach through the right side of the heart, there was significant correlation between residual shunts and the mode of closure approach; the majority of the residual shunts occurred in patients in the retrograde approach group.

Conclusions

Trans-catheter approach for treating CAFs leads to appropriate long-term outcome with minimal potential side effects.
Mind the blind spot: lessons from fungal community sequencing in a plant–soil feedback experiment
Authors: Liu Mengshuai , Maciá-Vicente Jose G. , van Ruijven Jasper , van der Werf Wopke , Cui Zhenling , Zhang Fusuo , Song Chunxu , Mommer Liesje
Published: March 2023

Background

Plant–soil feedback (PSF) has gained increasing interest in agricultural systems. An important question is whether PSF differs between different cropping systems. Few attempts have yet been made to identify the pathogen species involved in negative PSF. Here, we hypothesize that the strength of negative PSF experienced by a crop species is determined by the relative abundance of host-specific soil-borne pathogenic fungi, that is in turn driven by the crop’s relative abundance (in time).

Methods

We performed a PSF experiment, with different soils originating from three cropping systems in the North China Plain and three crop species (wheat, maize, soybean) in a full factorial design. Soil fungal community composition and relative abundance of fungal (pathogen) species in each treatment was identified by metabarcoding using ITS (Internal Transcribed Spacer) sequencing.

Results

PSF ranged from negative for wheat, neutral to negative for soybean and neutral to positive for maize, but the former density of a crop in a particular cropping system did not affect the strength of PSF experienced by each of the three. No relationships between fungal pathogen abundance and PSF were found, but we did find a surprisingly large enrichment across steps of the experiment of Chaetomium spp., a known cellulose-degrading fungus. This may be explained by addition of filter paper on the bottom of the pots.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that the strength of PSF in these crops is not related to the relative abundance of specific fungal pathogens. However, we cannot rule out that our results were affected by the high abundance of one particular cellulose-degrading fungus. This highlights both the need to stop the practice of using filter paper in pot experiments, as well as the relevance of assessing the identity, relative abundance and potential functions of fungal taxa in PSF experiments.
Inca Religious Women in the Male Imagination
Authors: Covey R. Alan
Published: March 2023

During the Spanish colonization of the Andes, enclosures housing Inca religious women became a near-universal topic for male writers, who used women's sexuality to debate Indigenous civilization, sovereignty, and morality. Eyewitness accounts emphasized enclosed women's labor, obscuring the sexual violence that the conquistadores perpetrated against them. In succeeding decades, the religious functions of women's enclosures inspired imperfect analogies that likened their occupants to Catholic nuns and vestal virgins. Spanish writers eventually incorporated Quechua terms for religious women (mamaconas) who served in temple complexes and oversaw the gendered training of chosen girls (acllas) in other enclosures. New details on women's enclosures appeared at the turn of the seventeenth century, including the first accounts of Christian men of Andean descent. The Inca Garcilaso de la Vega's 1609 chronicle synthesized Catholic, classical, and vernacular approaches, providing an authoritative source that subsequent authors consulted as they reduced Inca institutions to metaphors of gender subordination and conquest.
Aktualne problemy edukacji geograficznej na różnych etapach kształcenia
Authors: Rodzoś Jolanta
Published: March 2023

Artykuł zawiera analizę problemów współczesnej polskiej edukacji geograficznej na poziomie szkolnym. Jego głównym celem jest zdiagnozowanie aktualnych problemów geografii szkolnej w Polsce i odpowiedź na pytanie, dlaczego traci ona swoje znaczenie edukacyjne i jakie mogą być konsekwencje tego procesu. W opracowaniu opisano symptomy obecnego kryzysu geografii szkolnej, a następnie dokonano analizy cech geografii jako przedmiotu nauczania i opisano jej relacje z geografią akademicką. Wyniki tych analiz przedstawione zostały w odniesieniu do zjawisk zachodzących w polskim systemie edukacji oraz na tle dyskusji o geografii szkolnej, jaka miała miejsce w końcu XX w. Zdiagnozowano szereg problemów, wśród których za najważniejsze uznano zbyt dużą pojemność treściową geografii szkolnej, pogłębiający się rozdźwięk pomiędzy geografią szkolną a geografią uniwersytecką, wadliwy system kształcenia nauczycieli oraz słabnące zapotrzebowanie na wiedzę geograficzną. W efekcie współoddziaływania wymienionych czynników sytuacja geografii szkolnej jest bardziej niekorzystna niż miało to miejsce na przełomie XX i XXI w. Dziedzina ta musi poszukiwać nowej tożsamości i jest zagrożona jako samodzielny przedmiot nauczania. Formalny podział geografii na dwie odrębne dyscypliny naukowe oraz kryzys studiów geograficznych potęgują tę trudną sytuację.
Przyszłość i perspektywy rozwoju edukacji geograficznej w świetle studiów literatury
Authors: Piróg Danuta
Published: March 2023

Artykuł ma charakter przeglądowy. Prezentuje efekty klasycznej analizy piśmiennictwa poświęconego szeroko pojętej problematyce zmian prognozowanych w edukacji geograficznej. Badaniami objęto publikacje zamieszczone w czasopismach specjalistycznych i monografie tematyczne, które ukazały się w Polsce oraz na świecie w latach 2000–2022. Celem studiów literatury było ustalenie kierunków oraz zakresów zmian, które nastąpią w najbliższej przyszłości w szkolnym kształceniu geograficznym. Badania dowiodły, że problematyka ta cieszyła się w ostatnich dwóch dekadach nasilającym się naukowym zainteresowaniem wśród specjalistów zajmujących się badaniami nad edukacją geograficzną. Podejmowana przez nich tematyka ewaluowała od ujęć przeglądowo-kompleksowych ku analitycznym i dedykowanym konkretnym, ustalonym wcześniej, trendom zmian. Te dotyczyły przemian w zakresie treści kształcenia i koncepcji programowych, orientacji filozoficzno-pedagogicznych, metod i strategii, ewolucji roli nauczyciela, ewaluacji efektów, a także środowiska nauczania-uczenia się. Przegląd literatury jednoznacznie wskazuje, że wysokojakościowa edukacja geograficzna będzie w przyszłości koncentrować się na podejmowaniu bieżących i ważkich problemów społeczno-gospodarczych, realizowanych zgodnie z koncepcją kształcenia poszukującego i w duchu personalizmu. Obligatoryjnym modułem będzie edukacja sustensywna. Spluralizuje się znacznie miejsce realizacji i formy procesu kształcenia. Istotnej ewolucji ulegną rola i zadania nauczyciela, który będzie pełnił funkcję przewodnika i mentora edukacji geograficzno-przyrodniczej. W architekturze budynków szkolnych wzrośnie znaczenie estetyki, dostępności, bezpieczeństwa, wspólnych przestrzeni do edukacji, wypoczynku i socjalizowania się
Społeczna rola geografii jako nauki – wyniki badań empirycznych
Authors: Figlus Tomasz , Musiaka Łukasz , Wachecka-Kotkowska Lucyna , Włodarczyk Bogdan
Published: March 2023

Artykuł prezentuje wyniki badań dotyczących społecznej roli geografii jako nauki. Badania te, wykonane techniką CAWI, objęły swym zasięgiem 1000 osób (nazwanych „Kowalskimi”) w ramach badań ogólnospołecznych oraz 102 ankietowanych zawodowo zajmujących się geografią na poziomie akademickim (nazwanych „Geografami”). W wariancie ogólnospołecznym określono pojmowanie geografii i jej przedmiotu badań oraz rozumienie jej roli, znaczenia i zadań, a także tego jak postrzegane są jej walory, mocne strony i słabości. Weryfikacji podlegała również praktyczna rola badanej dziedziny wiedzy i jej przydatność. Wśród „Geografów” badania objęły identyfikację sposobu rozumienia tożsamości geografii i jej cech konstytutywnych, percepcji zalet i słabości tej nauki, oceny procesu pogłębiającej się specjalizacji, ale też jej aplikacyjności oraz perspektyw rozwojowych. Z ankiet wynika, że respondenci mają pozytywny obraz geografii. Najczęstsze skojarzenia wśród „Kowalskich” cechuje płytkość, opisowość i powierzchowność. Geografia przez obie grupy respondentów postrzegana jest jako dziedzina wiedzy łącząca w sobie komponent przyrodniczy, społeczno-ekonomiczny oraz humanistyczny. Nie są zaskoczeniem opinie podkreślające duży walor utylitarny i aplikacyjny geografii. Zdaniem „Geografów” tożsamość tej nauki polega głównie na podejściu systemowym, całościowym, relacyjnym oraz na interdyscyplinarności. Znacząca część tej grupy respondentów potwierdza występowanie kryzysu tożsamości geografii. Jako niski postrzegany jest przez nich poziom jedności tej nauki. Podobnie słabo oceniony został poziom debaty nad stanem i kierunkami rozwoju.
Clinical efficacy of comprehensive rehabilitation intervention and its effect on Quality of Life in patients with Advanced Liver Cancer after Ultrasound-guided Microwave Ablation
Authors: Chen Dan , Yang Fan , Wang Xiu-ju , Zhao Jing
Published: March 2023

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of comprehensive rehabilitation intervention and its effect on the quality of life (QoL) in patients with advanced liver cancer after ultrasound-guided microwave ablation (UMA).

Methods: This is a retrospective study. Total 110 in-patients with advanced liver cancer who had received UMA in our hospital from January 2019 to January 2021 were included and randomly divided into two groups. Patients in the control group received the conventional intervention and those in the experimental group received comprehensive rehabilitation intervention. The incidence of postoperative complications as well as the differences in indicators, including emotional status, QoL score, and patient satisfaction before and after the intervention were analyzed and compared between the two groups. The differences in survival between the two groups were compared.

Results: The incidence of postoperative complications in the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group. SAS and SDS scores of the experimental group were significantly decreased after intervention, while the control group had no significant change before and after intervention. KPS and SF-36 quality of life scores in the experimental group were significantly improved compared with the control group, and patient satisfaction was significantly higher than the control group, and the 12-month survival rate was significantly higher than that in the control group.

Conclusion: Comprehensive rehabilitation intervention can reduce the incidence of postoperative complications, improve the mood and QoL, and increase patient satisfaction and survival rate in patients with advanced liver cancer after UMA.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.3.6663

How to cite this: Chen D, Yang F, Wang X, Zhao J. Clinical efficacy of comprehensive rehabilitation intervention and its effect on Quality of Life in patients with Advanced Liver Cancer after Ultrasound-guided Microwave Ablation. Pak J Med Sci. 2023;39(3):809-814.  doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.3.6663

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
The rise in trauma & orthopaedic trainee-led research and audit collaborative projects in the United Kingdom since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Khaleeq Tahir , Kabariti Rakan , Ahmed Usman
Published: March 2023

Background and Objective: A significant increase has been observed globally in multi-centre trainee-led trauma & orthopaedic (T&O) research collaborative projects with more emphasis have been on tackling important research questions since the start of the COCID-19 pandemic. The objective of our analysis was to determine the number of trainee-led research collaborative projects in T&O in the United Kingdom that were started during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted to determine how many trainee-led national collaborative projects in T&O were conducted since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown (March 2020 to June 2021) and the number of projects identified were compared to the previous year (2019). Any regional collaborative projects, projects that were started before the onset of COVID and projects of other surgical specialities were not included in the study.

Results: There were no projects identified in 2019 while in the Covid pandemic lockdown we identified 10 trainee-led collaborative trauma & orthopaedic projects with six of them being published with level of evidence from three to four.

Conclusion: Covid was unprecedented and has placed considerable trials across healthcare. Our study highlights an increase in multi-centre trainee-led collaborative projects within the UK and it underlines the feasibility of such projects especially with the advent of social media and Redcap® which facilitate recruitment of new studies and data.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.3.7417

How to cite this: Khaleeq T, Kabariti R, Ahmed U. The rise in trauma & orthopaedic trainee-led research and audit collaborative projects in the United Kingdom since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pak J Med Sci. 2023;39(3):769-774. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.39.3.7417

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Corrosion of copper nickel titanium archwire in chlorhexidine, sodium fluoride, and chitosan mouthwashes
Authors: Sufarnap Erliera , Harahap Kholidina Imanda , Adiana Ika Devi , Lim Davin , Lim Chatty , Christy Christy
Published: March 2023

Background: Copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr) ion release, and surface topography change from the orthodontic wire are the initial processes of corrosion that may affect the mechanical properties of the archwire.  In this study, we aim to evaluate the effect of CHX, NaF, and chitosan on the corrosion of  CuNiTi wire nickel and copper ions released, surface roughness change, and archwire deflection.

Methods: Ninety samples of CuNiTi Tanzo™ archwires were divided into five groups according to their immersion solution: Artificial Saliva, CHX, NaF, CHX-NaF, and chitosan group. Each group was further divided into three subgroups (n=6) corresponding immersion time, i.e., two, four, and six weeks. The corrosion of the samples was analyzed with an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and universal testing machine (UTM).

Results: The amount of nickel ion releases was increasing, but the copper ion releases were reduced by the time of observations. The highest nickel ion was released in the CHX-NaF group and the lowest in the chitosan group for six-week immersion. It also corresponded to the surface topography by SEM analysis which showed the most extended cracks and deep pits in the CHX-NaF group and a smoother surface in the chitosan group. Copper ion release showed the highest ion release in the NaF group and the lowest release in the chitosan group. The unloading force of CuNiTi archwire deflection remains the same at week two and week four for all mouthwashes.

Conclusion: The use of mouthwashes that contained CHX, NaF, and chitosan could further alter the passive layer and cause higher nickel and copper ion release and increased CuNiTi archwire surface structure porosity. But there is no distinction between mouthwashes to release the unloading force within two until four weeks.
Case Report: Mepolizumab in the treatment of idiopathic chronic eosinophilic pneumonia
Authors: Daboussi Selsabil , Essebaa Samia , Mhamdi Samira , Aichaouia Chiraz , Hela Ghedira , Ayadi Aida , Zied Moetemri
Published: March 2023

Idiopathic chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (ICEP) is a rare interstitial lung disease of unknown cause. It usually responds well to systemic corticosteroid therapy, but relapses are frequent. We describe two cases of 21- and 27-year-old patients, presenting with dyspnea. The diagnosis of steroid-relapsing and steroid-dependent ICEP was made respectively. Mepolizumab was prescribed to both patients. This treatment resulted in successful long-term disease management with much fewer side effects than a traditional corticosteroid therapy.
Physiological anthropometric and motor values in relation to 500 metres running
Authors: Bekolli L. , Ramabaja Q. , Rashiti N. , Shkodra M. , Heta G.
Published: March 2023

The primary purpose of this paper is to determine and prove the impact of loads with different intensities on the treadmill on the heart frequency, as well as to prove the relationship and impact of some anthropometric and motor parameters on the physiological one in the manifest space. In harmony with the purpose of the research, three basic hypotheses have been presented that cover the anthropological research fields. In this paper, 19-year-old students of the Faculty of Sports Sciences are included. To achieve the purpose of the paper, a sample of 80 students who were regular students during the year 2022/2023 was included. Four anthropometric variables, three motor tests (running tests) and four physiological tests (pulse at rest and during loads) are included in this paper. For the three groups of the system of variables, the basic statistical and distribution parameters for each variable, as well as the measures of asymmetry and normal distribution, were calculated. Then the correlations between the variables in the manifest space, as well as the correlations between the system of variables. In order to determine the relationship between predictor variables (anthropometric and motor characteristics) and criterion variables (results of functional skills), regression analysis was applied in the manifest space. The processing of the results shows that the obtained values do not deviate from the normal distribution, which completes their metric characteristics. The impact of morphological and motor factors on heart rate results has not been proven.
Community Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors towards Obesity Prone to COVID-19 Infection
Authors: Saka Laksmita Ayu , Putu Risky Vidika Apriyanthi Desak , Putu Widayanti Ni
Published: March 2023

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is an infectious disease that has spread worldwide. Prevention of COVID-19 can be suppressed with a good level of knowledge and positive attitudes and behaviors. The community needs to play a role in breaking the chain of transmission of COVID-19 by implementing health protocols. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the level of public knowledge about COVID-19 and the attitudes and behavior of the people of Denpasar City towards obesity, which are more susceptible to infection with COVID-19. Method: This type of non-experimental research with correlational design and cross-sectional design. The number of samples in this study was 400 respondents using simple random sampling. Data collection uses a questionnaire via WhatsApp with a google form. Results: The results showed that there was a relationship between public knowledge about COVID-19 and the attitudes and behavior of the people of Denpasar City towards obesity being more susceptible to infection with COVID-19 with p = 0.000 and r = 0.307 for attitudes and p = 0.000 and r = 0.408 for behavior. Conclusion: A strong correlation between the variable level of knowledge and attitudes and behavior and the direction of the relationship is positive, which means the better the level of knowledge, the better the attitude and behavior of the community to prevent contracting COVID-19.
Community Personal Hygiene Knowledge and Attitude to Covid-19 Prevention Behavior
Authors: Wati Nopia , Oktarianita Oktarianita , Sartika Andry
Published: March 2023

Background: The rise of Covid-19 cases has become a global issue. The government has issued guidelines for the public to reduce exposure and spread of disease or infection through personal hygiene. The purpose of this study is to ascertain community knowledge and attitudes toward personal hygiene in preventing Covid-19 in Bengkulu City. Method: This research method uses a quantitative approach. This type of research is an observational study with a cross-sectional approach. The sample in this quantitative study was taken using a simple random technique. Based on the calculation of the sample, the minimum sample size is 100 people. Data was collected by distributing questionnaires, univariate and bivariate analyses were performed. Results: The results were there was a significant association between personal hygiene knowledge toward Covid-19 prevention behaviors in Bengkulu City (p<0.05; OR= 2.6; CI 95%= 1.137-5.951). Knowledge is the collection of information about the occurrence and prevention of Covid-19, understood and acquired from the learning process throughout life, in which there are significant associations. In Bengkulu City, there was a significant association between people's attitudes toward personal hygiene and the prevention of Covid-19 (p<0.05; OR= 2.658; CI 95%= 1.184-5.969). Attitude is one of the factors that determine a person's actions in maintaining individual and group good in preventing disease. Conclusion: The results show that personal hygiene knowledge and attitudes are significantly associated with Covid-19 prevention behaviors.
Analysis of Patient Satisfaction at Outpatient Installation in the Hospitals: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Subagja Bayu , Rosyidah Rosyidah
Published: March 2023

Background: A hospital is a public facility that offers services to improve individual health status. One of the services offered by the hospital is an outpatient installation. As healthcare institutions, hospitals need to optimize their quality to ensure patient satisfaction with outpatient services. Method: This research is a systematic literature review that contains reviews of several studies using the PRISMA method. Related articles carry out by https://sinta.kemdikbud.go.id/journals/index/page. Inclusion criteria are the research articles must be published between the years 2018-2023, journals indexed by SINTA 1 or 2, and research subjects who were undergoing outpatient care at hospitals in Indonesia. There were 6 research articles that were close to the inclusion criteria and were determined to be the study material in this study. Results: The results of studies found that the quality of hospital services significantly influences the level of patient satisfaction. The dimensions of satisfaction including tangible, reliability, assurance, responsiveness, and empathy have a significant influence on patient satisfaction, so hospital management should be able to fulfill the five dimensions of satisfaction. Efforts can be made to improve quality by identifying indicators of patient expectations and needs regarding comfort when accessing outpatient services at hospitals Conclusion: Assessment of patient needs can be evaluated by satisfaction surveys or by providing compliant services centers. Thus, the patient's expectations can be used as an improvisational study in optimizing available facilities, the reliability, and responsiveness of officers, as well as the attitude shown by officers toward outpatients at the hospital.
Mental health: What role for digital self-help programmes?
Authors: Haddad Mark , Gournay Kevin , Clough Isobel
Published: March 2023

Prevention and early interventions are essential in addressing the mental health and wellbeing needs of children and young people. However, increasing demand has led to substantial pressures on services. With NICE recently releasing recommendations on digital therapies which can be used in children's services, Haddad et al look at their potential role in helping address these needs.
Rapid eyebox measurement for augmented reality waveguides
Authors: Kerst Thomas , Bitarafan Mohammad H. , Jokinen Laura , Alasaarela Ilkka , Tillanen Seppo , Zautasvili David , Pachhandara Nikhil
Published: March 2023

Eyebox performance is a fundamental factor used to characterize the overall performance of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) eyewear. Conventional methods to map three-dimensional eyeboxes are time consuming and data intensive. Herein, we propose a method for rapid and accurate measurement of the eyebox in AR/VR displays. Our approach utilizes a lens that simulates key characteristics of the human eye, including pupil position, pupil size, and field of view, to obtain a representation of the eyewear’s performance as perceived by a human user using single image capture. By combining a minimum of two such image captures, the complete eyebox geometry of any given AR/VR eyewear can be accurately determined with a level of accuracy comparable to that of slower, traditional methods. This method can potentially be used as a new metrology standard in the display industry.
Performance of the adaptive optics system for Laser Communications Relay Demonstration’s Ground Station 1
Authors: Roberts Lewis C. , Meeker Seth R. , Tesch Jonathan , Shelton J. Christopher , Roberts Jennifer E. , Fregoso Santos F. , Troung Tuan , Peng Michael , Matthews Kittrin , Herzog Harrison , Rodriguez Joshua
Published: March 2023

The Laser Communications Relay Demonstration is NASA’s
multi-year demonstration of laser communication from the Earth to a
geosynchronous satellite. The mission currently has two optical ground
stations (OGSs), with one in California (OGS1) and one in Hawaii
(OGS2). Each ground terminal optical system consists of a high-order
adaptive optics (AO) system, a laser transmit system, and a camera for
target acquisition. The OGS1 AO system is responsible for compensating
for the downlink beam for atmospheric turbulence and coupling it into
the modem’s single mode fiber. The mission requires a coupling
efficiency of 50%, which necessitates a high-order AO system. To
achieve this performance, the AO system uses two deformable mirrors
with one mirror correcting for low-spatial-frequency aberrations with
large amplitude and a second deformable mirror correcting for
high-spatial-frequency aberrations with small amplitude. Turbulence is
sensed with a Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensor. To meet its
performance requirements in the most stressing conditions, the system
can operate at frame rates of 20 kHz. This high frame rate is
enabled by the design of the real-time control system. We present an
overview of both the hardware and software design of the system, and
describe the control system and methods of reducing non-common path
aberrations. Finally, we show measured system performance.
Quantification of spatial and phenotypic heterogeneity in an agent-based model of tumour-macrophage interactions
Authors: Bull Joshua A. , Byrne Helen M.
Published: March 2023

We introduce a new spatial statistic, the weighted pair correlation function (wPCF). The wPCF extends the existing pair correlation function (PCF) and cross-PCF to describe spatial relationships between points marked with combinations of discrete and continuous labels. We validate its use through application to a new agent-based model (ABM) which simulates interactions between macrophages and tumour cells. These interactions are influenced by the spatial positions of the cells and by macrophage phenotype, a continuous variable that ranges from anti-tumour to pro-tumour. By varying model parameters that regulate macrophage phenotype, we show that the ABM exhibits behaviours which resemble the ‘three Es of cancer immunoediting’: Equilibrium, Escape, and Elimination.

We use the wPCF to analyse synthetic images generated by the ABM. We show that the wPCF generates a ‘human readable’ statistical summary of where macrophages with different phenotypes are located relative to both blood vessels and tumour cells. We also define a distinct ‘PCF signature’ that characterises each of the three Es of immunoediting, by combining wPCF measurements with the cross-PCF describing interactions between vessels and tumour cells. By applying dimension reduction techniques to this signature, we identify its key features and train a support vector machine classifier to distinguish between simulation outputs based on their PCF signature. This proof-of-concept study shows how multiple spatial statistics can be combined to analyse the complex spatial features that the ABM generates, and to partition them into interpretable groups.

The intricate spatial features produced by the ABM are similar to those generated by state-of-the-art multiplex imaging techniques which distinguish the spatial distribution and intensity of multiple biomarkers in biological tissue regions. Applying methods such as the wPCF to multiplex imaging data would exploit the continuous variation in biomarker intensities and generate more detailed characterisation of the spatial and phenotypic heterogeneity in tissue samples.
A socioscientific issues approach to ninth-graders’ understanding of COVID-19 on health, wealth, and educational attainments
Authors: Powell Wardell
Published: March 2023

This study investigated the implementation of a curricular unit of instruction designed to immerse rising ninth-grade students socioscientific issues via data collection and analysis of the relationships between health, wealth, educational attainment, and the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on their communities. Twenty-six (n = 26) rising ninth-grade students (14–15 years old; 16 girls, 10 boys) participated in an early college high school program operated by the College Planning Center at a state university in the northeastern United States. The findings of this study demonstrate how ninth-graders enhanced their understanding of the relationships between COVID-19 and community health, wealth, and educational attainments. The students also identified from their research data that communities in Massachusetts that are more educated and with more financial resources were less impacted less by the virus.
A cooperative scheme for late leaf spot estimation in peanut using UAV multispectral images
Authors: Shahi Tej Bahadur , Xu Cheng-Yuan , Neupane Arjun , Fresser Dayle , O’Connor Dan , Wright Graeme , Guo William
Published: March 2023

In Australia, peanuts are mainly grown in Queensland with tropical and subtropical climates. The most common foliar disease that poses a severe threat to quality peanut production is late leaf spot (LLS). Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been widely investigated for various plant trait estimations. The existing works on UAV-based remote sensing have achieved promising results for crop disease estimation using a mean or a threshold value to represent the plot-level image data, but these methods might be insufficient to capture the distribution of pixels within a plot. This study proposes two new methods, namely measurement index (MI) and coefficient of variation (CV), for LLS disease estimation on peanuts. We first investigated the relationship between the UAV-based multispectral vegetation indices (VIs) and the LLS disease scores at the late growth stages of peanuts. We then compared the performances of the proposed MI and CV-based methods with the threshold and mean-based methods for LLS disease estimation. The results showed that the MI-based method achieved the highest coefficient of determination and the lowest error for five of the six chosen VIs whereas the CV-based method performed the best for simple ratio (SR) index among the four methods. By considering the strengths and weaknesses of each method, we finally proposed a cooperative scheme based on the MI, the CV and the mean-based methods for automatic disease estimation, demonstrated by applying this scheme to the LLS estimation in peanuts.
The use of remote Femto Second technology in the preparation of black silicon material and optical devices
Authors: Li Ninghui , Chen Yuan
Published: March 2023

The research aims to study the application of remote Femto Second (FS) technology in black silicon material preparation and optical devices. Based on the principle and characteristic research of FS technology, the interaction between FS and silicon is adopted to propose a scheme for preparing black silicon material through experiments. Moreover, the experimental parameters are optimized. Then, the scheme of using the FS for etching polymer optical power splitter as a new technical means is proposed. In addition, while ensuring processing accuracy, the appropriate process parameters of laser etching photoresist are obtained. The results show that the performance of black silicon prepared with SF6 as the background gas is greatly improved in the 400-2200nm range. However, the performance of black silicon samples with the two-layer structure etched at different laser energy densities has little difference. Black silicon with a Se+Si two-layer film structure has the best optical absorption performance in the infrared range of 1100nm-2200nm. Besides, the optical absorption rate is the highest when the laser scanning rate is 0.5mm/s. In the band of >1100nm, when the maximum laser energy density is 6.5kJ/m2, the overall absorption of the etched sample is the worst. The absorption rate is the best when the laser energy density is 3.9kJ/m2. It suggests that the proper parameter selection greatly impacts the quality of the final laser-etched sample.
Simulated drought stress unravels differential response and different mechanisms of drought tolerance in newly developed tropical field corn inbreds
Authors: Gopalakrishna K. Naidu , Hugar Rajeshwari , Rajashekar M. Kachapur , Jayant S. Bhat , Talekar Sidramappa C. , Virupaxi P. Chimmad
Published: March 2023

Corn is one of the most important cereal crops in the world with highest yield potential. Nevertheless, its potential productivity is constrained by the occurrences of drought stress worldwide. Besides, in the era of climate change, frequent occurrences of severe droughts are predicted. The present investigation was carried out at Main Agricultural Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad in split plot design to study response of twenty-eight new corn inbreds under drought free (well-watered) conditions and drought simulated by withholding irrigation from 40 to 75 DAS to create water stress. Significant differences among the corn inbreds, moisture treatments and interaction between inbreds were observed for morpho-physiological, yield and yield components indicating differential response of corn inbreds. The inbreds CAL 1426–2 (higher RWC, SLW& wax and lower ASI), PDM 4641(higher SLW, proline, & wax, and lower ASI) and GPM 114 (higher proline & wax, and lower ASI) were drought tolerant. These inbreds are having higher production potential (>5.0 t/ha) under moisture stress condition with less per cent reduction (<24.4%) over non-moisture stress condition and hence are putative candidates for developing drought tolerant hybrids suitable for rainfed ecosystem besides using them in population improvement program to combine different drought tolerant mechanisms to evolve highly potent drought tolerant inbreds. The results of the study suggested that proline content, wax content, anthesis silking interval, relative water content can be better surrogate traits to identify drought tolerant inbreds in corn.
A framework to estimate a long-term power shortage risk following large-scale earthquake and tsunami disasters
Authors: Kajitani Yoshio , Takabatake Daisuke , Yuyama Ayumi , Ishikawa Tomomi , Kröger Wolfgang
Published: March 2023

While power shortages during and after a natural disaster cause severe impacts on response and recovery activities, related modeling and data collection efforts have been limited. In particular, no methodology exists to analyze long-term power shortages such as those that occurred during the Great East Japan Earthquake. To visualize a risk of supply shortage during a disaster and assist the coherent recovery of supply and demand systems, this study proposes an integrated damage and recovery estimation framework including the power generator, trunk distribution systems (over 154 kV), and power demand system. This framework is unique because it thoroughly investigates the vulnerability and resilience characteristics of power systems as well as businesses as primary power consumers observed in past disasters in Japan. These characteristics are essentially modeled by statistical functions, and a simple power supply–demand matching algorism is implemented using these functions. As a result, the proposed framework reproduces the original power supply and demand status from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake in a relatively consistent manner. Using stochastic components of the statistical functions, the average supply margin is estimated to be 4.1%, but the worst-case scenario is a 5.6% shortfall relative to peak demand. Thus, by applying the framework, the study improves knowledge on potential risk by examining a particular past disaster; the findings are expected to enhance risk perception and supply and demand preparedness after a future large-scale earthquake and tsunami disaster.
Discovery of Hippo signaling as a regulator of CSPG4 expression and as a therapeutic target for Clostridioides difficile disease
Authors: Larabee Jason L. , Doyle D. Annie , Ahmed Ummey Khalecha Bintha , Shadid Tyler M. , Sharp Rachel R. , Jones Kenneth L. , Kim Young Mi , Li Shibo , Ballard Jimmy D.
Published: March 2023

The signaling pathways and networks regulating expression of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4 (CSPG4), a cancer-related protein that serves as a receptor for Clostridiodes difficile TcdB, are poorly defined. In this study, TcdB-resistant/CSPG4-negative HeLa cells were generated by exposure to increasing concentrations of the toxin. The cells that emerged (HeLa R5) lost expression of CSPG4 mRNA and were resistant to binding by TcdB. mRNA expression profiles paired with integrated pathway analysis correlated changes in the Hippo and estrogen signaling pathways with a CSPG4 decrease in HeLa R5 cells. Both signaling pathways altered CSPG4 expression when modulated chemically or through CRISPR-mediated deletion of key transcriptional regulators in the Hippo pathway. Based on the in vitro findings, we predicted and experimentally confirmed that a Hippo pathway inactivating drug (XMU-MP-1) provides protection from C. difficile disease in a mouse model. These results provide insights into key regulators of CSPG4 expression and identify a therapeutic for C. difficile disease.
Radiotherapy Improves Survival of Patients With Lymphovascular Invasion in pT1b Esophageal Squamous Cell Cancer After Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection
Authors: Yang Xu , Zhao Lina , Shi Anhui , Chen Cong , Cao Jianzhong , Zhang Yaowen , Zhu Hui , Wang Jun , Zhou Wei , Li Xiangpan , Hu Songliu , Men Yu , Wang Jianyang , Xue Liyan , Liu Yong , Dou Lizhou , Zhang Yueming , Sun Shuang , Yuan Meng , Bao Yongxing , Ma Zeliang , Liu Yunsong , Zhang Wanting , Bi Nan , Wang Guiqi , Hui Zhouguang
Published: March 2023

INTRODUCTION:

Adjuvant radiotherapy is recommended for pT1b esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). However, it is unclear whether additional radiotherapy can improve patient survival. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant radiotherapy after ESD for pT1b ESCC.

METHODS:

This was a multicenter, cross-sectional study involving 11 hospitals in China. Between January 2010 and December 2019, patients with T1bN0M0 ESCC treated with or without adjuvant radiotherapy after ESD were included. Survival between groups was compared.

RESULTS:

Overall, 774 patients were screened, and 161 patients were included. Forty-seven patients (29.2%) received adjuvant radiotherapy after ESD (RT group) and 114 (70.8%) underwent ESD alone (non-RT group). There were no significant differences in overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) between the RT and non-RT groups. Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) was the only prognostic factor. In the LVI+ group, adjuvant radiotherapy significantly improved survival (5-year OS: 91.7% vs 59.5%, P = 0.050; 5-year DFS: 92.9% vs 42.6%, P = 0.010). In the LVI− group, adjuvant radiotherapy did not improve survival (5-year OS: 83.5% vs 93.9%, P = 0.148; 5-year DFS: 84.2% vs 84.7%, P = 0.907). The standardized mortality ratios were 1.52 (95% confidence interval 0.04–8.45) in the LVI+ group with radiotherapy and 0.55 (95% confidence interval 0.15–1.42) in the LVI− group without radiotherapy.

DISCUSSION:

Adjuvant radiotherapy could improve survival in pT1b ESCC with LVI+ other than LVI− after ESD. Selective adjuvant radiotherapy based on LVI status achieved survival rates similar to those of the general population.
Perceived socio-cultural ecosystem services provided by wild Atlantic Salmon populations in four European countries
Authors: Kochalski Sophia , Riepe Carsten , Arlinghaus Robert
Published: March 2023

Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) has always been a highly valued migratory fish species in central and northern Europe. Wild populations have declined since the late 19th century, including local extinctions. We conducted an online survey in France, Germany, Sweden and Norway (N  = 2 298) to examine the perception of the general public of the socio-cultural ecosystem services provided by this threatened species. Eleven ecosystem services and benefits were operationalized in the form of 13 survey items and grouped by an exploratory factor analysis into three groups: intrinsic-ecological, extractive and aesthetic-educational ecosystem services. Our analysis showed that the general population perceived a wide range of ecosystem services. Intrinsic-ecological and aesthetic-educational ecosystem services were well recognized in all countries. The values of these two categories were determined most strongly by country and respondents’ personal values and perception of Atlantic Salmon, e.g. as threatened and belonging to a healthy river. The high level of approval for aesthetic-educational ecosystem services confirmed that Atlantic Salmon can serve as a charismatic flagship species. Extractive ecosystem services received lower ratings than intrinsic-ecological and aesthetic-educational ones, particularly in Germany where no natural populations remain. In Norway, the country with the highest proportion of healthy stocks and a close cultural connection to Atlantic Salmon, all ecosystem service categories were rated significantly higher than in the other three countries. Synergies between the ecosystem services of Atlantic Salmon explain these results: with healthy stocks and their extractive use, the cultural connection is also strengthened, and this contributes to a greater appreciation of Atlantic Salmon for intrinsic-ecological and aesthetic-cultural reasons. Our study underscores how the ecosystem services of Atlantic Salmon perceived by society are co-produced by the ecological state and continued experience of the species by the wider public. Improving the ecological status and increasing public awareness can therefore foster the development of perceived ecosystem services and the value of a species in the public eye.