bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of compounds from natural Peruvian sources as potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro mutations by virtual screening and computational simulations
Authors: Barazorda-Ccahuana Haruna Luz , Cárcamo Rodriguez Eymi Gladys , Centeno-Lopez Angela Emperatriz , Paco-Chipana Margot , Goyzueta-Mamani Luis Daniel , Chavez-Fumagalli Miguel Angel
Published: October 2024

Background Although the COVID-19 pandemic has diminished in intensity, the virus continues to circulate globally. The SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) is a key enzyme in the life cycle of the virus, making it important for the development of treatments against future variants of the virus. In this work, Peruvian natural compounds were evaluated against different mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. Methods In silico techniques such as virtual screening, all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, and energy estimation analysis were applied. Results Of the tested compounds by virtual screening, rutin was identified as the best binding agent against the different proposed Mpro mutations. In addition, computational simulations and energy estimation analysis demonstrated the high structural and energetic stability between the Mpro-rutin systems. Conclusions Overall, our study identified rutin as the most promising compound with a strong affinity for various Mpro mutations, potentially playing a key role in the development of new treatments for emerging viral variants.
Embedding voices of under-served communities in Health Research Priority Setting in Thailand
Authors: Khirikoekkong Napat , Asarath Supa-at , Osterrieder Anne , Maung Lwin Khin , Cheah Phaik Yeong
Published: October 2024

Health research is needed to develop new treatments, diagnostic methods and prevention strategies for many diseases, but resources are limited particularly in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). Our proposed project involves in-depth engagement with community advisory boards and existing community groups in healthcare research priority setting in Thailand. We will use Wellcome’s “Responsive Dialogues” engagement approach, focusing on “underserved” groups, as their voices are seldom heard in healthcare research priority setting. We estimate that we will engage with 6–8 community groups involving 48–80 participants. Our objectives are firstly, to contribute to the health research agenda setting in Thailand for government, non-governmental actors, academia, and others who conduct health research in the next 5 to 10 years. Secondly, we aim to identify ethical and practical issues related to healthcare research priority setting, specifically in relation to involving under-served communities.
The genome sequence of cowslip, Primula veris L.
Authors: Ruhsam Markus ,   Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Plant Genome Sizing collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory team,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics team,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: October 2024

We present a genome assembly from a specimen of Primula veris (Streptophyta; Magnoliopsida; Ericales; Primulaceae). The genome sequence has a total length of 436.20 megabases. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 12 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial and plastid genome assemblies have lengths of 326.21 kilobases and 153.48 kilobases, respectively. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 26,584 protein-coding genes.
Climate leadership competencies in public sector organisations in the Pirkanmaa region of Finland
Authors: Riuttanen Laura , Siponen Joula , Santala Marianne
Published: October 2024

Regions play an important role in concretising climate change mitigation and adaptation action. In this study, we asked those who work in designing and implementing climate strategies in regional public sector organisations in the Pirkanmaa region of Finland, for their views on what is needed for climate leadership in a regional organisation. We characterise the attributes of a climate leader in the context of regional public sector organisations in terms of the resources, processes, challenges and motivations in their work on climate change mitigation and adaptation, and describe the competencies needed for regional climate leadership. This research aims to support education design better to respond to the needs of regional climate actors.
Counter-Activism Against Ideological Opponents: Evidence Based on the Competitive Dynamics of Corporate Engagement in Advocacy Giving
Authors: Seo Haram
Published: October 2024

A growing body of literature has sought to understand the strategic drivers of corporate activism, emphasizing the ideological composition of a firm’s workforce as its salient internal driver. Despite these advancements, however, the heterogeneity in its effect remains underexplored, leaving it unclear when employee ideology is more likely to translate into activism. I address this gap by considering competitors’ actions—another important driver uncovered in the scholarship—as a key source of heterogeneity. I examine how these actions can shape the external context in which a firm’s employees evaluate the value of its activism, thereby influencing the firm’s incentives to act on employees’ preferences. My central conjecture is that activism by so-called ideological opponents of a firm’s employee base will be a particularly strong driver of its own activism. This is because actions taken by competitors who hold stances opposite to those valued by a firm’s employees can create a temporal window during which the firm can gain enough employee appreciation for its activism—particularly counter-activism opposing the stance of the competitor. Leveraging the donation records of corporate foundations to advocacy nonprofits as a novel channel for studying corporate activism, I find support for this conjecture. Consistent with my theory, I further find that this effect is driven by firms whose employees hold homogeneous ideological preferences and arises primarily around issues with strong ideological contention.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2023.17382 .
Developing role of the myasthenia gravis nurse specialist
Authors: Thomas Sue , Adams Omeada , Carmichael Caroline , Chaudhry Summer , Hutchinson Libby , Mahjabin Islam , Kings Jude , Marshall Nina , Quirk Mary , Rodrigues-Alia Shelley , Smith Hannah , Hewamadduma Channa
Published: October 2024

The role of the myasthenia gravis nurse specialist (MGNS) has perhaps not gained the full recognition it deserves to date but it is certainly a pivotal element in the delivery of services to people with the condition. MGNS are valued by patients, families and other professionals and whilst some units in the UK have embraced these nurses as an essential part of myasthenia gravis (MG) management, other areas have not had the resources to develop posts. This article explores how the role of the MGNS has developed and what is required to continue development to address future needs of people with the condition.
Research Roundup
Authors: Mendes Aysha
Published: October 2024

Aysha Mendes provides a synopsis and brief review of a selection of recently published research articles that are of interest to neuroscience nurses, highlighting key points to keep you up to date; a full reference is provided for those who wish to read the research in more detail
The past, present and future of neuroscience nursing: BANN conference 2024
Authors: Derbyshire Julie , Braine Mary , Som Rita
Published: October 2024

The conference of the British Association of Neuroscience Nursing (BANN) took place from Friday 4 to Saturday 5 October at the Copthorne Hotel in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Over 120 neuroscience nurses attended two days of talks, discussions and workshops.
More takeaway messages: MS Trust conference 2024
Authors: Naik Paru
Published: October 2024

Health professionals come together every year at the MS Trust Conference to share insights and further their knowledge in the different aspects of working with people living with MS. A key element is to share the various tools available and hear from experts. This article presents the key themes from the Posture Management, Assistive Technology and Environmental Controls session at the MS Trust Conference this year.
Correlates of Emotional and Tangible Reciprocity in Adult Siblings of Individuals With Autism
Authors: Burke Meghan M. , Li Chak , Arnold Catherine K.
Published: October 2024

Sibling relationships often involve exchanges of emotional and tangible support. When one sibling has a disability, the nature of the reciprocity of such support may differ from sibling pairs wherein no disability is present. Specifically, when an individual has autism, the nature of emotional and tangible reciprocity is unclear given the potential for a supportive or caregiving role of the sibling without autism. In this study, 256 adult siblings of autistic individuals completed a national survey. Analyses included descriptive statistics describing the nature of reciprocity and hierarchical regressions to identify the correlates of emotional and tangible reciprocity. Overall, participants often reported not giving or receiving much tangible support to/from their autistic sibling while they often gave and, to some extent received, emotional support from their autistic sibling. When the autistic sibling had more asocial behaviors, participants were more likely to provide emotional support than receive it. When participants engaged in more caregiving, they both gave and received more emotional and tangible support. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Medication Management in Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Psychiatric Pharmacists in Primary Care
Authors: Moon Esther , Snyder Sabrina Domicoli , Williams Andrew , Allen Scott , Simmons Emma
Published: October 2024

This study describes the role of psychiatric pharmacists (PPs) in medication management at a county-hospital-based primary care clinic serving adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). During a 20-week period, PPs provided 308 interventions for 97 patients with IDD, 55% of whom had a concomitant psychiatric/behavioral disorder and 70% of whom were taking at least one psychotropic medication. PP services included medication reviews (48%), medication histories (13%), collaborative care (12%), pharmacotherapy interventions (11%), advisory services (9%), and patient/caregiver education (7%). Psychotropics were involved in 66% of interventions. Our results demonstrate that PPs may address psychotropic-related challenges in this practice setting by performing a variety of services. Additional studies are needed to fully evaluate the impact of this integrative model.
Bone Mineral Density Screening in People With Epilepsy and Intellectual Disability
Authors: Gandelman-Marton Revital , Theitler Jacques
Published: October 2024

Vitamin D measurements and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans are recommended in people with intellectual disability and/or epilepsy in order to prevent bone-linked harm. The prevalence of vitamin D supplementation and bone mineral density screening were evaluated in 68 people with epilepsy and intellectual disability (EID) and 68 matched controls with epilepsy without intellectual disability. DXA scans were not performed in any of the people with EID but were performed in 11.8% of the people in the control group. People with EID had a higher vitamin D supplementation rate and were treated with more antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and more AED combinations, including first generation AEDs. Increased awareness of bone health screening in people with epilepsy and especially EID is warranted.
The Key Role of Gestures in Spatial Tasks for Students With Intellectual Disability
Authors: Lacombe Noémie , Dias Thierry , Petitpierre Geneviève
Published: October 2024

The gestures produced by children with intellectual disability (ID) in spatial tasks are rarely considered, although they have a supporting role in the formation of thought. In this research study, we analyzed the number of gestures, the type of gestures, and their role in the expression of knowledge of students with ID. Twenty students (12–17 years old) with ID and 40 students with typical development (TD) matched on visual-spatial level (n = 20) and on language level (n = 20) participated in the research. Students with ID made significantly more gestures in relation to the number of words spoken compared to their peers with TD. Thirty percent of the expressive communication of students with ID came from gestures alone, and 60% of the responses contained at least one gesture. Finally, the higher the level of task difficulty, the more gestures the students made.
The Bunker, the Barracks, the Base, and the Border: Preservation as Resistance in South Lebanon
Authors: Faour Batoul , Soltan Meriam
Published: October 2024

Abstract: About six kilometers from the Blue Line and twelve from the Syrian border, the southern town of Khiam sits at a frontline traversing constant regional turmoil. Its existence in Lebanon entirely was determined by the colonial nation-state division of the area following the end of World War II, a critical period in the establishment of Lebanon's independence and a time during which British control oversaw the construction of a series of defensive architectural fortifications within the town's landscape. These structures include a bunker, a barracks, and an airbase—all three of which were built in Khiam during World War II, given its strategic border location and the overlooking conditions of its mountain ranges. Their functions have since been transformed by events within Lebanon's regional and local history, including two Israeli invasions, and a neighboring civil war in Syria. This article, through a telling of encounters based on fieldwork within and around the sites, reanimates the collective history of intergenerational cycles of occupation, displacement, violence, and return in South Lebanon. It situates the ephemeral lifespans of each of these structures and their embodied narratives as distinct reconstructions of time and place. Over the years, these reconstructions have been imposed by a diversity of actors and transgressors ranging from the imagination of a child to the strategic vision of a colonizer. Through a biographical quality inspired by personal experiences of the sites, it also takes a contextual approach situated in the geopolitics of the South as a contested borderland constantly being transgressed, and the intimacies of living under such precarious conditions.
A Review of Knowledge Management Education in China
Authors: Li Ying , Zhang Yao , Ming Yue , Cui Jiaying
Published: October 2024

Abstract: The upsurge in knowledge production highlights the importance of knowledge management (KM), which leads to the increasing demands on KM professionals by organizations, governments, and society. To fulfill the urgent need for skills and expertise, universities in China have added KM-related courses to their curricula. Given the complexity of knowledge and the interdisciplinary nature of KM as well as the diversity of the university structure, KM education in China has been developed as a crucial field. This paper reviews the development of KM education in Chinese universities and investigates the current KM curriculum designs of these universities. It takes KM-oriented research programs and courses from “Shuangyiliu” universities in China as a starting point, aiming to introduce the curriculum development landscape and demonstrate the interdisciplinary origins of the KM curriculum. The results suggest that there is a trend that KM education needs to redefine target groups in order to fulfill various needs from society. There is also a need to encourage a broader collaboration among disciplines and further discussion of the disciplinary positioning of KM education in China.
Knowledge Management Education and Training in the Middle East
Authors: Hassanzadeh Mohammad , Rahimian Samaneh , Malekolkalami Mila
Published: October 2024

Abstract: This research aims to explain knowledge management (KM) education and training in the Middle East. Additionally, the identification of KM education and/or training courses at universities and institutions, their status, and their strengths and weaknesses in the Middle East were studied through a systematic review. Also, the KM education and training topics in all seventeen Middle Eastern countries were investigated, revealing that Iran, UAE, Israel, and Türkiye are among the most active Middle Eastern countries in KM education and training. “Advanced statistics,” “knowledge management systems and technologies,” “bibliometrics,” “knowledge mapping,” and “business analytics and strategic intelligence” are the top topics of training at Middle East universities. Fifty-three education and training courses are covered in the Middle East, in comparison to ninety-eight across the world. Hence, it can be concluded that KM education and training topics in the Middle East are at a suitable level in the global context. Twenty-five KM education and training topics are not included in the KM curriculum of the Middle East. Most Middle Eastern countries should accelerate their KM education and training activities to keep pace with prominent countries that train in KM, to include academic education, workshops, webinars, e-learning, and seminars.
Photonic gateway architecture extension and guard time-free initial connection method with point-to-multipoint remote control for metro/access converged all-photonics network
Authors: Kaneko Shin , Kimura Yasutaka , Igarashi Ryo , Shibata Naotaka , Suzuki Takahiro , Fujiwara Masamichi , Kani Jun-Ichi , Yoshida Tomoaki
Published: October 2024

Emerging use cases with demanding bandwidth and latency requirements, as well as the challenge of reducing power consumption, are driving the need for evolution in optical network architectures. An all-photonics metro-access converged network (APN) aims to actualize a flat architecture by expanding dense wavelength-division-multiplexing (DWDM) metro networks into access areas. The APN flexibly and dynamically provides optical connectivity between any two points, even across the boundaries between access and metro areas according to individual application requirements and traffic-load status. To actualize and further evolve the APN concept, several technical challenges regarding access nodes, defined as Photonic Gateways (GWs), still remain. From an access node functionality perspective, first, the Photonic GW should forward various types of optical paths. Unlike reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexers in current metro networks, which are specifically designed to cross-connect DWDM signals, the Photonic GW needs to handle various lights and optical signals, including short-reach applications and emerging non-communication use cases. Second, the Photonic GW should provide remote control channels to user terminals (UTs) in a more scalable and cost-effective manner within the node-footprint and power-consumption constraints. Remote and in-channel UT control is required to place flexibly the endpoints of a wavelength path, i.e., UT, beyond the control-plane network. Then, from the controller perspective, the physical connectivity between the newly connected UT and the access-side port of the Photonic GW should be autonomously identified for plug-and-play operation. Since UTs are widely distributed within an access area, there is a need for an initial connection method that does not require timing adjustments to connect to the APN between newly connected UTs. This paper presents an extension to the APN architecture that allows the Photonic GW to increase the types of accommodable optical paths and to enhance the scale of remote UT control. This paper also proposes an advanced initial connection method that works even when multiple UTs are simultaneously connected to the APN. The extension to the APN architecture and the initial connection method are verified through experiments based on a Photonic GW prototype that fully complies with the extended APN architecture and comprises four functionally disaggregated units, 100-Gb/s C-band DWDM digital coherent UTs, and 25-Gb/s O-band non-DWDM intensity modulation and direct detection UTs. A 10-gigabit-capable symmetric passive optical network is adopted for remote UT control. The proposed initial connection method eliminates the connection interval of 6 s or more between newly connected UTs and achieves guard time-free operation.
Introduction to the Benchmarking in Optical Networks Special Issue
Authors: Beghelli Alejandra , Rouskas George , Wright Paul
Published: October 2024

The first part of this special issue contains five papers addressing different aspects of good benchmarking practices in optical network research. We start with a brief introduction, followed by an overview of the papers and an invitation to contribute to the second part.
Research and fabrication of color filters based on porous anodic alumina
Authors: Ni Haibin , Wang Yajie , Shen Yi , Cai Tong , Wu Wenjie , Han Jiasheng , Ni Bo , Ge Yixian , Wang Tingting , Chang Jianhua
Published: October 2024

This study introduces a porous alumina composite structure, incorporating silver on a silicon substrate, to achieve a wide range of color displays. The structure utilizes the Bragg interference effect to reflect light between the surface and the pore bottoms. Fabrication involved magnetron sputtering, anodizing, and sodium hydroxide etching to produce different pore sizes, depths, and silver film thicknesses. This method shifts reflection valleys in the spectrum, enabling light emission or absorption across various wavelengths, resulting in diverse color displays. Experiments reveal that hue is influenced by pore depth, pore size, and silver film thickness, whereas brightness and saturation are regulated by pore size and silver film thickness. Unlike periodic structural color filters made through complex methods like photolithography and self-assembly, this filter is easily manufactured using simple electrochemical and coating techniques. This cost-effective, simple, and controllable method is ideal for large-scale production and the creation of high-resolution, high-saturation structural color display devices.
Edge-dependent photogalvanic effect in 1T′-ReS2-based polarization self-powered photodetectors
Authors: Ge Meng , Xu Degao , Tan Jianing , Ouyang Gang
Published: October 2024

Polarization photodetectors with linear/circular photogalvanic effect (L/CPGE) have garnered significant attention due to their wide range of application prospects. However, few kinds of photodetectors are adept at distinguishing between LPGE and CPGE. Here, we investigated a type of polarization-sensitive photodetector based on 1T′-ReS2 nanoribbon (1T′-ReS2 NR) within the framework of density functional theory. It is found that the CPGE photocurrent of 1T′-ReS2 NR along the zigzag direction can be 102 to 103 times larger than that of LPGE. Moreover, the sensitivity to polarized light of 1T′-ReS2 NR can be significantly enhanced. The extinction ratio can be up to 55, which is 4.6 times higher than that the 1T′-ReS2 monolayer. Remarkably, the introduction of magnetism through edge effects enables 1T′-ReS2 NR photodetector to achieve a spin injection efficiency close to 100%. Our results provide an avenue for the design of high-photosensitivity and low-power spintronic devices.
Laser speckle interferometry approach for measuring the first wall surface micro-morphology in fusion devices with only single interferogram based on Hilbert transform
Authors: Li Yuanbo , Li Ang , Cui Xiaoqian , Wang Hongbei , Ding Hongbin
Published: October 2024

During the operation of the EAST device, the surface morphology of the first wall in will change due to the erosion and redeposition from plasma-wall interaction (PWI). In this paper, a novel phase extraction approach using only single interferogram based on twice Hilbert transform (THT) has been proposed and implemented. The current approach has a significant advance for eliminating the phase-shifting errors in principle, but the problems of phase flipping and loss due to ignoring non-physical negative frequency spectrum must to be overcome. To address these problems a judgement method is proposed in current investigation to distinguish the regions of the negative spatial frequency. Then a binary matrix was developed to modify the wrapped phase of the measured interferogram. The validation of the proposed THT approach has been demonstrated by the micro-morphology reconstruction of laser ablation craters on molybdenum (Mo) and tungsten (W) tiles, which are commonly used as the first wall in EAST device. Results indicate that the THT approach has a reasonable measurement accuracy with relative errors around 10%. Also, the current THT approach presents an enhanced robust under the EAST-like vibrational environments.
Chip-integrated extended-cavity mode-locked laser in the visible
Authors: Winkler Lisa V. , Neijts Govert , Bastiaens Hubertus M. J. , Goodwin Melissa J. , van Rees Albert , Schrinner Philip P. J. , Hoekman Marcel , Dekker Ronald , do Nascimento Jr. Adriano R. , van der Slot Peter J. M. , Nölleke Christian , Boller Klaus-J.
Published: October 2024

Mode-locked lasers are of interest for applications such as biological imaging, nonlinear frequency conversion, and single-photon generation. In the infrared, chip-integrated mode-locked lasers have been demonstrated through integration of laser diodes with low-loss photonic circuits. However, additional challenges, such as a higher propagation loss and smaller alignment tolerances, have prevented the realization of such lasers in the visible range. Here, we demonstrate the first, to the best of our knowledge, chip-integrated mode-locked diode laser in the visible using an integrated photonic circuit for cavity extension. Based on a gallium arsenide gain chip and a low-loss silicon nitride feedback circuit, the laser is passively mode-locked using a saturable absorber (SA) implemented by focused ion beam (FIB) milling. At a center wavelength of 642 nm, the laser shows an average output power of 3.4 mW, with a spectral bandwidth of 1.5 nm at a repetition rate of 7.84 GHz.
Kalman filtering-based decision threshold dynamic optimization in photonics-aided millimeter-wave systems
Authors: Zheng Tianqi , Wang Kaihui , Hu Sheng , Zhu Zonghui , Yu Jianjun
Published: October 2024

We propose a novel, to the best of our knowledge, decision threshold dynamic optimization (DTDO) method based on Kalman filtering to mitigate the nonlinear effect impacts of the time-domain jitter and saturation distortion on a bit error rate (BER) performance. This dynamic optimization method was validated in a photonics-aided W-band millimeter-wave system. Compared to nonlinear algorithms and clustering classification methods, DTDO offers lower complexity and superior dynamic tracking capabilities when optimizing the BER performance in photonics-aided systems. The four-level pulse amplitude modulation (PAM4) signal, after being transmitted over a 50-m W-band link, was equalized using a low-complexity filter, maintaining an exceptionally low BER. This approach effectively leverages the inherent low-complexity advantages of single-carrier transmission over the link.
All-dielectric meta-waveguides for on-chip integration
Authors: Zhou Keya , Wang Jun , Wang Wei , Ding Weiqiang , Lin Jie , Jin Peng , Liu Shutian
Published: October 2024

Meta-waveguides have demonstrated unprecedented capabilities for controlling guided waves in both free space and on-chip. However, the designs for on-chip guided wave control are still insufficient, with only a few functions being proposed. Moreover, some designs use metal antennas as Mie resonators to provide the necessary phase shifts, which introduce undesirable Ohmic losses and thermal effects. Here, we numerically demonstrate a set of silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) phase-gradient meta-waveguide devices based on all-dielectric silicon (Si) antennas. The designed meta-waveguide reflector operates independently of waveguide width and achieves broadband, high-efficiency and high-fidelity reflection of the TE₀₀ mode. The designed meta-waveguide Fano resonator is based on the interference between the discrete resonance TE₀₀ mode and the continuous propagation TM₁₀ mode, which achieves Fano resonance over a broad wavelength range. Additionally, the designed meta-waveguide Fabry-Pérot (FP) cavity supports compact on-chip optical sensing and information processing. The designed meta-waveguide mode switch enables actively tunable mode-selective output. These all-dielectric meta-waveguide devices for on-chip guided wave control will expand the component library of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and provide positive demonstrations for high-density integrated on-chip devices.
Rotation-induced plasmonic chiral quasi-bound states in the continuum
Authors: Qin Chunhua , Deng Yadong , Lyu Tianshuo , Meng Chao , Im Sande Sören , Bozhevolnyi Sergey I. , Shi Jinhui , Ding Fei
Published: October 2024

Nanoscale light manipulation using plasmonic metasurfaces has emerged as a frontier in photonic research, offering strongly enhanced light–matter interactions with potential applications in sensing, communications, and quantum optics. Here, we unveil the realization and control of chiral quasi-bound states in the continuum (quasi-BICs) by judiciously rotating one of the paired plasmonic bricks and thereby influencing structural asymmetry. By precisely controlling the rotation angle, we enable continuous modulation of the radiation loss in quasi-BICs and transition from a perfect half-wave plate to a good absorber for the left-handed circularly polarized light. This transformation leverages the intrinsic chirality with moderately high circular dichroism of ∼0.35 in both simulation and experimental observations, manifesting unprecedented control over the chiral light within sub-wavelength scales. Theoretical modeling and numerical simulations complement our experimental findings, offering deep insights into underlying mechanisms and the role of symmetry breaking in realizing chiral quasi-BICs. The observed phenomena open new pathways for developing ultra-compact chiral photonic devices with tailored optical properties, including highly sensitive chiral biosensors, circular dichroism spectroscopy, and chiral flat optical components for information processing.
The future of transcranial ultrasound as a precision brain interface
Authors: Murphy Keith , Fouragnan Elsa
Published: October 2024

Our understanding of brain circuit operations and disorders has rapidly outpaced our ability to intervene and restore them. Developing technologies that can precisely interface with any brain region and circuit may combine diagnostics with therapeutic intervention, expediting personalised brain medicine. Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) is a promising noninvasive solution to this challenge, offering focal precision and scalability. By exploiting the biomechanics of pressure waves on brain tissue, TUS enables multi-site targeted neuromodulation across distributed circuits in the cortex and deeper areas alike. In this Essay, we explore the emergent evidence that TUS can functionally test and modify dysfunctional regions, effectively serving as a search and rescue tool for the brain. We define the challenges and opportunities faced by TUS as it moves towards greater target precision and integration with advanced brain monitoring and interventional technology. Finally, we propose a roadmap for the evolution of TUS as it progresses from a research tool to a clinically validated therapeutic for brain disorders.
Evaluation of variation in preclinical electroencephalographic (EEG) spectral power across multiple laboratories and experiments: An EQIPD study
Authors: Ahuis Tim P. , Smyk Magdalena K. , Laloux Clément , Aulehner Katharina , Bray Jack , Waldron Ann-Marie , Miljanovic Nina , Seiffert Isabel , Song Dekun , Boulanger Bruno , Jucker Mathias , Potschka Heidrun , Platt Bettina , Riedel Gernot , Voehringer Patrizia , Nicholson Janet R. , Drinkenburg Wilhelmus H. I. M. , Kas Martien J. H. , Leiser Steven C.
Published: October 2024

The European Quality In Preclinical Data (EQIPD) consortium was born from the fact that publications report challenges with the robustness, rigor, and/or validity of research data, which may impact decisions about whether to proceed with further preclinical testing or to advance to clinical testing, as well as draw conclusions on the predictability of preclinical models. To address this, a consortium including multiple research laboratories from academia and industry participated in a series of electroencephalography (EEG) experiments in mice aimed to detect sources of variance and to gauge how protocol harmonisation and data analytics impact such variance. Ultimately, the goal of this first ever between-laboratory comparison of EEG recordings and analyses was to validate the principles that supposedly increase data quality, robustness, and comparability. Experiments consisted of a Localisation phase, which aimed to identify the factors that influence between-laboratory variability, a Harmonisation phase to evaluate whether harmonisation of standardized protocols and centralised processing and data analysis reduced variance, and a Ring-Testing phase to verify the ability of the harmonised protocol to generate consistent findings. Indeed, between-laboratory variability reduced from Localisation to Harmonisation and this reduction remained during the Ring-Testing phase. Results obtained in this multicentre preclinical qEEG study also confirmed the complex nature of EEG experiments starting from the surgery and data collection through data pre-processing to data analysis that ultimately influenced the results and contributed to variance in findings across laboratories. Overall, harmonisation of protocols and centralized data analysis were crucial in reducing laboratory-to-laboratory variability. To this end, it is recommended that standardized guidelines be updated and followed for collection and analysis of preclinical EEG data.
A cost-effectiveness analysis of three surgical options for treating displaced femoral neck fractures in active older patients in Japan: A full economic evaluation
Authors: Yokoyama Kazutaka , Akune Yoko , Katoh Hiroyuki , Bito Seiji , Fujita Yoshinari , Goto Rei , Yamauchi Keita
Published: October 2024

For older patients with displaced femoral neck fractures, in which primary osteosynthesis is usually not indicated, there are three primary prosthetic options—bipolar hemiarthroplasty (BHA), single-bearing total hip arthroplasty (SB-THA), and dual-mobility THA (DM-THA). However, the optimal choice for managing displaced femoral neck fractures remains controversial. Accordingly, this study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of BHA, SB-THA, and DM-THA in active older patients with displaced femoral neck fractures. A decision tree combined with a Markov model was employed to analyze the cost and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) of BHA, SB-THA, and DM-THA for the management in the Japanese healthcare system. By simulating the five-year trajectory of a 75-year-old woman treated for a displaced femoral neck fracture, the cost-effectiveness of the three surgical options was evaluated. One-way sensitivity analysis and probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA) were used to assess parameter uncertainty. Additionally, two scenario analyses were conducted for other settings. The treatment was considered to be cost-effective when the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was below the 5,000,000 yen/QALY threshold. Compared with BHA, SB-THA exhibited higher costs but greater health benefits, resulting in an ICER of 1,499,440 yen/QALY. DM-THA offered additional health benefits compared with SB-THA, with an ICER of 4,145,777 yen/QALY. One-way sensitivity analysis revealed some influential parameters. PSA indicated that the probability of DM-THA, SB-THA, and BHA being cost-effective was 40.1%, 38.5%, and 21.4%, respectively. SB-THA was more cost-effective than BHA in patients aged 65–85 years, while DM-THA was more cost-effective than SB-THA in patients aged 65–75 years. The results suggest that SB-THA is a cost-effective alternative to BHA for displaced femoral neck fractures in active older patients, whereas DM-THA is more cost-effective than SB-THA in relatively younger patients. It is, therefore, recommended that orthopedic surgeons select the most appropriate surgical option based on the individual patient’s physiological age.
Using a Bayesian analytic approach to identify county-level ecological factors associated with survival among individuals with early-onset colorectal cancer
Authors: Siddique Sunny , Baum Laura V. M. , Deziel Nicole C. , Kelly Jill R. , Warren Joshua L. , Ma Xiaomei
Published: October 2024

Background

In the United States (US), incidence of early age of onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC, diagnosed <50 years of age) has been increasing. Using a Bayesian analytic approach, we evaluated the association between county-level ecological factors and survival among individuals with EOCRC and identified hotspot and coldspot counties with unexplained low and high survival, respectively.

Methods

Principal component (PC) analysis was used to reduce dimensionality of 36 county-level social, behavioral, and preventive factors from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. Survival information was derived from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program data from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2019. The association between the identified PCs and survival was evaluated using multivariable spatial generalized linear mixed models. Counties with residual low and high survival (i.e., unexplained by the PCs) were classified as hotspots and coldspots, respectively.

Results

Four PCs were used to explain the spatial variability in 5-year survival among 75,215 individuals with EOCRC: PC1) poverty, chronic disease, health risk behaviors (β = -0.03, 95% credible interval (CrI): -0.04, -0.03); PC2) younger age, chronic disease-free, minority status (β = -0.01, 95% CrI: -0.02, 0.00); PC3) urban environment, preventive services (β = 0.02, 95% CrI: 0.00, 0.03); and PC4) older age (-0.04, 95% CrI: -0.06, -0.02). Among individuals with distant malignancies, the residual spatial variability remained high for two US counties: 1) Salt Lake County, UT residents experiencing 26.5% (95% CrI: 1.5%, 47.8%) lower odds of survival [hotspot], and 2) Riverside County, CA residents experiencing 37% (95% CrI: 7.97%, 78.8%) higher odds survival [coldspot] after adjustment for county-level factors.

Conclusions

County-level ecological factors are strongly associated with survival among individuals with EOCRC. Yet there is some evidence of survival disparities among individuals with distant malignancies that remain unexplained by the included factors.
Comparison of intracompartment pressure changes in tibial plateau fractures and controlled people: A pilot study
Authors: Guo Jialiang , Zhang Jianfeng , Du Kezheng , Dong Weichong , Han Xiaohui , Zhang Yingze , Hou Zhiyong
Published: October 2024

Objective

Acute compartment syndrome (ACS) is a serious medical condition that can be encountered in tibial plateau fractures. However, no studies of compartment pressure changes in patients with tibial plateau fractures compared to patient without fractures have been reported. To obtain a comprehensive understanding of the pressure changes in patients with fractures, we monitored and recorded the compartment pressure and attempted to reveal the potential pressure release function of the human fascia.

Materials and methods

Cohorts of 43 normal individuals and 23 patients (initial 33, 10 were excluded due to inclusion criteria) and include the number of patients who completed the study with closed tibial fractures (the fracture group, FG, which comprised 6 men and 17 women) were included in this retrospective research. Compartment pressures were measured with Icare, a device that is traditionally used to measure intraocular pressure. Results of measurements at 6 different locations in the lower limb were recorded and compared for three days (days 2, 3, and 4 post fracture) between normal cohort (CG) and fracture cohort (FG) patients.

Results

The compartment pressures were comparable at each pressure measurement site (upper, middle and lower) in patients of the CG and the FG. Compared with the CG patients, there was a significant increase in compartment pressure at the upper lateral location in 18-45-year-old patients in the FG (P = 0.013) and at the upper lateral (P = 0.004) and medial locations (P = 0.005) in 46-69-year-old patients, and the values tended to normalize over time. Compared with the contralateral normal limb of patients in the FG, there was a significant increase in compartment pressure at the upper lateral location in 18-45-year-old patients (P = 0.009) and at the upper lateral (P = 0.015) and medial locations (P = 0.016) in 46-69-year-old patients on the fractured side. Based on different fracture classifications, there were no significant differences in compartment pressure at the medial (upper, middle and lower) locations when compared with pressures at the corresponding lateral sites of measurement.

Conclusion

The results of this study revealed that the fascial compartment as a whole can release the increased intracompartment pressure after fracture to prevent complications such as acute compartment syndrome caused by a continued increase in pressure. The Icare as a portable device, is potentially useful in compartmental pressure measurement especially in emergency room.
The protein segregase VCP/p97 promotes host antifungal defense via regulation of SYK activation
Authors: Shao Zhugui , Wang Li , Cao Limin , Chen Tian , Jia Xin-Ming , Sun Wanwei , Gao Chengjiang , Xiao Hui
Published: October 2024

C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) are essential to execute host defense against fungal infection. Nevertheless, a comprehensive understanding of the molecular underpinnings of CLR signaling remains a work in progress. Here, we searched for yet-to-be-identified tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins in Dectin-1 signaling and linked the stress-response protein valosin containing protein (VCP)/p97 to Dectin-1 signaling. Knockdown of VCP expression or chemical inhibition of VCP’s segregase activity dampened Dectin-1-elicited SYK activation in BMDMs and BMDCs, leading to attenuated expression of proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines such as TNF-α, IL-6 and CXCL1. Biochemical analyses demonstrated that VCP and its cofactor UFD1 form a complex with SYK and its phosphatase SHP-1 following Dectin-1 ligation, and knockdown of VCP led to a more prominent SYK and SHP-1 association. Further, SHP-1 became polyubiquitinated upon Dectin-1 activation, and VCP or UFD1 overexpression accelerated SHP-1 degradation. Conceivably, VCP may promote Dectin-1 signaling by pulling the ubiquitinated SHP-1 out of the SYK complex for degradation. Finally, genetic ablation of VCP in the neutrophil and macrophage compartment rendered the mice highly susceptible to infection by Candida albicans, an observation also phenocopied by administering the VCP inhibitor. These results collectively demonstrate that VCP is a previously unappreciated signal transducer of the Dectin-1 pathway and a crucial component of antifungal defense, and suggest a new mechanism regulating SYK activation.
Understanding humour as the catalyst to social reform: A study of Mahesh Dattani’s Where There Is a Will (1988)
Authors: Kumar Manivendra , Ghoshal Ananya
Published: October 2024

Mahesh Dattani (b. 1958) is a reformist playwright of modern India whose works have been interpreted as texts of social critique. Academics such as Erin B. Mee and Asha Kuthari Chowdhari have attributed his works to the ‘invisible issues’ permeating India’s urban middle classes. They have highlighted how Dattani portrays topics such as gender inequality, homosexuality and communal violence to appeal to the public in pursuit of social reform. This article proposes that humour, in addition to these themes, is an equally essential aspect of Dattani’s reformist visions. It argues that Dattani’s humour resonates with what J. L. Styan calls the ‘dark comedy’. It explores the use of humour in Dattani’s play, Where There Is a Will (1988), through Henri Bergson’s concepts of comical inversion, rigidity and symmetrical repetition, to examine the comical elements of the events, dialogue and characters. This approach assists Dattani in posing reformative queries and, according to Styan, eliciting responses from the readers/audience.
Amenaza letal (2007): procesos de corrupción durante una epidemia viral en la ciudad de Los Ángeles, USA
Authors: Moya-Espinoza Jeel G. , Moya-Salazar Jeel , Contreras-Pulache Hans
Published: October 2024

Un brote infeccioso causado por el virus H3N7 que llega a la ciudad de Los Ángeles, California, procedente de Australia, es el desencadenante para una crisis que incluye actos de corrupción. Al igual que durante la pandemia de SARS CoV-2, Amenaza letal / Pandemic (2007) de Armand Mastroianni, muestra secuencias de falta de decisión política, micro y macro corrupción, así como una falta de responsabilidad social que ocasionan miles de muertes en pocas horas. La corrupción en la respuesta a una emergencia sanitaria es un problema grave que requiere atención urgente ya que puede socavar dramáticamente los esfuerzos de salud pública, exacerbar la desigualdad y erosionar la confianza en las instituciones. En este trabajo se realiza un breve análisis sobre la corrupción durante la epidemia por H3N7 abordando sus efectos sobre las actividades sanitarias, que recrudecen el impacto de la enfermedad y muestran la falta de compromiso social y moral de los ciudadanos. Asimismo, el sistema de salud se ve afectado por las decisiones políticas y los actos de corrupción reduciendo su capacidad de respuesta.
Cuiden a Maya (2023). Síndrome de dolor regional complejo (CRPS), el caso de Maya Kowalski entre la ética y la verdad
Authors: Baculima Peña Daysi Eliana , Ramírez Orellana María Isabel
Published: October 2024

“Cuando Maya Kowalski, de 10 años, ingresó en el Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital en 2016, nada podría haberla preparado ni a ella ni a su familia para lo que estaban a punto de vivir. A medida que el equipo médico intentaba comprender su rara enfermedad, empezaron a cuestionarse las verdades básicas que unían a los Kowalski. De repente, Maya estaba bajo custodia del Estado, a pesar de dos padres que estaban desesperados por traer a su hija a casa. La historia de la familia Kowalski, contada con sus propias palabras, cambiará para siempre su forma de ver la atención sanitaria infantil” (Netflix).