bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating progression-free survival of EGFR exon 20ins in patients with advanced non-small lung cancer receiving EGFR inhibitors: A real-world data study.
Authors: Kabbaha Suad , Dempsey Sarah Carder , Thorlund Kristian
Published: June 2024

e20092

Background: EGFR mutations with exon 20 insertions (Exon20ins) have emerged as a distinct subset with significant clinical implications. Their prevalence is approximately 10%. Patients with Exon20ins have fewer available treatment options compared to common EGFR mutations. We therefore aimed to evaluate progression-free survival (PFS) in advanced and recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients harboring Exon20ins and treated with EGFR inhibitors. Methods: We searched the OpenCase database for stage III-IV advanced and recurrent NSCLC patients harboring (Exon20ins) mutation and limited to patients having received at least commercially available EGFR inhibitors (including off-label use). We extracted time to progression or longest duration of follow-up for all patients as well as key baseline characteristics. We calculated median PFS (IQR) across all patients. Subgroup analysis compared the sub-populations contingent on each having data from n>9 patients: line of therapy (1st, 2nd and 3rd+, Sex, Age (<65 years vs older), and smoking status (never vs former/current). Results: The number of patients harboring Exon20ins mutation was n=93. Filtering to patients who had received EGFR inhibitors yielded a sample size of n=36 patients. Fourteen patients had data on 2 or 3 lines of treatments, thus yielding n=53 PFS data points. The median age was 56.5 years (IQR: 39.7-68) with 63.8% females, and 69.4% never-smokers (11% missing values). PFS was available for 21, 12, and 13 patients on 1st, 2nd and 3rd+ line of therapy, respectively. EGFR inhibitors were Afatinib (13), Osimertinib (12), Furmonertinib (6), Anlotinib(6), Crizotinib (3), Poziotinib(2), Almonertinib(2), Apatinib (2), Other (8). The overall median PFS was 9.0 months (IQR: 5.0 to 10.3, min-max: 1 to 38). The median PFS was similar for 1st, 2nd and 3rd+ lines of treatment at 8.13, 8.0 and 9.5 months, respectively. The median PFS for females was 9 months (IQR: 3.8 to 12, n=36) versus 6.2 months (5 to 10, n=17). Lastly, the median PFS for patients younger than 65 years was 9 months (IQR: 5.3 to 12, n=39) versus 5.6 (IQR: 2,5 to 9.4, n=15) for older patients. Subgroup comparison for smoking status was not possible due to low number of former/current smokers. Conclusions: Our exploratory analysis suggested improved PFS among female, and younger patients. No differences were observed by treatment line or treatment.
The Accuracy of the Learning-Curve Cumulative Sum Method in Assessing Brachial Plexus Block Competency
Authors: de Oliveira Filho Getúlio Rodrigues , Soares Garcia Jorge Hamilton
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND:

The learning-curve cumulative sum method (LC-CUSUM) and its risk-adjusted form (RA-LC-CUSUM) have been proposed as performance-monitoring methods to assess competency during the learning phase of procedural skills. However, scarce data exist about the method’s accuracy. This study aimed to compare the accuracy of LC-CUSUM forms using historical data consisting of sequences of successes and failures in brachial plexus blocks (BPBs) performed by anesthesia residents.

METHODS:

Using historical data from 1713 BPB performed by 32 anesthesia residents, individual learning curves were constructed using the LC-CUSUM and RA-LC-CUSUM methods. A multilevel logistic regression model predicted the procedure-specific risk of failure incorporated in the RA-LC-CUSUM calculations. Competency was defined as a maximum 15% cumulative failure rate and was used as the reference for determining the accuracy of both methods.

RESULTS:

According to the LC-CUSUM method, 22 residents (84.61%) attained competency after a median of 18.5 blocks (interquartile range [IQR], 14–23), while the RA-LC-CUSUM assigned competency to 20 residents (76.92%) after a median of 17.5 blocks (IQR, 14–25, P = .001). The median failure rate at reaching competency was 6.5% (4%–9.75%) under the LC-CUSUM and 6.5% (4%–9%) for the RA-LC-CUSUM method (P = .37). The sensitivity of the LC-CUSUM (85%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 71%–98%) was similar to the RA-LC-CUSUM method (77%; 95% CI, 61%–93%; P = .15). Identical specificity values were found for both methods (67%; 95% CI, 29%–100%, P = 1).

CONCLUSIONS:

The LC-CUSUM and RA-LC-CUSUM methods were associated with substantial false-positive and false-negative rates. Also, small lower limits for the 95% CIs around the accuracy measures were observed, indicating that the methods may be inaccurate for high-stakes decisions about resident competency at BPBs.
Impact of Embolisate Penetration, Type, and Technique on Results After Standalone Middle Meningeal Artery Embolization for Chronic Subdural Hematoma
Authors: Ma Li , Hoz Samer S. , Doheim Mohamed F. , Fadhil Ali , Sultany Abdullah , Al-Bayati Alhamza R. , Nogueira Raul G. , Lang Michael J. , Gross Bradley A.
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) has emerged as a promising modality for chronic/subacute subdural hematoma treatment; however, consensus regarding embolization technique and embolisate has not been achieved. We thus sought to compare the efficacy of distinct MMAE techniques and embolisate.

METHODS:

An institutional registry was reviewed to identify patients undergoing standalone MMAE for symptomatic chronic/subacute subdural hematoma. Surgical rescue rate and time preceding 50% hematoma resolution were evaluated across 3 technical groups: aggressive penetration (AP), nonaggressive penetration with proximal coil embolization (NP-PC), and nonaggressive penetration alone (NP). Effect sizes were adjusted for demographic, neurological and radiological features through multivariable logistic and Cox regression.

RESULTS:

Among 117 procedures, 33.3% achieved AP, 36.8% had NP-PC, and 29.9% had NP. The rate of surgical rescue was 2.6% after AP, 9.3% for NP-PC, and 11.4% for NP. In patients not undergoing rescue surgery, 82.4% achieved hematoma resolution ≥50% at a median imaging follow-up of 56 days; AP or NP-PC were each statistically significantly associated with enhanced hematoma resolution as compared with NP (P = .02). Similarly, sensitivity analysis within medium-size hematoma and antiplatelet/anticoagulation-at-admission subgroups revealed a superiority of resolution after AP or NP-PC. A unique, comparative secondary analysis of liquid embolisate (Onyx vs n-butyl cyanoacrylate) revealed no impact on rate of surgical rescue or hematoma resolution.

CONCLUSION:

AP was associated with the lowest rate of surgical rescue, while both AP and NP-PC were associated with improved rates of hematoma resolution.
Η διαδικασία της συνταξιοδοτικής και υγειονομικής μεταρρύθμισης στην Ελλάδα (1974-2021)
Authors: Τσανικλίδης Ανδρέας-Δαβίδ
Published: June 2024

Στόχος της παρούσας μελέτης είναι να προωθήσει την επιστημονική συζήτηση που αφορά την αιτιολόγηση της θεσμικής αδράνειας. Αυτή η στόχευση εκπληρώνεται μέσα από την ανάλυση της διαδικασίας της συνταξιοδοτικής και υγειονομικής μεταρρύθμισης στην Ελλάδα στο χρονικό διάστημα 1974-2021 και για την εν λόγω ανάλυση χρησιμοποιείται το αναλυτικό φάσμα του ιστορικού θεσμισμού, η προσέγγιση του πλαισίου συνασπισμών υπεράσπισης και η έννοια της πολιτικής ηγεσίας.Βάσει της ανάλυσης μας τεκμαίρεται πως η ισχύς της επεκτατικής οικονομικής ιδέας είναι συνυφασμένη με έναν ισχυρό συνασπισμό που τάσσεται ενάντια σε παρεμβάσεις που αντιβαίνουν στην προαναφερθείσα οικονομική ιδέα και σύστοιχα λειτουργεί ως καταλύτης αδράνειας. Το εν λόγω πλαίσιο αποτυπώνεται και μετά την υπαγωγή της χώρας στο πρόγραμμα οικονομικής προσαρμογής και λειτουργεί ως καταλύτης άμβλυνσης της έντασης των προωθούμενων αλλαγών στα δύο πεδία πολιτικής που πραγματεύεται η παρούσα μελέτη, ενώ στη δυναμική της επεκτατικής οικονομικής ιδέας συμβάλλει σημαντικά η στάση των πολιτικών ηγεσιών.Υπό αυτό το πρίσμα στην ανάλυση μας καταδεικνύεται ότι επί του χρονικού φάσματος 1974-1985 κυριάρχησε στην Ελλάδα η ιδέα της επεκτατικής οικονομικής λογικής, με την εν λόγω κυριαρχία να είναι ασύμβατη με την προώθηση παρεμβάσεων, στο συνταξιοδοτικό και υγειονομικό σκέλος, που να αντιβαίνουν στην προαναφερθείσα οικονομική λογική. Στις αρχές της δεκαετίας του 1990 η χώρα καλείται να εναρμονιστεί στις οικονομικές επιταγές της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης και αυτή η αναγκαιότητα είναι συνυφασμένη με την ανάδειξη της προβληματικής της μεταρρύθμισης στα άνωθεν δύο πεδία πολιτικής. Μολαταύτα, η εν λόγω ανάδειξη δεν συνδέεται με την προώθηση εκτενών αλλαγών σε αυτά. Η υπαγωγή της χώρας στο πρόγραμμα οικονομικής προσαρμογής συνέβαλε στην προώθηση αλλαγών μεγαλύτερης έντασης (σε σχέση με το παρελθόν) επί του συνταξιοδοτικού και υγειονομικού πεδίου. Ωστόσο, η επιρροή της ιδέας που τάσσεται ενάντια στις πολιτικές οικονομικής λιτότητας συνεχίζει να υφίσταται και λειτουργεί ως αντίρροπη δύναμη. Καταληκτικά, η πανδημική κρίση φαίνεται να αναρριπίζει τη δυναμική της επεκτατικής οικονομικής ιδέας, χωρίς, ωστόσο, να υπάρχουν αξιόλογες μεταβολές στο υγειονομικό πεδίο και χωρίς να επηρεάζεται η διαδικασία μεταρρύθμισης στο συνταξιοδοτικό σκέλος.
Extraction and stabilization of quantum many-body states
Authors: Φραντζεσκάκης Ραφαήλ
Published: June 2024

Oι «γράφοι» είναι κβαντικές καταστάσεις υψηλής σύμπλεξης που αποτελούν κρίσιμους πόρους στον κβαντική υπολογιστική μέσω μετρήσεων και στις κβαντικές επικοινωνίες. Παρά τη σημασία των φωτονικών γράφων και των λεγόμενων “cluster” καταστάσεων για τις κβαντικές τεχνολογίες, η παραγωγή τους παρουσιάζει σημαντικές δυσκολίες και αποτελεί αντικείμενο τρέχουσας έρευνας. Σε αυτή τη διατριβή, προτείνουμε δύο πρωτόκολλα συγκέντρωσης σύμπλεξης όπου αποσπούμε «γράφους» από ατελείς καταστάσεις γραφήματος που ονομάζονται σταθμισμένες καταστάσεις «γράφοι». Στο πρώτο πρωτόκολλο, αρχικοποιούμε μια σταθμισμένη κατάσταση μιας διάστασης και μετρώντας τον ζυγό αριθμό των κβαντικών bits μπορούμε να εξαγάγουμε τις λεγόμενες “GHZ” καταστάσεις. Μελετούμε επίσης, πώς τα σφάλματα ενός κβαντικού bit επηρεάζουν το πρωτόκολλο και εάν η απόσπαση είναι επαρκής, παρουσία αυτού του τύπου σφάλματος. Στο δεύτερο πρωτόκολλο, γενικεύουμε το πρώτο μας αποτέλεσμα και δείχνουμε ότι μπορούμε να αποσπάσουμε πιο γενικές καταστάσεις. Συγκεκριμένα, εφαρμόζουμε μια απόσπαση ακμών για κάθε ακμή της κατάστασης γραφήματος αντικαθιστώντας την με μια σταθμισμένη κατάσταση και μετρώντας τρία κβαντικά bits για κάθε ακμή. Σχολιάζουμε την πιθανότητα επιτυχίας του πρωτοκόλλου και εξερευνούμε πιθανές προσαρμοστικές μετρήσεις για να ενισχύσουμε το ποσοστό επιτυχίας.
Of fears and bodies in early romantic poetry
Authors: Καράμπελα Έλλη
Published: June 2024

Η παρούσα διατριβή προσεγγίζει τις ψυχοσωματικές εκφράσεις διαφορετικών και μεταβαλλόμενων ειδών του φόβου στη Ρομαντική ποίηση του τέλους του δέκατου όγδοου και των αρχών του δέκατου ένατου αιώνα. Η περίοδος αυτή επιλέχθηκε λόγω των άμεσων και ραγδαίων επιπτώσεων της Γαλλικής Επανάστασης στη διαμόρφωση και την αντίληψη του αγγλικού κράτους, μαζί με την καινούργια ανάγκη αναζήτησης νοήματος των ανθρώπων μέσα σε έναν ταχέως μεταβαλλόμενο κόσμο. Τα γραπτά των ρομαντικών ποιητών που εξετάζονται στην παρούσα διατριβή, δηλαδή του William Blake, του William Wordsworth, της Mary Robinson, του Samuel Taylor Coleridge, της Joanna Baillie και της Anne Bannerman, αντανακλούν αυτή την αναζήτηση για την καλύτερη αντίληψη των προσωπικών και πολιτικών φόβων, καθώς και τους μηχανισμούς αντιμετώπισης με βάση τον φόβο ως κυρίαρχο συναίσθημα της εποχής και τον μετατρέπουν σε γοτθικό χώρο για να διερευνηθούν προσωπικές και πολιτικές ανησυχίες. Αυτό γίνεται μέσω της αλληλεπίδρασης μεταξύ των σωμάτων του φόβου και των σωμάτων του τρόμου και της φρίκης. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, θα διερευνήσω την αλληλεπίδραση μεταξύ του εαυτού και των γοτθικών σωμάτων του φόβου σε διαφορετικές ψυχοσωματικές εκφράσεις σε συγκεκριμένα γοτθικά ποιητικά κείμενα. Για τους συγγραφείς αυτούς, οι φόβοι που δημιουργούνται μέσω της επαφής με τα περιθωριοποιημένα τρομερά σώματα που στοιχειώνουν τον εαυτό και το έθνος μπορούν να αποσταθεροποιήσουν προυπάρχουσες ιδέες για τον εαυτό και την κοινωνία και να προωθήσουν τη θεραπεία και την επανεκτίμηση. Για το σκοπό αυτό, θα ακολουθήσω τις σύγχρονες θεωρίες για τα διάφορα είδη φόβου, για να αναγνωρίσω το γεγονός ότι ο φόβος έχει πολλές μορφές, βαθμούς και είδη για τους συγγραφείς αυτούς, όπως και τα γοτθικά σώματα που κατοικούν στα γραπτά τους, από τα σώματα τρόμου του Blake μέχρι τα σώματα/φαντάσματα που στοιχειώνουν την ποίηση της Baillie και της Bannerman. Η σημασία του φόβου ως συναισθήματος σε αυτό το πλαίσιο σχετίζεται με τον ισχυρό σωματικό αντίκτυπό του και τη σημασία του για τη σύγχρονη κοινωνικοπολιτική σκηνή σε θέματα προσωπικής και πολιτικής απειλής, ασφάλειας και ελέγχου. Η παρούσα διατριβή θα επικεντρωθεί στις διάφορες απαντήσεις των πρώιμων ρομαντικών συγγραφέων σε αυτές τις ανησυχίες.
Έλεγχος Συσχέτισης της Αλγοριθμικής Σκέψης με την Ηλικία των Μαθητών/τριών Πρώτης Σχολικής Ηλικίας, στα Πλαίσια του Μαθήματος της Μελέτης Περιβάλλοντος
Authors: Κανάκη Καλλιόπη , Καλογιαννάκης Μιχαήλ
Published: June 2024

Στις μέρες μας, η εξάπλωση των νέων τεχνολογιών έχει αλλάξει τον τρόπο που ζούμε, μαθαίνουμε και εργαζόμαστε, γεγονός που καθιστά επιβεβλημένη την καλλιέργεια δεξιοτήτων, όπως αυτών της υπολογιστικής σκέψης (ΥΣ), οι οποίες δεν αφορούν μόνο στη μελλοντική επαγγελματική σταδιοδρομία των σημερινών μαθητών/τριών, αλλά επιπλέον είναι εφαρμόσιμες στην καθημερινή ζωή των πολιτών των μοντέρνων κοινωνιών. Στην παρούσα εργασία παρουσιάζεται ένα εργαλείο αξιολόγησης βασικών δεξιοτήτων της ΥΣ μαθητών/τριών προσχολικής και πρώτης σχολικής ηλικίας, το οποίο εφαρμόστηκε σε σχετική μελέτη που διεξήχθη στο Ηράκλειο της Κρήτης κατά το σχολικό έτος 2018-2019 σε δείγμα 435 μαθητών/τριών. Ανάμεσα στα άλλα, ελέγχηκε και η συσχέτιση της αλγοριθμικής σκέψης – η οποία είναι θεμελιώδης δεξιότητα της ΥΣ – με την ηλικία των μαθητών/τριών της Α΄ και Β΄ τάξης του Δημοτικού. Τα αποτελέσματα όχι μόνο επιβεβαίωσαν την υπό εξέταση συσχέτιση, αλλά, επιπλέον, ανέδειξαν ότι η ηλικία αποτελεί προγνωστικό παράγοντα των επιπέδων της αλγοριθμικής σκέψης, προβάλλοντας την ανάγκη δημιουργίας αναπτυξιακά κατάλληλων εκπαιδευτικών πρακτικών καλλιέργειας δεξιοτήτων της ΥΣ.
The Development of Digital Technologies in the Banking Sector
Authors: Levitskiy E.
Published: June 2024

Abstract The article is devoted to the vectors of digital technology development in the Russian Federation, various factors affecting the banking sector, as well as the forms of modern digital technologies and the possibility of applying state regulation by the Government of the Russian Federation and the Central Bank of the Russian Federation in order to ensure stability and security. Special attention is paid to state regulation in the field of information technology in the banking sector. The author highlights the features of the development of digital technologies in the banking sector. The vectors of innovation development in the banking sector are considered. Methodological tools of the research: analysis of statistical sources of information; in the course of the work, forecasting methods are actively used to study possible ways of developing digital banking vectors. In conclusion, the development vectors for the banking sector in the space of digital transformation are highlighted.
¿Reforma agraria por vía judicial? Jueces locales y reforma agraria en Colombia
Authors: Güiza-Gómez Diana Isabel , Hernández Carrasco Santiago , Bautista Revelo Ana Jimena
Published: June 2024

Este artículo presenta la base de datos “Jueces y Reforma Agraria” (JRA), que corresponde a un panel municipal y anual de la entrega de 11.761 baldíos—alrededor de 260.000 hectáreas—a particulares a través de un mecanismo judicial que no verifica los requisitos de la reforma agraria—esto es, la prescripción adquisitiva de dominio. Nuestro análisis estadístico y geográfico sugiere que este fenómeno ha tenido dos efectos contradictorios: el acceso a la tierra por campesinos sin ella y la acumulación de tierras. Enfatizamos en este último para los casos de Córdoba y Casanare. JRA ofrece datos nacionales novedosos para explicar las causas y las consecuencias del rol de los jueces en la implementación de la reforma agraria en Colombia.
Optimal Dynamic Mechanism Under Customer Search
Authors: Hu Zhenyu , Xiao Yangge
Published: June 2024

How to Sell to a Customer Who Searches for Alternative Products

Customer searching behavior has been ubiquitous in modern marketplaces. Dynamic pricing, such as giving promotional prices to customers who purchase earlier, has been commonly adopted in practice to discourage customers from searching. In the paper “Optimal Dynamic Mechanism Under Customer Search,” Z. Hu and Y. Xiao characterize that, in the optimal selling mechanism, the seller should offer a menu of American option contracts. Under such a mechanism, the customer is given all the freedom in conducting the search but must pay an up-front deposit from the chosen option contract in order to enjoy the right to purchase the seller’s product anytime during the search at a prespecified strike price. Through deposits, the seller is able to extract the customer’s additional surplus from searching regardless of whether the customer makes the final purchase or not. As a result, the seller can often obtain a much higher profit than dynamic pricing mechanisms that aim to deter searching.
Brevibacillus laterosporus osteomyelitis and hardware infection in a young, immunocompetent patient successfully treated by oral minocycline and ceftriaxone via a peripherally inserted central catheter for six weeks
Authors: Sullivan Sierra , Davalos Jesus , Nichols Jacob , Smith Flint , Welch Tanis , Woodward Alanna , McLean Alyssa
Published: June 2024

Brevibacillus laterosporus, an endospore-forming, aerobic, Gram-positive bacillus, is not only a potential biocontrol agent against plant pathogens but also a rare cause of human infection. Its pathogenicity in humans, especially in immunocompetent individuals, is still not fully understood. Skin infections caused by B. laterosporus are typically opportunistic, entering the skin through cuts, wounds, or other breaches in the skin’s protective barrier, as in the case presented here.
Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the liver
Authors: Benhamdane Ahlame , Adioui Tarik , Berrag Sanaa , Nejjari Fouad , Allaoui Mohamed , Tamzaourte Mouna
Published: June 2024

Introduction: Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the liver (SCC) is a rare and challenging pathology. As an aggressive cancer, the prognosis is extremely poor with less than 12 months overall survival. In view of its low prevalence, we report the case of an elderly patient with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the liver. Case description: A 74-year-old female, with no pathological history, presented with acute right hypochondrium pain associated with shivering, asthenia and weight loss. We diagnosed primary hepatic squamous cell carcinoma by pathological analysis. Conclusion: Primary hepatic squamous cell carcinoma represents a rare malignant tumour with extremely poor prognosis. There is no established treatment protocol for this disease and a multidisciplinary approach is needed to choose the best therapeutic option.
Making a mark
Authors: Jansen Elizabeth
Published: June 2024

Maker{Futures} programme officer, Elizabeth Jansen, from the University of Sheffield, discusses how maker education can support children's early mark making, and shares more about Maker{Futures}, a new education outreach programme.
Bacteriophages
Authors: Winter George
Published: June 2024

In this month's article, George Winter discusses how attention has been turning increasingly towards a natural antibacterial phenomenon that could influence the treatment of bacterial infections
Antibiotic use in the emergency department for acute sore throat
Authors: Beveridge Ruth , Swann Garry
Published: June 2024

Acute sore throat is a frequent cause of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing in primary care, despite the majority of cases being viral in nature. Following changes in consulting behaviour, many patients are now turning to emergency departments for their primary care needs. The aim of this study was to determine whether clinical scores are used between staff groups when treating acute tonsillitis in an emergency department and whether antibiotics are prescribed appropriately. A retrospective service evaluation of patients diagnosed with ‘tonsillitis’ in the emergency department over a 12-month period was conducted. Patient records were reviewed for Centor or FeverPAIN scoring documentation, antibiotic prescriptions and the clinician group providing treatment. The review found that a clinical score was documented for only 38 patients and that 44% of antibiotics were prescribed inappropriately. It is concluded that clinical scores are not being used appropriately in the emergency department to guide antibiotic prescribing for tonsillitis, leading to a high number of inappropriate prescriptions.
Cripping instagram: Embodied, Critical, and Creative Cultures of Use
Authors: Brophy Sarah
Published: June 2024

ABSTRACT: How do disabled and chronically ill artists and curators navigate corporate-owned social media platforms as self-authored disabled subjects and communities? Mobilizing concepts from crip theory and accessible curation together with discourse and visual analysis, and engaging with artists’ and curators’ views about social media platforms and selfie culture via interviews, this paper develops a conceptual framework that prioritizes the intertwining of emergence, endurance, and exhaustion in crip artistic and curatorial online practices. The potential for a radical social media disability aesthetics takes shape as a powerful but contingent and troubled matter of digital crip emergence/emergency, a mode of contending with social media’s demands and violences through embodied automedial practices that foster presence, community, and creativity and contest the terms of social media visibility. This article activates this model by analyzing collaboratively authored Instagram accounts that feature residencies.
Theoretical analysis of nanoscale local etching of a rough quartz surface under direct illumination
Authors: Kanevskii Vasyl , Fu Hongyu , Kolienov Serhii , Grygoruk Valerii , Zhang Hao , Stelmakh Oleksandr
Published: June 2024

A 3D model of photochemical polishing of rough quartz surfaces under direct illumination has been developed. One of the features of the model is its ability to predict the results of a photochemical polishing process without the need for time-consuming calculations. The proposed model analyzes the characteristics of the surface evolution during polishing based on the initial roughness parameters and the polarization of the incident radiation. When a rough surface is irradiated with linearly polarized light, a textured surface in the form of furrows is produced. Non-polarized radiation is recommended to obtain a flatter surface.
Retinex-based underwater image enhancement via adaptive color correction and hierarchical U-shape transformer
Authors: Zhang Yi , Chandler Damon M. , Leszczuk Mikołaj
Published: June 2024

Underwater images can suffer from visibility and quality degradation due to the attenuation of propagated light and other factors unique to the underwater setting. While Retinex-based approaches have shown to be effective in enhancing the underwater image quality, the use of hand-crafted priors and optimization-driven solutions often prevent the adaptivity of these methods to different types of underwater images. Moreover, the commonly-used white balance strategy which often appears in the preprocessing stage of the underwater image enhancement (UIE) algorithms may give rise to unwanted color distortions due to the fact that wavelength-dependent light absorption is not taken into account. To overcome these potential limitations, in this paper, we present an effective UIE model based on adaptive color correction and data-driven Retinex decomposition. Specifically, an adaptive color balance approach which takes into account different attenuation levels for light with different wavelengths is proposed to adaptively enhance the three color channels. Furthermore, deep neural networks are employed for the Retinex decomposition, formulating the optimization problem as an implicit-prior-regularized model which is solved by learning the priors from a large training dataset. Finally, a hierarchical U-shape Transformer network which uses hierarchically-structured multi-scale feature extraction and selective feature aggregation is applied to the decomposed images for contrast enhancement and blur reduction. Experimental results tested on six benchmark underwater image datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed UIE model.
Enhanced 4D-OFDM optical communication systems with color-coded constellations and probability constellation shaping
Authors: Xu Dongdong , Liu Bo , Ren Jianxin , Mao Yaya , Wu Xiangyu , Song Xiumin , Chen Shuaidong , Zhao Lilong , Qi Zhipeng , Zhang Juntao , Cui Jie , Ullah Rahat , Wang Feng
Published: June 2024

The present work introduces a four-dimensional probability constellation mapping OFDM optical transmission system based on a two-dimensional inverse fast Fourier transform (2D-IFFT). A four-dimensional constellation structure employing color coding is designed, amalgamating geometric shaping with probability shaping to enhance the constellation figure of merit (CFM). Successful transmission of OFDM signals at 51.49 Gb/s is achieved over a 2 km seven-core optical fiber, validating the performance of the proposed constellation diagram. Under the conditions of multicore multiplexing and a bit error rate of 3.8 × 10−3, the receiver sensitivity of the OFDM signals mapped with the proposed color-coded four-dimensional constellation exhibits gains of 0.8 dB, 1.33 dB, and 1.83 dB compared to traditional four-dimensional constellations, 3D-OFDM, and 2D-OFDM modulation, respectively. Furthermore, under an entropy value of 4.4 bits/symbol, a receiver sensitivity gain of 1.36 dB is attained compared to a uniform distribution constellation, indicating the favorable error performance of this scheme with promising prospects for short-distance communication in the future.
Study on the Faraday rotation angle of La-substituted barium hexaferrite in the terahertz band
Authors: Wang Feng , Zhang Yuanjing , Li Han , Yang Shuting , Zhang Huaiwu , Yang Qinghui
Published: June 2024

M-type barium hexaferrites (Ba1-xLaxFe12O19) were prepared by the liquid phase epitaxial (LPE) method, in which Ba2+ was substituted by La3+. The Faraday rotation effect of materials in the frequency range of 0.5–0.8 terahertz (THz) is studied by THz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS). It was demonstrated that the M-type barium hexaferrites have a large Faraday rotation angle, and the Faraday rotation angle can be further enhanced by the substitution of La3+. For 500 µm thick film samples, the Faraday rotation angle exceeded 20° under the maximum measuring magnetic field of 400 mT. Moreover, the Faraday rotation angle is not saturated, and it will further increase with the increase of the magnetic field. At 0.8 THz, the Faraday rotation angle of the sample with x = 0 is 21.48°, for x = 0.05 which is 21.62°, and for x = 0.19 which is 28.38°. The Faraday rotation angle is enhanced by about 32%. By measuring the magnetic properties of the material, we found that the fundamental cause of the enhancement in the Faraday rotation angle lies in the increased saturation magnetization of the material after La3+ substitution. In the experiment, it was also found that the transmittance of the material to the THz wave decreased sharply with the increase of La substitution. For sample x = 0, the transmittance is as high as 60%. When the substitution amount of La is only x = 0.05, the transmittance decreases to about 55%. When the maximum substitution amount of La is x = 0.24, the transmittance of the material is only about 2%.
4-bit millimeter-wave Janus metasurface enabled polarization-spatial multiplexing holography
Authors: Zhang Zhiyun , Li Sijia , Zhou Yulong , Li Tong , Cong Lili , Feng Qiang , Zhao Xilai , Cao Xiangyu
Published: June 2024

Metasurface holography has become a surging and revolutionized field due to its flexible manipulation of amplitude and/or phase, which enhances the quality and capacity of holographic images. However, the current meta-holograms primarily focus on half-space manipulation, posing a challenge in developing simplified meta-hologram structures for spatial multiplexing. To address this situation, what we believe to be a novel 4-bit “Janus” metasurface combined with the weighted Gerchberg-Saxton (WGS) algorithm is proposed to record and reconstruct two distinct images in millimeter wave band. By meticulously designing the single-layer units, the 4-bit Janus metasurface achieves independent amplitude and phase responses in two orthogonal information channels. Moreover, the imaging ability of the proposed metasurface is investigated under different amplitude and phase dispersion. Comparative analysis also highlights several notable advantages of our work, including a low-profile design, polarization-frequency multiplexing, and enhanced imaging efficiency. The proposed method is verified through theoretical calculations, simulations, and experiments, and promises a versatile platform for applications in data storage, encryption, and auxiliary sensing.
Speckle tracking phase-contrast computed tomography at an inverse Compton X-ray source
Authors: Zandarco Simon , Günther Benedikt , Riedel Mirko , Breitenhuber Gregor , Kirst Miriam , Achterhold Klaus , Pfeiffer Franz , Herzen Julia
Published: June 2024

Speckle-based X-ray imaging (SBI) is a phase-contrast method developed at and for highly coherent X-ray sources, such as synchrotrons, to increase the contrast of weakly absorbing objects. Consequently, it complements the conventional attenuation-based X-ray imaging. Meanwhile, attempts to establish SBI at less coherent laboratory sources have been performed, ranging from liquid metal-jet X-ray sources to microfocus X-ray tubes. However, their lack of coherence results in interference fringes not being resolved. Therefore, algorithms were developed which neglect the interference effects. Here, we demonstrate phase-contrast computed tomography employing SBI in a laboratory-setting with an inverse Compton X-ray source. In this context, we investigate and compare also the performance of the at synchrotron conventionally used phase-retrieval algorithms for SBI, unified modulated pattern analysis (UMPA) with a phase-retrieval method developed for low coherence systems (LCS). We successfully retrieve a full computed tomography in a phantom as well as in biological specimens, such as larvae of the greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella), a model system for studies of pathogens and infections. In this context, we additionally demonstrate quantitative phase-contrast computed tomography using SBI at a low coherent set-up.
Frequency characteristics of collimated blue light generated by four-wave mixing in cesium vapor
Authors: Yang Baodong , Xu Jing , Fan Jian , Zhou Haitao
Published: June 2024

The frequency evaluation of collimated blue light (CBL) generated by parametric four-wave mixing (FWM) in hot atomic vapor is presented. The cesium (133Cs) atoms are excited from the 6S1/2 ground state to 8S1/2 excited state with the 852 and 795 nm pump lasers, producing an optical field at 4.2 µm through an amplified spontaneous emission via population inversion on the 8S1/2 → 7P3/2 transition and the 456 nm CBL via FWM on the 7P3/2 → 6S1/2 transition. The frequency shift of 456 nm CBL has been measured by velocity-selective optical pumping spectral technique when the frequency of any one of two pumping lasers is tuned. The ratio of the frequency shift of 456 nm CBL to the two-photon frequency detuning of two pumping lasers is 0.8912, implying that the generated 4.2 µm light frequency is also correspondingly shifted.
Tailoring aberration-free photonic nanojets through the illumination of dielectric cylinders using cylindrical vector beams
Authors: Li Sheng , Xu Ji , Pang Ting , Yao Han , Cheng Huichao , Wang Jun , Chi Tiantian , Zhang Baifi , Lu Yunqing , Liu Ning
Published: June 2024

This study explores the manipulation of photonic nanojets (PNJs) via axial illumination of cylindrical dielectric particles with cylindrical vector beams (CVBs). The edge diffraction effect of cylindrical particles is harnessed to achieve the near-field focusing of CVBs, minimizing the spherical aberration’s impact on the quality of the PNJ. By discussing how beam width, refractive index, and particle length affect PNJs under radially polarized incidence, a simple and effective approach is demonstrated to generate rod-like PNJs with uniform transmission distances and super-diffraction-limited PNJs with pure longitudinal polarization. Azimuthal polarization, on the other hand, generates tube-like PNJs. These PNJs maintain their performance across scale. Combining edge diffraction with CVBs offers innovative PNJ modulation schemes, paving the way for potential applications in particle trapping, super-resolution imaging, photo-lithography, and advancing mesotronics and related fields.
Cancer cell sedimentation in 3D cultures reveals active migration regulated by self-generated gradients and adhesion sites
Authors: Dimitriou Nikolaos M. , Flores-Torres Salvador , Kyriakidou Maria , Kinsella Joseph Matthew , Mitsis Georgios D.
Published: June 2024

Cell sedimentation in 3D hydrogel cultures refers to the vertical migration of cells towards the bottom of the space. Understanding this poorly examined phenomenon may allow us to design better protocols to prevent it, as well as provide insights into the mechanobiology of cancer development. We conducted a multiscale experimental and mathematical examination of 3D cancer growth in triple negative breast cancer cells. Migration was examined in the presence and absence of Paclitaxel, in high and low adhesion environments and in the presence of fibroblasts. The observed behaviour was modeled by hypothesizing active migration due to self-generated chemotactic gradients. Our results did not reject this hypothesis, whereby migration was likely to be regulated by the MAPK and TGF-β pathways. The mathematical model enabled us to describe the experimental data in absence (normalized error<40%) and presence of Paclitaxel (normalized error<10%), suggesting inhibition of random motion and advection in the latter case. Inhibition of sedimentation in low adhesion and co-culture experiments further supported the conclusion that cells actively migrated downwards due to the presence of signals produced by cells already attached to the adhesive glass surface.
Community experiences with police and implications for public health: A focus group study
Authors: Zakkar Moutasem A. , Jang Se Lim , Kolahdooz Fariba , Deck Sarah , Gillies Christina , Wagg Adrian , Sharma Sangita
Published: June 2024

Interactions with the police can impact an individual’s short and long-term physical, mental, and social wellbeing, as well as levels of violence and unrest within a community. As such, this study aimed to explore experiences with the police among individuals experiencing socioeconomic disadvantages in Edmonton, Canada. For this qualitative study, participants (n = 39) were recruited from an emergency shelter for women, a drop-in community organization supporting individuals experiencing socioeconomic disadvantages, and a centre providing settlement support for newcomers to Canada. During the recruitment process, the research information sheet, including the scope and goals of the study, was presented, and participants who had any experience with the police were recruited. Each participant joined one of seven focus groups, during which experiences with the police were discussed; data from the focus groups were analyzed utilizing thematic analysis. Factors that contributed to satisfactory experiences with the police included the police demonstrating responsiveness and compassion, as well as an individual’s understanding of police work. Factors that contributed to unsatisfactory experiences included the experiences of discrimination, stigmatization, and disrespect during interactions with the police. Participants suggested that community-police relationships could be improved by police being less judgemental and suspicious in their approach, undergoing regular training in sociocultural sensitivity, and being more open in their communication and community outreach. Overall, adopting a less discriminatory and more empathetic approach within a police force is essential for creating and maintaining a positive community-police relationship. By considering the socioeconomic context of people’s behaviours and actions, police can better support the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities.
Sensitivity analysis of bi-metal stacked-gate-oxide hetero-juncture tunnel fet with Si0.6Ge0.4 source biosensor considering non-ideal factors
Authors: Ghosh Rittik , Nelapati Rajeev Pankaj , Saha Priyanka , Chinthaginjala Ravikumar , Kim Tai-hoon , S. Kumar
Published: June 2024

This article provides insights in designing a dielectrically modulated biosensor by adopting high-k stacked gate oxide proposition in a bi-metal hetero-juncture Tunnel Field Effect Transistor (BM-SO-HTFET) with Si0.6Ge0.4 source. The integrated effect of heterojunction and stacked gate oxide leads to enhanced electrical performance of the proposed device in terms of carrier mobility and suppressed leakage current. Nano-cavity engraved beneath the bi-metal gate structure across the source/channel end acts the binding site of the biomolecules to be detected. This Configuration leads to improved control of biomolecules over source/channel tunnelling rate and the same is reflected in the sensing ability of the device while extracting the ON current sensitivity (SON) of the sensor. The reported biosensor is simulated using Silvaco ATLAS calibrated simulation framework. The analysis of the device sensitivity is carried out varying dielectric constants (k) of various biomolecules, both neutral as well as charged. Our study reveals that BM-SO-HTFET with Ge mole fraction composition x = 0.4 exhibits sensitivity as high as 4.1 × 1010 for neutral biomolecules and 3.2 × 1011 for positively charged biomolecules with k = 12. Furthermore, a transient response profile for the drain current with various biomolecules is explored to determine the varying settling time. From the simulation results, it is noted that BM-SO-HTFET exhibits ON current sensitivity of 4.1 × 1010 and 3.2 × 1011 for neutral and charged biomolecules respectively. In addition to this, for highly sensitive and real time detection of biomolecules, the impact of temperature and certain non-ideal factors drifting from ideal case of fully filled cavity have also been considered to analyze its optimum sensing performance.
Utilization of organic-residues as potting media: Physico-chemical characteristics and their influence on vegetable production
Authors: Alam Tajwar , Ikram Muhammad , Chaudhry Arshad Nawaz , Subhan Chaudhry Muhammad , Alotaibi Khaled D. , -Haq Zia-Ul , Yousaf Muhammad Sohail , Ahmed Hasan Pervej , Fatima Nida , Jilani Ghulam , Farooq Muhammad Shakir , Naseem Mohammad , Ishaq Muhammad
Published: June 2024

Soilless agriculture is acknowledged worldwide because it uses organic leftovers as a means of supporting intensive and efficient plant production. However, the quality of potting media deteriorates because of lower nutrient content and excessive shrinkage of most organic materials. A current study was undertaken to identify the optimal blend of locally available organic materials with desirable qualities for use as potting media. Therefore, different ingredients, viz., Pinus roxburghii needles, sugarcane bagasse, and farmyard manure were used alone or in combination as potting media to test their suitability by growing spinach as a test crop. Results showed that an increase in Pinus roxburghii needles and sugarcane bagasse decreased medium pH and electrical conductivity. Higher pH and electrical conductivity were recorded for the treatments having a higher farmyard manure ratio (≥50%) in combination. Except for pine needles 100%, pH and electrical conductivity were in the recommended range. The growth attributes include, leaves plant-1, shoot length, fresh- and dry shoot weight along with plant macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium) and micronutrients (iron, copper, manganese, and zinc) content were higher in treatment pine needles 50%+farmyard manure 50% followed by pine needles 25%+farmyard manure 50%+sugarcane bagasse 25%. Moreover, the particular treatment of pine needles 50%+farmyard manure 50% exhibited the highest concentrations of macro- (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) as well as micronutrients (iron, copper, manganese, and zinc) in the potting media following the harvest. This study highlights the potential of utilizing agro-industrial litter/waste as a soilless growing medium for spinach production under greenhouse conditions. When employed in appropriate proportions, this approach not only addresses disposal concerns but also proves effective for sustainable cultivation. Further research is needed to investigate the use of these wastes as potting media by mixing various particle-size ingredients.
A study of blockchain-based liquidity cross-chain model
Authors: Han Yutong , Wang Chundong , Wang Huaibin , Yang Yi , Wang Xi
Published: June 2024

Blockchain cross-chaining is about interconnectivity and interoperability between chains and involves both physical to virtual digital aspects and cross-chaining between digital networks. During the process, the liquidity transfer of information or assets can increase the use of items with other chains, so it is worth noting that the enhancement of cross-chain liquidity is of great practical importance to cross-chain technology. In this model, Layerzero is used as the primary secure cross-chain facility to build a full-chain identity by unifying NFT-distributed autonomous cross-chain identity IDs; applying super-contract pairs to enhance cross-chain liquidity; and initiating a dynamic transaction node creditworthiness model to increase the security of the cross-chain model and its risk management. Finally, by verifying three important property metrics timeliness is improved by at least 18%, robustness is increased by at least 50.9%, and radius of convergence is reduced by at least 25%. It is verified that the liquidity cross-chain model can eliminate the authentication transition between hierarchies while saving the cross-chain time cost, as a way to truly realize the liquid interoperability between multiple chains of blockchain.
A 3D-printed condom intrauterine balloon tamponade: Design, prototyping, and technical validation
Authors: Piaggio Davide , Hyland Scott , Maccaro Alessia , Iadanza Ernesto , Pecchia Leandro
Published: June 2024

Post-partum haemorrhage is among the main causes of (preventable) mortality for women in low-resource settings (LRSs), where, in 2017, the mortality ratio was 462 out of every 100 000 live births, over 10 times higher than for high-resource settings. There are different treatments available for post-partum haemorrhage. The intrauterine balloon tamponade is a medical device that proved to be a simple and cost-effective approach. Currently, there are several balloon tamponades available, with different design and working principles. However, all these devices were designed for high-resource settings, presenting several aspects that could be inappropriate for many lower-income countries. This paper presents the results of a preclinical study aiming at informing the design, prototyping and validation of a 3D-printed intrauterine balloon tamponade concept, contributing towards the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good health and Well-being. Frugal engineering concepts and contextualised design techniques were applied throughout, to define the design requirements and specifications. The performance of the final prototype was validated against the requirements of the UK National Health System (NHS) technical guidelines and relevant literature, measuring the water leak and pressure drop over time, both open air and in a approximate uterus model. The resulting prototype is made up of six components, some of which are easy to retrieve, namely a water bottle, a silicone tube and an ordinary condom, while others can be manufactured locally using 3D printers, namely a modified bottle cap, a flow stopper and a valve for holding the condom in place. Validation testing bore promising results with no water or pressure leak open air, and minimal leaks in the approximate uterus model. This demonstrates that the 3D printed condom-based intrauterine balloon tamponade is performing well against the requirements and, when compared to the state of the art, it could be a more appropriate and more resilient solution to low-resource settings, as it bypasses the challenges in the supply of consumables and presents a greener option based on circular economy.
SAILoR: Structure-Aware Inference of Logic Rules
Authors: Pušnik Žiga , Mraz Miha , Zimic Nikolaj , Moškon Miha
Published: June 2024

Boolean networks provide an effective mechanism for describing interactions and dynamics of gene regulatory networks (GRNs). Deriving accurate Boolean descriptions of GRNs is a challenging task. The number of experiments is usually much smaller than the number of genes. In addition, binarization leads to a loss of information and inconsistencies arise in binarized time-series data. The inference of Boolean networks from binarized time-series data alone often leads to complex and overfitted models. To obtain relevant Boolean models of gene regulatory networks, inference methods could incorporate data from multiple sources and prior knowledge in terms of general network structure and/or exact interactions. We propose the Boolean network inference method SAILoR (Structure-Aware Inference of Logic Rules). SAILoR incorporates time-series gene expression data in combination with provided reference networks to infer accurate Boolean models. SAILoR automatically extracts topological properties from reference networks. These can describe a more general structure of the GRN or can be more precise and describe specific interactions. SAILoR infers a Boolean network by learning from both continuous and binarized time-series data. It navigates between two main objectives, topological similarity to reference networks and correspondence with gene expression data. By incorporating the NSGA-II multi-objective genetic algorithm, SAILoR relies on the wisdom of crowds. Our results indicate that SAILoR can infer accurate and biologically relevant Boolean descriptions of GRNs from both a static and a dynamic perspective. We show that SAILoR improves the static accuracy of the inferred network compared to the network inference method dynGENIE3. Furthermore, we compared the performance of SAILoR with other Boolean network inference approaches including Best-Fit, REVEAL, MIBNI, GABNI, ATEN, and LogBTF. We have shown that by incorporating prior knowledge about the overall network structure, SAILoR can improve the structural correctness of the inferred Boolean networks while maintaining dynamic accuracy. To demonstrate the applicability of SAILoR, we inferred context-specific Boolean subnetworks of female Drosophila melanogaster before and after mating.