bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Alfaxalone Alleviates Neurotoxicity and Cognitive Impairment Induced by Isoflurane Anesthesia in Offspring Rats
Authors: Zhao Xingkai , Li Zhendong , Guo Yizhe , Liu Qi , Qing Mengshi , Sheng Yuhan , Chen Ying , Xie Luolan , Zhou Zhenlei
Published: March 2023

BACKGROUND:

The anesthetic isoflurane can cause neurotoxicity in fetuses and offspring of rats, affecting their neurodevelopment. However, the underlying mechanisms and therapeutic targets of isoflurane-induced neurotoxicity remain to be identified. Alfaxalone (ALF) is a steroid anesthetic. Steroids have been reported to have neuroprotective effects. This study aimed to investigate whether ALF could alleviate the isoflurane-induced neurotoxicity in fetuses and offspring of rats.

METHODS:

On gestation day 15 (G15), the pregnant SD rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups: control 1 (CTL1) + control 2 (CTL2), isoflurane (ISO) + CTL2, CTL1 + ALF, and ISO + ALF. To analyze the changes in the expression levels of inflammatory cytokines, apoptotic factors, and synaptophysin, the brain tissues from the G15 fetuses and offspring at postnatal day 7 (P7), postnatal day 14 (P14), and postnatal day 31 (P31) were collected. The newborn neurons in the rats’ offspring at P7, P14, and P31 were counted using immunofluorescence techniques. The Morris water maze (MWM) test was performed to assess the learning and memory abilities of P31 offspring rats.

RESULTS:

ALF significantly alleviated the isoflurane-induced increase in the expression levels of inflammatory cytokines and apoptotic factors, such as interleukin (IL)-6 (ISO + CTL2 versus ISO + ALF: 5.133 ± 0.739 versus 1.093 ± 0.213, P < .001) and Caspase-3 (6.457 ± 0.6 versus 1.062 ± 0.1, P < .001) in the G15 fetuses. In P31 offspring rats, the expression levels of synaptophysin (0.719 ± 0.04 versus 1.068 ± 0.072, P < .001) and the number of newborn neurons in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus were significantly lower in the ISO + CTL2 group as compared to those in the ISO + ALF group (118 ± 6 versus 140 ± 7, P < .001). These changes also occurred in the rat offspring at P7 and P14. In the MWM test, the escape latency of CTL1 + ALF group rats was significantly lower than that of ISO + ALF group rats (41 ± 6 versus 31 ± 7, P < .001) at P31.

CONCLUSIONS:

Based on these findings, this study suggested that isoflurane exposure during pregnancy in rats could cause neuroinflammation and death of embryos as well as impairment of cognitive function in the offspring rats. ALF can be used to counteract the negative effects of isoflurane.
Quantitative videomicroscopy reveals latent control of cell-pair rotations in vivo
Authors: Kozak Eva L. , Miranda-Rodríguez Jerónimo R. , Borges Augusto , Dierkes Kai , Mineo Alessandro , Pinto-Teixeira Filipe , Viader-Llargués Oriol , Solon Jérôme , Chara Osvaldo , López-Schier Hernán
Published: March 2023

Collective cell rotations are widely used during animal organogenesis. Theoretical and in vitro studies have conceptualized rotating cells as identical rigid-point objects that stochastically break symmetry to move monotonously and perpetually within an inert environment. However, it is unclear whether this notion can be extrapolated to a natural context, where rotations are ephemeral and heterogeneous cellular cohorts interact with an active epithelium. In zebrafish neuromasts, nascent sibling hair cells invert positions by rotating ≤180° around their geometric center after acquiring different identities via Notch1a-mediated asymmetric repression of Emx2. Here, we show that this multicellular rotation is a three-phasic movement that progresses via coherent homotypic coupling and heterotypic junction remodeling. We found no correlation between rotations and epithelium-wide cellular flow or anisotropic resistive forces. Moreover, the Notch/Emx2 status of the cell dyad does not determine asymmetric interactions with the surrounding epithelium. Aided by computer modeling, we suggest that initial stochastic inhomogeneities generate a metastable state that poises cells to move and spontaneous intercellular coordination of the resulting instabilities enables persistently directional rotations, whereas Notch1a-determined symmetry breaking buffers rotational noise.
Preservation of heritage buildings in Alexandria, Egypt: an application of heritage digitisation process phases and new documentation methods
Authors: El Menshawy Adel , Omar Walid , El Adawy Sherif
Published: March 2023

Background: Throughout the history of the city, the architecture of Alexandria, Egypt, has been in contact with world cultures, especially those of the Mediterranean sphere. Alexandria is rich with cultural features dating back seven thousand years. In Alexandria, the heritage value of the city has decreased since the beginning of the third millennium of the Common Era because there is no suitable digital documentation system for these more recent assets. The development of a new technique for preserving heritage buildings is required. For example, image- based techniques can gather data using photography, panoramic photography, and close-range photogrammetry.

In this research, we primarily seek to implement Heritage Digitisation Process Phases (HDPP) by introducing both the Building Information Modelling (BIM) environment and the point clouds for achieving a Historic Building Information Modelling (HBIM) model and to establish new documentation methods in architectural conservation and built-heritage preservation, i.e., Virtual Reality (VR) and Website Heritage Documentation (WHD).

Methods: The methodology is designed to preserve and manage cultural heritage using HDPP for the promotion of heritage building preservation in Alexandria.

Results: The results show that the application of HDPP has led to the creation of a digital database about the Société Immobilière building, which was chosen as a case study for this research.

Conclusions: Implementation of HDPP and usage of new documentation methods i.e., VR and WHD create a digital path to help strengthen its image and connect the place to users, recreational areas are created to communicate and explore the city’s architectural history.
Restinga ectomycorrhizae: a work in progress
Authors: N. M. Furtado Ariadne , Leonardi Marco , Comandini Ornella , Neves Maria Alice , C. Rinaldi Andrea
Published: March 2023

Background: The Brazilian Atlantic Forest is one of the most biodiverse terrestrial ecoregions of the world. Among its constituents, restinga vegetation makes a particular case, acting as a buffer zone between the oceans and the forest. Covering some 80% of Brazilian coastline (over 7,300 km in length), restinga is a harsh environment where plants and fungi interact in complex ways that just now are beginning to be unveiled. Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis, in particular, plays a so far ungauged and likely underestimated role. We recently described the morpho-anatomical and molecular features of the ectomycorrhizae formed by several basidiomycetous mycobionts on the host plant Guapira opposita, but the mycorrhizal biology of restinga is still largely unexplored. Here, we report new data on the ectomycorrhizal fungal symbionts of G. opposita, based on the collection of sporomata and ectomycorrhizal root tips in restinga stands occurring in southern Brazil.

Methods: To obtain a broader view of restinga mycorrhizal and ecological potential, we compiled a comprehensive and up-to-date checklist of fungal species reported or supposed to establish ectomycorrhizae on restinga-inhabiting host plants, mainly on the basis of field observations.

Results: Our list comprises some 726 records, 74 of which correspond to putative ectomycorrhizal taxa specifically associated with restinga. These include several members of Boletaceae, Amanita, Tomentella/Thelephora, Russula/Lactifluus, and Clavulina, as well as hypogeous fungi, like the recently described Longistriata flava.

Conclusions: Our survey reveals a significant diversity of the restinga ectomycorrhizal mycobiota, indicating the importance of this symbiosis for the ecological functioning of a unique yet poorly known and threatened ecosystem.
Comparative study on scenarios for rotating gantry mechanical structures
Authors: Piacentini Luca , Dassa Luca , Perini Diego , Ratkus Andris , Torims Toms , Uberti Stefano , Vilcans Janis , Vretenar Maurizio
Published: March 2023

Background: This paper outlines a comparative study on scenarios of gantries mechanical design for ion-therapy of cancer, which is a crucial step toward the development of the next ion medical machine.

Methods: Multiple scenarios were considered based on robustness of the design, size, weight and complexity, deformation and precision performances and costs, as well as environmental impact. Four prospective scenarios were identified, each of them capable of providing beam to at least 220° around the patient. One scenario is capable of providing treatment angles of 360°. This report will describe the unified methodology performed during the study in order to achieve unbiased results in a comprehensive manner.

Results: Results show that in statically balanced scenarios, considerable improvements can be reached in terms of safety, deformation, precision performances, complexity and costs of implementation.

Conclusions: All scenarios are deemed suitable for further gantry design development.
RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS OF RUSSIAN AND CHINESE PICTURE BOOKS
Authors: Wang Yimeng , Wang YImeng
Published: March 2023

Children's picture books, as the earliest exposure to children's books, are also in-ternationally recognized as "the most suitable books for children to read". They have received a lot of attention since their inception. Children's picture books use easy-to-understand pictures and text to attract children's attention and thus stim-ulate their interest in reading. We will compare and analyze the practice of chil-dren's picture books in education and their theoretical and practical significance in today's environment, based on the types of picture books in China and Russia.
Líneas de investigación futura en turismo pospandemia. Un análisis de la literatura
Authors: Echeverri Rubio Alejandro , Vieira-Salazar Jaime Andrés , Urrego-Badillo Jhon Fabio
Published: March 2023

Este artículo sistematiza la literatura sobre el Covid-19 en la industria turística. El uso de una ecuación de búsqueda en Scopus® permitió identificar la cartografía científica a partir de 527 artículos publicados entre enero de 2020 y mayo de 2022, la cual aporta actualidad y pertinencia frente a estudios similares encontrados en la bibliografía disponible. La descripción está conformada por dos temáticas principales: (a) impactos del Covid-19en los diferentes actores que hacen parte de la cadena turística y (b) impactos del Covid-19 en las unidades productivas relacionadas con turismo. Los resultados muestran que las investigaciones realizadas hasta el momento se han enfocado en descripciones principalmente teóricas, con una clara ausencia de estudios empíricos que sustenten dichas descripciones, por ejemplo, un turismo más incluyente, sostenible y responsable. De estamanera, la investigación futura en temas de turismo y el Covid-19 está llamada a presentar evidencia empírica que permita conocer si las descripciones cumplen o no, y de qué manera, con los desafíos de inclusión, sostenibilidad y responsabilidad. Este artículo finaliza presentando nueve líneas para investigaciones futuras.
Mixed-Integer Programming vs. Constraint Programming for Shop Scheduling Problems: New Results and Outlook
Authors: Naderi Bahman , Ruiz Rubén , Roshanaei Vahid
Published: March 2023

Constraint programming (CP) has been recently in the spotlight after new CP-based procedures have been incorporated into state-of-the-art solvers, most notably the CP Optimizer from IBM. Classical CP solvers were only capable of guaranteeing the optimality of a solution, but they could not provide bounds for the integer feasible solutions found if interrupted prematurely due to, say, time limits. New versions, however, provide bounds and optimality guarantees, effectively making CP a viable alternative to more traditional mixed-integer programming (MIP) models and solvers. We capitalize on these developments and conduct a computational evaluation of MIP and CP models on 12 select scheduling problems. 1 We carefully chose these 12 problems to represent a wide variety of scheduling problems that occur in different service and manufacturing settings. We also consider basic and well-studied simplified problems. These scheduling settings range from pure sequencing (e.g., flow shop and open shop) or joint assignment-sequencing (e.g., distributed flow shop and hybrid flow shop) to pure assignment (i.e., parallel machine) scheduling problems. We present MIP and CP models for each variant of these problems and evaluate their performance over 17 relevant and standard benchmarks that we identified in the literature. The computational campaign encompasses almost 6,623 experiments and evaluates the MIP and CP models along five dimensions of problem characteristics, objective function, decision variables, input parameters, and quality of bounds. We establish the areas in which each one of these models performs well and recognize their conceivable reasons. The obtained results indicate that CP sets new limits concerning the maximum problem size that can be solved using off-the-shelf exact techniques.

History: Accepted by Pascal Van Hentenryck, Area Editor for Computational Modeling: Methods & Analysis.

Supplemental Material: The software that supports the findings of this study is available within the paper and its Supplemental Information ( https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/suppl/10.1287/ijoc.2023.1287 ) as well as from the IJOC GitHub software repository ( https://github.com/INFORMSJoC/2021.0326 ) at ( http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7541223 ).
Liquidity Requirements and Central Bank Interventions During Banking Crises
Authors: Robatto Roberto
Published: March 2023

This paper evaluates liquidity requirements and public liquidity injections in the context of financial crises, using a model that includes near-money assets. Some key effects are transmitted through liquidity premia and the price of liquid assets, producing a heterogeneous impact that depends on an agent’s holdings of liquid assets. In addition, some agents prefer policies that do not fully relax their liquidity constraints because these policies are associated with higher prices. Liquidity requirements and liquidity injections have the opposite impact on liquidity premia and combining them leads to Pareto improvements that cannot be achieved by each policy separately.

This paper was accepted by Gustavo Manso, finance.

Funding: This work was supported by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.

Supplemental Material: The data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4737 .
Heatmap-Based Decision Support for Repositioning in Ride-Sharing Systems
Authors: Haferkamp Jarmo , Ulmer Marlin W. , Ehmke Jan Fabian
Published: March 2023

In ride-sharing systems, platform providers aim to distribute the drivers in the city to meet current and potential future demand and to avoid service cancellations. Ensuring such distribution is particularly challenging in the case of a crowdsourced fleet, as drivers are not centrally controlled but are free to decide where to reposition when idle. Thus, providers look for alternative ways to ensure a vehicle distribution that benefits users, drivers, and the provider. We propose an intuitive mean to improve idle ride-sharing vehicles’ repositioning: repositioning heatmaps. These heatmaps highlight driver-specific earning opportunities approximated based on the expected future demand, current and expected future fleet distribution, and the location of the specific driver. Based on the heatmaps, drivers make decentralized yet better-informed repositioning decisions. As our heatmap policy changes the driver distribution in the future, we propose an adaptive learning algorithm for designing our heatmaps in large-scale ride-sharing systems. We simulate the system and generate heatmaps based on the previously learned policy in every iteration. We then update the policy based on the simulation’s outcome and use it in the next iteration. We test our heatmap design in a comprehensive case study on New York ride-sharing data. We show that carefully designed heatmaps reduce service cancellations and therefore, revenue loss for the platform and drivers significantly while leading to a better service level for the users and to a fairer treatment of drivers.

History: This paper has been accepted for the Transportation Science Special Issue on Machine Learning Methods and Applications in Large-Scale Route Planning Problems.

Funding: This research is funded by the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) [Grant 494812908]. M. W. Ulmer’s work is funded by the German Research Foundation Emmy Noether Programme [Grant 444657906].

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2023.1202 .
Spectral and RGB analysis of the light climate and its ecological impacts using an all-sky camera system in the Arctic
Authors: Grant Stephen , Johnsen Geir , McKee David , Zolich Artur , Cohen Jonathan H.
Published: March 2023

The ArcLight observatory provides an hourly continuous time series of
all-sky images providing light climate data (intensity, spectral
composition, and photoperiod) from the Arctic (Svalbard at 79°N).
Until recently, no complete annual time series of light climate
relevant for biological processes has been provided from the high
Arctic because of insufficient sensitivity of commercial light sensors
during the Polar Night. The ArcLight set up is unique, as it provides
both all-sky images and the corresponding integrated spectral
irradiance in the visible part of the solar electromagnetic spectrum (EPAR). Here we present a further
development providing hourly diel-annual dynamics from 2020 of the
irradiance partitioned into the red, green, and blue parts of the
solar spectrum and illustrate their relation to weather conditions,
and sun and moon trajectories. We show that there is variation between
the RGB proportions of irradiance throughout the year, with the blue
part of the spectrum showing the greatest variation, which is
dependent on weather conditions (i.e., cloud cover). We further
provide an example of the biological impact of these spectral
variations in the light climate using in
vivo Chl a-specific absorption coefficients of diatoms (mean
of six low light acclimated northern-Arctic bloom-forming species) to
model total algal light absorption (AQ
t
o
t
a
l
) and the corresponding fraction of
quanta used by Photosystem II (AQPSII) (O2 production) in RGB bands and the
potential impacts on the photoreceptor response, suggesting periods
where repair and maintenance functions dominate activity in the
absence of appreciable levels of red or green light. The method used
here can be applied to light climate data and spectral response data
worldwide to give localized ecological models of AQ.
Deep ultraviolet high-resolution microscopic hyperspectral imager and its biological tissue detection
Authors: Yang Jingyao , Xue Qingsheng , Li Jinze , Han Bing , Wang Youpeng , Bai Haoxuan
Published: March 2023

Ultraviolet (UV) hyperspectral imaging technology is commonly used in the field of
atmospheric remote sensing. In recent years, some in-laboratory
research has been carried out for substance detection and
identification. In this paper, UV hyperspectral imaging technology is
introduced into microscopy to better utilize the obvious absorption
characteristics of components, such as proteins and nucleic acids in
biological tissues in the ultraviolet band. A deep UV microscopic
hyperspectral imager based on the Offner structure with F# 2.5, low spectral keystone and smile
is designed and developed. A 0.68 numerical aperture microscope
objective is designed. The spectral range of the system is from 200 nm
to 430 nm; the spectral resolution is better than 0.5 nm; and the
spatial resolution is better than 1.3 µm. The K562 cells can be
distinguished by transmission spectrum of nucleus. The UV microscopic
hyperspectral image of the unstained mouse liver slices showed similar
results to the microscopic image after hematoxylin and eosin staining,
which could help to simplify the pathological examination process.
Both results show a great performance in spatial and spectral
detecting capabilities of our instrument, which has the potential for
biomedical research and diagnosis.
Bragg degenerate model for fabrication of holographic waveguide-based near-eye displays
Authors: Kaur Rajveer , Pensia Lavlesh , Kumar Raj
Published: March 2023

The coupling efficiency of light beams is a crucial factor for waveguide displays. Generally, the light beam is not coupled with maximum efficiency in the holographic waveguide without employing a prism in the recording geometry. Use of prisms in recording geometry leads to restricting the propagation angle of the waveguide to a specific value only. The issue of efficient coupling of a light beam without using prisms could be overcome via Bragg degenerate configuration. In this work, the simplified expressions of the Bragg degenerate case are obtained for the realization of normally illuminated waveguide-based displays. Using this model, by tuning the parameters of recording geometry, a range of propagation angles can be produced for a fixed normal incidence of a playback beam. Numerical simulations and experimental investigations of the Bragg degenerate waveguides of different geometries are performed to validate the model. A Bragg degenerate playback beam is successfully coupled in four waveguides recorded with different geometries and yields good diffraction efficiency at normal incidence. The quality of transmitted images is characterized using the structural similarity index measure. The augmentation of a transmitted image in the real world is experimentally demonstrated through the fabricated holographic waveguide for near-eye display applications. Bragg degenerate configuration can provide flexibility in the angle of propagation while maintaining the same coupling efficiency achievable with a prism for holographic waveguide displays.
Coherent SAT solvers: a tutorial
Authors: Reifenstein Sam , Leleu Timothee , McKenna Timothy , Jankowski Marc , Suh Myoung-Gyun , Ng Edwin , Khoyratee Farad , Toroczkai Zoltan , Yamamoto Yoshihisa
Published: March 2023

The coherent Ising machine (CIM) is designed to solve the NP-hard Ising
problem quickly and energy efficiently. Boolean satisfiability (SAT)
and maximum satisfiability (Max-SAT) are classes of NP-complete and
NP-hard problems that are equally important and more practically
relevant combinatorial optimization problems. Many approaches exist
for solving Boolean SAT, such as quantum annealing and classical
stochastic local search (SLS) solvers; however, they all are expected
to require many steps to solve hard SAT problems and, thus, require
large amounts of time and energy. In addition, a SAT problem can be
converted into an Ising problem and solved by an Ising machine;
however, we have found that this approach has drawbacks. As well as
reviewing existing approaches to solving the SAT problem, we have
extended the CIM algorithm and architecture to solve SAT and Max-SAT
problems directly. This new technique is termed a coherent SAT solver
(CSS). We have studied three implementations of the CSS, all-optical,
hybrid optical–digital and all digital (cyber-CSS), and have
compared the time-to-solution and energy-to-solution of three
machines. The cyber-CSS, which is already implemented using a graphics
processing unit (GPU), demonstrates competitive performance against
existing SLS solvers such as probSAT. The CSS is also compared with
another continuous-time SAT solver known as the CTDS, and the scaling
behavior is evaluated for random 3-SAT problems. The hybrid
optical–digital CSS is a more performant and practical machine
that can be realized in a short term. Finally, the all-optical CSS
promises the best energy-to-solution cost; however various technical
challenges in nonlinear optics await us in order to build this
machine.
Glucose diagnosis system combining machine learning and NIR photoacoustic multispectral using a low power CW laser
Authors: Yang Lifeng , Zhang Zhaojiang , Wei Xin , Yang Yan
Published: March 2023

Non-invasive, portable, economical, dynamic blood glucose monitoring device has become a functional requirement for diabetes in his regulating entire life. In a photoacoustic (PA) multispectral near-infrared diagnosis system, the glucose in aqueous solutions was excited by low power (order of milliwatts) CW laser whose wavelengths were from 1500 to 1630 nm. The glucose in aqueous solutions to be analyzed was contained within the photoacoustic cell (PAC). The PA multispectral signals were measured using a piezoelectric detector, and then the voltage signals from the piezoelectric detector were amplified with a precision Lock-in Amplifier (MFLI500K). The continuously tunable lasers were used to verify the various influencing factors of the PA signal, and the PA spectrum of the glucose solution was examined. Subsequently, six wavelengths with high power were selected at approximately equal intervals from 1500 to 1630 nm, and the gaussian process regression of the quadratic rational kernel was used to collect data through these wavelengths to predict the glucose concentration. The experimental results showed that the near-infrared PA multispectral diagnosis system could be engineered for the prediction of the glucose level (more than 92%, zone A of Clarke Error Grid). Subsequently, the model trained with glucose solution was used to predict serum glucose. With the increase of serum glucose content, the prediction results of the model also showed a high linear relationship, indicating that the photoacoustic method was sensitive to the detection of glucose concentration changes. The results of our study have the potential to not only better develop the PA blood glucose meter but also extend the viability into the detection of otherwise blood components.
Image dehazing algorithm based on optimized dark channel and haze-line priors of adaptive sky segmentation
Authors: Cui Guangmang , Ma Qiong , Zhao Jufeng , Yang Shunjie , Chen Ziyi
Published: March 2023

When dealing with outdoor hazy images, traditional image dehazing algorithms are often affected by the sky regions, resulting in appearing color distortions and detail loss in the restored image. Therefore, we proposed an optimized dark channel and haze-line priors method based on adaptive sky segmentation to improve the quality of dehazed images including sky areas. The proposed algorithm segmented the sky region of a hazy image by using the Gaussian fitting curve and prior information of sky color rules to calculate the adaptive threshold. Then, an optimized dark channel prior method was used to obtain the light distribution image of the sky region, and the haze-line prior method was utilized to calculate the transmission of the foreground region. Finally, a minimization function was designed to optimize the transmission, and the dehazed images were restored with the atmospheric scattering model. Experimental results demonstrated that the presented dehazing framework could preserve more details of the sky area as well as restore the color constancy of the image with better visual effects. Compared with other algorithms, the results of the proposed algorithm could achieve higher peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and structural similarity index (SSIM) evaluation values and provide the restored image with subjective visual effects closer to the real scene.
Grating lobe-free silicon optical phased array with periodically bending modulation of dense antennas
Authors: Liang Dong , Li Wenlei , Wang Xiaobin , Zhao Xu , Guo Zichen , Han Xiang’e , Chen Jingye , Dai Daoxin , Shi Yaocheng
Published: March 2023

A grating lobe-free silicon optical phased array with large field of view is demonstrated. Antennas with periodically bending modulation are spaced at half wavelength or less. The experimental results show that the crosstalk between adjacent waveguides is negligible at 1550 nm wavelength. Additionally, to reduce the optical reflection caused by the sudden change of refractive index at the output antenna of the phased array, tapered antennas are added to the output end face so that more light will be coupled into the free space. The fabricated optical phased array shows a field of view of 120° without any grating lobes.
Ultrasensitive refractive index fiber sensor based on high-order harmonic Vernier effect and a cascaded FPI
Authors: Qiu Haiming , Tian Jiajun , Yao Yong
Published: March 2023

This paper proposes and demonstrates an ultrasensitive refractive index (RI) sensor based on harmonic Vernier effect (HEV) and a cascaded Fabry–Perot interferometer (FPI). The sensor is fabricated by sandwiching a hollow-core fiber (HCF) segment between a lead-in single-mode fiber (SMF) pigtail and a reflection SMF segment with an offset of 37 µm between two fiber centers to form a cascaded FPI structure, where the HCF is the sensing FPI, and the reflection SMF is the reference FPI. To excite the HEV, the optical path of the reference FPI must be multiple times (>1) that of the sensing FPI. Several sensors have been made to conduct RI measurements of gas and liquid. The sensor’s ultrahigh RI sensitivity of up to ∼378000 nm/RIU can be achieved by reducing the detuning ratio of the optical path and increasing the harmonic order. This paper also proved that the proposed sensor with a harmonic order of up to 12 can increase the fabricated tolerances while achieving high sensitivity. The large fabrication tolerances greatly increase the manufacturing repeatability, reduce production costs, and make it easier to achieve high sensitivity. In addition, the proposed RI sensor has advantages of ultrahigh sensitivity, compactness, low production cost (large fabrication tolerances), and capability to detect gas and liquid samples. This sensor has promising potentials for biochemical sensing, gas or liquid concentration sensing, and environmental monitoring.
Cascade lasing at ∼2 μm and ∼2.3 μm in a diode-pumped Tm:YVO4 laser
Authors: Yu Xiaoxu , Pan Zhognben , Chu Hongwei , Zha Fangyuan , Pan Han , Ma Lijuan , Loiko Pavel , Camy Patrice , Li Dechun
Published: March 2023

We report on the cascade continuous-wave operation of a diode-pumped Tm:YVO4 laser on the 3F4 → 3H6 (at ∼2 μm) and 3H4 → 3H5 (at ∼2.3 μm) Tm3+ transitions. Pumped with a fiber-coupled spatially multimode 794 nm AlGaAs laser diode, the 1.5 at.% Tm:YVO4 laser yielded a maximum total output power of 6.09 W with a slope efficiency of 35.7% out of which the 3H4 → 3H5 laser emission corresponded to 1.15 W at 2291-2295 and 2362-2371 nm with a slope efficiency of 7.9% and a laser threshold of 6.25 W.
Temperature-dependent UV-Vis dielectric functions of BaTiO3 across ferroelectric-paraelectric phase transition
Authors: Zhang Shenglong , Fei Tianhao , Cheng Tao , Yang Jia-Yue , Liu Linhua
Published: March 2023

Ferroelectric BaTiO3 with an electric-field-switchable spontaneous polarization has attracted wide attention in photovoltaic applications due to its efficient charge separation for photoexcitation. The evolution of its optical properties with rising temperature especially across the ferroelectric-paraelectric phase transition is critical to peer into the fundamental photoexcitation process. Herein, by combining spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements with first-principles calculations, we obtain the UV-Vis dielectric functions of perovskite BaTiO3 at temperatures varying from 300 to 873 K and provide the atomistic insights into the temperature-driven ferroelectric-paraelectric (tetragonal-cubic) structural evolution. The main adsorption peak in dielectric function of BaTiO3 is reduced by 20.6% in magnitude and redshifted as temperature increases. The Urbach tail shows an unconventional temperature-dependent behavior due to the microcrystalline disorder across the ferroelectric-paraelectric phase transition and the decreased surface roughness at around 405 K. From ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, the redshifted dielectric function of ferroelectric BaTiO3 coincidences with the reduction of the spontaneous polarization at elevated temperature. Moreover, a positive (negative) external electric field is applied which can modulate the dielectric function of ferroelectric BaTiO3 blueshift (redshift) with a larger (smaller) spontaneous polarization since it drives the ferroelectric further away from (closer to) the paraelectric structure. This work sheds light on the temperature-dependent optical properties of BaTiO3 and provides data support for advancing its ferroelectric photovoltaic applications.
Optical sensors, 2022: introduction to the feature issue
Authors: Pellegrino Paul M. , Brambilla Gilberto , Vollmer Frank , Choy Jennifer T.
Published: March 2023

This feature issue of Optics Express highlights contributions from authors who presented their latest research at the OPTICA Optical Sensors and Sensing Congress, held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from 11–15 July 2022. The feature issue comprises 9 contributed papers, which expand upon their respective conference proceedings. The published papers introduced here cover a range of timely research topics in optics and photonics for chip-based sensing, open-path and remote sensing and fiber devices.
A male-killing Wolbachia endosymbiont is concealed by another endosymbiont and a nuclear suppressor
Authors: Richardson Kelly M. , Ross Perran A. , Cooper Brandon S. , Conner William R. , Schmidt Thomas L. , Hoffmann Ary A.
Published: March 2023

Bacteria that live inside the cells of insect hosts (endosymbionts) can alter the reproduction of their hosts, including the killing of male offspring (male killing, MK). MK has only been described in a few insects, but this may reflect challenges in detecting MK rather than its rarity. Here, we identify MKWolbachiaat a low frequency (around 4%) in natural populations ofDrosophila pseudotakahashii. MKWolbachiahad a stable density and maternal transmission during laboratory culture, but the MK phenotype which manifested mainly at the larval stage was lost rapidly. MKWolbachiaoccurred alongside a secondWolbachiastrain expressing a different reproductive manipulation, cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). A genomic analysis highlightedWolbachiaregions diverged between the 2 strains involving 17 genes, and homologs of thewmkandcifgenes implicated in MK and CI were identified in theWolbachiaassembly. Doubly infected males induced CI with uninfected females but not females singly infected with CI-causingWolbachia. A rapidly spreading dominant nuclear suppressor genetic element affecting MK was identified through backcrossing and subsequent analysis with ddRAD SNPs of theD.pseudotakahashiigenome. These findings highlight the complexity of nuclear and microbial components affecting MK endosymbiont detection and dynamics in populations and the challenges of making connections between endosymbionts and the host phenotypes affected by them.
A deep hierarchy of predictions enables online meaning extraction in a computational model of human speech comprehension
Authors: Su Yaqing , MacGregor Lucy J. , Olasagasti Itsaso , Giraud Anne-Lise
Published: March 2023

Understanding speech requires mapping fleeting and often ambiguous soundwaves to meaning. While humans are known to exploit their capacity to contextualize to facilitate this process, how internal knowledge is deployed online remains an open question. Here, we present a model that extracts multiple levels of information from continuous speech online. The model applies linguistic and nonlinguistic knowledge to speech processing, by periodically generating top-down predictions and incorporating bottom-up incoming evidence in a nested temporal hierarchy. We show that a nonlinguistic context level provides semantic predictions informed by sensory inputs, which are crucial for disambiguating among multiple meanings of the same word. The explicit knowledge hierarchy of the model enables a more holistic account of the neurophysiological responses to speech compared to using lexical predictions generated by a neural network language model (GPT-2). We also show that hierarchical predictions reduce peripheral processing via minimizing uncertainty and prediction error. With this proof-of-concept model, we demonstrate that the deployment of hierarchical predictions is a possible strategy for the brain to dynamically utilize structured knowledge and make sense of the speech input.
Age-dependent changes in the anatomical and histological characteristics of the aggregated lymphoid nodules in the stomach of Dromedary camels (Camelus Dromedarius)
Authors: Hassan Omer Zubieda Ibrahim , Lu Jia , Cheng Yu-Jiao , Li Pei-Xuan , Chen Zhi-Hua , Wang Wen-Hui
Published: March 2023

Gastrointestinal associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) is an important component of the mucosal immune system. It is the largest mass of lymphoid tissues in the body and makes up more than 70% immune cells of entire body. GALT is considered to be the origin of systemic mucosal immunity and consists of solitary lymphoid nodules, aggregated lymphoid nodules (Peyer’s patches, PPs), scattered lymphoid tissues, and follicular associated epithelia. PPs play important roles as antigen inductive sites of the mucosal immune system, which are mainly distributed in the intestine of animals and humans (especially ileum and appendix). However, a special area of well-developed aggregated lymphoid nodules in the abomasum of Dromedary camel was found in our laboratory. Its existence was rarely described in the stomach before. In the present study, we investigated this special structure with the dromedary camels of different ages (young, 0.5–2 years; pubertal, 3–5 years; middle-aged, 6–16 years; old, 17–20 years), by the anatomical, histological and immunohistochemical approaches. The results showed that the special structure was mainly distributed in the cardiac glandular area of the abomasum, forming a triangular area. The mucosal folds in this area were significantly thicker than those in the surrounding region. These mucosal folds had two different forms, namely reticular mucosal folds (RMF) and longitudinal mucosal folds (LMF). There were abundant lymphoid nodules in the submucosa of RMF and LMF, which were arranged in one or multiple rows. The statistical analysis of the height and thickness of RMF and LMF showed that the structure was most developed in pubertal dromedary camels. The histological characteristics of the structure were the same as PPs in the intestine of the Dromedary camel, while anatomical appearance showed some difference. The immunohistochemical examination revealed that both immunoglobulin A (IgA) and G (IgG) antibodies-producing cells (APCs) were extensively distributed in the gastric lamina propria (LP) in all age group. Our finding suggest that camel stomach not only performs digestive functions, but also involves parts of body immunity.
Clinical and lifestyle patterns in Asian children with inflammatory bowel disease in the U.S.
Authors: Zong Wenjing , Patel Amit , Chang Vivian , Mitchel Elana B. , Stoner Natalie , Baldassano Robert N. , Albenberg Lindsey
Published: March 2023

Background

While there are many epidemiologic studies of Asian immigrants to the West and risk of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the phenotype and lifestyle of Asian patients, particularly children, with IBD are not well described. In this study, we describe lifestyle practices, such as dietary pattern, as well as disease phenotype in Asian American children with IBD.

Methods

We reviewed the records of children with IBD, ages 0 to 21 years old, and race identified as Asian, Indian, or Pacific Islander. Patients who received outpatient IBD care at our center between January 2013 and January 2020 were included. We excluded patients who were international second opinions, who did not have a definitive diagnosis of IBD, and in whom a diagnosis of IBD was made after 18 years of age. A survey, including a food frequency questionnaire adapted from NHANES DSQ with modifications to include culturally appropriate food elements, was designed and conducted within this cohort to assess for dietary patterns.

Results

Asian patients in our cohort have similar phenotypes as non-Asians with few distinctive differences. There was a Crohn’s disease and male predominance similar with non-Asians. However, there was a high rate of proctitis in ulcerative colitis in Asian patients. Asian patients reported a typical dietary pattern that reflects a Westernized pattern rather than a traditional pattern. Despite a similar dietary pattern, there was a high rate of 25-OH Vitamin D deficiency (44%) and insufficiency (40%).

Conclusions

This single center study showed that the phenotype of Asian children with IBD in the U.S. is similar with that of non-Asian with a few distinct differences. The Asian children in our cohort reported following a Westernized dietary pattern and lifestyle. However, there was a high rate of Vitamin D deficiency surrounding diagnosis, suggesting a need for vigilant monitoring.
A conceptual model on caregivers’ hesitancy of topical fluoride for their children
Authors: Chi Donald L. , Kerr Darragh , Patiño Nguyen Daisy , Shands Mary Ellen , Cruz Stephanie , Edwards Todd , Carle Adam , Carpiano Richard , Lewis Frances
Published: March 2023

Background

Topical fluoride hesitancy is a well-documented and growing public health problem. Despite extensive evidence that topical fluoride is safe and prevents tooth decay, an increasing number of caregivers are hesitant about their children receiving topical fluoride, leading to challenges in clinical settings where caregivers refuse preventive care.

Purpose

To explore the determinants of topical fluoride hesitancy for caregivers with dependent children.

Methods

In this qualitative study, we interviewed 56 fluoride-hesitant caregivers to develop an inductive conceptual model of reasons why caregivers are hesitant.

Results

The core construct of the conceptual model of topical fluoride hesitancy centered on caregivers “wanting to protect and not mess up their child”. Six domains comprised this core construct: thinking topical fluoride is unnecessary, wanting to keep chemicals out of my child’s body, thinking fluoride is harmful, thinking there is too much uncertainty about fluoride, feeling pressured to get topical fluoride, and feeling fluoride should be a choice.

Conclusions

Topical fluoride hesitancy is complex and multifactorial. Study findings provide insight for future efforts to understand and optimize caregivers’ preventive care decision making.
Pneumolysin as a target for new therapies against pneumococcal infections: A systematic review
Authors: Cima Cabal María Dolores , Molina Felipe , López-Sánchez José Ignacio , Pérez-Santín Efrén , del Mar García-Suárez María
Published: March 2023

Background

This systematic review evaluates pneumolysin (PLY) as a target for new treatments against pneumococcal infections. Pneumolysin is one of the main virulence factors produced by all types of pneumococci. This toxin (53 kDa) is a highly conserved protein that binds to cholesterol in eukaryotic cells, forming pores that lead to cell destruction.

Methods

The databases consulted were MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus. Articles were independently screened by title, abstract, and full text by two researchers, and using consensus to resolve any disagreements that occurred. Articles in other languages different from English, patents, cases report, notes, chapter books and reviews were excluded. Searches were restricted to the years 2000 to 2021. Methodological quality was evaluated using OHAT framework.

Results

Forty-one articles describing the effects of different molecules that inhibit PLY were reviewed. Briefly, the inhibitory molecules found were classified into three main groups: those exerting a direct effect by binding and/or blocking PLY, those acting indirectly by preventing its effects on host cells, and those whose mechanisms are unknown. Although many molecules are proposed as toxin blockers, only some of them, such as antibiotics, peptides, sterols, and statins, have the probability of being implemented as clinical treatment. In contrast, for other molecules, there are limited studies that demonstrate efficacy in animal models with sufficient reliability.

Discussion

Most of the studies reviewed has a good level of confidence. However, one of the limitations of this systematic review is the lack of homogeneity of the studies, what prevented to carry out a statistical comparison of the results or meta-analysis.

Conclusion

A panel of molecules blocking PLY activity are associated with the improvement of the inflammatory process triggered by the pneumococcal infection. Some molecules have already been used in humans for other purposes, so they could be safe for use in patients with pneumococcal infections. These patients might benefit from a second line treatment during the initial stages of the infection preventing acute respiratory distress syndrome and invasive pneumococcal diseases. Additional research using the presented set of compounds might further improve the clinical management of these patients.
Single nucleotide variants in the IL33 and IL1RL1 (ST2) genes are associated with periodontitis and with Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in the dental plaque biofilm: A putative role in understanding the host immune response in periodontitis
Authors: Trindade Soraya C. , Lopes Mabel P. P. , Oliveira Tatiane T. M. C. , Silva Milca J. , Queiroz Gerson A. , Jesus Talita S. , Santos Ellen K. N. , Carvalho-Filho Paulo C. , Falcão Michelle M. L. , Miranda Patrícia M. , Santos Rebeca P. B. , Figueiredo Camila A. , Cruz Álvaro A. , Seymour Gregory J. , Gomes-Filho Isaac S.
Published: March 2023

The Interleukin (IL)-33 is important in several inflammatory diseases and its cellular receptor is the Interleukin 1 receptor-like 1 (IL1RL1), also called suppression of tumorigenicity 2 ligand (ST2L). This study investigated associations between single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in the IL33 gene and in the IL1RL1 (ST2) gene with periodontitis. Additionally, aimed to determine the role of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) relative amount in the subgingival biofilm in these associations. A cross-sectional study was carried out with 506 individuals that answered a structured questionnaire used to collect their health status, socioeconomic-demographic, and behavioral characteristics. Periodontal examination was performed to determine the presence and severity of periodontitis, and subgingival biofilm samples were collected to quantify the relative amount of Aa by real time polymerase chain reaction. Human genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood cells and SNV genotyping was performed. Logistic regression estimated the association measurements, odds ratio (OR), and 95% confidence interval (95%CI), between the IL33 and ST2 genes with periodontitis, and subgroup analyses assessed the relative amount of Aa in these associations. 23% of individuals had periodontitis. Adjusted measurements showed a statistically significant inverse association between two SNVs of the ST2; rs148548829 (C allele) and rs10206753 (G allele). These two alleles together with a third SNV, the rs11693204 (A allele), were inversely associated with moderate periodontitis. One SNV of the IL33 gene also showed a statistically significant inverse association with moderate periodontitis. Nine SNVs of the ST2 gene were inversely associated with the relative amount of Aa. In the high Aa subgroup, there was a direct association between 11 SNVs of the ST2 gene and moderate periodontitis and two SNVs of the ST2 gene and severe periodontitis, and eight SNVs of the ST2 gene and periodontitis. These exploratory findings of genetic variants in IL-33/ST2 axis support the concept that the different tissue responses among individuals with periodontitis may be modulated by the host’s genetics, influencing the physiopathology of the disease.