bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anxio-depressive disorders among healthcare workers in COVID-19 department
Authors: Fendri M. N. , Brahim D. , Youssef I. , Ayed W. , Mechergui N. , Ernez S. , Mersni M. , Ladhari N.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

The COVID pandemic has troubled the world and disrupted the professional and personal lives of healthcare workers, putting their mental health at risk.

Objectives

Determine the prevalence of anxiety-depressive disorders among health personnel assigned to the COVID-19 circuit.

Methods

Cross-sectional study carried out on healthcare personnel assigned to departments dedicated to the care of patients hospitalized for a SARS-COV2 infection. The study took place between March and September 2021. Data collection was done from a pre-established sheet. Anxiety-depressive disorders were screened using the HAD scale.

Results

The study included 140 health personnel. The sex ratio (M/W) was 0.62 with 54 men and 86 women. The mean age was 36.4±9 years. Nurses represented the largest professional category (64.6%). Professional seniority was 10 ± 9 years. Staff had been caring for patients with COVID for an average of 9 ±5 months. They worked an average of 4 days a week. The number of patients ranged from 1 to 55 per department. Psychiatric history was found in 29 participants, depression in 7% and anxiety in 2%. The workload was rated very hard at 42.1% and hard at 37.1%. Thirty percent of the population declared having received the moral support necessary to face the wave. The prevalence of anxiety and depression were 75.7% and 72.9% respectively. With 48.6% of patients presenting with definite anxiety and 27.1% with probable anxiety. Depression was certain in 40% of cases and doubtful in 32.9% of cases.

Conclusions

Anxio-depressive disorders are common among healthcare staff assigned to the COVID circuit. Setting up listening cells with regular monitoring of these staff is very important to avoid psychologic impact

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
The EXPERIENCE system for the investigation of behavioral differences between depressed and healthy-control participants in Virtual Reality
Authors: Sutori S. , Todorov I. , Hadlaczky G. , Carli V.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

The EXPERIENCE project aims to enable the creation and sharing of extended-personal realities in virtual reality (VR). Currently, software and hardware technology are under development, that will automatically generate VR environments based on neurophysiological, psychological, cognitive, and behavioral data to support not only the recording of personal experiences but the transmission as well to another user. Potential use cases include enhanced treatment and the assessment of symptom severity of affective disorders.

Objectives

The objective is to design and create a virtual reality environment that enables the identification of between-group differences in behavioral measures when comparing depressed and healthy-control participants.

Methods

We conducted a literature review to identify measures that can be implemented in VR and have the potential to show differences between depressed and healthy-control participants. PubMed and ResearchGate databases were screened to identify potential cognitive tasks. A selection protocol was developed considering effect size, homogeneity of results, risk for cybersickness, cognitive demand, domain heterogeneity, and VR compatibility to choose 4 out of the 47 initial tasks. In addition to the cognitive tasks, behavior measures were considered as well and a virtual environment has been equipped to assess (1) exploratory behavior; (2) engagement with emotionally valenced stimuli (via eye-tracking); (3) metacognitive sensitivity, (4) persistence/grit, and (5) possible effects of mood induction.

Results

Based on the above review, a virtual environment has been developed which is composed of four rooms and a hallway where the starting point is. After an initial tutorial on how the environment/controllers work participants are free to explore and instructions are only provided for the specific cognitive tasks which have to be solved to open the doors and move between rooms. The rooms are equipped with numerous interactive objects and images with varying emotional valence. The engagement with the environment and general activity are continuously recorded and can be retrieved for analyses after participants exit the environment.

Conclusions

If the controlled VR environment will be proven effective for the assessment of depressive symptoms in future studies, the EXPERIENCE system could incorporate direct and objective behavioral measures into the assessment depressive symptoms. Consequently, the system has the potential to support the clinical diagnosis of affective disorders.

Acknowledgement

The EXPERIENCE project is funded by the European Commission H2020 Framework Program with the Grant No. 101017727.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Effectiveness of an e-health system on depression among patients with somatic disorders
Authors: Vitcheva T. , Hadlaczky G. , Petros N. G. , Carli V.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Patients with severe somatic conditions frequently develop depressive symptoms, with a reduction in quality of life, sleep disturbances and suicide as some of the most serious consequences. However, there is a lack of evidence-based interventions to reduce this comorbidity. The NEVERMIND system aims to address this issue by collecting biomedical and psychometric data through a smart shirt and questionnaires, which are used to predict patients’ depressive symptoms. Based on the predictions, patients are offered personalised feedback to self-manage their mental health symptoms in the form of lifestyle behavioural advice, mindfulness-based therapy, and cognitive behavioural therapy.

Objectives

The primary objective was to assess the effectiveness of the NEVERMIND system in reducing depressive symptoms in patients with somatic conditions in comparison to treatment as usual. Some of the secondary objectives were to examine the NEVERMIND system’s effectiveness in preventing new depressive symptoms, sustaining the effects of the intervention at 24 weeks post-baseline, and reducing suicide ideation.

Methods

For this pragmatic randomised controlled trial, 425 patients diagnosed with myocardial infarction, breast or prostate cancer, kidney failure, or lower limb amputation were recruited from hospitals in Turin, Pisa and Lisbon. Data from clinical interviews and structured questionnaires was collected at baseline, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks. The primary outcome was depressive symptoms at week 12 as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), while secondary outcomes included prevention of depressive symptoms, suicide ideation, self-reported general interest, satisfaction with daily life, illness perception, self-compassion, and the sustainability of the system’s effect at 24 weeks post-baseline. The intention-to-treat analyses included all patients, while the per-protocol analyses included 333 patients.

Results

The intervention group included 213 and the control group 212 patients, with the sample’s mean age being 59.41 (SD=10.70). Those who used the system had statistically significant lower depressive symptoms at 12 weeks (mean difference=-3.05, p=0.004; 95%CI -5.12 to -0.99) compared to controls, with a clinically relevant effect size (Cohen’s d=0.41). Notable significant reductions included suicide ideation (mean difference =-0.61, p=0.020; 95%CI -1.13 to -0.10) and incidence of depressive symptoms at week 12 (OR=0.43, p=0.019; 95%CI 0.22 to 0.87). The improvements in depressive symptoms were sustained at week 24 (mean difference =-1.34, p=0.015; 95%CI -2.41 to -0.26). No significant differences were observed for other secondary outcomes.

Conclusions

The NEVERMIND system was shown to be superior to standard care in reducing and preventing depressive symptoms among the studied sample.

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared
Data and Metrics for Patient Blood Management: A Narrative Review and Practical Guide
Authors: Trentino Kevin M. , Lloyd Adam , Swain Stuart G. , Trentino Laura , Gross Irwin
Published: August 2023

Data collection, analysis, and reporting are fundamental for a successful hospital-based patient blood management program; however, very little has been published on the topic. Our aim was to synthesize evidence from a literature review to provide a detailed, practical list of outcome metrics, and the required data collection(s) to inform implementation. Ovid MEDLINE and PubMed were searched for any full-text original research articles published from inception to the year 2020. We included any studies reporting the implementation of interventions or programs study authors defined as “patient blood management” and extracted information on data collected and metrics reported. We included 45 studies describing the implementation of a patient blood management program and/or strategies. The outcomes reported by these studies were grouped into 1 of 36 metrics. We compiled a list of 65 relevant data elements to collect, and their potential source hospital information systems: patient administration, laboratory, transfusion/blood bank, operating room, pharmacy, emergency department, and intensive care unit. We further categorized patient blood management data systems into basic, intermediate, and advanced based on the combination of different information systems sourced. The results of this review can be used to inform patient blood management programs in planning what data collection(s) are needed, where these data can be sourced from, and how they can be analyzed.
Petrochemical Planet
Authors: Mah Alice
Published: August 2023

In Petrochemical Planet Alice Mah examines the changing nature of the petrochemical industry as it faces the existential threats of climate change and environmental activism. Drawing on research from high-level industry meetings, petrochemical plant tours, and polluted communities, Mah juxtaposes the petrochemical industry’s destructive corporate worldviews with environmental justice struggles in the United States, China, and Europe. She argues that amid intensifying public pressures, a profound planetary industrial transformation is underway that is challenging the reigning age of plastics and fossil fuels. This challenge comes from what Mah calls multiscalar activism—a form of collective resistance that spans local, regional, national, and planetary sites and scales and addresses the interconnected issues of environmental justice, climate, pollution, health, extraction, land rights, workers’ rights, systemic racism, and toxic colonialism. Reflecting on the obstacles and openings for critical interventions in the petrochemical industry, Mah offers important insights into the possibilities for resistance and for developing alternatives to the reliance on fossil fuels.
Enhanced human periodontal ligament stem cell viability and osteogenic differentiation on two implant materials: An experimental in vitro study
Authors: El Shafei Sara F. , Raafat Shereen N. , Farag Engy A.
Published: August 2023

Background: Surface roughness of dental implants impacts the survival of adult periodontal stem cells and rate of differentiation. This research was conducted to test how human periodontal ligament stem cells behaved on yttria stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystals and polyetheretherketone (PEEK) discs with different surface topographies.

Methods: Discs roughening was prepared by sandblasting. Stem cells were cultivated on zirconia discs with a polished surface, PEEK discs with a polished surface, sandblasted zirconia discs and sandblasted PEEK discs. Cells viability was assessed after 24, 48, 72 hours. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the adherence and attachment of cells. Osteoblastic differentiation capacity was studied by checking the mineralization clusters development through alizarin red S staining and alkaline phosphatase assay. ANOVA and the Tukey post hoc test were used for the statistical analysis.

Results: Polished PEEK discs showed lower cell viability, whereas roughened sandblasted zirconia and PEEK discs showed the highest proliferation rates and cell viability percent. The osteogenic differentiation was enhanced for rough surfaces in comparison to polished surfaces. Sandblasted zirconia and PEEK discs showed a markedly increased mineralized nodule development and ALP enzyme activity compared to the polished surface and control.

Conclusions: Micro- topographies creation on the PEEK implant surface enhances stem cell attachment, viability, and osteogenic differentiation.
Alzheimer’s Disease: A Challenge In The Face Of Modern Era
Authors: K Agarwal Anil , Varghese Roshni , Soman Gowri , Kumar K Krishna , Joshy Joyal
Published: August 2023

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating disease which affects the mental capacity and hence the standard of life of patients suffering from this disease. The accumulation of β-amyloid plaques and tau tangles has been found to be central to the disease. Over the years, research on β-secretase has become known as a hopeful target for the exploration of AD. A number of drugs have been approved by the US-FDA which meliorates only some of the symptoms of AD, but do not help in modifing the principal disease mechanisms.
Synthesis and Characterization of Benzoxazinone Derivatives
Authors: P Nefisath , P Vishwanatha , N Sudhakar Y
Published: August 2023

The present work reports synthesis and characterization of different benzoxazinone derivatives. 2-methyl-7-nitro-4H-3,1-benzoxazin-4-one was prepared by refluxing 4- nitroanthranilic acid with acid anhydride. Derivatives of 2-methyl-7-nitro-4H-3,1-benzoxazin-4-one were synthesized by condensation of it with different anilines. Elemental analysis and NMR spectral studies were used to confirm the formation of compounds.
Progress in MICE Industry Research: Case of India
Authors: Tembhare Vikas , Khare Amit , Naidu Lajwanti
Published: August 2023

The study aims to carry out research on the Meeting, Incentive, Convention & Exhibition (MICE) industry in India. Researchers and scholars have conducted several studies to examine the trends, impact, opportunities and challenges of the Indian Meeting, Incentive, Convention & Exhibition (MICE) industry. Despite its greater contribution to the tourism economy and industry growth has received less research attention. The secondary data of the last 12 years' research were analysed with the help of content analysis techniques to find the research trend to predict future thrust areas. The finding shows that innovation, collaborative research and primary data focus were considered as future thrust areas.
Consequences and management of sleep-wake rhythm disorders resulting from social jetlag and nightshifts
Authors: Jargieło Anna , Kosieradzka Karolina , Adamowicz Dominik , Stańczyk Justyna , Łopuszyńska Inga , Meliksetian Astrik , Wosińska Alicja , Pazik Dorota , Kosecka Katarzyna , Rudziński Patryk
Published: August 2023

Our day to night cycle is ruled by a social, biological and sun clock. The social clock being a local time is aligned with others’ lives. The biological clock (circadian time) that controls our physiology and the sun clock that defines natural light and darkness. Social jetlag refers to the misalignment between local and circadian time. This term is usually used in reference to travels to places in different time zones. Nevertheless, it is worth noticing that “jetlag” also applies to people working in a medical industry such as doctors, nurses, paramedics, and others involved in an on-call work. Thus, I would like to look closer to the physiology of social jetlag and to analyze its implications.
integrated approach to pharmacotherapy in smoking cessation: the role of varenicline, bupropion, cytisine, and nicotine replacement therapy
Authors: Więcław Kacper , Stańko Katarzyna , Piasek Laura , Szafran Adrianna , Wiśniewska Klaudia , Ostańska Agnieszka , Terelak Wiktor , Ciechański Marcin , Witkowska Edyta , Godek Grzegorz
Published: August 2023

Introduction: Smoking tobacco is a significant global health issue, contributing to various diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and respiratory disorders. Quitting smoking is not only a beneficial decision for an individual's health but also for society as a whole. Pharmacological therapy plays a crucial role in the smoking cessation process by supporting and increasing the chances of success.
Aim: To compare four medications used in smoking cessation: varenicline, bupropion, cytisine, and nicotine replacement therapy, in terms of their characteristics, mechanism of action, efficacy, and adverse effects.
Materials and Methods: A review of available data in the PubMed database regarding medications registered in Poland for the treatment of nicotine addiction.
Key Results: The efficacy of all four medications in smoking cessation was demonstrated. Individuals using varenicline, bupropion, cytisine, or nicotine replacement therapy had higher chances of quitting smoking compared to placebo groups. Specifically, varenicline showed the highest efficacy among all the medications studied. Despite a high level of safety profile, each therapy can cause various adverse effects, with the most serious being the risk of seizures associated with bupropion.
Conclusions: Varenicline, bupropion, cytisine, and nicotine replacement therapy are valuable tools in the process of smoking cessation and increase the chances of successfully quitting the addiction. The choice of a specific medication may depend on individual patient preferences and clinical factors. These findings should be taken into consideration when making therapeutic decisions in the field of smoking cessation.
FDA Approves Omaveloxolone based on Successful Moxie Trial Results for Friedreich's Ataxia - Review
Authors: Kania Krzysztof , Kania Joanna , Niekurzak Karolina , Jędrak Maciej , Józefiak Maciej , Sobkiewicz Piotr
Published: August 2023

Introduction: In recent years, the medical community has witnessed a significant breakthrough in the treatment of Friedreich's Ataxia (FRDA), a rare and debilitating genetic disorder affecting the nervous system. This neurological condition, characterized by progressive muscle weakness, impaired coordination, and cardiomyopathy, has long posed challenges for both patients and healthcare professionals alike. However, there is newfound hope with the recent approval of Omaveloxolone by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Aim of the study: This review article aims to present a detailed summary of the FDA's approval of Omaveloxolone as a therapeutic option for Friedreich's Ataxia (FRDA), focusing on the positive results obtained from the MOXIe trial. It covers various aspects of FRDA and explains how Omaveloxolone works as an activator of NRF2, a transcription factor that helps reduce oxidative stress. The MOXIe trial, which examined the safety and effectiveness of Omaveloxolone in FRDA patients, is discussed in detail, including its methodology, primary and secondary goals, and results. Materials and methods: This review was based on available data collected in the PubMed and Google Scholar database, using the key words: FRDA, Friedreich’s Ataxia, Omaveloxolone, RTA 408, NRF2, MOXIe trail.Conclusion: Omaveloxolone has shown significant efficacy in improving neurological function and mFARS scores compared to a placebo in the MOXIe trial. It is well-tolerated with minimal adverse events. Early intervention with Omaveloxolone offers enhanced benefits for managing Friedreich's ataxia progression.
Psychosocial Predictors of Normative Transgression during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Peruvian citizens
Authors: Palacios Danika , Espinosa Agustin , Lewis Harry
Published: August 2023

This research investigated psychological correlates with norm non-compliance during the National State of Emergency declared in Peru at the time of the covid-19 pandemic. Specifically, it looks at the relationship between Social Dominance Orientation (sdo), perceptions of legitimacy, strength and efficacy of the normative system, and trust in the institutions. It also looks at individual justifications for norm non-compliance and the frequency of transgression. A correlational research design using questionnaires was developed with a sample of 126 participants. Results show that transgression of government-issued norms during the Peruvian National State of Emergency is linked to the ideological component of sdo and perceptions of a weak and illegitimate normative system. These results are consistent with previous studies on normative transgression in Latin American countries. Additionally, results suggest that the need for subsistence (i.e., generating resources to sustain the household) is fundamental to comprehensively understanding transgressive behavior in contexts of vulnerability such as a global pandemic. The discussion highlights how a precarious socio-political structure —one incapable of meeting the basic needs of large sectors of the population— emerges as a central cause of normative transgression in times of crisis.
Caficultores informados, cultivando confianza en las entidades financieras. Cartilla informativa: protección al consumidor financiero
Authors: María Juliana María Juliana , Astudillo Ángela María , Urueña María Fernanda , Gómez Henry Andrés , Garcés Nicolás , Boada Martínez Fabio Alejandro , Barragán Nelly , Cuéllar Marina , Barragán Elsa , Urrea Myriam , Triana Bertilda , Rivera Juan Pablo , Barrera Yolanda , García Yaned , Bolaños Enriqueta , Alfonso Bejarano Jose Miguel , Rojas Aracely , Méndez Norberto , Caicedo Roberney , Reinoso Flor , Oviedo Lorena
Published: August 2023

Esta cartilla se construyó junto con hogares cafeteros de los departamentos del Huila y del Tolima que participaron en las actividades desarrolladas por el equipo del proyecto Informalidad Financiera Rural, liderado por la Alianza EFI(Economía Formal e Inclusiva). En dos talleres de creación conjunta, el equipo de investigación y los hogares cafeteros codiseñaron su contenido. Los aportes de los caficultores, su voz y sus sugerencias fueron centrales para adecuar la cartilla a la realidad rural cafetera. Los hogares comprobaron que el lenguaje, el contenido y las explicaciones fueran apropiados para la comunidad cafetera.
Put Your Mouth Where Your Money Is: A Field Experiment Encouraging Donors to Share About Charity
Authors: Silver Ike , Small Deborah A.
Published: August 2023

Evidence from a large, preregistered field experiment reveals that making the social impact case for sharing can reduce concerns about bragging and increase word-of-mouth in the domain of charity.
Can Technology Startups Hire Talented Early Employees? Ability, Preferences, and Employee First Job Choice
Authors: Roach Michael , Sauermann Henry
Published: August 2023

Early stage technology startups rely critically on talented scientists and engineers to commercialize new technologies. And yet these startups compete with established technology firms to hire the best workers. Theories of ability sorting predict that high-ability workers will choose jobs in established firms that offer greater complementary assets and higher pay, leaving low-ability workers to take lower paying and riskier jobs in startups. We propose an alternative view in which heterogeneity in both worker ability and preferences enable startups to hire talented workers who have a taste for a startup work environment even at lower pay. Using a longitudinal survey that follows 2,394 science and engineering PhDs from graduate school into their first industrial employment, we overcome common empirical challenges by observing ability and stated preferences prior to entry into the labor market. We find that both ability and career preferences strongly predict startup employment with high-ability workers who prefer startup employment being the most likely to work in a startup. We show that this partly reflects dual selection effects whereby worker preferences result in a large pool of startup job applicants and startups make job offers to the most talented workers. Additional analyses confirm that startup employees earn approximately 17% lower pay. This gap is greatest for high-ability workers and persists over workers’ early careers, suggesting that they accept a negative compensating differential in exchange for the nonpecuniary benefits of startup employment. Data on job attributes and stated reasons for job choice further support this interpretation.

This paper was accepted by Toby Stuart, entrepreneurship and innovation.

Funding: This work was supported by the National Science Foundation SciSIP Award [Grant 1262270] and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation (Junior Faculty Fellowship).

Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4868 .
Fracture-related infections
Authors: Hussain Samar A , Walters Samuel , Ahluwalia Aashish K , Trompeter Alex
Published: August 2023

Fracture-related infection is a serious complication which can occur following musculoskeletal injury and is associated with significant morbidity. These complications can be challenging to recognise, and experts have provided a clearer definition of fracture-related infection to help with the diagnosis and detection of these infections. This system includes clinical, radiological and laboratory-based diagnostic features which are either confirmatory or suggestive of fracture-related infection. Treatment requires a multifaceted approach with multidisciplinary involvement, and generally a combination of surgical techniques and prolonged antibiotics, the timing and choice of which should be optimised. This article provides an evidence-based review of the British Orthopaedic Association Standards for Trauma for the diagnosis and management of fracture-related infections.
LED array microscopy system correction method with comprehensive error parameters optimized by phase smoothing criterion
Authors: Yang Zewen , Zhang Lu , Liu Tong , Wu Haoyu , Tang Zhiyuan , Fan Chen , Liu Xiaolong , Zhang Zhenxi , Zhao Hong
Published: August 2023

LED array microscopy is a novel computational imaging technique that can achieve two-dimensional (2D) phase imaging and three-dimensional (3D) refractive index imaging with both high resolution and a large field of view. Although its experimental setup is simple, the errors caused by LED array position and light source central wavelength obviously decrease the quality of reconstructed results. To solve this problem, comprehensive error parameters optimized by the phase smoothing criterion are put forward in this paper. The central wavelength error and 3D misalignment model with six freedom degree errors of LED array are considered as the comprehensive error parameters when the spatial positional and optical features of arbitrarily placed LED array are unknown. Phase smoothing criterion is also introduced to the cost function for optimizing comprehensive error parameters to improve the convergence results. Compared with current system correction methods, the simulation and experimental results show that the proposed method in this paper has the best reconstruction accuracy, which can be well applied to an LED array microscope system with unknown positional and optical features of the LED array.
Generation of integer and fractional vortex beams based on liquid crystal electronically reconfigurable spiral phase plates
Authors: de la Rosa P. , Pereiro-García J. , Caño-García M. , Otón J. M. , Quintana X. , Geday M. A.
Published: August 2023

The manufacturing and characterization of a large-size 72-electrode liquid crystal-based reconfigurable spiral phase plate (SPP) is presented. The SPP is addressed by a custom-made driver with 72 independent channels, which allows for the generation of any arbitrary integer or fractional optical vortex beam with topological charges ranging from –24 to +24. The 25 mm diameter device is fabricated using direct laser writing, leading to a fill factor over 99%. The device performance and flexibility exceed previous transparent reconfigurable SPP in terms of size, tuning range, and fill factor. The device and the light path have been simulated using the angular spectrum propagation method, showing excellent correspondence.
Performance-enhanced time-delayed photonic reservoir computing system using a reflective semiconductor optical amplifier
Authors: Li Xiaoyu , Jiang Ning , Zhang Qiang , Tang Chuanjie , Zhang Yiqun , Hu Gang , Cao Yongsheng , Qiu Kun
Published: August 2023

We propose a time-delayed photonic reservoir computing (RC) architecture utilizing a reflective semiconductor optical amplifier (RSOA) as an active mirror. The performance of the proposed RC structure is investigated by two benchmark tasks, namely the Santa Fe time-series prediction task and the nonlinear channel equalization task. The simulation results show that both the prediction and equalization performance of the proposed system are significantly improved with the contribution of RSOA, with respect to the traditional RC system using a mirror. By increasing the drive current of the RSOA, the greater nonlinearity of the RSOA gain saturation is achieved, as such the prediction and equalization performance are enhanced. It is also shown that the proposed RC architecture shows a wider consistency interval and superior robustness than the traditional RC structure for most of the measured parameters such as coupling strength, injection strength, and frequency detuning. This work provides a performance-enhanced time-delayed RC structure by making use of the nonlinear transformation of the RSOA feedback.
Effect of the optical power factors on the laser-linewidth measurements
Authors: Huang Shihong , Wan Minggui , Wu Jiayang , Zhang Bingzhi , Liu Cuihong , Lu Dunke , Fang Xiaohui
Published: August 2023

In this paper, the effects of optical power factors like laser power, the powers of the laser beams in the two arms of the optical system, and the power of the photodetector on laser-linewidth measurements are studied. From the experiments, it can be found that when the average optical input power for the photodetector is about 50% of its linear saturation power, the measured laser line width is a minimum. When the optical powers of the laser beams in the two arms are equal in short-delay self-homodyne system, the measured laser line width is narrowest. In the low output power range of the laser, its line width decreases with the increase in optical power. By comparing experiments, it can also be clear that the conventional measurement method is seriously affected by different noise types, which causes the measured line width to become wider and not change even if the laser linewidth changes. However, based on the short-delay coherent envelope method, the measured coherent envelope changes significantly when the laser line width changes slightly, and its corresponding laser-linewidth values are also clearly visible. It confirms the low noise and high resolution of the short-delay self-homodyne coherent-envelope laser-measurement method. The outcomes of this study can provide helpful information for precision ultra-narrow laser-linewidth measurements.
Soft x-ray Ar + 8 laser excited by low-voltage capillary discharge
Authors: Fekete B. , Kiss M. , Shapolov A. A. , Szatmari S. , Kukhlevsky S. V.
Published: August 2023

We demonstrated the operation of a 46.9-nm capillary discharge Ar + 8-laser excited by electrical pulses at a very low voltage (35 − 45 kV), which is approximately two times lower than previously reported. The decrease in pulse voltage not only allows for further reduction in the size of the laser's excitation part, but also a principal shift to the experimental methods, techniques, and technologies used in ordinary pulsed gas lasers operating in the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared regions of the spectra. In an argon-filled alumina capillary with an inner diameter of 3.1 mm and a length of 22 cm, laser pulses with an energy of 4 µJ and a duration of 1.6 ns were generated. The laser produces a beam with a Gaussian intensity distribution and an FWHM divergence of 1.9 mrad. The results could be particularly useful in the development of compact, practical soft x-ray capillary lasers for use in small laboratories at educational and research institutions.
Stimulated-responsive refractive-diffractive biological hydrogel micro-optical element enabling achromatism via femtosecond laser lithography
Authors: Li Qisong , Shi Haosong , Xi Shanming , Jiang Jincheng , Zhang Long , Liu Yi
Published: August 2023

Herein, we report a novel biological hydrogel-based achromatic refractive-diffractive micro-optical element with single-material apochromatism. Benefiting from the stimulated responsive property of the hydrogel, pH modulation yielded swelling and affected the refractive index of the element, enabling multi-wavelength focusing performance tuning and chromatic aberration adjustment. Using femtosecond laser lithography, we fabricated a separate hydrogel microlens and Fresnel zone plate and measured the tunable focusing performance while varying pH; the results were consistent with our simulation results. Furthermore, we designed and fabricated a hydrogel-based achromatic refractive-diffractive micro-optical element and demonstrated achromatism with respect to three wavelengths using only one material consisting of a microlens and a Fresnel zone plate. We characterized the optical focusing properties and observed smaller chromatic aberration. The potential applications of such hybrid microoptical elements include biomedical imaging and optical biology sensing.
Improved measurement of the glue layer in composite material by using sparse deconvolution
Authors: Wang Bo , Wang Shujie , Wang Zhongmin , Yang Xiuwei
Published: August 2023

Due to its powerful penetration, and greater spatial resolution than
microwaves and ultrasonic waves, the terahertz technique stands out as
being particularly useful in identifying thin glue layers in
multilayered materials. However, the arrival times of echoes are
challenging to pinpoint from the experimental data because of the
temporal form of the incident pulse and the system noise. Here, two
terahertz signal sparse deconvolution algorithms are studied to more
accurately identify the times of the echoes. Using the circulant
structure of the convolution matrix, the method’s computation
time can be lowered to hundreds of milliseconds. In addition, a method
based on group velocity dispersion is investigated to reduce the
impact of time-varying pulses with minimal computational expense. The
presented algorithms have the potential to be employed in real-time
inspection in production lines due to their quick speed and high
confidence.
High-resolution compact spectrometer based on periodic tapered coreless fiber
Authors: Chen Hongzhou , Duan Zhenyu , Guan Chunying , Li Xixin , Gao Shan , Hu Xiao , Ye Peng , Yang Jing , Li Ping , Shi Jinhui , Yuan Libo
Published: August 2023

This Letter proposes a method that balances miniaturization and high performance of fiber optic speckle spectrometers. The periodically tapered coreless fiber is used as the scattering element to excite more higher-order modes in the coreless fiber. As a result, a remarkable spectral resolution of 0.03 nm in the near-infrared spectrum can be achieved with a 5-cm-long fiber. Narrow linewidth and broadband spectra in the wavelength of 1540–1560 nm are reconstructed separately, demonstrating the excellent performance of the designed all-fiber spectrometer. The spectral resolution of our proposed spectrometer is comparable to that of a 2-m multimode fiber spectrometer and has a significant improvement in miniaturization.
Design of a dielectric ultrathin near-infrared metalens based on electromagnetically induced transparency
Authors: Zeng Zhiqiang , Chen Xiaoyin , Du Lianghui , Li Jiang , Zhu Liguo
Published: August 2023

A transmissive metasurface lens thinner than a wavelength promises a potential way to replace conventional bulky components for wavefront and polarization control of incident light. Here we propose a novel approach for an ultrathin metasurface lens at the working wavelength of 1550 nm composed of silicon cuboids on the silica substrate. Taking advantage of the ‘slow-light’ effect of the electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) phenomena, the thickness of the proposed transmissive metalens has been reduced to 130 nm (∼1/12λ0), and it can focus incident light to a near diffraction-limited spot. The focusing efficiency of the ultrathin metalens is about 2 times larger than its peer without EIT effect. One key advantage of this metalens design is the reduction of the aspect ratio down to about 1, making this approach significantly degrade the difficulty of metalens manufacturing.
The angular spectrum decomposition of vector laser beams: polarization control of the electromagnetic field vectors
Authors: Muys Peter
Published: August 2023

The angular spectrum representation as method to solve the electric vector Helmholtz equation in 3D is well known, in particular for beam propagation studies, where the field is predominantly directed along the optical axis. The inversion formulas then transform the electric field into its angular spectrum ( and vice versa). By using an intrinsic coordinate system instead of the usual 3D Cartesian system, we arrive at compact 2D inversion formulas as solutions.
Furthermore, next to the 2D intrinsic version, a 2D Cartesian version of the 3D field vectors is derived, by considering the fields in the 2D sections transverse to the optical axis. It is shown that this polarization representation is rigorously correct and simultaneously describes 3D fields without paraxial approximation .
The ability to switch between the field and its spectrum shows that studying polarization in the Fourier domain can be advantageous to studying it in the more familiar spatial domain.
Image Quality Evaluation Method of Intraocular Lens Based on Wavefront Aberration and MTF
Authors: YU Jing , Xu Huixian , wang Shiling , Kong Ming
Published: August 2023

We propose a method based on wavefront aberration and the modulation transfer function (MTF) to assess the imaging quality of intraocular lenses (IOLs). Based on the simulation results, we constructed an experimental measuring apparatus that transforms the measured Zernike coefficient into the MTF. The results demonstrate that the imaging quality trend was the same, and the image quality of single focal IOLs with +19.0D was better, despite the simulation results having a large error value compared to the actual data. Therefore, wavefront aberration and MTF can be used to effectively evaluate the imaging quality of IOLs.
Evolutionary safety of lethal mutagenesis driven by antiviral treatment
Authors: Lobinska Gabriela , Pilpel Yitzhak , Nowak Martin A.
Published: August 2023

Nucleoside analogs are a major class of antiviral drugs. Some act by increasing the viral mutation rate causing lethal mutagenesis of the virus. Their mutagenic capacity, however, may lead to an evolutionary safety concern. We define evolutionary safety as a probabilistic assurance that the treatment will not generate an increased number of mutants. We develop a mathematical framework to estimate the total mutant load produced with and without mutagenic treatment. We predict rates of appearance of such virus mutants as a function of the timing of treatment and the immune competence of patients, employing realistic assumptions about the vulnerability of the viral genome and its potential to generate viable mutants. We focus on the case study of Molnupiravir, which is an FDA-approved treatment against Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19). We estimate that Molnupiravir is narrowly evolutionarily safe, subject to the current estimate of parameters. Evolutionary safety can be improved by restricting treatment with this drug to individuals with a low immunological clearance rate and, in future, by designing treatments that lead to a greater increase in mutation rate. We report a simple mathematical rule to determine the fold increase in mutation rate required to obtain evolutionary safety that is also applicable to other pathogen-treatment combinations.
Functional unknomics: Systematic screening of conserved genes of unknown function
Authors: Rocha João J. , Jayaram Satish Arcot , Stevens Tim J. , Muschalik Nadine , Shah Rajen D. , Emran Sahar , Robles Cristina , Freeman Matthew , Munro Sean
Published: August 2023

The human genome encodes approximately 20,000 proteins, many still uncharacterised. It has become clear that scientific research tends to focus on well-studied proteins, leading to a concern that poorly understood genes are unjustifiably neglected. To address this, we have developed a publicly available and customisable “Unknome database” that ranks proteins based on how little is known about them. We applied RNA interference (RNAi) inDrosophilato 260 unknown genes that are conserved between flies and humans. Knockdown of some genes resulted in loss of viability, and functional screening of the rest revealed hits for fertility, development, locomotion, protein quality control, and resilience to stress. CRISPR/Cas9 gene disruption validated a component of Notch signalling and 2 genes contributing to male fertility. Our work illustrates the importance of poorly understood genes, provides a resource to accelerate future research, and highlights a need to support database curation to ensure that misannotation does not erode our awareness of our own ignorance.
Sociodemographics and health-literacy as predictors of cervical cancer screening practices among Haitian women: A secondary data analysis of 2016–17 DHS surveys
Authors: Guillaume Dominique , Moise Rhoda , Chepkorir Joyline , Alexander Kamila , Alcaide Maria Luisa , Chandler Rasheeta , Rolland Claire , Pierre-Joseph Natalie
Published: August 2023

Cervical cancer screening rates in Haiti are concerningly low. Access to health-related information and health literacy may be important determinants of engagement in cervical cancer screening. This study explored the relationship between sociodemographics,literacy, and sources of information on cervical cancer screening among Haitian women. A secondary data analysis was conducted using USAID Demographics and Health Survey Haiti household data from 2016–2017. Univariate logistic regressions identified significant predictor covariates measuring sociodemographics and sources of information in cervical cancer screening uptake.Two multivariate logistic regression models with adjusted odds ratios were developed using the significant predictor variables from the univariate analysis. N = 610 women responded to questions pertaining to cervical cancer screening. The first multivariate model evaluating sociodemographics demonstrated an economic background of poorer (aOR = 4.06, 95% CI [1.16,14.27]) and richest (aOR = 19.10 , 95% CI[2.58,141.57]), higher education levels (aOR 7.58 , 95% CI [1.64,34.97]), and having insurance (aOR = 16.40, [95% CI 2.65, 101.42]) were significant predictors of cervical cancer screening. The second model evaluating literacy and sources of information indicated that access to a television (aOR = 4.28, 95% CI [1.21,9.34]), mobile phone ownership (aOR = 4.44, 95% CI [1.00,5.59]), and reading the newspaper (aOR = 3.57, [95% CI 1.10,11.59]) were significant predictors of cervical cancer screening. Diverse health communication initiatives that are adapted for literacy level and that incorporate multimedia components may effective in raising women’s cervical cancer knowledge and awareness , and increasing intention and uptake of cervical cancer screening in Haiti.
The biting rate of Aedes aegypti and its variability: A systematic review (1970–2022)
Authors: Zahid Mondal Hasan , Van Wyk Hannah , Morrison Amy C. , Coloma Josefina , Lee Gwenyth O. , Cevallos Varsovia , Ponce Patricio , Eisenberg Joseph N. S.
Published: August 2023

Background

Transmission models have a long history in the study of mosquito-borne disease dynamics. The mosquito biting rate (MBR) is an important parameter in these models, however, estimating its value empirically is complex. Modeling studies obtain biting rate values from various types of studies, each of them having its strengths and limitations. Thus, understanding these study designs and the factors that contribute to MBR estimates and their variability is an important step towards standardizing these estimates. We do this for an important arbovirus vector Aedes aegypti.

Methodology/Principal findings

We perform a systematic review using search terms such as ‘biting rate’ and ‘biting frequency’ combined with ‘Aedes aegypti’ (‘Ae. aegypti’ or ‘A. aegypti’). We screened 3,201 articles from PubMed and ProQuest databases, of which 21 met our inclusion criteria. Two broader types of studies are identified: human landing catch (HLC) studies and multiple feeding studies. We analyze the biting rate data provided as well as the methodologies used in these studies to characterize the variability of these estimates across temporal, spatial, and environmental factors and to identify the strengths and limitations of existing methodologies. Based on these analyses, we present two approaches to estimate population mean per mosquito biting rate: one that combines studies estimating the number of bites taken per gonotrophic cycle and the gonotrophic cycle duration, and a second that uses data from histological studies. Based on one histological study dataset, we estimate biting rates of Ae. aegypti (0.41 and 0.35 bite/mosquito-day in Thailand and Puerto Rico, respectively).

Conclusions/Significance

Our review reinforces the importance of engaging with vector biology when using mosquito biting rate data in transmission modeling studies. For Ae. aegypti, this includes understanding the variation of the gonotrophic cycle duration and the number of bites per gonotrophic cycle, as well as recognizing the potential for spatial and temporal variability. To address these variabilities, we advocate for site-specific data and the development of a standardized approach to estimate the biting rate.
Nuclear DNA segments homologous to mitochondrial DNA are obstacles for detecting heteroplasmy in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.)
Authors: Taniguchi Eigo , Satoh Kosuke , Ohkubo Megumi , Ue Sachiyo , Matsuhira Hiroaki , Kuroda Yosuke , Kubo Tomohiko , Kitazaki Kazuyoshi
Published: August 2023

Heteroplasmy, the coexistence of multiple mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences in a cell, is well documented in plants. Next-generation sequencing technology (NGS) has made it feasible to sequence entire genomes. Thus, NGS has the potential to detect heteroplasmy; however, the methods and pitfalls in heteroplasmy detection have not been fully investigated and identified. One obstacle for heteroplasmy detection is the sequence homology between mitochondrial-, plastid-, and nuclear DNA, of which the influence of nuclear DNA segments homologous to mtDNA (numt) need to be minimized. To detect heteroplasmy, we first excluded nuclear DNA sequences of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) line EL10 from the sugar beet mtDNA sequence. NGS reads were obtained from single plants of sugar beet lines NK-195BRmm-O and NK-291BRmm-O and mapped to the unexcluded mtDNA regions. More than 1000 sites exhibited intra-individual polymorphism as detected by genome browsing analysis. We focused on a 309-bp region where 12 intra-individual polymorphic sites were closely linked to each other. Although the existence of DNA molecules having variant alleles at the 12 sites was confirmed by PCR amplification from NK-195BRmm-O and NK-291BRmm-O, these variants were not always called by six variant-calling programs, suggesting that these programs are inappropriate for intra-individual polymorphism detection. When we changed the nuclear DNA reference, a numt absent from EL10 was found to include the 309-bp region. Genetic segregation of an F2 population from NK-195BRmm-O x NK-291BRmm-O supported the numt origin of the variant alleles. Using four references, we found that numt detection exhibited reference dependency, and extreme polymorphism of numts exists among sugar beet lines. One of the identified numts absent from EL10 is also associated with another intra-individual polymorphic site in NK-195mm-O. Our data suggest that polymorphism among numts is unexpectedly high within sugar beets, leading to confusion about the true degree of heteroplasmy.