bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The importance of mammography in the prevention of breast cancer in women in Norway
Authors: Pałac Renata , Mielnik Aneta , Cipora Elżbieta
Published: December 2024

Introduction. Breast cancer in women in the world is the dominant cancer and the main cause of death in this population.In the last decade, the number of new cases of this cancer has increased significantly, especially among women over 50 years of age. In Norway, however, positive epidemiological trends can be observed in the form of high relative five-year survival rates and a decrease in mortality due to breast cancer.
The aim of the study is to present the recommendations and effects of the mammography program in women in Norway for the prevention of breast cancer.
Material and methods. The study uses the method of review and analysis of literature from databases of scientific journals - mainly PubMed.  The search used the following keywords: "breast cancer", "Norway", "mammography", "women". In addition, Norwegian statistical registers on demographic data were also analysed.
Results. It should be emphasized that women in Norway are very interested in mammography screening, which means that breast cancer in this country is most often diagnosed at an early stage of development. The Norwegian Research Council found that mammography has reduced women's mortality from breast cancer by more than 20%. In 2023, the five-year survival rate for women with breast cancer in Norway was high, at 92.7%. There was also a decrease in mortality from 694 deaths in 2005 to 619 in 2022. 
Conclusions. National and international cooperation should be continued, sharing experiences in health-promoting activities aimed at improving epidemiological indicators and quality of life of women with breast cancer, and conducting scientific research in this area.
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Syndrome: New Clinical Insights for Multimorbid and High-Risk Patients
Authors: Nowakowski Krzysztof , Mularczyk Zuzanna , Reclik Magdalena , Oleksy Piotr , Tenderenda Maciej
Published: December 2024

IntroductionSmall Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) syndrome has emerged as a significant clinical issue associated with various gastrointestinal and systemic conditions. The syndrome is characterized by an excessive proliferation of bacteria in the small intestine, leading to symptoms such as bloating, diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal pain, and malabsorption. These symptoms contribute to a decline in patients' quality of life, malnutrition, and nutritional deficiencies. Despite its clinical relevance, SIBO remains underdiagnosed in routine practice.
Purpose of ResearchThis study aims to review the current understanding of the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic approaches, and treatment options for SIBO, with a focus on improving clinical recognition and management.
Materials and Methods
A comprehensive literature review was conducted, analyzing 31 articles sourced from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect. The search was based on the keywords: SIBO, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth syndrome, dysbiosis, diagnosis of SIBO, and treatments of SIBO. Articles published between 2011 and 2024 were included, with at least 80% of the sources published after 2015 to ensure up-to-date information.
Basic Results
SIBO is associated with diverse etiological factors, including gastrointestinal motility disorders, anatomical abnormalities, and immune deficiencies. Diagnosis primarily relies on clinical history and breath tests, though these have limitations in accuracy. Antimicrobial therapy, alongside management of nutritional deficiencies and the underlying condition, are the cornerstone of treatment.
ConclusionsSIBO presents with nonspecific symptoms commonly seen in clinical practice, especially in elderly and high-risk patients. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can significantly improve patients' quality of life.
Sturge-Weber Syndrome: A comprehensive review of clinical features, optimized diagnosis and management strategies
Authors: Naja Katarzyna , Kapciak Alicja , Górny Julia , Świerzyńska Adrianna , Hawajski Artur , Jankowska Natalia , Kamieniecka Oliwia , Zwardoń Jakub , Mazur Weronika , Pawelec Natalia
Published: December 2024

Introduction: Sturge-Weber Syndrome is a rare neurocutaneous disorder characterized by facial port-wine birthmarks, leptomeningeal angiomatosis, and associated neurological, ophthalmological, and dermatological symptoms. The condition's variable presentation poses challenges for diagnosis, management, and long-term care. Advances in imaging, genetics, and targeted therapies are reshaping the landscape of Sturge-Weber Syndrome treatment.
Aim of Study: This review aims to summarize current knowledge on the clinical manifestations, diagnostic approaches, differential diagnoses, and treatment options for Sturge-Weber Syndrome, with a focus on the management of neurological, ophthalmological, and dermatological symptoms.
Material and methods: A comprehensive review of the literature on Sturge-Weber Syndrome was performed using the PubMed database.
Results and Conclusions: Sturge-Weber Syndrome is a complex disorder requiring a multidisciplinary approach to management. Neurological complications, particularly epilepsy, are a major concern, often necessitating pharmacological or surgical interventions. Ophthalmological issues, especially glaucoma, pose challenges across all age groups, with tailored treatments offering varying success. Dermatological symptoms, such as port-wine stains, benefit significantly from early pulsed dye laser therapy, often enhanced by adjunctive treatments like topical rapamycin. Emerging therapies, including sirolimus and aspirin, show promise in reducing complications. Advances in imaging techniques and targeted treatments offer hope for improved management, while lifelong monitoring remains essential. Further research into the pathophysiology and therapies for Sturge-Weber Syndrome is critical to developing personalized and effective treatment strategies, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
Injuries in triathlon: a review of the literature
Authors: Mawlichanów Maciej , Pniak Michał , Sieradzka Aleksandra , Różycki Adrian , Miklis Paweł , Ciesielska Aleksandra , Szerej Krzysztof , Kot Alicja , Wojtczak Marta , Myśliwiec Natalia
Published: December 2024

Triathlon is a sport consisting of three consecutive disciplines. The popularity of this sport in the world is growing every year and in 2023 as many as 3.2 million Americans declared that they train triathlon[2]. A literature review was conducted adopting the criteria of works no older than 2003, concerning injuries in triathletes, by entering medical terms such as contusio in triathlon, triathlon injuries and health in triathlon in search engines. Studies were grouped according to the criteria adopted in them into seven sections: comparison of studies by country, epidemiology per thousand hours of training, type of injury depending on the given discipline, injury risk factors, protective factors, conclusions from studies as a recommendation for competition organizers. Survey studies and official statistics of competition organizers were analyzed. It was shown that the most frequently used coefficient was the number of injuries per thousand hours of training, the authors presented lack of agreement on the discipline during which these injuries occur, and the lack of individual characteristics of a given athlete that could expose them to injuries. However, it was indicated that the greater the experience, the greater the susceptibility to injuries. Due to the lack of a single definition of injury and the small number of standardized studies, it is currently impossible to clearly assess which injuries are the most common in athletes around the world.
O przejęciu przez bożogrobców z Przeworska parafii w Urzejowicach w diecezji przemyskiej
Authors: Wolski Marian
Published: December 2024

Przeworski konwent zakonu bożogrobców w ciągu XV w. znacznie powiększył stan swego posiadania zarówno o nieruchomości ziemskie, jak i kościoły parafialne położone w ziemi przemyskiej. Bliższa analiza okoliczności wejścia w posiadanie owych nabytków pokazuje, że były one wynikiem sfałszowania dokumentów donacyjnych. Rutynowo preparowano je po śmierci rzekomych donatorów, a niejednokrotnie także ich synów, tak aby niemożliwa była konfrontacja z wystawcą lub osobami świadomymi ich rzeczywistej woli. Taki scenariusz został zrealizowany w Rudołowicach, Tuligłowach oraz Urzejowicach.
Zdemaskowanie tureckiego spisku przez krapkowiczan w 1500 roku. Zagadka źródłowa
Authors: Goliński Mateusz
Published: December 2024

W artykule przeanalizowano treść i okoliczności powstania zeznań wydobytych od przesłuchiwanego w 1500 r. w Krapkowicach rozbójnika na temat rzekomego opłacenia przez wysokiego polskiego urzędnika pieniędzmi otrzymanymi od władcy Turków podpalaczy działających w miastach śląskich.
Dónde anidan los cucos: Jazz y The Night Light, dos revistas en inglés de contenido atrevido en el París de entreguerras y sus relaciones con la prensa de entretenimiento francesa.
Authors: Mansanti Céline
Published: December 2024

The aim of this article is to throw light on the production, financing, distribution, circulation and,
to a lesser extent, reception of Jazz and the Night Light, two festive English-language periodicals in interwar
Paris, in order to better understand their interactions with the French entertainment press of the time. However,
as we will see, both publications should also be understood within the context of the Anglo-American tourism
industry that was in full bloom in the Paris of the 1920s, and within the American indigenous cultural context
of the time, which involved a liberal protest against Christian conservatism, including Prohibition, censorship,
and some sexual restrictions. From a methodological perspective on periodical studies, this case study
speaks once more for the fertility of material approaches to periodicals. Production, financing, distribution,
circulation and reception data, even when they are partial, are gold mines to refine our understanding of
broader cultural phenomena.
La revista 25 de Abril: la revolución de los claveles contada a los emigrantes portugueses (1974-1976).
Authors: González Sáez Juan Manuel
Published: December 2024

N Más de un millón y medio de portugueses vivían en el extranjero cuando triunfó la revolución
de los claveles. Tras la caída de la dictadura, los nuevos gobiernos impulsaron la publicación de 25 de Abril,
una revista dirigida a los inmigrantes con el objetivo de informarles sobre la situación política, social y
económica del país. Este artículo estudia la primera etapa de esta revista entre 1974 y 1976 a través de un análisis de sus contenidos y pretender ser una contribución a las investigaciones sobre el papel de los medios de comunicación durante la revolución portuguesa.
Más de 120 años de prensa en lengua inglesa en el sur de España.
Authors: García Galindo Juan Antonio , López Romero Laura , Novas Martín Genoveva
Published: December 2024

Este artículo estudia la evolución histórica de la prensa en lengua inglesa en Málaga y la Costa
del Sol desde sus orígenes, en esta zona del sur de España, hasta la actualidad, al tiempo que establece las
principales etapas de su desarrollo y señala sus principales características. También se destacan los factores
que permitieron el nacimiento y posterior desarrollo de este fenómeno mediático, ligado a la presencia
de comunidades estables de residentes británicos y de otros países europeos y de fuera de Europa, en un
contexto social y culturalmente permeable. También describe las características de la estructura de este
sistema mediático y sus principales referencias periodísticas
Nace el periodismo neogranadino en medio de un terremoto.
Authors: Hohlfeldt Antonio , Comerlato Eduardo
Published: December 2024

O Desde a primeira prensa tipográfica, aparentemente disponibilizada entre 1737 e 1738, até o ano
de 1810, quando surge o primeiro jornal manifestamente revolucionário e independentista, obra de Antonio
Nariño, a história do jornalismo da Colômbia, então Vice-reino da Nova Granada, é bastante movimentada
e segue as características das demais imprensas de outros vice-reinos, como Nueva España e Perú, e das
capitanias-gerais de Guatemala e Cuba. Estas publicações, ao mesmo tempo em que divulgam um nascente
pensamento regional e identitário, auxiliam na formação de um sentimento nativista que colaborará, mais
tarde, na eclosão dos movimentos independentistas. Neste artigo, propomos uma síntese histórica para
refletir sobre as origens do jornalismo do Vice-reino de Nova Granada, comparando as características
comunicacionais de seus veículos com aqueles encontrados em outras colônias ibéricas, para então se
pensar em possíveis conexões nas origens do jornalismo latino-americano
Medios Digitales, Emociones y Telepresencia en la Diáspora Digital Venezolana.
Authors: Sierra-Bejarano Jorge
Published: December 2024

Este estudio analiza el impacto de los medios digitales, la telepresencia y las emociones en
la diáspora venezolana, integrando elementos históricos y conceptos teóricos de diversas disciplinas. Tales
experiencias son mediadas a través de dispositivos digitales que mitigan la separación y el desarraigo,
transformando usos y prácticas culturales. En este sentido, los artefactos de agenciamiento permiten el flujo
de relaciones e interacciones emocionales a distancia, transformando las relaciones de intimidad y afecto,
reconfigurando el lugar de la virtualidad mediante los dispositivos digitales y reformando las subjetividades
del migrante en la diáspora digital. De esta manera, la noción de hogar y el lugar de origen se encuentran
mediados digitalmente, cambiando su experiencia. Estos estudios sobre las emociones en la diáspora digital nos ayudan a comprender la mediación digital y sus repercusiones en las interacciones sociales.
Transfert modernisti. Dall’Europa ai Paesi Subsahariani
Authors: Caja Michele
Published: December 2024

Il Modernismo africano è stato oggetto di recenti indagini da parte di studiosi europei che aprono nuove prospettive su un ambito geografico poco conosciuto, a partire dal processo di de-colonizzazione (1957-1966) e il suo riflesso sull’architettura locale. L’autonomia da modelli di sviluppo urbano e architettonico tradizionali allarga l’esperienza al dibattito coevo internazionale, anche se con lievi sfasamenti temporali. Da questo quadro ampio, ma circoscritto, emerge comunque la volontà di sfatare miti e stereotipi divenuti cliché di una certa immagine del continente africano. Emerge invece la qualità di molti degli interventi architettonici realizzati in quegli anni, per lo più nell’ambito della tipologia dell’edificio pubblico.
L’architettura della città tropicale in Africa
Authors: Michieletto Manlio
Published: December 2024

La storia della città tropicale è anche la storia dell’architettura del movimento moderno in Africa. Gli artefatti di questo preciso capitolo dell’architettura sono a tutt’oggi riconoscibili. Tuttavia, questi frammenti di memoria sono messi a repentaglio da un movimento antimoderno, che classifica i fatti urbani e la città come oggetti d’antiquariato dei quali è “misterioso” il valore. I contributi scandagliano i resti di una memoria scomparsa contribuendo a ripristinarne la continuità. Il rapporto tra architettura e città viene analizzato nel tempo e nello spazio prima e dopo l’Indipendenza, ed in un’area geografica in cui il progetto si lega indissolubilmente al contesto. Dalle esperienze nell’Africa subsahariana occidentale, Nigeria, Mali, e Burkina Faso si passa alle vicende del modernismo in Sud Africa e Mozambico, per poi risalire verso est in Tanzania, Sudan ed Etiopia. Il viaggio si conclude all’equatore, in Congo e Ruanda.
L'Architettura Tropicale: genesi di una ricerca
Authors: Kanene Mudimubadu Corneille , Tshiunza Alexis
Published: December 2024

L’intervista esplora il lavoro del professor Corneille Mudimubadu Kanene, docente presso l’ISAU di Kinshasa e coautore di L’Architecture tropicale, opera di riferimento sull’architettura bioclimatica in ambienti tropicali. Kanene riflette sull’importanza di comprendere il clima per progettare edifici sostenibili, adattati al contesto e in equilibrio con le risorse locali. Particolare attenzione è data alla ventilazione naturale, all’uso di materiali idonei e alla protezione dal sole per garantire comfort termico. L’insegnamento dell’architettura bioclimatica è visto come cruciale per formare professionisti capaci di contestualizzare i loro progetti, abbandonando sterili richiami formali per concentrarsi su approcci climaticamente consapevoli. L’intervista si conclude con una riflessione sull’architettura come arte dell’organizzazione dello spazio, oltre il mero atto costruttivo.
Il gioco della pianificazione
Authors: Amistadi Lamberto
Published: December 2024

Recensione del libro Autore: Daria Bal, Tomasz Bradecki, Błazej Mól, Marta Sanigórska Titolo: Housing Estate Game Sottotitolo: Cards game, urban design game, board game Lingua: Polacco e inlgese Editore: Silesian University of Technology Caratteristiche: 185 pagine, colore ISBN: 9788378809678 Anno: 2024
Service evaluation of a perioperative neuro-theatre suite from the patient perspective
Authors: Wilson Scott , Cooter Clio
Published: December 2024

A positive patient experience and person-centred care is at the forefront of all healthcare services and is linked to improved health outcomes. Patient satisfaction surveys are used widely to measure patient experiences and satisfaction with hospitals and can help to evaluate and improve services. This article presents a service evaluation from the patient perspective of their perioperative experience in a neuro-theatre suite of one hospital in Scotland. A patient questionnaire was used to evaluate factors that impact on the patient experience, including service quality, staff/patient interaction, comfort and needs, fears and concerns and information provision. A total of 97 responses to the questionnaire were received and findings showed 98.8% overall satisfaction with the care. Continuous evaluation of services is vital to understanding patient satisfaction with services provided by nurses, thus helping to improve the services. The gap in literature highlights the importance of continuing to use this tool within the perioperative neuro-theatre setting.
News from the MS Trust
Authors: Taylor Lucy , Naik Paru
Published: December 2024

In this issue, the MS Trust focuses on the relationship between research and practice in care for people with MS.
Parkinson's and stroke at the BANN conference 2024
Authors: Gibbs Michelle , Storey Kelly , Delabajan Mark , Cumberbatch Gillian
Published: December 2024

The BANN conference 2024 took place in Newcastle in October. Some of those who presented share insights into the subjects they spoke about in Newcastle. Next year's BANN conference will be held in Nottingham on the 3–4 October 2025.
Enhancing leadership and management skills in midwifery through optimised mentorship
Authors: Abdul-Rahim Hadi Zulhiqman , Abdul-Mumin Khadizah H
Published: December 2024

Background/Aims

Mentorship experience is a crucial aspect of midwifery students' development. Midwifery education in Brunei Darussalam aims to enhance leadership and management skills in preparation for the transition to becoming registered midwives. This study explored how mentorship experiences influenced midwifery students' preparation for leadership and management roles, as well as the challenges that impacted the effectiveness of mentorship experiences in clinical settings.

Methods

This descriptive qualitative study involved 43 final-year midwifery students from the Universiti Brunei Darussalam who contributed written essays reflecting on their readiness for leadership, clinical learning encounters and perceptions of mentorship. The essays were analysed thematically.

Results

Most students felt unprepared for leadership as they had received limited guidance and exposure to clinical settings. Mentorship experiences varied, with some finding it beneficial while others struggle to adapt, citing disparities in mentor motivation, teaching abilities and leadership styles.

Conclusions

Practical, hands-on experience is vital to developing leadership and management skills. However, students face challenges in balancing academic commitments with clinical practice, limiting their opportunities to hone their skills.

Implications for practice

A standardised mentorship programme and longer clinical attachments would allow students more time to acclimatise to healthcare environments, comprehend their role and enrich their learning journey.
Federated Learning Enhancement Through Transfer and Continual Learning Integration: Analyzing Effects of Different Levels of Dirichlet Distribution
Authors: Zhang Boyuan , Shikh-Bahaei Mohammad Reza
Published: December 2024

Machine learning plays a pivotal role in modern technology, driving advancements across various domains such as healthcare, finance, and autonomous systems. Federated Learning (FL) offers a significant advantage over traditional machine learning by enabling decentralized model training without requiring data to be centralized, thereby enhancing privacy and security. With the advent of 6G networks, which promise ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC) and massive machine-type communications (mMTC), FL can be significantly enhanced. 6G’s improved bandwidth and latency characteristics will enable more efficient data exchange and model updates, further enhancing the adoption of FL. However, the performance of FL can be significantly affected by data distribution, particularly in non-IID (non-Independent and Identically Distributed) scenarios, where FL tends to perform poorly. This paper proposes a novel approach to enhance FL by integrating Transfer Learning (TL) and Continual Learning (CL), named Integrated Federated Transfer and Continual Learning (IFTCL). TL can extract features from client training samples to benefit subsequent clients, while CL mitigates catastrophic forgetting caused by heterogeneous data across clients. This integration improves FL performance under varying degrees of heterogeneous data distributions simulated by Dirichlet distribution, enhancing accuracy, convergence speed, and reducing communication overhead. The proposed method’s feasibility is validated using a publicly available radar recognition dataset.
Caregivers and Coping: Well-Being, Depression, and Coping Strategies Among Caregivers of Young Adults With Developmental Disability
Authors: Singer Hannah , Clarke Elaine B. , Schiltz Hillary K. , Lord Catherine
Published: December 2024

This 10-year study followed 134 caregivers of young adults with autism and intellectual disability, examining the effects of caregivers’ coping strategies, sociodemographic features, and young adult symptomatology on caregiver well-being and depression. Lower caregiver education and higher young adult externalizing behaviors predicted lower well-being and higher depression among caregivers. Caregivers who were Black or mixed-race experienced higher depression than White caregivers. All five coping strategies investigated predicted changes in caregiver well-being and/or depression, with some effects moderated by young adult externalizing behaviors and sociodemographic features. Notably, higher use of positive coping among caregivers of adults with high externalizing behaviors predicted higher caregiver well-being and lower depression. Findings highlight the importance of effective coping strategies for improving caregiver mental health.
Programmable color qubit quantum gates
Authors: Aguayo-Alvarado Ana Luisa , Domínguez-Serna Francisco A. , Castro-Simanca Ferney , De La Cruz Wencel , Garay-Palmett Karina
Published: December 2024

We present what we believe to be a novel proposal for the implementation of temporal-modes quantum gates based on the third-order nonlinear process of difference frequency generation in an integrated photonic circuit, which allows switching from one Pauli gate to another by tuning the phase difference between the two pump pulses (in case of the σ
x
and σ
y
Pauli gates) and between the two states comprising the basis of single temporal-modes qubits (in the case of the σ
z
Pauli gate). We demonstrate that our proposal enables the preparation of any single temporal-mode qubit and rotations on the Bloch sphere by changing externally controllable parameters. We also analyze the effects of fabrication errors on the predicted quantum gate fidelity, finding that, even if some waveguide parameter deviates from the design, slight tuning of pump wavelengths can lead to recovering high-fidelity values.
Photonics-based Bessel beam launcher with an air-filled core and cylindrical Bragg gratings in the cladding
Authors: Serunjogi Solomon , Taha Ayat , Rasras Mahmoud S.
Published: December 2024

In this study, we develop a photonics-based Bessel launcher characterized by a hollow-core cylindrical waveguide surrounded by Bragg gratings composed of concentric silicon rings, each 375 nm thick. The metasurface is constructed on a 5 µm high silicon cylindrical substrate. This configuration effectively generates a Bessel beam at the commonly used telecom infrared optical wavelength of 1.55 µm. We explore three variations of this optical antenna, featuring 3-, 6-, 16-, and 32-ring arrays, respectively. We compare the results with the geometrical optics approach as well as the Rayleigh hypothesis. The performance of the optical antenna configuration is assessed through simulated far-field polar plots and z-directed intensity distributions up to a non-diffracting range (NDR) of 1 mm using CST Microwave Studio and Lumerical FDTD INTERCONNECT. These simulations reveal that the optical antenna gain of the launcher in the far field varies from 20 to 26 dBi as the number of concentric rings increases from 6 to 32. We report the S11 reflection coefficient of −33dB and the radiation efficiency of 0.01 dB. To independently verify the angular spectrum of the antenna, we employ dyadic Green’s functions, orthogonal vector wave functions, and Bloch’s theorem in MATLAB, demonstrating exceptional coupling of the Gaussian beam into the photonic device with a radiation efficiency of 99%.
Enhanced 3D imaging based on regional optical texture synthesis
Authors: Que Yufei , Ding Junzhe , Xie Jie , Wu Cheng
Published: December 2024

Optical information synthesis, which fuses LiDAR and optical cameras, has the potential for highly detailed 3D representations. However, due to the disparity of information density between point clouds and images, conventional matching methods based on points often lose significant information. To address this issue, we propose a regional matching method to bridge the differences in information density between point clouds and images. In detail, fine semantic regions are extracted from images by analyzing their gradients. Simultaneously, point clouds are transformed into meshes, where each facet corresponds to a coarse semantic region. Extrinsic matrices are used to unify the point cloud coordinate system with the image coordinate system. The mesh is further subdivided based on the guidance of image texture information to create regional matching units. Within each matching unit, the information density of the point cloud and the image is carefully balanced at a semantic level. The texture features of the image are well preserved in the transformed mesh structure. Consequently, the proposed texture synthesis method significantly enhances the overall quality and realism of the 3D imaging.
Optical lattices with variable spacings generated by binary phase transmission gratings
Authors: Han Hyok Sang , Lee Ahreum , Subhankar Sarthak , Rolston S. L. , Fatemi Fredrik K.
Published: December 2024

Optical accordion lattices are routinely used in quantum simulation and quantum computation experiments to tune optical lattice spacings. Here, we present a technique for creating tunable optical lattices using binary-phase transmission gratings. Lattices generated using this technique have high uniformity, contrast, lattice spacing tunability, and power efficiencies. These attributes are crucial for exploring collective quantum phenomena in highly ordered atomic arrays coupled to optical waveguides for quantum networking and quantum simulation. In this paper, we demonstrate adjustable-period lattices that are ideally suited for use with optical nanofibers.
Supercontinuum generation in high-index doped silica photonic integrated circuits under diverse pumping settings
Authors: Khallouf C. , Hoang V. T. , Fanjoux G. , Little B. , Chu S. T. , Moss D. J. , Morandotti R. , Dudley J. M. , Wetzel B. , Sylvestre T.
Published: December 2024

Recent advances in supercontinuum light generation have been remarkable, particularly in the context of highly nonlinear photonic integrated waveguides. In this study, we thoroughly investigate supercontinuum (SC) generation in high-index doped silica glass integrated waveguides, exploring various femtosecond pumping wavelengths and input polarization states. We demonstrate broadband SC generation spanning from 700 nm to 2400 nm when pumping within the anomalous dispersion regime at 1200 nm, 1300 nm, and 1550 nm. In contrast, pumping within the normal dispersion regime at 1000 nm results in narrower SC spectra, primarily due to coherent nonlinear effects such as self-phase modulation and optical wave breaking, and also dispersive wave generation in the anomalous dispersion regime. We further examine the impact of both TE and TM polarization modes on SC generation, shedding light on the polarization-dependent characteristics of the broadening process. Additionally, we report the observation of two new Raman peaks at 48.8 THz and 75.1 THz in high-index glass using a confocal Raman micro-spectrometer. Incorporating these two peaks in the Raman gain modeling, we achieved good agreement between numerical simulations based on the modified nonlinear Schrödinger equation and experimental results. Finally, we present relative intensity noise measurements of the supercontinuum generated at 1550 nm using the real-time dispersive Fourier transform technique.
GaSb-based mid-wave computational multispectral infrared detectors based on photonic crystal plates
Authors: Zhang Yang , Lu Lidan , Chen Yang , Shi Leidong , Chen Weiqiang , Zhu Lianqing
Published: December 2024

The mid-wave multispectral detector combines the traditional spectrometer and infrared detector technologies to provide image information and spectral information at the same time, which has an important role in both civil and military fields. To solve the working band limitation and low energy utilization, this paper presents an integrated superlattice mid-wave multispectral hypersurface detector that can be used for computational multispectroscopy for the first time, which consists of photonic crystal (PC) plates of GaSb material, and uses PC microstructures to modulate the incident spectra, which can be used to reconstruct incident signals with computational multispectroscopy methods. In this paper, the finite difference time domain method (FDTD) is used to simulate the structural parameters of different PCs, and finally calculate the correlation coefficients of the transmission spectra of the different structures as well as the energy utilization rate. The simulation results show that the optimized structures have unique response curves and rich spectral features, with the average value of Pearson correlation coefficients (PCCs) < 0.3 and energy utilization >50%. It can be utilized in various fields, including astronomical remote sensing, medical diagnostics, and military reconnaissance.
Optical fiber sensing method for simultaneous measurement of seawater velocity and direction
Authors: Li Yu , Li Qiang , Sun Lin , Liu Zhiwei , Chen Xu , Meng Jing , Wang Jing
Published: December 2024

This Letter presents and demonstrates an optical fiber vector sensor for simultaneous measurement of seawater velocity and direction, which is based on two reflective Panda fiber polarization interferometers orthogonally pasted on a hollow cylindrical cantilever. The general formulas for calculating the velocity and direction of seawater are summarized based on the calibration experiments. Compared with acoustic Doppler velocimetry (ADV), the proposed sensor has the relative error of 5.92% in velocity measurement and 3.47% in direction measurement, which achieves high sensitivity measurement of seawater velocity. The proposed cantilever-type optical fiber vector sensor has the advantages of high sensitivity and arbitrary angle velocity measurement, which is expected to play an important role in the field of ocean velocity measurement.
Comparison of 3D Structured Illumination Microscopy configurations in terms of Spectral Signal to Noise Ratio
Authors: Brudanin Valerii , Rieger Bernd , Stallinga Sjoerd
Published: December 2024

Structured Illumination Microscopy (SIM) is a powerful method for high-resolution 3D-imaging that is compatible with standard fluorescence labeling techniques, as it provides optical sectioning as well as an up to twofold improvement of lateral resolution over widefield microscopy by combining illumination pattern diversity with computational reconstruction. We present a quantitative analysis of the image quality of 3D-SIM using the spectral signal-to-noise ratio (SSNR). In particular, we compare conventional woodpile illumination pattern based
3D-SIM, where the pattern is rotated and translated to acquire the set of raw images that is fed into the reconstruction algorithm, to (square or hexagonal) lattice 3D-SIM, where the pattern is only translated to assemble the input set of raw images. It appears that conventional 3D-SIM has better SSNR than the considered cases of lattice 3D-SIM. In addition, we have also analyzed the impact of the relative amplitude, angle of incidence and polarization of the set of illumination plane waves on image quality, and show how two SSNR derived metrics, SSNR volume and SSNR entropy, can be used to optimize these illumination pattern parameters.
Demonstration of atom interrogation using photonic integrated circuits anodically bonded to ultra-high vacuum envelopes for epoxy-free scalable quantum sensors
Authors: McBride Sterling E. , Gentry Cale M. , Holland Christopher , Bellew Colby , Moore Kaitlin R. , Braun Alan
Published: December 2024

Reliable integration of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) into quantum sensors has the potential to drastically reduce sensor size, ease manufacturing scalability, and improve performance in applications where the sensor is subject to high accelerations, vibrations, and temperature changes. In a traditional quantum sensor assembly, free-space optics are subject to pointing inaccuracies and temperature-dependent misalignment. Moreover, the use of epoxy or sealants for affixing either free-space optics or PICs within a sensor vacuum envelope leads to sensor vacuum degradation and is difficult to scale. In this paper, we describe the hermetic integration of a PIC with a vacuum envelope via anodic bonding. We demonstrate utility of this assembly with two proof-of-concept atom-interrogation experiments: (i) spectroscopy of a cold-atom sample using a grating-emitted probe; (ii) spectroscopy of alkali atoms using an evanescent field from an exposed ridge waveguide. This work shows a key process step on a path to quantum sensor manufacturing scalability.
Moral injury and mental health in healthcare workers are linked to organizational culture and modifiable workplace conditions: Results of a national, mixed-methods study conducted at Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Purcell Natalie , Bertenthal Daniel , Usman Hajra , Griffin Brandon J. , Maguen Shira , McGrath Sarah , Spetz Joanne , Hysong Sylvia J. , Mehlman Haley , Seal Karen H.
Published: December 2024

Using mixed methods, we examined drivers of risk for moral injury, mental health symptoms, and burnout among frontline healthcare workers in high-risk Veterans Affairs (VA) clinical settings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Across 21 VA medical centers, 2,004 healthcare workers completed an online survey assessing potential risk factors for moral injury, posttraumatic stress, depression, and burnout. Assessed risk factors included: pandemic exposures; individual worker characteristics; aspects of workplace/organizational culture; and facility performance on standardized measures of care quality, patient satisfaction, and employee satisfaction (extracted from VA administrative data). Among surveyed workers, 39% were at risk for moral injury, 41% for posttraumatic stress, 27% for depression, and 25% for persistent burnout. In generalized linear mixed models, significant predictors of moral injury risk included perceived lack of management support for worker health/safety, supervisor support, coworker support, and empowerment to make job-related decisions—all modifiable workplace factors. Pandemic-related risk factors for moral injury included prolonged short-staffing, denying patient-family visits, and high work-family conflict. Predictors of posttraumatic stress, depression, and burnout were similar. Forty-six surveyed workers completed a follow-up qualitative interview about experiences of moral distress in the workplace, and interview themes aligned closely with survey findings. Rapid qualitative analysis identified protective factors that may reduce moral injury risk, including a collaborative workplace community, engaged leadership, empowerment to make changes in the workplace, and opportunity to process distressing events. We conclude with recommendations to mitigate moral injury risk in healthcare organizations. These include involving workers in discussions of high-stakes decisions that will affect them, creating consistent and clear channels of communication between the frontlines and leaders of the organization, practicing leadership rounding to improve leaders’ understanding of the daily work of frontline teams, and collaborating to understand how existing processes and policies may contribute to safety risks and moral conflict.
A High Resolution Melting Analysis (HRM) PCR assay for the detection and identification of Old World Leishmania species
Authors: Saadi-Ben Aoun Yusr , Souguir Hejer , Chouaieb Hamed , Kraiem Mongia , Bel Hadj Ali Insaf , Chakroun Ahmed S. , Noguier Florian , Fathallah-Mili Akila , Piquemal David , Guizani Ikram
Published: December 2024

Background

Cutaneous Leishmaniases (CL), highly endemic in Africa and Mediterranean region, are caused by different Leishmania parasite species. Accurate species identification is crucial for effective diagnosis, treatment, and control of these diseases, but traditionally relies on DNA-based methods. High Resolution Melting analysis PCR (HRM PCR) provides rapid results and precise differentiation based on nucleotide variations. We hypothesized that the Strumpellin gene of Leishmania could serve as an effective target for developing a HRM PCR method for the rapid and efficient detection and identification of Leishmania species in CL diagnosis.

Methodology

The Strumpellin gene was investigated in Trypanosomatidae family using bioinformatics and phylogenetic approaches to explore its evolutionary conservation and suitability for HRM PCR. HRM PCR target and primers were selected and validated on 73 different Leishmania DNAs. The analytical limit of detection was assessed, and the performance for detecting and identifying parasites in 38 cutaneous lesions aspirates was compared to Direct Examination (DE) and ITS1-PCR RFLP methods.

Findings

The developed HRM PCR assay accurately identified promastigote DNAs of L. donovani/L. infantum, L. major, L. aethiopica, L. turanica, L. arabica, L. tarentolae and 3 genotypes of L. tropica. Differentiation was achievable with as little as a single nucleotide difference occurring within or between species. HRM profile interpretations were consistent with sequencing results of the HRM PCR target and identification by ITS1-PCR RFLP. The assay could detect the equivalent of 24 Leishmania parasites. In a small-scale sample, we brought proof of principle demonstration the HRM could detect and identify Leishmania in human cutaneous samples. In comparison to DE, the sensitivity and specificity of the HRM PCR assay on human cutaneous samples were 88% and 84.62%, respectively, while the ITS1-PCR assay evaluation parameters were 84% and 92.31%. Statistical analysis confirmed good correlation among the three tests, with both molecular methods providing congruent parasite identification. Notably, in three samples, only the HRM PCR assay was able to assign them to L. infantum or L. tropica.

Conclusions

The HRM PCR assay is a valuable tool for the detection and identification of Old World Leishmania species. Its integration into molecular diagnostic algorithms for CL or in eco-epidemiological studies holds promise for improving disease management and control.
How French culture influences the framing of genetic modifications on the internet: Insights from Google-based corpus analysis
Authors: Degache Anaïs , Louvel Séverine , Abrial Stéphanie , Tournay Virginie
Published: December 2024

Since the mid-1990s, genetically modified (GM) crops and foodstuffs have been the subject of much controversy. While research has highlighted a disparity between attitudes toward the consumption of GM products, this study focuses on the circulation of cultural frameworks for GMs online. We use two datasets obtained using Google as a privileged observation site for understanding how debates regarding genetic engineering are framed in global and local contexts. While the English-language corpus brings to the fore the framing of GM products in terms of economic value, the French-language corpus is characterized by the strong association of such products with matters relating to risk. This has consequences for public perceptions of biotechnologies. Stakeholders using communication media to convey GM issues could assist public understanding by taking these cultural differences into account.
Reading the family: A constructivist grounded theory on organ donation conversations
Authors: Avilés Lissette
Published: December 2024

Approaching families to discuss deceased organ donation authorisation is considered one of the central stages of the organ donation process. In many countries, specialist nurses lead the organ donation process, approach and support families. However, how these encounters occur is not yet fully understood. A constructivist grounded theory methodology was used to conceptualise the process of approaching families from the perspectives of healthcare professionals and families. Data collected included six months of observations across two large hospitals in Chile, documents, interviews and focus groups with 71 participants including healthcare professionals involved in the organ donation process, and bereaved families who were approached for organ donation conversations. The theory Reading the family was developed to explain the relational process of how nurse organ donor coordinators approach families to negotiate organ donation authorization. It explains the sophisticated and skilled process of accessing, assessing and managing family’s emotions to negotiate organ donation authorization as a family unit. The theory has two dimensions, indirect and direct, which refers to when and how nurses read families emotions to lead organ donation conversations and support bereaved families’ decision-making process. These dimensions critically depend on the clinicians set of beliefs and communication processes. Understanding the complexities of approaching families is essential for practice and policymaking, particularly when there is a trend towards individual decision-making instead of understanding organ donation as a family affair. Reading the family could be eventually applied in other contexts and situations that involve navigating difficult conversations, and therefore, further research is needed and suggested to assess the feasibility of its application.
Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and risk factors for infection among children in Uganda: A serial cross-sectional study
Authors: Bagala Irene , Namuganga Jane Frances , Nayebare Patience , Cuu Gloria , Katairo Thomas , Nabende Isaiah , Gonahasa Samuel , Nassali Martha , Tukwasibwe Stephen , Dorsey Grant , Nankabirwa Joaniter I. , Bakeera-Kitaka Sabrina , Kiguli Sarah , Greenhouse Bryan , Ssewanyana Isaac , Kamya Moses R. , Briggs Jessica
Published: December 2024

Background

Understanding COVID-19’s impact on children is vital for public health policy, yet age-specific data is scarce, especially in Uganda. This study examines SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and risk factors among Ugandan children at two timepoints, along with COVID-19-related knowledge and practices in households, including adult vaccination status.

Methods

Baseline surveys were conducted in 12 communities from April to May 2021 (post-Alpha wave) and follow-up surveys in 32 communities from November 2021 to March 2022 (Omicron wave). Household questionnaires and blood samples were collected to test for malaria by microscopy and for SARS-CoV-2 using a Luminex assay. Seroprevalence was estimated at both the survey and community level. Mixed-effects logistic regression models assessed the association between individual and household factors and SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity in children, adjusting for household clustering.

Results

More households reported disruptions in daily life at baseline compared to follow-up, though economic impacts lingered. By the follow-up survey, 52.7% of adults had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose. Overall seroprevalence in children was higher at follow-up compared to baseline (71.6% versus 19.2%, p < 0.001). Seroprevalence in children ranged across communities from 6–37% at baseline and 50–90% at follow-up. At baseline, children from the poorest households were more likely to be infected. Increasing age remained the only consistent risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion at both timepoints.

Conclusions

Results indicate that a larger number of children were infected during the Delta and Omicron waves of COVID-19 compared to the Alpha wave. This study is the largest seroprevalence survey in children in Uganda, providing evidence that most children were infected with SARS-CoV-2 before the vaccine was widely available to pediatric populations. Pediatric infections were vastly underreported by case counts, highlighting the importance of seroprevalence surveys in assessing disease burden when testing and reporting rates are limited and many cases are mild or asymptomatic.