bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fetal Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy Is Technically Feasible in Prenatally Induced Hydrocephalus Ovine Model
Authors: Peiro Jose L. , Duru Soner , Fernandez-Tome Blanca , Peiro Lucas , Encinas Jose L. , Sanchez-Margallo Francisco M. , Oria Marc
Published: February 2023

BACKGROUND:

Congenital obstructive hydrocephalus generates progressive irreversible fetal brain damage by ventricular enlargement and incremental brain tissue compression that leads to maldevelopment and poor clinical outcomes. Intrauterine treatments such as ventriculo-amniotic shunting have been unsuccessfully tried in the eighties.

OBJECTIVE:

To assess if prenatal endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is feasible in a large animal model and optimize this technique for ventricular decompression and potential arrest of fetal brain damage in fetal lambs.

METHODS:

We generated hydrocephalus in 50 fetal lambs by injecting a polymeric agent into the cisterna magna at midgestation (E85). Subsequently, 3 weeks later (E105), fetal ETV was performed using a small rigid fetoscope. The endoscopy entry point was located anterior to the coronal suture, 7 mm from the midline.

RESULTS:

We obtained clear visualization of the enlarged lateral ventricles by endoscopy in the hydrocephalic fetal lambs. The floor of the third ventricle was bluntly perforated and passed with the scope for a successful ETV. Total success was achieved in 32/50 cases (64%). Causes of failure were blurred vision or third ventricle obliteration by BioGlue in 10/50 (20%) cases, anatomic misdirection of the endoscope in 5 (10%) cases, 2 cases of very narrow foramen of Monro, and 1 case of choroid plexus bleeding. If we exclude the cases artificially blocked by the polymer, we had a successful performance of prenatal-ETV in 80% (32/40) of hydrocephalic fetuses.

CONCLUSION:

Despite the inherent difficulties arising from ovine brain anatomy, this study shows that innovative fetal ETV is technically feasible in hydrocephalic fetal lambs.
Sp3 is essential for normal lung morphogenesis and cell cycle progression during mouse embryonic development
Authors: McCoy Alyssa M. , Lakhdari Omar , Shome Sayane , Caoili Kaitlin , Hernandez Gilberto E. , Aghaeepour Nima , Butcher Lindsay D. , Fisch Kathleen , Prince Lawrence S.
Published: February 2023

Members of the Sp family of transcription factors regulate gene expression via binding GC boxes within promoter regions. Unlike Sp1, which stimulates transcription, the closely related Sp3 can either repress or activate gene expression and is required for perinatal survival in mice. Here, we use RNA-seq and cellular phenotyping to show how Sp3 regulates murine fetal cell differentiation and proliferation. Homozygous Sp3−/− mice were smaller than wild-type and Sp+/− littermates, died soon after birth and had abnormal lung morphogenesis. RNA-seq of Sp3−/− fetal lung mesenchymal cells identified alterations in extracellular matrix production, developmental signaling pathways and myofibroblast/lipofibroblast differentiation. The lungs of Sp3−/− mice contained multiple structural defects, with abnormal endothelial cell morphology, lack of elastic fiber formation, and accumulation of lipid droplets within mesenchymal lipofibroblasts. Sp3−/− cells and mice also displayed cell cycle arrest, with accumulation in G0/G1 and reduced expression of numerous cell cycle regulators including Ccne1. These data detail the global impact of Sp3 on in vivo mouse gene expression and development.
Investigation of the Substitution Site Effect ono-Carborane-Based Chromophores by Anthracene Introduction at the B(3) Position
Authors: Ochi Junki , Tanaka Kazuo , Chujo Yoshiki
Published: February 2023

o-Carborane-based emitters have been greatly developed over the last ten years. From the viewpoint of molecular symmetry, o-carborane has one type of equivalent carbon and four types of equivalent boron atoms. However, in contrast to the vast research of aryl-modified o-carboranes on the carbon atom of o-carborane, substitution on the boron atom is less investigated. Herein, we introduced an anthracene unit on the B(3) position of o-carborane and explored the substitution position effect by comparison with the previously reported C(1)-substituted regioisomer. Single-crystal structures, optical measurements, and quantum chemical calculation revealed the significant impact of the substitution position, especially in the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) process.
Intron dynamics reveal principles of gene regulation during the maternal-to-zygotic transition
Authors: Riemondy Kent , Henriksen Jesslyn C. , Rissland Olivia S.
Published: February 2023

The maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT) is a conserved embryonic process in animals where developmental control shifts from the maternal to zygotic genome. A key step in this transition is zygotic transcription, and deciphering the MZT requires classifying newly transcribed genes. However, due to current technological limitations, this starting point remains a challenge for studying many species. Here, we present an alternative approach that characterizes transcriptome changes based solely on RNA-seq data. By combining intron-mapping reads and transcript-level quantification, we characterized transcriptome dynamics during theDrosophila melanogasterMZT. Our approach provides an accessible platform to investigate transcriptome dynamics that can be applied to the MZT in nonmodel organisms. In addition to classifying zygotically transcribed genes, our analysis revealed that over 300 genes express different maternal and zygotic transcript isoforms due to alternative splicing, polyadenylation, and promoter usage. The vast majority of these zygotic isoforms have the potential to be subject to different regulatory control, and over two-thirds encode different proteins. Thus, our analysis reveals an additional layer of regulation during the MZT, where new zygotic transcripts can generate additional proteome diversity.
Association of physical activity and heart rate variability in people with overweight and obesity: A systematic review
Authors: Kumar Sinha Mukesh , K. Vaishali , Maiya Arun G. , K.N. Shivashankar , U. Shashikiran , N. Ravi Shankar
Published: February 2023

Background: Obesity is a major public health issue globally which is intrinsically linked to reduced heart rate variability (HRV). Physical inactivity and reduced resting HRV are linked to an increased risk of coronary heart disease, while athletes have a greater HRV. However, the exact correlation between physical activity and HRV remains uncertain. This systematic review aims to collect, report, and critically assess the current scientific literature about the association between physical activity and HRV in individuals with higher weight and obesity.

Methods: A systematic search was carried out in electronic databases (Medline/PubMed, SCOPUS and CINAHL Plus) to retrieve studies that evaluated the relationship between physical activity and HRV in individuals with higher weight and obesity. Case-control, longitudinal/cohort, cross-sectional and observational studies were included. Using a critical narrative approach, information about the HRV, and physical activity was extracted and synthesized. The study was registered in PROSPERO: CRD42020208018 on October 9 2020.

Results: After removing duplicates, 980 title/abstract records were checked for eligibility, and 12 papers were finally included in the narrative synthesis. The included studies contained physical activity as well as HRV in adults with higher weight or obesity with or without comorbidities. A negative relationship between moderate to vigorous physical activity and HRV indices had been found in two studies. There was also a negative relationship between sedentary time and HF (p = 0.049) and LF/HF (p = 0.036), as well as a positive relationship between sedentary time and LF (p = 0.014). Also dose-response association was found between vigorous exercise and higher SDNN, LF power, and HF power in one of the studies.

Conclusions: This systematic review revealed a wide range of responses to physical activity and HRV; however, the current evidence uses a variety of approaches to objectively assess physical activity and measure HRV with different equipment.
Non-emergency medical transportation practice in Shanghai
Authors: Lu Weidong , Xu Wei , Shen Long
Published: February 2023

Background: To describe the current landscape of non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) services in China’s mainland, and analyze information obtained from a private NEMT company in Shanghai.

Methods: With regards to the NEMT environment in China’s mainland, we collected relevant NEMT policies from the websites of local Health Commissions, and collected business operating data from a Chinese enterprise information query tool, Qichacha. With regards to NEMT service in Shanghai, we analyzed operating data from 3426 trips by a professional NEMT company. Descriptive statistics were used to explain the characteristics of NEMT trips, and log-linear analyses were performed to compare the trips inside Shanghai with trips to/from other areas.

Results: Of the 3426 trips in this study, there were 2962 trips inside Shanghai (86.5%) and 464 trips to/from other areas (13.5%), and the number of trips to/from each province was related to the distance to Shanghai. When comparing transportation types between trips inside Shanghai and to/from other areas, there was a significant difference (χ2=144.87, p<0.001), with a significantly larger proportion of trips for discharge to/from other areas, and a significantly larger proportion of referrals in trips inside Shanghai. Over 50% of trips were to orthopedics-featured class A tertiary hospitals.

Discussion and Conclusion: To lower the NEMT service costs and bring benefit to patients with a broader spectrum of diseases, medical insurance could completely or partially cover NEMT services, and companies could initiate rideshare services. Shanghai is an attractive place for patients, with the highest level of healthcare resources. Transportation combining high-speed trains and NEMT vehicles ensures patients who live further away can access health care in Shanghai.
Preparedness for contingencies: a systematic review of the factors that influence the crisis resilience of project managers
Authors: Kok Ching Wen , Shavarebi Kamran , Abu Talib Iffah Farhana Binti , Wider Walton , Nga Elsie
Published: February 2023

Background: The goal of this review paper is to investigate factors that contribute to project managers' crisis resilience through a systematic review of the literature and bibliometric analysis using VOXviewer.

Methods: Using the PRISMA framework for systematic literature, 55 peer-reviewed articles published between 1993 and 2022 that met our criteria were identified through a structured keyword search in the Scopus and WoS databases.

Results: The systematic review and bibliometric analysis reveal eight clusters, which we further categorise into four determinants. In the context of the roles of project managers, the results of a comparative analysis reveal four prominent factors for enhancing crisis resilience: 1. leadership; 2. interpersonal skill; 3. agility; 4. risk management and vulnerability . These factors are essential for developing project managers who are less susceptible to future crises and disasters. This study has exhaustively characterised the possibilities and capacities of crisis resilience in terms of competency, integration, collaboration, and novelty; however, the search was restricted to a small number of databases and a short period of time, which could be explored in future research.

Conclusions: According to the findings, most previous research on crisis resilience focused on emergency preparedness and was primarily conducted in Western and American studies. There is a lack of a holistic perspective on crisis resilience, which will be developed. We believe that international collaboration efforts to establish a platform for the exchange of knowledge between Western and American nations and ASEAN members are necessary.
Adjusting to Rain Before It Falls
Authors: Downey Mitch , Lind Nelson , Shrader Jeffrey G.
Published: February 2023

Unchecked climate change will cause precipitation volatility to increase around the world, leading to economic damages in the face of adjustment costs. We estimate these damages for construction—an economically important, climate exposed industry. Empirically, employment falls in response to forecasted rainfall and more so as the forecast horizon increases. This pattern allows for identification of labor adjustment costs via a multisector model of local labor markets calibrated to our estimates. When rainfall is anticipatable one month ahead, construction firms pay 10% of monthly profit to adjust. They pay less than 1% for rainfall anticipatable six months ahead. Without further adaptation or forecast improvements, increased rainfall volatility due to climate change is projected to lead to more costly adjustment.

This paper was accepted by Elke Weber, Special Section of Management Science on Business and Climate Change.

Supplemental Material: The data files and online appendices are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4697 .
Inside-out and Outside-in Perspectives on Corporate Purpose
Authors: Almandoz Juan (“John”)
Published: February 2023

Corporate purpose is receiving an extraordinary amount of attention from both scholars and practitioners. But do existing theories of management help us to understand this unexpected development? This study represents an effort to understand purpose better. I characterize inside-out and outside-in perspectives on purpose as distinct but connected phenomena related to different research traditions. Inside-out purpose is a channeling of the passion and commitment employees feel toward fulfilling stakeholder needs; outside-in purpose is society and external stakeholders urgently calling on the organization to live up to its responsibilities. I devote special attention to theories that best explain the present moment’s unique awareness of corporate purpose. Among them is the work of Philip Selznick, emphasizing values, and the literature on the new institutionalism and institutional logics. I conclude with a section on how leaders can leverage the benefits of both perspectives while mitigating their risks. I also make recommendations for future research.

History: This paper has been accepted for the Strategy Science Special Issue on Corporate Purpose.

Funding: This work benefited from funding from the Social Trends Institute and the Juan Antonio Perez Lopez Chair at IESE Business School.
Spontaneous Renal Hemorrhage
Authors: Cavaco João Luís , Capinha Francisco , Pires Maria José , Furão Rodrigues Ana , Oliveira Pedro Ana , Pais de Lacerda António
Published: February 2023

Introduction. Spontaneous renal hemorrhage is a rare condition with potentially serious complications. Case report. We present a 76-year old woman with a 3-day history of fever and malaise, with no associated trauma. She was admitted in our emergency room with signs of shock. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan revealed an extensive right kidney hematoma. Despite quick surgical management, the patient died less than 24h after admission. Conclusion. Spontaneous renal hemorrhage should be quickly identified due to its fatal complications. An early diagnosis has important prognostic value.
Preparing nurse educators for NMC standards for student supervision and assessment: the impact 4 years on
Authors: Whaley Viki , Hay Jonathan , Knight Kate H.
Published: February 2023

Four years on from its launch in 2018 (at the time of writing), the authors provide an up-to-date efficacy assessment of the ongoing implementation of the Nursing and Midwifery Council's Future Nurse: Standards of Proficiency for Registered Nurses (NMC) (2018a) . Although these standards have comprehensively transformed the mentorship practices of nursing education courses within higher education, this article provides the first attempt to gauge and synthesise attitudes towards their implementation. Presenting the results of an evaluative survey that collates educators' current views on the implementation of these NMC standards, the authors detail and analyse the past and continuing impacts of this paradigm shift on staff, students, and practice. The findings contribute to the nascent body of knowledge, primarily clustering around four interlinked themes: slow acclimatisation to new models of assessment and supervision; variation in levels of preparation; prohibitive workloads; and role conflict. The authors conclude by providing a recommendation that more robust training resources around the NMC's standards are implemented nationally, in order to provide consistency of delivery by educators across the sector.
The experiences of parents witnessing their child's resuscitation in hospital
Authors: Brunt Jessica , Alnababtah Kal
Published: February 2023

Background:

The purpose of this literature review is to explore parents' experiences of witnessing their child being resuscitated in hospital settings.

Methods:

An integrative literature review using the databases CINAHL, PubMed and PsycInfo to retrieve articles published between 2011 and 2021 on parent-witnessed resuscitation.

Results:

This review found strong evidence of the benefit of parents being present during their child's resuscitation, with three common themes emerging: need to be present, communication and seeing to believe. Parents and the healthcare team benefit from being present, and parents feel they have more positive experiences when they are allowed to choose their level of presence.

Conclusion:

The benefits of parental witnessed resuscitation are shown throughout the review, however, this may not always be adopted in practice. Hospital policies or resuscitation training do not cover parent-witnessed resuscitation, therefore implementation of mandatory hospital policy regarding this issue should be introduced to practice to create continuity of high-quality care.
Responding to worsening web browser attacks
Authors: Lee Jonathan
Published: February 2023

The sudden increase in remote and home working has brought many benefits, not least in work/life balance. But it has also presented challenges, particularly when it comes to security. Operating models and infrastructure have undergone changes, with a significant move towards the cloud. This has put the browser front and centre as a key productivity and communications tool. And malicious actors have not been slow to take advantage.
The law that is changing the telco sector for the better
Authors: Ross Bryan
Published: February 2023

Our national infrastructure is at risk. Telecommunications companies provide essential services, but are major targets for cyber threat actors. However, new legislation in the UK is aiming to push telco organisations towards more-secure practices and technologies.
Cytokines and regulatory T cells in ankylosing spondylitis
Authors: Liao Hsien-Tzung , Tsai Chang-Youh
Published: February 2023

Aims

To investigate the correlations among cytokines and regulatory T cells (T-regs) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients, and their changes after anti-tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) treatment.

Methods

We included 72 AS patients with detailed medical records, disease activity score (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index), functional index (Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index), and laboratory data (interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-10, TNF-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, ESR, and CRP). Their peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were marked with anti-CD4, anti-CD25, and anti-FoxP3 antibodies, and triple positive T cells were gated by flow cytometry as T-regs. Their correlations were calculated and the changes after anti-TNF-α therapy were compared.

Results

The frequency of T-regs in PBMCs was positively correlated to ESR and CRP in AS (r = 0.35 and 0.43; p = 0.032 and 0.027, respectively), and there was also a significant correlation between serum level of TNF-α and CRP (p = 0.041). The frequency of T-regs in PBMCs positively correlated to serum levels of TNF-α, IL-10, and TGF-β, while IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-γ showed opposite results. After anti-TNF-α treatment, there were significantly lower serum levels of TNF-α, IL-10, TGF-β, and frequency of T-regs in PBMCs among these AS patients (p = 0.026, 0.032, 0.029, and 0.037, respectively).

Conclusion

In AS patients, proinflammatory cytokine may give positive feedback to induce more T-reg production and anti-inflammatory cytokine secretion to suppress this inflammatory status, and they can be reversed by anti-TNF-α therapy. However, the detailed interactions among T-regs and complex cytokine networks in autoinflammatory diseases still need more studies and further functional assay.

Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2023;12(2):133–137.
Emphysematous Osteomyelitis of Tibia – A Rare Case Treated with Antibiotic-loaded Absorbable Calcium Sulfate Beads
Authors: Thankappan Ajayakumar , Nasimudeen Nizaj , Thomas Arun , Karikkanthra Jyothi , Nair Jyotish R
Published: February 2023

Introduction: Emphysematous osteomyelitis (EO) is an uncommon and deadly pathology characterized by occurrence of intraosseus air within the bone. However, only few of them have been reported. The use of local antibiotic delivery system has proven to be very effective in bone and joint infections as they offer decreased hospital stay and early clearance of infection. To the best of our knowledge, there are no reports on local antibiotic delivery using absorbable synthetic calcium sulfate beads in EO. Case Report: A 59-year-old male with Type II diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney, and liver disease came with pain and swelling over left leg. After blood investigations and radiological evaluation, he was diagnosed to have EO of tibia with unknown source of infection. We successfully treated him with immediate surgical decompression and application of antibiotic impregnated absorbable calcium sulfate beads locally for improved local antibiotic delivery. Following this, he was further treated with culture sensitive intravenous antibiotics and his symptoms resolved. Conclusion:Early diagnosis and aggressive surgical intervention along with local antimicrobial therapy using calcium sulfate beads can offer better outcome in EO. The local antibiotic delivery system can decrease the use of prolonged intravenous antibiotic therapy and long hospital stay. Keywords: Emphysematous osteomyelitis, calcium sulphate beads, local antibiotics, intraosseus gas, stimulan, absorbable beads.
Dynamic indoor free-space optical communication enabled by beam steering and beam shaping
Authors: Liverman Spencer , Trotter Cade W. , Bouchard Luc , Bialek Hayden , Nguyen Thinh , Natarajan Arun , Wang Alan X.
Published: February 2023

Indoor free-space optical communication (FSO) provides orders of magnitude larger
usable bandwidth compared to radio-frequency links but suffers from an
intrinsic trade-off between areal coverage and received power. In this
paper, we report a dynamic indoor FSO system enabled by a
line-of-sight optical link featuring advanced beam control
capabilities. The optical link herein utilizes a passive target
acquisition scheme by combining a beam steering and beam shaping
transmitter with a receiver adorned with a ring-shaped retroreflector.
When controlled by an efficient beam scanning algorithm, the
transmitter is capable of locating the receiver with millimeter-scale
accuracy over a distance of 3 m with a full viewing angle of ±11.25∘ in the vertical direction and ±18.75∘ in the horizontal direction within 1.162±0.005s, regardless of the receiver’s
positions. We also demonstrate 1 Gbit/s data rate with bit
error rates below 4×10−7 using an 850 nm laser diode
with only 2 mW of output power.
Subaperture stitching digital holographic microscopy for precise wear volume measurement in tribology
Authors: Mach Marek , Stašík Marek , Kaván František , Mokrý Pavel , Lédl Vít , Psota Pavel
Published: February 2023

Digital holographic microscopy (DHM) is an effective method for the evaluation of
surface topography. It combines the high lateral resolution of
microscopy with the high axial resolution of interferometry. In this
paper, DHM with subaperture stitching for tribology is presented. The
developed approach allows large surface area inspection by stitching
together multiple measurements, which brings a big advantage to the
evaluation of tribological tests such as a tribological track on a
thin layer. The whole track measurement provides additional
parameters, which can offer more information on the result of the
tribological test than the conventional four-profile measurement by a
contact profilometer.
Cost-effective silicon-photonic biosensors using doped silicon detectors and a broadband source
Authors: Dias Leanne , Shoman Hossam , Luan Enxiao , Jayatilleka Hasitha , Shekhar Sudip , Chrostowski Lukas , Jaeger Nicolas A. F.
Published: February 2023

We propose and demonstrate a cost-effective, microring-based, silicon photonic sensor that uses doped silicon detectors and a broadband source. Shifts in the sensing microring resonances are electrically tracked by a doped second microring, which acts as both a tracking element and a photodetector. By tracking the power supplied to this second ring, as the sensing ring’s resonance shifts, the effective refractive index change caused by the analyte is determined. This design reduces the cost of the system by eliminating high-cost, high-resolution tunable lasers, and is fully compatible with high-temperature fabrication processes. We report a bulk sensitivity of 61.8 nm/RIU and a system limit of detection of 9.8x10-4 RIU.
High beam quality yellow laser at 588 nm by an intracavity frequency-doubled composite Nd:YVO4 Raman laser
Authors: Chen Hao-hao , Hu Wen-jie , Wei Xin , Zhu Si-qi , Dai Shi-bo , Yin Hao , Li Zhen , Chen Zhen-qiang
Published: February 2023

High beam quality 588 nm radiation was realized based on a frequency-doubled crystalline Raman laser. The bonding crystal of YVO4/Nd:YVO4/YVO4 was used as the laser gain medium, which can accelerate the thermal diffusion. The intracavity Raman conversion and the second harmonic generation were realized by a YVO4 crystal and an LBO crystal, respectively. Under an incident pump power of 49.2 W and a pulse repetition frequency of 50 kHz, the 588 nm power of 2.85 W was obtained with a pulse duration of 3 ns, corresponding to a diode-to-yellow laser conversion efficiency of 5.75% and a slope efficiency of 7.6%. Meanwhile, a single pulse's pulse energy and peak power were 57 µJ and 19 kW, respectively. The severe thermal effects of the self-Raman structure were overcome in the V-shaped cavity, which has excellent mode matching, and combined with the self-cleaning effect of `Raman scattering, the beam quality factor M2 was effectively improved, which was measured optimally to be Mx2 = 1.207, and My2 = 1.200, with the incident pump power being 49.2 W.
Design and fabrication of a chalcogenide hollow-core anti-resonant fiber for mid-infrared applications
Authors: Zhang Hao , Chang Yanjie , Xu Yantao , Liu Chengzhen , Xiao Xusheng , Li Jianshe , Ma Xinxin , Wang Yingying , Guo Haitao
Published: February 2023

Chalcogenide hollow-core anti-resonant fibers (HC-ARFs) are a promising propagation medium for high-power mid-infrared (3-5 µm) laser delivery, while their properties have not been well understood and their fabrications remain challenging. In this paper, we design a seven-hole chalcogenide HC-ARF with touching cladding capillaries, which was then fabricated from purified As40S60 glass by combining the “stack-and-draw” method with a dual gas path pressure control technique. In particular, we predict theoretically and confirm experimentally that such medium exhibits higher-order mode suppression properties and several low-loss transmission bands in the mid-infrared spectrum, with the measured fiber loss being as low as 1.29 dB/m at 4.79 µm. Our results pave the way for the fabrication and implication of various chalcogenide HC-ARFs in mid-infrared laser delivery systems.
Pulsed-CPT Cs-Ne microcell atomic clock with frequency stability below 2 × 10−12 at 105 s
Authors: Carlé Clément , Abdel Hafiz Moustafa , Keshavarzi Shervin , Vicarini Rémy , Passilly Nicolas , Boudot Rodolphe
Published: February 2023

We report on the mid-term stability progress of a table-top coherent population trapping (CPT) microcell atomic clock, previously limited by light-shift effects and variations of the cell's inner atmosphere. The light-shift contribution is now mitigated through the use of a pulsed symmetric auto-balanced Ramsey (SABR) interrogation technique, combined with setup temperature, laser power, and microwave power stabilization. In addition, Ne buffer gas pressure variations in the cell are now greatly reduced through the use of a micro-fabricated cell built with low permeation alumino-silicate glass (ASG) windows. Combining these approaches, the clock Allan deviation is measured to be 1.4 × 10−12 at 105 s. This stability level at one day is competitive with the best current microwave microcell-based atomic clocks.
Distance-controlled surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy of nanoparticles
Authors: Le Duc , Kögler Martin , Guo Tian-long , Roussey Matthieu , Hiltunen Jussi
Published: February 2023

Biological particles, e.g., viruses, lipid particles, and extracellular vesicles, are attracting significant research interest due to their role in biological processes and potential in practical applications, such as vaccines, diagnostics, and therapies. Their surface and interior contain many different molecules including lipids, nucleic acids, proteins, and carbohydrates. In this Letter, we show how distance-controlled surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a promising method to extract essential information from the spatial origin of the signal. This is a highly important parameter in the analysis of these biological particles. The principle of the method is demonstrated by using polystyrene (PS) beads as a biological particle model conjugated with gold nanospheres (AuNSs) functioning as distance-controlled SERS probes via biotin–streptavidin binding. By tuning the size of AuNSs, the Raman signal from the PS beads can be weakened while the signal from the biotin–streptavidin complex is enhanced.
Digital pre-distortion using a Gauss–Newton-based direct learning architecture for coherent optical transmitters
Authors: Jiang Hexun , Fu Mengfan , Zhu Yixiao , Yi Lilin , Hu Weisheng , Zhuge Qunbi
Published: February 2023

Digital pre-distortion (DPD) is a powerful technique to mitigate transmitter nonlinear distortion in optical transmissions. In this Letter, the identification of DPD coefficients based on the direct learning architecture (DLA) using the Gauss–Newton (GN) method is applied in optical communications for the first time. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the DLA has been realized without training an auxiliary neural network to mitigate optical transmitter nonlinear distortion. We describe the principle of the DLA using the GN method and compare the DLA with the indirect learning architecture (ILA) that uses the least-square (LS) method. Extensive numerical and experimental results indicate that the GN-based DLA is superior to the LS-based ILA, especially in a low signal-to-noise ratio scenario.
Compact and tunable broadband polarization splitter based on nematic liquid crystal infiltrated dual-core photonic crystal fiber
Authors: Mizan Md , Khaleque Abdul , Hosen Md. Sarwar , Rani Shaha Kumary Sumi , Rahman Md. Hasanur , Hossain A B M Arafat
Published: February 2023

A compact and broadband polarization splitter is proposed based on nematic liquid crystal infiltrated dual-core photonic crystal fiber having a simpler hexagonal platform. The infiltration of the nematic liquid crystal in the properly optimized structure largely increases the mode birefringence (0.013491), which helps the splitter to attain a compact length of 71.35 µm. Also, the proposed splitter has a broad bandwidth of 356 nm (1285 nm to 1641 nm) keeping a better extinction ratio than -20 dB, covering all the O-E-S-C-L-U optical communication bands, and the minimum extinction ratio is -83.34 dB at the wavelength of 1550 nm. Moreover, nematic liquid crystal of E7 material enables temperature tuning of the device within the wavelengths of 1200 nm to 1650 nm; hence, bandwidth is extended to 450 nm. The compact design along with broadband and temperature tuning properties make the device interesting and it may find diverse applications in optical communication.
Sub-wavelength, phase-sensitive microscopy of third-order nonlinearity in terahertz frequencies
Authors: Lin Tong , Xu Rui , Chen Xiaotong , Guan Yuxuan , Yao Mingxing , Zhang Junhao , Li Xinwei , Zhu Hanyu
Published: February 2023

The third-order nonlinear susceptibility χ(3) occurs universally in materials and can provide label-free fingerprint of materials’ electronic, vibrational, and structural information. One quantitative spectroscopic method to access low-energy resonances of χ(3) is the terahertz electric field induced second harmonic generation (TEFISH), which is particularly suitable for centrosymmetric materials without second-order processes. However, using TEFISH to measure the χ(3) spectra requires light sources with high spectral intensity, which is challenging for the “new terahertz gap” frequencies between 5 – 15 THz that, not by coincidence, are the fingerprint phonon bands for many materials. Here for the first time, we report phase-sensitive heterodyne TEFISH microscopy offering simultaneous temporal, spectral, and spatial resolution, incorporating intense and frequency-tunable narrowband terahertz source by chirped pulse difference frequency generation in the frequency range of 4 to 18 THz. We demonstrated time-resolved hyperspectral TEFISH microscopy in polymer thin films (SU-8), 2D crystalline semiconductors (MoS2), and sub-wavelength photonic resonators. By interfering the nonlinear emission with a local oscillator field, we quantitatively retrieved the frequency, amplitude, and relative phase of the χ(3) spectra. TEFISH microscopy allows time-resolved imaging of vibrational and photonic resonances with sub-wavelength resolution and higher sensitivity compared to linear Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, as well as versatility for samples in different environments by avoiding near-field probes.
Uganda’s experience in establishing an electronic compendium for public health emergencies
Authors: Ario Alex Riolexus , Aliddeki Dativa M. , Kadobera Daniel , Bulage Lilian , Kayiwa Joshua , Wetaka Milton M. , Kyazze Simon , Ocom Felix , Makumbi Issa , Mbaka Paul , Behumbiize Prosper , Ayebazibwe Immaculate , Balinandi Stephen K. , Lutwama Julius J. , Crawley Adam , Divi Nomita , Lule John R. , Ojwang Joseph C. , Harris Julie R. , Boore Amy L. , Nelson Lisa J. , Borchert Jeff , Jarvis Dennis
Published: February 2023

Uganda has implemented several interventions that have contributed to prevention, early detection, and effective response to Public Health Emergencies (PHEs). However, there are gaps in collecting and documenting data on the overall response to these PHEs. We set out to establish a comprehensive electronic database of PHEs that occurred in Uganda since 2000. We constituted a core development team, developed a data dictionary, and worked with Health Information Systems Program (HISP)-Uganda to develop and customize a compendium of PHEs using the electronic Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (eIDSR) module on the District Health Information Software version 2 (DHIS2) platform. We reviewed literature for retrospective data on PHEs for the compendium. Working with the Uganda Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC), we prospectively updated the compendium with real-time data on reported PHEs. We developed a user’s guide to support future data entry teams. An operational compendium was developed within the eIDSR module of the DHIS2 platform. The variables for PHEs data collection include those that identify the type, location, nature and time to response of each PHE. The compendium has been updated with retrospective PHE data and real-time prospective data collection is ongoing. Data within this compendium is being used to generate information that can guide future outbreak response and management. The compendium development highlights the importance of documenting outbreak detection and response data in a central location for future reference. This data provides an opportunity to evaluate and inform improvements in PHEs response.
Integration of assisted partner services within Kenya’s national HIV testing services program: A qualitative study
Authors: Wamuti Beatrice M. , Owour Mercy , Obong’o Chris , Liu Wenjia , Kariithi Edward , Lagat Harison , Otieno George , Sharma Monisha , Katz David A. , Masyuko Sarah , Farquhar Carey , Weiner Bryan J.
Published: February 2023

Assisted partner service (aPS) augments HIV case-finding among sex partners to individuals newly diagnosed with HIV. In 2016, aPS was incorporated into the national HIV testing services (HTS) program in Kenya. We evaluated the extent of, barriers to, and facilitators of aPS integration into HTS. We conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews (IDIs) with 32 stakeholders selected using purposive sampling at national, county, facility, and community levels. IDIs were conducted at two timepoints, at baseline from August-September 2018 in Kisumu and January-June 2019 in Homa Bay, and at follow-up from May-August 2020 to understand changes in aPS integration over time. We defined integration as the creation of linkages between the new intervention (aPS) and the existing HTS program. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. We found varying degrees of aPS integration, highest in procurement/logistics and lowest in HTS provider recruitment/training. At baseline, aPS integration was low and activities were at an introductory phase. At follow-up, aPS was integrated in almost the entire HTS program with the exception of low community awareness, which was noted at both baseline and follow-up. There was increasing routinization with establishment of clear aPS cycles, e.g., quarterly data review meetings, annual budget cycles and work-plans. Major barriers included limited government funding, staff constraints, and inadequate community-level sensitization, while key facilitators included increased resources for aPS, and community health volunteer (CHV) facilitated awareness of aPS. Varying degrees of aPS integration across different units of the national HTS program highlights challenges in funding, human resource, and public awareness. Policymakers will need to address these barriers to ensure optimal provision of aPS.
Agricultural margins could enhance landscape connectivity for pollinating insects across the Central Valley of California, U.S.A.
Authors: Dilts Thomas E. , Black Scott H. , Hoyle Sarah M. , Jepsen Sarina J. , May Emily A. , Forister Matthew L.
Published: February 2023

One of the defining features of the Anthropocene is eroding ecosystem services, decreases in biodiversity, and overall reductions in the abundance of once-common organisms, including many insects that play innumerable roles in natural communities and agricultural systems that support human society. It is now clear that the preservation of insects cannot rely solely on the legal protection of natural areas far removed from the densest areas of human habitation. Instead, a critical challenge moving forward is to intelligently manage areas that include intensively farmed landscapes, such as the Central Valley of California. Here we attempt to meet this challenge with a tool for modeling landscape connectivity for insects (with pollinators in particular in mind) that builds on available information including lethality of pesticides and expert opinion on insect movement. Despite the massive fragmentation of the Central Valley, we find that connectivity is possible, especially utilizing the restoration or improvement of agricultural margins, which (in their summed area) exceed natural areas. Our modeling approach is flexible and can be used to address a wide range of questions regarding both changes in land cover as well as changes in pesticide application rates. Finally, we highlight key steps that could be taken moving forward and the great many knowledge gaps that could be addressed in the field to improve future iterations of our modeling approach.
Comparison of the dynamics of exoskeletal-assisted and unassisted locomotion in an FDA-approved lower extremity device: Controlled experiments and development of a subject-specific virtual simulator
Authors: Chandran Vishnu D. , Nam Sanghyun , Hexner David , Bauman William A. , Pal Saikat
Published: February 2023

Robotic exoskeletons have considerable, but largely untapped, potential to restore mobility in individuals with neurological disorders, and other conditions that result in partial or complete immobilization. The growing demand for these devices necessitates the development of technology to characterize the human-robot system during exoskeletal-assisted locomotion (EAL) and accelerate robot design refinements. The goal of this study was to combine controlled experiments with computational modeling to build a virtual simulator of EAL. The first objective was to acquire a minimum empirical dataset comprising human-robot kinematics, ground reaction forces, and electromyography during exoskeletal-assisted and unassisted locomotion from an able-bodied participant. The second objective was to quantify the dynamics of the human-robot system using a subject-specific virtual simulator reproducing EAL compared to the dynamics of normal gait. We trained an able-bodied participant to ambulate independently in a Food and Drug Administration-approved exoskeleton, the ReWalk P6.0 (ReWalk Robotics, Yoknaem, Israel). We analyzed the motion of the participant during exoskeletal-assisted and unassisted walking, sit-to-stand, and stand-to-sit maneuvers, with simultaneous measurements of (i) three-dimensional marker trajectories, (ii) ground reaction forces, (iii) electromyography, and (iv) exoskeleton encoder data. We created a virtual simulator in OpenSim, comprising a whole-body musculoskeletal model and a full-scale exoskeleton model, to determine the joint kinematics and moments during exoskeletal-assisted and unassisted maneuvers. Mean peak knee flexion angles of the human subject during exoskeletal-assisted walking were 50.1° ± 0.6° (left) and 52.6° ± 0.7° (right), compared to 68.6° ± 0.3° (left) and 70.7° ± 1.1° (right) during unassisted walking. Mean peak knee extension moments during exoskeletal-assisted walking were 0.10 ± 0.10 Nm/kg (left) and 0.22 ± 0.11 Nm/kg (right), compared to 0.64 ± 0.07 Nm/kg (left) and 0.73 ± 0.10 Nm/kg (right) during unassisted walking. This work provides a foundation for parametric studies to characterize the effects of human and robot design variables, and predictive modeling to optimize human-robot interaction during EAL.
Quantitative comparison of manuka and clover honey proteomes with royal jelly
Authors: Paget Blake W. , Kleffmann Torsten , Whiteman Kim E. , Thomas Mark F. , McMahon Chris D.
Published: February 2023

Royal jelly and honey are two substances produced successively by the worker bee caste. Modern proteomics approaches have been used to explore the protein component of each substance independently, but to date none have quantitatively compared the protein profile of honey and royal jelly directly. Sequential window acquisition of all theoretical fragment-ion spectra mass spectrometry (SWATH-MS) was used to compare protein quantities of bee origin in mānuka and clover honey to royal jelly. Two analysis techniques identified 76 proteins in total. Peptide intensity was directly compared for a subset of 31 proteins that were identified with high confidence, and the relative changes in protein abundance were compared between each honey type and royal jelly. Major Royal Jelly Proteins (MRJPs) had similar profiles in both honeys, except MRJP6, which was significantly more abundant in clover honey. Proteins involved in nectar metabolism were more abundant in honey than in royal jelly as expected. However, the trend revealed a potential catalytic role for MRJP6 in clover honey and a nectar- or honey-specific role for uncharacterised protein LOC408608. The abundance of MRJP6 in mānuka honey was equivalent to royal jelly suggesting a potential effect of nectar type on expression of this protein. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD038889.
Impact of an optimized surveillance protocol based on the European Association of Urology substratification on surveillance costs in patients with primary high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer
Authors: Fujita Naoki , Hatakeyama Shingo , Okita Kazutaka , Momota Masaki , Tobisawa Yuki , Yoneyama Tohru , Yamamoto Hayato , Ito Hiroyuki , Yoneyama Takahiro , Hashimoto Yasuhiro , Yoshikawa Kazuaki , Ohyama Chikara
Published: February 2023

Objectives

The optimal frequency and duration of surveillance in patients with high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) remain unclear. The aim of the present study is to develop an optimal surveillance protocol based on the European Association of Urology (EAU) substratification in order to improve surveillance costs after transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) in patients with primary high-risk NMIBC.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively evaluated 428 patients with primary high-risk NMIBC who underwent TURBT from November 1993 to April 2019. Patients were substratified into the highest-risk and high-risk without highest-risk groups based on the EAU guidelines. An optimized surveillance protocol that enhances cost-effectiveness was then developed using real incidences of recurrence after TURBT. A recurrence detection rate ([number of patients with recurrence / number of patients with surveillance] × 100) of ≥ 1% during a certain period indicated that routine surveillance was necessary in this period. The 10-year total surveillance cost was compared between the EAU guidelines-based protocol and the optimized surveillance protocol developed herein.

Results

Among the 428 patients with primary high-risk NMIBC, 97 (23%) were substratified into the highest-risk group. Patients in the highest-risk group had a significantly shorter recurrence-free survival than those in the high-risk without highest-risk group. The optimized surveillance protocol promoted a 40% reduction ($394,990) in the 10-year total surveillance cost compared to the EAU guidelines-based surveillance protocol.

Conclusion

The optimized surveillance protocol based on the EAU substratification could potentially reduce over investigation during follow-up and improve surveillance costs after TURBT in patients with primary high-risk NMIBC.