bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Protocol for a systematic search and critical discourse analysis of research on national HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis programmes among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men
Authors: Comer David , Noone Chris
Published: October 2024

Background HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a medication that prevents the acquisition of HIV, most commonly taken in the form of a pill. PrEP is an efficacious tool for HIV prevention, including among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM). PrEP is often provided through formal PrEP programmes. Research on these programmes may employ discourses shaped by heteronormativity and homophobia. Given that expert language influences how HIV prevention is understood and delivered, problematic discourses in research likely extend into PrEP implementation. This study will use critical discourse analysis (CDA) to explore research on PrEP programme implementation for gbMSM. Within this literature, we will identify interpretive repertoires used to discuss gbMSM; the subject positions afforded to gbMSM; and the implications of these interpretive repertoires and subject positions for gbMSM engaging with HIV PrEP programmes. Methods Systematic search methods identified relevant articles through timebound searching (2012–2023) in ProQuest ASSIA, EBSCOhost PsycInfo, OVID Medline, OVID Embase, and EBSCOhost CINAHL, with forward and backward citation searching of included studies. Grey literature will be identified through ProQuest and Google Scholar. Screening will be conducted by two independent reviewers, who will conduct random partial double screening for titles and abstracts and for all full text articles. Data will be analysed and synthesised using CDA informed by critical realism (CR). CDA focuses on relationships between language and power, including how language enables inequality. The analytic process will explore the background of included studies, identify themes, and analyse external and internal relations in included studies. Conclusions Highlighting issues with discourses in PrEP implementation may enhance reflective engagement with assumptions underlying this research, preventing further stigmatisation of gbMSM’s sexual and protective practices. As PrEP programmes become more common, diverse and inclusive perspectives in PrEP programme research may inform interventions that enhance their acceptability and implementation.
Fabrication of hydrogel mini-capsules as carrier systems
Authors: Roberti Elisa , Petrucci Gaia , Bianciardi Francesco , Palagi Stefano
Published: October 2024

Conventional drug administration often results in systemic action, thus needing high dosages and leading to potentially pronounced side effects. Targeted delivery, employing carriers like nanoparticles, aims to release drugs at a target site, but only a small fraction of nanoparticles actually reaches it. Microrobots have been proposed to overcome this issue since they can be guided to hard-to-reach sites and locally deliver payloads. To enhance their functionality, we propose microrobots made as deformable capsules with hydrogel shells and aqueous cores, having the potential added advantages of biocompatibility, permeability, and stimulus-responsiveness. Endowing microrobots with deformability could allow them to navigate inside capillaries and cross barriers to finally reach the target site. In this study, we present a cost-effective method for fabricating core-shell structures without the use of organic solvents, surfactants, or extreme pH conditions unlike other techniques (e.g. Layer by Layer). The process begins with the dripping of a mixture of hydrogels, agarose and alginate, into a solution to gelate the drops into beads. After they are loaded with calcium ions at different concentrations, they are immersed in an alginate solution to form the shell. Finally, the beads are heated to let the agarose melt and diffuse out, leaving a liquid core. By varying the concentration of calcium ions, we obtain shells of different thicknesses. To estimate it, we have developed a method using the colour intensity from microscope images. This allowed us to observe that lowering the calcium ions concentration below a threshold does not lead to the formation of continuous shells. For higher concentrations, although the core may remain partially gelled, continuous shells successfully form. Therefore, our fabrication process could find applications in drug delivery, encapsulation systems, and microrobotics.
Modelling drift of cold-stunned Kemp's ridley turtles stranding on the Dutch coast
Authors: Manral Darshika , Bos Ilse , de Boer Mark , van Sebille Erik
Published: October 2024

Background Every few years, juvenile Kemp’s ridley turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) are stranded on the Dutch coasts. The main population distribution of this critically endangered species primarily inhabits the Gulf of Mexico and the east coast of the United States. This study focuses on five reports from the Netherlands between 2007 and 2022, where juvenile turtles were reported to strand alive during the winter, albeit in a hypothermic state. At ambient ocean temperatures between 10°C and 13°C, Kemp’s ridley turtles begin to show an inability to actively swim and remain afloat on the ocean’s surface, a condition termed ‘cold stunning’. Understanding their transport in cold-stunned state can help improve the rehabilitation process of stranded turtles. Methods Cold-stunned turtles are back-tracked as passive, virtual particles from their stranding location using Lagrangian flow modelling. This study investigates when and where these juvenile turtles cross the threshold temperatures between 10° C and 14° C before stranding by tracking the temperature along the trajectories. Results As expected, the simulations show the transport of the cold-stunned turtles via the English Channel. More surprisingly, the analysis suggests they likely experience cold-stunning in the southern North Sea region and encounter temperatures below 10°C for only a few days to up to three weeks, and below 12°C for up to a month before stranding. Conclusions The estimate of cold-stunned drift duration of the turtles provides additional knowledge about their health status at the time of stranding. Adherence to rehabilitation protocols for Kemp’s ridley and post-release monitoring are recommended to improve their long-term survival.
Assessment of the use of Open Educational Resources at five European Library and Information Science higher education institutions during and post-COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Santos-Hermosa Gema , Urbano Cristóbal , Argudo Sílvia , Boté-Vericad Juan-José , Đurđevic Anja , Micunovic Milijana , Wöbbekind Lea , Todorova Tania
Published: October 2024

This article presents an analysis of the impact of Open Educational Resources (OER) during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as their potential use in the post-pandemic, in Library and Information Science (LIS) higher education institutions. The research explored how OER were used and created, what were the main barriers and drivers in practice and some main lessons learned that can help to improve the quality and increase the use of OER beyond times of crisis. The research was based on fieldwork carried out in the LIS departments of the universities of Barcelona (Spain), Hildesheim (Germany), Osijek and Zagreb (Croatia) and the University of Library Studies and Information Technologies in Sofia (Bulgaria). The methodology approach was qualitative and was based on interviews with faculty and focus groups with students. Results show that faculty members were still hesitant to adopt OER since they generally did not consider them. Moreover, those who did use them did so on their own initiative and as additional resources. We discuss the different speeds of OER implementation that have been observed depending on the faculty’s prior level of knowledge, and on whether their institutions and countries are prepared to support the use of OER. The promotion of post-pandemic OER involves greater capacity building, as well as collaboration and institutional support. Students’ attitudes about the usefulness of OER focus on their availability. The large number of teachers and students who participated in the study, as well as the international scope of the study, constitute a strength in the treatment of a topic such as the use of OER where the user perspectives and LIS context have been little addressed in the literature.
Transforming European Food Systems with multi-actor networks and Living Labs through the FoodSHIFT Approach
Authors: Schafer Luke John , Anthouli Aida , Schmidt Alessandra , Beblek Anita , Fruehbeisser Annika , Walthall Beatrice , Mingolla Carla , Rogozan Catalina , Petruzzella Damiano , Wascher Dirk , Volpe Francesca , Ruggeri Giordano , Arciniegas Gustavo , Vicente-Vicente Jose Luis , Riviou Katerina , Valta Katerina , Marijke Wenzel Lena , Labellarte Lorenzo , Crivits Maarten , Swiader Malgorzata , Lysak Marin , Sylla Marta , Eyre Poppy , Barbu Raluca , Corsi Stefano , Henriksen Christian Bugge
Published: October 2024

Our current global Food System is facing extraordinary challenges in both size and severity, including a rise in unsustainable consumption behaviours, continued environmental degradation, growing food insecurity, and widening social inequalities. A Food System transformation is now both critically important and overwhelmingly complex, requiring nothing less than a complete overhaul of the entire value chain. Everyone is needed: Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with technological solutions, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) with social innovations, researchers with novel methodologies, governments with food policy advancements, professionals with varying expertise, and last but not least, empowered and informed citizens with the ability and resources for better decision-making. Living Labs offer a holistic, place-based approach needed to facilitate multi-actor inputs on various levels, specifically Food System Living Labs (FSLLs) like the ones established as part of the FoodSHIFT 2030 Project. Nine front-runner Food System Living Labs were operationalised alongside a novel framework merging high-level interdisciplinary initiatives with a diverse set of innovative approaches towards more Sustainable Food Systems (SFS). The FoodSHIFT Approach concept was praised by external evaluators for its ground-breaking framework, and the nearly completed project has been listed as a best practice. However, positive applications alone will not ensure a cross-sector European-wide Food System transformation, and the following text offers a critical reflection coupled with experience-based solutions to further improve the FoodSHIFT Approach.
Ten lessons for future MSCA/COFUND applicants
Authors: Cowley Emma S , Massara Theoni , Wilton Ciara , Noble Laurella , Reichert Irina , Schultz Vognsen Anne , Wynne Carolyn , Arshad Rabia , Eldridge Jennie , Sonne-Hansen Katrine
Published: October 2024

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) support researchers' training and development and prioritise international mobility and interdisciplinary collaboration. As the European Commission’s flagship doctorate and post-doctorate fellowship programme, it is fiercely competitive. This perspective piece aims to support future applicants of the programme by presenting ten lessons learned derived from three MSCA/COFUND projects: DTA3 doctoral programme in the UK, Train@Ed post-doctoral programme at the University of Edinburgh, and iMED at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. The lessons cover recruitment strategies, enhanced training and career development programmes, and effective project management. Key recommendations include initiating early recruitment, supporting international mobility, embedding EDI within processes, promoting social cohesion, aligning stakeholders' expectations, developing standardised procedures, appropriately managing time and finances, and maintaining realistic project plans. These insights aim to assist future MSCA/COFUND applicants in improving project impact and sustainability.
Russia in the politics of South Caucasus countries after 2022
Authors: Brusylovska Olga , MAISTRENKO Yuliia
Published: October 2024

The research question is how national governments and civil societies reflect Russian involvement in the decision-making process of South Caucasus countries in 2022–2024? The structure of the research includes two sections: 1) Strategic interests of the countries of the South Caucasus and Russia in 2022–2024; 2) Changing the role of Russia in the South Caucasus in 2022–2024. In result of the research it was revealed that opting for a policy of normalization Georgia cannot renounce its territory (Abkhazia and South Ossetia). Azerbaijan has been the most consistent among the Caucasian countries in challenging Russian hegemony in the region. This trend intensified after the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine: Azerbaijan increased humanitarian aid to Ukraine; pro-Ukrainian sympathies in Azerbaijani society were expressed through a number of leading media outlets that openly supported Kyiv. Baku unilaterally reviewed the ceasefire agreement - 2020, mediated by Russia. Amid the international isolation of the Kremlin, Azerbaijan began to play a much larger role for Russia. Baku is important link in the chain of diplomatic and economic ties of Putin's regime. Russia tries to maintain productive relations with Baku, even at the expense of its long-time ally Armenia. Yerevan revises its foreign policy, favouring a pro-Western vector. In Yerevan, the pro-Russian opposition organized rallies against the current government. Moscow and Baku both gained mutual benefits: Russia destabilized the situation in Armenia, and Azerbaijan restored its territorial integrity. However, these actions of Moscow struck at its influence in the region, marginalizing Russia and its "guarantees." The Caucasus provides a clear example of Russia's inability to continue playing the role of a major power: it simply lacks the strength and means.
Parasport medicine and its challenges
Authors: Zimniak Maria Weronika , Jakubczak Zofia , Głąbień Marta , Miłkowski Paweł , Kusiak Karolina , Aleksandrowicz Daria , Kuśnierz Anna , Wieczorek Olga , Kondratowicz Aneta , Śliwiak Patryk
Published: October 2024

Introduction:
The field of Paralympic medicine examines the healthcare issues that are specific to athletes with disabilities. This article presents a historical phenomenon in which the introduction of further activities for patients with neurological conditions led to the hosting of the Paralympic Games. The article describes the complexity of inclusivity in disability health research and outlines the historical context of the emergence of this field of sports medicine. It also presents the main challenges posed by the developing parasport. One of the most significant issues is to guarantee that competition is conducted with the greatest degree of equity possible. This entails ensuring the precision of classification, preventing the over-medicalisation of athletes. It is also imperative that athletes with special requirements are provided with the appropriate support and equipment. The creation of adequate care pathways requires a challenging process, largely due to the inconclusive nature of research findings over the years. Further investigation is necessary to gain a more nuanced understanding of this relatively new area of study.
Purpose of work: The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the broader challenges that paramedicine is facing in relation to the rapid development of this branch of sports medicine.
Materials and methods:  This article is based on the literature found in Pubmed database and other scientific databases. References were researched using following keywords: paralympic games, persons with disabilities, paramedicine, para-athletes,
Conclusions: The advancement of Paralympic medicine is markedly expedited by a synthesis of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. The integration of these two approaches yields invaluable insights into the personal perspectives of athletes on their health, while also facilitating statistically significant, evidence-based results on the analysis of large groups of athletes.
Canada’s Feminist Foreign Policy: Analyzing the Effectiveness of the Trudeau Government’s Gendered Approach
Authors: Wikkerink JR
Published: October 2024

Following the Trudeau government’s 2015 election, its flagship policy on international assistance – the Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP) – was announced in 2017. The FIAP prioritized gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Seven years after the announcement, a performance audit by the Auditor General of Canada reported that Global Affairs Canada had failed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the FIAP in advancing outcomes for women and girls. At the same time, the Trudeau government has attempted to incorporate feminist ideals into its foreign policy decisions around trade and defense. These actions have been overshadowed by issues such as the Canadian government’s support for the Canadian mining sector, which has been found to fail to meet gender equity standards in countries such as Ethiopia. While the Trudeau government’s rhetoric and initiative in establishing a feminist foreign policy is laudable, Canada’s foreign policy is not an exemplary model for promoting gender equality and feminist ideals. This chapter will argue that Canada’s current foreign policy stance with regard to its role as a model for promoting gender equality is fragmented at the policy level and ineffectively implemented by agencies. A historical overview of Canada’s incorporation of a gendered lens into its foreign policy decisions will provide a contextual framework for analyzing the Trudeau government’s decisions since 2015. Subsequently, the chapter will examine three key areas of the government’s foreign policy: international assistance, trade as well as security and defense. Each component will be evaluated for its effectiveness in advancing gender equality at both the policy and implementation levels. Case studies, such as funding spent in Afghanistan, free trade agreement chapters on gender, and the Elsie Initiative for Women in Peace Operations will be highlighted to demonstrate how a gap has developed between the current Canadian government’s rhetoric and its actions on the world stage.
Plan Your System and Price for Free: Fast Algorithms for Multimodal Transit Operations
Authors: Banerjee Siddhartha , Hssaine Chamsi , Luo Qi , Samaranayake Samitha
Published: October 2024

We study the problem of jointly pricing and designing a smart transit system, where a transit agency (the platform) controls a fleet of demand-responsive vehicles (cars) and a fixed line service (buses). The platform offers commuters a menu of options (modes) to travel between origin and destination (e.g., direct car trip, a bus ride, or a combination of the two), and commuters make a utility-maximizing choice within this menu, given the price of each mode. The goal of the platform is to determine an optimal set of modes to display to commuters, prices for these modes, and the design of the transit network in order to maximize the social welfare of the system. In this work, we tackle the commuter choice aspect of this problem, traditionally approached via computationally intensive bilevel programming techniques. In particular, we develop a framework that efficiently decouples the pricing and network design problem: Given an efficient (approximation) algorithm for centralized network design without prices, there exists an efficient (approximation) algorithm for decentralized network design with prices and commuter choice. We demonstrate the practicality of our framework via extensive numerical experiments on a real-world data set. We moreover explore the dependence of metrics such as welfare, revenue, and mode usage on (i) transfer costs and (ii) cost of contracting with on-demand service providers and exhibit the welfare gains of a fully integrated mobility system.

Funding: This work was supported by the National Science Foundation [Awards CMMI-2308750, CNS-1952011, and CMMI-2144127].

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2022.0452 .
Buttock augmentation and other body contouring procedures: JCCP position statement
Authors: Sines David , Rankin Andrew
Published: October 2024

In light of the tragic death of Alice Webb following a BBL procedure, JCCP Executive Chair and Registrar David Sines and JCCP Clinical Advisory Group Co-Chair Andrew Rankin discuss the importance of stricter regulations around BBLs and other similar procedures
Human keratin matrix in addition to standard of care accelerates healing of venous ulcers: a case series
Authors: Koullias George , Ramey-Ward Allison N
Published: October 2024

Objective:

Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) are often large and complicated wounds that, despite combinations of advanced wound care techniques and systemic treatment of underlying vascular issues, take many months to heal and have high rates of recurrence. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of a novel wound care solution—human keratin matrix (HKM).

Method:

A case series of VLUs were treated with HKM in conjunction with indicated vascular intervention and standard of care (SoC) procedures. For analysis, these wounds were divided into very large (>200 cm2) and smaller (<35 cm2) wounds.

Results:

The cohort comprised 16 VLUs (very large=7; smaller=9). Very large VLUs were reduced in size by an average of 71% within 10 weeks, and showed a 50% size reduction within four applications of HKM. Smaller VLUs reduced by 50% in size within the first three weeks of treatment, and 88.9% of these wounds healed completely with an average of 4.5 HKM applications over an average of 6.5 weeks.

Conclusion:

The results of this series highlight the potential of HKM, in combination with indicated systemic interventions and SoC, as an effective treatment for hard-to-heal (chronic) VLUs, even in very large wounds.
Factors of unmet dental care needs due to the time, economic, and physical constraints among older people
Authors: Kim Min-Young , Han Ji-Hyoung
Published: October 2024

Objectives: We aim to identify factors associated with unmet dental care needs in older adults and explore the impact of time, economic and physical constraints on each. Methods: The analysis was based on the 2023 Community Health Survey. Statistical analyses were conducted using chi-square test and multinomial logistic regression for 65,952 people aged 65 years and older. Results: First, we looked whether subjects experienced unmet dental care needs and found that 8.4% did. Second, according to the type of unmet dental care needs, 54.1% of the time, economic, and physical constraints were economic constraints. Analyzing each of the time, economic, and physical constraints, we found that time constraints were associated with younger age. For economic constraints, lower education level and health security type of recipients in medical aid program were more likely to experience unmet dental care needs. In terms of physical constraints, those living in rural areas were more than three times more likely to experience unmet dental care needs than those living in urban areas. Conclusions: The results showed that time constraints were related to age, economic constraints were related to household income level, and physical constraints were related to residential area.
Relationship between physical activity and oral frailty among older adults in Korea
Authors: Kim In-Ja , Kim Dong-Ae
Published: October 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of physical activity on oral frailty in older Korean adults. Methods: The data from 1,320 individuals aged 65 years and older, derived from the 8th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019), were subjected to complex sample statistical analysis. Oral frailty was assessed based on the presence of one or more functional impairments according to the following five criteria: difficulty chewing, difficulty speaking, number of natural teeth, brushing frequency, and use of oral hygiene products. Results: Chewing discomfort and difficulty speaking were highest in the 76-80 age group at 44.5% and 18.1%, respectively (p<0.01). The proportion of patients with 20+ natural teeth decreased from 72.2% (65-70) to 45.3% (75-80) (p<0.001). The daily brushing rate was 50.2% in the 65-70 group. Chewing discomfort was reported by 26% of those who walked 4-6 days a week (p<0.01). Moderate-intensity activity was linked to lower chewing discomfort (22.9%) and speaking difficulty (7.4%) compared with higher levels in inactive individuals (30.4%, 14.9%) (p<0.01). Brushing three times daily was observed in 52.9% of walkers and 33.9% of non-walkers (p<0.001). Oral hygiene product use varied significantly according to activity level (p<0.05). Conclusions: Physical activity significantly affects oral frailty, highlighting the need for targeted training and policy development.
Relationship between mental health and tooth fracture among Korean adolescents: analysis using data from the 19th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2023
Authors: Min Hee-Hong , Kim Young-Suk
Published: October 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between tooth fractures and overall mental health by data from the 19th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2023. Methods: The participants were 52,880 adolescents attending middle and high schools. The chi-square test and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to examine the association between mental health and tooth fractures. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21.0. Results: Overall, 26.0%, 82.6%, 13.5%, and 55.6% of participants experienced sadness and despair, stress cognition, suicidal ideation, and loneliness, respectively. In the groups that experienced sadness·despair, stress, and loneliness, the experience of tooth fractures was significantly higher (1.28 [95% confidence interval, CI: 1.20-1.38], 1.09 [95% CI: 1.00-1.19], and 1.12 [95% CI: 1.05-1.20] times, respectively). Conclusions: We found an association between mental health and tooth fractures among adolescents.
Association of periodontal disease with stress levels and drinking frequency in adults: analysis using data from the 7th National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Authors: Cho Su-Jung , Lee Won-Jae , Lee Ye-Jin , Lee Su-Young
Published: October 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the association of stress level and alcohol consumption with periodontal disease in adults. Methods: Data from the 7th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used for this study, which included 13,199 Korean adults aged >19 years. The variables analyzed included demographic characteristics (sex and age) and socioeconomic factors (income, education, and marital status). Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between periodontal disease, stress level, and drinking frequency after considering confounding factors such as income quartile and marital status. Results: After correcting for all confounding factors, the analysis showed that the group that drank more than four times a week had a 1.541 times higher risk of developing periodontal disease than the group that drank less than once a month (odds ratio [OR]=1.541, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.245-1.906, p<0.001). The prevalence of periodontal disease was higher in men, in those over 60 years of age, and in those with lower levels of education and income. Interestingly, those with lower perceived stress had a significantly higher disease prevalence (31.5%) than those with higher stress levels (28.0%; p<0.001). Conclusions: The results of this study suggested that the higher the frequency of drinking, the higher the prevalence of periodontal disease.
Power-consumption analysis for different IPoWDM network architectures with ZR/ZR+ and long-haul muxponders
Authors: Zhang Qiaolun , Morea Annalisa , Layec Patricia , Ibrahimi Memedhe , Musumeci Francesco , Tornatore Massimo
Published: October 2024

Operators are constantly faced with the need to increase optical-network capacity to accommodate rapid traffic growth while minimizing the cost-per-bit and power-per-bit. The drastic reduction of the power consumption of IP routers and ZR/ZR+ pluggable transponders seen in the past several years has renewed the interest in “opaque” optical-network architectures, where no optical bypassing is allowed. In this work, we aim to quantify and compare the power consumption of four “IP over wavelength division multiplexing” (IPoWDM) transport network architectures employing ZR/ZR+ modules versus long-haul muxponders, considering different grooming, regeneration, and optical bypassing capabilities. We first propose a power consumption model for different IPoWDM node architectures with ZR/ZR+ modules and long-haul muxponders. Then, to obtain the power consumption of different architectures, we propose a compact auxiliary-graph-based network-design algorithm extensible to different network architectures. Moreover, we investigate how the continuous decrease in the power consumption of ZR/ZR+ and IP routers can impact the power consumption of different architectures through a sensitivity analysis. Illustrative numerical results on networks of different sizes show that, despite drastic reductions of power consumption at the IP layer, optical bypassing is still the most power-efficient solution, reducing consumption by up to 48%.
Research on center-assisted ring-core few-mode fiber with an eccentric circle for mode degeneracy separation in space division multiplexing
Authors: Ye Xiao , Ning Tigang , Pei Li , Shen Lei , Zheng Jingjing , Li Jing , Bai Bing , Wu Ge , Zhang Shuyuan
Published: October 2024

An eccentric-circle-assisted ring-core fiber (ECRF) structure is proposed to effectively separate spatial-degenerated linear polarization (LP) modes while maintaining birefringence at the 10−6 level, which provides more degrees of freedom in the design of few-mode fiber employment in space division multiplexing (SDM) systems. Our simulation analysis demonstrates that the effective refractive index difference (Δneff) between the spatially degenerate modes in this fiber falls within the range of (2.44−6.42)×10−4 at 1530–1565 nm, given the refractive index difference level typical of conventional fiber core and cladding. In addition, the polarization separation level for each mode is on the order of 10−6 and below. The design requirements of significant separation of spatial degeneracy and basically no separation of polarization degeneracy are achieved. Based on the characteristics of spatially degenerate mode in this fiber, we extend the regulation law for spatially degenerate mode separation of the LP
m
n
mode groups in center-assisted ring-core fibers. In comparison to the existing center-assisted ring-core fiber structure, the ECRF can further reduce the fabrication difficulty and increase the feasibility of preparation.
Comparative study of generalized-sampling-theorem-based digital super-resolution for 2D data
Authors: Ravi Neethu S. , Kumar Rakesh , Ratliff Bradley M.
Published: October 2024

The size of pixels in a digital recording device, such as a CCD array, limits the spatial resolution in images obtained by an optical imaging system, thereby degrading the image quality. Digital super-resolution (DSR) techniques are used to reconstruct a high-resolution (HR) image from multiple sub-pixel-shifted low-resolution images in order to improve the image quality. In this article, we formulate a mathematical framework for DSR using the generalized sampling theorem (GST). The GST-based DSR method’s performance is evaluated by comparing it to existing resolution enhancement methods on the basis of evaluation metrics like percentage mean square error (%MSE), structural similarity index measure (SSIM), and peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR). The GST DSR method exhibits an overall superior quality image reconstruction based on quantitative analysis (with a near zero %MSE, SSIM around one, and improved PSNR in dB) and qualitative comparison. The robustness of the GST DSR method is further demonstrated in the presence of frame-to-frame shift estimation error using %MSE and SSIM by comparing it with multi-frame interpolation approaches.
Generation of switchable rectangular pulsed cylindrical vector beams in a 1.7 µm mode-locking all-fiber laser
Authors: Wen Jiahao , Xie Yuhua , Long Rufei , Li Yongle , Fan Dianyuan , Jiang Guobao , Chen Yu
Published: October 2024

In this paper, we demonstrate the generation of switchable rectangular pulsed cylindrical vector beams in a 1.7 µm mode-locking all-fiber laser by nonlinear amplifying loop mirror for the first time. Based on the nonlinear amplifying loop mirror mode-locking technology and mode selection coupler, the rectangular pulsed CVBs can be achieved and switched repeatedly and easily between the dissipative soliton resonance and noise-like pulse states. Furthermore, with the increasing of pump power, the duration of dissipative soliton resonance and noise-like pulse increase from 1.76 ns to 6.36 ns and 1.15 ns to 3.95 ns, respectively. In the meanwhile, both the peak power of dissipative soliton resonance and noise-like pulse are all clamped at 6 W all the time, showing the independence of clamped peak power and pulse type. Our work not only broadens wavelength range of switchable rectangular pulse, but also provides a novel pulse profile application of cylindrical vector beams.
Analogue of electromagnetically-induced transparency by toroidal dipole in a symmetry-breaking metamaterial
Authors: Shao Jian , Li Jie , Liu Dongdong , Shi Zhe , Gong Wenbin
Published: October 2024

Analogue of electromagnetically-induced transparency (EIT) in metamaterials was typically based on the destructive interference between electric and magnetic dipolar resonances. In this work, a dipolar toroidal response is demonstrated by a plasmonic metamaterial composed of a ring and a disk. We theoretically demonstrate that the toroidal dipole can couple with the magnetic dipolar response (subradiant mode) and thus induce the EIT-like phenomenon by breaking the geometrical symmetry of the considered metamaterial. The result also shows a promising potential for applications of high-sensitivity resonant transmission associated with the intriguing toroidal moment.
Incidence rates of hepatocellular carcinoma based on risk stratification in steatotic liver disease for precision medicine: A real-world longitudinal nationwide study
Authors: Lai Rongtao , Barnett Scott , Zhang Xinrong , Kam Leslie Yeeman , Cheung Ramsey , Xie Qing , Nguyen Mindie H.
Published: October 2024

Background

Detailed subgroup incidence rates for steatotic liver disease (SLD)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are critical to inform practice and public health interventions but remain sparse. We aimed to fill in this gap.

Methods and findings

In a retrospective cohort study of adults with SLD from the United States (US) Merative Marketscan Research Databases (1/2007 to 12/2021), we estimated HCC incidence stratified by sex, age, cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus (DM), and a combination of all these 4 factors. We excluded patients with significant alcohol use and chronic viral hepatitis.

We analyzed data from 741,816 patients with SLD (mean age 51.5 ± 12.8 years, 46% male, 14.7% cirrhosis). During a 2,410,166 person-years (PY) follow-up, 1,740 patients developed HCC. The overall HCC incidence yielded 0.72 per 1,000 PY (95% confidence interval [CI, 0.68, 0.75]). The incidence was higher in males (0.95, 95% CI [0.89, 1.01]) compared to females (0.52, 95% CI [0.48, 0.56]) (p < 0.001). For those with cirrhosis, the incidence was significantly higher at 4.29 (95% CI [4.06, 4.51]) compared to those without cirrhosis (0.14, 95% CI [0.13, 0.16]) (p < 0.001). Additionally, the incidence was higher in patients with DM (1.19, 95% CI [1.12, 1.26]) compared to those without DM (0.41, 95% CI [0.38, 0.44]) (p < 0.001). Chronic kidney disease (CKD) was also associated with a higher HCC incidence of 2.20 (95% CI [2.00, 2.41]) compared to those without CKD (0.58, 95% CI [0.55, 0.62]) (p < 0.001). Similarly, individuals with cardiovascular disease (CVD) had a higher HCC incidence of 1.89 (95% CI [1.75, 2.03]) compared to those without CVD (0.51, 95% CI [0.48, 0.54]) (p < 0.001). Finally, the incidence of HCC was significantly higher in patients with non-liver cancer (3.90, 95% CI [3.67, 4.12]) compared to those without other cancers (0.29, 95% CI [0.26, 0.31]) (p < 0.001). On further stratification, HCC incidence incrementally rose by 10-year age intervals, male sex, cirrhosis, and DM, reaching 19.06 (95% CI [16.10, 22.01]) and 8.44 (95% CI [6.78, 10.10]) in males and females, respectively, but only 0.04 for non-diabetic, noncirrhotic aged <40 years patients in both sexes. The main limitation of this methodology is the potential misclassification of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes inherent in claims database studies.

Conclusions

This nationwide study provided robust granular estimates for SLD-related HCC incidence stratified by several key risk factors. In addition to cirrhosis, future surveillance strategies, prevention, public health initiatives, and future research models should also take into account the impact of sex, age, and DM.
Bat-associated ticks as a potential link for vector-borne pathogen transmission between bats and other animals
Authors: Szentiványi Tamara , Takács Nóra , Sándor Attila D. , Péter Áron , Boldogh Sándor A. , Kováts Dávid , Foster Jeffrey T. , Estók Péter , Hornok Sándor
Published: October 2024

Background

Potentially zoonotic pathogens have been previously detected in bat-associated ticks, but their role in disease transmission and their frequency of feeding on non-bat hosts is poorly known.

Methodology/Principal findings

We used molecular blood meal analysis to reveal feeding patterns of the bat-associated tick species Ixodes ariadnae, I. simplex, and I. vespertilionis collected from cave and mine walls in Central and Southeastern Europe. Vertebrate DNA, predominantly from bats, was detected in 43.5% of the samples (70 of 161 ticks) but in these ticks we also detected the DNA of non-chiropteran hosts, such as dog, Canis lupus familiaris, wild boar, Sus scrofa, and horse, Equus caballus, suggesting that bat-associated ticks may exhibit a much broader host range than previously thought, including domestic and wild mammals. Furthermore, we detected the zoonotic bacteria Neoehrlichia mikurensis in bat ticks for the first time, and other bacteria, such as Bartonella and Wolbachia.

Conclusions/Significance

In the light of these findings, the role of bat ticks as disease vectors should be urgently re-evaluated in more diverse host systems, as they may contribute to pathogen transmission between bats and non-chiropteran hosts.
The effects of sport-specific training on individuals action strategies while avoiding a virtual player approaching on a 45° angle while completing a secondary task
Authors: Thompson Brooke J. , Cinelli Michael E.
Published: October 2024

Sports provide varying scenarios where athletes must interact with and avoid opposing players in dynamic environments. As such, sport-specific training can improve one’s ability to integrate visual information which may result in improved collision avoidance behaviours. However, improved visuomotor capabilities are highly task dependent (i.e., athletes must be tested in sport-specific settings). The current study examined whether sport-specific training influenced individuals’ collision avoidance behaviours during a sport-specific task in virtual reality. Untrained young adults (N = 21, 22.9±1.9 yrs, 11 males) and specifically trained athletes (N = 18, 20±1.5 yrs, 7 males) were immersed in a virtual environment and were instructed to walk along a 7.5m path towards a goal located along the midline. Two virtual players positioned 2.83m to the left and right of the midline approached participants on a 45° angle at one of three speeds: 0.8x, 1.0x, or 1.2x each participant’s average walking speed. Participants were instructed to walk to a goal without colliding with the virtual players while performing a secondary task; reporting whether a shape changed above either of the virtual players’ heads. Results revealed that athletes had a higher percentage of correct responses on the secondary task compared to untrained young adults. However, there was no group differences in the average time to first avoidance or average minimum clearance, but athletes were more variable in their avoidance behaviours. Findings from this study demonstrate that athletes may be more adaptive in their behaviours and may perform better on attentionally demanding tasks in dynamic environments.
Early high-sensitivity troponin elevation in predicting short-term mortality in sepsis: A protocol for a systematic review with meta-analysis
Authors: Ferrière-Steinert Santiago , Valenzuela Jiménez Joaquín , Heskia Araya Sebastián , Kouyoumdjian Thomas , Ramos-Rojas José , Gajardo Abraham I. J.
Published: October 2024

Background

Sepsis is a common admission diagnosis in the intensive care unit (ICU). The Sepsis-3 consensus associates sepsis diagnosis with acute organ dysfunction. In these patients troponin elevation is a well-established phenomenon, but its clinical significance is not settled, as no systematic review has addressed the prognostic significance of the increasingly prevalent high-sensitivity troponin assays in acute organ dysfunction setting.

This study aims to clarify the association between early serum troponin levels in high-sensitivity assays with short-term mortality risk in septic patients with acute organ dysfunction.

Methods

We will systematically search PubMed, Scopus and Embase for original articles; additionally, a manual search will be carried out through relevant literature. Generally, studies will be deemed eligible for inclusion if they evaluate the association between high-sensitivity troponin in the first 24 hours of admission and ICU, 30-days, or In-hospital mortality; in patients with septic shock or sepsis related to acute organ dysfunction. Two reviewers will independently select studies and extract the data. A meta-analysis for mortality outcome will be performed for comparative data regarding two effect measures: Odd ratios and Standardized Mean differences.

Discussion

This study will provide further evidence about the role of high-sensitivity troponin assays in predicting mortality in septic patients; potentially helping to guide further research and yielding valuable information for patient assessment.

Conclusion about the certainty of evidence will be presented in a ´Summary of findings´ table.

Trial registration

PROSPERO registration:

(CRD42024468883).
A study on the impact of high-speed rail on the consumption structure of urban and rural residents in China
Authors: Xu Yafei , Ou Guoli
Published: October 2024

Consumption is crucial to individual well-being and national economic development. This study investigates whether high-speed rail (HSR) influences consumption expenditure (CE) and consumption structure (CS) of urban and rural Chinese citizens. Using panel data from 2003 to 2019 and econometric models, this study finds that: (1) HSR significantly increases CE for both urban and rural residents, promotes CS upgrades in rural areas, but inhibits CS upgrades in urban areas. These results remain robust after extensive testing. (2) HSR’s impact on urban consumption is relatively focused and singular, whereas its effect on rural consumption is dispersed and extensive. Additionally, the impact of HSR on consumption exhibited significant delays and regional characteristics. (3) Mediation analysis reveals that HSR significantly enhances urban and rural CE and facilitates rural CS upgrades through market, price, and income effects. However, it also triggers housing price increases, impeding urban CS upgrades. This study provides important references for the government to optimize transportation infrastructure investments, promote balanced economic development between urban and rural areas, and enhance residents’ well-being.
Synergistic effect of periodontitis and C-reactive protein levels on mortality: NHANES 2001–2004
Authors: Han Miyeun , Lee Whanhee , Ahn Seoyeong , Kang Moon Ho , Hwang Hyeon Seok , Kwon Soie , Kim Yaerim , Lee Jeonghwan , Kim Dong Ki , Lim Chun Soo , Kim Yon Su , Lee Jung Pyo
Published: October 2024

Periodontitis is associated with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Although the coexistence of periodontitis and elevated CRP levels may heighten the risk of mortality, previous studies have not confirmed their synergistic effect. Understanding this interaction is crucial for identifying potential interventions to reduce mortality risk in individuals with periodontitis. This study aimed to assess the synergistic effects of periodontitis and elevated CRP levels on mortality in 7,938 adult individuals who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Study 2001–2004. The association of periodontitis status and CRP levels with mortality was assessed using a survey-weighted Cox model. The interactive effect was estimated; the synergistic effect of CRP levels and periodontitis status on mortality was assessed using the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI). Periodontitis was diagnosed in 1,065 (13.4%) participants. Compared with the participants without periodontitis and possessing CRP levels of ≤ 0.5 mg/dL, those with periodontitis (hazard ratio [HR], 1.38) or CRP levels of > 0.5 mg/dL (HR 1.23) had higher HRs. The participants with both periodontitis and CRP levels of > 0.5 mg/dL had the highest HR of 2.01. The additive scale interactive effect of the periodontal status and CRP levels, measured using RERI 0.41 (-0.07, 0.95), was positive and nearly significant in the total population. The synergy between the periodontal status and CRP levels was more prominent in the participants aged ≥60 years than that in younger individuals. Periodontitis with high CRP levels may indicate a high mortality rate, indicating the importance of active monitoring and intensive management of periodontitis and inflammatory markers.