bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel hypoxic lncRNA, HRL-SC, promotes the proliferation and migration of human dental pulp stem cells through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway
Authors: Zeng Junkai , Chen Ming , Yang Yeqing , Wu Buling
Published: June 2022

Background

Human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) are critical for pulp generation. hDPSCs proliferate faster under hypoxia, but the mechanism by which long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) regulates this process is not fully understood.

Methods

Novel lncRNAs were obtained by reanalysis of transcriptome datasets from RNA-Seq under hypoxia compared with normoxia, and a differential expression analysis of target genes was performed. Bioinformatics analyses, including gene ontology analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis and gene set enrichment analysis, were used to understand the function of key novel lncRNAs. hDPSCs were isolated from dental pulp tissue. EdU and scratch wound healing assays were used to detect the proliferation and migration of hDPSCs. qRT-PCR was used to detect changes in the RNA expression of selected genes. RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization, small interfering RNA, qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis were used to explore the function of key novel lncRNAs.

Results

We identified 496 novel lncRNAs in hDPSCs under hypoxia, including 45 differentially expressed novel lncRNAs. Of these, we focused on a key novel lncRNA, which we designated HRL-SC (hypoxia-responsive lncRNA in stem cells). Functional annotation revealed that HRL-SC was associated with hypoxic conditions and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. HRL-SC was mainly located in the cytoplasm of hDPSCs and had stable high expression under hypoxia. Knockdown of HRL-SC inhibited the proliferation and migration of hDPSCs and the expression levels of PI3K/AKT-related marker proteins. Furthermore, the AKT activator SC79 partially offset the inhibitory effect caused by the knockdown, indicating that HRL-SC promoted hDPSCs through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Conclusions

Hypoxia-responsive lncRNA HRL-SC promotes the proliferation and migration of hDPSCs through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and this understanding may facilitate the regenerative application of hDPSCs.
The healthcare inequality among middle-aged and older adults in China: a comparative analysis between the full samples and the homogeneous population
Authors: Fu Liping , Fang Ya’nan , Dong Yongqing
Published: June 2022

Background

In the Chinese population, the middle-aged and older adults are the two main segments that utilize a large portion of healthcare. With the fast growth of the two segments, the demands of healthcare services increases significantly. The issue related to inequality in utilization of healthcare emerges with the growth and it deserves more attention. Most existing studies discuss overall inequality. Less attention is paid to inequality among subdivisions, that is, relative inequality. This study focuses on the inequality of healthcare utilization among the homogeneous population and the inequality of the full samples in China.

Methods

Data were obtained from four waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS): 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2018. First, the Concentration Index (CI) was used to measure the inequality of outpatient, inpatient and preventive care for the samples, and regression analysis was applied to decompose the contributing factors of inequality. Then SOM is introduced to identify homogeneous population through clustering and measure the inequality in three types of healthcare utilization among homogeneous population. Based on this, the difference between absolute inequalities and relative inequalities was discussed.

Results

The preventive care is shown to have the highest degree of inequality inclined to the rich and has the largest increase (CI: 0.048 in 2011 ~ 0.086 in 2018); The inequality degree in outpatient care appears to be the smallest (CI: -0.028 in 2011 ~ 0.014 in 2018). The decomposition results show that age, education, income, chronic disease and self-reported health issues help explain a large portion of inequality in outpatient and inpatient care. And the contribution of socioeconomic factors and education to the inequality of preventive care is the largest. In regards to three types of healthcare among the homogeneous population, the degree of inequality seems to be higher among group with high socioeconomic status than those with lower socioeconomic status. In particular, for the people who are in the high socioeconomic group, the degree of inequality in preventive care is consistently higher than in outpatient and inpatient care. The inequality degree of preventive care in the low socioeconomic status group varies significantly with the flexibility of their response to policies.

Conclusions

Key policy recommendations include establishing a health examination card and continuously improving the fit of free preventive care with the needs of the middle-aged and older adults; developing CCB activities to avoid people’s excessive utilization in the high socioeconomic status group or insufficient utilization in the low socioeconomic status group; reasonable control of reimbursement and out-of-pocket payments.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Physicochemical characteristics of jagung bose, an ethnic staple food from East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
Authors: Hamaisa Atika , Estiasih Teti , Putri Widya Dwi Rukmi , Fibrianto Kiki
Published: June 2022

Jagung bose is a typical corn-based staple meal from East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia, which requires a considerable boiling period due to its hardness. After storage for almost one year, this staple food is prepared from the pena' muti' fatu white corn variety. This study aimed to compare the physicochemical properties of jagung bose to whole corn of the pena' muti' fatu variety. Physicochemical properties analysis consisted of amino acids, functional groups, dietary fiber, proximate, crystallinity, starch granule shape, and pasting properties. In this study, the samples of jagung bose and corn of pena' muti fatu were obtained from the natives in East Nusa Tenggara. Jagung bose was prepared by pounding the kernel to remove the pericarp. The samples were ground and analyzed for physicochemical characteristics, and the data were analyzed by t test. The results showed that whole corn and jagung bose had high amylose and crystallinity and revealed an A-type starch crystal structure. The whole corn had more protein, fat, amylopectin, fiber, and ash but lower starch and amylose content than jagung bose. Starch granules of whole corn and jagung bose were polygonal shape with a smooth surface. The pericarp removal and pounding by adding some water resulted in different pasting properties. The peak, final, and breakdown viscosity and pasting and gelatinization temperatures of whole corn were higher than those of jagung bose. The setback viscosity of jagung bose was lower than that of whole corn, which meant the viscosity was maintained high during cooling. The high gelatinization temperature and crystallinity of jagung bose required a long cooking time.
The pseudobranch of jawed vertebrates is a mandibular arch-derived gill
Authors: Hirschberger Christine , Gillis J. Andrew
Published: June 2022

The pseudobranch is a gill-like epithelial elaboration that sits behind the jaw of most fishes. This structure was classically regarded as a vestige of the ancestral gill arch-like condition of the gnathostome jaw. However, more recently, hypotheses of jaw evolution by transformation of a gill arch have been challenged, and the pseudobranch has alternatively been considered a specialised derivative of the second (hyoid) pharyngeal arch. Here, we demonstrate in the skate (Leucoraja erinacea) that the pseudobranch does, in fact, derive from the mandibular arch, and that it shares gene expression features and cell types with gills. We also show that the skate mandibular arch pseudobranch is supported by a spiracular cartilage that is patterned by a shh-expressing epithelial signalling centre. This closely parallels the condition seen in the gill arches, where cartilaginous appendages called branchial rays, which support the respiratory lamellae of the gills, are patterned by a shh-expressing gill arch epithelial ridge. Together with similar discoveries in zebrafish, our findings support serial homology of the pseudobranch and gills, and an ancestral origin of gill arch-like anatomical features from the gnathostome mandibular arch.
Syntaxin 7 contributes to breast cancer cell invasion by promoting invadopodia formation
Authors: Parveen Sameena , Khamari Amrita , Raju Jyothikamala , Coppolino Marc G. , Datta Sunando
Published: June 2022

Invasion in various cancer cells requires coordinated delivery of signaling proteins, adhesion proteins, actin-remodeling proteins and proteases to matrix-degrading structures called invadopodia. Vesicular trafficking involving SNAREs plays a crucial role in the delivery of cargo to the target membrane. Screening of 13 SNAREs from the endocytic and recycling route using a gene silencing approach coupled with functional assays identified syntaxin 7 (STX7) as an important player in MDA-MB-231 cell invasion. Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRF-M) studies revealed that STX7 resides near invadopodia and co-traffics with MT1-MMP (also known as MMP14), indicating a possible role for this SNARE in protease trafficking. STX7 depletion reduced the number of invadopodia and their associated degradative activity. Immunoprecipitation studies revealed that STX7 forms distinct SNARE complexes with VAMP2, VAMP3, VAMP7, STX4 and SNAP23. Depletion of VAMP2, VAMP3 or STX4 abrogated invadopodia formation, phenocopying what was seen upon lack of STX7. Whereas depletion of STX4 reduced MT1-MMP level at the cell surfaces, STX7 silencing significantly reduced the invadopodia-associated MT1-MMP pool and increased the non-invadosomal pool. This study highlights STX7 as a major contributor towards the invadopodia formation during cancer cell invasion.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
How does mitochondrial function relate to thermogenic capacity and basal metabolic rate in small birds?
Authors: Milbergue Myriam S. , Vézina François , Desrosiers Véronique , Blier Pierre U.
Published: June 2022

We investigated the role of mitochondrial function in the avian thermoregulatory response to a cold environment. Using black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) acclimated to cold (−10°C) and thermoneutral (27°C) temperatures, we expected to observe an upregulation of pectoralis muscle and liver respiratory capacity that would be visible in mitochondrial adjustments in cold-acclimated birds. We also predicted that these adjustments would correlate with thermogenic capacity (Msum) and basal metabolic rate (BMR). Using tissue high-resolution respirometry, mitochondrial performance was measured as respiration rate triggered by proton leak and the activity of complex I (OXPHOSCI) and complex I+II (OXPHOSCI+CII) in the liver and pectoralis muscle. The activity of citrate synthase (CS) and cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) was also used as a marker of mitochondrial density. We found 20% higher total CS activity in the whole pectoralis muscle and 39% higher total CCO activity in the whole liver of cold-acclimated chickadees relative to that of birds kept at thermoneutrality. This indicates that cold acclimation increased overall aerobic capacity of these tissues. Msum correlated positively with mitochondrial proton leak in the muscle of cold-acclimated birds while BMR correlated with OXPHOSCI in the liver with a pattern that differed between treatments. Consequently, this study revealed a divergence in mitochondrial metabolism between thermal acclimation states in birds. Some functions of the mitochondria covary with thermogenic capacity and basal maintenance costs in patterns that are dependent on temperature and body mass.
Peer Effects in Product Adoption
Authors: Bailey Michael , Johnston Drew , Kuchler Theresa , Stroebel Johannes , Wong Arlene
Published: June 2022

We use de-identified data from Facebook to study the nature of peer effects in the market for cell phones. To identify peer effects, we exploit variation in friends' new phone acquisitions resulting from random phone losses. A new phone purchase by a friend has a large and persistent effect on an individual's own demand for phones of the same brand. While peer effects increase the overall demand for phones, a friend's purchase of a particular phone brand can reduce an individual's own demand for phones from competing brands, in particular if they are running on a different operating system. (JEL C45, D12, L63, M31, Z13)
Intrahousehold Consumption Allocation and Demand for Agency: A Triple Experimental Investigation
Authors: Afzal Uzma , d'Adda Giovanna , Fafchamps Marcel , Said Farah
Published: June 2022

We conduct lab experiments to investigate demand for consumption agency in married couples from Pakistan. Most subjects are no better at guessing their spouse's preferences than those of a stranger, suggesting that individual executive agency has instrumental value. We find significant evidence of demand for agency in all experiments, varying with the cost and anticipated instrumental benefit of agency. But subjects often make choices incompatible with purely instrumental motives—e.g., paying for agency when knowing their partner assigned them their preferred choice. Female subjects are willing to exert agency even when they have little executive agency within their household. (JEL D13, D61, D91, J12, J16, O12)
Ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation for uterine fibroids: mid-term local treatment efficiency and associated influencing factors
Authors: Li Qiu-Yan , Li Xiao-Long , Deng Er-Ya , Yu Song-Yuan , Sun Li-Ping , Zhang Hui-Li , Zhu Jing-E , Li Jia-Xin , Xu Hui-Xiong
Published: June 2022

Objective:

To investigate the mid-term local treatment efficiency of ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) for uterine fibroids (UFs) and the associated influencing factors.

Methods:

From July 2020 to October 2021, a total of 28 patients with 52 UFs who had undergone ultrasound-guided MWA were retrospectively included in this study. Pre-treatment clinical characteristics, conventional ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) features were analyzed to explore their correlation with volume reduction ratios (VRRs) of sufficient ablation (i.e. a VRR of at least 50% at the 3 month follow-up). The patients were assessed at 1-, 3-, 6 month follow-up after MWA treatment and the assessment included VRR, adverse events, uterine fibroid symptom (UFS) and quality of life (QoL) scores, and clinical symptoms.

Results:

The procedures of percutaneous MWA for UFs were tolerated well and no major complications occurred in all patients. At the 1-, 3-, 6 month follow-up, the median VRRs of UFs were 30.1%, 46.9%, and 65.8%, respectively. At the 3 month follow-up, 44.4% of fibroids obtained sufficient ablation while the remaining 55.6% obtained partial ablation (i.e. a VRR of <50%). Non-enhancing area during the early phase (i.e. within 30 s after injecting contrast agent) on pre-treatment CEUS was present in 22.2% UFs, which was associated with sufficient ablation at the 3 month follow-up (p < 0.05). In addition, the relevant clinical symptoms of all patients were alleviated or removed. The UFS and QoL score after MWA decreased significantly in comparison with those after MWA (p = 0.04 and p = 0.057, respectively), indicating a remarkable improvement of clinical symptom and QoL.

Conclusion:

Ultrasound-guided MWA is an effective and safe method to treat patients with UFs. Non-enhancing area during the early phase on pretreatment CEUS is associated with mid-term local treatment efficiency, which might be used to predict treatment outcome.

Advances in knowledge:

Non-enhancing area during the early phase on pretreatment CEUS is an important factor associated with mid-term local treatment efficiency. This is the first study finding that CEUS feature can be used as a marker for the prediction of mid-term local treatment response.
Radiological findings of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children associated with COVID-19
Authors: Kalın Sevinç , Sözeri Betül
Published: June 2022

Objective:

To retrospectively evaluate the imaging and clinical findings of patients diagnosed with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19.

Methods:

The clinical, laboratory and radiological data of 110 patients (74 male and 36 female) diagnosed with COVID-19-related MIS-C between June 2020 and November 2021 were evaluated retrospectively. Cases with a diagnosis of MIS-C based on a positive real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test or serology results according to the WHO criteria were included in the study. All the radiological data were evaluated by a pediatric radiologist with 14 years of radiology experience.

Results:

Peribronchial thickening and hyperinflation were the most common findings on chest X-ray, while atelectasis and pleural effusion were often present in thoracic CT. Cardiac involvement was detected in 30% of the patients, mainly with valve insufficiency and systolic dysfunction, and 7.2% of these patients had sequalae findings. The most common abdominal findings were hepatosplenomegaly, mesenteric inflammation, lymphadenomegaly, thickening of the intestinal walls and free fluid. 23 of the patients had comorbidities. Neurological radiological findings observed in a total of six patients were reversible splenial lesion syndrome, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, meningitis, and cerebral edema. 37 patients were followed up in the intensive care unit and 2 of them died.

Conclusion:

Radiological findings seen in MIS-C vary according to the affected system. There is no specific radiologic finding for this disease, but radiological findings can assist in the evaluation of affected systems and guide treatment.

Advances in knowledge:

Since there are few studies with a limited number of patients in the literature, data on this subject are limited. We aimed to contribute to the literature with our large patient data.
¿De la invisibilidad al empoderamiento de género y la integración de los migrantes? Repercusiones del trabajo doméstico y el cuidado en las mujeres migrantes en Grecia
Authors: Fouskas Theodoros , Koulierakis George , Lyberopoulou Lola , De Maio Andrea
Published: June 2022

El artículo se centra en el caso de las trabajadoras domésticas inmigrantes (criadas, niñeras y cuidadoras) en Grecia y en el impacto del trabajo doméstico en su integración en la sociedad griega/Grecia. Según los resultados de las entrevistas en profundidad, basadas en las conclusiones del proyecto "Voices of Immigrant Women" (VIW) (Erasmus+ 2020-1-ES01-KA203-082364), las mujeres migrantes están atrapadas en un marco de condiciones laborales invisibles y de explotación y se enfrentan a la discriminación en el trabajo. Son múltiples los casos en los que el empleador trata a las trabajadoras domésticas migrantes de forma inhumana, gritando y gesticulando, ejerciendo abusos físicos y verbales, así como contratándolas con contratos falsos o contratos de trabajo que la trabajadora nunca ha leído, lo que las hace vulnerables y susceptibles de sufrir diversas formas de explotación. La situación se agrava aún más por el control que se ejerce sobre la empleada, dificultando su acceso a otras ocupaciones y prolongando así su permanencia en el trabajo doméstico. En este contexto laboral, la mayoría de las mujeres migrantes son indiferentes a la colectividad y a la solidaridad y están aisladas de sus compatriotas y de otros trabajadores. La servidumbre les deja limitadas las oportunidades de empoderamiento para la movilidad social ascendente, siendo escasos los casos en los que la salida del trabajo doméstico ha supuesto un aumento de las oportunidades de las mujeres para convertirse en agentes principales de sus propias vidas y salvaguardarse de la explotación y de los trabajos informales y mal pagados, para vivir en libertad e independencia.
Mujeres migrantes en tiempos de pandemia: respuesta socioeducativa de la Unión Europea
Authors: Neubauer Adrián
Published: June 2022

El coronavirus obligó a los Estados miembros a adoptar respuestas urgentes en materia sanitaria, económica, educativa y social. En consecuencia, el objetivo de este artículo es identificar las propuestas de intervención de la Unión Europea (UE) para paliar los efectos y promover la recuperación socioeconómica de las mujeres migrantes tras la crisis sanitaria. También persigue analizar críticamente si dichas medidas responden a sus demandas específicas. Para ello, se ha utilizado el Análisis Documental de 15 políticas obtenidas de EUR-Lex mediante el software MAXQDA Analytics Pro 2020. Se elaboró un libro de familias y códigos conformado por cinco categorías: actitudes y medidas antimigratorias; actitudes y medidas de apoyo; educación; igualdad de género; y proyecto piloto. Con respecto a los resultados, la UE integra la perspectiva de género en sus políticas de forma intersectorial en cuestiones de: violencia doméstica, salud, conciliación familiar, investigación, respuesta al coronavirus, empleo y educación. Además, ha puesto en marcha diferentes proyectos piloto para empoderar a las mujeres migrantes. Como conclusión, las políticas europeas priorizan su integración social mediante la educación y el mercado laboral. Por último, aunque en términos generales responden a las necesidades particulares de este colectivo, algunos ámbitos como la temporalidad laboral, los campamentos de solicitantes de asilo y la política migratoria común precisan mayores avances en los próximos años.
‘Sunshine’, ‘angels’ and ‘rainbows’: language developed by mothers bereaved by perinatal loss
Authors: Wheeler Lucie , Fragkiadaki Eva , Clarke Victoria , DiCaccavo Antonietta
Published: June 2022

Background

A perinatal loss is a life-changing event that can have psychological consequences for a mother both after the loss and in a subsequent pregnancy.

Aims

This qualitative study aimed to examine mothers' lived experiences of the holistic journey of perinatal loss and subsequent pregnancy.

Methods

Qualitative data were collected via online surveys (n=40) and face-to-face semi-structured interviews (n=5), then analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

Under the overarching theme ‘finding the words: language, labels and legitimate distress', three themes were developed that captured the ways in which participants used language to challenge societal silence and legitimise the personhood of their loss, while creating a community of support.

Conclusions

Midwives play a key role in women's experiences during the perinatal journey after a loss. The language used can either validate or be dismissive of distress. The researchers recommend midwives adopt labels developed by rather than for bereaved parents in order to provide empathic care.
Understanding early complementary food practice in rural Indonesia: a qualitative study
Authors: Anggraeni Mekar Dwi , Setiyani Rahmi , Kartikasari Aprilia , Rahmawati Eni , Fatoni Amin
Published: June 2022

Background

Almost all cases of stunting occur in developing countries and could be prevented through exclusive breastfeeding. However, as a result of cultural beliefs, early complementary food practices are widely practiced in Indonesia. This study explored cultural beliefs related to early complementary food practices in rural areas of Indonesia.

Methods

This ethnographic study involved 16 key and six general participants. Data were collected via focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, observations, and field notes, and then thematically analysed.

Results

Four themes emerged: reasons for early complementary feeding, the idea of ‘the sooner the better’, types of complementary food and influencing people.

Conclusions

Using policymakers to provide culturally sensitive and evidence-based health information involving grandmothers and traditional birth attendants may help prevent early complementary feeding and improve exclusive breastfeeding rates.
Understanding the code
Authors: Adeyela Omobolanle , McGuinness Denise
Published: June 2022

Omobolanle Adeyela, a student midwife, uses Gibbs' reflective cycle to understand the international code of marketing of breastmilk substitutes
Eating disorders and pregnancy
Authors: Virgo Hope
Published: June 2022

Hope Virgo shares her experiences of pregnancy and eating disorders, and gives advice for midwives looking to support those with a diagnosis or history of these disorders
Clinical Observations: Use of an EVA boot in a patient with a foot ulcer
Authors: Maland E. , Walker C. , Dalton J.
Published: June 2022

This study reports on the successful use of a protective boot in a patient with diabetic foot disease
Setting standards for specialist practice
Authors: Oldman Crystal
Published: June 2022

Crystal Oldman explains how the QNI will set new standards for specialist fields of practice in the community
Rabies: what nurses and travellers should know
Authors: Grieve Sandra
Published: June 2022

International travel was severely curtailed by COVID-19. As travel resumes, nurses advising travellers from the UK should refocus and update on travel-related diseases. Rabies is a viral zoonotic disease caused by a Lyssavirus infection, and is present on all continents except Antarctica. Most rabies cases result from the bite of an infected dog in Africa or Asia. Once clinical symptoms appear rabies is invariably fatal, but infection and death are preventable through vaccination and post-exposure treatment. Rabies is rare in travellers. Pre-travel risk assessment provides an opportunity to identify those at risk and advise on prevention measures.
Fusion network based on the dual attention mechanism and atrous spatial pyramid pooling for automatic segmentation in retinal vessel images
Authors: Liang Bingtao , Tang Chen , Xu Min , Wu Tianbo , Lei Zhenkun
Published: June 2022

Accurate segmentation of retinal blood vessels from retinal images is crucial to aid in the detection and diagnosis of many eye diseases. In this paper, a fusion network based on the dual attention mechanism and atrous spatial pyramid pooling (DAANet) is proposed for vessel segmentation. First, we propose a dual attention module consisting of a position attention module and a channel attention module, which aims to adaptively recalibrate features to extract effective features. And full-scale skip connections are used in the encoder to provide multi-scale feature maps for the dual attention modules. Then, atrous spatial pyramid pooling (ASPP) allows the network to capture features at multiple scales and combine high-level semantic information with low-level features through the encoder-decoder architecture. We qualitatively evaluate the model using five metrics: sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, AUC, and F1 score on DRIVE, CHASED_B1, and STARE datasets. The DAANet outperforms the work of 10 state-of-the-art predecessors in these three datasets. Furthermore, we apply the trained model to clinical retinal images. The model obtains gratifying accurate and detailed segmentation results, which demonstrates a promising application prospect in medical practices.
Generation of a polygonal perfect optical vortex array by optical pen
Authors: Wang Guanxue , Ji Guo , Li Ziyan , Kang Xiangyu , Chen Keyu , Sun Xiaojie , Li Yue , Gao Xiumin
Published: June 2022

The perfect optical vortex (POV) has generated a large number of applications in classical to quantum physics because its diameter is independent of its topological charge (TC). Previous reported POVs still show a lack of controllable size, shape, and amplitude, which may hinder their applications. In this paper, a combined phase is used to create complex polygonal perfect optical vortex (PPOV) arrays. The size, number, position, shape, and amplitude of the PPOVs in the array are controllable, where the shape can be an arbitrary symmetric polygon. We investigate the transmission characteristics of the PPOV arrays. The generation of PPOV arrays further provides more flexibility in optical micro-manipulation, quantum entanglement, optical communication, and other fields.
Laser processing of microdroplet structure of liquid crystal in 3D
Authors: Guo Jin-Kun , Gao Yuxiang , Ling Jinzhong , Yuan Ying , Wang Xiaorui , Song Jang-Kun
Published: June 2022

Processing of mesoscale structures of soft matter and liquid is of great importance in both science and engineering. In this work, we introduce the concept of laser-assisted micromachining to this field and inject a certain number of microdroplets into a preselected location on the surface of a liquid crystal drop through laser irradiation. The impact of laser energy on the triggered injection is discussed. The sequentially injected microdroplets are spontaneously captured by the defect ring in the host drop and transported along this defect track as micro-cargos. By precisely manipulating the laser beam, the tailored injection of droplets is achieved, and the injected droplets self-assemble into one necklace ring within the host drop. The result provides a bottom-up approach for the in-situ and three-dimensional microfabrication of droplet structure of soft matter using a laser beam, which may be applicable in the development of optical and photonic devices.
Dual-band wide-angle perfect absorber based on the relative displacement of graphene nanoribbons in the mid-infrared range
Authors: Ziaee Bideskan Mehri , Habibzadeh-Sharif Amir , Eskandari Mohammad
Published: June 2022

In this paper, a novel graphene-based dual-band perfect electromagnetic absorber operating in the mid-infrared regime has been proposed. The absorber has a periodic structure which its unit cell consists of a sliver substrate and two graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) of equal width separated with a dielectric spacer. Two distinct absorption peaks at 10 and 11.33 µm with absorption of 99.68% and 99.31%, respectively have been achieved due to a lateral displacement of the GNRs. Since graphene surface conductivity is tunable, the absorption performance can be tuned independently for each resonance by adjusting the chemical potential of GNRs. Also, it has been proved that performance of the proposed absorber is independent of the incident angle and its operation is satisfactory when the incident angle varies from normal to ±75°. To simulate and analyze the spectral behavior of the designed absorber, the semi-analytical method of lines (MoL) has been extended. Also, the finite element method (FEM) has been applied in order to validate and confirm the results.
High signal-noise ratio avalanche photodiodes with dynamic biasing technology for laser radar applications
Authors: Tian Yang , Ding Wenqiang , Feng Xuyang , Lin Zebiao , Zhao Yanli
Published: June 2022

In this work, a high signal-noise ratio (SNR) dynamic biasing InGaAs/InAlAs avalanche photodiode (APD) is demonstrated experimentally and first applied in a laser radar system. Combining with the dynamic biasing technology, the APDs are operated in an unexploited voltage range between linear mode and Geiger mode, which, in this work, is defined as a transition zone. Surprisingly, it is found that the excess noise of dynamic biasing APDs decreases with the gain in this transition zone. As expected, the maximum useful gain is as high as 620 in the dynamic biasing mode, which shows a greater promotion than that of the DC biasing mode (17.5). Compared with the traditional DC biasing mode, the optimal SNR for dynamic biasing mode is improved by 14 dB without the degradation of response time as the peak optical power is 525 nW. Moreover, when SNR = 10, the peak optical power for the dynamic biasing mode is 43.4 nW, which shows a 57.5-fold (17.6 dB) reduction in comparison with the DC biasing mode (2495 nW). Therefore, we believe this new optical receiver will pave a new way in high-sensitivity and high-speed light detection.
Erbium-doped ZBLAN fiber laser pumped at 1.7 µm for emission at 2.8 µm
Authors: Zhang Junxiang , Wang Rui , Fu Shijie , Sheng Quan , Xia Wenxin , Zhang Lu , Shi Wei , Yao Jianquan
Published: June 2022

In this paper, a novel, to the best of our knowledge, efficient pump scheme for an erbium-doped fluoride fiber laser with emission at 2.8 µm in the mid-infrared region is proposed and demonstrated. A singular pump source at 1.7 µm is used to excite Er3+ ions from ground state 4I15/2 to lower laser level 4I13/2, and then further boost the ions to 4I9/2, where a non-radiation transition occurs for the Er3+ ions to reach upper laser level 4I11/2. This scheme can efficiently recycle ions on the lower laser level 4I13/2 by excited-state absorption, therefore realizing population inversion and enhancing laser efficiency. In our demonstration, a 660-mW laser output at 2.8 µm is achieved from a 1.7-µm core-pumped erbium-doped fluoride fiber laser, where the slope efficiency versus launched pump power is 23.7%. The proposed innovative pump scheme shows great potential to realize high-power, high-efficiency erbium-doped fiber lasers at 2.8 µm.
On-axis polarization of beams radiated by electromagnetic circularly coherent sources
Authors: De Sande J. C. G. , Korotkova O. , Santarsiero M. , Martínez-Herrero R. , Piquero G. , Gori F.
Published: June 2022

On-axis spectral density and degree of polarization of beams radiated by electromagnetic (EM) sources with circular correlations are shown to be finely controlled by changing the source parameters. We reveal, in particular, that in this beam class, unlike for all previously known stationary beams, it is possible to control independently the dynamics of the on-axis spectral density and the degree of polarization. This was enabled by the obtained analytical expression for the on-axis polarization matrix, derived for general EM sources with circular coherence and Gaussian spectral density across the source plane. A simple experimental scheme for generating a broad class of EM circularly coherent sources is devised involving only a line source, a lens, and a transparency, possibly anisotropic.
Silicon mode-insensitive modulator for TE0 mode and TE1 mode
Authors: Zhou Gangqiang , Ran Shihuan , Lu Liangjun , Chen Jianping , Zhou Linjie
Published: June 2022

Mode-division multiplexing (MDM), which could further increase the capacity and flexibility of the communication systems, has attracted much attention. In this Letter, we demonstrate a proof-of-principle silicon mode-insensitive modulator based on the balanced Mach–Zehnder interferometer that could realize modulation of both TE0 and TE1 modes using a horizontal PN junction. The PN junction is offset from the center of the waveguide to the n-type doped region to modulate both TE0 and TE1 modes effectively. An adiabatic directional coupler is used as a mode-insensitive 3-dB power splitter for both modes. A mode-insensitive thermal phase shifter is used to change the operation point of the modulator. On-off keying modulation at 32 Gb/s is successfully demonstrated for both TE0 and TE1 modes. This modulator can be potentially used in MDM-assisted optical sampling systems.
Receipt of a combined economic and peer support intervention and clinical outcomes among HIV-positive youth in rural Rwanda: A retrospective cohort
Authors: Barnhart Dale A. , Uwamariya Josée , Nshimyumuremyi Jean Népomuscène , Mukesharurema Gerardine , Anderson Todd , Ndahimana Jean d’Amour , Cubaka Vincent K. , Hedt-Gauthier Bethany
Published: June 2022

Introduction

To combat poor clinical outcomes among HIV-positive youth, Partners In Health/Inshuti Mu Buzima (PIH/IMB) implemented Adolescent Support Groups (ASGs), which combined peer support and group-based economic incentives to promote treatment adherence, economic empowerment, and viral suppression. This study assesses the association between ASG membership and clinical outcomes among HIV-positive youth living in rural Rwanda.

Methods

We constructed a retrospective cohort using PIH/IMB’s electronic medical record (EMR) system. ASG members were matched to control youth within strata defined by health facility, year of birth, and whether the patient had enrolled in HIV services as a pediatric patient, as a PMTCT mother, or through another route. Our 12-month outcomes of interest were a) death-free retention in care, b) death-free retention with active follow-up, c) ≥80% adherence to appointment keeping, and d) viral load suppression (<20 copies/ml). We used generalized linear mixed models to estimate odds ratios for the association between ASG participation and each outcome. To mitigate possible unmeasured confounding, we additionally included participant data from the previous year and conducted a difference-in-difference analysis for each outcome to assess whether ASG members experienced greater changes compared to control youth over a similar period.

Results

Two-hundred sixty ASG members were identified in the EMR and matched to 209 control youth for analysis. After 12 months of follow-up, ASG members had similar outcomes to the control youth in terms of death-free retention (93% vs. 94%), death-free retention with active follow-up (79% vs. 78%), ≥80% adherence to appointment keeping (42% vs. 43%), and viral suppression (48% vs. 51%). We did not observe any significant associations between ASG participation and clinical outcomes in crude or adjusted models, nor did ASG members experience greater improvements than control youth in our difference-in-difference analysis.

Conclusions

The ASG program did not improve retention, appointment adherence, or viral suppression among HIV positive youth in rural Rwanda. Challenges implementing the intervention as designed underscore the importance of incorporating implementation strategies and youth perspectives in program design. This population remains vulnerable to poor clinical outcomes, and additional research is needed to better serve youth living with HIV.
A novel cytoskeletal action of xylosides
Authors: Mencio Caitlin P. , Tilve Sharada M. , Suzuki Masato , Higashi Kohei , Katagiri Yasuhiro , Geller Herbert M.
Published: June 2022

Proteoglycan glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains are attached to a serine residue in the protein through a linkage series of sugars, the first of which is xylose. Xylosides are chemicals which compete with the xylose at the enzyme xylosyl transferase to prevent the attachment of GAG chains to proteins. These compounds have been employed at concentrations in the millimolar range as tools to study the role of GAG chains in proteoglycan function. In the course of our studies with xylosides, we conducted a dose-response curve for xyloside actions on neural cells. To our surprise, we found that concentrations of xylosides in the nanomolar to micromolar range had major effects on cell morphology of hippocampal neurons as well as of Neuro2a cells, affecting both actin and tubulin cytoskeletal dynamics. Such effects/morphological changes were not observed with higher xyloside concentrations. We found a dose-dependent alteration of GAG secretion by Neuro2a cells; however, concentrations of xylosides which were effective in altering neuronal morphology did not cause a large change in the rate of GAG chain secretion. In contrast, both low and high concentrations of xylosides altered HS and CS composition. RNAseq of treated cells demonstrated alterations in gene expression only after treatment with millimolar concentration of xylosides that had no effect on cell morphology. These observations support a novel action of xylosides on neuronal cells.
Effect of different antidiabetic medications on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk score among patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus: A multicenter non-interventional observational study
Authors: Gillani Syed Wasif , Syed Sulaiman Syed Azhar , Menon Vineetha , Rahamathullah Nazeerullah , Elshafie Riham Mohamed , Rathore Hassaan Anwer
Published: June 2022

Objective

The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes associated with different combinations of oral diabetic drugs among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Method

A prospective multicenter longitudinal, noninterventional observation study design was applied. At baseline (0 month), clinical parameters including glucose profile, renal function, lipid profile and risk assessment for cardiovascular risks were calculated. Mean Weighted difference (MWD) with heterogeneity and effect z was calculated to determine the risk reduction at the end of the study.

Results

A total of 1,657 were enrolled to different cohorts with response rate of 75.5%. The distribution of patients was based on prescribed drug. A total of 513 (30.9%) in G1 (metformin alone), 217 (13.09%) in G2 (metformin with Glimepiride), 231 (12.85%) in G3 (Metformin with Gliclazide), 384 (23.17%) in G4 (metformin with Sitagliptin) and 312 (18.89%) in G5 (Metformin with Saxagliptin). There was no significant different in all clinical and social variables at baseline. The Intergroup analysis showed significant differences with all the primary outcome variables except BMI (p = 0.217) and eGFR (p = 0.782) among patients using sulphonylurea (SU) combination (G2 & G3). Findings also showed significant high frequency of emergency visit and hospitalization in G1 (78.16% & 30.8%) as compared to SU (70.1% & 28.3%, p = 0.001) and DPP-4 (56.6% & 20.4%, p = 0.001). The overall reported effect was z = 2.58, p = 0.001 for ASCVD risk reduction assessment.

Conclusion

The study concluded that significant effect of Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor on reduction of hospitalization, lipid profile and also ASCVD risk score of type-II diabetes mellitus patients regardless of clinical comorbidities. Also, sulfonylurea combinations have showed significant reduction in LDL and triglycerides values.
Conventional androgen deprivation therapy is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in advanced prostate cancer, a nationwide population-based study
Authors: Li Jian-Ri , Wang Shian-Shiang , Chen Chuan-Shu , Cheng Chen-Li , Hung Sheng-Chun , Lin Ching-Heng , Chiu Kun-Yuan
Published: June 2022

Purpose

Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) is the mainstay treatment in advanced prostate cancer. We conducted a nationwide population-based study to evaluate the association of ADT and cardiovascular diseases.

Methods

Between 2005 and 2009, patient data from the National Health Insurance database were obtained. We divided newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients into four groups, injection of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists and antagonists, oral antiandrogens, orchiectomy and radical prostatectomy only. Another matched non-cancerous control group was also assigned for comparison purposes. Study outcomes were newly onset Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD) and hospital admissions. Multi-variant Cox proportional regression analysis and the Kaplan–Meier method for cumulative incidence were performed.

Results

A total of 17,147 newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients were found. After exclusion criteria was considered, the 2,565 remaining patients were then divided into 1,088 subjects in the injection group, 286 in the orchiectomy group, 812 in the oral group and 379 in the radical prostatectomy only group. The mean age of all the patients was 71.2 years. Multi-variant analysis showed a significantly increased risk of CVD in the injection group, orchiectomy group, oral group and radical prostatectomy group (HR = 2.94, 95% CI 2.51 to 3.45, p<0.001, HR = 3.43, 95% CI 2.69 to 4.36, p<0.001, HR = 2.87, 95% CI 2.42 to 3.39, p<0.001, HR = 1.93, 95% CI 1.5 to 2.48, p<0.001, respectively). A time dependent increased risk of CVD was also observed amongst the study groups (p<0.001).

Conclusions

ADT is associated with an increased risk of CVD. For long-term prostate cancer castration therapy, doctors should be aware of this complication and arrange for proper management.
Effect of 17β-estradiol on the daily pattern of ACE2, ADAM17, TMPRSS2 and estradiol receptor transcription in the lungs and colon of male rats
Authors: Herichová Iveta , Jendrisková Soňa , Pidíková Paulína , Kršková Lucia , Olexová Lucia , Morová Martina , Stebelová Katarína , Štefánik Peter
Published: June 2022

Covid-19 progression shows sex-dependent features. It is hypothesized that a better Covid-19 survival rate in females can be attributed to the presence of higher 17β-estradiol (E2) levels in women than in men. Virus SARS-CoV-2 is enabled to enter the cell with the use of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The expression of several renin-angiotensin system components has been shown to exert a rhythmic pattern, and a role of the circadian system in their regulation has been implicated. Therefore, the aim of the study is to elucidate possible interference between E2 signalling and the circadian system in the regulation of the expression of ACE2 mRNA and functionally related molecules. E2 was administered at a dosage of 40 μg/kg/day for 7 days to male Wistar rats, and sampling of the lungs and colon was performed during a 24-h cycle. The daily pattern of expression of molecules facilitating SARS-CoV-2 entry into the cell, clock genes and E2 receptors was analysed. As a consequence of E2 administration, a rhythm in ACE2 and TMPRSS2 mRNA expression was observed in the lungs but not in the colon. ADAM17 mRNA expression showed a pronounced rhythmic pattern in both tissues that was not influenced by E2 treatment. ESR1 mRNA expression exerted a rhythmic pattern, which was diminished by E2 treatment. The influence of E2 administration on ESR2 and GPER1 mRNA expression was greater in the lungs than in the colon as a significant rhythm in ESR2 and GPER1 mRNA expression appeared only in the lungs after E2 treatment. E2 administration also increased the amplitude of bmal1 expression in the lungs, which implicates altered functioning of peripheral oscillators in response to E2 treatment. The daily pattern of components of the SARS-CoV-2 entrance pathway and their responsiveness to E2 should be considered in the timing of pharmacological therapy for Covid-19.
A ‘requiem’ for global citizenship education in higher education? An analysis of the exclusive nationalistic response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Hungwe Joseph Pardon
Published: June 2022

Global citizenship education is premised on the narrative of an increasingly interconnected and interdependent world. However, the rise in exclusive nationalistic response to the COVID-19 has indented the central tenets of global citizenship education. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the triumphalism of exclusive nationalistic responses to COVID-19 has manifested in an increase in nationalism rhetoric, border closure, reinforcement of border fences the repatriation of foreign nationals and evacuation of citizens. In some instances, foreign nationals have been denied COVID-19 state food handouts. Consequently, there has been a rise in xenophobia, sinophobia and other forms of racial discrimination, which have affected the higher education sector. Contrastingly, global citizenship education envisions a global collective response to a phenomenon, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This article explores and analyses the complex challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has imposed on global citizenship education.
The role of family, peers and school in political socialization: Quantitative and qualitative study of Polish young adults’ experiences
Authors: Furman Aleksandra , Szczepańska Dagmara , Maison Dominika
Published: June 2022

Studies carried out in different countries identify young people as the least politically engaged age cohort. Since political interest and participation are largely shaped by socialization agents, such as parents, peers and school, the objective of our research is to explore the role of each agent within the Polish context. Results of two studies, quantitative (n = 570) and qualitative (44 individual in-depth interviews), show that young Poles’ political interest and participation are indeed influenced by parents, peers and school, though the impact of each agent is related to different areas of activity. We separate those practices that have a constructive effect on political engagement from those that impact it in a destructive way. Finally, we provide a model of political socialization including the specific role of each agent and consider their potential for increasing young people’s political engagement.