bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Redesigning Death Rounds: Alleviating distress for residents in end-of-life care
Authors: Fang Shannon , Baumgardner Lauren , Schwan Benjamin , Krishnan Vidya
Published: January 2025

Introduction Residents report limited end-of-life care training, resulting in negative socio-emotional impacts, burnout, and inadequate patient care. An academic urban county hospital adopted the Death Rounds (DR) conference for residents in the medical intensive care unit as a monthly free-form discussion to help residents cope with the emotional aspects of caring for dying patients. Our goal was to implement and evaluate a newly structured DR curriculum to help residents further reflect on experiences of caring for dying patients, reduce emotional burnout, and improve physician well-being. Methods Using a mixed-methods design, we conducted a qualitative needs assessment using interviews of residents. DR conference modifications based on the needs assessment include shorter, more frequent sessions; breakout groups; prompts for facilitating discussion; and multidisciplinary facilitators. A pre-post modification survey using the Likert scale was administered to all residents to assess the programmatic changes. Results Pre- and post-modification data were received from 30 and 50 of 116 residents, respectively. A greater proportion of post-test DR attendees reported that DR helped them feel less distressed when caring for dying patients (p=0.018). Among residents who did not attend DR, there was greater agreement in feeling emotionally supported by their team when caring for dying patients (p=0.046). Overall, 81% of post-test respondents agreed DR was worthwhile of their time, and almost all respondents agreed discussing the emotional impacts of patient death is important. Conclusion Death Rounds is a replicable and impactful curriculum that helps residents process the challenges of caring for dying patients and may improve emotional distress and team support.
Review of Urinary Tract Infections in Pregnancy: Risks, Complications and Management
Authors: Kałuziak Patrycja , Parys Jakub , Mikosińska Agnieszka , Kaźmierczak Martyna , Jajczak Marta , Mossakowski Maciej , Witek Aleksandra , Litwin Mateusz , Jesionek Stanisław
Published: January 2025

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in pregnant women due to significant changes during gestation. UTIs can affect any part of the urinary system and are typically caused by bacteria, though fungi and viruses can also be responsible. Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB is frequent in pregnancy and must be treated to prevent serious maternal and fetal complications. Routine screening for ASB is standard in prenatal care, and treatment with safe, effective antibiotics is essential. Preventive strategies also help reduce UTI during pregnancy.
Aim of the study: The study aimed to explore the changes that occur during gestation, which predispose pregnant women to UTIs, assess the diagnostic methods and select the most effective treatment to prevent complications.
State of knowledge: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common perinatal complications, with higher prevalence in pregnancy due to changes that occur during gestation. UTIs can perform as asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB), cystitis and pyelonephritis, which can result in severe complications. Clinical guidelines recommend screening for ASB in early pregnancy and prescribing a short course of antibiotics if detected. Escherichia coli is the most common cause of UTIs. As most antibiotics cross the placenta, treatment must be safe for the fetus and effective against the pathogens. Guidelines recommend short courses of antibiotics. 
Conclusions: UTIs in pregnancy are common and lead to serious complications if untreated. Pregnant women are more susceptible to UTIs due changes that occur during gestation. Healthcare professionals play a critical role in managing UTIs during pregnancy. Early detection through routine screening and prompt treatment is crucial for optimal outcomes. Healthcare professionals, including obstetricians, should educate patients on preventive measures and recognizing early UTI symptoms.
Abbreviations: UTIs- urinary tract infections; ASB- asymptomatic bacteriuria
Exploring Bondage-Discipline, Dominance-Submission and Sadomasochism (BDSM)
Authors: Wdowiak Krystian , Maciocha Agnieszka , Wąż Julia , Witas Aleksandra , Chachaj Weronika , Muzyka Adrian , Rydzek Julia , Gardocka Ewa
Published: January 2025

IntroductionThe acronym BDSM combines terms describing various consensual sexual practices: bondage and discipline (B/D), dominance and submission (D/S), and sadism and masochism (S/M). In recent years, interest in BDSM culture has grown, both socially—likely driven by the popularity of related books and films—and academically.Purpose of the workThis article aims to compile the most recent information on BDSM (bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, and sadism and masochism) based on the latest available literature.Materials and MethodsThe PubMed database was searched for scientific articles in which the term "BDSM" appeared in the title, abstract, or keywords. Due to the limited number of publications on this topic, the search was restricted to articles published between 2014 and 2024.Results and ConclusionsThe prevalence of BDSM varies widely in studies, ranging from a few percent of the population to nearly half. Studies suggest a potential link between childhood sexual abuse and a heightened interest in BDSM, particularly among women who take on submissive roles. Societal stigma and widespread misconceptions about BDSM practices continue to have a negative impact on those who engage in them. Authors emphasize the necessity of further research on BDSM practices due to the limited and sometimes contradictory findings, particularly regarding the prevalence of BDSM interest and hormonal changes resulting from these practices.
Polish-Russian Dialogue in the United States as Exemplified by Wacław Lednicki’s Circle
Authors: Dryblak Łukasz
Published: January 2025

The article is devoted to Professor Wacław Lednicki’s relations with the Russian émigré community. Lednicki was one of the pre-eminent Polish Slavists, distinguished for his promotion of Polish literature in the United States, where he gained a respectable position in the academic community. Although his worldview was liberal, he was, contrary to popular belief, aware of the severe obstacles that made an understanding with the Russians impossible. It may seem surprising, but he shared the views of Prof. Jan Kucharzewski and Prof. Marian Zdziechowski (from his late period) on Russian history.
Kampania podhalańska I Brygady Legionów Polskich (listopad-grudzień 1914)
Authors: Dudek Tomasz
Published: January 2025

THE PODHALE CAMPAIGN BY THE 1ST BRIGADE OF THE POLISH LEGIONS (NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1914)The article describes an episode from the battles fought in the first year of World War I between the Russian army entering West Galicia and the Austro-Hungarian army defending Krakow. Polish military units organised by Józef Piłsudski within the Austro-Hungarian army, organised into the 1st Infantry Regiment, also took part in the battles conducted from 23 November to 12 December. The Legionnaires' task was to halt the Russian advance, which was approaching Kraków in the second half of November that year. The 1st Infantry Regiment of the Polish Legions was attached to the Hungarian corps commanded by General Gyul Nagy which was to attack the Russian troops heading for Kraków from the south-west. The legionnaires, who were then in the village of Zawoja in difficult terrain conditions, with no artillery of their own and limited supplies, not only managed to stop the Russian advance, but also began to drive the Russian troops out of the areas they had occupied. Of particular note were two major battles at Limanowa and Marcinkowice, which Józef Piłsudski's subordinates had to fight at the time. The campaign ended with the entry of legionary troops into Nowy Sącz on 12th December 1914.
Formy represji w czasie stanu wojennego 1982-1983 wobec działaczy opozycji antykomunistycznej umieszczonych w wojskowych obozach specjalnych
Authors: Brodecka Elwira
Published: January 2025

THE ARMY AS INTERNMENT: FORMS OF THE REPRESSION DURING THE MARTIAL LAW IN THE YEARS 1982-1983 AGAINST ACTIVISTS OF THE ANTICOMMUNIST OPPOSITION PLACED IN MILITARY SPECIAL CAMPS (PART II)The work focuses its issues on one of the repression forms used in the martial law introduced on 13th December 1981 to pacify the society which tried to change the fossilised communist system through activity in the Independent Self-Governing Trade Union “Solidarity”. It was not a new solution in the Polish People’s Republic – just after the Second World War the communist authority drafted into “alternative military service” opponents of sovietisation of the country, directing them to forced labour in mines. Fearing a social rebellion before the second anniversary of the independent trade union registration, communist authorities interned in military special camps, functioning in Poland from 5 November 1982 to 3 February 1983, 1450 trade union activists and members of the political parties unaccepted by communists. 264 younger colleagues of these people were drafted into the basic military service lasting two years in three units intended for this purpose.
The Impact of Personalized Book Reading Activities Using AI-generated Stories on Vocabulary Acquisition in Preschool Children
Authors: Cho Jae-Eun , Yim Dongsun
Published: January 2025

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of book reading interventions, employing both traditional and AI-generated stories, on typically developing preschool children’s vocabulary acquisition. Methods: A total of fifteen children aged 3 to 6 participated in this study. All participants were divided into two groups: one reading traditional stories and the other AI-generated ones. Over three weeks, participants engaged in eight structured book reading sessions, including pre-reading, main reading, and post-reading vocabulary activities. Pre- and post-intervention evaluation assessments measured receptive and expressive vocabulary skills for 16 target words. A Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test was conducted to compare the vocabulary accuracy within each group, and a Mann-Whitney U-Test was conducted to compare the vocabulary accuracy differences between the two groups. Results: Statistical analyses revealed significant improvements in both groups’ receptive and expressive vocabulary accuracy post-intervention, with no significant differences between the traditional and AI-generated story groups. Conclusion: AI-generated stories were found to effectively enhance preschool children’s vocabulary skills comparably to traditional methods. This suggests the feasibility of utilizing AI to create personalized stories for effective vocabulary interventions in language therapy settings. Overall, the study highlights the potential of AI-driven approaches in overcoming traditional method limitations, offering innovative avenues for enhancing children’s vocabulary development.
Latent Profile Analysis of At-risk Preschool Readers Focusing on Phonological, Orthographic, and Morpho-Semantic Abilities
Authors: Kim Sodam , Yu Haerim , Pae Soyeong
Published: January 2025

Objectives: This study aimed to classify and examine the characteristics of at-risk preschool readers, focusing on their phonological, orthographic, and morpho-semantic abilities.Methods: Seventy preschool children aged 5-6 years participated in this study. All children had no cognitive difficulties but had reading difficulties compared to their peers. Phonological, orthographic, and morpho-semantic abilities were assessed using three tasks for each ability: phonological awareness (PA), phonemic memory (PM), and percentage of correct consonants (PCC) for phonological ability; letter knowledge (LK), word writing (WW), and nonword writing (NW) for orthographic ability; receptive vocabulary (RV), expressive vocabulary (EV), and morphological structure (MS) for morpho-semantic ability. A latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted using the three abilities, and differences between the latent groups classified through the LPA were examined. Results: Four latent groups were identified based on phonological, orthographic, and morpho-semantic abilities. The results showed that the first group had the lowest performance, while the second group had the highest performance across all three abilities. The third group had strengths in orthographic ability, whereas the fourth group had weaknesses in orthographic ability. Conclusion: The at-risk preschool readers was classified into ‘group with difficulties in all three abilities,’ ‘group with weaknesses in PA’, ‘group with weaknesses in PA and morpho-semantic abilities’, and ‘group with weaknesses in PA and LK.’ Although they share difficulties in reading, they may have different characteristics in phonological, orthographic, and morpho-semantic abilities. Therefore, individualized support based on a comprehensive reading assessment is needed to improve their reading abilities.
A Meta-analysis on Speech Motor Abilities of People Who Stutter
Authors: Lee Kyungjae
Published: January 2025

Objectives: People who stutter (PWS) are suggested to stutter due to insufficient speech motor abilities. Speech motor abilities can be measured by reaction time, characteristics of fluent speech, and non-speech motor control. However there are some studies which have reported inconsistent results. Therefore the primary purpose of the current study is to provide a comprehensive perspective on whether there are differences in speech motor abilities between PWS and people who do not stutter (PWNS) by using meta-analysis. Moreover we tried to determine whether there are differences in the research areas and age groups. Methods: A total of four databases (two Korean and two English databases) were used in the current study for article search. A total of 51 articles (50 English, 1 Korean) met the inclusion/exclusion criteria and were analyzed in the current study. Results: There was a statistically significant difference in overall speech motor control between PWS and PWNS. In addition PWS in all age groups showed statistically significant differences from PWNS and there was no statistically significant difference across age groups. Furthermore, PWS showed statistically significant differences from PWNS in three research areas; reaction time, fluent speech, and motor control, whereas the differences across the three research areas were not statistically significant. Conclusion: The meta-analysis results of the current study showed that PWS showed insufficient speech motor abilities, and such insufficient speech motor abilities would be typical characteristics of stuttering. As such insufficient abilities are found across age groups and research areas a more comprehensive approach is needed in stuttering assessment and treatment.
Voice Therapy Method for Post-Thyroidectomy Syndrome
Authors: Kim Ji-Sung
Published: January 2025

Objectives: This study aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of Voice Therapy for Post- Thyroidectomy Syndrome (VT-PTS). The primary cause of PTS is the impairment of vertical movement in the larynx due to adhesion of the infrahyoid muscles or laryngeal-tracheal structures. Methods: The study included 12 participants (2 males and 10 females) diagnosed with PTS by a laryngologist. All participants reported subjective voice problems and were recommended for voice therapy by a speech-language pathologist. Participants were randomly assigned to the study. The VT-PTS program consisted of VT-1 (direct voice therapy conducted by a speech-language pathologist) and VT-2 (self-practice at home). Voice assessments included acoustic analyses (F0, jitter, shimmer, NHR, maximum pitch, minimum pitch, and pitch range) and subjective voice evaluations (K-VHI-10, K-VFI, and TVQ). Results: Acoustic analyses indicated significant increases in F0 (p=.014), maximum pitch (p<.001), and pitch range (p<.001) following VT-1 and VT-2. According to the Bonferroni correction, jitter (p=.046) and shimmer (p=.017) were not statistically significantly reduced. The K-VHI-10 (p=.003), K-VFI (p=.014), and TVQ (p=.002) also demonstrated significant decreases after VT-2. Conclusion: VT-PTS showed significant improvements in both objective and subjective voice evaluations, demonstrating its effectiveness in addressing voice problems in PTS. Notably, it was highly effective in addressing pitch-related problems, which are the primary voice problems in PTS. This study is valuable as it provides evidence- based support for speech-language pathologists in treating PTS in clinical fields. Future research should try non-face-to-face voice therapy and the development of applications to support post-surgical self-practice.
Inference of Verb Meaning Using Morphosyntactic Clues in Preschool Children with Delayed Language Development
Authors: Hyeong So-Yeong , Lee Hee Ran
Published: January 2025

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to determine whether preschool children with delayed language development use morphosyntactic clues such as particles or arguments when understanding the meaning of new verbs. Methods: The participants were 16 children aged 4 to 5 years with delayed language development and 16 children whose chronological age was matched. We analyze the characteristic of the two groups understanding the meaning of sentences containing new actions through particles tasks and argument tasks. Results: First, as a result of comparing the differences between the two groups in the particles conditions (nominative, objective), there was no significant difference in the correct response scores between the two groups in the nominative particle condition. Second, there was a significant difference in the correct response scores between the two groups in the objective particle condition. Lastly, there was no significant difference in the response ratio according to the group and argument condition. Regardless of the number of arguments, all children chose more relational action scenes than independent action scenes. Conclusion: In the particles task, children with language delay showed similar performance to typical children in the nominative case condition, but showed difficulty in the objective case condition. Children with language delay were able to infer verb meaning using particle cues, just like typical children. However, this ability was limited in the objective particle condition. In the argument task, there was no significant difference between the two groups, indicating that inferring verb meaning was not affected by the number of nouns.
Predictive Variables of Developmental Dyslexia in Early Elementary School Children from a Longitudinal Study
Authors: Yu Haerim , Pae Soyeong
Published: January 2025

Objectives: Early screening and intervention for developmental dyslexia in children is crucial. This study aimed to identify predictive variables for efficiently screening young elementary school children with developmental dyslexia by examining first and second graders. Methods: A longitudinal observation was conducted with 58 dyslexic children and 82 typically developing children at two time points: the first semester of first grade (T1) and the first semester of second grade (T2). Logistic regression was conducted using word reading, sentence reading, text reading fluency, word writing, and sentence writing as predictive variables. Results: In the first semester of first grade (T1), text reading fluency and word writing were identified as predictive variables, with odds ratios of 1.963 and 2.194, respectively. In the first semester of second grade (T2), word reading, sentence writing, and text reading fluency were confirmed as predictors, with odds ratios of 1.855, 1.913, and 3.938, respectively. Conclusion: This study found that text reading fluency was the most significant predictor for distinguishing between dyslexic and typical children in the early grades. Additionally, word writing was significant in first graders, while word decoding and sentence writing were significant in second graders. These findings may inform the development of effective screening tools for dyslexia in the future.
Phonological Memory Performance in Children with Speech Sound Disorders with and without Language Impairment
Authors: Ha Seunghee , Lee Rayeon , Hong Yebom
Published: January 2025

Objectives: Phonological memory deficits may contribute to the emergence of speech and language disorders. This study aimed to compare the phonological memory performance of children with speech sound disorders (SSD), both with and without comorbid language impairment (LI), to that of typically developing (TD) children. Additionally, it sought to identify a key task related to phonological memory that effectively discriminates between SSD children with and without LI and their TD counterparts. Methods: The study included 22 children with SSD and 43 TD children, aged 5 to 7 years. Among the SSD group, 11 children had no language impairment (SSD only), while 11 had comorbid LI (SSD+LI). Phonological memory tasks such as nonword repetition (NWR), sentence repetition (SRT), and picture-pointing tasks were administered. Group comparisons and discriminant analyses were conducted to identify key predictive factors. Results: Significant group differences were found across all tasks, with the SSD+LI group showing the lowest phonological memory performance. NWR accuracy emerged as the most discriminating factor between groups, achieving a 75.4% correct classification rate. Some SSD children showed variability in task performance, highlighting individual differences. Conclusion: This study underscores the critical role of phonological memory deficits in differentiating children with SSD—with or without LI—from their TD peers. The study also discussed specific components of a speech processing model that each phonological memory task may engage.
Developing a Machine-learning Algorithm for Classifying Parents’ Responses to Web-based Early Language Screening
Authors: Na Ji Young , Hong Gyung-Hun , Kim Jung-Yeon
Published: January 2025

Objectives: This study aims to address the issue of decreased reliability caused by inaccurate responses in web-based early language screening tests for infants and toddlers by proposing a method for detecting the sincerity of parental responses using a machinelearning algorithm. Methods: The language development screening test used in this study was developed so that parents could respond directly online, and a total of 453 parents participated in the screening test. Additionally, 226 randomly generated responses were created using a random number generator. According to the criteria set by the researchers, the response types were categorized into sufficient effort responses, insufficient effort responses, and randomly generated responses. Various machine learning algorithms, including XGBoost, LightGBM, and MLP, were used to train the response data, and the accuracy of the model was assessed using K-fold cross-validation. Results: Based on the established criteria, the responses were classified as 220 sufficient effort responses, 233 insufficient effort responses, and 226 randomly generated responses. The ensemble voting demonstrated a high accuracy of approximately 89.7% in detecting insufficient effort responses and randomly generated responses, effectively classifying parents’ insufficient effort responses. Conclusion: The machine-learning-based approach proposed in this study can be effectively utilized not only in web-based language screening for infants and toddlers but also in detecting insufficient effort responses in self-reported surveys. This approach is expected to enhance the reliability of research data and facilitate more accurate assessments.
Relationship among Story-retelling Ability, Naming and Memory in Healthy Elderly Adults
Authors: Choi Hyunjoo
Published: January 2025

Objectives: Cognitive decline due to aging is known to decrease discourse production in healthy elderly adults. The purpose of this study was to analyze the correlation among story retelling, naming, and memory abilities in healthy elderly adults, and to investigate the influence of these abilities on story retelling ability. Methods: Fifty-four healthy elderly people participated in the study and performed tests of story retelling, confrontational naming, verbal fluency, subjective memory, and verbal memory. Results: First, the percentage of correct responses in the confrontational naming task and the number of correct responses in the supermarket items and letter categories of the verbal fluency task were significantly correlated with the information unit (IU) analysis scale of story retelling. Second, the score of subjective memory, as well as the immediate and delayed recall scores of the verbal memory tasks were significantly correlated with all scales of the IU analysis. Finally, the regression analysis confirmed that the number of correct responses of the supermarket items, subjective memory, and delayed recall scores had a significant effect on story retelling ability. Conclusion: The present study utilized IU analysis to identify the association between story retelling, naming and memory abilities, and these results are significant in that they provide an important basis for clinical assessment and intervention strategy development.
In vitro propagation of Eranthis longistipitata and its phytocomponent analysis
Authors: AIMENOVA ZHANAR E. , MATCHANOV ALIMZHAN D. , ABDIRAHIMOVA SAYYORA SH. , ESANOV RAHMAT S. , SUMBEMBAYEV AIDAR A. , DUISSEBAYEV SHYNGISKAN E.
Published: January 2025

Abstract. Aimenova ZE, Matchanov AD, Abdirahimova SS, Esanov RS, Sumbembayev AA, Duissebayev SE. 2024. In vitro propagation of Eranthis longistipitata and its phytocomponent analysis. Biodiversitas 25: 4171-4178. Eranthis longistipitata is an endemic plant of Central Asia. The available literature indicates the great potential of Eranthis plants for use in various branches of pharmacology and medicine. The medical use of this plant is limited by its short flowering period and narrow range of growth. In this paper, we present the results of a study on the micropropagation of this species. As a result of the selection of the modification medium supplemented with benzylaminopurine, kinetin and Indolyl-3-butyric acid we obtained calluses from E. longistipitata. Since some of the most valuable biologically active substances in E. longistipitata are flavonoids such as rutin, isorhamnetin, and hyperoside, we investigated their presence in the calluses via High-performance liquid chromatography. The elemental composition was established for the first time via the Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) method, and the antioxidant activity was investigated via the Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assay. Toxicity was assessed via the brine shrimp assay. Extracts of E. longistipitata leaves, including those obtained with chloroform, ethyl acetate, and ethanol, were prepared to investigate their antioxidant and cytotoxic properties. The elemental composition analysis of callus tissue revealed the presence of potassium at a concentration of 19.516 mg/10 g and sulfur at 17.802 mg/10 g, with no trace of heavy metal ions or toxic elements detected. The study of the antioxidant activities of the leaf extracts revealed that the ethanol extract presented the highest capacity at a concentration of 1 mg/mL. The toxicity analysis of the leaf extracts revealed no toxicity toward the Artemia salina larvae used in the experiment.
Metagenomic analysis of the bacterial community and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) synthesis by lactic acid bacteria from seredele, a Balinese fermented soybean product
Authors: KUSUMANINGSIH PURWANINGTYAS , JATMIKO YOGA DWI , KUSUMAWATI I GUSTI AYU , NURSINI NI WAYAN , YOGESWARA IDA BAGUS AGUNG
Published: January 2025

Abstract. Kusumaningsih P, Jatmiko YD, Kusumawati IGA, Nursini NW, Yogeswara IBA. 2024. Metagenomic analysis of the bacterial community and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) synthesis by lactic acid bacteria from seredele, a Balinese fermented soybean product. Biodiversitas 25: 4190-4198. Seredele is a fermented Balinese soybean product that undergoes spontaneous fermentation for two days at room temperature. This fermented food, commonly consumed as a condiment, has a distinctive smell similar to Japanese natto. The bacterial dynamics during fermentation using a metagenomic approach have not been reported. This study aimed to reveal bacterial dynamics during seredele fermentation and to obtain gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-producing lactic acid bacteria from seredele. The bacterial dynamics of seredele were investigated using 16S rRNA sequencing. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were also isolated and screened for their ability to produce GABA. The metagenomics analysis showed that Weissella, Streptococcus, and Enterococcus are the most prevalent bacterial genera during fermentation. The relative abundance of bacteria at the species level indicates that W. confusa, W. paramesenteroides, E. faecium, S. lutetiensis, and E. durans are the most abundant bacteria at all stages of fermentation. Consistent with the metagenomic analysis, two strains, Limosilactobacillus fermentum A7304 and Enterococcus lactis A7303, produced 60 mg/L and 65 mg/L of GABA, respectively, in de Man Rogosa (MRS) medium enriched with 1% monosodium glutamate (MSG). This work opens opportunities to understand the bacterial dynamics in seredele and its potential as a source of GABA-producing bacteria.
Design and analysis of a linear astigmatism-free confocal off-axis reflective collimator for aerial applications
Authors: Jung Daehan , Kim Changgon , Kim Dohoon , Han Jimin , Yu Heejung , Pak Soojong , Kim Moonkyung , Hwang Sunglyoung , Nam Sanghyun
Published: January 2025

This paper presents the design and analysis of a linear
astigmatism-free confocal off-axis reflective collimator for
line-of-sight alignment in multi-wavelength/multi-field-of-view
optical sensor modules. Comprising two off-axis mirrors and one flat
mirror, the collimator has a 73 mm entrance pupil diameter and
a 1200 mm focal length. Sensitivity analysis and Monte Carlo
simulations using Optic Studio (ZEMAX) confirmed that the design meets
all specified requirements. Stray light analysis shows that stray
light is effectively blocked by the optomechanical structures only,
eliminating the need for additional baffle structures. A
semi-kinematic mount ensures assembly precision, while modal analysis
indicates a fundamental frequency of 232.55 Hz, ensuring
durability in aerial operations.
Scalable control of cluster synchronization in a chaotic, directed, complex semiconductor laser network
Authors: Zhang Liyue , Hu Chenshiyu , Li Songsui , Pan Wei , Zou Tianyu , Yan Lianshan , Luo Bin , Zou Xihua
Published: January 2025

With the rapid growth of information technology, controlling the synchronization of large-scale networks has become more challenging and costly. To address this, we propose a scalable regulation scheme of cluster synchronization in a directed complex semiconductor lasers (SLs) network. The stability of chaotic synchronization for the entire network could be scalably regulated by only modifying the parameters of the driver cluster based on the hierarchical dependency of cluster synchronization in directed network, thus improving the control efficiency and reducing costs. The influence of parameters associated with the driver cluster is discussed systematically, and we numerically and experimentally demonstrate that a complex SLs network could achieve ideal cluster synchronization with the introduction of the proposed scalable regulation scheme. At last, encrypting and decrypting images is realized by leveraging the controlled chaotic cluster synchronization in complex, SLs networks.
Plasmonic electro-optic modulators based on epsilon-near-zero materials: comparing the classical drift-diffusion and Schrödinger-Poisson coupling models
Authors: Shabaninezhad Masoud , Mehrvar Hamid , Bernier Eric , Ramunno Lora , Berini Pierre
Published: January 2025

We present the design, modeling, and optimization of high-performance plasmonic electro-optic modulators based on indium tin oxide (ITO), leveraging voltage-gated carrier density modulation. The carrier density is modeled using the classical drift-diffusion (CDD) and nonlinear Schrödinger-Poisson coupling (SPC) methods, with the latter providing precise carrier distribution profiles, particularly in epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) media like ITO. By combining the nanoscale field confinement of surface plasmon polaritons with the ENZ effect, our modulators, integrated with silicon waveguides and optimized for operation at λ = 1550 nm, achieve a 3-dB bandwidth of 210 GHz, an insertion loss of 3 dB, and an extinction ratio of 5 dB for a device length of under 4 µm. These results highlight the critical trade-offs between high-speed modulator operation and low insertion loss vs. extinction ratio, underscoring the necessity of precise carrier distribution modeling for ENZ materials in optoelectronic devices.
Broadband stimulated Raman hyperspectral imaging of cells and semiconductors with synchronized fiber and solid-state sources
Authors: Takahashi Shun , Kamei Kento , Oguchi Kenichi , Kuruma Kazuhiro , Spratt Spencer J. , Akaboshi Hikaru , Wakamoto Yusuke , Maeda Takuya , Ozeki Yasuyuki
Published: January 2025

We demonstrate broadband hyperspectral stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) microscopy covering over 2000 cm−1, which is achieved by two tunable Stokes light sources synchronized with a pump light source. Specifically, a fiber optical parametric oscillator and a fiber laser, both equipped with automatic wavelength tuning capabilities, are employed to acquire SRS signals in the ranges of 270–2040 cm−1 and 2800–3100 cm−1, respectively. Using this system, we perform hyperspectral SRS imaging of live HeLa cells, covering the entire fingerprint and C–H stretching regions. Furthermore, the spectral coverage in the lower fingerprint region (<1000 cm−1) enables SRS signal acquisition of wide bandgap semiconductors. We succeed in obtaining the SRS spectra of 4H-silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride and demonstrate SRS imaging of the longitudinal optical phonon-plasmon coupled mode of 4H-SiC. We anticipate that the present method will further expand the applications of SRS in various scientific fields.
On-chip deep residual photonic neural networks using optical-electrical shortcut connections
Authors: Wang Kaiyuan , Tang Zihao , Li Yunlong , Wu Yantao , Zheng Shuang , Zhang Minming
Published: January 2025

On-chip photonic neural networks (PNNs) have recently emerged as an attractive hardware accelerator for deep learning applications. However, deep PNNs with higher inference complexity are harder to train due to gradient vanishing and exploding problems. In this work, we propose an on-chip deep residual photonic neural network architecture (Res-PNN), which enables the training of deeper PNNs by using optical-electrical shortcut connections. The optical-electrical shortcut connection is designed using a power splitter, a wavelength demultiplexer, and photodetectors to directly connect the input and the output across optical weight layers. This optical-electrical shortcut connection alleviates the gradient vanishing and exploding problems by providing a direct path for gradient backpropagation, ensuring stable training of deeper PNNs. The proposed Res-PNN achieves classification accuracies of 88.4% on the CIFAR-10 dataset and 80.3% on the CIFAR-100 dataset. Compared to fully connected PNNs, Res-PNN improves classification accuracy by 3.2% on the CIFAR-10 dataset and 11.3% on the CIFAR-100 dataset.
Multiplication-free error corrector for partial response equalization in 256-Gb/s PAM4 IM/DD systems
Authors: Zhao Xue , Zhang Jing , Zhou Jiahao , Ma Zhengyu , Wang Rui , Hu Shaohua , Xu Zhaopeng , Xu Bo , Qiu Kun
Published: January 2025

Partial response equalization (PRE) is a spectral shaping technique
that enhances robustness to the inter-symbol interference (ISI) due to
bandwidth limitation in the high-speed intensity modulation and direct
detection (IM/DD) systems. The simple
1/(1 + D) decoder can be used to
decode the PR-equalized signal. However, it suffers from error
propagation, leading to performance degradation. In this Letter, we
propose a multiplication-free error corrector (MF-EC) to suppress the
error propagation resulting from the
1/(1 + D) decoder of
second-order PRE. The proposed method can effectively locate the
beginning and end of burst errors with only additive operations. We
experimentally demonstrate the performance of the proposed method in
256-Gb/s 4-ary pulse amplitude modulation (PAM-4) IM/DD systems. The
results show that the PRE with MF-EC can effectively eliminate the
error propagation of the
1/(1 + D) decoder, reducing the
maximum length of burst errors from 15 to seven. Moreover, the
proposed method outperforms the PRE with precoding and
error-correlation based DFE (EC-DEF). As for the 500-m transmission
scenario, the PRE with MF-EC exhibits similar performance to the
PRE-MLSE decoder at the KP4-FEC threshold but can reduce the
complexity.
Theoretical insights into charge transfer plasmon lifetime: publisher’s note
Authors: Koya Alemayehu Nana , Li Longnan , Li Wei
Published: January 2025

This publisher’s note contains a correction to Opt. Lett. 50, 229 (2025)10.1364/OL.547590.
Significant photoluminescence enhancement of monolayer MoS2 by full-wavelength nanodipole antennas
Authors: Wang Yanzhen , Hu Anqi , Liu Qiaoli , Wang Bo , Ren Xiansong , Zhang Shifeng , Ren Yanling , Fan Zimu , Wu Zixin , Guo Xia
Published: January 2025

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) hold great promise as a platform for optoelectronic devices, thanks to their exceptional optical characteristics. Nonetheless, their intrinsic low radiative recombination rate results in diminished efficiency in light emission and absorption. Here, we report photoluminescence (PL) enhancement of monolayer MoS2 through the utilization of full-wavelength (λ) nanodipole antennas. It is revealed that λ antennas demonstrate more pronounced PL enhancement and enhanced directivity compared to the previously examined half-wavelength (λ/2) antennas, relaxing the fabrication difficulty for ultra-narrow antenna gap configurations. By geometry and dimension optimization, a maximum PL enhancement of 17-fold is achieved. Furthermore, dual-polarized cross-shaped nanoantennas are developed to mitigate the reliance of the nanoantenna’s performance on the polarization state. Our method charts an effective path for amplifying the PL intensity of monolayer TMDs, thereby accelerating their integration into high-performance optoelectronic technologies.
Climate dissociations: Trade associations, energy policy and climate communications in Europe
Authors: Dinan William , Esteves Victoria , Harkins Steven , Hills Stefanie
Published: January 2025

This paper focuses on how climate delay narratives populate the information environment of decision makers and regulators in EU policy making. We examine the communications of selected trade associations representing oil and gas extraction interests in Europe. Our analysis offers a novel synthesis, drawing on official data, industry and social media content, using mixed methods and informed by recent theorising on the advocacy activities of trade associations. The paper contextualises the lobbying and communication activities of oil and gas trade associations in Europe using publicly available data on lobbying (drawn from the EU transparency register) and the outputs of oil and gas trade associations (in trade, specialist and social media) to examine their preferred framings and promoted policy prescriptions for addressing climate and energy policy. We find that trade associations representing oil and gas interests in Europe spend millions of euros per annum producing and promoting policy ideas that seek to secure the long-term future of these industries. Wider climate science is rarely directly referenced or acknowledged in their public advocacy. We argue that the normalization of a new form of climate denial has emerged, based on unproven technologies and market mechanisms being pushed by powerful economic interests.
Epidemiological methods in transition: Minimizing biases in classical and digital approaches
Authors: Mesquita Sara , Perfeito Lília , Paolotti Daniela , Gonçalves-Sá Joana
Published: January 2025

Epidemiology and Public Health have increasingly relied on structured and unstructured data, collected inside and outside of typical health systems, to study, identify, and mitigate diseases at the population level. Focusing on infectious diseases, we review the state of Digital Epidemiology at the beginning of 2020 and how it changed after the COVID-19 pandemic, in both nature and breadth. We argue that Epidemiology’s progressive use of data generated outside of clinical and public health systems creates several technical challenges, particularly in carrying specific biases that are almost impossible to correct for a priori. Using a statistical perspective, we discuss how a definition of Digital Epidemiology that emphasizes “data-type” instead of “data-source,” may be more operationally useful, by clarifying key methodological differences and gaps. Therefore, we briefly describe some of the possible biases arising from varied collection methods and sources, and offer some recommendations to better explore the potential of Digital Epidemiology, particularly on how to help reduce inequity.
The piRNA protein Asz1 is essential for germ cell and gonad development in zebrafish and exhibits differential necessities in distinct types of germ granules
Authors: Ahmad Adam , Bogoch Yoel , Shvaizer Gal , Guler Noga , Levy Karine , Elkouby Yaniv M.
Published: January 2025

Germ cells are essential for fertility, embryogenesis, and reproduction. Germline development requires distinct types of germ granules, which contains RNA-protein (RNP) complexes, including germ plasm in embryos, piRNA granules in gonadal germ cells, and the Balbiani body (Bb) in oocytes. However, the regulation of RNP assemblies in zebrafish germline development are still poorly understood. Asz1 is a piRNA protein in Drosophila and mice. Zebrafish Asz1 localizes to both piRNA and Bb granules, with yet unknown functions. Here, we hypothesized that Asz1 functions in germ granules and germline development in zebrafish. We generated asz1 mutant fish to determine the roles of Asz1 in germ cell development. We show that Asz1 is dispensable for somatic development, but essential for germ cell and gonad development. asz1-/- fish developed exclusively as sterile males with severely underdeveloped testes that lacked germ cells. In asz1 mutant juvenile gonads, germ cells undergo extensive apoptosis, demonstrating that Asz1 is essential for germ cell survival. Mechanistically, we provide evidence to conclude that zygotic Asz1 is not required for primordial germ cell specification or migration to the gonad, but is essential during post-embryonic gonad development, likely by suppressing the expression of germline transposons. Increased transposon expression and mis-organized piRNA granules in asz1 mutants, argue that zebrafish Asz1 functions in the piRNA pathway. We generated asz1;tp53 fish to partially rescue ovarian development, revealing that Asz1 is also essential for oogenesis. We further showed that in contrast with piRNA granules, Asz1 is dispensable for Bb granule formation, as shown by normal Bb localization of Buc and dazl. By uncovering Asz1 as an essential regulator of germ cell survival and gonadogenesis in zebrafish, and determining its differential necessity in distinct germ granule types, our work advances our understanding of the developmental genetics of reproduction and fertility, as well as of germ granule biology.
Stage-specific expression and divergent functions of two insulinase-like proteases associated with host infectivity in Cryptosporidium
Authors: Huang Yue , Pei Shifeng , Lv Xin , Yang Fuxian , Gong Xiaoqing , Li Na , Guo Yaqiong , Feng Yaoyu , Xiao Lihua
Published: January 2025

Background

The determinants of differences in host infectivity among Cryptosporidium species and subtypes are poorly understood. Results from recent comparative genomic studies suggest that gains and losses of multicopy subtelomeric genes encoding insulinase-like proteases (INS-19 and INS-20 in Cryptosporidium parvum and their orthologs in closely related species) may potentially contribute to these differences.

Methodology/Principal findings

In this study, we investigated the expression and biological function of the INS-19 and INS-20 of C. parvum. CRISPR/Cas9 was used to endogenously tag both genes with the hemagglutinin epitope. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed that INS-19 and INS-20 are expressed at different developmental stages of the pathogen. Although knockout of either had no detectable effect on the in vitro growth of C. parvum, knockout of INS-20, deletion of its multiple domains, or mutation of the active motif in the functional domain reduced the intensity of C. parvum infection in IFN-γ knockout mice. Consistent with this, mice infected with the INS-20-deleted mutant had reduced intestinal damage and parasite burden.

Conclusions/Significance

These results suggest that INS-19 and INS-20 have stage-specific expression with distinct biological functions, and that the presence of the INS-20 in zoonotic C. parvum contributes to its infectivity and fitness in mice.
Early therapy contributes to the normalization of platelet in patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome during the convalescent phase
Authors: Xue Xiaoyu , Wang Xiaolei , Lin Ling , Niu Wenjing , Jiang Zhouling , Liu Kehang , Xu Yanli , Liu Youde , Chen Zhihai
Published: January 2025

Background

Platelet recovery was an important prognostic indicator in severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS). This study focused on risk factors affecting platelet recovery in surviving SFTS patients, which can assist clinicians in the early screening of patients associated with a greater risk of mortality.

Method

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of SFTS patients admitted to Yantai Qishan Hospital throughout 2023. According to the Diagnosis and Treatment Guideline (2023 edition), the platelet recovery in 14 days was set as outcome. The multivariate Cox regression was used to identify independent risk factors affecting platelet recovery and the Kaplan-Meier was performed to evaluate the probability of 14-day platelet recovery, using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the curve (AUC) to measure the model’s performance, with clinical benefit assessed by decision curve analysis (DCA).

Results

168 SFTS patients were enrolled in the study, with 76.2% (128/168) achieving platelet (PLT) recovery within 14 days. Independent risk factors were baseline PLT > 90 × 109/L (HR: 7.929, 95%CI: 1.066–58.990, P = 0.043), days from onset to admission >6 days (HR: 0.444, 95%CI: 0.259–0.763, P = 0.003) and baseline prothrombin time (PT) >13 s (HR: 0.547, 95%CI: 0.373–0.800, P = 0.002), with an AUC of 0.745 (95% CI: 0.656–0.834, P < 0.001). DCA demonstrated that when the recovery probability beyond approximately 50%, the clinical net benefit from focusing on the PLT stratification model consistently surpassed that from the all-intervention model. The nomogram further visualized the model.

Conclusion

Early diagnosis and timely therapy contributed to recovery during convalescence in SFTS patients, with baseline PT as a strong predictor.