bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Causal association evaluation of diabetes with Alzheimer's disease and genetic analysis of antidiabetic drugs against Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Meng Lei , Wang Zhe , Ji Hong-Fang , Shen Liang
Published: March 2022

Background

Despite accumulating epidemiological studies support that diabetes increases the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the causal associations between diabetes and AD remain inconclusive. The present study aimed to explore: i) whether diabetes is causally related to the increased risk of AD; ii) and if so, which diabetes-related physiological parameter is associated with AD; iii) why diabetes drugs can be used as candidates for the treatment of AD. Two-sample Mendelian randomization (2SMR) was employed to perform the analysis.

Results

Firstly, the 2SMR analysis provided a suggestive association between genetically predicted type 1 diabetes (T1D) and a slightly increased AD risk (OR = 1.04, 95% CI = [1.01, 1.06]), and type 2 diabetes (T2D) showed a much stronger association with AD risk (OR = 1.34, 95% CI = [1.05, 1.70]). Secondly, further 2SMR analysis revealed that diabetes-related physiological parameters like fasting blood glucose and total cholesterol levels might have a detrimental role in the development of AD. Thirdly, we obtained 74 antidiabetic drugs and identified SNPs to proxy the targets of antidiabetic drugs. 2SMR analysis indicated the expression of three target genes, ETFDH, GANC, and MGAM, were associated with the increased risk of AD, while CPE could be a protective factor for AD. Besides, further PPI network found that GANC interacted with MGAM, and further interacted with CD33, a strong genetic locus related to AD.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the present study provides evidence of a causal association between diabetes and increased risk of AD, and also useful genetic clues for drug development.
Genotyped indigenous Kiwcha adults at high altitude are lighter and shorter than their low altitude counterparts
Authors: Ortiz-Prado Esteban , Mendieta Gonzalo , Simbaña-Rivera Katherine , Gomez-Barreno Lenin , Landazuri Samanta , Vasconez Eduardo , Calvopiña Manuel , Viscor Ginés
Published: March 2022

Background

Anthropometric measures have been classically used to understand the impact of environmental factors on the living conditions of individuals and populations. Most reference studies on development and growth in which anthropometric measures were used were carried out in populations that are located at sea level, but there are few studies carried out in high altitude populations.

Objective

The objective of this study was to evaluate the anthropometric and body composition in autochthonous Kiwcha permanently living at low and high altitudes.

Methodology

A cross-sectional study of anthropometric and body composition between genetically matched lowland Kiwcha from Limoncocha (n= 117), 230 m in the Amazonian basin, and high-altitude Kiwcha from Oyacachi (n= 95), 3800 m in Andean highlands. Student’st-test was used to analyze the differences between continuous variables, and the chi-square test was performed to check the association or independence of categorical variables. Fisher’s exact test or Spearman’s test was used when the variable had evident asymmetries with histograms prior to the selection of the test.

Results

This study shows that high altitude men are shorter than their counterparts who live at low altitude, withp= 0.019. About body muscle percentage, women at high altitudes have less body muscle percentage (− 24.8%). In comparison, men at high altitudes have significantly more muscle body mass percentage (+ 13.5%) than their lowland counterparts. Body fat percentage was lower among low altitude women (− 15.5%), and no differences were found among men.

Conclusions

This is the first study to be performed in two genotyped controlled matching populations located at different altitudes to our best knowledge. The anthropometric differences vary according to sex, demonstrating that high altitude populations are, in general, lighter and shorter than their low altitude controls. Men at high altitude have more muscled bodies compared to their lowland counterparts, but their body age was older than their actual age.
Drivers of caregiver impact in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: a cohort study
Authors: Schwartz Carolyn E. , Stark Roland B. , Borowiec Katrina , Rapkin Bruce D.
Published: March 2022

Background

In our companion paper, we addressed the interplay between caregiver impact, out-of-pocket expenditures, and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) disability. We found that DMD caregiver impact could be characterized by four Latent Profile Analysis impact profiles: lowest, lower middle, upper middle, and highest impact. The impact on caregivers was often but not always worse with greater out-of-pocket expenditures. Further, while the lowest-, lower-middle, and highest-impact profiles reflected low, moderate and high disability-related caregiver burden, respectively, the upper-middle profile group was quite variable in level of disability across domains. To better understand the four caregiver-impact profiles, we examine how a comprehensive set of psychosocial factors differentiate the four profile groups.

Methods

Psychosocial factors assessed included demographic characteristics, quality of life (QOL), stress, cognitive appraisal, reserve-building, and general and COVID-specific resilience. Linear modeling examined relationships between impact profiles and psychosocial factors. We used effect size rather than p-value as the criterion for determining relevance of the broad range of characteristics examined.

Results

Multivariate analyses implicated stress and environmental mastery, appraisal sampling of experience, COVID-specific variables, appraisal standards of comparison, appraisal goals, demographics, appraisal combinatory algorithm, reserve-building, and resilience, in order of prominence (average eta2 = 0.29, 0.29, 0.16, 0.15, 0.09, 0.07, 0.07, 0.06, 0.05, and 0.02, respectively). On the whole, comparisons of highest-versus-lowest impact profiles revealed more and larger differences than comparisons of upper-middle versus lower-middle impact profiles. Life stress, goals, and reserve-building activities had a smaller differentiating effect in the middle groups.

Conclusion

A more comprehensive ‘story’ about DMD caregiver impact involves life stress, environmental mastery, COVID-specific variables, and cognitive and behavioral factors. Implications are discussed for coaching interventions to support DMD caregivers.
Internal jugular vein distensibility variation and inferior vena cava collapsibility variation with fluid resuscitation as an indicator for fluid management in spontaneously breathing septic patients
Authors: Elsaeed Ahmad Mohamad Rashad , Nor El-Din Bassel Mohamed Essam , El Taher Waleed Abdelmegeed Mohamed , Mostafa Raham Hasan , Saleh Ashraf Nabil
Published: March 2022

Background

Sepsis is one of the leading causes of death in ICU patients. Fluid resuscitation is the main target in septic patients. Proper fluid administration is needed in septic patients to overcome generalized vasodilatation and capillary leak, this capillary leak itself may cause tissue edema and worsen septic patients. On the other hand, vasopressors may improve tissue perfusion or worsen tissue hypoxia. Therefore, predictors for fluid responsiveness are urgently needed. However, many studies have found static indicators useless. That is why dynamic predictors for fluid responsiveness are attracting growing interest to optimize patients.

Our goal is to assess the predictive power of internal jugular vein distensibility index and inferior vena cava collapsibility index for fluid responsiveness in spontaneously breathing septic patients.

Forty adult septic patients were enrolled from a single university teaching hospital’s ICU. We measured the Internal jugular distensibility index (IJV-DI) and Inferior vena cava collapsibility index (IVC-CI) in spontaneously breathing septic patients. Patients were considered responders if they had a change in cardiac index (≥ 15%) after fluid resuscitation with 7 ml/kg crystalloid. The main outcome measure is predictive power of Internal jugular vein distensibility index and Inferior vena cava collapsibility index.

Results

Data from 40 spontaneously breathing septic patients were analyzed. Sixty percent of the patients were fluid responder. The areas under curve of receiver operating characteristic for Internal jugular vein distensibility index and Inferior vena cava collapsibility index to predict fluid responsiveness were 0.96 and 0.97, respectively. IJV-DI (> 17.56%) was predictive of fluid responsiveness with 95.83% sensitivity and 87.5% specificity. IVC-CI (> 35%) was predictive of fluid responsiveness with 95.8% sensitivity and 93.7% specificity.

Conclusions

Both IJV-DI and IVC-CI have near good predictive value for fluid responsiveness in spontaneously breathing septic patients.
Experiences of care for self-harm in the emergency department: the perspectives of patients, carers and practitioners
Authors: Robinson Jo , Bailey Eleanor
Published: March 2022

Emergency departments are often the point of entry to the healthcare system for people who self-harm, and these individuals are at high risk of further self-harm and suicide in the post-discharge period. These settings therefore provide a critical opportunity for intervention. However, many studies have identified that the experiences of patients, carers and the emergency department staff themselves is often suboptimal. In this editorial we summarise one such study, by O'Keeffe and colleagues, and consider strategies for improving the experiences of patients and their carers when presenting to the emergency department. We also reiterate the need for wider systemic change in attitudes and approaches towards people who self-harm that are pervasive across the healthcare system and beyond.
Using Adversarial Images to Assess the Robustness of Deep Learning Models Trained on Diagnostic Images in Oncology
Authors: Joel Marina Z. , Umrao Sachin , Chang Enoch , Choi Rachel , Yang Daniel X. , Duncan James S. , Omuro Antonio , Herbst Roy , Krumholz Harlan M. , Aneja Sanjay
Published: March 2022

PURPOSE

Deep learning (DL) models have rapidly become a popular and cost-effective tool for image classification within oncology. A major limitation of DL models is their vulnerability to adversarial images, manipulated input images designed to cause misclassifications by DL models. The purpose of the study is to investigate the robustness of DL models trained on diagnostic images using adversarial images and explore the utility of an iterative adversarial training approach to improve the robustness of DL models against adversarial images.

METHODS

We examined the impact of adversarial images on the classification accuracies of DL models trained to classify cancerous lesions across three common oncologic imaging modalities. The computed tomography (CT) model was trained to classify malignant lung nodules. The mammogram model was trained to classify malignant breast lesions. The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) model was trained to classify brain metastases.

RESULTS

Oncologic images showed instability to small pixel-level changes. A pixel-level perturbation of 0.004 (for pixels normalized to the range between 0 and 1) resulted in most oncologic images to be misclassified (CT 25.6%, mammogram 23.9%, and MRI 6.4% accuracy). Adversarial training improved the stability and robustness of DL models trained on oncologic images compared with naive models ([CT 67.7% v 26.9%], mammogram [63.4% vs 27.7%], and MRI [87.2% vs 24.3%]).

CONCLUSION

DL models naively trained on oncologic images exhibited dramatic instability to small pixel-level changes resulting in substantial decreases in accuracy. Adversarial training techniques improved the stability and robustness of DL models to such pixel-level changes. Before clinical implementation, adversarial training should be considered to proposed DL models to improve overall performance and safety.
A simple light-trapping device from a hyperbolic metamaterial on a catenoid
Authors: dos Santos Azevedo Frankbelson , de Lima José Diêgo M. , de Pádua Santos Antônio , Ferreira Tiago A. E. , Moraes Fernando
Published: March 2022

By using both ray and wave optics, we show that a simple device which consists of a film of hyperbolic metamaterial on the surface of a catenoid can be used to trap light. From the study of the trajectories, we observe a tendency for the light rays to wrap, and eventually be trapped, around the neck of the device. The wave equation appears to have an effective attractive potential, and their solutions confirm the bound states suggested by the trajectories. The relevant equations are solved numerically using neural networks.
Brainstem death due to intracranial hypertension with hydrocephalus, produced by a third ventricular colloid cyst
Authors: Shoyab Muhammad
Published: March 2022

We describe the clinical presentation and CT findings of a 10-year-old female patient about half an hour prior to cardiorespiratory arrest and subsequent death, resulting from brainstem compression and herniation caused by hydrocephalus and intracranial hypertension, produced by a previously undetected colloid cyst occluding foramina of Monro on both sides. While third ventricular colloid cysts are rare lesions, sudden unpredicted deaths have been attributed to undetected colloid cysts in many case reports, with some authors even considering that 10% of colloid cyst patients suffer such ends. However, there is still no conclusive or comprehensive guideline regarding how to prevent such situations. We make a short literature review and put forward a few recommendations or learning points to that end.
Treatment outcomes of stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy on oligometastases from colorectal cancer: early results of a single institution service evaluation
Authors: Duong Julie , Stewart-Lord Adele , Nariyangadu Prasana , Harrison Mark , Tsang Yat Man
Published: March 2022

Objective

Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) has been suggested to be an effective non-invasive ablative therapy for oligometastases originated from colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed to report CRC oligometastases SABR treatment outcomes in terms of overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and post-treatment toxicities.

Methods:

Treatment records of patients with CRC metachronous oligometastases who underwent SABR at a single institution between February 2015 and December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. OS and PFS were calculated using Kaplan–Meier statistics and post-RT toxicity data was scored following CTCAE v. 4.0. Analysis of prognostic factors on OS and PFS was performed based on site of primary cancer, types of treatment to primary cancer, number of oligometastases, SABR treatment sites, intervals between treatment to primary cancer and SABR to oligometastases, biological equivalent dose, cumulative gross tumour volume and planning target volume.

Results

75 patients with 86 CRC metachronous oligometastases (including liver, lung, lymph nodes and bone) were included. The median age was 65.5 years (range 42.5–87.2) with a median follow-up of 23.8 months (range 3.1–46.5). The estimated median PFS was 14.6 months (95% CI 9.6–19.6). and estimated median OS was 33.3 months (95% CI 22.9–43.7). Majority of patients tolerated SABR well with the most common acute side-effects of Grade 1 fatigue. No Grade 3 or higher toxicities were reported at any time points. Only SABR treatment sites (p = 0.03) and cumulative volumes of planning target volume (p = 0.02) were found to be statistically significant independent predictors of PFS and OS respectively.

Conclusion

This study showed modest PFS, OS, and post-treatment toxicity outcomes on SABR to metachronous oligometastases from CRC. It has highlighted that cumulative tumour volume may be a stronger prognostic factor of OS comparing to the number of metastases.

Advances in knowledge:

There are limited data published on the efficacy and post-treatment toxicity of CRC oligometastases SABR with adequate length of follow-up. Our retrospective study suggests that cumulative tumour volume may be a stronger prognostic factor of OS comparing to the number of oligometastases.
[2.2.2.2]Paracyclophanetetraenes (PCTs): cyclic structural analogues of poly(p‑phenylene vinylene)s (PPVs)
Authors: Pletzer Matthias , Plasser Felix , Rimmele Martina , Heeney Martin , Glöcklhofer Florian
Published: March 2022

Background: Poly(p-phenylene vinylene)s (PPVs) and [2.2.2.2]paracyclophanetetraene (PCT) are both composed of alternating π-conjugated para-phenylene and vinylene units. However, while the former constitute a class of π-conjugated polymers that has been used in organic electronics for decades, the latter is a macrocycle that only recently revealed its potential for applications such as organic battery electrodes. The cyclic structure endows PCT with unusual properties, and further tuning of these may be required for specific applications. Methods: In this article, we adopt an approach often used for tuning the properties of PPVs, the introduction of alkoxy (or alkylthio) substituents at the phenylene units, for tuning the optoelectronic properties of PCT. The resulting methoxy- and methylthio-substituted PCTs, obtained by Wittig cyclisation reactions, are studied by UV-vis absorption, photoluminescence, and cyclic voltammetry measurements, and investigated computationally using the visualisation of chemical shielding tensors (VIST) method. Results: The measurements show that substitution leads to slight changes in terms of absorption/emission energies and redox potentials while having a pronounced effect on the photoluminescence intensity. The computations show the effect of the substituents on the ring currents and chemical shielding and on the associated local and global (anti)aromaticity of the macrocycles, highlighting the interplay of local and global aromaticity in various electronic states. Conclusions: The study offers interesting insights into the tuneability of the properties of this versatile class of π-conjugated macrocycles.
Application of multiple regression analysis to study the relationship between eeg rhythms at persons with mental retardation
Authors: Lobasyuk B. , Bartsevich L. , Zamkovaya A.
Published: March 2022

Using the calculation of coefficients of multiple linear regression of two-dimensional correlation, we studied the mutual influences (functional connectivity) between the amplitudes of EEG rhythms in people with mental retardation. Multiple regression equations were geometrically interpreted using polycyclic multigraphs. As a result of the studies and calculations, it was found that in mental retardation, the number of regression coefficients of the two-dimensional correlation is determined to be greater than in the norm. In the sinistrals control group, the coefficients of multiple regression of two-dimensional correlation were determined more than in the dextrals control group. In mentally retarded sinistrals, the number of multiple regression coefficients was determined to be less than in mentally retarded dextrals, but the number of bivariate correlation coefficients was larger. The resulting increase in correlation coefficients may indicate an increase in tone in sinistrals suffering from mental retardation compared to dextrals with mental retardation. The mechanism of this increase in tone is realized by linear functions.
The Path to Hedonic Information System Use Addiction: A Process Model in the Context of Social Networking Sites
Authors: Vaghefi Isaac , Negoita Bogdan , Lapointe Liette
Published: March 2022

Addiction to hedonic information systems yields significant negative consequences for users. Although we know about the causes of addictions, particularly those related to individual differences, recent evidence suggests that addiction evolves gradually over time and is rooted in shared characteristics of users and technology. This paper provides a longitudinal perspective over how and why hedonic information systems (IS) use addiction develops. Based on our analysis, we break down this process into three phases characterized by different types of use, whether nominal, compulsive, or addicted. Each phase highlights salient psychological needs that motivate, technology features that enable, and affordances that are actualized into each type of use. We also provide a detailed account of individuals’ self-control mechanisms, explaining how deficiencies in sensing, comparing, or regulating behavior facilitate one’s transition toward addiction. These insights are applicable to other hedonic IS that are similar in terms of ubiquity and constant access through mobile apps. They point to heterogeneous (preventive or intervening) strategies that can be used to help people regain their control over use, depending on where they are in their trajectory toward addicted use. Our findings carry implications for the design of systems and features that can help reduce the likelihood of addiction development.
Moving interprofessional education to a virtual platform
Authors: Park Vikki
Published: March 2022

Vikki Park, Programme Lead/Senior Lecturer, University of Sunderland, formerly IPE Lead, Northumbria University, and CAIPE National Board Member ( contactme@drvikkipark.com )
Start spreading the word …
Authors: Foster Sam
Published: March 2022

Sam Foster, Chief Nurse, Oxford University Hospitals, considers how best to start a movement to benefit the patient experience, such as the #CallMe movement, which encourages staff to use patients' preferred names
Assessment and management of a person experiencing pain from pancreatic cancer ascites: a case study
Authors: Otterwell Siouxsie , Baker Mark J
Published: March 2022

The most common type of pancreatic cancer is pancreatic adenocarcinoma, which affects the exocrine ducts. There are many risk factors associated with pancreatic cancer, including smoking, obesity, poor diet, diabetes, inactivity and genetics. In the UK, pancreatic cancer is the 10th most common cancer with a poor prognosis, with only 24% of people surviving the first year after diagnosis and 7% surviving for 5 years. The lives of those with the condition are impacted in a number of ways. This case study of a patient with pancreatic cancer explores the nursing assessment, management and evaluation of care provided from a student nurse perspective under the supervision of a qualified nurse.
Maintenance niraparib therapy for patients with relapsed platinum sensitive ovarian cancer: experience at a south coast network
Authors: Tomlins Elaine
Published: March 2022

Ovarian cancer remains a challenge to treatment teams with approximately 20 new diagnoses each day. A new treatment has recently entered the treatment pathway using a drug call niraparib – a polymerase inhibitor. This paper reports on a local audit following first introduction of niraparib in the maintenance phase of treatment, following a clear response to initial platinum therapy to understand the real world experience. Results show a very well tolerated treatment with manageable toxicities such as fatigue anaemia and thrombocytopenia as seen in the initial NOVA trial. This successful introduction of maintenance treatment has led to workforce challenges of managing capacity and multidisciplinary teams. A nurse led clinic solution was crafted allowing patients to be safely managed without the need for attendance at hospital.
All-optical frequency-dependent magnetic switching in metal-insulator-metal stub structures
Authors: Pae Ji-Song , Im Song-Jin , Han Yong-Ha
Published: March 2022

Many attempts to switch magnetization with optical pulses were based on free-space coupling schemes of circularly polarized light pulses, so-called all-optical helicity-dependent magnetic switching; however, waveguide coupling schemes are promising for on-chip all-optical magnetic switching. Metal-insulator-metal (MIM) stub structures provide a promising platform for highly integrated photonic circuits, thanks to their compact size, on-chip compatibility, and ease of fabrication. We found clockwise and counterclockwise ring-like modes in the MIM stub structure, which can act as effective magnetic fields with two opposite directions due to the inverse Faraday effect. Effective magnetic field spectra inside the MIM stub have dual resonant peaks at which the effective magnetic field intensity reaches its extreme values with opposite signs, corresponding to binary magnetic states. Switching between the binary magnetic states can be achieved by altering the optical pump frequency. The all-optical frequency-dependent magnetic switching in the MIM stub may provide a chip-compatible and ultracompact tool for ultrafast switching of magnetic order.
Improvements on sampling of point spread function in optical transfer function measurement
Authors: Pu Dong , Tao Hua , Ge Yaping , Liu Cheng , Zhu Jianqiang
Published: March 2022

Point spread function (PSF), which is the intensity distribution of optical system impulse response and usually acquired by imaging a single pinhole in experiment, can characterize the quality of optical imaging system. Faithful recording of the two-dimensional intensity distribution of PSF is key for accurate measurement of optical transfer function (OTF), however distortions in recorded PSF can be easily caused by a large sampling interval and the electronic noise of the detector. Under a given sampling interval, the position-phase difference between pixels and intensity signals can change the intensity distribution of acquired PSF remarkably, making the computed OTF or MTF (modulation transfer function) error prone. Aiming at problems existing in pinhole based MTF measurement methods, this paper developed a new method with underline physics similar to that of slanted edge method to realize sub-pixel sampling of PSF intensity by using accurate non-integer up-sampling matrix of separate binary pixels and applying random patterns shown on digital micro-mirror device (DMD) as target. Numerical simulations show that improvement on the discrete sampling of point spread function with this method is very helpful to improve anti-noise robustness and the accuracy of optical transfer function measurement.
Generation and control of tornado waves by means of ring swallowtail vortex beams
Authors: Jiang Junjie , Xu Danlin , Mo Zhenwu , Cai Xuezhen , Huang Haoyu , Zhang Yong , Yang Haobin , Huang Haiqi , Wu You , Shui Lingling , Deng Dongmei
Published: March 2022

Tornado waves (ToWs), which refer to a light that accelerates and twists over both the radial and the angular directions, have gained a great deal of interest since the concept was introduced by Brimis et al [Opt. Lett. 45, 280 (2020)10.1364/OL.45.000280]. In this paper, we superimpose two pairs of ring swallowtail vortex beams (RSVBs) to generate ToWs and we call them tornado swallowtail waves (ToSWs). Each pair consists of RSVBs while carrying orbital angular momentum of opposite helicity and slightly different with the radius of the main ring of RSVBs. The waves spiral forward and reveal intensity maxima, exhibiting a tornado-like intensity profile during propagation. Meanwhile, the angular acceleration of the ToSWs is illustrated via tracing the angular position of the high-intensity main lobes. It is found that ToSWs present very high values of angular acceleration. Compared with typical tornado waves, ToSWs are more diverse and tunable, giving a new degree of freedom to tailor the propagation dynamics due to the flexibility of the swallowtail diffraction catastrophe. In addition, we confirm such waves experimentally and the results match well with the numerical ones. Also, we demonstrate the ability of optical manipulation of ToSWs for the first time in that they allow for particles not only to be trapped but also to be rotated. Finally, we analyze the poynting vectors and power exchange of ToSWs to demonstrate convincingly the physical mechanism.
Recovery for underwater image degradation with multi-stage progressive enhancement
Authors: Liu Junnan , Liu Zhilin , Wei Yanhui , Ouyang Wenjia
Published: March 2022

Optical absorption and scattering result in quality degradation of underwater images, which hampers the performance of underwater vision tasks. In practice, a well-posed underwater image recovery requires a combination of scene specificity and adaptability. To this end, this paper breaks down the overall recovery process into in-situ enhancement and data-driven correction modules, and proposes a Multi-stage Underwater Image Enhancement (MUIE) method to cascade the modules. In the in-situ enhancement module, a channel compensation with scene-relevant supervision is designed to address different degrees of unbalanced attenuation, and then the duality-based computation inverts the result of running a enhancement on inverted intensities to recover the degraded textures. In response to different scenarios, a data-driven correction, encoding corrected color-constancy information under data supervision, is performed to correct the improper color appearance of in-situ enhanced results. Further, under the collaboration between scene and data information, the recovery of MUIE avoids ill-posed response and reduces the prior dependence of specific scenes, resulting in a robust performance in different underwater scenes. Recovery comparison results confirm that the recovery of MUIE shows the superiority of scene clarity, realistic color appearance and evaluation scores. With the recovery of MUIE, the Underwater Image Quality Measurement (UIQM) scores of recovery-challenging images in the UIEB dataset were improved from 1.59 to 3.92.
Influence of spatial dispersion on phase and lateral shifts near the reflection dip in the Kretschmann-Raether structure
Authors: Wang Lin , Liang Shangqing , Zhou Yuanguo , Wang Li-Gang
Published: March 2022

The influence of spatial dispersion of metals on phase and Goos-Hänchen (GH) shifts near the reflection dip has been investigated in the Kretschmann-Raether configuration, within the hydrodynamic model framework. We have derived an analytical expression of the reflection coefficient and discussed the optical properties when the nonlocality of metals based on the phenomenological model and Kretchmann’s theory is taken into account. Our results show that nonlocality has a significant impact for large wavevectors and causes a shift of the critical point corresponding to the total absorption. Furthermore, these changes also lead to diverse changes in the optical properties including amplitude, phase and GH shift close to the conditions of excitation for the surface plasmon. Our work provides a solid foundation for the understanding of nonlocality in multilayered plasmonic structures and paves the way for future experiments.
Manipulation of resonance orders and absorbing materials for structural colors in transmission with improved color purity
Authors: Kim Donggyu , Kim Hyeonwoo , Jung Incheol , Kim Tae Young , Kwak Hojae , Jung Jong Hoon , Hwangbo Chang Kwon , Park Hui Joon , Lee Kyu-Tae
Published: March 2022

We present an improved color purity of additive transmissive structural color filters by controlling a resonance order and by inserting a highly absorbing material. The proposed structure consists of a single metal sandwiched by two transparent dielectric media serving as a cavity to minimize the ohmic loss in the metal mirrors, which is distinctly different from a conventional Fabry-Perot (FP) cavity that is in general designed to have two metal mirrors. Low reflections at an air-dielectric interface cause a quality-factor of a resonance to be reduced, causing a degraded color purity, which can be improved by employing a 1st order resonance that exhibits a narrower bandwidth than a fundamental FP resonant mode (0th order). For a red color with the improved purity, introducing an ultrathin absorbing layer in the middle of a top cavity enables the 1st resonance to be trivially influenced while selectively suppressing a 2nd order resonance appearing at the shorter wavelength region. Moreover, angle-insensitive performances up to 60° are attained by utilizing a cavity material with high index of refraction. Besides, the fabrication of the structural coloring devices involves a few deposition steps, thus rendering the approach suitable for applications over the large area. The described concept could be applied to diverse applications, such as colored solar panels, sensors, imaging devices, and decorations.
Four-intensity measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution protocol with modified coherent state sources
Authors: Jiang Cong , Zhou Fei , Wang Xiang-Bin
Published: March 2022

We propose a scheme of double-scanning 4-intensity MDI-QKD protocol with the modified coherent state (MCS) sources. The MCS sources can be characterized by two positive parameters, ξ and c. In all prior works, c was set to be the same for all sources. We show that the source parameter c can be different for the sources in the X basis and those in the Z basis. Numerical results show that removing such a constraint can greatly improve the key rates of the protocol with MCS sources. In the typical experiment conditions, comparing with the key rates of WCS sources, the key rates of MCS sources can be improved by several orders of magnitude, and the secure distance is improved by about 40 km. Our results show that MCS sources have the potential to improve the practicality of the MDI-QKD protocol.
Characterizing atom clouds using a charge-coupled device for atom-interferometry-based G measurements
Authors: Luo Hua-Qing , Xu Yao-Yao , Chen Xin-Ke , Zhang Heng , Deng Xiao-Bing , Mao De-Kai , Zhou Min-Kang , Duan Xiao-Chun , Hu Zhong-Kun
Published: March 2022

Precise information of positions and sizes of atom clouds is required for atom-interferometry-based G measurements. In this work, characterizing atom clouds using a charge-coupled device (CCD) is presented. The parameters of atom clouds are extracted from fluorescence images captured by the CCD. For characterization, in-situ calibration of the magnification of the imaging system is implemented using the free-fall distance of atom clouds as the dimension reference. Moreover, influence of the probe beam on measuring the positions of atom clouds is investigated, and a differential measurement by reversing the direction of the probe beam is proposed to suppress the influence. Finally, precision at sub-mm level for characterizing atom clouds is achieved.
Wavelength-switchable and multi-pulse bound state based on a hybrid mode-locked mechanism
Authors: Wu Chong-Hao , Yao Yong , Yang Yu , Xu Xiao-Chuan , Tian Jia-Jun , Xu Ke
Published: March 2022

Relying on the nonlinear multimode interference in multimode fibers and the nonlinear polarization rotation, these two mode-locked techniques are combined in our proposed fiber laser. Stable optical soliton and multi-pulse regimes with a constant frequency of 11.44 MHz have been generated experimentally. Through altering intra-cavity conditions, bound-state pulses with diverse properties are observed. To the best of our knowledge, the obtained bound-state pulse constituted by more than thirty sub-pulses is achieved for the first time. Moreover, the center wavelength of bound-state pulse could be switched in a certain range covering the entire C band.
Degenerate sequence-based CRISPR diagnostic for Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever virus
Authors: Li Hongzhao , Bello Alexander , Smith Greg , Kielich Dominic M. S. , Strong James E. , Pickering Bradley S.
Published: March 2022

CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats), an ancient defense mechanism used by prokaryotes to cleave nucleic acids from invading viruses and plasmids, is currently being harnessed by researchers worldwide to develop new point-of-need diagnostics. In CRISPR diagnostics, a CRISPR RNA (crRNA) containing a “spacer” sequence that specifically complements with the target nucleic acid sequence guides the activation of a CRISPR effector protein (Cas13a, Cas12a or Cas12b), leading to collateral cleavage of RNA or DNA reporters and enormous signal amplification. CRISPR function can be disrupted by some types of sequence mismatches between the spacer and target, according to previous studies. This poses a potential challenge in the detection of variable targets such as RNA viruses with a high degree of sequence diversity, since mismatches can result from target variations. To cover viral diversity, we propose in this study that during crRNA synthesis mixed nucleotide types (degenerate sequences) can be introduced into the spacer sequence positions corresponding to viral sequence variations. We test this crRNA design strategy in the context of the Cas13a-based SHERLOCK (specific high-sensitivity enzymatic reporter unlocking) technology for detection of Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), a biosafety level 4 pathogen with wide geographic distribution and broad sequence variability. The degenerate-sequence CRISPR diagnostic proves functional, sensitive, specific and rapid. It detects within 30–40 minutes 1 copy/μl of viral RNA from CCHFV strains representing all clades, and from more recently identified strains with new mutations in the CRISPR target region. Also importantly, it shows no cross-reactivity with a variety of CCHFV-related viruses. This proof-of-concept study demonstrates that the degenerate sequence-based CRISPR diagnostic is a promising tool of choice for effective detection of highly variable viral pathogens.
Impact of maternal intermittent fasting during pregnancy on cardiovascular, metabolic and renal function in adult rat offspring
Authors: Alkhalefah Alaa , Eyre Heather J. , Hussain Rezwana , Glazier Jocelyn D. , Ashton Nick
Published: March 2022

Pregnant Muslim women are exempt from fasting during Ramadan; however a majority are reported to fast. The impact of this form of maternal intermittent fasting (IF) on fetal development and offspring health is not well defined. Using a rat model, we have shown previously that maternal IF results in fetal growth restriction accompanied by changes in placental nutrient transport function. The aim of this study was to assess cardiovascular, metabolic and renal function in adult offspring of IF-exposed dams. Food was withheld from Wistar rats from 17:00 to 09:00 daily throughout pregnancy; controls had ad libitum access to food. Birth weight was unaffected; however male IF pups grew more slowly up to 10 weeks of age (P < 0.01) whereas IF females matched their control counterparts. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), glucose tolerance and basal renal function at 14 weeks were not affected by IF exposure. When offered saline solutions (0.9–2.1%) to drink, females showed a greater salt preference than males (P < 0.01); however there were no differences between dietary groups. A separate group of pups was weaned onto a 4% NaCl diet. SBP increased in IF pups sooner, at 7 weeks (P < 0.01), than controls which became hypertensive from 10 weeks. Renal function did not appear to differ; however markers of renal injury were elevated in IF males (P < 0.05). Maternal IF does not affect resting cardiovascular, metabolic and renal function; but when challenged by dietary salt load male IF offspring are more prone to renal injury.
Barriers to cleaning of shared latrines in slums of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Authors: Hailu Kidist , Alemu Zewdie Aderaw , Adane Metadel
Published: March 2022

Shared latrines and other shared sanitation facilities are vital for communities that lack private latrines. However, the cleanliness of shared latrines continues to be a problem in sub-Saharan Africa, including slums of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Investigating the barriers to cleaning of shared latrines may inform the future strengthening of comprehensive sanitation programs in slums of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Thus, a community-based unmatched case–control study was conducted among 100 case and 200 control households that were users of shared latrines from September to November 2017 in a slum district in Addis Ababa. Cases were those who had not cleaned their shared latrines and controls were those who had cleaned their shared latrines at least once during the week prior to data collection. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and an on-the-spot-observational checklist and analyzed using bivariate (crude odds ratio [COD]) and multivariable (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]) unconditional logistic regression model. Variables having a p-value of less than 0.25 from the bivariate logistic regression analysis were retained into multivariable analysis. From the multivariable analysis, variables with p<0.05 were declared as factors significantly associated with barriers to cleaning of shared latrines. We found that about half 99 (49.5%) of shared latrines used by cases and almost one-third 32 (32.0%) of the shared latrines used by controls had visible cracks and spaces in the floor and slabs. The barriers to cleaning of shared latrines were found to be monthly household income of less than $55.60 USD (AOR = 1.80; 95%CI: 1.2–3.10), users feeling a lack of privacy during latrine use (AOR = 2.95; 95% CI: 1.60–5.43), no locking latch on the latrine door (AOR = 4.60; 95% CI: 2.43–8.79), inadequate ventilation of latrine (AOR: 4.88; 95% CI: 2.44–9.63), lack of regular monitoring of latrine by health extension workers (AOR = 2.86; 95%CI: 1.32–6.21) and a lack of enough water at home for cleaning the latrine (AOR = 4.91; 95% CI: 1.07–9.48). This study found several barriers to cleaning of shared latrines in slums of Addis Ababa. We recommend that stakeholders promote cleaning of shared latrines by designing programs to improve latrine privacy by adding or modifying the superstructure and including a door with locking latch, to make adjustments to the structure for better ventilation, to ensure regular monitoring of latrines by health extension workers and to make enough water consistently available for regular latrine cleaning.
Comparison of disaster information from various media in strengthening ecological communication during & after natural disasters
Authors: Fadhliah  , Bakri Taqyuddin , Hidayatullah Rahmat , Pratama Muhammad Fardhal , Laihi Mohammad Alfit , Isrun  , Khairil Muhammad , Ali Muhammad Nur , Basir-Cyio Muhammad
Published: March 2022

This study aimed to determine the relationship between the level of panic and the various media disaster information modalities available during and after a natural disaster event. The method used was a Mix Methods Research Approach, which is a combination of qualitative descriptive and quantitative exploratory approaches. There were 150 respondents for the three research locations at Palu City, Sigi Regency and Donggala Regency. Respondents were selected by considering the event conditions experienced, physical damage to their house and their educational background. Media sources of disaster information analyzed were TV, internet, mobile phone (WA/SMS), radio, mosque/church, surau, community leaders and word of mouth. The data used was Likert scale analyses for perception tested with Rank Spearman Correlation. The results showed that the most significant panic level (α<0.01) was when the internet was not working, cellphones could not be used, and radio broadcasts could not be received. The most effective sources of disaster information in promoting a resilience attitude were guidance and advice from community leaders and ecological communication that was built from word of mouth. The exposure to natural disasters was shown to unite peoples’ hearts in friendship. despite some did not communicate with each other before the disaster, some were even hostile. As many as 78.6% of respondents admitted that the affection between them as victims actually appeared when natural disasters destroyed the joints of their lives, even amongst those who did not communicate with each other, or were even hostile, before the disaster. Out of ecological communication, a “strong hug due to natural disasters” was born.
Risk of acute kidney injury associated with anti-pseudomonal and anti-MRSA antibiotic strategies in critically ill patients
Authors: Côté Jean-Maxime , Desjardins Michaël , Cailhier Jean-François , Murray Patrick T. , Beaubien Souligny William
Published: March 2022

Background

An increased risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) with the widely prescribed piperacillin-tazobactam(PTZ)-vancomycin combination in hospitalized patients has recently been reported, but evidence in ICU patients remain uncertain. This study evaluates the association between the exposure of various broad-spectrum antibiotic regimens with Pseudomonas and/or methicillin-resistance Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) coverage and the risk of AKI in critically ill patients.

Methods and findings

A retrospective cohort study based on the publicly available MIMIC-III database reporting hospitalization data from ICU patients from a large academic medical center between 2001 and 2012. Adult patients receiving an anti-pseudomonal or an anti-MRSA agent in the ICU for more than 24-hours were included. Non-PTZ anti-pseudomonal agents were compared to PTZ; non-vancomycin agents covering MRSA were compared to vancomycin; and their combinations were compared to the PTZ-vancomycin combination. The primary outcome was defined as new or worsening AKI within 7 days of the antibiotic exposure using an adjusted binomial generalized estimating equation. Overall, 18 510 admissions from 15 673 individual patients, cumulating 169 966 days of antibiotherapy were included. When compared to PTZ, exposure to another anti-pseudomonal agent was associated with lower AKI risk (OR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.80–0.91; p < .001). When compared to vancomycin, exposure to another anti-MRSA was also associated with lower AKI risk (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.64–0.80; p < .001). Finally, when compared to the PTZ-vancomycin combination, exposure to another regimen with a similar coverage was associated with an even lower risk (OR, 0.63; 95% CI; 0.54–0.73; p < .001). A sensitivity analysis of patients with high illness severity showed similar results.

Conclusions

These results suggest that the risk of AKI in ICU patients requiring antibiotherapy may be partially mitigated by the choice of antibiotics administered. Further clinical trials are required to confirm these findings.