bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using virtual reality simulation to address racism in a healthcare setting
Authors: Beavers Lindsay , Vo Tin , Lee Julia , Duvage Thanya , Mullins Hollie , Tewari Aradhana , Needham Allison , Brydges Ryan
Published: December 2024

Racism continues to plague Western societies’ institutions, including the healthcare system. Despite the evidence of racism’s negative impacts on healthcare providers, administrators, patients, and families, healthcare workers report hesitancy in taking action to address racism in the workplace. Simulation, with its experiential pedagogy and foundation in psychological safety, may be an educational tool to support practical training. Guided by a social cognitive view of regulation of learning, we piloted virtual reality (VR) modules focused on addressing bias, privilege, and microaggressions. We used pre-/post-surveys, reflective journals, built-in VR platform data, and simulation debriefing session notes to better understand the effectiveness and usability of these VR modules in our organization. Overall, participants found the VR modules highly valuable, and we noted a shift in participants’ reported intentions to take action to address racism in the workplace. Participants also noted the importance of a multifaceted plan that goes beyond education to ensure a meaningful culture shift toward addressing racism at work. Practical lessons from this pilot study included the necessity of an informed debriefing plan focused on participants’ positionality and power and the need to deeply understand our institution’s information technology (IT) environment to ensure successful deployment of VR technology.
DSA-based perfusion parameters versus TICI score after mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischaemic stroke patients: a congruence analysis
Authors: Reder Sebastian R. , Kronfeld Andrea , Gröschel Sonja , Civelek Arda , Gröschel Klaus , Brockmann Marc A. , Uphaus Timo , Hahn Marianne , Brockmann Carolin , Othman Ahmed E.
Published: December 2024

Background

Several factors are frequently considered for outcome prediction rin stroke patients. We assessed the value of digital subtraction angiography (DSA)-based brain perfusion measurements after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for outcome prediction in acute ischaemic stroke.

Methods

From DSA image data (n = 90; 38 females; age 73.3 ± 13.1 years [mean ± standard deviation]), time-contrast agent (CA) concentration curves were acquired, and maximum slope (MS), time to peak (TTP), and maximum CA concentration (CAmax) were calculated using an arterial input function. This data was used to predict neurological deficits at 24 h and upon discharge by using multiple regression analysis; the predictive capability was compared with the predictive power of the “Thrombolysis in cerebral infarction” (TICI) score. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) of the NIHSS values were analysed.

Results

The comparison of means revealed a linear trend after stratification into TICI classes for CAmax (TICI 0: 0.07 ± 0.02 a.u. to TICI 3: 0.22 ± 0.07 a.u.; p < 0.001), and for MS (TICI 0: 0.04 ± 0.01 a.u./s to TICI 3: 0.12 ± 0.0  a.u./s; p < 0.001). Regression analyses demonstrated equivalent capabilities for estimating neurological deficits after 24 h and at discharge using both the TICI score and DSA-based perfusion parameters (ΔR² ~ 0.03). Compared to the actual NIHSS, the ICC ranged from 0.55 to 0.84 for DSA-based models and from 0.6 to 0.82 for TICI-based models.

Conclusion

Semi-quantitative evaluation of DSA-based perfusion parameters prior to and after MT is feasible and could enhance the objectivity and comparability of MT outcome prediction. This technique may offer novel approaches in acute ischaemic stroke management and data comparability.

Relevance statement

DSA-based brain perfusion measurements following interventional stroke therapy could allow for an experience-independent assessment of reperfusion success. It demonstrates predictive power at least equivalent to the established methods. This could support a future automated DSA-based brain perfusion measurement method.

Key Points

Currently, the evaluation of stroke therapy success is based on the treating physician’s experience.

The present study introduces an objective semi-quantitative evaluation method.

In predicting clinical outcomes, the traditional expert-based and semi-quantitative methods are equivalent.

Graphical Abstract
Fully automatic quantification of pulmonary fat attenuation volume by CT: an exploratory pilot study
Authors: Salhöfer Luca , Holtkamp Mathias , Bonella Francesco , Umutlu Lale , Wienker Johannes , Westhölter Dirk , Welsner Matthias , Taube Christian , Darwiche Kaid , Kohnke Judith , Straus Jannis , Beck Nikolas , Frings Marko , Zensen Sebastian , Hosch Rene , Baldini Giulia , Nensa Felix , Opitz Marcel , Haubold Johannes
Published: December 2024

Background

Non-malignant chronic diseases remain a major public health concern. Given the alterations in lipid metabolism and deposition in the lung and its association with fibrotic interstitial lung disease (fILD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), this study aimed to detect those alterations using computed tomography (CT)-based analysis of pulmonary fat attenuation volume (CTpfav).

Methods

This observational retrospective single-center study involved 716 chest CT scans from three subcohorts: control (n = 279), COPD (n = 283), and fILD (n = 154). Fully automated quantification of CTpfav based on lung segmentation and HU-thresholding. The pulmonary fat index (PFI) was derived by normalizing CTpfav to the CT lung volume. Statistical analyses were conducted using Kruskal–Wallis with Dunn’s post hoc tests.

Results

Patients with fILDs demonstrated a significant increase in CTpfav (median 71.0 mL, interquartile range [IQR] 59.7 mL, p < 0.001) and PFI (median 1.9%, IQR 2.4%, p < 0.001) when compared to the control group (CTpfav median 43.6 mL, IQR 16.94 mL; PFI median 0.9%, IQR 0.5%). In contrast, individuals with COPD exhibited significantly reduced CTpfav (median 36.2 mL, IQR 11.4 mL, p < 0.001) and PFI (median 0.5%, IQR 0.2%, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The study underscores the potential of CTpfav and PFI as imaging biomarkers for detecting changes in lung lipid metabolism and deposition and demonstrates a possibility of tracking these alterations in patients with COPD and ILDs. Further research is needed to validate these findings and explore the clinical relevance of CTpfav and PFI in lung disease management.

Relevance statement

This study introduces a fully automated method for quantifying CTpfav, potentially establishing it as a new imaging biomarker for chronic lung diseases.

Key Points

This retrospective observational study employed an open-source, automated algorithm for the quantification of CT pulmonary fat attenuation volume (CTpfav).

Patients with fibrotic interstitial lung disease (fILD) showed a significantly higher CTpfav and pulmonary fat index (PFI), i.e., CTpfav/CT lung volume, compared to a control group.

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) showed significantly lower CTpfav and PFI compared to the control group.

CTpfav and PFI may each serve as imaging biomarkers for various lung diseases and warrant further investigation.

Graphical Abstract
Deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis in patients who undergo knee arthroscopy: a systematic review
Authors: Dave Udit , Lewis Emma G. , Ierulli Victoria K. , Saraf Shreya M. , Mulcahey Mary K.
Published: December 2024

Background

Knee arthroscopy is one of the most common procedures performed by orthopedic surgeons. A potentially life-threatening complication following this procedure is deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT prophylaxis can be obtained both mechanically (e.g., compression stockings) and chemically (e.g., aspirin, anticoagulants, and factor Xa inhibitors). Currently, there is no standardized guideline for DVT prophylaxis following knee arthroscopy. The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize how DVT prophylaxis is employed for patients who undergo knee arthroscopy.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched for studies published after 1998 according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies were included if they evaluated DVT prophylaxis regimens in patients of any age who underwent knee arthroscopy. Studies not written in English, that analyzed animals or cadavers, that did not directly evaluate patients undergoing knee arthroscopy, or that did not address DVT prophylaxis were excluded.

Results

The initial search identified 300 studies, 15 of which were included. These 15 studies examined methods of DVT prophylaxis, including compression stockings (2 of 18; 11%), aspirin (1 of 18; 6%), factor Xa inhibitors (2 of 18; 11%), low-molecular-weight heparin (12 of 18; 67%), and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (1 of 18; 6%). Overall, 7 of 15 (47%) studies recommended DVT prophylaxis in all patients, and 3 (20%) studies supported its use for high-risk patients. Five (33%) studies did not support DVT prophylaxis, citing low incidence of postoperative DVT.

Conclusions

Compression stockings, aspirin, factor Xa inhibitors, and low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) were identified as possible options for DVT prophylaxis in patients undergoing knee arthroscopy. For high-risk knee arthroscopy patients, factor Xa inhibitors and LMWH drugs are appropriate for DVT prophylaxis.

Level of evidence Level III, systematic review of level I–III studies.
Emergency department presentations and admission for common mental disorders following agency-notified child maltreatment at 40-year follow-up: results from the Childhood Adversity and Lifetime Morbidity study
Authors: Kisely Steve , Bull Claudia , Trott Mike , Arnautovska Urska , Siskind Dan , Warren Nicola , Najman Jake Moses
Published: December 2024

Background

Most evidence on associations between child maltreatment and subsequent common mental disorders (CMDs) comes from retrospective studies. Such findings may be affected by recall bias. Prospective studies of reports to statutory agencies are less common and may be subject to attrition bias.

Aim

To examine the associations of child maltreatment with emergency department presentations and in-patient admissions for CMDs in individuals up to 40 years old.

Method

Queensland-wide administrative health data were linked to a prospective birth cohort, including agency-reported and substantiated notifications of child maltreatment. Outcomes were emergency department presentations and in-patient admissions for CMDs.

Results

There were 6087 participants, of which 10.1% had been the subject of a child maltreatment notification. Admissions for CMDs occurred in 198 participants (3.3%) and emergency department presentations in 291 (4.8%). In the adjusted analysis, substantiated child maltreatment was associated with both admissions (odds ratio 1.92; 95% CI = 1.19–3.00) and emergency department presentations (odds ratio 2.10; 95% CI = 1.45–3.03). All agency-reported and substantiated child maltreatment subtypes (neglect, physical, sexual and emotional abuse) were associated with emergency department presentations for CMDs and notifications for more than one child maltreatment subtype. In the subgroup analysis, child maltreatment was associated with emergency department presentations for both anxiety (odds ratio 2.73; 95% CI = 1.68–4.43) and depression (odds ratio 2.23; 95% CI = 1.62–3.26) but with admissions only for depression (odds ratio 2.10; 95% CI = 1.15–3.84).

Conclusions

Child maltreatment is associated with both emergency department presentations and hospital admissions for CMDs in individuals up to 40 years old. Screening for child maltreatment in people presenting to hospital with CMDs may be indicated, as well as a greater awareness that survivors of child maltreatment may be at higher risk of developing such symptoms.
Risk of admission to hospital for self-harm after admission to hospital for COVID-19: French nationwide longitudinal study
Authors: Pirard Philippe , Decio Valentina , Pignon Baptiste , Bouaziz Olivier , Perduca Vittorio , Kovess-Masfety Viviane , Corruble Emmanuelle , Chin Francis , Geoffroy Pierre A. , Strat Yann Le , Messika Jonathan , Regnault Nolwenn , Tebeka Sarah
Published: December 2024

Background

Assessing the risk of subsequent self-harm after hospitalisation for COVID-19 is critical for mental health care planning during and after the pandemic.

Aims

This study aims to compare the risk of admission to hospital for self-harm within 12 months following a COVID-19 hospitalisation during the first half of 2020, with the risk following hospitalisations for other reasons.

Method

Using the French administrative healthcare database, logistic regression models were employed to analyse data from patients admitted to hospitals in metropolitan France between January and June 2020. The analysis included adjustments for sociodemographic factors, psychiatric history and the level of care received during the initial hospital stay.

Results

Of the 96 313 patients hospitalised for COVID-19, 336 (0.35%) were subsequently admitted for self-harm within 12 months, compared to 20 135 (0.72%) of 2 797 775 patients admitted for other reasons. This difference remained significant after adjusting for sociodemographic factors (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.59–0.73), psychiatric disorder history (aOR = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.58–0.73) and the level of care received during the initial hospital stay (aOR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.63–0.78). History of psychiatric disorders and intensive care were strongly correlated with increased risk, while older age was inversely associated with self-harm admissions.

Conclusions

Hospitalisation for COVID-19 during the early pandemic was linked to a lower risk of subsequent self-harm than hospitalisation for other reasons. Clinicians should consider psychiatric history and intensive care factors in evaluating the risk of future suicide.
Modeling Disability-Free Life Expectancy With Duration Dependence: A Research Note on the Bias in the Markov Assumption
Authors: Shen Tianyu , O'Donnell James
Published: December 2024

Demographic studies on healthy life expectancy often rely on the Markov assumption, which fails to consider the duration of exposure to risk. To address this limitation, models like the duration-dependent multistate life table (DDMSLT) have been developed. However, these models cannot be directly applied to left-censored survey data, as they require knowledge of the time spent in the initial state, which is rarely known because of survey design. This research note presents a flexible approach for utilizing this type of survey data within the DDMSLT framework to estimate multistate life expectancies. The approach involves partially dropping left-censored observations and truncating the duration length after which duration dependence is assumed to be minimal. Utilizing the U.S. Health and Retirement Study, we apply this approach to compute disability-free/healthy life expectancy (HLE) among older adults in the United States and compare duration-dependent models to the typical multistate model with the Markov assumption. Findings suggest that while duration dependence is present in transition probabilities, its effect on HLE is averaged out. As a result, the bias in this case is minimal, and the Markov assumption provides a plausible and parsimonious estimate of HLE.
Technologies of Hope (Fiction, Platforms, Management)
Authors: Kohlbry Marc
Published: December 2024

This article leverages the Nuit Debout social movement in France and contemporary French science fiction to explore the links between information technologies and economic precarity. To accomplish this, it foregrounds a short story born of the movement, Ketty Steward's “ALIVE,” which follows three contingent workers as they act on, for, and through the megacorporation ALIVE's proprietary platform. Employees access this amalgamation of ratings-based social network and Amazon-like marketplace by way of digital interfaces that the author formally reproduces with modifications to typeface and page layout. The result is much more than a literary portrayal of the so-called Uberization of work; instead, readers of “ALIVE” confront a dystopian tangle of code that, when unraveled, points to how workers can be compelled to manage themselves. Further, the story charts certain historical processes that would usher France into the neoliberal era through a series of intertexts, two of which the article takes as a starting point for establishing Nuit Debout as an inheritor of Mai 68 and for grasping the rise of self-management as a strategy for disciplining labor. These arguments serve as a foundation for a reading of the narrative platform of “ALIVE” that registers the increasingly prominent role played by algorithmic management in the distribution of workplace control today. The article concludes that Steward's tale not only anticipated the informatic enactment of the aforementioned strategy but, more incisively, reveals how it maintains “floating” surplus populations by facilitating the regulation of those workers’ hope.
Swimming kinematics of rainbow trout behind a 3×5 cylinder array: a computationally driven experimental approach to understanding fish locomotion
Authors: Sparks David , Rajeev Edwin , Koley Subhra Shankha , Canestrelli Alberto , Liao James C.
Published: December 2024

Fish in the wild often contend with complex flows that are produced by natural and artificial structures. Research into fish interactions with turbulence often investigates metrics such as turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) or fish positional location, with less focus on the specific interactions between vortex organization and body swimming kinematics. Here, we compared the swimming kinematics of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) holding station in flows produced by two different 3×5 cylinder arrays. We systematically utilized computational fluid dynamics to identify one array that produced a Kármán vortex street with high vortex periodicity (KVS array) and another that produced low periodicity, similar to a parallel vortex street (PVS array), both validated with particle image velocimetry. The only difference in swimming kinematics between cylinder arrays was an increased tail beat amplitude in the KVS array. In both cylinder arrays, the tail beat frequency decreased and snout amplitude increased compared with the freestream. The center of mass amplitude was greater in the PVS array than in only the freestream, however, suggesting some buffeting of the body by the fluid. Notably, we did not observe Kármán gaiting in the KVS array as in previous studies. We hypothesize that this is because (1) vorticity was dissipated in the region where fish held station or (2) vortices were in-line rather than staggered. These results are the first to quantify the kinematics and behavior of fishes swimming in the wake of multiple cylinder arrays, which has important implications for biomechanics, fluid dynamics and fisheries management.
Social Protection in the Developing World
Authors: Banerjee Abhijit , Hanna Rema , Olken Benjamin A. , Lisker Diana Sverdlin
Published: December 2024

Social protection programs have become increasingly widespread in low- and middle-income countries, with their own distinct characteristics to match the environments in which they are operating. This paper reviews the growing literature on the design and impact of these programs. We review how to identify potential beneficiaries given the large informal sector, the design and implementation of redistribution and income support programs, and the challenges and potential of social insurance. We use our frameworks as a guide for consolidating and organizing the existing literature and also to highlight areas and questions for future research. (JEL E26, H23, I13, I32, I38, O12, O16)
Διερεύνηση γλωσσικών ελλειμμάτων σε ασθενείς με αγγειακό επεισόδιο του δεξιού εγκεφαλικού ημισφαίριου
Authors: Τσολακόπουλος Δημήτριος
Published: December 2024

Αντικείμενο της παρούσας διατριβής αποτελεί η διερεύνηση των δυσκολιών που προκύπτουν στη γλωσσική επικοινωνία μετά από βλάβη στο δεξιό εγκεφαλικό ημισφαίριο. Ειδικότερος στόχος της μελέτης είναι η διερεύνηση των ελλειμμάτων στην πραγματολογία, καθώς και η συσχέτιση των ελλειμμάτων αυτών με άλλες νοητικές λειτουργίες, όπως οι επιτελικές και η Θεωρία του Νου. Θα αναζητηθούν επίσης πρότυπα πιθανών συσχετίσεων μεταξύ των προαναφερθέντων ελλειμμάτων και σχετικών με τη βλάβη μεταβλητών (όπως π.χ. η έκταση και η εντόπισή της).Η υπόθεση εργασίας είναι ότι η γλώσσα δεν βασίζεται αποκλειστικά σε δομές και κυκλώματα του αριστερού ημισφαιρίου, όπως αυτό συνάγεται από την παραδοσιακή βιβλιογραφία, αλλά ότι εμπλέκει τη λειτουργία και των δύο ημισφαιρίων, ενώ ταυτόχρονα συνδέεται άμεσα και με άλλους μηχανισμούς, όπως οι επιτελικές λειτουργίες και η Θεωρία του Νου. Τα αποτελέσματα της παρούσας μελέτης επιδιώκουν να συμβάλουν στη διαμόρφωση μιας ολοκληρωμένης εικόνας για τη γλωσσική λειτουργία και τις δυσκολίες που αντιμετωπίζουν ασθενείς μετά από αγγειακή βλάβη στο δεξιό εγκεφαλικό ημισφαίριο και να συνεισφέρουν στον σχεδιασμό λογοθεραπευτικής και νοητικής παρέμβασης με στόχο τη βελτίωση των επικοινωνιακών δεξιοτήτων στο πλαίσιο των δυσκολιών που αντιμετωπίζουν οι ασθενείς αυτοί στην καθημερινότητά τους.
Πολιτιστική πολιτική και λογοτεχνία στη δικτατορία του Ιωάννη Μεταξά
Authors: Μητσέας Γεώργιος
Published: December 2024

Η παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή αποτελείται από δύο μέρη. Το πρώτο μέρος είναι πρωσοποκεντρικό και αποτελεί μια πλήρη πολιτισμική βιογραφία του Ιωάννη Μεταξά (1871-1941), η οποία εστιάζει στη διαχρονική σχέση του Κεφαλλονίτη πολιτικού με τις τέχνες, τα γράμματα και ειδικά με τη λογοτεχνία. Η αρχική αυτή προσέγγιση εξηγεί σε μεγάλο βαθμό το ιδιαίτερο βάρος που δόθηκε αργότερα στην πολιτιστική πολιτική την περίοδο της δικτατορίας του (1936-1941), αλλά και το λόγο για τον οποίο το καθεστώς του ήθελε να τιμήσει «υλικά και ηθικά» τους Έλληνες λογοτέχνες. Το δεύτερο μέρος εξετάζει την πολιτιστική πολιτική του καθεστώτος της 4ης Αυγούστου (1936-1941). Παρουσιάζονται τα αίτια, οι ιδέες (Τρίτος Ελληνικός Πολιτισμός), τα πρόσωπα (ο πρωταγωνιστικός ρόλος του Μεταξά και ο συμπληρωματικός ρόλος των Κωστή Μπαστιά, Παντελή Πρεβελάκη, Κώστα Κοτζιά, Θεολόγου Νικολούδη), οι τρόποι έκφρασης αλλά και ο αντίκτυπος της πολιτιστικής πολιτικής, ιδιαιτέρως στο πεδίο της νεοελληνικής λογοτεχνίας. Παράλληλα, διερευνάται η στάση που κράτησαν συγγραφείς (π.χ. Πέτρος Χάρης, Γρηγόριος Ξενόπουλος, Μελής Νικολαΐδης) και πνευματικοί άνθρωποι της εποχής απέναντι στο ιδεολόγημα του Τρίτου Ελληνικού Πολιτισμού και σε ποιο βαθμό αυτό επηρέασε το δημιουργικό έργο τους. Ξεχωριστή έμφαση δίνεται στην περίπτωση του Στράτη Μυριβήλη και αναλύεται η σύνθετη –ιδεολογική και επαγγελματική–, άριστη σχέση του με το καθεστώς και με τον ίδιο τον δικτάτορα.
Enter the Matrix: Fibroblast-immune cell interactions shape extracellular matrix deposition in health and disease.
Authors: Altieri Anthony , Visser Grace V. , Buechler Matthew B.
Published: December 2024

Fibroblasts, non-hematopoietic cells of mesenchymal origin, are tissue architects which regulate the topography of tissues, dictate tissue resident cell types, and drive fibrotic disease. Fibroblasts regulate the composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM), a 3-dimensional network of macromolecules that comprise the acellular milieu of tissues. Fibroblasts can directly and indirectly regulate immune responses by secreting ECM and ECM-bound molecules to shape tissue structure and influence organ function. In this review, we will highlight recent studies which elucidate the mechanisms by which fibroblast-derived ECM factors (e.g., collagens, fibrillar proteins) regulate ECM architecture and subsequent immune responses, with a focus on macrophages. As examples of fibroblast-derived ECM proteins, we examine Collagen Triple Helix Repeat Containing 1 (CTHRC1) and Transforming Growth Factor-β-inducible protein (TGFBI), also known as BIGH3. We address the need for investigation into how diverse fibroblast populations coordinate immune responses by modulating ECM, including the fibroblast-ECM-immune axis and the precise molecular mediators and pathways which regulate these processes. Finally, we will outline how novel research identifying key regulators of ECM deposition is critical for therapeutic development for fibrotic diseases and cancer.
Impact of contingent rewards and punishments on employee performance: the interplay of employee engagement
Authors: Layek Debika , Koodamara Navin Kumar
Published: December 2024

Background This paper investigated the connection between transactional leadership styles, contingent rewards, punishments, and employee performance while emphasizing employee engagement’s mediating role. Existing research has predominantly focused on isolated associations between contingent rewards, punishment, and employee performance, leaving gaps in the empirical exploration of these mediating mechanisms. To address this research gap, our study has introduced a conceptual framework to understand the multifaceted connection between contingent rewards, punishment, and their effects on employee performance, with a specific emphasis on the mediating function of employee engagement. Methods We involved 273 full-time non-clinical healthcare professionals employed in NABH-accredited hospitals in Jharkhand, India. A structured survey instrument was employed for data collection from the specific survey participants, with the investigation of the research hypotheses conducted through the application of partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Results Preliminary findings suggested that contingent rewards and punishment do not directly influence employee performance. Instead, our study highlighted the critical mediating role of employee engagement, particularly its dimensions of Vigor, absorption, and dedication. Conclusions This research has underscored rewards and punishments as essential tools for influencing employee behaviour, motivation, and performance. Employee engagement, as a multifaceted construct, not only benefits individual employees but also significantly impacts overall organizational performance and success.
Effect of preoperative hair removal vs. no removal on surgical site infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Aleid Abdulsalam , Aldanyowi Saud Nayef , Aljabr Abdulmajeed , Alaidarous Hasan Ali Abdullah , Aleid Zainab , Alharthi Abdulaziz , Alsubaie Mutlaq , AlOraini Lama , Almoslem Abdulrahman , Al Mutair Abbas
Published: December 2024

Background The practice of preoperative hair removal has been debated regarding its role in Surgical Site Infection (SSI) prevention. This study aimed to compare the different hair removing modalities and investigate the effect of preoperative hair removal on SSI rates. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Three databases—PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library—were searched for relevant studies comparing preoperative hair removal to no hair removal. Studies eligible for inclusion were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies reporting SSI rates. Odds ratios, mean differences, and p-values were analyzed using a random effect model. Results Seventeen studies involving 5,407 patients were included. No statistically significant difference in SSI rates was found between the hair removal and no removal groups (OR = 1.066, 95% CI 0.646–1.758, p = 0.803). When comparing clipping to no hair removal, there was no significant difference (OR = 0.967, 95% CI 0.642–1.455, p = 0.870). Razor shaving was associated with higher skin damage and slightly increased SSI risk compared to clipping but not statistically significant (OR = 0.749, 95% CI 0.346–1.623, p = 0.464). Depilatory creams, however, were favored over razor shaving (OR = 3.235, 95% CI 1.543–6.785, p = 0.002), as they were linked to less skin damage and easier application. Conclusion Preoperative hair removal does not significantly impact SSI rates. Clipping appears to be a safer alternative to shaving, while depilatory creams show promise as an effective, less damaging option.
Twelve Tips for Engaging Medical Students in Rural-Focused Research
Authors: Perez Grace , Perez Jose Uriel , Johnston Aaron
Published: December 2024

Background The future of rural healthcare depends on training the future rural health workforce, and on rural health research that can guide clinical and policy decisions in rural spaces. Promotion of rural healthcare careers usually focuses on clinical aspects of care, and research may be seen as a lower priority. Supporting students to be involved in rural focused research offers the opportunity to broaden the pool of potentially rural interested students, and to develop research and scholarship skills and capacity in the future rural workforce. Aim and method We identify twelve tips that medical schools can adopt to foster medical student participation in rural-focused research and thus promote student interest in rural healthcare and rural medical practice. These recommendations are based on a review of literature and our personal experience of conducting rural-focused research activities with medical students. Conclusion Through these twelve tips, we provide a practical framework for enhancing undergraduate medical student exposure to rural-focused research to foster research capacity. This has potential to inspire student interest in future rural medical practice and could contribute to alleviate workforce and research gaps in rural areas.
Insights from the co-creation process in communities of practice for urban water management
Authors: Wehbe Marianne , Bea Manuel , Goicolea Güemez Elena , Stein Ulf , Caradot Nicolas , Goicolea Juan , Lopez Gunn Elena , Anzaldua Gerardo
Published: December 2024

This article presents a practical case of a co-creation process within the framework of the European project Digital Water City (DWC). DWC sought to address the context and challenges of water in Europe with a participatory approach of co-creation as an integral part of Communities of Practice. To situate the concepts within their theoretical framework, the different approximations of co-creation and Communities of Practice (CoPs) are examined. The article analyzes the ways in which they have been used and applied in DWC as well as the ways in which the project has managed to articulate them at different levels. It discusses what has been done so far, whether the objectives related to co-creation have been achieved, what its added value to the project was, and the possible obstacles and successes. In order to gather this information, five case studies are presented and illustrated with a questionnaire that was carried out with the cities, researchers and key innovators. Results show that DWC´s co-creation process succeeded in incorporating end-users’ needs into the development of the digital solutions created, giving them a constructive role in the value-creation process, and bringing together different stakeholders from public and private sectors as well as researchers. It was also highlighted that the process and its format need to be adapted to each specific context and a culture of co-creation needs first to be established. The co-creation process and the DWC CoPs also raise governance questions and create new partnerships.
Unicanvas: Exploring a tool for strategic management
Authors: Segundo Julio , Fernandez-Alles Mariluz , Velez Maria , Sanchez Jose M.
Published: December 2024

Purpose This research proposes an adapted version of Business Model Canvas (BMC) as a potential strategic tool for the design of the business model of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). In the context of fifth-generation universities, the University-Model Canvas (Unicanvas) offers a solution to some limitations of traditional strategic tools. Unicanvas aims to be a critical visual and dynamic tool to address the new challenges faced by universities such as internationalization, digitalization, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility. Research methods/Approach We adapt the strategic building blocks, in which some of the BMC blocks have been renamed and an achievement block has been added. We reflect theoretically on the peculiarities of each block in the context of universities to explain the versatility of the tool for designing university business models tailored to different value propositions and for various beneficiaries. Findings and implications Unicanvas offers universities the flexibility and dynamism to adapt their different business models to various forms of value creation that arise from their growing number of beneficiaries, missions, and the new trends and challenges they face. We conclude that using this participatory, dynamic, intuitive, and flexible strategic tool will facilitate the holistic design of the business model of these institutions.
Tagus River microbial profile through nanopore sequencing on samples gathered from Prainha do Braco de Prata, Lisbon
Authors: Pedroso-Roussado Cristiano , Pestana Mariana , Dias Ricardo , Nunes Mónica , Pascoal Pedro , Pereira Marcelo , Nunes Nuno
Published: December 2024

Background Freshwater ecosystems play a vital role for hosting life, and their study can elucidate their dynamic state throughout time. However, there is not much knowledge about the microbial profiles and their relevance for the ecosystem balance is still unclear. Methods In this Brief Report three freshwater samples collected in the Tagus River north margin were analysed through 16S-targeted nanopore sequencing and by customized bioinformatics pipeline. Results Our results revealed a consensual microbial profile with Candidatus Pelagibacter, Egibacter, and Ralstonia as the most abundant genera. Additionally, through a literature review we found that the ecosystem services provided by these genera are mostly related to organic matter decomposition. Conclusions Despite the need for a more robust sampling and analyses, we conclude that there is potential to use microbial profile approaches to help define the relevant microbial biomarkers to clarify the ecosystem services in the Tagus River freshwater ecosystem.
Exome sequencing of UK birth cohorts
Authors: Koko Mahmoud , Fabian Laurie , Popov Iaroslav , Eberhardt Ruth Y. , Zakharov Gennadii , Huang Qin Qin , Wade Emma E. , Azad Rafaq , Danecek Petr , Ho Karen , Hough Amy , Huang Wei , Lindsay Sarah J. , Malawsky Daniel S. , Bonfanti Davide , Mason Dan , Plowman Deborah , Quail Michael A. , Ring Susan M. , Shireby Gemma , Widaa Sara , Fitzsimons Emla , Iyer Vivek , Bann David , Timpson Nicholas J. , Wright John , Hurles Matthew E. , Martin Hilary C.
Published: December 2024

Birth cohort studies involve repeated surveys of large numbers of individuals from birth and throughout their lives. They collect information useful for a wide range of life course research domains, and biological samples which can be used to derive data from an increasing collection of omic technologies. This rich source of longitudinal data, when combined with genomic data, offers the scientific community valuable insights ranging from population genetics to applications across the social sciences. Here we present quality-controlled whole exome sequencing data from three UK birth cohorts: the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (8,436 children and 3,215 parents), the Millenium Cohort Study (7,667 children and 6,925 parents) and Born in Bradford (8,784 children and 2,875 parents). The overall objective of this coordinated effort is to make the resulting high-quality data widely accessible to the global research community in a timely manner. We describe how the datasets were generated and subjected to quality control at the sample, variant and genotype level. We then present some preliminary analyses to illustrate the quality of the datasets and probe potential sources of bias. We introduce measures of ultra-rare variant burden to the variables available for researchers working on these cohorts, and show that the exome-wide burden of deleterious protein-truncating variants, S het burden, is associated with educational attainment and cognitive test scores. The whole exome sequence data from these birth cohorts (CRAM & VCF files) are available through the European Genome-Phenome Archive, and here we provide guidance for their use.
The Air We Breathe: Exploring the multifaceted impacts of Air Pollution on health and disease
Authors: Górski Mateusz , Bychowski Mateusz , Kwaśna Julia , Załęska Adrianna , Kaźmierczyk Izabela , Lenart Kacper , Homza Michał , Zakrzewska Natalia , Bednarek Szymon , Kulicka Joanna
Published: December 2024

Background: Air pollution poses a significant global health risk, affecting a wide range of conditions, including skin aging, atopic dermatitis, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory disorders, and cancer. Recent studies reveal its role in accelerating aging and exacerbating chronic conditions through mechanisms like oxidative stress and systemic inflammation. However, gaps remain in understanding pollutant-specific effects and their cumulative impact on health. 
Methods: This review synthesizes findings from recent studies examining the effects of air pollution on skin and systemic health. A comprehensive analysis was conducted across multiple health conditions, with a focus on pollutant-specific mechanisms, including oxidative stress, DNA damage, immune dysregulation, and inflammatory responses. 
Results: Findings highlight strong correlations between exposure to pollutants, such as PM2.5, SO2, NOx, and VOCs, with adverse health outcomes. Pollutants exacerbate conditions like wrinkles, atopic dermatitis, thrombosis, and lung cancer. Interestingly, some pollutants, like ozone, showed mixed effects on specific skin conditions, emphasizing the need for nuanced analysis. 
Conclusion: Understanding the multifaceted impact of air pollution underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions and policies to mitigate health risks. Further research is essential to develop precise strategies to address the pollutant-specific effects and protect vulnerable populations.
Optical refractive inverse weak value tiltmeter
Authors: Josemans Garrett K. , Baldwin Benjamin A. , Gray John E. , Graves Patrick K. , Bertschinger Kevin
Published: December 2024

We present an expanded mathematical model of the optical weak value
amplification device introduced by Duck, Stevenson, and Sudarshan in
1989 [Phys. Rev.
D 40, 2112
(1989)PRVDAQ0556-282110.1103/PhysRevD.40.2112]. We model the
pointer behavior in and around the weak value and inverse weak value
amplification regions with respect to the incidence angle of the
birefringent crystal. We present laboratory measurements that support
the validity of this model. We measure a tilt sensitivity of ∼.58m/rad, which represents an amplification of
390 times over nonamplified refraction. This corresponds to an
increase in SNR of ∼110 times with respect to shot noise.
This paper demonstrates the novel utility of a birefringence-based WVA
device as a sensitive tiltmeter, to our knowledge.
Alternative method for measuring phase retardation of birefringent elements
Authors: Lin Jiun-You , Chang Chen-Yi , Lai Pin-Yu
Published: December 2024

This study proposes an alternative method for measuring the phase retardation of birefringent elements. The technique employs vortex modulation to control the spatial phase of two orthogonally polarized beams, establishing a linear relationship between the measured phase retardation and the inclination angle of the central dark fringe in the interference pattern. The inclination angle of the central dark fringe can be accurately determined through image processing and centroid analysis of the interference pattern, allowing for the inference of the phase retardation. The feasibility of our method was demonstrated with a measurement uncertainty of nearly 0.12° over a range from −180∘ to 180°.
Multi-pulse laser generation based on programming diffraction loss of acousto-optic Q-switched RF excited waveguide CO2 lasers
Authors: Zhang Zheng , Zhu Guangzhi , Li Zuoyun , Huang Junchi , Sun Shengkai , Zhu Xiao
Published: December 2024

Acousto-optic Q-switched (AOQ-switched) CO2 lasers always suffer from having a laser pulse with a long tail and lower energy utilization. The ability of an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) to quickly program diffraction losses provides an effective method to solve these problems. In this paper, a six-temperature model is built to analyze the dynamical properties of the AOQ-switched CO2 laser with programmable control of the diffraction loss. The AOQ-switched laser pulse, or even the multi-pulse without a tail, can be achieved by precise adjusting of the delay time, pulse width, and pulse interval of the AOM control signal within a laser cycle. In the experiments, when the pulse width of the AOM control signal is reduced to 1 µs, the AOQ-switched laser pulse without the tail is obtained with a peak power of 1.36 kW and a pulse width of 132 ns at the repetition of 5 kHz. Meanwhile, equal energy double-pulse, triple-pulse, and quadruple-pulse lasers can be achieved by precisely programming the delay time and pulse interval of the AOM control signal. The average power has been significantly improved.
High-energy generation of arbitrary cylindrical vector vortex beams using a modified Mach–Zehnder interferometer
Authors: Harrison Justin , Mphuthi Nokwazi , Mabena Chemist , Naidoo Darryl
Published: December 2024

In this paper, we demonstrate the interferometric generation of high-energy pulsed
vector vortex beams at arbitrary points on the higher-order Poincaré
sphere. Scalar vortex beams with topological charges ℓ=1 and ℓ=2 were produced using fused silica
spiral phase plates and a 1064 nm wavelength Gaussian laser
source, delivering a pulse energy of 2.75 mJ at a frequency of
1 kHz with a pulse duration of 15.5 ns. A novel, to our
knowledge, modified Mach–Zehnder interferometer was constructed to
allow for arbitrary inter-modal phase and amplitude control of the
vector vortex states across the surface of the Poincaré sphere,
achieving pulse energies of 2.5 mJ and peak powers exceeding
160 kW. This marks the highest, to the best of our knowledge,
pulse energy achieved for arbitrary higher-order vector vortex beams
on the HOPS.
Wave guiding and mode coupling at the Dirac point in photonic crystal fibers
Authors: Xie Kang , Jiang Haiming , Xia Hongyan , Hu Zhijia , Zhang Junxi , Mao Qiuping
Published: December 2024

This work provides an alternative confirmation of Dirac localization in the photonic crystal fiber proposed in Light Sci. Appl. 4, e304 (2015)LSAIAZ2047-753810.1038/lsa.2015.77. In weakly guiding fibers, Maxwell equations can be reduced to the wave equation, which can then be further reduced to the Helmholtz equation for time-harmonic waves. The Dirac point in the band structure of the Helmholtz equation in periodic media is analyzed. Wave localization at the Dirac point is numerically demonstrated, which confirms the finding of Light Sci. Appl. 4, e304 (2015)LSAIAZ2047-753810.1038/lsa.2015.77. Coupling of Dirac modes is numerically simulated, and the results show remote coupling is feasible. Coupling strength is shown to decrease in an algebraic form with distance. This feature of coupling can be attributed to the massless property of Dirac quasiparticles, which is a precise analog of Klein tunneling of massless relativistic electrons in graphene.
Highly confined out-of-plane corner states in air-hole type topological photonic crystal fiber
Authors: Fujisawa Takeshi , Tsuji Yasuhide
Published: December 2024

Out-of-plane corner states are found in air-hole type square lattice topological photonic crystal fiber (PCF) based on highly nonlinear glass. While for the unit cell of a photonic crystal (PC) without a lattice shift (UC1), the parities of Bloch modes under the first photonic bandgap (PBG) are reversed between the Γ and X points in the Brillouin zone, the parities are preserved for the unit cell with a lattice shift (UC2). This is the opposite compared with the case of pillar type topological PCFs. Based on these results, out-of-plane optical states of the fiber with three UC1 and one UC2 regions are investigated, and two highly confined corner states are found at the corner of the UC1 and UC2 interface. The corner states are not found by just flipping the unit cell, namely, for three UC2 and one UC1 PC corners (for pillar type PCF, the corner states were found for this placement). The wavelength dependence of the effective area and the confinement loss of the corner states are investigated in detail, and by increasing the number of layers, the confinement loss can be dramatically reduced. These new fibers may be applied to nonlinear optical applications, such as wavelength conversion and single-photon generation.
Physics-driven untrained neural network for vortex beam compensation in adaptive optics aided underwater wireless optical communications
Authors: Hu Peng , Zhu Lei , Zhu Jianping , Ren Jianxin , Chen Shuaidong , Ma Jianxin , Gao Ran , Jing Zexuan , Li Zhipei , Hu Shanting , Tian Bo , Wang Xishuo , Wang Fei , Xu Qi , Tian Qinghua , Chang Huan , Xin Xiangjun , Liu Bo
Published: December 2024

Orbital angular momentum (OAM) multiplexing is emerging as a critical technique for achieving high data capacity in underwater wireless optical communications (UWOC). Nonetheless, wavefront distortions induced by underwater turbulence compromise the orthogonality of OAM modes. In this paper, we introduce a physics-driven untrained learning approach for adaptive optics that operates independently of extensive amplitude datasets. Without iterative processing and pre-trained datasets, the underwater turbulence characteristics can be retrieved accurately by only relying on a one-shot distorted probe beam and a priori known amplitude of the probe beam. By leveraging a single distorted diffraction pattern and a priori known amplitude of the probe beam, the characteristics of underwater turbulence can be accurately retrieved without iterative processing or pre-trained datasets. Furthermore, by implementing a hybrid input/output alternating projection algorithm with a square constraint area, the retrieved underwater turbulence phase screen beyond the [0, 2π] range aligns with the target pattern. This consistency indicates that the proposed wavefront recovery technology is validated across a broad range of turbulence strengths. As a demonstration of feasibility, numerical simulations, and optical experiments were conducted to validate the compensation of OAM beams. Furthermore, the theoretical bit error rate (BER) and channel capacity were inferred based on the purity of OAM modes and the level of crosstalk.
Liquid crystal-based image holography with broadband response and polarization insensitivity
Authors: Hu Dongyu , Zhang Zhiyao , Xie Zefang , Chen Xuan , Lin Chen , Yu Qianqian , Li Gongfa , Li Zile , Zhang Shunping , Zheng Guoxing
Published: December 2024

We propose and experimentally demonstrate liquid crystal-based computer-generated image holography enabled by the Pancharatnam–Berry phase modulation. Such a device exhibits distinctive properties, such as natural light illumination, polarization insensitivity, broadband optical response, high polarization conversion efficiency, and direct visibility to the naked eye. These unique attributes make this type of image holography a promising avenue for applications in optical information storage, anti-counterfeiting, and advanced information displays.