bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Speech camp for children with cleft lip and/or palate in Thailand
Authors: Prathanee Benjamas , Lorwatanapongsa Preeya , Makarabhirom Kalyanee , Suphawatjariyakul Ratchanee , Wattanawongsawang Worawan , Prohmtong Sirinakorn , Thanaviratananit Panida
Published: January 2011

Background: There is a critical need for speech therapy services for people born with cleft lip and/or palate in developing countries.

Objective: Assess the effectiveness of a speech camp and follow-up session for children with cleft lip and/or palate.

Methods: A Community-Based Model for Speech therapy was implemented at Suwanaphum Hospital District, Roiet, Thailand. Thirteen children with cleft lip and/or palate (3; 6-13 years) attended a four-day speech camp and a one-day follow-up session (six months later) for remediation of their articulation disorders. Paraprofessional training was also provided. Pre- and post-tests were administered to the participants, caregivers, and paraprofessionals to determine the effectiveness of the program. A pre- and post-articulation test, as well as an audiological evaluation were administered. Five speech and language pathologists provided speech therapy, both individual and group, for a total of 18 hours during the four-day speech camp and six hours in the one-day follow-up session. The median difference of the number of articulation errors was determined by results of the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test.

Results: There was a significant decrease in articulation errors following both the main speech camp and the follow-up session (z = 3.11, p < 0.01; z = 2.87, p<0.01, respectively). Caregivers’ and health care providers’ satisfaction ratings for participation in the speech camps ranged from good to excellent.

Conclusion: A Community-Based Model of both a speech camp and follow-up session provided an effective speech therapy treatment for children with cleft lip and/or palate.
Re-exploration of the rectus femoris tendon to sartorius transfer in children with spastic cerebral palsy
Authors: Limpaphayom Noppachart , Prasongchin Pairatch
Published: January 2011

Background: The rational of rectus femoris tendon transfer is to use a spastic rectus femoris tendon as a knee flexor during swing phase of gait cycle. However, the concept of the rectus femoris tendon transfer has been challenged by the evidence of scar tissue formation along the transferred tendon route.

Objective: Examine the surgical technique for rectus femoris tendon transfer to the sartorius at the index procedure and report the findings at the anchoring site during the re-exploration.

Methods: Three knees were examined in two patients with spastic cerebral palsy who developed recurrent flexion contracture at 18 months after the rectus femoris tendon to sartorius surgery. They underwent femoral shortening procedures and re-exploration at the rectus femoris tendon to sartorius transfer site simultaneously to correct flexion contracture. The transferred tendon route was examined. The anchoring site at the sartorius was manually tested. The follow-up period after the re-exploration procedure ranged from 7-60 months (mean: 37 months).

Results: All three rectus femoris tendons were in a straight line, and glided smoothly on the new route with minimal scar tissue formation. The anchoring site at the sartorius was well healed, and the knee flexion was observed upon manual testing. Degree of knee flexion contracture ranged from 15 to 35 degrees (mean: 27 degrees) before re-exploration procedure. It was 5 to -5 degrees (mean: 0 degree) at the recent follow-up. All patients maintained their ambulatory status.

Conclusion: The present technique for rectus femoris tendon to sartorius transfer gave a straight-line transfer over smooth gliding path and provided a secure anchoring site. It converted the function of the transferred tendon from a knee extensor to a knee flexor and created minimal scar formation with smooth gliding path.
Accessory brachial artery: a case report, embryological background and clinical relevance
Authors: Kachlik David , Konarik Marek , Urban Miroslav , Baca Vaclav
Published: January 2011

Background: The accessory brachial artery (arteria brachialis accessoria) is a rare upper limb vascular abnormality, reported in less than one percent of cases. It is the artery originating from the axillary artery or the brachial artery, which rejoins the brachial artery further along its distal course within the arm or cubital fossa. Its detailed knowledge is necessary in transradial transulnar catheterization during coronary procedures, mainly due to its narrow caliber, which is responsible for the failure of the intervention performance.

Objectives: Present a case of uncharacteristic branching pattern of the accessory brachial artery.

Method: The case was observed during a routine dissection in the left axilla of a female cadaver at the Department of Anatomy at the Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague.

Results: The infrapectoral part of the axillary artery gave rise to a branch that descended distally along the medial side of the arm. This artery accompanied firstly the ulnar nerve, then it diverted laterally towards the median nerve and coursed hidden behind it to re-enter the brachial artery within the distal part of the arm, next to the biceps brachii muscle. The calibre of the accessory brachial artery was two mm only.

Conclusion: The accessory brachial artery is a rare variant of the upper limb vascular system and its prevailingly narrow lumen can cause a failure of the transradial/transulnar catheterization intervention.
Performance Evaluation of Hop-Based Range-Free Localization Methods in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Keshtgary M. , Fasihy M. , Ronaghi Z.
Published: January 2011

Knowledge of nodes' locations is an important requirement for many applications in Wireless Sensor Networks. In the hop-based range-free localization methods, anchors broadcast the localization messages including a hop count value to the entire network. Each node receives this message and calculates its own distance with anchor in hops and then approximates its own location. In this paper, we review range-free localization methods and evaluate the performance of two methods: “DV-hop” and “amorphous” by simulation. We consider some parameters like localization accuracy, energy consumption, and network overhead. Recent papers that evaluate localization methods mostly concentrated on localization accuracy. But we have considered a group of evaluation parameters, energy consuming, and network overhead in addition to the location accuracy.
Convergence Theorems of a General Composite Iterative Method for Nonexpansive Semigroups in Banach Spaces
Authors: Sunthrayuth Pitipong , Wattanawitoon Kriengsak , Kumam Poom
Published: January 2011

We introduce a general composite iterative scheme for nonexpansive semigroups in Banach spaces. We establish some strong convergence theorems of the general iteration scheme under different control conditions. The results presented in this paper improve and extend the corresponding
results of Marino and Xu (2006), and others, from Hilbert spaces to Banach spaces.
Papule Protruding Into the Nasal Cavity
Authors: Strome Arianna , Moshiri Ata S. , Orlow Seth J.
Published: May 2024

An 18-year-old male with no significant medical history presented for evaluation of a nasal papule that was asymptomatic without any associated pain, pruritus, or bleeding with no changes for a year. What is your diagnosis?
Emergence of the natural history of Myhre syndrome: 47 patients evaluated in the Massachusetts General Hospital Myhre Syndrome Clinic (2016–2023)
Authors: Lin Angela E. , Scimone Eleanor R. , Thom Robyn P. , Balaguru Duraisamy , Kinane T. Bernard , Moschovis Peter P. , Cohen Michael S. , Tan Weizhen , Hague Cole D. , Dannheim Katelyn , Levitsky Lynne L. , Lilly Evelyn , DiGiacomo Daniel V. , Masse Kara M. , Kadzielski Sarah M. , Zar‐Kessler Claire A. , Ginns Leo C. , Neumeyer Ann M. , Colvin Mary K. , Elder Jack S. , Learn Christopher P. , Mou Hongmei , Weagle Kathryn M. , Buch Karen A. , Butler William E. , Alhadid Kenda , Musolino Patricia L. , Sultana Sadia , Bandyopadhyay Dhrubajyoti , Rapalino Otto , Peacock Zachary S. , Chou Elizabeth L. , Heidary Gena , Dorfman Aaron T. , Morris Shaine A. , Bergin James D. , Rayment Jonathan H. , Schimmenti Lisa A. , Lindsay Mark E. ,   MGH Myhre Syndrome Study Group
Published: May 2024

Myhre syndrome is an increasingly diagnosed ultrarare condition caused by recurrent germline autosomal dominant de novo variants in SMAD4. Detailed multispecialty evaluations performed at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Myhre Syndrome Clinic (2016–2023) and by collaborating specialists have facilitated deep phenotyping, genotyping and natural history analysis. Of 47 patients (four previously reported), most (81%) patients returned to MGH at least once. For patients followed for at least 5 years, symptom progression was observed in all. 55% were female and 9% were older than 18 years at diagnosis. Pathogenic variants in SMAD4 involved protein residues p.Ile500Val (49%), p.Ile500Thr (11%), p.Ile500Leu (2%), and p.Arg496Cys (38%). Individuals with the SMAD4 variant p.Arg496Cys were less likely to have hearing loss, growth restriction, and aortic hypoplasia than the other variant groups. Those with the p.Ile500Thr variant had moderate/severe aortic hypoplasia in three patients (60%), however, the small number (n = 5) prevented statistical comparison with the other variants. Two deaths reported in this cohort involved complex cardiovascular disease and airway stenosis, respectively. We provide a foundation for ongoing natural history studies and emphasize the need for evidence‐based guidelines in anticipation of disease‐specific therapies.
Multimodality Image Segmentation Embedded with Metasurface Encoder
Authors: Xu Yaxiong , Wu Bei , Jin Hui , Qian Chao , Chen Hongsheng
Published: May 2024

Feature dimensionality plays an important role for modern medical diagnosis and image processing. In this work, the study introduces an optoelectronic neural network for multimodal image segmentation, which dramatically improves computing speed and decreases imaging acquisition cost in brain tumor diagnostics. Multi‐layer metasurfaces are utilized as an image preprocessor that reduces image dimensionality at the physical layer. The low‐dimensional image is then processed to a U‐Net semantic segmentation network, to handle the complex and heterogeneous nature of brain image data. By using diffractive neural network, the metasurface encoder is optimized and physically constructed with high‐efficiency transmission metasurfaces. The entire optoelectronic network attains a structural similarity index measure (SSIM) of 96%, demonstrating its potential to revolutionize on‐site medical image processing with its high precision in segmenting brain imaging data.
Advances in Bioreceptor Layer Engineering in Nanomaterial‐based Sensing of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa and its Metabolites
Authors: Lapitan Lorico DS. , Felisilda Bren Mark B. , Tiangco Cristina E. , Rosin Jose Ammu
Published: May 2024

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a pathogen that infects wounds and burns and causes severe infections in immunocompromised humans. The high virulence, the rise of antibiotic‐resistant strains, and the easy transmissibility ofP. aeruginosanecessitate its fast detection and control. The gold standard for detectingP. aeruginosa, the plate culture method, though reliable, takes several days to complete. Therefore, developing accurate, rapid, and easy‐to‐use diagnostic tools forP. aeruginosais highly desirable. Nanomaterial‐based biosensors are at the forefront of detectingP. aeruginosaand its secondary metabolites. This review summarises the biorecognition elements, biomarkers, immobilisation strategies, and current state‐of‐the‐art biosensors forP. aeruginosa. The review highlights the underlying principles of bioreceptor layer engineering and the design of optical, electrochemical, mass‐based, and thermal biosensors based on nanomaterials. The advantages and disadvantages of these biosensors and their future point‐of‐care applications are also discussed. This review outlines significant advancements in biosensors and sensors for detectingP. aeruginosaand its metabolites. Research efforts have identified biorecognition elements specific and selective towardsP. aeruginosa. The stability, ease of preparation, cost‐effectiveness, and integration of these biorecognition elements onto transducers are pivotal for their application in biosensors and sensors. At the same time, when developing sensors for clinically significant analytes such asP. aeruginosa, virulence factors need to be addressed, such as the sensor‘s sensitivity, reliability, and response time in samples obtained from patients. The point‐of‐care applicability of the developed sensor may be an added advantage since it enables onsite determination. In this context, optical methods developed forP. aeruginosaoffer promising potential.
GAN‐Based Multi‐Decomposition Photo Cartoonization
Authors: Zhao Wenqing , Zhu Jianlin , Huang Jin , Li Ping , Sheng Bin
Published: May 2024

Background

Cartoon images play a vital role in film production, scientific and educational animation, video games, and other fields, and are one of the key visual expressions of artistic creation. However, since hand‐crafted cartoon images often require a great deal of time and effort on the part of professional artists, it is necessary to be able to automatically transform real‐world images into different styles of cartoon images. Although cartoon images vary from artist to artist, cartoon images generally have the unique characteristics of being highly simplified and abstract, with clear edges, smooth color shading, and relatively simple textures. However, existing image cartoonization methods tend to create a number of problems when performing style transfer, which mainly include: (1) the resulting generated images do not have obvious cartoon‐style textures; and (2) the generated images are prone to structural confusion, color artifacts, and loss of the original image content. Therefore, it is also a great challenge in the field of image cartoonization to be able to make a good balance between style transfer and content keeping.

Methods

In this paper, we propose a GAN‐based multi‐attention mechanism for image cartoonization to address the above issues. The method combines the residual block used to extract deep network features in the generator with the attention mechanism, and further strengthens the perceptual ability of the generative model to cartoon images through the adaptive feature correction of the attention module to improve the cartoon features of the generated images. At the same time, we also introduce the attention mechanism in the convolution block of the discriminator, which is used to further reduce the image visual quality problem caused by the style transfer process. By introducing the attention mechanism into the generator and discriminator models of the generative adversarial network, our method enables the generated images to have obvious cartoon‐style features while effectively improving the image's visual quality.

Results

A large number of quantitative, qualitative, and ablation experiments are conducted to demonstrate the advantages of our method in the field of image cartoonization and the role of each module in the method.
Investigation of the Effect of the Passivation on the Charge Transfer from MAPbI3 to Electron Transport Layer Using a Heterodyne Transient Grating Spectroscopic Technique
Authors: Jeong Seung Hyeon , Choi Seung Heon , Kim Young Hyun , Sohn Woon Yong
Published: May 2024

We fabricated MAPbI3 perovskite thin films with ZnO on a glass substrate, in which a passivation layer (Phenethylammonium iodide (PEAI); p‐methoxyphenethylammonium iodide (CH3O‐PEAI); 2‐methoxyethylammonium iodide (MEAI)) was inserted between two layers. In order to understand the effect of the insertion of each passivation material on the transfer efficiency of the photo‐generated electrons from MAPbI3 to ZnO, we observed the near‐field heterodyne transient grating (NF‐HD‐TG) responses of each film and investigated the component arising from the recombination of the trapped electrons at the ZnO surface. Based on the accelerated recombination between photo‐generated holes remaining in the MAPbI3 layer and surface‐trapped electrons in ZnO and the increase in the number of the trapped electrons in ZnO when either CH3O‐PEAI or PEAI was applied, we successfully revealed that the charge transfer efficiency was enhanced by the insertion of the passivation materials including a benzene ring stabilizing the defect states. Particularly, it was demonstrated that CH3O‐PEAI showed the highest increase in the charge transfer efficiency, which could be attributed to the high electron density in the benzene ring, resulting from the existence of the electron donating group, CH3O, and its role in the effective transition from 3D to 2D perovskite phases.
Sonographic Measurement of Median Nerve Cross‐Sectional Area to Determine Severity of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Authors: Savage Nathan J. , McKell John S.
Published: May 2024

Objectives

Evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of median nerve cross‐sectional area (CSA) to determine the severity of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) vs the presence of CTS across existing electrodiagnostic‐based (EDX) classification systems.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of cross‐sectional patient data. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine CSA cutoff values and associated diagnostic likelihood ratios for all consolidated and binary EDX‐based classifications of CTS severity. Identification of CSA cutoff values associated with likelihood ratios capable of achieving conclusive (but at least moderate) shifts in diagnostic probability.

Results

Binary categorizations of CTS (ie, “Normal” vs “Absent”) were statistically superior to consolidated categorizations of CTS severity (ie, “Normal,” “Mild,” “Moderate,” or “Severe”). Binary categorizations established consistent CSA cutoff values across all EDX‐based classifications examined and achieved conclusive shifts in diagnostic probability based on the following values of distal CSA or delta CSA: <7 or <1 mm2 to rule out and >13 or >7 mm2 to rule in CTS, respectively. Additionally, the following values of distal CSA and delta CSA may be used in certain circumstances because they produce only small shifts in diagnostic probability: ≤10 or ≤3 mm2 to rule out and ≥11 or ≥4 mm2 to rule in CTS, respectively.

Conclusions

Using median nerve CSA to categorize the severity of CTS is not recommended based on lack of consistent and meaningful shifts in diagnostic probability. Rather, binary categorizations to rule out or rule in CTS based on the proposed CSA cutoff values consistently provided conclusive shifts in diagnostic probability across all EDX‐based classifications examined.
Resolving Conflict: An Act of Commitment
Authors: Freebairn‐Smith Laura
Published: May 2024

Resolving conflict is an act of connection. It is an act of commitment to a relationship and a person.
Employing Spectroscopic, Electrochemical, and In Silico Research to Investigate the Interaction of Ofloxacin, Antibacterial Drug With the Haemoglobin
Authors: Yadav Sandeep , Sewariya Shubham , Babu Singh Madhur , Sachdeva Bhoomi , Singh Prashant , Chandra Ramesh , Kukreity Srikant , Singh Sandeep Kumar , Kumari Kamlesh
Published: May 2024

Understanding the intricate interplay between proteins and ligands is pivotal for rational drug development. This study investigates the binding of Ofloxacin to Hb using diverse biophysical techniques: fluorescence spectroscopy, UV‐visible spectroscopy, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and electrochemical analysis. Spectrophotometric data confirm a static quenching mechanism in ofloxacin‐Hb binding. Notably, ofloxacin‐Hb binding exhibits a significant change in free energy (−17.134 kJ/mol) and strong affinity via molecular docking was also observed (−8.2 kcal/mol). Molecular dynamics simulations validated these results, showing a change in free energy of −91.093 kJ/mol with minimal error of 13.508 kJ/mol, supporting a plausible interaction. Additionally, cyclic voltammetry elucidated dynamic interactions between Hb and ofloxacin. This comprehensive approach provides insights into drug‐protein binding dynamics, crucial for refining drug development strategies.
Imidazopyridine Hydrazine Conjugates as Potent Anti‐TB Agents with their Docking, SAR, and DFT Studies
Authors: Soumyashree D. K. , Reddy Dinesh S. , Sunitha Kumari M. , Ravikumar R. , Kumar Amit , Nagarajaiah H. , Vidya G. , Naik Lohit , Al‐Asbahi Bandar Ali , Kadam Nikhil , Shanavaz H. , Padmashali Basavaraj
Published: May 2024

Novel imidazopyridines hydrazine conjugates were designed and synthesized for their anti‐tubercular (anti‐TB) activity. A cytotoxicity assay was conducted with Vero cells to determine the safety profile of the most effective compounds. It was found that compound (IA3) (MIC=0.78 μM) and (IA8) (MIC=1.12 μM) were nearly 3.7 and 2.5 times more active than pyrazinamide. Based on Density functional theory (DFT), these molecules exhibited better charge transfer between molecular orbital's, which made them suitable for biological applications. Molecular docking on Mycobacterium tuberculosis InhA bound to NITD‐916 (PDB: 4R9S) revealed that compounds possessed greater binding affinity towards proteins. In addition, the most active anti‐TB compounds (IA3) and (IA8) exhibited high levels of interaction with the target protein and exceptional safety profile, suggesting they may prove to be effective leads for new drugs.
Advances in Microfluidic Paper‐Based Analytical Devices (µPADs): Design, Fabrication, and Applications
Authors: Chen Jian Lin , Njoku Demian Ifeanyi , Tang Cui , Gao Yaru , Chen Jiayu , Peng Yung‐Kang , Sun Hongyan , Mao Guozhu , Pan Min , Tam Nora Fung‐Yee
Published: May 2024

Microfluidic Paper‐based Analytical Devices (µPADs) have emerged as a new class of microfluidic systems, offering numerous advantages over traditional microfluidic chips. These advantages include simplicity, cost‐effectiveness, stability, storability, disposability, and portability. As a result, various designs for different types of assays are developed and investigated. In recent years, µPADs are combined with conventional detection methods to enable rapid on‐site detection, providing results comparable to expensive and sophisticated large‐scale testing methods that require more time and skilled personnel. The application of µPAD techniques is extensive in environmental quality control/analysis, clinical diagnosis, and food safety testing, paving the way for on‐site real‐time diagnosis as a promising future development. This review focuses on the recent research advancements in the design, fabrication, material selection, and detection methods of µPADs. It provides a comprehensive understanding of their principles of operation, applications, and future development prospects.
Heroes, Victims, and Resisters: Agentic Vulnerability and Techniques of Identity Talk in Digitalized Job Centers
Authors: Schmidt Alexandrina , Scott Susie
Published: May 2024

This article explores vulnerable clients' techniques of identity talk, drawing on interviews with clients in Danish job centers. We combine the theoretical perspective of symbolic interactionism with the sociology of nothing to explore techniques of disidentification from the nonworker identity. The study demonstrates how the actors perform agentic vulnerability to resolve their identity dilemmas. We identify three techniques of identity talk: (1) hero‐talk to reassert their hard worker identity, (2) victim‐talk to excuse their current positions, and (3) resister‐talk through commissive and omissive responses to digital demands and requirements. The latter involves different forms of negational action: doing something, nondoing, and doing nothing.
An automated geometry generation procedure for CWE applications in OpenFOAM: the case study of a thunderstorm downburst moving over Genoa city
Authors: Žužul Josip , Ricci Alessio , Burlando Massimiliano
Published: May 2024

Since a decade, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations for Wind Engineering (WE) on large-scale environments became a norm. Meso-$$\gamma$$
γ
scales and microscale can be characterized by a large number of structures as well as complex terrain topographies. CFD simulations over such an area would commonly imply the involvement of a time-consuming geometry preparation in the pre-processing stage. This is also the innovative goal of the present paper for which an automated geometry generation procedure for Computational Wind Engineering (CWE) applications is developed in open-source environments. This paper further expands on the unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) simulation of a thunderstorm downburst immersed in a background Atmospheric Boundary Layer (ABL) wind moving over Genoa city, Italy. Recommendations for geometry and grid generation of the present case study are also proposed. The study considers two simultaneous approaching wind conditions, a background ABL wind and a moving downburst (DB), the latter modeled as an impinging jet. The simulated results are compared with available full-scale LiDAR profiler data in terms of the vertical profiles of outflow velocity, showing relatively good agreement in terms of magnitude and profile shape.
Newton vs. Euler–Lagrange approach, or how and when beam equations are variational
Authors: Babilio Enrico , Lenci Stefano
Published: May 2024

There is a clear and compelling need to correctly write the equations of motion of structures in order to adequately describe their dynamics. Two routes, indeed very different from a philosophical standpoint, can be used in classical mechanics to derive such equations, namely the Newton vectorial approach (i.e., roughly, sum of forces equal to mass times acceleration) or the Euler–Lagrange variational formulation (i.e., roughly, stationarity of a certain functional). However, it is desirable that whichever derivation strategy is chosen, the equations are the same. Since many structures of interest often consist of slender and highly flexible beams operating in regimes of large displacement and large rotation, we restrict our attention to the Euler-Bernoulli assumptions with a generic initial configuration. In this setting, the question that arises is: What conditions must the constitutive assumptions satisfy in order for the equations of motion obtained by Newton’s approach to be identical to the Euler–Lagrange equations derived from an appropriate Lagrangian, natural or virtual, for any arbitrary initial configuration? The aim of this paper is to try to answer this basic question, which indeed does not have an immediate and simple answer, in particular as a consequence of the fact that bending moment could be related to two different notions of flexural curvature.
Generating terahertz multiple vortex beams using graphene metasurfaces
Authors: Zainud-Deen Anas S. , Malhat Hend A. , Sebak Abdel-Razik , Badawy Mona M.
Published: May 2024

This paper investigates the generation of orbital angular momentum vortex beams using a graphene metasurface in the terahertz frequency band. The proposed design consists of 20 × 20 unit-cell elements to operate in 1.2 THz applications. Each element is a graphene ring patch printed on a silicon dioxide substrate backed with a polysilicon ground plane of size 75 × 75 × 25 µm3. The graphene reconfigurable surface conductivity is used to control the beam shape, direction, and directivity radiated from the metasurface, through the application of DC biasing voltages. A parametric study on the effect of graphene chemical potential, relaxation time and temperature on the unit-cell reflection properties is introduced. The reflection magnitude varies from − 2.1 dB to -0.8 dB with a 350-degree phase variation for µc ranging from 0.25 eV to 1.6 eV at $$\tau$$ =5 ps, and T = 300 K. The effect of graphene relaxation time from 0.3 ps to 10 ps on the reflection coefficient at µc = 0.7 eV, and T = 300 K is investigated. The metasurface radiation characteristics are investigated under the illumination of two types of incidence sources, plane-wave, and focused-waves. A depiction of a single vortex beam in various orientations θ = 0, 30o, 50o, and 70o, φ = 90o for l = 1 is presented. The purity of the OAM single beam shows that 94% of the power is concentrated in the designed mode. A graphene metasurface can to convert linearly polarized input into multiple beams exhibiting orthogonal modes. Two/four vortex beams in different directions are demonstrated. The capacity for wireless communication in the terahertz band can be enhanced by utilizing a graphene metasurface.
Supporting Educators and Students: A University–Community Partnership to Implement Trauma-Informed Practices in Schools
Authors: Sharkey Jill D. , Mullin Alice , Felix Erika D. , Maier Desirae , Fedders Andrew
Published: May 2024

With the growing recognition of the prevalence and impact of adverse childhood experiences, building trauma-informed service systems is critical. Although there are many online resources to help school systems become more trauma informed, how much they meet the needs of educators is not well understood. To help schools implement trauma-informed practices (TIPS) to support both educators (all school-based certificated staff) and students, a partnership among a California research university, a local foundation, and three school districts was developed at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The partnership envisioned a three-phase study to determine the feasibility, acceptability, and outcomes of an intervention supporting TIPS. First, two local districts were engaged in a mixed method needs assessment to explore educators’ wellbeing and use of trauma-informed resources. Input from district-level advisory committees guided a needs assessment that informed the development of trainings to (1) help administrators best support their staff, and (2) teach educators how to best support themselves and their students with traumatic stress and related symptoms. Second, researchers curated freely available resources to develop a 3-module administrator training and an 8-module teacher training. Finally, university-based psychologists and teacher educators delivered the curricula in two school districts and the university’s teacher education program. Researchers implemented a pretest–posttest evaluation design and gathered in-session feedback after each module. Results indicated that participants found the sessions helpful and relevant and they had greater knowledge of TIPS. Future directions include scaling up implementation, understanding outcomes from multiple perspectives, and integrating follow-up activities to help with skill retention.
Monitoring an Emergent Pathogen at Low Incidence in Wastewater Using qPCR: Mpox in Switzerland
Authors: Julian Timothy R. , Devaux Alexander J. , Brülisauer Laura , Conforti Sheena , Rusch Johannes C. , Gan Charles , Bagutti Claudia , Stadler Tanja , Kohn Tamar , Ort Christoph
Published: May 2024

Wastewater-based epidemiology offers a complementary approach to clinical case-based surveillance of emergent diseases and can help identify regions with infected people to prioritize clinical surveillance strategies. However, tracking emergent diseases in wastewater requires reliance on novel testing assays with uncertain sensitivity and specificity. Limited pathogen shedding may cause detection to be below the limit of quantification or bordering the limit of detection. Here, we investigated how the definition of limit of detection for quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) impacts epidemiological insights during an mpox outbreak in Switzerland. 365 wastewater samples from three wastewater treatment plants in Switzerland from 9 March through 31 October 2022 were analyzed for mpox DNA using qPCR. We detected mpox DNA in 22% (79 of 365) wastewater samples based on a liberal definition of qPCR detection as any exponentially increasing fluorescence above the threshold. Based on a more restrictive definition as the lowest concentration at which there is 95% likelihood of detection, detection was 1% (5 of 365). The liberal definition shows high specificity (90%) and accuracy (78%), but moderate sensitivity (64%) when benchmarked against available clinical case reporting, which contrasts with higher specificity (98%) but lower sensitivity (10%) and accuracy (56%) of the 95% likelihood definition. Wastewater-based epidemiology applied to an emergent pathogen will require optimizing public health trade-offs between reporting data with high degrees of uncertainty and delaying communication and associated action. Information sharing with relevant public health stakeholders could couple early results with clear descriptions of uncertainty.

Impact Statement: When a novel pathogen threatens to enter a community, wastewater-based epidemiology offers an opportunity to track its emergence and spread. However, rapid deployment of methods for to detect a novel pathogen may rely on assays with uncertain sensitivity and specificity. Benchmarking the detection of mpox DNA in Swiss wastewaters with reported clinical cases in 2022, we demonstrate how definitions of detection of a qPCR assay influence epidemiological insights from wastewater. The results highlight the need for information sharing between public health stakeholders that couple early insights from wastewater with descriptions of methodological uncertainty to optimize public health actions.
„We are skipping our lessons to teach you one“
Authors: Jergus Kerstin , Schmidt Melanie
Published: May 2024

Dieser Beitrag fragt danach, wie in den aktuellen jugendlichen Klimaprotestbewegungen ökologische Anliegen des Klimaschutzes und der nachhaltigen Zukunftsgestaltung mit gleichermaßen politischen wie pädagogischen Aktivitäten verschränkt werden. Ausgehend von der Beobachtung, dass klimaaktivistische Gruppierungen als Teil ihrer Protestpraxis eigene Bildungsräume einrichten, interessieren wir uns für den Stellenwert einer bewegungsbezogenen Bildungsprogrammatik aus erziehungswissenschaftlicher Sicht. Am Beispiel der aus den Reihen der Klimaprotestbewegung heraus organisierten Veranstaltungsreihe Public Climate School werden die pädagogischen Motive und Argumentationen der Gruppierungen untersucht. Im Zentrum der analytischen Vorgehensweise und des theoretischen Arguments steht die Frage danach, wie die Inszenierung und Befragung eines Generationenverhältnisses zum Schauplatz einer politischen Subjektivierung der Protestierenden wird.
Learning the weights using attribute order information for multi-criteria decision making tasks
Authors: Dombi József , Jónás Tamás
Published: May 2024

In multi-criteria decision making, the importance of decision criteria (decision attributes) plays a crucial role. Ranking is a useful technique for expressing the importance of decision criteria in a decision-makers’ preference system. Since weights are commonly utilized for characterizing the importance of criteria, weight determination and assessment are important tasks in multi-criteria decision making and in voting systems as well. In this study, we concentrate on the connection between the preference order of decision criteria and the decision weights. Here, we present an easy-to-use procedure that can be used to produce a sequence of weights corresponding to a decision-makers’ preference order of decision criteria. The proposed method does not require pairwise comparisons, which is an advantageous property especially in cases where the number of criteria is large. This method is based on the application of a class of regular increasing monotone quantifiers, which we refer to as the class of weighting generator functions. We will show that the derivatives of these functions can be used for approximating the criteria weights. Also, we will demonstrate that using weighting generator functions, weights can be inverted in a consistent way. We will deduce the generators for arithmetic and geometric weight sequences, and we will present a one-parameter generator function known as the tau function in continuous-valued logic. We will show that using these weighting generator functions, the weight learning task can be turned into a simple, one-parameter optimization problem.
Multi-Modal in Vitro Experiments Mimicking the Flow Through a Mitral Heart Valve Phantom
Authors: Christierson Lea , Frieberg Petter , Lala Tania , Töger Johannes , Liuba Petru , Revstedt Johan , Isaksson Hanna , Hakacova Nina
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Fluid-structure interaction (FSI) models are more commonly applied in medical research as computational power is increasing. However, understanding the accuracy of FSI models is crucial, especially in the context of heart valve disease in patient-specific models. Therefore, this study aimed to create a multi-modal benchmarking data set for cardiac-inspired FSI models, based on clinically important parameters, such as the pressure, velocity, and valve opening, with an in vitro phantom setup.

Method

An in vitro setup was developed with a 3D-printed phantom mimicking the left heart, including a deforming mitral valve. A range of pulsatile flows were created with a computer-controlled motor-and-pump setup. Catheter pressure measurements, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and echocardiography (Echo) imaging were used to measure pressure and velocity in the domain. Furthermore, the valve opening was quantified based on cine MRI and Echo images.

Result

The experimental setup, with 0.5% cycle-to-cycle variation, was successfully built and six different flow cases were investigated. Higher velocity through the mitral valve was observed for increased cardiac output. The pressure difference across the valve also followed this trend. The flow in the phantom was qualitatively assessed by the velocity profile in the ventricle and by streamlines obtained from 4D phase-contrast MRI.

Conclusion

A multi-modal set of data for validation of FSI models has been created, based on parameters relevant for diagnosis of heart valve disease. All data is publicly available for future development of computational heart valve models.
Link-limited bypass rewiring for enhancing the robustness of complex networks
Authors: Chujyo Masaki , Toriumi Fujio
Published: May 2024

Real-world networks often encounter disruptions that can have profound societal impacts. Therefore, enhancing network robustness against random failures and targeted attacks is crucial. Bypass rewiring, in which adjacent nodes are immediately reconnected following node removal, has been proposed as a promising method for enhancing network robustness. However, this method typically requires numerous bypass links and incurs significant costs. In this paper, we propose link-limited bypass rewiring, in which bypass links are reconnected stochastically. Additionally, we investigate the relationship between the number of bypass links and robustness improvement. Our findings, which are based on analytical and numerical results, reveal a tradeoff relationship between the number of added bypass links and robustness enhancement. Notably, preferentially reconnecting high-degree nodes was found to be effective for improving robustness. These insights can inform the design of resilient systems in real-world networks, offering strategies for enhancing robustness against node removal.
Geo-spatial analysis of built-environment exposure to flooding: Iowa case study
Authors: Alabbad Yazeed , Demir Ibrahim
Published: May 2024

Flooding is the most frequent type of natural disaster, inducing devastating damage at large and small spatial scales. Flood exposure analysis is a critical part of flood risk assessment. While most studies analyze the exposure elements separately, it is crucial to perform a multi-parameter exposure analysis and consider different types of flood zones to gain a comprehensive understanding of the impact and make informed mitigation decisions. This research analyzes the population, properties, and road networks potentially exposed to the 100, 200, and 500-year flood events at the county level in the State of Iowa using geospatial analytics. We also propose a flood exposure index at the county level using fuzzy overlay analysis to help find the most impacted county. During flooding, results indicate that the county-level percentage of displaced population, impacted properties, and road length can reach up to 46%, 41%, and 40%, respectively. We found that the most exposed buildings and roads are laid in residential areas. Also, 25% of the counties are designated as very high-exposure areas. This study can help many stakeholders identify vulnerable areas and ensure equitable distribution of investments and resources toward flood mitigation projects.
Heavy metals pollution, distribution and associated human health risks in groundwater and surface water: a case of Kampala and Mbarara districts, Uganda
Authors: Sanusi Idris O. , Olutona Godwin O. , Wawata Ibrahim G. , Onohuean Hope
Published: May 2024

Groundwater and surface water quality is of great significance for humanity as they serve as the primary drinking water sources globally. Due to population growth and the need to provide people with necessities that depend on water as an essential resource, these bodies of water are becoming more polluted. The present study involved the collection of groundwater and surface water samples from Kampala and Mbarara districts in Uganda during the dry and wet seasons. Also, concentrations of lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and iron (Fe) were analyzed in order to evaluate the toxicity of metals, identify potential sources, and determine the health risk associated with their presence in water. Results showed that metals were observed with higher concentration during the wet season than the dry season. The concentrations of Fe (8.646 ± 0.00 mg/L), Mn (2.691 ± 0.01 mg/L) and Cd (0.090 ± 0.41 mg/L) measured in groundwater were significantly higher than those measured in surface water. However, only Cu was observed with higher concentration (0.322 ± 0.06 mg/L) in surface water during the wet season. Furthermore, the degree of contamination (Cd) and the heavy metal pollution index (HPI) were evaluated for both the wet and dry seasons. Results showed that few samples were found in the category of portable drinking water while majority are within the “poor” and “very poor” classes which require proper treatment before consumption. The oral hazard index (HIoral) results showed that none of the samples are suitable for consumption; therefore, cause potential non-carcinogenic health issues to the consumer (HIoral > 1). Moreover, children are more at risk than adults in the study districts (higher HI values in both seasons). This study recommends frequent monitoring of quality of water and also effluent waste treatment by the major source of pollution.
Charting America's Cold War Waters in East Asia
Authors: Chen Kuan-Jen
Published: May 2024

Shifting the focus from land to sea when considering the Cold War in East Asia, Kuan-Jen Chen sheds light on the importance of the 'oceanic' lens as a structural imperative in grand strategic thinking. Despite extensive scholarship on postwar US-East Asia relations, questions about the relationship between maritime space, national sovereignty, and geopolitics have not been fully explored. Drawing on archives in Chinese, English, and Japanese, Chen uses the western Pacific as a historical platform, illustrating the relationship between the geopolitical value of the sea and the strategic deliberations of American and East-Asian decision making. The recent deterioration of US-China relations has turned maritime East Asia into a powder keg, with no country in the region able to remain neutral. By anchoring today's maritime East Asia in the past, this book traces the evolution of historical factors that led to the current status quo in the western Pacific, and shows the origins of controversial issues in the region.
Early English Periodicals and Early Modern Social Media
Authors: Ezell Margaret J. M.
Published: May 2024

Using the lens of early modern social authorship and contemporary social media, this Element explores a new print genre popular in England at the end of the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, the periodical. Traditionally, literary history has focused on only one aspect, the periodical essay. This Element returns the periodical to its original, complex literary ecosystem as an ephemeral text competing for an emerging audience, growing out of a social authorship culture. It argues that the relationship between authors, publishers, and audiences in the early periodicals is a dynamic participatory culture, similar to what modern readers encounter in the early phases of the transition from print to digital, as seen in social media. Like our current evolving digital environment, the periodical also experienced a shift from its original practices stressing sociability to a more commercially driven media ecology. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Casebook of Dementia
Authors: Wong Gloria HY , Ma Bosco HM , Lee Maggie NY , Dai David LK
Published: May 2024

Dementia is hugely underdiagnosed and under-managed partly due to stretched specialist services. Written by a team involved in a pioneering community-based primary care service, this practical book brings together 99 case studies from the frontline in providing early intervention for people seeking help for suspected dementia. Both typical and atypical cases of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias are examined, familiarising readers with possible patient scenarios and the recommended management strategies. Useful tools such as example forms for history taking and the use of a modified General Practitioner Assessment of Cognition (GPCOG) equip multidisciplinary teams with the knowledge needed for early identification of dementia. The final chapter sets out key considerations in primary care such as carer support, sharing diagnoses, and forming a dementia-friendly community. The emphasis on collaborative care between the medical and social care provides guidance for post-diagnostic support. This title is available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Turbulent vortex pair at equilibrium and its interaction with the ground at
Authors: Winckelmans Grégoire , Duponcheel Matthieu , Bricteux Laurent , De Visscher Ivan , Thiry Olivier
Published: May 2024

A turbulent two-vortex system (T-2VS) is obtained by inserting analytical model wake vortices into very weak homogeneous isotropic turbulence (HIT) and by evolving them in time using large-eddy simulation until a turbulent state at statistical equilibrium is reached. The T-2VS is characterised as follows: circulation distribution of the vortices; energy of the mean and fluctuating fields; energy dissipation rate. It is also verified that essentially the same T-2VS is obtained when varying the initial model or initial HIT perturbation. A wall-resolved simulation of the T-2VS further interacting with a smooth ground is then performed at

$Re_\varGamma = 2 \times 10^5$

; this is

$10 \times$

higher than in previous works, which allows us to better capture the high Reynolds number behaviour. The high release height of the T-2VS also ensures a physically correct approach to the ground. The results are compared with the literature and also to what is obtained for the case of non-turbulent vortices interacting with the same ground at the same Reynolds number. The flow topologies are discussed, and significant differences are highlighted regarding the separation of the boundary layer generated at the ground, and the way this secondary vorticity interacts with the primary vortices and makes them decay. The vortex trajectories are also measured, together with their circulation distribution and global circulation evolution, and the differences are discussed.