bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fatty Liver Disease Along Cushing Syndrome Evolution
Authors: Marengo Maria , Briet Claire , Munier Mathilde , Boursier Jérôme , Rodien Patrice , Suteau Valentine
Published: August 2024

Context

The clinical manifestations of Cushing syndrome are variable, but an important number of patients present a metabolic syndrome, strongly associated with hepatic steatosis.

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) at the diagnosis of Cushing syndrome.

Methods

We conducted a single-center retrospective study at Angers Hospital (France) between 2010 and 2020. Forty-nine patients followed for Cushing syndrome with available abdominal imaging at diagnosis were included. A mean liver/spleen density ratio < 1 on computed tomography was diagnostic of hepatic steatosis. Simple clinico-biological scores predictive of hepatic fibrosis (FIB-4, NAFLD Fibrosis Score, and eLIFT) were calculated for patients with hepatic steatosis.

Results

Of the 49 patients, 13 (26.5%) had hepatic steatosis at diagnosis of Cushing syndrome. All 13 had MASLD. These patients had a higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes and higher triglyceride levels in multivariate analysis. There was no difference according to the intensity or duration of Cushing syndrome. Among the 13 patients with MASLD, 2 (15.4%) had a significant fibrosis predictive score. Of the 4 patients with follow-up imaging after remission of Cushing syndrome, 3 had remission of steatosis between 1 and 5 years after remission of Cushing syndrome. No patient without MASLD at diagnosis had a worsening liver/spleen ratio after remission.

Conclusion

We estimated the prevalence of hepatic steatosis at the diagnosis of Cushing syndrome at 26.5%. The presence of metabolic factors was associated with the occurrence of hepatic steatosis.
Improving genomic prediction of rhizomania resistance in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) by implementing epistatic effects and feature selection
Authors: Lange Thomas Martin , Heinrich Felix , Kopisch-Obuch Friedrich , Keunecke Harald , Gültas Mehmet , Schmitt Armin O.
Published: August 2024

Background Rhizomania counts as the most important disease in sugar beet Beta vulgaris L. for which no plant protection is available, leaving plant breeding as the only defence strategy at the moment. Five resistance genes have been detected on the same chromosome and further studies suggested that these might be different alleles at two resistance clusters. Nevertheless, it was postulated that rhizomania resistance might be a quantitative trait with multiple unknown minor resistance genes. Here, we present a first attempt at genomic prediction of rhizomania resistance in a population that carries resistances at the two known resistance clusters. The sugar beet population was genotyped using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. Methods First, genomic prediction was performed using all SNPs. Next, we calculated the variable importance for each SNP using machine learning and performed genomic prediction by including the SNPs incrementally in the prediction model based on their variable importance. Using this method, we selected the optimal number of SNPs that maximised the prediction accuracy. Furthermore, we performed genomic prediction with SNP pairs. We also performed feature selection with SNP pairs using the information about the variable importance of the single SNPs. Results From the four methods under investigation, the latter led to the highest prediction accuracy. These results lead to the conclusion that more than the two known resistance clusters are involved in rhizomania resistance and that genetic interactions affect rhizomania resistance. Finally, we have analysed which SNPs were repeatedly detected in the feature selection process and discovered four SNPs, two of which are located on chromosomes that were previously not associated with rhizomania resistance.
Sexual side effects of antipsychotic drugs in schizophrenia: Protocol for a systematic review with single-arm, pairwise and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and non-randomized studies
Authors: Schneider-Thoma Johannes , Dong Shimeng , Efthimiou Orestis , Siafis Spyridon , Hansen Wulf Peter , Scheuring Elfriede , Möhrmann Karl Heinz , Leucht Stefan
Published: August 2024

Introduction Sexual dysfunctions are common yet underreported side effects of antipsychotics for schizophrenia, affecting 30-80% of treated individuals. These side effects can severely impact social interactions and treatment adherence for individuals with schizophrenia, but comprehensive comparative evidence assessing the risk profiles of different antipsychotics is lacking. This study aims to address this gap using network meta-analysis that integrates data from both randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized studies (NRS). Protocol This systematic review will include both RCTs and NRS focusing on participants with schizophrenia or schizophrenia-like psychoses, without restrictions on symptoms, gender, ethnicity, age, or setting. For interventions, all second-generation antipsychotics will be included. The primary outcome will be the occurrence of at least one sexual adverse event of any kind. Secondary outcomes will be the occurrence of any sexual adverse event evaluated in men and women separately, and any adverse event related to the three phases of sexual response cycle separately: desire (e.g. libido, sexual thoughts), arousal (e.g. erection, lubrication) and orgasm (e.g. ejaculation, anorgasmia), and any adverse effect related to breast dysfunction and menstruation irregularities. Study selection and data extraction will be performed independently by two reviewers. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool 1 and ROBINS-I will be employed to evaluate the risk of bias for RCTs and NRS, respectively. Single-arm meta-analysis of proportions will synthesize the average frequency of sexual adverse events in treated participants. Pairwise and network meta-analysis of RCTs and NRS will be used to evaluate comparative tolerability. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses will explore possible heterogeneity in results and validate the findings’ robustness. The quality of the evidence will be evaluated using GRADE. Discussion This study will provide vital insights into the sexual side effects of antipsychotics by combining evidence from clinical trials and real-world practice, facilitating better decision-making in choosing the optimal antipsychotic for individuals.
Is there a relationship between resting state connectivity within large-scale functional networks and implicit motor learning impairments in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder?
Authors: Chrobak Adrian Andrzej , Bielak Sylwia , Nowaczek Dominik , Żyrkowska Aleksandra , Styczeń Krzysztof , Sobczak Anna Maria , Fafrowicz Magdalena , Bryll Amira , Marek Tadeusz , Dudek Dominika , Siwek Marcin
Published: August 2024

Cel pracy

Celem naszego eksploracyjnego badania jest ocena, czy zaburzenia nieświadomego uczenia się motorycznego w schizofrenii (SZ) i w chorobie afektywnej dwubiegunowej (ChaD) są związane z zaburzeniami łączności funkcjonalnej w stanie spoczynku (rs-FC) w obrębie głównych sieci funkcjonalnych ośrodkowego układu nerwowego.

Metoda

W badaniu uczestniczyło 30 pacjentów z ChAD, 30 z rozpoznaniem SZ i 30 zdrowych ochotników (ZO). Nieświadome uczenie się motoryczne było oceniane przy użyciu zadania z pomiarem seryjnego czasu reakcji (SRTT). Przed treningiem uczestnicy zostali poddani obrazowania funkcjonalnego rezonansu magnetycznego w stanie spoczynku (resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging, rs-fMRI). W badaniu oceniono rs-FC w obrębie sieci istotności (salience network, SAN), sieci aktywności spoczynkowej (default mode network, DMN), sieci czołowo-ciemieniowej (frontoparietal network, FPN), sieci sensoryczno-motorycznej (sensorimotor network, SMN), sieci limbicznej (limbic network) i sieci wzrokowej (visual network, VIN). W pracy analizowano związek między rs-FC powyższych sieci a wskaźnikami nieświadomego uczenia się.

Wyniki

rs-FC w obrębie SAN, DMN, FPN, SMN, LN i VIN nie wykazywała istotnych związków ze wskaźnikami nieświadomego uczenia się motorycznego. Grupy ChAD, SZ i OZ nie różniły się pod względem rs-FC wewnątrz wymienionych sieci

Wnioski

Siła rs-FC w obrębie głównych sieci funkcjonalnych, tj. SMN, FPN, VIN, LN, SAN i DMN nie wykazywała związku z miarami ocenianymi w SRTT. Niezależność procesu nieświadomego uczenia się motorycznego od spoczynkowej aktywności powyższych sieci stanowi istotną informację dla zrozumienia neuronalnych podstaw tego procesu oraz rozwoju dalszych badań dotyczących tej dziedziny.
Impact of pre-conception diet on female infertility
Authors: Kahan Weronika , Poborowska Dominika , Szafrańska Weronika , Polańska Katarzyna , Wojaczek Marta , Niedbał Piotr , Kosińska Agnieszka , Kras Magdalena , Lelek Katarzyna , Łata Marcin
Published: August 2024

Introduction and purpose
Infertility is defined as a condition characterized by the inability to become clinically pregnant after 12 months of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse, or because a person's ability to reproduce, either as an individual or with his or her partner, is impaired. Infertility affects between 8% and 12% of couples of reproductive age worldwide. Fertility decline in women begins as early as age 25-30. The purpose of this article is to present the problem of infertility in women, possible diagnostic options, methods of prevention and treatment of infertility. We draw attention to the important role of a proper lifestyle, including diet in the fight against infertility.  
State of knowledge
The article reviews the literature on infertility with special attention to the problem of infertility in women. Knowing the causes of infertility, it is possible to implement targeted diagnosis and then treatment. Attention is paid to the influence of proper diet on female fertility. 
Material and method
A review of the literature available on PubMed and Google Schoolar was conducted. We focused on presenting different causes of infertility in women, diagnostic options, treatment methods depending on the cause of the problem. We paid special attention to proper diet and its impact on female fertility.
Summary
In our review, we presented how big a problem female infertility is.  We managed to describe the current state of knowledge on the definition, epidemiology of fertility and infertility, and the main causes of female infertility. Based on a number of studies, we have proven the beneficial effects of a proper lifestyle with emphasis on a proper diet.
Barriers to Exercise in Type 1 Diabetes Patients and the Impact of Aerobic and Anaerobic Exercises on Blood Glucose Management: A Current Literature Review
Authors: Lissak Karina , Nowińska Bianka , Bińczyk Wiktoria , Dróżdż Olgierd , Siudek Bartosz , Wiśniewska Anna , Konopka Agata , Szczepaniak Zuzanna , Orzeł Milena , Orzeł Bartłomiej , Myślicka Maria , Włodarczyk Klaudia
Published: August 2024

Engaging in regular physical activity (PA) is crucial for managing type 1 diabetes (T1D) effectively. PA helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), lower total daily insulin requirements, improve endothelial function, enhance muscular strength, and boost psychological well-being and quality of life. However, individuals with T1D tend to engage in PA less frequently than their healthy peers due to various barriers, with the fear of hypoglycemia (FOH) being a significant factor that impacts quality of life and diabetes outcomes.
Understanding these barriers can increase awareness, improve comprehension, and enhance better support from non-diabetology specialists. This article aims to review the current literature on the primary limitations to regular PA, including continuous glucose management (CGM), in individuals with T1D. Additionally, we explore the impact of various types of PA on blood glucose management and overall well-being.
Sports and diabetes - limitations resulting from the disease in people engaging in sports
Authors: Cąkała Marlena , Zajkowska-Sierpniak Aleksandra , Kozioł Magdalena , Podgórniak Kamila , Szymchel Michał , Grzegorzak Filip
Published: August 2024

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition that significantly impacts various aspects of daily life, including physical activity and sports participation. This article explores the limitations imposed by diabetes on individuals engaged in sports, examining both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It discusses how the disease affects physical performance, endurance, and recovery, and highlights the need for careful management of blood glucose levels before, during, and after exercise. The potential risks of hypoglycemia and complications like diabetic neuropathy are addressed, alongside strategies for mitigating these risks through personalized exercise regimens, dietary adjustments, and continuous monitoring.
Despite these challenges, the article emphasizes that with proper management and awareness, individuals with diabetes can safely engage in various forms of physical activity, often achieving high levels of performance. The discussion aims to provide athletes, coaches, and healthcare providers with insights into optimizing sports participation for diabetic individuals, promoting both safety and success in athletic endeavors.
Upadacitinib - New Janus Kinase Inhibitor - Literature Review
Authors: Grzelka Michalina , Plizga Jakub , Głuszczyk Agnieszka , Makłowicz Aleksandra , Kopczyńska Ewelina , Szpulak Angelika , Frańczuk Agata , Głoskowska Julia , Kuleta Katarzyna , Karkos Patrycja
Published: August 2024

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, recurrent dermatosis that affects an increasing percentage of the population. It usually affects children and resolves spontaneously, however, symptoms can persist into adulthood and even appear de novo later in life. The skin lesions that appear in this disease significantly reduce patients quality of life. Visual skin symptoms are exacerbated during stress, and pruritus leads to sleep problems. The effect of an inadequately controlled disease can even be a reduction in social activities and a reluctance to leave the house. The basis of treatment is skin care using emollients and avoiding triggers and aggravating factors. In the next stage, the doctor may prescribe topical or systemic treatment for the patient, depending on the severity of the disease. Such measures may not be enough, so more and more new drugs are being registered for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. One of them is upadacitinib, which appears to be extremely effective compared to other medications used to treat moderate to severe ad. It is a selective JAK inhibitor that reduces the inflammatory response by inhibiting migration, proliferation and cytokine secretion by granulocytes. It brings rapid and sustained effects in reducing skin lesions and reducing one of the most bothersome symptoms, pruritus.It may serve as a good alternative to the existing methods for treating moderate to severe atopic dermatitis The purpose of our study is to describe this new drug, its mechanism of action and discuss its possible benefits versus side effects.
Code and Data Repository for Models for test cost minimization in database migration
Authors: Caskurlu Bugra , Subramani K. , Acikalin Utku Umur , Velasquez Alvaro , Wojciechowski Piotr
Published: August 2024

This archive is distributed in association with the INFORMS Journal on Computing under the MIT License. The software and data in this repository are a snapshot of the software and data that were used in the research reported on in the paper Models for test cost minimization in database migration by B. Caskurlu, K. Submrani, U.U. Acikalin, A. Velasquez and P. Wojciechowski. The repository contains implementations of adaptions of the heuristic algorithms and the ILP used in the paper as well as the benchmark instances used to produce this paper.
Code and Data Repository for Efficient Project Scheduling with Automous Learning Opportunities
Authors: Hill Alessandro , Vossen Thomas W. M.
Published: August 2024

This repository contains the problem and solution data used for the experiments in the paper. The file /script/PSP+LL.mw is a MAPLE worksheet that defines a series of procedures and then calls them. The commands should be executed sequentially.
Pengaruh Budaya Korea Terhadap Motivasi Membeli di Komunitas K-Pop Kupang
Authors: Dula Veronika Anjelina , Chotimah Nur , Kholiq Abdul
Published: August 2024

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh budaya Korea terhadap motivasi pembelian barang-barang K-Pop pada komunitas K-Pop di Kupang. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode deskriptif dengan pendekatan kuantitatif. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah seluruh penggemar Korea yang tergabung dalam komunitas K-Pop di Kupang. Ukuran sampel ditentukan dengan rumus Slovin dan teknik pengambilan sampel acak, sehingga diperoleh 100 penggemar K-Pop sebagai sampel. Teknik pengumpulan data dalam penelitian ini adalah kuesioner. Teknik analisis data dilakukan dengan menggunakan uji validitas, uji reliabilitas, uji normalitas, uji multikolinearitas, uji heteroskedastisitas, uji t, dan uji f. Pengolahan data menggunakan Statistical Product and Service Solution (SPSS) versi 29. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa nilai signifikansi yang dihasilkan adalah 0.000 yang lebih kecil dari 0.05. Kesimpulan dari penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa model regresi sederhana ini cocok digunakan, dan variabel independen yang meliputi budaya Korea mempengaruhi motivasi pembelian barang-barang K-Pop pada komunitas K-Pop di Kupang.
Efektivitas Peran Guru Sekolah Menengah Pertama Katolik (SMPK) Supra Talibura dalam Pembelajaran IPA Kurikulum Merdeka Belajar
Authors: Nurdiyanti Nurdiyanti , Sada Mariana , Fitrah Fitrah
Published: August 2024

Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui sistem, kesiapan, dan pelaksanaan pembelajaran IPA dalam kurikulum merdeka belajar. Kurikulum merdeka ini sebagai menggantikan K-13 (kurikulum 2013),ini didasarkan sebagai konsep merdeka belajar dan fokus pada peningkatan kualitas pendidikan. Perubahan kurikulum ini terjadi pada tingkat SMP,namun tidak semua kelas mengalami perubahan hanya kelas VII yang menggunakan kurikulum merdeka belajar. Kurikulum merdeka ini memberikan konsep untuk sekolah menengah pertama dengan "kemerdekaan " bagi pelaksanaan pendidikan terutama para guru dan kepala sekolah dalam mengembangkan,menyusun,dan melaksanakan kurikulum berdasarkan potensi dan kebutuhan peserta didik. Kurikulum merdeka ini membebaskan guru kelas untuk menyusun pembelajaran pada mata pelajaran IPA dengan mempertimbangkan karakteristik. Guru adalah seorang yang mampu mengajar banyak mata pelajaran yang berbeda. Guru juga dituntut untuk senantiasa kreatif dan inovatif dalam proses pembelajaran IPA. Pembelajaran IPA merupakan mata pelajaran yang perlu diajarkan kepada peserta didik sekolah menengah pertama untuk membekali mereka dengan ilmu pengetahuan sistematis yang mempelajari tentang alam,dunia fisik,dan seluruh hal di sekelilingnya,Menurut ( Baharudin,dkk., 2017). Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif peneliti menggunakan pendekatan untuk menjelaskan pembelajaran IPA di kelas VII SMPK Supra Talibura dapat menggunakan teknik pengumpulan data dengan cara observasi, wawancara, dan dokumentasi. Populasi pada penelitian ini adalah Kepala Sekolah SMPK Supra Talibura, guru kelas VII IPA, dan siswa kelas VII SMPK Supra Talibura. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian yang diperoleh bahwa SMPK Supra Talibura ini sudah menerapkan Kurikulum merdeka belajar sejak tahun 2023 sampe sekarang yang dimana  Sekolah ini baru saja menerapkan kurikulum merdeka belajar di kelas VII. Sekolah SMPK Supra Talibura juga sudah mengikuti pelatihan kurikulum merdeka belajar berupa workshop merdeka belajar PMM dan aksi nyata bersama pengawas binaan sekolah . Adapun peran guru kelas VII IPA dalam pembelajaran IPA SMPK Supra Talibura yang dilakukan terhadap peserta didik kelas VII yaitu dengan cara merancang kegiatan pembelajaran outdoor yaitu belajar diluar ruang kelas, mengadakan praktikum yang dimana siswa dilatih merancang dan menemukan sendiri hasil percobaan mereka, dan yang terakhir siswa dilatih untuk membentuk kelompok untuk berdiskusi dan mempresentasikan sehingga ada timbal balik berupa kritik atau pendapat yang kurang setuju.
Etnobotani Rempah Tradisional Masyarakat Adonara Timur Kabupaten Flores Timur
Authors: Juniyati Hastuti , Sada Mariana , Syafriati Yuli Mira
Published: August 2024

Masyarakat Adonara Timur masih sangat bergantung pada pemanfaatan tumbuhan dalam memenuhi kebutuhan hidup sehari-hari. Salah satu yaitu ritual “bubuk muhuk” menggunakan rempah  jahe (Zingiber officinale roscoe) yang masih dilakukan sampai sekarang yaitu pada saat pertandingan sepak bola. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui jenis dan manfaat tumbuhan rempah yang dimanfaatkan oleh masyarakat Adonara Timur Kabupaten Flores Timur. Penelitian ini menggunakan jenis penelitian deskriptif kualitatif dengan  teknik pengumpulan data berupa observasi, wawancara, dokumentasi dan identifikasi tumbuhan. Populasi pada penelitian ini adalah Masyarakat kecamatan Adonara Timur (desa Ipi Ebang, desa Lamahala, desa Waiburak). Sampel. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian, diketahui bahwa terdapat sebanyak 16 spesies dari 11 famili tumbuhan rempah yang dimanfaatkan. Bagian tumbuhan yang paling banyak dimanfaatkan yaitu rimpang 57%, batang 13%, umbi 16% dan bagian tumbuhan yang paling sedikit digunakan adalah buah 9%, biji 3%, daun 2%, dan kulit kayu 1%. Persentase tertinggi jenis tumbuhan rempah yang dimanfaatkan oleh masyarakat Adonara Timur Kabupaten Flores Timur adalah jahe (Zingiber officinale roscoe) sebesar 70%, sedangkan presentasi terendah adalah kayu manis (Cinnamomum burmannii blume) sebesar 3%. Cara pemanfaatan tumbuhan rempah yakni digunakan sebagai bumbu masakan, obat tradisional, bahan ritual adat, pewarna kain, pengusir hama,bahan pembuatan minyak. Adapun cara pengolahannya yang beragam yakni dengan dihaluskan, direbus, digeprek, diparut, diseduh, dikunyah dan di rendam. Perolehan tumbuhan rempah-rempah oleh masyarakat Adonara Timur Kabupaten Flores Timur diperoleh dengan cara budidaya, membeli di pasar, ditanam di pekarangan rumah,  dikebun atau tumbuh secara liar.
Insights into the efficacy of psilocybin in treating depression and other disorders
Authors: Palmer Sarah Jane
Published: August 2024

This article discusses evidence that offers insights into the effects of psilocybin on the brain and its potential role in alleviating the symptoms of some neuropsychiatric conditions.
Be part of the UK Stroke Forum 2024 in Liverpool
Authors: Fernandes Natalie , Jonas Clare , Yearsley Kate
Published: August 2024

Get ready for more exciting opportunities to learn about the latest stroke research, showcase your work, network with colleagues, and gain CPD accreditation at the UK's largest multidisciplinary conference for stroke care professionals.
Operational planning: what is in store for neurology UK-wide
Authors: Thomas Sue
Published: August 2024

The publication of NHS operational planning guidance is a significant moment in the health service calendar as it sets out the NHS priorities for the coming year and dictates what the strategic focus should be for health services. The devolved nations also publish similar policy documents, which outline the key priorities for NHS spending and focus. These policy documents are important for all neurology services as they set out the key areas of activity for healthcare and what services will be measured against. For those working in neuroscience services, the guidance can provide direction on which areas the NHS sees as important to change or improve, which can then be addressed at a local level where nurses can get involved. Sue Thomas provides an overview of directional policy in the UK for the coming year.
The impact of migraine on mental health
Authors: Quinn Andrea
Published: August 2024

Andrea Quinn from The Migraine Trust provides an insight into the detrimental effects of migraine on the mental health of those that experience it, and discusses the upcoming migraine awareness week and what it hopes to achieve.
Lending support
Authors: Hammond Andrea
Published: August 2024

Andrea Hammond advises how best to support autistic patients in the practice.
Creating a safe environment
Authors: Bhatt Emma
Published: August 2024

Emma Bhatt debates how to mitigate an unavoidable occupational hazard.
Lifelong learning: supporting older people in care homes to maintain and acquire skills
Authors: Chia Swee Hong
Published: August 2024

Swee Hong Chia discusses the ways in which older people can be supported to continue former skills and interests, as well as fostering new hobbies and providing learning opportunities.
Leaving Saint-Denis on an Open Boat: Creole Migration to the Pacific
Authors: Speedy Karin
Published: August 2024

Abstract: In the early 1860s, a series of cyclones, the sugar industry collapse and increasing impoverishment among the Reunionese were significant push factors for people to explore greener pastures in other colonies. At the same time, governor Guillain in the new French colony of New Caledonia actively sought to recruit skilled workers from Reunion to start up sugar production in the Pacific, to build the local infrastructure and provide settler bodies for the colonial project. While we are aware of these important push and pull factors, what were the individual, personal motivations for the Creoles of Reunion, particularly the most poverty stricken and dispossessed, to leave home for the unknown island across the oceans? How did they imagine this new colonial space in the Pacific? Using the framework of Édouard Glissant's "The Open Boat," and based on research in the Archives départementales de La Réunion, this article analyses letters to the governor of Reunion written by (or for) prospective migrants, discussing their reasons (and pleas) to be granted passage to New Caledonia. It also considers the motivations to move that have been preserved in oral family histories among the descendants of nineteenth-century Reunionese migrants to the Pacific.
Quitter Saint-Denis à bord d'une barque ouverte: La migration créole vers le Pacifique
Authors: Speedy Karin
Published: August 2024

Résumé: Au début des années 1860, une série de cyclones, l'effondrement de l'industrie sucrière et l'appauvrissement grandissant des Réunionnais sont autant de facteurs qui poussent les gens à changer d'horizon en migrant vers d'autres colonies. En même temps, le gouverneur Guillain, récemment arrivé dans la nouvelle colonie française de Nouvelle-Calédonie, cherche activement à recruter des travailleurs réunionnais pour lancer la production de sucre dans le Pacifique, construire l'infrastructure locale et fournir des colons pour le projet colonial. Si nous sommes conscients de ces importants facteurs d'incitation et d'attraction, quelles étaient les motivations personnelles des individus créoles réunionnais, surtout des plus défavorisés et des plus démunis, qui ont fait le choix de partir si loin de chez eux pour l'île inconnue de l'autre côté des océans ? Comment ont-ils imaginé ce nouvel espace colonial dans le Pacifique ? En s'inspirant de « La barque ouverte » d'Édouard Glissant et en s'appuyant sur des recherches menées aux Archives départementales de La Réunion, j'analyse dans cet article des lettres adressées au gouverneur de La Réunion écrites par (ou pour) des candidats à l'émigration, dans lesquelles ils exposent leurs raisons (et font leurs supplications) pour obtenir un passage vers la Nouvelle-Calédonie. J'examine également les motivations qui ont été préservées dans les histoires familiales orales des descendants de ces migrants réunionnais vers le Pacifique.
Ambiguous Borders: Curanderismo and World Christianity
Authors: Ramsey Ryan T.
Published: August 2024

precis: Curanderxs are healers who utilize a variety of means such as prayers, herbs, Christian icons, Spiritist rituals, images from religions, and such commonplace objects as eggs and dirt. Christian leaders often reject curanderismo as overly syncretistic or even as witchcraft. Nevertheless, many curanderxs are devout Catholics and even understand their gifting and practices through the lens of Christianity. This essay draws on the work of Kwame Bediako to demonstrate how these peripheral Christian curanderxs have translated diverse knowledge into Christian idiom and vice versa. Through examining examples of curanderxs , this essay shows how "Christian" much of the history, discourse, and living tradition of curanderismo is. It is an area of ambiguity that challenges Christianity's borders.
Translating Confessions: Korean Vernacular Voicing of the Penitent Self
Authors: Park Shalon
Published: August 2024

precis: This essay examines how early-nineteenth-century Korean Catholic women practiced confession within the Sinographic linguistic context. When Korean Catholics did not have access to confession through priests, they performed confession through both vernacular writing and brush talk, a method of communication that enabled spoken confession to be "heard" in written Sinographs. This essay draws special attention to the Korean Catholic women whose celibacy was disallowed by the ecclesial authority of the Société des Missions Étrangères de Paris. Introducing the stories of Korean Catholic women from a Latin letter written by one of Korea's earliest priests, Thomas Ch'oe Yangŏp, the essay demonstrates how Korean Catholic women navigated the multimodality of confessional practice.
In the Name of Confucius: On the Recent Metamorphosis of the Confucian Congregation
Authors: Chen Na , Fan Lizhu
Published: August 2024

ABSTRACT: This essay is an update on the emerging religious movement in the People's Republic of China known as the Confucian Congregation, focusing on significant changes over the last few years. The major changes include a rural-to-urban shift in focus, dichotomization of the organization, re-composition of leadership and membership, changes in routine rituals and worship, and changing strategies in activities and development. We conclude with discussions of sociocultural issues in the macroscopic backdrop of this changing movement, as well as some possible challenges for future development.
Dreaming of Manderley: Individualism, Aging, and the Novel
Authors: Crawford Laura Schrock
Published: August 2024

Abstract: This essay examines how Daphne du Maurier's 1938 novel Rebecca maps the bildungsroman journey of self-development in youth onto the process of self-decline in age, creating an uncanny structure that forfeits the climactic achievement of an ultimate self as bodied forth by the traditional novel. This ultimate self is a fantasy of Western individualism that reflects its historical devaluation of the limitations of the body and the associated necessity of human interdependence and care. The limited selfhood achieved by the narrator undercuts the individualist ideal of perpetual self-expansion and leaves her haunted by its fantasy of aristocratic power, represented by the Manderley estate and its former mistress, the titular first Mrs. de Winter. The concrete losses attributable to the aging process thus double in Rebecca as the subversion of individualism's ideal.
Low computational demand stray light correction method for hyperspectral imaging spectrometers
Authors: Chen Hao , Li Shuaihui
Published: August 2024

Stray light correction in hyperspectral imaging spectrometers has long been restricted by high computational requirements. This paper presents a low computational demand method, based on the matrix operations for spectrometer stray light correction, using an iterative approach to efficiently correct stray light across both spectral and spatial dimensions. The efficacy of this method is demonstrated through its application to simulated and real images, achieving an overall reduction of stray light by over 50%, with significantly reduced computation time and memory usage compared to the method by Zong et al. based on a sparse matrix [Appl. Opt. 45, 1111 (2006)10.1364/AO.45.001111APOPAI2155-3165]. By enabling stray light correction on general-purpose computers, this method enhances affordability and accessibility, promoting broader use and reducing measurement uncertainties in various hyperspectral imaging applications.
Microfluidic channel of dual grating structures for directional fluorescence emission enhancement
Authors: Wang Qiang , Chen Zhihui , Wang Yang
Published: August 2024

One-dimensional (1D) gratings can control the intensity and direction of fluorescence emission, which are widely applied in biological detection. However, they are limited in bio-detection due to the small region for light-matter interaction. In this work, we propose a microfluidic channel with a dual-grating structure, which, as shown by numerical simulations, has excellent directional fluorescence enhancement, with an enhancement of more than 100-fold. This enhancement is due to the resonance modes of the metal groove grating (MGG) and the dielectric grating (DG), along with the F-P cavity mode between the upper and lower gratings of the hybrid structure. High E-field achieved within the grooves of the MGG and within the microfluidic channel can greatly facilitates fluorescence excitation when the fluorophores are in the channel. Additionally, this hybrid structure offers the capability of dual-layer, multi-wavelength, high sensitivity parallel detection for multiple analyte. This work opens up vast prospects for its application in the field of high-sensitivity microfluidic fluorescence biochemical detection, environmental analysis, and other luminescent devices.
Information-rich interferometric point-spread function for type-B 4Pi localization microscopy
Authors: Zhou Yongzhuang , Tang Xiaokang , Shen Yong , Harvey Andrew R. , Zou Hongxin
Published: August 2024

The 3D location of light emitters provides essential information in many biological, chemical and physical systems. 4Pi single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) being one of the state-of-the-art techniques provides exceptional precision in the axial direction; however, the lateral precision degrades significantly when the emitter is displaced several wavelengths away from the mutual focal plane. Here we propose a hybrid system employing type-B 4Pi microscope and engineered point-spread function (PSF), the resultant interferometric PSF is optimized against the Cramer-Rao metric, yielding the richest information regarding the emitter’s 3D locations. It outperforms conventional 4Pi SMLM with a larger axial range and compares advantageously to the non-interferometric PSFs with doubled photon efficiency and better precision in all directions.
Quantum-limited transmission distance of optically repeating systems using a hybrid EDFA/Raman-amplifier
Authors: Inoue Kyo
Published: August 2024

The transmission distance of optically repeating systems is ultimately bounded by quantum noises arising from attenuation and amplification. It is known that fiber Raman amplifiers (FRAs) can achieve longer quantum-limited distances than other amplification schemes owing to their distributed amplification characteristics. However, all-FRA systems are difficult to implement in practice. Therefore, a hybrid erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA)/FRA system may be a reasonable solution for long-haul transmission. In this study, the quantum-limited transmission distance of hybrid EDFA/FRA systems is investigated. A formula for the quantum fluctuation variance during transmission was derived based on quantum mechanical treatment. Calculation results obtained with the derived formula quantitatively indicate that the quantum-limited transmission distance increases as the EDFA/FRA hybrid ratio varies from EDFAs alone to FRAs alone.
Quantitative Phase Imaging with Optical Differentiation by Spatially Variable Amplitude Filters
Authors: Bernet Stefan , Strasser Franziska , Ritsch-Marte Monika
Published: August 2024

We present a non-interferometric technique for quantitative phase imaging that is cost-effective, easily integrated into standard microscopes, and capable of wide-field imaging with partially coherent light. Our method measures the phase gradient through optical differentiation using spatially variable amplitude filters, accommodating a range of transmission functions, including commercially available variable neutral density filters. This flexibility is made possible by a general relationship we derive. The approach is demonstrated by recovering phase information from a microsphere with a phase shift exceeding $2\pi$, without the need for phase unwrapping. Additionally, we image multiple HeLa cells across a large field of view.
A health equity monitoring framework based on process mining
Authors: Adams Jan Niklas , Ziegler Jennifer , McDermott Matthew , Douglas Molly J. , Eber René , Gichoya Judy Wawira , Goode Deirdre , Sankaranarayanan Swami , Chen Ziyue , van der Aalst Wil M. P. , Celi Leo Anthony
Published: August 2024

In the United States, there is a proposal to link hospital Medicare payments with health equity measures, signaling a need to precisely measure equity in healthcare delivery. Despite significant research demonstrating disparities in health care outcomes and access, there is a noticeable gap in tools available to assess health equity across various health conditions and treatments. The available tools often focus on a single area of patient care, such as medication delivery, but fail to examine the entire health care process. The objective of this study is to propose a process mining framework to provide a comprehensive view of health equity. Using event logs which track all actions during patient care, this method allows us to look at disparities in single and multiple treatment steps, but also in the broader strategy of treatment delivery. We have applied this framework to the management of patients with sepsis in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), focusing on sex and English language proficiency. We found no significant differences between treatments of male and female patients. However, for patients who don’t speak English, there was a notable delay in starting their treatment, even though their illness was just as severe and subsequent treatments were similar. This framework subsumes existing individual approaches to measure health inequities and offers a comprehensive approach to pinpoint and delve into healthcare disparities, providing a valuable tool for research and policy-making aiming at more equitable healthcare.
Insights into tuberculosis burden in Karachi, Pakistan: A concurrent adult tuberculosis prevalence and child Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection survey
Authors: Khan Palwasha Y. , Paracha Mohammed Shariq , Grundy Chris , Madhani Falak , Saeed Saadia , Maniar Lamis , Dojki Maqboola , Page-Shipp Liesl , Khursheed Nazia , Rabbani Waleed , Riaz Najam , Khowaja Saira , Hussain Owais , Maniar Rabia , Khan Uzma , Khan Salman , Kazmi Syed S. H. , Dahri Ali A. , Ghafoor Abdul , Tahseen Sabira , Habib Ali , Lewis James J. , Kranzer Katharina , Ferrand Rashida A. , Fielding Katherine L. , Khan Aamir J.
Published: August 2024

Pakistan is one of the five highest tuberculosis burden countries globally. We estimated prevalence of adult bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis and annual risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) infection in children aged 2–4 years in Karachi, Pakistan. The survey design enabled exploration of tuberculosis burden by whether the population had previously been exposed to widespread tuberculosis active case-finding (ACF) activities or not. We conducted a concurrent adult pulmonary tuberculosis prevalence survey and a child M. tuberculosis infection survey using interferon gamma release assays in four districts (Korangi, South, West and Central). A cluster-based unequal probability random sampling method was employed with the a priori plan to oversample Korangi district which had been the focus of tuberculosis ACF activities since 2011. We defined Korangi district as the ‘prior ACF’ zone and remaining districts as the ‘no prior ACF’ zone. Between March 2018 and May 2019, 34,962 adults (78·5% of those eligible) and 1,505 children (59·9%) participated. Overall estimated prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis was 387 cases per 100,000 population (95% CI 276–498) with a prevalence of 421 cases [95% CI 276–567] per 100,000 in the ‘no prior ACF’ and 279 cases [95% CI 155–403] per 100,000 in the ‘prior ACF’ zone. We estimated the annual risk of M. tuberculosis infection in children to be 1·1% (95% CI 0·7–1·5) in the ‘no prior ACF’ zone and 0·6% (95% CI 0·3–1·1) in the ‘prior ACF’ zone. We observed consistent differences in the population distribution of tuberculosis between the ‘prior ACF’ and ‘no prior’ ACF zones with a trend towards lower estimates of burden and M. tuberculosis transmission in the ‘prior ACF’ zone. A plausible explanation is that intensive ACF activities that have been ongoing in Korangi district for the preceding years have noticeably reduced the burden of tuberculosis and transmission.
Financing health in sub-Saharan Africa 1990–2050: Donor dependence and expected domestic health spending
Authors: Apeagyei Angela E. , Lidral-Porter Brendan , Patel Nishali , Solorio Juan , Tsakalos Golsum , Wang Yifeng , Warriner Wesley , Wolde Asrat , Zhao Yingxi , Dieleman Joseph L. , Nonvignon Justice
Published: August 2024

In 2021, global life expectancy at birth was 74 years whereas in sub-Saharan Africa it was 66 years. Yet in that same year, $92 per person was spent on health in sub- Saharan Africa, which is roughly one fifth of what the next lowest geographic region—North Africa and Middle East—spent ($379). The challenges to healthy lives in sub-Saharan Africa are many while health spending remains low. This study uses gross domestic product, government, and health spending data to give a more complete picture of the patterns of future health spending in sub-Saharan Africa. We analyzed trends in growth in gross domestic product, government health spending, development assistance for health and the prioritization of health in national spending to compare countries within sub-Saharan Africa and globally.We found that while gross domestic product was projected to increase through 2050 in sub-Saharan Africa, the share of gross domestic product that goes to health spending is only expected to increase moderately. Our exploration shows that this tepid growth is expected because the percent of overall government spending that is dedicated to health 7·2% (6·3–8·3) compared to average of 12·4% (11·7–13·2) in other regions) is expected to stay low. Even if the amount, of resources provided from donors climbs some, it is not expected to keep pace with growing economies in sub-Saharan Africa and may transition towards other global public health goods. Critically, development assistance for health provided to sub-Saharan Africa is expected to decrease in some countries, and the expected growth in government health spending might not be enough to cover this expected decline. Increases in spending with a concordant prioritization of health and the appropriate health system governance and structural reforms are critical to ensure that people who live in sub-Saharan Africa are not left behind.
Estimation equation of limb lean soft tissue mass in Asian athletes using bioelectrical impedance analysis
Authors: Lai Yeong-Kang , Ho Chu-Ying , Huang Ai-Chun , Lu Hsueh-Kuan , Hsieh Kuen-Chang
Published: August 2024

Background

The lean soft tissue mass (LSTM) of the limbs is approximately 63% of total skeletal muscle mass. For athletes, measurement of limb LSTM is the basis for rapid estimation of skeletal muscle mass. This study aimed to establish the estimation equation of LSTM in Asian athletes using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA).

Methods

A total of 198 athletes (121 males, 77 females; mean age 22.04 ± 5.57 years) from different sports in Taiwan were enrolled. A modeling group (MG) of 2/3 (n = 132) of subjects and a validation group (VG) of 1/3 (n = 68) were randomly assigned. Using the InBody S-10, resistance and reactance were measured at 50 kHz from the right palm to the right sole while the participant was in the supine position. Predictor variables were height (h), weight (W), age, Sex, Xc, resistance index (RI; RI = h2 / R). LSTM of arms and legs measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was the response variable. Multivariate stepwise regression analysis method was used to establish BIA estimation equations as ArmsLSTMBIA-Asian and LegsLSTMBIA-Asian. Estimation equations performance was confirmed by cross-validation.

Results

Estimation equation "ArmsLSTMBIA-Asian = 0.096 h2/R– 1.132 Sex + 0.030 Weight + 0.022 Xc– 0.022 h + 0.905, r2 = 0.855, SEE = 0.757 kg, n = 132" and "LegsLSTMBIA Asian = 0.197h2/R" + 0.120 h– 1.242 Sex + 0.055 Weight– 0.052 Age + 0.033 Xc –16.136, r2 = 0.916, SEE = 1.431 kg, n = 132" were obtained from MG. Using DXA measurement results of VG for correlation analysis and Limit of Agreement (LOA) of Bland-Altman Plot, ArmsLST is 0.924, -1.53 to 1.43 kg, and LegsLST is 0.957, -2.68 to 2.90 kg.

Conclusion

The established single-frequency BIA hand-to-foot (whole body) estimation equation quickly and accurately estimates LSTM of the arms and legs of Asian athletes.
An end-to-end framework for private DGA detection as a service
Authors: Maia Ricardo J. M. , Ray Dustin , Pentyala Sikha , Dowsley Rafael , De Cock Martine , Nascimento Anderson C. A. , Jacobi Ricardo
Published: August 2024

Domain Generation Algorithms (DGAs) are used by malware to generate pseudorandom domain names to establish communication between infected bots and command and control servers. While DGAs can be detected by machine learning (ML) models with great accuracy, offering DGA detection as a service raises privacy concerns when requiring network administrators to disclose their DNS traffic to the service provider. The main scientific contribution of this paper is to propose the first end-to-end framework for privacy-preserving classification as a service of domain names into DGA (malicious) or non-DGA (benign) domains. Our framework achieves these goals by carefully designed protocols that combine two privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs), namely secure multi-party computation (MPC) and differential privacy (DP). Through MPC, our framework enables an enterprise network administrator to outsource the problem of classifying a DNS (Domain Name System) domain as DGA or non-DGA to an external organization without revealing any information about the domain name. Moreover, the service provider’s ML model used for DGA detection is never revealed to the network administrator. Furthermore, by using DP, we also ensure that the classification result cannot be used to learn information about individual entries of the training data. Finally, we leverage post-training float16 quantization of deep learning models in MPC to achieve efficient, secure DGA detection. We demonstrate that by using quantization achieves a significant speed-up, resulting in a 23% to 42% reduction in inference runtime without reducing accuracy using a three party secure computation protocol tolerating one corruption. Previous solutions are not end-to-end private, do not provide differential privacy guarantees for the model’s outputs, and assume that model embeddings are publicly known. Our best protocol in terms of accuracy runs in about 0.22s.