bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A possible role for VPS13-family proteins in bulk lipid transfer, membrane expansion and organelle biogenesis
Authors: Melia Thomas J. , Reinisch Karin M.
Published: March 2022

At organelle–organelle contact sites, proteins have long been known to facilitate the rapid movement of lipids. Classically, this lipid transport involves the extraction of single lipids into a hydrophobic pocket on a lipid transport protein. Recently, a new class of lipid transporter has been described with physical characteristics that suggest these proteins are likely to function differently. They possess long hydrophobic tracts that can bind many lipids at once and physically span the entire gulf between membranes at contact sites, suggesting that they may act as bridges to facilitate bulk lipid flow. Here, we review what has been learned regarding the structure and function of this class of lipid transporters, whose best characterized members are VPS13 and ATG2 proteins, and their apparent coordination with other lipid-mobilizing proteins on organelle membranes. We also discuss the prevailing hypothesis in the field, that this type of lipid transport may facilitate membrane expansion through the bulk delivery of lipids, as well as other emerging hypotheses and questions surrounding these novel lipid transport proteins.
Oligopeptide transporter Slc15A modulates macropinocytosis in Dictyostelium by maintaining intracellular nutrient status
Authors: Zhang Yiwei , Tu Hui , Hao Yazhou , Li Dong , Yang Yihong , Yuan Ye , Guo Zhonglong , Li Lei , Wang Haibin , Cai Huaqing
Published: March 2022

Macropinocytosis mediates non-selective bulk uptake of extracellular fluid. It is the major route by which axenic Dictyostelium cells obtain nutrients and has emerged as a nutrient-scavenging pathway in mammalian cells. How environmental and cellular nutrient status modulates macropinocytic activity is not well understood. By developing a high-content imaging-based genetic screen in Dictyostelium discoideum we identified Slc15A, an oligopeptide transporter located at the plasma membrane and early macropinosome, as a novel macropinocytosis regulator. We show that deletion of slc15A but not two other related slc15 genes, leads to reduced macropinocytosis, reduced cell growth and aberrantly increased autophagy in cells grown in nutrient-rich medium. Expression of Slc15A protein or supplying cells with free amino acids rescues these defects. In contrast, expression of transport-defective Slc15A or supplying cells with amino acids in their di-peptide forms fails to rescue these defects. Therefore, Slc15A modulates the level of macropinocytosis by maintaining the intracellular availability of key amino acids through extraction of oligopeptides from the early macropinocytic pathway. We propose that Slc15A constitutes part of a positive feedback mechanism coupling cellular nutrient status and macropinocytosis.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first authors of the paper.
Analysis of quality of life and risk factors in 122 patients with persistent hemodialysis
Authors: Xie Jinhua , Song Chuping
Published: March 2022

Objectives: To summarize existing evidence on the quality of life and influencing factors in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients.

Methods: Total 122 MHD patients treated in the department of hemodialysis, Liyang branch of Jiangsu Provincial People’s Hospital from January 2018 to June 2020 were selected as the patient group. and 98 healthy persons in the same period were selected as the control group. The quality of life of the two groups was investigated by SF-36 score scale. At the same time, the clinical data of the patient group were investigated. Influencing factors of patients’ quality of life were analyzed by univariate test, and independent risk factors were analyzed by logistic multiple regression.

Results: Univariate analysis showed that age, education, marital status, dialysis time, urea clearance index (Kt/V), income level, diabetic nephropathy, nutritional status, medical insurance type, depression and anxiety were single factors influencing the quality of life of MHD patients (P<0.05). Logistic multiple regression analysis showed that age ≥ 60 years, dialysis time ≥ one year, income less than 3000 yuan/month, primary disease is diabetic nephropathy., low medical insurance reimbursement, depression and anxiety were independent risk factors affecting the quality of life of MHD patients (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: There was a relatively high proportion of patients with age ≥ 60 years, dialysis time ≥ one year, income less than 3000 yuan/month, primary disease is diabetic nephropathy, low medical insurance reimbursement, depression and anxiety. Timely nursing interventions such as reasonable nutritional support, comprehensive monitoring and psychological counseling for patients with the above situation may be helpful in improving quality of life of MHD patients.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.4.5308

How to cite this:Xie J, Song C. Analysis of quality of life and risk factors in 122 patients with persistent hemodialysis. Pak J Med Sci. 2022;38(4):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.4.5308

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Diaphragm thickness, mobility and respiratory muscle strength in patients with head and neck cancer receiving chemoradiation therapy: A longitudinal pilot study
Authors: D’souza Macrina , Samuel Stephen , Rai Santosh , Krishna Alaparthi Gopala , Saxena PU Prakash , Nagaraja Ravishankar
Published: March 2022

Background: Head and neck cancer is the sixth most common cancer worldwide and is also associated with many pulmonary complications. Decreased cardiopulmonary function and functional capacity is one of the major treatment related side effects of chemoradiation therapy. In this study we aimed to assess and quantify the impact of treatment related side effects on the respiratory function and functional capacity of head and neck cancer patients during chemoradiation therapy.  

Methods: This was a pilot longitudinal study conducted amongst 12 newly diagnosed head and neck cancer patients (stage III, IV, IVa, IVb) who were admitted to hospital care and were receiving chemoradiation therapy for seven weeks. Outcome variables assessed were diaphragmatic thickness and mobility, maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximum expiratory pressure (MEP) and functional capacity using six-minute walk test at baseline, three weeks and seven weeks of chemo radiation. Repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post-hoc tests were used to identify significant differences at the three time points with a p < 0.05. 

Results: Our data reported a decrease in all the variables and a significant decrease in diaphragm function during deep inspiration, respiratory pressures which indicate respiratory muscle strength and functional capacity by the end of the seventh week of chemo-radiation therapy (p <0.05). 

Conclusion: We conclude that seven weeks of chemo-radiation therapy reduces the diaphragmatic thickness, mobility, respiratory muscle strength and functional capacity in head and neck cancer patients.
DNA barcoding detects resurrected taxon Giuris laglaizei (Sauvage 1880) in Sulawesi, Indonesia: Bolano Sau Lake payangka phylogeny, phenotypic characters and implications for Giuris spp. conservation
Authors: Ndobe Samliok , Nurdin Muhammad Saleh , Hasanah Nur , Putra Aswad Eka , Mansyur Kasim , Nasir Mohamad , Rabuna Mashening L. , Moore Abigail Mary
Published: March 2022

Background: The freshwater ichthyofauna of Wallacea is diverse and understudied. A baseline survey of Bolano Sau Lake in Parigi Moutong District, Central Sulawesi Province, Indonesia in 2019 found an eleotrid goby (local name payangka) with characters conforming to the genus Giuris, long considered monophyletic as G. margaritacea/G. margaritaceus but recently found to comprise at least eight species. This study focused on the molecular (DNA barcoding) identification and phenotypic characters of the payangka.

Methods: Payangka samples were collected from August to December 2019 in collaboration with local fishermen, weighed and measured, and preserved in 75% ethanol. Length, weight, sex (n=111) and seventeen morphometric characters/six meristic counts (n=42) were recorded. DNA barcoding was performed on a fin clipping preserved in 96% ethanol. Homologous nucleotide sequences were obtained from public (GenBank and BOLD) databases, analysis conducted in MEGA X, and phylogenetic trees edited in the Interactive Tree of Life (iToL).

Results: Within the polyphyletic Giuris clade, the payangka sequence resolved into a sub-clade identified as Giuris laglaizei (Sauvage 1880), a recently resurrected taxon, based on a sequence provided by Philippe Keith. The length-weight relationship (L = 0.0087∙W3.162) indicated mildly allometric positive growth. Size distribution differed significantly between male and female fish with significantly larger mean size of males (13.56 cm) than females (11.62 cm). The meristic formula was: D VI-I,8 A I,8 P 13 V I,5 C15. Phylogenic analysis indicated four Giuris species in wetlands around Tomini Bay and five in Sulawesi.

Conclusions: This first record of G. laglaizei in Indonesia advances knowledge of Wallacean and Indo-Pacific gobioid biogeography and highlights the need for a revision of the conservation status of the taxa currently grouped under Giuris margaritacea/G. margaritaceus in the IUCN Red List and FishBase databases. The data will inform biodiversity and fisheries management at local and regional levels.
An overview of preventive and control strategies for common mental health disorders during infectious disease epidemics
Authors: Parsekar Shradha , Dhyani Vijay Shree , Rajwar Eti , Krishnan Jisha B , Venkatesh Bhumika Tumkur , Saravu Kavitha , Brand Helmut
Published: March 2022

Background: The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected people’s mental health owing to different factors. The primary objective of this review was to systematically summarize available literature on the range of interventions for common mental health disorders during an infectious disease outbreak, specifically focusing on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: We searched PubMed, PsychInfo, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, EPPI mapper and Google Scholar to identify English literature published since January 2010. We included scientific research studies and grey literature, extracted the information and summarized results thematically.

Results: A range of common mental health disorders that affected populations from most parts of the world and associated factors were identified. We thematically classified intervention into the following: providing accurate and timely information and ensuring adequate supplies of daily need essentials; developing mindfulness and resilience that can revive self-sufficiency and self-awareness in stress management; early identification; providing necessary mental health care through professionals; and health system strengthening and capacity building interventions.

Conclusion: There is an immediate need for a collective action through inter-sectoral coordination at community, national and international levels. Policymakers and program implementers should be prepared to tackle common mental health disorders amidst the ongoing COVID–19 pandemic and in future emerging and re-emerging infectious disease outbreaks.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) detection in vaginal self-samples: evaluation of eNat® as an alternative suspension medium to ThinPrep®PreservCyt® for vaginal swabs
Authors: Giubbi Chiara , Martinelli Marianna , Vallini Ivan , Paganoni Silvia , Dafa'alla Tarig , Perdoni Federica , Musumeci Rosario , Wu Winnie , Castriciano Santina , Romano Paolo , Cocuzza Clementina E.
Published: March 2022

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) testing on self-collected samples allows for improved coverage rates of cervical cancer (CC) screening programs. ThinPrep®PreservCyt® (HOLOGIC®, USA) medium is widely used for the suspension of cervical and vaginal self-samples. However, this medium is costly, toxic, and flammable, involving special handling procedures which make its use difficult in screening programs, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

This pilot study aimed to evaluate the analytical performance of eNat® (Copan SpA), an alternative non-alcohol-based suspension medium, compared to ThinPrep®PreservCyt® (HOLOGIC®) for high-risk HPV (hrHPV) detection in vaginal self-collected swabs using three different real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) HPV assays: Anyplex™II HPV28 (Seegene, Korea), Papilloplex® High Risk HPV (GeneFirst, UK), and HPV OncoPredict (Hiantis, Italy).

30 women, referred to colposcopy, were enrolled in this observational, prospective pilot study and asked to collect two vaginal self-taken samples, which were suspended in 5 mL of ThinPrep®PreservCyt® or eNat®. Nucleic acids were extracted from 200 μL using Microlab Nimbus platform (Seegene, Korea) and tested with the three different RT-PCR full-genotyping high-risk HPV assays. The HPV results of vaginal samples resuspended in the two different media were compared to those obtained from the reference clinician-collected cervical sample from the same woman.

hrHPV detection in vaginal self-samples suspended in both media demonstrated a substantial agreement with cervical samples with the three assays under-investigation (0.667<k<0.796). Moreover, the discordances between vaginal self-samples collected from the same woman were found only in cases of normal cytology or low-grade cytological lesions and were generally related to low hrHPV viral loads as indicated by the quantitative HPV OncoPredict assay (6.24E+02 copies/10,000 cells).

This study demonstrated a very good agreement between cervical and vaginal self-collected samples suspended in ThinPrep®PreservCyt® and eNat®, suggesting that the latter could represent a good alternative medium in HPV screening programs based on self-collection.
Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence following the first pandemic wave in UK healthcare workers in a large NHS Foundation Trust
Authors: Colton Hayley , Hodgson David , Hornsby Hailey , Brown Rebecca , Mckenzie Joanne , Bradley Kirsty L. , James Cameron , Lindsey Benjamin B. , Birch Sarah , Marsh Louise , Wood Steven , Bayley Martin , Dickson Gary , James David C. , Nicklin Martin J. , Sayers Jon R. , Zafred Domen , Rowland-Jones Sarah L. , Kudesia Goura , Kucharski Adam ,   CMMID COVID-19 Working Group, Darton Thomas C. , de Silva Thushan I. , Collini Paul J.
Published: March 2022

Background: We aimed to measure SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in a cohort of healthcare workers (HCWs) during the first UK wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, explore risk factors associated with infection, and investigate the impact of antibody titres on assay sensitivity.

Methods: HCWs at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust were prospectively enrolled and sampled at two time points. We developed an in-house ELISA for testing participant serum for SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgA reactivity against Spike and Nucleoprotein. Data were analysed using three statistical models: a seroprevalence model, an antibody kinetics model, and a heterogeneous sensitivity model.

Results: Our in-house assay had a sensitivity of 99·47% and specificity of 99·56%. We found that 24·4% (n=311/1275) of HCWs were seropositive as of 12th June 2020. Of these, 39·2% (n=122/311) were asymptomatic. The highest adjusted seroprevalence was measured in HCWs on the Acute Medical Unit (41·1%, 95% CrI 30·0–52·9) and in Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists (39·2%, 95% CrI 24·4–56·5). Older age groups showed overall higher median antibody titres. Further modelling suggests that, for a serological assay with an overall sensitivity of 80%, antibody titres may be markedly affected by differences in age, with sensitivity estimates of 89% in those over 60 years but 61% in those ≤30 years.

Conclusions:  HCWs in acute medical units and those working closely with COVID-19 patients were at highest risk of infection, though whether these are infections acquired from patients or other staff is unknown. Current serological assays may underestimate seroprevalence in younger age groups if validated using sera from older and/or more severe COVID-19 cases.
Clasificación y Arqueología. Enfoques y métodos taxonómicos a la luz de la evolución darwiniana
Authors: Escacena Carrasco José Luis , García Fernández Francisco José , García Rivero Daniel
Published: March 2022

Es esencial en arqueología la ordenación y clasificación del registro material de las culturas antiguas, lo preservado del pasado se estudia por medición y clasificación. Esta obra es una introducción teórica y práctica al estudio de la variación cultural y su evolución desde el uso de métodos filogenéticos basados en las leyes de la herencia.
Demand Expansion and Cannibalization Effects from Retail Store Entry: A Structural Analysis of Multichannel Demand
Authors: Shriver Scott K. , Bollinger Bryan
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we investigate the demand response of a firm’s existing customers to retail store entry and which aspects of the response are demand-expanding and which cannibalize online sales. The empirical goal of the paper is to separately identify the effects of customer-to-store distance on purchase frequency, channel choice, and expenditure per purchase, using transaction-level data from a multichannel apparel brand. Our identification strategy exploits within-customer variation in distance resulting from store entry during a period of rapid retail expansion. We establish retail distance effects using descriptive regressions before developing a unified structural model that affords rich counterfactual analyses and further controls for product category preferences. We find material effects of decreasing retail store distance on purchase frequency and retail channel choice but not expenditures per purchase. Our structural model ascribes mechanisms to these effects in the form of increased brand consideration, higher retail utility from nonmonetary factors (e.g., reduced driving times), and infungibility of monetary transportation costs with budgets for apparel. Our estimates imply that a 10% reduction in retail store distance increases retail channel expenditures by 1.9% and decreases online channel expenditures by 1.2%, resulting in a 0.4% increase in total expenditures. Through counterfactual experiments, we demonstrate that retail expansion can ultimately limit the ability of the firm to price discriminate across channels because reducing transportation costs weakens the firm’s ability to enforce channel-based segmentation schemes.

This paper was accepted by Matthew Shum, marketing.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.4308 .
Patient rights and the cost of health litigation: you don't ‘win’ compensation
Authors: Tingle John
Published: March 2022

John Tingle, Lecturer in Law, Birmingham Law School, University of Birmingham, considers two sides of the litigation reform debate, and reflects on perceptions of compensation awards
3Cs: the experiences of informal caregivers of patients undergoing thoracic surgery
Authors: Cremona Renée Vella , Cassar Maria , Sharples Catherine
Published: March 2022

The informal caregiver is pivotal to the postoperative experience of patients. The purpose of this study was to explore the informal caregivers' experience while accompanying patients through thoracotomy surgery. Specifically, and exclusively, the informal carers' personal reactions, needs and views regarding their experience in the patients' surgery trajectory were explored. A convenience sample of eight informal caregivers of patients who had undergone thoracotomy were interviewed approximately 2 weeks following discharge from a general hospital in Malta. The findings revealed knowledge regarding participants' experiences of demands and fears associated with the 3Cs: cancer, challenges and coping. The impact of timely information-sharing and support on the informal caregiver's experience was highlighted. These findings suggest that careful consideration of both a patient's and informal caregiver's needs promotes an enhanced hospitalisation experience, and creates opportunity for a better transition back home. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
RESEARCH ROUNDUP
Authors: Winter George
Published: March 2022

George Winter provides an overview of recently published articles that are of interest to practice nurses. Should you wish to look at any of the papers in more detail, a full reference is provided.
Assessment and examination of the cardiovascular system
Authors: Harcharran Maleka
Published: March 2022

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the UK. Maleka Harcharran describes a systematic overview of conducting a focused assessment and examination of the cardiovascular system

The heart is the most vital organ in the body. Therefore, advanced practitioners must understand the basic anatomy and physiology related to the heart and how to conduct a thorough clinical assessment and examination of the cardiovascular system. This article will provide a systematic overview of conducting a focused assessment and examination of the cardiovascular system.
How has Covid-19 changed patient feedback?
Authors: Hancock Dave
Published: March 2022

With the pandemic affecting how patients interacted with GPs, researchers from the University of Oxford sought to identify different trends in online patient feedback for English GP practices before and after Covid-19
The importance of communication in the practice
Authors: Thorpe James
Published: March 2022

James Thorpe explains why good communication within the practice is essential in ensuring patients receive safe care and may also reduce the likelihood of patient complaints and claims
Corrosion Inhibitors used in Pipelines Carrying Simulated Oil Well Water – An Overview and Inhibition of Corrosion of Mild Steel in Simulated Oil Well Water by Aqueous Extract of Chrysanthemum Indicum Flower- Case Study
Authors: Kavitha K. , Sherine H. Benita , Al-Hashem Abdul Hameed , Rajendran S. , Lacnjevac Caslav
Published: March 2022

Simulated oil well water (SOWW) is conceded out by pipelines made of several alloys for instance mild steel & L80. These alloys may undergo corrosion owing to the presence of various aggressive ions present in SOWW. To prevent this several inhibitors have been used. Several methods have been used to estimate the inhibition efficiency of extract. Weight loss study, electrochemical study like potentiodynamic polarization study & electrochemical impedance spectroscopy study, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and TEM have been employed in these studies. Recent developments in this field of research are presented in detail briefly. As a study Inhibition of corrosion of mild steel in simulated oil well water by aqueous extract of Chrysanthemum Indicum flower is also discussed.
Benefits of quasi-continuous symbol rate tunability in links constrained by ROADM filtering
Authors: Searcy Steven , Richter Thomas , Burtsev Sergey , Tibuleac Sorin
Published: March 2022

As modern optical networks continue evolving toward higher symbol rates while supporting tight channel spacing, penalties due to optical filtering incurred by transmission through reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexers (ROADMs) can become significant within the overall link budget. For this reason, filtering impairments must be realistically assessed and accurately modeled, particularly in terrestrial networks where signals may traverse many ROADMs. Given that modern transceivers can provide flexible modulation options and most ROADMs in use today support flexible grid operation, there remains the challenge of optimizing performance and/or capacity while managing these multiple degrees of freedom. In this work, we use real-time transceivers with a tunable symbol rate up to 72 GBaud and variable modulation up to 64QAM to experimentally investigate the impact of ROADM filtering on the optimum operating condition required to maximize channel capacity or margin. We also present a simplified model for considering the filtering impairment as an additive noise term and use it to predict performance in other scenarios. It is shown that symbol rate tunability in steps below 5 GBd is required to maximize the margin for a given link passband. Finally, we explore the difference in performance for filtering conditions with passband narrowing on both sides of the signal, assuming individual wavelength routing, or only on one side of the signal, assuming multi-carrier routing.
Broadband achromatic longitudinal bifocal metalens in the visible range based on a single nanofin unit cell
Authors: Qian Ziheng , Tian Shengnan , Zhou Wei , Wang Junwei , Guo Hanming
Published: March 2022

Metasurfaces provide a remarkable platform to manipulate over phase, amplitude, and polarization flexibly and precisely. Bifocal metalens draws great research interest due to its ability of converging wavefronts to different focal positions horizontally and longitudinally. However, as wavelength of incident light changes, chromatic aberration will cause the focal lengths reliance on the incident wavelength, which will affect the performance of metasurface, especially for longitudinal bifocal metalens. In this work, a broadband achromatic longitudinal bifocal metalens (BALBM) based on single nanofin unit cell is demonstrated. Pancharatnam-Berry (PB) phase is used to converge the incident light. Cross commixed sequence distribution (CCSD) is introduced to control the positions of focal points FLand FRwhen left-handed circularly polarized (LCP) and right-handed circularly polarized (RCP) incident. Propagation phase is used to compensate the phase difference caused by chromatic aberration. Simulation results show that in the continuous wavelength range from 500 nm to 700 nm, the focal point shifts caused by chromatic dispersion are reduced 81% for FL and 83% for FR, respectively. The focal length variations are stabilized to 6.21% for FLand 4.8% for FRcomparing with the focal lengths at the initial wavelength 500 nm. The proposed BALBM brings advances to bifocal metasurfaces in versatile application areas including machine vision, optical computed tomography and microimaging.
Conversion efficiency improvement of terahertz wave generation laterally emitted by a ridge-type periodically poled lithium niobate
Authors: Hamazaki Junichi , Ogawa Yoh , Kishimoto Tadashi , Hayashi Shin’ichro , Sekine Norihiko , Hosako Iwao
Published: March 2022

We demonstrate terahertz (THz) wave generation by wavelength conversion in a ridge-type/bulk periodically poled lithium niobate (RT-/bulk-PPLN) under almost the same experimental conditions. When using the RT-PPLN, the ridge structure works as a slab waveguide for the incident pump beam (wavelength: ∼1 μm), and the generated THz wave (∼200 μm) was emitted uniformly from the entire side surface of the crystal. The RT-PPLN has a much higher conversion efficiency from the pumping beam to the THz wave than the bulk-PPLN, and the ratio improved several ten times compared with those of previous studies.
Hyperparameter tuning of optical neural network classifiers for high-order Gaussian beams
Authors: Watanabe Shunsuke , Shimobaba Tomoyoshi , Kakue Takashi , Ito Tomoyoshi
Published: March 2022

High-order Gaussian beams with multiple propagation modes have been studied for free-space optical communications. Fast classification of beams using a diffractive deep neural network (D2NN) has been proposed. D2NN optimization is important because it has numerous hyperparameters, such as interlayer distances and mode combinations. In this study, we classify Hermite–Gaussian beams, which are high-order Gaussian beams, using a D2NN, and automatically tune one of its hyperparameters known as the interlayer distance. We used the tree-structured Parzen estimator, a hyperparameter auto-tuning algorithm, to search for the best model. As a result, the proposed method improved the classification accuracy in a 16 mode classification from 98.3% in the case of equal spacing of layers to 98.8%. In a 36 mode classification, the proposed method significantly improved the classification accuracy from 84.9% to 94.9%. In addition, we confirmed that accuracy by auto-tuning improves as the number of classification modes increases.
Analysis and reduction of noise-induced depolarization in catheter based polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography
Authors: Li Qingrui , Yu Yin , Ding Zhenyang , Zhu Fengyu , Li Yuanyao , Tao Kuiyuan , Hua Peidong , Lai Tianduo , Kuang Hao , Liu Tiegen
Published: March 2022

In catheter based polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT), a optical fiber with a rapid rotation in the catheter can cause low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), polarization state instability, phase change of PS-OCT signals and then heavy noise-induced depolarization, which has a strong impact on the phase retardation measurement of the sample. In this paper, we analyze the noise-induced depolarization and find that the effect of depolarization can be reduced by polar decomposition after incoherent averaging in the Mueller matrix averaging (MMA) method. Namely, MMA can reduce impact of noise on phase retardation mapping. We present a Monte Carlo method based on PS-OCT to numerically describe noise-induced depolarization effect and contrast phase retardation imaging results by MMA and Jones matrix averaging (JMA) methods. The peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) of simulated images processed by MMA is higher than about 8.9 dB than that processed by JMA. We also implement experiments of multiple biological tissues using the catheter based PS-OCT system. From the simulation and experimental results, we find the polarization contrasts processed by the MMA are better than those by JMA, especially at areas with high depolarization, because the MMA can reduce effect of noise-induced depolarization on the phase retardation measurement.
High-power quasi-CW diode-pumped 750-nm AlGaAs VECSEL emitting a peak power of 29.6 W and an average power of 8.5 W
Authors: Weinert Pascal J. , Grossmann Marius , Brauch Uwe , Jetter Michael , Michler Peter , Graf Thomas , Ahmed Marwan Abdou
Published: March 2022

A peak output power of 29.6 W and an average output power of 8.5 W at a wavelength of 750 nm were demonstrated in quasi-CW multi-mode operation using an AlGaAs-based vertical external-cavity surface-emitting laser (VECSEL) diode-pumped at a wavelength of 675 nm. The comparatively low bandgap of the barrier material that was tuned to the pump-photon energy allowed a good compromise between low heat generation due to the quantum defect and strong absorptance of the pump radiation. The limitations for the average output power came mainly from insufficient heat flow from the intra-cavity heat spreader to the heat sink. These results show the potential for power scaling of diode-pumped VECSELs and the importance of effective heat removal.
Image reconstruction with transformer for mask-based lensless imaging
Authors: Pan Xiuxi , Chen Xiao , Takeyama Saori , Yamaguchi Masahiro
Published: March 2022

A mask-based lensless camera optically encodes the scene with a thin mask and reconstructs the image afterward. The improvement of image reconstruction is one of the most important subjects in lensless imaging. Conventional model-based reconstruction approaches, which leverage knowledge of the physical system, are susceptible to imperfect system modeling. Reconstruction with a pure data-driven deep neural network (DNN) avoids this limitation, thereby having potential to provide a better reconstruction quality. However, existing pure DNN reconstruction approaches for lensless imaging do not provide a better result than model-based approaches. We reveal that the multiplexing property in lensless optics makes global features essential in understanding the optically encoded pattern. Additionally, all existing DNN reconstruction approaches apply fully convolutional networks (FCNs) which are not efficient in global feature reasoning. With this analysis, for the first time to the best of our knowledge, a fully connected neural network with a transformer for image reconstruction is proposed. The proposed architecture is better in global feature reasoning, and hence enhances the reconstruction. The superiority of the proposed architecture is verified by comparing with the model-based and FCN-based approaches in an optical experiment.
High repetition rate diode-pumped self-pulsed few-cycle alexandrite laser
Authors: Miao Rulin , Wang Jiyang , Yu Haohai , Zhang Huaijin , Wu Yicheng
Published: March 2022

We reported a high repetition rate diode-pumped alexandrite femtosecond laser using a simple linear cavity. Laser emission spectrum was as broad as ∼20 nm by inserting a 0.5-mm-thick quartz birefringent plate as a spectral modulation component. Pulse duration as short as few-cycle 36 fs with the repetition rates of 2.48 GHz was measured at pump power of 17 W. To the best of our knowledge, this is the shortest pulse duration achieved in the alexandrite lasers.
Tunable microcavities coupled to rare-earth quantum emitters
Authors: Xia Kangwei , Sardi Fiammetta , Sauerzapf Colin , Kornher Thomas , Becker Hans-Werner , Kis Zsolt , Kovacs Laszlo , Dertli Denis , Foglszinger Jonas , Kolesov Roman , Wrachtrup Jörg
Published: March 2022

Electro-optical control of on-chip photonic devices is an essential tool for efficient integrated photonics. Lithium niobate on insulator (LNOI) is an emerging platform for on-chip photonics due to its large electro-optic coefficient and high nonlinearity. Integrating quantum emitters into LNOI would extend their versatility in classic photonics to quantum computing and communication. Here, we incorporate rare-earth ion (REI) quantum emitters into electro-optical tunable lithium niobite (LN) thin films and demonstrate control of LN microcavities coupled to REIs over a frequency range of 160 GHz with 5 µs switching speed. Dynamic control of the cavities enables modulation of the Purcell enhancement of REIs with short time constants. Using Purcell enhancement, we show evidence of detecting single

Y

b

3
+

ions in LN cavities. Coupling quantum emitters in fast tunable photonic devices is an efficient method to shape the waveform of the emitter. It also offers a platform to encode quantum information in the integration of a spectral–temporal–spatial domain to achieve high levels of channel multiplexing, as well as an approach to generate deterministic single-photon sources.
Using an on-site modular training approach to amplify prep service delivery in public health facilities in Kenya
Authors: Irungu Elizabeth M. , Musau Moses , Nyerere Bernard , Dollah Anabelle , Kwach Benn , Owidi Emmah , Wamoni Elizabeth , Odoyo Josephine , Mugo Nelly , Bukusi Elizabeth , Mugwanya Kenneth , Baeten Jared M. ,   for the Partners Scale-Up Project Team
Published: March 2022

Delivery of oral PrEP, a potent HIV prevention intervention, has begun within public health systems in many countries in Africa. Training as many health providers as possible expeditiously is necessary to efficiently and rapidly scale up PrEP delivery among at risk populations and thereby realize the greatest impact of PrEP. We designed and implemented an innovative on-site modular training approach delivered in five two-hour modules. The modules could be covered in two consecutive days or be broken across several days enabling flexibility to accommodate health provider work schedules. We assessed knowledge gain comparing pre-and post-training test scores and determined monthly PrEP uptake for six months following the training intervention. We also evaluated the cost of this training approach and conducted key informant interviews to explore acceptability among health providers. Between January 2019 and December 2020, 2111 health providers from 104 health facilities were trained on PrEP. Of 1821 (83%) providers who completed both pre- and post-tests, 505 (28%) were nurses, 333 (18%) were HIV counsellors, 276 (15%) were clinical officers and 255 (14%) were lay providers. The mean score prior to and after training was 58% and 82% respectively (p <0.001). On average, health facilities initiated an average of 2.7 (SD 4.7) people on PrEP each month after the training, a number that did not decline over six months post-training (p = 0.62). Assuming Ministry of Health costs, the costs per provider trained was $16.27. Health providers expressed satisfaction with this training approach because it enabled many providers within a facility receive training. On-site modular training is an effective approach for improving PrEP education for health workers in public health facilities, It is also acceptable and low-cost. This method of training can be scaled up to rapidly amplify the number of health workers able to offer PrEP services.
Identification of Lagopus muta japonica food plant resources in the Northern Japan Alps using DNA metabarcoding
Authors: Fujii Taichi , Ueno Kaoru , Shirako Tomoyasu , Nakamura Masatoshi , Minami Motoyasu
Published: March 2022

DNA metabarcoding was employed to identify plant-derived food resources for the Japanese rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta japonica), which is registered as a natural living monument in Japan, in the Northern Japanese Alps in Toyama Prefecture, Japan, in July to October, 2015–2018. DNA metabarcoding using high-throughput sequencing (HTS) of rbcL and ITS2 sequences from alpine plants found in ptarmigan fecal samples collected in the study area. The obtained sequences were analyzed using a combination of a constructed local database and the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database, revealed that a total of 53 plant taxa were food plant resources for ptarmigans. Of these plant taxa, 49 could be assigned to species (92.5%), three to genus (5.7%), and one to family (1.9%). Of the 23 plant families identified from the 105 fecal samples collected, the dominant families throughout all collection periods were Ericaceae (99.0% of 105 fecal samples), followed by Rosaceae (42.9%), Apiaceae (35.2%), and Poaceae (21.0%). In all of the fecal samples examined, the most frequently encountered plant species were Vaccinium ovalifolium var. ovalifolium (69.5%), followed by Empetrum nigrum var. japonicum (68.6%), Kalmia procumbens (42.9%), Tilingia ajanensis (34.3%) and V. uliginosum var. japonicum (34.3%). A rarefaction analysis for each collection period in the study revealed that the food plant resources found in the study area ranged from a minimum of 87.0% in July to a maximum of 97.5% in September, and that 96.4% of the food plant taxa were found throughout the study period. The findings showed that DNA metabarcoding using HTS to construct a local database of rbcL and ITS2 sequences in conjunction with rbcL and ITS2 sequences deposited at the NCBI, as well as rarefaction analysis, are well suited to identifying the dominant food plants in the diet of Japanese rock ptarmigans. In the windswept alpine dwarf shrub community found in the study area, dominant taxa in the Ericaceae family were the major food plant s for Japanese rock ptarmigans from July to October. This plant community therefore needs to be conserved in order to protect the food resources of Japanese rock ptarmigans in the region.
Effects of land use and weather on the presence and abundance of mosquito-borne disease vectors in a urban and agricultural landscape in Eastern Ontario, Canada
Authors: Rakotoarinia Miarisoa Rindra , Blanchet F. Guillaume , Gravel Dominique , Lapen David R. , Leighton Patrick A. , Ogden Nicholas H. , Ludwig Antoinette
Published: March 2022

Weather and land use can significantly impact mosquito abundance and presence, and by consequence, mosquito-borne disease (MBD) dynamics. Knowledge of vector ecology and mosquito species response to these drivers will help us better predict risk from MBD. In this study, we evaluated and compared the independent and combined effects of weather and land use on mosquito species occurrence and abundance in Eastern Ontario, Canada. Data on occurrence and abundance (245,591 individuals) of 30 mosquito species were obtained from mosquito capture at 85 field sites in 2017 and 2018. Environmental variables were extracted from weather and land use datasets in a 1-km buffer around trapping sites. The relative importance of weather and land use on mosquito abundance (for common species) or occurrence (for all species) was evaluated using multivariate hierarchical statistical models. Models incorporating both weather and land use performed better than models that include weather only for approximately half of species (59% for occurrence model and 50% for abundance model). Mosquito occurrence was mainly associated with temperature whereas abundance was associated with precipitation and temperature combined. Land use was more often associated with abundance than occurrence. For most species, occurrence and abundance were positively associated with forest cover but for some there was a negative association. Occurrence and abundance of some species (47% for occurrence model and 88% for abundance model) were positively associated with wetlands, but negatively associated with urban (Culiseta melanuraandAnopheles walkeri) and agriculture (An.quadrimaculatus,Cs.minnesotaeandAn.walkeri) environments. This study provides predictive relationships between weather, land use and mosquito occurrence and abundance for a wide range of species including those that are currently uncommon, yet known as arboviruses vectors. Elucidation of these relationships has the potential to contribute to better prediction of MBD risk, and thus more efficiently targeted prevention and control measures.
High cellulose dietary intake relieves asthma inflammation through the intestinal microbiome in a mouse model
Authors: Wen Song , Yuan Guifang , Li Cunya , Xiong Yang , Zhong Xuemei , Li Xiaoyu
Published: March 2022

Numerous epidemiological studies have shown that a high dietary fiber intake is associated inversely with the incidence of asthma in the population. There have been many studies on the role of soluble dietary fiber, but the mechanism of action for insoluble dietary fiber, such as cellulose-the most widely existing dietary fiber, in asthma is still unclear. The current study investigated the outcomes of a high-cellulose diet in a mouse model of asthma and detected pathological manifestations within the lungs, changes in the intestinal microbiome, and changes in intestinal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in mice. A high-cellulose diet can reduce lung inflammation and asthma symptoms in asthmatic mice. Furthermore, it dramatically changes the composition of the intestinal microbiome. At the family level, a new dominant fungus family Peptostreptococcaceae is produced, and at the genus level, the unique genus Romboutsla, [Ruminococcus]_torques_group was generated. These genera and families of bacteria are closely correlated with lipid metabolism in vivo. Many studies have proposed that the mechanism of dietary fiber regulating asthma may involve the intestinal microbiome producing SCFAs, but the current research shows that a high-cellulose diet cannot increase the content of SCFAs in the intestine. These data suggest that a high-cellulose diet decreases asthma symptoms by altering the composition of the intestinal microbiome, however, this mechanism is thought to be independent of SCFAs and may involve the regulation of lipid metabolism.
Genetic variation of the mitochondrial DNA control region across plains bison herds in USA and Canada
Authors: Davies Gaimi , McCann Blake , Jones Lee , Liccioli Stefano , Penedo Maria Cecilia , Ovchinnikov Igor V.
Published: March 2022

Once numbering in the tens of millions, bison (Bison bison) have faced a broad range of challenges over the past century, including genetic impacts from the population bottleneck in the 1800s, and significant loss and fragmentation of habitat resulting in little opportunity for population growth on remaining small, geographically isolated reserves. To identify best practices for bison stewardship against this backdrop, managers must understand the genetic composition of existing conservation herds. This study characterized 14 plains bison (Bison bison bison) herds managed by the U.S. Department of Interior and Parks Canada Agency based on complete mtDNA control region sequences. Among 209 bison, we detected 11 major mtDNA control region haplotypes based on nucleotide substitutions and 23 sub-haplotypes where indels are considered. We determined matrilineal relationships between the herds and compared our genetic findings to historic records. The recent common ancestry of modern bison deriving from small, scattered groups combined with gene flow through foundation and translocation events between herds during the last 100 years, is reflected in Fst value (0.21), haplotype (0.48 ± 0.04) and nucleotide (0.004 ± 0.002) diversities, and mean number of pairwise differences (3.38 ± 1.74). Genetic diversity was distributed unevenly among herds, with 21.41% of genetic variation observed between herds. Median joining network, together with trends in the Tajima’s D and Fs tests, revealed two patterns in the recent evolution of mtDNA sequences in bison: mutational process has generated diversity with a Hap 1 haplotype epicenter, and missed mtDNA haplotypes exist in the network due to bottleneck, loss through management practices, or incomplete sampling of specimens across conservation herds. This work significantly expands characterization of the genetic diversity among bison conservation herds, providing additional decision support for managers considering restoring gene flow to achieve long-term species viability.
How research data deliver non-academic impacts: A secondary analysis of UK Research Excellence Framework impact case studies
Authors: Jensen Eric A. , Wong Paul , Reed Mark S.
Published: March 2022

This study investigates how research data contributes to non-academic impacts using a secondary analysis of high-scoring impact case studies from the UK’s Research Excellence Framework (REF). A content analysis was conducted to identify patterns, linking research data and impact. The most prevalent type of research data-driven impact related to “practice” (45%), which included changing how professionals operate, changing organizational culture and improving workplace productivity or outcomes. The second most common category was “government impacts”, including reducing government service costs and enhancing government effectiveness or efficiency. Impacts from research data were developed most frequently through “improved institutional processes or methods” (40%) and developing impact via pre-analyzed or curated information in reports (32%), followed by “analytic software or methods” (26%). The analysis found that research data on their own rarely generate impacts. Instead they require analysis, curation, product development or other forms of significant intervention to leverage broader non-academic impacts.