bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multiple-signal-joint-processing-based guard interval shortening method for a CS-NFDM system
Authors: He Jianqing , Li Jianping , Qin Yuwen , Yu Xinkuo , Huang Tao , Zhang Jianbo , Zhou Gai , Fu Songnian
Published: July 2024

Aiming to further improve the spectral efficiency (SE) of a continuous spectrum modulated nonlinear frequency division multiplexing (CS-NFDM) system, we propose a novel ,to the best of our knowledge, multiple-signal-joint-processing (MSJP)-based guard interval (GI) shortening method. In this method, multiple NFDM time-domain signals are jointly processed as a whole to carry out nonlinear Fourier transform and inverse nonlinear Fourier transform (NFT-INFT) operations. These operations can fuse the multiple NFDM time-domain signals together, which is equivalent to the corresponding inverse process of a fiber transmission. Experimental results show that the normalized SE of the proposed method can reach 0.99 when approaching the limit value of 1 and obtain a 2.33 dB Q2-factor improvement compared with the pre-dispersion compensation (PDC) method under the same GI of 0.03 ns in an 80 km SSMF transmission of a 46 GHz signal bandwidth. Furthermore, in comparison with the PDC method, the proposed method can achieve 32.86% normalized SE improvement in the 1120 km SSMF transmission of 32 GHz signal bandwidth under the SD-FEC of 2.4E-2.
Resonantly enhanced terahertz four-wave mixing in fluorides
Authors: Noskovicova Eva , Koys Martin , Jerigova Monika , Velic Dusan , Lorenc Dusan
Published: July 2024

Converting a THz signal into the optical domain is of great interest for THz sensing and spectroscopy. Here intense broadband THz pulses with a central frequency of Ω
THz
are mixed with an optical pump at ω
p
, and a signal is observed at a wavelength of ω
s
= 2(ω
p
- Δω
p
) - Ω
THz
with the detuning ω
p
- Δω
p
being due to pump pulse spectral broadening. The observed THz-four-wave mixing (FWM) signal close to 400 nm is shown to result from a resonantly amplified four-wave mixing in CaF2, BaF2, and MgF2.
Photon counting for enhanced resolution spatial frequency modulation imaging
Authors: Scarbrough Daniel , Bartels Randy , Squier Jeff
Published: July 2024

Spatial frequency modulation imaging (SPIFI) has previously been demonstrated in multiphoton modalities with resolution enhancement. When signal light levels are low enough, signals consist of discrete pulses: this is a photon-counting regime. By binning photon counts into discrete time bins, SPIFI signals can be built up by incrementing the photon counts over many modulation periods. The result is an increase in the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) over analog SPIFI acquisition, enabling higher fidelity in the greater orders of resolution enhancement that SPIFI can produce.
Binning method for artifact-free time-tag based correlation function calculations
Authors: Urquidi Oscar , Brazard Johanna , Adachi Takuji B. M.
Published: July 2024

Correlation functions are nowadays routinely computed using time-tagged photon information instead of a hardware autocorrelator. The algorithm developed by Laurence et al. [Opt. Lett. 31, 829 (2006)10.1364/OL.31.000829] is a powerful example. Despite its ease of implementation and fast computation process, it presents a prevalent noisy feature at the short time-lag range when computed on commonly used logarithmically spaced bins. We identified that arbitral logarithmic spacing produces the mismatch between the edges of generated bins and acquisition frequency, resulting in an aliasing artifact at the short time-lag range of the correlation function. We introduce a binning method that considers the acquisition frequency during the bin generation. It effectively eliminates the artifact and improves the accuracy of the autocorrelation. Applying the binning method herein can be particularly crucial when one extracts photophysical processes from fluorescence correlation spectroscopy or the diffusion coefficient of nanoparticles from dynamic light scattering at the time range below 10−5 s lag time.
Large-scale-adaptive fringe projection 3D measurement
Authors: Zhang Xiaojie , Miao Yupei , Tang Qijian , Cai Zewei , Chen Zhipeng , Liang Anbang , Yin Yu , Peng Xiang , Liu Xiaoli
Published: July 2024

Fringe projection profilometry (FPP) faces significant challenges regarding calibration difficulty and stitching error accumulation when operating across scenes ranging from tens to hundreds of meters. This Letter presents a calibration-free 3D measurement method by integrating a binocular vision of a FPP scanner with a wide field-of-view (FoV) vision that constructs global benchmarks to unify local 3D scanning and global 3D stitching, which is adaptable to arbitrarily large-scale scenes. A posterior global optimization model is then established to determine the reconstruction parameters and stitching poses simultaneously at each scanning node with adaptively distributed benchmarks. Consequently, the integrated vision measurement system not only eliminates the large-scale pre-calibration and stitching error accumulation but also overcomes system structural instability during moving measurement. With the proposed method, we achieved 3D measurements with an accuracy of 0.25 mm and a density of 0.5 mm for over 50-m-long scenes.
Photophysical characterization of Er3+ doped and Er3+/Nd3+ co-doped Gd(OH)3 nanocrystals: the impact of hexamethylenetetramine utilization for morphology engineering
Authors: Sedoo Gbor J. , Swart H. C. , Reyes-Rojas A. , Kroon R. E. , Motloung S. J. , Hile D. D. , Ahemen I.
Published: July 2024

This work has demonstrated upconversion luminescence in Er3+ doped Gd(OH)3 nanocrystals and luminescence quenching arising from the utilization of hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA) for the formation of rod-like morphologies. The synthesis was carried out via the precipitation technique. TG/DTA results show Gd(OH)3 phase is formed and stabilized in the temperature range of 30 to 106° C. FTIR spectroscopy results indicate the presence of OH functional group, a signature of core OH- of the Gd(OH)3 host as well as the HMTA. X-ray diffraction measurements show a hexagonal structure. The average crystallite sizes range between 23 to 35 nm in an increasing trend with increasing Nd3+ concentrations. SEM micrographs showed nanorods only for samples treated with HMTA. Diffuse reflectance results showed enhancement of the 800 nm transition line with increasing Nd concentration, an indicator for the possible enhancement of upconversion emission. However, the conduction and valence band edges exhibited lateral shifts towards more negative values with increasing Nd3+ ion concentrations. The Gd(OH)3:Er0.02 nanocrystals (without HMTA) produced the strongest upconversion emission at 560, 660, 758, and 875 nm. The emission at 875 nm had a 10-fold enhancement over the other emission bands. The pair of emissions, 758 and 875 nm, are employed in luminescence thermometry. Thus, the results from this work demonstrated that the synthesized nanocrystals have the potential to be applied in photonic-related applications such as photodynamic therapy and luminescence thermometry. No upconversion emission was recorded for Er3+, Nd3+ co-doped Gd(OH)3 nanorods due to the prevalence of the OH-group used from the HMTA.
Leishmania infantum infection modulates messenger RNA, microRNA and long non-coding RNA expression in human neutrophils in vitro
Authors: Scaramele Natália Francisco , Troiano Jéssica Antonini , Felix Juliana de Souza , Costa Sidnei Ferro , Almeida Mariana Cordeiro , Florencio de Athayde Flávia Regina , Soares Matheus Fujimura , Lopes Maria Fernanda da Silva , Furlan Amanda de Oliveira , Lima Valéria Marçal Felix de , Lopes Flavia Lombardi
Published: July 2024

In the Americas, L. infantum (syn. chagasi) is the main cause of human visceral leishmaniasis. The role of neutrophils as part of the innate response to Leishmania spp. infection is dubious and varies according to the species causing the infection. Global expression of coding RNAs, microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs changes as part of the immune response against pathogens. Changes in mRNA and non-coding RNA expression resulting from infection by Leishmania spp. are widely studied in macrophages, but scarce in neutrophils, the first cell to encounter the trypanosomatid, especially following infection by L. infantum. Herein, we aimed to understand the expression patterns of coding and non-coding transcripts during acute in vitro infection of human neutrophils by L. infantum. We isolated neutrophils from whole blood of healthy male donors (n = 5) and split into groups: 1) infected with L. infantum (MOI = 5:1), and 2) uninfected controls. After 3 hours of exposure of infected group to promastigotes of L. infantum, followed by 17 hours of incubation, total RNA was extracted and total RNA-Seq and miRNA microarray were performed. A total of 212 genes were differentially expressed in neutrophils following RNA-Seq analysis (log2(FC)±0.58, FDR≤0.05). In vitro infection with L. infantum upregulated the expression of 197 and reduced the expression of 92 miRNAs in human neutrophils (FC±2, FDR≤0.01). Lastly, 5 downregulated genes were classified as lncRNA, and of the 10 upregulated genes, there was only 1 lncRNA. Further bioinformatic analysis indicated that changes in the transcriptome and microtranscriptome of neutrophils, following in vitro infection with L. infantum, may impair phagocytosis, apoptosis and decrease nitric oxide production. Our work sheds light on several mechanisms used by L. infantum to control neutrophil-mediated immune response and identifies several targets for future functional studies, aiming at the development of preventive or curative treatments for this prevalent zoonosis.
TimelinePTC: Development of a unified interface for pathways to care collection, visualization, and collaboration in first episode psychosis
Authors: Mathis Walter S. , Ferrara Maria , Cahill John , Karmani Sneha , Tayfur Sümeyra N. , Srihari Vinod
Published: July 2024

This paper presents TimelinePTC, a web-based tool developed to improve the collection and analysis of Pathways to Care (PTC) data in first episode psychosis (FEP) research. Accurately measuring the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) is essential for effective FEP treatment, requiring detailed understanding of the patient’s journey to care. However, traditional PTC data collection methods, mainly manual and paper-based, are time-consuming and often fail to capture the full complexity of care pathways. TimelinePTC addresses these limitations by providing a digital platform for collaborative, real-time data entry and visualization, thereby enhancing data accuracy and collection efficiency. Initially created for the Specialized Treatment Early in Psychosis (STEP) program in New Haven, Connecticut, its design allows for straightforward adaptation to other healthcare contexts, facilitated by its open-source codebase. The tool significantly simplifies the data collection process, making it more efficient and user-friendly. It automates the conversion of collected data into a format ready for analysis, reducing manual transcription errors and saving time. By enabling more detailed and consistent data collection, TimelinePTC has the potential to improve healthcare access research, supporting the development of targeted interventions to reduce DUP and improve patient outcomes.
Small target detection algorithm based on multi-branch stacking and new sampling transition module
Authors: Lin Qingyao , Wang Rugang , Wang Yuanyuan , Zhou Feng
Published: July 2024

Aiming at the problem that the SSD algorithm does not fully extract the feature information contained in each feature layer, as well as the feature information is easily lost during the sampling process, which makes the feature expression ineffective and leads to insufficient performance in small target detection. In this paper, AMT-SSD is proposed, a small target detection algorithm that incorporates the multi-branch stacking and new sampling transition module of the attention mechanism. In this algorithm, the composite attention mechanism is utilized to improve the correlation of features of the samples to be detected in terms of spatial and channels, and the efficiency of the algorithm; secondly, multi-branch stacking module is used to extract multi-size features for each feature layer, and different sizes of convolution kernels are utilized in parallel to fully extract their features and improve the expression of features; meanwhile, during the sampling process, the problem of missing features is solved by applying inverse subpixel convolution in the new sampling transition module. Experimentally, the AMT-SSD algorithm achieves 84.6% and 53.4% mAP metrics on the PASCAL VOC dataset and MS COCO dataset, respectively. This indicates that the AMT-SSD algorithm can effectively extract feature information that is beneficial to detection samples, and also performs well in reducing feature loss, which is effective for the algorithm to improve the algorithm on small targets.
Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on quality of life of breast cancer patient: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wang Xiaohui , Dai Zhicheng , Zhu Xinying , Li Yu , Ma Limin , Cui Xinghui , Zhan Tongxia
Published: July 2024

Background

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy that occurs in women. Due to the pain caused by the disease itself and the adverse reactions in the treatment process, breast cancer patients are prone to anxiety, depression, fear of recurrence, and other negative emotions, which seriously affect the quality of life. As a systematic stress reduction therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction is widely applied to the treatment of breast cancer patients and has been found by a growing number of studies to relieve stress, regulate mood, and improve the state. However, due to the absence of recent research and uniform outcome measures, previous studies have failed to fully explain the role of mindfulness-based stress reduction in improving the quality of life in breast cancer patients.

Objective

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate and compare the effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy and standard care on the quality of life and psychological status of breast cancer patients.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, China’s National Knowledge Infrastructure and the Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials up to July 2023 to identify candidate randomized clinical trials addressing the values of mindfulness-based stress reduction in breast cancer patients.

Results

A total of 1644 patients participated in 11 randomized controlled trials. The results of the meta-analysis showed that mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy can significantly reduce negative emotions such as perceived stress (MD = -1.46, 95%CI = -2.53 to -0.38, p = 0.03), depression (MD = -1.84, 95%CI = -3.99 to -0.30, p = 0.0004), anxiety (MD = -2.81, 95%CI = -5.31 to -0.32, p = 0.002), and fear of recurrence (MD = -1.27, 95%CI = -3.44 to 0.90, p = 0.0004). Mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy also has certain advantages in improving the coping ability (MD = 1.26, 95%CI = -3.23 to5.76, p = 0.03) and the emotional state (MD = -7.73, 95%CI = -27.34 to 11.88, p = 0.0007) of patients with breast cancer.

Conclusion

Our analyses support that, compared with standard care, mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy can significantly improve patients’ coping ability, reduce adverse emotions and improve patients’ emotional states.
Impact of different landing heights on the contact force in the medial tibiofemoral compartment and the surrounding muscle force characteristics in drop jumps
Authors: Bi Gengchao , Hua Lijun , Sun Jiajie , Xu Qiang , Li Guanbo
Published: July 2024

This study explored the impact of landing height on the tibiofemoral joint’s medial compartment force (MCF) during drop jumps to help athletes prevent knee injury. Experienced male participants (N = 16) performed drop jumps with landing heights from 0.15 m to 0.75 m. Kinematic/kinetic parameters were collected using a motion capture system and a three-dimensional force platform. The Med-Lat Knee model was used to calculate biomechanical indicators of the knee joint, and data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and one-dimensional statistical parametric mapping (SPM1d). Findings indicated that landing height significantly affected the anterior-posterior and vertical MCF, flexion-extension torque, internal-external rotation torque, and vertical ground reaction force (p<0.05)—all increasing with elevated landing height—and significantly impacted the generated force of the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, and vastus intermedius (p<0.05). SPM1d analysis confirmed these results within specific time intervals. Thus, both the knee moment and the MCF exhibited similar coordinated changes during drop jumps, indicating that these may be adaptive movement strategy. The impact of varying drop jump heights on muscle groups around the knee joint varied suggests that different heights induce specific muscular responses and improve muscle coordination to prevent knee joint injuries.
Treponema pallidum genetic diversity and its implications for targeted vaccine development: A cross-sectional study of early syphilis cases in Southwestern Colombia
Authors: Salazar Juan C. , Vargas-Cely Fabio , García-Luna Jonny A. , Ramirez Lady G. , Bettin Everton B. , Romero-Rosas Nelson , Amórtegui María F. , Silva Sebastián , Oviedo Oscar , Vigil Julie , La Vake Carson J. , Galindo Ximena , Ramirez Jose D. , Martínez-Valencia Alvaro J. , Caimano Melissa J. , Hennelly Christopher M. , Aghakhanian Farhang , Moody M. Anthony , Seña Arlene C. , Parr Jonathan B. , Hawley Kelly L. , López-Medina Eduardo , Radolf Justin D.
Published: July 2024

Background

Venereal syphilis, caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum (TPA), is surging worldwide, underscoring the need for a vaccine with global efficacy. Vaccine development requires an understanding of syphilis epidemiology and clinical presentation as well as genomic characterization of TPA strains circulating within at-risk populations. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical, demographic, and molecular features of early syphilis cases in Cali, Colombia.

Methods and findings

We conducted a cross-sectional study to identify individuals with early syphilis (ES) in Cali, Colombia through a city-wide network of public health centers, private sector HIV clinics and laboratory databases from public health institutions. Whole blood (WB), skin biopsies (SB), and genital and oral lesion swabs were obtained for measurement of treponemal burdens by polA quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and for whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Among 1,966 individuals screened, 128 participants met enrollment criteria: 112 (87%) with secondary (SS), 15 (12%) with primary (PS) and one with early latent syphilis; 66/128 (52%) self-reported as heterosexual, while 48 (38%) were men who have sex with men (MSM). Genital ulcer swabs had the highest polA copy numbers (67 copies/μl) by qPCR with a positivity rate (PR) of 73%, while SS lesions had 42 polA copies/μl with PR of 62%. WB polA positivity was more frequent in SS than PS (42% vs 7%, respectively; p = 0.009). Isolation of TPA from WB by rabbit infectivity testing (RIT) was achieved in 5 (56%) of 9 ES WB samples tested. WGS from 33 Cali patient samples, along with 10 other genomic sequences from South America (9 from Peru, 1 from Argentina) used as comparators, confirmed that SS14 was the predominant clade, and that half of all samples had mutations associated with macrolide (i.e., azithromycin) resistance. Variability in the outer membrane protein (OMP) and vaccine candidate BamA (TP0326) was mapped onto the protein’s predicted structure from AlphaFold. Despite the presence of mutations in several extracellular loops (ECLs), ECL4, an immunodominant loop and proven opsonic target, was highly conserved in this group of Colombian and South American TPA isolates.

Conclusions

This study offers new insights into the sociodemographic and clinical features of venereal syphilis in a highly endemic area of Colombia and illustrates how genomic sequencing of regionally prevalent TPA strains can inform vaccine development.
‘Greek Gypsies’, Greek dress and a blockade in the 1886 British press
Authors: Georganta Konstantina
Published: July 2024

Ninety-nine Roma from the periphery of Europe arrived in Britain in July 1886. They were called the ‘Greek Gypsies’ in the contemporary press and hailed from all parts of Greece and European Turkey, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania and the Asia Minor coast, at a time when Europe was under a ‘Balkan crisis’. The ‘Greek’ epithet affixed to the foreign travellers in the 1886 British press was effectively an umbrella term for the ‘Graeco-Turkish corner of Europe’. It also associated a transnational group with Greece, a single, defiant nation over which the Powers had already asserted their dominance with a naval blockade in the spring of 1886. This article explores the political climate of 1886 in regards to Greece, the narrative of the ‘Greek Gypsies’ in the British press and the depiction of modern Greeks in the same year to show that, like the ‘Gypsies’, the Greeks physically and culturally represented at the time an Other both familiar, exotic and a supposed threat to Europe’s stability that Victorian Britain could not accommodate.
The archaeologist king: Paul of Greece and Greek heritage tourism (1952–54)
Authors: Balaskas Vasileios , Kourkoulakos Antonis
Published: July 2024

During the early post-war period, American economic intervention in Greece played a central role in transforming the country’s classical past into a modern tourist asset. As a result, Greek institutions and investors used ancient monuments to create the necessary infrastructure for the emerging tourist movement. The Greek monarchy actively participated in this modernization process by engaging in cultural experiences, which aimed to transform Greek heritage into a desirable tourist product for the western camp during the Cold War period. The Greek monarchy was at the centre of this sociocultural development engaging with the nationalist reflexes of Greek society. By embracing the discourse of ethnikofrosyni (‘national mindedness’), King Paul of Greece (1947–64) and Queen Frederica provided royal sanction for the nationalist uses of classical antiquities and Greece as a lieu de mémoire that could offer an exceptional experience to visitors. To strengthen these assertions, Paul assumed the role of the archaeologist and tour guide, showcasing the cosmopolitan allure Greek antiquities radiated and presenting Greece as a fashionable and appealing tourist destination. This article argues that the Greek monarchs’ intervention in the archaeological excavations at Mycenae (1952), as well as the royal cruise around Greek islands and monuments (1954) reflected the sociopolitical developments of the period and the monarchs’ engagement with the country’s cultural affairs.
Language practices and identity construction on Facebook in the aftermath of Brexit: The case of a group of British migrants in Greece applying for Greek citizenship
Authors: Lees Christopher
Published: July 2024

This article examines the digital language practices in a Facebook group of seven British migrants, who live in Greece and have applied for Greek citizenship, throughout March 2021, in the aftermath of the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union. More specifically, it uses online ethnography to analyse the ways with which group members use language and construct identity through their public posts and comments. Although research into the digital language practices and identity construction of Greek migrants has been carried out, no such research exists in the case of British migrants residing in Greece. It will be shown how group members’ use of both Greek and English, as well as creative examples of code switching for the purpose of conveying concepts to other members, offers insight into how the group under study use language to position themselves in relation to both Greece and the Greek citizenship application process, as well as to other members who possess varying degrees of linguistic competency in Greek.
Athens as socio-material enactments: Experiencing the city through an art walk
Authors: Ploegman Herbert
Published: July 2024

In this article, I expand on the characterization of the city of Athens as a palimpsest. I embark on an analysis of the kaleidoscopic dynamics of the Greek capital, where contradictory elements can be traced. I draw on my ethnographic work on artistic practices in Athens to work towards a conceptualization of the city as multiple precarious enactments emerging simultaneously. As a way into this analysis, I follow an artistic guided walk, performed by the artist Aris Papadopoulos before an audience in the summer of 2020, throughout central parts of Athens. By describing scenes from this art walk, incoherencies emerge that, as I will argue, point to interfering and overlapping enactments of the same city. I adopt a science and technology studies approach to analyse how varying practices interweave into specific enactments. It is hoped that this approach can help us understand that no singular (and therefore reductive) representation of Athens is being sustained or promoted. Instead, it allows for inconsistencies and heterogeneous elements to come out and for silenced voices to be heard.
Legacies of Ancient Greece in Contemporary Perspectives, Thomas M. F. Gerry (ed.) (2023)
Authors: Stergiopoulou Katerina
Published: July 2024

Review of: Legacies of Ancient Greece in Contemporary Perspectives, Thomas M. F. Gerry (ed.) (2023)

Wilmington, DE: Vernon Press, xvv + 293 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-64889-111-3, h/bk, €72.00

ISBN 978-1-64889-554-8, p/bk, €40.00
Tracheal Stent Ingestion: Unveiling Complications and Innovations in Management
Authors: Vikash Fnu , Osayande Osagiede , Pang Maoyin
Published: July 2024

Airway stenting has become integral to the therapeutic endoscopic management of benign and malignant obstructive airway diseases. Despite the increased use of stents, the absence of clear guidelines for surveillance and maintenance poses the potential for unique stent-associated complications. Our case reports a rare incident of tracheal stent dislodgement, leading to its ingestion and unexpected discovery within the stomach. This case serves the purpose of shedding light on a rare yet potentially life-threatening complication and discussing types of stent and characteristics to enhance gastroenterologists' understanding of stent-related challenges and equips them to anticipate and strategize the appropriate course of action.
Esophagitis Dissecans Superficialis After Thermal Injury
Authors: Ahmed Abdillahi , King William , Middleton Charles E. , Sharma Anil
Published: July 2024

Esophagitis dissecans superficialis (EDS) is a rare esophageal condition characterized by sloughing of the esophageal mucosal epithelium, typically associated with a desquamating dermatologic disorder or mucosal irritants. We present a case of a 49-year-old man who presented for thermal burns sustained from an outdoor heater explosion. On body trauma imaging, he was incidentally found to have a midcervical esophageal prominence causing asymptomatic posterior tracheal compression. Endoscopy with esophageal biopsy were performed and consistent with EDS. He never exhibited symptoms associated with this diagnosis. To our knowledge, thermal injury has been a purported, albeit without case reference, etiology of EDS.
Impact of occlusal schemes on prognosis of conventional complete dentures in patients with severely resorbed alveolar ridges
Authors: Nascimento Gabriela Mayara Oliveira , Souza Wender Batista de , Camargos Germana de Villa , Munhoz Maira Foresti Vieira , Silva Eduardo Henrique da , Paleari André Gustavo
Published: July 2024

Bilateral Balanced Occlusion (BBO) and Canine Guidance (CG) are occlusal schemes that have been successfully used in complete dentures (CDs). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of CG compared to BBO on satisfaction, oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and masticatory performance in CDs wearers with severe resorbed alveolar ridge by means of a crossover trial. Sixteen edentulous patients with severe resorbed ridges were treated with new maxillary and mandibular CDs. After adaptation period, they were randomly divided into two groups according to a sequence of occlusal schemes: BBO for 30 days followed by CG for 30 days or, CG for 30 days followed by BBO for 30 days. Patient satisfaction with their dentures, OHRQoL and masticatory performance were assessed immediately 30 days after of using each occlusal scheme. The results of satisfaction and quality of life were using Wilcoxon test, and data regarding masticatory performance were analyzed through paired t-test (α = .05). The occlusal scheme used in complete dentures had no significant influence on general patient satisfaction (p = 0.06), overall quality of life (p = 0.09), or masticatory performance of patients (p = 0.182). Both BBO and CG can be considered as suitable for oral rehabilitation with CDs in patients with severe resorbed alveolar ridges. However, CG may be considered as a scheme of choice by clinicians due to its greater simplicity and shorter execution time.
Multicomponent Equilibrium Isotherms and Kinetics Study of Heavy Metals Removal from Aqueous Solutions Using Electrocoagulation Combined with Mordenite Zeolite and Ultrasonication
Authors: Al-Jubouri Sama Mohammed , Salman Rasha Habeeb , Khudhair Entisar Mohsen , Abbas Ammar Salih , Al-Alawy Ahmed Faiq , Khudhair Sajad Yas , Salih Miqat Hasan , Hassan Hassanain Abbas , Alfutimie Abdullatif
Published: July 2024

Combining different treatment strategies successively or simultaneously has become recommended to achieve high purification standards for the treated discharged water. The current work focused on combining electrocoagulation, ion-exchange, and ultrasonication treatment approaches for the simultaneous removal of copper, nickel, and zinc ions from water. The removal of the three studied ions was significantly enhanced by increasing the power density (4–10 mA/cm2) and NaCl salt concentration (0.5–1.5 g/L) at a natural solution pH. The simultaneous removal of these metal ions at 4 mA/cm2 and 1 g NaCl/L was highly improved by introducing 1 g/L of mordenite zeolite as an ion-exchanger. A remarkable removal of heavy metals was reported, as the initial concentration of each metal decreased from approximately 50 ppm to 1.19 for nickel, 3.06 for zinc, and less than 1 ppm for copper. In contrast, ultrasonication did not show any improvement in the treatment process. The extended Langmuir isotherm model convincingly described the experimental data; the Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm models have proven that the removal processes were physical and exothermic. Finally, the pseudo-second-order kinetics model appropriately explained the kinetics of the process with correlation coefficients of 0.9337 and 0.9016, respectively.
Uma atualização na regressão para estimar a massa corporal de xenartros extintos
Authors: Trintade Dantas Mário André , Costa João Paulo da , Soares Aléxia David Santos , Fraga Ricardo Evangelista
Published: July 2024

No presente trabalho apresentamos uma atualização para uma regressão produzida para estimar a massa corporal de xenartros extintos, em especial os da Região Intertropical Brasileira. Utilizamos 84 amostras de nove espécies viventes de xenartras (Pilosa e Cingulata), alcançando excelentes índices de qualidade (R2 = 0,53, %PE = 4,94, %SEE = 4,44). Apesar de existirem outras ótimas opções, reforçamos que esta é também é uma excelente ferramenta para estimar a massa corporal de xenartros extintos.
Analytical performance specifications for trace elements in biological fluids derived from six countries federated external quality assessment schemes over 10 years
Authors: Arnaud Josiane , Weykamp Cas , Wenzel Ross , Patriarca Marina , González-Estecha Montserrat , Janssen Liesbeth , Fofou-Caillierez Ma’atem Beatrice , Alemany Montserrat Ventura , Patriarca Valeria , de Graaf Irene , Persoons Renaud , Panadès Mariona , China Bernard , Winkel Marieke te , van der Vuurst Hans , Thelen Marc
Published: July 2024

Objectives

This article defines analytical performance specifications (APS) for evaluating laboratory proficiency through an external quality assessment scheme.

Methods

Standard deviations for proficiency assessment were derived from Thompson’s characteristic function applied to robust data calculated from participants’ submissions in the Occupational and Environmental Laboratory Medicine (OELM) external quality assurance scheme for trace elements in serum, whole blood and urine. Characteristic function was based on two parameters: (1) β – the average coefficient of variation (CV) at high sample concentrations; (2) α – the average standard deviation (SD) at low sample concentrations. APSs were defined as 1.65 standard deviations calculated by Thompson’s approach. Comparison between OELM robust data and characteristic function were used to validate the model.

Results

Application of the characteristic function allowed calculated APS for 18 elements across three matrices. Some limitations were noted, particularly for elements (1) with no sample concentrations near analytical technique limit of detection; (2) exhibiting high robust CV at high concentration; (3) exhibiting high analytical variability such as whole blood Tl and urine Pb; (4) with an unbalanced number of robust SD above and under the characteristic function such as whole blood Mn and serum Al and Zn.

Conclusions

The characteristic function was a useful means of deriving APS for trace elements in biological fluids where biological variation data or outcome studies were not available. However, OELM external quality assurance scheme data suggests that the characteristic functions are not appropriate for all elements.
The IAPM New York 2024 declaration on professional responsibility and abortion
Authors: Chervenak Frank A. , Stajonevic Milan , Grünebaum Amos
Published: July 2024

The International Academy of Perinatal Medicine (IAPM) firmly supports abortion as a fundamental reproductive right, as declared at their annual meeting on June 28, 2024, in New York City. This stance, grounded in professional responsibility, respects both autonomy and beneficence-based obligations to pregnant patients and fetal patients. The IAPM asserts that access to safe, legal abortion services is essential for gender equality, public health, and social justice. Their declaration aligns with international human rights standards, advocating for abortion legalization up to fetal viability and beyond in cases of maternal health risks or severe fetal anomalies. This comprehensive approach underscores the critical role of healthcare professionals in providing compassionate reproductive healthcare, aiming to reduce maternal mortality and improve public health outcomes globally.
FINANCIAL OPPORTUNITIES AND BARRIERS TO PROVIDING HEALTH-CARE SERVICES TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: THE EXPERIENCE OF PHYSICIANS
Authors: Rupšienė Liudmila , Saveljeva Regina , Batuchina Aleksandra , Grubliauskienė Jūratė
Published: July 2024

The World Health Organization acknowledges that the health of people in the European region has improved significantly, but not everywhere and not equally for all. It has set a strategic goal to improve the health of all, and reduce health inequalities. In meeting this goal, Lithuania purposefully strives to reduce inequalities in the health condition of individuals attributed to different social groups, and differences in accessibility to health care. The primary focus is on people with disabilities. In compliance with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Lithuania seeks to provide people with disabilities with health-care services and programmes of the same availability, quality and level which are provided or applied to other individuals, free of charge or at a reasonable price. However, research has revealed a great deal of problems in fulfilling this obligation. The present article focuses on physicians’ experience, and aims to understand, from a physician’s perspective, the financial opportunities and barriers that they encounter in rendering health-care services to people with disabilities. A survey involving 107 physicians was carried out in 2019 and 2020. The research results showed that Lithuania is making progress in increasing funding to the health-care system in a targeted way covering a wide range of its domains. Therefore, physicians have plenty of opportunities to refer patients with disabilities to other professionals for consultation without any financial constraints, to prescribe reimbursable medication, to carry out laboratory and radiological tests, to give instructions to caregivers on patient care, and to hospitalise a patient or transfer him/her to another hospital. The situation is somewhat worse with prescribing the most appropriate reimbursable measures and reimbursable rehabilitation treatment, and the worst situation has emerged in the sphere of reimbursable psychological and social assistance, because these services are usually granted a minimum level of funding. The trends established verify that there is a strong need to develop a more effective public health policy in Lithuania, to reform the health-care system, and to invest in improving its quality, so that the country can take more measures to ensure the health of the population and the inclusive equality of people with disabilities in the health-care system.
THE EFFICIENCY OF ANIMAL-ASSISTED THERAPY FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS
Authors: Brazdeikienė Liana , Zukhbaya Natalia
Published: July 2024

Although there is a growing body of evidence showing the potential of animal-assisted (AAT) therapy use with various populations, there is still a limited amount of such studies in Lithuania. This article continues the construction of the scientific discourse of animal-assisted therapy in Lithuania. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficiency of animal-assisted therapy for children with autism spectrum disorders. The study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of animal-assisted therapy not only from the therapist’s viewpoint but also from the parents’ perspective. Specific objectives included: 1) to evaluate parents’ perception of their children’s performance and satisfaction level in the areas selected by parents of self-care, productivity and leisure before and after animal-assisted therapy sessions; 2) to measure the effectiveness of animal-assisted therapy sessions in language/communication, sociability, sensory/cognitive awareness, and health/behaviour perceived by the parents; 3) to evaluate and compare parents’ perceived behavioural-emotional difficulties before and after animal-assisted therapy sessions; and 4) to monitor and compare behavioural changes in children during and after animal-assisted therapy sessions .The sample consisted of nine children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. The results from two measurement methods provide support for the efficacy of animal-assisted therapy. The average scores of performance and satisfaction in targeted problem areas are higher in both groups of participants after animal-assisted therapy sessions as indicated by the parents. The parents of all participants indicated lower scores in speech/language, sociability, sensory/cognitive awareness and healthy/physical behaviour, which indicate fewer problems in these areas. Parents evaluate children’s aggressive behaviour and externalising problems as significantly lower after animal-assisted therapy sessions. The scores of emotional problem scales are slightly higher after therapy, but the difference is not statistically significant. Parents tend to notice changes in behavioural problems more than emotional. The behavioural changes monitored by therapists varied in each session. The monitoring of behavioural changes in each session cannot indicate stable qualitative growth or decline as the results are sensitive to the inner states of children. Change of behaviour scores in each session showed that animal-assisted therapy sessions were beneficial to older as well as to younger participants.
ON THE DISCOURSE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CARITATIVE DIMENSION IN SOCIAL WORK
Authors: Dišlers Guntis
Published: July 2024

The early beginnings of Christian caritative social work against a Biblical and Ancient Greek background have been well explored in literature. The methodological approach, the use of theological analysis of social work approach to the client, opens the doors to the positive identification of burning issues in the practice of modern social work. The Christian world-view has always put personal responsibility and involvement on micro, mezzo and macro levels in focus, and the realisation of personal potential in social functions is revealed by the application of the Trinitarian view of God in Christianity. The theological approach to the analysis of the meaning of social work, its mission and mechanisms, focuses on the crossing of both the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the Christian faith as a practice, and puts forward service to the needy and the poor, solidarity with outcasts and marginal people, support and encouragement, as following in the footsteps of Christ. By that approach, the essence of caritative social work is discovered: personal engagement versus estrangement, community resources versus individualism, mutuality versus ignorance. The innovative discourse inviting the disclosure of possible personal transformation dynamics has an impact on the positive solution of the client’s social problems within the community, especially during a humanitarian crisis. The methodological approach may also be helpful for the identification of stagnation in the social work profession.
The Complexity of Defining and Assessing the Most Demanding Periods of Play in Team Sports: A Current Opinion
Authors: Lino-Mesquita João , Baptista Ivan , Nakamura Fábio Yuzo , Casanova Filipe , Yousefian Farzad , Travassos Bruno , Afonso José
Published: July 2024

In the context of training load monitoring, the most demanding periods of play (MDPs) have increasingly caught the interest of researchers. However, the MDPs analysis is currently embryonic, raising some conceptual and methodological questions. This current opinion synthesizes the methods used for the MDPs analysis while highlighting conceptual and methodological gaps and proposing a broader perspective on the topic. It is underlined that (a) the information available on the MDPs is mostly limited to external load (particularly running-based metrics), with scarce research focused on internal load; (b) the metrics have been analyzed in a univariate way, neglecting the multivariate scenarios from which the MDPs emerge; (c) the MDPs are highly variable over time due to the complex interaction between individual, tactical–technical, and contextual factors; and (d) scarce evidence is available regarding the contextualization of the MDPs from a tactical–technical perspective. Thus, the MDPs would benefit from cross-referencing external load with game moments and tactical actions while avoiding the idea of fixed benchmarks given the inherent match-to-match variability. Practitioners may consider replicating the MDPs (and their contexts) in (some?) training sessions as a complementary prescription strategy (metaphorically, the cherry on top, not the cake). However, the feasibility and effectiveness of such practices warrant investigation.
Ultrasound-guided hyaluronic acid filler injections for temporal augmentation: a case report of two patients
Authors: Linova Tatjana , Linovs Viktors , Redaelli Alessio
Published: July 2024

Background: The aging face often exhibits volume loss, particularly in the temporal region, where the presence of complex neurovascular structures like the superficial temporal artery increases the risk associated with rejuvenation procedures. Hyaluronic acid fillers are extensively utilized to address these concerns, albeit requiring precise techniques to avoid vascular complications. Methods: This case study involved two Caucasian female patients, aged 41 and 37, who underwent temporal augmentation using HA fillers to correct hollowness and enhance facial contours. Ultrasound mapping of the superficial temporal artery (STA) was performed to guide the injection process. A total of 2.4 mL of HA filler was administered to each patient using a 25G, 50mm blunt cannula under real-time ultrasound guidance. Results: The application of HA filler using the DOMINO lateral lifting technique not only restored volume but also provided a lifting effect on the medial and lower thirds of the face. Ultrasound guidance facilitated precise cannula placement within the interfascial space, ensuring the avoidance of vascular injury, with no post-procedural complications such as hematoma or intravascular filler placment observed. Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided HA filler injections in the temporal region provide a safe and effective method for facial rejuvenation. This case highlights the importance of precise anatomical mapping and real-time procedural guidance to enhance safety and aesthetic outcomes. Future research with a larger cohort is recommended to further validate these findings.
Global market trends for secondary processing of copper waste and scrap (analytical review)
Authors: Gnatush V.A.
Published: July 2024

Recycling of waste and scrap metal is an important component of the modern economy, because natural metal resources are exhaustible. And since copper waste and scrap can be considered as renewable resources, the analysis of the world market for secondary processing of copper waste and scrap is relevant in the 21st century. It is shown that copper is used in many industries. The largest consumers of this product are mechanical engineering (32 % share) and construction (26 %). In the 21st century (2001-2022), the global production of refined copper increased from 15.6 to 25.7 million tons (CAGR 2.3 %), and its use — from 14.9 to 26.1 million tons (CAGR 2.6 %). By the end of 2022 the leaders in the production of refined copper in the world were China (share 43 %), Chile (8 %), the Republic of Congo (7 %) and Japan (6 %). Analytics show that the average level of copper scrap recycling in the world at the end of the useful life is about 45 %. If the recycling rate reaches 60 % by 2035, then the estimated total volume of copper scrap will reach 14 million tons by 2030, and 25 million tons by 2050. At the same time, a market for copper waste and scrap has formed in the world. In quantitative terms the world export of the specified goods in the years 2003-2022 varied from 3.8 million tons (2003) to 6.8 million tons (2013). In subsequent years, exports were characterized by a certain stability and fluctuated in the range of 5...6 million tons. The main exporters of these goods in 2022 were the USA (16.4 % share), Germany (7.2 %) and Japan (6.9 %), and the importers were China (37.1 %), Germany (10.4 %) and Republic of Korea (7.5 %). Information on the leading copper scrap processing companies in the world and the USA is considered. Information on the technological aspects of copper scrap processing is presented. It is shown that the processing industry has at its disposal direct and indirect methods of sorting, a line of equipment for metallurgical processing of copper scrap. Certain companies are found to use computerized systems to determine thermal characteristics, cost and the most efficient method of remelting, including the need to use multiple types of scrap. Information is provided regarding company Continuus-Properzi S.p.A. (Italy), which uses three technology options for copper scrap processing. It is noted that the available equipment allows processing companies to create a technological cycle of processing with optimal efficiency depending on the quality of incoming scrap. Information is presented on the state of the Ukrainian market for copper waste and scrap, refined copper and copper products, as well as domestic technological developments.