bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prime and Möbius correlations for very short intervals in $\fq[x]$
Authors: Kurlberg Pär , Rosenzweig Lior
Published: May 2024

abstract: We investigate function field analogs of the distribution of primes, and prime $k$-tuples, in ``very short intervals'' of the form $I(f):=\{f(x) + a : a \in\fp\}$ for $f(x)\in\fp[x]$ and $p$ prime, as well as cancellation in sums of function field analogs of the M\"{o}bius $\mu$ function and its correlations (similar to sums appearing in Chowla's conjecture). For generic $f$, i.e., for $f$ a Morse polynomial, the error terms are roughly of size $O(\sqrt{p})$ (with typical main terms of order $p$). For non-generic $f$ we prove that independence still holds for ``generic'' set of shifts. We can also exhibit examples for which there is no cancellation at all in M\"{o}bius/Chowla type sums (in fact, it turns out that (square root) cancellation in M\"{o}bius sums is {\em equivalent} to (square root) cancellation in Chowla type sums), as well as intervals where the heuristic ``primes are independent'' fails badly. The results are deduced from a general theorem on correlations of arithmetic class functions; these include characteristic functions on primes, the M\"{o}bius $\mu$ function, and divisor functions (e.g., function field analogs of the Titchmarsh divisor problem can be treated). We also prove analogous, but slightly weaker, results in the more delicate fixed characteristic setting, i.e., for $f(x)\in\fq[x]$ and intervals of the form $f(x)+a$ for $a\in\fq$, where $p$ is fixed and $q=p^{l}$ grows.
Self-seeded quasi-continuous-wave Er:ZBLAN fiber laser
Authors: Zuo Xiaokai , Liu Lu , Wang Fuyong
Published: May 2024

A self-seeding phenomenon is forecasted in a pulse-pumped Er:ZBLAN fiber laser. A non-zero lasing power, serving as a seeding power for subsequent output pulse, between two adjacent output pulses, will appear in a pulse-pumped Er:ZBLAN fiber laser when the average pump power is increased to a certain value. The seeding power plays an essential role for the transformation of gain-switching operation to quasi-continuous-wave (QCW) operation in a pulse-pumped Er:ZBLAN fiber laser, and is responsible for the suppression of chaotic spikes in the output QCW pulse as well. Under certain conditions, moreover, stable QCW output pulses are expected to be generated in pulse-pumped the Er:ZBLAN fiber laser with the assistance of the self-seeding power. The pulse-pumped Er:ZBLAN fiber laser, referred to as a self-seeded Er:ZBLAN fiber laser, has great potential for stable QCW pulse generating with nearly the same duration and temporal profile as those of pump pulse.
Switchable dual ultra-broadband perfect absorber based on graphene and vanadium dioxide hybrid metamaterials
Authors: Zhuo Shanshan
Published: May 2024

The phase transition property of vanadium dioxide (VO2) makes it an attractive field in temperature-controlled chips. In this paper, a microstructure based on a graphene disk and a ring-shaped VO2 hybrid metamaterial is proposed to achieve switchable dual ultra-broadband perfect absorption in the terahertz region, which is analyzed by the phase transition property of VO2 and the dynamic electrical regulation of graphene. When the graphene disk is not present, the absorption intensity can reach up to 97.07%. When the graphene disk is present and respectively interacts with the VO2 metallic and insulated phases, the results exhibit an ultra-broadband perfect absorption (>90%) from 1.620 THz to 4.533 THz and from 1.506 THz to 3.576 THz, respectively, where the bandwidths are as high as 2.913 THz and 2.070 THz, respectively. Adjusting the Fermi level of graphene and the VO2 conductivity allows the absorption intensity and bandwidth to be effectively controlled, where the fractional bandwidth from 81.46% to 94.69% and a high modulation depth of 95.09% can be achieved. These results suggest that dual ultra-broad perfect absorption can be dynamically switched within a single absorber and has various modulation means, which are expected to be developed in applying multifunctional modulators.
Dynamic Mueller matrix polarimetry using generalized measurements
Authors: McWilliam Amy , Al Khafaji Mustafa A. , Svensson Sphinx J. , Pádua Sebastião , Franke-Arnold Sonja
Published: May 2024

Mueller matrices provide a complete description of a medium’s response to excitation by polarized light, and their characterization is important across a broad range of applications from ellipsometry in material science to polarimetry in biochemistry, medicine and astronomy. Here we introduce single-shot Mueller matrix polarimetry based on generalized measurements performed with a Poincaré beam. We determine the Mueller matrix of a homogeneous medium with unknown optical activity by detecting its optical response to a Poincaré beam, which across its profile contains all polarization states, and analyze the resulting polarization pattern in terms of four generalized measurements, which are implemented as a path-displaced Sagnac interferometer. We illustrate the working of our Mueller matrix polarimetry on the example of tilted and rotated wave plates and find excellent agreement with predictions as well as alternative Stokes measurements. After initial calibration, the alignment of the device stays stable for up to 8 hours, promising suitability for the dynamic characterization of Mueller matrices that change in time. Unlike traditional rotating waveplate polarimetry, our method allows the acquisition of a sample’s dynamic Mueller matrix. We expect that our feasibility study could be developed into a practical and versatile tool for the real-time analysis of optical activity changes, with applications in biomedical and biochemical research and industrial monitoring.
Modeling full PCSELs and VCSELs using modified rigorous coupled-wave analysis
Authors: Xu Jingxiao , McCulloch Douglas , Charlton Martin D. B.
Published: May 2024

An integrated rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA) algorithm is presented in this paper, which can simulate full vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) and photonic crystal surface-emitting laser (PCSEL) structures. A classic RCWA can only analyze a structure when the light source is incident from the top, bottom, or both sides of the device. However, for VCSEL applications, the light source is generated in the middle and propagates in both directions. A bidirectional scattering matrix method and doubling algorithm are implemented in RCWA. The resonant wavelength and Q factor of a VCSEL can then be found in the output spectrum. The accuracy and execution speed are compared with those of the Lumerical finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method for several VCSEL and PCSEL designs. The results show that the maximum discrepancy between RCWA and FDTD is less than 3 nm, and the difference in the far-field divergence angle is less than 0.5°. The speed of RCWA also outperforms FDTD simulation significantly.
Effects of interface-engineering on the internal structure and reflective characteristics of Cr/Sc multilayer mirrors
Authors: Smertin R. M. , Barysheva M. M. , Chkhalo N. I. , Garakhin S. A. , Malyshev I. V. , Polkovnikov V. N.
Published: May 2024

Record reflectivity’s of REXP=23.8% at 3.14 nm and RCALC=30.8% at 3.12 nm have been obtained for Cr/Sc mirrors. Such increases in reflection are the result of decreases in mixing of the system layers with each other due to the use of interface-engineering methods – passivation of the already deposited Cr layer with nitrogen before deposition of the subsequent Sc layer. However, it has been found that adding additional B4C layers to such a system leads to a decrease in reflectivity.
Octupole plasmon resonance improves light enhancement by a metal nanodimer
Authors: Sehrawat Sagar , Shevchenko Andriy
Published: May 2024

Metal nanoparticles are extensively used in science and technology to resonantly confine and enhance optical fields. Highest enhancement factors are achieved in nanosized gaps of metal dimers. It is commonly assumed that higher-order plasmon resonances, such as electric quadrupole and octupole, are in nanoparticles much weaker than a dipole resonance. Indeed, in the classical multipole expansion that deals with the scattered fields, these “dark” multipoles can be invisible. In this work, we show that an octupole resonance in a metal nanodimer can lead to a substantially larger field enhancement than a dipole resonance. The effect is explained by the fact that the near-field enhancement provided by the excited electric currents can be strong when the excitation is dark. This finding extends the design principles of a plasmonic nanostructure toward higher-order multipoles that, being naturally narrowband, can be useful for a variety of applications, especially in plasmonic sensing and detection.
Invertible all-optical logic gate on chip
Authors: Li Zhan , Chen Jiayang , Sua Yongmeng , Ma Zhaohui , Tang Chao , Huang Yu-Ping
Published: May 2024

We demonstrate an invertible all-optical gate on chip, with the roles of control and signal switchable by slightly adjusting their relative arrival time at the gate. It is based on the quantum Zeno blockade (QZB) driven by sum-frequency generation (SFG) in a periodically poled lithium niobate microring resonator. For two nearly identical nanosecond pulses, the later arriving pulse is modulated by the earlier arriving one, resulting in 2.4 and 3.9 power extinction between the two, respectively, when their peak powers are 1 mW and 2 mW, respectively. Our results, while to be improved and enriched, herald a new, to the best of our knowledge, paradigm of logical gates and circuits for exotic applications.
Tracking the transmission matrix of a moving fiber with the transmitted data
Authors: Liu Zeqi , Zhang Tianhao , Liu Kaige , Zhang Hengkang , Zhang Bin , Fu Xing , Liu Qiang
Published: May 2024

During data transmission, the dynamic change of a scattering medium will make the measured transmission matrix (TM) invalid, so it is necessary to repeatedly measure the TM to achieve a long-time data transmission, which requires stopping the data transmission process frequently to measure the TM and leads to a reduction in the communication capacity. To solve this problem, we propose a TM tracking method during data transmission. In the case of more than three discrete levels of phase modulation, this method can realize the calibration of the TM with the intensity pictures captured by the camera and the recovered data, so it does not require stopping the data transmission process to measure the TM and thus avoids the loss of communication capacity. We have proved the feasibility of this method through simulations and experiments and realized the continuous transmission of random data and image data through a moving fiber with high accuracy.
Male allocation to ejaculation and mating effort imposes different life history trade-offs
Authors: Chung Meng-Han Joseph , Fox Rebecca J. , Jennions Michael D.
Published: May 2024

When males compete, sexual selection favors reproductive traits that increase their mating or fertilization success (pre- and postcopulatory sexual selection). It is assumed that males face a trade-off between these 2 types of sexual traits because they both draw from the same pool of resources. Consequently, allocation into mate acquisition or ejaculation should create similar trade-offs with other key life history traits. Tests of these assumptions are exceedingly rare. Males only ejaculate after they mate, and the costs of ejaculation are therefore highly confounded with those of mating effort. Consequently, little is known about how each component of reproductive allocation affects a male’s future performance. Here, we ran an experiment using a novel technique to distinguish the life history costs of mating effort and ejaculation for mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki). We compared manipulated males (mate without ejaculation), control males (mate and ejaculate), and naïve males (neither mate nor ejaculate) continuously housed with a female and 2 rival males. We assessed their growth, somatic maintenance, mating and fighting behavior, and sperm traits after 8 and 16 weeks. Past mating effort significantly lowered a male’s future mating effort and growth, but not his sperm production, while past sperm release significantly lowered a male’s future ejaculate quantity, but not his mating effort. Immune response was the only trait impacted by both past mating effort and past ejaculation. These findings challenge the assumption that male reproductive allocation draws from a common pool of resources to generate similar life history costs later in life. Instead, we provide clear evidence that allocation into traits under pre- and postcopulatory sexual selection have different trait-specific effects on subsequent male reproductive performance.
Delayed center of mass feedback in elderly humans leads to greater muscle co-contraction and altered balance strategy under perturbed balance: A predictive musculoskeletal simulation study
Authors: Jones Rachel , Ratnakumar Neethan , Akbaş Kübra , Zhou Xianlian
Published: May 2024

Falls are one of the leading causes of non-disease death and injury in the elderly, often due to delayed sensory neural feedback essential for balance. This delay, challenging to measure or manipulate in human studies, necessitates exploration through neuromusculoskeletal modeling to reveal its intricate effects on balance. In this study, we developed a novel three-way muscle feedback control approach, including muscle length feedback, muscle force feedback, and enter of mass feedback, for balancing and investigated specifically the effects of center of mass feedback delay on elderly people’s balance strategies. We conducted simulations of cyclic perturbed balance at different magnitudes ranging from 0 to 80 mm and with three center of mass feedback delays (100, 150 & 200 ms). The results reveal two key points: 1) Longer center of mass feedback delays resulted in increased muscle activations and co-contraction, 2) Prolonged center of mass feedback delays led to noticeable shifts in balance strategies during perturbed standing. Under low-amplitude perturbations, the ankle strategy was predominantly used, while higher amplitude disturbances saw more frequent employment of hip and knee strategies. Additionally, prolonged center of mass delays altered balance strategies across different phases of perturbation, with a noticeable increase in overall ankle strategy usage. These findings underline the adverse effects of prolonged feedback delays on an individual’s stability, necessitating greater muscle co-contraction and balance strategy adjustment to maintain balance under perturbation. Our findings advocate for the development of training programs tailored to enhance balance reactions and mitigate muscle feedback delays within clinical or rehabilitation settings for fall prevention in elderly people.
The morpho-syntax of question particles in Standard Arabic
Authors: Fakih Abdul-Hafeed , Alzubi Ali Abbas Falah , Algouzi Sami
Published: May 2024

Unlike wh-question questions in Standard Arabic (SA), which received much attention in the past decades in different approaches within generative grammar, question particles (yes-no questions) in SA have not yet been studied thoroughly in minimalist syntax, and less attention has been paid to them. There is a need to analyze SA question articles and explore their syntactic behavior within minimalism. The reason why this topic has been selected for study is that SA question particles have not been investigated in detail yet in Chomsky’s Phase Theory; it has not been analyzed how question particles are derived and represented morpho-syntactically in a clause structure. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the morpho-syntax of SA question particles and provide satisfactory answers to the following questions: (i) Do question particles in SA undergo any syntactic movement to [Spec-CP] in the derivation of yes-no questions? If not, why?, (ii) Are question particles based-generated in [Spec-CP]?, and (iii) How can question particles be accounted for neatly in Chomsky’s Phase-based Theory? The paper adopts Chomsky’s Phase Theory to examine the interaction between the assumptions of this theory and the SA data on question particles. The study findings reveal that, unlike English, question particles in SA do not undergo any syntactic movement while deriving yes-no questions and are assumed to be base-generated in [Spec-CP]. Such question particles are not part of the verb morphology and are merely morphological affixes used as devices to mark interrogativity in the syntax; they do not carry any agreement and tense features that trigger syntactic movement to the clause-initial position.
Impact of urban land use tax on carbon emission efficiency of urban construction land——Analysis based on panel data of 30 provinces in China
Authors: Ren Sibo
Published: May 2024

Reducing urban carbon emissions is an important path for ecological civilization construction, which can be achieved through the adjustment of urban land use tax. Using provincial Panel data from 2011 to 2021, based on the analysis of urban carbon emission efficiency values using a non radial SBM model, the Tobit random effects panel model is used to explore the institutional impact of urban land use tax. The study found that urban land use tax has a significant positive promoting effect on carbon emission efficiency and shows certain regional differences. The eastern region is higher in overall efficiency and technical efficiency than the central and western regions, but the central region has the highest overall scale efficiency. At the same time, factors such as population urbanization, industrial structure, and energy-saving technology level will also have a certain impact on this effect. Based on the institutional effect of improving carbon emission efficiency, the article proposes corresponding countermeasures and suggestions from aspects such as tax rate levels, tax system adjustments, tax incentives, and differentiated regional arrangements.
Navigating board dynamics: Configuration analysis of corporate governance’s factors and their impact on bank performance
Authors: Tahir Safdar Husain , Ghafoor Sadeen , Zulfiqar Muhammad , Sajid Mushtaq A. , Illyas Huma
Published: May 2024

This research utilizes the fsQCA technique to investigate how a combination of corporate governance conditions or factors collectively influences the performance of banks. Examining key elements such as board size, busy directors, independent directors, CEO duality, and women on the board, the research employs data collected from the annual reports of 30 banks spanning from 2010 to 2020. The necessary condition analysis (NCA) underscores that no individual condition or factor is indispensable for the ultimate outcome. Nevertheless, the sufficiency analysis reveals distinct solutions, each representing a unique set of conditions or factors sufficient to generate the outcome. The study concludes that the relationship between corporate governance characteristics and bank performance is complex and multifaceted, with neither ROA nor ROE reliant on a singular input condition or factor. The theoretical contributions of the findings align with or partially support various theories and propositions within the realm of corporate governance. Notably, the application of fsQCA contributes to enhance the methodological understanding of corporate governance studies in existing literature.
The incidence of thrombosis with co-occurring thrombocytopenia prior to the SARS-CoV2 pandemic: A population-based study
Authors: Liu Yanfang , Goh Choo-Hua , Shen Dereck , Qiu Hong , Huang Kuan-Chih , Luo Man , Chen Zhangjing , Tang Chao-Hsiun
Published: May 2024

Background

Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) is a very rare prothrombotic disorder that is a safety concern for some COVID-19 vaccines. We aimed to devise a case definition to estimate the incidence of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia as a proxy for TTS in a national insurance claims database.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective observational study using the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) in Taiwan over the three-year period prior to the SARS-COV-2 pandemic (2017–2019). Our case definition was all patients with newly diagnosed thrombosis co-occurring with a diagnosis of thrombocytopenia within seven days before or after the thrombosis diagnosis. Cases were identified using International Classification of Disease-10 codes.

Findings

We identified 2010 patients with newly diagnosed thrombosis co-occurring with thrombocytopenia during the study period. The mean age was 64.71 years; female:male ratio 1:1.45. The most frequent thrombotic events were coronary artery disease (18.81%), cerebral infarction (16.87%), and disseminated intravascular coagulation (13.13%). Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis was rare (<0.1%). The average annual incidence rate of co-occurring new diagnoses of thrombosis and thrombocytopenia was 2.84 per 100 000 population. Incidence rates were higher in men than women, except in 20–39 year-olds (higher in females). 20.6% of patients died within the first month after diagnosis.

Interpretation

We observed that the demographic and clinical characteristics of thrombosis with co-occurring thrombocytopenia using our case definition is different from that of TTS. Further research is needed to refine the case definition of TTS in the post-COVID-19 vaccination period.
Serotype epidemiology and antibiotic resistance of pneumococcal isolates colonizing infants in Botswana (2016–2019)
Authors: Hurst Jillian H. , Shaik-Dasthagirisaheb Yazdani B. , Truong Loc , Boiditswe Sefelani C. , Patel Sweta M. , Gilchrist Jodi , Maciejewski Julia , Luinstra Kathy , Smieja Marek , Steenhoff Andrew P. , Cunningham Coleen K. , Pelton Stephen I. , Kelly Matthew S.
Published: May 2024

Background

In 2012, Botswana introduced 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-13) to its childhood immunization program in a 3+0 schedule, achieving coverage rates of above 90% by 2014. In other settings, PCV introduction has been followed by an increase in carriage or disease caused by non-vaccine serotypes, including some serotypes with a high prevalence of antibiotic resistance.

Methods

We characterized the serotype epidemiology and antibiotic resistance of pneumococcal isolates cultured from nasopharyngeal samples collected from infants (≤12 months) in southeastern Botswana between 2016 and 2019. Capsular serotyping was performed using the Quellung reaction. E-tests were used to determine minimum inhibitory concentrations for common antibiotics.

Results

We cultured 264 pneumococcal isolates from samples collected from 150 infants. At the time of sample collection, 81% of infants had received at least one dose of PCV-13 and 53% had completed the three-dose series. PCV-13 serotypes accounted for 27% of isolates, with the most prevalent vaccine serotypes being 19F (n = 20, 8%), 19A (n = 16, 6%), and 6A (n = 10, 4%). The most frequently identified non-vaccine serotypes were 23B (n = 29, 11%), 21 (n = 12, 5%), and 16F (n = 11, 4%). Only three (1%) pneumococcal isolates were resistant to amoxicillin; however, we observed an increasing prevalence of penicillin resistance using the meningitis breakpoint (2016: 41%, 2019: 71%; Cochran-Armitage test for trend, p = 0.0003) and non-susceptibility to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (2016: 55%, 2019: 79%; p = 0.04). Three (1%) isolates were multi-drug resistant.

Conclusions

PCV-13 serotypes accounted for a substantial proportion of isolates colonizing infants in Botswana during a four-year period starting four years after vaccine introduction. A low prevalence of amoxicillin resistance supports its continued use as the first-line agent for non-meningeal pneumococcal infections. The observed increase in penicillin resistance at the meningitis breakpoint and the low prevalence of resistance to ceftriaxone supports use of third-generation cephalosporins for empirical treatment of suspected bacterial meningitis.
A Retinex-based network for image enhancement in low-light environments
Authors: Wu Ji , Ding Bing , Zhang Beining , Ding Jie
Published: May 2024

Most of the existing low-light image enhancement methods suffer from the problems of detail loss, color distortion and excessive noise. To address the above-mentioned issues, this paper proposes a neural network-based low-light image enhancement network. The network is divided into three parts: decomposition network, reflection component denoising network, and illumination component enhancement network. In the decomposition network, the input image is decomposed into a reflection image and an illumination image. In the reflection component denoising network, the Unet3+ network improved by fusion CA attention is adopted to denoise the reflection image. In the illumination component enhancement network, the adaptive mapping curve is adopted to enhance the illumination image iteratively. Finally, the processed illumination and reflection images are fused based on Retinex theory to obtain the final enhanced image. The experimental results show that the proposed network achieves excellent visual effects in subjective evaluation. Additionally, it shows a significant improvement in objective evaluation metrics, including PSNR, SSIM, NIQE, and so on, when compared to the results in several public datasets.
Genotyping-by-sequencing and weighted gene co-expression network analysis of genes responsive against Potato virus Y in commercial potato cultivars
Authors: Hajibarat Zahra , Saidi Abbas , Zeinalabedini Mehrshad , Mousapour Gorji Ahmad , Ghaffari Mohammad Reza , Shariati Vahid , Ahmadvand Rahim
Published: May 2024

Potato is considered a key component of the global food system and plays a vital role in strengthening world food security. A major constraint to potato production worldwide is the Potato Virus Y (PVY), belonging to the genus Potyvirus in the family of Potyviridae. Selective breeding of potato with resistance to PVY pathogens remains the best method to limit the impact of viral infections. Understanding the genetic diversity and population structure of potato germplasm is important for breeders to improve new cultivars for the sustainable use of genetic materials in potato breeding to PVY pathogens. While, genetic diversity improvement in modern potato breeding is facing increasingly narrow genetic basis and the decline of the genetic diversity. In this research, we performed genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS)-based diversity analysis on 10 commercial potato cultivars and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify candidate genes related to PVY-resistance. WGCNA is a system biology technique that uses the WGCNA R software package to describe the correlation patterns between genes in multiple samples. In terms of consumption, these cultivars are a high rate among Iranian people. Using population structure analysis, the 10 cultivars were clustered into three groups based on the 118343 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) generated by GBS. Read depth ranged between 5 and 18. The average data size and Q30 of the reads were 145.98 Mb and 93.63%, respectively. Based on the WGCNA and gene expression analysis, the StDUF538, StGTF3C5, and StTMEM161A genes were associated with PVY resistance in the potato genome. Further, these three hub genes were significantly involved in defense mechanism where the StTMEM161A was involved in the regulation of alkalization apoplast, the StDUF538 was activated in the chloroplast degradation program, and the StGTF3C5 regulated the proteins increase related to defense in the PVY infected cells. In addition, in the genetic improvement programs, these hub genes can be used as genetic markers for screening commercial cultivars for PVY resistance. Our survey demonstrated that the combination of GBS-based genetic diversity germplasm analysis and WGCNA can assist breeders to select cultivars resistant to PVY as well as help design proper crossing schemes in potato breeding.
ChatGPT-generated help produces learning gains equivalent to human tutor-authored help on mathematics skills
Authors: Pardos Zachary A. , Bhandari Shreya
Published: May 2024

Authoring of help content within educational technologies is labor intensive, requiring many iterations of content creation, refining, and proofreading. In this paper, we conduct an efficacy evaluation of ChatGPT-generated help using a 3 x 4 study design (N = 274) to compare the learning gains of ChatGPT to human tutor-authored help across four mathematics problem subject areas. Participants are randomly assigned to one of three hint conditions (control, human tutor, or ChatGPT) paired with one of four randomly assigned subject areas (Elementary Algebra, Intermediate Algebra, College Algebra, or Statistics). We find that only the ChatGPT condition produces statistically significant learning gains compared to a no-help control, with no statistically significant differences in gains or time-on-task observed between learners receiving ChatGPT vs human tutor help. Notably, ChatGPT-generated help failed quality checks on 32% of problems. This was, however, reducible to nearly 0% for algebra problems and 13% for statistics problems after applying self-consistency, a “hallucination” mitigation technique for Large Language Models.
Job burnout, cognitive functioning, and Brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression among hospital Mexican nurses
Authors: Cortés-Álvarez Nadia Yanet , Lara-Morales Alfredo , Bautista-Rodríguez Elizabeth , Marmolejo-Murillo Leticia Gabriela , Díaz Jiménez Alejandra , Vergara Hernández Lourdes Alejandra , Fernández Moya Monserrat , Vuelvas-Olmos César Rubén
Published: May 2024

Aim

To analyze the relationship between burnout syndrome, cognitive functions, and sBDNF (Serum Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor) in Mexican nurses.

Method

A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. This study target staff nurses working in hospitals in Guanajuato, México. Demographic and working condition data were collected via questionnaire. The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was used to evaluate burnout. A blood sample were collected and processed by ELISA technique to measure sBDNF. Finally, the General Cognitive Assessment (CAB) of the Cognifit© neuropsychological battery was used to evaluated cognitive functions.

Results

Findings showed that there are sociodemographic characteristics and working conditions associated with burnout syndrome among nurses. Furthermore, the data demonstrated a significant decrease in sBDNF levels in burnout nurses and a negative correlation between BDNF levels and burnout syndrome. Additionally, these burnout nurse also revealed significant cognitive impairment in reasoning, memory, and attention as well as total scores of CAB. Interestingly, we found a positive correlation between sBDNF levels and the cognitive deficits in burnout nurse.

Conclusion

Reduced BDNF levels could be a biological indicator or part of the pathological process of burnout, which could affect cognitive abilities. Reduced cognitive function in nurses has relevant implications and emphasizes the need for specialized preventive strategies because nurses make clinical decisions concerning their patients, whose situations are constantly changing.
The All4Children project to assess the initial implementation of the Integrated Model of Family Foster Care in Portugal: A description of the study protocol
Authors: Baptista Joana , Grangeia Helena , Negrão Mariana , Camilo Cláudia , Ornelas Sandra , Nogueira Sandra , Pastor Isabel , Gaspar Ana , Soares Isabel , Alves Stephanie
Published: May 2024

Background

The All4Children project addresses the urgent need to transition from institutionalization to family-based care for out-of-home children in Portugal. Despite evidence highlighting the detrimental effects of institutionalization, only a small percentage of children (less than 4%) are currently placed in family foster care in the country. In response to European directives for deinstitutionalization, Portuguese legislation now prioritizes non-kinship family foster care as the preferred alternative for young children in need of care. To facilitate this transition, the Integrated Model of Family Foster Care (MIAF) was developed, offering a comprehensive framework covering the entire spectrum of family foster care.

Objective

This research aims to investigate the initial implementation stage of the MIAF to promote high-quality family foster care in Portugal.

Method

The study will conduct a mixed-method and longitudinal research project in family foster care agencies across different regions of Portugal, focusing on evaluating the implementation and outcomes of the MIAF model using a multi-informant and multi-method approach. The participants will include caseworkers, children aged 0–9 years entering foster care, and their respective foster families enrolled in the MIAF program. Process evaluation will assess fidelity, feasibility, appropriateness, and acceptability of MIAF modules, while outcome evaluation will examine child safety, stability, well-being, as well as foster family well-being and quality of relational care.

Outcomes

The insights gained from this research initiative will serve as a foundation for the ongoing enhancement of MIAF. Consequently, this project has the capacity to advance evidence-based child welfare practices by refining processes and strategies to better serve vulnerable children and youth.

Conclusion

Facilitated by a multidisciplinary team, this project will contribute to advancing research in the field, enhancing practice, and informing policy during a pivotal stage of deinstitutionalization in Portugal.
Suspended meanings: Pier Paolo Pasolini’s and Ritwik Ghatak’s ‘epic melodramas’
Authors: Brunazzo Alessandro
Published: May 2024

Pier Paolo Pasolini’s encounter with India is well known, but India’s engagement with Pasolini’s work is much less considered. This article puts the work of Pasolini in dialogue with the work of Bengali director Ritwik Ghatak, one of the most important figures in Indian parallel cinema. Ghatak discussed the Italian director’s work on several occasions. More importantly, Ghatak’s intellectual path and films have notable similarities with Pasolini’s. Both directors, Ghatak and Pasolini, pursued a ‘heretical’ approach to Marxist ideology by contaminating it with a passionate identification with the marginalized communities of today’s Bangladesh and southern Italy, respectively. Drawing from film critic Bhaskar Sarkar’s notion of epic melodrama, I suggest an analysis of two coeval films, Mamma Roma () and Meghe dhaka tara (The Cloud-Capped Star) (), in order to expose the directors’ complex location between Brechtian aesthetic, epic-religious vision and melodramatic motives. This article argues that these epic-melodramatic films suspend a final interpretation, providing an aesthetic correlative to the unreconciled position of the people the directors aimed to represent.
Los Condenados de la Tierra: Un film entre Europa y el Tercer Mundo, Alberto Filippi and Mariano Mestman (2022)
Authors: Peretti Luca
Published: May 2024

Review of: Los Condenados de la Tierra: Un film entre Europa y el Tercer Mundo, Alberto Filippi and Mariano Mestman (2022)

Buenos Aires: Ediciones Akal, 509 pp.,

ISBN 978-9-87836-739-2, p/bk, e-book, €7.99
Case Study: Responding to Cybersecurity Threats in the Healthcare Sector
Authors: Kiley Patrick
Published: May 2024

The healthcare sector in the United States faced an unprecedented cybersecurity threat in October 2020, leading to a cascade of events without established protocols for response. This case study examines the response to the cyberattack in the Boston area (Region 4C), evaluating actions, outcomes, strengths, weaknesses, and strategies for future incidents. Initiated by credible threats reported by federal agencies, the incident escalated rapidly as hospitals encountered suspicious emails and ransomware attacks. Regional emergency management coordination, led by Conference of Boston Teaching Hospitals Emergency Management (COBTH), along with Boston Public Health Commission and Mayor’s Office of Emergency Management, played crucial roles in mitigating the crisis. Challenges such as communication disruptions and lack of cybersecurity personnel lists were swiftly addressed through establishment of redundant communication channels and information security officer lists. Strengths included pre-existing emergency preparedness measures, collaboration between healthcare entities and agencies, and timely information dissemination. Utilization of National Incident Management System (NIMS), Incident Command System (ICS), and Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) facilitated coordinated response. Despite the incident's resolution without patient care impacts, post-incident analysis identified areas for improvement. Recommendations include developing plans for communication downtime, creating cybersecurity officer lists, and enhancing redundant communication methods. Lessons learned emphasize the importance of proactive technology readiness and continual refinement of response protocols for future cyber threats.
Estudio factorial exploratorio de la empatía en estudiantes de odontología
Authors: Pereira Gutiérrez Carla , González Tapia Fernanda , Jaramillo Cavieres Patricio , Alarcón Ureta Chris , Nakouzi Monares Jorge , Díaz-Narváez Víctor Patricio
Published: May 2024

Objetivo: El objetivo de esta investigación fue explorar si la Escala de Empatía para Profesionales de la Salud (Versión-S) aplicada a estudiantes de odontología cumple con el modelo de tres dimensiones subyacentes. Metodología: Estudiantes de odontología pertenecientes a la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad Andrés Bello, sede Santiago. Población: Constituida por 1017 (N) estudiantes regularmente matriculados. Muestra: La muestra estuvo formada por 795 (n) estudiantes y representaron el 78.17% de la población estudiada. Se aplicó la Escala de Empatía de Jefferson para Profesionales de la Salud en la Versión para Estudiantes. Se estimó la confiabilidad interna de los datos mediante el ? de Cronbach y fue aplicado un análisis factorial exploratorio. El nivel de significación fue de ? < 0,05. Resultados: Los datos observados determinaron que la confiabilidad fue adecuada (? = 0,753). Se cumplió el modelo de tres dimensiones. Se observó que los ítems P3, P6 y P18 tuvieron los valores de las medias más bajos. Conclusión: Este estudio representa el cumplimiento del modelo de empatía, con sus dos componentes y sus tres dimensiones latentes. Los estudiantes obtuvieron resultados satisfactorios en las dimensiones Cuidado Compasivo y Toma de Perspectiva, pero poco satisfactorio en la dimensión “Caminando en los zapatos del paciente”.
Neurological Manifestations of Systemic Diseases: Key Aspects for the Clinician
Authors: Marín Medina Daniel Stiven , Almeida Guerrero Alejandro , Castaño Gutiérrez Jorge , Ortega Quintero Adriana Paola
Published: May 2024

The nervous system interacts with all other systems in the human body on a continuous ba-sis. It’s not uncommon for a disease to exhibit neurological symptoms that are not solely at-tributable to a primary nervous system disorder, but, rather, to the intricate relationships the nervous system has with other organs. This article reviews how diverse gastrointesti-nal, endocrine, rheumatic, kidney, heart, and other affections manifest in the neurological system. Key points, frequent symptoms, and signs are thus summarized to provide a com-prehensive understanding of the relationship between systemic diseases and neurological symptoms. Emphasizing the clinical presentation of a selected group of conditions, it is hoped that clinicians can better recognize the potential for neurological symptoms in pa-tients with systemic diseases, and the potential for systemic diseases in patients exhibiting neurological symptoms, leading to earlier diagnosis and improved outcomes.
Beneficios y barreras de la atención por teleodontología y presencial, de pacientes durante la pandemia de Covid-19: Un estudio cualitativo
Authors: Benadof Dafna , Rojas Olivares Alejandra , Salgado Silva Gastón , Tamayo Pino Ignacio
Published: May 2024

La pandemia de Covid-19 ha tenido un profundo impacto en la atención dental presencial e impulsando la adopción de la teleodontología como una modalidad virtual de atención. Esto ha llevado a una transformación significativa en la interacción entre el odontológico y los pacientes, adaptándose a nuevas formas de satisfacer sus necesidades de atención. Objetivo: Explorar los beneficios y las barreras de la atención dental presencial y la teleodontología de pacientes durante la pandemia de Covid-19. Metodología: Estudio cualitativo exploratorio y descriptivo. Se realizaron 20 entrevistas a individuos que habían utilizado servicios odontológicos presenciales y otros en línea durante la pandemia de Covid-19. Se realizó análisis temático cualitativo de la información recolectada. Resultados: En la atención presencial, los pacientes otorgaron importancia a las medidas de bioseguridad, y el miedo al contagio fue uno de los principales motivos para evitar esta modalidad. No obstante, los pacientes valoraron positivamente la capacidad de resolver sus problemas dentales inmediatamente. Por otro lado, en la teleodontología mencionaron que desconocían este servicio y se sintieron motivados por el deseo de evitar el riesgo de contagio. Sin embargo, fue desafiante el tener que demostrar autonomía para llevar a cabo, por sí solos, ciertos exámenes. Conclusión: La atención dental presencial es esencial para muchos pacientes, y la implementación de normas de bioseguridad no debería representar un riesgo de contagio. Por otro lado, la teleodontología se presenta como una valiosa alternativa para aquellos pacientes que no requieren una intervención clínica inmediata, y es bien evaluada por quienes la han experimentado.
Odontología y Bioética: revisión sistemática
Authors: Orellana Centeno Jose Eduardo , Guerrero Sotelo Roxana Nayeli , Morales Castillo Verónica , Orellana Centeno Mauricio
Published: May 2024

Introducción: La bioética es de suma importancia en la formación y toma de decisiones de los profesionales de la salud. Objetivo: Realizar una revisión sistemática del tema odontología y bioética según la evidencia en la literatura. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica en las siguientes bases de datos: PUBMED, BVS, BBO. Se utilizaron como criterios de inclusión los siguientes: a) estudios publicados desde 2000 hasta diciembre de 2021; se seleccionaron los tipo de estudio de acuerdo a los criterios de inclusión: participantes: estudiantes de odontología; tipos de estudio: cuantitativo; diseño de estudio: cohorte, longitudinal; idioma: español e inglés, b) el fenómeno por revisar fue conocimiento y actitudes en salud oral; c) Estudios prospectivos. Resultados: La búsqueda de los datos la realizaron dos autores investigadores, JEOC y RNGS, con las siguientes palabras y operadores booleanos seleccionados: en español: “odontología”, “bioética”; en inglés: “odontology”, “bioethic”. Dicha estrategia de búsqueda se utilizó de igual manera en todas las bases reportadas. El método de evaluación se basó adicionalmente a cumplir criterios de inclusión a las metodologías PICO y SPIDER. Conclusión: Existe evidencia suficiente y adecuada en el tema de la bioética aplicada en la odontología, aunque se requiere profundizar en su aplicación y conocimiento.
Preliminary phytochemical characterization and in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial potential screening of an ayurvedic drug combination Panchatikta
Authors: CM Harinarayanan , M Deepak , SP Geetha , Kumar Anupam
Published: May 2024

Panchatikta is an Ayurvedic drug combination of 5 bitter-tasting drugs, namely Azadirachta indica, Tinospora cordifolia, Justicia adhatoda, Solanum virginianum and Trichosanthes dioica. In this study, estimations of the phenolic, flavonoids and tannin contents, HPTLC profile and in vitro anti-oxidant and anti-microbial potential of 3 extracts of the Panchatikta were carried out. The total phenolic content of the Panchatikta combination was almost the same in ethanol, water and hydroalcoholic extracts. Flavonoid content and tannin content were highest in ethanol extract. HPTLC profiling of the 3 extracts of Panchatikta showed the maximum number of peaks for the ethanolic extract. Water extract showed a comparatively smaller number of peaks. The maximum number of peaks was seen after derivatisation. In the DPPH assay, gallic acid has IC50 value of 5.50 ± 0.38 µg/mL; ethanol and hydroalcoholic extracts have IC50 close to 60 µg/mL and water extract has around 90 µg/mL. The ABTS assay showed standard ascorbic acid has a IC50 value of 67.33 ± 0.58 µg/mL while Panchatikta extracts have a much higher IC50. In nitric oxide assay also, tested samples have a higher IC50 when compared with that of ascorbic acid (177.33 ± 5.09). In well diffusion assay for antibacterial screening, all 3 extracts have a significant zone of inhibition at concentrations of 500 µg and 1000 µg. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found to be resistant to all 3 test samples and standard antibiotic discs. Minimum activity was obtained against Klebsiella pneumonia. Panchatikta extracts at concentrations of 500 µg and 1000 µg showed significant activity against the fungal strains Aspergillus niger and Fusarium oxysporum. In conclusion, the results of the study can provide scientific support for the traditional usage of the Ayurvedic drug combination Panchatikta for various ailments.
Elastic deformation analysis of rotational wood-dowel welding joint system based on the variational method
Authors: Xu Yun , Wang Xuejiao
Published: May 2024

This study aimed to investigate the elastic deformation of rotational wood-dowel welding joints by using the variational method, as there was no efficient tool to access the deformation behavior of welding joints perpendicular to axis orientation so far. Based on the variational method, the displacement control equation of axially-loaded dowel-welded wood joints was derived. By incorporating the boundary conditions and using an iterative approach, the parameters required in the control equation were determined. The analytical expression ϕ(r) for the deformation function of the wood substrate under elastic conditions was proposed, thereby determining the displacement and axial force of the single wood-dowel. The elasticity modulus was the primary influence parameter on the function ϕ(r). However, the welding depth had a more critical impact, and reasonable combination of parameters could lead to a better interaction between the wood dowel and substrate. The comparison between calculated results and test trials collected from the previous studies indicated that the elastic solution method could accurately estimate the pull-out ultimate bearing capacity and deformation characteristics of the welding joints. This work can provide unique perspective to understand the technology of rotational wood-dowel welding joints, and a good reference suggestion for the manufacture of multi-dowel welding joints.
The crystal structure of 2,3,9-triphenyl-9-(2-phenylbenzofuran-3-yl)-9H-9λ
5-benzo[4,5][1,2]oxaphospholo[2,3-b][1,2,5]oxadiphosphole 2-oxide, C40H28O4P2
Authors: Sun Longgen , Mei Zhichao , Chen Chao , Huang Haiyang , Kong Fangfang , Bai Jiang
Published: May 2024

C40H28O4P2, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 4), a = 10.651(3) Å, b = 16.702(5) Å, c = 11.352(4) Å, β = 112.985(5)°, V = 1859.1(10) Å3, Z = 2, Rgt
(F) = 0.0807, wRref
(F
2) = 0.2281, T = 296 K.
Crystal structure of poly[(μ
2-5-hydroxyisophthalato-κ4
O,O′:O″,O‴)-(μ
2-1,4-bis(2-methylimidazolyl)-1-butene-N:N′)nickel(II)], C20H20NiN4O5
Authors: Xin-Tong Yao , Jin Cai , Man-Sheng Chen
Published: May 2024

C20H20NiN4O5, monoclinic, P21/n (no. 14), a = 8.8571(7) Å, b = 20.4827(14) Å, c = 10.9374(8) Å, β = 101.235(3)°, V = 1946.2(2) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt
(F) = 0.0697, wRref
(F
2) = 0.1486, T = 193(2) K.