bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Variety-based physical characterization and pre-gelatinization-induced functional-rheological changes in kidney beans
Authors: Kaur Jasjot , Singh Rashmi , Bansal Radhika , Upadhyay Srishti , Desai Shivani , Kumar Yogesh , Chakraborty Gourav , Satankar Monika , Sharanagat Vijay Singh
Published: April 2024

In the present study, three varieties of kidney beans (Red Rajma (RR), Rajma Chitra (RC), and Rajma Sharmili (RS)) were physically characterized and the effect of pre-gelatinization by microwave and hot water on functional and pasting properties of flour were studied. A significant difference was observed in the physical properties of all the kidney beans, indicating that they can be easily characterized and identified based on physical properties. Pre-gelatinization treatment led to variation in color, functional and pasting properties of flours. Color parameters L*, b*, chroma, and hue values reduced with the treatment, whereas a* and total color difference ($$\Delta$$
Δ
E) values increased. Water absorption capacity (WAC) and oil absorption capacity (OAC) varied in the range of 1.15–1.91% and 1.25–1.75% for microwave and hot water treatment, respectively. The highest value of WAC and OAC was observed for microwave-treated RC and hot water-treated RR, respectively. WAC increases with both treatments, whereas OAC increases only with water bath cooking. Functional group analysis (FTIR) showed no major peaks shifting in water bath treatment, whereas a slight deflation of certain peaks was observed in the case of microwave treatment. Pasting curves showed a significant reduction in peak and final viscosity after pre-gelatinization treatment; however, none of the samples showed any breakdown during cooking.

Graphical Abstract
Incidental finding of Amyand’s hernia in a non-contrast CT of the abdomen: a case report
Authors: Susilo Fenny , Charlee Michaela Alexandra , Simargi Yopi , Ronny Ronny
Published: April 2024

Background

Amyand’s hernia is characterized as an inguinal hernia in which the hernia sac contains the appendix. It is highly atypical for the appendix structure to be contained within the hernia sac. Patients with Amyand’s hernia are typically asymptomatic and are frequently identified intraoperatively. Rarely seen in medical literature, this case report details the incidental finding of Amyand’s hernia and the successful preoperative diagnosis.

Case presentation

A 61-year-old male presented to the urology clinic for his urinary tract complaint. An incidental finding of Amyand’s hernia was found in a non-contrast computerized tomography of the abdomen. Following the evaluation of computed tomography scan images showing the condition of the appendix and radiological findings regarding Amyand’s hernia, the surgeon planned the patient’s herniorrhaphy with mesh.

Conclusions

Amyand’s hernia is often overlooked; therefore, radiologic examination can help to confirm this diagnosis.
Long-term benzodiazepine use and risk of labor market marginalization in Finland: A cohort study with 5-year follow-up
Authors: Taipale Heidi , Tanskanen Antti , Kurko Terhi , Taiminen Tero , Särkilä Hanna , Tiihonen Jari , Sund Reijo , Niemelä Solja , Saastamoinen Leena , Hietala Jarmo
Published: April 2024

Background

Benzodiazepines and related drugs (BZDRs) are widely used in the treatment of anxiety and sleep disorders, but cognitive adverse effects have been reported in long-term use, and these may increase the risk of labor market marginalization (LMM). The aim of this study was to investigate whether the risk of LMM is associated with new long-term BZDR use compared to short-term use.

Methods

This register-based nationwide cohort study from Finland included 37,703 incident BZDR users aged 18–60 years who initiated BZDR use in 2006. During the first year of use, BZDR users were categorized as long-term users (≥180 days) versus short-term users based on PRE2DUP method. The main outcome was LMM, defined as receipt of disability pension, long-term sickness absence (>90 days), or long-term unemployment (>180 days). The risk of outcomes was analyzed with Cox regression models, adjusted with sociodemographic background, somatic and psychiatric morbidity, other types of medication and previous sickness absence.

Results

During 5 years of follow-up, long-term use (34.4%, N = 12,962) was associated with 27% (adjusted Hazard Ratio, aHR 1.27, 95% CI 1.23–1.31) increased risk of LMM compared with short-term use. Long-term use was associated with 42% (aHR 1.42, 95% CI 1.34–1.50) increased risk of disability pension and 26% increased risk of both long-term unemployment and long-term sickness absence.

Conclusions

These results indicate that long-term use of BZDRs is associated with increased risk of dropping out from labor market. This may be partly explained by cognitive adverse effects of prolonged BZDR use, which should be taken into account when prescribing BZDRs.
Expanding Myeloma Training and Care in Western Kenya Through the ECHO Model: The Pilot Phase
Authors: Oduor Mercy Atieno , Lotodo Teresa Cherop , Severance Tyler , Jepngetich Melly Beatrice , Omondi Austin , Ndenga Indagala , Namaemba Diana Flora , Oyollo Yvette , Manyega Kelvin Mogesa , Morgan Jennifer , Oguda John , Loehrer Patrick , Vik Terry
Published: April 2024

PURPOSE

Multiple myeloma (MM) in rural western Kenya is characterized by under and late diagnosis with poor long-term outcomes. Inadequate skilled rural health care teams are partly to blame. The Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) model attempts to bridge this skills gap by linking rural primary/secondary health care teams (spokes) to myeloma experts in a tertiary care center (hub) in a longitudinal training program.

METHODS

A hub team comprising myeloma experts and administrators from Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital/Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare was assembled and spoke sites were recruited from rural health care facilities across western Kenya. A curriculum was developed by incorporating input from spokes on their perceived skills gaps in myeloma. Participants joined sessions remotely through virtual meeting technology. ECHO sessions consisted of a spoke-led case presentation with guided discussion followed by an expert-led lecture. An end-of-program survey was used to evaluate participant satisfaction, knowledge, and practice patterns.

RESULTS

A total of eight sessions were conducted between April and November 2021 with a median of 40 attendees per session drawn from diverse health care disciplines. Twenty-four spoke sites were identified from 15 counties across western Kenya. The majority of attendees reported satisfaction with the ECHO program (25 of 29) and improvement in their myeloma knowledge (24 of 29). There were 74 new myeloma diagnoses made at the hub site in 2021, representing a 35% increase from the previous 3-year average despite the COVID-19 pandemic that suppressed health care access globally.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The pilot ECHO model was successfully implemented in myeloma training for rural-based health care teams. Key attributes included collaborative curriculum development, interactive case–based bidirectional learning, and multidisciplinary engagement.
Phase II Trial of Cisplatin, Gemcitabine, and Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy for Locally Advanced Vulvar Squamous Cell Carcinoma: NRG Oncology/GOG Study 279
Authors: Horowitz Neil S. , Deng Wei , Peterson Ivy , Mannel Robert S. , Thompson Spencer , Lokich Elizabeth , Myers Tashanna , Hanjani Parvis , O'Malley David M. , Chung Ki Young , Miller David S. , Ueland Frederick R. , Dizon Don S. , Miller Austin , Mayadev Jyoti S. , Leath Charles A. , Monk Bradley J.
Published: April 2024

PURPOSE

To assess efficacy and toxicity of cisplatin (C) and gemcitabine (G) with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) in patients with locally advanced vulvar cancer not amenable to surgery.

METHODS

Patients enrolled in a single-arm phase II study. Pretreatment inguinal-femoral nodal assessment was performed. Sixty-four Gy IMRT was prescribed to the vulva, with 50-64 Gy delivered to the groins/low pelvis. Radiation therapy (RT) plans were quality-reviewed pretreatment. C 40 mg/m2 and G 50 mg/m2 were administered once per week throughout IMRT. Complete pathologic response (CPR) was the primary end point. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and adverse events were assessed with Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v 4.0.

RESULTS

Fifty-seven patients enrolled, of which 52 were evaluable. The median age was 58 years (range, 25-58), and 94% were White. Forty (77%) had stage II or III disease, and all had squamous histology. A median of six chemotherapy cycles (range, 1-8) were received. Eighty-five percent of RT plans were quality-reviewed with 100% compliance to protocol. Seven patients came off trial because of toxicity or patient withdrawal. Of 52 patients available for pathologic assessment, 38 (73% [90% CI, 61 to 83]) achieved CPR. No pelvic exenterations were performed. With a median follow-up of 51 months, the 12-month PFS was 74% (90% CI, 62.2 to 82.7) and the 24-month OS was 70% (90% CI, 57 to 79). The most common grade 3 or 4 adverse events were hematologic toxicity and radiation dermatitis. There was one grade 5 event unlikely related to treatment.

CONCLUSION

Weekly C and G concurrent with IMRT sufficiently improved CPR in women with locally advanced vulvar squamous cell carcinoma not amenable to surgical resection.
The role of temperature and drying cycles on impurity deposition in drying porous media
Authors: Luckins E. K. , Breward C. J. W. , Griffiths I. M. , Please C. P.
Published: April 2024

We consider a liquid containing impurities saturating a porous material; when the liquid evaporates, the impurities are deposited within the material. Applications include filtration and waterproof textiles. We present a mathematical model incorporating coupling between evaporation, accumulation and transport of the impurities, and the impact of the deposited impurities on the transport of both the suspended impurities and the liquid vapour. By simulating our model numerically, we investigate the role of temperature and repeated drying cycles on the location of the deposited impurities. Higher temperatures increase the evaporation rate so that impurities are transported further into porous material before depositing than for lower temperatures. We quantify two distinct parameter regimes in which the material clogs: i) the dry-clogging (high-temperature) regime, in which impurities are pushed far into the material before clogging, and ii) the wet-clogging (high-impurity) regime, in which liquid becomes trapped by the clogging. Clogging restricts the extent to which drying time can be reduced by increasing the temperature.
Vitamin D Status, Vitamin D Receptor Polymorphisms, and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Fu Yanqi , Lu Meng , Zhang Kun , Sun Ying , Tan Xiao , Wang Ningjian , Xu Fei , Jiang Boren , Lu Yingli , Wang Bin
Published: April 2024

Context

Vitamin D status has been associated with risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D), but evidence is scarce regarding whether such relation differs by glycemic status.

Objective

To prospectively investigate the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and risk of incident T2D across the glycemic spectrum and the modification effect of genetic variants in the vitamin D receptor (VDR).

Methods

This prospective study included 379 699 participants without T2D at baseline from the UK Biobank. Analyses were performed according to glycemic status and HbA1c levels. Cox proportional hazard models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs.

Results

During a median of 14.1 years of follow-up, 6315 participants with normoglycemia and 9085 patients with prediabetes developed T2D. Compared with individuals with 25(OH)D < 25 nmol/L, the multivariable-adjusted HRs (95% CIs) of incident T2D for those with 25(OH)D ≥ 75 nmol/L was 0.62 (0.56, 0.70) among the normoglycemia group and 0.64 (0.58, 0.70) among the prediabetes group. A significant interaction was observed between 25(OH)D and VDR polymorphisms among participants with prediabetes (P interaction = .017), whereby the reduced HR of T2D associated with higher 25(OH)D was more prominent in those carrying the T allele of rs1544410. Triglyceride levels mediated 26% and 34% of the association between serum 25(OH)D and incident T2D among participants with normoglycemia and prediabetes, respectively.

Conclusion

Higher serum 25(OH)D concentrations were associated with lower T2D risk across the glycemic spectrum below the threshold for diabetes, and the relations in prediabetes were modified by VDR polymorphisms. Improving the lipid profile, mainly triglycerides, accounted for part of the favorable associations.
The Hypoechoic Triangle: A New Sonographic Landmark for Rectus Sheath Block
Authors: Thind Balkarn S. , Simon Stefan G. , Gray Andrew T.
Published: April 2024

Rectus sheath blocks can provide analgesia for upper abdominal midline incisions. These blocks can be placed on patients who are anticoagulated, supine, and under general anesthesia. However, block success rates remain low, presumably because of the difficulty of placing local anesthetic between the correct fascial layers. Here we characterize a hypoechoic triangle with sonography, an anatomic space between adjacent rectus abdominis segments that can be accessed for easier needle tip and catheter placement. This approach could reduce reliance on hydrodissection to correctly identify the potential space and instead improve block efficacy by offering providers a discrete target for local anesthesia.
Why Look at Toy Animals?
Authors: Giddings Seth
Published: April 2024

This article addresses the toy as a neglected cultural and technical object. The toy is neither tool nor ritual object, and its animation in children's imaginative play suggests alternative perspectives on the history and lived experience of material and technological artifacts. The concept of protopolitics is advanced to explore the implications for the cultural politics of the ambiguous articulation of power relationships in play. The article takes the long history of the toy animal as a case study, drawing attention to its creaturely, artificial facets that go beyond, or more accurately precede, familiar cultural-political binaries of authentic and inauthentic, depth and surface, knowledge and illusion, truth and lies, belief and fetishism, human and nonhuman, natural and synthetic. These other facets include dynamics of the technics of imagination, and their ambivalent articulation of relationships of control, training, care, violence, and love—a protopolitics evident in imaginative play. And, in postnatural media culture, the toy animal has migrated to digital habitats, offering an alternative animal perspective on questions of artificial intelligence. The child's toy and media environment is playfully zoomorphic, populated with artificial animals, from toys and stories to virtual pets and video-game characters, a new simulacral and postnatural trajectory in the descendance of the artificial animal and its playful and play-like behaviors.
Cutaneous amyloidosis in a patient with systemic amyloidosis due to multiple myeloma
Authors: Panagopoulos Fotis , Jahaj Edison , Papaodyssea Ioanna , Stamatopoulos Vasilis , Kounatidis Dimitris , Vallianou Natalia
Published: April 2024

Cutaneous manifestations in systemic amyloidosis secondary to multiple myeloma or AL amyloidosis are seen in approximately 15%-40% of patients with systemic amyloidosis. Cutaneous involvement has a preference for skin folds, retroauricular region, eyelids, neck and the axilla and may present in the form of purpura, domed papules or nodes resembling isolated nodular amyloidosis. Congo red staining remains the gold standard for diagnosis, revealing amyloid fibrils with apple-green birefringence in the polarized microscopy. It is noteworthy that patients may sometimes present with non-specific skin changes, suggestive of depositional disease, such as alopecia or nail dystrophy. Herein, we present a patient with systemic amyloidosis, who exhibited red-brown macules coalescing into a rippled pattern in the extremities, amyloid nodules in the peri-auricular region and dystrophic nails, findings that were attricuted to cutaneous amyloidosis in the context of systemic amyloidosis.
Política en 280 caracteres: un estudio de la opinión pública en Twitter sobre el gobierno de Gustavo Petro y Francia Márquez en Colombia
Authors: González Baquero William , Amores Javier J.
Published: April 2024

En Colombia, Gustavo Petro se convirtió en presidente en 2022 y las redes sociales, especialmente Twitter, jugaron un papel importante en su campaña y en la conexión con sus seguidores, así como con su vicepresidenta Francia Márquez. El análisis de la conversación en Twitter sobre los primeros meses del gobierno de Petro y Márquez proporciona información sobre actitudes, percepciones y tendencias. Este es el objetivo principal de este trabajo, identificar los temas y sentimientos predominantes en el ecosistema de Twitter en torno a estos dos nuevos gobernantes. Para esto, se descargaron un total de 449011 tuits sobre Gustavo Petro y 94201 sobre Francia Márquez publicados entre el 6 de agosto de 2022 y el 7 de abril de 2023. Este trabajo, de carácter exploratorio, usa técnicas computacionales de análisis de contenido, y los resultados obtenidos evidencian que las palabras más frecuentes entre estos mensajes hacen referencia a sucesos en los que se han involucrado Gustavo Petro y FranciaMárquez, los principales temas dan cuenta de una clara polarización, además de discurso intolerante en contra de la mandataria, datos que a su vez son respaldados por el análisis de sentimiento predominante en los mensajes.
Wissen, »was die Welt […] zusammenhält« – Verständigungen über nützliches Wissen
Authors: Fücker Sonja
Published: April 2024

Der vorliegende Beitrag fragt danach, wie sich in transdisziplinären Forschungskooperationen wissenschaftliche und gesellschaftliche Nützlichkeitsverständnisse zueinander verhalten und welche Rückschlüsse sich aus den Wechselwirkungen für den gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt ziehen lassen. Gezeigt wird am Beispiel einer empirischen Fallstudie, unter welchen Bedingungen zwischen Wissenschafts- und Praxisakteuren ein gemeinsames Verständnis über den Nutzen von sozialwissenschaftlichem Wissen entstehen kann, und welche Kriterien für eine Bewertung darüber herangezogen werden. Zwei zentrale Schlussfolgerungen lassen sich aus der Ergebnisanalyse festhalten: Erstens kommen zusammenhaltsprägende Merkmale transdisziplinärer Zusammenarbeit in kooperativen Praktiken der Verständigung zum Vorschein, die der Austragung von Konflikten in der Zusammenarbeit dienen. Zweitens lassen sich auf Ebene sozialer Beziehungen Prozesse der Vertrauensbildung beobachten, die aus Praktiken wechselseitiger Teilhabe und dem Leistungsaustausch zwischen Wissenschafts- und Praxisakteuren resultieren.
Shaping alcohol services to meet patients' needs
Authors: Fernandez Jeff , Ryan Jennifer
Published: April 2024

This article examines the joint working of nurse practitioners with healthcare assistants (HCAs), and how this can shape services to be patient-centred and relevant to effective care. Nurses and healthcare staff are at the centre of patient care and often are best placed to set up clinics to address emerging patient need. This article examines the nursing and healthcare staff from the alcohol and drug liaison team of an inner London hospital, and how they responded to an emerging need from the patients they were treating. Often, patients who have had an alcohol detoxification in hospital are normally signposted to their local alcohol service. These signposted patients often do not engage with their local alcohol service and come back to hospital with more severe complications of alcohol use. This article shows how this team of HCAs and nurses have re-designed their outpatients clinic to enable these patients to be treated. This has been achieved with largely positive outcomes. The mix of the practitioners has been important to enable this model to work. In summary, nurse practitioners with HCAs can respond and shape services to be efficient for patients. With their shared skills, they can produce a patient-centred interface. This can also bring huge fiscal cost savings. This article is encouraging this approach to be more uniform in the NHS and encourage professionals to consider joint working.
Student Q&A: Learning online
Authors: Wall Rachel
Published: April 2024

Student Rachel Wall, studying Early Childhood Studies at the University of Derby, discusses completing her course virtually alongside her job as deputy manager of Bangor Abbey Preschool, as well as her ambitions for the future.
Theory & Practice
Authors: Willis Richard
Published: April 2024

Richard Willis, visiting professor at the University of South Wales, reviews a book which integrates early years theory and practice, and aims to encourage readers to start a conversation about their own beliefs and experiences.
An innovative flat-knit compression garment for lymphoedema patients led to better outcomes: a multicentre study
Authors: Hirsch Tobias , Arns Helene , Schleinitz Jörg , Fiedler Hans-Walter
Published: April 2024

Objective:

To evaluate the clinical performance, quality of life (QoL) and patient satisfaction with an innovative flat-knit compression garment for the daytime treatment of lymphoedema patients in daily routine.

Method:

In a prospective multicentre observational study, patients with leg or arm lymphoedema (stage I-II, International Society of Lymphology (ISL) standards, 2016) received a made-to-measure flat-knit compression class 2 JOBST Confidence (BSN-JOBST GmbH, Germany) thigh-high stocking or arm sleeve. Primary endpoint was the oedema status as determined by the mean sum of the circumferences at the beginning and the end of the wearing period. Secondary endpoints included QoL-related parameters and patient satisfaction with product features assessed through questionnaires. The observation period lasted three weeks.

Results:

A total of 97 patients (87 females, 10 males), of which 65 had leg lymphoedema and 32 had arm lymphoedema, received the study device. The oedema status was effectively maintained (slight reduction in mean sum of circumferences by –3.1±7.3cm; p=0.0001). For QoL-related parameters, the patients reported fewer limitations in work, leisure and psychological wellbeing after wearing the stocking or arm sleeve (all p-values <0.0001). They also experienced less limitations in function and movement, feeling of tension and heaviness, and fewer difficulties wearing clothes, shoes, jewellery or watches at study end (all p-values <0.0001). In terms of pleasant feeling on the skin, moisture management, softness of material, range of motion, overall wearing comfort and heat build-up under the garment, patients were more satisfied with the tested compression garment than with previously worn compression garments (all p-values <0.001).

Conclusion:

In this study, the tested innovative compression product increased patient satisfaction with the improved product features while the lymphoedema status was successfully maintained.
Changes in wound symptoms and quality of life of patients with newly diagnosed malignant fungating wounds
Authors: Liu Xin , Xie Jin-Qin , Liao Zhao-Yu , Wei Mei-Juan , Lin Hua
Published: April 2024

Objective:

This study examined changes in wound symptoms and the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients with newly diagnosed malignant fungating wounds, and explored the factors that impacted the changes in HRQoL.

Method:

This prospective longitudinal study included patients from three hospitals in China who had been diagnosed with malignant fungating wounds. Questionnaires were used to assess patients' HRQoL and their wound symptoms at the time of diagnosis (T0), as well as at one, three and six (T1, T2 and T3, respectively) months following the treatment period. Factors related to changes in HRQoL were analysed using generalised estimating equation models.

Results:

A total of 162 patients were included in the study. The patients reported low overall HRQoL. In three health-related dimensions (functional status, social relations and mental health), patients reported lower functional status at the time of wound diagnosis (T0), which then increased slowly with treatment over time. A lower QoL was associated with odour, exudate, bleeding, pruritus, a low performance status and the need for the dressing of wounds.

Conclusion:

The HRQoL of patients with malignant fungating wounds exhibited significant changes across different periods. It is thus of great importance to formulate pragmatic, patient and family-centred palliative wound care management strategies.
Relationship between Cost of Sugarcane Production and Cost of Maize Production among Farmers in Nyanza Region in Kenya: Application of Structural Equation Modeling
Authors: Ochieng Ben Jack Otieno , Onyuma Samuel O.
Published: April 2024

Abstract: Sugarcane is an essential crop globally due to its many dietary and commercial uses. In spite of the increased demand for sugarcane as an intermediate input for the production of animal feeds, bioethanol and food stuff, its significance on the livelihood of farmers in Kenya is mixed. There are sections of farmers uprooting this cash crop in favour of maize, a staple food, as a means to enhance their food security status. On the other hand, some policy pronouncement encourages the diversification of this cash crop by intercropping it with other staple food crops. The study was anchored on the agricultural production theory. Based on the application of correlation research design, this paper adopted the Structural Equation Modeling to analyze primary data collected from rural households in three Nyanza region counties of Homabay, Kisumu and Migori to establish the relationship between sugarcane and maize production from their corresponding cost of inputs (labor, land and capital). From the findings, as the cost of sugarcane production increases, the cost of maize production also increases significantly, though inelastic. This implies that mechanization of farm activities can act to reduce production costs. Enhancing sugarcane productivity will contribute significantly towards reducing production cost. Therefore, the government must closely monitor the spikes in cost of sugarcane production since this is bound to result in the cost of maize production also spiking exacerbating the problem of food insecurity. This paper therefore empirically contributes to understanding of the intertlinking complexity between the production structure of a cash crop (sugarcane) and food crop (maize), given their importance in food security in a developing economy.
Newsworthy Nature: Capturing Exotic Birds in Buffon’s France
Authors: Tsal Yotam
Published: April 2024

Abstract: Today, with the effects of climate change and the information revolution, nature is viewed as especially newsworthy. However, news about nature has a deeper history. An important precedent was Buffon’s popular ornithological project (1770s–80s). In its wake, the kingdom of France experienced an avalanche of newspaper reports on birds and public displays of reportedly exotic and rare birds found by amateurs. Though initially a top-down endeavor of knowledge production, Buffon’s project incited a burgeoning reading public to transform themselves from passive recipients of data about the natural world into active amateur scientists producing, perhaps for the first time, a network of actors who crowd-sourced knowledge about a natural species that was at once ubiquitous and in continuous motion. Compassing the global universe of birds was both an effect of, and a captivating metaphor for, the acceleration of social mobility and transnational networking in late eighteenth-century France.
High-efficiency single-frequency DBR fiber laser at 1091 nm utilizing a Yb:YAG crystal-derived silica fiber
Authors: Wei Zhenshuai , Huang Lu , Li Haiyan , Zhao Xian , Zhao Zhigang , Cong Zhenhua , Liu Zhaojun
Published: April 2024

A single-frequency distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR) fiber laser operating at 1091 nm was demonstrated by using a Yb:YAG crystal-derived silica fiber (YDSF). The YDSF was prepared via the molten core (MC) method, with a Yb2O3 doping concentration of 5.60 wt.% in the core, resulting in a gain coefficient of 1.45 dB/cm at 1091 nm. Employing 0.8 cm of the YDSF, we attained a single-frequency laser with a maximum output power of 145 mW and a slope efficiency of 31.8%. The laser exhibited an optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) exceeding 71 dB, a linewidth of ∼34 kHz, and a stabilized relative intensity noise (RIN) at -132 dB/Hz for frequencies over 4.5 MHz. The fiber laser could serve as an outstanding seed source for high-power, narrow-linewidth fiber amplifiers operating at 1091 nm.
Time-gated single-pixel imaging of Cherenkov emission from a medical linear accelerator
Authors: Jia Mengyu , Wei Zhaoqi , Gao Feng , Jiang Mingfeng , Wang Wei , Yuan Zhiyong , Pogue Brian W.
Published: April 2024

Cherenkov imaging is an ideal tool for real-time in vivo verification of a radiation therapy dose. Given that radiation is pulsed from a medical linear accelerator (LINAC) together with weak Cherenkov emissions, time-gated high-sensitivity imaging is required for robust measurements. Instead of using an expensive camera system with limited efficiency of detection in each pixel, a single-pixel imaging (SPI) approach that maintains promising sensitivity over the entire spectral band could be used to provide a low-cost and viable alternative. A prototype SPI system was developed and demonstrated here in Cherenkov imaging of LINAC dose delivery to a water tank. Validation experiments were performed using four regular fields and an intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) delivery plan. The Cherenkov image-based projection percent depth dose curves (pPDDs) were compared to pPDDs simulated by the treatment planning system (TPS), with an overall average error of 0.48, 0.42, 0.65, and 1.08% for the 3, 5, 7, and 9 cm square beams, respectively. The composite image of the IMRT plan achieved a 85.9% pass rate using 3%/3 mm gamma index criteria, in comparing Cherenkov intensity and TPS dose. This study validates the feasibility of applying SPI to the Cherenkov imaging of radiotherapy dose for the first time to our knowledge.
Multi-grayscale driving system for passive-matrix alternating current electroluminescence display
Authors: Fan Qitian , Shi Jintao , Zhu Simu , Yang Bo-ru , Deng Shaozhi
Published: April 2024

Alternating current electroluminescence (ACEL) has great potential in flexible displays, especially in textile displays. However, since ACEL needs high-frequency, high-voltage AC signal to drive, there remains no driving scheme for pixelated ACEL display to achieve multiple gray scales. In this work, a driving scheme based on full-bridge inverters is proposed for passive-matrix ACEL (PMACEL) display, which achieves multiple gray scales by changing the duty cycle of the square wave. A single-pixel ACEL displaying 16 gray levels (4 bits) and a 5 × 8 fabric PMACEL displaying eight gray levels are demonstrated, enabling flexible ACEL devices to exhibit more vivid tones on a fabric substrate.
Time-resolved ARPES with probe energy of 6.0 eV and tunable MIR pump at 250 kHz
Authors: Longa Adrien , Parent Jean-Michel , frimpong Benson , Armanno Dario , Gauthier Nicolas , Légaré François , boschini Fabio , Jargot Gaetan
Published: April 2024

In this paper, we present a laser source designed specifically for time- and angle-resolved photoemission (TR-ARPES) investigations of light-induced electron dynamics in quantum materials. Our laser source is based on an ytterbium-doped laser that seeds an optical parametric amplifier (OPA) followed by a difference frequency generation (DFG) stage. This configuration enables the generation of tunable near-infrared and mid-infrared laser pulses (1.5 to 8 μm - 0.82 to 0.15 eV) at 250 kHz of repetition rate, serving as the pump for TR-ARPES measurements. The remaining energy of the laser is used to generate the ultraviolet 6 eV probe pulses, which prompt the material to emit photoelectrons. We demonstrate the long-term stability of the source, as well as the characterization of the beam profiles and pulse durations. Additionally, we present preliminary TR-ARPES results obtained on Bi₂Te₃, a prototypical 3D topological insulator. This paper illustrates the capability of our laser source to probe electronic dynamics in quantum materials.
Menstrual changes after COVID-19 vaccination among menstruators of reproductive age: A cross- sectional study from Erbil City, Iraq
Authors: Abdullah Warda Hassan
Published: April 2024

The COVID-19 vaccination has been reported to have various post-vaccination effects, including potential changes in the menstrual cycle among menstruators of reproductive age. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between COVID-19 vaccination and menstrual changes among menstruators within Iraqi society and contribute to the knowledge about COVID-19 vaccine-related menstrual changes. The cross-sectional study involved a sample of 400 menstruators residing in Erbil City, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. The study specifically focused on individuals who were both infected and uninfected by COVID-19 and had received the COVID-19 vaccine. Individuals with hormonal diseases or those who had undergone hormonal therapy were excluded from the study. To ensure representation from different areas of Erbil City, the study was conducted in four primary healthcare centers selected based on geographic direction: South, East, North, and West sides. The author utilized a structured questionnaire to assess and compare changes in the menstrual cycle before and after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. The study found that a significant proportion (71.8%) of the participants experienced menstrual changes after receiving the COVID-19 vaccination, particularly after receiving both doses. These changes included alterations in the characteristics and symptoms of the menstrual cycle compared to before vaccination. The findings suggest that the COVID-19 vaccination can potentially affect the menstrual cycle in women of reproductive age. In conclusion, by revealing distinct changes in cycle characteristics and symptomatology, the study findings contribute to an expanding body of evidence supporting the connection between vaccination and menstrual alterations. Future studies with larger sample sizes and diverse populations are warranted to validate and expand upon the results of this study.
Pressure-relief joints of initial support structural system used in tunnels with high-stress surrounding rock
Authors: Xu Zhiming , Bai Yashuang
Published: April 2024

To address the problem of large deformations in weak surrounding rock tunnels under high ground stress, which cause damage to initial support structures, this study proposes a novel type of circumferential pressure-relief joint based on the concept of relieving deformation pressure of the surrounding rock. Key parameters of the pressure-relief joint, such as initial bearing capacity peak, constant bearing capacity, and allowable pressure-relief displacement, were obtained through numerical simulations and laboratory experiments. A comparison was made between the mechanical characteristics of rigid joints and the new type of pressure-relief joint. The applicability of the pressure-relief joint was verified through field tests, monitoring the surrounding rock pressure, internal forces in the steel frames, and the convergence displacement of the support structure. The results show that: (1) In the elastic stage, the stiffness of the new pressure-relief joint is similar to that of rigid joints. In the plastic stage, rigid joints fail directly, whereas the pressure-relief joint can control deformation and effectively release the deformation pressure of the surrounding rock while providing a constant bearing capacity. (2) The right arch foot in the experiment had poor rock quality, leading to high stress in the steel frame and significant horizontal displacement. After the deformation of the pressure-relief joint, the stress in the surrounding rock and steel frame significantly reduced, and the rate of horizontal deformation of the support structure slowed down. (3) The vertical and horizontal final displacements of the pressure-relief joint in the experiment were 61mm and 15mm, respectively, which did not exceed the allowable deformation values. The components of the support structure remained intact, ensuring safety. However, this study has limitations: the design of the new pressure-relief joint only allows for a vertical deformation of 150mm and a horizontal deformation of 50mm, limiting the range of pressure-relief deformation.
Does productive safety net program enhance livelihoods? Insights from vulnerable households in Wolaita zone, Ethiopia
Authors: Woldemichael Mesfin Getaneh , Alamirew Alemu Bamlaku
Published: April 2024

Background

The impact of Productive Safety Net Programs (PSNPs) on food security, poverty, and livelihoods has been examined in several studies. While some studies found positive impacts on food security and agricultural productivity, there are still gaps in understanding the long-term effects of these programs on poverty reduction and food security. This study aims to investigate the impact of PSNP on the livelihood of beneficiaries based on indicators including access to basic services, income, expenditure on food, adaptive capacity, and dietary diversity.

Methodology

This article used quasi-experimental design and treatment effects model taking into account access to basic services, income, food expenditure, assets, adaptive capacity, and household dietary diversity as outcome variables of interest. 300 respondents were randomly selected from the population of safety net beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries in the study area. Out of the 300 respondents, 150 were selected as the treatment group, who were beneficiaries of the safety net program. The algorithms used in analysis include regression adjustment, inverse probability weighing and propensity score matching.

Results

The study’s results reveal that the PSNP has no statistically significant impact on access to basic services and income based on all three algorithms, yet it does show a significant and negative effect on food expenditure and assets. The coefficients across all three models consistently demonstrate this negative impact, underscoring its statistical significance at the conventional significance level (p = 0.05). This suggests that the PSNP leads to a reduction in food expenditure. Furthermore, the analysis highlights substantial differences between PSNP members and non-members across all three variables, with non-members having higher mean values for assets. This difference is statistically significant at the 1% level, suggesting that membership in the PSNP has a tangible impact on asset ownership. The study’s mixed findings emphasize the complexities of designing effective social protection programs that can adequately address the multifaceted nature of poverty.
Face mask use in the city of Chennai, India: Results from three serial cross-sectional surveys, 2021
Authors: Sharan Murali , Sakthivel Manikandanesan , Rubeshkumar Polani , Nagarajan Ramya , Venkatasamy Vettrichelvan , Muthappan Sendhilkumar , Raju Mohankumar , Chadwick Joshua , S. Kalyani , Krishna Navaneeth S. , Kaviprawin Mogan , Gollapalli Pavan Kumar , Ramamurthy Srinath , Ganeshkumar Parasuraman , Jagadeesan Murugesan , Kaur Prabhdeep
Published: April 2024

Introduction

The Government of Tamil Nadu, India, mandated wearing face masks in public places to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. We established face mask surveillance and estimated the prevalence of appropriate mask use (covering the nose, mouth, and chin) in the slums and non-slums of Chennai at different time points in 2021.

Methods

We conducted three serial cross-sectional surveys in the outdoors and indoors of Chennai in March, July, and October 2021. We observed the mask wearing among 3200 individuals in the outdoors and 1280 in the indoors. We divided the outdoor and indoor locations into slums and non-slums. In October 2021, we also surveyed 150 individuals from each of the 11 shopping malls in the city. We calculated the proportions and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) for the appropriate mask use in the outdoor, indoor, and malls by age, gender, region, and setting (slum and non-slum).

Results

We observed 3200 individuals in the outdoor and 1280 individuals in the indoor setting, each from a slum and non-slum, during the three rounds of the study. In outdoor and indoors, males comprised three-fourths and middle-aged individuals were half the study population. Mask compliance changed significantly with time (p-value <0.001). Males consistently demonstrated better compliance in all rounds. The south region had the highest mask compliance in slums indoors and outdoors in rounds 4 and 5. Young adults had the highest mask compliance in both outdoor slums and non-slums in all rounds. Overall mask compliance in shopping malls was 57% (95% CI: 48–65).

Conclusion

The mask compliance in Chennai outdoors during the COVID-19 pandemic was less than 50%, with variations across time points by gender, age groups, and geographical locations. We must develop more effective communication strategies for older age groups and crowded indoor settings.
State-of-the-art requirements verification process applied to numerical finite-element modelling of the deep excavation in soft soils
Authors: Ambassa Zoa , Amba Jean Chills
Published: April 2024

The study presents state-of-the-art requirements verification process for the prediction of the stability of the multi-staged deep excavation in submerged soft soil retained by stell sheet pile walls structures applied at the development of elasto-plastic finite element calculation method performed from Cast3M and Plaxis FE codes. Optimization numerical calculation results are proposed for retained walls design and construction on the basis of the horizontal displacement, earth and water pressures measurements. The transformation of the geometry and stiffness of the stell sheet pile walls to the retaining walls of an equivalent bending stiffness on the one hand and regular geometric shapes allowed in this paper to overcome the difficulties of modelling these stell sheet pile walls in 2D with irregular shapes. The horizontal deflection of the wall, the vertical displacement behind the walls, and the settlement of the excavation bottom are given. They have been compared by those obtained by various authors around the world. The results of this approach are satisfactory in view of the horizontal displacement curves obtained on the stell sheet pile walls compared by the measures.
Systematic analysis of cuproptosis abnormalities and functional significance in cancer
Authors: Rumin Shang , Han Xiangming , Zeng Cui , Lv Fei , Fang Rong , Gong Rongrong , Tian Xiaochang , Ding Xiangwu
Published: April 2024

Background

Cuproptosis is a recently discovered type of cell death, but the role and behavior of cuproptosis-related genes (CuRGs) in cancers remain unclear. This paper aims to address these issues by analyzing the multi-omics characteristics of cancer-related genes (CuRGs) across various types of cancer.

Method

To investigate the impact of somatic copy number alterations (SCNA) and DNA methylation on CRG expression, we will analyze the correlation between these factors. We developed a cuproptosis index (CPI) model to measure the level of cuproptosis and investigate its functional roles. Using this model, we assessed the clinical prognosis of colorectal cancer patients and analyzed genetic changes and immune infiltration features in different CPI levels.

Results

The study’s findings indicate that the majority of cancer-related genes (CuRGs) were suppressed in tumors and had a positive correlation with somatic copy number alterations (SCNA), while having a negative correlation with DNA methylation. This suggests that both SCNA and DNA methylation have an impact on the expression of CuRGs. The CPI model is a reliable predictor of survival outcomes in patients with colorectal cancer and can serve as an independent prognostic factor. Patients with a higher CPI have a worse prognosis. We conducted a deeper analysis of the genetic alterations and immune infiltration patterns in both CPI positive and negative groups. Our findings revealed significant differences, indicating that CuRGs may play a crucial role in tumor immunity mechanisms. Additionally, we have noticed a positive correlation between CuRGs and various crucial pathways that are linked to the occurrence, progression, and metastasis of tumors.

Conclusions

Overall, our study systematically analyzes cuproptosis and its regulatory genes, emphasizing the potential of using cuproptosis as a basis for cancer therapy.
Induction of nitric oxide via humming does not improve short-term cognitive performance or influence emotional processing
Authors: Francis Gregory , Petrovic Predrag , Lundström Johan N. , Thunell Evelina
Published: April 2024

Nitric oxide (NO) is involved in a variety of biological functions including blood vessel dilation and neurotransmitter release. In animals, NO has been demonstrated to affect multiple behavioral outcomes, such as memory performance and arousal, whereas this link is less explored in humans. NO is created in the paranasal sinuses and studies show that humming releases paranasal NO to the nasal tract and that NO can then cross the blood brain barrier. Akin to animal models, we hypothesized that this NO may traverse into the brain and positively affect information processing. In contrast to our hypothesis, an articulatory suppression memory paradigm and a speeded detection task found deleterious effects of humming while performing the task. Likewise, we found no effect of humming on emotional processing of photos. In a fourth experiment, participants hummed before each trial in a speeded detection task, but we again found no effect on response time. In conclusion, either nasal NO does not travel to the brain, or NO in the brain does not have the expected impact on cognitive performance and emotional processing in humans. It remains possible that NO influences other cognitive processes not tested for here.
Improving the robustness of the Sequentially Optimized Reconstruction Strategy (SORS) for visual field testing
Authors: Shi Runjie Bill , Eizenman Moshe , Li Yan , Wong Willy
Published: April 2024

Perimetry, or visual field test, estimates differential light sensitivity thresholds across many locations in the visual field (e.g., 54 locations in the 24–2 grid). Recent developments have shown that an entire visual field may be relatively accurately reconstructed from measurements of a subset of these locations using a linear regression model. Here, we show that incorporating a dimensionality reduction layer can improve the robustness of this reconstruction. Specifically, we propose to use principal component analysis to transform the training dataset to a lower dimensional representation and then use this representation to reconstruct the visual field. We named our new reconstruction method the transformed-target principal component regression (TTPCR). When trained on a large dataset, our new method yielded results comparable with the original linear regression method, demonstrating that there is no underfitting associated with parameter reduction. However, when trained on a small dataset, our new method used on average 22% fewer trials to reach the same error. Our results suggest that dimensionality reduction techniques can improve the robustness of visual field testing reconstruction algorithms.