bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Product Markets: Enforcing the Price Mechanism
Authors: Aubrey Thomas
Published: January 2023

The central tenet of ordoliberal ideology was for the state to enforce competition by neutralising power concentrations, thereby removing distortions from the price mechanism. Böhm advocated performance rather than perfect competition which enabled firms to reap the rewards of innovation through temporary monopolies, while placing constraints on firm behaviour to prevent market abuse. The idea of market abuse has become an important component of EU antitrust policy which has been more successful than the US focus on consumer welfare in maintaining a competitive order.
The free trade of goods and services was also promoted to reduce the power of domestic vested interests, although care had to be taken on the speed of the liberalisation of trade due its potential effect on workers. This trade was advocated between like-minded states with freely convertible currencies as trade between regimes with different value systems was considered inherently unstable. The current impasse between liberal democracies and China within the WTO highlights this issue.
Although the freedom of movement of capital was not a major topic of discussion, addressing capital flows from authoritarian countries remains a central issue to stabilise the currency and promoting a sustainable liberal order.
Bureaucratic Violence
Authors: Peterie Michelle
Published: January 2023

This chapter describes the process individuals must go through to gain entrance to immigration detention facilities in Australia, highlighting marked similarities between these centres and prisons. It shows that visitor application and entrance processes have become complex and intimidating in recent year as centres have taken an increasingly securitized approach to visitor admission. In describing these processes and their escalation, this chapter begins to reveal the mechanisms of bureaucratic control that characterize Australia’s onshore detention system. It also shows how visitors are targeted as part of this carceral system.
Witnessing the Pains of Imprisonment
Authors: Peterie Michelle
Published: January 2023

This chapter explores the realities of daily life in immigration detention in Australia
as witnessed and experienced by detention centre visitors. The chapter paints a detailed picture of immigration detention facilities as prison-like environments in which detainees are made to feel their vulnerability in the small details of institutional life. Rules are regularly changed and erratically enforced
and micro-level controls function to infantilize and disempower. This elaborate system of carceral deprivation and frustration keeps detainees in a state of anxious vigilance. It also extends to target visitors
positioning them as quasi-inmates and frustrating their efforts to provide meaningful support.
Analog-to-digital conversion of information archived in display holograms: II. photogrammetric digitization
Authors: Rabosh Ekaterina V. , Balbekin Nikolay S. , Timoshenkova Anastasia M. , Shlykova Tatiana V. , Petrov Nikolay V.
Published: January 2023

We demonstrate the opportunities of photogrammetry in digitizing information about objects by acquiring a set of photographic images captured from three-dimensional scenes, which are reconstructed from volume reflection holograms. The corresponding requirements are determined for both recording the display hologram and digitizing the information reconstructed from it by photogrammetry. They include the choice of the radiation source used to reconstruct the object wave from the hologram; requirements for object positioning when recording a display hologram relative to the recording medium; and requirements for the glare minimization procedure during the construction of a photogrammetric three-dimensional model.
Investigation of single-shot high-speed photography based on spatial frequency multiplexing
Authors: Li Hang , Li YaHui , Wang Xing , Tian Jinshou
Published: January 2023

The frequency recognition algorithm for multiple exposures (FRAME) is a spatial frequency multiplexing method that enables high-speed videography with high spatial resolution across a wide field of view and high temporal resolution up to femtoseconds. The criterion to design encoded illumination pulses is an essential factor that affects the sequence depth and reconstruction accuracy of FRAME but was not previously discussed. When the spatial frequency is exceeded, the fringes on digital imaging sensors can become distorted. To exploit the Fourier domain for FRAME with deep sequences and avoid fringe distortion, the maximum Fourier map for sequence arrangement was determined to be a diamond shape. The maximum axial frequency should be a quarter of the sampling frequency of digital imaging sensors. Based on this criterion, the performances of reconstructed frames were theoretically investigated by considering arrangement and filtering methods. To ensure optimal and uniform interframe quality, the frames near the zero frequency should be removed and optimized super-Gaussian filters should be employed. Experiments were conducted flexibly with a digital mirror device to generate illumination fringes. Following these suggestions, the movement of a water drip dropping on a water surface was captured with 20 and 38 frames with uniform interframe quality. The results prove the effectiveness of the proposed methods to improve the reconstruction accuracy and promote the development of FRAME with deep sequences.
Ultra-dense, 1152-core, broadband multicore fiber link deployed in a metro network
Authors: Kopp Victor I. , Park Jongchul , Zhang Jing , Singer Jonathan , Neugroschl Daniel , Oda Takuya , Mukai Okimi , Nasir Usman
Published: January 2023

We have designed, developed, and deployed the world's first ultra-dense space division-multiplexing multicore fiber link in a conduit of a metro network. In a 10-mm-diameter fiber optic-cable, 288 4-core multicore fibers are arranged in 24 200-µm spiderweb collapsible ribbons. The multicore fibers are fusion-spliced to 576 fanout devices which provide conventional single-core interfaces at patch panels at both ends of the link.
Improved laser phase locking with intra-cavity adaptive optics
Authors: Pando Amit , Gadasi Sagie , Friesem Asher , Davidson Nir
Published: January 2023

Phase locking of coupled lasers is severely hindered by the spread in their natural lasing frequencies. We present an intra-cavity adaptive optics method that reduces the frequency spread and thereby improves phase locking. Using an intra-cavity spatial light modulator and an iterative optimization algorithm, we demonstrate a fourfold enhancement of phase locking 450 coupled lasers, as quantified by the peak intensity and the inverse participation ratio of the far-field output distributions. We further show that the improvement is long-lasting, and suitable for phase locking of weakly coupled lasers.
Sub-kHz-linewidth continuous-wave single-frequency ring-cavity fiber laser based on high-gain Er: YAG crystal-derived silica fiber
Authors: Huang Jiaqi , Wen Jianxiang , Wan Ying , Wu Yan , Luo Yanhua , Zhang Xiaobei , Huang Sujuan , Pang Fufei , Wang Tingyun
Published: January 2023

Throughout the development of single frequency fiber lasers (SFFLs), gain fiber is one of the most important components, which can greatly affect the quality of SFFLs. Here, we fabricated an Er: YAG crystal-derived silica fiber (EYDSF) using a CO2 laser-heating drawing technique, with a high gain coefficient of 1.74 dB/cm. Employing the EYDSF of only 10 cm as a gain medium, we constructed a continuous-wave ring-cavity SFFL with an all-fiber system. An ultra-narrow linewidth <660 Hz was achieved harnessing a homemade low-concentration Er-doped silica fiber as a saturable absorber. Importantly, the SFFL output power was up to 32.7 mW at 1560 nm. What’s more, no multi longitudinal mode or mode hopping were found in 2 hours, and the fluctuation of power was <0.63% in 8 hours. Furthermore, the relative intensity noise was lower to -145 dB/Hz at frequencies over 1 MHz. The results indicate that the ring-cavity SFFL has desirable performance in output power, linewidth, stability and noise, which serves a prospective candidate applied to coherent optical communications, high-precision sensors, laser radars and other advanced fields.
Absolute angular position measurement by dual-comb spectroscopy of an autocollimation diffracted beam
Authors: Zhou Siyu , Jiang Ruilin , Zhang Ruixue , Shi Liheng , Zhang Di , Wu Guanhao
Published: January 2023

The dual-comb technique is a powerful tool in industrial inspection and scientific research and is capable of realizing ultrahigh-resolution and fast broadband spectral measurements. We propose an absolute angular-position measurement method based on dual-comb spectroscopy. With a simple layout, the absolute angular position can be naturally determined through the traceable and wide-amplitude spectra of the autocollimation diffracted beams of the target grating. We experimentally demonstrate that a precision of 0.12 arcsec in the dynamic range of approximately 6660 arcsec, along with a 1 kHz repetition rate difference, is achieved. Compared with a commercial autocollimator, over 1000 arcsec, the comparison residuals are kept within ±0.3 arcsec.
Ultralow-loss fusion splicing between antiresonant hollow-core fibers and antireflection-coated single-mode fibers with low return loss
Authors: Wang Caoyuan , Yu Ruowei , Xiong Cong , Zhu Jie , Xiao Limin
Published: January 2023

The Fresnel reflection of a splice from the air–silica interface between a hollow-core fiber (HCF) and a solid-core conventional fiber will increase the splicing loss and also cause possible instability of transmission. Here, for the first time, we develop a novel approach to fusion splicing an antireflection-coated (AR-coated) conventional fiber and an antiresonant HCF, which was generally claimed to be impossible because of the heat-induced damage of the coating, and achieve state-of-the-art ultralow fusion splicing loss less than 0.3 dB and a low return loss less than −28 dB by optimizing the splicing procedures and parameters. Our new fusion splicing approach will benefit the wide application of HCFs in telecoms, laser technologies, gyroscopes, and fiber gas cells.
Integration of Bragg gratings in aerosol-jetted polymer optical waveguides for strain monitoring capabilities
Authors: Bischoff Kay , Kefer Stefan , Wienke Alexander , Overmeyer Ludger , Kaierle Stefan , Esen Cemal , Hellmann Ralf
Published: January 2023

We demonstrate and discuss the integration of Bragg gratings in aerosol-jetted polymer optical waveguides, produced in the optical assembly and connection technology for component-integrated bus systems (OPTAVER) process. By using a femtosecond laser and adaptive beam shaping, an elliptical focal voxel generates different types of single pulse modification by nonlinear absorption in the waveguide material, which are arranged periodically to form Bragg gratings. Integration of a single grating structure or, alternatively, an array of Bragg grating structures in the multimode waveguide yields a pronounced reflection signal with typical multimodal properties, i.e., a number of reflection peaks with non-Gaussian shapes. However, the main wavelength of reflection, located around 1555 nm, is evaluable by means of an appropriate smoothing algorithm. When loaded by mechanical bending, a pronounced Bragg wavelength shift of this reflected peak up to 160 pm is detected. This demonstrates that the additively manufactured waveguides can be used not only for signal transmission but also as a sensor.
Suppressing the Mechanochromism of Flexible Photonic Crystals
Authors: Kraft Fabio , Harwardt Katharina , Schardt Jan , Nowotka Dirk , Gerken Martina
Published: January 2023

Photonic crystal slabs (PCS) are a promising platform for optical biosensing. Yet, flexible applications based on PCS for biosensing have been limited, as the mechanical properties influence the optical ones. Here, we show the suppression of the mechanochromism effect for flexible PCS. We obtained flexible photonic crystal slabs by sputtering of a dielectric 100 nm Nb2O5 high refractive index layer onto a flexible nanostructured polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate with 370 nm grating period. The PCS exhibit a guided mode resonance at around 650 nm. We demonstrate that these flexible photonic crystal slabs show less than 0.5 nm resonance shift for 4% strain and call them stabilized PCS (sPCS). We compare this to a resonance shift of ~21 nm for ~4% strain of a flexible photonic crystal with a flexible nanoparticle high index layer (mechanochromatic PCS, mPCS). This high resonance shift is expected from the Bragg equations, where 4 % grating period change correspond to approximately 4 % change of the resonance wavelength (i.e., ~26 nm at a resonance wavelength of 650 nm), if changes in the mode effective refractive index are neglected. In a stretch series we obtain color-to-strain dependencies of 4.79 nm/% strain for mPCS and 0.11 nm/% strain for our stabilized sPCS. We analyze the suppression of the mechanochromism with detailed microscopy results. We observe that fissures and fractures form in the rigid waveguiding layer of the sPCS upon mechanical stress. An algorithm based on Holistically-Nested Edge Detection (HED) is used for automated counting of cracks. Rigid photonic crystal cells with sizes on the order of 10 µm to 100 µm are formed that explain the stable optical properties. Even more stable optical properties with less than 0.03 nm wavelength shift per 1% strain are demonstrated for sPCS with an additional dielectric 100 nm SiO2 low index layer beneath the Nb2O5 waveguide layer decoupling the waveguide further from the flexible PDMS substrate
Thickness-Dependent Auger Scattering in a Single WS₂ Microcrystal Probed with Time-Resolved Terahertz Near-Field Microscopy
Authors: Huurne Stan ter , van Hoof Niels , Rivas Jaime
Published: January 2023

Time-resolved terahertz (THz) spectroscopy has been shown as a powerful technique to non-invasively determine the charge carrier properties in photo-excited semiconductors. However, the long wavelengths of terahertz radiation reduces the applicability of this technique to large samples. Using THz near-field microscopy, we show THz measurements of the lifetime of 2D-single exfoliated microcrystals of transition metal dichalcogenides (WS₂). The increased spatial resolution of THz near-field microscopy allows spatial mapping of the evolution of the carrier lifetime, revealing Auger assisted surface defect recombination as the dominant recombination channel. THz near-field microscopy allows for the non-invasive and high resolution investigation of material properties of 2D semiconductors relevant for nanoelectronic and optoelectronic applications.
Neuron populations use variable combinations of short-term feedback mechanisms to stabilize firing rate
Authors: Pellizzari Sarah , Hu Min , Amaral-Silva Lara , Saunders Sandy E. , Santin Joseph M.
Published: January 2023

Neurons tightly regulate firing rate and a failure to do so leads to multiple neurological disorders. Therefore, a fundamental question in neuroscience is how neurons produce reliable activity patterns for decades to generate behavior. Neurons have built-in feedback mechanisms that allow them to monitor their output and rapidly stabilize firing rate. Most work emphasizes the role of a dominant feedback system within a neuronal population for the control of moment-to-moment firing. In contrast, we find that respiratory motoneurons use 2 activity-dependent controllers in unique combinations across cells, dynamic activation of an Na+ pump subtype, and rapid potentiation of Kv7 channels. Both systems constrain firing rate by reducing excitability for up to a minute after a burst of action potentials but are recruited by different cellular signals associated with activity, increased intracellular Na+ (the Na+ pump), and membrane depolarization (Kv7 channels). Individual neurons do not simply contain equal amounts of each system. Rather, neurons under strong control of the Na+ pump are weakly regulated by Kv7 enhancement and vice versa along a continuum. Thus, each motoneuron maintains its characteristic firing rate through a unique combination of the Na+ pump and Kv7 channels, which are dynamically regulated by distinct feedback signals. These results reveal a new organizing strategy for stable circuit output involving multiple fast activity sensors scaled inversely across a neuronal population.
Shape-specific characterization of colorectal adenoma growth and transition to cancer with stochastic cell-based models
Authors: Simonetto Cristoforo , Mansmann Ulrich , Kaiser Jan Christian
Published: January 2023

Colorectal adenoma are precursor lesions on the pathway to cancer. Their removal in screening colonoscopies has markedly reduced rates of cancer incidence and death. Generic models of adenoma growth and transition to cancer can guide the implementation of screening strategies. But adenoma shape has rarely featured as a relevant risk factor. Against this backdrop we aim to demonstrate that shape influences growth dynamics and cancer risk. Stochastic cell-based models are applied to a data set of 197,347 Bavarian outpatients who had colonoscopies from 2006-2009, 50,649 patients were reported with adenoma and 296 patients had cancer. For multi-stage clonal expansion (MSCE) models with up to three initiating stages parameters were estimated by fits to data sets of all shapes combined, and of sessile (70% of all adenoma), peduncular (17%) and flat (13%) adenoma separately for both sexes. Pertinent features of adenoma growth present themselves in contrast to previous assumptions. Stem cells with initial molecular changes residing in early adenoma predominantly multiply within two-dimensional structures such as crypts. For these cells mutation and division rates decrease with age. The absolute number of initiated cells in an adenoma of size 1 cm is small around 103, related to all bulk cells they constitute a share of about 10−5. The notion of very few proliferating stem cells with age-decreasing division rates is supported by cell marker experiments. The probability for adenoma transiting to cancer increases with squared linear size and shows a shape dependence. Compared to peduncular and flat adenoma, it is twice as high for sessile adenoma of the same size. We present a simple mathematical expression for the hazard ratio of interval cancers which provides a mechanistic understanding of this important quality indicator. We conclude that adenoma shape deserves closer consideration in screening strategies and as risk factor for transition to cancer.
The Osiris family genes function as novel regulators of the tube maturation process in the Drosophila trachea
Authors: Scholl Aaron , Ndoja Istri , Dhakal Niraj , Morante Doria , Ivan Abigail , Newman Darren , Mossington Thomas , Clemans Christian , Surapaneni Sruthi , Powers Michael , Jiang Lan
Published: January 2023

Drosophila trachea is a premier model to study tube morphogenesis. After the formation of continuous tubes, tube maturation follows. Tracheal tube maturation starts with an apical secretion pulse that deposits extracellular matrix components to form a chitin-based apical luminal matrix (aECM). This aECM is then cleared and followed by the maturation of taenidial folds. Finally, air fills the tubes. Meanwhile, the cellular junctions are maintained to ensure tube integrity. Previous research has identified several key components (ER, Golgi, several endosomes) of protein trafficking pathways that regulate the secretion and clearance of aECM, and the maintenance of cellular junctions. The Osiris (Osi) gene family is located at the Triplo-lethal (Tpl) locus on chromosome 3R 83D4-E3 and exhibits dosage sensitivity. Here, we show that three Osi genes (Osi9, Osi15, Osi19), function redundantly to regulate adherens junction (AJ) maintenance, luminal clearance, taenidial fold formation, tube morphology, and air filling during tube maturation. The localization of Osi proteins in endosomes (Rab7-containing late endosomes, Rab11-containing recycling endosomes, Lamp-containing lysosomes) and the reduction of these endosomes in Osi mutants suggest the possible role of Osi genes in tube maturation through endosome-mediated trafficking. We analyzed tube maturation in zygotic rab11 and rab7 mutants, respectively, to determine whether endosome-mediated trafficking is required. Interestingly, similar tube maturation defects were observed in rab11 but not in rab7 mutants, suggesting the involvement of Rab11-mediated trafficking, but not Rab7-mediated trafficking, in this process. To investigate whether Osi genes regulate tube maturation primarily through the maintenance of Rab11-containing endosomes, we overexpressed rab11 in Osi mutant trachea. Surprisingly, no obvious rescue was observed. Thus, increasing endosome numbers is not sufficient to rescue tube maturation defects in Osi mutants. These results suggest that Osi genes regulate other aspects of endosome-mediated trafficking, or regulate an unknown mechanism that converges or acts in parallel with Rab11-mediated trafficking during tube maturation.
Decomposing heritability and genetic covariance by direct and indirect effect paths
Authors: Song Jie , Zou Yiqing , Wu Yuchang , Miao Jiacheng , Yu Ze , Fletcher Jason M. , Lu Qiongshi
Published: January 2023

Estimation of heritability and genetic covariance is crucial for quantifying and understanding complex trait genetic architecture and is employed in almost all recent genome-wide association studies (GWAS). However, many existing approaches for heritability estimation and almost all methods for estimating genetic correlation ignore the presence of indirect genetic effects, i.e., genotype-phenotype associations confounded by the parental genome and family environment, and may thus lead to incorrect interpretation especially for human sociobehavioral phenotypes. In this work, we introduce a statistical framework to decompose heritability and genetic covariance into multiple components representing direct and indirect effect paths. Applied to five traits in UK Biobank, we found substantial involvement of indirect genetic components in shared genetic architecture across traits. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach and highlight the importance of accounting for indirect effects in variance component analysis of complex traits.
Functional characterization of 5′ untranslated region (UTR) secondary RNA structures in the replication of tick-borne encephalitis virus in mammalian cells
Authors: Upstone Laura , Colley Robin , Harris Mark , Goonawardane Niluka
Published: January 2023

Tick-borne Encephalitis Virus (TBEV) is an emerging flavivirus that causes neurological disorders including viral encephalitis of varying severity. Whilst secondary RNA structures within the 5′ untranslated regions (UTRs) of many flaviviruses determine both virus replication and pathogenic outcomes in humans, these elements have not been systematically investigated for TBEV. In this study, we investigated the role of predicted RNA secondary elements of the first 107 nucleotides (nts) of the viral genome forming the stem-loop A (SLA). Experiments were performed in replicons and infectious TBEV system. This region comprises three distinct structures: 5’ stem 0 (S0), stem-loop 1 (SL1) and stem-loop 2 (SL2). S0 was found to be essential for virus infection as mutations in the lower stem of this region significantly reduced virus replication. Point mutations in SL1 that preserved the Y-shape confirmation delayed viral RNA replication but did not abolish virus infectivity. Deletion of SL2 did not abolish infectivity but had a negligible effect on virus propagation. No correlation was observed between in vitro translation efficiency and virus infectivity, suggesting that the 5’UTR functions independently to virus translation. Together, these findings reveal distinct RNA elements within the 5′UTR that are essential for the stability and replication of viral RNA. We further identify changes in RNA folding that lead to altered TBEV infectivity and pathogenesis.
Gene expression studies of WT1 mutant Wilms tumor cell lines in the frame work of published kidney development data reveals their early kidney stem cell origin
Authors: Royer-Pokora Brigitte , Wruck Wasco , Adjaye James , Beier Manfred
Published: January 2023

In order to get a better insight into the timing ofWT1mutant Wilms tumor development, we compared the gene expression profiles of nine establishedWT1mutant Wilms tumor cell lines with published data from different kidney cell types during development. Publications describing genes expressed in nephrogenic precursor cells, ureteric bud cells, more mature nephrogenic epithelial cells and interstitial cell types were used. These studies uncovered that theWT1mutant Wilms tumor cells lines express genes from the earliest nephrogenic progenitor cells, as well as from more differentiated nephron cells with the highest expression from the stromal/interstitial compartment. The expression of genes from all cell compartments points to an early developmental origin of the tumor in a common stem cell. Although variability of the expression of specific genes was evident between the cell lines the overall expression pattern was very similar. This is likely dependent on their different genetic backgrounds with distinctWT1mutations and the absence/presence of mutantCTNNB1.
Leveraging interactive voice response technology to mitigate COVID-19 risk in refugee settlements in Uganda: Lessons learned implementing “Dial-COVID” a toll-free mobile phone symptom surveillance and information dissemination tool
Authors: Klabbers Robin E. , Muwonge Timothy R. , Pham Phuong , Mujugira Andrew , Vinck Patrick , Borthakur Sukanya , Sharma Monisha , Mohammed Numan , Parkes-Ratanshi Rosalind , Celum Connie , O’Laughlin Kelli N.
Published: January 2023

Background

Persons living in refugee settlements in sub-Saharan Africa may be at increased risk for COVID-19 and experience barriers to accessing COVID-19 information. We aimed to evaluate the implementation of “Dial-COVID” a multi-lingual, toll free, telephone platform that uses interactive voice response (IVR) to track COVID-19 symptoms/exposure and disseminate COVID-19 health information in refugee settlements in Uganda. We hypothesized that IVR could provide an alternative way to screen for COVID-19 and communicate public health information to humanitarian populations when physical access and testing capacity were limited.

Methods

The Dial-COVID IVR platform was created in ten languages and advertised by community health workers in refugee settlements for participants to call into toll free. In a recorded IVR symptom survey, participants were screened for COVID-19 symptoms/exposures and based on their responses, received tailored public health messages about COVID-19 risk mitigation in accordance with Uganda Ministry of Health guidelines. Here we report the challenges and lessons learned implementing this research during the pandemic.

Results

Between February 2021 and March 2022, 15,465 calls were received by the Dial-COVID platform from all 31 refugee settlements in Uganda through which 6,913 symptom surveys were completed and 10,411 public health messages were disseminated in all study languages. Uptake of Dial-COVID fluctuated with the national COVID-19 caseload and was impacted by phone ownership and connectivity in refugee settlements. Intensified advertising efforts promoted Dial-COVID uptake. Flexibility to adapt IVR messages was contingent on translation capacity.

Conclusion

Refugees living in refugee settlements across Uganda accessed Dial-COVID to share and obtain COVID-19 information suggesting that IVR holds potential for rapid information dissemination and screening of humanitarian populations during future infectious disease outbreaks and may be a valuable tool for routine public health programs. IVR adaptation flexibility and reach are influenced by language constraints and by contextual factors related to platform access.

Registration details

World Pandemic Research Network– 490652.
Impact of number of critical care procedural skill repetitions on supervision level and teaching style
Authors: Zante Bjoern
Published: January 2023

Background

During critical care procedural skills training (e.g., in intubation and pericardiocentesis) the appropriate supervision level is important to ensure correct use of techniques and guarantee patient safety. The appropriate teaching style should be selected to address residents’ learning behavior and foster their competence. The aim of this study was to explore the number of repetitions for given skills needed to achieve a specified supervision level and a specific teaching style.

Methods

This cross-sectional multicenter survey obtained data from residents and faculty of three multidisciplinary intensive care units (ICU) in Switzerland. Using a 4-point Likert scale, participants were asked to indicate the number of repetitions required to achieve the specified supervision level and teaching style.

Results

Among 91 physicians, the response rate was 64% (n = 59). Their median estimations of the numbers of skill repetitions needed to achieve the final fourth level of supervision and final fourth stage of teaching style were as follows: arterial catheter insertion: supervision level 32, teaching style 17.5; peritoneal paracentesis: supervision level 27, teaching style 17; central venous catheter insertion: supervision level 38, teaching style 28; lumbar puncture: supervision level 38, teaching style 21; endotracheal intubation: supervision level 100, teaching style 45; chest drain insertion: supervision level 27, teaching style 21.5; temporary pacemaker placement: supervision level 50, teaching style 19.5; percutaneous tracheostomy: supervision level 50, teaching style 29; pericardiocentesis: supervision level 50, teaching style 35. Comparison of repetitions between supervision level and teaching style revealed no difference at the first and second levels, except for endotracheal intubation at level 2 (p = 0.03). Differences were observed at the third and fourth levels of supervision level and teaching style (p≤0.04).

Conclusions

It appears that the supervision level and teaching style applied by faculty should change according to both the number of repetitions and the difficulty of critical care procedural skills.
Cancer antigen 125 and C-reactive protein inflammatory mediators and uric acid in association with preeclampsia in North Kordofan State, Western Sudan
Authors: Suliman Naglaa Abdelbasit , Awadalla Khidir Elamin , Bakheit Khalid Hussein , Mohamed Abdelrahim Osman
Published: January 2023

Pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia depends on a defective trophoblastic invasion of uteroplacental blood vessels that leads to placental ischemia and induction of an inflammatory process within the placenta. This process may trigger the expression of Cancer antigen 125 (CA 125), C-reactive protein (CRP) and uric acid (UA). This research aimed to evaluate the association of serum CA 125, CRP and uric acid with Preeclampsia. The study recruited 200 singleton Sudanese pregnant women, who were divided into three groups: controls (n = 100), mild preeclampsia (n = 46) and severe preeclampsia (n = 54). The study subjects were matched for maternal age, gestational age and body mass index. Blood samples were taken for measurement of the different variables using immune- assay and enzymatic automated chemical analysis. The levels of CA 125 in mild and severe preeclampsia were (21.94±0.749 IU/ml) and (40.78±1.336 IU/ml) respectively, which was significantly different (P<0.001) from the control mean (16.48±0.584 IU/ml). There was also a significant difference between the mean levels of CRP in mild and severe preeclampsia (15.17±0.788 mg/L), (31.50±1.709 mg/L) compared with controls (4.79±0.178 mg/L), (P<0.01). There was also a significant difference in the mean levels of UA in mild and severe cases (6.44±0.293 and7.37±0.272) in comparison with the controls (4.00±0.061); (P<0.001). There were significant differences between severe and mild groups (P<0.05). Cancer antigen 125, CRP and UA levels‎ correlated positively with mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) where (r >0.7; P < 0.001). ROC curve validates the utility of these biomarkers for monitoring preeclampsia (AUC >0.8; P < 0.001). In conclusion CA 125, CRP and UA were significantly higher in preeclampsia compared with the controls. The rise of the analytes was directly associated with the severity of the disease.
Identification of key ferroptosis genes in diabetic retinopathy based on bioinformatics analysis
Authors: Huang Yan , Peng Jun , Liang Qiuhua
Published: January 2023

Objectives

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a retinal microvascular disease associated with diabetes. Ferroptosis is a new type of programmed cell death that may participate in the occurrence and development of DR. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the DR ferroptosis-related genes by bioinformatics methods.

Methods

The RNAseq data of DR and healthy control retinas were downloaded from the gene expression synthesis (GEO) database and analyzed using the R package DESeq2. The key modules were obtained using the WGCNA algorithm, and their genes were intersected with ferroptosis-related genes in the FerrDb database to obtain differentially expressed ferroptosis-related genes (DE-FRGs). Enrichment analysis was conducted to understand the function and enrichment pathways of ferroptosis genes in DR, and hub genes were identified by protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis. The diagnostic accuracy of hub genes for DR was evaluated according to the area under the ROC curve. The TRRUST database was then used to predict the regulatory relationship between transcription factors and target genes, with the mirDIP, ENCORI, RNAnter, RNA22, miRWalk and miRDB databases used to predict the regulatory relationship between miRNAs and target genes. Finally, another data set was used to verify the hub genes.

Results

In total, 52 ferroptosis-related DEGs (43 up-regulated and 9 down-regulated) were identified using 15 DR samples and 3 control samples and were shown to be significantly enriched in the intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway, autophagosome, iron ion binding and p53 signaling pathway. Seven hub genes of DR ferroptosis were identified through PPI network analysis, but only HMOX1 and PTGS2 were differentially expressed in another data set. The miRNAs prediction showed that hsa-miR-873-5p was the key miRNA regulating HMOX1, while hsa-miR-624-5p and hsa-miR-542-3p were the key miRNAs regulating PTGS2. Furthermore, HMOX1 and PTGS2 were regulated by 13 and 20 transcription factors, respectively.

Conclusion

The hub genes HMOX1 and PTGS2, and their associated transcription factors and miRNAs, may be involved in ferroptosis in diabetic retinopathy. Therefore, the specific mechanism is worthy of further investigation.
Chemokine modulation in microscopic and submicroscopic Plasmodium falciparum malaria infection in women at delivery in Yaoundé, Cameroon
Authors: Megnekou Rosette , Nana Chris Marco Mbianda , Djontu Jean Claude , Bitye Bernard Marie Zambo , Nana Benderli Christine , Zangue Berenice Kenfack Tekougang , Donkeu Christiane Josiane , Essangui Estelle , Salawiss Rodrigue Mbea , Seumko’o Reine Ndeumou Medouen , Ayong Lawrence , Leke Rose Gana Fomban
Published: January 2023

In pregnancy-associated malaria, chemokines such as CXCL-4, CXCL-13, CXCL-16, and CCL-24 play critical roles in leucocyte trafficking to tissue sites in the infected placenta where inflammatory reactions are active. However, how plasma levels of these chemokines associate with Plasmodium falciparum placental malaria and pregnancy outcomes remains not well understood. The present study analyzed the plasma levels of CXCL-4, CXCL-13, CXCL-16, and CCL-24 chemokines in matched peripheral, placental and cord blood in relation with placental malaria (PM), and with submicroscopic parasitaemia. This was a retrospective case-control study (1:3 ratio) involving samples from 134 women (34 PM+ and 100 PM-) enrolled at delivery at the Marie Reine Health Center in Yaoundé, Cameroon between June 2013 and October 2018. Samples were collected just after delivery and used to diagnose microscopic and submicroscopic Plasmodium falciparum infections. Submicroscopic infections were detected by reverse transcription LAMP whereas chemokine levels were determined by Magnetic Luminex Screening Assay. Overall, PM was associated with increased plasma levels of CXCL-13 and CXCL-16 and low levels of CXCL-4 and CCL-24 in both peripheral and placental blood (0.0002 ≤ p ≤ 0.042). Similarly, CCL-24 levels in peripheral and placental blood samples were significantly lower in submicroscopically infected women compared to healthy controls (p = 0.04 and 0.02, respectively). Maternal hemoglobin levels increased with peripheral plasma levels of CXCL-4 (p = 0.005), CXCL-16 (p = 0.03), and CCL-24 (p = 0.002) while birth weight was lower for babies born from women with high levels of peripheral CXCL-13 (p = 0.0006) and low levels of cord CXCL-4 and CCL-24 (p = 0.02 and 0.08, respectively). Together the data suggest that low levels of CXCL-4 and CCL-24 coupled with high plasma levels of CXCL-13 and for a lesser extend CXCL-16 represent signatures of PM in the study population. These findings are relevant for understanding the immunopathogenesis of PM and developing new therapeutic or preventive strategies against severe PM outcomes.
Visibility of documentary heritage through digitisation projects in Romanian libraries
Authors: Micle Maria , Tîrziman Elena , Repanovici Angela
Published: January 2023

Background

The article presents, from a diachronic perspective, the concerns of valorization and preservation of the documentary heritage through digitisation projects in the Romanian Library System. The development of the argument is made starting from the analysis of the interest in the subject in international literature (through a bibliometric analysis) and the investigation of the online presence of libraries expressed statistically from the typology of forms of representation, to specific digital products and services, thus highlighting how they evolved in the sense of diversifying and modernizing the products and services provided and taking into account the political, economic, and technological constraints.

Methods

The evaluation of the involvement of Romanian libraries in digitisation activities was done through the such research methods as content analysis and scientometric research, which allowed the carrying out of a longitudinal case study extended for the period 2007–2022, during the unravelling of the events.

Results

The most representative initiatives for the creation of the Digital Library of Romania and the involvement of libraries in national and European projects are presented, and examples of good practices are highlighted, including political and administrative concerns to support protection and capitalization through the digitisation of the libraries’ heritage. This study is the first in Romanian specialized bibliography that proovides an overall and evolutionary perspective on the national project of digitisation of the documentary cultural heritage. Analyzing a large number of official documents and library web addresses has been a major challenge.

Conclusions

During the analyzed period (2007–2022), there have been numerous initiatives and digitisation projects, but the results have not always met expectations. From the experience of Romanian libraries, it can be concluded that digital content development initiatives have not always been successful because of the absence or insufficient commitment of the sustainability component.
Progesterone and prolactin levels in pregnant women living with HIV who delivered preterm and low birthweight infants: A nested case-control study
Authors: Chi Benjamin H. , Sebikari Dorothy , Brummel Sean S. , DeMarrais Patricia , Chamanga Rachel , Owor Maxensia , Dadabhai Sufia , Price Joan T. , Taha Taha , Stringer Jeffrey , Fowler Mary Glenn
Published: January 2023

Background

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is associated with high rates of adverse birth outcomes, including preterm birth and low birthweight. Studies suggest that progesterone and prolactin may play important intermediary roles.

Methods

We analyzed data from the Antenatal Component of the PROMISE trial, a multi-center study of pregnant women taking antiretroviral regimens (lopinavir/ritonavir-containing ART or zidovudine alone) to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission. In a nested case-control study, we compared data from women who gave birth to preterm (<37 weeks gestation) and/or low birthweight (<2500 g) infants to matched individuals who did not. We measured serum progesterone and prolactin at 24–34 weeks gestation. We used conditional logistic regression to describe relationships between hormone levels, birth outcomes, and antiretroviral regimens.

Results

299 women and their newborns were included (146 cases, 153 controls). When compared to women receiving zidovudine alone, those on ART had higher odds of progesterone levels under the 10th percentile (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]:2.34, 95%CI:1.41–3.89) and 25th percentile (AOR:2.07, 95%CI:1.46–2.94). However, higher levels of progesterone—rather than lower levels—were associated with our composite case outcome at the 10th percentile (AOR:1.88, 95%CI:0.77–4.59) and 25th percentile (AOR:1.96, 95%CI:1.06–3.61). Associations were not observed between prolactin, antiretroviral regimen, and birth outcomes.

Conclusion

We observed lower progesterone levels among women allocated to ART regimens; however, higher progesterone levels were associated with preterm birth and/or low birthweight. While features of the study design may have contributed to these findings, they nevertheless highlight the potentially complex mechanisms underpinning adverse birth outcomes and HIV.
Developing a full-scale shaking codend to reduce the capture of small fish
Authors: Nguyen Vang Y. , Bayse Shannon M. , Cheng Zhaohai , Winger Paul D. , DeLouche Harold , Kebede Gebremeskel Eshetu , Legge George
Published: January 2023

To reduce the retention of undersized fish in the redfish (Sebastes spp.) trawl fishery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada, we developed a full-scale shaking codend. The shaking codend uses a mechanical stimulating device, an elliptical-shaped piece of polyvinyl chloride canvas, attached to the posterior of a T90 codend that generates a lifting force with respect to drag, causing a ‘shaking motion’. A shaking codend could stimulate fish movement and increase contact probability, both of which could increase the escape of small redfish out of a codend, especially when combined with a codend that maintains mesh openings. The movement and fishing characteristics of a shaking codend (T90 codend with canvas) relative to a T90 codend (without canvas) were tested in a flume tank and field experiment. In the flume tank test, the shaking codend had a peak-to-peak amplitude (i.e. the distance the codend moves from the lowest to highest depth) > 24 cm higher than the T90 codend for each velocity tested (1.0–1.8 kt), higher amplitude ratio, and a higher period (1 revolution) that gradually decreased with increasing velocity. The total acceleration (m s-2) and drag forces (kgf) estimated for the shaking codend were significantly higher than the T90 codend across all flow velocities. The results from the field experiment, considered preliminary due to a small sample size, showed that the shaking codend significantly reduced the capture of small redfish (< 21 cm) and the best fit model did not need to consider contact probability which was necessary for the non-shaking T90 codend. Overall, the dynamics of the movement of the codend was described and could be potentially used as an effective technique to reduce the catch of small redfish, and perhaps in other trawl fisheries to reduce the catch of small fish.
Experimental and machine learning approaches to investigate the effect of waste glass powder on the flexural strength of cement mortar
Authors: Amin Muhammad Nasir , Alkadhim Hassan Ali , Ahmad Waqas , Khan Kaffayatullah , Alabduljabbar Hisham , Mohamed Abdullah
Published: January 2023

Using solid waste in building materials is an efficient approach to achieving sustainability goals. Also, the application of modern methods like artificial intelligence is gaining attention. In this regard, the flexural strength (FS) of cementitious composites (CCs) incorporating waste glass powder (WGP) was evaluated via both experimental and machine learning (ML) methods. WGP was utilized to partially substitute cement and fine aggregate separately at replacement levels of 0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, 10%, 12.5%, and 15%. At first, the FS of WGP-based CCs was determined experimentally. The generated data, which included six inputs, was then used to run ML techniques to forecast the FS. For FS estimation, two ML approaches were used, including a support vector machine and a bagging regressor. The effectiveness of ML models was assessed by the coefficient of determination (R2), k-fold techniques, statistical tests, and examining the variation amongst experimental and forecasted FS. The use of WGP improved the FS of CCs, as determined by the experimental results. The highest FS was obtained when 10% and 15% WGP was utilized as a cement and fine aggregate replacement, respectively. The modeling approaches’ results revealed that the support vector machine method had a fair level of accuracy, but the bagging regressor method had a greater level of accuracy in estimating the FS. Using ML strategies will benefit the building industry by expediting cost-effective and rapid solutions for analyzing material characteristics.
Making sense of the pandemic: Parent-child conversations in two cultural contexts
Authors: Tõugu Pirko , Tulviste Tiia , Schröder Lisa
Published: January 2023

The present study focused on parent-child conversations about COVID-19 related changes in children’s lives in Estonia and Germany with an aim to understand how children’s conceptual understanding of the disease and their emotional security is created and reflected in these interactions. Twenty-nine parent-child dyads from both cultural contexts provided self-recorded conversations. The conversations were analyzed for the type of explanations, emotional content, and valence. Estonian conversations were longer than those of German dyads. Explanatory talk appeared in both contexts but was general in nature. Conversations in both cultural contexts also included very few emotional references and tended to focus on both positive and negative aspects of the situation. The conversations show that parents tend to support children’s coping with stressful situations by helping them conceptually understand COVID-19 and paying little attention to children’s comprehension of feelings about the situation.