bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mode coupling in FM-EDFAs caused by fiber bending: theory and experiments
Authors: Wang Qiquan , Wu Baojian , Jiang Xinrui , Wen Feng , Qiu Kun
Published: November 2023

Refractive index perturbation caused by erbium-doped fiber (EDF) bending is inevitable in the fabrication of erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs). The resulting mode coupling might bring about the deviation of theoretical results from experimental data. We present a theoretical model of FM-EDFAs with mode coupling due to fiber bending and carry out a proof-of-concept experiment by a 3.2-m-long EDF stretcher. Our experiments show that the fluctuation of modal gain due to fiber bending is about 1.5 dB for LP01 and LP11e modes, and about 2.5 dB for LP11o mode, and the theoretical model is more useful for the FM-EDFA design in the presence of fiber bending.
Optical thickness measurement of occluded samples by lens-less Fourier transform digital holography, thermal loading, and machine learning
Authors: Utadiya Subhash , Trivedi Vismay , Srivastava Atul , Cabrera Humberto , Crespo Maria Liz , Sheoran Gyanendra , Anand Arun
Published: November 2023

Thickness measurements of objects, especially transparent and semi-transparent objects, are essential for their characterization and identification. However, in the case of occluded objects, the optical thickness determination becomes difficult, and an indirect way must be devised. Thermal loading of the objects changes their opto-thermal properties, which will be reflected as a change in their optical thickness. The key to quantifying such occluded objects lies in collecting these opto-thermal signatures. This could be achieved by imaging the changes occurring to a probe wavefront passing through the object while it is being thermally loaded. Digital holographic interferometry is an ideal tool for observing phase changes, as it can be used to compare wavefronts recorded at different instances of time. Lens-less Fourier transform digital holographic imaging provides the phase information from a single Fourier transform of the recorded hologram and can be used to quantify occluded phase objects. Here we describe a technique for the measurement of change in optical thickness of thermally loaded occluded phase samples using lens-less Fourier transform digital holography and machine learning. The advantage of the proposed technique is that it is a single shot, lens-less imaging modality for quasi-real-time quantification of phase samples behind thin occlusions.
Can thermal annealing of ZnO and ZnS powders produce Type-II heterostructures?
Authors: Kuhs Christopher T. , Jacobson Christian R. , Simmons Jay G. , Halas Naomi J. , Everitt Henry O.
Published: November 2023

Charge separation in ZnO/ZnS type II heterostructures may prove useful
as a photocatalyst support. This work used cathodoluminescence
spectroscopy to explore whether thermal annealing of ZnO and ZnS
powders can synthesize such heterostructures.
Postmortem toxicology findings from the Camden Opioid Research Initiative
Authors: Kusic Dara M. , Heil Jessica , Zajic Stefan , Brangan Andrew , Dairo Oluseun , Heil Stacey , Feigin Gerald , Kacinko Sherri , Buono Russell J. , Ferraro Thomas N. , Rafeq Rachel , Haroz Rachel , Baston Kaitlan , Bodofsky Elliot , Sabia Michael , Salzman Matthew , Resch Alissa , Madzo Jozef , Scheinfeldt Laura B. , Issa Jean-Pierre J. , Jelinek Jaroslav
Published: November 2023

The United States continues to be impacted by decades of an opioid misuse epidemic, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic and by the growing prevalence of highly potent synthetic opioids (HPSO) such as fentanyl. In instances of a toxicity event, first-response administration of reversal medications such as naloxone can be insufficient to fully counteract the effects of HPSO, particularly when there is co-occurring substance use. In an effort to characterize and study this multi-faceted problem, the Camden Opioid Research Initiative (CORI) has been formed. The CORI study has collected and analyzed post-mortem toxicology data from 42 cases of decedents who expired from opioid-related toxicity in the South New Jersey region to characterize substance use profiles. Co-occurring substance use, whether by intent or through possible contamination of the illicit opioid supply, is pervasive among deaths due to opioid toxicity, and evidence of medication-assisted treatment is scarce. Nearly all (98%) of the toxicology cases show the presence of the HPSO, fentanyl, and very few (7%) results detected evidence of medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder, such as buprenorphine or methadone, at the time of death. The opioid toxicity reversal drug, naloxone, was detected in 19% of cases, but 100% of cases expressed one or more stimulants, and sedatives including xylazine were detected in 48% of cases. These results showing complex substance use profiles indicate that efforts at mitigating the opioid misuse epidemic must address the complications presented by co-occurring stimulant and other substance use, and reduce barriers to and stigmas of seeking effective medication-assisted treatments.
Socioeconomic inequalities in mental health and wellbeing among UK students during the COVID-19 pandemic: Clarifying underlying mechanisms
Authors: Dougall Isla , Vasiljevic Milica , Kutlaca Maja , Weick Mario
Published: November 2023

Universities are seeing growing numbers of students with poor mental health and wellbeing. Given that lower socioeconomic status (SES) students typically have poorer mental health and wellbeing than their peers, this may be, in part, caused by an increase in the number of students attending university from lower SES backgrounds. However, less is known about how socioeconomic inequalities in mental health and wellbeing persist within university communities. Research investigating psychosocial factors that contribute to socioeconomic disparities in mental health and wellbeing suggests perceived control, inclusion, and perceived worth to be important underlying mechanisms. However, another strand of research suggests perceived competence may also play a mediating role in this relationship. Consequently, the present research seeks to examine fulfilment of perceived control, inclusion, perceived worth, and competence needs as potential mediators in the relationship between subjective SES and mental health and wellbeing in university students. Below, we report the results of a cross-sectional survey conducted among university students (n = 811) in the UK during a period of COVID-19 restrictions. In line with prior research, we found evidence of socioeconomic inequalities in mental health and wellbeing among students. Further, we found subjective SES predicted perceptions of control, inclusion, and competence. In turn, perceived control and competence predicted both positive and negative mental health and wellbeing, whilst inclusion predicted positive mental health and wellbeing only. Unexpectedly, we found no evidence that perceived worth acts as a mediator in this relationship, independently of perceived control, inclusion, and competence. As academic institutions continue to pursue policies to ‘widen participation’, they also have a responsibility to understand how socioeconomic inequalities in mental health and wellbeing are perpetuated within the university community. Research in this area marks a first step to improve socioeconomic equality within Higher Education.
Serum wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive human Mac-2 binding protein is unsuitable as a diagnostic marker of occult hepatocellular carcinoma in end-stage liver cirrhosis
Authors: Nagakawa Kantoku , Hidaka Masaaki , Hara Takanobu , Matsushima Hajime , Imamura Hajime , Tanaka Takayuki , Adachi Tomohiko , Soyama Akihiko , Kanetaka Kengo , Eguchi Susumu
Published: November 2023

Background and purpose

Serum glycosylated Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive Mac-2 binding protein (WFA+-M2BP) is a marker of liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic ability of WFA+-M2BP for occult HCC, which current diagnostic imaging tests fail to detect.

Methods

Patients who underwent hepatectomy for liver transplantation (LT) and whose whole liver could be sliced and subjected to histological examination between 2010 and 2018 were eligible for this study (n = 89). WFA+-M2BP levels were measured in samples collected before the LT. Comparison of the postoperative histological test results with the preoperative imaging data grouped the patients into histologically no group (N), histologically detected group (D), histologically increased group (I), and histologically decreased or same group (DS), and the results were compared with the WFA+-M2BP values. In addition, comparisons were made between each data with and without HCC, including occult HCC, and total tumor diameter.

Results

Irrespective of underlying hepatic disease conditions, there were 6 patients in the N group, 10 in the D group, 41 in the I group, and 32 in the DS group. The median of the serum WFA+-M2BP level for each group was as follows: N group, 8.05 (1.25–11.9); D group, 11.025 (1.01–18.21); I group, 9.67 (0.29–17.83); and DS group, 9.56 (0.28–19.44) confidence of interval. We found no significant differences between the pairings. Comparison of underlying hepatic diseases revealed that liver cirrhosis due to hepatitis B and C and non-B and -C liver cirrhosis had no significant differences. AFP levels, on the other hand, had significant relationships in comparison between the presence or absence of histological HCC, in correlation between total tumor diameter, and in the ROC analysis for the diagnosis of HCC including occult HCC.

Conclusion

Serum WFA+-M2BP cannot help diagnose occult HCC that is already undetected using imaging tests in decompensated liver cirrhosis patients requiring LT.
The effect of an mHealth application based on continuous support and education on fear of childbirth, self-efficacy, and birth mode in primiparous women: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Khademioore Sahar , Ebrahimi Elham , Khosravi Ahmad , Movahedi Shohreh
Published: November 2023

Background

The Fear of Childbirth (FOC) is associated with several adverse health outcomes for children and women. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an interactive mobile health application named Tele-midwifery with an emphasis on continuous care and education, on FOC, self-efficacy, and childbirth mode in primiparous women.

Methods

Seventy primiparous women attending the prenatal clinic of Baharlou Hospital in Tehran, Iran, were randomly assigned to two parallel intervention and control groups with 35 participants each. Women in the intervention group received Tele-midwifery for eight weeks, whereas women in the control group only received routine care. The Wijma delivery expectancy/experience questionnaire and the Childbirth Self-Efficacy Inventory were used to measure the FOC and self-efficacy at baseline and eight weeks after the intervention. The FOC and birth mode were also measured after birth.

Results

There was a significant decrease in FOC among women in the intervention group compared to control groups after eight weeks of intervention (- 20.9 [95% Confidence Interval,—24.01 to—17.83], p < 0.001), and after birth (- 30.8, [95% CI—33.8 to—27.97], p < 0.001). After eight weeks, the mean self-efficacy score in the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.001). Compared to the control group, the intervention group had a lower C-Section (CS) rate (p = 0.03).

Conclusions

Tele-midwifery intervention reduced FOC, increased women’s self-efficacy in childbirth, and decreased the number of CS in a group of first-time mothers. Healthcare providers can use the mHealth approach to support pregnant women with FOC.

Trial registration

Registration number: IRCT20200122046227N1, Registered on 27 January 2020.
Redefining nude: Unravelling nylon’s unmarked norms
Authors: Held Isabelle
Published: November 2023

In this article I critically examine the history of nylon stockings in the United States through the lenses of race and gender. Drawing on visual and material culture examples related to nylon and nude colours, I show how whiteness was standardized and presented as the unmarked norm. Employing an intersectional feminist approach, my archival research expands the narrative beyond these exclusionary practices, highlighting how in ensuing decades individuals and companies marketed and crafted nylon foundationwear for a wider range of consumers. These examples offer a vital counter-history to nylon’s normalization of bodies and mass production that mobilized a standard ideal of womanhood as white, thin, heterosexual and cisgender. The legacy of the creation of ‘nude’ colours that standardize whiteness as the norm can still be seen today in foundationwear branding and everyday items like bandages. However, this has not gone unchallenged and there are increased efforts to address this, particularly among Black-owned businesses like gc2b, Nude Barre and Browndages. It is important to historicize the emergence of standard practices, such as singular definitions of nude and limited sizing practices, and how they serve to reinforce norms of racialized gender. Deconstructing these practices and critically examining less documented alternatives uncovers and addresses embedded power structures within standardization.
Decolonial fashion ethnography: ‘Before Yesterday’ method
Authors: Medrado Mi
Published: November 2023

This article explores decolonial fashion ethnography, focusing on the convergence of media and fashion in Angola and Brazil. Through fieldwork research, the article examines the production and circulation of fashion goods. The article emphasizes the need to decolonize the media and fashion industries, proposing the Antes de Ontem method for decolonial fashion ethnography. This method encourages a shift away from Eurocentric and binary thinking, promoting inclusivity and diversity in fashion research. The author emphasizes the coloniality of dress and the perpetuation of structural and cultural racism within the fashion industry. The article concludes by advocating for the integration of Afro-Brazilian fashion history and knowledge, challenging structural racism and Eurocentrism in the industry.
‘Come: It is time to keep your appointment with the Wicker Man’: The re-enchantment of Scotland through Wicker Man tourism
Authors: Spracklen Karl
Published: November 2023

The location filming of The Wicker Man (1973) used a number of places to invent the Pagan Scottish island of Summerisle. In the film, Summerisle feels like a timeless place in the Inner or Outer Hebrides. The actual locations are well-known in fan and academic literature. The film begins with aerial shots of the plane carrying Sergeant Howie passing over the dramatic mountains of Skye. But the rest of the film was shot somewhere else. In this article, I will explore how fans online make sense of the construction of the film, and how that feeds into wider academic debates about horror films and outsiders, and Scottishness and Gaelicness. I will then discuss my own pilgrimage tourism to the location sites in Scotland and use my own pictures and reflections to argue that while all tourism is a highly contested leisure activity, Wicker Man tourism allows tourists to find themselves off the map. It also allows people to re-enchant Scotland, and make meaning of Scottish landscape and history, even if the film draws on English folklore and music and The Golden Bough as much as Scottish folklore and music.
Shooting the dragon: How visual representations of Welshness in photography have developed and are changing
Authors: Macdonald Ellie
Published: November 2023

For decades, the natural landscape and industry have been the central tropes of visual Welshness. But the decline of industry and its prolonged traumatic effects on the landscape have rendered some of the key established visual images of Wales redundant, particularly in a contemporary context. This article traces the relationship between photography and Welsh national identities, examines the role of institutional gatekeeping in Welsh photography and highlights the innovative use of online collecting and commissioning of photographic images which is shifting the discourse around what, and who, constitutes photographic Welshness in the twenty-first century. In doing so, it contributes to the paucity of literature on the topic of photographic institutions and archives within Wales and hopes to raise awareness around the growing diversity of new Welsh photography and its contribution to more contemporary and dynamic Welsh identities. This article is the result of a doctoral thesis that represents a transdisciplinary inquiry into expressions of national identity present in photography generated in and of Wales.
Lactancia materna en el recién nacido prematuro tardío y en el recién nacido término precoz. Puesta al día
Authors: Lalaguna Mallada Paula , San Feliciano Martín Laura , Gómez Papí Adolfo
Published: November 2023

Los recién nacidos prematuros tardíos son aquellos que nacen entre las 34 0/7 y las 366/7  semanas de embarazo y los recién nacidos término precoces son los nacidos entre la nacidos entre 37 0/7 y 38 6/7 semanas de gestación. Ambos grupos son más vulnerables que los recién nacidos a término y tienen mayor riesgo de morbilidad asociada a su inmadurez.

Entre los problemas que presentan con mayor frecuencia están las dificultades de alimentación y el establecimiento de la lactancia materna. Para ofrecer un apoyo y seguimiento adecuado a estos recién nacidos y sus familias, es necesario conocer e identificar las dificultades que pueden presentar y realizar un abordaje práctico para conseguir una lactancia materna exitosa.

La elaboración de un protocolo específico, la capacitación de los profesionales y la formación de los padres son las herramientas fundamentales.
O Desenvolvimento da Linguagem Escrita da Criança: implicações pedagógicas da teoria histórico-cultural
Authors: Corrêa Anderson Borges
Published: November 2023

Este ensaio resulta de uma reflexão teórica de uma pesquisa de doutorado. O objetivo é o exercício de reflexão, a partir da Teoria Histórico-Cultural, sobre os princípios teóricos e metodológicos que podem favorecer o desenvolvimento da linguagem escrita da criança no contexto da Educação Infantil e do Ensino Fundamental, em contraposição a uma concepção de escrita como técnica, cuja apropriação dependeria de exercícios práticos e sem o estabelecimento de uma situação comunicativa significativa para a criança. A partir de uma revisão dos principais conceitos de Vigotski (1997c), Luria (2006) e de outros autores em relação à formação e ao desenvolvimento da linguagem escrita como sendo uma função psíquica humana, compreende-se a linguagem escrita como uma atividade cultural e simbólica, cujo processo de apropriação acontece desde a primeira infância. Conclui-se que as diferentes maneiras utilizadas pela criança pequena para atribuir sentido ao mundo – o gesto indicativo, o jogo de papéis sociais e o desenho como instrumento – contribuem para desenvolver a capacidade gráfica para expressar, a qual se torna cada vez mais sofisticada à medida que a criança se apropria dos signos escritos, com base em indícios visuais, e da atividade de linguagem realizada por meio deles em atividades educativas intencionalmente planejadas para atingir esse objetivo, favorecendo o pleno desenvolvimento de crianças autoras e leitoras de textos.
Livro didático de química: um olhar sobre os principais temas estudados em periódicos e eventos
Authors: Araujo Rafael Silva de , Leite Bruno Silva
Published: November 2023

O livro didático de química (LDQ) é um recurso presente no dia a dia escolar, fazendo parte do planejamento docente e do processo de ensino-aprendizagem dos estudantes. Atualmente, como diversas pesquisas são realizadas sobre o LDQ, compreender como este recurso tem sido investigado se faz pertinente. Deste modo, o artigo tem como objetivo realizar um levantamento sobre quais são os principais temas investigados nas pesquisas acerca do LDQ em um período de 10 anos em revistas científicas, e nos três últimos Anais de dois eventos científicos nacionais. A pesquisa se caracteriza como uma revisão bibliográfica de caráter exploratório ocorrendo em três etapas: (1) levantamento das pesquisas em periódicos com Qualis A1, A2 e B1; (2) levantamento dos trabalhos nos eventos científicos; (3) categorização dos temas mais estudados por meio da análise de conteúdo proposta por Bardin. Os resultados revelam nove categorias presentes nos 114 trabalhos analisados e evidenciam que a categoria mais explorada nas pesquisas envolvendo o LDQ é sobre o estudo do "conteúdo químico". Em contraponto, as pesquisas que tratam da "prática docente sobre o LDQ", o "uso do LDQ" e "concepções docentes sobre o LDQ" são observadas em menor intensidade. No levantamento realizado foi possível identificar as categorias mais utilizadas nos estudos sobre o LDQ e o atual estágio das pesquisas sobre este recurso didático, considerando que pesquisas sobre o LDQ são necessárias, pelo fato dos livros didáticos estarem presentes no processo de ensino-aprendizagem nas diversas escolas brasileiras.
Formação de professores de Matemática em cursos de Ciências: Montes Claros e Governador Valadares
Authors: Gomes Maria Laura Magalhães , Almeida Shirley Patrícia Nogueira de Castro e , Roque Ana Catarina Cantoni
Published: November 2023

Este artigo relata um estudo cujo objetivo foi investigar a conversão de dois cursos de licenciatura em Matemática em cursos de licenciatura em Ciências por imposição legal do governo federal. Ambos os cursos foram criados no estado de Minas Gerais, nas cidades de Montes Claros e Governador Valadares, em 1968. O texto provém de duas pesquisas em História da Educação Matemática que usaram documentação escrita e contribuições da metodologia da História Oral. Em particular, as narrativas de antigos alunos e professores dos dois cursos elucidaram resistências e impactos envolvidos na mudança acarretada pela legislação sobre a formação de professores no Brasil. Um ponto de destaque é constituído pela abordagem da resistência e das críticas da comunidade científica brasileira às licenciaturas polivalentes, que pretendiam rapidez e economia de recursos para habilitar professores em um cenário de carência de docentes. Conclui-se que, apesar de ter contribuído para formar professores habilitados nas regiões das duas cidades, a mudança teve também impactos ao obrigar a um desvio da proposta original das instituições que sediaram os cursos e alterar substancialmente o tipo de formação dos professores de Matemática. Alterações desse tipo relacionam-se à trajetória pretendida por alguns estudantes, dificultada pela mudança no curso, e à impossibilidade de se formarem num curso direcionado adequadamente para os conhecimentos matemáticos dos futuros professores.
Vulnerability and ageing in Ouagadougou
Authors: Compaoré Yacouba , FLAHAUX Marie-Laurence , SAWADOGO Nathalie
Published: November 2023

AbstractThe issue of care for older people brings up a number of concerns in African cities, which are characterized by rapid urban growth, economic crisis, transformation in social relationships, and the near absence of institutional support for older people. Based on quantitative and qualitative data collected through the Ouagadougou Health and Demographic Surveillance System (Ouagadougou HDSS, 2010-2017), this article examines the situation of older men and women living in the capital of Burkina Faso, whether they have always lived there or moved there from elsewhere. It aims to better understand the vulnerabilities of these older people, what becomes of them over time, and the issues and family dynamics that surround them. The results highlight important differences according to the sex and migration status of older people as determinants of vulnerabilities and emphasize the role in their care played by the sociocultural context.RésuméLa problématique de la prise en charge des personnes âgées suscite de nombreuses inquiétudes dans les villes africaines, caractérisées par une urbanisation rapide, la crise économique, la transformation des rapports sociaux, et la quasi inexistencede l’assistance institutionnelle aux personnes âgées. A partir de données quantitatives et qualitatives collectées dans l’Observatoire de Population de Ouagadougou, cet article s’intéresse à la situation et au devenir des hommes et femmes âgées vivant dans la capitale du Burkina Faso, qu’ils y vivent depuis toujours ou qu’ils y soient arrivés plus ou moins récemment. Il vise à mieux connaître leurs vulnérabilités, ce qu’elles deviennent au fil du temps, ainsi que les enjeux et les dynamiques familiales qui se mettent en place autour d’elles. Les résultats soulignent des différences importantes selon le sexe et le statut migratoire des personnes âgées, etmettent en évidence le rôle du contexte socio-culturel dans leur prise en charge.
Post-school education in shrinking rural regions: experiences and solutions from Scotland and Sweden
Authors: Tent Nathalie , Syssner Josefina , Mose Ingo , Rennie Frank
Published: November 2023

Abstract  
Against the backdrop of shrinking populations, new strategies for maintaining services of general interest in European rural areas are required at both a European and a German level. With regard to this, the field of post-school education as a service of general interest is seen as playing an important role with considerable effects on regional development processes. Educational institutions, traditionally highly centralised, have been shown to influence decisions on staying in or leaving rural areas and thus can further intensify regional demographic developments. In this paper, we examine two examples of post-school educational opportunities in Scotland and Sweden that have been able to establish themselves in a rural setting affected by shrinking trends. Our interpretation is that the continued stability of these examples is due to the ability of local actors to utilise local resources in a meaningful way. The aim of this paper is therefore to contribute to a structured understanding of how local actors manage limited resources to provide services of general interest in the environment of rural, sparsely populated regions in the long term. To enable a systematised analysis of our data, we use an analytical framework originally developed to understand the resources generated by informal planning practices in rural areas.
The Effect of Moringa Leaf Extract (moringa oleifera) on the Microscopic Structure of the Lungs of Male Wistar Rats Given Inhalation of E-cigarette Liquid Vapor
Authors: Bialangi Alif Akbar , Ismail Akhmad , Purnawati Ratna Damma , Mundhofir Farmaditya Eka Putra
Published: November 2023

Background: Moringa leaf extract is proven to have high antioxidant bioactive compounds and acts as an anti-inflammatory and prevents cell damage due to exposure to free radicals or oxidative. In the respiratory system exposed to Electronic Delivery Nicotine System liquid vapor, an inflammatory response and oxidative stress occur. Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of Moringa leaf extract (Moringa oleifera) on the microscopic structure of the lungs of male Wistar rats given inhalation of e-cigarette liquid vapor. Methods: This research is an experimental laboratory with Post Test Only Control Group Design. Rats were divided into 4 groups containing 6 rats in each group, determined based on simple random sampling with the following divisions: Aquadest 3 mL (K1), gave inhalation of liquid vapours of electric cigarettes (K2), gave inhalation of liquid vapours of electric cigarettes + Moringa leaf extract with the dekoxy method dose of 500 mg/kgBW (P1), administration of vapor inhalation of e-cigarette liquid + Moringa leaf extract with the dekoxy method at a dose of 500 mg/kgBW (P2). Termination of the experimental animals was carried out on the 15th day and the rat pulmonary organs were taken to assess the microscopic structure of the rat lung. Results: The results of the Kruskal-Wallis test and continued with the Mann-Whitney test showed a significant difference (p < 0.05), however, there was no significant difference in the degree of pulmonary damage in the P1 to P2 groups. Conclusion: There is an effect of Moringa leaf extract (Moringa oleifera) on the microscopic structure of the lungs of male Wistar rats given inhalation of liquid vapor of electric cigarettes.
Emerging Frontiers in Cardiovascular Diagnostics: A State-of-the-Art Review
Authors: Ramadhan Roy Novri , Sari Dewi Ratna , Akram Muh , Nurdiansyah Farhan
Published: November 2023

Background: The cardiovascular diagnostic landscape is rapidly evolving, with novel and advanced techniques and technologies continually emerging. Detection, monitoring, and management of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are quickly changing, which are leading mortality cause globally. Objective:This review aims to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the current cardiovascular diagnostic modalities. It seeks to elucidate novel and promising technologies, address their advantages, limitations, and potential integration into clinical practice. Methods: This literature review discusses the recent cardiovascular diagnostics which were obtained from various sources such as PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science for articles published in the last decade. Results: The review identified vital emerging frontiers in cardiovascular diagnosis, including advancements in multi-modal imaging (such as PET-MRI), novel biomarkers, artificial intelligence applications, and the growing utility of wearable and remote monitoring technologies. Conclusion: Emerging techniques integration inroutine clinical practice requires careful consideration of their advantages and potential for improving patient outcomes. The review highlights the pressing need for continued research and guideline to ensure these innovations realize their full potential for the future of cardiovascular medicine.
The Difference of Risk Factors Between Mild and Moderate-Severe Refractive Errors in Pediatric Patients at the Diponegoro National Hospital
Authors: Fitriani Rizky , Nugroho Trilaksana , Saubig Arnila Novitasari
Published: November 2023

Background: Refractive errors are the leading cause of visual impairment and the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. The incidence of refractive errors in children in Indonesia and in the world is quite high. The incidence of refractive errors can be triggered by several risk factors, including genetics, age, gender, close-range activities, use of electronic devices, and outdoor activities. Objective: Knowing the difference in risk factors between mild and moderatesevere refractive errors in pediatric patients at the Diponegoro National Hospital.Methods: This type of research is an analytic observational study with a cross sectional approach. Data were taken using a consecutive sampling technique from questionnaires and medical records of pediatric patients in the 2018-2021 period. The research subjects were 57 people who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were analyzed by univariate and bivariate analysis using Chi-Square and Mann Whitney analysis. Results: The research subjects were dominated by the age of 16-18 years (63.2%), female gender (68.4%), types of myopia disorders (57.9%), and mild degrees (66.7%). The results of the Chi-Square analysis showed that there was a significant difference in reading distance (p=0.000), reading position (p=0.035), duration of use of electronic devices (p=0.031), and duration of outdoor activities (p=0.042) between mild and moderatesevere degrees. Conclusion: There are significant differences in reading distance, reading position, duration of use of electronic devices, and duration of outdoor activities between mild and moderate-severe refractive errors in pediatric patients at the Diponegoro National Hospital.
An Insight on the Inconsistency of the Theoretical Construction of Avant-garde Concept in 20th-Century Art
Authors: Fortuny-Agramunt Jaume
Published: November 2023

This paper analyses avant-garde art theory through the concept of originality, understood as shock. The initial hypothesis is that this theoretical construction is a misunderstanding because it neglects the body during the experience lived before the work of art. It reminds us that if we are aware of our presence, it is thanks to the fact that we are psychosomatic individuals. Even so, we tend to evaluate the work of art from philosophical reflection rather than from analysing the form that excites us. It shows how the materialisation of the work of art sought by the avant-garde should have destroyed our cognitive baggage. It concludes that it only succeeded in initiating a tendency in art towards rhetoric that reaches the present day, where theoretical constructions are the only works of art. The emptiness of this avant-garde art theory concerning the touching causes its inconsequentiality, being left without any other pretension as only art. The author relies on the fact that we understand ourselves as people through our subjection to what we see to make us understand that looking without feeling is a contradiction.
Studies on the extraction performance of phorate by aptamer-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles in plasma samples
Authors: Wang Ting , Tan Junpeng , Xu Shenghui , Li Yong , Hao Hongxia
Published: November 2023

Phorate, a highly toxic organophosphorus pesticide, poses significant risks due to its efficiency, versatility, and affordability. Therefore, studying pretreatment and detection methods for phorate in complex samples is crucial. In this study, we synthesized core-shell phorate aptamer-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles using solvothermal and self-assembly techniques. Subsequently, we developed a magnetic dispersive solid-phase extraction and detection method to identifying phorate in plasma samples. Under optimal conditions, we achieved quantitation of phorate within a range of 2–700 ng·mL−1 using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The detection limit (S/N = 3) was 0.46 ng·mL−1, and the intraday and interday relative standard deviation were 3.4% and 4.1%, respectively. In addition, the material exhibited excellent specificity, an enrichment capacity (EF = 416), and reusability (≥15). During phorate extraction from real plasma samples, spiked recoveries ranged from 86.1% to 101.7%. These results demonstrate that our method offers superior extraction efficiency and detection capability for phorate in plasma samples.
We and Bobby Lee
Authors: Pierce Jason , Powers Michael
Published: November 2023

In 2020, a grassroots movement emerged in San Angelo, Texas, with the goal of changing the name of Robert E. Lee Middle School. This movement reflected larger national trends in removing Confederate statues and wrestling with the legacy of the Confederacy. Two professors of history at a regional university decided to participate in the renaming effort. This experience taught them the important role historians can and should play in debates over historical memory and commemoration, especially as allies to movements led by nonacademic community members. Moreover, it offers insights on a significant set of questions for US public historians: What is the role of the professional historian in local debates—contentious school board meetings in particular—that hinge on misconceptions of the American past? In particularly, how can academics use their expertise to combat the supremacy of Lost Cause narratives in the American South? Access to information, often locked behind paywalls, and professional credibility proved to be areas where historians can be of most use. In addition, the authors’ experience demonstrates the vital role local institutions play in the lives of their communities.
Bisphosphonates’ use and risk of aseptic loosening following total hip arthroplasty: a systematic review
Authors: Pegios Vasileios F , Kenanidis Eustathios , Tsotsolis Stavros , Potoupnis Michael , Tsiridis Eleftherios
Published: November 2023

Purpose

The main indication of bisphosphonates (BPs) is osteoporosis treatment. However, there is growing interest in the peri- and postoperative use of BPs to mitigate total hip arthroplasty (THA) aseptic loosening (AL) risk. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the implant survival and the AL rate in patients with elective THA receiving BPs compared to those that do not receive BPs. Secondary outcomes included the comparison of revision rate, postoperative complications, and patients’ functional scores.

Methods

This systematic review was conducted under the PRISMA 2020 guidelines with a pre-registered PROSPERO protocol. Three engines and grey literature were searched up until May 2022. Randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials and comparative cohort studies assessing BP and control therapy impact on THA survival were included.

Results

Twelve studies embraced the inclusion criteria. A total of 99 678 patients and 99 696 THAs were included; 10 025 patients received BPs (BP group), and 89 129 made up the control group. The overall revision and AL rates were lower in the BP group (2.17% and 1.85%) than in the control group (4.06% and 3.2%). Periprosthetic fracture (PPF) cases were higher in the BP group (0.24%) than in the control group (0.04%); however, the majority of PPF cases were derived from a single study. Further complication risk was similar between groups. Most studies reported comparable functional scores between groups.

Conclusion

BP treatment after elective THA seems to reduce the overall revision and AL risk. Other complications’ risk and functional scores were similar between groups. Further high-quality studies are needed to validate the results due to the multifactorial AL pathogenesis.
Applicability of Entry to Practice Examinations for Optometry in Canada
Authors: Woo Stanley , Hrynchak Patricia , Hutchings Natalie
Published: November 2023

High-stakes assessment for entry-to-practice is a critical component for the optometric profession's regulatory bodies in carrying out their duties to assure safe, effective, and ethical practice by their respective registrants. In 2019, the College of Optometrists of Ontario approved the acceptance of the United States (US) entry-to-practice examination for optometry, the National Board Examiners in Optometry (NBEO®), as an acceptable alternative assessment for the Canadian entry-to-practice examination, the Optometry Examining Board of Canada (OEBC). This decision was not unanimously supported in stakeholder feedback. In this paper, the development and structure of the two assessments are described. A global consensus framework is applied to identify the appropriateness of the assessments for Canada, and a similar change in entry-to-practice for nursing is examined for contextual correlates. Although intrinsically satisfactory for their respective jurisdictions, the NBEO® does not appear to satisfy the critical criteria of validity and acceptability for Ontario or, more broadly, Canada. Cultural and systemic differences between the Canadian and US health systems were also identified as additional barriers. Lastly, major future vulnerabilities for the profession lie in the availability of the entry-to-practice examination to all Canadians, Anglophone and Francophone.
The Inevitable Challenge of Ethical Dilemmas in Optometry, Part 1: When Confidentiality is Tested
Authors: Faucher Caroline , Rezk Marina , Verni Ariana
Published: November 2023

Healthcare professionals often face ethical dilemmas, which arise when two ethical principles conflict. Despite the potential for psychological consequences, no study has examined ethical dilemmas in the field of optometry. Objective. This article is the first in a series of three pertaining to a joint study that aimed to identify and describe the ethical dilemmas faced by optometrists. Method. An online survey sent to 1,393 optometrists asked them about various categories of ethical dilemmas. Unlimited space was provided for explanations. Results. Each of the 22 ethical dilemmas proposed had previously been encountered by between 3.75% and 67.9% of the 240 respondents. This first article reports that ethical dilemmas involving confidentiality are varied and those pertaining to the filling out of driver’s licence forms had previously affected 40% of the participants. Conclusion. Optometrists regularly face tough ethical decisions for which knowledge of the legislation and regulations alone is insufficient. The results will be revealed in the next two articles in this series, with the last one broaching the discussion of how to optimize the management of ethical issues in the field of optometry.
Cas de cécité au sens de la loi attribuable aux drusen du nerf optique
Authors: Bennett Loren
Published: November 2023

Les drusen du nerf optique sont des anomalies du disque du nerf optique relativement peu fréquentes qui sont habituellement découvertes de manière fortuite au cours d’un examen de la vue de routine. Bien que les drusen soient généralement considérés comme bénins, la perte de champ visuel qu’ils occasionnent n’est pas rare. Le déficit de champ visuel est plus fréquent en présence de drusen superficiels plutôt qu’enfouis. Ils se manifestent sous la forme d’anomalies du faisceau des fibres nerveuses, d’une constriction concentrique généralisée ou d’un élargissement de la tache aveugle. L’étendue des dommages varie mais le degré de perte de champ visuel entraîne rarement un déficit fonctionnel marqué. Ce rapport de cas porte sur un patient dont on a présumé que la perte bilatérale concentrique du champ visuel était occasionnée par la présence de drusen du nerf optique ayant occasionné une déficience visuelle grave et une incapacité.
Formaldehyde emission pattern of melamine impregnated paper decorated medium density fiberboard and its furniture products
Authors: Chen Chen , Qiu Yan , Yang Yueqian , Xu Wei
Published: November 2023

Melamine-impregnated paper decorated medium-density fiberboard (MIP-MDF) is the main board used for wooden furniture materials in China, and the formaldehyde released from the board and furniture products is harmful to human beings and is a wide concern. This paper aimed to pay attention to the formaldehyde emission of MIP-MDF and its furniture products. This study utilized a 1 m³climatic chamber to measure the formaldehyde emission of MIP-MDF and nightstand made of MIP-MDF in relation to the time and load factors. According to the results, in the 2 to 24 h stage, the emission of formaldehyde in the nightstand made of MIP-MDF materials changed significantly, and the overall trend showed a changing trend of first increasing and then declining. The formaldehyde emission of MIP-MDF stabilized after 40 h, while the formaldehyde emission of the nightstand stabilized after 60 h. As time passed, the formaldehyde emission changes of MIP-MDF and nightstand were almost the same. The formaldehyde emission of MIP-MDF and nightstand has a specific positive correlation with the carrying load. With increased carrying loads, the formaldehyde emission tends to increase, but the degree of influence gradually decreases with the addition of the carrying loads.
Analysis of the competitive activity of highly qualified taekwondo athletes at the European Championships 2023
Authors:   Kharkiv State Academy of Physical Culture, Baibikov M.
Published: November 2023

Purpose: to analyze the competitive activity of highly skilled taekwondo athletes at the European Championships 2023. Material and methods. The following methods were used in the research: analysis of scientific and methodical information and sources of the Internet; video computer analysis of competitive activity of highly skilled taekwondoists; methods of mathematical statistics. To analyze the fights, a specialized computer program «Martial Arts Video Analysis» was used. The research analyzed 56 rounds (28 competitive fights) of highly qualified taekwondo fighters in weight categories in the range of 58-92 kg of the European Taekwon-Do ITF Championship. Results: the analysis of scientific and methodical publications and sources of the Internet determined that scientific and methodical support of training of highly skilled taekwondo fighters requires the increase of efficiency of technical and tactical training and its further improvement. On the basis of the analysis of the competitive activity of highly qualified taekwondo fighters, it was found that some winners performed significantly more technical actions than those who lost (by 72,2 %); fight winners achieved higher scores (on average by 7 points) and had higher efficiency of actions compared to those who lost, but the level of variability in these indicators in winners (V=28,5 %) and losers (V=22,0 %) is quite significant, and it is important to take into account the abnormal distribution of results; the efficiency of technical and tactical actions of the winners during the fight increases (76,7±12,64, V=16,5 %), and of the losers - decreases (26,7±21,73, V=81,4 %); time intervals between technical actions in winners amounted to 32,7±6,26 (V=19,1 %), in losers - 35,4±6,33 (V=17,8 %); the number of various effective actions in winners amounted to 4,2±0,82 (V=19,5 %), in losers - 3±0,61 (V=20,3 %); most often athletes perform a blow with the hand closer to the opponent (5,8 times), the effectiveness of this action is 11,2 % and brings 1.4 points; the blow «Yop chagi (upper level, the leg is closer to the opponent)» is performed less often, only 1,6 times, but has a much higher efficiency – 17,5 % and brings 2 points. Conclusions. The analysis of fights of highly skilled taekwondoists of weight categories in the range of 58-92 kg at the European Taekwon-Do ITF Championships allows to optimize the training process and is a prerequisite for the development of new approaches of training. It is established which technical and tactical actions of highly qualified taekwondo athletes of different weight categories contributed to the achievement of maximum results: for weight categories 58-71 kg - a punch «Dollo chagi (medium level, the leg is closer to the opponent)» and a punch in a jump; for weight categories 78-92 kg - a punch with a hand closer to the opponent and «Dollo chagi (medium level, the leg is far from the opponent)».
Basic principles of physical therapy in athletes after musculoskeletal injuries
Authors:   Kharkiv .State Academy of Physical Culture, Pustovoit Borys
Published: November 2023

The purpose of the study: to consider the features of the basic principles of physical therapy in athletes after injuries of the musculoskeletal system. Material and methods of research: theoretical analysis and generalization of modern scientific and methodical literature data on the peculiarities of the use of physical therapy for sports injuries. Results: the main stages of physical therapy in athletes after injuries of the musculoskeletal system are considered. Conclusions: an analysis of modern physical therapy of athletes after injuries of the musculoskeletal system, which allows physical therapists to form an approach and development of physical therapy programs for the recovery of athletes.
The Cardiovascular Therapy and Prevention journal’s top contributing institutions: Department of Therapy and Preventive Medicine of the A. I. Evdokimov Moscow State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of Russia (Moscow, Russia)
Authors: Dzhioeva O. N. , Rodionova Yu. V.
Published: November 2023

Interview with Dzhioeva O. N.