bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
HIV and syphilis testing for women and heterosexual men aged above 25 years in the Netherlands: possibilities for targeted testing at sexual health centres
Authors: Willemstein Inge J M , Götz Hannelore M , Visser Maartje , Heijne Janneke C M 
Published: September 2023

ObjectivesTargeted testing policy for HIV/syphilis at Dutch sexual health centres (SHCs) was evaluated for its efficiency in younger heterosexuals but not for heterosexuals ≥25 years. Currently, all older heterosexuals are tested for HIV/syphilis at SHCs. To explore possibilities for increased efficiency of testing in heterosexuals aged >25 years, this study aimed to identify determinants of HIV and syphilis diagnoses that could be used in targeted testing strategies.DesignAn observational study using surveillance data from all Dutch SHC.ParticipantsWomen and heterosexual men aged >25 years visiting SHC between 2015 and 2021.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe primary outcome was HIV/syphilis diagnosis, determinants of a diagnosis were analysed. Based on these determinants and their applicability in SHC practice, different targeted testing scenarios were evaluated. For each scenario, the percentage of consultations involving HIV and syphilis testing and the total amount of missed HIV and syphilis diagnoses were calculated.Results109 122 consultations were included among 75 718 individuals. The strongest determinants of HIV/syphilis diagnosis were HIV/syphilis-specific symptoms (adjusted OR (aOR) 34.9 (24.1–50.2)) and receiving partner notification (aOR 18.3 (13.2–25.2)), followed by low/middle education level (aOR 2.8 (2.0–4.0)), male sex (aOR 2.2 (1.6–3.0)) and age ≥30 years (aOR 1.8 (1.3–2.5)). When applying feasible determinants to targeted testing scenarios, HIV/syphilis testing would have been conducted in 54.5% of all consultations, missing 2 HIV and 3 syphilis diagnoses annually (13.4% and 11.4% of all diagnoses, respectively). In the scenario with the lowest number of missed HIV/syphilis diagnoses (0.3 HIV and 2 syphilis diagnoses annually), HIV/syphilis testing would have been conducted in 74.2% of all consultations.ConclusionsIn any targeted testing scenario studied, HIV and/or syphilis diagnoses would have been missed. This raises the question whether it is acceptable to put any of these scenarios into practice. This study contributes to a discussion about the impact of targeted testing policy.
Soluble C-type lectin-like receptor 2 in stroke (CLECSTRO) study: protocol of a multicentre, prospective cohort of a novel platelet activation marker in acute ischaemic stroke and transient ischaemic attack
Authors: Uchiyama Shinichiro , Suzuki-Inoue Katsue , Wada Hideo , Okada Yasushi , Hirano Teruyuki , Nagao Takehiko , Kinouchi Hiroyuki , Itabashi Ryo , Hoshino Haruhiko , Oki Koichi , Honma Yutaka , Ito Nobuo , Sugimori Hiroshi , Kawamura Masahide 
Published: September 2023

IntroductionSoluble C-type lectin-like receptor 2 (sCLEC-2) is a new biomarker for platelet activation, which can be easily measured by usual blood collection. We conducted the CLECSTRO, a prospective, observational cohort study, to evaluate the clinical implications of sCLEC-2 in patients with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) and transient ischaemic attack (TIA).Methods and analysisThe participants are patients with AIS/TIA and control patients required for differentiation from AIS/TIA. The target population is 600, including the patients and controls, who would be recruited from eight stroke centres across Japan. The inclusion criteria are AIS within 24 hours of onset and a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0–2, TIA within 7 days of onset, and contemporary patients required for differentiation from AIS/TIA. Plasma sCLEC-2 will be measured by high-sensitive chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay using residual blood samples from routine laboratory examinations at the first visit in all patients and 7 days later or at discharge in patients with AIS/TIA. The outcomes include plasma levels of sCLEC-2 in patients with AIS/TIA and controls, sCLEC-2/D-dimer ratio in non-cardioembolic and cardioembolic AIS/TIA, correlation of sCLEC-2 with recurrence or worsening of stroke, severity of stroke, infarct size, ABCD2score in TIA and outcome (mRS) at 7 days and 3 months.Ethics and disseminationThis study was approved by the Ethical Committee of the University of Yamanashi as the central ethical committee in agreement with the ethical committees of all collaborative stroke centres. Informed consent will be obtained by an opt-out form from the patients at each stroke centre according to the Ethical Guidelines for Medical and Biological Research Involving Human Subjects by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.Trial registration numbersNCT05579405, UMIN000048954
Immediate analgesic effect of acupuncture intervention within 10 min during acute migraine attacks: protocol of a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Huang Ya , Li Qifu , Huang Gaoyangzi , Pei Xianmei , Chen Ziwen , Tang Xing , Zhang Renrui , Zhao Si-Wen , Liu Zili , Sun Jinbo , Guo Taipin , Liang Fan-rong 
Published: September 2023

IntroductionMigraine is a widespread neurological disorder characterised by recurrent moderate-to-severe headaches. These headaches can seriously affect patients’ daily life and work, especially during acute attacks when patients often need immediate pain relief. This study aims to assess the immediate analgesic effect of acupuncture for 10 min during acute migraine attacks.Methods and analysisThe study will randomly divide 80 participants into either the acupuncture group or the sham acupuncture group with an allocation ratio of 1:1. Each group will receive 10 min of treatment, and the post-treatment evaluation will be performed after 0, 0–2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 min of acupuncture. The primary outcome is the pain Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score assessed before and after treatment at 10 min. Additionally, secondary outcomes include the pain VAS score assessed at 0–2, 4, 6 and 8 min, blinding assessment and treatment effectiveness expectations scale. Data will be collected at baseline time and the end of treatment (after 10 min). Adverse events during each treatment period will be collected and recorded.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine (2022–008). All participants will provide written informed consent before randomisation. The results of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at conferences.Trial registration numberChinese Clinical Trial Registration Center (ChiCTR2200066976).
Optimal measurement of gastric emptying of solids in gastroparesis or functional dyspepsia: evidence to establish standard test
Authors: Camilleri Michael , Zheng Ting , Vosoughi Kia , Lupianez-Merly Camille , Eckert Deborah , Busciglio Irene , Burton Duane , Dilmaghani Saam 
Published: September 2023

ObjectiveSymptoms in gastroparesis (Gp) and functional dyspepsia (FD) overlap; using egg protein substitute to measure gastric emptying of solids (GES), ~40% of patients are reclassified from Gp to FD, and vice versa. Our aim was to assess inter-individual and intra-individual coefficients of variation (COV) in GES in symptomatic patients with Gp or FD with documented slow or normal GES, respectively.DesignScintigraphic GES (T1/2and GE% at 2 and 4 hours) using a 320 kcal real egg meal (30% fat) was tested in the following: single measurements in 20 patients with diabetes mellitus (10 each type 1 and type 2); repeat GES to estimate COVintrameasured: 3 days apart in 9 Gp, 4 weeks apart in 21 Gp and 18 with FD with normal GE assigned to placebo and in 70 patients at 94.3 weeks (median) apart.ResultsCOVinterfor GE% at 4 hours and GE T1/2were respectively 14.2% and 23.5% in FD and 27.5% and 33% in Gp; COVintrafor GE% at 4 hours and GE T1/2up to 4 weeks apart were 23.4% and 37.9% in FD and 20.1% and 33% in Gp. GE% at 2 hours showed less consistent results. However, >85% retained original diagnosis as normal or delayed. From clinical GES to baseline research for Gp group, repeat GES (after treatment) showed the COVintrafor GE% at 4 hours was 37.3% at median 94.3 weeks, with 26/70 changed diagnoses.ConclusionThe 320 kcal (30% fat) GES scintigraphic test provides consistent diagnosis in >85% and should be the standard test for suspected gastric emptying disorders.
Causal viscous Universe in Sáez–Ballester theory
Authors: Singh Sanasam Surendra , Kumrah Leishingam , Alam Md Khurshid , Singh Laishram Kapil , Devi Lambamayum Anjana 
Published: September 2023

In this work, the authors examine the dynamics of viscous Universe in the Sáez–Ballester theory of gravity. The solutions of the Friedmann–Robertson–Walker field equations have been derived within the framework of full causal theories presented by Israel and Stewart using simple parametrization of scale factor a( t), i.e., power law relation a( t) = a0 tα and exponential law a( t) = b0eβ t. The power law cosmological model shows that the Universe transitioned from early cosmic deceleration to the present cosmic acceleration, and the exponential cosmological model shows the accelerated expansion of the Universe. It has been discovered that as time passes, energy density and viscosity decrease while temperature rises. Energy conditions are also investigated in which the strong energy condition is violated. The behaviour of the cosmological parameters such as the Hubble parameter, energy density, pressure, coefficient of viscosity, and state-finder parameter has been presented graphically.
Time-of-flight spectroscopy of ultracold neutrons at the PSI UCN source
Authors: Bison G. , Chen W. , Chiu P. -J. , Daum M. , Doorenbos C. B. , Kirch K. , Kletzl V. , Lauss B. , Pais D. , Rienäcker I. , Schmidt-Wellenburg P. , Zsigmond G. 
Published: September 2023

AbstractThe ultracold neutron (UCN) source at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) provides high intensities of storable neutrons for fundamental physics experiments. The neutron velocity spectrum parallel to the beamline axis was determined by time-of-flight spectroscopy using a neutron chopper. In particular, the temporal evolution of the spectrum during neutron production and UCN storage in the source storage volume was investigated and compared to Monte Carlo simulation results. A softening of the measured spectrum from a mean velocity of 7.7(1)–5.1(1) $$\hbox {m s}^{-1}$$

m

s

-
1

occurred within the first 30 $$\hbox {s}$$
s
after the proton beam pulse had impinged on the spallation target. A spectral hardening was observed over longer time scales of one measurement day, consistent with the effect of surface degradation of the solid deuterium moderator.
Ultra-low radioactivity flexible printed cables
Authors: Arnquist Isaac J. , di Vacri Maria Laura , Rocco Nicole , Saldanha Richard , Schlieder Tyler , Patel Raj , Patil Jay , Perez Mario , Uka Harshad 
Published: September 2023

AbstractFlexible printed cables and circuitry based on copper-polyimide materials are widely used in experiments looking for rare events due to their unique electrical and mechanical characteristics. However, past studies have found copper-polyimide flexible cables to contain 400-4700 pg 238U/g, 16-3700 pg 232Th/g, and 170-2100 ng natK/g, which can be a significant source of radioactive background for many current and next-generation ultralow background detectors. This study presents a comprehensive investigation into the fabrication process of copper-polyimide flexible cables and the development of custom low radioactivity cables for use in rare-event physics applications. A methodical step-by-step approach was developed and informed by ultrasensitive assay to determine the radiopurity in the starting materials and identify the contaminating production steps in the cable fabrication process. Radiopure material alternatives were identified, and cleaner production processes and treatments were developed to significantly reduce the imparted contamination. Through the newly developed radiopure fabrication process, fully-functioning cables were produced with radiocontaminant concentrations of 20-31 pg 238U/g, 12-13 pg 232Th/g, and 40-550 ng natK/g, which is significantly cleaner than cables from previous work and sufficiently radiopure for current and next-generation detectors. This approach, employing witness samples to investigate each step of the fabrication process, can hopefully serve as a template for investigating radiocontaminants in other material production processes.
(Invited) Formation of Organic Color Centers in Air-Suspended Carbon Nanotubes Using Vapor-Phase Reaction
Authors: Kozawa Daichi , Wu Xiaojian , Ishii Akihiro , Fortner Jacob , Otsuka Keigo , Xiang Rong , Inoue Taiki , Maruyama Shigeo , Wang YuHuang , Kato Yuichiro K. 
Published: September 2023

Organic color centers in single-walled carbon nanotubes have demonstrated exceptional ability to generate single photons at room temperature in the telecom range. Combining the color centers with pristine air-suspended nanotubes would be desirable for improved performance, but all current synthetic methods occur in solution which makes them incompatible. Here we demonstrate the formation of color centers in air-suspended nanotubes using a vapor-phase reaction [1]. Functionalization is directly verified by photoluminescence spectroscopy, with unambiguous statistics from more than a few thousand individual nanotubes. The color centers show strong diameter-dependent emission, which can be explained with a model for chemical reactivity considering strain along the tube curvature. We also estimate the defect density by comparing the experiments with simulations based on a one-dimensional exciton diffusion equation. Our results highlight the influence of the nanotube structure on vapor-phase reactivity and emission properties, providing guidelines for the development of high-performance near-infrared quantum light sources.
This work is supported in part by MIC (SCOPE JP191503001 to Y.K.K.), JSPS (JP18H05329, JP20H00220 to S.M., JP20H02558 to Y.K.K., JP20K15112, JP22H01893 to D.K., JP20K15137 to K.O.), MEXT (Nanotechnology Platform JPMXP09F19UT0077), NSF (RAISE-TAQS PHY-1839165 to Y.H.W.), and JST (CREST JPMJCR20B5 to S.M.). D.K. acknowledges support from RIKEN Special Postdoctoral Researcher Program. K.O. is supported by JSPS Research Fellowship. We thank the Advanced Manufacturing Support Team at RIKEN for technical assistance.
[1] D. Kozawa, X. Wu, A. Ishii, J. Fortner, K. Otsuka, R. Xiang, T. Inoue, S. Maruyama, Y. Wang, and Y. K. Kato, Nature Commun. 13, 2814 (2022).
(Invited) Advanced Carbon Nanotube Fluorescence Spectrometry for Novel Applications
Authors: Weisman R. Bruce , Cherukuri Tonya , Bachilo Sergei M. , Meng Wei , Nagarajaiah Satish 
Published: September 2023

Instrumental advances in near-IR fluorescence spectroscopy are enabling new types of measurements involving single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Two unique systems will be described. The first is a two-dimensional fluorescence-detected circular dichroism (FDCD) spectrometer. In this, SWCNT samples are excited by a spectrally selected supercontinuum laser beam that is switched between left- and right-circular polarization in an electro-optic modulator. Near-infrared sample fluorescence emitted in the backward direction is captured and directed to a scanning monochromator with a cooled InGaAs single-channel detector. After amplification and high precision digitization, the modulated signal component is extracted by computer-based phase sensitive detection. The system can measure a sample’s E22 circular dichroism in four spectral modes: 1) conventional FDCD, with scanned visible excitation wavelength and spectrally integrated (zero-order grating) emission detection; 2) Emission-specific FDCD, with scanned visible excitation wavelengths and selected emission wavelength; 3) Emission-scanned FDCD, with selected visible excitation wavelength and scanned emission wavelengths; 4) Excitation-Emission FDCD, with excitation and emission wavelengths both scanned to give two-dimensional data sets. This instrument can spectroscopically resolve enantiomer signals from a single (n,m) species in a racemic SWCNT sample.
In a parallel project, developments in SWCNT fluorescence spectrometry are advancing nanotube-based strain measurement technology toward commercialization. Because SWCNT emission wavelengths vary systematically with axial strain, nanotubes in a thin coating on a specimen can serve as optically interrogated strain gauges. We apply this effect to measure strain maps through hyperspectral imaging of SWCNT fluorescence. A rotated band pass filter is used to capture a set of images in multiple spectral slices, from which a custom computer program deduces strain at each of ~105 image pixels and compiles strain maps. We will describe how this apparatus has evolved from a lab prototype into a compact portable system that can make measurements in industrial settings.
(Invited) Designer Polymer Dispersants for Sorting, and Assembly of Carbon Nanotube Arrays
Authors: Gopalan Padma , Oliveras Santos Stephanie , Li Songying (Frederick) , Arnold Michael Scott 
Published: September 2023

Conjugated polymers have been extensively utilized to isolate semiconducting single walled carbon nanotubes (s-CNTs) in organic solvents creating a high-purity s-CNT “ink”. To overcome inter-CNT π–π interactions to individualize and disaggregate s-CNTs, typically dispersing agents are necessary. Solution deposition of s-CNTs from these inks onto target substrates to create a monolayer of CNT arrays is actively being explored to fabricate FETs with superior performance compared to conventional silicon and gallium arsenide-based FETs. A wide range of deposition and alignment of s-CNTs on substrates has been explored by methods such as Langmuir-Blodgett/Schaefer, vacuum filtration, electric fields, shear, evaporation, 3D printing, and at liquid/liquid interfaces. While significant progress has been made in deposition and alignment of CNTs on wafer-scale, achieving a controllable pitch in a perfectly aligned dense array of CNTs is still a challenge.
Following the initial discovery of dispersants such as aromatic conjugated polymers which interact non-covalently with CNTs and sort CNT soot into high-purity, electronics-grade s-CNT inks, the vast community now uses polymers such as polyfluorene and polythiophene homo and copolymers with other monomers. We have focused in this study on revisiting some of the design rules for these conjugated polymer dispersants to incorporate additional functions such as self-assembly dictated pitch control and improving the yield and selectivity of the sorting process. We have investigated ABA triblock copolymers where B is the conjugated block and A is a non-conjugated coil block to study its effect on dispersion and sorting of CNTs. Though these types of ABA di and triblocks have been investigated in the literature for modulation of the photophysical properties of the B block, their use for sorting of s-CNTs is largely unexplored. In this study, Arc CNT or HiPCO soot was mixed with the ABA triblock at various B block: CNT ratio’s and its dispersion and sorting characteristics were studied. Our studies show that the A coil block greatly improves the sorting efficiency while maintaining the semiconducting selectivity. The selectivity of the ABA triblocks towards s-CNT chiralities is similar to the conjugated B block alone. Furthermore, the ABA architecture allows for much lower degree of polymerization for the B block that what is commonly accepted in the literature. Our results show a generalizable polymer dispersant design where the pitch of the assembled CNT arrays can be potentially controlled.
Influence of Excess Conjugated Wrapping Polymer in Semiconducting Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Dispersions
Authors: Mirka Brendan , Rice Nicole , Williams Phillip , Tousignant Mathieu , Boileau Nicholas , Bodnaryk William , Fong Darryl , Adronov Alex , Lessard Benoit 
Published: September 2023

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are promising nanomaterials for incorporation into organic electronic devices (OEDs), with the potential to fabricate flexible devices while exploiting inexpensive solution-processing techniques. As-synthesized SWNTs are insoluble and comprised of a mixture of metallic and semiconducting SWNTs (sc-SWNTs), necessitating dispersal and purification before integration into OEDs. Refinement of conjugated polymer extraction techniques has allowed for the isolation of sc-SWNTs from metallic in a reproducible and scalable manner. The availability of highly-pure sc-SWNT materials has facilitated the production of thin-film transistors (TFTs) with very high charge carrier mobilities, outperforming organic small molecule and polymer semiconductors. However, the realization of commercial OED applications of polymer-sorted sc-SWNTs have not yet been achieved, partially due to the prohibitive time and materials costs associated with purifying sc-SWNTs.
Current protocols for dispersing sc-SWNTs with conjugated polymers involve three broad steps: (1) dispersion of bulk SWNT material, (2) removal of non-dispersed carbonaceous materials, and (3) removal of excess polymer through filtration or centrifugation. The final step of removal of excess polymer is time-consuming and wasteful, but viewed as necessary for preparing high-performing TFTs, as the conjugated polymer has much lower performance compared to SWNTs.
In this study we performed the first systematic investigation of the effect of excess polymer on SWNT TFT performance. Three SWNT concentrations were investigated, with varying ratios of excess polymer added to each. TFT device performance was monitored using several metrics, including: mobility, threshold voltage, on/off ratios and hysteresis. Characterization of large numbers of replicate TFT devices determined that below a threshold amount of excess polymer the presence of excess polymer did not have a negative impact on device performance. Detailed analysis of the sc-SWNT films through Raman spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM) confirmed that a simple rinsing step was sufficient to remove all the unbound conjugated polymer from the substrate surface without affecting the sc-SWNT network. The volume of solvent required for the rinsing step was substantially lower than that required for filtration or centrifugation steps. Furthermore, at higher SWNT concentrations the excess polymer prevented nanotube bundling, resulting in moderate improvements in both mobility and on/off ratios. Our results were reproducible for two different conjugated polymer sc-SWNT systems, demonstrating the versatility of this procedure.