Absolute Index Research Articles

Temperature and Precipitation Extremes Over Borneo Island: An Integrated Climate Risk Assessment

ABSTRACTGlobal warming has significantly increased the frequency and intensity of extreme events, which have catastrophic consequences for ecosystems and humans. Despite efforts to assess the impact of climate change on the potential risk of Borneo, most research has focused on partial regions, considering short timescales and a limited number of temperature and precipitation extremes indices to quantify the expected climate risks. This study employed a new method of climate risk assessment of Borneo based on the combined changes in various climate parameters. It estimated 23 climate indices at all grid points covering Borneo for three overlapping sub‐periods (1951–1980, 1961–1990, 1991–2020). The modified Mann‐Kendall test was employed to identify grid points exhibiting significant increasing or decreasing trends of each index for each sub‐period. Finally, significant trends of 23 indices were integrated to estimate the potential climate risk indicator (RI) based on the combined changes in various climate parameters for each grid point and sub‐period. Temperature indices showed a clear warming trend across Borneo Island, particularly in the eastern regions, with absolute temperature indices showing an increase of 0.5°C–2.5°C in 1991–2020 compared to the reference period (1951–1980). However, extreme cold temperatures have become less prevalent over the study period. There is a shift from light consecutive rainfall days towards more heavy and short‐duration rainfall events. Therefore, there are indications of intensifying rainfall events over the island's southern half, counterbalanced by drying trends in the northern regions, especially Brunei. The spatial distribution of RI revealed an overall 184% increase in climate risk on the island in recent years (1991–2020) compared to the reference period. The highest rise in RI was in the central east of the island, mostly due to significant increases in rainfall and temperature indices. The findings can inform adaptation initiatives to manage escalating heat and flood risks while guiding additional research to explain further the complex climatic changes occurring in this ecologically and socially vital region.

Ground settlement prediction for highway subgrades with sparse data using regression Kriging

Ground settlement prediction for highway subgrades is crucial in related engineering projects. When predicting the ground settlement, sparse sample data are often encountered in practice, which greatly affects the prediction accuracy. However, this has been seldom explored in previous studies. To resolve it, this paper proposes a regression Kriging (RK)—based method for ground settlement prediction with sparse data. Under the framework of RK, the stationarity of sample residual and trend structure are key factors for prediction accuracy. It is found that the use of Box–Cox transformation, which can help to achieve stationarity of sample residual, leads to significant increase of the prediction accuracy with sparse data. Specifically, the various evaluation metrics (i.e., root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), mean arctangent absolute percent error (MAAPE) and scatter index (SCI)) are significantly decreased when the Box–Cox transformation is incorporated. In addition, the first-order polynomial trend structure is found to be more appropriate than those with higher orders for predicting settlements resulting from primary consolidation. Moreover, comparative study is conducted among the proposed RK method, classical prediction methods and back propagation neural network (BPNN). It is found that the evaluation metrics obtained by the RK method are significantly smaller than those obtained by the other methods, indicating its highest accuracy. By contrast, BPNN has the worst performance among the various methods, because the sparse data are inadequate to establish a satisfactory BPNN model.

Nonlinear integral backstepping control based on particle swarm optimization for a grid-connected variable wind energy conversion system during voltage dips

Double-fed induction generator (DFIG) wind turbines connected to the grid are particularly subject to grid problems such as voltage dips. Because of this, it might be challenging to maintain system stability and prevent system disconnections when using a Proportional-Integral (PI) Controller to operate this system. This paper applies the Integral Backstepping Control for the wind power plant system connected to the power grid. The Integral Backstepping is a nonlinear and recursive method that employs the Lyapunov theory to ensure the system's stability. The best selection of gain values for the Lyapunov function guarantees improved system control. These gains are frequently adjusted using the trial-and-error strategy, which is time-consuming and inefficient. This technique becomes more complex when many parameters need to be determined. It also limits the system's performance and restricts this nonlinear approach's advantages. The objective is to apply the particle swarm optimization for computing several constant values of the nonlinear approach by minimizing an integral absolute error criterion index. The weighted sum of errors is employed to solve the multiple objective problems. The proposed controller tracks the maximum power point, maintains the voltage of the DC-Link constant, and controls active and reactive power. The robustness of this method is verified in critical conditions, including system parameter variation and asymmetrical and symmetrical grid faults. The simulation findings highlight the effectiveness and robustness of the combination of Integral Backstepping with Particle Swarm Optimization in terms of reducing response time from 10.6 (ms) to 2 (ms), canceling static error, and improving overshoot compared to the vector control based on PI regulator. Besides, the DC-Link voltage ripples during the asymmetrical grid faults are reduced to ±1 (V) using the suggested controller. The latter can be implemented thanks to advancements in Central Processor Unit technology.

Grip Strength, Anthropometric Indices, and Their Combination in Screening for Metabolic Syndrome in the Korean Population

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a cluster of cardiometabolic risk factors for future diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, and low grip strength (GS) is associated with an increased risk of MS. However, the index (among absolute GS, relative GS, and anthropometric indices) that is more strongly associated with MS has not been conclusively identified. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to simultaneously examine the associations of MS with relative and absolute GS and anthropometric indices in a Korean population. Methods: In this large-scale cross-sectional study, we used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). A total of 20,915 subjects were included in the statistical analyses. Complex sample binary logistic regression models were used to analyze the associations between MS and indices such as the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), body mass index (BMI), and absolute and relative GS. Results: The prevalence of MS was 40.48% in men and 34.4% in women. The mean GS values in the healthy group and MS group were 38.06 ± 0.13 and 38.06 ± 0.15 years for men (p = 0.980) and 22.72 ± 0.07 and 21.19 ± 0.11 years for women (p < 0.001), respectively. Among all the indices, the WHtR was the index most strongly associated with MS in men. Among the GS indices, the GS/weight index was closely associated with MS, and the magnitude of this association was stronger than that of the absolute GS index. In women, the WHtR was the most related index to MS among all the indices. Among the GS indices, the GS/weight and GS/BMI indices were strongly associated with MS, and the magnitudes of these associations were much greater than those of the absolute GS index. Conclusions: Although absolute and relative GS indices are strongly associated with MS in the Korean population, the strongest association was observed for the simple anthropometric index (WHtR).

Development and validation of an instrument to evaluate the perspective of using the electronic health record in a hospital setting

BackgroundEvaluating healthcare information systems, such as the Electronic Health Records (EHR), is both challenging and essential, especially in resource-limited countries. This study aims to psychometrically develop and validate an instrument (questionnaire) to assess the factors influencing the successful adoption of the EHR system by healthcare professionals in Moroccan university hospitals.MethodsThe questionnaire validation process occurred in two main stages. Initially, data collected from a pilot sample of 164 participants underwent analysis using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to evaluate the validity and reliability of the retained factor structure. Subsequently, the validity of the overall measurement model was confirmed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) in a sample of 368 healthcare professionals.ResultsThe structure of the modified HOT-fit model, comprising seven constructs (System Quality, Information Quality, Information technology Service Quality, User Satisfaction, Organization, Environment, and Clinical Performance), was confirmed through confirmatory factor analysis. Absolute, incremental, and parsimonious fit indices all indicated an appropriate level of acceptability, affirming the robustness of the measurement model. Additionally, the instrument demonstrated adequate reliability and convergent validity, with composite reliability values ranging from 0.75 to 0.89 and average variance extracted (AVE) values ranging from 0.51 to 0.63. Furthermore, the square roots of AVE values exceeded the correlations between different pairs of constructs, and the heterotrait-monotrait ratio of correlations (HTMT) was below 0.85, confirming suitable discriminant validity.ConclusionsThe resulting instrument, due to its rigorous development and validation process, can serve as a reliable and valid tool for assessing the success of information technologies in similar contexts.

18F]FDG PET for mapping the cerebral glucose metabolic characteristics of drug-sensitive and drug-resistant epilepsy in pediatric patients.

This study aimed to investigate [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography ([18F]FDG PET) mapping for cerebral glucose metabolism in drug-sensitive and drug-resistant pediatric epilepsy patients. This retrospective study enrolled 40 patients and 25 controls. Patients were categorized into drug-sensitive epilepsy (n = 22) and drug-resistant epilepsy (n = 18) according to the seizure frequency at follow-up. All patients underwent two [18F]FDG PET scans separated by a minimum of one year. Absolute asymmetry index (|AI|) was calculated for assessing metabolic differences and changes in epileptic foci. Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) was utilized to reveal voxel-wise metabolic characteristics and alterations throughout the brain. Network analysis based on graph theory was used to investigate network-level differences between the two patient groups. The drug-sensitive group showed a lower |AI| at both baseline (P = 0.038) and follow-up (P = 0.003) PET scans than the drug-resistant group. |AI| decreased in the drug-sensitive group and increased in the drug-resistant group across scans, but these trends were not statistically significant (P = 0.240 and P = 0.450, respectively). Both groups exhibited hypometabolism at baseline. The drug-sensitive group showed less hypometabolic brain regions than the drug-resistant group. The drug-sensitive maintained stable level of hypometabolism between the two scans, whereas the drug-resistant group showed an increasing hypometabolism. Network analysis demonstrated that the drug-sensitive group had a higher global efficiency, average degree, and clustering, along with a shorter characteristic path length compared to the drug-resistant group. For the first time, this study revealed in vivo cerebral glucose metabolic pattern of nonsurgical pediatric epilepsy patients treated by antiepileptic drugs. Especially, drug-resistant epilepsy patients represented significantly extensive and progressive hypometabolism with inefficient brain network connectivity compared with drug-sensitive epilepsy. [18F]FDG PET imaging may be a potential visual approach for theranostics of epilepsy patients.

Rethinking poverty: An econometric analysis of the role of ICT poverty in a global context

In an age of increasing digitalization, it is imperative for policymakers and researchers to grasp the profound impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) on poverty. This paper investigates the relationship between ICT poverty and the absolute poverty index across the Global South and North from 2012 to 2022. Furthermore, it assesses the influence of ICT poverty on the risk of poverty or social exclusion in various geographic areas—cities, suburbs/towns, and rural regions—across 28 European countries. Employing a range of panel models, such as fixed/random effects and the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM), the study uncovers significant positive associations between ICT poverty and absolute poverty and the risk of poverty or social exclusion across all geographic areas. Our research indicates that policies aimed at reducing ICT inequality—commonly known as the “digital divide"—are more effective in alleviating poverty than those solely focused on promoting ICT development. Additionally, the study introduces a new policy framework, the ICTs-PGI Triangle, which offers a roadmap for policymakers to mitigate ICT poverty in both the Global South and North. The empirical results highlight the importance of providing equitable digital access and literacy, particularly in rural and marginalized areas, for sustainable poverty reduction. Therefore, this study provides valuable insights into the intricate interplay between digitalization and poverty alleviation strategies, addressing a significant gap in the current literature.

Morphofunctional indicators of the body students of the medical university

Introduction. The period of adolescence accounts for the completion of the growth processes of the body, and the beginning of stabilization of functional indicators, which, as more plastic factors, are more sensitive to environmental conditions. Measuring, evaluating, and predicting morphofunctional parameters of the body of medical university students, taking into account regional standards of physical development, is one of the priorities of modern medicine and scientific research in general.The aim of the study is to study the features of anthropometric and functional characteristics, vegetotype of medical university students in comparison with the current regional standard.Materials and methods. Anthropometric and functional parameters were measured in 300 medical students (77 males, 223 females), aged 19,1±0,88 years.Results. It is shown that anthropometric characteristics of students significantly exceed the regional standard, in boys it is body length (p<0,01), and weight-height ratio (p<0,05), in girls it is body length, chest circumference and weight-height ratio (p<0,01). Cardiointervalography parameters revealed 4,01 % vagotonics, 88,33 % eutonics and 7,62 % sympathotonics, a significant difference (p<0,01) was also found in linear cardiointervalogram parameters in cohorts of these vegetotypes. Functional indices in absolute terms revealed compliance with the regional standard only in vital capacity of lungs, carpal dynamometry is significantly lower than the standard, in girls (p<0,01), boys (p<0,05), haemodynamics in terms of diastolic blood pressure and heart rate significantly (p<0,01) exceeds the reference values. Integral functional indices: vital index, vegetative index, minute volume of respiration differ significantly by sex (p<0,05); Kerdo index, minute volume of blood circulation showed a significant difference by vegetotype (p<0,05); pulse pressure showed a significant difference by sex and vegetotype (p<0,01).Conclusion. The studies showed statistically significant excesses relative to the regional standard in young men in body length (p<0,01) and mass-height ratio (p<0,05), in chest circumference in girls (p<0,01); in diastolic blood pressure and heart rate in boys and girls (p<0,01). Absolute and integral indices of cardio-respiratory system are significantly higher in sympathotonics than in vagotonics. Young men, relative to girls, demonstrate higher absolute, linear values of cardiointervalogram (p<0,01), in the whole population these indices are within the range of norm of the regional standard. Among students the majority 88,33 % have normotonic type of ANS. The obtained results, in our opinion, show the need for systematic monitoring of objective morphofunctional state of modern youth.

Racial, Ethnic, and Socioeconomic Disparities in Meeting Physical Activity Guidelines among Female Breast Cancer Survivors in the United States.

Cancer survivors show low physical activity participation rates in the U.S. However, there are limited national-level data on disparities in the prevalence of meeting physical activity guidelines among women with and without breast cancer. We aimed to evaluate national-level trends in meeting physical activity guidelines across demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of breast cancer survivors and women without cancer. Data for women aged ≥35-years with and without breast cancer were obtained from the 2004-2018 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). We used NHIS survey weights to generate national-level prevalence estimates and calculate absolute and relative indices of disparity for breast cancer survivors and women without cancer meeting aerobic (150-mins/week) and muscle strengthening guidelines (2-sessions/week) stratified by demographic (e.g., race/ethnicity) and socioeconomic (e.g., homeownership) characteristics. We included 5,845 breast cancer survivors and 160,162 women without cancer. The weighted percentage of breast cancer survivors meeting aerobic guidelines was 37.7% compared to 40.9% of women without cancer. Fewer women met muscle strengthening guidelines. There were lower proportions of women who were younger (<50-years), were non-Hispanic Black, were Hispanic, worked 35+ hours/week, or rented their home among breast cancer survivors meeting aerobic guidelines compared to women without cancer meeting aerobic guidelines. Breast cancer survivors were less likely to meet physical activity guidelines compared to women without cancer. Demographic and socioeconomic disparities may exist among breast cancer survivors and women without cancer meeting physical activity guidelines. Targeted interventions may be necessary to address low physical activity participation among breast cancer survivors.

Phenotypic diversity of key adaptive traits in advanced Nordic and Baltic spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) breeding material

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) has become the most widely grown cereal crop in the Nordic-Baltic region, but due to climate change, its yields are under increasing risk. Here we present results of an international effort to use available wheat germplasm from the region to identify tools and genotypes for breeding wheat varieties with improved stability. We formed a panel of 300 spring wheat genotypes from the Nordic-Baltic region and studied their phenotypic diversity across environments to identify genotypes with high potential for adaptation to a changing climate. Field experiments were carried out in 2021 and 2022 in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Norway. The performance and stability of yield (GY), protein content (PC), thousand kernel weight (TKW), test weight (TW), length of growing period (GP), and nine other traits were studied. Drought and excessive rainfall occurred in the Baltic countries in 2021–2022, whereas the weather in Norway was more stable. High variability for most traits, and significant GxE effects for all studied traits, were identified. We identified stable genotypes combining yield and quality using the AMMI model-based Weighted Average of Absolute Scores index (WAASB). Finally, we selected nineteen superior genotypes that combined high yield with high values of important quality traits. Thus, combining broad Nordic-Baltic wheat germplasm with extensive field phenotyping, we identified promising breeding material to develop climate-ready spring wheat varieties for the region.

Assessment of short and long-term pozzolanic activity of natural pozzolans using machine learning approaches

This investigation introduces the optimal performance models for predicting the compressive strength (CS) and pozzolanic activity index (PAI) by comparing the machine learning models. The machine learning models, i.e., multilinear regression (MLR), support vector machine (SVM), gaussian process regression (GPR), decision tree (DT), random forest (RF), and gene expression programming (GEP) have been trained (TRN) and tested (TST) by 28 and 7 data points. For the first time, the SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, SiO2 +Al2O3 +Fe2O3, reactive SiO2, Blaine specific surface area, and specific gravity have been used as input variables to compute the CS, and 28 days PAI (28PAI), and 90 days PAI (90PAI) of the natural pozzolans. The multicollinearity analysis showed the SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, SiO2 +Al2O3 +Fe2O3, reactive SiO2, and specific gravity have problematic multicollinearity (variance inflation factor – VIF > 10). Therefore, the root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), correlation coefficient (R), performance index (PI), and variance accounted for (VAF) metrics have been implemented to evaluate the model's performance and multicollinearity impact. From the comparison of models, it has been recorded that model GPR outperformed the MLR, SVM, DT, RF, and GEP models in predicting CS (PI = 1.29, VAF = 71.31, R = 0.8473, MAE = 0.9390 MPa), 28PAI (PI = 1.87, VAF = 94.88, R = 0.9744, MAE = 0.7295 %), and 90PAI (PI = 1.72, VAF = 88.11, R = 0.9393, MAE = 1.2444 %) in the TST phase, close to ideal values. The score, generalizability. Wilcoxon test, uncertainty analysis, Anderson-daring test, and accuracy metrics have confirmed the superiority of GPR models in predicting CS, 28PAI, and 90PAI of natural pozzolans.

Irrigation and oil palm empty fruit bunch mulch enhance eggplant growth, radiation interception and dry matter yield

Organic mulching is a well-known management practice that conserves soil water and nutrients as well as increases crop yield. Nonetheless, research on combined organic mulching using oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) and irrigation is limited. Field-based experiments were conducted over three seasons to test the sole and combined effects of EFB as organic mulch and irrigation on the growth, total dry matter yield (TDMY), accumulated intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (AIPAR), and radiation use efficiency (RUE) of African eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum L.) in a low fertile tropical sandy clay loam soil. Air-dried EFB was used as an organic mulch by spreading it on the soil surface at rates of 0 (EFB0), 20 (EFB20), and 40 t ha−1 (EFB40), and either fully-irrigated (I100), deficit-irrigated (I40), or non-irrigated (I0). The I100 plots were irrigated to field capacity (FC) every 3–4 days based on PR2 Profile Probe measurements and the resultant irrigation volume supplied to the plants via drip irrigation tubes. The I40 plots received 40 % of the water given to the I100 plots, and the I0 plots were solely rain-fed. At the end of the third season, the 40 t ha−1 EFB-mulch increased soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), soil organic carbon, potassium, cation exchange capacity, and the soil’s specific surface area. In the first season, all the measured eggplant growth and yield parameters were neither responsive to irrigation only, EFB-mulch only, or both. In the second and third seasons, the EFB20 and EFB40 treatments significantly (p < 0.05) increased leaf chlorophyll content index (LCCI), photosystem II (Fv/Fm ratio), absolute performance index (PIabs), TDMY, AIPAR, and RUE compared to the non-mulched control treatment. Soil pH was high in the EFB-mulched plots and correlated positively with TDMY and AIPAR. The I100 significantly improved LCCI, Fv/Fm, PIabs, and TDMY during the second season. In the third season, a highly significant interaction between irrigation and mulching was detected on TDMY, AIPAR, RUE, LCCI, Fv/Fm ratio, and pH (H2O). This indicated a positive effect on soil nutrient availability especially phosphorus as TDMY and AIPAR correlated with soil pH. The I100 and I40 significantly increased AIPAR by 48.1 % and 37.2 %, and RUE by 26.7 % and 11.0 %, respectively, compared to I0 during the third season. The total dry matter yield of the African eggplant was enhanced by EFB-mulch, with the effect increasing over up to three growing seasons, especially when combined with irrigation during dry periods.

Impact of Operator Experience on Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Outcomes.

The relationship between long-term outcomes and operator experience for left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is still unknown. This study sought to explore the association between operator LAAO experience and one-year clinical outcomes. The RECORD study (Registry to Evaluate Chinese Real-World Clinical Outcomes in Patients With AF Using the WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Technology; NCT03917563) was a multicenter, prospective registry that included patients with the WATCHMAN LAAO device (Boston Scientific) in China from April 1, 2019, to October 31, 2020. The current analyses included patients with solely LAAO from the registry; those who had concomitant LAAO and ablation/other procedures were excluded. The primary outcome was a composite endpoint of death, stroke, systemic embolism, and Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC)-defined type 3 or 5 bleeding at 1 year. A total of 1,547 LAAO patients and 111 operators were included. The mean ± SD CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores of patients were 4.0 ± 1.8 and 2.5 ± 1.1, respectively. The mean ± SD age of operators was 47.0 ± 7.2 years, 15(13.5%) were female, and 52 (46.8%) were electrophysiologists. Utilizing maximally selected log-rank statistics, the thresholds to categorize an experienced operator were performing≥32 LAAOs annually or≥134 LAAOs in total. Performing≥32 LAAOs annually is the better criterion than≥134 LAAOs in total (absolute net reclassification index: 25.79%; P< 0.001). Compared with the≥32 LAAO annually group, the<32 group was associated with a 1.8-fold (HRadjusted: 1.79; 95%CI: 1.16-2.78; P=0.009) increase in the risk of the primary endpoint, and such risk in the<32 group can be reduced by ∼12% after performing each additional 5 cases (HRadjusted per 5 cases: 0.88; 95%CI: 0.78-0.99; P=0.033). Performing≥32 LAAOs annually could be a threshold to categorize an experienced operator. Before reaching this threshold, the risk of death, stroke, systemic embolism, and BARC-defined type 3 or 5 bleeding decreased by 12% after every 5 cases performed.

A Comparative Study of Detrending Methods on Crop Yield Time Series for Drought Studies

Detrending is a statistical technique that removes systematic variations or trends from time series data, allowing analysts to focus on the underlying patterns or fluctuations. While multiple detrending approaches have been applied but rarely discussed their consistency of outcomes and effectiveness in accurately capturing better yield trends. The validation of drought occurrences has proven to be a challenging task due to the non-stationary characteristics of time series data related to crop yield. This research utilizes time series of cotton yield data from the Marathwada region covering the period from 1998 to 2021. Three traditional trend models, including simple linear regression, second-order polynomial regression and central moving average were applied. Additionally, two machine learning models (random forest and support vector regression) were tested with a novel approach. Moreover, two decomposition models (additive and multiplicative) were used to remove non-linear trends in crop yield time series data. The performance of the chosen models was evaluated based on metrics such as root mean square error, mean absolute error, Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency, and index of agreement. The results suggest that the most effective detrending approach involves combining a random forest machine learning model with an additive decomposition model.

Intensities of the hydrogen Balmer lines of solar-like stars revealed by the LAMOST spectroscopic surveys

The intensities of the hydrogen Balmer lines of solar-like stars are investigated for stellar chromospheric activity by using the co-source spectral data of the LAMOST Low-Resolution Spectroscopic Survey (LRS) and Medium-Resolution Spectroscopic Survey (MRS). 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The absolute flux indexes, defined as the ratios of the absolute fluxes at the centers of the Balmer lines to the stellar bolometric flux, are employed to indicate the intensity magnitudes of the Balmer lines in response to stellar activity. The Hα\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\alpha$$\\end{document} indexes derived from the LRS data and the MRS data, respectively, are calibrated to be quantitatively consistent with each other. 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The distributions of the Balmer line indexes also reveal the three distinct stages of stellar activity (normal stage, intense stage, and extremely intense stage), in which the extremely intense stage is characterized by the synchronous growth of the indexes of the four Balmer lines. 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Toward real-time, volumetric dosimetry for FLASH-capable clinical synchrocyclotrons using protoacoustic imaging.

Fast low angle shot hyperfractionation (FLASH) radiotherapy (RT) holds promise for improving treatment outcomes and reducing side effects but poses challenges in radiation delivery accuracy due to its ultra-high dose rates. This necessitates the development of novel imaging and verification technologies tailored to these conditions. Our study explores the effectiveness of proton-induced acoustic imaging (PAI) in tracking the Bragg peak in three dimensions and in real time during FLASH proton irradiations, offering a method for volumetric beam imaging at both conventional and FLASH dose rates. We developed a three-dimensional (3D) PAI technique using a 256-element ultrasound detector array for FLASH dose rate proton beams. In the study, we tested protoacoustic signal with a beamline of a FLASH-capable synchrocyclotron, setting the distal 90% of the Bragg peak around 35mm away from the ultrasound array. This configuration allowed us to assess various total proton radiation doses, maintaining a consistent beam output of 21 pC/pulse. We also explored a spectrum of dose rates, from 15 Gy/s up to a FLASH rate of 48 Gy/s, by administering a set number of pulses. Furthermore, we implemented a three-dot scanning beam approach to observe the distinct movements of individual Bragg peaks using PAI. All these procedures utilized a proton beam energy of 180 MeV to achieve the maximum possible dose rate. Our findings indicate a strong linear relationship between protoacoustic signal amplitudes and delivered doses (R2=0.9997), with a consistent fit across different dose rates. The technique successfully provided 3D renderings of Bragg peaks at FLASH rates, validated through absolute Gamma index values. The protoacoustic system demonstrates effectiveness in 3D visualization and tracking of the Bragg peak during FLASH proton therapy, representing a notable advancement in proton therapy quality assurance. This method promises enhancements in protoacoustic image guidance and real-time dosimetry, paving the way for more accurate and effective treatments in ultra-high dose rate therapy environments.

Light sheet microscope scanning of biointegrated microlasers for localized refractive index sensing

Whispering gallery mode (WGM) microlasers are highly sensitive to localized refractive index changes allowing to link their emission spectrum to various chemical, mechanical, or physical stimuli. Microlasers recently found applications in biological studies within single cells, in three-dimensional samples such as multicellular spheroids, or in vivo. However, detailed studies of biological samples also need to account for the structural heterogeneity of tissues and live animals, therefore requiring a combination of high-resolution microscopy and laser spectroscopy. Here, we design and construct a light sheet fluorescence microscope with a coupled spectrometer for use in microlaser studies for combined high-resolution, high-speed imaging and WGM spectral analysis. The light sheet illumination profile and the decoupled geometry of excitation and emission hereby directly affect the lasing and sensing properties, mainly through geometric constraints and by light coupling effects. We demonstrate the basic working principle of microlaser spectroscopy under light sheet excitation and measure the absolute refractive index within agarose and in zebrafish tail muscle tissue. We further analyze the light coupling conditions that lead to the occurrence of two separate oscillation planes. These so-called cross modes can be scanned around the entire microlaser surface, which allows to estimate a surface-averaged refractive index profile of the microlaser environment.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on adolescents undergoing metabolic bariatric surgery

BackgroundWhile the lasting effect of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, the impact on adolescents undergoing bariatric surgery remains unseen. ObjectiveWe examined the impact of the pandemic on adolescents undergoing metabolic bariatric surgery. SettingAcademic hospital, New York, NY. MethodsA single-institution review of prospectively collected data evaluated adolescents who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy between 2010 and 2023, forming two cohorts: pre-COVID (before March 1, 2019) and COVID (after March 1, 2020). Absolute and percent weight loss and body mass index (BMI) change at 6 and 12 months postsurgery were compared between cohorts. Multivariable linear regression models were constructed to estimate the association between weight loss, adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity, and BMI. ResultsA total of 358 patients were included: 245 in the pre-COVID cohort and 113 in the COVID cohort. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics. There were no significant differences between cohorts at 6 months in weight loss (21.6 kg vs. 22.5 kg, P = .43), percent weight loss (18% vs. 18%, P = .63), and BMI change (8.0 vs. 8.4, P = .39) which was maintained at 12 months. In multivariate models, after adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity, and baseline BMI, undergoing surgery during the pandemic was not associated with a difference in weight loss or BMI change at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. ConclusionDespite the severe societal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy remained a durable intervention for adolescent obesity, with no observed differences in weight loss in patients undergoing surgery during the pandemic compared to prepandemic.

A Comprehensive Analysis of 10-Yard Sprint Reliability in Male and Female Youth Athletes.

Wannouch, YJ, Leahey, SR, Whitworth-Turner, CM, Oliver, JL, YH, KC, Laffer, JC, and Leicht, AS. A comprehensive analysis of 10-yard sprint reliability in male and female youth athletes. J Strength Cond Res 38(9): e477-e488, 2024-This study investigates the inter-week test-retest reliability of 9.14 meter (10 yard) sprint times in youth athletes. Although essential for assessing athletic ability and training efficacy, the critical and comprehensive examination of both relative and absolute reliability indices for short-distance sprints has been insufficient in youth contexts. One hundred ninety-eight youth athletes (128 males and 70 females) underwent 2 sprint attempts across 2 separate trials 24 hours apart and within 7 days of each other. The sprints were measured using dual-beam timing gates to capture split times for 0-4.57 meter (0-5 yards), 4.57-9.14 meter (5-10 yards), and 0-9.14 meter (0-10 yards). The minimal mean difference between the best sprint times across trials was 0.02 ± 0.13 seconds for males and 0.003 ± 0.14 seconds for females. No significant mean differences were found between trials for either gender (males: p = 0.0875; females: p = 0.8752), suggesting no systematic bias in sprint times. The SEM was 0.092 seconds for males and 0.099 seconds for females, with a corresponding SEMCV% of 4.6 and 4.8%. The overall coefficient of variation was 9.8% for males and 8.9% for females. Intraclass correlation coefficient values suggested that the sprint times across trials were reliable (males: 0.80; females: 0.76). The minimal detectable change was 0.25 seconds for males, 0.27 seconds for females. Cohen's d indicated trivial effects (<0.2) for males (0.154) and females (0.021). Minimal mean differences, a low SEM , and consistent ICC values demonstrate that the 0-9.14 meter sprint is a reliable assessment in youth athletes.

Sociodemographic disparities in postnatal care coverage at comprehensive health centers in Hamedan City.

Postnatal care (PNC) is a crucial component of continuous healthcare and can be influenced by sociodemographic factors. This study aimed to examine the sociodemographic disparities in PNC coverage in Hamedan City. In this cross-sectional study, we utilized existing data recorded in the Health Integrated System of Hamedan City, located in Iran, from 2020 to 2021. The study population consisted of 853 women who were over 15 years old and had given birth within the past 42 days. The Health Equity Assessment Toolkit (HEAT) software was used to evaluate the socioeconomic inequalities in PNC coverage. Overall, 531 (62.3%) of the women received three postnatal visits. The absolute concentration index (ACI) indicates that women aged 20-35 years, illiterate women, housewives, insured individuals, and urban residents experience a higher magnitude of inequality in PNC coverage. The negative values of the ACI suggest that the health index is concentrated among disadvantaged groups, with educational level inequalities being more pronounced than those related to age. Postnatal care coverage among mothers was relatively adequate; however, sociodemographic inequalities existed in the utilization of PNC services. It is recommended that policymakers make efforts to increase access to PNC services for mothers from low socio-economic groups.