High Quality Research Articles

Comparative studies of metamorphic and strained InGaAs p-type semiconductor - intrinsic absorption layer - n-type semiconductor photodetector for low-temperature CH4 detection

This paper proposes two wavelength-extended InGaAs p-type semiconductor - intrinsic absorption layer - n-type semiconductor structures to achieve methane detection at low temperatures. The responsivity of the strained and metamorphic structures is 0.98 and 1.09 A/W at 20 °C. The strained structure detector can achieve a response level of 0.7 A/W in low-temperature environments above −10 °C. The metamorphic structure shows a responsivity not less than 0.8 A/W within the temperature span of −40 to 85 °C. The dark current of both devices is at the nA level at −10 V. The saturation optical power of the strained structure and the metamorphic structure is 13 and 17 mW at −0.5 V, respectively. The cut-off wavelength is 1690 and 1730 nm for the strained structure and the metamorphic structure. These two structures tested by x-ray diffraction have high crystalline quality. The strained structure has a root mean square roughness of 0.13 nm, while the metamorphic structure's roughness is 0.39 nm. These results suggest that both strained and metamorphic structures have promising applications in low-temperature probes.

Large-FoV 3D imaging of single-photon LiDAR at up to 12 km

Single-photon light detection and ranging (LiDAR) has emerged as a valuable technology for active imaging applications. The growing demand for wider applications has driven advancements in measurement range, imaging resolution, and field of view (FoV). Here, we present a high-resolution, large-FoV single-photon LiDAR system capable of panoramic imaging. The system employs continuous raster scanning with a single-photon detector array to achieve rapid measurements, while timing-based pixel segmentation ensures precise data organization. A histogram-folding-based data compression and reconstruction method was developed, resulting in a two-order-of-magnitude increase in processing speed during simulations while maintaining high image reconstruction quality. The experimental results demonstrated the system’s capacity for rapid, high-resolution, and large-FoV imaging, achieving a resolution of 7.2′′ across a 1.6∘×2.1∘ FoV (1052 × 803 pixels) for buildings up to 12 km, all captured and processed in just 10 min. This approach has great potential for use in environmental mapping and related fields.

Decoupled tip–tilt detection and steering of beamlets in a fiber laser array using sequential tagging lasers

The tiled fiber laser array is a promising architecture for power scaling and mitigation of atmospheric turbulence. Precise tip–tilt detection and steering of the beamlets in the array to guarantee effective overlap in the far-field is essential for high beam qualities. However, the beamlets are tightly coupled in the far-field, making it a major challenge to identify each other. Consequently, most researchers turn to indirect methods without tip–tilt detection. We propose what we believe to be a novel approach of decoupled tip–tilt detection and steering of the beamlets for a tiled fiber laser array. A pulsed tagging laser is divided and combined into each beamlet with difference pulse sequences. By synchronizing the tagging laser pulses and exposures of the far-field camera, only one spot of the tagging laser is detected in each image, whose location is coincident with its corresponding beamlet. Thereby, the beamlets are decoupled by different pulses. The pointing of each beamlet is then readily detected and steered individually. The proposed method is validated by experiments with a seven-beamlet adaptive fiber collimator array and proved efficient. This is the first, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, demonstration of direct and decoupled beamlet tip–tilt detection and steering in the far-field for a tiled fiber laser array.

THE IMPACT OF VASCULAR RISK FACTORS ON CEREBRAL AMYLOID ANGIOPATHY: A COHORT STUDY IN HEREDITARY CAA AND A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW IN SPORADIC CAA

Background: Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) has a remarkably variable disease course, even in monogenetic hereditary forms. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of vascular risk factors and their effect on disease onset and course in Dutch-type hereditary (D-)CAA and sporadic CAA. Methods: We performed a cohort study in D-CAA to investigate the association between vascular risk factors (hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, smoking and alcohol use) and age of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) onset and time of ICH recurrence with survival analyses. In addition, we performed a systematic review to assess the prevalence of vascular risk factors and their effect on clinical outcome in sporadic CAA. We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and COCHRANE Library, from 1987-2022 and included cohorts with ≥10 patients. We created forest plots, calculated pooled estimates and reported variability (heterogeneity plus sampling variability) and risk of bias. Results: We included 70 participants with D-CAA (47% women, mean age 53y). Sixteen (23%) had hypertension, 15 (21%) hypercholesterolemia, 45 (64%) were smokers and 61 (87%) used alcohol. We found no clear effect of vascular risk factors on age of first ICH (log-rank test hypertension: p=0.35, hypercholesterolemia: p=0.41, smoking: p=0.61 and alcohol use: p=0.55) or time until ICH recurrence (log-rank test hypertension: p=0.71, hypercholesterolemia: p=0.20 and smoking: p=0.71). We identified 25 out of 1234 screened papers that assessed the prevalence of risk factors in CAA and 6 that reported clinical outcomes. The pooled prevalence estimates of hypertension was 62% (95%CI:55%-69%), diabetes 17% (95%CI:14%-20%), dyslipidemia 32% (95%CI:23%-41%), and tobacco use 27% (95%CI:18%-36%). One study reported study diabetes and hypertension to be associated with a lower risk of recurrent ICH, whereas another study reported hypertension to be associated with an increased risk. All other studies showed no association between vascular risk factors and clinical outcome. High quality studies focusing on vascular risk factors were lacking. Conclusions: In patients with D-CAA and sporadic CAA the prevalence of vascular risk factors is high. Although this suggests an opportunity for prevention, there is no clear association between these risk factors and CAA-related ICH onset and recurrence.

Transitioning from traditional to robotic mowing affects turfgrass quality and broadleaf weeds on golf course fairways

AbstractOn European golf courses, small lightweight robotic mowers have recently been introduced for fairway and rough mowing. In this study, turfgrass quality and the coverage of broadleaf weeds in three cool‐season grasses were compared in response to robotic and traditional fairway mowing. Experiments with pure swards of red fescue (Festuca rubra L.), colonial bentgrass (Agrostis capillaris L.), and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) were carried out at NIBIO Landvik, Norway, to evaluate differences between lightweight robotic mowing and reel mowing. In a mixture of the three species turfgrass quality and the coverage of broadleaf weeds were compared in response to robotic and reel mowing at yearly fertilizer levels from 0 to 120 kg N ha−1. The results showed that both robotic and reel mowing were found to provide high turfgrass quality, while lower coverage of broadleaf weeds (predominantly white clover [Trifolium repens L.]) was found with robotic mowing independent of grass species. In the mixed stand, higher turfgrass quality was found with robotic mowing regardless of N rate, but N rates above 60 kg ha−1 year−1 were necessary to keep the coverage of white clover in fall on an acceptable low level. Our results suggest that robotic mowing can decrease the spread of white clover at a fairway mowing height of 15 mm, but more research is needed to clarify at which mowing heights, mowing frequencies, and fertilizer levels we can get the best competitiveness against broadleaf weeds on fairways with robotic mowing.

The genome of the cryopelagic Antarctic bald notothen, Trematomus borchgrevinki.

The Antarctic bald notothen, Trematomus borchgrevinki (family Nototheniidae) occupies a high latitude, ice-laden environment and represents an extreme example of cold-specialization among fishes. We present the first, high quality, chromosome-scale genome of a female T. borchgrevinki individual comprised of 23 putative chromosomes, the largest of which is 65 megabasepairs (Mbp) in length. The total length of the genome 935.13 Mbp, composed of 2,094 scaffolds, with a scaffold N50 of 42.67 Mbp. Annotation yielded 22,192 protein coding genes while 54.75% of the genome was occupied by repetitive elements; an analysis of repeats demonstrated that an expansion occurred in recent time. Conserved synteny analysis revealed that the genome architecture of T. borchgrevinki is largely maintained with other members of the notothenioid clade, although several significant translocations and inversions are present, including the fusion of orthologous chromosomes 8 and 11 into a single element. This genome will serve as a cold-specialized model for comparisons to other members of the notothenioid adaptive radiation.

Self-directed learning in Orthopaedic trainees and contextualisation of knowledge gaps, an exploratory study.

Self-Directed Learning (SDL) is a subjective concept with no universally agreed definition. The aim of this project was to obtain the perspectives of Orthopaedic trainee registrars on SDL. Seven Orthopaedic trainees in the Southwest Peninsula region were recruited in person by the primary author as an Orthopaedic trainee on the same programme as the participants. A one-hour Microsoft teams video interview was arranged at a mutually convenient time exploring several topics including learning resources, experiential learning, learning strategies, training programme requirements and assessment. The interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were coded using Corbin's and Strauss's published coding method and analysed to develop a model of SDL in this training context. Six learning stages were identified from the coded transcripts and these stages were like Knowles's stages of SDL. Participants felt less autonomous during the identification of knowledge gaps, goal setting and evaluation of learning stages. Participants perceived to have more control over the selection of strategies, and learning stages of SDL. The factors which influenced autonomy at various stages of SDL included supervisors, experiential learning opportunities, service provision competing with learning opportunities, training programme requirements and the power dynamic between trainees and supervisors. Self-advocacy by the trainees for experiential learning opportunities and for their progression was an additional action relevant to SDL that was evident. Online learning resources such as Orthobullets.com, YouTube videos, external revision courses, collaboration and webinars encouraged more autonomy with SDL. Although the United kingdom's Trauma and Orthopaedic curriculum is described as trainee led and SDL is encouraged, in practice Orthopaedic trainees felt limited autonomy with the various stages of SDL due to external factors including their level of experience and the training environment. Trainees' experiences around self-advocacy highlighted the importance of a collaborative and supportive learning culture emphasising dialogue, receiving high quality feedback, and openness for successful progression.

Stigma and Sexual Dissatisfaction in Middle-Aged and Older Sexual Minorities.

High sexual quality and activity predict psychological well-being in heterosexual middle-aged and older adults; however, these associations have not been documented in sexual minorities, who have faced lifelong stigma concerning their sexuality. This paper presents data from two secondary studies that explored the benefits of being sexually active and satisfied and the role of internalized homonegativity in a sample of middle-aged and older sexual minorities. Study 1 was a cross-sectional survey collected on 91 sexually active sexual minorities (ages 40-80) in same-sex relationships. Study 2 was a cross-sectional survey collected on 235 single and partnered sexual minorities (ages 40-90), which included sexually active (N = 101) and inactive (N = 134) participants. In Study 1, sexual satisfaction was associated with higher psychological well-being and dissatisfaction was more prominently associated with lower psychological well-being. In Study 2, we found that the sexually active participants had higher levels of psychological well-being, in addition to corroborating the Study 1 findings. Additionally, we also determined that sexual dissatisfaction was a mediator between internalized homonegativity and psychological well-being. These findings accentuate the benefits of retaining high sexual quality and activity for middle-aged and older sexual minorities. Although there are apparent advantages of being sexually satisfied, the relationship to psychological well-being is stronger and more of a concern for those who are dissatisfied, which is rooted in internalized homonegativity. These results can guide practitioners working with middle-aged and older sexual minorities to help them achieve successful aging trajectories by reducing their internalized homonegativity and promoting higher sexual quality.

WOUND MANAGEMENT, HEALING, AND EARLY PROSTHETIC REHABILITATION: PART 1 - A SCOPING REVIEW OF HEALING AND NON-HEALING DEFINITIONS

BACKGROUND: Following lower limb amputation, timely prosthetic fitting enhances mobility and quality of life. However, inconsistent definitions of surgical site healing complicate prosthesis readiness assessment and highlight the need for objective wound management measures. OBJECTIVE: This review aimed to compile definitions of healing and non-healing provided in the literature investigating biomarkers of healing of the tissues and structures found in the residual limbs of adults with amputation. METHODOLOGY: A scoping review was conducted following JBI and PRISMA-ScR guidance. Searches using “biomarkers,” “wound healing,” and “amputation” were performed on May 6, 2023, on Web of Science, Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, Scopus, Cochrane, PubMed, and CINAHL databases. Inclusion criteria were: 1) References to biomarkers and healing; 2) Residuum tissue healing; 3) Clear methodology with ethical approval; 4) Published from 2017 onwards. Articles were assessed for quality (QualSyst tool) and evidence level (JBI system). FINDINGS: Of 3,306 articles screened, 219 met the inclusion criteria and are reviewed in this article, with 77% rated strong quality. 43% of all included sources did not define healing, while the remainder used specific criteria including epithelialization (14%), wound size reduction (28%), gradings scales (3%), scarring (1%), absence of wound complications (2%), hydroxyproline levels (0.5%), no amputation (0.5%), or neovascularization (0.5%). 84% of included sources did not provide definitions of non-healing. Studies defining non-healing used criteria like wound complications (4%), the need for operative interventions (4%), or lack of wound size reduction (1%). For 10% of included sources, healing and non-healing definitions were considered not applicable given the research content. Total percentages exceed 100% for both healing and non-healing definitions because some sources used two definition classifications, such as epithelialization and wound size reduction. The findings indicate a lack of standardized definitions irrespective of study type. CONCLUSION: This review reveals significant gaps in current definitions of healing and non-healing, often based on superficial assessments that overlook deeper tissue healing and mechanical properties essential for prosthesis use. It emphasizes the need for comprehensive definitions incorporating biomarkers and psychosocial factors to improve wound management and post-amputation recovery. Layman's Abstract After a lower limb amputation, early prosthetic fitting can significantly improve quality of life. However, different definitions of surgical site healing make deciding when a prosthetic can be used difficult. This scoping review collected and compared definitions of healing and non-healing found in research about biological markers (biomarkers) that are used for tracking residual limb healing. On May 6, 2023, searches were conducted using terms like “biomarkers,” “wound healing,” and “amputation” across several databases. Studies were included if they discussed biomarkers, focused on residual limb healing, had clear methods and ethical approval, and were published during or after 2017. Of 3,306 articles screened, 219 met the criteria, with 77% rated as high quality. 43% of the included sources did not define healing. Definitions provided included new skin growth (14%), reduction in wound size (28%), grading scales (3%), scarring (1%), no complications (2%), hydroxyproline levels (0.5%), no need for amputation (0.5%), or new blood vessel formation (0.5%). 84% of sources did not define non-healing, with the remainder based on healing complications (4%), the need for more surgery (4%), or no reduction in wound size (1%). In 10% of included sources healing and non-healing definitions were considered not relevant to their research. Total percentages for healing and non-healing definitions exceeds 100% because some sources used two definitions, for example, new skin growth and reduction in wound size. Overall, the review shows gaps in definitions, many of which are too basic and ignore deeper tissue healing and factors needed for prosthetic use. More thorough definitions that include the physical, mental, and social sides of healing are needed to improve recovery. Article PDF Link: https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/cpoj/article/view/43715/33312 How To Cite: Williams-Reid H, Johannesson A, Buis A. Wound management, healing, and early prosthetic rehabilitation: Part 1 - A scoping review of healing and non-healing definitions. Canadian Prosthetics & Orthotics Journal. 2024; Volume 7, Issue 2, No.1. https://doi.org/10.33137/cpoj.v7i2.43715 Corresponding Author: Professor Arjan Buis, PhDDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland.E-Mail: arjan.buis@strath.ac.ukORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3947-293X

Lithographically-defined cavities with high quality and purcell factors

Abstract We introduce and analyze a lithographically defined cavity (Li-cavity) incorporating a buried mesa defect in a planar vertical structure, which induces transverse photonic confinement while enabling compatibility with electrical injection. We systematically investigate the influence of key cavity parameters on optical behavior and fundamental properties using a comprehensive three-dimensional optical model. Our analysis reveals that the Li-cavity exhibits low optical scattering, resulting in high Q and Purcell factors, even at sub-wavelength dimensions. Furthermore, the Li-cavity supports single-mode operation within a broader aperture size range compared to conventional cavity designs, promising enhanced optical power of single-mode emission. Adequately designed structures demonstrate superior Q and Purcell factors at wavelength scale sizes,- outperforming conventional micropillar cavities. These improved properties and customizable device characteristics stem from a simple fabrication process that precisely controls the cavity size, shape, and optical mode. Superior characteristics, along with its adaptability to diverse materials, wavelengths, and photonic integration platforms, promise a broad range of applications and potential adaptation of this design to diverse photonic devices.

Exploration of Digital Teaching Faced by Teachers in the Pandemic Era

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a significant shift to remote work and distance learning, requiring individuals to adapt to new technologies. This study analyzed data from 2,500 junior high school teachers in Chaiyi, Taiwan, revealing that high system service quality positively impacts teaching competencies, teacher involvement, and effectiveness. Despite advancements in digital tools, challenges such as equipment availability and varying teacher willingness hinder widespread adoption. Effective remote teaching requires ongoing support from institutions and the enhancement of teachers' digital literacy to ensure optimal learning outcomes.

Ultra minimally invasive surgical stabilization of Rib fractures (uMI-SSRF): reduction and fixation techniques to minimize the surgical wound.

Rib fractures are common in trauma patients, often leading to complications such as pneumonia and prolonged hospitalization. Surgical Stabilization of Rib Fractures (SSRF) has become increasingly prevalent in treating severe cases. However, traditional approaches, like posterolateral thoracotomy, are invasive and cause significant muscle damage. Recently, muscle-sparing minimally invasive techniques have been introduced, yet they still require advanced reduction and fixation techniques to avoid complications. This study presents an "ultra" minimally invasive SSRF (uMI-SSRF) technique designed to minimize surgical wounds and soft tissue damage while maintaining the benefits of rib fixation. This study involved 76 patients with multiple rib fractures treated using the uMI-SSRF technique between August 2021 and December 2023. Preoperative chest tomography with 3D reconstruction was used for surgical planning. The technique employed small incisions (3-5cm), muscle-sparing approaches, and advanced fixation techniques. Data on patient demographics, intraoperative details, and postoperative outcomes were collected. The mean patient age was 58 years, with 66% being male. On average, patients had 6.4 fractured ribs, and 3.5 ribs with 3.88 plates were fixed per surgery, achieving a fixation/fracture ratio of 59%. The average wound length was 4.2cm, with a mean operation time of 122min. Most patients required only one incision (74%). The median hospital length of stay was 7 days, with a pneumonia rate of 5%. No wound infections or implant-related complications were observed. The uMI-SSRF technique effectively reduces wound size and soft tissue damage in rib fracture stabilization while maintaining high fixation quality. This method shows promise for improving patient outcomes, reducing recovery time, and minimizing complications. Further studies with larger sample sizes and comparisons with other methods are warranted to verify the advantages of uMI-SSRF.

Harmony search algorithm to enhance approach to permutation flow shop scheduling problem

The permutation flow-shop scheduling problem (PFSP) is one of the widely analysed and investigated problems within the general field of scheduling, as its major focus is on the allocation and sequencing of a set of jobs across a set of machines in order to minimize the makespan or satisfy other criteria. This paper further generalizes the problem to the distributed permutation flow-shop scheduling problem (DPFSP), namely in a manufacturing system with multiple factories, where every factory employs identical machines; with the objective of achieving the least makespan at the worst factory in terms of processing time. We resolve the issue through a Harmony Search Algorithm (HSA), a metaheuristic model developed from the musical harmonisation concept, together with constraint programming techniques, including interval variables and non-adjacent constraints. The problemsolving algorithm incorporates a lower bound estimation heuristic for efficiently directing the search in the right possible solution zone. Performance evaluation on both the small benchmark and the large benchmark data set showed the ability of the HSA to perform the different assignment in various problem scenarios that include the different number of jobs, machines and factories to support them. Comparisons with the best-known values established the performance of the HSA algorithm in identifying high quality solutions for the PFSP in less computation time.

Neuroeducación en el aula

The present study seeks to establish the way in which neuroeducation can be used in classroom activities through a documentary review. Where it was found that early childhood is a fundamental stage of human development and, therefore, the Ministry of Education has given high priority to children from their conception to their first years of life. At this time, the brain undergoes an irreversible transformation. For it to grow and develop, going through sensitive moments for the acquisition of certain specific learning, millions of phenomenal neural connections are created. For this reason, it requires that external stimuli be of high quality, allowing children to live experiences according to each need, using physical resources and multisensory tools. It is crucial to understand that the brain develops properly considering the harmonious interaction between genetics and environmental cues. For this reason, the experiences lived by children are crucial because they allow the brain development process to be adjusted, resulting in positive or negative outcomes depending on whether adults are present in children’s lives.

Volunteer Accuracy in a Benthic Macroinvertebrate Participatory Science Project

Concerns about the accuracy of volunteer-derived aquatic macroinvertebrate identifications and the resulting influence on calculated water quality metrics can limit use of volunteer-generated data in freshwater-focused participatory science programs. To address these concerns, we assessed 357 benthic macroinvertebrate quality control (QC) samples collected by volunteers using leaf packs, kick nets, and visual assessments between 2011 and 2016 for the Environmental Quality Institute (EQI) in North Carolina, USA. We reviewed each sample for quality, and compared macroinvertebrate identifications and water quality metric scores determined by volunteers to identification and metrics determined by an entomologist. About 80% of the QC samples were identified to be of high quality, indicating proper preparation, preservation, and labeling of samples. The majority of samples that received low quality ratings were improperly or poorly preserved. We recommend use of 95% (rather than 70%) ethanol for macroinvertebrate preservation, and increased communication to volunteers during QC sampling periods to enhance their success in properly preserving samples. We observed significant (p < 0.005) linear relationships between volunteer and entomologist-derived water quality metrics including a biotic index, Taxa Richness, and percent intolerant Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) taxa. However, visual assessments – those in which no sampling equipment was used to collect aquatic macroinvertebrates – reduced the goodness of fit between volunteer and entomologist-derived biotic index scores and artificially increased the goodness of fit between volunteer and entomologist derived Taxa Richness and percent EPT scores. We recommend calculating water quality metrics based only on leaf pack and kick net samples collected by volunteers.

Disparities in Vaccination Amongst Socially Vulnerable Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Social determinants of health (SDOH) have a known impact on disparities in vaccination. Despite an increased risk for infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), SDOH and vaccination in this population have not been studied. Using census tract-level data from the Centers for Disease Control's social vulnerability index (SVI), we aimed to understand the relationship between SDOH and adherence to guideline-recommended vaccinations in patients with IBD. A single-center retrospective cohort of patients with IBD was used to geocode patient addresses to their individual census tract and corresponding SVI and subthemes (Socioeconomic Status, Household Composition, Minority Status, and Housing/Transportation). We used separate multivariable logistic regressions to examine the relationship between SVI and vaccination against influenza, COVID-19, pneumococcal pneumonia, and herpes zoster. A total of 7,036 patients were included. Rates of vaccination varied across vaccine-types: influenza (57%), COVID-19 (65%), pneumococcal pneumonia (58%), and herpes zoster (11%). High social vulnerability was associated with lower odds of vaccination against influenza (OR 0.47, p < 0.001), COVID-19 (OR 0.54, p < 0.001), pneumonia (OR 0.73, p = 0.012), and herpes zoster (OR 0.39, p < 0.001). Within the SVI subthemes, Socioeconomic Status, Household Composition, and Minority Status were important factors associated with differences in vaccine uptake. Higher social vulnerability was associated with lower rates of vaccination across all vaccine types. Identifying these disparities in vaccination for socially vulnerable patients with IBD is the first step to reducing preventable infections and ensuring all patients receive high quality, equitable care.

A Metric-Based Detection System for Large Language Model Texts

More efforts are being put into improving Large Language Models’ (LLM) capabilities than into dealing with their implications. Current LLMs are able to generate high quality texts seemingly indistinguishable from those written by human experts. While offering great potentials, such breakthroughs also pose new challenges for safe and ethical uses of LLMs in education, science, and a multitude of other areas. To add up, the majority of current approaches in LLM text detection are either computationally expensive or need access to the LLMs’ internal computations, both of which hinder their public accessibility. With such motivation, this paper presents a novel metric learning paradigm for detection of LLM-generated texts that is able to balance among computational costs, accessibility, and performances. Specifically, the detection is based on learning a similarity function between a given text and an equivalent example generated by LLMs that outputs high values for LLM-LLM text pairs and low values for LLM-human text pairs. In terms of architecture, the detection framework includes a pretrained language model for the text embedding task and a newly designed deep metric model. The metric component can be trained on triplets or pairs of same-context instances to signify the distances between human texts and LLM ones while reducing that among LLM texts. Next, we develop five datasets totalling over 95,000 contexts and triplets of responses in which one from human and two from GPT-3.5 TURBO or GPT-4 TURBO for benchmarking. Experiment studies show that our best architectures maintain F1 scores in between 0.87 to 0.95 across the tested corpora in multiple experiment settings. The metric framework also demands significantly less time in training and inference compared to the RoBERTa, LLaMA 3, Mistral v0.3, and Ghostbuster, while keeping 90% to 150% performances of the best benchmark.

Optically Transparent Complex-Amplitude Metasurface for Full-Space Manipulation of Frequency-Multiplexed Holographic Imaging.

Restricted by the physical properties of materials, most traditional metasurfaces (MSs) cannot achieve transparent stealth in the visible spectrum. Although some metasurfaces for holography have been designed, there is no standard method for evaluating the advancement of wavefront manipulation under different design algorithms. Here, a complex-amplitude metasurface with optical transparency (OT) and full-space manipulation is presented in the millimeterwave band. Through frequency multiplexing, two holographic images "HOLO" and "GRAM" with high quality are designed, achieving the signal-to-noise ratios of 14.6 and 14.4 dB, respectively. The 64 × 64 bilayered metasurface consists of glass and poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) substrates and three metallic mesh layers. By change of the opening size and oriented angle of split rings, phase and amplitude modulations are independently realized. Besides, a new method is provided to assess the superiority of the metasurface holography system for near-field energy regulation. The prototype was fabricated using micro-nano-technology and tested. Two holographic images were experimentally demonstrated and show good agreement with theoretical calculations and simulated results. With the advantages of OT and full-space complex-amplitude customization, the proposed metasurface holograms for frequency-multiplexed may find prospective application aspects in target perception, multichannel data storage and encryption, and many other related fields.

Light up heart-type fatty acid binding protein (FABP3) with a novel fluorine-18 labelled selective FABP3 ligand.

Heart-type fatty acid binding proteins (FABP3) constitute a family of lipid chaperone proteins. They are found in the cytosol and enhance cellular fatty acid solubilisation, transport, and metabolism. FABP3 is highly expressed in the myocardium and is released from myocytes during myocardial damage. As FABP3 content in the myocardium is closely related to the metabolic state of fatty acids, we hypothesised that targeting of FABP3 with a radiolabelled small organic compound would visualise myocardium. The selective FABP3 inhibitor, 4-(4-fluoro-2-(1-phenyl-5-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)phenoxy)butanoic acid (LUF), was radiolabelled via a two-step reaction comprising copper-mediated 18F-fluorination of an arylboronic precursor followed by alkaline hydrolysis of the ethoxy protecting group. [18F]LUF was successfully synthesised by automated synthesiser with sufficient activity yields (14.0 ± 1.8 GBq) and high quality (molar activity, > 250 GBq/µmol and radiochemical purity, > 99.6%). Biological assessment of [18F]LUF as an in vivo myocardial imaging agent included evaluations of biodistribution, metabolite analysis, and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of small animals. [18F]LUF clearly visualised the myocardium with high contrast against background tissues such as the lung and liver. [18F]LUF also showed a high absolute myocardial uptake equivalent to that of the promising myocardial perfusion tracer [18F]flurpiridaz and excellent metabolic stability in the body. These properties are ideal for stable and noise-less imaging of the heart. PET imaging of rat surgical permanent myocardial infarction (MI) and experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) was also performed. [18F]LUF successfully visualised lesions of permanent MI and EAM. Our results showed for the first time that the 18F-labelled FABP3 selective small organic compound clearly visualised myocardium with good quality. To determine the clinical utility of [18F]LUF for cardiovascular disease in clinical practice, it will be necessary to evaluate a greater variety of cardiovascular disease models and elucidate the accumulation mechanism, particularly in relation to fatty acid metabolism in the myocardium.

Endodontic treatment modifies circulatory inflammatory mediator levels: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

There is limited and conflicting data on the reduction of circulatory inflammatory mediators in patients with apical periodontitis (AP) following endodontic treatment. To answer the following research question: in adult healthy patients with AP [Population (P)], is there a difference before [Comparator (C)] and after various endodontic treatments (nonsurgical, surgical or retreatment) [Intervention (I)] on systemic levels of inflammatory biomarkers [Outcome (O)] in the follow-up period[Time (T)]? An electronic literature search was conducted in the databases Scopus, PubMed, Clarivate Analytics' Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Grey literature from inception to July 2024 with no language restrictions. Observational studies examining changes in serum levels of inflammatory mediators were included. Two independent reviewers selected studies, extracted data and critically appraised the included studies. Qualitative and quantitative (meta-analysis) data synthesis methods were employed. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of the included studies. Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria, of which six were included in the meta-analysis. These studies were published between 1992 and 2024, involving a total of 596 patients (54% females) aged between 16 and 75 years. The meta-analysis of pooled data showed a significant decrease in high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in the serum of patients with AP 6 months after treatment [2.26 ± 1.76 versus 1.28 ± 1.06 mg/L, (Z = 2.03, p = .04)] and a decrease in interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels 12 months after treatment [13.01 ± 5.95 versus 10.86 ± 3.52 pg/mL, (Z = 3.72, p < .01)]. One study was assessed as poor quality, while all others were considered high quality. Despite the differences in methodologies across the included studies, it has been established that effective endodontic treatment leads to a reduction in systemic inflammatory biomarkers in the body. Following effective endodontic treatment in patients with AP, the systemic levels of hs-CRP and IL-1β exhibit a significant reduction at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Further clinical studies should investigate whether effective endodontic treatment and reduced levels of investigated biomarkers may change the clinical presentation of systemic diseases. PROSPERO database (CRD42024559271).