Application of Madelung hydrodynamics to plasmonics and nonlinear optics in two-dimensional materials

This paper explores the application of Madelung hydrodynamic models to study two-dimensional electron gases, with a focus on nonlocal plasmonics and nonlinear optics. We begin by reviewing the derivation of the Madelung equations. Using the Madelung equations in conjunction with Poisson's equation, we calculate the spectrum of magnetoplasmons and the magneto-optical conductivity in the electrostatic regime, incorporating nonlocal corrections due to the Fermi pressure. In the absence of a magnetic field, we analyze nonlinear and nonlocal second-harmonic generation, demonstrating how plasmon excitation enhances this process. We further discuss the emergence of self-modulation phenomena driven by nonlinearity, leading to the renormalization of the plasmon dispersion. Notably, we show that nonlinearity amplifies nonlocal effects and, leveraging the hydrodynamic formalism, derive a simple analytic expression for the renormalized spectra.</p

Healthcare Staff Satisfaction with Hospital Service Robots in Denmark and South Korea

Service robots are becoming a common sight in hospital corridors in many developed countries, but their acceptance, the factors influencing it, and potential cultural differences between countries remain unclear. To investigate this, the authors examined the use of service robots in two hospitals, one in Denmark and the other in South Korea, through an exploratory study. The analysis was performed based on retrospective data including usage parameters and a survey was conducted to assess the attitudes of healthcare personnel toward blood sample and medication delivery robots. The survey found that the staff in both hospitals were positive regarding the deployment of such robots. Additionally, the results indicate that the individualization of robots may lead to higher agency and that swift removal of technical issues at deployment might positively influence longer-term satisfaction with the robots.</p

p16^INK4a and HPV E4 immunohistochemistry for the prediction of regression of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2—A historical cohort study

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 (CIN2) is a heterogeneous diagnosis with a high likelihood of spontaneous regression. Therefore, active surveillance for CIN2 has been implemented as an option in younger women in many countries. Yet, little is known about markers that may accurately predict the likelihood of regression to support active surveillance. Here, we aimed to assess whether p16INK4a and HPV E4 status are associated with the likelihood of CIN2 regression. We conducted a historical cohort study on women aged 23–40 diagnosed with untreated CIN2 following cytology-based screening. Women were diagnosed at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark from January 2000 to December 2010. Archived tissue samples were sectioned for p16INK4a and HPV E4 immunohistochemistry and HPV genotyping. We used a modified Poisson model to estimate the relative risk of regression, adjusting for age and cytology (aRR). A total of 443 women with CIN2 were included. Most women (73.8%) were aged ≤30, and half had a high-grade cytology (48.8%). Overall, 47.6% regressed, and regression was less likely in p16INK4a-positive compared to p16INK4a-negative women (aRR 0.77; 95% CI 0.64–0.94). Among p16INK4a-positive women, the risk of regression varied by HPV type and HPVE4 status, with lower risk in HPV16-positive women compared to those without (aRR 0.54; 95% CI 0.40–0.75) and in HPVE4-negative compared to HPVE4 positive women (aRR 0.73; 95% CI 0.54–0.98). When we restricted to expert-confirmed CIN2, the risk of regression did not vary by p16INK4a or HPVE4 status, while HPV16 positive remained at a lower risk of regression compared to women without HPV16.</p

Finding Thermodynamically Favorable Pathways in Chemical Reaction Networks Using Flows in Hypergraphs and Mixed-Integer Linear Programming

Finding pathways that optimize the formation of a particular target molecule in a chemical reaction network is a key problem in many settings, including reactor systems. Chemical reaction networks are mathematically well-represented as hypergraphs, a modeling that facilitates the search for pathways by computational means. We propose to enrich an existing search method for pathways by including thermodynamic principles. In more detail, we give a mixed-integer linear programming (mixed ILP) formulation of the search problem into which we integrate chemical potentials and concentrations for individual molecules, enabling us to constrain the search to return pathways containing only thermodynamically favorable reactions. Moreover, if multiple possible pathways are found, we can rank these by objective functions based on thermodynamics. As an example of use, we apply the framework to a chemical reaction network representing the HCN-formamide chemistry. Alternative pathways to the one currently hypothesized in literature are queried and enumerated, including some that score better according to our chosen objective function.</p

A systematic review of privacy‑preserving techniques for synthetic tabular health data

The amount of tabular health data being generated is rapidly increasing, which forces regulations to be put in place to ensure the privacy of individuals. However, the regulations restrict how data can be shared, limiting the research that can be conducted. Synthetic Data Generation (SDG) aims to solve that issue by generating data that mimics the statistical properties of real data without privacy concerns. Privacy is often assumed to exist in synthetic data without evaluating the model or the data. Accordingly, it is unclear how well various SDG methods preserve privacy. This review aims at uncovering how well privacy is preserved in tabular health data for different SDG methods and how privacy can be explicitly implemented in the SDG process. Relevant literature published from January 1, 2018–October 31, 2023 has been reviewed with a focus on privacy. The reported results and methods are compared to provide a standard frame of reference for future literature. The identified articles for the review total 32, with many explicitly implementing privacy constraints and all evaluating the privacy level. We found that methods for explicitly implementing privacy vary across generative models and identified a lack of standardization of privacy evaluation as an overarching theme. Our results show that SDG is a viable approach for ensuring patient confidentiality in tabular data. Still, to establish a solid foundation for future research, standardization of privacy evaluation is needed

Therapist experiences with implementation of blended (iCBT and face-to-face) treatment of alcohol use disorder (Blend-A):Mixed methods study

Introduction: Though therapists' experiences of offering internet-based treatment for alcohol use disorder have been examined in previous studies, the process of implementing blended internet-based and face-to-face treatment has so far not been studied. This study aims to investigate therapist experiences during implementation of blended face-to-face and internet-based treatment for alcohol use disorder. Methods: The study employed a mixed methods design, more specifically a triangulation design with a convergence model. Quantitative data using NoMAD were collected in two waves, involving 48 therapists at the 1st wave and 18 at the 2nd wave. Qualitative interviews were conducted six months after the 2nd wave. Eleven therapists participated in focus group interviews for qualitative data collection, and an additional three semi-structured interviews were recorded, transcribed, and subsequently analyzed using the Normalization Process Theory. Results: We found that the therapists generally had a positive experience with implementing blended face-to-face and internet-based treatment for alcohol use disorder and that their motivation to implement increased. The therapists found it challenging to find coherence between digital and face-to-face treatment in the beginning of the implementation process; however, later in the process, they experienced sense-making. Furthermore, the therapists reflected on their own practice regarding the intervention, both in terms of the amount of time spent on the platform and how it was received by the patients. Moreover, the therapists perceived that if they had all been engaged in the intervention to begin with, it would have led to a shared understanding of the platform and collective ownership. Finally, through each of their individual experiences, the therapists had gained adequate knowledge of the digital intervention; thus, had come to each of their individual perceptions of the best way to incorporate the digital technology in their workday. Discussion: Familiarity and perceived normalcy of using Blend-A did not change significantly over time, but the cognitive attitude to Blend-A did. The therapists were optimistic about the possible use of a blended treatment format, and that this had a positive effect on the implementation process. Over time, the therapists developed confidence in benefits and disadvantages of a blended format.</p

A Bridge Between Cultures for Better Patient Care:A Qualitative Study of the Nurse-Led Rapid Response Team

IntroductionRapid Response Teams (RRTs) are crucial for patient safety, yet their effectiveness hinges on organisational factors, clinical culture, inter-professional collaboration and ward nurse attitudes. Understanding ward nurses' perceptions is vital for optimising RRT impact on patient care and safety culture.AimsThis study aimed to explore general ward registered nurses' perceptions of nurse-led RRTs, focusing on their collaborative experiences and reasons for team activation.MethodsA qualitative exploratory design was employed. Focus group interviews were conducted with 22 general ward nurses across three Danish hospitals, recruited via purposive sampling. A semi-structured interview guide facilitated discussions. Interpretive content analysis with a hermeneutical approach was used to identify key themes.ResultsParticipants expressed a predominantly positive perception of RRTs, encapsulated in the core theme: ‘A vital and dynamic resource, benefitting patient care and nursing practice’. Key categories included: ‘Perceiving patient safety as the main purpose of RRT’, ‘Supporting nurses' sense of security’, ‘Delivering practical assistance and teaching’, ‘Providing patient-centred care’ and ‘Fostering constructive communication and collaboration’. Nurses found experienced physicians supportive but expressed greater confidence in RRT-nurses compared to junior physicians. Frustration with a lack of physician involvement in treatment limitation and end-of-life care discussions was also noted.ConclusionsNurse-led RRTs are valued by ward nurses, providing essential support and bridging multidisciplinary collaboration and communication. However, limitations in the RRT's teaching role suggest a need for supplementary educational strategies. Shared decision-making regarding treatment limitation and end-of-life care is crucial for maximising RRT benefits.LimitationsFindings may have limited transferability due to the study's specific healthcare context

Screening for advanced steatotic liver disease

Steatotic liver disease often progresses asymptomatically, with the risk of advancing to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Early detection of advanced liver disease through screening presents an opportunity to prevent severe outcomes, if said screening is linked to effective intervention. This Review evaluates the feasibility of screening for advanced steatotic liver disease through the lens of the Wilson and Jungner criteria. The assessment focuses on the presence of a presymptomatic stage as a target for screening, advances in diagnostic tests, cost-effectiveness, the availability of effective treatments, and the difficult task of balancing harms against benefits of screening. Additional criteria are proposed to address contemporary challenges, including ensuring equitable access, implementing long-term programme evaluation, and developing strategies to minimise psychosocial harm. The long-term benefits of screening-particularly in reducing liver-related morbidity and mortality remain unclear-highlighting the need for large-scale randomised trials with long-term follow-up.</p