bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SUBALTERNAS NUNCA MAIS! O GRITO DECOLONIAL DAS ESCRITORAS INDÍGENAS BRASILEIRAS
Authors: Melo Carlos Augusto De , Silva Filho Joel Vieira da
Published: October 2021

Esta proposta de trabalho tem por objetivo refletir sobre as experiências de subalternidade e os seus desdobramentos epistemológicos pelos quais as mulheres indígenas têm vivido na sociedade brasileira, a partir das produções literários de escritoras que se declaram representantes desse grupo étnico, em mais evidência no século XXI. Considerando o que, em seu célebre ensaio Pode o subalterno falar?, Spivak (2010) destaca sobre os mais acentuados processos de subalternização aos quais, ao longo dos séculos, as mulheres são submetidas por questões de gênero, etnia e classe social, – pretendemos discutir a respeito do difícil papel de existência e visibilidade das mulheres indígenas na história da literatura brasileira, o que reflete, inequivocamente, questões de ordem político-social. Assim, este texto parte dessa inquietação para propormos uma leitura literária sobre a importância feminina – em alguns pontos feminista – das escritoras indígenas que, nas últimas décadas, vêm se posicionando contra essa subalternidade imposta pelo pensamento colonial ainda reproduzido na contemporaneidade. Levaremos em conta os protagonismos de Márcia Kambeba, Eliane Potiguara e Graça Graúna, cujas literaturas apresentam necessários posicionamentos de denúncia, de autoafirmação em constante relação ancestral, de uma forma que decolonizam a sociedade e a literatura. Como apoio teórico recorreremos aos estudos de: María Lugones, Catherine Walsh, Aníbal Quijano, entre
What is a tilt table test and why is it performed during the investigation of syncope?
Authors: White Laura , Jones Howell T , Davies Anne
Published: October 2021

Falls are one of the most common reasons for patients to present to the emergency department. Syncope is a common cause of falls, which disproportionately affects older people. In most cases, syncope can be confirmed with a detailed history and simple bedside tests, but tilt table testing remains an invaluable diagnostic adjunct in more complex cases. Often misunderstood, the tilt table test is a useful way to reproduce a patient’s symptoms in a safe and controlled environment. The tilt table test is considered positive if the patient experiences symptoms associated with a drop in blood pressure or postural tachycardia. The test can support a diagnosis and can direct therapeutic interventions.
Chemical characteristics of Falcataria moluccana wood infested by Boktor stem borer (Xystrocera festiva)
Authors: HANEDA NOOR FARIKHAH , SUPRIATNA ASEP HENDRA , SHABRINA HASYYATI , Istikorini Yunik , Siregar Ulfah J , Wahyudi Imam
Published: October 2021

Abstract. Haneda NF, Supriatna AH, Shabrina H, Istikorini Y, Siregar UJ, Wahyudi I. 2021. Chemical characteristics of Falcataria moluccana wood infested by Boktor stem borer (Xystrocera festiva). Biodiversitas 22: 4203-4208. Boktor (Xystrocera festiva Thoms.) is the most destructive and detrimental pest in Falcata plantations in Indonesia. It attacks the inner bark of sapwood when the tree reaches 3-years-old. This study aimed to analyze the chemical characteristics of Falcata woods, which were infested with Boktor in trees aged 3 and 4 years, compared to the healthy tree at 2 years old. The primary chemical components and type of extractive compounds were analyzed using standard procedures. The results showed a decrease in hemicellulose and an increase in lignin content of infected wood. This condition occurs because Boktor larvae prefer hemicellulose rather than lignin, which is related to the presence of enzymes in the digestive system of the larvae. The decreasing extractive contents as trees grow and undergo age-related shifting metabolism can be alleged as the start of Boktor infestation in 3-years-old trees. Boktor infestation also altering the wood chemical components by degrading the lignin that produced 4-vinyl-syringol. The isoeugenol compound is thought to prevent Boktor infestation in the early period of tree growth.
Ethnoveterinary study of medicinal plants used for cattle treatment in Bojonegoro District, East Java, Indonesia
Authors: Pratama Anggi Muhtar , HERAWATI OKTI , NABILA ALIFAH NUHA , BELINDA THEODORA ATHALIA , WIJAYANTI AGUSTINA DWI
Published: October 2021

Abstract. Pratama AM, Herawati O, Nabila AN, Belinda TA, Wijayanti AD. 2021. Ethnoveterinary study of medicinal plants used for cattle treatment in Bojonegoro District, East Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 22: 4236-4245. Bojonegoro is a rural district in Indonesia's East Java Province where farming and cattle rearing are the main economic activities. The Bojonegoro District's cattle producers employ some medicinal plants specifically for the treatment of bovine illnesses. However, no data has been reported thus far. The goal of this research was to find and document ethnoveterinary medicinal herbs for cattle cures in the Bojonegoro District. A total of 41 cattle breeders were interviewed for the study. To collect demographic and ethnoveterinary medicinal plant data, each informant was interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire in the native language of each informant. The stastitical analysis in this study include informant consensus (Fic), Fidelity Level (FL), and Plant Part Frequency (PPF). Approximately 78.00% of the respondents are between the ages of 30 and 50, with 36.59% having only graduated from senior high school. The Peranakan Ongole (PO) is the most common breed preserved by cattle breeders. In the study area, 41 ethnoveterinary medicinal plants were mentioned by male respondents to cure cattle health problems. Digestive illnesses are the most frequent ailments in cattle treated with medicinal plants. Curcuma longa L. was the most commonly mentioned medicinal plant. A majority of the source ethnoveterinary medicinal plants were cultivated on-site and the leaves of these plants were most often used.
Leaf geometric morphometric analyses of Callicarpa and Geunsia (Lamiaceae) in the Malesian region
Authors: Danila Jennifer , ALEJANDRO GRECEBIO JONATHAN D.
Published: October 2021

Abstract. Danila JS, Alejandro GJD. 2021. Leaf geometric morphometric analyses of Callicarpa and Geunsia (Lamiaceae) in the Malesian region. Biodiversitas 22: 4379-4390. Leaves are one of the most substantial organs of plants for it serves as a basis of species identification. Leaf morphology provides distinguishing features that help in the discrimination of plant species as well as investigation of leaf features among populations. This study aimed to investigate leaf shape variations between the two genera Geunsia Blume group and its closely related taxon, Callicarpa L. (Lamiaceae) using a landmark-based geometric morphometric method. The differences in the leaf shape among former members of Geunsia, namely C. apoensis, C. basilanensis, C. flavida, C. paloensis, C. pentandra, C. ramiflora, and C. surigaensis are also evaluated. Two primary landmarks and 14 semilandmarks were assigned in all samples to represent changes around the leaf margin. The Procrustes fit was generated using MorphoJ software which displays the mean and landmark position for individual configurations. Canonical Variate Analysis (CVA) and Mahalanobis Distance (MD) were able to discriminate all samples of Geunsia species using a scatter plot. Furthermore, Procrustes ANOVA showed a significant difference (P = 0.0082) among the seven species of the Geunsia group. Based on the results obtained, geometric morphometrics of leaf shape is effective in interspecific discrimination within members of Geunsia. However, the result of Discriminant Analysis (DA) showed that Geunsia and Callicarpa groups made leaf shape differences inefficient in discriminating the two genera. Therefore, further morphological studies on landmark-based geometric morphometrics of leaf shape involving a larger number of samples especially in the study of intergeneric classification are suggested.
Lesser-known ethnic leafy vegetables Talinum paniculatum grown at tropical ecosystem: Morphological traits and non-destructive estimation of total leaf area per branch
Authors: Lakitan Benyamin , Kartika Kartika , Widuri Laily Ilman , Siaga Erna , Fadilah Lya Nailatul
Published: October 2021

Abstract. Lakitan B, Kartika K, Widuri LI, Siaga E, Fadilah LN. 2021. Lesser-known ethnic leafy vegetables Talinum paniculatum grown at tropical ecosystem: Morphological traits and non-destructive estimation of total leaf area per branch. Biodiversitas 22: 4487-4495. Talinum paniculatum known as Java ginseng is an ethnic vegetable in Indonesia that has also been utilized as a medical plant. Young leaves are the primary economic part of T. paniculatum, which can be eaten fresh or cooked. This study was focused on characterizing morphological traits of T. panicultaum and developing a non-destructive yet accurate and reliable model for predicting total area per leaf cluster on each elongated branch per flush growth cycle. The non-destructive approach allows frequent and timely measurements. In addition, the developed model can be used as guidance for deciding the time to harvest for optimum yield. Results indicated that T. paniculatum flourished rapidly under wet tropical conditions, especially if they were propagated using stem cuttings. The plants produced more than 50 branches and more than 800 leaves, or on average produced more than 15 leaves per branch at the age of nine weeks after planting (WAP). The zero-intercept linear model using a combination of two traits of length x width (LW) as a predictor was accurate and reliable for predicting a single leaf area (R2 = 0.997). Meanwhile, the estimation of total area per leaf cluster was more accurate if three traits, i.e., number of leaves, the longest leaf, and the widest leaf in each cluster were used as predictors with the zero-intercept linear regression model (R2 = 0.984). However, the use of a single trait of length (L) and width (W) of the largest leaf within each cluster as a predictor in the power regression model exhibited moderately accurate prediction at the R2 = 0.883 and 0.724, respectively.
Identification of lipase producing bacteria from palm oil sewage sludge processing plant at Malimping, Banten, Indonesia
Authors: Rahmatul Layly Ika , MERYANDINI ANJA , HELIANTI IS , ASTUTI RIKA INDRI
Published: October 2021

Abstract. Layli IR, Meryandini A, Helianti I, Astuti RI. 2021. Identification of lipase-producing bacteria from palm oil sewage sludge processing plant at Malimping, Banten, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 22: 4512-4524. Lipase (triacylglycerol hydrolase E.C.3.1.1.3) is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis reaction of triacylglycerol into free fatty acids and glycerols. Lipase has broad application spectrum and unique catalytic mechanism, as one of important enzymes for industries, and almost all enzymes used for industries are originated from microbes. Identification of lipase-producing bacteria from palm oil processing sewage sludge was carried out to determine the potential of isolates and the application of lipase enzymes for industry. This study identified lipase-producing bacteria from the screening and isolation results from palm oil sewage sludge in Malimping-Banten. Two isolates were obtained from screening and isolation results. The morphological and observation and Gram staining method resulted in mlp-1 colony isolate was Gram-negative with basil cell shape, while mlp-2 colony isolate was Gram-positive with basil cell shape. Qualitative test on two isolates in tributyrin agar showed that two isolates produced clear zone or lipase enzyme. Molecular identification using 16SrRNA sequence showed that mlp-1 colony isolate was Chryseobacterium gleum, while mlp-2 colony was Bacillus velezensis. Literature study stated that Chryseobacterium gleum are pathogenic bacteria, resulting in uncontinued identification process, while Bacillus velezensis are non-pathogenic bacteria that have potential for industrial application. Identification of Bacillus velezensis was continued by performing biochemical test and inhibitory test. The continued identification results supported the molecular identification of lipase-producing enzyme for Bacillus velezensis.
The ethnomedicinal plants used for human ailments at Mojana Wodera District, central Ethiopia
Authors: Abebe Mikiyas
Published: October 2021

Abstract. Abebe M. 2021. The ethnomedicinal plants used for human ailments at Mojana Wodera District, central Ethiopia. Biodiversitas 22: 4676-4686. An ethnobotanical study was carried out from March 2020 to February 2021 in selected sites of Mojana Wodera District to assess, identifying, and document medicinal plants to treat human ailments. Purposely and volunteer sampling techniques were applied to select 73 practitioners. Of those, 10 practitioners were key informants. Data was collected from informants using semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, participant observation, and walk-in-the-word. The collected data were entered into an excel spreadsheet for statistical analysis. ANOVA and t-test were applied to compare the knowledge of the informants in different groups. ICF and FL values were calculated to identify the most common human ailments and heal the potential of medicinal plants. The result showed that a higher average (p< 0.05) was recorded for crucial informants, illiterate and higher aged group. Still, there was a significant difference between male and female informants (p=0.032) on knowledge of medicinal plants. A total of 45 medicinal plant species (41 genera and 27 families) were identified to treat 35 types of ailments. From this total, 15.6% were endemic for Ethiopia. Family Euphorbiaceae was dominant (11.1%) for this study. In the finding, the leaf was the most widely plant part which is used to prepare remedies (29.79%), followed by root (28.72%), and the most popular remedy preparation was pounding (31.18%). A higher ICF value (0.78) was recorded for dermatological category ailments, and the highest FL (94.12%) occurred for Laggera tomentosa, which was under the therapeutic category of the throat and respiratory.
Dissolved gas sensing using an anti-resonant hollow core optical fiber
Authors: Kapit Jason , Michel Anna P. M.
Published: October 2021

Sensors that measure dissolved gases directly are needed for
environmental, industrial, and biomedical applications. Here we
present a hollow core fiber optic sensor capable of measuring
dissolved methane gas in liquids using only nanoliters of sample gas.
The sensor is based on an anti-resonant hollow core fiber combined
with a permeable capillary membrane inlet that extracts gas from the
liquid for analysis. Using a small capillary inlet for gas extraction
is only possible due to the small amount of sample gas needed for
analysis, and it presents new possibilities for dissolved gas analysis
in a simple, robust, and compact sensor configuration. We demonstrate
the sensing technique using wavelength modulation spectroscopy and
measure methane dissolved in water with a

1

σ

lower detection limit of 230 ppb, a
resolution of 45 ppb, and a response time of

∼

8

min

.
Shaping of picosecond laser pulses with THz intensity modulation in the infrared, visible, and ultraviolet ranges
Authors: Kuzmin I. V. , Mironov S. Yu. , Martyanov M. A. , Potemkin A. K. , Khazanov E. A.
Published: October 2021

The methods of shaping picosecond laser pulses with periodic intensity modulation tunable in frequency and depth are considered. Schemes for shaping modulated pulses “in-line” and with one output port are proposed. A picosecond modulation of the time envelope for IR laser pulses using a polarization interferometer is demonstrated experimentally. Shaping of modulated laser pulses of the UV range is shown by numerical modeling. The possibility to control the modulation depth of the fourth harmonic under the combined impact of material dispersion and nonlinear conversion in a classical collinear scheme of the fourth harmonic generation without distortion of the 3D pulse shape is demonstrated.
Intensity-only-measurement mode decomposition in few-mode fibers
Authors: Manuylovich Egor , Donodin Aleksandr , Turitsyn Sergei
Published: October 2021

Recovery of optical phases using direct intensity detection methods is an ill-posed problem and some prior information is required to regularize it. In the case of multi-mode fibers, the known structure of eigenmodes is used to recover optical field and find mode decomposition by measuring intensity distribution. Here we demonstrate numerically and experimentally a mode decomposition technique that outperforms the fastest previously published method in terms of the number of modes while showing the same decomposition speed. This technique improves signal-to-noise ratio by 10 dB for a 3-mode fiber and by 7.5 dB for a 5-mode fiber.
Focal surface occlusion
Authors: Hiroi Yuichi , Kaminokado Takumi , Ono Shunsuke , Itoh Yuta
Published: October 2021

This paper proposes focal surface occlusion to provide focal cues of occlusion masks for multiple virtual objects at continuous depths in an occlusion-capable optical see-through head-mounted display. A phase-only spatial light modulator (PSLM) that acts as a dynamic free-form lens is used to conform the focal surface of an occlusion mask to the geometry of the virtual scene. To reproduce multiple and continuous focal blurs while reducing the distortion of the see-through view, an optical design based on afocal optics and edge-based optimization to exploit a property of the occlusion mask is established. The prototype with the PSLM and transmissive liquid crystal display can reproduce the focus blur of occluded objects at multiple and continuous depths with a field of view of 14.6°.
Research on a method of eliminating the line broadening caused by the wavelength shift based on the first harmonic
Authors: Qi-xing Tang , Yu-jun Zhang , Dong Chen , Ying He
Published: October 2021

Using laser spectroscopy for gas detection, short-term rapid changes in ambient temperature, system noise, and circuit aging are likely to cause line broadening, which affects the accuracy of gas concentration measurement. Firstly, the correction method of the impact on line broadening is analyzed theoretically. A method is proposed to eliminate the line broadening caused by the wavelength shift based on the first harmonic detection. After removing the background noise and filtering, the standard harmonic fitting and broadening elimination are carried out. Meanwhile, a methane gas detection system is established and experiments are conducted. The experimental results show that after the standard harmonic fitting, the maximum value of the baseline is reduced from 2 to 0.078, and the maximum absolute value of the baseline in the absorption-free region is reduced from 2.07 to 0.072. The standard deviation after the broadening correction is 0.047, and the standard deviation without considering the effect of broadening is 0.203, which proves that the accuracy of trace gas detection is improved and has good engineering practical value.
Influence of temperature-salinity-depth structure of the upper-ocean on the frequency shift of Brillouin LiDAR
Authors: Xu Ning , Liu Zhiqiang , Zhang Xianda , Xu Yupeng , Luo Ningning , Li Shujing , Xu Jinjun , He Xingdao , Shi Jiulin
Published: October 2021

Brillouin-based LiDAR is an alternative remote sensing technique for measuring the distribution profiles of temperature, salinity, and sound speed in the upper ocean mixed layer. Its principle is based on the dependence of Brillouin frequency shift on the temperature, salinity, and depth of ocean. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the effect of various seawater parameters on Brillouin frequency shift for ocean remote sensing by using the Brillouin LiDAR. Here we theoretically and experimentally investigate the influence of temperature, salinity, and pressure (depth) of seawater on Brillouin frequency shift in the upper ocean for the first time. Numerical simulations of the distribution profiles of temperature, salinity, and Brillouin frequency shift in the upper-ocean mixed layers of East China Sea and South China Sea were performed, respectively, by employing the Brillouin equations and the World Ocean Atlas 2018 (WOA18). A special ocean simulation system was designed to carry out the stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) experiments for validating the numerical simulations. The results show that the seawater temperature is the most important factor for the Brillouin frequency shift in the upper-ocean mixed layer compared with the salinity and pressure. At the same salinity and pressure, the frequency shift increases by more than 10 MHz for every 1 °C increase in temperature. Also, the differences of Brillouin frequency shift between experimental and theoretical values at the same parameter conditions were analyzed. The experimental results coincide well with the theoretical simulations. This work is essential to future applications of Brillouin LiDAR in remote sensing of the temperature, salinity, or sound velocity profiles of ocean.
Spin memory effect in charged single telecom quantum dots: erratum
Authors: Podemski Paweł , Gawełczyk Michał , Wyborski Paweł , Salamon Hanna , Burakowski Marek , Musiał Anna , Reithmaier Johann Peter , Benyoucef Mohamed , Sęk Grzegorz
Published: October 2021

This erratum corrects the value of the wetting layer thickness provided in our Article [Opt. Express 29, 34024 (2021)10.1364/OE.438708]. This misprint does not influence the results and conclusions presented in the original Article.
Amplification of femtosecond pulses based on χ(3) nonlinear susceptibility in MgO
Authors: Jayalath Arachchige Chathurangani , Stephen Jacob A. , Hammond T. J.
Published: October 2021

We experimentally demonstrate large, widely tunable gain using Kerr instability amplification in MgO. By pumping the crystal near optical damage at

1.4
×

10

13

W

/

c
m

2

by a femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser, we amplify visible and near-infrared pulses by factors

>

5000

or a gain

g
≈

17

/

m
m

. We temporally characterize the pulses to show that they are 42 fs in duration, much shorter than the pump pulse. In the non-collinear setup, the angle between the pump and seed selects the amplified wavelength, where we find certain angles amplify both the visible and near-infrared simultaneously. We find that near the maximum pumping intensities, higher-order nonlinearities may play a role in the amplification process.
Er:KY3F10 laser at 2.80  µm
Authors: Basyrova Liza , Loiko Pavel , Doualan Jean-Louis , Benayad Abdelmjid , Braud Alain , Labbé Christophe , Camy Patrice
Published: October 2021

We report on the mid-infrared laser operation of a cubic 15 at.%

E
r

3
+

:

K
Y

3

F

10

crystal. In the quasi-continuous-wave regime, the peak power reaches 255 mW at 2.80 µm (the

4

I

11

/

2

→

4

I

13

/

2

transition) with a slope efficiency of 10.9% and a laser threshold of 58 mW. Two pumping schemes (to the

4

I

11

/

2

and

4

I

9

/

2

states) are compared. The emission properties of the

E
r

3
+

ions in

K
Y

3

F

10

are studied, indicating high stimulated-emission cross-section of

0.57

×

10

−
20

c
m

2

at 2.80 µm, a large gain bandwidth of 40 nm, and a long

4

I

11

/

2

state lifetime of 4.64 ms.
Trans-spectral vector beam nonlinear conversion via parametric four-wave mixing in alkali vapor
Authors: Pan Churong , Yang Chengdong , Hu Huajie , Wang Jinwen , Zhang Yingxin , Qin Yan , Wei Dong , Chen Haixia , Gao Hong , Li Fuli
Published: October 2021

Coherent frequency conversion of vector beams (VBs) without distorting
their intensity profile or spatial polarization distribution is
important for novel applications in quantum and classical regimes.
Here, we experimentally and theoretically investigate VB transfer from
near-infrared to blue light using a Sagnac interferometer, combining
the parametric four-wave mixing process in atomic vapor. The vector
probe beam is converted into a completely different wavelength, and
the vector mode of the generated blue beam is highly similar to the
incident probe beam. These results may provide a feasible solution for
communication interfaces in classical and quantum science fields based
on atomic ensembles.
Prevalence and health correlates of Onine Fatigue: A cross-sectional study on the Italian academic community during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Bonanomi Andrea , Facchin Federica , Barello Serena , Villani Daniela
Published: October 2021

Background

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people had to shift their social and work life online. A few researchers and journalists described a new form of fatigue associated with a massive use of technology, including videoconferencing platforms. In this study, this type of fatigue was referred to as Online Fatigue. A new tool (the Online Fatigue Scale) was developed, and its psychometric properties were evaluated. This tool was used to assess Online Fatigue among Italian academics and to examine its associations with psychological and physical health.

Methods

An online survey was conducted in December 2020 on a sample of Italian academics. Besides the Online Fatigue Scale (11 items) used to assess Online Fatigue, the survey was composed of questionnaires (including validated measures) focused on sociodemographic and job-related information, technostress creators, health status, psychological well-being, and COVID-related perceived distress. The psychometric properties of the Online Fatigue Scale were evaluated, and statistical analyses were conducted to examine the associations between Online Fatigue and all the other variables.

Results

Participants were 307 academics aged 24–70 years old (mean age = 40.7; SD = 10.1). The Online Fatigue Scale showed good psychometric properties. Two subscales were identified: Off-Balance Fatigue and Virtual Relations Fatigue. High levels of Off-Balance Fatigue were associated with a greater use of technology, female gender, and presence of minor children. Participants with high scores on both subscales reported a greater frequency of psychosomatic symptoms, unhealthy habits, poorer psychological well-being, and greater Covid-related perceived distress.

Conclusions

The Online Fatigue Scale can be considered a reliable tool to assess Online Fatigue, which was significantly detected in our sample of Italian academics, along with its negative effects on physical and psychological health. Being a woman and having young children represent important risk factors. Universities should promote the separation between work and private life by encouraging self-care activities.
Burden of chronic kidney disease in the general population and high-risk groups in South Asia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Shrestha Nipun , Gautam Sanju , Mishra Shiva Raj , Virani Salim S. , Dhungana Raja Ram
Published: October 2021

Background

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an emerging public health issue globally. The prevalence estimates on CKD in South Asia are however limited. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of CKD among the general and high-risk population in South Asia.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of population-level prevalence studies in South Asia (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka). Three databases namely PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were systematically searched for published reports of kidney disease in South Asia up to 28 October 2020. A random-effect model for computing the pooled prevalence was used.

Results

Of the 8749 identified studies, a total of 24 studies were included in the review. The pooled prevalence of CKD among the general population was 14% (95% CI 11–18%), and 15% (95% CI 11–20%) among adult males and 13% (95% CI 10–17%) in adult females. The prevalence of CKD was 27% (95% CI 20–35%) in adults with hypertension, 31% (95% CI 22–41%) in adults with diabetes and 14% (95% CI 10–19%) in adults who were overweight/obese. We found substantial heterogeneity across the included studies in the pooled estimates for CKD prevalence in both general and high-risk populations. The prevalence of CKD of unknown origin in the endemic population was 8% (95% CI 3–16%).

Conclusion

Our study reaffirms the previous reports that CKD represents a serious public health challenge in South Asia, with the disease prevalent among 1 in 7 adults in South Asian countries.
Effects of immersive virtual reality for preventing and managing anxiety, nausea and vomiting among paediatric cancer patients receiving their first chemotherapy: A study protocol for an exploratory trial
Authors: Wong Cho Lee , Li Chi Kong , Choi Kai Chow , So Winnie Kwok Wei , Kwok Jojo Yan Yan , Cheung Yin Ting , Chan Carmen Wing Han
Published: October 2021

Background

Anxiety, nausea and vomiting are common side effects suffered by paediatric patients receiving chemotherapy. Emerging evidence supports the efficacy of immersive virtual reality (IVR) on improving anxiety and distress symptoms including nausea and vomiting among this vulnerable group. This trial aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of IVR for preventing and managing anxiety, nausea and vomiting among paediatric cancer patients receiving their first chemotherapy.

Method and analysis

An exploratory trial supplemented by qualitative methods will be conducted. We will recruit 20 paediatric patients who are aged between 6 and 12 years, chemotherapy naïve, scheduled to receive their first intravenous chemotherapy and able to understand Chinese. Participants will be randomly allocated to intervention or control groups. The intervention group will receive the IVR intervention for three sessions as follows: 4 hours before chemotherapy, 5 minutes before and during their first course chemotherapy and 5 minutes before and during their second course chemotherapy. The control group will receive standard care only. Main outcome measures included (1) key parameters for the design of a definitive trial (i.e. screening, eligibility, consent and withdrawal rates); (2) anxiety, anticipatory and acute chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting for collection of preliminary data; (3) feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. Semi-structured interviews will be conducted with patients, parents and oncology nurses. Generalized estimating equations model will be used to compare each of the outcome measures across the time points between the two groups. Qualitative data will be analysed by conventional content analysis.

Expected results

The results of this exploratory trial will inform the design and conduct of future definitive trial.

Trial registration number

ChiCTR1900021694; Pre-results.
Procedure for the selection and evaluation of prefabricated housing buildings for the implementation of green roofs in the context of Urban Heat Island mitigation. The example of Wrocław, Poland
Authors: Rubaszek Justyna , Szymanowski Mariusz , Michalski Adam , Tatko Radosław , Weber-Siwirska Marta
Published: October 2021

The assessment of the suitability of existing buildings for implementation of green roofs is an important research issue, especially in the context of Urban Heat Island (UHI), the negative impacts of which are locally exacerbated by the global warming. The studies carried out so far have covered a variety of buildings and have taken into account a range of different conditions. Relatively little attention has been paid to the possibilities of greening the roofs of prefabricated apartment blocks from the second half of the 20th century in the context of the potential climate effect. Yet, these buildings are found in many cities around the world, and seem in fact attractive for greening. In view of the above, we proposed a three-stage investigatory procedure to: (I) identify and classify buildings based on the number of floors and the rooftop available area; (II) select buildings by designating priority areas depending on the highest UHI intensity and roof density; (III) analyse the roof load capacity to develop retrofit scenarios. The procedure was applied to prefabricated housing estates built in the 1970s and 1980s in Wrocław, Poland. The research shows that there are 1962 buildings of different heights and roof area of 722405 m2, of which 480 buildings with a roof area of 122749.1 m2 were selected for greening within priority areas. The structure of the studied roofs was not designed to carry additional loads, which requires the application of complementary solutions. Scenario 1 assumes extensive greening provided that the existing ventilated roof is strengthened, scenario 2 –semi-intensive greening, which however requires the conversion of the ventilated roof to a non-ventilated one. The presented procedure can be applied in any other city with prefabricated apartment blocks and available UHI data, and serve to support the decision to implement green roofs to mitigate UHI.
Publication bias and the tourism-led growth hypothesis
Authors: Kumar Nikeel Nishkar , Patel Arvind , Chandra Ravinay Amit , Kumar Navneet Nimesh
Published: October 2021

This study attempts to solve the publication bias suggested by recent review articles in the tourism-growth literature. Publication bias is the tendency to report favourable and significant results. Method and data triangulation, and the Solow-Swan model are applied. A sample from 1995 to 2018 is considered with Tonga as a case study. The approach consists of multiple methods, data frequencies, exchange rates, structural breaks, and an overall tourism index developed using principal component analysis (PCA). Consistent results across these dimensions are obtained with the PCA models. Tourism has small, positive, and statistically significant economic growth effects. Theoretically consistent values of the capital share and exchange rates are obtained. The results indicate the importance of multiple methods and the overall tourism index in assessing the tourism-growth relationship and minimising publication biases. The practical implication is the provision of robust elasticity estimates and better economic policies.
Gender Trouble / Genre Trouble – Cecilie Løveids Østerrike
Authors: Ledderose Patrick
Published: October 2021

Although Cecilie Løveid is one of Norway’s most important contemporary dramatists, she is not generally considered part of mainstream theater. In fact, she has positioned herself against it by her writing of feminist and performative theater texts since her debut in the 1980s. In her play Østerrike, which is inspired by Henrik Ibsen’s Brand and by Ludwig Wittgenstein’s diary of his stay in Norway, the audience is introduced to a love triangle. Ludwig, his fiancée Agnes and his former boyfriend David are entangeled in a queer love drama causing constant gender trouble. In this article, I will analyze how Løveid combines this gender discourse with a metatextual genre discourse. The play ends with a “beautiful scene”, which disrupts all existing categories of gender and genre. This scene in particular illustrates that Østerrike can be interpreted as a critical commentary on the Ibsen-tradition that determines Løveid’s outsider position.
“ek hræðumz ekki þik” – The dvergar in translated riddarasǫgur
Authors: Lummer Felix
Published: October 2021

This article investigates the usage of Old Nordic supernatural concepts in the Old Norse translations of Old French and Anglo-Norman chivalric romances and courtly lais from the twelfth to fourteenth centuries. This paper focuses on the usage of the term dvergr as a translation for the Old French nain, reflecting not only the narrative purposes involved in the choice of this word as a translation, but also the possible consequences it could have had on Icelandic folk belief when these works were read out loud alongside other works that formed part of Icelandic literature and Icelandic oral tradition.
On valency problems of Saxl graphs
Authors: Chen Jiyong , Huang Hong Yi
Published: October 2021

Let 𝐺 be a permutation group on a set Ω, and recall that a base for 𝐺 is a subset of Ω such that its pointwise stabiliser is trivial.
In a recent paper, Burness and Giudici introduced the Saxl graph of 𝐺, denoted

Σ
⁢

(
G
)

\Sigma(G)

, with vertex set Ω and two vertices adjacent if and only if they form a base for 𝐺.
If 𝐺 is transitive, then

Σ
⁢

(
G
)

\Sigma(G)

is vertex-transitive, and it is natural to consider its valency (which we refer to as the valency of 𝐺).
In this paper, we present a general method for computing the valency of any finite transitive group, and we use it to calculate the exact valency of every primitive group with stabiliser a Frobenius group with cyclic kernel.
As an application, we calculate the valency of every almost simple primitive group with an alternating socle and soluble stabiliser, and we use this to extend results of Burness and Giudici on almost simple primitive groups with prime-power or odd valency.
Filter bank multi-carrier review article
Authors: Abdalla Haitham F. , Hassan Emad S. , Dessouky Moawad I. , Elsafrawey Amir S.
Published: October 2021

Future wireless networks are researching how to fulfill the growing demand for wireless optical communication. The increased usage of mobile devices and sensors in the real world has resulted in this increasing demand. The fifth-generation (5G) wireless network is the most promising wireless network in the future, with the potential to improve various performance metrics such as spectrum and energy efficiency, high capacity, and low latency. Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) can be produced using cyclic prefix and Fast Fourier Transforms to fight extreme multipath fading. Filtered OFDM, such as Filter-Bank Multi-Carrier (FBMC), can be used to circumvent this limitation. The usage of FBMC to improve the performance of 5G networks is discussed in this paper, along with several hot issues like visible light communication, cognitive radio, and multiple-input multiple-output that FBMC may be utilized with to improve communication.
Simultaneous identification of Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma genitalium, and Trichomonas vaginalis ‒ multicenter evaluation of the Alinity m STI assay
Authors: Goldstein Emily , Martinez-García Laura , Obermeier Martin , Glass Allison , Krügel Maria , Maree Leana , Gunson Rory , Onelia Francesco , Pacenti Monia , Nelson Kevin S. , Joseph Ajith M. , Palm Michael J. , Lucic Danijela , Marlowe Natalia , Dhein Jens , Reinhardt Birgit , Pfeifer Karin , Galan Juan-C. , Azzato Francesca
Published: October 2021

Objectives

Accurate and rapid diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is essential for timely administration of appropriate treatment and reducing the spread of the disease. We examined the performance of the new Alinity m STI assay, a qualitative real-time multiplex PCR test for simultaneous identification of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Mycoplasma genitalium (MG), and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) run on the fully automated Alinity m platform.

Methods

This international, multicenter study evaluated the accuracy, reproducibility, and clinical performance of the Alinity m STI assay compared to commonly used STI assays in a large series of patient samples encountered in clinical practice.

Results

The Alinity m STI assay identified accurately and precisely single and mixed pathogens from an analytical panel of specimens. The Alinity m STI assay demonstrated high overall agreement rates with comparator STI assays (99.6% for CT [n=2,127], 99.2% for NG [n=2,160], 97.1% for MG [n=491], and 99.4% for TV [n=313]).

Conclusions

The newly developed Alinity m STI assay accurately detects the 4 sexually transmitted target pathogens in various collection devices across clinically relevant specimen types, regardless of single or mixed infection status.
Metallurgical Failure Analysis of Cracking in Exhaust Stack Liner Fastening Bolts
Authors: Neidel A. , Giller M. , Riesenbeck S.
Published: October 2021

Exhaust stack liners of a test rig for gas turbine burners failed locally by ruptured fasteners and fallen-off liner plates. Misalignment of the plating relative to each other and relative to their fasteners caused restraint of the expanding and shrinking liner plates upon start-up and shutdown of the burner rig. The fastening holes of the failed liner plates were not concentric, but misaligned relative to each other and relative to their fastener bolts. This exerted a shear loading on the threads of the fastening bolts, which in turn caused a mean stress shift and damaged the threads of the fasteners by nicking. So pre-loaded, the fastening bolts were not able to withstand the vibratory loads from the flowing exhaust gases and failed due to fatigue.
Modulation of offset analgesia in patients with chronic pain and healthy subjects – a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Larsen Dennis Boye , Uth Xenia Jørgensen , Arendt-Nielsen Lars , Petersen Kristian Kjær
Published: October 2021

Objectives

Offset analgesia (OA) induces a brief pain inhibition and studies suggest OA impairment in patients with chronic pain when compared to healthy subjects. Conditioned pain modulation remains the most studied descending pain inhibitory control mechanism and is modulated by centrally-acting analgesics. Since OA may be mediated by similar neural substrates as conditioned pain modulation, understanding if OA is a peripheral or central proxy of pain modulation is important. The modulatory effect of centrally-acting drugs on OA in healthy and chronic pain populations has not yet been systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed, and this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to identify studies employing interventions for modulating OA magnitude.

Methods

A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library yielded 146 records of which 11 (172 healthy pain-free subjects, 106 chronic pain patients) were eligible for qualitative synthesis, and 10 for meta-analysis on overall modulatory effect of interventions on OA, and subgroup analysis of patients and healthy pain-free subjects.

Results

Risk of bias was evident for study participation and study confounding in the included studies. Several different methods for assessing and calculating OA magnitude were identified, which may affect interpretability of findings and warrants standardization. The meta-analysis showed no modulatory effects on OA overall (standardized mean difference (SMD) [95%CI]: 0.04 [−0.22, 0.30], Z=0.29, p=0.77), or in the subgroup analysis for patients (SMD [95%CI]: −0.04 [−0.63, 0.71], Z=0.13, p=0.90) or healthy pain-free subjects (SMD [95%CI]: 0.01 [−0.21, 0.24], Z=0.11, p=0.91). Moderate to substantial heterogeneity was found for the overall analysis (I2=47%, p=0.03) and patient subgroup analysis (I2=75%, p=0.003).

Conclusions

The current systematic review and meta-analysis conclude that centrally-acting drugs and exercise do not influence OA. Evidence on the peripheral contribution to OA response requires further investigations. Preclinical models of OA should be established to identify the neurophysiology and -biology behind OA.
Two new quaternary copper bismuth sulfide halides: CuBi2S3Cl and CuBi2S3Br as candidates for copper ion conductivity
Authors: Remy-Speckmann Ina , Bredow Thomas , Lerch Martin
Published: October 2021

Two new copper bismuth sulfide halides, CuBi2S3Cl and CuBi2S3Br, were synthesized by a two-step process of ball milling followed by annealing. Both compounds are obtained as dark grey powders and crystallize in the monoclinic space group C2/m with lattice parameters a = 12.9458(11) Å, b = 3.9845(3) Å, c = 9.1024(8) Å and β = 91.150(3)° for the sulfide chloride and a = 13.3498(8) Å, b = 4.1092(2) Å, c = 9.4173(6) Å and β = 90.322(4)° for the sulfide bromide. Also known for related compounds, the copper atoms are strongly disordered. Quantum-chemical calculations suggest that modelling the structure with fixed copper positions does not satisfactorily describe all structural features, which insinuates copper ion mobility at elevated temperatures.
Portland-Limestone Cement’s Implementation into Mississippi’s Concrete Market
Authors: Howard Isaac L. , Hansen Bradley , Wilson Taylor , Cost V. Tim
Published: October 2021

In recent years, the use of ASTM C595 Type IL portland-limestone cement (PLC) has continued to gain momentum in the concrete industry. In the Southeast United States, PLC ground to fineness levels exceeding 500 m2/kg have demonstrated useful synergies with some fly ash sources. In 2014, the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) approved use of PLC and they have a specification that allows up to 35 % fly ash with PLC but only up to 25 % fly ash with ASTM C150 Type I ordinary portland cement (OPC). The primary objective of this paper is to assess the use of PLC in Mississippi in the context of MDOT’s new specification for both MDOT and non-MDOT projects. The authors documented several case study projects including residential-light commercial, highway barriers, slabs, a multistory hotel, and a wastewater facility with sulfate exposure conditions, in addition to evaluating data from several dozen laboratory-produced concrete mixes to make assessments. Class C and Class F fly ashes were considered, mostly at 20–35 % replacement rates. Overall, Type IL PLC was found to be a better cement for use in the marketplace for Mississippi than Type I OPC, and MDOT’s existing specifications were successfully vetted.
A Sexually Dimorphic Olfactory Neuron Mediates Fixed Action Transition during Courtship Ritual inDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Tanaka Nobuaki K. , Hirao Takashi , Chida Hikaru , Ejima Aki
Published: October 2021

Animals perform a series of actions in a fixed order during ritualistic innate behaviors. Although command neurons and sensory pathways responding to external stimuli that trigger these behaviors have been identified, how each action is induced in a fixed order in response to multimodal sensory stimuli remains unclear. Here, the sexually dimorphic lateral antennal lobe tract projection neuron 4 (lPN4) in maleDrosophila melanogastermediates the expression of a fixed behavioral action pattern at the beginning of the courtship ritual, in which a male taps a female body and then extends a wing unilaterally to produce a courtship song. We found that blocking the synaptic output of lPN4 caused an increase in the ratio of male flies that extended a wing unilaterally without tapping the female body, whereas excitation of lPN4 suppressed the transition from the tapping phase to the unilateral wing extension phase. Real-time calcium imaging showed that lPN4 is activated by a volatile pheromone, palmitoleic acid, whose responses were inhibited by simultaneous gustatory stimulation with female cuticular hydrocarbons, showing the existence of an “AND-gate” for multimodal sensory inputs during male courtship behaviors. These results suggest that the function of lPN4 is to suppress unilateral wing extension while responding to a female smell, which is released by appropriate contact chemosensory inputs received when tapping a female. As the female smell also promotes male courtship behaviors, the olfactory system is ready to simultaneously promote and suppress the progress of courtship actions while responding to a female smell.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTAlthough it has been 80 years since Konrad Lorenz and Niko Tinbergen introduced how multiple acts comprising separate innate behaviors are released in a fixed order according to external stimuli, the neural circuits responsible for such fixed action patterns remain largely unknown. The male courtship behavior ofDrosophila melanogasteris a good model to investigate how such a fixed behavioral sequence is determined in the brain. Here, we show that lateral antennal lobe tract projection neuron 4 (lPN4) inD. melanogasterfunctions as an “AND-gate” for volatile and contact chemosensory inputs, mediating the expression of tapping behaviors before unilateral wing extension during male courtship rituals.