bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Environmental Ethics of War: Jus ad Bellum, Jus in Bello, and the Natural Environment
Authors: Meisels Tamar
Published: January 2024

The conduct of hostilities is very bad for the environment, yet relatively little attention has been focused on environmental military ethics by just war theorists and revisionist philosophers of war. Contemporary ecological concerns pose significant challenges to jus in bello. I begin by briefly surveying existing literature on environmental justice during wartime. While these jus in bello environmental issues have been addressed only sparsely by just war theorists, environmental jus ad bellum has rarely been tackled within JWT or the morality of war. In line with the theme of this special issue, I focus my discussion of war and the natural environment primarily on the jus ad bellum level. I set out with the presumption against the use of force, and its possible exceptions. The principal question raised is whether environmental harm can trigger a new justification for war. Beyond just cause, I consider what might be a proportionate response to “environmental aggression,” or negligent harm to nature. The use of force is clearly justified in response to military attacks, against the natural environment or otherwise. Where harm to nature or its inhabitants are not caused by military aggression, just war theory criteria point in favor of responding via measures short of war. Finally, I suggest that responding by means that are not themselves harmful to nature serves to fulfill the further jus ad bellum criterion of “right intention.”
Ethics of Conflict, Violence and Peace – Just War and a Feminist Ethic of Care
Authors: Ellner Andrea
Published: January 2024

This paper critically examines Just War Theory and its philosophical foundations, which are conventionally positioned in opposition to pacifism and nonviolent conflict. This paper, however, takes the view that both, Just War Theory as well as pacifism and nonviolent conflict, are equally necessary and complementary approaches to living with the possibilities and tragedies of the human condition. Its approach is grounded in feminist theory and methodology and their connections with Galtung’s models of violence and peace. The paper argues that the weaknesses of Just War Theory are intrinsic to the concept and its intent. The inherent contradiction of Just War Theory being that it intended to translate universal moral principles into reality, which makes them context dependent. Fundamentally, Just War Theory is derived from an ethic of justice ultimately centred on the right to use violence and kill. The right is conditional but means that a path to peace inevitably starts from death. An ethic of care is a philosophy where feminist thought meets pacifism and nonviolent conflict. It starts from the creation of life and charts paths to positive peace through the nurture of the conditions for lives in dignity. If we seek to contain the destructive and give space to the creative aspects of the human condition and understand its two extremes, life and death, in their relation to human agency, better we need to complement the traditional ethic of justice (of war and violence) with an ethic of care.
Führerprinzip or 'I Was Following Orders' in Jus in Bello Era
Authors: Boutlas George
Published: January 2024

In June of 1945, the International Military Tribunal (ITM) formed in London, faced the problem of a non-yet existing legal armor for the Nazi crimes. Two new rules were widely accepted there. First, a new category of war crimes, the “crimes against humanity” was legally defined. Second, the ex-ante rejection of the defense line “I was following orders” or Führerprinzip (the principle of the duty to obey every order given by the military leader). In the first part of this paper, I will present in brief, the historical and legal context of the rejection of Führerprinzip as a defense line of the Nazi defendants in Nuremberg trials as also in Eichmann’s trial in Jerusalem, where the same legal context was enacted. Next, I will expose a short history of conscientious objection in war ethics and the International Law on Human Rights that supports it. This exposition reveals that objection to criminal orders has the status not only of a right, but also of a duty for the soldiers on either side of the war. In the third part, the Rawlsian view on conscientious objector will be exposed as the meeting point of a broadly Kantian conception of war ethics and the existing International Law frame. In the final part I will present some philosophical aspects of jus in bello theory, as also the critique of its importance, and its contribution to the reification of the moral importance of conscientious objection in wartime and the rejection of Führerprinzip.
War Ethics and War Morality: An Introduction
Authors: Babić Jovan
Published: January 2024

War ethics might sound as impossible combination of words – how justify what seems to be unjustifiable? War is prima facie unjustifiable. However, wars are a fact of human reality, and those among us who are unfortunate to live in times of war – in a way it is all of us – would know that the reality is not just a possibility, that prima facie designation does not help in answering what must be done, that unjustifiability does not imply impossibility. We must understand to be able to explain, and to explain to have a valid evaluation, especially when what is happening is important and with far-reaching consequences. Wars are such phenomena. We live amid such phenomena, and we need to understand not only their tragic and often cataclysmic nature, but also their meaning, their structure and logic of their functioning. We should understand that war is not something that happens only to others, nor that it is the matter of the past. In the present volume we have thirty-three essays examining war from many angles, sometimes from the opposite standpoints, exploring some of the most intriguing issues of warfare in times characterized by radical changes in the world in turmoil. The contributions in present volume give an overview of the world’s thinking about war. The volume is certainly incomplete and unfinished, but it gives a lot of thought-provoking incentives to think about the most important aspects of warfare and its broad phenomenology.
Κοινωνική επισφάλεια και έλλειψη στέγης στην Αθήνα
Authors: Γουσέτη Ιωάννα
Published: January 2024

Η διατριβή διαμορφώνει μια ιδιαίτερη μέθοδο μελέτης των διαδρομών (pathways) προς και διαμέσου της ορατής έλλειψης στέγης στην Αθήνα, υπό τη θεώρηση της επισφάλειας και της περιθωριακότητας ως κοινωνικής ρήξης και οδύνης, που συμπληρώνεται με τη θεώρηση της επισφάλειας ως εξασθένησης του κοινωνικού δεσμού και κοινωνικής αποσύνδεσης. Η ιδιαιτερότητα της προσέγγισης συνίσταται στη σύνθεση πολλαπλών μεθόδων, στη συλλογή και ανάλυση του υλικού, που θέτουν ως πυρήνα τη χρονική διάσταση. Συνδυάζοντας την τροχιά του βίου, με έμφαση στη στεγαστική τροχιά (μέσω ποσοτικής και μεικτής ανάλυσης), τη βιογραφική έρευνα (μέσω ποιοτικής ανάλυσης) και την εθνογραφική μέθοδο, παρήχθη πλούσιο υλικό, από την επεξεργασία του οποίου εντοπίστηκαν εννέα μοτίβα διαδρομών και οι σημαντικές μεταβάσεις προς και διαμέσου του δρόμου. Επιπλέον, αναδείχθηκαν δύο ευρύτερες διαδικασίες περιθωριοποίησης. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, προέκυψε ότι για λόγους που σχετίζονται με την ταξική προέλευση, οι χρήστες ψυχοδραστικών ουσιών ακολουθούν μια αργόσυρτη πορεία προς την έλλειψη στέγης, ενώ η πλειονότητα όσων δεν κάνουν χρήση εξωθούνται ραγδαία σε αυτήν. Ακόμα, αναδείχτηκε η αλληπεπίδραση σημαντικών επιβαρυντικών παραγόντων και ευρύτερων μετασχηματισμών του νοτιοευρωπαϊκού καθεστώτος ευημερίας οι οποίοι, διαμέσου της κρίσης, συμβάλλουν στη διαμόρφωση των διαδρομών και στο μετασχηματισμό του habitus της επισφάλειας σε habitus περιθωριακότητας. Ειδικότερα, αποτυπώθηκε ο κομβικός ρόλος της παρατεταμένης βίας και της οδύνης καθώς και η ιδιαίτερη αλληλεπίδραση της φτώχειας, της χρήσης, και των έμφυλων πατριαρχικών σχέσεων με την επικράτηση τιμωρητικών πολιτικών και ανεπαρκών υποστηρικτικών υπηρεσιών. Ακόμα αναδείχθηκε ότι οι διαμορφωμένες μέσα στον χρόνο προδιαθέσεις των υποκειμένων συνεπάγονται και διαφορετικές θεάσεις της εμπειρίας της έλλειψης στέγης και πρακτικές επιβίωσης και, επομένως, διαφορετικές διαδρομές. Συγκεκριμένα παρατηρήθηκαν διαφοροποιήσεις μεταξύ των διαδρομών, όσον αφορά τη διάρκεια και τον επεισοδιακό χαρακτήρα της έλλειψης στέγης, τη διαβίωση σε εξωτερικούς χώρους ή σε δομές, τις ακολουθούμενες πρακτικές επιβίωσης, τη διατήρηση των επιμέρους μορφών κεφαλαίου και τη διαχείριση της στιγματισμένης θέσης, αλλά και την έκθεση σε διαφορετικού τύπου βία. Το ζήτημα της έλλειψης στέγης θα μπορούσε να γίνει σε αυτά τα πλαίσια κατανοητό ως μια δυναμική, πολυδιάστατη και ενίοτε μακρόχρονη διαδικασία επισφαλειοποίησης, που παράγεται στα πλαίσια ευρύτερων οικονομικών και κοινωνικών μετασχηματισμών και αγγίζει, πέραν του στεγαστικού, όλους τους τομείς της ανθρώπινης ύπαρξης. Η διατριβή προσφέρει προτάσεις προς την περαιτέρω επεξεργασία της θεωρητικής θεμελίωσης της μεθοδολογίας των διαδρομών και της εφαρμογής μεικτών μεθόδων, καθώς και κατευθύνσεις προς χάραξη πολιτικών όσον αφορά την πρόληψη και αντιμετώπιση του φαινομένου. Ταυτόχρονα, τροφοδοτεί την ευρύτερη επιστημονική συζήτηση για την επισφάλεια και τις ποικίλες εκδηλώσεις της στα πλαίσια της επεκτεινόμενης νεοφιλελευθεροποίησης.
Lessons from COVID-19 for GCR governance: a research agenda
Authors: Rietveld Jochem , Hobson Tom , Avin Shahar , Sundaram Lalitha , Mani Lara
Published: January 2024

The Lessons from Covid-19 Research Agenda offers a structure to study the COVID-19 pandemic and the pandemic response from a Global Catastrophic Risk (GCR) perspective. The agenda sets out the aims of our study, which is to investigate the key decisions and actions (or failures to decide or to act) that significantly altered the course of the pandemic, with the aim of improving disaster preparedness and response in the future. It also asks how we can transfer these lessons to other areas of (potential) global catastrophic risk management such as extreme climate change, radical loss of biodiversity and the governance of extreme risks posed by new technologies. Our study aims to identify key moments- ‘inflection points’- that significantly shaped the catastrophic trajectory of COVID-19. To that end this Research Agenda has identified four broad clusters where such inflection points are likely to exist: pandemic preparedness, early action, vaccines and non-pharmaceutical interventions. The aim is to drill down into each of these clusters to ascertain whether and how the course of the pandemic might have gone differently, both at the national and the global level, using counterfactual analysis. Four aspects are used to assess candidate inflection points within each cluster: 1. the information available at the time; 2. the decision-making processes used; 3. the capacity and ability to implement different courses of action, and 4. the communication of information and decisions to different publics. The Research Agenda identifies crucial questions in each cluster for all four aspects that should enable the identification of the key lessons from COVID-19 and the pandemic response.
Case Report: The importance of initial assessment in acute pulmonary embolism
Authors: Ardiana Meity , Hidayat Dwi Fachrul Octafian , Wardhani Louisa Fadjri Kusuma , Devi Putu Dwipa Krisna , Tiksnadi Badai Bhatara
Published: January 2024

Background: Pulmonary embolism (PE) remains the third most frequent cardiovascular disease worldwide and is associated with high mortality rates. We presented a case of PE with a history of tibial surgery and showed the role of Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography (CTPA) in early diagnosis and management of PE.

Case presentation: A 23-year-old man was referred to our hospital with sudden dyspnea followed by sharp chest pain, haemoptysis, pre-syncope, diaphoresis, and weaknesses. He had a history of tibial surgery and immobilization one month before admission. His vital sign was unstable, with blood pressure of 110/60 mmHg (supported by Norepinefrin 0.5 mcg/kg/minutes), heart rate of 120 beats/minute, respiratory rate of 24 times/minute, and oxygen saturation of 99% (oxygen mask 6 lpm). An electrocardiogram showed sinus tachycardia with McGinn-White sign. A chest X-ray showed Palla sign. An echocardiogram showed reduced right ventricular systolic function with McConneal sign. CTPA was performed due to the moderate-high risk PE with the presence of hyperattenuating and partial filling defect. Streptokinase was then administered, followed by adequate anticoagulation using rivaroxaban for three months. The clinical and CTPA evaluation showed a good result.

Conclusions: Initial assessment using PE’s scoring system will help clinicians determine the needs of CTPA. CTPA has a sensitivity of 53-100% and a specificity of 83-100% for the diagnosis of PE. This makes CTPA mandatory in high-risk PE, thus speeding up the initial treatment, which correlates with clinical outcomes.
Spatiotemporal structure and composition of the microbial communities in hypersaline Lake Magadi, Kenya
Authors: Kipnyargis Alex , Kenya Eucharia , Khamis Fathiya , Mwirichia Romano
Published: January 2024

Background Soda lakes are habitats characterized by haloalkaline conditions also known to host unique microbial communities. The water chemistry changes with seasons due to evaporative concentration or floods from the surrounding grounds. However, it is not yet clear if the change in physiochemical changes influences the spatiotemporal diversity and structure of microbial communities in these ecosystems. Methods This study investigated the spatiotemporal diversity and structure of microbial communities in water and brine samples collected from hypersaline Lake Magadi in the months of June–September 2018. Amplicons were generated using Illumina sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Results The abundant bacterial phyla were Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Verrumicrobia, Deinococcus-Thermus, Spirochaetes, and Chloroflexi. The Archaeal diversity was represented by phyla Euryachaeota, Crenarchaeota, Euryarchaeota, and Thaumarchaeota. The dominant bacterial species were: Euhalothece sp. (10.3%), Rhodobaca sp. (9.6%), Idiomarina sp. (5.8%), Rhodothermus sp. (3.0%), Roseinatronobacter sp. (2.4%), Nocardioides sp. (2.3%), Gracilimonas sp. (2.2%), and Halomonas sp. (2%). The dominant archaeal species included Halorubrum sp. (18.3%), Salinarchaeum sp. (5.3%), and Haloterrigena sp. (1.3%). The composition of bacteria was higher than that of archaea, while their richness and diversity varied widely across the sampling seasons. The α-diversity indices showed that high diversity was recorded in the month of August, followed by September, June, and July in that order. Furthermore, salinity and alkalinity affect β-diversity rather than the sampling site or seasonality. The effects of physicochemical parameters on the microbial community structure showed that temperature, pH, P+, K+, NO3 -, and total dissolved solids (TDS) had a positive correlation with the microbial community structure. Multivariate analysis revealed significant spatial and temporal effects on β-diversity and salinity and alkalinity were the major drivers of microbial composition in Lake Magadi. Conclusions We provide insights into the relationships between microbial communities and geochemistry across various sampling sites in Lake Magadi.
Case Report: Managing a case of Tubercular Phlycten presenting as Sterile Corneal Perforation
Authors: Kaur Amanjot , Das Sujata , Priyadarshini Smruti Rekha
Published: January 2024

A 22-year-old Indian male presented with a sterile perforation at 5 o’clock in the left eye, and a visual acuity of 20/80. A month prior to presentation, he had nodular lesion in lower part of left cornea and was undergoing medical management from a local ophthalmologist. After ocular and systemic examination, probable diagnosis of phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis (PKC) was established. Since the perforation was large and not amenable to application of tissue adhesives, it was managed with a corneal patch graft. After investigations, we found that this was a case of latent tuberculosis infection. He was referred to physician and was started on appropriate anti-tubercular therapy. At the final follow-up, the perforation healed, and he regained a vision of 20/20. Even though perforation with tubercular PKC is a rare entity, this case highlights that timely diagnosis and multimodal intervention is the key to successful management.
Comparative evaluation of efficacy of Trayodashang Guggul versus Rasona Pinda as an adjuvant with Katibasti in the management of Grudhrasi (Sciatica): A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Rai Mayank , Misar Sadhana , Gamne Reeya
Published: January 2024

Background In ayurveda, sciatica can be correlated to ‘Grudhrasi’ under Vata Nanatmaja-Vyadhi (neurological disorders caused by Vata, one of the bodily humour). In this mainly bodily humours vata and kapha are vitiating producing symptoms like piercing pain, stiffness, twitching, numbness and pain radiating from lumbosacral region to lower limb up to the foot. Therapeutic plan includes stabilizing and bringing back the vitiated vata and kapha humours to equilibrium. The prevalence of sciatica varies considerably ranging from 3.8% in the working population to 7.9% in the nonworking population. Aim Comparative evaluation of efficacy of Rasonapinda and Trayodashang guggul as an adjuvant to katibasti (oil pooling therapy) in the management of Grudhrasi (Sciatica). Objectives To assess the efficacy of Rasonapinda as an adjuvant to katibasti in subjective and objective parameters of Grudhrasi (Sciatica). To assess the efficacy of Trayodashang guggul as an adjuvant to katibasti in subjective and objective parameters of Grudhrasi (Sciatica). To compare the efficacy of Rasonapinda and Trayodashang guggul as an adjuvant to katibasti in subjective and objective parameters. Standardisation of Rasonapinda (modified formvati). Methods In this study, a total of 60 patients will be enrolled and divided equally into two groups. In group A, Trayodashang Guggul 500 mg twice a day after meal with warm water for 30 days adjuvant with katibasti for the initial 7 days will be given. In group B, Rasonapinda 500 mg twice a day after meal with warm water adjuvant with katibasti for the initial 7 days will be given for 30 days. Result The result will be assessed on baseline of subjective and objective parameters and data will be compared after treatment. Conclusions It will be based on observations and results obtained. Trial registration CTRI No. - CTRI/2022/12/048534 Dated – 27/12/2022.
COVID-19 and the need for special care for women with polycystic ovary syndrome: A systematic review
Authors: Alrubasy Warda A. , Sameer Shams Khalid , Taha Mohammad J. J. , Abuawwad Mohammad T. , Abu-Zeinh Abdalla , Mahmood Marwa , Humeidan Hebatullah , Taha Ahmad J. , Nashwan Abdulqadir J.
Published: January 2024

Objective The study investigates the association between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and assess whether women with PCOS are at a higher susceptibility and risk for COVID-19 complications. Methods This review analyzes articles indexed in PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Library, focusing on the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in December 1, 2019, until November 1, 2022. The quality of the evidence was assessed using the NIH quality assessment tool. The study was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42023371956) on January 12, 2023. Results A total of 11 observational studies were identified, totaling 22,155 PCOS patients. Despite the heterogeneity of the included studies, the findings of most of the studies were similar in terms of increased susceptibility and severity of COVID-19 infection in PCOS patients. PCOS patients were reported to have a 51% higher risk of COVID-19 infection than non-PCOS women (HR =1.51). Many causes have been identified to play a role, most notably the overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and elevated levels of RAS-associated proteins, decreased serum levels of neuropilin-1 (sNRP1), elevated serum biomarkers such as platelet degranulation and coagulation cascade markers increased acute phase response, and lower levels of vitamin D could render PCOS patients susceptible to a chronic inflammatory state, which can also lead to difficulties and severe consequences, when impacted by COVID-19. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic also influenced psychological well-being, with an increase in the incidence and severity of depression and anxiety among PCOS patients in the COVID-19 pandemic era compared to healthy individuals. Conclusions Patients with PCOS are more likely to get infected with COVID-19 and display a higher affinity to severe infections and complications due to overlapping and confounding factors. These findings suggest that PCOS patients may need more medical attention when infected with COVID-19.
Experimental pneumococcal carriage in people living with HIV in Malawi: the first controlled human infection model in a key at-risk population
Authors: Doherty Klara , Dula Dingase , Chirwa Anthony , Nsomba Edna , Nkhoma Vitumbiko S. , Toto Neema , Chikaonda Tarsizio , Kamng'ona Raphael , Phiri Joseph , Reiné Jesús , Ndaferankhande John , Makhaza Lumbani , Banda Peter , Jambo Kondwani , Ferreira Daniela M , Gordon Stephen B
Published: January 2024

Background: As well as suffering a high burden of pneumococcal disease people living with HIV (PLHIV) may contribute to community transmission in sub-Saharan African (sSA) settings. Pneumococcal vaccination is not currently offered to PLHIV in sSA but may prevent disease and reduce transmission. More evidence of vaccine effectiveness against carriage in PLHIV is needed. An Experimental Human Pneumococcal Carriage model (EHPC) has been safely and acceptably used in healthy adults in Malawi to evaluate pneumococcal vaccines against carriage and to identify immune correlates of protection from carriage. This study will establish the same model in PLHIV and will be the first controlled human infection model (CHIM) in this key population. Methods: Healthy participants with and without HIV will be inoculated intranasally with Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 6B. Sequential cohorts will be challenged with increasing doses to determine the optimal safe challenge dose to establish experimental carriage. Nasal fluid, nasal mucosal, and blood samples will be taken before inoculation and on days 2, 7, 14, and 21 following inoculation to measure pneumococcal carriage density and identify immune correlates of protection from carriage. The vast majority of natural pneumococcal carriage events in PLHIV do not result in invasive disease and no invasive disease is expected in this study. However, robust participant safety monitoring is designed to identify signs of invasive disease early should they develop, and to implement treatment immediately. Participants will complete a Likert-style questionnaire at study-end to establish acceptability. Interpretations: We expect the EHPC model to be safely and acceptably implemented in PLHIV. The CHIM can then be used to accelerate pneumococcal vaccine evaluations in this population, and an evidence-based pneumococcal vaccination policy for PLHIV in sSA.
The genome sequence of the English holly, Ilex aquifolium L. (Aquifoliaceae)
Authors: Christenhusz Maarten J. M. , Fay Michael F. ,   Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Genome Acquisition Lab,   Plant Genome Sizing collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory team,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics team,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: January 2024

We present a genome assembly from an individual Ilex aquifolium (the English holly; Eudicot; Magnoliopsida; Aquifoliales; Aquifoliaceae). The genome sequence is 800.0 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 20 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The assembled mitochondrial and plastid genomes have lengths of 538.43 kilobases and 157.52 kilobases in length, respectively.
Fourier reciprocity between generalized elliptical Gaussian and elegant elliptical Hermite-Gaussian beams carrying orbital angular momenta
Authors: Hebri Davud , Rasouli Saifollah , Ponomarenko Sergey
Published: January 2024

We explore two distinct families of orbital angular momentum carrying light beams, which we refer to as generalized elliptical Gaussian and elegant elliptical Hermite-Gaussian vortex beams, respectively. We show that the fields of the two vortex families are related via a Fourier transform. Hence, one family can be viewed as a source of the far-field intensity distribution of the other and vice versa. We also examine the orbital angular momentum evolution of both beam families on their free space propagation and establish a relationship between the orbital angular momentum, TC, and beam ellipticity factors. Our results may find applications to optical communications and imaging with structured light.
Rationalized diffraction calculations for high accuracy and high speed with few bits
Authors: Fujimori Soma , Ito Tomoyoshi , Shimobaba Tomoyoshi
Published: January 2024

Diffraction calculations in few-bit formats, such as single-precision floating-point and fixed-point numbers, are important because they yield faster calculations and lower memory usage. However, these methods suffer from low accuracy owing to the loss of trailing digits. Fresnel diffraction is widely known to prevent the loss of trailing digits. However, it can only be used when the paraxial approximation is valid. In this study, a few-bit diffraction calculation method that achieves high accuracy without using any approximation is proposed. The proposed method is derived only by rationalizing the numerator of conventional formulas. Even for scenarios requiring double-precision floating-point numbers using conventional methods, the proposed method exhibits higher accuracy and faster computation time using single-precision floating-point numbers.
Foundry-based waveguide-enhanced Raman spectroscopy in the visible
Authors: Tyndall Nathan F. , Emmons Erik D. , Pruessner Marcel W. , Rabinovich William S. , Wilcox Phillip G. , Tripathi Ashish , Guicheteau Jason A. , Stievater Todd H.
Published: January 2024

Waveguide-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (WERS) is an analytical technique frequently employed for chemical and biological sensing. Operation at visible wavelengths to harness the inverse fourth power with excitation wavelength signal scaling of Raman scattering intensity is desirable, to combat the inherent inefficiency of Raman spectroscopy. Until now, WERS demonstrations in the visible have required custom materials and fabrication, resulting in high losses and low yields. In this work, we demonstrate a silicon nitride (SIN) visible WERS platform fabricated in a 300 mm complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) foundry. We measure the propagation loss, coupling loss, WERS signal, and background for WERS spirals designed for 532 nm and 633 nm pump wavelengths. We compare these results to the state-of-the-art near-infrared WERS platform at 785 nm. Further, we theoretically validate the relative performance of each of these WERS configurations, and we discuss the optimal WERS configuration at visible wavelengths. We conclude that a configuration optimized for 785 nm pumping provides the greatest signal-to-background ratio in the fingerprint region of the spectrum, and pumping at 633 nm maximizes Stokes signal out to 3000 cm−1.
Multi-color transparent display based on perovskite quantum dots fabricated by laser-induced plasma etching
Authors: Chen Ziyi , Chen Jun , Ma Teng , Hu Jinning , Huo Lei , Guo Weishu , Ji Yucong , Yin Qianxi , Zeng Haibo , Li Zhenhua
Published: January 2024

Display technology is being revolutionized by cutting-edge transparent displays that can provide visual information on the screen while allowing the surrounding environment to be visible. In this report, a new method is proposed for patterning displays based on perovskite quantum dots (PQDs) on glass surfaces. A glass substrate with a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) constraint layer is patterned using laser-induced plasma etching, and then a PQDs film is spin-coated on the etched sample. The PQDs pattern on the glass substrate is obtained after peeling off the PVDF constraint layer. The thickness of the film is obtained by carrying out simulations. The plasma output from different metal targets is recorded and analyzed to select the most suitable parameters and materials for improvement of the patterning accuracy. The transparent pattern display of PQDs is realized with an accuracy of 10-20 µm and a burial depth of about 1 µm. This method allows PQDs to be encapsulated under the substrate surface, which decreases the susceptibility of environmental impact. Additionally, encapsulation prevents the quantum dots from leaking out and causing environmental pollution. The proposed method has potential in the design of transparent displays and anti-counterfeiting applications.
Solar position detection method by bionic polarized light compass
Authors: Yang Jiangtao , Liu Situo , Wang Mingkai , Liang Lei
Published: January 2024

To address the needs of polarized light navigation for accurate position information of feature points in the sky, an accurate solar position detection method based on an all-sky polarization pattern imaging system is proposed. Unlike the traditional spot-based solar position detection method, this method uses the polarization information inherent in the atmosphere to accurately measure solar position. This approach is characterized by simple detection, high accuracy, and wide application range. The optical acquisition system is composed of three miniature large-field camera modules and polarizers, which enables a more compact structure, smaller size, and lesser height. Based on this principle, the solar position solution algorithm was simulated and then verified in various weather environments using the optical acquisition system built as part of this study. Solar position was detected at different moments on the same day in clear weather, and the accuracy of the measured solar altitude and azimuth angles was 0.024° and 0.03°, respectively. The accuracy of the measured solar altitude and azimuth angles was 0.08° and 0.05°, respectively, when the sun was shielded by high-rise buildings and 0.3° and 0.1° when the sun was shielded by branches and tree leaves. Aerosol concentrations exceeding a certain amount destroyed the Rayleigh distribution pattern of polarized light, thus affecting solar position detection accuracy. It is concluded that this novel detection method can not only meet the needs of polarized light navigation for solar position, but also provide a new exploration idea for enthusiasts who are eager to explore the mysteries of the universe.
Preparation and performance of a CsI scintillation screen with a double-period structure based on an oxidized silicon micropore array template
Authors: Teng Yunxue , Gu Mu , Sun Zhixiang , Liu Xiaolin , Liu Bo , Zhang Juannan , Huang Shiming , Ni Chen
Published: January 2024

A structured double-period CsI scintillation screen was successfully developed to improve its detection efficiency based on an oxidized silicon micropore array template with a period value on the order of micro-scale. The structure comprises a main structure along with a sub-structure. The main structure with a period of 8 µm was arranged in a square array consisting of square columnar scintillator units. The micropore walls between the main structure units were purposely fabricated from a SiO2-Si-SiO2 layered structure. The pore walls in commonly used single-structure with a period of 4 µm use the same layered structure composition to obtain a fair comparison. The thickness of both Si and the SiO2 layers was around 0.4 µm. The unique feature of the double structure lies in the even separation of each unit within the main structure into four square columnar scintillator sub-units. These four sub-units within each sub-structure were isolated solely by SiO2 layers with a thickness of approximately 0.8 µm. As a result, the X-ray-induced optical luminescence intensity of the double-structure screen exhibited a 31% increase compared to the corresponding single-structure scintillation screen. In X-ray imaging, a spatial resolution of 109 lp/mm was achieved, which closely matched the results obtained with the single-structure CsI screen. Furthermore, the detective quantum efficiency also displayed a notable improvement.
Frequency selection rule for the HDHF Lissajous scanning imaging with a low-voltage one axis actuated PZT scanner based on an asymmetric fiber cantilever
Authors: Wu Tong , Chen Zhihui , Liu Youwen , Sheng Qinghong , Lu Yuangang , Wang Jiming , He Chongjun , Shi Yaoyao
Published: January 2024

Lissajous micro scanners are very attractive in compact laser scanning applications for biomedical endoscopic imaging, such as confocal microscopy, endomicroscopy or optical coherence tomography. The scanning frequencies have a very important effect on the quality of the resulting Lissajous scanning imaging. In this paper, we propose a frequency selection rule for high definition and high frame-rate (HDHF) Lissajous scanning imaging, by deriving the relationship among the scanning field of view (FOV), actuation frequencies and pixel size based on the characteristics of the scanning trajectory. The minimum sampling rate based on the proposed frequency selection rule is further discussed. We report a lead zirconate titanate piezoelectric ceramic (PZT) based Lissajous fiber scanner to achieve HDHF Lissajous scanning imaging. Based on the frequency selection rule, different frequency combinations are calculated, under which the Lissajous fiber scanner can work at the frame rate (FR) of 10 Hz, 20 Hz, 40 Hz and 52 Hz. The trajectory evolution of the Lissajous scanning at the frame rate of 10 Hz has been obtained to verify the applicability of the proposed rule. The measured resolution of the scanner is 50.8 lp/mm at the unit optical magnification, and the measured FOV at the FR of 10 Hz and 40 Hz are 1.620 mm ×1.095 mm and 0.405 mm ×0.27 mm, respectively. HDHF Lissajous scanning images of the customized spatial varying binary pattern are obtained and reconstructed at the FR of 10 Hz and 40 Hz, demonstrating the practicability of the frequency selection rule.
Controllable nonreciprocal phonon laser in a hybrid photonic molecule based on directional quantum squeezing
Authors: Zhou Yue-Ru , Zhang Qing-Feng , Liu Fei-Fei , Han Yu-Hong , Gao Yong-Pan , Fan Ling , Zhang Ru , Cao Cong
Published: January 2024

Here, a scheme for a controllable nonreciprocal phonon laser is proposed in a hybrid photonic molecule system consisting of a whispering-gallery mode (WGM) optomechanical resonator and a χ(2)-nonlinear WGM resonator, by directionally quantum squeezing one of two coupled resonator modes. The directional quantum squeezing results in a chiral photon interaction between the resonators and a frequency shift of the squeezed resonator mode with respect to the unsqueezed bare mode. We show that the directional quantum squeezing can modify the effective optomechanical coupling in the optomechanical resonator, and analyze the impacts of driving direction and squeezing extent on the phonon laser action in detail. Our analytical and numerical results indicate that the controllable nonreciprocal phonon laser action can be effectively realized in this system. The proposed scheme uses an all-optical and chip-compatible approach without spinning resonators, which may be more beneficial for integrating and packaging of the system on a chip. Our proposal may provide a new route to realize integratable phonon devices for on-chip nonreciprocal phonon manipulations, which may be used in chiral quantum acoustics, topological phononics, and acoustical information processing.
Programmable high-speed confocal reflectance microscopy enabled by a digital micromirror device
Authors: Rutkauskas Danielis , Auksorius Egidijus
Published: January 2024

The digital micromirror device (DMD) has been used to achieve parallel scanning in confocal microscopy significantly increasing acquisition speed. However, for confocal reflectance imaging, such an approach is limited to mostly surface imaging due to strong backreflections coming from the DMD that can dominate the signal recorded on a camera. Here, we report on an optical configuration that uses separate areas of DMD to generate multiple spots and pinholes and thereby prevents backreflections from the DMD from reaching the camera. We thus demonstrate confocal imaging of weakly reflecting objects, such as a pollen grain sample.
Chiral forces in longitudinally invariant dielectric photonic waveguides
Authors: Martínez-Romeu Josep , Diez Iago , Golat Sebastian , Rodríguez-Fortuño Francisco J. , Martínez Alejandro
Published: January 2024

We calculate numerically the optical chiral forces in rectangular cross-section dielectric waveguides for potential enantiomer separation. Our study considers force strength and time needed for separating chiral nanoparticles, mainly via quasi-TE guided modes at short wavelengths (405 nm) and the 90°-phase-shifted combination of quasi-TE and quasi-TM modes at longer wavelengths (1310 nm). Particle tracking simulations show successful enantiomer separation within two seconds. These results suggest the feasibility of enantiomeric separation of nanoparticles displaying sufficient chirality using simple silicon photonic integrated circuits, with wavelength selection based on the nanoparticle size.
Wafer-level substrate-free YIG single crystal film for a broadband tunable terahertz isolator
Authors: Zhang Xilai , Zhao Dan , Zhang Ding , Xue Qiang , Fan Fei , Liao Yulong , Yang Qinghui , Wen Qiye
Published: January 2024

Yttrium iron garnet (YIG) is a promising material for various terahertz applications due to its special optical properties. At present, a high-quality YIG wafer is the desire of terahertz communities and it is still challenging to prepare substrate-free YIG single crystal films. In this work, we prepared wafer-level substrate-free La:YIG single crystal films, for the first time, to our knowledge. Terahertz optical and magneto-optical properties of La:YIG films were characterized by terahertz time domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS). Results show that the as-prepared La:YIG film has an insertion loss of less than 3 dB and a low absorption coefficient of less than 10  cm−1 below 1.6 THz. Benefitting from the thickness of the substrate-free YIG films and low insertion loss, their terahertz properties could be further manipulated by simply using a wafer-stacking technique. When four La:YIG films were stacked, there was an insertion loss of less than 10 dB in the range of 0.1−1.2  THz. The Faraday rotation angle of the four-layer-stacked La:YIG films reached 19°, and the isolation could reach 17 dB. By further increasing the stacking number to eight pieces, a remarkable Faraday rotation angle of 45° was achieved with an isolation of 23 dB, which is important for practical application in the THz band. This material may provide a milestone opportunity to make various non-reciprocal devices, such as isolators and phase shifters.
Easier comparison of bets in evaluation does not reduce classical preference reversals: Evidence against a context-dependent explanation
Authors: López-Pérez Raúl , Spiegelman Eli
Published: January 2024

In preference reversals, subjects express different rankings over a set of alternatives depending on how preferences are elicited. In classical reversal tasks, for instance, subjects often select a safe bet over a risky one when given a choice between the two in a pair, but then assign a higher monetary evaluation to the risky bet. Motivated by a rich literature on context-dependent preferences, we conjecture that comparisons across bets in a pair can influence both Choice and Evaluation. Yet deciders are less likely to mentally compare the bets in the latter case, as bets are typically evaluated in isolation. This asymmetry between Choice and Evaluation is, we surmise, one cause of the reversals. If we further assume that memory decay affects mental comparisons in Evaluation, the account predicts order and timing effects on the reversal probability. We run several treatments designed to facilitate or hinder the retrieval from memory of the alternative bet during evaluation of a bet. However, the reversal rate does not vary across treatments in the predicted direction, and we find no systematic order or timing effects. We conclude that reversals are not influenced by the ease with which subjects recall the alternative bet during the evaluations, which suggests in turn that a relatively smaller frequency of comparisons across bets during the (typically isolated) evaluations is not a significant cause of reversals.
How food insecurity affects children’s behavior problems in early childhood: The nutrition and family stress pathways
Authors: Chen Xuejiao , Yeung Wei-Jun Jean
Published: January 2024

This study examines how household food insecurity shapes young children’s behavior problems in Singapore. The analysis is based on two waves of data collected before and during COVID-19 from a nationally representative sample of 2,601 children in the Singapore Longitudinal Early Development Study (SG-LEADS, Mage = 4.5 at wave 1, Mage = 6 at wave 2). Results based on propensity score matching, fixed effects analysis and lagged-variable models show a positive association between household food insecurity and children’s behavior problems both concurrently and over a two-year period. Two mediating pathways of this association are identified—children’s dietary intake and family stress. Children in food-insecure households tend to consume fewer vegetables and more sugar-sweetened beverages and carbohydrates, which is associated with elevated behavior problems. Parents in food-insecure households exhibit greater emotional distress, diminished parental warmth, and increased punitive parenting practices, also contributing to their children’s behavior problems. The family stress pathway has a stronger explanatory power than the nutrition pathway on children’s behavior problems. This study reveals that food insecurity is a risk factor for children’s behavior problems in early childhood which can lead to later developmental vulnerabilities for children in financially deprived families.
Bridging the gap: A new species of arboreal Abronia (Squamata: Anguidae) from the Northern Highlands of Chiapas, Mexico
Authors: Clause Adam G. , Luna-Reyes Roberto , Mendoza-Velázquez Oscar M. , Nieto-Montes de Oca Adrián , Solano-Zavaleta Israel
Published: January 2024

The mountain forests of Middle America are renowned for their endemic biodiversity, and arboreal alligator lizards (genusAbronia) are high-profile vertebrates endemic to this region. In this work, we describe a new species of arborealAbroniathat is known only from the type locality in the Northern Highlands of Chiapas, Mexico. The new species is diagnosed from all other members of the genusAbroniaby the following combination of characters: lack of protuberant or spine-like supra-auricular scales, lack of protuberant or casque-like posterolateral head scales, dorsum of head pale yellow with distinct dark markings, 35–39 transverse dorsal scale rows, lateralmost row of ventral scales enlarged relative to adjacent medial row, and dorsum brown with darker crossbands that are sometimes reduced to rows of spots. We provisionally include the new species in the subgenusLissabroniabased on genomic and morphological evidence, but our results also suggest a close relationship to the subgenusAbaculabronia. The new species is geographically separated from the nearestLissabroniaandAbaculabroniaspecies by the lowland Central Depression of Chiapas. Ongoing habitat loss and other factors imperil the new species, leading us to propose its listing under multiple threatened species frameworks. Because the Northern Highlands have poor coverage of protected areas, we briefly comment on the potential of this new species for stimulating conservation in the region.
Public controversy and citizens’ attitude formation about animal research: A case for scholarship and recommendations on conflicts at the science-society interface
Authors: Link Elena , Emde-Lachmund Katharina , Bruns Sophie , Dittrich Anja , Stiesch Meike , Haverich Axel , Treue Stefan , Klimmt Christoph
Published: January 2024

Activist groups attack animal research and put scientists and their institutions under pressure, whereas scientists often remain silent. We report an interdisciplinary research project driven by a communication science perspective on how citizens respond to news reports about animal research (3 experiments, overall N = 765) and a German science-initiated information platform (“Tierversuche verstehen”; controlled user study, N = 100). Findings demonstrate that a critical journalist perspective within neutral, two-sided news reports (e.g., skeptical expert statements or images of suffering animals) does not affect citizen opinion strongly. Information media provided by scientific institutions seem to be welcomed even by citizens who hold critical prior attitudes. From these results, we develop a set of recommendations for future public communication of animal research that builds on best practices in organizational and crisis communication. These suggestions are intended to empower animal researchers to actively participate in public debate to support citizens’ informed attitude formation.
Caliphs and Merchants: Cities and Economies of Power in the Near East (700–950), Fanny Bessard (2020)
Authors: Palombo Cecilia
Published: January 2024

Review of: Caliphs and Merchants: Cities and Economies of Power in the Near East (700–950), Fanny Bessard (2020)

Oxford: Oxford University Press, 400 pp., 79 b&w and 31 colour illus.,

ISBN: 978-0-19885-582-8, $125 (hardback)
Island of Hope: Migration and Solidarity in the Mediterranean, Megan A. Carney (2021)
Authors: Serrantino Giuseppe
Published: January 2024

Review of: Island of Hope: Migration and Solidarity in the Mediterranean, Megan A. Carney (2021)

Oakland, CA: California University Press, 223 pp.,

ISBN 978-0-52034-451-8, h/bk, $85, p/bk, $29.95