bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ecologisme i turistificació
Authors: Blázquez-Salom Macià , Cañada Ernest , Müller Nora , Ramis Sastre Margalida Maria
Published: May 2024

Els moviments socials han respost als processos de turistificació apel·lant a la defensa del territori com a argument que continua vigent, mentre que els processos de turistificació mostren més complexitat i contradiccions. Conseqüentment, cal una nova anàlisi holística de la turistificació i de les seves contestacions. Estudiam aquí els canvis ideològics dels moviments socials ecologistes enfront de la turistificació, particularment a les illes Balears, per tal d’encarar el debat sobre una perspectiva postcapitalista i generar una proposta de pensament i acció emancipadora.
Middle, Reflexive, and Reciprocal Constructions in Nalögo: A Typological and Diachronic Account
Authors: Alfarano Valentina
Published: May 2024

Abstract: In many Oceanic languages, middle and reciprocal meanings are expressed by reflexes of Proto-Oceanic *paRi-, a polysemous and polyfunctional prefix with collective, associative, iterative, and reciprocal functions. Traditionally, reflexive constructions in Oceanic languages were marked differently from middles and reciprocals. Where reflexes of Proto-Oceanic *paRi- show a lower productivity or disappeared, Oceanic languages co-opted available morphemes and constructions to express the functions once performed by the prefix. In terms of polysemes, along with the middle/reciprocal one, which is rooted in the history of these constructions, two paths of extension developed over time: (i) from middle/reciprocal to reflexive (with reflexes of Proto-Oceanic *paRi-), and (ii) from reflexive to reciprocal, but different from middle (with innovated markers). The aim of this paper is twofold: (i) to provide a description of middles, reflexives, and reciprocals in Nalögo, a Reefs–Santa Cruz Oceanic language, and (ii) to contribute to the discussion on the typology and diachrony of such constructions within the Oceanic family. In particular, I show that Nalögo has two innovated markers, the reflexive =lëbu (maybe from Proto-Oceanic *[ta]bulo(s) 'turn round, turn back') and the reciprocal - welo . Furthermore, Nalögo displays a so-far unknown path of semantic extension within the Oceanic family: from reflexive to middle. While the reflexive–middle polysemy is widely attested in the languages of the world, it constitutes a typological rarity in Oceanic languages.
Ekaterina Furtseva and the Impresarios: The Golden Age of Soviet Arts Tours
Authors: Brown Ismene
Published: May 2024

Abstract: This article discusses the globally celebrated Soviet arts tours to the USA and Britain from the late 1950s to mid 1970s. It uses original, neglected and reassessed evidence to argue that the phenomenon was not a product of the intergovernmental culture exchange agreements’ success but of private, often covert initiative seized from system failures. Its elite excellence and resilience against geopolitical reverses was the product of an unofficial alliance between two Western impresarios and Khrushchev’s Culture Minister Ekaterina Furtseva, which protected the tours and its elite artists by shifting the trade away from Cold War ideological competition to professional terms.
Exploring single-mode VCSEL wavelength tuning for low-cost 3D optical coherence tomography and OCT angiography
Authors: Kendrisic Milana , Nienhaus Jonas , Agafonov Vladislav , Salas Matthias , Nguyen Quang , Resch Hemma , Vass Clemens , Drexler Wolfgang , Schmoll Tilman , Leitgeb Rainer A.
Published: May 2024

Low-cost optical coherence tomography has recently emerged as a growing field due to the increased need for general availability of OCT devices outside of the clinics. One of the main obstacles in creating low-cost SS-OCT systems is the price of the laser. In this work, we study the influence of different tuning parameters (e.g., frequency, duty cycle, modulation curve, temperature) on the resulting bandwidth of the previously proposed low-cost single-mode thermally-tunable vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) source at 850 nm. With optimal parameters, the laser achieves a tuning bandwidth of 10.2 nm at a 50 kHz A-scan rate. In addition, we show the first 3D rendered volume scans of both anterior and posterior segment using a custom VCSEL-based low-cost OCT setup. With the help of deep-learning-based denoising, it was possible to critically reduce the noise in single scans. Moreover, by investigating the phase stability, it became apparent that phase stability between sweeps increases with rising modulation frequencies, making the auxiliary interferometer obsolete. Thus, the system’s 50 kHz tuning regimen is also suitable for functional extensions such as OCT angiography.
Optofluidic photonic crystal fiber platform for sensitive and reliable fluorescence based biosensing
Authors: Moeglen-Paget Baptiste , Perumal Jayakumar , Humbert Georges , Olivo Malini , Dinish U. S.
Published: May 2024

Biosensing plays a pivotal role in various scientific domains, offering significant contributions to medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and biotechnology. Fluorescence biosensing relies on the fluorescence emission from labelled biomolecules to enable sensitive and selective identification and quantification of specific biological targets in various samples. Photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) have led to the development of optofluidic fibers enabling efficient light-liquid interaction within small liquid volume. Herein, we present the development of a user-friendly optofluidic-fiber platform with simple hardware requirements for sensitive and reliable fluorescence biosensing with high measurement repeatability. We demonstrate a sensitivity improvement of the fluorescence emission up to 17 times compared to standard cuvette measurement, with a limit of detection of Cy5 fluorophore as low as 100 pM. The improvement in measurement repeatability is exploited for detecting haptoglobin protein, a relevant biomarker to diagnose several diseases, by using commercially available Cy5 labelled antibodies. The study aims to showcase an optofluidic platform leveraging the benefits provided by optofluidic fibers, which encompass easy light injection, robustness, and high sensitivity.
Optimizing finite-time photon extraction from emitter-cavity systems
Authors: Hughes W. J. , Goodwin J. F. , Horak P.
Published: May 2024

We develop methods to find the limits to finite-time single photon extraction from emitter-cavity systems. We first establish analytic upper and lower bounds on the maximum extraction probability from a canonical Λ-system before developing a numeric method to optimize generic output probabilities from Λ-systems generalized to multiple ground states. We use these methods to study the limits to finite-time photon extraction and the wavepackets that satisfy them, finding that using an optimized wavepacket ranging between a sinusoidal and exponentially decaying profile can considerably reduce photon duration for a given extraction efficiency. We further optimize the rates of quantum protocols requiring emitter-photon correlation to obtain driving-independent conclusions about the effect of system parameters on success probability. We believe that these results and methods will provide valuable tools and insights for the development of cavity-based single photon sources combining high efficiency and high rate.
Transfer efficiency in a pulsed light-harvesting trimer system
Authors: Wyke Ethan , Aiyejina Abuenameh , Andrews Roger , Greentree Andrew D.
Published: May 2024

In this paper, the theory of the transfer efficiency of a light-harvesting system consisting of a trimer ring coupled to an acceptor site is presented. When the ring has a prepared excitation or is excited using a laser pulse, the maximum transfer efficiency is approximately 0.5, while a near-perfect transfer efficiency is generated by a single photon. The near-perfect efficiency results from the creation of a dark state by the photon, which suppresses the effect of spontaneous decay from the donor.
RIS-assisted optical receiver model and reflected angle optimization for visible light communication in mobile environments
Authors: Ye Zi-Wei , Li Dun , Wang Chao , Zhu Yi-Jun
Published: May 2024

Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) supply high-speed and in-depth coverage wireless networks for visible light communication (VLC) systems, improving the system adaptability to mobile scenarios. But the angle-related efficiency loss caused by the diffraction effect of RIS as well as the angular response of the lens-enhanced optical receiver severely affects the practical performance of the RIS-assisted VLC system, which have not draw the attention of researchers. By the influences of these adverse properties, the beam angle configuration method should be further explored. In this paper, a RIS-assisted optical receiver model that jointly considering the angle-related characteristics of both the RIS reflector and the receiver is proposed. Based on the model, the receiver property is characterized, and the beam angle optimization to achieve the maximum optical power is presented. The results of simulations verify the validity of the obtained optimal reflected angle, and test the practical detecting range of the optimally configured RIS-assisted receiver.
Terahertz dual-band bandpass filter based on spoof surface plasmon polaritons with wide upper stopband suppression
Authors: Wang Chenao , Wen Pin , Huang Xiaojie , Chen Kunhong , Xu Kai-Da
Published: May 2024

In this paper, a terahertz (THz) dual-band bandpass filter based on spoof surface plasmon polaritons (SSPPs) with wide upper stopband suppression is proposed. The filter utilizes two types of SSPP unit cells loaded on a double-sided quasi-SSPPs transmission line to achieve dual-band filtering responses and wide upper stopband suppression simultaneously. The performance and bandwidth of the filter's passbands can be adjusted by modifying the SSPP unit cells within the dual-band filtering part. The detailed design method is provided to enhance understanding of the operating principle of the presented filter. The simulation results of the designed THz filter demonstrate its excellent dual-band filtering performance. It features a wide stopband spanning from 0.91 to 1.45 THz with |S21| < -35 dB. To validate the proposed approach, a microwave filter with a similar design is implemented. Finally, the simulated and measured S-parameter responses of the filter are provided for comparison and evaluation.
Multivariate optimization effectiveness model of single-longitudinal-mode laser under pre-laser Q-switching regime
Authors: Liu Chang , Jin Long , Dai Weicheng , Dong Yuan , Jin Guangyong
Published: May 2024

The optimal effectiveness model for optimizing the system parameters was established in this study by combining the optimization function based on the pre-laser Q-switching technique. By introducing boundary conditions to solve the rate equations, the specific process of composite mode selection is analyzed, and the specific pre-laser modulation time interval that enables single-longitudinal-mode laser output is obtained. Furthermore, through the established efficiency evaluation function for single-longitudinal-mode laser output characteristics, with the maximization of single-pulse energy as the objective, an energy efficiency analysis of relevant parameters in the mode selection components is conducted. The model we have established is universal, which can accurately control the pre-laser Q-switching process and reveals the inherent logical relationship of the relevant parameters in composite mode selection. The output characteristics of a single-longitudinal-mode Q-switching laser can be predicted and adjusted under the condition of high pump injection. Both simulation and experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the model.
Real-time underwater wireless optical communication and positioning an integrated system based on angular diversity SiPMs
Authors: Zhang Jialiang , Yu Yidu , Gao Guanjun , Guo Yonggang
Published: May 2024

Underwater communication and positioning are essential for autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) docking and formation. The traditional methods for communication and positioning are mainly independent from each other, increasing the redundancy and integration difficulty for AUVs. In this Letter, we demonstrate a real-time underwater wireless optical communication and positioning (UWOCP) integrated system. The LED array is adopted as a light source, and the pulse-position modulation (PPM) is used for a maximum transmission and sensing distance. By employing the silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) array, which consists of five SiPMs with different angles, the high sensitivity and ability to distinguish angles are obtained. Through calculating the relationship between the received pulse signal intensity of the five SiPMs, the pitch angle and yaw angle can be obtained. The experimental results in the pool show that the Ethernet bandwidth of 2.2 Mbps with an average angular error of 3.08° for one-dimensional positioning can be realized at a 50 m distance. To the best of our knowledge, this is the longest distance at which a real-time UWOCP system has been demonstrated. The proposed UWOCP system has the advantages of high sensitivity, computing efficiency, and compact structure, presenting great potential for underwater applications.
Histological staining alters circular dichroism SHG measurements of collagen
Authors: Harvey MacAulay , Lane Breanna , Cisek Richard , Veres Samuel P. , Kreplak Laurent , Tokarz Danielle
Published: May 2024

Circular dichroism second harmonic generation microscopy (CDSHG) is a
powerful imaging technique, which allows three-dimensional
visualization of collagen fibril orientation in tissues. However,
recent publications have obtained contradictory results on whether
CDSHG can be used to reveal the relative out-of-plane polarity of
collagen fibrils. Here we compare CDSHG images of unstained tendon and
tendon which has been stained with hematoxylin and eosin. We find
significant differences in the CDSHG between these two conditions,
which explain the recent contradictory results within the
literature.
Broadband optical spectral shift analysis of dielectric coatings
Authors: Soutenain A. , Chorel M. , Lavastre E. , Macnally S. , Mireles M. , Rigatti A. , Ducros C. , Dublanche-Tixier C.
Published: May 2024

High-energy laser facilities require high reflection multilayer coatings on meter-scale substrates. Due to stringent use specifications, a precise control of deposition parameters is necessary to tailor the optical and mechanical properties of components. The resulting coatings are sensitive to relative humidity variations, leading to a shift of their optical spectra called spectral shift. This spectral shift is generally observed on a narrow range, near the operating wavelength. Here we extend the concept of spectral shift to a broader spectral range. This analysis serves as a tool to study the behavior of a multilayer coating spectrum with relative humidity. To validate the spectral shift determination method, we compared the spectral shift of single layers induced by the relative humidity with simulated optical properties induced by either thickness or refractive index variations. In addition to the validation of the approach, the fitting results and the comparison between spectral shift shapes show that relative humidity variations mainly impact the refractive index of the layers and SiO2 is more sensitive than HfO2.
High average power (105 W) Fe:ZnSe laser pumped by radiation of laser diode side-pumped Er:YAG lasers
Authors: Wu Yingchen , Zhou Rui , Zhou Sikun , Ren Huaijin , Zhang Song , Wei Xingbin , Shang Jianli , Wang Weimin , Leng Mingyang , Dai Wenlin , Yi Jiayu , Tang Chun , Chen Lei
Published: May 2024

A high average power re-frequency operation Fe:ZnSe laser using laser diode side-pumped free-running Er:YAG lasers as activating sources is presented. Two pieces of subsurface layer doped Fe:ZnSe polycrystal are adoptive in a reflective resonator configuration and face-cooled by liquid nitrogen. A maximal Fe:ZnSe laser power of 105 W at a wavelength of 4.1 μm is achieved upon pumping by ten home-made Er:YAG lasers with fiber coupled output working at a frequency of 250 Hz and a pulse duration of ∼420 μs. Corresponding to the maximum Fe:ZnSe laser power, the optical–optical efficiency and slope efficiency with respect to the absorbed pump power are 43% and 44% respectively. The beam quality factor M2 is measured to be 3.4. To the best of our knowledge, it is the highest output average power of an Fe:ZnSe laser reported.
CFZA camera: a high-resolution lensless imaging technique based on compound Fresnel zone aperture
Authors: Tian Zhanquan , Li Lina , Ma Jianshe , Cao Liangcai , Su Ping
Published: May 2024

In lensless imaging using a Fresnel zone aperture (FZA), it is generally believed that the resolution is limited by the outermost ring breadth of the FZA. The limitation has the potential to be broken according to the multi-order property of binary FZAs. In this Letter, we propose to use a high-order component of the FZA as the point spread function (PSF) to develop a high-order transfer function backpropagation (HBP) algorithm to enhance the resolution. The proportion of high-order diffraction energy is low, leading to severe defocus noise in the reconstructed image. To address this issue, we propose a Compound FZA (CFZA), which merges two partial FZAs operating at different orders as the mask to strike a balance between the noise and resolution. Experimental results verify that the CFZA-based camera has a resolution that is double that of a traditional FZA-based camera with an identical outer ring breadth and can be reconstructed with high quality by a single HBP without calibration. Our method offers a cost-effective solution for achieving high-resolution imaging, expanding the potential applications of FZA-based lensless imaging in a variety of areas.
Circularly polarized lasing from chiral metal-organic frameworks
Authors: Zhu Dexiang , Wang Zhouyuanhang , Xu Xiangyu , Du Wenyu , Huang Wei , Kuai Yan , Yu Benli , Zheng Jianzhong , Hu Zhijia , Li Siqi
Published: May 2024

Circularly polarized lasers play a pivotal role in classical optics, nanophotonics, and quantum optical information processing, while their fabrication remains complex. This article begins with examining the interactions between stimulated emission and chiral matter, outlining a simple strategy for producing circularly polarized lasing from chiral metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), such as the zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF), embedded with achiral laser dyes (L/D-ZIF⊃dyes). It is found that the stimulated emission threshold and intensity are influenced by the interplay between the chiral polarization of the pump light and the inherent chirality of the MOF nanoparticles. We further present the design of a chiral vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL), comprising an L/D-ZIF⊃dyes solid-state film sandwiched between a high-reflectivity distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) mirror and a silver film. The cavity-based lasing exhibits higher asymmetry between emitting left-handed and right-handed polarized light compared to chiral spontaneous emission (SE) and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE), with an asymmetry value g
lum
of approximately ±0.31. This value is nearly four-fold greater than that of SE and twice that of ASE. Our findings reveal a new approach to amplify chiral signals, promoting the comprehension and application of chiral–matter interactions, and offering a simple yet effective strategy to fabricate chiral lasers.
Clustering and visualization of single-cell RNA-seq data using path metrics
Authors: Manousidaki Andriana , Little Anna , Xie Yuying
Published: May 2024

Recent advances in single-cell technologies have enabled high-resolution characterization of tissue and cancer compositions. Although numerous tools for dimension reduction and clustering are available for single-cell data analyses, these methods often fail to simultaneously preserve local cluster structure and global data geometry. To address these challenges, we developed a novel analyses framework, Single-Cell Path Metrics Profiling (scPMP), using power-weighted path metrics, which measure distances between cells in a data-driven way. Unlike Euclidean distance and other commonly used distance metrics, path metrics are density sensitive and respect the underlying data geometry. By combining path metrics with multidimensional scaling, a low dimensional embedding of the data is obtained which preserves both the global data geometry and cluster structure. We evaluate the method both for clustering quality and geometric fidelity, and it outperforms current scRNAseq clustering algorithms on a wide range of benchmarking data sets.
Challenges in the distribution of antimicrobial medications in community dispensaries in Accra, Ghana
Authors: Greene Hannah Camille , Makovi Kinga , Abdul-Mumin Rafiatu , Bansal Akhil , Frimpong Jemima A.
Published: May 2024

Introduction

The dispensation of medicines in some low- and middle-income countries is often carried out by private vendors operating under constrained conditions. The aim of this study was to understand the challenges reported by employees of dispensaries, specifically, chemical and herbal shops and pharmacies in Accra, Ghana. Our objectives were twofold: (1) to assess challenges faced by medicine vendors related to dispensing antimicrobials (antibiotic and antimalarial medications), and (2) to identify opportunities for improving their stewardship of antimicrobials.

Methods

Data were collected in 79 dispensaries throughout Accra, in 2021, using a survey questionnaire. We used open-ended questions, grounded on an adapted socioecological model of public health, to analyze these data and determine challenges faced by respondents.

Results

We identified multiple, interlocking challenges faced by medicine vendors. Many of these relate to challenges of antimicrobial stewardship (following evidence-based practices when dispensing medicines). Overall, medicine vendors frequently reported challenges at the Customer and Community levels. These included strained interactions with customers and the prohibitive costs of medications. The consequences of these challenges reverberated and manifested through all levels of the socioecological model of public health (Entity, Customer, Community, Global).

Discussion

The safe and effective distribution of medications was truncated by strained interactions, often related to the cost of medicines and gaps in knowledge. While addressing these challenges requires multifaceted approaches, we identified several areas that, if intervened upon, could unlock the great potential of antimicrobal stewardship. The effective and efficient implementation of key interventions could facilitate efforts spearheaded by medicine vendors and leverage the benefits of their role as health educators and service providers.

Conclusion

Addressing barriers faced by medicine vendors would provide an opportunity to significantly improve the provision of medications, and ultimately population health. Such efforts will likely expand access to populations who may otherwise be unable to access medications and treatment in formal institutions of care such as hospitals. Our findings also highlight the broad range of care provided by shopkeepers and vendors at dispensaries. These findings suggest that the meaningful engagement of dispensaries as valued conduits of community health is a promising pathway for interventions aiming to improve antimicrobial stewardship.
Cross-border political competition
Authors: Segovia-Martin Jose , Rivero Óscar
Published: May 2024

Individuals are increasingly exposed to news and opinion from beyond national borders. This news and opinion are often concentrated in clusters of ideological homophily, such as political parties, factions, or interest groups. But how does exposure to cross-border information affect the diffusion of ideas across national and ideological borders? Here, we develop a non-linear mathematical model for the cross-border spread of two ideologies. First, we describe the standard deterministic model where the populations of each country are assumed to be constant and homogeneously mixed. We solve the system of differential equations numerically by the Runge-Kutta method and show how small changes in the influence of a minority ideology can trigger shifts in the global political equilibrium. Second, we simulate recruitment as a stochastic differential process for each political affiliation and fit model solutions to population growth rates and voting populations in US presidential elections from 1932 to 2020. We also project the dynamics of several possible scenarios from 2020 to the end of the century. We show that cross-border influence plays a fundamental role in determining election outcomes. An increase in foreign support for a national party’s ideas could change the election outcome, independent of domestic recruitment capacity. One key finding of our study suggests that voter turnout in the US will grow at a faster rate than non-voters in the coming decades. This trend is attributed to the enhanced recruitment capabilities of both major parties among non-partisans over time, making political disaffection less prominent. This phenomenon holds true across all simulated scenarios.
Demographic trends of cardiorenal and heart failure deaths in the United States, 2011–2020
Authors: Shearer Joseph J. , Hashemian Maryam , Nelson Robert G. , Looker Helen C. , Chamberlain Alanna M. , Powell-Wiley Tiffany M. , Pérez-Stable Eliseo J. , Roger Véronique L.
Published: May 2024

Background

Heart failure (HF) and kidney disease frequently co-occur, increasing mortality risk. The cardiorenal syndrome results from damage to either the heart or kidney impacting the other organ. The epidemiology of cardiorenal syndrome among the general population is incompletely characterized and despite shared risk factors with HF, differences in mortality risk across key demographics have not been well described. Thus, the primary goal of this study was to analyze annual trends in cardiorenal-related mortality, evaluate if these trends differed by age, sex, and race or ethnicity, and describe these trends against a backdrop of HF mortality.

Methods and findings

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging ONline Data for Epidemiologic Research database was used to examine cardiorenal- and HF-related mortality in the US between 2011and 2020. International Classification of Diseases, 10 Revision codes were used to classify cardiorenal-related deaths (I13.x) and HF-related deaths (I11.0, I13.0, I13.2, and I50.x), among decedents aged 15 years or older. Decedents were further stratified by age group, sex, race, or ethnicity. Crude and age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) per 100,000 persons were calculated. A total of 97,135 cardiorenal-related deaths and 3,453,655 HF-related deaths occurred. Cardiorenal-related mortality (AAMR, 3.26; 95% CI: 3.23–3.28) was significantly lower than HF-related mortality (AAMR, 115.7; 95% CI: 115.6–115.8). The annual percent change (APC) was greater and increased over time for cardiorenal-related mortality (2011–2015: APC, 7.1%; 95% CI: 0.7–13.9%; 2015–2020: APC, 19.7%, 95% CI: 16.3–23.2%), whereas HF-related mortality also increased over that time period, but at a consistently lower rate (2011–2020: APC, 2.4%; 95% CI: 1.7–3.1%). Mortality was highest among older and male decedents for both causes. Cardiorenal-related deaths were more common in non-Hispanic or Latino Blacks compared to Whites, but similar rates were observed for HF-related mortality. A larger proportion of cardiorenal-related deaths, compared to HF-related deaths, listed cardiorenal syndrome as the underlying cause of death (67.0% vs. 1.2%).

Conclusions

HF-related deaths substantially outnumber cardiorenal-related deaths; however, cardiorenal-related deaths are increasing at an alarming rate with the highest burden among non-Hispanic or Latino Blacks. Continued surveillance of cardiorenal-related mortality trends is critical and future studies that contain detailed biomarker and social determinants of health information are needed to identify mechanisms underlying differences in mortality trends.
Clovis organizational dynamics at a Late Glacial campsite in the central Great Lakes: Belson site excavations 2020–2021
Authors: Nash Brendan , Talbot Thomas , Wright Henry T. , Greiner Elliot , Cummings Linda Scott
Published: May 2024

The Belson site is located on an outwash plain draining the Early Algonquin stage of the central Great Lakes (coinciding with the Older Dryas stadial period around 14,000 Cal B.P) southwest across Lower Michigan into the Ohio tributaries. By 13,000 Cal B.P the St. Joseph River had incised multiple channels into this plain. On a terrace just north of a now-abandoned channel, a detailed surface study by Talbot from 2005–2018 showed several flake clusters largely of Attica chert, procured about 235 km southwest of Belson. A study of the surface sample was published by the authors in 2021 and indicated that the points were made with the Clovis technological pattern. Excavations in 2020–21 revealed hundreds of buried flakes and multiple tools in the lower, less-disturbed terrace sediment. Plotting of this material indicates successive occupations below the ploughed deposit and covering more than 30 m2. The buried assemblages are similar to the published surface assemblage with the addition of more small scrapers and manufacturing debris. Several of the buried tools have traces of proteins from a range of mammals, suggesting a broad-spectrum subsistence strategy. The documentation of a succession of little disturbed deposits with precisely recorded micro-debris will allow for testing of models describing settlement choice and developing dynamics of internal site organization. Initial analysis of recovered data provides support for an ‘outcrop centered’ model where high-quality chert outcrops serve as central places on the landscape. Samples of sediment and charcoal for identification and dating await study.
Genetic differentiation at extreme latitudes in the socially plastic sweat bee Halictus rubicundus
Authors: Michels Bas A. , Beekman Mariska M. , Field Jeremy , Gruber Jodie , Pannebakker Bart A. , Savill Charlotte , Boulton Rebecca A.
Published: May 2024

The sweat bee Halictus rubicundus is an important pollinator with a large latitudinal range and many potential barriers to gene flow. Alongside typical physical barriers, including mountain ranges and oceans, the climate may also impose restrictions on gene flow in this species. The climate influences voltinism and sociality in H. rubicundus, which is bivoltine and can nest socially at warmer lower latitudes but tends to be univoltine and solitary in the cooler north. Variation in voltinism could result in phenological differences, potentially limiting gene flow, but a previous study found no evidence for this in H. rubicundus populations in mainland Britain. Here we extend the previous study to consider populations of H. rubicundus at extreme northern and southern latitudes in the UK. We found that bees from a population in the far north of Scotland were genetically differentiated from bees collected in Cornwall in the south-west of England. In contrast, bees collected across the Irish Sea in Northern Ireland showed slight genetic overlap with both the Scottish and Cornish bees. Our results suggest that when populations at extreme latitudes are considered, phenology and the climate may act alongside physical barriers such as the Scottish Highlands and the Irish Sea to restrict gene flow in H. rubicundus. We discuss the implications of our results for local adaptation in the face of rapidly changing selection pressures which are likely under climate change.
Trends in cancer mortality among the elderly in China, 2005–2035
Authors: Wang Meiyan , Su Xunli , Hu Yunhua , Yang Jian
Published: May 2024

Background

With the appearance and aggravation of the aging society, cancer has become one of the major problems that threaten the life and health of Chinese residents seriously.

Objective

To explore the cancer epidemiological characteristics among the elderly in China from 2005 to 2016, and to provide strategies for cancer prevention and treatment.

Methods

Stratified analysis was conducted on the cancer mortality data of the elderly aged ≥60 years in China, which were selected from the Chinese Cancer Registry Annual Report. Joinpoint regression model was used to calculted average annual percentage change (AAPC) to estimate the time trends. Age-period-cohort (APC) model was used to explore the age, period and birth cohort effect on the risk of cancer death. Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) model was used to predict trends in cancer mortality among elderly by gender and region to 2035.

Results

2005–2016, cancer mortality in the elderly in China showed a decreasing trend (AAPC = -1.2%, P<0.001). Cancer mortality in rural areas was higher than that in urban areas, but the urban-rural difference gradually narrowed (t = 6.1, P<0.01). The APC model showed that cancer mortality increased with age. The relative risk (RR) for the period effect decreased. RR was lower for the later- born cohort than that for the earlier-born cohort in rural areas. Lung cancer mortality ranked first in both male and female, and showed an increasing trend among female in the 60–64, 80–84 and ≥85 age groups (AAPC60-64 = 1.0%, AAPC80-84 = 0.8%, AAPC≥85 = 2.0%, all P<0.05). By 2035, cancer mortality for the elderly was predicted to decline nationally, by sex and in rural areas, while rising in urban areas.

Conclusion

Cancer mortality in the elderly in China showed a decreasing trend from 2005 to 2016, but it was still higher than the world average. Early cancer screening is important, especially in the elderly male and in rural areas.
Women, peace and insecurity: The risks of peacebuilding in everyday life for women in Sri Lanka and Nepal
Authors: Brounéus Karen , Forsberg Erika , Bhattarai Prakash , de Mel Neloufer , Lonergan Kate , Peiris Pradeep , Roy Pawan , Samarasinghe Gameela , Wanasinghe-Pasqual Maneesha
Published: May 2024

Truth telling processes, initiatives to prosecute war-time perpetrators, and ex-combatant reintegration are examples of common peacebuilding practices after war. Yet, little is known of how women are affected by peacebuilding initiatives such as these, or how they perceive these initiatives for peace. For many women, peace after war does not bring peace to everyday life; research shows that domestic violence increases during and after war. In addition, some peacebuilding measures have been found to increase risk and insecurity, not least for women. To better understand the interconnections between gender and post-conflict attitudes to peacebuilding, we asked 2,041 women and men in Sri Lanka and Nepal of their views on post-war peace initiatives. In line with our expectations, we find that women are more skeptical than men towards peacebuilding measures that involve increased risk in everyday life, such as truth-telling and coexisting with former adversaries and warring groups reintegrating in local communities. There are no gender differences pertaining to peacebuilding initiatives that take place far away at the national level, for example, concerning accountability or, in the case of Nepal, the peace agreement. Our findings suggest that international peacebuilding practice is blind to the everyday insecurities of women after war. That a basic gendered lens is missing from most peacebuilding designs is both alarming and deeply troubling, but identifying this critical aspect provides the opportunity for imperative change. By shedding light on the challenges women face after war, we hope this article contributes to finding ways to mitigate unknown and unintended side-effects of peacebuilding efforts, and thereby to the development of better, evidence-based peacebuilding practice–of benefit to both men and women.
Step type is associated with loading and ankle motion in tap dance
Authors: Polascik Breanna A. , Jiang Yue , Schmitt Daniel
Published: May 2024

Tap dance generates forces and joint motions that can lead to injury; however, little is known about the magnitude of load across different tap steps. The purpose of this study was to calculate peak vertical forces, average vertical foot velocities, and maximum/minimum ankle angles produced by tap dancers with different levels of experience performing the toe cannon, heel cannon, flap, and cramp roll. This prospective cross-sectional study included 14 female tap dancers aged ≥18 years with varying tap experience. Participants were recorded by three cameras while performing a choreographed tap combination containing four steps of interest on a force platform. Adjusting for experience and dancer-level clustering, we identified the steps—cramp roll and toe cannon—that had the highest peak vertical ground reaction force, angles, and velocities compared to flap and heel cannon. There was no effect of experience. The results supported our hypothesis and provide new insights into step production. Over time, the larger forces associated with these steps could pose an increased risk of injury to bones and joints when compared to smaller forces, which may suggest the importance of adjusting routines to reduce or avoid injury.
Antenatal care component utilization and associated factors among pregnant women in Ethiopia: Multilevel analysis of Ethiopian Mini Demographic and Health survey 2019
Authors: Shiferaw Desalegn , Feyisa Bikila Regassa , Biru Bayise , Yesse Mubarek
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Maternal and neonatal health are among the top prioritised agendas of global health care with due emphasis given to developing countries, where the burden is profound. Antenatal care accompanied by its recommended components is highly beneficial for both maternal health and birth outcome.

Objective

The objective of this study was to identify the proportion of pregnant women who received adequate Antenatal care components and associated factors among Ethiopian women.

Methods and materials

We used a nation-wide data from Mini Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (MEDHS) of 2019. All women of age 15–49 and who had at least one ANC visit, who were either permanent residents of the selected households or visitors who slept in the household the night before the survey, were eligible to be interviewed. Since we utilised multilevel logistic regression model, the STATA output had two components, the fixed effect and the random effect. In our model, the fixed effect part was displayed by odds ratio while the random effect was addressed by variance and intra-cluster correlation (ICC).

Results

From the total women with at least one antenatal care (ANC) visit 55.41% (95% CI 53.60%, 57.20%) of them received adequate components of the care. In the final model after adjusting for the cluster and individual level variables, attending primary (AOR = 1.45; 95% CI: 1.15 to 1.84), secondary (AOR = 2.21; 95% CI: 1.51 to 3.24) and higher education (AOR = 2.42; 95% CI: 1.38 to 4.26) were significantly associated with higher odds of receiving adequate components of ANC. Similarly, wealth index of middle (AOR = 1.51; 95% CI: 1.06, 2.14), richer (AOR = 1.92; 95% CI: 1.32, 2.80), and richest (AOR = 3.86; 95% CI: 2.35, 6.33) compared to poorest index and having two or more ANC visits were significantly associated with receiving adequate components of ANC. On the other hand, being from Oromia region, from female headed household and protestant religion were negatively associated with receiving adequate components of ANC.

Conclusion

The proportion of women who received adequate ANC component was much lower compared to the universal recommendation for every woman on ANC visit. Educational status, wealth index, number of ANC visit, region of residence and type of health facility were significantly associated with the odds of receiving adequate components of ANC. The government should pay attention to those without any formal education, encouraging pregnant women to receive the optimum number of ANC visits, and devising techniques to address those in poorest wealth index so that the proportion of adequate components of ANC will be increased.
Mapping the evidence on factors related to postpartum contraception among sub-Saharan African immigrant and refugee women in the United States of America: A scoping review protocol
Authors: Olorunsaiye Comfort Z. , Badru Mariam A. , Osborne Augustus , Degge Hannah M. , Yaya Sanni
Published: May 2024

Background

Postpartum contraception is essential to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care because it encourages healthy spacing between births, helps women avoid unwanted pregnancies, and lessens the risks of health problems for mothers and babies. Sub-Saharan African immigrant and refugee populations are rapidly increasing in the United States, and they come from a wide range of cultural, linguistic, religious, and social origins, which may pose challenges in timely access to culturally acceptable SRH care, for preventing mistimed or unwanted childbearing. The objective of this scoping review is to assess the extent of the available literature on postpartum contraception among sub-Saharan African immigrant and refugee women living in the United States.

Methods

We developed preliminary search terms with the help of an expert librarian, consisting of keywords including birth intervals, birth spacing, contraception, postpartum contraception or family planning, and USA or America, and sub-Saharan African immigrants, or emigrants. The study will include the following electronic databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, EMBASE, and the Global Health Database. The sources will include studies on postpartum care and contraceptive access and utilization among sub-Saharan African immigrants living in the US. Citations, abstracts, and full texts will be independently screened by two reviewers. We will use narrative synthesis to analyze the data using quantitative and qualitative methods. Factors associated with postpartum contraception will be organized using the domains and constructs of the PEN-3 Model as a guiding framework.

Conclusion

This scoping review will map the research on postpartum contraception among sub-Saharan African immigrant and refugee women living in the US. We expect to identify knowledge gaps, and barriers and facilitators of postpartum contraception in this population. Based on the findings of the review, recommendations will be made for advocacy and program and policy development toward optimizing interpregnancy intervals in sub-Saharan African immigrants living in the US.

Trial registration

Review registrationOpen Science Framework:https://osf.io/s385j.
First report of V1016I, F1534C and V410L kdr mutations associated with pyrethroid resistance in Aedes aegypti populations from Niamey, Niger
Authors: Maiga Abdoul-Aziz , Sombié Aboubacar , Zanré Nicolas , Yaméogo Félix , Iro Souleymane , Testa Jean , Sanon Antoine , Koita Ousmane , Kanuka Hirotaka , McCall Philip J. , Weetman David , Badolo Athanase
Published: May 2024

Background

Ae. aegypti is the vector of important μ arboviruses, including dengue, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever. Despite not being specifically targeted by insecticide-based control programs in West Africa, resistance to insecticides in Ae. aegypti has been reported in countries within this region. In this study, we investigated the status and mechanisms of Ae. aegypti resistance in Niamey, the capital of Niger. This research aims to provide baseline data necessary for arbovirus outbreak prevention and preparedness in the country.

Methods

Ovitraps were used to collect Ae. aegypti eggs, which were subsequently hatched in the insectary for bioassay tests. The hatched larvae were then reared to 3–5-day-old adults for WHO tube and CDC bottle bioassays, including synergist tests. The kdr mutations F1534C, V1016I, and V410L were genotyped using allele-specific PCR and TaqMan qPCR methods.

Results

Ae. aegypti from Niamey exhibited moderate resistance to pyrethroids but susceptibility to organophosphates and carbamates. The kdr mutations, F1534C, V1016I and V410L were detected with the resistant tri-locus haplotype 1534C+1016L+410L associated with both permethrin and deltamethrin resistance. Whereas the homozygote tri-locus resistant genotype 1534CC+1016LL+410LL was linked only to permethrin resistance. The involvement of oxidase and esterase enzymes in resistance mechanisms was suggested by partial restoration of mosquitoes’ susceptibility to pyrethroids in synergist bioassays.

Conclusion

This study is the first report of Ae. aegypti resistance to pyrethroid insecticides in Niamey. The resistance is underpinned by target site mutations and potentially involves metabolic enzymes. The observed resistance to pyrethroids coupled with susceptibility to other insecticides, provides data to support evidence-based decision-making for Ae. aegypti control in Niger.
Új hídmodell: Magyarország újraiparosodása a kínai technológia-export és a globális iparpolitikai fordulat idején
Authors: Gagyi Ágnes , Gerőcs Tamás , Szabó Linda
Published: May 2024

Kína megnövekedett globális szerepe Magyarország világgazdasági integrá- cióját is érinti. A cikkben ezt a kapcsolatot a második világháború utáni glo- bális gazdasági ciklus 1970-es évektől elinduló válságfolyamata felől tekintjük át. A tanulmány első részében rámutatunk, hogy a magyar szocialista külgaz- dasági integráció válsága, a nyugati tőkének alárendelt posztszocialista gaz- dasági modell, majd az EU-s transzfereken túl a 2010-es évek német műkö- dőtőkére, keleti hitelekre és államilag támogatott belföldi vállalkozásfejlesztésre építő rezsimje hogyan kapcsolódott ahhoz a világgazdasági átalakuláshoz, amiben Kína újraiparosodása, majd 2010-es évektől felerősödő tőkekihelye- zése kulcsfontosságú szerepet játszott. A tanulmány második részében a magyar gazdaságfejlesztés 2020-as évekre felerősödő, újraiparosodásra fókuszáló modelljét - mint a magyar külgazdasági beágyazódásra hosszú távon jellemző geoökonómiai híd-funkció új formáját - elemezzük a kínai ipar felzárkózása nyomán elinduló technológia-export és az erre reagáló nyugati protekcionista iparpolitikák kontextusában.