bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The need for re-staging transurethral resection of bladder tumour (ReTURBT) in Ta high grade and T1 tumours: Questioning the norms—Inferences from a national institute.
Authors: Ram Prasanna , Nayak Prasant , Das Manoj Kumar , Mandal Swarnendu , Tripathy Sambit , Barik Kalandi , Gorrepati Rohith , Gaur Abhay , Kumar Dheeraj , Tarigopula Vivek , Sahoo Suman , Singh Kirti , Chundampetta Sabique , Ambade Saharsh
Published: August 2023

79

Background: The incidence of urinary bladder carcinoma is increasing at an alarming rate. Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC) accounts for seventy percent of these patients. Current guidelines recommend a Restage Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumour (ReTURBT) for Ta high-grade and all T1 non-muscle invasive tumours, to increase the accuracy of staging. The question of whether a second surgery is always necessary remains unanswered. Here, the patient's concern about the completeness of the procedure, perioperative morbidity, and the financial burden involved in a major surgery cannot be ignored. Moreover, it also puts a strain on the already overburdened healthcare systems in developing countries like India. Trying to answer this question of whether it is oncologically sound to omit a second resection, our study evaluated the outcomes of patients undergoing restage TURBT with regards to the rate of upstaging, upgrading and residual tumours in these patients. Methods: The study was a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database including NMIBC patients from September 2019 to February 2023. A total of 112 patients underwent restage TURBT. Their demographic details, imaging, cystoscopy findings, and histopathological data were recorded. The primary objective was to analyse the rate of upstaging, while the secondary objectives were to look at the residual tumour and upgrading rates in these patients. Results: Out of 112 patients (T1- 71 & Ta high grade- 41), 24 patients (21.42%) had residual tumours at restage (T1- 20 & Ta high grade- 4) while 21 (18.75%) patients (T1- 19 & Ta high grade- 02) were upstaged to T1 or T2. Grade progression was seen in 15.41 % T1 patients, while none of the Ta high grade patients had a change in grade. Deep muscle in the initial resection was present in 87.5 % of the specimens. Conclusions: Our retrospective analysis points towards skipping a restage TURBT in select Ta patients in whom a well-performed and adequate initial TURBT was done. Further prospective studies with large patient cohorts are needed to confirm and reinforce these proposed facts.
Cardiopulmonary exercise testing of patients with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer as screening for vigorous exercise medicine prescription.
Authors: Newton Robert Usher , Hart Nicolas H. , Kenfield Stacey A. , Galvao Daniel Abido , Courneya Kerry S. , Ryan Charles M , Chan June M. , Catto James W.F. , Winters-Stone Kerri M. , Van Hemelrijck Mieke , Wylie Harriet , Schumann Moritz , Skinner Tina , Praet Stephan , Saad Fred
Published: August 2023

80

Background: Exercise is recommended for patients with prostate cancer to manage treatment adverse effects, improve quality of life and potentially influence cancer-specific outcomes. Men with advanced prostate cancer and metastatic disease may be at increased risk of cardiac events due to their cancer treatment and comorbidities. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) for assessing cardiorespiratory capacity and risk screening of patients with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) prior to engaging in a vigorous program of exercise medicine. Methods: Experimental design was a cross-sectional analysis of screening CPET’s from a Phase III Randomised Controlled Trial (INTERVAL-GAP4) within the clinical setting involving men with mCRPC. Testing incorporated medically supervised, symptom limited, CPET with electrocardiogram (ECG) performed on a cycle ergometer until volitional exhaustion or maximal oxygen uptake peak (V02.PEAK) attained. Outcome Measurements included safety (incidence and severity of adverse events), feasibility (completion of CPET) and efficacy (performance outcomes, screen-fails, and cardiac pathology). Descriptive statistics were calculated as mean and standard deviation. Results: 104 men (age 71.5 ± 8.4 years) with mCRPC completed a medically supervised CPET. Of these, 96 patients (92.3%) met the criterion for V02.PEAK attainment and were randomised to the INTERVAL-GAP4 trial, with 8 (7.7%) CPET screen-fails. Four positive cardiac abnormalities (3.8%) were observed, with these patients referred to a cardiologist for further assessment. Referred patients were all cleared to participate in vigorous exercise with no clinically significant cardiovascular disease or were determined to have newly diagnosed and subsequently controlled cardiovascular disease. Average V02.PEAK was 1.72 ± 0.51 L.min-1 absolute and 18.96 ± 5.30 mL.kg-1.min-1 relative which is in the 10-15th percentile for healthy men of this age. Maximal heart rate achieved was 141 ± 20 bpm at a maximal workload of 128 ± 40 W. There were no cardiac events or any other exercise-related adverse events during the testing. Conclusions: Maximal CPET is safe for men with advanced prostate cancer. CPET with ECG is also an effective cardiac stress screening tool prior to engaging in a vigorous exercise medicine program to detect underlying cardiovascular health issues. Further, results from CPET can be used to inform appropriate exercise prescription individualised to the patient. Clinical trial information: NCT02730338 .
Assessing consistency of calculating homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) score using different segmentation method.
Authors: Chao Xiaopei , Li Lei , Kai Zhentian , Zhang Shuilong , Huang Lisha , He Hongsheng
Published: August 2023

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Background: A number of similar tests were developed since FDA approval of using niraparib in HRD positive (HRD score >=42) patients. However, various factors can substantially influence HRD score estimation. We hereby evaluated the concordancy of bioinformatics pipelines, especially different copy number variation (CNV) algorithms, in inferring HRD scores. Methods: A total of 195 ovarian cancer patients enrolled from April 2021 to Dec 2022 were used for retrospective analysis in this study. Both tumor tissue and blood samples were sequenced with Topgen HRD panel, which covered ~35,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Sequence data were trimmed and aligned to hg19 reference genome. Two commonly used CNV pipeline (i.e. Sequenza, and PureCN which have tumor-normal mode and tumor-only mode) were adopted to generate allele specific copy number (ASCN) profile. HRD scores were then inferred from ASCN profile using R package scarHRD. Pearson correlation was used for evaluating correlation between HRD scores generated with different algorithms. Paired T-test and Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used in comparing differences in HRD scores and segment counts from different algorithms. Percentage agreement was evaluated based on cutoff of HRD score >=42. Results: HRD scores produced from Sequenza and PureCN (tumor-normal mode) showed significant correlation (R = 0.83, P value < 0.001). Sequenza tended to over-segment than PureCN (median segment counts: 139 vs 82, P value < 0.001) and have higher HRD scores (mean HRD scores: 55.0 vs 23.5, P value < 0.001). Using Sequenza, HRD-positivity was observed in 70.0% of the total population, whereas PureCN classified only 39.0% as HRD-positive. HRD scores inferred from two modes of PureCN showed improved correlation (R = 0.89, P value < 0.001). Tumor-only mode generated higher mean HRD score than tumor-normal mode (42.7 vs 36.0, p-value < 0.001). Prevalence of HRD-positivity was 47.7% using tumor-only mode. Using tumor-normal mode as the reference test, the percentages of agreement were shown in the Table. Conclusions: Comparison of different CNV algorithms demonstrated significant variances in HRD scores estimation. Despite good correlation between different pipelines was observed on HRD scores, the estimated prevalence of HRD-positive patients varied significantly from 39% to 70%. Our results urge the necessity of harmonisation on bioinformatics pipeline during HRD score calculation. [Table: see text]
Physician Perceptions of and Barriers to Pediatric Palliative Care for Children With Cancer in Brazil
Authors: McNeil Michael J. , Godfrey Alyssa , Loggetto Patricia , de Oliveira Junior André , Job Godwin , Boldrini Erica , Regina Costa Murra Glaucia , Antunes Geronutti Ayub Dileiny , Francisco Oliveira de Lima Allan , Esmeraldo Andrade de Almeida Aline , Lopes Garcia Julia , Beatriz Costa Neves do Amaral Anna , Cristina Cunha Ferreira e Fonseca Iêda , Friedrich Paola , Metzger Monika L. , Devidas Meenakshi , Agulnik Asya , Baker Justin N. ,   on behalf of the ADAPT Brazil Team
Published: August 2023

PURPOSE

Early integration of pediatric palliative care (PPC) for children with cancer is critical to improving the quality of life of both the patient and family. Understanding physician perceptions of palliative care and perceived barriers to early integration is necessary to develop PPC in Brazil.

METHODS

The Assessing Doctors' Attitudes on Palliative Treatment survey was modified for use in Brazil. The survey was open from January 2022 to June 2022 and distributed to physicians of all specialties from participating institutions who treat children with cancer. Statistical analysis was complemented by qualitative analysis of open-ended responses.

RESULTS

A total of 272 respondents participated. Most respondents reported access to PPC experts for consultation (77.2%) and 34.5% indicated previous palliative care training. Physician knowledge of PPC was generally aligned with WHO guidance (median alignment, 93.0%; range, 80.5%-98.2%). However, about half (53.3%) felt comfortable addressing physical needs of patients receiving PPC, 35.3% addressing emotional needs, 25.8% addressing spiritual needs, and 33.5% addressing grief and bereavement needs. Most respondents (65.4%) felt palliative care should be involved from diagnosis, but only 10.3% stated that this occurred in their setting. The most important barriers identified were physician discomfort (89.0%), limited physician knowledge (88.6%), and lack of home-based services (83.8%).

CONCLUSION

Despite a strong understanding of the role of palliative care, physicians in Brazil reported low confidence delivering PPC to children with cancer. Additionally, physicians generally believed that PPC should be integrated earlier in the disease trajectory of children with cancer. This work will direct educational and capacity building initiatives to ensure greater access to high-quality PPC for children with cancer in Brazil to address patient and family suffering.
Clinical Practice Strategies to Address Sexual Health in Female Cancer Survivors
Authors: Arring Noël , Barton Debra L. , Reese Jennifer B.
Published: August 2023

With effective treatment options, #sexualhealth for female cancer survivors warrants inclusion in care.
Nodal Metastases Associated With Fusion Oncogenes Are Age Dependent in Young Adult Patients With Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Li Haorong , Han Rulai , Meng Lingyang , Sun Yingkai , Zhao Ming , Zhou Wei , Xie Jing , Yu Danyan , Shen Liyun , Zhou Yulin , Wang Shu , Yan Jiqi , Wang Weiqing , Ye Lei
Published: August 2023

Context

Fusion oncogenes, especially those involving RET or NTRK, are known drivers of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). They are prevalent in pediatric patients and correlate with aggressive tumor behavior.

Objective

We explored the age dependence of fusion oncogenes and aggressive tumor behavior in young adult PTC patients.

Experimental Design

We examined 150 tumors from 142 PTC patients aged between 17∼35 years old with established tumor-node-metastasis stages. Oncogenic drivers and the thyroid differentiation score (TDS) were determined by DNA and RNA sequencing of a target panel. Transcriptome analysis was performed in PTCs with RET fusions.

Results

Among 150 PTCs, we detected BRAF V600E (n = 105), RET fusions (n = 15), NTRK3 fusions (n = 8), and BRAF fusions (n = 4). We found that fusion oncogenes were associated with nodal metastasis when age was tiered into 3 groups: <25 years, 25∼29 years, and 30∼35 years. Patients under 25 years old showed a marginal increase in tumor stage compared to those over 25 years (75.00% vs 21.74%, P = .0646). Risk of lateral lymph node metastasis increased with younger age (75.00% vs 27.27% vs 8.33%, P = .0369). As with advanced tumor and node stage, patients harboring fusion oncogenes and aged under 25 years showed the lowest TDS; genes associated with immunoglobulin production and production of molecular mediators of the immune response were significantly upregulated.

Conclusions

Adult PTC patients under 25 years with fusion oncogenes showed a tendency toward advanced tumor stage and lower thyroid differentiation. Integrating onset age together with oncogenic alterations is worthwhile when managing adult PTC patients.
Actin cytoskeletal dynamics do not impose an energy drain on growth cone bioenergetics
Authors: Holland Sabrina M. , Gallo Gianluca
Published: August 2023

The regulation of the intracellular level of ATP is a fundamental aspect of bioenergetics. Actin cytoskeletal dynamics have been reported to be an energetic drain in developing neurons and platelets. We addressed the role of actin dynamics in primary embryonic chicken neurons using luciferase assays, and by measurement of the ATP/ADP ratio using the ratiometric reporter PercevalHR and the ATP level using the ratiometric reporter mRuby-iATPSnFR. None of the methods revealed an effect of suppressing actin dynamics on the decline in the neuronal ATP level or the ATP/ADP ratio following shutdown of ATP production. Similarly, we find that treatments that elevate or suppress actin dynamics do not alter the ATP/ADP ratio in growth cones, the subcellular domain with the highest actin dynamics in developing neurons. Collectively, the data indicate that actin cytoskeletal dynamics are not a significant energy drain in developing neurons and that the ATP/ADP ratio is maintained when energy utilization varies. Discrepancies between prior work and the current data are discussed with emphasis on methodology and interpretation of the data.
On New Forms of Diatomaceæ from Dredgings off the Arran Islands, County Galway
Authors: O’meara Eugene
Published: August 2023

The forms from the Arran material referred to in this my third paper on the subject have already, from time to time, been exhibited at the meetings of the Dublin Microscopical Club, so that nothing remains to be done respecting them except to add the minute details of description.
Fine Control of TiO2- and Pt/TiO2-Catalyzed Sequential Photoreduction and Reductive N-Alkylation of Nitroarenes by Connecting Different Types of Microflow Reactors
Authors: Yamashita Toshiaki , Tomiyama Mitsuteru , Noguchi Daisuke , Okabe Yuji
Published: August 2023

Eleven microflow reactors (MCRs) with different microchannel structures and catalytic activities were easily fabricated using glass plates with TiO2 and Pt/TiO2 thin films prepared by a sputtering method. Connecting different types of MCRs enabled the sequential photoreduction and reductive N-alkylation of p-nitrotoluene, affording the corresponding amine, imine, N-alkyl amine, and N,N-dialkyl amine in 89%, 90%, 83%, and 78% yields, respectively. The selective photoreduction of nitroarenes and hydrogenation of the styrene analogs were investigated using the MCRs.
The Changing Firm and Country Boundaries of US Manufacturers in Global Value Chains
Authors: Fort Teresa C.
Published: August 2023

This paper documents how US firms organize goods production across firm and country boundaries. Most US firms that perform physical transformation tasks in-house using foreign manufacturing plants in 2007 also own US manufacturing plants; moreover, manufacturing comprises their main domestic activity. By contrast, “factoryless goods producers” outsource all physical transformation tasks to arm's-length contractors, focusing their in-house efforts on design and marketing. This dis tinct firm type is missing from standard analyses of manufacturing, growing in importance, and increasingly reliant on foreign suppliers. Physical transformation “within-the-firm” thus coincides with substantial physical transformation “within-the-country ,” whereas its performance “outside-the-firm” often also implies “outside-the-country.” Despite these differences, factoryless goods producers and firms with foreign and domestic manufacturing plants both employ relatively high shares of US knowledge workers. These patterns call for new models and data to capture the potential for foreign production to support domestic innovation, which US firms leverage around the world.
Global Value Chains in Developing Countries: A Relational Perspective from Coffee and Garments
Authors: Boudreau Laura , Cajal-Grossi Julia , Macchiavello Rocco
Published: August 2023

There is a consensus that global value chains have aided developing countries' growth. This essay highlights the governance complexities arising from participating in such chains, drawing from lessons we have learned conducting research in the coffee and garment supply chains. Market power of international buyers can lead to inefficiently low wages, prices, quality standards, and poor working conditions. At the same time, some degree of market power might be needed to sustain long-term supply relationships that are beneficial in a world with incomplete contracts. We discuss how buyers’ market power and long-term supply relationships interact and how these relationships at the export-gate could be leveraged to enhance sustainability in the domestic part of the chains. We hope that the lessons learned by combining detailed data and contextual knowledge in two specific chains—coffee and garments—have broader applicability to other global value chains.
Are Developed Countries Outsourcing Pollution?
Authors: Levinson Arik
Published: August 2023

Have rich countries improved their environments by importing polluting goods? No, the mix of goods imported has shifted towards those from cleaner industries, not dirtier. Has pollution worsened in poor countries manufacturing goods for export to rich ones? That depends. Emissions intensities for similar industries are higher in poor countries, which means that even balanced trade causes more pollution there, even for the same goods. And proportional growth in trade has increased that gap. Whether we should consider that to be “outsourcing pollution” is debatable. Have environmental regulations enacted by rich countries caused either of the first two changes? No, the evidence does not show that regulations cause outsourcing.
Προς μια ολιστική θεώρηση της προσβασιμότητας και της συμμετοχής ατόμων με αναπηρία στο μουσείο υπό το πρίσμα της μουσειακής εμπειρίας και μάθησης
Authors: Κανάρη Χαρίκλεια
Published: August 2023

Η παρούσα θεωρητική εργασία εστιάζει στα άτομα με αναπηρία και τα μουσεία και επιχειρεί μια συνθετική προσέγγιση της αλληλεξάρτησης και της αλληλεπιδραστικής δυναμικής των φραγμών πρόσβασης που αντιμετωπίζουν διαφορετικοί άνθρωποι με διαφορετικές αναπηρίες στα μουσεία και της επίδρασης των φραγμών αυτών στην, επίσης, αλληλεπιδραστική φύση της μουσειακής εμπειρίας και μάθησης. Επιπλέον, παρουσιάζονται τα βασικά θεωρητικά μοντέλα του Καθολικού Σχεδιασμού και του Καθολικού Σχεδιασμού για τη Μάθηση και η εφαρμογή τους στον μουσειακό χώρο υπό το πρίσμα των χαρακτηριστικών και των «ποιοτήτων» της μουσειακής εμπειρίας και μάθησης. Μέσα από την προσέγγιση αυτή αναδεικνύεται η σημασία μιας ολιστικής θεώρησης ζητημάτων προσβασιμότητας και συμμετοχής αλλά και η σπουδαιότητα ανάπτυξης μιας οργανωσιακής κουλτούρας που θα προωθεί βιώσιμες, συμμετοχικές, προσβάσιμες και συμπεριληπτικές εκπαιδευτικές και επικοινωνιακές πρακτικές και διαδικασίες.
Diagnostic strategies for muscular dystrophies: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Hanna Rodriguez Franklin , Estrada-Alvarez Jorge Mario , Guillermo Murillo Juan , Porras-Hurtado Gloria Liliana
Published: August 2023

Background: Muscular dystrophies are a wide heterogeneity group of neuromuscular diseases that very often constitutes a challenge for clinicians  to perform an adequate diagnosis. Many patients remain underdiagnosed o misdiagnosed consequently affecting their prognosis and quality of life. Therefore, we aimed to establish clinical and molecular characteristics of patients with increased CPK levels and muscular dystrophies in our region to facilitate diagnosis and follow-up on patients with suspected muscular dystrophies.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was made using a retrospective search of patients attended in Comfamiliar Risaralda between 2010 and 2021. The study included patients from both genders and all ages who presented with a diagnosis of polymyositis, myoclonus, myopathy, and muscular dystrophy between 2010 and 2022 in Comfamiliar Risaralda. Patients with CPK levels lower than 500 U/L were excluded.

Results: A database analysis was carried out from 2010 to 2022 of 5219 patients treated in a fourth-level care institution in the Eje Cafetero region, finding 221 patients filtered by a diagnosis of myopathy, myoclonus, polymyositis, and dystrophy. We found a combined prevalence of all muscular dystrophies of 4.2 per 100.000 habitants, Duchenne muscular dystrophy of 0.6 per 100.000 habitants, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy of 0.6 per 100.000 habitants, facioscapulohumeral dystrophy of 0.5 per 100.000 habitants, Bethem dystrophy, type 2 Emery Dreifuss muscular dystrophy and merosin-deficient muscular dystrophy of 0.1 per 100.000 habitants. A diagnostic sequence was elaborated from clinical and paraclinical features found in our patients.

Conclusions: Although muscular dystrophies consist of a heterogeneous group of neuromuscular diseases, there are still clinical and paraclinical features that can help physicians to detect any particular case and perform a good approach and follow-up. Our diagnostic sequence will facilitate physicians to determine any particular muscular dystrophy.
Container buildings used for residential and business purposes in Johannesburg, South Africa and potential heat-related health risks
Authors: Mfamadi Tanganedzeni , Chivimbo Kimberley , Mogadime Philistase , Bidassey-Manilal Shalin , Kapwata Thandi , Naidoo Natasha , Wright Caradee Y
Published: August 2023

Background: Outdoor and indoor air temperature affects human health and wellbeing. Climate change projections suggest that global temperatures will continue to increase and this poses a threat to health. Housing that can protect humans from the adverse effects of temperature is essential, especially in the context of climate change. Method: In this cross-sectional study, we measured indoor temperature inside shipping containers comprising a seven-storey block of apartments and businesses in Johannesburg, South Africa. We assessed indoor temperature and relative humidity; evaluated measured temperatures in relation to thresholds known to be associated with adverse health risks; and sought to understand heat-health perceptions and symptoms of people living and working in shipping container units. Results: Median indoor apparent temperature (AT) (a combination of temperature and relative humidity) was 16 °C with values ranging from 6 °C (observed at 8:00) to 42 °C (observed at 17:00). Insulated units had temperatures between 2°C and 9°C cooler than uninsulated units. Heat-health risks from AT exposure were likely in all units, although there was variation in the number of occurrences that AT measurements exceeded the four symptom bands of caution, extreme caution, danger and extreme danger. Some participants believed that their units were hot during hot weather and most people opened windows or did nothing during hot weather. Few participants reported experiencing adverse heat-health impacts, except for experiencing headaches (n=62, 58%) and feeling tired or weak (40%). Conclusion: Container units should be insulated and have adequate windows for ventilation when used for residential and commercial purposes, especially in hot climates. Awareness regarding heat-health risks of living and working in hot spaces needs to be done, especially in the context of repurposed container units.
Explainable Deep Learning for False Information Identification: An Argumentation Theory Approach
Authors: Lee Kyuhan , Ram Sudha
Published: August 2023

To combat false information, social media sites have heavily relied on content moderation, mostly performed by human workers. However, human content moderation entails multiple problems, including huge labor costs, ineffectiveness, and ethical issues. To overcome these concerns, social media companies are aggressively investing in the development of artificial intelligence-powered false information detection systems. Extant efforts, however, have failed to understand the nature of human argumentation, delegating the process of making inferences of the truth to the black box of neural networks. They fail to attend to important aspects of how humans make judgments on the veracity of an argument, creating important challenges. To this end, based on Toulmin’s model of argumentation, we propose a computational framework that helps machine learning for false information identification understand the connection between a claim (whose veracity needs to be verified) and evidence (which contains information to support or refute the claim). The two experiments for testing model performance and explainability reveal that our framework shows stronger performance and better explainability, outperforming cutting-edge machine learning methods and presenting positive effects on human task performance, trust in algorithms, and confidence in decision making. Our results shed new light on the growing field of automated false information identification.
Intensive monitoring of the butterflies of the UNESCO MAB reserve of Monte Peglia (Central Italy) reveals strong potential for local extinctions in a Mediterranean area
Authors: Bruschini Claudia , Dapporto Leonardo , Pasquali Lorenzo , Benetello Fulvia , Balletto Emilio , Paola Francesco , Simbula Giulia
Published: August 2023

The impact of human activities is resulting in increased losses of biodiversity on a local and global scale. Detecting local extinctions requires historical data and intensive field surveys, so as to ascertain the actual absence of a species. In this study, we fortnightly sampled 90 plots within the Monte Peglia UNESCO MAB Reserve (~60 km2) from April to October 2022. We also collected all available records for the Reserve in literature and iNaturalist. After our sampling, the Reserve appears in the 4% of the richest cells with similar size and altitude in central Italy. By applying the Potential-Extinction-upon-Time-Series (PETS) algorithm we evaluated the possibility for faunistic erosion in time. Twelve species that were recorded before 2010 but not confirmed in our field surveys produce a moderate PETS value of 21.3%. Based on literature and iNaturalist data, we also identified rare species as those occurring within a 50 km radius of the Reserve in the lowest quartile of occurrences. Approximately half of the unconfirmed species belonged to regionally rare taxa, while others belonged to taxa generally found at higher altitudes in the last decades. Monte Peglia Reserve qualifies as a perfect model for documenting possible local extinctions of butterflies in Mediterranean areas in the near future.
Silver, Bi2Te3 and Antimonene Based Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor for Enhancement of Sensitivity
Authors: Uniyal Arun , Chauhan Brajlata , Pal Amrindra , Tomar Sanjiv , Uniyal Priyanka Dobhal
Published: August 2023

A biosensor based on the surface plasmon resonance has been theoretically analyzed. The proposed surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor consists of a hybrid structure with Ag/Bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3)/Antimonene (An)/Sensing medium layers. BK7 is used as the main coupling prism. The sensor’s sensitivity performance gets enhanced by depositing Bi2Te3 and antimonene layers over the conventional sensor’s configuration. The Ag, Bi2Te3, and antimonene layer optimized thickness were taken as 45 nm, 0.5 nm, and 0.5 nm, respectively. The proposed sensor has been working on attenuated total reflection. The proposed sensor shows the highest sensitivity of 154 degree/RIU, a signal-to-noise ratio of 0.19 degrees-1 with a figure of merit of 29.26 RIU-1. The proposed SPR sensor can be used for bio analyte and biochemical detection.
An Epidemic of Apathy: Abulia and the Language of Pathology in Baroja’s Early Fiction
Authors: Murphy Katharine
Published: August 2023

ABSTRACT: The literary exposition of abulia in Pío Baroja’s early novels, especially La lucha por la vida trilogy, illuminates the ways in which diagnostic language from psychopathology was adapted, assimilated, and disseminated through the trajectories of fictional characters who suffer from a loss of volition. This article analyzes cultural narratives about abulia in Baroja’s early fiction, demonstrating that they constitute a resonant pathological metaphor during a period in Spain’s history defined by national introspection and regenerationist debates. By tracing metaphorical explanations for social, political, and economic circumstances conveyed through the literary appropriation of medical terminology, this study explores comparisons between abulia and the gendered and class-based associations of neurasthenia at the turn of the twentieth century. Although the assumed causes of each condition are different, this process of transposition between medicine and metaphor anticipates the contemporary social, cultural, and ideological shaping of concepts such as stress and burnout.
El mito del monarca de dos caras: metapoesía e historia en Luis Cernuda
Authors: Navarro Ramírez Sergio
Published: August 2023

RESUMEN: A menudo, los monólogos dramáticos de Luis Cernuda difieren de otros usos más ortodoxos del género al no crear la suficiente distancia entre la máscara y la voz. En “Silla del rey” elige como personaje al monarca español Felipe II. La representación del rey no es perfecta, y el autor rompe a veces la máscara de Felipe II para enseñar su propio rostro a través de la introducción de comentarios metapoéticos más propios de un escritor que de un rey. Además, este personaje es un paradójico correlato de Cernuda, puesto que el rey y El Escorial eran reconocidos símbolos de la retórica franquista. En este ensayo, ayudándome de las teorías críticas de Edward Said y Hayden White, analizo “Silla del rey” y la presencia meta-poética e irónica de Cernuda en el poema para desvelar las estrategias retóricas con las que critica el discurso historiográfico franquista. Abstract (Lang: English): Luis Cernuda designs his own version of the dramatic monologue, since he does not create enough distance between his characters and his own voice. In “Silla del rey,” Cernuda chooses as a character King Philip II, who meditates in the poem on the construction of El Escorial. This representation is not perfect, and Cernuda breaks the mask of Felipe II to show his own skin, usually by expressing metapoetic musings more akin to the author than to the king. Furthermore, this character seems a paradoxical correlate to Cernuda, since the king and El Escorial were well-known symbols of an essentialist rhetoric with which Francoist historiography told Spanish history. In this essay, I read “Silla del rey” and analyze the metapoetic presence of Cernuda in Felipe II as a rhetorical strategy to undermine Francoist historiographical discourse.
Rochester's Triplets: Offspring of Libertinism or Reason?
Authors: Addison Catherine
Published: August 2023

Abstract: Rhyme in verse, by limiting verbal choices according to what a language can provide, reduces the degree of rational control over discourse. The reduction increases with the number of repetitions. This is probably why, in the age of Alexander Pope, triplet variants of the dominant heroic couplet were frowned upon. However, in the earlier Restoration period, John Dryden and John Wilmot, second Earl of Rochester, used triplets fairly frequently in their couplet poems. This article examines the triplet in Rochester's tightly controlled decasyllabic verse, where it registers not only climax and excess, but also a loosening of control that admits undertones of rage, outrage, and irrationality.
Thackeray's German Governesses, Real and Imagined
Authors: Bayley Susan
Published: August 2023

ABSTRACT: As a father of two daughters educated at home, William Makepeace Thackeray knew something about German governesses: he interviewed many, employed several, and counted one among his acquaintances. In his fiction, he satirized the type in two burlesques: Miss Wirt ( The Book of Snobs , 1848) and Mlle Wallfisch ( The Adventures of Philip , 1862)—ludicrous characters intended to amuse English middle-class readers, whose bigotry he also targets. But these imaginary renderings contradicted Thackeray's real opinion of German people and culture, which was complimentary and admiring, albeit tempered by disquiet about their perceived tendency toward violence. This analysis considers the ambiguity of Thackeray's attitudes toward German culture, both real and imagined, in the context of mid-century, English middle-class values.
Effect of graphite oxide electrochemically exfoliated over a multimode interference filter
Authors: Espinosa-Sánchez Y. M. , Flores-Rosas A. , Enriquez-Flores C. I. , Ramírez-Álvarez E. , Fuentes-Molina D. E. , Ruíz-Pérez V. I. , Jiménez-Hernández J.
Published: August 2023

In this work, we study multimodal interference filters with a graphite oxide coating. Use of the multimodal interference filter shows a distinctive peak in the signal spectrum, and when using the exfoliated graphite coated multimodal interference filter, the signal shows different spectral changes, such as the full width at half maximum of the curve, the maximum power, and central wavelength, which indicates that graphite oxide absorbs part of the energy. In addition, microscope observations when a He–Ne laser is passed through the filter confirm that graphite oxide is adhered to the filter.
Automatic 3D reconstruction of an anatomically correct upper airway from endoscopic long range OCT images
Authors: Zhuang Zhijian , Chen Delang , Liang Zhichao , Zhang Shuangyang , Liu Zhenyang , Chen Wufan , Qi Li
Published: August 2023

Endoscopic airway optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive and high resolution imaging modality for the diagnosis and analysis of airway-related diseases. During OCT imaging of the upper airway, in order to reliably characterize its 3D structure, there is a need to automatically detect the airway lumen contour, correct rotational distortion and perform 3D airway reconstruction. Based on a long-range endoscopic OCT imaging system equipped with a magnetic tracker, we present a fully automatic framework to reconstruct the 3D upper airway model with correct bending anatomy. Our method includes an automatic segmentation method for the upper airway based on dynamic programming algorithm, an automatic initial rotation angle error correction method for the detected 2D airway lumen contour, and an anatomic bending method combined with the centerline detected from the magnetically tracked imaging probe. The proposed automatic reconstruction framework is validated on experimental datasets acquired from two healthy adults. The result shows that the proposed framework allows the full automation of 3D airway reconstruction from OCT images and thus reveals its potential to improve analysis efficiency of endoscopic OCT images.
Nonlinear processes and laser damage induced by a temporally modulated nanosecond UV laser beam. Part II: Kerr self-focusing
Authors: Bouyer Charles , Nuter Rachel , Cormier Martin , Gleyze Jean-François , Grosjean Sylvain , Roquin Nadja , Natoli Jean-Yves , Lamaignère Laurent
Published: August 2023

In this paper, we study the impact of Kerr self-focusing on laser-induced damage of fused silica with temporal modulation. In our experiments, temporal modulations are generated with high bandwidth amplitude modulators between 2 and 10 GHz. Measurement of the spatial profile after propagation is made possible due to a dedicated imaging setup. First results without temporal modulation experimentally and numerically show that the nonlinear gain increases exponentially with intensity. Complementary experiments with temporal modulation at different frequencies show an increase in the nonlinear gain. Eventually, we show that laser-induced damage is enhanced with amplitude modulation, with a dependence on the frequency of the amplitude modulation. Optimization of phase modulation allowed us to mitigate backwards stimulated Brillouin scattering and to focus on the sole impact of Kerr self-focusing on laser-induced damage.
Demonstration of 3kW × 2 ports bidirectional output oscillating-amplifying integrated fiber laser employing chirped and tilted fiber Bragg gratings for co-SRS suppression
Authors: Liu Jiaqi , Zeng Lingfa , Wang Peng , Wu Hanshuo , Xi Xiaoming , Shi Chen , Zhang Hanwei , Wang Xiaolin , Ning Yu , Xi Fengjie
Published: August 2023

Bidirectional output oscillating-amplifying integrated fiber laser (B-OAIFL) is a newly developed configuration with many advantages like compactness and good reliability. In this work, a B-OAIFL with a low time-stabilized threshold was constructed by employing a pair of side pump/signal combiner in the oscillating section, which demonstrates smooth temporal characteristics with no pulse detected by the photodetector at the output power level of only a few of tens Watts. We investigated the effect of side pumping on the Raman Stokes light and verified its contribution to mitigating the temporal-chaos-induced stimulated Raman scattering (SRS). The phenomenon of co-SRS caused by the mutual excitation of backward Stokes light from two amplifying sections under bidirectional pumping was first reported and studied. A pair of chirped and tilted fiber Bragg gratings (CTFBGs) were applied between the oscillating and amplifying sections to suppress the co-SRS, and the effect of the number of CTFBGs on the suppression of co-SRS was studied in detail experimentally. Finally, we successfully suppressed the co-SRS, and achieved a 3kW × 2 ports laser output, with a near-single-mode beam quality of M
A
2∼1.3,M
B
2∼1.4. In contrast, without the use of CTFBG, only a 2 kW-level output was obtained from each port, limited by co-SRS (with an SRS suppression ratio of less than 15 dB). The maximum output power of end A and end B is 3133 W and 3213 W, with the SRS suppression ratio of about 27.6 dB and 28.1 dB, respectively. No TMI features were observed under bidirectional pumping. The results demonstrate a significant potential for further power scaling based on this configuration. To the best of our knowledge, it is the highest output power achieved based on the B-OAIFL.
Reconfigurable THz metamaterial based on microelectromechanical cantilever switches with a dimpled tip
Authors: Huang Ying , Okatani Taiyu , Inomata Naoki , Kanamori Yoshiaki
Published: August 2023

We numerically and experimentally proposed a reconfigurable THz metamaterial (MM) by employing microelectromechanical cantilevers into a ladder-shaped MM (LS-MM). A fixed-free cantilever array with a dimpled tip behaved as Ohmic switches to reshape the LS-MM so as to actively regular the transmission response of THz waves. The cantilever tip was designed to be a concave dimple to improve the operational life without sacrificing the mechanical resonant frequency (fmr), and a fmr of 635 kHz was demonstrated. The device actively achieved a 115-GHz change in transmittance resonant frequency and a 1.82-rad difference in transmission phase shift, which can practically benefit advancing THz applications such as fast THz imaging and 6 G communications.
Enabling cost-effective high-performance vibration sensing in digital subcarrier multiplexing systems
Authors: Hu Zihe , Chen Yizhao , Jiang Hexun , Zhang Mingming , Chen Junda , Li Weihao , Zhao Luming , Zhao Can , Tang Ming
Published: August 2023

Enabling communication networks with sensing functionality has attracted significant interest lately. The digital subcarrier multiplexing (DSCM) technology is widely promoted in short-reach scenarios for its inherent flexibility of fine-tuning the spectrum. Its compatibility with large-scale as-deployed coherent architectures makes it particularly suited for cost-sensitive integrated sensing and communication applications. In this paper, we propose a scheme of spectrally integrating the digital linear frequency modulated sensing signal into DSCM signals to achieve simultaneous sensing and communication through shared transmitter. Consequently, this cost-effective scheme has been demonstrated to achieve 100-Gb/s dual-polarization quadrature phase-shift keying (DP-QPSK) and 200-Gb/s dual-polarization 16-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (DP-16QAM) transmission with a distributed acoustic sensing sensitivity of 69 pε/Hz and 88 pε/Hz respectively, at a spatial resolution of 4 m.
Revealing the influence of doping elements (Ge, Sn, Ca, and Sr) on the properties of α-CsPbI3: a DFT investigation
Authors: Zhang Man , Xiang Guangbiao , Wu Yanwen , Liu Jing , Leng Jiancai , Cheng Chen , Ma Hong
Published: August 2023

In this study, using density functional theory, we calculated the band structure and photoelectric properties in a series of 12.5% B-doped (B = Ge, Sn, Ca, and Sr) CsPbI3 perovskite systems. It is found that Ge doping can improve the structural stability and is more conducive to applications under high-pressure or by applying stress via calculating the bond length, formation energy, elastic properties, and electronic local function. In addition, the optimal direction for applying stress is achieved according to the elastic properties. Furthermore, in terms of electronic properties, the reason of energy band variation and the influence of chemical bond on the structural stability of doped α-CsPbI3 are investigated. The possibility of the applications of the CsPb0.875B0.125I3 perovskite is explored based on the optical properties. Thus, the theoretical study of the CsPb0.875B0.125I3 perovskite provides novel insights into the design of next-generation photoelectric and photovoltaic materials.
116.66-Tb/s WDM transmission over 16 Km field deployed 7-core fiber based on sub-constellations overlap constellation shaping
Authors: Zhao Jianye , Ren Jianxin , Liu Bo , Mao Yaya , Ullah Rahat , Wu Xiangyu , Chen Shuaidong , Wu Yongfeng , Zhao Lilong , Li Zhaohui
Published: August 2023

Constellation shaping (CS) has always been a popular research hotspot in optical communication. Recently, most researchers have focussed on using constellation-shaping technology to improve the system's performance, ignoring the additional penalty it brings to the coherent system. This paper proposes a method of constellation truncation using sub-constellation overlap to perform CS on quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). The experimental results show that compared with the traditional probabilistic shaping 16QAM, the proposed scheme can effectively avoid the extra penalty brought by CS and achieve a gain from 0.5 to 1.5 dB in optical signal-to-noise ratio. To practically verify the proposed scheme's performance, 7-core 16 km fiber span is deployed in the field to experimentally perform space division multiplexed coherent transmission. The wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) of 93 carriers was used to achieve coherent transmission at a net rate of 116.66-Tb/s.
High precision dynamic measurement method for axial clearance based on time division multiplexing with dispersive interferometry
Authors: Duan Fajie , Li Xiuming , Bao Ruijia , Fu Xiao , Liu Wenzheng , Yu Zhenxin , Guo Guanghui
Published: August 2023

Rotor-stator axial clearance is a crucial design parameter affecting rotating machines’ efficiency and safety. To accurately measure the dynamic axial clearance in high-speed machinery, a precise method based on time division multiplexing with frequency domain interferometry has been proposed. This method has proven robust and accurate through simulations and experiments. The inclusion of an optical switch enables the utilization of dispersive interferometry(DPI) and time division multiplexing for multiple channels of the light source. It achieves a static accuracy of 1.5 µm for a 15 mm range and a dynamic accuracy of 9 µm at 3000 rpm.
Influence of ambient temperature on an Yb:YAG disk laser with anti-Stokes fluorescence cooling
Authors: Wu Minglang , Zeng Yuanhang , Zhu Guangzhi , He Zijian , Ma Xiangyu , Zhu Xiao
Published: August 2023

In general, the operating characteristics of solid-state lasers are significantly impacted by the ambient temperature, especially for Yb:YAG crystal with an anti-Stokes fluorescence cooling effect. In this Letter, the influence of the ambient temperature on the operating characteristics at the zero thermal load (ZTL) state is studied for an Yb:YAG disk crystal with a 1030 nm intra-cavity-pumped scheme. Theoretical analysis indicates that the output power of the laser at the ZTL state is significantly enhanced as the ambient temperature increases. Experimental results show that when the ambient temperature increases to 40°C, the output power of the laser at the ZTL state can reach 1.11 W, which is more than twice than that achieved at an ambient temperature of 25.5°C. This Letter provides a technical pathway for achieving a higher-power radiation-balanced laser (RBL).
Sub-8-fs pulses in the visible to near-infrared by a degenerate optical parametric amplifier
Authors: Deckert Thomas , Vanderhaegen Aline , Brida Daniele
Published: August 2023

This work presents a single-stage optical parametric amplifier (OPA) operating at degeneracy (DOPA) and pumped by the third harmonic of a Yb:KGW laser system. This DOPA exploits the broad amplification bandwidth that occurs with type-I phase-matching in β-barium borate (BBO) when signal and idler overlap in the spectrum. The output pulses span from 590 to 780 nm (1.59–2.10 eV) with 7.75-fs duration after compression. Ultrashort pulses with similar bandwidths in this spectral window complement the existing array of optical parametric amplifiers that cover either the visible or the near-IR spectral regions with sub-10-fs pulses. This source of ultrashort optical pulses will enable the application of sophisticated spectroscopy techniques to the study of electronic coherences and energy migration pathways in biological, chemical, and condensed matter systems.
Mode conversion and separation in magneto-optical photonic crystal waveguide
Authors: Huang Yuhao , Tang Gangchao , Li Zhi-Yuan , Liang WenYao
Published: August 2023

We present mode conversion in different magneto-optical photonic crystal (MOPC) waveguides. An odd-mode waveguide (OMW) and an even-mode waveguide (EMW) are designed by adjusting the geometric parameters of the waveguide. These waveguides are constructed by adding a layer of yttrium-iron-garnet (YIG) rods with opposing magnetic fields between an MOPC and an Al2O3 photonic crystal (PC). Due to the coupling effect caused by the middle layer of YIG rods, the OMW (or EMW) only supports an odd (or even) mode within a single-mode frequency range. Simulation results demonstrate that they can convert other modes into odd or even modes, and there is almost no power loss during the conversion. Most importantly, they are robust against backscattering from perfect electric conductors (PECs) and point defects. Based on these properties, we propose a device that can efficiently separate the odd and even modes into different ports. These results offer a novel approach to controlling the transmission modes of waveguides, which facilitates the interconnection of diverse topological magneto-optical waveguides.