bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Beyond tradition: using systemic functional linguistics in TED talks
Authors: Tang Hai , Bai Lu , Chen Shuanghui
Published: December 2022

TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is an internationally based open access platform where professionals from various fields are invited to give speeches, and to share ideas with like-minded people. In recent years, topics related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) or the COVID-19 pandemic have become the most popular speech topics on TED. This paper selects speech-related topics on TED during the pandemic, by using systemic functional linguistics to study how discourses are expressed on the platform. Unlike traditional textual analyses, content on TED are normally verbalized, requiring original texts to be presented in an understandable format. As a result, this paper focuses on the functional innovation of new forms of expression on TED. In other words, the functional perspective of the presentation in relation to COVID-19 based topics may rely on the explanation of the meta-meaning of the keywords, posting images and other techniques as auxiliary means for expression, to some extent. These auxiliary techniques offer traditional systemic functional linguistics new meanings in terms of ideational and interpersonal aspects.
Areas of research interest: joining the dots between government and research at last?
Authors: Oliver Kathryn , Boaz Annette , Cuccato Giulia
Published: December 2022

Background: With the aim of making it easier for researchers to produce policy-relevant research, the UK Government now requires all departments and arms-length bodies to publish annually-updated statements of their evidence needs, called ‘Areas of Research Interest’ (ARIs).  We describe how ARIs are produced, and how they are used to support this aim.

Aims and objectives: In this paper we offer a description of ARIs and their development by UK governmental departments, and an assessment of how different stakeholders, including academia and funders, have responded to or otherwise used the ARIs.

Key conclusions: ARIs are a mechanism for organisations to share their research interests with external audiences in the form of a published document. In addition to this primary aim, they also have a much broader set of uses, including connecting departments with each other and helping intermediaries shape engagement plans. All groups would benefit from more robust evidence to choose effective engagement mechanisms, and more can be done to make the ARIs discoverable and useable. Overall, the ARIs are a useful tool to illuminate, and begin to connect different parts of the research-policy system.
Model development for optimizing the base station site choice on the PMET-PSO algorithm
Authors: Novikova Tatyana , Panina Natal'ya , Anikeev Evgeniy , Czyan'cun Chzhan
Published: December 2022

Existing research in the field of mathematical modeling of base station planning, using intelligent optimization algorithms to solve potential schemes for generating base station distributions, is complex and, for the most part, mathematical models for choosing a base station site require simplification. Also, the existing models for choosing the base station site solve the problem in two-dimensional space and do not take into account the influence of terrain and other factors. Having incorporated the concept of membrane computing into the basis of the MET-PSO algorithm, the PMET-PSO algorithm was developed. The PMET-PSO algorithm is a redesign of the METROPOLIS sample in the simulated annealing algorithm, projects the probability of accepting METROPOLIS in accordance with the number of iterations of the particle swarm algorithm and determines whether to obtain an individual optimal position and a global optimal position generated by a new round of iterations in accordance with probability, thereby adding randomness to the particle swarm algorithm. As the number of iterations increases, the randomness of the particle swarm algorithm decreases, and it converges to an optimal solution. PMET-PSO allows parallel computing, which effectively reduces the time complexity of the MET-PSO algorithm.
New records of Thambemyia fusariae Capellari, 2015 (Dolichopodidae, Hydrophorinae) from Brazil
Authors: Amaral André , Soares Matheus Mickael Mota
Published: December 2022

In this paper, the range of occurrence of Thambemyia fusariae Capellari, 2015 is expanded to south and southeastern Brazil, with the first records for the states of São Paulo and Santa Catarina. These now represent the southernmost records of the species, which has been known only from its type locality in Uruçura, state of Bahia, Brazil. In addition, we provide a distribution map and additional photographs of the species.
Periodic solutions of fractional Laplace equations: Least period, axial symmetry and limit
Authors: Feng Zhenping , Du Zhuoran
Published: December 2022

We are concerned with periodic solutions of the fractional Laplace equation
\begin{equation*}
{(-\partial_{xx})^s}u(x)+F'(u(x))=0 \quad \mbox{in }\mathbb{R},
\end{equation*}
where $0< s< 1$. The smooth function $F$ is a double-well potential with wells at
$+1$ and $-1$. We show that the value of least positive period is
$2{\pi}\times({1}/{-F''(0)})^{{1}/({2s})}$.
The axial symmetry of odd periodic solutions is obtained by moving plane method.
We also prove that odd periodic solutions $u_{T}(x)$ converge to a layer solution
of the same equation as periods $T\rightarrow+\infty$.
Estimating Customer Impatience in a Service System With Unobserved Balking
Authors: Inoue Yoshiaki , Ravner Liron , Mandjes Michel
Published: December 2022

This paper studies a service system in which arriving customers are provided with information about the delay they will experience. Based on this information, they decide to wait for service or leave the system. Specifically, every customer has a patience threshold, and they balk if the observed delay is above the threshold. The main objective is to estimate the parameters of the customers’ patience-level distribution and the corresponding potential arrival rate, using knowledge of the actual queue-length process only. The main complication and distinguishing feature of our setup lies in the fact that customers who decide not to join are not observed, and remarkably, we manage to devise a procedure to estimate the underlying patience and arrival rate parameters. The model is a multiserver queue with a Poisson stream of customers, enabling evaluation of the corresponding likelihood function of the state-dependent effective arrival process. We establish strong consistency of the MLE and derive the asymptotic distribution of the estimation error. Several applications and extensions of the method are discussed. The performance is further assessed through a series of numerical experiments. By fitting parameters of hyperexponential and generalized hyperexponential distributions, our method provides a robust estimation framework for any continuous patience-level distribution.

Funding: The research of Y. Inoue is supported in part by JSPS KAKENHI [Grant JP18K18007]. The research of L. Ravner and M. Mandjes is partly funded by NWO Gravitation Project Networks [Grant 024.002.003].

Supplemental Material: The e-companion is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/stsy.2022.0101 .
Macroscopic morphology of the male genitalia of Caenolestes caniventer (Caenolestidae: Paucituberculata)
Authors: Brito Jorge , Nivelo-Villavicencio Carlos , Reyes-Puig Carolina , Yánez-Muñoz Mario H.
Published: December 2022

La anatomía del pene en paucituberculados ha merecido poca atención.  El único tratado que aborda la genitalia y próstata en este grupo de marsupiales proviene de hace un siglo.  El presente trabajo describe la morfología macroscópica de la genitalia masculina del ratón marsupial de vientre gris, Caenolestes caniventer, estructura que puede ser de utilidad en el campo taxonómico, reproductivo y evolutivo.  Los genitales fueron removidos (n = 2) con una incisión basal durante la taxidermia de los especímenes y conservados en una solución de alcohol al 90 %.  En el laboratorio los genitales fueron preparados siguiendo protocolos de eversión y tinturado los genitales para resaltar las estructuras.  Se describió el genital y sus estructuras.  El pene presenta un glande largo y ancho, con dos distintivos apéndices ubicados en su extremo.  Un surco medio espermático se extiende hasta los apéndices.  Los apéndices son 1.6 veces más largos que la longitud del glande, de forma relativamente cilíndrica y estriada, estrechándose progresivamente hasta terminar en una punta distal con aspecto de garfio.  El largo de los apéndices y las protuberancias en forma de espina podrían ser clave para la eficiencia reproductiva.  Hipotetizamos que la familia Caenolestidae presenta de manera general formas similares del pene, pero con diferencias entre especies.  Los resultados son de utilidad en el campo taxonómico, reproductivo y evolutivo.
First case of piebaldism in Eumops auripendulus in Costa Rica
Authors: Mora José M. , Sánchez Ronald
Published: December 2022

Las anomalías pigmentarias son causadas por deficiencia o exceso de melanina, lo que resulta en alteraciones cromáticas de la piel y el pelaje o las plumas.  La anomalía que consiste en manchas blancas se ha definido en murciélagos como leucismo o piebaldismo.  Presentamos el primer registro de piebaldismo en Eumops auripendulus en Costa Rica.  Mientras monitoreamos murciélagos en áreas urbanas, medimos el antebrazo de todos los individuos y notamos (entre otros rasgos) el color del pelaje y la longitud de las orejas.  Buscamos la presencia de glándulas y evaluamos el grado de osificación de las placas epifisarias en las articulaciones falángicas.  El 13 de septiembre de 2021 encontramos un macho muerto de E. auripendulus en San Ramón, Costa Rica.  Su antebrazo midió 57.5 mm, que está dentro del rango de 57 – 63 mm registrado para esta especie.  El murciélago era un individuo juvenil con una mancha blanca en la región abdominal media.  Casos similares de coloración aberrante se han definido como piebaldismo.  El registro de piebaldismo en E. auripendulus es el segundo para Molossidae en Costa Rica en un total de 6 casos de desórdenes cromáticos.  Estos casos de coloración aberrante podrían estar relacionados con circunstancias potencialmente perjudiciales; por ejemplo, la presencia de manchas blancas puede estar asociada a la sordera, lo que en el caso de los murciélagos les impediría utilizar la ecolocalización.  El conocimiento de casos de anomalías cromáticas en murciélagos ayudará a comprender las implicaciones ecológicas y fisiológicas de esta condición.
Sobre fascismo e populismo: metodologias de poder e ferramentas políticas
Authors: Schargel Sergio
Published: December 2022

Se democracia implica em igualdade e competitividade, seguindo os preceitos básicos de Robert Dahl, é compreensível por que a democracia brasileira encontra-se ameaçada, apenas trinta anos após o processo de redemocratização. Neste contexto ressurge a discussão acerca de qual rótulo usar para nomear o movimento antidemocrático que se alastra não somente pelo Brasil, mas por todo o mundo. Este artigo discutirá as relações entre dois desses principais rótulos, fascismo e populismo, e suas aplicações contemporâneas como dois significantes para o mesmo significado. Pretende-se, através de uma análise da bibliografia referente aos dos dois conceitos, apontar que ambos são, na verdade, metodologias de poder e ferramentas políticas, e não sistemas políticos herméticos, o que explica a elasticidade de suas compreensões.
"O HOMEM É UM SER AO MESMO TEMPO ADAPTATIVO E TRANSFORMADOR”: ENTREVISTA COM O PROFESSOR E PESQUISADOR JOSÉ CARLOS DE AZEREDO
Authors: Azeredo José Carlos Santos de , Monteiro Alexandre , Macri Ana Paula , P. Ramos Paula
Published: December 2022

Pretendendo figurar como uma homenagem pelos seus mais de cinquenta anos de magistério superior, o diálogo com o gramático e professor recém aposentado do Programa de Pós-graduação em Letras da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, José Carlos Santos de Azeredo, abarca os impactos percebidos, a partir de 1922, sobre a língua enquanto “expressão da identidade literária do Brasil” (AZEREDO, 2023, p. 6). Em acréscimo a comentários sobre o regionalismo brasileiro, discute-se a necessidade de abordar a língua das importantes obras da Literatura Brasileira, sinalizando para futuros pesquisadores um campo profícuo de investigação.Durante nove anos, o entrevistado desenvolveu projeto, como bolsista do Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), sobre o verbo na obra literária de autoria de Graciliano Ramos, Vidas Secas (1928). Os resultados alcançados não escapam ao debate, ainda que apresentados resumidamente. O autor da Gramática Houaiss da Língua Portuguesa (2018) foi, ainda, questionado sobre sua a motivação para a escolha da variedade padrão escrita do português nos exemplos constantes nessa obra. Por fim, analisa-se o desenvolvimento da competência oral face à instituição de uma cultura grafocêntrica, pelo olhar aguçado do experiente mestre.
O COMPLIANCE COMO INSTRUMENTO DE EFETIVAÇÃO DA SEGURANÇA DE BARRAGENS DE MINERAÇÃO / COMPLIANCE AS A MINING DAM SAFETY EFFECTIVE INSTRUMENT
Authors: Gomes Magno Federici , Araujo Luíza Guerra
Published: December 2022

Resumo: Este artigo tem como escopo analisar a possibilidade de exigência do compliance como um instrumento de efetivação do sistema de segurança das barragens de mineração, verificando de qual forma essa exigência pode ocorrer com base no ordenamento jurídico vigente. Como marco teórico foram utilizados a Portaria nº 70.389/2017 do Departamento Nacional de Produção Mineral (DNPM) e a obra Processo Administrativo Ambiental, de Niebuhr (2014), utilizando método analítico-dedutivo. Após exame da literatura especializada, observou-se que o compliance é viável quando utilizado como instrumento de efetivação do sistema de gestão de segurança das barragens de mineração e pode ser exigido pelos órgãos competentes pelo licenciamento ambiental e para concessão do título minerário.Palavras-chave: Barragens de mineração; Segurança; Gestão; Compliance; Programas de integridade. Abstract: This article aims to analyze the possibility of compliance requirement as an instrument of effectiveness of the security system of mining dams, verifying how this requirement can occur based on the current legal system. As theoretical framework were used Ordinance No. 70.389 / 2017 of the National Department of Mineral Production (DNPM) and the work Environmental Administrative Process, Pedro de Menezes Niebuhr, using analytical-deductive method. After reviewing the specialized literature, it was observed that yes, compliance can be used as an instrument to implement the safety management system of mining dams and may be required by the competent agencies for environmental licensing and for the granting of mining title.Keywords: Mining dams; Safety; Management; Compliance; Integrity programs.
Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência: um perfil clínico-epidemiológico do município de Palmas, estado de Tocantins, Brasil
Authors: Costa Simone Sampaio da , Souza Anselmo Cordeiro de , Siqueira Marina Araújo , Petrovitch Myllena Diniz , Porto Elias Ferreira
Published: December 2022

As características populacionais e geográficas de cada serviço móvel de urgência interferem diretamente em sua efetividade, e existem vários relatos de que as ações locais desenvolvidas pelo serviço têm resultados imediatos pouco conhecidos. Assim, o objetivo foi descrever o perfil de atendimentos realizados pelo Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência (SAMU) no município de Palmas, no Estado de Tocantins. Trata-se de uma pesquisa retrospectiva e documental de abordagem quantitativa. Foram avaliadas 3.037 fichas de registro referentes a 2018. A média de idade das vítimas foi 41,2±23,6 anos, tempo de resposta com mediana de 9. O dia da semana com mais ocorrências foi o sábado. Houve maiores proporções de atendimento do tipo “socorro”; de natureza “clínica”, e “residência” como local de atendimento. Em relação ao sexo, houve maiores proporções de atendimento entre os homens em todas as naturezas elencadas. Houve ainda maiores proporções de causas traumáticas nas faixas de 19 a 39 anos, porém para as faixas etárias de 50 a 80 anos ou mais houve maiores proporções de causas clínicas. Em relação às causas externas, houve prevalência de acidentes de trânsito; entre as causas clínicas, predominaram crise convulsiva, parada cardiopulmonar e síncope; e no atendimento obstétrico, prevaleceu trabalho de parto. O destino dos atendimentos foi predominante em hospitais. Esses dados, se inseridos na agenda dos tomadores de decisão, podem subsidiar melhores e mais efetivas práticas de contenção e atenuação dos agravos recorrentes, bem como a promoção corresponsável da saúde mediante a utilização adequada do equipamento de serviço móvel de urgência.
Avaliação da aprendizagem nos cursos de formação em saúde pautados em metodologias ativas: revisão integrativa
Authors: Santos José Cleyton de Oliveira , Santos Dayane Ketlyn da Cunha , Fonseca Luan Dos Santos , Kameo Simone Yuriko , Silva Glebson Moura
Published: December 2022

Introdução: No campo do ensino em saúde, o debate sobre a avaliação da aprendizagem em metodologias ativas é constante, visto que essa questão ainda encontra impasses em sua prática. Objetivo: Unir e consolidar informações que potencializam a tomada de decisão frente à promoção de melhorias do processo avaliativo no contexto de formação em saúde. Material e Métodos: Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa de literatura, a busca foi realizada através das seguintes bases de dados: LILACS, PubMed, SCOPUS, BDENF e o repositório de artigos SciELO. Foram incluídos 13 estudos no presente estudo. Resultados: Os resultados abordam questões acerca do enquadramento da metodologia ativa às instituições de ensino, da avaliação da aprendizagem no ensino superior e das dificuldades e impasses na implementação. Além disso, as evidências demonstraram múltiplas modalidades e estratégias de operacionalização das avaliações nas metodologias ativas de ensino-aprendizagem, como a avaliação formativa, e o impacto da avaliação de aprendizagem como um movimento que engloba os conhecimentos cognitivos, psicomotores e afetivos. Conclusão: A avaliação aplicada está diretamente relacionada com a metodologia de ensino utilizada pela instituição, dessa forma, compreender os fatores objetivos e subjetivos que estão associados à essa prática, bem como as fragilidades e potencialidades dos envolvidos nesse processo, é fundamental.
Produções acadêmicas sobre escolhas alimentares e suas possíveis influências: uma análise na Biblioteca Digital de Teses e Dissertações (BDTD)
Authors: Da Rosa Dutra Raiane , Xavier Coutinho Renato
Published: December 2022

O presente trabalho objetivou realizar uma análise cienciométrica, a fim de apontar um panorama das pesquisas acadêmicas de base escolar relacionado às escolhas alimentares de crianças, adolescentes e fatores que as influenciam. O estudo teve como suporte as dissertações e teses publicadas na BDTD entre os anos de 2010 e 2020. Para tanto, foram analisados os seguintes indicadores: área de estudo, regiões do país, rede de ensino, público-alvo e abordagem metodológica. Ainda, utilizou-se da Análise de Conteúdo de Bardin para examinar e categorizar os objetivos dos estudos analisados. Observou-se que nos últimos 5 anos há uma baixa produção de pesquisas e, as já existentes são em maioria da área da saúde e com abordagem quantitativa; quanto aos objetivos, apenas 8 buscavam investigar o comportamento alimentar, conceitos e percepção dos jovens, sem um determinante já pré-estabelecido. Portanto, trabalhos que busquem investigar o comportamento alimentar de crianças e adolescentes mostram-se relevantes e, a escola é um ambiente favorável para tal, enfatizando a importância da participação dos profissionais da educação nas mesmas.
The Effects of The Blended Project-Based Literacy that Integrates School Literacy Movement Strengthening Character Education Learning Model on Metacognitive Skills, Critical Thinking, and Opinion Expression
Authors: Pantiwati Yuni , Kusniarti Tuti , Permana Fendy Hardian , Nurrohman Endrik , Sari Tasya Novian Indah
Published: December 2022

Metacognitive, critical thinking and opinion expression are in high demand. This study aimed to investigate the effects of the blended project- based literacy that integrates school literacy movement strengthening character education (literasi berbasis proyek terintegrasi GLS dan PPK: Li-Pro-GP) learning model on students' metacognitive skills, critical thinking, and opinion expression. A post-test experimental design was used to answer the research question. The study was conducted from August to October 2021 at Government Junior High School 23 Malang. Seventh-grade students were selected as research participants. The participants included 30 students from class VII-2. The research instrument was five essay questions to measure critical thinking skills. Material and assessment experts validated the essay questions developed by the researcher. The items that were declared valid were tested for validity. The result showed five valid items with high reliability of .670. Metacognitive skills were measured using the Metacognition Awareness Instrument (MAI), which consists of 40 items. The questions declared valid were tested for validity with a very high reliability of .953 for 37 items, and only three items were invalid. The ability to express an opinion was measured with an observation questionnaire validated by experts with a valid instrument score. Data analysis was performed by path analysis using the SmartPLS software. The results showed that the Li-Pro-GP blended learning model significantly strengthened students' metacognitive skills, critical thinking, and opinion formation.
The Relationship of Supporting Factors That Influence the Performance of Hindu Religious Teachers
Authors: Paramartha Wayan , Yudha-Triguna Ida Bagus Gde , Jelatik I Gusti Lanang
Published: December 2022

Several supporting factors are alleged to influence the performance of teachers. This study aimed to describe the relationship between each research variable and teachers’ performance, either directly or indirectly. This research was conducted through surveys and quantitative approaches that included correlational research types. The research subjects were Hindu religion teachers in 119 state junior high schools, consisting of 517 teachers. The sample of 256 people was determined using the Krejcie and Morgan formula and the Warwick and Lininger formula. The samples from each sub-population were determined with the proportional random sampling technique, and the personal sampling of sample members was determined with the use of lottery techniques. The data were collected using a five-point Likert scale model questionnaire with high validity and reliability. The data analysis technique used in this study was structural equation modelling. The conceptual model met the standards of comprehensive goodness-of-fit requirements. The results of the study show that the average levels of Hindu principals’ leadership, the emotional intelligence of teachers, supervision of school superintendents, school culture, teachers’ work motivation, and the performance of Hindu religion teachers are in the high category. In addition, the hypothesis testing results show there is a significant direct and indirect relationship between the variables in the state junior high school.
Absolute Iron Deficiency in Children: Review
Authors: Talarico Valentina , Galati Maria Concetta , Saracco Paola , Raiol Giuseppe , Miniero Roberto
Published: December 2022

Absolute iron deficiency (A-ID) is still the most common form of malnutrition and iron deficiency anemia (A-IDA) is the most frequent kind of anemia among children/adolescents in developed countries. Prematurity, decreased dietary source, malabsorption and blood loss represent the prevalent causes of iron deficiency. A-ID and A-IDA will present with a wide variety of symptoms involving multiple organs and systems. Recent literature highlights the association between chronic A-ID and possible delayed motor, cognitive development and decreased cognitive performance. Oral iron administration remains the main treatment. The dose of elemental iron is 2–6 mg/kg/day; recent reports demonstrate that iron administration every other day is equally effective at the doses administered daily with fewer side effects. When normal Haemoglobin (Hb) values are reached, treatment must be generally continued for 3 months in order to replenish iron stores. Rarely intravenous iron administration may be necessary in some selected patients; and the new commercial products based on parenteral iron have shown a good safety profile. Prevention of A-ID might be considered as an important issue of public health.
Calibrating an unfocused plenoptic camera based on parameters grouping and the light field structure point
Authors: Jin Dongyang , Huo Xiao , Zhang Saiping , Zhang Wei , Yang Fuzheng , Yang Jungang
Published: December 2022

Accurately calibrating an unfocused plenoptic camera is essential to its applications. Rapid progress has been made in this area in the past decades. In this paper, detailed analysis is first performed toward the state-of-the-art projection model. Based on the analysis, parameters in the projection model are divided into two groups. Then, based on the parameter analysis, a new, to the best of our knowledge, form of the projection model, together with a new image feature light field structure point (LF-structure-point), is proposed. The LF-structure-point provides a completely non-redundant representation of the signal structure of the recorded light field raw data and induces a virtual space, “light field structure space,” which is related to the real physical space by a 3D-to-3D projective transformation. The extracting algorithm of the LF-structure-point is also presented. Finally, based on the 3D-to-3D projective transformation and parameter grouping, a simple two-step calibration method using the LF-structure-point as the input data is then proposed and achieves satisfactory experimental results.
Raman-amplification-assisted twisted light multiplexing transmission over large-core fiber
Authors: Wang Lulu , Cai Chengkun , Li Jiaxiong , Zhou Wei , Zhu Long , Wang Andong , Du Jiangbing , Ma Lin , He Zuyuan , Li Ming-Jun , Wang Jian
Published: December 2022

Twisted light-carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) with a helical phase front and doughnut intensity profile has been widely investigated in fiber-optic communications. To facilitate long-distance OAM mode multiplexing transmission, an efficient OAM (de)multiplexer and a suitable inline OAM amplifier are highly desired. Here, we demonstrate three OAM modes and 22 wavelength channels multiplexing transmission with an OAM distributed Raman amplifier (DRA) over 110-km large-core fiber assisted by a homemade all-fiber OAM (de)multiplexer. To characterize the performance of the OAM DRA, two pump configurations including the first-order bidirectional pumping and second-order backward pumping are proposed and demonstrated. The obtained results indicate the successful implementation of the long-distance OAM mode multiplexing transmission assisted by the DRA and an all-fiber OAM (de)multiplexer with favorable performance. These demonstrations may open up new perspectives for ultra-long-haul capacity scaling fiber-optic communications employing OAM modes.
Robust air-light estimation for a single hazy image using haze-lines in Plüker coordinates
Authors: Wang Liang , Duan Yuntian
Published: December 2022

Image dehazing is a valid way to reduce the negative impacts of bad weather, such as fog and haze, on outdoor optical imaging. The effect of the image dehazing heavily relies on the air-light estimation. Most existing methods exploit the prior information, which is generally obtained by simply assessing the brightest pixels’ intensity in a hazy image, to estimate the air-light. However, bright objects, such as lamps, lead to the failure of these methods. So, a novel method for robust and optimal air-light estimation using haze-lines described in Plüker coordinates is proposed. First, the exact analytic solution of the air-light, i.e., the intersection of haze-lines, is derived via analyzing the geometric relationship between haze-lines in three-dimensional RGB space using their Plüker coordinates. Then, a novel air-light estimation algorithm using haze-lines in Plüker coordinates is elaborated. Finally, extensive experiments are performed to validate the proposed algorithm. Experimental results reveal that the proposed algorithm can more robustly and accurately estimate the air-light.
Optical fiber with fractional orbital angular momentum
Authors: Albert Matthew , Chen Liang
Published: December 2022

A design method for the creation of photons with fractional orbital angular momentum (FOAM) is reported through the use of a metal-wedge optical fiber. The main focus was on a limiting zero-degree metal wedge, the case of light beams carrying

±

ℏ
2

OAM per photon. We compared this ideal case with a one-degree metal wedge in hopes of encouraging experimentalists to fabricate this type of waveguide. Various intensity and the Poynting vector plots for different modes and varying wedge angles were obtained and analyzed. We found that the Poynting vectors in the transverse direction for the zero and one degree metal wedges were essentially identical. In addition, as the metal wedge angle was increased, the real propagation constant decreased. Furthermore, the metal wedge enables a new method to obtain a local field enhancement in the center of the core of this waveguide, thus providing a wide range of applications in other fields. Finally, we found discrete complex propagation constants leading to discrete leaky modes with potentially an infinite number of these modes.
Multiple increase in the radiative efficiency of 1060-nm laser diodes based on heterostructures with tunnel-coupled injection and a single waveguide mode
Authors: Slipchenko Sergey , Shashkin Ilya , Nikolayev Dmitriy , Shamakhov Viktor , Podoskin Aleksandr , Soboleva Olga , Bakhvalov Kirill , Kriychkov Vladislav , Pikhtin Nikita , Kop’ev Petr
Published: December 2022

An approach aimed at increasing the radiative efficiency in heterostructures operating in a single vertical mode at 1060 nm has been studied. Two types of heterostructures—the STJH (single tunnel junction heterostructure) and DTJH (double tunnel junction heterostructure)—have been developed to obtain the operation of a single waveguide mode of the first and second order, respectively. A multiple increase in the injection efficiency is realized by using tunnel junctions (TJs) embedded in the wide-gap barriers and placed between the active regions. An internal quantum efficiency of close to 100% and a transparency current density of 78 A/cm2 is demonstrated for both types of heterostructures, while the internal optical loss is 5.2 and 3.8 cm–1 for STJH and DTJH, respectively. The maximum radiative efficiency (for the initial linear part of the light-current curve) and the output optical power (for the current pulse of 1 µs and 9.6 A) reach 1.6 W/A and 7.8 W for STJH and 2.2 W/A and 15.8 W for DTJH.
Convolutional neural networks used for random structure SPP gratings spectral response prediction
Authors: Qu Tianle , Zhu Liping , An Zhenghua
Published: December 2022

Data-driven design approaches based on deep learning have been introduced into nanophotonics to reduce time-consuming iterative simulations, which have been a major challenge. Here, we report a convolutional neural network (CNN) used to perform the prediction of surface plasmon polariton (SPP) grating output spectra, which is not limited by predefined shapes. For a random given structure, the network can output spectra with effective prediction, so that the simulation results are in excellent agreement with the network prediction results. Compared with the traditional finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method, the CNN model proposed in this Letter has absolute advantages in speed. Previous studies often used a regular device structure to modify its parameters for prediction; the random structure design method adopted in this Letter also provides a new, to the best of knowledge, idea for device design.
Engineered second-order nonlinearity in silicon nitride
Authors: Zhang Yi , Nauriyal Juniyali , Song Meiting , Granados Baez Marissa , He Xiaotong , Macdonald Timothy , Cardenas Jaime
Published: December 2022

The lack of a bulk second-order nonlinearity (χ(2)) in silicon nitride (Si3N4) keeps this low-loss, CMOS-compatible platform from key active functions such as Pockels electro-optic (EO) modulation and efficient second harmonic generation (SHG). We demonstrate a successful induction of χ(2) in Si3N4 through electrical poling with an externally-applied field to align the Si-N bonds. This alignment breaks the centrosymmetry of Si3N4, and enables the bulk χ(2). The sample is heated to over 500°C to facilitate the poling. The comparison between the EO responses of poled and non-poled Si3N4, measured using a Si3N4 micro-ring modulator, shows at least a 25X enhancement in the r33 EO component. The maximum χ(2) we obtain through poling is 0.30pm/V. We observe a remarkable improvement in the speed of the measured EO responses from 3 GHz to 15 GHz (3 dB bandwidth) after the poling, which confirms the χ(2) nature of the EO response induced by poling. This work paves the way for high-speed active functions on the Si3N4 platform.
APOE alleles are associated with sex-specific structural differences in brain regions affected in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia
Authors: Savignac Chloé , Villeneuve Sylvia , Badhwar AmanPreet , Saltoun Karin , Shafighi Kimia , Zajner Chris , Sharma Vaibhav , Gagliano Taliun Sarah A. , Farhan Sali , Poirier Judes , Bzdok Danilo
Published: December 2022

Alzheimer’s disease is marked by intracellular tau aggregates in the medial temporal lobe (MTL) and extracellular amyloid aggregates in the default network (DN). Here, we examined codependent structural variations between the MTL’s most vulnerable structure, the hippocampus (HC), and the DN at subregion resolution in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD). By leveraging the power of the approximately 40,000 participants of the UK Biobank cohort, we assessed impacts from the protectiveAPOEɛ2 and the deleteriousAPOEɛ4 Alzheimer’s disease alleles on these structural relationships. We demonstrate ɛ2 and ɛ4 genotype effects on the inter-individual expression of HC-DN co-variation structural patterns at the population level. Across these HC-DN signatures, recurrent deviations in the CA1, CA2/3, molecular layer, fornix’s fimbria, and their cortical partners related to ADRD risk. Analyses of the rich phenotypic profiles in the UK Biobank cohort further revealed male-specific HC-DN associations with air pollution and female-specific associations with cardiovascular traits. We also showed thatAPOEɛ2/2 interacts preferentially with HC-DN co-variation patterns in estimating social lifestyle in males and physical activity in females. Our structural, genetic, and phenotypic analyses in this large epidemiological cohort reinvigorate the often-neglected interplay betweenAPOEɛ2 dosage and sex and linkAPOEalleles to inter-individual brain structural differences indicative of ADRD familial risk.
PARP1 recruits DNA translocases to restrain DNA replication and facilitate DNA repair
Authors: Ho Yen-Chih , Ku Chen-Syun , Tsai Siang-Sheng , Shiu Jia-Lin , Jiang Yi-Zhen , Miriam Hui Emmanuela , Zhang Han-Wen , Chen Yen-Tzu , Chiu Wen-Tai , Chang Song-Bin , Shen Che-Hung , Myung Kyungjae , Chi Peter , Liaw Hungjiun
Published: December 2022

Replication fork reversal which restrains DNA replication progression is an important protective mechanism in response to replication stress. PARP1 is recruited to stalled forks to restrain DNA replication. However, PARP1 has no helicase activity, and the mechanism through which PARP1 participates in DNA replication restraint remains unclear. Here, we found novel protein-protein interactions between PARP1 and DNA translocases, including HLTF, SHPRH, ZRANB3, and SMARCAL1, with HLTF showing the strongest interaction among these DNA translocases. Although HLTF and SHPRH share structural and functional similarity, it remains unclear whether SHPRH contains DNA translocase activity. We further identified the ability of SHPRH to restrain DNA replication upon replication stress, indicating that SHPRH itself could be a DNA translocase or a helper to facilitate DNA translocation. Although hydroxyurea (HU) and MMS induce different types of replication stress, they both induce common DNA replication restraint mechanisms independent of intra-S phase activation. Our results suggest that the PARP1 facilitates DNA translocase recruitment to damaged forks, preventing fork collapse and facilitating DNA repair.
Methodological choices in brucellosis burden of disease assessments: A systematic review
Authors: Di Bari Carlotta , Venkateswaran Narmada , Bruce Mieghan , Fastl Christina , Huntington Ben , Patterson Grace T. , Rushton Jonathan , Torgerson Paul , Pigott David M. , Devleesschauwer Brecht
Published: December 2022

Background

Foodborne and zoonotic diseases such as brucellosis present many challenges to public health and economic welfare. Increasingly, researchers and public health institutes use disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) to generate a comprehensive comparison of the population health impact of these conditions. DALYs calculations, however, entail a number of methodological choices and assumptions, with data gaps and uncertainties to accommodate. Thisreview identifies existing brucellosis burden of disease studies and analyzes their methodological choices, assumptions, and uncertainties. It supports the Global Burden of Animal Diseases programme in the development of a systematic methodology to describe the impact of animal diseases on society, including human health.

Methods/Principal findings

A systematic search for brucellosis burden of disease calculations was conducted in pre-selected international and grey literature databases. Using a standardized reporting framework, we evaluated each estimate on a variety of key methodological assumptions necessary to compute a DALY. Fourteen studies satisfied the inclusion criteria (human brucellosis and quantification of DALYs). One study reported estimates at the global level, the rest were national or subnational assessments. Data regarding different methodological choices were extracted, including detailed assessments of the adopted disease models. Most studies retrieved brucellosis epidemiological data from administrative registries. Incidence data were often estimated on the basis of laboratory-confirmed tests. Not all studies included mortality estimates (Years of Life Lost) in their assessments due to lack of data or the assumption that brucellosis is not a fatal disease. Only two studies used a model with variable health states and corresponding disability weights. The rest used a simplified singular health state approach. Wide variation was seen in the duration chosen for brucellosis, ranging from 2 weeks to 4.5 years, irrespective of the whether a chronic state was included.

Conclusion

Available brucellosis burden of disease assessments vary widely in their methodology and assumptions. Further research is needed to better characterize the clinical course of brucellosis and to estimate case-fatality rates. Additionally, reporting of methodological choices should be improved to enhance transparency and comparability of estimates. These steps will increase the value of these estimates for policy makers.
Improved detection of SBDS gene mutation by a new method of next-generation sequencing analysis based on the Chinese mutation spectrum
Authors: Wu Dong , Zhang Li , Qiang Yuzhen , Wang Kaiyu
Published: December 2022

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is a useful molecular diagnostic tool for genetic diseases. However, due to the presence of highly homologous pseudogenes, it is challenging to use short-read NGS for analyzing mutations of the Shwachman-Bodian-Diamond syndrome (SBDS) gene. The SBDS mutation spectrum was analyzed in the Chinese population, which revealed that SBDS variants were primarily from sequence exchange between SBDS and its pseudogene at the base-pair level, predominantly in the coding region and splice junction of exon two. The c.258+2T>C and c.185_184TA>GT variants were the two most common pathogenic SBDS variants in the Chinese population, resulting in a total carrier frequency of 1.19%. When analyzing pathogenic variants in the SBDS gene from the NGS data, the misalignment was identified as a common issue, and there were different probabilities of misalignment for different pathogenic variants. Here, we present a novel mathematical method for identifying pathogenic variants in the SBDS gene from the NGS data, which utilizes read-depth of the paralogous sequence variant (PSV) loci of SBDS and its pseudogene. Combined with PCR and STR orthogonal experiments, SBDS gene mutation analysis results were improved in 40% of clinical samples, and various types of mutations such as homozygous, compound heterozygous, and uniparental diploid were explored. The findings effectively reduce the impact of misalignment in NGS-based SBDS mutation analysis and are helpful for the clinical diagnosis of SBDS-related diseases, the research into population variation, and the carrier screening.
Populism and health. An evaluation of the effects of right-wing populism on the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil
Authors: Fernandes Gustavo Andrey de Almeida Lopes , de Almeida Lopes Fernandes Ivan Filipe
Published: December 2022

What are the effects of right-wing populism in the struggle against COVID-19? We explore data from Brazil, a country whose populist radical right-wing president was among the prominent denialists regarding the effects of the pandemic. Using cross-sectional and weekly-panel data for 5,570 municipalities during 2020, we present evidence that social distancing was weakened, and the number of cases and deaths were higher in places where the president had received greater electoral support during the 2018 presidential elections. Placebo tests using traditional right-wing vote and data on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) before the pandemic outbreak indicate that the former does not correlate with health outcomes, and the populist share of the vote does not correlate with the latter. Hence, we find strong indications that right-wing populism relates to a poor response to the disease.
Genomic landscape of alpha-variant of SARS-CoV-2 circulated in Pakistan
Authors: Fiaz Nazia , Zahoor Imran , Saima Saima , Basheer Atia
Published: December 2022

In this study, we investigated the genomic variability of alpha-VOC of SARS-CoV-2 in Pakistan, in context of the global population of this variant. A set of 461 whole-genome sequences of Pakistani samples of alpha-variant, retrieved from GISAID, were aligned in MAFFT and used as an input to the Coronapp web-application. Phylogenetic tree was constructed through maximum-likelihood method by downloading the 100 whole-genome sequences of alpha-variant for each of the 12 countries having the largest number of Pakistani diasporas. We detected 1725 mutations, which were further categorized into 899 missense mutations, 654 silent mutations, 52 mutations in non-coding regions, 25 in-frame deletions, 01 in-frame insertion, 51 frameshift deletions, 21 frameshift insertions, 21 stop-gained variants, and 1 stop-gained deletion. We found NSP3 and Spike as the most variable proteins with 355 and 233 mutations respectively. However, some characteristic mutations like Δ144(S), G204R(N), and T1001I, I2230T, del3675–3677(ORF1ab) were missing in the Pakistani population of alpha-variant. Likewise, R1518K(NSP3), P83L(NSP9), and A52V, H164Y(NSP13) were found for the first time in this study. Interestingly, Y145 deletion(S) had 99% prevalence in Pakistan but globally it was just 4.2% prevalent. Likewise, R68S substitution (ORF3a), F120 frameshift deletion, L120 insertion, L118V substitution (ORF8), and N280Y(NSP2) had 20.4%, 14.3%, 14.8%, 9.1%, 13.9% prevalence locally but globally they were just 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.04%, 1.5%, and 2.4% prevalent respectively. The phylogeny analysis revealed that majority of Pakistani samples were grouped together in the same clusters with Italian, and Spanish samples suggesting the transmission of alpha-variant to Pakistan from these western European countries.
Effects of non-invasive spinal cord stimulation on lower urinary tract, bowel, and sexual functions in individuals with chronic motor-complete spinal cord injury: Protocol for a pilot clinical trial
Authors: Samejima Soshi , Shackleton Claire , McCracken Laura , Malik Raza N. , Miller Tiev , Kavanagh Alex , Ghuman Amandeep , Elliott Stacy , Walter Matthias , Nightingale Tom E. , Berger Michael J. , Lam Tania , Sachdeva Rahul , Krassioukov Andrei V.
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Electrical spinal cord neuromodulation has emerged as a leading intervention for restoring autonomic functions, such as blood pressure, lower urinary tract (LUT), bowel, and sexual functions, following spinal cord injury (SCI). While a few preliminary studies have shown the potential effect of non-invasive transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) on autonomic recovery following SCI, the optimal stimulation parameters, as well as real-time and long-term functional benefits of tSCS are understudied. This trial entitled “Non-invasive Neuromodulation to Treat Bladder, Bowel, and Sexual Dysfunction following Spinal Cord Injury” is a pilot trial to examine the feasibility, dosage effect and safety of tSCS on pelvic organ function for future large-scale randomized controlled trials.

Methods and analysis

Forty eligible participants with chronic cervical or upper thoracic motor-complete SCI will undergo stimulation mapping and assessment batteries to determine the real-time effect of tSCS on autonomic functions. Thereafter, participants will be randomly assigned to either moderate or intensive tSCS groups to test the dosage effect of long-term stimulation on autonomic parameters. Participants in each group will receive 60 minutes of tSCS per session either twice (moderate) or five (intensive) times per week, over a period of six weeks.

Outcome measures include: (a) changes in bladder capacity through urodynamic studies during real-time and after long-term tSCS, and (b) resting anorectal pressure determined via anorectal manometry during real-time tSCS. We also measure assessments of sexual function, neurological impairments, and health-related quality of life using validated questionnaires and semi-structured interviews.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval has been obtained (CREB H20-01163). All primary and secondary outcome data will be submitted to peer-reviewed journals and disseminated among the broader scientific community and stakeholders.