bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Depth estimation in SPAD-based LIDAR sensors
Authors: Venialgo Esteban , Chen Mingzhe , Rao Padmakumar
Published: October 2023

In direct time-of-flight (D-TOF) light detection and ranging (LIDAR), accuracy and full-scale range (FSR) are the main performance parameters to consider. Particularly, in single-photon avalanche diodes (SPAD) based systems, the photon-counting statistics plays a fundamental role in determining the LIDAR performance. Also, the intrinsic performance ultimately depends on the system parameters and constraints, which are set by the application. However, the best-achievable performance directly depends on the selected depth estimation method and is not necessarily equal to intrinsic performance.

We evaluate a D-TOF LIDAR system, in the particular context of smartphone applications, in terms of parameter trade-offs and estimation efficiency. First, we develop a simulation model by combining radiometry and photon-counting statistics. Next, we perform a trade-off analysis to study dependencies between system parameters and application constraints, as well as non-linearities caused by the detection method. Further, we derive an analytical model to calculate the Cram\'er\textendash Rao lower bound (CRLB) of the LIDAR system, which analytically accounts for the shot noise. Finally, we evaluate a depth estimation method based on artificial intelligence (AI) and compare its performance to the CRLB. We demonstrate that the AI-based estimator fully compensates the non-linearity in depth estimation, which varies depending on application conditions such as target reflectivity.
Non-Diffraction Patterns Evolving to Diffraction Patterns in Classical Wave Experiments --- New Challenge
Authors: Peng Hui
Published: October 2023

The double slit has been extended to the cross double slits. The universal phenomena that, in classical double slit wave experiments, the nature and the characteristics of the patterns are distance-dependent. The pattern evolutions have been shown. In this article, we extend the single slit to the cross single slit, e.g., single slits crossing single slits, single slit crossing double slit, etc.

Then we experimentally show that, within macroscopic distances from diaphragm, patterns are non-diffraction and gradually evolve to the diffraction patterns near the screen in the same single slit/cross single slit experiment.
L:
mm Tilt single slit crossing single slit
Single slit crossing single slit
4 single slits crossing
Single slit crossing Ring
Single slit crossing double slit

0*
10
50
110
1100
Challenge is to interpret consistently the non-diffraction patterns, the diffraction patterns, and the pattern evolution phenomena.
Optomechanical feedback cooling of a 5  mm long torsional mode
Authors: Su Dianqiang , Jiang Yuan , Solano Pablo , Orozco Luis A. , Lawall John , Zhao Yanting
Published: October 2023

We report three orders of magnitude optical cooling of the fundamental torsional mode of a 5 mm long, 550 nm diameter optical nanofiber. The rotation of the nanofiber couples to the polarization of guided laser fields. We use a weak laser probe to monitor the rotation and use feedback to modulate the polarization of an auxiliary drive laser providing torque. Our results present a tool for the optomechanical control of large-scale torsional resonators, with metrological applications and potential implications for studying macroscopic objects in quantum states.
Lensless polarimetric coded ptychography for high-resolution, high-throughput gigapixel birefringence imaging on a chip
Authors: Yang Liming , Wang Ruihai , Zhao Qianhao , Song Pengming , Jiang Shaowei , Wang Tianbo , Shao Xiaopeng , Guo Chengfei , Pandey Rishikesh , Zheng Guoan
Published: October 2023

Polarimetric imaging provides valuable insights into the polarization state of light interacting with a sample. It can infer crucial birefringence properties of specimens without using labels, thereby facilitating the diagnosis of diseases such as cancer and osteoarthritis. In this study, we present a novel polarimetric coded ptychography (pol-CP) approach that enables high-resolution, high-throughput gigapixel birefringence imaging on a chip. Our platform deviates from traditional lens-based systems by employing an integrated polarimetric coded sensor for lensless coherent diffraction imaging. Utilizing Jones calculus, we quantitatively determine the birefringence retardance and orientation information of biospecimens from the recovered images. Our portable pol-CP prototype can resolve the 435 nm linewidth on the resolution target, and the imaging field of view for a single acquisition is limited only by the detector size of 41  mm×41  mm. The prototype allows for the acquisition of gigapixel birefringence images with a 180  mm×180  mm field of view in ∼3.5  min, a performance that rivals high-end whole slide scanner but at a small fraction of the cost. To demonstrate its biomedical applications, we perform high-throughput imaging of malaria-infected blood smears, locating parasites using birefringence contrast. We also generate birefringence maps of label-free thyroid smears to identify thyroid follicles. Notably, the recovered birefringence maps emphasize the same regions as autofluorescence images, underscoring the potential for rapid on-site evaluation of label-free biopsies. Our approach provides a turnkey and portable solution for lensless polarimetric analysis on a chip, with promising applications in disease diagnosis, crystal screening, and label-free chemical imaging, particularly in resource-constrained environments.
Strategische Planung in der Automobilindustrie in Zeiten von Produkt-Service-Systemen: Veränderungen, Planungsansätze und Herangehensweisen
Authors: Kurpiela Steffen , Teuteberg Frank
Published: October 2023

Getrieben von der Elektrifizierung, dem autonomen Fahren und der Konnektivität der Fahrzeuge werden Produkt-Service-Systeme in der Automobilindustrie immer bedeutender. Die Neuausrichtung der Geschäftsmodelle und der Aufbau eines Mobilitäts-Ökosystems erfordern eine Anpassung der strategischen Planung. Basierend auf Analysen der Literatur, von Stellenanzeigen und Geschäftsmodellen sowie Praxiswissen werden in diesem Beitrag zunächst Veränderungen in der strategischen Planung der Automobilindustrie auf Mikro‑, Meso- und Makroebene in Form eines Morphologischen Kastens abgeleitet sowie Planungsansätze und Herangehensweisen skizziert. Daraus folgend werden der Forschung und Praxis fünf zentrale Handlungsempfehlungen und Implikationen bereitgestellt, die mit den präsentierten Ergebnissen als Leitlinie für die weitere Anpassung der strategischen Planung in der Automobilindustrie dienen können.
Phertilizer: Growing a clonal tree from ultra-low coverage single-cell DNA sequencing of tumors
Authors: Weber Leah L. , Zhang Chuanyi , Ochoa Idoia , El-Kebir Mohammed
Published: October 2023

Emerging ultra-low coverage single-cell DNA sequencing (scDNA-seq) technologies have enabled high resolution evolutionary studies of copy number aberrations (CNAs) within tumors. While these sequencing technologies are well suited for identifying CNAs due to the uniformity of sequencing coverage, the sparsity of coverage poses challenges for the study of single-nucleotide variants (SNVs). In order to maximize the utility of increasingly available ultra-low coverage scDNA-seq data and obtain a comprehensive understanding of tumor evolution, it is important to also analyze the evolution of SNVs from the same set of tumor cells. We present Phertilizer, a method to infer a clonal tree from ultra-low coverage scDNA-seq data of a tumor. Based on a probabilistic model, our method recursively partitions the data by identifying key evolutionary events in the history of the tumor. We demonstrate the performance of Phertilizer on simulated data as well as on two real datasets, finding that Phertilizer effectively utilizes the copy-number signal inherent in the data to more accurately uncover clonal structure and genotypes compared to previous methods.
Challenges and best practices for digital unstructured data enrichment in health research: A systematic narrative review
Authors: Sedlakova Jana , Daniore Paola , Horn Wintsch Andrea , Wolf Markus , Stanikic Mina , Haag Christina , Sieber Chloé , Schneider Gerold , Staub Kaspar , Alois Ettlin Dominik , Grübner Oliver , Rinaldi Fabio , von Wyl Viktor ,   for the University of Zurich Digital Society Initiative (UZH-DSI) Health Community
Published: October 2023

Digital data play an increasingly important role in advancing health research and care. However, most digital data in healthcare are in an unstructured and often not readily accessible format for research. Unstructured data are often found in a format that lacks standardization and needs significant preprocessing and feature extraction efforts. This poses challenges when combining such data with other data sources to enhance the existing knowledge base, which we refer to as digital unstructured data enrichment. Overcoming these methodological challenges requires significant resources and may limit the ability to fully leverage their potential for advancing health research and, ultimately, prevention, and patient care delivery. While prevalent challenges associated with unstructured data use in health research are widely reported across literature, a comprehensive interdisciplinary summary of such challenges and possible solutions to facilitate their use in combination with structured data sources is missing. In this study, we report findings from a systematic narrative review on the seven most prevalent challenge areas connected with the digital unstructured data enrichment in the fields of cardiology, neurology and mental health, along with possible solutions to address these challenges. Based on these findings, we developed a checklist that follows the standard data flow in health research studies. This checklist aims to provide initial systematic guidance to inform early planning and feasibility assessments for health research studies aiming combining unstructured data with existing data sources. Overall, the generality of reported unstructured data enrichment methods in the studies included in this review call for more systematic reporting of such methods to achieve greater reproducibility in future studies.
AGAMOUS mediates timing of guard cell formation during gynoecium development
Authors: Brazel Ailbhe J. , Fattorini Róisín , McCarthy Jesse , Franzen Rainer , Rümpler Florian , Coupland George , Ó’Maoiléidigh Diarmuid S.
Published: October 2023

InArabidopsis thaliana, stomata are composed of two guard cells that control the aperture of a central pore to facilitate gas exchange between the plant and its environment, which is particularly important during photosynthesis. Although leaves are the primary photosynthetic organs of flowering plants, floral organs are also photosynthetically active. In the Brassicaceae, evidence suggests that silique photosynthesis is important for optimal seed oil content. A group of transcription factors containing MADS DNA binding domains is necessary and sufficient to confer floral organ identity. Elegant models, such as the ABCE model of flower development and the floral quartet model, have been instrumental in describing the molecular mechanisms by which these floral organ identity proteins govern flower development. However, we lack a complete understanding of how the floral organ identity genes interact with the underlying leaf development program. Here, we show that the MADS domain transcription factor AGAMOUS (AG) represses stomatal development on the gynoecial valves, so that maturation of stomatal complexes coincides with fertilization. We present evidence that this regulation by AG is mediated by direct transcriptional repression of a master regulator of the stomatal lineage,MUTE, and show data that suggests this interaction is conserved among several members of the Brassicaceae. This work extends our understanding of the mechanisms underlying floral organ formation and provides a framework to decipher the mechanisms that control floral organ photosynthesis.
The association of long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution with all-cause GP visits and hospital admissions by ethnicity and country of birth in the United Kingdom
Authors: Abed Al Ahad Mary
Published: October 2023

Background

Air pollution is associated with poor health. Yet, more research is needed to reveal the association of long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution with less studied health outcomes like hospital admissions and general-practitioner (GP) visits and whether this association is stronger for ethnic minorities compared to the rest of population. This study investigates the association between air pollution and all-cause GP visits and hospital admissions by ethnicity in the United-Kingdom (UK).

Methods

We used individual-level longitudinal data from the “UK Household Longitudinal Study” including 46,442 adult individuals who provided 140,466 responses across five years (2015–2019). This data was linked to yearly concentrations of NO2, SO2, and particulate-matter (PM10, PM2.5) outdoor pollution using the Lower Super Output Area (LSOA) of residence for each individual. Multilevel mixed-effects ordered logistic models were used to assess the association between air pollution and all-cause GP visits and hospital admissions.

Results

We found higher odds of hospital admissions per 1 μg/m3 increase in annual concentrations of NO2 (OR = 1.008; 95%CI = 1.004–1.012), SO2 (OR = 1.048; 95%CI = 1.014–1.083), PM10 (OR = 1.011; 95%CI = 1.003–1.018), and PM2.5 (OR = 1.018; 95%CI = 1.007–1.029) pollutants. Higher odds of GP visits were also observed with increased exposure to NO2 (OR = 1.010; 95%CI = 1.006–1.014) and SO2 (OR = 1.114; 95%CI = 1.077–1.152) pollutants. The observed associations did not differ across ethnic groups, but by country of birth, they were more pronounced in individuals born outside UK than those born in UK.

Conclusion

This study supports an association between higher exposure to outdoor air pollution and increased all-cause hospital admissions and GP visits. Further longitudinal studies with longer follow-up time periods may be able to reveal more definite conclusions on the influence of ethnicity on the association between long-term outdoor air pollution and both hospital admissions and GP visits.
Intermittent hypoxia in neonatal rodents affects facial bone growth
Authors: Pae Eung-Kwon , Harper Ronald M.
Published: October 2023

Preterm human infants often show periodic breathing (PB) or apnea of prematurity (AOP), breathing patterns which are accompanied by intermittent hypoxia (IH). We examined cause-effect relationships between transient IH and reduced facial bone growth using a rat model. Neonatal pups from 14 timed pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to an IH condition, with oxygen altering between 10% and 21% every 4 min for 1 h immediately after birth, or to a litter-matched control group. The IH pups were compared with their age- and sex-matched control groups in body weight (WT), size of facial bones and nor-epinephrine (NE) levels in blood at 3, 4, and 5-weeks. Markedly increased activity of osteoclasts in sub-condylar regions of 3-week-old IH-treated animals appeared, as well as increased numbers of sympathetic nerve endings in the same region of tissue sections. Male IH-pups showed significantly higher levels of NE levels in sera at 3, 4 as well as 5-week-old time points. NE levels in 4- and-5-week-old female pups did not differ significantly. Intercondylar Width, Mandible Length and Intermolar Width measures consistently declined after IH insults in 3- and 4-week-old male as well as female animals. Three-week-old male IH-pups only showed a significantly reduced (p < 0.05) body weight compared to those of 3-week controls. However, female IH-pups were heavier than age-matched controls at all 3 time-points. Trabecular bone configuration, size of facial bones, and metabolism are disturbed after an IH challenge 1 h immediately after birth. The findings raise the possibility that IH, introduced by breathing patterns such as PB or AOP, induce significantly impaired bone development and metabolic changes in human newborns. The enhanced NE outflow from IH exposure may serve a major role in deficient bone growth, and may affect bone and other tissue influenced by that elevation.
Effects of dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant to ropivacaine or ropivacaine alone on duration of postoperative analgesia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Li Fangzhou , Guo Liang , Huang Zijin , Lin Fei , Pan Linghui
Published: October 2023

Background

Ropivacaine is a long-acting local anesthetic that is used to treat postoperative pain. Adjuvant use of dexmedetomidine in regional anesthesia may prolong the duration of analgesia. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the duration and effect of ropivacaine alone vs. ropivacaine in combination with dexmedetomidine for postoperative analgesia.

Methods

The PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of ropivacaine alone or ropivacaine in combination with dexmedetomidine for regional anesthesia. The primary outcome was duration of analgesia, defined as the time from onset of the block to the time of the first analgesic request or initial pain report. Secondary outcomes were duration of sensory block, duration of motor block, consumption of sufentanil for analgesia, length of hospital stay, and incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting.

Results

Eighteen studies with 1148 patients were included. Overall quality of the RCTs, as assessed by the Jadad scale, was high. The meta-analysis demonstrated that ropivacaine combined with dexmedetomidine significantly prolonged the duration of postoperative analgesia from local anesthetics compared to ropivacaine alone (WMD: 4.14h; 95%CI: 3.29~5.0h; P<0.00001; I2 = 99%). There was evidence of high heterogeneity between studies. The duration of sensory and motor block was significantly increased, and consumption of sufentanil for analgesia and the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting were significantly reduced in patients who received ropivacaine combined with dexmedetomidine compared to ropivacaine alone. There was no significant difference in length of hospital stay.

Conclusions

Compared to ropivacaine alone, ropivacaine combined with dexmedetomidine significantly prolonged the duration of postoperative analgesia and sensory and motor block, and reduced consumption of sufentanil for analgesia and the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting, across an array of surgeries.
Optimizing marine macrophyte capacity to locally ameliorate ocean acidification under variable light and flow regimes: Insights from an experimental approach
Authors: Ricart Aurora M. , Honisch Brittney , Fachon Evangeline , Hunt Christopher W. , Salisbury Joseph , Arnold Suzanne N. , Price Nichole N.
Published: October 2023

The urgent need to remediate ocean acidification has brought attention to the ability of marine macrophytes (seagrasses and seaweeds) to take up carbon dioxide (CO2) and locally raise seawater pH via primary production. This physiological process may represent a powerful ocean acidification mitigation tool in coastal areas. However, highly variable nearshore environmental conditions pose uncertainty in the extent of the amelioration effect. We developed experiments in aquaria to address two interconnected goals. First, we explored the individual capacities of four species of marine macrophytes (Ulva lactuca, Zostera marina, Fucus vesiculosus and Saccharina latissima) to ameliorate seawater acidity in experimentally elevated pCO2. Second, we used the most responsive species (i.e., S. latissima) to assess the effects of high and low water residence time on the amelioration of seawater acidity in ambient and simulated future scenarios of climate change across a gradient of irradiance. We measured changes in dissolved oxygen, pH, and total alkalinity, and derived resultant changes to dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and calcium carbonate saturation state (Ω). While all species increased productivity under elevated CO2, S. latissima was able to remove DIC and alter pH and Ω more substantially as CO2 increased. Additionally, the amelioration of seawater acidity by S. latissima was optimized under high irradiance and high residence time. However, the influence of water residence time was insignificant under future scenarios. Finally, we applied predictive models as a function of macrophyte biomass, irradiance, and residence time conditions in ambient and future climatic scenarios to allow projections at the ecosystem level. This research contributes to understanding the biological and physical drivers of the coastal CO2 system.
Unpacking the asymmetric impact of exchange rate volatility on trade flows: A study of selected developed and developing Asian economies
Authors: Kayani Umar Nawaz , Aysan Ahmet Faruk , Gul Azeem , Haider Syed Arslan , Ahmad Sareer
Published: October 2023

Maintaining a stable exchange rate is a challenging task for the world, especially for developing economies. This study examines the impact of asymmetric exchange rates on trade flows in selected Asian countries and finds that the effects of increased exchange rate volatility on exports and imports differ among Pakistan, Malaysia, Japan, and Korea. The quarterly data from the period 1980 to 2018 is collected from the International Financial Statistics (IFS) database maintained by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). We employ both linear and non-linear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) models for estimation. The non-linear models yielded more significant findings, while the linear models did not indicate any significant effects of exchange rate volatility on trade flows. The results of the study suggest that in the case of Pakistan, both the linear and non-linear models indicate that increased exchange rate volatility adversely affects exports and imports, while decreased volatility enhances both. This implies that stabilizing the exchange rate would be beneficial for Pakistan’s trade. In contrast, the linear model applied to Malaysia shows no long-run effects of exchange rate volatility on exports. However, the result suggests that decreased volatility stimulates Malaysia’s exports. Therefore, in the case of Malaysia, stabilizing the exchange rate could contribute to boosting exports. We also found that increased exchange rate volatility boosts exports of Japan. On the other hand, decreased volatility hurts exports of Japan. As for the long-run effects of exchange rate volatility on imports, we found that increased volatility boosts imports of Korea. The study provides various policy implications regarding the impact of exchange rate volatility on trade flows in developing economies. The study highlights the importance of country-specific considerations in understanding the impact of exchange rate volatility on trade flows, and has important policy implications for promoting trade and economic growth in these nations. It emphasizes the need to model exchange rate volatility separately for developed and developing countries and to continue research and analysis to identify ways to mitigate its negative effects on the economy.
Effect of cosmetic hair treatment and natural hair colour on hair testosterone concentrations
Authors: Preinbergs Julia K. , Sundström-Poromaa Inger , Theodorsson Elvar , Ström Jakob O. , Ingberg Edvin
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Testosterone analysis in hair allows for retrospective evaluation of endogenous testosterone concentrations, but studies devoted to investigating confounders in hair testosterone analysis have hitherto been scarce. The current study examined the stability of testosterone concentrations between two hair samples collected three months apart and investigated two potential confounding factors: natural hair colour and cosmetic hair treatments.

Methods

Testosterone was analysed with an in-house radioimmunoassay with a limit of detection adequate for the purpose.

Results

The testosterone concentrations from the two samplings, at baseline and three months later, had an intra-individual correlation of moderate strength (rho = 0.378, p<0.001, n = 146). Hair treatment, such as colouring or bleaching, seemed to increase testosterone concentrations (p = 0.051, n = 191, and in a paired analysis in a subset of the cohort p = 0.005, n = 24), while no effect of natural colour in untreated hair (p = 0.133) could be detected.

Conclusion

The current results suggest that cosmetic hair treatments need to be considered in hair testosterone analyses and demonstrate the utility of a radioimmunoassay to reliably measure testosterone concentrations in small hair samples in women.
Type 1 diabetes contributes to combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema in male alpha 1 antitrypsin deficient mice
Authors: Park Sangmi S. , Mai Michelle , Ploszaj Magdalena , Cai Huchong , McGarvey Lucas , Mueller Christian , Garcia-Arcos Itsaso , Geraghty Patrick
Published: October 2023

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia and can affect multiple organs, leading to life-threatening complications. Increased prevalence of pulmonary disease is observed in T1D patients, and diabetes is a leading cause of comorbidity in several lung pathologies. A deficiency of alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) can lead to the development of emphysema. Decreased AAT plasma concentrations and anti-protease activity are documented in T1D patients. The objective of this study was to determine whether T1D exacerbates the progression of lung damage in AAT deficiency. First, pulmonary function testing (PFT) and histopathological changes in the lungs of C57BL/6J streptozotocin (STZ)-induced T1D mice were investigated 3 and 6 months after the onset of hyperglycemia. PFT demonstrated a restrictive pulmonary pattern in the lungs of STZ-injected mice, along with upregulation of mRNA expression of pro-fibrotic markers Acta2, Ccn2, and Fn1. Increased collagen deposition was observed 6 months after the onset of hyperglycemia. To study the effect of T1D on the progression of lung damage in AAT deficiency background, C57BL/6J AAT knockout (KO) mice were used. Control and STZ-challenged AAT KO mice did not show significant changes in lung function 3 months after the onset of hyperglycemia. However, histological examination of the lung demonstrated increased collagen accumulation and alveolar space enlargement in STZ-induced AAT KO mice. AAT pretreatment on TGF-β-stimulated primary lung fibroblasts reduced mRNA expression of pro-fibrotic markers ACTA2, CCN2, and FN1. Induction of T1D in AAT deficiency leads to a combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) phenotype in male mice.
Pathological and genetic characterization of foot and mouth disease viruses collected from cattle and water buffalo in Egypt
Authors: Abd-Ellatieff Hoda A. , Hegazy Asmaa A. , AbouRawash Abdel-Rahman A. , Tohamy Hossam G. , Al-Shehri Mohammed , Bazh Eman K. , Hassan Hesham , Essa Bothaina H.
Published: October 2023

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), a highly contagious viral disease caused by FMD virus (FMDV) that threatens Egypt’s livestock industry. FMDV causes severe economic losses in the livestock, with restriction of international trade from endemic regions. Surveillance for FMDV serotypes circulating in Egypt is urgently needed to assess the epidemiological situation in the country. FMD outbreaks reported in Egypt in between December 2016 and January-March 2017. A cross-sectional study was conducted to identify the FMDV serotypes responsible for the outbreaks and to collect information on the virus’s morphopathological effects. Postmortem tissue and clinical samples (oral swabs, vesicular fluids from ruptured vesicles, and blood) were collected from recently deceased and infected animals. Pathological examination revealed classical FMD lesions as vesicular and erosive lesions on epithelial tissues with non-suppurative lymphoplasmacytic myocarditis. Phylogenetic and sequencing analyses demonstrated that FMDV serotype O, EA-3 topotype, VP1 is the prevalent serotype responsible for the pathological alterations and the high mortality in young calves, adult cattle, and water buffalo. The outcomes indicate continuous mutations in the circulating FMDV, which result in the occasional failure of vaccination. Based on these findings, extensive continuous monitoring and serotyping of the existing circulating FMDV isolates and regular vaccination with reevaluation of the currently used vaccine in Egypt are recommended to prevent the recurrence of such outbreaks.
Depredación y ausencia de burocracia: la situación de los empleados públicos en Venezuela desde la mirada de la capacidad estatal
Authors: Rosales Antulio , Bull Benedicte , Sutherland Manuel
Published: October 2023

Este artículo analiza 207 entrevistas a trabajadores públicos de Venezuela sobre sus condiciones de vida, enmarcado en la literatura sobre capacidad estatal. Argumentamos que la burocracia venezolana se ha visto afectada por la pérdida del valor del salario y la dependencia en remuneraciones extrasalariales. Evidenciamos la reducción y deterioro de la prestación de servicios en las instituciones, la reducción de los beneficios de seguridad social y la disminución de la formación profesional de los trabajadores.
La fecundidad completa de las inmigrantes latinoamericanas y sus descendientes en España
Authors: García-Gómez Jesús , Del Rey Poveda Alberto
Published: October 2023

Este estudio analiza la fecundidad completa de las inmigrantes latinoamericanas y de sus descendientes en España. Utilizamos una base de datos que vincula al Censo de 2011 el Movimiento Natural de la Población desde 2011 hasta 2015 y aplicamos modelos de regresión de Poisson. Las inmigrantes latinoamericanas de primera generación tienen una fecundidad completa superior a las nativas y las de 1.5 y segunda generación de en torno a un 10% inferior.
Institutional perception of e-recruitment adoption in Nepal: Evidence from structural equation modeling
Authors: Dhakal Krishna , Baczar Piotr , Devkota Niranjan , Paudel Udaya Raj , Szabó Szilvia
Published: October 2023

Awareness of the significance of adapting e-recruitment and applying various management strategies has increased in private corporate organizations. This study aims to investigate the institutional perception of e-recruitment adoption in Kathmandu valley, Nepal by employing the notion of Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Self-Disclosure Theory (SDT). Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) and AMOS softwares are used to analyze data gathered from 286 Nepalese private organizations in Kathmandu valley between February 13 and March 10, 2022. The results indicate that private organizations in the Kathmandu valley are wary of completely embracing e-recruitment due to trust and privacy issues. This paper can be seen as an important message to Nepalese Human Resources sector, policymakers, the government and customers. Moreover, it has important theoretical implications explained from the standpoint of TAM and SDT theories. Practically, this is one of the latest attempts to assess and report on the breadth of e-recruitment adoption in Nepal’s private sector.
Home-making in the internationalised university: a theoretical and personal encounter through SWANA Forum for Social Justice
Authors: Ben Giaber Reem , Al Haj Sleiman Nidal , Al-Waeli Jumana
Published: October 2023

In this article, the internationalised campus is understood as a higher education institution, a stage and a platform, with its own cultural and legal practices and processes, on which and in which social and multiple cultural interactions are performed. Sensitive to Braidotti’s concept of nomadic subjects, we – three postgraduate students from the South West Asia and North Africa (SWANA) region – describe an intercultural encounter with each other and with a higher education institution in which we create a sense of belonging. As the three co-founders of SWANA Forum for Social Justice, we describe our experience of community building at the UCL Institute of Education, London, UK. Using our preferred conceptual framework, and reflecting on our personal narratives bearing on the question of belonging and home-making, we offer a metatheoretical conversation that draws on Bourdieu’s notion of field, habitus and capital when describing what happens during community-building practices in internationalised university campuses; an engagement with social justice in education through concepts such as recognition, safety, belonging and success; and a pragmatist philosophical conceptualisation of community as a democratic public, and its potential for action and change.
The Effects of Microteaching on English T eachers’ Efficacy with Pre-service Elementary School Teachers
Authors:   Center For Educational Research, Cha Soo-Mi
Published: October 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of microteaching on English teachers’ efficacywith pre-service elementary school teachers.
Methods: In this study, the participants consisted of 19 pre-service elementary school teachers. Data collection was carried out through the administration of an English teacher efficacy test and the collection of teachers' self-reports. The obtained results underwent analysis employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches. For the quantitative data, paired t-tests were conducted using SPSS, while the qualitative data obtained from self-reports were subjected to qualitative analysis.
Results: The study revealed a positive impact of microteaching on the English teacher efficacy of pre-service elementary school teachers. Furthermore, pre-service elementary school teachers reported increased confidence and satisfaction as a result.
Conclusion: This study suggests that engaging in the process of preparing for and conducting microteaching can yield a positive impact on the enhancement of English teachers’ efficacy, along with fostering increased confidence and satisfaction. Notably, the positive influence observed during the initial microteaching experience carried over to the subsequent session, highlighting the effectiveness and value of microteaching as an experience to enhance English teachers’ efficacy.
An Exploration of the Operation Cases and Improvement Methods in a Small Middle School Joint Physical Education Curriculum
Authors:   Center For Educational Research, Jeong Hyun-Chul , Yu Seong-Wan
Published: October 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to conduct an in-depth analysis of the operation cases ofa small middle school joint Physical Education curriculum, and to explore improvement methods basedon the analyzed cases.
Methods: Four teachers and four students from two schools located in the J region and operatinga small middle school joint Physical Education curriculum were selected as the study subjects, and data such as operation-related data, observation log data based on participant and non-participant observations, in-depth group interview data and unofficial story data were collected, categorized,analyzed and interpreted.
Results: As far as the small middle school joint Physical Education curricula are concerned, tennis competition activities and group activities per level were performed using facilities near the two schools to ensure all students’ participation and interest and to overcome the disadvantages of small middle schools. Individualized instruction and interactive instruction were performed through team teaching activities per group led by professional instructors to better improve the advantages of small middle schools. The improvement methods are as follows: First, joint curricula must be planned through avoluntary sense of community along with teachers’ dedication and philosophies shared by the members. Second, it is necessary to derive a process of expanding and elaborating the scope of joint curriculato share and improve the concerns regarding events and joint curriculums among small middle schools. Third, for joint curricula to have a smooth implementation, it is necessary to construct a detailed instruction plan taking into consideration the autonomy of curricula, efficient system securement, andstudents’ individual characteristics and differences.
Conclusion: The results of this study suggest the need for legitimacy and substantial operation ofthe small middle school joint Physical Education curriculum.
Лексічныя і граматычныя асаблівасці перакладу глаў 1 і 2 Евангелля паводле Мацвея на беларускую мову (праваслаўная і каталіцкая рэдакцыі 2017 г.)
Authors: Pankou Yauhen
Published: October 2023

This article provides a comparative analysis of certain lexical and grammatical peculiarities in the Catholic and Orthodox editions of the Belarusian translation of Chapters 1 and 2 of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament. The study is based on biblical textual sources in Belarusian, Polish, Greek and Russian, including explanatory and other dictionaries, as well as works on modern Belarusian literary lexicology. It is emphasized that while adapting the Gospel of Matthew into Belarusian, translators exhibit a certain dependence on the influence of foreign languages and the traditions of confessional writing, thus sometimes disregarding encyclopedic variants, or ignoring lexical, semantic and grammatical processes characteristic of the modern Belarusian literary language.
A partial compactification of the Bridgeland stability manifold
Authors: Bolognese Barbara
Published: October 2023

Bridgeland stability manifolds of Calabi–Yau categories are of noticeable interest both in mathematics and physics. By looking at some of the known examples, a pattern clearly emerges and gives a fairly precise description of how they look like. In particular, they all seem to have missing loci, which tend to correspond to degenerate stability conditions vanishing on spherical objects. Describing such missing strata is also interesting from a mirror-symmetric perspective, as they conjecturally parametrize interesting types of degenerations of complex structures. All the naive attempts at constructing modular partial compactifications show how elusive and subtle the problem in fact is: ideally, the missing strata would correspond to stability manifolds of quotient triangulated categories, but establishing such a correspondence on the geometric level and viewing stability conditions on quotients of the original triangulated category as suitable degenerations of stability conditions is not straightforward. In this paper, we will present a method to construct such partial compactifications if some additional hypotheses are satisfied, by realizing our space of interest as a suitable metric completion of the stability manifold.
Towards correlative archaeology of the human mind
Authors: Piszczek Lukasz , Kaczanowska Joanna , Haubensak Wulf
Published: October 2023

Retracing human cognitive origins started out at the systems level with the top-down interpretation of archaeological records spanning from man-made artifacts to endocasts of ancient skulls. With emerging evolutionary genetics and organoid technologies, it is now possible to deconstruct evolutionary processes on a molecular/cellular level from the bottom-up by functionally testing archaic alleles in experimental models. The current challenge is to complement these approaches with novel strategies that allow a holistic reconstruction of evolutionary patterns across human cognitive domains. We argue that computational neuroarcheology can provide such a critical mesoscale framework at the brain network-level, linking molecular/cellular (bottom-up) to systems (top-down) level data for the correlative archeology of the human mind.
Design of mode transition control system for tandem TBCC engine based on direct performance parameters closed-loop control
Authors: Xi Zhihua , Chen Cheng , Chen Ming , Zhang Haibo
Published: October 2023

This paper conducts a study on closed-loop control of engine performance parameters during mode transition process of TBCC engine based on artificial intelligence method. Firstly, a composite modeling method based on stepwise regression analysis and batch normalization-depth neural network is proposed to establish the on-board model during mode transition to estimate the thrust and inlet airflow in real-time. Secondly, based on the hybrid penalty function-particle swarm optimization algorithm, a mode transition control schedule applicable to the closed-loop control of thrust and inlet airflow is developed. Finally, a data processing method based on similarity conversion is proposed to extend the applicable envelope range of the mode transition control system. The transition time is shortened by 33.3 %, and the fluctuations of thrust and inlet airflow are reduced by 1.33 % and 10.77 %, respectively. When the control system is applied to the off-design mode transition process, a satisfactory mode transition performance is also obtained.
A lady of leadership: 3D-scanning of runestones in search of Queen Thyra and the Jelling Dynasty
Authors: Imer Lisbeth M. , Kitzler Åhfeldt Laila , Zedig Henrik
Published: October 2023

During the tenth century AD, Harald Bluetooth ruled Denmark from the royal seat at Jelling. The two extant Jelling mounds are traditionally associated with Harald's parents, Gorm and Thyra, about whom we know little. Unusually, the name Thyra appears on both Jelling runestones and on several others from the region. If all refer to the same person, she would be commemorated on more runestones than anyone else in Viking-Age Denmark. The authors use 3D-scanning to study rune carving techniques, combined with analyses of orthography and language, concluding that the Jelling 2 and Læborg stones are linked by the hand of the carver Ravnunge-Tue. The results suggest Thyra played a pivotal role in the emergence of the Danish state.
Revealing the extent of Neolithic rondel enclosures in Lower Silesia using non-invasive prospection
Authors: Wroniecki Piotr , Furmanek Mirosław , Rączkowski Włodzimierz
Published: October 2023

During the early fifth millennium BC, Linearbandkeramik groups along the Danube in Central Europe constructed hundreds of circular enclosures, or ‘rondels’. These monumental sites signalled major social, economic and ideological change among these early farming communities. Their absence north of the Carpathian and Sudeten Mountains has been taken to suggest that this area lay on the periphery of this Early Neolithic world. Here, the authors report on a systematic programme of non-invasive prospection, including aerial photography, in Lower Silesia. The survey has identified eight previously undocumented rondels, significantly extending their distribution. Their detection emphasises the importance of combining prospection methods, and calls for a re-evaluation of core-periphery interpretations of Early Neolithic Central Europe.
Research Progress in Finerenone in Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Xue Sun , Yanghong Dong , Jiaxin Gu , Wenxiu Liu , Yue Liu
Published: October 2023

Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA) have significant therapeutic effects on heart failure, hypertension, chronic kidney disease and primary aldosteronism. However, steroid MRA can cause hyperkalemia, deterioration of renal insufficiency, menstrual disorder and male breast development, and consequently has found limited clinical applications. In recent years, basic and clinical studies have confirmed that finerenone is a new non-steroidal MRA with high receptor affinity and selectivity, which can decrease adverse effects such as hyperkalemia and exert powerful cardioprotective effects. Herein, the structure, function, pharmacological mechanism and adverse effects of finerenone are summarized, and its cardiovascular protective effects and clinical applications are described in detail, to aid in understanding of the roles of finerenone in treating cardiovascular diseases and to explore future directions.
Motor Activity-Induced White Matter Repair in White Matter Stroke
Authors: Marin Miguel A. , Gleichman Amy J. , Wei Xiaofei , Whittaker Daniel S. , Mody Istvan , Colwell Christopher S. , Carmichael S. Thomas
Published: October 2023

Subcortical white matter stroke (WMS) is a progressive disorder which is demarcated by the formation of small ischemic lesions along white matter tracts in the CNS. As lesions accumulate, patients begin to experience severe motor and cognitive decline. Despite its high rate of incidence in the human population, our understanding of the cause and outcome of WMS is extremely limited. As such, viable therapies for WMS remain to be seen. This study characterizes myelin recovery following stroke and motor learning-based rehabilitation in a mouse model of subcortical WMS. Following WMS, a transient increase in differentiating oligodendrocytes occurs within the peri-infarct in young male adult mice, which is completely abolished in male aged mice. Compound action potential recording demonstrates a decrease in conduction velocity of myelinated axons at the peri-infarct. Animals were then tested on one of three distinct motor learning-based rehabilitation strategies (skilled reach, restricted access to a complex running wheel, and unrestricted access to a complex running wheel) for their capacity to induce repair. These studies determined that unrestricted access to a complex running wheel alone increases the density of differentiating oligodendrocytes in infarcted white matter in young adult male mice, which is abolished in aged male mice. Unrestricted access to a complex running wheel was also able to enhance conduction velocity of myelinated axons at the peri-infarct to a speed comparable to naive controls suggesting functional recovery. However, there was no evidence of motor rehabilitation-induced remyelination or myelin protection.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTWhite matter stroke is a common disease with no medical therapy. A form of motor rehabilitation improves some aspects of white matter repair and recovery.