bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Noise-like pulses: stabilization, production, and application
Authors: Kobtsev S. , Komarov A.
Published: March 2024

Various aspects are analyzed, which are related to the generation of unusual laser pulses with stochastic internal structure known as noise-like pulses. A new mechanism of their stabilization is proposed on the basis of an analogy between a noise-like pulse and a drop of soliton liquid. The properties of noise-like pulses are considered. It is further noted that these pulses are more and more used in a number of applications (supercontinuum generation, industrial processing, medical treatment, etc.). The causes of low coherence of noise-like pulses are identified. A method of coherence degree measurement relying on the autocorrelation function of these pulses is discussed. The most promising configurations for generation of noise-like pulses are provided.
Laser performance and loss measurements in Cr4 :YAG
Authors: Snell Kevin , Parent Andre , Peressini Dennis , Kokta Milan
Published: March 2024

The tunable IR laser performance of Cr4+:YAG shows promise in many applications. The laser is pumped by conventional Nd lasers. CW and pulsed operation of this material has been previously demonstrated! The crystals used in this paper were grown at Union Carbide/Crystal Products.
Solution to the issue of high-order diffraction images for cylindrical computer-generated holograms
Authors: Zhou Jie , Jiang Lei , Yu Guangwei , Wang Jiabao , Wu Yang , Wang Jun
Published: March 2024

The cylindrical computer-generated hologram (CCGH), featuring a 360° viewing zone, has garnered widespread attention. However, the issue of high-order diffraction images due to pixelated structure in CCGH has not been previously reported and solved. For a cylindrical model offering a 360° viewing zone in the horizontal direction, the high-order diffraction images always overlap with the reconstruction image, leading to quality degradation. Furthermore, the 4f system is commonly used to eliminate high-order diffraction images in planar CGH, but its implementation is predictably complex for a cylindrical model. In this paper, we propose a solution to the issue of high-order diffraction images for CCGH. We derive the cylindrical diffraction formula from the outer hologram surface to the inner object surface in the spectral domain, and based on this, we subsequently analyze the effects brought by the pixel structure and propose the high-order diffraction model. Based on the proposed high-order diffraction model, we use the gradient descent method to optimize CCGH accounting for all diffraction orders simultaneously. Furthermore, we discuss the issue of circular convolution due to the periodicity of the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) in cylindrical diffraction. The correctness of the proposed high-order diffraction model and the effectiveness of the proposed optimization method are demonstrated by numerical simulation. To our knowledge, this is the first time that the issue of high-order diffraction images in CCGH has been proposed, and we believe our solution can offer valuable guidance to practitioners in the field.
All-sapphire fiber-optic sensor for the simultaneous measurement of ultra-high temperature and high pressure
Authors: Zhang Yutong , Jiang Yi , Yang Shuiwang , Zhang Dayou
Published: March 2024

An all-sapphire fiber-optic extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric (EFPI) sensor for the simultaneous measurement of ultra-high temperature and high pressure is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The sensor is fabricated based on all-sapphire, including a sapphire fiber, a sapphire capillary and a sapphire wafer. A femtosecond (fs) laser is employed to drill a through hole at the side wall of the sapphire capillary to allow gas flow. The sapphire fiber is inserted from one side of the sapphire capillary. The sapphire wafer is fixed at the other side of the sapphire capillary. The first Fabry-Perot (FP) cavity, composed of the end face of the sapphire fiber and the front surface of the sapphire wafer, is used for measuring pressure, while the second FP cavity, composed of the two surfaces of the sapphire wafer, is used for measuring temperature. Experimental results show that the sensor can simultaneously measure ultra-high temperature and gas pressure within the temperature range of 20 - 1400 °C and the pressure range of 0 - 5 MPa. The temperature sensitivity is 0.0033 µm/°C, and the pressure sensitivity decreases as the temperature increases, reaching 1.8016 µm/MPa and 0.3253 µm/MPa at temperatures of 20 °C and 1400 °C, respectively.
Two-dimensionally high AR performance beam scanning utilizing randomly-rotated single-PIN-diode elements for circularly-polarized programmable metasurface
Authors: Ma Xiangjin , Han Jiaqi , Zhou Heng , Lv Tianguang , Mu Yajie , Liu Haixia , Li Long
Published: March 2024

In this paper, we introduce a novel technique that utilizes randomly rotated elements (RREs) for the cross-polarization and axial ratio (AR) control of a circularly polarized programmable metasurface (CPPMS). We evaluate the CPPMS performance by comparing RREs layout with uniform elements (UEs) layout, and analyze far-field radiation parameters for 50 groups of CPPMS with different RREs layouts. Simulation results demonstrate consistent and improved performance across various RREs layouts, showcasing reduced cross-polarization and enhanced AR beamwidth. To validate these findings, we design a 1-bit CPPMS in Ku-band comprising 20 × 20 elements with the optimal RREs layout, and conduct measurements in an anechoic chamber. The CPPMS prototype achieves high gain (22.34 dBi), low cross-polarization (-20.5 dB), and a narrow 3 dB AR beamwidth (8.93°). Notably, it offers wide-angle beam scanning capabilities of up to ±60°. The gain bandwidth at -3 dB ranges from 14.54 to 16.65 GHz, with a relative bandwidth of 7.3%, while the 3 dB AR bandwidth extends from 14.24 to 16.07 GHz. Consequently, the proposed 1-bit CPPMS exhibits high-performance two-dimensional AR beam scanning, presenting promising applications in satellite communications.
Cascaded multicore fiber interferometers for enhanced bending sensing based on the Vernier effect
Authors: Ou Jia-le , Deng Hao-Wen , Wu Chuang , Li Jie , Guan Bai-Ou
Published: March 2024

In this paper, cascaded modal interferometers constructed by strongly-coupled seven-core fiber (SC-SCF) with different lengths are demonstrated for enhanced bending sensing based on Vernier effect. The free spectral range (FSR) of a single SC-SCF interferometer is determined by the length of SC-SCF. Two SC-SCF interferometers with different FSRs are cascaded, in which, one functions as the sensor while the other functions as the reference. The wavelength shift of the envelope of the output spectrum is much larger than that of a single SC-SCF interferometer due to the Vernier effect. Therefore, enhanced sensing can be achieved. Experimental results show that the bending sensitivity of the proposed sensor is improved from −2.20 nm/m−1 (single SC-SCF interferometer) to 42.32 nm/m−1 (cascaded SC-SCF interferometers). The temperature response of the sensor is also investigated. Our proposed cascaded SC-SCF sensor has advantages of high sensitivity, ease of fabrication, and low cost. It is attractive for high precision bending sensing applications.
Broadband high-contrast-grating-type waveplates for the terahertz range
Authors: Ayyagari Surya Revanth , Klein Andreas K. , Indrišiūnas Simonas , Janonis Vytautas , Pashnev Daniil , Mohammed Abdu Subahan , Ducournau Guillaume , Stöhr Andreas , Kašalynas Irmantas
Published: March 2024

The high-contrast-grating waveplates utilizing high contrast between silicon and air refractive indexes were developed in order to perform as a quarter wave and a half wave plate in the selected THz frequency range. The waveplates possessed anti-reflective properties due to the specific inclination of the walls both in parallel and in perpendicular direction to grating axis, efficiently suppressing the reflection losses caused by air-dielectric interface for both transverse magnetic and transverse electric polarizations. Moreover, significant reduction of the transmittance gap was achieved between both polarizations while mitigating overall Fabry-Perot effect. Validation of the concepts was carried out by measuring transmission amplitude and phase spectra of the fabricated samples in a broadband of THz time-domain spectroscopy and vector-network-analysis systems considering also some real applications.
Research on fine co-focus adjustment method for segmented solar telescope
Authors: Wang Kunyan , Dai Yichun , Wang Bin , Tan Xu , Yang Dehua , Jin Zhenyu
Published: March 2024

For segmented telescopes, achieving fine co-focus adjustment is essential for realizing co-phase adjustment and maintenance, which involves adjusting the millimeter-scale piston between segments to fall within the capture range of the co-phase detection system. CGST proposes using a SHWFS for piston detection during the co-focus adjustment stage. However, the residual piston after adjustment exceeds the capture range of the broadband PSF phasing algorithm( ± 30μm), and the multi-wavelength PSF algorithm requires even higher precision in co-focus adjustment. To improve the co-focus adjustment accuracy of CGST, a fine co-focus adjustment based on cross-calibration is proposed. This method utilizes a high-precision detector to calibrate and fit the measurements from the SHWFS, thereby reducing the impact of atmospheric turbulence and systematic errors on piston measurement accuracy during co-focus adjustment. Simulation results using CGST demonstrate that the proposed method significantly enhances adjustment accuracy compared to the SHWFS detection method. Additionally, the residual piston after fine co-focus adjustment using this method falls within the capture range of the multi-wavelength PSF algorithm. To verify the feasibility of this method, experiments were conducted on an 800mm ring segmented mirror system, successfully achieving fine co-focus adjustment where the remaining piston of all segments fell within ±15μm.
Four-wavelength laser interferometry for the demodulation of dual-cavity fiber-optic extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric sensors
Authors: Han Yang , Jiang Yi , Jia Jingshan , Zhang Yutong
Published: March 2024

A four-wavelength passive demodulation algorithm is proposed and experimentally demonstrated for the interrogation of the one cavity in a dual-cavity extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric (EFPI) sensor. The lengths of two cavities are adjusted to generate four quadrature signals for each individual cavity. Both simulation and experimental results are presented to validate the performance of this technique. The experimental results demonstrate that dynamic signals at frequencies of 100 Hz, 200 Hz, and 300 Hz with varying amplitude are successfully extracted from a dual-cavity EFPI sensor with initial lengths of 93.4803 µm and 94.0091 µm. The technique shows the potential application to measure dynamic signals in dual-cavity fiber-optic EFPI sensors.
Noninvasive holographic imaging through dynamically scattering media
Authors: Matsuda Naoki , Tanida Jun , Naruse Makoto , Horisaki Ryoichi
Published: March 2024

We present a noninvasive method for quantitative phase imaging through dynamically scattering media. A complex amplitude object, illuminated with coherent light, is captured through a dynamically scattering medium and a variable coded aperture, without the need for interferometric measurements or imaging optics. The complex amplitude of the object is computationally retrieved from intensity images that use multiple coded aperture patterns, employing a stochastic gradient descent algorithm. We demonstrate the proposed method both numerically and experimentally.
Partially coherent Pearcey–Gauss source with hyperbolic sine correlation of the spatial spectrum
Authors: Huang Jinghuan , Li Yanghong , Liu Yejin , Shi Jingyi , Luo Yingjun , Yang Yongzheng , Peng Peiwen , Ouyang Shigen , Deng Dongmei
Published: March 2024

By designing the intricate coherence structure, we are able to create a desired beam profile and trajectory. Our research focus lies on the Fourier plane, specifically emphasizing the coherence of spatial frequencies, and we find it can be seen as a constant system response. A theoretical framework is developed, and experimental studies are conducted to generate a light field of the spatial spectrum with a complex correlation using the pseudo-mode superposition method. We successfully produce partially coherent Pearcey–Gauss beams whose spatial spectrum is hyperbolic sine correlational. Interestingly, these beams maintain the distinctive propagation properties of the Pearcey pattern while exhibiting the remarkable ability to split the mainlobe into two separate lobes.
Imaging focused laser differential interferometry
Authors: Marsh Andrew W. , Kramer Alice N. , Maranto Kevin N. , Chen Mazumdar Yi
Published: March 2024

Focused laser differential interferometry (FLDI) is an important diagnostic for measuring density fluctuations in high-speed flows. Currently, however, high dynamic range FLDI is limited to photodiode measurements. In order to spatially resolve multiple locations within complex flows, we present a novel, to the best of our knowledge, refractive-optic imaging FLDI concept that not only produces two-dimensional images without scanning but also reduces the measurement noise floor of those images. To demonstrate this concept, a 33 × 33 grid of FLDI points is first generated using a microlens array. Then, the beams are split and recombined using two polarized Mach–Zehnder interferometers to maximize flexibility in beam separation and optimize signal sensitivity. Next, the FLDI points are collected slightly out of focus on a high-speed camera in order to increase the number of pixels n per FLDI point, thereby reducing noise floor by n. Finally, an under-expanded jet with a characteristic screech at 14.1 kHz is tested with the imaging FLDI setup, showing clear barrel and reflected shock features as well as spatially varying turbulence densities. Overall, this unique concept enables the creation of reduced-noise-floor, two-dimensional FLDI datasets for the study of supersonic and hypersonic flows.
High-average-power single-frequency pulse optical parametric oscillator based on pulse-integrated seed-injection automatic locking
Authors: Song Jiaqi , Qin Jiliang , Cao Xuechen , Cheng Donglin , Chen Yanan , Lu Huadong
Published: March 2024

Near-infrared nanosecond (ns) single-longitudinal-mode (SLM) pulse light generated from an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) is an important source in nonlinear optics and high-precision spectral analysis. In this Letter, a stable SLM near-infrared ns pulse light source generated from the OPO is presented, which is achieved by developing a seed-injection automatic locking technique based on a pulse-integrated photodetector (PIPD). Depending on the PIPD, the peak power of the pulse light detected by the photodiode is converted to the average power by integrating several pulses. As a result, the detector saturation is thoroughly eliminated, and the interference signal including the resonance point between seed and pulse lights can easily be attained by scanning the resonator length. On this basis, a microcontroller unit (MCU) is employed to realize automatic locking by looking for the minimum value of the interference signal. Finally, a SLM 824 nm pulse light source with an output power of 20.5 W and a linewidth of 51.42 MHz is obtained. The presented method can pave the way to implement a low-cost and compact high-average-power SLM pulse OPO.
Fractional thermal load in cryogenically cooled Yb:YLF and Yb:YAG lasers
Authors: Kilinc Muharrem , Demirbas Umit , Thesinga Jelto , Kellert Martin , Kärtner Franz X. , Pergament Mikhail
Published: March 2024

We present a method for the direct measurement of the fractional thermal load (FTL) in cryogenically cooled laser crystals. The experimental methodology involves characterizing the liquid nitrogen evaporation rate in a dewar containing the laser crystals, allowing for the accurate determination of FTL. The FTL is measured to be 1.7 × quantum defect (QD) for Yb:YLF and 1.5 × QD for Yb:YAG under continuous wave lasing conditions. The measured FTL values are then used to calculate the temperature distribution inside the crystals as a function of pump power, and the simulation results are found to be in very good agreement with the in-situ temperature measurements using contactless optical luminescence thermometry. The method and findings presented in this work hold great potential to benefit laser engineers and scientists working with cryogenic lasers to address and overcome temperature-dependent handicaps.
Dynamic collinear intermode interference in terahertz polaritons
Authors: lu Yao , Xu Xitan , Wu Qiang , Li Huanan , Chen Lu , Cai Wei , Xu Jingjun
Published: March 2024

Double-slit experiments, wherein light passes through a thin subwavelength or near-wavelength double slit, have confirmed the wave-particle duality of many quantum entities. Recently, it has been reported that the double-slit time diffraction of light upon twice gated in time produces the frequency diffraction. Here, we present a collinear intermode interference of light in a dual-mode waveguide, where the two terahertz (THz) waves could not only produce a spatial interference pattern extending along the propagation axis, but also cause frequency shift during the interference of broadband THz pulses. We demonstrate an observation of the dynamic interference and the resulted frequency-shift propagation of the THz polaritons, signifying advancements toward power-independent frequency engineering within the THz spectrum. The spatiotemporal interference can be actively tuned by generating the THz waves within various waveguides. Furthermore, the spatiotemporal interference of THz waves leads to a periodic polariton flow, paving the way for resonant/non-resonant material control, periodic ultrafast switching of material functionality, and also time-grating-based time-varying physics in THz physics and polaritonics.
Spoink, a LTR retrotransposon, invaded D. melanogaster populations in the 1990s
Authors: Pianezza Riccardo , Scarpa Almorò , Narayanan Prakash , Signor Sarah , Kofler Robert
Published: March 2024

During the last few centuries D. melanogaster populations were invaded by several transposable elements, the most recent of which was thought to be the P-element between 1950 and 1980. Here we describe a novel TE, which we named Spoink, that has invaded D. melanogaster. It is a 5216nt LTR retrotransposon of the Ty3/gypsy superfamily. Relying on strains sampled at different times during the last century we show that Spoink invaded worldwide D. melanogaster populations after the P-element between 1983 and 1993. This invasion was likely triggered by a horizontal transfer from the D. willistoni group, much as the P-element. Spoink is probably silenced by the piRNA pathway in natural populations and about 1/3 of the examined strains have an insertion into a canonical piRNA cluster such as 42AB. Given the degree of genetic investigation of D. melanogaster it is perhaps surprising that Spoink was able to invade unnoticed.
Quantification of caffeine in coffee cans using electrochemical measurements, machine learning, and boron-doped diamond electrodes
Authors: Honda Tatsuya , Takemura Kenshin , Matsumae Susumu , Morita Nobutomo , Iwasaki Wataru , Arita Ryoji , Ueda Suguru , Liang Yeoh Wen , Fukuda Osamu , Kikunaga Kazuya , Ohmagari Shinya
Published: March 2024

Electrochemical measurements, which exhibit high accuracy and sensitivity under low contamination, controlled electrolyte concentration, and pH conditions, have been used in determining various compounds. The electrochemical quantification capability decreases with an increase in the complexity of the measurement object. Therefore, solvent pretreatment and electrolyte addition are crucial in performing electrochemical measurements of specific compounds directly from beverages owing to the poor measurement quality caused by unspecified noise signals from foreign substances and unstable electrolyte concentrations. To prevent such signal disturbances from affecting quantitative analysis, spectral data of voltage-current values from electrochemical measurements must be used for principal component analysis (PCA). Moreover, this method enables highly accurate quantification even though numerical data alone are challenging to analyze. This study utilized boron-doped diamond (BDD) single-chip electrochemical detection to quantify caffeine content in commercial beverages without dilution. By applying PCA, we integrated electrochemical signals with known caffeine contents and subsequently utilized principal component regression to predict the caffeine content in unknown beverages. Consequently, we addressed existing research problems, such as the high quantification cost and the long measurement time required to obtain results after quantification. The average prediction accuracy was 93.8% compared to the actual content values. Electrochemical measurements are helpful in medical care and indirectly support our lives.
MicroBundleCompute: Automated segmentation, tracking, and analysis of subdomain deformation in cardiac microbundles
Authors: Kobeissi Hiba , Jilberto Javiera , Karakan M. Çağatay , Gao Xining , DePalma Samuel J. , Das Shoshana L. , Quach Lani , Urquia Jonathan , Baker Brendon M. , Chen Christopher S. , Nordsletten David , Lejeune Emma
Published: March 2024

Advancing human induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocyte (hiPSC-CM) technology will lead to significant progress ranging from disease modeling, to drug discovery, to regenerative tissue engineering. Yet, alongside these potential opportunities comes a critical challenge: attaining mature hiPSC-CM tissues. At present, there are multiple techniques to promote maturity of hiPSC-CMs including physical platforms and cell culture protocols. However, when it comes to making quantitative comparisons of functional behavior, there are limited options for reliably and reproducibly computing functional metrics that are suitable for direct cross-system comparison. In addition, the current standard functional metrics obtained from time-lapse images of cardiac microbundle contraction reported in the field (i.e., post forces, average tissue stress) do not take full advantage of the available information present in these data (i.e., full-field tissue displacements and strains). Thus, we present “MicroBundleCompute,” a computational framework for automatic quantification of morphology-based mechanical metrics from movies of cardiac microbundles. Briefly, this computational framework offers tools for automatic tissue segmentation, tracking, and analysis of brightfield and phase contrast movies of beating cardiac microbundles. It is straightforward to implement, runs without user intervention, requires minimal input parameter setting selection, and is computationally inexpensive. In this paper, we describe the methods underlying this computational framework, show the results of our extensive validation studies, and demonstrate the utility of exploring heterogeneous tissue deformations and strains as functional metrics. With this manuscript, we disseminate “MicroBundleCompute” as an open-source computational tool with the aim of making automated quantitative analysis of beating cardiac microbundles more accessible to the community.
On characterization of entropy measure using logarithmic regression model for Copper(II) Fluoride
Authors: Siddiqui Muhammad Kamran , Hussain Mazhar , Javed Sana , Khalid Sadia , Noor Tayyaba , Tolasa Fikadu Tesgera
Published: March 2024

The versatile uses of Copper(II) Fluoride (CuF2) are well known; these include its usage as a precursor in chemical synthesis as well as its contribution to the creation of sophisticated materials and electronics. There are interesting opportunities to study the interactions between these elements because of their unique crystal structure, which contains copper ions and fluoride anions. Its potential in optoelectronic devices and conductive qualities also make it a viable material for next-generation technologies. To better understand the structural properties of CuF2 and how they affect its entropy, we present new Zagreb indices in this study and use them to calculate entropy measures. We also build a regression model to clarify the relationship between the calculated indices and entropy levels. The findings of our investigation offer significant understanding regarding the ability of the suggested Zagreb indices to extract meaningful content and their correlation with entropy in the context of CuF2. This information is important for understanding CuF2 alloys and for exploring related complex materials.
Differential carbonic anhydrase activities control EBV-induced B-cell transformation and lytic cycle reactivation
Authors: Malik Samaresh , Biswas Joyanta , Sarkar Purandar , Nag Subhadeep , Gain Chandrima , Ghosh Roy Shatadru , Bhattacharya Bireswar , Ghosh Dipanjan , Saha Abhik
Published: March 2024

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) contributes to ~1% of all human cancers including several B-cell neoplasms. A characteristic feature of EBV life cycle is its ability to transform metabolically quiescent B-lymphocytes into hyperproliferating B-cell blasts with the establishment of viral latency, while intermittent lytic cycle induction is necessary for the production of progeny virus. Our RNA-Seq analyses of both latently infected naïve B-lymphocytes and transformed B-lymphocytes upon lytic cycle replication indicate a contrasting expression pattern of a membrane-associated carbonic anhydrase isoform CA9, an essential component for maintaining cell acid-base homeostasis. We show that while CA9 expression is transcriptionally activated during latent infection model, lytic cycle replication restrains its expression. Pharmacological inhibition of CA-activity using specific inhibitors retards EBV induced B-cell transformation, inhibits B-cells outgrowth and colony formation ability of transformed B-lymphocytes through lowering the intracellular pH, induction of cell apoptosis and facilitating degradation of CA9 transcripts. Reanalyses of ChIP-Seq data along with utilization of EBNA2 knockout virus, ectopic expression of EBNA2 and sh-RNA mediated knockdown of CA9 expression we further demonstrate that EBNA2 mediated CA9 transcriptional activation is essential for EBV latently infected B-cell survival. In contrast, during lytic cycle reactivation CA9 expression is transcriptionally suppressed by the key EBV lytic cycle transactivator, BZLF1 through its transactivation domain. Overall, our study highlights the dynamic alterations of CA9 expression and its activity in regulating pH homeostasis act as one of the major drivers for EBV induced B-cell transformation and subsequent B-cell lymphomagenesis.
Policing, surveillance capitalism and the Great British love affair with crime drama in Happy Valley
Authors: Bonsall Sally Joy
Published: March 2024

Police and crime dramas are one of the most popular forms of TV entertainment in Britain. I first show that over the course of the past few decades, policing and surveillance has become more invasive than ever before. These phenomena are strongly tied to new forms of neo-liberalism and capitalism that encourage increasingly individualistic and fragmented societies. Yet, data shows that trust in the police is high, regardless of class background: Why might this be? I turn to depictions of surveillance and policing in British crime drama, in particular, the recently highly acclaimed Happy Valley. Whilst a well-written, heart-warming and satisfying TV series, I point to several themes that illustrate how British neo-liberal societal decay, policing and surveillance culture might be apparent. Police are presented as capable of filling the void left by the neo-liberal decimation of public services and the accompanying loneliness of intense individualism in poorer towns and cities.
Bull, Paul Andrew Williams (dir.) (2021), UK: Ingenious Media, Particular Crowd, Teashop Productions, Signature Films and Giant Productions
Authors: Flint-Nicol Katerina
Published: March 2024

Review of: Bull, Paul Andrew Williams (dir.) (2021), UK: Ingenious Media, Particular Crowd, Teashop Productions, Signature Films and Giant Productions
The material of the body: Corporeal gender identities and sexual orientation in Darling in the Franxx
Authors: Frey Malte
Published: March 2024

This article explores the construction of gender identities and sexual orientations displayed in the 2018 anime series Darling in the Franxx by focusing on the series’ emphasis of its characters’ bodies. Karen Barad’s account of Agential Realism functions as a critical framework. The theory offers an understanding of matter as a dynamic process that provides a tool to think about bodies beyond the binary framework of female and male. The anime exhibits notions of gender fluidity, homosexuality and transsexuality. This analysis, therefore, aims to disclose how the sexed body is employed in the series’ conceptualization of gender identities and sexual orientation deviating from heteronormativity. Simultaneously, it discusses how Darling in the Franxx bears the risk of reaffirming the binary structure, as Barad’s theory does not necessarily follow an opening of binary structures.
The Generic Closet: Black Gayness and the Black-Cast Sitcom, Alfred L. Martin, Jr (2021)
Authors: Stowell Olivia
Published: March 2024

Review of: The Generic Closet: Black Gayness and the Black-Cast Sitcom, Alfred L. Martin, Jr (2021)

Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press, 242 pp.,

ISBN 978-0-25305-458-6, h/bk, $80.00

ISBN 978-0-25305-459-3, p/bk, $25.00
Gobernar el trabajo: la elite de la corporación pelaire y la industria textil de Murcia (1370-1500)
Authors: Fazzini Mauro
Published: March 2024

El presente trabajo pretende examinar el fatigoso proceso de construcción de la capacidad de mando de los señores del paño pertenecientes a la corporación pelaire en la industria textil de Murcia, entre 1370 y 1500. Partimos de la existencia de condiciones técnicas que permiten la emergencia de acumuladores capitalistas que operan a modo de Verlegers al controlar las materias primas y entregarlas para su elaboración a cambio de un salario. La pañería presenta un proceso productivo fragmentado, integrado por múltiples eslabones, que requiere de agentes que le den cohesión, a partir de coordinar y supervisar el trabajo de los diversos artesanos involucrados en cada fase. De igual modo, estos agentes resultan imprescindibles para la comercialización del producto final. No obstante, el carácter descentralizado de la producción implica la inexistencia de mecanismos de control intrínsecos al proceso de trabajo. De allí que la jerarquía industrial deba ser construida de forma fatigosa y conflictiva. En el caso que nos ocupa, veremos que la elite del gremio pelaire dispondrá del aparato corporativo para construir su poder de mando sobre el trabajo, extendiendo su jurisdicción sobre los demás colectivos artesanales de la ciudad de Murcia. De este modo logrará imponer nuevas pautas productivas, acordes a sus necesidades de acumulación, que ocasionarán un desarrollo cualitativo de la industria textil murciana. Igualmente, buscará implementar mecanismos de supervisión institucionales para garantizar el cumplimiento de dichas pautas. Esto nos alejará de la historiografía tradicional que analiza a las corporaciones de artesanos como un obstáculo para el desarrollo capitalista. Por el contrario, veremos que la corporación pelaire resulta fundamental para este.
Autoridad, vínculo y saber en educación. Transmitir un testimonio de deseo
Authors: Solé-Blanch Jordi
Published: March 2024

El objetivo de este artículo parte del problema de la autoridad en la educación a fin de proporcionar algunas claves que permitan construir una posición de deseo en el educador y despertar la pasión y el deseo de saber en el sujeto de la educación. La crisis de la autoridad nos toca de lleno a todas aquellas personas que, como maestros, profesores y educadores representamos algo del sistema simbólico y el orden institucional que hace posible el lazo social. Así pues, desde el punto de vista educativo cabe preguntarse por el tipo de autoridad que habría que poder construir para que los agentes de la educación puedan seguir desempeñando su función educativa.
El conocido ensayo en torno a «La crisis de la educación» de la filósofa alemana Hannah Arendt nos permite situar y actualizar, en una primera línea reflexiva, los cambios sociales, culturales y pedagógicos que han debilitado la autoridad en el campo educativo. Posteriormente, centramos el análisis en el cuestionamiento y la reformulación de los saberes que hay que transmitir en la escuela, un cuestionamiento que ha desplazado el rol docente hacia funciones más borrosas y confusas. La pregunta en torno a los actos pedagógicos que permitirían recuperar el vínculo y la autoridad educativa sitúa el deseo de saber del agente de la educación en el centro de la discusión. En este contexto, nuestra propuesta explora cómo asumir la responsabilidad de la función educativa mediante el compromiso decidido de transmitir un testimonio de deseo, es decir, una forma de relacionarse con el mundo y con el saber, buscando así una vía que permita revitalizar el vínculo educativo entre el educador y el sujeto de la educación y, con él, el lazo social entre las generaciones.
Colorectal Cancer Screening Rates at Federally Qualified Health Centers From 2014 to 2022: Incomplete Recovery From COVID-19 and Worsening Disparities
Authors: Zhao Matthew Y. , Lei Yvonne Y. , Aaronson Megan R.M. , De Silva Sadie R. , Badiee Jayraan , May Folasade P.
Published: March 2024

INTRODUCTION:

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) provide preventive health services such as colorectal cancer (CRC) screening to low-income and underinsured individuals. Overall CRC screening participation in the United States declined during the COVID-19 pandemic and recovered by 2021; however, trends in underresourced settings are unknown.

METHODS:

Using Uniform Data System data from 2014 to 2022, we assessed trends in FQHC CRC screening rates nationally, in California, and in Los Angeles County and determined clinic-level factors associated with recent screening rate changes. For each FQHC, we calculated the screening rate change from 2019 to 2020, 2020 to 2021, and 2020 to 2022. We used mixed-effects linear regression to determine clinic-level characteristics associated with each screening rate change.

RESULTS:

Across all FQHC (n = 1,281), 7,016,181 patients were eligible for CRC screening in 2022. Across the United States and in California, median screening rates increased from 2014 to 2019, severely declined in 2020, and failed to return to prepandemic levels by 2022. Both nationally and in California, CRC screening declined most dramatically from 2019 to 2020 in FQHC serving majority Hispanic/Latino patients or a high proportion of patients experiencing homelessness. From 2020 to 2022, screening rates did not recover completely in US FQHC, with disproportionate recovery among FQHC serving majority non-Hispanic Black patients.

DISCUSSION:

CRC screening rates at FQHC did not return to prepandemic levels by 2022, and recovery varied by FQHC patient characteristics. Tailored interventions addressing low and decreasing CRC screening rates in FQHC are urgently needed to mitigate worsening CRC disparities.
The Determination of Functionalized Textile Materials Durability Based on Copolymers of Acrylonitrile to Thermal and Thermal-Oxidative Degradation
Authors: Haranina Olga , Romaniuk Ievgeniia , Red'ko Yana , Vardanian Anna , Halavska Liudmyla , Pervaia Nataliia , Babich Antonina
Published: March 2024

Acrylonitrile is widely used to produce carbon fibres, household textiles, artificial fur, etc. The modification of polyacrylonitrile fibres in an alkaline medium is extended in the production of textile sorbents. The scientific direction of fibre modification through surface activation using hydrogen peroxide is of scientific interest. However, the thermal and thermophysical properties of the samples are not examined. Therefore, interest arises when analysing the effect of polyacrylonitrile textile material functionalization on the resistance of fibres to thermal oxidation and thermal degradation. The study of thermogravimetry and differential thermogravimetry thermooxide of polyacrylonitrile – modified fibres is carried out using thermogravimetric analysis to research the thermal oxidation and thermal degradation of modified polyacrylonitrile fibre samples. A change in the rate of thermal oxidative-degradation in the process of functionalization was identified in this research. A change in the loss of mass of the sample under different conditions of functionalization was also identified. The total glass transition of the polyacrylonitrile was achieved by heating the polymer to 130 °C. The intensification self-regulation of the structure of the polymeric material through the formation of the mesophase was released at the temperature of around 100 °C. During the heating of the initial polyacrylonitrile textile material to the temperature of 70‒80 °C, a weakening of intermolecular contacts was observed, which led to an increase in the mobility of macromolecular segments. The temperature of 78 °С was considered to be the initial glass transition temperature Tg,t1 and Tg,t2 – 121 °С as the final temperature for the original sample. However, if the temperature exceeded 130 °C, chemical changes in the polymer occurred, in particular, the process of cyclization. The analysis of the thermogravimetry data of thermally oxidized samples resulted in the retention of the complex stepwise nature of decomposition inherent in the initial fibrous material based on acrylonitrile copolymers. The conducted analysis showed the absence of significant changes in the reasonable conditions of chemical modification and practical operation of textile materials. The physical and mechanical properties of functionalized textile materials based on acrylonitrile copolymers were studied. As a result of surface functionalization, an insignificant strength reduction of functionalized textile materials occurred.
Kommunale e-Partizipationssysteme. Anforderungen aus der Perspektive der Anbieter sowie Nutzerinnen und Nutzer
Authors: Müller Christin Juliana , Karic Sarah
Published: March 2024

Over the past two decades, e‑participation has become increasingly relevant as a result of digitization and the evolution of information and communication technologies. Yet the perspectives of providers and users with regard to the requirements on an e‑participation system are not sufficiently considered jointly. This paper investigates the requirements and challenges of users and providers. The study is based on a mixed methods approach with an online survey of those responsible for e‑participation processes in various administrative and planning areas as well as semi-structured expert interviews. In addition, we conducted proband tests to investigate the usability of digital citizen participation tools. The results show that accessibility, retrievability, effectiveness, interaction in the digital arena, security, technical specifications, resources, media literacy and the use of participation as a basis for profound decision-making are key requirements for e‑participation systems. These demands requirements are interrelated and influence the quality and effectiveness of participation processes. To meet these requirements, we propose an e‑participation ecosystem that integrates the different dimensions of digital participation and takes into account the interaction between actors, demands and contextual conditions.
Ethnobotanical inventory and medicinal applications of plants traded in Northern Nigeria
Authors: Mahmoud Dogara Abdulrahman , W. Hamad Saber , Abdullahi Mahmud Aisha , Namadi Sunusi , W. Bradosty Sarwan , K. Anwar Talar , Usman Yahaya
Published: March 2024

Plants possessing medical properties have emerged as a prominent avenue for exploration, garnering increasing acceptance and acknowledgment at the global level. Documenting medicinal plants will contribute to the development of more potent, harmless medications. Kaduna State is the heartland of Nigeria's northern region because of its cultural diversity and consistency. There is no documentation available for medicinal plants sold in the major traditional markets called Kasuwan Monday, Kawo market, and Kasuwan Magani market. The current study intends to investigate the medicinal plants marketed in a local market in Kaduna state using an extensive questionnaire as a guide the research findings unveiled a total of 51 medicinal plant taxa, which fell under 27 distinct families. Fabaceae (21.57%) has the highest number of recorded species, followed by Anacardiaceae (9.8%), Asteraceae and Myrtaceae (7.8% each). Leaves are the most employed component of plants, accounting for 36.73%. The present study found a significant understanding of traditional medicine and its utilization for the treatment of various ailments through the extraction of plant-based substances by the local people.
Who will take care of them? A reflection on Southern European welfare regimes
Authors: Ciziceno Marco
Published: March 2024

The age profile of a country influences the organization of healthcare arrangements for older people. In southern European countries, the low performance of the welfare state and traditional family-oriented culture have led to an informal and gendered model of care, with women often responsible for the (unpaid) caregiving work. However, the increasing female participation in the labour market challenges these welfare regimes, prompting a shift in family responsibilities outside the family. Moreover, in response to the growing need for long-term care workers, some European countries have relied on individuals with a “migratory background” rather than restructuring their public elderly care services. This article examines the demographic, cultural, economic, and social changes of southern welfare regimes. The introduction of policies that, directly or indirectly, eliminate gender stereotypes in informal caregiving work and the diffusion of equal family-care culture are measures that can no longer be postponed in addressing the future of such welfare regimes.
Introduction to the special issue on languages other than English: A reality check and a glimmer of hope
Authors: Thompson Amy S.
Published: March 2024

The role of languages other than English (LOTEs) in K-16 education is rife with controversy, particularly in Anglophone contexts. In a recent edited volume, Lanvers et al. (2021) tackled this controversy head-on by creating an anthology that not only described the “language learning problems in Anglophone countries in a holistic and universal manner” (p. 8), but also offered “solutions and examples of positive, forward-thinking practice” (p. 8). Certainly, with the rise of Global English, and even more recently, with the sudden proliferation of AI-enhanced communication strategies, languages other than English are being further marginalized. This marginalization often comes in the form of extreme budget cuts and elimination of courses and programs, as is being seen in a variety of Anglophone contexts and is particularly salient in the US context (Kingson, 2023).
Linguistic landscaping from above in China: scale-making and language ideologies
Authors: Shang Guowen
Published: March 2024

The sociolinguistics of mobility is one of Jan Blommaert’s significant theoretical legacies vis-à-vis language interactions in the age of globalization. This paper investigates the mobilization of English as a semiotic resource in the public space of Chinese cities to reveal how the process of linguistic landscaping rescales English in China’s layered language regime. In the three investigated cities in eastern China, the English language has been conceptualized as a symbol of internationalization, and the affective potentials of English signs turn the cities into spaces of friendliness. I argue that the visual bilingualism for internationalization purposes is loaded with state ideologies, and English semiotization in the urban space demonstrates the state’s keenness for international recognition and integration into the global world. Inherent in this linguistic landscaping process are Englishization as internationalization ideology, standard language ideology, and linguistic purism ideology. While the translocal status of English in the world language system serves to upscale the cities to a higher scale level, the valorization of English in the official domain also reinforces the hegemonic power of English in the indexicality order, marginalizing social groups with limited English literacy. Thus, a critical, dialectical lens is needed to analyze the role of English in top-down linguistic landscaping.
On parameterized inequalities for fractional multiplicative integrals
Authors: Zhu Wen Sheng , Meftah Badreddine , Xu Hongyan , Jarad Fahd , Lakhdari Abdelghani
Published: March 2024

In this article, we present a one-parameter fractional multiplicative integral identity and use it to derive a set of inequalities for multiplicatively

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-convex mappings. These inequalities include new discoveries and improvements upon some well-known results. Finally, we provide an illustrative example with graphical representations, along with some applications to special means of real numbers within the domain of multiplicative calculus.
Bee diversity and abundance in perennial irrigated crops and adjacent habitats in central Washington state
Authors: Grula Courtney C. , Zack Richard S. , Walsh Douglas B.
Published: March 2024

Pollinators are critical to ecosystem health and agricultural productivity. Endemic bee diversity and abundance among different crops has not been extensively studied, especially among perennial crops in Washington state. The goals of this study were to characterize bee genera diversity in south central Washington state, determine the abundance and diversity of bees among crop types, and determine if farming practices influence abundance and diversity by comparing bee diversity in managed agricultural sites to adjacent unmanaged, natural sites. This study investigated bee genera diversity and abundance in blueberry fields produced under organic certification programs, conventionally produced Concord juice and wine grape vineyards, conventionally produced spearmint and peppermint fields, and conventionally produced hopyards. The majority of bees found in the study were ground-nesting. Mint fields had the highest pollinator abundance and richness. In general, there was a greater abundance, diversity, and richness of bees found in unmanaged compared with managed sites. This indicates that areas of high agricultural intensity have relatively low bee genera abundance and diversity.
Angriffe auf Rettungsdienstmitarbeitende und Polizeibedienstete: Eine vergleichende Betrachtung mit präventionsrelevanten Implikationen
Authors: Leuschner Fredericke , Riehl Clemens , Lorei Clemens
Published: March 2024

Von körperlichen und verbalen Angriffen auf Einsatzkräfte wird in den Medien derzeit vermehrt berichtet. Diese Angriffe stellen für die Betroffenen vielseitige Belastungen dar. Zwei besonders relevante Berufsfelder sind hierbei Rettungsdienst und Polizei. Ein Vergleich dieser beiden Berufsgruppen gibt Aufschluss über gruppenspezifische Problemfelder, die sich zum Beispiel aus unterschiedlichen Aufgabenbereichen und verschiedenen Aus- und Fortbildungen für die beiden Berufe ergeben. Im Rahmen der Studie wurden Rettungsdienstmitarbeitende und Polizeibedienstete befragt (N = 3.506). Es zeigt sich hierbei, dass beide Berufsgruppen häufig von Angriffen betroffen sind. In diesem Kontext zeichnet sich ein Bedarf an Schulungen und Fortbildungen ab. Außerdem spricht die seltener vorliegende kritische Voreinschätzung der Situation seitens der Rettungsdienstmitarbeitenden dafür, dass mehr Bewusstsein für die Gefahr möglicher Angriffe aufgebaut werden sollte. Der Abbau von Risikofaktoren wie der hohen Arbeitsbelastung oder einem hohen Stresslevel sollte besonders beim Rettungsdienst diskutiert werden.