bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Content Validity of the Measuring the Quality of Prison Life Survey in Serbia
Authors: Milićević Milena , Ilijić Ljeposava , Vujičić Nikola
Published: December 2024

This study aimed to adapt the Measuring the Quality of Prison Life (MQPL) survey for the Serbian language and culture, considering cultural variations in the quality of prison life. Following established guidelines, the researchers employed two approaches to assess content validity: a panel of prison research experts and focus groups with prisoners. Content validity indexes were calculated at both the item and scale levels. Terminology, phrasing, and sentence structure were adjusted, including changes from passive to active voice, to better reflect the realities of Serbian prisons. The final version achieved conceptual, semantic, idiomatic, and experiential equivalence with the original MQPL. Initial findings indicate that the adapted survey effectively captures prison-specific issues relevant to the contemporary Serbian context. The cultural adaption process reveals both similarities and differences between the Serbian penal system and those of more developed nations, influencing prisoners’ perceptions of their quality of life. Further validation with larger samples is needed to evaluate its psychometric properties.
Patient-Reported Outcomes Associated With “Completely Better” Status at 2 Years After Hip Arthroscopy
Authors: Kolevar Matthew P. , Honig Evan L. , Rocca Michael S. , Kaveeshwar Samir , Tran Andrew , Hartline Jacob T. , Leong Natalie L. , Packer Jonathan D. , Henn R. Frank , Meredith Sean J.
Published: December 2024

Background:

Measures such as the Patient Acceptable Symptom State and minimum clinically important difference have been used to contextualize patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Assessment of patients’ perception of being “completely better” (CB) after hip arthroscopy has not been studied.

Purposes:

To (1) determine the prevalence and characteristics of patients who report being CB at 2 years after hip arthroscopy; (2) determine whether PROs measuring function, pain, and mental health are associated with CB status; and (3) determine threshold values for PROs predictive of achieving CB status.

Study Design:

Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Patients undergoing hip arthroscopy at a single institution from October 2015 to January 2020 were administered electronic surveys assessing sociodemographic variables and PROs at baseline and 2 years postoperatively. The CB anchor question was “ Is the condition for which you underwent surgery completely better now?” Threshold values for PROs associated with achieving CB status at 2 years postoperatively were identified with 90% specificity. Variables with an area under the curve of >0.80 on a receiver operating characteristic curve were selected for multivariate analysis.

Results:

Overall, 29 of 62 patients (47%) achieved CB status. There were no differences in age, sex, body mass index, race, prior hip surgery, preoperative opioid use, smoking status, or preoperative expectations between the CB and no-CB groups. The CB group had better 2-year postoperative and pre- to postoperative change values on all PROs ( P < .05 for all) except for the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)–Depression and the Numeric Pain Scale (NPS) for whole-body pain. Two-year postoperative PRO thresholds for achieving CB status were determined as PROMIS–Physical Function (PF) ≥51.3 or increase in PROMIS–PF ≥12 points, PROMIS–Pain Interference ≤46.6 or decrease in PROMIS–Pain Interference ≥12.2 points, NPS for operative hip pain of ≤1.0, Musculoskeletal Outcomes Data Evaluation and Management System–expectations met ≥95.0, and Surgical Satisfaction Questionnaire (SSQ-8) ≥87.5. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that higher SSQ-8 score and greater improvement on the PROMIS–PF were independent predictors of achieving CB status.

Conclusion:

Almost half of the study patients perceived being CB at 2 years after hip arthroscopy. Multiple postoperative PROs scores were associated with achieving CB status.
Store-Operated Ca2+ Entry in Fibrosis and Tissue Remodeling
Authors: Abdelnaby Ahmed Emam , Trebak Mohamed
Published: December 2024

Fibrosis is a pathological condition characterized by excessive tissue deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, leading to scarring and impaired function across multiple organ systems. This complex process is mediated by a dynamic interplay between cell types, including myofibroblasts, fibroblasts, immune cells, epithelial cells, and endothelial cells, each contributing distinctively through various signaling pathways. Critical to the regulatory mechanisms involved in fibrosis is store-operated calcium entry (SOCE), a calcium entry pathway into the cytosol active at the endoplasmic reticulum-plasma membrane contact sites and common to all cells. This review addresses the multifactorial nature of fibrosis with a focus on the pivotal roles of different cell types. We highlight the essential functions of myofibroblasts in ECM production, the transformation of fibroblasts, and the participation of immune cells in modulating the fibrotic landscape. We emphasize the contributions of SOCE in these different cell types to fibrosis, by exploring the involvement of SOCE in cellular functions such as proliferation, migration, secretion, and inflammatory responses. The examination of the cellular and molecular mechanisms of fibrosis and the role of SOCE in these mechanisms offers the potential of targeting SOCE as a therapeutic strategy for mitigating or reversing fibrosis.
FlavorMiner: a machine learning platform for extracting molecular flavor profiles from structural data
Authors: Herrera-Rocha Fabio , Fernández-Niño Miguel , Duitama Jorge , Cala Mónica P. , Chica María José , Wessjohann Ludger A. , Davari Mehdi D. , Barrios Andrés Fernando González
Published: December 2024

Flavor is the main factor driving consumers acceptance of food products. However, tracking the biochemistry of flavor is a formidable challenge due to the complexity of food composition. Current methodologies for linking individual molecules to flavor in foods and beverages are expensive and time-consuming. Predictive models based on machine learning (ML) are emerging as an alternative to speed up this process. Nonetheless, the optimal approach to predict flavor features of molecules remains elusive. In this work we present FlavorMiner, an ML-based multilabel flavor predictor. FlavorMiner seamlessly integrates different combinations of algorithms and mathematical representations, augmented with class balance strategies to address the inherent class of the input dataset. Notably, Random Forest and K-Nearest Neighbors combined with Extended Connectivity Fingerprint and RDKit molecular descriptors consistently outperform other combinations in most cases. Resampling strategies surpass weight balance methods in mitigating bias associated with class imbalance. FlavorMiner exhibits remarkable accuracy, with an average ROC AUC score of 0.88. This algorithm was used to analyze cocoa metabolomics data, unveiling its profound potential to help extract valuable insights from intricate food metabolomics data. FlavorMiner can be used for flavor mining in any food product, drawing from a diverse training dataset that spans over 934 distinct food products.

Scientific Contribution FlavorMiner is an advanced machine learning (ML)-based tool designed to predict molecular flavor features with high accuracy and efficiency, addressing the complexity of food metabolomics. By leveraging robust algorithmic combinations paired with mathematical representations FlavorMiner achieves high predictive performance. Applied to cocoa metabolomics, FlavorMiner demonstrated its capacity to extract meaningful insights, showcasing its versatility for flavor analysis across diverse food products. This study underscores the transformative potential of ML in accelerating flavor biochemistry research, offering a scalable solution for the food and beverage industry.
Remote Symptom Monitoring of Patients With Advanced Lung Cancer (The ProWide Study): A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Friis Rasmus Blechingberg , Pappot Helle , Hjollund Niels Henrik , McCulloch Tine , Holt Marianne Ingerslev , Persson Gitte Fredberg , Wedervang Kim , Clausen Malene Martini , Wahlstrøm Stine , Hansen Karin Holmskov , Rasmussen Torben Riis , Dalton Susanne Oksbjerg , Jakobsen Erik , Linnet Hanne , Skuladottir Halla ,   The Danish Lung Cancer Group
Published: December 2024

PURPOSE

Remote symptom monitoring of patients with cancer has previously shown potential for improving clinical outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of remote symptom monitoring in patients with lung cancer after palliative induction treatment.

METHODS

In a Danish multicenter randomized controlled trial, patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to remote symptom monitoring (intervention arm) added to standard of care versus standard of care (control arm). Key eligibility criteria were stage III-IV lung cancer (small cell lung cancer and non–small cell lung cancer), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≤2, and no sign of disease progression after initial induction treatment. Patients in the intervention arm completed a weekly electronic questionnaire, assessing 14 common symptoms related to lung cancer. When a patient reported a severity exceeding a predefined threshold, the patient was subsequently contacted by phone to address potential clinical needs. Symptom monitoring was discontinued after progression. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Secondary measures included assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

RESULTS

Of 494 randomly assigned patients, 240 were assigned to the intervention arm and 254 were assigned to the control arm. At a median follow-up of 3.5 years, symptom monitoring did not significantly improve OS compared with standard care (hazard ratio [HR], 0.93 [95% CI, 0.75 to 1.16];
P
= .53). Exploratory subgroup analyses indicated improved survival for patients treated with carboplatin/vinorelbine (HR, 0.67 [95% CI, 0.45 to 0.98];
P
= .04) and in departments with previous implementation of patient-reported outcomes (HR, 0.66 [95% CI, 0.44 to 0.98];
P
= .04). HRQoL analyses did not reveal clinically meaningful effects.

CONCLUSION

In the Danish health care system, remote symptom monitoring did not improve OS but led to modest improvements in HRQoL for patients with advanced lung cancer.
Causal Effects of Metabolic Syndrome on Gastric Disorders: Univariable and Multivariable Mendelian Randomization
Authors: Li Bowen , Xu Jianguo , Zheng Qingyong , Gao Jie , Ren Qian , Zhou Yongning
Published: December 2024

Context

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been associated with various gastrointestinal disorders, but the causal relationships between MetS components and gastric disorders remain unclear. Previous observational studies are limited by confounding factors and reverse causation.

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the causal effects of MetS components, including fasting blood glucose (FBG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TGs), waist circumference (WC), and hypertension, on the risks of chronic gastritis, benign gastric tumors, and gastric cancer using mendelian randomization (MR) analyses.

Methods

Univariable 2-sample mendelian randomization (TSMR) and multivariable mendelian randomization (MVMR) analyses were employed to evaluate the independent and combined effects of MetS components on gastric disorders. The primary MR method used was the random effects inverse-variance weighted (IVW) approach.

Results

Univariable TSMR analysis identified statistically significant associations between elevated TGs (odds ratio [OR] = 1.223, 95% CI, 1.011-1.480; P = .0386) and reduced HDL-C (OR = 0.833, 95% CI, 0.701-0.989; P = .037) with an increased risk of benign gastric tumors. However, these associations were not confirmed by MVMR for TGs (OR = 1.187, 95% CI, 0.891-1.581; P = .2408) or HDL-C (OR = 0.989, 95% CI, 0.758-1.289; P = .932). Both TSMR (OR = 0.585, 95% CI, 0.411-0.831; P = .003) and MVMR (OR = 0.558, 95% CI, 0.334-0.930; P = .025) indicated that hypertension is associated with a reduced risk of gastric cancer. No statistically significant associations were found for other MetS components and gastric disorders.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that specific MetS components, such as TGs and HDL-C, may affect the risk of benign gastric tumors, while hypertension might reduce the risk of gastric cancer. This study highlights the need for further research to understand the underlying mechanisms and potential indirect effects between MetS components and gastric disorders.
Encampment against Enclosure
Authors: Hodali Suleiman
Published: December 2024

This article examines the emergence of student encampments protesting university complicity with Israeli occupation of Palestine. It analyzes these encampments as sites of resistance, highlighting their disruption of university space and their challenge to administrative authority. The encampments’ use of barricades and their occupation of central campus locations are interpreted as acts of counter-enclosure, reclaiming space and challenging traditional power structures within the university. Furthermore, the article critiques administrative attempts to discredit and dismantle these encampments, arguing that such efforts reflect a broader struggle over the definition and control of “community” within the university setting. By linking the student protests to historical examples of enclosure and resistance, the article ultimately emphasizes the encampments’ significance as expressions of collective action and their potential to reshape the university's role in struggles against settler colonialism.
The effect of social observatories monitoring on Brazilian municipal expenditures
Authors: Krakowiak Sérgio , Seixas Renato Nunes de Lima
Published: December 2024

This study investigates the impact of social observatories’ monitoring on municipal public spending in Brazil. Ceterisparibus, such oversight is expected to enhance the detection of administrative inefficiencies and corruption, leading to a reduction in municipal spending. However, theoretical frameworks suggest scenarios that might negate these effects. Internationally, there is no consensus on the effectiveness of social control over public expenditure, and in Brazil, research in this area is still in its early stages. Employing agency theory and a difference-in-differences approach, we test two hypotheses: (i) the presence of social observatories significantly lowers municipal per capita spending; (ii) the impact of social observatories is more substantial in smaller municipalities with populations under 50,000. Findings validate the effectiveness of observatories across Brazil, particularly in smaller municipalities. In a country largely composed of small municipalities, often affected by corruption and administrative inefficiencies, observatory oversight enhances public spending efficiency and municipal fiscal health.
Boa governança, modelos de gestão e ingresso no serviço público brasileiro: entre discursos e práticas
Authors: Schincariol Scacchetti Carolina
Published: December 2024

As práticas de boa governança buscam evitar que as condutas dos ocupantes de cargos públicos se deem de maneira corrupta. Para tanto, modelos de gestão são elaborados com vistas ao aprimoramento da administração, o que envolve critérios relacionados ao ingresso dos ocupantes dessas funções. Tendo isso em vista, este artigo faz uma análise sobre as maneiras pelas quais se deram as seleções de pessoas ao longo da história brasileira e o que isso revela acerca da lealdade por elas prestada. O estudo baseia-seem uma revisão bibliográfica sobre os aspectos relacionados a modelos de gestão e ingresso de pessoas na administração pública, bem como no levantamento de dados em sítios eletrônicos oficiais do governo brasileiro. Os achados sugerem que os discursos e alterações normativas adotados não foram capazes de contribuir, de modo significativo, para o fortalecimento de uma governança pública pautada em critérios afetos à moralidade e à integridade.
Upholding dignity during a pandemic via Twitter
Authors: Mulvey Michael , O'Sullivan Tracey , Fraser Sarah
Published: December 2024

Background This article investigates how people invoked the concept of dignity on Twitter (X) during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a secondary focus on mentions of dignity in the context of older adults and ageing. Methods We report the results of a study that combines text analytic and interpretive approaches to analyze word clusters and dignity-based themes in a cross-national sample of 1,946 original Twitter (X) messages posted in 2020. Results The study finds that dignity discourse on Twitter advances five major themes: (a) recognizing dignity as a fundamental right, (b) upholding the dignity of essential workers, (c) preserving the dignity of at-risk populations, (d) preventing cascading disasters that exacerbate dignity’s decline, and (e) attending to death, dignity, and the sanctity of life. Conclusions Within the discourse, dignity emerged as a right and a policy target (improving or maximizing dignity in various groups). Further, the posts focusing on older adults and dignity demonstrated that the impacts of COVID-19 disproportionately impacted older adults, particularly those with greater care needs and financial insecurity or lower socioeconomic status.
The Potential for China-Russian Joint Projects in Alternative Medicine Organization: an Exploration Study
Authors: Wan Zi , Bobyleva Alla
Published: December 2024

This paper explores the potential for collaboration between China and Russia in the field of alternative medicine. Drawing on recent high-impact publications, we highlight the growing global interest in integrative approaches to health and the unique strengths of traditional Chinese and Russian medicine. Through a comprehensive review of literature, analysis of key terminology, and identification of research gaps, we argue for the timeliness and significance of Sino-Russian partnerships in this domain. Our methodology combines conceptual analysis, comparative case studies, and expert interviews to provide a rigorous and multifaceted perspective. The results reveal several promising areas for joint projects, including clinical research, practitioner training, and policy development. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings and outline a roadmap for future research and collaboration. This paper contributes to advancing the frontiers of alternative medicine and fostering international cooperation in healthcare innovation.
The habitus and field of district nursing: a discussion around its professional status and symbolic capital
Authors: Reynolds Stephanie
Published: December 2024

This paper examines the significant historical and political influences on district nursing and its representation in terms of employability and education today. Using Bourdieu's theory of habitus and field, the author looks at how district nursing has been positioned in terms of a profession since its establishment. District nursing's profile and value within the NHS has declined in recent years, resulting in reduced district nurse education opportunities and funding from government. Bourdieu's habitus (how something has come to be) and field (an identified social space) can be used as a tool to understand and examine the field of district nursing and its relationship with other areas. The paper explores the history of the profession of district nursing, the definition of professional capital, political moves in cost savings, education and the influence of media on determining public perception, and how this may influence the play for professional and symbolic capital. It also discusses the politics of internal, external and wider fields of power at play when considering the decline in the number of district nurses. The author recommends making district nurse education a priority to improve quality of patient care in the community, reduce hospital admissions and expedite patient discharge.
AI-Enhanced Writing Self- Assessment
Authors: Dazzeo Robin
Published: December 2024

This technology-rich, three-day lesson for 9th-12th grade English Language Arts students leverages artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced rubrics and writing analysis tools (Ouyang & Jiao, 2021) to improve student writing and self-assessment skills. Students explore AI-enhanced digital rubrics, use AI tools to analyze their writing, and apply AI-generated feedback to revise their work. This approach enhances current writing assignments and develops critical thinking skills and digital literacy. Assessments include AI-generated feedback reports, peer evaluations, and final revised writing samples demonstrating improvement based on AI and peer input, equipping students with valuable skills for future writing tasks.
Nozzle Flowrate Modulation Capability of PWM Valves Operated at High Frequencies and Pressures
Authors: Campos Javier , Zhu Heping , Jeon Hongyoung , Salcedo Ramón , Ozkan Erdal
Published: December 2024

Highlights

PWM valves were tested for accurate modulation of hollow-cone nozzle flowrates up to 40 Hz PWM frequency.

Flowrates of nozzles at high pressures increased linearly as PWM duty cycles increased.

Modulation frequency affected flowrates slightly but not pressure drops when liquid was passing through valves.

Integrating these valves into variable-rate sprayers could potentially improve the application efficiency.

Abstract.Pulse width modulation (PWM) solenoid valves are a critical component of precision sprayers equipped with crop detection sensors to achieve accurate variable-rate applications of pesticide in real time. However, the slow speed of PWM valves can impede the efficiency of high-speed detection sensors. Based on previous investigations of 12 commercially available PWM valves operated up to 50 Hz frequencies, two of the valves with the highest modulation capability were selected for continuous investigations on their flow rate modulation accuracy and pressure stability for hollow-cone nozzles. Tests were conducted with two different-sized hollow-cone nozzles controlled by each PWM valve. Variables included 4 modulation frequencies ranging from 10 to 40 Hz, 6 duty cycles (DUCs) from 10% to 100%, and 3 operating pressures (1034, 1380, and 2068 kPa). Flow rates were measured by instantaneously weighing the mass of water discharged from nozzles while pressure profiles were measured with two pressure transducers located upstream and downstream the PWM valve. In general, both PWM valves were able to modulate flow rates of the two hollow-cone nozzles up to 40 Hz modulation frequencies with limited DUC ranges even though one valve performed slightly better than the other. When the nozzles were manipulated functionally with assigned DUCs and frequencies, the flow rate modulation errors of PWM valves ranged between 0% and 35%, while the average root mean square errors (RMSEs) ranged between 6.9% and 14.7% for combinations of all pressures, frequencies, and DUCs tested. Thus, there would be potential benefits to integrating these two high-frequency PWM valves into precision orchard sprayers operated at high pressures to further improve the variable-rate application accuracy. Keywords: Agrochemical, Flow rate control, Modulation frequency, Pressure drop, Pulse width modulation, Variable rate sprayer.
Asian Inclusion and the Racial Pedagogy of Allyship in James A. Michener’s Cold War Novels
Authors: Lim Jeehyun
Published: December 2024

Abstract: This essay examines the Cold War cultural politics of Asian inclusion through the Cold War novels of the popular mid-twentieth-century American writer James A. Michener. An analysis of his Korean War novel, The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1953), and his historical novel, Hawaii (1959), draws out the transnational dimension of his representation of Asian inclusion and the constitutive role that US militarism plays in this. Michener’s novels show a cultural vision of an American way of life for Asians built from the sites of combat and war ruins. By tracing what it calls a racial pedagogy of allyship in Michener’s cultural construction of East Asian subjectivity, the essay queries how a flexible and dynamic hierarchy of developmentalism guides Asian inclusion in postwar US imperial formation. Contending with the limits of Cold War racial liberalism for Asians entails an active rethinking of ideals such as freedom, justice, and equality against Cold War militarism.
Toward an Intersectional Analysis of Money: Racial Capitalism, Stagflation, and Unemployment as Economic Policy
Authors: Stein David
Published: December 2024

Abstract: This essay details the economic austerity of the 1970s during the era of stagflation and monetary instability. It describes the role of racism, patriarchy, and other social systems of difference in these policy choices, and thus argues that an intersectional analysis is critical to understanding the fabrication of money. As the US dollar transitioned fully off the gold standard, policymakers tolerated significant unemployment as they sought to manage inflation. The unemployment and economic violence of this era was widespread, but not evenly shared. Instead, policymakers constructed monetary stability and faith in fiat currency on the backs of the most vulnerable. However, grassroots movements, such as Coretta Scott King’s Full Employment Action Council and the National Welfare Rights Organization, pushed for alternative solutions to both inflation and wagelessness. By outlining these contests, I suggest that although violence has been intertwined with the history of money, critical analyses of money also reveal shared interdependencies across the world.
El adverbio y semisufijo medieval (-) m(i)entre en la documentación de Alfonso X el sabio
Authors: García Javier Mora
Published: December 2024

Abstract: This study investigates the various forms of m(i)entre in the Alfonsine corpus in order to determine when it is used as an adverb and when it is used as a semi-suffix, with an eye to determining the possible reasons for these different usages. In the corpus of Alfonsine texts available in the Old Spanish Textual Archive, we have found 21 instances of m(i)entre ; in 11 instances it is used as an adverb and in 10 instances it is used as a semisuffix.
El romance temprano de Ribagorza según la documentación medieval (900–1050)
Authors: Casasnovas Gabriel Sanz
Published: December 2024

Abstract: Since Ramón Menéndez Pidal’s influential Orígenes del español , the County of Ribagorça (Upper Aragon, Spain) has been considered a classic example of a frontier territory with a hybrid language, subordinate to Aragonese and Catalan from the Middle Ages until the present. Examining late Latin documents produced in the County of Ribagorça between 900–1050, information from toponomy and actual language use, and unpublished field research data, this paper suggests that several traits of the actual language of Ribagorça (Ribagorçano) were already latent in the early Romance spoken in the region before the founding of the Kingdon of Aragon (1044) and the Principality of Catalonia (1190). Therefore, Ribagorça should be considered a new autonomous linguistic space in the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages.
“En Israhel lo tal non se costumbra fazer”: Exemplarity, Memory, and the Ballad of Tamar in the Sephardic Tradition
Authors: McNair Alexander J.
Published: December 2024

Abstract: This study examines the Sephardic ballad “Tamar y Amnón” through the lens of performance. Anthropologically oriented folklorists of the last several decades have shifted their focus from the collection of texts to the reconstruction of events, i.e., to understanding how the lore functions among the folk. Using the transcripts, field tapes, and notes from Samuel Armistead and Joseph Silverman’s multimedia archive, Folk Literature of the Sephardic Jews , along with ethnographic materials from other scholars, the article analyzes the way a relatively stable text can be subject to multiple interpretations within a community, depending on who is singing and for whom. As might be expected in a ballad that deals with incest, gender dynamics within Sephardic groups inflect performances a great deal. The process by which communities construct and negotiate meaning in the preservation of oral tradition is particularly relevant to the study of medieval literature, whose texts often inscribe performances even when they were not written specifically to be performed.
Low-crosstalk 3D display with arc-shaped viewpoint distribution based on a composite aperture
Authors: Yang Mingzhong , Lv Guojiao , Zhao Baichuan , Lai Liping , Deng Hui , Sheng Xuemin
Published: December 2024

A low-crosstalk 3D display with arc-shaped viewpoint distribution based on a composite aperture (CA) is proposed. The proposed 3D display consists of a light source, a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, a CA, and a parallax barrier. The light source provides the necessary light energy for the display, while the LCD panel generates synthetic parallax images. The CA is composed of several aperture element arrays stacked together, arranging the elements in three orthogonal directions. Each aperture element array can switch between two states. One is the aperture state, and the other is the fully transparent state. The element in the aperture state defines the pixel position. Due to the 3D distribution of elements, the CA can convert the 2D pixel distribution on the LCD panel into a 3D distribution. These pixels with 3D distribution can be further optimized into an arc-shaped distribution, resulting in viewpoints with the same distribution. The viewpoints with arc-shaped distribution align better with human viewing habits because observers usually face the center of a 3D display device and make the right and left eyes have a different viewing distance. A prototype of the proposed 3D display is developed. The experimental results show that the viewpoints exhibit an arc-shaped distribution, with crosstalk maintained at a low level.
Independent manipulation of dual high-Q modes for multifunctionalities
Authors: Li Yifan , Yu Shaohua , Zeng Yongquan
Published: December 2024

Subwavelength light trapping in periodic structures with high quality (Q) factors is discovered to hold strong light-matter interactions for a variety of applications. Although dual-band or even multiple-band high-Q resonances are applicable to extend the operation range of a nanophotonic device, manipulating the high-Q modes individually is a necessity to implement plural intriguing applications in one system as well as optimize the capabilities across each spectrum. In this work, a novel approach is presented to independently control dual high-Q modes with distinct origins in an all-dielectric metasurface system. The structure consists of hollow nanorod dimers and is found to support a symmetry-protected bound state in the continuum and a guided mode resonance induced by Brillouin-zone-folding effect. Independent and deliberate Q-factor control of these two high-Q optical resonances can be achieved by breaking the disparate mode symmetries. The two modes are found to have distinct polarization properties and Q-factor features across the momentum space. With rich tunable structural parameters, it is possible to develop a multifunctional device meeting specific requirements at each band. This work provides a new method for operating band broadening, performance optimization, and functionality enrichment for nanophotonic devices.
Hybrid integrated thin-film lithium niobate and a silicon carbide microcomb amplifier
Authors: Zhou Yuan , Cai Jiachen , Yang Bingcheng , Zhou Liping , Wang Chengli , Yi Ailun , Wang Zhe , Liu Jian , Yu Jianping , Zhang Jiaxiang , Fang Zhiwei , Ou Xin , Cheng Ya
Published: December 2024

We demonstrate a hybrid integrated optical frequency comb amplifier composed of a silicon carbide microcomb and a lithium niobate waveguide amplifier, which generates a 10-dB on-chip gain for the C+L band microcombs under 1480-nm laser pumping and an 8-dB gain under 980-nm laser pumping. It will solve the problem of low output power of microcombs and can be applied in various scenarios such as optical communication, lidar, optical computing, astronomical detection, atomic clocks, and more.
Enhanced penetration depth in optical coherence tomography and photoacoustic microscopy in vivo enabled by absorbing dye molecules
Authors: Miller David A. , Xu Yirui , Highland Robert , Nguyen Van Tu , Brown William J. , Hong Guosong , Yao Junjie , Wax Adam
Published: December 2024

The scattering and absorption of light within biological tissue severely limits the penetration depth of optical imaging techniques. Recently, it has been found that water-soluble, strongly absorbing dye molecules, such as tartrazine, can achieve in vivo tissue transparency by increasing the refractive index of aqueous components in tissue, as predicted by the Lorentz oscillator model and Kramers–Kronig relations. In this study, we topically applied absorbing dye molecules to the abdominal skin of pigmented and nonpigmented mice to enhance the penetration depth of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and photoacoustic microscopy (PAM). In both types of mice, the penetration depth of OCT was significantly improved using tartrazine and 4-aminoantipyrine. As predicted by the Kramers–Kronig relations and absorption spectra of the dyes, mice treated with 4-aminoantipyrine showed significantly improved penetration depth compared to mice treated with tartrazine for the PAM system with 532 nm excitation. These findings further demonstrate the use of absorbing dye molecules for achieving tissue transparency to enhance the penetration depth of depth-resolved optical imaging modalities in skin, thus accelerating the translation of these technologies in clinical areas, such as dermatology.
Platelet Activation Through G-protein Coupled Receptors
Authors: Chaudhary Preeti Kumari , Kim Sanggu , Kim Soochong
Published: December 2024

Platelet contains G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) that play a key role in platelet activation and thrombus formation in response to various agonists including ADP, thromboxane A2, thrombin, epinephrine, and serotonin by coupling to various G-proteins. Since platelets play an important role in health and diseases, platelet GPCRs have been one of the primary drug targets. However, progress should be made in our understanding of GPCR dynamics, activation, and signaling to open new possibilities for selective drug development. In this review, we have summarized the platelet GPCRs, their associated G-protein signaling, and the downstream signaling mechanism that results in both activation and desensitization of platelets. A deeper understanding of the processes behind GPCR-mediated signaling might enable antiplatelet medication to be customized in the future.
عتبات النصّ في رواية تمر الأصابع لمحسن الرّملي
Authors: Ibrahim Sarkawt G. , Mohammed Azad A. , Abdullah Ali G.
Published: December 2024

تسعى هذه الدراسة إلى البحث في عتبات النصّ، والكشف عن النصوص الموازية الداعمة للَحْمَة النصّ الروائي، عن طريق دراسة شافية في رواية "تمر الأصابع" للروائي العراقي المغترب محسن الرّملي، كاتب وشاعر وأكاديمي ومترجم عراقي، حاصل على الدكتوراه في الفلسفة والآداب من جامعة مدريد، شارك في تأسيس دار ومجلة "ألواح" الثقافية الفكرية في إسبانيا، ويكتب باللغتين العربية والإسبانية، وله عشرات المواد المنشورة في الصحافة العربية والإسبانية واللاتينية.
وقد انقسمت هذه الدراسة على مدخل في ماهية العتبات ومبحثين؛ تسبقهم مقدّمة وتليهم خاتمة بأبرز النتائج التي توصّل إليها البحث، اهتمّ المبحث الأوّل بالعتبات الخارجية والمتمثّلة بالعنوان واسم المؤلّف وجنس العمل والأيقونة، أمّا المبحث الثاني فكان من حصّة العتبات الداخلية المتمحورة حول الإهداء والاستهلال (القبلي والبعدي). وتعدّ العتبات النصّية مجالًا جديدًا لدراسة كلّ ما يحاصر النصّ من الداخل والخارج بإعطاء فكرة استباقية عن النصّ، لمساندة القارئ في استيعابه والكشف عن دلالاته عن طريق زرع الرغبة فيه للبحث عن إشاراته ورموزه المبهمة. إنّ الوظيفة الأكثر أهمّية للعتبات الداخلية والخارجية تكمن في إمساكها بيد القارئ وإدخاله إدخالًا صحيحًا إلى النصّ، وتوجيهه توجيهًا صائبًا نحو قراءة حصيفة للنصّ الروائي وتعرّجات مسارات خطوطه، فضلًا عن دورها في تحديد جنس العمل الأدبي، والتلميح إلى مضامينه تلميحًا إشاريًا يرى الكثير من النقّاد ضرورة حضوره للحصول على مطالعة جليّة للنصّ.
Utilization of Locally Available Feeds to Develop Sustainable Blue Swimming Crab (Portunus pelagicus) Farming in Central Java
Authors: Ariyati Restiana Wisnu , Trienes Yoni , Rejeki Sri , Hutabarat Johannes , Haeruddin Haeruddin , Sarjito Sarjito , Saputra Suradi Wijaya , Widowati Lestari Lakhsmi , Schrama Johan , Bosma Roel H.
Published: December 2024

The popularity of the blue swimming crab (Portunus pelagicus) has led to significant overfishing. Aquaculture offers a potential solution to reduce fishing pressure, given that P. pelagicus is relatively easy to hatch, has high fecundity, a short larval duration, and rapid growth. However, knowledge about feed preferences and feed-use efficiency in P. pelagicus is limited. This study compared the effectiveness of three locally available feeds. A total of 160 juvenile P. pelagicus were divided into five repetitions across four diet groups: PPV (shrimp pellets + Perna viridis flesh, crude protein = 45 %), PAI (shrimp pellets + Acetes indicus, crude protein = 45 %), P100 (shrimp pellets, crude protein = 30%), and P150 (shrimp pellets at 150% of the dry matter requirement, crude protein = 45%, iso-protein to both PPV & PAI). The experiment consisted of three phases: a one-week pre-trial to determine feeding rates, followed by a six-week culture period (Period-1) and an eight-week culture period (Period-2). Body weight and survival were measured biweekly, feed amounts were adjusted accordingly, and costs were recorded. Survival rates and feed conversion ratios were similar across all diets. Crab growth was lower in Period-2 than in Period-1 across treatments. The specific growth rates for PPV, PAI, and P150 were comparable, while P100 resulted in lower growth. The cost of PPV was higher than that of PAI, P100, and P150, with the economic feed conversion ratio for P100 and P150 outperforming PPV and PAI. Shrimp pellets proved to be an efficient feed for the grow-out phase of blue swimming crabs, though pellet size should match the crab’s size.
Seagrass Ecosystems in Eastern Indonesia: Status, Diversity, and Management Challenges
Authors: Supriyadi Indarto Happy , Iswari Marindah Yulia , Rahmawati Susi , Riniatsih Ita , Suyarso Suyarso , Hafizt Muhammad
Published: December 2024

Seagrass beds have roles and benefits in shallow water ecosystems, including producers of organic matter, habitats for various marine biota, and providing services that are beneficial for the fishing community. However, increasing development activities in coastal areas, have decreased their valuable roles, which also affects damage in seagrass beds in Indonesian waters. Therefore, information on species diversity and seagrass conditions, especially in East Indonesian waters, is needed. This paper aims to provide information as the initial study of the distribution of species diversity, conditions of seagrass beds, and challenges of seagrass management in eastern Indonesia. This study collected primary and secondary data from several data sources from seagrass monitoring and research activities. The assessment of conditions and categories of seagrass cover refers to the Decree of the state minister for the Environment (KMN-LH) of 2004 No. 200 and the 2017 seagrass monitoring guidelines. As a result of 24 monitoring locations ten species were found indicating that Eastern Indonesia has high species diversity. The results at 24 locations can be categorized as healthy seagrass conditions in six locations (25%) and around 16 locations (67%) as less healthy. Monitoring results after 2015 are predicted to change the diversity and seagrass conditions. The challenges of seagrass management in Eastern Indonesian waters, including the coastal environment changes, need to increase public knowledge and understanding of the role, function, and benefits of seagrass. Also, replanting and enhancement of seagrass-protected areas are essentially needed by the local government.
Multimodal creativity and identity in digital discourse: meme practices in China
Authors: de Groot Freek Olaf
Published: December 2024

This paper studies how internet memes in the context of China are the result of complex semiotic remixing practices and how these multimodal practices offer opportunities for identity work. It offers a situated perspective on the processes that underlie the creation of Chinese memes (Biaoqingbao), the ways in which these memes mediate the digital practices of members in a student community, and how these students find opportunities for identity work. This study takes a social semiotic (Kress, Gunther R. 2010. Multimodality: a social semiotic approach to contemporary communication. Taylor & Francis) and Mediated Discourse Analysis approach (Scollon, Ron. 2001. Mediated discourse: The Nexus of practice. Routledge; Scollon and Scollon 2004; Norris, Sigrid & Rodney H. Jones. 2005. Discourse in action: introducing mediated discourse analysis. London: Routledge) to analyze biaoqingbao as the mediate the social interaction within a light community. The data was collected using a form of digital ethnography. The memes studied in the current paper are unique in two ways. First, they combine both local and global people, places, objects and discourses deploying both Chinese and English texts and effectively create semiotic trajectories between highly localized digital meme practices and more global mainstream meme practices. Second, the practices of producing, sharing and remixing these memes are exclusively situated in a distinct light community and offer important opportunities for multimodal identity performance.
Delayed Accumulation of Inhibitory Input Explains Gamma Frequency Variation with Changing Contrast in an Inhibition Stabilized Network
Authors: Krishnakumaran R. , Pavuluri Abhimanyu , Ray Supratim
Published: December 2024

Gamma rhythm (30–70 Hz), thought to represent the interactions between excitatory and inhibitory populations, can be induced by presenting achromatic gratings in the primary visual cortex (V1) and is sensitive to stimulus properties such as size and contrast. In addition, gamma occurs in short bursts and shows a “frequency falloff” effect where its peak frequency is high after stimulus onset and slowly decreases to a steady state. Recently, these size-contrast properties and temporal characteristics were replicated in a self-oscillating Wilson–Cowan (WC) model operating as an inhibition stabilized network (ISN), stimulated by Ornstein–Uhlenbeck (OU) type inputs. In particular, frequency falloff was explained by delayed and slowly accumulated inputs arriving at local inhibitory populations. We hypothesized that if the stimulus is preceded by another higher contrast stimulus, frequency falloff could be abolished or reversed, since the excessive inhibition will now take more time to dissipate. We presented gratings at different contrasts consecutively to two female monkeys while recording gamma using microelectrode arrays in V1 and confirmed this prediction. Further, this model also replicated a characteristic pattern of gamma frequency modulation to counter-phasing stimuli as reported previously. These phenomena were also replicated by an ISN model subject to slow adaptation in feedforward excitatory input. Thus, ISN model with delayed surround input or adapted feedforward input replicates gamma frequency responses to time-varying contrasts.
GlyT2-Positive Interneurons Regulate Timing and Variability of Information Transfer in a Cerebellar-Behavioral Loop
Authors: Palacios Ensor Rafael , Houghton Conor , Chadderton Paul
Published: December 2024

GlyT2-positive interneurons, Golgi and Lugaro cells, reside in the input layer of the cerebellar cortex in a key position to influence information processing. Here, we examine the contribution of GlyT2-positive interneurons to network dynamics in Crus 1 of mouse lateral cerebellar cortex during free whisking. We recorded neuronal population activity using Neuropixels probes before and after chemogenetic downregulation of GlyT2-positive interneurons in male and female mice. Under resting conditions, cerebellar population activity reliably encoded whisker movements. Reductions in the activity of GlyT2-positive cells produced mild increases in neural activity which did not significantly impair these sensorimotor representations. However, reduced Golgi and Lugaro cell inhibition did increase the temporal alignment of local population network activity at the initiation of movement. These network alterations had variable impacts on behavior, producing both increases and decreases in whisking velocity. Our results suggest that inhibition mediated by GlyT2-positive interneurons primarily governs the temporal patterning of population activity, which in turn is required to support downstream cerebellar dynamics and behavioral coordination.
Influence of natural light intensities on growth and content of catechins and caffeine in Camellia formosensis leaves and tea infusion
Authors: Jhou Hong-Chyi , Chen Chung-I , Shen Jia-Yi , Wang Chieh-Ting , Chang Fang-Chih
Published: December 2024

Camellia formosensis is a significant under the forest canopy crop in Taiwan. This study investigated the composition and yield variations of native Camellia formosensis tea leaves across different relative light intensities levels and seasons. Increasing the relative intensity of natural light resulted in a corresponding increase in the dry weight of C. formosensis leaves. At a relative light intensity of 70%, the dry weight of the leaves per unit area was 15.8 g. However, the yield of C. formosensis was lower at relative light intensities of 40% or 20%. A positive correlation was observed between relative light intensities and the contents of catechin gallate (CG), epicatechin gallate (ECG), and gallocatechin gallate (GCG) and relative light intensity. At 20% relative light intensity, the mean CG, ECG, and GCG contents were 4.97, 0.57, and 4.43 mg/g, respectively. These values surged to 6.93, 2.23, and 7.53 mg/g, respectively, at 70% relative light intensity. Caffeine content exhibited an inverse relationship with relative light intensity, declining notably after surpassing 70%. Moreover, C. formosensis leaves harvested in summer under 70% relative light intensity boasted higher contents of CG, epicatechin (EC), ECG, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and caffeine than those harvested in spring. Ester catechin content surpassed non-ester catechins, with the former consistently higher at 100% relative light intensity, irrespective of the season.
Prediction of longitudinal compressive physical and mechanical properties of bamboo
Authors: Yuan Yan , Yang Liming
Published: December 2024

Some traditional building materials, such as concrete and steel, have a negative impact on the environment. With the in-depth implementation of sustainable development, green materials are gradually being considered, and bamboo is a green high-energy building material. However, there have been few studies on the prediction of mechanical properties of bamboo. In order to predict the longitudinal compressive properties of bamboo, tests were carried out on the longitudinal compressive tests of bamboo. The failure mode was explored, as well as the relationship between the physical and mechanical properties of bamboo. Prediction formulas were developed for the longitudinal compressive properties of bamboo. The results showed that the failure mode of the longitudinal compressive test of bamboo was ductile failure. The wall thickness and diameter of bamboo were found to be positively correlated with height. The longitudinal compressive strength and elastic modulus were positively correlated with height and negatively correlated with wall thickness and diameter. The longitudinal compressive strength and elastic modulus were positively correlated with height. The linear model can be used to fit the relationship between mechanical properties and height. This research provides a reference for the prediction of bamboo properties.