bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Artificial intelligence: the risk of invasion of human rights and legal regulation of these processes in the EU and the world
Authors: Angjeli Anastas , Luli Redion
Published: December 2021

This paper analyzes the dangers faced by man and modern society in the light of the development of artificial intelligence and robotics in the fourth industrial revolution. The author examines the areas of human rights that are threatened by these advances in science and technology in case they are not properly monitored and regulated through legal advances. The historical and regional aspects of legislative regulation of the use of artificial intelligence units and robotics are investigated. Prospects of collision of artificial intelligence units with interests of the person and mankind, and also possible legal mechanisms of the resolution of the conflicts arising between them are analyzed. Using the methodology of comparative law, integration law, international law, analysis and synthesis, the author considers the latest documents of the European Union, EU member States, the United States, Russia, China, South Korea and other most representative countries of the world aimed at effective legal regulation of this promising area of development of modern law. The paper provides an analysis of the main trends in the evolution of modern law of science and technology that affect the life and realization of human and civil rights at the national, supranational and international level and the peculiarities of their legal regulation. The research is carried out on the interdisciplinary combination of elements of comparative law, integration, international and national law with reference to philosophy, sociology, history and prognostics. While recognising the good work carried out in the AI law space, and acknowledging this area needs constant evaluation and agility in approach, this article advances the discussion, which is important given the gravity of the impacts of AI technologies, particularly on vulnerable individuals and groups, and their human rights.
Implications of daily applied artificial intelligence and the future of our rights
Authors: Rizo Kejsi
Published: December 2021

Nowadays, artificial intelligent technologies are all in our hands, and we all make a modest contribution, sometimes consciously and sometimes unconsciously, in their further improvement. The increasing development, adoption and use of intelligent technologies and systems has shown that an algorithm is able to predict consumer’s needs, or furthermore wishes, or diagnose a disease with an accuracy rate beyond average natural human intelligence. While the use of artificially intelligent technologies and machines revolutionizes crucial sectors such as health, finance and banking and the economy and market needs, boundaries are still to be set. This paper analyzes ethical implications of day-to-day use of AI along with the need and steps towards human rights law to address AI impacts.
Legal institutions securing socially recognised rightsof the subjects participating in legal transactions, based on the example of legitimate expectative
Authors: Bocianowska Joanna
Published: December 2021

The article “Legal Institutions Securing Socially Recognised Rights of the Subjects Participating in Legal Transactions, Based on the Example of Legitimate Expectative” sheds light on the concept of legitimate expectative as a separate right. It gives arguments in favor of qualifying this type of right as legitimate since it protects legally important issues connected with the transactions undertaken by the participants of the market. The article also draws attention to the decisions of the international tribunals and the European legislatives that grant the position of the legitimate expectative in the general system of law. Coined by the German doctrine of law under the names: Anwartschaft, Wartenrecht and Zwischenrecht, the notion of expectative becomes widely recognised in other European countries, also in Poland, which is highlighted in the text. The protection of the said right in the Polish law system is mainly guaranteed by the Polish Constitutional Tribunal, in the described in the article decisions of 1989, 1993 and 1996. The topic of the article is not only the analysis of the said right of expectative but it also aims at a more general issue which is the creation of the new rights in very traditional civil law systems, especially in the Polish one. The summary of the analysis shown in the article leads to the conclusion that new rights and regulations are necessary, and the source of them should stem from the needs of the society, not the needs of the state.
Right to education – young people with disabilities and children with special educational needs
Authors: Laki Ildiko
Published: December 2021

One of the biggest educational challenges of the past decades is the question of the social and educational integration of young people with special educational needs (SEN) and/or youth and young adults with disabilities. The importance of the topic is provided by two factors; there is a clearly rising trend in the increase in the number of children with special educational needs, which can be identified almost immediately among the children due to the methodological results, on the one hand, and it has become a feature of the public education that was able to launch many segments of the market – developments, movement therapy, complex forms of education based on special needs – and, as a result, industries are slowly beginning to emerge to create opportunities for them to enter the system, on the other hand. In the case of the public education, the SEN category also represents a kind of set of problems, because in the case of students who study at a normal pace, those belonging to the SEN group only experience disadvantages. The purpose of this summary is, on the one hand, to describe the concept and the framework of the content of the special educational needs used in the public education, and, on the other hand, to summarize the types of disabilities in the light of such data. The study also seeks to give an answer to the question how the determination of the disability is able to reflect a specific educational need, and shed light on the usable, more relevant concept from the perspective of the interested persons.
Digital citizens’ participation right in defense of the environment
Authors: Ortiz Maria
Published: December 2021

The Aarhus Convention of June 25, 1998, of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe on access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters, introduced the commitment of each signing State to ensure, within the framework of its national regulation, that citizens could suit and appeal any decision, or any action or omission that falls within the scope of public participation regarding issues on environmental matters. Hence, citizens are entitled to appeal administratively and judicially against public environmental decisions if they invoke a legal infringement in relation to this issue. Access to justice for violation of the rights of public participation are set out in the same terms on Regulation (EU) number 1367/2006, of September 6, relating to the application, to the institutions and community bodies, of the provisions of the Aarhus Convention on access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice on environmental matters. Although the right of access is quite broad, it is not exempt from exceptions, such as those indicated on the Directive 2003/4/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, of January 28, on public access to environmental information, which has recently been interpreted by the Court of Justice of the European Union on the Judgement (First Chamber) of January 20, 2021 in the Land Baden-Württemberg case (Communications internes). However, all this is not useful if citizens are not granted with the possibility of accessing to control judicially administrative decisions that do not comply with environmental policies with the same extension, because the opportunity for any citizen to be entitled to effectively control these actions is being excluded. This paper aims to analyze the extent of the right of citizens to participate digitally in public decision-making of an environmental nature, and determine if such right is consistent with the possibilities of access to justice in this matter, since only through judicially control of the administrative decisions it is possible to make the participation right effective.
Waste management and human rights to the environment in Polish and Lithuanian legal solutions
Authors: Zębek Elżbieta , Zilinskiene Leda
Published: December 2021

Basic human rights are set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Moreover, human rights to the environment were identified with 3rd generation human rights as the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity. These rights may be disturbed through pollution of the environment causing by improper waste management…Therefore, it is important to comply with the various principles of waste management specified in the Directive 2008/98/EC, which provisions were implemented into the legislation of Poland and Lithuania. The purpose of this article is indicate the legal principles of waste management and human rights to the environment for example of these countries. In Poland, waste management should be carried out with the protection of human health and life, in particular, it must not pose a threat to environmental elements and effects on cultural and natural areas. Similarly, there are protected the same resources in Lithuania with paying attention to not exceeding the normative standards. Therefore, principles of environmental law and waste management plays a crucial role in safeguarding human right to environment due to their needs.
3D Fourier ghost imaging via semi-calibrated photometric stereo
Authors: Aguilar Ritz Ann , Hermosa Nathaniel , Soriano Maricor
Published: December 2021

We achieved three-dimensional (3D) computational ghost imaging with multiple photoresistors serving as single-pixel detectors using the semi-calibrated lighting approach. We performed imaging in the spatial frequency domain by having each photoresistor obtain the Fourier spectrum of the scene at a low spectral coverage ratio of 5%. To retrieve a depth map of a scene, we inverted, apodized, and applied semi-calibrated photometric stereo (SCPS) to the spectra. At least 93.5% accuracy was achieved for the 3D results of the apodized set of images applied with SCPS in comparison with the ground truth. Furthermore, intensity error map statistics obtained at least 97.0% accuracy for the estimated surface normals using our method. Our system does not need special calibration objects or any additional optical components to perform accurate 3D imaging, making it easily adaptable. Our method can be applied in current imaging systems where multiple detectors operating at any wavelength are used for two-dimensional (2D) imaging, such as imaging cosmological objects. Employing the idea of changing light patterns to illuminate a target scene and having stored information about these patterns, the data retrieved by one detector will give the 2D information while the multiple-detector system can be used to get a 3D profile.
All-dielectric thermonanophotonics: publisher’s note
Authors: Zograf George P. , Petrov Mihail I. , Makarov Sergey V. , Kivshar Yuri S.
Published: December 2021

This publisher’s note contains a correction to Adv. Opt. Photon. 13, 643 (2021)10.1364/AOP.426047.
RIFL: a reliable link layer network protocol for data center communication
Authors: Shen Qianfeng , Zheng Jun , Chow Paul
Published: December 2021

More and more latency-sensitive services and applications are being deployed into the data center. Performance can be limited by the high latency of the network interconnect. Because the conventional network stack is designed not only for a local area network, but also for a wide area network, it carries a great amount of redundancy that is not required in a data center network. This paper introduces the concept of a three-layer protocol stack that can fulfill the exact demands of data center network communications. The detailed design and implementation of the first layer of the stack, which we call RIFL, is presented. A novel low latency in-band hop-by-hop re-transmission protocol is proposed and adopted in RIFL, which guarantees lossless transmission in a data center environment. Experimental results show that RIFL achieves 110 ns point-to-point latency on 10 m active optical cables, at a line rate of 112 Gbps. RIFL is a multi-lane protocol with scalable throughput up to multi-hundred gigabits per second. It can be the enabler of low latency, high throughput, flexible, scalable, and lossless data center networks.
Experimental investigation of the deflagration rate for PBX utilizing terahertz-wave-based Doppler velocimetry
Authors: Huang Xilong , Zhai Zhaohui , Fu Hua , Li Jinhe , Li Ping , Li Tao
Published: December 2021

Determining the deflagration rate of high explosives is important for understanding the evolution of accident reaction and improving the design of charge safety. A noninvasive terahertz-wave-based Doppler velocimetry (TDV) method is demonstrated for measuring the deflagration rate of a polymer-bonded explosive (PBX) under high pressures in a closed burner. The penetration ability of TDV avoids cutting the PBX sample into pieces to embed gauges, thus ensuring the burning surface undisturbed. The development of deflagration rate for the octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetranzocine-based PBX-3 agrees with Vielle’s law before pressure increases too high. But at high pressure, unstable burning is observed, implying the transition to convective burning.
Phase locking of lasers with Gaussian coupling
Authors: Kumar Reddy Andra Naresh , Mahler Simon , Goldring Alon , Pal Vishwa , Friesem Asher A. , Davidson Nir
Published: December 2021

A unique approach for steady in-phase locking of lasers in an array, regardless of the array geometry, position, orientation, period or size, is presented. The approach relies on the insertion of an intra-cavity Gaussian aperture in the far-field plane of the laser array. Steady in-phase locking of 90 lasers, whose far-field patterns are comprised of sharp spots with extremely high power density, was obtained for various array geometries, even in the presence of near-degenerate solutions, geometric frustration or superimposed independent longitudinal modes. The internal phase structures of the lasers can also be suppressed so as to obtain pure Gaussian mode laser outputs with uniform phase and overall high beam quality. With such phase locking, the laser array can be focused to a sharp spot of high power density, useful for many applications and the research field.
Terahertz rainbow spectrum imager on reflective metasurfaces
Authors: Zheng Shen , Li Chao , Fang Guangyou
Published: December 2021

The terahertz imagers that have already developed are usually with low frame rate and high cost, making them ineffective for moving target detection and fast imaging. Here, we experimentally report a high-frame-rate, high-resolution and low-cost real-aperture imager developed by combining the terahertz rainbow spectrum manipulation metasurface and quasi-optical method. As a wideband THz signal incidents on such metasurface (called as THz virtual prism), terahertz rainbow spectrum can be formed in one dimension just like a light beam passing through an optical prism, and complete real-aperture scanning imaging within 100 microseconds. By using high-speed displacement platform to realize another dimensional scanning, this imager will easily achieve high-frame-rate and high-resolution imaging with simple algorithm. The feasibility of this new THz imager was verified by imaging Siemens star and concealed targets, respectively. The results show that this imager has important potential applications in fields such as THz remote sensing, imaging radar, body scanner, etc.
15 W monolithic fiber laser at 3.55 µm
Authors: Lemieux-Tanguay Maxime , Fortin Vincent , Boilard Tommy , Paradis Pascal , Maes Frédéric , Talbot Lauris , Vallée Réal , Bernier Martin
Published: December 2021

We report a dual-wavelength-pumped all-fiber continuous-wave (CW) laser operating at 3.55 µm that reached an output power of 14.9 W, which is, to the best of our knowledge, a record. The laser cavity, made of an erbium-doped fluoride fiber and bounded by two fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs), operates at an overall optical efficiency of 17.2% and a slope efficiency of 51.3% with respect to the 1976 nm launched pump power. The all-fiber design of the cavity not only allows for significant power scaling of the laser output, but also improves its long-term stability at high output power. The cavity design was set according to a numerical optimization that showed very good agreement with the experimental results.
SrAl2O4 crystallite embedded inorganic medium with super-long persistent luminescence, thermoluminescence, and photostimulable luminescence for smart optical information storage
Authors: Li Panpan , Hua Youjie , Ye Renguang , Cai Muzhi , Xu Shiqing , Zhang Junjie
Published: December 2021

As a leader of long persistent luminescence (LPL) materials, the optical properties of aluminate phosphor have remained unsurpassed for many years. As a powder material, its practical application will always be limited to the field of security signs. In this paper, the

SrAl

2

O
4

:

Eu

2
+

,

Dy

3
+

inorganic solid material with comparable LPL properties to powder materials was obtained. The crystallization mechanism and crystallite micro-morphology of inorganic glass materials have been studied, and a new opinion is put forward that the large-size

SrAl

2

O
4

crystallites in the glass matrix are stacked by rod-shaped crystals arranged in a regular direction. In addition, the

SrAl

2

O
4

:

Eu

2
+

,

Dy

3
+

glass obtained cannot only collect high-energy photons but also is sensitive to low-energy sunlight. The results show that the material exhibits superior performance in LPL, thermoluminescence, and photostimulable luminescence. Based on this property, a new application of this material in the field of information storage was explored. This paper has a certain reference value for the development and application of aluminate LPL materials in the field of smart optical information storage.
Directional emission in X-cut lithium niobate microresonators without chaos dynamics
Authors: Gao Ang , Yang Chen , Chen Likun , Zhang Ru , Luo Qiang , Wang Wei , Cao Qitao , Hao Zhenzhong , Bo Fang , Zhang Guoquan , Xu Jingjun
Published: December 2021

We systematically investigate the field distribution of the transverse electric modes in X-cut lithium niobate disks as an example of circular microcavities with anisotropic refractive index. A conserved quantity is discovered, which indicates the absence of chaos that generally exists in deformed microcavities and leads to a nontrivial directional emission. The emission directionality was theoretically investigated and experimentally verified by exciting high-order modes of an X-cut lithium niobate microresonator assisted with second harmonics. The field distribution analysis can enrich the knowledge in designing photonic devices that need precise control of field distribution, such as phase matching in nonlinear processes. Furthermore, the discovered emission phenomenon is momentous in enhancing and controlling communications between on-chip photonic devices.
Industrial Internet of Things(IIoT)-Plattformtypen im Maschinen- und Anlagenbau
Authors: Scheel Laura , Bender Benedict
Published: December 2021

Das Angebot digitaler Plattformen ist mittlerweile auch im Maschinen- und Anlagenbau weit verbreitet. Dabei konnte in den letzten Jahren der Trend verzeichnet werden, dass die Herstellerunternehmen von Maschinen und Anlagen nicht mehr ausschließlich physische Produkte veräußern, sondern zusätzliche auf das Produkt abgestimmte Dienstleistungen, wie bspw. digitale Services. Dieser Wandel kann einen großen Einfluss auf die Veränderung des Geschäftsmodells haben und je nach Komplexität der digitalen Plattformen unterschiedliche Ausmaße annehmen, die auch strategische Entscheidungen bestimmen können. In diesem Beitrag wird eine Klassifizierung der digitalen Plattformen im deutschen Maschinen- und Anlagenbau vorgenommen, mithilfe derer unterschiedliche Plattformtypen auf Grundlage ihrer Funktionszusammensetzung identifiziert werden. Demnach können bspw. Plattformen, über die lediglich grundlegende Funktionen wie die Verwaltung von Maschinen angeboten werden, von umfangreicheren Plattformen unterschieden werden, die eine höhere Komplexität aufweisen und somit einen größeren Einfluss auf die Veränderung des Geschäftsmodells haben. Diese Einteilung unterschiedlicher Plattformtypen kann Unternehmen im Maschinen- und Anlagenbau dabei unterstützen, strategische Entscheidungen bezüglich der Entwicklung und des Angebots digitaler Plattformen zu treffen und eine Einordnung ihrer digitalen Plattform im Wettbewerb vorzunehmen.
Hebbian plasticity in parallel synaptic pathways: A circuit mechanism for systems memory consolidation
Authors: Remme Michiel W. H. , Bergmann Urs , Alevi Denis , Schreiber Susanne , Sprekeler Henning , Kempter Richard
Published: December 2021

Systems memory consolidation involves the transfer of memories across brain regions and the transformation of memory content. For example, declarative memories that transiently depend on the hippocampal formation are transformed into long-term memory traces in neocortical networks, and procedural memories are transformed within cortico-striatal networks. These consolidation processes are thought to rely on replay and repetition of recently acquired memories, but the cellular and network mechanisms that mediate the changes of memories are poorly understood. Here, we suggest that systems memory consolidation could arise from Hebbian plasticity in networks with parallel synaptic pathways—two ubiquitous features of neural circuits in the brain. We explore this hypothesis in the context of hippocampus-dependent memories. Using computational models and mathematical analyses, we illustrate how memories are transferred across circuits and discuss why their representations could change. The analyses suggest that Hebbian plasticity mediates consolidation by transferring a linear approximation of a previously acquired memory into a parallel pathway. Our modelling results are further in quantitative agreement with lesion studies in rodents. Moreover, a hierarchical iteration of the mechanism yields power-law forgetting—as observed in psychophysical studies in humans. The predicted circuit mechanism thus bridges spatial scales from single cells to cortical areas and time scales from milliseconds to years.
Field evaluation of specificity and sensitivity of a standard SARS-CoV-2 antigen rapid diagnostic test: A prospective study at a teaching hospital in Northern Ghana
Authors: Abdul-Mumin Alhassan , Abubakari Abdulai , Agbozo Faith , Abdul-Karim Abass , Nuertey Benjamin Demah , Mumuni Kareem , Heuschen Anna-Katharina , Hennig Lisa , Denkinger Claudia M. , Müller Olaf , Jahn Albrecht
Published: December 2021

The testing capacity for SARS-CoV-2 in Africa is rather limited. Antigen detection rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDTs) are a cheap and rapid alternative to reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests, but there is little data about their performance under real life conditions in tropical countries. The objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of a standard Ag-RDT in a population of a major hospital in northern Ghana. Prospective, cross-sectional, blinded verification of the performance of the SD Biosensor Standard Q SARS-CoV-2 Ag-RDT under real life conditions in 135 symptomatic patients and 58 contacts of RT-PCR positives at Tamale Teaching Hospital in February 2021. Nasopharyngeal samples were taken under standard conditions and tested against RT-PCR in the hospital laboratory. 193 participants (median age 35 years, 109 male) were included into the study for which both RT-PCR test and Ag-RDT results were available. A total of 42 (22%) were RT-PCR positive. Of the 42 RT-PCR positives, 27 were Ag-RDT positive, resulting in a sensitivity of 64% (95% CI 49–79). Sensitivity among symptomatic patients was 58% (95% CI 38–78). 123 were identified Ag-RDT negatives of the 151 RT-PCR negatives, resulting in a specificity of 81% (95% CI 75–87). SARS-CoV-2 Ag-RDTs appear to have a rather low sensitivity and particularly a low specificity under real life conditions in Africa. The role of existing Ag-RDTs in countries with high-temperature climates and limited resources still needs more data and discussion.
Sero-prevalence of anti-Leptospira antibodies and associated risk factors in rural Rwanda: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Ntabanganyimana Etienne , Giraneza Robert , Dusabejambo Vincent , Bizimana Appolinaire , Hamond Camila , Iyamuremye Augustin , Nshizirungu Placide , Uzabakiriho Raphael , Munyengabe Marc , Wunder Elsio A. , Page Cameron
Published: December 2021

Background

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease transmitted through the urine of wild and domestic animals, and is responsible for over 50,000 deaths each year. In East Africa, prevalence varies greatly, from as low as 7% in Kenya to 37% in Somalia. Transmission epidemiology also varies around the world, with research in Nicaragua showing that rodents are the most clinically important, while studies in Egypt and Chile suggest that dogs may play a more important role. There are no published studies of leptospirosis in Rwanda.

Methods & findings

We performed a cross-sectional survey of asymptomatic adults recruited from five occupational categories. Serum samples were tested using ELISA and Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT). We found that 40.1% (151/377) of asymptomatic adults had been exposed to Leptospira spp. Almost 36.3% of positive subjects reported contact with rats (137/377) which represent 90.7% among positive leptospira serology compared with 48.2% of negative subjects (182/377) which represent 80.5% among negative leptospira serology (OR 2.37, CI 1.25–4.49) and 1.7 fold on prevalence ratio and 2.37 of odd ratio. Furthermore, being a crop farmer was significantly associated with leptospirosis (OR 2.06, CI 1.29–3.28). We identified 6 asymptomatic subjects (1.6%) who met criteria for acute infection.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates a high prevalence of leptospiral antibodies infection among asymptomatic adults in rural Rwanda, particularly relative to neighboring countries. Although positive subjects were more likely to report rat contact, we found no independent association between rats and leptospirosis infection. Nonetheless, exposure was high among crop farmers, which is supportive of the hypothesis that rats together with domestic livestock might contribute to the transmission.

Further studies are needed to understand infecting Leptospira servers and elucidate the transmission epidemiology in Rwanda and identify means of host transmitters.
Ergonomic assessment of work-related musculoskeletal disorder and its determinants among commercial mini bus drivers and driver assistants (mini bus conductors) in Nigeria
Authors: Ekechukwu Echezona Nelson Dominic , Useh Erobogha , Nna Obumneme Linky , Ekechukwu Nmachukwu Ifeoma , Obi Ogbonna Nnajiobi , Aguwa Emmanuel Nwabueze , Arinze-Onyia Sussan Uzoamaka , Abaraogu Ukachukwu Okaroafor , Utti Victor Adimabua
Published: December 2021

Introduction

Work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD) is a leading causes of occupational injury and disability among drivers and workers in the transport industry. This study evaluated the ergonomically assessed WMSD and its determinants among Nigerian commercial mini bus drivers (BD) and mini bus conductors (BC)

Method

A total of 379 participants (BD = 200, BC = 179) were purposively sampled for this exploratory cross-sectional study. Participants’ WMSD and work related variables were respectively assessed using the standardized Nordic questionnaire and a content-validated, Driving Work Station Assessment (DWSA) form. Data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially using chi-square and logistic regression. The level of significance was set at α = 0.05.

Results

The participants were aged between 20 and 66 years, with a mean age of 33.26±10.76years (BD = 38.42±10.22years, BC = 27.50±8.13years); most of whom consumed alcohol (84.4%) and experienced severe job stress (73.4%). There was a high prevalence (95.8%; BD = 94.5%, BC = 97.8%) of WMSDs, the lower back (66.8%) and upper back (54.1%) had the highest regional prevalence of WMSD. The BC (BC vs BD) had significantly (p<0.05) higher prevalence of Neck (47.7% vs 21.5%) and upper back (80.4% vs 30.5%) WMSDs. Conversely, the BD (BD vs BC) had significantly (p<0.05) higher prevalence of low-back (85.0% vs 46.4%), knee (25.0% vs 9.5%), elbow (11.5% vs 3.9%), and wrist (10.5% vs 3.4%) WMSD. There was a significant association between WMSD and each of work duration (X2 = 11.634, p = 0.009), work frequency (X2 = 8.394, p = 0.039), job dissatisfaction (X2 = 10.620, p = 0.001) and job stress (X2 = 16.879, p = 0.001). Working beyond 4days/week (OR = 10.019, p = 0.001), job dissatisfaction (OR = 1.990, p = 0.031), constrained working postures (OR = 5.324, p = 0.003) and fatigue (OR = 4.719, p = 0.002) were the predictors of WMSD.

Conclusion

Job stress, work duration and work frequency, posture and fatigue are important determinants of WMSDs among mini bus drivers and their assistants in Nigeria. Ergonomics training intervention for this population is recommended.
Topography of hippocampal connectivity with sensorimotor cortex revealed by optimizing smoothing kernel and voxel size
Authors: Burman Douglas D.
Published: December 2021

Studies of the hippocampus use smaller voxel sizes and smoothing kernels than cortical activation studies, typically using a multivoxel seed with specified radius for connectivity analysis. This study identified optimal processing parameters for evaluating hippocampal connectivity with sensorimotor cortex (SMC), comparing effectiveness by varying parameters during both activation and connectivity analysis. Using both 3mm and 4mm isovoxels, smoothing kernels of 0-10mm were evaluated on the amplitude and extent of motor activation and hippocampal connectivity with SMC. Psychophysiological interactions (PPI) identified hippocampal connectivity with SMC during volitional movements, and connectivity effects from multivoxel seeds were compared with alternate methods; a structural seed represented the mean connectivity map from all voxels within a region, whereas a functional seed represented the regional voxel with maximal SMC connectivity. With few exceptions, the same parameters were optimal for activation and connectivity. Larger isovoxels showed larger activation volumes in both SMC and the hippocampus; connectivity volumes from structural seeds were also larger, except from the posterior hippocampus. Regardless of voxel size, the 10mm smoothing kernel generated larger activation and connectivity volumes from structural seeds, as well as larger beta estimates at connectivity maxima; structural seeds also produced larger connectivity volumes than multivoxel seeds. Functional seeds showed lesser effects from voxel size and smoothing kernels. Optimal parameters revealed topography in structural seed connectivity along both the longitudinal axis and mediolateral axis of the hippocampus. These results indicate larger voxels and smoothing kernels can improve sensitivity for detecting both cortical activation and hippocampal connectivity.
An age-structured SEIR model for COVID-19 incidence in Dublin, Ireland with framework for evaluating health intervention cost
Authors: Jaouimaa Fatima-Zahra , Dempsey Daniel , Van Osch Suzanne , Kinsella Stephen , Burke Kevin , Wyse Jason , Sweeney James
Published: December 2021

Strategies adopted globally to mitigate the threat of COVID–19 have primarily involved lockdown measures with substantial economic and social costs with varying degrees of success. Morbidity patterns of COVID–19 variants have a strong association with age, while restrictive lockdown measures have association with negative mental health outcomes in some age groups. Reduced economic prospects may also afflict some age cohorts more than others. Motivated by this, we propose a model to describe COVID–19 community spread incorporating the role of age-specific social interactions. Through a flexible parameterisation of an age-structured deterministic Susceptible Exposed Infectious Removed (SEIR) model, we provide a means for characterising different forms of lockdown which may impact specific age groups differently. Social interactions are represented through age group to age group contact matrices, which can be trained using available data and are thus locally adapted. This framework is easy to interpret and suitable for describing counterfactual scenarios, which could assist policy makers with regard to minimising morbidity balanced with the costs of prospective suppression strategies. Our work originates from an Irish context and we use disease monitoring data from February 29th 2020 to January 31st 2021 gathered by Irish governmental agencies. We demonstrate how Irish lockdown scenarios can be constructed using the proposed model formulation and show results of retrospective fitting to incidence rates and forward planning with relevant “what if / instead of” lockdown counterfactuals. Uncertainty quantification for the predictive approaches is described. Our formulation is agnostic to a specific locale, in that lockdown strategies in other regions can be straightforwardly encoded using this model.
Prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli in companion dogs in animal clinics, Surabaya, Indonesia
Authors: Kristianingtyas Luviana , Effendi Mustofa Helmi , Witaningrum Adiana Mutamsari , Wardhana Dhandy Koesoemo , Ugbo Emmanuel Nnabuike
Published: December 2021

Background and Aim: The practice of keeping animals as pets is becoming increasingly common. The upsurge of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing organisms of animal origin is a health threat globally. This study aimed to identify the presence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli in companion dogs in animal clinics in Surabaya, Indonesia.

Materials and Methods: A total of 85 rectal swab samples were collected from companion dogs at five animal clinics in different regions of Surabaya, Indonesia. The presence of E. coli was identified from the samples using standard methods, followed by antibiotic sensitivity testing. The resistant isolates were examined for the presence of ESBL using the double-disk synergy test method. The phenotypically identified ESBL-producing E. coli was further confirmed with an automated system using Vitek-2.

Results: The rectal swab samples (n=85) tested were 100% positive for E. coli isolates. Eight (9.41%) out of the 85 E. coli obtained from rectal swabs were extended-spectrum β-lactamase producers. All eight ESBL-producing E. coli were identified by automated Vitek-2 confirmatory tests.

Conclusion: This study provides insight into the prevalence of ESBL-producing organisms isolated from companion dogs in Indonesia. This work indicates the need for the general public to be more aware of the role of companion animals in disseminating pathogenic organisms, since they serve as potential reservoirs in the spread of antibiotic resistance affecting human health.
The Value of Praxis-Based Assessment to Stimulate Practical Engagement and Classroom Readiness in Online Initial Teacher Education
Authors:   University of Southern Queensland, Burke Katie , Fanshawe Melissa ,   University of Southern Queensland
Published: December 2021

The opportunity to undertake teaching degrees entirely via online learning has proliferated in the last decade. Research shows that students choose to engage with content and application activities when they are directly aligned to assessment. The researchers trialled praxis-based assessment which required completion of practical learning tasks embedded in core learning content over two semesters in two Australian Initial Teacher Education courses. The aim was to enhance online student engagement in practical learning. Insights into the student perspective were gained through a survey, interviews, and learning analytics. The results from this study showed praxis-based assessment increased student confidence, classroom readiness and embodied understanding of theory.
FRAILTY, LOSS OF NATURAL TEETH AND QUALITY OF LIFE
Authors: Lee I.-C. , Weng S.-F. , Ho P.-S.
Published: December 2021

Objective: This study investigates whether the loss of natural teeth associate with elderly frailty, as well as their connection with quality of life. Design: This study collected data from January 2012 to April 2013, and the subjects were the elderly over the age of 65 living in community. Setting: Loss of natural teeth and frailty are common issues in elderly and it is noteworthy to address these issues while the investigation of healthy ageing. Participants: The research included 543 elderly people over the age of 65. Measurements: The face-to-face interviews with a structured questionnaire were performed. Results: Elderly people with no natural teeth are more likely to become frail (OR=1.87); the relationship between frailty and quality of life is more significant. After adjusting for all the independent variables, results showed that frailty in elderly leads to poorer quality of life, and oral health status is not correlated with quality of life (P>0.05). The remain of natural teeth is correlated with occurrence of frailty in the elderly. Conclusions: Frailty has a significant and strong influence on oral health-related quality of life. For the elderly, frailty shall be early diagnosed to ensure provision of proper preventive health care.
SERUM 25-HYDROXY VITAMIN D, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION AMONG OLDER ADULTS
Authors: Chang M. , Eymundsdottir H. , Geirsdottir O.G. , Jonsson P.V. , Gudnason V. , Launer L. , Jonsdottir M.K. , Ramel A.
Published: December 2021

Objective: To investigate the association between 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25OHD) and cognitive function with particular consideration of physical activity (PA) in Icelandic older adults. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Iceland. Participants: Old adults aged 65-96. The final analytical sample included 4304 non-demented participants. Measurements: Serum 25OHD was categorized into deficient (≤ 30 nmol/L, 8%), insufficient (31-49 nmol/L, 25%) and normal-high levels (>50 nmol/L, 67%). Cognitive function assessments included measurements of memory function (MF), speed of processing (SP) and executive function (EF) all categorized as low and high (divided by 50th percentile). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) for having high cognitive function. Results: Serum 25OHD was positively associated with cognitive function. Adjustment for PA and other potential confounders diminished this association only partially. Compared to participants with normal-high levels of 25OHD, those with deficient levels had decreased odds for high SP (OR: 0.74, CI: 0.57-0.97), high MF (OR: 0.55; CI: 0.43-0.71) and high EF (OR: 0.76, CI: 0.57-1.0). Conclusion: Serum 25OHD below ≤30 nmol/L was associated with decreased odds for high cognitive function among community dwelling old adults as compared to those with 25OHD above > 50 nmol/L. Neither PA nor other potential confounders explained the associations between 25OHD and cognitive function. Future studies should explore mechanisms and the potential clinical relevance of this relationship.
SENILE ANOREXIA AND HYPERALDOSTERONISM
Authors: Schwerthöffer D. , Grimmer T. , Bauer I.
Published: December 2021

Objective and Method: A case presentation of a 73-year-old delirious patient diagnosed with hyperaldosteronism and Anorexia Nervosa. A possible pathophysiological relationship between a decades-long uncontrolled eating disorder (so called Senile Anorexia) and a resulting transformation of the adrenal gland is discussed. Results and Conclusion: Senile anorexia can remain undetected for decades only to then manifest itself through somatic complications, e.g. symptoms of hyperaldosteronism. In older, underweight patients with unclear neuropsychiatric symptoms, the diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa should be considered.
Reducing Environment Pollution by Reusing of Alum Sludge Waste in Stone Mastic Asphalt Mixtures
Authors: Mahmood Omar T.
Published: December 2021

Globally, a huge quantity of alum sludge waste is produced as a by-product material from drinking water treatment plants that utilize aluminum salts as an essential coagulate and is the most generally produced water treatment remaining sludge around the world, which causes a serious environmental problem. Direct discarding of this substance has ecological effects. Hence, it is important to reuse this alum sludge waste material in such a manner to diminish its detrimental impacts on the environment. This research investigates the possibility of reusing alum sludge waste as a partial replacement of cement filler in stone mastic asphalt (SMA) paving mixtures. For this investigation, the alum sludge was used as a filler material in SMA mixtures in two modes; dried alum sludge at 110°C and burned alum sludge at 700°C. Different percentages of alum sludge were used as a replacement by the total weight of mineral filler at 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100%. The results showed that using alum sludge as a substitution of filler in SMA mixtures reduces the performance of the mixtures in terms of Marshall properties and tensile strength for both dried and burned alum sludge compared with a standard mix. However, the performance of the mixtures containing burned alum sludge gave a better performance than the mixtures containing dried alum sludge.
Das Konzept der Ökosystemleistungen in der Umweltbildung. Exemplarische Ansätze an Schulen, Hochschulen und in der Fortbildungslandschaft für Planungsakteure
Authors: Fürst Christine , Kriuger Antonina , Warner Barbara , Ehrlich Emily , Fenger Lucas
Published: December 2021

The concept of ecosystem services has great potential to anchor nature conservation and species protection more firmly in a broader social debate. As an assessment framework, it illustrates the benefits of natural services in the broadest sense and is the subject of intense debate with regard to its scope and the operationalization required for spatial planning. In the sense of an integration into the social debate about the sustainable use of natural resources, the concept should be included in the canon of educational offers – beyond the ‘classical’ offers and topics of environmental education. This paper exemplifies how the concept is taught in school education (using the example of the Federal State of Saxony, Germany), and in higher education in selected subject areas in Germany as well as in the further education landscape for planning practitioners (in Germany, Austria and Switzerland). The paper shows approaches and deficits for a future goal-oriented operationalization of the concept. The focus is explicitly on environmental education and the provision of educational offers for actors in spatial planning, and reflects the current landscape of educational offers in the mentioned fields.
„Ci, co pomarli, widzą nas, widzą nasze grzechy i nasze cierpienia”, czyli o Głosie z tamtego świata Stanisława Różewicza
Authors: Śmiałowski Piotr
Published: December 2021

Stanisław Różewicz’s The voice from the other world is one of these masterpieces od polish cinematography, which draws inspiration from the authentic case: two fraudsters impersonate a doctor and quack medium. But at the same time Różewicz’s movie has become an artistic event showing the drama of frauders’ victims – people struggling with pain, loneliness and lack of hope. Formation of concept of The voice from the other world and the analysis of its following realization’s stages are the attempt to describe the essence of Stanisław Różewicz’s unique style and his sensitivity as a director.
Filmowa Łódź Jadwigi Andrzejewskiej
Authors: Włodek Roman
Published: December 2021

Before WWII, Jadwiga Andrzejewska 1915–1977) was among the most popular actresses in Polish cinema. During WWII she acted in the Dramatic Theatre of the Polish Second Corps. Returning to her hometown Łódź in 1947 Andrzejewska was initially perceived by the Polish authorities as politically uncertain. Her notable theatrical roles included the heroine in A Woman of Wonder and the heroine in Mother Courage and Her Children. Although she lived in Łódź – a capital of Polish cinema – her film career languished after the war. She had bit parts in about thirty feature films (among them television films). Her biggest and most notable post-war role was in a political propaganda film produced for television, And if Will be Autumn…
W sprawie cyfrowej historii polskiego kina
Authors: Gierszewska Barbara Lena
Published: December 2021

Digita l cinema history should support the conduct of free research, encourage authors to share the results of their findings and source discoveries. The problem is that Polish digital history of cinema on one hand is very poor (still a small part of sources and theoretical, historical and critical scientifi cachievements is available on-line), on the other hand, what has already appeared, is not representative because it omits largely the work of film studying authorities. For example, on the Internet you can find the views of researchers of the younger generation about the cultural history of the cinema in Polish context, including criticism of thesis described by scientifictycoons, but these are the texts that can be read only in paper publications. It begins to be, by the scientific standards, strange, because in the history of digital cinema leading roles are played by the young researchers, but without a clash of views with the authorities. The fact that on the net there are no statements concerning the scientifi cresearch given by the greatest experts of Polish cinema, who do not want to turn into a discussion with the young ones, causes the situation in which data to the history of Polish cinema digitally available are (so far) not always satisfying either as the aspect of cognition or the source.
Wyprawa do krainy prawdopodobieństwa – o dokumentach animowanych Marcina Podolca
Authors: Mąka-Malatyńska Katarzyna
Published: December 2021

The article analyses two student short films by Marcin Podolec, Dokument and Olbrzym, which represent the animated documentary genre. In her analysis and interpretation of films, the author uses Annabelle Honess Roe’s methodology to research this phenomenon. She expands the definition of the animated documentary base on Roe’s work.
„Znane” i nieznane produkcje przedwojennego polskiego kina. Halka Konstantego Meglickiego i Sportowiec mimo woli Mieczysława Krawicza
Authors: Pieńkowski Michał
Published: December 2021

There are many Polish films from the pre-war period that are not known to the public today. Most oft en they simply did not make it to modern times or only fragments are preserved, their condition too poor to allow utilization. One of such films is Halka, directed by Konstanty Meglicki in 1929, which due to digital restoration has returned to the screen in November 2016, after decades-long break. In recent years, however, it’s been discovered that even some seemingly well-known films should in fact be considered unknown. Due to the research conducted at the National Film Archives, new facts came to light, revealing lost film fragments or alternative versions. One such example is a film from 1939 called Sportowiec mimo woli, until now only known for its post-war American adaptation, turns out to be very different from the unknown original version. Polish pre-war cinema, which was often treated with some disdain, is now perceived in a very different light. And recent discoveries allow us to re-examine the achievements of the early period of Polish cinematography.