bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
3D amide proton transfer-weighted imaging may be useful for diagnosing early-stage breast cancer: a prospective monocentric study
Authors: Li Yeqin , Zhang Yan , Tian Liwen , Li Ju , Li Huihua , Wang Ximing , Wang Cuiyan
Published: April 2024

Background

We investigated the value of three-dimensional amide proton transfer-weighted imaging (3D-APTWI) in the diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer (BC) and its correlation with the immunohistochemical characteristics of malignant lesions.

Methods

Seventy-eight women underwent APTWI and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI. Pathological results were categorized as either benign (n = 43) or malignant (n = 37) lesions. The parameters of APTWI and DCE-MRI were compared between the benign and malignant groups. The diagnostic value of 3D-APTWI was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC-AUC) to establish a diagnostic threshold. Pearson’s correlation was used to analyze the correlation between the magnetization transfer asymmetry (MTRasym) and immunohistochemical characteristics.

Results

The MTRasym and time-to-peak of malignancies were significantly lower than those of benign lesions (all p < 0.010). The volume transfer constant, rate constant, and wash-in and wash-out rates of malignancies were all significantly greater than those of benign lesions (all p < 0.010). ROC-AUCs of 3D-APTWI, DCE-MRI, and 3D-APTWI+DCE to differential diagnosis between early-stage BC and benign lesions were 0.816, 0.745, and 0.858, respectively. Only the difference between AUCAPT+DCE and AUCDCE was significant (p < 0.010). When a threshold of MTRasym for malignancy for 2.42%, the sensitivity and specificity of 3D-APTWI for BC diagnosis were 86.5% and 67.6%, respectively; MTRasym was modestly positively correlated with pathological grade (r = 0.476, p = 0.003) and Ki-67 (r = 0.419, p = 0.020).

Conclusions

3D-APTWI may be used as a supplementary method for patients with contraindications of DCE-MRI. MTRasym can imply the proliferation activities of early-stage BC.

Relevance statement

3D-APTWI can be an alternative diagnostic method for patients with early-stage BC who are not suitable for contrast injection.

Key points

• 3D-APTWI reflects the changes in the microenvironment of early-stage breast cancer.

• Combined 3D-APTWI is superior to DCE-MRI alone for early-stage breast cancer diagnosis.

• 3D-APTWI improves the diagnostic accuracy of early-stage breast cancer.

Graphical Abstract
Orbit and clock products for quad-system satellites with undifferenced ambiguity fixing approach
Authors: Wu Jiaqi , Li Xingxing , Yuan Yongqiang , Zhang Keke , Li Xin , Lou Jiaqing , Xiong Yun
Published: April 2024

Integer Ambiguity Resolution (IAR) can significantly improve the accuracy of GNSS Precise Orbit Determination (POD). Traditionally, the IAR in POD is achieved at the Double Differenced (DD) level. In this contribution, we develop an Un-Differenced (UD) IAR method for Global Positioning System (GPS)+ BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) + Galileo navigation satellite system (Galileo)+ Global'naya Navigatsionnaya Sputnikovaya Sistema (GLONASS) quad-system POD by calibrating UD ambiguities in the raw carrier phase and generating the so-called carrier range. Based on this method, we generate the UD ambiguity-fixed orbit and clock products for the Wuhan Innovation Application Center (IAC) of the International GNSS Monitoring and Assessment System (iGMAS). One-year observations in 2020 from 150 stations are employed to investigate performance of orbit and clock products. Notably, the UD Ambiguity Resolution (AR) yields more resolved integer ambiguities than the traditional DD AR, scaling up to 9%, attributable to its avoidance of station baseline formation. Benefiting from the removal of ambiguity parameters, the computational efficiency of parameter estimation undergoes a substantial 70% improvement. Compared with the float solution, the orbit consistencies of UD AR solution achieve the accuracy of 1.9, 5.2, 2.8, 2.1, and 2.7 cm for GPS, BeiDou-2 Navigation Satellite System (BDS-2), BeiDou-3 Navigation Satellite System (BDS-3), Galileo, and GLONASS satellites respectively, reflecting enhancements of 40%, 24%, 54%, 34%, and 42%. Moreover, the standard deviations of Satellite Laser Ranging (SLR) residuals are spanning 2.5–3.5 cm, underscoring a comparable accuracy to the DD AR solution, with discrepancies below 5%. A notable advantage of UD AR lies in its capability to produce the Integer Recovered Clock (IRC), facilitating Precise Point Positioning (PPP) AR without requiring additional Uncalibrated Phase Delay (UPD) products. To assess the performance of quad-system kinematic PPP based on IRC, a network comprising 120 stations is utilized. In comparison to the float solution, the IRC-based PPP AR accelerates convergence time by 31% and enhance positioning accuracy in the east component by 54%.
The causal relationship between anxiety and tinnitus severity: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Yang Lili , Ding Yueming
Published: April 2024

Background

The link between anxiety and tinnitus severity has garnered significant scholarly interest, with numerous studies identifying a positive correlation. Despite this, the genetic basis of this relationship remains underexplored. Leveraging publicly accessible GWAS data, this study employs Mendelian randomization to elucidate the genetic causality between anxiety and tinnitus severity.

Methods

This research analyzed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to anxiety and tinnitus severity from the UK Biobank, utilizing aggregated data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Instrumental variables linked to anxiety were meticulously selected. The study implemented several Mendelian randomization techniques, including “mr_ivw,” “mr_egger_regression,” “mr_weighted_median,” “mr_simple_mode,” and “mr_weighted_mode,” to assess the causal impact of anxiety on tinnitus risk through odds ratios (ORs). Sensitivity analyses, including MR-Egger and the leave-one-out method, were conducted to ensure result stability. The F-value was also calculated to ascertain the strength of the instrumental variables.

Results

Analysis identified five SNPs as instrumental variables. The calculated ORs and 95% confidence intervals from MR-Egger regression, weighted median, and inverse variance weighting showed no statistically significant causal relationship between anxiety and severe tinnitus, with all P-values exceeding 0.05. This lack of statistical significance, consistent across various methods, indicates no genetic causality between anxiety and tinnitus severity. Furthermore, no evidence of heterogeneity (P = 0.80) or horizontal pleiotropy (P = 0.31) was found, reinforcing the robustness of the instrumental variables (F > 10).

Conclusion

Our Mendelian randomization analysis reveals no genetic causality between anxiety and tinnitus severity, suggesting the need for further research into the multifaceted etiology of tinnitus.
The effect of significant weight loss after bariatric surgery on echocardiographic indices: an observational study focusing on left ventricular deformation by 2D speckle echocardiography and right ventricular size
Authors: Safari Saeed , Parsaee Mozhgan , Moradi Mohammad , Hakiminejad Mahdi , Koohsari Parisa , Larti Farnoosh
Published: April 2024

Background

Obesity is a known risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiac disease.

Hypothesis

This study evaluated the effect of significant weight loss following bariatric surgery on myocardial deformation indices and right ventricular size (RV). This was a prospective cohort study. Morbid obese patients scheduled for bariatric surgery from July 2017 to February 2018 at Firoozgar Hospital were included in our study and referred for transthoracic echocardiography at Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center.

Results

Thirty-four patients entered the study. The absolute value of global longitudinal strain (GLS) at baseline, 3, and 6 months after surgery was 17.42 ± 2.94%, 18.24 ± 3.09%, and 19.52 ± 2.78%, respectively, with a statistically significant difference from baseline to after six months (P value < 0.001). The absolute value of global circumferential strain (GCS) at baseline, 3, and 6 months after surgery was 20.14 ± 4.22%, 23.32 ± 4.66%, and 24.53 ± 4.52%, respectively, with statistically significant changes (P value < 0.001) from baseline to three months and from baseline to six months and no significant difference from three months to six months. A significant decrease was reported in mechanical dispersion of circumferential strain (38.05 ± 23.81–23.37 ± 20.86 ms, P value = 0.006) 6 months after surgery. Right ventricular size three- and six-month post-surgery showed a significant decrease relative to baseline echocardiography.

Conclusions

Bariatric surgery could enhance cardiac function, as proven by 2D speckle echocardiography. Changes in RV size may be related to weight loss and should be considered when assessing patients who have undergone bariatric surgery.
Towards precision in the diagnostic profiling of patients: leveraging symptom dynamics as a clinical characterisation dimension in the assessment of major depressive disorder
Authors: Ebrahimi Omid V. , Borsboom Denny , Hoekstra Ria H. A. , Epskamp Sacha , Ostinelli Edoardo G. , Bastiaansen Jojanneke A. , Cipriani Andrea
Published: April 2024

Background

International guidelines present overall symptom severity as the key dimension for clinical characterisation of major depressive disorder (MDD). However, differences may reside within severity levels related to how symptoms interact in an individual patient, called symptom dynamics.

Aims

To investigate these individual differences by estimating the proportion of patients that display differences in their symptom dynamics while sharing the same overall symptom severity.

Method

Participants with MDD (n= 73; mean age 34.6 years, s.d. = 13.1; 56.2% female) rated their baseline symptom severity using the Inventory for Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report (IDS-SR). Momentary indicators for depressive symptoms were then collected through ecological momentary assessments five times per day for 28 days; 8395 observations were conducted (average per person: 115; s.d. = 16.8). Each participant's symptom dynamics were estimated using person-specific dynamic network models. Individual differences in these symptom relationship patterns in groups of participants sharing the same symptom severity levels were estimated using individual network invariance tests. Subsequently, the overall proportion of participants that displayed differential symptom dynamics while sharing the same symptom severity was calculated. A supplementary simulation study was conducted to investigate the accuracy of our methodology against false-positive results.

Results

Differential symptom dynamics were identified across 63.0% (95% bootstrapped CI 41.0–82.1) of participants within the same severity group. The average false detection of individual differences was 2.2%.

Conclusions

The majority of participants within the same depressive symptom severity group displayed differential symptom dynamics. Examining symptom dynamics provides information about person-specific psychopathological expression beyond severity levels by revealing how symptoms aggravate each other over time. These results suggest that symptom dynamics may be a promising new dimension for clinical characterisation, warranting replication in independent samples. To inform personalised treatment planning, a next step concerns linking different symptom relationship patterns to treatment response and clinical course, including patterns related to spontaneous recovery and forms of disorder progression.
Approach to the Patient: Navigating Body Mass Index Requirements for Gender-Affirming Surgery
Authors: Taormina John Michael , Cordoba Kissee Michelle , Brownstone Lisa M , Grimstad Frances , Morrison Shane D , Hendrixson Avery , Iwamoto Sean J
Published: April 2024

Body mass index (BMI) requirements for gender-affirming surgeries (GAS) present an obstacle to gender transition for many transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people. Furthermore, TGD people have unique barriers and preferences in managing their weight that must be considered. TGD patients frequently present to their endocrinologists for individualized, gender-affirming support to meet BMI cutoffs for GAS. This Approach to the Patient article combines expertise from several disciplines, including gender-affirming hormone management, weight management, mental health, gynecology, and plastic surgery. Multidisciplinary management considerations are offered for clinicians to assist TGD patients with obesity navigate BMI requirements to access GAS.
Mathematical Models of the Effect of Glucagon on Glycemia in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes Treated With Dapagliflozin
Authors: Yamada Tomoko , Sugimoto Hikaru , Hironaka Ken-ichi , Morita Yasuko , Miura Hiroshi , Otowa-Suematsu Natsu , Okada Yuko , Hirota Yushi , Sakaguchi Kazuhiko , Kuroda Shinya , Ogawa Wataru
Published: April 2024

Context

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors lower blood glucose levels by promoting urinary glucose excretion, but their overall effects on hormonal and metabolic status remain unclear.

Objective

We here investigated the roles of insulin and glucagon in the regulation of glycemia in individuals treated with an SGLT2 inhibitor using mathematical model analysis.

Methods

Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp and oral glucose tolerance tests were performed in 68 individuals with type 2 diabetes treated with the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin. Data previously obtained from such tests in 120 subjects with various levels of glucose tolerance and not treated with an SGLT2 inhibitor were examined as a control. Mathematical models of the feedback loops connecting glucose and insulin (GI model) or glucose, insulin, and glucagon (GIG model) were generated.

Results

Analysis with the GI model revealed that the disposition index/clearance, which is defined as the product of insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion divided by the square of insulin clearance and represents the glucose-handling ability of insulin, was significantly correlated with glycemia in subjects not taking an SGLT2 inhibitor but not in those taking dapagliflozin. Analysis with the GIG model revealed that a metric defined as the product of glucagon sensitivity and glucagon secretion divided by glucagon clearance (designated production index/clearance) was significantly correlated with blood glucose level in subjects treated with dapagliflozin.

Conclusion

Treatment with an SGLT2 inhibitor alters the relation between insulin effect and blood glucose concentration, and glucagon effect may account for variation in glycemia among individuals treated with such drugs.
Case Report: An Unexpected Complication of Intrathecal Therapy
Authors: Offield Lauren B. , Fernandez Vania E.
Published: April 2024

Traditionally, intrathecal therapy has been used for pain amelioration in cancer patients, but now has indications for nonmalignant chronic pain conditions. Due to its expanding use, it is imperative to understand the risks and management of intrathecal pump implantation. This case illustrates a series of uncommon intrathecal pump complications in a 52-year-old woman with complex regional pain syndrome. Considering the complications outlined in this case, there is a need to conduct retrospective studies and establish guidelines to address when it is optimal to remove a chronically placed catheter as well as the proper technique for removal.
Preoperative Performance Status Threshold for Favorable Surgical Outcome in Metastatic Spine Disease
Authors: Lenschow Moritz , Lenz Maximilian , Telentschak Sergej , von Spreckelsen Niklas , Sircar Krishnan , Oikonomidis Stavros , Kernich Nikolaus , Walter Sebastian G. , Knöll Peter , Perrech Moritz , Goldbrunner Roland , Eysel Peer , Neuschmelting Volker
Published: April 2024

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Surgical treatment is an integral component of multimodality management of metastatic spine disease but must be balanced against the risk of surgery-related morbidity and mortality, making tailored surgical counseling a clinical challenge. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential predictive value of the preoperative performance status for surgical outcome in patients with spinal metastases.

METHODS:

Performance status was determined using the Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS), and surgical outcome was classified as “favorable” or “unfavorable” based on postoperative changes in neurological function and perioperative complications. The correlation between preoperative performance status and surgical outcome was assessed to determine a KPS-related performance threshold.

RESULTS:

A total of 463 patients were included. The mean age was 63 years (range: 22-87), and the mean preoperative KPS was 70 (range: 30-100). Analysis of clinical outcome in relation to the preoperative performance status revealed a KPS threshold between 40% and 50% with a relative risk of an unfavorable outcome of 65.7% in KPS ≤40% compared with the relative chance for a favorable outcome of 77.1% in KPS ≥50%. Accordingly, we found significantly higher rates of preserved or restored ambulatory function in KPS ≥50% (85.7%) than in KPS ≤40% (48.6%; P < .001) as opposed to a significantly higher risk of perioperative mortality in KPS ≤40% (11.4%) than in KPS ≥50% (2.1%, P = .012).

CONCLUSION:

Our results underline the predictive value of the KPS in metastatic spine patients for counseling and decision-making. The study suggests an overall clinical benefit of surgical treatment of spinal metastases in patients with a preoperative KPS score ≥50%, while a high risk of unfavorable outcome outweighing the potential clinical benefit from surgery is encountered in patients with a KPS score ≤40%.
Conservation energetics of beluga whales: using resting and swimming metabolism to understand threats to an endangered population
Authors: John Jason S. , Christen Dennis R. , Flammer Katherine L. , Kendall Traci L. , Nazario Emily C. , Richter Beau P. , Gill Verena , Williams Terrie M.
Published: April 2024

The balance between energetic costs and acquisition in free-ranging species is essential for survival, and provides important insights regarding the physiological impact of anthropogenic disturbances on wild animals. For marine mammals such as beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas), the first step in modeling this bioenergetic balance requires an examination of resting and active metabolic demands. Here, we used open-flow respirometry to measure oxygen consumption during surface rest and submerged swimming by trained beluga whales, and compared these measurements with those of a commonly studied odontocete, the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Both resting metabolic rate (3012±126.0 kJ h−1) and total cost of transport (1.4±0.1 J kg−1 m−1) of beluga whales were consistent with predicted values for moderately sized marine mammals in temperate to cold-water environments, including dolphins measured in the present study. By coupling the rate of oxygen consumption during submerged swimming with locomotor metrics from animal-borne accelerometer tags, we developed predictive relationships for assessing energetic costs from swim speed, stroke rate and partial dynamic acceleration. Combining these energetic data with calculated aerobic dive limits for beluga whales (8.8 min), we found that high-speed responses to disturbance markedly reduce the whale's capacity for prolonged submergence, pushing the cetaceans to costly anaerobic performances that require prolonged recovery periods. Together, these species-specific energetic measurements for beluga whales provide two important metrics, gait-related locomotor costs and aerobic capacity limits, for identifying relative levels of physiological vulnerability to anthropogenic disturbances that have become increasingly pervasive in their Arctic habitats.
A guide to selecting high-performing antibodies for RNA-binding protein TIA1 for use in Western Blot, immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence
Authors: Fotouhi Maryam , Worrall Donovan , Ayoubi Riham , Southern Kathleen , McPherson Peter S. , Laflamme Carl ,   NeuroSGC/YCharOS/EDDU collaborative group,   ABIF Consortium
Published: April 2024

A member of the RNA-binding protein family, T-cell intracellular antigen-1 (TIA1) regulates mRNA translation and splicing as well as cellular stress by promoting stress granule formation. Variants of the TIA1 gene have implications in neurogenerative disorders including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Reproducible research on TIA1 would be enhanced with the availability of high-quality anti-TIA1 antibodies. In this study, we characterized twelve TIA1 commercial antibodies for Western Blot, immunoprecipitation, and immunofluorescence using a standardized experimental protocol based on comparing read-outs in knockout cell lines and isogenic parental controls. We identified many high-performing antibodies and encourage readers to use this report as a guide to select the most appropriate antibody for their specific needs.
Community preparedness for earthquake disasters: A preliminary assessment of awareness and disaster infrastructure response in Cianjur, West Java-Indonesia
Authors: Sutrisno Dewayany , Suwarno Yatin , Rahadiati Ati , Habibie Muhammad Iqbal , Putra Prabu Kresna , Prayogi Hari , Widodo Amien , Sabrina Fathia Zulfati , Kosasih Ahmad
Published: April 2024

Background The danger of earthquakes poses a serious threat to people worldwide. One of the most significant challenges is preparing communities to cope effectively with this disaster. Therefore, understanding earthquake hazards is critically important for preparedness, mitigation, and an effective response to this threat. This report aims to observe and conduct a preliminary assessment of the degree to which community preparedness for earthquake disasters has been implemented. Methods Empirical data were obtained from survey respondents and interviews. The respondents were members of a community affected by the Cianjur earthquake, which occurred on November 21, 2022. The data were analysed using the mean range approach, based on Likert scales. Additionally, the Spearman correlation method was employed to indicate the relationship between community awareness and infrastructure readiness. Result Based on empirical evidence and preliminary analysis, it is evident that the preparedness of the community to respond effectively to earthquake catastrophes is inadequate. An apparent lack of readiness is observed in the inadequate construction of housing that fails to meet disaster standards, and the absence of disaster response facilities is notable. Conclusions Based on our initial assumption, it appears that knowledge related to disaster resilience in this area has not been adequately disseminated or socialized. However, this premise requires further investigation.
The economic impact of living with a rare disease for children and their families: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Buckle Niamh , Doyle Orla , Kodate Naonori , Somanadhan Suja
Published: April 2024

Background Rare diseases are an often chronic, progressive and life-limiting group of conditions affecting more than 30 million people in Europe. These diseases are associated with significant direct and indirect costs to a spectrum of stakeholders, ranging from individuals and their families to society overall. Further quantitative research on the economic cost for children and their families living with a rare disease is required as there is little known on this topic. This scoping review aims to document the extent and type of evidence on the economic impacts of living with a rare disease for children and their families. Methods This scoping review will follow the PRISMA-ScR and Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines and follow the six-stage methodology for scoping reviews: (1) identifying the research question, (2) identifying relevant studies, (3) study selection, (4) charting the data, (5) collating, summarising and reporting results and (6) knowledge user consultation. Key inclusion criteria have been developed according to the Population-Concept-Context (PCC) framework. The databases EconLit, ABI/Inform, MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus will be searched for possible articles for inclusion. Two independent reviewers will screen titles and abstracts of potential articles using a dual review process to ensure all relevant studies are included. All included articles will be assessed using a validated quality appraisal tool. A panel of patient and public involvement representatives experiencing rare diseases and knowledge users will validate the review results. Conclusions This scoping review will map the current literature on the economic impact of paediatric rare diseases to understand how these impacts affect children living with rare diseases and their families. This evidence has the potential to influence policy and future research in this area and will support further research on the economic impact of rare diseases on families.
The Continuous Time-Resource Trade-off Scheduling Problem with Time Windows
Authors: Artigues Christian , Hébrard Emmanuel , Quilliot Alain , Toussaint Hélène
Published: April 2024

We introduce a variant of the cumulative scheduling problem (CuSP) characterized by continuous modes, time windows, and a criterion that involves safety margin maximization. The study of this variant is motivated by the Geospatial based Environment for Optimisation Systems Addressing Fire Emergencies Horizon 2020 Project, which is devoted to the design of evacuation plans in the face of natural disasters and more specifically, wildfire. People and goods have to be transferred from endangered places to safe places, and evacuation planning consists of scheduling evacuee moves along precomputed paths under arc capacities and deadlines. The resulting model is relevant in other contexts, such as project or industrial process scheduling. We consider here several formulations of the continuous time-resource trade-off scheduling problem (CTRTP-TW) with a safety maximization objective. We establish a complete complexity characterization distinguishing polynomial and NP-hard special cases depending on key parameters. We show that the problem with fixed sequencing (i.e., with predetermined overlap or precedence relations between activities) is convex. We then show that the preemptive variant is polynomial, and we propose lower and upper bounds based on this relaxation. A flow-based mixed-integer linear programming formulation is presented, from which a branch-and-cut exact method and an insertion heuristic are derived. An exact dedicated branch-and-bound algorithm is also designed. Extensive computational experiments are carried out to compare the different approaches on evacuation planning instances and on general CTRTP-TW instances. The experiments also show the interest of the continuous model compared with a previously proposed discrete approximation.

History: Accepted by Andrea Lodi, Area Editor for Design & Analysis of Algorithms—Discrete.

Funding: This work was funded by the Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research and Innovation Staff Exchange European Project 691161 GEO-SAFE (Geospatial based Environment for Optimisation Systems Addressing Fire Emergencie). This work has also been supported by ANITI, the Artificial and Natural Intelligence Toulouse Institute.

Supplemental Material: The software that supports the findings of this study is available within the paper and its Supplemental Information ( https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/suppl/10.1287/ijoc.2022.0142 ) as well as from the IJOC GitHub software repository ( https://github.com/INFORMSJoC/2022.0142 ). The complete IJOC Software and Data Repository is available at https://informsjoc.github.io/ .
O papel da Educação Científica na construção do País e da Identidade Nacional: caminhos, pontes, travessias
Authors: Araújo Roberto Moreira Xavier de , Catarino Giselle Faur de Castro
Published: April 2024

Neste trabalho, a História da Engenharia Brasileira, a partir do século XIX até 1960, é tomada como fio condutor para o entendimento das principais mudanças na Educação Científica, em especial no Ensino de Física, ocorridas nesse período. Podemos destacar três fases da Engenharia no Brasil: a engenharia de estradas e ferrovias, acompanhando a ocupação do território; a construção civil, associada ao processo de urbanização; e a engenharia química e de petróleo, liderando a modernização recente. A ocupação do nosso território, cujo ritmo é ditado pelas demandas sociais, está intimamente associada a essas fases e é um elemento fundamental na construção da Identidade Nacional. Essas quatro linhas evolutivas – engenharia, conquista do espaço e tempo brasileiros, identidade nacional e ensino de física – encontram-se nesse artigo e iluminam o significado social dos currículos de física.
Pronombre o adjetivo demostrativo o este… marcador del discurso: El uso del marcador del discurso este en el español de México
Authors: Mayr Paul , Harjus Jannis
Published: April 2024

This paper aims to present observations on the pragmaticalized use as well as the concomitant functions of the demonstrative este in Mexican Spanish. Este seems to serve an additional range of functions in Mexican Spanish in particular, but also in other Hispanic American varieties, as it has turned into a quite productive discourse marker that can be considered, among other things, as a hesitation element, an outline signal, and probably also as an evidentiality marker. The specific functional domains (especially with regard to possible evidential functions) will be illustrated in more detail in the paper using oral language data from the speaker community of the southern Mexican city of Oaxaca de Juárez. The study also includes a sociolinguistically oriented quantitative analysis, the results of which will also be discussed in the context of language ideological attitudes towards este.
Parental stress, coercive and encouraging parenting among Chinese one-child, two-child and three-child families
Authors: Zhou Huiquan , Wang Xiaotao , Li Mei
Published: April 2024

Due to changes in family planning policy, families with multiple children are re-emerging in China. This article looked at parental stress and parenting practices in Chinese families with one child, two children and three children, and explored to what extent, controlling for socioeconomic factors, the number of children and parenting practices influenced parental stress. Using a sample from southern China, we measured parental stress and parenting practices among parents who have at least one child in primary school. Results showed that having multiple children increased parental pressure, and this was partially caused by a change in parenting practices: compared with their counterparts with only one child, parents with multiple children tended to use less positive encouragement but more coercive parenting. Findings suggested that in the context of low fertility, ‘parenting’ is more important than ‘fertility’. Effective parenting practices help reduce pressure, which in turn reduce a family’s fear of childbearing.
Digital technologies in children’s everyday lives and in ‘doing family’
Authors: Schmidt Eva-Maria
Published: April 2024

This article contributes to the sociological debate on how digital technologies (DT) have penetrated the lives of families and children, and examines the relevance of digital technologies for children and for practices of ‘doing family’. We analysed qualitative data from focus groups and interviews with children between 5 and 10 years old (n=231) and interviews with further members of children’s families from four different European countries (Austria, Estonia, Norway and Romania). Results reveal that DT contributed to doing family when families created and maintained a feeling of ‘we-ness’ through digital activities; when DT required families to balance different needs, rights, or emotions; and when caring practices were supported through DT. Children appeared as significant actors in practices of doing family. As DT helped to decouple practices of doing family from physical co-presence, doing family was expanded. When children’s needs were fulfilled and their digital competences were enhanced, their resilience increased.
The Politics of Wholesome Games: Conservative Comforts and Radical Softness
Authors: Scully-Blaker Rainforest
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT: Wholesome games are those that eschew dominant fight-or-flight logics and instead embrace softness, kindness, and warmth. While most academic and popular writing on such titles frames wholesomeness as an aesthetic or affect, in this paper I emphasize its politics in an effort to understand how these games variously reify and combat systemic oppression. My analysis focuses on the competing discourses that emerged from the first Wholesome Direct, a video showcase of then-forthcoming cozy video games. I read these perspectives from industry professionals through critical concepts from feminist media studies and queer art spaces, including nostalgia, exit, and radical softness. Through a distinction between what I call comfort and rest, I conclude that wholesome games must wear their politics on their sleeve if they wish to address the systemic issues that make many people seek them out.
Cryogenic focus measurement system for a wide-field infrared space telescope
Authors: Condon Samuel S. , Padin Stephen , Bock James , Hui Howard , Korngut Phillip , Nguyen Chi , Ostby Jordan
Published: April 2024

We describe a technique for measuring focus errors in a cryogenic,
wide-field, near-infrared space telescope. The measurements are made
with a collimator looking through a large vacuum window, with a
reflective cold filter to reduce the background thermal infrared
loading on the detectors and optics. The vacuum window and cold filter
introduce a wavefront error that we characterize using an
autocollimating microscope. For the 200 mm diameter aperture f/3 space telescope SPHEREx, we achieve a
focus position measurement with a ∼15µm systematic and a ∼5µm statistical error.
Pixelated gradient thickness optical filter for visible light spectroscopy
Authors: Sahani Pratyasha , Nabana Shiori , Okatani Taiyu , Inomata Naoki , Kanamori Yoshiaki
Published: April 2024

A miniature low-cost pixelated gradient thickness optical filter is
proposed to achieve spectroscopy in the visible wavelength range. The
optical filter consists of a two-dimensional array of
metal-dielectric-metal thin films arranged in Fabry–Pérot filter
configurations with discretely varying cavity thicknesses. The
wavelength-selective characterization of each filter is performed by
measuring the transmittance over the visible wavelength range. The
pixelated gradient thickness filter is equipped with a CMOS image
sensor, and its performance as a spectroscopic module is evaluated by
illuminating different monochromatic wavelengths on it. The target
spectra are successfully reconstructed from the output signals
recorded in the sensor from the respective pixelated gradient
thickness filters. The technological competence of the proposed filter
will enable its use in handheld devices to widen its application range
in day-to-day life.
Digital calibration method to enable depth-resolved all-fiber polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography with an arbitrary input polarization state
Authors: Tang Peijun , Wang Ruikang K. , Chao Qing
Published: April 2024

We present a fully integrated depth-resolved all fiber-based
polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography (PSOCT). In
contrast to conventional fiber-based PSOCT systems, which require
additional modules to generate two or more input polarization states,
or a pre-adjustment procedure to generate a circularly polarized
light, the proposed all-fiber PSOCT system can provide depth-resolved
birefringent imaging using an arbitrary single input polarization
state. Utilizing the discrete differential geometry (DDG)-based
polarization state tracing (PST) method, combined with several
geometric rotations and transformations in the Stokes space, two
problems induced by the optical fibers can be mitigated: 1) The change
in the polarization state introduced by the optical fibers can be
effectively compensated using a calibration target at the distal end
of the probe, and the computations of the local axis orientation and
local phase retardation can be achieved with a single arbitrary input
polarization state, eliminating the need for a pre-defined input
polarization state, allowing a flexible system design and
user-friendly experimental procedure; 2) The polarization mode
dispersion (PMD) induced by the optical fibers can be compensated
digitally without the requirement of additional input polarization
states, providing an accurate PSOCT imaging result. To demonstrate the
performance of the proposed method, the depth resolved PSOCT results
of a plastic phantom and in vivo skin imaging are
obtained using the proposed all-fiber PSOCT system.
Two photon imaging probe with highly efficient autofluorescence collection at high scattering and deep imaging conditions
Authors: Camli Berk , Andrus Liam , Roy Aditya , Mishra Biswajit , Xu Chris , Georgakoudi Irene , Tkaczyk Tomasz , Ben-Yakar Adela
Published: April 2024

In this paper, we present a 2-photon imaging probe system featuring a novel fluorescence collection method with improved and reliable efficiency. The system aims to miniaturize the potential of 2-photon imaging in the metabolic and morphological characterization of cervical tissue at sub-micron resolution over large imaging depths into a flexible and clinically viable platform towards the early detection of cancers. Clinical implementation of such a probe system is challenging due to inherently low levels of autofluorescence, particularly when imaging deep in highly scattering tissues. For an efficient collection of fluorescence signals, our probe employs 12 0.5 NA collection fibers arranged around a miniaturized excitation objective. By bending and terminating a multitude of collection fibers at a specific angle, we increase collection area and directivity significantly. Positioning of these fibers allows the collection of fluorescence photons scattered away from their ballistic trajectory multiple times, which offers a system collection efficiency of 4%, which is 55% of what our bench-top microscope with 0.75 NA objective achieves. We demonstrate that the collection efficiency is largely maintained even at high scattering conditions and high imaging depths. Radial symmetry of arrangement maintains uniformity of collection efficiency across the whole FOV. Additionally, our probe can image at different tissue depths via axial actuation by a dc servo motor, allowing depth dependent tissue characterization. We designed our probe to perform imaging at 775 nm, targeting 2-photon autofluorescence from NAD(P)H and FAD molecules, which are often used in metabolic tissue characterization. An air core photonic bandgap fiber delivers laser pulses of 100 fs duration to the sample. A miniaturized objective designed with commercially available lenses of 3 mm diameter focuses the laser beam on tissue, attaining lateral and axial imaging resolutions of 0.66 µm and 4.65 µm, respectively. Characterization results verify that our probe achieves collection efficiency comparable to our optimized bench-top 2-photon imaging microscope, minimally affected by imaging depth and radial positioning. We validate autofluorescence imaging capability with excised porcine vocal fold tissue samples. Images with 120 µm FOV and 0.33 µm pixel sizes collected at 2 fps confirm that the 300 µm imaging depth was achieved.
Polarimetric modeling and measurement approach for refractory material in the mid-wave infrared
Authors: Pang Mingqi , Shi Zelin , Liu Haizheng , Zhang Daijun , Fang Lei , Yan Kunna
Published: April 2024

Passive polarimetric imaging has gained substantial attention over the past three decades in various applications in defense. The complexity of polarimetry modeling and measurement in the thermal infrared exceeds that of the visible and near-infrared due to the complementary polarization orientation of reflected and emitted radiance. This paper presents a comprehensive polarimetric radiance model and a degree of linear polarization (DOLP) model, both of which are specifically tailored for the infrared spectrum, accounting for both reflected and emitted radiance. Building on this foundation, we conduct an analysis and simulation of the DOLP’s variation as the object temperature changes. This analysis enables the observation of relationships that can be strategically utilized in subsequent experiments focused on measuring polarized model parameters. To mitigate the influence of reflected radiance components, the samples are subjected to high temperatures. The observed Stokes images from the sample surfaces are normalized to eliminate the dependence of each Stokes image on temperature. This parameters acquisition measurement method is particularly well-suited for refractories. Finally, the efficacy of the polarized model parameters acquisition technique is demonstrated through experiments involving three distinct refractory materials in the MWIR.
Incoherent partial superposition modeling for single-shot angle-resolved ellipsometry measurement of thin films on transparent substrates
Authors: Peng Lihua , Wang Jian , Gao Feng , Zhang Jun , Zhai Wenzheng , Zhou Liping , Jiang Xiangqian
Published: April 2024

Ellipsometric measurement of transparent samples suffers from substrate backside reflection challenges, including incoherent and partial superposition issues. The recently developed angle-resolved ellipsometry (ARE) can naturally eliminate the backside reflections of substrates with a micro-spot equivalent thickness or thicker; however, for thinner substrates, ARE working with general incoherent backside reflection models shows significant inaccuracy or measurement failure. In this paper, an incoherent partial superposition (IPS) model is proposed to characterize the optical superposition effect between the frontside and uncertain backside reflections from an unknown substrate. IPS introduces a cosine-like correction of the backside reflection, corresponding to the overlapping-area change of backside and frontside reflections along with incident angles. Benefiting from ARE’s wide-angle spectral imaging capability, IPS achieves single-shot measurement of thin film thicknesses on transparent substrates of unknown thickness. An ARE system was built and calibrated regarding the linear relationship between the cosine-corrected angular frequencies and substrate thicknesses. Then, commercial ITO films on glasses of different thicknesses ranging from 200 to 1000 µm were measured. Experimental results show that IPS-ARE results in a root-mean-square accuracy error of ∼1 nm in film thickness measurement and provides a ∼77% error reduction from general incoherent backside reflection models.
Optical spatial differentiation enabled layer sensing of two-dimensional atomic crystals
Authors: Zhang Jin , Wu Hanqing , Huang Mian , Dai Xin , Zhang Tao , Li Yingdan , Yu Xiaoyan
Published: April 2024

Zero-thickness model and slab model are two important models in the description of optical behaviors in two-dimensional atomic crystals. The predicted difference in optical behaviors between the two models is very small, which is difficult to distinguish by established measurement methods. Here, we present an optical spatial differentiation method to examine the difference in edge images of different graphene layers. The theoretical results show that the edge imaging is significantly different between the two different models. When the beam reflection is at the Brewster angle, different graphene layers are used to adjust the spatial differentiation. It is shown that the slab model is more sensitive to the number of graphene layers. The zero-thickness model is more suitable for one-dimensional optical differential operation. Moreover, the spatial differentiation plays the role of a band-pass filter. The high-frequency edge information components will pass through the filter, thus realizing layer-sensitive edge-enhanced imaging. In addition, we do not focus on the verification of the exact model, but only provide an alternative method to characterize the number of graphene layers based on two models, and also provide possibilities for achieving imaging edge detection by graphene differential operators. This study may provide a possible method for the optical characterization of two-dimensional atomic crystals.
Supercontinuum generation in a graded-index multimode tellurite fiber
Authors: Krutova Ekaterina , Salmela Lauri , Eslami Zahra , Karpate Tanvi , Klimczak Mariusz , Buczynski Ryszard , Genty Goëry
Published: April 2024

We report the generation of a broadband supercontinuum (SC) from 790 to 2900 nm in a tellurite graded-index (GRIN) multimode fiber with a nanostructured core. We study the SC dynamics in different dispersion regimes and observe near-single-mode spatial intensity distribution at high input energy values. Numerical simulations of the (3 + 1)D generalized nonlinear Schrödinger equation are in good agreement with our experiments. Our results open a new avenue for the generation of high-power mid-infrared SC sources in soft-glass fibers.
Bragg-like microcavity formed by collision of single-cycle self-induced transparency light pulses in a resonant medium
Authors: Arkhipov Rostislav , Pakhomov Anton , Diachkova Olga , Arkhipov Mikhail , Rosanov Nikolay
Published: April 2024

The coherent interaction of extremely short light pulses with a resonant medium can result in the formation of population difference gratings. Such gratings have been created by pulses that are π/2 or smaller. This paper demonstrates that a microcavity with Bragg-like mirrors can be formed by colliding two single-cycle attosecond self-induced transparency pulses in the center of a two-level medium. The parameters of this structure can be quickly adjusted by increasing the number of collisions, which showcases the ability to control the dynamic properties of the medium on a sub-cycle time scale by using attosecond pulses.
Quasi-bound state in the continuum in a dielectric double-gap split-ring metasurface structure with large split angles
Authors: Huang Zian , He Rong , Chen Cheng , Tang Xisaina , Chen Liang-yao , Guo Junpeng
Published: April 2024

It was reported previously that the quality factor of a symmetry-protected quasi-BIC mode increases as the degree of structure asymmetry is reduced. In this work, we propose and investigate an alternative approach to increase the quality factor of a quasi-BIC mode without reducing the degree of asymmetry. Specifically, we calculate the quality factor of the quasi-BIC mode of a double-gap dielectric split-ring metasurface for different split angles. It is found that the quality factor increases exponentially with the increase of the split angles while the degree of asymmetry of the structure is constant. To explain the phenomena, multipole moment decomposition of the local electromagnetic field is conducted to calculate the change of major multipole moments versus the split angles. It is revealed that the double-gap split-ring array structure stores more energy in the higher order multipoles, and the rate of radiation energy loss stays constant when the two splitting angles increase simultaneously. Additionally, the enhancement of third harmonic generation is investigated in the double-gap split-ring metasurface structure.