bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Life cycle assessment of a 33.7 MW solar photovoltaic power plant in the context of a developing country
Authors: Badza Kodami , Soro Y. M. , Sawadogo Marie
Published: November 2023

This work aims to determine the Energy Payback Time (EPBT) of a 33.7 MWp grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) power plant in Zagtouli (Burkina Faso) and assess its environmental impacts using the life cycle assessment tool according to ISO 14040 and 14044 standards. A “cradle to grave” approach was used, considering 1 kWh of electricity produced and injected into the national grid over 25 years as a functional unit. In addition to the baseline scenario, the other simulated scenarios combining three variables, module technology (mono c-Si, poly c-Si, and CdTe), type of mounting structure (aluminum and steel), and end-of-life treatments (landfill and recycling) were considered. SimaPro 9.4 software and the ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint (H) evaluation method were used for the calculations considering four environmental indicators. A sensitivity analysis of the change in the electricity mix was also performed. Results showed that the EPBT of the scenarios varies between 1.47 and 1.95 years, with the shortest and longest corresponding to scenarios 4 (CdTe modules, steel mounting structure, and recycling as end-of-life treatment) and scenario 3 (mono c-Si modules, aluminum mounting structure, and recycling as end-of-life treatment), respectively. All the EPBT scenarios studied can be considered acceptable given the long lifetime of PV systems (25 years). The following environmental impact results were obtained: climate change 37–48 CO2-eq kWh-1, freshwater ecotoxicity 4–11 g 1,4-DCB kWh-1, mineral resource scarcity 0.4–0.7 g Cu-eq kWh-1 and 11–13 g oil-eq kWh-1 for fossil resource scarcity. Scenario 3 (mono c-Si modules, aluminum mounting structure, and recycling as end-of-life treatment) dominates all environmental indicators studied except freshwater ecotoxicity, which is dominated by scenario 4 (CdTe modules, steel mounting structure, and recycling as end-of-life treatment). The sensitivity analysis showed that the change in the electricity mix could reduce around 30% the EPBT, climate change, and fossil resource scarcity. Considering the environmental indicators studied, using CdTe modules manufactured in a country with a less carbon-intensive electricity mix, using galvanized steel as the mounting structure, and completely recycling components at the end of their lifetime is the most environmentally friendly scenario. However, particular attention needs to be paid to the land occupation that this plant could generate.
Development of stability-indicating HPLC method for quantification of pharmacopeia impurities of Zuclopenthixol and characterization of its stress degradation products by LCMS/MS
Authors: Sesharamsingh Bondili , Kumar J. Suresh , Viswanath I. V. Kasi , Rao Gattupalli Subhakara , Anna Venkateswara Rao
Published: November 2023

Background

The present study focused to develop a simple and sensitive HPLC method for resolution and estimation process-related impurities of zuclopenthixol and further assessment of forced degradation behavior of zuclopenthixol.

Results

The chromatographic separation of drug substance, process-related impurities and its degradation products (DPs) was achieved on KNAUER C18 (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5µ id) column at that was maintained at 35 °C temperature using 0.1 M sodium acetate buffer at pH 4.3 and methanol in 20:80 (v/v) as mobile phase A, 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile in 75:25 (v/v) as mobile phase B. Equal volume of mobile phase A and B was pumped in isocratic elution at 0.8 mL/min. Detection wavelength was selected as 257 nm. In the proposed conditions, zuclopenthixol is identified at 6.91 and 1.91 min and 2.89 min, respectively, for impurity B and A min with acceptable system suitability and specificity. The method produces LOD at 0.009 for impurities with calibration range of 30–180 µg/mL for zuclopenthixol and 0.03–0.18 µg/mL for impurities. The other validation parameters were notices to be with in the acceptable levels for zuclopenthixol and its impurities. The drug was exposed to different stressed conditions (acid, base, peroxide, thermal and UV light) according to ICH Q1A (R2) guidelines. The DPs formed during the stress study were identified and characterized by LCMS/MS in ESI positive mode.

Conclusion

The analysis involved a comparison of collision-induced dissociation mass spectrometry data between the degradation products and zuclopenthixol. As a result, potential structures for six degradation compounds were suggested. The results from additional validation studies were similarly pleasing and demonstrated their suitability for the routine analysis of zuclopenthixol and its associated impurities in both bulk drug and pharmaceutical dosage forms. Additionally, these findings can be extended to assess the mechanism of stress degradation in zuclopenthixol.
Comments on: “Numerical validation of Gassmann’s equations” (Yury Alkhimenkov, 2023, Geophysics, 88, no. 4, A25–A29)
Authors: Thomsen Leon
Published: November 2023

The well-known “Biot-Gassmann” equation for the fluid dependence of incompressibility of a porous rock is in error. However, a recent numerical calculation on a simple rock model verifies that equation. The calculation appears to be correct but constitutes a special case not representative of real rock. Physical experimentation on actual rocks is required to verify the corrected theory.
Time to Benefit of Surgery vs Targeted Medical Therapy for Patients With Primary Aldosteronism: A Meta-analysis
Authors: Samnani Sunil , Cenzer Irena , Kline Gregory A , Lee Sei J , Hundemer Gregory L , McClurg Caitlin , Pasieka Janice L , Boscardin W John , Ronksley Paul E , Leung Alexander A
Published: November 2023

Context

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is one of the most common causes of secondary hypertension, but the comparative outcomes of targeted treatment remain unclear.

Objective

To compare the clinical outcomes in patients treated for primary aldosteronism over time.

Methods

Medline and EMBASE were searched. Original studies reporting the incidence of mortality, major adverse cardiovascular outcomes (MACE), progression to chronic kidney disease, or diabetes following adrenalectomy vs medical therapy were selected. Two reviewers independently abstracted data and assessed study quality. Standard meta-analyses were conducted using random-effects models to estimate relative differences. Time to benefit meta-analyses were conducted by fitting Weibull survival curves to estimate absolute risk differences and pooled using random-effects models.

Results

15 541 patients (16 studies) with PA were included. Surgery was consistently associated with an overall lower risk of death (hazard ratio [HR] 0.34, 95% CI 0.22-0.54) and MACE (HR 0.55, 95% CI 0.36-0.84) compared with medical therapy. Surgery was associated with a significantly lower risk of hospitalization for heart failure (HR 0.48 95% CI 0.34-0.70) and progression to chronic kidney disease (HR 0.62 95% CI 0.39-0.98), and nonsignificant reductions in myocardial infarction and stroke. In absolute terms, 200 patients would need to be treated with surgery instead of medical therapy to prevent 1 death after 12.3 (95% CI 3.1-48.7) months.

Conclusion

Surgery is associated with lower all-cause mortality and MACE than medical therapy for PA. For most patients, the long-term surgical benefits outweigh the short-term perioperative risks.
Modification Effects of Albuminuria on the Association Between Kidney Function and Development of Anemia in Diabetes
Authors: Okada Akira , Yamaguchi Satoko , Imaizumi Takahiro , Oba Koji , Kurakawa Kayo Ikeda , Yamauchi Toshimasa , Kadowaki Takashi , Nangaku Masaomi
Published: November 2023

Context

Previous studies failed to adjust for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in evaluating the association between albuminuria and anemia development, and we aimed to investigate whether albuminuria independently affects anemia development.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study and retrospectively identified adults with diabetes from a Japanese nationwide clinical database (JMDC, Tokyo, Japan). To assess the modification effects of albuminuria on the association between eGFR and anemia development, we estimated prevalence of anemia, defined as hemoglobin < 13 g/dL in men and < 12 g/dL in women, using a modified Poisson regression and marginal standardization form of predictive margins, stratified by albuminuria severity after adjusting for eGFR. Hence, we revealed at which eGFR level this modification effect appeared and the extent to which this modification effect increased the prevalence of anemia.

Results

We identified 327 999 data points from 48 056 individuals [normoalbuminuria: 186 472 (56.9%), microalbuminuria: 107 170 (32.7%), and macroalbuminuria: 34 357 (10.5%)]. As eGFR declined, anemia prevalence increased. Albuminuria severity modified this association induced by decreased eGFR among individuals with eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m2 after adjusting for multivariable factors, including age, sex, comorbidities, and medication use. Compared with the normoalbuminuric group, the macroalbuminuric group had a 5% to 20% higher anemia prevalence among individuals with eGFR of <30 mL/min/1.73 m2.

Conclusion

We revealed that the severity of albuminuria modified the association between eGFR and anemia development among individuals with eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m2, highlighting the modification effect of albuminuria on the association between kidney function and anemia development in diabetes.
Talent has no race, has no face - but it has a skin colour: The ‘appropriate femininity’ with the case of Kurdish-Swedish Actress Evin Ahmad
Authors: Galip Özlem Belçim
Published: November 2023

Sexist and misogynist attitudes towards actresses in the mainstream film industry and other media have been the target of feminists for decades. Stigmatized and stereotyped images of immigrants on the screen have also been scrutinized. However, very little attention has been given to the ways in which actresses with foreign background, not necessarily from Black communities, are portrayed and narrated. Addressing this issue would reveal how non-Western body images on screen are racialized according to certain Western beauty standards. Sweden is often described as the most gender-equal film industry in the world; however, this does not mean that marginalization and subordination of non-white actresses with foreign backgrounds, does not occur. Accordingly, using the framework of feminist film critique and drawing on the works of Homi Bhabba, Sara Ahmed and Patricia Hill-Collins, this article offers a reading of Swedish-Kurdish actress Evin Ahmad’s experiences to demonstrate how ‘beauty’ and ‘body’ culture involve a complicated terrain around race, skin colour and body image. This article argues that a generalized ideology of beauty and stereotypical images of a Middle Eastern woman imposed on Ahmad demonstrate that values and attributes such as beauty, appearance and sexual attractiveness should be understood in the context of social and cultural relations, rather than as universally valued or devalued individual characteristics.
Functions of demonstrative pronouns in contemporary Soikkola Ingrian
Authors: Markus Elena , Rozhanskiy Fedor
Published: November 2023

This article discusses demonstrative pronouns in the Soikkola dialect of the Ingrian language. The material for the research comes from the collection of spontaneous speech samples recorded in the 21st century. All the examples are published for the first time. The article presents mainly a qualitative analysis and aims at overviewing the basic functions of the Ingrian demonstrative pronouns tämä and še. It is shown that in the contemporary Ingrian the demonstratives are used as deictic and anaphoric devices, and also as discourse markers. Individual speakers demonstrate differences in the use of these pronouns due to the contact influence from the neighbouring languages. 

Kokkuvõte. Elena Markus, Fedor Rozhanskiy: Demonstratiivpronoomenite funktsioonid tänapäeva isuri keele Soikkola murdes. Käesolevas artiklis käsitletakse demonstratiivpronoomeneid isuri keele Soikkola murdes. Uurimuse materjal pärineb 21. sajandil salvestatud spontaanse kõne näidiste kogust. Kõik näited avaldatakse esimest korda. Artiklis esitatakse peamiselt kvalitatiivne analüüs ja selle eesmärk on anda ülevaade isuri demonstratiivpronoomenite tämä ja še põhifunktsioonidest. Näidatakse, et tänapäeva isuri keeles kasutatakse demonstratiive deiktiliste ja anafoorsete vahenditena ning ka diskursuse markeritena. Üksikutel kõnelejatel esineb nende asesõnade kasutamisel erinevusi naaberkeelte kontaktmõju tõttu.
Kas moos ja buss seisavad endiselt? seisma-verbi polüseemia ja seismise kehaline kogemus
Authors: Veismann Ann , Proos Mariann , Taremaa Piia
Published: November 2023

Artiklis käsitleme asendiverbi seisma polüseemiat. Kasutame mõisteliste tunnuste hindamise katset uurimaks, kuidas eesti keele kõnelejad seisma eri tähendusi tajuvad. Palusime eesti keele kõnelejatel hinnata seisma tähenduste seotust viie tunnusega, mis peegeldavad füüsilise seismise kogemust: vertikaalsus, kontakt, tasakaal, võimelisus ja liikumisvõime. Kasutasime katses samu lauseid nagu Renate Pajusalu (2001a. Kas moos ja buss seisavad sarnaselt ehk väike katse verbiga „seisma“. Toim Reet Kasik, Keele kannul. Pühendusteos Mati Erelti 60. sünnipäevaks, 250–274. Tartu: Tartu Ülikooli Kirjastus). Tulemusi analüüsisime klasteranalüüsi ja segamudeldamise teel. Klasteranalüüsis jagunesid laused rühmadesse, põhihargnemisega konkreetseteks ja abstraktseteks kasutusteks, mis omakorda jagunesid väiksemateks tähenduslikeks rühmadeks. Segamudelite abil leidsime, et rühmade tekkimisel olid statistiliselt olulised kõik viis tunnust (vertikaalsus, tasakaal, kontakt, võimelisus ja liikumisvõime). Erinevate statistiliste analüüside tulemusi kombineerides järeldasime, et kõige tugevamalt olid eesti keele kõnelejate jaoks füüsilised seisma tähendused seotud vertikaalsuse ja liikumisvõimega, kuid abstraktsete seisma tähenduste seotus tunnustega ei olnud nii selgepiiriline. See tulemus viitab asjaolule, et seisma abstraktsed tähendused ei tugine üheselt seismise füüsilisele kogemusele ning seos füüsilise seismise ja seisma abstraktsete tähenduste vahel vajab edasist uurimist.

Abstract. Ann Veismann, Mariann Proos, Piia Taremaa: Are jam and bus still standing? Polysemy of seisma ‘to stand’ in Estonian and the physical experience of standing. The present paper takes the polysemy of the Estonian position verb seisma ‘to stand’ as its focus. We use a conceptual feature rating task to find out how Estonian speakers perceive the different meanings of seisma ‘to stand’. We used sentences from Renate Pajusalu (2001a. Kas moos ja buss seisavad sarnaselt ehk väike katse verbiga „seisma“. In Reet Kasik (ed.), Keele kannul. Pühendusteos Mati Erelti 60. sünnipäevaks, 250–274. Tartu: Tartu Ülikooli Kirjastus) to represent the meanings and asked native Estonian speakers to rate the connection of these sentences to five features: verticality, contact, balance, enablement, and mobility. We applied hierarchical clustering and mixed-effects modelling to analyse the results. For Estonian speakers, verticality and ability to move are the features most connected to the physical experience of standing. Abstract meanings of seisma, however, did not show such uniform behaviour. This result suggests that the abstract meanings of seisma ‘to stand’ are not based on the physical experience of standing in a clear-cut manner, and that the connection between abstract meanings of seisma and the physical experience of standing requires more research attention.
Dichotomy of Tranquility and Annoyance Strategies as Background for the Communicative Behavior of German Haiku Poets
Authors: Dacko D.
Published: November 2023

Introduction. The article considers the genre of German haiku as an element of a communicative act stipulating certain dialogue between the addresser (haiku poet) and the recepient (reader).

The aim of research is to identify communicative strategies and tactics representing the communicative behavior of contemporary haiku authors. Methodology and research methods. The research work used methods of systematization and generalization of the scientific material, descriptive-analytical method, method of linguistic and stylistic analysis of the text. Results. It has been shown that the author's intention in the texts of modern German haiku is explicated through two basic strategies — tranquility and annoyance. Each strategy is represented by a set of main tactics. In particular, the strategy of tranquility includes tactics of observation and adaptation, the strategy of annoyance involves tactics of breaking the taboo topics, intimidation, and creating a negative mood.

In the 21st century, due to the haiku genre evolution and transformation of the social values it is possible to adopt a micro-diachronic approach to the research of changes in the communicative behavior of haiku poets in the light of the communicative strategies dichotomy. Previously haiku poems were composed exclusively according to the canons of Japanese poetry. This fact also determines the relevance of the study.

Scientific novelty lies in the study of the specifics of communicative strategies and tactics, the norms of artistic communication in terms of German haiku genre.

The practical significance is determined by the possibility of using the obtained scientific results in special university basic courses on literary translation, discourse theory, linguistic and stylistic interpretation of the text.
VIRTUAL TOUR IN AN INNOVATIVE FORMAT OF COMMUNICATIVE TEACHING OF THE RUSSIAN LANGUAGE
Authors: Deykina Alevtina , Levushkina Ol'ga , Ryauzova Olga
Published: November 2023

Introduction. The active search for new forms and means of teaching that enrich the teaching process and improve the quality of educational activities has led to the renewal of the arsenal of methodological tools in the methodology of the Russian language. Orientation to the development of students' communicative competence, reliance on system-activity, personality-oriented and communicative-activity approaches, active use of information and communication technologies in the learning process has led to the emergence of innovative forms and methods of communicative teaching of the Russian language. In this context, a virtual tour has become an important and relevant methodological tool.

Aim. The purpose of this methodological study is to identify the educational potential of a virtual excursion in the process of communicative teaching of the Russian language.

Methods: analysis, generalization, modeling.

Results. The formation of this concept in the scientific and methodological literature, the specifics of using virtual excursions in the methodology of teaching Russian as a foreign language and as a native language are analyzed. The methodological potential of virtual excursions is shown, in the process of using which modern educational technologies (design and research and global simulation technology) can be integrated. The linguodidactic potential of virtual excursions for the intellectual, communicative and cultural development of students is described.

Scientific novelty. Virtual tour is presented as an innovative form of communicative teaching of the Russian language, as a modern teaching method and as an innovative format of a modern Russian language lesson.

Practical significance. The results of this study can be used in the practice of communicative teaching of Russian as a native and as a foreign language.
Language as a Modern Tool of Thinking: Review of the Book by V.I. Karasik “Language Ladder of Knowledge” (M.: State Institute of Russian Language named after A.S. Pushkin, 2022. – 462 pp.)
Authors: Kharchenko Vera
Published: November 2023

Monograph by V.I. Karasik’s “Linguistic Ladder of Knowledge” is characterized by a high degree of scientific character and a sharp modern reading of the texts. It sheds light on many questions and makes readers take a closer look at the life that is now outside the window and which we sometimes do not notice, although we plunge into its alternatives and paradoxes. The author designated the book as a ladder of knowledge, and this is very natural, although there is little metaphor in this designation, but there are many relevant meanings oriented towards the modern world. The article analyzes such issues as professional and gaming bilingualism, imitation, irony, aphorisms, and at the beginning of the book the emblematic, allegorical and symbolic characteristics of the concepts are described, after which these concepts are examined in plot movement using the example of specific texts from Shakespeare, Zorin, Schwartz, Gorin and Priestley. The ladder of knowledge is associated with a hermeneutic approach, which is found, for example, in the fact that the modern reading of Shakespeare's tragedy Coriolanus means abdicating responsibility for the political reorganization of society. Such a reading of texts is an access to the modern state of linguistics: doubt in reality, a liquid world, multi-vector dimensions.
WEIGHT EFFECT OF BUCKLED COMPOSITE STIFFENED PANELS UNDER PURE SHEAR LOADING
Authors: GOYAL VIJAY K. , GAGLIANO JACOB
Published: November 2023

Composite hat-stiffened skin panels are of great interest to modern aircraft design because of their high strength and stiffness. This work aims to computationally predict damage within hatstiffened composite panels under pure shear loading. As the panels enter the post-buckling regime, matrix cracking, fiber rupture and delamination are crucial. The Enhanced Schapery Theory can capture the intraply damage while the Cohesive Zone Model delamination between the skin plies and debonding between skin-hat interfaces. For hat-stiffened panels, the four, three, and two stringers configurations experienced damage initiation at 166.6%, 295.0%, and 739.6% of the buckling load, respectively. Matrix cracking initiated in the panels least stiff to transverse loading, while panels more resistant to shear see debonding at the skin-hat interface initiated first. All configurations predicted delamination at the skin ply 1-ply 2 interface as the last damage mode before penetrating deeper into the skin. Debonding between the stringers and the skin was predicted as the primary driver for ultimate failure.
3D PRINTING OF THERMALLY CURABLE RESIN/CONTINUOUS CARBON FIBER COMPOSITES WITH INTERPENETRATING POLYMER INTERLAYER
Authors: DENG KAIYUE , ZHANG CHUNYAN , FU KUN (KELVIN)
Published: November 2023

3D printing of continuous carbon fiber composites has been a popular research focus in recent years, since it enables the design freedom and the tuning of structural properties. Currently, the existing 3D printing methods of composites with thermoplastics and photocurable resins lack comparable mechanical performances to the thermally curable thermoset resins. But the thermally curable thermoset resin as a matrix is also limited in the long thermal curing time and the difficulty in maintaining structures without mold or high pressure. In this work, we proposed our own 3D printing strategy of the thermally curable thermoset resin based continuous carbon fiber composites, which is capable of producing rapidly and maintaining the geometrical stability. It is achieved by coating dual-cure resin on the surfaces of the fiber/resin laminates during 3D printing, and forming the interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) at interlayers between the laminates after post-thermal treatment. This strategy was demonstrated in our self-developed robotic-based 3D printer, which contains the functions of thermoset resin impregnation, dual-cure resin coating, and compaction. The current level of mechanical properties of the printed composites has achieved tensile strength of 1132.69 MPa, flexural strength of 1080.37 MPa, and interlaminar shear strength of 48.75 MPa.
A novel finger brace for preventing finger stiffness after trauma or surgery: a preliminary report with a case series
Authors: Kim Dae-Geun , Park Hyo Jun
Published: November 2023

Purpose: Finger stiffness is a common complication following hand trauma or surgery. Early finger range-of-motion (ROM) exercises have proven to be the most effective method for preventing finger stiffness. In this paper, we introduce a novel finger brace designed for safe and early active exercises and present preliminary results from a small case series.Methods: Our innovative brace is designed for direct insertion into the finger, ensuring enhanced comfort during use. This brace features hinges that facilitate unrestricted movement in the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints, with each phalangeal component having a rounded shape to prevent rotation. Furthermore, grooves are integrated at the top of the phalangeal components for inserting bars; a straight bar to immobilize and a silicone band to provide elastic resistance exercises within a limited range.Results: Among 26 patients, 17 presented with fractures, five had extensor tendon injuries, and three had dislocations. For patients not requiring surgery, we applied the brace as early as possible. In cases involving surgery, the brace was applied step by step. When fixation was necessary for the first time, a straight bar was applied, and when starting finger movement, a silicone band was applied. The silicone band was then released to allow free finger movement. Except for one patient necessitating extensor tendon reconstruction due to a neglected rupture, all patients achieved full ROM without any complications.Conclusion: Our novel ROM finger brace represents a safe and user-friendly option for effectively initiating finger ROM exercises.
Epidemiological characteristics and surgical outcomes of traumatic humeral shaft fractures in Korean soldiers
Authors: Kim Kyungil , Kang Han-Vit
Published: November 2023

Purpose: We investigated the epidemiological characteristics and surgical results of traumatic humeral shaft fractures in young adults in the Korean military and explored whether there were differences depending on the cause of fracture.Methods: Patients with traumatic humeral shaft fractures who visited the emergency room or outpatient department of Armed Forces Daejeon Hospital (AFDH) after enlistment between May 2019 and October 2021 were included. Medical records were retrospectively reviewed, and demographic data, fracture patterns, injury mechanisms, and complications were investigated. The time to union, follow-up period, and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire (DASH) scores were additionally analyzed in patients who underwent surgical treatment at AFDH.Results: In total, 31 patients with traumatic humeral shaft fractures were included. Arm wrestling (17 patients, 54.8%) was the most common cause of fractures. The patients were divided into arm-wrestling patients (n=17) and other patients (n=14) for comparison. No significant differences in fracture patterns and complications were found between these groups. The mean time to bone union was 12.08±1.32 weeks and the final DASH score was 11.01±13.51.Conclusion: Arm wrestling was identified as the most common cause of humeral shaft fractures among soldiers in South Korea. We found no significant differences in the patterns of humeral shaft fractures caused by arm wrestling and those with other causes.
Design and analysis of chiral and achiral metasurfaces with the finite element method
Authors: Amboli Jayeeta , Gallas Bruno , Demésy Guillaume , Bonod Nicolas
Published: November 2023

The rise of metasurfaces to manipulate the polarization states of light motivates the development of versatile numerical methods able to model and analyze their polarimetric properties. Here we make use of a scattered-field formulation well suited to the Finite Element Method (FEM) to compute the Stokes-Mueller matrix of metasurfaces. The major advantage of the FEM lies in its versatility and its ability to compute the optical properties of structures with arbitrary and realistic shapes, and rounded edges and corners. We benefit from this method to design achiral, pseudo-chiral, and chiral metasurfaces with specific polarimetric properties. We compute and analyze their Mueller matrices. The accuracy of this method is assessed for both dielectric and metallic scatterers hosting Mie and plasmonic resonances.
Investigation of dynamical X-ray back diffraction at grazing incidence
Authors: Chen Shih-Lun , Soo Yun-Liang , Lin Bi-Hsuan , Chuang Tzu-Hung , Tang Mau-Tsu
Published: November 2023

We report a theoretical investigation of X-ray back diffraction at grazing incidence. Based on the framework of the dynamical theory of X-ray diffraction, the grazing incidence for Si (12 4 0) back diffraction is taken as an example to resolve the eigenvalue problem inside the crystal. The dispersion surface and the resulting diffraction intensities are strongly affected by the miscut angle as well as the diffraction geometry of grazing incidence. The kinematical relationship between the incident angle and the miscut angle is well explained by Snell’s law. While only the two-beam diffraction is considered, our treatment can be further extended to include the cases for multiple diffractions as well.
High power, broad tuning quantum cascade laser at λ ∼ 8.9 µm
Authors: Niu Shan , Yang Pengchang , Huang Rui Xin , Cheng Feng Min , Sun Rui Xuan , Lu Xi Yu , Liu Feng Qi , Lu Quan Yong , Zhuo Ning , Zhang Jin Chuan
Published: November 2023

Many molecules have broad fingerprint absorption spectra in mid-wave infrared range which requires broadly tunable lasers to cover the interested spectrum in one scan. We report a strain-balanced, InAlAs/InGaAs/InP quantum cascade laser structure based on diagonal transition active region with high output power and and wide tuning range at λ ∼ 8.9 µm. The maximum pulsed optical power and the wall-plug efficiency at room temperature are 4 W and 11.7%, respectively. Maximum continuous wave double-facet power is 1.2 W at 25 °C for a 4 mm by 9 µm laser mounted epi-side down on a diamond/copper composite submount. The maximum pulsed and continuous wave external-cavity tuning range are from 7.71 µm to 9.15 µm and from 8 µm to 8.9 µm, respectively. The continuous wave power of the external cavity mode exceeds 200 mW across the entire spectrum.
Edge enhancement in three-dimensional vortex imaging based on FINCH by Bessel-like spiral phase modulation
Authors: He Jiuru , Zhang Pengwei , Su Jianpo , Wang Junqiao , Tian Yongzhi , Hu Yongsheng , Ma Fengying
Published: November 2023

Edge enhancement, as an important part of image processing, has played an essential role in amplitude-contrast and phase-contrast object imaging. The edge enhancement of three-dimensional (3D) vortex imaging has been successfully implemented by Fresnel incoherent correlation holography (FINCH), but the background noise and image contrast effects are still not satisfactory. To solve these issues, the edge enhancement of FINCH by employing Bessel-like spiral phase modulation is proposed and demonstrated. Compared with the conventional spiral phase modulated FINCH, the proposed technique can achieve high-quality edge enhancement 3D vortex imaging with lower background noise, higher contrast and resolution. The significantly improved imaging quality is mainly attributed to the effective sidelobes' suppression in the generated optical vortices with the Bessel-like modulation technique. Experimental results of the small circular aperture, resolution target, and the Drosophila melanogaster verify its excellent imaging performance. Moreover, we also proposed a new method for selective edge enhancement of 3D vortex imaging by breaking the symmetry of the spiral phase in the algorithmic model of isotropic edge enhancement. The reconstructed images of the circular aperture show that the proposed method is able to enhance the edges of the given objects selectively in any desired direction.
Integrated photonic molecule Brillouin laser with a high-power sub-100-mHz fundamental linewidth
Authors: Liu Kaikai , Wang Jiawei , Chauhan Nitesh , Harrington Mark W. , Nelson Karl D. , Blumenthal Daniel J.
Published: November 2023

Photonic integrated lasers with an ultra-low fundamental linewidth and a high output power are important for precision atomic and quantum applications, high-capacity communications, and fiber sensing, yet wafer-scale solutions have remained elusive. Here we report an integrated stimulated Brillouin laser (SBL), based on a photonic molecule coupled resonator design, that achieves a sub-100-mHz fundamental linewidth with greater than 10-mW output power in the C band, fabricated on a 200-mm silicon nitride (Si3N4) CMOS-foundry compatible wafer-scale platform. The photonic molecule design is used to suppress the second-order Stokes (S2) emission, allowing the primary lasing mode to increase with the pump power without phase noise feedback from higher Stokes orders. The nested waveguide resonators have a 184 million intrinsic and 92 million loaded Q, over an order of magnitude improvement over prior photonic molecules, enabling precision resonance splitting of 198 MHz at the S2 frequency. We demonstrate S2-suppressed single-mode SBL with a minimum fundamental linewidth of 71±18 mHz, corresponding to a 23±6-mHz2/Hz white-frequency-noise floor, over an order of magnitude lower than prior integrated SBLs, with an ∼11-mW output power and 2.3-mW threshold power. The frequency noise reaches the resonator-intrinsic thermo-refractive noise from 2-kHz to 1-MHz offset. The laser phase noise reaches −155 dBc/Hz at 10-MHz offset. The performance of this chip-scale SBL shows promise not only to improve the reliability and reduce size and cost but also to enable new precision experiments that require the high-speed manipulation, control, and interrogation of atoms and qubits. Realization in the silicon nitride ultra-low loss platform is adaptable to a wide range of wavelengths from the visible to infrared and enables integration with other components for systems-on-chip solutions for a wide range of precision scientific and engineering applications including quantum sensing, gravitometers, atom interferometers, precision metrology, optical atomic clocks, and ultra-low noise microwave generation.
Sub-10 fs unipolar pulses of a tailored waveshape from a multilevel resonant medium
Authors: Pakhomov Anton , Rosanov Nikolay , Arkhipov Mikhail , Arkhipov Rostislav
Published: November 2023

We theoretically demonstrate the possibility to tune the temporal waveform of unipolar pulses of femtosecond duration emitted from a multilevel resonant medium. This is achieved through the control of the medium response by a properly adjusted sequence of half-cycle unipolar or quasi-unipolar driving pulses and the spatial density profile of resonant centers along the medium layer. We show the production of unipolar optical pulses of varying profiles, like rectangular or triangular ones, from an extended layer of a multilevel medium.
Femtosecond-resolution optical pulse interleaving time error detector
Authors: Hyun Minji , Ahn Changmin , Bae Youngseok , Cho Junhyung , Kim Jungwon
Published: November 2023

Pulse repetition rate multiplier (PRRM) is an essential component of microwave photonics systems, designed not only to alleviate photodiode saturation but also to provide more frequent pulses. However, the presence of interleaving time errors is known to compromise the advantages of PRRM. In this study, we present a high-sensitivity detection method for identifying these time errors using an electro-optic sampling-based timing detector (EOS-TD). We utilize two EOS-TDs: one for generating precise timing ruler signals and the other as a high-precision timing detector. In comparison to the conventional power ratio comparison method, our approach demonstrates sensitivity improvement by two orders of magnitude. This enhancement facilitates the measurement of femtosecond-level time errors. By enabling higher pulse rates while maintaining the ultralow jitter, this method can be useful for building higher-speed photonic systems.
Breaking Rayleigh’s curse for two unbalanced single-photon emitters using BLESS technique
Authors: Katamadze Konstantin , Bantysh Boris , Chernyavskiy Andrey , Bogdanov Yurii , Kulik Sergei
Published: November 2023

According to the Rayleigh criterion, it is impossible to resolve two independent point sources separated by a distance below the width of the point spread function (PSF).
Almost twenty years ago it was shown that the distance between two point sources can be statistically estimated with an accuracy better than the PSF width. However, the estimation error increases with decreasing distance. This effect was informally named Rayleigh’s curse. Next, it was demonstrated that PSF shaping allows breaking the curse provided that all other source parameters except for the distance are known a priori.
In this work, we propose a novel imaging technique based on the target Beam moduLation and the Examination of Shot Statistics (BLESS). We show that it is capable of breaking Rayleigh’s curse even for unbalanced point sources with unknown centroid and brightness ratio. Moreover, we show that the estimation precision is close to the fundamental limit provided by the quantum Cramer-Rao bound.
ASPSCR-1 and Sirt-5 alleviate Clonorchis liver fluke rCsNOSIP-induced oxidative stress, proliferation, and migration in cholangiocarcinoma cells
Authors: Bian Meng , Li Shan , Zhou Hanzong , Bi Lijun , Shen Yong , Tingjin Chen , Yu Xinbing , Huang Yan , Xu Qingxia
Published: November 2023

Background

Clonorchiasis, caused by the infection of Clonorchis sinensis (C. sinensis), is a kind of neglected tropical disease, but it is highly related to cholangiocarcinoma. It has been well known that NO from chronic inflammation responses are thought to be a major component of the damage and ultimate carcinogenesis ESPs such as nitric oxide synthase interacting protein (NOSIP) are thought to enhance the damage. The objective of this study was to identify the protein candidates interact with recombinant CsNOSIP (rCsNOSIP) and explore their role involved in CCA development or progression.

Methods

We applied HuProt microarray containing 21,000 probe sets for a systematic identification of rCsNOSIP-binding proteins and grouped binding hits by gene function. Pull-down assays were used to confirm the interaction of rCsNOSIP with alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPSCR-1) and sirtuins 5 (Sirt-5). ASPSCR-1/Sirt-5 over-expression and siRNA knockdown experiments were employed for obtain of ASPSCR-1/Sirt-5 high or low expression (ASP-oe/Sirt5-oe or ASP-si/Sirt5-si) cholangiocarcinoma cell line (CCLP-1) cells. Nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species assay (ROS) as well as cell proliferation and wound-healing assays were performed to observe the effect of rCsNOSIP on ASP-oe/Sirt5-oe or ASP-si/Sirt5-si CCLP-1 cells.

Results

Seventy candidate proteins protein "hits" were detected as rCsNOSIP-binding proteins by HuProt microarray and bioinformatics analysis. Pull down assay showed that ASPSCR-1 and Sirt-5 could interact with rCsNOSIP. In addition, endotoxin-free-rCsNOSIP could increase the production of NO and ROS and promote the migration of CCLP-1 cells, while its effect on enhancing cell proliferation was not significant. Furthermore, ROS/NO production, proliferation, or migration were increased in ASP-si or Sirt5-si CCLP-1 cells but decreased in Asp-oe or Sirt5-oe CCLP-1 cells when stimulated with rCsNOSIP.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that CsNOSIP as a component of CsESPs might promote the development and invasion of CCA and Sirt5/ ASPSCR1 as host molecules might play a novel protective role against adverse stimulus during C. sinensis infection. This work supports the idea that CsESPs induce the occurrence and progression of CCA through ROS/RNS-induced oxidative and nitrative DNA damage.
Snakebite epidemiology, outcomes and multi-cluster risk modelling in Eswatini
Authors: Padidar Sara , Monadjem Ara , Litschka-Koen Thea , Thomas Brent , Shongwe Nondusimo , Baker Clare , Mmema Lindelwa , Sithole Trevor , Murray James , Casewell Nicholas R. , Pons Jonathan , Lalloo David G. , Harrison Robert A. , Stienstra Ymkje , Dlamini Wisdom M.
Published: November 2023

Background

Halving snakebite morbidity and mortality by 2030 requires countries to develop both prevention and treatment strategies. The paucity of data on the global incidence and severity of snakebite envenoming causes challenges in prioritizing and mobilising resources for snakebite prevention and treatment. In line with the World Health Organisation’s 2019 Snakebite Strategy, this study sought to investigate Eswatini’s snakebite epidemiology and outcomes, and identify the socio-geographical factors associated with snakebite risk.

Methodology

Programmatic data from the Ministry of Health, Government of Eswatini 2019–2021, was used to assess the epidemiology and outcomes of snakebite in Eswatini. We developed a snake species richness map from the occurrence data of all venomous snakes of medical importance in Eswatini that was subjected to niche modelling. We formulated four risk indices using snake species richness, various geospatial datasets and reported snakebites. A multivariate cluster modelling approach using these indices was developed to estimate risk of snakebite and the outcomes of snakebite in Eswatini.

Principal findings

An average of 466 snakebites was recorded annually in Eswatini. Bites were recorded across the entire country and peaked in the evening during summer months. Two cluster risk maps indicated areas of the country with a high probability of snakebite and a high probability of poor snakebite outcomes. The areas with the highest rate of snakebite risk were primarily in the rural and agricultural regions of the country.

Significance

These models can be used to inform better snakebite prevention and treatment measures to enable Eswatini to meet the global goal of reducing snakebite morbidity and mortality by 50% by 2030. The supply chain challenges of antivenom affecting southern Africa and the high rates of snakebite identified in our study highlight the need for improved snakebite prevention and treatment tools that can be employed by health care workers stationed at rural, community clinics.
A novel f-divergence based generative adversarial imputation method for scRNA-seq data analysis
Authors: Si Tong , Hopkins Zackary , Yanev John , Hou Jie , Gong Haijun
Published: November 2023

Comprehensive analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data can enhance our understanding of cellular diversity and aid in the development of personalized therapies for individuals. The abundance of missing values, known as dropouts, makes the analysis of scRNA-seq data a challenging task. Most traditional methods made assumptions about specific distributions for missing values, which limit their capability to capture the intricacy of high-dimensional scRNA-seq data. Moreover, the imputation performance of traditional methods decreases with higher missing rates. We propose a novelf-divergence based generative adversarial imputation method, called sc-fGAIN, for the scRNA-seq data imputation. Our studies identify fourf-divergence functions, namely cross-entropy, Kullback-Leibler (KL), reverse KL, and Jensen-Shannon, that can be effectively integrated with the generative adversarial imputation network to generate imputed values without any assumptions, and mathematically prove that the distribution of imputed data using sc-fGAIN algorithm is same as the distribution of original data. Real scRNA-seq data analysis has shown that, compared to many traditional methods, the imputed values generated by sc-fGAIN algorithm have a smaller root-mean-square error, and it is robust to varying missing rates, moreover, it can reduce imputation variability. The flexibility offered by thef-divergence allows the sc-fGAIN method to accommodate various types of data, making it a more universal approach for imputing missing values of scRNA-seq data.
Contextualizing involvement in terrorist violence by considering non-significant findings: Using null results and temporal perspectives to better understand radicalization outcomes
Authors: Schuurman Bart , Carthy Sarah L.
Published: November 2023

Irrespective of discipline, the publication of null or non-significant findings is rare in the social sciences. For burgeoning fields like terrorism research, this is particularly problematic. As well as increasing the likelihood of Type II errors, the selective reporting of significant findings ultimately impedes progression, hindering comprehensive syntheses of evidence and enabling ill-supported lines of scientific enquiry to persist. This manuscript discusses several structural and individual-level variables which failed to produce significant, linear associations with involvement in terrorist violence in a dataset (N = 206) of right-wing and jihadist extremists active in Europe and North America. After considering methodological factors such as non-random distributions of missing data, we illustrate how certain variables are significantly associated with involvement in terrorist violence at particular periods in a radicalizing individual’s lifespan, but not others (i.e., pre- or post-radicalization onset). Moreover, we demonstrate that while some static, binary constructs (such as whether or not a radicalizing individual was exposed to diverse viewpoints) are not associated with terrorist violence, their influence over time produces different associations. We conclude that radicalization may be less about individuals having pre-disposing risk factors, such as biographical stressors, and more about cognitive changes that allow individuals to re-evaluate their lives through the lens of an extremist ideology. We also underline the importance of taking a temporal, rather than static, perspective to better understand the variables associated with the outcomes of radicalization trajectories.
Publicity governance in contingency management during the COVID-19 pandemic in China: A “Government-Society” perspective
Authors: Wang Mengdi , Peng Xiaobing
Published: November 2023

Background

Publicity is a common form of governance in government and is even more important in contingency management, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Publicity has two sides, the main body of publicity is led by the government, the object of publicity is the response to the public. So, publicity exists in the "government-society" field. Our aim was to find out how governments have been able to achieve effective publicity in the COVID-19 and to promote the active participation of society in governance.

Materials and methods

We adopted a case study approach. Taking Chongqing Municipality as an example, we collected 201 messages from five forms of publicity, including cell phone SMS, village (community) broadcast, publicity placards or banners, official websites, and government media platforms during the period of 2020–2021, and described and analyzed the publicity content of different forms of publicity.

Results

During the whole period of the COVID-19, the publicity governance under contingency management showed the characteristics of focusing on administrative efficiency, social efficiency and post-social efficiency, and showed specific publicity governance functions such as mobilization and control, education and clarification, cultivation of public consciousness and shaping government credibility.

Conclusions

Publicity governance in contingency management during the COVID-19 pandemic emphasizes three effective approaches: time synchronization, organizational scale, and interaction among multiple advocacy agents. This can extend the existing government-centered research to the level of interaction between the government and society, and help the government to better use effective publicity to achieve the governance task under contingency management.