bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bias twisting in side-tapered PMF Sagnac loop interferometer for simultaneous measurement of directional torsion and temperature
Authors: Sun Dexue , Liu Xianjin , Wang Fengjuan , Yang Jiuru
Published: November 2020

The polarization-maintaining fiber-based Sagnac loop interferometer (PSLI) is frequently applied in directional torsion measurement, but may suffer from a large temperature cross talk. In this study, a novel method was proposed for fabrication of side-tapered PSLI by a two-step arc-discharge technique at the splicing point. The energy distribution of the taper region was characterized, and comprehensive tests were performed in terms of torsion and temperature. The experimental results showed that, through bias twisting, the measuring areas were effectively gapped and highly sensitive torsion and temperature responses were gained simultaneously. With a small wavelength shift, the torsion sensitivity reached 13.54 dB/rad in the range from

−

30

to 30 rad/m. Moreover, the temperature sensitivity was found to be

−

1.579

n
m

/

∘

C

, with a near-zero intensity fluctuation. Therefore, the sensor fabricated herein successfully achieves simultaneous measurement of directional torsion and temperature with high sensitivity and ultralow cross talk. The proposed scheme has the merits of practicality, low cost, and ease of operation, and is very promising for multiparameter engineering monitoring.
Intensity-dependent speckle contrast of second harmonic light in a nonlinear disordered medium
Authors: Samanta Rabisankar , Mujumdar Sushil
Published: November 2020

Coherent light propagation and scattering in diffuse media realize an interference effect that manifests as a random spatial distribution of bright and dark spots called speckle. Laser speckle contrast is a crucial parameter that quantifies light behavior in diffuse media, often of help in biomedical imaging applications. With several ultra-intense lasers coming onto the scene in recent years, the probability of nonlinearly generating harmonic light has considerably increased. To our knowledge, there are no studies on the simultaneous measurement of local speckle contrast (LSC) at fundamental and harmonic wavelengths. In this work, we experimentally characterize the intensity-dependent global and local speckle contrast at

λ
=
1064

n
m

(IR) and

λ
=
532

n
m

[second-harmonic generation (SHG)] in a diffuse sample made of potassium dihydrogen phosphate. Under pulsed excitation with IR light, second-harmonic light is generated and undergoes scattering, leading to speckle at both wavelengths. The radiation pressure on the sample induces displacement of the particles of the medium, which leads to the temporal averaging and hence reduction in speckle contrast of IR. The decrease in speckle contrast with input power is consistent with the theoretically predicted behavior. Next, the probability distribution of LSC for IR and SHG are observed to follow log-normal distributions with distinctive parameters, measured for co-polarized and counter-polarized channels. Parameter evolution with box-size is fit to the established global model for speckle contrast and also another alternative model. The fit parameters, illustrated as a function of input power, indicate possibilities of widening the global model to second-harmonic light.
Generation of a square-shaped pulse in mode-locked fiber lasers with a microfiber-based few-layer Nb2C saturable absorber
Authors: Li Guoru , Yang Lingling , Zhao Ruwei , Wang Feifei , Nie Hongkun , Wang Ruihua , Yang Kejian , Zhang Baitao , He Jingliang
Published: November 2020

Niobium carbide (

N
b

2

C

), a novel two-dimensional MXene
material, has attracted much attention due to its outstanding
electronic and optical properties. In this work, a microfiber-based
few-layer

N
b

2

C

saturable absorber (SA) is fabricated
by the magnetron sputtering deposition technique. The reverse
saturable absorption (RSA) response of few-layer

N
b

2

C

nanosheets is observed with I-scan
measurements. The square-wave pulses (SWPs) are generated by using the
as-prepared microfiber-based few-layer

N
b

2

C

SA in an erbium-doped fiber laser.
The SWP width increases from 0.33 to 2.061 ns with the single pulse
energy increases linearly up to 0.89 nJ while the amplitude remains as
a constant. In addition, nonlinear polarization rotation mode-locking
fiber lasers with different cavity lengths are constructed to explore
the formation conditions of SWP. Our results indicate that the RSA
effect of the few-layer

N
b

2

C

nanosheets plays a decisive role in
the formation of the SWP.
Multicolor fluorescence imaging using a single RGB-IR CMOS sensor for cancer detection with smURFP-labeled probiotics: publisher’s note
Authors: Oh Gyungseok , Cho Hong Jun , Suh SeungBeum , Ji Yuhyun , Chung Hak Suk , Lee Deukhee , Kim Keri
Published: November 2020

This publisher’s note corrects the author list in Biomed. Opt. Express 11, 2951 (2020). 10.1364/BOE.391417
Optical Ferris wheels as a platform for collisional quantum gates
Authors: Lembessis V. E. , Lyras A. , Aldossary O. M.
Published: November 2020

We show how optical Ferris wheel light fields can be exploited for the generation of internal-state-dependent optical lattices. We furthermore demonstrate how these lattices can be employed for the realization of controllable collisional gates. By employing realistic and experimentally accessible parameters, we demonstrate the potential of such gates, taking advantage of the extraordinary properties of optical Ferris wheels for efficient and scalable quantum computation.
Design of an ultra-compact low-crosstalk sinusoidal silicon waveguide array for optical phased array
Authors: Yi Xiaogen , Zeng Huiying , Gao Sai , Qiu Ciyuan
Published: November 2020

In this work, an ultra-compact low-crosstalk sinusoidal silicon waveguide array is proposed and analyzed. We first design a pair of low-crosstalk sinusoidal silicon waveguides with a pitch of 695 nm, where the sinusoidal bends are the key to reduce the crosstalk between waveguides. Then, based on this idea, we propose a low-crosstalk sinusoidal silicon waveguide array with a 695 nm pitch. The simulation results show that for an array length of 100 µm, the insertion loss is as low as 0.08 dB, and the crosstalk is lower than −26 dB at 1550 nm. The 695 nm pitch waveguide array also exhibits a favorable fabrication error tolerance when taking into account the waveguide width variations in practice. Moreover, within the acceptable range of crosstalk, the center-to-center distance between adjacent waveguides of this array can be further reduced to 615 nm. Since the pitch is related to the power consumption and beam-steering range of the optical phased array, our design provides an effective method to build the emitter for an energy-efficient optical phased array with a large field of view.
Enhanced tunable plasmonic resonance in crumpled graphene resonators loaded with gate tunable metamaterials
Authors: Khattak Muhammad Irfan , Ullah Zaka , Al-Hasan Mu’ath , Sheikh Fawad
Published: November 2020

Graphene devices have been widely explored for photonic applications, as they serve as promising candidates for controlling light interactions resulting in extreme confinement and tunability of graphene plasmons. The ubiquitous presence of surface crumples in graphene, very less is known on how the crumples in graphene can affect surface plasmon resonance and its absorption properties. In this article, a novel approach based on the crumpled graphene is investigated to realize broadband tunability of plasmonic resonance through the mechanical reconfiguration of crumpled graphene resonators. The mechanical reconfiguration of graphene crumples combined with dual electrostatic gating (i.e. raising the Fermi level from 0.2–0.4 eV) of graphene serves as a tuning knob enabling broad spectral tunability of plasmonic resonance in the wavelength range of 14–24 µm. The crumpled region in the resonators exhibits an effective trapping potential where it extremely confines the surface plasmonic field on the surfaces of crumples providing localized surface plasmon resonance at the apices of these crumples. Finally, to achieve near-unity absorption >99% at the resonance wavelengths (17 µm and 22 µm) crumpled graphene resonators are loaded with four ring shaped metamaterials which result in the enhanced near-field intensity of ≈1.4×106. This study delivers insight into the tunability of crumpled graphene and their coupling mechanism by providing a new platform for the flexible and gate tunable graphene sensors at the infrared region.
Compact high-flux hard X-ray source driven by femtosecond mid-infrared pulses at a 1  kHz repetition rate
Authors: Koç Azıze , Hauf Chrıstoph , Woerner Mıchael , von Grafenstein Lorenz , Ueberschaer Dennıs , Bock Martin , Griebner Uwe , Elsaesser Thomas
Published: November 2020

A novel, to the best of our knowledge, table-top hard X-ray source driven by femtosecond mid-infrared pulses provides 8 keV pulses at a 1 kHz repetition rate with an unprecedented flux of up to

X-ray photons/s. Sub-100 fs pulses at a center wavelength of 5 µm and multi-millijoule energy are generated in a four-stage optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier and focused onto a thin Cu tape target. Electrons are extracted from the target and accelerated in a vacuum up to 100 keV kinetic energy during the optical cycle; the electrons generate a highly stable

photon flux from the target in a transmission geometry.
Enhancement of the response time in organic photorefractive composites using alkoxy-substituted PDCST as a nonlinear optical chromophore
Authors: Choi Jongwan , Kim Moon Il , Kim Felix Sunjoo , Kim Nakjoong , Oh Jin-Woo , Moon Jong-Sik
Published: November 2020

The ease of the molecular orientation of a chromophore has an important effect on the electro-optical (EO) properties of polymeric photorefractive (PR) composites. A derivative of 4-piperidinobenzylidene-malononitrile (PDCST) with an alkoxy group added as a side branch was synthesized to improve the molecular orientation characteristics. Electrophoresis was performed on the polymeric PR composite to which the improved PDCST had been added. The optical properties and response times were examined to evaluate the effects of the substitution of the alkoxy group. PDCST substituted with the alkoxy group showed enhanced EO properties and a PR grating formation rate.
Poisson balanced spiking networks
Authors: Rullán Buxó Camille E. , Pillow Jonathan W.
Published: November 2020

An important problem in computational neuroscience is to understand how networks of spiking neurons can carry out various computations underlying behavior. Balanced spiking networks (BSNs) provide a powerful framework for implementing arbitrary linear dynamical systems in networks of integrate-and-fire neurons. However, the classic BSN model requires near-instantaneous transmission of spikes between neurons, which is biologically implausible. Introducing realistic synaptic delays leads to an pathological regime known as “ping-ponging”, in which different populations spike maximally in alternating time bins, causing network output to overshoot the target solution. Here we document this phenomenon and provide a novel solution: we show that a network can have realistic synaptic delays while maintaining accuracy and stability if neurons are endowed with conditionally Poisson firing. Formally, we propose two alternate formulations of Poisson balanced spiking networks: (1) a “local” framework, which replaces the hard integrate-and-fire spiking rule within each neuron by a “soft” threshold function, such that firing probability grows as a smooth nonlinear function of membrane potential; and (2) a “population” framework, which reformulates the BSN objective function in terms of expected spike counts over the entire population. We show that both approaches offer improved robustness, allowing for accurate implementation of network dynamics with realistic synaptic delays between neurons. Both Poisson frameworks preserve the coding accuracy and robustness to neuron loss of the original model and, moreover, produce positive correlations between similarly tuned neurons, a feature of real neural populations that is not found in the deterministic BSN. This work unifies balanced spiking networks with Poisson generalized linear models and suggests several promising avenues for future research.
PD-L1 expression in equine malignant melanoma and functional effects of PD-L1 blockade
Authors: Ganbaatar Otgontuya , Konnai Satoru , Okagawa Tomohiro , Nojima Yutaro , Maekawa Naoya , Minato Erina , Kobayashi Atsushi , Ando Ryo , Sasaki Nobuya , Miyakoshi Daisuke , Ichii Osamu , Kato Yukinari , Suzuki Yasuhiko , Murata Shiro , Ohashi Kazuhiko
Published: November 2020

Programmed death-1 (PD-1) is an immunoinhibitory receptor expressed on lymphocytes. Interaction of PD-1 with its ligand PD-ligand 1 (PD-L1) delivers inhibitory signals and impairs proliferation, cytokine production, and cytotoxicity of T cells. In our previous studies, we have developed anti-bovine PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and reported that the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway was closely associated with T-cell exhaustion and disease progression in bovine chronic infections and canine tumors. Furthermore, we found that blocking antibodies that target PD-1 and PD-L1 restore T-cell functions and could be used in immunotherapy in cattle and dogs. However, the immunological role of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway for chronic equine diseases, including tumors, remains unclear. In this study, we identified cDNA sequences of equine PD-1 (EqPD-1) and PD-L1 (EqPD-L1) and investigated the role of anti-bovine PD-L1 mAbs against EqPD-L1 using in vitro assays. In addition, we evaluated the expression of PD-L1 in tumor tissues of equine malignant melanoma (EMM). The amino acid sequences of EqPD-1 and EqPD-L1 share a considerable identity and similarity with homologs from non-primate species. Two clones of the anti-bovine PD-L1 mAbs recognized EqPD-L1 in flow cytometry, and one of these cross-reactive mAbs blocked the binding of equine PD-1/PD-L1. Of note, immunohistochemistry confirmed the PD-L1 expression in EMM tumor tissues. A cultivation assay revealed that PD-L1 blockade enhanced the production of Th1 cytokines in equine immune cells. These findings showed that our anti-PD-L1 mAbs would be useful for analyzing the equine PD-1/PD-L1 pathway. Further research is warranted to discover the immunological role of PD-1/PD-L1 in chronic equine diseases and elucidate a future application in immunotherapy for horses.
Validity of bioelectrical impedance to estimate fat-free mass in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Authors: Grilo Evellyn C. , Cunha Thais A. , Costa Ádila Danielly S. , Araújo Bárbara G. M. , Lopes Márcia Marília G. D. , Maciel Bruna L. L. , Alves Camila X. , Vermeulen-Serpa Karina M. , Dourado-Júnior Mário Emílio T. , Leite-Lais Lucia , Brandão-Neto José , Vale Sancha Helena L.
Published: November 2020

The evaluation of fat-free mass (FFM) in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is useful to investigate disease progression and therapeutic efficacy. This study aimed to validate the Bioelectrical impedance (BIA) method compared with the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for estimating the %FFM in boys with DMD. This is a cross-sectional study performed with children and adolescents diagnosed with DMD. Resistance and reactance were measured with a BIA analyzer, from which eight predictive equations estimated the %FFM. The %FFM was also determined by DXA and its used as a reference method. Pearson correlation test, coefficient of determination, the root-mean-square error, the interclass correlation coefficient, and linear regression analysis were performed between %FFM values obtained by BIA and DXA. The agreement between these values was verified with the Bland-Altman plot analysis. Forty-six boys aged from 5 to 20 years were enrolled in the study. All the equations showed a correlation between the %FFM estimated by BIA and determined by DXA (p < 0.05). The Bland-Altman method indicated that two equations have a significant bias (p < 0.05) and six equations showed no significant bias of %FFM (p > 0.05). However, one of them has high variation and wide limits of agreement. Five of eight %FFM predictive equations tested in DMD were accurate when compared with the DXA. It can be concluded that BIA is a validity method to evaluate patients with DMD.
Consolidated data on the phylogeny and evolution of the family Tritoniidae (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia) contribute to genera reassessment and clarify the taxonomic status of the neuroscience models Tritonia and Tochuina
Authors: Korshunova Tatiana , Martynov Alexander
Published: November 2020

Nudibranch molluscs of the family Tritoniidae are widely used neuroscience model systems for understand the behavioural and genetic bases of learning and memory. However species identity and genus-level taxonomic assignment of the tritoniids remain contested. Herein we present a taxonomic review of the family Tritoniidae using integration of molecular phylogenetic analysis, morphological and biogeographical data. For the first time the identity of the model speciesTritonia tetraquetra(Pallas, 1788) andTritonia exsulansBergh, 1894 is confirmed.T.tetraquetradistributes across the large geographic and bathymetric distances in the North-Eastern (NE) and North-Western (NW) Pacific. In turn, at NE Pacific coasts the separate speciesT.exsulansis commonly occured. Thus, it reveals a misidentification ofT.tetraquetraandT.exsulansspecies in neuroscience applications. Presence of more hidden lineages within NW PacificT.tetraquetrais suggested. The long lasting confusion over identity of the species from the generaTritoniaandTochuinais resolved using molecular and morphological data. We also disprove a common indication about “edibleT.tetraquetra” at the Kuril Islands. It is shown thatTochuinapossesses specialized tritoniid features and also some characters of “arminacean nudibranchs”, such asDoridoxaandHeterodoris. Diagnoses for the families Doridoxidae and Heterodorididae are provided. Taxonomy of the genusDoridoxais clarified and molecular data for the genusHeterodorispresented for the first time. A taxonomic synopsis for the family Tritoniidae is provided. A new genus among tritoniid taxa is proposed. Importance of the ontogeny-based taxonomy is highlighted. The cases when apomorphic characters considerably modified in a crown group due to the paedomorphosis are revealed. Tracing of the character evolution is presented for secondary gills–a key external feature of the family Tritoniidae and traditional dendronotacean nudibranchs.
Custom-made artificial eyes using 3D printing for dogs: A preliminary study
Authors: Park So-Young , An Jeong-Hee , Kwon Hyun , Choi Seo-Young , Lim Ka-Young , Kwak Ho-Hyun , Hussein Kamal Hany , Woo Heung-Myong , Park Kyung-Mee
Published: November 2020

Various incurable eye diseases in companion animals often result in phthisis bulbi and eye removal surgery. Currently, the evisceration method using silicone balls is useful in animals; however, it is not available to those with impaired cornea or severe ocular atrophy. Moreover, ocular implant and prostheses are not widely used because of the diversity in animal size and eye shape, and high manufacturing cost. Here, we produced low-cost and customized artificial eyes, including implant and prosthesis, using computer-aided design and three-dimensional (3D) printing technique. For 3D modeling, the size of the artificial eyes was optimized using B-mode ultrasonography. The design was exported to STL files, and then printed using polycaprolactone (PCL) for prosthesis and mixture of PCL and hydroxyapatite (HA) for ocular implant. The 3D printed artificial eyes could be produced in less than one and half hour. The prosthesis was painted using oil colors and biocompatible resin. Two types of eye removal surgery, including evisceration and enucleation, were performed using two beagle dogs, as a preliminary study. After the surgery, the dogs were clinically evaluated for 6 months and then histopathological evaluation of the implant was done. Ocular implant was biocompatible and host tissue ingrowth was induced after in vivo application. The custom-made prosthesis was cosmetically excellent. Although long-term clinical follow-up might be required, the use of 3D printed-customized artificial eyes may be beneficial for animals that need personalized artificial eye surgery.
Using repeated home-based HIV testing services to reach and diagnose HIV infection among persons who have never tested for HIV, Chókwè health demographic surveillance system, Chókwè district, Mozambique, 2014–2017
Authors: Lin Carol , Casavant Isabelle , Jaramillo Alicia , Green Timothy
Published: November 2020

Background

HIV prevalence in Mozambique (12.6%) is one of the highest in the world, yet ~40% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) do not know their HIV status. Strategies to increase HIV testing uptake and diagnosis among PLHIV are urgently needed. Home-based HIV testing services (HBHTS) have been evaluated primarily as a 1-time campaign strategy. Little is known about the potential of repeating HBHTS to diagnose HIV infection among persons who have never been tested (NTs), nor about factors/reasons associated with never testing in a generalized epidemic setting.

Methods

During 2014–2017, counselors visited all households annually in the Chókwè Health and Demographic Surveillance System (CHDSS) and offered HBHTS. Cross-sectional surveys were administered to randomly selected 10% or 20% samples of CHDSS households with participants aged 15–59 years before HBHTS were conducted during the visit. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to assess the proportion of NTs, factors/reasons associated with never having been tested, HBHTS acceptance, and HIV-positive diagnosis among NTs.

Results

The proportion of NTs decreased from 25% (95% confidence interval [CI]:23%–26%) during 2014 to 12% (95% CI:11% –13%), 7% (95% CI:6%–8%), and 7% (95% CI:6%–8%) during 2015, 2016, and 2017, respectively. Adolescent boys and girls and adult men were more likely than adult women to be NTs. In each of the four years, the majority of NTs (87%–90%) accepted HBHTS. HIV-positive yield among NTs subsequently accepting HBHTS was highest (13%, 95% CI:10%–15%) during 2014 and gradually reduced to 11% (95% CI:8%–15%), 9% (95% CI:6%–12%), and 2% (95% CI:0%–4%) during 2015, 2016, and 2017, respectively.

Conclusions

Repeated HBHTS was helpful in increasing HIV testing coverage and identifying PLHIV in Chókwè. In high HIV-prevalence settings with low testing coverage, repeated HBHTS can be considered to increase HIV testing uptake and diagnosis among NTs.
Influence of virtual reality visual feedback on the illusion of movement induced by tendon vibration of wrist in healthy participants
Authors: Le Franc Salomé , Fleury Mathis , Cogne Mélanie , Butet Simon , Barillot Christian , Lecuyer Anatole , Bonan Isabelle
Published: November 2020

Introduction

Illusion of movement induced by tendon vibration is an effective approach for motor and sensory rehabilitation in case of neurological impairments. The aim of our study was to investigate which modality of visual feedback in Virtual Reality (VR) associated with tendon vibration of the wrist could induce the best illusion of movement.

Methods

We included 30 healthy participants in the experiment. Tendon vibration inducing illusion of movement (wrist extension, 100Hz) was applied on their wrist during 3 VR visual conditions (10 times each): a moving virtual hand corresponding to the movement that the participants could feel during the tendon vibration (Moving condition), a static virtual hand (Static condition), or no virtual hand at all (Hidden condition). After each trial, the participants had to quantify the intensity of the illusory movement on a Likert scale, the subjective degree of extension of their wrist and afterwards they answered a questionnaire.

Results

There was a significant difference between the 3 visual feedback conditions concerning the Likert scale ranking and the degree of wrist’s extension (p<0.001). The Moving condition induced a higher intensity of illusion of movement and a higher sensation of wrist’s extension than the Hidden condition (p<0.001 and p<0.001 respectively) than that of the Static condition (p<0.001 and p<0.001 respectively). The Hidden condition also induced a higher intensity of illusion of movement and a higher sensation of wrist’s extension than the Static condition (p<0.01 and p<0.01 respectively). The preferred condition to facilitate movement’s illusion was the Moving condition (63.3%).

Conclusions

This study demonstrated the importance of carefully selecting a visual feedback to improve the illusion of movement induced by tendon vibration, and the increase of illusion by adding VR visual cues congruent to the illusion of movement. Further work will consist in testing the same hypothesis with stroke patients.
Modified PID controller for automatic generation control of multi-source interconnected power system using fitness dependent optimizer algorithm
Authors: Daraz Amil , Malik Suheel Abdullah , Haq Ihsan Ul , Khan Khan Bahadar , Laghari Ghulam Fareed , Zafar Farhan
Published: November 2020

In this paper, a modified form of the Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) controller known as the Integral- Proportional Derivative (I-PD) controller is developed for Automatic Generation Control (AGC) of the two-area multi-source Interconnected Power System (IPS). Fitness Dependent Optimizer (FDO) algorithm is employed for the optimization of proposed controller with various performance criteria including Integral of Absolute Error (IAE), Integral of Time multiplied Absolute Error (ITAE), Integral of Time multiplied Square Error (ITSE), and Integral Square Error (ISE). The effectiveness of the proposed approach has been assessed on a two-area network with individual source including gas, hydro and reheat thermal unit and then collectively with all three sources. Further, to validate the efficacy of the proposed FDO based PID and I-PD controllers, comprehensive comparative performance is carried and compared with other controllers including Differential Evolution based PID (DE-PID) controller and Teaching Learning Based Optimization (TLBO) hybridized with Local Unimodal Sampling (LUS-PID) controller. The comparison of outcomes reveal that the proposed FDO based I-PD (FDO-I-PD) controller provides a significant improvement in respect of Overshoot (Osh), Settling time (Ts), and Undershoot (Ush). The robustness of an I-PD controller is also verified by varying parameter of the system and load variation.
Challenges in estimating HIV prevalence trends and geographical variation in HIV prevalence using antenatal data: Insights from mathematical modelling
Authors: Johnson Leigh F. , Kubjane Mmamapudi , Eaton Jeffrey W.
Published: November 2020

Background

HIV prevalence data among pregnant women have been critical to estimating HIV trends and geographical patterns of HIV in many African countries. Although antenatal HIV prevalence data are known to be biased representations of HIV prevalence in the general population, mathematical models have made various adjustments to control for known sources of bias, including the effect of HIV on fertility, the age profile of pregnant women and sexual experience.

Methods and findings

We assessed whether assumptions about antenatal bias affect conclusions about trends and geographical variation in HIV prevalence, using simulated datasets generated by an agent-based model of HIV and fertility in South Africa. Results suggest that even when controlling for age and other previously-considered sources of bias, antenatal bias in South Africa has not been constant over time, and trends in bias differ substantially by age. Differences in the average duration of infection explain much of this variation. We propose an HIV duration-adjusted measure of antenatal bias that is more stable, which yields higher estimates of HIV incidence in recent years and at older ages. Simpler measures of antenatal bias, which are not age-adjusted, yield estimates of HIV prevalence and incidence that are too high in the early stages of the HIV epidemic, and that are less precise. Antenatal bias in South Africa is substantially greater in urban areas than in rural areas.

Conclusions

Age-standardized approaches to defining antenatal bias are likely to improve precision in model-based estimates, and further recency adjustments increase estimates of HIV incidence in recent years and at older ages. Incompletely adjusting for changing antenatal bias may explain why previous model estimates overstated the early HIV burden in South Africa. New assays to estimate the fraction of HIV-positive pregnant women who are recently infected could play an important role in better estimating antenatal bias.
Energy transfer and influencing factors in soil during compaction
Authors: Li Jie , Bai Xiaohong , Ma Fuli
Published: November 2020

In China, large-area excavation and filling engineering has increased rapidly with the expansion of construction land. The quality of filling engineering is the most important guarantee for the stability of building structures. Among all research on fill soil, the compaction characteristics are significant for indicating the strength and stability of filling engineering. In this paper, two layers of loess fill soil were compacted by a self-manufactured test system with three different compaction energies. Based on the variation in the soil bottom pressure obtained in the tests, the influence of the compaction parameters on the soil bottom pressure was investigated. The results show that the compaction curve can be used instead of the curve of the change in soil bottom pressure with water content; as the soil density increases, the soil bottom pressure increases to the maximum. The relation of the energy consumption ratio of the soil bottom (σ/σz) and the number of soil layers is exponential and reveals the stability of the soil skeleton formed during compaction. This paper describes the compaction characteristics of loess fill soil from the perspective of energy transfer, and the conclusions provide a theoretical basis for soil filling engineering.
Bed-side measures for diagnosis of low muscle mass, sarcopenia, obesity, and sarcopenic obesity in patients with chronic kidney disease under non-dialysis-dependent, dialysis dependent and kidney transplant therapy
Authors: Bellafronte Natália Tomborelli , Sizoto Gabriel Ruiz , Vega-Piris Lorena , Chiarello Paula Garcia , Cuadrado Guillermina Barril
Published: November 2020

Muscle depletion and sarcopenic obesity are related to a higher morbimortality risk in chronic kidney disease (CKD). We evaluated bed-side measures/indexes associated with low muscle mass, sarcopenia, obesity, and sarcopenic obesity in CKD and proposed cutoffs for each parameter. Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People revised consensus applying dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and hand grip strength (HGS), and obesity according to the International Society for Clinical Densitometry. Anthropometric parameters including calf (CC) and waist (WC) circumferences and WC/height (WC/H); bioelectrical impedance data including appendicular fat free mass (AFFM) and fat mass index (FMI) were assessed. ROC analysis and area under the curve (AUC) were applied for performance analyses. AFFM and CC presented the best performances for low muscle mass diagnosis–AFFM AUC for women was 0.96 and for men, 0.94, and CC AUC for women was 0.89 and for men, 0.85. FMI and WC/H were the best parameters for obesity diagnosis–FMI AUC for women was 0.99 and for men, 0.96, and WC/H AUC for women was 0.94 and for men, 0.95. The cutoffs (sensibility and specificity, respectively) for women were AFFM≤15.87 (90%; 96%), CC≤35.5 (76%; 94%), FMI>12.58 (100%; 93%), and WC/H>0.66 (91%; 84%); and for men, AFFM≤21.43 (98%; 84%), CC≤37 (88%; 69%), FMI>8.82 (93%; 88%), and WC/H>0.60 (95%; 80%). Sensibility and specificity for sarcopenia diagnosis were for AFFM+HGS in women 85% and 99% and in men, 100% and 99%; for CC+HGS in women 85% and 99% and in men, 100% and 100%; and for sarcopenic obesity were for FMI+AFFM in women 75% and 97% and in men, 75% and 95%. The tested bed-side measures/indexes presented excellent performance.
Free water: A marker of age-related modifications of the cingulum white matter and its association with cognitive decline
Authors: Edde Manon , Theaud Guillaume , Rheault François , Dilharreguy Bixente , Helmer Catherine , Dartigues Jean-François , Amieva Hélène , Allard Michèle , Descoteaux Maxime , Catheline Gwénaëlle
Published: November 2020

Diffusion MRI is extensively used to investigate changes in white matter microstructure. However, diffusion measures within white matter tissue can be affected by partial volume effects due to cerebrospinal fluid and white matter hyperintensities, especially in the aging brain. In previous aging studies, the cingulum bundle that plays a central role in the architecture of the brain networks supporting cognitive functions has been associated with cognitive deficits. However, most of these studies did not consider the partial volume effects on diffusion measures. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of free water elimination on diffusion measures of the cingulum in a group of 68 healthy elderly individuals. We first determined the effect of free water elimination on conventional DTI measures and then examined the effect of free water elimination on verbal fluency performance over 12 years. The cingulum bundle was reconstructed with a tractography pipeline including a white matter hyperintensities mask to limit the negative impact of hyperintensities on fiber tracking algorithms. We observed that free water elimination increased the ability of conventional DTI measures to detect associations between tissue diffusion measures of the cingulum and changes in verbal fluency in older individuals. Moreover, free water content and mean diffusivity measured along the cingulum were independently associated with changes in verbal fluency. This suggests that both tissue modifications and an increase in interstitial isotropic water would contribute to cognitive decline. These observations reinforce the importance of using free water elimination when studying brain aging and indicate that free water itself could be a relevant marker for age-related cingulum white matter modifications and cognitive decline.
Fungal Shaker-like channels beyond cellular K+ homeostasis: A role in ectomycorrhizal symbiosis between Hebeloma cylindrosporum and Pinus pinaster
Authors: Garcia Kevin , Guerrero-Galán Carmen , Frank Hannah E. R. , Haider Muhammad Zulqurnain , Delteil Amandine , Conéjéro Geneviève , Lambilliotte Raphaël , Fizames Cécile , Sentenac Hervé , Zimmermann Sabine D.
Published: November 2020

Potassium (K+) acquisition, translocation and cellular homeostasis are mediated by various membrane transport systems in all organisms. We identified and described an ion channel in the ectomycorrhizal fungusHebeloma cylindrosporum(HcSKC) that harbors features of animal voltage-dependentShaker-like K+channels, and investigated its role in both free-living hyphae and symbiotic conditions. RNAi lines affected in the expression ofHcSKCwere produced and used forin vitromycorrhizal assays with the maritime pine as host plant, under standard or low K+conditions. The adaptation ofH.cylindrosporumto the downregulation ofHcSKCwas analyzed by qRT-PCR analyses for other K+-related transport proteins: the transportersHcTrk1,HcTrk2, andHcHAK, and the ion channelsHcTOK1,HcTOK2.1, andHcTOK2.2. DownregulatedHcSKCtransformants displayed greater K+contents at standard K+only. In such conditions, plants inoculated with these transgenic lines were impaired in K+nutrition. Taken together, these results support the hypothesis that the reduced expression ofHcSKCmodifies the pool of fungal K+available for the plant and/or affects its symbiotic transfer to the roots. Our study reveals that the maintenance of K+transport inH.cylindrosporum, through the regulation ofHcSKCexpression, is required for the K+nutrition of the host plant.
Clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in Kuwait
Authors: Alshukry Abdullah , Ali Hamad , Ali Yaseen , Al-Taweel Talal , Abu-Farha Mohammad , AbuBaker Jehad , Devarajan Sriraman , Dashti Ali A. , Bandar Ali , Taleb Hessah , Al Bader Abdullah , Aly Nasser Y. , Al-Ozairi Ebaa , Al-Mulla Fahd , Bu Abbas Mohammad
Published: November 2020

This is a retrospective single-center study of 417 consecutive patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) admitted to Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital in Kuwait between February 24, 2020 and May 24, 2020. In total, 39.3% of patients were asymptomatic, 41% were symptomatic with mild/moderate symptoms, 19.7% were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Most common symptoms in cohort patients were fever (34.3%) and dry cough (32.6%) while shortness in breath was reported in (75.6%) of ICU admissions. Reported complications requiring ICU admission included Sepsis (68.3%), acute respiratory distress syndrome (95.1%) and heart failure (63.4%). ICU patients were more likely to have comorbidities, in comparison to non-ICU patients, including diabetes (35.4% vs 20.3%) and hypertension (40.2% vs 26.9%). Mortality rate of cohort was 14.4% and mean age of death was 54.20 years (± 11.09) and 90% of death cases were males. Chest high-resolution computed tomography for ICU cases reveled multifocal large patchy areas of ground glass opacification mixed with dense consolidation. Cases admitted to ICU showed abnormal levels of markers associated with infection, inflammation, abnormal blood clotting, heart problems and kidney problems. Mean hospital stay for asymptomatic cases was 20.69 days ±8.57 and for mild/moderate cases was 21.4 days ±8.28. Mean stay in ICU to outcome for survivors was 11.95 days ±8.96 and for death cases 13.15 days ±10.02. In this single-center case series of 417 hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Kuwait 39.3% were asymptomatic cases, 41% showed mild/moderate symptoms and 18.7% were admitted to ICU with a mortality rate of 14.4%.
Calcineurin phosphatase activity regulates Varicella-Zoster Virus induced cell-cell fusion
Authors: Zhou Momei , Kamarshi Vivek , Arvin Ann M. , Oliver Stefan L.
Published: November 2020

Cell-cell fusion (abbreviated as cell fusion) is a characteristic pathology of medically important viruses, including varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the causative agent of chickenpox and shingles. Cell fusion is mediated by a complex of VZV glycoproteins, gB and gH-gL, and must be tightly regulated to enable skin pathogenesis based on studies with gB and gH hyperfusogenic VZV mutants. Although the function of gB and gH-gL in the regulation of cell fusion has been explored, whether host factors are directly involved in this regulation process is unknown. Here, we discovered host factors that modulated VZV gB/gH-gL mediated cell fusion via high-throughput screening of bioactive compounds with known cellular targets. Two structurally related non-antibiotic macrolides, tacrolimus and pimecrolimus, both significantly increased VZV gB/gH-gL mediated cell fusion. These compounds form a drug-protein complex with FKBP1A, which binds to calcineurin and specifically inhibits calcineurin phosphatase activity. Inhibition of calcineurin phosphatase activity also enhanced both herpes simplex virus-1 fusion complex and syncytin-1 mediated cell fusion, indicating a broad role of calcineurin in modulating this process. To characterize the role of calcineurin phosphatase activity in VZV gB/gH-gL mediated fusion, a series of biochemical, biological and infectivity assays was performed. Pimecrolimus-induced, enhanced cell fusion was significantly reduced by shRNA knockdown of FKBP1A, further supporting the role of calcineurin phosphatase activity in fusion regulation. Importantly, inhibition of calcineurin phosphatase activity during VZV infection caused exaggerated syncytia formation and suppressed virus propagation, which was consistent with the previously reported phenotypes of gB and gH hyperfusogenic VZV mutants. Seven host cell proteins that remained uniquely phosphorylated when calcineurin phosphatase activity was inhibited were identified as potential downstream factors involved in fusion regulation. These findings demonstrate that calcineurin is a critical host cell factor pivotal in the regulation of VZV induced cell fusion, which is essential for VZV pathogenesis.
Dismissal and elevation: Mamoulian’s musical numbers and the early sound era
Authors: Slowik Michael
Published: November 2020

Though the musical numbers in Applause (1929) and Love Me Tonight (1932) are decidedly different, they share two characteristics: both were highly unusual at the time of their release, and both were directed by the same man: Rouben Mamoulian. This article examines these differing numbers as the work of a director with a surprisingly unified vision of cinema, and assesses their level of innovation within the early sound era. In these films, Mamoulian, an unabashed intellectual, put into practice theories of medium specificity and stylization that he had developed in his theatre work, theories that have received little scholarly attention. Believing that an artist uses medium-specific tools to transform the subject matter so as to express an artist’s personal viewpoint on the material, Mamoulian sought cinematic ways to stylishly dismiss and deride his numbers in Applause and elevate them in Love Me Tonight. In doing so, Mamoulian charted early and important ways in which musical numbers could be conceptualized and executed.
A highly creative endeavour: Interview with musicologist and silent film pianist Martin Marks
Authors: Tieber Claus , Windisch Anna K.
Published: November 2020

Martin Marks holds an almost unique position to talk about silent film music: he is a scholarly musician and musical scholar. Besides his canonical book on the history of silent film music (1997), he has been playing piano accompaniments for silent films regularly for nearly four decades. In this interview we asked Martin about the challenges and complexities of choosing and creating music to accompany musical numbers in silent cinema. Martin relates how he detects musical numbers and he expounds his decision-making process on how to treat them. His explanations are interspersed with engaging examples from his practical work and based on both his scholarly knowledge and on his musical intelligence. He talks about the use of pre-existing music as well as about anachronisms in choosing music written many decades after a film was first released. In sum, this interview delivers detailed and informed insights into the difficulties and pleasures of accompanying musical numbers or other types of diegetic music in silent cinema.
Semi Fragile Audio Crypto-Watermarking based on Sparse Sampling with Partially Decomposed Haar Matrix Structure
Authors: Appadurai Electa Alice , Bhatt Mahabaleswara Ram , Devanagavi D. Geetha
Published: November 2020

In the recent era the growth of technology is tremendous and at the same time, the misuse of technology is also increasing with an equal scale. Thus the owners have to protect the multimedia data from the malicious and piracy. This has led the researchers to the new era of cryptography and watermarking. In the traditional security algorithm for the audio, the algorithm is implemented on the digital data after the traditional analog to digital conversion. But in this article, we propose the crypto – watermarking algorithm based on sparse sampling to be implemented during the analog to digital conversion process only. The watermark is generated by exploiting the structure of HAAR transform. The performance of the algorithm is tested on various audio signals and the obtained SNR is greater than 30dB and the algorithm results in good robustness against various signal attacks such as echo addition, noise addition, reverberation etc.
A ensaística de Hannah Arendt em "A crise na educação"
Authors: Silva Filho Luiz Marcos da
Published: November 2020

Neste artigo, proponho uma leitura do ensaio de Hannah Arendt "A crise na educação" que o apreenda como um exercício de pensar. Assim, os problemas, argumentos, conceitos, das quatro seções do ensaio serão examinados como constitutivos de um movimento argumentativo cujo ponto de partida são aspectos particulares de uma crise na educação em direção às suas causas gerais e mais profundas, oriundas da crise da Modernidade.
Os desafios da compreensão: um ensaio sobre a hermenêutica da complexidade
Authors: Calloni Humberto , Amorim Filipi Vieira
Published: November 2020

Neste artigo, objetivamos investigar os desafios da compreensão da complexidade imanente às múltiplas realidades. Metodologicamente, dada a natureza teórica do ensaio, fomos acompanhados pelas reflexões de Edgar Morin sobre "O Método". Tomamos como ponto de partida a ruptura entre as ciências da natureza e as ciências do espírito que, por consequência, encerraram a ciência e a filosofia em compartimentos disciplinares aparentemente incomunicáveis. Com vistas à superação deste isolamento, reivindicamos uma hermenêutica da complexidade de modo que possamos compreender as relações, colaborações e complementações intrínsecas aos diferentes conhecimentos e saberes.
Autores e modos de entrada no discurso: um exame a partir da psicologia do desenvolvimento.
Authors: Lima Ana Laura Godinho de
Published: November 2020

O artigo recorre aos escritos de Michel Foucault sobre a análise do discurso, para caracterizar as exigências que se impõem aos intelectuais ao adentrarem uma formação discursiva. Examinam-se as condições requeridas para se ocupar a posição de sujeito do enunciado, bem como as regras subjacentes à formação dos objetos, dos conceitos e à escolha dos temas e teorias, os quais tanto permitem como restringem as possibilidades de formação dos enunciados. A análise incide especificamente sobre os discursos da psicologia destinados aos professores em formação, investigando a hipótese de que, na primeira metade do século XX, o tema do desenvolvimento tratado no âmbito da teoria da recapitulação constituiu uma estratégia recorrente para a formulação de enunciados reconhecidos como verdadeiros.

Palavras-chave: Análise do discurso. Formação de professores, psicologia educacional. Estudos foucaultianos. Manuais de ensino.
Anquilose e reabsorção por substituição em dentes anteriores: os primeiros sinais para diagnosticar
Authors: Consolaro Alberto , Hadaya Omar
Published: November 2020

Introdução: A única causa da anquilose e da consequente reabsorção por substituição em dentes irrompidos é o traumatismo dentário. O mais frequente e silencioso dos traumatismos dentários, em suas consequências, é a concussão dentária e, muitas vezes, o paciente nem se lembra, na anamnese, dela ter ocorrido. Descrição: O tratamento de vanguarda da anquilose e da reabsorção por substituição é a decoronação seguida da colocação de implante osseointegrável, apesar das técnicas antigas ainda serem usadas com frequência. Resultado: Para o tratamento adequado, é importante um diagnóstico precoce e preciso. Os sinais iniciais são ressaltados do ponto de vista clínico e imagiológico. Conclusão: Por fim, explica-se que a anquilose e reabsorção por substituição ocorrem porque o traumatismo dentário em dentes não irrompidos elimina os Restos Epiteliais de Malassez, a estrutura responsável pela manutenção do espaço periodontal