bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exercício de tradução do português para o italiano da crônica Mineirinho, de Clarice Lispector
Authors: Lopes Claudia Valéria Arantes
Published: October 2022

RESUMO: Embora não seja uma prática usual, o presente ensaio traz soluções e compensações que um tradutor de língua materna português brasileiro encontra ao verter para o italiano a crônica “Mineirinho”, de autoria de Clarice Lispector, inspirado na morte do inimigo público número um da polícia nos anos 60, chamado José Rosa de Miranda, o Mineirinho. Considerando a natureza do texto, tentou-se transpor para a língua italiana estranhamentos típicos da sintaxe de Clarice Lispector, com resultado que julgamos satisfatório. Além disso, para ilustrar algumas das soluções encontradas, serão destacados trechos em que ambas as traduções divergem.Palavras-chave: Clarice Lispector. Traduções comparadas. Traduzir para língua não materna. Contexto social como instrumento de tradução. Tarefa do tradutor.ABSTRACT: Nonostante non sia una pratica usuale, questo saggio propone soluzioni e compensi che un traduttore, madrelingua portoghese brasiliano, trova nel tradurre in italiano la cronaca, scritta da Clarice Lispector, ispirata alla morte del nemico pubblico numero uno della polizia negli anni 60’ chiamato José Rosa de Miranda, o Mineirinho. Considerata la natura del testo, si è cercato di trasporre alla lingua italiana straniamenti tipici della sintassi di Clarice Lispector, con un risultato che riteniamo soddisfacente. Inoltre, al fine di illustrare alcune delle soluzioni riscontrate, verranno evidenziati stralci in cui entrambe le traduzioni divergono.Parole chiave: Clarice Lispector. Traduzioni a confronto. Tradurre in una lingua non nativa. Contesto sociale come strumento di traduzione. Compito del traduttore. ABSTRACT: Although it is not a usual practice, this essay brings solutions and compensations that a Brazilian Portuguese mother-tongue translator finds when translating into Italian the chronicle “Mineirinho”, by Clarice Lispector, inspired by the death of public enemy number one of the police in the 60s, called José Rosa de Miranda, o Mineirinho. Considering the nature of the text, an attempt was made to transpose typical estrangements of Clarice Lispector's syntax to the Italian language, with a result that we consider satisfactory. In addition, in order to illustrate some of the solutions found, excerpts in which there are divergences between a previous translation and the one proposed will be highlighted.Keywords: Clarice Lispector. Compared translations. Translating into non-native language. Social context as a translation tool. Translator's task.
CENTROS DE INTELIGÊNCIA: UM CAMINHO PARA A EFETIVAÇÃO DA AGENDA 2030 NO JUDICIÁRIO
Authors: Koehler Frederico Augusto Leopoldino , Silveira André Luiz Cavalcanti , Bueno Raquel Barofaldi
Published: October 2022

RESUMO: Este artigo examina a correlação entre as atribuições dos centros de inteligência do Judiciário e a concretização da Agenda 2030 da ONU. Analisa a evolução do conceito de sustentabilidade, a abordagem multidimensional e sistêmica e o papel do Judiciário na efetivação da Agenda 2030. Apresenta as atribuições dos centros de inteligência e suas potencialidades relacionadas à efetivação dos Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável. Conclui propondo a implementação de sistemática de indicação, quando da afetação de matérias, dos objetivos e metas da Agenda 2030 relacionados ao respectivo tema e, ainda, novos indicadores para os centros de inteligência no relatório Justiça em Números do CNJ.
DISSOLUÇÃO PARCIAL DA SOCIEDADE POR EXCLUSÃO DE SÓCIO E A CONTRIBUIÇÃO DOS NEGÓCIOS JURÍDICOS PROCESSUAIS
Authors: Norat Leonardo Costa , Góes Gisele Santos Fernandes , Scaff Luma Cavaleiro de Macêdo
Published: October 2022

Este artigo tem por problema “como os negócios jurídicos processuais podem auxiliar nas decisões judiciais sobre pedidos de dissolução parcial, por exclusão de sócio?”. Em quatro passos, propõe-se a estudar o contrato de sociedade, analisar a dissolução parcial, investigar a affectio societatis na jurisprudência do Superior Tribunal de Justiça e em caso no Tribunal de Justiça do Estado do Pará, e propor uma resposta ao problema. Tem-se como hipótese que os negócios jurídicos processuais podem delimitar os pontos controvertidos para a decisão da demanda. Adotou-se o método hipotético-dedutivo, com técnicas de pesquisa bibliográfica, documental e estudo de caso.
AÇÕES COLETIVAS TRANSNACIONAIS: A EXPERIÊNCIA CANADENSE E O APRIMORAMENTO DO CONCEITO DE ACESSO À JUSTIÇA
Authors: Silva Larissa Clare Pochmann da
Published: October 2022

O presente trabalho analisa como a experiência canadense das ações coletivas poderia contribuir para o aprimoramento do cenário latino-americano e do conceito de acesso à justiça, em que os danos não estão mais restritos às fronteiras estatais. Para isso,o texto esclarece o que seriam as ações coletivas transnacionais e como elas poderiam aprimorar a prevenção e a reparação de danos não mais restritos a fronteiras. Em seguida, com base na experiência canadense, constroem-se propostas para a admissibilidade e a efetivação de ações coletivas transnacionais contexto latino-americano.
UMA CRÍTICA HISTÓRICO-DEMOCRÁTICA AO SISTEMA BRASILEIRO DE PRECEDENTES JUDICIAIS EM FAVOR DA CRIATIVIDADE FORENSE
Authors: Campos Neto Paulo De Freitas , Nejaim América Cardoso Barreto Lima , Machado Jaborandy Clara Cardoso
Published: October 2022

Este trabalho aborda a implementação da teoria dos precedentes judiciais no ordenamento jurídico brasileiro, voltando-se, referencialmente, à autonomia decisória do magistrado, em razão da inserção de novos mecanismos de uniformização jurisprudencial atrelada ao silogismo exegético no método decisório. Parte-se, então, para um estudo histórico acerca da edificação do Poder Judiciário, transpassando as teorias políticas de divisão do poder estatal. Em seguida, analisa-se os pontos dissociativos entre a cultura jurídica brasileira e a doutrina dos precedentes judiciais adotada pelo CPC/15, atentando-se ao prejuízo sofrido pela criatividade dos servidores togados e, por fim, abordam-se as técnicas hábeis à promoção da superação dos precedentes judiciais, visando conciliar a figura do juiz criativo com os enunciados normativos advindos das cortes superiores.
Stronger together: heart failure, renal and diabetes
Authors: Brooks Poppy , Hyland Rebecca , Donnelly Edith , Lovedale Lisa , Hogan Janine
Published: October 2022

Coming together as a triumvirate of nursing specialties within the cardio-metabolic field, the British Society for Heart Failure Nurse Forum, the Association of Nephrology Nurses and the Diabetes Specialist Nurse Forum UK unanimously agreed that we are ‘stronger together’ and that a combined voice would be of great benefit—both in terms of managing clinical complexity, and in tackling professional issues. This report summarises the inaugural meeting held in July 2022 of the ‘heart failure, renal and diabetes’ group that was duly formed.
Congenital or acquired: more similarities than differences
Authors: Greenaway Beth
Published: October 2022

In this month's thoughtful patient story, Beth Greenaway reflects on her personal and professional observations about the differences—and similarities—between patients with congenital vs acquired heart disease.
Telephone triage for 2-week-wait cancer clinics: a viable alternative to face-to-face clinics?
Authors: Garrard A , Bashyam A , Pitkin L
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Head and neck cancer services have had to adapt to reduce the risk of exposure to patients and staff during the pandemic. Telephone consultations as a first point contact have been adopted in some centres. It is important that this does not lead to delays in diagnosis. Our hospital adopted a telephone triage service and we aim to describe the implications of this structure.

Methods

Data were collected from all new patients referred to the head and neck 2-week-wait (2ww) pathway from June to September of 2019 and 2020. Days between first clinic appointment and cancer or noncancer diagnosis were calculated. Statistical tests were performed between years.

Results

A total of 215 patients in 2019, and 165 in 2020 were included; 23 (6.8%) cancer diagnoses were identified across 2019 and 2020 groups. The cancer group had a mean time from first consultation to date of diagnosis of 16.33 days in 2019 and 12.81 days in 2020. There was no significant difference in days until diagnosis between 2019 and 2020 (p=0.05). In the noncancer group there was no significant difference in days until noncancer diagnosis (p=0.05). In 2020 26.1% (n=43) patients did not need to be seen face-to-face (f2f) under the 2ww pathway after telephone triage.

Conclusions

No difference in diagnosis timing was observed between cancer and noncancer patents in 2019 and 2020. Telephone clinics reduce the total number of f2f appointments required. Reduction in the number of f2f appointments may have other benefits in saving time and environmental costs.
Click farm platforms
Authors: Grohmann Rafael , Clara Aquino Maria , Rodrigues Alison , Matos Évilin , Govari Caroline , Amaral Adriana
Published: October 2022

The article analyses work on click farm platforms in Brazil and Colombia. It argues that work on these platforms updates and renews the historical informality of work in Latin America. Drawing on click farm ethnography, worker interviews and digital ethnography on WhatsApp and Facebook groups and Youtube channels, the research highlights: first, the cultural marks of Brazil and Colombia in the interactions between workers, typical of Latin American digital culture; second, the role of Youtubers as skill makers, responsible for the initiation of workers into click farm platforms and the circulation of neoliberal and entrepreneurial ideology; third, practices and discourses relating to reselling accounts, photos and bots as a new version of the historical resale markets in the region; and fourth, the boundaries between informality and illegality at work on click farm platforms. The article argues that, in addition to informal work that preceded and is connected to work on click farms, informality gains new dimensions with work on click farms, with the platformisation of labour representing an articulation between the old informality and new market practices and infrastructures.
Teleworking in Portuguese public administration during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Madureira César , Rando Belén
Published: October 2022

This article seeks to characterise teleworking in public administration during the COVID-19 pandemic. It draws on a study that aimed to collect the perceptions of Portuguese public servants about this phenomenon. Findings show that, in general, perceptions of workers and managers about teleworking are more positive than negative. It seems that teleworking in public administration has succeeded despite perceptions of insufficient equipment supply and some stigmatisation of teleworkers. The article also sought to investigate whether the perception of the potential advantages and disadvantages of teleworking, with special emphasis on work-life balance, varies according to the workers’ gender and number of dependents. The study found that this was indeed the case. However, there were also differences relating to workers’ motivation. The study found that a significant proportion of Portuguese public servants felt more motivated when performing their activities as teleworkers.
Nested Sampling aided determination of tantalum optical constants in the EUV spectral range
Authors: Saadeh Qais , Naujok Philipp , Wu Meiyi , Philipsen Vicky , Thakare Devesh , Scholze Frank , Buchholz Christian , Stadelhoff Christian , Wiesner Thomas , Soltwisch Victor
Published: October 2022

We report on determining the
optical constants of Ta in the sub-extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectral
range 5.0–24.0 nm from the angle-dependent reflectance (ADR)
measured using monochromatized synchrotron radiation. Two sputtered
samples with differing thicknesses were investigated. Complementarily
x-ray reflectance was measured at shorter wavelengths and evaluated by
Fourier transform to facilitate an unambiguous selection of a model
for the data evaluation based on an inverse solution of the Fresnel’s
equations for a layered system. Bayesian inferences coupled with a
Nested Sampling (NS) algorithm were utilized to derive the optical
constants with their corresponding uncertainties. This report further
emphasizes the applicability of an acclaimed NS algorithm on a
high-dimensional inverse problem. We explore the possibility of
addressing the correlations between the optical constants of thin
films and their structural parameters based on other established
studies.
Blood pressure estimation by spatial pulse-wave dynamics in a facial video
Authors: Iuchi Kaito , Miyazaki Ryogo , Cardoso George C. , Ogawa-Ochiai Keiko , Tsumura Norimichi
Published: October 2022

We propose a remote method to estimate continuous blood pressure (BP) based on spatial information of a pulse-wave as a function of time. By setting regions of interest to cover a face in a mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive manner, RGB facial video is converted into a spatial pulse-wave signal. The spatial pulse-wave signal is converted into spatial signals of contours of each segmented pulse beat and relationships of each segmented pulse beat. The spatial signal is represented as a time-continuous value based on a representation of a pulse contour in a time axis and a phase axis and an interpolation along with the time axis. A relationship between the spatial signals and BP is modeled by a convolutional neural network. A dataset was built to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. The dataset consists of continuous BP and facial RGB videos of ten healthy volunteers. The results show an adequate estimation of the performance of the proposed method when compared to the ground truth in mean BP, in both the correlation coefficient (0.85) and mean absolute error (5.4 mmHg). For comparison, the dataset was processed using conventional pulse features, and the estimation error produced by our method was significantly lower. To visualize the root source of the BP signals used by our method, we have visualized spatial-wise and channel-wise contributions to the estimation by the deep learning model. The result suggests the spatial-wise contribution pattern depends on the blood pressure, while the pattern of pulse contour-wise contribution pattern reflects the relationship between percussion wave and dicrotic wave.
Assessing and compensating for the confounding factors in Scheimpflug-based corneal densitometry
Authors: Miażdżyk Maria , Consejo Alejandra , Iskander D. Robert
Published: October 2022

Scheimpflug-based corneal densitometry is a clinically verified method for assessing corneal transparency. Nevertheless, the estimates of corneal densitometry appear to be correlated with age and eye biometry parameters, such as the anterior chamber depth or the pupil size, and that ensues a convoluted conditional estimation problem, where it is difficult to interpret the results. This study aims at devising a methodology for compensating for such confounding factors by using, as a research platform, a commercially available Scheimpflug camera that allows exporting images in a dynamic fashion, allowing averaging the results from multiple acquisitions. Two approaches are considered, one based on appropriately normalizing the line densitometry signal and one based on image histogram equalization. Then, three parameters for describing corneal densitometry are derived including the mean value of backscatter and the scale and shape parameters of the Weibull distribution estimated in regions of interest encompassing parts of corneal stroma. The results show that, unlike the non-normalized measures, the proposed approaches lead to parameters that are not correlated with age nor the eye biometry.
Cross polarization of nano-objects located on a flat substrate in the presence of a glass microparticle
Authors: Heydarian R. , Simovski C.
Published: October 2022

In this work, we theoretically show that the deep subwavelength objects located on a dielectric substrate under a glass microcylinder sufficiently close to its bottom point are strongly polarized in the direction that is radial with respect to the microcylinder. This is even in the case when the structure is illuminated by the normally incident light. Though the incident electric field in the area of the objects is polarized almost tangentially to the cylinder surface, a significant cross polarization arises in the object due to its near-field coupling with the cylinder. In accordance with our previous works, the radial polarization is the key prerequisite of the super-resolution granted by a glass microsphere. Extending our results to the 3D case, we claim that the same cross-polarization effect should hold for a glass microsphere. In other words, the reported study shows that the parasitic spread image created by the tangential polarization of the objects should not mask the subwavelength image created by the radial polarization.
Graphene plasmons on attenuated total reflection structures: a route to achieve large optical pushing or pulling force intensities in the terahertz region
Authors: Ferrari Hernán , Zapata-Rodríguez Carlos J. , Cuevas Mauro
Published: October 2022

The ability to control optomechanical interactions at subwavelength
levels is of key relevance in modern optics. The present work focuses
on the improvement of the force exerted on a dielectric nanoparticle
placed near an attenuated total reflection structure containing
graphene. Our results show that this force is highly dependent on the
angle of incidence of the impinging plane wave, and it can be enhanced
by nearly three orders of magnitude when this angle coincides with
that of the critical total internal reflection and that corresponding
to the excitation of surface plasmons along the graphene layer. New
effects are found in these angular regions where the induced
elliptical polarizability on the nanoparticle provides an asymmetric
excitation of electromagnetic modes that generates a pulling
(attractive) component whose magnitude is comparable to that of the
pushing (repulsive) force provided by the incident field. As a
consequence and contrary to what happens for large separation
distances, an asymmetric response with respect to the angle of
incidence arises for short distances for which the force on the
particle is described by curves having a maximum and a minimum. Our
results can contribute to a better understanding of polarization
dependent interactions between nanoparticles and electromagnetic mode
fields for taking advantage of them in nanoparticle manipulation
applications.
Ultraflat bandpass, high extinction, and tunable silicon photonic filters
Authors: Singh Anshuman , Belansky Richard , Soltani Moe
Published: October 2022

We report on the design and the demonstration of silicon photonic ultraflat bandpass filters with low insertion loss and high out-of-band rejection for an operation near the 1550 nm wavelength band. These filters are based on cascading low (2nd) order Ring-Assisted Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (RAMZI) filter stages. The cascade design enables high out-of-band rejection while keeping the unit cells of each stage low order to be more tolerant to fabrication imperfections. The characterization of filters shows an insertion loss of ∼1 dB, an in-band ripple of <0.1 dB, an out-of-band rejection of >50 dB for a filter 3-dB bandwidth of ∼1.1 nm, and tunable up to ∼6 nm. We also investigate the filter’s spur-free dynamic range at high input optical powers, which is important for RF photonics applications, and quantify a dynamic range of >60 dB for a laser power as high as ∼11.6 mW sent to the filter. Such integrated filters are promising for applications in pump wavelength rejection in four-wave mixing photon pair generation, and in RF antenna remoting where multiple RF signals are carried on different coarse wavelengths to be separated.
High-power UTC-photodiodes for an optically pumped subharmonic terahertz receiver
Authors: Makhlouf Sumer , Martinez-Gil Javier , Grzeslo Marcel , Moro-Melgar Diego , Cojocari Oleg , Stöhr Andreas
Published: October 2022

In this work, we present an optically subharmonic pumped WR3-mixer for enabling photonic coherent frequency-domain terahertz (THz) imaging and spectroscopy systems in the future. The studied mixer operates within the upper range of the WR3-band from 270 GHz to 320 GHz. High-power uni-travelling carrier photodiodes (UTC-PDs) are developed for providing the subharmonic local oscillator (LO) signal within the corresponding WR6-band in the range between 135 GHz and 160 GHz. The proposed THz mixer module consists of a gallium arsenide (GaAs)-based low barrier Schottky diodes (LBSDs) chip and an indium phosphide (InP)-based UTC-PD chip. For integrating the UTC-PD with the WR6 at the mixer’s LO input, an E-plane transition and a stepped-impedance microstrip line low pass filter (MSL-LPF) are developed and monolithically integrated with the UTC-PD chip on a 100 µm thick InP substrate. The E-plane transition converts the quasi-TEM mode of the grounded coplanar waveguide (GCPW) to the dominant TE10 mode of the WR6 and matches the GCPW’s impedance with the WR6’s impedance. According to full-wave EM simulations, the transition exhibits a 1 dB bandwidth (BW) of more than 30 GHz (138.8-172.1 GHz) with a corresponding return loss (RL) better than 10 dB, whereas the minimum insertion loss (IL) is 0.65 dB at a frequency of 150 GHz. Experimentally, the 1 dB BW of the fabricated transition is found to be between 140 GHz and 170 GHz, which confirms the numerical results. The minimum measured IL is 2.94 dB, i.e., about 2 dB larger than the simulated value. In order to achieve the required LO power for successfully pumping the mixer in a direct approach (i.e., without an additional LO amplifier), the design of the epitaxial system of the UTC-PD is optimized to provide a high output power within the WR6-band (110-170 GHz). Experimentally, at 150 GHz, the output power of the fabricated UTC-PD chip is measured to be +3.38 dBm at a photocurrent of 21 mA. To our knowledge, this is the highest output power ever achieved from a UTC-PD at 150 GHz. Finally, the developed high-power UTC-PDs are used as LO source to pump the subharmonic WR3-mixer. Experimentally, the conversion loss (CL) is determined in dependency of the LO power levels within the RF frequency range between 271 GHz and 321 GHz for a fixed IF at 1 GHz. The achieved results have revealed an inverse relation between the CL and LO power level, where the average minimum CL of 16.8 dB is achieved at the highest applied LO power level, corresponding to a photocurrent of 10 mA. This CL figure is promising and is expected to reach the CL of electronically pumped and commercially available THz mixers (∼12 dB) after packaging the LO source with the mixer. Furthermore, an average CL of 17.2 dB is measured at a fixed LO frequency of 150 GHz and a tuned RF frequency between 301 GHz and 310 GHz, i.e., IF between 1 GHz and 10 GHz.
Dark soliton families in quintic nonlinear lattices
Authors: Zeng Liangwei , Shi Jincheng , Li Jiawei , Li Jingzhen , Wang Qing
Published: October 2022

We prove that the dark solitons can be stable in the purely quintic nonlinear lattices, including the fundamental, tripole and five-pole solitons. These dark soliton families are generated on the periodic nonlinear backgrounds. The propagation constant affects the forms of these solitons, while the number of poles does not lead to the variation of the backgrounds. The dark solitons are stable only when the propagation constant is moderately large.
High-performance Bloch surface wave biosensor based on a prism-coupled porous silicon composite structure for the detection of hemoglobin
Authors: Wu Di , Wei Manli , Liu Sitong , Li Runhua , Ma Ji
Published: October 2022

Biosensors have various potential applications in biomedical research and clinical diagnostic, especially in detection of biomolecules in highly diluted solutions. In this study, a high-performance Bloch surface wave biosensor was constructed for the detection of hemoglobin. The procedure consisted of designing a porous silicon-based Kretschmann configuration to ensure excitation of the Bloch surface wave. The performance of the resulting sensor was then optimized by adjusting the buffer layer parameters based on the impedance matching method. The results showed an increase in the quality factor and figure of merit of the biosensor as a function of the decrease in thickness and refractive index of the buffer layer. The combination of the two optimization methods resulted in the quality factor and figure of merit of the optimized biosensor reaching as high as Q = 6967.4 and FOM = 11050RIU−1, respectively. In sum, the designed biosensor with high performance looks promising for future detection of hemoglobin.
Phase customization in photonic integrated circuits with trimmed waveguides
Authors: Wang Ying-De , Tian Zhen-Nan , Li Yi-Chun , Zhang Zong-Da , Wang Li-Cheng , Chen Qi-Dai
Published: October 2022

Accurate photon phase control on a chip is essential to improve the expandability and stability of photonic integrated circuits (PICs). Here, we propose a novel, to the best of our knowledge, on-chip static phase control method in which a modified line is added close to the normal waveguide with a lower-energy laser. By controlling the laser energy and the position and length of the modified line, the optical phase can be precisely controlled with low loss and a three-dimensional (3D) path. Customizable phase modulation ranging from 0 to 2π is performed with a precision of λ/70 in a Mach–Zehnder interferometer. The proposed method can customize high-precision control phases without changing the waveguide’s original spatial path, which is expected to control the phase and solve the phase error correction problem during processing of large-scale 3D-path PICs.
Noise self-canceling picoscale twisted interferometer
Authors: Munjal Pooja , Chaudhary Komal , Singh Kamal P.
Published: October 2022

We show a noise self-canceling real-time picometer scale interferometer by exploiting the unique spiral phase structure of twisted light. We use a single cylindrical interference-lens to implement the twisted interferometer and perform simultaneous measurement on N phase-orthogonal single-pixel intensity pairs chosen on the petal of the daisy-flower-like interference pattern. A cancellation of various noises by three orders of magnitude was achieved in our setup compared with a conventional single-pixel detection, enabling a sub-100 picometer resolution in measuring a non-repetitive intracavity dynamic event in real-time. Furthermore, the noise cancellation capability of the twisted interferometer scales up statistically for higher radial and azimuthal quantum numbers of the twisted light. The proposed scheme could find applications in precision metrology and in developing analogous ideas for twisted acoustic beam, electron beams, and matter waves.
Squeezing In on an Electromagnetic Controversy
Authors: Astrath N.G.C. , Anghinoni B. , Poar T. , Brevik I. , Bialkowski S.E.
Published: October 2022

Recent measurements of electrostrictiona body force term
commonly excluded from calculations of electromagnetic force and momentum
density-cast new light on a long-standing debate in the history of
electrodynamic theory.
Theoretical macrobending loss in single-mode transmission through a uniform index fiber-optic cable
Authors: Bose Sujit K.
Published: October 2022

The macrobending loss of propagating waves in optical fibers is studied here by employing simple toroidal coordinates (r,  θ,  ϕ) for the governing Maxwell equations of electromagnetism, the solution for which is expressed by the central axial component Π
ϕ
of the Hertz vector Π. The refractive indices of the core and its cladding are supposed uniform all along the length of the cable. Effects of coating, Jacketing and the effect of elastic strain in the fiber are not considered. Knowing that the bending losses are of different nature when the radius of curvature R exceeds or is less than a certain critical value R
c
, the study is accordingly divided in to two parts. Firstly, when R > R
c
wave guide action holds, and it is shown through an example that it is small, varying linearly with the bending angle ϕ of the cable and practically independent of R. On the other hand, when R < R
c
, leaking waves are propagated and the problem is remodeled by a leaking ring source of EM waves in a medium consisting of the cladding only. The analysis of the model results in a bending loss formula that varies as ϕ3 and depends on R by a factor of the form e−αR/R.
Clinical progression and outcomes of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in humanitarian settings: A prospective cohort study in South Sudan and Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo
Authors: Doocy Shannon , Bollemeijer Iris , Leidman Eva , Sebushishe Abdou , Mbong Eta Ngole , Page Kathleen
Published: October 2022

Little information is available on COVID-19 in Africa and virtually none is from humanitarian and more resource-constrained settings. This study characterizes hospitalized patients in the African humanitarian contexts of Juba, South Sudan and North and South Kivu in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. This observational cohort was conducted between December 2020 and June 2021. Patients presenting for care at five facilities or referred from home-based care by mobile medical teams were eligible for enrollment and followed until death or recovery. Disease progression was characterized for hospitalized patients using survival analysis and mixed effects regression model to estimate survival odds for patient characteristics and treatments received. 144 COVID-19 cases enrolled as hospitalized patients were followed to recovery/death. The observed mortality proportion among hospitalized patients was 16.7% (CI: 11.2–23.3%); mortality was three times higher in South Sudan, where patients presented later after symptom onset and in worse conditions. Age and diabetes history were the only patient characteristics associated with decreased survival; clinical status indicators associated with decreased survival included fever, low oxygen level, elevated respiratory and pulse rates. The only therapy associated with survival was non-invasive oxygen; invasive oxygen therapies and other specialized treatments were rarely received. Improving availability of oxygen monitoring and proven COVID-19 therapies in humanitarian and resource-poor settings is critical for health equity. Customizing training to reflect availability of specific medications, therapies and operational constraints is particularly important given the range of challenges faced by providers in these settings.
The importance of the clinical classification of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) in the prognosis
Authors: Oliveira Pedro Dantas , Ribeiro Guilherme Sousa , Anjos Rosangela Oliveira , Dias Maria Almeida , Farre Lourdes , Araújo Iguaracyra , Bittencourt Achiléa Lisboa
Published: October 2022

Background

Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL), a peripheral T-cell leukemia/lymphoma associated with the human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1), has been classified following the clinical forms defined by Shimoyama in 1991. A suggestion to modify Shimoyama’s classification was proposed in 2007 to differentiate within the smoldering patients those who presented nodules or tumors in the skin without lung involvement, which was named the primary cutaneous tumoral (PCT) form of ATLL. In the present study, according to their clinicopathological characteristics, we estimated the mortality rates of 143 ATLL patients from Bahia, Brazil. We also evaluated the importance of classifying PCT/ATLL separately from the smoldering type on disease prognosis.

Methodology/Principal findings

Diagnosis of ATLL was established based on a positive serology for HTLV-1, histopathological and/or cytological diagnosis of peripheral T-cell leukemia/lymphoma. Patients were clinically grouped according to Shimoyama’s classification, considering PCT variants separately from the smoldering cases. Bivariate and multivariable survival analyses were applied to identify factors associated with disease prognosis. Significant differences in the median survival time were observed between the clinical types, with the smoldering type presenting the longest median survival (109 months) compared to the other forms (<50 months); the median survival for PCT/ATLL was 20 months. Multivariable analysis confirmed that ATLL clinical types were associated with survival, with a better prognosis for patients with the smoldering and chronic types. Furthermore, skin involvement was related to a worse outcome in the multivariable analysis, regardless of the clinical form and presence of lymphadenopathy.

Conclusions/Significance

Our results reinforce the importance of considering the PCT/ATLL separately from the smoldering type when classifying ATLL to better define prognosis and treatment, given the significant difference in the survival of patients between the smoldering form and PCT/ATLL. Skin involvement should also be considered an independent prognostic factor in patients with ATLL.
A new species of Impatiens and updated checklist of Balsaminaceae in Nepal
Authors: Raskoti Bhakta Bahadur , Ale Rita
Published: October 2022

Impatiens nimspurjae(Impatiens, Balsaminaceae), a new species from Nepal is described based on molecular data and morphological characters. Notes on the diagnostic characters used to distinguish it from allied taxa are provided.I.nimspurjaeis closely related with taxon belonging to sect.Racemosae(I.harae,I.radiata,I.wallichii,I.urticifolia) in having many-flowered racemose inflorescences, lateral sepals 2 (very rarely 4 with inner 2 reduced), capsule linear, seed ovoid, but differs by its sessile leaves, upper lobe of lower united petal not truncated, spur flattened at base. With the discovery of this new species and five species new records to Nepal, a checklist of Balsaminaceae having 57 species (8 endemic) in Nepal is updated. An identification key to the species ofImaptiensin Nepal is also provided.
Sharks are the preferred scraping surface for large pelagic fishes: Possible implications for parasite removal and fitness in a changing ocean
Authors: Thompson Christopher D. H. , Meeuwig Jessica J.
Published: October 2022

Mutualistic and commensal interactions can have significant positive impacts on animal fitness and survival. However, behavioural interactions between pelagic animals living in offshore oceanic environments are little studied. Parasites can negatively effect the fitness of their hosts by draining resources and diverting energy from growth, reproduction, and other bodily functions. Pelagic fishes are hosts to a diverse array of parasites, however their environment provides few options for removal. Here we provide records of scraping behaviour of several pelagic teleost species, a behaviour that is likely used for parasite removal. These records span three ocean basins and, to the best of our knowledge, include the first records of scraping interactions involving tunas, blue sharks, and mako sharks as well as the first records of intraspecific scraping. We found that scrapers preferred scraping their head, eyes, gill cover, and lateral surfaces, areas where parasites are commonly found and where damage would likely have a substantial impact on fitness. Scraper species varied in their scraping preferences with tunas scraping mostly on the posterior caudal margins of sharks and occasionally conspecifics, while rainbow runner scraped in more varied locations on both sharks and conspecifics. Lengths of scrapers and scrapees were positively correlated and fish scraping on sharks were larger than those scraping on conspecifics, suggesting that risk of predation may be a limiting factor. We show that pelagic teleosts prefer to scrape on sharks rather than conspecifics or other teleosts and suggest that this behaviour may have a positive impact on teleost fitness by reducing parasite loads. The decline of shark populations in the global ocean and the reduction in mean size of many species may limit these interactions, eroding possible fitness benefits associated with this behaviour, and consequently placing more pressure on already highly targeted and vulnerable species.
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on consumer behavioural intention to purchase green products
Authors: Hu Ping , Bhuiyan Miraj Ahmed , Rahman Muhammad Khalilur , Hossain Mohammad Mainul , Akter Shaharin
Published: October 2022

This study examined the fear of COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on consumer behavioural intention to purchase green products. The data was collected from consumers of Malaysia in hypermarkets. A total of 491 respondents were analyzed using the partial least square technique. The results indicated that the fear of the COVID-19 epidemic has a significant impact on health concerns, social media information, intolerance of uncertainty, and personal relevance, which in turn affect consumers’ behavioural intention to purchase green products. With a serial mediating effect the results identified that fear of COVID-19 epidemic is associated with behavioural intention to purchase the green product. The findings of this study are crucial for understanding the swings in the green product purchase behaviour due to the ongoing uncertainty of COVID-19 crisis.
Examining the relationship between metformin dose and cancer survival: A SEER-Medicare analysis
Authors: Scarton Lisa , Jo Ara , Xie Zhigang , O’Neal LaToya J. , Munoz Pena Juan M. , George Thomas J. , Bian Jiang
Published: October 2022

Cancer is a major health problem in the U.S and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is known to increase the risk for the development of many cancers. Metformin, a first-line therapy for treating T2DM, is increasingly being used for its anticancer effects; however, the literature is limited on the effect of metformin dose on overall survival in patients with stage IV cancer. Overall survival was defined as the time interval from the date of diagnosis to the last known follow-up or death from any cause. Subjects who were alive on December 31, 2016 were censored. In this cohort study we examined the relationship between metformin dose and overall survival in persons with both T2DM and stage IV lung, breast, colorectal, prostate, or pancreas cancers. We used a retrospective study design with Cox proportional hazards regression analysis of the 2007–2016 of the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results-Medicare (SEER) dataset. Of the 7,725 patients, 2,981(38.5%) had been prescribed metformin. Patients who used metformin had significantly better overall survival in both unadjusted (Unadjusted HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.69–0.76; p < 0.001) and adjusted models (adjusted HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.73–0.81; p < 0.001). The overall survival between patients who took metformin with average daily dose ≥ 1000mg or < 1000mg were not statistically significant (aHR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.93–1.08; p = 0.90). Metformin use regardless of dose is associated with increased overall survival in older adults with stage IV cancer.
Modular robotic platform for precision neurosurgery with a bio-inspired needle: System overview and first in-vivo deployment
Authors: Secoli Riccardo , Matheson Eloise , Pinzi Marlene , Galvan Stefano , Donder Abdulhamit , Watts Thomas , Riva Marco , Zani Davide Danilo , Bello Lorenzo , Rodriguez y Baena Ferdinando
Published: October 2022

Over the past 10 years, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has shown significant benefits compared to conventional surgical techniques, with reduced trauma, shorter hospital stays, and shorter patient recovery times. In neurosurgical MIS procedures, inserting a straight tool (e.g. catheter) is common practice in applications ranging from biopsy and laser ablation, to drug delivery and fluid evacuation. How to handle tissue deformation, target migration and access to deep-seated anatomical structures remain an open challenge, affecting both the preoperative planning phase and eventual surgical intervention. Here, we present the first neurosurgical platform in the literature, able to deliver an implantable steerable needle for a range of diagnostic and therapeutic applications, with a short-term focus on localised drug delivery. This work presents the system’s architecture and first in vivo deployment with an optimised surgical workflow designed for pre-clinical trials with the ovine model, which demonstrate appropriate function and safe implantation.
In vitro cytotoxicity of human urine and its potential toxic parameters towards bladder cancer cells
Authors: Zhao Hongda , Tse Ryan Tsz-Hei , Cheng Carol Ka-Lo , Wong Christine Yim-Ping , Kong Angel Wing-Yan , Chan Ronald Cheong-Kin , Chiu Peter Ka-Fung , Ng Chi-Fai , Teoh Jeremy Yuen-Chun
Published: October 2022

Background

Bladder cancer (CaB) has a high recurrence rate despite surgery. As bladder is constantly filled with urine, it is worthwhile to investigate whether it could have any detrimental effects on bladder cancer cells.

Methods

We investigated the cytotoxicity of urine samples from CaB patients and normal controls on four CaB cell lines and tested the percentage of cell death, proliferation, adhesion, invasion and colonies formation ability. In order to identify the potential components involving in urine cytotoxicity, we evaluated some basic physiochemical parameters of urines, such as pH, osmolarity, creatinine (Cr), sodium (Na), potassium (K), chloride (Cl), calcium (Ca) and phosphate (PO4). We further compared the pH values of urine samples between CaB who developed recurrence versus those who did not. A more in-depth analysis on inflammatory markers was performed for two representative urine samples which demonstrated opposite cytoxic effects.

Results

23 CaB patients and 20 normal controls were recruited into this study. According to in vitro experiments, both CaB and non-CaB urines had comparable effect on cell toxicity, proliferation, adhesion, invasion and colonies formation ability in four cell lines, HTB9, RT4, T24 and UMUC3, while RT4 was the most sensitive to urine toxicity. After evaluating the relationship between basic physiochemical parameters and cytotoxicity, we found out that there were strong negative correlations between pH value and 24 hours death rate for the 4 CaB cell lines (HTB9 r = -0.6651, p<0.001; RT4 r = -0.8335, p<0.001; T24 r = -0.4924, p<0.001; UMUC3 r = -0.7066, p<0.001). Osmolarity, urine Cr and PO4 all had weakly or moderately positive correlations with CaB cells on 24 hours death rate. CaB patients who developed recurrence had more alkaline urine than those who did not develop recurrence. In the urine sample with the highest cytoxicity, high concentrations of IL-6 and IFN-gamma were found.

Conclusions

Our study confirmed that there was not statistically significant difference in cytotoxicity between CaB and non-CaB urines. However, we identified some parameters that could have an impact on cytotoxicity towards CaB cells. Modifying certain urine characteristics peri-operatively may induce cytotoxicity, avoid tumour re-implantation, and reduce the chance of cancer recurrence.
Effectiveness of interventions aimed at reducing HIV acquisition and transmission among gay and bisexual men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in high income settings: A systematic review
Authors: Sewell Janey , Fakoya Ibidun , Lampe Fiona C. , Howarth Alison , Phillips Andrew , Burns Fiona , Rodger Alison J. , Cambiano Valentina
Published: October 2022

Introduction

HIV transmission continues among gay and bisexual men who have sex with men (GBMSM), with those who are younger, or recent migrants, or of minority ethnicity or who are gender diverse remaining at increased risk. We aimed to identify and describe recent studies evaluating the effectiveness of HIV prevention interventions for GBMSM in high income countries.

Methods

We searched ten electronic databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), conducted in high income settings, and published since 2013 to update a previous systematic review (Stromdahl et al, 2015). We predefined four outcome measures of interest: 1) HIV incidence 2) STI incidence 3) condomless anal intercourse (CLAI) (or measure of CLAI) and 4) number of sexual partners. We used the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (UK) Quality Appraisal of Intervention Studies tool to assess the quality of papers included in the review. As the trials contained a range of effect measures (e.g. odds ratio, risk difference) comparing the arms in the RCTs, we converted them into standardized effect sizes (SES) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

We identified 39 original papers reporting 37 studies. Five intervention types were identified: one-to-one counselling (15 papers), group interventions (7 papers), online interventions (9 papers), Contingency Management for substance use (2 papers) and Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) (6 papers). The quality of the studies was mixed with over a third of studies rated as high quality and 11% rated as poor quality. There was some evidence that one-to-one counselling, group interventions (4–10 participants per group) and online (individual) interventions could be effective for reducing HIV transmission risk behaviours such as condomless anal intercourse. PrEP was the only intervention that was consistently effective at reducing HIV incidence.

Conclusions

Our systematic review of the recent evidence that we were able to analyse indicates that PrEP is the most effective intervention for reducing HIV acquisition among GBMSM. Targeted and culturally tailored behavioural interventions for sub-populations of GBMSM vulnerable to HIV infection and other STIs should also be considered, particularly for GBMSM who cannot access or decline to use PrEP.
DISA tool: Discriminative and informative subspace assessment with categorical and numerical outcomes
Authors: Alexandre Leonardo , Costa Rafael S. , Henriques Rui
Published: October 2022

Pattern discovery and subspace clustering play a central role in the biological domain, supporting for instance putative regulatory module discovery from omics data for both descriptive and predictive ends. In the presence of target variables (e.g. phenotypes), regulatory patterns should further satisfy delineate discriminative power properties, well-established in the presence of categorical outcomes, yet largely disregarded for numerical outcomes, such as risk profiles and quantitative phenotypes. DISA (Discriminative and Informative Subspace Assessment), a Python software package, is proposed to evaluate patterns in the presence of numerical outcomes using well-established measures together with a novel principle able to statistically assess the correlation gain of the subspace against the overall space. Results confirm the possibility to soundly extend discriminative criteria towards numerical outcomes without the drawbacks well-associated with discretization procedures. Results from four case studies confirm the validity and relevance of the proposed methods, further unveiling critical directions for research on biotechnology and biomedicine.Availability:DISA is freely available athttps://github.com/JupitersMight/DISAunder the MIT license.