bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aging into tricksters: a qualitative study of women’s positioning and leadership in solar energy communities in Japan
Authors: Lazoroska Daniela
Published: May 2023

Background

Since the 1960s, women’s social and political engagement in Japan has been closely tied to the roles of mothers and housewives. On the other hand, the country is undergoing considerable demographic changes and has come to be considered an aging society, where an increasing number of women are opting out of marriage and child-rearing. Drawing from qualitative research with women in managerial positions in solar energy communities, this article explores the complex maneuvers informants conducted to fulfill their goal: the expansion of renewable energy in Japan.

Results

The empirical findings point to a new, and underexplored perspective: of aging as a catalyzer for transgressing certain norms and expectations on female behavior in the context of grassroots mobilization. Aging tends to be axiomatically represented as a time of decline, and unidirectional consumption of communal resources. I examine how transitioning from life stages centered on careers and child-rearing offers resources that my informants draw on to sustain their engagement in solar energy communities. I further examine how my informants carefully, and paradoxically, navigate gendered expectations by actively appealing to dominant narratives on women: as attentive communicators attuned to the needs of others.

Conclusions

The article provides suggestions for further diversifying Japan’s community energy landscape, such as (a) increasing awareness of inequalities through open discussion on the topic; (b) gender-inclusive quotas on boards; (c) creating peer-mentoring networks; (d) stimulating a culture of dialogue open to dissensus; (e) shifting the focus away from women needing to make behavioral changes; and (f) not idealizing how much can be achieved without generating discomfort.
Longitudinal follow-up of zearalenone and deoxynivalenol mycotoxins in breast milk in the first five months of life
Authors: Güneş Bülent , Yalçın Suzan , Yalçın Sıddika Songül
Published: May 2023

Objectives

There is a possibility for exposed lactating mammalians to transfer some contaminants to their milk. This study aimed to determine the levels and changes of Zearalenone (ZEN), Deoxynivalenol (DON) mycotoxins for the first five months in human milk.

Methods

Voluntary lactating mothers having infants with gestational length ≥ 37 weeks were enrolled between August 2017 and June 2018 in Şanlıurfa. Mothers and infants with chronic health problems were not included in the study. Human milk samples were taken at three different times; on enrollment (Day 6–10, visit 1), between 4 and 6 weeks postpartum (visit 2), and between 14 and 19 weeks postpartum (visit 3). Mycotoxin levels in human milk were measured utilizing Helica brand commercial kit.

Results

Nineteen voluntary mothers and their breastfed infants with three human milk samples completed the study. The mean ages of mothers and infant (± SD) were 27.4 (± 5.4) years and 7.6 (± 0.9) days on enrollment. Median levels of ZEN and DON in human milk samples were 0.39 and 16.7 ng/mL, respectively. None of the cases had a ZEN daily intake higher than 250 ng/kg bw per day. However, three fourth of the cases had DON intake higher than > 1000 ng/kg bw per day. When adjusted for infant weight for age and sex, both ZEN levels and daily intake were decreased progressively from visit 1 to visit 3 (p < 0.001). DON levels and daily intake at visit 2 were found to be significantly lower in samples of visit 3 than that taken in visit 2 (p = 0.004 and p < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusions

Breast milk monitoring study revealed that ZEN and DON mycotoxins were present in the mother-infant environment. Contamination levels changed during the lactation period.
Analysis of population structure and genetic diversity in a Southern African soybean collection based on single nucleotide polymorphism markers
Authors: Tsindi A. , Eleblu J. S. Y. , Gasura E. , Mushoriwa H. , Tongoona P. , Danquah E. Y. , Mwadzingeni L. , Zikhali M. , Ziramba E. , Mabuyaye G. , Derera J.
Published: May 2023

Soybean is an emerging strategic crop for nutrition, food security, and livestock feed in Africa, but improvement of its productivity is hampered by low genetic diversity. There is need for broadening the tropical germplasm base through incorporation and introgression of temperate germplasm in Southern Africa breeding programs. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the population structure and molecular diversity among 180 temperate and 30 tropical soybean accessions using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. The results revealed very low levels of molecular diversity among the 210 lines with implications for the breeding strategy. Low fixation index (FST) value of 0.06 was observed, indicating low genetic differences among populations. This suggests high genetic exchange among different lines due to global germplasm sharing. Inference based on three tools, such as the Evanno method, silhouette plots and UPMGA phylogenetic tree showed the existence of three sub-populations. The UPMGA tree showed that the first sub-cluster is composed of three genotypes, the second cluster has two genotypes, while the rest of the genotypes constituted the third cluster. The third cluster revealed low variation among most genotypes. Negligible differences were observed among some of the lines, such as Tachiyukata and Yougestu, indicating sharing of common parental backgrounds. However large phenotypic differences were observed among the accessions suggesting that there is potential for their utilization in the breeding programs. Rapid phenotyping revealed grain yield potential ranging from one to five tons per hectare for the 200 non-genetically modified accessions. Findings from this study will inform the crossing strategy for the subtropical soybean breeding programs. Innovation strategies for improving genetic variability in the germplasm collection, such as investments in pre-breeding, increasing the geographic sources of introductions and exploitation of mutation breeding would be recommended to enhance genetic gain.
A comparative study of intestinal Pseudomonas aeruginosa in healthy individuals and ICU inpatients
Authors: Hu Yanyan , Wang Siheng , Zhang Yanyan , Wu Yuchen , Liu Congcong , Ju Xiaoyang , Zhou Hongwei , Cai Chang , Zhang Rong
Published: May 2023

The human intestinal tract is considered the most important reservoir of the opportunistic pathogens, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is often overlooked but critical due to its antimicrobial resistance and virulence. Public health interventions to control this pathogen require a comprehensive understanding of its epidemiology and genomics.  In the current study, we identified P. aeruginosa strains from 2,605 fecal samples collected between 2021 to 2022. Among these samples, 574 were from ICU inpatients in Zhejiang province, while 2,031 were obtained from healthy individuals residing in ten different provinces in China. The prevalence of P. aeruginosa intestinal carriage was found to be higher in ICU inpatients (10.28%, 95% CI: 7.79%–12.76%) than that in healthy individuals (3.99%, 81/2,031, 95% CI: 3.14%–4.84%). Similarly, the prevalence of carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa (CRPA) was higher in ICU inpatients (32.2%) compared to healthy individuals (7.41%). The population structure analysis of our isolates revealed a predominantly non-clonal distribution, with 41 distinct sequence types identified among 59 P. aeruginosa isolates from ICU inpatients and 38 different STs among 81 P. aeruginosa isolates from healthy individuals. These findings suggest that the individual acquisition of P. aeruginosa is more frequent than patient-to-patient transmission, as evidenced by the polyclonal population structure. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and genome analysis indicated that P. aeruginosa strains from ICU inpatients exhibited significantly higher resistance rates to most antimicrobials and harbored a greater number of acquired resistance genes compared to strains from healthy individuals. Notably, in ICU inpatients, we identified three isolates of ST463, all of which shared the conserved Tn3-TnpR-ISKpn8-blaKPC-ISKpn6 genetic context. Additionally, five isolates carrying the qacE gene were also identified, these findings suggest that small-scale transmission events may still occur within the ICU setting, posing significant challenges for clinical management. With regard to virulence factors, we observed similar profiles between the two groups, except for phzA2, phzB2, and pilA, which were statistically higher in isolates from healthy individuals. This may be because the accumulating resistance mutations in ICU-derived P. aeruginosa are linked to a decrease in virulence.
Union Is Not a Four-Letter Word: Television and Labor in the Age of Streaming
Authors: Newman Kathy M.
Published: May 2023

This article considers the problem of social class in contemporary television, focusing on the last five years. The author considers the ways in which streaming platforms are increasing the range and diversity of stories that television can offer; in addition, she shifts the conversation from class, consumption, and representation to work, labor, and production, arguing that this view highlights the extent to which television is engaging with questions of labor more often than we realize.
Optimal BR signalling is required for adequate cell wall orientation in the Arabidopsis root meristem
Authors: Li Zhenni , Sela Ayala , Fridman Yulia , Garstka Lucía , Höfte Herman , Savaldi-Goldstein Sigal , Wolf Sebastian
Published: May 2023

Plant brassinosteroid hormones (BRs) regulate growth in part through altering the properties of the cell wall, the extracellular matrix of plant cells. Conversely, feedback signalling from the wall connects the state of cell wall homeostasis to the BR receptor complex and modulates BR activity. Here, we report that both pectin-triggered cell wall signalling and impaired BR signalling result in altered cell wall orientation in the Arabidopsis root meristem. Furthermore, both depletion of endogenous BRs and exogenous supply of BRs triggered these defects. Cell wall signalling-induced alterations in the orientation of newly placed walls appear to occur late during cytokinesis, after initial positioning of the cortical division zone. Tissue-specific perturbations of BR signalling revealed that the cellular malfunction is unrelated to previously described whole organ growth defects. Thus, tissue type separates the pleiotropic effects of cell wall/BR signals and highlights their importance during cell wall placement.
The pattern of microtubules in the axonemes of Gymnosphaera albida sassaki: Evidence for 13 protofilaments
Authors: Jones W. Clifford
Published: May 2023

The axonemes of Gymnosphaera albida radiate from a central axoplast. Their proximal ends form a shell around the axoplast. Within the shell each axoneme is enveloped by a fibrillar sheath and the microtubules are interconnected by electron-dense linkages, which sometimes appear to be double. In nearly transverse sections the microtubules and their linkages form hexagons of 2 irregular types arranged in alternating rows. The shapes of the hexagons vary from one axoneme to the next. The variation is caused largely by the inclination of the axonemes to the line of sight, but also by distortion occurring during the preparation, observation and photography of the sections. Calculations show that, of a number of likely basic patterns (as would be seen in strictly transverse section), only one is compatible with measurements made on 9 of the axonemes. This involves only one type of hexagon oriented in 2 directions to form a ‘parquet-floor’ pattern. The hexagon is bilaterally symmetrical and its 6 microtubules all have the same set of angles between their linkages, namely an unpaired angle of 138º 28’ and paired angles of 110º 46’. Because these angles are in the ratio of 5:4:4, it is deduced that the microtubules have 13 protofilaments forming their walls. Morphogenetically the lateral growth of the pattern is governed by 2 rules: (1) there must be one, and only one, direction of 2-step zig-zagging of the linkages, and (2) linkages forming opposite sides of a hexagon must be in parallel.
Vinculin Y822 is an important determinant of ligand binding
Authors: DeWane Gillian , Cronin Nicholas M. , Dawson Logan W. , Heidema Christy , DeMali Kris A.
Published: May 2023

Vinculin is an actin-binding protein present at cell–matrix and cell–cell adhesions, which plays a critical role in bearing force experienced by cells and dissipating it onto the cytoskeleton. Recently, we identified a key tyrosine residue, Y822, whose phosphorylation plays a critical role in force transmission at cell–cell adhesions. The role of Y822 in human cancer remains unknown, even though Y822 is mutated to Y822C in uterine cancers. Here, we investigated the effect of this amino acid substitution and that of a phosphodeficient Y822F vinculin in cancer cells. We observed that the presence of the Y822C mutation led to cells that proliferate and migrate more rapidly and contained smaller focal adhesions when compared to cells with wild-type vinculin. In contrast, the presence of the Y822F mutation led to highly spread cells with larger focal adhesions and increased contractility. Furthermore, we provide evidence that Y822C vinculin forms a disulfide bond with paxillin, accounting for some of the elevated phosphorylated paxillin recruitment. Taken together, these data suggest that vinculin Y822 modulates the recruitment of ligands.
Freeze-drying methods for the scanning electron-microscopical study of the protozoon Spirostomum ambiguum and the statocyst of the cephalopod mollusc loligo vulgaris
Authors: Boyde A. , Barber V. C.
Published: May 2023

The present study concerns methods of preparing ciliated surfaces for direct examination in the scanning electron microscope.

Air-drying methods provide good results with some ciliated structures but do not always preserve the cilia of ciliated protozoons, although the pellicle is well preserved. Air-drying is not suitable for certain epithelia because considerable shrinkage and tearing occur.

Freeze-drying methods, with or without pre-fixing, are described. These preserve the cilia in the protozoon Spirostomum in a fairly life-like position. There are some differences in the appearance of unfixed and fixed freeze-dried material—for example, the peristomial membranelles are not seen in the unfixed material. Freeze-drying again proved to be a better method of preparing the sensory epithelium lining the statocyst of the cephalopod mollusc Loligo, because it was successful in preventing the distortion due to shrinkage. The number of hair cells, their orientation, and the area covered by the cells was determined for the macula. The crista was found to be asymmetrical.
Optimisation and constraint: explaining metabolic patterns in biology
Authors: White Craig R. , Marshall Dustin J.
Published: May 2023

Constraint-based explanations have dominated theories of size-related patterns in nature for centuries. Explanations for metabolic scaling – the way in which metabolism changes with body mass – have been based on the geometry of circulatory networks through which resources are distributed, the need to dissipate heat produced as a by-product of metabolic processes, and surface-area-to-volume constraints on the flux of nutrients or waste. As an alternative to these constraint-based approaches, we recently developed a new theory that predicts that metabolic allometry arises as a consequence of the optimisation of growth and reproduction to maximise fitness within a finite life. Our theory is free of physical geometric constraints that limit the possibilities available to evolution, and we therefore argue that metabolic allometry can be explained without the need to invoke any of the assumed constraints traditionally imposed by metabolic theories. Our findings also suggest that metabolism, growth and reproduction have co-evolved to maximise fitness (i.e. lifetime reproduction) and that the observed patterns in these fundamental characteristics of life can similarly be explained by optimisation rather than constraint. In this Centenary Commentary, we present an overview of our approach and a critique of its limitations. We propose a suite of empirical tests that we hope will move the field forward, discuss the dangers of model overparameterisation and highlight the need to remain open to non-adaptive hypotheses for the origin of biological patterns.
Pandemic Schooling Mode and Student Test Scores: Evidence from US School Districts
Authors: Jack Rebecca , Halloran Clare , Okun James , Oster Emily
Published: May 2023

We estimate the impact of district-level schooling mode (in-person versus hybrid or virtual learning) in the 2020–2021 school year on students’ pass rates on standardized tests in grades 3–8 across 11 states. Pass rates declined from 2019 to 2021: an average of 12.8 percentage points in math and 6.8 in English language arts (ELA). Focusing on within-state, within–commuting zone variation in schooling mode, we estimate that districts with full in-person learning had significantly smaller declines (13.4 pp in math, 8.3 in ELA). The value to in-person learning was larger for districts with larger populations of Black students. (JEL H75, I12, I18, I21, I28, J15)
Influence Motives in Social Signaling: Evidence from COVID-19 Vaccinations in Germany
Authors: Esguerra Emilio , Vollmer Leonhard , Wimmer Johannes
Published: May 2023

We investigate whether a desire to influence others’ choices affects our own behavior. To separate such influence motives from social pressure, we study participants’ willingness to register for a COVID-19 vaccination in a field experiment in Germany. We vary whether participants’ registration decisions are shared with a peer, to activate social pressure, and whether peers are informed before their own decision, to isolate influence motives. We find that influence motives double participants’ registration likelihood, an effect driven by individuals with ex ante trust in the vaccine. Despite anticipating to influence their peers, participants cannot alter peer behavior in the experiment. (JEL C93, D12, D82, D91, I12, I18)
Specht's ratio and logarithmic mean in time scale dynamic inequalities and their retrospective variants
Authors: Afzal Deeba , Sahir Muhammad Jibril
Published: May 2023

In this research article, we investigate reverse Radon's inequality, reverse Bergström's inequality, the reverse weighted power mean inequality, reverse Schlömilch's inequality, reverse Bernoulli's inequality and reverse Lyapunov's inequality with Specht's ratio on time scales. We also present reverse Rogers--Holder's inequality with logarithmic mean and Specht's ratio on time scales. The time scale dynamic inequalities unify and extend some continuous inequalities and their corresponding discrete and quantum versions.
Features of the postoperative period in patients with uncomplicated forms of ureterolithiasis
Authors: Nikitin O. , Komisarenko I.
Published: May 2023

In order to study the possibilities of non-drainage management of the postoperative period in patients with uncomplicated ureteral stones, we analyzed the results of treatment of 198 patients with uncomplicated ureterolithiasis, in whom it was decided to refuse stenting of the upper urinary tract. In the uncomplicated course of ureterolithiasis, in most cases (68.2% of patients) in the postoperative period, there is no need for drainage of the upper urinary tract with stent. At the same time, in 31.8% of patients when a stent was not installed in the postoperative period, complications occurred that significantly affected the duration and cost of treatment. In the future a more rigorous consideration of risk criteria is needed to make a decision on non-drainage management of the postoperative period in patients with uncomplicated ureteral stones.
EL ESPACIO PSICOPLÁSTICO DE JOSEF SVOBODA
Authors: Deltell Pastor Juan , Mejía Vallejo Clara Elena
Published: May 2023

El teatro y el cine son dos formas de expresión artística que, de distintas maneras, promueven una interacción entre el público y la obra y en las que intervienen tanto aspectos visuales, como espaciales y temporales. “La cuarta pared” es uno de los conceptos recurrentes cuando se alude a la interacción entre el público y una obra teatral, también extrapolable al ámbito del cine. Partiendo de este concepto se pretende analizar cómo, independientemente del espacio que acoge una representación, una determinada conceptualización escénica permite matizar la separación existente y es capaz de favorecer la interacción entre el público y una obra teatral. En este artículo se propone abordar una experiencia concreta cuya voluntad es aunar el teatro y las imágenes en movimiento: el trabajo del escenógrafo Josef Svoboda. En primer lugar, se describirán los mecanismos ideados por Sovoboda para incorporar las imágenes en movimiento al discurso teatral. A continuación, se analizarán y redibujarán algunas de sus escenografías incidiendo particularmente en sus condiciones espaciales. El objetivo es mostrar cómo, mediante el recurso a un trabajo material sólido apoyado por el movimiento, la luz y las imágenes proyectadas, el espacio psicoplástico propuesto por Svoboda logra fundir espacio y tiempo intentando así desdibujar la “cuarta pared”.
EL ARTE CONSTRUCTIVO EN LA FUGA EN EL ESPEJO. CONVERGENCIAS ENTRE “PACO” ESPÍNOLA Y EL TALLER TORRES GARCÍA
Authors: Puppo Maria Eugenia
Published: May 2023

Dos personajes, un teatro y una obra polémica y vanguardista. El primero, Joaquín Torres García, logró incorporar las ideas artísticas europeas y traducirlas en un arte propio, ajeno a clasificaciones esquemáticas. Así conformó la Escuela del Sur y le dio vida al Universalismo Constructivo. El segundo, Francisco Paco Espínola, fue uno de los principales narradores uruguayos del siglo xx. En este contexto, el 23 de mayo de 1937, Espínola estrena —en el desaparecido Teatro Urquiza— la obra teatral La fuga en el espejo, una pieza vinculada a la vanguardia artística. El objetivo de este artículo es analizar la relación entre las artes del período y su traducción en la puesta en escena de la pieza dramática. Para ello se parte del análisis de Torres García, la Escuela del Sur y Espínola en sus distintas manifestaciones: conferencias, libros, textos y asociaciones artísticas. Se concluye en todos una búsqueda de resolver el difícil pacto entre lo universal y lo local, y trasladarlo a una expresión propia e individual con un gran impulso moral. La materialización en La fuga en el espejo juega con lo onírico de los diálogos, la simbología de la escenografía, los tiempos fragmentados, un distanciamiento con el espectador y un final abierto. Marcó el principio y el fin del teatro de vanguardia en el Uruguay de los años treinta.
DAVID ESCUDERO: NEOREALIST ARCHITECTURE: AESTHETICS OF DWELLING IN POSTWAR ITALY
Authors: Navarro-de-Pablos Javier
Published: May 2023

Neorealist Architecture: Aesthetics of Dwelling in Postwar Italy recorre una etapa crucial para el devenir de la arquitectura europea, la producción del programa estatal INA-CASA impulsada en Italia tras la segunda guerra mundial. Esta iniciativa, coordinada por Adalberto Libera, influiría en varias generaciones de artistas e intelectuales que configuran su espacio identitario en torno a la periferia y los anhelos de reconstrucción del país. En esa búsqueda de una nueva arquitectura social y de calidad, entre la modernidad y lo vernáculo, David Escudero desgrana los hilos que conectan cine y arquitectura, proponiendo un término inédito en la crítica disciplinar: la “arquitectura neorrealista”. Las conexiones interdisciplinares van más allá de la arquitectura como escenario de las películas de Pasolini, De Sica o Rossellini, para establecer unas dinámicas de creativas análogas en las que, a través de la fotografía, el dibujo o las axonometrías “habitadas”, se revela la situación de crudeza habitacional de la sociedad italiana a la vez que se ofrecen, a través de una nueva arquitectura, espacios de calidad capacitados para propiciar el encuentro vecinal y un futuro colectivo próspero.
Segregación y estructura urbana. Estudios aplicados para Cali
Authors: Castillo-Valencia María , Vivas Pacheco Harvy
Published: May 2023

La segregación residencial en Cali es un problema complejo con actores diversos y procesos consuetudinarios que, entre otros factores, se reflejan de manera estrecha en la estructura urbana consolidada en las últimas décadas. Desde diferentes perspectivas analíticas, este libro aporta a la comprensión del arreglo social segregado de la ciudad mediante análisis provenientes de la economía y la sociología urbana, los enfoques del mercado laboral y de suelo, los modelos de accesibilidad a las centralidades de empleo y a los equipamientos de salud, las herramientas teóricas y metodológicas acerca de los efectos de spillovers de capital humano entre el trabajo calificado y no calificado, así como en las opciones de política pública orientadas al mejoramiento integral del hábitat. Estas contribuciones no ago-tan las amplias posibilidades de investigación desde enfoques económicos, sociológicos, antropológicos y geográficos, pero sí se constituyen en una obra de referencia con enfoques novedosos que reconocen la existencia de la pluralidad multicausal para explicar la segre-gación residencial y sus estrechos nexos con la desigualdad social, así como el rol de las instituciones gubernamentales y del contexto regional de una ciudad que hoy constituye el principal epicentro de las dinámicas migratorias del occidente colombiano y que es pieza clave en el sistema de ciudades del país.
Management of low back pain: a survey of physical therapists’ adherence to clinical practice guidelines in the State of Kuwait
Authors: Alrowayeh Hesham N
Published: May 2023

Background/Aims

Physical therapy clinical practice guidelines for the management of low back pain are accessible to most physical therapists in the State of Kuwait. However, guideline adherence remains undocumented. The aims of this study were to describe the low back pain treatment interventions and adherence to clinical practice guidelines by physical therapists in the State of Kuwait.

Methods

A total of 200 questionnaires were distributed to a convenience sample of physical therapists working in governmental hospitals who treat a variety of neuro-musculoskeletal conditions. The questionnaire contained questions on patients and the treatments applied. Physical therapists with less than 1 year of clinical experience were excluded. Descriptive and inferential statistics (analysis of variance) were used.

Results

Overall, 132 physical therapists completed the questionnaire (response rate of 66.0%). One-third of physical therapists’ caseloads included 40-50% of patients with low back pain. Physical therapy treatments most commonly included non-evidence-based treatment, such as superficial heat, interferential therapy and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Evidence-based treatment, such as exercises and passive stretching techniques, were less frequently used. There was no significant difference between the physical therapists’ years of experience, education or place of work and their treatment of choice.

Conclusions

Some physical therapists in the State of Kuwait deviate from clinical practice guidelines and use non-evidence-based treatment instead of evidence-based treatment in the management of low back pain. Therefore, intensive training and revision to current treatment protocols are required.
Assessing occupational competency in children with leukaemia compared to typically developing peers using the Child Occupational Self-Assessment tool: a pilot study
Authors: Sattari Mahsa , Kahjoogh Mina Ahmadi , Hosseini Seyed Ali , Mazloomzadeh Saeideh , Jalili Nasrin , Koochakzadeh Leili
Published: May 2023

Background/Aims

Children with leukaemia are less able to perform activities of daily living and participate in leisure activities compared to typically developing children, which can affect their occupational competency. The aim of this study was to compare occupational competency and values between typically developing children and children with leukaemia.

Methods

In this pilot cross-sectional study, 102 children (52 typically developing children and 50 children with leukaemia) aged 7 to 13 years were assessed using the Child Occupational Self-Assessment tool, which includes occupational competency and occupational value scales for each item.

Results

The independent t -test analysis demonstrated that there was a significant difference between the two groups on the competency scale (P=0.02). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in the value scale (P=0.07).

Conclusions

Children with leukaemia feel less competent in carrying out everyday activities than typically developing children. Occupational competency interventions should be prioritised in occupational therapy services.
Levator scapulae index and chronic mechanical neck pain: a commentary on Mishra et al (2022)
Authors: Khzam Alaa Abou
Published: May 2023

This letter to the editor comments on a published article regarding the use of the levator scapulae index.
In Vitro Selection of Mungbean Genotypes for Drought Tolerance by Polyethylene Glycol Induced Water Defi cit
Authors: Chaiyapan Chadapon ,   School of Crop Production Technology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, Khairum Apinya , Chueakhunthod Witsarut , Pookhamsak Pakhawat , Siwapithakpong Ketwalee , Tantasawat Piyada A. ,   School of Crop Production Technology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand,   School of Crop Production Technology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand,   School of Crop Production Technology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand,   School of Crop Production Technology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand,   School of Crop Production Technology, Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
Published: May 2023

Drought stress is a major constraint affecting growth and yield of several economic crops including mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek]. In vitro selection for drought tolerance is an alternative method for early determination of drought tolerant plants. The objective of this study was to perform in vitro selection of mungbean genotypes under water stress induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000. Seeds of 18 genotypes were germinated in Murashige and Skoog (MS) liquid medium supplemented with different concentrations of PEG 6000 (0, 8, 12 and 16%). Germination percentage, promptness index, root length tolerance index, seed vigor index, seedling length tolerance index, seedling fresh weight tolerance index and seedling dry weight tolerance index were measured. The results showed reduced germination and growth in all genotypes with increasing PEG concentrations. Various genotypes responded differentially at 16% PEG. Interestingly, K-851, EG-MG-13, VI000411 A-G, and CES 44 showed a higher germination percentage, root length, seedling length and seed fresh weight than other genotypes, demonstrating their drought tolerance potential. However, their water stress responses need to be confi rmed under greenhouse and/or fi eld conditions before they can be used as parents in breeding programs to improve drought tolerance.
Foot Drop after Hip Surgery – An Anaesthetic Perspective
Authors: C S Vighnesh , Sheetal Sheetal , Singh Avneet , Kansay Rajeev
Published: May 2023

To the Editor, Foot drop is characterized by reduced muscle strength in the ankle dorsiflexors and inability to lift the forefoot. Foot drop occurring after an orthopedic procedure can occur due to various causes [1-5] (Figure 1). Epidural anaesthesia may sometimes attract undue attention in such a situation and presence of an epidural air pocket does not rule it out altogether as a cause. We describe an algorithmic approach to investigate the cause of foot drop after acetabular surgery performed under combined spinal-epidural anaesthesia. A 35-year-old male, American Society of Anesthesiologists’-physical status (ASA-PS) II patient admitted with an alleged history of road-traffic accident and left acetabulum and 3rd–5th left rib fractures and hemothorax. He was initially managed for hypovolemic shock and mechanically ventilated for three days in the intensive care unit. The acetabular fracture was stabilized with tibial skeletal traction under local anesthesia. After hemodynamic stabilization, and an ICU stay duration of five days, he was planned for an acetabular fracture repair by posterior approach under combined spinal epidural anaesthesia. The preoperative evaluation and patient preparation were done as per institutional guidelines. Under aseptic precautions, combined spinal anaesthesia was applied in sitting position and midline approach at L3–L4 interspace. Epidural anaesthesia was given using 18 G Tuohy’s needle using the loss of resistance to 3 ml air at a depth of 5 cm and catheter fixed at 11 cm. The spinal anaesthesia was given with 26 G in the same lumbar space, with a clear flow of cerebrospinal fluid and 15 mg of 0.5% bupivacaine (hyperbaric) was given. The procedures were uneventful, and the patient did not report any paresthesia. The duration of surgery was 210 minutes, and 0.5% bupivacaine 5 mL was administered after 2 hours. The intraoperative period was uneventful. The postoperative analgesia was managed with epidural 0.125% bupivacaine (isobaric) with 2 μg/ml fentanyl infusion at 0.05–0.1 ml/kg/hour. On the second postoperative day, on initiating passive limb physiotherapy, the patient complained of difficulty in upward movement of ankle joint of operated limb. The clinical examination and investigations are depicted in Figure 2. A non-contrast computed tomography of the spine showed air pockets in the lumbar epidural space without hematoma (Figure 3). Initially, the epidural air pocket was considered the cause. However, this was unlikely due to the unilateral and singular peripheral nerve involvement. The diagnosis of left deep peroneal nerve injury that could have occurred due to tibial pin was made. He was initiated on limb physiotherapy and foot drop splint was applied. He was discharged with tablet diclofenac 50 mg 8th hourly and vitamin B12. On follow-up, 7 days after discharge with good physiotherapy and regular medications the patient had regained full power of dorsi-flexion.
Comments on- Time to Adequately Heed Acute Pain in the Emergency Department – More Regional Blocks Warranted
Authors: Nagdev Arun
Published: May 2023

To the Editor, I read the recent article “Time to Adequately Heed Acute Pain in the Emergency Department – More Regional Blocks Warranted” by Dr. Zundert, et al. with much interest [1]. The central argument of offering adequate multimodal acute pain control to our most vulnerable patients has been the core tenant of my clinical practice and research for the last 15 years. I completely agree that If we (as the field of medicine) hope to succeed in equitable acute pain management, leveraging the skill of numerous clinicians (emergency physicians, surgeons, orthopedics, etc.) to perform single injection regional blocks will be needed [2]. Like other skills (endotracheal intubation, lumbar puncture, central venous cannulation, etc.) that have been adapted from innovators in one field and then taught to the various other specialties, ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia needs to be brought from the expert regional anesthesiologists and to the clinicians who are at the bedside caring for this cohort of patients. Working at an academic trauma center in a low resource setting, we have had to build patient-centered pain pathways that both treat acute pain as well as ensure a reduction in opioid use. With the help of our anesthesia colleague at University of California, San Francisco, we have integrated ultrasound-guided regional blocks into our clinical practice for more than 10 years in the emergency department (ED). Just as Dr. Zundert has pointed out, this collaboration between our Anesthesia and Emergency Medicine colleagues has been an amazing success, leading to timely pain control in our acutely injured patients as well as improved patient care. For hip fractures specifically, we have worked with our anesthesia and orthopedic colleagues to develop a practice standard that asks our clinicians to perform a block in under 1 hour after recognition of a hip fracture [3]. This collaborative non-siloed based practice standard between all services dealing with acutely injured patients (trauma surgery, orthopedics, anesthesia and emergency medicine) has fostered interdepartmental education, multiple research publications and most importantly improved patient care [4, 5,6, 7].
The revenge of multiplicity: Chinese capitalism under systemic competition
Authors: Rolf Steven
Published: May 2023

The re-emergence of conflict at the apex of the global political economy between the United States and China makes it imperative to establish analytical connections between geopolitics and national political-economic development trajectories. However, just as realist international relations conceals ‘domestic’ causes of international conflict, most comparative capitalisms (CC) research has systematically underplayed the role of geopolitics and the global political economy as forces structuring and driving national economies. Furthermore, both IR and CC analyses misleadingly treat states as analogous and independent ‘units’, rather than relationally constituted and internally heterogenous political forms whose existence and reproduction requires explanation. As such, CC fails to examine either the geopolitical preconditions for, constitution of, or the geopolitical outcomes of growth models. This article presents an uneven and combined development (U&CD) account of the connections between global order, geopolitical economy and Chinese capitalism, showing how – rather than an alien infiltrator – Chinese state capitalism is both a product, and increasingly a transmitter, of the dynamics of competitive capital accumulation operating in the global political economy. In this way, I contribute to the development of heterodox CC literature by advancing i) a conception of capitalism as a geopolitical-economic system, (ii) an example of how national cases can be treated as dialectically related to and sites for the emergence of the global geopolitical economy, and (iii) a concise application of this method to the case of Sino-US relations.
Welfare within planetary limits: deep transformation requires holistic approaches
Authors: Koch Max , Hansen Anders Rhiger
Published: May 2023

In January 2023, Anders Rhiger Hansen visited Lund University to talk to Max Koch about sustainable welfare, human needs, social inequality and a little bit about Bourdieu. The message from Max was clear: politicians need to drop the idea of green growth and instead define a safe and just operating space to determine what can be done within this space. His sociological approach combines Marxian and Bourdieusean traditions, and he recommends that the Consumption and Society community investigates consumption in combination with processes of production, for example by engaging with critical political economy approaches such as the French regulation school or the Frankfurt School. According to Koch, the survival of the planet requires holistic approaches that would transform society and its exchanges with nature, based on principles of degrowth and on a scale that we have not yet seen.
Simple and precise calibration of the line-structured light vision system using a planar target
Authors: Zhang Zimiao , Zhang Hao , Wu Yanan , Zhang Fumin
Published: May 2023

When calibrating a line-structured light vision system using a planar target, noise easily affects the solution of the coordinates of light stripe points at the camera coordinate frame. Therefore, the planar target must be placed in the measurement space many times to capture more target images for improving calibration stability and achieving relatively high calibration accuracy. This complicates the calibration process. This paper proposes a calibration method considering the measurement baselines of a planar target. The planar target is placed only two times, and two target images are captured correspondingly. A three-point subset is made up of the two calibration points that form the measurement baseline with the longest 2D projection and any other calibration point. In this way, it is less affected by noise when using the three-point subsets to establish the equations. Then, we use the lengths of the measurement baselines provided by all three-point subsets and their 2D projections to solve the coordinates of light stripe points at the camera coordinate frame more accurately to calibrate the line-structured light vision system. Both the simulation and actual experiment results demonstrate the feasibility of our method. Based on our calibration method, the RMS error is 0.035 mm for length measurement and 0.054 mm for height measurement. Compared with other existing methods, our method needs only two target images. It can also achieve more accurate calibration results than the other methods. In addition, our calibration method increases the applicability of the line-structured light measurement method by reducing the number of target swings.
Virtual sources for structured partially coherent light fields
Authors: Liang Zehong , Chen Hechong , Huang Jinghuan , Yang Yongzheng , Shi Jingyi , Wei Quanfeng , Deng Dongmei
Published: May 2023

A virtual source (VS) is a hypothetical source instead of an actual physical entity, but provides a distinctive perspective to understand physical fields in a source-free area. In this work, we generalize the VS theory to structured partially coherent light fields (PCLFs) by establishing the partially coherent inhomogeneous Helmholtz equation, then demonstrate that PCLFs can be generated from the incoherent extended VS in imaginary space. Especially, we put forward an understanding of the Gaussian Schell-model beam, which consists of a group of partially coherent paraxial complex rays. The mutual coherence between these rays depends on the included angle between them. In previous studies, the analytical solution of the partially coherent Airy beam was obtained with difficulty by the Huygens–Fresnel integral; however, by applying the VS, we put forward, to our knowledge, an unprecedented analytical solution for a partially coherent Airy beam. We believe this example will qualify the VS as an important perspective to understand structured PCLFs.
Four-dimensional dynamics of multirotational transition stimulated rotational Raman scattering in air
Authors: McLaren Samuel A. , Schrauth Samuel , McCandless Kathleen , Penner Jordan , Aden River , Di Nicola J. M.
Published: May 2023

Stimulated rotational Raman scattering in air is a powerful parasitic process that degrades high intensity laser beams and pulses propagated over significant distances. Conversely, it is used beneficially in the context of Raman lasers. Through this inelastic scattering process, laser photons are converted to higher (anti-Stokes) or lower (Stokes) energies, according to rotational mode transitions in nitrogen and oxygen diatomic molecules. The full wave-mixing problem involves numerous frequencies, and it is consistently assumed that only one rotational mode contributes to the conversion process. We instead present a dynamic 4D multirotational model that is implemented in a parallelized manner within the Virtual Beamline++ optical modeling package allowing high-resolution 4D studies. We highlight the effect that spontaneous emission plays in large and small beam-width setups, even in the highly saturating regime. The weaker transition modes play a large role in the persistent dynamics and can lead to complex spatiotemporal coupling through nonlinear competition of the modes. We highlight how and why these weaker modes persist, how the size and shape of speckle patterns depends highly on the initial beam profile, and how weaker modes can transiently become stronger as a result of such competition.
High-performance, adiabatically nanotapered fiber-chip couplers in silicon at 2 microns wavelength
Authors: Sulway Dominic A. , Yonezu Yuya , Rosenfeld Lawrence M. , Jiang Pisu , Aoki Takao , Silverstone Joshua W.
Published: May 2023

Fiber optic technology connects the world through the Internet, enables remote sensing, and connects disparate functional optical devices. Highly confined silicon photonics promises extreme scale and functional integration. However, the optical modes of silicon nanowire waveguides and optical fibers are very different, making efficient fiber-chip coupling a challenge. Vertical grating couplers, the dominant coupling method today, have limited optical bandwidth and are naturally out-of-plane. Here we demonstrate a new method that is low-loss, broadband, manufacturable, and naturally planar. We adiabatically couple a tapering silicon nanowire waveguide to a conic nanotapered optical fiber, measuring transmission between 2.0 µm and 2.2 µm wavelength. The silicon chip is fabricated at a commercial foundry and then post-processed to release the tapering nanowires. We estimate an optimal per-coupler transmission of −0.48 dB (maximum; 95% confidence interval [+0.46, –1.68] dB) and a 1-dB bandwidth of at least 295 nm. With automated measurements, we quantify the device tolerance to lateral misalignment, measuring a flat response within ±0.968 µm. This new design can enable low-loss modular systems of integrated photonics irrespective of material and waveband.
Non-uniform droplet deposition on femtosecond laser patterned superhydrophobic/superhydrophilic SERS substrates for high-sensitive detection
Authors: Pang Jihong , Yu Jian , Yang Huan , Ruan Shuangchen , Ouyang Deqin , Yang Can , Deng Leimin
Published: May 2023

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensors combined with superhydrophobic/superhydrophilic (SH/SHL) surfaces have shown the ability to detect ultra-low concentrations. In this study, femtosecond laser fabricated hybrid SH/SHL surfaces with designed patterns are successfully applied to improve the SERS performances. The shape of SHL patterns can be regulated to determine the droplet evaporation process and deposition characteristics. The experimental results show that the uneven droplet evaporation along the edges of non-circular SHL patterns facilitates the enrichment of analyte molecules, thereby enhancing the SERS performance. The highly identifiable corners of SHL patterns are beneficial for capturing the enrichment area during Raman tests. The optimized 3-pointed star SH/SHL SERS substrate shows a detection limit concentration as low as 10−15 M by using only 5 µL R6G solutions, corresponding to an enhancement factor of 9.73 × 1011. Meanwhile, a relative standard deviation of 8.20% can be achieved at a concentration of 10−7 M. The research results suggest that the SH/SHL surfaces with designed patterns could be a practical approach in ultratrace molecular detections.