bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preoperative Characteristics and Postoperative Pain Outcomes in Trigeminal Neuralgia With Concomitant Autoimmune Disease
Authors: Kalluri Anita L. , So Raymond J. , Ran Kathleen R. , Xie Michael E. , Kilgore Collin , Nair Sumil K. , Huang Judy , Bettegowda Chetan , Xu Risheng
Published: June 2023

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Although the association between multiple sclerosis and trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is well established, little is known about TN pain characteristics and postoperative pain outcomes after microvascular decompression (MVD) in patients with TN and other autoimmune diseases. In this study, we aim to describe presenting characteristics and postoperative outcomes in patients with concomitant TN and autoimmune disease who underwent an MVD.

METHODS:

A retrospective review of all patients who underwent an MVD at our institution between 2007 and 2020 was conducted. The presence and type of autoimmune disease were recorded for each patient. Patient demographics, comorbidities, clinical characteristics, postoperative Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) pain and numbness scores, and recurrence data were compared between groups.

RESULTS:

Of the 885 patients with TN identified, 32 (3.6%) were found to have concomitant autoimmune disease. Type 2 TN was more common in the autoimmune cohort (P = .01). On multivariate analysis, concomitant autoimmune disease, younger age, and female sex were found to be significantly associated with higher postoperative BNI score (P = .04, <0.001, and <0.001, respectively). In addition, patients with autoimmune disease were more likely to experience significant pain recurrence (P = .009) and had shorter time to recurrence on Kaplan-Meier analysis (P = .047), although this relationship was attenuated on multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression.

CONCLUSION:

Patients with concomitant TN and autoimmune disease were more likely to have Type 2 TN, had worse postoperative BNI pain scores at the final follow-up after MVD, and were more likely to experience recurrent pain than patients with TN alone. These findings may influence postoperative pain management decisions for these patients and support a possible role for neuroinflammation in TN pain.
Characterization of an eye field-like state during optic vesicle organoid development
Authors: Owen Liusaidh J. , Rainger Jacqueline , Bengani Hemant , Kilanowski Fiona , FitzPatrick David R. , Papanastasiou Andrew S.
Published: June 2023

Specification of the eye field (EF) within the neural plate marks the earliest detectable stage of eye development. Experimental evidence, primarily from non-mammalian model systems, indicates that the stable formation of this group of cells requires the activation of a set of key transcription factors. This crucial event is challenging to probe in mammals and, quantitatively, little is known regarding the regulation of the transition of cells to this ocular fate. Using optic vesicle organoids to model the onset of the EF, we generate time-course transcriptomic data allowing us to identify dynamic gene expression programmes that characterize this cellular-state transition. Integrating this with chromatin accessibility data suggests a direct role of canonical EF transcription factors in regulating these gene expression changes, and highlights candidate cis-regulatory elements through which these transcription factors act. Finally, we begin to test a subset of these candidate enhancer elements, within the organoid system, by perturbing the underlying DNA sequence and measuring transcriptomic changes during EF activation.
The class VIII myosin ATM1 is required for root apical meristem function
Authors: Olatunji Damilola , Clark Natalie M. , Kelley Dior R.
Published: June 2023

Myosins are evolutionarily conserved motor proteins that interact with actin filaments to regulate organelle transport, cytoplasmic streaming and cell growth. Plant-specific class XI myosin proteins direct cell division and root organogenesis. However, the roles of plant-specific class VIII myosin proteins in plant growth and development are less understood. Here, we investigated the function of an auxin-regulated class VIII myosin, Arabidopsis thaliana MYOSIN 1 (ATM1), using genetics, transcriptomics and live cell microscopy. ATM1 is associated with the plasma membrane and plasmodesmata within the root apical meristem (RAM). Loss of ATM1 function results in decreased RAM size and reduced cell proliferation in a sugar-dependent manner. Auxin signaling and transcriptional responses were dampened in atm1-1 roots. Complementation of atm1-1 with a tagged ATM1 driven under the native ATM1 promoter restored root growth and cell cycle progression. Genetic analyses of atm1-1 seedlings with HEXOKINASE 1 (HXK1) and TARGET OF RAPAMYCIN COMPLEX 1 (TORC1) overexpression lines indicate that ATM1 is downstream of TOR. Collectively, these results provide previously unreported evidence that ATM1 functions to influence cell proliferation in primary roots in response to auxin and sugar cues.
A human septin octamer complex sensitive to membrane curvature drives membrane deformation with a specific mesh-like organization
Authors: Nakazawa Koyomi , Kumar Gaurav , Chauvin Brieuc , Di Cicco Aurélie , Pellegrino Luca , Trichet Michael , Hajj Bassam , Cabral João , Sain Anirban , Mangenot Stéphanie , Bertin Aurélie
Published: June 2023

Septins are cytoskeletal proteins interacting with the inner plasma membrane and other cytoskeletal partners. Being key in membrane remodeling processes, they often localize at specific micrometric curvatures. To analyze the behavior of human septins at the membrane and decouple their role from other partners, we used a combination of bottom-up in vitro methods. We assayed their ultrastructural organization, their curvature sensitivity, as well as their role in membrane reshaping. On membranes, human septins organize into a two-layered mesh of orthogonal filaments, instead of generating parallel sheets of filaments observed for budding yeast septins. This peculiar mesh organization is sensitive to micrometric curvature and drives membrane reshaping as well. The observed membrane deformations together with the filamentous organization are recapitulated in a coarse-grained computed simulation to understand their mechanisms. Our results highlight the specific organization and behavior of animal septins at the membrane as opposed to those of fungal proteins.
Differentiation and function of cardiac valves in the adult Drosophila heart
Authors: Meyer Christian , Drechsler Maik , Meyer Heiko , Paululat Achim
Published: June 2023

Drosophila, like all insects, has an open circulatory system for the distribution of haemolymph and its components. The circulation of the haemolymph is essentially driven by the pumping activity of the linear heart. The heart is constructed as a tube into which the haemolymph is sucked and pumped forward by rhythmic contractions running from the posterior to the anterior, where it leaves the heart tube. The heart harbours cardiac valves to regulate flow directionality, with a single heart valve differentiating during larval development to separate the heart tube into two chambers. During metamorphosis, the heart is partially restructured, with the linear heart tube with one terminal wide-lumen heart chamber being converted into a linear four-chambered heart tube with three valves. As in all metazoan circulatory systems, the cardiac valves play an essential role in regulating the direction of blood flow. We provide evidence that the valves in adult flies arise via transdifferentiation, converting lumen-forming contractile cardiomyocytes into differently structured valve cells. Interestingly, adult cardiac valves exhibit a similar morphology to their larval counterparts, but act differently upon heart beating. Applying calcium imaging in living specimens to analyse activity in valve cells, we show that adult cardiac valves operate owing to muscle contraction. However, valve cell shape dynamics are altered compared with larval valves, which led us to propose our current model of the opening and closing mechanisms in the fly heart.
Measuring the 3D wake of swimming snakes (Natrix tessellata) using volumetric particle image velocimetry
Authors: Stin Vincent , Godoy-Diana Ramiro , Bonnet Xavier , Herrel Anthony
Published: June 2023

We describe a method for measuring the 3D vortical structures produced by an anguilliform swimmer using volumetric velocimetry. The wake of freely swimming dice snakes (Natrix tessellata) was quantified, revealing the creation of multiple vortices along the body of the snake due to its undulation. The 3D structure of the vortices generally consisted of paired vortex tubes, some of which were linked together to form a hairpin structure. The observations match predictions from computational fluid dynamic studies of other anguilliform swimmers. Quantitative measurements allowed us to study vortex circulation and size, and global kinetic energy of the flow, which varied with swimming speed, vortex topology and individual characteristics. Our findings provide a baseline for comparing wake structures of snakes with different morphologies and ecologies and investigating the energetic efficiency of anguilliform swimming.
Diagnóstico de helmintos de importância médica no estado de Alagoas durante dois anos de Pandemia de Covid-19
Authors: Da Silva Layara Abreu , Lima Pedro Dantas , Machado João Paulo Vieira , Lima Maria Wilma da Silva , Costa Loane Márzia Lopes , Ramos Rosália Elen Santos , Bezerra Leticia Pereira , Santos Israel Gomes de Amorim
Published: June 2023

Objetivo: avaliar o impacto da pandemia de COVID-19 no diagnóstico de helmintos no estado de Alagoas, durante dois anos de pandemia. Métodos: os dados foram obtidos por meio do Sistema de Informação do Programa de Controle da Esquistossomose. Em seguida, realizou-se o cálculo de prevalência para cada helminto por município. Posteriormente, foram construídos mapas com as taxas de prevalência bruta. Resultados: 524.534 exames foram realizados pelo Programa de Controle da Esquistossomose em Alagoas, sendo a maioria destes realizados antes de 2020 (319.479) com 46.728 casos positivos para helmintos. Entre os helmintos diagnosticados, o Ancylostoma spp., A. lumbricoides e T. trichiura foram os mais prevalentes, com 31.473, 25.752 e 9.717, respectivamente. As regiões de saúde 2, 3, 4 e 6 são as mais evidentes quanto à presença destes antes e durante a pandemia. Conclusões: foi possível identificar, geograficamente, as áreas mais afetadas pelos helmintos em Alagoas, ademais, como esperado, as ações do PCE foram afetadas pela Pandemia da COVID-19.
Fault specific insurance pricing, reserving and CAT bond design for seismic risk assessment
Authors: Λουλούδης Εμμανουήλ
Published: June 2023

Κύριος σκοπός της διατριβής είναι η στοχαστική μοντελοποίηση και ποσοτικοποίηση του σεισμικού κινδύνου στο πλαίσιο της ασφάλισης του συγκεκριμένου κινδύνου. Θέτει τη βάση για τις πιο ορθές αναλογιστικές αποφάσεις των εμπλεκόμενων μερών, όπως η τιμολόγηση ασφαλίστρων, ο υπολογισμός του απαιτούμενου κεφαλαίου φερεγγυότητας και ο σχεδιασμός του αντίστοιχου ομολόγου καταστροφής. Τα σεισμικά μοντέλα που χρησιμοποιούνται ευρέως στην ασφαλιστική αγορά (κατά κύριο λόγο διαδικασίες Poisson) είναι βασισμένα σε ιστορικούς καταλόγους, οι οποίοι παρέχουν σχετική πληροφορία κάποιον εκατοντάδων ετών. Αντίθετα, ο μηχανισμός προσομοίωσης που παρουσιάζεται στη διατριβή βασίζεται στη γεωμετρία των ρηγμάτων, η οποία καλύπτει πληροφορία έως και 15 χιλιάδων ετών στο παρελθόν ώστε να εξαχθούν αξιόπιστα αναλογιστικά μεγέθη. Επιπρόσθετα, πολύγωνα Voronoi ή το επιδημικό μοντέλο ETAS χρησιμοποιούνται για την μοντελοποίηση των ιστορικών καταλόγων αντί τυπικών διαδικασιών Poisson και συνεχείς καμπύλες τρωτότητας αντί διακριτών και πιο αβέβαιων πινάκων πιθανοτήτων ζημίας. Καθώς παρόμοια μοντέλα της αγοράς είναι κατασκευασμένα ώστε να παράγουν τιμολόγηση ανά περιοχές, στην εργασία αυτή έχει επιτευχθεί ακρίβεια ανά συντεταγμένη χρήσιμη για μια ασφαλιστική εταιρεία για πλήρη γνώση του χαρτοφυλακίου κτιρίων της ώστε να μπορεί η ασφαλιστική εταιρεία να αποφύγει ή να διαχειριστεί καταστάσεις αντιεπιλογής. Επιπρόσθετα, οι μεγάλης κλίμακας καταστροφικές αποζημιώσεις του σεισμού καθιστούν τις αντασφαλιστικές εταιρείες ανίκανες να διαχειριστούν μόνες τους τα έξοδα αυτά. Για τον λόγο αυτό, η ασφαλιστική αγορά δημιούργησε τα ομόλογα καταστροφής ώστε να μεταφέρεται ο εν λόγω κίνδυνος στους επενδυτές της αγοράς κεφαλαίων. Στην παρούσα διατριβή, διεξάγεται ο σχεδιασμός και η τιμολόγηση του σχετικού ομολόγου καταστροφής συναρτήσει του προτεινόμενου σεισμικού μοντέλου χρησιμοποιώντας είτε αμιγώς στατιστικές προεξοφλητικές μεθόδους είτε σε συνδυασμό με μηχανικής μάθησης λαμβάνοντας υπόψη και τον πιστωτικό κίνδυνο κάθε εκδότη. Τα ομόλογα αυτά μπορούν να εκδοθούν για την αποτελεσματική αντιμετώπιση των οικονομικών συνεπειών ισχυρών σεισμών.
Controlling GDP and Debt with a Post-Keynesian model
Authors: Domenicos Charalampos-Anastasios , Kotsios Stelios
Published: June 2023

Our aim in this paper is to design a set of fiscal policy rules using a linear, discrete macroeconomic Post-Keynesian model with delays. We develop algebraic methods with appropriate symbolic algorithms that produce a solution, which allows us to find a path for the desired GDP and debt targets to be met.

 

Keywords: Fiscal policy, Symbolic algorithmic methods, GDP, Debt, Algorithmic control

JEL Classification: E00, E62, E12
The Effect of Marketing Promotion Strategy in Political Campaigns: A case Study for the Region of Attica.
Authors: Panagiotidou Georgia , Chadjipadelis Theodore
Published: June 2023

This research aims to analyze the political marketing strategy used in Greek regional elections of 2019 by candidate mayors, in the case of the region of Attica. Using advance methods of multivariate analysis such as Cluster analysis, Multiple Correspondence analysis and Principal component analysis we search for the strategy patterns used in terms of selecting promotion tools, prioritizing issues on the political agenda, and focusing on the candidate or the party. The analysis investigates the profiles of the candidates with reference to the above political marketing strategies and the connection to their political characteristics. Furthermore, the detected profiles and strategies are analyzed regarding their effect on the probability to be elected.  (250 words max)

 

EL Classifications: C38, D72, M31.

Key words: Political Marketing; Political Analysis; Quantitative Methods; Municipal Elections; Political Campaigns
Greek family-business management performance: Emotionally intelligent or Machiavellian?
Authors: Tsirimokou Chrysoula , Richardson Clive , Palaskas Theodosios
Published: June 2023

Abstract

 

Although the investigation of emotional intelligence levels and personality traits such as Machiavellian behavior of the manager and the family firm’s workforce is critical in understanding the role of emotions in family business dynamics and in drawing conclusions regarding their effects on the overall business performance, the subject has not been examined adequately. Utilizing modern tools, this paper aims to measure and evaluate the qualitative characteristics of family business managers’ behavior to analyze their influence on the firms’ performance. In particular, it examines whether emotional intelligence and Machiavellianism determine the efficiency of the management in Greek family businesses’ performance. For this purpose, a structural equation model was specified and applied to fieldwork data to test the statistical validity of the hypothesis. The findings suggest that, while emotional intelligence plays an important role, Machiavellian personality does not.

 

EL Classifications:

Key words: emotional intelligence, Machiavellianism, family business, management, structural equation models
Attitudes toward and knowledge of collaboration of dental and medical practice among medical students in Southern India: a cross-sectional questionnaire survey
Authors: Atul Kumar Harshit , Uppoor Ashita , Kadakampally David , Unnikrishnan B , Mithra Prasanna
Published: June 2023

Background:

   Enhancing oral health care services provided through inter-professional collaboration between medical and dental practitioner is important, and even essential. The purpose of this study is to assess the attitude toward and knowledge of medical-dental collaborative practice among medical students attending colleges in Southern India.

Methods:

      A cross sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among medical students and interns of medical colleges in coastal South India with prior information and permission. The questionnaire consisted of 11 questions to assess attitude toward and knowledge of medical-dental collaborative practice. The demographic backgrounds of participants were also recorded. Chi square test was employed for data analysis. The responses obtained were correlated with age, gender and year of study of participants using Pearson’s correlation test

Results:

       A total 250 questionnaires were distributed and 234 responses were appropriately completed. Most of the students agreed that oral health was an integral part of systemic health, however participants disagreed on attending compulsory rotation in dentistry at a statistically significant level (p<0.05), moreover participants did not agree with physicians having an active role in motivating their patients for regular dental check-up. 82% of the medical students believe that dental check-up should be included in health packages under health insurance. A statistically significant (p<0.05) difference was observed among 3 rd year & 4 th year students and interns and also it was found that female students provided more positive responses towards medical-dental collaboration.

Conclusions:

       Even though medical students showed fairly positive attitudes and knowledge towards dentistry, the analysis within the study groups showed that knowledge and attitudes regarding the collaborative practice worsened over the academic years among the medical students. In order to destigmatize and foster interprofessional collaboration which would contribute to higher resource efficiency and the standard of care, continuing education in both the disciplines would be highly beneficial.
Study of helminth eggs (Ascaris suum) inactivation by anaerobic digestion and electrochemical treatment
Authors: Patil Prajakta Pratap , Mutnuri Srikanth
Published: June 2023

Background: The use of insufficiently treated wastewater or faecal sludge in agriculture raises concerns because of the pathogen content. Helminth eggs are one of the most crucial pathogens for ensuring public health and safety. Widely used disinfection treatment methods do not guarantee the complete inactivation of helminth eggs. The current study evaluated the effectiveness of anaerobic digestion and electrochemical process on helminth (Ascaris suum) egg inactivation.

Methods: Lab-scale biochemical methane potential (BMP) assay was conducted by spiking A. suum eggs in a serum bottle. Total solid (TS), volatile solid (VS), pH, biogas production and its composition, and volatile fatty acids (VFA) were analyzed along with A. suum inactivation every third day for the initial 15 days and fifth day for 45 days. In the second set of experiments, a hypochlorite (4700 ppm) solution was generated by electrolysis of aqueous NaCl solution in a membrane-less electrochemical cell. The hypochlorite was diluted (940, 470, 235, and 156ppm) in wastewater, spiked with A. suum eggs and then examined for inactivation at regular intervals.

Results: The results of the anaerobic digestion treatment documented 98% inactivation of A. suum eggs (0.15 eggs/mL) in 35 days and remained at 0.14 eggs/mL until day 45. Correlation analysis revealed a positive relationship between non-viable eggs and pH and a negative relationship with all the other parameters.  Electrochemical treatment achieved 10% inactivation at 940 ppm concentration in 24h.

Conclusions: This study revealed that the inactivation of A. suum eggs by anaerobic digestion or electrochemical treatment is a combined effect of more than one parameter.
The genome sequence of the Olive Pearl, Udea olivalis (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)
Authors: Boyes Douglas , Holland Peter W.H. ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: June 2023

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Udea olivalis (the Olive Pearl; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Crambidae). The genome sequence is 624.4 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.3 kilobases in length.
Liberalny internacjonalizm Stanów Zjednoczonych a problem Górnego Śląska w latach 1918–1919
Authors: Siwek Krzysztof
Published: June 2023

Po zakończeniu I wojny światowej w 1918 r., w czasie paryskiej konferencji pokojowej, Stany Zjednoczone, dążąc do ustanowienia w Europie trwałego pokoju, zaangażowały się w uregulowanie europejskich kwestii terytorialnych. Uznawano je bowiem za problem o powszechnym, ponadnarodowym wymiarze. Kwestia Górnego Śląska, dzieląca wówczas Polskę i Niemcy, oceniana był przez administrację amerykańską z perspektywy liberalnego internacjonalizmu, zakładającego budowę ponadnarodowej wspólnoty politycznej i gospodarczej.
Opozycja demokratyczna w Polsce (1976–1989) wobec historii i pamięci pogromu kieleckiego
Authors: Grądzka-Rejak Martyna , Olaszek Jan
Published: June 2023

Polska opozycja demokratyczna tworzyła polemiczną wobec oficjalnej wizję historii najnowszej (odkłamywanie białych plam jak zbrodnia katyńska, represje sowieckie wobec Polaków i historia Armii Krajowej). Podejmowano również temat relacji polsko-żydowskich, odnosząc się do negatywnych postaw Polaków wobec przedstawicieli tej mniejszości narodowej, w tym kwestii stosowania przemocy. W ten nurt wpisywały się opozycyjne inicjatywy związane z historią pogromu kieleckiego, który miał miejsce w lipcu 1946 r.
PaPILO: A Parallel Presolving Library for Integer and Linear Optimization with Multiprecision Support
Authors: Gleixner Ambros , Gottwald Leona , Hoen Alexander
Published: June 2023

Presolving has become an essential component of modern mixed integer program (MIP) solvers, both in terms of computational performance and numerical robustness. In this paper, we present PaPILO, a new C++ header-only library that provides a large set of presolving routines for MIP and linear programming problems from the literature. The creation of PaPILO was motivated by the current lack of (a) solver-independent implementations that (b) exploit parallel hardware and (c) support multiprecision arithmetic. Traditionally, presolving is designed to be fast. Whenever necessary, its low computational overhead is usually achieved by strict working limits. PaPILO’s parallelization framework aims at reducing the computational overhead also when presolving is executed more aggressively or is applied to large-scale problems. To rule out conflicts between parallel presolve reductions, PaPILO uses a transaction-based design. This helps to avoid both the memory-intensive allocation of multiple copies of the problem and special synchronization between presolvers. Additionally, the use of Intel’s Threading Building Blocks library aids PaPILO in efficiently exploiting recursive parallelism within expensive presolving routines, such as probing, dominated columns, or constraint sparsification. We provide an overview of PaPILO’s capabilities and insights into important design choices.

History: Accepted by Ted Ralphs, Area Editor for Software Tools.

Funding: This work has been financially supported by Research Campus MODAL, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research [Grants 05M14ZAM, 05M20ZBM], and the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 773897 (plan4res). The content of this paper only reflects the author’s views. The European Commission / Innovation and Networks Executive Agency is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.

Supplemental Material: The software that supports the findings of this study is available within the paper and its Supplemental Information ( https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/suppl/10.1287/ijoc.2022.0171 ), as well as from the IJOC GitHub software repository ( https://github.com/INFORMSJoC/2022.0171 ). The complete IJOC Software and Data Repository is available at https://informsjoc.github.io/ .
Age at arrival and integration outcomes of refugee youth and emerging adults: a longitudinal study
Authors: Wong Cho Yat , Edwards Ben
Published: June 2023

Age at arrival is one factor that could influence the integration of humanitarian migrants, especially for children and teenagers. Previous research has focused on the influence of the age at arrival on education, employment, social and language learning outcomes, but there is limited research, especially for longitudinal study, on other important measures of integration. Moreover, young adult and adolescent refugees, and the relationship between age and integration outcomes are under-studied. To address these gaps, this study examined the relationships between age at arrival and different dimensions of integration of young refugees in Australia, using five years’ panel data from the Building a New Life in Australia (BNLA) longitudinal study from 2013 to 2018 (282 individuals). Our findings indicate that age at arrival is significantly correlated with multiple integration outcomes. Old entrants tend to have a higher probability of having a paid job but have poorer mental health and English proficiency. On the other hand, older entrants were more likely to know their rights well compared to younger entrants at arrival. However, younger entrants’ knowledge of their rights overtook older entrants four to five years after their arrival. These findings suggest that a shorter assessment process and enabling earlier entry especially among refugee youth and young adults could effectively improve their future settlement outcomes under the current humanitarian policies and system.
High-resolution radar ranging based on the ultra-wideband chaotic optoelectronic oscillator
Authors: Xu Ziwei , Tian Huan , Zhang Lingjie , Zhao Qingbo , Zhang Zhiyao , Zhang Shangjian , Li Heping , Liu Yong
Published: June 2023

A high-resolution radar ranging scheme is proposed and demonstrated based on the ultra-wideband chaotic optoelectronic oscillator (OEO). Through biasing the electro-optic intensity modulator near its minimum transmission point, high-dimensional chaotic signals with flat spectra and low time-delayed signatures can be generated in the OEO, which are favorable for increasing the ranging resolution and the confidentiality. In the experiment, the optimized broadband OEO generates a high-dimensional chaotic signal with a flat spectrum in the frequency range of 2 GHz to 16 GHz and a high permutation entropy of 0.9754. This chaotic signal is used to achieve multiple target ranging, where a ranging resolution of 1.4 cm is realized.
High-efficiency upward radiation in a slow-light grating beam scanner
Authors: Suyama Saneyuki , Baba Toshihiko
Published: June 2023

Slow-light grating (SLG) is used as a solid-state optical beam scanner, but the efficiency of conventional SLGs has been constrained by unwanted downward radiation. In this study, we developed a high-efficiency SLG consisting of through-hole grating and surface grating, which selectively radiates upward. Via the optimization using the covariance matrix adaptation evolution strategy, we designed a structure showing a maximum upward emissivity of 95% as well as moderate radiation rates and beam divergence. Experimentally, the emissivity was enhanced by 2–4 dB and the roundtrip efficiency was improved by 5.4 dB, which is significant in applications to light detection and ranging.
Lensless masked imaging with self-calibrated phase retrieval
Authors: Zheng Shenghao , Ding Zhihui , Jiang Rui , Guo Cheng
Published: June 2023

Lensless imaging with a mask is an attractive topic as it enables a compact configuration to acquire wavefront information of a sample with computational approaches. Most existing methods choose a customized phase mask for wavefront modulation and then decode the sample’s wave field from modulated diffraction patterns. Different from phase masks, lensless imaging with a binary amplitude mask facilitates a cheaper fabrication cost, but high-quality mask calibration and image reconstruction have not been well resolved. Here we propose a self-calibrated phase retrieval (SCPR) method to realize a joint recovery of a binary mask and sample's wave field for a lensless masked imaging system. Compared with conventional methods, our method shows a high-performance and flexible image recovery without the help of an extra calibration device. Experimental results of different samples demonstrate the superiority of our method.
Widely tunable near-infrared optical parametric oscillator based on a 5%MgO:PPLN partial cylinder pumped at 1064 nm by a 1-kHz sub-nanosecond microchip laser
Authors: Bruneteau Baptiste , Faure Basile , Debray Jérôme , Souhaité Grégoire , Segonds Patricia , Ishizuki Hideki , Taira Takunori , Boulanger Benoît
Published: June 2023

We report the implementation of a singly resonant optical parametric oscillator using a 5%MgO:PPLN partial cylinder pumped by a sub-nanosecond microchip laser emitting 1064 nm at a repetition rate of 1 kHz. It is continuously tunable from 1410 nm up to 4330 nm by rotating the cylinder and a total energy of several microjoules is emitted with a beam quality factor M2 lower than 3.
Rogue wave generation using a chaotic semiconductor laser with energy redistribution
Authors: Li Xiao-Zhou , Zhao Zhen-Yu , Zhou Xiao-Qing , Gu Yiying , Han Xiuyou , Zhao Mingshan
Published: June 2023

We demonstrate for the first time that optical rogue waves (RWs) can be generated using a chaotic semiconductor laser with energy redistribution. Chaotic dynamics are numerically generated using the rate equation model of an optically injected laser. The chaotic emission is then sent to an energy redistribution module (ERM) that consists of a temporal phase modulation and a dispersive propagation. The process enables a temporal energy redistribution of the chaotic emission waveforms, where coherent summation of consecutive laser pulses leads to random generation of giant intensity pulses. Efficient generation of optical RWs are numerically demonstrated by varying the ERM operating parameters in the entire injection parameter space. The effects of the laser spontaneous emission noise on the generation of RWs are further investigated. The RW generation approach offers a relatively high flexibility and tolerance in the choice of ERM parameters according to the simulation results.
Polaromechanics: polaritonics meets optomechanics
Authors: Santos P. V. , Fainstein A.
Published: June 2023

Cavity exciton polariton physics and cavity optomechanics have evolved
into mature and active domains with, so far, very little connections
between them. We argue here that there are strong reasons to bridge
the two fields, opening interesting opportunities. Polaritons are
entities sharing the properties of photons and excitons in a
controllable way. They can lead to tunable and strongly enhanced
optomechanical couplings and, through them, to single-particle
cooperativies C0 > 1 as
well as ultra-strong optomechanical coupling in the many-particle
regime. Besides, exciton-exciton Coulomb interactions define a new
regime of non-linear many-body optomechanics with notable and largely
unexplored consequences. Conversely, coherent vibrations can add a
qualitatively distinct ingredient to the field of polaritonics by
introducing the variable of time. Indeed, the mechanics built-in in
polariton resonators allows for controllable time-modulation up to
frequencies of tens of GHz with important consequences for the control
of quantum emitters and bidirectional optical-to-microwave conversion.
Most interestingly, it also enables polaritons to access Floquet
physics, Landau-Zenner-Stückelberg state preparation, spinor
pseudo-magnetic resonance, as well as optomechanically induced
non-reciprocal phenomena. This guest-editorial addresses the
opportunities and challenges in these emerging field.
Nachhaltige Digitalisierung oder Nachhaltigkeit durch Digitalisierung?
Authors: Winkler Stefan , Günther Jochen , Pfennig Roland
Published: June 2023

Digitalisierung und Nachhaltigkeit sind Megatrends des 21. Jahrhunderts mit hoher transformativer Kraft, die sich potenziell gegenseitig verstärken können. Bisher wurden beide Themen meist nur separat diskutiert und keine Strategien erarbeitet, die sich auf die inhaltliche Schnittmenge beziehen. Der Beitrag strukturiert die Korrelation beider Themen aus einer Unternehmensperspektive in eine nachhaltige Gestaltung der Digitalisierung (Stichwort „Green IT“ als Ressourceneffizienz, Energiesparsamkeit, etc.) sowie in den Einsatz der Digitalisierung für mehr Nachhaltigkeit (Stichwort „Green through IT“ in Form von Smart Services, Prozesseffizienz, Ressourcenschonung, etc.). Auf Basis der Auswertung von Unternehmensbeispielen aus verschiedensten Branchen im deutschen Raum wird in einem induktiven Ansatz ein praxisnahes Modell mit vier strategischen Handlungsoptionen mit Bezug auf die Twin Transformation für Unternehmen entwickelt (Corporate Digital Responsibility, Digitale Sozialprojekte, Geschäftsmodelle für eine nachhaltigere Digitalisierung, Digitale Geschäftsmodelle für mehr Nachhaltigkeit).
Memory phase-specific genes in the Mushroom Bodies identified using CrebB-target DamID
Authors: Sgammeglia Noemi , Widmer Yves F. , Kaldun Jenifer C. , Fritsch Cornelia , Bruggmann Rémy , Sprecher Simon G.
Published: June 2023

The formation of long-term memories requires changes in the transcriptional program and de novo protein synthesis. One of the critical regulators for long-term memory (LTM) formation and maintenance is the transcription factor CREB. Genetic studies have dissected the requirement of CREB activity within memory circuits, however less is known about the genetic mechanisms acting downstream of CREB and how they may contribute defining LTM phases. To better understand the downstream mechanisms, we here used a targeted DamID approach (TaDa). We generated a CREB-Dam fusion protein using the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as model. Expressing CREB-Dam in the mushroom bodies (MBs), a brain center implicated in olfactory memory formation, we identified genes that are differentially expressed between paired and unpaired appetitive training paradigm. Of those genes we selected candidates for an RNAi screen in which we identified genes causing increased or decreased LTM.
Susceptibility of Aedes albopictus, Ae. aegypti and human populations to Ross River virus in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Authors: Fu Jolene Yin Ling , Chua Chong Long , Abu Bakar Athirah Shafiqah , Vythilingam Indra , Wan Sulaiman Wan Yusoff , Alphey Luke , Chan Yoke Fun , Sam I-Ching
Published: June 2023

Background

Emerging arboviruses such as chikungunya and Zika viruses have unexpectedly caused widespread outbreaks in tropical and subtropical regions recently. Ross River virus (RRV) is endemic in Australia and has epidemic potential. In Malaysia, Aedes mosquitoes are abundant and drive dengue and chikungunya outbreaks. We assessed risk of an RRV outbreak in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by determining vector competence of local Aedes mosquitoes and local seroprevalence as a proxy of human population susceptibility.

Methodology/Principal findings

We assessed oral susceptibility of Malaysian Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus by real-time PCR to an Australian RRV strain SW2089. Replication kinetics in midgut, head and saliva were determined at 3 and 10 days post-infection (dpi). With a 3 log10 PFU/ml blood meal, infection rate was higher in Ae. albopictus (60%) than Ae. aegypti (15%; p<0.05). Despite similar infection rates at 5 and 7 log10 PFU/ml blood meals, Ae. albopictus had significantly higher viral loads and required a significantly lower median oral infectious dose (2.7 log10 PFU/ml) than Ae. aegypti (4.2 log10 PFU/ml). Ae. albopictus showed higher vector competence, with higher viral loads in heads and saliva, and higher transmission rate (RRV present in saliva) of 100% at 10 dpi, than Ae. aegypti (41%). Ae. aegypti demonstrated greater barriers at either midgut escape or salivary gland infection, and salivary gland escape. We then assessed seropositivity against RRV among 240 Kuala Lumpur inpatients using plaque reduction neutralization, and found a low rate of 0.8%.

Conclusions/Significance

Both Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus are susceptible to RRV, but Ae. albopictus displays greater vector competence. Extensive travel links with Australia, abundant Aedes vectors, and low population immunity places Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at risk of an imported RRV outbreak. Surveillance and increased diagnostic awareness and capacity are imperative to prevent establishment of new arboviruses in Malaysia.
Experiences and preferences for advance care planning following a diagnosis of dementia: Findings from a cross-sectional survey of carers
Authors: Bryant Jamie , Mansfield Elise , Cameron Emilie , Sanson-Fisher Rob
Published: June 2023

Background

Future medical and financial planning is important for persons with dementia given the impact of the disease on capacity for decision making.

Aims

To explore from the perspective of carers of persons with dementia: (1) Participation in future medical and financial planning by the person they care for, including when planning was undertaken and the characteristics associated with having an advance care directive completed; (2) The type of healthcare providers who discussed advance care planning following diagnosis; and (3) Preferences for timing of discussions about advance care planning following diagnosis.

Methods

Recruitment and data collection took place between July 2018 and June 2020. Carers of persons with dementia aged 18 years and older were mailed a survey. Participants completed questions regarding completion of various future planning documents by the person they support, including time of completion and who discussed advance care planning following diagnosis. Participants were presented with information about the benefits and consequences of early and late discussions of advance care planning and asked when discussions about advance care planning were best initiated.

Results

198 carers participated. Most participants were female (74%) and had been a carer for more than 2 years (82%). Most participants reported that the person with dementia they support had made a Will (97%) and appointed an Enduring Guardian (93%) and Enduring Power of Attorney (89%). Only 47% had completed an advance care directive. No significant associations were found between characteristics of persons with dementia and completion of an advance care directive. Geriatricians (53%) and GPs (51%) most often discussed advance care planning following diagnosis. Most carers thought that discussions about advance care planning should occur in the first few weeks or months following diagnosis (32%), at the healthcare provider’s discretion (31%), or at the time of diagnosis (25%).

Conclusions

More than half of persons with dementia do not have an advance care directive. There is variability in preferences for timing of discussions following dementia diagnosis.
The incentive role of media companies’ executive compensation system in transformation and upgrading: Evidence from listed media companies in China
Authors: Yang Wancheng , Xu Jinwen , Zhang Yihan , Wei Xiaodan , Wang Shaofeng
Published: June 2023

Media companies in various countries are transforming and upgrading to improve their competitiveness in the digital economy. However, existing research only focuses on the issue of how media companies transform while ignoring whether internal governance mechanisms such as compensation incentives can promote corporate value during the transformation process. According to the principal-agent theory, we examined the incentive effects of the executive compensation system in terms of monetary compensation, equity compensation, and perks in a sample of Chinese media companies in the process of transformation and upgrading. The results have revealed that monetary compensation does not have a significant incentive effect, and equity compensation and perks have an incentive effect when they are in the suitable range. Based on the results, we proposed policy recommendations from three aspects: monetary compensation, equity compensation, and perks. This study complements the research content on the executive compensation system in media enterprises’ transformation and upgrading. It can provide a reference for setting the administrative compensation system for media companies in China and other emerging economies.
Genetic variation of the HIV-1 subtype C transmitted/founder viruses long terminal repeat elements and the impact on transcription activation potential and clinical disease outcomes
Authors: Madlala Paradise , Mkhize Zakithi , Naicker Shamara , Khathi Samukelisiwe P. , Maikoo Shreyal , Gopee Kasmira , Dong Krista L. , Ndung’u Thumbi
Published: June 2023

A genetic bottleneck is a hallmark of HIV-1 transmission such that only very few viral strains, termed transmitted/founder (T/F) variants establish infection in a newly infected host. Phenotypic characteristics of these variants may determine the subsequent course of disease. The HIV-1 5’ long terminal repeat (LTR) promoter drives viral gene transcription and is genetically identical to the 3’ LTR. We hypothesized that HIV-1 subtype C (HIV-1C) T/F virus LTR genetic variation is a determinant of transcriptional activation potential and clinical disease outcome. The 3’LTR was amplified from plasma samples of 41 study participants acutely infected with HIV-1C (Fiebig stages I and V/VI). Paired longitudinal samples were also available at one year post-infection for 31 of the 41 participants. 3’ LTR amplicons were cloned into a pGL3-basic luciferase expression vector, and transfected alone or together with Transactivator of transcription (tat) into Jurkat cells in the absence or presence of cell activators (TNF-α, PMA, Prostratin and SAHA). Inter-patient T/F LTR sequence diversity was 5.7% (Renge: 2–12) with subsequent intrahost viral evolution observed in 48.4% of the participants analyzed at 12 months post-infection. T/F LTR variants exhibited differential basal transcriptional activity, with significantly higher Tat-mediated transcriptional activity compared to basal (p<0.001). Basal and Tat-mediated T/F LTR transcriptional activity showed significant positive correlation with contemporaneous viral loads and negative correlation with CD4 T cell counts (p<0.05) during acute infection respectively. Furthermore, Tat-mediated T/F LTR transcriptional activity significanly correlated positively with viral load set point and viral load; and negatively with CD4 T cell counts at one year post infection (all p<0.05). Lastly, PMA, Prostratin, TNF-α and SAHA cell stimulation resulted in enhanced yet heterologous transcriptional activation of different T/F LTR variants. Our data suggest that T/F LTR variants may influence viral transcriptional activity, disease outcomes and sensitivity to cell activation, with potential implications for therapeutic interventions.
Considering mental health and well-being in media work
Authors: Deuze Mark
Published: June 2023

All is not well in the studios, agencies, newsrooms and on the sets of the media we love so much. Reports on the mental health and well-being of media professionals suggest that they tend to score high on depression, stress and burnout, and considering suicide. Documented causes tend to be particular to the working conditions of the media industry – such as unusually high work intensity and tight deadlines, little or no work-life balance in the context of precarious careers, experiences of toxic working environments and an over-identification of the self with work. The industry furthermore lacks resources and corresponding capabilities to recognize when and how its people are in distress, and offers little in the way of opportunities to discuss or otherwise meaningfully address mental health and well-being at work. This contribution explores ways we can map, explain and tackle the mental health crisis in media work through interventions in research, theory, teaching and practice.
Reporting on Sexual Violence in the #MeToo Era, Andrea Baker and Usha Manchanda Rodrigues (eds) (2022)
Authors: Gleave Josie
Published: June 2023

Review of: Reporting on Sexual Violence in the #MeToo Era, Andrea Baker and Usha Manchanda Rodrigues (eds) (2022)

London: Taylor & Francis Group, 224 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-03211-552-8, h/bk, USD 252

ISBN 978-1-00322-041-1, p/bk, USD 73.99

ISBN 978-1-00077-104-6, e-book, USD 60.29
Mise en scène, Acting, and Space in Comics, Geraint D’Arcy (2020)
Authors: Nagtegaal Jennifer
Published: June 2023

Review of: Mise en scène, Acting, and Space in Comics, Geraint D’Arcy (2020)

Cham: Nature Switzerland AG, 136 pp.,

ISBN 978-3-03051-113-5, p/bk, $69.99
The purple thread: The reception of Prince as a fictional character in graphic narratives
Authors: Ursini Francesco-Alessio , Samo Giuseppe
Published: June 2023

The goal of this article is to analyse how graphic narratives creators can incorporate transmedial fictional characters such as celebrities, and what features these character types contribute to these narratives. Our target character is ‘Prince’, the celebrity alter-ego of Prince Roger Nelson. This character had an ambiguous and complex identity, an eclectic approach to art, a strong determination in achieving one’s goals, and a keen drive to be kind and realize the emancipation of his companions, especially women. These four traits pervade receptions of Prince as a fictional character across different graphic narratives, though they are interpreted in partial and often contrasting manners. We discuss the import of this intertextual and transmedial reception of Prince as a fictional character, and how this reception is mediated via these four key traits. We suggest these traits have inspired creators to develop characters that may refer to the ‘Princian purple thread’ to differing degrees, but constantly change across cultural, genre and thematic boundaries. For instance, most receptions of Prince interpret this fictional character as a kind, supportive individual with a fluid, non-binary identity, but express these aspects in culturally informed manners. We conclude by suggesting that our analysis informs theoretical views on graphic narratives in at least two aspects. First, the analysis sheds light on how characters can shape the creation of graphic narratives, modulo genre norms and constraints. Second, the analysis sheds light on what cultural and philosophical themes they can contribute to these narratives.