bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PyMoosh: a comprehensive numerical toolkit for computing the optical properties of multilayered structures
Authors: Langevin Denis , Bennet Pauline , Khaireh-Walieh Abdourahman , Wiecha Peter , Teytaud Olivier , Moreau Antoine
Published: December 2023

We present PyMoosh, a Python-based simulation library designed to provide a comprehensive set of numerical tools allowing the computation of essentially all optical characteristics of multilayered structures, ranging from reflectance and transmittance to guided modes and photovoltaic efficiency. PyMoosh is designed not just for research purposes, but also for use cases in education. To this end, we have invested significant effort in ensuring the user-friendliness and simplicity of the interface. PyMoosh has been developed in line with the principles of open science and considering the fact that multilayered structures are increasingly being used as a testing ground for optimization and deep learning approaches. We provide in this paper the theoretical basis at the core of PyMoosh, an overview of its capabilities, as well as a comparison between the different numerical methods implemented in terms of speed and stability. We are convinced such a versatile tool will be useful for the community in many ways.
High forward thrust metasurface beam-riding sail
Authors: Srivastava Prateek R. , Majumdar Apratim , Menon Rajesh , Swartzlander Grover A.
Published: December 2023

The radiation pressure force and torque on a one-dimensional bi-grating composed of a Si-SiO2 high contrast binary metagrating is analyzed for the purpose of stable beam riding whereupon a high power laser having an expanding Gaussian irradiance distribution propels the grating in outer space, free from gravitational forces. The binary metagrating structure has been simultaneously optimized to afford high forward thrust, and corrective restoring forces and torques in the event of small linear and angular disturbances. We demonstrate that stability may be enhanced at the expense of forward thrust. The validity of our metamaterial findings is reinforced owing to good agreements between finite-difference time-domain and finite element numerical methods. To reduce mass and enhance forward acceleration this laser-driven sail was designed to be free of a stabilizing boom.
Repetition rate tuning and locking of solitons in a microrod resonator
Authors: Niu Rui , Wan Shuai , Sun Shu-Man , Ma Tai-Gao , Chen Hao-Jing , Wang Wei-Qiang , Lu Zhizhou , Zhang Wen-Fu , Guo Guang-Can , Zou Chang-Ling , Dong Chun-Hua
Published: December 2023

Recently, there has been significant interest in the generation of coherent temporal solitons in optical microresonators. In this Letter, we present a demonstration of dissipative Kerr soliton generation in a microrod resonator using an auxiliary-laser-assisted thermal response control method. In addition, we are able to control the repetition rate of the soliton over a range of 200 kHz while maintaining the pump laser frequency, by applying external stress tuning. Through the precise control of the PZT voltage, we achieve a stability level of 3.9 × 10−10 for residual fluctuation of the repetition rate when averaged 1 s. Our platform offers precise tuning and locking capabilities for the repetition frequency of coherent mode-locked combs in microresonators. This advancement holds great potential for applications in spectroscopy and precision measurements.
Unidirectional ring laser operation and tunable single-frequency emission using differential parametric gain
Authors: Jensen O. B. , Helmark M. , Urskov A. G. , Tidemand-Lichtenberg P.
Published: December 2023

In this Letter, a novel approach for unidirectional operation of a 1064 nm solid-state ring laser is demonstrated based on difference frequency mixing. Unidirectional operation is achieved exploiting the directional parametric gain from a single-pass diode laser, facilitated through a periodically poled LiNbO3 crystal. In addition to achieving unidirectional operation, the nonlinear process further enables the generation of single-frequency mid-infrared light. Using a single-pass tapered diode laser, tunable in the range from 780 to 815 nm, the generated mid-infrared signal covers the 2.9 to 3.5 µm range while optimizing the phase-match condition of the difference frequency generation process.
Mechanical forces control the valency of the malaria adhesin VAR2CSA by exposing cryptic glycan binding sites
Authors: Roessner Rita , Michelarakis Nicholas , Gräter Frauke , Aponte-Santamaría Camilo
Published: December 2023

Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) is responsible for the most lethal form of malaria. VAR2CSA is an adhesin protein expressed by this parasite at the membrane of infected erythrocytes for attachment to the placenta, leading to pregnancy-associated malaria. VAR2CSA is a large 355 kDa multidomain protein composed of nine extracellular domains, a transmembrane helix, and an intracellular domain. VAR2CSA binds to Chondroitin Sulphate A (CSA) of the proteoglycan matrix of the placenta. Shear flow, as the one occurring in blood, has been shown to enhance the (VAR2CSA-mediated) adhesion of Pf-infected erythrocytes on the CSA-matrix. However, the underlying molecular mechanism governing this enhancement has remained elusive. Here, we address this question by using equilibrium, force-probe, and docking-based molecular dynamics simulations. We subjected the VAR2CSA protein–CSA sugar complex to a force mimicking the tensile force exerted on this system due to the shear of the flowing blood. We show that upon this force exertion, VAR2CSA undergoes a large opening conformational transition before the CSA sugar chain dissociates from its main binding site. This preferential order of events is caused by the orientation of the molecule during elongation, as well as the strong electrostatic attraction of the sugar to the main protein binding site. Upon opening, two additional cryptic CSA binding sites get exposed and a functional dodecameric CSA molecule can be stably accommodated at these force-exposed positions. Thus, our results suggest that mechanical forces increase the avidity of VAR2CSA by turning it from a monovalent to a multivalent state. We propose this to be the molecular cause of the observed shear-enhanced adherence. Mechanical control of the valency of VAR2CSA is an intriguing hypothesis that can be tested experimentally and which is of relevance for the understanding of the malaria infection and for the development of anti placental-malaria vaccines targeting VAR2CSA.
A dynamic attractor network model of memory formation, reinforcement and forgetting
Authors: Boscaglia Marta , Gastaldi Chiara , Gerstner Wulfram , Quian Quiroga Rodrigo
Published: December 2023

Empirical evidence shows that memories that are frequently revisited are easy to recall, and that familiar items involve larger hippocampal representations than less familiar ones. In line with these observations, here we develop a modelling approach to provide a mechanistic understanding of how hippocampal neural assemblies evolve differently, depending on the frequency of presentation of the stimuli. For this, we added an online Hebbian learning rule, background firing activity, neural adaptation and heterosynaptic plasticity to a rate attractor network model, thus creating dynamic memory representations that can persist, increase or fade according to the frequency of presentation of the corresponding memory patterns. Specifically, we show that a dynamic interplay between Hebbian learning and background firing activity can explain the relationship between the memory assembly sizes and their frequency of stimulation. Frequently stimulated assemblies increase their size independently from each other (i.e. creating orthogonal representations that do not share neurons, thus avoiding interference). Importantly, connections between neurons of assemblies that are not further stimulated become labile so that these neurons can be recruited by other assemblies, providing a neuronal mechanism of forgetting.
Economic evaluation of novel Mycobacterium tuberculosis specific antigen-based skin tests for detection of TB infection: A modelling study
Authors: Goscé Lara , Allel Kasim , Hamada Yohhei , Korobitsyn Alexei , Ismail Nazir , Bashir Saima , Denkinger Claudia M. , Abubakar Ibrahim , White Peter J. , Rangaka Molebogeng X.
Published: December 2023

Evidence on the economic impact of novel skin tests for tuberculosis infection (TBST) is scarce and limited by study quality. We used estimates on the cost-effectiveness of the use of TBST compared to current tuberculosis infection (TBI) tests to assess whether TBST are affordable and feasible to implement under different country contexts. A Markov model parametrised to Brazil, South Africa and the UK was developed to compare the cost-effectiveness of three TBI testing strategies: (1) Diaskintest (DST), (2) TST test, and (3) IGRA QFT test. Univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analyses over unit costs and main parameters were performed. Our modelling results show that Diaskintest saves $5.60 and gains 0.024 QALYs per patient and $8.40, and 0.01 QALYs per patient in Brazil, compared to TST and IGRA respectively. In South Africa, Diaskintest is also cost-saving at $4.39, with 0.015 QALYs per patient gained, compared to TST, and $64.41, and 0.007 QALYs per patient, compared to IGRA. In the UK, Diaskintest saves $73.33, and gaines 0.0351 QALYs per patient, compared to TST. However, Diaskintest, compared to IGRA, showed an incremental cost of $521.45 (95% CI (500.94–545.07)) per QALY, below the willingness-to-pay threshold of $20.223 per QALY. Diaskintest potentially saves costs and results in greater health gains than the TST and IGRA tests in Brazil and South Africa. In the UK Diaskintest would gain health but also be more costly. Our results have potential external validity because TBST remained cost-effective despite extensive sensitivity analyses.
Racial differences in testing for infectious diseases: An analysis of jail intake data
Authors: Wurcel Alysse G. , Guardado Rubeen , Grussing Emily D. , Koutoujian Peter J. , Siddiqi Kashif , Senst Thomas , Assoumou Sabrina A. , Freund Karen M. , Beckwith Curt G.
Published: December 2023

HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing for all people in jail is recommended by the CDC. In the community, there are barriers to HIV and HCV testing for minoritized people. We examined the relationship between race and infectious diseases (HIV, HCV, syphilis) testing in one Massachusetts jail, Middlesex House of Corrections (MHOC). This is a retrospective analysis of people incarcerated at MHOC who opted-in to infectious diseases testing between 2016–2020. Variables of interest were race/ethnicity, self-identified history of psychiatric illness, and ever having experienced restrictive housing. Twenty-three percent (1,688/8,467) of people who were incarcerated requested testing at intake. Of those, only 38% received testing. Black non-Hispanic (25%) and Hispanic people (30%) were more likely to request testing than white people (19%). Hispanic people (16%, AOR 1.69(1.24–2.29) were more likely to receive a test result compared to their white non-Hispanic (8%, AOR 1.54(1.10–2.15)) counterparts. Black non-Hispanic and Hispanic people were more likely to opt-in to and complete infectious disease testing than white people. These findings could be related to racial disparities in access to care in the community. Additionally, just over one-third of people who requested testing received it, underscoring that there is room for improvement in ensuring testing is completed. We hope our collaborative efforts with jail professionals can encourage other cross-disciplinary investigations.
Measurement, dynamic evolution and influencing factors of green development efficiency in western China: Based on ecological-economic-social system
Authors: Liang Kun , Li Zhongfeng , Luo Li
Published: December 2023

Based on the ecological-economic-social system, green development efficiency is divided into green ecological efficiency, green economic efficiency and green social efficiency. Their corresponding indicator systems are constructed, and the Super-SBM model, Super-SBM-Undesirable model and kernel density estimation are applied to measure and analyze green development efficiency and its dynamic evolution in western China from 2007 to 2019. Tobit model is constructed and used to empirically analyze the influencing factors of the green development efficiency in western China. The study shows that: (1) green ecological efficiency and green economic efficiency in western China are generally at a low level, and mainly dragged by northwest China, while green social efficiency in western China is generally at a high level, and mainly dragged by southwest China; (2) green ecological efficiency, green economic efficiency and green social efficiency in western China all show a slight trend of first decreasing and then increasing; (3) all three sub-efficiencies of green development in western China have a decreasing trend of absolute difference, right trailing and polarization; (4) the lower green ecological efficiency in western China is due to the negative impacts from the level of government intervention, the level of economic development, and foreign direct investment. The lower green economic efficiency is due to the positive impacts from population density, the level of government intervention, the level of financial development, and foreign direct investment. The higher green social efficiency is due to the positive impacts from population density, the level of financial development, the level of economic development, and the green technological innovation. The study is based on countermeasure recommendations focusing on improving green social efficiency in southwest China, as well as green ecological efficiency and green economic efficiency in northwest China, which are of reference value to promote green development more comprehensively in western China.
Prospective healthcare-associated links in transmission of nontuberculous mycobacteria among people with cystic fibrosis (pHALT NTM) study: Rationale and study design
Authors: Gross Jane E. , Caceres Silvia , Poch Katie , Epperson L. Elaine , Hasan Nabeeh A. , Jia Fan , Calado Nogueira de Moura Vinicius , Strand Matthew , Lipner Ettie M. , Honda Jennifer R. , Strong Michael , Davidson Rebecca M. , Daley Charles L. , Nick Jerry A.
Published: December 2023

Background

Healthcare-associated acquisition and transmission of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) among people with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) has been described, and remains a concern for both patients and providers. This report describes the design of a prospective observational study utilizing the standardized epidemiologic investigation toolkit for healthcare-associated links in transmission of NTM among pwCF.

Methods

This is a parallel multi-site study of pwCF who have infections with respiratory NTM isolates and receive healthcare within a common CF Care Center. Participants have a history of one or more NTM positive airway cultures and have been identified as having NTM infections suggestive of a possible outbreak within a single Center, based on NTM isolate genomic analysis. Participants are enrolled in the study over a 3-year period. Primary endpoints are identification of shared healthcare-associated source(s) among pwCF in a Center, identification of healthcare environmental dust and water biofilm NTM isolates that are genetically highly-related to respiratory isolates, and identification of common home of residence watersheds among pwCF infected with clustered isolates. Secondary endpoints include characterization of healthcare-associated transmission and/or acquisition modes and settings as well as description of incidence and prevalence of healthcare-associated environmental NTM species/subspecies by geographical region.

Discussion

We hypothesize that genetically highly-related isolates of NTM among pwCF cared for at the same Center may arise from healthcare sources including patient-to-patient transmission and/or acquisition from health-care environmental dust and/or water biofilms. This study design utilizes a published, standardized, evidence-based epidemiologic toolkit to facilitate confidential, independent healthcare-associated NTM outbreak investigations within CF Care Centers. This study will facilitate real-time, rapid detection and mitigation of healthcare-associated NTM outbreaks to reduce NTM risk, inform infection prevention and control guidelines, and characterize the prevalence and origin of NTM outbreaks from healthcare-associated patient-to-patient transmission and/or environmental acquisition. This study will systematically characterize human disease causing NTM isolates from serial collection of healthcare environmental dust and water biofilms and define the most common healthcare environmental sources harboring NTM biofilms.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05686837.
A new species of terrestrially-nesting fanged frog (Anura: Dicroglossidae) from Sulawesi Island, Indonesia
Authors: Frederick Jeffrey H. , Iskandar Djoko T. , Riyanto Awal , Hamidy Amir , Reilly Sean B. , Stubbs Alexander L. , Bloch Luke M. , Bach Bryan , McGuire Jimmy A.
Published: December 2023

Herein, we describe a new species of terrestrially-nesting fanged frog from Sulawesi Island, Indonesia. Though male nest attendance and terrestrial egg deposition is known in one other Sulawesi fanged frog (Limnonectes arathooni), the new species exhibits a derived reproductive mode unique to the Sulawesi assemblage; male frogs guard one or more clutches of eggs festooned to leaves or mossy boulders one to two meters above small slow-moving streams, trickles, or seeps. This island endemic has thus far been collected at three sites on Sulawesi: one in the Central Core of the island, and two on the Southwest Peninsula—south of the Tempe Depression (a major biogeographical boundary). The new Limnonectes has the smallest adult body size among its Sulawesi congeners—with a maximum snout-vent length of about 30 millimeters. Beyond its unique reproductive behavior and body size, the species is further diagnosed on the basis of advertisement call and genetic distance from sympatric fanged frogs. The discovery and description of the new species highlights the remarkable reproductive trait diversity that characterizes the Sulawesi fanged frog assemblage despite that most species in this radiation have yet to be formally described.
Refits, cobbles, and fire: Approaching the temporal nature of an expedient Gravettian lithic assemblage from Lagar Velho (Leiria, Portugal)
Authors: Alonso-Fernández Elvira Susana , Vaquero Manuel , Daura Joan , Costa Ana Maria , Sanz Montserrat , Araújo Ana Cristina
Published: December 2023

Upper Paleolithic lithic assemblages have traditionally been considered a paramount example of the high level of complexity characterizing the technological behavior of prehistoric modern humans. The diversity and standardization of tools, as well as the systematic production of blades and bladelets, show the high investment of time, energy and knowledge often associated with Upper Paleolithic technocomplexes. However, more expedient behaviors have also been documented. In some cases, such low-cost behaviors can be dominant or almost exclusive, giving assemblages of Upper Paleolithic age an “archaic” appearance. In this paper, we address these expedient Upper Paleolithic technologies through the study of a lithic assemblage recovered from a Gravettian-age layer from the Lagar Velho rockshelter (Leiria, Portugal). Due to the specific formation processes characterizing this site, we also discuss the distinction between artifacts and geofacts, an aspect that is particularly difficult in expedient assemblages. Moreover, the combination of lithic refitting and data on thermal damage allows us to approach the temporal nature of the lithic assemblage and the timing of the different agents contributing to its formation.
Association between waist circumference and female infertility in the United States
Authors: Ke Jierong , Feng Yuntian , Chen Zhiyun
Published: December 2023

Background

Obesity has significant implications for fertility and reproductive health. However, evidences linking abdominal obesity to female infertility were limited and inconclusive. Our objective was to figure out the potential relationship between waist circumference (WC) and infertility among women of childbearing age in the United States using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Methods

Our cross-sectional study included 3239 female participants aged 18–45 years. To explore the independent relationship between WC and female infertility, the weighted multivariable logistic regression and smoothed curve fitting were performed. Interaction and subgroup analyzes were then conducted for secondary analysis.

Results

WC was positively associated with female infertility independent of BMI after adjusting for BMI and other potential confounders. In fully adjusted model, for every 1cm increase in waist circumference, the risk of infertility increased by 3% (OR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01–1.06). When WC was divided into five equal groups, women in the highest quintile had 2.64 times risk of infertility than that in the lowest quintile (OR = 2.64, 95% CI: 1.31–5.30). Smooth curve fitting revealed a non-linear but positively dose-dependent relationship between WC and female infertility. Furthermore, we found an inverted U-shaped relationship (turning point: 113.5 cm) between WC and female infertility in participants who had moderate recreational activities and a J-shaped relationship (turning point: 103 cm) between WC and female infertility in participants who had deficient recreational activities.

Conclusions

Waist circumference is a positive predictor of female infertility, independent of BMI. Moderate recreational activities can lower the risk of female infertility associated with abdominal obesity.
Anthropometric and physical characteristics in U16, U18 and U20 elite French youth rugby union players
Authors: Peeters Alexis , Leduc Cedric , Piscione Julien , Lacome Mathieu , Carling Christopher , Babault Nicolas
Published: December 2023

The aims of this study in elite youth French players were to 1) describe the anthropometric and physical characteristics of international and non-international players from U16 to U20, and 2) compare these characteristics across age categories and playing standard (international or non-international). Altogether, 1423 players from the French Rugby Federation’s academies participated in a physical testing battery, part of its national young player development pathway. From seasons 2010 to 2020, players were assessed for anthropometric (body mass and height), off-field (bench press; isometric squat, vertical jump) and on-field physical characteristics (aerobic capacity: maximal aerobic speed [MAS]; speed: 10-m, 50-m sprint). A 2-way mixed model analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare physical characteristics across age categories and playing standards. Two separate models were used for forwards and backs. A main statistical effect was observed for age category and playing standard (range p < 0.05 –p < 0.001). Pair-wise category comparisons showed that older players were generally taller, heavier, stronger, faster and demonstrated better aerobic qualities than younger peers. The same results were observed for INT compared with NI players while INT forwards were also taller and heavier than NI peers (range p < 0.01 –p < 0.001). Findings revealed a clear progression in anthropometric characteristics and physical qualities throughout the age development pathway in elite young French rugby players. Findings also identified certain physical qualities (strength, power and speed) necessary at younger levels to achieve international standard.
Nontoxic effects of thymol, carvacrol, cinnamaldehyde, and garlic oil on dung beetles: A potential alternative to ecotoxic anthelmintics
Authors: Verdú José R. , Cortez Vieyle , Rosa-García Rocío , Ortiz Antonio J. , García-Prieto Urcesino , Lumaret Jean-Pierre , García Romero Carmelo , Sánchez-Piñero Francisco
Published: December 2023

The sustainability of the traditional extensive livestock sector will only be possible if healthy dung-decomposing insect communities are preserved. However, many current pharmaceutical anthelmintics are harmful to dung beetles, their presence can have a negative impact on biological systems. Phytochemical anthelmintics are an alternative to ecotoxic synthetic pharmaceutical anthelmintics, although ecotoxicological tests of their possible indirect effects on dung beetles are required to demonstrate their viability. In this study, the potential ecotoxicity of thymol, carvacrol, cinnamaldehyde and garlic oil (diallyl disulfide and diallyl trisulfide) were tested for the first time. Inhibition of antennal response was measured as a relevant parameter by obtaining relevant toxicity thresholds derived from concentration‒response curves, such as the IC50. All phytochemical compounds tested were demonstrated to be suitable alternative candidates to the highly ecotoxic compound ivermectin, considering their non-toxicity to nontarget organisms. Residues of the phytochemical antiparasitics found in cattle droppings were extremely low, even undetectable in the case of diallyl disulfide and diallyl trisulfide. Furthermore, our results showed that none of the phytochemical compounds have ecotoxic effects, even at extremely high concentrations, including those almost 1000 times higher than what is most likely to be found in dung susceptible to ingestion by dung beetles in the field. We can conclude that the four selected phytochemical compounds meet the requirements to be considered reliable alternatives to ecotoxic veterinary medicinal products, such as ivermectin.
CNP blocks mitochondrial depolarization and inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Logue James , Melville Victoria M. , Ardanuy Jeremy , Frieman Matthew B.
Published: December 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed over 6.5 million lives worldwide and continues to have lasting impacts on the world’s healthcare and economic systems. Several approved and emergency authorized therapeutics that inhibit early stages of the virus replication cycle have been developed however, effective late-stage therapeutical targets have yet to be identified. To that end, our lab identified that 2’,3’ cyclic-nucleotide 3’-phosphodiesterase (CNP) inhibits SARS-CoV-2 virion assembly. We show that CNP inhibits the generation of new SARS-CoV-2 virions, reducing intracellular titers without inhibiting viral structural protein translation. Additionally, we show that targeting of CNP to mitochondria is necessary for inhibition, blocking mitochondrial depolarization and implicating CNP’s proposed role as an inhibitor of the mitochondrial permeabilization transition pore (mPTP) as the mechanism of virion assembly inhibition. We also demonstrate that an adenovirus expressing virus expressing both human ACE2 and CNP inhibits SARS-CoV-2 titers to undetectable levels in lungs of mice. Collectively, this work shows the potential of CNP to be a new SARS-CoV-2 antiviral target.
It’s About Us: Extinction, Contradiction, and the Mourning of Modernity in David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet
Authors: Ventimilla Alex
Published: December 2023

Despite their worldwide viewership, popular eco-documentary treatments of biodiversity loss and the ecological grief they evoke have received scarce attention from critics. Addressing this gap in scholarship, this article posits that understanding the grief and mourning affected by these cultural texts requires attention to the numerous contradictions inherent to the form. More concretely, this paper argues that a thorough exploration of the contradictory nature of the eco-documentary, as a media genre that is imbricated in the modernity whose impact on the natural world it critiques, renders the genre into a critical junction at which to interrogate the cultural meanings of the mass extinction of biodiversity. This is done through an analysis of David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet. This study suggests that popular ecodocumentary representations of biodiversity loss such as this remain entrenched in an anthropocentric instrumentalism characteristic of the modernist paradigm. Acknowledging the unwavering popularity of such films, this study concludes by positing that it is through attentiveness to rather than a wholesale rejection of eco-documentaries like A Life on Our Planet that scholars and viewers alike stand to grasp the extent of the fallacy and the fall of modernity and its worldview.
Fostering Refugia Amid Unfolding Extinctions
Authors: Aldeia Joao
Published: December 2023

According to Anna Tsing, Holocene resurgence, the multispecies work carried on to enable life among disturbance, and the ability to foster refugia where the living can recover from damage are crucial to oppose modern capitalogenic extinctions. I expand on this argument by looking at the geo-historical role that refugia have played (and perhaps can still play) during the Quaternary in nurturing the lives of survivors amid unfolding extinctions. Refugia have fostered multispecies life in harsh climatic and ecological times, which enabled individuals of different species to carry on the work of resurgence, because they have functioned as homes for refugees, allowing them in to recover from the hardships of the outside world for a (geo-historically long) while before they again went into the world when external conditions became more amenable. If this capacity of refugia to nurture life can be fostered, such sites might be important pieces in a political ecological strategy aiming to oppose the waste of life brought about by contemporary extinctions.
The Violent Narrowing of Animal Life
Authors: Weis Tony
Published: December 2023

Mainstream environmentalism has long prioritized wild animals and their habitats while paying little attention to the explosive growth of global livestock production and consumption. However, this blind spot to livestock is changing quickly, in large part because of the rising general awareness of the resource and emissions intensity of animal-based foods and how it relates the interwoven crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. This paper considers both the fertile ground for animal advocacy to be found in the mounting scientific evidence about environmental inefficiencies of animal-based foods, and the need to be attentive to the risks it bears. The principal danger of efficiency-centred narratives is that if they are largely focused on climate change and biodiversity loss, the goal of reducing relative associated impacts can appear in a way that helps to further stoke the growth of industrially produced birds, which should be understood in relation to the already well-established poultrification of global livestock supply and demand. This paper highlights the importance of challenging this partial lens and response, and stresses the need to connect macro-scale environmental concerns to critical reflection about the ways that animal lives are organized in industrial livestock production. The concern for declining wild animal populations among environmentalists is a key lever for this, as industrial livestock can be shown to bear on the loss and fragmentation of habitats while at the same condemning a large and growing share of all birds and mammals to a short and agonizing existence. What emerges is an indelible image of a pathological mode of production that is violently narrowing how other animals get to inhabit the earth.
THE MANUFACTURING METHOD EFFECT ON THE STRUCTURE AND ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF SOLID SOLUTION Ce0.8Y0.2О2-?
Authors: Sudzhanskaya I. V. , Vasilev A. E. , Yaprintsev M. N. , Nekrasova Yu. S. , Oleinik A. N.
Published: December 2023

The solid solution Ce0.8Y0.2O2-? was obtained by three methods: sol gel, glycine nitrate and solid-state reaction. The synthesis temperature was 1350 ?C for the sample obtained by the sol gel method and 1500 ?C for the remaining samples. It’s shown by the X-Ray method that all samples have a cubic lattice with a fluorite structure. The microstructure, density, electrical conductivity, microhardness and crack resistance of the synthesized ceramics were investigated. By the impedance spectroscopy method, a system Ce0.8Y0.2O2-? obtained by the sol gel method was found to have the highest electrical conductivity reaching 5.37 mS/cm at a temperature of 550 ?С and the lowest activation energy equal to 0.83 eV in the temperature range of 300 – 550 ?C. The contribution to the conductivity of the grains and the grain boundaries is defined. A common conductivity is shown to be decreased because of the resistance of the grain boundaries for all samples.
Synthesis of Barium Hexaferrite by the Self-combustion Method
Authors:   South Ural State University, Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation, Chernukha A. , Zvereva A. , Zirnik G. , Pashnin D. , Mustafina K. , Belyaev I. , Dyukova О. , Artyukova М. , Malev E. , Zhivulin V. , Mosunova Т. , Vinnik D.
Published: December 2023

Until now, the ceramic method remains the most common for synthesis of complex oxides. In this case powders of oxides, carbonates or hydroxides of the required metals are sintered in air or in a controlled atmosphere after thorough mixing. However, it has several disadvantages. The most significant of them is the need to achieve high synthesis temperatures, which leads to an in-crease in the particle size. In addition, due to the latter circumstance, the resulting materials have a low specific surface area, which makes it impossible to use them as catalytic materials. The main advantages of this method are: low cost and availability of initial reagents, no need to use solvents, simplicity of the procedure, and a wide range of materials obtained. The results of ob-taining barium hexaferrite BaFe12O19 by the self-combustion method are presented. During the synthesis, a solution of nitrate salts of the corresponding metals with citric acid was prepared. Af-ter neutralization and evaporation of the solution, the resulting sample was heated in a furnace to carry out the spontaneous combustion process and remove residual carbon. The final sintering was carried out in a tube furnace with a precise temperature controller. The samples obtained were investigated by the powder diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray spectral microanalysis, and thermal analysis. It was found that the spontaneous combustion method made it possible to obtain homogeneous barium hexaferrite at a lower temperature (by 200 °C) in comparison with the classical ceramic method. For the synthesized BaFe12O19, the structural parameters are a = 5.891 Å, c = 23.215 Å, V = 697.6 Å3. The used method makes it possible to synthesize promising oxide materials with developed surface under milder conditions, as well as to alloy oxides with highly volatile elements.
Evaluation and chemical characterization of bioactive secondary metabolites from endophytic fungi associated with the ethnomedicinal plantBergenia ciliata
Authors: Prasai Jiwan Raj , Sureshkumar Senthuran , Ahmad Waseem , Ashraf Mohammad , Gopi Chinnadurai , Rajapriya Pandy , Aloufi Abeer S. , Natarajan Nandakumar , Pandi Mohan
Published: December 2023

The objective of this work was to assess the bioactive potential of endophytic fungi,Colletotrichum brevisporum(JPSK3),Pestalotiopsis microspora(JPSK19), andGuignardia mangiferae(JPSK25), fromBergenia ciliata. The antibacterial effects were determined by the well diffusion technique against human pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus,Escherichia coli,Bacillus cereus, andSalmonella typhi) and they showed good activities. In the antioxidant assay, the fungal extractP. microsporashows higher free radical scavenging effects in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (82.48%), hydrogen peroxide (84.91%), superoxide (78.85%), and reducing power absorbance of 0.125 at a dosage of 125 g/mL than other two fungi. The fungal extract was also subjected to phenol and flavonoid quantifications. The fungusP. microsporashows the highest phenol (89.56 0.03 mg of GAE/g of extract) and flavonoid (51.52 0.69 mg of quercetin equivalents/g of extract), respectively. The chemical composition of abundant biologically active compounds was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS). Furthermore, it was confirmed through spectral and analytical analysis (thin layer chromatography, ultraviolet, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography, GC-MS, and nuclear magnetic spectroscopy). InP. microspora, the compound phenol,p-tert-butyl (C10H14O), was confirmed for the first time. This fungal compound could be a potential alternative medicine in the future. This is the first work on endophytic fungal studies of ethnomedicinal plantBergenia ciliata.
On the equation f

n
+ (f″)m ≡ 1
Authors: Dang Guoqiang
Published: December 2023

Let

n

n

and

m

m

be two positive integers, and the second-order Fermat-type functional equation

f

n

+

(

f

″

)

m

≡
1

{f}^{n}+{({f}^{^{\prime\prime} })}^{m}\equiv 1

does not have a nonconstant meromorphic solution in the complex plane, except

(

n
,
m

)

∈

{

(

1
,
1

)

,

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. The research gives a ready-to-use scheme to study certain Fermat-type functional differential equations in the complex plane by using the Nevanlinna theory, the complex method, and the Weierstrass factorization theorem.
Environmentally friendly reduction of graphene oxide using the plant extract of novel Chromolaena odorata and evaluation of adsorption capacity on methylene blue dye
Authors: Edayillam Parvathi , Nidooli Dilraj , Ganesh Arjun , Chalil Veettil Akshaya , Nangarath Kannoth Deepak
Published: December 2023

Chromolaena odorata is an extremely allelopathic and commonly available herb that conquers neighbouring vegetation, and research is being conducted to utilize it for a wide diversity of applications. In the current study, methylene blue dye (MB) is decomposed by exploring the suitability of novel C. odorata for achieving reduced graphene oxide (RGO) through a simplistic green synthesis method. C. odorata assisted RGO is characterized using X-ray diffraction study, scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, UV–visible spectrophotometry, photoluminescence spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. These characterizations indicate that the synthesized RGO has a UV–visible absorbance peak at 270 nm, an X-ray diffraction reflection peak at 2θ = 2.12°, and a Raman spectrum having an I

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/I

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ratio of nearly 0.98. Moreover, the RGO sample exhibits excellent MB dye scavenging efficiency having an adsorption amount of 300 mg/g. The adsorption kinetics is also investigated which established that adsorption fits very well with pseudo-second-order kinetics. Furthermore, the thermodynamics behaviour of the RGO sample has been carried out and demonstrated that adsorption is endothermic and spontaneous. The present study offers appropriate visions for the eco-friendly reduction of graphene oxide by C. odorata and utilizing it for the remediation of organic dye.
The Ubiquity of Psychopathology and the Quandaries this Imposes for Determining “Reality”
Authors: Piven Jerry S.
Published: December 2023

In this article, I argue that psychopathology ubiquitously pervades individual and social life. As Freud wrote, each of us finds some way of distorting reality, and as Laing contended, human beings have an almost unlimited capacity for self-deception. History is a chronicle of fantasies, mirages, distortions, and metaphysical consolations believed as apodictic reality, and the bizarre magico-salvific stratagems people adopted to ward off disease, catastrophe, and death. And yet many (even psychoanalysts) maintain the notion (or fantasy) that we perceive reality clearly and sanely. I contend, on the contrary, that we have no epistemologically foolproof way of discerning our own deceptions and defects, and that we find all manner of ingenious excuses not to see ourselves.
TheMef2cGene Dose-Dependently Controls Hippocampal Neurogenesis and the Expression of Autism-Like Behaviors
Authors: Basu Sreetama , Ro Eun Jeoung , Liu Zhi , Kim Hyunjung , Bennett Aubrey , Kang Seungwoo , Suh Hoonkyo
Published: December 2023

Mutations in the activity-dependent transcription factorMEF2Chave been associated with several neuropsychiatric disorders. Among these, autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-related behavioral deficits are manifested. Multiple animal models that harbor mutations inMef2chave provided compelling evidence thatMef2cis indeed an ASD gene. However, studies in mice with germline or global brain knock-out ofMef2care limited in their ability to identify the precise neural substrates and cell types that are required for the expression ofMef2c-mediated ASD behaviors. Given the role of hippocampal neurogenesis in cognitive and social behaviors, in this study we aimed to investigate the role ofMef2cin the structure and function of newly generated dentate granule cells (DGCs) in the postnatal hippocampus and to determine whether disruptedMef2cfunction is responsible for manifesting ASD behaviors. Overexpression ofMef2c(Mef2cOE) arrested the transition of neurogenesis at progenitor stages, as indicated by sustained expression ofSox2+inMef2cOEDGCs.Conditional knock-out ofMef2c(Mef2ccko) allowed neuronal commitment ofMef2cckocells; however,Mef2cckoimpaired not only dendritic arborization and spine formation but also synaptic transmission ontoMef2cckoDGCs.Moreover, the abnormal structure and function ofMef2cckoDGCs led to deficits in social interaction and social novelty recognition, which are key characteristics of ASD behaviors. Thus, our study revealed a dose-dependent requirement ofMef2cin the control of distinct steps of neurogenesis, as well as a critical cell-autonomous function ofMef2cin newborn DGCs in the expression of proper social behavior in both sexes.
Impacts of crude oil on Arctic sea-ice diatoms modified by irradiance
Authors: Dilliplaine Kyle , Hennon Gwenn
Published: December 2023

Anthropogenic climate change is reducing ice and snow thickness in the Arctic. The loss of summer sea ice has led to increased access to Arctic waters and the development of marine resources, which raises the risk of oil spills. Thinning ice and snow also increases irradiance in the upper ocean which is predicted to increase primary productivity, disfavoring shade-adapted sea-ice algae while benefitting phytoplankton and cryopelagic taxa. Studies have confirmed the lethality of crude oil and its distillates to Arctic phytoplankton; less well-constrained are the sublethal impacts to sea-ice algae in combination with other drivers. This study investigates the combination of two drivers, crude oil exposure and irradiance, on the growth rate and maximum cell concentration of four sea-ice diatoms (Attheya septentrionalis, Fragilariopsis cylindrus, and two strains of Synedropsis hyperborea) isolated from landfast sea ice near Utqiaġvik, Alaska. Crude oil inhibition of growth was complex and dependent on species and irradiance level. A. septentrionalis was generally tolerant to crude oil exposure, but toxicity was enhanced at the highest irradiance. The cryopelagic taxon, F. cylindrus, exhibited strong growth inhibition at TPH concentrations greater than approximately 6 mg L−1. Growth rates of S. hyperborea strains were stimulated at low concentrations of oil at all light levels. A simple numerical model was used to simulate an oil spill under varying snow depths to follow composition of a mock community comprised of these four isolates across a spring season. Results highlight that the reduction of algal biomass accumulation and the community composition change following a crude oil spill are more severe in a simulated low-snow spring, due to the relative sensitivity of F. cylindrus. We show that a brighter Arctic, which is predicted to increase the relative importance of cryopelagic taxa like F. cylindrus, may render the Arctic ecosystem more vulnerable to crude oil spills.
Study of the efficiency of some deterministic preprocessing methods for sorting algorithms
Authors:   Ukrainian State University science and technology, Shynkarenko V.I. , Makarov O.V. ,   Ukrainian State University science and technology
Published: December 2023

To verify the hypothesis about decrease in time of sorting by algorithms of different computational complexity experiments have been conducted. Several ideas on deterministic preprocessing of data arrays for sorting algorithms have been tested. The following algorithms are proposed: quick preprocessing – prediction of the index of an element in a sorted array and permutation, preprocessing with memory - prediction and permutation with memorization of previously set elements, preprocessing with reordering – reverting sequences of elements sorted in reverse order. Also proposed block variations of quick and preprocessing with memory, which are performed for parts of the array of a given length. It has been defined that the higher efficiency of preprocessing is achieved by using with sorting algorithms, which are significantly accelerated on sorted (or almost sorted) arrays of data. Block preprocessing methods can be performed faster due to the possibility of avoiding cache misses, but show a lower percentage of array sorting. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of various sorting algorithms after and together with the proposed preprocessing methods.
Insertion semantics of quantum interactions
Authors:   Glushkov Institute of Cybernetics NAS of Ukraine, Tarasich Yu.G. , Soloshenko H.A. ,   Kherson Scientific Lyceum of the Kherson Regional Council
Published: December 2023

The rapid development of the chemical industry and science and new challenges in the field of health care put forward increased demands for the development of the theory of organic and inorganic chemistry, biochemistry and biophysics, the search and implementation of new modelling and analysis methods, and the improvement of technological processes. One of the safe and fast methods of researching the properties and behavior of new materials and tools is the modelling of relevant experiments, in particular, computer molecular modelling based on mathematical models. Modelling the interactions between micro and macromolecules at the quantum level allows us to manipulate the substances’ electronic, magnetic, optical and other characteristics and consider the possibilities of creating new chemical bonds, molecular structures, phase transitions, quantum states, and so on. Accordingly, the main idea of our research is to apply the technology of algebraic modelling and quantum-chemical apparatus for the simulation and verification of experiments in physics, chemistry, and biology areas. The use of formal algebraic methods allows proving properties and finding relevant scenarios for the effective analysis of the behavior of various objects in real-time, considering not individual scenarios but sets of possible behaviors. At this research stage, we have developed a methodology for formalization complex organic and inorganic substances, chemical processes and reactions based on the formalization of the interaction of atoms and molecules at the level of quantum interactions.
Parecerista Volume 7 - 2023
Authors: Marques Nelson Luiz Reyes
Published: December 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15536/reducarmais.7.2023.3672
The Power of Social Movements: Activism in the Age of Connectivity
Authors: Laksana Muhibudin Wijaya , Abduh Muhammad
Published: December 2023

In an age where information flows rapidly across global networks, social movements have harnessed the power of digital connectivity for advocating change, justice, and equality. This abstract, employing qualitative research methods such as content analysis and participant observations, explores the intricate dynamics of contemporary social movements. Additionally, it synthesizes relevant literature, offering historical context and theoretical foundations that underpin modern activism. Through case studies and current trend analysis, this research sheds light on how connectivity has reshaped the activism landscape, presenting valuable insights into its implications for the future of social change efforts.