bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Statutory lien: pre- and post- 2016 amendments to the Malaysian National Land Code
Authors: Tay Eng Siang , Ling Ging Yee , Chung Kwok Whee
Published: January 2022

Background: A statutory lien is a non-registrable security dealing under the National Land Code (NLC) in Malaysia. Lien is usually used as a short-term collateral for a repayment of debt by the proprietor. Prior to the 2016 amendments, section 281(1) of the NLC stated that a proprietor may create a lien over his land by depositing the original title with the lender, as security for a loan; and the lender shall enter a lien-holder’s caveat under section 330(1) to protect his interests. Case law has expanded the scope of section 281 to include an equitable proprietor under the definition of “proprietor” and a third-party loan with the proprietor’s consent or authority under the definition of “loan”. The 2016 amendments removed “for a loan” in sections 281(1) and 330(1). This triggers the analysis on the purposes of lien.

Methods: The research methodology adopted is doctrinal legal research. Relevant sections and case law together with the Bill and Parliament’s Hansard record are examined to find the intention of the legislature and Parliament.

Results: The amendments allow the lien to be used not merely as security for a loan but also for other purposes (Explanation Note 47 to the Bill). Such deletions have created an ambiguous interpretation; and may be manipulated by fraudsters. In contrast, section 241(1) provides specific purposes such as the repayment of debt, non-debt, or payment of annuity or periodic sum, for the creation of statutory charge.

Conclusions: This research is only confined to the scope of lien within the Peninsular Malaysia and not the States of Sabah and Sarawak which have their respective Sabah Land Ordinance and Sarawak Land Code. A future comparative study could be made amongst the legislations. The research output may be useful for the draftsman to clear up the ambiguity in the relevant provisions.
Stop codon readthrough contexts influence reporter expression differentially depending on the presence of an IRES
Authors: Yordanova Martina M. , Loughran Gary , Atkins John F. , Baranov Pavel V.
Published: January 2022

Abstract

Background: Previously we reported the discovery of stop codon readthrough in AMD1 mRNA followed by ribosome stalling at the end of a conserved Open Reading Frame (ORF) that we termed AMD1. To explain the severe suppression of reporters fused to AMD1 tail we proposed a mechanism invoking ribosome queueing. In the original study, we tested this hypothesis, by placing the reporter stop codon in the context of readthrough permissive sequences in a dual reporter vector with downstream reporter expression driven by the EMCV IRES. In accordance with our hypothesis, we observed a striking disproportional reduction of upstream reporter activity in response to increased readthrough levels.

Methods: Here we employ dual luciferase assays, western blotting and RT-qPCR to explore the effects of test sequences downstream to the reporter stop codon on its expression in dual and monocistronic reporter vectors.

Results: With the dual reporter system, the disproportionate reduction of upstream reporter activity is not specific to AMD1 tail and occurs as long as the readthrough stop codon context is present at the end of the reporter’s ORF. In a monocistronic vector without an IRES, the test sequences had distinct effects which were reflective of their properties e.g., AMD1 tail inhibitory effect. We further show by employing RT-qPCR that in the IRES vectors, the Fluc activity levels measured by the luciferase assay are an accurate proxy of RNA levels. 

Conclusions: While our findings provide little new information regarding the functional role of AMD1 tail, they raise caution for the use of viral IRES elements in expression vectors for studying mechanisms of mRNA translation. These findings may also be pertinent to the natural properties of readthrough permissive sequences and of IRES elements, though these require a separate investigation.
Sexual Dimorphism in Chronic Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Infection: Evidence to Inform Elimination Efforts
Authors: Brown Robin , Goulder Philip , Matthews Philippa C.
Published: January 2022

Sexual dimorphism in infectious diseases refers to the different infection susceptibilities and outcomes between males and females, and has been described for many pathogens, including hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. HBV is a substantial global health problem, with close to 300 million people infected, and accounting for a million deaths each year, with an urgent need for enhanced interventions to support progress towards elimination goals. Sexual dimorphism has a strong influence in HBV infection, with males more likely to be exposed, to develop chronic infection, and to suffer from complications including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared to females. Different outcomes are driven by differential immune responses, sexual dimorphism of the liver, and androgen response elements in the HBV genome. The impact of sex may also vary with age, with changes at puberty and influences of menarche, pregnancy and menopause in females. In addition, gender has complex influences on education, beliefs, behaviour and access to / engagement with healthcare services, which may contribute to differences in diagnosis and treatment. Interplay between these complex factors, alongside other attributes of host, virus and the environment, accounts for different outcomes of infection. However, gaps remain in our understanding of sexual dimorphism in HBV, and little effort has previously been made to harness this knowledge for translational gains. In this review, we assimilate human and animal data to consider the mechanism, outcomes and impact of sexual dimorphism, considering how these insights can be used to inform advances in surveillance, treatment and prevention for HBV infection.
Adorno’s Critique of Work in Market Society
Authors: Reeves Craig , Sinnicks Matthew
Published: January 2022

Jaakko Nevasto has offered a number of thoughtful criticisms of our attempt to show that Adorno’s work can fruitfully be brought to bear on topics in business ethics. After welcoming his constructive clarifications, we attempt to defuse Nevasto’s main objections and defend our application of Adorno, focusing in particular on the topics of moral epistemology, needs, and the possibility of genuine activity – and thus good work – within capitalist society.
Applications of Relating Semantics
Authors: Jarmużek Tomasz , Paoli Francesco
Published: January 2022

Here, we discuss logical, philosophical and technical problems associated to relating logic and relating semantics. To do so, we proceed in three steps. The first step is devoted to providing an introduction to both relating logic and relating semantics. We discuss this problem on the example of different languages. Second, we address some of the main research directions and their philosophical applications to non-classical logics, particularly to connexive logics. Third, we discuss some technical problems related to relating semantics, and its application to philosophy of science, language and pragmatics.
Świadek, uczestnik, ofiara. Wokół książki Wygnaniec. 21 scen życia Zygmunta Baumana Artura Domosławskiego
Authors: Wicenty Daniel
Published: January 2022

Artykuł analizuje książkę Wygnaniec. 21 scen z życia Zygmunta Baumana Artura Domosławskiego przez pryzmat narracji historycznej (faktograficznej) oraz perspektyw problemowych, zaproponowanych przez Domosławskiego. W tym pierwszym aspekcie punktem odniesienia stały się przede wszystkim dwie inne wydane niedawno biografie Baumana autorstwa Dariusza Rosiaka i Izabeli Wagner. W tym drugim podjęty został głównie trop ofiary jako klucz do odczytania życia Baumana. Autor artykułu proponuje również rozważenie problemu intelektualnej oryginalności polskiego socjologa.
Equipos negociadores y cobertura de las agendas climáticas en las COP: el caso de Argentina entre 2012 y 2019
Authors: Bueno María del Pilar , Yamin Patricio , González Joél
Published: January 2022

La complejización de la gobernanza climática internacional en el contexto de la Convención Marco de Naciones Unidas sobre Cambio Climático ha generado que los Estados enfrenten una creciente demanda de recursos humanos especializados para afrontar los espacios de negociación en las Conferencias de las Partes (cop). A partir de la caracterización de las delegaciones argentinas en las cop de 2012 a 2019, se identificó al grupo negociador y luego se examinaron los temas de las agen­das cubiertos por dichos equipos, conforme a un proceso de agrupamiento. Se afirma que existe una relación entre la cobertura de los temas y los intereses del Estado con relación a su política climática, lo que se refuerza en los países del Sur Global. El artículo presenta información inédita recabada, principalmente, a través de técnicas cualitativas y se asienta en un proceso de revisión de la literatura sobre delegaciones nacionales en conferencias climáticas.
¿En dónde combaten los actores armados? Desigualdad de tierras y capacidad estatal en el conflicto armado colombiano
Authors: Otero Bahamón Silvia
Published: January 2022

Este artículo propone el nuevo concepto de disputa territorial en guerras civiles para preguntarse qué hace un lugar más propenso a ser disputado e indaga por las causas de la disputa territorial en el conflicto armado colombiano. Sugiero que hay una correlación entre la desigualdad de la tierra y la capacidad estatal. Tanto el proceso de producción de desigualdad como la capacidad estatal resultante proveen los motivos, incentivos y opor­tunidades de la disputa territorial. Testeo mi teoría con una base de datos compuesta por 200 municipios colombianos y un periodo de cinco años. Mis resultados sugieren que la desigualdad de la tierra conduce a mayor capacidad estatal y la capacidad intermedia del estado se correlaciona con la disputa territorial. Los hallazgos de este artículo confirman la existencia de un nexo entre la desigualdad de la tierra y el conflicto en Colombia a través de la capacidad estatal. Este hallazgo tiene implicaciones para la estrategia de expansión de la presencia estatal durante el posconflicto.
Constant Regret Resolving Heuristics for Price-Based Revenue Management
Authors: Wang Yining , Wang He
Published: January 2022

Title: Constant Regret Resolving Heuristics for Price-Based Revenue Management

Network revenue management (NRM) and its corresponding pricing question is one of the most fundamental problems in operations management. To alleviate the curse of dimensionality and the prohibitive cost of computing an exact solution using dynamic programming, computationally efficient resolving algorithms are proposed. The state-of-the-art analysis of the resolving heuristic establishes a logarithmic additive regret for price-based NRM problems. In “Constant Regret Resolving Heuristics for Price-Based Revenue Management,” Y. Wang and H. Wang from the University of Florida and Georgia Institute of Technology, respectively, significantly advance the state-of-the-art analysis by showing a constant regret for resolving heuristics. Their theoretical advance is made possible by a novel, direct analysis of the exact DP solution.
Cement-in-cement revision of the femur in infected hip arthroplasty in 89 patients across two centres
Authors: Fishley William G. , Selvaratnam Veenesh , Whitehouse Sarah L. , Kassam Al-Amin M. , Petheram Timothy G. ,   *On behalf of the Northumbria Revision Arthroplasty Group, and the Exeter Hip Group
Published: January 2022

Aims

Femoral cement-in-cement revision is a well described technique to reduce morbidity and complications in hip revision surgery. Traditional techniques for septic revision of hip arthroplasty necessitate removal of all bone cement from the femur. In our two centres, we have been using a cement-in-cement technique, leaving the distal femoral bone cement in selected patients for septic hip revision surgery, both for single and the first of two-stage revision procedures. A prerequisite for adoption of this technique is that the surgeon considers the cement mantle to be intimately fixed to bone without an intervening membrane between cement and host bone. We aim to report our experience for this technique.

Methods

We have analyzed patients undergoing this cement-in-cement technique for femoral revision in infection, and present a consecutive series of 89 patients. Follow-up was undertaken at a mean of 56.5 months (24.0 to 134.7) for the surviving cases.

Results

Seven patients (7.9%) required further revision for infection. Ten patients died of causes unrelated to their infection before their two-year review (mean 5.9 months; 0.9 to 18.6). One patient was lost to follow-up at five months after surgery, and two patients died of causes unrelated to their hip shortly after their two-year review was due without attending. Of the remaining patients, 69 remained infection-free at final review. Radiological review confirms the mechanical success of the procedure as previously described in aseptic revision, and postoperative Oxford Hip Scores suggest satisfactory functional outcomes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we found that retaining a well-fixed femoral cement mantle in the presence of infection and undertaking a cement-in-cement revision was successful in 82 of the patients (92.1%) in our series of 89, both in terms of eradication of infection and component fixation. These results are comparable to other more invasive techniques and offer significant potential benefits to the patient. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(2):212–220.
Assessment of deep vein thrombosis using routine pre- and postoperative duplex Doppler ultrasound in patients with pelvic trauma
Authors: Cerbasi Simone , Bernasconi Alessio , Balato Giovanni , Dimitri Federica , Zingaretti Oriana , Orabona Gianclaudio , Pascarella Raffaele , Mariconda Massimo
Published: January 2022

Aims

The aims of this study were to assess the pre- and postoperative incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) using routine duplex Doppler ultrasound (DUS), to assess the incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) using CT angiography, and to identify the factors that predict postoperative DVT in patients with a pelvic and/or acetabular fracture.

Methods

All patients treated surgically for a pelvic and/or acetabular fracture between October 2016 and January 2020 were enrolled into this prospective single-centre study. The demographic, medical, and surgical details of the patients were recorded. DVT screening of the lower limbs was routinely performed using DUS before and at six to ten days after surgery. CT angiography was used in patients who were suspected of having PE. Age-adjusted univariate and stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis were used to determine the association between explanatory variables and postoperative DVT.

Results

A total of 191 patients were included. A DVT was found preoperatively in 12 patients (6.3%), of which six were proximal. A postoperative DVT was found in 42 patients (22%), of which 27 were proximal. Eight patients (4.2%) had a PE, which was secondary to a DVT in three. None of the 12 patients in whom a vena cava filter was implanted prophylactically had a PE. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the association with the need for spinal surgery (odds ratio (OR) 19.78 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12 to 348.08); p = 0.041), intramedullary nailing of a long bone fracture (OR 4.44 (95% CI 1.05 to 18.86); p = 0.043), an operating time > two hours (OR 3.28 (95% CI 1.09 to 9.88); p = 0.035), and additional trauma surgery (OR 3.1 (95% CI 1.03 to 9.45); p = 0.045) were statistically the most relevant independent predictors of a postoperative DVT.

Conclusion

The acknowledgement of the risk factors for the development of a DVT and their weight is crucial to set a threshold for the index of suspicion for this diagnosis by medical staff. We suggest the routine use of the DUS screening for DVT in patients with a pelvic and/or acetabular fracture before and six to ten days after surgery. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(2):283–289.
Fibular strut allograft or bone cement for reconstruction after curettage of a giant cell tumour of the proximal femur
Authors: Jamshidi Khodamorad , Bagherifard Abolfazl , Mohaghegh Mahmoud Reza , Mirzaei Alireza
Published: January 2022

Aims

Giant cell tumours (GCTs) of the proximal femur are rare, and there is no consensus about the best method of filling the defect left by curettage. In this study, we compared the outcome of using a fibular strut allograft and bone cement to reconstruct the bone defect after extended curettage of a GCT of the proximal femur.

Methods

In a retrospective study, we reviewed 26 patients with a GCT of the proximal femur in whom the bone defect had been filled with either a fibular strut allograft (n = 12) or bone cement (n = 14). Their demographic details and oncological and nononcological complications were retrieved from their medical records. Limb function was assessed using the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score.

Results

Mean follow-up was 116 months (SD 59.2; 48 to 240) for the fibular strut allograft group and 113 months (SD 43.7; 60 to 192) for the bone cement group (p = 0.391). The rate of recurrence was not significantly different between the two groups (25% vs 21.4%). The rate of nononcological complications was 16.7% in the strut allograft group and 42.8% in the bone cement group. Degenerative joint disease was the most frequent nononcological complication in the cement group. The mean MSTS score of the patients was 92.4% (SD 11.5%; 73.3% to 100.0%) in the fibular strut allograft group and 74.2% (SD 10.5%; 66.7% to 96.7%) in the bone cement group (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Given the similar rate of recurrence and a lower rate of nononcological complications, fibular strut grafting could be recommended as a method of reconstructing the bone defect left by curettage of a GCT of the proximal femur. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(2):297–301.
Work and fertility in Taiwan: how do women’s and men’s career sequences associate with fertility outcomes?
Authors: Hsu Chen-Hao
Published: January 2022

There has been much debate over the micro-level relationship between employment situations and fertility in Europe and Northern America. However, related research in East Asia is scant, although countries in this region have some of the lowest fertility rates in the world. Moreover, most studies analyse the employment–fertility relationship from a static perspective and only for women, which underemphasises life course dynamics and gender heterogeneity of employment careers and their fertility implications. Drawing on retrospective data from the 2017 Taiwan Social Change Survey (TSCS), this study explores women’s and men’s career trajectories between ages 18 and 40 in Taiwan using sequence cluster analyses. It also examines how career variations associate with different timing and quantum of birth. Empirical results show that economically inactive women experience faster motherhood transitions and have more children by age 40 than women with stable full-time careers. For men, having an unstable career associates with slower fatherhood transitions and a lower number of children. For both genders, self-employed people are the earliest in parenthood transitions and have the highest number of children by midlife. Our findings demonstrate sharp gender contrasts in employment careers and their diversified fertility implications in low-fertility Taiwan.
Why we should be concerned about UK female genital mutilation laws and associated monitoring and reporting systems: a reply to ‘The prosecution of Dawoodi Bohra women’ by Richard Shweder
Authors: Hehir Bríd
Published: January 2022

UK female genital mutilation laws discriminate against specific women and infantilise them. Female genital mutilation types accord with those of the politically partisan World Health Organisation, but new instances reported are genital piercings. Most female genital mutilation seen in the National Health Service is less severe than male circumcision, which is not illegal. The laws, monitoring and reporting systems need reviewing with a view to decriminalising female genital mutilation.
Particle polarization lidar for precipitation particle classification
Authors: Shibata Yasukuni
Published: January 2022

This study proposes a particle polarization lidar that distinguishes raindrops and snowflakes based on individual precipitation particles’ polarization information. As precipitation particles are several millimeters in size, the lidar signal from individual precipitation particles can be detected with a single laser pulse. Therefore, particle polarization lidar observation can obtain the range distribution of raindrops and snowflakes from the polarization information of individual precipitation particles. This paper reports the principle of the particle polarization lidar and vertical distributions of raindrops and snowflakes obtained by the lidar observations.
Calculation of Stokes vector of laser backscattering from typical geometric rough surfaces at a long distance
Authors: Shen Shiyang , Zhang Xinyuan , Liu Yifan , Fang Jiajie , Xu Shilong , Hu Yihua
Published: January 2022

The polarization bidirectional reflectance distribution function is key to establishing the relationships between incident and backscattering Stokes vectors. For analytical calculation of Stokes vectors of backscattering light from rough surfaces of objectives at long distances, we treat complicated objectives as a combination of several typical geometric surfaces. The analytical calculation forms of Mueller matrices of typical geometric rough surfaces at different sizes and geometric parameters are presented using a microfacet model, and thus, the backscattering Stokes vectors are determined. Experimental results of four types of geometric forms show good agreement with theoretical simulation, except when the incident angle is larger than about 60° at a wavelength of 532 nm. Further studies should be focused on improving the microfacet model for fitting the experimental results at large incident angles, and effects of multiple reflections between different geometric surfaces cannot be neglected when the combination of typical geometric surfaces is considered.
Variable ring-shaped lithography for the fabrication of meso- and microscale binary optical elements
Authors: Knoblich Maria , Kraus Matthias , Stumpf Daniela , Werner Lukas , Hillmer Hartmut , Brunner Robert
Published: January 2022

This paper presents concept, optical design, and the implementation of a novel, to the best of our knowledge, lithographic exposure tool for the fabrication of rotationally symmetric meso- and microscale optical structures using a variable ring-shaped light distribution. Compared to the conventional lithographic technique of direct writing in Cartesian coordinates, which is intrinsically suboptimal for the fabrication of rotationally symmetric optical structures, this approach allows for fast exposure and avoids disturbing stitching effects. The diameter of the exposure ring varies between 1.6 and 6.5 mm, and the ring width measures

∼

75

µ

m

full width at half-maximum for all diameters. The basic capabilities of the exposure tool are demonstrated by the fabrication of exemplary meso- and microscale structures such as diffractive axicon elements, phase rings, Fresnel zone plates and zone plate arrays.
High anti-interference dual-parameter sensor using EIT-like effect photonic crystal cavity coupled system
Authors: Nie Tongyu , Han Zhe , Gou Zixing , Wang Chao , Tian Huiping
Published: January 2022

We propose a sensor with high anti-interference ability using a
photonic crystal cavity coupled system for simultaneous sensing of the
refractive index (RI) and temperature (T) based on an
electromagnetically induced transparency-like effect. A transparent
window is achieved in the transmission spectrum through destructive
interference between the air mode resonance and dielectric mode
resonance in two one-dimensional photonic crystal structures. The
T-sensitive material (SU-8) is used in the coupled system, promoting
sensitivity and anti-interference ability. The ability of the system
to simultaneously detect a small range of RI and T is demonstrated
using three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain simulations and
the fitting process. The RI sensitivities for the air and dielectric
modes were 215 nm/refractive index unit (RIU) and 0 nm/RIU,
respectively. The T sensitivities for the air and dielectric modes
were 19 pm/K and

−

83

p
m

/

K

, respectively. The sensor resists
external interference, enabling it to resist the error caused by
readings. The footprint of the sensor is

29

×

1.8

µ

m

2

(

l
e
n
g
t
h

×

w
i
d
t
h

), contributing to future optical
on-chip integration sensor design.
Large-range and high-precision autofocus method based on an annular DOE for a laser direct writing system
Authors: Du Jialin , Li Fanxing , Peng Fuping , Wang Simo , Yan Wei
Published: January 2022

We present a large-range and high-precision autofocus method based on an annular diffractive optical element (DOE) for a laser direct writing system. By analyzing the shape of the return spot, the defocus direction and the defocus amount can be obtained at the same time. The experimental results show that the linear detection range of the proposed method can reach at least 76 µm, the sensitivity can reach 100 nm, the detection accuracy can reach 100 nm, and the noise fluctuation does not exceed 50 nm. Apparently, with the advantages of a large detection range, high detection, and good stability, the automatic focus detection method proposed in this paper can be widely applied in various wafer-scale complex microstructure preparation systems.
White light interference demodulation of optical fiber Fabry-Perot micro-pressure sensors based on the Karhunen-Loeve transform and singular value decomposition
Authors: Liu Wei , Yang Tianyu , Shi Yunjie , Wu Jianwei , Dong Yuming
Published: January 2022

In this paper, the Karhunen-Loeve transform (KLT) and wavelength domain interferometric spectral singular value decomposition (SVD) are used for the first time to demodulate the pressure of an optical fiber Fabry-Perot (F-P) micro-pressure sensor, and the feasibility of the proposed method is demonstrated experimentally. The eigenvalue decomposition of the dominant frequency part of the beam-domain interferometric spectrum after the fast Fourier transform (FFT) is performed using KLT, and the singular value decomposition of the wavelength domain interferometric spectrum is additionally performed using SVD. Both methods use high-order eigenvalues as a new metric and then derive the relation between the new metric and the reference pressure. The two demodulation methods are experimentally compared, and we used an optical fiber F-P pressure sensor with unknown structure and material for pressure measurements. Even though the interferometric spectral signal is acquired using a coarse spectrometer (2.5 nm wavelength resolution), one can still achieve high demodulation accuracy with both algorithms. However, the SVD demodulation accuracy decreases significantly after reducing the spectral data points in the wavelength domain from 1566 to 783. KLT still has high demodulation accuracy and linearity after spectral data points are reduced from 1024 to 256 in the wavenumber domain. The satisfactory linearity of the measured pressure versus reference pressure and low reading errors validate the feasibility of the proposed demodulation algorithm.
Latent image volumetric additive manufacturing
Authors: Rackson Charles M. , Toombs Joseph T. , De Beer Martin P. , Cook Caitlyn C. , Shusteff Maxim , Taylor Hayden K. , McLeod Robert R.
Published: January 2022

Volumetric additive manufacturing (VAM) enables rapid printing into a wide range of materials, offering significant advantages over other printing technologies, with a lack of inherent layering of particular note. However, VAM suffers from striations, similar in appearance to layers, and similarly limiting applications due to mechanical and refractive index inhomogeneity, surface roughness, etc. We hypothesize that these striations are caused by a self-written waveguide effect, driven by the gelation material nonlinearity upon which VAM relies, and that they are not a direct recording of non-uniform patterning beams. We demonstrate a simple and effective method of mitigating striations via a uniform optical exposure added to the end of any VAM printing process. We show this step to additionally shorten the period from initial gelation to print completion, mitigating the problem of partially gelled parts sinking before print completion, and expanding the range of resins printable in any VAM printer.
Optical injection locking based local oscillator regeneration for continuous variable quantum key distribution
Authors: Su Zikang , Cai Dajian , Jiang Hao , Wang Jintao , Wang Dawei , Guo Xiaojie , Li Zhaohui
Published: January 2022

We develop an optical injection locking (OIL) based local oscillator (LO) regeneration for continuous variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD) by sending a weak polarization multiplexed pilot carrier from the transmitter. The OIL at the receiver has superior performance in terms of minimum input power and noise level at offset frequencies to the erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA)-based scheme. The weak pilot carrier is recovered both in power and phase via the OIL while incurring little excess noise to the CVQKD system. The phase-locked LO enables heterodyne detection of a Gaussian modulated quantum signal with a simple data-aided phase recovery without pilot tone. The obtained parameters are compatible with a raw key rate of 0.83 Mbit/s in the asymptotic regime over a 22-km fiber transmission. The technique is expected to be used in more phase-sensitive quantum optical applications.
Image-free multi-character recognition
Authors: Bian Liheng , Wang Huayi , Zhu Chunli , Zhang Jun
Published: January 2022

The recently developed image-free sensing technique decouples semantic information directly from compressed measurements without image reconstruction, which maintains the advantages of both the light hardware and software. However, the existing attempts have failed to classify multi-semantic information with multiple targets in the practical fieldof-view. In this Letter, we report a novel image-free sensing technique to tackle the multi-target recognition challenge for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. Different from the convolutional layer stack of image-free single-pixel networks, the reported convolutional recurrent neural network (CRNN) uses the bidirectional LSTM architecture to predict the distribution of multiple characters simultaneously. The framework enables capture of the long-range dependencies, providing a high recognition accuracy of multiple characters. We demonstrate the technique’s effectiveness in license plate detection, which achieves a recognition accuracy of 87.60% at a sampling rate of 5% with a refresh rate higher than 100 FPS.
In vivo measurement of anterior chamber pulsation in healthy subjects using full-range complex spectral domain optical coherence tomography
Authors: An Lin , Wu Xiaocui , Wang Shuna , He Ke , Chen Yongran , Lan Gongpu , Huang Yanping , Xu Jingjiang , Ou Chubin , Zeng Xi , Zhao Yansong , Wang Xiaoli , Long Jinfeng , Wei Xunbin , Qin Jia
Published: January 2022

A pulsation measurement algorithm was presented in this study, by using the phase-based method to visualize ocular pulse in the anterior chamber of healthy eyes. The algorithm mainly tracks the relative displacement between the cornea and lens by extracting the phase difference between adjacent images separated by 5 ms time intervals. The anterior chamber structural image in vivo is achieved by full-range, complex spectral domain, optical coherence tomography (FRC SD-OCT). Phase tracking was performed on a total of 1000 images within 5 s. In order to eliminate the noise phase caused by human motion during the acquisition process, the high-order phase compensation algorithm was used to eliminate the phase motion of large tissues. The frequency of the phase change in the relative motion after the noise subtraction was 1.2 Hz. Comparing with the heart beat measured by a finger pulse oximeter at the same time, the frequency of the phase change was consistent with the heart beat frequency. This measurement technique can be used to evaluate the biomechanical properties of ocular tissue and has a positive effect on the pathological studies of glaucoma.
Strong coupling between colloidal quantum dots and a microcavity with hybrid structure at room temperature
Authors: Zhen Zhen , Jin Si-Yue , Jie Ren , Liang Hai-Yao , Xu Xing-Sheng
Published: January 2022

The interaction between light and matter has always been the focus of quantum science, and the realization of truly strong coupling between an exciton and the optical cavity is a basis of quantum information systems. As a special semiconductor material, colloidal quantum dots have fascinating optical properties. In this study, the photoluminescence spectra of colloidal quantum dots are measured at different collection angles in microcavities based on hybrid refractive-index waveguides. The photon bound states in the continuum are found in the low–high–low refractive-index hybrid waveguides in the appropriate waveguide width region, where the photoluminescence spectra of colloidal quantum dots split into two or more peaks. The upper polaritons and lower polaritons avoid resonance crossings in the systems. The Rabi splitting energy of 96.0 meV can be obtained. The observed phenomenon of vacuum Rabi splitting at room temperature is attributed to the strong coupling between quantum dots and the bound states in the continuum.
Sparse connectivity for MAP inference in linear models using sister mitral cells
Authors: Tootoonian Sina , Schaefer Andreas T. , Latham Peter E.
Published: January 2022

Sensory processing is hard because the variables of interest are encoded in spike trains in a relatively complex way. A major goal in studies of sensory processing is to understand how the brain extracts those variables. Here we revisit a common encoding model in which variables are encoded linearly. Although there are typically more variables than neurons, this problem is still solvable because only a small number of variables appear at any one time (sparse prior). However, previous solutions require all-to-all connectivity, inconsistent with the sparse connectivity seen in the brain. Here we propose an algorithm that provably reaches the MAP (maximum a posteriori) inference solution, but does so using sparse connectivity. Our algorithm is inspired by the circuit of the mouse olfactory bulb, but our approach is general enough to apply to other modalities. In addition, it should be possible to extend it to nonlinear encoding models.
Analytical kinetic model of native tandem promoters in E. coli
Authors: Chauhan Vatsala , Bahrudeen Mohamed N. M. , Palma Cristina S. D. , Baptista Ines S. C. , Almeida Bilena L. B. , Dash Suchintak , Kandavalli Vinodh , Ribeiro Andre S.
Published: January 2022

Closely spaced promoters in tandem formation are abundant in bacteria. We investigated the evolutionary conservation, biological functions, and the RNA and single-cell protein expression of genes regulated by tandem promoters in E. coli. We also studied the sequence (distance between transcription start sites ‘dTSS’, pause sequences, and distances from oriC) and potential influence of the input transcription factors of these promoters. From this, we propose an analytical model of gene expression based on measured expression dynamics, where RNAP-promoter occupancy times and dTSS are the key regulators of transcription interference due to TSS occlusion by RNAP at one of the promoters (when dTSS ≤ 35 bp) and RNAP occupancy of the downstream promoter (when dTSS > 35 bp). Occlusion and downstream promoter occupancy are modeled as linear functions of occupancy time, while the influence of dTSS is implemented by a continuous step function, fit to in vivo data on mean single-cell protein numbers of 30 natural genes controlled by tandem promoters. The best-fitting step is at 35 bp, matching the length of DNA occupied by RNAP in the open complex formation. This model accurately predicts the squared coefficient of variation and skewness of the natural single-cell protein numbers as a function of dTSS. Additional predictions suggest that promoters in tandem formation can cover a wide range of transcription dynamics within realistic intervals of parameter values. By accurately capturing the dynamics of these promoters, this model can be helpful to predict the dynamics of new promoters and contribute to the expansion of the repertoire of expression dynamics available to synthetic genetic constructs.
Meta-imputation of transcriptome from genotypes across multiple datasets by leveraging publicly available summary-level data
Authors: Liu Andrew E. , Kang Hyun Min
Published: January 2022

Transcriptome wide association studies (TWAS) can be used as a powerful method to identify and interpret the underlying biological mechanisms behind GWAS by mapping gene expression levels with phenotypes. In TWAS, gene expression is often imputed from individual-level genotypes of regulatory variants identified from external resources, such as Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) Project. In this setting, a straightforward approach to impute expression levels of a specific tissue is to use the model trained from the same tissue type. When multiple tissues are available for the same subjects, it has been demonstrated that training imputation models from multiple tissue types improves the accuracy because of shared eQTLs between the tissues and increase in effective sample size. However, existing joint-tissue methods require access of genotype and expression data across all tissues. Moreover, they cannot leverage the abundance of various expression datasets across various tissues for non-overlapping individuals. Here, we explore the optimal way to combine imputed levels across training models from multiple tissues and datasets in a flexible manner using summary-level data. Our proposed method (SWAM) combines arbitrary number of transcriptome imputation models to linearly optimize the imputation accuracy given a target tissue. By integrating models across tissues and/or individuals, SWAM can improve the accuracy of transcriptome imputation or to improve power to TWAS while only requiring individual-level data from a single reference cohort. To evaluate the accuracy of SWAM, we combined 49 tissue-specific gene expression imputation models from the GTEx Project as well as from a large eQTL study of Depression Susceptibility Genes and Networks (DGN) Project and tested imputation accuracy in GEUVADIS lymphoblastoid cell lines samples. We also extend our meta-imputation method to meta-TWAS to leverage multiple tissues in TWAS analysis with summary-level statistics. Our results capitalize on the importance of integrating multiple tissues to unravel regulatory impacts of genetic variants on complex traits.
The Clock:Cycle complex is a major transcriptional regulator of Drosophila photoreceptors that protects the eye from retinal degeneration and oxidative stress
Authors: Jauregui-Lozano Juan , Hall Hana , Stanhope Sarah C. , Bakhle Kimaya , Marlin Makayla M. , Weake Vikki M.
Published: January 2022

The aging eye experiences physiological changes that include decreased visual function and increased risk of retinal degeneration. Although there are transcriptomic signatures in the aging retina that correlate with these physiological changes, the gene regulatory mechanisms that contribute to cellular homeostasis during aging remain to be determined. Here, we integrated ATAC-seq and RNA-seq data to identify 57 transcription factors that showed differential activity in aging Drosophila photoreceptors. These 57 age-regulated transcription factors include two circadian regulators, Clock and Cycle, that showed sustained increased activity during aging. When we disrupted the Clock:Cycle complex by expressing a dominant negative version of Clock (ClkDN) in adult photoreceptors, we observed changes in expression of 15–20% of genes including key components of the phototransduction machinery and many eye-specific transcription factors. Using ATAC-seq, we showed that expression of ClkDN in photoreceptors leads to changes in activity of 37 transcription factors and causes a progressive decrease in global levels of chromatin accessibility in photoreceptors. Supporting a key role for Clock-dependent transcription in the eye, expression of ClkDN in photoreceptors also induced light-dependent retinal degeneration and increased oxidative stress, independent of light exposure. Together, our data suggests that the circadian regulators Clock and Cycle act as neuroprotective factors in the aging eye by directing gene regulatory networks that maintain expression of the phototransduction machinery and counteract oxidative stress.
Redundant neural circuits regulate olfactory integration
Authors: Yang Wenxing , Wu Taihong , Tu Shasha , Qin Yuang , Shen Chengchen , Li Jiangyun , Choi Myung-Kyu , Duan Fengyun , Zhang Yun
Published: January 2022

Olfactory integration is important for survival in a natural habitat. However, how the nervous system processes signals of two odorants present simultaneously to generate a coherent behavioral response is poorly understood. Here, we characterize circuit basis for a form of olfactory integration in Caenorhabditis elegans. We find that the presence of a repulsive odorant, 2-nonanone, that signals threat strongly blocks the attraction of other odorants, such as isoamyl alcohol (IAA) or benzaldehyde, that signal food. Using a forward genetic screen, we found that genes known to regulate the structure and function of sensory neurons, osm-5 and osm-1, played a critical role in the integration process. Loss of these genes mildly reduces the response to the repellent 2-nonanone and disrupts the integration effect. Restoring the function of OSM-5 in either AWB or ASH, two sensory neurons known to mediate 2-nonanone-evoked avoidance, is sufficient to rescue. Sensory neurons AWB and downstream interneurons AVA, AIB, RIM that play critical roles in olfactory sensorimotor response are able to process signals generated by 2-nonanone or IAA or the mixture of the two odorants and contribute to the integration. Thus, our results identify redundant neural circuits that regulate the robust effect of a repulsive odorant to block responses to attractive odorants and uncover the neuronal and cellular basis for this complex olfactory task.
Screen use and internet addiction among parents of young children: A nationwide Canadian cross-sectional survey
Authors: Dennis Cindy-Lee , Carsley Sarah , Brennenstuhl Sarah , Brown Hilary K. , Marini Flavia , Bell Rhonda C. , Miller Ainsley , Ravindran Saranyah , D’Paiva Valerie , Dol Justine , Birken Catherine S.
Published: January 2022

Objectives

To establish the factorial structure and internal consistency of the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) in parents, the level and correlates of problematic internet use, and patterns and types of screen use.

Study design

Data were collected through an online questionnaire about preconception health among Canadian women and men with ≥1 child. The questionnaire included the IAT and questions about time spent on screens by device type, use of screens during meals and in the bedroom, and perceptions of overuse. Factor analysis was completed to determine the factorial structure of the IAT, with multivariable linear regression used to determine correlates of the IAT.

Results

The sample included 1,156 respondents (mean age: 34.3 years; 83.1% female). The IAT had two factors: “impairment in time management” and “impairment in socio-emotional functioning” of which respondents had more impairment in time management than socio-emotional functioning. Based on the original IAT, 19.4% of respondents would be classified as having a mild internet use problem with 3.0% having a moderate or severe issue. In the multivariable model, perceived stress (b = .28, SE = .05, p < .001) and depressive symptoms (b = .24, SE = .10, p = .017) were associated with higher IAT scores. Handheld mobile devices were the most common type of screen used (mean = 3 hours/day) followed by watching television (mean = 2 hours/day).

Conclusion

Parents spent a significant portion of their time each day using screens, particularly handheld mobile devices. The disruption caused by mobile devices may hinder opportunities for positive parent-child interactions, demonstrating the need for resources to support parents ever-growing use of technologies.
Merit and placement in the American faculty hierarchy: Cumulative advantage in archaeology
Authors: Shott Michael J.
Published: January 2022

If faculty placement in the American academic hierarchy is by merit, then it correlates with scholarly productivity at all career stages. Recently developed data-collection methods and bibliometric measures test this proposition in a cross-sectional sample of US academic archaeologists. Precocity—productivity near the point of initial hire—fails to distinguish faculty in MA- and PhD-granting programs or among ranked subsets of PhD programs. Over longer careers, on average archaeologists in PhD-granting programs outperform colleagues in lower programs, as do those in higher-ranked compared to lower-ranked PhD programs, all in the practical absence of mobility via recruitment to higher placement. Yet differences by program level lie mostly in the tails of productivity distributions; overlap between program levels is high, and many in lower-degree programs outperform many PhD-program faculty even when controlling for career length. Results implicate cumulative advantage to explain the pattern and suggest particularism as its cause.
Marker assisted pedigree breeding based improvement of the Indian mega variety of rice MTU1010 for resistance against bacterial blight and blast and tolerance to low soil phosphorus
Authors: B. Laxmi Prasanna , K. S. Dangi , C. H. Damodar Raju , R. Jagadeeshwar , G. Rekha , Sinha Pragya , D. Aleena , G. Harika , S. K. Mastanbee , K. Swapnil Ravindra , V. N. Kousik M. B. , H. K. Mahadeva Swamy , M. Anila , R. R. Kale R. R. , T. Dilip Kumar , E. Punniakotti , S. K. Hajira , V. P. Bhadana , R. M. Sundaram
Published: January 2022

Rice production is affected by many biotic and abiotic stresses; among them, bacterial blight (BB) and blast diseases and low soil phosphorous stress cause significant yield losses. The present study was carried out with the objective of combining the BB resistance gene, Xa21, the blast resistance gene, Pi54, and the low soil phosphorous tolerance QTL/gene, Pup1, into the genetic background of the Indian mega-rice variety, MTU1010 (Cottondora Sannalu), through marker-assisted pedigree breeding. RP5973-20-9-8-24-12-7 [a near isogenic line (NIL) of MTU1010 possessing Pup1] and RP6132 [a NIL of Akshayadhan possessing Xa21 + Pi54] were crossed and ‘true’ F1s were identified, using the target gene-specific markers and selfed. F2 plants, which are homozygous for all the three target genes/QTLs, were identified using PCR based markers and were advanced further through the pedigree method of breeding, with selection based on phenotypic traits specific for MTU1010. At the F5 generation, a set of 15 promising triple positive homozygous lines were identified and screened for their resistance against BB and blast diseases and tolerance to low soil P. Among them, two lines (LPK 30-18-16 and LPK 49-15-22) showed higher yields as compared to MTU1010, along with the desirable long slender grain type in both low soil P and normal soil P plots, and also exhibited high levels of resistance against BB and blast diseases, with lesser grain shattering as compared to MTU1010. These lines are being advanced for multi-location trials for validating their performance.