bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment and comparison of microalbuminuria in obese and nonobese children
Authors: Chavhan Mr. Atul Sudhakar , Vagga Dr.Anjali
Published: May 2024

Background Fatty liver, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease are just a few of the well-known cardiometabolic complications associated with childhood obesity. Microalbuminuria (MA) is a sign of early kidney impairment, as seen in adults, and recent research supports its presence in children with obesity as well as its potential relationship with cardiometabolic variables. Both adults and children share this well-established pathophysiological theory. Indicated a close connection with the main aspect of fatness, such as IR, through the renal hemodynamic effects of insulin. More scientific consideration must be given to the assessment of primary kidney injury in obese children, given the pathological and prognostic implications of this association in everyday practise (counting an elevated danger of developing long term renal disorder over time). Method case-control study is going to be conducted among the patients of AVBRH hospital. A total of thirty participants with fifteen obese and fifteen non obeses controls were included in this study. Result The expected result of the study can determine the correlation between obesity and microalbuminuria, The value of microalbuminuria is high in obese patients as compared to nonobese patients. Conclusion The risk of problems in obese patients can be predicted using microalbuminuria, which can help lower the overall morbidity and mortality associated with renal function. Complications
Exploring the perspectives of transwomen on ethical issues in conducting research with the transwomen community in India: A qualitative enquiry
Authors: Yatirajula Kanaka Sandhya , Mukherjee Ankita , Giri Santosh , Maulik Pallab K
Published: May 2024

Background Research with or involving transwomen in India is limited; previous research has focused on understanding the problems and discriminations they face. However, no studies have focused on exploring the ethical dimension of conducting research among transwomen. This kind of research is important for true representation but is only possible when cis-gender researchers engage with transgender perspectives. The study aimed at identifying the perspective of transwomen regarding the need to undertake research among them, understanding their perspectives of research ethics and articulating requirements to ensure their inclusion in research. Methods The study was an exploratory study using qualitative research methods, conducted with transwomen in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, in collaboration with a transgender led community-based organisation. The National Ethical Guidelines for Biomedical and Health Research involving Human Participants by the India Council for Medical Research was the reference point for this exploration with focus on select research ethics principles and allied ethical aspects. Results Insights into the perspectives of the transwoman from this research include: research among transgender persons is much needed to understand the trans way of life, identify problems and possible solutions; researchers should be mindful of the preferred nomenclature, invest in rapport building; ensure research is done in a safe space; the results are reported in a way that does not increase stigma and the research findings are used for the benefit of the community. Conclusions While conducting research among trans-communities is important, it is essential that before starting any research with transgender persons, researchers should carefully examine questions related to who benefits from the proposed research, whether the proposed study is meaningful to the trans-community, whether it address their immediate and pressing needs and finally whether it furthers the stigma that transgender persons are subjected to, before embarking on the study.
The genome sequence of a hoverfly Eristalinus aeneus (Scopoli, 1763)
Authors: Sivell Olga , Raper Chris , Mitchell Ryan , Sivell Duncan ,   Natural History Museum Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory team,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics team,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: May 2024

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Eristalinus aeneus (a hoverfly; Arthropoda; Insecta; Diptera; Syrphidae). The genome sequence is 495.4 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 6 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.97 kilobases in length.
The genome sequence of the nematode Caenorhabditis drosophilae (Rhabditida, Rhabditidae) (Kiontke, 1997)
Authors: Kieninger Manuela , Stevens Lewis , Collins Joanna C. ,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory team,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics team,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations, Blaxter Mark
Published: May 2024

We present a genome assembly of the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis drosophilae (Nematoda; Chromadorea; Rhabditida; Rhabditidae). The genome sequence is 51.3 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into six chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.15 kilobases in length.
A Stochastic Inexact Sequential Quadratic Optimization Algorithm for Nonlinear Equality-Constrained Optimization
Authors: Curtis Frank E. , Robinson Daniel P. , Zhou Baoyu
Published: May 2024

A stochastic algorithm is proposed, analyzed, and tested experimentally for solving continuous optimization problems with nonlinear equality constraints. It is assumed that constraint function and derivative values can be computed but that only stochastic approximations are available for the objective function and its derivatives. The algorithm is of the sequential quadratic optimization variety. Distinguishing features of the algorithm are that it only employs stochastic objective gradient estimates that satisfy a relatively weak set of assumptions (while using neither objective function values nor estimates of them) and that it allows inexact subproblem solutions to be employed, the latter of which is particularly useful in large-scale settings when the matrices defining the subproblems are too large to form and/or factorize. Conditions are imposed on the inexact subproblem solutions that account for the fact that only stochastic objective gradient estimates are employed. Convergence results are established for the method. Numerical experiments show that the proposed method vastly outperforms a stochastic subgradient method and can outperform an alternative sequential quadratic programming algorithm that employs highly accurate subproblem solutions in every iteration.

Funding: This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation [Awards CCF-1740796 and CCF-2139735] and the Office of Naval Research [Award N00014-21-1-2532].
Prediction-Driven Surge Planning with Application to Emergency Department Nurse Staffing
Authors: Hu Yue , Chan Carri W. , Dong Jing
Published: May 2024

Determining emergency department (ED) nurse staffing decisions to balance quality of service and staffing costs can be extremely challenging, especially when there is a high level of uncertainty in patient demand. Increasing data availability and continuing advancements in predictive analytics provide an opportunity to mitigate demand uncertainty by using demand forecasts. In this work, we study a two-stage prediction-driven staffing framework where the prediction models are integrated with the base (made weeks in advance) and surge (made nearly real-time) nurse staffing decisions in the ED. We quantify the benefit of having the ability to use the more expensive surge staffing and identify the importance of balancing demand uncertainty versus system stochasticity. We also propose a near-optimal two-stage staffing policy that is straightforward to interpret and implement. Last, we develop a unified framework that combines parameter estimation, real-time demand forecasts, and nurse staffing in the ED. High-fidelity simulation experiments for the ED demonstrate that the proposed framework has the potential to reduce annual staffing costs by 10%–16% ($2 M–$3 M) while guaranteeing timely access to care.

This paper was accepted by David Simchi-Levi, healthcare management.

Funding: J. Dong was partially supported by the Division of Civil, Mechanical and Manufacturing Innovation [Grant CMMI-1944209].

Supplemental Material: The data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2021.02781 .
Performance Analysis of Multi-Tote Storage and Retrieval Autonomous Mobile Robot Systems
Authors: Qin Zhizhen , Yang Peng , Gong Yeming , de Koster René B. M.
Published: May 2024

Multi-tote storage and retrieval (MTSR) autonomous mobile robots can carry multiple product totes, store and retrieve them from different shelf rack tiers, and transport them to a workstation where the products are picked to fulfill customer orders. In each robot trip, totes retrieved during the previous trip must be stored. This leads to a mixed storage and retrieval route. We analyze this mixed storage and retrieval route problem and derive the optimal travel route for a multiblock warehouse by a layered graph algorithm, based on storage first-retrieval second and mixed storage and retrieval policies. We also propose an effective heuristic routing policy, the closest retrieval (CR) sequence policy, based on a local shortest path. Numerical results show that the CR policy leads to shorter travel times than the well-known S-shape policy, whereas the gap with the optimal mixed storage and retrieval policy in practical scenarios is small. Based on the CR policy, we model the stochastic behavior of the system using a semiopen queuing network (SOQN). This model can accurately estimate average tote throughput time and system throughput capacity as a function of the number of robots in the system. We use the SOQN and corresponding closed queuing network models to optimize the total annual cost as a function of the warehouse shape, the number of robots, and tote buffer positions on the robots for a given average tote throughput time and throughput capacity. Compared with robots that retrieve a single tote per trip, an MTSR system with at least five buffer positions can achieve lower operational costs while meeting given average tote throughput time and tote throughput capacity constraints.

Funding: This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grant 72372088] and the Shenzhen Science and Technology Program [Grant GJHZ20220913143003006].

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/trsc.2023.0397 .
Lower face contouring through botulinum toxin therapy: an overview
Authors: Ramadan Francesca
Published: May 2024

Botulinum toxin (Botox) has been used cosmetically to reduce and prevent wrinkles since 1989, but its application has since expanded to include treatment of other patient concerns, including masseter muscle hypertrophy. Abnormal enlargement of the masseter, a muscle located in the jaw, can give patients a larger or squarish facial appearance; the injection of Botox, through causing temporary paralysis of the masseter and a resultant reduction in muscle activity, can lead to a slimmer and less square jawline. However, careful patient selection is required, and approaches to injection technique and dosage vary. Francesca Ramadan provides an overview.
Contribution to the knowledge of the genus Pseudoformicaleo van der Weele, 1909 (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) and new records from India and Thailand
Authors: THANGALAZHI BALAKRISHNAN SURYANARAYANAN , ÁBRAHÁM LEVENTE , BIJOY CHENTHAMARAKSHAN
Published: May 2024

The genus Pseudoformicaleo van der Weele, 1909 with the species Pseudoformicaleo nubecula (Gerstaecker, 1885) is recorded for the first time from India and Thailand is redescribed. Additionally, morphological variability of P. nubecula is studied and illustrated based on the type specimen from Australia, and other specimens collected from Asia. Finally, not only the distribution of the species is figured, but the distribution pattern of the remaining Pseudoformicaleo species has been examined.
Early action in the asylum support sector: a scoping review
Authors: Hoare Joanna Pares , Thomas Siân , Jolly Andrew
Published: May 2024

People seeking asylum often have a range of complex social, emotional and economic needs that may be exacerbated by the hostile reception that they often receive. These needs and the stress of navigating asylum systems leave asylum seekers vulnerable to crisis, with refused asylum seekers particularly vulnerable. Even after receiving settled status of some form, barriers to accessing employment or housing and other services remain, as do the impacts of trauma, abuse, and loss sustained in the country of origin, during flight, or during the wait to receive settled status, again leaving refugees vulnerable to crisis. Early action can both have benefits for the individual asylum seeker and reduce the need for costly crisis interventions. This scoping review explores best practice in early action in the voluntary sector, while identifying gaps in the evidence base.
Interior curvature estimates for hypersurfaces of prescribing scalar curvature in dimension three
Authors: Qiu Guohuan
Published: May 2024

abstract: We prove a priori interior curvature estimates for hypersurfaces of prescribing scalar curvature equations in $\mathbb{R}^{3}$. The method is motivated by the integral method of Warren and Yuan. The new observation here is that we construct a ``Lagrangian'' graph which is a submanifold of bounded mean curvature if the graph function of a hypersurface satisfies a scalar curvature equation.
Mukai models and Borcherds products
Authors: Ma Shouhei
Published: May 2024

abstract: Let ${\Fgn}$ be the moduli space of $n$-pointed $K3$ surfaces of genus $g$ with at worst rational double points. We establish an isomorphism between the ring of pluricanonical forms on ${\Fgn}$ and the ring of certain orthogonal modular forms, and give applications to the birational type of ${\Fgn}$. We prove that the Kodaira dimension of ${\Fgn}$ stabilizes to $19$ when $n$ is sufficiently large. Then we use explicit Borcherds products to find a lower bound of $n$ where ${\Fgn}$ has nonnegative Kodaira dimension, and compare this with an upper bound where ${\Fgn}$ is unirational or uniruled using Mukai models of $K3$ surfaces in $g\leq 20$. This reveals the exact transition point of Kodaira dimension in some~$g$.
New characterization of plurisubharmonic functions and positivity of direct image sheaves
Authors: Deng Fusheng , Wang Zhiwei , Zhang Liyou , Zhou Xiangyu
Published: May 2024

abstract: We discover a new characterization of plurisubharmonic functions in terms of $L^p$ extension from one point and Griffiths positivity of holomorphic vector bundles with singular Finsler metrics in terms of $L^p$ extensions. As applications, we give a stronger result or new proof of some well-known theorems on the Griffiths positivity of the holomorphic vector bundles and their direct image sheaves associated to certain holomorphic fibrations.
Lucan and Republican Promagistrates
Authors: Frolov Roman M.
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT: This paper argues that Lucan’s use of the word privatus to refer to the proconsuls Caesar and Pompeius corresponds to the republican formal definition of promagistrates as privati vis-à-vis magistratus (the existence of such a definition is, however, a subject of modern debate). Additionally, Lucan uses the label privatus to highlight Caesar and Pompeius’ unusually proactive role in the sphere domi , outside their sphere of competence. Building on this analysis, it becomes possible to better appreciate Lucan’s distortions in his representation of Caesar as a proconsul.
Analysis of a visible light communication system with QAM-OFDM modulated white LEDs using FSO
Authors: Vidhya J. , Vishnu R. P. , Britto E. C.
Published: May 2024

The popularity of visible light communication (VLC) has increased recently because of the advancement of LEDs and the quantity of lighting bandwidth, which enables faster and more reliable transmission. High-speed transmission via LED networks is made possible by QAM-OFDM technology, which maximizes spectral efficiency and interference robustness to improve the VLC. For the proposed work, two OFDM modulation techniques (a PSK-OFDM and a QAM-OFDM with white LED, RZ/NRZ encoding schemes, and EDFA/SOA amplifiers) are used in the design of the VLC transmitter and receiver of the FSO channel. The design and investigation make use of the OptiSystem v21 simulation tool to assess the performance of the VLC system with an emphasis on the bit error rate, extinction ratio, and signal quality criteria. The results show that the QAM-OFDM with an RZ scheme and EDFA amplifier is the more competent than PSK-OFDM, with a Q factor of 3.94, a BER of 3.71∗10−5, and an extinction ratio of 10.18. The proposed network has a 10–60 Gbps data throughput limit and a 10 m link range in the presence of atmospheric conditions and noise effects.
Method for improving the positional accuracy in passive optical detection of space objects
Authors: Rosok Ranga , Bartels Nils , Riede Wolfgang , Vogel Moritz , Wagner Paul , Dekorsy Thomas
Published: May 2024

The number of space objects, i.e., active satellites as well as space debris, is growing at an exponential rate. The management of congested space requires networks of sensors to detect and precisely measure the positions of objects in space. We describe a method that improves the positional accuracy of passive optical detection of space objects. The method is based on a laboratory sensor calibration, which is suitable for all types of cameras (CCD and CMOS cameras) and can easily be implemented for existing staring or tracking stations or even used with space-based passive optical sensors. The successful implementation of the method is demonstrated in a test campaign by measuring tracklets of several Earth-orbiting satellites with a ground-based staring system known as APPARILLO. In addition to its use in space object detection, we encourage that the presented method might also inspire other fields of research and technology, where images need to be acquired with precise timing.
Inverse design and optimization of a one-dimensional metagrating beam deflector by smart pattern search
Authors: Sabzevari Amin , Hatef Ali
Published: May 2024

This work introduces a fast semi-analytical algorithm for the inverse design and optimization of a one-dimensional beam deflector metagrating, utilizing Smart Pattern Search (SPS), an enhanced pattern search algorithm from MATLAB’s Global Optimization Toolbox. This algorithm demonstrates a significantly shorter processing time compared to machine learning based approaches for the same metagrating structure setup, parameters, and electromagnetic solver while achieving highly competitive efficiencies. At a wavelength of 1100 nm with angles of 60° and 70°, SPS even outperforms these methods. The SPS algorithm needs no state-of-the-art computers and completes the process in less than 27 min, while for counterpart methods at least several hours are needed on an Intel Core i7-3632QM CPU at 2.2 GHz, with 8 GB of DDR3 RAM.
Multiple scattering suppression for in vivo optical coherence tomography measurement using the B-scan-wise multi-focus averaging method
Authors: Zhu Yiqiang , Zhu Lida , Lim Yiheng , Makita Shuichi , Guo Yu , Yasuno Yoshiaki
Published: May 2024

We demonstrate a method that reduces the noise caused by multi-scattering (MS) photons in an in vivo optical coherence tomography image. This method combines a specially designed image acquisition (i.e., optical coherence tomography scan) scheme and subsequent complex signal processing. For the acquisition, multiple cross-sectional images (frames) are sequentially acquired while the depth position of the focus is altered for each frame by an electrically tunable lens. In the signal processing, the frames are numerically defocus-corrected, and complex averaged. Because of the inconsistency in the MS-photon trajectories among the different electrically tunable lens-induced defocus, this averaging reduces the MS signal. Unlike the previously demonstrated volume-wise multi-focus averaging method, our approach requires the sample to remain stable for only a brief period, approximately 70 ms, thus making it compatible with in vivo imaging. This method was validated using a scattering phantom and in vivo unanesthetized small fish samples, and was found to reduce MS noise even for unanesthetized in vivo measurement.
Quasi-waveguide amplifiers based on bulk laser gain media in Herriott-type multipass cells
Authors: Meyer Johann Gabriel , Zablah Andrea , Pronin Oleg
Published: May 2024

We present here what we believe to be a new geometry for laser amplifiers based on bulk gain media. The overlapped seed and pump beams are repetitively refocused into the gain medium with a Herriott-type multipass cell. Similar to a waveguide, this configuration allows for a confined propagation inside the gain medium over much longer lengths than in ordinary single pass bulk amplifiers. Inside the gain medium, the foci appear at separate locations. A proof-of-principle demonstration with Ti:sapphire indicates that this could lead to higher amplification due to a distribution of the thermal load.
Machine Learning-assisted Orbital Angular Momentum Recognition using Nanostructures
Authors: Sharma Chayanika , Badavath Purnesh , P SUPRAJA , R Rakesh Kumar , Kumar Vijay
Published: May 2024

The recognition of orbital angular momentum (OAM) in light beams holds significant importance in optical communication. The majority of current OAM recognition techniques are highly sensitive to stringent alignment issues. The speckle-based OAM recognition method reported in [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A 39, 759 (2022)] is alignment-free in the transverse direction
of light propagation and has been shown to operate successfully in the far-field region using macrostructures. This study introduces a proof-of-concept for speckle-learned OAM recognition with nanostructures, relaxing the strict alignment requirements in both the transverse and along the direction of light propagation. When the OAM beam interacts with random inhomogeneities at micron and/or nanoscale, it generates an OAM speckle field. Initially, a comprehensive examination of the dynamic evolution of OAM speckle fields, ranging from near field to far field,
has been conducted using a ground glass diffuser, featuring random phase inhomogeneities at the micron scale. Subsequently, the investigation proceeds to randomly grown ZnO nanosheets on an aluminum substrate. To achieve rapid and precise OAM recognition, a tailored 3-layer CNN is trained and tested on OAM speckle fields ranging from near-field to far-field to attain an accuracy surpassing 92% . This research expands the technique’s applicability, enabling recognition of
OAM across near-field to far-field regimes, while leveraging micro- to nanostructures.
Trajectories of cognitive function among people aged 45 years and older living with diabetes in China: Results from a nationally representative longitudinal study (2011~2018)
Authors: Chen Shi , Ling Yuewei , Zhou Faquan , Qiao Xu , Reinhardt Jan D.
Published: May 2024

Objectives

Diabetes is associated with decline of cognitive function. Exploring different trajectories of cognitive function occurring in people with diabetes is important to improved prognosis. This study aimed to investigate differential patterns of trajectories of cognitive function and baseline determinants of trajectory group membership utilizing data from middle-aged and older Chinese adults with diabetes.

Methods

Participants of the Chinese Health And Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) aged 45 years and above received biennial assessments between 2011 and 2018. The primary outcome was overall cognitive function score operationalized as sum of mental intactness and episodic memory scores derived from the Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status (TICS). A weighted growth mixture model was used to estimate cognitive function trajectories of CHARLS participants with diabetes, and baseline factors associated with trajectory group membership were investigated with weighted multinomial logistic regression.

Results

Data from 1,463 participants with diabetes aged 45 years and above were analyzed, a three-group trajectory model showed the best fit for overall cognitive scores: low baseline, linear declining (22.1%); moderate baseline, linear declining (37.5%) and high-stable (40.3%). Older participants, females, participants with low education, with nighttime sleep <6 h, without daytime napping habits, and with depressive symptoms were at a higher risk of unfavorable cognitive function trajectories.

Conclusions

We identified heterogeneous trajectories of cognitive function among middle-aged and older people living with diabetes in China. Socially vulnerable groups including females, rural residents, and those with low education were at a higher risk for unfavorable trajectories. In health programs aimed at preventing and mitigating cognitive decline in individuals with diabetes more attention should be given to vulnerable groups. Reduced nighttime sleep, lack of daytime napping, and depressive symptoms appear to be modifiable risk factors.
Accelerated construction of stress relief music datasets using CNN and the Mel-scaled spectrogram
Authors: Choi Suvin , Park Jong-Ik , Hong Cheol-Ho , Park Sang-Gue , Park Sang-Cheol
Published: May 2024

Listening to music is a crucial tool for relieving stress and promoting relaxation. However, the limited options available for stress-relief music do not cater to individual preferences, compromising its effectiveness. Traditional methods of curating stress-relief music rely heavily on measuring biological responses, which is time-consuming, expensive, and requires specialized measurement devices. In this paper, a deep learning approach to solve this problem is introduced that explicitly uses convolutional neural networks and provides a more efficient and economical method for generating large datasets of stress-relief music. These datasets are composed of Mel-scaled spectrograms that include essential sound elements (such as frequency, amplitude, and waveform) that can be directly extracted from the music. The trained model demonstrated a test accuracy of 98.7%, and a clinical study indicated that the model-selected music was as effective as researcher-verified music in terms of stress-relieving capacity. This paper underlines the transformative potential of deep learning in addressing the challenge of limited music options for stress relief. More importantly, the proposed method has profound implications for music therapy because it enables a more personalized approach to stress-relief music selection, offering the potential for enhanced emotional well-being.
Enhancing automated strabismus classification with limited data: Data augmentation using StyleGAN2-ADA
Authors: Joo Jaehan , Kim Sang Yoon , Kim Donghwan , Lee Ji-Eun , Lee Seung Min , Suh Su Youn , Kim Su-Jin , Kim Suk Chan
Published: May 2024

In this study, we propose a generative data augmentation technique to overcome the challenges of severely limited data when designing a deep learning-based automated strabismus diagnosis system. We implement a generative model based on the StyleGAN2-ADA model for system design and assess strabismus classification performance using two classifiers. We evaluate the capability of our proposed method against traditional data augmentation techniques and confirm a substantial enhancement in performance. Furthermore, we conduct experiments to explore the relationship between the diagnosis agreement among ophthalmologists and the generation performance of the generative model. Beyond FID, we validate the generative samples on the classifier to establish their practicality. Through these experiments, we demonstrate that the generative model-based data augmentation improves overall quantitative performance in scenarios of extreme data scarcity and effectively mitigates overfitting issues during deep learning model training.
‘An iron, pyjamas, an apron, a Pandora bracelet’: The social shadow of sexism in Italian adverts
Authors: Di Martino Emilia
Published: May 2024

This is an exploratory article engaging with an advertisement that appeared on the billboards of Milan’s metro network in December 2017. Investigating discourse as the prominent site for identifying the ideological assumptions embedded in language use and the existing social conventions emerging from them, the author argues that the use or frequency of sexist stereotypes does not necessarily mark a brand’s alignment with sexism. The methodology adopted is a form of Bakhtinian stylistics, i.e., an analysis of texts with a view to evaluate the addressivity and answerability of utterances and investigate their heteroglossic and interindividual nature as well as their positioning within a specific community, time and place. Based on a constructionist and critical sociolinguistics matrix, this study focuses on style meant as the particular ways an individual uses language as social practice through which ideological assumptions emerge.
A space for the female viewer? The spectatorial gaze and damaged masculinity in Tre metri sopra il cielo and Ho voglia di te
Authors: Paul Daniel
Published: May 2024

In this article, I analyse the narratives of Tre metri sopra il cielo (Three Steps Over Heaven) (Lucini 2004) and its sequel, Ho voglia di te (‘I desire you’) (Prieto 2007) through the gendered paradigm of the spectatorial gaze theorized by Laura Mulvey. These films, I argue, subtly shift the active/male, passive/female paradigm of looking by displacing Step (Riccardo Scamarcio) as the focalizing subject, thereby empowering the films’ female protagonists – Babi (in Three Steps Over Heaven) and Gin (in Ho voglia di te) and female viewers. By subverting norms associated with the gendered gaze, I contend that these films reimagine heteronormative gender roles in Italy in a way that resonated primarily with its female audience. By focusing on women who transgress traditional gender norms, and by presenting a damaged form of masculinity, these films successfully create a space for the female spectator.
L’Italia che Guarda: Geografie del Consumo Audiovisivo, Giorgio Avezzù (2022)
Authors: Marlow-Mann Alex
Published: May 2024

Review of: L’Italia che Guarda: Geografie del Consumo Audiovisivo, Giorgio Avezzù (2022)

Rome: Carocci Editore, 201 pp.,

ISBN 978-8-82901-536-8, p/bk, €25.00
Orienting Italy: China through the Lens of Italian Filmmakers, Mary Ann Mcdonald Carolan (2022)
Authors: Monserrati Michele
Published: May 2024

Review of: Orienting Italy: China through the Lens of Italian Filmmakers, Mary Ann Mcdonald Carolan (2022)

Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 184 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-43849-060-1, p/bk, $95

ISBN 978-1-43849-062-5, kindle
“O melhor e mais nobre de todos os legumes”
Authors: Sousa Dina Fernanda Ferreira
Published: May 2024

O arroz é um dos principais alimentos do mundo atual e as vantagens do seu consumo são inúmeras. A sua presença na mesa teve um longo percurso, foi ganhando estatuto, passando a ser assídua e apreciada nos cardápios de vários grupos sociais. Cedo se percebe que físicos e cirurgiões descobrem as suas virtudes e benefícios, integrando-o em tratados de saúde (exemplo Arnaldo de Vilanova, século XIV; Francisco da Fonseca Henriques, século XVIII). Desde o século XVI que o encontramos, de forma clara, em hospitais e enfermarias de conventos masculinos e femininos. O mesmo aconteceu na composição da dieta dos enfermos do Hospital de Todos os Santos de Lisboa (1504), onde o arroz era ministrado. Esta prática teve continuidade, constatando-se, inclusive, um envolvimento da Coroa no incentivo ao seu consumo hospitalar. Ao longo dos tempos, o arroz foi usado no tratamento de úlceras, cálculo renal, problemas gastrointestinais e nos casos de cólera. Por alturas de 1856, vários surtos avassalam o país e nessas zonas epidémicas, complementava-se o tratamento químico com uma alimentação cuidada, em que se aconselhava a canja ou os caldos de arroz. Apesar das sucessivas resistências ao seu cultivo, em virtude das febres palúdicas que ocasionava, o arroz revelou-se um caso de sucesso que permaneceu até aos nossos dias. Um prato de festa, mas também um prato terapêutico.
An Unexpected Discovery: Postmenopausal Pyloric Endometriosis
Authors: Minchenberg Scott B. , Burdine Lauren K. , Hecht Jonathan L. , Falchuk Kenneth R. , Wolf Jacqueline L.
Published: May 2024

Endometriosis is a benign, estrogen-dependent condition, usually occurring in menstruating and, rarely, in postmenopausal women, in which endometrial glands and stroma grow ectopically outside the uterus. Most often, ectopic endometrial tissue is found within the pelvis and nearby structures. However, endometrial tissue within the upper gastrointestinal tract is very rare and can be a source of bleeding and abdominal pain. Here, we report a case of a 71-year-old postmenopausal woman with hematochezia and diffuse abdominal pain, who was found to have pyloric endometriosis, the pathogenesis of which we will briefly explore.
Regulatory islands: a case study in tactical community zoning
Authors: Harpster Michael
Published: May 2024

Despite the clear environmental and economic benefits of denser forms of housing, the ability to construct such housing remains elusive. Restrictive zoning policies and local coalitions of Not in My Backyard activists make the construction of dense housing within established neighbourhoods a near impossibility in jurisdictions throughout the United States. The purpose of this article is to illustrate how architects might leverage community coalition building and the critical interpretation or ‘hacking’ of local zoning ordinances to realise dense, infill housing projects even within otherwise highly conservative policy environments. Using Pier Vittorio Aureli’s history of settlement form and property rights as an initial contextual framework, the article outlines how infill housing might adopt an alternate view of housing development, subverting the primacy typically assigned to individual private property rights and financial speculation. Sited on an infill lot within one of Lincoln, Nebraska’s older neighbourhoods, the project relies on a non-normative, strategic implementation of a Community Unit Plan zoning mechanism to enlist neighbourhood support and establish higher levels of allowable density. This, in combination with the implementation of a Community Land Trust, allows the project to introduce a greater quantity and diversity of housing types that offer possibilities for home ownership, affordable rental opportunities and even temporary or supportive housing in areas historically dedicated solely to single-family housing models. Ultimately, the significance of the project rests not in its formal novelty but in its demonstration of an immediate and attainable means through which denser forms of housing might be realised.
‘Shameful histories’ – shame and sex perceived by secondary school students in history education
Authors: Haltorp Hära Jess , Prytz Sara Backman , Danielsson Anna , Almqvist Jonas
Published: May 2024

A challenge for history education in Sweden involves integrating questions regarding relationships and sex education. The purpose of this article is to explore how students and teachers relate historical narratives about women’s sexuality between the past and present, with a particular focus on students’ discussion of shame. To analyse shame as something beyond the individual, we focus on the interrelationship of gender, sexuality and shame. The study builds on a poststructural understanding of gender, norms, sexuality and subjectification. The data comprise video-recorded classroom observations, focus group interviews with 16–19-year-old students, and interviews with their teachers. The findings are structured into two themes: shame as regulating women’s sexuality, and sexualised shame as a historical continuity. We conclude that it is highly challenging for a history teacher to construe a classroom environment that breaks with traditional historiography without resorting to a fragmentation of history into isolated case studies of the spectacular.
Estereotipos y actitudes hacia el envejecimiento relacionados con motivos para el ejercicio físico en usuarios de gimnasios
Authors: Duran Badillo Tirso
Published: May 2024

Objetivo: Determinar la relación entre los estereotipos y las actitudes hacia el envejecimiento con los motivos para la realización de ejercicio físico en usuarios de gimnasios de Matamoros (Tamaulipas, México). Método: Estudio correlacional en una muestra de 163 usuarios de gimnasios. Se aplicó el cuestionario de Estereotipos Negativos hacia la Vejez, la Escala de Actitudes Hacia el Envejecimiento de Kogan y el autoinforme de Motivos para la Práctica del Ejercicio Físico. Resultados: No se encontró relación entre los estereotipos negativos ante el envejecimiento (p=.119) y las actitudes hacia el envejecimiento (p=.92) con los motivos para la realización de ejercicio físico. Las actitudes hacia el envejecimiento mostraron relación con la diversión y bienestar (p=.014), prevención y salud positiva (p=.011), fuerza y resistencia muscular (p=.004), reconocimiento social (p=.032), control del estrés (p=.017) y urgencias de salud (p=.029). Conclusiones: No se encontró relación entre las escalas globales empleadas para medir los estereotipos y actitudes hacia el envejecimiento con los motivos para hacer ejercicio físico; se encontró que las actitudes hacia el envejecimiento están relacionadas con la diversión y bienestar, prevención y salud positiva, fuerza y resistencia muscular, reconocimiento social, control del estrés y urgencias de salud.
Agricultural land suitability analysis in Manipur, India using GIS and AHP
Authors: Baite Letminthang , Bhattacharjee Niranjan , Debbarma Jimmi , Saikia Anup
Published: May 2024

This article aims to identify potential sites for agricultural use in the state of Manipur of north east India by employing the analytic hierarchy process in a geographic information system environment in conjunction with the use of remote sensing and soil data. Within the analytic hierarchy process, each terrain variable underwent a pairwise comparison and criteria weights were assigned according to their relative importance. Eight variables were selected and used in land suitability analysis for agriculture. It was found that Manipur had 57% (12,660 km2) of its total geographical area suitable for agriculture. However, 8126 km2 (37%) and 1374 km2 (6%) of the total geographical area was currently and permanently unsuitable land respectively. The distribution of suitable land varied greatly, with highly, moderately and marginally suitable land covering only 8%, 16% and 33% respectively of the total geographical area. The highly suitable agricultural land is predominantly concentrated in the Imphal valley (70%), though 90% of moderately suitable and 96% of marginally suitable land also exist in the hills. The hilly areas constitute 96% and 97% respectively of currently unsuitable and permanently unsuitable land in the state. Suitable land comprises of land with low to medium altitude, gentle to moderate slopes, soil of fine or acceptable quality, and with minimal flood risk. Unsuitable lands tend to be diametrically opposite to these attributes with steep hill slopes. The nature of distribution of land suitability types influences the agricultural pattern in Manipur. Agriculture in the hill areas comprises mainly of shifting cultivation on hill slopes, whereas in the valley region it is irrigated and permanent. This analysis of Manipur has a wider applicability since the shifting cultivation-irrigated agriculture combination is similar to that which exists across much of the highlands of South East Asia.
CLLT ‘versus’ Corpora and IJCL: a (half serious) keyness analysis
Authors: Wulff Stefanie , Gries Stefan Th.
Published: May 2024

In this introduction to the special issue celebrating CLLT’s 20th anniversary, we look back and forward in time. To look back, we present the results of a (tongue-in-cheek) corpus-linguistic analysis of about 10 years worth of data of research published in CLLT, IJCL, and Corpora in order to distill the “essence” of CLLT for the reader. As an added bonus, we use the opportunity to discuss ways to improve established ways of performing keyness analyses. To look forward, we asked six (teams of) researchers who all have shaped corpus linguistics and thus the journal to give us their take on what the most significant developments in the field have been, and where they see the most impactful opportunities and challenges arise. This introduction briefly summarizes their contributions.
Psychologism in the study of children’s semiotic development
Authors: Lenninger Sara
Published: May 2024

This essay discusses the notion of ‘semiotic development in child development’ and highlights potential concerns for ‘psychologism’ when semiotics turns into cognitive semiotics. The notion of ‘semiotic development in child development’ indicates a transdisciplinary approach involving both semiotics, the general study of meaning and signs, and child psychology. This, however, invites the criticism of committing the fallacy of psychologism. Piaget was aware of this dilemma when developing his theory of the semiotic function as a united capacity in children’s cognitive development. Sonesson’s proposal of a general definition of signs in meaning-making is suggested to, at some points, meet the dilemma with psychologism in studies of children’s semiotic development. Starting from a phenomenological point of view in semiotics and integrating Piaget’s theory on cognitive development and meaning-making meet the study of subjectivity in intersubjectivity. On the one hand, the sign as a theoretical object is not reducible to any given psychological process or processes; on the other hand, sign meaning can only exist if there are beings (consciousnesses) capable of grasping and using signs.
Real-time segmentation of short videos under VR technology in dynamic scenes
Authors: He Zichen , Li Danian
Published: May 2024

This work addresses the challenges of scene segmentation and low segmentation accuracy in short videos by employing virtual reality (VR) technology alongside a 3D DenseNet model for real-time segmentation in dynamic scenes. First, this work extracted short videos by frame and removed redundant background information. Then, the volume rendering algorithm in VR technology was used to reconstruct short videos in dynamic scenes in 3D. It enriched the detailed information of short videos, and finally used the 3D DenseNet model for real-time segmentation of short videos in dynamic scenes, improving the accuracy of segmentation. The experiment compared the performance of High resolution network, Mask region based convolutional neural network, 3D U-Net, Efficient neural network models on the Densely annotation video segmentation dataset. The experimental results showed that the segmentation accuracy of the 3D DenseNet model has reached 99.03%, which was 15.11% higher than that of the ENet model. The precision rate reached 98.33%, and the average segmentation time reached 0.64 s, improving the segmentation accuracy and precision rate. It can adapt to various scene situations and has strong robustness. The significance of this research lies in its innovative approach in tackling these issues. By integrating VR technology with advanced deep learning models, we can achieve more precise segmentation of dynamic scenes in short videos, enabling real-time processing. This has significant practical implications for fields such as video editing, VR applications, and intelligent surveillance. Furthermore, the outcomes of this research contribute to advancing computer vision in video processing, providing valuable insights for the development of future intelligent video processing systems.
Treatment modalities and outcomes in pediatric Cushing’s disease – report of three cases and literature review
Authors: Marques Viviana , Ferreira Sofia , Costa Carla , Castro-Correia Cíntia , Santos Silva Rita
Published: May 2024

Objectives

Cushing’s disease (CD) is a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge, especially in pediatric patients. CD, primarily caused by adrenocorticotropic hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas, manifests typically with growth retardation and weight gain. There are no published guidelines for pediatric patients.

Case presentation

We report three pediatric patients diagnosed with CD in a Portuguese tertiary hospital. All patients presented with hypercortisolism features. All patients underwent transsphenoidal pituitary surgery (TSS) as a first-choice treatment; however, it was unsuccessful in one patient and the other patients experienced recurrence. Patients were submitted to different approaches so basal serum cortisol levels could be achieved. Two of three patients achieved remission.

Conclusions

TSS remains the first-line treatment yet challenging due to microadenomas and technical complexities. Medical therapy with agents like metyrapone or ketoconazole, pituitary radiotherapy, or bilateral adrenalectomy are, usually, second-line interventions, unless there is a contraindication to surgery. Our findings support the finding that a shorter hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis recovery time increases the risk of recurrence of CD. Our cases illustrate the intricate management and variable outcomes of pediatric CD, underscoring the importance of multidisciplinary care and continuous surveillance.
Optimal design of structural engineering components using artificial neural network-assisted crayfish algorithm
Authors: Sait Sadiq M. , Mehta Pranav , Yıldız Ali Rıza , Yıldız Betül Sultan
Published: May 2024

Optimization techniques play a pivotal role in enhancing the performance of engineering components across various real-world applications. Traditional optimization methods are often augmented with exploitation-boosting techniques due to their inherent limitations. Recently, nature-inspired algorithms, known as metaheuristics (MHs), have emerged as efficient tools for solving complex optimization problems. However, these algorithms face challenges such as imbalance between exploration and exploitation phases, slow convergence, and local optima. Modifications incorporating oppositional techniques, hybridization, chaotic maps, and levy flights have been introduced to address these issues. This article explores the application of the recently developed crayfish optimization algorithm (COA), assisted by artificial neural networks (ANN), for engineering design optimization. The COA, inspired by crayfish foraging and migration behaviors, incorporates temperature-dependent strategies to balance exploration and exploitation phases. Additionally, ANN augmentation enhances the algorithm’s performance and accuracy. The COA method optimizes various engineering components, including cantilever beams, hydrostatic thrust bearings, three-bar trusses, diaphragm springs, and vehicle suspension systems. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of the COA in achieving superior optimization solutions compared to other algorithms, emphasizing its potential for diverse engineering applications.