bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Drug-induced lung disease adverse effect with Ledipasvir Acetonate/Sofosbuvir
Authors: Omotani Sachiko , Ishizaka Toshihiko , Inoue Miki , Nishida Koji , Yasui Yukako , Hatsuda Yasutoshi , Mukai Junji , Myotoku Michiaki
Published: April 2020

Background

Interferon and ribavirin have been used as therapeutic agents for chronic hepatitis C infection or C-compensated cirrhosis in the conventional treatment. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) -specific direct-acting antiviral agents that directly inhibit the growth process of HCV have been approved since 2011. However, in the early post-marketing vigilance phase of ledipasvir acetonate/sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF), there were reports of interstitial lung disease in 4 out of 32,700 cases with death in 1 case; the onset mechanism is unknown.

Case presentation

Treatment for hepatitis C was deemed to be necessary, and the patient was referred to our hospital. Oral administration of LDV/SOF was started. On day 8 of administration, a fever of 38–39 °C and coughing were observed followed by the gradual appearance of shortness of breath. As there was no improvement, the patient visited her primary care physician on day 16 of administration and the patient was brought urgently to our hospital on the same day. Blood tests and imaging tests were conducted at our hospital on the day of emergency transport; inflammatory response markers showed abnormal values, and sialylated carbohydrate antigen Krebs von den Lungen-6 was within the normal value range at 303 U/mL. Because the possibility of infection was low based on results of imaging and bronchoalveolar lavage, drug-induced lung disease was suspected, LDV/SOF administration was discontinued, and steroid administration was started. Following steroid pulse therapy, treatment with oral prednisolone tablets was gradually tapered. The patient’s symptoms were relieved and she was discharged.

Conclusions

The patient’s medication history in this case indicated that there were no drugs taken before or after administration of LDV/SOF until the adverse reaction occurred, and there were no supplements or dietary supplements taken. Therefore, LDV/SOF has been proposed as the cause of the suspected adverse effect. Pharmacists should try to collect adverse effect reports to identify adverse effects early.
Effect of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus Stapf) tea in a type 2 diabetes rat model
Authors: Garba Husaina Anchau , Mohammed Aminu , Ibrahim Mohammed Auwal , Shuaibu Mohammed Nasir
Published: April 2020

Background

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus Stapf) tea is a widely consumed beverage for nourishment and the remedy of diabetes mellitus (DM) in Africa locally. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antidiabetic action of lemongrass tea (LGT) in a type 2 diabetes (T2D) model of rats.

Methods

The fructose-streptozotocin (STZ) animal model for T2D was used and the LGT was prepared by boiling for 10 min in water, allowed to cool and administered at 0.25 or 0.5% (ad libitum), for 4 weeks to the T2D rats.

Results

The LGT showed higher phytochemical contents compared to the cold-water extract. The diabetic untreated animals exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) higher serum glucose and lipids, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index with a significantly lower (p < 0.05) levels of serum insulin, β-cell function (HOMA-β) and liver glycogen compared to the normal animals. Oral supplemented of LGT for 4 weeks improved these changes comparable to the metformin treated group.

Conclusion

The data suggests that LGT intake had excellent antidiabetic effect in a T2D model of rats attributed to the higher content of the ingredients.
Using maize wastes, fermented by co-cultures of Trichoderma harzianum and Pseudomonas fluorescens, as grain dressing against m maize diseases under field conditions
Authors: Atalla Sherien M. M. , Abdel-Kader Mokhtar M. , El-Gamal Nadia G. , El-Mougy Nehal S.
Published: April 2020

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most economic crops in Egypt. Production of amylase from the waste of maize is the most economic and cheap renewable and most abundant raw materials present in environment. Biosynthesis of Cu-chitosan nanoparticles for amylase production by co-culturing between Trichoderma harzianum and Pseudomonas fluorescens at different ratios compared to free conditions was the main purpose of this study. The optimum ratio 8:2, recorded between P. fluorescens: T. harzianum, was the most promising for production of amylase produce 22.47 and 28.60 U/ml for free and nano, respectively. The UV visible spectral analysis Cu-chitosan NPs was 220 nm, while the mean diameter, using transmission electron microscopy was 0.5 μm. Application of fermented maize wastes by co-cultivation of P. fluorescence and T. harzianum, as a grain dressing before sowing declared the reduction in both root and foliar diseases during the maize growing season, starting from germination up to 70 days of its vegetative growth under field conditions. A promising approach is the creation and use of environmentally safe products, whose protective effect is based on the induction of hydrolase inhibitors in plants.
Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1C resistance development and its processing pattern in Egyptian cotton leaf worm: Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae)
Authors: Moussa Saad , Biaomy Fatian , Aiad Kahled , Khalil Hager , Abd El-latif Ashraf Oukasha
Published: April 2020

Biopesticides based on the entomopathogenic bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis toxins, have shown high ability to control several pests belonging to order Lepidoptera. Egyptian cotton leaf worm, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae), is a major pest that attacks various crops in Egypt, and Cry1C toxin-based formulations are heavily used to its control. A laboratory investigation was conducted to study the resistance development in S. littoralis against Cry1C toxin. Thus, a field strain of S. littoralis was selected and maintained under laboratory conditions for 12 generations. The selection pressure resulted in 32.12-fold of resistance ratio after 12 generations. The hydrolysis of Cry1C toxin by the midgut extracts of the susceptible line, and the resistant line was compared. Results revealed that Cry1C toxin was hydrolyzed more rapidly in the resistant line than the susceptible one. The Cry1C toxin was processed till 1 hour after incubation in the susceptible line; but in case of resistant line, the Cry1C toxin was degraded in 1 hour after incubation.
A novel mutation in ITGB4 gene in a newborn with epidermolysis bullosa, pyloric atresia, and aplasia cutis congenita
Authors: Okulu Emel , Durmaz Ceren D. , Tunc Gaffari , Guzel Adil , Kutlay Nuket Y. , Erdeve Omer , Atasay Begum , McGrath John A. , Liu Lu , Arsan Saadet
Published: April 2020

Background

Epidermolysis bullosa with pyloric atresia (EB-PA), also known as Carmi syndrome, is an uncommon, autosomal recessive genodermatosis that typically affects the skin and gastrointestinal tract. EB-PA is caused by homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in the integrin alpha 6 (ITGA6) gene on chromosome 2q31.1 or in the integrin beta 4 (ITGB4) gene on 17q25.1.

Case presentation

A male premature infant was born with aplasia cutis, atresia of the pylorus, and bilateral hydronephrosis. His clinical and imaging findings were compatible with EB-PA. A novel, small deletion of the last two bases in exon 6 and the first two nucleotides of intron 6 (c.565_566+2del) in ITGB4 gene was identified.

Conclusion

EB-PA-aplasia cutis congenita is known to be a non-treatable condition with a poor prognosis as the reported case. The novel mutation reported in this patient may lead to the lethal form of this disease. Identification of underlying genetic abnormality is critical to give genetic counseling.
Assessment of the toxicity effects of nicotine on sperm and IVF and the potential protective role of silymarin—an experimental study in mice
Authors: Rahimi-Madiseh Mohammad , Mohammadi Mohsen , Hassanvand Amin , Ahmadi Reza , Shahmohammadi Maasume , Rostamzadeh Ayoob
Published: April 2020

Background

Male infertility is usually caused via the inability to produce adequate quantities of healthy and active sperms. Nicotine (NIC) is an alkaloid organic compound, predominantly found in the leaves of the tobacco plant. The major part of the nicotine is not ionized, so it can easily pass through cell membranes. Meanwhile, most of the disorders are caused by oxidative stress due to oxygen free radicals and other reactive species. Antioxidant supplements and antioxidant-rich foods can reduce induced oxidative stress without becoming destabilized themselves. This study aimed to examine spermato-protective potential of silymarin (SIL), on sperm and in vitro fertility (IVF) rate in nicotine-treated mice.

Results

Our results show a significant increase in the number of abnormal sperm morphology after nicotine exposure, when compared to control groups (p < 0.05). On the other hand, SIL had a significant effect on the sperm count at each of the treated doses. Further, in the mice that received nicotine plus silymarin, the viable sperm percentage and the progressive sperm motility were significant (p < 0.05). Also, a significant reduction in the number of two-cell embryos and blastocyst-derived embryo was seen with increment in the number of dead embryos in mice receiving nicotine alone (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

In conclusion, SIL could support prevention of the adverse reproductive effects of nicotine. Moreover, SIL200 mg/kg may be therefore considered as a spermato-protective agent in dietary and herbal supplements.
Effect of Arginine on the Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal Axis in Individuals With and Without Vasopressin Deficiency
Authors: Bologna Katja , Cesana-Nigro Nicole , Refardt Julie , Imber Cornelia , Vogt Deborah R , Christ-Crain Mirjam , Winzeler Bettina
Published: April 2020

Context

Arginine stimulates pituitary hormones, like growth hormone and vasopressin, but its effect on the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis is unknown. Arginine may also stimulate the HPA axis, possibly through a mechanism involving vasopressin.

Objective

To investigate the effect of arginine on adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol in subjects with and without vasopressin deficiency.

Design

Prospective study, University Hospital Basel.

Participants

38 patients with central diabetes insipidus, 58 patients with primary polydipsia, and 50 healthy controls.

Intervention

Arginine infusion with measurement of ACTH, cortisol and copeptin at baseline and 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 minutes.

Results

We found different response patterns to arginine: in patients with diabetes insipidus (and low stimulated copeptin levels) median (interquartile range [IQR]) ACTH and cortisol increased from 22.9 (16.8, 38.7) to 36.6 (26.2, 52.1) ng/L and from 385 (266, 463) to 467 (349, 533) nmol/L, respectively. In contrast, median (IQR) ACTH and cortisol levels decreased in patients with primary polydipsia (despite high stimulated copeptin levels): ACTH from 17.3 (12.3, 23) to 14.8 (10.9, 19.8) ng/L and cortisol from 343 (262, 429) to 272 (220.8, 360.3) nmol/L; likewise, in healthy controls: ACTH from 26.5 (17.6, 35.7) to 14.8 (12.1, 22.7) ng/L and cortisol from 471 (393.3, 581.8) to 301.5 (206.5, 377.8) nmol/L.

Conclusion

Diabetes insipidus is associated with increased responsiveness of ACTH/cortisol to arginine. In contrast, arginine does not stimulate the HPA axis in healthy controls or in primary polydipsia.
A rapid and simple quantitative method for specific detection of smaller coterminal RNA by PCR (DeSCo-PCR): application to the detection of viral subgenomic RNAs
Authors: Kanodia Pulkit , Prasanth K. Reddisiva , Roa-Linares Vicky C. , Bradrick Shelton S. , Garcia-Blanco Mariano A. , Miller W. Allen
Published: April 2020

RNAs that are 5′-truncated versions of a longer RNA but share the same 3′ terminus can be generated by alternative promoters in transcription of cellular mRNAs or by replicating RNA viruses. These truncated RNAs cannot be distinguished from the longer RNA by a simple two-primer RT-PCR because primers that anneal to the cDNA from the smaller RNA also anneal to—and amplify—the longer RNA-derived cDNA. Thus, laborious methods, such as northern blot hybridization, are used to distinguish shorter from longer RNAs. For rapid, low-cost, and specific detection of these truncated RNAs, we report detection of smaller coterminal RNA by PCR (DeSCo-PCR). DeSCo-PCR uses a nonextendable blocking primer (BP), which outcompetes a forward primer (FP) for annealing to longer RNA-derived cDNA, while FP outcompetes BP for annealing to shorter RNA-derived cDNA. In the presence of BP, FP, and the reverse primer, only cDNA from the shorter RNA is amplified in a single-tube reaction containing both RNAs. Many positive strand RNA viruses generate 5′-truncated forms of the genomic RNA (gRNA) called subgenomic RNAs (sgRNA), which play key roles in viral gene expression and pathogenicity. We demonstrate that DeSCo-PCR is easily optimized to selectively detect relative quantities of sgRNAs of red clover necrotic mosaic virus from plants and Zika virus from human cells, each infected with viral strains that generate different amounts of sgRNA. This technique should be readily adaptable to other sgRNA-producing viruses, and for quantitative detection of any truncated or alternatively spliced RNA.
GLOBAL DISTURBANCE OF EARTH’S MAGNETOSPHERE AND ITS CONNECTION WITH SPACE WEATHER
Authors: Kurazhkovskaya Nadezhda
Published: April 2020

This paper deals with extreme conditions of the global magnetosphere disturbance: very quiet and greatly disturbed, and their relationship with interplanetary medium parameters. The degree of global magnetosphere disturbance was estimated from the monthly and annual number of magnetically quiet and magnetically disturbed days. The cyclic and seasonal distributions of magnetically quiet and disturbed days were compared, and their relationship with interplanetary medium parameters in solar cycles 20–24 was analyzed. Magnetically quiet days are shown to be mainly observed at the ascending phase of solar activity and during the winter solstice season. Magnetically disturbed days dominate at the descending phase of the solar cycle and during the equinox season. An anomalously large increase in the number of quiet days was found in solar cycle 24 as compared to previous cycles. It has been established that the cyclic variation in the annual number of quiet and disturbed days is determined by the behavior and magnitude of the speed, temperature, dynamic pressure of solar wind plasma and the interplanetary magnetic field modulus. The detected burst in the number of quiet days during the ascending phase of solar cycle 24 is assumed to reflect internal processes on the Sun and related changes in interplanetary medium parameters. The patterns of cyclical and seasonal variation in the number of magnetically quiet and disturbed days and their relationship with the solar wind parameters can be used to predict space weather.
FEATURES OF Ne RECOVERY AT THE IRKUTSK INCOHERENT SCATTER RADAR
Authors: Alsatkin Sergei , Medvedev Andrey , Ratovsky Konstantin
Published: April 2020

The article presents a new method of restoring the electron density profile (Ne) according to data from the Irkutsk Incoherent Scatter Radar (IISR). This method has been developed taking into account the Faraday rotation of the polarization plane, which leads to fading at the output of the IISR linearly polarized antenna. The concept of the method consists in fitting a height variation of electron density by a parametric model. As the model, a combination of two Chapman layers was used. This approach made it possible to implement a fully automatic data processing mode and increase the stability of the recovery of the Ne profile, especially according to data obtained during a period of low solar activity when the signal-to-noise ratio is low. Accuracy was increased by eliminating a number of operations leading to instability of data recovery in the presence of noise. The new method enabled fully automatic processing of long data series in the period 2007–2015.
MUON INTENSITY VARIATIONS AND ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE
Authors: Yanchukovsky Valery
Published: April 2020

Muons in the atmosphere are formed during the decay of pions resulting from nuclear interactions of cosmic rays with nuclei of air atoms. The resulting muons are also unstable particles with a short lifetime. Therefore, not all of them reach the level of observation in the atmosphere. When the atmospheric temperature changes, the distance to the observation level changes too, thus leading to variations in the intensity of muons of temperature origin. These variations, caused by atmospheric temperature variations, are superimposed on continuous observations of muon telescopes. Their exclusion is, therefore, extremely necessary, especially in the data from modern muon telescopes whose statistical accuracy is very high. The contribution of various atmospheric layers to the total temperature effect is not the same for muons. This contribution is characterized by the distribution of the density of temperature coefficients for muons in the atmosphere. Using this distribution and the continuous intensity observations from the muon telescope in Novosibirsk, the inverse problem has been solved, from the solution of which the atmospheric temperature variations over a long period from 2004 to 2011 have been found. The results obtained are compared with aerological sounding data.
EquineReview
Authors: Fiske-Jackson Andy
Published: April 2020

Introduction:

This edition of Equine Review looks at effects of sedation on lameness assessment; the management of metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal joint dorsal chip fractures; and endoscopic lavage and debridement for treatment of synovial contamination or sepsis of the calcaneal bursae.
A splenic ‘cyst’: histology confirmed splenic sarcoma
Authors: Ashmore DL , Dasgupta D
Published: April 2020

Primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma, now classified as pleomorphic undifferentiated sarcoma, is the most common soft-tissue sarcoma in adult life. Primary splenic pleomorphic undifferentiated sarcoma is extremely rare and aggressive, and is associated with a poor prognosis; only 14 cases of splenic pleomorphic undifferentiated sarcoma have been documented in the English literature. We discuss a case of a 56-year-old woman with iron-deficiency anaemia, early satiety and left upper-quadrant pain, who was preoperatively diagnosed with a large splenic cyst following thorough investigation. This was excised in an elective procedure. Unfortunately, histology confirmed splenic pleomorphic undifferentiated sarcoma. Following a review and summary of the literature, we discuss key differentials between splenic cysts and splenic pleomorphic undifferentiated sarcoma. This case highlights that iron-deficiency anaemia is unusual in splenic cysts and more sinister causes must be considered.
The investigation and management of unilateral nipple discharge
Authors: Clark SE , Agrawal A , Laws S , Graja T , Sheehan LA , Laban C , Scutt F
Published: April 2020

Introduction

Between 16,000 and 48,000 women are estimated to present to UK breast clinics with nipple discharge each year. The incidence of malignancy in these women is 2.7–24.2%. Currently, there is no consensus on the best way to investigate and manage these women. The aim of this study was to assess the rate of malignancy in women presenting with unilateral nipple discharge, and to evaluate the role of examination, imaging and cytology in reliably predicting outcome.

Methods

Breast units were asked to prospectively collect data on all new patients with unilateral nipple discharge. Data collected included discharge colour, whether it was uniductal or multiductal, examination and imaging findings, cytology results and outcome.

Results

Complete datasets were submitted by 5 units on 228 patients. The incidence of malignancy was 4.4%. Clinical examination was valuable in detecting malignancy and multiductal discharge was not related to malignancy. The positive predictive value for detecting malignancy for an abnormality found on mammography was 53.5% and for ultrasonography, it was 65.2%. The role of cytology in detecting malignancy was inconclusive with positive predictive values of the presence of red blood cells and epithelial cells at 6.1% and 10.7% respectively.

Conclusions

A large number of women are investigated for nipple discharge (with huge resource implications) but there is little reliable evidence on the best way to investigate and manage these patients. A larger study is needed to evaluate the role of investigations in nipple discharge to produce guidelines on optimal management.
Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma presenting as a metastasis to the brain
Authors: Shawky M , Proctor I , Kurzawinski T , Abdel-Aziz T
Published: April 2020

The brain is a particularly rare site of metastasis from papillary microcarcinoma, with only few cases described in the literature. We present a case of 59-year-old man who presented with seizures and dysphasia due to left frontal lobe cystic mass, which was excised and turned out on histopathology to be of thyroid origin. Total thyroidectomy was performed and histology showed multifocal papillary microcarcinoma with the largest focus of 3mm with no other adverse features. The patient had ablative radioactive iodine postoperatively, with subsequent exit scan showing no uptake in the brain. Follow-up brain magnetic resonance imaging showed continuous regression of the surgical cavity. Although rare, such cases should be aggressively treated and followed up over the long term, because of reported associated high mortality.
Symptomatic malunion after midshaft clavicle fracture in an adolescent patient: a case report of surgical deformity correction using a 3D printed model
Authors: Consigliere P , Tyler J , Tennent D , Pearse E
Published: April 2020

A 14-year-old boy underwent surgery for symptomatic malunion of the clavicle. This complication, which is uncommon in adults and adolescents, occurred after a displaced midshaft clavicle fracture that had been treated conservatively. Surgery may be considered if functional impairment, pain, weakness, fatigability and neurological symptoms persist in the presence of significant clavicular deformity. Our case was unusual because the patient had a symptomatic malunion and lost range of movement of his shoulder despite a minor degree of clavicular shortening. We adopted an approach used in lower limb deformity correction but not described for the clavicle in which corrective osteotomy was planned and practised using a three-dimensional printed model of the malunited clavicle. A three-dimensional printed model of the mirror image of the opposite clavicle served as a template of normal. Three-dimensional models were printed from the computed tomography data. The patient’s symptoms resolved and he recovered full range of movement and shoulder function following the corrective osteotomy.
The incidental finding of a retained ‘throat pack’
Authors: Cousin GCS , Markose G
Published: April 2020

A postoperative radiograph demonstrated a folded radio-opaque structure in the nasopharynx, resembling a retained throat pack, despite her not having any respiratory symptoms. Retention of a throat pack is a never event.
‘Primum non nocere’: how harmless is routine wide local excision for AJCC stage IA melanoma?
Authors: Lau KL , Bradish T , Rannan-Eliya S
Published: April 2020

Background

Management of primary cutaneous malignant melanoma is with initial excision biopsy followed by a wide local excision to achieve locoregional control. For low-risk thin melanomas, the added survival benefit from the wide local excision is minimal. In this study, we investigated the morbidities of wide local excision and evaluated the current clinical practice in managing stage IA malignant melanoma.

Methods

Patients with confirmed stage IA malignant melanoma who had undergone a wide local excision in the 2013/14 period were identified using a specialist cancer multidisciplinary team-held database. Primary pathology, surgical data and follow-up documentation were analysed.

Results

A total of 231 cases were identified; 95% of patients (n = 220) had malignant melanoma excised completely at first excision biopsy, mean margin 2.8mm (range 0.5–8.0mm). Postoperative morbidities occurred in 25% of patients (n = 57), including 6.6% wound problems, 10.9% scarring problems, 10.0% psychological stress and 0.4% cosmetic concern. Wide local excision reconstructions were performed with primary closure in 82% of patients, split skin grafts in 4%, full-thickness skin grafts in 3% and flaps in 10%. Of the total, 44% of patients (n = 101) had further excisions and 17 received new low-risk melanoma diagnoses.

Conclusions

We demonstrated that 1cm wide local excision is associated with significant morbidity, which can affect patients’ physical, psychological and social wellbeing. Since wide local excision does not give a survival advantage, and its margin is already frequently reduced in cosmetically sensitive areas, the need for a second full 1cm wide local excision procedure for thin melanoma should be re-evaluated, especially when 95% of our study cohort had their malignant melanoma completely excised by the initial biopsy alone.
Medullary thyroid cancer: epidemiological pattern and factors contributing to recurrence and metastasis
Authors: Hamdy O , Awny S , Metwally IH
Published: April 2020

Introduction

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a neuroendocrine thyroid carcinoma with parafollicular C cell differentiation. It can occur in either sporadic or hereditary form. Surgery is still the only curative treatment. The efficacy of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is poor.

Methods

This was a retrospective study of 31 patients treated surgically for MTC in our oncology centre at Mansoura University between January 2008 and February 2019.

Results

The mean age at diagnosis was 39.9 years. The median pathological size was 4cm. Multifocal disease was found in 12 patients and extrathyroid extension in 3 cases. Twenty patients were pathologically node positive. The median number of positive lymph nodes was four. Seven cases were metastatic at diagnosis. Local recurrence occurred in six individuals while distant recurrence occurred only in one. The median time from surgery to local recurrence was 12 months. The estimated mean disease free survival was 56.5 months. Disease free survival was significantly related to age, metastasis and side of nodal spread.

Conclusions

In our study cohort, the disease occurred predominantly in women and younger patients. Age, distant metastasis and nodal spread were the most significant prognostic factors. This study has also demonstrated that prognosis is not only affected by nodal involvement but also by side of involvement. The role of hemithyroidectomy in node negative unifocal disease with a small tumour size warrants further investigation.
Expecting the unexpected: diagnosis and surgical practice in Hong Kong
Authors: Thomson Peter
Published: April 2020

How can underlying disease be identified in patients with apparently routine signs and symptoms?
A review of good record keeping for conscious sedation in dentistry
Authors: Dave Manas , Corbett Ian , Walton Graham , Wilson Kathy
Published: April 2020

Contemporaneous and thorough record keeping for conscious sedation in dentistry is good clinical practice; it is necessary to ensure patient safety and helps protect patients and clinicians (medicolegally). Clinicians providing a sedation service should be familiar with guidelines and their implementation. Record keeping for conscious sedation in dentistry is a useful audit topic in both primary and secondary care.
Femtosecond supercontinuum generation around 1560  nm in hollow-core photonic crystal fibers filled with carbon tetrachloride
Authors: Hoang Van Thuy , Kasztelanic Rafal , Stępniewski Grzegorz , Xuan Khoa Dinh , Long Van Cao , Trippenbach Marek , Klimczak Mariusz , Buczyński Ryszard , Pniewski Jacek
Published: April 2020

We investigated experimentally supercontinuum generation in hollow-core photonic crystal fibers with cores infiltrated with carbon tetrachloride. As a pump source, we used a standard fiber-based femtosecond laser with a central wavelength at 1560 nm and a pulse duration of 90 fs. The first investigated fiber has a zero-dispersion wavelength at 1740 nm and generates a supercontinuum in the wavelength range from 1350 to 1900 nm. The second fiber has a zero-dispersion wavelength at 1440 nm, and the observed supercontinuum spectrum ranges from 1000 to 1900 nm. We numerically analyzed coherence of simulated supercontinuum pulses and noted that the observed supercontinuum spectra had a potential for high coherence. While the dynamics of supercontinuum generation in each of the investigated cases was revealed to be in agreement with the established state of the art in nonlinear fiber optics, our results are the first demonstration of such dynamics, to the best of our knowledge, leading up to octave spanning supercontinuum spectra in liquid-filled hollow-core silica fibers under pumping with a small-footprint femtosecond laser.
Rapid 129Xe–Rb spin-exchange rate measurement by using an atomic magnetometer
Authors: Chen Linlin , Ren Yuan
Published: April 2020

We propose a fast and accurate method for

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e

−

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b

spin-exchange rate determination based on an atomic magnetometer at low magnetic field and low pressure. The

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e

−

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b

spin-exchange rate can be estimated via the product of the maximum transverse spin polarization of

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nuclei and the corresponding Rabi frequency. The velocity-averaged binary spin-exchange cross section and the rate constant for spin-exchange in

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−

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b

van der Waals complexes are measured to be

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(

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=
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(
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in

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buffer gas, respectively. With respect to the method based on the longitudinal relaxation rate, the method presented in this work can greatly facilitate the measurement process, determining the spin-exchange rate in several minutes. Moreover, this method is more suitable for vapor cells with long longitudinal relaxation time.
Microwave power induced resonance shifting of silicon ring modulators for continuously tunable, bandwidth scaled frequency combs
Authors: Nagarjun K. P. , Raj Piyush , Jeyaselvan Vadivukkarasi , Selvaraja Shankar Kumar , Supradeepa V. R.
Published: April 2020

We demonstrate a technique to continuously tune center frequency and repetition rate of optical frequency combs generated in silicon microring modulators and bandwidth scale them. We utilize a drive frequency dependent, microwave power induced shifting of the microring modulator resonance. In this work, we demonstrate center frequency tunability of frequency combs generated in silicon microring modulators over a wide range (∼8nm) with fixed number of lines. We also demonstrate continuously tunable repetition rates from 7.5GHz to 15GHz. Further, we use this effect to demonstrate a proof-of-principle experiment to bandwidth scale an 8-line (20dB band) comb generated from a single ring modulator driven at 10GHz to a comb with 12 and 15 lines by cascading two and three ring modulators, respectively. This is accomplished by merging widely spaced ring modulator resonances to a common location, thus coupling light simultaneously into multiple cascaded ring modulators.
Improvements of resolution of light field imaging based on four-dimensional optical framing via a semi-transparent mirror
Authors: Qian Wentong , Li Hui , Wu Yuntao
Published: April 2020

A simple light field imaging system is proposed, which could improve the resolution of light field imaging and enhance the signal-to-noise ratio of the result image. In the experiment, the light field imaging system consists of a single CCD with a microlens array and a semi-transparent mirror. The Fourier slice theorem has been used to transform the four-dimensional (4D) light field information into an infinite number of two-dimensional (2D) slices. With the use of the semi-transparent mirror, the high spatial resolution image can be reconstructed on the terminal sensor. The proposed method can not only reduce the aliasing defocus degree in the imaging process but also improve the slice image resolution to meet the requirement of image definition.
Snapshot multifocal light field microscopy
Authors: He Kuan , Wang Xiaolei , Wang Zihao W. , Yi Hannah , Scherer Norbert F. , Katsaggelos Aggelos K. , Cossairt Oliver
Published: April 2020

Light field microscopy (LFM) is an emerging technology for high-speed wide-field 3D imaging by capturing 4D light field of 3D volumes. However, its 3D imaging capability comes at a cost of lateral resolution. In addition, the lateral resolution is not uniform across depth in the light field dconvolution reconstructions. To address these problems, here, we propose a snapshot multifocal light field microscopy (MFLFM) imaging method. The underlying concept of the MFLFM is to collect multiple focal shifted light fields simultaneously. We show that by focal stacking those focal shifted light fields, the depth-of-field (DOF) of the LFM can be further improved but without sacrificing the lateral resolution. Also, if all differently focused light fields are utilized together in the deconvolution, the MFLFM could achieve a high and uniform lateral resolution within a larger DOF. We present a house-built MFLFM system by placing a diffractive optical element at the Fourier plane of a conventional LFM. The optical performance of the MFLFM are analyzed and given. Both simulations and proof-of-principle experimental results are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness and benefits of the MFLFM. We believe that the proposed snapshot MFLFM has potential to enable high-speed and high resolution 3D imaging applications.
Terahertz bifunctional absorber based on a graphene-spacer-vanadium dioxide-spacer-metal configuration
Authors: Zhang Man , Song Zhengyong
Published: April 2020

A terahertz bifunctional absorber is presented with broadband and narrowband absorbing properties in a graphene-spacer-vanadium dioxide-spacer-metal configuration. Carrier relaxation time of graphene τ = 1.0ps (τ = 0.1ps) is chosen for narrowband (broadband) absorption. When vanadium dioxide is in the conducting state, the design behaves as a narrowband absorber, and it is composed of a square-shaped graphene, topas spacer, and metallic vanadium dioxide film. There is an absorption band with 100% absorptance at the frequency of 1.37 THz. Narrowband absorption is caused by the localized magnetic resonance. When vanadium dioxide is in the insulating state, the design behaves as a broadband absorber composed of a square-shaped graphene, topas layer, vanadium dioxide film, and metal film. It has a broadband absorption in the frequency range of 1.05-2.35 THz, and the corresponding absorptance is more than 90%. The merging of two resonances with overlapping region ensures broadband performance of the designed absorber. The working bandwidth and intensity of narrowband absorption and broadband absorption can be dynamically adjusted by changing the Fermi energy level of graphene. The influences of structure parameters are discussed on absorption performance. In addition, the designed absorber is not sensitive to incident angle. Because of the simple structure, our design can be applied to many promising fields in intelligent absorption and terahertz switch.
Mobile voices, flamenco and ethics of representation in Andalucía, un siglo de fascinación/Andalusia, A Century of Fascination (1996)
Authors: Van Tongeren Carlos
Published: April 2020

This article studies the mobility of human voices in Basilio Martín Patino’s series of television films about Andalusia. It explores the voice as an object of cinematic representation and as a focal point of affective investments in a transnational context of postcolonial and neo-colonial power struggles. Furthermore, it scrutinizes a selection of voices that speak and sing throughout the series and considers the location of these voices across the soundtrack of Patino’s films. Through its mobile vocal aesthetic, Patino’s film series gestures towards an ethics of representation in which flamenco becomes a wandering signifier that can only be envisioned in the plural, through a myriad set of accented voices and memories.
Review of Calenda, G. Un Universo Aperto. La cosmologia di Parmenide e la struttura della Terra (2017)
Authors: Privitello Lucio Angelo
Published: April 2020

Review of Calenda, G. Un Universo Aperto. La cosmologia di Parmenide e la struttura della Terra (2017)
The Legacy of Clinton Jencks
Authors: Myerson Michael
Published: April 2020

In 1950, the mainly Mexican and Mexican-American members of the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers Local 890 went on strike against Empire Zinc in southern New Mexico. One of the only fair-haired and pale-skinned union men in meetings and jail was Mine Mill organizer Clinton Jencks. Raymond Caballero's study, McCarthyism vs. Clinton Jencks, exhaustively details how the federal government brought the entire weight of its repressive apparatus down on the heads of Jencks, his family, and his union siblings.
Politische Wege zur Reduktion der globalen C02-Emissionen
Authors: Kopfmüller Jürgen
Published: April 2020

"Die Absicht der Autoren lag daher auch vornehmlich darin, mit neuen Ideen eine Grundlage für weitere Diskussionen zu schaffen, um die offenkundig etwas festgefahrene Debatte zum Thema CO2-Reduktion zu mobilisieren und möglicherweise zu bereichern."
Zwierlein, E. (Hrsg.): Verantwortung in der Risikogesellschaft. Ethische Herausforderungen in einer veränderten Welt
Authors: Weiss W.
Published: April 2020

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Rechtliche Aspekte des "Information Superhighway"
Authors: Goebel J.
Published: April 2020

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Telematic Cities - Perspektiven nachhaltiger Stadtentwicklung
Authors: Burmeister K. , Böhme K.
Published: April 2020

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Culture and Democracy Revisited in the Global Information Society
Authors: Redaktion TATuP
Published: April 2020

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Politische Chance Multimedia - und wie die Fraktionen des Bundestages sie nutzen
Authors: Vowe G.
Published: April 2020

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Voraussetzungen und Implikationen der Präimplantationsdiagnostik (PID)
Authors: Kollek R.
Published: April 2020

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POST-Studie über die Möglichkeiten des Einsatzes von IuK - Technologien in Regierung und Verwaltung: "Electronic Government"
Authors: Von Berg I.
Published: April 2020

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Ein integratives Konzept nachhaltiger Entwicklung: Der theoretisch-konzeptionelle Ansatz des HGF Verbundprojekts
Authors: Jörissen J. , Brandl V. , Kopfmüller J. , Paetau M.
Published: April 2020

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Między byciem sobą i możliwością stania się kimś innym – rozmowa z Zygmuntem Baumanem
Authors: Milas Ryszard Hubert
Published: April 2020

Rozmowa z Zygmuntem Baumanem
Anticipation as Critique: Objective Phantasy from Ernst Bloch to Günther Anders
Authors: Catalani Felipe
Published: April 2020

This paper aims to interpret the role of “objective phantasy” in the utopian tradition of critical theory, with an emphasis on Bloch, but also the evolution of its usage with authors such as Marcuse and Adorno. The main function of phantasy taken into consideration is its capacity to go beyond present facts (what is made possible by an anti-positivist concept of truth in critical theory) and to anticipate. This anticipatory element of phantasy is dependent, as we try to demonstrate, on a reflection of affects around expectation. Ultimately, we oppose two models of anticipatory imagination (while showing their inner relation): a utopian one (primarily conceptualized by Bloch) and its counterpoint, catastrophist anticipation, which assumes its most radical form in Günther Anders’ reflections on the atomic age, and whose actuality and urgency we seek to emphasize.
“Realist” İdealizm? 1977-1978 Senelerinde ABD-Suudi Arabistan İlişkileri Üzerine Bir Değerlendirme
Authors: Çetinoğlu Harunoğlu Nur
Published: April 2020

Realizm-İdealizm gelgiti, ABD’nin kuruluşundan bu yana dış politikası hakkında yapılan tartışmaların başında gelmektedir. Başta Thomas Jefferson olmak üzere, ABD’nin kurucu babalarının savunduğu insan hakları ve demokrasi gibi ideal değerlerin, dış politikada rehberlik etmekten çok, ABD karar alıcıları tarafından ABD’nin çıkarları uğuruna feda edildiği ve/veya araç olarak kullanıldığı ve bu sebeple de ABD’nin kendi kimliğinden/özünden uzaklaştığı fikri, söz konusu tartışmaların çoğunda bulunmaktadır. Tüm bu tartışmalar içerisinde, Soğuk Savaş’ın en hararetli dönemlerinden birinde başkanlık yapmış olan Jimmy Carter’ın, idealist duruşu nedeniyle, istisnai bir konuma sahip olduğunu söylemek yanlış olmayacaktır. Böyle olmakla birlikte, 1979 senesinin meydan okumaları nedeniyle, Carter’ın bu idealizminin zayıfladığını ve hatta yok olduğunu söylemek mümkündür. Bu çalışma, Carter döneminin idealist seneleri olarak bilinen 1977-1978 döneminde ABD - Suudi Arabistan ilişkilerini inceleyecektir. Çalışmanın amacı, söz konusu idealizmin sınırlarını görebilmek ve bu sınırların arkasındaki nedenleri ABD yönetiminin iç yazışmalarında aramak ve ortaya koymaktır. Çalışmanın temel argümanı, ABD dış politikasında salt idealizm veya realizmin tek hâkim yaklaşım olmadığı, bu iki akımın çoğu zaman birbirinin içine geçtiği ve hatta birinin diğerinin aracı olarak kullanıldığı fikridir. Carter döneminin “en idealist” olarak bilinen 1977-1978 senelerinde dahi ABD’nin Suudi Arabistan ile olan ilişkilerinde var olan realist motifler, ABD’nin idealizminin sınırlarını gözler önüne sermektedir. Buna karşılık, Başkan Carter’ın Ortadoğu’da adil bir düzen ve Arap-İsrail barışı gibi idealist amaçları için realist adımlar attığı da ayrı bir gerçeklik olarak ortaya çıkmaktadır.
The measurement process in micro and small software maintenance companies: empirical study
Authors: Fran Victor José Aguiar Teixeira de Melo , Leal Gislaine Camila Lapasini , Balancieri Renato , Rouiller Ana Cristina
Published: April 2020

With the dissemination of quality models and the need for measurement-based management for software organizations, a variety of approaches and models are emerging to support organizations on this journey. According to a Systematic Review of Literature that selected 30 of 692 papers returned from search sources, it was noticed the need for guidelines and guides regarding the measurement process in a specific sector: micro and small companies that work with software maintenance. In this work, an empirical study was carried out to understand how the measurement process aligned with quality models can be implemented in these organizations. The field study followed the implementation of an improvement program based on CMMI® level 2 in 7 Brazilian companies from Maringá, Paraná. Finally, it was found that the process for the definition of a measurement guide can be common to a specific group of companies, taking steps and guidelines for its execution, always aligned with the organization’s strategy, giving top management an objective view work and process, supporting decision making.
Analysis of the movements of cabotage port facilities and a long-term course between the period from 2015 to 2017 using the linear regression method
Authors: Bonette Luiz Rodrigo , Pavan Dayane Melo , Silva Larissa Freitas
Published: April 2020

The requests for tons movements of the public or private port facilities are conditional and structured in their flows by regulatory frameworks of the port law for the operation in part of this Brazilian port system and for the waterway transport networks, but there is a gap in the literature to which one can test its correlation public/private port based on the port infrastructure operations for the time series from 2015 to 2017. As a consequence, this study aims to identify possible impacts on the behavior of these 36 months (events) using the statistical modeling method using the linear regression technique, concluding strategic analyzes of these facilities of public/private port movements of the ports supporting the maritime transport network in its flow, thus contributing to possible investments in civil construction, in the port industry and in its capacity of the expansion of the port arrangement and the support of its transport network and routes monitored and controlled by the Brazilian port system.
Interference-based laser-induced micro-plasma ablation of glass
Authors: Alamri Sabri , Sürmann Paul A. , Lasagni Andrés F. , Kunze Tim
Published: April 2020

Glass is one of the most important technical surfaces for numerous applications in automotive, optical, and consumer industries. In addition, by producing textured surfaces with periodic features in the micrometre range, new functions can be created. Although laser-based methods have shown to be capable to produce structured materials in a wide amount of materials, due to its transparency large bandgap dielectrics can be only processed in a controlled manner by employing high-power ultra-short pulsed lasers, thus limiting the employable laser sources. In this article, an interference-based method for the texturing of soda-lime glass using a 15 ns pulsed (1 kHz repetition rate) infrared (1053 nm) laser is proposed, which allows fabricating different periodic patterns with micrometre resolution. This method consists on irradiating a metallic absorber (stainless steel) put in direct contact with the glass sample and inducing locally an etching process on the backside of the glass. Then, the produced plasma at the interference maxima positions leads to the local fabrication of well-defined periodic line-like and dot-like surface patterns. The produced patterns are characterised using white light interferometry and scanning electron microscopy.
Obesity status modifies the association between rs7556897T>C in the intergenic region SLC19A3-CCL20 and blood pressure in French children
Authors: El Shamieh Said , Stathopoulou Maria G. , Bonnefond Amélie , Ndiaye Ndeye Coumba , Lecoeur Cécile , Meyre David , Dadé Sébastien , Chedid Pia , Salami Ali , Shahabi Payman , Dedoussis George V. , Froguel Philippe , Visvikis-Siest Sophie
Published: April 2020

Background

Growing evidence reports an association between inflammatory markers, obesity and blood pressure (BP). Specifically, the intergenic single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs7556897T > C (MAF = 0.34) located between SLC19A3 and the CCL20 was shown to be associated with chronic inflammatory diseases. In addition, CCL20 expression was found increased in pancreatic islets of obese rodents and human pancreatic β cells under the influence of inflammation. In this study, we hypothesized that SNP rs7556897 could affect BP levels, thus providing a link between inflammation, BP and obesity.

Methods

BP was measured under supine position with a manual sphygmomanometer; values reported were the means of three readings. We analyzed rs7556897 in 577 normal weight and 689 obese French children. Using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), we quantified CCL20 and SLC19A3 expression in adipose tissue and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of normal weight and overweight children.

Results

The rs7556897C allele was negatively associated with diastolic BP in normal weight children (β = −0.012 ± 0.004, p = 0.006) but positively associated in obese children (β = 2.178 ± 0.71, p = 0.002). A significant interaction between rs7556897T > C and the obesity status (obese or normal weight) was detected (β = 3.49, p = 9.79 × 10−5) for BP in a combined population analysis. CCL20 mRNA was only expressed in the adipose tissue of overweight children, and its expression levels were 10.7×  higher in PBMCs of overweight children than normal weight children. Finally, CCL20 mRNA levels were positively associated with rs7556897T > C in PBMCs of 58 normal weight children (β = 0.43, p = 0.002). SLC19A3 was not expressed in PBMCs, and in adipose tissue, it showed same levels of expression in normal weight and overweight children. The gene expression results may highlight a specific involvement of CCL20 via communicating obesity/inflammation pathways that regulate BP.

Conclusions

Childhood obesity reverses the effect of rs7556897T > C on diastolic BP, possibly via the modulation of CCL20 expression levels.