bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of several fungicides on mycelial growth and conidial germination of Alternaria species causing leaf spots in sunflowers under in vitro conditions
Authors: MULJOWATI JUNISAFITRI , HIKAM A.R.
Published: April 2023

Abstract. Muljowati J, Hikam AR. 2023. Evaluation of several fungicides on mycelial growth and conidial germination of Alternaria species causing leaf spots in sunflowers under in vitro conditions. Asian J Agric 7: 47-51. Alternaria leaf spot caused by Alternaria species is the most destructive disease of sunflowers. Fungicides, such as mancozeb, carbendazim, benomyl, propiconazole, and iprodione, are commonly used to control diseases. However, the continuous use of synthetic fungicides can cause pathogen resistance to these fungicides. Therefore, the aim of this study was to conduct an in vitro test on the effect of fungicides, such as benomyl, carbendazim, mancozeb, iprodione, and propiconazole, on the mycelial growth and germination of conidia of Alternaria species causing leaf spot on sunflower. The experiment was performed in a completely randomized design with factorial patterns. The first factor was the type of fungicide, namely benomyl, mancozeb, iprodione, carbendazim, and propiconazole. The second factor was the concentration level of the (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, and 125%) recommended dose. Data were Analyzed of Variance (ANOVA) using SPSS 18 version. The results showed that Alternaria species were resistant to carbendazim (32.98%) and benomyl (40.32%). It also shows an intermediate level of resistance to mancozeb (62.59%), iprodione (65.38%), and sensitivity to propiconazole (78.38%). Based on the research results, the authors suggest sunflower farmers use propiconazole to control Alternaria species. However, such fungicides may trigger the use of fungicides with higher doses than the recommended dose. That led to the emergence of Alternaria species resistant to the fungicides benomyl, carbendazim, mancozeb, and iprodione.
Quantitative evaluation of biological spectrum and phenological pattern of vegetation of a sacred grove of West Midnapore District, Eastern India
Authors: SEN UDAY KUMAR , Bhakat Ram Kumar
Published: April 2023

Abstract. Sen UK, Bhakat RK. 2021. Quantitative evaluation of biological spectrum and phenological pattern of vegetation of a sacred grove of West Midnapore District, Eastern India. Asian J For 5: 83-100. Sacred groves, small forests patches devoted to deities and ancestral spirits, are classic examples of community-based, culturally aware, natural resource management. To indigenous groups that care for them, display rich biodiversity, and provide ecological services to local groups that have sustained the environment over the years, sacred groves have cultural and spiritual significance. This studied sacred forest hosts 312 plant species belonging to 257 genera under 78 families of 34 orders according to APG IV. Poales, 73, 23.40% and Poaceae, 48, 15.38% were the dominant order and family. Therophytes, cryptophytes and chamaephytes constitute a higher percentage 16.81%, 3.62% and 3.18% respectively than the normal spectrum exhibiting “thero-crypto-chamaephytic” phytoclimate. Leaf size spectra showed that the plant with leptophyll, 83, 26.60% and ovate, 59, 18.91% type's leaf lamina were dominant. The findings may have a heuristic value in developing future monitoring schemes and assessing the effects of global change in this varied but poorly studied area.
Dictyosporium matherense sp. nov.: A new-fangled cheirosporous fungal species described from the Western Ghats of India
Authors: Dubey Rashmi
Published: April 2023

Abstract. Dubey R. 2022. Dictyosporium matherense sp. nov.: A new-fangled cheirosporous fungal species described from the Western Ghats of India. Asian J For 6: 1-8. A new species of Dictyosporium from forest areas of Matheran, Western Ghats of India, is described and illustrated. This new-fangled cheirosporous species is characterized by large conidia being cheiroid, digitate, variable shape, having 600-3000 individual cells arranged in 15-80 rows consisting of widening apical ends with tightly appressed prolongations/arms which produce hyaline, rounded appendages which latter on produces 8-20 hyaline, long, and hypha-like septate appendages. The isolate was identified based on asexual morphs and, to some extent, stands close to D. palmae, D. digitatum, and D. stellatum but remarkably differs from all in size of conidia. To our understanding, the present taxon has turned out to be a hitherto unreported species. The morphological character of all accepted species of Dictyosporium is also presented.
The impact of bushfires on animal abundance and diversity across land tenures in Miombo woodlands, Tanzania
Authors: MATIMBWI LUKELO , MADOFFE SEIF SAIDI
Published: April 2023

Abstract. Matimbwi L, Madoffe SS. 2022. The impact of bushfires on animal abundance and diversity across land tenures in Miombo woodlands, Tanzania. Asian J For 6: 43-51. Southern Africa is dominated by Miombo forests (woodlands), the world's largest savanna. The purpose of this research was to examine how bushfires affect mammalian populations in Miombo woodlands under various forest tenure systems. The data was gathered through household questionnaires, a probing question checklist for key informants, participant observation, Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) methods, and a field inventory. We enlisted the aid of the local communities in our analysis of the PRA data we collected. Quantitative and qualitative data and information were subjected to content and structural-functional analysis. Quantitative data was examined using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Microsoft Excel was used to examine inventory data on animal stocks. The average number of mammals collected from each forest tenure system was compared using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to see if there were statistically significant variations. The variety of mammal species in various forest tenure systems was measured using the Shannon-Wiener Index (H). Based on the findings, agricultural activities (44.5%), charcoal production (21.1%), and wildlife hunting (18.9%) accounted for the vast majority of bushfires in Miombo woods. It was thought that illegal logging and honey collection were the only contributing factors. Mammal populations tend to be most significant in Central Governmental Forest Reserves, then in those of the Local Government, and finally in those of the Village Government. Mildly burned sections in the Central Governmental Forest Reserve had a diversity index of 3.2. In contrast, those in the Local Government Forest Reserve and the Village Forest Reserve had indices of 2.0. There was little difference in the diversity index values of the Central Governmental Forest Reserve (2.0) and the Village Forest Reserve (2.0) for moderately burned blocks and the Local Government Forest Reserve (1.6) for unburned blocks. The Central Governmental Forest Reserve had a diversity value of 1.5 for the severely burned blocks, the Village Governmental Forest Reserve had a value of 1.4, and the Local Government Forest Reserve had a value of 1.2. Like other mammals with a low fire escape rate, bushfires hit the rock hyrax particularly hard. As a result, it is suggested that the current management regimes of Local Government Authorities be strengthened to ensure enhanced local community participation with more effective law enforcement measures to save the woods from deterioration. Similarly, communities should be given access to financing and encouragement to pursue income-generating activities to lessen their reliance on Miombo woodlands.
Estimation of carbon stock and emission of community forests in Eastern Amhara, Ethiopia
Authors: BIADGLIGNE ABEBE , GOBEZIE TSEGAYE , MOHAMMED ABEBE , FELEKE ESTIFANOS
Published: April 2023

Abstract. Biadgligne A, Gobezie T, Mohammed A, Feleke E. 2022. Estimation of carbon stock and emission of community forests in Eastern Amhara, Ethiopia. Asian J For 6: 74-82. Carbon emission resulting from deforestation and forest degradation contributes to climate change. Halting deforestation is, therefore, one strategy to mitigate the changing climate. As the global carbon market develops, an opportunity to halt deforestation can be contributed by community forests as a win-win solution for climate change mitigation and livelihood provision, yet knowing the carbon stock of the forest is important to enhance the bargaining power of the community to get carbon finance. Thus, a case study was conducted to quantify carbon stocks and emissions from three community forests (i.e., Asha-Guba, Jemely, and Beshilo) in Eastern Amhara, Ethiopia. Stratified systematic sample quadrate methods were used, and a total of 57 equally spaced nested square quadrats were laid for the measurement of carbon density. Carbon pools, including above-ground living biomass, dead wood, surface litter, belowground root biomass, soil organic carbon, and harvested wood product, were accounted for the estimation of site-level carbon density (t ha-1) and carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emission. There was high variability in the estimated mean carbon density and CO2e emission across the three community forests. The highest carbon density was recorded in the Asha-Guba community forest with 124.27 ± 8.29 t ha-1, followed by Jemely and Beshilo forests with 91.24 ± 3.18 t ha-1 and 73.55 ± 3.13 t ha-1, respectively. The largest proportion (59-63%) of carbon was stored in the soil pool, followed by the above-ground biomass (27-32%), while that in dead organic matter was insignificant. The community forests currently stored total carbon stocks of 57,612.14 ± 13.81ton (210,860.43 CO2e). To ensure the sustainable management of the forests, long-term finance and investment must be introduced urgently.
Floristic composition and structure of closed and open forests in the Banco National Park, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Authors: GNAHORE ERIC , DOUFFI KOUAKOU GUY-CASMIR , N’GUESSAN YAO JOACHIM , AMBA ACHIEDO JEAN GREVIN , IBRAHIMA DIOMANDE , KONE MOUSSA , BAKAYOKO ADAMA
Published: April 2023

Abstract. Gnahore E, Douffi KG-C, N’guessan YJ, Amba AJG, Ibrahima D, Kone M, Bakayoko A. 2023. Floristic composition and structure of closed and open forests in the Banco National Park, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Asian J For 7: 17-26. Natural ecosystems are pressured to degradation caused by human activities. To develop conservation guidelines for these ecosystems, it was necessary to have enough information on their biodiversity. This study aimed to investigate the species richness, diversity, structure, and composition of vegetation in the Banco National Park (BNP), Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, in two forest types, namely closed and open forests. Vegetational data was collected using a sampling plot and itinerant methods. The results showed that 345 and 283 species were recorded in the closed and open forest, respectively, suggesting that the closed forest appears richer than the open forest. Fabaceae, Rubiaceae, and Apocynaceae were the most dominant families in both forest types. Both forest types had a high Shannon-Weaver diversity index and high Pielou equality index. The most important species in the open forest included Chrysophyllum subnudum Baker (Sapotaceae), Allanblackia floribunda Oliv. (Clusiaceae) and Funtumia africana (Benth.) Stapf (Apocynaceae), while in the closed forest were Strombosia pustulata Oliv. (Olacaceae), Turraeanthus africanus (Welw. ex C.DC.) Pellegr. (Meliaceae), and Monodora myristica (Gaertn.) Dunal (Annonaceae). The diametric structure showed the greatest proportion of individuals with low diameter classes, indicating regeneration potential. However, there were great differences in stand structure between the open and the closed forest, especially in high-diameter classes, indicating that the open forest has been pressured by timber cutting. The results of this study can serve as baseline information to develop conservation and rehabilitation strategies in BNP to sustain its biodiversity components.
Diplosoma simile (Ascidiacea: Didemnidae) distribution and its photosynthetic thermal stress responses from Mauritius: Implications for invasive or opportunistic behavior
Authors: FAI ANGELA LIU YEW , KAULLYSING DEEPEEKA , JEETUN SRUTI , SOONDUR MOUNESHWAR , BHAGOOLI RANJEET
Published: April 2023

Abstract. Fai ALY, Kaullysing D, Jeetun S, Soondur M, Bhagooli R. 2023. Diplosoma simile (Ascidiacea: Didemnidae) distribution and its photosynthetic thermal stress responses from Mauritius: Implications for invasive or opportunistic behavior. Indo Pac J Ocean Life 7: 16-26. This study aimed to investigate the morphological identity of the ascidian Diplosoma, its distribution, experimental thermal stress responses, and its characteristics of being potentially invasive or opportunistic in Mauritian waters. The Diplosoma species were anesthetized in menthol, fixed, and preserved in a formalin-seawater solution. Isolated zooids and embryos were examined under a microscope for distinct morphological characteristics, which revealed their identity as D. simile (Sluiter, 1909). The D. simile percentage cover studied at seven sites in 2019 around Mauritius tended to be high at the near-reef zone, with a high percentage of dead coral cover per 0.5 m2. At Flic en Flac, long-term observations in 2008, 2010, 2016, and 2019 indicated a significant decrease and increased from 61.25±3.31 to 6.15±0.60 % and 0.08±0.05 to 2.50±090% for the percentage covers of live coral and D. simile, respectively. The D. simile was recorded on five coral species, and its percentage occurrence increased from 2008 to 2019 in Acropora muricata, A. cytherea, Pocillopora damicornis, and Montipora aequituberculata with the highest levels occurring in Acropora while Porites lutea was not found to be covered by D. simile during the study. Visual observations from the thermal exposures at 27ºC, 30ºC, and 33ºC during 19 hrs revealed that D. simile was more affected by increasing temperature and exposure time. Using four observed conditions of normal, bleached/paled, tissue sloughing, and mortality, D. simile suffered from only bleaching/paling at 33ºC at 19 hrs exposure. Variable visual responses were noted for corals, with P. lutea appearing normal at all trials while A. cytherea was suffering from mortality both at 30ºC and 33ºC at 19 hrs exposure. The effective quantum yield (?PSII), measured using a Diving-PAM, declined significantly at 33ºC treatments at 6 and 19 hrs of exposure. D. simile generally tended to be more thermally tolerant than corals like P. lutea, P. damicornis, M. aequituberculata, A. muricata, A, cytherea, though the ?PSII thermal responses were variable among the tested corals. When considering the reported behavioral characteristics of D. simile, namely the lack of broad dispersal range and wide environmental tolerance, it is tempting to deduce that the species is potentially invasive. However, in this study, D. simile’s significant distribution on dead corals, its presence in zones of high anthropogenic activities, and its relatively more robust thermal stress responses than corals colonized suggest an opportunistic behavior.
A bill of their own: collaboration of women in European parliaments
Authors: Wäckerle Jens
Published: April 2023

Research on representation is increasingly concerned with substantive questions, such as how women members of parliament are acting for women in parliament. To understand the substantive impact women have, we need to understand the power structure in parliament and how women members of parliament use collaboration to represent their constituents. Using a data set of cosponsorship data from 14 European parliaments between 1987 and 2021, and taking advantage of the range of electoral systems, quotas and levels of women’s representation present in these countries, I find that women are more likely than men to collaborate on bill cosponsorship and cosponsor more bills with other women, especially when there are few women in parliament. An analysis of bills cosponsored by women reveals that women members of parliament use the tool of cosponsorship to substantively represent women.
ChromaCorrect: prescription correction in virtual reality headsets through perceptual guidance
Authors: Güzel Ahmet H. , Beyazian Jeanne , Chakravarthula Praneeth , Akșit Kaan
Published: April 2023

A large portion of today’s world population suffers from vision
impairments and wears prescription eyeglasses. However, prescription
glasses cause additional bulk and discomfort when used with virtual
reality (VR) headsets, negatively impacting the viewer’s visual
experience. In this work, we remedy the usage of prescription
eyeglasses with screens by shifting the optical complexity into the
software. Our proposal is a prescription-aware rendering approach for
providing sharper and more immersive imagery for screens, including VR
headsets. To this end, we develop a differentiable display and visual
perception model encapsulating the human visual system’s
display-specific parameters, color, visual acuity, and user-specific
refractive errors. Using this differentiable visual perception model,
we optimize the rendered imagery in the display using gradient-descent
solvers. This way, we provide prescription glasses-free sharper images
for a person with vision impairments. We evaluate our approach and
show significant quality and contrast improvements for users with
vision impairments.
Deep survival modeling of longitudinal retinal OCT volumes for predicting the onset of atrophy in patients with intermediate AMD
Authors: Rivail Antoine , Vogl Wolf-Dieter , Riedl Sophie , Grechenig Christoph , Coulibaly Leonard M. , Reiter Gregor S. , Guymer Robyn H. , Wu Zhichao , Schmidt-Erfurth Ursula , Bogunović Hrvoje
Published: April 2023

In patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the risk of progression to late stages is highly heterogeneous, and the prognostic imaging biomarkers remain unclear. We propose a deep survival model to predict the progression towards the late atrophic stage of AMD. The model combines the advantages of survival modelling, accounting for time-to-event and censoring, and the advantages of deep learning, generating prediction from raw 3D OCT scans, without the need for extracting a predefined set of quantitative biomarkers. We demonstrate, in an extensive set of evaluations, based on two large longitudinal datasets with 231 eyes from 121 patients for internal evaluation, and 280 eyes from 140 patients for the external evaluation, that this model improves the risk estimation performance over standard deep learning classification models.
Matrix optics of artificial intraocular pinhole apertures in astigmatic eyes: modelling depth of field
Authors: Evans Tanya
Published: April 2023

This study uses matrix optics to develop a model to predict depth of field in eyes that may have astigmatic elements and apertures that may be elliptical in general. Depth of field is modelled as the visual acuity (VA) as a function of working distance and is illustrated graphically for model eyes that have artificial intraocular pinhole apertures. A small amount of residual myopia is an advantage to increasing the depth of field at near without interfering with distance-vision. A small amount of residual astigmatism is not an advantage to increasing depth of field, without compromising VA at all distances.
Fermi pencil beams and off-axis laser detection
Authors: Bal Guillaume , Palacios Benjamin
Published: April 2023

This paper concerns the analytic reconstruction of properties for
narrow laser beams propagating in turbulent atmospheres. We consider
the setting of off-axis measurements based on wide-angle single
scattering of light detected away from the main path of the beam.
Light propagation in the beam itself is modeled by macroscopic
approximations of radiative transfer equations that take the form of
Fermi pencil beam or fractional Fermi pencil beam equations. This
allows for a simplified reconstruction procedure of the beam’s
constitutive parameters, in particular, its direction of propagation
and the location of the emitting source.
Towards optical frequency geopotential difference measurements via a flying drone
Authors: Dix-Matthews Benjamin P. , Gozzard David R. , Walsh Shane M. , McCann Ayden S. , Karpathakis Skevos F. E. , Frost Alex M. , Gravestock Charles T. , Schediwy Sascha W.
Published: April 2023

Geopotential and orthometric height differences between distant points can be measured via timescale comparisons between atomic clocks. Modern optical atomic clocks achieve statistical uncertainties on the order of 10−18, allowing height differences of around 1 cm to be measured. Frequency transfer via free-space optical links will be needed for measurements where linking the clocks via optical fiber is not possible, but requires line of sight between the clock locations, which is not always practical due to local terrain or over long distances. We present an active optical terminal, phase stabilization system, and phase compensation processing method robust enough to enable optical frequency transfer via a flying drone, greatly increasing the flexibility of free-space optical clock comparisons. We demonstrate a statistical uncertainty of 2.5×10−18 after 3 s of integration, corresponding to a height difference of 2.3 cm, suitable for applications in geodesy, geology, and fundamental physics experiments.
Lopsided optical diffraction in a loop electromagnetically induced grating
Authors: Huo Da , Hua Shuo , Tian Xue-Dong , Liu Yi-Mou
Published: April 2023

We propose a theoretical scheme in a cold rubidium-87 (87Rb) atomic ensemble with a non-Hermitian optical structure, in which a lopsided optical diffraction grating can be realized just with the combination of single spatially periodic modulation and loop-phase. Parity-time (PT) symmetric and parity-time antisymmetric (APT) modulation can be switched by adjusting different relative phases of the applied beams. Both PT symmetry and PT antisymmetry in our system are robust to the amplitudes of coupling fields, which allows optical response to be modulated precisely without symmetry breaking. Our scheme shows some nontrivial optical properties, such as lopsided diffraction, single-order diffraction, asymmetric Dammam-like diffraction, etc. Our work will benefit the development of versatile non-Hermitian/asymmetric optical devices.
Ghost imaging lidar system for remote imaging
Authors: Jiang Teng , Bai Yanfeng , Tan Wei , Zhu Xiaohui , Huang Xianwei , Nan Suqin , Fu Xiquan
Published: April 2023

Research towards practical applications of ghost imaging lidar system especially in longer sensing distance has been urgent in recent years. In this paper we develop a ghost imaging lidar system to boost an extension of remote imaging, where the transmission distance of the collimated pseudo-thermal beam can be improved hugely over long range and just shifting the adjustable lens assembly generates wide field of view suiting for short-range imaging. Based on the proposed lidar system, the changing tendency of illuminating field of view, energy density, and reconstructed images is analyzed and verified experimentally. Some considerations on the improvement of this lidar system are also discussed.
Generalized conditional gradient method with adaptive regularization parameters for fluorescence molecular tomography
Authors: Chen Yi , Du Mengfei , Zhang Jun , Zhang Gege , Su Linzhi , Li Kang , Zhao Fengjun , Yi Huangjian , Wang Lin , Cao Xin
Published: April 2023

Fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) is an optical imaging technology with the ability of visualizing the three-dimensional distribution of fluorescently labelled probes in vivo. However, due to the light scattering effect and ill-posed inverse problems, obtaining satisfactory FMT reconstruction is still a challenging problem. In this work, to improve the performance of FMT reconstruction, we proposed a generalized conditional gradient method with adaptive regularization parameters (GCGM-ARP). In order to make a tradeoff between the sparsity and shape preservation of the reconstruction source, and to maintain its robustness, elastic-net (EN) regularization is introduced. EN regularization combines the advantages of L1-norm and L2-norm, and overcomes the shortcomings of traditional L
p
-norm regularization, such as over-sparsity, over-smoothness, and non-robustness. Thus, the equivalent optimization formulation of the original problem can be obtained. To further improve the performance of the reconstruction, the L-curve is adopted to adaptively adjust the regularization parameters. Then, the generalized conditional gradient method (GCGM) is used to split the minimization problem based on EN regularization into two simpler sub-problems, which are determining the direction of the gradient and the step size. These sub-problems are addressed efficiently to obtain more sparse solutions. To assess the performance of our proposed method, a series of numerical simulation experiments and in vivo experiments were implemented. The experimental results show that, compared with other mathematical reconstruction methods, GCGM-ARP method has the minimum location error (LE) and relative intensity error (RIE), and the maximum dice coefficient (Dice) in the case of different sources number or shape, or Gaussian noise of 5%–25%. This indicates that GCGM-ARP has superior reconstruction performance in source localization, dual-source resolution, morphology recovery, and robustness. In conclusion, the proposed GCGM-ARP is an effective and robust strategy for FMT reconstruction in biomedical application.
Waveguide Mach-Zehnder interferometer to enhance the sensitivity of quantum parameter estimation
Authors: Feng X. N. , Liu H. Y. , Wei L. F.
Published: April 2023

The waveguide Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) (see, e.g., in Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 243601 (2015)10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.243601 and Nature 569, 692 (2019)10.1038/s41586-019-1196-1), instead of the free space's one, have been demonstrated for the sensitive quantum parameter estimations. Here, we propose a waveguide Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) to further enhance the sensitivity of the relevant parameter estimations. The configuration is formed by two one-dimensional waveguides coupled sequentially to two atomic mirrors, which are served as the beam splitters of the waveguide photons to control the probabilities of the photons being transferred from one waveguide to another. Due to the quantum interference of the waveguide photons, the acquired phase of the photons when they pass through a phase shifter can be sensitively estimated by measuring either the transmitted or reflected probabilities of the transporting photons. Interestingly, we show that, with the proposed waveguide MZI the sensitivity of the quantum parameter estimation could be further optimized, compared with the waveguide FPI, in the same condition. The feasibility of the proposal, with the current atom-waveguide integrated technique, is also discussed.
High-similarity analytical model of skylight polarization pattern based on position variations of neutral points
Authors: Pan Peifeng , Wang Xin , Yang Tian , Pu Xiankun , Wang Wenli , Bao Changhao , Gao Jun
Published: April 2023

The skylight polarization pattern contains rich information for navigation, meteorological monitoring, and remote sensing. In this paper, we propose a high-similarity analytical model by considering the influence of the solar altitude angle on the neutral point position variations for the distribution pattern of the polarized skylight. A novel function is built to determine the relationship between the neutral point position and solar elevation angle based on a large number of measured data. The experimental results show that the proposed analytical model achieves a higher similarity to measured data compared with existing models. Furthermore, data from several consecutive months verifies the universality, effectiveness, and accuracy of this model.
Efficient and robust chiral discrimination by invariant-based inverse engineering
Authors: Xu Hang , Song Xue-Ke , Ye Liu , Wang Dong
Published: April 2023

We propose an accurate and convenient method to achieve 100% discrimination of chiral molecules with Lewis–Riesenfeld invariance. By reversely designing the pulse scheme of handed resolution, we obtain the parameters of the three-level Hamiltonians to achieve this goal. For the same initial state, we can completely transfer its population to one energy level for left-handed molecules, while transferring it to another energy level for right-handed molecules. Moreover, this method can be further optimized when errors exist, and it shows that the optimal method is more robust against these errors than the counterdiabatic and original invariant-based shortcut schemes. This provides an effective, accurate, and robust method to distinguish the handedness of molecules.
Tunable longitudinal spin–orbit separation of complex vector modes
Authors: Hu Xiao-Bo , Zhao Bo , Chen Rui-Pin , Rosales-Guzmán Carmelo
Published: April 2023

Complex vector modes are opening burgeoning opportunities for a wide variety of applications and therefore the flexible manipulation of their various properties has become a topic of late. As such, in this Letter, we demonstrate a longitudinal spin–orbit separation of complex vector modes propagating in free space. To achieve this, we employed the recently demonstrated circular Airy Gaussian vortex vector (CAGVV) modes, which feature a self-focusing property. More precisely, by properly manipulating the intrinsic parameters of CAGVV modes, the strong coupling between the two constituting orthogonal components can be engineered to undergo a spin–orbit separation along the propagation direction. In other words, while one polarization component focuses at one plane, the other focuses at a different plane. Such spin–orbit separation, which we demonstrated by numerical simulations and corroborated experimentally, can be adjusted on-demand by simply changing the initial parameters of the CAGVV mode. Our findings will be of great relevance in applications such as optical tweezers, to manipulate micro- or nano-particles at two different parallel planes.
Pupil-difference moments for estimating relative modulation from general mid-spatial frequency surface errors
Authors: DeMars Luke A. , Suleski Thomas J.
Published: April 2023

Standard surface specifications for mid-spatial frequency (MSF) errors do not capture complex surface topography and often lose critical information by making simplifying assumptions about surface distribution and statistics. As a result, it is challenging to link surface specifications with optical performance. In this work, we present use of the pupil-difference probability distribution (PDPD) moments to assess general MSF surface errors and show how the PDPD moments relate to the relative modulation.
Scattering under the Rayleigh-Debye-Gans condition for transparent glass ceramics
Authors: Jackson Stuart , Whiteman Max
Published: April 2023

We review the various theoretical relations that quantify light scattering under the Rayleigh-Debye-Gans (RDG) approximation and apply these relations to the calculation of scattering within Transparent Glass Ceramics (TGCs) composed of large nanocrystals within a glass matrix. For a more realistic picture of scattering, we include within these models material dispersion of the crystals and glasses across the transparency range of these materials by way of the Sellmeier equation. We first select a number of crystal-glass sets that are near index matched in the visible and near infrared in order to fulfill one of the RDG criterions. We find that the various forms of scattering under the RDG approximation differ significantly across the visible and near infrared. We also find that the inclusion of material dispersion changes significantly the trends in the calculated scattering cross section across the studied wavelength range. Overall, we find that the calculation of the scattering cross section is highly dependent on the chosen theoretical relation and that the inclusion of material dispersion is vital in order to achieve a clear picture of scattering loss of this new class of optical material.
Topological large-area one-way transmission in pseudospin-field-dependent waveguides using magneto-optical photonic crystals
Authors: Yu Xinyue , Chen Jianfeng , Li Zhi-Yuan , Liang Wenyao
Published: April 2023

We propose a pseudospin-field-dependent waveguide (PFDW) by constructing a sandwiched heterostructure consisting of three magneto-optical photonic crystals (MOPCs) with different geometric parameters. The upper expanded MOPC applied with an external magnetic field has broken time-reversal symmetry (TRS) and an analogous quantum spin Hall (QSH) effect, while the middle standard and the lower compressed ones are not magnetized and trivial. Attributed to the TRS-broken-QSH effect of the upper MOPC, the topological large-area one-way transmission that uniformly distributes over the middle domain is achieved and exhibits the characteristics of a pseudospin-field-momentum-locking; i.e., pseudospin-down (or pseudospin-up) leftward (or rightward) waveguide state when the positive (or negative) magnetic field is applied on the upper MOPC. We further demonstrate the strong robustness of the PFDW against backscattering from various kinds of defects. In addition, a topological beam modulator that can compress or expand the light beam, and a large-area pseudospin beam splitter have been designed. These results have potential in various applications such as sensing, signal processing, and optical communications.
Physical origin and boundary of scalable imaging through scattering media: a deep learning-based exploration
Authors: Zhang Xuyu , Cheng Shengfu , Gao Jingjing , Gan Yu , Song Chunyuan , Zhang Dawei , Zhuang Songlin , Han Shensheng , Lai Puxiang , Liu Honglin
Published: April 2023

Imaging through scattering media is valuable for many areas, such as biomedicine and communication. Recent progress enabled by deep learning (DL) has shown superiority especially in the model generalization. However, there is a lack of research to physically reveal the origin or define the boundary for such model scalability, which is important for utilizing DL approaches for scalable imaging despite scattering with high confidence. In this paper, we find the amount of the ballistic light component in the output field is the prerequisite for endowing a DL model with generalization capability by using a “one-to-all” training strategy, which offers a physical meaning invariance among the multisource data. The findings are supported by both experimental and simulated tests in which the roles of scattered and ballistic components are revealed in contributing to the origin and physical boundary of the model scalability. Experimentally, the generalization performance of the network is enhanced by increasing the portion of ballistic photons in detection. The mechanism understanding and practical guidance by our research are beneficial for developing DL methods for descattering with high adaptivity.
Fob1-dependent condensin recruitment and loop extrusion on yeast chromosome III
Authors: Dinda Manikarna , Fine Ryan D. , Saha Shekhar , Wang Zhenjia , Zang Chongzhi , Li Mingguang , Smith Jeffrey S.
Published: April 2023

Despite recent advances in single-molecule and structural analysis of condensin activity in vitro, mechanisms of functional condensin loading and loop extrusion that lead to specific chromosomal organization remain unclear. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the most prominent condensin loading site is the rDNA locus on chromosome XII, but its repetitiveness deters rigorous analysis of individual genes. An equally prominent non-rDNA condensin site is located on chromosome III (chrIII). It lies in the promoter of a putative non-coding RNA gene called RDT1, which is in a segment of the recombination enhancer (RE) that dictates MATa-specific chrIII organization. Here, we unexpectedly find that condensin is recruited to the RDT1 promoter in MATa cells through hierarchical interactions with Fob1, Tof2, and cohibin (Lrs4/Csm1), a set of nucleolar factors that also recruit condensin to the rDNA. Fob1 directly binds to this locus in vitro, while its binding in vivo depends on an adjacent Mcm1/α2 binding site that provides MATa cell specificity. We also uncover evidence for condensin-driven loop extrusion anchored by Fob1 and cohibin at RDT1 that unidirectionally extends toward MATa on the right arm of chrIII, supporting donor preference during mating-type switching. S. cerevisiae chrIII therefore provides a new platform for the study of programmed condensin-mediated chromosome conformation.
Adolescent pregnancy in Mongolia: Evidence from Mongolia Social Indicator Sample Survey 2013–2018
Authors: Bayaraa Khulan , Agho Kingsley , Akombi-Inyang Blessing
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Adolescent pregnancy is a major public health and social concern which pose enormous pregnancy and delivery-related risks for both the mother and their neonate. This study aims to estimate adolescent pregnancy and determine the factors associated with adolescent pregnancy in Mongolia.

Methods

This study pooled data from 2013 and 2018 Mongolia, Social Indicator Sample Surveys (MSISS). A total of 2808 adolescent girls aged 15–19 years with socio-demographic information were included in this study. Adolescent pregnancy is defined as pregnancy in a female 19 years of age or younger. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to determine factors associated with adolescent pregnancy in Mongolia.

Results

Adolescent pregnancy was estimated at 57.62 [95% Confidence Interval (CI): 44.41, 70.84] per 1000 adolescent girls aged 15–19 years. Multivariable analyses reported higher adolescent pregnancy in the countryside [Adjusted Odds Ratios (AOR) = 2.07 (95%CI: 1.08, 3.96)], with increasing age [AOR = 11.50 (95%CI: 6.64, 19.92)], among adolescent girls who used contraception methods [AOR = 10.80 (95%CI: 6.34, 18.40)], among adolescent girls from the poorest households [AOR = 3.32 (95%CI: 1.39, 7.93)], and among adolescent girls who drank alcohol [AOR = 2.10 (95%CI: 1.22, 3.62)].

Discussion

Identifying the factors associated with adolescent pregnancy is crucial in reducing adolescent pregnancy and improving the sexual and reproductive health as well as the social and economic well-being of adolescents thus setting Mongolia on the path to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 by 2030.
Spatial and temporal dynamics of leptospirosis in South Brazil: A forecasting and nonlinear regression analysis
Authors: Teles Alessandra Jacomelli , Bohm Bianca Conrad , Silva Suellen Caroline Matos , Bruhn Nádia Campos Pereira , Bruhn Fábio Raphael Pascoti
Published: April 2023

Although leptospirosis is endemic in most Brazilian regions, South Brazil shows the highest morbidity and mortality rates in the country. The present study aimed to analyze the spatial and temporal dynamics of leptospirosis cases in South Brazil to identify the temporal trends and high-risk areas for transmission and to propose a model to predict the disease incidence. An ecological study of leptospirosis cases in the 497 municipalities of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, was conducted from 2007 to 2019. The spatial distribution of disease incidence in southern Rio Grande do Sul municipalities was evaluated, and a high incidence of the disease was identified using the hotspot density technique. The trend of leptospirosis over the study period was evaluated by time series analyses using a generalized additive model and a seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average model to predict its future incidence. The highest incidence was recorded in the Centro Oriental Rio Grandense and metropolitan of Porto Alegre mesoregions, which were also identified as clusters with a high incidence and high risk of contagion. The analysis of the incidence temporal series identified peaks in the years 2011, 2014, and 2019. The SARIMA model predicted a decline in incidence in the first half of 2020, followed by an increase in the second half. Thus, the developed model proved to be adequate for predicting leptospirosis incidence and can be used as a tool for epidemiological analyses and healthcare services.Temporal and spatial clustering of leptospirosis cases highlights the demand for intersectorial surveillance and community control policies, with a focus on reducing the disparity among municipalities in Brazil.
“Alone, there is nobody”: A qualitative study of the lived experience of loneliness in older men living with HIV
Authors: Austin-Keiller Amanda , Park Melissa , Yang Seiyan , Mayo Nancy E. , Fellows Lesley K. , Brouillette Marie-Josée
Published: April 2023

Loneliness has been shown to be a predictor of poor health and early mortality in the general population. Older men living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at heightened risk of experiencing loneliness. Here, we aim to describe the lived experience of loneliness in older men living with HIV and identify targets for intervention. We used grounded theory with a theoretical framework of narrative phenomenology to focus data collection and analysis on significant experiences related to loneliness. Based on individual narrative interviews with 10 older men living with HIV, experiences of loneliness related to “multiple losses,” “being invisible” and “hiding out” as emergent themes. Participants also described living with loneliness by “finding meaning,” “creating social experiences,” “pursuing interests and things to ‘live for’” and attending events in which “everyone is welcome.” The discussion situates experiences of loneliness within the accumulation of losses and stigmas over time and how the participants strategies for living with loneliness could inform interventions to reduce loneliness in older men living with HIV at individual and societal levels.
The relationships between children’s motor competence, physical activity, perceived motor competence, physical fitness and weight status in relation to age
Authors: den Uil Anne R. , Janssen Mirka , Busch Vincent , Kat Ilse T. , Scholte Ron H. J.
Published: April 2023

The goal of this cross-sectional study was to further explore the relationships between motor competence, physical activity, perceived motor competence, physical fitness and weight status in different age categories of Dutch primary school children. Participants were 2068 children aged 4 to 13 years old, divided over 9 age groups. During physical education classes, they completed the 4-Skills Test, a physical activity questionnaire, versions of the Self-Perception Profile for Children, Eurofit test and anthropometry measurements. Results show that all five factors included in the analyses are related to each other and that a tipping point exists at which relations emerge or strengthen. Physical fitness is related to both motor competence and physical activity and these relationships strengthen with age. A relationship between body mass index and the other four factors emerges in middle childhood. Interestingly, at a young age, motor competence and perceived motor competence are weakly related, but neither one of these have a relation with physical activity. In middle childhood, both motor competence and perceived motor competence are related to physical activity. Our findings show that children in late childhood who have higher perceived motor competence are also more physically active, have higher physical fitness, higher motor competence and lower body mass index. Our results indicate that targeting motor competence at a young age might be a feasible way to ensure continued participation in physical activities throughout childhood and adolescence.
Effects of household water-repellent agents and number of coating layers on the physical properties of cotton woven fabrics
Authors: Kim Seyeon , Kim Jo-Eun , Song Da-Eun , Cho Soo-Yeon , Hwang Yeseul , Chae Youngjoo
Published: April 2023

The increased interest in outdoor activities has prompted the demand for water-repellent fabrics that can withstand various environmental factors. In this study, the water repellency and physical properties, namely thickness, weight, tensile strength, elongation, and stiffness, of cotton woven fabrics were analyzed according to various treatments with different types of household water-repellent agents and number of coating layers. Fluorine-, silicone-, and wax-based water-repellent agents were coated on cotton woven fabrics once, thrice, and five times. Thickness, weight, and stiffness increased with the number of coating layers, which may reduce comfort. These properties increased minimally for the fluorine- and silicone-based water-repellent agents, whereas they considerably increased for the wax-based water-repellent agent. The fluorine-based water-repellent agent had a low water repellency rating of 2.2 even after five coating layers, and the silicone-based water-repellent agent had a higher rating of 3.4 with the same five coating layers. Meanwhile, the wax-based water-repellent agent had the highest water repellency rating of 5 even with only one coating layer, which was maintained with repeated coatings. Therefore, fluorine- and silicone-based water-repellent agents minimally altered the fabric properties even with repeated coatings; multiple coating layers, especially five or more layers for the fluorine-based water-repellent agent, are recommended to attain excellent water repellency. Conversely, one coating layer of the wax-based water-repellent agent is recommended to retain the comfort of the wearer.
Survival benefits of perioperative chemoradiotherapy versus chemotherapy for advanced stage gastric cancer based on directed acyclic graphs
Authors: Zheng Cheng , Zhang Yue , Cao Juan , Jing Xiaoying , Li HongHui
Published: April 2023

The overall survival benefits of perioperative chemotherapy (PCT) and perioperative chemoradiotherapy (PCRT) for patients with locally advanced gastric cancer (GC) have not been fully explored. The aim of this study was to compare the benefits of PCT and PCRT in GC patients and determine the factors affecting survival rate using directed acyclic graphs (DAGs). The data of 1,442 patients with stage II-IV GC who received PCT or PCRT from 2000 to 2018 were retrieved from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. First, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) was used to identify possible influencing factors for overall survival. Second, the variables that were selected by LASSO were then used in univariate and Cox regression analyses. Third, corrective analyses for confounding factors were selected based on DAGs that show the possible association between advanced GC patients and outcomes and evaluate the prognosis. Patients who received PCRT had longer overall survival than those who received PCT treatment (P = 0.015). The median length of overall survival of the PCRT group was 36.5 (15.0 − 53.0) months longer than that of the PCT group (34.6 (16.0 − 48.0) months). PCRT is more likely to benefit patients who are aged ≤ 65, male, white, and have regional tumors (P<0.05). The multivariate Cox regression model showed that male sex, widowed status, signet ring cell carcinoma, and lung metastases were independent risk factors for a poor prognosis. According to DAG, age, race, and Lauren type may be confounding factors that affect the prognosis of advanced GC. Compared to PCT, PCRT has more survival benefits for patients with locally advanced GC, and ongoing investigations are needed to better determine the optimal treatment. Furthermore, DAGs are a useful tool for contending with confounding and selection biases to ensure the proper implementation of high-quality research.