bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Suspect fault screen assisted graph aggregation network for intra-/inter-node failure localization in ROADM-based optical networks
Authors: Wang Ruikun , Zhang Jiawei , Yan Shuangyi , Zeng Chuidian , Yu Hao , Gu Zhiqun , Zhang Bojun , Taleb Tarik , Ji Yuefeng
Published: March 2023

In optical networks, failure localization is essential to stable operation and service restoration. Several approaches have been presented to achieve accurate failure localization of nodes and inter-nodes. However, due to increasing traffic and demand for flexibility, the reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexer (ROADM) is evolving towards a multi-degree architecture. Therefore, each ROADM is composed of multiple devices, which makes intra-node failures become more complex. In this context, intra-node failure localization can effectively reduce the pressure on network operators to further find specific devices. In this work, we redefine the intra-/inter-node failure model for multi-degree ROADM-based optical networks and propose a suspect fault screen assisted graph aggregation network (SFS-GRN) for intra-/inter-node failure localization. The SFS is responsible for screening out suspect fault devices from all devices and reducing the number of candidate devices. The GRN is used to analyze these monitoring data from an optical performance monitoring (OPM) node and network wide and to determine the most likely failure device. The proposed scheme is evaluated in a nine-node simulated network and three-node testbed network. Extensive results show that the SFS-GRN achieves higher accuracy compared with existing methods under different percentages of OPM deployment, numbers of service requests, and failure types. The SFS can remove more than 98% of devices, which is beneficial to further detection and repair for network operators. Moreover, the proposed strategy takes about 10 ms to detect a potential failure, and it has the potential to be applied to a real scenario.
Theory of space–time supermodes in planar multimode waveguides
Authors: Shiri Abbas , Schepler Kenneth L. , Abouraddy Ayman F.
Published: March 2023

When an optical pulse is focused into a multimode waveguide or fiber, the energy is divided among the available guided modes. Consequently, the initially localized intensity spreads transversely, the spatial profile undergoes rapid variations with axial propagation, and the pulse disperses temporally. Space–time (ST) supermodes are pulsed guided field configurations that propagate invariantly in multimode waveguides by assigning each mode to a prescribed wavelength. ST supermodes can be thus viewed as spectrally discrete, guided-wave counterparts of the recently demonstrated propagation-invariant ST wave packets in free space. The group velocity of an ST supermode is tunable independently—in principle—of the waveguide structure, group-velocity dispersion is eliminated or dramatically curtailed, and the time-averaged intensity profile is axially invariant along the waveguide in absence of mode-coupling. We establish here a theoretical framework for studying ST supermodes in planar waveguides. Modal engineering allows sculpting this axially invariant transverse intensity profile from an on-axis peak or dip (dark beam) to a multi-peak or flat distribution. Moreover, ST supermodes can be synthesized using spectrally incoherent light, thus paving the way to potential applications in optical beam delivery for lighting applications.
Hyperspectral image reconstruction via patch attention driven network
Authors: Qiu Yechuan , Zhao Shengjie , Ma Xu , Zhang Tong , Arce Gonzalo R.
Published: March 2023

Coded aperture snapshot spectral imaging (CASSI) captures 3D hyperspectral images (HSIs) with 2D compressive measurements. The recovery of HSIs from these measurements is an ill-posed problem. This paper proposes a novel, to our knowledge, network architecture for this inverse problem, which consists of a multilevel residual network driven by patch-wise attention and a data pre-processing method. Specifically, we propose the patch attention module to adaptively generate heuristic clues by capturing uneven feature distribution and global correlations of different regions. By revisiting the data pre-processing stage, we present a complementary input method that effectively integrates the measurements and coded aperture. Extensive simulation experiments illustrate that the proposed network architecture outperforms state-of-the-art methods.
Spectral properties of intermediate to high refractive index nanocubes
Authors: Madeleine Tristan , D’Alessandro Giampaolo , Kaczmarek Malgosia
Published: March 2023

Plasmonic resonances in sub-wavelength cavities, created by metallic nanocubes separated from a metallic surface by a dielectric gap, lead to strong light confinement and strong Purcell effect, with many applications in spectroscopy, enhanced light emission and optomechanics. However, the limited choice of metals, and the constraints on the sizes of the nanocubes, restrict the optical wavelength range of applications. We show that dielectric nanocubes made of intermediate to high refractive index materials exhibit similar but significantly blue shifted and enriched optical responses due to the interaction between gap plasmonic modes and internal modes. This result is explained, and the efficiency of dielectric nanocubes for light absorption and spontaneous emission is quantified by comparing the optical response and induced fluorescence enhancement of nanocubes made of barium titanate, tungsten trioxide, gallium phosphide, silicon, silver and rhodium.
Computational-sampling-moiré-based on-machine alignment for freeform optics
Authors: Mishra Vinod , Dubey Nitin , Singh M. P. , Kumar Raj , Kar Subrat , Jha Sunil , Mayer Luke D. , Kim Daewook , Khan Gufran S
Published: March 2023

The manufacturing and characterization of freeform optical surfaces are influenced by their high sensitivity to misalignments. In this work, the computational sampling moiré technique combined with phase extraction is developed for the precise alignment of freeform optics during fabrication and in metrology applications. This novel, to the best of our knowledge, technique achieves near-interferometry-level precision in a simple and compact configuration. This robust technology can be applied to industrial manufacturing platforms (such as diamond turning machines, lithography, and other micro-nano-machining techniques) as well as their metrology equipment. In a demonstration of computational data processing and precision alignment using this method, iterative manufacturing of freeform optical surfaces with a final-form accuracy of about 180 nm was accomplished.
Geometrically accurate real-time volumetric visualization of the middle ear using optical coherence tomography
Authors: Adamson Robert , Farrell Joshua , Wang Junzhe , Yang Xiaojie , Brewer Kimberly , Morris David , COUVREUR Floor , Shoman Nael , MacDougall Dan
Published: March 2023

We introduce a novel system for geometrically accurate , continuous, live, volumetric middle ear optical coherence tomography imaging over a 13 mm × 30° × 30° field of view from a handheld imaging probe. The system employs a discretized spiral scanning (DC-SC) pattern to rapidly collect volumetric data and applies real-time scan conversion and lateral angular distortion correction to reduce geometric inaccuracies to below the system’s lateral resolution over 91% of the field of view. We validate the geometric accuracy of the resulting images through comparison with co-registered micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) volumes of a phantom target and a cadaveric middle ear. The system’s real-time volumetric imaging capabilities are assessed by imaging the ear of a healthy subject while performing dynamic pressurization of the middle ear in a Valsalva maneuver.
Health itinerary-related survival of children under-five with severe malaria or bloodstream infection, DR Congo
Authors: Tack Bieke , Vita Daniel , Nketo José , Wasolua Naomie , Ndengila Nathalie , Herssens Natacha , Ntangu Emmanuel , Kasidiko Grace , Nkoji-Tunda Gaëlle , Phoba Marie-France , Im Justin , Jeon Hyon Jin , Marks Florian , Toelen Jaan , Lunguya Octavie , Jacobs Jan
Published: March 2023

Background

Prompt appropriate treatment reduces mortality of severe febrile illness in sub-Saharan Africa. We studied the health itinerary of children under-five admitted to the hospital with severe febrile illness in a setting endemic for Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) malaria and invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella infections, identified delaying factors and assessed their associations with in-hospital death.

Methodology

Health itinerary data of this cohort study were collected during 6 months by interviewing caretakers of children (>28 days − <5 years) admitted with suspected bloodstream infection to Kisantu district hospital, DR Congo. The cohort was followed until discharge to assess in-hospital death.

Principal findings

From 784 enrolled children, 36.1% were admitted >3 days after fever onset. This long health itinerary was more frequent in children with bacterial bloodstream infection (52.9% (63/119)) than in children with severe Pf malaria (31.0% (97/313)). Long health itinerary was associated with in-hospital death (OR = 2.1, p = 0.007) and two thirds of deaths occurred during the first 3 days of admission. Case fatality was higher in bloodstream infection (22.8% (26/114)) compared to severe Pf malaria (2.6%, 8/309). Bloodstream infections were mainly (74.8% (89/119)) caused by non-typhoidal Salmonella. Bloodstream infections occurred in 20/43 children who died in-hospital before possible enrolment and non-typhoidal Salmonella caused 16 out of these 20 bloodstream infections. Delaying factors associated with in-hospital death were consulting traditional, private and/or multiple providers, rural residence, prehospital intravenous therapy, and prehospital overnight stays. Use of antibiotics reserved for hospital use, intravenous therapy and prehospital overnight stays were most frequent in the private sector.

Conclusions

Long health itineraries delayed appropriate treatment of bloodstream infections in children under-five and were associated with increased in-hospital mortality. Non-typhoidal Salmonella were the main cause of bloodstream infection and had high case fatality.

Trial registration

NCT04289688
SCOPE: Surveillance of COVID-19 in pregnancy- results of a multicentric ambispective case-control study on clinical presentation and maternal outcomes in India between April to November 2020
Authors: Kumar Sunesh , Bhatla Neerja , Sharma K. Aparna , Agarwal Ramesh , Verma Ankit , Perumal Vanamail , Shiv Kumar Poonam , Garg B. S. , Goudar Shivaprasad S. , Pujar Yeshita V. , Kavi Avinash , Suri Vanita , Joshi Bharti , Rathore Asmita , Gupta Madhavi M. , Kumar Ajay , Puri Manju , Meena Deepika , Nangia Sushma , Arora Renu , Bachani Sumitra , Anand Pratima , Seth Shikha , Gupta Rakesh , Sehgal Rohini , Rana Anubhuti , Kumari Archana , P. Shainy , Donimath Kasturi , Gowder Guruprasad , Kedar Lakshmi , Kar Tushar , Mishra Sujata , Joshi Chinmayi , Kabade Yogendra , Kamatar Saroja , Nanda Saumya , Mohapatra Vandana , Vellanki Janki , Agarwal Sarita , Borkar Aparna Wahane , Kumar Aruna , Sultan Shabana , Gangane Neha , Chaudhary Pushpa , Jayathilaka Anoma , Raina Neena , Karna Priya ,   For the SCOPE Study Group
Published: March 2023

Objective

To determine the clinical manifestations, risk factors, treatment modalities and maternal outcomes in pregnant women with lab-confirmed COVID-19 and compare it with COVID-19 negative pregnant women in same age group.

Design

Multicentric case-control study.

Data sources

Ambispective primary data collection through paper-based forms from 20 tertiary care centres across India between April and November 2020.

Study population

All pregnant women reporting to the centres with a lab-confirmed COVID-19 positive result matched with controls.

Data quality

Dedicated research officers extracted hospital records, using modified WHO Case Record Forms (CRF) and verified for completeness and accuracy.

Statistical analysis

Data converted to excel files and statistical analyses done using STATA 16 (StataCorp, TX, USA). Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) estimated using unconditional logistic regression.

Results

A total of 76,264 women delivered across 20 centres during the study period. Data of 3723 COVID positive pregnant women and 3744 age-matched controls was analyzed. Of the positive cases 56·9% were asymptomatic. Antenatal complications like preeclampsia and abruptio placentae were seen more among the cases. Induction and caesarean delivery rates were also higher among Covid positive women. Pre-existing maternal co-morbidities increased need for supportive care. There were 34 maternal deaths out of the 3723(0.9%) positive mothers, while covid negative deaths reported from all the centres were 449 of 72,541 (0·6%).

Conclusion

Covid-19 infection predisposed to adverse maternal outcomes in a large cohort of Covid positive pregnant women as compared to the negative controls.
Public decisions about COVID-19 vaccines: A UK-based qualitative study
Authors: Williams Simon N. , Armitage Christopher J. , Dienes Kimberly , Drury John , Tampe Tova
Published: March 2023

Objective

To explore UK public decisions around whether or not to get COVID-19 vaccines, and the facilitators and barriers behind participants’ decisions.

Design

This qualitative study consisted of six online focus groups conducted between 15th March and 22nd April 2021. Data were analysed using a framework approach.

Setting

Focus groups took place via online videoconferencing (Zoom).

Participants

Participants (n = 29) were a diverse group (by ethnicity, age and gender) UK residents aged 18 years and older.

Results

We used the World Health Organization’s vaccine hesitancy continuum model to look for, and explore, three main types of decisions related to COVID-19 vaccines: vaccine acceptance, vaccine refusal and vaccine hesitancy (or vaccine delay). Two reasons for vaccine delay were identified: delay due to a perceived need for more information and delay until vaccine was “required” in the future. Nine themes were identified: three main facilitators (Vaccination as a social norm; Vaccination as a necessity; Trust in science) and six main barriers (Preference for “natural immunity”; Concerns over possible side effects; Perceived lack of information; Distrust in government;; Conspiracy theories; “Covid echo chambers”) to vaccine uptake.

Conclusion

In order to address vaccine uptake and vaccine hesitancy, it is useful to understand the reasons behind people’s decisions to accept or refuse an offer of a vaccine, and to listen to them and engage with, rather than dismiss, these reasons. Those working in public health or health communication around vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, in and beyond the UK, might benefit from incorporating the facilitators and barriers found in this study.
Identification and functional analysis of protein secreted by Alternaria solani
Authors: Wang Chen , Wang Jinhui , Zhang Dai , Cheng Jianing , Zhu Jiehua , Yang Zhihui
Published: March 2023

Early blight, caused by the necrotrophic fungus Alternaria solani, is an important foliar disease that causes major yield losses of potato. Effector proteins secreted by pathogens to host cells can inhibit host immune response to pathogens. Currently, the function of effector proteins secreted by A. solani during infection is poorly understood. In this study, we identified and characterized a novel candidate effector protein, AsCEP50. AsCEP50 is a secreted protein that is highly expressed throughout the infection stages of A. solani. Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana and tomato demonstrated that AsCEP50 is located on the plasma membrane of N. benthamiana and regulates senescence-related genes, resulting in the chlorosis of N. benthamiana and tomato leaves. Δ50 mutants were unaffected in vegetative growth, spore formation and mycelium morphology. However, the deletion of AsCEP50 significantly reduced virulence, melanin production and penetration of A. solani. These results strongly supported that AsCEP50 is an important pathogenic factor at the infection stage and contributes to the virulence of Alternaria solani.
Comparison between passive knee kinematics during surgery and active knee kinematics during walking: A preliminary study
Authors: Gasparutto Xavier , Bonnefoy-Mazure Alice , Attias Michael , Dumas Raphaël , Armand Stéphane , Miozzari Hermès
Published: March 2023

Recovery of function is among a patient’s main expectations when undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, normal gait knee function is not always completely restored, which can affect patient satisfaction and quality of life. Computer-assisted surgery (CAS) allows surgeons to evaluate passive knee kinematics intra-operatively. Understanding associations between knee kinematics measured during surgery and during daily activities, such as walking, could help define criteria for success based on knee function and not only on the correct alignment of the implant or the leg. This preliminary study compared passive knee kinematics measured during surgery with active kinematics measured during walking. Eight patients underwent a treadmill gait analysis using the KneeKG™ system both before surgery and three months afterwards. Knee kinematics were measured during CAS both before and after TKA implantation. The anatomical axes of the KneeKG™ and CAS systems were homogenised using a two-level, multi-body kinematics optimisation with a kinematic chain based on the calibration measured during CAS. A Bland–Altman analysis was performed before and after TKA for adduction–abduction angle, internal–external rotation, and anterior–posterior displacement over the whole gait cycle, at the single stance phase and at the swing phase. Homogenising the anatomical axes between CAS and treadmill gait led to limited median bias and limits of agreement (post-surgery -0.6 ± 3.6 deg, -2.7 ± 3.6 deg, and -0.2 ± 2.4 mm for adduction–abduction, internal–external rotation and anterior–posterior displacement, respectively). At the individual level, correlations between the two systems were mostly weak (R2 < 0.3) over the whole gait cycle, indicating low kinematic consistency between the two measurements. However, correlations were better at the phase level, especially the swing phase. The multiple sources of differences did not enable us to conclude whether they came from anatomical and biomechanical differences or from measurement system errors.
Fast and accurate interpretation of workload classification model
Authors: Shim Sooyeon , Kim Doyeon , Jang Jun-Gi , Chae Suhyun , Lee Jeeyong , Kang U.
Published: March 2023

How can we interpret predictions of a workload classification model? A workload is a sequence of operations executed in DRAM, where each operation contains a command and an address. Classifying a given sequence into a correct workload type is important for verifying the quality of DRAM. Although a previous model achieves a reasonable accuracy on workload classification, it is challenging to interpret the prediction results since it is a black box model. A promising direction is to exploit interpretation models which compute the amount of attribution each feature gives to the prediction. However, none of the existing interpretable models are tailored for workload classification. The main challenges to be addressed are to 1) provide interpretable features for further improving interpretability, 2) measure the similarity of features for constructing the interpretable super features, and 3) provide consistent interpretations over all instances. In this paper, we propose INFO (INterpretable model For wOrkload classification), a model-agnostic interpretable model which analyzes workload classification results. INFO provides interpretable results while producing accurate predictions. We design super features to enhance interpretability by hierarchically clustering original features used for the classifier. To generate the super features, we define and measure the interpretability-friendly similarity, a variant of Jaccard similarity between original features. Then, INFO globally explains the workload classification model by generalizing super features over all instances. Experiments show that INFO provides intuitive interpretations which are faithful to the original non-interpretable model. INFO also shows up to 2.0× faster running time than the competitor while having comparable accuracies for real-world workload datasets.
Integrating technologies provides insight into the subsurface foraging behaviour of a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) feeding on walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) in Juan de Fuca Strait, Canada
Authors: Reidy Rhonda , Gauthier Stéphane , Doniol-Valcroze Thomas , Lemay Matthew A. , Clemente-Carvalho Rute B. G. , Cowen Laura L. E. , Juanes Francis
Published: March 2023

Subsurface foraging is an important proportion of the activity budget of rorqual whales, yet information on their behaviour underwater remains challenging to obtain. Rorquals are assumed to feed throughout the water column and to select prey as a function of depth, availability and density, but there remain limitations in the precise identification of targeted prey. Current data on rorqual foraging in western Canadian waters have thus been limited to observations of prey species amenable to surface feeding, such as euphausiids and Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii), with no information on deeper alternative prey sources. We measured the foraging behaviour of a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Juan de Fuca Strait, British Columbia, using three complimentary methods: whale-borne tag data, acoustic prey mapping, and fecal sub-sampling. Acoustically detected prey layers were near the seafloor and consistent with dense schools of walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) distributed above more diffuse aggregations of pollock. Analysis of a fecal sample from the tagged whale confirmed that it had been feeding on pollock. Integrating the dive profile with the prey data revealed that the whale’s foraging effort followed the general pattern of areal prey density, wherein the whale had a higher lunge-feeding rate at the highest prey abundance and stopped feeding when prey became limited. Our findings of a humpback whale feeding on seasonally energy-dense fish like walleye pollock, which are potentially abundant in British Columbia, suggests that pollock may be an important prey source for this rapidly growing whale population. This result is informative when assessing regional fishing activities for semi-pelagic species as well as the whales’ vulnerability to fishing gear entanglements and feeding disturbances during a narrow window of prey acquisition.
Survival and predictors of breast cancer mortality in South Ethiopia: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Shita Abel , Yalew Alemayehu Worku , Seife Edom , Afework Tsion , Tesfaw Aragaw , Gufue Zenawi Hagos , Rabe Friedemann , Taylor Lesley , Kantelhardt Eva Johanna , Getachew Sefonias
Published: March 2023

Background

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in over 100 countries. In March 2021, the World Health Organization called on the global community to decrease mortality by 2.5% per year. Despite the high burden of the disease, the survival status and the predictors for mortality are not yet fully determined in many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia. Here, we report the survival status and predictors of mortality among breast cancer patients in South Ethiopia as crucial baseline data to be used for the design and monitoring of interventions to improve early detection, diagnosis, and treatment capacity.

Methods

A hospital-based retrospective cohort study was conducted among 302 female breast cancer patients diagnosed from 2013 to 2018 by reviewing their medical records and telephone interviews. The median survival time was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis method. A log-rank test was used to compare the observed differences in survival time among different groups. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to identify predictors of mortality. Results are presented using the crude and adjusted as hazard ratios along with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals. Sensitivity analysis was performed with the assumption that loss to follow-up patients might die 3 months after the last hospital visit.

Results

The study participants were followed for a total of 4,685.62 person-months. The median survival time was 50.81 months, which declined to 30.57 months in the worst-case analysis. About 83.4% of patients had advanced-stage disease at presentation. The overall survival probability of patients at two and three years was 73.2% and 63.0% respectively. Independent predictors of mortality were: patients residing in rural areas (adjusted hazard ratio = 2.71, 95% CI: 1.44, 5.09), travel time to a health facility ≥7 hours (adjusted hazard ratio = 3.42, 95% CI: 1.05, 11.10), those who presented within 7–23 months after the onset of symptoms (adjusted hazard ratio = 2.63, 95% CI: 1.22, 5.64), those who presented more than 23 months after the onset of symptoms (adjusted hazard ratio = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.00, 5.59), advanced stage at presentation (adjusted hazard ratio = 3.01, 95% CI: 1.05, 8.59), and patients who never received chemotherapy (adjusted hazard ratio = 6.69, 95% CI: 2.20, 20.30).

Conclusion

Beyond three years after diagnosis, patients from southern Ethiopia had a survival rate of less than 60% despite treatment at a tertiary health facility. It is imperative to improve the early detection, diagnosis, and treatment capacities for breast cancer patients to prevent premature death in these women.
Atividade antimicrobiana do kefir sobre Escherichia coli, Salmonella e Staphylococcus aureus: uma revisão
Authors: Zani Gustavo , Carriero Marcelo Dassan
Published: March 2023

Kefir é uma bebida obtida pela fermentação de um substrato na presença de grãos de kefir, os quais possuem uma ampla variedade de microrganismos probióticos. Estudos indicam que dentre os benefícios do kefir está a atividade antimicrobiana, que poderia servir na prevenção e tratamento de Doenças Transmitidas por Alimentos (DTA), muitas vezes causadas pela ingestão de bactérias patogênicas que produzem toxinas ou se proliferam no trato intestinal humano, podendo causar complicações graves à saúde. Dados mostram que os surtos de DTA são majoritariamente causados pelas bactérias Escherichia coli, Salmonella e Staphylococcus. Considerando o potencial antimicrobiano do kefir e a ascensão de cepas resistentes ao tratamento com antimicrobianos, o objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar uma revisão de literatura para trazer resultados e conclusões de estudos que avaliaram a atividade antimicrobiana do kefir contra as bactérias mais envolvidas em surtos de DTA: Escherichia coli, Salmonella e Staphylococcus. Após uma busca na base de dados “Google Scholar” foram selecionados 37 artigos para compor esta revisão. Os estudos in vitro e in vivo demonstraram que o kefir e seus componentes possuem atividade antimicrobiana e protetora contra as bactérias patogênicas.
Construcción discursiva de fronteras morales en manifestaciones anti-inmigración
Authors: Buraschi Daniel , Aguilar-Idáñez María-José
Published: March 2023

La violación sistemática de derechos que caracteriza la gestión migratoria en Canarias en los últimos años no sería posible sin la existencia de fronteras morales, líneas de separación simbólicas que excluyen a las personas migrantes del espacio de obligación moral. La construcción de fronteras morales es clave para comprender cómo se legitima el racismo en un marco liberal-democrático, justificando la violencia apelando a valores considerados “democráticos”. Se analizan las estrategias discursivas de exclusión moral y los repertorios interpretativos utilizados por participantes en las primeras manifestaciones anti-inmigración celebradas en Canarias. Los manifestantes moralizan el rechazo y justifican la violación de derechos de los migrantes (incluyendo morir en el mar) basándose en el sentido común y apelando a valores como la igualdad y la seguridad. Las estrategias discursivas son comunes, pero el mecanismo de exclusión moral de la amenaza se expresa en repertorios interpretativos diferentes (familia vs. patria) en cada manifestación. Todas las estrategias discursivas identificadas moralizan acciones que resultarían inaceptables en otro contexto.
Monthly Review Volume 74, Number 10 (March 2023)
Authors: Editors -
Published: March 2023

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March's "Notes from the Editors" revisits the Non-Aligned Movement and its growing role in the New Cold War. The rise of Russia, China, BRICS, and other nonaligned countries hearlds the emergence of a new, multipolar world, counteracting the global hegemony of the United States.
Численный анализ нелинейных колебаний пластины на вязкоупругом основании под действием подвижной осциллирующей нагрузки на основе моделей с дробными производными
Authors: Круссер Анастасия Игоревна , Krusser Anastasiya I. , Шитикова Марина Вячеславовна , Shitikova Marina Vyacheslavovna
Published: March 2023

Цель. Исследуются нелинейные колебания упругой шарнирно опертой пластины на вязкоупругом основании под действием подвижной осциллирующей нагрузки в случае внутреннего резонанса $1{:}1$, сопровождаемого внешним резонансом. Свойства вязкоупругого основания задаются с помощью обобщенной модели Фусса-Винклера, в которой сила демпфирования описывается моделью стандартного линейного твердого тела с дробной производной Римана-Лиувилля. Внешняя нагрузка задается при помощи линейного вязкоупругого осциллятора на основе модели Кельвина-Фойгта с дробной производной в случае, когда вязкость осциллятора считается малой величиной. Динамическое поведение пластины описывается системой нелинейных обыкновенных дифференциальных уравнений второго порядка по времени относительно обобщенных перемещений. Методы. Для решения полученной системы уравнений используется метод многих временных масштабов в сочетании с методом разложения дробной производной в ряд Тейлора. Результаты. Получены разрешающие уравнения для определения нелинейных амплитуд и фаз вынужденных колебаний, решение которых получено численно. Данная система уравнений позволяет управлять не только демпфирующими свойствами окружающей среды и основания за счет изменения параметров дробности, но также регулировать параметры демпфирования внешней нагрузки. Выводы. Численный анализ показал, что в рассматриваемой системе «пластина на вязкоупругом основании + подвижная осциллирующая нагрузка» происходит перекачка энергии между взаимодействующими модами колебаний. Представлено сравнение результатов численных исследований для различных значений внешней нагрузки, а также показана зависимость амплитуд нелинейных колебаний от значений параметров дробности окружающей среды и основания.
FederatedScope: A Flexible Federated Learning Platform for Heterogeneity
Authors: Xie Yuexiang , Wang Zhen , Gao Dawei , Chen Daoyuan , Yao Liuyi , Kuang Weirui , Li Yaliang , Ding Bolin , Zhou Jingren
Published: March 2023

Although remarkable progress has been made by existing federated learning (FL) platforms to provide infrastructures for development, these platforms may not well tackle the challenges brought by various types of heterogeneity. To fill this gap, in this paper, we propose a novel FL platform, named FederatedScope, which employs an event-driven architecture to provide users with great flexibility to independently describe the behaviors of different participants. Such a design makes it easy for users to describe participants with various local training processes, learning goals and backends, and coordinate them into an FL course with synchronous or asynchronous training strategies. Towards an easy-to-use and flexible platform, FederatedScope enables rich types of plug-in operations and components for efficient further development, and we have implemented several important components to better help users with privacy protection, attack simulation and auto-tuning. We have released FederatedScope at https://github.com/alibaba/FederatedScope to promote academic research and industrial deployment of federated learning in a wide range of scenarios.
A Hierarchical Grouping Algorithm for the Multi-Vehicle Dial-a-Ride Problem
Authors: Luo Kelin , Florio Alexandre M. , Das Syamantak , Guo Xiangyu
Published: March 2023

Ride-sharing is an essential aspect of modern urban mobility. In this paper, we consider a classical problem in ride-sharing - the Multi-Vehicle Dial-a-Ride Problem (Multi-Vehicle DaRP). Given a fleet of vehicles with a fixed capacity stationed at various locations and a set of ride requests specified by origins and destinations, the goal is to serve all requests such that no vehicle is assigned more passengers than its capacity at any point in its trip.

We give an algorithm HGR, which is the
first non-trivial approximation algorithm
for the Multi-Vehicle DaRP. The main technical contribution is to reduce Multi-Vehicle DaRP to a certain capacitated partitioning problem, which we solve using a novel hierarchical grouping algorithm.

Experimental results show that the vehicle routes produced by our algorithm not only exhibit less total travel distance compared to state-of-the-art baselines, but also enjoy a small in-transit latency, which crucially relates to each individual rider's traveling time. This suggests that HGR enhances rider experience while being energy-efficient.
Clinical Characteristics, Genetic Features, and Long-Term Outcome of Wilson’s Disease in a Taiwanese Population: An 11-Year Follow-Up Study
Authors: Fan Sung-Pin , Kuo Yih-Chih , Lee Ni-Chung , Chien Yin-Hsiu , Hwu Wuh-Liang , Huang Yu-Hsuan , Lin Han-I , Tseng Tai-Chung , Su Tung-Hung , Tzeng Shiou-Ru , Hsu Chien-Ting , Chen Huey-Ling , Lin Chin-Hsien , Ni Yen-Hsuan
Published: March 2023

ObjectiveaaWilson’s disease (WD) is a rare genetic disorder of copper metabolism, and longitudinal follow-up studies are limited. We performed a retrospective analysis to determine the clinical characteristics and long-term outcomes in a large WD cohort.MethodsaaMedical records of WD patients diagnosed from 2006–2021 at National Taiwan University Hospital were retrospectively evaluated for clinical presentations, neuroimages, genetic information, and follow-up outcomes.ResultsaaThe present study enrolled 123 WD patients (mean follow-up: 11.12 ± 7.41 years), including 74 patients (60.2%) with hepatic features and 49 patients (39.8%) with predominantly neuropsychiatric symptoms. Compared to the hepatic group, the neuropsychiatric group exhibited more Kayser-Fleischer rings (77.6% vs. 41.9%, p < 0.01), lower serum ceruloplasmin levels (4.9 ± 3.9 vs. 6.3 ± 3.9 mg/dL, p < 0.01), smaller total brain and subcortical gray matter volumes (p < 0.0001), and worse functional outcomes during follow-up (p = 0.0003). Among patients with available DNA samples (n = 59), the most common mutations were p.R778L (allelic frequency of 22.03%) followed by p.P992L (11.86%) and p.T935M (9.32%). Patients with at least one allele of p.R778L had a younger onset age (p = 0.04), lower ceruloplasmin levels (p < 0.01), lower serum copper levels (p = 0.03), higher percentage of the hepatic form (p = 0.03), and a better functional outcome during follow-up (p = 0.0012) compared to patients with other genetic variations.ConclusionaaThe distinct clinical characteristics and long-term outcomes of patients in our cohort support the ethnic differences regarding the mutational spectrum and clinical presentations in WD.
No increase in the CTG repeat size during transmission from parent with expanded allele: false suspicion of contraction phenomenon
Authors: Goñi Ros Nuria , Sienes Bailo Paula , González Tarancón Ricardo , Martorell Sampol Loreto , Izquierdo Álvarez Silvia
Published: March 2023

Objectives

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), also known as Steinert’s disease, is a chronic, progressive and disabling multisystemic disorder with a broad spectrum of severity that arises from an autosomal-dominant expansion of the Cytosine-Thymine-Guanine (CTG) triplet repeat in the 3′ untranslated region of the DMPK gene (19q13.3).

Case presentation

In this study, we report the case of a family with several intergenerational expansions of the CTG repeat, with an additional case of a false suspicion of contraction phenomenon due to TP-PCR limitations.

Conclusions

The meiotic instability of the (CTG)n repeats leads to genetic anticipation where increased size of DM1 mutation and a more severe phenotype have been reported in affected individuals across generations. Even if extremely rare, a decrease in the CTG repeat size during transmission from parents to child can also occur, most frequently during paternal transmissions.
Generation of second harmonic terahertz surface plasmon wave over a rippled graphene surface
Authors: Srivastav Rohit Kumar , Panwar Anuraj
Published: March 2023

We propose a mechanism for the generation of second harmonic terahertz surface plasmon waves by incident terahertz electromagnetic radiation (ω, k
0) over a graphene surface deposited on the rippled dielectric substrate (SiO2). A p-polarized THz radiation incident obliquely on the graphene surface exerts a nonlinear ponderomotive force on free electrons in the rippled regime. This nonlinear ponderomotive force imparts oscillatory velocity to the electrons at frequency 2ω. Second harmonic oscillatory velocity couples with the modulated electron density and generates a nonlinear current density that drives second harmonic terahertz surface plasmon waves. Rippled surface provides an extra wave number for the phase matching condition to produce resonantly second harmonic at frequency 2ω and wavenumber (2k
0z
+ q). We examine the tunable response of second harmonic terahertz surface plasmon waves with respect to change in Fermi energy of graphene and laser incident angle. Second harmonic amplitude gets higher values by lowering the Fermi energy (E
F) and increasing incident angle.
The effect of the amount and size of alumina sintering aid particles on some mechanical properties and microstructure of silicon carbide bulky pieces via spark plasma sintering
Authors: Roshani Ali , Ramazani Mazaher , Naderi Mehdi , Jamali Hossein , Tavoosi Majid , Mohammad Sharifi Ehsan , Loghman Estarki Mohammad Reza
Published: March 2023

In this paper, for sintering silicon carbide nanopowders via the spark plasma sintering method, nano-and micro-sized alumina sintering aids were used separately at 3 vol.%, 5 vol.%, and 7 vol.%. The sintering process was undertaken at 1900 °C for 10 min. To investigate some mechanical and physical properties of the resulting samples, density was obtained via the Archimedean method, and hardness was taken by the Vickers indenter method. The microstructure of the samples was examined through scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that in the samples containing nano-alumina, the largest percentage of density and hardness was related to the sample containing 5 vol.% nano-alumina as a sintering aid and were obtained as 99% of theoretical density and 31.3 GPa, respectively. For the samples containing micro-alumina, the highest percentage of density and hardness was related to the sample containing 7 vol.% micro-alumina and obtained 93% of theoretical density and 20.1 GPa, respectively. By investigating the fractured surfaces of the samples and via the linear intercept method, the largest mean grain size was associated with the densest sample at 3.7 µm.
International Politics and Local Change at Emar in the Late Bronze Age
Authors: Thames John Tracy
Published: March 2023

This article considers the administrative changes that occurred in the city of Emar in the early 13th century BCE—including the beginning of the now well-known bifurcation in scribal practices between the Conventional Middle Euphrates Format (also known as the “Syrian” system) and the Free Format (also known as the “Syro-Hittite” system)—in the context of international political currents. In order to position my understanding of Emarite history with respect to the ongoing chronology debate, I offer new chronological considerations using internal data from the Emarite legal documents that affirm the substantial overlap of the two scribal systems at Emar (most recently argued for by Daniel Fleming and Sophie Démare-Lafont), while also adjusting the dating of some important synchronisms. Following the establishment of the chronological position, the article poses the question of why the material changes at Emar were executed by the Hittite empire exactly when they were, despite a previous policy of non-intervention. I argue that the increasing threat posed by expansionist activity of the Middle Assyrian state to Hittite hegemony over the Syrian territories—of which Emar was the farthest south-easterly border state—is a contributing factor to administrative changes in Emar.
Enchisthenes hartii (Thomas, 1892), in Jalisco, Mexico, 68 and 47 years after its first and last record
Authors: García-Méndez Antonio , Íñiguez-Dávalos Luis Ignacio , Zuloaga-Aguilar Martha Susana
Published: March 2023

We report the record of the velvety fruit-eating bat (Enchisthenes hartii), 68 and 47 years after the first and last specimen collected for which information is available, for the State of Jalisco, Mexico. A pregnant female of E. hartii was captured in an arboreal corridor, within a landscape made up of grasslands, cultivated areas, and fragments of tropical deciduous forest. Our record is remarkable, since it provides important information on the presence of E. hartii in the southern coast region, in the area of influence of the Sierra de Manantlán Biosphere Reserve, as well as on its reproductive activity.
Crystal structure of europium dichromium icosaaluminum, EuCr2Al20
Authors: Koldemir Aylin , Klenner Steffen , Pöttgen Rainer
Published: March 2023

EuCr2Al20, cubic,

F
d

3
‾

m

$Fd\overline{3}m$

(no. 227), a = 14.5245(7) Å, V = 3064.1(3) Å3, Z = 8, R

gt
(F) = 0.0351, wR

ref
(F
2) = 0.0402, T = 293 K.
Bond energies and hydrogen density distributions for hydrogen bond
Authors: Matsumoto Akira
Published: March 2023

The three-body problem for hydrogen bond (X–Y–X; Y=H or D) is discussed assuming symmetrical double minimum of the Morse potentials (X–Y). Two types for hydrogen bond energies are estimated by deriving the confocal elliptic differential equation, and the lowest energy for hydrogen bond may be estimated using the trial function of the linear combination of the lowest Morse wave functions by variation method. The repulsive potentials for X2 are determined by the expectation values

E
|

z

p

|
E

$\langle E\vert {z}^{p}\vert E\rangle $

in continuum state for the Morse potential for X2. Figures of the potential curve for O–H–O and the hydrogen density distribution for O–D–O are displayed. The hydrogen bond energies for O–H–O, O–D–O, N–H–N, and N–D–N are obtained.
Adult Neurogenesis Is Altered by Circadian Phase Shifts and the Duper Mutation in Female Syrian Hamsters
Authors: Bahiru Michael Seifu , Bittman Eric L.
Published: March 2023

Cell birth and survival in the adult hippocampus are regulated by a circadian clock. Rotating shift work and jet lag disrupt circadian rhythms and aggravate disease. Internal misalignment, a state in which abnormal phase relationships prevail between and within organs, is proposed to account for adverse effects of circadian disruption. This hypothesis has been difficult to test because phase shifts of the entraining cycle inevitably lead to transient desynchrony. Thus, it remains possible that phase shifts, regardless of internal desynchrony, account for adverse effects of circadian disruption and alter neurogenesis and cell fate. To address this question, we examined cell birth and differentiation in the duper Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus), aCry1-null mutant in which re-entrainment of locomotor rhythms is greatly accelerated. Adult females were subjected to alternating 8 h advances and delays at eight 16 d intervals. BrdU, a cell birth marker, was given midway through the experiment. Repeated phase shifts decreased the number of newborn non-neuronal cells in WT, but not in duper hamsters. The duper mutation increased the number of BrdU-IR cells that stained for NeuN, which marks neuronal differentiation. Immunocytochemical staining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen indicated no overall effect of genotype or repeated shifts on cell division rates after 131 days. Cell differentiation, assessed by doublecortin, was higher in duper hamsters but was not significantly altered by repeated phase shifts. Our results support the internal misalignment hypothesis and indicate thatCry1regulates cell differentiation. Phase shifts may determine neuronal stem cell survival and time course of differentiation after cell birth. Figure created with BioRender.
Morphofunctional changes at the active zone during synaptic vesicle exocytosis
Authors: Radecke Julika , Seeger Raphaela , Kádková Anna , Laugks Ulrike , Khosrozadeh Amin , Goldie Kenneth N , Lučić Vladan , Sørensen Jakob B , Zuber Benoît
Published: March 2023

Synaptic vesicle (SV) fusion with the plasma membrane (PM) proceeds through intermediate steps that remain poorly resolved. The effect of persistent high or low exocytosis activity on intermediate steps remains unknown. Using spray‐mixing plunge‐freezing cryo‐electron tomography we observe events following synaptic stimulation at nanometer resolution in near‐native samples. Our data suggest that during the stage that immediately follows stimulation, termed early fusion, PM and SV membrane curvature changes to establish a point contact. The next stage—late fusion—shows fusion pore opening and SV collapse. During early fusion, proximal tethered SVs form additional tethers with the PM and increase the inter‐SV connector number. In the late‐fusion stage, PM‐proximal SVs lose their interconnections, allowing them to move toward the PM. Two SNAP‐25 mutations, one arresting and one disinhibiting spontaneous release, cause connector loss. The disinhibiting mutation causes loss of membrane‐proximal multiple‐tethered SVs. Overall, tether formation and connector dissolution are triggered by stimulation and respond to spontaneous fusion rate manipulation. These morphological observations likely correspond to SV transition from one functional pool to another.
Vitamin C promotes ACE2 degradation and protects against SARS‐CoV‐2 infection
Authors: Zuo Yibo , Zheng Zhijin , Huang Yingkang , He Jiuyi , Zang Lichao , Ren Tengfei , Cao Xinhua , Miao Ying , Yuan Yukang , Liu Yanli , Ma Feng , Dai Jianfeng , Tian Sheng , Ding Qiang , Zheng Hui
Published: March 2023

ACE2 is a major receptor for cellular entry of SARS‐CoV‐2. Despite advances in targeting ACE2 to inhibit SARS‐CoV‐2 binding, strategies to flexibly and sufficiently reduce ACE2 levels for the prevention of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection have not been explored. Here, we reveal vitamin C (VitC) administration as a potent strategy to prevent SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. VitC reduces ACE2 protein levels in a dose‐dependent manner, while even a partial reduction in ACE2 levels can greatly inhibit SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Further studies reveal that USP50 is a crucial regulator of ACE2 levels. VitC blocks the USP50‐ACE2 interaction, thus promoting K48‐linked polyubiquitination of ACE2 at Lys788 and subsequent degradation of ACE2 without affecting its transcriptional expression. Importantly, VitC administration reduces host ACE2 levels and greatly blocks SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in mice. This study reveals that ACE2 protein levels are down‐regulated by an essential nutrient, VitC, thereby enhancing protection against infection of SARS‐CoV‐2 and its variants.