bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spectral-dependent electronic-photonic modeling of high-speed VCSEL-MMF links for optimized launch conditions
Authors: Li Shanglin , Nezami Mohammadreza Sanadgol , Mishra Shubhankar , Liboiron-Ladouceur Odile
Published: December 2020

We present spectral-dependent electronic-photonic modeling of vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL)-multimode fiber (MMF) links for next-generation high-speed interconnects. The beam coupling processes, between the VCSEL and the MMF and between the MMF and the photodetector (PD), are discussed, with spectral-dependent three-dimensional launch conditions analyzed. The model accounts for fiber effects on the transmission performance, specifically modal attenuation, dispersion, mode mixing, and mode partition noise. An advanced split-step small-segment (4-S) method simulates the signal evolution over the MMF with high accuracy and high efficiency. Experimental validation at 25 Gbps confirms the high accuracy of the VCSEL-MMF link model. The model reveals that larger radial offsets can further excite lower-order mode groups reducing the power distributed to higher-order groups when a tilted beam couples to the input fiber facet. With an optimized misalignment launch, the modal bandwidth is greatly improved by 3.8-fold compared to the conventional center launch. The model helps determine the optimum launch condition to improve link performance metrics such as transmission reach.
Electroluminescent Y3Al5O12 nanofilms fabricated by atomic layer deposition on silicon: using Yb as the luminescent dopant and crystallization impetus
Authors: Xu Jing , Liu Jianzhao , Yang Li , Liu Junqing , Yang Yang
Published: December 2020

Silicon-based Yb-doped Y3Al5O12 garnet nanofilms are fabricated by atomic layer deposition, which are polycrystalline after annealing at 1150 °C. The sub-nanometer compositional regulation and the Yb2O3 cladding layers, which also work as the luminescent dopants, are critical for the crystallization. Characteristic Yb3+ luminescence at 1030 nm and 970 nm is identiﬁed under electrical injection, exhibiting the external quantum efficiency of 0.65% and the fluorescence lifetime of 80-200 µs. The doped Yb3+ are impact-excited by hot electrons stemming from Fowler-Nordheim tunneling mechanism within the Y3Al5O12 matrix, with the excitation cross section of 0.7×10−15 to 6.4×10−15 cm2. This work certifies the manipulation of multi-oxide nanofilms with designed composition and crystallinity, revealing the possibility of developing Si-based optoelectronic devices from crystalline garnet films.
Quick response hydrogen LSPR sensor based on a hetero-core fiber structure with palladium nanoparticles
Authors: Mikami Masahiro , Komatsu Daisuke , Hosoki Ai , Nishiyama Michiko , Igawa Hirotaka , Seki Atsushi , Kubodera Shoichi , Watanabe Kazuhiro
Published: December 2020

A novel fiber optic localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) hydrogen sensor has been developed based on the hetero-core structured with palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) onto a cylindrical cladding surface. In a light-intensity-based experiment with an LED operating at 850 nm, it has been observed that a transmitted loss change of 0.23 dB was induced with response and recovery times of 1.5 and 3.2 s for 4% hydrogen which are the fastest response times among optical fiber hydrogen sensors. The proposed sensor resolved the inevitable trade-off issue between sensitivity and response time which existed in the previously reported SPR sensors, with keeping the response time below 2.0 s even in a high sensitivity region of interest.
Generation and evolution of different terahertz singular beams from long gas-plasma filaments
Authors: Wang Honggeng , Shangguan Huangcheng , Song Qiying , Cai Yi , Lin Qinggang , Lu Xiaowei , Wang Zhanxin , Zheng Shuiqin , Xu Shixiang
Published: December 2020

We theoretically and numerically investigate the generation and evolution of different pulsed terahertz (THz) singular beams with an ultrabroad bandwidth (0.1–40 THz) in long gas-plasma filaments induced by a shaped two-color laser field, i.e., a vortex fundamental pulse (ω0) and a Gaussian second harmonic pulse (2ω0). Based on the unidirectional propagation model under group-velocity moving reference frame, the simulating results demonstrate that three different THz singular beams, including the THz necklace beams with a π-stepwise phase profile, the THz angular accelerating vortex beams (AAVBs) with nonlinear phase profile, and the THz vortex beams with linear phase profile, are generated. The THz necklace beams are generated first at millimeter-scale length. Then, with the increase of the filament length, THz AAVBs and THz vortex beams appear in turn almost periodically. Our calculations confirm that all these different THz singular beams result from the coherent superposition of the two collinear THz vortex beams with variable relative amplitudes and conjugated topological charges (TCs), i.e., +2 and −2. These two THz vortex beams could come from the two four-wave mixing (FWM) processes, respectively, i.e., ω0+ω0−2ω0→ωTHz and –(ω0+ω0) + 2ω0→ωTHz. The evolution of the different THz singular beams depends on the combined effect of the pump ω0−2ω0 time delay and the separate, periodical, and helical plasma channels. And the TC sign of the generated THz singular beams can be easily controlled by changing the sign of the ω0−2ω0 time delay. We believe that these results will deepen the understanding of the THz singular beam generation mechanism and orbital angular momentum (OAM) conversion in laser induced gas-filamentation.
Coherent amplification of high-power laser radiation in multicore fibers from a rectangular array of cores
Authors: Balakin A. A. , Skobelev S. A. , Andrianov A. V. , Anashkina E. A. , Litvak A. G.
Published: December 2020

The coherent propagation and amplification of high-power laser radiation in a multicore fiber consisting of a square array of weakly bound cores are studied. Exact stable analytical solutions are found for the out-of-phase mode, which describes the coherent propagation of wave beams in such fibers. The analytical results are confirmed by direct numerical simulation of the wave equation. The stability conditions of the out-of-phase mode in the active medium are found.
Anion–water hydrogen bond vibration revealed by the terahertz Kerr effect
Authors: Zhao Hang , Tan Yong , Zhang Rui , Zhao Yuejin , Zhang Cunlin , Zhang Liangliang
Published: December 2020

The microscopic mechanism for ionic influence on the hydrogen bond network of water has not been fully understood. Here we employ the terahertz Kerr effect (TKE) technique to map the intermolecular hydrogen bond dynamics in a series of aqueous halide solutions at the sub-picosecond scale. Compared with pure water, the significantly enhanced bipolar TKE response associated with polarization anisotropy in an ionic aqueous solution is successfully captured. We decompose the measured TKE response into different molecular motion modes and demonstrate that the obviously increasing positive polarity response is mainly due to the anion–water hydrogen bond vibration mode with the resonant THz electric field excitation. Our measurement results provide an experimental basis for further insight into the effects of ions on the structure and dynamics of a hydrogen bond in water.
Frequency conversion in nano-waveguides using bound-state-in-continuum
Authors: Xiong Xiao , Wu Lin , Bai Ping , Png Ching Eng , Ong Jun Rong , Krivitsky Leonid
Published: December 2020

Optical frequency conversion in semiconductor nanophotonic devices usually imposes stringent requirements on fabrication accuracy and etch surface roughness. Here, we adopt the concept of bound-state-in-continuum (BIC) for waveguide frequency converter design, which obviates the limitations in nonlinear material nano-fabrication and requires to pattern only a low-refractive-index strip on the nonlinear slab. Taking gallium phosphide (GaP) as an example, we study second-harmonic generation using horizontally polarized pump light at 1.55 µm phase matching to vertically polarized BIC modes. A theoretical normalized frequency conversion efficiency of

is obtained using the fundamental BIC mode, which is comparable to that of conventional GaP waveguides.
The Venus flytrap trigger hair–specific potassium channel KDM1 can reestablish the K+ gradient required for hapto-electric signaling
Authors: Iosip Anda L. , Böhm Jennifer , Scherzer Sönke , Al-Rasheid Khaled A. S. , Dreyer Ingo , Schultz Jörg , Becker Dirk , Kreuzer Ines , Hedrich Rainer
Published: December 2020

The carnivorous plant Dionaea muscipula harbors multicellular trigger hairs designed to sense mechanical stimuli upon contact with animal prey. At the base of the trigger hair, mechanosensation is transduced into an all-or-nothing action potential (AP) that spreads all over the trap, ultimately leading to trap closure and prey capture. To reveal the molecular basis for the unique functional repertoire of this mechanoresponsive plant structure, we determined the transcriptome of D. muscipula’s trigger hair. Among the genes that were found to be highly specific to the trigger hair, the Shaker-type channel KDM1 was electrophysiologically characterized as a hyperpolarization- and acid-activated K+-selective channel, thus allowing the reuptake of K+ ions into the trigger hair’s sensory cells during the hyperpolarization phase of the AP. During trap development, the increased electrical excitability of the trigger hair is associated with the transcriptional induction of KDM1. Conversely, when KDM1 is blocked by Cs+ in adult traps, the initiation of APs in response to trigger hair deflection is reduced, and trap closure is suppressed. KDM1 thus plays a dominant role in K+ homeostasis in the context of AP and turgor formation underlying the mechanosensation of trigger hair cells and thus D. muscipula’s hapto-electric signaling.
Population variability in the generation and selection of T-cell repertoires
Authors: Sethna Zachary , Isacchini Giulio , Dupic Thomas , Mora Thierry , Walczak Aleksandra M. , Elhanati Yuval
Published: December 2020

The diversity of T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoires is achieved by a combination of two intrinsically stochastic steps: random receptor generation by VDJ recombination, and selection based on the recognition of random self-peptides presented on the major histocompatibility complex. These processes lead to a large receptor variability within and between individuals. However, the characterization of the variability is hampered by the limited size of the sampled repertoires. We introduce a new software tool SONIA to facilitate inference of individual-specific computational models for the generation and selection of the TCR beta chain (TRB) from sequenced repertoires of 651 individuals, separating and quantifying the variability of the two processes of generation and selection in the population. We find not only that most of the variability is driven by the VDJ generation process, but there is a large degree of consistency between individuals with the inter-individual variance of repertoires being about ∼2% of the intra-individual variance. Known viral-specific TCRs follow the same generation and selection statistics as all TCRs.
The common house spider, Parasteatoda tepidariorum, maintains silk gene expression on sub-optimal diet
Authors: Miller Jeremy , Vienneau-Hathaway Jannelle , Dendev Enkhbileg , Lan Merrina , Ayoub Nadia A.
Published: December 2020

Cobweb weaving spiders and their relatives spin multiple task-specific fiber types. The unique material properties of each silk type result from differences in amino acid sequence and structure of their component proteins, primarily spidroins (spider fibrous proteins). Amino acid content and gene expression measurements of spider silks suggest some spiders change expression patterns of individual protein components in response to environmental cues. We quantified mRNA abundance of three spidroin encoding genes involved in prey capture in the common house spider,Parasteatoda tepidariorum(Theridiidae), fed different diets. After 10 days of acclimation to the lab on a diet of mealworms, spiders were split into three groups: (1) individuals were immediately dissected, (2) spiders were fed high-energy crickets, or (3) spiders were fed low-energy flies, for 1 month. All spiders gained mass during the acclimation period and cricket-fed spiders continued to gain mass, while fly-fed spiders either maintained or lost mass. Using quantitative PCR, we found no significant differences in the absolute or relative abundance of dragline gene transcripts, major ampullate spidroin 1 (MaSp1) and major ampullate spidroin 2 (MaSp2), among groups. In contrast, prey-wrapping minor ampullate spidroin (MiSp)gene transcripts were significantly less abundant in fly-fed than lab-acclimated spiders. However, when measured relative toActin, cricket-fed spiders showed the lowest expression ofMiSp. Our results suggest that house spiders are able to maintain silk production, even in the face of a low-quality diet.
Certification information on trustworthy digital repository websites: A content analysis
Authors: Donaldson Devan Ray
Published: December 2020

In 1996, an international group of representatives from national archives and libraries, universities, industry, publishing offices, and other government and private sector organizations first articulated the need for certified Trustworthy Digital Repositories (TDRs). Henceforth, multiple standards for TDRs have developed worldwide and their reviewers provide third party audit of digital repositories. Even though hundreds of repositories are currently certified, we do not know if audit and certification of TDRs actually matters. For example, we do not know if digital repositories are actually better at preserving digital information after certification than they were before. Additionally, we do not know if TDRs preserve digital information better than their counterparts, although TDR standards definitely promulgate this assumption. One way of assessing whether audit and certification of TDRs matters is to study its impact on TDRs’ stakeholders (e.g., funders, data producers, data consumers). As an initial critical step forward, this study examines what certification-related information repositories actually include on their websites since repository websites provide a means of disseminating information. Using findings from a content analysis of 91 TDR-certified repository websites, this research examines: 1) written statements about TDR status, 2) the presence of TDR seals and their location, 3) whether the seals hyperlink to additional certification information, 4) the extent to which the certification process is explained, and 5) whether audit reports are shared. Nearly three-fourths of the repository websites provide TDR status statements and put seals in one or more places; nearly 60% post audit reports and link seals to additional certification information; and over one-third explain the certification process. Directions for future research and practical application of the results are discussed.
Using bodily postures to reduce anxiety and improve interoception: A comparison between powerful and neutral poses
Authors: Weineck Felicitas , Schultchen Dana , Hauke Gernot , Messner Matthias , Pollatos Olga
Published: December 2020

Background

Previous research has shown that anxiety syndromes are highly prevalent among university students. Effective treatments are needed to reduce the burden of anxiety in this population. Powerful postures have been found to impact affective states, as well as interoception (i.e. the ability to perceive inner bodily signals). However, no previous study has compared the effects of powerful- and neutral postures in regards to anxiety and interoceptive ability.

Methods

The first part of the study measured the single-session effect of adopting powerful- vs. neutral postures on students' (n = 57) interoceptive ability andstateanxiety. The second part of the study measured the effect of adopting powerful or neutral postures twice daily for two weeks, on individuals' interoceptive ability andtraitanxiety.

Results

State anxiety decreased in both conditions whereas interoceptive accuracy only increased in the power posing condition after a single session. Interoceptive accuracy increased in both groups after two weeks of training.

Limitations

The study included no comparison to a condition where individuals adopted their natural (i.e. usual) bodily posture.

Conclusions

Embodiment interventions that include elements of adopting an open or expansive bodily posture whilst maintaining a self-focus, can help to reduce state anxiety and improve interoceptive accuracy in student populations. Power posing does not seem to be superior to holding a neutral posture to improve interoceptive accuracy or anxiety. One reason therefore could be that both conditions include the manipulation of self-focus and a postural change that diverges from individuals' normal posture.
Honey bees (Apis cerana) use animal feces as a tool to defend colonies against group attack by giant hornets (Vespa soror)
Authors: Mattila Heather R. , Otis Gard W. , Nguyen Lien T. P. , Pham Hanh D. , Knight Olivia M. , Phan Ngoc T.
Published: December 2020

Honey bees (genusApis)are well known for the impressive suite of nest defenses they have evolved to protect their abundant stockpiles of food and the large colonies they sustain. In Asia, honey bees have evolved under tremendous predatory pressure from social wasps in the genusVespa, the most formidable of which are the giant hornets that attack colonies in groups, kill adult defenders, and prey on brood. We document for the first time an extraordinary collective defense used byApis ceranaagainst the giant hornetVespa soror. In response to attack byV.soror,A.ceranaworkers foraged for and applied spots of animal feces around their nest entrances. Fecal spotting increased after colonies were exposed either to naturally occurring attacks or to chemicals that scout hornets use to target colonies for mass attack. Spotting continued for days after attacks ceased and occurred in response toV.soror, which frequently landed at and chewed on entrances to breach nests, but notVespa velutina, a smaller hornet that rarely landed at entrances. Moderate to heavy fecal spotting suppressed attempts byV.sororto penetrate nests by lowering the incidence of multiple-hornet attacks and substantially reducing the likelihood of them approaching and chewing on entrances. We argue thatA.ceranaforages for animal feces because it has properties that repel this deadly predator from nest entrances, providing the first report of tool use by honey bees and the first evidence that they forage for solids that are not derived from plants. Our study describes a remarkable weapon in the already sophisticated portfolio of defenses that honey bees have evolved in response to the predatory threats they face. It also highlights the strong selective pressure honey bees will encounter if giant hornets, recently detected in western North America, become established.
Happiness around the world: A combined etic-emic approach across 63 countries
Authors: Gardiner Gwendolyn , Lee Daniel , Baranski Erica , Funder David ,   Members of the International Situations Project
Published: December 2020

What does it mean to be happy? The vast majority of cross-cultural studies on happiness have employed a Western-origin, or “WEIRD” measure of happiness that conceptualizes it as a self-centered (or “independent”), high-arousal emotion. However, research from Eastern cultures, particularly Japan, conceptualizes happiness as including an interpersonal aspect emphasizing harmony and connectedness to others. Following a combined emic-etic approach (Cheung, van de Vijver & Leong, 2011), we assessed the cross-cultural applicability of a measure of independent happiness developed in the US (Subjective Happiness Scale; Lyubomirsky & Lepper, 1999) and a measure of interdependent happiness developed in Japan (Interdependent Happiness Scale; Hitokoto & Uchida, 2015), with data from 63 countries representing 7 sociocultural regions. Results indicate that the schema of independent happiness was more coherent in more WEIRD countries. In contrast, the coherence of interdependent happiness was unrelated to a country’s “WEIRD-ness.” Reliabilities of both happiness measures were lowest in African and Middle Eastern countries, suggesting these two conceptualizations of happiness may not be globally comprehensive. Overall, while the two measures had many similar correlates and properties, the self-focused concept of independent happiness is “WEIRD-er” than interdependent happiness, suggesting cross-cultural researchers should attend to both conceptualizations.
Video kills the sentiment—Exploring fans’ reception of the video assistant referee in the English premier league using Twitter data
Authors: Kolbinger Otto , Knopp Melanie
Published: December 2020

Evaluative research of technological officiating aids in sports predominantly focuses on the respective technology and the impact on decision accuracy, whereas the impact on stakeholders is neglected. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the immediate impact of the recently introduced Video Assistant Referee, often referred to as VAR, on the sentiment of fans of the English Premier League. We analyzed the content of 643,251 tweets from 129 games, including 94 VAR incidents, using a new variation of a gradient boosting approach to train two tree-based classifiers for text corpora: one classifier to identify tweets related to the VAR and another one to rate a tweet’s sentiment. The results of 10-fold cross-validations showed that our approach, for which we only took a small share of all features to grow each tree, performed better than common approaches (naïve Bayes, support vector machines, random forest and traditional gradient tree boosting) used by other studies for both classification problems. Regarding the impact of the VAR on fans, we found that the average sentiment of tweets related to this technological officiating aid was significantly lower compared to other tweets (-0.64 vs. 0.08; t = 45.5, p < .001). Further, by tracking the mean sentiment of all tweets chronologically for each game, we could display that there is a significant drop of sentiment for tweets posted in the periods after an incident compared to the periods before. A plunge that persisted for 20 minutes on average. Summed up, our results provide evidence that the VAR effects predominantly expressions of negative sentiment on Twitter. This is in line with the results found in previous, questionnaire-based, studies for other technological officiating aids and also consistent with the psychological principle of loss aversion.
Assessment of serpulid-hydroid association through the Jurassic: A case study from the Polish Basin
Authors: Słowiński Jakub , Surmik Dawid , Duda Piotr , Zatoń Michał
Published: December 2020

The coexistence of sessile, tube-dwelling polychaetes (serpulids) and hydroids, has been investigated. Serpulid tubes bearing traces after hydroids are derived from different stratigraphic intervals spanning the Middle and Upper Jurassic, the rocks of which represent the diverse paleoenvironments of the Polish Basin. Although fossil colonial hydroids classified under the speciesProtulophila gestroiare a commonly occurring symbiont of these polychaetes during the Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic, they seem to be significantly less frequent during the Jurassic and limited to specific paleoenvironments. The hydroids described here are represented by traces after a thin stolonal network with elongated polyp chambers that open to the outer polychaete tube’s surface with small, more or less subcircular apertures. Small chimney-like bulges around openings are an effect of the incorporation of the organism byin vivoembedment (bioclaustration) within the outer layers of the calcareous tube of the serpulid host. Considering the rich collection of well-preserved serpulid tubes (>3000 specimens), the frequency of bioclaustrated hydroids is very low, with an infestation percentage of only 0.6% (20 cases). It has been noticed that only specimens of the genusPropomatocerosfrom the Upper Bajocian, Lower Bathonian, Middle Bathonian, and Callovian have been found infested. However, the majority of bioclaustrated hydroids (17 cases) have been recorded in the Middle Bathonian serpulid speciesPropomatoceros lumbricaliscoming from a single sampled site. Representatives of other genera are not affected, which is congruent with previous reports indicating thatProtulophila gestroiwas strongly selective in the choice of its host. A presumably commensal relationship is compared with the recent symbiosis between the hydroids of the genusProboscidactylaand certain genera of sabellid polychaetes.
Healthchain: A novel framework on privacy preservation of electronic health records using blockchain technology
Authors: Chenthara Shekha , Ahmed Khandakar , Wang Hua , Whittaker Frank , Chen Zhenxiang
Published: December 2020

The privacy of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) is facing a major hurdle with outsourcing private health data in the cloud as there exists danger of leaking health information to unauthorized parties. In fact, EHRs are stored on centralized databases that increases the security risk footprint and requires trust in a single authority which cannot effectively protect data from internal attacks. This research focuses on ensuring the patient privacy and data security while sharing the sensitive data across same or different organisations as well as healthcare providers in a distributed environment. This research develops a privacy-preserving framework viz Healthchain based on Blockchain technology that maintains security, privacy, scalability and integrity of the e-health data. The Blockchain is built on Hyperledger fabric, a permissioned distributed ledger solutions by using Hyperledger composer and stores EHRs by utilizing InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) to build this healthchain framework. Moreover, the data stored in the IPFS is encrypted by using a unique cryptographic public key encryption algorithm to create a robust blockchain solution for electronic health data. The objective of the research is to provide a foundation for developing security solutions against cyber-attacks by exploiting the inherent features of the blockchain, and thus contribute to the robustness of healthcare information sharing environments. Through the results, the proposed model shows that the healthcare records are not traceable to unauthorized access as the model stores only the encrypted hash of the records that proves effectiveness in terms of data security, enhanced data privacy, improved data scalability, interoperability and data integrity while sharing and accessing medical records among stakeholders across the healthchain network.
Hypergravity as a gravitational therapy mitigates the effects of knee osteoarthritis on the musculoskeletal system in a murine model
Authors: Dechaumet Benoit , Cleret Damien , Linossier Marie-Thérèse , Vanden-Bossche Arnaud , Chanon Stéphanie , Lefai Etienne , Laroche Norbert , Lafage-Proust Marie-Hélène , Vico Laurence
Published: December 2020

Insights into the effects of osteoarthritis (OA) and physical interventions on the musculoskeletal system are limited. Our goal was to analyze musculoskeletal changes in OA mice and test the efficacy of 8-week exposure to hypergravity, as a replacement of physical activity. 16-week-old male (C57BL/6J) mice allocated to sham control and OA groups not centrifuged (Ctrl 1g and OA 1g, respectively) or centrifuged at 2g acceleration (Ctrl 2g and OA 2g). OA 1g displayed decreased trabecular bone in the proximal tibia metaphysis and increased osteoclastic activity and local TNFα gene expression, all entirely prevented by 2g gravitational therapy. However, while cortical bone of tibia midshaft was preserved in OA 1g (vs. ctrl), it is thinner in OA 2g (vs. OA 1g). In the hind limb, OA at 1g increased fibers with lipid droplets by 48% in the tibialis anterior, a fact fully prevented by 2g. In Ctrl, 2g increased soleus, tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius masses. In the soleus of both Ctrl and OA, 2g induced larger fibers and a switch from type-II to type-I fiber. Catabolic (myostatin and its receptor activin RIIb and visfatine) and anabolic (FNDC5) genes dramatically increased in Ctrl 2g and OA 2g (p<0.01 vs 1g). Nevertheless, the overexpression of FNDC5 (and follistatine) was smaller in OA 2g than in Ctrl 2g. Thus, hypergravity in OA mice produced positive effects for trabecular bone and muscle typology, similar to resistance exercises, but negative effects for cortical bone.
Dynamics in the Sakaguchi-Kuramoto model with bimodal frequency distribution
Authors: Guo Shuangjian , Xie Yuan , Dai Qionglin , Li Haihong , Yang Junzhong
Published: December 2020

In this work, we study the Sakaguchi-Kuramoto model with natural frequency following a bimodal distribution. By using Ott-Antonsen ansatz, we reduce the globally coupled phase oscillators to low dimensional coupled ordinary differential equations. For symmetrical bimodal frequency distribution, we analyze the stabilities of the incoherent state and different partial synchronous states. Different types of bifurcations are identified and the effect of the phase lag on the dynamics is investigated. For asymmetrical bimodal frequency distribution, we observe the revival of the incoherent state, and then the conditions for the revival are specified.
COVID-19 mortality risk assessment: An international multi-center study
Authors: Bertsimas Dimitris , Lukin Galit , Mingardi Luca , Nohadani Omid , Orfanoudaki Agni , Stellato Bartolomeo , Wiberg Holly , Gonzalez-Garcia Sara , Parra-Calderón Carlos Luis , Robinson Kenneth , Schneider Michelle , Stein Barry , Estirado Alberto , a Beccara Lia , Canino Rosario , Dal Bello Martina , Pezzetti Federica , Pan Angelo ,   The Hellenic COVID-19 Study Group
Published: December 2020

Timely identification of COVID-19 patients at high risk of mortality can significantly improve patient management and resource allocation within hospitals. This study seeks to develop and validate a data-driven personalized mortality risk calculator for hospitalized COVID-19 patients. De-identified data was obtained for 3,927 COVID-19 positive patients from six independent centers, comprising 33 different hospitals. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory variables were collected at hospital admission. The COVID-19 Mortality Risk (CMR) tool was developed using the XGBoost algorithm to predict mortality. Its discrimination performance was subsequently evaluated on three validation cohorts. The derivation cohort of 3,062 patients has an observed mortality rate of 26.84%. Increased age, decreased oxygen saturation (≤ 93%), elevated levels of C-reactive protein (≥ 130 mg/L), blood urea nitrogen (≥ 18 mg/dL), and blood creatinine (≥ 1.2 mg/dL) were identified as primary risk factors, validating clinical findings. The model obtains out-of-sample AUCs of 0.90 (95% CI, 0.87–0.94) on the derivation cohort. In the validation cohorts, the model obtains AUCs of 0.92 (95% CI, 0.88–0.95) on Seville patients, 0.87 (95% CI, 0.84–0.91) on Hellenic COVID-19 Study Group patients, and 0.81 (95% CI, 0.76–0.85) on Hartford Hospital patients. The CMR tool is available as an online application at covidanalytics.io/mortality_calculator and is currently in clinical use. The CMR model leverages machine learning to generate accurate mortality predictions using commonly available clinical features. This is the first risk score trained and validated on a cohort of COVID-19 patients from Europe and the United States.
Age of initiation of cigarillos, filtered cigars and/or traditional cigars among youth: Findings from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study, 2013–2017
Authors: Chen Baojiang , Sterling Kymberle L. , Bluestein Meagan A. , Kuk Arnold E. , Harrell Melissa B. , Perry Cheryl L. , Pérez Adriana
Published: December 2020

Significance

Early age of initiation of tobacco use is associated with sustained tobacco use and lower rates of smoking cessation. Although much is known about age of initiation of cigarette use, much less is known about the age of initiation of cigar product use among youth.

Methods

Survival analyses of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health youth annual datasets (ages 12–17) from 2013 to 2017 were conducted for any cigar product use, cigarillos or filtered cigars, and traditional cigars across four cigar use outcomes, age of initiation of: susceptibility to use, ever use, past 30-day use and “fairly regular” use. An interval censoring survival method was implemented to estimate the probability of each outcome for age of initiation of each cigar product overall. Differences in age of initiation by sex and race/ethnicity were assessed using weighted Cox proportional hazards models for interval-censored data.

Results

For each outcome across the three cigar products, striking increases in the probability of initiation begin before 17 years old. For cigarillo or filtered cigars, males had a higher risk of onset of susceptibility to use, initiating ever use, and initiating past 30-day use at earlier ages than females. Compared to Non-Hispanic Whites, Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Other had lower risk of initiating ever use and past 30-day use at earlier ages. Non-Hispanic Black youth had higher risk of initiating past 30-day use and “fairly regular” use than Non-Hispanic White youth at earlier ages. Similar findings are reported for any cigar use and traditional cigar use.

Conclusion

Developmentally and culturally appropriate cigar use interventions and communication campaigns should be provided to youth before 17 years of age to prevent the onset and progression of cigar products. Regulatory policies that reduce appeal of all cigar products should be implemented to curb cigar initiation among youth.
Transmissibility of COVID-19 depends on the viral load around onset in adult and symptomatic patients
Authors: Kawasuji Hitoshi , Takegoshi Yusuke , Kaneda Makito , Ueno Akitoshi , Miyajima Yuki , Kawago Koyomi , Fukui Yasutaka , Yoshida Yoshihiro , Kimura Miyuki , Yamada Hiroshi , Sakamaki Ippei , Tani Hideki , Morinaga Yoshitomo , Yamamoto Yoshihiro
Published: December 2020

Objective

To investigate the relationship between viral load and secondary transmission in novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods

Epidemiological and clinical data were obtained from immunocompetent laboratory-confirmed patients with COVID-19 who were admitted to and/or from whom viral loads were measured at Toyama University Hospital. Using a case-control approach, index patients who transmitted the disease to at least one other patient were analysed as “cases” (index patients) compared with patients who were not the cause of secondary transmission (non-index patients, analysed as “controls”). The viral load time courses were assessed between the index and non-index symptomatic patients using non-linear regression employing a standard one-phase decay model.

Results

In total, 28 patients were included in the analysis. Median viral load at the initial sample collection was significantly higher in symptomatic than in asymptomatic patients and in adults than in children. Among symptomatic patients (n = 18), non-linear regression models showed that the estimated viral load at onset was higher in the index than in the non-index patients (median [95% confidence interval]: 6.6 [5.2–8.2] vs. 3.1 [1.5–4.8] log copies/μL, respectively). In adult (symptomatic and asymptomatic) patients (n = 21), median viral load at the initial sample collection was significantly higher in the index than in the non-index patients (p = 0.015, 3.3 vs. 1.8 log copies/μL, respectively).

Conclusions

High nasopharyngeal viral loads around onset may contribute to secondary transmission of COVID-19. Viral load may help provide a better understanding of why transmission is observed in some instances, but not in others, especially among household contacts.
Potential roles of neuronal nitric oxide synthase and the PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1)/Parkin pathway for mitochondrial protein degradation in disuse-induced soleus muscle atrophy in adult rats
Authors: Uda Munehiro , Yoshihara Toshinori , Ichinoseki-Sekine Noriko , Baba Takeshi , Yoshioka Toshitada
Published: December 2020

Excessive nitric oxide (NO) production and mitochondrial dysfunction can activate protein degradation in disuse-induced skeletal muscle atrophy. However, the increase in NO production in atrophied muscles remains controversial. In addition, although several studies have investigated the PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1)/Parkin pathway, a mitophagy pathway, in atrophied muscle, the involvement of this pathway in soleus muscle atrophy is unclear. In this study, we investigated the involvement of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and the PINK1/Parkin pathway in soleus muscle atrophy induced by 14 days of hindlimb unloading (HU) in adult rats. HU lowered the weight of the soleus muscles. nNOS expression showed an increase in atrophied soleus muscles. Although HU increased malondialdehyde as oxidative modification of the protein, it decreased 6-nitrotryptophan, a marker of protein nitration. Additionally, the nitrosocysteine content and S-nitrosylated Parkin were not altered, suggesting the absence of excessive nitrosative stress after HU. The expression of PINK1 and Parkin was also unchanged, whereas the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), which is required for Parkin activity, was reduced in atrophied soleus muscles. Moreover, we observed accumulation and reduced ubiquitination of high molecular weight mitofusin 2, which is a target of Parkin, in atrophied soleus muscles. These results indicate that excessive NO is not produced in atrophied soleus muscles despite nNOS accumulation, suggesting that excessive NO dose not mediate in soleus muscle atrophy at least after 14 days of HU. Furthermore, the PINK1/Parkin pathway may not play a role in mitophagy at this time point. In contrast, the activity of Parkin may be downregulated because of reduced HSP70 expression, which may contribute to attenuated degradation of target proteins in the atrophied soleus muscles after 14 days of HU. The present study provides new insights into the roles of nNOS and a protein degradation pathway in soleus muscle atrophy.
L’enfant merveilleux chez Héraclite d’Ephèse
Authors: Kwietniewska Małgorzata
Published: December 2020

Dans la phrase marquée DK22 B52, Héraclite décrit un enfant jouant avec de petits objets (pessoi). Le garçon a tout un royaume à sa disposition et il est identifié lui-même avec l’éon. Ce célèbre fragment a été interprété de nombreuses manières par les philologues classiques et les philosophes. De nos jours, il est le plus souvent considéré comme une métaphore de la vie humaine. L’enfant, qui ne connaît pas encore les règles de la vie sociale, introduit dans cette vie des éléments de hasard et de jeu insouciant. Cependant, lorsqu’on compare la phrase d'Héraclite avec des récits de l’Inde ancienne, on peut reconnaître en lui le motif mythologique de l’acte de création – Dieu créant et gouvernant le monde. Dans ce contexte gouverner signifie établir des droits mathématiques fondamentaux – les mêmes droits que ceux appliqués aux observations astronomiques et à la recherche scientifique dans son ensemble. L’hypothèse, selon laquelle l’ancienne culture indoeuropéenne a affecté – à travers l’Inde – Héraclite, permet de mieux comprendre la pensée de ce philosophe qui sait combiner harmonieusement des éléments de science, de religion et d’art. L'hypothèse indienne explique également l’aura de sublimité et de sainteté qu’on retrouve chez les penseurs de l’Antiquité tardive qui ont sauvé la phrase d’Héraclite et l’ont transmise à la littérature occidentale.
Torkig vagyok a képmutatással
Authors: Gellérfi Gergő
Published: December 2020

Iuvenalis 2. szatírája, az első olvasatra a homoszexuális férfiak, valójában viszont mindenekelőtt a képmutatás ellen íródott költemény prózai fordításának elsődleges célja a narrátor indulatainak és szatirikus gúnyának lehető legpontosabb visszaadása.
Újabb verses felirattöredék Daciából
Authors: Fehér Bence
Published: December 2020

Mindezidáig nem ismertünk római feliratokat Désről, bár Samum municipium a város közvetlen közelében terült el. Azonban Dés középkori temploma kerítésfalába van egy kőtömb beépítve, amelyet kőfaragójegyes címerpajzs díszít. Ez valójában egy átfaragott római szarkofág, és tisztán látszanak rajta egy verses felirat maradványai, derékszögben elfordítva az óramutató járása szerint: 10 hexameter vagy pedig 5 disztichon néhány kezdő betűje. A középkornál későbbi bevéséseket is lehet rajta találni, amelyek alapján az a téves hír is elterjedt, hogy ez egy rovásírásos felirat.
O ensino desenvolvimental e a intervenção pedagógica na visão sócio-histórica: o PDI como instrumento mediador
Authors: Borges Maria Célia , Ribeiro Betânia de Oliveira Laterza , Ponciano Luhany Ercleide
Published: December 2020

O artigo indica a teoria sócio-histórica e o ensino desenvolvimental, pela intervenção pedagógica tendo o Plano de Desenvolvimento Individual (PDI), como instrumento mediador.  A avaliação diagnóstica indicará o nível de desenvolvimento real do estudante, orientando a intervenção na zona de desenvolvimento próxima para, em seguida, alcançar o desenvolvimento potencial do educando.
"El socavón y la pared vacía».
Authors: Daona María José
Published: December 2020

En estas páginas abordaré Aurificios (2010) de Alan Castro Riveros a partir de la hipótesis de que en la novela boliviana del siglo XXI se ponen al descubierto las tensiones existentes entre las diferentes culturas que conviven y se superponen en La Paz. Este texto propone una lectura espacial a contrapelo de la lógica estatal. El lenguaje aparece como la posibilidad de nombrar la experiencia y la vida vivida de los sujetos que quedaron al margen de las estructuras de poder. La novela tiene la forma de un tejido: en cada trazo y en cada nudo se entrelazan las miradas que construyen el universo novelesco y le imprimen nuevos sentidos a la ciudad. Ese tejido se proyecta como posibilidad de un encuentro de voces que aluden al concepto de comunidad para desenterrar realidades ocultas y poder así llenar los socavones vacíos y saqueados del pasado. Mirar, caminar y comunicar son los ejes sobre los que se sostiene la creación del espacio comunitario.
Un tránsito de la sangre al plástico: lo prostético en las representaciones del deseo de maternidad de Frida Kahlo
Authors: Rojas Ponce Tatiana
Published: December 2020

Yo y mi muñeca (1937) de Frida Kahlo es un cuadro que permite problematizar el relato del dolor por la imposibilidad de ser madre que se ha petrificado en torno a la figura de la popular pintora mexicana. En él, Kahlo habla del aborto sin aludirlo y sin asociarlo a ningún signo de padecimiento, componiendo una representación compleja y enigmática de lo materno, que contrasta con otros momentos más conocidos de su obra. En la primera parte de este artículo, me concentro en el análisis del lienzo en comparación a otras pinturas, enfatizando su carácter disruptivo, y el modo en que se aleja del discurso nacionalista sobre la maternidad, para acercarse a una estética ciborg menos programática. En la segunda parte tomo las consideraciones de P.B. Preciado sobre el dildo para extrapolarlas a la muñeca, postulando que ambos son objetos suplementarios (en el sentido derridiano del término) que imitan al mismo tiempo que denuncian la falsedad de lo imitado. Este recurso teórico me permite aproximarme a lo que hay de prostético en la representación del deseo de maternidad de Frida Kahlo.
Lectura y escritura en un programa formador de maestros para la infancia
Authors: Gutiérrez Vega Ingrit
Published: December 2020

Este artículo presenta los resultados de la primera fase de la investigación, cuyos objetivos se centran en describir los niveles de lectura y escritura de los estudiantes en diferentes momentos de la formación, precisar estos niveles y las características socioculturales. Así, se pregunta: ¿Cuál es el nivel de lectura y escritura de los estudiantes de Pedagogía Infantil de la Universidad de los Llanos? Para esto, se ubica en la investigación-acción y desde allí se avanza, en la primera fase, a un estudio descriptivo. Se aplicaron dos instrumentos, una prueba para identificar el nivel de lectura y escritura de los estudiantes y una encuesta que arroja algunas comprensiones de estos niveles en la relación sociocultural. La investigación identifica un nivel bajo de lectura y escritura, que coincide con las Pruebas Saber 11 y la institucional de carácter diagnóstico denominada procesos comunicativos, nivel que no es mejorado durante los nueve semestres de formación. Lo anterior indica que al no alcanzar los requerimientos mínimos de lectura y escritura se les dificulta a los estudiantes apropiar los textos sugeridos por sus maestros, desarrollar discursos con posturas criticas y escribir de forma coherente y con estilo propio.
Cuerpo, emociones y educación en tiempos de pandemia
Authors: Suárez Adriana Yamile , Moreno Sandra Maritza
Published: December 2020

La pandemia por la que atraviesa el mundo durante este 2020 ha transformado muchas prácticas y actuaciones de los seres humanos en diferentes escenarios; uno de ellos es el entorno escolar. El presente texto tiene como propósito reflexionar sobre las relaciones entre cuerpo, emociones y educación en estos tiempos en los que la mediación de la tecnología ha sido la herramienta fundamental para continuar con las prácticas de enseñanza, aprendizaje y el desarrollo de los sujetos. Estas consideraciones acogen una serie de preguntas a partir de un breve recorrido por los planteamientos de la cognición, su relación con las emociones y la importancia de los gestos en el procesamiento del lenguaje, para tejer una serie de relaciones que permitan resignificar una pregunta fundamental del currículo: ¿para qué educamos?
La proxemia virtual y la socioemocionalidad en tiempos de incertidumbre
Authors: Rubio Alexander
Published: December 2020

Los acontecimientos de estos tiempos de incertidumbre han obligado a un cambio en el paradigma de la educación y conducen a encontrar nuevos caminos dentro de los códigos establecidos. La virtualidad y sus nuevas relaciones proxémicas afectan las emociones, eje fundamental para culaquier acción humana entre ellas y la educativa. Los maestros y maestras, niños, niñas, jovenes y familias son los protagonistas en un mundo en donde la relación es diferente a la tradicional, que ofrece posibilidades muy particulares para reconocer-nos.
Miedo y lenguaje en tiempos de pandemia
Authors: Olaya Wilches Sergio , Romero Ospina Natalia Isabel , Ayala Alonso Laura Katherine
Published: December 2020

El mundo entero entró inesperadamente en un nuevo panorama; una pandemia que se ha convertido en cotidianidad amerita reflexiones y acercamientos sobre este nuevo contexto al que nos enfrentamos. Por ello, en el presente artículo se expone un acercamiento sobre la potencialidad del lenguaje desde el miedo en el contexto de la pandemia, cuyo desarrollo dinámico por medio de la palabra y la comunicación llega a establecer una relación-tensión potencial entre los medios de información y la población desde una óptica adscrita al campo del lenguaje.
La doble acción del lenguaje
Authors: Quitián Bernal Sandra Patricia
Published: December 2020

El lenguaje posee un doble valor: de una parte, la capacidad de construcción del ser individual, su desarrollo cognitivo, emocional, volitivo y biológico; y de otra, la proyección, con fuerza, del individuo hacia la interacción permanente con otros y con su propia realidad, ser social, en el lenguaje, gracias a la condición mediadora de diferentes sistemas de representación, uno de ellos, la lengua.