bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regulatory Implications for considering flexible resources in network expansion planning: main lessons from regional cases in the H2020 FlexPlan project
Authors: Morch Andrei , Migliavacca Gianluigi , Egorov Aleksandr , Ergun Hakan , Siface Dario , Lattanzio Giorgia , Sperstad Iver Bakken
Published: September 2023

The FlexPlan Horizon2020 project aimed at establishing a new grid planning methodology which considers the opportunity to introduce new storage and flexibility resources in electricity transmission and distribution grids as an alternative to building new grid elements, in accordance with the intentions of the European Commission regulatory package "Clean Energy for all Europeans". FlexPlan creates a new innovative grid planning tool which is intended to go beyond the state of the art of planning methodologies by including the following innovative features: assessment of best planning strategy by analysing in one shot a high number of candidate expansion options provided by a pre-processor tool, simultaneous mid- and long-term planning assessment over three grid years (2030-2040-2050), incorporation of full range of cost benefit analysis criteria into the target function, integrated transmission distribution planning, embedded environmental analysis (air quality, carbon footprint, landscape constraints), probabilistic contingency methodologies in replacement of the traditional N-1 criterion, application of numerical decomposition techniques to reduce calculation efforts and analysis of variability of yearly RES and load time series through a Monte Carlo process. Six regional cases covering nearly the whole European continent are developed in order to cast a view on grid planning in Europe till 2050. The final step in FlexPlan was formulating guidelines for regulators and planning offices of system operators, by indicating to what extent system flexibility can contribute to reduce overall system costs (operational and investment) yet maintaining current system security levels and which regulatory provisions could foster such process. This paper focuses on the regulatory issues, which were uncovered during the initiation phase and of the project and refined in throughout six regional cases. In order to substantiate this, the paper explains in brief the developed and applied FlexPlan methodology and its testing in six regional cases.
Comparison of reproductive performance of Black Sea salmon broodstock (Salmo labrax PALLAS, 1814) reaching first sexual maturity at different ages
Authors: Özel Osman Tolga , Çakmak Eyüp , Çankırılıgil Ekrem Cem , Düzgüneş Zehra Duygu , Çimagil Recayi , Batır Esin
Published: September 2023

The aim of this study was to determine the individual first maturation age diversity in hatchery-originated F6 generation of Black Sea salmon (Salmo labrax) broodstock created by applying for a selective breeding program. Research was carried out in freshwater ponds and marine net cage systems between 2018-2021. In the study, 136, 87 and 3 individuals from the broodstocks that reached the first sexual maturity at the age of 22, 34 and 46 months were used, respectively. Total egg production, relative egg production, egg diameter and fertilization rates were determined at the first stripping of broodstock that reached sexual maturity at different ages. The first gonadal development controls and stripping studies were carried out in the period of 2018-2019 for 22 months old broodstock, 2019-2020 for 34 months old and 2020-2021 for 46 months old. Total fecundity of 22, 34 and 46 months old broodstocks that were stripped, were calculated at 1108.98±40.73, 3869.02±138.43 and 5899.52±1143.78 egg/kg broodstock, relative fecundity was 3024.87±87.52, 2291.90±89.52 and 1816.00±284.51 egg/kg broodstock, egg diameters were 4.40±0.01, 5.07±0.02 and 5.35±0.09 mm and fertilization rates were determined as 92.21±0.87%, 95.69±1.65% and 89.83±2.77%, respectively. The condition factor values of the rootstocks were determined as 1.05±0.02 (22 months old), 1.09±0.01 (34 months old) and 1.08±0.03 (46 months old). In the broodstock, individuals with a first maturation age of 22 months have predominantly red spots with a white halo around the perimeter, silvery coloration with black spots at 34 months of age, and silvery coloration with black spots at 46 months of age were detected. While enterprises that reared Black Sea salmon in freshwater and have restaurants prefer the red-spotted river ecotype for production, enterprises that produce in marine net cages prefer the black-spotted-silver-colored marine ecotype, whose body coloration is similar to Atlantic salmon.
Code and Data Repository for Federated Optimization Under Intermittent Client Availability
Authors: Yan Yikai , Niu Chaoyue , Ding Yucheng , Zheng Zhenzhe , Tang Shaojie , Li Qinya , Wu Fan , Lyu Chengfei , Feng Yanghe , Chen Guihai
Published: September 2023

The appendix of the paper can be found at online_supplement.pdf. This archive is distributed in association with the INFORMS Journal on Computing under the MIT License. The software and data in this repository are a snapshot of the software and data that were used in the research reported on in the paper Federated Optimization under Intermittent Client Availability by Yikai Yan. The snapshot is based on 7ffc5668bec340f16952ed374e1fd717c2810752 in the development repository. Important: This code is being developed on an on-going basis at https://github.com/mikudehuane/FedLaAvg. Please go there if you would like to get a more recent version or would like support
Code and Data Repository for Automation of Strategic Data Prioritization in System Model Calibration: Sensor Placement
Authors: Li Tianyi , Dahleh Munther A.
Published: September 2023

The goal of this software is to document the files for conducting sensor placement at system model calibration.
Code and Data Repository for DiversiTree: A New Method to Efficiently Compute Diverse Sets of Near-Optimal Solutions to Mixed-Integer Optimization Problems
Authors: Ahanor Izuwa , Medal Hugh , Trapp Andrew C.
Published: September 2023

This archive is distributed in association with the INFORMS Journal on Computing under the MIT License. The software and data in this repository are a snapshot of the software and data that were used in the research reported on in the paper (https://doi.org/10.1287/ijoc.2019.0000) by Izuwa Ahanor, Hugh Medal and Andrew Trapp. The snapshot is based on this SHA in the development repository. Important: This code is being developed on an on-going basis at https://github.com/izuwaa/Diversitree. Please go there if you would like to get a more recent version or would like support
Whether to Apply
Authors: Coffman Katherine B. , Collis Manuela R. , Kulkarni Leena
Published: September 2023

Labor market outcomes depend, in part, upon an individual’s willingness to put him- or herself forward for different opportunities. We use a series of experiments to explore gender differences in willingness to apply for higher-return, more challenging work. We find that, in male-typed domains, qualified women are significantly less likely to apply than similarly well-qualified men. We provide evidence both in a controlled setting and in the field that reducing ambiguity surrounding required qualifications increases the rate at which qualified women apply. The effects are mixed for men. Our results point to a way to increase the pool of qualified women applicants.

This paper was accepted by Yan Chen, behavioral economics and decision analysis.

Funding: This work was funded by the National Science Foundation [Grant 1713752] and Harvard Business School.

Supplemental Material: The e-companion and data are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4907 .
Profiting from Data Commons: Theory, Evidence, and Strategy Implications
Authors: Potts Jason , Torrance Andrew , Harhoff Dietmar , von Hippel Eric
Published: September 2023

We define data commons as repositories of freely-accessible, “open source” innovation-related data, information and knowledge. Data commons are and can be a significant resource for both innovating and innovation-adopting firms and individuals. First, the availability of free data and information from such commons reduces the innovation-specific private or open investment required to access the data and make the next innovative advance. Second, the fact that the data are freely accessible lowers transactions costs substantially. In this paper, we draw on the theory and empirical evidence regarding innovation commons in general and data commons in particular. Based on these foundations, we consider strategic decisions in the private and public domain: how can individuals, firms and societies profit from data commons? We first discuss the varying nature of and contents of data commons, their functioning, and the value they provide to private innovators and to social welfare. We next explore the several types of data commons extant today, and their mechanisms of action. We find that those who develop innovation-related information at private cost already have, surprisingly often, an economic incentive to freely reveal their information to a data commons. However, we also find and discuss important exceptions. We conclude with suggestions regarding needed innovation research, data commons “engineering”, and innovation policymaking that could together increase private and social welfare via enhancement of data commons.

Funding: D. Harhoff was supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft [CRC TRR 190].
The Fragmented Mark: Zuckerman’s Characters as Self-Making in The Human Stain
Authors: Ozias Joseph
Published: September 2023

Abstract: Much of the discourse surrounding Philip Roth’s The Human Stain (2000) either deals with the novel as about America and American self-making or as about Coleman Silk. Little scholarship, however, deals with Zuckerman, the narrator, as a character central to the story; this essay seeks to show that Zuckerman not only invents the personal lives of his characters, but he invents himself, and he does so through his semi-imagined versions of each of the characters. Coleman is who he wishes himself to be, Farley is Zuckerman’s model of how not to live, Delphine is the warning about the very book he writes—the version of himself that lies about who he is—and Faunia acts as his moral compass and guide, perhaps the most important of his creations given how his narrative decisions reflect her sensibilities. Zuckerman’s characterizations of the key players and his suppositions about their interiority, then, result in Zuckerman’s own characterization.
Impersonal Belongings: Annie Ernaux’s Poetics of Chiffonnage
Authors: Farchi Gai
Published: September 2023

Abstract: Contemporary French author Annie Ernaux makes salvaging, recycling, and defying obsolescence into a materialist poetics. Ernaux aligns her textual collages with a late-capitalist incarnation of the Parisian ragpicker. The overlap of the two main tropes in Ernaux’s oeuvre, the axis of reminiscence (embodied here mainly in the works The Years and A Girl’s Story ) and the axis of everyday experience in late capitalistic Paris and its suburbs ( Exteriors , Things Seen ), assemble into a poetics of chiffonnage . In both axes, residues of the everyday are recycled into writing, an effort that reframes the tradition of ragpicking from its context in nineteenth-century Paris into a discourse of waste and recycling.
The End of Prediction? AI Technologies in a No-Analog World
Authors: Munn Luke
Published: September 2023

Abstract: AI technologies mine past data to anticipate future events, and yet our world of environmental and political crisis ushers in unprecedented conditions. Mixing examples of operational environments (AI in the oil and gas industry) with insights from media, cultural, and environmental studies, this article explores this grappling with uncertainty. To manage uncertainty, companies strive to internalize the complexity and contingency of the real world, collecting more data, designing more accurate sensors, and developing more exhaustive models. And yet prediction is a fraught exercise that struggles with correlation versus causation, the epistemological outside (the unknown), and the ontological outside (the open-endedness of the future). In addition, technology’s role in accelerating and intensifying the destructive logics of capital contributes to more volatile planetary conditions, undermining the stability and continuity that prediction requires. The article thus argues that, at a fundamental level, a highly fluid future will increasingly frustrate any meaningful degree of prediction. Keywords: prediction, knowledge, AI, machine learning, uncertainty, climate change
Experimental demonstration of the quantum noise randomized cipher based on cascaded phase shift keying without a high-level digital-to-analog converter
Authors: Zhao Jiaqi , Li Yunkun , Pu Tao , Zheng Jilin , Zhou Hua , Wang Xiaohu , Wu Gengze , Zhou Han , Liu Juan
Published: September 2023

To break the dependence on a high-speed and high-resolution digital-to-analog converter (DAC) in the traditional quantum noise randomized cipher (QNRC), a practical DAC-free modulation scheme based on cascaded phase-shift keying (PSK) is proposed and demonstrated by a proof-of-concept experiment. By employing seven cascaded phase modulators (PMs) driven by designed electrical voltage signals, a 128 PSK-QNRC system is achieved with a transmission rate of 10 Gbaud/s and a transmission distance more than 50 km, which eliminates the need for a DAC on the transmitter side. The bit error rate (BER) performance of the proposed scheme is compared to that of a traditional scheme based on an arbitrary waveform generator (AWG) with a sampling rate of 25 GSa/s. The results show that compared to a traditional scheme, the power penalties of the proposed scheme are −1.8dB, 0.9 dB, and 1 dB, respectively, at the rates of 10, 5, and 2.5 Gbps. In other words, the BER performance of the proposed scheme is close to the traditional scheme at a low transmission rate, but better than that of the traditional scheme at a high transmission rate, where the sampling rate of the DAC is not high enough to generate a complete waveform. This work greatly enhances the security of a QNRC system.
Dynamic range enhancement of self-referenced spectral interferometry with extended time excursion method by the cascaded Kerr lens process
Authors: Xuan Yaping , Shen Xiong , Liang Wenhai , Xu Yilin , Chen Renjing , Du Shuman , Wang Peng , Liu Jun , Li Ruxin
Published: September 2023

Self-referenced spectral interferometry with extended time excursion (SRSI-ETE) is a powerful method for single-shot characterization of the temporal contrast of a high peak power laser, which has high temporal resolution but a low dynamic range. Here, a temporal contrast reduction method is proposed that uses the cascaded Kerr lens process in two thin glass plates. Combined with the SRSI-ETE method, the measurement dynamic range of the method is increased about two orders of magnitude while having a 20 fs temporal resolution and a 40 ps time window in single shot.
600-GHz Fourier imaging based on heterodyne detection at the 2nd sub-harmonic
Authors: Yuan Hui , Lisauskas Alvydas , Thomson Mark D. , Roskos Hartmut G.
Published: September 2023

Fourier imaging is an indirect imaging method which records the diffraction pattern of the object scene coherently in the focal plane of the imaging system and reconstructs the image using computational resources. The spatial resolution, which can be reached, depends on one hand on the wavelength of the radiation, but also on the capability to measure – in the focal plane – Fourier components with high spatial wave-vectors. This leads to a conflicting situation at THz frequencies, because choosing a shorter wavelength for better resolution usually comes at the cost of less radiation power, concomitant with a loss of dynamic range, which limits the detection of higher Fourier components. Here, aiming at maintaining a high dynamic range and limiting the system costs, we adopt heterodyne detection at the 2nd sub-harmonic, working with continuous-wave (CW) radiation for object illumination at 600 GHz and local-oscillator (LO) radiation at 300 GHz. The detector is a single-pixel broad-band Si CMOS TeraFET equipped with substrate lenses on both the front- and backside for separate in-coupling of the waves. The entire scene is illuminated by the object wave, and the Fourier spectrum is recorded by raster scanning of the single-detector unit through the focal plane. With only 56 µW of power of the 600-GHz radiation, a dynamic range of 60 dB is reached, sufficient to detect the entire accessible Fourier space spectrum in the test measurements. We present a detailed comparison between plane-to-plane imaging and Fourier imaging, and show that, with both, a lateral spatial resolution of better than 0.5 mm, at the diffraction limit, is reached.
100Gb/s coherent optical secure communication over 1000 km based on analog-digital hybrid chaos
Authors: Wu Yuqing , Zhang Ziheng , Luo Hanwen , Deng Lei , Yang Qi , Dai Xiaoxiao , Liu Deming , Gao Xiaojing , Yu Yongqin , Cheng Mengfan
Published: September 2023

In recent years, the transmission capacity of chaotic secure communications has been greatly expanded by combining coherent detection and multi-dimensional multiplexing. However, demonstrations over 1000 km fiber are yet to be further explored. In this paper, we propose a coherent optical secure transmission system based on analog-digital hybrid chaos. By introducing an analog-digital converter (ADC) and a bit extraction into the feedback loop of entropy source, the broadband analog chaos is converted into a binary digital signal. This binary digital signal is then mapped to a 65536-level pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) signal and injected into the semiconductor laser (SL) to regenerate the analog chaos, forming a closed loop. The binary digital signal from the chaos source and the encrypted signal are transmitted via wavelength division multiplexing (WDM). By using conventional digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms and neural networks for post-compensation, long-haul high-quality chaotic synchronization and high-performance secure communication are achieved. In addition, the probability density distribution of the analog chaotic signal is effectively improved by adopting the additional higher-order mapping operation in the digital part of the chaos source. The proof-of-concept experimental results show that our proposed scheme can support the secure transmission of 100 Gb/s quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) signals over 1000 km of standard single-mode fiber (SSMF). The decrypted bit error rate (BER) reaches 9.88 × 10−4, which is well below the 7% forward error correction (FEC) threshold (BER = 3.8 × 10−3). This research provides a potential solution for high-capacity long-haul chaotic optical communications and fills the gap in secure communications based on analog-digital hybrid chaos.
Traffic-based adaptive bandwidth adjustment for flexible OTN connectivity in optical networks
Authors: Hu Qiaojun , Wang Wei , Hu Liyazhou , Li Yajie , Zhao Yongli , Zhang Jie
Published: September 2023

In conventional optical transport networks, the service form is the fixed bandwidth connectivity, which is not flexible for carrying bursting traffic. To support the time-varying traffic in an efficient way, researchers are studying the optical service units for building the more flexible optical transport network (OTN) connectivity, which is capable of dynamic hitless bandwidth adjustment. To better utilize the benefits of flexible connectivity, network operators need efficient algorithms to adjust the flexible connectivity bandwidth, especially in the network with a massive number of connections. In this paper, based on max-min fair bandwidth allocation criteria, we propose two traffic-based adaptive bandwidth adjustment algorithms to make bandwidth adjustment decisions, with the aim to improve bandwidth effectiveness. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithms can improve bandwidth utilization by up to 16%. Additionally, under high load conditions, it can reduce the loss in traffic bitrate by a maximum of 10%.
Effect on the diffraction efficiency from the surface absorption of echelle grating in Littrow mounting
Authors: Huang Zhisen , Zhang Qian , Wang Jin , Zhang Shanwen
Published: September 2023

[Opt. Express 31, 26156 202310.1364/OE.495525] shows an anomalous absorption of the echelle grating in TM polarization light near the pseudo-Brewster angle. On top of that, more generally, we relate the absorptions of echelle grating to the Al materials with an absorption spectral band. The blaze diffraction efficiencies (DEs), absorption strengths and electric field distributions, and the energy of non-blaze diffraction orders of the echelle are analyzed in detail. The computing reveals that the interaction between the incident light for TM polarization and the echelle structure leads to amplifying the absorption strength of Al materials with an absorption spectral band from visible to near IR. The deepening groove depth not only suppresses the absorption strength of the Al-echelle grating under TM polarization closer to the absorption spectra of Al materials but improves the light-collecting ability (LCA) at both polarizations. Therefore, the DE differences of different blaze wavelengths for the wideband blaze are explained. The Ag materials echelle with lower absorption is to further validate the results. From the point of view of the effects of absorption and LCA, the novel echelles with high DE can be designed and fabricated.
Degeneration of topological corner, hinge, and surface states in three-dimensional photonic crystals
Authors: Li Xiaoxue , Rui Guanghao , He Jun , Gu Bing
Published: September 2023

The third-order topological insulators based on three-dimensional (3D) photonic crystals (PCs) have hardly been achieved because the nontrivial bandgap in 3D PCs is difficult to form. In this Letter, we elaborately construct 3D Su-Schrieffer-Heeger lattice in which the periodic modulation of refractive index is uniform in three axis directions. The high-order topological PCs are characterized by the nontrivial bulk polarizations and the mirror eigenvalues. Such a structure can achieve topological 1-codimensional surface states, 2-codimensional hinge states, and 3-codimensional corner states. More importantly, it is found for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, that the topological states exhibit a degeneration behavior, i. e., the corner, and hinge state, or corner and surface states coexist at nearly the same frequency, but maintain their own mode properties. The multiple topological states in 3D PCs as well as the degeneration of topological states will open a new window for the study of topological photonics.
Diamond coated fiber optic interferometric sensors: fabrication and application
Authors: Kyatam Shusmitha , Oliveira Ricardo , Rocha Ana M. , Mukherjee Debarati , Neto Miguel A. , Oliveira Filipe J. , Khan Muhammad A. , Correia Maria R. P. , Mendes Joana C.
Published: September 2023

Diamond films were deposited by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on the tip of Fabry-Perot (FPI) and multi-mode (MMI) optical fiber interferometers. Diamond provides a robust interface capable of forming covalent bonds between atoms on its surface and receptor molecules, required for biosensing applications. The films were characterized by optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical profilometry and Raman spectroscopy. The diamond-coated interferometers were tested with different refractive index solutions. The sensors response was 40 ± 1 dB/RIU and −987 ± 70 pm/ RIU for the FPI and −11 ± 1 dB/RIU for the MMI.
Mid-infrared luminescence properties of erbium and dysprosium doped lanthanum titanate glasses
Authors: Topper Brian , Wilke Stephen K. , Pettes Michael , Alrubkhi Abdulrahman , Menon Vrishank , Neumann Alexander , Möncke Doris , Weber Richard , Mafi Arash
Published: September 2023

Glasses of composition xRE2O3-(17−x) La2O3-83 TiO2 were prepared by levitation melting from x = 0.1 to 9 for RE=Er and at x =0.1 and 1 for RE=Dy. The glasses have high transition temperature, exhibit low OH, and 1 mm thick discs are transparent out to 6 μm. Mid-infrared emission lineshapes and lifetimes are comparable to what is seen in tellurite glasses containing Er3+ and Dy3+. For x fixed at 1, the Er3+:4I11/2 → 4I13/2 transition at 2716 nm has a fluorescence lifetime of 254 μs and the Dy3+:6H13/2 → 6H15/2 transition at 2957 nm has a fluorescence lifetime of 9.09 μs. The results indicate that doped lanthanum titanate glasses offer the thermal stability of a ’hard’ glass with the host properties typically associated with ’soft’ glasses. Problems with the measurement of spectral features in the mid-infrared that could erroneously be assigned as resulting from rare-earth ion emissions are presented and discussed.
Terahertz magneto-optical metadevice for active spin-selective beam steering and energy distribution with nonreciprocal isolation
Authors: Zhao Dan , Fan Fei , Liu Jiayue , Tan Zhiyu , Wang Hao , Yang Qinghui , Wen Qiye , Chang Shengjiang
Published: September 2023

Active beam steering and energy distribution have important
applications for terahertz (THz) communication, radar, and imaging.
However, the spin-conjugated mirror symmetry of a passive
Pancharatnam–Berry (PB) metasurface limits the active energy
distribution. Here, we prepared a low dispersion, low loss, and high
magneto-optical coefficient La:YIG single crystal, ±45∘ Faraday rotation angle that can be
actively tuned by a weak magnetic field in broadband THz range at room
temperature. Based on this functional material, a THz magneto-optical
(MO) spin-modulated metadevice has been demonstrated, which is
integrated with a La:YIG, an anisotropic metasurface, and a PB
metasurface layer. The spin-conjugated mirror symmetry is broken by
the MO chirality effect and photonic spin Hall effect in this
metadevice so that spin-selective beam steering within the range of ±27∘−±41∘ is dynamically manipulated by
external magnetic fields and power distribution can be tuned with the
max modulation depth of 91.6%. More importantly, the MO crystal
introduces nonreciprocal phase shift between two spin states so that
the device not only achieves active THz beam steering but also
provides isolation for reflected waves with the max isolation of
23 dB. This mechanism of THz nonreciprocal spin beam steering
provides multiple functions for THz point-to-point networking
communication, anti-shielding, anti-interference, and power
distribution.
Polarization imaging and edge detection with image-processing metasurfaces
Authors: Cotrufo Michele , Singh Sahitya , Arora Akshaj , Majewski Alexander , Alù Andrea
Published: September 2023

Optical metasurfaces have been recently explored as ultrathin analog
image differentiators. By tailoring the momentum transfer function,
they can perform efficient Fourier filtering—and thus
potentially any linear mathematical operation—on an input
image, replacing bulky 4f systems. While this approach has been
investigated in different platforms, and a few techniques have been
explored to achieve the required angular response, little effort has
been devoted so far to tailor and control also the polarization
response of an image-processing metasurface. Here, we show that
edge-detection metasurfaces can be designed with tailored polarization
responses, while simultaneously preserving an isotropic response. In
particular, we demonstrate numerically and experimentally single-layer
silicon metasurfaces yielding efficient Laplacian operation on a 2D
image with either large polarization asymmetry, or nearly
polarization-independent response. In the former case, we show that a
strongly asymmetric polarization response can be used to unlock more
sophisticated on-the-fly image processing functionalities, such as
dynamically tunable direction-dependent edge detection. In parallel,
metasurfaces with dual-polarized response are shown to enable
efficient operation for unpolarized or arbitrarily polarized images,
ensuring high efficiency. For both devices, we demonstrate edge
detection within relatively large numerical apertures and with
excellent isotropy and intensity throughput. Our study paves the way
for the broad use of optical metasurfaces for sophisticated, massively
parallel analog image processing with zero energy requirements.
Designing self-tracking experiences: A qualitative study of the perceptions of barriers and facilitators to adopting digital health technology for automatic urine analysis at home
Authors: Motta Margherita , Groves Emily , Schneider Andrea , Paoletti Samantha , Henchoz Nicolas , Ribes Lemay Delphine
Published: September 2023

Self-tracking technologies open new doors to previously unimaginable scenarios. The diagnosis of diseases years in advance, or supporting the health of astronauts on missions to Mars are just some of many example applications. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a wide range of self-monitoring protocols emerged, revealing opportunities but also challenges including difficulties in understanding how to self-use monitoring systems, struggling to recognize the benefit of such systems and a high likelihood of abandonment. In this paper, we explore the role that design plays in the creation of a user experience of self-tracking, with a focus on urine analysis at home. We investigate adoption factors and forms of data expression to overcome the presented challenges. By combining insights from related work, semi-structured interviews and indicative user-tests, we show the potential of pairing a traditional numerical data representation (data quantification) with a qualitative expression of the data (data qualification). Indeed, qualitative expressions have the potential to convey the complexity of the phenomena tracked, enabling deep meaning-making and emotional connection to personal data. At the same time, we also identify issues with this approach, which can require a longer learning curve and lead to rejection by users more accustomed to traditional, numerical approaches. Based on the results, several recommendations have been converted into an experimental proposition, which also presents future plans for the continuation of the project. This article presents the first fundamental step in creating a meaningful experience of self-tracking, taking into consideration the needs and expectations of future users.
The potential of digital behavioural tests as a diagnostic aid for psychosis
Authors: Słowiński Piotr , White Alexander , Lison Sian , Sullivan Sarah , Emmens Tobit , Self Philip , Wileman Jane , Karl Anke , Tsaneva-Atanasova Krasimira
Published: September 2023

Timely interventions have a proven benefit for people experiencing psychotic illness. One bottleneck to accessing timely interventions is the referral process to the specialist team for early psychosis (STEP). Many general practitioners lack awareness or confidence in recognising psychotic symptoms or state. Additionally, referrals for people without apparent psychotic symptoms, although beneficial at a population level, lead to excessive workload for STEPs. There is a clear unmet need for accurate stratification of STEPs users and healthy cohorts. Here we propose a new approach to addressing this need via the application of digital behavioural tests. To demonstrate that digital behavioural tests can be used to discriminate between the STEPs users (SU; n = 32) and controls (n = 32, age and sex matched), we compared performance of five different classifiers applied to objective, quantitative and interpretable features derived from the ‘mirror game’ (MG) and trail making task (TMT). The MG is a movement coordination task shown to be a potential socio-motor biomarker of schizophrenia, while TMT is a neuropsychiatric test of cognitive function. All classifiers had AUC in the range of 0.84–0.92. The best of the five classifiers (linear discriminant classifier) achieved an outstanding performance, AUC = 0.92 (95%CI 0.75–1), Sensitivity = 0.75 (95%CI 0.5–1), Specificity = 1 (95%CI 0.75–1), evaluated on 25% hold-out and 1000 folds. Performance of all analysed classifiers is underpinned by the large effect sizes of the differences between the cohorts in terms of the features used for classification what ensures generalisability of the results. We also found that MG and TMT are unsuitable in isolation to successfully differentiate between SU with and without at-risk-mental-state or first episode psychosis with sufficient level of performance. Our findings show that standardised batteries of digital behavioural tests could benefit both clinical and research practice. Including digital behavioural tests into healthcare practice could allow precise phenotyping and stratification of the highly heterogenous population of people referred to STEPs resulting in quicker and more personalised diagnosis. Moreover, the high specificity of digital behavioural tests could facilitate the identification of more homogeneous clinical high-risk populations, benefiting research on prognostic instruments for psychosis. In summary, our study demonstrates that cheap off-the-shelf equipment (laptop computer and a leap motion sensor) can be used to record clinically relevant behavioural data that could be utilised in digital mental health applications.
Differences in anxiety sensitivity and experiential avoidance between subtypes of social anxiety disorder
Authors: Stork Martin , Lemos Mariantonia , Román-Calderón Juan Pablo
Published: September 2023

Both anxiety sensitivity (AS) and experiential avoidance (EA) have been linked to social anxiety disorder (SAD). However, previous studies did not consider their joint variance and the heterogeneity of SAD. In this mixed methods cross-sectional survey, we examined 121 online participants (age range: 16–70 years) who self-reported as socially anxious. We compared AS and EA levels in individuals with a primary fear of noticeable anxiety symptoms vs. behaving ineptly. AS and EA were highly prevalent across the sample. Surprisingly, the noticeable symptoms subtype showed slightly lower AS and EA levels than the inept behavior subtype. The noticeable symptoms subtype scored notably lower on social anxiety measures (mean = 69.8) than the inept behavior subtype (mean = 89.3). EA was uniquely associated with social anxiety in both subtypes, while AS was uniquely associated with social anxiety only in the inept behavior subtype. The joint variance explained substantially more of the noticeable symptoms subtype’s social anxiety (32.5%) compared to the inept behavior subtype’s (9.4%). Qualitative themes aligned with these findings, indicating a self-reinforcing dynamic between high AS, high EA, and social anxiety symptoms. Potential clinical implications are discussed. Future research should examine causality in the AS-EA-SAD dynamic, considering the heterogeneity of SAD.
Internal radiation exposure from 137Cs and its association with the dietary habits of residents from areas affected by the Chernobyl nuclear accident, Ukraine: 2016–2018
Authors: Sartayev Yesbol , Matsuu-Matsuyama Mutsumi , Yamaguchi Izumi , Takahashi Jumpei , Gutevich Alexander , Hayashida Naomi
Published: September 2023

The total annual effective dose has steadily decreased since the fallout of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. However, chronic internal exposure to 137Cs still persists and fluctuates in a complex and unpredictable manner. Recently, body contamination was found to primarily occur owing to the intake of forest foodstuffs that contain long-lived 137Cs. Forest foodstuffs may have up to 100 times higher concentration of cesium than does local milk and meat. The present study aimed to investigate the recent dietary habits of residents in the Zhytomyr region of Ukraine, and assess the effect of the intake of forest foodstuffs on the increase in internal radioactivity from 137Cs. We screened 1,612 participants, from July 2016 to February 2018 for internal radioactivity, using whole-body counter at Korosten Medical Center and surveyed their background and intake habits. We analyzed the association among food type, intake frequency, and internal exposure dose. The analysis revealed that nearly 90% of the participants regularly consumed one of the forest foodstuffs (mushrooms, berries, fish) or milk. Nearly 80% of the participants indicated that they consumed mushrooms or berries or both. Internal radioactivity was detected in 30% of the participants. The diet that included mushrooms exhibited the highest internal radioactivity. The lowest Bq/kg concentration was observed in the only-berry group, following the no-intake group. There was a significant correlation between the intake frequency and the magnitude of Bq/kg. Radioactivity detected in the mushroom-berry and only-mushroom group were 8.6 and 9.2 Bq/kg, respectively. The lowest and highest intake frequency showed a radioactivity of 2.4 and 7.5 Bq/kg, respectively. Radioactivity in the winter season was significantly higher than that in other seasons. In conclusion, our study revealed that internal radioactivity varies depending on the type of food, intake frequency, and season.
Gene mutations as a non-invasive measure of adult cochlear implant performance: Variable outcomes in patients with select TMPRSS3 mutations
Authors: Cottrell Justin , Dixon Peter , Cao Xingshan , Kiss Alex , Smilsky Kari , Kaminskas Kassandra , Ng Amy , Shipp David , Dimitrijevic Andrew , Chen Joseph , Lin Vincent , Kyriakopoulou Lianna , Le Trung
Published: September 2023

Background

The cochlear implant (CI) has proven to be a successful treatment for patients with severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss, however outcome variance exists. We sought to evaluate particular mutations discovered in previously established sensory and neural partition genes and compare post-operative CI outcomes.

Materials and methods

Utilizing a prospective cohort study design, blood samples collected from adult patients with non-syndromic hearing loss undergoing CI were tested for 54 genes of interest with high-throughput sequencing. Patients were categorized as having a pathogenic variant in the sensory partition, pathogenic variant in the neural partition, pathogenic variant in both sensory and neural partition, or with no variant identified. Speech perception performance was assessed pre- and 12 months post-operatively. Performance measures were compared to genetic mutation and variant status utilizing a Wilcoxon rank sum test, with P<0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results

Thirty-six cochlear implant patients underwent genetic testing and speech understanding measurements. Of the 54 genes that were interrogated, three patients (8.3%) demonstrated a pathogenic mutation in the neural partition (within TMPRSS3 genes), one patient (2.8%) demonstrated a pathogenic mutation in the sensory partition (within the POU4F3 genes). In addition, 3 patients (8.3%) had an isolated neural partition variance of unknown significance (VUS), 5 patients (13.9%) had an isolated sensory partition VUS, 1 patient (2.8%) had a variant in both neural and sensory partition, and 23 patients (63.9%) had no mutation or variant identified. There was no statistically significant difference in speech perception scores between patients with sensory or neural partition pathogenic mutations or VUS. Variable performance was found within patients with TMPRSS3 gene mutations.

Conclusion

The impact of genetic mutations on post-operative outcomes in CI patients was heterogenous. Future research and dissemination of mutations and subsequent CI performance is warranted to elucidate exact mutations within target genes providing the best non-invasive prognostic capability.
The dual action of human antibodies specific to Plasmodium falciparum PfRH5 and PfCyRPA: Blocking invasion and inactivating extracellular merozoites
Authors: Weiss Greta E. , Ragotte Robert J. , Quinkert Doris , Lias Amelia M. , Dans Madeline G. , Boulet Coralie , Looker Oliver , Ventura Olivia D. , Williams Barnabas G. , Crabb Brendan S. , Draper Simon J. , Gilson Paul R.
Published: September 2023

The Plasmodium falciparum reticulocyte-binding protein homolog 5 (PfRH5) is the current leading blood-stage malaria vaccine candidate. PfRH5 functions as part of the pentameric PCRCR complex containing PTRAMP, CSS, PfCyRPA and PfRIPR, all of which are essential for infection of human red blood cells (RBCs). To trigger RBC invasion, PfRH5 engages with RBC protein basigin in a step termed the RH5-basigin binding stage. Although we know increasingly more about how antibodies specific for PfRH5 can block invasion, much less is known about how antibodies recognizing other members of the PCRCR complex can inhibit invasion. To address this, we performed live cell imaging using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) which bind PfRH5 and PfCyRPA. We measured the degree and timing of the invasion inhibition, the stage at which it occurred, as well as subsequent events. We show that parasite invasion is blocked by individual mAbs, and the degree of inhibition is enhanced when combining a mAb specific for PfRH5 with one binding PfCyRPA. In addition to directly establishing the invasion-blocking capacity of the mAbs, we identified a secondary action of certain mAbs on extracellular parasites that had not yet invaded where the mAbs appeared to inactivate the parasites by triggering a developmental pathway normally only seen after successful invasion. These findings suggest that epitopes within the PfCyRPA-PfRH5 sub-complex that elicit these dual responses may be more effective immunogens than neighboring epitopes by both blocking parasites from invading and rapidly inactivating extracellular parasites. These two protective mechanisms, prevention of invasion and inactivation of uninvaded parasites, resulting from antibody to a single epitope indicate a possible route to the development of more effective vaccines.
Indigestible foreign bodies in the forestomach of slaughtered goats in Mogadishu, Somalia
Authors: Shair Mohamed A. , Hassan-Kadle Ahmed A. , Osman Aamir M. , Ahmed Kaltumo M. Y. , Yusuf Abdulkarim A. , Barros-Filho Ivan R. , Vieira Rafael F. C.
Published: September 2023

Background and Aim: The primary domestic animal in Somali communities is the goat. Their main economic importance is as a food source and a main form of agriculture in the country. There has been a recent decline in the goat population in Somalia, which may be due to the shortage of feed and an increasingly contaminated environment that is affecting the population’s food supply and nutritional status. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and the factors associated with indigestible foreign bodies (IFBs) ingestion in goats in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Somalia Meat Company in Mogadishu, Somalia, in February 2022. A total of 250 goats were included in this study, and records were kept on age, sex, body condition, and location. Following the slaughter, goats were inspected for IFBs, and their stomach compartments were incised and examined. Indigestible foreign body classifications was noted and subjected to analysis using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26.0.

Results: A total of 90/250 (36%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 30.1-42.3) goats presented IFBs, being 71/90 (79%; 95% CI: 69-87) in the rumen, 12/90 (13%; 95% CI: 7-22) in the reticulum, and seven/90 (8%; 95% CI: 3-15) on both. The most observed IFBs were plastic in 71/90 (79%; 95% CI: 69-87), followed by ropes in eight/90 (10%; 95% CI: 5-18). A high IFB prevalence was observed in goats aged >2–≤3 years (44%), followed by >3 years (36%). The lowest frequency was observed in goats aged <2 years (30%). Overall, there was an association between IFBs in goats and poor body conditions (χ2 = 47%, p < 0.04).

Conclusion: The absence of a plastic waste disposal system in the area, and communal free-grazing of livestock in highly contaminated sites, appeared to be significant contributors to the high occurrence of IFBs in goats. Therefore, appropriate policies for solid waste management should be implemented.

Keywords: Capra hircus, plastic bags, small ruminants, Somali slaughterhouse, Sub-Saharan Africa.
Avaliação do perfil nutricional de pacientes atendidos em uma clínica de nutrição de uma universidade comunitária do Estado de Santa Catarina
Authors: Dos Santos Maciel Gabrielle Augustha , Barreta La Bella Claiza
Published: September 2023

Objetivo: avaliar o perfil antropométrico e bioquímico dos pacientes atendidos na Clínica de Nutrição de uma Universidade Comunitária do Estado de Santa Catarina no ano de 2021. Método: trata-se de um estudo transversal, descritivo e retrospectivo, onde foram avaliados 51 pacientes frequentadores da Clínica de Nutrição, nas dependências da Unidade de Saúde Familiar e Comunitária – UNIVALI, no período de abril a dezembro de 2021, a partir de demanda espontânea. Resultados: Os pacientes possuíam idade média de 54,13 (± 13,55) anos, sendo a maioria do sexo feminino, com consumo de bebidas alcóolicas presente em 23,52% (n=12) da população, e consumo hídrico presente em 29,41% (n=15). O estado nutricional foi dominantemente de pacientes com excesso de peso (64,70%), acarretando doenças crônicas, das quais a Hipertensão Arterial Sistêmica foi a patologia de maior predominância (37,25%), seguida da Diabetes Mellitus do tipo II (23,52%). Quanto aos achados bioquímicos, cerca de metade da população do estudo apresentou perfil glicêmico e lipídico elevado, além de hipovitaminose D em 64,7% dos pacientes. Conclusão: O perfil antropométrico e bioquímico dos pacientes avaliados caracterizou-se por uma população predominantemente feminina. O estado nutricional da população foi dominantemente de pacientes com excesso de peso, hipertensão arterial sistêmica, diabetes mellitus tipo II e níveis alterados dos perfis lipídico e glicídico, e hipovitaminose D.
Tecnologias da Informação devem estar a serviço da Educação e não ser um valor em si
Authors: Golembiewski Carlos
Published: September 2023

A professora Jessica Cabrera Cuevas trabalha na Universidade Autônoma de Madri com a formação de professores e há mais de 10 anos se dedica ao estudo da criatividade. Em 2011, recebeu o primeiro prêmio de Investigação sobre Criatividade e Inovação Educativa da Universidade Nacional Autônoma do México. Recentemente, esteve no Brasil para participar do III Congresso Internacional de Políticas Públicas promovido pela Univali. Após a palestra, ela conversou com a RBTS sobre as Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação, Educação, Política e os grandes problemas globais.
Farkasbiztos téglaház? A KKV-k információbiztonsága Magyarországon
Authors: Mike Nimród , Krén Enikő , Kecskeméti Tamás
Published: September 2023

Az informatikai és információbiztonság olyan fontos a KKV-k életében, mint a sivatagban az oázis. A vállalatok versenyképességéhez nagyban hozzájárul a biztonság szintje, amely terület erősen alulreprezentált a KKV-szektorban. A tanulmány arra a kérdésre keresi a választ, miszerint valóban megfigyelhető-e, hogy a sürgetett digitalizáció negatív hatással van az információbiztonsági szintre nézve a KKV-k életében Magyarországon. Az elemzés főként az e-kereskedelemben aktívan részt vevő cégekre terjed ki. Magyarországon és az Európai Unióban összehasonlítva kimutathatók az információbiztonsággal és adatvédelemmel kapcsolatos trendek, amelyekből látható a területet érintő elmaradottság. A tanulmány a Digiméter 2020, 2021 és 2022-es kvantitatív kutatásának eredményét mutatja be, emellett az Európai Unió által biztosított DESI-index (Digital Economy and Society Index) és NCSI (National Cybersecurity Index) nyilvános adatait dolgozza fel. A kutatás várható eredménye igazolja, hogy Magyarországon jól látható az információbiztonság kiforratlansága.