bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Treating clinical mastitis in dairy herds: a role for on farm culture?
Authors: Breen James
Published: September 2021

The focus on the rational use of antibiotics in dairy herds has meant that mastitis control has received renewed interest, particularly around prevention of new infections and alternative treatment strategies. The former has seen the development of a new industry initiative (QuarterPRO) to help advisors and farmers reduce the rate of new infections and index cases. The latter has seen widespread uptake of the selective use of intramammary antibiotic for infected cows at drying-off, a reminder to the veterinary profession as well as clients about the general lack of evidence for the use of parenteral antibiotic in combination with intramammary antibiotic for mild and moderate clinical mastitis events, and finally the potential to select intramammary antibiotic treatment for clinical mastitis using on farm culture (OFC). It is important that veterinary surgeons are aware of the research around the development and use of OFC and the suitability of individual herds for this approach. Whereas antibiotics may not be required for mild clinical mastitis events caused by some pathogens, particularly Escherichia coli, it is important that clinical mastitis events (particularly first cases in a lactation cycle) caused by Gram-positive pathogens such as Streptococcus spp. and Staphylococcus aureus are treated with intramammary antibiotic to optimise chance of cure and reduce risk of transmission. With this in mind, we need to consider individual herd cell count data, herd pathogen profile and ensure careful monitoring of outcomes for clinical mastitis cases in herds that are selecting treatment based on OFC, particularly for index (first) cases in a cow's lactation.
Fast and low grating lobe multi-beam steering with a subarray level unequally spaced optical phased array
Authors: Wu Yunhan , Shao Shuai , Che Dongbo
Published: September 2021

A grating-lobe-suppressed optical phased array (OPA) based on an unequally spaced technique is proposed to realize multi-beam steering, in which the multi-beam is achieved using the subaperture (SA) technique. The element distribution in SA is optimized by a modified genetic algorithm to minimize peak sidelobe levels (PSLL). The results show that grating lobes can be well suppressed using the proposed technique within the whole scanning range of the beams. The PSLL of the optimized unequally spaced OPA reaches as low as 0.21 in the

±

5
∘

beam direction, which is much better than the equally spaced OPA. Simultaneously, multi-beam asynchronous scanning can be achieved, which significantly improves the accuracy and flexibility of beam steering control. Besides, the simulations show that the spacing range between adjacent elements and the element number should be appropriately chosen to achieve better sidelobe suppression and a narrow beam width.
Formation mechanism of nanosecond-laser-induced microstructures on amorphous silicon film surfaces
Authors: Ren Yingming , Zhang Zhiyu
Published: September 2021

Laser-induced microstructures have attracted significant research interest owing to their wide application potential for anti-reflective surfaces and optoelectronic devices. To elucidate the characteristics of laser-patterned microstructures, nanosecond-laser-induced micro-protrusions on amorphous silicon film surfaces were investigated via single-and multi-line irradiation experiments. For the former, the results reveal that the number of periodic micro-protrusions depends on the peak power intensity. In addition, the height and the base diameter of the micro-protrusions can be tailored by adjusting the peak power intensity and scanning distance of the laser, while increasing the peak power intensity also increases surface roughness. X-ray spectroscopy confirmed that the microstructures were mainly composed of silicon. The relationship between the formation mechanism and the size of the micro-protrusions is also discussed, with the results of this study providing valuable insights into the laser-induced microstructure formation.
Micro-stress bonding analysis of high precision and lightweight mirrors
Authors: Tan Songnian , Yu Xiao , Xu Yongsen , Xu Yulei , Jia Ping
Published: September 2021

We propose analysis methods for mirror bonding. The functional relationship between the shrinkage of the adhesive layer and the shape accuracy of the mirror is established numerically. By designing the structural form of the optical mounting and setting an appropriate stiffness ratio between the mirror and bonding position of the optical mounting, the theoretical surface shape accuracy change can be determined. Accordingly, the mirror is bonded, and the surface shape accuracy of the mirror after bonding is found to be 0.020λ. This approach is useful in mirror design applications that require rapid preparation and accuracy control.
Two-dimensional time- and space-resolved diagnostic method for an integrated implosion process
Authors: Li Shijian , Wang Qiangqiang , Yao Xuri , Cao Zhurong , Liu Jie , Zhao Qing
Published: September 2021

To precisely measure and evaluate X-ray generation and evolution in a hohlraum during an implosion process, we present a two-dimensional (2D) time- and space-resolved diagnostic method by combining a compressed ultrafast photography (CUP) system and a simplified version of space-resolving flux detector (SSRFD). Numerical experiment results showed that the reconstruction quality of the conventional CUP significantly improved owing to the addition of the external SSRFD, especially when a coded mask with a large pixel size was used in the CUP. Further, the performance of the CUP cooperation with the SSRFD was better than that of adding an external charge-coupled device or streak camera. Compared with existing ultrafast imaging techniques in laser fusion, the proposed method has a prominent advantage of measuring the 2D evolution of implosion by combining high temporal resolution of streak camera and high spatial resolution of SSRFD; moreover, it can provide guidance for designing diagnostic experiments in laser fusion research.
High-fidelity acoustic signal enhancement for phase-OTDR using supervised learning
Authors: Jiang Fei , Zhang Zhenhai , Lu Zixiao , Li Honglang , Tian Yahui , Zhang Yixin , Zhang Xuping
Published: September 2021

Phase-measuring phase-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometry (OTDR) has been widely used for the distributed acoustic sensing. However, the demodulated phase signals are generally noisy due to the laser frequency drift, laser phase noise, and interference fading. These issues are usually addressed individually. In this paper, we propose to address them simultaneously using supervised learning. We first use numerical simulations to generate the corresponding noisy differential phase signals for the given acoustic signals. Then we use the generated acoustic signals and noises together with some real noise data to train an end-to-end convolutional neutral network (CNN) for the acoustic signal enhancement. Three experiments are conduct to evaluate the performance of the proposed signal enhancement method. After enhancement, the average signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the recovered PZT vibration signals is improved from 13.4 dB to 42.8 dB, while the average scale-invariant signal-to-distortion ratio (SI-SDR) of the recovered speech signals is improved by 7.7 dB. The results show that, the proposed method can well suppress the noise and signal distortion caused by the laser frequency drift, laser phase noise, and interference fading, while recover the acoustic signals with high fidelity.
CO2-based hollow-core fiber Raman laser with high-pulse energy at 1.95  µm
Authors: Wang Yazhou , Schiess Olav Thorbjørn Sandberg , Amezcua-Correa Rodrigo , Markos Christos
Published: September 2021

In this Letter, we present a high-pulse energy (

>

10

µ

J

) Raman laser at 1946 nm wavelength directly pumped with a 1533 nm custom-made fiber laser. The Raman laser is based on stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) in an 8 m carbon dioxide (

C
O

2

)-filled nested anti-resonant hollow-core fiber. The low-energy phonon emission combined with the inherent SRS process along the low-loss fiber allows the generation of high-pulse energy up to 15.4 µJ at atmospheric

C
O

2

pressure. The Raman laser exhibits good long-term stability and low relative intensity noise of less than 4%. We also investigate the pressure-dependent overlap of the Raman laser line with the absorption band of

C
O

2

at the 2 µm spectral range. Our results constitute a novel, to the best of our knowledge, and promising technology towards high-energy 2 µm lasers.
Spectroscopic ellipsometry of thin film cyclic olefin copolymer for use in long-wave infrared metasurfaces
Authors: D’Archangel Jeffrey , Cerjan Benjamin , Deguzman Lou , Griep Mark , Boreman Glenn
Published: September 2021

Cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) is shown, via infrared variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (IR-VASE), to have low absorption along with low dispersion in the long-wave infrared (LWIR) band. The material is demonstrated as the dielectric standoff layer in an LWIR metasurface design consisting of metallic patches and a ground plane, which is fabricated via standard lithographic processes. The resultant metasurface is observed to display strong resonant behavior near 10 µm, without the absorption features typically observed in similar designs using previously studied polymeric materials. COC should be considered for use in future metasurface work where researchers wish to study the physics of LWIR metasurface behavior without the complications caused by absorptive loss in the dielectric layer(s).
Adaptation supports short-term memory in a visual change detection task
Authors: Hu Brian , Garrett Marina E. , Groblewski Peter A. , Ollerenshaw Douglas R. , Shang Jiaqi , Roll Kate , Manavi Sahar , Koch Christof , Olsen Shawn R. , Mihalas Stefan
Published: September 2021

The maintenance of short-term memories is critical for survival in a dynamically changing world. Previous studies suggest that this memory can be stored in the form of persistent neural activity or using a synaptic mechanism, such as with short-term plasticity. Here, we compare the predictions of these two mechanisms to neural and behavioral measurements in a visual change detection task. Mice were trained to respond to changes in a repeated sequence of natural images while neural activity was recorded using two-photon calcium imaging. We also trained two types of artificial neural networks on the same change detection task as the mice. Following fixed pre-processing using a pretrained convolutional neural network, either a recurrent neural network (RNN) or a feedforward neural network with short-term synaptic depression (STPNet) was trained to the same level of performance as the mice. While both networks are able to learn the task, the STPNet model contains units whose activity are more similar to the in vivo data and produces errors which are more similar to the mice. When images are omitted, an unexpected perturbation which was absent during training, mice often do not respond to the omission but are more likely to respond to the subsequent image. Unlike the RNN model, STPNet produces a similar pattern of behavior. These results suggest that simple neural adaptation mechanisms may serve as an important bottom-up memory signal in this task, which can be used by downstream areas in the decision-making process.
Transcriptomic entropy benchmarks stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte maturation against endogenous tissue at single cell level
Authors: Kannan Suraj , Farid Michael , Lin Brian L. , Miyamoto Matthew , Kwon Chulan
Published: September 2021

The immaturity of pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-derived tissues has emerged as a universal problem for their biomedical applications. While efforts have been made to generate adult-like cells from PSCs, direct benchmarking of PSC-derived tissues againstin vivodevelopment has not been established. Thus, maturation status is often assessed on anad-hocbasis. Single cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) offers a promising solution, though cross-study comparison is limited by dataset-specific batch effects. Here, we developed a novel approach to quantify PSC-derived cardiomyocyte (CM) maturation through transcriptomic entropy. Transcriptomic entropy is robust across datasets regardless of differences in isolation protocols, library preparation, and other potential batch effects. With this new model, we analyzed over 45 scRNA-seq datasets and over 52,000 CMs, and established a cross-study, cross-species CM maturation reference. This reference enabled us to directly compare PSC-CMs with thein vivodevelopmental trajectory and thereby to quantify PSC-CM maturation status. We further found that our entropy-based approach can be used for other cell types, including pancreatic beta cells and hepatocytes. Our study presents a biologically relevant and interpretable metric for quantifying PSC-derived tissue maturation, and is extensible to numerous tissue engineering contexts.
All-cause and cause-specific mortality during and following incarceration in Brazil: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Liu Yiran E. , Lemos Everton Ferreira , Gonçalves Crhistinne Cavalheiro Maymone , de Oliveira Roberto Dias , Santos Andrea da Silva , do Prado Morais Agne Oliveira , Croda Mariana Garcia , de Lourdes Delgado Alves Maria , Croda Julio , Walter Katharine S. , Andrews Jason R.
Published: September 2021

Background

Mortality during and after incarceration is poorly understood in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The need to address this knowledge gap is especially urgent in South America, which has the fastest growing prison population in the world. In Brazil, insufficient data have precluded our understanding of all-cause and cause-specific mortality during and after incarceration.

Methods and findings

We linked incarceration and mortality databases for the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul to obtain a retrospective cohort of 114,751 individuals with recent incarceration. Between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2018, we identified 3,127 deaths of individuals with recent incarceration (705 in detention and 2,422 following release). We analyzed age-standardized, all-cause, and cause-specific mortality rates among individuals detained in different facility types and following release, compared to non-incarcerated residents. We additionally modeled mortality rates over time during and after incarceration for all causes of death, violence, or suicide. Deaths in custody were 2.2 times the number reported by the national prison administration (n = 317). Incarcerated men and boys experienced elevated mortality, compared with the non-incarcerated population, due to increased risk of death from violence, suicide, and communicable diseases, with the highest standardized incidence rate ratio (IRR) in semi-open prisons (2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.0 to 2.8), police stations (3.1; 95% CI: 2.5 to 3.9), and youth detention (8.1; 95% CI: 5.9 to 10.8). Incarcerated women experienced increased mortality from suicide (IRR = 6.0, 95% CI: 1.2 to 17.7) and communicable diseases (IRR = 2.5, 95% CI: 1.1 to 5.0). Following release from prison, mortality was markedly elevated for men (IRR = 3.0; 95% CI: 2.8 to 3.1) and women (IRR = 2.4; 95% CI: 2.1 to 2.9). The risk of violent death and suicide was highest immediately post-release and declined over time; however, all-cause mortality remained elevated 8 years post-release. The limitations of this study include inability to establish causality, uncertain reliability of data during incarceration, and underestimation of mortality rates due to imperfect database linkage.

Conclusions

Incarcerated individuals in Brazil experienced increased mortality from violence, suicide, and communicable diseases. Mortality was heightened following release for all leading causes of death, with particularly high risk of early violent death and elevated all-cause mortality up to 8 years post-release. These disparities may have been underrecognized in Brazil due to underreporting and insufficient data.
Examining performance and likelihood ratios for two likelihood ratio systems using the PROVEDIt dataset
Authors: Riman Sarah , Iyer Hari , Vallone Peter M.
Published: September 2021

A likelihood ratio (LR) system is defined as the entire pipeline of the measurement and interpretation processes where probabilistic genotyping software (PGS) is a piece of the whole LR system. To gain understanding on how two LR systems perform, a total of 154 two-person, 147 three-person, and 127 four-person mixture profiles of varying DNA quality, DNA quantity, and mixture ratios were obtained from the filtered (.CSV) files of the GlobalFiler 29 cycles 15s PROVEDIt dataset and deconvolved in two independently developed fully continuous programs, STRmix v2.6 and EuroForMix v2.1.0. Various parameters were set in each software and LR computations obtained from the two software were based on same/fixed EPG features, same pair of propositions, number of contributors, theta, and population allele frequencies. The ability of each LR system to discriminate between contributor (H1-true) and non-contributor (H2-true) scenarios was evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively. Differences in the numeric LR values and their corresponding verbal classifications between the two LR systems were compared. The magnitude of the differences in the assigned LRs and the potential explanations for the observed differences greater than or equal to 3 on the log10 scale were described. Cases of LR < 1 for H1-true tests and LR > 1 for H2-true tests were also discussed. Our intent is to demonstrate the value of using a publicly available ground truth known mixture dataset to assess discrimination performance of any LR system and show the steps used to understand similarities and differences between different LR systems. We share our observations with the forensic community and describe how examining more than one PGS with similar discrimination power can be beneficial, help analysts compare interpretation especially with low-template profiles or minor contributor cases, and be a potential additional diagnostic check even if software in use does contain certain diagnostic statistics as part of the output.
Blood cancer care in a resource limited setting during the Covid-19 outbreak; a single center experience from Sri Lanka
Authors: Hewamana Saman , Skandarajah Thurairajah , Jayasinghe Chathuri , Deshapriya Samadhi , Senarathna Dhananjani , Arseculeratne Gehan , Harischandra Mahesh , Somasundaram Gnani , Srinivasan Vadivelu , Somiah Surjit , Munasinghe Nihal , Hewawasam Sangeetha , Ekanayake Lalith , Wadanamby Rohini , Galagoda Geethani , Lin Thet Thet , Balawardena Jayantha
Published: September 2021

Background

The Covid-19 pandemic has caused significant morbidity and mortality among patients with cancer. Most countries employed measures to prevent spread of Covid-19 infection which include shielding, quarantine, lockdown, travel restrictions, physical distancing and the use of personal protective equipment. This study was carried out to assess the change in patient attendance and the efficacy of newly implemented strategies to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on services at the Lanka Hospital Blood Cancer Centre (LHBCC) in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Methodology

Telephone consultation, infection control, personal protective measures and emergency admission policy were implemented with the aim of having a Covid-19 free ward and to prevent cross-infections. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 1399 patient episodes (in-patient care or day-case review). We analysed patients treated as in-patient as well as day-case basis between 01st April 2020 and 31st December 2020.

Results

There were 977 day-case based episodes and 422 in-patient based episodes. There was a 14% drop in episode numbers compared to same period in 2019. There was no cross infection and no patients with Covid-19 related symptoms or positive test results entered the LHBCC during the study period.

Conclusion

Services in blood cancer care were maintained to prevent late stage presentation and adverse outcome. Measures implemented to prevent Covid-19 were effective to allow continuation of treatment. This study highlights the importance of implementing strict protocols, clinical screening, use of appropriate personal protective equipment in delivering blood cancer care during the Covid-19 pandemic. This is the only documented study relating to outcome and successful applicability of measures to prevent spread of Covid-19 infection and maintaining services among blood cancer patients in Sri Lanka.
COVID-19 in Brazilian cities: Impact of social determinants, coverage and quality of primary health care
Authors: Guedes Marcello Barbosa Otoni Gonçalves , de Assis Sanderson José Costa , Sanchis Geronimo José Bouzas , Araujo Diego Neves , Oliveira Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli Da Costa , Lopes Johnnatas Mikael
Published: September 2021

Background

Brazil, as many other countries, have been heavily affected by COVID-19. This study aimed to analyze the impact of Primary health care and the family health strategy (FHS) coverage, the scores of the National Program for Improving Primary Care Access and Quality (PMAQ), and socioeconomic and social indicators in the number of COVID-19 cases in Brazilian largest cities.

Methods

This is an ecological study, carried out through the analysis of secondary data on the population of all Brazilian main cities, based on the analysis of a 26-week epidemiological epidemic week series by COVID-19. Statistical analysis was performed using Generalized Linear Models with an Autoregressive work correlation matrix.

Results

It was shown that greater PHC coverage and greater FHS coverage together with an above average PMAQ score are associated with slower dissemination and lower burden of COVID-19.

Conclusion

It is evident that cities with less social inequality and restrictions of social protection combined with social development have a milder pandemic scenario. It is necessary to act quickly on these conditions for COVID-19 dissemination by timely actions with high capillarity. Expanding access to PHC and social support strategies for the vulnerable are essential.
MCHP (Monte Carlo + Human Phantom): Platform to facilitate teaching nuclear radiation physics
Authors: Shahmohammadi Beni Mehrdad , Watabe Hiroshi , Krstic Dragana , Nikezic Dragoslav , Yu Kwan Ngok
Published: September 2021

Some concepts in nuclear radiation physics are abstract and intellectually demanding. In the present paper, an “MCHP platform” (MCHP was an acronym for Monte Carlo simulations + Human Phantoms) was proposed to provide assistance to the students through visualization. The platform involved Monte Carlo simulations of interactions between ionizing radiations and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) adult male human phantom. As an example to demonstrate the benefits of the proposed MCHP platform, the present paper investigated the variation of the absorbed photon dose per photon from a 137Cs source in three selected organs, namely, brain, spine and thyroid of an adult male for concrete and lead shields with varying thicknesses. The results were interesting but not readily comprehensible without direct visualization. Graphical visualization snapshots as well as video clips of real time interactions between the photons and the human phantom were presented for the involved cases, and the results were explained with the help of such snapshots and video clips. It is envisaged that, if the platform is found useful and effective by the readers, the readers can also propose examples to be gradually added onto this platform in future, with the ultimate goal of enhancing students’ understanding and learning the concepts in an undergraduate nuclear radiation physics course or a related course.
The cover-version spectrum: Reframing the relationship between imitation and transformation in pop-punk cover-versions
Authors: Upton Rob
Published: September 2021

‘Covering’ previously recorded tracks is a central aspect of popular music. Despite an abundance of examples, discourse related to cover-version tracks is limited and includes questionable application of dichotomizing terminology (‘cover’, ‘version’) that can cause problems for interpreting the cover-version genre and diminish the nuanced approaches taken by artists who produce cover-versions. Examining recordings from the Punk Goes… album series reveals many examples that go beyond the either–or cover/version dichotomy generally presented in musicology. As such, this article has three main aims: to investigate the ways in which Punk Goes… tracks innovatively move between the poles of cover and version, thus requiring a new analytical framework; to explore the connection between imitation and transformation to the ascription of cover and version; and to move beyond prior musicological scholarship that emphasizes formal elements and composer intention. This article presents a reclassification of the terms ‘cover’ and ‘version’ as extreme poles of a ‘cover-version spectrum’ dependent on the listener’s interpretation of the performative character. Analyses challenge assumptions that equate musical phrases with fixed musical meanings, suggesting instead that the interpreted manner of performance is more significant than syntactical concerns. This provides a structure for clearer examination of cover-versions and supports the view that semiotic methods are a vital tool in the analysis of recorded popular music.
Virus (2013): el cine como una herramienta en la docencia, con aproximaciones médicas y moleculares
Authors: Cevallos Solórzano Stefania , Celi Herrera Mikaela Alejandra , Calva Morquecho Nathaly Maribel , Guayanay Calva Yuliana Elizabeth
Published: September 2021

El cine es un recurso formativo que se ha empleado frecuentemente para facilitar el aprendizaje en las ciencias de la salud. Se describe y analiza el contenido biomédico de la película Virus, orientada a presentar el contagio masivo por virus de la influenza A H5N1. El virus, al presentar mutaciones que favorecen el contagio entre animales y seres humanos, tiene el potencial para convertirse en pandemia. En el transcurso de la película se revelan falencias del gobierno de Corea del Sur ya que las acciones para enfrentar esta inminente pandemia no toman en cuenta los criterios médicos y científico, concurriendo en acciones de lesa humanidad. Una producción con una trama de ficción, terror y catástrofe donde el miedo y la paranoia contagian tanto como la propia enfermedad.
Epidemias por enfermedades infecto-contagiosas en el cine mexicano (1922-2019)
Authors: González de Arce Arzave Rocío Betzabeé , González de Arce Arzave Julieta Eloisa
Published: September 2021

El presente artículo hace una revisión de 36 producciones o coproducciones mexicanas estrenadas entre 1922 y 2019 en que aparecen, como parte de la trama, epidemias por enfermedades infecto-contagiosas. Dicha revisión permitió detectar en la filmografía mexicana la presencia de 15 enfermedades epidémicas de este tipo: tuberculosis, viruela, sarampión, paludismo, influenza española, oncocercosis, poliomielitis, fiebres negras, difteria, peste negra, fiebre tifoidea, meningitis cerebroespinal epidémica, rabia, sida y una gripa viral desconocida. El texto se detiene en algunas secuencias clave de estas películas y analiza la manera en que estas enfermedades aparecen en el cine mexicano como alegorías que reflexionan sobre el orden social y que expresan los temores e inquietudes colectivos de un cierto momento histórico.
Molecular characterization of Escherichia coli isolated from milk samples with regard to virulence factors and antibiotic resistance
Authors: Younis Waleed , Hassan Sabry , Mohamed Hams M. A.
Published: September 2021

Background and Aim: Raw milk is considered an essential source of nutrition during all stages of human life because it offers a valuable supply of protein and minerals. Importantly, milk is considered a good media for the growth and contamination of many pathogenic bacteria, especially food-borne pathogens such as Escherichia coli. Thus, the objective of this study was to characterize E. coli and detect its virulence factors and antibiotic resistance from raw milk samples.

Materials and Methods: Raw milk samples (n=100) were collected from different localities in Qena, Egypt, and investigated for the presence of E. coli using different biochemical tests, IMViC tests, serotyping to detect somatic antigen type, and molecularly by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. The presence of different virulence and antimicrobial genes (hly, eae, stx1, stx2, blaTEM, tetA(A), and tetB genes) in E. coli isolates was evaluated using PCR.

Results: The results demonstrated that 10 out of 100 milk samples were contaminated with E. coli. Depending on serology, the isolates were classified as O114 (one isolate), O27 (two isolates), O111 (one isolate), O125 (two isolates), and untypeable (five isolates) E. coli. The sequencing of partially amplified 16S rRNA of the untypeable isolates resulted in one isolate, which was initially misidentified as untypeable E. coli but later proved as Enterobacter hormaechei. Moreover, antibacterial susceptibility analysis revealed that nearly all isolates were resistant to more than 3 families of antibiotics, particularly to β-lactams, clindamycin, and rifampin. PCR results demonstrated that all E. coli isolates showed an accurate amplicon for the blaTEM and tetA(A) genes, four isolates harbored eae gene, other four harbored tetB gene, and only one isolate exhibited a positive stx2 gene.

Conclusion: Our study explored vital methods for identifying E. coli as a harmful pathogen of raw milk using 16S rRNA sequencing, phylogenetic analysis, and detection of virulence factors and antibiotic-resistant genes.
Universální život a život lidský. K ontologii přírody u Jana Patočky a Maurice Merleau-Pontyho
Authors: Rabas Martin
Published: September 2021

The present article has two objectives. One is to elucidate the philosophical approach presented in the so-called Strahov Systematic Manuscripts of Jan Patočka in terms of consciousness and nature. The other is to compare this philosophical approach with Maurice Merleau-Ponty’s theses on nature, as elaborated in 1956–1961, and to point out some advantages and limitations of both approaches. In our opinion, Patočka’s philosophical approach consists, on the one hand, in a descriptive analysis of human experience, which he understands as a pre-reflective self-relationship pointing towards the consciousness of the world. On the other hand, on the basis of this descriptive analysis Patočka consequently explicates all non-human life, inorganic matter, and finally the whole of nature as life in its own right, the essence of which is also a certain self-relation with a tendency towards consciousness. The article then briefly presents Merleau-Ponty’s theses on nature, and finally compares them with Patočka’s overall theses on nature. The advantage of Patočka’s notion of nature as against Merleau-Ponty’s is that, in Patočka’s view, nature encompasses both the principle of unity and individuality. On the other hand, the advantage of Merleau-Ponty’s understanding of nature as against Patočka’s lies in the consistent interconnectedness of the infinite life of nature and the finite life of individual beings.
Odkud řeč. Herderovo hledání odpovědi na otázku po lidském, či božském původu řeči
Authors: Navrátilová Olga
Published: September 2021

The article aims to present Herder’s early philosophy of language against the background of the question regarding the human or divine origin of language, which influenced mainly the German discussion in the 1760s. It focuses on the interpretation of two writings in which Herder answers the question of the origin of speech in a seemingly different way: A Treatise on the Origin of Language and The Oldest Document of the Human Race. While in the Treatise Herder insists on the human origin of language, in The Oldest Document he admits the need for “God’s teaching” for its origin. The question therefore arises as to whether Herder has revised his original position. However, we demonstrate that The Oldest Document is not a revision, but a supplement to the theses contained in the Treatise by metaphysical assumptions, which form an indispensable framework for Herder’s philosophy of language.
Pokrok čili ustavičný odpor vůči regresu. Adornův Pokrok
Authors: Kettner Marek
Published: September 2021

Reflection of Adorno's text.
Fenomenologie smrti (přel. S. Chvojková – O. Kvapil)
Authors: Levinas Emmanuel
Published: September 2021

Translation of the text written by Emmanuel Levinas.
Smrt a čas. Poslední přednášky Emmanuela Levinase
Authors: Kvapil Ondřej
Published: September 2021

Reflection on the last lectures of Emmanuel Levinas.
Doplňující otázky k rozhovoru Ulysse Lojkina a Frédérica Wormse (přel. E. Fulínová)
Authors: Koblížek Tomáš , Worms Frédéric
Published: September 2021

Supplemental questions to the interview of Ulysse Lojkine and Frédéric Worms.
Michal Pullmann a filosofické aspekty sporu o charakter normalizace
Authors: Cíbik Matej
Published: September 2021

Reflection on the dispute regarding the nature of normalization.
Historiografie v dialogu o interpretaci pozdního socialismu
Authors: Spurný Matěj
Published: September 2021

Reflection on the interpretation of late socialism.
Vladislav Suvák, Foucault. Od starosti o seba k estetike existencie a ešte ďalej
Authors: Raševová Simona
Published: September 2021

Book review on Vladislav Suvák, Foucault, Od starosti o seba k estetike existencie a ešte ďalej, Bratislava (Petrus) 2021, 250 str.
André Comte-Sponville, Duch ateismu
Authors: Kinter Vojtěch
Published: September 2021

Book review on André Comte-Sponville, Duch ateismu, Praha (Filosofia), přel. H. Fořtová, 2020, 220 str.
Za Janem Sokolem
Authors: Pětová Marie
Published: September 2021

Obituary of Jan Sokol.
Ivan Havel a filosofie
Authors: Moural Josef
Published: September 2021

Obituary of Ivan Havel.
Spinoza’s Monism I: Ruling Out Eternal-Durational Causation
Authors: Primus Kristin
Published: September 2021

In this essay, I suggest that Spinoza acknowledges a distinction between formal reality that is infinite and timelessly eternal and formal reality that is non-infinite (i. e., finite or indefinite) and non-eternal (i. e., enduring). I also argue that if, in Spinoza’s system, only intelligible causation is genuine causation, then infinite, timelessly eternal formal reality cannot cause non-infinite, non-eternal formal reality. A denial of eternal-durational causation generates a puzzle, however: ifnoenduring thing – not even the sempiternal, indefinite individual composed of all finite, enduring things – is caused by the infinite, eternal substance, then how can Spinoza consistently hold that the one infinite, eternal substance is the cause ofallthings and thatallthings are modes of that substance? At the end of this essay, I sketch how Spinoza could deny eternal-durational causation while still holding that an infinite, eternal God is the cause of all things and that all things are modes. I develop the interpretation more in the companion essay.1

 

1 In “Spinoza’s Monism II,” in the next issue of this journal.
The development of autoverification system of lymphocyte subset assays on the flow cytometry platform
Authors: Shi Jue , Mu Run-Qing , Wang Pan , Geng Wen-Qing , Jiang Yong-Jun , Zhao Min , Shang Hong , Zhang Zi-Ning
Published: September 2021

Objectives

Peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets are important parameters for monitoring immune status; however, lymphocyte subset detection is time-consuming and error-prone. This study aimed to explore a highly efficient and clinically useful autoverification system for lymphocyte subset assays performed on the flow cytometry platform.

Methods

A total of 94,402 lymphocyte subset test results were collected. To establish the limited-range rules, 80,427 results were first used (69,135 T lymphocyte subset tests and 11,292 NK, B, T lymphocyte tests), of which 15,000 T lymphocyte subset tests from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients were used to set customized limited-range rules for HIV infected patients. Subsequently, 13,975 results were used for historical data validation and online test validation.

Results

Three key autoverification rules were established, including limited-range, delta-check, and logical rules. Guidelines for addressing the issues that trigger these rules were summarized. The historical data during the validation phase showed that the total autoverification passing rate of lymphocyte subset assays was 69.65% (6,941/9,966), with a 67.93% (5,268/7,755) passing rate for T lymphocyte subset tests and 75.67% (1,673/2,211) for NK, B, T lymphocyte tests. For online test validation, the total autoverification passing rate was 75.26% (3,017/4,009), with 73.23% (2,191/2,992) for the T lymphocyte subset test and 81.22% (826/1,017) for the NK, B, T lymphocyte test. The turnaround time (TAT) was reduced from 228 to 167 min using the autoverification system.

Conclusions

The autoverification system based on the laboratory information system for lymphocyte subset assays reduced TAT and the number of error reports and helped in the identification of abnormal cell populations that may offer clues for clinical interventions.
Pancreatic lipase: why laboratory community does not take enough care of this clinically important test?
Authors: Pasqualetti Sara , Borrillo Francesca , Rovegno Leila , Panteghini Mauro
Published: September 2021

Although being the recommended laboratory test to diagnose acute pancreatitis, serum pancreatic lipase (LIP) is among the poorly standardized laboratory tests, and laboratory stakeholders often appear to not take enough care of the quality of its measurements. Here we discuss some important issues that, if not correctly managed and solved, make misdiagnosis of acute pancreatitis by using serum LIP a real possibility. First, the current unavailability of a suitable higher-order reference material to be used as common calibrator should be filled up to definitively improve the inter-method bias. Second, knowledge of the analytical characteristics that may explain the defective performance of LIP assays should be deepened. IVD manufacturers should be more explicit in providing this information, including description of their internal protocol for transferring LIP values from internal references to commercial calibrators. Third, recommended models for accurately estimating measurement uncertainty and reliably defining analytical performance specifications for LIP measurements should be applied. Finally, investments considering alternative options for measuring LIP (e.g., targeted to the development of automated LIP immunoassays) should be warranted. All involved stakeholders (standardization bodies, higher-order reference providers, in vitro diagnostics manufacturers, and laboratory professionals) should contribute to fill the existing gap.
Exploiting symmetries of high-level Petri games in distributed synthesis
Authors: Würdemann Nick
Published: September 2021

Distributed Synthesis is the problem of automatically generating correct controllers for individual agents in a distributed system. Petri games model this problem by a game between two teams of players on a Petri net structure. Under some restrictions, Petri games can be solved by a reduction to a two player game. The concept of symmetries in Petri nets is closely related to high-level representations of Petri games. Applying symmetries to the states in the two-player game results in a significant state space reduction. We give an overview about (high-level) Petri games and the application of symmetries in this setting. We present ongoing work aiming to concisely describe solutions of Petri games by a high-level representation.
Backchannels in video-mediated ELF conversations: a case study
Authors: Fernández Polo Francisco Javier
Published: September 2021

There are few studies on backchannels in ELF and none concerns computer-mediated conversations. Backchannelling has been associated with good listenership and enhanced cooperativeness, an intrinsic feature of ELF. They would also play a key role in computer-mediated communication, maintaining a sense of affective equilibrium among participants and compensating for medium-related limitations. We analyze backchanneling in an ELF conversation between a Spanish female and a German male student from the Corpus of Video-Mediated English as a Lingua Franca Conversations (ViMELF). Backchanneling seems to be particularly intense in the opening and closing sections of the exchange, where interpersonal work is the most needed. While significant idiolectal differences are observed between the two participants, both show a marked preference for and a tendency to concentrate realizations on a few weak backchanneling forms, conferring the exchange a general impression of monotony and emotional flatness. Some backchanneling features in the exchange may be described as typical of ELF: backchannels tend to occur in moments when speakers sense that understanding may be compromised and are frequently complemented by supportive material reinforcing the speaker’s point. The analysis also reveals some characteristic awkward usage, with tokens which are clearly “overdone,” while others are too weak and disappointing or behave disruptively by occurring in unexpected positions and interrupting the flow of the conversation. Research on ELF video conversations is particularly timely given the recent surge in videoconferencing propitiated by the COVID pandemic, a tendency which is likely to stay in post-pandemic times.
Reproducible families of codes and cryptographic applications
Authors: Santini Paolo , Persichetti Edoardo , Baldi Marco
Published: September 2021

Structured linear block codes such as cyclic, quasi-cyclic and quasi-dyadic codes have gained an increasing role in recent years both in the context of error control and in that of code-based cryptography. Some well known families of structured linear block codes have been separately and intensively studied, without searching for possible bridges between them. In this article, we start from well known examples of this type and generalize them into a wider class of codes that we call ℱ-reproducible codes. Some families of ℱ-reproducible codes have the property that they can be entirely generated from a small number of signature vectors, and consequently admit matrices that can be described in a very compact way. We denote these codes as compactly reproducible codes and show that they encompass known families of compactly describable codes such as quasi-cyclic and quasi-dyadic codes. We then consider some cryptographic applications of codes of this type and show that their use can be advantageous for hindering some current attacks against cryptosystems relying on structured codes. This suggests that the general framework we introduce may enable future developments of code-based cryptography.
ROTI maps of Greenland using kriging
Authors: Beeck S. S. , Jensen A. B. O.
Published: September 2021

GNSS satellite signals are affected by the media when traversing Earth’s atmosphere, and the performance of GNSS based positioning and navigation is correlated with these effects. In the ionosphere, the signals are affected by the number of electrons along the signal path which can be quantified by the total electron content. The focus of this article is scintillation effects caused by electrons in the Arctic ionosphere, and the rate of the total electron content index, the ROTI, is used as a measure of the scintillation.

Data from permanent GNSS reference stations in Greenland is used to generate maps of the ROTI in Greenland, and the novelty of the work in this paper is the application of the ordinary kriging method as the basis for ROTI maps in the Arctic. Further, the choice of satellite constellations as well as the elevation mask used in the data analyses are analyzed and discussed. Also, the performance of using ordinary kriging for ROTI maps during times with both a low and a very high geomagnetic activity are discussed. The results show that ordinary kriging performs well during high geomagnetic activity, while during low activity the natural neighbor interpolation method is a better choice for the Arctic.
Heat stable carbetocin vs. oxytocin for the prevention of post-partum hemorrhage in emergency caesarean delivery: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Al Zubaidi Shaymaa , Alhaidari Taghreed
Published: September 2021

Objectives

To evaluate the uterotonic effect of carbetocin compared with oxytocin in emergency cesarean delivery in Iraq.

Methods

A double-blinded randomized noninferiority single center trial. Three-hundred patients were systematically randomized to intravenous bolus injection of 10 IU oxytocin or 100 mcg carbetocin after delivery in a ratio of 2:1. The primary outcome was additional uterotonic use when inadequate uterine tone occur in the first 24 h after delivery. Secondary outcomes include the need for blood transfusion, blood pressure and pulse rate changes within an hour of drugs administration. Noninferiority margins for the relative risks outcomes was 4%.

Results

Addition uterotonics use was significantly lower in carbetocin group with a risk ratio of 0.36. Carbetocin was superior to oxytocin in reducing the need for additional uterotonic drugs by 12% and non-inferior to oxytocin for blood transfusion 3.5%. Noninferiority was not shown for the outcome of sever blood loss. Miner changes in blood pressure and pulse rate were observed in carbetocin group compared to oxytocin but clinically were not significant.

Conclusions

Heat stable carbetocin is effective in reducing additional uterotonics use compared to oxytocin without clinically significant change in blood pressure or pulse rate, therefore, can be a potential alternative in Iraq.
The quality of intrapartum cardiotocography in preterm labour
Authors: Faiz Zohal , Van ’t Hof Eline M. , Colenbrander Gerard J. , Lippes Ralf , Bakker Petra C.A.M.
Published: September 2021

Objectives

The aim of this study is to determine the quality of the foetal heart rate (FHR) recording, defined as signal loss, during preterm labour below 28 weeks gestational age (GA) and contribute to the discussion if cardiotocography (CTG) is of value for the extreme preterm foetus.

Methods

From January 2010 to December 2019 a retrospective study was conducted with data of 95 FHR recordings of singletons born between 24 and 28 weeks GA at the Amsterdam University Medical Centre, location VUmc. FHR tracings had a duration of at least 30 min and were obtained via external ultrasound mode. Data of all recordings were divided in two groups according to gestation (24–26 weeks and 26–28 weeks). Signal loss was analysed. Statistical significance was calculated by non-parametric tests and chi-square tests. The median signal loss and the proportion of cases exceeding the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics Guidelines (FIGO) threshold of 20% signal loss were calculated.

Results

One-third of the recordings exceeded the 20% FIGO-criterion for adequate signal quality during the first stage of labour. In the second stage, this was nearly 75%. Similarly, the median signal loss was 13% during the first and 30% during the second stage of labour (p<0.01).

Conclusions

The quality of FHR monitoring in the extreme preterm foetus is inadequate in a large proportion of the foetuses, especially during the second stage. FHR monitoring is therefore controversial and should be used with caution.