bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance of Doped Montmorillonite on Photosensitizer Based Natural Dyes Gardenia Jasminoides
Authors: Mulijani Sri , Sutriah Komar , Syahbirin Gustini , Shabrina Shabrina
Published: April 2022

Dye Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC) is an electrochemical cell that is able to convert solar energy from light to electrical energy. This technology is needed by the world as a renewable and environment friendly energy. In this study, we evaluate the consideration of modification montmorillonite and Gardenia jasminoides dyes may achieve better performance of DSSC by manufactured DSSC with modified TiO2 semiconductors using montmorillonite (MMT) and Nafion. Performance of DSSC was determined by potentiometer. Atomic force microscope was used to evaluate the characteristic of DSSC. The UV-vis results revealed that the dyes which is extracted from the Gardenia jasminoides content crocin and quercetin compounds. Modification DSSC contains ratio of MMT: nafion (50:50) exhibited highest power conversion efficiency value of 0.8316%. Topography of surface ensured the dyes have occupied surface area and able to promote electron to higher energy.  However, MMT and nafion capable to enhance potential of dyes as photosensitizer in DSSC. 
Sintesis dan Karakterisasi Nanofiber Komposit PVA/SiO2 dari Silika Sekam Padi Menggunakan Metode Electrospinning
Authors: Firdaus Iqbal , Sembiring Simon , Junaidi Junaidi , Johandra Andrean , Rifansyah TB Ikhwan , Rahmadi Rizky Ponco , Putra Oki Ade
Published: April 2022

Telah berhasil dibuat membrane separator yang berpotensi diaplikasikan untuk baterai lihitum-ion, membrane separator digunakan untuk proses transfer ion dan mencegah terjadinya arus pendek. Dalam penelitian ini membrane separator PVA/SiO2 disintesis memggunakan metode electrospinning dengan variasi berat SiO2 (0, 0.6, 1.2, 2) wt%. SiO2 yang digunakan adalah hasil ekstraksi silika sekam padi. Pengaruh penambahan SiO2 pada PVA untuk meningkatkan karakteristik membrane diantaranya porositas, dan stabilitas pada suhu tinggi. Hasil membrane yang berhasil dibuat PVA, dan PVA/SiO2 membentuk serat nano dengan ukuran diameter serat semakin kecil ketika ditambahkan  SiO2 yaitu ~ 220 nm, ukuran diameter semakin kecil  meningkatkan porositas membrane dan meningkatkan kinerja membrane dengan stabilitas suhu 165 oC
3D Inversion of Gravity Data Modeling Using The Chi Fact Algorithm for Revealing Subsurface Structure in Semarang City
Authors: Indriana Rina Dwi , Adhi Mochamad Aryono , Tampubolon Danastri L. P. , Koesuma Sorja
Published: April 2022

The interpretation of subsurface in the Semarang City with 3D inversion model using the Chi Fact algorithm has been carried out to reveal the subsurface especially related to the presence of groundwater basins. The gravity data model in this research uses 80 stations with a research area of 20 km2 which is specialized in the surrounding area of Kaligarang district. The results of the 3D inversion using the Chi Fact algorithm founded the distribution of subsurface rock density values in the Semarang City area ranging from 1.6 gr/cc to 2.98 gr/cc. The distribution of subsurface density values indicates the subsurface geological structure of the Semarang City area had a normal fault leading to the southeast.
Dual-consistency semi-supervision combined with self-supervision for vessel segmentation in retinal OCTA images
Authors: Chen Zailiang , Xiong Yuchen , Wei Hao , Zhao Rongchang , Duan Xuanchu , Shen Hailan
Published: April 2022

Optical coherence tomography angiography(OCTA) is an advanced noninvasive vascular imaging technique that has important implications in many vision-related diseases. The automatic segmentation of retinal vessels in OCTA is understudied, and the existing segmentation methods require large-scale pixel-level annotated images. However, manually annotating labels is time-consuming and labor-intensive. Therefore, we propose a dual-consistency semi-supervised segmentation network incorporating multi-scale self-supervised puzzle subtasks(DCSS-Net) to tackle the challenge of limited annotations. First, we adopt a novel self-supervised task in assisting semi-supervised networks in training to learn better feature representations. Second, we propose a dual-consistency regularization strategy that imposed data-based and feature-based perturbation to effectively utilize a large number of unlabeled data, alleviate the overfitting of the model, and generate more accurate segmentation predictions. Experimental results on two OCTA retina datasets validate the effectiveness of our DCSS-Net. With very little labeled data, the performance of our method is comparable with fully supervised methods trained on the entire labeled dataset.
Millimeter waves alter DNA secondary structures and modulate the transcriptome in human fibroblasts
Authors: Lawler Nicholas B. , Evans Cameron W. , Romanenko Sergii , Chaudhari Nutan , Fear Mark , Wood Fiona , Smith Nicole M. , Wallace Vincent P. , Swaminathan Iyer K.
Published: April 2022

As millimetre wave (MMW) frequencies of the electromagnetic spectrum are increasingly adopted in modern technologies such as mobile communications and networking, characterising the biological effects is critical in determining safe exposure levels. We study the exposure of primary human dermal fibroblasts to MMWs, finding MMWs trigger genomic and transcriptomic alterations. In particular, repeated 60 GHz, 2.6 mW cm−2, 46.8 J cm−2 d−1 MMW doses induce a unique physiological response after 2 and 4 days exposure. We show that high dose MMWs induce simultaneous non-thermal alterations to the transcriptome and DNA structural dynamics, including formation of G-quadruplex and i-motif secondary structures, but not DNA damage.
High energy widely tunable narrow-linewidth Ti:sapphire laser using combined-cavity configuration
Authors: Lv Renchong , Teng Hao , Zhu Jiangfeng , Wei Zhiyi
Published: April 2022

A high-energy narrow-linewidth Ti:sapphire laser with widely tunable wavelength was investigated. The Littman cavity was seeded by an extended prism cavity, and they were coupled together by sharing a partial reflection mirror. The widely wavelength tunability of the prism cavity and the linewidth compression of Littman cavity were incorporated together, which resulted in a significantly increased tunable wavelength range from 720 nm to 884 nm with linewidth of less than 100 MHz. The coupling effect and the synchronization between the two cavities in temporal and spectral domain were discussed. The narrow-linewidth laser centered at 786 nm was further amplified to 36 mJ and frequency-doubled to 393 nm with pulse energy of 18.8 mJ while maintaining the narrow linewidth at a repetition rate of 10 Hz. This widely tunable narrow-linewidth laser is a promising light source for high-resolution fluorescence spectroscopy.
Effective handling of nonlinear distortions in CO-OFDM using affinity propagation clustering
Authors: Wei Jinlong , Giacoumidis Elias , Zhou Ji , Jarajreh Mutsam A. , Li Shi , Aldaya Ivan , Lu Yandong , Tsokanos Athanasios , Richter Andre
Published: April 2022

We experimentally demonstrate a system-agnostic and training-data-free nonlinearity compensator, using affinity propagation (AP) clustering in single- and multi-channel coherent optical OFDM (CO-OFDM) for up to 3200 km transmission. We show that AP outperforms benchmark deterministic and clustering algorithms by effectively tackling stochastic nonlinear distortions and inter-channel nonlinearities. AP offers up to almost 4 dB power margin extension over linear equalization in single-channel 16-quadrature amplitude-modulated CO-OFDM and a 1.4 dB increase in Q-factor over digital back-propagation in multi-channel quaternary phase-shift keying CO-OFDM. Simulated results indicate transparency to higher modulation format orders and better efficiency when a multi-carrier structure is considered.
Near-infrared narrow-band minus filter based on a Mie magnetic dipole resonance
Authors: Wang Kai , Xiong Ying , Li Qiang , Wang Yanchao , Zhang Jian , Liu Hai , Liu Zhen , Wang Tongtong , Shen Zhenfeng , Wang Xiaokun , Wang Xiaoyi , Gao Jinsong , Yang Haigui
Published: April 2022

The traditional minus filter is composed of many layers of thin films, which makes it difficult and complicated to manufacture. It is sensitive to incident light angle and polarization. Here, we propose a near-infrared narrow-band minus filter with a full width at half maximum around 5 nm made of all-dielectric Si-SiO2 structures without any ohmic loss. The stop band transmittance of the proposed filter is close to 0, while its broad pass band transmittance is as high as 90% in the work wavelength range. Theoretical analysis shows that the transmission dip originated from magnetic dipole resonance: Its position can be tuned from 1.3 µm to 1.8 µm by changing the thickness of Si structure, and the proposed structure is insensitive to changes in incident light angle and polarization angle. We further studied its potential applications as a refractive index sensor. The sensitivity of dip1 and dip2 are as high as 953.53 nm/RIU and 691.09 nm/RIU, while their figure of merit is almost unchanged: 59.59 and 115.18, respectively.
Ultra-high resolution mass sensing based on an optomechanical nonlinearity
Authors: Li Gang , Wu Yi , Zhang Yan Lei , He Bing , Lin Qing
Published: April 2022

Ultra-high resolution mass sensing used to be realized by measuring the changed mechanical oscillation frequency by a small mass that should be detected. In this work we present a different approach of mass sensing without directly measuring such mechanical frequency change but relying on the modified light field due to a previously less explored nonlinear mechanism of optomechanical interaction. The concerned optomechanical setup used for the mass sensing is driven by a sufficiently strong two-tone field satisfying a condition that the difference of these two drive frequencies matches the frequency of the mechanical oscillation, so that a nonlinear effect will come into being and lock the mechanical motion under the radiation pressure into a series of fixed orbits. A small mass attached to the mechanical resonator slightly changes the mechanical frequency, thus violating the exact frequency match condition. Such small change can be detected by the amplitude modification on the higher order sidebands of the cavity field. Even given a moderate mechanical quality factor for the setup, the added mass can still be detected to the levels corresponding to a mechanical frequency shift from 5 to 7 order less than the mechanical damping rate. Because the output cavity field difference for very close values of mechanical frequency is not blurred by thermal noise, such mass sensing can be well performed at room temperature. The previous tough requirements for ultra-high resolution mass sensing can be significantly relaxed by the method.
Optimization of a flexible fiber-optic probe for epi-mode quantitative phase imaging
Authors: Guang Zhe , Ledwig Patrick , Costa Paloma Casteleiro , Filan Caroline , Robles Francisco E.
Published: April 2022

Quantitative oblique back-illumination microscopy (qOBM) is an emerging label-free optical imaging technology that enables 3D, tomographic quantitative phase imaging (QPI) with epi-illumination in thick scattering samples. In this work, we present a robust optimization of a flexible, fiber-optic-based qOBM system. Our approach enables in silico optimization of the phase signal-to-noise-ratio over a wide parameter space and obviates the need for tedious experimental optimization which could easily miss optimal conditions. Experimental validations of the simulations are also presented and sensitivity limits for the probe are assessed. The optimized probe is light-weight (∼40g) and compact (8mm in diameter) and achieves a 2µm lateral resolution, 6µm axial resolution, and a 300µm field of view, with near video-rate operation (10Hz, limited by the camera). The phase sensitivity is <20nm for a single qOBM acquisition (at 10Hz) and a lower limit of ∼3 nm via multi-frame averaging. Finally, to demonstrate the utility of the optimized probe, we image (1) thick, fixed rat brain samples from a 9L gliosarcoma tumor model and (2) freshly excised human brain tissues from neurosurgery. Acquired qOBM images using the flexible fiber-optic probe are in excellent agreement with those from a free-space qOBM system (both in-situ), as well as with gold-standard histopathology slices (after tissue processing).
Automated machine learning for secure key rate in discrete-modulated continuous-variable quantum key distribution
Authors: Liu Zhi-Ping , Zhou Min-Gang , Liu Wen-Bo , Li Chen-Long , Gu Jie , Yin Hua-Lei , Chen Zeng-Bing
Published: April 2022

Continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CV QKD) with discrete modulation has attracted increasing attention due to its experimental simplicity, lower-cost implementation and compatibility with classical optical communication. Correspondingly, some novel numerical methods have been proposed to analyze the security of these protocols against collective attacks, which promotes key rates over one hundred kilometers of fiber distance. However, numerical methods are limited by their calculation time and resource consumption, for which they cannot play more roles on mobile platforms in quantum networks. To improve this issue, a neural network model predicting key rates in nearly real time has been proposed previously. Here, we go further and show a neural network model combined with Bayesian optimization. This model automatically designs the best architecture of neural network computing key rates in real time. We demonstrate our model with two variants of CV QKD protocols with quaternary modulation. The results show high reliability with secure probability as high as 99.15% − 99.59%, considerable tightness and high efficiency with speedup of approximately 107 in both cases. This inspiring model enables the real-time computation of unstructured quantum key distribution protocols’ key rate more automatically and efficiently, which has met the growing needs of implementing QKD protocols on moving platforms.
Wavelength dimension in waveguide-based photonic reservoir computing
Authors: Gooskens Emmanuel , Laporte Floris , Ma Chonghuai , Sackesyn Stijn , Dambre Joni , Bienstman Peter
Published: April 2022

Existing work on coherent photonic reservoir computing (PRC) mostly concentrates on single-wavelength solutions. In this paper, we discuss the opportunities and challenges related to exploiting the wavelength dimension in integrated photonic reservoir computing systems. Different strategies are presented to be able to process several wavelengths in parallel using the same readout. Additionally, we present multiwavelength training techniques that allow to increase the stable operating wavelength range by at least a factor of two. It is shown that a single-readout photonic reservoir system can perform with ≈0% BER on several WDM channels in parallel for bit-level tasks and nonlinear signal equalization. This even when taking manufacturing deviations and laser wavelength drift into account.
Asymmetric encryption by optical Kerr nonlinearities exhibited by electrochromic NiO thin films
Authors: Carrillo-Delgado César , Vidales-Hurtado Mónica Araceli , Martines-Arano Hilario , Torres-Torres David , Gallegos-García Gina , Martínez-González Claudia Lizbeth , Torres-Torres Carlos
Published: April 2022

Herein is analyzed how an electric field can induce a band gap shift in NiO films to generate an enhancement in their third-order optical nonlinearities. An electrochromic effect seems to be responsible for changes in absorbance and modification in off-resonance nonlinear refractive index. The optical Kerr effect was determined as the dominant physical mechanism emerging from the third-order optical susceptibility processes present in a nanosecond two-wave mixing configuration at 532 nm wavelength. Absence of any important multi-photonic absorption was validated by the constant trace of high-irradiance optical transmittance in single-beam mode. The inspection of nonlinear optical signals allowed us to propose an exclusive disjunctive logic gate assisted by an electrochromic effect in an optical Kerr gate. Asymmetric encryption by our XOR system with the influence of a switchable probe beam transmittance and electrical signals in the sample was studied. Immediate applications for developing multifunctional quantum systems driven by dynamic parameters in electrochromic and nonlinear optical materials were highlighted.
Average-power (4.13 W) 59 fs mid-infrared pulses from a fluoride fiber laser system
Authors: Yu Linpeng , Liang Jinhui , Huang Shiting , Wang Jinzhang , Wang Jiachen , Luo Xing , Yan Peiguang , Dong Fanlong , Liu Xing , Lue Qitao , Guo Chunyu , Ruan Shuangchen
Published: April 2022

We report a high-average-power mid-infrared ultrafast laser system consisting of a fluoride fiber mode-locked oscillator and a nonlinear amplifier. A backward pumping scheme was used in the amplifier to simultaneously realize pulse amplification and self-compression. The input signal polarization was demonstrated to play an important role in the self-compression process. Through the optimization of input polarization, a 4.13 W average-power 59 fs pulse at 2.8 µm was achieved, with an estimated pulse energy of 42.2 nJ and a peak power of 715 kW. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest average-power pulse with sub-100-fs duration generated from a mid-infrared fiber laser system to date.
Highly efficient detection of near-infrared optical vortex modes with frequency upconversion
Authors: Wu Yujia , Liu Haigang , Chen Xianfeng
Published: April 2022

Vortex beams carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) have been widely applied in optical manipulations, optical micromachining, and high-capacity optical communications. Vortex mode detection is very important in various applications. However, the detection of near-infrared vortex modes is still difficult because of the wavelength limitations of the detection device. Here, we present a study on measuring optical near-infrared vortex modes with frequency upconversion, which can convert a near-infrared beam into a visible beam. In our experiment, the optical near-infrared vortex modes can be measured by the number and orientation of the fringes of the second harmonic intensity patterns. The proposed method is a convenient and flexible way to measure the different OAM of vortex beams, which may have potential applications in all kinds of circumstances that vortex modes involve.
Reconfigurable radar signal generator based on phase-quantized photonic digital-to-analog conversion
Authors: Li Jiading , Xue Xiaoxiao , Xue Zhujun , Yang Bofan , Wang Mian , Li Shangyuan , Zheng Xiaoping
Published: April 2022

A novel, to the best of our knowledge, scheme for reconfigurable radar signal generation is proposed based on the principle of photonic phase-quantized digital-to-analog conversion. Multi-level digital phase modulation with different modulation depths is combined to convert multi-channel digital data to the phase of an optical carrier. Frequency-modulated or phase-modulated radar signals are generated by beating the phase-synthesized optical carrier with a coherent reference light. The proposed radar signal generator features a simple structure, highly reconfigurable modulation format, and flexibly tunable frequency. A 3-bit photonic phase-quantized digital-to-analog converter with a 10-GSa/s sampling rate is constructed experimentally. The generation of linear frequency-modulated, nonlinear frequency-modulated, frequency-stepped, frequency-hopping, binary phase-coded, and polyphase-coded waveforms is demonstrated.
Cascaded nanobeam spectrometer with high resolution and scalability
Authors: Zhang Jiahui , Cheng Ziwei , Dong Jianji , Zhang Xinliang
Published: April 2022

An on-chip reconstruction spectrometer provides a powerful approach for miniaturized and portable applications. Owing to the cross-correlation and line shape of broadband responses, the reconstruction spectrometer exhibits limited resolution and a fixed bandwidth. Here we demonstrate a cascaded nanobeam spectrometer with assistance of a reconstruction algorithm. The transmissions of tunable Fano-enhanced nanobeams (FENs) are of good orthogonality and have improved quality factors. We retrieved a narrowband signal of 0.16 nm linewidth and a dual peak at 0.32 nm distance for resolution characterization. This result breaks the limit of the full width at half maximum for narrowband filter spectrometers. An expanded bandwidth is realized by a three-channel cascaded device, and signal spectra in the 16 nm range are reconstructed successfully. Each FEN unit has an ultra-compact footprint of

18

×

18

µ

m

2

. In view of the improved performance and flexibility, our concept is an ideal candidate for precise and miniaturized applications.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on daily life and worry among mothers in Bhaktapur, Nepal
Authors: Ranjitkar Suman , Strand Tor A. , Ulak Manjeswori , Kvestad Ingrid , Shrestha Merina , Schwinger Catherine , Chandyo Ram K. , Shrestha Laxman , Hysing Mari
Published: April 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected many aspects of daily life worldwide, but the impact may be higher for impoverished populations. The main aim of this study is to describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on different aspects of daily life in mothers in Nepal. We included 493 mothers of children aged 54–71 months participating in a randomized controlled trial on vitamin B12 supplementation. Mothers answered questions regarding the exposure and impact of the pandemic on their daily lives, and pandemic-related worries and sleep problems. We examined the extent to which worry, and sleep problems differed between mothers according to their exposure to COVID-19, socioeconomic status, and previous symptoms of depression. The mean age (SD) of the mothers was 32.3 (4.6) years and 54% had education below the secondary level. Of the mothers, 5.4% had either been exposed to someone who had tested positive or who had a family member with COVID-19. One-third of the participants responded that the pandemic had affected their economic situation, employment, and family life to a great deal. Both mothers and fathers with educational levels above 10 years or households with higher socioeconomic status had significantly higher average worry scores (maternal p = 0.020 and paternal p = 0.005). Mothers with a history of symptoms of depression had significantly more worry-related sleep problems during the pandemic (p = 0.020) than those without a history of depressive symptoms. Our study underlines the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on diverse aspects of everyday life of mothers in Nepal.
Understanding signaling and metabolic paths using semantified and harmonized information about biological interactions
Authors: Miller Ryan A. , Kutmon Martina , Bohler Anwesha , Waagmeester Andra , Evelo Chris T. , Willighagen Egon L.
Published: April 2022

To grasp the complexity of biological processes, the biological knowledge is often translated into schematic diagrams of, for example, signalling and metabolic pathways. These pathway diagrams describe relevant connections between biological entities and incorporate domain knowledge in a visual format making it easier for humans to interpret. Still, these diagrams can be represented in machine readable formats, as done in the KEGG, Reactome, and WikiPathways databases. However, while humans are good at interpreting the message of the creators of diagrams, algorithms struggle when the diversity in drawing approaches increases. WikiPathways supports multiple drawing styles which need harmonizing to offer semantically enriched access. Particularly challenging, here, are the interactions between the biological entities that underlie the biological causality. These interactions provide information about the biological process (metabolic conversion, inhibition, etc.), the direction, and the participating entities. Availability of the interactions in a semantic and harmonized format is essential for searching the full network of biological interactions. We here study how the graphically-modelled biological knowledge in diagrams can be semantified and harmonized, and exemplify how the resulting data is used to programmatically answer biological questions. We find that we can translate graphically modelled knowledge to a sufficient degree into a semantic model and discuss some of the current limitations. We then use this to show that reproducible notebooks can be used to explore up- and downstream targets of MECP2 and to analyse the sphingolipid metabolism. Our results demonstrate that most of the graphical biological knowledge from WikiPathways is modelled into the semantic layer with the semantic information intact and connectivity information preserved. Being able to evaluate how biological elements affect each other is useful and allows, for example, the identification of up or downstream targets that will have a similar effect when modified.
CHAPAO: Likelihood and hierarchical reference-based representation of biomolecular sequences and applications to compressing multiple sequence alignments
Authors: Rahman Md Ashiqur , Tutul Abdullah Aman , Abdullah Sifat Muhammad , Bayzid Md. Shamsuzzoha
Published: April 2022

Background

High-throughput experimental technologies are generating tremendous amounts of genomic data, offering valuable resources to answer important questions and extract biological insights. Storing this sheer amount of genomic data has become a major concern in bioinformatics. General purpose compression techniques (e.g. gzip, bzip2, 7-zip) are being widely used due to their pervasiveness and relatively good speed. However, they are not customized for genomic data and may fail to leverage special characteristics and redundancy of the biomolecular sequences.

Results

We present a new lossless compression method CHAPAO (COmpressingAlignments usingHierarchical andProbabilisticApproach), which is especially designed for multiple sequence alignments (MSAs) of biomolecular data and offers very good compression gain. We have introduced a novel hierarchical referencing technique to represent biomolecular sequences which combines likelihood based analyses of the sequence similarities and graph theoretic algorithms. We performed an extensive evaluation study using a collection of real biological data from the avian phylogenomics project, 1000 plants project (1KP), and 16S and 23S rRNA datasets. We report the performance of CHAPAO in comparison with general purpose compression techniques as well as with MFCompress and Nucleotide Archival Format (NAF)—two of the best known methods especially designed for FASTA files. Experimental results suggest that CHAPAO offers significant improvements in compression gain over most other alternative methods. CHAPAO is freely available as an open source software athttps://github.com/ashiq24/CHAPAO.

Conclusion

CHAPAO advances the state-of-the-art in compression algorithms and represents a potential alternative to the general purpose compression techniques as well as to the existing specialized compression techniques for biomolecular sequences.
Elevated baseline circulating platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and survival in initial stage Ⅳ gastric cancer patients: A meta-analysis
Authors: Hu Guoming , Wang Shimin , Wang Songxiang , Huang Liming
Published: April 2022

Background

Systemic inflammatory response (SIR) plays important roles in initiation, promotion and progression of tumor. However, the prognostic role of baseline circulating platelet–to–lymphocyte ratio (PLR) (known as a marker of SIR) in human initial stage Ⅳ gastric cancer (GC) remains controversial. Hence, we performed this meta-analysis to assess the value of it in prognosis prediction for these patients.

Materials and methods

We searched PubMed, Embase and EBSCO to identify the studies and computed extracted data with STATA 12.0.

Results

A total of 3025 patients with initial stage Ⅳ GC from 13 published studies were incorporated into this meta-analysis. We found that elevated baseline circulating PLR was significantly associated with decreased overall survival (OS), but not with progression–free survival (PFS) in stage Ⅳ GC patients. However, in stratified analyses, high PLR was only associated with worse 1-year and 2-year OS, but not with 3-year or 4-year OS; In addition, it was considerably related with reduced 6-month PFS, but not with 1-year or 2-year PFS. Moreover, high PLR markedly correlated with peritoneal metastasis of GC.

Conclusion

Elevated baseline circulating PLR decreased 1-year OS and 6-month PFS in initial stage Ⅳ GC patients, implicating that it is a valuable prognostic index for these patients and modifying the inflammatory responses may have a potential for effective treatment.
Influence of organic manures on soil nutrient content, microbial population, yield and quality parameters of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cv. Bhagwa
Authors: Choudhary Ramesh Chand , Bairwa H. L. , Kumar Uttam , Javed Talha , Asad Muhammad , Lal Kanhaiya , Mahawer L. N. , Sharma S. K. , Singh Pushpendra , Hassan Mohamed M. , Abo-Shosha Ali A. , Rajagopal Rajinikanth , Abdelsalam Nader R.
Published: April 2022

During the last era in India, the use of chemical fertilizer has increased tremendously. The excessive use of these chemicals leads to the degradation of soil quality, health, as well as nutritional status. These are also causing a degradation of human health. This experiment was conducted during Mrig Bahar (July to December) during two consecutive years (2019–2020)in a randomized block design with three replications in which six-year-old 42 pomegranate plants were tested with 14 treatments of different organic manures. Findings showed that in the various treatments, the organic combination T13-Jeevamrut 16.08 L plant-1 + Vermicompost 24.79 kg plant-1 had a significant effect on the nutritional status (available nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium) and microbial population (fungi, bacterial, and actinomycetes count). In addition, T13-Jeevamrut 16.08 L plant-1 + Vermicompost 24.79 kg plant-1 found a significant effect on fruit yield characteristics like fruit plant-1 (122.00), fruit yield (17.38 kg plant-1), fruit weight (192.50 g) and fruit quality characteristics such as fruit juice percent (52.92%), and total sugar (11.92%).
Prominent gamma band activity during visual motion perception in early-stage Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Naito Nobushige , Hirosawa Tetsu , Tsubomoto Makoto , Miyagishi Yoshiaki , Kikuchi Mitsuru
Published: April 2022

Introduction

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) affects multiple neural pathways and regions, resulting in various visual impairments such as motion perception. Generally, gamma-band activities during visual motion perception have been thought to reflect ongoing cognitive processes. Nevertheless, few studies have specifically examined induced gamma band activity during visual motion perception in AD patients. Therefore, after performing magnetoencephalography (MEG) recording during apparent motion (AM) stimulation for the left hemi-visual field in patients diagnosed as having AD in the early stage, we compared the results with findings of cognitive performance.

Methods

Seventeen AD patients in the early stage and 17 controls matched for age, sex, and educational attainment participated in this study. For each participant, memory performance was assessed with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R). For MEG analysis, we examined power changes induced in a higher frequency range (20–100 Hz) after AM stimuli.

Results

The power of induced gamma band activities was significantly higher in AD patients. The power of induced gamma band activities was associated with higher performance on both MMSE and WMS-R tests for attention and concentration in AD patients.

Conclusions

Given that neuronal dysfunction in AD is associated with excitotoxic neurodegeneration, and given that subsequent development of compensatory inhibitory mechanisms also contributes to pathology in AD patients, elevated gamma band oscillations might reflect an imbalance of inhibitory and excitatory activity in AD patients. Moreover, positive correlation between induced gamma activity and cognitive performance might signify a compensating mechanism of inhibitory neurons which preserve the pyramidal neuron from excitotoxicity in a posterior association area.
Impact damage to the middle trough of a scraper conveyor based on the engineering discrete element method and orthogonal matrix analysis
Authors: Yao Yanping , Liu Weili , Gao Zhipeng
Published: April 2022

The middle trough serves as a key part of a scraper conveyor. During the working process, falling raw coal lands on the middle plate of the trough, causing impact damage. This study aims to find the optimal working condition combination to minimize impact damage to the middle trough based on the engineering discrete element method (EDEM) and orthogonal matrix analysis (OMA). In EDEM software, simulation data of the impact damage depth and normal cumulative contact energy of the middle trough corresponding to the four influencing factors of the transverse laying roll angle, front lean angle, raw coal particle size, and chain layout and spacing under different horizontal conditions are obtained. Matrices of the impact damage depth and normal cumulative contact energy are separately established. Based on the respective factor layer, level and evaluation index weight matrices, a global weight matrix is finally obtained. The optimal combination of working conditions is obtained, and the weight of each factor on impact damage to the middle trough is determined by the weight coefficient. The accuracy of the simulation results is then verified in experiments. Among the considered factors, the raw coal particle size achieves the highest impact damage coefficient. When the raw coal particle size is the smallest (0.5 times the basic particle size), the transverse roll angle and front lean angle of the middle trough are positive (5° and 10°, respectively), the chain adopts the double-center chain arrangement, and minimal impact damage to the middle trough occurs. OMA reduces the test times to determine the optimal working conditions of a scraper conveyor.
Soil salinity assessment of a natural pasture using remote sensing techniques in central Anatolia, Turkey
Authors: Kılıc Orhan Mete , Budak Mesut , Gunal Elif , Acır Nurullah , Halbac-Cotoara-Zamfir Rares , Alfarraj Saleh , Ansari Mohammad Javed
Published: April 2022

Soil salinity is a major land degradation process reducing biological productivity in arid and semi-arid regions. Therefore, its effective monitoring and management is inevitable. Recent developments in remote sensing technology have made it possible to accurately identify and effectively monitor soil salinity. Hence, this study determined salinity levels of surface soils in 2650 ha agricultural and natural pastureland located in an arid region of central Anatolia, Turkey. The relationship between electrical conductivity (EC) values of 145 soil samples and the dataset created using Landsat 5 TM satellite image was investigated. Remote sensing dataset for 23 variables, including visible, near infrared (NIR) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) spectral ranges, salinity, and vegetation indices were created. The highest correlation between EC values and remote sensing dataset was obtained in SWIR1 band (r = -0.43). Linear regression analysis was used to reveal the relationship between six bands and indices selected from the variables with the highest correlations. Coefficient of determination (R2= 0.19) results indicated that models obtained using satellite image did not provide reliable results in determining soil salinity. Microtopography is the major factor affecting spatial distribution of soil salinity and caused heterogeneous distribution of salts on surface soils. Differences in salt content of soils caused heterogeneous distribution of halophytes and led to spectral complexity. The dark colored slickpots in small-scale depressions are common features of sodic soils, which are responsible for spectral complexity. In addition, low spatial resolution of Landsat 5 TM images is another reason decreasing the reliability of models in determining soil salinity.
Effect of common maintenance drugs on the risk and severity of COVID-19 in elderly patients
Authors: Fung Kin Wah , Baik Seo H. , Baye Fitsum , Zheng Zhaonian , Huser Vojtech , McDonald Clement J.
Published: April 2022

Background

Maintenance drugs are used to treat chronic conditions. Several classes of maintenance drugs have attracted attention because of their potential to affect susceptibility to and severity of COVID-19.

Methods

Using claims data on 20% random sample of Part D Medicare enrollees from April to December 2020, we identified patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Using a nested case-control design, non-COVID-19 controls were identified by 1:5 matching on age, race, sex, dual-eligibility status, and geographical region. We identified usage of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARB), statins, warfarin, direct factor Xa inhibitors, P2Y12 inhibitors, famotidine and hydroxychloroquine based on Medicare prescription claims data. Using extended Cox regression models with time-varying propensity score adjustment we examined the independent effect of each study drug on contracting COVID-19. For severity of COVID-19, we performed extended Cox regressions on all COVID-19 patients, using COVID-19-related hospitalization and all-cause mortality as outcomes. Covariates included gender, age, race, geographic region, low-income indicator, and co-morbidities. To compensate for indication bias related to the use of hydroxychloroquine for the prophylaxis or treatment of COVID-19, we censored patients who only started on hydroxychloroquine in 2020.

Results

Up to December 2020, our sample contained 374,229 Medicare patients over 65 who were diagnosed with COVID-19. Among the COVID-19 patients, 278,912 (74.6%) were on at least one study drug. The three most common study drugs among COVID-19 patients were statins 187,374 (50.1%), ACEI 97,843 (26.2%) and ARB 83,290 (22.3%). For all three outcomes (diagnosis, hospitalization and death), current users of ACEI, ARB, statins, warfarin, direct factor Xa inhibitors and P2Y12 inhibitors were associated with reduced risks, compared to never users. Famotidine did not show consistent significant effects. Hydroxychloroquine did not show significant effects after censoring of recent starters.

Conclusion

Maintenance use of ACEI, ARB, warfarin, statins, direct factor Xa inhibitors and P2Y12 inhibitors was associated with reduction in risk of acquiring COVID-19 and dying from it.
Distinguishing citrus varieties based on genetic and compositional analyses
Authors: Goh Rui Min Vivian , Pua Aileen , Luro Francois , Ee Kim Huey , Huang Yunle , Marchi Elodie , Liu Shao Quan , Lassabliere Benjamin , Yu Bin
Published: April 2022

Simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers and secondary metabolite composition were used in combination to study seven varieties of citrus for the first time. With reference to established accessions of citrus, two of the varieties (Chanh Giay and Ma Nao Pan) were predicted to be Mexican key limes, while three were mandarin hybrids (Nagpur, Pontianak and Dalandan) and the remaining two (Qicheng and Mosambi) were related to the sweet orange. Notably, Dalandan was genetically more like a mandarin despite often referred to as an orange locally, whereas Mosambi was more likely to be a sweet orange hybrid although it has also been called a sweet lime due to its green peel and small size. Several key secondary metabolites such as polymethoxyflavones (sinensetin, tangeretin etc.), furanocoumarins (bergapten, citropten etc.) and volatiles (citronellol, α-sinensal etc.) were identified to be potential biomarkers for separation of citrus species. However, despite having similar genetic profiles, variations in the volatile profile of the two limes were observed; similarly, there were differences in the secondary metabolite profiles of the three mandarin hybrids despite having a common ancestral parent, highlighting the usefulness of genetic and compositional analyses in combination for revealing both origins and flavour profiles especially in citrus hybrids. This knowledge would be crucial for variety screening and selection for use in flavour or fragrance creation and application.
Automatic classification of lymphoma lesions in FDG-PET–Differentiation between tumor and non-tumor uptake
Authors: Georgi Thomas W , Zieschank Axel , Kornrumpf Kevin , Kurch Lars , Sabri Osama , Körholz Dieter , Mauz-Körholz Christine , Kluge Regine , Posch Stefan
Published: April 2022

Introduction

The automatic classification of lymphoma lesions in PET is a main topic of ongoing research. An automatic algorithm would enable the swift evaluation of PET parameters, like texture and heterogeneity markers, concerning their prognostic value for patients outcome in large datasets. Moreover, the determination of the metabolic tumor volume would be facilitated. The aim of our study was the development and evaluation of an automatic algorithm for segmentation and classification of lymphoma lesions in PET.

Methods

Pre-treatment PET scans from 60 Hodgkin lymphoma patients from the EuroNet-PHL-C1 trial were evaluated. A watershed algorithm was used for segmentation. For standardization of the scan length, an automatic cropping algorithm was developed. All segmented volumes were manually classified into one of 14 categories. The random forest method and a nested cross-validation was used for automatic classification and evaluation.

Results

Overall, 853 volumes were segmented and classified. 203/246 tumor lesions and 554/607 non-tumor volumes were classified correctly by the automatic algorithm, corresponding to a sensitivity, a specificity, a positive and a negative predictive value of 83%, 91%, 79% and 93%. In 44/60 (73%) patients, all tumor lesions were correctly classified. In ten out of the 16 patients with misclassified tumor lesions, only one false-negative tumor lesion occurred. The automatic classification of focal gastrointestinal uptake, brown fat tissue and composed volumes consisting of more than one tissue was challenging.

Conclusion

Our algorithm, trained on a small number of patients and on PET information only, showed a good performance and is suitable for automatic lymphoma classification.
The effects of season, geography, and urbanization on the diversity of edible insects at food markets in Laos
Authors: Tagawa Kazuki , Hosoya Tadatsugu , Hyakumura Kimihiko , Suzuki Dai , Yoshizawa Satoshi , Praxaysombath Bounthob
Published: April 2022

Laos, a mountainous and landlocked country located in Southeast Asia, has the highest percentage of people using insects as food in the world. Lao people obtain edible insects through harvesting in the natural environment and purchasing at food markets. There has been no comprehensive survey about sales of insects at food markets in the wider areas, and our understanding of sales of insects in Laos is limited. Our study aims to identify environmental factors affecting the sales and the diversity of edible insects sold at food markets in Laos. We visited 37 and 55 markets, during the dry and rainy seasons respectively, in northern Laos to record species of sold insects. We then analyzed the correlations between insect sales and three potential factors (seasons, provinces, and urbanization indices around the markets). There was no significant difference in the percentage of markets selling insects between in the dry and rainy seasons; 40–50% of the markets sold insects in both seasons. The composition of sold insects differed between in the dry and rainy seasons, which reflects the seasonality and life history of each insect species. There tended to be more groups of insects for sale in the Vientiane capital than in the other provinces in both seasons. This trend may reflect that it is more difficult to obtain edible insects through wild harvesting in highly urbanized Vientiane capital than in the other provinces, and the commercial demand for insects is increasing. This possibility is directly supported by the positive correlation between the urbanization index and the insect sales in the rainy season. Laos has recently undergone rapid urbanization, particularly in the Vientiane capital, and we predict that commercial demand for edible insects will be much higher in the Vientiane capital and the urbanized cities in the future.
Echoes of hysteria: Gender, affect and economic crisis in Blue Jasmine and Young Adult
Authors: Pikouli Iris
Published: April 2022

This article analyses gendered representations of the 2008 financial crash in contemporary American cinema, focusing on films by Jason Reitman and Woody Allen. Scholars of the financial crisis on film have persuasively argued that the main impetus of indie global financial crisis cinema has been less to narrate the events than to make them intelligible through personification. I illustrate and modify this statement by suggesting that Reitman’s and Allen’s characters not only embody the financial crash but do so, importantly, along gender lines. What stands out the most, I propose, is the trope of female suffering. In both films, we witness female protagonists in the grip of monetary and mental crisis. I contend that this image of the distraught woman – with all the messiness and embarrassment of her feelings in full view – sheds new light on the affective pathologies of American capitalism. To make this point, I draw on cultural emblems of female hysteria, as well as on the work of political scientist Claudia Leeb on the expression of suffering and its transformative potential. Through their tormented heroines, Reitman and Allen provide a provocative view of US capitalism and its casualties after the global crash.
Avengers Assemble! Critical Perspectives on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Terence McSweeney (2018)
Authors: Goodrum Michael
Published: April 2022

Review of: Avengers Assemble! Critical Perspectives on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Terence Mcsweeney (2018)

New York: Wallflower Press, 310 pp.,

ISBN 978-0-23118-625-4, h/bk, £81, p/bk, £25