bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium pingshaense increases susceptibility to insecticides in highly resistant malaria mosquitoes Anopheles coluzzii
Authors: Lamy Doubé Lucien , Gnambani Edounou Jacques , Sare Issiaka , Millogo Souro Abel , Sodre Fatimata Aïcha , Namountougou Moussa , Viana Mafalda , Baldini Francesco , Diabaté Abdoulaye , Bilgo Etienne
Published: May 2024

Background Metarhizium spp. based mosquito control products are among the most investigated and could potentially serve as promising complements to chemical insecticides. However, limited knowledge exists on the implementation of this biocontrol tool in conjunction with primary insecticide-based strategies to achieve synergy. Methods In laboratory bioassays, we combined 107 conidia/ml natives Metarhizium pingshaense strains with deltamethrin standard dose in three ways, before, after or simultaneously. These combinations were tested on laboratory insecticide resistant Anopheles coluzzii. Results Therefore, we found that Metarhizium pingshaense and deltamethrin could be combined to achieve greater mortality against a highly insecticide resistance colony of Anopheles coluzzii. When mosquitoes were exposed to both simultaneously, no effect was observed, as expected for an insecticide resistant colony. However, when fungi were applied earlier than deltamethrin, mosquitoes became more sensitive to insecticide with a minimum Lethal Time to kill at least 50% of mosquito population (LT50) less than 8 days. In addition, when deltamethrin exposure was followed by Metarhizium infection, mosquito survival was similar to Metarhizium alone LT50 (LT50 ~11 days). Conclusions These findings suggest that early mosquito infection to Metarhizium pingshaense followed by chemical insecticide exposure synergically improve mosquito control in the laboratory.
SGLT2-Inhibitors - significant role in Heart Failure treatment
Authors: Wielgus Karol , Bator Piotr , Pawłowska Maria , Magiera Karol , Rachwał Krystian , Antos Maria , Ramian Jan , Łyko Grzegorz
Published: May 2024

Heart failure (HF), which has a high morbidity and mortality rate, is nevertheless a common and crippling ailment, especially in older populations. The complicated pathophysiology of heart failure (HF), which includes oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, fibrosis, and inflammation, is frequently not sufficiently treated despite advances in medication. Inhibitors of the sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) have become a key treatment for HF in patients with varying left ventricular ejection fractions (LVEF). SGLT2 inhibitors have been shown in recent clinical trials to considerably lower hospitalization rates for heart failure, cardiovascular mortality, and all-cause mortality. The mechanisms of SGLT2 inhibitors, such as better ventricular loading, increased heart metabolic efficiency, and decreased inflammation and necrosis, are covered in this review. Additionally, we provide an overview of four important clinical trials—DAPA-HF, EMPEROR-Reduced, EMPEROR-Preserved, and DELIVER—highlighting their effectiveness in lowering unfavourable cardiovascular outcomes for patients with heart failure who have preserved (HFpEF), slightly reduced (HFmrEF), or reduced (HFrEF). The results validate the need for SGLT2 inhibitors in all-inclusive HF treatment plans by highlighting their adaptability and safety in a range of clinical contexts.
The promising form of supporting the treatment of depression
Authors: Halczuk Izabela , Stachura Bartłomiej , Górska Justyna , Gawryszczak Samanta , Gliwa Anna , Nowak Katarzyna
Published: May 2024

Introduction and purpose
Recently, there has been a significant increase in interest in the dynamically developing field of science, nutripsychiatry, which has contributed to an increase in the number of studies conducted assessing the relationship between the use of a vegetarian nutritional model and its potential therapeutic impact on holistically understood mental health.
Material and methods
For the purposes of this work, a review of the literature available in the PubMed and Google Scholar search engines, was performed using the following keywords: vegetarian diet; depression; psychiatry. Works published before 2015 were excluded from the analysis. During the review of the literature of available scientific texts, attempts were made to comprehensively present the state of current knowledge.
State of knowledge
Numerous clinical studies support the beneficial effect of a vegetarian diet on mood by improving well-being and lower levels of anxiety and depression. However, there are also studies that did not show a relationship between the diet and the mood of the subjects, as well as studies indicating possible dangers associated with the use of this nutritional model.
Conclusions
The use of a vegetarian dietary pattern as a potential intervention is a promising method of non-pharmacological support. The amount of available scientific data confirming the beneficial effect of a vegetarian diet on mental health is insufficient to recommend it as a standard form of supporting the treatment of depression. Before implementing a vegetarian nutritional model, it is necessary to assess its safety in the patient and individualize dietary recommendations.
Umm Tuweyra
Authors: Kołodziejczyk Piotr
Published: May 2024

During the 2021 season, a team of researchers from the Institute of Archaeology, Jagiellonian University conducted an exploration of an Umm Tuweyrat site located in southern Jordan. The site constitutes a dolmen field located near the modern city of Ash-Shawbak. More than a dozen dolmens and other structures were identified on the site, indicating the use of the area by communities living in the region during the late prehistoric periods. As part of the research carried out on the site, the available areas were explored, all structures were cleaned and digitalized, and geological and material analyses were proceeded. This activity proved that future research on southern Jordanian dolmens has the potential to shed even more light on the rich cultural history of the region and deepen our understanding of the late prehistory.
The Kilt and the Tunic of Anubis
Authors: Ortiz-García Jónatan
Published: May 2024

A collective burial from the early 2nd century AD, reusing the Theban Tomb 32, built in the Egyptian New Kingdom, offers a unique opportunity to learn about the practices of funerary workshops of the time. The particularity of this family group related to an archon named Soter lies in the fact that it allows the dating of their funerary assemblages in absolute and relative terms, as well as elements of their iconography. This circumstance is helpful for the study of these objects as well as other contemporary or nearby items. To illustrate the potential of this approach, we will focus on the image of the god Anubis when he accompanies the deceased to their judgement before Osiris.
El patronato regio en la América hispana
Authors: Marín Leoz Juana M.
Published: May 2024

El presente artículo hace un recorrido por la creación peninsular del patronato regio, su definición al compás de la expansión de la conquista y colonización material y espiritual del Nuevo Mundo, así como su transformación y consolidación de la mano de la monarquía Habsburgo y de sus reformistas sucesores borbónicos. Este itinerario nos permitirá entender la naturaleza, los fines y las transformaciones de las formas de organización eclesiástica en la América hispana, entre el siglo XVI y principios del XIX, y la relación de la Iglesia con las autoridades monárquicas hispanas.
Vida religiosa femenina en el Nuevo Reino de Granada, siglos XVII y XVIII
Authors: Hernández Fernández Diana Paola
Published: May 2024

Nos proponemos en este artículo analizar las principales características de la religiosidad femenina durante el periodo colonial en la Nueva Granada1. Se presentan, así,el proceso de conformación de los primeros conventos, su papel social y económico, y una breve descripción de su dinámica interior y de las principales figuras que de ellos emergieron.
Historia de la presencia judía en Colombia
Authors: Moreno-Goldschmidt Aliza
Published: May 2024

Todo aquel que desee indagar sobre la historia de la presencia judía en territorio colombiano debe comprender ante todo que la llegada de estos inmigrantes ha tenido lugar en distintas épocas, regiones y bajo diferentes circunstancias históricas. Tal como lo expondremos en el presente artículo, en términos generales se puede hablar de tres procesos migratorios independientes, los cuales no tienen conexión directa y tampoco hubo prácticamente ningún lazo de continuidad entre ellos. Por esta razón, es igualmente correcta la afirmación según la cual las primeras huellas judías documentadas en Colombia se remontan a la época colonial, así como también es preciso señalar que las comunidades judías existentes actualmente en el país son, en su totalidad, el resultado de las olas migratorias de la primera mitad del siglo XX.
Long-Term Benefits of Controlled Drainage
Authors: Madramootoo Chandra A. , Essien Mfon , Ekwuknife Kosoluchukwu
Published: May 2024

Highlights

Controlled drainage increased grain yields in drier than normal years.

Monthly precipitation has a strong influence on crop yields.

In normal and wetter than normal years, controlled drainage could be detrimental to crop yields.

Controlled drainage generally reduced nitrous oxide emissions and leaching of nitrates in drain outlets.

Abstract. Conventional tile drainage is essential for crop production in Eastern Canada. It is of increasing interest for cereal and grain producers, especially in light of potential agronomic and environmental benefits. Based on data collected over a 13-year period at an intensive maize production site in southern Quebec, we found that controlled drainage has an overall positive effect on grain yield. In some years, depending on precipitation intensities and timing, nitrous oxide (N2O) fluxes under controlled drainage were greater than under conventional tile drainage. In other years, controlled drainage had 43% lower N2O emissions. Controlled drainage significantly reduced NO3-N contamination and tended to increase crop yield. It can be a beneficial management practice to be adopted on subsurface-drained croplands. Keywords: Controlled drainage, Crop yield, Environment, Greenhouse gases, Subsurface drainage, Water quality.
Continuous Hidden Markov Algorithm-Based Multimedia Melody Retrieval System for Music Education
Authors: Cheng Yingjie
Published: May 2024

Education professionals receive instruction in Music Education (ME) to prepare for prospective jobs like secondary or primary music teachers, schools ensembles executives, or ensembles directors at music institutions. In the discipline of music education, educators do original research on different approaches to teaching and studying music. The most accurate and effective method of extracting music from huge music databases has become one of the most frequently discussed participants in contemporary multimedia information retrieval development. The essence of multimedia material is presented within a range of techniques since it is not bound to a single side. These several categories could consist of the song’s audio components and lyrics for musical information. Retrieving melodic information, subsequently, becomes the main focus of most recent studies. Aside from being an expensive deviate from academics, music programs are neither a viable profession neither a valid pastime. Therefore, in this study, we offer a Continuous Hidden Markov Algorithm (CHMA) related a novel method for recovering melodies from musical multimedia recordings. CHMA is considered to be the most basic dynamic Bayesian network. Two various types of audio frame features and audio example features are extracted throughout the feature extraction procedure from the audio signal according to unit length. Every music clip receives a unique approach that we implement with concurrently using various CHMA. The initial music gets processed using a trained CHMA that monitors fundamental frequencies, maps states, and generates retrieval outcomes. The training time for Traditional opera reached 455.76 minutes, the testing time for Narration achieved 56.10 minutes, and the recognition accuracy for advertisement reached an impressive 98.02%. A subsequently experimental result validates the applicability of the proposed approach.
Research on Task Scheduling for Internet of Things Cloud Computing Based on Improved Chicken Swarm Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Liu Shizheng , Chen Xuan , Cheng Feng
Published: May 2024

Aiming at the shortcomings of long completion time and high consumption cost of cloud computing batch task scheduling in IoT, an Improved Chicken Swarm Optimization Algorithm (ICSO) for task scheduling in cloud computing scenarios is proposed. Specifically, in order to solve the problems of slow convergence and falling into local optimum of the chicken swarm optimization algorithm, we adopt the nonlinear decreasing technique of the rooster and the weighting technique of the hen, optimize the following coefficients of the chicks, and apply ICSO to cloud computing task scheduling. In simulation experiments, we conducted a large number of experiments using four standard benchmark functions with different number of tasks and the results show that ICSO algorithm reduces 25.8%, 9.3%, 8.8%, 7.5% in small task time compared to CSO, DCSO, GCSO, ABCSO in large task time by 30.8%, 8.3%, 7.8%, 6.3%, 11.8%, 10.3%, 8.8%, 7.5% savings in small task cost and 25.8%, 11.2%, 10.8%, 9.3% savings in large task cost. This method effectively reduces task scheduling time and cost consumption. Meanwhile, we tested it in combination with an IoT-based cloud platform and achieved very satisfying Results.
Contribution of Cuban Residents Abroad to the Cuban Economy: Tourism and Remittances
1
Authors: Betancourt Rafael J.
Published: May 2024

Cuban Residents Abroad (CRA) have the potential to significantly contribute to Cuba’s economy through tourism and remittances. CRA constitute a large diaspora, with strong ties to Cuba. Their travel to the island, even if primarily to visit family, has a notable economic impact, especially on private and local economies. Remittances from CRA are also substantial, representing a top source of foreign earnings for Cuba, though recently limited by US restrictions. However, various obstacles still hinder CRA’s full economic participation, including outdated policies, limited travel services catering to CRA, and complicated remittance channels. The Cuban government could boost CRA contributions by facilitating their travel, investment, and remittances through updated policies, expanded local initiatives, allowance of more private sector participation, and overall reintegration of CRA into economic life. Balancing CRA participation with equitable development remains a challenge.
Pyrlato: A novel methodology to collect real-world acoustic data
Authors: Magistro Giuseppe , Crocco Claudia
Published: May 2024

In this paper, we present Pyrlato, an innovative tool developed in Python for collecting acoustic data from YouTube. The development of this tool was motivated by the need to conveniently collect real-world spoken data. By executing this Python code, researchers can obtain a spoken corpus of specific words, syllables, constituents, and more. We illustrate the main steps of the execution to demonstrate how it works and how to use it. Additionally, we provide a complete example for reference, demonstrating how to customize Pyrlato according to specific requirements. Finally, we discuss the future developments we intend to cover for Pyrlato.
Detailing the impact of social variables on the production of the Catalan mid-vowel contrasts by early Spanish-Catalan bilinguals
Authors: Kotsoni Zoi
Published: May 2024

The present study investigates variability in the production of Catalan vowels by Barcelona young, middle-aged, and older adults who speak the Central Catalan variety. The degree of exposure to and use of Central Catalan varies among speakers as half of the participants are second-generation and subsequent-generation migrants from other regions of Spain, where the vernacular is Spanish. All speakers have been born, raised, and schooled in Barcelona, and have acquired both Central Catalan and Spanish. Central Catalan possesses two sets of phonemic mid-vowels (/e/–/ε/ and /o/–/ↄ/), unlike Spanish which has a single vowel per set (/e/ and /o/). This study aims to detail the Catalan mid-front and mid-back vowel contrasts used by speakers of different gender, age, language use, and exposure to Catalan from the bilingual speech community of Barcelona.
Representaciones sociales y cambio climático en la Geografía escolar. Un estudio de caso desde la formación del profesorado
Authors: Olcina Jorge , Morote Álvaro Francisco , Souto Xosé Manuel
Published: May 2024

Averiguar los motivos por los cuales los conocimientos científicos sobre el cambio climático no llegan a las aulas escolares es el principal objetivo de este trabajo. Para ello, en este trabajo se evalúa la producción científica del saber académico. Y, a continuación, se contrasta dicho saber con el que entiende y propone el profesorado en activo y en formación de Geografía e Historia de Educación Secundaria. Se presenta un estudio de caso de la Universitat de València (UV, España) dentro del modelo ex post facto, que permite conocer las tendencias que se manifiestan en el comportamiento de las personas que se van a dedicar a la docencia en dicho ámbito. Se ha utilizado una muestra representativa con el profesorado en formación (Máster de Educación Secundaria) y del profesorado en ejercicio (grupo Gea-Clío), a partir del empleo de cuestionarios, entrevistas y grupos focales. Los resultados apuntan a la pervivencia de los estereotipos del conocimiento vulgar que condicionan la representación social de la función docente en las expectativas del futuro profesorado; dos terceras partes de los/as participantes indican la contaminación como el origen del calentamiento global y, respecto a las consecuencias, destacan cuatro principales: extinción de especies, aumento de la temperatura global, desastres naturales y el deshielo. En el caso del profesorado en activo, lo que se observa es un predominio de los mismos factores antropogénicos, pero se dan matices y, sobre todo, una referencia a la forma de informarse. Como conclusión, las concepciones derivadas de los hábitos y sentido práctico de la enseñanza condicionan el aprendizaje de las informaciones de hechos conceptuales. Una situación que se repite de forma rutinaria si no se corrigen estas tendencias.
El lugar de la mirada cultural en la geografía académica
Authors: Capellà Hugo
Published: May 2024

El lugar de la geografía cultural es complejo. En este ensayo epistemológico demostraremos desde dentro por un lado las consecuencias de su largo proceso de apropiación desde una perspectiva académica geográfica excluyente que lo ha negado. Por otro lado, expondremos como su dispersión y marginalidad ha terminado por representar una perspectiva inclusiva fluida muy adaptada en general, al análisis del mundo contemporáneo y en concreto, como puente para un nuevo reencuentro social de la geografía.
La cultura fue siempre una temática seductora, pero a la vez molesta en la definición del lugar académico para la geografía. El resultado ha sido una apropiación desde una mirada ajena que ha silenciado un desarrollo propio, obligado a refugiarse de forma histórica y repetida en los márgenes. Esa fragilidad ha permitido la construcción de unas miradas alternativas libres y críticas, al origen de su rechazo.
Judicial Prayers and Biblical Models in the Story of Apollonius 32
Authors: Arthur-Montagne Jacqueline
Published: May 2024

Abstract: The layering of classical and biblical language in the Story of Apollonius has fueled debate about the readership and religious contexts of the late Latin romance. This article analyzes the mixture of pagan and biblical elements in the central murder plot of Tarsia, for which two characters plead their innocence to an unnamed god. A reinterpretation of the intertexts in their parallel prayers reveals how the romance combines the formulae of judicial prayers and the Latin Vulgate to shape reader response to the episode. Apollonius 32 thereby accommodates readers from diverse religious traditions and foreshadows the story's final administration of justice.
Richard D. Mohun and the Congo: American Transimperial Careering in Colonial Africa
Authors: Anderson Jonas
Published: May 2024

Abstract: In 1892, Richard D. Mohun assumed the post of United States commercial agent in the Congo Free State. It was the springboard for a lifelong career in colonial Africa, serving a monarch, corporations and investors. Mohun’s activities in the Congo are but one example of numerous American careers in colonial Africa. The seizure of the continent by European powers provided Americans with new opportunities, whether for adventurers, soldiers or experts, and entangled them with colonial empire building. In addition, through travelogues and newspaper coverage, they had a significant impact on American conceptions of Africa and ensured the dissemination and connectivity of colonial discourses.
The Freedom Petitions: Black Patriotism, Black Politics, and the Abolition of Slavery in Massachusetts, 1773–1783
Authors: Stanton Grant
Published: May 2024

abstract: Between 1773 and 1777, a group of Black men presented four petitions to the Massachusetts legislature for the abolition of slavery. Although they have been examined for over two centuries, the story of these "freedom petitioners" and their place in their colony's patriot politics has frequently been misconstrued by historians or sidelined in larger histories of American abolitionism. Tracing the political, social, and discursive career of what in fact became the first organized, interracial, and successful abolition campaign in American history, I argue that a reevaluation is needed. The freedom petitions were not used to embarrass the patriot cause. They helped to bring about the downfall of royal government in Massachusetts. The American Revolution's "language of liberty" did not infect these actors. It was a discourse that they contributed to and helped create. And the freedom petitioners did not fundamentally fail to achieve their objectives. Their campaign played a crucial role in the effective as well as legal demise of slavery in their state. Abstract: Between 1773 and 1777, a group of Black men presented four petitions to the Massachusetts legislature for the abolition of slavery. Despite having been examined extensively for nearly two centuries, the story of these "freedom petitioners" and their place in their colony's patriot politics has frequently been misconstrued by historians or sidelined in larger histories of American abolitionism. Tracing the political, social, and discursive career of what in fact became the first organized, interracial, and successful abolition campaign in American history, I argue a reevaluation is needed. The freedom petitions were not used to embarrass the patriot cause. They helped to bring about the downfall of royal government in Massachusetts. The American Revolution's "language of liberty" did not infect these actors. It was a discourse that they contributed to and helped create. And the freedom petitioners did not fundamentally fail to achieve their objectives. Their campaign played a crucial role in the effective as well as legal demise of slavery in their state.
Silence, Friendship, and Cunning
Authors: Beja Morris
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT: This essay aims to complicate and question the pervasive image of James Joyce, and his own self-image, as "[u]nfellowed, friendless and alone," by looking at the role of friends and friendship in Joyce's life and in the lives of his major self-portraits, Stephen Dedalus and Leopold Bloom. I examine Joyce's relationship with his most important friends, such as Vincent Cosgrave, J. F. Byrne, Oliver St. John Gogarty, Frank Budgen, Samuel Beckett, Paul Léon, and others—notably a number of women, including Sylvia Beach, Maria Jolas, and Harriet Shaw Weaver. Those relationships were complex, as are the friendships in Joyce's fiction. In A Portrait , Davin, for example, says that Stephen is "[a]lways alone," yet in Lynch and Cranly he has close friends. In Ulysses , the friendships with Mulligan and Lynch are notably strained. But while Stephen is cynical about friends and, by extension, friendship, it is Bloom who is, in fact, apparently without any close friends: he seems to have only acquaintances (like Molly as well, for that matter). Yet Bloom and Stephen form a bond that, although it is hard to define and almost certainly temporary, seems to bring a measure of comfort to both of them.
“Wanton Child”: Infanticide, Abortion, and Monstrous Birth in Mary Wroth’s Pamphilia to Amphilanthus
Authors: Hokama Rhema
Published: May 2024

Abstract: I argue that Mary Wroth uses visceral portrayals of the maternal body in various stages of pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and infant care to describe the frustrations of female erotic experience in the manuscript version of her lyric sequence Pamphilia to Amphilanthus . Building upon Ilona Bell’s recent editorial research, I maintain that Wroth’s 1621 print rearrangement effectively severed some of the sequence’s most striking descriptions of the maternal body from their original contexts in the earlier manuscript version. In foregrounding the manuscript ordering of Pamphilia to Amphilanthus , I demonstrate that Wroth articulated a distinctly materialist vision of female erotic grief.
Design and application of high-precision calibration blackbody for space optical remote sensing sensor
Authors: Yang Ming , Gao Chao , Luo Shi Kui , Wang Lei , Xia Chenhui
Published: May 2024

Radiation calibration is a crucial step in producing high-quality images for spaceborne infrared cameras. Blackbody radiation sources, as the standard equipment for infrared thermometers, play an increasingly important role in radiation calibration. But as the camera aperture increases, blackbody faces challenges such as poor temperature uniformity, slow heating and cooling rates, large mass, and large volume. This article proposes a design scheme for spaceborne calibration blackbody based on a combination of rope pull fixation and limit block positioning. The temperature uniformity, temperature stability, temperature rise and fall rate, thermal stress characteristics, and anti-emission vibration characteristics of the blackbody under this scheme are analyzed and optimized in detail. The analysis results show that the conduction thermal resistance between the blackbody and the environment is nearly two orders of magnitude higher than that of the conventional scheme. The blackbody has excellent temperature uniformity, temperature stability, wide calibration temperature range, light weight, small volume, and fast temperature rise and fall speed. The blackbody scheme with a thickness of only 1.5 mm was implemented and applied on orbit.
Method for LAMOST cofocus maintenance based on an Eddy current edge sensor
Authors: Yin Jing , Zhu Shuyu , Ni Jijun , Chen Xiaoting , Feng Zhihua
Published: May 2024

The current cofocus maintenance strategy of the primary mirror of the
Large Sky Area Multi-Object Spectroscopic Telescope (Mb) using
Shack–Hartmann Wavefront Sensor (SHWFS) interrupts the observation
mission. This study proposed an Eddy current edge sensor with high
precision and accuracy to achieve closed-loop cofocus control. Through
structural design, interaction matrix deduction, installation
parameter analysis, and performance calibration, the edge sensor was
validated for use in detecting segment attitudes. The minimum cofocus
maintenance system comprising three segments was separated from Mb and
established to validate the effectiveness of the closed-loop cofocus
control with the novel edge sensor. The closed-loop control system was
effective within less than 1.5°C environmental temperature changes
after 13 h, which is considerably longer than the maintenance
time with the SHWFS. Moreover, continuous observation without
interruption is possible during one observation night.
In vivo quantitative characterization of nano adjuvant transport in the tracheal layer by photoacoustic imaging
Authors: Liang Chaohao , Meng Fan , Zhang Yiqing , Chen Yuxiang , Luo Li , Li Hongyan , Tu Xinbo , He Fengbing , Luo Zhijia , Wang Qian , Zhang Jian
Published: May 2024

Adjuvants are indispensable ingredients in vaccine formulations. Evaluating the in vivo transport processes of adjuvants, particularly for inhalation formulations, presents substantial challenges. In this study, a nanosized adjuvant aluminum hydroxide (AlOOH) was synthesized and labeled with indocyanine green (ICG) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) to achieve strong optical absorption ability and high biocompatibility. The adjuvant nanomaterials (BSA@ICG@AlOOH, BIA) were delivered as an aerosol into the airways of mice, its distribution was monitored using photoacoustic imaging (PAI) in vivo. PAI results illustrated the gradual cross-layer transmission process of BIA in the tracheal layer, traversing approximately 250 µm from the inner layer of the trachea to the outer layer. The results were consistent with pathology. While the intensity of the BIA reduced by approximately 46.8% throughout the transport process. The ability of PAI for quantitatively characterized the dynamic transport process of adjuvant within the tracheal layer may be widely used in new vaccine development.
Multi-Gb/s free-space laser communication at 4.6-μm wavelength using a high-speed, room-temperature, resonant-cavity infrared detector (RCID) and a quantum-cascade laser
Authors: Marsland R. , Jacobs S. , Canedy C. L. , Ellis C. , Kim C. S. , Jackson E. M. , Vurgaftman I. , Kolasa B. , Jayaraman V. , Turville-Heitz M. , Earles T. , Ruder S. , Knipfer B. , Ryu J. H. , Meyer J. R. , Botez D. , Mawst L. J.
Published: May 2024

Research has shown that free-space laser communication systems may experience fewer outages due to atmospheric impairments such as haze, fog, clouds, and turbulence by operating at a longer wavelength in the mid-wave or long-wave infrared, if disadvantages such as lower-performance transceiver components may be overcome. Here we report a resonant cavity infrared detector (RCID) with 4.6-µm resonance wavelength that enables 20-dB larger link budget than has been reported previously for ∼ 5 Gb/s operation. The device combines high responsivity, 1.97 A/W, with a low noise equivalent power (NEP) of 0.7 pW/Hz at room temperature, and a high bandwidth of 6.7 GHz at 3-dB. The relatively large surface-normal-incidence device with 30-µm diameter simplifies the coupling relative to intra-subband quantum cascade detectors. Although the RCID NEP is expected to increase with frequency to ∼ 1.5 pW/Hz, we estimate that the total equivalent noise power in a 2.5-GHz bandwidth is less than 200 nW. When combined with a relatively high power (∼100-mW) distributed-feedback quantum cascade laser, the difference of > 50 dB between modulated laser power and RCID noise significantly outpaces that of existing devices.
X-ray-driven multi-bit quantum random number generator
Authors: Lin Guangshen , Feng Huanbo , Li Shizhuo , Xie Feng , Zhang Zhenrong , Liu Hongbang , Wei Kejin
Published: May 2024

Random numbers are vital in cryptography, simulation modeling, and gambling. This study presents a scheme for a multi-bit quantum random number generator utilizing X-ray radiation. Using a homemade multi-pixel single-photon detector array, we extract randomness from three modes of X-ray radiation: arrival time, spatial position, and polarization direction. We employ the Toeplitz Matrix Hashing extractor for randomness distillation, resulting in the extraction of 40.4 million random bits at a rate of 33.7 bits per photon. The generated random numbers pass all test criteria in the National Institute of Standards and Technology statistical test suite. Our work paves what we believe to be a novel method for generating multi-bit quantum random numbers, promising enhanced security and reliability in various technological applications.
High performance La1-xAlxF3 nanocomposite coatings prepared by a co-evaporation technique
Authors: Jiao Hongfei , Li Yingfu , Niu Xinshang , Ji Xiaochuan , Xia Jingjing , Zhang Jinlong , Cheng Xinbin , Wang Zhanshan
Published: May 2024

La1-xAlxF3 nanocomposite coatings with various amounts of AlF3 in LaF3 were deposited on the fused silica substrate using double-source electron beam co-evaporation. The effects of the material composition on the chemical composition, optical properties, microstructure properties, and residual stress of these deposited coatings were investigated. The results showed that although the doping of AlF3 led to a reduction in the refractive index, the overall performance of the nanocomposites showed remarkable improvement. The increase in the AlF3 content of prepared nanocomposites caused a decrease in the crystallinity, surface roughness, residual stress, and optical loss. Compared to polycrystalline LaF3, the La1-xAlxF3 nanocomposite (x ≥ 0.3) retained an amorphous structure, showcasing smooth surface morphology and lower absorption. As a result, the total optical loss was reduced. Additionally, the tensile stress was also mitigated to a certain extent, which means that the nanocomposite material was less prone to cracking. Finally, a 193 nm-La0.70Al0.30F3/AlF3 high reflective coating was prepared, which achieved an improved reflectance of 98.7% and better film quality compared to the pure LaF3/AlF3 sample. These findings clearly indicate the significant potential of La1-xAlxF3 nanocomposites for developing deep ultraviolet band thin films, extending even into the vacuum ultraviolet band.
Inducing tunable conventional photon blockade and two-photon blockade in a second-order nonlinear system with two-level atoms
Authors: Lin Hongyu , Luo Xiangyi , Wang Xiaoqian , Gao Feng , Zhou Yanhui , Yao Zhihai
Published: May 2024

We have achieved a conventional photon blockade and two-photon blockade in a second-order nonlinear system with a two-level atom embedded in a high-frequency cavity. The physical mechanisms behind the implementation of both types of photon blockade are explained, and analytical conditions for achieving a conventional photon blockade are derived, which are consistent with the numerical solutions of the master equation in the steady-state limit. By appropriately setting the system parameters, we can achieve simultaneous conventional photon blockade in the high-frequency cavity and two-photon blockade in the low-frequency cavity. The effects of driving factors and environmental temperature on photon blockade are analyzed. The adjustability of the coupling coefficient between the high-frequency cavity and the atom, as well as the nonlinear coupling coefficient between different nanocavities, is discussed in the context of implementing conventional photon blockades. The tunability of these coupling coefficients may significantly reduce the experimental complexity of implementing the system.
Compressive time-stretch spectroscopy with pulse-by-pulse intensity modulation
Authors: Kawai Akira , Horisaki Ryoichi , Ideguchi Takuro
Published: May 2024

The photonic time-stretch technique is a single-pulse broadband spectroscopy method enabled by dispersive Fourier transformation. This technique enables an extremely high spectrum acquisition rate, determined by the repetition rates of femtosecond mode-locked lasers, which are typically in the range of tens of MHz. However, achieving this high spectrum acquisition rate necessitates a compromise in either the spectral resolution or the spectral bandwidth to prevent overlaps between adjacent stretched pulses. In this study, we introduce a method that overcomes this limitation by incorporating compressive sensing with pulse-by-pulse amplitude modulation, enabling the decomposition of excessively stretched, overlapping pulses. Through numerical evaluations of optofluidic microparticle flow analysis and high-speed gas-phase molecular spectroscopy, we demonstrate the efficacy of our noise-resilient algorithm, showcasing a severalfold increase in the spectrum acquisition rate without compromising resolution and bandwidth.
Unified Stokes–Mueller polarimetry for multi-photon processes at varying wavelengths
Authors: Wu Jinxian , Ma Xiang , Liu Jiaming , Lai Chunquan , Li Yanqiu
Published: May 2024

Existing polarimetry, mainly focusing on harmonic generations, overlooks the differences in retardance (DRs) caused by illuminations with different wavelengths in nonlinear processes, consequently falling short in accuracy beyond frequency doubling. In this Letter, with DRs considered, we propose a universal nonlinear Stokes–Mueller (NSM) polarimetry design involving illuminations with different wavelengths. Then, we optimize the NSM measurement model, applied to sum-frequency generation (SFG) and difference frequency generation. To demonstrate the necessity of consideration of DRs, the processes of polarization measurement for SFG are simulated, where the condition number decreases by 51.2%, and the root mean square error of the nonlinear Mueller matrix decreases by 20.48%.
Impact of the number of well-barrier pair in the MQWs on the carrier distribution and confinement for the AlGaN-based far-UVC LEDs
Authors: Wang Xianjun , Jiang Ke , Zhang Shanli , Ben Jianwei , Lv Shunpeng , Chen Yang , Jia Yuping , Liu Mingrui , Sun Xiaojuan , Li Dabing
Published: May 2024

AlGaN-based far-UVC LEDs are urgently in demand recently. However, as the wavelength decreases below 250 nm, the EQE experiences a significant decrease due to the increasing difficulty of realizing high-efficiency doping and high crystal quality with increasing Al content, resulting in severe carrier non-uniform distribution in the MQWs and limiting the radiative recombination. Here, we investigate the effect of the number of well-barrier pair in the MQWs on the performance of AlGaN-based far-UVC LEDs regarding carrier distribution and confinement. The results indicate that an insufficient number of well-barrier pair in the MQWs will lead to excessive carrier injection and insufficient carrier confinement, and an excessive number of well-barrier pairs will make it difficult for carriers to diffuse to the distal quantum wells. It is found that the MQWs with six pairs of well-barrier may be more suitable for far-UVC LEDs. This study provides a feasible direction to optimize far-UVC LEDs.
Differential Absorption LiDAR for NASA Ozone Mapping
Authors: Mueller Lisa , Hashley Jeremiah
Published: May 2024

Knowing how much and where ozone is in our atmosphere is important to daily life on Earth. Ozone present in the stratosphere is critical to protecting life from harmful radiation, but ozone in the troposphere is detrimental. NASA has created a network specifically tasked with measuring and mapping the ozone in the troposphere. This will allow researchers to analyze potential dangers with ozone levels and propose solutions to these problems. Bridger Photonics has developed a Differential Absorption LiDAR (DIAL) system for this network to measure ozone concentrations in an altitude range of 5 - 8 km in a compact, easy-to-use, and commercially available device. With final ultraviolet wavelength energies of 200 μJ (at 1 kHz repetition rate), Bridger Photonics has designed a high power output, low power consumption, and fast repetition rate solution to ozone concentration measurement.
HDR-Net: A HDR dataset of fringe projection based on deep network
Authors: Cao Jianbin , Xu Zhan , Zhou Guangya , Tu Dawei
Published: May 2024

In recent years, network-based fringe-projection-profilometry (FPP) has achieved significant advancements in reconstructing high-dynamic-range (HDR) surfaces. However, a common dataset and benchmark for evaluating the performance of various algorithms are still lacked that obviously obstacle this field’s development. A FPP dataset that totally contains 720 HDR scenes was collected in this paper. In addition, a state-of-art FPP network achieving the effect of 6-step phase-shift (PS) algorithm with only 3 images was proposed. Compared with the traditional networks, it is a two-stage network: it firstly outputs the texture of the object surface, and secondly takes the texture and the original images as inputs to the network, predicting the numerator and denominator of the wrapped phase φ as outputs. Experiments have proved the validness: the phase error of this method is 2.61×10^(-4) (2π∙rad), whereas the phase error of 6-step PS algorithm is 2.59×10^(-4) (2π∙rad). Dataset and code are available at the website: https://github.com/SHU-FLYMAN/HDR-NET.
Photon wave function, electric and magnetic fields.
Relationship to the electromagnetic vacuum.
Authors: Meis Constantin
Published: May 2024

A photon quantization volume is defined, an intrinsic physical geometrical property of a single photon state, showing that photons are not point particles and constitute a particular case in the standard particle model. Based on the quantized vector potential amplitude a photon wave function is established satisfying Schrödinger’s equation and normalized with respect to the quantization volume. The single photon electric and magnetic fields in vacuum are calculated independently on any external cavity parameter and they are proportional to the square of the frequency. The electromagnetic vacuum derives straightforward from the photon vector potential function and has both classical and quantum representations. The photon wave function is directly related to the electromagnetic vacuum states setting the fundamentals for understanding entanglement.
The beneficial effect of fluoxetine on behavioral and cognitive changes in chronic experimental Chagas disease unveils the role of serotonin fueling astrocyte infection by Trypanosoma cruzi
Authors: Vilar-Pereira Glaucia , Gibaldi Daniel , Castaño-Barrios Leda , da Silva Andrea Alice , Resende Pereira Isabela , Cruz Moreira Otacílio , Britto Constança , Mata dos Santos Hílton Antônio , de Oliveira Lopes Raquel , Wanderley Tinoco Luzineide , Oliveira Wilson , Lannes-Vieira Joseli
Published: May 2024

Background

In Chagas disease (CD), a neglected tropical disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the development of mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, and memory loss may be underpinned by social, psychological, and biological stressors. Here, we investigated biological factors underlying behavioral changes in a preclinical model of CD.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In T. cruzi-infected C57BL/6 mice, a kinetic study (5 to 150 days postinfection, dpi) using standardized methods revealed a sequential onset of behavioral changes: reduced innate compulsive behavior, followed by anxiety and depressive-like behavior, ending with progressive memory impairments. Hence, T. cruzi-infected mice were treated (120 to 150 dpi) with 10 mg/Kg/day of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluoxetine (Fx), an antidepressant that favors neuroplasticity. Fx therapy reversed the innate compulsive behavior loss, anxiety, and depressive-like behavior while preventing or reversing memory deficits. Biochemical, histological, and parasitological analyses of the brain tissue showed increased levels of the neurotransmitters GABA/glutamate and lipid peroxidation products and decreased expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the absence of neuroinflammation at 150 dpi. Fx therapy ameliorated the neurochemical changes and reduced parasite load in the brain tissue. Next, using the human U-87 MG astroglioma cell line, we found no direct effect of Fx on parasite load. Crucially, serotonin/5-HT (Ser/5-HT) promoted parasite uptake, an effect increased by prior stimulation with IFNγ and TNF but abrogated by Fx. Also, Fx blocked the cytokine-driven Ser/5-HT-promoted increase of nitric oxide and glutamate levels in infected cells.

Conclusion/Significance

We bring the first evidence of a sequential onset of behavioral changes in T. cruzi-infected mice. Fx therapy improves behavioral and biological changes and parasite control in the brain tissue. Moreover, in the central nervous system, cytokine-driven Ser/5-HT consumption may favor parasite persistence, disrupting neurotransmitter balance and promoting a neurotoxic environment likely contributing to behavioral and cognitive disorders.
Big data analysis for Covid-19 in hospital information systems
Authors: Ying Xinpa , Peng Haiyang , Xie Jun
Published: May 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a global public health crisis, affecting hundreds of countries. With the increasing number of infected cases, developing automated COVID-19 identification tools based on CT images can effectively assist clinical diagnosis and reduce the tedious workload of image interpretation. To expand the dataset for machine learning methods, it is necessary to aggregate cases from different medical systems to learn robust and generalizable models. This paper proposes a novel deep learning joint framework that can effectively handle heterogeneous datasets with distribution discrepancies for accurate COVID-19 identification. We address the cross-site domain shift by redesigning the COVID-Net’s network architecture and learning strategy, and independent feature normalization in latent space to improve prediction accuracy and learning efficiency. Additionally, we propose using a contrastive training objective to enhance the domain invariance of semantic embeddings and boost classification performance on each dataset. We develop and evaluate our method with two large-scale public COVID-19 diagnosis datasets containing CT images. Extensive experiments show that our method consistently improves the performance both datasets, outperforming the original COVID-Net trained on each dataset by 13.27% and 15.15% in AUC respectively, also exceeding existing state-of-the-art multi-site learning methods.
Prevalence of yaws and syphilis in the Ashanti region of Ghana and occurrence of H. ducreyi, herpes simplex virus 1 and herpes simplex virus 2 in skin lesions associated with treponematoses
Authors: Boaitey Yaw Agyekum , Owusu-Ofori Alex , Anyogu Amarachukwu , Aghakhanian Farhang , Arora Natasha , Parr Jonathan B. , Bosshard Philipp P. , Raheem Saki , Gerbault Pascale
Published: May 2024

Yaws affects children in tropical regions, while syphilis primarily affects sexually active adults worldwide. Despite various campaigns towards the eradication of yaws and elimination of syphilis, these two diseases are still present in Ghana. The aetiological agents of both diseases, two Treponema pallidum subspecies, are genetically similar. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of these treponematoses and the occurrence of pathogens causing similar skin lesions in the Ashanti region of Ghana. A point-of-care test was used to determine the seroprevalence of the treponematoses. Both yaws and syphilis were identified in the Ashanti region of Ghana. Multiplex PCR was used to identify treponemes and other pathogens that cause similar skin lesions. The results indicated that the seroprevalences of T. pallidum in individuals with yaws-like and syphilis-like lesions were 17.2% and 10.8%, respectively. Multiplex PCR results showed that 9.1%, 1.8% and 0.9% of yaws-like lesions were positive for Haemophilus ducreyi, herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) and T. pallidum respectively. Among syphilis-like lesions, 28.3% were positive for herpes simplex virus -2 (HSV-2) by PCR. To our knowledge, this is the first time HSV-I and HSV-2 have been reported from yaws-like and syphilis-like lesions, respectively, in Ghana. The presence of other organisms apart from T. pallidum in yaws-like and syphilis-like lesions could impede the total healing of these lesions and the full recovery of patients. This may complicate efforts to achieve yaws eradication by 2030 and the elimination of syphilis and warrants updated empirical treatment guidelines for skin ulcer diseases.