bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On Classical Simulation of Quantum Circuits Composed of Clifford Gates
Authors: Biswas George
Published: July 2024

The Gottesman–Knill theorem asserts that quantum circuits composed solely of Clifford gates can be efficiently simulated classically. This theorem hinges on the fact that Clifford gates map Pauli strings to other Pauli strings, thereby allowing for a structured simulation process using classical computations. In this work, we break down the step-by-step procedure of the Gottesman–Knill theorem in a beginner-friendly manner, leveraging concepts such as matrix products, tensor products, commutation, anti-commutation, eigenvalues, and eigenvectors of quantum mechanical operators. Through detailed examples illustrating superposition and entanglement phenomena, we aim to provide a clear understanding of the classical simulation of Clifford gate-based quantum circuits. While we do not provide a formal proof of the theorem, we offer intuitive physical insights at each stage where necessary, empowering readers to grasp the fundamental principles underpinning this intriguing aspect of quantum computation.Quanta 2024; 13: 20–27.
Sharenting - współczesne zagrożenie, czy szansa?
Authors: Kubiak Sandra
Published: July 2024

Celem artykułu jest skierowanie uwagi na zjawisko społeczne jakim jest sharenting, w tym jego definicji, skali oddziaływania, a także powiązanych z nim niebezpiecznych konsekwencji oraz potencjalnych korzyści, które może ze sobą nieść. Omówiona została kwestia tego jak wspomniany trend wygląda w środowisku polskich rodziców na portalu społecznościowym jakim jest Facebook. Poruszone zostało zagadnienie dotyczące prawa do prywatności i ochrony wizerunku, a także tego jak prezentuje się ta kwestia w polskich jak i międzynarodowych przepisach. Zaprezentowane badanie przedstawia i opisuje, również dwa typy sharentingu jakim są parental sharenting i także sharenting komercyjny, Ponadto artykuł porusza zagadnienia takie jak cyberprzemoc, cyberstalking, kradzież tożsamości, hejt w sieci i utrata anonimowości. Dodatkowo opisano całokształt związany z problematyką wykorzystywania wizerunku dzieci w internecie.
Review of available treatment methods for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) with special emphasis on diet and physical activity
Authors: Cąkała Marlena , Zajkowska Aleksandra , Kozioł Magdalena , Podgórniak Kamila , Skotnicka Joanna , Błaszczak Karolina , Witkowska Maria
Published: July 2024

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) occurs in 5 to 10% of women of reproductive age and is the most common cause of anovulation in infertile women.
PCOS is associated with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and increased cardiovascular risk. Although insulin resistance is not included as a criterion for diagnosis, it is a critical pathological condition of PCOS.
While PCOS can pose challenges to women's health, with appropriate medical care and lifestyle modifications, symptoms can be effectively managed and the risk of associated health complications reduced. Behavioral, medical and surgical treatments have been evaluated in order to improve the fertility of women with PCOS. Lifestyle modifications (stop smoking, physical exercise and weight loss when necessary) are of the utmost importance.
The aim of this paper is to present the available methods of treatment, prevention of consequences and fertility problems affecting women with PCOS.
Advancements in the Treatment of Urinary Stress Incontinence: Current Strategies and Future Directions
Authors: Lenard Paweł , Makuch Rafał , Chrościcka Alicja , Gała Kamil , Czajka Andrzej , Kucharski Adam , Michalska Sara , Pilarski Konrad , Dewicka Martyna , Wawrzyniak Alicja Maria
Published: July 2024

Introduction and purposeStress urinary incontinence remains a prevalent issue affecting both women and men, significantly impacting their quality of life and social participation. Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is defined as the sudden, involuntary loss of urine secondary to increased intraabdominal pressure, which has a negative impact on the patient’s quality of life. SUI may be precipitated by a number of activities, including coughing, laughing, sneezing, straining, or exercising. Modern diagnostic and therapeutic approaches have improved outcomes for those affected, yet challenges persist, including accurate diagnosis and understanding of the underlying pathophysiology, as well as the development of effective treatment algorithms. The aim of the article was to present current guidelines for treatment of stress urinary incontinence depending on the individual patient's requirements.
 
Material and methods
Review and summary of research studies available in open source format on Google Scholar and PubMed. The literature was reviewed using the keywords.
Code and Data Repository for Platoon Optimization Based on Truck Pairs
Authors: Bhoopalam Anirudh Kishore , Agatz Niels , Zuidwijk Rob
Published: July 2024

Truck platooning technology allows trucks to drive at short headways to save fuel and associated emissions. However, fuel savings from platooning are relatively small so forming platoons should be convenient and associated with minimum detours and delays. In this paper, we focus on developing optimization technology to form truck platoons. We formulate a mathematical program for the platoon routing problem with time windows (PRP-TW) based on a time-space network. We provide polynomial time algorithms to solve special cases of PRP-TW with two-truck platoons. Based on these special cases, we build several fast heuristics. An extensive set of numerical experiments show that our heuristics perform well. Moreover, we show that simple two-truck platoons already capture most of the potential savings of platooning. This repository contains the data and results.
Africanization of the South Pacific? A party system perspective
Authors: Pelizzo Riccardo
Published: July 2024

About two decades ago Reilly (2000) suggested that the South Pacific region was undergoing a process of ‘Africanization’. One of the symptoms of this process of ‘Africanization’ was represented by the fact that the institutions of governance were weak and that party systems were fragmented. The purpose of the present note is to argue that while Reilly is correct in suggesting that parties in the South Pacific are weak and party systems are fragmented, there are major differences between African and South Pacific party systems that prevent one from speaking of ‘Africanization’ of the South Pacific party systems. There are several differences between Sub-Saharan African and the Pacific Island states: first, the quality of government, as evidenced by political stability and absence of violence, is higher in the Pacific than in Sub-Saharan Africa; second, Sub-Saharan party systems are characterized by fairly low levels of fragmentation coupled with high levels of fluidity whereas in the Pacific Island states party systems are highly fragmented but fairly stable over time; third, the presence of atomized party systems in Sub-Saharan Africa is exceptional, while in the Pacific region it tends to be the rule; fourth, in the Pacific region fluidity is negatively associated with fragmentation of the party system, while in Sub-Saharan Africa fragmentation and fluidity go together; fifth, greater party system instability is associated with and possibly responsible for a deterioration of governance in Sub-Saharan Africa, while it does not affect the quality of government in the Pacific Island states.
Lived Experiences of Interstate Migrant Workers during COVID-19 Lockdown: An Oral History in West Bengal
Authors: Kundu Santanu , Debnath Anupam
Published: July 2024

Migration serves as a livelihood strategy for many people. The imposition of a nationwide lockdown in India in March 2020 (PIB, 2020) increased the rate of reverse migration, which deepened socio-economic inequalities among the most vulnerable population, such as the migrant workers in underdeveloped areas of Jangal Mahal in the state of West Bengal, India. In this regard, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) attempt to reduce inequalities within and among countries (Goal 10) and ensure that no one is left behind (UN, 2020). The paper's main objective is to explore the ways the COVID-19 lockdown has deepened the existing livelihood insecurities based on the experiences of interstate migrant workers in Jangal Mahal. Oral history was used as a qualitative research strategy to collect migrant workers' lived experiences within the context of the COVID-19 lockdown. Using the snowball sampling technique, eight interstate migrant workers from the Bankura and Purulia districts of West Bengal were selected for the study. Semi-structured interview sessions were recorded ethically with their consent during June and July 2022. Their first-person narratives of migrant workers suggest that during the lockdown, most were compelled to face a lack of transportation, harassment by the police, discrimination, loss of savings, lack of food, lack of safe drinking water, lack of shelter, loss of income, and poor sanitation facilities in the quarantine centres.
Social Postulation of Dalit Aesthetics
Authors: Awad Milind E.
Published: July 2024

This article formulates the conceptual basis of Dalit aesthetics emerging from the experience and materiality of Dalit life. This article departs from the mainstream idea of aesthetics in Indian and Western philosophical traditions. It contextualizes the concept of peripheral aesthetics, which emerges from cultural production from below the social strata. This article complicates the dominant notion of aesthetics as beauty, taste, and art and locates the idea of aesthetics in moral and ethical domains. Aesthetics is often thought of as one branch of philosophy, sometimes a secondary branch of little significance for the broad reaches of philosophical thought. This is occasionally odd since Kant, who is generally regarded as a founding figure in modern philosophy, sought out the aesthetic in his epistemological foundation and then developed a theory of aesthetics as the systematic unifier of knowledge and morality (Kant, 2000 p. 14). In recent years, aesthetics have revived and are slowly emerging from their philosophical eclipse. At the same time, it has been the subject of serious criticism and fundamental reconsideration.
Collaborationism in the occupied territories in the field of education in the period 2014–2024
Authors: Babichev Oleksandr ,   State Institution Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University
Published: July 2024

The article considered the problem of collaborationism among Ukrainian educators who are in the occupied territory of the country. The spread of collaborationism is associated with the active use of various methods of hybrid warfare by the Russian Federation, which led to Ukraine’s temporary loss of territorial integrity and the occupation of part of its territories. The social danger of collaborationism is manifested in the threat to national security, the commission of crimes against humanity, the increase of social tension and the violation of international law. Collaborative activity in the field of education means the conscious participation of a citizen of Ukraine in the performance of these tasks in the occupied territory for the benefit of the aggressor state. It has been found that the main reasons for committing collaborative acts in the educational sphere are the preservation of the workplace, the desire for career growth, financial reward or other selfish motives, and the desire for revenge. In the educational process, key manifestations of collaborationism are the implementation of educational standards of the aggressor state and the implementation of propaganda in educational institutions. Some examples of collaborationism in the occupied territory of Ukraine from 2014 to the present day, changes in curricula and teaching methods are analyzed. By using various techniques, such as bribing heads of educational institutions, teachers, parents, transferring universities and creating alternative educational institutions, the occupiers try to gain control over the educational process in the occupied territories. Teachers who work in the occupied territories under Russian programs become accomplices and collaborators of the occupying power. Possible ways to overcome the phenomenon of collaborationism in the future are highlighted. To date, educators who are in the temporarily occupied territories and cannot leave for the territories controlled by Ukraine are recommended to document by any available means the facts of coercion to cooperate with the occupiers. In the future, the authorities should ensure the transparency and publicity of the system of punishments for collaborationism. Collaborators must be prosecuted and held accountable for their actions before the law.
Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome immunological relationship
Authors: Ali Mahmoud , Ramadan Alaa , Surani Salim
Published: July 2024

Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is a complex disorder characterized by symptoms resulting from intermittent hypoxia and hypopnea, with research indicating a crucial role of immune system dysregulation and genetic variations in its pathogenesis. A recent Zhao et al study utilizes Mendelian randomization analysis to explore the causal relationship between immune cell characteristics and OSAHS. The study identifies specific lymphocyte subsets associated with OSAHS, providing valuable insights into the disease's pathophysiology and potential targets for therapeutic intervention. The findings underscore the significance of genetic and immunological factors in sleep disorders, offering a fresh perspective on OSAHS's complexities. Compared to existing literature, Zhao et al 's study stands out for its focus on genetic markers and specific immune responses associated with OSAHS, expanding upon previous research primarily centered on systemic inflammation. In conclusion, the study represents a significant advancement in the field, shedding light on the causal role of immune cells in OSAHS and paving the way for future research and targeted treatments.
Exploring the Involvement of Autistic Youth in Decision Making About Services
Authors: Burke Meghan M. , Best Megan , Cheung W. Catherine , DaWalt Leann Smith , Taylor Julie Lounds
Published: July 2024

Although services are critical for many transition-aged youth, it is unclear the extent to which autistic youth participate in decisions about their services. By exploring the perceptions of autistic youth about their role in services, interventions can be developed to improve their participation. In this study, we interviewed 43 transition-aged youth with autism to explore their involvement in decisions about services. Most youth reported not being involved in decision making about the types and modalities of disability services. When youth were involved in decisions, the services were often related to education. Although youth reported that their parents typically spearheaded decisions about services, youth also reported that their parents often listened to their input. Implications for research, policy, and practice are discussed.
Photometric stereo multi-information fusion unsupervised anomaly detection algorithm
Authors: Lan Jianmin , Shi Jinjin
Published: July 2024

Due to different materials, product surfaces are susceptible to light,
shadow, reflection, and other factors. Coupled with the appearance of
defects of various shapes and types, as well as dust, impurities, and
other interfering influences, normal and abnormal samples are
difficult to distinguish and a common problem in the field of defect
detection. Given this, this paper proposes an end-to-end photometric
stereo multi-information fusion unsupervised anomaly detection model.
First, the photometric stereo feature generator is used to obtain
normal, reflectance, depth, and other information to reconstruct the
3D topographic details of the object’s surface. Second, a multi-scale
channel attention mechanism is constructed to fully use the feature
associations of different layers of the backbone network, and the
limited feature information is used to enhance the defect
characterization ability. Finally, the original image is fused with
normal and depth features to find the feature variability between
defects and defects, as well as between defects and background. The
feature differences between the source and clone networks are utilized
to achieve multi-scale detection and improve detection accuracy. In
this paper, the model performance is verified on the PSAD dataset. The
experimental results show that the algorithm in this paper has higher
detection accuracy compared with other algorithms. Among them, the
multi-scale attention mechanism and multi-information fusion input
improve the detection accuracy by 2.56% and 1.57%, respectively. In
addition, the ablation experiments further validate the effectiveness
of the detection algorithm in this paper.
Harnessing tin phthalocyanine for ultrafast mode-locking in an erbium-doped fiber laser
Authors: Azooz Salam M. , Salam Sameer , Diblawe Abdulkadir Mukhtar , Muhammad Ahmad R. , Nizamani Bilal , Harun Sulaiman Wadi
Published: July 2024

We present the first demonstration, to the best of our knowledge, of a mode-locked erbium-doped fiber laser (EDFL) employing tin phthalocyanines (SnPc) as a saturable absorber (SA). The investigated SA exhibits a notable modulation depth of 18.6%, fabricated via a simple, cost-effective method, wherein the SnPc compound is embedded into a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film. Integration of this thin film into the EDFL cavity facilitates the generation of output pulses with a repetition rate of 0.96 MHz and a pulse duration of 2.68 ps. The frequency spectrum showcases a signal-to-noise ratio of up to 73.2 dB, affirming the stability of the mode-locking operation. Operating at a wavelength of 1531.7 nm, this picosecond pulse train holds significant promise for diverse applications, including high-precision optical metrology, frequency-comb generation, and broadband absorption spectroscopy.
Interactive zoom display in a smartphone-based digital holographic microscope for 3D imaging
Authors: Nagahama Yuki
Published: July 2024

Digital holography has applications in bio-imaging because it can simultaneously obtain the amplitude and phase information of a microscopic sample in a single shot, thus facilitating non-contact, noninvasive observation of the 3D shape of transparent objects (phase objects, which can be mapped with the phase information) and moving objects. The combination of digital holography and microscopy is called digital holographic microscopy (DHM). In this study, we propose a smartphone-based DHM system for 3D imaging that is compact, inexpensive, and capable of observing objects in real time; this system includes an optical system comprising a 3D printer using commercially available image sensors and semiconductor lasers; further, an Android-based application is used to reconstruct the holograms acquired by this optical system, thus outlining the amplitude and phase information of the observed object. Additionally, by utilizing scalable diffraction calculation methods and touchscreen interaction, we implemented zoom functionality through pinch-in gestures. The study results showed that the DHM system successfully obtained the amplitude and phase information of the observed object via the acquired holograms in an almost real-time manner. Thus, this study showed that it is possible to construct a low-cost and compact DHM system that includes a 3D printer to construct the optical system and a smartphone application to reconstruct the holograms. Furthermore, this smartphone-based DHM system’s ability to capture, reconstruct, and display holograms in real time demonstrates its superiority and novelty, to the best of our knowledge, over existing systems. This system is also expected to contribute to biology fieldwork and pathological diagnosis in remote areas.
Concurrent phase-matchings for multi-wavelength conversion in coupled dual waveguides
Authors: Liu Jiacheng , Zhu Pingyu , Xia Gongyu , Hong Qilin , Zhu Zhihong , Qin Shiqiao , Xu Ping
Published: July 2024

Thin film lithium niobate, as a highly promising integrated photonics platform, has emerged as an ideal material platform for wavelength conversion owing to its exceptional second-order nonlinear characteristics. Here, we present the first demonstration of concurrent phase-matchings for multi-wavelength conversion in coupled thin film lithium niobate waveguides without poling technique. In the coupled dual waveguide system, employing modal phase-matching, we validate three effective phase-matching conditions for second harmonic generation, arising from additional momentum compensation due to the coupling of waveguides. Simultaneously, we confirm that phase-matching wavelengths can be tuned by adjusting the gap between waveguides. The concurrent phase-matchings in coupled dual waveguide systems can be readily extended to other nonlinear optical processes, such as difference frequency generation and spontaneous parametric down conversion. Our work contributes to advancing the exploration of efficient on-chip nonlinear optical processes within the realms of nanophotonics and quantum optics.
High-energy nanosecond pulse extraction from a Tm3+-doped photonic crystal fiber laser emitting at 2050 nm with narrow linewidth
Authors: Schneider Julian , Lassiette Hugo , Lorenz Dominik , Forster Patrick , Lautenschläger Jan , Panitzek Dieter , Romano Clément , Eichhorn Marc , Kieleck Christelle
Published: July 2024

A nanosecond-pulsed diode-pumped Tm3+-doped fiber laser (TDFL) operating at 2050 nm is reported based on a flexible photonic crystal fiber (PCF) with a core diameter of 50 µm. Analytical evaluation of reabsorption effects and optimization of the fiber length allow enhanced pulse energy extraction at long wavelengths. This enables the generation of Gaussian-shaped pulses with pulse energies of 1.9 mJ, pulse widths of 116 ns, and peak powers of 15.4 kW from the TDFL. The measured output spectrum shows a single peak at 2050 nm with a 3-dB-linewidth of 130 pm and a 10-dB-linewidth of 370 pm. With a slope efficiency of 44 %, the average output power of the pulsed TDFL is scaled up to 114 W. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first demonstration of a Tm3+-doped PCF at a long emission wavelength of 2050 nm and the highest pulse energies from a TDFL based on a flexible fiber.
High-visibility calculating ghost imaging with self-reconstruction capability and extendible depth-of-field
Authors: Zhou Dongxu , Zhang Hongzhi , Yu Hongyan , Zhang Guoquan
Published: July 2024

We customized light speckle fields with both super-bunching and non-diffracting properties, accordingly named as the super-bunching, non-diffracting (SP-ND) speckle fields, by introducing pupil function of a ring aperture with azimuthally correlated phases in the vertically opposite angles. Calculating ghost imaging based on the SP-ND speckle fields was demonstrated to be of higher visibility, higher spatial resolution and larger depth of field than that based on the conventional speckle fields such as pseudo-thermal fields. Interestingly, the SP-ND speckles are also of self-healing capability in respect of not only the speckle intensity distribution but also the high-order coherence properties. Therefore, even when the SP-ND speckle fields are seriously disturbed, for example, blocked partially by an opaque obstacle, ghost images are able to be reconstructed once the object is placed in the self-healed speckle fields.
Anti-noise performance analysis in amplitude-modulated collinear holographic data storage using deep learning
Authors: Lin Yongkun , Ke Shenghui , Song Haiyang , Liu Hongjie , Yang Rupeng , Lin Dakui , Li Xiong , Zheng Jihong , Cao Qiang , Hao Jianying , Lin Xiao , Tan Xiaodi
Published: July 2024

In an amplitude-modulated collinear holographic data storage system, optical system aberration and experimental noise due to the recording medium often result in a high bit error rate (BER) and low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in directly read detector data. This study proposes an anti-noise performance analysis using deep learning. End-to-end convolutional neural networks were employed to analyze noise resistance in encoded data pages captured by the detector. Experimental results demonstrate that these networks effectively correct system imaging aberrations, detector light intensity response, holographic storage medium response non-uniformity, and defocusing noise from the recording objective lens. Consequently, the BER of reconstructed encoded data pages can be reduced to 1/10 of that from direct detection, while the SNR can be increased more than fivefold, enhancing the accuracy and reliability of data reading in amplitude holographic data storage systems.
On-chip electro-optical spiking VO₂/Si device with an inhibitory leaky integrate-and-fire response
Authors: Morcillo Juan , Kilders Pablo Sanchis , Parra Jorge
Published: July 2024

Integrated photonic neuromorphic computing has emerged as an appealing technology to replicate human brain functionalities by leveraging the benefits of integrated photonics. In this context, spiking neural networks (SNNs) offer a highly energy-efficient artificial neural network due to the event-based information processing. In this work, we propose an electro-optical spiking device for the silicon photonics platform based on a VO₂/Si waveguide and a meander-shaped microheater. A leaky integrate-and-fire (LIF) response with inhibitory optical spiking is achieved by harnessing the temperature-driven insulator-metal transition (IMT) of VO₂ combined with thermal dynamics. Hence, our proposal would not require complex electronic circuitry bottlenecking the neural network. Our numerical simulations demonstrate firing upon milliwatt and nanosecond range postsynaptic pulses and adjustable spike characteristics in the time domain with sub-microsecond values. Therefore, our spiking device could enable scalable and energy-efficient photonic-based SNNs.
Derivation and simulation of a computational model of active cell populations: How overlap avoidance, deformability, cell-cell junctions and cytoskeletal forces affect alignment
Authors: Leech Vivienne , Kenny Fiona N. , Marcotti Stefania , Shaw Tanya J. , Stramer Brian M. , Manhart Angelika
Published: July 2024

Collective alignment of cell populations is a commonly observed phenomena in biology. An important example are aligning fibroblasts in healthy or scar tissue. In this work we derive and simulate a mechanistic agent-based model of the collective behaviour of actively moving and interacting cells, with a focus on understanding collective alignment. The derivation strategy is based on energy minimisation. The model ingredients are motivated by data on the behaviour of different populations of aligning fibroblasts and include: Self-propulsion, overlap avoidance, deformability, cell-cell junctions and cytoskeletal forces. We find that there is an optimal ratio of self-propulsion speed and overlap avoidance that maximises collective alignment. Further we find that deformability aids alignment, and that cell-cell junctions by themselves hinder alignment. However, if cytoskeletal forces are transmitted via cell-cell junctions we observe strong collective alignment over large spatial scales.
A landscape evaluation of caffeine citrate availability and use in newborn care across five low- and middle-income countries
Authors: Ekhaguere Osayame A. , Bolaji Olufunke , Nabwera Helen M. , Storey Andrew , Embleton Nicholas , Allen Stephen , Demeke Zelalem , Fasawe Olufunke , Wariari Betty , Seth Mansharan , Khan Lutfiyya , Magge Herma Hema , Aladesanmi Oluwaseun
Published: July 2024

Apnoea of prematurity (AOP) is a common complication among preterm infants (< 37 weeks gestation), globally. However, access to caffeine citrate (CC) that is a proven safe and effective treatment in high-income countries is largely unavailable in low- and-middle income countries, where most preterm infants are born. Therefore, the overall aim of this study was to describe the demand, policies, and supply factors affecting the availability and clinical use of CC in LMICs. A mixed methods approach was used to collect data from diverse settings in LMICs including Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and India. Qualitative semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with 107 different health care providers, and 21 policymakers and other stakeholders from industry. Additional data was collected using standard questionnaires. A thematic framework approach was used to analyze the qualitative data and descriptive statistics were used to summarize the quantitative data. The findings indicate that there is variation in in-country policies on the use of CC in the prevention and treatment of AOP and its availability across the LMICs. As a result, the knowledge and experience of using CC also varied with clinicians in Ethiopia having no experience of using it while those in India have greater knowledge and experience of using it. This, in turn, influenced the demand, and our findings show that only 29% of eligible preterm infants are receiving CC in these countries. There is an urgent need to address the multilevel barriers to accessing CC for managing AOP in Africa. These include cost, lack of national policies, and, therefore, lack of demand stemming from its clinical equivalency with aminophylline. Practical ways to reduce the cost of CC in LMICs could potentially increase its availability and use.
Comparison of causes of stillbirth and child deaths as determined by verbal autopsy and minimally invasive tissue sampling
Authors: Assefa Nega , Scott Anthony , Madrid Lola , Dheresa Merga , Mengesha Gezahegn , Mahdi Shabir , Mahtab Sana , Dangor Ziyaad , Myburgh Nellie , Mothibi Lesego Kamogelo , Sow Samba O. , Kotloff Karen L. , Tapia Milagritos D. , Onwuchekwa Uma U. , Djiteye Mahamane , Varo Rosauro , Mandomando Inacio , Nhacolo Ariel , Sacoor Charfudin , Xerinda Elisio , Ogbuanu Ikechukwu , Samura Solomon , Duduyemi Babatunde , Swaray-Deen Alim , Bah Abdulai , El Arifeen Shams , Gurley Emily S. , Hossain Mohammed Zahid , Rahman Afruna , Chowdhury Atique Iqbal , Quique Bassat , Mutevedzi Portia , Cunningham Solveig A. , Blau Dianna , Whitney Cyndy
Published: July 2024

In resource-limited settings where vital registration and medical death certificates are unavailable or incomplete, verbal autopsy (VA) is often used to attribute causes of death (CoD) and prioritize resource allocation and interventions. We aimed to determine the CoD concordance between InterVA and CHAMPS’s method. The causes of death (CoDs) of children <5 were determined by two methods using data from seven low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) enrolled in the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) network. The first CoD method was from the DeCoDe panel using data from Minimally Invasive Tissue Sampling (MITS), whereas the second method used Verbal Autopsy (VA), which utilizes the InterVA software. This analysis evaluated the agreement between the two using Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient. The overall concordance of InterVA4 and DeCoDe in assigning causes of death across surveillance sites, age groups, and causes of death was poor (0.75 with 95% CI: 0.73–0.76) and lacked precision. We found substantial differences in agreement by surveillance site, with Mali showing the lowest and Mozambique and Ethiopia the highest concordance. The InterVA4 assigned CoD agrees poorly in assigning causes of death for U5s and stillbirths. Because VA methods are relatively easy to implement, such systems could be more useful if algorithms were improved to more accurately reflect causes of death, for example, by calibrating algorithms to information from programs that used detailed diagnostic testing to improve the accuracy of COD determination.
Tensile strength analysis of additively manufactured CM 247LC alloy specimen by employing machine learning classifiers
Authors: Jatti Vijaykumar S. , Sawant Dhruv A. , Khedkar Nitin K. , Jatti Vinaykumar S. , Salunkhe Sachin , Pagáč Marek , Abouel Nasr Emad S.
Published: July 2024

Using a cutting-edge net-shape manufacturing technique called Additive Layer Manufacturing (ALM), highly complex components that are not achievable with conventional wrought and cast methods can be produced. As a result, the aerospace sector is paying closer attention to using this technology to fabricate superalloys based on nickel to develop the holistic gas turbine. Because of this, there is an increasing need for the mechanical characterisation of such material. Conventional mechanical testing is hampered by the limited availability of material that has been processed, especially given the large number of process factors that need to be assessed. Thus, the present study focuses on manufacturing CM247LC Ni-based superalloy with exceptional mechanical characteristics by laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF). This study evaluates the effect of input process variables such as laser power, scan speed, hatch distance and volumetric energy density on the mechanical performance of the LPBF CM247LC superalloy. The maximum value of as-built tensile strength obtained in the study is 997.81 MPa. Plotting Pearson’s heatmap and the Feature importance (F-test) was used in the data analysis to examine the impact of input parameters on tensile strength. The accuracy of the tensile strength data classification by machine learning algorithms, such as k-nearest neighbours, Naïve Baiyes, Support vector machine, XGBoost, AdaBoost, Decision tree, Random forest, and logistic regression algorithms, was 92.5%, 83.75%, 83%, 85%, 87.5%, 90%, 91.25%, and 77.5%, respectively.
Rethinking risk prediction: The role of albumin and other parameters in implant-associated complications after hip or knee arthroplasty
Authors: Domecky Petr , Rejman Patkova Anna , Zaloudkova Lenka , Kucera Tomas , Sponer Pavel , Maly Josef
Published: July 2024

Background

Total hip (THA) or knee (TKA) arthroplasty is still a traumatic and challenging operation that induces inflammation, with a particularly high risk of acute-phase reaction. The aim of this study was to predict the likelihood of implant-associated complications during the preoperative and postoperative course.

Methods

The prospective observational, non-interventional study of patients diagnosed with primary knee or hip osteoarthrosis undergoing THA or TKA during the study period was conducted. The inflammatory and malnutrition parameters were collected for each patient one day before surgery, two days after surgery, and in outpatient follow-up.

Results

Of 159 patients analysed, 12 developed implant-associated complications. The albumin, prealbumin, Intensive Care Infection Score (ICIS), Nutritional Risk Index, and white blood cell counts were found to be potential predictors. Notably, preoperative albumin levels significantly differed between groups with and without complications (P-value = 0.042).

Conclusion

Our study definitively shows that WBC, prealbumin, Nutritional Risk Index, ICIS as a novel marker, and significantly albumin, outperform C-reactive protein in predicting implant-associated complications in hip and knee arthroplasty.
Optimization of the dosage of chopped basalt fibers in asphalt pavement surface course materials for semi-rigid base with functional requirements
Authors: Xie Xiangbing , He Yahui , Liu Chenchen , Wang Kaiwei , Fan Zhezhe , Li Huixia , Shao Jinggan
Published: July 2024

How to select suitable pavement materials for asphalt pavements according to the functional requirements of layers is still the focus of research by scholars in various countries. However, their effectiveness in combating high-temperature rutting and fatigue cracking in middle and lower layers is limited. To address this issue, a study optimized the incorporation of basalt fibers in different layers to improve road performance based on design specifications. Nine asphalt pavement structures with varying amounts of basalt fibers were assessed using an orthogonal test method. The optimal structure was determined considering factors such as fatigue life and overloading using the finite element method for modeling. Results showed that fiber dosage had a minimal impact on road surface bending subsidence and the location of tensile strain in the lower layer. Shear stresses were concentrated mainly at the outer edges of loads. Optimal dosages of basalt fiber were determined for different layers: 0.3% for the upper layer, 0.1% for the middle layer, and 0.3% for the lower layer. The optimal structure consists of a strong base with a thin-surfaced semi-rigid base layer, with 0.3% for the upper layer and 0.1% for the middle layer. This study provided valuable insights into designing basalt fiber asphalt pavement structures.
An image partition security-sharing mechanism based on blockchain and chaotic encryption
Authors: Wang Na , Wang Xiaochang , Liu Aodi , Wang Wenjuan , Ding Yan , Wu Xiangyu , Du Xuehui
Published: July 2024

To ensure optimal use of images while preserving privacy, it is necessary to partition the shared image into public and private areas, with public areas being openly accessible and private areas being shared in a controlled and privacy-preserving manner. Current works only facilitate image-level sharing and use common cryptographic algorithms. To ensure efficient, controlled, and privacy-preserving image sharing at the area level, this paper proposes an image partition security-sharing mechanism based on blockchain and chaotic encryption, which mainly includes a fine-grained access control method based on Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) and an image-specific chaotic encryption scheme. The proposed fine-grained access control method employs smart contracts based on the ABAC model to achieve automatic access control for private areas. It employs a Cuckoo filter-based transaction retrieval technique to enhance the efficiency of smart contracts in retrieving security attributes and policies on the blockchain. The proposed chaotic encryption scheme generates keys based on the private areas’ security attributes, largely reducing the number of keys required. It also provides efficient encryption with vector operation acceleration. The security analysis and performance evaluation were conducted comprehensively. The results show that the proposed mechanism has lower time overhead than current works as the number of images increases.
Quantifying the availability of seasonal surface water and identifying the drivers of change within tropical forests in Cambodia
Authors: Mamalis Louisa , Arnold Kathryn E. , Mahood Simon P. , Khean Mao , Beale Colin M.
Published: July 2024

Surface freshwater is a vital resource that is declining globally, predominantly due to climate and land use changes. Cambodia is no exception and the loss threatens many species, such as the giant ibis a Critically Endangered waterbird. We aimed to quantify the spatial and temporal (2000–2020) change of surface water availability across northern and eastern Cambodia and to assess the impact of this on the giant ibis. We used a Random Forest Classifier to determine the changes and we tested the impact of land use and geographical covariates using spatially explicit regression models. We found an overall reduction of surface water availability of 4.16%. This was predominantly driven by the presence of Economic Land Concessions and roads which increased the probability of extreme drying and flooding events. The presence of protected areas reduced these probabilities. We found changes in precipitation patterns over the wider landscape did not correlate with changes in surface water availability, supporting the overriding influence of land use change. 98% of giant ibis nests recorded during the time period were found within 25m of surface water during the dry season, highlighting their dependency on surface water. The overall surface water decline resulted in a 25% reduction in dry season suitable habitat for the giant ibis. Although absolute changes in surface water over the whole area were relatively small, the impact on the highest quality habitat for ibis is disproportionate and therefore threatens its populations. Defining the threats to such an endangered species is crucial for effective management.
How Does Disability Performance Travel? Access, Art, and Internationalization, Christiane Czymoch, Kate Maguire-Rosier and Yvonne Schmidt (eds) (2024)
Authors: Oliveira Felipe Henrique Monteiro
Published: July 2024

Review of: How Does Disability Performance Travel? Access, Art, and Internationalization, Christiane Czymoch, Kate Maguire-Rosier and Yvonne Schmidt (eds) (2024)

Abingdon: Routledge, 294 pp.,

ISBN 978-1-03213-803-9, h/bk, £108
Costume as bridge: The hoodie’s potential to connect audiences with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities
Authors: Cisneros Rosemary (Rosa) , Lingham Vanessa
Published: July 2024

In this article Cisneros and Lingham explore the work costume does when representing Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) people and communities on stage and screen. Their inquiry offers insight into a touring stage production called Crystal’s Vardo, which uses dance, drama, humour and music to share the rich culture and diverse histories of GRT communities. Using this work as a case study, the aim of this article is to recognize and understand how costume interconnects audiences and actors in a play that explores GRT history, the effects of systemic racism, prejudices and the social and political issues that GRT people face. As authors from two distinct backgrounds, Cisneros and Lingham come together to unpick the costume realization process through quite distinctive lenses, focusing on the hoodie as a site to explore issues concerning self-representation and think about new ways of designing-making-using costume.
Wychowanki i uczennice w szkołach klasztornych w XVII i XVIII wieku
Authors: Szylar Anna
Published: July 2024

Activities of monastic schools in the 17th and 18th centuries is a very interesting issue. The history of students and alumni of these schools deserves special attention. The article analyzes issues related to the recruitment to monastic schools, the social and territorial origin of students, the number of schoolgirls, the age at which they started education, staying in neophytes’ monastic schools and the further fate of the students. All these issues allow to broaden current knowledge about the upbringing of women in modern times.Archival source edits and studies have been used to write the article. A full list thereof has been supplied in the bibliography. This paper presents the most important issues concerning students of monastic schools.
Alcohol consumption among older adults in the United States amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: an analysis of the 2017–2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
Authors: Haight Macy , Smith Parker , Bray Natasha , Nolan Douglas , Hartwell Micah
Published: July 2024

Context

Alcohol consumption is responsible for numerous life-threatening diseases, including liver cirrhosis, heart disease, and various cancers. During the pandemic, alcohol-related deaths increased from 2019 to 2021, topping out at approximately 108,000 deaths related to alcohol. This trend also introduced the question whether heavy alcohol consumption and binge drinking increased during the pandemic, particularly in those 65 and older.

Objectives

The objective of this study is to determine whether heavy alcohol consumption and binge drinking increased during the pandemic in older adults in the United States.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to determine whether rates of overall alcohol consumption, heavy consumption, or binge drinking deviated from 2017 through 2021. We utilized chi-square tests to determine changes in rates over the included years.

Results

Our findings show that the overall rate of alcohol use in populations 65 and older from 2017 through 2021 was approximately 42.1 %, which peaked in 2017 at 43.7 % and declined each year, resulting in the lowest rate (41.3 %) in 2021 (χ

2
=8.96, p<0.0001). Binge and heavy drinking rates were 5.1 % and 4.2 % overall during this time frame, respectively, and the annual changes were not statistically significant.

Conclusions

The impact of COVID-19 on the drinking behavior of older US adults was minimal in terms of binge or heavy drinking, although the overall rates of alcohol consumption among this group declined. Reports among other US age groups showed increased consumption and deaths from alcohol use. Future research is needed to determine the causes for the overall decrease in consumption or adaptive measures that this group may have taken, which led to minimal changes in binge or heavy drinking in contrast to younger populations.
Cooperation, Democracy, and Coercion: On the Grounds and Scope of Freedom of Movement
Authors: Niño Arnaiz Borja
Published: July 2024

It is often believed that domestic principles of justice cannot ground freedom of international movement. Some argue that since principles of justice are not global in scope, justice does not require freedom of movement at the global level. This is problematic, for it confuses the grounds with the scope of justice. Given that the scope of justice is potentially global, freedom of movement must also be global in scope. Others have argued that the grounds of freedom of movement themselves are restricted in scope. If cooperation, democracy, and coercion are what presumably ground the right to freedom of movement, to the extent that they are not global in scope, freedom of movement need not be global in scope either. In this article, I argue that even if the grounds of freedom of movement are or should not be global in scope, freedom of movement must be.
Crystal structure of (1′R,2′S,4′R,6′S)-4,6-dihydroxy-1′,8′,8′-trimethyl-3-(3-methylbutanoyl)-4′,8′,6′,1′,7,2′-hexahydro-1H-4′,6′-methanoxanthene-8-carbaldehyde, C23H30O5
Authors: Huang Nian , Zhou Lang , Zhang Yin-Ju , Chen Fa-Ju , Li Qi-Ji , Zhao Neng-Wu
Published: July 2024

C23H30O5, orthorhombic, P212121 (no. 19), a = 9.5489(10) Å, b = 11.1430(10) Å, c = 18.8931(10) Å, V = 2010.29(3) Å3, Z = 4, R
gt(F) = 0.0293, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.0763, T = 100.0(2) K.
The Availability of the Non-Ideal
Authors: Ernst Nikki
Published: July 2024

Philosophy of language in the 21st century has cultivated a concern for the hateful, the coercive, and the lethal. Amidst this shift of attention toward politically significant speech, ‘non-ideal’ philosophers of language investigate whether common conceptual toolkits from ‘mainstream’ philosophy of language manage to make contact with our non-ideal world in the first place. Drawing on a tradition of Wittgensteinian critical social thought, I contend that philosophers of language risk their (ideology‐)critical bite when they isolate our words from the activities into which they are woven. That is, when philosophers fail to register our ordinary investment in the words we put on display—the interests, stakes, and concerns in light of which we voice them—we make their political import unavailable to philosophy of language. But the non-ideal philosopher’s concept of idealization is itself a normatively non-neutral tool; and, as such, it exemplifies the sort of theoretical resource that may be mobilized with an investment in shaping not only our epistemic resources but also our senses of what matters.