bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gradual funnel photon trapping enhanced InAs/GaSb type-II superlattice infrared detector
Authors: Xiao Lei , Zhu Peng , Li Nong , Chang Faran , Shi Haofei , Wei Xingzhan , Xiong Wen , Sun Tai , Wang Guowei
Published: August 2022

InAs/GaSb type-II superlattice materials have attracted in the field of infrared detection due to their high quality, uniformity and stability. The performance of InAs/GaSb type-II superlattice detector is limited by dark noise and light response. This work reports a gradual funnel photon trapping (GFPT) structure enabling the light trapping in the T2SL detector absorption area. The GFPT detector exhibits an efficient broadband responsivity enhancement of 30% and a darker current noise reduction of 3 times. It has excellent passivated by atomic layer deposition and achieves a high detectivity of 1.51 × 1011 cm Hz1/2 at 78 K.
Four-dimensional orbital angular momentum Bell-state measurement assisted by the auxiliary polarization and path degrees of freedom
Authors: Wang Chaojie , Chen Yuanyuan , Chen Lixiang
Published: August 2022

The orbital angular momentum (OAM) carried by twisted photons provides a promising playground for high-dimensional quantum information processing. While Bell-state measurement is the cornerstone for various quantum information applications, the deterministic discrimination of the complete high-dimensional Bell states with linear optics remains relatively unexplored in the OAM state space. Here, we demonstrate a theoretical scheme for the complete four-dimensional OAM Bell-state measurement by using the single-photon hyperentangled state analyzer, in which the auxiliary two-dimensional polarization entanglement and two-dimensional path entanglement are utilized. Our scheme offers an alternative route toward enhancing the channel capacity in quantum communication and increasing the robustness against deleterious noise in practical experiments with twisted photons.
Strain modulation of photocurrent in Weyl semimetal TaIrTe4
Authors: Ding Ying , Wang Xinru , Liao Liehong , Cheng Xinyu , Zhang Jiayan , Wang Yueyue , Ying Hao , Li Yuan
Published: August 2022

We study the effect of the strain on the energy bands of a TaIrTe4 sheet and the photocurrent in the Cu-TaIrTe4-Cu heterojunction by using the quantum transport simulations. It is found that the Weyl points can be completely broken with an increase of the strain along the z direction. One can obtain a large photocurrent in the Cu-TaIrTe4-Cu heterojunction in the absence of the strain; while the photocurrent can be sharply enhanced by the strain and reach a large value. Accordingly, the maximum values of the photocurrent can be explained in terms of the transitions between peaks of density of states and band structures. The strain-induced energy bands and photocurrent exhibit anisotropic behaviors. Our results provide a novel, to the best of our knkowledge, route to effectively modulate the energy bands and the photocurrent by utilizing mechanical methods for TaIrTe4-based devices.
Generation of dual-supercontinuum coherent radiation in acetone mixed with carbon disulfide by stimulated Raman scattering
Authors: Li Huihui , Xing Lu , Dou Zhenguo , Zhang Wei , Fang Wenhui , Sun Chenglin , Men Zhiwei
Published: August 2022

Stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) in a liquid has been a major focus of nonlinear optics. Traditional SRS generates single or cascaded Stokes components arising from spontaneous Raman noise. Herein, we report the formation mechanism of a specific spectrum-continuous spectroscopy technique based on SRS of mixed liquids. SRS of a mixed acetone and carbon disulfide solution is investigated by a pulsed Nd:YAG laser with a wavelength of 532 nm. Two remarkably asymmetric broadened SRS lines are obtained. When the volume ratio is 7:3, the broadened spectral bands are optimized. The supercontinuum spectroscopy phenomenon is explained by hydrogen bond formation, adjacent vibrational modes coupling, and laser-induced plasma generation. This technique has the potential to contribute to the development of a supercontinuum Raman laser.
Reactive laser annealing of indium tin oxide: implications to crystal structure, defect composition, and plasma energy
Authors: Hillier James Arthur , Patsalas Panos , Karfardis Dimitrios , Cranton Wayne , Nabok Alexi V. , Mellor Christopher J. , Koutsogeorgis Demosthenes C. , Kalfagiannis Nikolaos
Published: August 2022

The mechanisms governing the modification of the optoelectronic properties of low carrier concentration indium tin oxide (ITO) during reactive laser annealing (ReLaA) are investigated. ReLA combines the advantages of reactive ambient thermal annealing and laser annealing; utilizing laser processing of room-temperature sputtered ITO thin films in pressurized reactive environments to probe the films’ crystal structure and defect composition. Advanced ellipsometric modelling (considering depth-inhomogeneity and intra- and inter-grain carrier transport), cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed ReLA-induced depth-dependent compositional and structural modifications that tuned the carrier concentration ((0.3 − 1.27) × 1020 cm−3) and epsilon-near-zero domain (

3.07
−
11.7

μ

m

) across a wider range than previously reported.
Spectroscopy of solid-solution transparent sesquioxide laser ceramic Tm:LuYO3
Authors: Eremeev Kirill , Loiko Pavel , Braud Alain , Camy Patrice , Zhang Jian , Xu Xiaodong , Zhao Yongguang , Liu Peng , Balabanov Stanislav , Dunina Elena , Kornienko Alexey , Fomicheva Liudmila , Mateos Xavier , Griebner Uwe , Petrov Valentin , Wang Li , Chen Weidong
Published: August 2022

We report on a detailed spectroscopic study of a Tm3+-doped transparent sesquioxide ceramic based on a solid-solution (lutetia – yttria, LuYO3) composition. The ceramic was fabricated using commercial oxide powders by hot isostatic pressing at 1600°C for 3 h at 190 MPa argon pressure. The most intense Raman peak in Tm:LuYO3 at 385.4 cm-1 takes an intermediate position between those for the parent compounds and is notably broadened (linewidth: 12.8 cm-1). The transition intensities of Tm3+ ions were calculated using the Judd-Ofelt theory; the intensity parameters are Ω2 = 2.537, Ω4 = 1.156 and Ω6 = 0.939 [1020 cm2]. For the 3F4 → 3H6 transition, the stimulated-emission cross-section amounts to 0.27 × 10−20 cm2 at 2059nm and the reabsorption-free luminescence lifetime is 3.47 ms (the 3F4 radiative lifetime is 3.85 ± 0.1 ms). The Tm3+ ions in the ceramic exhibit long-wave multiphonon-assisted emission extending up to at least 2.35 µm; a phonon sideband at 2.23 µm is observed and explained by coupling between electronic transitions and the dominant Raman mode of the sesquioxides. Low temperature (12 K) spectroscopy reveals a significant inhomogeneous spectral broadening confirming formation of a substitutional solid-solution. The mixed ceramic is promising for ultrashort pulse generation at >2 µm.
Subunit promotion energies for channel opening in heterotetrameric olfactory CNG channels
Authors: Schirmeyer Jana , Eick Thomas , Schulz Eckhard , Hummert Sabine , Sattler Christian , Schmauder Ralf , Benndorf Klaus
Published: August 2022

Cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) ion channels of olfactory sensory neurons contain three types of homologue subunits, two CNGA2 subunits, one CNGA4 subunit and one CNGB1b subunit. Each subunit carries an intracellular cyclic nucleotide binding domain (CNBD) whose occupation by up to four cyclic nucleotides evokes channel activation. Thereby, the subunits interact in a cooperative fashion. Here we studied 16 concatamers with systematically disabled, but still functional, binding sites and quantified channel activation by systems of intimately coupled state models transferred to 4D hypercubes, thereby exploiting a weak voltage dependence of the channels. We provide the complete landscape of free energies for the complex activation process of heterotetrameric channels, including 32 binding steps, in both the closed and open channel, as well as 16 closed-open isomerizations. The binding steps are specific for the subunits and show pronounced positive cooperativity for the binding of the second and the third ligand. The energetics of the closed-open isomerizations were disassembled to elementary subunit promotion energies for channel opening, ΔΔGfpn, adding to the free energy of the closed-open isomerization of the empty channel, E0. The ΔΔGfpn values are specific for the four subunits and presumably invariant for the specific patterns of liganding. In conclusion, subunit cooperativity is confined to the CNBD whereas the subunit promotion energies for channel opening are independent.
Endocrine modulation of primary chemosensory neurons regulates Drosophila courtship behavior
Authors: Meiselman Matthew R. , Ganguly Anindya , Dahanukar Anupama , Adams Michael E.
Published: August 2022

The decision to engage in courtship depends on external cues from potential mates and internal cues related to maturation, health, and experience. Hormones allow for coordinated conveyance of such information to peripheral tissues. Here, we show Ecdysis-Triggering Hormone (ETH) is critical for courtship inhibition after completion of copulation in Drosophila melanogaster. ETH deficiency relieves post-copulation courtship inhibition (PCCI) and increases male-male courtship. ETH appears to modulate perception and attractiveness of potential mates by direct action on primary chemosensory neurons. Knockdown of ETH receptor (ETHR) expression in GR32A-expressing neurons leads to reduced ligand sensitivity and elevated male-male courtship. We find OR67D also is critical for normal levels of PCCI after mating. ETHR knockdown in OR67D-expressing neurons or GR32A-expressing neurons relieves PCCI. Finally, ETHR silencing in the corpus allatum (CA), the sole source of juvenile hormone, also relieves PCCI; treatment with the juvenile hormone analog methoprene partially restores normal post-mating behavior. We find that ETH, a stress-sensitive reproductive hormone, appears to coordinate multiple sensory modalities to guide Drosophila male courtship behaviors, especially after mating.
Effects of surgical and FFP2 masks on cardiopulmonary exercise capacity in patients with heart failure
Authors: Kogel Alexander , Hepp Pierre , Stegmann Tina , Tünnemann-Tarr Adrienn , Falz Roberto , Fischer Patrick , Mahfoud Felix , Laufs Ulrich , Fikenzer Sven
Published: August 2022

Aims

Surgical and FFP2 masks are recommended to reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2. The cardiopulmonary effects of facemasks in patients with chronic heart failure are unknown. This prospective, cross-over study quantified the effects of wearing no mask (nm), surgical mask (sm), and FFP2 mask (ffpm) in patients with stable heart failure.

Methods

12 patients with clinically stable chronic heart failure (HF) (age 63.8±12 years, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 43.8±11%, NTProBNP 573±567 pg/ml) underwent spiroergometry with and without masks in a randomized sequence. Comfort/discomfort was assessed using a standardized questionnaire.

Results

Maximum power was reduced with both types of masks (nm: 108.3 W vs. sm: 101.2 W vs. ffpm: 95.6 W, p<0.01). Maximum respiratory oxygen uptake (1499ml/min vs. 1481 ml/min vs. 1300 ml/min, p = 0.95 and <0.01), peak ventilation (62.1 l/min vs. 56.4 l/min vs. 50.3 l/min, p = 0.15 and p<0.05) and O2-pulse (11.6 ml/beat vs. 11.8 ml/beat vs. 10.6 ml/beat, p = 0.87 and p<0.01) were significantly changed with ffpm but not sm. Discomfort was moderately but significantly increased (nm: 1.6 vs. sm: 3.4 vs. ffpm: 4.4, p<0.05).

Conclusion

Both surgical and FFP masks reduce exercise capacity in heart failure patients, while FFP2 masks reduce oxygen uptake and peak ventilation. This reduction in cardiopulmonary performance should be considered in heart failure patients whose daily life activities are often just as challenging as exercise is for healthy adults.
Concurrent use of Chinese herbal medicine and anticoagulants may reduce major bleeding events
Authors: Hsu Shuo-Min , Lin Hung-Jen , Kao Yi-Wei , Li Te-Mao , Shia Ben-Chang , Huang Sheng-Teng
Published: August 2022

Background

This retrospective cohort study investigated the risk of major bleeding events during the concurrent use of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) and anticoagulants in clinical practice.

Methods

A total of 4,470 patients receiving anticoagulant drugs were selected from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). Half (n = 2,235) were also using CHMs (CHM cohort); the other half were not (non-CHM cohort). Each cohort was matched 1:1 using the propensity score. Chi-square testing and the Student’st-test were used to examine differences between two cohorts. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis assessed the risks for major bleeding events in each cohort, as well as bleeding risks associated with specific CHM formulas and herbs. Cumulative incidence curves for major bleeding events were calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis.

Results

Compared with the non-CHM cohort, the CHM cohort had a lower risk of overall bleeding events (p < 0.001) including hemorrhagic stroke (p = 0.008), gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding (p < 0.001), urogenital bleeding (p ≤ 0.001) and nasal/ear/eye bleeding (p = 0.004). Single herbs, such asGlycyrrhiza uralensis et Rhizoma,Panax notoginseng,Panax ginseng,Platycodon grandiflorum,Eucommia ulmoides Oliverand formulas, such as Shu Jing Huo Xue Tang, Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang and Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan were associated with a lower risk of major bleeding events.

Conclusion

Using CHMs with anticoagulants appeared to decrease the risk of major bleeding, especially CHMs products containingGlycyrrhiza uralensis et Rhizoma,Panax notoginseng,Panax ginseng,Platycodon grandiflorumandEucommia ulmoides Oliver. Further investigations are needed to determine whether CHM can maintain the therapeutic efficacy of anticoagulants while simultaneously reducing potential side effects.
An apprenticeship model in the training of psychotherapy students. Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial and qualitative investigation
Authors: Brattland Heidi , Holgersen Katrine Høyer , Vogel Patrick A. , Anderson Timothy , Ryum Truls
Published: August 2022

Background

One approach towards advancing the quality of mental health care is to improve psychotherapists’ skills through education and training. Recently, psychotherapy training has benefitted from adapting training methods from other professions (e.g., deliberate practice). The apprenticeship model has a long history in skill trades and medicine, but has yet to be adopted in training mental health professionals. This study aims to investigate the impact of apprenticeship training on clinical psychology students’ skills.

Methods

In a pragmatic mixed-methods trial, 120 first year students in a Master’s degree clinical psychology program will be randomized to either training-as-usual or training-as-usual plus psychotherapy apprenticeship. In the intervention group, students will participate, over a period of 10 weeks, in weekly treatment sessions together with licensed therapists at outpatient mental health and substance use treatment clinics. Outcomes are assessed post-intervention and at two-year follow-up. The main outcome measure is the Facilitative Interpersonal Skills (FIS) performance test. Additional self-report measures tap self-efficacy, self-compassion, worry, rumination, and stress. Weekly reflection log entries written by the students will be qualitatively analyzed in order to gain an in-depth understanding of the learning process. Students’ and therapists’ experiences with the intervention will be explored in focus group interviews.

Discussion

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first controlled study to investigate the impact of apprenticeship as an isolated training component in the education of clinical psychologists. The study is designed so as to yield a comprehensive understanding of an approach which could prove to be a valuable supplement to the existing educational methods in this field and ultimately, contribute to improve the quality of mental health care.
Efficient adaptive feature aggregation network for low-light image enhancement
Authors: Li Canlin , Gao Pengcheng , Liu Jinhua , Song Shun , Bi Lihua
Published: August 2022

Existing learning-based methods for low-light image enhancement contain a large number of redundant features, the enhanced images lack detail and have strong noises. Some methods try to combine the pyramid structure to learn features from coarse to fine, but the inconsistency of the pyramid structure leads to luminance, color and texture deviations in the enhanced images. In addition, these methods are usually computationally complex and require high computational resource requirements. In this paper, we propose an efficient adaptive feature aggregation network (EAANet) for low-light image enhancement. Our model adopts a pyramid structure and includes multiple multi-scale feature aggregation block (MFAB) and one adaptive feature aggregation block (AFAB). MFAB is proposed to be embedded into each layer of the pyramid structure to fully extract features and reduce redundant features, while the AFAB is proposed for overcome the inconsistency of the pyramid structure. EAANet is very lightweight, with low device requirements and a quick running time. We conducted an extensive comparison with some state-of-the-art methods in terms of PSNR, SSIM, parameters, computations and running time on LOL and MIT5K datasets, and the experiments show that the proposed method has significant advantages in terms of comprehensive performance. The proposed method reconstructs images with richer color and texture, and the noises is effectively suppressed.
Short birth interval and associated factors among women who gave birth in the last three years in Dembecha district, Northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Aklil Mastewal Belayneh , Anteneh Kiber Temesgen , Debele Tibeb Zena , Temesgan Wubedle Zelalem
Published: August 2022

Background

Maternal and child mortality remains a major public health problem in Ethiopia. Improving short birth interval practice is a main strategy to reduce neonatal mortality, maternal mortality, adverse pregnancy outcomes, high fertility rate, and enhance economic development efforts. However, there has been limited study done regarding short birth intervals in the study area. Therefore, this study aimed to assess short birth intervals and associated factors among women who gave birth in the last three years in Dembecha district, Northwest Ethiopia, 2019.

Method

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 880 reproductive-age multipara mothers using a stratified cluster sampling technique. The data were collected by face-to-face interviews through pretested and semi-structured questionnaires. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression model was fitted. Variables with a p-value ≤0.05 were considered statistically significant factors. Adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval was used to report the association between predictors and the outcome variable.

Results

The prevalence of short birth interval was found to be 43.4% (95% CI: 40.2, 46.9). Husband education (able to read and write) [AOR:2.81,(95% CI:1.04,7.85)], wealth index (lowest quartile) [AOR:3.75,(95% CI:2.35,5.97), residence (urban) [AOR:3.20,(95% CI:1.62,6.33)],age at first marriage (15–17 years old) [AOR: 1.65,(95% CI:1.15, 2.26),and non-use of contraceptive [AOR: 8.78, (95% CI: 6.18, 12.47) were statistically significant variables.

Conclusion

The study revealed that the prevalence of short birth intervals among multipara women is found to be high. Husband education, wealth index, urban residence, age at first marriage, and non-use of contraceptives were variables significantly associated with short birth intervals. Hence, to overcome the problem the focus should be on increasing family planning utilization, avoiding early marriage, strengthening paternal education, and improving family income.
COVID-19’s impacts on the scope, effectiveness, and interaction characteristics of online learning: A social network analysis
Authors: Zhang Junyi , Ding Yigang , Yang Xinru , Zhong Jinping , Qiu XinXin , Zou Zhishan , Xu Yujie , Jin Xiunan , Wu Xiaomin , Huang Jingxiu , Zheng Yunxiang
Published: August 2022

The COVID-19 outbreak brought online learning to the forefront of education. Scholars have conducted many studies on online learning during the pandemic, but only a few have performed quantitative comparative analyses of students’ online learning behavior before and after the outbreak. We collected review data from China’s massive open online course platform called icourse.163 and performed social network analysis on 15 courses to explore courses’ interaction characteristics before, during, and after the COVID-19 pan-demic. Specifically, we focused on the following aspects: (1) variations in the scale of online learning amid COVID-19; (2a) the characteristics of online learning interaction during the pandemic; (2b) the characteristics of online learning interaction after the pandemic; and (3) differences in the interaction characteristics of social science courses and natural science courses. Results revealed that only a small number of courses witnessed an uptick in online interaction, suggesting that the pandemic’s role in promoting the scale of courses was not significant. During the pandemic, online learning interaction became more frequent among course network members whose interaction scale increased. After the pandemic, although the scale of interaction declined, online learning interaction became more effective. The scale and level of interaction in Electrodynamics (a natural science course) and Economics (a social science course) both rose during the pan-demic. However, long after the pandemic, the Economics course sustained online interaction whereas interaction in the Electrodynamics course steadily declined. This discrepancy could be due to the unique characteristics of natural science courses and social science courses.
Plant-derived compounds effectively inhibit the main protease of SARS-CoV-2: An in silico approach
Authors: Mahmud Shafi , Afrose Shamima , Biswas Suvro , Nagata Abir , Paul Gobindo Kumar , Mita Mohasana Akter , Hasan Md. Robiul , Shimu Mst. Sharmin Sultana , Zaman Shahriar , Uddin Md. Salah , Islam Md Sayeedul , Saleh Md. Abu
Published: August 2022

The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), involves severe acute respiratory syndrome and poses unprecedented challenges to global health. Structure-based drug design techniques have been developed targeting the main protease of the SARS-CoV-2, responsible for viral replication and transcription, to rapidly identify effective inhibitors and therapeutic targets. Herein, we constructed a phytochemical dataset of 1154 compounds using deep literature mining and explored their potential to bind with and inhibit the main protease of SARS-CoV-2. The three most effective phytochemicals Cosmosiine, Pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside, and Cleomiscosin A had binding energies of -8.4, -8.4, and -8.2 kcal/mol, respectively, in the docking analysis. These molecules could bind to Gln189, Glu166, Cys145, His41, and Met165 residues on the active site of the targeted protein, leading to specific inhibition. The pharmacological characteristics and toxicity of these compounds, examined using absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) analyses, revealed no carcinogenicity or toxicity. Furthermore, the complexes were simulated with molecular dynamics for 100 ns to calculate the root mean square deviation (RMSD), root mean square fluctuation (RMSF), radius of gyration (Rg), solvent-accessible surface area (SASA), and hydrogen profiles from the simulation trajectories. Our analysis validated the rigidity of the docked protein-ligand. Taken together, our computational study findings might help develop potential drugs to combat the main protease of the SARS-CoV-2 and help alleviate the severity of the pandemic.
How barefoot and conventional shoes affect the foot and gait characteristics in toddlers
Authors: Gimunová Marta , Kolářová Kateřina , Vodička Tomáš , Bozděch Michal , Zvonař Martin
Published: August 2022

Objectives

Barefoot shoes have recently become a popular alternative to conventional shoes among the parents of pre-school children. As the long-term effect of habitual shoe-wearing on the foot is still unclear, the aim of this study was to compare the arch index, dynamic foot anthropometry and gait parameters in toddlers who had been habitually wearing barefoot shoes or conventional shoes since their first steps.

Methods

30 toddlers– 15 habitually wearing barefoot shoes (BF group) and 15 habitually wearing conventional shoes (N-BF group)–participated in this study. Each child was measured twice during the study. The first data collection session occurred within one month after the first five consecutive unsupported steps were performed by the toddler. The second data collection session occurred seven months after this event. At each data collection session, the toddler was instructed to walk barefooted at its natural speed over an Emed® platform (Novel GmbH, Germany). The Emed ® software generated data regarding the arch index, dynamic foot anthropometry, foot progression angle, contact area, contact time, peak pressure and maximum force. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare the differences between the 1st and 2nd data collections. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the differences between the BF and N-BF groups.

Results

The results of this study show a higher plantar arch and a smaller foot progression angle in the BF group. The forefoot width in both the BF and N-BF groups remained proportional to the foot length after seven months of independent walking.

Conclusions

These findings may encourage parents and caregivers to introduce barefoot shoes or create a habitual barefoot time for their child.
Changes in physicochemical and anticancer properties modulated by chemically modified sugar moieties within sequence-related G-quadruplex structures
Authors: Roxo Carolina , Pasternak Anna
Published: August 2022

We systematically investigated the influence of locked nucleic acid (LNA), unlock nucleic acid (UNA), and 2’-O-methyl-RNA (2’-O-Me-RNA) residues on the thermal stability, structure folding topology, biological activity and enzymatic resistance of three sequence-related DNA G-quadruplexes. In order to better understand the mechanism of action of the studied modifications, a single-position substitution in the loops or G-tetrads was performed and their influence was analyzed for a total of twenty-seven modified G-quadruplex variants. The studies show that the influence of each modification on the physicochemical properties of G-quadruplexes is position-dependent, due to mutual interactions between G-tetrads, loops, and additional guanosine at 5’ or 3’ end. Nevertheless, the anticancer activity of the modified G-quadruplexes is determined by their structure, thus also by the local changes of chemical character of sugar moieties, what might influence the specific interactions with therapeutic targets. In general, UNA modifications are efficient modulators of the G-quadruplex thermodynamic stability, however they are poor tools to improve the anticancer properties. In contrast, LNA and 2’-O-Me-RNA modified G-quadruplexes demonstrated certain antiproliferative potential and might be used as molecular tools for designing novel G-quadruplex-based therapeutics.
Prevalence and antibiotic resistance of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli isolated from raw milk in East Java, Indonesia
Authors: Tyasningsih Wiwiek , Ramandinianto Sancaka Chasyer , Ansharieta Ribby , Witaningrum Adiana Mutamsari , Permatasari Dian Ayu , Wardhana Dhandy Koesoemo , Effendi Mustofa Helmi , Ugbo Emmanuel Nnabuike
Published: August 2022

Background and Aim: Raw milk can be a source of food-borne disease transmission and a medium for spreading antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli are bacteria that have the pathogenic ability to attack host cells and are capable of harboring antibiotic-resistant genes. This study estimated the prevalence and antibiotic resistance of S. aureus and E. coli isolated from raw milk in East Java, Indonesia.

Materials and Methods: Two hundred and fifty raw milk samples were collected from five dairy farms in East Java. S. aureus and E. coli were isolated using their respective selective media, whereas antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method. The methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) was confirmed using the oxacillin resistance screen agar test, and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli was determined using the double-disk synergy test. The presence of mecA and blaTEM genes were screened by the polymerase chain reaction method.

Results: Results indicated that the prevalence of S. aureus was 138 (55.2%) and that E. coli was 176 (70.4%). Of the 138 S. aureus isolated, 27 (19.6%) were MRSA, and among the 176 E. coli isolates identified, 3 (1.7%) were ESBL producers. The mecA gene was observed in 2 (7.4%) MRSA and all 3 (100%) ESBL-producing E. coli isolated harbored blaTEM genes.

Conclusion: The presence of MRSA and ESBL-producing E. coli in raw milk is a serious public health threat, and public awareness should be raised about the dangers posed by these pathogenic organisms.
A first attempt at determining the antibody-specific pattern of Platynosomum fastosum crude antigen and identification of immunoreactive proteins for immunodiagnosis of feline platynosomiasis
Authors: Soe Babi Kyi , Adisakwattana Poom , Reamtong Onrapak , Anuracpreeda Panat , Sukhumavasi Woraporn
Published: August 2022

Background and Aim: Feline platynosomiasis, also known as lizard poisoning, is a feline hepatic disease caused by the parasitic trematode Platynosomum fastosum. Since this helminth resides in biliary ducts and gallbladder, the heavy infection can lead to failure of the hepatobiliary system and can be associated with cholangiocarcinoma. The primary diagnostic tool currently used is conventional fecal microscopy. However, low sensitivity of detection could occur in the case of light infection or biliary obstruction. This study aimed to determine the antibody-specific pattern of P. fastosum crude antigen and to identify immunoreactive proteins to develop the immunodiagnostic techniques.

Materials and Methods: We investigated potential antigens specific to P. fastosum infection using western blotting. Forty-six samples of cat serum, including 16 P. fastosum-infected sera, eight healthy control sera, and 22 sera infected with other endoparasites were used. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of each band were calculated. Immunoreactive bands with high diagnostic values were further analyzed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to identify the protein components.

Results: Using immunoblotting, three proteins of 72 kDa, 53 kDa, and 13 kDa were found to be immunogenic. LC-MS/MS identified these proteins as a 70 kDa heat shock protein, a hypothetical protein (CRM22_002083) (adenosine triphosphate synthase subunit beta), and histone H2B, respectively.

Conclusion: This study is the first to reveal three proteins that could be candidates for developing diagnostic tools for feline platynosomiasis.
Broad lytic spectrum of novel Salmonella phages on ciprofloxacin-resistant Salmonella contaminated in the broiler production chain
Authors: Pelyuntha Wattana , Sanguankiat Arsooth , Kovitvadhi Attawit , Vongkamjan Kitiya
Published: August 2022

Background and Aim: Ciprofloxacin (CIP) is recommended for salmonellosis treatment as the drug of choice; however, overuse of this drug can cause drug resistance issues and failure to treat diseases. Phage therapy is an alternative approach for combatting CIP-resistant infection. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of CIP-resistant Salmonella isolated from the broiler production chain and evaluated the lytic ability of novel Salmonella phages isolated from water samples.

Materials and Methods: Samples were obtained from the broiler production chain and used for Salmonella isolation. serovar and CIP resistance of each isolate were characterized through latex agglutination and agar disk diffusion test, respectively. Water samples from different sources were acquired for phage isolation. The lytic activity of novel-isolated phages was also examined.

Results: In this study, 51 Salmonella isolates were recovered from the broiler production chain (two commercial farms, one free-range farm, two slaughterhouses, and three stalls from the wet market). Kentucky was the major serovar characterized (16), followed by Typhimurium (9), Agona (5), Corvalis (5), Schwarzengrund (5), Singapore (3), Weltevreden (3), Mbandaka (2), Give (2), and Albany (1). The serovars that exhibited CIP resistance were 14/16 isolates of serovar Kentucky (87.5%) and one isolate of serovar Give (50%), whereas eight other serovars were susceptible to this drug. Overall, the prevalence of CIP-resistant Salmonella recovered from the sources included in this study was 29.4%. This study identified 11 Salmonella phages isolated from wastewater samples derived from broiler farms, wastewater treatment stations, and natural reservoirs. Our phages showed the total percentage of lysis ability ranging from 33.3% to 93.3% against CIP-resistant isolates. However, only one bacterial isolate, namely 210SL, recovered from the food contact surface of a wet market stall and was resistant to all phages.

Conclusion: Diverse serovars of Salmonella were recovered in the broiler production chain in this study, while the isolates presenting CIP-resistant Salmonella were as high as 29.4%. Overall, Salmonella phages showed high lysis ability against these CIP-resistant Salmonella isolates, suggesting the potential application of phage-based treatments or biocontrol in the broiler production chain.
„Most nincs alternatívája az ENSZ-nek” interjú Kalotay Kálmánnal, az UNCTAD korábbi vezető közgazdászával
Authors: Kalotay Kálmán , Trautmann László
Published: August 2022

A Köz-Gazdaság interjút kért Kalotay Kálmántól, az UNCTAD korábbi vezető közgazdászától, aki jelenleg az ELKH KRTK Világgazdasági Intézetének kutatója. Kalotay Kálmán 1983 és 1990 között az akkori Marx Károly Budapesti Közgazdaságtudományi Egyetem Világgazdasági Tanszékének volt ösztöndíjasa, adjunktusa. 1990 és 1996 között az Egyesült Nemzetek Kereskedelmi és Fejlesztési Konferenciája (UNCTAD) Fejlődő Országok Közötti Gazdasági Együttműködési Főosztályának volt (ECDC) gazdasági ügyekkel foglalkozó segédmunkatársa, majd 1996-tól egészen 2021-ig az Egyesült Nemzetek Kereskedelmi és Fejlesztési Konferenciája (UNCTAD) Befektetési és Vállalkozásfejlesztési Főosztályának (DIAE) gazdasági ügyekkel foglalkozó munkatársa. Tagja volt a World Investment Reportokat és az Investment Policy Review-kat készítő csoportnak. Az előbbinek 1996–2010 és 2016–2021 között, az utóbbinak 2010–2016 között. Széles körű oktatási tapasztalattal rendelkezik, tanított Torinóban, Finnországban és Mexikóban is.
Versenyképességi kihívások a változó világpolitikai környezetben
Authors: Seres Marcell
Published: August 2022

2022 márciusában került megrendezésre a Magyar Közgazdasági Társaság Fejlődésgazdaságtani Szakosztályának és a Budapesti Corvinus Egyetem Vállalkozásfejlesztési Intézetének kerekasztal-beszélgetése „Versenyképességi kihívások a változó világpolitikai környezetben” címmel. A rendezvényen olyan versenyképességet érintő gazdasági jelenségek és események kerültek górcső alá, mint az, hogy hogyan lehet termelékenyebbé tenni a magyar gazdaságot. A kerekasztal vendége volt Szabó Zoltán, az Amerikai Kereskedelmi Kamara (AmCham) elnöke, Csath Magdolna egyetemi tanár, a Pázmány Péter Katolikus Egyetem kutatóprofesszora, a Versenyképességi Tanács tagja, Jámbor Attila professzor, a BCE Vállalkozásfejlesztési Intézetének igazgatója és Trautmann László, a szakosztály elnöke, a beszélgetés moderátora.
A II. világháború és a női munkaerőpiac – Mennyit köszönhetnek a „gazdasági szüfrazsettek” a legnagyobb világégésnek?
Authors: Pókász Zoltán
Published: August 2022

Paradox módon az emberiség történetében sok esetben a fegyveres konfliktusok szolgáltak a legerősebb ösztönzőként arra, hogy előrelépést érjenek el valamely kulcsfontosságú egyenjogúsági ügyben. Különösképp igaz ez a huszadik századra, azon belül az első és második világháborúra. Az első világháború előtt a klasszikus nemi szerepek domináltak. A “Nagy Háború” kitörésekor azonban a kormányzatok rájöttek, a szorgos női kezek is hasonlóképp – vagy jobban – képesek elvégezni a rájuk bízott feladatokat – mint például a konzerv- és a fegyverkészítés -, mint férfi társaiké. Nem is meglepő, hogy a háború közvetlen folyományaként, 1919-ben vezették be az Egyesült Államokban a női szavazati jogot. Ez az izgalmas tendencia a második világháború alatt is folytatódott, amit a tanulmány is körbejár az Egyesült Államok példáján keresztül: a második világégés hatásait a női munkaerőpiaci folyamatokra. (...)
Egy ország önmagában: A liberalizmusnak szüksége van a nemzetre
Authors: Ressely Kinga
Published: August 2022

Francis Fukuyama filozófus, politológus közgazdász, jelenleg a Stanford Egyetem Freeman Spogli Nemzetközi Tanulmányok Intézetének főmunkatársa. Továbbá az előbb említett intézet Demokrácia, Fejlődés és Jogállamiság Központjának oktatója, illetve a Ford Dorsey Nemzetközi Politika mesterszakának vezetője. Kutatási területe többek közt a fejlődés különböző problémái és a nemzetközi politika. Legfőbb művei: “The End of History and the Last Man” (1992), “The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment” (2018), ‘Liberalism and Its Discontents” (2022). (...)
Security & Privacy Issues of

Bitcoin: A Survey
Authors: Ahmed Muhammad Hazeel , Ans Muhammad
Published: August 2022

In this paper, we give a detailed review and examination of the huge security and assurance issues of bitcoin, the huge challenges, and openings in utilizing the advancement. Regardless, we present a total establishment of Bitcoin and the starter on security. Second, the critical security risks and countermeasures of Bitcoin are investigated. Third, we explore the essential Bitcoin circulated association security risks and Bitcoin storing security. Here in this paper, we endeavored to introduce an examination of huge attacks like pernicious attacks, more conspicuous than 52 percent of attacks, and square maintenance attacks. Bitcoin is covered in banters for giving a protected house to criminal tasks. Additionally, we present a couple of huge open investigation directions to recognize the resulting examinations around here. We present in this paper, a protected insurance preservation contrive reliant upon bilinear coordinating and other cryptographic locals. We exhibited that our proposed contrive is incredible and can be executed to save customers and trade. In the next heading we will discuss about the brief introduction related work and the previous work also and discuss some issue which we found during the review of various papers.
US-CHINA Competition: Implications For The South Asian Strategic Stability
Authors: Rashid Warisha
Published: August 2022

This research paper encompasses South Asia as an area of interest mainly focusing on the US-China competition and its impact on the South Asian region. The research paper focuses mainly on China's increased aggression and the United States' abrupt inward turn which are both the consequence of factors represented in the variables of the topic. The critical independent variable is patriotism, which, in combination with China's and the United States power trajectories, defines how their relationship will unfold in the next years. China today wants more global inﬂuence; the United States currently wants less. Hence, there is ample reason to expect a soft landing as the world evolves from unipolarity to Multipolarity. It has been about a few years since the United States and China saw their relationship deteriorate due to an increase in hostilities and a decrease in collaboration with each other. The United States and China are in the midst of a power transition that has significant ramifications for the balance of power in South Asia and East Asia and for their respective national security objectives. As the power transfer progresses, it is likely that a great power struggle will increase emerging as a new cold war. This competition would lead to many implications for South Asia and this paper would be highlighting the role of South Asian states in the new cold war scenario, emergence of new world order, the race for an arms race, economic turmoil, etc. The current US-China competition will have dire consequences both globally and regionally.
Fermat's Last Theorem: A Proof by Contradiction
Authors: Schaeffer Benson
Published: August 2022

In this paper I offer an algebraic proof by contradiction of Fermat’s Last Theorem. This contradiction shows that the rewrite has no non-trivial positive integer solutions and proves Fermat’s Last Theorem.
Early opportunities and fourth-grade success: State pre-k funding, quality, and access on student achievement
Authors: Pendola Andrew , Muñoz Ismael , Zapata Mayli , Schaub Maryellen
Published: August 2022

To ensure all children can be successful in school and beyond, states have increasingly supported and expanded pre-kindergarten (pre-k) programs aimed and improving student outcomes and reducing disparities. While research has shown generally positive short-term outcomes for specific programs, state design and support for pre-k programs varies widely across the US, making cross-state comparisons difficult. As a means to better inform state policy decisions, this study assesses the relation between structural aspects of pre-k programs on fourth-grade student achievement and gaps across all 50 states. In assessing the relation of ELA achievement with state funding, standards of quality, and scope of access, we find that (1) state funding is associated with both increases in student achievement and reduced gaps, (2) the effect of funding is stronger in states that provide targeted pre-k access to low-income/at-risk students, and (3) legislated quality standards only improve overall achievement in states that provide universal access to pre-k. These results help identify how state policy structure may best be used to leverage achievement benefits for pre-k programs and reduce disparities.
Informalität im regionalen Wachstumsprozess. Einblick in eine „Black Box“ der Planungspraxis am Beispiel Luxemburgs
Authors: Schmitz Nicolas , Hesse Markus , Becker Tom
Published: August 2022

This paper deals with the management of settlement growth in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg from the perspective of informality. Luxembourg is subject to high demographic and economic growth pressures across all parts of the country (capital, old-industrialized South, rural North), which strongly challenges the current planning system. At the same time, there is no formal regional planning, apart from approaches of inter-municipal cooperation, which are mainly voluntary in nature. Drawing on empirical case studies in two high-growth municipalities (Junglinster, Schuttrange), the paper outlines planning decisions in the institutional triangle between municipality, state and private institutions. Informality serves here not only to compensate for a lack of planning control, but also to deal with the country’s complex legal framework conditions. The vital interests of landowners come into play informally as well: since parts of the country’s wealth emerge from the valorization of property, speculative interests are immanent, and thus block development processes. In this context, the paper addresses elements of a regional growth management that could close the gap that exists between state planning and municipal autonomy.
The Reexamination of Geographic Earnings Conservatism
Authors: Kim Myung-In
Published: August 2022

U.S. Multinational corporations are operated in many different countries. Their foreign and domestic earnings are separately reported in the annual report. This paper examined the difference between domestic and foreign earnings in terms of conservatism using a variety of model specifications for conservatism. I found that the degrees of conservatism of domestic earnings are much higher than foreign earnings in all the model specifications for conservatism, which is in line with prior literature (Hwang and Kim 2022). More importantly, I found that the higher financial leverage, the declining asset growth and the higher information asymmetry significantly increase the level of conservatism of domestic earnings rather than foreign earnings.
Fifty years of newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism: current status in Australasia and the case for harmonisation
Authors: Huynh Tony , Greaves Ronda , Mawad Nazha , Greed Lawrence , Wotton Tiffany , Wiley Veronica , Ranieri Enzo , Rankin Wayne , Ungerer Jacobus , Price Ricky , Webster Dianne , Heather Natasha
Published: August 2022

Objectives

Since its implementation 50 years ago in Quebec, Canada, newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism has become one of the most successful public health measures worldwide. Screening programmes across Australia and New Zealand are characterised by significant commonalities in screening algorithms, and a high degree of regional cooperation in harmonisation efforts. We aimed to conduct a comprehensive survey of current performance and practices related to the total testing process for congenital hypothyroidism screening and provide recommendations for harmonisation priorities within our region.

Methods

A survey was conducted involving the six newborn screening laboratories which provide complete geographic coverage across Australasia. Approximately 360,000 newborns are screened annually. Survey questions incorporated pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical aspects of the screening programmes and an extensive 5-year (2016–2020) retrospective analysis of individual programme performance data. Responses from individual screening programmes were collated.

Results

The uptake of newborn screening was over 98% for the six major jurisdictions. All programmes have adopted a single-tier thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) strategy using the Perkin Elmer GSP instrument. Significant similarities exist between programmes for recommended age of collection and recollection protocols for low birthweight newborns. The process for the determination of TSH cutoffs varies between programmes. TSH lower cut-offs for borderline-positive and positive notifications between 12–15 and 12–25 mIU/L blood, respectively. Recall rates vary between 0.08 and 0.20%. The case definition for congenital hypothyroidism generally includes biochemical and radiological parameters in addition to the commencement of thyroxine. All programmes reported collecting biochemical and clinical data on infants with positive screening tests, and positive predictive values vary between 23.6 and 77.3%. Variation in reported incidence (1:1,300–2,000) cannot be entirely explained by cutoff or recall rate (although one programme reporting fewer cases includes only permanent disease).

Conclusions

Despite similarities between newborn screening algorithms for congenital hypothyroidism across Australia and New Zealand, differences in reported programme performance provide the basis for further harmonisation. Surveillance of a large population offers the potential for the ongoing development of evidence-based screening guidelines.