bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cataloging the potential SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) associated with quantitative traits, viz. BMI (body mass index), IQ (intelligence quotient) and BP (blood pressure): an updated review
Authors: Chauhan Waseem , Fatma Rafat , Wahab Afiya , Afzal Mohammad
Published: March 2022

Background

Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variants are abundant, persistent and widely distributed across the genome and are frequently linked to the development of genetic diseases. Identifying SNPs that underpin complex diseases can aid scientists in the discovery of disease-related genes by allowing for early detection, effective medication and eventually disease prevention.

Main body

Various SNP or polymorphism-based studies were used to categorize different SNPs potentially related to three quantitative traits: body mass index (BMI), intelligence quotient (IQ) and blood pressure, and then uncovered common SNPs for these three traits. We employed SNPedia, RefSNP Report, GWAS Catalog, Gene Cards (Data Bases), PubMed and Google Scholar search engines to find relevant material on SNPs associated with three quantitative traits. As a result, we detected three common SNPs for all three quantitative traits in global populations: SNP rs6265 of the BDNF gene on chromosome 11p14.1, SNP rs131070325 of the SL39A8 gene on chromosome 4p24 and SNP rs4680 of the COMT gene on chromosome 22q11.21.

Conclusion

In our review, we focused on the prevalent SNPs and gene expression activities that influence these three quantitative traits. These SNPs have been used to detect and map complex, common illnesses in communities for homogeneity testing and pharmacogenetic studies. High blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease, as well as BMI, schizophrenia and IQ, can all be predicted using common SNPs. Finally, the results of our work can be used to find common SNPs and genes that regulate these three quantitative features across the genome.
Surrealist Nuance and Postcolonial Subjectivity
Authors: Khouri Malek
Published: March 2022

In its origins, surrealism transpired as a radical subversive culture within advanced capitalist societies in Europe during the first few decades of the twentieth century. In colonial and postcolonial societies, however, surrealism variously assumed a quintessence of a protracted struggle between, on the one hand, the old and neocolonial cultural hegemony and, on the other hand, the subversive resistance by the neocolonized, with all the paradoxical elements that are part and parcel of that struggle. One of the few manifestations of a surrealism-inspired cinematic work in the Arab world during the last century is Youssef Chahine’s Alexandria, Again and Forever (1990). This critically acclaimed film is a rich example of Arab cinema that celebrates non-normative personal identity while simultaneously rethinking traditional notions of nation under colonial rule. This third installment of Chahine’s autobiographical film quartet, which he intermittently drew over the course of his thirty-year career, indulges a complex exposé of Chahine the man, the artist, and the political activist. It also draws on mostly imagined, and partly real, episodes in the filmmaker’s life. As such, and rather than using a typically grand anticolonial metanarrative, the film favors the depiction of multiple surrealist proliferations of difference, juxtapositions, dislocation, and distortions seen not as embodiments of a single truth but rather as energized political and aesthetic forms of a collective project for revamping Egyptian and Arab identity and reality.
Life in the slow lane: field metabolic rate and prey consumption rate of the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus) modelled using archival biologgers
Authors: Ste-Marie Eric , Watanabe Yuuki Y. , Semmens Jayson M. , Marcoux Marianne , Hussey Nigel E.
Published: March 2022

Field metabolic rate (FMR) is a holistic measure of metabolism representing the routine energy utilization of a species living within a specific ecological context, thus providing insight into its ecology, fitness and resilience to environmental stressors. For animals that cannot be easily observed in the wild, FMR can also be used in concert with dietary data to quantitatively assess their role as consumers, improving understanding of the trophic linkages that structure food webs and allowing for informed management decisions. Here, we modelled the FMR of Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus) equipped with biologger packages or pop-up archival satellite tags (PSATs) in two coastal inlets of Baffin Island (Nunavut) using metabolic scaling relationships for mass, temperature and activity. We estimated that Greenland sharks had an overall mean (±s.d.) FMR of 21.67±2.30 mg O2 h−1 kg−0.84 (n=30; 1–4 day accelerometer package deployments) while residing inside these cold-water fjord systems in the late summer, and 25.48±0.47 mg O2 h−1 kg−0.84 (n=6; PSATs) over an entire year. When considering prey consumption rate, an average shark in these systems (224 kg) requires a maintenance ration of 61–193 g of fish or marine mammal prey daily. As Greenland sharks are a lethargic polar species, these low FMR estimates, and corresponding prey consumption estimates, suggest they require very little energy to sustain themselves under natural conditions. These data provide the first characterization of the energetics and consumer role of this vulnerable and understudied species in the wild, which is essential given growing pressures from climate change and expanding commercial fisheries in the Arctic.
Meta-analytic approaches and effect sizes to account for ‘nuisance heterogeneity’ in comparative physiology
Authors: Noble Daniel W. A. , Pottier Patrice , Lagisz Malgorzata , Burke Samantha , Drobniak Szymon M. , O'Dea Rose E. , Nakagawa Shinichi
Published: March 2022

Meta-analysis is a powerful tool used to generate quantitatively informed answers to pressing global challenges. By distilling data from broad sets of research designs and study systems into standardised effect sizes, meta-analyses provide physiologists with opportunities to estimate overall effect sizes and understand the drivers of effect variability. Despite this ambition, research designs in the field of comparative physiology can appear, at the outset, as being vastly different to each other because of ‘nuisance heterogeneity’ (e.g. different temperatures or treatment dosages used across studies). Methodological differences across studies have led many to believe that meta-analysis is an exercise in comparing ‘apples with oranges’. Here, we dispel this myth by showing how standardised effect sizes can be used in conjunction with multilevel meta-regression models to both account for the factors driving differences across studies and make them more comparable. We assess the prevalence of nuisance heterogeneity in the comparative physiology literature – showing it is common and often not accounted for in analyses. We then formalise effect size measures (e.g. the temperature coefficient, Q10) that provide comparative physiologists with a means to remove nuisance heterogeneity without the need to resort to more complex statistical models that may be harder to interpret. We also describe more general approaches that can be applied to a variety of different contexts to derive new effect sizes and sampling variances, opening up new possibilities for quantitative synthesis. By using effect sizes that account for components of effect heterogeneity, in combination with existing meta-analytic models, comparative physiologists can explore exciting new questions while making results from large-scale data sets more accessible, comparable and widely interpretable.
The mechanics of acoustic signal evolution in field crickets
Authors: Godthi Vamsy , Balakrishnan Rohini , Pratap Rudra
Published: March 2022

Field crickets (Family Gryllidae, Subfamily Gryllinae) typically produce tonal calls with carrier frequencies in the range 3–8 kHz. In this study, we explored the use of a finite element model (FEM) of the stridulatory apparatus of a field cricket, Gryllus bimaculatus, based on experimental measurements of resonator geometry and mechanical properties, to predict the measured call carrier frequencies of eight other field cricket species, ranging between 3 and 7 kHz. The model allowed accurate predictions of carrier frequencies for all eight species to within a few hundred hertz from morphological measurements of their resonators. We then used the model to explore the plausible evolutionary design space for field cricket call carrier frequency along the axes of resonator size and thickness, and mapped the locations of the nine experimentally measured species in this design space. Although the nine species spanned the evolutionarily conserved spectrum of carrier frequency and body size in field crickets, they were clustered in a small region of the available design space. We then explored the reasons for this apparent evolutionary constraint on field cricket carrier frequencies at both the lower and higher limit. We found that body size and sound radiation efficiency were the main constraints at the lower limits, whereas the energetics of stridulation using the clockwork mechanism may pose a constraint at higher frequencies.
Epigenomics as a paradigm to understand the nuances of phenotypes
Authors: Fanter Cornelia , Madelaire Carla , Genereux Diane P. , van Breukelen Frank , Levesque Danielle , Hindle Allyson
Published: March 2022

Quantifying the relative importance of genomic and epigenomic modulators of phenotype is a focal challenge in comparative physiology, but progress is constrained by availability of data and analytic methods. Previous studies have linked physiological features to coding DNA sequence, regulatory DNA sequence, and epigenetic state, but few have disentangled their relative contributions or unambiguously distinguished causative effects (‘drivers’) from correlations. Progress has been limited by several factors, including the classical approach of treating continuous and fluid phenotypes as discrete and static across time and environment, and difficulty in considering the full diversity of mechanisms that can modulate phenotype, such as gene accessibility, transcription, mRNA processing and translation. We argue that attention to phenotype nuance, progressing to association with epigenetic marks and then causal analyses of the epigenetic mechanism, will enable clearer evaluation of the evolutionary path. This would underlie an essential paradigm shift, and power the search for links between genomic and epigenomic features and physiology. Here, we review the growing knowledge base of gene-regulatory mechanisms and describe their links to phenotype, proposing strategies to address widely recognized challenges.
Colour discrimination thresholds vary throughout colour space in a reef fish (Rhinecanthus aculeatus)
Authors: Green Naomi F. , Guevara Emily , Osorio Daniel C. , Endler John A. , Marshall N. Justin , Vorobyev Misha , Cheney Karen L.
Published: March 2022

Animals use colour vision in a range of behaviours. Visual performance is limited by thresholds, which are set by noise in photoreceptors and subsequent neural processing. The receptor noise limited (RNL) model of colour discrimination is widely used for modelling colour vision and accounts well for experimental data from many species. In one of the most comprehensive tests yet of colour discrimination in a non-human species, we used Ishihara-style stimulus patterns to examine thresholds for 21 directions at five locations in colour space for the fish Rhinecanthus aculeatus. Thresholds matched RNL model predictions most closely for stimuli near the achromatic point, but exceeded predictions (indicating a decline in sensitivity) with distance from this point. Thresholds were also usually higher for saturation than for hue differences. These changes in colour threshold with colour space location and direction may give insight into photoreceptor non-linearities and post-receptoral mechanisms of colour vision in fish. Our results highlight the need for a cautious interpretation of the RNL model – especially for modelling colours that differ from one another in saturation (rather than hue), and for highly saturated colours distant from the achromatic point in colour space.
Identification of colistin resistance and its bactericidal activity against uropathogenic gram negative bacteria from Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar
Authors: Arif Ambreen , Ullah Ihsan , Ullah Obaid , Zaman Ronaq
Published: March 2022

Objectives: Identification of colistin resistance and its bactericidal activity against gram-negative bacteria isolated from urinary tract infection (UTI) patients.

Methods: This 6-month cross sectional study was conducted in Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar from January 2019-June2019.. A total of 2000 urine samples were collected and transported to the Health Research Institute, NIH, Research Centre, Khyber Medical College Peshawar. Samples were streaked on different media and incubated at 37C° for 24hrs. Gram negative bacteria were identified through gram staining and Analytical Profile Index (API) 10s. Gram negative bacteria were subjected under antibiotic sensitivity profile through Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Colistin resistance was found through broth microdilution method. Minimum bactericidal activity was performed to find out the lowest concentration of colistin required to kill gram-negative bacteria.

Results: A total of 241(12.05%) uropathogenic gram negative bacteria were isolated and identified from 2000 urine samples while excluding intrinsically resistant bacteria. After broth microdilution, colistin resistance was found in 48(19.9%) Escherichia coli, 4(1.6%) Klebsiella pneumoniae and 3(1.3%) Pseudomonas aeruginosa respectively. Colistin resistant Escherichia coli were resistant to 77% Cephalosporins, 81% to Fluoroquinolones and 70% to Penicillin combinations. Colistin resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae were 100% resistant to Cephalosporins, Penicillin combinations and Fluoroquinolones while 75% were resistant to Carbapenems and Monobactams. Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were sensitive to all used antibiotics.

Conclusion: E.coli was the mainly responsible uropathogen causing UTIs. Colistin resistance was found in 22.8% gram negative uropathogens. Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates exhibited highest resistance to antibiotics.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.4.5221

How to cite this:Arif A, Ullah I, Obaid Ullah, Zaman R. Identification of colistin resistance and its bactericidal activity against uropathogenic gram negative bacteria from Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar. Pak J Med Sci. 2022;38(4):---------.  doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.4.5221

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Evidence for yeast artificial synthesis in SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV-1 genomic sequences
Authors: Lisewski Andreas Martin
Published: March 2022

Background: Knowledge about the origin of SARS-CoV-2 is necessary for both a biological and epidemiological understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic. Evidence suggests that a proximal evolutionary ancestor of SARS-CoV-2 belongs to the bat coronavirus family. However, as further evidence for a direct zoonosis remains limited, alternative modes of SARS-CoV-2 biogenesis should be considered.   

Results: Here we show that the genomes from SARS-CoV-2 and from SARS-CoV-1 are differentially enriched with short chromosomal sequences from the yeast S. cerevisiae at focal positions that are known to be critical for host cell invasion, virus replication, and host immune response. For SARS-CoV-1, we identify two sites: one at the start of the RNA dependent RNA polymerase gene, and the other at the start of the spike protein’s receptor binding domain; for SARS-CoV-2, one at the start of the viral replicase domain, and the other toward the end of the spike gene past its domain junction. At this junction, we detect a highly specific stretch of yeast DNA origin covering the critical furin cleavage site insert PRRA, which has not been seen in other lineage b betacoronaviruses. As yeast is not a natural host for this virus family, we propose a passage model for viral constructs in yeast cells based on co-transformation of virus DNA plasmids carrying yeast selectable genetic markers followed by intra-chromosomal homologous recombination through gene conversion. Highly differential sequence homology data across yeast chromosomes congruent with chromosomes harboring specific auxotrophic markers further support this passage model.

Conclusions: These results provide evidence that among SARS-like coronaviruses only the genomes of SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 contain information that points to a synthetic passage in genetically modified yeast cells. Our data specifically allow the identification of the yeast S. cerevisiae as a potential recombination donor for the critical furin cleavage site in SARS-CoV-2.
Effect of whitening toothpaste on surface roughness and microhardness of human teeth: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Jamwal Navodita , Rao Ashwini , Shenoy Ramya , Pai Mithun , KS Aparna , BR Avinash
Published: March 2022

Background: Whitening toothpastes exert a whitening effect on teeth through higher surface cleaning effectiveness resulting from the abrasive properties of the paste or specific chemical components. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conceptualized to examine the relationship between whitening toothpastes and surface roughness as well as microhardness of human teeth and to clarify the evidence base available around this relationship by conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies in this topic area, looking at in vitro randomized control trials.

Methods: Criteria for including studies in the review were done based on population, intervention, comparison, outcomes and study and studies were identified from electronic databases. Covidence® was used for data screening and data extraction. The CONSORT tool was used for checking relevant content and methodology used in each of the papers reviewed. Systematic review was done followed by meta-analysis, using Review Manager.

Results: A total of 125 articles were obtained on key word search. After duplicate removal and title screening, 17 articles were eligible for full text review. Finally, 7 studies were included for systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted on 4 studies. The forest plot for surface roughness showed that that the meta-analytic effect was statistically significant with surface roughness value being higher in the intervention group. The forest plot for microhardness showed that the meta-analytic effect was statistically significant with the microhardness value being lesser in the intervention group.

Conclusions: Although whitening toothpastes typically can lighten tooth color by about one or two shades, there is some evidence to show that these toothpastes also affect the mineral content of teeth by increasing surface roughness and reducing microhardness. More evidence and further research are needed to identify the type of whitening agent which will whiten the tooth effectively while maintaining the integrity of the tooth structure.
Prevalence of medical students’ satisfaction with online education during COVID- 19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ahmed Hussein , Mohammed Omer , Mohammed Lamis , Mohamed Salih Dalia , Ahmed Mohammed , Masaod Ruba , Elhaj Amjad , Yassin Rawan , Elkhidir Ibrahim
Published: March 2022

Background:

Electronic (E)-learning is defined as the use of electronic tools for education, training, and communication. Education, among many other sectors, has been profoundly affected by the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). More than 90% of the world’s students are unable to attend teaching sessions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods:

This study was conducted in accordance with the published guidelines for meta-analysis and reviews (PRISMA) reporting guidelines. A database and electronic search was performed on September 21st, 2021 using PubMed, Medline and Embase through the OVID platform, and ScienceDirect. We removed duplicates, and screened the title, abstract, and full texts of included papers. We included studies published only in English and excluded studies without sufficient data, case reports, editorials, and protocols. The quality of included articles was examined using the AXIS tool for cross-sectional studies, and the Newcastle–Ottawa scale for observational case-control studies. From the included studies, demographic and satisfaction with online education (OE) prevalence data were extracted and analyzed. We calculated the pooled prevalence of medical students’ satisfaction.

Results:

Eighteen studies with a total sample of 7,907 students were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of medical students’ satisfaction with online education was 0.57 (95% CI: 47 - 67%). Publication bias was assessed and reported.

Conclusions: The pooled prevalence of medical students’ satisfaction with online education was 53 %. Online learning satisfaction was associated with students’ prior experience with OE. The greatest benefit of OE is overcoming obstacles faced with learning Major challenges for implementing OE were technical and infrastructural resources.
The genome sequence of the black-veined white butterfly, Aporia crataegi (Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: Ebdon Sam , Mackintosh Alexander , Lohse Konrad , Hayward Alex , Arif Saad , Whitla Rebecca ,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: March 2022

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Aporia crataegi (the black-veined white; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Pieridae). The genome sequence is 230 megabases in span. The complete assembly is scaffolded into 26 chromosomal pseudomolecules, with the Z sex chromosome assembled. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl has identified 10,860 protein coding genes.
Guía de asesoramiento al profesorado para trabajar en Las aulas el día 8 de marzo DIA DE LA MUJER
Authors: Arzúa Meléndez Esther , Blanco Carmona María , Díez López Marta , Parra Jiménez Águeda
Published: March 2022

El objetivo de la guía que se presenta a continuación es asesorar al profesorado para trabajar sobre igualdad de género en las aulas el día 8 de marzo, así como facilitar este trabajo a través de actividades diseñadas para dicho fin. Ojalá sea de utilidad y contribuya a sensibilizar a la comunidad educativa sobre la necesidad de una sociedad más justa, en la que hombres y mujeres puedan mirarse a los ojos sintiéndose iguales.
Karta ze stosunków rodzinnych Ormian zamojskich. Morderstwo Heleny Kistesterowiczowej (1680)
Authors: Majewski Marcin Łukasz
Published: March 2022

A card from the family life of Zamość Armenians. Murder of Helena Kistesterowiczowa (1680)
Death of Helena Kistesterowiczowa, who was murdered by her husband only one year after their marriage, was the most shocking event in the history of the Zamość Armenian commune. On the basis of case files and other sources, the author presents circumstances of this crime and course of the case. Analysing the testimonies of the accused and witnesses as well as the report about examination of the corpse, he reconstructs the events, depicting relations in the marriage of Kistesterowicze, for which the conflict between Eliasz Kistesterowicz and his father-in-law Serhij Zachariaszewicz Browar was the background. This affair constitutes a minor contribution to family relations of Zamość Armenians in the second half of the 17th century.
„Raumkunst” autorstwa Teodora Axentowicza
Authors: Krzysztofowicz-Kozakowska Stefania
Published: March 2022

Raumkunst by Teodor Axentowicz

Three exhibition arrangements analysed in the article – the halls of Polish artists on the exhibitions in St. Louis (1904), London (1906) and XI International Biennial of Art in Venice (1914) – allow us to consider Teodor Axentowicz as a precursor of the new form of organisation of the exhibition space within the Polish culture. This form was a pattern for the subsequent architects of exhibitions belonging to the Society of Polish Artists “Art”. Projects of Axentowicz perfectly fitted to the modern style of exhibition interior arrangement, which was promoted by the Viennese environment of “Secession” at the turn of the 20th century.
Omówienie wybranych angielskojęzycznych publikacji armenistycznych z roku 2020
Authors: Osiecki Jakub
Published: March 2022

Presentation of chosen 2020 English publications in the field of Armenian studies

The article discusses a few chosen publications in the field of Armenian studies, published in the English language in 2020. It presents the books which were published primarily by the publishing house I.B. Tauris (Bloomsbury Publishing), the American Society for Armenian Studies, as well as by publishing houses Brill and Peter Lang.
Padrões Numéricos
Authors: Da Silva Mario Olivero Marques
Published: March 2022

Nestas notas chamamos a atenção para padrões existentes nas somas iteradas dos números obtidos dos períodos das dízimas periódicas de frações da forma 1/p, para p primos maiores do que 5. Esta rica fonte de padrões pode servir de estímulo aos estudantes de Matemática, mesmo de nível elementar, pois lidamos apenas com conceitos introdutórios e com as operações básicas de números. Para situações nas quais estes cálculos se tornam volumosos, sugerimos o uso do programa livre PARI/GP. Os comandos mais usados para tanto serão exemplificados no fim do trabalho.
O indianismo e o lendário em Iracema de José de Alencar e Macunaíma de Mário de Andrade
Authors: Oliveira Carlos César de
Published: March 2022

O estudo em questão foi realizado a partir do olhar e da relação deste professor-pesquisador com a Literatura, por meio do qual coteja aproximações e distanciamentos entre Iracema de José de Alencar e Macunaíma de Mário de Andrade (OLIVEIRA, 2004). Tomando o indianismo e o lendário com referências, este estudo vem reforçar o importante papel da literatura na formação de leitores críticos e reflexivos, compreendendo que por serem atravessadas por um viés ideológico, as literaturas têm o seu caráter político. Ancorei-me numa abordagem qualitativa, por meio de um levantamento bibliográfico e da (re)leitura das duas obras, para a análise inspirei-me na Literatura Comparada (SAMUEL, 2002) e em alguns elementos da análise do discurso (BAKTHIN, 1988), o que me propiciou fazer um entrelaçamento entre as literaturas e a educação. Trata-se, portanto, de uma escrita que é um convite à leitura, a compreender a pluralidade das literaturas e que reitera o importante papel da oralidade nas práticas educativas. Para finalizar, apresento algumas considerações e inquietações acerca do ensino de literaturas e da importância de reinventá-lo, aproximando-o da linguagem das/os estudantes e do cotidiano da escola. E assim concluo: “Tem mais não”!
Virando de ponta a cabeça: inspirações decoloniais para uma pedagogia com as infâncias
Authors: Macedo Nayara Alves , Faria Pablo Luiz de
Published: March 2022

O presente artigo coloca em discussão movimentos teóricos, políticos e pedagógicos que interrogam a pedagogia sustentada por lógicas adultocêntricas de negação das infâncias, sobretudo, das infâncias das classes populares. O diálogo propõe um convite a um ato antropofágico de incorporar as lutas e rebeldias que as crianças produzem, formas de transgredir e subverter a lógica da colonização adulta do ser, do saber e do poder, o que implica na subversão da pedagogia, a virando de “ponta a cabeça”. Trata-se de discutir os fundamentos epistemológicos e de propostas político-pedagógicas constituídas a partir das pedagogias dos oprimidos, e isso, nos leva a aprofundar a análise nas estruturas fabricadas pela nossa herança colonial. Neste caminho, nos inspiramos em algumas obras de Ana Lúcia Goulart de Faria que nos mobiliza na reinvenção da educação das infâncias num rompimento radical com a pedagogia do capital. Conclui-se que é urgente e necessário problematizar as raízes coloniais de nossas referências teóricas, políticas e éticas na educação das crianças, avançando na visibilização das pedagogias decoloniais, na radicalidade da afirmação da educação das infâncias como prática de liberdade.
Infâncias e a luta das mulheres: resistência plurais, feminismos e pedagogias descolonizadoras
Authors: Silva Adriana Alves da , Silva Vanderlete Pereira da
Published: March 2022

Este artigo traz interlocuções de pesquisas sobre infâncias, feminismos plurais e estudos decoloniais no âmbito do Gepedisc Culturas Infantis. Na primeira parte, apresenta um percurso de pesquisa e criação abordando a temática da cultura da violência, em uma perspectiva de análise interseccional, considerando o nó (Saffioti, 2015) que ata capitalismo-patriarcado, enredando classe, sexismo e racismo. Problematiza a cultura patriarcal (hooks, 2013) com suas pedagogias da crueldade (Segato, 2014) e aponta uma metodologia de pesquisa antropofágica na hipótese dos sinais remanescentes da cultura matriarcal (Andrade, 1990), através de poéticas e políticas da resistência em busca de pedagogias descolonizadoras. Nos interstícios do artigo, as vozes da poesia indígena ecoam com a poética de Márcia Wayna Kambeba, da etnia Omágua Kambeba.Na segunda parte, apresenta os resultados de uma pesquisa de doutorado acerca das formas de resistência das mulheres-mães que vivem com seus filhos e filhas na cidade de Manaus, capital do estado que concentra a maior população indígena do país. A pesquisa revela os efeitos da colonização na educação das crianças pequenininhas de 0 a 3 anos de idade, com foco nas questões de gênero e etnia, evidenciando a relação entre o processo de colonização e a forma como a colonialidade opera, criando entre os povos colonizados mecanismos de hierarquização que reforçam e reproduzem as desigualdades sociais, afetando o cuidado e a educação das crianças pequenininhas em ambientes urbanos.
Estudos sociais da infância na UnB: apontamentos a partir produção acadêmica
Authors: Voltarelli Monique Aparecida
Published: March 2022

Este artigo é parte de um projeto de pesquisa sobre os Estudos da Infância nas produções da Universidade de Brasília, que buscou investigar as produções acadêmicas nos Programas de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Humanas a fim de localizar indicativos sobre este campo científico. O texto apresentado refere-se aos dados do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação. A pesquisa, de cunho bibliográfico e exploratório, utilizou o recorte temporal de 2014 a 2018 e se baseou no paradigma da infância, proposto por James e Prout (1990). Verificou-se indicativos do paradigma nos trabalhos analisados, bem como a utilização dos aportes metodológicos nas pesquisas com crianças. Entretanto pode-se dizer que, de modo geral, ainda é tímida a fundamentação teórica a partir da Sociologia da Infância nas temáticas investigadas, o que demonstra que as crianças ainda são pouco estudadas e compreendidas enquanto sujeitos de estudo por direito próprio e a infância demonstrou ser compreendida pela perspectiva desenvolvimentista.
O fazer científico frente à perspectiva da não neutralidade
Authors: Schwartz Cleonara Maria , Batista Patrícia Veronesi
Published: March 2022

Este artigo propõe-se a refletir sobre questões relativas à neutralidade e não neutralidade das pesquisas científicas. Compartilha-se da concepção da não-neutralidade da ciência, buscando explicitar argumentos que justifiquem tal compreensão, implicações a serem evitadas, assim como possibilidades para o fazer científico. O estudo compreende uma pesquisa bibliográfica exploratória e analítica, se apoia em contribuições teóricas de Stengers (2002), Maturana (2001) e Dalmaso (2014), para discutir concepções e posturas necessárias ao/à pesquisador/a, ciente de que não há neutralidade nas produções científicas. Observou-se que é preciso envolver a sociedade no planejamento de pesquisas, para que, junto da comunidade científica, passem a ver a produção de conhecimentos como uma oportunidade para refletir sobre si mesmos e sobre o meio em que estão inseridos, comprometidos com desafios e problemas próprios de seus contextos sócio-históricos, atentos às demandas que surgem da coletividade e da pluralidade de ideias. Defende-se a necessidade de uma nova postura do pesquisador, ciente das possibilidades e reponsabilidades da perspectiva da não neutralidade, o que a nosso ver pode conferir maior credibilidade à prática científica.
Evaluation of a large group supervision model in a university student-led physiotherapy clinic
Authors: Moseley Jamie , Hellawell Michael , Graham Claire , Briggs Alison
Published: March 2022

Background/Aims

Clinical placements are a crucial aspect of training for student healthcare professionals, but the traditional 1:1 student–staff placement ratio puts a strain on placement capacity. This study evaluated a large group supervision model in physiotherapy in a university setting, looking at the student placement experience and patient outcomes.

Methods

The effectiveness of the supervision model was assessed using several indicators: student satisfaction, student performance, patient satisfaction and clinic contribution to placement capacity. Both students (n=34) and patients (n=85) filled out surveys to measure their satisfaction, and the results of the National Student Survey were also analysed in relation to the clinic and the wider physiotherapy course.

Results

Both patients and students reported high levels of satisfaction with the clinic and the placement model, with students noting the usefulness of the clinic in preparing them for work and increasing their employability. Summative assessment scores were also high. Overall, the clinic was able to provide 15–25% of the course's placement capacity per block.

Conclusions

The large group supervision model is just as effective, if not more so, than traditional placement models in terms of both capacity and quality, with very positive feedback from both students and patients. This method of training should be considered and researched further in other healthcare education contexts.
Evidence-related framing in the German debate on sugar taxation: a qualitative framing analysis and international comparison
Authors: Moerschel Katharina S. , von Philipsborn Peter , Hawkins Benjamin , McGill Elizabeth
Published: March 2022

Background:

Taxation of sugar and sugar-sweetened beverages is considered a key policy for improving population-level nutrition. Implementation is influenced by the way evidence is used and framed in public debates. At this time, no sugar tax has been implemented in Germany.

Aims and objectives:

This study aims to deepen the understanding of the political dynamics that influence the adoption of sugar taxes by analysing the use of evidence in the German media debate on sugar taxation and comparing its findings with analyses from other countries.

Methods:

In 114 German newspaper articles, published between 01/2018 and 03/2019, we analysed the use and framing of evidence with an abductive thematic analysis approach. We compared our findings with analyses on the framing around sugar taxation from Mexico, the US and the UK.

Findings:

Evidence was a salient component of the German debate. As in the comparison countries, evidence was used by both tax proponents and opponents but framed differently, for example, regarding problem definitions. However, the German debate relied more strongly on examples from other countries and less on economic arguments.

Discussion and conclusions:

Our findings suggest that German tax proponents should proactively consider economic arguments and counter spurious arguments made by tax opponents. Researchers should be aware of their work’s potential international spillover effects, and public health advocates should correct expectations regarding the evidence on, and health effects of, isolated measures against obesity. To deepen the understanding of the German policy process, further research should involve social media, public documents and stakeholder networks.
The Midwifery Unit Self-Assessment (MUSA) Toolkit: embedding stakeholder engagement and co-production of improvement plans in European midwifery units
Authors: Rocca-Ihenacho Lucia , Yuill Cassandra , Thaels Ellen , Uddin Nazihah
Published: March 2022

Background:

For women with straightforward pregnancies midwifery units (MUs) are associated with improved maternal outcomes and experiences, similar neonatal outcomes, and lower costs than obstetric units. There is growing interest and promotion of MUs and midwifery-led care among European health policymakers and healthcare systems, and units are being developed and opened in countries for the first time or are increasing in number. To support this implementation, it is crucial that practice guidelines and improvement frameworks are in place, in order to ensure that MUs are and remain well-functioning.

Aims and objectives:

This project focused on the stakeholder engagement and collaboration with MUs to implement the Midwifery Unit Self-Assessment (MUSA) Tool in European MUs. A rapid participatory appraisal was conducted with midwives and stakeholders from European MUs to explore the clarity and usability of the tool, to understand how it helps MUs identifying areas for further improvement, and to identify the degree of support maternity services need in this process.

Key conclusions:

Engagement and co-production principles used in the case studies were perceived as empowering by all stakeholders. A fresh-eye view from the external facilitators on dynamics within the MU and its relationship with the obstetric unit was highly valued. However, micro-, meso- and macro-levels of organisational change and their associated stakeholders need to be further represented in the MUSA-Tool. The improvement plans generated from it should also reflect these micro-, meso- and macro-level considerations in order to identify the key actors for further implementation and integration of MUs into European health services.
Speckle-based deep learning approach for classification of orbital angular momentum modes
Authors: Raskatla Venugopal , Singh B. P. , Patil Satyajeet , Kumar Vijay , Singh R. P.
Published: March 2022

We present a speckle-based deep learning approach for orbital angular momentum (OAM) mode classification. In this method, we have simulated the speckle fields of the Laguerre–Gauss (LG), Hermite–Gauss (HG), and superposition modes by multiplying these modes with a random phase function and then taking the Fourier transform. The intensity images of these speckle fields are fed to a convolutional neural network (CNN) for training a classification model that classifies modes with an accuracy

>

99
%

. We have trained and tested our method against the influence of atmospheric turbulence by training the models with perturbed LG, HG, and superposition modes and found that models are still able to classify modes with an accuracy

>

98
%

. We have also trained and tested our model with experimental speckle images of LG modes generated by three different ground glasses. We have achieved a maximum accuracy of 96% for the most robust case, where the model is trained with all simulated and experimental data. The novelty of the technique is that one can do the mode classification just by using a small portion of the speckle fields because speckle grains contain the information about the original mode, thus eliminating the need for capturing the whole modal field, which is modal dependent.
Ultrathin flexible terahertz metamaterial bandstop filter based on laser-induced graphene
Authors: Zhang Rongxuan , Zong Guwei , Wu Shuangyue , Song Ruiqi , Zhang Xu , Ge Shijun , Hu Wei , Wang Lei , Lu Yanqing
Published: March 2022

An ultrathin, flexible metamaterial filter operated at terahertz (THz) frequencies based on one-step

C
O

2

laser-induced graphene (LIG) is proposed. The effects of laser machining parameters on conductivity and THz transmittance of the LIG are investigated, and a bandstop filter is fabricated from an

∼

50

µ

m

polyimide film using the LIG method with relatively high laser power and scanning speed. At a blocking central frequency of 0.67 THz, the planar filter transmission is

∼

40

%

with only small variations for different bending angles. The simple, low-cost LIG method enables fabrication of THz metamaterial devices with great potential for THz imaging, sensing, and detection.
Programmable phase-change medium-assisted hyperbolic metamaterial as a dual-band nearly perfect absorber
Authors: Pourmand M. , Choudhury P. K.
Published: March 2022

A programmable phase-change medium-based hyperbolic metamaterial with tunable perfect absorption in the visible and near-infrared regimes was investigated. The stochastic particle swarm optimization was used in the design process, followed by the transfer matrix method to further investigate the angle-invariant and polarization-insensitive spectral properties. Absorption

>

90

%

in the visible regime along with nearly perfect absorption (

>

99

%

) with 80 nm full width at half-maximum was achieved, which can be tuned in a range of 1.31–1.57 µm.
Maximizing the information throughput of ultra-wideband fiber-optic communication systems
Authors: Shevchenko Nikita A. , Nallaperuma Sam , Savory Seb J.
Published: March 2022

Maximized information rates of ultra-wideband (typically, beyond 100~nm modulated bandwidth) lumped-amplified fiber-optic communication systems have been thoroughly examined accounting for the wavelength dependencies of optical fiber parameters in conjunction with the impact of the inelastic inter-channel stimulated Raman scattering (SRS). Three strategies to maximize point-to-point link throughput were proposed: optimizations of non-uniformly and uniformly distributed launch power per channel and the optimization based on adjusting to the target 3 dB ratio between the power of linear amplified spontaneous emission and nonlinear interference noise. The results clearly emphasize the possibility to approach nearly optimal system performance by means of implementing pragmatic engineering sub-optimal optimization strategies.
High-resolution dark-field confocal microscopy based on radially polarized illumination
Authors: Hua Zijie , Liu Jian , Liu Chenguang
Published: March 2022

Dark-field confocal microscopy (DFCM) facilitates the 3D detection and localization of surface and subsurface defects in high-precision optical components. The spatial resolution of conventional DFCM is commonly undermined owing to complementary aperture detection. We employed a radially polarized (RP) beam for illumination in DFCM. The RP beam creates a sub-diffraction-sized longitudinal optical component after being focused and effectively enhances the lateral resolution by 30.33% from 610 nm to 425 nm. The resolution improvement was verified by imaging a 2D sample containing sparsely distributed gold nanorods along with a 3D neodymium glass containing surface and subsurface defects.
Graphene-enhanced polarization-insensitive all-optical wavelength conversion based on four-wave mixing
Authors: Yang Yatao , Duan Min , Lin Jiamei , Wang Zhenhong , Wang Ke , Ji Jianhua , Song Yufeng
Published: March 2022

All-optical wavelength conversion technology based on four-wave mixing (FWM) effect is a promising development need of the modern high-speed optical signal processing system. In this work, we report on the polarization insensitive four-wave mixing based on graphene for all optical wavelength conversion. To overcome the polarization sensitivity of FWM, a dual-pump configuration was proposed based on the combination of graphene and the optical fibers. Our experimental results illustrate that by using the dual pump configuration, the FWM-based wavelength conversion efficiency, can be enhanced by graphene with about 8 dB when the state of polarization of the two pumps are parallel. This proposed all-optical wavelength converter based on graphene may provide a new approach for the next generation optical communications and signal processing.
Multi-layered all-dielectric grating visible color filter with a narrow band and high-quality factor
Authors: Zhao Yuanhang , Li Zizheng , Liu Xiaoyi , Wang Kai , Sun Yuqi , Yang Haigui , Wang Xiaoyi , Wang Tongtong , Song Naitao , Gao Jinsong
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we proposed a double-layer all-dielectric grating. Under the premise of ensuring the strength of the resonance peak, the upper SiO2 grating layer suppresses the tendency of high-order dipole resonance excitation and improves the transmittance at the non-resonant position (T > 99%). The distribution of chromaticity coordinates on the CIE 1931 chromaticity diagram also proves that suppressing side peaks can effectively increase the saturation of structural colors, which is essential for a high precision imaging system. The cyclic displacement current excites the magnetic dipole resonance, which causes the magnetic field to be confined in the high refractive index material HfO2 grating layer. By adjusting the duty cycle of the grating structure, a reflection spectrum with low full width half maximum (FWHM) (∼2 nm) and high-quality factor Q (∼424.5 nm) can be obtained. And the spectral intensity is more sensitive to the polarization angle. This work is of great significance to the development of sensors, display imaging and other fields. At the same time, the material of the grating filter meets the requirements of high damage threshold of the high-power laser system, and its high-power laser application potential is inestimable.
All-optical microwave waveform transformation based on photonic temporal processors
Authors: Chen Xiangping , Jiang Yang , Yu Qiang , Xu Jing , Zi Yuejiao , Li Jiahui , Lan Xiaohong , Chen Na
Published: March 2022

An all-photonic approach of microwave waveforms generation and transformation is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. From the perspective of envelope function operation in time domain, an initial triangular waveform is transformed into square waveform and sawtooth (or reversed-sawtooth) waveform via two types of differentiators, respectively. In addition, by using a SOA as a multiplier, both bright and dark parabolic pulses are achieved, which are further transformed into sawtooth (or reversed-sawtooth) waveform by taking the first derivative operation. The feasibility of the system is verified by theoretical analysis and simulation. In experiment, all of the expected results are successfully demonstrated and agree with the theoretical analysis well. This scheme provides a novel access to implement all-optical microwave waveforms generation, transformation, signal processing and computing.
Multipartite classically entangled scalar beams
Authors: Wan Zhensong , Shen Yijie , Liu Qiang , Fu Xing
Published: March 2022

Classically entangled light is used to refer to a class of structured beams with space–polarization, polarization–time, and space–time non-separable states akin to entangled states, which enable novel quantum-analog methods and applications in structured light. Here, we argue that classical entanglement is also available for pure scalar beams with multiple non-separable spatial degrees of freedom (DoFs). We theoretically and experimentally demonstrate a class of scalar ray–wave structured light with multiple controllable local DoFs to emulate multipartite entangled states, including the Greenberger–Horne–Zeilinger states. Our work unveils a rich parameter space for high-dimensional and multi-DoF control of structured light to extend applications in classical–quantum regimes.