bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conditional Effects, Observables and Instruments
Authors: Gudder Stan
Published: February 2024

We begin with a study of operations and the effects they measure. We define the probability that an effect $a$ occurs when the system is in a state $\rho$ by $P_{\rho}(a)=\textrm{Tr}(\rho a)$. If $P_{\rho}(a)\ne0$ and $\mathcal{I}$ is an operation that measures $a$, we define the conditional probability of an effect $b$ given $a$ relative to $\mathcal{I}$ by $P_{\rho}(b\mid a)=\textrm{Tr}[\mathcal{I}(\rho)b]/P_{\rho}(a)$. We characterize when Bayes' quantum second rule $P_{\rho}(b\mid a)=\frac{P_{\rho}(b)}{P_{\rho}(a)}\,P_{\rho}(a\mid b)$ holds. We then consider Lüders and Holevo operations. We next discuss instruments and the observables they measure. If $A$ and $B$ are observables and an instrument $\mathcal{I}$ measures $A$, we define the observable $B$ conditioned on $A$ relative to $\mathcal{I}$ and denote it by $(B\mid A)$. Using these concepts, we introduce Bayes' quantum first rule. We observe that this is the same as the classical Bayes' first rule, except it depends on the instrument used to measure $A$. We then extend this to Bayes' quantum first rule for expectations. We show that two observables $B$ and $C$ are jointly commuting if and only if there exists an atomic observable $A$ such that $B=(B\mid A)$ and $C=(C\mid A)$. We next obtain a general uncertainty principle for conditioned observables. Finally, we discuss observable conditioned quantum entropies. The theory is illustrated with many examples.Quanta 2024; 13: 1–10.
Following the trail of the grey brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira) in Argentina: new locality records, activity patterns and habitat use
Authors: Fleitas Quintana Roco , Rodríguez Daniela , Zeverini Diego , Tagua Mariano , Lucero Jesús Luis , Szymañski Carolina
Published: February 2024

The brown brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira) is a species of neotropical ungulate that inhabits several countries in South America. In Argentina, it is distributed in the northern portion of the country, while historical records do not mention it in the province of Mendoza. However, in the Categorization of Mammals of Argentina (2019), the NE of Mendoza is proposed as a potential distribution area of the species. In this work we confirm the presence of the brown brocket deer in the province of Mendoza (locality of Desaguadero - RAMSAR Site), and we also evaluate its activity patterns and habitat preferences. We established 1 km2 grids in three environments: salt flats, shrublands, and forests. A camera trap (n = 38) was placed in each grid, active for 55 days between October 2022 and April 2023 for fauna survey. In addition, NDVI values (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) were calculated from LANDSAT-8 images as an estimator of vegetation cover for each grid. We obtained 25 independent records of 11 individuals (5 males and 6 females) from a sampling effort of 51,072 hours of camera operation (2,090 night/trap = 55 night * 38 camera). The males were individually identified based on the presence of antlers, their size, dimension and texture, while the females by their body size and gestation condition. In terms of activity patterns, we observed that these animals are most active in the afternoon (16 to 19 hs) and morning (8 to 9 hs), avoiding the moments of greatest solar radiation (Rayleigh-test r = 0.99, p < 0.001). NDVI was significantly different among the three environments (Chisq = 32.98; p < 0.001), with the forest having the highest vegetation cover. Finally, generalized linear models with binomial distribution were used to evaluate the effect of vegetation on the presence of brown brocket deer. We found that the higher the NDVI value, the higher the probability of presence of the deer (z = 2.27; p < 0.05). These results expand the distribution of the species and increase the diversity of mammals for Mendoza province, which generates added value to the planning of the proposed protected area for Desaguadero in the RAMSAR site Lagunas de Guanacache, Desaguadero y del Bebedero.
Spatial Variation of Population Density and Age Structure of White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in a Colombian Moor
Authors: Carrillo-Villamizar Jennifer Zilenthsjigh , López-Arévalo Hugo Fernando
Published: February 2024

Wildlife population density is affected by resource availability, predators and competitors, and anthropogenic stressors.  Its analysis and the factors affecting it are important for conservation, use, or population control.  Based on estimates of density and population parameters, together with niche modeling, previous studies considered that the white-tailed deer population at the Chingaza National Natural Park (NNP) is undergoing exponential growth due to the marginal influence of factors regulating its abundance, such as predators.  The aim of this study was to evaluate the population density and age structure of the white-tailed deer in the Chingaza NNP, Colombia.  To evaluate the population density and age structure of white-tailed deer in the Monterredondo and La Paila sectors of the Chingaza NNP, 10 transects were installed with circular plots in each.  These were visited twice; in each visit, we collected all deer pellet groups, measuring each pellet to estimate its volume.  Population density was calculated using the Eberhardt and Van Etten method and the semi-automated PELLET procedure using FSC and FAR techniques; the age structure was estimated by k-means and fuzzy clustering analyses. With the FAR technique, the estimated deer density was 2.09 ind/km2 in Monterredondo and 0.94 ind/km2 in La Paila.  With PELLET, these values were 0.37 ± 0.4 ind/km2 for Monterredondo and 0.16 ± 0.2 ind/km2 for La Paila.  The proportion of age classes (adult, juvenile, and fawn) was 1:0.29:0 for Monterredondo and 1:0.57:0.04 for La Paila.  The population density of white-tailed deer in two sectors of the Chingaza NNP is not homogeneous, but shows temporal and spatial variations.  Population density has decreased versus reports from previous studies in this same area, with the highest deer abundance recorded in 2004, mostly in the Monterredondo sector.  The proportion of age classes suggests that the population is stable, as the largest proportion of individuals corresponds to the adult stage
Urgent Prioritization of Conservation Sites for the Jagüilla (Tayassu pecari) in the Honduran Moskitia Region
Authors: Portillo Reyes Hector Orlando , Martínez Marcio
Published: February 2024

Tayassu pecari (known in Honduras as jagüilla and Wari in Miskito), is one of two types of wild pigs (chanchos de monte) found in Honduras (Marineros and Martinez 1998).  Currently, its conservation status on the IUCN red list is vulnerable (VU) and critically endangered (CR) for Honduras (WCS 2021).  According to Portillo and Elvir (2016), the potential area for jagüilla distribution is 6,126 km2 corresponding to 5.5 % of the country territory.  The potential area for this species is in three sites, mainly protected area of the Reserva del Hombre and the Biósfera del Río Plátano (RHBRP), with approximately 70 % of the predicted potential distribution (4,288 km2), 20 % (1,225 km2) in the indigenous territories of Rus Rus, Mocorón and Warunta, and 10 % (613 km2) in the Tawahka Asagni Biosphere Reserve.  The aim of this note is to contribute to the prioritization of four sites where evidence of small groups of jagüillas have been found: 1) Sierra de Agalta National Park.  2) the core zone of the RHBRP.  3) the cultural zone of the RHBRP.  4) the Warunta Mountains.  Records of jagüilla were obtained from diverse sources (Table 1), mainly from biological monitoring implemented in various locations of the Río Plátano Biosphere (buffer zone, cultural zone, and core zone), Warunta Mountains, riparian forest in Rus Rus River, as well as the Tawahka Biosphere Reserve through the use of camera traps which were carried out between 2016 and 2022.  In the RHBRP jagüilla were registered in two of the three zones these being the core zone and the cultural zone; no records of the species were obtained in the buffer zone.  In these localities, groups of 2 to 45 individuals were documented.  For the Warunta region in the Indigenous Federation of Mocoron and Segovia Zone (FINZMOS territory), tracks, and photographic evidence of a large group of 50 to 100 individuals were registered moving in this territory covered mainly by primary broadleaf forest.  Hunting by invasive settlers and habitat loss due to deforestation in protected areas, has had an impact on jagüilla populations, reducing this species in the Honduran Moskitia region as mentioned by Portillo and Elvir (2016).  One of the important aspects of this work is to highlight the findings in NP Sierra de Agalta as a potential site for future research and biological monitoring efforts for the development of conservation processes for the jagüilla as a park conservation target (Figure 2) since the last records of this species were documented at La Quebrada del Sol, NP Sierra de Agalta, in 1994 (Marineros and Martínez 1998).  It is of utmost importance to establish monitoring and participatory conservation processes with the local communities (Larsen 2019; Martínez et al. 2022).
DESENVOLVIMENTO E EXPERIÊNCIA ESTÉTICA: COMO COMPREENDEMOS A ARTE
Authors: Moura Paz Cícero Fernando de , Hattge Morgana Domênica
Published: February 2024

Como a compreensão do desenvolvimento estético pode contribuir para o ensino de Arte? Os estágios resultantes das teorias do desenvolvimento estético interferem nas experiências proporcionadas pelos mais variados contatos com a arte? É possível universalizar os modos de construção do pensamento estético? Estas são algumas das questões que o presente artigo procura responder, deixando claro que a análise dos relatos das experiências estéticas é mais relevante que o ato de classificar pessoas em “desenvolvidas ou não desenvolvidas esteticamente”. Dialogando com as ideias propostas por Rossi (2009), Parsons (1992), Rodrigues (2008), Couto (2000) e Cruz (2016), entre outros autores, o texto fala da importância do contexto cultural e dos processos de mediação estética para a estimulação da compreensão e desenvolvimento estético, além de apresentar a análise dos relatos de uma atividade de leitura de imagem, realizada com participantes de diferentes idades e níveis de formação, que tinha por objetivo investigar os processos de construção do pensamento estético.
A POLÍTICA DE RESERVA DE VAGAS EM INSTITUIÇÕES FEDERAIS DE ENSINO
Authors: Freitas Ilca Dos Santos , Pizza Samira Nathalia , Siquelli Sônia Aparecida
Published: February 2024

Este artigo objetiva analisar como a política de ação afirmativa para o acesso de alunos de escolas públicas, negros, de baixa renda, indígenas e com deficiência se efetiva nas instituições federais de ensino no contexto de uma década de existência da Lei Nº 12.711/2012, conhecida como “Lei de Cotas”. Compreende-se, de acordo com o contexto social e histórico do Brasil, a possibilidade de enfrentar as desigualdades sociais e étnicas. Superar a exclusão, favorecer a luta contra os preconceitos e defender a inserção cidadã na sociedade entre os diferentes, pois ensinar e aprender implica em convivência. A partir da abordagem qualitativa, sob a perspectiva histórica e legal, foi realizada uma revisão de literatura e análise documental desta lei. Como metodologia de análise foi utilizada a abordagem do ciclo de políticas, na qual possibilitou perceber o movimento realizado e a transformação provocada pela política entre diferentes contextos. Observou-se, que a política de ações afirmativas contribui para a redução de disparidades de acesso ao ensino público federal, em especial, destaca-se o papel da lei para a unificação de critérios e exigência de que todas as universidades e institutos federais criem políticas de cotas.
CORPÓREO DIGITAL: COCREACIÓN EN LA VIRTUALIDAD
Authors: Restrepo Acevedo Isabel Cristina
Published: February 2024

El quehacer sociocultural en la actual virtualidad digital, exacerbada por la pandemia del covid-19, implica la reflexión por nuevas relaciones dialógicas entre cuerpos y tecnologías. En particular, la acción creativa individual y colectiva, de contacto directo y físico, implica nuevas formas de ser y estar a través de los ordenadores y dispositivos móviles. Podemos plantear una virtualidad digital en la que nos reconocemos, comunicamos y creamos a través de representaciones virtuales o avatares de cuerpos y acciones en pantalla. Partiendo de la investigación doctoral Tocar con los ojos, ver con las manos: cuerpo, acción y tecnología en los espacios de interacción digital con monitoreo remoto, desarrollada desde una metodología cualitativa y hermenéutica, se analizan acciones individuales y colectivas en la virtualidad que proponen nuevas posibilidades de posicionamiento creativo a través de representaciones en pantallas digitales. Para esto se examinan proyectos desarrollados por el Grupo de Investigación Hipertrópico: Convergencia entre Arte y Tecnología, de la Facultad de Artes de la Universidad de Antioquia; donde cuerpo, acción y representación habitan la virtualidad digital desde perspectivas estéticas, pedagógicas y políticas. Se generan conclusiones sobre los procesos dados (a partir de adaptaciones, traducciones y descubrimientos) entre lo análogo y lo virtual, y entre humanos y máquinas; donde la cooperación es a la vez método, metáfora y estrategia de resistencia creativa y expresiva ante los determinismos tecnológicos.
Public Sector Innovation – An Analysis of Privacy Disasters
Authors: Anant Aaloka , Prasad Ramjee
Published: February 2024

Europe has multiple hubs for innovation. Some of them namely being Munich, Berlin, Paris, Helsinki, Copenhagen, Dublin and many more. Innovations have been the prime driver of economic progress. Most often innovations have brought a country ahead of others in economic prosperity. Innovations like steam engine, electricity, nuclear energy, internet, 5G and many more like these have changed the course of history of mankind by bringing a change in how people live their life from one generation to another. This paper highlights the challenges presented by privacy protection laws in nurturing innovation, if any. These challenges are faced by Educational Institutions as well as public sector organizations across Europe while promoting and nurturing innovation. The old way of collecting information, running surveys, collecting personal or sensitive information about people are no more acceptable due to digitisation, where hacks and security breaches are becoming commonplace. The restriction of knowledge sharing and knowledge gathering due to lack of technology to preserve privacy is also highlighted in the paper with analysis of the current situation on breaches in public sector organizations. This is an exploratory paper which analysis the GDPR fines with focus on public sector organisations and highlights the need of comprehensive action along with impact on innovation in this context.
“We Know Only Our Po Then Luang ”: Heritagization, Religious Inculturation, and Resistance in Post-đổi mới Vietnam
Authors: Cầm Hoàng
Published: February 2024

Abstract: In 2016, the local government of Như Hoa multi-ethnic district of a northern province of Vietnam rebuilt a ruined temple of the Thái minority, a place associated with their long tradition of offering buffalos to their supreme God –the Po Then Luang. With the aim of meeting the spiritual needs of diverse ethnic communities in the district, the structure and altars of the temple were built with a combination of Việt Buddhist temple architecture and the iconic Thái stilt house. During the inauguration of the temple, a Buddhist ritual was celebrated by hundreds of different ethnic people including the Thái. However, in contrast to the local government's expectation, Thái villagers resisted local authorities’ efforts to integrate Buddhism and the Mother Goddess religion into the rebuilt temple. Thái villagers did not mind the architecture of the rebuilt temple or the devotional practices of the Vietnamese people, but they resisted the inclusion of altars dedicated to Buddhist figures in the temple and the inclusion of Buddhist rituals in their own site of worship. Their resistance revealed the complexities of religious accommodation in contemporary Vietnam. This article examines this episode of contestation in relation to state efforts of heritagization, and situates this local resistance within the larger context of religious dialogue and revitalization in contemporary society.
Matrix formulation of the Gaussian expansion of coherent multiple beams in arbitrary dimensions
Authors: Coïc H. , Abdelmoumni-Prunes Y. , Rouyer C. , Bonod N.
Published: February 2024

Modeling the propagation of beams along laser beamlines is very challenging due to the multidimensional and multiscale configuration of the problem. Spatio-temporal couplings are particularly difficult to address with conventional numerical methods. Here we derive the Wigner function of a sum of Gaussian beams by calculating the multidimensional Fourier transform of the intercorrelation function of the fields. The matrix formulation allows for a simple propagation of the Wigner function in the framework of matrix optics. The relevancy of this approach is assessed by applying this model to one-dimensional and multidimensional configurations and by studying the influence of spatio-temporal couplings when considering propagation and dispersion by a diffraction grating.
Heterogeneous integrated optical fiber with side nickel core for distributed magnetic field sensing
Authors: Gu Yunzhe , Pang Fufei , Zhu Mengshi , Yang Yi , Tang Yi , Zhang Liang , Wei Heming , Wang Tingyun
Published: February 2024

A design of a heterogeneous integrated optical fiber with side nickel core (SNCF) has been proposed and demonstrated for distributed fiber-optic magnetic field sensing. Experimental results show that magnetic properties of nickel can be preserved well after the high temperature drawing process. The functionality of the SNCF has been well verified, with the sensitivity for DC magnetic field being up to -2.42 µε/mT (below 8 mT). Besides, the SNCF finally presents magnetostriction saturation under a certain magnetic field, which agrees with the simulation. The proposed direct thermal drawing method to produce metal-heterogeneous integrated optical fiber paves the way for a simple and scalable means of incorporating metallic materials into fibers, as well as providing a promising candidate for long-distance distributed magnetic field sensing.
Prototype development and evaluation of a hyperspectral lidar optical receiving system
Authors: Qian Liyong , Wu Decheng , Liu Dong , Shi Shuo , Song Shalei , Gong Wei
Published: February 2024

As a new type of active Earth observation technology, airborne hyperspectral lidar combines the advantages of traditional lidar 3D information acquisition and passive hyperspectral imaging technology, and it can achieve integrated imaging detection with a high spatial and hyperspectral resolution. Thus, it has become an important future direction of Earth surface remote sensing technology. This article introduces the design and development of an airborne hyperspectral imaging lidar system. The hyperspectral lidar adopts a focal plane splitting method, combined with an array of 168 optical fibers, to couple wide-spectral-range laser echo signals one by one to the corresponding single tube detector, achieving efficient splitting and precise coupling of supercontinuum laser pulse echo signals. This article proposes a fast synchronous calibration method that is suitable for hyperspectral imaging lidar systems. Results show that the spectral range of the hyperspectral lidar system is 400–900 nm, and the spectral resolution of single-fiber detection is greater than 3 nm. Notably, this article focuses on analyzing the abnormal detection channels based on the calibration results. With the test results of adjacent channels combined, the reason for the abnormal spectral bandwidth of channel 17 is analyzed as an example. This research points out the direction for verifying the design parameters of the hyperspectral lidar prototype and lays an important foundation for airborne flight test of the hyperspectral lidar.
High brightness edge-emitting laser diode with wavelength self-organization in ultra-broad emitting area
Authors: Zhang Xiaoming , Wang Xiaojun , Zong Nan , Liu Ke , Cui Dafu , Zhou Li , Tan Shaoyang , Wang Jun , Guo Yading
Published: February 2024

We have proposed and experimentally demonstrated an efficient method for generating high power and brightness based on an ultra-broad area laser diode (UBALD). We have developed a single-emitter UBALD capable of self-organization multi-wavelength emissions for two stripe widths of 2 and 5 mm, respectively. The 2 mm UBALD delivers an output power of 55 W with a beam quality M2 of 1.3 × 25.3 and a brightness of 179 MW/(cm2·sr). The 5 mm UBALD produces an output power of 121 W with a beam quality M2 of 2.1 × 32.7 and a brightness of 192 MW/(cm2·sr). To the best of our knowledge, these results represent the highest output power and highest brightness ever achieved from a single edge-emitting LD emitter to date.
Experimental demonstration on 400 nm-scale bandwidth optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification based on mixed cascaded crystals
Authors: Qiu Lijuan , Sun Meizhi , Xie Xinglong , Liang Xiao , Tu Xiaoniu , Li Xinran , Zhu Ping , Yi Youjian , Ding Fucai , Yang Qingwei , Haq Rashid Ul , Guo Ailin , Zhu Haidong , Kang Jun , Zhu Jianqiang
Published: February 2024

We present an optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification (OPCPA) based on mixed cascaded crystals, taking advantage of the unique parametric phase-matching of lithium triborate (LiB3O5, LBO) and yttrium calcium oxyborate ((YCa4O(BO3)3, YCOB) crystals. The OPCPA properties of LBO at 880 nm and YCOB at 750 nm are studied respectively. After amplification by two LBO and two YCOB crystals, a total signal gain of 108 and spectral bandwidth close to 400 nm is obtained. After accurate dispersion compensation with a grating-pair compressor and chirped mirror compensator, a pulse duration of 9.4 fs is obtained by a SHG-frequency-resolved optical grating (FROG). This approach will be of great significance in high energy amplifier for high peak power few-cycle laser sources.
Harmonic active mode-locking optoelectronic oscillator with suppressed supermode noise based on pulse intensity feedback
Authors: Yang Bo , Bai Bo , Chi Hao , Yang Shuna , Gao Yiran , He Hongxia
Published: February 2024

A harmonic active mode-locking optoelectronic oscillator (HAML-OEO) with pulse intensity feedback is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. It is capable of generating microwave pulses characterized by suppressed supermode noise, uniform intensity, and tunable repetition rates. Unlike traditional HAML-OEOs, active mode-locking and pulse intensity feedback are simultaneously achieved through the use of a dual-drive Mach–Zehnder modulator (DDMZM). By synchronously feeding back the generated microwave pulses to the DDMZM, each pulse undergoes a loss proportional to its intensity, facilitating pulse intensity equalization and supermode noise suppression. In the experiment, intensity-equalized microwave pulse trains with repetition rates of 499 kHz and 998 kHz are generated by the 5th- and 10th-order HAML-OEOs, respectively, with the measured supermode noise suppression ratios exceeding 40 dB.
Experimental comparison of E-band BDFA and Raman amplifier performance over 50 km G.652.D fiber using 30 GBaud DP-16-QAM and DP-64-QAM signals
Authors: Donodin Aleksandr , Hazarika Pratim , Tan Mingming , Pratiwi Dini , Noor Shabnam , Phillips Ian , Harper Paul , Forysiak Wladek
Published: February 2024

We compare the performance of three optical amplifiers in the E-band: a bismuth-doped fiber amplifier (BDFA), a distributed Raman amplifier, and a discrete Raman amplifier (RA). Data transmission performance of 30 GBaud DP-16-QAM and DP-64-QAM signals transmitted over 50 km of G.652.D fiber is compared in terms of achieved signal-to-noise (SNR). In this specific case of relatively short distance, single-span transmission, the BDFA outperforms the distributed and discrete Raman amplifiers due to the impact of fiber nonlinear penalties at high input signal powers.
Nonreciprocal toroidal dipole resonance and one-way quasi-bound state in the continuum
Authors: Li Junqing , Wu Zhixu , Zhang Dandan , Sun Yong , Liu Wenxing , Yu Tianbao
Published: February 2024

Bound states in the continuum (BICs) provide an alternative way of trapping light at nanoscale. Although the last 10 years have witnessed tremendous progress on BICs from fundamentals to applications, nonreciprocal BICs and their potential applications have not been fully exploited yet. In this study, we demonstrated a one-way quasi-BIC by leveraging an all-dielectric magneto-optical (MO) metasurface. We show that the key point for achieving a one-way quasi-BIC is to excite a magnetization-induced leaky resonance. Here we adopt the longitudinal toroidal dipole (TD) resonance characterized by a vortex distribution of head-to-tail magnetic dipoles parallel to the plane of the MO metasurface. We show that, by breaking the time-reversal symmetry, at critical conditions, the TD resonance can be enhanced in the forward channel and perfectly canceled in the time-reversed channel, resulting in a one-way quasi-BIC. The demonstrated phenomena hold significant promise for practical applications such as magnetic field optical sensing, nonreciprocal optical switching, isolation, and modulation.
Phase-matching-free ultrashort laser pulse characterization from a transient plasma lens
Authors: Bhalavi R. K. , Béjot P. , Leblanc A. , Dubrouil A. , Billard F. , Faucher O. , Hertz E.
Published: February 2024

A phase-matching-free ultrashort pulse retrieval based on the defocusing of a laser-induced plasma is presented. In this technique, a pump pulse ionizes a rare gas providing a plasma lens whose creation time is ultrafast. A probe pulse propagating through this gas lens experiences a switch of its divergence. The spectrum of the diverging part, isolated by a coronograph, is measured as a function of the pump–probe delay, providing a spectrogram that allows for a comprehensive characterization of the temporal properties of the probe pulse. The method, called PI-FROSt for “plasma-induced frequency-resolved optical switching,” is simple, is free of phase-matching constraints, and can operate in both self- and cross-referenced configurations at ultrahigh repetition rate in the whole transparency range of the gas. The assessment of the method demonstrates laser pulse reconstructions of high reliability in both near-infrared (NIR) and ultraviolet (UV) spectral ranges.
An efficient surface-integral-equation based Nystrom method for periodic grating scattering
Authors: Tan Shurun , Bai Xuyang
Published: February 2024

The design complexity of photonic crystals and periodic gratings has been continuously increasing, driven by exploration of their unique physical phenomena and widespread applications. However, existing approaches for scattering modeling of periodic structures, typically relying on commercial software, often encounter challenges when adapting to complex configurations, especially in the context of near-field analysis and frequency responses near resonance. Therefore, the development of a more efficient and general scattering modeling approach to overcome these limitations has emerged as a fundamentally crucial and intricate task. In this paper, an efficient surface integration equation (SIE)-based method is developed to model the scattering properties of arbitrary-shaped 2D gratings with 1D periodicity. The SIE is solved with a Nystrom approach, which incorporates a local correction scheme and a Gaussian-Legendre quadrature rule to deal with singularity points with improved accuracy. The efficient evaluation of periodic Green's functions is achieved by combining an imaginary wavenumber extraction technique with an integral transformation approach. Furthermore, an over-determined matrix equation is constructed by testing the SIE with redundant observation points to mitigate potential internal resonance phenomena. The proposed approach is assessed through various numerical examples involving scatterers of different shapes and arrangements to demonstrate its accuracy and efficiency. The transmissivity spectra and surface field results, considering both normal and grazing incidence, are computed and compared against Comsol simulations and an independent wave-expansion-based analytical method. The method proposed is found to be superior in accuracy and efficiency to Comsol, a commercial software application, especially when complicated evanescent modes are excited. The proposed method serves as an efficient tool for modeling scattering from periodic gratings with arbitrary shapes.
“Our desire is to make this village intestinal worm free”: Identifying determinants of high coverage of community-wide mass drug administration for soil transmitted helminths in Benin, India, and Malawi
Authors: Saxena Malvika , Roll Amy , Walson Judd L. , Pearman Emily , Legge Hugo , Nindi Providence , Chirambo Chawanangwa Mahebere , Titus Angelin , Johnson Jabaselvi , Bélou Elijan Abiguël , Togbevi Comlanvi Innocent , Chabi Félicien , Avokpaho Euripide , Kalua Khumbo , Ajjampur Sitara Swarna Rao , Ibikounlé Moudachirou , Aruldas Kumudha , Means Arianna Rubin
Published: February 2024

Background

Soil-transmitted helminth infections (STH) are associated with substantial morbidity in low-and-middle-income countries, accounting for 2.7 million disability-adjusted life years annually. Current World Health Organization guidelines recommend controlling STH-associated morbidity through periodic deworming of at-risk populations, including children and women of reproductive age (15–49 years). However, there is increasing interest in community-wide mass drug administration (cMDA) which includes deworming adults who serve as infection reservoirs as a method to improve coverage and possibly to interrupt STH transmission. We investigated determinants of cMDA coverage by comparing high-coverage clusters (HCCs) and low-coverage clusters (LCCs) receiving STH cMDA in three countries.

Methods

A convergent mixed-methods design was used to analyze data from HCCs and LCCs in DeWorm3 trial sites in Benin, India, and Malawi following three rounds of cMDA. Qualitative data were collected via 48 community-level focus group discussions. Quantitative data were collected via routine activities nested within the DeWorm3 trial, including annual censuses and coverage surveys. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) guided coding, theme development and a rating process to determine the influence of each CFIR construct on cMDA coverage.

Results

Of 23 CFIR constructs evaluated, we identified 11 constructs that differentiated between HCCs and LCCs, indicating they are potential drivers of coverage. Determinants differentiating HCC and LCC include participant experiences with previous community-wide programs, communities’ perceptions of directly observed therapy (DOT), perceptions about the treatment uptake behaviors of neighbors, and women’s agency to make household-level treatment decisions.

Conclusion

The convergent mixed-methods study identified barriers and facilitators that may be useful to NTD programs to improve cMDA implementation for STH, increase treatment coverage, and contribute to the successful control or elimination of STH.

Trial registration

The parent trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03014167).
Spatial and temporal evolution of urban resilience in China and analysis of barriers: Based on a sustainable development perspective
Authors: Yao Fengge , Li Lin , Liang Jiayuan
Published: February 2024

With the increasing uncertainty of urban security, urban resilience construction with risk awareness and bottom-line thinking has become essential for promoting sustainable urban development. This paper measures China’s urban resilience development index (CRDI) based on 284 cities in China (except Tibet) using the entropy method from four dimensions: economic, social, environmental, and infrastructure, and analyzes it by combining coupling coordination degree and barrier factor analysis. We find that: (1) At the national level, CRDI and its sub-dimensions show an increasing trend in time, a decreasing spatial layout from coastal to inland, and a “high-high-low-low” clustering feature in space. (2) At the regional level, the CRDI is from high to low in the east, middle, and west order. The sub-dimensions are from high to low in the order of east, middle, and west for economic, social, and infrastructure resilience and from high to low in the order of east, west, and middle for environmental resilience. (3) To coupling coordination degree, the CRDI index coupling coordination is increasing in time trend but is still on the verge of dissonance. (4) Social resilience is the main obstacle factor. In the indicator layer, human resources, innovation, education, security, living, and environmental protection are the areas where CRDI coordinated development is the key to improvement. Based on the above empirical evidence, this paper proposes countermeasures to optimize urban resilience construction from four perspectives: economic, social, environmental, and infrastructure.
Creation of a shortened version of the Sleep Disorders Questionnaire (SDQ)
Authors: Biard Kathleen , De Koninck Joseph , Douglass Alan B.
Published: February 2024

The 176-item Sleep Disorders Questionnaire (SDQ) was initially developed using canonical discriminant function analysis on 4 groups of sleep disorder patients, but it was never studied by factor analysis in its entirety. Several authors have criticized 2 of its subscales as being confounded with each other, and its narcolepsy scale as substantially over-diagnosing narcolepsy. This study describes its first exploratory factor analysis (EFA), the intent of which was to reassess item membership on the 4 existing subscales and to derive new scales to improve differential diagnosis between patient groups. It was also hoped that EFA could reduce the total number of questions, to increase speed of completion. The EFA was performed on the anonymized SDQ results from a retrospective review of the charts of 2131 persons from 7 sleep disorders clinics and research centers. Factors were assessed via scree plots and eigenvalues. The EFA identified four main factors: insomnia, daytime sleepiness, substance use, and sleep-disordered breathing. The insomnia factor had 3 subfactors: psychological symptoms of insomnia, subjective description of insomnia, and insomnia due to periodic limb movements. The sleepiness factor had two subfactors: daytime sleepiness and neurological symptoms of narcolepsy. The novel substance use factor was homogeneous, as was the sleep-disordered breathing factor. Importantly, the EFA reassigned items from the original SDQ’s NAR, PSY, and PLM subscales to five of the new subscales. The Sleep Apnea (SA) subscale emerged mostly unchanged. The 7 resulting factors comprised only 66 items of the original 176-item SDQ. These results have allowed the creation of a new shorter questionnaire, to be called the SDQ-2. External validation of the SDQ-2 is currently underway. It will likely prove to be a superior differential diagnostic instrument for sleep disorders clinics, compared to the original SDQ.
Inferring personal intake recommendations of phosphorous and potassium for end-stage renal failure patients by simulating with Bayesian hierarchical multivariate model
Authors: Turkia Jari , Schwab Ursula , Hautamäki Ville
Published: February 2024

Most end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients face a risk of malnutrition, partly due to dietary restrictions on phosphorous and, in some cases, potassium intake. These restrictions aim to regulate plasma phosphate and potassium concentrations and prevent the adverse effects of hyperphosphatemia or hyperkalemia. However, individual responses to nutrition are known to vary, highlighting the need for personalized recommendations rather than relying solely on general guidelines. In this study, our objective was to develop a Bayesian hierarchical multivariate model that estimates the individual effects of nutrients on plasma concentrations and to present a recommendation algorithm that utilizes this model to infer personalized dietary intakes capable of achieving normal ranges for all considered concentrations. Considering the limited research on the reactions of ESRD patients, we collected dietary intake data and corresponding laboratory analyses from a cohort of 37 patients. The collected data were used to estimate the common hierarchical model, from which personalized models of the patients’ diets and individual reactions were extracted. The application of our recommendation algorithm revealed substantial variations in phosphorus and potassium intakes recommended for each patient. These personalized recommendations deviate from the general guidelines, suggesting that a notably richer diet may be proposed for certain patients to mitigate the risk of malnutrition. Furthermore, all the participants underwent either hospital, home, or peritoneal dialysis treatments. We explored the impact of treatment type on nutritional reactions by incorporating it as a nested level in the hierarchical model. Remarkably, this incorporation improved the fit of the nutritional effect model by a notable reduction in the normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) from 0.078 to 0.003. These findings highlight the potential for personalized dietary modifications to optimize nutritional status, enhance patient outcomes, and mitigate the risk of malnutrition in the ESRD population.
Research on the sustainability of "greening" process in the Mu Us Sandy Land based on the spatiotemporal stability of ecological land
Authors: Zhang Qiumeng , Jia Baoquan , Li Tong , Li Wenrui
Published: February 2024

In environmentally sensitive areas, especially the arid and semi-arid regions, the greening stability process and its influencing factors can directly affect the sustainable development of the ecological environment. In this study, multi-source remote sensing data such as land use/cover data, MODIS NDVI, and soil moisture, methods such as stability index, vegetation quantitative remote sensing, and Geodetector were employed to analyze the sustainability of the greening process in the Mu Us Sandy in 2000–2020, which were viewed from three aspects: changes in stability of land use types and function, soil moisture change and influencing factors on greening stability. The results showed that, (1) From the stability of land use types, continuous stable ecological land accounted for more than 50%, showing that decreased from northwest toward southeast. (2) From the functional stability, NDVI showed a fluctuated growth (0.035/a), with an increasing distribution pattern from northwest to southeast. Additionally, Vegetation changes were unstable and concentrated in the western part of the study area (OtogBanner and Otog Front Banner), while the eastern part was stable, in which vegetation improvement took the main position. Moreover, mobile dunes almost disappeared, and semi-fixed dunes decreased and gradually shrank to the west of the sandy area, while fixed dunes soared and were concentrated in the middle of the sandy land. (3) From the soil moisture change, soil moisture at different underground depths showed an overall increasing trend, but the deep soil moisture was higher than the shallow, and spatial distribution varied greatly. (4) From the influencing factors, natural factors significantly influence greening stability, among which precipitation had a particularly profound impact, and interactions with other natural and social factors were higher explanatory. The paper aims to explore whether the ecological environment is developing in a good and orderly direction in the Mu Us Sandy Land, and the potential factors that cause its changes, to provide a theoretical basis for scientific governance in the Mu Us Sandy Land and other arid and semi-arid areas in the future.
Mitigation bank applications for freshwater systems: Control mechanisms, project complexity, and caveats
Authors: Theis Sebastian , Poesch Mark
Published: February 2024

Biodiversity and mitigation banking has become a popular alternative offsetting mechanism, especially for freshwater species and systems. Central to this increase in popularity is the need for sound control mechanisms to ensure offset functionality. Two commonly used mechanisms are monitoring requirements and staggered release of bank credits over time. We used data from 47 banks in the United States, targeting freshwater systems and species. Based on the 47 banks meeting our criteria we showed that control mechanisms generally scale with increased project complexity and that banks release most of their total credit amount within the first 3 years. We further showed that advance credits are common and can increase the potential for credit release without providing tangible ecological benefits. Physical and biological assessment criteria commonly used by banks let us identify three main bank types focusing on connectivity, physical aspects, and habitat and species and their application possibilities and caveats to provide different ecosystem benefits for freshwater species and systems affected by anthropogenic development.
DNA barcoding for the assessment of marine and coastal fish diversity from the Coast of Mozambique
Authors: Muhala Valdemiro , Guimarães-Costa Aurycéia , Macate Isadola Eusébio , Rabelo Luan Pinto , Bessa-Silva Adam Rick , Watanabe Luciana , dos Santos Gisele Damasceno , Sambora Luísa , Vallinoto Marcelo , Sampaio Iracilda
Published: February 2024

The ichthyological provinces of Mozambique are understudied hotspots of global fish diversity. In this study, we applied DNA barcoding to identify the composition of the fish fauna from the coast of Mozambique. A total of 143 species belonging to 104 genera, 59 families, and 30 orders were identified. The overall K2P distance of the COI sequences within species ranged from 0.00% to 1.51%, while interspecific distances ranged from 3.64% to 24.49%. Moreover, the study revealed 15 threatened species according to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, with elasmobranchs being the most represented group. Additionally, the study also uncovered four new species that were not previously recorded in this geographic area, including Boleophthalmus dussumieri, Maculabatis gerrardi, Hippocampus kelloggi, and Lethrinus miniatus. This study represents the first instance of utilizing molecular references to explore the fish fauna along the Mozambican coast. Our results indicate that DNA barcoding is a dependable technique for the identification and delineation of fish species in the waters of Mozambique. The DNA barcoding library established in this research will be an invaluable asset for advancing the understanding of fish diversity and guiding future conservation initiatives.
Perioperative quality indicators among neurosurgery patients: A retrospective cohort study of 1142 cases at a tertiary center
Authors: Chavush Edzhem , Rössler Karl , Dorfer Christian
Published: February 2024

Objective

The purpose of this study was to present the first comprehensive analysis of perioperative quality indicators; length of hospital stay; readmission; reoperation; pre-, intra, and postoperative events; and mortality in a diverse neurosurgical patient cohort in Europe.

Methods

Electronic medical records of all patients who were admitted to our institution between January 1 and December 31 of 2020, and underwent an index neurosurgical operation (n = 1142) were retrospectively reviewed.

Results

The median length of hospital stay at the index admission and readmission was 8 days (range: 1–242 days) and 5 days (range: 0–94 days), respectively. Of the 1142 patients, 22.9% (n = 262) had an extended length of hospital stay of ≥14 days. The all-cause 7-, 15-, 30-, 60-, and 90-day readmission rates were 3.9% (n = 44), 5.7% (n = 65), 8.8% (n = 100), 12.3% (n = 141), and 16.5% (n = 188), respectively. The main reason for unplanned readmission was deterioration of medical and/or neurological condition. The all-cause 7-, 15-, 30-, 60-, and 90-day reoperation rates were 11.1% (n = 127), 13.8% (n = 158), 16.5% (n = 189), 18.7% (n = 213), and 19.4% (n = 221), respectively. Unplanned reoperations were due primarily to hydrocephalus. The rate of preoperative events was 1.1% (n = 13), one-third of which were associated with infection. The rate of intraoperative events was 11.0% (n = 126), of which 98 (64.47%) were surgical, 37 (24.34%) were anesthesiologic, and 17 (11.18%) were associated with technical equipment. The rate of postoperative events was 9.5% (n = 109). The most common postoperative event was malfunction, disconnection, or dislocation of an implanted device (n = 24, 17.91%). The mortality rates within 7, 15, 30, 60, and 90 days after the index operation were 0.9% (n = 10), 1.8% (n = 21), 2.5% (n = 29), 3.4% (n = 39), and 4.7% (n = 54), respectively. Several patient characteristics and perioperative factors were significantly associated with outcome parameters.

Conclusions

This study provides an in-depth analysis of quality indicators in neurosurgery, highlighting a variety of inherent and modifiable factors influencing patient outcomes.
Belonging matters: The impact of social identification with classmates, friends, and family on interpersonal distance and bullying/cyberbullying in adolescence
Authors: Wei JuanJuan , Candini Michela , Menabò Laura , Guarini Annalisa , Rubini Monica , Frassinetti Francesca
Published: February 2024

In adolescence individuals enlarge their social relationships and peer groups acquire a strong importance for their identity. Moreover, adolescents can experiment negative relationships with peers, i.e., bullying/cyberbullying. The present study aims to investigate the relationship between the feeling of belonging to a specific group, social identification, the distance that adolescents maintain interacting with others, interpersonal distance, and bullying/cyberbullying behaviors. Adolescents (age range 10–15 years) completed online measures of group identification (social identification with classmates, friends and family), interpersonal distance, and bullying and cyberbullying (perpetration and victimization). Results showed that adolescents with low social identification with classmates and friends chose larger interpersonal distance. Additionally, low scores in social identification with classmates were associated with higher victimization in cyberbullying. In contrast, adolescents with low scores in social identification with family were more involved as bullies in bullying and as victims in cyberbullying. Male adolescents were more likely to be victimized in bullying than females. This study underlines how social identification with peers and family works as a buffer in interfacing strangers, adjusting the distance maintained with them, and as a protective factor against aggressive relationships in adolescence. This study provides new opportunities for psychologists in understanding the psychological dynamics that shape social interactions among adolescents.