bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating ‘Enhancing Pragmatic Language skills for Young children with Social communication impairments’ (E-PLAYS): a feasibility cluster-randomised controlled trial
Authors: Murphy Suzanne , Joffe Victoria , Donald Louisa , Radley Jessica , Sunthararajah Sailaa , Welch Charlie , Bell Kerry , Messer David , Crafter Sarah , Fairhurst Caroline , Corbacho Belen , Rodgers Sara , Torgerson David
Published: January 2021

Background

This article reports the results from a feasibility study of an intervention (‘E-PLAYS’) aimed at supporting children who experience difficulties with social communication. E-PLAYS is based around a dyadic computer game, which aims to develop collaborative and communication skills. A pilot study found that when E-PLAYS was delivered by researchers, improvements on communication test scores and on collaborative behaviours were observed. The aim of this study was to ascertain the feasibility of running a full-scale trial to test the effectiveness of E-PLAYS in a National Health Service (NHS) setting with delivery by speech and language therapists and teaching assistants.

Methods

The study was a two-arm feasibility cluster-randomised controlled trial of the E-PLAYS intervention with a treatment as usual control arm. Data relating to recruitment and retention, treatment fidelity, acceptability to participants, suitability of outcomes and feasibility of collecting health economic measures and of determining cost-effectiveness were collected.

Speech and language therapists selected suitable children (ages 4–7 years old) from their caseload. E-PLAYS intervention (experimental group) was then delivered by teaching assistants overseen by speech and language therapists. The control group received usual care. Assessments included blinded language measures and observations, non-blinded teacher-reported measures of peer relations and classroom behaviour and non-blinded parent-reported use of health and education resources and quality of life.

Results

Planned recruitment was for 70 children, in the event, 50 children were recruited which was sufficient for feasibility purposes. E-PLAYS was very highly rated by children, teaching assistants and speech and language therapists and treatment fidelity did not pose any issues. We were able to collect health economic data which suggests that E-PLAYS would be a low-cost intervention.

Conclusion

Based on recruitment, retention and adherence rates and our outcome measures, a full-scale randomised controlled trial estimated appears feasible and warranted to assess the effectiveness of E-PLAYS for use by the NHS and schools.

Trial registration

ISRCTN 14818949 (retrospectively registered).
Unilateral macular serpiginous-like choroiditis as the initial manifestation of presumed ocular tuberculosis
Authors: Vianna Raul N. G. , Vanzan Vinicius , da Fonsêca Maria Luisa Gois , Cravo Leonardo
Published: January 2021

Background

Classic serpiginous choroiditis (SC) usually begins in the peripapillary area and spreads centrifugally, however, in some patients, the lesion can arise in the macular region. An association between lesions resembling classic SC and tuberculosis was recognized as a possibly distinct clinical entity and named as tuberculous serpiginous–like choroiditis. The differentiation of this tuberculous entity from SC is critical because the treatment of the former with immunosuppressive drugs leads to several potential adverse effects, and such treatment can have devastating consequences because of the worsening of a concomitant tuberculous infection.

Case presentantion

A 31-year-old woman presented with unilateral decreased vision and a fundus examination consistent with macular serpiginous choroiditis. A non-reactor tuberculin skin test and normal thoracic CT scan ruled out tuberculosis. However, after 2 months of treatment with steroids and immunosuppressive drugs, the contralateral eye developed similar lesions, further raising the suspicions of ocular tuberculosis. We conducted QuantiFERON® TB Gold, which was positive; hence, antituberculous therapy was started on the patient. The lesions started healing within a few weeks. After 1 year of finishing the therapy, the lesions remained healed without any recurrence.

Conclusions

Macular serpiginous-like choroiditis may be the initial presentation of presumed ocular tuberculosis. Nevertheless, the correct diagnosis of this entity can be challenging and delayed by the imprecise results from the currently available methods.
Impact of strategic management, corporate social responsibility on firm performance in the post mandate period: evidence from India
Authors: Mitra Nayan
Published: January 2021

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is like a chameleon, that changes its colour according to the context it is in. In the developed economy, it takes the form of sustainability and/ or philanthropy, whereas, in emerging economies, it speaks the language of religious, political and/ or mandated CSR. India, in recent times came into the limelight with its mandated CSR policy that was incorporated into its Companies Act 2013, which became operational from the financial year 2014 - 2015. Mandated CSR is thus a new area of study that is based on the philosophy that ‘CSR should contribute to the national agenda in emerging economies,’ under some statutory guidelines as laid down by the Government.

But, business houses, do look for maximising its profit. Profit can be financial and/ or non-financial. If not money, then at least the effort must be compensated with reputation, image, that helps in brand building! And, to have this as an objective, their efforts should be strategic! But, does all strategies work? With these questions and conceptual thinking, this empirical research aims to identify the key aspects of Strategic Management, CSR and Firm Performance and establish relationship between them; apart from developing a valid and reliable scale to do so. This is indeed one of the first researches and documentations done among the large Indian firms in India immediately in the post mandate period and thus forms a base for understanding the CSR dynamics in the years to come.
Making sense of maritime supply chain: a relationship marketing approach
Authors: Osobajo Oluyomi A. , Koliousis Ioannis , McLaughlin Heather
Published: January 2021

Building a relationship with the maritime supply chain partners is considered imperative for organisations to survive and remain competitive. Yet, several studies that examined the maritime supply chain have not adequately explored nor assessed the relationship constructs that impacts maritime supply chain performance. This study intends to fill this gap and ascertain the influence that certain relationship elements have on the maritime supply chain performance. The study is solely a desk research. After providing a general overview of maritime supply chain and its structure, relationship marketing paradigm and relationship constructs, this study examines the influence that the identified relationship constructs (i.e. trust, commitment and satisfaction) has on supply chain performance. The study asserts that the present of the identified relationship constructs (i.e. trust, commitment and satisfaction) among supply chain partners will influence supply chain performance positively. Hence, building a successful long-term relationship among maritime supply chain partners requires an understanding of these key relationship constructs.
What factors contribute to the meaning of work? A validation of Morin’s Meaning of Work Questionnaire
Authors: Pignault Anne , Houssemand Claude
Published: January 2021

Background

Considering the recent and current evolution of work and the work context, the meaning of work is becoming an increasingly relevant topic in research in the social sciences and humanities, particularly in psychology. In order to understand and measure what contributes to the meaning of work, Morin constructed a 30-item questionnaire that has become predominant and has repeatedly been used in research in occupational psychology and by practitioners in the field. Nevertheless, it has been validated only in part.

Method

Meaning of work questionnaire was conducted in French with 366 people (51.3% of women; age: (M = 39.11, SD = 11.25); 99.2% of whom were employed with the remainder retired). Three sets of statistical analyses were run on the data. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted on independent samples.

Results

The questionnaire described a five-factor structure. These dimensions (Success and Recognition at work and of work, α = .90; Usefulness, α = .88; Respect for work, α = .88; Value from and through work, α = .83; Remuneration, α = .85) are all attached to a general second-order latent meaning of work factor (α = .96).

Conclusions

Validation of the scale, and implications for health in the workplace and career counseling practices, are discussed.
Diarrhea prevalence in a randomized, controlled prospective trial of point-of-use water filters in homes and schools in the Dominican Republic
Authors: Tintle Nathan , Van De Griend Kristin , Ulrich Rachel , Wade Randall D. , Baar Tena M. , Boven Emma , Cooper Carolyn E. A. , Couch Olivia , Eekhoff Lauren , Fry Benjamin , Goszkowicz Grace K. , Hecksel Maya A. , Heynen Adam , Laughlin Jade A. , Les Sydney M. , Lombard Taylor R. , Munson B. Daniel , Peterson Jonas M. , Schumann Eric , Settecerri Daniel J. , Spry Jacob E. , Summerfield Matthew J. , Sunder Meghana , Wade Daniel R. , Zonnefeld Caden G. , Brokus Sarah A. , Moen Francesco S. , Slater Adam D. , Peterson Jonathan W. , Pikaart Michael J. , Krueger Brent P. , Best Aaron A.
Published: January 2021

Background

Lack of sustainable access to clean drinking water continues to be an issue of paramount global importance, leading to millions of preventable deaths annually. Best practices for providing sustainable access to clean drinking water, however, remain unclear. Widespread installation of low-cost, in-home, point of use water filtration systems is a promising strategy.

Methods

We conducted a prospective, randomized, controlled trial whereby 16 villages were selected and randomly assigned to one of four treatment arms based on the installation location of Sawyer® PointONE™ filters (filter in both home and school; filter in home only; filter in school only; control group). Water samples and self-reported information on diarrhea were collected at multiple times throughout the study.

Results

Self-reported household prevalence of diarrhea decreased from 25.6 to 9.76% from installation to follow-up (at least 7 days, and up to 200 days post-filter installation). These declines were also observed in diarrhea with economic or educational consequences (diarrhea which led to medical treatment and/or missing school or work) with baseline prevalence of 9.64% declining to 1.57%. Decreases in diarrhea prevalence were observed across age groups. There was no evidence of a loss of efficacy of filters up to 200 days post-filter installation. Installation of filters in schools was not associated with decreases in diarrhea prevalence in school-aged children or family members. Unfiltered water samples both at schools and homes contained potential waterborne bacterial pathogens, dissolved heavy metals and metals associated with particulates. All dissolved metals were detected at levels below World Health Organization action guidelines.

Conclusions

This controlled trial provides strong evidence of the effectiveness of point-of-use, hollow fiber membrane filters at reducing diarrhea from bacterial sources up to 200 days post-installation when installed in homes. No statistically significant reduction in diarrhea was found when filters were installed in schools. Further research is needed in order to explore filter efficacy and utilization after 200 days post-installation.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov,NCT03972618. Registered 3 June 2019—retrospectively registered.
Changes to students’ motivation to learn science
Authors: Fortus David , Touitou Israel
Published: January 2021

Studies that investigated the relations between the environment and students’ motivation to engage with science have typically looked at thestateof students’ motivation at a given time and its relations with the environment. This study took a different perspective; it looked at thechangesto students’ motivation to engage with science that occurred over a school year and investigated what drove these changes. According to goal orientation theory, students typically shift their personal goal orientations towards their perceptions of the goal emphases of their environment. For example, if students perceive their science teachers as highly emphasizing mastery orientation, they are likely to become more mastery oriented towards science with time. However, different environmental influences, such as parents, peer, teachers, and general school culture, push and pull the students in different directions. Using survey data gathered from Israeli adolescents that came from low SES backgrounds, we demonstrated that any shift in students’ mastery orientation towards science was not related to their perceptions of the environmental emphases, but rather to the differences they perceived between the environment and themselves. In addition, we identified which environmental influences were stronger predictors of shifts in students’ mastery orientation towards science. These results help to clarify the influence of the environment on students’ motivation to engage with science, can help understand why interventions may sometimes lead to counter-intuitive results, and can provide the basis for a model that may be useful for predicting how students’ motivation for science may change over a school year.
Acute coronary syndrome: which age group tends to delay call for help?
Authors: Ayuna Ahmed , Sultan Ayyaz
Published: January 2021

Background

Early diagnosis and treatment of ACS can reduce the risk of complications and death. Delay calling for help can increase morbidity and mortality. It is unclear which age group among patients with acute coronary syndrome tend to delay their call for help.

Results

Our observational retrospective study showed that men and women in their 50s and 40s respectively tend to delay their call for help from symptoms onset. For the former, the mean time delays (590 ± 71.1 min), whereas for the latter it was (1084 ± 120.1 min). Moreover, these groups tend to have a longer time delay between symptoms onset and arrival at the hospital. Among deaths, we observed that the death rate was proportional to the time delay, which is not unexpected. Next step, we plan to perform a qualitative study in the form of questionnaires to target the individuals with a high risk of CVD within these age groups.

Conclusion

Middle age group of both genders tend to delay their call for help when they experience symptoms of ACS; moreover, regardless of the age, the longer the delay, the higher the mortality rate. The results of this study gave us a better understanding of our local population and will pave the road for a well-structured teaching programme for them to minimise the time delay for calling for help.
Neurological soft signs correlation with symptom severity in borderline personality disorder
Authors: Khoweiled Aref A. , Gaafar Yasmin , El Makawi Shirin M. , Kamel Reham M. , Ayoub Doaa R.
Published: January 2021

Background

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a severe psychiatric disorder with multiple psychopathological domains; so studying the correlation of clinical or behavioral data with underlying structural and functional neurological findings in BPD is the focus of interest in recent years.

The aim of our study was to compare the presence of neurological soft signs (NSS) in patients with borderline personality disorder with their presence in normal controls, and to correlate the severity of different symptoms of BPD with the presence of NSS through a case-control study which was conducted on 30 patients and 30 matching controls recruited from Al Kasr Al Ainy Hospital, Cairo University, Egypt. All subjects were assessed by the Borderline Personality Questionnaire, the Barratt Impulsivity Scale-11, the Brief Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Assessment tool, and the Cambridge Neurological Inventory.

Results

The BPD group had significantly higher total NSS scores, primitive reflexes subscale score, and sensory integration subscale scores. There was also a positive correlation between NSS and overall severity of borderline symptoms.

Conclusions

The increased rates of NSS were associated with specific clinical symptoms in BPD including suicidality, self-harm, emptiness, and quasi-psychosis. Impulsivity was found to have the highest correlation with NSS.
Solarities or Solarculture
Authors: Wilson Sheena
Published: January 2021

This article takes the E. L. Smith Solar Farm, a proposed municipal solar energy infrastructure project in Edmonton, Alberta, as a case study of solar imaginaries as they intertwine with material and social realities. Set for installation at the E. L. Smith Water Treatment Plant site on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River in Edmonton’s River Valley, the largest urban greenspace in North America, this solar project has evoked divergent, sometimes unanticipated responses as stakeholders speculate about what futures are possible and preferable. The article examines the possibilities and challenges that the proposed E. L. Smith Solar Farm holds, as a municipal energy project, to positively disrupt oil-loyal provincial and federal power relations, specifically given the City of Edmonton’s August 2019 declaration of a climate emergency, the Wet’suwet’en cause and other solidarity blockades in Alberta and across Canada in early 2020, and Alberta’s subsequent Critical Infrastructure Bill 1, passed in early 2020. Investigating the ways in which the issues are being debated by various constituencies throughout the approval/rejection process, the article extrapolates approaches and strategies that might inform policy and proposes that not all solar powered projects are equal. While some produce solarities (more just energy futures), others operationalize solar energy’s good press towards solarcultural futures that are little more than an extension of the petrocultural status quo.
Virginia Woolf’s Synesthesia
Authors: Earl Holly
Published: January 2021

This article argues that synesthesia exerted a profound influence on the writing of Virginia Woolf. Examining a wide range of works, it establishes that Woolf not only registered synesthesia as a cultural phenomenon by depicting many synesthetes in her fiction but also, from the outset of her writing life, adopted synesthesia as an aesthetic principle. It helped her critique the atomization of the human senses under the technological conditions of modernity, but also to condemn both the militarism of the Great War and the rise of totalitarian politics in the late 1930s. Ultimately, however, Woolf’s “synesthetic aesthetic” is as constructive as it is critical—an overlooked but vital element in Woolf’s broader project of representing lived experience as subjective, multifarious, and fundamentally unified.
Living with the Norm
Authors: Tom Liza , Menon Shilpa
Published: January 2021

This article examines the transition ritual (nirvanam) in a specific community of thirunangais, a regional transfeminine community characterized by ritual practices of worship and labor, to inquire into forms of religious worlding and subject- formation that take place at the margins of dominant systems of religion, citizenship, and gender. Unlike those who identify exclusively with the category of transgender, thirunangais’ formations of self and subjecthood draw not only from modern and secular discourses such as those of human rights and identity politics but also from religious discourses and practices. These involve embodied experiences of sacrifice and pain that are considered “premodern” and abject even within hegemonic norms of religion in India. Drawing from how thirunangai narratives of self construct the nirvanam as an encompassing assemblage of both ritual observances and more medicalized practices of sex reassignment, the article looks at how thirunangais consistently queer modern prescriptions of the relationship among political, private, and religious spheres. What can thirunangais tell us about those bodies, practices, and discourses that are seen as inimical to the constitution of the modern religious subject in postcolonial contexts?
Recommended Musculoskeletal and Sports Medicine Model Curriculum for Emergency Medicine Residency Training
Authors: Chow Yvonne C. , Waterbrook Anna L. , Suffoletto Heidi N. , Dolbec Katherine , Myers Rebecca A. , Denq William , Hwang Calvin Eric , Kiel John M. , Monseau Aaron J. , Balcik Brenden J. , Santelli Jaron A. , Oshlag Benjamin L. , Hudson Korin B. , Delasobera Bronson Elizabeth , Feden Jeffrey P. , Davenport Moira , Childress John M. , Desai Natasha N. , Gould Sara J. , Holschen Jolie C.
Published: January 2021

Musculoskeletal and sports medicine conditions are common in the emergency department (ED). Emergency physicians may not be receiving adequate education to achieve clinical competency in musculoskeletal medicine during residency training. This article aims to provide a standardized musculoskeletal and sports medicine curriculum for emergency medicine training. Broad curriculum goals include proficiency in evaluating and managing patients presenting to the ED with acute and chronic musculoskeletal complaints and other medical conditions related to or affected by physical exertion, sports participation, or environmental exposure. Specific objectives focus on knowledge of these disorders, physical examination skills, procedural skills including musculoskeletal ultrasound, appropriate consultation and referral, and patient education for these conditions. Educational methods will consist of didactics; online self-directed learning modules; simulation; and supervised clinical experiences in the ED, primary care sports medicine clinics, and orthopedic clinics if available. Curriculum implementation is expected to vary across programs due to differences in residency program structure and resources.
The Future of Virtual Sports Ultrasound Education and Collaboration
Authors: Schroeder Allison N. , Kruse Ryan C.
Published: January 2021

Sports ultrasound (US) is a rapidly advancing and expanding field, where “hands-on” education and real-time instructor feedback are paramount in developing this skill. In light of a global pandemic and limited access to instructors and educational conferences, sports US education must adapt to continue to teach future ultrasonographers. Virtual US education, conducted using various virtual meeting platforms not only allows for continued didactic education but also can virtually recreate the “hands-on” training sessions with live, immediate instructor feedback that is necessary for acquiring competence. Additionally, using these methods, sports US conferences can continue in a virtual manner, sports US education can expand remote areas, and collaboration among distant experts may increase, all without the cost of travel and extended time away from work. While immediately relevant because of the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual US methods may continue to be beneficial as sports US education and collaboration continue to expand.
Psychosocial reactions of Pakistani Students towards COVID-19: A prevalence study
Authors: Mahmood Zahid , Saleem Sadia , Subhan Sara , Jabeen Ayesha
Published: January 2021

Background: The current study aimed at investigating the manifestation and prevalence of the commonly reported psychosocial reactions in the university students following the onset of COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: This cross-sectional survey was carried out during April to May, 2020 in the city of Lahore. Based on the interviews and presenting problems of thirty-nine self-referred students to student counselling service center, a list of twenty-seven self-report measure was presented through an online cross-sectional survey of 510 students enrolled in a private institute. The age range of the participants was between 17-26 years (M, 21.86; SD, 2.94).
Results: The results showed that the most frequently reported reactions by university students during COVID-19 is restricted daily routine (92%), preoccupation with cleanliness (86%), feeling uncertain about future (85%), feeling bored (84%) and low mood (84%). The least frequently reported reaction was financial crisis (48%). The findings further showed that 18% of the participants had mild, 34% had moderate, 29% severe and 19% very severe level of problems.
Conclusions: The finding revealed that university students have significantly affected by this pandemic which need attention from mental health professionals.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.2.3063
How to cite this:Mahmood Z, Saleem S, Subhan S, Jabeen A. Psychosocial reactions of Pakistani Students towards COVID-19: A prevalence study. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(2):456-460. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.2.3063
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.
Approaches to minimising the epidemiological impact of sources of systematic and random variation that may affect biochemistry assay data in UK Biobank
Authors: Allen Naomi E. , Arnold Matthew , Parish Sarah , Hill Michael , Sheard Simon , Callen Howard , Fry Daniel , Moffat Stewart , Gordon Mark , Welsh Samantha , Elliott Paul , Collins Rory
Published: January 2021

Background: UK Biobank is a large prospective study that recruited 500,000 participants aged 40 to 69 years, between 2006-2010.The study has collected (and continues to collect) extensive phenotypic and genomic data about its participants. In order to enhance further the value of the UK Biobank resource, a wide range of biochemistry markers were measured in all participants with an available biological sample. Here, we describe the approaches UK Biobank has taken to minimise error related to sample collection, processing, retrieval and assay measurement.

Methods: During routine quality control checks, the laboratory team observed that some assay results were lower than expected for samples acquired during certain time periods. Analyses were undertaken to identify and correct for the unexpected dilution identified during sample processing, and for expected error caused by laboratory drift of assay results.

Results: The vast majority (92%) of biochemistry serum assay results were assessed to be not materially affected by dilution, with an estimated difference in concentration of less than 1% (i.e. either lower or higher) than that expected if the sample were unaffected; 8.3% were estimated to be diluted by up to 10%; very few samples appeared to be diluted more than this. Biomarkers measured in urine (creatinine, microalbumin, sodium, potassium) and red blood cells (HbA1c) were not affected. In order to correct for laboratory variation over the assay period, all assay results were adjusted for date of assay, with the exception of those that had a high biological coefficient of variation or evident seasonal variability: vitamin D, lipoprotein (a), gamma glutamyltransferase, C-reactive protein and rheumatoid factor.

Conclusions: Rigorous approaches related to sample collection, processing, retrieval, assay measurement and data analysis have been taken to mitigate the impact of both systematic and random variation in epidemiological analyses that use the biochemistry assay data in UK Biobank.
Mortality during and following hospital admission among school-aged children: a cohort study
Authors: Ngari Moses M , Obiero Christina , Mwangome Martha K , Nyaguara Amek , Mturi Neema , Murunga Sheila , Otiende Mark , Iversen Per Ole , Fegan Gregory W , Walson Judd L , Berkley James A
Published: January 2021

Background: Far less is known about the reasons for hospitalization or mortality during and after hospitalization among school-aged children than among under-fives in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to describe common types of illness causing hospitalisation; inpatient mortality and post-discharge mortality among school-age children at Kilifi County Hospital (KCH), Kenya.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of children 5−12 years old admitted at KCH, 2007 to 2016, and resident within the Kilifi Health Demographic Surveillance System (KHDSS). Children discharged alive were followed up for one year by quarterly census. Outcomes were inpatient and one-year post-discharge mortality.

Results: We included 3,907 admissions among 3,196 children with a median age of 7 years 8 months (IQR 74−116 months). Severe anaemia (792, 20%), malaria (749, 19%), sickle cell disease (408, 10%), trauma (408, 10%), and severe pneumonia (340, 8.7%) were the commonest reasons for admission. Comorbidities included 623 (16%) with severe wasting, 386 (10%) with severe stunting, 90 (2.3%) with oedematous malnutrition and 194 (5.0%) with HIV infection. 132 (3.4%) children died during hospitalisation. Inpatient death was associated with signs of disease severity, age, bacteraemia, HIV infection and severe stunting. After discharge, 89/2,997 (3.0%) children died within one year during 2,853 child-years observed (31.2 deaths [95%CI, 25.3−38.4] per 1,000 child-years). 63/89 (71%) of post-discharge deaths occurred within three months and 45% of deaths occurred outside hospital. Post-discharge mortality was positively associated with weak pulse, tachypnoea, severe anaemia, HIV infection and severe wasting and negatively associated with malaria. 

Conclusions: Reasons for admissions are markedly different from those reported in under-fives. There was significant post-discharge mortality, suggesting hospitalisation is a marker of risk in this population. Our findings inform guideline development to include risk stratification, targeted post-discharge care and facilitate access to healthcare to improve survival in the early months post-discharge in school-aged children.
Picturing Melancholia in Estonian Decadent Art
Authors: Kass Lola Annabel
Published: January 2021

The article focuses on Estonian decadent art of the early twentieth century that manifests the topicality of melancholia: visual art that depicts sadness, low spirits, malaise and suicidal behaviour. The article seeks to answer why portrayal of the feeling of malaise and low spirits were so widespread from the beginning of the 20th century, and how Estonian artists imagined and visualised melancholia.

I argue, that during the period under examination, increasing attention was paid in Estonia to mental health issues, including melancholia, which was brought about by discussions about breed and the surfacing ideas of eugenics and the study of heredity. At the same time, degeneration theories began to gain ground, according to which contemporary civilisation was bound to degrade, and an increase in mental problems was seen as a sign of that degradation in addition to various social and cultural processes. In addition, Estonian artists were influenced (directly or indirectly) by foreign artworks, literature and poetry that deal with the tragical and horrific side of humanity, such as mental health issues. I argue that artists depicted melancholia in a symbolic manner mainly through body language and body parts, but that the condition was also conveyed through the use of natural imagery and colour.
Viivikonna – Formation of a Ghost Town Amongst Other East Estonian Oil-Shale Mining and Industrial Town
Authors: Sultson Siim
Published: January 2021

The central Stalinist urban ensembles in East Estonian oil-shale mining and industrial townsKohtla-Järve, Ahtme, Sompa, Jõhvi, Kukruse, Kiviõli, Kohtla-Nõmme and Sillamäe areprotected by comprehensive plans and regarded as built-up areas of cultural andenvironmental value; Viivikonna, although similar to these towns, does not boast suchpatronage. Compared to other oil-shale mining and industrial towns, Viivikonna has becomea brownfield nearly completely. What could be the reason for such a difference?Someanswers may be found in history (1946–1980). Viivikonna is the only East Estonian oil-shalemining and industrial town that follows urban planning principles and a pattern, establishedby the Department of Architecture of the Estonian SSR, led by Harald Arman, to this day.However, it is necessary to decide the purpose of Viivikonna in the near future: whether partsor whole of the town are worthy of preservation–both in the economic and aesthetic sense.
In situ laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy measurements during laser welding of superalloy
Authors: Lednev V. N. , Sdvizhenskii P. A. , Grishin M. Ya. , Stavertiy A. Ya. , Tretyakov R. S. , Asyutin R. D. , Fedorov A. N. , Pershin S. M.
Published: January 2021

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has been utilized for in situ diagnostics of the laser welding process. The influence of different weld spot areas (melt pool, solid weld) on LIBS signals and plasma properties has been studied in detail. Liquid metal sampling and high target surface temperature of the melt enhance LIBS plasma intensity and increase plasma temperature. The influence of laser welding process parameters on LIBS measurements has been studied in order to differentiate optimal and defective laser welding. In case of defective laser welding, the melt pool was intensively boiling, so we have observed greater LIBS signals but poor reproducibility. For the first time, the LIBS technique was demonstrated to detect defective laser welding during in situ measurements utilizing atomic and ionic line comparison by paired sample t-test hypotheses testing.
FMCW laser ranging method based on a frequency multiplier
Authors: Jiang Shuo , Liu Bo , Wang Huachuang
Published: January 2021

A reference interferometer is often introduced into the frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) ranging system to deal with nonlinear laser modulation. In this system, the beat signal of the reference interferometer is regarded as the system clock to resample the measurement signal. According to Nyquist sampling theorem, the optical path difference (OPD) of the reference interferometer should be more than twice the target distance. We propose a resampling method that uses a frequency multiplier to help shorten the OPD of the reference interferometer. A quadruple frequency circuit board with two multipliers is added into the system to generate a new clock for this system. Results show that a target at a distance of 6.4 m can be measured when the OPD of the reference interferometer is provided by a 3 m delay fiber, and the ranging standard deviation of 9.4 µm is achieved.
Development of a passive optical heterodyne radiometer for near and mid-infrared spectroscopy
Authors: Sappey Andrew D. , Masterson Bernard P.
Published: January 2021

We have developed a novel laser heterodyne radiometer using a fiber-coupled distributed feedback laser as the local oscillator to perform spectroscopic measurements of small molecules in the near-infrared (NIR) spectral region. Here, we demonstrate measurement of HCN and

C
O

2

in the lab and

C
H

4

and

C
O

2

in the atmospheric column. In addition, we demonstrate detection of a neutral iron, Fe(I), Fraunhofer line in the spectrum of the sun, at a vacuum wavelength of 1559.252 nm, that can be used to calibrate the wavelength scale of the instrument and enable verification of proper system operation for field applications.
Image-based method for the angular vibration measurement of a linear array camera
Authors: Zhi-Peng Xue , Chao Wang , Ming Li , Chunxue Wang , Hongguang Jia , Yue Yu
Published: January 2021

Measurements of angular vibration of aerial cameras in a variety of operating conditions are critical to analyze the performance of the vibration isolation system. Instead of using an additional optical system to measure the angular motion of the camera, an image-based and easy-to-implement method is proposed for the linear array camera to measure the image motions captured by the camera directly. The natural frequencies of the vibration isolation were also measured by laboratory vibration test. For image vibration measuring, the angular vibration is represented in image motion by the relationship between the image motion and angular motion of the camera. Based on the pushbroom imaging principle, the image motion at the edge of the foreground image of the linear object is extracted using image processing technology including image segment and edge detection methods. Then the image motion is analyzed in the time and frequency domains. The proposed method has been successfully demonstrated for the angular vibration measurement by a flight test. The results of the vibration sensors and the position and orientation system of the flight tests are also given to validate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed approach.
Experimental demonstration of a microwave photonic link using an optically phased antenna array for a millimeter wave band
Authors: Bohata J. , Komanec M. , Spáčil J. , Hazdra P. , Lonský T. , Hradecký Z. , Zvánovec S.
Published: January 2021

We present a hybrid radiofrequency and microwave photonic link at 25 GHz using the chromatic dispersion of an optical fiber to steer the beam of a three-element planar dipole-based phased antenna array (PAA). Our team has designed and developed an in-house built PAA, experimentally verified its parameters, and successfully demonstrated optically controlled beam steering as measured in an anechoic chamber. Moreover, a detailed analysis of the optically based beam steering in the proposed microwave photonics system has been carried out, with data transmission achieving an error vector magnitude as low as 5.6% for the frequency of 25 GHz and 20 MHz bandwidth.
Label-free histological imaging of tissues using Brillouin light scattering contrast
Authors: Ryu Seungmi , Martino Nicola , Kwok Sheldon J. J. , Bernstein Liane , Yun Seok-Hyun
Published: January 2021

Brillouin light scattering offers a unique label-free approach to measure biomechanical properties non-invasively. While this technique is used in biomechanical analysis of cells and tissues, its potential for visualizing structural features of tissues based on the biomechanical contrast has not been much exploited. Here, we present high-resolution Brillouin microscopy images of four basic tissue types: muscular, connective, epithelial, and nervous tissues. The Brillouin contrast distinguishes between muscle fiber cells and endomysium in skeletal muscle and reveals chondrocytes along with spatially varying stiffness of the extracellular matrix in articular cartilage. The hydration-sensitive contrast can visualize the stratum corneum, epidermis, and dermis in the skin epithelium. In brain tissues, the Brillouin images show the mechanical heterogeneity across the cortex and deeper regions. This work demonstrates the versatility of using the Brillouin shift as histological contrast for examining intact tissue substructures via longitudinal modulus without the need for laborious tissue processing steps.
All-dielectric orthogonal doublet cylindrical metalens in long-wave infrared regions
Authors: Shi Xiaoyan , Meng Dejia , Qin Zheng , He Qiong , Sun Shulin , Zhou Lei , Smith David R. , Liu Qing Huo , Bourouina Tarik , Liang Zhongzhu
Published: January 2021

Metalens have been recently introduced to overcome shortcomings of traditional lenses and optical systems, such as large volume and complicated assembly. As a proof-of-principle demonstration, we design an all-dielectric converging cylindrical metalens (CML) for working in long-wave infrared regions around 9 µm, which is made up of silicon-pillar on MgF2 dielectric layer. We further demonstrate the focusing effect of an orthogonal doublet cylindrical metalens (ODCM). Two CMLs are combined orthogonally and a circular focusing spot was demonstrated. This proves that within a certain size range, the focusing effect achieved by the ODCM is similar to that of a traditional circular metalens.
Super-resolution for a dispersive spectrometer using a tilted area sensor and spectrally varying blur kernel interpolation
Authors: Kitano Kazuya , Funatomi Takuya , Yasukuni Ryohei , Tanaka Kenichiro , Kubo Hiroyuki , Hosokawa Yoichiroh , Mukaigawa Yasuhiro
Published: January 2021

The grating, lens, and linear sensor determine a spectrometer’s wavelength resolution and measurement range. While conventional methods have tried to improve the optical design to obtain a better resolution, they have a limitation caused by the physical property. To improve the resolution, we introduce a super-resolution method from the computer vision field. We propose tilting an area sensor to realize accurate subpixel shifting and recover a high-resolution spectrum using interpolated spectrally varying kernels. We experimentally validate that the proposed method achieved a high spectral resolution of 0.141nm in 400–800nm by just tilting the sensor in the spectrometer.
EMD and VMD-GWO parallel optimization algorithm to overcome Lidar ranging limitations
Authors: Qi Baoling , Yang Guohui , Guo Dongbing , Wang Chunhui
Published: January 2021

Pulsed Lidar can obtain rich target information in one pulse, but the echo pulse signal is extremely susceptible to low laser transmitting power and complex target environments, resulting in an amplitude that is too low, which affects detection efficiency and ranging accuracy. In this paper, a variational modal decomposition based on gray wolf optimizer (VMD-GWO) and an empirical mode decomposition (EMD) parallel for denoising and signal enhancement in pulse Lidar is proposed and demonstrated completely. First, the adaptive strategy EMD is used for denoising the signal to obtain effective information. The combination of optimal VMD parameters of quadratic penalty α
v
and decomposition mode k was obtained by using the GWO to select the modal component with the smallest center frequency as effective information. Second, EMD and VMD-GWO parallel optimization algorithms are used to reconstruct the signal to obtain denoising and enhanced signals. Finally, a real experiment was carried out with the pulse Lidar ranging equipment. Our method compared with EMD-soft, EMD-VMD,WL-db4//EMD-DT and WL-db4//VMD has achieved greater improvement. When the target distance and the reflectivity of the reflectivity plate are 30 m and 10%, respectively, the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) of the weak echo signal calculated by our method can reach 11.5284 dB. And when in the dead zone of the system ranging, it is effectively denoising and enhancing the signal.
Ultra-wideband tunable metamaterial perfect absorber based on vanadium dioxide
Authors: Wu Guozhang , Jiao Xiaofei , Wang Yuandong , Zhao Zeping , Wang Yibo , Liu Jianguo
Published: January 2021

A dynamically adjustable ultra-wideband metamaterial perfect absorber (MPA) is proposed which consists of three resonance rings based on vanadium dioxide (VO2) and a metal ground layer separated by a dielectric spacer. The simulation results show that the terahertz (THz) absorption bandwidth of more than 90% absorptance reaches 3.30 THz, which covers from 2.34 to 5.64 THz, under different incident polarization angles. The range is better than that of previous VO2-based reports. Moreover, when the conductivity of VO2 changes from 200 S/m to 2×105 S/m, the absorption peak intensity can be adjusted continuously from 4% to 100%. The key is to optimize the geometric structure through interference cancellation and impedance matching theory, to achieve better absorption bandwidth and efficiency. Besides, the terahertz absorber has a wide-angle absorption effect both in TE and TM waves. Thus, the designed absorber may have many potential applications in modulating, sensing and imaging technology.
Improved light extraction efficiency of AlGaN deep-ultraviolet light emitting diodes combining Ag-nanodots/Al reflective electrode with highly transparent p-type layer
Authors: Zhang N. , Xu F. J. , Lang J. , Wang L. B. , Wang J. M. , Sun Y. H. , Liu B. Y. , Xie N. , Fang X. Z. , Yang X. L. , Kang X. N. , Wang X. Q. , Qin Z. X. , Ge W. K. , Shen B.
Published: January 2021

Enhancement of light extraction efficiency (LEE) of AlGaN-based deep-ultraviolet (DUV) light emitting diodes (LEDs) has been attempted by adopting Ag-nanodots/Al reflective electrodes on a highly transparent complex p-type layer. By thinning the p-GaN to several nm, highly DUV transparent p-type layer is achieved, making it meaningful for the application of reflective electrodes composed of Ag-nanodots and Al film to allow most light emitted upward to be reflected back to the sapphire side. By this approach, the maximum light output power and external quantum efficiency of the DUV-LEDs with optimized Ag nanodots/Al electrodes are severally increased by 52% and 58%, respectively, compared to those with traditional Ni/Au electrodes when the current is below 200 mA.
Nonlinear self-trapping and guiding of light at different wavelengths with sheep blood
Authors: Perez Nicolas , Chambers Jake , Chen Zhigang , Bezryadina Anna
Published: January 2021

We demonstrate the formation of waveguides, a few centimeters long, in colloidal suspensions of sheep red blood cells for a wide range of wavelengths due to nonlinear self-trapping and self-guiding of a laser beam. The near infrared (NIR) light experiences a weaker nonlinear self-action and thus requires much higher power to obtain self-trapping as compared to visible light. To examine the waveguiding of light at different wavelengths, we utilize a pump–probe-type setting for beam coupling: a pump beam at a 532 nm wavelength is used to create a waveguide first, and then a probe beam with various wavelengths is sent through the waveguide channel. Effective guidance for both visible and NIR wavelengths is observed through such otherwise highly scattering bio-soft-matter.
Correlated and uncorrelated parts of scalar fields in two-beam optical interferometry
Authors: Halder Atri , Turunen Jari , Friberg Ari T.
Published: January 2021

We show that in the interference of two partially correlated scalar light beams, the fields can be divided into parts that are mutually completely correlated (coherent) and parts that are fully uncorrelated with the correlated parts and with each other. Such correlated and uncorrelated parts cannot, in general, be unambiguously specified, but with a certain additional constraint, the partition becomes unique and can be determined. We demonstrate experimentally that the uncorrelated contribution can be physically isolated with the help of a spatial unitary transformation, such as a nonabsorbing beam splitter. Our findings constitute foundational results on optical two-beam interferometry.
Tunable 3D Dirac-semimetals supported mid-IR hybrid plasmonic waveguides
Authors: He Xiaoyong , Liu Feng , Lin Fangting , Shi Wangzhou
Published: January 2021

Based on 3D Dirac-semimetal (DSM) modified hybrid waveguides, tunable propagation properties have been investigated, including the effects of Fermi levels, structural parameters, and operation frequency. The results show that if the operation frequency is smaller (larger) than the transition frequency (

ℏ
ω
≈

2

|

μ
c

|

), the proposed hybrid waveguides indicate strong (weak) confinement because the DSM layer manifests a high plasmonic (dielectric low) loss property. The dielectric fiber shape affects the propagation property obviously, as the elliptical parameter decreases, the confinement and figure of merit increase, and the loss reduces. With the increase in Fermi level, the propagation constant increases, and the frequency (amplitude) modulation depth is 32.31% (12.93%) if the Fermi level changes in the range of 0.01–0.15 eV. The results are very helpful in understanding the tunable mechanisms of hybrid waveguides and designing novel plasmonic devices in the future, e.g., modulators, filters, lasers, and resonators.