bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Football and Its Politicisation in Darjeeling
Authors: Sundas Binu
Published: November 2024

Football in India and Darjeeling, like in many parts of the world, was introduced during the colonial period. Darjeeling was “gifted” to the British by the king of Sikkim in 1835 to build a sanatorium. A military recruiting depot was also soon established. Along with the military came missionary schools. These two elements of the British social system facilitated the gradual growth of football in the region. Many tournaments were played and football soon became part of the social landscape. The Herlihy Cup which started in the year 1917, the same year, the Hillmen’s Association submitted a refined version of the 1907 memorandum, demanding a “separate administrative unit” comprising the present-day Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts along with the Dooars areas, was the only tournament of that period to be played till today.

Until the 1980s, when violent agitation for the creation of Gorkhaland took place, football and the state enjoyed a cordial client-patron relationship. The agitation and the subsequent signing of a tripartite agreement between the Government of India, the Government of West Bengal, and the Gorkha National Liberation Front for the creation of the semi-autonomous Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council in 1988 changed the political landscape of Darjeeling. Football began to be used as a tool for asserting identity, leading to the old structure's breakdown. The tripartite agreement did not completely suppress the aspirations for creating Gorkhaland. In 2017 another round of agitation started. The agitation failed due to the betrayal of two leaders and the indiscriminate use of repressive apparatus by the state. To proclaim normalcy, football tournaments were initiated when fear and unfreedom were the norm and hegemony of power, domination and repression were the reality. This article is based on the methods of auto-ethnography and reflexivity and will try to highlight and analyze the relationship between football and politics in Darjeeling after the 1980s.
Diffractive hyperchromatic objective for chromatic confocal microscopy
Authors: Chen Jiabin , Li Shaobai , Kang Wenjun , Guan Shuyuan , Hong Zhihan , Liang Rongguang
Published: November 2024

The limited focal shift of conventional achromatic objectives constrains the maximum imaging depth of chromatic confocal microscopes. To address this, we designed a hyperchromatic confocal microscope using diffractive optical elements, which was fabricated by single-point diamond turning (SPDT). This design takes advantage of the small Abbe number of diffractive optical elements to introduce a significant longitudinal chromatic shift. The resulting chromatic confocal microscope achieved a maximum imaging depth of 750 µm and a lateral resolution of 0.78 µm across a wavelength range of 600–810 nm. The system's imaging capabilities were demonstrated by capturing detailed images of biological samples, including cucumber seed cavities, pig kidney, and human forearm skin. These results confirmed the microscope's effectiveness in visualizing key cellular structures, underscoring its potential for high-resolution biological imaging.
Modulation-adaptive resource allocation integrating ML-based routing and QoT estimation for elastic optical network planning
Authors: Cheng Yuansen , Ding Shifeng , Chan Chun-Kit
Published: November 2024

We propose a pointer network-based joint routing, modulation format, and spectrum allocation (PtrNet-RMSA) scheme to optimize the network capacity in elastic optical networks (EONs). Specifically, for a service request, EON spectra are first split into multiple spectrum window planes (SWPs), regarding various numbers of contained frequency slots (FSs). Then, over each SWP, a lightpath with an optimal estimated quality of transmission (QoT) is generated using a PtrNet-based routing agent. Further, different modulation formats are verified for the generated lightpath over the considered SWP, with respect to a calculated QoT threshold, to check whether a specific preforward error correction (FEC) requirement can be satisfied. Finally, two heuristic approaches, first fit and highest fit, are applied in the joint RMSA to select an optimal lightpath of an SWP and modulation format. To evaluate the efficiency of the PtrNet-RMSA scheme, extensive simulations were conducted in EONs with dynamic traffic. Results show that the proposed PtrNet-RMSA scheme can significantly improve the network capacity with various network topologies, compared with two benchmarks.
Digital-twin-based active input refinement for insertion loss estimation and QoT optimization in C and C + L networks
Authors: Yang Xin , Sun Chenyu , Charlet Gabriel , Tornatore Massimo , Pointurier Yvan
Published: November 2024

Quality of transmission (QoT) prediction is a fundamental function in optical networks. It is typically embedded within a digital twin and used for operational tasks, including service establishment, service rerouting, and (per-channel or per-amplifier) power management to optimize the working point of services and hence to maximize their capacity. Inaccuracy in QoT prediction results in additional, unwanted design margins. A key contributor to QoT inaccuracy is the uncertain knowledge of fiber insertion loss, e.g., the attenuation due to connector losses at the beginning or at the end of each fiber span, as such loss cannot be directly monitored. Indeed, insertion losses drive the choice of the launch power in fiber spans, which in turn drive key physical effects, including the Kerr and stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) effects, which affect services’ QoT. It is thus important to estimate (and detect possibly anomalous) fiber insertion losses at each span. We thereby propose a novel active input refinement (AIR) technique using active probing to estimate insertion losses in C and C + L systems. Here, active probing consists of adjusting amplifier gains span by span to slightly alter SRS. The amount of adjustment must be sufficient to be measurable (such that insertion losses can be inferred from the measures) but small enough to have a negligible impact on running services in a live network. The method is validated by simulations on a European network with 30 optical multiplex sections (OMSs) in C and C + L configurations and by lab experiments on a C-band network, demonstrating that AIR significantly improves insertion loss estimation, network QoT optimization, and QoT prediction compared with other state-of-the-art monitoring techniques. This work underscores the critical role of accurate estimation of QoT inputs in enhancing optical network performance.
DC-stable electro-optic modulators using thin-film lithium tantalate
Authors: Powell Keith , Li Xudong , Assumpcao Daniel , Magalhães Letícia , Sinclair Neil , Lončar Marko
Published: November 2024

We demonstrate telecommunication-wavelength Pockels electro-optic modulators in thin-film lithium tantalate (TFLT) with superior DC stability compared to equivalent thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) modulators. Less than 1 dB output power fluctuation for quadrature-biased TFLT is measured compared to 5 dB with TFLN over 46 hours with 12.1 dBm input power. Our TFLT modulators maintain properties similar to those in TFLN: 3.4 Vcm half-wave voltage length product, 39 dB extinction ratio, flat RF electro-optic response from 3-50 GHz, and 0.35 dB on-chip loss. We also show low error-rate data modulation over 0-70°C with TFLT modulators and optical loss of 9 dB/m.
Observation of electric field induced superradiance slowdown in ultracold Rydberg atomic gases
Authors: He Yunhui , Bai Jingxu , Jiao Yuechun , Li Weibin , Zhao Jianming
Published: November 2024

Atoms excited to electronically high-lying Rydberg states decay to low-energy states through spontaneous emission processes. We investigate the impact of a static electric field on the superradiant emission process between Rydberg |60D5/2〉 and |61P3/2〉 states in an ultracold Cesium Rydberg atom ensemble. We report experimental observations of a significant slowdown in superradiance upon applying an electric field. To understand the slowing down of superradiance, we employ a master equation in which Stark effects and collective decay are taken into account. We solve the master equation with the discrete truncated Wigner approximation (DTWA) method. Our numerical simulations demonstrate that superradiance decoherence is caused by the Stark shifts of the Rydberg level. Our theoretical simulations qualitatively match the experimental observations. Our work provides new insights into controlling quantum critical behaviors, with implications for quantum many-body dynamics, and the study of quantum phase transitions.
Suppressing data anomalies of gravitational reference sensors with time delay interferometry combinations
Authors: Wu Pengzhan , Du Minghui , Xu Peng
Published: November 2024

For the LISA and Taiji missions, both transient and continuous data anomalies would pose significant challenges to the detection, estimation, and subsequent scientific interpretation of gravitational wave signals. As is indicated by the experiences of LISA PathFinder and Taiji-1, these anomalies may originate from the disturbances of the gravitational reference sensors due to routine maintenances and unexpected environmental or instrumental issues. To effectively mitigate such anomalies and thereby enhance the robustness and reliability of the scientific outputs, we suggest to employ the “position noise suppressing” time delay interferometry channels. Through analytical derivations and numerical simulations, we demonstrate that these time delay interferometry channels can suppress data anomalies by more than 2 orders of magnitude within the sensitive band of 0.1 mHz - 0.05 Hz, while still remaining sensitive to most of the target signals. Compared with existing research that focuses on reconstructing and subtracting data anomalies, our method does not rely on the prior knowledge about the models of anomalies. Furthermore, the potential application scenarios of these channels have also been explored.
UTHP spectrometer: an ultra-thin and high-performance imaging spectrometer for ocean color remote sensing in broadband
Authors: Huang Chan , Zhang Hanyuan , Liu Huanwen , Wu Su , Yu Lei , Jiang Xiaoyun , Zhou Lei-Ming , Zhan Qiwen , Hu Jigang
Published: November 2024

The principle of ocean color detection involves using satellite sensors to capture variations in received signals, which are subsequently analyzed to infer the concentrations of various components responsible for ocean color changes. In recent years, significant research advancements have been achieved, centered on the development of ocean color detectors and the analysis of the resulting data. We have developed an innovative ultra-thin high-performance (UTHP) scanning imaging spectrometer for ocean color remote sensing across the near ultraviolet-visible-near infrared (NUV-VIS-NIR) spectrum. This spectrometer overcomes the bulkiness of conventional equipment by integrating a waveguide platform that replaces traditional optical elements with a single flat glass panel, featuring curved surfaces and high-reflectivity coatings to perform essential optical functions. We believe this to be a novel design that greatly reduces the size and weight of the device, making it highly suitable for deployment on various platforms, including aircraft and satellites. The optical system underwent extensive testing, including simulations using Zemax software and physical prototyping, achieving a spectral resolution of less than 3 nm across the 400-1000 nm waveband while maintaining low distortion. The UTHP spectrometer’s compactness, lightweight design, and exceptional performance mark a significant advancement in imaging spectrometry, with the potential to transform remote sensing by providing more efficient, accessible methods for studying expansive oceanic regions.
Visible-light uniform and unidirectional grating-based antennas for integrated optical phased arrays
Authors: Garcia Coleto Andres , Notaros Milica , Notaros Jelena
Published: November 2024

Integrated optical phased arrays (OPAs) have emerged as a promising technology for various applications due to their ability to dynamically control free-space optical beams in a compact and non-mechanical manner. While integrated OPAs have traditionally focused on the infrared spectrum, advancements in visible-light integrated OPAs have been relatively limited despite their potential benefits for applications such as displays, 3D printing, trapped-ion quantum systems, underwater communications, and optogenetics. Moreover, integrated visible-light grating-based optical antennas, one of the crucial devices that forms a visible-light integrated OPA, have been relatively underexplored, especially for more advanced designs. In this paper, we address this gap by providing a thorough explanation of the design principles for integrated visible-light grating-based antennas and applying them to design and experimentally demonstrate five different antennas with varying advanced capabilities, including the first visible-light unidirectionally-emitting grating-based antennas for integrated OPAs. Specifically, we develop and experimentally demonstrate integrated visible-light exponentially-emitting single-layer, uniformly-emitting single-layer, exponentially-emitting dual-layer, uniformly-emitting dual-layer, and unidirectionally-emitting dual-layer grating-based antennas. This work aims to provide a thorough design guide for integrated visible-light grating-based antennas, facilitating future widespread use of integrated OPAs for new and emerging visible-light applications.
Quasi-static transverse mode degradation in an erbium–ytterbium co-doped fiber amplifier
Authors: Kimura Shota , Kobayashi Yuta , Hashimoto Yosuke , Araki Tomohiro
Published: November 2024

Long-term stable operation of high-power fiber amplifiers is required to realize high-speed communication in non-terrestrial networks. Recently, quasi-static transverse mode degradation (QS-TMD) was found in ytterbium-doped fiber amplifiers on a few-hour time scale at 1064 nm. Here we demonstrate experimentally that QS-TMD also occurs in erbium–ytterbium co-doped fibers (EYDFs) that amplify light at 1550 nm. QS-TMD was observed by measuring the power of fundamental and higher-order modes separately. QS-TMD progressed as short-term transverse mode instability increased. A persistent long-period grating also formed in the EYDF. This work will aid design of stable high-power fiber amplifiers.
Mitigation of pyroelectric-induced photorefractive effects in MgO:LN and MgO:PPLN using a 405 nm laser
Authors: Xu Chongyang , He Yunze , Zhang Kun , Chen Yifan , Yao Hongquan , Lv Xinjie , Ning Jian , Zhao Gang , Xie Zhenda , Zhu Shining
Published: November 2024

This paper introduces what we believe to be the novel use of a 405 nm laser to mitigate pyroelectric-induced photorefractive effects in MgO-doped lithium niobate (MgO:LN) and MgO-doped periodically poled LN (MgO:PPLN). The pyroelectric effects inducing light-induced variations in the space charge field resulted in beam distortion when a 1064 nm laser passed through uniformly heated MgO:LN and MgO:PPLN crystals. By co-linearly irradiating the crystals with a 405 nm laser, approximately 80% of the beam distortion was eliminated, with a comparison of the effects of varying power levels. The findings highlight the efficacy of 405 nm laser-induced photocarriers in mitigating beam distortion. This methodology extends to optical parametric oscillators, enhancing operational stability post-frequency conversion by a factor of ten. This innovative approach is poised to advance the widespread application and development of LN in laser technologies and photonic devices.
Change in coherence properties of ovally Gaussian Schell-model vortex beam in non-Kolmogorov turbulence along an uplink path
Authors: Liu Wenli , Xu Yonggen , Li Bocheng
Published: November 2024

Analytical expressions are obtained for the cross-spectral density (CSD) matrix elements of an ovally Gaussian Schell-model vortex (OGSMV) beam propagating in non-Kolmogorov turbulence along uplink path based on the extended Huygens-Fresnel principle, and its coherence properties such as spectral degree of coherence (SDOC), phase distributions and coherence vortices are investigated in detail. Results indicate that the profile of the SDOC of OGSMV beam in turbulence gradually degrades into a Gaussian-like profile, and OGSMV beam with smaller ovality, larger topological charge number and initial coherence lengths will slow down this process. Interestingly, it is clearer to observe the coherence rings of the SDOC for OGSMV beam by reducing the initial auto-correlation lengths. Furthermore, one also finds that the number of elliptical edge dislocation for phase distribution of OGSMV beam is equal to topological charge number. They can provide two effectively ways for measuring topological charge number. Lastly, we used the phase screen simulation to verify our theoretical predictions. Theoretical outcomes are in good agreement with the simulations. Our results will be of important reference for optical communication.
Membrane-based mesh filter for far-infrared radiation
Authors: Yasar Firat , Albert Christopher , Wenger Tobias , Fradet Mathieu , Briggs Ryan M. , Beyer Andrew D. , Korzh Boris
Published: November 2024

Future space-based far-infrared instruments rely on optical components that enable high-efficiency observations in challenging environments. Here we demonstrate membrane-based mesh bandpass filters for far-infrared electromagnetic waves, targeting wavelengths of 15-37 μm. The filter architecture consists of periodic in-plane patterns, combined with alternating layers of polyimide and gold stacked vertically. This design utilizes spatial in-plane degrees of freedom and the vertical structure of the filters to achieve the desired filter performance. The optimization of this architecture is performed using finite-element electromagnetic simulations, and the fabrication is realized using advanced micro-fabrication techniques. Experimental validation of fabricated filters via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy demonstrates an 80 percent transmission efficiency. These membrane-based filters meets theoretical expectations, selectively transmits wavelengths, and are compatible with existing instrument architectures, making them a promising solution for far-infrared astronomy.
Sub-2-cycle post-compression of multi-mJ energy Ti:sapphire laser pulses in a gas-filled multi-pass cell
Authors: Daniault Louis , Kaur Jaismeen , Gallé Geoffrey , Sire Cedric , Sylla François , Lopez-Martens Rodrigo
Published: November 2024

We report on the nonlinear temporal post-compression of 7 mJ sub-40 fs pulses from a commercial kHz Ti:sapphire laser down to a record 3.8 fs duration (sub-1.5 optical cycle) in a compact single-stage gas-filled multi-pass cell (MPC), with 60% overall compression efficiency.
Advanced DL-based Image Processing for φ-OTDR-based Road-traffic Parameter Estimation
Authors: Colares Robson , Mello Darli , Rittner Leticia , Conforti Evandro
Published: November 2024

We apply vision transformers (ViTs) in a distributed fiber optic sensing system to evaluate road traffic parameters in smart cities. Convolutional neural networks (CNN) are also assessed for benchmarking. The experimental setup is based on a direct-detection phase-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometer implemented using a narrow linewidth source. The monitored fibers are buried in the university campus, creating a smart city environment. Backscattered traces are consolidated into space-time matrices, illustrating traffic patterns and enabling analysis through image processing algorithms. The ground truth is established by traffic parameters obtained by processing video camera images monitoring the
same street using the YOLOv8 model. The results indicate that ViTs outperform CNNs for estimating the number of vehicles and the mean vehicle speed. While the ViT necessitates a significantly larger number of parameters, its complexity is similar to that of the CNN when considering multiply-accumulate operations and random access memory usage. The processed dataset has been made publicly available for benchmarking.
On-chip microresonator dispersion engineering via segmented sidewall modulation
Authors: Kheyri Masoud , Zhang Shuangyou , Bi Toby , Pal Arghadeep , Zhang Hao , Zhang Yaojing , Alabbadi Abdullah , Yan Haochen , Ghosh Alekhya , Hill Lewis , Bianucci Pablo , Butzen Eduard , Gannott Florentina , Gumann Alexander , Harder Irina , Ohletz Olga , Del’Haye Pascal
Published: November 2024

Microresonator dispersion plays a crucial role in shaping the nonlinear dynamics of microcavity solitons. Here, we introduce and validate a method for dispersion engineering through modulating a portion of the inner edge of ring waveguides. We demonstrate that such partial modulation has a broadband effect on the dispersion profile, whereas modulation on the entire resonator’s inner circumference leads to mode splitting primarily affecting one optical mode. The impact of spatial modulation amplitude, period, and number of modulations on the mode splitting profile is also investigated. Through the integration of four modulated sections with different modulation amplitudes and periods, we achieve mode splitting across more than 50 modes over a spectral range exceeding 100 nm in silicon nitride resonators. These results highlight both the simplicity and efficacy of our method in achieving flatter dispersion profiles.
Biomedical researchers’ perspectives on the reproducibility of research
Authors: Cobey Kelly D. , Ebrahimzadeh Sanam , Page Matthew J. , Thibault Robert T. , Nguyen Phi-Yen , Abu-Dalfa Farah , Moher David
Published: November 2024

We conducted an international cross-sectional survey of biomedical researchers’ perspectives on the reproducibility of research. This study builds on a widely cited 2016 survey on reproducibility and provides a biomedical-specific and contemporary perspective on reproducibility. To sample the community, we randomly selected 400 journals indexed in MEDLINE, from which we extracted the author names and emails from all articles published between October 1, 2020 and October 1, 2021. We invited participants to complete an anonymous online survey which collected basic demographic information, perceptions about a reproducibility crisis, perceived causes of irreproducibility of research results, experience conducting reproducibility studies, and knowledge of funding and training for research on reproducibility. A total of 1,924 participants accessed our survey, of which 1,630 provided useable responses (response rate 7% of 23,234). Key findings include that 72% of participants agreed there was a reproducibility crisis in biomedicine, with 27% of participants indicating the crisis was “significant.” The leading perceived cause of irreproducibility was a “pressure to publish” with 62% of participants indicating it “always” or “very often” contributes. About half of the participants (54%) had run a replication of their own previously published study while slightly more (57%) had run a replication of another researcher’s study. Just 16% of participants indicated their institution had established procedures to enhance the reproducibility of biomedical research and 67% felt their institution valued new research over replication studies. Participants also reported few opportunities to obtain funding to attempt to reproduce a study and 83% perceived it would be harder to do so than to get funding to do a novel study. Our results may be used to guide training and interventions to improve research reproducibility and to monitor rates of reproducibility over time. The findings are also relevant to policy makers and academic leadership looking to create incentives and research cultures that support reproducibility and value research quality.
Structure-aware annotation of leucine-rich repeat domains
Authors: Xu Boyan , Cerbu Alois , Tralie Christopher J. , Lim Daven , Krasileva Ksenia
Published: November 2024

Protein domain annotation is typically done by predictive models such as HMMs trained on sequence motifs. However, sequence-based annotation methods are prone to error, particularly in calling domain boundaries and motifs within them. These methods are limited by a lack of structural information accessible to the model. With the advent of deep learning-based protein structure prediction, existing sequenced-based domain annotation methods can be improved by taking into account the geometry of protein structures. We develop dimensionality reduction methods to annotate repeat units of the Leucine Rich Repeat solenoid domain. The methods are able to correct mistakes made by existing machine learning-based annotation tools and enable the automated detection of hairpin loops and structural anomalies in the solenoid. The methods are applied to 127 predicted structures of LRR-containing intracellular innate immune proteins in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana and validated against a benchmark dataset of 172 manually-annotated LRR domains.
A dynamical systems approach to optimal foraging
Authors: Chaturvedi Siddharth , El-Gazzar Ahmed , van Gerven Marcel
Published: November 2024

Foraging for resources in an environment is a fundamental activity that must be addressed by any biological agent. Modelling this phenomenon in simulations can enhance our understanding of the characteristics of natural intelligence. In this work, we present a novel approach to model foraging in-silico using a continuous coupled dynamical system. The dynamical system is composed of three differential equations, representing the position of the agent, the agent’s control policy, and the environmental resource dynamics. Crucially, the control policy is implemented as a parameterized differential equation which allows the control policy to adapt in order to solve the foraging task. Using this setup, we show that when these dynamics are coupled and the controller parameters are optimized to maximize the rate of reward collected, adaptive foraging emerges in the agent. We further show that the internal dynamics of the controller, as a surrogate brain model, closely resemble the dynamics of the evidence accumulation mechanism, which may be used by certain neurons of the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex region in non-human primates, for deciding when to migrate from one patch to another. We show that by modulating the resource growth rates of the environment, the emergent behaviour of the artificial agent agrees with the predictions of the optimal foraging theory. Finally, we demonstrate how the framework can be extended to stochastic and multi-agent settings.
Snake phobia among the general population of Tamil Nadu, India
Authors: Salim Anika , Chandrasekharuni Gnaneswar , Almeida José R. , Vaiyapuri Rajendran , Williams Harry F. , Arumugam Sundhararajan , Senthilkumaran Subramanian , Patel Ketan , Williams Timothy , Norbert Zsidó András , Vaiyapuri Sakthivel
Published: November 2024

Background

A specific phobia is an anxiety disorder that is characterised by persistent and excessive fear in the presence of the object of the phobia. Animal phobias are the most prevalent forms of specific phobia among humans. Fear of snakes (snake phobia) is present in non-human primates which suggests its evolutionary origins as the ability to detect the threat of snakes was critical for survival. Snake phobia is a critical factor in protecting snakes and mitigating snakebite burden. To date, only one standardised psychometric test [the Snake Questionnaire (SNAQ) developed in 1974] has been used to quantify snake phobia although this was not performed in snakebite-endemic countries. In this study, we aimed to determine snake phobia in India, where snakebites and resulting deaths, disabilities and socioeconomic impacts are high.

Methodology/Principal findings

A modified version of the SNAQ (i.e. SNAQ12), which has previously demonstrated internal consistency, excellent reliability, and good discrimination between phobics and non-phobics in Europe was used in this study. SNAQ12 was developed both in English and Tamil and validated by testing on several individuals. Then, the final questionnaire was disseminated to members of the public through various methods including social media and in person through academic and clinical organisations. We received a total of 2032 responses, comprising 1086 [53.4%] males and 946 [46.6%] females, and these data were analysed to determine various aspects of snake phobia in the study population.

Conclusions/Significance

The results demonstrated good internal consistency in using SNAQ12 to determine the phobia amongst the tested population. The data suggests that males are more snake-phobic in all age groups than females in India, in contrast to previous research that suggested that females are usually more snake-phobic. No other critical factors contribute to snake phobia in this study population. The use of the SNAQ12 allowed us to easily discriminate between individuals with phobia and non-clinical controls. This tool can be used as part of the One Health approach to better understand the relationships between snake phobia and snakebites and their impact on the mental health and well-being of vulnerable populations.
Research on improving the ranging accuracy of ships with stereo vision through Kalman filter optimization
Authors: Peng Zhongbo , Han Jie , Tong Liang , Wang Lumeng , Liu Dan , Sun Shijie
Published: November 2024

The real-time and accurate detection and ranging of ships play a pivotal role in ensuring navigation safety, this study aims to enhance the navigation safety and environmental perception capabilities of inland waterway vessels. In the ship detection stage, addressing challenges such as large parameters, high computational complexity, and poor real-time performance in existing ship detection models, this paper proposes the MS-YOLOv5s ship target detection algorithm. This algorithm, based on YOLOv5s, utilizes the lightweight MobileNetV3-Small network to replace the original YOLOv5s feature extraction backbone network, thereby improving the detection speed. The results indicate that the parameter size of the MS-YOLOv5s model is 3.55M, only 50.49% of YOLOv5s. Achieving a detection rate of 50.28 FPS, the precision is 96.80%, and the mAP is 98.40%, striking a balance between high accuracy and low computational demand. In the depth estimation stage, influenced by the environment, leading to unstable measurement data, this paper proposes a binocular Kalman filter fusion ranging algorithm. The standard deviation of the ranging results is minimized to 6.032μm, which is one order of magnitude smaller than traditional ranging algorithms, significantly enhancing the robustness of the measurement results. Within a distance of 20m from the ship target, the error can be controlled within 3%, showcasing the applicability of the method proposed in this paper in complex inland waterway environments contributes to the enhancement of ships’ environmental perception capabilities and navigation safety, holding positive implications for the development of intelligent vessels.
A 7T fMRI investigation of hand and tool areas in the lateral and ventral occipitotemporal cortex
Authors: Pillet Ineke , Cerrahoğlu Begüm , Philips Roxane Victoria , Dumoulin Serge , Op de Beeck Hans
Published: November 2024

Previous studies demonstrated the existence of hand and tool areas in lateral and ventral occipitotemporal cortex (OTC), as well as an overlap between them. We reinvestigated this organization using 7T fMRI, benefiting from a higher signal-to-noise ratio than 3T. This enabled us to include a wider array of categories to achieve a more holistic perspective, and to omit certain spatial preprocessing steps. Despite these improvements, univariate analysis confirmed the existence of hand-tool overlap across OTC, which is striking given the omission of the spatial preprocessing steps that can influence overlap. There was significantly more overlap between hands and tools, compared to other overlap types in the left hemisphere of OTC. The overlap was also larger in the left lateral OTC as compared to the right lateral OTC. We found in all hand areas a differentiation between tools and other types of objects, although they still responded more to bodies than to tools. Regarding the tool areas, we observed a differentiation between hands and other categories such as faces and non-tool objects. Left hemisphere tool areas also differentiated between hands and bodies. When excluding the overlapping voxels from the hand and tool areas, they still showed a significant response to tools or hands (compared to objects or faces) respectively. Multi-voxel pattern analysis indicated that neural representations in the hand areas showed greater similarity between hands and tools than between hands and other objects. In the tool areas, the neural representations between tools and hands and between tools and other type of objects were all equally similar. To summarize, capitalizing on the benefits of 7T fMRI, we further substantiate the evidence in favor of hand-tool overlap in several regions of occipitotemporal cortex.
Antidepressant prescribing inequalities in people with comorbid depression and type 2 diabetes: A UK primary care electronic health record study
Authors: Ng Yutung , Hayes Joseph F. , Jeffery Annie
Published: November 2024

Aims

To compare the likelihood of being prescribed an antidepressant in depressed individuals with and without type 2 diabetes.

Methods

We performed a matched cohort study using primary care record data from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink. We used multivariable logistic regression to compare antidepressant prescribing during the first five years of starting oral antidiabetic medication to a comparison group without type 2 diabetes, matched based on GP practice, age and sex. We performed subgroup analyses stratified by sex, age and ethnicity.

Results

People with type 2 diabetes and depression were 75% less likely to be prescribed an antidepressant compared to people with depression alone (odds ratio (OR) 0.25, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.25 to 0.26). This difference was greater in males (OR 0.23, 95% CI, 0.22 to 0.24), people older than 56 years (OR 0.23, 95% CI, 0.22 to 0.24), or from a minoritised ethnic background (Asian OR 0.14, 95% CI 0.12–0.14; Black OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.09–0.14).

Conclusions

There may be inequalities in access to antidepressant treatment for people with type 2 diabetes, particularly those who are male, older or from minoritised ethnic backgrounds.
Incidence, risk factors for metabolic syndrome and health systems capacity for its management amongst people living with HIV, Accra-Ghana: A study protocol
Authors: Odikro Magdalene Akos , Torpey Kwasi , Lartey Margaret , Puplampu Peter , Painstil Elijah , Kenu Ernest
Published: November 2024

Background

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) refers to the clustering of three or more metabolic disorders including high blood pressure, glucose impairment, abdominal obesity, high triglycerides, and low high-density lipoproteins. MetS is increasingly being considered an epidemic among People Living With HIV (PLWH) with reports of association between HIV infection and/or antiretroviral therapy (ART) usage and development of MetS. MetS predisposes PLWH to the development of cardiovascular, kidney diseases and diabetes, decreases the quality of life, and burdens the health system. This study aims to establish the incidence, time to development and risk factors for development of MetS and it’s components, and to assess the capacity of the health system to manage MetS and it’s components among ART naive PLWH in Accra, Ghana.

Methods

We will conduct a mixed methods study with quantitative and qualitative data collection. Our prospective cohort study would enroll adults of 18 years and above with none or less than three MetS components at baseline and follow them up at six months and one year. Demographic, lifestyle data, anthropometric, and laboratory data will be collected using an adapted WHO Steps Survey questionnaire. The WHO Service Availability and Readiness Questionnaire (SARA) will be adapted to collect information on capacity across the six WHO building blocks. Key informant interviews will be conducted with HIV coordinators at the national, regional, and facility levels. In-depth interviews will be conducted with PLWH from the cohort who develop MetS or MetS components during their follow-up. Data will be analysed using proportions, Kaplan Mier time to event analysis, fitting of Cox proportional hazard regression models for risk factors, and generation of themes from qualitative data.

Expected outcome

This study will generate data on the incidence, time to development, risk factors for MetS and MetS components development, and health systems capacity for MetS management among PLWH. Findings would inform revisions to the guidelines and policies for HIV care in Ghana, Africa, and beyond, ultimately improving MetS prevention and management among the vulnerable population of PLWH.
A review of feline infectious peritonitis virus infection
Authors: Solikhah Tridiganita Intan , Agustin Qurrotul Aini Dwi , Damaratri Ratmasari Alifina , Siwi Della Ayuke Fika , Rafi’uttaqi Ghulam Naufal , Hartadi Vincent Angelino , Solikhah Gahastanira Permata
Published: November 2024

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is an infectious disease characterized by non-specific laboratory changes and clinical signs. Clinical symptoms include anorexia, jaundice, fever, and weight loss. Moreover, some lesions are found in the digestive and respiratory systems. FIP, whose virulence varies, cannot be distinguished using several diagnostic methods. Moreover, feline coronaviruses (FCoVs) can be classified into two serotypes based on differences in their amino acid sequences, spike (S) protein sequences, and antibody (Ab) neutralization. There are two pathotypes, namely those caused by FCoV, which are often referred to as feline enteric coronavirus and FIP virus (FIPV). Furthermore, FIPV infection can be caused by sub-neutralizing levels of anti-FIPV S Abs. Therefore, a supporting diagnosis is needed to confirm FIP because there are no specific symptoms.

Keywords: clinical, feline coronavirus, feline infectious peritonitis virus, infectious disease.
Evaluation of postharvest age and dormancy-breaking methods on Echinochloa crus-galli seed germination
Authors: Pisoni Alexandre , Dalazen Giliardi , Gallon Mateus , Markus Catarine , Merotto Jr Aldo
Published: November 2024

Barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) is one of the most troublesome weeds in irrigated rice cultivation and has increasingly impacted rainfed crops due to the emergence of herbicide-resistant populations. Understanding its germination dynamics is crucial for developing and implementing effective management strategies. Additionally, since barnyardgrass research relies on growing plants from seeds, its dormancy characteristics are of particular interest. The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of postharvest age on barnyardgrass seed germination and the effectiveness of different dormancy-breaking methods in susceptible and herbicide-resistant populations. Germination rate (G), germination speed index (GSI), and seed viability, assessed using the topographic tetrazolium test, were measured in seed lots with four different postharvest ages: two years, one year, two months, and one day postharvest. The seeds were subjected to 15 dormancy-breaking methods, including temperature variation and the use of solutions containing H2SO4, KNO3, and GA3. Seeds that were one or two years old showed germination rates exceeding 90%, regardless of the method used. In contrast, seeds aged two months or one day postharvest only germinated when exposed to 40°C for seven days, with G values of 25.2% and 5.9%, respectively. Both herbicide-susceptible and resistant barnyardgrass populations exhibited similar dormancy levels and responses to dormancy-breaking methods. The results indicate that newly harvested seeds have high dormancy levels, and specific methods are only partially effective in overcoming barnyardgrass seed dormancy.
Effect of glycerol monolaurate nanocapsules on Streptococcus mutans biofilm in vitro
Authors: Quintana Soares Lopes Leonardo , Vaucher Rodrigo de Almeida , Giongo Janice Luehring , Marquezan Patrícia Kolling , Santos Roberto Christ Vianna
Published: November 2024

This study aimed to prepare and apply nanocapsules containing glycerol monolaurate for eradicating Streptococcus mutans biofilms. The interfacial deposition method of the preformed polymer synthesized the nanocapsules characterized for mean diameter, polydispersity index, zeta potential, pH, and morphology by transmission electron microscopy. The microdilution method investigated antimicrobial activity. Crystal violet staining determined biomass quantification and the ability to inhibit biofilm formation. The study also measured exopolysaccharide production and the number of viable colonies. The characterization outcomes indicated acceptable values for the mean diameter 198.1 ± 2, a polydispersity index of 0.087 ± 0.018, a zeta potential of -21.30 ± 2.00 mV, a pH of 6.19 ± 0.12, and typical nanostructure morphology. The evaluations of minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations of glycerol monolaurate (free and nanoencapsulated) revealed their ineffectiveness in inhibiting microorganisms. Only free glycerol monolaurate inhibits S. mutans growth with 125 µg/mL. Biomass, exopolysaccharide content, and viable colonies in the biofilm were analyzed to assess the compounds' ability to inhibit biofilm formation. The tested compounds did not significantly reduce the formed biofilm. Despite unfavorable outcomes of the formulated preparation, further experimentation with a new formulation is encouraged to explore alternative strategies and potential improvements.
The Biosphere Reserves Institute at Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development. Advancing science in, with and for UNESCO Biosphere Reserves
Authors: Ferreira Ana Filipa , Mann Carsten , Mund Jan-Peter , Welp Martin
Published: November 2024

The new Biosphere Reserves Institute (BRI) at Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE) represents a pioneering effort to promote sustainable development and transformation. As an UNESCO Category 2 Institute, the BRI serves as an international think tank that advances
science, technology and innovation in UNESCO Biosphere Reserves.
In-migration for transforming peripheral locations through a real-world experiment? Experiment insights on location decisions in the medium-sized city of Görlitz, Germany
Authors: Zöllte Constanze , Rößle Stefanie , Knippschil Robert
Published: November 2024

A real-world experiment was implemented in the city of Görlitz to gain knowledge about the requirements for, and the opportunities of, in-migration to revitalize urban areas and increase local capacities for sustainability transformation.Many cities, in particular those in
peripheral locations, are dependent on in-migration to compensate for the negative population development often experienced due to demographic and economic change. In addition, the necessary transformation towards urban sustainability requires appropriate know-how and innovation potential.
A real-world experiment to stimulate the revitalization of existing urban areas and to enhance the local potential for sustainability transformation through targeted in-migration was implemented in the city of Görlitz, Germany. The aim of this article is to reflect upon the impact of
such an experiment with special regard to learning effects for individuals, municipalities, and transdisciplinary collaborations. It explains that there is great value for the future development of a city in the long-term consideration and co-productive work of various stakeholders, but this
is also associated with challenges.
Exploring the potential of historical images for the investigation of glacier changes: the case of Belvedere Glacier, Italian Alps
Authors: Kropáček Jan , Nüsser Marcus , Schmidt Susanne
Published: November 2024

Historical images dispersed in various archives can be instrumental in documenting processes connected to glacier changes in mountains. A series of more than 29 engravings and photographs of the Monte Rosa east face have been found covering the period since 1789. Some images were produced by a combination of photography and engraving, a common approach before practical techniques for printing halftone images were introduced. Using a repeat photography approach, the present study documents the changes in the extent and debris cover of the Belvedere Glacier. Based on visual comparison of images, it appears that the debris cover of the lower part of the glacier developed mainly during the period of the 1860s–1880s. Furthermore, the image series documents the evolution of the terminus both in terms of elevation and shape, as well as a breach in lateral moraine which could be dated back to the end of the 19th century, well before the reported glacier lake outburst flood in 1904.
On farm monitoring of animal welfare and environmental impact as a basis for quality assurance programmes
Authors: BORELL Eberhard von , MITLOEHNER Frank M.
Published: November 2024

The welfare, health and management of farm animals as well as environmental concerns are relevant issues that impact the success of the producer in the market and need to be considered to increase public and consumer acceptance. Criteria for the assessment of housing and management systems have been proposed by several groups and minimal standards for animal welfare, hygiene and environmental stewardship are already implemented in the legislation of most European countries. Issues of animal welfare, health and environmental care are often dealt with separately. As it can be foreseen that housing and management conditions will be increasingly regulated in future, a documentation and certification process that safeguards all requirements is needed. Concepts for the assessment of animal housing and management according to welfare and environmental criteria are proposed as part of a quality assurance scheme according to international standards. Based on these concepts, critical control points (CCP) and critical management points (CMP) have been developed for the categories health, behaviour, management and environmental impact. These criteria were first established to be used primarily by the farmer as an internal on-farm assessment scheme. However, they can also serve as quality assurance criteria used by government agencies, consumer organisations and commodity groups that have an interest to evaluate, monitor and licence housing and management systems. The following paper reviews quality assurance issues using examples from existing concepts in Germany (Pig Housing and Management Assessment according to Welfare and Environmental Criteria) and the United States (California Dairy Quality Assurance Program).
The influence of environmental enrichment with different kind of wood on some behavioural and fattening traits of rabbits housed in individual wire cages
Authors: JORDAN Dušanka , VARGA Ada , KERMAUNER Ajda , GORJANC Gregor , ŠTUHEC Ivan
Published: November 2024

The influence of addition of different types of wooden sticks as gnawing material for environmental enrichment on some behavioural and fattening traits was studied on 48 male New Zealand White rabbits of Slovenian male line SIKA. Animals were housed individually in wire cages equipped with feeder and nipple drinkers. Feed and water were available ad libitum, the duration of lighting was 12 hours. According to the type of wood placed in the cage, rabbits were equally allotted to four groups: control, oak, lime and Norway spruce. Rabbit behaviour was studied on 16 focus animals using continuous 24 hours video recording. Environmental enrichment had no significant influence on fattening traits and behaviour, except for eating, wood gnawing and frequency of caecotrophy. Rabbits in Norway spruce group ate significantly less time and less frequently and gnawed wood significantly longer and more often than rabbits in oak group.