bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FruitPAL: An IoT-Enabled Framework for Automatic Monitoring of Fruit Consumption in Smart Healthcare
Authors:   , Alkinani Abdulrahman Ibrahim M.
Published: February 2024

This research proposes FruitPAL and FruitPAL 2.0. They are full automatic devices that can detect fruit consumption to reduce the risk of disease. Allergies to fruits can seriously impair the immune system. A novel device (FruitPAL) detecting fruit that can cause allergies is proposed in this thesis. The device can detect fifteen types of fruit and alert the caregiver when an allergic reaction may have happened. The YOLOv8 model is employed to enhance accuracy and response time in detecting dangers. The notification will be transmitted to the mobile device through the cloud, as it is a commonly utilized medium. The proposed device can detect the fruit with an overall precision of 86%. FruitPAL 2.0 is envisioned as a device that encourages people to consume fruit. Fruits contain a variety of essential nutrients that contribute to the general health of the human body. FruitPAL 2.0 is capable of analyzing the consumed fruit and then determining its nutritional value. FruitPAL 2.0 has been trained on YOLOv5 V6.0. FruitPAL 2.0 has an overall precision of 90% in detecting the fruit. The purpose of this study is to encourage fruit consumption unless it causes illness. Even though fruit plays an important role in people's health, it might cause dangers. The proposed work can not only alert people to fruit that can cause allergies, but also it encourages people to consume fruit that is beneficial for their health.
Predictors of Academic Success in an Early College Entrance Program
Authors:   , Earls Samuel Wayne
Published: February 2024

Early college entrance programs have existed in the United States since the 1950s, but in-depth research on academic success in these programs is lacking. Every year, early college entrance programs utilize a variety of data-gathering and candidate-screening techniques to select hundreds of students for admission into these accelerated programs. However, only a smattering of research articles has discussed the factors that predict academic success in these programs. This exploratory study investigated commonly-relied-upon admissions data points—such as high school GPA and ACT scores—and demographic information—such as sex, ethnicity, and locality—to see if any of these factors predicted academic success: namely, graduation and early college entrance program GPA. Secondary data from nearly 800 students admitted over an 11-year period to a state-supported, residential early college entrance program located at a large Southern university in the United States were utilized for this study. Logistic regression failed to yield a model that could accurately predict whether or not a student would graduate from the program. Multiple regression models showed that high school GPA and ACT scores were predictive of performance, and that factors like locality and ethnicity can have predictive power as well. However, the low variance in performance explained by the variables included in this study demonstrates that high school GPA, standardized test scores, locality, sex, and ethnicity can only tell us so much about a student's likelihood of success in an early college entrance program.
Transport of Proton, Hydrogen and Alpha Particles through Atomic Hydrogen Environment
Authors:   , Zaman Tamanna
Published: February 2024

Using multiple theoretical methods, comprehensive calculations are performed to create a new and more comprehensive data set for elastic scattering and related transport cross sections for collisions of (H$^+$ + H), (H + H) and (He$^{2+}$ + H) in the center-of-mass energy frame. In proton-atomic hydrogen collisions, we have significantly updated and extended previous work of elastic scattering, charge transfer and related transport integral and differential cross sections in the center-of-mass energy range $10^{-4} - 10^4$ eV where the multi-channel molecular orbital approach (MO3) is used. For atomic hydrogen-hydrogen collisions, similar updates have been made of elastic scattering and spin exchange differential and integral cross sections, also for the H + H collision the ionization and negative ion formation cross sections are provided in energy range (1-20 KeV) by use of the 'hidden crossing' theoretical framework. For collisions of alpha particles with atomic hydrogen we have computed the elastic scattering cross section in the center-of-mass energy range $10^{-4} - 10^8$ eV. In this case, at the lowest energies where elastic scattering greatly dominates other reaction channels, a single-channel quasi-molecular-orbital approach (MO1) is used. With the opening of inelastic channels at higher energies the multi-channel atomic-orbital, close-coupling method is applied, and at the highest energies considered perturbation theory (the Born approximation) is used. The results are compared with other data available in literature.
The Saxophone Meets Chinese Culture: A Guide to Works for Saxophone by Composer Zou Xiangping
Authors:   , Zhang Cehuai
Published: February 2024

Zou Xiangping is one of the most significant Chinese composers who writes music for the saxophone. These works, however, are not well-known in the classical saxophone repertoire. The purpose of this dissertation is to help international saxophonists develop an enlightened understanding and ultimately, performance of two selected pieces by Chinese composer Zou Xiangping (邹向平) (b. 1951), Images of Yalong River for Alto Saxophone and Piano (雅砻江印：为中音萨克斯管和钢琴) and Song of Chuanjiang River Boatman for Saxophone Quartet (川江纤夫之歌: 为萨克斯管四重奏) (2022). The compositional background, the relevant introduction about Chinese culture, the manner in which the composer combined this with Western compositional techniques, and comprehensive performance advice of each piece are provided.
Cross-Pollinating Culturally Sustaining Pedagogies and Systemic Functional Linguistics in English as a Second Language (ESL) Classrooms
Authors:   , Rana Lal Bahadur
Published: February 2024

This exploratory case study research was conducted with a view to exploring how teachers teaching emergent bilingual students in ESL programs can enact the principles of culturally sustaining systematic functional linguistics (CS SFL), such as critical centering, historicizing, curricularizing, teaching and learning cycle (TLC), and semantic waving in their classrooms. Two middle school teachers participated in the study and used CS SFL principles to teach their emergent bilingual students. I gathered data for the study through non-participatory observations, semi-structured interviews, informal talks with the teachers, usually right after their classes, and artifacts from teachers and students. The thematic analysis of the data demonstrated that teachers could recognize their students' ways of knowing and being by (a) translanguaging between English and Spanish seamlessly in their classrooms; (b) centering their students' lifeways, prior knowledge, and lived experiences by making them the parts of their curricula; (c) using TLC for creating dialogic interactions between teachers and students and among students; (d) positioning their students through strength perspectives; and (e) using multimodal and multi-semiotic means of communication so that their students can understand their content area knowledge and express their ideas even if their English language is emerging. The teachers faced tensions about whether to reject or perpetuate the monolingual and monocultural ideologies expressed through English language requirements that emergent bilingual students should meet in order to succeed academically. Similarly, they reported that they had challenges in preparing students for high-stakes testing and offering their support for the students sent to in-school suspension (ISS).
Option Pricing Under New Classes of Jump-Diffusion Processes
Authors:   , Adiele Ugochukwu Oliver
Published: February 2024

In this dissertation, we introduce novel exponential jump-diffusion models for pricing options. Firstly, the normal convolution gamma mixture jump-diffusion model is presented. This model generalizes Merton's jump-diffusion and Kou's double exponential jump-diffusion. We show that the normal convolution gamma mixture jump-diffusion model captures some economically important features of the asset price, and that it exhibits heavier tails than both Merton jump-diffusion and double exponential jump-diffusion models. Secondly, the normal convolution double gamma jump-diffusion model for pricing options is presented. We show that under certain configurations of both the normal convolution gamma mixture and the normal convolution double gamma jump-diffusion models, the latter exhibits a heavier left or right tail than the former. For both models, the maximum likelihood procedure for estimating the model parameters under the physical measure is fairly straightforward; moreover, the likelihood function is given in closed form thereby eliminating the need to embed a probability density function recovery procedure such as the fast Fourier transform or the Fourier-cosine expansion methods in the parameter estimation procedure. In addition, both models can reproduce the implied volatility surface observed in the options data and provide a good fit to the market-quoted European option prices.
Thermodynamics, Kinetics and Mechanical Behavior of Model Metallic Glasses
Authors:   , Akhtar Mst Alpona
Published: February 2024

The thermophysical properties and deformation behavior of a systematic series of model metallic glasses was investigated. For Zr-based metallic glasses with all metallic constituents, the activation energy of glass transition was determined to be in the range of 74-173 kJ/mol while the activation energy of crystallization was in the range of 155-170 kJ/mol. The reduced glass transition temperature was roughly the same for all the alloys (~ 0.6) while the supercooled liquid region was in the range of 100-150 K, indicating varying degree of thermal stability. In contrast, the metal-metalloid systems (such as Ni-Pd-P-B) showed relatively higher activation energy of crystallization from short range ordering in the form of triagonal prism clusters with strongly bonded metal-metalloid atomic pairs. Deformation mechanisms of all the alloys were investigated by uniaxial compression tests, strain rate sensitivity (SRS) measurements, and detailed characterization of the fracture surface morphology. For the metal-metal systems, plasticity was found to be directly correlated with shear transformation zone (STZ) size, with systems of larger STZ size showing better plasticity. In metal-metalloid amorphous alloys, plasticity was limited by the distribution of STZ units, with lower activation energy leading to more STZ units and better plasticity. The alloys with relatively higher plasticity showed multiple shear bands while the brittle alloys showed a single dominant shear band and vein-pattern on the fracture surface indicating sudden catastrophic failure. The effect of chemistry change on thermodynamics, kinetics, and deformation behavior was investigated for the model binary NixP100-x and CoxP100-x metallic glasses. Alloys with higher phosphorous content showed greater activation energy of crystallization, indicating better thermal stability. In addition, metallic glasses with higher % P showed greater hardness, modulus, and serrated flow behavior during indentation that is characteristic of inhomogeneous deformation.
"To Swim In Air Forever Tooloud Laughcrying"
Authors:   , Fristensky Louise Anne
Published: February 2024

This thesis' focal presentable object – to swim in air – is a mythosystem comprising six iteratively malleable experiential systems of intermedial musical and visual performance works composed by myself between the years 2018 and 2023. Conceived through the lens of Jennifer Walshe's New Discipline, created within my practice cycle's nodal context, and connected by a sub/conscious structure of perceptual timbre, the mythosystem and its parts form the centerpiece of this discussion of context, process, and method. As described in this document, the creative practice of nodal context and the adaptive intermedial methods used in the conceptualization and composition of to swim in air were developed through a personal and pragmatic application of feminist writer and independent scholar Sarah Ahmed's Queer Phenomenology: Orientations, Objects, Others, and composer, musicologist and trombonist George Lewis' curatorial decolonization guidelines as outlined in his "8 Difficult Steps to Decolonizing Music" towards the creation of presentable cultural objects which invite variable and continuous interaction from their participants through the exploration of the reciprocity of community, multi-practice creative strategy and malleable forms. Throughout this document I discuss how through the exploration of the reciprocity of community, multi-practice creative strategy and malleable forms I have addressed concerns of cost, access and participation in living culture with regards to my own work creating cultural objects. I also discuss phenomenological and practical issues to do with cost, access and living culture present within the creative, curatorial and institutional spaces and communities in which this work was created and is initially intended to exist, and how these concerns impact the pedagogical, practical and experiential potential of my own work. This document also reflects on how the pragmatic and personal adoption of these concepts of cultural object phenomenological ephemera and decolonized curatorial practice as presented by Ahmed and Lewis by other composers, artist, curators, educators, and other creative professionals might impact the nature of artistic institutional spaces, might encourage the engagement of new, speculative and/or more colloquial spaces, and how these spatial reorientations might encourage a more fluidic approach to creative practice, community cultivation and engagement.
Rethinking Cost-Sensitive Classification in Deep Learning via Adversarial Data Augmentation
Authors: Chen Qiyuan , Al Kontar Raed , Nouiehed Maher , Yang X. Jessie , Lester Corey
Published: February 2024

Cost-sensitive classification is critical in applications where misclassification errors widely vary in cost. However, overparameterization poses fundamental challenges to the cost-sensitive modeling of deep neural networks (DNNs). The ability of a DNN to fully interpolate a training data set can render a DNN, evaluated purely on the training set, ineffective in distinguishing a cost-sensitive solution from its overall accuracy maximization counterpart. This necessitates rethinking cost-sensitive classification in DNNs. To address this challenge, this paper proposes a cost-sensitive adversarial data augmentation (CSADA) framework to make overparameterized models cost sensitive. The overarching idea is to generate targeted adversarial examples that push the decision boundary in cost-aware directions. These targeted adversarial samples are generated by maximizing the probability of critical misclassifications and used to train a model with more conservative decisions on costly pairs. Experiments on well-known data sets and a pharmacy medication image (PMI) data set, made publicly available, show that our method can effectively minimize the overall cost and reduce critical errors while achieving comparable overall accuracy.

History: Nick Street served as the senior editor for this article.

Funding: Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Library of medicine of the National Institutes of Health in the United States under award number R01LM013624.

Data Ethics & Reproducibility Note: This paper abides by data ethics requirements. Data used are publicly available online at https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/data/concern/data_sets/6d56zw997 . Codes to replicate the results of this paper are available on Code Ocean at https://doi.org/10.24433/CO.2139841.v1 and in the e-Companion to this article (available at https://doi.org/10.1287/ijds.2022.0033 ).
A Nudge to Credible Information as a Countermeasure to Misinformation: Evidence from Twitter
Authors: Hwang Elina H. , Lee Stephanie
Published: February 2024

As people increasingly rely on social media to obtain healthcare information, misinformation, such as myths, rumors, and false information on healthcare, is posing a grave threat to public health. This paper investigates a potential remedy for such infodemic by examining a unique countermeasure that Twitter implemented. Instead of resorting to outright censorship, Twitter has taken a more nuanced approach: The platform has been nudging its users toward reputable sources whenever they seek out topics susceptible to misinformation. By analyzing the propagation of news articles that contain misinformation about health topics, we find that misinformation is less likely to initiate a diffusion process on Twitter since the inception of the policy. Moreover, tweets that include a link to misinformation articles are less likely to receive retweets, quotes, or replies. Furthermore, we find that the observed reduction is primarily driven by a decline in diffusion activities by human-like accounts rather than bot-like accounts. Our findings suggest that a misinformation policy that nudges platform users to a credible information source can help effectively curb misinformation diffusion. This approach may serve as a model for other platforms grappling with the challenge of misinformation in the digital age.
Regulating Powerful Platforms: Evidence from Commission Fee Caps
Authors: Li Zhuoxin , Wang Gang
Published: February 2024

Digital platforms have become increasingly dominant in many industries, bringing the concerns of adverse economic and societal effects (e.g., monopolies and social inequality). Regulators are actively seeking diverse strategies to regulate these powerful platforms. However, the lack of empirical studies hinders the progress toward evidence-based policymaking. This research investigates the regulatory landscape in the context of on-demand delivery, where high commission fees charged by the platforms significantly impact small businesses. Recent regulatory scrutiny has started to cap the commission fees for independent restaurants. We empirically evaluate the effectiveness of platform fee regulation by utilizing regulations across 14 cities and states in the United States. Our analyses unveil an unintended consequence: independent restaurants, the intended beneficiaries of the regulation, experience a decline in orders and revenue, whereas chain restaurants gain an advantage. We show that the platforms’ discriminative responses to the regulation, such as prioritizing chain restaurants in customer recommendations and increasing delivery fees for consumers, may explain the negative effects on independent restaurants. These dynamics underscore the complexity of regulating powerful platforms and the urgency of devising nuanced policies that effectively support small businesses without triggering unintended detrimental effects.
Case Article—Racial Bias in Automated Traffic Law Enforcement and the Price of Unjustness
Authors: Vogiatzis Chrysafis , Kontou Eleftheria
Published: February 2024

This case study has been developed for students to practice their data analysis and optimization skills in a contemporary societal issue: that of injustice in automated traffic law enforcement. Specifically, this case study is for students of modern data analysis and statistical modeling courses that focus on hypothesis testing; it also has a component for students in optimization and mathematical modeling courses that focus on linear and network optimization. The case study has been used since Spring 2023 in a combination of two courses from the Industrial Engineering (Analysis of Data, an introduction to probability and statistics) and Civil Engineering (Transportation Systems, an introduction to mathematical modeling and optimization for civil engineers with a focus on transportation) curricula.

History: This paper has been accepted for the INFORMS Transactions on Education Special Issue on DEI in ORMS Classrooms.

Supplemental Material: The Teaching Note and data files are available at https://www.informs.org/Publications/Subscribe/Access-Restricted-Materials .
Case—Racial Bias in Automated Traffic Law Enforcement and the Price of Unjustness
Authors: Vogiatzis Chrysafis , Kontou Eleftheria
Published: February 2024

This case study has been developed for students to practice their data analysis and optimization skills in a contemporary societal issue: that of injustice in automated traffic law enforcement. Specifically, this case study is for students of modern data analysis and statistical modeling courses that focus on hypothesis testing; it also has a component for students in optimization and mathematical modeling courses that focus on linear and network optimization. The case study has been used since Spring 2023 in a combination of two courses from the Industrial Engineering (Analysis of Data, an introduction to probability and statistics) and Civil Engineering (Transportation Systems, an introduction to mathematical modeling and optimization for civil engineers with a focus on transportation) curricula.

History: This paper has been accepted for the INFORMS Transactions on Education Special Issue on DEI in ORMS Classrooms.
EDUCAÇÃO CORPORATIVA E O USO DAS TICS: O COMPORTAMENTO DE PROFISSIONAIS EM TEMPOS DE PANDEMIA
Authors: Campos Rita De Cássia Leal , Maciel Gustavo Nunes , Campos Alyce Cardoso , Antonialli Luiz Marcelo
Published: February 2024

As mudanças ocasionadas pela crise da Covid-19 reforçam a importância das Tecnologias da Informação e Comunicação (TICs) em diversos aspectos da sociedade, inclusive no âmbito empresarial e educacional. Nesse sentido, o artigo buscou discutir o perfil comportamental de profissionais usuários das TICs como meio de acesso à educação corporativa. Trata-se de uma pesquisa descritiva e quantitativa, realizada por intermédio de um questionário estruturado. A amostra foi composta por 142 respondentes que trabalham no Estado de Minas Gerais. Para a análise e interpretação dos dados, utilizou-se o software SPSS, realizando análise de clusters (conglomerados) e análise discriminante. Os resultados demonstraram a diferenciação entre quatro grupos ou tipos comportamentais de profissionais: Cultura inovadora, Experientes, Cultura tradicional e Intolerantes. Além de contribuir para o avanço do conhecimento acadêmico na área educacional e gerencial, os resultados desta pesquisa podem orientar gestores na formulação de estratégias de Educação Corporativa que contemplem o uso de TICs.
PANORAMA DO USO DE MÉTODOS QUANTITATIVOS EM PESQUISAS SOBRE A PRIVATIZAÇÃO DO SISTEMA PRISIONAL
Authors: Fraga Talita Josiane , Soares Sandro Vieira , Nascimento Cristiane Aparecida
Published: February 2024

Esta pesquisa investiga como se dá a aplicação dos métodos quantitativos em estudos relacionados à implementação do setor privado na gestão prisional. Para isso, elaborou-se um panorama das características metodológicas do emprego de métodos quantitativos em estudos sobre a privatização na gestão prisional, com o intuito de auxiliar os pesquisadores na definição de metodologias mais apropriadas, no tocante à abordagem quantitativa. Assim, é caracterizada como exploratória, descritiva, bibliográfica e que se apropria de dados secundários. Por intermédio de uma análise bibliográfica realizada nas bases Scopus, WoS e Scielo, foram obtidos 80 artigos, os quais, após critérios de seleção, resultaram num portfólio com 18 publicações. Os resultados mostraram que a estatística descritiva é o método mais utilizado (72,22%) e que 61,11% das pesquisas se apropriaram de algum tipo de regressão. Apenas 16,67% das pesquisas indicaram o uso de software (Stata). A pesquisa documental foi o método de coleta de dados mais comum (94,44%), sendo, em 66,67% dos casos, a única fonte, enquanto outras pesquisas também utilizaram métodos complementares, como entrevistas (33,33%) e observações (11,11%).
Affecting factors of clinical dental hygienists’ intention on retention
Authors: Lee Hye-Jin , Min Hee-Hong
Published: February 2024

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine factors affecting the retention intention of clinical dental hygienists. Methods: A total of 190 clinical dental hygienists were recruited as participants. Data were collected from March to May, 2023 and then analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and multiple regression through PASW Statistics 26.0. Results: Mean scores for job crafting, job satisfaction, positive psychological capital and retention intention were 3.22, 3.46, 3.57 and 3.46 respectively. Retention intention showed a significant relationship with positive psychological capital (r=0.299), job crafting (r=0.214), and job satisfaction (r=0.649). The results of the multiple regression analysis indicated that job satisfaction was the strongest predictor of retention intention, explaining 24.1% of the total variance (F=4.550, p<0.001). Conclusions: Variables that can affect the retention intention of clinical dental hygienists were identified, with job satisfaction emerging as a significant factor affect retention intention.
Effect of dental hygienist’s achievement motivation on intention to stay
Authors: Park Soo-Auk
Published: February 2024

Objectives: Previous research on turnover has been conducted from the organization’s perspective. However, for the long-term retention of dental hygienists, it is necessary to conduct research from an individual’s perspective. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of achievement motivation on the intention to stay of dental hygienists. Methods: This study conducted an online survey targeting dental hygienists working in dental healthcare institutions, using convenience sampling from September, 2023. The analysis included 152 participants with long-term work experience and 121 participants with shorter work experience. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to identify factors influencing retention intentions (PASW Statistics ver. 23.0, p<0.05). Results: Factors influencing intention to stay for long-term dental hygienists included the number of dental hygienists and achievement motivation (responsibility, challenge, task orientation), with a significant impact (adj. R2=0.317). For shorterterm dental hygienists, achievement motivation (challenge, task orientation) demonstrated a significant impact (adj. R2=0.164). Conclusions: It was observed that intrinsic factors, particularly achievement motivation, had a significant impact on intention to stay. Consequently, exploring strategies to satisfy intrinsic motivation, such as achievement motivation, is deemed necessary.
Qualitative research on the perception and status of oral muscle strength training through focus group interviews
Authors: Choi Yoon-Young , Lee Kyeong-Hee
Published: February 2024

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the general public’s perception and status of oral muscle strength training, to develop age-appropriate educational media and training methods, and to promote the need for oral muscle strength training. Methods: Data were collected from 15 individuals across different age groups (young, middle-aged, and elderly) from December 2022 to February 2023 through focus group interviews, and they were conducted twice for each group in a face-to-face manner. Results: Four key categories were identified: lack of information, effectiveness of training, need for promotion, and factors necessary for implementation. The following themes emerged: lack of information, need for training, age-specific characteristics, need for repetition, age at which training is needed, lack of promotion, need for promotion, number of practitioners, willingness to practice, and appropriate media for training. Conclusions: Awareness of oral muscle strength training was found to be very low, and it is necessary to improve awareness through continuous information and appropriate education on its need among the public. Additionally, quality content or media that can be easily applied for effective training should be developed, and personnel who can perform training efficiently should be trained.
Understanding the American Revolution in Twenty-First-Century France
Authors: Butterfield Kevin , Van Ruymbeke Bertrand
Published: February 2024

Abstract: This introductory essay frames a special issue of Early American Studies guest-edited by Kevin Butterfield and Bertrand Van Ruymbeke based on the proceedings of a conference hosted by George Washington's Mount Vernon in Paris, France, in 2019 exploring the diverse approaches of present-day French scholars to the history of the American War for Independence.
Critical Conversations: Emerging BIPOC Critics Reimagine Theatre Criticism through the Digital
Authors: MacArthur Michelle
Published: February 2024

Abstract: Theatre criticism in the Global North currently finds itself at a pivotal point, as the internet eclipses legacy media as the central space for critical discourse and as ongoing antiracist and anticolonial activism highlights the underrepresentation of BIPOC artists across the theatre industry. Within this context, stakeholders in the theatre community, recognizing the importance of a vibrant critical discourse, are faced with finding more sustainable and equitable models. This article considers the future of theatre reviewing through a case study of Taking on the World (TotW), a mentorship program for emerging BIPOC critics run in conjunction with Toronto's Soulpepper Theatre Company and Intermission magazine. TotW participants' innovative critical practice demonstrates that de-hierarchizing theatre criticism necessitates reimagining the form, and specifically centering conversation as a key quality of process and product. Exploiting the capabilities of the digital, TotW participants embed conversation within their work and model a mode of criticism that challenges traditional notions of expertise and is ultimately more inclusive. Applying recent scholarship on theatre criticism to examples of work produced in the program and participant interviews, this article advances new ways of practicing and teaching theatre criticism at this crucial moment.
The Labor of Our Love: Creating the Middle Eastern Theatre Focus Group
Authors: Fahmy Sarah
Published: February 2024

Abstract: This Note discusses the creation and goals of the Middle Eastern Theatre (MET) Focus Group in the Association of Theatre in Higher Education (ATHE). Reflecting on current and future projects, this article highlights how MET contributes to building a more inclusive, just, and equitable future for theatre.
To Catch a Glimpse from Afar: MENA Scholars in US International Conferences
Authors: Moosavi Marjan
Published: February 2024

Abstract: As a dauntless practitioner of exulansis , I write this Note from the Field in an attempt to unlearn my practice of keeping silent about the challenges of moving across borders. It is based on a survey I did about the challenges and issues (e.g., securing visas and funds) that Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) scholars/researchers sadly encounter when they decide to participate in US conferences. While offering specific action items to the ATHE organizing committee, I remind my fellow MENA colleagues who have experienced disconnect that their sadness should prompt a vivid upsurge of collective attention to the countless possibilities we organizers and participants still have for cosmopolitan friendship while taking joy and grief all in, at once, from afar.
Enabling seamless migration of optical metro-urban networks to the multi-band: unveiling a cutting-edge 6D planning tool for the 6G era
Authors: Arpanaei Farhad , Rivas-Moscoso José Manuel , De Francesca Ivan , Hernández José Alberto , Sánchez-Macián Alfonso , Zefreh Mahdi Ranjbar , Larrabeiti David , Fernández-Palacios Juan Pedro
Published: February 2024

The relentless demand for high-bandwidth services and applications in the beyond-5G/6G era necessitates optical networks to provide ample spectral resources to accommodate the increasing traffic loads. This requirement is especially pronounced in metro and regional segments, where a projected traffic compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 40%, driven by content delivery network (CDN) traffic concentrated near the end users, threatens to push the fiber capacity to its limits on a number of heavily utilized links in the short to medium term. This limitation cannot be circumvented despite the utilization of spectrally efficient modulation formats designed for short-distance transmission. Thus, it is imperative to explore migration strategies to solutions that allow the expansion of spectral resources beyond the current usage of the extended C-band (4.8 THz). In this article, we present a comprehensive evaluation of multi-homed edge-to-core routing, modulation-level selection, and spectrum assignment simulations conducted over reference metropolitan area networks (MANs) by leveraging on a novel network planner called 6D-MAN, which we have developed to adapt to heterogeneous multi-layer networks based on multi-band and multi-fiber transmission. Our simulations consider coherent transmission with flexible modulation format transponders operating at capacities ranging from 100 to 400 Gbps on the 50 GHz grid and explore link-by-link migration strategies restricted to the C+L-band, ensuring optimal performance in terms of the generalized signal-to-noise ratio (GSNR). The obtained results demonstrate that deploying L-band equipment on a selected number of links effectively extends the lifespan of existing networks, enabling congestion-free operation with minimal intervention. In their entirety, our findings underscore the importance of contemplating alternative spectral resources beyond the conventional C-band. They unequivocally accentuate the potential of L-band equipment strategic deployment to tackle capacity constraints in MANs, resulting in a 60% reduction in fiber length and a remarkable 45% decrease in new fiber-pair link deployment needs. The profound implications of efficient fiber capacity utilization manifest themselves in substantial OPEX and optical total cost of ownership savings, amounting to approximately 71% and 17%–27%, respectively, over a 10-year period. This research provides valuable insights for MAN operators seeking sustainable strategies to support the growing demands of future beyond-5G/6G services.
Surface damage induced by micropores in transparent ceramics under nanosecond laser irradiation
Authors: Chen Yue , Feng Tao , Zhao Yuan-an , Jiang Ben-xue , Zhang Long
Published: February 2024

The increasing use of transparent ceramics in laser systems presents a challenge; their low damage threshold has become a significant impediment to the development of powerful laser systems. Consequently, it is imperative to undertake research into the damage sustained by these materials. Micropores, the most common structural defects in transparent ceramics, inevitably remain within the material during its preparation process. However, the relationship between the density and size of these micropores and their impact on nanosecond laser damage threshold and damage evolution remains unclear. In this study, we utilize the annealing process to effectively manage the density and size of micropores, establishing a correlation between micropores in relation to damage thresholds. This study confirms for the first time that micropores significantly contribute to laser damage, comparing and analyzing the damage morphology characteristics of both front and rear surfaces of transparent ceramics. It also presents, potential mechanisms that may contribute to these differences in damage. This paper offers guidance for controlling micropores during the preparation and processing of transparent ceramics with high laser damage thresholds. The findings are expected to further improve the anti-nanosecond laser damage capabilities of transparent ceramics.
Self-powered deep ultraviolet photodetector based on p-CuI/n-ZnGa2O4 heterojunction with high sensitivity and fast speed
Authors: Cao Ning , Zhang Lichun , Li Xin , Luan Ruhan , Sun Chuanlong , Yu Jiangang , Lu Taiping , Zhu Yadan , Liang Doudou , Zhao Fengzhou
Published: February 2024

Self-powered deep ultraviolet photodetectors (DUV PDs) are essential in environmental monitoring, flame detection, missile guidance, aerospace, and other fields. A heterojunction photodetector based on p-CuI/n-ZnGa2O4 has been fabricated by pulsed laser deposition combined with vacuum thermal evaporation. Under 260 nm DUV light irradiation, the photodetector exhibits apparent self-powered performance with a maximum responsivity and specific detectivity of 2.75 mA/W and 1.10 × 1011 Jones at 0 V. The photodetector exhibits high repeatability and stability under 260 nm periodic illumination. The response and recovery time are 205 ms and 133 ms, respectively. This work provides an effective strategy for fabricating high-performance self-powered DUV photodetectors.
Multiwavelength erbium-doped fiber laser using the polarization-hole-burning effect for multichannel acoustic detection
Authors: Zhou Cheng , Zhou Shengnan , Tian Jiajun , Yao Yong , Dong Yongkang
Published: February 2024

We propose and demonstrate a novel, to the best of our knowledge, fiber-optic multipoint acoustic detection system based on a multiwavelength erbium-doped fiber (EDF) laser (MWEDFL) using the polarization-hole-burning effect with Fabry–Perot interferometers as the acoustic cavity-loss modulator. A polarization-wavelength-related filter is designed to assign a distinct polarization state to each laser wavelength. By adjusting the polarization state, the polarization-dependent loss and gain of each laser line are tuned to be equal, effectively suppressing the mode competition of EDF and enabling a stable MWEDFL. Each laser line serves as a separate channel for acoustic detection. Theoretical and experimental analyses are conducted to study the transient-response-amplification effect on the acoustic perturbation of the MWEDFL. The results show that the proposed MWEDFL exhibits an amplification effect on the sound-induced cavity-loss modulation, effectively enhancing the sensitivity by 13 dB compared to that obtained using an external-light-source demodulation method. In addition, the MWEDFL based on the PHB effect avoids cross talk between laser channels and can achieve high sensitivity and simultaneous multichannel acoustic detection.
Nanoscale surface metrology with a liquid crystal-based phase-shifting angular shearing interferometer
Authors: Bag Debasish , Chakraborty Susanta , Sinha Aloka
Published: February 2024

In this Letter, a phase-shifting angular shearing interferometer has been proposed for the application in optical surface metrology (SM) by using a combination of a wedge-shaped liquid crystal (LC) cell and a polarization phase shifter. The demonstration of this angular shearing interferometer for step height measurement is accomplished with the help of a phase-shifting technique. Four phase-shifted interferograms produced by a geometrical phase shifter are subjected to a simplified Wiener deconvolution method, which resembles a simple analysis technique for shearing interferograms in comparison to alternative approaches. A simulation study has been conducted to validate the proposed technique. The experimental results show an accuracy of 5.56% for determining the step height, which also agrees with the results obtained by atomic force microscopy. Owing to the tunability of birefringence, the proposed LC-based angular shearing interferometry technique will be useful to control spatial resolution in optical metrology.
Delta-sigma modulation supporting the 4194304QAM dual polarization signal at the W-band transmission over a 4.6 km wireless distance
Authors: Liu Jiaxuan , Yu Jianjun , Zhao Xianming , Zhang Long , Yang Xiongwei , Wei Yi , Wang Mingxu , Sang Bohan , Zhao Feng
Published: February 2024

In this Letter, we propose a dual-polarized coherent millimeter-wave system based on differential delta-sigma modulation (D-DSM) intended for long-distance wireless transmission in the W-band. The proposed system can transmit polarization-division-multiplexed (PDM) D-DSM signals with modulation orders up to 4194304QAM over a wireless channel for 4.6 km at a signal baud rate of 20 G. After 4.6 km of wireless transmission, we successfully achieve a bit error rate (BER) lower than the hard-decision forward error correction (HD-FEC) of 3.8 × 10−3 for 34.51 Gbit/s PDM-524288QAM and a BER lower than the soft-decision forward error correction (SD-FEC) of 4.2 × 10−2 for 32.23 Gbit/s PDM-4194304QAM.
Vibration-insensitive polarimetric fiber optic current sensor based on orbital angular momentum modes in an air-core optical fiber
Authors: Xiang Lina , Pang Fufei , Xiao Zhongyin , Zhang Liang , Wei Heming , Zhu Mengshi , Ramachandran Siddharth , Wang Tingyun
Published: February 2024

Current or magnetic field sensing is usually achieved by exploiting the Faraday effect of an optical material combined with an interferometric probe that provides the sensitivity. Being interferometric in nature, such sensors are typically sensitive to several other environmental parameters such as vibrations and mechanical disturbances, which, however, inevitably impose the inaccuracy and instability of the detection. Here we demonstrate a polarimetric fiber optic current sensor based on orbital angular momentum modes of an air-core optical fiber. In the fiber, spin–orbit interactions imply that the circular birefringence, which is sensitive to applied currents or resultant magnetic fields, is naturally resilient to mechanical vibrations. The sensor, which effectively measures polarization rotation at the output of a fiber in a magnetic field, exhibits high linearity in the measured signal versus the applied current that induces the magnetic field, with a sensitivity of 0.00128 rad/A and a noise limit of 1×10−5/Hz. The measured polarization varies within only ±0.1% under mechanical vibrations with the frequency of up to 800 Hz, validating the robust environmental performance of the sensor.
Patterns of engagement in care during clients’ first 12 months after HIV treatment initiation in South Africa: A retrospective cohort analysis using routinely collected data
Authors: Maskew Mhairi , Benade Mariet , Huber Amy , Pascoe Sophie , Sande Linda , Malala Lufuno , Manganye Musa , Rosen Sydney
Published: February 2024

Retention on antiretroviral therapy (ART) during the early treatment period is one of the most serious challenges facing HIV programs, but the timing and patterns of early disengagement from care remain poorly understood. We describe patterns of engagement in HIV care during the first year after treatment initiation. We analysed retrospective datasets of routinely collected electronic medical register (EMR) data for ≥18-year-old clients who initiated ART at public sector clinics in South Africa after 01/01/2018 and had ≥14 months of potential follow-up. Using scheduled visit dates, we characterized engagement in care as continuous (no treatment interruption), cyclical (at least one visit >28 days late with a return visit observed) or disengaged (visit not attended and no evidence of return). We report 6- and 12-month patterns of retention in care and viral suppression. Among 35,830 participants (65% female, median age 33), in months 0–6, 59% were continuously in care, 14% had engaged cyclically, 11% had transferred to another facility, 1% had died, and 16% had disengaged from care at the initiating facility. Among disengagers in the first 6 months, 58% did not return after their initiation visit. By 12 months after initiation, the overall proportion disengaged was 23%, 45% were classified as continuously engaged in months 7–12, and only 38% of the cohort had maintained continuous engagement at both the 6- and 12-month endpoints. Participants who were cyclically engaged in months 0–6 were nearly twice as likely to disengage in months 7–12 as were continuous engagers in months 0–6 (relative risk 1.76, 95% CI:1.61–1.91) and were more likely to have an unsuppressed viral load by 12 months on ART (RR = 1.28; 95% CI1.13–1.44). The needs of continuous and cyclical engagers and those disengaging at different timepoints may vary and require different interventions or models of care.
Parental vaccine hesitancy and acceptance of a COVID-19 vaccine: An internet-based survey in the US and five Asian countries
Authors: Joachim Grace , Shih Shu-Fang , Singh Awnish , Rajamoorthy Yogambigai , Harapan Harapan , Chang Hao-Yuan , Lu Yihan , Wagner Abram L.
Published: February 2024

COVID-19 vaccination rates for children globally are relatively low. This study aimed to investigate parental vaccine hesitancy and parents’ acceptance of a COVID-19 for their children for their children in the United States, China, Taiwan, India, Indonesia, and Malaysia.We analyzed data from an opt-in, internet-based cross-sectional study (n = 23,940). Parents were asked about their acceptance of a COVID-19 vaccine for their children, and if they would accept the vaccine with different risk and effectiveness profiles for themselves. Poisson regression was used to generate prevalence ratios (PR) of the relationship between vaccine acceptance for a child and vaccine profile, by country and waves and overall. Between August 2020 and June 2021, COVID-19 vaccine acceptance for children decreased in the United States (89% to 72%) and Taiwan (79% to 71%), increased in India (91% to 96%) and Malaysia (81% to 91%), and was stable in Indonesia (86%) and China (at 87%-90%). Vaccine risk and effectiveness profiles did not consistently affect parent’s acceptance of a COVID-19 vaccine for their children. Instead, being not hesitant was a large driver of vaccine acceptance (PR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.14, 1.36). Adolescent COVID-19 vaccination have already been established in many high and middle-income countries, but our study suggests that there is a movement of vaccine hesitancy which could impede the success of future pediatric and adolescent COVID-19 vaccination programs.
Algal symbiont diversity in Acropora muricata from the extreme reef of Bouraké associated with resistance to coral bleaching
Authors: Alessi Cinzia , Lemonnier Hugues , Camp Emma F. , Wabete Nelly , Payri Claude , Rodolfo Metalpa Riccardo
Published: February 2024

Widespread coral bleaching has generally been linked to high water temperatures at larger geographic scales. However, the bleaching response can be highly variable among individual of the same species, between different species, and across localities; what causes this variability remains unresolved. Here, we tracked bleached and non-bleached colonies of Acropora muricata to see if they recovered or died following a stress event inside the semi-enclosed lagoon of Bouraké (New Caledonia), where corals are long-term acclimatized to extreme conditions of temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen, and at a nearby control reef where conditions are more benign. We describe Symbiodiniaceae community changes based on next-generation sequencing of the ITS2 marker, metabolic responses, and energetic reserve measures (12 physiological traits evaluated) during the La Niña warm and rainy summer in 2021. Widespread coral bleaching (score 1 and 2 on the coral colour health chart) was observed only in Bouraké, likely due to the combination of the high temperatures (up to 32°C) and heavy rain. All colonies (i.e., Bouraké and reference site) associated predominantly with Symbiodinaceae from the genera Cladocopium. Unbleached colonies in Bouraké had a specific ITS2-type profile (proxies for Symbiodiniaceae genotypes), while the bleached colonies in Bouraké had the same ITS2-type profile of the reef control colonies during the stress event. After four months, the few bleached colonies that survived in Bouraké (B2) acquired the same ITS2 type profiles of the unbleached colonies in Bouraké. In terms of physiological performances, all bleached corals showed metabolic depression (e.g., Pgross and Rdark). In contrast, unbleached colonies in Bouraké maintained higher metabolic rates and energetic reserves compared to control corals. Our study suggests that Acropora muricata enhanced their resistance to bleaching thanks to specific Symbiodiniaceae associations, while energetic reserves may increase their resilience after stress.