bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pregnancies and Pregnancy Desires at the State Level: Estimates for 2017 and Trends Since 2012
Authors:   Guttmacher Institute, Kost Kathryn , Maddow-Zimet Isaac , Little Ashley C.
Published: September 2021

Key Points In almost all U.S. states, pregnancies reported as occurring at the right time or being wanted sooner than they occurred comprised the largest share of pregnancies in 2017, though proportions varied widely by state. The proportion of pregnancies that were wanted later or unwanted was higher in the South and Northeast than in other regions, and the proportion of pregnancies that occurred at the right time or were wanted sooner was higher in the West and Midwest. From 2012 to 2017, the wanted-later-or-unwanted pregnancy rate fell in the majority of states. However, no clear pattern emerged for any changes in the rate of pregnancies that were reported as wanted then or sooner or in the rate of those for which individuals expressed uncertainty.
Polarization dehazing method based on spatial frequency division and fusion for a far-field and dense hazy image
Authors: Huang Feng , Ke Chaozhen , Wu Xianyu , Wang Shu , Wu Jing , Wang Xuesong
Published: September 2021

Polarization dehazing technology is effective in imaging through scattering media because of additional information different from the light intensity and spectrum. However, the existing methods relying on the manual choice of bias factor are non-universal in different imaging conditions. In addition, these methods are not suitable for dense scenes with long distances. Aiming at the dehazing application requirements in far-field and dense hazy weather, a polarization dehazing method based on spatial frequency division and fusion (SFDF) is proposed in this paper. In addition, we optimize the interpolation process before dehazing so that the spatial resolution can be maintained without the noise influence. The experimental results indicate that the proposed method outperforms the existing schemes in dense hazy weather more than kilometer distances. Furthermore, we discuss that the effects of bias factors only act on the low-frequency parts of the polarization images, and their influence is greatly weakened after being fused with the high-frequency parts. This robust advantage without manual intervention causes the proposed SFDF method to have a broader prospect in practical application scenarios.
Improved microscopy with ultraviolet surface excitation (MUSE) using high-index immersion illumination
Authors: Ching-Roa Vincent D. , Huang Chi Z. , Giacomelli Michael G.
Published: September 2021

Microscopy with ultraviolet surface excitation (MUSE) typically has an optical sectioning thickness significantly larger than standard physical sectioning thickness, resulting in increased background fluorescence and higher feature density compared to formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded physical sections. We demonstrate that high-index immersion with angled illumination significantly reduces optical sectioning thickness through increased angle of refraction of excitation light at the tissue interface. We present a novel objective dipping cap and waveguide-based MUSE illuminator design with high-index immersion and quantify the improvement in optical sectioning thickness, demonstrating an e-1 section thickness reduction to 6.67 µm in tissue. Simultaneously, the waveguide illuminator can be combined with high or low magnification objectives, and we demonstrate a 6 mm2 field of view, wider than a conventional 10x pathology objective. Finally, we show that resolution and contrast can be further improved using deconvolution and focal stacking, enabling imaging that is robust to irregular surface profiles on surgical specimens.
Highly efficient vertical coupling to a topological waveguide with defect structure
Authors: Kagami Hibiki , Amemiya Tomohiro , Okada Sho , Nishiyama Nobuhiko , Hu Xiao
Published: September 2021

In this study, we propose a defect structure that enhances the vertical coupling efficiency of circularly polarized light incident on topological waveguides consisting of triangle nanoholes with C6v symmetry arranged in honeycomb lattice. The defect structure was formed by removing triangle nanoholes from a certain hexagonal unit cell around the topological waveguide. As a result of comparing the coupling efficiency with and without the defect structure through three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain analysis, significant improvement in the vertical coupling efficiency was observed over the entire telecom C band (4460%@1530 nm). In addition, it was also found that the wavelength showing maximum coupling efficiency can be controlled over the entire C band by changing the arrangement of the dielectric around the defect structure.
Demonstration of a 50G-PON with a 45-dB power budget using an IQ-interleaved coherent detection scheme
Authors: Li Zhengxuan , Yin Fan , Huang Xingang , Ma Zhuang , Song Yingxiong , Yi Lilin
Published: September 2021

The application of traditional coherent detection technology to optical access networks has been undermined due to its high complexity and high cost. In this paper, we propose a novel IQ-interleaved detection method which uses the preset frequency offset of the lasers at the transmitter and receiver to obtain the in-phase and quadrature components of the received signal. It keeps the simple structure of heterodyne detection and avoids the down-conversion process. Without Nyquist pulse shaping, the received signal bandwidth of the proposed scheme is theoretically 0.5B smaller than that of heterodyne detection for signal with a symbol rate of B. The 50-Gb/s NRZ transmission experiment proves that by using the proposed scheme, the receiving sensitivity and the frequency drift tolerance can be improved by ∼1 dB and 1 GHz compared with heterodyne detection under strong bandwidth limitation. Without pulse shaping, the receiving sensitivity, frequency drift tolerance (1-dB sensitivity penalty) and link power budget for 20-km fiber transmission are -31.8 dBm, 11 GHz and 43.5 dB, respectively. A higher power budget of 45 dB can be achieved when Nyquist pulse shaping is applied. The proposed scheme provides a low-complexity potential solution for a next-generation coherent PON.
Long-distance Φ-OTDR with a flexible frequency response based on time division multiplexing
Authors: Li Shuai , Qin Zengguang , Liu Zhaojun , Yang Wenchen , Qu Shuai , Wang Zequn , Xu Yanping
Published: September 2021

In this study, a long-distance phase-sensitive optical time domain reflectometry (Φ-OTDR) with a flexible frequency response based on time division multiplexing is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Distributed flexible frequency vibration sensing over long distance can be realized by reconfiguring the system layout in a time-division-multiplexed manner by re-routing the Rayleigh backscattered signals for segmented processing with extra erbium-doped fiber amplifiers added only instead of any other complex signal amplification or pulse modulation mechanisms. Through time-division-multiplexed reconfiguration, the tradeoff between sensing distance and vibration frequency response in Φ-OTDR system is largely relieved. Compared with the traditional system layout, the proposed system allows a flexible frequency response in each sensing fiber segment without any crosstalk among them. In experiments, distributed vibration sensing with a frequency response up to 4.5 kHz is achieved over a sensing distance of 60km by the proposed system, which is not possible in a conventional Φ-OTDR system. Furthermore, the frequency response flexibility of the proposed system is further verified by successfully identifying a vibration event with a frequency of up to 20 kHz at the end of a 52-km-long fiber.
Fiber-enhanced Raman spectroscopy for highly sensitive H2 and SO2 sensing with a hollow-core anti-resonant fiber
Authors: Wang Jianxin , Chen Weigen , Wang Pinyi , Zhang Zhixian , Wan Fu , Zhou Feng , Song Ruimin , Wang Yingying , Gao Shoufei
Published: September 2021

An innovative fiber-enhanced Raman gas sensing system with a hollow-core anti-resonant fiber is introduced. Two iris diaphragms are implemented for spatial filtering, and a reflecting mirror is attached to one fiber end that provides a highly improved Raman signal enhancement over 2.9 times than the typical bare fiber system. The analytical performance for multigas compositions is thoroughly demonstrated by recording the Raman spectra of carbon dioxide (CO2), oxygen (O2), nitrogen (N2), hydrogen (H2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) with limits of detection down to low-ppm levels as well as a long-term instability < 1.05%. The excellent linear relationship between Raman signal intensity (peak height) and gas concentrations indicates a promising potential for accurate quantification.
Design of mesoscopic self-collimating photonic crystals under oblique incidence
Authors: Flores Esparza Sergio Iván , Gauthier-Lafaye Olivier , Gauchard David , Calò Giovanna , Magno Giovanni , Petruzzelli Vincenzo , Monmayrant Antoine
Published: September 2021

Mesoscopic Photonic Crystals (MPhCs) are composed of alternating natural or artificial materials with compensating spatial dispersion. In their simplest form, as presented here, MPhCs are composed by the periodic repetition of a MPhC supercell made of a short slab of bulk material and a short slab of Photonic Crystal (PhCs). Therefore, MPhCs present a multiscale periodicity with a subwavelength periodicity within each PhC slab and with a few-wavelength periodicity for its supercell. Thanks to this mesoscopic structure, MPhCs allow the self-collimation of light, through a mechanism called mesoscopic self-collimation (MSC), along both directions of high symmetry and directions oblique with respect to the MPhCs slab interfaces. Here, we propose a new design method useful for conceiving MPhCs that allow MSC under oblique incidence, avoiding in-plane scattering and ensuring propagation via purely guided modes, without out-of-plane radiation losses. In addition, the proposed method allows a systematic search for optimal MSC structures, which also simultaneously satisfy the impedance matching condition at MPhC interfaces, thus reducing the effect of multiple reflections between bulk-PhC interfaces. The proposed design method has the advantage of an extreme analytical simplicity and it allows direct design of oblique-incidence MPhC structures. Its accuracy is validated through Finite Difference Time Domain simulations and the MSC performances of the designed structures are evaluated, in terms of angular direction, beam waist, overall transmittance, and through discussion of a Figure of Merit that accounts for residual beam curvature. This simple yet powerful method can pave the way for the design of advanced MSC-based photonic interconnects and circuits that are immune to crosstalk and out-of-plane losses.
Single-ended self-calibration high-accuracy Raman distributed temperature sensing based on multi-core fiber
Authors: Du Haoze , Wu Hao , Zhang ZhongShu , Zhao Can , Zhao Zhiyong , Tang Ming
Published: September 2021

Raman distributed temperature sensing (RDTS) obtains the temperature information by measuring the intensities of Raman scattering lights. The anti-stokes only RDTS can avoid the error caused by wavelength-dependent loss and dispersion. However, to eliminate temperature-independent intensity variations, single-wavelength demodulation generally adopts the double-ended detection scheme. This requires two optical fibers or one fiber to be folded into a loop, which is inconvenient in practical applications. Moreover, the temperature accuracy of such a scheme is lower than the conventional single-ended system, so it has not been widely used. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a multi-core fiber (MCF) based RDTS system. A single-ended loop structure is achieved by connecting two cores at the far end of the MCF with a fan-in/fan-out device. By measuring the backscattered anti-stokes lights in the two cores, the results can be self-calibrated to eliminate the influence of temperature-independent light intensity changes. Besides, the results can be improved by averaging the temperatures of the two cores due to the spatial consistency of the MCF. Moreover, to further improve the temperature uncertainty, we employ the one-dimensional denoising convolutional neural network. Finally, a maximum temperature uncertainty of 1.4 °C is achieved over a 10 km MCF with a 3 m spatial resolution.
Talbot effect of an electromagnetically induced square photonic lattice assisted by a spatial light modulator
Authors: Ning Shaohuan , Lu Jinxian , Liang Shun , Feng Yuan , Li Changbiao , Zhang Zhaoyang , Zhang Yanpeng
Published: September 2021

We demonstrate the Talbot effect of an electromagnetically induced square photonic lattice formed under the electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) condition both experimentally and theoretically in a three-level

85

R
b

atomic configuration. The two-dimensional lattice patterns result from the diffraction of a Gaussian probe field traveling through the vapor cell, in which the refractive index is modulated by a coupling field with a two-dimensional periodic intensity distribution generated by a spatial light modulator. The experimental observations are consistent with the theoretical predictions. This investigation not only provides a new avenue for producing desired electromagnetically induced photonic lattices beyond the commonly adopted multi-beam interfering method but also broadens studies of electromagnetically induced Talbot effect to two-dimensional space.
Nanometer-optical-coating-based visibly tinted films with 24-hour sub-atmospheric passive cooling
Authors: Lee Eun-Joo , Cho Jin-Woo , Kim Young-Seok , Kim Sun-Kyung
Published: September 2021

Colored films absorb solar radiation at specific visible wavelengths, and they consequently heat up above atmospheric temperatures when exposed to sunlight. In this Letter, we report nanometer-thick TiN-based multilayers of light cyan, magenta, and yellow colors that can provide 24 h sub-atmospheric cooling when covered with high-emissivity polymers. Outdoor experiments have demonstrated that these visibly tinted films retain sub-atmospheric temperatures during daytime and nighttime. All fabricated films generated almost color-independent cooling powers and even surpassed commercial white paint at TiN thicknesses

<

5

n
m

. Our work thus highlights the potential of multispectral selective absorbers as esthetic passive coolers.
Slow manifolds within network dynamics encode working memory efficiently and robustly
Authors: Ghazizadeh Elham , Ching ShiNung
Published: September 2021

Working memory is a cognitive function involving the storage and manipulation of latent information over brief intervals of time, thus making it crucial for context-dependent computation. Here, we use a top-down modeling approach to examine network-level mechanisms of working memory, an enigmatic issue and central topic of study in neuroscience. We optimize thousands of recurrent rate-based neural networks on a working memory task and then perform dynamical systems analysis on the ensuing optimized networks, wherein we find that four distinct dynamical mechanisms can emerge. In particular, we show the prevalence of a mechanism in which memories are encoded along slow stable manifolds in the network state space, leading to a phasic neuronal activation profile during memory periods. In contrast to mechanisms in which memories are directly encoded at stable attractors, these networks naturally forget stimuli over time. Despite this seeming functional disadvantage, they are more efficient in terms of how they leverage their attractor landscape and paradoxically, are considerably more robust to noise. Our results provide new hypotheses regarding how working memory function may be encoded within the dynamics of neural circuits.
The pitfalls of using Gaussian Process Regression for normative modeling
Authors: Xu Bohan , Kuplicki Rayus , Sen Sandip , Paulus Martin P.
Published: September 2021

Normative modeling, a group of methods used to quantify an individual’s deviation from some expected trajectory relative to observed variability around that trajectory, has been used to characterize subject heterogeneity. Gaussian Processes Regression includes an estimate of variable uncertainty across the input domain, which at face value makes it an attractive method to normalize the cohort heterogeneity where the deviation between predicted value and true observation is divided by the derived uncertainty directly from Gaussian Processes Regression. However, we show that the uncertainty directly from Gaussian Processes Regression is irrelevant to the cohort heterogeneity in general.
Colorectal cancer in the Linxian China Nutrition Intervention Trial: Risk factors and intervention results
Authors: Keskin Havva , Wang Shao-Ming , Etemadi Arash , Fan Jin-Hu , Dawsey Sanford M. , Abnet Christian C. , Qiao You-Lin , Taylor Philip R.
Published: September 2021

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the most common cancers in economically developed countries and developing world. While dietary factors are associated with risk of CRC in the West and urban China, little is known about risk or protective factors in rural China.

Methods

The Linxian General Population Nutrition Intervention Trial (NIT) cohort was established over 30 years ago to test whether daily multivitamin/mineral supplements could reduce the incidence and mortality of esophageal/gastric cardia cancer. The cohort included a total of 29,553 healthy participants 40–69 years old who were randomly assigned to supplements or placebos via a 24 fractional factorial study design. We examined risk factors for the development of CRC as well as the effects of four different nutritional factors (Factor A: retinol, zinc; B: riboflavin, niacin; C: ascorbic acid, molybdenum; D: selenium, alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene,) on CRC incidence following 5.25 years of supplementation in this randomized, placebo-controlled intervention trial.

Results

CRC risk increased with age and height as well as piped water usage, family history of CRC, and consumption of foods cooked in oil, eggs, and fresh fruits. No effect on CRC was seen for any of these four intervention factors tested in both genders, but CRC was reduced 37% in females who received Factor D (selenium/alpha-tocopherol/beta-carotene) (RR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.43–0.92, P = 0.016) compared to females who did not receive Factor D.

Conclusions

In this undernourished rural Chinese population, CRC risk factors in this Chinese cohort showed both similarities and differences compared to Western and urban Asian Chinese populations. Intervention results suggested a potential benefit for women supplemented with selenium/alpha-tocopherol/beta-carotene.
Heterogeneous development of children with Congenital Zika Syndrome-associated microcephaly
Authors: Aguilar Ticona Juan P. , Nery Nivison , Doss-Gollin Simon , Gambrah Claudia , Lessa Millani , Rastely-Júnior Valmir , Matos Adriana , de Paula Freitas Bruno , Borja Ana , Wunder Elsio A. , Ballalai Verena , Vieira Carina , Cruz Jaqueline S. , de Oliveira Daiana , Araujo Danielle Bastos , Oliveira Danielle B. , Nascimento Fabris Maeda Denicar Lina , Mendes Erica A. , Pereira Soares Camila , Durigon Edison L. , de Souza Ferreira Luis Carlos , Belfort Rubens , P. Almeida Antonio R. , Oliveira-Filho Jamary , Reis Mitermayer G. , Ko Albert I. , Costa Federico
Published: September 2021

Objective

To describe the neurological and neurodevelopmental outcomes of children with Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) associated microcephaly beyond 2 years of age.

Method

We followed children with CZS-associated microcephaly in an outpatient clinic in Salvador, Brazil. Neurological and neurodevelopmental assessments were performed using the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE) and Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Neurodevelopment (Bayley-III) respectively.

Results

Of the 42 children included, 19 were male (45.2%); median (interquartile range) age at neurological evaluation was 28 (25–32) months, and 36 (85.7%) had severe microcephaly. HINE and Bayley-III results were completed for 35/42 (83.3%) and 33/42 (78.5%) children respectively. Bayley-III identified a severe developmental delay in 32/33 (97.0%) children while 1/33 (3.0%) had only a mild delay. In the multivariable analysis, we found that Bayley-III and HINE scores were correlated. Better HINE scores were associated with higher Bayley-III cognitive raw scores (β = 0.29; CI 95% = 0.02–0.57) and motor raw scores (β = 0.43; CI 95% = 0.04–0.82) after adjusting for head circumference, prematurity, and age at neurodevelopmental evaluation. Furthermore, we found that greater head circumference at follow up was associated with higher cognitive (β = 1.27; CI 95% = 0.01–2.53) and motor raw scores (β = 2.03; CI 95% = 0.25–3.81).

Conclusion

Children with CZS-associated microcephaly demonstrate severe neurodevelopmental delays and slower growth rates than their peers over time. Still, they have remarkably heterogeneous neurodevelopmental profiles according to neurological exam scores which correlate with their long-term outcomes. We found that HINE scores effectively captured the heterogeneity of neurological capabilities among these children and could be predictive of cognitive and motor development progress.
Resilient SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics workflows including viral heat inactivation
Authors: Lista Maria Jose , Matos Pedro M. , Maguire Thomas J. A. , Poulton Kate , Ortiz-Zapater Elena , Page Robert , Sertkaya Helin , Ortega-Prieto Ana M. , Scourfield Edward , O’Byrne Aoife M. , Bouton Clement , Dickenson Ruth E. , Ficarelli Mattia , Jimenez-Guardeño Jose M. , Howard Mark , Betancor Gilberto , Galao Rui Pedro , Pickering Suzanne , Signell Adrian W. , Wilson Harry , Cliff Penelope , Kia Ik Mark Tan , Patel Amita , MacMahon Eithne , Cunningham Emma , Doores Katie , Agromayor Monica , Martin-Serrano Juan , Perucha Esperanza , Mischo Hannah E. , Shankar-Hari Manu , Batra Rahul , Edgeworth Jonathan , Zuckerman Mark , Malim Michael H. , Neil Stuart , Martinez-Nunez Rocio Teresa
Published: September 2021

There is a worldwide need for reagents to perform SARS-CoV-2 detection. Some laboratories have implemented kit-free protocols, but many others do not have the capacity to develop these and/or perform manual processing. We provide multiple workflows for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid detection in clinical samples by comparing several commercially available RNA extraction methods: QIAamp Viral RNA Mini Kit (QIAgen), RNAdvance Blood/Viral (Beckman) and Mag-Bind Viral DNA/RNA 96 Kit (Omega Bio-tek). We also compared One-step RT-qPCR reagents: TaqMan Fast Virus 1-Step Master Mix (FastVirus, ThermoFisher Scientific), qPCRBIO Probe 1-Step Go Lo-ROX (PCR Biosystems) and Luna® Universal Probe One-Step RT-qPCR Kit (Luna, NEB). We used primer-probes that detect viral N (EUA CDC) and RdRP. RNA extraction methods provided similar results, with Beckman performing better with our primer-probe combinations. Luna proved most sensitive although overall the three reagents did not show significant differences. N detection was more reliable than that of RdRP, particularly in samples with low viral titres. Importantly, we demonstrated that heat treatment of nasopharyngeal swabs at 70°C for 10 or 30 min, or 90°C for 10 or 30 min (both original variant and B 1.1.7) inactivated SARS-CoV-2 employing plaque assays, and had minimal impact on the sensitivity of the qPCR in clinical samples. These findings make SARS-CoV-2 testing portable in settings that do not have CL-3 facilities. In summary, we provide several testing pipelines that can be easily implemented in other laboratories and have made all our protocols and SOPs freely available at https://osf.io/uebvj/.
Not just words! Effects of a light-touch randomized encouragement intervention on students’ exam grades, self-efficacy, motivation, and test anxiety
Authors: Keller Tamás , Szakál Péter
Published: September 2021

Motivated by the self-determination theory of psychology, we investigate how simple school practices can forge students’ engagement with the academic aspect of school life. We carried out a large-scale preregistered randomized field experiment with a crossover design, involving all the students of the University of Szeged in Hungary. Our intervention consisted of an automated encouragement message that praised students’ past achievements and signaled trust in their success. The treated students received encouragement messages before their exam via two channels: e-mail and SMS message. The control students did not receive any encouragement. Our primary analysis compared the treated and control students’ end-of-semester exam grades, obtained from the university’s registry. Our secondary analysis explored the difference between the treated and control students’ self-efficacy, motivation, and test anxiety, obtained from an online survey before students’ exams. We did not find an average treatment effect on students’ exam grades. However, in the subsample of those who answered the endline survey, the treated students reported higher self-efficacy than the control students. The treatment affected students’ motivation before their first exam—but not before their second—and did not affect students’ test anxiety. Our results indicate that automated encouragement messages sent shortly before exams do not boost students’ exam grades, but they do increase self-efficacy. These results contribute to understanding the self-efficacy mechanism through which future encouragement campaigns might exert their effect. We conclude that encouraging students and raising their self-efficacy might create a school climate that better engages students with the academic aspect of school life.
Dexamethasone is associated with early deaths in light chain amyloidosis patients with severe cardiac involvement
Authors: Bézard Mélanie , Oghina Silvia , Vitiello Damien , Kharoubi Mounira , Kordeli Ekaterini , Galat Arnault , Zaroui Amira , Guendouz Soulef , Gilles Floriane , Shourick Jason , Hamon David , Audard Vincent , Teiger Emmanuel , Poullot Elsa , Molinier-Frenkel Valérie , Lemonnier François , Agbulut Onnik , Le Bras Fabien , Damy Thibaud
Published: September 2021

Background

Cardiac light chain amyloidosis (AL-CA) patients often die within three months of starting chemotherapy. Chemotherapy for non-immunoglobulin M gammopathy with AL-CA frequently includes bortezomib (Bor), cyclophosphamide (Cy), and dexamethasone (D). We previously reported that NT-ProBNP levels can double within 24h of dexamethasone administration, suggesting a deleterious impact on cardiac function. In this study, we evaluate the role of dexamethasone in early cardiovascular mortality during treatment.

Methods and findings

We retrospectively assessed 100 de novo cardiac AL patients (62% male, mean age 68 years) treated at our institute between 2009 and 2018 following three chemotherapy regimens: CyBorDComb (all initiated on day 1; 34 patients), DCyBorSeq (D, day 1; Cy, day 8; Bor, day 15; 17 patients), and CyBorDSeq (Cy, day 1; Bor, day 8; D, day 15; 49 patients). The primary endpoint was cardiovascular mortality and cardiac transplantation at days 22 and 455. At day 22, mortality was 20.6% with CyBorDComb, 23.5% with DCyBorSeq, and 0% with CyBorDSeq (p = 0.003). At day 455, mortality was not significantly different between regimens (p = 0.195). Acute toxicity of dexamethasone was evaluated on myocardial function using a rat model of isolated perfused heart. Administration of dexamethasone induced a decrease in left ventricular myocardium contractility and relaxation (p<0.05), supporting a potential negative inotropic effect of dexamethasone in AL-CA patients with severe cardiac involvement.

Conclusion

Delaying dexamethasone during the first chemotherapy cycle reduces the number of early deaths without extending survival. It is clear that dexamethasone is beneficial in the long-term treatment of patients with AL-CA. However, the initial introduction of dexamethasone during treatment is critical, but may be associated with early cardiac deaths in severe CA. Thus, it is important to consider the dosage and timing of dexamethasone introduction on a patient-severity basis. The impact of dexamethasone in the treatment of AL-CA needs further investigation.
South African newspaper coverage of COVID-19: A content analysis
Authors: Wasserman Herman , Chuma Wallace , Bosch Tanja , Uzuegbunam Chikezie E. , Flynn Rachel
Published: September 2021

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has led to unprecedented media coverage globally and in South Africa where, at the time of writing, over 20,000 people had died from the virus. This article explores how mainstream print media covered the COVID-19 pandemic during this time of crisis. The news media play a key role in keeping the public informed during such health crises and potentially shape citizens’ perceptions of the pandemic. Drawing on a content analysis of 681 front-page news stories across eleven English-language publications, we found that nearly half of the stories used an alarmist narrative, more than half of the stories had a negative tone, and most publications reported in an episodic rather than thematic manner. Most of the stories focused on impacts of the pandemic and included high levels of sensationalism. In addition, despite the alarmist and negative nature of the reporting, most of the front-page reports did not provide information about ways to limit the spread of the virus or attempt to counter misinformation about the pandemic, raising key issues about the roles and responsibilities of the South African media during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study shows that South African newspaper coverage of COVID-19 was largely negative, possibly to attract audience attention and increase market share, but that this alarmist coverage left little possibility for citizens’ individual agency and self-efficacy in navigating the pandemic.
God and COVID-19 in Burundian social media: The political fight for the control of the narrative
Authors: Paviotti Antea
Published: September 2021

While an incredible series of twists characterized the fight against COVID-19 in Burundi and its narration, references to God have never been missing in the narratives around the disease. Trust in God represented one of the pillars of the government’s narrative, next to an attitude of ‘denialism’, and the fight against ‘fake news’. This article analyses the evolution of the narration of COVID-19 on Twitter during the first three phases of the fight against the disease, focusing on the use of the religious narrative. Within Burundi’s contemporary sociopolitical context, analysis of these narratives on social media best demonstrates how the fight against COVID-19 in Burundi was a fight for the control of the narrative, and by extension for political legitimacy.
Media representation of China in the time of pandemic: A comparative study of Kenyan and Ethiopian media
Authors: Li Hangwei
Published: September 2021

China has been a pivotal player throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, yet there is very little research on how China’s role and effort have been interpreted among African countries that are diverged in their crisis responses. Through content and discourse analysis of the local media and more than 50 in-depth interviews, this study investigates media representation of China during the coronavirus pandemic in the Kenyan and Ethiopian newspapers, specifically Kenyan’s Daily Nation and The Standard, and the Ethiopian Herald and The Reporter. This study finds that Kenyan newspapers adopted a more critical and problem-centred narrative, as many of its news articles are organized around problems such as the ‘debt-trap diplomacy’, and the mistreatment of Africans in Guangzhou during the pandemic. Unlike Kenyan newspapers, Ethiopian newspapers adopted a more positive and favourable tone towards China. This article also captures the dynamics behind the production of China-related news during the pandemic, and discusses how the media environment, professional norms, journalistic habitus, the ‘rules of games’ (i.e. who counts as an important source) have fundamentally shaped the news production.
Zsigmond király és Lazarević István despota
Authors: Obradovic Nenad
Published: September 2021

The paper offers us opportunity to form a timeline of the Despots entry in the vassality with the Hungarian King Sigismund. According to our sources the entry happened after Decemeber 18th 1403, and before April 16th 1404, when the despot was referred to as a vasal of King Sigismund in a letter to the Duke of Burgundy.
Kottanner Jánosné memoárja
Authors: Kis Iván
Published: September 2021

In my study I analyze a significant late-medieval memoir, known as „The Memoires of Helene Kottanner (1439–1440), written by Helene, or Elena Kottanner, an Austrian woman, daughter ofPeter Wolfram from Ödenburg (Sopron), acting in the service of Queen Elizabeth of Hungary.The source, which may be considered the oldest German memoir written by a secular woman, depicts the events of an interesting period of the medieval Hungarian history with “vividness and poignancy” (Maya Bijvoet Williamson).

After the death of King Albert (1437–1439), his ambitious wife, Elizabeth – while a large part of the Hungarian nobles wanted Władysław III of Poland to be the king of Hungary – tried to maintain his own authority in Hungary (at that time she was already pregnant and hoped that her new-born will be a boy), therefore she ordered her servant, Elena Kottanner to steal the Holy Crown of Saint Stephen from the royal stronghold, Plintenburg (Visegrád). The woman and an unnamed Hungarian collaborator managed to remove the Crown secretly, rushing to the Queen with it, who within an hour of the crown’s arrival at her castle of Komorn (Komárom), bore a son, Ladislaus Posthumous (1440–1457). Three months later, the little boy was crowned King of Hungary in Stuhlweissenburg (Székesfehérvár). In her

memoir, Helene Kottanner – as an eye-witness author – gives a unique, detailed and remarkable picture about these events.

My main goal is to analyze the rhetorical methods, the historiographical practice presented by Helene, which can be detected in her text. I demonstrate that the servant intended to emphasize her own role in the mentioned events, and tried to legitimate the Hungarian kingship of Ladislaus Posthumous. Besides, she presented certain events as symbolic of the fate of the future king: according to Helene, God protects her and Elizabeth, and the whole undertaking, while the Devil is on the side of their enemies (Władysław III of Poland and the Hungarian nobles).

Furthermore, I also intend to demonstrate what possible goals could Helene have had with her memoir. It is quite possible that the servant wrote her opus in order to get her reward for her services provided to the queen and the future king. I demonstrate this problem in context of the Hungarian political situation in the 1440s and the 1450s.
Gazdasági- és egyéb szervezetek konfliktusainak és rendezési lehetőségeinek összevetése
Authors: Rákóczy Zsuzsanna
Published: September 2021

This present study draws findings on possible ways of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in economic and other “non-economic” organizations. The research analyzed (1) conflicts in organizations, (2) methods of conflict resolution, (3) actors who support the management of conflict management, (4) trust between parties, (5) knowledge of ADR, and (6) additional possible – Hungarian sector-specific – circumstances. There is no such comparison study of economic and ’non-economic’ organizations in Hungary, as well as there is also absence of English studies about the neighbor post-socialist countries of the European Union. The last one was carried out 10 years ago as a pilot project to introduce ADR in Hungary, so with this research, some relevant ideas were carried out that can contribute to the more efficient implementation of domestic efforts.
Changing foodwebs of Indian aquatic ecosystems under the threats of invasive species: An overview
Authors: Panikkar Preetha , Khan M. Feroz , Sarkar U.K. , Das B.K.
Published: September 2021

Biological invasions are a worldwide threat to the aquatic systems and have the potential to homogenize entire foodwebs and shift species abundance distributions to more skewed ones. Invasion impacts include effects on the foodweb structure and ecosystem functioning leading to a loss in native fish biodiversity and commercially important fisheries in many open water systems. The impacts of invasives are generally devastating as they spread in the foodweb with each species potentially interacting with multiple species. The foodweb modeling studies conducted in different inland aquatic ecosystems show that not all exotics cause a detrimental effect on the resilience of an ecosystem. Information on the foodweb structure and ecosystem properties is a prerequisite for formulating management protocols for conserving biodiversity, enhancement programmes and sustaining fisheries. The present paper reviews the impacts of invasive fishes in Indian aquatic ecosystems in the context of a changing foodweb scenario due to exotic fish species invasions. The information generated here could be applied for future research on similar ecosystems for deducing management actions.
Spatial assemblage and interference competition of introduced Brown Trout (Salmo trutta) in a Himalayan river network: Implications for native fish conservation
Authors: Sharma Aashna , Dubey Vineet Kumar , Johnson Jeyaraj Antony , Rawal Yogesh Kumar , Sivakumar Kuppusamy
Published: September 2021

Often regarded as a potential threat to the native fish fauna worldwide, the Brown Trout (Salmo trutta), has successfully established its population in the majority of the Himalayan rivers post its introduction dating back to the eighteenth century. Over the years, the species has gained infamy as a sport fish and is considered a profitable source of income to the locals ensuing a heightened propagule pressure due to lack of appropriate management actions. No comprehensive study has been conducted to date in order to understand the mechanism by which the Brown Trout poses threat to the native fish populations. Through the present study, we could assess its competition with the native Snow Trout (Schizothorax richardsonii) to understand the spatial assemblage of both the species across space in Tirthan, a pristine high-altitude river of the western Himalaya. River Tirthan is one of the major tributaries of River Beas traversing for most of its stretch within the protected boundaries of the Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area. A total of 108 sampling points were chosen from confluence to origin of rivers/streams, ranging from 989 to 3677msl. A total of 28 explanatory variables were recorded at each point. Overall, the Brown Trout adults were found to be greater in relative abundance (66.1%) than the Snow Trout adults (33.9%). The fingerlings of Snow Trout on the other hand, were distinctively high in relative abundance (61.9%) than those of the invasive Brown Trout (38.1%). Non-native trout showed higher abundance in the higher stream orders i.e. in the main streams while natives mostly restricted themselves to the lower order streams. Redundancy analysis (RDA) for species and environmental covariates resulted in 40.75% of constrained variance with higher eigen values for Redundancy analysis1 and Redundancy analysis2. Ward’s minimum variance clustering of Hellinger transformed data revealed sites agglomerating into six reasonable distinct subgroups with respect to species abundances. Immature individuals of non-native and native trout used similar habitat conditions, but they differed in using habitats at adult stage. Our results show a competitive dominance of Brown Trout in terms of higher abundance and maximum space utilization that highlight an urgent action for preventing its introductions to new areas. We recommend a national policy of ‘The Indian Invasive Species Act’ and management level interventions to control overstocking in the areas of established population.
Establishment and impact of exotic Cyprinus carpio (Common Carp) on native fish diversity in Buxar stretch of River Ganga, India
Authors: Ray Archisman , Johnson Canciyal , Manna Ranjan Kumar , Baitha Raju , Gupta Subhadeep Das , Tiwari Nitish Kumar , Swain Himanshu Sekhar , Das Basanta Kumar
Published: September 2021

The catch pattern of the exotic Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) and their relationship with water quality along with maturity status of fishes were assessed during 2017-2019 to understand overall establishment and impact of the species in Buxar stretch of River Ganga in West Bihar, India. A total of 64 fish species were recorded including two exotic fishes (C. carpio and Oreochromis niloticus) from the river stretch during the study period. The annual production data depicted Cyprinus carpio to be the most dominating fish species encountered from the study area sharing 57.07% (by weight) during the period 2017-19. Calculated average ‘Invasion coefficient index (Ix)’of 0.25 in entire three-year study period revealed that the invasion has moderately impacted the indigenous fish diversity. Landing of Indian Major Carp (IMC) indicated severe decline (76.4 - 95.6%) in comparison to the catch data recorded earlier from Buxar. Data generated on sex structure of Common Carp indicated that the overall sex ratio showed positive recruitment within the smaller size range of 282-307 mm and thus avails a competitive breeding advantage over other carp fishes. Gut content of Common Carp from the stretch observed major share of phytoplankton (81.04%) and zooplankton (17.18%) and thus there are significant dietary overlap of Common Carp with other valuable species. The stretch has been impacted with anthropogenic loading as identified through significantly higher water specific conductivity (580 µScm-1), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (3 mgl-1), etc. in drastically reduced water discharge regime. Among different water parameters, river flow, Biochemical Oxygen Demand and Total Phosphate showed positive whereas specific conductivity showed negative correlation with Common Carp seasonal abundance. Future conservation management measures may be formulated keeping in view of the identified factors through the present study for reducing the impending risks of the invasive fish species in Buxar stretch of River Ganga.
Computational Chemical Study of Pigment of Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) Rind Extract as Dye Compound in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC)
Authors: Krisdiyanto Didik , Sudarlin Sudarlin , Supriyati Hikmah
Published: September 2021

The electronic transition processes of α-mangostin and β-mangostin as dye compounds in DSSC and their ability to transfer electrons to semiconductors have been studied in theory. The research was carried out computationally using the NwChem application. The methods used are Density Functional Theory (DFT) for structure optimization and Time-Dependent DFT (TD-DFT) for electronic transitions. The results showed that the energy of HOMO β-mangostin was lower that it was more stable or easier to form bonds with semiconductors. Likewise, its LUMO energy is lower than α-mangostin that it is easier to inject electrons into the semiconductor. The energy difference of HOMO-LUMO β-mangostin is smaller than α-mangostin. This shows that β-mangostin is more easily excited or more efficient in exciting solar energy to convert it into electricity. This is consistent with the molecular spectra where λmaxβ-mangostin is at a higher wavelength. Orbital analysis shows electron injection of α-mangostin and β-mangostin into the semiconductor via double O atoms in each molecule. The injection is influenced by the bond length, where the bond length of α-mangostin to TiO2 is smaller than that of β-mangostin to TiO2.
Assessment of new method of posterior spinal fusion in the treatment of patients with posttraumatic kyphotic deformity of the thoracic and lumbar spine
Authors: Ptashnikov D. A. , Magomedov S. S. , Rominskiy S. P. , Mytyga P. G.
Published: September 2021

Objective. To carry out a comparative analysis of two methods of the posterior bone block formation (with autograft bone chips or with a whole vertebral arch) and to assess the rate of bone block formation, the degree of surgery invasiveness and the patient-reported cosmetic satisfaction with the results.

Material and Methods. The study involved 31 patients with kyphotic deformity of the thoracic spine, of which 15 patients underwent spinal fusion using autograft bone chips (control group), and 16 were operated on using a new technique with a whole vertebral arch. The results of treatment were assessed using a modified MacNab scale. During the follow-up period from 1.5 to 2 years, pain syndrome was assessed according to VAS, quality of life according the Oswestry Disability Index, and cosmetic satisfaction was assessed using the SRS-22 scale.

Results. In the course of the work, it was revealed that in patients who were operated on using new method, the time of bone block formation according to CT data was shorter, the overall satisfaction with surgery result was higher (mainly due to the absence of a cosmetic defect), and the indicators of the operation duration and blood loss did not differ compared to those in the control group.

Conclusion. Based on the results obtained, spinal fusion using a whole vertebral arch can be recommended in clinical practice for surgical interventions in patients with kyphotic deformities of the spine.
Chronic infectious lesions of the cervical spine in adults: monocentric cohort analysis and literature review
Authors: Naumov D. G. , Tkach S. G. , Mushkin A. Yu. , Makogonova M. E.
Published: September 2021

Objective. To analyze the results of surgical treatment of chronic infectious cervical spondylitis and literature data.

Material and Methods. Design: retrospective monocentric cohort study for 2017–2020. The study included medical history and clinical and instrumental data of 25 patients who underwent 28 reconstructive surgeries on the suboccipital (n1 = 3) and subaxial (n2 = 25) spine. The average follow-up period was 1 year 2 months ± 4 months. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 22.0.

Results. The effect of the duration of the therapeutic pause (p = 0.043) and the T1 slope (T1S) (p = 0.022) on the intensity of vertebrogenic pain syndrome was established. When assessing the parameters of the sagittal balance a direct relationship between the age of patients and the value of cervical sagittal vertical axis (CSVA) (p = 0.035) was revealed, while CSVA (p = 0.514) and neck tilt angle (NTA) (p = 0.617) did not significantly affect the intensity of vertebral pain syndrome. The extent of vertebral destruction did not affect either the intensity of vertebral pain (p = 0.872) or the indices of the sagittal balance: CSVA (p = 0.116), T1S (p = 0.154), and NTA (p = 0.562). A significant predictor of postoperative complications is the level of comorbidity with an index of 7 or more (p = 0.027) according to the Charlson scale.

Conclusion. The leading predictors of complications of surgical treatment of cervical infectious spondylitis are the Charlson comorbidity index (7 points or more) and the variant of anterior reconstruction (the use of a blocked extraspinal plate). The factors influencing the intensity of vertebrogenic pain syndrome in this pathology are the duration of the therapeutic pause and the magnitude of T1S compensation. Anterior reconstruction of the cervical spine in the presence of infectious spondylitis provides a correction of the sagittal balance parameters, with the possibility of long-term maintaining the achieved values.