bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oxytocin receptor gene polymorphism (rs53576) and digit ratio associates with aggression: comparison in seven ethnic groups
Authors: Butovskaya Marina , Rostovtseva Victoria , Butovskaya Polina , Burkova Valentina , Dronova Daria , Filatova Vasilisa , Sukhodolskaya Eugenia , Vasiliev Vasiliy , Mesa Tania , Rosa Araceli , Lazebny Oleg
Published: August 2020

Background

The specific role of the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene polymorphisms in emotional support seeking, related to social norms and culturally normative behavior, has been discussed in several studies. Evidence on the association between aggression andOXTRpolymorphisms has also been reported. The goal of the current study was to analyze the effect of theOXTRrs53576 polymorphism, prenatal testosterone effect (second-to-fourth digit ratio, or 2D:4D), and culture on aggression assessed with the Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ).

Methods

The data were collected in Russia and Tanzania and included seven ethnic groups of European, Asian, and African origin. The total sample included 1705 adults (837 males, 868 females). All the subjects were evaluated with the BPAQ. As a measure of prenatal androgenization, the second and fourth digits were measured directly from hand, and the digit ratios were calculated. All the participants provided buccal samples, from which genomic DNA was extracted, and theOXTRgene rs53576 polymorphism was genotyped. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 23.0; the alpha level for all analyses was set at 0.05.

Results

The ethnic group factor was the most significant predictor of ratings on BPAQ (medium effect size for physical aggression, anger and hostility scales, and low for verbal aggression). To study the effect of sex, theOXTRpolymorphism, and prenatal androgenization, we conducted thez-score transformation for BPAQ scales and 2D:4D for each ethnic group and pooled these data into newz-score variables. According to the GLM analysis after leveling the effects of culture (z-transformation), all four scales of BPAQ demonstrated association with sex (main effects), with men scoring higher on physical and verbal aggression and women scoring higher on anger and hostility. Anger and hostility scales were also associated withOXTRpolymorphism and 2D:4D of the right hand. The lowest levels of anger and hostility were observed in individuals with the AA genotype, especially in men.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that both oxytocin (OXTRgene polymorphism) and fetal testosterone (2D:4D) may significantly affect emotional (anger) and cognitive (hostility) aggression in humans, given the leveling the role of culture.
Primary hepatic malignant vascular tumors: a follow-up study of imaging characteristics and clinicopathological features
Authors: Zhou Yue , Hou Ping , Wang Feng , Li Bingjie , Gao Jianbo
Published: August 2020

Background

Owing to its low incidence, there is insufficient clinical awareness and diagnostic experience with primary hepatic malignant vascular tumors (PHMVTs). The aim of our study was to investigate the imaging and clinicopathological features of patients with PHMVTs and analyze the clinicopathological correlations.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 42 patients who had pathologically confirmed PHMVT during the period from June 2012 to December 2019 and enrolled them in our study. The computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) images and pathological findings of each patient were recorded.

Results

There were more female (29/42) than male patients. The imaging features of primary hepatic angiosarcoma (PHA) (n = 11) included ill-defined margins (11/11, 100%), necrosis (5/11, 45%), calcification (3/11, 27%) and “slow in-slow out” centripetal enhancement (7/11, 64%). Patients with epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) (n = 15) presented with ill-defined margins (15/15, 100%), necrosis (6/15, 40%), calcification (2/15, 13%), “fast in-slow out” centripetal enhancement (10/15, 67%), halo sign (15/15, 100%), pseudocapsule sign (4/15, 27%), lollipop sign (2/15, 13%) and capsule retraction sign (2/15, 13%). Patients with malignant hemangiopericytoma (MHP) (n = 3) showed ill-defined margins (3/3, 100%), necrosis (3/3, 100%) and “fast in-slow out” progressive enhancement (3/3, 100%). Infantile hemangioendotheliomas (IHEs) (n = 13) were defined by ill-defined margins (7/13, 54%), necrosis (8/13, 62%), calcification (5/13, 38%) and “fast in-slow out” centripetal enhancement (13/13, 100%). Immunohistochemistry showed strong positive expression of CD31, CD34, ERG, FaVIII and FLI-1. Patients with IHE (96 months) and EHE (88 months) had the longest survival times, followed by those with MHP (23 months), while patients with PHA (15 months) had the shortest survival time.

Conclusion

On CT and MR images, most PHMVTs were ill-defined, heterogeneous, hypervascular masses with centripetal progressive enhancement and possibly calcification, especially in female patients. The prognosis of patients with PHMVT was associated with the pathological type of the tumor.
Theory to Practice: Performance Preparation Models in Contemporary High-Level Sport Guided by an Ecological Dynamics Framework
Authors: Woods Carl T. , McKeown Ian , O’Sullivan Mark , Robertson Sam , Davids Keith
Published: August 2020

A fundamental challenge for practitioners in high-level sporting environments concerns how to support athletes in adapting behaviours to solve emergent problems during competitive performance. Guided by an ecological dynamics framework, the design and integration of competitive performance preparation models that place athlete-environment interactions at the heart of the learning process may address this challenge. This ecological conceptualisation of performance preparation signifies a shift in a coach’s role; evolving from a consistent solution provider to a learning environmentdesignerwho fosters local athlete-environment interactions. However, despite the past decades of research within the ecological dynamics framework developing an evidence-based, theoretical conceptualisation of skill acquisition, expertise and talent development, an ongoing challenge resides within its practical integration into sporting environments. This article provides two case examples in which high-level sports organisations have utilised an ecological dynamics framework for performance preparation in Australian football and Association Football. A unique perspective is offered on experiences of professional sport organisations attempting to challenge traditional ideologies for athlete performance preparation by progressing the theoretical application of ecological dynamics. These case examples intend to promote the sharing of methodological ideas to improve athlete development, affording opportunities for practitioners and applied scientists to accept, reject or adapt the approaches presented here to suit their specific ecosystems.
Software architectures for big data: a systematic literature review
Authors: Avci Cigdem , Tekinerdogan Bedir , Athanasiadis Ioannis N.
Published: August 2020

Big Data systems are often composed of information extraction, preprocessing, processing, ingestion and integration, data analysis, interface and visualization components. Different big data systems will have different requirements and as such apply different architecture design configurations. Hence a proper architecture for the big data system is important to achieve the provided requirements. Yet, although many different concerns in big data systems are addressed the notion of architecture seems to be more implicit. In this paper we aim to discuss the software architectures for big data systems considering architectural concerns of the stakeholders aligned with the quality attributes. A systematic literature review method is followed implementing a multiple-phased study selection process screening the literature in significant journals and conference proceedings.
Coaching and mentoring: an overview for trainers in psychiatry
Authors: Huline-Dickens Sarah
Published: August 2020

Although mentoring has been widely accepted as a support mechanism for newly appointed consultants, there are many other applications of coaching and mentoring that are less widely appreciated, such as in the development of leadership skills or in having coaching conversations with trainees to facilitate learning. This article summarises some of the basic principles and practices of coaching and mentoring, with a focus on useful knowledge for psychiatric trainers. It describes some of the qualities and skills needed in a coach or mentor; the use of questioning techniques and models; and how the coach or mentor needs an awareness of the importance of the contract in the coaching and mentoring relationship, of the role of coaching or mentoring supervision, and of the ability to evaluate coaching or mentoring. It also discusses some of the organisational context, challenges and opportunities of embedding coaching and mentoring more deeply into the work culture. It is argued that coaching and mentoring as supportive interventions have not been prioritised in the National Health Service in the same way that they have been in the private business sector, where performance and financial success are measurably increased by these techniques.
Economic Status Moderates the Association Between Early-Life Famine Exposure and Hyperuricemia in Adulthood
Authors: Wang Yuying , Weng Pan , Wan Heng , Zhang Wen , Chen Chi , Chen Yi , Cai Yan , Guo Minghao , Xia Fangzhen , Wang Ningjian , Lu Yingli
Published: August 2020

Context

The double burden of malnutrition (DBM), undernutrition in early life and an obesogenic environment later on, influences later risk of chronic disorders. The Great Famine in China from 1959 to1962 and remarkable economic development from the 1980s provided such a burden for a large number of people in their 60s.

Objective

We aimed to analyze the effect of economic status on the association between famine exposure in early life and hyperuricemia in adulthood.

Design and Setting

Participants numbering 12 666 were enrolled in China based on the Survey on Prevalence in East China for Metabolic Diseases and Risk Factors (SPECT-China) Study from 2014 to 2016.

Participants

Participants with fetal or childhood famine exposure (birth year 1949-1962) formed the exposure group.

Main Outcome Measure

Hyperuricemia was defined as uric acid (UA) > 420 μmol/L for men and > 360 μmol/L for women. The association of famine with hyperuricemia was assessed via regression analyses.

Results

Early-life famine exposure was negatively associated with UA levels (P = .045) but was not associated with hyperuricemia (P = .226) in the whole study population. Economic status could moderate the association of famine exposure with UA and hyperuricemia (P ≤ .001). In participants with high economic status, early-life famine exposure was positively associated with UA levels (unstandardized coefficients 7.61, 95% CI 3.63-11.59, P < .001), and with hyperuricemia (odds ratio 1.47, 95% CI 1.19-1.81, P < .001).

Conclusions

Economic status could moderate the association between exposure to famine in early life and hyperuricemia in adulthood, indicating that the DBM might affect hyperuricemia in an opposite direction of the effects of undernutrition in early life alone.
Subclinical Inflammation and Adipose Tissue Lymphocytes in Pregnant Females With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Cinkajzlová Anna , Anderlová Kateřina , Šimják Patrik , Lacinová Zdeňka , Kloučková Jana , Kratochvílová Helena , Krejčí Hana , Pařízek Antonín , Mráz Miloš , Kršek Michal , Haluzík Martin
Published: August 2020

Context

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is accompanied by subclinical inflammation; however, little is known about local inflammation in adipose tissue and placenta.

Objective

To analyze systemic and local subclinical inflammation and adipose tissue lymphocyte content and phenotype in pregnant women with and without GDM.

Design

Observational study.

Settings

Academic hospital.

Patients

Twenty-one pregnant women with GDM (GDM group), 16 pregnant women without GDM (non-GDM group) and 15 nonpregnant control women (N group).

Interventions

Serum samples taken at 28 to 32 (visit 1 [V1]) and 36 to 38 (V2) gestational weeks and 6 to 12 months after delivery (V3) in the GDM and non-GDM group and before elective gynecological surgery in the N group. Subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) obtained during cesarean delivery or surgery.

Main Outcome Measures

Serum levels and adipose tissue expression of proinflammatory cytokines, adipose tissue lymphocyte content and phenotype (for a subset of GDM and non-GDM subjects).

Results

Accented proinflammatory state in GDM was documented by increased circulating tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels. In both groups of pregnant females total lymphocytes were higher in VAT compared to SAT. In GDM subjects B cells and NKT cells were higher in SAT compared to VAT and T helper cells were increased relative to SAT of non-GDM group, while no intercompartmental adipose tissue differences were seen in non-GDM women.

Conclusions

Pregnant females had higher total lymphocyte count in VAT relative to SAT regardless of GDM. In addition to increased systemic subclinical inflammation, GDM was associated with significant differences in lymphocyte composition between subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue depots.
Patient-centered Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Based on Specific Clinical Scenarios: Systematic Review, Meta-analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis
Authors: Pinto Lana C , Rados Dimitris V , Remonti Luciana R , Viana Luciana V , Pulz Georgia T , Carpena Mariana P , Borges Roberta P , Marobin Roberta , Beretta Mileni V , Pedrollo Elis F , Londero Thizá M , Machry Rafael , Janeczko Lais , Moehlecke Milene , Falcetta Mariana R , Bauer Andrea C , Silveiro Sandra P , Gerchman Fernando , Rodrigues Ticiana C , Kramer Caroline K , Bertoluci Marcello C , Leitão Cristiane B
Published: August 2020

Introduction

New antihyperglycemic medications have been proven to have cardiovascular (CV) and renal benefits in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); however, an evidence-based decision tree in specific clinical scenarios is lacking.

Materials and Methods

Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), with trial sequential analysis (TSA). Randomized controlled trial inclusion criteria were patients with T2DM from 1 of these subgroups: elderly, obese, previous atherosclerotic CV disease (ASCVD), previous coronary heart disease (CHD), previous heart failure (HF), or previous chronic kidney disease (CKD). Randomized controlled trials describing those subgroups with at least 48 weeks of follow-up were included. Outcomes: 3-point major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), CV death, hospitalization due to HF, and renal outcomes. We performed direct meta-analysis with the number of events in the intervention and control groups in each subset, and the relative risk of the events was calculated.

Results

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) were the only antihyperglycemic agents related to a reduction in CV events in different populations. For obese and elderly populations, GLP-1 RA were associated with benefits in 3-point MACE; for patients with ASCVD, both SGLT2i and GLP-1 RA had benefits in 3-point MACE, while for patients with CHD, only SGLT2i were beneficial.

Conclusions

SGLT2i and GLP-1 RA reduced CV events in selected populations: SGLT2i led to a reduction in events in patients with previous CHD, ASCVD, and HF. GLP-1 RA led to a reduction in CV events in patients with ASCVD, elderly patients, and patients with obesity. Trial sequential analysis shows that these findings are conclusive. This review opens a pathway towards evidence-based, personalized treatment of T2DM.

Registration

PROSPERO CRD42019132807
MicroRNA-15b Targets VEGF and Inhibits Angiogenesis in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Yang Ying , Liu Yan , Li Yiping , Chen Zhongli , Xiong Yixin , Zhou Taicheng , Tao Wenyu , Xu Fan , Yang Hanling , Ylä-Herttuala Seppo , Chaurasia Shyam S , Adam Whaley-Connell , Yang Ke
Published: August 2020

Background

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced angiogenesis is a critical compensatory response to microvascular rarefaction in the diabetic retina that contributes to proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). In this study, we sought to determine the role of specific micro ribonucleic acids (RNAs) (miRs) associated with VEGF in patients with PDR pathology.

Methods

RNA sequencing was employed to detect differentially circulating miR associated with VEGF in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and PDR. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to measure the concentration of miR-15b in the serum of patients with DM (n = 115), NPDR (n = 47), or PDR (n = 76). The effects of miR-15b on DR and regulation of VEGF and endothelial cell function were also characterized.

Results

We demonstrated that circulating miR-15b was directly associated with VEGF compared with other miRs in patients with PDR. We found a significant inverse relationship between low levels of miR-15b and high levels of VEGF in patients with PDR when compared with the DM or NPDR groups. We found that miR-15b regulates the expression of VEGF by targeting the 3'-untranslated regions to inhibit its transcription. Similarly, overexpression of miR-15b suppressed vascular abnormalities in vivo in diabetic GK rats, inhibiting endothelial tube formation and VEGF expression.

Conclusion

Circulating miR-15b is associated with PDR and may be targeted to regulate VEGF expression and angiogenesis.
Particle therapy in the future of precision therapy
Authors: Schaub Lukas , Harrabi Semi Ben , Debus Juergen
Published: August 2020

The first hospital-based treatment facilities for particle therapy started operation about thirty years ago. Since then, the clinical experience with protons and carbon ions has grown continuously and more than 200,000 patients have been treated to date. The promising clinical results led to a rapidly increasing number of treatment facilities and many new facilities are planned or under construction all over the world. An inverted depth–dose profile combined with potential radiobiological advantages make charged particles a precious tool for the treatment of tumours that are particularly radioresistant or located nearby sensitive structures. A rising number of trials have already confirmed the benefits of particle therapy in selected clinical situations and further improvements in beam delivery, image guidance and treatment planning are expected. This review summarises some physical and biological characteristics of accelerated charged particles and gives some examples of their clinical application. Furthermore, challenges and future perspectives of particle therapy will be discussed.
Termi-Luc: a versatile assay to monitor full-protein release from ribosomes
Authors: Susorov Denis , Egri Shawn , Korostelev Andrei A.
Published: August 2020

Termination of protein biosynthesis is an essential step of gene expression, during which a complete functional protein is released from the ribosome. Premature or inefficient termination results in truncated, nonfunctional, or toxic proteins that may cause disease. Indeed, more than 10% of human genetic diseases are caused by nonsense mutations leading to premature termination. Efficient and sensitive approaches are required to study eukaryotic termination mechanisms and to identify potential therapeutics that modulate termination. Canonical radioactivity-based termination assays are complex, report on a short peptide release, and are incompatible with high-throughput screening. Here we describe a robust and simple in vitro assay to study the kinetics of full-protein release. The assay monitors luminescence upon release of nanoluciferase from a mammalian pretermination complex. The assay can be used to record time-progress curves of protein release in a high-throughput format, making it optimal for studying release kinetics and for high-throughput screening for small molecules that modulate the efficiency of termination.
Influência das condições de bem-estar domiciliar na prática do isolamento social durante a Pandemia da Covid-19
Authors: Silva Carlos Eduardo Menezes da , Cruz Neto Claudiano Carneiro da , Bezerra Anselmo César Vasconcelos , Santos Roberta Teodoro , Silva José Alexandre Menezes da
Published: August 2020

Objetivo: avaliar a influência de elementos de bem-estar domiciliar na prática do isolamento social durante a pandemia da COVID-19. Métodos: estudo realizado mediante pesquisa de opinião conduzida por meio de redes sociais e aplicativos de internet. Utilizou-se o modelo de regressão logística multinomial para estimar a probabilidade de influência das variáveis analisadas no nível de isolamento social. Resultados: as variáveis relacionadas ao bem-estar domiciliar contribuem para aumentar a probabilidade de o indivíduo adotar o isolamento total: área verde aumenta em 0,092pp (p<0.01), atividade física aumenta em 0,046pp (p<0.01); mais horas de sono aumenta em 0,017pp (p<0.01). As variáveis: ser idoso e acreditar que, no isolamento, também aumentam em 0,295pp (p<0.01) e 0,15pp (p<0.01) respectivamente. Conclusão: aspectos relacionados ao bem-estar domiciliar e à informação contribuem para o isolamento total e devem ser considerados nas estratégias de combate à pandemia..
Decision Diagram Decomposition for Quadratically Constrained Binary Optimization
Authors: Bergman David , Lozano Leonardo
Published: August 2020

In recent years the use of decision diagrams within the context of discrete optimization has proliferated. This paper continues this expansion by proposing the use of decision diagrams for modeling and solving binary optimization problems with quadratic constraints. The model proposes the use of multiple decision diagrams to decompose a quadratic matrix so that each individual diagram has provably limited size. The decision diagrams are then linked through channeling constraints to ensure that the solution represented is consistent across the decision diagrams and that the original quadratic constraints are satisfied. The resulting family of decision diagrams are optimized over by a dedicated cutting-plane algorithm akin to Benders decomposition. The approach is general, in that commercial integer programming solvers can readily apply the technique. A thorough experimental evaluation on both benchmark and synthetic instances exhibits that the proposed decision diagram reformulation provides significant improvements over current methods for quadratic constraints in state-of-the-art solvers.
Lafadz Takbir's Translator as a Deaf-Based Deaf Aid
Authors: Pratama Denny Yoga , Yudhana Anton
Published: August 2020

Speech recognition is a technique that allows a computer system to receive input in the form of a spoken word. The words are transformed into digital signals by changing sound waves into a group of numbers and then adjusted to certain codes and matched with a pattern stored in a device. The results of the identification of spoken words can be displayed in written form and can be read by technological devices. The tool in this study was designed to be able to help people with hearing impairment so they can participate in prayer in congregation in knowing the changing movements of prayer. This tool is designed with an Arduino Nano microcontroller board as a voice processing function received from speech recogniton. The results issued by this tool in the form of vibrations that will be directly felt by the user. Presentation of success will increase if the sound around the input is not too noisy. Presentation of success in the words "Allahu Akbar" reached 82%, "Sami'allahu Liman Hamidah" reached 90% and "Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahiwabarakatuh" reached 80%.
A computational tool to identify risk in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation
Authors: Palmer Sarah Jane
Published: August 2020

Sarah Jane Palmer discusses the latest research in technology.
Investigation of the Effectiveness of Personalized Book Advice Smart Application on Secondary School Students’ Reading Motivation
Authors: Kurnaz Ahmet , Arslantas Suleyman , Pursun Tugba
Published: August 2020

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of Personalized Book Advice Smart Application on secondary school students’ motivation as well as determining the views of students, teachers, and parents regarding the application. In the research, a mixed method approach, in which quantitative analysis and qualitative analysis methods are used together, was adopted. In the quantitative part, 585 secondary school students, 300 of whom are in the experimental group and 285 in the control group; In the qualitative part, 105 students, 6 teachers and 247 families were included in the research. Similarly, the qualitative of the study involved 105 students, 6 teachers, and 247 parents. In the quantitative part of the research, data collected with the Reading Motivation Scale developed by Durmus. In the qualitative part, the data were collected through a questionnaire. The quantitative data were analyzed using parametric descriptive statistics, while the qualitative data were analyzed using descriptive analysis technique. According to the findings obtained from the research, there is a significant difference in reading motivation of secondary school students in terms of post-test scores. It is seen that the students like to read adventure books and think that the books proposed by the application are suitable for their interests. Teachers state that they find the application successful, and they like that the application forms reading habits, and recommends books according to their interests, moreover, the recommended books are suitable for the students’ levels. On the other hand, the teachers think that teacher control is necessary. Additionally, parents state that they like the application because it recommends books according to the children’s interests and those recommended books were suitable for their levels, however, they added that the number of the books needs to be increased.
Broadband and high extinction ratio hybrid plasmonic waveguide-based TE-pass polarizer using multimode interference
Authors: Wu Shengbao , Xiao Jinbiao , Feng Ting , Yao X. Steve
Published: August 2020

A TE-pass polarizer based on multiple hybrid plasmonic waveguides (HPWs) is proposed, where the polarizer section consists of four symmetrically placed HPWs and a single-mode silicon waveguide in between. Owing to the strong polarization-dependent absorption loss of the multiple HPWs, the unwanted TM polarized light is strongly attenuated while TE polarized light passes through with little loss. In addition, the multimode interference (MMI) effect is further utilized to strip out TM mode, resulting in more compact device size. To improve the extinction ratio (ER) and operating bandwidth (OBW) of the device, a three-stage cascaded scheme is utilized. Results show that a compact device with a length of

∼

26

µ

m

, an ultra-high ER of over 60 dB, and a low insertion loss (IL) of 0.15 dB is obtained at the wavelength of 1.55 µm, with a broad OBW of over 240 nm for an

E
R

>

40

d
B

. Compared with the recently reported silicon TE-pass polarizers, the present device shows better performance in terms of ER and bandwidth with a comparable device footprint.
Discriminative repair approach to remove shadow-induced error for typical digital fringe projection
Authors: Sun Zheng , Jin Yi , Duan Minghui , Kan Yan , Zhu Changan , Chen Enhong
Published: August 2020

In a typical digital fringe projection (DFP) system, the shadows in the fringe images cause errors in the phase map. We propose a novel discriminative repair approach to remove the shadow-induced error in the phase map. The proposed approach first classifies the shadow area in the phase map obtained by the DFP into two categories: valid shadow area and invalid shadow area. Then the valid shadow area is repaired by a proposed neighboring information fusion phase estimation (NIFPE) method, which fuses the phase gradient into the result of kernel density estimation (KDE) through the Kalman filter (KF) algorithm. The invalid shadow area is repaired by a proposed background phase matching (BPM) method. The experimental results demonstrate that the shadow-induced error in the phase map can be removed, which verifies the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
High spatial resolution multi-channel optically pumped atomic magnetometer based on a spatial light modulator
Authors: Fang Xiujie , Wei Kai , Zhao Tian , Zhai Yueyang , Ma Danyue , Xing Bozheng , Liu Ying , Xiao Zhisong
Published: August 2020

Ultra-sensitive multi-channel optically pumped atomic magnetometers based on the spin-exchange relaxation-free (SERF) effect are powerful tools for applications in the field of magnetic imaging. To simultaneously achieve ultra-high spatial resolution and ultra-high magnetic field sensitivity, we proposed a high-resolution multi-channel SERF atomic magnetometer for two-dimensional magnetic field measurements based on a digital micro-mirror device (DMD) as the spatial light modulator for a single vapor cell. Under the optimal experimental conditions obtained via spatial and temporal modulation of the probe light, we first demonstrated that the average sensitivity of the proposed 25-channel magnetometer was approximately 25fT/Hz1/2 with a spatial resolution of 216µm. Then, we measured the magnetic field distribution generated by a gradient coil and compared the experimentally obtained distributions with those calculated via finite element simulation. The obtained g value of 99.2% indicated good agreement between our experimental results and the theoretical calculations, thereby confirming that our proposed multi-channel SERF magnetometer was effective at measuring magnetic field distributions with an ultra-high spatial resolution.
Proof of concept for continuously-tunable terahertz bandpass filter based on a gradient metal-hole array
Authors: Gavdush A. A. , Chernomyrdin N. V. , Lavrukhin D. V. , Cao Yang , Komandin G. A. , Spektor I. E. , Perov A. N. , Dolganova I. N. , Katyba G. M. , Kurlov V. N. , Ponomarev D. S. , Skorobogatiy M. , Reshetov I. V. , Zaytsev K. I.
Published: August 2020

A continuously-tunable terahertz (THz) bandpass filter based on the resonant electromagnetic-wave transmission through a metal-hole array featuring a gradually changing period was developed and fabricated on a silicon substrate using optical lithography. A gradient geometry of the metal-hole array yields a wide tunability of the filter transmission, when operating with a focussed THz beam. The filter was studied numerically, using the finite element method, and experimentally, using the THz pulsed spectroscopy. We find that the central wavelength of the filter transmission band can be tuned in the wide range of λc = 400–800 μm with the relative bandwidth of Δλ/λc ≃ ~0.4. Finally, Kapton-based anti-reflection coating was applied to the filter flat side, in order to suppress an interference pattern in the filter transmission spectrum. We believe that the developed filter holds strong potential for multispectral THz imaging and sensing due to its conceptual simplicity and case of operation. Moreover, the presented filter concept can be translated to other spectral ranges, where appropriate technologies are available for the fabrication of gradient sub-wavelength metal-hole arrays.
2D/3D mixed frontal projection system based on integral imaging
Authors: Deng Huan , Li Qiang , He Wei , Li Xiaowei , Ren Hui , Chen Cong
Published: August 2020

Two-dimensional (2D)/three-dimensional (3D) convertible or mixed display is one of the most important factors for the fast penetration of 3D display into the display market. In this paper, we propose a 2D/3D mixed frontal projection system that mainly contains a liquid crystal micro-lens array (LCMLA) and a quarter-wave retarding film with pinholes (QWRF-P). The LCMLA exhibits the focusing effect or no optical effect depending on the polarization direction of the incident lights. The forward incident lights pass through the LCMLA without any bending. After passing through the QWRF-P twice, half of the backward lights change the polarization direction with 90°, and the other half remains. Using our designed system, different display modes, including 2D display, 3D display, and 2D/3D mixed display, can be realized. The unique feature of the proposed 2D/3D mixed frontal projection system is that it can switch the display modes by simply changing the image sources without the need of any active optical devices. Moreover, the proposed system is compact, simple and space-efficient, which is suitable for the application in glassless 3D cinema and home 3D theatre.
Modeling of ultraviolet omni-directional multiple scattering channel based on Monte Carlo method
Authors: Shan Tao , Ma Jianshe , Wu Tianfeng , Shen Zanqiu , Su Ping
Published: August 2020

Existing studies of ultraviolet (UV) communication channel models focus mainly on point-to-point scenarios. To analyze UV channel characteristics in omni-directional scenarios, we propose a multiple scattering omni-directional channel model based on the Monte Carlo method in this Letter, where we assume that the receiver can be anywhere in a certain area and all the receivers point to the vertical axis of the transmitter. Meanwhile, we validate the proposed model in comparison to the existing point-to-point Monte Carlo simulation model. Simulation results demonstrate that a single scattering model is not applicable to omni-directional analysis due to the difference in path loss between the single scattering model and the multiple scattering model. Furthermore, the transceiver configurations can affect the coverage area of the UV omni-directional communication system significantly. This work presents a new way to obtain UV path loss distribution and provides guidelines for the omni-directional communication system design.
TDLAS-based photofragmentation spectroscopy for detection of K and KOH in flames under optically thick conditions
Authors: Thorin Emil , Schmidt Florian M.
Published: August 2020

Photofragmentation spectroscopy is combined with tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy to measure the line shape of the fragment species. This provides flexibility in choosing the UV pulse location within the line shape and accurate quantification of both target species and background fragment concentrations, even under optically thick conditions. The technique is demonstrated by detection of potassium hydroxide (KOH) and atomic potassium K(g) above solid KOH converted in a premixed methane-air flat flame. Time series of KOH(g) and K(g) concentrations are recorded as a function of solid KOH mass and flame stoichiometry. The total substance released during the conversion is in good agreement with the initial solid KOH mass. Under fuel-rich conditions, increased K(g) concentrations at the expense of KOH(g) are observed compared to thermodynamic equilibrium.
Magnon laser based on Brillouin light scattering
Authors: Liu Zeng-Xing , Xiong Hao
Published: August 2020

An analogous laser action of magnons has become a subject of interest, and it is crucial for the study of nonlinear magnons spintronics. In this Letter, we demonstrate the magnon laser behavior based on Brillouin light scattering in a ferrimagnetic insulator sphere, which supports optical whispering gallery modes and magnon resonances. We show that the excited magnon plays what has traditionally been the role of the Stokes wave and is coherently amplified during the Brillouin scattering process, making the magnon laser possible. Furthermore, the stimulating excited magnon number increasing exponentially with the input light power can be manipulated by adjusting the external magnetic field. In addition to providing insight into magneto-optical interaction, the study of the magnon laser action will help to develop novel, to the best of our knowledge, technologies for handling spin-wave excitations, and it could affect scientific fields beyond magnonics. Potential applications range from preparing coherent magnon sources to operating on-chip functional magnetic devices.
Dispersive optomechanics of supercavity modes in high-index disks
Authors: Mercadé Laura , Barreda Ángela , Martínez Alejandro
Published: August 2020

In this work, we study the dispersive coupling between optical quasi-bound states in the continuum at telecom wavelengths and GHz-mechanical modes in high-index wavelength-sized disks. We show that such cavities can display values of the optomechanical coupling rate on par with optomechanical crystal cavities (

g
0

/

2
π
≃
800

k
H
z

). Interestingly, optomechanical coupling of optical resonances with mechanical modes at frequencies well above 10 GHz seems attainable. We also show that mechanical leakage in the substrate can be extremely reduced by placing the disk over a thin silica pedestal. Our results suggest a new route for ultra-compact optomechanical cavities that can potentially be arranged in massive arrays forming optomechanical metasurfaces for application in signal processing or sensing.
Immigrant Sensibilities in Tech Worlds: Sensing Hate, Capturing Dissensus
Authors: Amrute Sareeta
Published: August 2020

Seattle and its environs are home to more than eighty tech companies, which have added 780,000 new jobs between 2014 and 2019. Along with these jobs comes increased immigration, especially from India and China. Some of Seattle’s Eastside areas now rank among the most diverse in the nation, even while the Pacific Northwest bears a legacy of white supremacist agitation. This essay explores the relationship between the Eastside’s tech industry, migration, and what the Attorney General’s Office of Washington State calls “hate incidents”—verbal attacks and harassment against minorities that do not rise to the level of hate crimes. I show how forms of evidence about hate incidents circulate in Asian immigrant communities. Victims of these hate incidences track evidence of racial bias simultaneously through material evidence, such as dog poop left on front lawns, and through organizing sense impressions to recognize a shouted slur as racially motivated. This sensory evidence falls below what Jacques Rancière calls a particular distribution of the sensible. I call these lost impressions “the sensate,” to capture how the theory of the senses developed by Rancière and others moves too quickly from distribution to dissensus. Instead, the idea of the sensate tracks the ways in which immigrants align, distance themselves from, and register the larger technical and economic scenes in which their lives unfold.
Uchybienia metodologiczne w badaniach ilościowych w językoznawstwie stosowanym
Authors: Rysiewicz Jacek
Published: August 2020

For quantitative research to be a reliable source of primary-data in second language acquisition (SLA), methodological rigour in positing and testing hypotheses about the nature of factors at play in foreign/second language learning is of paramount importance. Invalid and unreliable tools, irrelevant research questions and/or hypotheses, faulty research designs, and incorrectly used tools of data analysis all lead to erratic and undependable interpretations of the findings. The article is an attempt at a critical appraisal of selected aspects of quantitative research done in Poland over the last two or three years in the area of L2/FL language acquisition/learning. The reports have either been presented at conferences, published in professional journals or carried out in the course of MA and/or PhD dissertations.
Metodologia badań nad lękiem językowym
Authors: Piechurska-Kuciel Ewa
Published: August 2020

The paper aims at analysing the methodological perspectives applied in studies on language anxiety. First, the sample selection procedures and characteristics are presented, followed by the analysis the main research tools applied in this area, and by the outline of the most popular research designs and the description of basic data analyses. The paper finishes with an attempt to depict methodological research perspectives concerning further investigations of language anxiety.
E-learning akademicki jako wyzwanie na studiach neofilologicznych
Authors: Jedynak Małgorzata
Published: August 2020

Internet development enabled e-learning to evolve and assimilate with traditional teaching techniques supporting academic learning. The ad-vantages of e-learning such as its flexibility, reduction of costs, self-paced learning modules or addressing various learning styles are being appreci-ated by more and more universities and colleges. In the theoretical framework the article discusses the basic assumptions of e-learning and organization of distant learning courses. It also presents e-learning from the perspective of English Studies Department students and their needs. Finally, the pilot study is described in which effectiveness of e-learning is examined. Two groups of students were under investigation; one attend-ing regular traditional lectures and the other participating in the e-learning programme. The findings show that e-learning is only slightly more effec-tive than traditional way of teaching. Considering all the limitations of the study, the traditional and innovative ways of teaching deserve to be called equally legitimate.
Czy pojęcie dyskursu jest przydatne w glottodydaktyce?
Authors: Wilczyńska Weronika
Published: August 2020

Despite its growing popularity within the humanities and social sciences, the concept of discourse (and also discourse analysis) continues to be perceived as rather vague by those who are not experts in the domain of discourse analysis. The aim of the present paper is to acquaint non-specialist readers with the multifold, interdisciplinary nature of discourse in order to further consider its usefulness with reference to foreign language pedagogy. It is argued that a wider use of this concept may lead us to a more coherent view of the main issues underlying our field, namely by integrating into our thinking both social and individual communicative practices. This idea is illustrated with selected conceptual tools and the views advanced by leading French discourse analysts (e.g. Charaudeau, 1993, 2010; Maingueneau, 1996, 2005) and, up to this point, mainly exploited in studying the media and public communication. Moreover, the importance of typological dis­tinctions in foreign language pedagogy is stressed and an example of a discursive approach to foreign language instruction is provided. At the same time, attention is drawn to inherent and/or objective limitations on and difficulties in a wider use of the concept of discourse. These problems notwithstanding, the conclusion points to the fact that, given the complexity of our do­main, it is hardly conceivable nowadays that we can be content with over­simplified formulae and limited, one-sided theories.
Czy milczenie zawsze jest złotem? Percepcja ciszy i milczenia na zajęciach z praktycznej znajomości języka angielskiego
Authors: Wiśniewska Danuta
Published: August 2020

Formal foreign language teaching involves verbal and non-verbal interactions among the participants of language classes. The nature of these interactions may play a decisive role in the success or failure in language learning. The research described in this paper attempted to gain insight into students' perceptions of silence occurring during classroom language learning, to identify its causes and effects, and to appraise its potential value for learners.
Negocjowanie form i znaczeń podczas lekcji języka obcego — wyniki badań
Authors: Pawlak Mirosław
Published: August 2020

According to numerous theorists and researchers, negotiation of form and meaning plays a crucial role in second and foreign language acquisition, since it enhances the quality of the input to which learners are exposed, it promotes noticing gaps and holes in their target language knowledge, and it provides them with opportunities to modify their incorrect output. Such advantages have been posited, among others, by the Noticing Hypothesis (Schmidt, 1990), the Interaction Hypothesis (Long, 1996) and the Output Hypothesis (Swain, 1995), and they have corroborated by the latest findings of research seeking to determine the value of different focus-on-form options and in particular different ways of providing corrective feedback (Sheen i Ellis, 2011; Pawlak, 2012). It can thus be assumed that teachers should stimulate the use of negotiation, either by reacting in the right way to learners' problematic utterances, planning communicative tasks encouraging its use, or undertaking training in this area. In line with such reasoning, the aim of this paper is to report the results of a study which attempted to determine the incidence of negotiated interaction in pair and group work activities, and to appraise its value for language acquisition.
Primer on silicon neuromorphic photonic processors: architecture and compiler
Authors: Ferreira de Lima Thomas , Tait Alexander N. , Mehrabian Armin , Nahmias Mitchell A. , Huang Chaoran , Peng Hsuan-Tung , Marquez Bicky A. , Miscuglio Mario , El-Ghazawi Tarek , Sorger Volker J. , Shastri Bhavin J. , Prucnal Paul R.
Published: August 2020

Microelectronic computers have encountered challenges in meeting all of today’s demands for information processing. Meeting these demands will require the development of unconventional computers employing alternative processing models and new device physics. Neural network models have come to dominate modern machine learning algorithms, and specialized electronic hardware has been developed to implement them more efficiently. A silicon photonic integration industry promises to bring manufacturing ecosystems normally reserved for microelectronics to photonics. Photonic devices have already found simple analog signal processing niches where electronics cannot provide sufficient bandwidth and reconfigurability. In order to solve more complex information processing problems, they will have to adopt a processing model that generalizes and scales.Neuromorphic photonicsaims to map physical models of optoelectronic systems to abstract models of neural networks. It represents a new opportunity for machine information processing on sub-nanosecond timescales, with application to mathematical programming, intelligent radio frequency signal processing, and real-time control. The strategy of neuromorphic engineering is to externalize the risk of developing computational theory alongside hardware. The strategy of remaining compatible with silicon photonics externalizes the risk of platform development. In this perspective article, we provide a rationale for a neuromorphic photonics processor, envisioning its architecture and a compiler. We also discuss how it can be interfaced with a general purpose computer, i.e. a CPU, as a coprocessor to target specific applications. This paper is intended for a wide audience and provides a roadmap for expanding research in the direction of transforming neuromorphic photonics into a viable and useful candidate for accelerating neuromorphic computing.