bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Consumers’ Costly Responses to Product-Harm Crises
Authors: Ferrer Rosa , Perrone Helena
Published: July 2022

This paper exploits a major food safety crisis to estimate a full demand model for the unsafe product and its substitutes, recovering consumers’ preference parameters for different product characteristics. Counterfactual exercises quantify the relevance of different mechanisms driving consumers’ responses, such as changes in safety perceptions, idiosyncratic taste, product characteristics, and price. We find that consumers’ reactions are limited by their preferences for the product’s observable and unobservable characteristics. Because of the costs associated with switching from the affected product, the decline in demand following a product-harm crisis tends to understate the true weight of such events in consumers’ utility. We find that unobservable taste is a crucial driver of consumers’ responses. Our counterfactual exercises illustrate that the demand would have declined further if consumers had had access to a closer substitute. For an accurate assessment of product-harm crises, managerial strategies should therefore account for how different demand drivers bind consumers’ substitution patterns.

This paper was accepted by Matthew Shum, marketing.

Funding: This work was supported by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación [Grants ECO2008-01116 and ECO2010-15052], the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad [Grant ECO2013-43011-P], and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft [Grant CRC TR 224]. R. Ferrer received support from [Grant ECO2016-76998-P], and the Severo Ochoa Programme for Centers of Excellence in R&D [SEV-2015-0563].
Serving Democracy: Evidence of Voting Resource Disparity in Florida
Authors: Cachon Gérard P. , Kaaua Dawson
Published: July 2022

Florida, an important state in presidential elections in the United States, has received considerable media coverage in recent years for long lines to vote. Do some segments of the population receive a disproportionate share of the resources to serve the voting process, which could encourage some or dissuade others from voting? We conduct the first empirical panel data study to examine whether minority and Democrat voters in Florida experience lower poll worker staffing, which could lengthen the time to vote. We do not find evidence of a disparity directly due to race. Instead, we observe a political party effect—all else equal, a 1% increase in the percentage of voters registered as Democrat in a county increases the number of registered voters per poll worker by 3.5%. This effect appears to be meaningful—using a voting queue simulation, a 5% increase in voters registered as Democrat in a county could increase the average wait time to vote from 40 minutes (the approximate average wait time to vote in Florida in 2012 and the highest average wait time across all states in that election per the Cooperative Congressional Election Study) to about 115 minutes.

This paper was accepted by Vishal Gaur, operations management.
Report-Dependent Utility and Strategy-Proofness
Authors: Meisner Vincent
Published: July 2022

Despite the truthful dominant strategy, participants in strategy-proof mechanisms submit manipulated preferences. In our model, participants dislike rejections and enjoy the confirmation from getting what they declare desirable. Formally, the payoff from a match decreases in its position in the submitted ranking such that a strategic trade-off between preference intensity and match probability arises. This trade-off can trigger the commonly observed self-selection strategies. We show that misrepresentations can persist for arbitrarily small report-dependent components. However, honesty is guaranteed to be optimal if and only if there is no conflict between the quality and feasibility of a match. We substantiate the theory with already existing evidence and provide novel testable predictions.

This paper was accepted by Yan Chen, behavioral economics and decision analysis.

Funding: This work was supported by UniCredit and Universities Foundation [Modigliani Research Grant 2020/2021] and Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft [Grant 280092119].

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.4504 .
el gesto quínico por una filosofía de la insolencia
Authors: Hurtado alvarado Johan Steven , Vargas peña Ingrid Liceth , Espinel bernal Oscar
Published: July 2022

The philosophy devoted to the sacred knowledge of Athena has suffered an undeniable castration in modernity, because, following Sloterdijk, it has been related to the cynic, subjugation to appearance. For this reason, German literature differentiates between Kynismus and Zynismus. The kynysmós with "k" refers to the wise dogs of the agora and the Zynismus to the toothless Papillon. Under the keys of modernity, philosophy is camouflaged in moderation, good saying and salon etiquette, thereby abandoning the stridency, sarcasm and challenge that the school of Diogenes practiced; but what was that insolence? What was his speech? What were his gestures? These are some of the questions addressed in this article; therefore, the reflection on the figure of the cynic, by the hand of the author of Critique of Cynical Reason, has been central to elucidate some of these questions and, why not, obscure them, after all, the interstices of the words are deeper. For methodological reasons, the text is divided into three sections: first, Resonances of a supplanted concept, in which the link between insolence and the cynical is investigated; second, Philosophical gestures, where the grimaces of an impertinent thought are drawn and third, Conclusions.
Dos Protocolos dos Sábios de Sião ao Q-Anon: a renovação do discurso conspiracionista na extrema-direita contemporânea
Authors: Oliveira Pedro Carvalho
Published: July 2022

O presente artigo realiza uma breve análise sobre a presença de teorias conspiratórias entre organizações e adeptos de ideias políticas de extrema-direita. Veremos como desde a emergência dos fascismos na primeira metade do século XX até a consolidação de grupos extremistas nos dias de hoje, teorias da conspiração mantém-se como parte fundamental de uma narrativa ideológica embasada no medo dos inimigos pré-determinados. Assim, poderemos perceber a historicidade dessa prática, suas reminiscências e as transformações pelas quais passou para manter-se útil à extrema-direita no presente. Por meio desse percurso, poderemos também verificar as mudanças pelas quais comportamentos políticos de extrema-direita passaram e quais são suas singularidades nos dias atuais.
Apresentação
Authors: Carvalho Marieta Pinheiro de , Zampa Vivian Cristina da Silva , Teubner Melina
Published: July 2022

Revista Intellèctus - 20 anos
Representação visual de terminologias evidenciadas na legislação da Fonoaudiologia brasileira
Authors: Souza Tiago Pereira de , Avendano Cibele Gulartt , Gomes Erissandra
Published: July 2022

A ampliação contínua da profissão, leva o Sistema de Conselhos de Fonoaudiologia à revisão constante de toda a sua Legislação, por meio da publicação de Resoluções. Nesse sentido, esse estudo documental, expositivo-exploratório de abordagem qualitativa, objetivou representar visualmente o conteúdo das 310 ementas das Resoluções vigentes e da Lei n. 6.965/81, correlacionando suas deliberações. As Resoluções foram analisadas objetivando criar subsídios teórico-operacionais, produzindo a compreensão da legislação da Fonoaudiologia. No processo de análise foi utilizado o software IRaMuTeQ, para realizar tratamento qualitativo aos dados e representá-los visualmente por nuvens de palavras e grafos de análise de similitude. O estudo demonstra a existência de inter-relação documental entre o corpus textual analisado, indicando que as prerrogativas estabelecidas por Resoluções, estão em consonância com a Legislação Federal da Fonoaudiologia. Os principais pontos destacados na análise foram: presença de um conteúdo majoritariamente administrativo, respeitando o pressuposto constitucional da publicidade; legitimação e criação dos Conselhos Regionais e Federal de Fonoaudiologia, atuando por meio de pressupostos legais da Administração pública; compatibilidade das Resoluções com os artigos da Lei, que determinam as funções do Sistema de Conselhos de Fonoaudiologia. De forma geral, as ementas atestam que a administração do Sistema de Conselhos, o registro profissional, a fiscalização, a orientação e a publicidade dos dados que envolvem tais funções, compõem o arcabouço legal publicado no site do Conselho Federal de Fonoaudiologia, por serem prerrogativas estabelecidas pela Lei n. 6.965/81.
Programa de Especialização em Educação para a Saúde: Avaliação das Contribuições para a prática Profissional na Atenção Primária à Saúde
Authors: Misael Jailton Rocha , Santos Júnior Claudio José dos , Teixeira Geraldo Magella , Trindade Filho Euclides Mauricio , Wanderley Flávia Accioly Canuto , Santos Almira Alves dos
Published: July 2022

O atual cenário da saúde pública demanda mecanismos de qualificação de profissionais atuantes na Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS), como os programas de especialização, almejando a reordenação dos processos de trabalho no SUS. Nessa perspectiva do alcance de competências para as reais necessidades coletivas, este estudo tem o objetivo de analisar as contribuições de um programa de especialização em educação para saúde à prática profissional na APS. Trata-se de estudo descritivo, quantitativo e de corte transversal, com amostra composta por 20 discentes. Foram coletados dados sociodemográficos e profissionais e utilizadas duas escalas validadas: Escala de Expectativa em Relação ao Treinamento e Escala de Motivação para Transferir. A análise dos dados se deu por meio da estatística descritiva de frequências absoluta e relativa. No perfil discente, constatou-se a prevalência do público feminino (95%), de 30 e 49 anos (75%), com ao menos uma especialização concluída (95%) e 5 anos de formação (75%). Ademais, 75% dos respondentes atuam na APS, com 80% discentes contratados. A categoria de enfermagem apresentou a maior representação (55%). Em função da capacidade laboral, 95% dos discentes sempre desenvolvem atividades educativas, mesmo com limitado incentivo dos gestores para a realização das práticas educativas (75%) e para a qualificação profissional (45%). A especialização mostrou-se relevante para a APS, estimulando os discentes a utilizarem competências adquiridas, com aumento da qualidade das ações desenvolvidas, tornando-as mais fáceis, com minimização de erros, através da eficiente mudança no perfil gerencial e do fortalecimento do trabalho em equipe para a superação de eventuais barreiras.
Percepções de pós-graduandos sobre uma disciplina Interprofissional de Saúde Coletiva
Authors: Augusto de Lima Rayama , Saraiva Amanda Meira , Fujimaki Mitsue , Lolli Luiz Fernando , Endo Marcos Sérgio , Rocha Najara Barbosa da
Published: July 2022

A Universidade Estadual de Maringá (UEM) propôs a disciplina de Atenção em Saúde, com objetivo de preparar o discente para prática colaborativa por meio da aprendizagem ativa e interprofissionalidade, inserido no serviço público de saúde, já no primeiro ano de graduação. Alunos de pós-graduação acompanharam de forma ativa os alunos da graduação, sob supervisão de um tutor (docente), no decorrer de toda a disciplina. Assim, este estudo objetivou analisar a vivência de um grupo da pós-graduação sobre sua participação nesta disciplina. Trata-se de um estudo com abordagem qualitativa com dados coletados por meio de grupo focal com alunos do Programa de Residência em Saúde Coletiva e da Família do Departamento de Odontologia da UEM. Os dados foram interpretados pelo método da análise de conteúdo e categorizados. As falas dos participantes foram analisadas, e apurou-se que nenhuma das residentes teve experiência com metodologia ativa e aprendizado interprofissional anteriormente, e ainda relataram que a disciplina apresenta potencialidades e fragilidades. Como potencialidades, apresentaram a maior facilidade de aprendizado, o contato e inserção do aluno no sistema público de saúde, a interdisciplinaridade, bem como a organização em pequenos grupos. Como fragilidades, a imaturidade dos alunos diante da metodologia, a falta de comprometimento de alguns, e a dificuldade de adaptação a um modelo de ensino ativo. E como sugestões, a permanência dos grupos de estudantes em uma mesma unidade básica de saúde durante a disciplina. Os resultados mostraram que os pós-graduandos avaliaram positivamente a participação em uma disciplina interprofissional da graduação, sendo esta experiência muito enriquecedora tanto nos aspectos pessoais, quanto para a carreira profissional.
Programa de Educação pelo Trabalho para a Saúde como indutor de mudanças curriculares
Authors: Magnago Carinne , Almeida Belisário Soraya , França Tania , Santos Maria Ruth dos
Published: July 2022

O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar as mudanças curriculares dos cursos de graduação em saúde induzidas pelo Programa de Educação pelo Trabalho para a Saúde (PET-Saúde) edição GraduaSUS. Para tanto, foi conduzido um estudo exploratório e qualitativo, de abrangência nacional, cujos dados foram apreendidos por 13 rodas de conversas realizadas nas cinco regiões brasileiras. Participaram do estudo 100 integrantes do programa: coordenadores de projeto, tutores, preceptores e discentes. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de conteúdo. Verificou-se que a edição GraduaSUS foi apontada como a mais potente na indução de mudanças curriculares em direção às Diretrizes Curriculares Nacionais e à lógica da interprofissionalidade. Disciplinas foram criadas e/ou revistas, eixos de ensino transversais e integradores foram incluídos na matriz curricular de alguns cursos e maior tempo de estágio nos cenários do Sistema Único de Saúde foi concedido aos estudantes. O PET-Saúde reafirma-se como política indutora de mudanças de processos e posturas, a partir dos movimentos de integração ensino-serviço. A edição GraduaSUS evidenciou, em particular, a dimensão intrainstitucional desta integração, sendo caracterizada pela conjugação dos esforços de docentes e discentes dos diferentes cursos da área da saúde, em prol do estabelecimento de mudanças curriculares e do reordenamento do perfil do egresso de saúde.
Educação para superar os desafios impostos pelo envelhecimento aos idosos
Authors: Unicovsky Margarita Ana Rubin , Riegel Fernando , Nascimento Vagner Ferreira do
Published: July 2022

O artigo discute a educação como meio para vencer os desafios impostos aos idosos pela idade e pela sociedade, propiciando-lhes o aprendizado de novos conhecimentos e oportunidades para buscar seu bem-estar físico, espiritual e emocional. O objetivo desta reflexão foi refletir acerca das contribuições da educação para a superação dos desafios impostos à população idosa. Trata-se de um ensaio crítico- reflexivo para o qual foi realizada busca na literatura de produções científicas que versavam acerca da temática. Os programas educacionais para idosos vêm propondo atender a essas necessidades, trabalhando com diversos procedimentos pedagógicos, a fim de despertar a consciência crítica para a busca do envelhecimento bem-sucedido. Por meio da educação continuada, esses programas têm possibilitado ao idoso, atualização, aquisição de conhecimentos e participação em atividades culturais, sociais, políticas e de lazer. Espera-se através da educação dos idosos contribuir com o empoderamento e mudanças nos hábitos de vida proporcionando autonomia e qualidade de vida. A valorização da pessoa idosa deve estar na agenda transversal em todos os espaços formativos da sociedade para desta forma avançarmos em direção à cultura do respeito e garantia de direitos no processo de envelhecimento saudável.
The medical management of tobacco dependency: from negligence to excellence
Authors: Fullerton DG , Evison M
Published: July 2022

One in two people that smoke tobacco will die prematurely and for every person that dies, thirty more will suffer from the serious diseases it causes. Treating this deadly disease lies on the shoulders of every healthcare professional, all of whom have a responsibility to provide highly effective and evidence-based interventions. Failure to treat tobacco dependency falls far below the required standard of care and could be considered negligent.
The outcomes of revision surgery for a failed ankle arthroplasty
Authors: Jennison Toby , Spolton-Dean Claire , Rottenburg Hannah , Ukoumunne Obioha , Sharpe Ian , Goldberg Andrew
Published: July 2022

Aims

Revision rates for ankle arthroplasties are higher than hip or knee arthroplasties. When a total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) fails, it can either undergo revision to another ankle replacement, revision of the TAA to ankle arthrodesis (fusion), or amputation. Currently there is a paucity of literature on the outcomes of these revisions. The aim of this meta-analysis is to assess the outcomes of revision TAA with respect to surgery type, functional outcomes, and reoperations.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. PubMed, Medline, Embase, Cinahl, and Cochrane reviews were searched for relevant papers. Papers analyzing surgical treatment for failed ankle arthroplasties were included. All papers were reviewed by two authors. Overall, 34 papers met the inclusion criteria. A meta-analysis of proportions was performed.

Results

Six papers analyzed all-cause reoperations of revision ankle arthroplasties, and 14 papers analyzed failures of conversion of a TAA to fusion. It was found that 26.9% (95% confidence interval (CI) 15.4% to 40.1%) of revision ankle arthroplasties required further surgical intervention and 13.0% (95% CI 4.9% to 23.4%) of conversion to fusions; 14.4% (95% CI 8.4% to 21.4%) of revision ankle arthroplasties failed and 8% (95% CI 4% to 13%) of conversion to fusions failed.

Conclusion

Revision of primary TAA can be an effective procedure with improved functional outcomes, but has considerable risks of failure and reoperation, especially in those with periprosthetic joint infection. In those who undergo conversion of TAA to fusion, there are high rates of nonunion. Further comparative studies are required to compare both operative techniques. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2022;3(7):596–606.
Robust full-pose-parameter estimation for the LED array in Fourier ptychographic microscopy
Authors: Zheng Chuanjian , Zhang Shaohui , Yang Delong , Zhou Guocheng , Hu Yao , Hao Qun
Published: July 2022

Fourier ptychographic microscopy (FPM) can achieve quantitative phase imaging with a large space-bandwidth product by synthesizing a set of low-resolution intensity images captured under angularly varying illuminations. Determining accurate illumination angles is critical because the consistency between actual systematic parameters and those used in the recovery algorithm is essential for high-quality imaging. This paper presents a full-pose-parameter and physics-based method for calibrating illumination angles. Using a physics-based model constructed with general knowledge of the employed microscope and the brightfield-to-darkfield boundaries inside captured images, we can solve for the full-pose parameters of misplaced LED array, which consist of the distance between the sample and the LED array, two orthogonal lateral shifts, one in-plane rotation angle, and two tilt angles, to correct illumination angles precisely. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method for recovering random or remarkable pose parameters have been demonstrated by both qualitative and quantitative experiments. Due to the completeness of the pose parameters, the clarity of the physical model, and the high robustness for arbitrary misalignments, our method can significantly facilitate the design, implementation, and application of concise and robust FPM platforms.
Cryogenic and hermetically sealed packaging of photonic chips for optomechanics
Authors: Wasserman W. W. , Harrison R. A. , Harris G. I. , Sawadsky A. , Sfendla Y. L. , Bowen W. P. , Baker C. G.
Published: July 2022

We demonstrate a hermetically sealed packaging system for integrated photonic devices at cryogenic temperatures with plug-and-play functionality. This approach provides the ability to encapsulate a controlled amount of gas into the optical package allowing helium to be used as a heat-exchange gas to thermalize photonic devices, or condensed into a superfluid covering the device. This packaging system was tested using a silicon-on-insulator slot waveguide resonator which fills with superfluid 4He below the transition temperature. To optimize the fiber-to-chip optical integration 690 tests were performed by thermally cycling optical fibers bonded to various common photonic chip substrates (silicon, silicon oxide and HSQ) with a range of glues (NOA 61, NOA 68, NOA 88, NOA 86H and superglue). This showed that NOA 86H (a UV curing optical adhesive with a latent heat catalyst) provided the best performance under cryogenic conditions for all the substrates tested. The technique is relevant to superfluid optomechanics experiments, as well as quantum photonics and quantum optomechanics applications.
Femtosecond laser direct-writing of high quality first-order Bragg gratings with arbitrary complex apodization by phase modulation
Authors: Roberge Anthony , Loranger Sébastien , Boisvert Jean-Sébastien , Monet Frédéric , Kashyap Raman
Published: July 2022

Femtosecond laser direct-writing is an attractive technique to fabricate fiber Bragg gratings and to achieve through-the-coating inscription. In this article, we report the direct inscription of high-quality first-order gratings in optical fiber, without the use of an index-matching medium. A new alignment technique based on the inscription of weak probe gratings is used to track the relative position between the focal spot and fiber core. A simple and flexible method to precisely control the position of each grating plane is also presented. With this method, periodic phase modulation of grating structures is achieved and used to inscribe arbitrary apodization and phase profiles. It is shown that a burst of multiple laser pulses used to inscribe each grating plane leads to a significant increase in the grating strength, while maintaining low insertion loss, critical for many applications.
All-optical wavelength conversion of a 92-Gb/s 16-QAM signal within the C-band in a single thin-film PPLN waveguide
Authors: Wei Junjie , Hu Zihe , Zhang Mingming , Li Pan , Wu You , Zeng Cheng , Tang Ming , Xia Jinsong
Published: July 2022

Tunable all-optical wavelength conversion (AOWC) within 151 nm bandwidth is demonstrated in a thin-film periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) waveguide, which utilizes the cascaded second-harmonic generation and difference-frequency generation (cSHG/DFG) process. Also, in the same waveguide, AOWC of a 92-Gb/s 16-ary quadrature amplitude modulated (16-QAM) signal within the C-band is successfully achieved. For Bit-error ratio (BER) measurements, we obtain a negligible optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) penalty (<0.2 dB) for the converted idler wave at a BER of 1e-3.
Low loss silicon nitride 1×4 microwave photonic beamforming chip
Authors: Lin Dongdong , Shi Shangqing , Liu Pengcheng , Cheng Wei , Lu Mengjia , Lin Tong , Hu Guohua , Yun Binfeng , Cui Yiping
Published: July 2022

In this paper, based on the low loss double strip silicon nitride platform, we designed and fabricated an ultra-low loss 1×4 microwave photonic beamforming chip, which contains a 1×4 beam splitter and four 5-bit optical delay lines. Each optical delay line can achieve 32 delay states varying from 0 ps to about 130 ps, which can support 21 different beamforming angles covers from −56.42° to 56.68° for 10 GHz RF signal. A low on-chip insertion loss of about 4 dB is achieved for each 5-bit optical delay line. Furthermore, a very low loss delay ratio of about 0.0016 dB/ps is achieved and a recorded low loss fluctuation of about 0.3 dB is obtained during the 32 states delay switching. In addition, the switching speed and driving power consumptions of the proposed beamforming chip were investigated. The proposed beamforming chip could have great potential in optical controlled phased antenna arrays systems.
Dynamic quantitative visualization of transient shear stresses in solids
Authors: Lu Haining , Cao Yun , Zhu Hengbo , Lei Shenghong , Kong Xiaoyu , Wang He , Nie Weirong , Xi Zhanwen
Published: July 2022

To aid in shear strength analysis, a technique combined with a time-resolved imaging scheme to achieve direct dynamic quantitative visualization of the distribution and evolution of transient shear stresses in solids through one measurement is studied. By modulating the polarization state of the elliptically polarized light transmitted or reflected from the sample, this method requires only one measurement to achieve visualization. Mathematical models of the correlation between the variation of modulated light field and the shear stresses in the plane perpendicular to the optical axis are established based on the theory of mechanics and photoelasticity. The maximum shear stresses of any section are further derived. As an example, the distribution and evolution of shear stresses induced by an ultrasonic field have been quantitatively visualized by the technique. The visualization results are in fairly good agreement with the finite element simulation results. The simplicity and efficiency of this technique are embodied in the fact that one single measurement can directly obtain the distribution of shear stresses in solids, and the measurements of dynamic shear stresses can be conveniently realized through continuous monitoring.
Optimal design and experimental demonstration of a silicon-based ultra-compact mode splitter
Authors: Mao Siqiang , Hu Jinzhu , Zhang Hanyu , Jiang Weifeng
Published: July 2022

To improve the flexibility of the mode division multiplexing (MDM) system, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a mode splitter by using the inverse design method. The proposed mode splitter has an ultra-compact footprint of 5 × 3 µm2, and the functional region occupies a footprint of only 5 × 1 µm2. The optimized mode splitter can separate the TE0 and TE1 modes without changing the mode order. When transmitting the TE0 mode, the measured insertion loss and crosstalk are 2.14 dB and −13.34 dB, respectively, at the operating wavelength of 1550 nm. The 3-dB bandwidth is >66 nm, and the crosstalk is lower than −12.37 dB over the C + L band. When transmitting the TE1 mode, the insertion loss and crosstalk are 3.04 dB and −16 dB, respectively, at 1550 nm. The 3-dB bandwidth is >57 nm, and the crosstalk is below −12.89 dB over the whole C + L band.
Cancellation of photothermally induced instability in an optical resonator
Authors: Qin Jiayi , Guccione Giovanni , Ma Jinyong , Gu Chenyue , Lecamwasam Ruvi , Buchler Ben C. , Lam Ping Koy
Published: July 2022

Optical systems are often subject to parametric instability caused by
the delayed response of the optical field to the system dynamics. In
some cases, parasitic photothermal effects aggravate the instability
by adding new interaction dynamics. This may lead to the possible
insurgence or amplification of parametric gain that can further
destabilize the system. In this paper, we show that the photothermal
properties of an optomechanical cavity can be modified to mitigate or
even completely cancel optomechanical instability. By inverting the
sign of the photothermal interaction to let it cooperate with
radiation pressure, we achieve control of the system dynamics to be
fully balanced around a stable equilibrium point. Our study provides a
feedback solution for optical control and precise metrological
applications, specifically in high-sensitivity resonating systems that
are particularly susceptible to parasitic photothermal effects, such
as our test case of a macroscopic optical levitation setup. This passive stabilization technique is beneficial for improving system performance limited by photothermal dynamics in broad areas of optics, optomechanics, photonics, and laser technologies.
Turning promise into practice: Crop biotechnology for increasing genetic diversity and climate resilience
Authors: Garland Sarah , Curry Helen Anne
Published: July 2022

As climate change increasingly threatens agricultural production, expanding genetic diversity in crops is an important strategy for climate resilience in many agricultural contexts. In this Essay, we explore the potential of crop biotechnology to contribute to this diversification, especially in industrialized systems, by using historical perspectives to frame the current dialogue surrounding recent innovations in gene editing. We unearth comments about the possibility of enhancing crop diversity made by ambitious scientists in the early days of recombinant DNA and follow the implementation of this technology, which has not generated the diversification some anticipated. We then turn to recent claims about the promise of gene editing tools with respect to this same goal. We encourage researchers and other stakeholders to engage in activities beyond the laboratory if they hope to see what is technologically possible translated into practice at this critical point in agricultural transformation.
Antibiotic persistence of intracellular Brucella abortus
Authors: Mode Selma , Ketterer Maren , Québatte Maxime , Dehio Christoph
Published: July 2022

Background

Human brucellosis caused by the facultative intracellular pathogen Brucella spp. is an endemic bacterial zoonosis manifesting as acute or chronic infections with high morbidity. Treatment typically involves a combination therapy of two antibiotics for several weeks to months, but despite this harsh treatment relapses occur at a rate of 5–15%. Although poor compliance and reinfection may account for a fraction of the observed relapse cases, it is apparent that the properties of the infectious agent itself may play a decisive role in this phenomenon.

Methodology/Principal findings

We used B. abortus carrying a dual reporter in a macrophage infection model to gain a better understanding of the efficacy of recommended therapies in cellulo. For this we used automated fluorescent microscopy as a prime read-out and developed specific CellProfiler pipelines to score infected macrophages at the population and the single cell level. Combining microscopy of constitutive and induced reporters with classical CFU determination, we quantified the protective nature of the Brucella intracellular lifestyle to various antibiotics and the ability of B. abortus to persist in cellulo despite harsh antibiotic treatments.

Conclusion/Significance

We demonstrate that treatment of infected macrophages with antibiotics at recommended concentrations fails to fully prevent growth and persistence of B. abortus in cellulo, which may be explained by a protective nature of the intracellular niche(s). Moreover, we show the presence of bona fide intracellular persisters upon antibiotic treatment, which are metabolically active and retain the full infectious potential, therefore constituting a plausible reservoir for reinfection and relapse. In conclusion, our results highlight the need to extend the spectrum of models to test new antimicrobial therapies for brucellosis to better reflect the in vivo infection environment, and to develop therapeutic approaches targeting the persister subpopulation.
Arbovirus risk perception as a predictor of mosquito-bite preventive behaviors in Ponce, Puerto Rico
Authors: Dussault Josée M. , Paz-Bailey Gabriela , Sánchez-González Liliana , Adams Laura E. , Rodríguez Dania M. , Ryff Kyle R. , Major Chelsea G. , Lorenzi Olga , Rivera-Amill Vanessa
Published: July 2022

Mosquito-borne arboviruses are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the Caribbean. In Puerto Rico, chikungunya, dengue, and Zika viruses have each caused large outbreaks during 2010–2022. To date, the majority of control measures to prevent these diseases focus on mosquito control and many require community participation. In 2018, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched the COPA project, a community-based cohort study in Ponce, Puerto Rico, to measure the impact of novel vector control interventions in reducing arboviral infections. Randomly selected households from 38 designated cluster areas were offered participation, and baseline data were collected from 2,353 households between May 2018 and May 2019. Household-level responses were provided by one representative per home. Cross-sectional analyses of baseline data were conducted to estimate 1) the association between arboviral risk perception and annual household expenditure on mosquito control, and 2) the association between arboviral risk perception and engagement in ≥3 household-level risk reduction behaviors. In this study, 27% of household representatives believed their household was at high risk of arboviruses and 36% of households engaged in at least three of the six household-level preventive behaviors. Households where the representative perceived their household at high risk spent an average of $35.9 (95% confidence interval: $23.7, $48.1) more annually on mosquito bite prevention compared to households where the representative perceived no risk. The probability of engaging in ≥3 household-level mosquito-preventive behaviors was 10.2 percentage points greater (7.2, 13.0) in households where the representatives perceived high risk compared to those in which the representatives perceived no risk. Paired with other research, these results support investment in community-based participatory approaches to mosquito control and providing accessible information for communities to accurately interpret their risk.
Mining transcriptomic data to identify Saccharomyces cerevisiae signatures related to improved and repressed ethanol production under fermentation
Authors: Sazegari Sima , Niazi Ali , Zinati Zahra , Eskandari Mohammad Hadi
Published: July 2022

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is known for its outstanding ability to produce ethanol in industry. Underlying the dynamics of gene expression in S. cerevisiae in response to fermentation could provide informative results, required for the establishment of any ethanol production improvement program. Thus, representing a new approach, this study was conducted to identify the discriminative genes between improved and repressed ethanol production as well as clarifying the molecular responses to this process through mining the transcriptomic data. The significant differential expression probe sets were extracted from available microarray datasets related to yeast fermentation performance. To identify the most effective probe sets contributing to discriminate ethanol content, 11 machine learning algorithms from RapidMiner were employed. Further analysis including pathway enrichment and regulatory analysis were performed on discriminative probe sets. Besides, the decision tree models were constructed, the performance of each model was evaluated and the roots were identified. Based on the results, 171 probe sets were identified by at least 5 attribute weighting algorithms (AWAs) and 17 roots were recognized with 100% performance Some of the top ranked presets were found to be involved in carbohydrate metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, and ethanol fermentation. Principal component analysis (PCA) and heatmap clustering validated the top-ranked selective probe sets. In addition, the top-ranked genes were validated based on GSE78759 and GSE5185 dataset. From all discriminative probe sets, OLI1 and CYC3 were identified as the roots with the best performance, demonstrated by the most weighting algorithms and linked to top two significant enriched pathways including porphyrin biosynthesis and oxidative phosphorylation. ADH5 and PDA1 were also recognized as differential top-ranked genes that contribute to ethanol production. According to the regulatory clustering analysis, Tup1 has a significant effect on the top-ranked target genes CYC3 and ADH5 genes. This study provides a basic understanding of the S. cerevisiae cell molecular mechanism and responses to two different medium conditions (Mg2+ and Cu2+) during the fermentation process.
Prevalence and risk factors of coliform-associated mastitis and antibiotic resistance of coliforms from lactating dairy cows in North West Cameroon
Authors: Abegewi Ursula Anneh , Esemu Seraphine Nkie , Ndip Roland N. , Ndip Lucy M.
Published: July 2022

Background

Coliform bacteria are major causative agents of bovine mastitis, a disease that has devastating effect on dairy animal health and milk production. This cross-sectional study, carried out in the North West region of Cameroon, sought to determine the prevalence of bovine mastitis, coliforms associated with bovine mastitis, risk factors for infection and the antibiotic resistance pattern of coliform bacterial isolates.

Materials and methods

A total of 1608 udder quarters were sampled from 411 cows using a questionnaire, clinical examination, California Mastitis Test and milk culture. Primary isolation of coliform bacteria was done on MacConkey agar while identification of coliforms employed Gram-staining and biochemical testing. Each coliform bacterial isolate was challenged with 11 antibiotics using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method.

Results

The prevalence of mastitis was 53.0% (218/411) and 33.1% (532/1608) at the cow- and quarter-levels respectively. Overall, 21.9% (90/411) cows and 8.2% (132/1608) udder quarters showed coliform mastitis.Escherichia coliwas isolated in 7.0% of mastitis milk, and other coliforms isolated wereEnterobacter cloacae(12.6%),Klebsiella pneumoniae(2.4%),Enterobacter sakazakii(1.1%),Klebsiella oxytoca(0.8%),Citrobacter freudii(0.4%),Serratia ficaria(0.4%) andSerratia liquefaciens(0.2%). Lactation stage, breed, history of mastitis and moist/muddy faeces contaminated environment were significantly associated (P-value < 0.05) with coliform mastitis. Coliform isolates (99.0%; 203/205) were resistant to at least one antibiotic tested. Amoxicillin had the highest resistance (88.8%) while norfloxacin had the least resistance (3.4%). Multidrug resistance was exhibited by 52.7% (108/205) of the isolates in a proportion of 27.8%Enterobacter cloacae, 10.7%E.coli, 6.3%Klebsiella pneumoniae, 2.9%Enterobacter sakazakii, 2.0%Klebsiella oxytoca, 1.0%Citrobacter freundii, 1.0%Serratia ficaria, 0.5%Serratia liquefaciensand 0.5%Serratia odorifera.

Conclusion

Results indicate a need to educate these dairy farmers about mastitis (particularly subclinical), proper hygiene methods in milking and the public health implications of consuming contaminated raw milk.
Broad Whitefish (Coregonus nasus) isotopic niches: Stable isotopes reveal diverse foraging strategies and habitat use in Arctic Alaska
Authors: Leppi Jason C. , Rinella Daniel J. , Wipfli Mark S. , Whitman Matthew S.
Published: July 2022

Understanding the ecological niche of some fishes is complicated by their frequent use of a broad range of food resources and habitats across space and time. Little is known about Broad Whitefish (Coregonus nasus) ecological niches in Arctic landscapes even though they are an important subsistence species for Alaska’s Indigenous communities. We investigated the foraging ecology and habitat use of Broad Whitefish via stable isotope analyses of muscle and liver tissue and otoliths from mature fish migrating in the Colville River within Arctic Alaska. The range of δ13C (-31.8– -21.9‰) and δ15N (6.6–13.1‰) across tissue types and among individuals overlapped with isotope values previously observed in Arctic lakes and rivers, estuaries, and nearshore marine habitat. The large range of δ18O (4.5–10.9‰) and δD (-237.6– -158.9‰) suggests fish utilized a broad spectrum of habitats across elevational and latitudinal gradients. Cluster analysis of muscle δ13Cˈ, δ15N, δ18O, and δD indicated that Broad Whitefish occupied four different foraging niches that relied on marine and land-based (i.e., freshwater and terrestrial) food sources to varying degrees. Most individuals had isotopic signatures representative of coastal freshwater habitat (Group 3; 25%) or coastal lagoon and delta habitat (Group 1; 57%), while individuals that mainly utilized inland freshwater (Group 4; 4%) and nearshore marine habitats (Group 2; 14%) represented smaller proportions. Otolith microchemistry confirmed that individuals with more enriched muscle tissue δ13Cˈ, δD, and δ18O tended to use marine habitats, while individuals that mainly used freshwater habitats had values that were less enriched. The isotopic niches identified here represent important foraging habitats utilized by Broad Whitefish. To preserve access to these diverse habitats it will be important to limit barriers along nearshore areas and reduce impacts like roads and climate change on natural flow regimes. Maintaining these diverse connected habitats will facilitate long-term population stability, buffering populations from future environmental and anthropogenic perturbations.
The effects of electrical stunning on the nervous activity and physiological stress response of a commercially important decapod crustacean, the brown crab Cancer pagurus L.
Authors: Neil Douglas M. , Albalat Amaya , Thompson John
Published: July 2022

Increasing attention is being paid to the welfare of decapod crustaceans. Legislation exists for their humane slaughter in several countries and this is being debated in others. Electrical stunning may have potential for humane slaughter of crustaceans in some circumstances, although scientific data on the effectiveness of electrical stunning when applied to various species are limited. Assessment criteria for effective stunning have so far been based mainly on behavioural assessments, but these do not always reflect neural insensibility. In this study direct recordings of neural activity, both centrally and peripherally, have been used to provide more direct measures of the state of sensibility. We have also examined whether electrical stunning acts as a physiological stressor, using measures of haemolymph L-lactate. Experiments were performed on a commercially important decapod species, the brown crabCancer pagurusL. Spontaneous activity within the CNS was arrested by electrical stunning, which is an indication of loss of sensibility. There were also specific effects on the peripheral nervous system, with loss of responsiveness to sensory stimulation, rendering the animals unresponsive to external stimuli, and a failure of motor activation. All these effects were apparent immediately after a 10s stun, and persisted for as long as tested (4h) indicating that the animals were also killed by the procedure. No autotomy of limbs occurred. Haemolymph L-lactate was found to be no greater following electrical stunning than after handling and sampling alone, and both were significantly lower than values reached in a range of environmental and commercial situations. For all these reasons we find that electrical stunning may meet criteria for humane slaughter ofC.pagurus.
The assessment of fundus image quality labeling reliability among graders with different backgrounds
Authors: Laurik-Feuerstein Kornélia Lenke , Sapahia Rishav , Cabrera DeBuc Delia , Somfai Gábor Márk
Published: July 2022

Purpose

For the training of machine learning (ML) algorithms, correctly labeled ground truth data are inevitable. In this pilot study, we assessed the performance of graders with different backgrounds in the labeling of retinal fundus image quality.

Methods

Color fundus photographs were labeled using a Python-based tool using four image categories: excellent (E), good (G), adequate (A) and insufficient for grading (I). We enrolled 8 subjects (4 with and 4 without medical background, groups M and NM, respectively) to whom a tutorial was presented on image quality requirements. We randomly selected 200 images from a pool of 18,145 expert-labeled images (50/E, 50/G, 50/A, 50/I). The performance of the grading was timed and the agreement was assessed. An additional grading round was performed with 14 labels for a more objective analysis.

Results

The median time (interquartile range) for the labeling task with 4 categories was 987.8 sec (418.6) for all graders and 872.9 sec (621.0) vs. 1019.8 sec (479.5) in the M vs. NM groups, respectively. Cohen’s weighted kappa showed moderate agreement (0.564) when using four categories that increased to substantial (0.637) when using only three by merging the E and G groups. By the use of 14 labels, the weighted kappa values were 0.594 and 0.667 when assigning four or three categories, respectively.

Conclusion

Image grading with a Python-based tool seems to be a simple yet possibly efficient solution for the labeling of fundus images according to image quality that does not necessarily require medical background. Such grading can be subject to variability but could still effectively serve the robust identification of images with insufficient quality. This emphasizes the opportunity for the democratization of ML-applications among persons with both medical and non-medical background. However, simplicity of the grading system is key to successful categorization.
Assessing the utility value of Hucul horses using classification models, based on artificial neural networks
Authors: Topczewska Jadwiga , Bartman Jacek , Kwater Tadeusz
Published: July 2022

The aim of this study was to evaluate factors influencing the performance of Hucul horses and to develop a prediction model, based on artificial neural (AI) networks for predict horses’ classification, relying on their performance value assessment during the annual Hucul championships. The Feedforward multilayer artificial neural networks, learned using supervised methods and implemented in Matlab programming environment were applied. Artificial neural networks with one and two hidden layers with different numbers of neurons equipped with a tangensoidal transition function, learned using the Levenberg-Marqiuardt method, were applied for the analysis. Although results showed that 7-year-old horses had the highest number of wins, the 11-year-old horses were observed to have had the best results when accessed relative to the total number of horses for a given year. Although horses from the Hroby line had the most starts in 2009–2019, those of the Goral line had the most wins. While predicting the horses’ efficiency for the first 6 positions during the utility championship, the neural network consisting of 12 neurons in hidden layer performed the best, obtaining 69,65% efficiency. The highest horse efficiency classification was obtained for the four-layered network with 12 and 8 neurons in the hidden layers. An 81.3% efficiency was obtained while evaluating the correctness of the prediction for horses occupying positions 1 to 3. The use of AI seems to be indispensable in assessing the performance value of Hucul horses. It is necessary to determine the relation between horses’ traits and their utility value by means of trait selection methods, accompanied with expert advice. It is also advisable to conduct research using deep neural networks.