bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Συγκριτική μελέτη και διερεύνηση στοιχείων (ή δομών) των βιοεπιστημών στη δημιουργία έργων τέχνης
Authors: Φράγκου Αγγελική
Published: December 2023

H παρούσα πρόταση έρευνας εντάσσεται στο ευρύτερο πλαίσιο της τέχνης των νέων μέσων, της τεχνολογίας και των βιοεπιστημών, ενός σχετικά πρόσφατα αναπτυσσόμενου κλάδου –με αυτή τη διάρθρωση– της σύγχρονης τέχνης. Εντούτοις, συνιστά ένα ραγδαία αναπτυσσόμενο πεδίο έρευνας καθώς, στις απαρχές του 21ου αιώνα, εμφανίζεται ως επίσημο αντικείμενο ακαδημαϊκών σπουδών, αναδεικνύοντας τις πρωτοβουλίες και υπογραμμίζοντας τη διάθεση για τη διασύνδεση της βιοτεχνολογίας με την τέχνη. Η εν λόγω μελέτη εγείρει ερωτήματα σχετικά με τους τρόπους με τους οποίους η τέχνη και η βιοτεχνολογία, εκκινώντας από διαφορετικές αφετηρίες, διαπραγματεύονται τις μεταξύ τους σχέσεις αλληλόδρασης και ταύτισης, και αναπτύσσουν (ή όχι) κοινές τομές και συμπληρωματικότητα. Βασίζεται σε θεωρητικές προοπτικές, καλλιτεχνικές πρακτικές, δημόσια πειράματα, που αναπτύχθηκαν τις τελευταίες δεκαετίες, στο θεωρητικό πλαίσιο του ως άνω κοινού χώρου, με βασικούς εκπροσώπους τους: Snow, Pickering, Born & Barry, Penny, Stanley, Yetisen, Williams, HCI community, DIYbio, Mitchell, Kac, Catts & Zurr, Radomska, Synthetic aesthetics, Hauser, Berger κ.ά. Ο χώρος όπου θα αναπτυχθεί η έρευνα είναι ο ψηφιακός χώρος αναπαράστασης αυτών των πειραμάτων (προσομοίωσης), ο οποίος ήδη έχει αξιοποιηθεί από την τέχνη, και τα φυσικά πεδία εξέλιξης των προς μελέτη περιπτώσεων της διατριβής. Οι αλγοριθμικές δομές χαρακτηρίζονται από συγκεκριμένα χρώματα και δράσεις, ενώ παρουσιάζουν μια γενετική εξέλιξη. Οι βασικές μέθοδοι συλλογής δεδομένων περιλαμβάνουν περιπτωσιολογικές μελέτες (case study 1, case study 2), ημι-δομημένες συνεντεύξεις καλλιτεχνών και επιστημόνων, βιβλιογραφική ανασκόπηση του τομέα, και τη δημιουργία μίας βάσης δεδομένων, ενώ η ανάλυση θα στηριχθεί στη συγκριτική μελέτη και την ποιοτική ερμηνεία των δεδομένων, με κριτήριο την καινοτομία και την έκφραση της βιοτεχνολογικής πραγματικότητας με εικαστικούς όρους.
The influence of indigenous knowledge on chemistry metacognition
Authors: Tawanda Tavonga , Mudau Awelani V.
Published: December 2023

Background Chemistry is viewed as a difficult and challenging subject by many learners and teachers which leads to poor academic performance in the subject. The majority of the pre-service science teachers in Zimbabwean teachers’ colleges also find Chemistry to be a challenging subject. The focus of this study was to simplify and contextualize the teaching and learning of Chemistry concepts for life-long survival and problem-solving skills through exploring the influence of indigenous Chemistry knowledge on Chemistry metacognition. Methods An embedded mixed methods case study was underpinned by the social constructivist theory, which is used to collect and analyse the data. Twenty-nine respondents were purposively sampled. Their metacognition awareness was determined through focus group interviews which are triangulated with a paper and pen test. The indigenous Chemistry knowledge possessed by the pre-service science teachers was collected using focus group interviews, which was then used in the intervention stage for Chemistry metacognition. Results The findings suggest that indigenous knowledge influences chemistry metacognition in a positive way. Conclusions Further research is required on the relationship between indigenous Chemistry knowledge and Chemistry metacognition. It is recommended that Chemistry educators should be capacitated with skills for identifying and applying indigenous Chemistry knowledge that is relevant to Chemistry metacognition.
Validation of a developmental screening tool from a national health program in India for screening speech-language disorders among children
Authors: Chandrasekar Kavyashree , Venkatesh Lakshmi , Ramkumar Vidya , Balasubramaniyan Subramaniyan , Varadharajan Vasudharany
Published: December 2023

Background Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) is a Government of India initiative that aims to develop a structured approach toward child health screening and early intervention. Objectives The current study aimed to validate the RBSK developmental screening tool incorporated within a mobile-based application for screening of speech and language delays/disorders among children below 6 years of age Methods A total of 235 caregiver-child dyads including 96 children aged below 2;6 years; months and 139 children between 2;6 and 6;0 years participated in the study. Children underwent developmental screening by a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) using the RBSK screening tool and specific speech-language screening using the Language Evaluation Scale Trivandrum (LEST) followed by detailed evaluation by another SLP, blinded to the results of the screening. Each item in the RBSK and LEST screening tools was rated as ‘yes’ or ‘no’ by observing the child’s performance. Results and conclusion Detailed assessment by the SLP identified 133 children with typical speech and language development and 102 children with speech and language disorders. The sensitivity and specificity (95% CI) of the RBSK screening tool against both detailed assessment by SLP and LEST screening with one-item criteria were similar at 100% (87.23-100) and 97.1% (89.82-99.65) respectively in the younger group and 97.33% (90.70-99.68) and 92.19% (82.70-97.41) respectively in the older age group. The RBSK screening tool implemented via an mhealth application by SLPs demonstrated adequate psychometric properties for screening speech-language disorders among children less than six years of age.
Notes on presumed Neotropical records and species of Hesperinus Walker, 1848 (Diptera: Bibionidae)
Authors: Schelesky-Prado Daniel de Castro , Falaschi Rafaela Lopes
Published: December 2023

Hesperinus Walker, 1848, a member of Bibionidae (Diptera), is a Holarctic and Oriental genus. The genus has been reported from the Neotropical Region twice: i) Hesperinus conjungens Schiner, 1868, transferred to Plecia Wiedemann, 1828 by Hardy in 1967, and ii) additional specimens identified as Hesperinus sp. by Messias Carrera in 1944. In this study, we revisited the Carrera’s specimens, identifying them as Plecia sp. Additionally, we discussed the taxonomy of Plecia conjungens and compiled a list of articles that consider the species as Hesperinus.
ENHANCEMENT OF STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING FRAMEWORK ON BEAMS BASED ON K-NEAREST NEIGHBOR ALGORITHM
Authors: ALTABEY WAEL A. , NOORI MOHAMMAD , WU ZHISHEN , SILIK AHMED , SARHOSIS VASILIS
Published: December 2023

The aiming of this work is to enhancement the structural health monitoring (SHM) framework of beams structure for damage detection to treatment the drawbacks of poor detection efficiency in traditional of beams monitoring algorithms, the improvement framework on beams SHM is based on novel data classification technique through designing the k-Nearest Neighbor (k-NN) algorithm. First, the beam finite element model under impact load is analysis, and the cumulative damages are considered and introduced to beam model. The datasets of beam SHM are compiled from the sensors installed in beam structure, and then processed using kernel principal component analysis to remove the unnecessary features and reduce the scale of classification features. The k-NN algorithm parameters of beam SHM are determined by the genetic optimization algorithm (GOA) to establish the optimal SHM classification model of beam. Finally, a comparison between the present damage detection results via k-NN and traditional models via convolutional neural network (CNN) and supper vector machine (SVM) results available in literatures is established through the most significant indexes of testing to check the effectiveness and superiority of suggested method. The results show that the presented SHM model are gave higher precision, reduced the time of modeling, and improvement the total performance of damage detection model in beams. The current performance are recorded 95.3%, 91.8%, and 89.7%, for accuracy rate, recall rate, and F-score respectively.
Conocer y dominar los astros. El piloto Andrés de San Martín y la expedición de Magallanes/Del Cano
Authors: Mena García Carmen
Published: December 2023

Una de las grandes cuestiones de la historiografía de los últimos tiempos es la consideración del viaje de Remando de Magallanes y Juan Sebastián del Cano, que culminaría con la primera vuelta al mundo (1519-1522), como uno de los acontecimientos más significados de la historia planetaria. Pero la tendencia a personalizar el pasado mediante un ejercicio reduccionista provoca inevitablemente un desenfoque del objeto histórico. No debe olvidarse que fueron muchos los partícipes en esta epopeya y que todos ellos aportaron su granito de arena en esta aventura. Tal es el caso del sevillano Andrés de San Martín, piloto real de la San Antonio (y la Victoria), excelente astrónomo y cosmógrafo de la expedición. A él van dedicadas estas páginas.
The Country and the City in the Kāñcippurāṇam
Authors: Buchholz Jonas
Published: December 2023

Numerous pre-modern literary works in Tamil begin with a lengthy description of a country and a city. This convention is a stock element of texts belonging to the kāppiyam and purāṇam genres, which can be defined as long narrative poems and mythological narrations, respectively. Such descriptions are particularly numerous in talapurāṇams, i.e., texts dealing with the mythology of sacred sites. This article discusses the description of the country and the city in the Kāñcippurāṇam (KP), a talapurāṇam of the city of Kanchipuram composed in the late 18th century by the author Civañāṉa Muṉivar. It will be shown that the description of Kanchipuram and its surroundings in the introductory chapters of the KP, rather than aiming at a realistic portrayal, is strongly based on Tamil literary conventions that can be traced back to ancient Tamil literature, but also to influential texts of the medieval period, such as the Kamparāmāyaṇam or the Periyapurāṇam. Moreover, the article examines how Civañāṉa Muṉivar correlates the literary landscape that he describes with the real-world geography of the region around Kanchipuram and Śaiva devotional topography, thus creating a complex multi-layered landscape.
”Dattātreya‘s Dwelling Place”
Authors: Larios Borayin , Rajopadhye Hemant
Published: December 2023

The Śrī Gurudeva Datta Mandir is a modern Hindu temple constructed around the udumbara tree (ficus racemora) believed to be the mythical dwelling place of the antinomian god Dattātreya. Originally located in a public park, the temple is now an independently registered trust and is widely recognized as one of the most prominent and celebrated Hindu places of worship in the affluent residential area of Deccan Gymkhana in Pune, India. In this article, we examine how the natural and built environment, along with religious practices, are constantly reconfigured and renegotiated by various actors catering to the contemporary sensitivities of the urban Hindu middle classes. We argue that to understand urban religious spaces like the Śrī Gurudeva Datta Mandir, it is essential to consider how cultural, religious, and political sensitivities converge to give material form to these spaces. Through an analysis of the temple, the deity of Dattātreya, and the udumbara tree, we explore the complex interplay of these forces and their role in shaping contemporary Hindu religious practices and beliefs in urban India.
Sacred Groves, the Brahmanical Hermit, and Some Remarks on ahiṃsā and Vegetarianism
Authors: Pieruccini Cinzia
Published: December 2023

The term  sacred grove‘ is used to denote an area of vegetation that is afforded special protection on religious grounds. In India, where sacred groves are known by a wide repertoire of local names, such places may be found right from the Himalayas up to the far South. Sacred groves host veneration of natural phenomena or elements of landscape, but also ancestral, local, folk or tribal gods and Sanskritised deities; the use of their resources is strictly regulated. Research studies on sacred groves in India often consider them to be a legacy of archaic economic forms, possibly harking back to the stage of hunters-gatherers, and an expression of a religiosity dating back to a remote, non-Aryan, pre-Vedic antiquity. However, main sources for our knowledge of Indian antiquity, namely the literary sources, provide no direct record of voices of such archaic societies. Nonetheless, the same sources allow us to highlight some important aspects of the sacredness anciently ascribed to vegetation, forest, and specific places therein. The present paper proposes to focus on the Brahmanical hermit‘s distinct relationship with the forest and examine some aspects related to food.
Guys Who Bond
Authors: Clines Gregory M.
Published: December 2023

This article investigates Ācārya Hemacandra‘s 12th-century Sanskrit Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacarita (―The Lives of the Sixty-Three Illustrious Men,‖ TŚPC) to understand how Jain authors depict fraternal love as a durable and covert fetter to the world of transmigratory rebirth and re-death (saṃsāra). By examining the stories of the half-brother baladevas and vāsudevas in the TŚPC, the article identifies three consequentially negative characteristics of fraternal relationships: youthful intimacy, inseparability, and emotional turmoil resulting from the relationship‘s dissolution. Finally, the article examines how the figure of the dispassionate Jina in the TŚPC exemplifies the proper orientation towards brothers.
When Bankers Go to Hail: Insights into Fed–Bank Interactions from Taxi Data
Authors: Bradley Daniel , Finer David Andrew , Gustafson Matthew , Williams Jared
Published: December 2023

We introduce taxi ridership between the Federal Reserve (Fed) Bank of New York and large financial institutions headquartered in New York City as a novel proxy for Fed–bank face-to-face interactions. We document a negative relation between past Fed–bank interactions and future stock market returns, particularly on days around the Fed’s public announcements. We also find significantly elevated Fed–bank interactions immediately following the lifting of the Federal Open Market Committee blackout. Our findings suggest that the Fed increases its information gathering via face-to-face interactions when it possesses negative private information about the condition of the economy.

This paper was accepted by Agostino Capponi, finance.

Funding: This work was supported by the Muma College of Business Center for Analytics and Creativity at the University South Florida, the George Stigler Center for the Study of the Economy and the State, the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, the Liew Fama-Miller Fellowship, and the Fischer Black Fellowship.

Supplemental Material: Data and the online appendix are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4885 .
Short bowel syndrome: a clinical review
Authors: Boyer Helena , Mortimore Gerri
Published: December 2023

Short bowel syndrome (SBS), also referred to as intestinal failure, is characterised by inadequate nutrient absorption due to a reduced small intestine, resulting in the inability to maintain nutritional status through oral intake alone. This condition poses a significant financial burden on the NHS, as many patients require lifelong parental nutrition (PN) to sustain their nutritional stability. The reported mortality rates range from 30–50%, emphasising the importance of supporting and enhancing bowel function and nutrient absorption. After two years of PN, the probability of irreversible intestinal failure reaches 94%, underscoring the critical need for prompt and appropriate treatment. Given its rarity, SBS remains poorly understood by many clinicians, making education of the wider healthcare community essential for timely diagnosis and treatment.
The Teacher Competency and Beliefs on How to Improve Language Skills of Students
Authors: Yaman Saziye , Can Erdal , Cakir Osman
Published: December 2023

This study deals with the English language teachers’ perceived beliefs on how to improve English language students’ learning skills. English language teachers’ level of competencies on how to improve language skills of their students is the main focus of this study. Therefore, the domain, “Improving Language Skills,” defined by the Ministry of National Education (MoNE) in Türkiye in the field of “Subject Specific Competencies for Teaching Profession” has been used. This specific domain includes seven competency performances and 63 related performance indicators at three levels: A1, A2, and A3. This study, first, aims to develop a new “English Language Teacher Competency Scale” under the light of MoNE descriptors; second, it aims to observe the English teachers’ competency levels following the suggested performance indicators. The participants of the study were 100 English language teachers, teaching at public and private primary schools in Türkiye. Accordingly, the teachers responded to the mentioned scale, including other variables; such as gender, professional experience, educational background, and the type of schools they worked in. The findings indicated that there was no significant difference between the teachers’ competency beliefs about their professional experience, gender, and educational background; however, there was a significant difference in terms of the type of schools the teachers worked in. Also, this study revealed feasibility of developing the “English Language Teacher Competency Scale,”, and made the scale available to use for evaluating English Language Teaching teachers’ competency levels on how to “Improve Language Skills” in class.
Literatur und Energie in Joseph Roths Der Rauch verbindet Städte (1926)
Authors: Villinger Antonia
Published: December 2023

Abstract: In his report Der Rauch verbindet Städte , which appeared in the Frankfurter Zeitung in 1926, Joseph Roth described how coal mining affected life, society, and work in the Ruhr Valley. The text demonstrates impressively and in metaphoric terms how the coal trade and its industrial use as a source of energy had a direct influence on everyday life and the economy. This article proceeds from coal as a source of energy to examine the connection between literature and energy, reading this text against the background of the field of Energy Humanities currently developing in the anglophone sphere. This research focus, which has to date hardly been pursued in the German-speaking world, provides a new and productive perspective within the field of Austrian Studies.
Making Sense of Non-Attachment
Authors: Hong Chang-Seong , Shogenji Tomoji
Published: December 2023

The aim of this paper is to outline a version of “non-attachment” that is conceptually clear and practically viable. We turn to the Buddhist traditions for their wealth of insights into non-attachment, but our goal is not exegetical. We are not constrained by the Buddhist traditions and turn to Anglophone moral psychology as well to point out a close connection between non-attachment and adaptive preference. We offer the reason for adopting the outlined version of non-attachment and depict what it is like in practice to live with no attachment.
Fields of Commitment: Research Entanglements beyond Predation
Authors: Winchell Mareike
Published: December 2023

Abstract: The boundaries of fieldwork not only define the scope of research but also circumscribe and delimit the bounds of responsibility. This essay proposes a return to the whereness of the field as an antidote to treating the powers of description and historical dispersal as absolute and uncontested. Linking classic critiques of social science’s mapping of nature and culture, of the authors and subjects of research, to contemporary debates about the ethics of field research and anthropology’s complicity with colonial systems of rule, it offers a reappraisal of the field as a ground from which to build new solidarities across incommensurable political and scholarly commitments. By approaching fields not as empty retainers but as comprised of and defined by research interlocuters and their politics, scholars can better account for global slippages and dispersals without subtly reviving the figure of an inert nature under duress, in/organic or otherwise.
Automatic measurement system for large-aperture-angle non-holonomic spherical stitching with laser differential confocal interference
Authors: Yang Zheng , Yang Shuai , Zhao Jiahao , Tang Liang , Cui Jian , Wang Yun , Qiu Lirong , Zhao Weiqian
Published: December 2023

In response to the urgent need for highly precise and efficient stitching measurements of large-aperture-angle non-holonomic spherical surfaces, a differential confocal interference automatic stitching measurement system for large-aperture-angle non-holonomic spherical surfaces was developed. The system realizes precise positioning of the confocal position through differential confocal precise focusing technology. Through the stitching model, coordinate transformation and error compensation were performed on subaperture data, and the stitching measurement of the spherical surface shape was realized. The positions and postures of the tested samples were adjusted automatically using an automatic adjustment workbench. The stitching measurement accuracy of this measurement system can attain 0.0013λ, relative error can attain 1.36%, and measurement time for eight subaperture stitching is 6 min. This system achieves automatic and rapid adjustment of large-aperture-angle spherical elements and high-precision, nondestructive, fast, and automatic measurement of surface stitching.
Deterministic passive optical networking
Authors: Christodoulopoulos Kostas , Bidkar Sarvesh , Lautenschlaeger Wolfram , Pfeiffer Thomas , Bonk Rene
Published: December 2023

A time-division-multiplexed (TDM) passive optical network (PON) that behaves like multiple point-to-point (P2P) links can support applications with stringent timing requirements while also maintaining the cost benefits of the point-to-multipoint (P2MP) topology. This requires the TDM-PON to provide deterministic performance: lossless transmission and low and constant (with low variations/jitter) latency to selected flows, while also serving other, e.g., best-effort, traffic flows. We demonstrate two approaches for providing deterministic performance over a TDM-PON. In the first approach, we operate the PON asynchronously to its clients and use scheduling that provides upstream bursts at a low and constant period. Jitter compensator gateways (JC GWs) are used to compensate for the jitter introduced by the non-matching PON bursts and the input traffic cycles. In the latter approach, we implement a deterministic dynamic bandwidth allocation (detDBA) process that controls the placement of bursts at each PON frame for selected transmission containers (T-CONTs) that correspond to flows with given traffic profiles. We synchronize and co-schedule the PON with the rest of the network and applications to provide deterministic performance to those flows. As a use case, we study the communication of industrial applications over the deterministic PON system and demonstrate latency below 100 µs and sub-µs packet latency jitter for the industrial flows, while at the same time serving best-effort traffic flows.
Effective cross-sensor color constancy using a dual-mapping strategy
Authors: Yue Shuwei , Wei Minchen
Published: December 2023

Deep neural networks (DNNs) have been widely used for illuminant estimation, which commonly requires great efforts to collect sensor-specific data. In this paper, we propose a dual-mapping strategy—the DMCC method. It only requires the white points captured by the training and testing sensors under a D65 condition to reconstruct the image and illuminant data, and then maps the reconstructed image into sparse features. These features, together with the reconstructed illuminants, were used to train a lightweight multi-layer perceptron (MLP) model, which can be directly used to estimate the illuminant for the testing sensor. The proposed model was found to have performance comparable to other state-of-the-art methods, based on the three available datasets. Moreover, the smaller number of parameters, faster speed, and not requiring data collection using the testing sensor make it ready for practical deployment. This paper is an extension of Yue and Wei [Color and Imaging Conference (2023)], with more detailed results, analyses, and discussions.
Experiment and theory of the complex refractive index of dense colloidal media
Authors: Speets Peter N. A. , Kalkman Jeroen
Published: December 2023

The complex refractive index is analyzed by measuring its scattering attenuationμs, group indexng, and group velocity dispersion (GVD) for 100 nm diameter silica nanoparticles dispersed in water. The experiments were performed for wavelengths between 410 nm and 930 nm. The experimental results were compared with different mixing models for the complex refractive index of colloidal suspensions. The group index linearly scaled with the volume fraction both in experiment and for all tested models. It was found that the GVD has a nonlinear dependence on volume fraction in agreement with the coupled dipole model of Parolaet al.[J. Chem. Phys.141,124902(2014)JCPSA60021-960610.1063/1.4895961] The scattering attenuation is in good agreement with both the coupled dipole model and the low frequency quasi-crystalline approximation [J. Electromagn. Waves Appl.2,757(1988)JEWAE50920-507110.1163/156939388X00053] that take particle correlations into account. With an iterative fitting procedure of all the data based on both the coupled dipole model and the quasi-crystalline approximation, the refractive index, porosity, and size of the nanoparticles were determined. We determined that the coupled dipole model is in best agreement with the data.
Optical characterization of mass-productive metal-insulator-metal plasmonic waveguide with a linear taper for nanofocusing
Authors: Wongpanya Kruawan , Pijitrojana Wanchai
Published: December 2023

This paper conducts an experimental evaluation of the optical properties of mass-productive metal-insulator-metal linear taper waveguides for nanofocusing. The vertical linear tapers, with controlled angles in the 12-51 degrees range, were realized with dry etching and mixed gas, while tip-thickness was precisely controlled with atomic layer deposition. The transmission efficiency of the linear taper was measured employing an input grating and a single output slit. The maximum transmission efficiency was estimated at 64% at a taper angle of 30 degrees, which aligned with the calculations. This experimental evaluation provides guidance for the design of practical nanofocusing components.
Ring geometric effect on the performance of AlGaN-based deep-ultraviolet light-emitting diodes
Authors: Zhao Jie , Li Qixin , Tan Qilong , Liang Tianhong , Zhou Wen , Liu Ningyang , Chen Zhitao
Published: December 2023

In this study, we fabricated and characterized various parallel flip-chip AlGaN-based deep-ultraviolet (DUV) micro-ring LEDs, including changes in ring dimensions as well as the p-GaN-removed region widths at the outer micro-ring, respectively (PRM LEDs). It is revealed that the LED chips with smaller mesa withstand higher current density and deliver considerably higher light output power density (LOPD), under the same proportion of the hole to the entire mesa column (before it is etched into ring) within the limits of dimensions. However, as the ring-shaped mesa decreases, the LOPD begins to decline because of etching damage. Subsequently, at the same external diameter, the optical performance of micro-ring LEDs with varied internal diameters is studied. Meanwhile, the influence of different structures on light extraction efficiency (LEE) is studied by employing a two-dimensional (2D)-finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. In addition, the expand of the p-GaN-removed region at the outer micro-ring as well as the corresponding effective light emission region have some influence to LOPD. The PRM-23 LED (with an external diameter of 90 µm, an internal diameter of 22 µm, and a p-GaN-removed region width of 8 µm) has an LOPD of 53.36 W/cm2 with a current density of 650 A/cm2, and an external quantum efficiency (EQE) of 6.17% at 5 A/cm2. These experimental observations provide a comprehensive understanding of the optical and electrical performance of DUV micro-LEDs for future applications.
Fast data processing method for multispectral radiation thermometry based on Euclidean distance optimization
Authors: Zhang Kaihua , He Yinxin , Yu Kun , Liu Yufang
Published: December 2023

This study presents a fast and accurate data processing method for multispectral radiation thermometry that can accurately measure the true temperature of steel materials without requiring a priori emissivity model. The method generates a temperature matrix by inputting emissivity values at different wavelengths and selects a reference vector from the matrix. Then, it rearranges the temperature matrices at other wavelengths and calculates the Euclidean distance between each column element of the rearranged matrix and the reference vector. The method uses an unconstrained optimization technique to minimize the Euclidean distance and obtain the true temperature and emissivity of the object simultaneously. We evaluate the performance of the method by simulation and experiment in the response band of 1.4 ∼ 2.5 µm and temperature range of 873 ∼ 1173 K. The simulation results indicate that the relative error of the inverted temperature is within 0.229%, and the average computation time is less than 112.301 ms. The experimental results show that the maximum temperature error during the measurement process is 0.813%. Our method provides a feasible and efficient solution for real-time temperature measurement of steel materials.
Bimodal optical and optoacoustic multiview microscope in the frequency-domain
Authors: Mylonakis Mikis , Tserevelakis George J. , Vlachos Georgios , Fanouraki Eleftheria , Pavlopoulos Anastasios , Pavlidis Michalis , Zacharakis Giannis
Published: December 2023

Hybrid fluorescence and optoacoustic microscopy systems have recently emerged as powerful imaging modalities concurrently capturing both radiative and non-radiative molecular relaxations in biological tissues. Nevertheless, such approaches provide limited information as specimens are imaged exclusively from one side, not permitting the acquisition of their full anatomical, structural, or functional features in multiple views of interest. Herein we present a bimodal optical and optoacoustic multiview (BOOM) cost-efficient microscope operating in the frequency-domain for the comprehensive label-free imaging of established and emerging model organisms. Thus, the capabilities of BOOM microscopy have been proven suitable for highly demanding observations in developmental biology and embryology.
Phenotypes and rates of cancer-relevant symptoms and tests in the year before cancer diagnosis in UK Biobank and CPRD Gold
Authors: Barclay Matthew , Renzi Cristina , Antoniou Antonis , Denaxas Spiros , Harrison Hannah , Ip Samantha , Pashayan Nora , Torralbo Ana , Usher-Smith Juliet , Wood Angela , Lyratzopoulos Georgios
Published: December 2023

Early diagnosis of cancer relies on accurate assessment of cancer risk in patients presenting with symptoms, when screening is not appropriate. But recorded symptoms in cancer patients pre-diagnosis may vary between different sources of electronic health records (EHRs), either genuinely or due to differential completeness of symptom recording. To assess possible differences, we analysed primary care EHRs in the year pre-diagnosis of cancer in UK Biobank and Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) populations linked to cancer registry data. We developed harmonised phenotypes in Read v2 and CTV3 coding systems for 21 symptoms and eight blood tests relevant to cancer diagnosis. Among 22,601 CPRD and 11,594 UK Biobank cancer patients, 54% and 36%, respectively, had at least one consultation for possible cancer symptoms recorded in the year before their diagnosis. Adjusted comparisons between datasets were made using multivariable Poisson models, comparing rates of symptoms/tests in CPRD against expected rates if cancer site-age-sex-deprivation associations were the same as in UK Biobank. UK Biobank cancer patients compared with those in CPRD had lower rates of consultation for possible cancer symptoms [RR: 0.61 (0.59–0.63)], and lower rates for any primary care consultation [RR: 0.86 (95%CI 0.85–0.87)]. Differences were larger for ‘non-alarm’ symptoms [RR: 0.54 (0.52–0.56)], and smaller for ‘alarm’ symptoms [RR: 0.80 (0.76–0.84)] and blood tests [RR: 0.93 (0.90–0.95)]. In the CPRD cohort, approximately representative of the UK population, half of cancer patients had recorded symptoms in the year before diagnosis. The frequency of non-specific presenting symptoms recorded in the year pre-diagnosis of cancer was substantially lower among UK Biobank participants. The degree to which results based on highly selected biobank cohorts are generalisable needs to be examined in disease-specific contexts.
Facing the escalating burden of dengue: Challenges and perspectives
Authors: Malavige Gathsaurie Neelika , Sjö Peter , Singh Kavita , Piedagnel Jean-Michel , Mowbray Charles , Estani Sergio , Lim Steven Chee Loon , Siquierra Andre M. , Ogg Graham S. , Fraisse Laurent , Ribeiro Isabela
Published: December 2023

Dengue is the most rapidly emerging mosquito-borne infection and, due to climate change and unplanned urbanization, it is predicted that the global burden of dengue will rise further as the infection spreads to new geographical locations. Dengue-endemic countries are often unable to cope with such increases, with health care facilities becoming overwhelmed during each dengue season. Furthermore, although dengue has been predominantly a childhood illness in the past, it currently mostly affects adults in many countries, with higher incidence of severe disease and mortality rates in pregnant women and in those with comorbidities. As there is currently no specific treatment for dengue and no early biomarker to identify those who will progress to develop vascular leakage, all individuals with dengue are closely monitored in case they need fluid management. Furthermore, diagnosing patients with acute dengue is challenging due to the similarity of clinical symptoms during early illness and poor sensitivity and specificity of point-of-care diagnostic tests. Novel vector control methods, such as the release of Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes, have shown promising results by reducing vector density and dengue incidence in clinical trial settings. A new dengue vaccine, TAK-003, had an efficacy of 61.2% against virologically confirmed dengue, 84.1% efficacy against hospitalizations and a 70% efficacy against development of dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) at 54 months. While vaccines and mosquito control methods are welcome, they alone are unlikely to fully reduce the burden of dengue, and a treatment for dengue is therefore essential. Several novel antiviral drugs are currently being evaluated along with drugs that inhibit host mediators, such as mast cell products. Although viral proteins such as NS1 contribute to the vascular leak observed in severe dengue, the host immune response to the viral infection also plays a significant role in progression to severe disease. There is an urgent need to discover safe and effective treatments for dengue to prevent disease progression.
Potent efficiency of the novel nitazoxanide-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers against experimental cyclosporiasis
Authors: Hagras Nancy Abd-elkader , Makled Shaimaa , Sheta Eman , El-hawary Mohamed Ali , Mogahed Nermine Mogahed Fawzy Hussein
Published: December 2023

Cyclosporiasis is a ubiquitous infection caused by an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite known as Cyclospora cayetanensis (C. cayetanensis). The disease is characterized by severe diarrhea which may be regrettably fatal in immunosuppressed patients. The commercially available treatment options have either severe side effects or low efficiency. In the present study, the novel formula of nitazoxanide (NTZ)-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) was assessed for the first time for C. cayetanensis treatment in both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed mice in comparison to commercially available drugs (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) and NTZ). Swiss Albino mice were orally infected by 104 sporulated oocysts. The experimental groups were treated with the gold standard TMP-SMX, NTZ, blank NLCs and NTZ-loaded NLCs. The results demonstrated that NTZ-loaded NLCs represented the highest significant parasite percent reduction of (>98% reduction) in both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed mice designating successful tissue penetration and avoiding recurrence of infection at the end of the study. Oocysts treated with NTZ-loaded NLCs demonstrated the most mutilated rapturing morphology via scanning electron microscope examination as well as representing the most profound improvement of the histopathological picture. In conclusion, NTZ-loaded NLCs exhibited the uppermost efficacy in the treatment of cyclosporiasis. The safe nature and the anti-parasitic effect of the novel formulation encourage its use as a powerful treatment for human cyclosporiasis.
High prevalence of active trachoma and associated factors among school-aged children in Southwest Ethiopia
Authors: Getachew Dawit , Woldekidan Fekede , Ayele Gizachew , Bekele Yordanos , Sleshi Samrawit , Tekalgn Eyob , Worku Teshale , Ayenew Mengistu , Bogale Biruk , Asres Abyot
Published: December 2023

Background

Active trachoma is a highly contagious ongoing stage of trachoma that predominantly occurs during childhood in an endemic area. This study assessed the prevalence and factors associated with active trachoma among school-aged children.

Methodology/Principal findings

A community-based analytical cross-sectional study was done from March 1st to June 30th, 2021, in Southwest Ethiopia’s people’s regional state. A total of 1292 school-aged children were surveyed. The quantitative data were collected using a pre-tested, structured interview-based questionnaire and observation check list. The World health organization (WHO) simplified trachoma grading system was used to assess stages of trachoma. In this study, the prevalence of active trachoma was 570(44.1%), 95% CI (41.4, 46.9). Also, age group 6–10; being female; flies at household (HH), flies on child’s face, improved water source, improved sanitation, presence of ocular discharge, presence of nasal discharge, and unclean faces of the child were significantly associated with active trachoma.

Conclusions/Significance

The very high prevalence of active trachoma in the study area is significantly associated with; age group 6–10, female gender, presence of flies in household and on child’s face, presence of ocular and nasal discharge, unclean faces, improved water source, improved sanitation in the household. Thus, environmental sanitation and facial cleans trachoma elimination strategy should be intensified in the study area.
Family caregiver perspectives on strengths and challenges in the care of pediatric injury patients at a tertiary referral hospital in Northern Tanzania
Authors: Keating Elizabeth M. , Sakita Francis , Vonderohe Maddy , Nkini Getrude , Amiri Ismail , Loutzenheiser Kelly , Young Bryan , Rent Sharla , Staton Catherine A. , Mmbaga Blandina T. , Watt Melissa H.
Published: December 2023

Background

Pediatric injuries are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It is important that injured children get quality care in order to improve their outcomes. Injured children are nearly always accompanied by family member caregivers invested in their outcome, and who will be responsible for their recovery and rehabilitation after discharge.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to identify family member caregiver perspectives on strengths and challenges in pediatric injury care throughout hospitalization at a tertiary hospital in Northern Tanzania.

Methods

This study was conducted at a zonal referral hospital in Northern Tanzania. Qualitative semi-structured in-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted by trained interviewers who were fluent in English and Swahili in order to examine the strengths and challenges in pediatric injury care. IDIs were completed from November 2020 to October 2021 with 30 family member caregivers of admitted pediatric injured patients. De-identified transcripts were synthesized in memos and analyzed through a team-based, thematic approach informed by applied thematic analysis.

Results

Strengths and challenges were identified throughout the hospital experience, including emergency medicine department (EMD) care, inpatient wards care, and discharge. Across the three phases, strengths were identified such as how quickly patients were evaluated and treated, professionalism and communication between healthcare providers, attentive nursing care, frequent re-evaluation of a patient’s condition, and open discussion with caregivers about readiness for discharge. Challenges identified related to lack of communication with caregivers, perceived inability of caregivers to ask questions, healthcare providers speaking in English during rounds with lack of interpretation into the caregivers’ preferred language, and being sent home without instructions for rehabilitation, ongoing care, or guidance for follow-up.

Conclusion

Caregiver perspectives highlighted strengths and challenges throughout the hospital experience that could lead to interventions to improve the care of pediatric injury patients in Northern Tanzania. These interventions include prioritizing communication with caregivers about patient status and care plan, ensuring all direct communication is in the caregivers’ preferred language, and standardizing instructions regarding discharge and follow-up.
Association of intrauterine synechiae with pituitary gonadotrophin pulse patterns: A pilot study
Authors: Gianfaldoni Arlete , Roa Cristiane , dos Santos Simões Ricardo , Baracat Maria Cândida P. , Maggio da Fonseca Angela , Bagnoli Vicente Renato , Sopreso Isabel Cristina Espósito , Silva Rivas Fernando Wladimir , Monteleone Pedro , Baracat Edmund C. , Soares Júnior José Maria
Published: December 2023

Background

Intrauterine synechiae (IS) is an acquired uterine condition that occurs when scar tissues (adhesions) form within the uterus and/or cervix, causing menstrual disturbance. However, approximately 50% of patients with IS are refractory to treatment. Therefore, other endocrine disturbances, such as gonadotropin disturbance, may affect treatment success.

Study aim

To analyze gonadotropin levels in women with and without IS.

Methods

Ten women with refractory IS experiencing amenorrhea since at least 6 months and nine with normal menstrual cycles (control group) were included in this study. Blood sample were collected every 10 minutes during a 4-h period. The serial ultrasound was performed in both groups for evaluating the cycle phase. Blood was collected when the follicles size was between 5–10 mm. Serum LH, FSH, progesterone and estradiol concentrations were measured. To detect LH and FSH pulses, the technique proposed by Santen and Bardin was adopted; therefore, one pulse was defined as a 20% increase in the concentrations as to the preceding point, followed by an important decrease.

Results

No differences were observed between the study groups at baseline. Estradiol levels were lower in the IS group than in the control group, but the difference was not statistically significant. During the first hour of monitoring, cumulative FSH pulsatile frequency of IS group was lower than one of control.

Conclusion

Our data suggest that the estradiol levels of IS participants are lower than those of women with normal menstrual cycle. The role of this finding in the physiology of uterine synechiae requires further investigation.
Can network attention effectively stimulate corporate ESG practices?—Evidence from China
Authors: Xie En , Cao Shuang
Published: December 2023

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) has emerged as a widespread concern for all societal segments. This study aims to explore the influence of network attention on corporate ESG practices from an investor perspective. We find that rising network attention significantly increases corporate ESG practices. Specifically, network attention plays the role of external monitoring, image promotion incentives, and mitigation of financing constraints to make companies willing to challenge ESG practices. Additionally, the promoting effect of network attention on firms’ ESG practices was more significant in higher marketization processes, severely competitive industries, and non-state enterprises. In the internet era, companies must pay attention to the flow effect caused by network attention, meet stakeholder demands, and pursue long-term sustainable development.
Emotional exhaustion and traumatic stress among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: Longitudinal changes and protective factors
Authors: Spányik András , Simon Dávid , Rigó Adrien , Griffiths Mark D. , Demetrovics Zsolt
Published: December 2023

Background

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk of experiencing work-related stress, burnout syndrome, and depression, especially during infectious disease outbreaks like COVID-19. Contributing factors include increased workload, lack of personal protective equipment, and inadequate support from the healthcare administration. Longitudinal studies have shown that the mental health status of HCWs has deteriorated over time. Social support and compassion satisfaction (CS) are protective factors that can mitigate adverse mental health effects. The present longitudinal study examined the mental health status of HCWs during the COVID-19 outbreak and aimed to identify potential predictors and protective factors.

Methods

The study comprised 386 healthcare workers in Hungary and was conducted in two waves (T1 and T2) from January 2021 to January 2022. Participants completed an online survey including the Professional Quality of Life Scale, Maslach Burnout Inventory, demographic and work-related background factors. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, and a cross-lagged panel model (CLPM).

Results

Frontline HCWs had higher levels of secondary traumatic stress (STS) and emotional exhaustion (EE) than non-frontline healthcare workers. Both groups experienced significant increases in these measures between T1 and T2. The CLPM indicated that EE had a significant lagged effect on STS among frontline workers, while STS had a significant lagged effect on EE among non-frontline workers. CS had a significant protective effect on both STS and EE in both groups.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that CS protects EE and STS, particularly among frontline HCWs. The study also showed that different causative relationships exist between these factors among frontline and non-frontline HCWs, which underlines the possible cyclical relationship between the two depending on the circumstances. The results provide insights into the protective role of positive work experiences and the importance of considering the needs of both frontline and non-frontline HCWs in preventive intervention programs.