bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kernel-attentive weight modulation memory network for optical blur kernel-aware image super-resolution
Authors: Yun Jun-Seok , Bong Yoo Seok
Published: April 2023

Recently, imaging systems have exhibited remarkable image restoration performance through optimized optical systems and deep-learning-based models. Despite advancements in optical systems and models, severe performance degradation occurs when the predefined optical blur kernel differs from the actual kernel while restoring and upscaling the images. This is because super-resolution (SR) models assume that a blur kernel is predefined and known. To address this problem, various lenses could be stacked, and the SR model could be trained with all available optical blur kernels. However, infinite optical blur kernels exist in reality; thus, this task requires the complexity of the lens, substantial model training time, and hardware overhead. To resolve this issue by focusing on the SR models, we propose a kernel-attentive weight modulation memory network by adaptively modulating SR weights according to the shape of the optical blur kernel. The modulation layers are incorporated into the SR architecture and dynamically modulate the weights according to the blur level. Extensive experiments reveal that the proposed method improves peak signal-to-noise ratio performance, with an average gain of 0.83 dB for blurred and downsampled images. An experiment with a real-world blur dataset demonstrates that the proposed method can handle real-world scenarios.
Fiber Bragg gratings inscribed in nanobore fibers
Authors: Xiong Cong , Jiang Wei , Wang Caoyuan , Yu Ruowei , He Jun , Chen Runxiao , Li Xuan , Ying Kang , Cai Haiwen , Liu Aiqun , Xiao Limin
Published: April 2023

The nanobore fiber (NBF) is a promising nanoscale optofluidic platform due to its long nanochannel and unique optical properties. However, so far, the applications of NBF have been based only on its original fiber geometry without any extra functionalities, in contrast with various telecom fiber devices, which may limit its wide applications. Here, we provide the first, to the best of our knowledge, demonstration of NBF-based fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) introduced by either the femtosecond (fs) laser direct writing technique or the ultraviolet (UV) laser phase mask technique. Moreover, the FBG fabricated via the UV laser was optimized, achieving a high reflectivity of 96.89% and simultaneously preserving the open nanochannel. The NBF-based FBGs were characterized in terms of temperature variation and the infiltration of different liquids, and they showed high potential for nanofluidic applications.
Experimental measurement of the geometric phase of non-geodesic circles
Authors: Voitiv Andrew A. , Lusk Mark T. , Siemens Mark E.
Published: April 2023

We present and implement a method for the experimental measurement of geometric phase of non-geodesic (small) circles on any SU(2) parameter space. This phase is measured by subtracting the dynamic phase contribution from the total phase accumulated. Our design does not require theoretical anticipation of this dynamic phase value and the methods are generally applicable to any system accessible to interferometric and projection measurements. Experimental implementations are presented for two settings: (1) the sphere of modes of orbital angular momentum, and (2) the Poincaré sphere of polarizations of Gaussian beams.
Intra-cavity laser-assisted solar-energy conversion
Authors: Jiménez Ignacio , Wallentowitz Sascha , Seifert Birger , Volkmann Ulrich , Díaz-Droguett Donovan , Cabrera A.L. , Gence Loïk
Published: April 2023

It is shown how to efficiently convert solar into electrical energy,
taking advantage of laser amplification and intra-cavity use of a
low-efficiency converter. The latter may consist of a low-efficiency
transparent photovoltaic cell or a thermoelectric cell integrated
into a metallic laser-cavity mirror, constituting a minor intra-cavity
loss for the laser operation. The overall power conversion efficiency
is derived and discussed for a variety of current solid-state laser materials. It is shown that power conversion efficiencies comparable with commercial silicon photovoltaic cells are obtained with current standard laser materials.
Mid-Infrared Difference-Frequency Generation in AlGaAs-on-Insulator Waveguides
Authors: Madsen Magnus , Ulsig Emil , Godoy Pedro , Folsach Sebastian , Stanton Eric , Volet Nicolas
Published: April 2023

A design study is presented for
difference-frequency generation (DFG)
to the mid-infrared (MIR) at 2.3 \textmu m
in AlGaAs waveguides heterogeneously integrated on silicon. Perfect phase matching (PhM) is achieved in simulations by engineering the dimensions of the waveguide and by tuning the wavelengths of the input sources. An optimal design of the waveguide is found with a width of 1196 nm and a height of 146 nm with a length of about 5 mm. We expect a signal output power of about 1 mW at 2389 nm and a wavelength range from 2231 nm to 2574 nm by the use of tunable sources around 940 nm and 1550 nm. The tolerance of the input wavelengths and waveguide dimensions required for perfect PhM is also estimated showing the feasibility of the fabrication. This offers a promising design for a compact MIR source on a chip to be used for gas sensing, in particular for carbon monoxide (CO) and ammonia (NH$_3$), and for DFG of single photons to the C-band.
Towards optimum Franson interference recurrence in mode-locked singly-filtered biphoton frequency combs
Authors: Chang Kai-Chi , Cheng Xiang , Sarihan Murat Can , Wong Chee Wei
Published: April 2023

Mode-locked biphoton frequency combs exhibit multiple discrete comblike temporal correlations from the Fourier transform of its phase-coherent frequency spectrum. Both temporal correlation and Franson interferometry are valuable tools for analyzing the joint properties of biphoton frequency combs, and the latter has proven to be essential for testing the fundamental quantum nature, the time-energy entanglement distribution, and the large-alphabet quantum key distributions. However, the Franson recurrence interference visibility in biphoton frequency combs unavoidably experiences a falloff that deteriorates the quality of time-energy entanglement and channel capacity for longer cavity round trips. In this paper, we provide a new method to address this problem towards optimum Franson interference recurrence. We first observe mode-locked temporal oscillations in a 5.03 GHz free-spectral range singly filtered biphoton frequency comb using only commercial detectors. Then, we observe similar falloff trend of time-energy entanglement in 15.15 GHz and 5.03 GHz free-spectral range singly filtered biphoton frequency combs, whereas, the optimum central time-bin accidental-subtracted visibility over 97% for both cavities. Here, we find that by increasing the cavity finesse F, we can enhance the detection probability in temporal correlations and towards optimum Franson interference recurrence in our singly filtered biphoton frequency combs. For the first time, via a higher cavity finesse F of 45.92 with a 15.11 GHz free-spectral range singly filtered biphoton frequency comb, we present an experimental ≈3.13-fold improvement of the Franson visibility compared to the Franson visibility with a cavity finesse F of 11.14 at the sixth time bin. Near optimum Franson interference recurrence and a time-bin Schmidt number near 16 effective modes in similar free-spectral range cavity are predicted with a finesse F of 200. Our configuration is versatile and robust against changes in cavity parameters that can be designed for various quantum applications, such as high-dimensional time-energy entanglement distributions, high-dimensional quantum key distributions, and wavelength-multiplexed quantum networks.
Monocular deprivation during the critical period alters neuronal tuning and the composition of visual circuitry
Authors: Brown Thomas C. , McGee Aaron W.
Published: April 2023

Abnormal visual experience during a developmental critical period degrades cortical responsiveness. Yet how experience-dependent plasticity alters the response properties of individual neurons and composition of visual circuitry is unclear. Here, we measured with calcium imaging in alert mice how monocular deprivation (MD) during the developmental critical period affects tuning for binocularity, orientation, and spatial frequency for neurons in primary visual cortex. MD of the contralateral eye did not uniformly shift ocular dominance (OD) of neurons towards the fellow ipsilateral eye but reduced the number of monocular contralateral neurons and increased the number of monocular ipsilateral neurons. MD also impaired matching of preferred orientation for binocular neurons and reduced the percentage of neurons responsive at most spatial frequencies for the deprived contralateral eye. Tracking the tuning properties for several hundred neurons before and after MD revealed that the shift in OD is complex and dynamic, with many previously monocular neurons becoming binocular and binocular neurons becoming monocular. Binocular neurons that became monocular were more likely to lose responsiveness to the deprived contralateral eye if they were better matched for orientation prior to deprivation. In addition, the composition of visual circuitry changed as population of neurons more responsive to the deprived eye were exchanged for neurons with tuning properties more similar to the network of responsive neurons altered by MD. Thus, plasticity during the critical period adapts to recent experience by both altering the tuning of responsive neurons and recruiting neurons with matching tuning properties.
Minor variations in multicellular life cycles have major effects on adaptation
Authors: Isaksson Hanna , Brännström Åke , Libby Eric
Published: April 2023

Multicellularity has evolved several independent times over the past hundreds of millions of years and given rise to a wide diversity of complex life. Recent studies have found that large differences in the fundamental structure of early multicellular life cycles can affect fitness and influence multicellular adaptation. Yet, there is an underlying assumption that at some scale or categorization multicellular life cycles are similar in terms of their adaptive potential. Here, we consider this possibility by exploring adaptation in a class of simple multicellular life cycles of filamentous organisms that only differ in one respect, how many daughter filaments are produced. We use mathematical models and evolutionary simulations to show that despite the similarities, qualitatively different mutations fix. In particular, we find that mutations with a tradeoff between cell growth and group survival, i.e. “selfish” or “altruistic” traits, spread differently. Specifically, altruistic mutations more readily spread in life cycles that produce few daughters while in life cycles producing many daughters either type of mutation can spread depending on the environment. Our results show that subtle changes in multicellular life cycles can fundamentally alter adaptation.
The functional logic of odor information processing in the Drosophila antennal lobe
Authors: Lazar Aurel A. , Liu Tingkai , Yeh Chung-Heng
Published: April 2023

Recent advances in molecular transduction of odorants in the Olfactory Sensory Neurons (OSNs) of theDrosophilaAntenna have shown that theodorant object identityis multiplicatively coupled with theodorant concentration waveform. The resulting combinatorial neural code is a confounding representation of odorant semantic information (identity) and syntactic information (concentration). To distill the functional logic of odor information processing in the Antennal Lobe (AL) a number of challenges need to be addressed including 1) how is the odorantsemantic informationdecoupled from thesyntactic informationat the level of the AL, 2) how are these two information streams processed by the diverse AL Local Neurons (LNs) and 3) what is the end-to-end functional logic of the AL?

By analyzing single-channel physiology recordings at the output of the AL, we found that the Projection Neuron responses can be decomposed into aconcentration-invariantcomponent, and two transient components boosting the positive/negative concentration contrast that indicate onset/offset timing information of the odorant object. We hypothesized that the concentration-invariant component, in the multi-channel context, is the recovered odorant identity vector presented between onset/offset timing events.

We developed a model of LN pathways in the Antennal Lobe termed the differential Divisive Normalization Processors (DNPs), which robustly extract thesemantics(the identity of the odorant object) and the ON/OFF semantic timing events indicating the presence/absence of an odorant object. For real-time processing with spiking PN models, we showed that the phase-space of the biological spike generator of the PN offers an intuit perspective for the representation of recovered odorant semantics and examined the dynamics induced by the odorant semantic timing events. Finally, we provided theoretical and computational evidence for the functional logic of the AL as a robustON-OFF odorant object identity recovery processoracross odorant identities, concentration amplitudes and waveform profiles.
Bioinspired figure-ground discrimination via visual motion smoothing
Authors: Wu Zhihua , Guo Aike
Published: April 2023

Flies detect and track moving targets among visual clutter, and this process mainly relies on visual motion. Visual motion is analyzed or computed with the pathway from the retina to T4/T5 cells. The computation of local directional motion was formulated as an elementary movement detector (EMD) model more than half a century ago. Solving target detection or figure-ground discrimination problems can be equivalent to extracting boundaries between a target and the background based on the motion discontinuities in the output of a retinotopic array of EMDs. Individual EMDs cannot measure true velocities, however, due to their sensitivity to pattern properties such as luminance contrast and spatial frequency content. It remains unclear how local directional motion signals are further integrated to enable figure-ground discrimination. Here, we present a computational model inspired by fly motion vision. Simulations suggest that the heavily fluctuating output of an EMD array is naturally surmounted by a lobula network, which is hypothesized to be downstream of the local motion detectors and have parallel pathways with distinct directional selectivity. The lobula network carries out a spatiotemporal smoothing operation for visual motion, especially across time, enabling the segmentation of moving figures from the background. The model qualitatively reproduces experimental observations in the visually evoked response characteristics of one type of lobula columnar (LC) cell. The model is further shown to be robust to natural scene variability. Our results suggest that the lobula is involved in local motion-based target detection.
The prevalence and risk factors associated with Iron, vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies in pregnant women: A cross-sectional study in Mbeya, Tanzania
Authors: John Sauli E. , Azizi Kaunara , Hancy Adam , Twin’omujuni Abela , Katana Doris , Shine Julieth , Lyatuu Vumilia , Sanga Abraham , Mwiru Ramadhani S. , Abdallah Fatma , Mchau Geofrey , Lukindo Tedson , Kamala Analice , Codjia Patrick , Leyna Germana H. , Masumo Ray M.
Published: April 2023

Maternal nutrition is an important forecaster of infant’s and mother’s health status in most developing countries. This study aimed at assessing the prevalence and associated risk factors of iron, vitamin B12, and folate deficiencies among pregnant women in Mbeya Tanzania. A cross-sectional study using a cluster randomized sampling was conducted among 420 pregnant women. A structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and dietary assessment. Body iron store was assessed using serum ferritin measured by immunoturbidimetric assays using a Roche Cobas 400+ biochemistry analyzer. Serum folate was measured by folate microbiological assay, while serum vitamin B12 was measured by immunochemiluminescence assay using a Roche Cobas e411 immunoassay analyzer. Multivariate analysis was performed using Poisson regression. The prevalence of iron, folate, and vitamin B12 deficiencies among pregnant women in Mbeya was 37.8%, 24.0%, and 9.7% respectively. Higher odds of iron deficiency were seen in pregnant women aged 20–24 years older [Adjusted OR = 1.20 (95%CI 1.03, 1.35)], not employed [Adjusted OR = 3.0(95%CI 1.03–1.77)] and, not received iron/folic acid supplementation [Adjusted OR = 1.11 (95%CI 1.003–1.23)]. Pregnant women with highest and middle socio-economic statuses had lower odds of vitamin B12 deficiency [Adjusted OR = 0.83 (95%CI 0.76–0.92)] and [Adjusted OR = 0.89 (95%CI 0.81–0.98)] respectively. Pregnant women who were not employed, not received iron and folic acid supplement during pregnancy and, not consumed edible vegetable cooking oil had significant higher odds of serum folate deficiency [Adjusted OR = 3.0 (95%CI 1.58–5.68)], [Adjusted OR = 1.53 (95%CI 1.21–1.93)] and, [Adjusted OR = 2.77 (1.03–7.44)] respectively. This study confirms that iron, folate and vitamin B12 deficiencies are still a major challenge among pregnant women in Tanzania. We recommend for public health interventions for the provision of vitamin B12 along with iron and folic acid supplementations, especially in pregnant women belong to low socio-economic status and limited knowledge of healthy diet.
The burden of premature mortality from cardiovascular diseases: A systematic review of years of life lost
Authors: Rodzlan Hasani Wan Shakira , Muhamad Nor Asiah , Hanis Tengku Muhammad , Maamor Nur Hasnah , Wee Chen Xin , Omar Mohd Azahadi , Ganapathy Shubash Shander , Abdul Karim Zulkarnain , Musa Kamarul Imran
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Premature mortality refers to deaths that occur before the expected age of death in a given population. Years of life lost (YLL) is a standard parameter that is frequently used to quantify some component of an "avoidable" mortality burden.

Objective

To identify the studies on premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality and synthesise their findings on YLL based on the regional area, main CVD types, sex, and study time.

Method

We conducted a systematic review of published CVD mortality studies that reported YLL as an indicator for premature mortality measurement. A literature search for eligible studies was conducted in five electronic databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science (WoS), and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL). The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of the included studies. The synthesis of YLL was grouped into years of potential life lost (YPLL) and standard expected years of life lost (SEYLL) using descriptive analysis. These subgroups were further divided into WHO (World Health Organization) regions, study time, CVD type, and sex to reduce the effect of heterogeneity between studies.

Results

Forty studies met the inclusion criteria for this review. Of these, 17 studies reported premature CVD mortality using YPLL, and the remaining 23 studies calculated SEYLL. The selected studies represent all WHO regions except for the Eastern Mediterranean. The overall median YPLL and SEYLL rates per 100,000 population were 594.2 and 1357.0, respectively. The YPLL rate and SEYLL rate demonstrated low levels in high-income countries, including Switzerland, Belgium, Spain, Slovenia, the USA, and South Korea, and a high rate in middle-income countries (including Brazil, India, South Africa, and Serbia). Over the past three decades (1990–2022), there has been a slight increase in the YPLL rate and the SEYLL rate for overall CVD and ischemic heart disease but a slight decrease in the SEYLL rate for cerebrovascular disease. The SEYLL rate for overall CVD demonstrated a notable increase in the Western Pacific region, while the European region has experienced a decline and the American region has nearly reached a plateau. In regard to sex, the male showed a higher median YPLL rate and median SEYLL rate than the female, where the rate in males substantially increased after three decades.

Conclusion

Estimates from both the YPLL and SEYLL indicators indicate that premature CVD mortality continues to be a major burden for middle-income countries. The pattern of the YLL rate does not appear to have lessened over the past three decades, particularly for men. It is vitally necessary to develop and execute strategies and activities to lessen this mortality gap.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO CRD42021288415
Tissue-engineered vocal fold replacement in swine: Methods for functional and structural analysis
Authors: Schlegel Patrick , Yan Kenneth , Upadhyaya Sreenivasa , Buyens Wim , Wong Kirsten , Chen Anthony , Faull Kym F. , Al-Hiyari Yazeed , Long Jennifer
Published: April 2023

We have developed a cell-based outer vocal fold replacement (COVR) as a potential therapy to improve voice quality after vocal fold (VF) injury, radiation, or tumor resection. The COVR consists of multipotent human adipose-derived stem cells (hASC) embedded within a three-dimensional fibrin scaffold that resembles vocal fold epithelium and lamina propria layers. Previous work has shown improved wound healing in rabbit studies. In this pilot study in pigs, we sought to develop methods for large animal implantation and phonatory assessment. Feasibility, safety, and structural and functional outcomes of the COVR implant are described. Of eight pigs studied, six animals underwent COVR implantation with harvest between 2 weeks and 6 months. Recovery of laryngeal tissue structure was assessed by vibratory and histologic analyses. Recovery of voice function was assessed by investigating acoustic parameters that were derived specifically for pigs. Results showed improved lamina propria qualities relative to an injured control animal at 6 months. Acoustic parameters reflected voice worsening immediately after surgery as expected; acoustics displayed clear voice recovery in the animal followed for 6 months after COVR. These methods form the basis for a larger-scale long-term pre-clinical safety and efficacy study.
NSSI questionnaires revisited: A data mining approach to shorten the NSSI questionnaires
Authors: Farajzadeh Nacer , Sadeghzadeh Nima
Published: April 2023

Background and objective

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a psychological disorder that the sufferer consciously damages their body tissues, often too severe that requires intensive care medicine. As some individuals hide their NSSI behaviors, other people can only identify them if they catch them while injuring, or via dedicated questionnaires. However, questionnaires are long and tedious to answer, thus the answers might be inconsistent. Hence, in this study for the first time, we abstracted a larger questionnaire (of 662 items in total) to own only 22 items (questions) via data mining techniques. Then, we trained several machine learning algorithms to classify individuals based on their answers into two classes.

Methods

Data from 277 previously-questioned participants is used in several data mining methods to select features (questions) that highly represent NSSI, then 245 different people were asked to participate in an online test to validate those features via machine learning methods.

Results

The highest accuracy and F1 score of the selected features–via the Genetics algorithm–are 80.0% and 74.8% respectively for a Random Forest algorithm. Cronbach’s alpha of the online test (validation on the selected features) is 0.82. Moreover, results suggest that an MLP can classify participants into two classes of NSSI Positive and NSSI Negative with 83.6% accuracy and 83.7% F1-score based on the answers to only 22 questions.

Conclusion

While previously psychologists used many combined questionnaires to see whether someone is involved in NSSI, via various data mining methods, the present study showed that only 22 questions are enough to predict if someone is involved or not. Then different machine learning algorithms were utilized to classify participants based on their NSSI behaviors, among which, an MLP with 10 hidden layers had the best performance.
Maternal infections in pregnancy and the risk of sudden unexpected infant death in the offspring in the U.S., 2011–2015
Authors: Weatherly Maggie , Trivedi Anusua , Chembrolu Ratna , Gupta Sanjana , Ramirez Jan-Marino , Lavista Ferres Juan M. , Anderson Tatiana M. , Mitchell Edwin A.
Published: April 2023

Background

Infection is thought to play a part in some infant deaths. Maternal infection in pregnancy has focused on chlamydia with some reports suggesting an association with sudden unexpected infant death (SUID).

Objectives

We hypothesized that maternal infections in pregnancy are associated with subsequent SUID in their offspring.

Setting

All births in the United States, 2011–2015

Data source

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Birth Cohort Linked Birth-Infant Death Data Files.

Study design

Cohort study, although the data were analysed as a case control study. Cases were infants that died from SUID. Controls were randomly sampled infants that survived their first year of life; approximately 10 controls per SUID case.

Exposures

Chlamydia, gonorrhea and hepatitis C.

Results

There were 19,849,690 live births in the U.S. for the period 2011–2015. There were 37,143 infant deaths of which 17,398 were classified as SUID cases (a rate of 0.86/1000 live births). The proportion of the control mothers with chlamydia was 1.7%, gonorrhea 0.2% and hepatitis C was 0.3%. Chlamydia was present in 3.8% of mothers whose infants subsequently died of SUID compared with 1.7% of controls (unadjusted OR = 2.35, 95% CI = 2.15, 2.56; adjusted OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 0.98, 1.19). Gonorrhea was present in 0.7% of mothers of SUID cases compared with 0.2% of mothers of controls (OR = 3.09, (2.50, 3.79); aOR = 1.20(0.95, 1.49)) and hepatitis C was present in 1.3% of mothers of SUID cases compared with 0.3% of mothers of controls (OR = 4.69 (3.97, 5.52): aOR = 1.80 (1.50, 2.15)).

Conclusions

The marked attenuation of SUID risk after adjustment for a wide variety of socioeconomic and demographic factors suggests the small increase in the risk of SUID of the offspring of mothers with infection with hepatitis C in pregnancy is due to residual confounding.
Status of knowledge, attitude and practice of poststroke dysphagia in neurological nurses in China: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Wang Rui , Song Yuqing , He Yueyue , Long Shiyan , Feng Ling
Published: April 2023

Objectives

To explore the status and related factors of knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of poststroke dysphagia among neurological nurses in China.

Methods

Neurological nurses from 40 tertiary hospitals in Southwest China were invited to complete a survey on the knowledge, attitude, and practice of the nursing of poststroke dysphagia. We used a questionnaire to collect the participants’ information including the basic characteristics and the KAP Questionnaire on poststroke dysphagia in the neurological ward. A sample of 707 participants completed the survey.

Results

The knowledge, attitude, and practice scores for the nursing of poststroke dysphagia were 12.00±4.09, 71.99±11.00, 52.22±9.08, respectively. The total score of knowledge towards the nursing of poststroke dysphagia was significantly different among nurses with different ages, working time of nursing, working time of nursing in neurology, the highest level of education, professional title, position, the method of training, the number of dysphagia-related nursing trainings, the total length of dysphagia nursing training, and the nursing basis of patients with dysphagia. The total score of attitudes towards the nursing of poststroke dysphagia was significantly different among nurses with the way they were trained, and the nursing basis for patients with dysphagia. The total score of practice towards poststroke dysphagia was significantly different among nurses with the number of dysphagia-related nursing trainings, the total length of dysphagia nursing training, the training method, and the basis of nursing patients with dysphagia.

Conclusion

Neurological nurses’ knowledge score in poststroke dysphagia is relatively low, and the knowledge level needs improvement. The attitude and practice score of neurological nurses in dysphagia after stroke was much better than the knowledge score. Managers and nursing researchers should develop and offer effective training for neurological nurses to improve their knowledge, attitude and practice towards poststroke dysphagia, and then improve patients’ health outcomes.
Inhibitory effect of S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine on the basolateral 10-pS Cl- channel in thick ascending limb
Authors: Ye Shiwei , Wu Peng , Gao Zhongxiuzi , Wang Mingyan , Zhou Li , Qi Zhi
Published: April 2023

We have previously reported that L-arginine, a nitric oxide synthase substrate, inhibits the basolateral 10-pS Cl- channel through the cGMP/PKG signaling pathway in the thick ascending limb (TAL). As a NO releasing agent, the effect of S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP) on the channel activity was examined in thick ascending limb of C57BL/6 mice in the present study. SNAP inhibited the basolateral 10-pS Cl- channel in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 value of 6.6 μM. The inhibitory effect of SNAP was abolished not only by NO scavenger (carboxy-PTIO) but also by blockers of soluble guanylate cyclase (ODQ or LY-83583), indicating that the cGMP-dependent signaling pathway is involved. Moreover, the inhibitory effect of SNAP on the channel was strongly attenuated by a protein kinase G (PKG)-specific inhibitor, KT-5823, but not by the PDE2 inhibitor, BAY-60-7550. We concluded that SNAP inhibited the basolateral 10-pS Cl- channels in the TAL through a cGMP/PKG signaling pathway. As the 10-pS Cl- channel is important for regulation of NaCl absorption along the nephron, these data suggest that SNAP might be served as a regulator to prevent high-salt absorption related diseases, such as hypertension.
Does the low-carbon pilot policy improve urban economic resilience? Evidence from China
Authors: Liu Zhiyu
Published: April 2023

Identifying the relationship between carbon neutrality initiatives and its economic impact is crucial in evaluating the cost of low-carbon transition for policy makers. In this paper, a theoretical model is built to discuss the effects of the low-carbon pilot policy in China on urban economic resilience and an empirical test is conducted to examine the relationship using the Heckman two stage model and a panel data of 277 cities from 2004 to 2020. The results show that low-carbon pilot policy significantly enhanced urban economic resilience and the stimulating effect is mainly achieved by motivating technology innovations. In addition, further analysis indicates that low-carbon pilot policy has a more pronounced effect on improving urban economic resilience of cities in the central and western regions than eastern regions. The effect is also more prominent in non-first-tier cities than first-tier cities. The results are robust to placebo test, the Propensity Score Matching Difference-in-Difference test and the test for alternative measure of urban economic resilience. The findings show that the low-carbon pilot policy is consistent with the goal of improving urban economic resilience and technology innovation is the essential pillar of sustainable development.
Collaborative optimization for train stop planning and train timetabling on high-speed railways based on passenger demand
Authors: Li Yawei , Han Baoming , Zhao Peng , Yang Ruixia
Published: April 2023

In recent years, with increasing passenger travel demand, high-speed railways have developed rapidly. The stop planning and timetabling problems are the core contents of high-speed railway transport planning and have important practical significance for improving efficiency of passenger travel and railway operation Dong et al. (2020). This study proposes a collaborative optimization approach that can be divided into two phases. In the first phase, a mixed-integer nonlinear programming model is constructed to obtain a stop plan by minimizing the total passenger travel time. The constraints of passenger origin-destination (OD) demand, train capacity, and stop frequency are considered in the first phase. In the second phase, the train timetable is optimized after the stop plan is obtained. A multiobjective mixed-integer linear optimization model is formulated by minimizing the total train travel time and the deviation between the expected and actual departure times from the origin station for all trains. Multiple types of trains and more refined headways are considered in the timetabling model. Finally, the approach is applied to China’s high-speed railway, and the GUROBI optimizer is used to solve the models in the above two stages. By analyzing the results, the total passenger travel time and train travel time decreased by 2.81% and 3.34% respectively. The proposed method generates a more efficient solution for the railway system.
Effect of new urbanization on cities’ innovation in China: Evidence from a quasi-natural experiment of a comprehensive pilot
Authors: Wang Hana , Qiu Yi
Published: April 2023

Urbanization drives the concentration of innovation elements and knowledge diffusion, which is conducive to enhancing regional innovation capacity. To meet the developmental needs of the new era, China has released the National New Urbanization Plan (2014–2020) to test the effect of this policy on urban innovation. The 2014 comprehensive pilot project of China’s new urbanization strategy is considered a quasi-natural experiment. This study examines relevant data from cities at the prefecture level and above from 2008 to 2019 using DID, PSM-DID, intermediary effect, and other methods. We established an empirical model to investigate the impact of new urbanization pilot policies on urban innovation. The results indicate that the new urbanization pilot policy can significantly promote an increase in urban innovation capacity. The heterogeneity of the impact of new urbanization pilot policies is evident in the improvements to urban grade, region, scale, etc. Regarding function mechanism, new urbanization can promote urban innovation through talent gathering, industrial gathering, income scale, and other effects. This paper posits the importance of summarizing the success of the pilot project of new urbanization and explores new urbanization to promote urban innovation from multiple perspectives. We put forth recommendations based on the experience of different cities to implement an urban innovation differentiation strategy in constructing new urbanization.
Magnitude of optimal access to ANC and its predictors in Ethiopia: Multilevel mixed effect analysis of nationally representative cross-sectional survey
Authors: Negash Wubshet Debebe , Belachew Tadele Biresaw , Fetene Samrawit Mihret , Addis Banchilay , Amare Tsegaw , Kidie Atitegeb Abera , Endawkie Abel , Zegeye Alebachew Ferede , Tamir Tadesse Tarik , Wubante Sisay Maru , Fentie Elsa Awoke , Asmamaw Desale Bihonegn
Published: April 2023

Background

Optimal access to ANC, such as the first ANC visit at first trimester, four or more ANC visits, and skilled health care provider can significantly reduce maternal mortality in an inclusive way. Previous studies conducted in Ethiopia on optimal ANC are restricted to frequencies of ANC visit. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the magnitude of optimal ANC access as a comprehensive way and its predictors among pregnant women in Ethiopia.

Methods

Secondary data source from a recent demographic and health survey was used for analysis. This study includes a weighted sample of 4771 pregnant women. A multilevel mixed-effect binary logistic regression analyses was done to identify both the individual and community level factors. Odds ratio along with the 95% confidence interval was generated to identify the predictors of optimal access to ANC. A p-value less than 0.05 was declared as statistical significant.

Results

In Ethiopia, one in five (20%) pregnant women had optimal access to antenatal care. Regarding the factors at individual level, pregnant women aged 25–34 years [aOR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.23–2.03] and 35–49 years [aOR = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.43–2.89], those who had educated primary [aOR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.33–2.09], secondary and higher [aOR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.15–2.85], Primipara [aOR = 2.45, 95% CI = 1.68–3.59] and multipara [aOR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.11–1.98] had higher odds of accessing optimal ANC. With the community level factors, the odds of optimal access to ANC was higher among pregnant women who lived in urban area [aOR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.33–3.27], whereas, lower odds of optimal ANC access among those pregnant women who reported distance to the health facility as a big problem [aOR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.63–0.96].

Conclusion and recommendation

The study concludes that in Ethiopia, optimal access to ANC was low. The study identified that both individual and community level factors were predictors for optimal ANC access. Therefore, the Ethiopian government should intensify extensive education on ANC in a comprehensive way. Moreover, especial attention from the Ethiopian ministry of health for those women who reported distance as a big problem and for rural resident women is mandatory.
Factors related to changes in visual symptoms after successful photodynamic therapy in central serous chorioretinopathy
Authors: Lee Geun Woo , Kim Yun Young , Choi Kyung Jun , Kang Se Woong
Published: April 2023

To investigate biomarkers related to visual symptom and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improvement after photodynamic therapy (PDT) for central serous chorioretinopathy. This retrospective cross-sectional study involved 42 consecutive eyes, from 42 patients who underwent successful PDT, divided into two groups according to improvement in subjective visual complaints: complete (20 eyes) and incomplete recovery (22 eyes). The clinical characteristics of each group, including central foveal thickness (CFT), foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, and degree of change in signal voiding of the choriocapillaris on optical coherence tomography angiography, were compared. Correlations between best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and baseline clinical features were investigated. At baseline, CFT and FAZ areas showed significant differences between the two groups (all p < 0.05). Multiple binary logistic regression analysis revealed that greater CFT predicted complete recovery from visual complaints (p = 0.002). Reduction or disappearance of signal voiding in the choriocapillaris 6 months post-PDT occurred more frequently in the complete recovery group (p < 0.05). FAZ area before PDT correlated with BCVA before and 6 months after PDT and BCVA improvement during the study period (all p < 0.05). CFT and FAZ area before PDT correlated with completeness of visual symptom recovery after PDT. Smaller FAZ area before PDT correlated with better BCVA before and after treatment.
The structure of a 12-segmented dsRNA reovirus: New insights into capsid stabilization and organization
Authors: Zhang Qinfen , Gao Yuanzhu , Baker Matthew L. , Liu Shanshan , Jia Xudong , Xu Haidong , He Jianguo , Kaelber Jason T. , Weng Shaoping , Jiang Wen
Published: April 2023

Infecting a wide range of hosts, members of Reovirales (formerly Reoviridae) consist of a genome with different numbers of segmented double stranded RNAs (dsRNA) encapsulated by a proteinaceous shell and carry out genome replication and transcription inside the virion. Several cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structures of reoviruses with 9, 10 or 11 segmented dsRNA genomes have revealed insights into genome arrangement and transcription. However, the structure and genome arrangement of 12-segmented Reovirales members remain poorly understood. Using cryo-EM, we determined the structure of mud crab reovirus (MCRV), a 12-segmented dsRNA virus that is a putative member of Reovirales in the non-turreted Sedoreoviridae family, to near-atomic resolutions with icosahedral symmetry (3.1 Å) and without imposing icosahedral symmetry (3.4 Å). These structures revealed the organization of the major capsid proteins in two layers: an outer T = 13 layer consisting of VP12 trimers and unique VP11 clamps, and an inner T = 1 layer consisting of VP3 dimers. Additionally, ten RNA dependent RNA polymerases (RdRp) were well resolved just below the VP3 layer but were offset from the 5-fold axes and arranged with D5 symmetry, which has not previously been seen in other members of Reovirales. The N-termini of VP3 were shown to adopt four unique conformations; two of which anchor the RdRps, while the other two conformations are likely involved in genome organization and capsid stability. Taken together, these structures provide a new level of understanding for capsid stabilization and genome organization of segmented dsRNA viruses.
T. S. Eliot’s Objective Poetics and the Locus of Emotion
Authors:   The T. S. Eliot Society Of Korea, YOON Hyonyung
Published: April 2023

My paper aims to find the locus of emotion in T. S. Eliot’s objective poetics. Eliot is best known as the promulgator of modern poetics of objectivity in contrast to the Romantic conception of poetry emphasizing subjective feelings. Specifically, along with “an objective correlative,” “impersonality,” defined as “escape from emotion” or “escape from personality,” becomes the watchword identifying the objectivity of his poetic theory. The problem is that the subsequent Modernist reception of Eliot’s poetics contains misunderstanding it as if it disregarded the emotional aspect of poetry. But, actually, Eliot affirms emotion and personality as the essential poetic experiences over and over again throughout his essays on poetry. And even in those scholars who have recognized that affirmation, the problem lies, too: they are at a loss, looking on Eliot’s acknowledgment of both personality and impersonality as a contradiction. In an attempt to solve these problems, my thesis has raised and justified the argument that Eliot, in his basic premise, allocates “impersonality” in the sphere of the poetic technique of creation and “personality” or “emotion” in the locus of the poetic content. By finding the locus of emotion in another poetic sphere than the objective technique, my argument has concomitantly clarified that Eliot’s conceptions of personality and impersonality are not contradictory at all but consistent over the critical writings published throughout his career.
Reading Eliot’s Four Quartets: From the Fleshy to the Spiritual World through Recovering Times
Authors:   The T. S. Eliot Society Of Korea, LEE Cheolhee
Published: April 2023

It is very difficult for us to define the main theme of Four Quartets conclusively. Nevertheless, many researchers agree that it is based on Christianity. This paper examines the significance of Christianity, especially redemption from/in time in Four Quartets. Eliot divides time into two categories: fleshy and spiritual world. Surely Eliot emphasizes the former. So he demands that we pay attention to the spiritual, not fleshy, world. Concentrating on the spiritual world, our soul could be away from the fleshy world. The fleshy time is visible and calculable while the spiritual time is invisible and uncalulable. The way that we could go into the spiritual time is to give our own self up and wait with patience and humility. In Four Quartets Eliot profoundly probes the theme through the still point, love, dance, zero summer.
Book review of: Maginn, Paul J.; Anacker, Katrin J. (eds.) (2022): Suburbia in the 21st Century: From Dreamscape to Nightmare?
Authors: Bontje Marco
Published: April 2023

Book review
A new variety of Gymnosporia emarginata (Celastraceae) from the Coromandel Coast of Peninsular India
Authors: Umamaheswari P , Balachandran Natesan , Kumaresan V , Yuvarani K
Published: April 2023

A new variety, Gymnosporia emarginata (Willd.) Thwaites var. coromandelica N.Balach. & P. Umamaheswari (Celastraceae) has been described from Tamil Nadu, India. The diagnostic characters of this variety are: long stamens, ovary immersed in the disc, style sessile and stigma lobes converged. Detailed descriptions, differences in characters between the 2 varieties, ITS based phylogenetic analysis and related images are provided for easy identification.
Identification of bioactive compounds from the ethnomedicinal plant Senna alata (L.) Roxb. (fabaceae) through in vitro and molecular docking analysis against ?-glucosidase enzyme: a diabetic drug target
Authors: Thilak Bhagyasankar , Riyas Chakkinga Thodi , Swapna Thacheril Sukumaran
Published: April 2023

Senna alata (L.) Roxb. belongs to the family Fabaceae, is reported to have traditional use to treat diabetics and is selected for the study. Preliminary phytochemical analysis was carried out in the selected plant, indicating comparatively higher amounts of phenol, flavonoid, tannin and alkaloids in quantification. The antidiabetic activity of the plant was analyzed and the result indicated that the acetone and methanolic extract showed the lowest IC50 values in ?-amylase and ?-glucosidase assays respectively. The methanolic extract, which showed an IC50 (39.977 ?g/ml) value similar to the standard (35.151?g/ml), was selected for HR-LCMS analysis. HR-LCMS analysis indicated compounds that exhibit antidiabetic properties, including rutin, kaempferol, rhein and luteolin in the extract. Molecular docking analysis revealed 5 compounds showing better binding affinity namely 5-methoxyhydnocarpin-D, quercetin 3-rhamnoside-7-glucoside, marimetin, kaempferol and luteolin, than the standard drugs voglibose and acarbose. The present in vitro antidiabetic study against 5NN8 target protein was supported by molecular docking analysis. Therefore, further study of bioactive compounds identified through HR-LC MS can help develop future drug leads. Using such medicinal plants can support the improvement of the healthcare system as they do not have many side effects. S. alata is an important medicinal plant, but at the same time, it has become a weed in different parts of Kerala. Validation of medicinal properties and identification of bioactive molecules can help the sustainable utilization of the plant.