bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rice straw decomposition in paddy surface water potentially reduces soil methane (CH4) emission
Authors: Van Thao Huynh , Oda Masato , Chiem Nguyen Huu
Published: July 2022

Background: Rice cultivation is considered significant methane (CH4) emission source. Rice straw (RS) incorporation into the soil is a critical factor that produces higher CH4 emissions. The RS waterlogging approach on the soil surface potentially reduces CH4 emissions due to increasing RS decomposition in aerobic conditions. However, the hypothesis has not been entirely determined. The study aimed to examine CH4 emissions under RS waterlogging on surface water compared with RS incorporation into the soil.

Methods: We carried out a microcosm experiment in a screen-house with two treatments, including (i) RS incorporation into the soil and (ii) RS waterlogging on the soil surface in triplicates. We compared the CH4 emissions and CH4 accumulation for the off-growing and rice-sowing periods. Yield-scaled CH 4 emission was assessed based on total methane emission and rice yield.

Results: The results demonstrated that RS waterlogging reduced CH4 emissions by 16.9% compared to RS incorporation. During the rice-growing period, total CH4 emissions from RS waterlogging accounted for 36% of the incorporation treatment. Under RS waterlogging, high CH4 emissions during the off-sowing stage were disclosed. The difference between yield-scaled CH4 emissions was not significant.

Conclusions: RS waterlogging is a feasible option to alternate conventional RS incorporation toward lower CH4 emissions from rice production. Ameliorating CH4 emission mitigation by RS waterlogging during off-sowing is recommended for future works.
Epidermal growth factor outperforms placebo in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcer: a meta-analysis
Authors: Rahim Fazal , Yan Xie , Shah Jawad Ali , Bibi Nida , Khan Zafar Ullah , Nawaz Shah , Ming Yao
Published: July 2022

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a life-threatening ailment caused by diabetes. Several growth factors, as well as their various combinations, have shown promising effect in aiding diabetic foot ulcer healing. However, contradictory or paradoxical results are often available, and debates about this issue are ongoing. Therefore, a comprehensive meta-analysis was performed to compare the efficacy and safety of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and placebo in healing diabetic foot ulcers.

Methods: The database search included relevant English literature from Cochrane Library, PubMed, Google Scholar, Elsevier, and EMBASE that was published between 2009 and 2021. Inclusion criteria included type 1 and 2 diabetic patients with foot wounds focusing on complete healing rate. Exclusion criteria included combined therapy, non-human studies, reviews, and protocols. To assess the quality of each study, biases regarding random sequence generation, allocation concealment, participant and personnel blinding, outcome assessment blinding and incomplete outcome data were thoroughly identified.

Results: Eight randomized control trials comprising 620 patients (337 in EGF group, 283 in placebo group), were included in this meta-analysis. EGF achieved a significantly higher complete healing rate than placebo after four weeks of treatment, with relative risk (RR): 3.04 (0.50, 18.44) and heterogeneity (Chi2 = 6.46, df = 2 (P = 0.04) I2 = 69 %). Notably, the healing frequency in the placebo group was 17%, whereas the healing frequency in the epidermal growth factor group was 34%. Likewise, after eight weeks of treatment, the relative risk and heterogeneity were RR: 2.59 (1.42, 4.72) and (Chi2 =7.92, df= 4 (p= 0.09): I2= 49%), respectively. Moreover, the risk ratio at 12 weeks was RR: 1.01 (0.42, 2.46), and heterogeneity was (Chi2 =8.55, df= 2 (p= 0.01): I2= 77%).

Conclusions: Our findings indicate that EGF significantly promotes wound healing, and could be recommended as an effective and safe treatment for DFUs.
Learning from the GP-consultant exchange scheme: a qualitative evaluation
Authors: Aggarwal Pritti , Fraser Adam , Ross Sally , Scallan Samantha
Published: July 2022

Collaborative working across primary and secondary care is crucial to providing high quality patient care. There is still a lack of communication and understanding between primary and secondary care, which can impede collaborative working. The experience of observing colleagues in a different speciality can prompt insight, improve morale and promote collaborative working. The GP-Consultant Exchange Scheme aimed to improve professional understanding, foster deeper partnerships, and ignite opportunities for innovation and/or quality improvement (QI) with co-owned local solutions. This paper gives an overview of how the scheme works and sets out some of the outcomes reported by some 200 Consultants and GPs participants to date. Overall, the participants found the scheme an enjoyable way to reconnect clinicians and allowed them to learn about the challenges faced in different areas within the NHS. This low-cost intervention needs motivated individuals to drive the project forward and make it sustainable, but it can be replicated within any organisation or profession in the NHS.
How does Childhood Family Background Affect Trajectories to Adulthood? Evidence from China
Authors: Wang Dianxi
Published: July 2022

Existing research has found that since the late 1960s, the pathway to adulthood in Western countries has undergone complex changes, but few studies have investigated such changes and the effect of childhood family background on the transition to adulthood within the Chinese context. This study aims to examine the role of childhood family background in the transition to adulthood among Chinese youth born between 1930 and 1979. We identified four clusters of trajectories to adulthood in both the family and occupational domain. In the occupational domain, more than a quarter of respondents fall into the cluster of high studies & non-agricultural employment and in the family domain, nearly one-third of the sample follows the clusters of marriage & one child and staying single longer, reflecting the increasing diversity and delay in transition to adulthood. Parents’ occupations during childhood had a significant effect on both occupational trajectory and family trajectory. Higher occupational status of parents delayed the transition to adulthood, while lower occupational status of parents promoted the transition to adulthood. Family economic status during childhood had a greater effect on occupational trajectories. Young people with worse family financial situations in childhood were more likely to enter the labour market earlier, while those with better family financial situations were more likely to receive long-term education and delay entering the workforce. The mother’s religious belief had a more significant effect on the family life course. Youths with non-religious mothers were more likely to fall into the unmarried or childless cluster. In the Chinese context, the political status of the father played an important role in adult transition. A father’s Communist party membership in childhood was positively correlated with the likelihood that individuals would follow the pattern of trajectory to adulthood characterised by long-term education.
Olympic movement and cancer prevention
Authors: Malchrowicz-Mośko Ewa , Rozmiarek Mateusz
Published: July 2022

The aim of this article was to discuss the issue of kinesiophobia during and after oncological treatment. It highlights the role of the Olympic movement in the field of health promotion and cancer prevention, as well as the role of athletes who have overcame an oncological disease in promoting an active attitude of society towards sport. The attention was paid also to the insufficient number of sports events targeted at onco-patients.
Long-term results of wide local excision with concurrent venous free flap reconstruction in subungual melanoma
Authors: Woo Soo Jin , Ma I Zhen , Kwon Sung Tack , Park Seong Oh , Kim Byung Jun , Hong Ki Yong
Published: July 2022

Purpose: Wide local excision (WLE) has been used as an alternative to amputation for preserving the length of the digit in subungual melanoma (SUM). For reconstruction, a free flap could be a more suitable option than a skin graft or a local flap. We investigated the clinical value of WLE with concurrent venous free flap reconstruction in SUM located on the finger and toe.Methods: Seventeen patients underwent WLE with a concurrent arterialized venous free flap between January 2011 and December 2015. Venous flaps were harvested from the forearm or foot dorsum and inset using a through- or against-valve type.Results: The mean tumor area was 1.3±0.9 cm2, and the mean resection margin was 5.6±2.3 mm. In histologic analyses, the mean tumor thickness was 1.2±1.1 mm. The mean duration of the follow-up period was 75.5 months. Three patients had local recurrence and one patient had distant metastasis. Reconstruction of the fingers and toes using a venous flap was effective and could be performed without major complications. Patients were satisfied with the functional and aesthetic results.Conclusion: WLE provides an acceptable local control rate and offers a safe and conservative alternative for the treatment of SUM of the fingers and toes. Concurrent venous free flaps could be a desirable option for aesthetic and functional reconstruction.
A Robust Spectral Clustering Algorithm for Sub-Gaussian Mixture Models with Outliers
Authors: Srivastava Prateek R. , Sarkar Purnamrita , Hanasusanto Grani A.
Published: July 2022

Traditional clustering algorithms such as k-means and vanilla spectral clustering are known to deteriorate significantly in the presence of outliers. Several previous works in literature have proposed robust variants of these algorithms; however, they do not provide any theoretical guarantees. Extending previous clustering literature on Gaussian mixture models, in their paper “A Robust Spectral Clustering Algorithm for Sub-Gaussian Mixture Models with Outliers,” Prateek R. Srivastava, Purnamrita Sarkar, and Grani A. Hanasusanto developed a new spectral clustering algorithm and provided error bounds for the algorithm under a general sub-Gaussian mixture model setting with outliers. Surprisingly, their derived error bound matches with the best-known bound for semidefinite programs under the same setting without outliers. Numerical experiments on a variety of simulated and real-world data sets further demonstrate that their algorithm is less sensitive to outliers compared with other state-of-the-art algorithms.
‘I love my skin…’ Colourism at four and five – part two
Authors: Kyriacou Eva
Published: July 2022

In part two of her series Eva Kyriacou continues to reflect on her experience of colourism in her setting working with children aged four and five, this time more deeply considering the conversations she had with the children and their families.
A SchemaPlay case study
Authors: Siraj-Blatchford John , Brock Lynnette , Yeoman Diane
Published: July 2022

With the use of a setting case study, this article looks at practitioner training through the lens of ‘schemes’ as the focal point of children's learning and development, and through this promoting the practice of shared pedagogic leadership.
Let's talk bones
Authors: Balderson Denise
Published: July 2022

Early years educator Denise Balderson (@nat.uralobjects on Instagram) shares an exploration of bones
Deposition keratopathy
Authors: Panthagani Jesse , MacDonald Trystan , Bruynseels Alice , Madathilethu Sandra C , Jenyon Thomas
Published: July 2022

Material can be deposited in the cornea as a result of a wide range of systemic and ophthalmic diseases, as well as local and systemic therapies. Causes include local infection or trauma, systemic malignancy, a wide range of medications and a host of genetic and metabolic diseases. Some of these can be acutely life threatening, so generalists caring for both children and adults should have a basic awareness of the pattern and distribution of corneal deposits to facilitate timely diagnosis, investigation, management or onward referral to avoid significant morbidity or mortality. This article outlines causes of corneal deposits found in patients presenting to primary care, ophthalmic clinics or encountered on the wards to help generalists avoid missing serious pathology. It also provides insight into the natural history of underlying causative conditions and their possible treatments.
Investigating the Implementation of Universal Design for Learning in Greek Secondary and Second Chance Schools through Teachers' Reflections Dayle Learning
Authors: Markou Paraskevi , Díaz-Noguera María Dolores
Published: July 2022

In the last decades, the notion of universal design for learning (UDL) has gained prominence in the Greek educational scene (former government plan in education, projects based on UDL). This educational philosophy is essentially a necessary inclusive practice given the new conditions, the extreme heterogeneity of the student population due to socio-political and economic factors, and the exceptional circumstances due to COVID-19 pandemic. The UDL aims to ensure access and equity in learning for all learners despite differentiating characteristics. With our study, we seek to investigate whether teachers in secondary and second chance schools (SCS) are ready to implement UDL, what their expectations are, what obstacles they face, and the results of implementation through their records in reflection journals, a practice that is fully consistent with the context of UDL.
English as a Foreign Language Teachers’ Perceptions of Their Self-Efficacy in Using Instructional Strategies
Authors: Lap Trinh Quoc , Lien Nguyen Thi Hong , Thao Le Thanh
Published: July 2022

This investigation examined English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers’ perceptions of their self-efficacy in using instructional strategies in the context of the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. The research was designed as a descriptive research collecting quantitative and qualitative data from a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. Forty-six Vietnamese EFL teachers were invited to partake in the study. The results indicated that participants were in general confident in using instructional strategies in their English classes. Specifically, the participants were highly confident in their abilities to use multimedia (M=4.41), assessment techniques (M=4.35), and classroom English (M=4.35). The study also indicated that participants were not confident in evaluating the level of task difficulty (M=3.37), dealing with unmotivated students (M=3.57), and meeting students’ particular needs for support (M=3.62). Pedagogical implications and recommendations were addressed to help manifold stakeholders at the end of this paper.
Using tranexamic acid for an additional 24 hours postoperatively in hip and knee arthroplasty saves money: a cost analysis from the TRAC-24 randomized control trial
Authors: Karayiannis Paul N. , Agus Ashley , Bryce Leanne , Hill J. C. , Beverland David
Published: July 2022

Aims

Tranexamic acid (TXA) is now commonly used in major surgical operations including orthopaedics. The TRAC-24 randomized control trial (RCT) aimed to assess if an additional 24 hours of TXA postoperatively in primary total hip (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) reduced blood loss. Contrary to other orthopaedic studies to date, this trial included high-risk patients. This paper presents the results of a cost analysis undertaken alongside this RCT.

Methods

TRAC-24 was a prospective RCT on patients undergoing TKA and THA. Three groups were included: Group 1 received 1 g intravenous (IV) TXA perioperatively and an additional 24-hour postoperative oral regime, Group 2 received only the perioperative dose, and Group 3 did not receive TXA. Cost analysis was performed out to day 90.

Results

Group 1 was associated with the lowest mean total costs, followed by Group 2 and then Group 3. The differences between Groups 1 and 3 (-£797.77 (95% confidence interval -1,478.22 to -117.32) were statistically significant. Extended oral dosing reduced costs for patients undergoing THA but not TKA. The reduced costs in Groups 1 and 2 resulted from reduced length of stay, readmission rates, emergency department attendances, and blood transfusions.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated significant cost savings when using TXA in primary THA or TKA. Extended oral dosing reduced costs further in THA but not TKA. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2022;3(7):536–542.
Low-RCS Surface Design Based on Lossy Metagratings
Authors: Wang Kai , Shao Wei , Li Hua , Wang Bing-Zhong
Published: July 2022

A design method based on the lossy metagrating for radar cross section (RCS) reduction is proposed in this paper. According to the mechanism of the RCS reduction, the lossy metagrating with different loaded lines per supercell is studied and it is also incorporated into the metasurface to reduce RCS. The embedded metagrating provides an additional low-RCS band and it has a small effect on the original band of the metasurface. Numerical results show that the metagrating reduces RCS of the surface effectively.
A Novel Design of Microwave Absorbers Based on Multilayered Composite Materials for Reduction of Radar Cross Section
Authors: Zheng Hong Qin , Huang Yi Tao , Tong Mei Song
Published: July 2022

Reduction of radar cross section (RCS) for targets can be achieved by different approaches and coating absorbing materials at the surfaces of targets is one of widely used methods because of its flexibility and good effect. In the work, we put forward a novel method of reducing the RCS based on the design of multilayer composite absorbing materials. The transmission line theory and particle swarm optimization (PSO) are used to guide the design and analysis, and two kinds of designs, i.e., Type IV and Type VII, are selected finally. Simulation experiments show that the designs are insensitive to the incident angles and polarizations of incident EM wave, which is required for being coated at the surfaces of real objects. Also, the designed absorbing materials are very thin and have an ultra-wide frequency band. The bandwidth of Type-IV design can reach 14.6314.63 GHz, ranging from 3.373.37 to 18.018.0 GHz, while Type-VII design can cover the frequency range from 2.02.0 to 18.018.0 GHz, which represents the major part of radar’s frequency range. The designed absorbing materials are coated at the surface of a perfectly-electric-conducting (PEC) cylinder to validate the effectiveness of the materials, and good results have been obtained.
Investigating Soil Effects on Outcomes of a Standardized Soil–Block Test
Authors: Kuo Chi-Jui (Barry) , Kimsey Mark , Page-Dumroese Deborah S. , Kirker Grant , Fu Audrey Qiuyan , Cai Lili
Published: July 2022

Soil physical and chemical properties play important roles in mass loss during soil–block tests but the relationship between soil properties and the decay caused by brown-rot and white-rot fungi remains unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the soil effects on the decay resistance of pine (Pinus spp.) and poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera L.) blocks. The properties of soil from nine different sources (six from Idaho, one from Mississippi, one from Wisconsin, and one from Oregon) were characterized for soil texture, sieved bulk density, water-holding capacity, pH, organic matter, and carbon and nitrogen concentrations. The moisture content and mass loss of decayed wood samples after 8 weeks of fungal exposure were measured. At the end of the study, block moisture ranged from 30 to 200 percent and mass loss ranged from 20 to 60 percent. Despite using a range of soils, there were no direct correlations between soil properties and wood-block moisture content or mass loss. Moreover, among all the soil properties examined, no significant effect of a single soil property on wood-block moisture content and mass loss was measured. Instead, the combined effects of soil physical and chemical properties may interact to govern the decay of wood blocks in the laboratory soil–block test.
Measurement and analysis of instantaneous microwave frequency based on an
optical frequency comb
Authors: Wei Yongfeng , Wang Ximin , Miao Yingxi , Chen Jialiang , Wang Xin , Gong Caili
Published: July 2022

A microwave photonics instantaneous frequency measurement scheme with
14 channels based on an optical frequency comb (OFC) is proposed. In
this scheme, a 14-line flat OFC is generated by cascading a
dual-parallel Mach–Zehnder modulator (DPMZM) with a Mach–Zehnder
modulator (MZM). The intercepted microwave signal with
multiple-frequency components can be measured by using DPMZM,
Fabry–Perot filter (FPF), wavelength division multiplexer (WDM), and
optical power detector array. This scheme can measure and analyze the
frequency of microwave signals in the ranges of 0.5–13.5 GHz,
13.5–26.5 GHz, and 26.5–39.5 GHz with the measurement accuracy of

±

0.5

G
H
z

. The reconfigurability of the system
can be realized by adjusting the comb-line spacing of the OFC and the
free spectral range (FSR) of the FPF.
Simultaneous all-optical sampling and quantization scheme based on the nonlinear Kerr effect in an ultra-compact silicon waveguide grating structure
Authors: Mousavizadeh S. Marziyeh , Zarifkar Abbas
Published: July 2022

In this paper, a novel method for simultaneous all-optical sampling and quantization is presented, to the best of our knowledge. This study utilizes the nonlinear Kerr effect in a silicon-based waveguide grating to realize nonlinear filters in which the sampling pulses are affected by the input signal. Compatible with complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor fabrication, in this ultra-compact two-bit quantizer, the footprint is reduced to

90

µ

m

2

which, to the best of our knowledge, is the least among recent similar studies.
Dissolved organic matter in bovine slaughterhouse wastewater using fluorescence spectroscopy associated with CP/PARAFAC and PCA methods
Authors: Matos Murillo Cruz , Tadini Amanda Maria , da Conceição Fernando Rodrigues , Junior Amilcar Machulek , Menegatti Carlos Renato , Mounier Stéphane , Caires Anderson Rodrigues Lima , Nicolodelli Gustavo
Published: July 2022

In this work, we evaluated the potential application of fluorescence spectroscopy, associated with the canonical polyadic/parallel factor analysis and principal component analysis, to monitor the dissolved organic matter (DOM) generated from a slaughterhouse industry. During the monitoring process, we analyzed the residual water at the entrance and exit sites of the slaughterhouse effluent treatment as well as downstream and upstream the effluent receiving water body of a local river. The results revealed that the fluorescence analysis was able to identify proteins, chlorophylls, and humic substances at the entrance and exit sites of the slaughterhouse treatment plant and humic substances at the river water bodies. Our data also demonstrated that the industrial effluent discharged into the river did not impact the receiving water body quality as determined by the biological and humification indices obtained by fluorescence analysis, which was confirmed by conventional physicochemical analysis. In summary, the present findings indicate that fluorescence spectroscopy, in association with multivariate analysis, can be successfully applied as an analytical tool for evaluating the quality of DOM in slaughterhouse wastewater.
Compact and low-loss TM-pass polarizer based on a hybrid plasmonic waveguide with a semiround arch Si core
Authors: Yang Xinze , Xu Ji , Chi Tiantian , Zhou Tiannuo , Chen Mulin , Wang Jun , Liu Ning , Lu Yunqing , Liang Zhongcheng
Published: July 2022

A compact and low loss TM-pass polarizer based on a hybrid plasmonic waveguide (HPW) has been demonstrated. By introducing the hollow HPW with a semiround arch (SRA) Si core, the unwanted TE mode can be effectively cut off and the TM mode can pass through by hybrid plasmonic mode with excellent transmission characteristics. The hollow structure realizes lower index with

n
=

1

due to the air region, and the SRA construction effectively suppresses the energy loss of the TM mode caused by the corner effect. Thus, TM modes pass through with negligible loss and exhibit the characteristic of strong mode limitation. By optimizing the width of metal, the width of the HPW, and the length of the tapered mode converter, an optimum performance with a high polarization extinction ratio of 67.87 dB and a low insert loss of 0.029 dB at the work

w
a
v
e
l
e
n
g
t
h

=

1550

n
m

is achieved. Detailed analysis also proves that the proposed polarizer has a compact size of only 7 µm and a great fabrication tolerance. This work offers a simple and effective scheme of polarization control on-chip.
SNROW-based highly sensitive label-free surface biosensor for hepatitis B detection
Authors: Singh Rukmani , Chack Devendra , Priye Vishnu
Published: July 2022

Despite the availability of effective hepatitis B vaccinations, the hepatitis B virus remains a serious global health concern. It is expected that early detection could aid in initiating therapy before the infection progresses to liver damage. A silicon nanowire rectangular optical waveguide has been demonstrated theoretically to detect the surface antigen of hepatitis B “HBsAg” based on label-free surface sensing using finite-element method-based COMSOL Multiphysics. Different procedural segments of the biomarker detection have been mimicked on the surface of a waveguide as adlayers to investigate the device theoretically. Initially, the parameters of the waveguide have been optimized to provide a large interaction of light and bio-analyte, i.e., to provide high sensitivity. The analyses are first performed at the waveguide level based on the light-analyte interaction. Furthermore, performances of the sensor have been obtained by incorporating this waveguide structure in the sensing arm of the Mach–Zehnder interferometer. The device structure shows ultra-high surface sensitivities such as phase surface sensitivity of

7.03

×

2

π

r
a
d

/

n
m

and MZI surface sensitivity of 3421.89 µW/nm with an excellent detection limit of

2.92

×

10

−
3

p
g

/

m
m

2

for HBsAg detection. The proposed device can measure the HBsAg concentration as low as 0.00973 ng/mL, which is significantly low to detect the infection in an early stage.
Near-IR absorption enhancement and crosstalk reduction of a photodiode in a CMOS indirect time-of-flight sensor
Authors: Liu Xiang , Geng Chenyan , Ji Xuesong , Lei Shuyu , Zhang Bing
Published: July 2022

The photodiode in a CMOS indirect time-of-flight (ITOF) sensor is a two-tap sensor especially designed for ranging. The three most important parameters are the demodulation contrast (DC), quantum efficiency (QE), and crosstalk. A trench nanostructure is commonly used as isolation layer between the pixels in a backside-illuminated CMOS sensor. In this paper, a trench is used to increase the IR absorption and decrease the crosstalk between pixels without a decrease in the DC. A trench grid is designed on top of a 6 µm thick silicon absorption layer to increase the optical path. A metal layer also is placed under the Si absorption layer as a reflection layer. The absorption of 940 nm infrared light can be increased up to 50%. The estimated QE can reach up to 40% at 940 nm. Deep trench isolation with a 6 µm depth is also used to isolate neighboring pixels. The crosstalk between the pixels can be reduced to less than 4% per neighboring pixel. This result shows a feasible CMOS ITOF sensor pixel design that we believe has great potential for use in solid-state lidar, depth cameras, machine vision, biomedical engineering, and facial recognition.
Complete analysis of the maximally hyperentangled state via the weak cross-Kerr nonlinearity
Authors: Zeng Zhi
Published: July 2022

We present a simple method for the complete analysis of the maximally hyperentangled state in polarization and spatial-mode degrees of freedom assisted by the weak cross-Kerr nonlinearity. Our method can not only be used for two-photon hyperentangled Bell state analysis and three-photon hyperentangled Greenberger–Horne–Zeilinger (GHZ) state analysis, but is also suitable for

N

-photon hyperentangled GHZ state analysis. In our protocols, the bit information of hyperentanglement is read out via the nonlinear interaction, and the phase information is obtained by using linear optical element and single photon detector. This approach is achievable with the current technology, and it will be useful for practical high-capacity quantum communication schemes.
Improved Q-factors of III-nitride-based photonic crystal nanocavities by optical loss engineering
Authors: Iwaya Takenori , Ichikawa Shuhei , Timmerman Dolf , Tatebayashi Jun , Fujiwara Yasufumi
Published: July 2022

III-nitride-based two-dimensional photonic crystal (2D-PhC) cavities with high-quality factors (Q-factors) have a large potential application, however realized Q-factors in the visible wavelength regime have been relatively moderate. In this study, we demonstrate the design and fabrication of 2D-PhC cavities to achieve high Q-factors, especially in the visible range. From the comparison of numerical calculations and the experimental results, we discuss the dominant optical losses that limit the Q-factor of H3-type cavities formed in an Eu,O-codoped GaN film. Based on these results we designed 2D-PhC cavities which can effectively suppress these dominant losses. We fabricated 2D-heterostructures and show a high Q-factor of 10500 at a resonant wavelength of ∼660 nm, which is considerably larger than any existing GaN-based nano/micro-resonators in the visible region. This study provides design guidelines for the realization of high Q-factors in photonic crystal nanocavities based on III-nitride semiconductors.
Mode-locking in quadratically nonlinear waveguide arrays
Authors: Bağci Mahmut , Kutz J. Nathan
Published: July 2022

A two-dimensional theoretical model is constructed to describe optical mode-locking (ML) in quadratically nonlinear waveguide arrays (QWGAs). Steady-state solutions of the considered model are obtained by a modified pseudo-spectral renormalization algorithm, and the mode-locking dynamics of the model are investigated through direct simulation of the nonlinear evolution and a linear stability analysis of the solutions. It is shown that stable mode-locking of elliptic steady-state solutions in quadratically nonlinear waveguide arrays are possible for a wide range of parameters, suggesting that quadratically nonlinear materials are well suited for producing stable mode-locked states for a wide range of applications.
Third-order optical nonlinearity of CsPb(Br/I)3 metal halide perovskites nano-crystals embedded chalcogenide glass
Authors: Li Ziliang , Mao Guangrui , Lin Changgui , Dai Shixun , Xu Tiefeng , Chen Feifei
Published: July 2022

The nonlinear optical properties of emerging metal halide perovskites (MHP) materials are sufficiently intriguing that this topic has become the hotspots in the realm of material science. Hence, we investigate the third-order nonlinear optical properties of CsPbBr
x
/I3-x (x = 1, 2, 3) MHP nano-crystals (NCs) embedded chalcogenide glass (ChG) within a GeS2-Sb2S3 pseudo-binary system, by monitoring the composition, excitation wavelength and intensity dependencies via femtosecond Z-scan technique. We have found that the intrinsic large optical nonlinearity of ChG can be further enhanced because of the incorporation of MHP NCs, and that the optical nonlinearity of MHP-ChG containing pristine Br NCs is more pronounced compared to its counterparts with mixed Br/I NCs, due to a combination of multiple factors.
Ultra-compact hybrid silicon:chalcogenide waveguide temperature sensor
Authors: Badamchi Bahareh , Hsu Wei-Che , Ahmed Simon Al-Amin , Yin Chi Zong , Manzi Jacob , Mitkova Maria , Wang Alan X. , Subbaraman Harish
Published: July 2022

We demonstrate a real-time, reusable, and reversible integrated optical sensor for temperature monitoring within harsh environments. The sensor architecture combines the phase change property of chalcogenide glasses (ChG) with the high-density integration advantages of high index silicon waveguides. To demonstrate sensor feasibility, ChG composition Ge40S60, which is characterized by a sharp phase transition from amorphous to crystalline phase around 415 °C, is deposited over a 50 µm section of a single mode optical waveguide. The phase transition changes the behavior of Ge40S60 from a low loss to high loss material, thus significantly affecting the hybrid waveguide loss around the phase transition temperature. A transmission power drop of over 40dB in the crystalline phase compared to the amorphous phase is experimentally measured. Moreover, we recover the amorphous phase through the application of an electrical pulse, thus showing the reversible nature of our compact temperature sensor. Through integrating multiple compositions of ChG with well-defined phases transition temperatures over a silicon waveguide array, it is possible to determine, in real-time, the temperature evolution within a harsh environment, such as within a nuclear reactor cladding.
Heterogeneous multicore fiber-based microwave frequency measurement
Authors: Nazemosadat Elham , García Sergi , Gasulla Ivana
Published: July 2022

A novel microwave frequency measurement scheme using a heterogeneous multicore fiber (MCF) is experimentally demonstrated. The inherently different relative group delays among the cores of a heterogeneous 7-core MCF are used to realize two individual 2-tap microwave filters with different free spectral ranges (FSRs). The ratio of the frequency response traces of these two filters is used to establish an amplitude comparison function (ACF). Furthermore, by varying the operational wavelength, the relative group delays between the cores and consequently the FSRs of the filters are tuned and different ACF curves are obtained. The complementary information provided by these different ACFs allows us to estimate the unknown frequency with an improved accuracy, over a broad measurement range. In our experiments, a measurement error of ±71 MHz is achieved over a frequency range of 0.5-40 GHz. The proposed scheme offers flexibility and compactness, thanks to the parallelism provided by the MCF.
Multilayer beamsplitter polarizers for key UV-FUV spectral lines of solar polarimetry
Authors: Gutiérrez-Luna Nuria , Capobianco Gerardo , Malvezzi Andrea Marco , Honrado-Benítez Carlos , Marcos Luis Rodríguez-de , Larruquert Juan I. , Giglia Angelo , Mahne Nicola , Nannarone Stefano , Fineschi Silvano
Published: July 2022

Multilayer beamsplitter polarizers have been developed for improved solar polarimetry at key spectral lines. The advantage of beamsplitter polarizers is that a single device separates s from p polarization; this helps minimize attenuation and enables a more compact and lighter polarimeter, which is important for space instruments. Polarizers based on Al/AlF3 multilayers were prepared for both C IV (155 nm) and Mg II (280 nm) lines, and based on Al/MgF2 multilayers for H Lyman α line (121.6 nm). Polarizers were designed to mainly reflect (transmit) s (p) polarization. Beamsplitter performance and throughput are shown to compare advantageously with polarizers in the literature. Beamsplitter polarizers kept a valuable performance after several years of ageing.
Adoption of large aperture chirped grating antennas in optical phase array for long distance ranging
Authors: Yu Lei , Ma Pengfei , Luo Guangzhen , Cui Langlin , Zhou Xuliang , Wang Pengfei , Zhang Yejin , Pan Jiaoqing
Published: July 2022

Optical phased array can be widely used in many fields benefiting from its superior performance. We designed and fabricated chirped grating antennas and uniform grating antennas for the optical phased array. The effective aperture of the chirped grating antennas is about twice that of the uniform grating antennas. The chirped grating optical phased array can receive the reflected signal of the object at a distance of 100 m, while the uniform grating optical phased array can only receive 50 m under the same conditions. Additionally, a ranging distance of 25 m is achieved when two chirped grating optical phased arrays are set as the transmitter and receiver.
Sensitive mid-infrared photothermal gas detection enhanced by self-heterodyne harmonic amplification of a mode-locked fiber laser probe
Authors: Krzempek Karol
Published: July 2022

In this work, a method of photothermal spectroscopic signal extraction is presented. The refractive index modulation readout is realized in a purely frequency detection-based approach, by demodulating the beatnotes of a mode-locked fiber laser operating at 1.56 µm. A unique and non-complex self-heterodyne harmonic amplification technique is employed, yielding an increase in the limit of detection by a factor of 22. The sensor’s performance was evaluated by detecting nitric oxide at 5.26 µm, confirming the feasibility of separating the pump and probe sections of the device. The sensor reached a detection limit of 9.6 parts-per-billion by volume for an integration time of 136 s, with only a 20 cm-long laser-gas molecules interaction path length.
Wireless transmission of a 200-m PS-64QAM THz-wave signal using a likelihood-based selection radius-directed equalizer
Authors: Ding Junjie , Wang Mingxu , Li Weiping , Zhu Bowen , Wang Feng , Wang Chen , Wang Yanyi , Zhou Wen , Zhang Jiao , Zhu Min , Yu Jianjun
Published: July 2022

Based on a photonics-aided scheme, we achieve an experimental demonstration of a, to the best of our knowledge, record-breaking 200-m terahertz (THz)-wave wireless delivery at 335 GHz with the aid of a pair of high-gain polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) lenses. By using a 10-GBaud probabilistically shaped 64-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (PS-64QAM) signal and advanced digital signal processing (DSP) including a likelihood-based selection radius-directed equalizer (LBS-RDE), the single-carrier net bit rate of the wireless delivery reaches 44 Gbit/s. High-speed THz-wave communication with up to 200-m wireless distance is successfully realized based on a photonics-aided scheme for the first time.
Improved resonant energy transfer and light emission from SnO2 nanocrystals and Er3+ embedded in silica films via Yb3+ co-doping
Authors: Zhang Yangyi , Wang Lixiang , Chen Jiaming , Qu Enze , Zhao Jingjie , Li Dongke , Li Wei , Xu Jun , Chen Kunji
Published: July 2022

SiO2-SnO2:Er3+ thin films co-doped with Yb3+ ions have been prepared by the sol-gel method. By controlling the Yb3+ concentration, the enhanced Er3+-related near infrared (NIR) emission is achieved under 325 nm excitation. The energy transfer efficiency (ETE) from SnO2 to rare earth is investigated by photoluminescence decay curves. It is found that with the increase of Yb3+ ion concentration to 15 mol%, the ETE gradually increases to ∼68.7%. The comprehensive spectroscopic analysis results demonstrate that both improved ETE and a new energy transfer channel from SnO2 nanocrystals to Er3+ ions via the Yb3+ intermediate state contribute to the Er3+-related NIR emission enhancement.
Circulating MiR-30b-5p is upregulated in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels affected by early myxomatous mitral valve disease
Authors: Bagardi Mara , Ghilardi Sara , Zamarian Valentina , Ceciliani Fabrizio , Brambilla Paola G. , Lecchi Cristina
Published: July 2022

There is a growing interest in developing new molecular markers of heart disease in young dogs affected by myxomatous mitral valve disease. The study aimed to measure 3 circulating microRNAs and their application as potential biomarkers in the plasma of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels with early asymptomatic myxomatous mitral valve disease. The hypothesis is that healthy Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have different microRNA expression profiles than affected dogs in American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) stage B1. The profiles can differ within the same class among subjects of different ages. This is a prospective cross-sectional study. Thirty-three Cavalier King Charles Spaniels in ACVIM stage B1 were divided into three groups (11 younger than 3 years, 11 older than 3 years and younger than 7 years, and 11 older than 7 years), and 11 healthy (ACVIM stage A) dogs of the same breed were included as the control group. Three circulating microRNAs (miR-1-3p, miR30b-5p, and miR-128-3p) were measured by quantitative real-time PCR using TaqMan® probes. Diagnostic performance was evaluated by calculating the area under the receiver operating curve (AUC). MiR-30b-5p was significantly higher in ACVIM B1 dogs than in ACVIM A subjects, and the area under the receiver operating curve was 0.79. According to the age of dogs, the amount of miR-30b-5p was statistically significantly higher in group B1<3y (2.3 folds,P= 0.034), B1 3-7y (2.2 folds,P= 0.028), and B1>7y (2.7 folds,P= 0.018) than in group A. The area under the receiver operating curves were fair in discriminating between group B1<3y and group A (AUC 0.780), between B1 3-7y and A (AUC 0.78), and good in discriminating between group B1>7y and A (AUC 0.822). Identifying dogs with early asymptomatic myxomatous mitral valve disease through the evaluation of miR-30b-5p represents an intriguing possibility that certainly merits further research. Studies enrolling a larger number of dogs with preclinical stages of myxomatous mitral valve disease are needed to expand further and validate conclusively the preliminary findings from this report.
Bionic eye system mimicking microfluidic structure and intraocular pressure for glaucoma surgery training
Authors: Yamanaka Toshiro , Niino Tomonori , Omata Seiji , Harada Kanako , Mitsuishi Mamoru , Sugimoto Koichiro , Ueta Takashi , Totsuka Kiyohito , Shiraya Tomoyasu , Araki Fumiyuki , Takao Muneyuki , Aihara Makoto , Arai Fumihito
Published: July 2022

Among increasing eye diseases, glaucoma may hurt the optic nerves and lead to vision loss, the treatment of which is to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP). In this research, we introduce a new concept of the surgery simulator for Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery (MIGS). The concept is comprised of an anterior eye model and a fluidic circulatory system. The model made of flexible material includes a channel like the Schlemm’s canal (SC) and a membrane like the trabecular meshwork (TM) covering the SC. The system can monitor IOP in the model by a pressure sensor. In one of the MIGS procedures, the TM is cleaved to reduce the IOP. Using the simulator, ophthalmologists can practice the procedure and measure the IOP. First, considering the characteristics of human eyes, we defined requirements and target performances for the simulator. Next, we designed and manufactured the prototype. Using the prototype, we measured the IOP change before and after cleaving the TM. Finally, we demonstrated the availability by comparing experimental results and target performances. This simulator is also expected to be used for evaluations and developments of new MIGS instruments and ophthalmic surgery robots in addition to the surgical training of ophthalmologists.
Early detection of rumors based on source tweet-word graph attention networks
Authors: Jia Hao , Wang Honglei , Zhang Xiaoping
Published: July 2022

The massively and rapidly spreading disinformation on social network platforms poses a serious threat to public safety and social governance. Therefore, early and accurate detection of rumors in social networks is of vital importance before they spread on a large scale. Considering the small-world property of social networks, the source tweet-word graph is decomposed from the global graph of rumors, and a rumor detection method based on graph attention network of source tweet-word graph is proposed to fully learn the structure of rumor propagation and the deep representation of text contents. Specifically, the proposed model can adequately capture the contextual semantic association representation of source tweets during the propagation and extract semantic features. For the data sparseness of the early stage of information dissemination, text attention mechanism based on opinion similarity can aggregate and capture more tweet propagation structure features to help improve the efficiency of early detection of rumors. Through the analysis of the experimental results on real public datasets, the rumor detection performance of the proposed method is better than that of other baseline methods. Especially in the early rumor detection tasks, the proposed method can detect rumors with an accuracy of nearly 90% in the early stage of information dissemination. And it still has good robustness with noise interference.
Reflexivity, Third Space, and Representation: Radical Reimaginings of the Banlieue in Swagger (2016)
Authors: Brady Jacqueline
Published: July 2022

This article considers the construction and reimaging of the banlieue space in Olivier Babinet’s 2016 film, Swagger. It is informed by Homi Bhabha’s concept of Third Space, and explores the ways in which the film challenges reductive representations of the banlieue and its inhabitants, the violent rhetoric of French Universalism, and the myth of national identity. Swagger employs reflexive strategies that challenge dominant notions about the banlieue space and population that are rooted in colonialism and White supremacy. In doing so, it reveals the connections between cinematic representation, systemic violence, and spatial transformation.
Western Modernism and the Fetishization of the Hijab: Deconstructing the Movie Hala
Authors: Fareed Aatika
Published: July 2022

9/11 became the cursor in converting millions of Muslims into one homogeneous society – what Edward Said describes as the “Christian picture of Islam.” This ongoing process scrutinized mainstream Muslims irrespective of their context/origins. Practicing Muslim women who adorned a headscarf, popularly known as hijab, came to be interpreted as being oppressed, irrespective of their social-economic or ethnic status since it went against the notions of western feminism, which extensively preached the idea of being liberal and free in all senses. This article attempts to discuss the obsession with the “unveiling of the veil” through the movie Hala () and explores how the degradation of Islam produces smeared representations, thereby justifying and glorifying western ideals and civilization as whole.
“I’m Learning to Smoke Now”: The Evolution of Cigarettes in Orson Welles’s The Lady from Shanghai
Authors: Iucci Francesca
Published: July 2022

This article explores the symbolic connotations of cigarettes in Orson Welles’s The Lady from Shanghai (1947). Although a common theme in film noir, the act of smoking can become a dynamic component of cinematic narrative. My work argues that Elsa Bannister’s use of cigarettes in the film reinvents the object’s role within the genre, as cigarettes move from being a “thing” to embodying Elsa’s power. The article demonstrates this by examining valuable scenes through shot-by-shot analysis and thus challenging the characters’ agency in relation to Elsa.
De Abrigo a Plataforma: O Instituto Bola Pra Frente no Complexo do Muquiço, Rio de Janeiro
Authors: Siqueira Renata , Loureiro Felipe , Bartholo Roberto , Proença Júnior Domício
Published: July 2022

O artigo discute a atuação do Instituto Bola Pra Frente no Complexo do Muquiço, Rio de Janeiro, a partir de uma análise do histórico da região e de uma reflexão baseada em três referências teóricas: os conceitos de espaço e lugar, desenvolvidos por Yi-Fu Tuan; o conceito de infraestrutura relacional, conforme descrito por Abdoumaliq Simone; e a abordagem da effectuation proposta por Saras Sarasvathy. Os cruzamentos entre estas três lentes interpretativas buscam compreender alguns fenômenos identificados nas etapas iniciais da pesquisa: a tensão dialética entre lugar/espaço e periferia/cidade; as formas fluidas de ação e organização em um contexto de estilo de vida emergencial; os diversos exemplos de criatividade/inventividade para além do(s) plano(s) e das leis dos mercados. O artigo conclui com uma análise da atuação do Instituto no contexto da pandemia da Covid-19, que coincide com uma fase de maior protagonismo dos jovens da região.